Naperville Men’s Glee Club hosts open rehearsals
The Naperville Men’s Glee Club (NMGC) will hold two open rehearsals for male singers interested in membership. Held at Church of the Brethren, 1020 W. Jefferson Ave., the first rehearsal will begin at 9:30AM on Sat., Sept. 13, and the second rehearsal will be at 9:30AM on Sat., Sept. 27.
Attendees will have the opportunity to sing with the Glee Club for an hour, and then meet the members over light refreshments.
Membership is by invitation or audition, which may be scheduled with Artistic Director Bonnie Klee Roberts following the open rehearsal.
For more information about NMGC and upcoming events, visit www.napervillemensgleeclub.org or call (630) 448-0518.
Knoch Knolls Nature Center will host Grand Opening on Oct. 2
The Naperville Park District invites the community to a family-friendly grand opening of the Knoch Knolls Nature Center from 5:30-7:30PM on Thurs., Oct. 2. The celebration will be held at Naperville’s first staffed nature center, located at 320 Knoch Knolls Road.
In addition to viewing the colorful exhibits, which feature an interactive video and a large aquarium with live river fish, guests can enjoy nature activities for kids, musical entertainment on the deck and light refreshments.
To help the Park District plan for refreshments, guests are asked to RSVP for the event by sending an email to rsvp@napervilleparks.org with the number of people planning to attend.
Parking will be available in the Knoch Knolls Park parking lot just west of the Nature Center and along Knoch Knolls Road.
Harvest Pow Wow celebrates 20 years
The Midwest SOARRING Foundation will celebrate its 20th Annual Harvest Pow Wow at the Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster Street, on Sept. 20 and 21. Saturday’s hours are from 11 AM to 10 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 5PM. The Pow Wow offers an opportunity to experience the Native American culture through this exciting family event.
Throughout the weekend visitors can hear the sound of Native American drumming, see dancers in regalia and shop with many vendors. Items such as turquoise jewelry, beads, baskets, drums, blankets, hides and moccasins as well as native food, can be found throughout the wide array of vendors displaying their unique goods.
Admission to the Pow Wow including access to the Naper Settlement buildings and museum (during regular museum hours) is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors (62+) and children (3-12). Children under 3 are FREE. Discounts are available online only until September 15. The admission fee will go to support Midwest SOARRING Foundation and its programs.
For more info, call (708) 257-4300 or visit www.harvestpowwow.com.
NAMI DuPage Course Offers Hope to Families
NAMI of DuPage County (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) will be sponsoring the free NAMI Family to Family Education Program for families and caregivers of persons diagnosed with mental illnesses.
The course is taught by trained family members. All instruction and course materials are free for class participants. The Family-to-Family course focuses on current information about schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders.
The course discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively. The free 12 week course is taught by trained facilitators with the lived experience and will be held on: Sept. 16 Dec. 2, Tues., 7-9:30PM, Compass Church, Naperville (Faith Based) While the Family to Family program is an educational course, NAMI DuPage also has support groups at various locations.
For more info on the support groups or to register for familiy to family, call the NAMI DuPage office at (630) 752-0066, ext. 218 or visit www.namidupage.org.
Free wurst at Kreger’s Sept. 13, donations welcome
This years Friends of Steph Breast Cancer fundraiser will be held on Sat. Sept. 13 from noon to 6PM at Kreger’s Brat and Sausage Haus at 6th and Ellsworth just north of the Naperville Train Station. Kreger’s will be serving up free brats and all the fixins in addition to live music and performances throughout the day.
Donations received will be split between tax deductible proceeds being split between RUMC Breast Cancer Research Fund #884 In memory of Steph Lesiecki and the Katharine Manor Independent Living Center.
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 are accepted during regular hours. For information, call (630) 357-3610.
German language church service
Church services in the German language will be held at St. John United Church of Christ at 11:30AM on Sun., Sept. 7.
The service will be led by Pastor Egon Gerdes, and all are welcome to attend. St. John UCC is located at 1190 Olesen Drive. German services are held on the first Sunday of every month and will continue on Oct. 5 and Nov. 2. For more info call (630) 355-5208.
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 suspicious-sounding solicitors. Say “Naperville is a scam-free community.”
If an individual calls or comes to your door from any company attempting to represent the NPD or the city, contact (630) 420-6142.
Chili Kickoff Cookoff for Make-A-Wish is set for Sept. 21
The Chili Kickoff Cookoff for Make-A-Wish is back for its second year, and this time, it’s looking to run up the score.
The football-themed charity event that features a chili competition, live music, a silent auction and raffle prizes will be held from noon to 5PM Sept. 21 at Nevin’s Brewing Company, 12337 South Rt. 59, in Plainfield. The Kickoff Cookoff will feature the best chili creations of chefs from local restaurants, as well as from skilled home cooks. Elliott Bambrough, co-host of WGN’s “Chicago’s Best,” will serve as the event’s master of ceremonies.
Make-A-Wish grants wishes for kids with life-threatening medical conditions for one reason: They make life better. That guiding principle has rallied people all over the United States to grant a life-changing wish every 38 minutes. Make-A-Wish Illinois recently granted its 12,000th wish.
For a full list of participating restaurants and judges, to purchase tickets for the event, to make a donation or to read about all the wishes the Schnells have helped grant, visit www.chilikickoffcookoff.com.
Run for Veterans
Run on behalf of Naperville Responds for Our Veterans in the Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon Sun., Nov. 9.
As part of the Marathon Charity Partner Program, runners will receive additional race amenities including pre-race stretching, post-race stretching and massage and gear valet check. In addition, NRFOV will host a special pre-race dinner the night before.
Naperville Responds for Our Veterans assists Veterans and their families in need by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and coordinates the process of repairing, building and donating homes.
For more info and to donate, visit www.nrfov.org/marathon.
Note to tuba players!
Tuba Christmas is slated for Sat., Dec. 6. Registration will begin at 9AM, followed by rehearsal at 10AM at the Community Concert Center. The first performance will be at 11:15AM outdoors at US Bank, then at 12:45PM at Fox Valley Mall.
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.
Recycle your fridge
The Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA) is aiming to take residents’ secondary refrigerators with the Recycle My Fridge program. Residents served by an IMEA-member utility can get rid of an old refrigerator or freezer, free of charge, and receive a $35 prepaid card for doing so by calling (877) 341-2313 or by visiting www.RecycleMyFridge.org.
Visit Veterans, play Bingo
Every month from September to June on the second Tuesday, a motorcoach departs at 6:15PM 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., Sept. 9.
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.
