BEST SUMMER EVENT AT THE LAKE Rock the Dock at Lake Springfield Marina 17 Waters Edge Blvd. The event that began in 1991 to publicize Lake Springfield Marina has become a central Illinois tradition, thanks to a unique partnership with friends in the radio business starting about 2002. Kevan Kavanaugh, general manager, Midwest Family Broadcasting considers the arrangement a perfect match. The broadcasting group of WLCE, WMAY, WNNS and WQLZ, sells sponsorships for the big event, tells the world about it, makes a few dollars and allows originator Bob Gordon to continue the event. “It’s the Marina’s busy season, and our partnership keeps them focused on their primary business,” Kavanaugh said. Barges, where the fireworks are staged, are provided by City Water, Light and Power. Carl Steinmacher has produced the displays since the first Rock the Dock. Over the last two years, organizers have added family and child-friendly inflatable amusements and taken “some of the edge” off the music. “We had the best attendance I have ever seen in 2010,” Kavanaugh said. “We estimate that, counting everyone all over the lake, 8,000 to 10,000 people enjoyed it.” “It has been a great partnership,” Bob Gordon said. “You can’t sell enough beer over those few hours to make it work. The radio stations have come through wonderfully for us.”

BEST HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION Godspell Sacred Heart-Griffin High School 1200 W. Washington Divinely inspired and divinely produced. That was the reaction of readers to Sacred Heart- Griffin music department’s production of the musical Godspell which played March 18-21 this year. The musical is a series of vignettes and songs based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew. According to Bill Bauser, director of choral activities, the Springfield production was like no other in this history of the show, which opened in 1976 in New York City and ran for almost 2,000 performances, on and off-Broadway. In 2000, Bauser toured with a production that played Malta in the Mediterranean and in recent years during a summer workshop in The Big Apple he worked with the person bringing the show back as a revival. “I was able to obtain rights to the original, the tour version and a new version that’s coming out next spring,” he said. “Our version combined elements from all three versions.” The success of the show and IT reader approval marks the third year in a row the top honor goes to Sacred Heart-Griffin for Best High School Production.