2008 Athena Award The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and other fine local businesses are proud to present the 2008 Athena Award. The Athena Awards program is designed to recognize strong community leadership in encouraging women to achieve their full potential. The Athena Awards Reception will take place on September 17, 2008 at the Inn at 835. Click here for reception reservations. 09/04/2008

1st Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk The Springfield American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will debut this year at White Oaks Mall on October 12. Registration begins at 8am and the 5K walk starts at 9am. Teams reanging in size from one person to 100 plus members are forming now. For more information, call 523-4751 or click on the link above. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 8,800 women in Illinois will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. You can help the fight by raising money for research, education, advocacy, and services for patients and their families. Get your team together today 09/04/2008

Art Spectacular at the Carillon! Celebrate the 3rd Annual Art Spectacular at the Carillon Juried Fine Art and Craft Show on Saturday, September 13th from 10am-5pm and Sunday, September 14th from 10am-4pm on the grounds of Washington Park at the Carillon. There will be original artwork for sale, artist demonstrations, music, door prizes and food vendors. The Kid's Place will have celebrity story readers, crafts, and music, plus there will be a Kid's Art Sale for children through age 12. The Art Fair is FREE and the Kid's Place is $1 per child. 09/04/2008

By BRIAN ROSSSept. 1, 2008 The McCain campaign raised more than $10 million in the two and a half days after Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was named as the vice presidential running mate, bringing the total raised in the month of August to more than $47 million, campaign officials tell ABC News. Republican presidential candidate John McCain (L) and his running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) attend a campaign rally in O'Fallon, Missouri on August 31, 2008. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)  The final, official figures are expected to be reported in the next few days, but the amount appears to be a record for the McCain campaign, almost twice as much as it has raised in any other single month.  "We're still counting," said campaign spokesman Brian Rogers. 09/01/2008

 Some interesting facts that you may or may not have know: Termites are affected by music; Termites will eat your house twice as fast if you play loud music. A full grown bear can run as fast as a horse. The dot over the letter "i" is called a tittle. Children grow faster in the springtime. A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out. Apples, not caffeine, are the most efficient at waking you up in the morning. You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching tv. The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache. The most collect calls are made on Father's Day. The first Ford cars had Dodge engines. Walt Disney was afraid of mice.        08/22/2008

I have always been a big fan of Abraham Lincoln and studied his biography and collected many of his quotations. Abraham Lincoln Is Who You Need To Buy Your House. A great reader. With Abe as your buyer nothing funny would slip by in your contract. We are not enemies, but friends. At the closing table there would be no hiccups. No slavery. There would be no such thing as accepting a subprime loan for your house. Common looking people are the best. Your home would be bought by the masses of types of buyers. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Harmonious with all parties. Four score and seven. If you wanted to rent it out, only 87 yr old little ladies who paid on time. Leave nothing for tomorrow. No fence sitters but decision makers only.   And finally a dreamer and a believer wi... 08/21/2008

The Voice for Real EstateTM in the Capital Area FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEdsale@caaronline.com 217.698.7000 Contact: Dan Sale                                                                       CAAR Launches Consumer Awareness Campaign  SPRINGFIELD (August 4, 2008) In a consumer awareness campaign launched today, the Capital Area Association of REALTORS® is urging consumers to "Hop Off The Fence" and take advantage of the ideal conditions for buying a home in the Capital area.    The campaign's goal is to provide Capital area consumers with an accurate picture of the state of the local real estate market.  Its tagline "Interest rates are low. Inventory is high.  There's never been a better time to buy."  highlights two of the factors that showcase how healthy the market really is.  "Consum... 08/04/2008

Early removal by hand is an effective way of controlling these noisome pests BY JENNIFER FISHBURN     CHRIS WARE/MCT Japanese beetle adults are munching on roses, lindens, raspberries, and apple trees in your neighborhood. These voracious foliage and fruit feeders, which dine on nearly 300 species of plants, are busiest from late June until mid-August. The Japanese beetle, Popilia japonica Newman, is metallic green with coppery wing covers. The half-inch-long beetles chew the leaf tissue between the veins, leaving a skeletonized leaf. Adults most actively feed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on warm, sunny days. Normally they start feeding on the upper portions of a plant and work downward. Japanese beetles prefer plants exposed to direct sunlight. A native of Japan, the Japanese beetle first... 07/30/2008

Springfield drops the ball on promised east-side community center BY AMANDA Three years ago, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin gave hope to Springfield's east side. He promised the city's most neglected residents that he would help them build a much-needed community center, and he delivered. Durbin announced with great fanfare at a Springfield press conference that he had secured an initial $750,000 for the project and that the Boys & Girls Club would take the lead. Things got off to a rocky start when the Springfield Ministerial Alliance - whose members reportedly initiated the project in October 2003 and helped acquire the federal funding - accused the Boys & Girls Club of stealing the reins of the project. When the alliance moved to form its own nonprofit group, the Community Center Foundation, ... 07/29/2008

Light a fire, and make coconut crème brûlée BY JULIANNE  GLATZ PHOTO BY BOB PEPPING AND DAN ROSENSTRAUCH/MCTALSO IN REAL CUISINE Notes from the road Feasting on flowers Tomato terror More (114)...ALSO IN FOOD & DRINK Restaurant Directory (Jun. 18, 2008) Come fry with me Grape-leaf group therapy More (225)... I firmly believe that every woman should have her own blowtorch. Men, too. Few things are more empowering than having that blue-white tongue of flame under your control. A blowtorch is a handy thing to have in the kitchen. It can be used to brown the top of a casserole or meringue pie. It can be used to peel peppers: Torch them until the skin is completely blackened, wrap them in a paper towel or bag, and let them steam for a few minutes; the peel then easily wipes away. It can be u... 07/29/2008

Lent doesn't have to mean fish sticks BY KIM O'DONNEL     I think I've figured out why so many fish eaters consider themselves vegetarians. It's a Catholic thing, y'all. Lent - the 40-day fasting period leading up to Easter - is under way. For Catholics that means giving up meat, particularly on Fridays and designated holy days. Their definition of meat, however, applies only to land-dwelling animals; therefore fish (and other creatures of the sea) is not flesh and, as such, is considered acceptable Lenten (and, for some, vegetarian) fare.When I was a kid, Friday night was fish-stick night in the five-or-so weeks before the Easter bunny arrived. At my house it was a box of Mrs. Paul's rectangles, dumped unceremoniously onto a baking sheet and warmed up just enough to be dunked into a po... 07/29/2008

Suzanne Schmid/The State Journal-Register Ian Richardson, 15, of Chatham wins the cow chip throwing contest Saturday at the Chatham Sweet Corn Festival. Ian had a mighty toss of 147 feet.   By BRIAN EASON STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER Posted Jul 19, 2008 @ 11:33 PM You can almost taste it.The sweet aroma of corn, funnel cake and - cow chips? It must be that time of year again.The Chatham Sweet Corn Festival, armed to the teeth with 13,000 ears of corn and an ever-growing arsenal of events, played host to more than 10,000 visitors this weekend, wrapping up its 35th year.This year's schedule included the ever-popular cow chip throw, live music and a variety of carnival games for all ages. And, of course, all the corn you can eat.Hosted by the Chatham Jaycees, it's hard to imagine the summer fes... 07/20/2008

 Saturday, February 28, 2009, 8 p.m. Sponsor : United Community Bank __________________________________________________________ Hailed as "an extraordinarily versatile orchestra" by The Los Angeles Times, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is composed of jazz music's leading soloists under the leadership of musical director Wynton Marsalis. Drawing from an extensive repertoire that includes original compositions by Mr. Marsalis, Ted Nash, Ron Westray and other members of the orchestra, as well as the masterworks of Ellington, Mingus, Coltrane, and other great jazz composers, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra's concerts are internationally critically-acclaimed. Individual tickets for this event go on sale Friday, August 22, 10 a.m. 07/11/2008

Sunday, February 8, 2009, 3 p.m. __________________________________________________________ Direct from China, this dazzling company of 35 performers mesmerizes and mystifies with its stunning displays of the best in Chinesemartial arts, illusion and acrobats, all set to traditional music. Founded over50 years ago, this troupe has been one of the most influential acrobatic ensemblesin the world, having won every important award in international competitions. From plate-spinning to cycling stunts to bench-juggling with their feet, TheNational Acrobats of China never cease to amaze audiences around the globe. Individual tickets for this event go on sale Friday, August 22, 10 a.m 07/11/2008

 Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 7:30 p.m. __________________________________________________________ Experience what Beatlemania was all about!  From Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road!- They look like them and they sound just like them!  "The next best thing to seeing The Beatles," raves the Denver Post.   All the music and vocals are performed totally live!  RAIN covers the Fab Four from the earliest beginnings through the psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. RAIN is a multi-media, multi-dimensional experience...a fusion of historical footage and hilarious television commercials from the 1960s lights up video screens and live cameras zoom in for close-ups.  "Uncanny! RAIN are a quartet of fine musicians in their own right...as The Beatles, they triumph!" ch... 07/11/2008

 Thursday, January 22, 2009, 7:30 p.m. __________________________________________________________ The Russian National Ballet Company was founded in Moscow during the transitional period of Perestroika in the late 1980s and incorporated graduates from the great Russian choreographic schools of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Perm.  Today, the Russian National Ballet Theatre is its own institution, with a full compliment of dancers of singular instruction and vast experience, many of whom have been with the company since its inception. "The Russian National Ballet Theatre, Directed by Elena Radchenko, is a cut above many of its rivals." - Alexandera Tomalonis - Washington Post 07/11/2008

"Goodnight Moon" and "The Runaway Bunny"Friday, January 30, 2009, 7 p.m. __________________________________________________________ Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny's  pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his loving mum. Both tales feature endearing rabbit characters, and the soothing rhythms of bunny banter and dream-like imagery never fail to infuse young readers with a reassuring sense of security. Mermaid Theatre's staged adaptation will bring a new sense of appreciation to stories that have delighted several generations.   07/11/2008

An Evening With David Crosby And Graham NashSunday, October 26, 2008, 7 p.m. __________________________________________________________ Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers David Crosby and Graham Nash embark on a tour as "two together," and are coming to Sangamon Auditorium, UIS. Billed as An Evening With David Crosby And Graham Nash, this special performance offers a rare opportunity to savor an intimate, harmony-heavy experience with two of rock's most legendary singer- 07/11/2008

The St. John's Hospital Old Capitol Farmers' Market is open for business. Newsradio WTAX is proud to present the Old Capitol Farmers' Market Grower of the Week. Each week through October, we'll feature the grower of the week and let you know where to find them when they're not at the market. June 25th-Don Bloomfield. Don brings plants, flowers, vegetables, herbs and sweet corn to the Farmers' Market. You can contact him at 652-6975.June 18th-Mike Butcher. Mike sells organic lettuce and specialty greens. He is from Good Earth Farm in Lynnville. He can be reached at 370-4530.June 11th-Rose Mary Garrett. Rose Mary sells tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, basil, flowers, strawberries, and rhubarb. You can reach her at Garrett Hygrophonics at 652-6975.May 28th- Ken Knoles. Ken sells bedding plant... 07/11/2008

WTAX and ABC News Channel 20 are teaming up with Horace Mann to Stuff the Bus! Come out to the Horace Mann parking lot on Saturday, July 26th from 8am-Noon to donate new school supplies for the children of Springfield Public School District #186. Each car that donates supplies gets a certificate for one free ice cream in a cup from Cold Stone Creamery. Here is a list of needed school supplies. Watch the ABC News Channel 20 commerical with Bob Murray here. 07/11/2008