Trunk-or-Treat events are a fun twist on traditional trick-or-treating. Two Wheaton churches invite youngsters and parents to theirs. Gary United Methodist Church will holds its from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 27 in the church’s the parking lot near North Hale and Seminary Street. St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 1420 S. Gables Blvd., will hold its Trunk-or-Treat fun from 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 28.

STATE

No. 1 health issue Googled in Illinois: stress

Got a question about your health? Most likely you have turned to Google for the answer. If so, you are not alone.

The Medicare review site, MedicareHealthPlans.com, took a look at the most frequently searched health symptoms of the past year on Google Trends. Then the researchers clumped these symptoms and similar ones together and ran them back through Google Trends to see which states had the highest search volume for each. Their results suggest which symptoms concern the most people in each state.

In Illinois, stress is the No. 1 researched ailment. In addition to Illinois, the results show a Stress Belt running through Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. In fact, stress was the most Googled symptom in one-fifth of all states.

Up in Minnesota, they’re searching for clues about irritability. Michigan residents are  concerned about stuffy noses. In North Dakota, the concern is irritable bowel. Residents of South Dakota worry about headaches; and in Nebraska, signs of low testosterone are an issue.

Health care experts advise using caution when searching the Internet for answers to medical questions. They say that people need to be critical thinkers, use good judgement and remember that there is a lot of misinformation out there. And, Googling doesn’t replace a professional diagnosis.

COUNTY

Symphony orchestra to express Halloween spookiness in music

The DuPage Symphony Orchestra promises some spine-chilling music to set the mood for Halloween. The 150-piece symphony orchestra will perform its Halloween Spooktacular family concerts at 2 and 4 p.m. Oct. 28 at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville.

The program will include spooky vibes with the “The Imperial March” from “Star Wars” by John Williams, “Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky, “Funeral March of a Marionette” by Charles Gounod, “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from “Peer Gynt” by Edvard Grieg, as well as “Baba Yaga” and “The Great Gate of Kiev” from “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky, to name a few works.

The Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra also will appear, performing Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” and will join the DuPage Symphony for two selections from Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Audience members are invited to join the orchestra and come dressed in costume.

Tickets will be available at the door for $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Gala to support student singers

Spirito! Singers will hold its largest fundraiser of the year, the 11th annual Autumn Voices Gala, Nov. 3, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Proceeds will support music education and performance training for singers from 61 schools and 30 western suburbs. The three Spirito! ensembles have 230 singers.

This year Spirito! presents its annual Service Award to Terri Hemmert, WXRT radio personality and Radio Hall of Famer. Hemmert is a passionate volunteer and advocate for music education, and a fan of Spirito!. For a special ticket price, guests may meet Hemmert at a private VIP reception.

Spirito! is an auditioned choral organization made up of two choirs open to girls and young women throughout the western suburbs of Chicago. Aditionally, Spirito! has a third ensemble, The Men of Spirito! – comprised of men 18 years and older.

Tickets to the event are $135 per person, VIP tickets are $175 per person. More information and ticket purchase are available at spiritosingers.org. 

GLEN ELLYN

Parade, scary movies part of Halloween Festival

Downtown Glen Ellyn will be filled with goblins, witches, ghosts, and things that go bump in the daytime during the village’s annual Halloween Festival and Parade Oct. 27. The parade kicks off at 9:45 a.m. and starts a day of scary movies, costume contests and other activities. 

Competitive spirits can vie for prizes in the costume contest or enter their pup in the event’s pet costume contest at noon. After the parade, kids can trick-or-treat at downtown businesses or make Halloween-inspired arts and crafts. 

Live entertainment will include performances by the Glenbard West Drumline, Glen Eagles Jr. Cheer Squad and McNulty Irish Dancers. 

WHEATON

Celebrate Halloween in many activities in plaza

The Downtown Wheaton Association’s Boo-Palooza Halloween celebration will return Oct. 27 with trick-or-treating, a costume contest, hayrides, pumpkin carving and more at the new Martin Memorial Plaza in downtown.

Festivities, including trick-or-treating at area stores, will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded in the costume contest for the most colorful, most creative and cutest outfits in age categories ranging from newborns to those 10 and older. All participants will receive special treats.

A live giant pumpkin will be carved by Wheaton resident and artist Joe Adkins. Last year’s pumpkin weighed in at more than 200 pounds, and this year’s will be on display at Martin Memorial Plaza throughout the day.

Here’s the day’s schedule:

• 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.: Downtown trick-or-treating at participating stores.
• 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Costume contest at Martin Memorial Plaza.
• 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Free hay rides starting across from Martin Memorial Plaza.

For details, visit downtownwheaton.com or call 630-682-0633.

Trunk-or-Treat twist on Halloween fun

Two Trunk-or-Treat events will be held at Wheaton churches.

Gary United Methodist Church invite youngsters to participate in its Trunk-or-Treat event from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 27 in the church’s the parking lot near North Hale and Seminary Street.

St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 1420 S. Gables Blvd., will hold its Trunk-or-Treat fun from 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Children are invited to dress in costumes. They will collect candy from costumed church volunteers and see their decorated car trunks at this fun and safe family event. Indoors, will be games and snacks. In case of rain, trunk decorations and candy will be moved indoors.

–DuPage County News Briefs–