Around and About in West Chicago - 12 Mar 2008

     The following is a schedule of activities and worship services planned by local churches from Saturday, March 15, through Maundy/Holy Thursday, March 20.

• Community Fellowship Church, 28W240 North Ave., is hosting its fifth annual Easter Egg Hunt at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March15. The event is geared for children from 2 years old through 5th graders. A puppet show follows the Hunt. Palm Sunday services are at 9 and 11 a.m. During holy week, Monday through Friday, the sanctuary is open for prayer from 6:30 to 7 a.m. The Maundy Thursday service is at 7 p.m.
• Faith Community Church, 910 Main St., Palm Sunday service is at 9:30 a.m.
• First United Methodist Church/First Congregational Church Palm Sunday service is at 10 a.m. at the Methodist Church building, 643 E. Washington St. The congregation of St. Andrew Lutheran Church joins with this church congregation for Maundy Thursday services at 7:30 p.m. at the Congregational Church building, 525 N. Neltnor Blvd.
• Glen Arbor Community Church, 204 Church St., Palm Sunday service is at 10 a.m. A community Easter Egg Hunt, jointly hosted by the church and Simple Gifts Foundation, takes place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 16.
• Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1S260 Joliet St., has an Easter Egg Hunt for children through 6th grade from 10:30 to noon, Saturday, March 15. Palm Sunday services are at 8 and 10:30 a.m. The Maundy Thursday service is at 7 p.m.
• Resurrection Anglican Church, 450 E. Roosevelt Road, Suite 203, is joining Renovacion for the Palm Sunday service at 10 a.m. Father Miguel Ochoa leads the celebration. Rev. Rebecca preaches the sermon and is being installed as pastor for Young Families and Youth. The Easter egg hunt is at 11:30 a.m. The prayer and praise service is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19. The Maundy Thursday service is at 7 p.m.
• St. Andrew Lutheran Church Palm Sunday services are observed Saturday and Sunday. Saturday services are at noon at Indian Knoll School, ON645 Indian Knoll Road, and at 5 p.m. at the Methodist church, 643 E. Washington St. The Sunday services are at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon at the school site.
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 140 N. Oakwood St., Palm Sunday vespers are at 5 p.m. On Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in English is at 6 p.m. and in Spanish at 8 p.m. Adoration is from 9 p.m. to midnight.
• St. Michael’s United Church of Christ, 400 W. Washington Sat., Palm/Passion Sunday service is at 9:30 a.m.
• Trinity Lutheran Church, 331 George St., Palm Sunday service is at 9 a.m. The Maundy Thursday service is at 7 p.m.

AROUND AND ABOUT

     The sight of a robin is considered by most as the harbinger of Spring, but for many of us, it is the opening of Tastee-Freeze. The welcome sign, “Ready or not, here we are,” brought a feeling of warmth, causing some to succumb to the rite of celebration, savoring a HOT fudge sundae.

     The library, 118 W. Washington St., is buzzing and hopping with fun family activities Saturday, March 15. The Friends of the Library annual Egg Roll for children between the ages of 1 to 9 is from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on the library lawn. Beginning at 1:15 p.m. the Mini-Theatre Troupe presents four puppet shows, based on children’s books. A surprise ending at the show gives each child a tasty treat.

     “Erin go Bragh” describes the theme for the West Chicago Sister Cities 4th annual traditional Irish Boiled St. Patrick’s Day dinner Saturday, March 15, at the American Legion hall, 123 Main St. Social hour is at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The meal of corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes whets the “Irish appetite” of guests. Adding to the “waist of fun” is the bake sale, and excitement of the 50-50 raffle and a little Irish blarney through the limerick contest. The cost is $15 for tickets purchased in advance and $20 at the door. To reserve tickets or for more information, call Melissa Birch at (630) 621-0128.

     The Irish fun and “wearing of the green” continues with the high school’s second annual After Prom St. Patrick’s Day Bash and Silent Auction from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Klein Creek Golf Club, 1N333 Pleasant Hill Road in Winfield. The band, This End Up, provides the musical entertainment—great for dancing and listening. A myriad of coveted items are up for bidding in both the live and silent auctions. The ticket price is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets are available at Pal Joey’s, Sandpiper Restaurant and State Bank of Illinois, or call Becky Koltz at (630) 231-0251. The proceeds help supplement the costs for students to attend the After Prom event, which provides a safe evening of fun. The activity this year is at Lifetime Fitness in Bloomingdale. Activities for students include taking on the challenge of the climbing wall, swimming, running in inflatable obstacle courses, racing in bungee runs and having portraits drawn by caricature artists. Food and beverages are served during the event.

     With the retirement of Athletic Director Bob Stone this year, Community High School District 94 is seeking applicants to fill the position. Seeking input on the qualities the community wants to see for the new director, the district is offering several options. A survey, via http://www.d94.org/enews/ADQualitiesSurvey08.pdf, must be returned to the Human Resources office by Friday, March 14. Comments may be returned through postal mail, fax, e-mail or drop-off. For persons wishing to state comments in person, an input session is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 17 in the LRC. Also, one or two parents are needed for inclusion on the initial interview team. Interested individuals may complete the appropriate section on the survey or e-mail contact information of address, telephone number and e-mail address along with other personal/professional information to Kimberly Chambers, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at kchambers@d94.org.

     A legislative forum on Autism, sponsored by State Rep. Mike Fortner (R-95-West Chicago) and Franco Coladipietro (R-45-Bloomingdale), is at 7 p.m. Monday, March 17, at Wheaton Community Center. For further information, call Maria Rook, Legislative Assistant for Fortner, at (630) 293-9344.

     School District 33 is holding a Dual Language Informational meeting and Open House at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at Gary School, 130 E. Forest Ave. For more information about the Dual Language program, call Angel Rivera, Director of Second Language Learning, at (630) 293-6000, Ext. 207.

     A mini antique road show is the library’s program at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19. Frances Spear, owner of Arbor Avenue Antiques, and some of her shopkeepers give an informal appraisal of the “treasures” in your home. There is a limit of two items per person. For further information or to make a reservation, call the library adult service department at (630) 231-1552, Ext. 4.

     American Legion Post 300 hosts its annual Easter Egg Hunt promptly at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at Reed-Keppler Park. The age groups are from ages one through 8. The number for the American Legion is (630) 231-2112.

     The City Museum Craft program takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 22. The activity involves the painting of murals, which reflects one of the government projects of the Great Depression and New Deal era. Sarah Phelan, museum registrar, said the artwork would center around a railroad theme, portraying the history of West Chicago.

     Wheaton Academy Women’s Chorale Concert is at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 22, in the Fine Arts building, 900 Prince Crossing Road. There is no charge to attend.

     St. Mary’s Parish School, 147 Garden St., is hosting two Open Houses, featuring tours and classroom observations Tuesday, March 25. Hours are from 9 a.m. to noon and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The school offers full-day preschool and kindergarten and 1st through 8th grade education. For more information or to schedule a private tour, call the school office at (630) 231-1776 or visit the web site www.stmarywc.org.

     Be aware of a scam that is occurring in the community. “Delivery notices” are left in the doorways of residents. The notice contains the telephone number, (800) 913-7437, to call for redelivery. Police Sgt. Leo Aviles said not to call the number, as there is no package. The company is trying to sell water purifiers. The police department checked the telephone number through Google and discovered there are many complaints ranging from Crystal Lake to Plainfield. “Some residents stated that after they call back, the solicitors do not leave them alone.”

     Ward 7 alderman Nick Dzierzanowski was reappointed to the DuPage County Storm Water Committee.

     Jim Miner, a high school senior, was the recipient of the Randy Jacobs Award, which Veterans of Foreign War Post 6791 Commander Steve presented to him at the Feb. 20 basketball game. Miner was one of the captains of the football team. His grade average is a 4.0. In the fall he will attend Cornell University and play on the school’s football team.

     The library’s Young Adult Advisory Council received the 21st Century Service Award, which is given annually to a library member of the DuPage Library System. Winners exemplify services planned to meet the challenges of the future, display exhibits adapting innovations and explaining traditional services and/or implementing new services. The 27 members of the Advisory Council meet with the designated teem librarian once a month to help make the library more teen-friendly. They also volunteer time to work with children’s programs, help create new teen programs and organize fundraisers.

     Joelle Cooper is the new Education Coordinator for the City Museum. Her duties involve the coordination of educational programs offered to the community through schools, exhibits, craft programs and special events. The programs are interactive activities, involving not only children, but adults, explained museum director LuAnn Bombard. Cooper recently was the program coordinator at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art in Indianapolis, Ind. She attended Eastern Illinois University.