Join the Forest Preserve District of Kane County for the Maple Sugaring Festival on Sunday, March 14 from 1-4 pm at Johnson’s Mound. Learn how to tap a maple tree, try your hand at drilling and setting a tap, and watch sap simmer over an open fire. Participants are also invited on a Sugarin’ Time hike. This is a free event suitable for the whole family. Johnson’s Mound is located on Hughes Road, approximately one mile west of Fabyan Parkway. For more information visit kaneforest.com.

The Batavia Mothers’ Club Foundation will host the 10th Annual Fox Trot 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, April 25 at the Batavia Riverwalk. The 5K run starts at 8 am with the non-competitive walk starting at 8:05 am. Awards will be given following the race to winners in all age groups. The Fox Trot will also feature a non-competitive kids’ Fun Run. Preschoolers are encouraged to try the Tot Trot (approximately 50 yards). There will also be a Junior Jog (approximately ¼ mile) for grades K-2 and a Youth Run/Walk (1/2 mile) for grades 3-5. The kids’ events begin at approximately 9:15 am. Fun Run registration is available on-line and will also be held from 6:30-8:45 am on race day. Pre-registration is encouraged at signmeup.com/68173. The cost is $25 per adult ($30 after April 23) and $8 per child ($10 after April 23). There is a $3 CARA member discount available through pre-registration. Funds raised through the event will support Batavia Schools and other educational opportunities for local families. Participants receive a t-shirt and goodie bag. 5K registration for the 5K can also be made from 6:30-7:40 am at the event. For more information, visit bataviamothersclub.org.

The Valley of the Fox Sierra Club invites the public to join them for a presentation by Shawn Carlson, Ph.D., former executive director of Sci Tech in Aurora, on March 8 at 7 pm. Dr. Carlson is a renowned innovator in science education. Dr. Carlson will discuss his passion to help all young people expand their talents in science and technology.
On April 12, at 7 pm the club will present a program by Eric Shoeny from the City of Aurora who will discuss ongoing rain garden projects in Aurora and how they benefit the environment by decreasing and filtering storm water runoff during major rainstorms.
Meetings are held at the Batavia Public Library and the public is always welcome. For further information, contact Terri Voitik at 630-585-9212.

The Batavia Music Buffs is hosting an exciting evening of dinner, music, and dancing to help support the music programs of the Batavia schools. The 1st Annual Night of Jazz will be held on Friday, March 19 from 6:30-10:30 pm, at the Pipefitters Banquet Hall, located at the corner of Butterfield and Church Road. The evening promises to be entertaining, with music performed by the Batavia High School and Rotolo Middle School jazz bands and vocal ensembles. There will also be a silent auction and raffle. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students and children and may be purchased at bataviamusicbuffs.org.
The Batavia Music Buffs is an all volunteer organization that supports the music programs in all of Batavia’s schools, scholarships, sheet music and scores, and fees for guest directors.

Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley is holding its 10th annual Trivia Bee for Literacy on Saturday, March 20, from 9 am–Noon at the Q Center in St. Charles. Three-person teams will compete to answer questions on this year’s theme—candy—and a variety of other topics. “We hope to have at least 40 businesses, organizations and individuals volunteer to join or sponsor teams to compete in the Trivia Bee,” said Peg Coker, executive director.
The entry donation is $400 per team, about the amount it costs to provide support to one adult learner and tutor for 10 months. Proceeds will help LVFV meet the demand for one-on-one tutoring of adults to improve their literacy and fluency in English. Donations for a silent auction are being sought. Visit lvfvtriviabee.com or call Peg Coker at 630-584-4428 for more information.

Join the Kiwanis Club of Batavia at their 21st Annual Batavia Youth Fundraiser Spaghetti Dinner on Thursday, April 22 at Riverview Banquets, Rt. 25, Batavia from 4:30–7:30pm. Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $4 for children 6-11, 5 and under are free. All you can eat and carryouts are available. Contact Jan Kirk, Dinner Chairperson, janicekirk@att.net or 630-879-0065 for tickets and more information.

BEC hosts Earth Hour 2010

Join the Batavia Environmental Commission for a global event on March 27, 7:30-9:30 pm at the Eastside Community Center. Turn off your lights Batavia and turn on to the stars, candle-lit yoga, drumming in the dark, and more at Batavia’s second Earth Hour extravaganza. Presentation and telescopes provided by Fox Valley Astronomical Society. For more information, visit cityofbatavia.net/ environmental.

Bulldog Boosters selling tickets

The annual Batavia Bulldog Booster Dinner and Auction will be held on Friday, April 16 at the Gaslite Manor in Aurora. The event will be attended by over 400 people, including many of Batavia’s educators, civic leaders and business leaders. This event also provides the opportunity to recognize outstanding coaches and celebrate the successes of Batavia’s athletic teams. Tickets are $50 (cash or check only), and are available by contacting Courtney Oroni 630-879-5619, oroni@comcast.net or Kelly Jo Golson, kellyjo.golson@advocatehealth.com. The Boosters are proud supporters of the health education, fitness education, and athletic programs of Batavia High School and Rotolo Middle School.
The Batavia Bulldog Boosters are requesting monetary donations as well as items to be used in the auction. Donations can be mailed to Batavia Boosters, 1201 W. Wilson Street, Batavia, IL 60510. Contributors will be recognized, and all donations to the Batavia Bulldog Boosters Organization, Inc. are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Welcome Club of the Fox Valley (WCFV) invites women from St. Charles, Geneva, Elgin and Batavia to attend their monthly meetings at the Fox Valley Presbyterian Church on East Side Drive in Geneva. Past meetings have ranged from handwriting analysis and getting organized to Irish dancers. The WCFV is not a newcomers club, it is a social and charitable organization for women of all ages to get together and have fun no matter if they are new to the Fox Valley or have lived here all their lives. For more information about the WCFV visit welcomeclubfoxvalley.org.

Garden Party, Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice’s (FVVH) signature fundraising event, will be held on Friday, April 30 at the Q Center in St. Charles. Tickets go on sale on March 17 and may be purchased at the FVVH office or by calling 630-232-2233. A popular feature of Garden Party are the expansive “baskets,” which really aren’t baskets at all, but large groupings of items, gift certificates, and services, all focused on a theme. The 22 basket packages, will include the popular Fantasy Getaway, Cold Cash, Diamonds are Forever, and Patio Pleasures, as well as new basket packages like “Living” Room, Man Cave, and Uncorked. Entertainment will be provided by the Waubonsee Community College Steel Drum Band. For more information, visit fvvh.org.

The Tri-Cities Mothers of Twins and Triplets Club will be hosting a spring resale on March 13 at Mooseheart Fieldhouse, located on Rt. 31 and Mooseheart Rd. The resale features gently used spring clothing sizes infant through preteen, as well as shoes, toys, videos, outdoor equipment, bikes, strollers, baby furniture, maternity clothing and books. The sale is open to the public and runs from 8 am-1 pm. Admission is $1 and items with yellow tickets will sell for half price from 11:30 am-1 pm. Shoppers are encouraged to come early and bring laundry baskets for their shopping convenience. No backpacks, bags or closed containers are permitted at the sale. Proceeds from the sale isupport club events and provide assistance to families in need. For additional information about the club or the spring resale, visit tcmottc.org or call 630-375-7511.

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