The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 15

Lite News-Leader Designer takes stand with T-shirts Vivienne Westwood protests Britain's proposed anti-terror legislation with T-shirts like the one that reads, "I am not a terrorist. Please don't arrest me." 4C Thursday September 29, 2005 Newsleader.com Baby ITS ALL ABOUT THE CARE iff! Teens learn the basics of sitter safety. Mature teenagers make for good caregivers. 2C Training classes are held in various locations in the area. 2C ft" hi By Sony Hocklander SHOCKLNOERNWS-LfDERCOM Meggie Bullard wants to start baby-sitting because she really likes kids and because it sounds like a great experience.

And (pause) "You can say it," prods her mom, Ellen Bullard. "The money." Meggie grins. "I'm saving up for a portable DVD player and stuff for my room," says 11-year-old Meggie, who's "nearly 12" and has watched her young cousins. Her mother thinks baby-sitting will be a positive activity: "I want her to learn about responsibility and saving money she can be proud that she earned." She also wants her daughter to be safe, to know how to handle emergencies and to feel more confident about what she's doing. Which is why she's glad Meggie took a baby-sitting class at the American Red Cross.

"I do think that 11 is on the young side. Not that she isn't capable," says Bullard. For their own safety as well as for the safety of the kids they watch, experts say it's important for young teen boys and girls to be pre- Michael A. imOTUKKS IX TIIK liHOOVK Former Urge singer turns producer for local rock act Steve Ewing is best known as the energetic and charismatic lead singer of the Urge. Once a regional powerhouse with nationally-known profile, the Urge is now all but defunct and Ewing lives on the West Coast, working on a solo career.

But he also has another budding career up his sleeve, that of producer. Though he calls sunny California home, his contacts here in the Midwest have been key to Ewing getting his kicks behind the board instead of behind the mike. While Ewing hasn't really advertised himself as a producer, acts and managers from his old hometown of St. Louis and surrounding area have approached him about producing CDs by up-and-coming acts. "I've been in the studio so much of my life that it's cool to be able to share the things I know and the things I've learned," Ewing says of producing.

"I love starting a song, a project or a recording and hearing the final, finished product. For me, it's a challenge." Ewing's solo show at the Rockwell on Friday night will feature two of the acts he's produced: St. Louis' Lojic and Springfield emo band Seraphims Curfew. Seraphims Curfew released its album "Incandescent" a few weeks ago. The band's members singer Chris Jackson, guitarist Randy Evans, bassist Reid Brown and drummer Jordan Whitham are thrilled to have Ewing's name in the album's credits.

Not just because it lends credibility to a fairly new act, but because they say the veteran artist simply made "Incandescent" a better album. "What you're trying to do (as artists in the studio), he's done," Brown says. The musicians say Ewing kicked things up a notch by tweaking the little things like harmony vocals, breathing techniques and guitar sustain. But he also rearranged some songs, changed the tone and feel of others and even sang a verse on one song, "Stars." "What we did in the studio was really hone everybody's performance," Ewing says. "And because of that I think we definitely got them to improve as players.

That's how we all improve the longer we do this; we become better performers and we become better songwriters." Primary songwriters Evans and Jackson certainly feel they're getting better at their craft. Though "Incandescent" is barely out, they already have 10 new songs ready to be recorded soon. Whether Ewing helms the project or not, he's already left an indelible imprint on the band. "It was inspiring because he showed it can be done," Evans says of becoming a successful working band. "It's against the odds, but it can be done." Contact columnist Michael Brothers at 836-1210 or at pared before they start baby-sitting.

Not only for emergencies, but with strategies for age-appropriate care and play and assessing new sitter situations. Classes at the Red Cross and some area hospitals cover all that and more. "It was very informative," says Meggie of the Red Cross class she took Saturday with a friend. "There's a lot of stuff I wouldn't have thought of that now seems really important." While taking a class is the best way to learn, area teachers share these safety tips for new baby-sitting teens and their parents. Before you sit Meggie learned how important it is to meet with parents before baby-sitting their kids.

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN FOR THE NEWS-LEADER Jenalee Cologna, 13, practices changing a diaper during an all-day Red Cross baby-sitting course. See Baby-sitting, Page 2C Book could gain from 'Lost' exposure 1 1 nsS-" nr nvv- language comic book of Flash and the Green Lantern that another survivor was seen reading. "This book," Wright says, "was chosen very specifically for a reason." It's narrated by a dead man although the reader doesn't learn this until the end of the book. A telling hint? Wright won't say. Officials at the press are betting use of the book will reap a windfall.

"It's going to be huge," says Chad Post, development director at the press. Press is famous in literary circles for publishing experimental and avant-garde books. The firm is lucky if it sells 90,000 books in a year. Yet, the TV show may bring an unusual bounty this fall to the company, headquartered on the Illinois State University campus in Normal. On Oct.

5, one of Dalkey's books a 1999 reprint of the comic novel "The Third Policeman" by the late Irish writer Flann O'Brien "will be promi nently featured at a key moment" in the third episode of this season of "Lost," says Craig Wright who wrote the script with Javier Grillo-Marxuach. Normally, that wouldn't mean a lot. But "Lost" is decidedly not normal. It's filled with odd and unexpected plot twists. In the search for clues, "Lost" fans have latched onto every aspect of the show, from the numbers (4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42) a character named Hurley used to win the lottery, to a Spanish- By Patrick T.

Reardon CHICAGO TRIBUNE CHICAGO Talk about a strange cultural pairing. It would be difficult to think of a better example of mainstream American entertainment than the hit ABC show "Lost," about plane crash survivors on a mysterious island. Last season, an average of nearly 17 million viewers watched the Emmy-winning show, which airs at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. By contrast, the Illinois-based Dalkey Archive "Lost" fans latch onto every aspect of the show, including the lottery numbers used by Jorge Garcia's character Hurley.

Daily Planner m4H mm session. Call 576-5869 for more information. Teachers' art exhibit Art by three Kickapoo High School teachers Steve Fielding, Mary Hamilton and Cynthia Bylander -will be on display from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 7 (during the First Friday Art Walk) and from 11 a.m.

to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 at Studio 405, 405 W. Walnut St. Admission is free.

Call 844-6679 or 523-8616 for more information. Tickets are $9 general admission, $7 for non-Drury students, $4 for senior citizens and $2 for Drury students and staff. Season tickets are $8 to $18. Call 873-7255 for more informa- tion. Benefit for school, vets The Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 639 will play host to a benefit for Sherwood Elementary School and veterans beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 at the post, 2660 S. Scenic Ave. Festivities will include a silent auc Musical to open season The Drury University theater and music department's season will open with the musical "Working," based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews with American workers. The musical was adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, with songs by Craig Carnelia, James Taylor and others.

Shows will start at 8 p.m. Oct 6 to 8 and Oct. 20 to 22 in Wilhoit Theatre in Drury's Breech School of Business Administration, Drury Lane, just north of Central Street. tion and cake walk. Chili will be served.

The children of Sherwood School will be there to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at 4:45 p.m. The auction will begin at 5 p.m. For more information, call 863-6837 or 882-3426. Folk music jam The Folks Like Us Music Society's folk music jam will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct.

16 at the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. Those who attend are invited to bring instruments and join the free in Contact features editor Elizabeth Kelly Klay at 836-1194 or Artwork by Mary Hamilton Vnwmmmmmmmmmmmm 1 'HI 111,1. CA 17-866-7444 www.iceoark.o mm hunt -iwwj.