ALERT! Beware of scammers
Beware of phone, e-mail and Internet scams. Never, never give your password, credit card number or social security number to an unknown caller over the telephone or via e-mail. No matter how convincing a professional scammer might seem, never give any personal information to someone you don’t know at any time.
Reports of scammers with official-sounding “Naperville” business names are growing. To be safe, say “NO!” to all solicitors.
In addition, the Naperville Fire Department is mindful that a company calling itself Naperville Fire Safety LLC has been soliciting fire safety services. The company is not affiliated with the NPD or the city.
If an individual calls or comes to your door from any company attempting to represent the NPD or the city, contact (630) 420-6142.
Christmas concert will be staged on Dec. 7
The Naperville Chorus, under the direction of Jeordano Martinez, will be presenting a Christmas Concert, “Great Britten Great Britain” beginning at 8PM Sat., Dec. 7 at Wentz Concert Hall.
Accompanied by Naperville Festival Orchestra, the concert will feature Saint Nicolas by Benjamin Britten plus music for the season by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst and others. Soloists will include Branden James, Tenor.
Tickets are $20, $15 senior / student; and may be purchased at North Central College Box Office, (630) 637-7469, or at finearts.northcentralcollege.edu.
For more info, call (630) 420-2336 or visit www.NapervilleChorus.org.
Naperville Woman’s Club to hold French inspired market
The Naperville Woman’s Club will be holding a French Market from 11AM to 7PM on Fri. Nov. 15 at The Old Stone Church in downtown Naperville, 14 S. Washington.
Local artisans and vendors will be selling unique merchandise in a European inspired setting. Featured goods include products for cooking, snacking, wines, bakery goods, one-of-a-kind gifts from French linens to antiques and jewelry.
The Market will be highlighted with a “Holiday Cooking Demonstration” by Momma’s Cuisine, Johanna Cook.
Cook is an entertaining, home, cooking and lifestyle expert making regular TV appearances and guest judge at cooking competitions.
For more info, visit our website www.napervillewomansclub.org.
West Town Chorus to perform ‘A Holly, Jolly Christmas’
Purchase tickets now for the West Towns Chorus’ 2013 Christmas Show “A Holly, Jolly Christmas.” The 22nd Christmas Extravaganza includes the Chancel Ringers of the First United Methodist Church, Affinity Strings and David Rhodes on the mighty Wurlitzer. Special Sweet Adeline guests include “Midwest Crossroads Chorus” and guest quartet “ROXY.”
The show is at the Tivoli Theater, 5021 Highland, Downers Grove at 2 and 8 PM on Sat., Dec. 7 and 1:30 PM Sun., Dec. 8.
For tickets, visit www.WestTowns.org, or call the box office (630) 201-5544. All seats reserved. For groups of ten or more, call the box office. Email inquiries can be sent to Christmas@WestTowns.org.
Center for Lifelong Learning offers classes for adult learners
Benedictine University’s Center for Lifelong Learning offers adult noncredit classes, with no papers, tests, or grades, for adult learners age 50 plus at the Moser Center in Naperville, 1832 Centre Point Circle Ste. 102, just off Diehl Rd.
Most classes meet for 90 minutes, once per week for four weeks. The average cost is $40/total. For more information, visit www.ben.edu/CLL or call (630) 829-1384.
German language church service
Church services in the German language will be held at St. John United Church of Christ, 1190 Olesen Drive in Naperville, at 11:30AM on Sun., Nov. 3.
The services will be led by the Reverend Egon Gerdes, and all are welcome to attend. Services are held on the first Sunday of each month and will continue on Dec. 1.
For more information, call (630) 355-5208.
Visit Veterans, play Bingo
Every month from September to June on the second Tuesday, a motorcoach departs at 6:30PM from the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 and American Legion Post 43, 908 W. Jackson Ave. with folks eager to spread good cheer to veterans receiving treatment at Hines VA Hospital in Maywood.
The public is welcome to help fill the motorcoach again on Tues., Nov. 12.
For more information about visiting Hines V.A. Hospital, call organizer John Shaw at (630) 961-3479, Mike Barbour at (630) 240-1645 or Jan Barbour at (630) 247-9007.
Serendipity Shop seeks donations year-round
The Serendipity Resale Shop is a volunteer-run shop, located at 12 W. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville.
Donations of clean, gently-used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing of all sizes are welcome. Donors are asked not to include items that are stained or torn. The resale shop is in need of linens and home decorating items, such as lamps, dishes and clocks as well as household items, jewelry and collectibles.
Donations may be dropped off anytime during regular hours. For information, call Serendipity at (630) 357-3610.
ESLP offers free GED and career training
The Early School Leaver Program (ESLP) is a unique program offering free GED preparation, workplace skill-building, and specific career training for DuPage residents aged 17-21. The Early School Leaver program is funded by the Workforce Development Division of DuPage County (Workforce Investment Act). For more information or to register, call (630) 691-7577.
Edward Hospital to honor organ, tissue donors
Edward Hospital, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network and the Illinois Eye Bank will hold a “Celebration of Giving” at 7PM on Mon., Nov. 11 in the Heart Hospital Conference Room at Edward Hospital, 801 S. Washington St. in Naperville.
The event will commemorate and honor those who have provided gifts of life, movement and sight through donation.
If you are planning to attend, please RSVP to the Edward Class Registration line, (630) 527-6363, with your name and the number of people attending.
Those who attend are invited to bring a framed photo, poem or other memento of your loved one to display and share with others. A short reception will be held immediately following the service.
Naperville Central students to perform ‘Murders of 1940’
This year, the fall production of Naperville Central High School’s drama club Theatre Central will be John Bishop’s The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. The show is not only a murder mystery, but also a fun comedy, complete with secret passages, plot twists, original music, and a talented cast. Performances will be held in the auditorium at 7:30PM on Nov. 7 and at 8PM Nov. 8 and 9. Tickets cost $5. There will also be a silent auction in the auditorium lobby; the proceeds help support Theatre Central.
The story takes place during December 1940 in Chappaqua, New York in the mansion of Elsa Von Grossenknueten. She, her maid Helsa, and various actors and production staff members seem to be conducting a backer’s audition for a musical. However, not everything (or everyone) is as it appears, and the “audition” becomes an evening full of hidden passageways, secret identities, and murder. Over the course of the night, audience members may play armchair detective as they watch the characters discover the real killer.
Naperville Central High School is located at 440 W Aurora Ave. For more information, call the Theatre Central Office at (630) 420-3885.
Wikimedia Commons Photo
If Ben would have had his way, the turkey would be the national bird
According to legend and lore, Ben Franklin favored the turkey as the national bird compared to the bald eagle, preferred by Thomas Jefferson. In a letter written by Franklin in 1784 to his daughter, Sally, he wrote, “For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character […] in Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America.”
Furthermore, myth has it that the “Tom Turkey” was given its name by Franklin. When the turkey lost the national ranking to the bald eagle by one vote, Franklin nicknamed the male turkey after Thomas Jefferson—or so the story goes.
Many families are grateful the traditional Thanksgiving turkey is the biggest food item purchased all year. Few meals are more memorable than the Thanksgiving feast, so for the sake of abundance always plan on one pound of raw turkey for each guest. That way, you’ll have plenty of turkey for dinner; plus, plenty of leftovers. Also be mindful that most roasting pans and conventional ovens cannot handle more than a 30-pound turkey. Be prepared with the fresh HO-KA turkey available at Casey’s Foods!
If the only prayer you said in your whole life were “thank you,” that would be enough.
–Meister Eckhart, German Philosopher (1260-1328)
The Grinch returns this holiday season
The Grinch who Stole Christmas will return to IndieBound Naperville merchants this holiday season in the “Grow Your Heart Three Sizes” promotion. Watch for details coming soon about the sign up-day on Sat., Nov. 30, at Anderson’s Bookshop.
Youngsters who visit enough businesses to collect Grinch tags will be eligible for prizes at the Grinch party on Mon., Dec. 30 at Anderson’s Bookshop. For more info, visit www.indieboundnaperville.org.
