NATURE

Birdhouse Building Contest Aug 30-31, Sep 01-12, Deadline Sept. 16 for entry. Delivery by Oct. 12. $5, includes free admission to Indian Summer Fest. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-529-1111.

Springfield Audubon Society Field Trip Sep 08, 7:45am, To Emiquon Preserve, Havana. Car pool from Adams. Info, 217-522- 0897. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544-2473.

Springfield Civic Garden Club Sep 10, 9am, Garden-related flea market 8:30 a.m. and after meeting with Coppertree talking about new-to-market trees, shrubs and perennials. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415.

Volunteer Steward Orientation Sep 07, 8:30-11:30am, Breakfast snacks, info on Illinois Audubon Society and Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, tree and plant identification walk. RSVP 544-2473. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave.

Wed. Morning Pickup Party Sep 05, 12, 9-10am, Weather permitting, help pick up trash. Garbage bags and long handled pickers provided. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544-2473.

ENVIRONMENT

Illinois Green Business Summit Sep 07, 8:30am-4:30pm, Includes two nationallyacclaimed authorities on sustainability, Joel Makower and Jim Hartzfeld. illinoisgba.com/Summit2012. Hilton Garden Inn, 1501 S. Neil Street, Champaign, 531-2179.

LECTURES & MEETINGS

Chatham Kiwanis Club Meeting Aug 30, Sep 06, 6:15pm, Civic organization meets every Thursday. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham, 725-6467.

Families of the Incarcerated Sep 01, 11am-1pm, First Saturday of month, free support group luncheon for parents, friends and family. RSVP required, ext. 228. Tower of Refuge, Inc. 329 S. New St, 241-9911.

Q.U.I.L.T.S. Sep 10, 7pm, Second Monday of each month. All skill levels welcome. springfieldquilts.com. Atonement Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St, 217-546- 7646.

Springfield Community Support Advisory Council Sep 04, 1-3pm, First Tuesday of month, identify reentry barriers, solutions and resources. Open to public. Tower of Refuge, Inc. 329 S. New St, 241-9911.

Springfield Parental Alienation Advocacy Group Meeting Sep 10, 6-8pm, First Monday of month. Mezzanine Level, Conference room 3. Hilton Springfield, 700 E. Adams, 793- 3586.

Starting Your Business in Illinois Sep 06, 6-8pm, Register with the ISBDC at 544-7232. Free. LLCC Capital City Training Center, 130 W. Mason, 217- 786-2200.

Women Entrepreneurs - Central IL Sep 12, 11:30am-1pm, Judy Jozaitis, Ed.D. VP of Workforce Development & Community Education. $17-$22. Register by Sept. 7 to [email protected]. 725-8500. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 217-786-2200.

BULLETIN BOARD

Family Carnival Sep 08, 12-4pm, Pony rides, kids games, bounce house, large slide and more. Color Guard, Shriner Jazz Band at noon, Shriner clowns and Elvis Himselvis. Hickory Glen Senior Living, 1700 W. Washington, 217-793-0431.

Cachet Club Annual Card Party Sep 11, 6:30-9pm, Play cards or any game of your choice, $5. Proceeds to Wash. Street Mission and Sang. Co. Inter- Veteran Burial. Little Flower School Activity Center (south of school), Stevenson Dr.

Call for Performers New (CD, DVD, short bio) and returning performers (phone with interest) for First Night Springfield. Deadline Sept. 10. Springfield Area Arts Council, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-753-3519.

Expressions of Freedom Deadline Oct 15, teen photography, poetry, short film competition for Emancipation Proclamation 150th anniversary. nps.gov. Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 413 S. Eighth St, 217-391-3221.

Fall Festival Fundraiser Sep 08, 8am-8pm, Rappers, jazz, gospel and R&B music; 3- on-3 basketball; $5 haircuts; drill teams; praise dancers; steppers; games; vendors; drawings; food and more. The Boys and Girls Club of Springfield, 300 S. 15th Street. 544-0548.

First Fridays Downtown Sep 07, 5-8pm, Every first Friday stroll, shop eat downtown. Exhibitions, live music, great deals and fun surprises. 544-1723. Downtown Springfield.

I-Con 2012 Sep 07, 3pm-12am Fri, 10am- 12am, Springfield’s annual gaming convention. $20 or $12 each day. Mansion View Inn, 517 S. Fourth Street, 217-891- 7978.

Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War Aug 30-31, Sep 03-07, 10-12, On exhibit Aug. 1-Sept 14 in Student Union, Mendard Hall. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 217-786-2200.

Membership Info Meeting Sep 07, 6-7:30pm, Join SUSART - for certified divers, 21 years or older interested in Black Water Diving. Knights Action Park, 1700 Knight’s Recreation Dr. 529-5191.

Miracle Soiree Aug 31, 6-10pm, Night of wine tasting, complimentary wine glass, dinner and music with Big Daddy Jasper. $20-$15. Hill Prairie Winery, 23753 Lounsberry Rd, Oakford, 217- 544-KIDS.

Nominations Sought Deadline 5 p.m. Sept. 17, 2012. Forms online and at various locations for Mayor’s Awards for the Arts. springfieldartsco.org. Springfield Area Arts Council, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-753-3519.

Paws and Power Sep 09, 9am-4:30pm and 6-8:30pm, Dog party and walk, $3 donation for APL. Juried vintage car show and more. Evening reception with music and more, $35. Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St, 217-753-0702.

Pork Meets Cork Sep 08, 6-10pm, Dinner, wine and beer tastings, live music. Washington, Fifth and Sixth. $30, benefits Kidzeum. kidzeum.org. Downtown Springfield.

Primp your Pit Aug 30-31, During month of August, APL will spay/neuter pit bulls for $20, including free nail trim. Register online or 789- 7729. Animal Protective League, 1001 Taintor Rd, 544-7387.

Quarter Auction Aug 30, 6pm, Third Thursdays, over fifty items and over twenty vendors. Different charity benefits each month from part of proceeds. Sangamon Prairie Reception Center, 8855 State Route 4, Chatham, 483-7999.

Sangamon Valley Woodcarvers Show Sep 01-02, 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun, Carvers from across the country exhibit. $3, 12 and under free. Illinois Building. 546-8792. svwoodcarvers.org. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886.

Scrapbook Extravaganza Sep 08, 9am-9pm, Twelve hours of scrapbooking with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Prizes. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. $30. St. Agnes Church, 245 N. Amos St, 787- 7209.

Secretary of State Antique Vehicle Show Sep 08, In parking lot, antique, classic and sports cars, motorcycles, trucks, recreational vehicles, hot rods and tractors. 557- 7220. Meijer Store, 4200 Conestoga Drive.

Seeking Musicians for UIS Chorus Aug 30, 7-9:15pm Tue, 3:30- 5:30pm Thu, First week of rehearsals open to anyone in community. VPA 33. University of Illinois at Springfield, 206- 7549.

Vigil for Peace Sep 01, 08, 12pm, Each Saturday at noon on corner of Sixth and Monroe, outside Federal Building. All are welcome. 544-3997. Downtown Springfield.

FOOD

Hope Institute’s Celebrity Chef Dinner Sep 08, 6pm, Renowned Chicago Chef Stephanie Izard. $150. $250 meet and greet. Tickets by phone or online. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St, 585-5172.

POLITICS

Drinking Coffee Liberally Sep 01, 08, 9am, Every Saturday. Have coffee, breakfast and conversation with fellow progressives. [email protected] . Edgar’s Coffee House, 2001 Wabash Ave, 217-787-7439.

Where’s Our Trickle Down? Tour Aug 30, 4pm, Old State Capitol Plaza, Between Sixth and Fifth Sts at Adams, 528-1356.

HISTORY

Centennial Quilt Project Aug 30-31, Your chance to get your signature on reproduced quilt. $5. vachellindsay.org. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901.

Historic Bicycle Ride Sep 08, 1-3pm, Join Springfield Bicycle Club on a free, 10-mile bicycle tour of Lincoln-related and other Springfield historic sites. Capital Complex Visitors Center, 425 S. College St. Springfield, IL 62704, 698-7626.

History Comes Alive Ice Cream Social Aug 30, 5:30-7pm, Jun. 14- Aug. Join Abraham and Mary Lincoln every Thursday. Music by Lincoln Troubadours. Cold Stone Creamery ice cream for purchase. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901.

Lincoln and Shakespeare Sep 01, 5pm, Saturdays (except Aug. 18), Over the Moon Productions presents Shakespeare’s plays alongside Lincoln’s words. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.

Mary Lincoln Exhibit Aug 30-31, Sep 01-12, Display of Mary Todd Lincoln’s extravagances and jury verdict form declaring her insane. Paid museum admission required. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 217-782-5764.

Spirits of the Civil War Sep 08, 9am-5pm, First-person accounts of those who experienced the war, encampment, special presentations on the hour starting at 11 p.m. Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, 1500 Monument Ave, 782-2717.

AUDITIONS

For Christmas Carol Sep 10-11, 7pm, Roles for adults and kids. Sangamon Hall South, room 0009. Callbacks Sept. 14. [email protected]. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 217-786-2200.

UIS Theatre Auditions for Tartuffe Sep 04-05, 7pm, 6pm crew, Attend either Sept. 4 or 5. Also crew interviews at 6 p.m. All welcome, cold readings from script. UIS Studio Theatre, One University Plaza, 206-8307.

HEALTH

Connection Support Group Sep 01, 1-2:30pm, First Sat. each month. National Alliance on Mental Illness Support Group for persons with mental illness. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St, 891-5570.

DBSA Central Illinois Aug 30, Sep 06, 7:30-8:30pm, Support group for those affected by depression or bipolar disorder, and friends/family. Springfield conference room (B149). Memorial Medical Center, 701 N. First St, 414- 7368.

DBSA Central Illinois Sep 04, 11, 6:30-8:30pm, Tuesdays. For those affected by mood disorder, friends/family. Fellowship Hall, lower level. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St, 414-7368.

NAMI Support Group Sep 01, 1-2:30pm, First Sat. of month, National Alliance on Mental Illness support group for family and friends of persons with mental illness. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St, 891-5570.

Passport to Wellness Sep 04, 9am-1pm, Seniors travel around the world where each country or area is an assessment or screening. Free. 786- 2872. Dove Conference Center, Prairie Heart Institute, 619 E. Mason St.

Red Cross Blood Drive Aug 31, 12-6pm, Call or go online to schedule an appointment. White Oaks Mall, 2501 Wabash Ave, 1-800-REDCROSS.

Reiki for Cancer Patients Sep 03, 10, By Appointment, Open to all cancer patients regardless of where they are treated. Register phone. Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter, 217-545-5408.

Stepmom Support Group Sep 05, 7-8:30pm, Support group for Springfield area stepmoms. 652-4676 or email [email protected]. Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave W.

Stepmom Support Group Sep 05, 7-8:30pm, Support group for Springfield area stepmoms. 652-4676 or email [email protected]. Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave W.

Stress Release Meditation Mondays in Sept. 6-7pm, Cancer patients, cancer survivors and their loved ones welcome to join free session. Bring a pillow to sit on. 217-381-3822 or [email protected]. Red School Mall, 1275 Wabash Avenue, lower level.