| Each outing will last approximately 90 
			minutes, and walks are limited to 15 people. The outing will be on 
			foot, so walkers should dress for the weather (rain or shine), wear 
			good walking shoes and bring insect repellent. Master Gardeners in Macon, 
			Sangamon-Menard, McLean, Peoria and Logan counties can obtain 
			continuing education credit for the walk. Contact your Master 
			Gardener coordinator directly for credit.  To complement the walks, the 
			Elkhart Historical Society is offering a special "Walk with Lunch 
			and Lecture" at noon on each date. Lunch includes soup and 
			half-sandwich or quiche, with dessert and beverage, at Wild Hare 
			Café, 102 Gov. Oglesby St. in historic downtown Elkhart.  Reservations are required. The cost 
			for the Wildflower Nature Walk only is $10 for adults and $7.50 for 
			children 12 and younger. For the walk, lunch and lecture, the cost 
			is $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. Children must 
			be accompanied by an adult. Make this a family event. For more 
			information and the online, printable reservation form, go to
			
			www.elkharthistoricalsociety.org.  
For information on more activities and events 
during Elkhart's April "Celebrate Spring!" weekends, visit
www.explorelogancounty.com/ElkhartIL. 
 
			
			 Guest speakers for Elkhart's 'Celebrate Spring!' weekends 
	Elkhart is sponsoring speakers every Sunday 
	afternoon during the April "Celebrate Spring!" weekends. On April 14 and 28 
	from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., author Holly Labisky, of Champaign, will speak in 
	the St. John the Baptist Chapel in Elkhart Cemetery. Bob McCue, of Mount 
	Pulaski, will entertain at Elkhart Cemetery on April 21 from 1:30 to 2:30 
	p.m. Ms. Labisky visited over 520 cemeteries in 38 counties in Illinois 
			to gather material for her book, "Cemeterying With Hope." Labisky 
			will speak on a variety of topics regarding cemeteries and will 
			share stories of her adventures in Elkhart and Logan County. She 
			will read excerpts from her book and will be available for book 
			signing, questions and conversation following the presentation. She 
			also will provide the opportunity for activities and challenges for 
			those who are interested in an interactive experience. "Cemeterying 
			With Hope" will be available for purchase at the Birdsong Books & 
			Vintage Shop in historic downtown Elkhart and is available on eBay 
			by the title.  Bob McCue, dressed in period costume, will entertain on the topic 
			of "The Life of Captain A.H. Bogardus." Bogardus (1834-1913) was a 
			sharpshooter champion, inventor of the Bogardus trap and patented 
			one of the most successful of the glass ball targets. He toured with 
			Buffalo Bill Cody's "Wild West" show, with Annie Oakley in 1911 and 
			had his own "Captain A.H. Bogardus' Wild West and Frontier 
			Exhibition." Bogardus was a resident of Elkhart at the time he was 
			crowned American Wing Shot Champion and when he won the world 
			championship medal in London in 1875. McCue, a direct descendant of 
			Bogardus, will speak near the gravesite of Bogardus in Elkhart 
			Cemetery. 
	The one-hour talks are free of charge, but space is limited. For 
			information on all activities and events during Elkhart's "Celebrate 
			Spring!" weekends, visit
	www.explorelogancounty.com/ElkhartIL. 
 
	
			
			 Lincoln Woman's Club annual sale Friday and Saturday 
	The Lincoln Woman's Club, 
	230 N. McLean, is hosting a garage sale Friday, April 12, from 8 a.m. to 5 
	p.m. and Saturday, April 13, from 8 a.m. to noon. Proceeds from the garage 
	sale will be used to maintain and preserve the club building and for 
	community service projects. 
			 
            The Lincoln Woman's Club was organized 
			in 1896 and has continually served the community since that time. 
			Projects supported by the club include Sojourn, Salvation Army, 
			Veterans’ Homes, Project Santa for the deployed military, glass 
			recycling, Lincoln Public Library, summer concerts in the park, 
			blood bank, and music and speech scholarships. 
			 The building, which was constructed 
			in 1910 and originally served as Temple Bethel, was purchased by the 
			Lincoln Woman's Club in 1927. The club continues to meet monthly in 
			the historic structure and is working to preserve it for future 
			generations. 
 
			
			 Habitat 
			for Humanity monthly electronics recycling Saturday Habitat for Humanity of Logan 
			County will collect electronics Saturday morning, April 13, for 
			recycling. The monthly collection is at the Habitat for Humanity 
			warehouse, 915 Woodlawn Road, from 9 a.m. to noon. This is free of 
			charge to the public. In the first year of the program, 
			208,554 pounds of electronic material was collected for recycling, 
			with over 50 percent of the total weight comprised of televisions 
			and computer monitors. The 
			following items will be accepted: 
				
				
				Entertainment equipment, including 
				TVs, radios, stereo and game systems, game controls, VCR and DVD 
				players, and cameras.
				
				Computer equipment, including 
				laptop and desktop personal computers, hard drives, monitors, 
				keyboards, printers, scanners, cords and cables, CD-ROM, DVD, 
				Zip and tape drives.
				
				Small business equipment, 
				including phones, copiers, typewriters, fax machines and 
				calculators.
				Small 
				household and countertop appliances will also be accepted, as 
				well as aluminum, copper, brass and stainless steel items. Electronics are not to be left at 
			the site and are not collected outside the hours of the collection. Additional information on the 
			electronics recycling is available through Habitat for Humanity of 
			Logan County by contacting the office at 217-732-6412 or visiting 
			the website at 
			www.habitatlogan.org. 
 
	
			
			 Elkhart's 
	'Celebrate Spring!' weekends -- special events scheduled for April 
	ELKHART -- Every weekend in April will be busy 
	in Elkhart as the village celebrates spring weather and the beauty of 
	Elkhart Hill. For a complete listing of events, including dates, times and 
			reservation information, see
			
			www.explorelogancounty.com/ElkhartIL, or visit the Welcome 
			Center in the Village Hall on Gov. Oglesby Street in historic 
			downtown Elkhart for information on events. The center is open each 
			weekend in April from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The following is a list of 
			some of the activities on Saturdays and Sundays in Elkhart during 
			April: 
				
				
				Wildflower Nature 
				Walks and lectures  
				
				Elkhart Vintage 
				Market
				
				Artisan Craft Fair
				
				Book signing and 
				lecture: "Cemeterying with Hope," with Holly Labisky
				
				Dragonfly Art 
				Studio open house and art classes
				
				Self-guided tours 
				at St. John the Baptist Chapel
				
				Capt. Bogardus 
				lectures, with Bob McCue
				
				Bird Watcher Walks 
				and lectures
				
				Book displays and 
				book sales at the Elkhart Public Library
				
				Geocaching  
				
				Coffee, homemade 
				rolls and baked goods sale at the Elkhart Welcome Center
				
				Dining specials at 
				local restaurants
				Violin recitals by the students of 
				Birdsong   The quaint village of Elkhart offers unique businesses and 
			quality services in restored structures in the historic downtown. 
			Elkhart is less than one mile from Interstate 55 and right off Old 
			Route 66, providing convenient access. Rich in history and natural 
			beauty, Elkhart is famous for its unusual landscape -- a 
			tree-covered hill that rises 777 feet above sea level, surrounded by 
			a horizon of flat Illinois prairie land. The site was settled in 
			1855, and the picturesque early 1900s-style downtown makes Elkhart 
			one-of-a-kind.   
			If you plan to enjoy all the activities over the weekend, 
			overnight accommodations are available at the Best Western Plus in 
			Lincoln, just minutes north of Elkhart on Old Route 66. Call 
			217-732-9641 and ask for the Elkhart discount, or visit the
			
			website. The Best Western Lincoln Inn is home to the 
			Railsplitter Covered Wagon, the largest covered wagon in the world:http://www.abe66.com/coveredwagon/
 Or stay at the Hampton Inn, where the special Elkhart "Celebrate 
			Spring!" weekend rate is $74 plus tax per night. Call 217-732-6729 
			or visit the
			
			website. 
 
			
			 Elkhart's 'Celebrate Spring!' 
			weekends include unique shopping opportunities ELKHART -- The Elkhart 
	Vintage Market and the Elkhart Artisan Craft Fair return to celebrate the 
	beginning of the new season during Elkhart's "Celebrate Spring!" weekends in 
	April. The tremendous popularity and success of both venues during the 2012 
	spring events in Elkhart has prompted their return this year. Expanding to four buildings and an outdoor area (weather 
			permitting), the Elkhart Vintage Market returns to historic downtown 
			Elkhart on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. With more than 
			20 vendors, items include retro, repurposed, antique, housewares, 
			clothing, small furniture -- and more. Everything old is new again 
			at the Elkhart Vintage Market. 
			Looking for something unusual? 
			Sarah Wilson, an Elkhart resident, says: "You never know what 
			interesting, quirky item you will find. Last year I picked up a book 
			called 'Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other 
			Botanical Atrocities,' by Amy Stewart. It's a very interesting, 
			unique book!" The Artisan Craft Fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 
			20-21 and April 27-28 in historic downtown Elkhart. With over 20 
			booths, local crafters will provide shoppers with all types of 
			handmade items to purchase, including children's items, jewelry, 
			wood and gourd crafts, bags and totes, walking sticks and canes, 
			hand-sewn items, purses, wine glasses, and tarts and warmers.   
For a complete listing of events, including dates, times and 
			reservation information, see
			
			www.explorelogancounty.com/ElkhartIL, or visit the Elkhart 
			Welcome Center for information. The Welcome Center is open every 
			Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Village Hall on 
			Gov. Oglesby Street in historic downtown Elkhart.  
 
			
			 Music recital scheduled for 
			Elkhart's 'Celebrate Spring!' weekend 
	ELKHART -- Students of 
	Birdsong are planning a special recital during Elkhart's "Celebrate Spring" 
	weekend. The recital will be at Birdsong Books & Vintage Shoppe, 111 Gov. 
	Oglesby St. in historic downtown Elkhart, on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. 
			 
            The Aeolian String Duo will present the concert. Jean Tweet, 
			violinist, played for years with the Illinois Symphony and now 
			teaches violin lessons at her Birdsong Books & Vintage Shoppe in 
			Elkhart. The shop is a rebirth of Nellie's Café, built in 1914 and 
			an Elkhart institution for years. Birdsong has retained the marble 
			soda fountain counter from Nellie's Café and the mirrored wall piece 
			behind it that features lighted stained-glass windows, as well as 
			two café booths. Come view the old soda fountain and sit in the 
			wooden booths while enjoying the music recitals.   There is no charge for the recital. For more information, call 
			217-691-7966.   For information on all activities and events during Elkhart's 
			"Celebrate Spring!" weekend, see
			
			www.explorelogancounty.com/ElkhartIL. 
	 
 
	
			
			 Bosom 
	Buddies announce 2 Relay For Life team fundraisers 
	The Relay For Life team Bosom Buddies will 
	raise funds with a carryout mostaccioli lunch on Saturday, April 20, at 
	Jefferson Street Christian Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
			The meal includes homemade mostaccioli 
			(with the sauce donated by Guzzardo's), green beans and garlic 
			bread. To purchase a meal, 
			contact Bob Hashman at 217-671-1993. The team is also having a 
			fundraiser in partnership with the Texas Roadhouse in Decatur on 
			Thursday, April 11. To learn how to participate in that fundraiser 
			as well, contact Hashman. 
 [to top of second 
			column] | 
 
 
			
			 Logan County Democrats meet Saturday 
	The next meeting of the Logan County Democrats 
	will be on Saturday, April 13, at 10 a.m. in the Pegram Room at the Lincoln 
	Public Library. All Logan County Democrats are welcome to attend. 
	Refreshments will be served. 
 
			
			 New 
	springtime hours at Lincoln city landfill 
	Now through May 5 the city 
	landscape waste facility in Lincoln will be open every day except Monday 
	from 8 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. Beginning May 8 the facility will go 
			back to normal hours of operation, which are Wednesday and Saturday 
			only from 8 a.m. to 3.50 p.m. 
						The public is reminded that the city 
			landfill accepts only landscape waste. 
 
			
			 Chamber 
	seeks nominations for outstanding office professionals 
	The Lincoln/Logan County 
	Chamber of Commerce is planning its annual Office Professionals Luncheon for 
	Thursday, April 25. Each year the chamber celebrates many outstanding 
	individuals in their field along with one exceptional individual who will 
	win the prestigious Office Professional of the Year award. This award will 
	be given to an individual who does outstanding work, is dedicated to his or 
	her job, gives 110 percent, and is always going that extra mile. 
            Nominations are being accepted for this award until 
			Friday, April 
			12, and can be made online through the chamber's website,
			www.lincolnillinois.com. 
			The April 25 luncheon, catered by Guzzardo's Italian Villa, will 
			be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus in 
			Lincoln. Each year office professionals from Logan County come together at 
			this event to celebrate excellence in the workforce. Many 
			organizations and businesses show their appreciation to their office 
			staff by sending them to the luncheon, recognizing that this is a 
			great break in the day for those who are essentially the backbone of 
			their organization or business.  In additional to having the opportunity to get out of the 
			workplace for an afternoon, win prizes and eat delicious food, 
			guests at this event will have the opportunity to hear from John 
			Blackburn, president of Lincoln College. He is a dynamic, engaging 
			speaker who will use stories of his personal successes to inspire 
			and motive audience members. The chamber of commerce values office professionals and 
			appreciates the excellence they strive for every day. The chamber 
			encourages businesses to reward their office staff by offering them 
			a timeout in their busy day to come and enjoy the lunch and speaker. Many local businesses will also be on hand to showcase their 
			expertise, offer services to those attending and provide door 
			prizes. Booths will be open before and after lunch. The chamber 
			offers this opportunity for guests to visit with local businesses 
			and learn more about what they have to offer and how those services 
			can improve their personal and professional lives.  For more information on the Office Professionals Luncheon, 
			including reservation forms, sponsorship information and booth space 
			registration forms, contact Meghan Hough at
			info@lincolnillinois.com, 
			call 217-735-2385 or visit
			
			http://www.lincolnillinois.com/Events_OfficeProfessionalsLuncheon.aspx.
 The Office Professionals Luncheon is an important part of the 
			chamber's mission to advocate, support and unify local businesses 
			for the prosperity of Logan County. 
 
			
			 Integrity 
	Data announces 2013 Community Giving Program 
	Integrity Data is announcing its 2013 
	Community Giving Program, which will provide $7,500 in funding to local 
	organizations involved in helping those in need, as well as community 
	progress initiatives and projects focused on improving the use of technology 
	within public service organizations.
			 Integrity Data is honored to be a part 
			of the Lincoln business community. The ability to give back to the 
			community to help it grow and prosper is important to their team and 
			is considered a measurement of the company's overall success. Their 
			Community Giving Program was established in 2008 with the goal of 
			having a meaningful impact on the Lincoln community. A number of 
			local organizations have received grant funding from the program 
			since its inception. A list of 2010-2012 recipients is available on 
			the company website at
			
			http://integrity-data.com/grants.aspx. 
			The 2013 Community Giving program will 
			provide $7,500 in funding. This amount may be granted to a single 
			organization or divided among multiple organizations. Applicants may 
			apply for any amount up to $7,500. The intent of the program is to 
			fund specific projects or to provide special-use funding. Applicants 
			should not apply for grants to be used for general administrative 
			funds. Eligibility requirements and 
			application instructions are available on the company's website at
			
			http://integrity-data.com/grants.aspx. Integrity Data will 
			accept applications through 5 p.m. on April 30.  Questions about the program or its 
			procedures should be emailed to
			grants@integrity-data.com 
			or call Integrity Data at 217-732-3737. Integrity Data is a software 
			development company located in Lincoln. Since 1996, Integrity Data 
			has built software solutions for customers across the globe, 
			allowing them to extend the capabilities of their business software 
			systems and increase their return on investment. Integrity Data was founded with the following core values: 
			 
				
				
				Integrity and honesty in all 
				relationships 
				
				Passion for customers, partners 
				and technology 
				
				Willingness to take on big 
				challenges and see them through 
				Commitment to excellence, results and quality to customers, 
				partners and employees 
 
			
			 New 
	bereavement support group to meet at ALMH 
	A bereavement support group will begin in 
	April at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. 
			The first meeting will be on Thursday, April 11, at 5 p.m. in ALMH's Steinfort 
			Meeting Room. Meetings will be the second Thursday of each month at 
			the same time and place. Sponsored by Memorial Home Services 
			Hospice, the meetings are geared for adults. "Our support group will provide an opportunity for people to be 
			able to mutually share and support each other," said Bitsy Knepler, 
			bereavement coordinator for Memorial Home Services Hospice. "Those 
			who have suffered a loss can discuss their feelings, gain support 
			from others in a similar situation and know that they are not 
			alone." Memorial Home Services Hospice offers similar support groups in 
			Jacksonville, Taylorville and Springfield. For more information, call 800-582-8667. 
 
			
			 Mount 
	Pulaski landscape waste pickup schedule 
	MOUNT PULASKI -- City 
	pickup dates for landscape waste in Mount Pulaski this year are April 8, 
	May 6, June 3, July 8, Aug. 5, Aug. 30, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2. 
            On the above dates, Mount Pulaski city 
			crews will remove landscape waste that has been placed in the area 
			between the sidewalk and the edge of the street. If the weather is 
			bad on the scheduled dates, then the city will pick up the landscape 
			waste on the next day with good weather. 
			The following rules must be followed: 
				
				
				Have your landscape waste ready 
				for pickup by 7 a.m. on the scheduled dates.
				This is a new requirement.
				All small debris, grass, leaves, 
				etc. must be in bags.
				
				Do not place any material in the 
				street or on the sidewalks.
				
				Place all material within 6 feet 
				of the edge of the pavement.
				
				Do not remove entire trees from 
				your private property and place them for the city pickup.
				
				If you hire a contractor to remove 
				your trees, have your contractor haul the material to the sewage 
				treatment plant and place the material in the proper location.
				Excessive 
				amounts of material will not be removed by the city. 
			A separate notice for leaf pickup 
			service in the fall will be published later. For more information, contact City 
			Hall at 792-3222. ___ City notice 
 
			
			 Mount Pulaski water main flushing dates MOUNT PULASKI -- The water department in Mount Pulaski will flush 
			the water mains on Tuesday, April 16, and Wednesday, April 17. 
			The system will be flushed in the evening, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. The water main 
			flushing will cause the water to become cloudy, but the water is 
			safe to drink. The cloudiness will last approximately one day after 
			each flushing. Laundry should be scheduled accordingly. For more information, contact City Hall at 792-3222. ___ City notice 
 
			
			 HSLC 
			now seeking donations for 2nd annual garage sale The Humane Society of Logan County is seeking donations of goods 
			for the second annual "Big Spring Garage Sale." Clean, gently used 
			items for donation can be dropped off every Wednesday and Saturday, 
			beginning April 3, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Logan County 
			Fairgrounds. Use the south entrance. For more information or to arrange pickup, call 732-1979 or 
			732-7853. Electronics cannot be accepted.  This year's sale will be May 10 and 11, a Friday and Saturday, at 
			the Logan County Fairgrounds. Items for sale will include home decor, toys, sporting goods, 
			furniture, clothes, shoes, accessories, holiday items, outdoor 
			goods, books, CDs, DVDs and much more. There will also be food, 
			music and fun stuff just for kids. With the support of the community, the HSLC was able to open a 
			shelter in 2011. Since then, they have placed more than 200 cats and 
			dogs in forever homes, and facilitated in more than 400 low-cost 
			spay and neuters per year.  
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