Blackberry Farm will commemorate the 152nd anniversary of the American Civil War with a weekend-long event on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 13-14. The event will be highlighted by a full-scale reenactment at 5 p.m. Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Fox Valley Park District)

Aurora

Civil War Days at the farm

Blackberry Farm will commemorate the 152nd anniversary of the American Civil War with a weekend-long event on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 13-14.

Civil War Days will be highlighted by a full-scale reenactment at 5 p.m. Saturday on the historic grounds of Blackberry Farm, featuring simulated battles between Union and Confederate soldiers. Throughout the weekend, guest speakers and interpreters will stage numerous demonstrations of 1800s-era war life.

Examples include demonstrations of medical procedures as they were performed in the battlefields, how wool and fabric were dyed for soldiers’ uniforms and crafts such as corn husk dolls. “Meet the Lincolns” will be held each day from noon to 4 p.m., featuring conversations with President and Mrs. Lincoln, who also host a special “Tea with the Lincolns” each day at 2 p.m.

A full schedule of events and map is available at www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Civil War Days is included with daily admission. Visit here for rates. Blackberry Farm will be open 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Fox Valley region

Youth Orchestras Hold Auditions

The Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance invites student-musicians, ages 7- 18, to audition for its 2016-2017 season. The orchestra is principally looking for string and woodwind players. For the auditions, students should prepare scales and a solo or étude. Auditions are scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 28 by appointment at Our Savior Church in Aurora. (The FVAMP is not affiliated with any church denomination.) Rehearsals begin Sept. 11 at Eden Supportive Living in North Aurora.

The Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance includes the Access to Music program, the Youth Strings Orchestra, the Academy Orchestra, and the adult Philharmonic Orchestra. Ensembles rehearse on Sundays from September through April, and have an additional summer program. Members of the FVAMP represent more than sixteen communities in and around the Chicagoland area.

To schedule an audition time or for more information, contact the FVAMP: (630) 476-9072,info@FVacademy.org, www.FVacademy.org.

United Way expands its reach in new towns

Fox Valley United Way connects Fox Valley folks with their neighbors in need. We are a Live United movement-encouraging donors and volunteers to reach out a hand to others to make a lasting difference in their own community.

We help Fox Valley businesses and residents to support local social service agencies that provide housing, food, healthcare, employment assistance, counseling and other life-changing services to those who cannot support themselves. It’s an area-wide collaboration that is having tremendous impact.

Starting Aug. 1, we are honored to be working with the eight communities that were previously supported by United Way of Central Kane County. That means we have the privilege to recruit donors, volunteers and advocates to serve: St. Charles, Geneva, Elburn, Kaneville, Wasco, LaFox, Maple Park and Campton Hills.

These towns join our current Fox Valley United Way family-15 communities in southern Kane and Kendall counties  All together that means that we will be working from St. Charles in the north to Plattville in the south, to provide support to a total of 63 social service agencies in 23 municipalities.

Kendall County

Girl Scout alumna establishes travel endowment for local Girl Scouts

Girl Scout alumna and former Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois board member Cathy Veal, along with her husband Bill, have made a generous $10,000 donation to establish a travel scholarship endowment for Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (GSNI).

The Veals have pledged an additional $10,000 once GSNI successfully raises $10,000 towards the fund this calendar year.

The travel scholarship fund principle will remain intact at $30,000. The interest earned will be available for distribution in 2017. The fund is designed to ease financial barriers that may stand in the way of girls experiencing domestic and global travel.

“The Veals have made a valuable investment in many girls’ futures,” says GSNI Fund Development Director Lynn Momberger. “This endowment has the potential to provide an amazing opportunity to so many girls who might otherwise never have dreamed they could travel to faraway places!”

GSNI offers a variety of travel options including local, national, and even international experiences for troops or individual girls. The organization offers a fun and safe experience so girls can develop their full potential. For information on travel opportunities offered through GSNI, visit www.girlscoutsni.org. To contribute to the GSNI travel scholarship endowment, donate online at www.girlscoutsni.org/travelendowment

Montgomery

Village sponsors fall community garage sale

The Village of Montgomery is pleased to announce that its Fall Community Garage Sale will take place on Sept. 22- 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Each year nearly 100 households participate and the event draws people from a wide area. The fee to participate will be $10 per address. Registration forms are available at the Village Hall, 200 N. River St. in Montgomery and on the village website at www.ci.montgomery.il.us.

The registration form gives the option of participating on all three of the scheduled dates or selecting specific days to participate.

Garage sale flyers will be created featuring a map showing all garage sale locations, plus a 15-word ad for each address describing the items for sale.

Maps will be available at the Village Hall and on the village website starting Sept. 19. The deadline to be included in the advertising is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.

Montgomery’s Historic Preservation Commission sponsors this event. The $10 participation fee will help support Settler’s Cottage on River Street. For additional information, please call Debbie Buchanan at (630) 896-8080 ext. 9003.

30th annual Family Fun Carp Derby

On Sunday, Aug. 14, join a family member or two or three or a neighbor you’ve been meaning to catch up with, and bring your fishing rods. Between the hours of 6 am and 2 pm you can fish for carp, while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful setting along our river.

Registration begins at 6 am and continues through 10 am on the day of the Derby at the Judge’s Table on the west side of the Mill Street Bridge. Fees are just $2 for ages 15 and under and $10 for those 16 and over. Contestants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

All carp must be living and weighed in by 2 p.m. at the Judge’s Table at the Mill Street Bridge. Also, no live bait or worms can be used. All carp must be caught in the Fox River between Ashland Bridge and Route 30 Bridge on Aug. 14.

Trophies will be awarded for the GRAND CHAMPION (largest carp by weight) as well as trophies according to two age groups. For ages 15 and under, there will be trophies for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Runners Up. For those 16 and up, similar trophies will be awarded.

Oswego

Railway crossing to close

The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that the U.S. 34 (W Washington Street) Illinois Railway grade crossing in Oswego will be closed on Monday, Aug. 8.

U.S. 34 (W Washington Street) will be closed for approximately seven days to allow the Illinois Railway to rebuild the crossing.

U.S. 34 (W Washington Street) traffic will proceed as follows:

U.S. 34 westbound traffic will proceed west on IL 71 to Orchard Road; thence north on Orchard Road back to U.S. 34.

U.S. 34 eastbound traffic will proceed south on Orchard Road to IL 71; thence east on IL 71 back to U.S. 34

In addition, South Adams Street will be closed from W Washington Street to W Jackson Street. 

Motorists are urged to use caution and expect some delays while traveling the detour route.

For IDOT District 3 updates on Twitter, follow us at https://twitter.com/IDOTDistrict3

D308 chooses assistant principal for Traughber

The Community Unit School District 308 Board of Education recently approved the hire of Christopher Ferko for the assistant principal position at Traughber Junior High School.

“We are pleased that Christopher Ferko has joined the Traughber Junior High School team. He brings with him a wealth of academic and administrative experience as well as successful career in coaching,” said Traughber Principal Tarah Fowler. “As assistant principal, he will help Traughber become more efficient as we continue to provide a world-class education to all students.”

Ferko, who began his career as a junior high health education teacher at Yorkville Middle School in 1994, has several years of high school administrative service. From 2011 until June 2016, he served as dean of students at Minooka Community High School. Prior to that, he taught health and physical education at both Minooka Community High School and Yorkville High School.

“I am looking forward to serving the staff and students at Traughber Junior High School,” Ferko said. “I hope to help challenge, lead, and motivate both teachers and students to achieve their highest potential.”

Ferko has served as either assistant or head coach for numerous sports teams including girls basketball, boys basketball, track, boys baseball, and football. He is also an avid community volunteer, giving time and assistance to organizations and programs, such as Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Character Counts.

Sandwich

Park Dist. offers group trip to Cubs game

Join the Sandwich Park District on Sept. 16 as guests travel to Wrigley field for one of the Cubs’ last home games for the regular season against the Brewers. 

The tickets are in the terrace seating that should be well shaded yet with a great view of the entire stadium. There will be an elevator nearby for those who may be challenged by a lot of stairs.

There will be a charter bus for this trip from the Sandwich Park District to and from Wrigley Stadium. Fee: $85 Per ticket. For more information, visit sandwichparkdistrict.org.

Stamp and Scrapbook Sale

Fox Valley Older Adult Services (FVOAS) will be holding a Stampers and Scrap Bookers Sale on Friday, Aug. 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Aug, 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. An area enthusiast has generously donated a large collection of hundreds of stamps, die cuts, folders, stickers, ribbon, punches, embellishments and more.

All proceeds from the sale will go to Fox Valley Older Adult Services. Sale will be held at the Fox Valley Community Center, across the street from the Sandwich Fair Grounds, 1406 Suydam Road, Sandwich. Through the many programs and services available to seniors from DeKalb, Kendall, LaSalle and Bureau Counties FVOAS ensures that seniors’ lives remain vital and healthy. Programs and activities run daily at the Senior Center in Sandwich along with Adult Day Service and Home Services.

–Kendall County News Briefs–