On the Street

Get the blues

The line-up of blues bands that will perform Sept. 5-6 at Bluesfest has been announced. Musicians will perform on a main stage and at several downtown venues for the Blues Crawl. Main stage acts include The Blues Society's Memphis-Bound Winner, Anthony Gomes, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, The Cate Brothers, Lauren Ellis, Kelly Hunt, Stacy Mitchart and Blues-U-Can Use and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Tickets for Bluesfest are available from the Springfield Symphony, Springfield Little Theatre, Springfield Brewing Company, Kaleidoscope and Stick It In Your Ear. Tickets are $20 for Friday only, $25 for Saturday only, $30 for both days in advance, and $35 for both days at the gate. Additional information is available online at www.greaterozarksbluesfest.com.

Plans for disaster

While many executives hope for the best, a recent survey by Robert Half International shows that they also prepare for the worst. In the survey, 57 percent of participating CFOs indicated that their companies have a business continuity plan in place to recover from disaster. However, 36 percent of respondents noted that their firms are not prepared for a catastrophic event or other major disruption. Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources, said all firms could benefit from contingency planning. The survey's responses were from 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with more than 20 employees.

Cider Days

Vendor applications are now being accepted for Cider Days on Walnut Street, a juried arts and crafts festival that will be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 20-21. Booth fee is $100 for both days, with a jury fee of $10. Interested vendors need to submit four photos or slides of their original, handmade work by the July 1 application deadline. The festival is sponsored by the Walnut Street Merchants Association and managed by Urban Districts Alliance. Applications are available by calling Shellie Jones at 417-831-6200. The festival will feature more than 75 artists and crafters, Scarecrow Village, a bed race, a children's area, pedal tractor pull, live performances and vintage cars. Admission will be $3; children 12 and under are free.

Slice of Nice

With more than 62 teams, and raising a net total of $76,500, Springfield's inaugural All Youth Relay for Life on May 16 was the highest-netting first-year All Youth Relay in the nation. The Relay for Life raises money to further efforts to find a cure for cancer. The money raised helps pay for the American Cancer Society's research, education, advocacy and service programs. Students from seven local high schools Springfield Catholic, Central, Glendale, Greenwood, Hillcrest, Kickapoo and Parkview participated in the event.