Some observations before Saturday's college games

Here are a few observations from my ruminations before the start of Saturday's college football games:

• Eastern Illinois University football is 6-1(3-0). The Panthers are ranked No. 2 in the national FCS Coaches Poll, behind North Dakota State, 7-0.  The Panthers are coached by Dino Babers and play in the Ohio Valley Conference. Eastern Illinois has posted 617 total points this season. Forty players on the Panthers' 85-man football roster are Illinois residents, and I think that reflects on the school.  Several members of the football team are from communities in the Fox River Valley area, including  Jon Voytilla, DL, (St. Charles), Jimmy Garorppolo, QB, (Arlington Heights), Ben Krol, QB, (Woodstock), Shepard Little, RB, (Schaumburg), Alex Helms, LB, (Naperville), Seth McDonald, LB, (Sandwich), Collin Siebert, OL, (Oswego), Curtis Brummerstedt, OL, (Yorkville), Dan Chism, DL, (Warrenville) and Anthony Taylor, WR, Elven Walker, DB, Joe Hall, C, (all of Wheaton). The Panthers will travel to Nashville Oct. 26 to play Tennessee State, 7-1, (4-0).

• Harvard University's football team is, 5-0, (2-0) Ivy Conference and its roster includes several players from Illinois, including two from Glen Ellyn (Nick Burrello, WR, and Connor Loftus, DB, both of Glenbard West), and Naperville (Cameron Brate, WR, of Naperville Central). The Harvard Crimson are coached by Tim Murphy. Harvard will host Princeton Oct. 26.

I hope you will enjoy the games as much as I will. Go NIU!

Celebrate Halloween with area activities

Aliano’s to host Oktoberfest

Our friends at Aliano’s Ristorante in downtown Batavia will host an Oktoberfest celebration starting at 3 p.m Friday, Oct. 25 and continuing Saturday, Oct. 26. The event will include a pig roast, Italian grilled sausage, brats, pulled pork, hotdogs, a variety of sides and more. The celebration also will include live music. Tickets are $25. Aliano’s is located at 90 N. Island Ave., Batavia. For more information, call 630-406-9400.

Geneva library plans Zombie Party

The Geneva Public Library will host a Zombie Party for students in grades 6 to 12 at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. The event will include pizza, games and a zombie movie. Registration is required and can be completed here. The library is located at 127 James St. in downtown Geneva. For more information, call 630-232-0780.

Park district sets Howl ‘o Ween Dog Parade

The Geneva Park District will conduct its annual Howl ‘o Ween Dog Parade at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Peck Farm Parade. Participants are encouraged to dress up their dogs. Lineup will begin at 3:45 p.m. The event is free. The park is located at Kaneville Road and Peck Road. The district is celebrating Halloween Saturday with a variety of activities. For more information, go to www.genevaparks.org.

Batavia celebrates Halloween with BatFest

Batavia’s annual BatFest Halloween celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Batavia River Walk in downtown Batavia. The free event includes a parade, games, a pumpkin roll, downtown trick-or-treating and other attractions. 

Fox Valley Concert Band to perform Halloween concert

The Kaneland Art Initiative will present a Halloween concert featuring the Fox Valley Concert Band at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Kaneland Auditorium at Kaneland High School, 47W326 Keslinger Road, Maple Park. The family-themed event will include a costume contest. For more information, call 630-365-5100. 

Sycamore hosts annual Pumpkin Festival

The 52nd annual Pumpkin Festival continues through Sunday, Oct. 27 at various locations in Sycamore. The event includes a pumpkin display on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse, a parade on Sunday, a craft show, food, entertainment and many other attractions for all ages. This festival is one of my favorites. If you’ve never attended, plan to visit on Sunday, enjoy the parade, and bring an appetite. 

Run, Rock and Roll in Markund 5K

Marklund will host its Run, Rock and Roll 5K (or walk) at 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at Marklund’s Geneva campus, 1 S. Wyatt Drive, near the Mill Creek subdivision. Registration and fee information is available online at www.marklund.org. Marklund is nonprofit organization serving individuals with profound disabilities.

Batavia library to present The Haunting

The Batavia Public Library’s Sundays on State program will present The Haunting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. Storyteller William Pack will share Halloween frights. Registration is encouraged and be completed online. For more information, call 630-879-1393. The library is located at 10 S. Batavia Ave. in downtown Batavia.

In case you missed these items:

• Owners Vicki and Mike Morkert recently opened Java Plus, a coffee shop, in the Sugar Grove Public Library at 125 S. Municipal Drive. The shop offers coffee, teas, soups and sandwiches. We wish them well on their new venture.

• The Kane County Chronicle’s Kara Silva reported a fine article about the scenic view to be found along the Kane County portion of the Lincoln Highway. Longtime fans of the highway and those not familiar with the roadway will find Silva’s article interesting and informative, I think.

• State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, is collecting signatures to be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014, according to report in the State Journal Register. Oberweis represents the 25th Senate District, which includes parts of Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles.

• Former Yorkville mayor Valerie Burd recently announced her candidacy for state representative in the 50th District. Burd is seeking to replace State Rep. Kay Hatcher, who recently announced she will retire at the end of her current term. Burd, a registered Republican, told the Kane County Chronicle she will run as a Democrat. Four Republicans are seeking the GOP nomination in the March primary election for the 50th District seat.

—Share news of your business or organization here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo. Fox Valley Notes is available at Facebook and Twitter.

Ghoulish tours, busy political candidates and more

Park district to host ‘Ghoulish Homes Tour’

The St. Charles Park District will host its Gallery of Ghoulish Homes Tour nightly from Oct. 18 through Oct. 31. The tour includes homes at various locations in St. Charles. The yard displays are best viewed from dusk to 10 p.m. The tour is free and is one of several activities the park district is offering to celebrate Halloween. For more information about the tour and other events, visit www.stcparks.org.

Bull & Bear prepares for 18th birthday celebration

Our friends a the Bull & Bear Tobacco Shop, 1 W. Illinois St., St. Charles, will celebrate the store’s 18th birthday Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19. The store will offer sales prices on all cigars, pipes, tobaccos and smoking accessories during the celebration. The shop will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 630-513-9345.

Foreclosures jump in the Tri-Cities region

Foreclosure activity in the Tri-Cities area increased 124 percent in September from August, according to a report published Oct. 12 in the Kane County Chronicle. The report stated RealtyTrac, a home foreclosure tracking company, released data indicating the sharp increase in foreclosure activity followed eight consecutive months of decline. The Chronicle’s report stated year-to-year data indicated local foreclosure activity was unchanged. 

STC library to conduct book sale

The Friends of the St. Charles Public Library will host a book sale from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20 at the library. The library is located at 1 S. Sixth Ave., St. Charles. For more information, call 630-584-0076, ext. 231.

Candidates gearing up for 2014 primary elections

Candidates in the March primary elections are stepping up their campaign activities. Here’s a bit of what we’ve seen in recent days:

• Geneva resident Steve Andersson announced his Republican candidacy for state representative in the 65th District. Andersson, board treasurer for the Geneva Public Library, hopes to replace State Rep. Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia, who recently announced he will not seek re-election in 2014. Andersson is a partner in an Aurora law firm.
• Bill Keck, retired Kane County auditor, announced his candidacy for state representative in the 50th District, hoping to replace State Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, who is not seeking re-election in 2014. Keck, a Republican, served 20 years as county auditor and retired in 2012. Others seeking the GOP nomination are Keith Wheeler and Julie Cosimo, both of Oswego, and Beth Goncher of Aurora.
• Evelyn Sanguinetti, a Wheaton City Council member who is a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, greeted visitors to Scarecrow Fest in St. Charles Oct. 12. Sanguinetti is the running mate of governor candidate Bruce Rauner. Sanguinetti is an attorney and an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School.
• Marmarie Kostelny, an associate judge in Kane County, announced her candidacy for Kane County Court Circuit judge, seeking to replace Judge Karen Simpson, who recently announced her retirement. Kostenly will be candidate in the Republican primary. She was appointed an associate judge in 2006.

Three home games remain in NIU football schedule

Lori and I enjoyed a visit to NIU for the school’s homecoming football game Oct. 12. We visited with fellow alumni and watched the Huskies top the Akron, 21-20. The NIU Huskies are ranked No. 23 in the country and have three home games remaining on their 2013 schedule. The Huskies are riding a 23-game home winning streak at Huskie Stadium. NIU travels to Central Michigan University Oct. 19, but will return to Huskie Stadium Oct. 26 to play Easter Michigan. NIU is on track to win its third consecutive Mid-American Conference title. Game tickets are available at affordable prices, and DeKalb is a short drive from the Fox Valley. Treat yourself to some live college football and take in one of NIU’s home games.

—Share news and photos of your local business or organization here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo. Fox Valley Notes is available at Facebook and Twitter.