Kids can put their design and engineering ideas and skills to work for the third annual Bridge Busting Competition. This fun, educational challenge is facilitated by the University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development Program of DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties, and is sponsored by Rural King and the Fox Valley Family YMCA. The 2016 Bridge Busting Competition begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9 at the YMCA in Plano, 3875 Eldamain Road, with awards tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. To learn more or register your team, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/bridge. Space is limited. The cost is $35 per team. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please notify at registration or contact the Extension Office at (630) 553-5823. (Photo courtesy U of I Extension_

Sandwich

Community band to perform holiday concert

Indian Valley Community Band’s 24th annual Holiday Concert will be held at the beautiful, historic Opera House in Sandwich, (the Opera House is handicap accessible), 140 E. Railroad Street, at 2 p.m. Nov. 22. This is the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This is a free concert, but donations of non-perishable items will be gratefully accepted at the door by members of the Sandwich Lions Club to benefit the Franklin Mall Christmas Project, which distributes groceries to families needing a helping hand at Christmastime. Concert goers will be treated to a punch and cookie reception after the musical program.

City Council approves installation of new sidewalks

A report stated that the Sandwich City Council approved the installation of new sidewalks on Latham Street (from East Pleasant Avenue to Knights Road), and also near the intersection of East Second and DeKalb streets (just east of Woodbury Elementary School). The project, scheduled for completion this fall, will be performed by P.M. Otto Inc., of Sandwich, at a total cost of $20,724.

Annual Holiday Concert to be held at Opera House

The Indian Valley Community Band’s 24th annual Holiday Concert will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Opera House, 140 Railroad Street. The event is free; non-perishable food items and monetary donations will be accepted. The concert will feature a variety of holiday music, with the band performing under the direction of Richard Hart. A reception, with punch and cookies, will be held following the performance. For more information, call (815) 786-6752.

Chamber of Commerce hosting Mix & Mingle event

The Sandwich Chamber of Commerce will host a Mix & Mingle event from 2-5 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Crum Halsted Agency, located at 100 S. Latham Street. The open-house event is designed to give Chamber of Commerce members an opportunity to interact in a casual setting with workers from area businesses. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (815) 786-9075 or visit www.sandwich-il.chambermaster.com.

Kendall County

4-H Federation to hold annual Winter Workshop

The University of Illinois Extension and the Kendall County 4-H Federation will hold the annual Kendall County Winter Workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the University of Illinois Extension office, 7775B Route 47, in Yorkville. Designed for ages 8-18, the workshop will include multiple stations, and participants will craft snowman decorations, solder a blinking 4-H badge, construct a wooden tree decoration, paint watercolor cards for nursing-home residents, and bake and decorate gingerbread cookies. The cost is $30 per participant, and payment and registration are due Nov. 27.
Participants should bring a sack lunch. To register online, visit www.web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk. For more information about the Kendall County 4-H program, contact Kim Eisnaugle at keisnaug@illinois.edu or visit the website.

Show engineering skills in Annual Bridge Competition

Kids can put their design and engineering ideas and skills to work for the third annual Bridge Busting Competition. This fun, educational challenge is facilitated by the University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development Program of DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties, and is sponsored by Rural King and the Fox Valley Family YMCA. The 2016 Bridge Busting Competition begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9 at the YMCA in Plano, 3875 Eldamain Road, with awards tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. To learn more or register your team, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/bridge. Space is limited. The cost is $35 per team. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please notify at registration or contact the Extension Office at (630) 553-5823.

Yorkville

Library continues Adult Programs series

The Yorkville Public Library, 902 Game Farm Road, continues its Adult Programs series with Adult Creative Writing Group from 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 24. The group’s intention is to create a positive, encouraging, honest and fun atmosphere in which to achieve excellence in writing. No registration is required. In addition, Email Basics Computer Class will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 2. Participants will create an email account, and learn to compose, send and receive emails. Attaching files and managing messages also will be covered. Registration is required. For more information, call (630) 553-4543 or visit www.yorkville.lib.il.us.

Holiday Celebration to feature array of activities

The Yorkville Holiday Celebration will be held on Nov. 21, beginning with the Circle Center Grade School’s 3rd Annual Winter Wonderland Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the school, 901 Mill Street. The fest will feature carnival games, a bake sale, shopping circles, concessions and a visit from Santa Claus. Most activities and purchases require tickets. Pre-sale tickets are available at www.yorkvilleparksandrecreation.com. For more information, send an email to ccgswinterfest@gmail.com. The Holiday Celebration continues with the Holiday Parade, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Riverfront Park, 131 E. Hydraulic Ave., followed by the Tree Lighting Ceremony (featuring Mayor Gary Golinski and Santa Claus) at 6:15 p.m., and the Fireworks Show at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department at (630) 553-4357 or visit www.yorkville.il.us.

Holiday Open House on tap at Avant Garden

The Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce announced that Avant Garden MarketPLACE, 803 Stagecoach Drive (Route 71), will host a Ribbon Cutting and Holiday Open House, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19. The event will feature drawings, door prizes, special discounts, refreshments, and more. For more information, call (815) 228-6245 or send an email to avantgardenmarket@gmail.com.

Oswego

Tree Lighting Ceremony to include musical performances

The village will hold its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 29 at Village Hall, 100 Parkers Mill. The free event will include musical performances by the Fox Valley Festival Choir, the Fox River Academy of Music, the Oswegoland Senior Singers, and more. For more information, call (630) 554-4636 or visit www.oswegoil.org.

Oswego East to host Youth Summit for the Arts

Oswego East High School, 1525 Harvey Road, will present Inaside Chicago Dance’s 6th Annual Youth Summit for the Arts from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 21. Established in 2010 as an opportunity for young artists to have a non-competitive outlet to share their love and passion for the arts, the event will feature performances by theater groups, choral groups and dance groups representing all ages and levels. Pre-sale tickets are $20 (general public) and $15 (students from age 6-18), and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, call Inaside Chicago Dance at (773) 296-4909 or send an email to info@inaside.org.

Museum offers Wilderness Survival Skills program

The Little White School Museum, 72 Polk Street, will hold Wilderness Survival Skills from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 21. The program (for ages 10 and up) will explore survival skills used by Native Americans and early settlers in the Fox Valley region. The cost is $5 Pre registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call (630) 554-2999 or visit www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org.

Montgomery

Holiday Family Night to be held at library

The Oswego Public Library District will present Holiday Family Night (for families with children of all ages) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Montgomery Campus, 1111 Reading Drive. The event will feature family-oriented activities and crafts. No registration is required. For more information, call (630) 554-3150 or visit www.oswego.lib.il.us.

Village to host electronics recycling event

The village announced it will host Electronics Recycling and More from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 21 at the Montgomery Police Department, located at 10 Civic Center Ave. Electronics of all types (including anything that can be plugged in) will be accepted, as well as metal items and batteries of all types. Light bulbs and paint will not be accepted. For more information, call Village Hall at (630) 896-8080 or visit www.ci.montgomery.il.us.

Plano

Trio of school district staffers earn recognition awards

The Illinois State Board of Education honored three Plano School District staff members with Awards of Recognition during the 2015-16 Those Who Excel Education Awards Program, held in Bloomington-Normal on Oct. 17. Board of Education President Tim Campbell received the Merit Award (2015 School Board Member); Sue Gerardot, a district nurse, received the Recognition Award (Support Personnel-Licensed); and Teri Haws, Plano High School’s athletic secretary, received the Recognition Award (2015 Service Personnel-Unlicensed).

Newark

Annual Farm Toy Show coming to high school

The Kendall County Farm Bureau Young Leaders and the Newark FFA Chapter will hold the 28th Annual Farm Toy Show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Newark High School gym, 413 Chicago Road. The cost is $2. For more information, call the Kendall County Farm Bureau at (630) 553-7403 or the Newark FFA chapter at (815) 695-5164.

–Kendall County News Briefs–