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Tri-State Chess Tournament open to youth and adults

[FEB. 22, 2003]  The Evening Optimist Club of Quincy, Quincy Senior High School and the Quincy Chess Club are jointly sponsoring the Tri-State Chess Tournament on Sunday, March 23, in the Quincy Senior High School cafeteria, 33rd and Maine in Quincy. Registration is from noon to 1 p.m. Competition will be divided into two separate tournaments: Scholastic and Open.

The Scholastic Division is open to any student enrolled in grades K-12. Students from all schools in the tri-state area are encouraged to participate. Trophies will be awarded to winners in levels K-6, K-9 and K-12. Entry forms for the Scholastic Division can be downloaded from the Quincy Chess Club website: http://www.adams.net/~gblickh/index.htm.

The Open Division is nationally sanctioned and is open to any member of the United States Chess Federation, regardless of age. Membership forms are available at the tournament.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs of the Evening Optimist Club of Quincy.

For further information about the tournament, call Gary Blickhan at (217) 223-8762. For further information about the Evening Optimist Club of Quincy, call Howard Dewell at (217) 222-1910.

[News release]

Places To Go

'Hoot'

[FEB. 26, 2003]  ^"Hoot," by Carl Hiaasen, Alfred A. Knopf, 2002, 292 pages, ages 10 and up.

A new kid, a bully, a boy called "Mullet Fingers," an eager-to-please police officer, a beauty queen and an array of wild animals are all in Carl Hiaasen's first novel for young adult readers. "Hoot," a 2003 Newbery honor book, captures and keeps the reader's attention with wit, humor and mystery.

Roy Eberhardt and his family have moved from Montana to Coconut Cove, Fla. Roy misses the beauty and nature of Montana, but he is looking forward to fitting into his new home and especially Trace Middle School. Unfortunately, the class bully, Dana Matherson, has other plans for Roy. While Dana is tormenting Roy on the bus, Roy sees a barefoot boy running down the road. The boy intrigues Roy enough that he begins an investigation into who the boy is, why he doesn't attend school and why he doesn't wear shoes. Roy is especially intrigued when a girl at school, Beatrice Leep, corners him and tells him to stop trying to find the barefoot boy, aka Mullet Fingers. Roy's suspicions are confirmed; he realizes he's really onto something, and it's very mysterious.

Meanwhile, Roy's not the only one trying to solve a mystery, because something illegal is going on at the site of the future Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House. Officer David Delinko is determined to get to the bottom of the vandalism and, in return, get the respect and recognition to move up in the police force. The construction foreman, Curly, and Officer Delinko are comical as they run in circles trying to figure out who or what is playing tricks on them at the construction site. Rottweiler guard dogs, glitter-tailed water moccasins, alligators in the portable potties and, most importantly, small burrowing owls are all part of the action and mischief at the construction site.

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Roy enlists the help of Beatrice, Mullett Finger's half sister, and the two of them get into more than they ever expected by helping Mullet Fingers with his personal cause. Roy also decides to stop Dana from tormenting him once and for all with a hilarious ploy to frame Dana and bring him to the attention of the "eager to arrest" Officer Delinko.

While reading "Hoot" you'll find the answers to questions such as: How did Mullet Fingers get his name? What is a mullet? Why were the alligators in the portable potties? How did the glitter get on the water moccasins' tails? What's so important about a burrowing owl to stop a big corporation like Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House? What role does a beauty queen play? And does bully Dana Matherson get what he deserves in the end?

"Hoot's" author, Carl Hiaasen, places subtle importance on the environment on many levels and especially on how a few young adults with conviction and caring can make a difference in the world. "Hoot's" witty humor, fast pace and real characterizations of youth lead the reader along on an adventure about fitting in on your own terms, the importance of friends and the process of sticking up for what's right.

To check out this book, visit the library at 725 Pekin Street or call 732-8878.

[Leslie Scott, graduate practicum student,
Lincoln Public Library]

• Lincoln Community Theatre

• Logan County Arts Association

Classic films return to Lincoln Cinemas

[FEB. 26, 2003]  The Logan County Arts Association, in conjunction with GKC Cinemas Corporation, has brought the classic film night series back to the Lincoln Cinemas. The next set of films is scheduled for every second Thursday through October, with shows at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5.50 for adults and $4.50 for senior citizens and children 12 and under. The tickets are available at GKC Lincoln Cinemas.

Classic films lined up for the 2003 season:

• "The Big Sleep," March 13
• "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," April 10
• "The Guns of Navarone," May 8
• "My Fair Lady," June 12
• "Old Yeller," July 10
• "The Apartment," Aug. 14
• "Wuthering Heights," Sept. 11

• "War of the Worlds," Oct. 9

Anyone wanting more information may call the Logan County Arts Association at (217) 735-4422

[Press release from the
Logan County Arts Association]

Concert will feature winners of concerto-aria contest

[JAN. 29, 2003]  NORMAL -- Five Illinois State University School of Music students won the school's concerto-aria competition Jan. 22 and will be featured performers in a March 5 concert at 8 p.m. in the Center for the Performing Arts

Jurors in the competition were Roger Garrett and Linda Farquahson of Illinois Wesleyan University.

This year's winners are junior trumpeter Ryan Elliot of Saginaw, Mich., representing the brass area; master's degree student and pianist Kristof Kovacs of Budapest, Hungary, representing the keyboard area; Ying Wang, a master's degree student and cellist from Beijing, China, representing the string area; senior baritone vocalist Kevin Prina of Washington, representing the voice area; and piccolo player Megan Lomonof, a senior from Oak Lawn, representing the woodwind area.

Earning honorable mentions in the competition were violist Colleen Kuraszek, a freshman from Lake in the Hills, and flutist Elizabet Varga, a master's degree student from Bloomington.

The concert March 5 will spotlight the five winners. They will perform individually with the Illinois State University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Glenn Block, director of orchestras. The orchestra also will play Bernstein's overture to "Candide."

[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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