July/August Around the Block
Send us your news! We want to hear about exciting news and events from your school or organization. Email Kish Pisani at kish@welcometoneighobrs.com.
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Help the troops cope with the heat Summer in Iraq reaches 140 degrees. The troops not only have to cope with the heat, but all the armor that they wear. A very simple home made item can keep the troops cooler – Neck Coolers. To find out how to get your Neck Coolers to troops overseas who suffer from summertime heat, visit Operation Support Our Troops at www.bataviacares.org. The site also includes important drop off locations. Call 630-687-1943 for more information. Make happy summer memories while being fire safe! Every year Americans look forward to summer vacations, camping, family reunions, picnics, and the Fourth of July. Summertime, however, also brings fires and injuries due to fireworks and outdoor grills. Annually more than 8,000 Americans are injured by fireworks and grill fires. More than half these injuries occur during the first week of July. US Fire Administration's National Fire Data Center estimates that yearly outside cooking grills cause more than 6,000 fires, over five fatalities, more than 170 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Gas grills alone cause over 2,700 fires, 80 injuries, and $11 million dollars damage. Most of the gas grill fires and explosions were caused by gas leaks, blocked tubes and overfilled propane tanks. In addition to outdoor cooking, improper use of fireworks causes more than 6,000 fires and more than $8 million in damage. Families also enjoy camping in the summer and it is important to follow the park's rules for the use and extinguishing of campfires. Summertime should be a time for fun and making happy memories. Knowing a few fire safety tips and following instructions will help everyone have a safe summer. For more information on summer fire safety, contact: Lt. Shawn Stephens Public Education/Relations Officer Batavia Fire Department 630-454-2141 or 630-454-2120 Complete details on fireworks safety can be found at neighborsofbatavia.com. 60 years of service to Batavia The Rotary Club of Batavia is celebrating 60 years of service to the Batavia community in 2008. In honor of this milestone, the Rotary club recently dedicated a commemorative bench from the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence, which was installed near the corner of Batavia Avenue and Wilson Street, adjacent to the Batavia Public Library. The Rotary Club of Batavia was chartered in March 1948. Its main objective is service in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. The Batavia Rotary club meets every Tuesday morning at 7:15 am at Apple Villa Pancake House & Restaurant. The Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence (BFEE) provided the commemorative bench at the Library in recognition of the Rotary Club of Batavia's contribution of $2,500. For more information on the Bench Program, contact BFEE at: P. O. Box 1003, Batavia, IL 60510-1003. Batavia Mothers’ Club gives away thousands of dollars The Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation (BMCF) is pleased to announce $29,000 in disbursements this year to local organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children. These organizations include: the Visiting Nurses Association of Fox Valley, the Batavia Clothes Closet, Lazarus House, CASA, Reach for the Moon, the Leukemia Research Foundation, the Royal Family Kids Camp, the Batavia Public Schools, the Batavia Parent Academy, and more. In addition to the $29,000 disbursement, BMCF collected hundreds of winter coats and dozens of turkeys for the Batavia Clothes Closet and Food Pantry. Look for the BMCF collection boxes again this fall. BMCF would not be so successful without the continued support of sponsors and participants in the group’s most recent fundraiser, the Fox Trot 5k Run/Walk . This event profited $14,000 with nearly 700 participants crossing the 5k finish line and 150 children participating in the Kids’ Runs. BMCF's largest fundraiser, the Autumn Arts & Crafts Show, will be at a NEW location this year, the Mooseheart Fieldhouse on Route 31 on Oct. 18 from 9 am-3 pm. Applications for the 150 available booths are being accepted. This is a juried process and only hand-made crafts are accepted. Space is limited and fills very quickly. Call 630-748-1501 or email bmccrafteraps@yahoo.com for more information or visit bataviamothersclub.org. Make plans for Hike for Hospice The Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice will hold its upcoming Hike for Hospice on Sept. 13 starting at the Peg Bond Center in Batavia. The hike will continue along the river and back again. Last year’s event raised over $30,000 in support for FVVH, a volunteer-run hospice. All proceeds from the event will benefit the organization and allow them to serve patients who would otherwise not qualify for Medicare hospice, including patients still seeking curative treatments like chemo and radiation. For more information contact Jackie Lowe at 630-232-2233 ext. 228 or visit www.fvvh.org. Annual clothing and toy resale event The Alice Gustafson School PTO will host its annual Children’s Clothing and Toy Resale on Sept. 19 from 6-9 pm and Sept. 20 from 8-11 am at North side of the school and admission is free. The massive sale, now in its 23rd year, features infant through teen clothing for all seasons, maternity wear, baby equipment and furniture, shoes, uniforms, sporting goods, costumes, books, games, videos, CDs and toys. Interested participants should register to sell items. Send an email to clothingsale@agspto.org or call Mary at 630-406-8556. For additional information go to the PTO’s website at agspto.org. Batavia Enterprises, Inc. sponsors this year’s Art In Your Eye Festival Batavia Enterprises, Inc. has always shown support to local organizations and this year is no exception. The company has chosen to act as a sponsor in the Art In Your Eye Fine Arts Festival. “We have been a supporter of this event since its inception. Our family has enjoyed that actual event, visiting the artists and making personal purchases each year at the art show. The Batavia Art In Your Eye program is truly a family affair offering music, food, children’s activities in addition to offering great artwork and art items to the entire community.” Check out the Art In Your Eye website at artinyoureye.com for more details about this event. |
Batavia Environmental Commission makes green lawn suggestions In our continuing series on “green” lawn care tips, the Batavia Environmental Commission wants to provide recommendations to keep your lawn looking great over the summer months while minimizing water usage as well as costly fertilizers and pesticides:
For more information, contact Jim Kirkhoff at 630-818-0887. Gary Sinise performs to support the troops Operation Support Our Troops Illinois (OSOTIL) will hold an all day event at Cantigny Park in Wheaton on July 19 to support the troops. The organization collects food and non-food items to put in care packages to send overseas to the military members in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations. Actor/Director Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band donate their time and are the headliner for the concert. This year the event will also include the Beatles Tribute Band, American English. There will be a family area with children’s activities and there’s access to the park all day and night. All funds raised in ticket sales go toward the expenses in sending care packages to the military. For more information visit the website at osotil.org. For those who cannot attend the event, items are always needed for donations. A complete list is available on the website. United Way seeks committee volunteers The Batavia United Way is looking for new committee members for Marketing and Fundraising efforts. Committee members can work on a specific project without the time commitment of a board member. If you are interested, contact Executive Director, Jody Haltenhof at 630-406-9219, email BCC.UW@Juno.com or visit BataviaUnitedWay.org. LivingWell offers summer programs LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in Geneva will offer a six-week series this summer with a focus on surviving cancer. The series begins July 30 and will be held on Wednesdays through Sept. 3 from 7:30-9:30 pm. Topics include a panel discussion, intimacy and sexuality, sleep issues and others. All programs and services at LivingWell are provided free of charge. Call 630-262-1111 for more information. Batavia School of Art programs precede the Art In Your Eye Festival this summer The Batavia School of Art, featuring classes and workshops by regionally respected artists, will be held from July 21 to Aug. 4 in Batavia. This program will precede the fourth annual Art In Your Eye Fine Art Show and Festival taking place on the Batavia Riverwalk Aug. 9 and 10. The Batavia School of Art presents the following courses: College Portfolio Development Workshop for High School Artists July 26; Instructor: Diana Stezalski Composition and Design for Oil & Oil Pastel July 28, 29, 30; Instructor: David Hettinger Drawing the Figure July 23; Instructor: Diana Stezalski Exploring the Artistic Eye— For Children & Teens July 28, 29, 30,3 1, Aug. 1; Instructor: Kate McShea How Did You Choose That Color? Aug. 1; Instructor: Anne Von Ehr Linear Perspective July 23 & 24; Instructor: Robert Krajecki Oil Painting Ala Prima Aug. 4; Instructor: Robert Krajecki Painting the Figure July 25; Instructor: Diana Stezalski The Artist and the Sketchbook Aug. 2 & 3; Instructor: Kaye Buchman The classes take place at various locations in Batavia and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. A brochure with course details, times, fees, and a registration form is available on the official festival website, artinyoureye.com. Brochures are also available at Batavia Government Center, Batavia MainStreet, Batavia Public Library, and other locations. For more information or to be sent a brochure, please contact Becky Hoag at 630-482-9157, or email artschool@artinyoureye.com. Local Girl Scouts give to Ronald McDonald House Representatives from Girl Scout Troop 5 of Immanuel Lutheran School recently delivered a collection of pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House near Loyola University Medical Center. In addition to the pop-tops, Troop 5 brought food items for the residents of the house. Local events benefit Elderday Center Classic Cars for Classic Seniors is the theme for the Fourth Annual Elderday Center Car Show, a benefit fundraiser for the Center. The Car Show is scheduled for July 19, from 9 am-2 pm rain or shine. This event is free to the viewing public. The registration fee is $15 per car. The show will be held in the Bethany Lutheran Church parking lot behind Elderday Center. Call Elderday Center for more information at 630-761-9750 or stop by the car show. On Aug. 23, Elderday Center will hold a benefit Barbeque Porkchop and Chicken Dinner. This dinner will be catered by 5-B’s and will include baked beans, coleslaw, roll, butter, applesauce, coffee or lemonade. The dinner will be served at the Bethany Ministry Center. Carry out food and walkins are welcome. Tickets are $10 for 2 porkchops or 1 porkchop and ¼ chicken or 2 ¼ chickens or $4 for a hot dog dinner. Elderday Center provides adult activities and field trips for seniors. For more events sponsored by Elderday Center, visit neighborsofbatavia.com. Batavia Woman’s Club “Stop the Violence” campaign Batavia Woman's Club will host a luncheon and fashion show to benefit the local domestic violence shelter, Mutual Ground and to promote awareness and prevention of domestic violence. The fashion show will take place on Nov. 8 at Eagle Brook Country club. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased individually or as a table. For more information visitwww.bataviawomansclub.org or call Patti at 630-482-2348. |
