More Important News

5th Bi-Annual Catfish Tournament in Lena

Lena Community Park District would like to thank all of our 5th Bi-Annual Catfish Tournament participants. Our first tournament was held on Saturday, June 22 in the midst of uncertain weather. Not to be deterred, all seven boats set out to brave the elements in search of the “biggest and heartiest” fish.

The Winners on June 22nd were as follows;

1st Place, Mark Rothschadl & Darin Diffenderfer-wt. 4lb.14oz.

2nd Place, Jeff Parks & Scott Holmes-wt. 3lb.3oz.

3rd Place, Troy Esling & Jeff Hockman-wt. 15oz.

Biggest Catfish, Scott Holmes-wt. 2lb.7oz.

Smallest Catfish, Jeff Parks-wt. 12oz.

Our second tournament was held on Saturday, August 3 in weather that could be described as perfect. Twelve boats left the dock with aspirations again of the “biggest and heartiest” fish. They returned with a harvest that was plentiful.

The Winners on August 3 were as follows;

1st Place, Jason Townsend & Mike Young-wt. 12lb.1oz.

2nd Place, Randy Kloepping Sr. & Randy Kloepping Jr.-wt. 10lb.14oz.

3rd Place, Gary Miller & Bryan White-wt. 10lb.6oz.

Biggest Catfish, Deanna Smith-wt. 4lb.13oz.

Smallest Catfish, Don Tyren-wt.(so tiny wouldn’t register on scale)

Again Lena Community Park District would like to thank this great bunch of guys and gals for a successful season. Hope to see you all next year!

Volunteer Millers to Host Lincoln Musical Event

The Volunteer Millers at De Immigrant windmill in Fulton, Illinois, will host their next public program on Thursday, August 29, at 6:00 PM. “Abraham Lincoln in Song” will be performed at the Windmill Cultural Center at 111 – 10th Avenue in downtown Fulton, across from the city’s authentic Dutch windmill.

Chris Vallillo is an acclaimed musician who makes the “unmetropolitan” America come to life. Having spent the last 30 years in the rural Midwest, he has an affinity for American roots music. Performing on six-string and bottleneck slide guitars and harmonica, Vallillo weaves original, contemporary, and traditional songs into a compelling portrait of the history of the Midwest.

“Abraham Lincoln in Song” documents a period of change and struggle in our nation. From his days as a flat-boater, through his time at New Salem, his years as a circuit lawyer, and up through his presidency, Lincoln’s life is a microcosm of the development of Illinois. “Abraham Lincoln in Song” sheds light on one of history’s most beloved figures. Special emphasis is placed on showing Lincoln’s bond with the common man and his desire for reconciliation. It is an extensively researched, historically accurate program designed to educate as well as entertain. It has been performed at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, The Lincoln Home National Historic Site, and Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum. “Abraham Lincoln in Song” received the endorsement of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The accompanying CD reached #10 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album Chart.

Vallillo was a recipient of the Illlinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship Award for music composition and was a nominee for the Governor’s Award for Individual Artist. He conducted the Schuyler Arts Folk Music Project to document the last of the pre-radio generation. These recordings were accepted into the American Folklife Collection at the Library of Congress. From 1990 - 1998, he served as the host and co-producer of the award-winning radio performance series “Rural Route 3.” He recently completed his second term as the Illinois State Scholar for the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit on roots music “New Harmonies.”

Refreshments will be served following the event. The facility is accessible to persons with disabilities. The program is free and open to the public. The 2013 programs are supported by a grant from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation. For more information, visit the city’s website at www.cityoffulton.us or contact Heather Bennett at (815) 589-4545.

Milking It: Cow Basics

Do cows really have four stomachs? What’s the difference between a beef cow and a dairy cow? Learn the answers to these questions and many more during Elizabeth Myelle’s presentation. Stop by for an ice cream treat and also meet the newest bovine addition to the Myelle family farm.

This program will be held on Saturday, August 17th from 1-2pm at the 1876 Banwarth House & Museum. You can find the museum at 408 E. Sycamore St directly behind the Law-Jones Funeral Home in Elizabeth. Admission is a $3.00 donation per person and free for PSF members. Please reserve a seat today by contacting the Banwarth House at or . Check out our future events on Facebook and www.banwarthmuseum.com.

Illinois EPA to Convene First Meeting of State Environmental Justice Commission

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) today announced that the first meeting of the Illinois Commission on Environmental Justice will be held August 14th at 10 a.m. in Chicago and Springfield.

The commission will operate under the principle that environmental justice requires that no segment of the population, regardless of race, national origin, age, or income, should bear disproportionately high or adverse effects of environmental pollution. The commission is charged with advising state entities on environmental justice; analyzing the impact of state and local laws and policies on environmental justice and sustainable communities; developing criteria to assess whether communities in the state may be experiencing environmental issues and recommending options to the Governor’s office and legislators for addressing these issues.

The 20-member volunteer and non-compensated commission will include six state agency directors, a representative of each legislative caucus and 10 members appointed by the Governor to represent affected communities, businesses, environmental organizations, units of local government, experts on environmental health and justice and interested members of the public.

“As a community member in one of the many frontline communities of Chicago, we are excited to be a part of the Illinois Environmental Justice Commission,” said Kimberly Wasserman Nieto, Commission Chair and Executive Director of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization. “To be at the table with different stakeholders working on rural and urban issues that affect us all give us hope to the future of the environment in Illinois.”

Media and members of the public are invited to the meeting, which will be held at 10 a.m. August 14th at:

Illinois Pollution Control Board

9th Floor-Conference Room 035

100 West Randolph Street

Chicago

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Illinois Pollution Control Board

Conference Room (adjacent to library)

1021 North Grand Avenue East

Springfield

Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll Grant to Benefit Head Start Children

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society has awarded Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll with a $4,500 social accountability grant to benefit TCOC Head Start serving Carroll County families. This grant includes funding for supplies for the TCOC Head Start Family Matters and Shopping Matters programs, equipment and materials.

The Tri-County Opportunities Council Head Start Program, located in Thomson, is a comprehensive and family development program for low-income families. Head Start programs promote learning experiences that help children develop socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally.

Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll invites community members to help with a school supplies drive for the benefit of the Head Start pre-schoolers.

School supplies needed include: crayons, glue sticks, washable markers, school glue, finger paints, paint brushes, paint smocks, white and colored paper, construction paper, assorted color glitter, foam sheets, rulers, paper plates, pencils, colored sand, magnetic strips, and any craft items suitable for pre-school children.

During the month of August, school supplies may be dropped off at Good Samaritan Society-Mount Carroll, 1006 N. Lowden Road, Mount Carroll, and at the following Mount Carroll banking centers: THE National Bank, Savanna-Thomson State Bank, and the Mount Carroll Banking Center. Members of the Mount Carroll Rotary Club are also assisting with this project. For more information or assistance, please contact Anna Gray, resource development director, .

Highland Fine Arts Department to Hold ‘Charlotte’s Web’ Auditions

Vocal auditions for the musical version of “Charlotte’s Web” will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, in the Ferguson Fine Arts Theatre. All interested singers are encouraged to audition.

This musical version of E.B. White’s children’s classic features musical numbers such as “Eating,” “Who Says We Can’t Be Friends,” “Welcome to the Zuckerman Barn,” and “Summer” to delight audiences. Performances will be held on November 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25 and 26.

For more information call Elwyn Webb at or email .

Doug Williams Receives ‘Youth in Agriculture’ Award

The Brownfield Network and WCCI 100.3 FM in Savanna recently presented A “Youth in Agriculture” award for 2013 in Carroll County to Douglas Williams of Milledgeville. Brownfield is a leading voice in agricultural broadcasting and developed this award to honor and recognize young people involved in agriculture throughout their coverage area.

Williams has been a member of the Chadwick Achievers 4-H Club since he was nine years old, and has held the office of vice-president and reporter. He has been active in showing dairy cattle and has been a member of the Chadwick-Milledgeville FFA Chapter for two years.

Doug is the son of Jeff and Sue Williams, and plans to attend Augustana College this fall to obtain a teaching degree to become a high school history teacher.

Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois Celebrating 30 Years of Compassionate Care

Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois has been touching lives in the area for the past thirty years. Since it’s beginning in July of 1983 they have been providing compassionate care, support and education to families dealing with life-limiting illness and loss. As they celebrate their first 30 years of existence and look forward to serving 30 more, the organization has planned a 30th Anniversary Celebration Pork Roast Fundraiser Dinner. This dinner is planned for Saturday, September 14, 2013 at the Elizabeth Community Building in Elizabeth, Illinois.

The dinner will be served from 4:30-7:30 p.m. and the cost is $10.00 per person. The menu will consist of Roast Pork Loin Sandwiches, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Mrs. Mike’s Chips, Cake and Beverage. Carryouts will be available. There will be a 50/50 raffle and door prizes.

Make plans now to come and help Volunteer Hospice commemorate this achievement and help them to raise funds to continue their mission of “Neighbor Helping Neighbor.” For more information or to find out where to purchase tickets for the event, please contact the office at or email them at .

Introduction to Natural Health and Natural Health Alternatives

Volunteer Hospice of Northwest Illinois is pleased to announce the presentation of a program entitled Introduction to Natural Health and Natural Health Alternatives at their September Community Education Meeting.

This program will be held at the Stockton Park House, Stockton, Illinois on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 10 a.m. The speaker for the event will be Susan Schafer, PhD of Natural Healing Express located in Lena. The public is encouraged to attend this informative meeting. There will be time at the end of the presentation for questions and answers, so plan now to come if you have questions on the subject.

Please register for the event as seating is limited. Reservations can be made by phoning Volunteer Hospice of NWIL at . The Stockton Park House is located one block off of Route 20 on Pearl Street in Stockton and is handicap accessible. For more information on Susan Schafer you can visit her website at www.naturalhealingexpress.com.

Tickle Your Taste Buds at Pie on the Porch

Annual Homemade Pie Fundraiser Returns Tickle your taste buds at Pie on the Porch Friday and Saturday, August 30 and 31. From 10 am to 4 pm each day, feast on delicious made-from-scratch pies during the Friends of the Lanark Public Library (FLPL) annual fundraiser, while absorbing the peaceful beauty of a gorgeous garden in full bloom. Enjoy homemade pie and help the FLPL support the library’s programs and collections.

Stop in at the Picket Fence for lovely decorations and gifts, located on the premises. Patrons will receive a coupon for a free book from Twice-Sold Tales used bookstore on Rte. 64.

Pie on the Porch is located at the Picket Fence, 407 E. Franklin in Lanark, and will be open 10 am to 4 pm August 30 and 31.

It’s in the Stars: Belden School Special Event

Belden School, a restored school house build in 1859, is hosting a special event. Paul and Diane Sipiera, our guest speakers, will discuss astronomy as it was perceived in the 1800s .

This free presentation is Saturday, August 17th from 1:00 until 2:00. Docents will also be available until 4:00 to share Belden’s history.

Belden School is located at 52 Heatherdowns in The Galena Territory. For more information call or visit our website at www.beldenschool.org.

See the ‘Jewels of the Rhine’ With First State Bank of Shannon

The First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll announces their 2014 overseas travel destination. Escape with us as we embark on a luxurious floating hotel on the beautiful Rhine River.

Your adventure begins in Amsterdam, Holland and ends with a specially customized tour in Munich, Germany. Delight in this 11-day, value-added tour. Your carefree tour begins with transport to O’Hare airport in Chicago and ends back home to the Shannon-Polo area. Everything has been planned for you, simply sit back and absorb the culture of Holland and Germany with the natural beauty of its tulips, riverbanks, castles, cathedrals, and charming towns rich in history, culinary delights and museums that house priceless works of art by the Masters. This is our JEWELS OF THE RHINE exclusively, tailored tour.

Highlights of the tour include a private tour of Anne Frank’s House, a guided visit to the Van Gogh Museum where we will see the largest collection of his work, see Amsterdam by motor coach and by canal boat at night, with time on your own to explore, a guided tour of Heidelberg Castle on foot (outside only because it’s in ruins), enjoy the flowers at Keukenhof Gardens which are the national pride of the Netherlands, walk through Kröller Müller Museum at your own pace to view the collection of work by Van Gogh, Picasso, Seurat and Monet, participate in a guided walking city tour of Cologne or venture out on your own, a little train will be transport through the Rhine vineyards of Rüdesheim, after which experience a tasting of local wines, on to a visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum.

All of this plus beautiful vistas and a peaceful journey on the Rhine River through Germany, complete with a farewell gala dinner and dancing. After disembarkation, transfer by private motor coach through portions of the Black Forest to Munich, experience old world Bavarian charm. A panoramic city tour is included with the remainder of the time spent touring the stunning Linderhof Palace, a photo opportunity at Neuschwanstein Castle, a visit to Oberammergau and a bit of free time to explore and each evening savor Bavarian cuisine at world famous Munich restaurants.

A preview meeting will be held on Thursday, September 19th at 6 p.m. at the Shannon Bank location in the lobby. The tour is open to the public; RSVPs are requested to ensure proper seating. This well blended excursion will be an 11-day tour, scheduled for April 24 – May 3, 2014. Cabin space is limited. For inquiries and RSVPs, contact Desi at , x222.

Gershwin’s ‘‘S Wonderful’ Ends the Season at TLP

Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) presents the area premiere of ‘S Wonderful: The New Gershwin Musical, an all-singing, all-dancing celebration of the brilliant music and lyrics of brothers George and Ira Gershwin. The show, which includes over 40 classics like “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Summertime,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” opens Thursday, August 15, 2013 and runs through Sunday, August 25th.

The show premiered in 2010 at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and has been a hit around the country. Five performers sing and dance their way through 5 different stories that transport the audience to 1940s Hollywood, 1920s New York, 1930s Paris, 1950s New Orleans and the present day. The cast includes Genna-Paige Kanago, Sarah Larson, Zak McMahon, Lexie Plath and Tim Wessel, all resident performers from TLP’s 2013 company. Wessel and Cameron Turner (Monty Python’s SPAMALOT) provide choreography.

Director Courtney Crouse said, “The beauty of the Gershwin’s music and lyrics is palpable. The feelings they evoked when first written, they still evoke today. It connects deeply with people everywhere. The storytelling we do with dance adds to the universal nature of these themes. It moves us, and we identify. It’s impossible not to.”

Gold Series Subscriptions for TLP’s next season are also on sale now. Summer 2014 brings a thrilling line-up that includes Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The new Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein, and the local premier of the most popular musical of all time, Les Miserables. The rest of the season includes the plays An Inspector Calls, which is a thrilling ghost story by J. B. Priestley, and Neil Simon’s Rumors. Next summer will close with a revue of 60s hits called SHOUT! The Mod Musical.

Season subscriptions are $100, 28% off the single ticket price. Subscription prices increase to $110 on September 1. Single tickets for TLP’s 2014 mainstage season will go on sale in May 2014. Groups of 15 or more may reserve blocks of tickets immediately.

Waiting in the wings for the Magic Owl Children’s Theatre are a new adaptation of Robin Hood in May and Pinkalicious the Musical in July and August, based on the ever-popular children’s books by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann. All Magic Owl Children’s Theatre tickets are available now through the box office only.

‘S Wonderful performs evenings at 7:30pm, and there are 2pm matinees on Sunday and Wednesday. There is also a Saturday matinee performance on the opening weekend at 3pm. Order tickets through the box office 10am - 5pm daily at or any time at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Tickets are non-refundable.

Four Seasons Gardening Program Starts

The fall series of University of Illinois Extension’s Four Seasons Gardening program, which focuses on environmental stewardship and backyard food production, gets underway this month. The first session of the series is titled, Some Like it HOT: Plants for Hot, Dry Areas. The program is offered on August 20 at 1:00 p.m. The session will be presented via teleconference at the Extension office in Elizabeth, IL.

Landscapes often include challenging sites where the heat is high and the water is dry. Areas next to driveways or near south facing buildings can frustrate even the most seasoned gardener. Before you consider giving up on plants and ordering asphalt, discover the diversity of plants that thrive in hot dry sites.

Other topics in the fall series include Winter Wise Your Landscape: Knowledge to Prevent Costly Mistakes, set for September 3rd, Pollinator Plants set for September 17th, and What’s Trending Now in Landscape Design on October 1st. All sessions will be held at the office in Elizabeth and will begin at 1:00pm.

Cost per session is $5. Advance registration is needed. Phone the local U of I Extension office for more details, or register online, http://web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw/ .

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the Extension office at .

August is School Preparedness Month in Illinois

Students soon will be heading back to school and parents across Illinois are busy getting their children ready for the new school year. As part of School Preparedness Month during August, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) encourages parents to include emergency preparedness in those back-to-school plans.

“For many parents, back-to-school planning usually means picking up notebooks, pencils, crayons and other school supplies,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. “But the new school year is also a good time to make sure you know your school’s plans for keeping kids safe during an emergency and for providing your current emergency contact information to school officials.”

Monken said no one likes to think about an emergency happening while children are in school or at daycare. However, the tornado that struck two schools in Moore, Okla., in May serves as a reminder that emergency situations can arise during the school day.

Back-to-school planning tips include:

Know your child’s school or day care emergency plan.

Find out where children will be taken in the event of an evacuation during school hours.

Ensure your emergency contact information is up-to-date at your child’s school.

Pre-authorize a friend or relative to pick up your children in an emergency and make sure the school knows who that designated person is.

Have a family communications plan and review the plan periodically with your child. The plan should include contact information for an out-of-area family member or friend, since local telephone networks may not work during a major disaster.

Many college campuses offer email and text messages to alert students of potential dangers, such as severe weather and other threats. Encourage your college student to sign-up for such alerts. Some colleges also provide alert messages for parents so they also are aware of potential dangers at their child’s school.

Additional preparedness information is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.

Northwestern IL DU Committee To Meet

Steve Whiting, chairman of the Northwestern Il. Ducks Unlimited Chapter announced that the Chapters 41st Annual Fundraiser and Banquet will be held on Oct. 12, 2013. According to Whiting the local DU committee will be meeting Tuesday, August 20th, at the VFW in Savanna, to start planning the upcoming event. He plans to start the meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Whiting said, “There is a lot of planning and hard work that goes into having a fundraiser/banquet of this type.” He encourages anyone that would like to help with this years’ banquet to attend the planning meeting on the 20th. He added that if anyone would like to help out, but is unable to attend the August 20th meeting to contact him at .

Ducks Unlimited is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving, restoring, and managing wetlands and associated habitats for North American waterfowl, which also benefits other wildlife and people.