The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 9

mm Julie Gerke, managing editor, 309-829-9000, ext. 256, e-mail: newsroompantagraph.com SUNDAY, July 18,2010 B-N festival taps into the blues 1 1 11 i I- Nothin' But The Blues Festival honors late founder Eric Tapley I Sugar iiCV Cane chances Intern Collins wrJ takesthe By M.K. Guetersloh -'J -1 m-I atthe "V- Nothin' ''X A blues The festival drew good crowds despite the extremes, said event co-organizer Eric Tapley whose late father was honored during two days of blues, barbecue and beer. "The bands have been doing a great job," Tapley said. "We're drawing people from all over the state and it's been a nice turnout." "If you are out here and you are not having a good time, then you've got some serious problems," said Jeff Dailey from Pekin, who spent the day with wife, ii i loivcj mkgueterslohpantagraph.com BLOOMINGTON Umbrellas did double duty Saturday at the Nothin' But The Blues Festival.

As Sugar Cane Collins started the line-up at 1 p.m., most in the crowd used umbrellas to escape the sun at Tri-Lakes Banquet Facility, 2100 Bunn Blooming-ton. By 3 p.m., the umbrellas were shelter from a quick thunderstorm that moved through the Twin Cities. I uanque rl 1 Facility. Banauet The PantagraphM.K. GUETERSLOH Chris, and friend Joe Hoff.

nearly single-handedly until Tapley's father, Eric "Tap" his unexpected death in May, Tapley, started the blues fest just short of his 51st birthday, nine years ago and ran it SEE BLUES PAGE B2 1 Trave tyl i ef A .4 i I ft "7 4 ThePantagraphSTEVESMEDLEY Joss Giordano, 2, son of Arwen and Jeff Giordano, Pontiac, selects flowers from the Marantha Gardens booth at the farmers market during Pontiac's Summer Bash II on Saturday. Pontiac mixes bid, new with Summer Bash Event offers family fun, historic re-enactments By Jordan Goebig lgoebigSpantagraph.com PONTIAC Kids ran through sprinklers on the south edge of Downtown Pontiac's Courthouse. On the north side, Civil War soldiers camped out on the lawn. The two scenes signified that Pontiac's Summer Bash II had arrived. Residents and visitors had a chance Saturday to shop and eat as well as chat up historical re-enac-tors all in one stop.

The festival, in its second year, kicked off Friday night and runs through Sunday. "We're just trying to create an atmosphere that you can bring your family to," said Lori Fairfield, executive director of Pontiac Redeveloping Our United Downtown. "It's got something for almost everyone." The bash combines Heritage Days, using re-enactments and displays to celebrate Pontiac's history, with Cruise Night, a classic car show featuring vehicles from across the state. Fairfield said the festival includes a beer garden and musical acts. "I like the Heritage stuff," said Rose Keith of Pontiac.

"When this is set up, it gives younger people an idea of what life was like." Keith was spending the day with her grandkids; daughter, Jennifer Coulter; and friend Andrea Watkins. The group explored the Kid Zone, which included bounce houses, an obstacle course, face painting and other kid-friendly activities. "We took the kids on the blow-up things. That was an adventure," said Watkins. To keep cool from the 90 degree weather, they suggested paper fans, sold at one of the booths, and slushees.

Barb Friese of Pontiac was worried the heat might be a deterrent for some. After the festival was held in June last year, she worried that the heat of July might affect attendance. She found out that wasn't the case. "We (Pontiac) can't seem to bring people in," said Barb Friese, "but this seems to bring people in." After attending concerts Friday night with friends, Friese decided to spend the second day downtown with her daughter, Emily Friese, and niece, Ashley Fehr, 7. SEE BASH PAGE B2 i bi iriimrinnrii I i nf The PantagraphSTEVE SMEDLEY Above: Special Olympics athlete Megan Graf of Ellsworth boards a corporate jet operated by Briggs Stratton of Milwaukee, Wise, on Saturday.

Below: Special Olympics athlete Collette Kensinger of Normal photographs some of the fourteen corporate jets that were part of the 2010 Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift. Cessna donates planes to take Special Olympians to nationals By M.K. Guetersloh mkgueterslohgipantagraph.com BLOOMINGTON Megan Graf of Ellsworth waited her turn to board a Cessna jet parked on the ramp outside the old terminal building at Central Illinois Regional Airport. She was excited about the ride, but quickly added, "I'm a little nervous." Graf was one of 78 Illinois athletes who hitched a IV2 -hour plane ride to the Special Olympics National Games in Lincoln, courtesy of Cessna and its corporate jet clients. She'll participate in the 100- and 200-meter races and the shot put.

Collette Kensinger of Normal, who will compete in the power lift, said nerves "probably won't hit me I 1- i ties, and saves about $10,000 in travel costs for Special Olympics SEE TRAVELING PAGE B2 until I get on the plane, though." The flights give athletes more time to rest and enjoy the festivi Look, Ma, no glove: Bloomington boy uses head at ballgame V'" ext time you go to a big-league game and listen to your mom's advice to -l Bill Flick "Don't forget your glove! Coleen stressed. OK, an 8-year-old might wear his glove to the park with the thought of somehow catching a ball. A 10-year-old might take his glove to the park with the idea of getting it fully autographed by the team. But a 16-year old? Sixteen is a rite of passage, a maturity point, a driver's license, first entry into manhood. Only a geek would wear his glove to the ballpark.

Am I right? So there sat Jay, Astros' cap squarely on head but mitt back in Illinois, in the throes of SEE BALLGAME PAGE B2 A Bloomington resident and a Normal Community High junior-to-be, Jay is a lifelong Astros fan. Over the years, he's gone to Astros games when they play in places like St. Louis or Chicago, but never actually to Houston. That is, until last week. That's when, as a gift for his monumental 16th, his mom, Coleen, took him to Houston where she got seats just beyond the left-field wall, in the so-called "Crawford Boxes," one of baseball's most popular outfield venues because the fence is the shortest distance from home plate (only 315 feet) in all of baseball.

"take your ball glove, just in case they hit one to you," think about Jay Siegrist. The other night, he didn't take his glove to Minute Maid Park in Houston, home of the pro-baseball Astros, even if his mom suggested it. And what a lucky guy, because he didn't. He received a huge applause in Houston, because he didn't. That night, video of it made it on ESPN, because he didn't.

He got 15 minutes of fame, because he didn't. And it all occurred while celebrating his 16th birthday and living out a dream of finally seeing his favorite team in its home park. Yes, you've heard all about mankind's accomplishments because of something they did, Jay's is a tribute because of something he didn't. But, first things last, and a bit of background, too The PantagraphCARLOS T. MIRANDA Jay Siegrist used his cap to catch a ball while at an Astros game..