Harish Choudhary, Member of Parliament from Barmer-Jaisalmer, has been making efforts since long to start commercial activity via the Rajasthan and Sindh rail route. He had raised the issue in the Parliament too. Union commerce minister has responded positively to Choudharys request.

Stage

“American Buffalo,” by David Mamet, will be presented by the Harper Ensemble Theatre Company at 8 pm April 25-28 and 2 pm April 29 in the Drama Lab Theatre, Building L, at Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. The play includes mature subject matter and is not recommended for children under age 16. Tickets: $15 for general admission; $12 for senior citizens. Call (847) 925-6100 or visit www.harpercollege.edu/boxoffice.

“As You Like It,” by William Shakespeare, will be presented by the Harper Ensemble Theatre Company March 16-25 at the Harper College Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Performances are at 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays; 2 pm Sundays. Tickets: $15 for general admission; $12 for children 12 and under and senior citizens. Call (847) 925-6100 or visit www.harpercollege.edu/boxoffice.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” will be presented by ECC Musical Theatre at 7:30 pm Feb. 24-25 and 3 pm Feb. 26 at Elgin Community College’s Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets: $20; $18 for students and senior citizens. Call (847) 622-0300 or visit www.elgin.edu/arts.

“The Foreigner” will be presented by Theater D at 8 pm March 9-10 and 16-17 and 3 pm March 11 and 18 at the Patty Turner Center, 375 Elm St., Deerfield. $20. For tickets, call (847) 945-0650.

“Legally Blonde,” through April 1 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The performance schedule is 1 pm and 8 pm Wednesdays; 8 pm Thursdays and Fridays; 4:30 pm and 8 pm Saturdays; and 1 pm and 5 pm Sundays. Tickets: $40-$48, plus tax and handling fees. Discounts available for students and senior citizens. Call (847) 634-0200 or visit www.marriotttheatre.com.

“The Odd Couple” will be presented by TownSquare Players March 2-18 at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. Curtain at 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays; 3 pm Sundays. Tickets: $23; $20 students and seniors. Call (815) 338-5300 or visit www.woodstockoperahouse.com.

“10 Ways to Kill Your Husband,” March 8-April 15 at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., downtown Arlington Heights. Tickets: $39-$43; $27-$35 for previews, March 8-10. Call (847) 577-2121 or visit www.metropolisarts.com.

Classical

College of Lake County, James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. (847) 543-2300 or www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. March 11, 4 pm: Wind Ensemble Concert performs a program of classical and modern symphonic band compositions. $5 general admission; $4 for senior citizens. May 4, 8 pm: Spring choral concert, “A Choral Tapestry,” featuring 120-plus vocalists from four choirs singing a variety of genres, including oratorio, opera, musical theater, modern pop, spirituals and gospel. Dancers from the CLC Dance department will also perform on selected pieces. Choral ensembles performing include the Choir of Lake County, the CLC Singers, the Chamber Singers and the Gospel Choir. $5 general admission; $4 for senior citizens. May 9, 7:30 pm: CLC Concert Band performs music from both the classical and modern wind band repertoire. $5 general admission; $4 for senior citizens.

Early Music at the Byron Colby Barn at Prairie Crossing, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake. All concerts are at 4 pm Sundays. Tickets: $15. To order tickets or for more information, call (847) 543-1202. Feb. 26: Amy Conn, soprano, with Trevor Stephenson, fortepiano. The program includes songs and instrumental pieces by Mozart, Haydn and Schubert. March 18: Alison Attar, Stephanie Sheffield and Joel Spears, “La Harpe de Melodie.” April 15: Ensemble Musical Offering, JS Bach: “Coffee Cantata.”

Elgin Community College, Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. (847) 622-0300. www.elgin.edu/arts. March 11, 3 pm: Elgin Children’s Chorus presents “Magical Melodies.” $12; $10 seniors; $8 students. March 18, 2 pm, 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm: Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra presents “Word,” a program of song, opera and theatre. $23; $18 seniors; $12 students. March 31, 7:30 pm: Elgin Choral Union presents “Spring Serenade,” a program of works by Schumann, Schubert, Whitacre, Holst and others. $22; $17 seniors; $14 students.

Elgin Symphony Orchestra. All concerts except the Schaumburg series are at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ESO box office at (847) 888-4000, or online at www.elginsymphony.org. March 2-4: “Two Titans and an Empress.” Performances are at 8 pm Friday at the Prairie Center for the Arts, Schaumburg; and 8 pm Saturday and 3:30 pm Sunday at the Hemmens Theatre. The program includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, opus 60, and Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, opus 73, “Emperor.” $24-$70.

Harper College Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. www.harpercollege.edu/boxoffice. (847) 925-6100. March 10, 7:30 pm: The Ken Spurr Jazz Quartet. $14-$19.

Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Alan Heatherington, performs at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the College of Lake County campus in Grayslake. All concerts begin at 8 pm; pre-concert talks by musicologist Jim Kendros at 7 pm Tickets are $32-$54, with discounts for senior citizens and students. For tickets, call (847) 295-2135 or visit www.lakeforestsymphony.org. March 2-3: Bruckner Fest, featuring soloist Laura Park, winner of the Music Institute of Chicago concerto contest. The program includes the Sibelius Violin Concerto and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat.

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera’s series of live performance transmissions into movie theaters, including South Barrington 30 with IMAX, 175 Studio Drive, Barrington; Century 16 Deer Park, 21600 W. Field Pkwy., Deer Park; and Lincolnshire 20 plus IMAX, 300 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. Tickets are available at the theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. Feb. 25, 11:55 am: Verdi’s “Ernani.” April 7, 11 am: Massenet’s “Manon.” April 14, 11:55 am: Verdi’s “La Traviata.”

Opera in Focus, Rolling Meadows Park District Park Central Facility, 3000 Central Road. Puppets performing scenes from popular operas at 4 pm Wednesdays and 1:30 pm Saturdays. $12, $11 for senior citizens, $7 for children under 12. Reservations required. (847) 818-3220, ext. 186, or www.operainfocus.com. Through Feb. 25: Selections from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”; “Tales of Hoffman” by Offenbach; and “Fiddler on the Roof” by Bock and Harnick.

Patty Turner Center, 375 Elm, Deerfield. April 29, 2 pm: Pianists Saori Chiba and Paul Dykstra perform “The Music of Mozart and Brahms.” $10; $8 for Patty Turner Center members. Must register by April 20; call (847) 940-4010.

Ryerson Woods, 21850 N. Riverwoods Road, Deerfield. (847) 968-3345. www.ryersonwoods.org. Feb. 26, 1-2:30 pm: Students from the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago will perform nature-themed chamber and solo pieces from the classical repertoire. Free.

Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Ave., downtown Elgin. Feb. 26, March 18 and 25, April 15, 6-8 pm: Elgin Opera’s Festival of Singers, featuring opera and musical theatre favorites. Admission is free. Call (847) 742-0263 for dinner reservations. For information, visit www.elginopera.org.

Pop/folk/jazz

Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. For more information about the theater, call (847) 671-5100 or visit www.rosemonttheatre.com. Feb. 24: Big Time Rush — “Better With U Tour.” March 24, 8 pm: Brit Floyd (Pink Floyd tribute show) — “A Foot In The Door” World Tour. $29.50, $39.50, $55. March 30-31, 8 pm: Celtic Woman. $32-$72.

Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. The information line is (847) 635-6601. March 9, 7:30 pm: Lady Antebellum — Own the Night 2012 World Tour, with Darius Rucker and special guest Thompson Square. $29.50, $45, $59.50. April 1, 7:30 pm: Van Halen. $49.50, $79.50, $149.50. May 4: Rammstein — Made in Germany 1995-2011 Tour. May 28, 7:30 pm: Red Hot Chili Peppers — I’m With You World Tour. $39.50 and $59.50. May 30, 6 pm: Nickelback with special guests Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days. $51.50, $65, $87.50, $96.50.

Beans Leaves Coffee Tea Cafe, 320 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. (847) 821-0011. No cover, unless noted otherwise. Feb. 25, 3-5 pm: Jazzy Blue. Feb. 26, 2-4 pm: Fingerstyle guitarist Merv Collins.

College of Lake County, James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. (847) 543-2300. Feb. 26, 4 pm: Guest Artist Concert featuring Bobby Shew on trumpet soloing with the CLC jazz ensembles. $5 general admission; $4 for senior citizens. March 18, 4 pm: Gospel Choir Concert, featuring 50 singers, soloists and instrumentalists. $5 general admission; $4 for senior citizens. March 30, 8 pm: Dailey Vincent (bluegrass). $22-$30; $20-$28 for seniors; $15 for teens; $7 for children under 12. April 15, 4 pm: Spring Jazz Concert featuring CLC’s Jazz Combos and the Monday and Tuesday Night Jazz Ensembles. $5 general admission; $4 for senior citizens. May 6, 4 pm: Guest Artist Concert featuring Wayne Bergeron on trumpet performing with the Monday Night Jazz Ensemble. CLC’s Wind Ensemble will also perform. $5 general admission; $4 for senior citizens.

Durty Nellie’s, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. www.durtynellies.com. (847) 358-9150. Music at 10 pm unless otherwise noted. March 2, 9 pm: Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. 21 and over show. $15.

Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. (847) 438-3433. www.eapl.org. Registration required for all performances unless noted otherwise. March 10, 2 pm: “Bollywood,” featuring music and songs from popular Hindi-language films performed by young singers from the nonprofit organization Swar Vihar.

Elgin Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. (847) 622-0300. www.elgin.edu/arts. Feb. 24-25, 8 pm: Ruth Moody, a founding member of the folk group The Wailin’ Jennys, plays a concert in support of ”The Garden,” her first full-length solo album. $20-$25. March 2, 7:30 pm: The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass, featuring Monroe Crossing and Heartland Voices. $28. March 2-3, 8 pm: Trombonist Mark Bettcher and his band perform jazz. $20-$25.

The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. (847) 931-5900. www.hemmens.org. March 16, 8 pm: Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx. $85 for Golden Circle; $65 for premium; $55 for main floor; $45 for balcony.

InterContinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. (847) 544-5300. Friday Nights Live, featuring music from 8:30 pm-midnight in the Montrose Room, $5. Ticket prices for other shows vary. For information, visit www.montroseroom.com. Feb. 25: Lucky Boys Confusion (rock, punk, ska and hip-hop). $12. March 3: Coco Montoya (blues guitar). $10 general admission; $15 VIP. March 9: Local H. $15. March 10: Ides of March. $20 general admission; $30 VIP. March 14: Buckwheat Zydeco. $18 general admission; $25 VIP.

Lake County Folk Club events are held at 7 pm Sundays at Aleks’ Restaurant, 525 Rockland Road, Lake Bluff. Concert admission is $12; $10 for Lake County Folk Club members, students and senior citizens. No admission charge for Open Stage and Song Circle. Reservations encouraged for all concerts; call (847) 271-1584. For information, visit www.thelakecountyfolkclub.org. Feb. 26 and March 25: Song Circle, hosted by Marcia Krieger. March 4: Mustard’s Retreat; Cath Kasmer opens. March 11: Open Stage, hosted by Scott Engstrom. April 1: Lee Murdock.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. www.metropolisarts.com. (847) 577-2121. March 3, 7:30 pm: Fiddler Liz Carroll will be joined by Irish pianist Cormac McCarthy for a St. Patrick’s concert. $30.

Schaumburg Jazz Fest, featuring Norman Brown, Larry Carlton and Shilts, March 24 at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Tickets: $59-$99. Call (312) 725-0740 or visit www.schaumburgjazz.com.

Sears Centre, located in the Prairie Stone Complex on Interstate 90 between the I-59 and Beverly Road exits, Hoffman Estates. (888) 732-7784. www.SearsCentre.com. May 11, 7:30 pm: Eric Church: The Blood, Sweat Beers Tour, with special guests Brantley Gilbert and Blackberry Smoke. $39.75, $47.50; parking costs $20.

Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. www.viper-alley.com. (866) 463-3401. Shows are for ages 21-plus, unless noted otherwise. March 3, 6 pm and 9:30 pm: An Evening with Rachelle Ferrell (contemporary jazz and pop). March 9, 9 pm: Trippin’ Billies (Dave Matthews tribute). $12 in advance; $14 at the door. March 10, 7 pm: Lee DeWyze. All-ages show. Tickets start at $20. March 23, 8:30 pm: The Marshall Tucker Band, $27-$70. March 31, 6:30 pm: Elvis impersonator Rick Saucedo, $10-$15. April 19, 8 pm: Little River Band with Mike Himebaugh of Hello Dave, $20-$55. April 27, 8 pm: James Cotton and Eddy Clearwater (blues). $20-$30.

Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. (815) 338-5300. www.woodstockoperahouse.com. Opera House Tribute Series, $35 per concert — Feb. 25, 8 pm, and Feb. 26, 1 pm: Tribute to Simon Garfunkel performed by AJ Sweringen and Jonathan Beedle.

Art galleries

College of Lake County Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Call (847) 543-2240 or visit http://gallery.clcillinois.edu. Gallery hours are 8 am-9 pm Monday-Thursday; 8 am-4:30 pm Fridays; 9 am-4:30 pm Saturdays; and 1-5 pm Sundays. Feb. 24-April 8: “Nature’s Duality: Works by Karl Indira Johnson. Indira is a sculptor who incorporates discarded objects in her work to evoke issues of permanence and decay. Karl’s paintings incorporate the rhythm, beauty and chaos found in nature and the sciences. The Evanston couple developed their art while living in India, Sweden and the US An opening reception will be held from 7-9 pm Feb. 24, and will include refreshments and music by harpist Daphne Freund. Feb. 24-April 17: “The Cup: 55 Artists, 250 Interpretations,” an exhibit of tumblers, mugs, tea bowls, cup and saucers created by ceramic artists. An opening reception will be held from 7-9 pm. Feb. 24.

Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Art Exhibition Space, Building C, Room C200. Open 8:30 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday. Through March 15: “Lora Fosberg: Self-Planned Obsolescence and 10 Ways to Combat It,” an exhibit of drawings, prints and paintings. A slide lecture, followed by a reception and discussion with the artist, will take place at 11:15 am March 14 in Room C201, Building C.

Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Through Feb. 29: Works by members of the Buffalo Grove Artists’ League.

Prairie Center for The Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. (847) 895-3600. www.prairiecenter.org. Through Feb. 28: “Flowers in Our Soul,” a collection of images by local photographers, including Maria Aiello, Mary Angelini, Debbie Beller, Denise Brobst, Cindy Brumm, Susan Couch, Randee Lawrence, Christoph Olesch and Karie Strangeway.

Prospect Heights Public Library, 12 N. Elm St., Prospect Heights. Through February 29: A exhibit of photographic prints by members of the Arlington Camera Club. For information, visit www.arlingtoncameraclub.org.

Ryerson Woods, 21850 N. Riverwoods Road, Deerfield. (847) 968-3345. www.ryersonwoods.org. Through Feb. 29: “Flora: Photographs by Jessica Tampas,” featuring large-scale images of calla lilies and other plants photographed in a hothouse in rural Michigan.

Auditions
opportunities

TesserAct Theatre Ensemble will hold auditions for “A Summer Storm,” a musical by Wayne Richards, from 10 am-3 pm Feb. 25 at Arlington Toyota, 2095 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Callbacks will be Feb. 26. Prepare 16 bars of music and a one-minute monologue. There may be cold readings from the script. To schedule an audition, call (847) 845-6706. Production dates are June 9-10.

Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra will hold its annual open house for prospective musicians from 3-8 pm March 4 in the ATC Auditorium at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. For information, visit www.eyso.org. or call (847) 841-7700.

The Lake County Heritage Farm Foundation is accepting entries for “The Farm: Images from the Heartland 2012,” open to artists, 18 years or older, from Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. The topic of the juried show is farm scenes, including buildings, equipment, animals, fields, crops and people. Cash prizes will be awarded. Winning artists will be eligible for Awards of Excellence in the amount of $300, $200 and $100 for first, second and third place positions. A special award of $250 will be given for the best image of a Lake County, Illinois, farm scene. Winning artists’ work will be on display at the Discovery Museum, located in the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda, from Aug. 25 through Nov. 4. Entry deadline is June 1. For details, visit www.lchff.org.

Benefits

Next Generation will support Dance for Life with a performance at 5 pm March 4 in Wheeling High School’s Sang Theatre, 900 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling. More than 125 young dancers will perform professionally choreographed pieces from classic ballet to modern improv. Among companies performing are the Buffalo Grove Studio of Dance, Dancenter North, Arlington Dance Ensemble, Footworks Dance Ensemble and Wheeling High School Orchesis. Admission is $12, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Dancers’ Fund. Visit http://danceforlifechicago.com.

The Sarah Siddons Society will present a one-night concert, “God, I Hope I Get It!”, featuring Hollis Resnik, E. Faye Butler, Heidi Kettenring, Geoff Packard and other music theatre talents performing their favorite audition songs, at 8 pm March 5 at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Proceeds benefit the Sarah Siddons Society’s scholarship fund for theatre students with financial need at Northwestern University School of Communication, The Theatre School at DePaul University and Columbia College-Chicago. $50 for general admission; $10 for students. Visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/222858 or call (800) 838-3006, event 222858.

Chicago Master Singers’ annual benefit gala, themed “White Nights: A Russian Fantasy,” will be held at 5:30 pm March 17 at Wynstone Golf Club, 1 S. Wynstone Drive, North Barrington. The evening includes a reception, dinner, silent and live auctions, and entertainment by Russian vocal ensemble Golosa. Tickets cost $125 through March 5; $140 after that date. For more information, visit www.chicagomastersingers.org.

Books poetry

Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. (847) 925-6100. www.harpercollege.edu/arts. Feb. 23, 7:30 pm: Appearance and book signing by John Carlos, author of The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment that Changed the World. March 21, 7:30 pm: Author Nadja Halilbegovich discusses her book, My Childhood Under Fire — A Sarajevo Diary, in the J Theatre (Building J, Room J143). $8 general admission; $5 for seniors and students.

Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. April 20-22: Friends of the Indian Trails Public Library District used book sale. Members-only preview sale from 5-8:30 pm Friday; dues are $3 for an individual and $6 for a family membership. Numbered entry tickets will be available beginning at 3:30 pm Admission is free to the separate children’s used book sale in the Small Meeting Room. Free admission to the sale from 9 am-4:30 pm Saturday and noon-3 pm Sunday.

Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods Road, between Deerfield Road and Route 22, Deerfield. (847) 968-3321. www.ryersonwoods.org. Friends of Ryerson Woods sponsor Ryerson Reads, a book discussion series focused on environmental literary classics. Book talks are held from 7:30-9 pm Wednesdays and are led by Ben Goluboff, professor of English at Lake Forest College. Fee per discussion is $15; $10 for Friends of Ryerson Woods members. March 14: American Chestnut: The Life, Death and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree by Susan Freinkel.

Volo Bog, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, west of Highway 12 between State Routes 120 and 134, Ingleside. Of Bogs Books Reading Group meets from 10-11:30 am the second Saturday of the month. The small, informal book discussion group is for adults interested in environmental, outdoor and natural history literature. Books selected for discussion range from classic to contemporary. Reservations are requested at dnr.volobog@illinois.gov or (815) 344-1294. March 10: Coyote at the Kitchen Door — Living with Wildlife in Suburbia by Stephen DeStefano. April 14: When the Killing’s Done, a novel by T. C. Boyle. May 12: The Universe is a Green Dragon: A Cosmic Creation Story by Brian Swimme. June 9: The Story of Stuff — How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health –And a Vision for Change by Annie Leonard.

Child’s play

Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000 ; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. For more information about the theater, call (847) 671-5100 or visit www.rosemonttheatre.com. March 4, 2 pm and 5 pm: The Fresh Beat Band, Nickelodeon’s preschool music group and stars of the television series of the same name. Tickets: $22, $27, $32. Fresh Beat Band Party packages, which include a meet and greet with the band also available.

The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. (847) 931-5900. www.hemmens.org. March 9, 9:45 am and noon: “Fancy Nancy and Other Stories,” presented by TheatreWorks USA. Recommended for grades K-4. $7.

Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” through May 12 at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Performances are at 10 am most Tuesdays through Saturdays, with added performances at 12:30 pm March 27, 29 and 30. $15 per person, plus tax and handling fees. Call (847) 634-0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com.

Adlai Stevenson High School Performing Arts Center, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. Call (847) 415-4121 or visit www.d125.org. March 18, 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm: “Jungle Book” will be performed in the Little Theater of the Performing Arts Center. $5.

Comedy

Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. For more information about the theater, call (847) 671-5100. March 3, 7 pm and 10 pm: Jerry Seinfeld. $45-$75. March 10: Gabriel Iglesias Stand-Up Revolution Tour, presented by Comedy Central.

Elgin Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. (847) 622-0300. www.elgin.edu/arts. April 14, 7:30 pm: “Cocktails with Larry Miller: Little League, Adultery Other Bad Ideas.” Tickets: $35; $32 if purchased online. A three-course, pre-show dinner prepared by ECC’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality program can be purchased online for an additional $35. Dinners include wine and are served at 5:30 pm in the Spartan Terrace Restaurant, located in the lobby of the ECC Arts Center. Dinners must be ordered by April 9.

GreenRoom Productions presents family-friendly improv at 7 pm March 3 in the Cabaret Theater in the Round at the Hemmens Cultural Center, Symphony Way and North Grove Avenue, Elgin. General admission tickets are $12; $8 for students and senior citizens. For information, visit www.greenroomtheater.com.

The Improv Comedy Showcase and Restaurant, in Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. (847) 240-2001. www.improv.com. Showtimes at 7:30 pm Thursdays; 8 pm and 10:15 pm Fridays; 7 pm and 9:15 pm Saturdays; 7 pm Sundays. Must be 18 or older. Two-item minimum per person in showroom. March 1-4: Owen Benjamin. $17 and $19. March 8-11: Tommy Davidson. $22. March 15-17: Jo Koy. March 23-25: Dave Attell. March 29-31: Jim Breuer.

Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. www.prairiecenter.org. (847) 895-3600. March 3, 8 pm: Comedians Steve Cochran and Patti Vasquez. $24; $22 students and senior citizens.

Dance

College of Lake County, James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. (847) 543-2300. www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. March 14, 7:30 pm: “Rhythm of the Dance,” an Irish step dance show featuring a live band, three tenors and 22 dancers. $30-$38; $28-$36 for seniors; $15 for teens; $7 for children under 12.

Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. (847) 438-3433. www.eapl.org. March 3, 2 pm: Lajkonick Polish Song and Dance Ensemble. March 4, 3 pm: Chicago Cossacks Russian Music and Dance Troupe. March 18, 3 pm: Middle Eastern Dance, presented by the Pineapple Dance Studio. March 24, 2 pm: The Barefoot Hawaiian performs Hawaiian and Tahitian dance.

Chevy Chase Country Club, 1000 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. www.chevychasecountryclub.com. (847) 465-2311. Ballroom dancing to music by the Dick Elliot Orchestra, 7:30-10:30 pm; lesson by Bob and Penny Urbon at 7 pm $13 per person; tickets can be purchased at the door. April 18: Tango. May 23: Waltz. June 20: Foxtrot. July 18: Cha Cha. Aug. 22: Rumba. Sept. 19: Mambo/salsa. Oct. 24: Swing.

Dance World presents dances at the Hoffman Estates Park District’s Triphahn Community Center, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. An optional one-hour lesson is offered at 7:30 pm, followed by open dancing from 8:30-11:30 pm A variety of recorded music is played for ballroom, Latin, swing and hustle dance styles. Dress code is dressy casual; no jeans or athletic shoes. Adults of all ages and dancing abilities are welcome. Admission is $10; $5 for members. There is an additional $3 charge for guests participating in the lesson. Membership is $20 per year. For information, call (847) 429-5922 or visit www.ballroomchicago.com/dance_world.htm. March 10: Hustle. April 14: Cha Cha. May 12: Tango. June 9: Swing. July 14: Rumba. Aug. 11: Waltz.

Film

College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. International Film Series – There is no charge to attend the films, which will be screened at 7 pm in Room A162 (Anderson lecture hall), unless noted otherwise. Films are subtitled when necessary, have adult content and are not suitable for children. For information, contact Christopher Cooling at (847) 543-2623 or ccooling@clcillinois.edu. Feb. 24: “Police, Adjective” (Romania, 2009). A small-time cop begins to tire of minor pot busts and dares to question his social function in a tale of Kafkaesque bureaucracies. March 16: “No One Knows About Persian Cats” (Iran, 2009). The pseudo-documentary puts real Iranian musicians in a quest to secure exit visas for a London music festival. April 20: “Cave of Forgotten Dreams” (France/Germany, 2011). Filmmaker Werner Herzog explores 30,000-year-old paintings recently discovered on a cave wall in southern France.

Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. (847) 925-6100. www.harpercollege.edu/arts. April 17, 7 pm, and April 18, 2:30 pm: Screening of the documentary, “Vanishing of the Bees.” Free.

Imago Film Festival, which showcases faith-based indie films, will be held March 28-31 at Judson University,1151 N. State St., Elgin. Screenwriter, director and producer of the upcoming film “Blue Like Jazz,” Steve Taylor, will be the keynote speaker at the festival. A screening of the Taylor’s film will be at 2 pm March 31, followed by a question and answer session with Taylor. A red carpet event will begin that evening at 6 pm with food, live music, and a best-dressed contest. Taylor will give his keynote address at 7 pm and the festival will conclude with an awards ceremony to honor film finalists. Tickets for the festival are $5 for Wednesday through Friday and $8 for each event on Saturday. A full-event pass is $15. Events begin at 7 pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. For detailed information about scheduled events, visit www.imagofilmfestival.com.

Lectures

Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. (847) 438-3433. www.eapl.org. Feb. 27, 7 pm: “Art of the 1970s.” Jeff Mishur of Art Excursions presents a slide lecture exploring Pop Art, Op Art and abstract art. March 11, 1 pm: The Japanese Culture Institute will showcase various Japanese arts such as Aikido, Iaido and Shodo. March 19, 7 pm: Art historian Michelle Paluch-Mishur presents “Ancient Roman Mosaics” in conjunction with the Field Museum’s special exhibition of the Lod Mosaic.

Organizations

The Arlington Camera Club will host a presentation on editing photos using Photoshop Elements at 7:15 pm March 7 at the Christian Church of Arlington Heights, 333 W. Thomas, Arlington Heights. For information, visit www.arlingtoncameraclub.org or call (847) 438-5284.

Shutter Bugs Camera Club meets from 7-9 pm the third Wednesday of each month, except December, at Volo Bog, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, west of Highway 12 between State Routes 120 and 134, Ingleside. Meetings include how-to workshops, members’ photos and competitions. Membership is $15. Ages 13 to adult are welcome. Upcoming meetings are March 21, April 18 and May 20. For information, visit www.shutterbugsofvolobog.org.

Singles

ComboSingles, open to singles 21-plus. For information about the group and upcoming events, call (847) 757-1299 or (847) 331-1066, or visit www.combosingles.org. Bowling league at 6:30 pm March 4, April 1 and May 6 at Brunswick Zone, 10 S. Waukegan Road, Deerfield. Fee is $25 per week, which covers pizza, drink, bowling and shoes.

New Beginnings, a nondenominational social support organization for the divorced, widowed, separated, remarried and single. Meetings at 7 pm every Monday (except holidays) at St. Hubert’s Church, 729 Grand Canyon St., Hoffman Estates. Donation is $3-$5 per meeting. Call (847) 965-8072. Feb. 24, 6:30 pm: Dinner and dancing at the Elks Club, 495 Lee St., Des Plaines. Reservations to (630) 253-3787. Feb. 24, 7 pm: Free dance lessons at St. Hubert’s, Hoffman Estates. Feb. 25, 6:30 pm: Dinner and dancing at Melina Trattirea, 940 N. York Road, Elmhurst. Feb. 27, 7 pm: Meeting at St. Hubert’s, Hoffman Estates, featuring a white elephant sale. Feb. 28, 5:30 pm: Dinner at Moretti’s Pizza/Cadillac Ranch, 1175 W. Lake St., Bartlett. Reservations by Feb. 26 to (847) 843-9029. March 2, 6:30 pm: Dinner at Riccardo’s Ristorante, 1170 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Reservations by Feb. 29 to (630) 307-0095.

Thunderbird Singles, (847) 266-2706 or www.thunderbirdsingles.com. Feb. 24, 8 pm: Ultimate Party Mixer at the Hyatt Woodfield Hotel, 1800 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. $7.

Workshops
classes

Barrington Writers Workshop meets weekly at the Barrington Area Public Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway, Barrington. The morning group meets from 9:30 am-noon Tuesdays, and the evening group from 6:30-9 pm Wednesdays. The group is dedicated to improving and promoting the writing craft through the reading, critique and discussion of members’ work, with workshops and classes offered throughout the year. For information, contact Beverly Ottaviano, (847) 394-3129 (morning group), or Janet Souter, (847) 398-1087 (evening group), or visit www.barringtonwriters.org.

Northwest Cultural Council presents poetry workshops from 9 am-noon the second Saturday of the month at the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. Cost is $15 per session. Participants are encouraged to bring 12 copies of their own work to share with the group. Register by calling (847) 991-7966 or e-mailing nwcc@northwestculturalcouncil.org.

Et cetera

Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. The information line is (847) 635-6601. March 11, 5 pm: Stars on Ice, featuring Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen, Canadian National Champion Kurt Browning, US National Champion Todd Eldredge and other skaters. Tickets: $25-$150. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s

“Love Never Dies,” the sequel to “The Phantom of the Opera,” will be broadcast from The Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, at 7:30 pm Feb. 28 at local movie theaters, including South Barrington 30 with IMAX, 175 Studio Drive, Barrington; Century 16 Deer Park, 21600 W. Field Parkway, Deer Park, and Lincolnshire 21 with IMAX, 300 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. Tickets are available at participating box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

College of Lake County, James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. (847) 543-2300. www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. Feb. 23, 7:30 pm: “DRUM!”, Nova Scotia’s new production featuring 20 musicians, dancers, drummers and singers telling the story of four cultures — Black, Acadian, Aboriginal and Celtic — in a fusion of music, dance, poetry, video, rhythm and song. $30-$38; $28-$36 for seniors; $15 for teens; $7 for children under 12.

The Lake County Model Railroad Club will host an open house from 11 am-4 pm Feb. 25 at 107 S. Main St., Wauconda. The club operates an HO scale permanent operating model railroad, in a 30- x 60-foot room occupying more than 1,500 square feet. For information, call (847) 736-1489.

Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. www.prairiecenter.org. (847) 895-3600. March 9, 8 pm: Mike Reiss, writer for “The Simpsons,” discusses the show and presents rare video clips. $28; $26 for students and seniors.

Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. (815) 356-9212. www.rauecenter.org. Feb. 25, 7 pm: An Evening of Percussion, featuring the Crystal Lake Strikers All Star Drumline. $12; $5 for ages 8 and up; free for children under 7.

Sears Centre, located in the Prairie Stone Complex on Interstate 90 between the I-59 and Beverly Road exits, Hoffman Estates. (888) 732-7784. www.SearsCentre.com. April 6-8: “America’s Original 3-Ring Circus,” featuring elephants, tigers, acrobats, motorcycle daredevils and more. Showtimes are 7:30 pm Friday; 11 am, 3 pm and 7:30 pm Saturday; and 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm Sunday. Tickets: $20 for general admission, $14 for children; $27 for adult Spectacular seats (reserved) and $14 for child Spectacular seats; $45 for Ringmaster seats (VIP) with no distinction between child/adult seats. For information, visit www.2012circus.com. Third Fridays in the Gallery,

sponsored by TesserAct Theatre Ensemble, held at the Barrington Cultural Arts Center, 200 Applebee St., Barrington. Cost is $5 at the door. For information, visit www.tesseractensemble.com. March 16: Women’s History Month performance.

Museums

Lake County Discovery Museum, located in the Lakewood Forest Preserve, Route 176, west of Fairfield Road, near Wauconda. (847) 968-3400. www.LCFPD.org. Hours are 10 am-4:30 pm Monday-Saturday; and 1-4:30 pm Sundays. Admission: $6; $3 for senior citizens; $2.50 for children ages 4-17; free for children 3 and younger. Through Aug. 19: “The Blues: From the Heart and Soul,” featuring playbills and autographs, as well as the original musical instruments that created some of the most influential music in American history.

The paralegal from Pelham Bay Park told the man behind the counter, Michael Navarra, that the olives he wanted were from Italy.

Theyre all from Italy, Navarra said.

In fact, Navarra said, 90 percent of Mt. Carmels business comes from the sale of Italian imports. The coffee beans, espresso, Parmesan cheese, pasta, vinegar, olive oil, and tiramisu and amaretto treats are all imported.

Recent financial turmoil and social unrest in Italy have some importers and shop owners in the Bronxs Little Italy preparing for price increases on Italian goods. Still, they remain hopeful that customers wont turn away.

Italy is one of the countries in the eurozone that has been forced to take on austerity measures – tax increases, fuel price increases and government spending and pension cuts – to prevent financial collapse. The moves sparked waves of strikes, including a truck drivers strike against higher fuel prices that delayed transportation of goods.

The euros rise in the last decade had already increased import prices, which are passed on to customers. The euro had decreased against the dollar in recent months – a good sign for importers – but recently hit a two-month high. One euro is now equal to roughly $1.30.

People complain, but because of whats going on, we have to make ends meet, Navarra said.

Cerini Coffee and Gifts owner Johnny Cerini said he is bracing for another price increase of roughly 20 percent in the coming months. Cerini imports big-ticket items such as pasta grinders, coffee grinders and espresso machines in addition to food and packaged coffee grounds.

It usually turns into a person buying one instead of two, Cerini said. Theyll cut back, just like on everything else in the economy.

Cerini said he isnt sure what hell do if customers arent willing to pay higher prices. Gil Teitel, who owns Teitel Brothers grocery store, said he might import his tomatoes from other countries if customers cant stomach price hikes.

Belmont Business Improvement District Chairman Frank Franz said that roughly 85 percent of the thousands who visit the neighborhood every week come from more than five miles away. Franz said higher prices could mean people will make fewer trips.

But shop owners fears are overblown, said Laura Gonzalez, a professor of finance and business economics at Fordham University. Gonzalez said Italian companies will likely reduce profit margins and offer discounts if demand decreases.

Franz said he believes that the businesses will weather the storm.

Am I worried that Little Italy is going to disappear? No, Franz said. Am I concerned that it could affect the profitability of our community? Sure. But I dont think anyone is going to go out of business because of it.

Hines eventually found the olives he wanted at Teitel Brothers.

He said he likes to go to Little Italy whenever a craving hits, and higher prices wont change that.

Im price sensitive, but Im willing to pay a premium for the absolute best olive, Hines said. You got to treat yourself once in awhile.

Carter died Thursday at age 57 from a malignant brain tumor. The American flag outside of Digital Domain Park, the spring training home of the New York Mets, was lowered to half-staff in his honor Friday along with the Canadian flag outside Montreals Olympic Park.

When I broke into the big leagues until a month ago, Gary kept in touch, Mets third baseman David Wright said. He would call and just want to talk about baseball and the team and what I was feeling at the plate. It was incredible for him to be in the situation he was in and to take some time out 15 to 20 minutes and just want to talk baseball. Just the energy in his voice, talking about this organization and talking about the game, those will be my lasting memories and something that will stick with me pretty vividly.

He knew the situation he was in, he knew that clock was ticking and he just wanted to be around the game and talk about the clubhouse and what was happening on the field.

Carter was an 11-time All-Star during 19 major league seasons, primarily with the Montreal Expos and Mets. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Initially it was sad and then you realize that he lived a great life, said Mets third base coach Tim Teufel, a teammate on the 1986 World Series champions. I think, speaking from their family standpoint, theres remorse, but theres peace because hes such a godly man. I think theyve probably come to the place knowing that hes pain free and in a better place. Gary was infectious. His smile his attitude toward the game, his attitude toward life.

In 2005, his first year managing, Carter led the Gulf Coast League Mets to the league final. In 2006, he guided the St. Lucie Mets to the Florida State League championship.

The energy and always the laugh and the smile, said Mets bullpen coach Ricky Bones, who was the St. Lucie Mets pitching coach in 2006. People talk about the smile and it was true. The guy would come to the ball park with the uniform, always energetic, always wanting to win, always laughing, always wanted to be a winning team. He taught me that.

At Montreals Olympic Park, management announced plans to consult with Carters family and make plans to name a space in the area after him.

One federal politician, Liberal Denis Coderre, raised the possibility of renaming the metro stop at Olympic Stadium, replacing the current name of Pope Pius IX.

On the green parquet floor of Canadas Parliament in Ottawa, members of different political parties read tributes.

Carters death was front-page news on all three of Montreals daily newspapers. The NHLs Montreal Canadiens also planned to honor Carter before their game Sunday. Carter played for the Expos from 1974-84 and again in 1992.

One of the biggest tips is dont feed them. Make sure your garbage cans are secure if you know coyotes are in your neighborhood.

People whove seen them in Clifton say they havent been aggressive, but they are large. I was surprised to see them so healthy and I was surprised to see a pack, too.

A few years ago, local 12 caught a woman on camera feeding them — a definite no, no according to wildlife experts. We saw something run across the street and I was just like, is this a raccoon on steroids? It was just big and it went very fast and my friend in the car just said, expletive, are those wolves and I said, no they look like hyenas, but we knew they werent either one and these coyotes were just huge.

Experts with the SPCA say the animals are common in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says there a few basic rules to keep them out of your yard: Dont feed them, leave your lights on at night in your yard, secure your garbage cans, try to keep small pets and their food in the house.

The DNR says, in general, the coyotes want nothing to do with people. and, if we dont bother them, they likely wont bother us. Did they seem aggressive at all? No they were just running. They were beautiful and wild.

DNR also says the animals are territorial. and, they are canines, so there could be a confrontation with pet dogs. Thats why experts are recommending that you keep your pets in the house if coyotes are in your neighborhood.

DNR has information about coyotes on its website.

The five new stores will bring approximately 150 new jobs to Porterville.
PetSmart will hold a grand opening at 9 am Saturday. The store opened on Monday of this week.

We have been very pleased with the turnout, said store manager Tyson Dewitt. Weve been busier than anticipated.

The PetSmart opening should be closely followed by the opening of rue21. A person with rue21 said that store will open Feb. 9. Fixtures are already being installed in the store that is located next to Jamba Juice on the west end of the shopping center.

T-Mobile, also located in that west extension near rue21, should also open in the next few days.

Slated to open in March are Marshalls and Famous Footware.

Marshalls is holding a hiring event all next week at the Porterville Employment Connection at 1063 W. Henderson Ave. and Dave Hawks, site coordinator with Employment Connection, said Marshalls is looking to hire 80 people.

Monday is a first-come, first-served day, said Hawks, adding those seeking work can come in as early as 8 am and get an application to fill out. Representatives with Marshalls will be on hand 9 am to 4:30 pm through Friday to conduct interviews.

Marshalls is looking for floor clerks, sales associates, backroom associates and several coordinators.

The great thing is Marshalls is emphasizing applicants dont need retail experience, said Hawks. He said the company has an excellent training program and is looking for people with good personalities and a strong work ethic.

It leaves the door open for everybody, said Hawks. He did not know how many of the 80 jobs will be full-time positions.

Hawks said the Employment Connection has already assisted T-Mobile in placing six people with that new store. The job office is not working with rue21 or Famous Footware.
Dewitt said PetSmart hired about 25 workers for the store.

PetSmart is a full-line pet store, including food, accessories and even small pets for sale.
It will offer pet grooming seven days a week and the store also offers pet and pet owner training.

People are encouraged to bring their pets with them when they visit the store and every Saturday the Valley Oak SPCA and Central Valley Rescue Railroad will offer dogs for adoption.

Hawks said the jobs are needed in Porterville.

We still have a lot of people looking for work, he said, adding, We enjoy this. It will be nice to see 80 people go to work.

Categories: Technology

Posted on 14 January 2012 by Cory Perrin

And given how much stocks move up and down on a daily or weekly basis, all that volatility is the investment equivalent of the daily market commentary — sound and fury signifying nothing. But despite the volatility and the inability to understand why its happening, small investors still need a return on their investment.

What small investors should do about this volatility depends on four factors:

•The size of their unmet obligations;

•How much money they have already set aside and are likely to get before those obligations come due;

•Their appetite for risk; and

•The expected future performance of available investment options.

This suggests a range of possible scenarios of where you might fit and what you might do.

The best scenario of course, would be if you had enough money in a bank account to cover all of your future obligations.

On the other edge of the spectrum, you could have enormous unmet obligations and no savings or prospects for them. In that case, you might be able to create some savings by cutting back on nonessential spending.

If you fall in the middle, lets assume you have big obligations and some savings and expected future income.

Estimate how much you will need to save in order to cover all those future obligations.

Then calculate the difference between what you have and what you need.

Next estimate the rate of return you on your investments required to close that savings gap. To do this, build a spreadsheet with assumptions about the size and timing of future obligations, your savings to cover those, and your future income.

If all that calculating means you need, say, an 8 percent return on investment, how can you achieve that? Absent a newspaper with the prices of stocks and mutual funds on Feb. 5, 2022, you cant do so with any assurance.

Past performance does not predict the future. For example, in 1999, the NASDAQ rose over 80 percent. But that stopped in 2000 after the index peaked at over 5,000.

Twelve years later, it is slightly over half that level. Moreover, Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel pointed out that since the early 1800s, stocks have averaged a 7 percent return every year — outperforming all other asset classes.

Unfortunately, they have not done that well recently. For instance the SP 500 has fallen almost 8 percent in the last five years and it barely budged in 2011.

And volatility — as measured by the CBOEs VIX — has grown dramatically, with stocks seemingly buffeted each day by rumors of deals made or not made to avoid a scary-sounding collapse of the Euro.

What to do about all this depends on how much risk youre willing to take.

You can take very little risk by putting your money in a bank account or money market fund, but it is guaranteed to appreciate below the inflation rate until 2014, when the Fed could start to raise interest rates.

If you are more willing to take risk, you could buy Exchange Traded Funds that focus on asset classes that have been going up. For example, the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) — it tracks the price of silver on the commodities exchange — has risen 21 percent so far in January.

But last spring, it traded as high as 48 and has since fallen to 32. If you want to bet that SLV will rise at least 20 percent a month, you could invest in it and beat the 8 percent target soundly.

But if you do this, you should set a stop loss — for example, if your position drops by 3 percent, sell it.

How should a small investor deal with market volatility? A middle path could be to split up your funds between three levels of risk: Low (money market funds), moderate (an SP 500 index mutual fund), and high (a commodity ETF).

It all depends on what you think the future will bring.

And since nobody knows, the best you can do is make an informed guess and use stop-losses to reverse your position if you guess wrong.

Levin took that idea and developed it into the Whats Works in Urban Schools, a conference that took place Saturday at New York University. The purpose of the event, Levin said, was to forge better working relationships between district and charter school teachers.

Too often the broader structural debate has nothing to do with the great things that are happening in classrooms across New York City, Levin said. Whether you teach in a charter school or a district school, good teachers have the same goals.

On Saturday, hundreds of teachers braved inclement weather, an early morning wake-up, and a $35 entry fee to attend the event, which was sponsored by KIPP, Google, TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project), Teaching Matters, and Scholastic.

Lessons from the commercial breaks

Theyll be outrageous, entertaining and attention-grabbing — and carry some marketing lessons for small businesses.

They, of course, are the Super Bowl ads, and small businesses have many things to learn from the commercial breaks, says this posting at Fox Small Business.

The Fox story warns small businesses not to get budget envy when they look at the lavish Super Bowl ads, but to pay attention to the research that goes into them.

Note the kinds of ads that are broadcast: air cover ads, which try to associate a creative idea with a brand, and ground cover ads, which are about getting consumers to take action, the story suggests.

And measuring return on investment of any marketing effort is important, it says.

But while most Super Bowl ads will do a good job of standing out and getting noticed, not enough will use direct response marketing principles, which wont bring the return on investment youd expect the ads to get, argues this piece in Chicago Business.

Some small businesses that will be super-happy about Super Bowl will be those in host city Indianapolis, says this other Fox Business story. Citing National Football League stats, it notes that the average host city rakes in $150-million to $400-million at Super Bowl time.

And some viewers may find entrepreneurial inspiration in one unlikely ad that will be on the Super Bowl roster: from the Kauffman Foundation, a 30-second spot to encourage more people to launch their own businesses.

Japanese entrepreneurs set sights on Silicon Valley

Forget the company man: An emerging generation of Japanese arent aiming for lifetime work at a big company, but turning toward an entrepreneurial life, and aiming for Silicon Valley, according to this Associated Press report.

Two decades of economic stagnation and a shrinking and aging population are contributing to the trend. As well, the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear disaster that followed compelled many Japanese to take an increasingly uncertain future into their own hands, the story says. Since then, a small but growing number of Japanese entrepreneurs have been jumping to Californias startup scene, the story says.

Certainly, Japan was a country whose entrepreneurs created some giant companies. But, the story, notes, as Japan grew into one of the worlds biggest economies, it seemed to lose its pioneering spirit. Business leaders, officials and academics in recent years have blamed the countrys dearth of entrepreneurship on a mix of social and structural factors that constrict new innovators. Among the obstacles: an aversion to risk, a scarcity of venture capital and dificulties existing companies.

Now there are growing efforts to rekindle Japans entrepreneurial spirit and system, the story says.

Among them, Japans entrepreneurs are being nurtured by the growth of Tokyo-based incubators, as well as scholarship programs and other initiatives that are hoping to help reinvigorate entrepreneurship in Japan and the growing numbers who have set their sights on Silicon Valley.

EVENTS AND KEY DATES

Enterprize Canada conference

Sudent-run entrepreneurial organization Enterprize Canada is hosting its tenth national conference on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11 in Vancouver. The show offers an opportunity for budding student entrepreneurs to connect with industry professionals through speakers, workshops, panel discussions, and networking. Teams of student entrepreneurs from across the country will also present their business ideas in a competition to win cash prizes. For more information, click here.

Startup Weekend hits Montreal

Its Montreals turn for a Startup Weekend, beginning today through Sunday, where entrepreneurs and wanna-be entrepreneurs have an intense 54 hours to see if they can create the foundations of a new business. Prizes are in the offing. For more information, click here.

EDITORS PICKS FROM REPORT ON SMALL BUSINESS

Professional work sparks entrepreneurial venture

Being on the job can lead to unexpected ideas for a business.

FROM THE ROSB ARCHIVES

Lawyers, dentists wrestle their way onto the mat

Speaking of sports mania, last August, we wrote about the craze for mixed martial arts, that controversial sport that fought its way into the mainstream with the bloody, sweaty Ultimate Fighting Championship. The story talked about the growing number of young professionals who have wrestled their way onto the mat as an alternative to the treadmill after long days at the office.

Got a tip on news, events or other timely information related to the small-business community? E-mail us at smallbusiness@globeandmail.com.

Join The Globes Small Business LinkedIn group to network with other entrepreneurs and to discuss topical issues: http://linkd.in/jWWdzT

Our free weekly newsletter is now available. Every Friday a team of editors selects the top picks from our blog posts, features, multimedia and columnists, and delivers them to your inbox. If you have registered for The Globes website, you can sign up here. Click on the Small Business Briefing checkbox and hit save changes. If you need to register for the site, click here.