Heard on the Street

ZOO FUNNIES

To the consternation of some city dwellers, City Council is still considering limited sales of alcoholic beverages at some park functions, most notably the Dickerson Park Zoo. Council will vote on the matter at the March 25 meeting. The first public hearing drew 20 speakers opposed to the sale of alcoholic beverages. At the Feb. 25 meeting, council amended the proposal to take other parks out of the equation. But anti-alcohol sentiment still runs high. A pundit mailed SBJ two poster suggestions for the zoo fund-raisers. Pro-ponents of alcohol sales believe such sales will increase attendance, so one poster depicts a bear with a beermug. The poster reads "Join Friends of the Zoo We Love DWI's, Donating While Intoxicated." The other poster features a slightly soused Bubba-type in a ballcap, a cold beer in his hand. The sign reads "Join! Friends of the Zoo. We love a cheerful giver!"

WHO'S A GOOD NEIGHBOR?

Realtor Magazine, the official publication of the National As-sociation of Realtors, is looking for Realtors who are good neighbors to honor with its third annual award. Realtors who show community commitment above and beyond the call of duty will be recognized in November at the 2002 Realtors Conference & Expo in New Orleans. Winners will receive travel expenses to the convention, a $5,000 grant and national media exposure for their community cause. Five honorable mention winners each will receive $1,000 grants. More than 200 entries were considered last year. Good Neighbor Award nominations must be received by May 1, 2002. For more information go to www.realtormag.com.

AG DEPARTMENT CHECKS SCALES

Although you may be shocked when you step on your bathroom scale, that shouldn't happen when you weigh fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. And when a farmer buys a ton of corn to feed cows, it better be a ton. That's where the Missouri Department of Agriculture comes in. Its Division of Weights and Measures last year inspected 99.4 percent of all commercial scales in Missouri. Inspectors went to 9,000 grocery stores, grain elevators and other businesses with commercial scales to make sure the dang things worked right!

CALLING MATURE ARTISTS!

Artists 65 years and older who live within a 100-mile radius of Springfield are welcomed to submit original artwork for the seventh annual Senior Art Exhibition that runs April 2-27. Bradley Fisher, PhD, director of the gerontology program and Gerontology Club at Southwest Missouri State University, which sponsors the event, said each artist may submit two works of art with a submission fee of $5 each. Submissions will be taken in person between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. April 1 in Fuldner Hall at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Art is ageless, Fisher said. "As people age, I see them pursing new goals in life, continuing to be creative, and seeking new ways of living." The exhibit theme, "Celebrating Creativity in Late Life," symbolizes successful aging, Fisher said. The juried exhibit in-cludes all mediums, including three-dimensional works, such as sculpture, Fisher said. "The gerontology program at SMSU is committed to organizing this event as a creative implementation of the public affairs mission of the university." Best of Show will receive a $75 gift certificate to the National Art Shop, one of the sponsors. Studio 55 Fine Arts Guild also sponsors. There will be seven other jury awards, Fisher said. A reception will be held April 3 at the Hammons Hall, where the art works will be displayed. For more information, contact Fisher via SMSU's gerontology department.

SLICE OF NICE

A cell phone might be able to save the life of a victim of do-mestic violence. To that end, U.S.Sen. Kit Bond announced Feb. 25 that his district offices are accepting used cell phones to be donated to victims of do-mestic violence. His local office is at 1700 S. Campbell, Suite E. "These phones serve as a lifeline in an emergency by providing victims with instant access to help," Bond said. "Phones collected through this national donation program (Call To Pro-tect) will be used to increase the number of wireless phones available to victims of abuse." Phones are also accepted directly at the Family Violence Center's general office at 519 E. Cherry. The shelter always needs devotions of office equipment and supplier, clo-thing, items for personal hygiene and children's toys.