Elburn Lions to host book drive

Our friends at the Elburn Lions Club will conduct a book drive from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 17 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at Lions Community Park, 500 Filmore St., Elburn. Books can be dropped off at the park’s south garage on Stetzer Avenue. The club is collecting new and gently used books for ages 1 to 18. 

Arts center sets reception for faculty show

The Fine Line Creative Arts Center, 37W570 Bolcum Road, St. Charles, will host a reception Oct. 17 to celebrate the opening of the 2014 Faculty Show. The reception will be conducted from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission is free. For more information about the event and gallery hours, call 630-584-9443. 

Haunted Quarry opens Oct. 17
The Batavia Park District’s Haunted Quarry opens Oct. 17 for the Halloween fright season at Hall Quarry Beach, 400 S. River St., Batavia. The Haunted Quarry will be open 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25. Admission is $8. 

Ride the rails with trolley museum's Ghost Story Train

The Fox Valley Trolley Museum will conduct its Ghost Story Train Oct. 18 and Oct. 25. The train will travel from the museum to the John Duerr Forest Preserve, where guests will hear ghost stories and enjoy treats around a campfire. The program is suitable for all ages, and guests are encouraged to attend in costume. Tickets are $13.50 for all ages and reservations are required. Trains will depart the museum at 5 p.m, 6:15  and 7:45. The museum is located at 365 S. LaFox St., (Route 31) in South Elgin. For more information, call 847-697-4676.

St. Charles church to host annual craft show

The St. Charles Episcopal Church will conduct its annual arts and craft show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18. The juried show will include autumn and holiday decorations, jewelry, toys and more. Admission is free. The church is located at 994 N. Fifth Ave., St. Charles. 

Lions club offers up annual German dinner

The Elburn Lions Club will host its annual German Dinner from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18. The buffet dinner will include bratwurst, pork loins, red cabbage, sauerkraut, spaetzel, German potato salad, pretzel rolls, dessert and coffee. A cash bar will offer German beer and wines. Tickets for the dinner are $13.50 for adults, $12.50 seniors age 65 and older, $9 for children ages 4 to 11. Children ages 3 and younger are admitted free. The club is located at 500 Filmore St., Elburn. For more information, call 630-365-6315.

St. Charles Park District, Steel Beam Theatre partner for Zombie 5K

The St. Charles Park District and the Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles will partner to present Zombie Run, a 5K run and walk, at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at Primrose Farm, 5N726 Crane Road, St. Charles. On-site registration will begin at 4 p.m. The registration fee is $25 for St. Charles Park District residents and $38 for nonresidents. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume, prizes will be awarded. For more information, go to www.stcparks.org.

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Steel Beam Theatre to stage "Postmordem'

The Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles will present the thriller “Postmordem” starting Friday, Jan. 10 and continuing on select dates through Feb. 9. “Postmordem” is a mystery crowded with suspects, clever twists and laughter. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 630-587-8521, or go to www.steelbeamtheatre.com. The theater is located at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles.

Mystery Diner urges a visit to Prime Bistro

The Kane County Chronicle’s Mystery Diner recently visited Prime Bistro, 105 Walnut Ave. in downtown St. Charles and urges readers to stop in and try the burgers, the house specialty. I find the Mystery Diner's recommendations reliable, so I am confident Lori and I will visit Prime Bistro soon.

Fairgrounds to host sportsmen show

The Kane County Fairgrounds will host a sportsmen show from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. The show will feature firearms and related items. Admission is $5. The fairgrounds are located at 525 S.Randall Road, St. Charles.

Symphony to put spotlight on Scotland

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will present a musical tour of Scotland at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. The symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 847-888-4000.

Mystery Diner urges a visit to Prime Bistro

The Kane County Chronicle’s Mystery Diner recently visited Prime Bistro, 105 Walnut Ave. in downtown St. Charles and urges readers to stop in and try the burgers, the house specialty. I find the Mystery Diner's recommendations reliable, so I am confident Lori and I will visit Prime Bistro soon.

Mid-Winter Hamfest set for Jan.19

The Wheaton Community Radio Amateurs will host Mid-Winter Hamfest starting at 8 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. The event will include demonstrations, information sessions, an electronic flea market and more. Tickets are $10. Children ages 12 and younger admitted free. Parking is free and food will be available for purchase.

In case you missed these items:

• Crain’s Chicago Business offered a county-by-county look at how the end of the Emergency Employment Compensation program impacted Illinois. The program expired Dec. 28, leaving more than 80,000 Illinoisans without unemployment benefits.

• The Kane County Chronicle recently offered this article detailing how homeowners can save money through efficient energy use. 

Looking forward

I like to prepare a list in January of the interesting activities and events planned for the coming months. One of the items on this year’s list is the primary elections set for March 18. Voters will have an opportunity to express their support (or disdain) for candidates for state and local offices. Ballots in some areas will include referendum questions. Kane County voters will see the Show You Care Kane question, which would authorize a new property tax of 0.1 percent of assessed value of all taxable property to fund care for the county’s developmentally disable residents. To read the official question, click here.  To learn more about Show You Care Kane, click here. To read a recent Elgin Courier-News report related to the question, click here.

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Rock River Fest to benefit autism awareness

7th Heaven is scheduled to perform at the River Rock Fest.

Submitted photo

The River Rockhouse, 106 S. Riverside Ave.,  St. Charles will host River Rock Fest from Sept. 28 through 30 to benefit autism awareness. The River Rockhouse was formerly Chord on Blues. The three-day festival will include live music, bags, a beer garden and other attractions. The event's live music will begin at 5 p.m. each day and continue to 10:15 p.m. Admission is $5 before 9 p.m. and $10 after 9 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), a national organization committed to increasing awareness of autism. For more information about the event, go to www.river-rockhouse.com.

Steel Beam Theatre sets final performance for 'Mermaid'
The Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles will present its final performances of its production of "The Little Mermaid" at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sept. 29. The theatre is located at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. 

Huntley to host Fall Festival
Huntley's annual Fall Festival will begin at 4 p.m. Sept. 28 and continue through Sept. 30 at Deicke Park, 12015 Mill St. The festival will offer music, children's activities, a fireworks display, food, a beer garden and many other attractions. Admission is free during the day, but  $5 after 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

St. Mark's plans blessing of the pets
St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Geneva will conduct its sixth annual Blessing of the Animals at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the old Courthouse, 100 S. Third St. in downtown Geneva. The event is open to the public and all kinds of pets are welcome. The blessings will be conducted by the Rev. Mark Tusken and the Rev. Claudia Nalven.

Waubonsee to host College Night
Waubonsee Community College will host representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities during its annual College Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at the school's Sugar Grove Campus, Route 47 and Waubonsee Drive. The event is open to the public and admission is free. Visitors can gather information about the college selection process, attend presentations and learn about financial aid. For more information, call 630-466-7900, ext. 5756.

NIU running back Leighton Settle in action against Kansas.

Shawmedia.com photo

NIU football set to begin MAC schedule
The Northern Illinois University football team will open Mid-American Conference play at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 29 when the Huskies host Central Michigan University. The Huskies enter conference play 3-1 under head coach Dave Doeren. NIU enters conference play as the defending conference champion — a title the Huskies last held in 1984. NIU won the MAC West Division two years in a row. NIU defeated Kansas, 30-23, at Huskie Stadium Sept. 22 and the Chippewas of Central Michigan topped Iowa, 33-31 on the same day. For more information about the game or to buy tickets, go to www.niuhuskies.com. I am an NIU grad, and you can bet I back the Red and Black Attack. 

A preview of the Big Ten's games for Week 5
I am a big fan of Big Ten Conference football and enjoy reading a variety of previews of each week's round of games. Bleacher Report provides a preview of Week 5 in the Big Ten Conference. Enjoy the games. 

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Kimmer's creation to aid TriCity Family Services

Kimmer's Ice Cream is offering a special sundae in May.

Hallie Hudson photo

• Kimmer's Ice Cream in St. Charles created a special black raspberry sundae to benefit TriCity Family Services in Geneva during May, Mental Health Awareness Month. During May, 10 percent of the sales of the sundae will be donated to TriCity Family Services, which provides counseling and related services. Kimmer's is located at 1 W. Illinois St. in downtown St. Charles. 

• The Children's Stage at Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles will present "Rapunzel" beginning May 12 and continuing through June 3. The show will be presented at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays.  The theater is located at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. For more information, call 630-587-8521.

• The Montessori Academy in Batavia will host its annual Bridge to Bridge 5K and 10K run on May 12 at the Batavia Riverwalk in downtown Batavia. The 5K event will begin a 7 a.m., followed by the 10K run at 7:30 a.m. The registration fee is $25 for the 5K and $30 for the 10K. Food and entertainment will be available.  

• The Geneva Park District's Stone Creek Miniature Golf facility is open for the 2012 season. The facility is located at 101 North St., Geneva. For more information, call 630-232-4542.


   The item above about the opening of the Stone Creek Miniature Golf facility reminded me of a family vacation we enjoyed more than 10 years ago. I have fond memories of every family vacation, but this particular trip was special because it involved a visit to a mini golf site in Door County. 
   The golf site was in itself a memorable facility, elaborate in its design and challenging to play. Our visit that day was unique because it was my daughter's first visit to a mini golf course. Megan, age 5 at the time, was frustrated early on with the complexity of the course, but she didn't give up. Her perseverance paid off. Megan made a hole in one on the 17th hole. 
   We have a picture of Megan grinning and displaying the golf ball she played that day. It's one of my favorite pictures.


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