Heard on the Street

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DDEC.NET KEEPS' EM COMIN'|ret||ret||tab|

The first films at the Outdoor Cinema at Founder's Park have been rated a success, with 75 folks viewing "The Matrix" on July 13 and 100 taking in "A Bug's Life" on July 14. DDEC.net has already started planning more downtown events. The Greater Ozarks Blues Festival is set for Sept. 7-9, said Matt Miller, festival booking committee chairman. He's "99 percent sure" the fifth annual festival will be held on the grassy area at Campbell Avenue and College Street near the Old Callaboose. "This year's acts are outstanding," Miller said. Headliners include R. L. Burnside, North Mississippi All-Stars, The Holmes Brothers, Walter Trout, Reba Russel and Scott Keeton. A "blues school" will be held on Sept. 7 and the gospel stage will be expanded for Sunday. Monies raised go to Springfield Little Theatre, Springfield Symphony and DDEC.net. But back to the cinema, "we had more than 40 to 50 kids running around for A Bug's Life.' Everybody brought lawn chairs. It was just a festive atmosphere. People can bring whatever they want (like popcorn), minus alcohol or pets. They can bring a whole picnic dinner if they'd like." The next films to be screened will be "Casablanca" July 27 and "Gladiator" Aug. 3.|ret||ret||tab|

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APPLE JUICE EXTRAORDINAIRE|ret||ret||tab|

If Shellie Jones of the Urban Districts Alliance gets her way, this year's Cider Days on Walnut Street will feature a working cider press so visitors can see how the beverage is made, as well as taste it. Also in the works is a "scarecrow village" for the juried arts and crafts festival in September. "We have a lot more artists this year," Jones said. She has already received 25 applications for the 40 booth slots. Vendors need to get their applications in by Aug. 1 to UDA, which serves as event manager. Cider Days is sponsored by the Walnut Street Merchants Association. Unlike ArtsFest, Cider Days offers work by craftsmen as well as artists. Some will demonstrate their crafts, Jones said, like the woman who weaves rugs in the shape of a wagon wheel, or the woman's daughter, who sculpts dolls out of polymer material as you watch. |ret||ret||tab|

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DEEP SUMMER|ret||ret||tab|

Several occurrences indicate that it's deep summer in the Ozarks the cicadas sing on the night breeze, chiggers nibble, the Ozark Empire Fair is starting and the National Weather Services has sent out heat-related safety tips. So, remember as you sashay around the fairgrounds to wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol and caffeine drinks. Eat small meals and lots of them corn dogs probably would be fine, except keep protein intake down because its digestion increases metabolic heat. Surely pineapple whips for dessert can cool down that internal body heat? And remember, walk slowly so you can see all the cow, sheep, chicken and swine exhibits and not get overheated in the process. Don't forget the air-conditioned comfort of the E-plex where at any given minute there are quilts, photographs, flowers, jellies and any kind of thing you can think of for viewing for an hour or two while the kiddies throw up, or more correctly, out, on the Tilt-a-Whirl.|ret||ret||tab|

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CARDINALS STRIKE OIL?|ret||ret||tab|

John Q. Hammons notwithstanding, the St. Louis Cardinals may be lining up to take over the AA Tulsa Drillers if they are dropped by the Texas Rangers, according to a recent story in the Tulsa World. Although the Drillers have a contract with the Rangers until 2004, the Southwest Sports Group, which manages the Rangers, plans to build a 15,000-seat baseball stadium in the Dallas area and may dump the Drillers. The group supposedly has enough money to buy an existing franchise, such as in Shreveport, La., which is apparently having attendance problems. Then, maybe Shreveport will come to Springfield. More to come. |ret||ret||tab|

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SLICE OF NICE|ret||ret||tab|

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks will be the beneficiary of funds raised at the seventh annual O'Reilly Auto Parts/Auto Value Parts Store golf tournament "Chip'N for Children" on Aug. 18 at Deer Lake Country Club, according to a news release from O'Reilly. But until then, the search is on for corporate sponsors and items to be donated for auction. Items can be autographs, memorabilia, tickets, etc. Sponsors at the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze levels will receive strategic name placement. Plat-inum sponsorships are $1,000 each and entitle the sponsoring company to four tournament slots. The Gold level at $500 includes two tournament slots, the Silver level at $350 one tournament slot. A Bronze level sponsorship is $250. Big Bro-thers Big Sisters is an all-volunteer group wholly dependent on donations to support its efforts to work with at-risk children. For more information contact James R. Batten or Heidi Thom-as at Big Brothers Big Sisters.[[In-content Ad]]