Brunch brings old friends together to reminisce

Last Sunday's Bell Choir Brunch at the First Congregational Church was the perfect prelude to Thanksgiving -- and a great start to the holiday season here in Huntley.

Each year, bell choir director Helen Marlowe makes sure that my husband, Rusty, and I never miss it.

When we arrived last Sunday, there was still plenty of food to go around.

"The early morning was slow, but after our first service we had a good crowd," said church deacon Carroll Doden, who stopped by our table with a fresh pot of coffee.

His favorite dishes?

"The corned beef hash and the pudding -- the vanilla pudding, particularly."

This is the last Christmas season, Doden told us, that First Congregational will celebrate under the leadership of Pastor Walter Thyng, who recently announced plans to retire in January and move away from Huntley.

Until a replacement is found, the church will be served part-time by a pastor from Kane County, who will come each week to conduct services.

I was surprised and delighted to see Betsey Warrington, an old friend who, for many years, was the recreation director and all-around "go-to" person at Huntley Park District.

If you've wondered who Huntley's Betsey Warrington Park is named after, this is the gal.

Betsey's husband, Larry, retired about seven years ago and the couple moved to the far north woods of Minnesota, where they run a tourist resort and are having the time of their lives.

"We're on the Canadian border, and it's really great," she said.

"My daughter and her family are there with us, and we're right on Lake Kabetogama, inside Voyageurs National Park, near International Falls."

They'll be open this winter, but there won't be much ice-fishing at their resort, Betsey said.

"The water's solid for 48 inches, so we get more snowmobiles. There are 2,600 miles of trails in our area."

For you Huntley Penguins snowmobilers, the resort Web site is www.arrowheadlodgeresort.com.

Every so often, the Warringtons do get homesick for Huntley, Betsey admits. With their busy season over, they came back for a little vacation.

"We came for Thanksgiving with (Larry's) family, and we knew that the brunch was this weekend so we came to help out," she said. "It's fun to come back and see so many old friends."

One of Betsey's pet projects at the park district was her hope to restore the old Stowell-Deicke farmstead and turn it into a living history farm.

But that was before the water park, ball fields, picnic shelters and other amenities were built on the property.

The farmhouse had been renovated, but the old barn -- now used for storage -- is in much the same form as when it was in the 1840s.

"I think it could be the oldest barn in the county," she said. "They're still talking about it; they haven't dropped it completely.

We wanted to do a museum out there, so there's something agricultural that kids can go and see, and remember that this was all farming here at one time."

Park board member Jerry Nepermann has kept interest alive in the project, she said, and still has some antique farm equipment that Larry Warrington donated to the park district before moving to Minnesota.

Park officials plan to meet this Sunday to discuss options for the property.

For brunch, Betsey recommended the chicken a la king, rice pudding, and homemade cherry pie, but by the time we got there, the pie was gone.

"Jan Crabill makes it," she said.

"She picks the cherries up in Door County, and then just makes the pies. There was only one pie, too."

Proceeds from the brunch and the church's upcoming holiday concert will help send First Congregational's four bell choirs to a national bell festival next spring.

The Bells Wassail Concert and dinner will be held Dec. 2 in the Fellowship Hall, downtown on Church Street across from the old village hall.

For tickets, ask any bell choir member or call the church office at (847) 669-3691.

Pirates galore: Marlowe Middle School students will perform "Some Treasure Island!" a tale of rowdy pirates, singing cannibals, and the pursuit of gold, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 1, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 2.

Producer Janet Burkhalter says this family-friendly parody of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale is fun for all ages. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, students, and children, and are sold at the door between 30 and 45 minutes before each performance. For details, e-mail jburkhalter@d158.org.

Help the food pantry: The Grafton Township Food Pantry and Baird & Warner Realtors are seeking donations for their 2007 Giving Tree. The annual campaign collects redeemable gift cards for families served by the local food pantry.

Drop boxes are located at Harris Bank on Route 47, the Huntley Chamber of Commerce in Deicke Park, and at Curves and the Huntley Area Public Library, both on Ruth Road. Gift cards from local area stores will be distributed to families in need in time for the holidays.

The drive ends Dec. 7; for details, call the Baird & Warner office at (847) 783-6180 or visit www.HuntleyTeam.com.

The food pantry also needs canned goods, dry mixes, paper products, pet food, and other supplies to fill its shelves this holiday season.

Drop off your donations at the township office on Vine Street, or in collection bins located around town.

For a wish list of needed items, or to volunteer your help, call (847) 669-3328 or e-mail hford@graftontownship.us.