Huntley High invites vets to recognition ceremony
This year, Veterans Day in Huntley will be an event to remember.
Huntley High School students will honor local veterans on Monday at a special program in the school's Performing Arts Center on Harmony Road. Area veterans, their families and guests are invited to attend a free continental breakfast starting at 8:30 a.m., followed by a one-hour Veterans Recognition Ceremony in the auditorium.
Several local veterans will speak about their military experiences, and all those attending may choose either to sit in the audience or to be seated on stage and honored by name. For more information, call Eileen Delahanty at (847) 658-6152 or call the high school office at (847) 659-6600.
For the first time in many years, Huntley's American Legion Post has planned several special activities this Veterans Day to honor local veterans, past and present.
From 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, the Huntley Legion Auxiliary will hold "Dancing With The Vets," with D.J. dance music and light refreshments at the Legion Hall, 11712 Coral Street. Tickets are $10 per person or $15 per couple, and the dance is open to the public.
On Sunday, the Huntley American Legion will have a Veterans Day Parade and ceremony, featuring the Legion's honor guard and an appearance by a mounted unit of the 8th Illinois Cavalry, a Civil War re-enactment group based in northeastern Illinois.
The parade will line up outside the Legion Hall at 10 a.m., where mounted riders will perform an exhibition of a Civil War cavalry drill. The parade will then proceed down Church Street to Mill, then up Dean Street to the Huntley Cemetery, where a Veterans Day ceremony will start at 11 a.m. Transportation will be provided from the Legion Hall for those who need a ride to the cemetery.
The program will include a history of Veterans Day, and historical details about one Huntley veteran -- Civil War Captain Thomas Grimley -- who fought with 8th Illinois Cavalry at Gettysburg, Antietam, Chancellorsville and other battles, then returned home to become mayor of Huntley.
His name will be read along with those of all other veterans buried in Huntley Cemetery and St. Mary's Cemetery. After the ceremony, a free lunch will be served at the Legion Hall. For details, call the American Legion at (847) 669-8485 or Lee Stump at (847) 669-3410.
Radio star in Huntley
Is it something in the air -- or on the air -- that draws them all to Huntley?
A few months back, I wrote about Albert Balk, a nationally known journalist and author who started his career in Chicago radio and television, and now lives here in Sun City. Then in July, Huntley's downtown Farmers' Market was visited by legendary WGN host and commentator Orion Samuelson, who, we discovered, is also a Sun City resident.
Now this Monday, the Huntley Park District will host an on-air appearance by WGN personality Spike O'Dell, who will host his "Radio Hometown Voice Tour" from 5 to 9 a.m. at the Cosman Cultural Center, inside the park district's Rec Center on Mill Street.
The public is invited to stop by throughout the broadcast to watch the live show and see how it is produced. According to a WGN spokesperson, O'Dell takes his show to a different Chicago suburb each month, and likes to feature local people and interesting facts about each community.
Huntley mayor Chuck Sass is scheduled to be interviewed at 6:30 a.m., and other local "acts" may appear throughout the broadcast. City Clerk Rita McMahon is asking Huntley residents to e-mail interesting or amusing facts about our town that she can forward to the show's producers. Her e-mail address is rmcmahon@huntley.il.us.
Park district director Thom Palmer says there will be about 288 seats available on a first come-first served basis. Spectators may come and go during the broadcast, and as some leave, others will be admitted. If you can't make it to the Cosman Center, you can hear Monday's Spike O'Dell show from 5 to 9 a.m. on WGN AM-720.
When he's done, I wonder if O'Dell plans to take a little tour of Sun City's sales center? It certainly wouldn't surprise me.
Rotary fundraisers
The Huntley Rotary Club is promoting two fundraisers this month to support their Youth Exchange Program, local scholarships, a student literacy project and other club activities. Until Nov. 16, they'll be taking orders for premium Indian River grapefruit and oranges, for delivery in time for the holidays. For more information and order forms, contact Nancy Topalovich at (815) 479-8600 or Chad Alexander at (847) 741-7220 or calexander@lampinc.com.
Local Rotarians also are selling 2007-08 Entertainment Books for $20 each, with coupons for discounts at dozens of popular restaurants and businesses. The books are valid through Nov. 1, 2008. To purchase yours, contact Chad Binger at (847) 515-2655 or hadbinger@msn.com; Pat Jagman at (847) 669-3333 or pjagmanmchenrysavings.com; or Leigh Ann Porsch at (847) 669-5386 x35 or laporsch@huntleylibrary.org.