WHO’S THE GREATEST? WE ARE!
The Discovery Channel comes to Springfield in June to
promote its upcoming Greatest American  series, a viewer-driven contest to identify Americans
who have made important contributions to the nation’s history.
One hundred nominees were announced earlier this
month. The cable channel plans to feature the viewers’ top choices on
four primetime Sunday shows, beginning June 5 and concluding June 26.
Among the nominees are Springfield’s own
Abraham Lincoln and Illinois’ President Ronald Reagan and U.S. Sens.
Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. Other nominees include Hugh
Hefner, Michael Jackson, Rush Limbaugh, Madonna, and Donald Trump.
The production crew will be at the Old State Capitol
Plaza 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 4. Springfield is the smallest of the 10
cities the Discovery Channel is visiting. The others are Boston, Memphis,
Chicago, Kansas City, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, and
Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.aol.com/greatestamerican.
LUSARDI GETS CURATOR’S AWARD
Dick Lusardi, superintendent of the Lincoln Home
National Historic Site, was named the recipient of the 2005 Curator’s
Award by the trustees of the President Abraham Lincoln Memorial Arboretum.
Located at 1190 Williams Blvd., on the south side of
Washington Park, the arboretum provides trees to schoolchildren, civic
groups, and others throughout central Illinois. Part of that activity
involves collecting acorns and other tree seeds from Lincoln historic
sites, including the Lincoln Home.
Thanks to Lusardi, the arboretum has distributed more
than 4,000 white-oak, red-oak, and pin-oak seedlings to children in
Sangamon, Christian, and Morgan counties. Lusardi, a 40-year federal
employee, plans to retire in June.
ALPACAS, ALL THE TIME
If last week’s cover story whetted your
appetite for all things alpaca, take note of this furry animal celebration:
The fourth annual Spring Alpaca Festival at Starlight Ranch takes place 10
a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in New London, Mo., near Hannibal.
That’s about an hour-and-a-half west of Springfield.
Admission is free, but reservations are required.
Call 417-887-1245 for more information.
No alpacas will be harmed at this event.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2005.
