Just Pick One

Enjoy a fun day and evening while helping a local soldier. Don’t miss Just Pick One from noon to 10pm this Sunday, Sept. 5 at the Genoa Veterans Club, 311 S. Washington St.

This is a benefit for Sgt. Allen “Toby” Thomas, who was severely injured in Afghanistan. Thomas was on his fourth combat tour when he was wounded. He is engaged to be married to his fiancée, Danica Savic, who is 8½ months pregnant with their first child, a girl. The couple plans to wed in October 2011.

There will be entertainment by Elvis impersonator Matt “Elvis” Ragano and music by Rockcovery and Common Ground. Outdoor activities are from 1 to 5 p.m., which include a pig roast, moon walk, dunk tank, horseshoes and corn toss tournaments. Indoor activities continue until 10pm and include a silent auction and guest speakers. Food also available for purchase. Donated items for the silent auction are still needed. Admission is $7 for adults and kids 12 and under are free. For more information on the benefit, contact Matthew Musil at 779-382-0039.

This Friday thru Monday, September 3rd to 6th, is the annual Maple Park Fun Fest in downtown Maple Park.  It’s a Labor Day weekend full of family activities, food, a parade, the Maple Park romp, excellent fireworks and much more! Hours are 4pm to 9pm Sept. 3; 7am to 9pm Sept. 4; 7am to 8:30pm Sept. 5; and 7am to noon Sept. 6.

Activities include food and beer gardens, live music, crafters and vendors, car show, motorcycle show, softball tournament and more. Romp in the Park, a 5K Run and 2 Mile Walk / Run begins at 7am on Saturday. The unique annual Toilet Bowl Challenge on Main Street starts at 1pm on Saturday and is tons of fun to watch. Maple Park Fun Fest Parade will begin at 6pm on Saturday, followed by local favorite, Hi Infidelity at 9pm.

Sunday starts out with the American Legion’s Breakfast Buffet in downtown Maple Park. The day continues with both a car show and a motorcycle show and ends with Maple Park’s Spectacular Fireworks Show. Rain date for the fireworks will be Monday night. Visit www.villageofmaplepark.com for complete schedule of events.

The Prairie State Winery & Genoa-Kingston School Board invite you to meet the new Genoa-Kingston District #424 Superintendent Joe Burgess 217 W Main St, Genoa  tonight, Tuesday, August 31st from 5:00pm-7:00pm.

Come to the Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Prairie State Winery and meet the new Genoa Kingston School Superintendent Joe Burgess.  Enjoy a complimentary first glass of wine, hors d’oeuvers will be served and live music by Chuck Scordato. Take this opportunity to network with fellow Genoa chamber members.   Bring your business cards to enter and win a door prize.

Labor Day Weekend is time to get out and enjoy the last of the warm weather outside and Rockford offers just the ticket with it’s annual On the Waterfront Festival. Enjoy Illinois’ largest street celebration and music festival this weekend in Rockford, September 2nd-5th. The late summer festival includes music, food, games and carnival rides. See sixteen brightly colored hot air balloons soar overhead Saturday evening from anywhere in the festival during the Hot Air Balloon Fly Over at approximately 6pm.

On the Waterfront covers 30 city blocks in the heart of the River District in Rockford, with a variety of music styles to entertain everyone in the family. More than 75 performers play in five different music venues in the heart of town. This year’s headliners include: Dierks Bentley, American Idol’s Adam Lambert, Hinder, Gregg Rolie, founding member of Journey and Santana, Penny Mae Dixon, and Billy Idol, the multi-platinum English born rocker will headline the Great Lawn Stage on Sunday. See the On the Waterfront website for the complete schedule on entertainment and additional information.

There will be a DeKalb County Amtrak Forum regarding the still unresolved Amtrak route through DeKalb County with your state legislators.  Senator Brad Burzynski and  Representative Bob Pritchard will participate in the forum with moderator John Lewis, PhD Associate Vice President of Administration and University Outreach of Northern Illinois University.

The agenda of the evening will be understanding the status of the potential route through DeKalb County from a legislative point of view with a Q&A session following.   The forum is open to all residents and community leadership throughout DeKalb county. The forum will be held this Wednesday, September 1st, at Kishwaukee College – Jenkins Auditorium  A-224. 6:00pm Refreshments, 6:30pm-8:30pm Forum.

The Adult Education and Transition Programs division of Kishwaukee College and the Illinois workNet Center in DeKalb are partnering to offer Basic Computer Skills and Math for Employment classes this fall designed to enhance employability for community residents. The classes are offered free to participants and have an open enrollment so participants may join a class at any time. Both classes meet at the Illinois workNet Center, 1701 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

Basic Computer classes cover beginning computer use skills and include easy step by step hands-on instruction. The Basic Computer Skills class will meet on Mondays beginning in September and again in October.

Math for Employment meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00p.m. – 4:30p.m. This class will assist participants in preparing for job application tests, math skill improvement to enhance employability, or placement testing for an educational or training program. The class covers basic math skills including fractions, decimals, percents, basic geometry, and other topics that involve practical problem-solving.

For more information on the Basic Computer Skills and Math for Employment classes, contact Elaine Cozort at 815-756-4893, ext. 226 or via email.

This Sunday, August 29th is a great show you will want to see at The House Cafe.  Opening the night at 8pm is the local unique band, MahaRa. MahaRa is an original Acoustic Progressive Rock Band that delivers a full spectrum of emotion through their dynamic and engaging music. Mahara will be performing with Andreas Kapsalis & Goran Ivanovic Guitar Duo, and Sioum. Admission to this all ages show is $8.

Steel string ten finger tapping guitar prodigy Andreas Kapsalis, and nylon string classical guitarist Goran Ivanovic have fused their musical roots with modern, classical, world, jazz and beyond in this experimental duo. As they continue to create “buzz” throughout global music circles, these masterful musicians are also creating genres & musical styles that have yet to be named. Sounds like a great Sunday night! Get tickets online.

Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is having it’s Annual Garage Sale this weekend, August 27, 28, 29 at 160 West Lincoln Highway, next to Subway and across from Castle Bank. Come help them help others and get some great stuff for yourself.

Today, Thursday, August 26th from 12pm – 6pm anyone can drop off donation items for the sale. On Friday, drop off and sale will run from 9am to 6pm. On Saturday, drop off of donations from 9am to 12pm and Garage Sale runs from 9am to 6pm. On Saturday the Sale runs from 9am – 6pm. Sunday is Super Bargain Day with the sale running from 9am to 12pm. If you are interested in volunteering for this event please let them know by emailing habitat@tbc.net.

Habitat for Humanity works with families in building decent, simple, affordable homes for those in need in DeKalb County. They operate with a volunteer board of directors and volunteer committees. They are always looking for people interested in being on their committees and board. Habitat for Humanity is always looking for affordable, buildable lots; monetary donations; and families to partner with them to build their home. For more information please visit their facebook page.

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The Grand Opening of the Sycamore History Museum’s exhibit, “Heartbeat of a Community: Downtown Sycamore’ will open this Saturday, August 28th, from 1pm – 3pm, with a Pie and Ice Cream Social. Open to the community, the cost for admission is $5 per person.

Explore how people, businesses, architecture, and celebrations have kept our downtown vibrant throughout the years. The exhibit will feature many treasures connected to downtown Sycamore, and a recreated bank, post office, grocery storeBrown's County Market in Sycamore and Genoa. A local tradition since 1945., and soda fountain for the hands-on room from children. Then relax with some pie and ice cream outside.

The Sycamore History Museum is located at 1730 N. Main St. in Sycamore. For more information please visit their website.

Downtown DeKalb is proud to welcome NIU Huskie Students to our community this Thursday, August 26th from 3-8pm for Huskies SEE DeKalb. Huskies SEE DeKalb is a FREE welcome event designed for Huskies to Shop, Eat, and Enjoy all that downtown DeKalb has to offer.  The event is open to Huskie students, staff, and community members. Everyone is welcome to come out and show their Huskie pride.

Shuttle buses provided by NIU Transportation Services will leave the NIU Holmes Student Center every 15 minutes starting at 2:30pm and deliver you to downtown DeKalb.  Students can also take the Number 7 from campus downtown.

Registration/Welcome Table at the Egyptian Theatre Opens at 3:pm. All Huskies should stop by the registration table in front of the Egyptian Theatre to get information and to sign up for prizes. Community leaders will present you with maps, a list of participating businesses, details of the scavenger hunt and get you started on a self guided tour of downtown DeKalb. The Farmer’s Market will also be in full swing from Noon-6pm at Van Buer Plaza.

There will be live music at Palmer Court from 4:pm-5:pm courtesy of the internationally acclaimed Steel Drums of Northern Illinois University. There will also be a free showing of the Dark Night at the Egyptian Theatre at 8pm open to everyone thanks to the NIU Alumni Association.