A country celebration Lovely setting for Service Club event

Perfect weather and one of the prettiest farms in the Midwestconspired to make the Service Club of Chicago's 1999 Day in theCountry one of its most enjoyable in memory.

Richard Duchossois and Judy McKoewn offered the use of his Hill 'nDale Farm in Barrington to the group for its annualmeeting/luncheon/fashion show, and the 125 women who attended reveledin cool breezes, great food, gorgeous furs and stunning fashions forseveral hours.

On arrival, guests had a choice of wine, champagne or a tiny cupof chilled tomato soup. Amanda Puck did double duty, supervising ayummy lunch catered by Chicago's Spago restaurant, and then modelingin the fashion show that followed. …

Obama has security confab, meets Mexico president

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is focusing mostly on foreign affairs Thursday.

In the morning, Obama will join his national security team at the White House for their monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Then the president will hold several meetings with President Felipe Calderon (fay-LEE'-pay kahl-duh-ROHN') of Mexico, including a one-on-one meeting in the …

No. 14 Utah spurts to 56-14 victory vs. NMexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Terrance Cain might have to give up Utah's starting quarterback job when Jordan Wynn gets healthy.

But if Cain does end up heading back to the bench, he'll have a record to take with him.

Cain completed 20 of 23 passes to set a school record for completion percentage in a game and Shaky Smithson capped a three-touchdown surge in the third quarter with a 73-yard punt return as No. 14 Utah beat New Mexico 56-14 on Saturday night.

"It's great to have that stat but the most important stat is to get the victory," said Cain, who completed 87 percent of his passes. "That's all I'm worried about."

Cain finished with 248 yard and a career-high three …

Please have consideration ; Letters extra

I RECENTLY decided to move back to the Brechfa area having spentmany happy years living in this stunningly beautiful location. Ieagerly started searching for suitable property -- but was abruptlyfaced with the shocking fact that, almost without exception, everyhouse I wanted to view would soon be blighted by any number ofimminent wind turbines -- namely, the proposed development sites ofLlanllwni Mountain, Brechfa East and Brechfa West.

With resignation, I decided to look for a home over a slightlywider area. I had always found the region around Cwmduad to boastsimilar deep, sweeping, forested valleys, akin to those at Brechfa.Happily, I found an ideal property …

Today in History - March 13

Today is Tuesday, March 13, the 72nd day of 2007. There are 293 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On March 13, 1925, a law went into effect in Tennessee prohibiting the teaching of the theory of evolution.

On this date:

In 1781, the planet Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel.

In 1884, Congress adopted Eastern Standard Time for the District of Columbia.

In 1901, the 23rd president of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, died in Indianapolis.

In 1933, banks began to reopen after a "holiday" declared by President Roosevelt.

In 1947, the Lerner and Loewe musical "Brigadoon" opened on Broadway. …

Highest Major League Baseball Salaries

…

Years Avg Salary

Alex Rodriguez, NYY 2008-17 $27,500,000

CC Sabathia, NYY 2009-15 $23,000,000

Johan Santana, NYM 2008-13 $22,916,667

Mark Teixeira, NYY 2009-16 $22,500,000

Manny Ramirez, LAD 2009-10 $22,500,000

Fred Berland

Fred Berland, 56, president of the former P. J. Berland Paint &Wallpaper City chain, died Tuesday in Evanston Hospital.

Mr. Berland, who lived in Northbrook, had been ill with braincancer for nine months.

He is credited with building the business from a one-storyoperation in Chicago to 20 stores in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas.The Berland stores were sold to Sherwin-Williams Co. in 1984.

Mr. Berland was a Korean War veteran. After selling the paintand …