US Presbyterian church ordains first gay minister

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Wisconsin man who left his Presbyterian ministry in California more than 20 years ago after telling his congregation that he is gay was welcomed back into the church leadership on Saturday as its first openly gay ordained minister.

In a quavering voice ripe with emotion, 56-year-old Scott Anderson told the hundreds of friends and backers who packed Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison for his ordination ceremony that he never thought the day would come.

"To the thousands of Presbyterians who have worked and prayed for almost 40 years for this day, I give thanks," Anderson said. "And I give thanks for those who disagree with what we're doing today yet who …

Partnership Seeks to Fill Machining Talent Void

While other industries may be cutting back during the down economy, manufacturers and machine shops still face a dearth of talent to fill technical jobs. But a new partnership aims to help fill that void.

The NH Machining Association has partnered with Manchester-based Intelitek Inc., which develops and produces high-tech hybrid training systems, and Workforce Training Resources, LLC, a career training services provider based in Manchester, on a series of new programs to train entry-level precision manufacturing technicians, computer-aided machine operators and automation and robotics technicians in NH.

Intelitek is housing the new training program and providing equipment …

Chinese orchestra performs for Pope Benedict at Vatican

The China Philharmonic Orchestra performed for Pope Benedict XVI in a landmark concert Wednesday that could indicate warming relations between Beijing and the Vatican.

Benedict called it a "truly unique event" and offered a "thank you" in Chinese at the end of the hour-long concert.

He praised music as a bridge between cultures and peoples and expressed greetings "to all the people of China as they prepare for the Olympic Games." The pontiff said he wanted to reach out "to your entire people" and that he had a "special thought" for Chinese Catholics loyal to the papacy.

Benedict, a classical music …

Women on the prowl for charity

North-east women are once again being urged to sign up for amassive charity event.

The Moonlight Prowl charity walk in Fraserburgh is an after-darkwalk for women to raise cash for breast cancer research.

Last year more than 900 women, all dressed in pink, turned outfor the night-time tour of the Broch.

More than pounds100,000 has already been raised through theevent.

This summer's event is poised to become the biggest and brightestyet.

The Moonlight Prowl committee is hosting the first of a series offun registration events …

Grant Park Festival to Honor the Earth

The largest Earth Day festival since 1990 will be held in GrantPark Sunday, with rock music, speeches, environmental exhibits,vegetarian food and puppet shows.

Organizers hope to draw between 50,000 and 100,000 people.Environmental groups also have scheduled smaller Earth Day events inthe city and suburbs throughout the week.

The Grant Park festival begins at 9 a.m. with a five-milewalk-a-thon to raise money for environmental programs and communityand school activities.

Main stage events begin at 11 a.m. with a multiculturalperformance. Speeches by environmentalists and politicians willfollow, alternating with sets of live rock and jazz. California hiphop artist A.K. Black will perform his "eco-rap" at 2 p.m. Thefestival ends at 6 p.m.

The youth stage will include storytelling, theater, puppet show,magic show, rap and break-dancing. On the midway, there will beexhibits by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ChicagoEnvironment Department and Earth Day Store.

The festival will be held in Arvey Field, north of Field Museum.The CTA has added extra buses that stop at or near the site. Takethe No. 1 Indiana/Hyde Park, No. 3 King Drive, No. 4 Cottage Grove,No. 6 Jeffrey Express or No. 146 Marine/Michigan Express. There alsowill be free, secured parking for bicycles.

Drive if you must, but parking is tight, and you might get dirtylooks.

The first Earth Day in 1970 helped launch the environmentalmovement. There were trash-ins, write-ins and teach-ins inCalifornia, a Dead Orange Parade in Miami and a Survival March inBoston. J. Edgar Hoover sent FBI agents to spy on a rally inWashington, D.C. In Chicago, 6,000 young people rallied at DaleyPlaza, and Mayor Richard J. Daley proposed jail sentences forpolluters.

Earth Day languished throughout most of the 1970s and 1980s butrevived in 1990, when more than 100,000 people attended a festival inLincoln Park.

Last year's Earth Day passed nearly unnoticed. Music and otherentertainment scheduled for Daley Center were canceled because theplaza was filled with emergency vehicles related to the Loop flood.

Slinky Facts

Some Slinky trivia: The Slinky business boomed during the 1950s, but in 1960, Jamesabandoned his invention, joined a religious cult and moved toBolivia, where he died in 1974. His family, including his wife,Betty, 77, continue to operate the business. More than 250 million Slinkys have been sold. The original Slinkysold for $1 retail. The same Slinky sells today for $1.99. The Slinky is made of 80 feet of wire. Slinkys come in two steelsizes, original and junior. Two plastic sizes comes in colors,including neon pink and green. Slinkys are still made on the original machines designed andengineered by James in 1945. Slinkys have been used as a component in pecan-picking machines,drapery holders, antennas, light fixtures, window decorations, gutterprotectors, pigeon repellers, birdhouse protectors, therapeuticdevices, wave-motion coils, table decorations and mail holders.

Piniella appreciates Z's mature reaction

Carlos Zambrano said he was surprised he was asked and doesn't like the idea of being a reliever. But he seems serious about trying to become the setup man Carlos Marmol was the last three seasons.

''I'm not saying that I will be Superman,'' Zambrano said. ''I'm not saying that I will be the best setup man in the business. But I will go out there and give the best that I have to be the best.

''I can be good. I can be great. It's up to me, the challenge, and it's up to what I put in my mind and how I go there.''

To manager Lou Piniella, that might have been the most encouraging aspect of the move.

''He said that he would do what's best for the team, and I'm very appreciative,'' Piniella said. ''You know, he talked about maturing. This proves it to me.''

Asked about the perception that he would be upset at the suggestion of a move to the bullpen, Zambrano said, ''Why? ... I can be the ace in the eighth inning. Why not? Mariano Rivera is the ace on that team, in that category.

''Look, man, I'm not looking for a contract here. I have three more years to put up numbers, and who knows? I may still play baseball; I may not. But this is not my last year of my contract. I just want to get a ring, just want to help this team. And if this is [how to help], I'm here for the team.''

Although Zambrano hasn't pitched as well as the other starters in the rotation, Piniella stressed his performance wasn't the reason he was asked to make the move.

''Absolutely not,'' Piniella said. ''He's throwing the ball well. Opening Day he struggled some, but after that his starts have been good.''

NOTES

Piniella said he has scheduled Ted Lilly's return from shoulder rehab for Saturday in Milwaukee, meaning Ryan Dempster, Lilly and Randy Wells would make up the Cubs' rotation for the three-game series against the Brewers.

- The fourth-inning walk Carlos Silva drew Wednesday was his first since June 20, 2002, when he pitched for Philadelphia.

- Xavier Nady, who still is working back from elbow surgery, was unavailable to start Wednesday against lefty Oliver Perez after making back-to-back starts for the first time this season Sunday and Monday. Piniella said he expects Nady to be available today against lefty Johan Santana.

- Not only was Zambrano willing to go to the bullpen, but Piniella said he also offered to play in the outfield if needed.

''We can double-switch. He'll be the double switch,'' Piniella said.

Comment at suntimes.com.

TONIGHT'S GAME 6:10, Ch. 26, 720-AM

Cubs (6-9) at Mets (6-9)

Tom Gorzelanny

0-1, 1.93 ERA

'09 vs. Mets:

1-0, 0.00 (4 G, 0 GS)

Career vs. Mets:

2-2, 5.68 (4 GS, 8 G)

Mets vs. Gorzelanny

David Wright: 2-for-7, 2 2B

Jose Reyes: 2-for-8, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Jeff Francoeur: 1-for-9, RBI

Luis Castillo: 0-for-3

Fernando Tatis and Angel Pagan:

0-for-1

Johan Santana

1-1, 3.00 ERA

'09 vs. Cubs:

Did not face

Career vs. Cubs:

2-0, 1.71 (2 GS, 5 G)

Cubs vs. Santana

Kosuke Fukudome: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI

Derrek Lee: 2-for-6, 2B, HR

Xavier Nady: 1-for-6

Alfonso Soriano: 0-for-10, 2 BB

Marlon Byrd: 0-for-3, 3 K

Aramis Ramirez: 0-for-4, 2 K

Color Photo: Johan Santana Color Photo: Tom Gorzelanny