Heard on the Street

EARTH HEROES

Wanted by the Dickerson Park Zoo: names of individuals, school classrooms or other groups that actively support the environment through hard work, personal involvement or financial aid. They can be nominated for the Earth Hero award, which will presented April 20 during Earth Day activities at the Zoo. Candidates must, by their actions, help reduce waste, protect and preserve nature and wildlife, clean up the environment and support other environmental causes. Nominations are being taken until April 1. For more information, call Melinda Mancuso or Mike Crocker at the zoo.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Actually starting at 2 p.m. March 16, the day after the Irish saint's feast day, the 20th annual St. Patrick's Day parade has a new route this year. The parade, sponsored by DDEC.net, will begin at the new Jordan Valley Ice Park and wend its way to Park Central Square. Parade participants should gather at the ice park at noon to line up. To keep this year's parade safe, the following rules apply:

Do not throw candy, as children trying to catch or pick up candy thrown from a moving vehicle are at risk of being hit and injured. If you have giveaway items, have walkers accompany your float to hand those items to children.

Do not drink alcoholic beverages in or on your vehicle.

GOOSED

Missouri's population of Canada geese, the successful product of a Department of Conservation restoration program undertaken four decades ago, has become too much of a good thing in some areas. According to the Conservation Department, that may mean being chased by a territorial 10-pound gander, dealing with a municipal water supply contaminated with goose droppings or paying thousands of dollars to repair damage to golf course greens and fairways caused by grazing geese. Because geese begin nesting now and in March, the department recommends that people begin making places where geese aren't wanted less hospitable to them. Home-owners can allow their grass to grow to six to eight inches to discourage geese from feeding on their property, and adding trees, shrubs or a short fence around a pond or lake discourages geese from moving in. Meanwhile, longer hunting seasons and higher bag limits are among the steps the department has taken to help control goose populations.

CAREER CHANGE?

Tired of the executive suit and tie? Tired of riding herd on staff? Feel like you're ready to take the reins? The Dixie Stampede in Branson is looking for horseback riders, dancers and performers for its 2002 season. Show up at the theater, at 1525 W. 76 Country Blvd., at 10 a.m. Feb. 26 and try your luck. Dixie Stampede notes that horseback riding and/or dance training is helpful. We would recommend it.

FINAL BOW

Robert Bradley, head of the theater and dance department at Southwest Missouri State University for 31 years, takes his last bow with the presentation of "Oklahoma" at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts in March. "I have never directed a Rogers and Hamerstein musical before, and I said that I never would," Bradley said. "But I have been teaching a musical theater history class, and you cannot look at musical theater without looking at Rogers and Hamerstein. So, when we decided on the plays for this season, I decided that I would make a Rogers and Hamerstein production my final production." Bradley, who has been with SMSU for 39 years, will resign June 30.

SLICE OF NICE

Spay Neuter Clinic of the Ozarks will sponsor Spay Springfield, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Feb. 26 at Petsmart, 3500 S. Glenstone. The event features silent auctions, contests and pet-related prize giveaways. All proceeds from the event help provide low-cost spay-neuter services to reduce the number of animals killed in shelters each year, now estimated at 5 million. That's one cat or dog every 6.5 seconds. In the Springfield area, more than 13,000 unwanted animals were killed in 2001.

TWICE OF NICE

The Southeast Lion's Club will host a chili luncheon to benefit the Developmental Cen-ter of the Ozarks 11 a.m.-1 p.m. March 15 at 1545 E. Pythian, in the boardroom in the Adult Services Building. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased by calling Marci Bowling at the Developmental Center of the Ozarks.