Heard on the Street

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Midtown Neighborhood Association will hold its ninth annual Victorian Christmas Homes Tour noon-5 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 in Springfield's largest nationally registered historic district. This year's tour features five private turn-of-the-century homes and a public structure decorated for the holidays. During the tour, neighborhood carriage rides will be provided by Trail's End. Shuttle service is provided at no charge, and tickets may be purchased in advance for $8 per person ($7 per person for groups of 20 or more) or $10 the day of the tour. The Victorian Christmas Mercantile will feature hand-made Christmas gifts, decorations, antiques and collectibles, and there is no admission charge to the mercantile. Weekend festivities kick off with a Victorian Christmas Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1. Dinner tickets must be purchased by Nov. 30, and tour tickets may be purchased in advance at Victorian Tea Garden, Stained Glass Theatre, Osborn Pharmacy and Maschino's. For ticket information, please call Joan Wooten, 865-0670.

PHILANTHROPY

Local businesses, organizations and individuals were recognized for their dedication to the Springfield community at the Philanthropy Day luncheon, held Nov. 17 at Highland Springs Country Club. The local awards, presented by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, honored Springfield Collectors Club Inc. as Outstanding Philanthropic Organization of the Year; St. John's Health System as Outstanding Corporation of the Year; Midwest Fibre Sales Corp. as Outstanding Small Business of the Year; and Springfield Business Journal and Springfield 33 were each honored as Outstanding Media Organization of the Year. Judi Phillips and Ronald Neville were each named Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser of the Year; Jim D. Morris was named Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year; and John Rush was named Outstanding Fund Raising Executive of the Year.

HIGH-TECH CHILI

The 20th annual Sertoma Chili Cookoff, set for Feb. 16-17, 2001, at the University Plaza Trade Center, has established its own Web site at www.sertomachilicookoff.com. The site contains basic information about the event and a downloadable application form, according to a release from publicity chairman Bob Chancellor. As preparations continue, the site also will include lists of entrants, local bands that will provide day-long entertainment, rules and ticket availability. All proceeds from the chili cookoff will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield. Last year's event raised more than $69,000.

NEW DOMAIN

The National Cooperative Business Association has announced that the new Internet suffix .coop will be available as early as spring 2001. Following the announcement of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers that .coop would join .com and .org as a top level domain, "we've been overwhelmed by requests by cooperatives to register" said Paul Hazen, president and CEO of the NCBA, in a release. "It's not surprising the cooperatives are eager for .coop," Hazen added, as it "will give them instant recognition on the Internet and help consumers find the businesses they trust online." NCBA and Poptel, the United Kingdom-based telecommunications cooperative that will provide the technical registration services for .coop, will negotiate a contract with ICANN, set up registry systems and put in place online review and appeal procedures for the new domain.