On the Street

Nominations are being accepted for the Athena Award, which will be presented during Springfield Business Journal’s Most Influential Women luncheon to be held Oct. 13 at University Plaza Convention Center. The Athena Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has served the community in a meaningful way and has assisted women in reaching their full leadership potential. Athena Awards are presented in hundreds of cities throughout the United States. In Springfield, the award is sponsored by Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Thompson Pontiac GMC Cadillac and SBJ. For information about Athena nominations, call Ann Elwell at the chamber, 417-862-5331. Tickets to the Most Influential Women luncheon, which includes networking opportunities and exhibits, are now available. MIW will honor 20 southwest Missouri women for their personal and professional achievements. Tickets are $25 each and are available by calling Diana Weber at 417-831-3238.

Gambling forum

University of Missouri Outreach and Extension, Springfield-Greene County Library, the Greene County Commission and the Republic Monitor newspaper are teaming up to offer seven public issue forums. The first forum, “Gambling: Is it a Problem? What Should We Do?” will be held 6:30- 8:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Republic Library. The event is free, but preregistration is necessary and may be done by calling 417-732-7284. The forums will follow a deliberation format in which participants become the program under the direction of a trained moderator. Other upcoming forums will address topics that include money and politics, health care, violence and children, and news media and society. Additional information about the forums is available online at www.outreach.missouri.edu/greene.

Slice of Nice

A Moonlight Bike Ride to benefit Discovery Center of the Ozarks will be held Aug. 28 in conjunction with the Celebrate Center City Concert Series in Jordan Valley Park. The ride will begin at 11 p.m., immediately after the Jake Simpson concert in the park, and end in the Discovery Center parking lot. Riders on the 1.6-mile route will leave Jordan Valley Park Greenway and travel south on Hammons Parkway to Walnut, ending at Discovery Center. A 3.8-mile route travels through the Southwest Missouri State University campus and downtown. Participants can register to win a child’s bike by Giant, courtesy of Sunshine Bike Shop. Entry fees are $15 for riders 13 years of age and older. For those ages 3 to 12, the fee is $10. All bikers must follow bicycle traffic laws, wear helmets and equip bicycles with a headlight. The first 100 riders will get T-shirts and headlights for their bikes, if needed. Online registration is available at www.active.com. Registration forms also can be accessed at www.discoverycenter.org or www.cele bratecentercity.com.