Art Institute's 'Starry Night' a masters blast

Previously slated to be a black-tie gala celebrating the openingof "Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South," the scaled-backfete became a cocktail reception and buffet. Guests donned businessattire and the party lasted just three hours.

Karen Gray chaired the event, which welcomed more than 450attendees, and Cleopatra Alexander serves as president of the Woman'sBoard.

When guests arrived at the Michigan Avenue entrance, they weregreeted by costumed pages from Cartier jewelers, who gave each couplesilver key chains. One key chain had a key that opened a glass casecontaining a gentleman's Cartier tank watch. The lucky winner wasIsak V. Gerson.

Once inside …

Taiwan's Ma registers for election; lead slipping

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has formally registered his re-election bid as his once-sweeping popular support is slipping as Jan. 14 election draws near.

Ma registered with the Central Election Commission on Monday. He said his re-election would ensure "national security, social stability and public ease of mind."

Several recent polls have showed Ma leading his …

PGA Tour Schedule-Winners

Jan. 7-10 — SBS Championship (Geoff Ogilvy)

Jan. 14-17 — Sony Open in Hawaii (Ryan Palmer)

Jan. 20-24 — Bob Hope Classic (Bill Haas)

Jan. 28-31 — Farmers Insurance Open (Ben Crane)

Feb. 4-7 — Northern Trust Open (Steve Stricker)

Feb. 11-14 — AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (Dustin Johnson)

Feb. 17-21 — WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship (Ian Poulter)

Feb. 18-21 — Mayakoba Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun (Cameron Beckman)

Feb. 25-28 — Waste Management Phoenix Open (Hunter Mahan)

March 4-7 — Honda Classic (Camilo Villegas)

March 11-14 — WGC-CA Championship (Ernie Els)

March 11-14 — Puerto Rico Open (Derek …

NEWSMAKERS

PEOPLE: promotions, appointments and hires

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING

Arro Group Inc. of Manheim Township named Nicholas S. Lucash an employee in its geographic infor- mation-systems division. Before, he was a GIS analyst at West Chester University. He has nine years of expe- rience as a geospatial terrain analyst in the U.S. Army National Guard. His job includes global-positioning sys- tem data development, GIS data cre- ation, database creation and map- ping production. He has a bachelor's degree in geography from West Chester University. Frederick Gabriel II was named manager of the surveying department. His job will include pricing, scheduling and marketing operations. He …

Leicht Wins Busch Series Meijer 300

SPARTA, Ky. - Stephen Leicht didn't have the best car at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night. Then again, even at the tender age of 20, Leicht knows the best car doesn't always make it to victory lane.

Leicht took advantage of Carl Edwards' late wreck, then passed good friend Brad Coleman with 13 laps to go to win the Meijer 300 on Saturday night for his first NASCAR Busch Series victory.

"We knew Carl was going to be tough. I hate the way things ended like they did," Leicht said. "I really would have loved to race Carl for the win there at the end, but you can't say enough about our car tonight. We were in the right position at the right time."

The right …

Springfield, Mass., to get NBA minor league team

The birthplace of basketball is getting a pro team.

Michael Savit, managing partner of the ownership group, says an NBA Development League team will begin play at Springfield's MassMutual Center in the 2009-2010 season.

The team does not yet have a nickname or team colors.

The D-League, which has been playing for eight seasons and has 16 teams, serves as a feeder …

A bibliophile's gift-giving secrets

What do book editors give for Christmas?

I'll let you in on a professional secret: Not books.

It's an inescapable hazard of the trade. Our recipients wouldjust think we were being stingy (which I am, unfortunately) andraiding our leftover review-copy cabinets for disguised freebies(which would be grossly unethical). So, in the past, I'd bestow$19.95 Itty Bitty Book Lights by the dozen, but now everybody I knowkeeps one on the nightstand.

How I wish I could give a book!

Why? A book always makes a thoughtful holiday gift, for ithonors the recipient as a civilized and thoughtful person. The bestbooks are durable; cared for, they will survive …