Time to search for Easter eggs

Mooseheart Child City and School will host a free Easter Egg Hunt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 7. The event will offer family activities and refreshments. The egg hunt is for toddlers through age 10. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to bring their cameras for photos with the Easter Bunny. Mooseheart is located on Route 31, two miles north of Interstate 88. For more information about the event, call 630-906-3601.


• The Batavia Park District will host a children's Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m., March 31 at Prairie Path Park at Rotolo Middle School, 1501 S. Raddant Road. The park district also will host a Doggie Easter Egg Hunt at noon March 31 at the Batavia Bark Park, 40W101 W. Main St. Dog owners can bring their dogs to the park to search for treat-filled eggs. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. The event also will include a variety of vendors. For more information about the events, call the park district at 630-879-5235. 


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Elgin church to host farmers market March 25

• The Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin, 39W830 Highland Ave., Elgin, will host a farmers market from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, March 25. The market is open to all. Shoppers will find fresh greens, cheeses, meats, honey, coffees and a wide variety of other items. For more information about the market, call 847-931-4363 or go to uuce.org.


• The Fox Valley Mixers Square Dance Club will conduct its Spring Fling dance from 8 to 10:30 p.m., Saturday, March 24 at the Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St., St. Charles. Hunter Keller will serve as the square dance caller. Howard Hoffman will serve as the round dance cuer. For more information about the event, call 847-488-9894 or go to foxvalleymixers.org.


• The City of Batavia will partner with the Conservation Foundation to host the third annual rain barrel sale. The 60-gallon barrels are made of recycled plastic and sell for $75. The barrels are available in three colors — black, gray and terra cotta. Online orders can be made through May 2. In-person orders can be made from 7 to 9 p.m., April 12 at the Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Ave. The barrels will be available for pick up from 9 to 11 a.m., May 5 at the Clark Island Skate Park, which is located near 411 S. River St. (Route 25).


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Congregational Church of Batavia to host pancake breakfast

  
   The junior high students at the Congregational Church of Batavia will host a pancake breakfast and bake sale from 8 to 10:30 a.m., April 1 in Paxton Hall. 
   Proceeds from the event will benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital and Paws with a Cause. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3.50 for ages 12 and younger. Children ages 3 and younger are admitted free. A family ticket is available for $15. Tickets will be available at the door.
   The church is located at 21 S. Batavia Ave., across the street from the Batavia Public Library.
   For more information about the event, call 630-879-1999. To learn more about the Congregational Church of Batavia, visit congregationalchurch.org.
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Remembering Patrick

I pause to remember one of the finest (and funniest) men I ever knew: Patrick S. Botterman, Jan. 25, 1964-March 10, 2008. Rest in peace, Mr. Committeeman. We have the watch, and your precinct is covered.

NIU's Mikhail Titov is the MAC's Men's Tennis Player of the Week

Mikhail Titov

Submitted photo

• Congratulations to NIU junior Mikhail Titov on being named the Mid-American Conference's Men's Tennis Player of the Week on March 8. Titov, a native of Russia, is 4-3 in singles for the Huskies and 4-6 in doubles play. He recently went 3-1 for NIU. 

• The Messenger Public Library in North Aurora, will offer Beyond the Dots, an art program, on March 12. The program will present the different paths artists pursued between 1890 and 1920 following Impressionism and Pointillism. For more information or to register, call 630-896-0240, ext. 3. The library is located at 113 Oak St.

•The Geneva Public Library will offer Gateway to Gardening, a youth program, at 4 p.m., March 13. The library is located at 127 James St. For more information or to register, call the library at 630-232-0780.

• The Town and Country Public Library in Elburn will host quilting lessons from 9:30 a.m. to noon, March 17, National Quilting Day. The library is located at 320 E. South St. For more information or to register, call 630-365-2244.

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Register now for the annual Mid-Am Canoe and Kayak Race

The Mid-Am Canoe and Kayak Race will be conducted June 3.

Submitted photo

Registration is now available for the 51st running of the Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race, which will be conducted June 3 on the Fox River.
The event will offer two race lengths, a 10-mile course starting in St. Charles and a six-mile contest beginning in Batavia. Both routes will finish at the Illinois Avenue bridge in Aurora.
The event will include three portages — the dams in Geneva, Batavia and Aurora.
The event attracts a variety of participants, ranging from serious racers to recreational paddlers. The early heats starting in St. Charles are restricted to competitive racers. First-time participants and families are encouraged to start in the open division.
The advance registration fee is $50 for adult teams, $25 per adult paddler and $15 for paddlers ages 15 and younger.
There is an additional $5 fee per participant if registration is completed the day of the event.
The advance registration fee includes a boat sticker, lunch, a goodie bag and a T-shirt. Advance registration ends May 30. 
For more information about the event, call the Fox Valley Park District at 630-897-0516 or go to foxvalleyparkdistrict.org. 

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Realtor discusses Tri-Cities housing market

Scott Nowling

Submitted photo

• Realtor Scott Nowling discusses the outlook for housing sales in the Tri-Cities during 2012 in a video he posted at Batavia Patch.

• The Maple Park Police Department will offer a series of anti-bullying awareness sessions and a female self-defense program. The self-defense program will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 10 at the Maple Park Public Library, 302 Willow St. The program will include a short presntation at the library and then move to the gym. The program will be led by Tom Scott, a martial arts instructor, and several female black belt instructors. Participants are encouraged to wear workout clothing and gym shoes. The police department also will offer a three-part anti-bullying awareness program at 6:30 p.m., March 12, March 13 and March 15 at the department, 306 Willow St. Registration is required for all programs. For more information or to register, call 815-827-3286.

• Western Avenue School will host its semi-annual clothing sale from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, March 9 and from 8 to 11 a.m., Saturday, March 10. The school is located at 1500 S. Western Ave., Geneva. No children ages 10 and younger will be admitted on March 9. All white-ticket items will be sold at half price on March 10. For more information, call 630-463-3500.

• The Batavia United Way is accepting 2013 grant requests. Nonprofit organizations that serve Batavia residents are invited to call the Batavia United Way at 630-879-4041 to receive an information packet and a grant application.

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