No plans for Sweetest Day? Bring your sweetheart to a candy wonderland at the Santori Library
Sweetest Day is coming up quickly, and although some have called it a "Hallmark Holiday," it originated as a way to bring happiness (and candy) into the lives of others.
Observed the third Saturday in October, Sweetest Day originated in 1922 in Cleveland, according to theromantic.com.
The website credits Herbert Birch Kingston, a philanthropist and candy company employee, with wanting to "bring happiness into the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten."
With the help of friends, he distributed candy and small gifts to the underprivileged.
With that in mind, Sweetest Day, which has evolved into a day to express romantic love, is a perfect day for the Aurora Public Library Foundation's "Sweet Sixteen" fundraiser.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to promote early childhood literacy and to bring the library and its resources to both the homebound and Aurora Township residents.
Sweetest Day is Saturday, Oct. 15 this year, and there is no sweeter place to be than at the Richard and Gina Santori Public Library of Aurora. The library, which will close at 1 p.m. that day, will be transformed into a glittering Candyland of sweets. The Sweet Sixteen Gala is set for 6:30 to 10 p.m. and will feature cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, delectable desserts and sweets, dancing, and live and silent auctions.
Tickets, $75 each, can be purchased by calling (630) 264-4124 or by logging on to the Aurora Public Library Foundation website at www.santorilibrary.org.
The silent auction is now open for browsing and bidding here: www.Sweet2016.gesture.com.
Up for silent auction are a number of sports packages, including Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks and Wolves tickets, the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Kane County Cougars game, golf at Stonebridge, Settler's Hill, Hughes Creek or Carillon courses, autographed Muhammad Ali gloves and photo, autographed Bears helmet (signed by Mike Ditka, William Perry, Jay Cutler, Dick Butkus and others).
For the adventurous, there is a hunting experience on 120 private acres near Galena, two "Be a Beekeeper" experiences, a "Wine through Illinois" package including wine tastings at Cooper's Hawk (Naperville), Galena Cellars (Geneva or Galena), August Hill Winery (Utica) and Prairie State Winery (Genoa), and dinner for two at Medieval Times combined with tickets to Hollywood Boulevard Cinema in Naperville and UP Comedy Club and ComedySportz Theatre, both in Chicago.
For a whole string of local date nights, there is a package with gift cards to The Turf Room, Hardware Gastro Pub, Two Brothers Roundhouse, The Patio, Gillerson's Grubbery, Raimondo's Pizza and Pub and an overnight stay at Holiday Inn.
Rounding out the auction packages are massages, an overnight at Jumer's Casino and Hotel in Rock Island, a birthday party in the Santori JPA Children's Garden, parties on the Bookmobile, and gatherings for up to 75 in the Santori Atrium.
On the live auction block are: two tickets to a Cubs game in 2017; a Las Vegas fantasy stay in a luxury penthouse at the Vdara Hotel and Spa; a Thanksgiving dinner for 18 to 20 prepared by Reuland Food Service; four tickets to the Oct. 24, 2016 Blackhawks vs. Flames game with VIP parking and seats four rows behind the goalie, plus a $100 gift card to Formento's Restaurant near the United Center; and four one-day hopper passes to Walt Disney World, which comes with four tickets to "The Little Mermaid" donated by The Paramount Theatre and dinner at Fairbanks Steakhouse, donated by Hollywood Casino.
Many more silent auction items will be offered, including Martini and Old-Fashioned baskets, and a custom-designed family tree, made in the Santori Library Makerspace.
Many thanks go to the event sponsors: Alarm Detection Systems, Graphik Jam Inc., The Strathmore Company, Wegman Construction, BMO Harris Bank, Reuland Food Service, Lenert Insurance Co. and Hallett Movers.