Heard on the Street

BUSINESSWOMAN'S SPECIAL

Tickets are selling like hotcakes for SBJ's 20 Most Influential Women for 2000 luncheon and awards ceremony, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13 (spooky music here) at University Plaza. Although the event is SBJ's first to honor area professional women, an additional room had to opened up at UP to accommodate the 400+ guests already signed up to attend. The featured speaker will be H. Haden Yelin, a Los Angeles-based writer, producer and attorney. In conjunction with the event, SBJ is offering two free seminars following the luncheon and awards ceremony at 2 p.m. Ellen Rohr will present "Get Ready to Make More Money," and at 3:30 p.m. Sinara Stull O'Donnell will present "Laughing Your Way to the Top: Humor in the Workplace." A happy hour with entertainment will follow the seminars. Tickets are $15 each or $130 for a table of 10. Call Stacy Forbis, SBJ's new special products coordinator, at 831-3238 to reserve tickets, or e-mail her at sforbis@sbj.net.

MAY I HAVE SOME MORE?

Springfield Pottery, SBJ's neighbor to the east at 301 Park Central West, will host Empty Bowls, an event to benefit Ozarks Food Harvest, from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 12. For $15, a limited number of patrons will select handcrafted soup bowls, which will then be filled with soup and bread donated by Gallery Bistro, South Avenue Pizza Company, Mille's, Coyote's Adobe Caf and St. Louis Bread Company. Entertainment will be provided by The Garbanzos. "Participants will keep their bowls as lasting reminders of the hunger that exists locally and worldwide," according to a release from Springfield Pottery.

Tickets may be purchased at Springfield Pottery or by calling Ozarks Food Harvest at 865-3411.

OH, CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

More than $67,500 was raised during a Sept. 28 radiothon for the Branson Area Festival of Lights, the BAFOL Advisory Committee announced Oct. 3. The 11th Annual Branson Festival of Lights will illuminate the Branson/Tri-Lakes area Nov. 1 -Dec. 31, according to a release from the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, which coordinates the event. The Branson Area Festival of Lights will include a two-mile drive-through display and 283 sparkling stars that will shine along Hwy. 76, as well as other individual displays in the Branson/Lakes Area. The release said $250,000 is needed to support the event. Businesses or individuals interested in footing part of the BAFOL bill may call Stephanie Gurley at the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB, 334-4084.

C.A.R.E. for a Haircut?

During the month of October, anyone who donates animal food or money to the Castaway Animal Rescue Effort shelter, which is located just outside Aurora, will receive a coupon for $2 off a haircut at any of the Great Clips salons in Springfield.

Anna Lea Bruening, public relations director for C.A.R.E., said via e-mail that C.A.R.E. is a state-licensed, not-for-profit, volunteer-run animal shelter that cares for as many as 200 animals, both dogs and cats, at once.

The shelter's mission is to rescue as many animals as possible from being euthanized, provide them with necessary medical treatment and facilitate their adoptions.

Donations may be sent to PO Box 215, Aurora 65605, or for more information, call 574-6500.