It's been nearly a year since local super-fan Cy Rawls passed on -- and I still catch myself looking for him at shows with some regularity. I think my Cy pangs hit their peak in April, when his beloved Tar Heels won the NCAA championship, but they've hardly ebbed since then. And I don't think I'll ever hear the Rosebuds, among other bands, without thinking about him.

It's a nice thought. And even though he's gone, folks continue doing good works in his name. The latest is Rawls' friend Tim Ross, who is running in next month's Chicago Marathon in his memory -- and to raise money for brain-tumor research. Check here for details on how to sponsor him, then do it.