Weekend offers variety of holiday activities

Those seeking Christmas-related activities have plenty of options this weekend. Below is a sampling of some of the events scheduled for Dec. 7 and 8 in the Fox Valley.

Annual Snowflake Shuffle set for Dec. 7

TriCity Family Services will conduct the fifth annual Snowflake Shuffle 5K Run Saturday, Dec. 7 in Geneva’s Mill Creek Subdivision. Registration and check-in will begin at 7 a.m. at the Mill Creek Clubhouse, 39W525 Herrington Drive, Geneva. A youth mile will begin at 8:30 a.m. The 5K will start at 9 a.m. The registration fee is $30 for adults. For more information, call TriCity Family Services at 630-232-1070. 

Breakfast with Santa

The Geneva Lions Club will host its annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave., Geneva. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Children ages 5 and younger are admitted free. The menu will include pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee and milk.

Christmas in Kaneville

Our friends at the Kaneville Township Historical Society will host Christmas in Kaneville from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. The celebration will include activities at Hill’s Country Store, 2S133 Harter Road, and the Kaneville Community Center, 2S101 Harter Road. The Farley House, dating to the 1840s, will be open for viewing. The celebration will include a bake sale and children’s crafts. For more information, call 630-557-2854.

Durant House to offer Candlelight Celebration

The Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley will offer a Candlelight Celebration at the Durant House Museum from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8. The event offers a glimpse of how Christmas was celebrated in the 19th century. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 Children. The museum is located in the Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve. 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles. For more information, call 630-377-6424. 

Albright Theatre to stage holiday show

The Albright Theatre Company in Batavia will present “Just in the Nick of Time” starting Dec. 6 and continuing through Dec. 15. The play follows Detective Red Mistletoe and the citizens of the North Pole as they search for the missing Santa Claus. Tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for students and seniors. For more information, visit www.albrighttheatre.com.

Santa to visit county animal shelter

The Kane County Animal Control shelter will host a visit with Santa from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7. Visitors are invited to bring their pets for photos with Santa. The event is free, but visitors are encouraged to donate pet food, toys and blankets to the shelter for the shelter’s animals. For more information about the event, call 630-232-3555.

St. Charles Singers plan Candlelight Carols

The St. Charles Singers will present Candlelight Carols at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles. The program will feature traditional carols and anthems. Tickets can be purchased online at www.stcharlessingers.com.

Just one more thing

The Batavia Public Library will host a book sale from 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. The library is located at 10 S. Batavia Ave. in downtown Batavia. For more information, all 630-879-1393.

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Choir to host annual Swedish Meatball Dinner

The Swedish American Children's Choir will host its fourth annual Swedish Meatball Dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln St. in Batavia. The dinner will include Swedish meatballs and gravy, carrots, Swedish rye bread, lingonberries and dessert. The event also will offer Swedish music, baked goods, and Swedish gift items for purchase. Dinner tickets are by reservation only and can be ordered by phone at 630-414-9700. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 3 to 10. Children age 3 and younger are admitted free.

St. Charles Public Library to host concert
The St. Charles Public Library will host a concert featuring Mike Basin at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10. The concert will be presented in the library's Carnegie Community Room. Admission is free, but seating is limited. The performance is part of the library's Sunday Afternoon Concert series. The library is located at 1 S. Sixth Ave. in downtown St. Charles. For more information, call 630-584-0076.

Wine, craft beer tasting to benefit Elderday Center
The Elderday Center in Batavia will host a wine and craft beer tasting from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at 409 N. River St. in Batavia. The event also will include hors d'oeuvres and silent auction. The wine and beer will be offered from Gibby's Wine Den and Stockholm's, both located in Geneva. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To order tickets, call 630-761-9750. For more information about Elderday Center, go to  www.elderdaycenter.org.

And here's another benefit
TriCity Family Services in Geneva will host a wine tasting of its own from 4 to 7 p.m. on  Saturday, March 9 at The Wine Exchange, 1 Illinois St., St. Charles. The evening will be open house style and will benefit TriCity Family Services. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. The event will include light hors d'oeuvres and a raffle. For more information, call 630-232-1070, or go to www.tricityfamilyservices.org. 

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Registration available for annual Snowflake Shuffle

The Snowflake Shuffle 5K run is set for Dec. 1 in Geneva.

Submitted photo

Registration is now available for the TriCity Family Services' 4th annual Snowflake Shuffle 5K Run/Walk on Dec. 1 at the Mill Creek Golf Club in Geneva. The event will include a 5K run, a youth mile run and a walk. More than 500 runners participated in the 2011 event. Early registration ends Nov. 21. The early registration fee for the 5K is $25 for adults (ages 18 and older) and $15 for ages 6 to 17. The fee for the youth mile is $10 and is open to ages 14 and younger. Day of the event registration begins at 7 a.m. The youth mile will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Snowflake Shuffle will begin at 9 a.m. The event will include refreshments, awards and door prizes. For more information or to register, call 630-232-1070 or go to www.tricityfamilyservices.org.

NIU offers program in developing smartphone apps
The Department of Computer Science at Northern Illinois University now offers a certificate program that teaches students how to develop apps for smart phones. The four-course program offers instruction in writing apps for Android, the iPhone, Windows Phone and other mobile device platforms. The university began offering smartphone courses in 2011.

River Rockhouse to host Kampfire Kowboys performance
The River Rockhouse, 106 S. Riverside Ave., St. Charles, will host a performance by the Kampfire Kowboys on Nov. 16.  The St. Charles band delivers a vigorous country sound behind frontman Tom Colton. The Kane County Chronicle recently published an interview with Colton.  For more information about the concert, call 630-549-0270. 

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Counseling agency names new clinical director

Laura Poss

Submitted photo

• Congratulations to Laura Poss on being named director of the Family Services Division at TriCity Family Services. Poss joined TriCity in 2011 as a clinician/consultant and was promoted to clinical director on June 18. TriCity Family Services is a nonprofit community-based couseling agency, Poss has a master's degree in family therapy from Northern Illinois University. She also holds dual licenses in Illinois as both a clinical professional counselor and a marriage and family therapist. For the past 15 years, Poss was on the staff at the Family Service Association of Greater Elgin Area, serving initially as a staff therapist and, since 2000, serving as its director of therapy. TriCity Family Services is located at 
11 Randall Court, Geneva. For more information, call 630-232-1070.

Cynthia Pirok, center, talks with a business associate.

Ellen Huxtable photo

• The Elburn Herald featured Pirok Design owners Kevin and Cynthia Pirok in a recent article about the Pirok's efforts to help new business owners establish themselves in the marketplace. The Pirok's also are active in Elburn's Business Alliance Networking Group. The Elburn Herald's report also included a photo taken by a Ellen Huxtable, a Batavia resident and a leader in the Tri-Cities business community. 


• The St. Charles Country Club will host its 11th annual charity classic golf event on Aug. 6  to benefit Lazarus House and TriCity Health Partnership, two St. Charles-based community service organizations. The event will include golf, an auction, an awards dinner and other activities. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $800,000 for the two organizations. For more information about the event, call the country club at 630-377-9000.


—Share news and photos about your group or organization here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo.

Geneva Marine completes leadership training

Cpl. Neil O. Garity of Geneva.

Submitted photo

• Cpl. Neil O. Garity of Geneva recently received a non-commissioned officer sword aboard the USS Pearl Harbor after completing a non-commissioned officer leadership training program. Garity, 23, serves as a mortarman for Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1. Congratulations, Cpl. Garity, and thank you for your service to our country.


• TriCity Family Services will present a Layperson's Guide to Mental Illness, a free workshop, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 22 at the St. Charles Public Library. The program is part of TriCity Family Services observation of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. The library is located at 1 S. Sixth St., St. Charles. For more information about the event, call 630-232-1070.


• The Batavia Park District and the Batavia Senior Citizens Club will host the fourth annual Super Savvy Senior expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 6 at the Eastside Community Center, 14 N. Van Buren St., Batavia. The free event will feature a variety of services available to local seniors and their caregivers. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 630-879-5235.


—Share news of your organization or business here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo.

GreenFields hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony

• GreenFields of Geneva, above, recently hosted a grand opening celebration that included a ribbon-cutting ceremony. GreenFields is a senior living community located at 0N801 Friendship Way. GreenFields will host a free brunch and tours at 10 a.m. May 22 and May 30. For more information about the tours, call 800-930-4023. 


• TriCity Family Services will celebrate Mental Health Month with a special event at the St. Charles Public Library. The counseling center will present A Layman's Guide to Mental Illness from 7 to 8:30 p.m., May 22. The program will feature a variety of information about mental illness, including details about the economic impact of untreated mental illness. The program is free. For more information, call 630-232-1070.


• The United Methodist Church of Geneva, 211 Hamilton St., will host a free community dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. May 22. The meal will include baked pasta, a choice of meatball or Italian sausage, salad and fresh fruit. A carry-out service is available. The meal is part of the church's monthly community meal program and is open to all. I can tell you that food is always good and the church's members always offer a warm welcome to visitors. For more information, call 630-232-7120. 

• The Kane County Cougars will host Ozzie's Home Run and Walk 5K event May 19 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, 1 Cougar Trail, Geneva. Day of the event registration will begin at 6:45 a.m. The run will begin at 8 a.m. The registration fee is $25 for adults and $12 for kids ages 5 to 12. For more information, go to www.kccougars.com. I will be at the ballpark, and I hope to see you there.


• While we're talking about the Cougars, the team recently announced its entertainment plans for the Memorial Day weekend, May 25 through May 28. The full schedule of plans is available here. The Cougars will host the Burlington Bees and the Beloit Snappers during the weekend.


—Share news and photos about your organization or business here. Email information and photos to kbotterman@gmail.com. Please include caption information for each submitted photo.

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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