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Post by title1parent on Sept 1, 2008 6:36:31 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=230947&src=76Lincoln bicentennial eventsPublished: 9/1/2008 12:03 AM DH A sampling of events being planned by the Lincoln Bicentennial Coalition of DuPage County, as well as by other groups, for this year and next to celebrate Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday.• Lincoln-Douglas reunion debates will be held in Freeport Aug. 29 to Sept. 1; Jonesboro Sept. 12-14; Charlestown Sept. 20-21; Galesburg Oct. 3-5; Quincy Oct. 11-13; and Alton Oct. 17-19. Info: www.lincolndouglasreunion.com. • A Lincoln Highway Tour will leave at 8 a.m. Sept. 20 from the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, and return about 5:30 p.m. Stops include Batavia Depot Museum and a drive by the former Bellevue Place sanitarium where Mary Lincoln was confined, and the Lincoln Highway Association Headquarters in Franklin Grove. The cost is $60. Info: (630) 665-2309. • The 11th annual Civil War Symposium "Abraham Lincoln as War President" will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18 at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Cost: $40 public; $20 teachers and Civil War Roundtable members; $10 students and seniors. Info: (630) 260-8185. • Dr. Rodney Davis, a professor at Knox College, will discuss "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates" at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Glen Ellyn Public Library, 400 Duane St., Glen Ellyn. Info: (630) 469-0879. • Dr. Craig Symonds, retired professor from the U.S. Naval Academy and author of the book "Lincoln and his Admirals," will provide a Dec. 13 program sponsored by the Salt Creek Civil War Round Table. Location to be arranged. Info: (630) 469-1867. • Mark Pohland of the Illinois Humanities Council will present "The Camera and Abraham Lincoln" Jan. 11 at the Glen Ellyn History Center. Info: (630) 469-1867. • An exhibit, "Naperville in the Age of Lincoln," will run Feb. 6 to June 28 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Info: (630) 420-6010. • A Lincoln 200th birthday celebration will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 7 and 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 8 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Info: (630) 420-6010. • President and Mrs. Lincoln will be portrayed by Max and Donna Daniels in "An Evening with Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln" as part of the Naper Settlement's History Speaks Lecture Series at 4 p.m. Feb. 8 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Info: (630) 420-6010. • An all-day Lincoln birthday party for students in grades one through five will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on President's Day, Feb. 16, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Info: (630) 420-6010. • A Lincoln birthday gala will be held by the Glen Ellyn Historical society Feb. 28 at Glen Oaks Country Club in Glen Ellyn. Info: (630) 469-1867. • Lombard Historical Society plans an Underground Railroad Trolley Tour and/or Open House on April 5. The tour will include the Downers Grove Historical Museum, Graue Mill & Museum in Oak Brook, Wheaton History Center and Sheldon Peck Homestead in Lombard. Info: (630) 629-1885. • Lincoln impersonator Michael Krebb will make a presentation May 25 during Memorial Day weekend. Sponsored by the Lombard Historical Society and the village of Lombard. Info: (630) 692-1885. Brochures from the Lincoln Bicentennial Coalition of DuPage County are available from the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, (630) 469-1867, and Stacy's Tavern Museum, (630) 858-8696.
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Post by title1parent on Sept 12, 2008 4:49:04 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1159014,2_1_AU12_HESED_S1.article Downtown hike a chance to help Hesed House, one step at a timeSeptember 12, 2008 Beacon By CHRISTINE S. MOYER cmoyer@scn1.com AURORA -- Forty-one children live at Hesed House, the city's largest homeless shelter. Among them are Teresa Ciochon's three school-aged kids. On Saturday, the family of four will walk down Broadway in downtown Aurora, honoring the modest building that has given them shelter and support when they needed it most. This weekend marks Hesed House's fourth annual Hike for Hesed, a walkathon to raise money for the shelter and the services it offers. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk steps off from the shelter at 659 S. River St. at 10 a.m. The goal, said Hesed House Executive Director Ryan Dowd, is to increase the number of participants and donors from last year. And of course, he added with a quick laugh, to stave off the rain predicted for the weekend. This roughly three-mile walk to the Aurora Transportation Center on Broadway and back aims to engage the community in one of the shelter's greatest missions -- helping the homeless get back on their feet and into their own homes. "A walkathon," Dowd said, "sounded like the most appropriate thing for who we are." Because the homeless, he said, are walkers. And trekking to the Transportation Center to catch a bus, "is a walk that so many people (here) make," Dowd said. Around 450 people volunteered in last year's Hike for Hesed, raising slightly more than $40,000, according to Dowd. Some of these funds went toward creating a comprehensive homeless resource center, which includes a full-time substance abuse counselor, mental health counselor and employment specialist. The shelter also recently purchased a building across River Street -- formerly a rubber manufacturing plant -- which they plan on turning into a "one-stop-shop" of services the homeless need to get back on their feet. Since Hesed House launched an employment skills program -- offered by Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove -- in the fall of 2007, 43 people have completed the course. Of those students, 22 are currently employed, said Doug Szempruch, the program's coordinator and instructor. Ciochon is among those graduates still searching for a job. Despite her struggles, Ciochon is filled with deep gratitude for Hesed House, its services and its staff. Walking in Saturday's hike, Ciochon said, "is my way of paying back toward Hesed." "It's my way of saying, 'Thank you for allowing me and my kids to stay here.'" Those interested in walking Saturday are urged to just show up and register.
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Post by title1parent on Oct 3, 2008 5:24:26 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=239602&src=10Celebrate fall at Blackberry FarmDaily Herald Staff 10/3/2008 Blackberry Farm will celebrate the fall season throughout the month of October with its popular "Pumpkin Weekends" beginning Saturday. Each weekend, it will be festively decorated in the spirit of pumpkin season. A picnic area will feature an assortment of pumpkins for purchase, and a decorating station with painting supplies is provided. Carousel rides, hay rides and tours on the "Pumpkin Train" are also part of each weekend's festivities. Guests will enjoy discounted rates as well, with $3 admission for residents and $5 for nonresidents. "We used to do a Fall Festival in October each year, and it was so popular and well-received that we decided to expand it to every weekend," said Sandy Smith, facility supervisor at Blackberry Farm. "In the last few years, Pumpkin Weekends have become a favorite event for young families." Each weekend will feature a different series of activities: • Pumpkin Games: From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, visitors can decorate Halloween masks, make pine cone bird feeders, play pumpkin Bozo buckets and pumpkin ring toss and search for pencils in a pile of hay. A Howl-o-ween pet costume contest also will take place. This contest is open to all pets and their owners, too. Categories are best witch, best costume duo, silliest, best movie star, best super hero, scariest, most original and best family/pet costume. The first 25 participants to register receive a trick-or-treat goody bag. Pets and owners will be able to take a hayride together. Advanced registration is required. • Scarecrow Display (Oct. 11-13, Columbus Day Weekend): An assortment of scarecrows will be on display, showcasing the creativity of local Scout troops, school groups and individuals. • Trick-or-Treat Walk: From 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, before the park officially opens, visitors can make their way around to nine stations, then stay after the park opens at 11 a.m. for a costume contest at the Huntoon House. Advanced registration required. • Decorated Pumpkin Display: Check out a cool assortment of sharply decorated pumpkins, courtesy of the artistic talents of local Scout groups and individuals on Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26.
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Post by title1parent on Oct 22, 2008 5:25:59 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1234331,6_1_NA22_HALLOWS_S1.article 19th century Halloween beginsCreepy characters come to life at All Hallows Eve festival October 22, 2008 Sun Staff The lantern-lit grounds of Naper Settlement will be the setting for creepy creatures of the night lurking in the shadows during All Hallows Eve: A 19th Century Halloween from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The annual festival will bring to life sinister characters of gothic horror novels and sensational headlines of long-ago newspapers. Patrons can gather around a campfire to hear stories of the dead come back to haunt the living. Visitors can walk through a scary cemetery and haunted buildings, and find comic relief inside a fun house. IF YOU GO What: All Hallows Eve When: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville How much: Tickets are $9 at the door; $8 in advance. Advance tickets are available at Naper Settlement, Anderson's Bookshop, Canterbury Shoppe, Country Curtains and Oswald's Pharmacy. Information: Visit www.napersettlement.museum or call 630-305-5555. "Each year, our 'Scream Team' is challenged to develop and find entertainment based on 19th century history," Maureen Malloy, the settlement's education event coordinator said in a news release. "We think All Hallows Eve is going to be even scarier than ever this year with the addition of the fun house and the other activities that make our event so unique." The event is not recommended for children under 8 years. Sponsors include The Naperville Sun, 95.9 The River, Yellowbook and Jackson Moving and Storage.
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Post by WeNeed3 on Nov 21, 2008 12:27:10 GMT -5
Courtesy of doc on the blue board:
What: Friends of Little Friends Electric Parade and Grand Illumination
When: 4:30 p.m. parade; 5:30 p.m. Gina Glocksen and others perform, visits with Santa available.
Where: The parade starts at Centennial Beach, heads east on Jackson, north on Webster Street to Van Buren and ends at Naper School; entertainment on the main stage at Jefferson and Webster; Santa visits at the Santa House on Jackson
Info: (630) 355-4141 or downtownnaperville.org
With an "American Idol" finalist, 400,000 lights and monthlong holiday festivities, Naperville is aiming to top itself once again this year.
The city's annual Hometown Holidays celebration will begin Thanksgiving weekend and last throughout December.
"There are all-around great events, free events for families to participate in together," said Katie Wood, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance. "It's the official kickoff to the holiday season when Santa arrives and the whole community can come together in celebration of the year and celebration of the holidays."
The holiday hoopla begins with the Friends of Little Friends Electric Parade and Grand Illumination on Friday, Nov. 28.
The School of Performing Arts will provide entertainment starting at 3:30 p.m. on the main stage at Webster Street and Jefferson Avenue.
The parade includes about 40 entries this year and steps off at 4:30 p.m. from Centennial Beach. It will head east on Jackson and north on Webster to Van Buren, ending at Naper School.
Ron, Dee and Troy Biegun of Woodridge will serve as their year's grand marshals. The family has been active with Little Friends since 1994. Ron is a member of the board of directors and Dee is head of the agency's family council.
Following the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will have an early present for the crowd. With the flick of a switch, 400,000 lights will set the festive mood throughout downtown.
"Everything is all lit up and you can't get much better than downtown Naperville any time let alone during the holidays - so it's just fun to be part of," said Carolyn Hamilton, director of marketing and public relations for Little Friends.
For children with a couple other presents in mind, Santa will be available from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Santa House on Jackson Avenue.
Former "American Idol" contestant Gina Glocksen, a Naperville resident herself, will take the stage about 5:30 p.m. to sing holiday songs. Other performers include Naperville firefighter and Nashville recording artist Billy Croft and local dance and music groups. Anyone who misses Santa on Friday will get a few more chances throughout the weekend at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave. The jolly elf will visit from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, followed by special storytime sessions at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. He'll make a return trip from noon to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, followed by storytime at 1 p.m.
Shoppers shouldn't have too much trouble finding bargains throughout Hometown Holidays.
"The entire weekend there are special holiday sales going on starting Friday - so people should shop down here and spend money in the local economy," Wood said.
When the bags start getting heavy and feet start feeling sore, free holly trolleys will be available to shuttle visitors around downtown every weekend during the Hometown Holidays celebration.
Nichols Library also will provide free cups of hot chocolate and cider from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29.
Hometown Holidays will continue through December with a Winter Walk, custom home tour, ice carving demonstration, Guys Shopping Night and Last Minute Madness sales.
Downtown Naperville gift certificates are for sale weekdays at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, 55 S. Main St., Suite 351, and at Roseland Draperies and Interiors, 204 S. Washington St.
Little Friends will be selling Jack Frost Bears for $10 to benefit children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. The bears are available along the parade route and at a variety of stores including Artistic Creations Salon, The Canterbury Shoppe, Little Friends Inc., and the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Downtown Naperville Alliance also has set up a Holiday Headquarters at 55 S. Main St. that will be open each weekend so visitors can find out more about events and special sales. For information, visit downtownnaperville.org or call (630) 544-3372.
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Post by title1parent on Nov 23, 2008 6:44:54 GMT -5
Holiday Magic set for downtownThe city of Aurora will present its annual Holiday Magic celebration at 6 p.m. Friday in downtown Aurora. Holiday Magic 2008 will include the Parade of Lights, which will start at Downer Place and Broadway and then travel up Galena Boulevard to Stolp Avenue, ending on Downer Place. The annual lighting of the city Christmas tree will take place in front of North Island Center on Galena Boulevard across from the Paramount Theatre. The event will conclude with a fireworks display over the Fox River. Holiday Magic is a free event that is open to the public. Contact the Mayor's Office of Special Events at (630) 844-4731 or visit www.aurora-il.org and click on Special Events.
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Post by title1parent on Jan 14, 2009 6:11:11 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=263814&src=10Fermilab open house set for SaturdayDaily Herald Staff ReportPublished: 1/14/2009 This year's family open house at the Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. The open house offers family-style hands-on activities, science shows and behind-the-scenes tours. The event is free of charge. Advance registration is available at www.fnal.gov. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend. The highlights of this year's program will include hourly cryogenics shows by Jerry Zimmerman as "Mr. Freeze," kids racing against a gravity accelerator, the popular Ask-a-Scientist session on the 15th floor of Wilson Hall, and tours of the linear particle accelerator and two research areas on site. "The open house offers activities for the entire family," said Spencer Pasero, an education specialist at Fermilab. "Mr. Freeze and his cryogenics show are always a hit, and I think both adults and kids will enjoy our electricity and light demonstrations. Older children, age 10 and up, will have a chance to go with their parents on tours of some of our research facilities." About a dozen scientists will be on hand to answer questions in the exhibit area on the 15th floor of Wilson Hall where visitors can get a bird's-eye view of the Fermilab site and the surrounding towns. The Family Open House is free of charge and is made possible by an anonymous donor to Fermilab Friends for Science Education. Tours are restricted to ages 10 and up. For more information, visit ed.fnal.gov/ffse/openhouse/. The event is offered in connection with Science Chicago, a yearlong celebration of science and discovery in the Chicago area: sciencechicago.com. Fermilab is a Department of Energy national laboratory operated under contract by the Fermi Research Alliance, LLC. The DOE Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the nation and helps ensure U.S. world leadership across a broad range of scientific disciplines.
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Post by title1parent on Jan 16, 2009 6:20:51 GMT -5
Chocolate festival ;D Taste free samples, watch chocolate cooking demonstrations and enjoy family activities at the NCO Youth & Family Services sixth annual Chocolate Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Neuqua Valley High School Freshman Center, 3220 Cedar Glade Drive. For more information, visit www.ncoyouth.org.
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Post by title1parent on Jan 22, 2009 22:33:12 GMT -5
From the Blue Board....courtesy of Arch.For something to do on Saturday: What: Prokofiev's "The Love for Three Oranges," presented by Naperville Park District dance program students When: 1:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 Where: Naperville North High School Auditorium, 899 N. Mill St. Tickets: $6; available at the door and at the park district administration building, 320 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville Info: (630) 848-5000 or napervilleparks.org www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=265770&src=76Naperville Park District gives opera 'Three Oranges' a twist A wide vocabulary of dance styles convey the beauty of Sergei Prokofiev's opera "The Love for Three Oranges" in Naperville Park District's interpretation of the Russian composer's work. "It's all different styles - ballet, lyrical, hip-hop, folk dance and royal court-style," said Avery Sipla, the park district's dance program coordinator. Sipla said the piece, originally an opera, was also written as a narrative story. "This is the version we're using," she said. With the aid of a narrator, 70 cast members from age 4 to adult will dance the story of a melancholy prince on the Naperville North High School stage Saturday, Jan. 24. "His family is told they should try to make him laugh," said Sipla. When he does, the prince inadvertently incurs the wrath of an evil witch, who casts a spell on him, "that he will fall in love with three oranges," Sipla said. A series of misadventures ensues. Ryan Cap, a Naperville North sophomore, plays the prince. Cap, who does theater productions at North, at North Central College and with several community theater groups, said he heard about the Naperville Park District's dance program when he worked with Sipla on a North Central production. This is the second annual community dance production mounted by the park district; last year's show was "The Lorax," an adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book. "The programs here in Naperville are so great. They're the most friendly people you'd ever want to meet," Cap said. "The dance program is just phenomenal." As the prince, Cap said, he doesn't sing or speak a single line. "Three or four characters will have microphones," he said. "I go the entire show just pantomiming it. The narrator explains what I'm saying." Cap said the youngest dancers do a hip-hop routine. There's also a fight scene and a "Stomp" scene in the show, he said. The prince, he said, gets the opportunity to dance a pas de deux. Cap said he welcomes the chance to experience dance within the framework of a show that encompasses so many dance styles performed by a large cast of dancers. "I'm interested in pursuing this as a career, either in the dance field or the theater field," he said. Sipla said the show, in rehearsal since September, will run about 90 minutes with an intermission. The show is supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and Target, she said.
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Post by title1parent on Jun 26, 2009 5:50:22 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1640477,2_1_AU26_VALLEYBRIEFS_S1-090626.article Valley Briefs: Super Screen Saturday Night in AuroraJune 26, 2009 From Submitted Reports The evening movies at Phillips Park continue Saturday through Aug. 8. (No show on July 4.) Showings take place on selected Saturday nights on a large inflatable screen and are free to the public. Films start at 8:45 p.m. with pre-movie activities beginning at 8:15 p.m. Parking is available for movie-goers in the Phillips Park Aquatic Center lot, 828 Montgomery Road. Guests should bring their own seating and snacks. The remaining Super Screen Saturday Nights showings are: "Rudy," June 27, rated PG. "Shrek the Third," July 11, rated PG. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," July 18, rated PG. "Madagascar 2," July 25, rated PG. "Transformers," Aug. 1, rated PG-13. "Paul Blart -- Mall Cop," Aug. 8, rated PG-13. For more information, go to www.phillipsparkaurora.com.
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Post by title1parent on Jul 9, 2009 6:48:24 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1658810,2_1_AU09_DOWNTOWN_S1-090709.article Summer Jam courts rock listenersEve 6, Sister Hazel to headline at fest July 9, 2009 By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com Dale Hazlewood says he's not checking the weather reports. Last month, torrential rainfall forced Hazlewood and his co-workers at the Mayor's Office of Special Events to close down the first day of Blues on the Fox. It was a crushing disappointment for everyone involved, and now, as staff gears up for the second Downtown Alive! weekend, Hazlewood is hoping the weather holds out. The schedule • Friday 6:15 p.m. -- Spoken Four 8:30 p.m. -- Sister Hazel • Saturday 2 p.m. -- Hix Brothers Junior All-Stars 4:30 p.m. -- 7th Heaven 7 p.m. -- Painkiller Hotel 8:30 p.m. -- Eve 6 • Admission is free, but those under 18 will only be admitted with a responsible adult. Adults wishing to drink alcohol must purchase a $1 wristband at the gate. This weekend's Summer Jam is the one for the younger folks -- people who were in high school and college in the '90s and remember the heyday of the two headliners, Eve 6 and Sister Hazel. Eve 6 is best known for late- '90s hits "Inside Out" and "Leech." The guitar-heavy modern-rock band disbanded after their third album, 2003's "It's All in Your Head," but reunited in 2007 and has been touring ever since. They played a festival in Rockford last summer, which Hazlewood said inspired their selection for Summer Jam. Sister Hazel scored big with "All For You" in 1997, hitting No. 11 on the Billboard chart. They've remained a recording and touring force for 15 years, and in August they will release "Release," their seventh album. They play a mix of alternative and southern rock and have a breezy, down-to-earth sound. Unlike the other three Downtown Alive! weekends, Summer Jam is squarely aimed at a younger crowd. The rest of the lineup follows suit. There's cover bands Spoken Four and Seventh Heaven, performing rock hits from the last few decades. And there's regional band Painkiller Hotel, which plays original songs with a 1990s flair -- if you remember the music on college rock stations in the '90s, you've got the right idea. Given that Summer Jam will draw a younger crowd, it makes sense that the Office of Special Events is relaxing the new age restrictions put in place for Blues on the Fox. No one under 18 was admitted to that show without a parent or guardian, and Hazlewood said even with nearly 12,000 people showing up for the Saturday blues festival, the problems were minimal. "It went well," he said. "There were no long lines or anything. Some people showed up with coolers, but that's not a new rule; we're just able to enforce it (better) now." So for Summer Jam, those under 18 can come in if accompanied by any responsible adult. All the other changes remain the same -- there will still be five entrances to the Galena Boulevard festival, and while admission is free, those wishing to drink alcohol will need to buy a $1 wristband. Summer Jam starts Friday at 6:15 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
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Post by title1parent on Jul 23, 2009 5:44:59 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1680139,DuPage-County-Fair-hands-on_na072209.article DuPage County Fair gets under wayLower budget means fair is more hands-on, back to basics July 23, 2009 By RUTH MOON For the Sun-Times News Group Wednesday was opening day for the DuPage County Fair, and 9-year-olds Josiah Quealy and Ben Bellisario were there for the first time. They went to the animal pen first and were excited about going to the petting zoo. Being at a fair for the first time was "fun," they said, and they had already seen some surprises. "The pigs were big and rough," Ben said. "I thought they would be more little, and not the size of the cage." The petting zoo and other exhibits are examples of how the county fair will be more hands-on and back-to-basics this year after cutting its budget by a quarter from last year. The budget cuts came down from the state, which funds county fairs out of its General Fund, said Wilbert Hageman, president of the DuPage County Fair Association. Gone is the Saturday night laser show. It also means fewer well-known musical artists this year, Hageman said. However, fair organizers decided not to raise the price of admission this year. Also, once inside the fairgrounds, attendees will be able to enjoy all concerts for free. Last year, evening shows ranged from $10 to $40. There are also more hands-on exhibits this year to bring in families looking to save some money by enjoying some "staycation" time at the county fair. In addition to the petting zoo — where children and others can feed and pet ducks, pigs, cows, horses, donkeys, goats and other animals — there is also a virtual cow-milking station and a station showing the development of a chick through its 21-day gestation period. At a needle-felting craft exhibit booth, children can help weave fabric to create a flag like the one Betsy Ross made in 1776. The 4-H home economics division was judged Wednesday, and Woodridge resident Carol Boak, at the fair with two grandchildren, won several first place prizes for loaves of bread and batches of cookies. "I'm close to tears," she said. "I'm just excited beyond belief." Boak has entered the food contest for four years and started when her grandkids called her cookies the best they'd ever tasted. Her granddaughter, 9-year-old Renee Bielawa, baked peanut butter cookies that won first place in her division. Boak and her grandchildren were also planning on seeing the other fair exhibits and shows. "I think we're farm people at heart," she said. "We may live in the city, but I really do (think so). We do the whole thing. We do the fair." This year, a major attraction will be the Illini State Pullers, a group in northern Illinois that competes by attaching heavy weights to the back of a tractor and pulling it along a track. Their show will be Saturday at 6 p.m., with an admission price of $7 plus fair admission. The tight economy might show up even more clearly in next year's fair planning, as the income from this year will help determine budgeting for 2010. The Kane County Fair brought in a good income last week, Hageman said, and he hopes DuPage County will perform equally well; he's hoping for 160,000 people to come over the weekend.
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Post by title1parent on Jul 31, 2009 5:28:44 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1693879,2_1_AU31_ALIVE_S1-090731.article Rock on the Fox brings Foghat, Squier to town July 31, 2009 By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com AURORA -- Last year, the team behind Downtown Alive! premiered a new weekend festival, called Rock on the Fox. It featured classic rock acts UFO, Molly Hatchet and Blue Oyster Cult and was the hit of last year's lineup, according to Dale Hazlewood of the Mayor's Office of Special Events. Rock on the Fox lineup: Today 6:15 p.m. -- Creedence Again Before 8:30 -- Wayne and Garth lookalike contest 8:30 -- Foghat Saturday 2 p.m. - DBL-SHOT 3:15 -- OD Jo (North Island Center stage) 3:30 -- Blue Truth 4:30 -- RAJ (North Island Center stage) 4:45 -- ARRA 6:30 -- 3 in Counting (North Island Center stage) 6:45 -- Trippin' Billies 8:30 -- Billy Squier For more information, go to www.downtownaliveaurora.com. Rock on the Fox drew about 10,000 people, edging past the ever-popular Blues on the Fox festival. So of course, he's hoping to replicate that success. This year's Rock on the Fox starts tonight at 6:15 and runs Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. The schedule includes a return performance by British rockers Foghat and a rare appearance by '80s superstar Billy Squier, who has not toured in years. The schedule also features regional bands and tribute acts, including favorites ARRA and DBL-SHOT. Foghat is perhaps best known for the 1975 hit "Slow Ride," a staple on soundtracks for movies about the '70s. Other hits include "I Just Want to Make Love to You," "Stone Blue" and "Drivin' Wheel." They last played Downtown Alive! in 2005. Drummer Roger Earl is the only original member, following the deaths of founders Dave Peverett and Rod Price earlier this decade. Billy Squier, originally from Massachusetts, produced a string of hits in the '80s, including "The Stroke," "Rock Me Tonite" and "Everybody Wants You." Squier walked away from the music business in 1998, but this year launched a nationwide tour. The lineup is rounded out by Creedence Again, a tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival; rock and soul band Blue Truth; and Dave Matthews Band tribute Trippin' Billies, all from Chicago. A Wayne's World lookalike contest will also take place on Friday night. Anyone who thinks they look and sound like Wayne or Garth can enter to win a grab bag of local prizes. Hazlewood said this is the festival that will bring in the baby boomers, but last year it also drew their kids. Hazlewood expects this weekend's show to again push the boundaries of the fest's Galena Boulevard stage area. "We did get a comment after Blues (on the Fox) from a guy who said. 'I can't believe this is all free, but you need to get a bigger area, or get worse bands,'" Hazlewood said with a laugh. They're opting for option A -- the Downtown Alive! team hopes the new RiverEdge Park music garden will be open in time for next year's festivals. Meanwhile, the same restrictions enacted for earlier fests this year will apply for Rock on the Fox. No one under 18 will be admitted without a responsible adult, and those wishing to drink alcohol must purchase a $1 wristband.
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Post by title1parent on Aug 14, 2009 5:30:57 GMT -5
Downtown Alive! continues:Aurora's Downtown Alive! concert series continues tonight and Saturday with a variety of free performances on Galena Boulevard between Broadway and River Street. Hot Rocks, a Rolling Stones tribute band, performs at 6:15 p.m. today and Hi Infidelity takes the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday's schedule includes performances by August at 2:30 p.m., The Moods at 4 p.m., Elevation at 5:30 p.m. and American English at 8 p.m. For details, call (630) 844-4731 or visit www.downtownalive aurora.com.
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Post by title1parent on Aug 20, 2009 5:16:30 GMT -5
Big top will beckon circus fans to Aurora this weekend August 20, 2009 By ANDRE SALLES asalles@scn1.com AURORA -- It stands 55 feet tall, 180 feet long and 150 feet wide. It roams the country, never settling in one place for very long. And this weekend, it's coming to Aurora. It's the big top for Carson and Barnes Circus, and on Friday you're invited to come on in and enjoy the show. Carson and Barnes has been in business for 73 years, and according to co-owner Barbara Byrd, their show offers something for everyone. There are clowns and jugglers, trapeze artists and high-wire acts. There are acrobats and motorcycle daredevils performing death-defying feats. And of course, there are animals, ranging from trained poodles to enormous elephants. (And a smaller elephant too -- the circus features a 2-year-old named Val, which Byrd said is a favorite of kids.) Carson and Barnes is based in Oklahoma, but employs performers from all over the world. Their flying act is from Las Vegas, Byrd said, and their 15-year-old trapeze artist hails from Colombia. Other performers call South America and the Ukraine home. The circus travels the country, working eight and a half months straight and performing more than 450 shows each year. The big top will be set up west of the Macy's building at the Westfield Fox Valley mall. There are seven shows scheduled for this weekend, and each runs two hours. Shows are set for 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Friday; 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday; and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. "It's a quality show," Byrd said. "No one who brings their family to the show will be disappointed." Wherever circuses go, animal rights activists follow. Last week, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals contacted city leaders, warning them of animal abuses at Carson and Barnes. Circus representatives said their operation has never been cited for animal cruelty by the United States Department of Agriculture, which regulates circuses. City spokesman Amy Roth said the circus has provided the city with all of its USDA paperwork, and Animal Control Director Linda Nass confirmed that Carson and Barnes has given her free rein to inspect their operation. Nass said she will be there each day and will observe their setup on Friday as well, to make sure the animals are treated humanely. On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved the circus permit. The big top seats roughly 1,800 people, Byrd said, and they hope to fill it for each show. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $8 for children, but the North Aurora Mother's Club is offering exclusive family tickets for $25. Buy them online at www.northauroramothersclub.org.
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