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'The Year of the Hangman'

[DEC. 11, 2002]  ^"The Year of the Hangman," by Gary Blackwood, Dutton Children’s Books, 2002, 261 pages.

Most children grow up learning to play the guessing game of "Hangman." The leader chooses a famous personage while the player tries to guess who was chosen by calling out letters to spell the name. For each wrong guess the leader draws part of a stick figure to suspend from his miniature gallows drawn in the form of the number seven. The player becomes the leader if he successfully guesses the identity of the personage before the complete stick figure can be drawn.

Containing three sevens, the symbol of the hangman, 1777 was an era of fierce loyalties either to the English crown or to the new, fledgling country of America. Men who once considered themselves British now were revolutionaries, and even loyal British soldiers began to question England’s tactics against the colonists. Many men of both countries faced being condemned traitors and facing the hangman’s noose.

The winter of 1776 found Gen. Washington in dire circumstances. Major defeats had cost him thousands of soldiers, the one-year enlistment was up for most of his troops, and the British at one time captured him in battle. What may have happened if Washington had not been freed? What if other national leaders took other paths?

In Gary Blackwood’s latest novel for young adults (seventh grade and up), we experience that "alternate history." Mr. Blackwood asks us to suspend our memory of 1777 history and introduces us to Creighton Brown, a young British gentleman of noble birth whose father has been sent to fight the rebels in America.

Word has reached England that his honorable and courageous father was killed in battle. Creighton’s mother sadly lacks the ability to discipline her son or keep him from gambling and drinking with his friends. With the aid of her new suitor, Charlotte Brown has her son kidnapped and shipped to her brother’s care in America.

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Arriving in Charles Town as his uncle, Col. Gower, is leaving for assignment in Florida, Creighton finds himself in even deeper problems. During the voyage to Florida, privateers attack the vessel on which the group is sailing. Captured by the patriot Benedict Arnold, Col. Gower informs the rebels that Creighton is his indentured servant, leaving his nephew free to move among the Americans.

Creighton finds himself housed in the New Orleans home of Ben Franklin. Although unaccustomed to manual labor of any kind, Creighton enjoys working in the printing shop along with Franklin and the Canadian refugee, Sophie. He also regrets spying for his uncle when the results harm his new friends. Another twist of fate takes Creighton on an assignment with Gen. Benedict Arnold as a spy for the Americans.

Blackwood’s well-rounded characters, believable dialogue and humor combine to make history an exciting adventure involving real people like ourselves. He introduces both issues of a new nation and those of a young man in search of his own beliefs.

For this and more books by Blackwood, visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call 732-8878.

[Louella Moreland, Lincoln Public Library District]

Champion trees featured in book

[DEC. 7, 2002]  After five years of exhaustive research, Larry P. Mahan has completed his book, "In Search of Large Trees," which includes 100 color pictures of notable tree specimens from central and southern Illinois.

During this research he traveled over 7,000 miles searching for large trees. He has registered 22 Illinois "Big Tree Champions," including a sycamore that is the largest tree of any kind in the state and a black oak that is the largest of any oak in Illinois and the second largest black oak in the United States.

Many outstanding species of trees from central and southern Illinois communities are featured with photographs and text. Mahan also chronicles his personal experiences during his research and includes information for identifying the different tree species.

People interested in purchasing a copy of "In Search of Large Trees" may contact him by mail to 27555 Deep Rock Station Road, Palmyra, IL or call (217) 436-2016.

[News release]

• Lincoln Community Theatre

• Logan County Arts Association

LCHS Christmas concert

[DEC. 17, 2002]  Lincoln Community High School will have its annual Christmas concert tonight.

The LCHS concert band, under the direction of David Swaar, and the beginning and advanced choirs, under the direction of Kim Peterson-Quinn, will perform in the high school auditorium tonight, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

Selections will include many styles, from traditional Christmas songs to Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." The program is expected to last approximately an hour and will include an audience singalong,

Come out and enjoy this seasonal treat!

[News release]

LCT 2003 season

[DEC. 9, 2002]  Lincoln Community Theatre is pleased to announce three productions selected for the summer of 2003.

Kicking off the 32nd season of live theater for the Lincoln community will be the hilarious musical "Nuncrackers." This fun-filled show is a continuation of the antics of the dauntless, darling nuns of Mount St. Helen’s Convent who delighted Lincoln audiences in the "Nunsense" series several summers ago. Audience participation, one-liners, a rum-soaked fruitcake, dueling sugar plum fairies and dear Sister Amnesia will definitely start the summer theatrical season with humor and fun.

The July production, "Steel Magnolias," is one of our best ensemble productions. The familiar, bittersweet story touches all the emotional peaks and valleys of life in a small Southern community. From wise-cracking Truvy to unsure Annelle, the characters in this poignant play promise to touch everyone with both laughter and tears.

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Ending the season on a patriotic note, LCT’s final production of the summer will be "1776," a stirring, yet humorous musical featuring a large cast representing our founding fathers. Humor abounds with fast-paced dialogue involving Ben Franklin, Henry Lee and other early congressional characters, along with catchy, patriotic music.

To kick off the holiday season, Lincoln Community Theatre is offering holiday gift certificates for season memberships for the summer 2003 season. Certificates can be mailed directly to the receiver or to the gift giver. Certificates for adult memberships are $20 each, and those for children through eighth grade are $12 each. Requests for gift certificates may be sent to LCT, Box 374, Lincoln, IL 62656. Further information is available at (217) 732-7542 or by visiting the LCT website, www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre.

[Judy Rader, LCT publicity chairman]

Lincoln Community Theatre’s box office, phone 735-2614,  is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday for the summer season. The office is located in the lobby of the Johnston Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Lincoln College.

Performances of "Dearly Departed" are scheduled for July 12-20, and "The King and I" will be presented Aug. 2-10. Show times are 2 p.m. on Sundays and 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The LCT mailing address is Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln, IL  62656; e-mail: lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com.

Visit the LDC website at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html. Pictures from past productions are included.

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