| For your convenience, call Alexis to sign up toll-free at 
			1-866-GIVE-BLD (1-866-448-3253), ext. 5158, or schedule an 
			appointment online using sponsor code 60057 at
			
			www.bloodcenterimpact.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and truly 
			appreciated. Central Illinois Community Blood Center, a not-for-profit 
			organization, is the provider of lifesaving blood for 14 hospitals 
			throughout central Illinois, including Abraham Lincoln Memorial 
			Hospital in Lincoln and Memorial Medical Center and St. John's 
			Hospital in Springfield. CICBC is a division of the Mississippi 
			Valley Regional Blood Center, which collects over 180,000 units of 
			blood annually and serves 87 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri 
			and Wisconsin. 
 
	
			
			 United 
	Way of Logan County to hold annual meeting Jan. 9 
	The United Way of Logan County will have its 
	annual meeting Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 5:30 p.m. Board members will elect new 
	officers, and new members of the board will be approved. 
			The public is invited to attend, but 
			to allow for space accommodations, please contact the office, 
			217-735-4499, by 4:30 p.m. Jan. 9. 
			The regular monthly meeting will 
			follow the annual business activity. 
 
	
			
			 Open house Sunday for Fern Stadsholt 
	MASON CITY -- A 90th birthday open house will 
	be given for Fern Stadsholt by her family on Sunday, Jan. 6, from 2 to 4 
	p.m. at the Assembly of God in Mason City. 
 
	
			 "Predictions": 
	Local artists' expressions of a future world 
	The art exhibit "Predictions" opened on a 
	snowy and blustery evening to a steady stream of gallery visitors. 
	"Predictions" is the premiere event for the Logan County Art Association. 
	The show began Dec. 20 and runs until Jan. 12 at the Lincoln Art Institute. 
			 "Predictions" was selected as the 
			theme for the show to coincide with the end-of-world predictions 
			mainly represented by the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar on 
			the winter solstice. Nine artists from Logan County contributed to 
			the exhibit, crafting their art to address their personal views on 
			the future, whether the world ends or, if not, how we as a species 
			move into and create the future. Christopher Tice, professor of art 
			at Lincoln College, created a multi-layered piece he calls 
			"Utility," essentially his view of what the world would resemble 
			after a fire consumed the planet. The piece is an amalgam of 
			ordinary objects he placed on a container and finished off in his 
			backyard forge. While the melted objects retain their shapes and 
			seem random, Tice has created symmetry on the surface. He then 
			mounted a video projector above the piece that shows a subtle 
			movement, a cycle to time, in his words. "I am trying to create a 
			visual effect on a physical surface," Tice explained.  For the exhibit, Lincoln High 
			School teacher Jason Hoffman submitted three pieces that explore his 
			current focus on the link between a museum exhibit and one for an 
			art gallery. "My pieces explore a survival aspect, whether it is the 
			end of the world or a new beginning, and how we as individuals 
			respond to mortality," he said. To Hoffman, art is something he 
			thinks about every day -- how what he sees can be translated into 
			something that speaks about the issues we face in everyday life. Moses Pinkerton, the host for the exhibit, also contributed 
			several pieces. "If a piece of my art turns out right, people should 
			be able to look at one of my works and tell what it is saying," he 
			said. He is not a big fan of the abstract movement. His piece 
			"Ripe," a hand holding an Earth burgeoning with possibilities, is a 
			personal view about the potential available to all of the occupants 
			of our planet.  Bonnie Mayo's two paintings strongly express her optimism, with 
			themes showing the sun rising on a landscape still occupied and 
			changed by people. For her, art is "a process of thinking about a 
			subject for several weeks and then getting to a point where it is 
			time to put paint on canvas," she said. "I wake up one day and know 
			the time is right to create the actual painting." She is also 
			careful to use a frame that accentuates the focus and colors of her 
			art.   While the photos accompanying this article give a sense of what 
			the artists want to convey, the exhibit definitely needs to be seen 
			in person to appreciate the creativity. The show "Predictions" is open at the Lincoln Art Institute, 112 
			S. McLean, until Jan.12. Pinkerton may be reached there at 
			217-651-8355 for more information. 
[By CURT FOX] 
 
			 City 
	Christmas tree pickup program starts Jan. 7 
	The street department in Lincoln will pick up 
	Christmas trees starting Jan. 7 for Ward 1, Jan. 8 for Ward 2, Jan. 9 for 
	Ward 3, Jan. 10 for Ward 4 and Jan. 11 for Ward 5. Trees must be by the curb 
	by 7 a.m. on the day of the scheduled pickup. 
	Trees must be free of all decorations and not 
	in a bag. Wreathes will be picked up if they are free of wiring.  
 
			 Lincoln 
	Writer's Club will meet Jan. 8 
	Lincoln Writer's Club will 
	meet Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room of the Lincoln College 
	dining hall. Suggested topics: an era when you wish 
			to have been born; a memorable Christmas gift; a person you have 
			always admired; home remedies. 
			For more info, call 732-2723. All are 
			welcome. 
 
			
			 HSLC 
			board election Jan. 30 A general membership meeting of the Humane Society of Logan 
			County will be on Jan. 30 in the Steinfort Room at Abraham Lincoln 
			Memorial Hospital, 200 Stahlhut Drive. The annual election for three seats on the board of directors of 
			the Humane Society of Logan County will be at this meeting. Anyone who is current with their dues and has been a member for 
			at least three months prior to the election may declare their intent 
			to seek election to the board of directors. If you are interested in 
			serving on the board, you may send a letter of intent to the board 
			secretary, Wanda Stevens, at 
			wstevens@ccaonline.com. 
 [to top of second 
			column] | 
 
 
			
			 Chamber 
	recognizes excellence in our community 
	The Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce 
	invites the public to help spotlight excellence in Logan County by making 
	nominations for the chamber's Pride & Progress Awards. Nominations will be 
	accepted until Jan. 7 to celebrate the achievements of chamber members in 
	the continued development and improvement of Logan County.. The Pride & Progress Awards are 
			designed to recognize outstanding achievement and promote positive 
			awareness. The awards celebrate and acknowledge excellence, 
			innovation, initiative, community involvement and are a thank-you to 
			those who go the extra mile to make Logan County a great place to 
			live, work and play.
			 Awards will be presented during the chamber annual dinner on Jan. 
			26 at the American Legion. All nominations are due by Jan. 7. 
			Awards are being given for: 
				
				Business of the 
				Year, given to a business that contributes to the community, 
				shows innovation and actively participates in events and 
				projects within the community.
				New Business of 
				the Year, given to a business that has opened in the last 12 
				months and brings something new to the community, complementing 
				and contributing to the growth of Logan County.
				Mike Abbott 
				Volunteer of the Year, given to a person who is involved, 
				committed and goes the extra mile, is dedicated and selfless for 
				the betterment of the community.
				Beautification 
				Award, given to a business that enhances, improves and 
				transforms their corner of the community into a more attractive 
				place.
				Excellence in Service, given to a 
				business that demonstrates a commitment to the community, its 
				customers and its employees, giving 100 percent always. To be eligible to receive one of the above awards, businesses or 
			individuals must be members of the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of 
			Commerce in good standing. You can nominate yourself or another chamber business for any of 
			the Pride & Progress Awards. Visit
			www.lincolnillinois.com 
			for a link to make your
			online nominations 
			and a complete chamber
			
			membership listing. The community is invited and encouraged to 
			make nominations for these awards. Pride & Progress winners from annual 
			dinner this year were: 
				
				Business of the 
				Year -- Graue Inc.
				New Business of the 
				Year -- Anytime Fitness.
				Mike Abbott 
				Volunteer of the Year -- Joe Fitzpatrick.
				Beautification 
				Award -- Lincoln Theater 4.
				Excellence in 
				Service Award -- NAPA Auto Parts.
				Ambassador of the Year, Marcia Cook. The chamber's annual dinner and the Pride & Progress Awards are 
			part of the chamber's mission to advocate, support and unify local 
			businesses of the prosperity of Logan County. 
 
			 Atlanta 
			Betterment Fund board introduces 'Rt. 66 Reinterpreted' Art Project ATLANTA -- In celebration of Route 66 and all it stands for, 
			Atlanta -- located on the Mother Road, midway between Chicago and 
			St. Louis -- announces its first "Rt. 66 Reinterpreted" Art Project.
			 Modeled on Chicago's "Cows on Parade" exhibit, the Rt. 66 
			Reinterpreted project presents artists the opportunity to create 
			their own take on one of the 20th century's most iconic and 
			recognizable symbols: the U.S. Route 66 highway shield.  Participating artists will be provided a blank, 2-foot-by-2-foot 
			wooden cutout of the Route 66 sign, painted white, which will then 
			become their personal canvas. The only requirement in creating a 
			reinterpreted shield is to incorporate the text "Illinois U.S. 66" 
			somewhere on the face of the shield, in whatever size, shape or 
			color the artist desires. Everything else about the design, style, 
			background and color of the reinterpreted shield is left to each 
			artist's imagination and creativity. The project is open to anyone 16 years old and above. Up to 50 
			entries will be accepted in this year's project, as determined by 
			the date applications are received. All 50 entries will be displayed 
			outside along Route 66 in downtown Atlanta from May 1 to Aug. 31, 
			2013. The board of directors of the Atlanta Betterment Fund will select 
			10 shields out of the 50 entries as finalists. Shields selected as 
			finalists will be judged on originality of design, overall concept 
			and quality of execution. Voting will then take place May 1-Aug. 31 to select the top five 
			shield designs as winners of the 2012 project. Anyone, anywhere may 
			vote, either in person at selected Route 66 attractions in Atlanta 
			or online via Atlanta's website at
			www.atlantaillinois.org. 
			The top five vote-getters will be the winners of the year's Rt. 66 
			Reinterpreted project. At the conclusion of the project, the five winning shields, along 
			with the names of the artists who created them, will be displayed on 
			a permanent basis in the Atlanta Route 66 Park. Entries selected as 
			one of the top five winning designs will also be showcased at the 
			International Mother Road Festival in Springfield Sept. 27-29, 2013. Artists wishing to enter the Rt. 66 Reinterpreted Art Project 
			must submit a completed application form, along with a $25 entry 
			fee. Completed applications are due on or before Feb. 1. 
			Applications received after Feb. 1 will not be accepted. Completed Rt. 66 Reinterpreted shields should be carefully 
			packaged and returned to: The Atlanta Betterment Fund, 114 SW Arch 
			St., Atlanta, IL 61723. Shields should be submitted between March 1 
			and April 5, 2013. Shields received after April 5 will not be 
			accepted.  The Atlanta Betterment Fund sponsors the Rt. 66 Reinterpreted Art 
			Project. All decisions regarding judging are final. Entries selected as 
			finalists will be notified by April 30, 2013. Entries selected as 
			one of the top five winning designs will be notified by Sept. 1, 
			2013.  Click on the "Route 66 Art Project" 
			logo at
			
			www.atlantaillinois.org for more information, including project 
			guidelines and an application form to enter the Rt. 66 Reinterpreted 
			Art Project. Or contact: William ThomasAtlanta Betterment Fund
 114 SW Arch St.
 Atlanta, IL 61723
 
			wthomas@teleologic.net
			 217-648-5077 
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