Overheard

Hemingway’s Blue Water Café has reopened its saltwater aquarium. Located on the upper level of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, the restaurant’s 30,000-gallon aquarium was shut down for renovations the past few months.

It now is home to more than 800 colorful saltwater fish species and features new coral work, special lighting and artificial ozone that will protect the fish and their environment.

Calling Branson Leaders

Applications are being accepted for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau’s 2007 leadership academy. Sessions begin in January and are held every other Friday, concluding with a graduation ceremony in April. Participants will learn about area government, history, community services, marketing and environmental issues, and make business contacts and friends. For more information, call Bethany Thomas at (417) 334-4084, ext. 321, or e-mail bthomas@bransoncvb.com.

What Happens at the Addys …

Stays at the Addys, according to the 2006 Addy Awards poster delivered to Springfield Business Journal last week. The 28th annual Springfield Ad Club awards banquet has a Las Vegas theme. The competition is open to any individual or company engaged in the creation of advertising. Entries are due by Dec. 7. The event will be held Feb. 3 at Oasis Convention Center. More information is available at www.springfieldadclub.com.

Slice of Nice

The sixth annual Sertoma Club of Springfield Wingapalooza raised money for Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield. During the Nov. 8 event at the Shrine Mosque, 16 area restaurants served a wide variety of chicken wings to more than 1,600 attendees, while local bands King Clarentz and Friends, Tripwire, The Unmistaken and The Jenn Laney Electric Band performed. Culinary judges from Ozarks Technical Community College, headed by Chef Lou Rice, selected Popeye’s for the best battered wings and Big Whiskey’s for the best nonbattered wings. The People’s Choice Award went to Coyote’s Adobe Café.

Twice of Nice

For the second year in a row, Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen in Branson will put away the pizza and serve traditional Thanksgiving dinners to needy families and individuals. On Thanksgiving Day, owner Chris Jordan will close the pizzeria’s doors at 1447 State Highway 248 to dish up free turkey dinners 11 a.m.–2 p.m. for anyone in need of a hot meal.

For more information or to find out how to help, call Luigi’s Marketing Director Mandy Jordan at (417) 294-2642.

Thrice of Nice

The Greater Springfield Board of Realtors announced that its Oct. 24 Realtors Helping People Auction raised more than $13,000 to help low-income homeowners make emergency repairs to their homes. The 2007 auction is slated for Oct. 23.[[In-content Ad]]