Heard on the Street

ARTSFEST ARF-FEST

This year's Artsfest, the celebration of visual and performing arts May 5 and 6 on Walnut Street, includes something for the many dogs who join their owners as they peruse artists' booths and take part in activities. An "Arf-fest" dog parade will be held about 11 a.m. May 5, organized by Springfield Veterinary Hospital and the Springfield Dog Training Club. Current shot records are required for the 10 a.m. registration. The parade starts at Kimbrough. Prizes will be awarded for the smallest dog, biggest dog, ugliest dog, owner-dog look-alike and best costume. But the kiddies aren't forgotten there will be a hands-on area for children's activities, according to Shellie Jones. As for regular features, more than 170 juried artists from 13 states will display, sell and compete for cash awards. Some of the displays will include paintings, sculpture, pottery and jewelry. For budding artists, City Utilities will have a bus on-site again for children to paint. Performers of all ages will present ballet, theater, ethnic and folk music and dance, choral and instrumental music from several sites the show wagon stage, dance stage, bandstand, children's performance stage, and of course, the street itself. A street dance will be held both evenings. Hours of the festival are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days. Admission is $2 for adults, children 12 and under get in free. For more information, call 417-831-6200. To preregister for the dog parade, call Kristin Farr at 417-866-6681.

OOPS!

There was an omission in last week's Heard on the Street item regarding the Women's Day Symposium, to be held 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. April 24 at the Information Commons East at Ozarks Technical Community College, 1001 East Brower. The symposium, which addresses business issues from a female perspective, is not only co-sponsored by the Greene County Extension of the University of Missouri and SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Businesses, it is also co-sponsored by the Springfield branch of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SCORE ONLINE

Speaking of SCORE, it now offers busy entrepreneurs online business counseling and training. The e-mail service provides clients a forum for their business questions 24 hours a day. Most questions are answered within 48 hours, according to SCORE. Nearly 800 e-mail counselors are available online. Nearly 2,000 pages of how-tos, resources and hot links, small business trends and a searchable database are available on the SCORE Web site at www.score.org.

ROOM-A-ZOOM-ZOOM

O'Reilly Auto Parts wants to bring out the car racing enthusiast in visitors to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. O'Reilly has donated its interactive computer racing simulator to the museum at 3861 E. Stan Musial Drive. "We're excited to have found a permanent home for our racing simulator," said Ron Byerly, O'Reilly vice president of advertising and marketing. "The game is definitely challenging," he added. The simulator, a converted NASCAR Winston Cup car, has traveled to the Texas Motor Speedway, several NHRA events and the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds for the last three years, Byerly added. The gift is part of a new, long-term corporate partnership with the museum.

SLICE OF NICE

Running in the Streets, a 5k run/walk, will be part of Artsfest this year. The event will raise money for the Springfield Area Arts Council as well as the Developmental Center of the Ozarks. Sponsored by Positronic Industries, the run/walk begins at 7:30 a.m. May 6 and is timed by Ozark Racing Systems. Preregister for $12 or register on race day for $15. The fee entitles participants to admission to Artsfest and an Artsfest T-shirt. "We hope to have 150 to 200 runners," said Marci Bowling at DCO. "It's a first-time event." The course will begin at Walnut an John Q. Hammons Parkway. For only $3 more, a wristband for Dancing in the Streets that evening is available. There are 13 age divisions, male and female. An informational packet and registration form is available from DCO, 1545 E. Pythian, 417-831-1545, at the Springfield Area Arts Council, 316-B E. McDaniel, or Ridge Runners Sports, 3057 S. Fremont. Preregistration must be postmarked by April 30.