On the Street

Library success

Thousands of book hunters traveled to the North Town Mall May 10-18 to take part in the third-largest book sale in Springfield library history. The 19th annual Friends of the Library spring book sales raised $56,902.65. The first book sale in 1985 raised only $2,500. Since that time more than $612,000 worth of materials have been sold at spring and fall sales. Plans for the fall sale are already under way. It will be held at the Library Center Oct. 3-5.

All proceeds from the book sales will benefit the bookmobile and eight branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library District.

Interactive park

In honor of Rotary's International Centennial Anniversary, the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast announced on May 15 that it will commit to raise $50,000 over the next three years for an interactive park for children in Jordan Valley Park. The park will be located near the Creamery Arts Center in the northwest section of Jordan Valley Park. Funds for the project are to be raised by Dec. 31, 2005. The city of Springfield will provide permanent signage and an entryway for the designated area by May 1, 2004. For more information, contact Brent Dunn, president of Southeast Rotary, at 417-836-4143.

Ethics conference.

Southwest Missouri State University will hold the eighth annual Ethics and Critical Thinking Conference June 15-16. Ludwig Otto, chairman and CEO of the National Ethics and Critical Thinking Institute, will be one of the presenters for the conference. The conference will include presentations of papers on a variety of ethical issues, opening up a dialogue about methods of teaching ethics and implementing ethical strategies in organizations. Cost of the event is $195. To register, go to www.franklinpublishing.net and click on "Conference Center."

Slice of Nice

The second annual Cycle for Life to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks will be held June 7. Registration for the ride begins at 6:15 a.m. at Mentor Baptist Church. The 50-mile ride will begin at 7 a.m.; the 25-mile ride will begin at 8 a.m.; and the 10-mile ride will begin at 9 a.m. The entry fee for the Cycle for Life is $15 before the event and $20 the day of the event. To register or for additional information about the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, call 417-862-3838.

Twice of Nice

National Cancer Survivors Day is 10-11:30 a.m. May 31 at St. John's Cancer Center, 2055 S. Fremont. Cancer survivors and their guests are invited to enjoy music, fun and hear guest speakers and cancer survivors Gary Ellison, Dorothy Gardner, Mary Beth O'Reilly and Stephanie Pearman. Registration is required at 417-888-8888.