Naperville YMCA presents Mayor’s Community Breakfast
Join Mayor Steve Chirico and the YMCA for a morning of inspirational speakers and music to welcome the holiday season. The 11th Annual Mayor’s Community Breakfast is set for Fri., Dec. 4, 2015 at the Fry Family YMCA 2120 W. 95th Street, Naperville. Breakfast starts at 6:30AM, followed by the program at 7PM.
The Keynote Speaker is Michael Vickery, Executive Director of Institute for Community. Vickery will challenge and inspire the audience while he relates his experiences in working with youth in today’s culture.
“It is imperative that we work together to help kids navigate and thrive in a big world that is challenging them during a pivotal time in their lives,” Vickery said.
Soloist Tyra Jenkins, a senior at Waubonsie Valley High School, will bring a soulful, peaceful, jazzy and rich sound to the festivities.
Tickets are $20 and available at Fry Family YMCA, 2120 W. 95th Street and Kroehler Family YMCA, 34 S. Washington St. in Naperville. Tickets also are available on line at www.fryfamilyymca.org.
This event is sponsored by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. Other supporting sponsors include The School of Performing Arts, Marquette Companies and Ryan Hill Realty.
For more info, contact Jane Bowers at (630) 420-0960 or jbowers@ymcachicago.org.
Naperville Municipal Band Fall Concert will honor Greatest Generation
When the Naperville Municipal Band takes the stage on November 8, the band that’s been around since 1859 with outddoor summer concerts will begin its indoor series of seasonal concerts.
The fall concert, timed with Veterans Day, presents a traditional tribute to all veterans, with many memorable tunes for The Greatest Generation beginning at 3PM on Sun., Nov. 8.
Colonel Bryan Shelburne will be the guest conductor of the 2015 Naperville Municipal Band fall concert, “The Greatest Generation and Those Who Followed.”
Colonel Shelburne is a retired U.S. Army band leader who was impressed by the band when he heard Naperville musicians perform in San Antonio last summer.
The free concert takes place at the Wentz Concert Hall in the North Central College Performing Arts Center, located at 171 E. Chicago Avenue, just steps from downtown Naperville.
The program features selections from World War II plus the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Music will include the theme from TV show Band of Brothers, Black Granite, variations on a Korean folk song and Victory at Sea. Clarinetist Marty Rench will play a tribute to Artie Shaw.
Stay tuned for more…
Note that the Tuba Christmas will be played outdoors, weather permitting, at 11AM on Sat., Dec. 5, in downtown Naperville.
Also, the annual Winter Concert will be performed at Wentz Concert Hall at 3PM Sun., March 6, 2016, followed by the Spring Concert at 3PM Sun, May 22, 2016, at Neuqua Valley High School.
Then at 7:30PM on Thurs., June 6, 2015, the summer concert series returns to the Community Concert Center in Central Park.
For more information about upcoming performances, visit www.napervilleband.org.
Metea Valley will stage Pulitzer-prize winning ‘Harvey’
The curtain will rise on the 2015-2016 Metea Valley High School (MVHS) theater season with the student production of Harvey, a 1944 play made famous by Jimmy Stewart’s 1950 film. Performances will take place beginning at 7PM November 12, 13 and 14 in the MVHS Auditorium, located at 1801 North Eola Road in Aurora. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online (mvhsharvey.brownpapertickets.com) or at the door beginning at 6PM prior to the performance.
Elwood P. Dowd, played by MVHS junior Daniel Grumbine, introduces his best friend to everyone he meets – townspeople, friends and his family, who is trying to climb the social status ladder. The problem? Elwood’s best friend is a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall invisible rabbit named, Harvey. Comedy ensues when the embarrassed family, led by Elwood’s sister, Veta, played by MVHS senior Paige Eber, attempts to commit him to a sanitarium.
American playwright Mary Chase received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Harvey in 1945. Her work has been adapted many times for television and film, including the film starring Stewart.
“Harvey is a highly-entertaining, family-friendly show, and our students have done an amazing job bringing life to these amusing, memorable characters,” said Matt Wolski, who makes his MVHS theater debut directing Harvey.
“I’ve been impressed with our students’ commitment and dedication. Everyone – from the actors on stage to the tech crew setting lights and sound and building sets – this has been a great introduction to Metea’s theater department. I’m looking forward to many more performances.”
This year, all MVHS theater productions will explore the theme of family. With three contrasting looks at family life – starting with the comedy of Harvey to the drama of the winter musical Next to Normal (January 20, 22 and 23, 2016) and the uniqueness of The Addams Family musical in the spring (May 5, 6, and 7, 2016) – MVHS cast and audiences will discover that families come in all types and styles.
For more information, visit the MVHS Theater webpage or contact Metea Valley main office at (630) 375-5900.
Cookie Walk is set for Dec. 5
On Sat., Dec. 5, the Guild of St. Patrick’s Residence will host its annual Christmas Cookie Walk and Boutique from 10AM until Noon.
Cookies in all shapes and sizes will be sold by the pound or available for purchase in pre-packaged containers or on the tables for a choice from the vast assortment of homemade holiday treats.
Back by popular demand, the ever-favorite English toffee and White Chocolate Carmelite Delight, two delicious sweet treats made with tender loving care by the Sisters of St. Patrick’s, also will be sold.
As is tradition, Guild members are looking for cookie bakers to share their favorite homemade holiday cookies to sell at the cookie walk. Quantities of 5-6 dozen holiday-themed cookies are requested to be delivered to the St. Patrick’s Volunteer Office in disposable containers/trays between the hours of 8AM-8PM, Fri., Dec. 4.
Longtime cookie bakers have discovered baking cookies for the walk is a wonderful family or group project.
For more information regarding the Cookie Walk, contact Jill Whitledge, Volunteer Coordinator, at (630) 416-6565, ext. 528, or email jwhitledge@stpatricksresidence.org.
St. Patrick’s Residence is located at 1400 Brookdale Road.
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 or threatening 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.
Serendipity Shop seeks donations
The Serendipity Resale Shop is a volunteer-run shop, located at 12 W. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville. Donations are accepted during regular hours. For information, call (630) 357-3610.
‘Buy a Brick’ campaign continues along the Riverwalk
During the Riverwalk 2000 fundraiser launched in 1997, the Daily Herald sponsored a “Buy a Brick” ad campaign featuring different residents holding the “Your Name Here” brick.
Today, the initiative that gives individuals the opportunity to write a message to be engraved on a brick or a granite stone continues to be a popular gift item and a way to support the Riverwalk Foundation.
Find complete details with photos about this personalized gift in a story featured at www.positivelynaperville.com. Search “Buy a Brick.”
To order a 4 x 8 brick for the Riverwalk extension or an 8 x 8 brick for Fredenhagen Park, simply send a check made payable to the Riverwalk Foundation with your 12 character per line, 3-line ($150) or 6-line message ($250) to Jan Erickson, Riverwalk Administrator, City of Naperville, TED Business Group, 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL 60540. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, e-mail or other contact information.
Or to purchase a brick by credit card, contact Erickson at (630) 305-5984 or ericksonj@naperville.il.us.
