Bells In Motion, an advanced handbell choir from Springfield, will be presenting "Ring Around the World," a pops concert of international music, at St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln on Sunday, July 23, at 3:30 p.m. The concert will feature music from "Les Miserables," "Russian Sailor's Dance," and "El Capitan" march. Admission is free. A free-will offering will be taken.

Bells In Motion is a unique musical group consisting of 13 advanced handbell musicians from the central Illinois area who are accepted through audition. The group performs on six octaves of handbells, drum set and other percussion, flute, and synthesizer. With a wide variety of pops, jazz and specialty compositions, Bells In Motion features a type of non-traditional handbell performance that thrills audiences of all kinds.

The group's director, Michael Lamb, is an accomplished musician and handbell soloist. He has conducted and played handbells for 15 years and has studied music at the University of Illinois and Illinois State University. He is music director at the First Congregational Church in Springfield and was a past member of the Illinois Symphony Chorus. Lamb also presents numerous clinics each year on handbell ringing and has recently formed American Bronze, a national performance handbell choir which plans to tour Europe in 2001.

Members Beth Davis, Doug DeMay, Vicki Hasprey, Lori Johnson, Roger Matson, Milton Wiggers and Bob Wood attended the June 1 meeting of the Lincoln Optimist Club.

Guests were Christina Dye, second-place winner in the Illinois District Essay Contest, and her father, Don Dye. Milton Wiggers, past governor of the Illinois District, presented the Christina with the second-place plaque for the Illinois District Optimists.

It was announced that membership dues for the current year are due now to Doug DeMay.

Officer candidates for the Optimist year 2001 are Vicki Hasprey, president; Roger Matson, first vice-president; Beth Davis, second vice-president; Bob Wood, secretary; Doug DeMay, treasurer; Karen Schwantz, one-year board term; Lori Johnson and Jack Milan, two-year board term; and Bob Wood, publicity.

The July meeting was scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, July 16, at the home of Beth Davis, club president.

The Optimist swim party will be on Aug. 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Rec. Center. This is a youth event. Pop and pizza will be furnished by the Lincoln Optimist Club.

Breastfeeding Support Group meets July 20

The Breastfeeding Support Group will meet at Logan County Health Department on Thursday, July 20, at 12:30 p.m. This support group will meet monthly on the third Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and is open to any woman, pregnant or breastfeeding, who wants to receive information, support and encouragement with breastfeeding. Logan County Health Department nurse Sue Estes has been trained as a certified lactation counselor and will lead this support group to encourage and support breastfeeding mothers. Women are invited to bring baby and lunch to this support group. For more information, contact Logan County Health Department at (217) 735-2317.

Computer volunteers needed at Bartmann Health Care Center

If you know how to turn on a computer and use a mouse, you have skills that you can share with residents at Bartmann Health Care Center. We are looking for volunteers of any age to come to the facility and teach residents some basis computer skills. A computer, software and printer, all in very good condition, were anonymously donated to the facility earlier this year. Since then, a computer table has been purchased along with a new mouse. They are ready for use and can be found in the activity room near the activity director’s office. The computer has several games, a word processor and drawing program, just to name a few of its many features. Call Lija, Bartmann’s activity director, at 217-642-5231 to volunteer a half hour or just one hour of your time. You’ll be glad you did!

The Logan County Red Cross will offer the following classes in July:

• Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m. until noon – CPR Challenge. This class is for people with previous Red Cross training who wish to be recertified in adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation, infant and child CPR, or first aid.

• Wednesday and Thursday evenings, July 19 and 20 – Community First Aid and Safety. Class hours Wednesday will be from 6 until 10 p.m., and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. This class covers the CPR courses and first aid.

Preregistration is required. People interested may call 732-2134 for further information, or come to the office at 125 S. Kickapoo St. Regular office hours are from noon until 4 p.m.

The Lincoln Railer Basketball Booster Club will host a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Logan County Fair on Aug. 5. Boys and girls from third through 12th grade are eligible and must register by July 26. Teams are limited; sign up early. For more information about the one-day event, contact Dave Renfro at 735-4444 or 445-2778.

Hartem Booster Club
schedules golf outing

The Hartem Booster Club announces a golf outing, planned to become an annual event. The best ball scramble will be Saturday, July 22, morning and afternoon, at North Greens Golf Course, Atlanta.

The cost, including meal, is $160 per team for 30 teams. Prizes are $600 for first place, $300 for second and $160 for third.

For information, contact the North Greens Golf Course, 217-648-5500.

The Naomi-Ruth Circle of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hartsburg has put together a collection of over 400 favorite recipes. This cookbook, "Homemade With Love," is ready for distribution at a cost of $10 per book plus $2 shipping and handling. The cookbook, which is hardback and spiral bound, was created in celebration of St. John’s 115^th anniversary. Proceeds from cookbook sales will be used to support the church as a whole, programs sponsored by the Naomi-Ruth Circle and youth of the church. Call Joyce Leesman at 217-642-5883 or Kay Proefrock at 642-5884 to reserve your copy.

Main Street Lincoln's annual Concerts in the Park series is set to begin the first Sunday in June and continue through the end of July. The free concerts begin at 7 p.m. in Latham Park, north of the courthouse square in downtown Lincoln. The city of Lincoln, Lincoln Area Music Society and Main Street Lincoln are underwriting the event.

The series has expanded to include nine concerts with a variety of music as well as old favorites. The schedule and sponsors are as follows:

June 4 – IB5 Brass Quintet, sponsored by Logan County Board members – This group with a big brass sound from Normal will delight the audience with a variety of new pop sounds and songs you'll want to sing along to. (Rescheduled to Aug. 6)

June 11 – Heartland Jazz Orchestra, sponsored by Parker-Grieme Insurance – Back by popular demand, this group is led by Doug Tidabeck, who is well-known in the Lincoln community.

June 18, June 25, July 2 and July 9 – Lincoln Area Music Society, sponsored by State Bank of Lincoln and LAMS – The backbone of the concert series is made up of Lincoln area musicians with a new repertoire each week.

July 16 – Paul and Win Grace, sponsored by Lincoln Public Library and Prairie Years – Based near Columbia, Mo., these versatile vocalists and multi-instrumentalists have performed all over the United States and Canada. Toes will tap to the folk and old-time music that has been a part of your life since you were a child. Fiddle, mandolin, guitar, harmonica, autoharp and accordian are all perfect sounds for a summer evening.

July 23 – Steely Pan, sponsored by Mayor Joan Ritter – You'll picture yourself on a tropical island as you enjoy the Caribbean rhythms of this popular and unique group. Bring your own hurrache sandals and shades.

July 30 – Second Baptist Church "Voices of Praise," sponsored by Bob Neal of Edward Jones Investments – This great hometown gospel group will keep you excited all night long. This is their second year to wrap up the concert series.

Aug. 6 – IB5 Brass Quintet, sponsored by Logan County Board members – This group with a big brass sound from Normal will delight the audience with a variety of new pop sounds and songs you'll want to sing along to. (This concert was rescheduled from June 4.)

For more information, contact Wendy Bell, program manager, Main Street Lincoln, at 217-732-2929.