Your club's meetings
To list your club's meetings, e-mail to mchenry@dailyherald.com or fax to (847) 608-0849.
McHenry County Chapter of AARP: The McHenry County Chapter of AARP will hold its annual Christmas luncheon with entertainment at noon today at The Fountains of Crystal Lake on Route 31, one mile north of Route 176. Call Lillian at (815) 337-1525 for reservations. Cost is $10.
The group meets the second Thursday of the month at the Fountains and refreshments are served.
January's program will be on identity theft, and February will address safe travel. For chapter information call Glenn at (815) 477-1952, or Fran at (847) 658-7222.
McHenry County IL Genealogical Society: What better place to share your family finds for the year than with other society members and friends at the Panera Bread, 6000 Northwest Hwy., Crystal Lake.
Today's meeting will be in the meeting room of the restaurant. Enjoy some soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. allowing plenty of time to eat and socialize.
Have you discovered a new cousin; finally written your family's story; added new chapters to what you already had; taken a genealogical trip; found a family artifact of great value to you; or just enjoyed digging up tall tales for future generations. It is fun to hear how others have found a lost ancestor or discovered something new about their family tree. For information, call Mary at (815) 455-6802.
Marine Corps League: The Marine Corps League Elgin Detachment 077 in partnership with Elgin Township recently announced that the Elgin Township office, 729 S. McLean Blvd. is a Toys for Tots drop off center.
Only new unwrapped toys will be accepted through Friday. The building is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you wish to make a monetary donation, make checks payable to Marine Corps League Elgin Detachment 077 (Toys for Tots) and mail to Elgin Township, 729 S. McLean Blvd., Elgin, IL 60123.
173rd Airborne Brigade Association: Chapter VI-Elite Forces, 173rd Airborne Brigade Association meets at 8 p.m. the second Friday of the month at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1307, 1601 Weld Road in Elgin. All veterans of the 173rd are invited to attend meetings and participate in activities. For details, call (630) 777-8574 or e-mail to rgetz173@yahoo.com.
Cub Scouts Pack 457: Cub Scouts from Cary Pack 457 seek alumni scouts and leaders to help celebrate the pack's 50th anniversary during various scouting activities throughout 2008.
The oldest Cub Scout pack in Cary, Pack 457 was formed in June 27, 1958. Since then, hundreds of children and adults from Cary have participated in scouting activities through the pack.
The pack wants to celebrate the 50th anniversary with activities, including the 50th Pinewood Derby and the 50th Blue and Gold Banquet.
Those who have previously participated in Cary Cub Scout Pack 457 as a scout or a leader are urged to contact Teresa Sheehan, chairman of the Pack 457 50th Anniversary Committee, at (847) 639-3601 or Sheehan.scouting @comcast.net.
Baby Boomers Singles Club: The Baby Boomer Singles Club for singles age 45 and older offers social activities such as wine tastings, restaurants, theater, sports activities and more. There are no membership fees and participants can pick and choose their outings based on their schedules and interests.
The upcoming events will be singles dances from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday and Dec. 30, at American Legion Hall, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Route 62 and Pyott Road, Lake in the Hills.
Admission costs $10. The event is nonsmoking and dress requirement is no jeans or gym shoes.
Well-known DJ Scott Pastorino will play songs from the Baby Boomers decades.
Other social activities are being planned and will be announced soon. For more information, visit www. babyboomersinglesclub.com or call Jean Steffens at (815) 529-8138.
Fox Valley Beaux Arts: Fox Valley Beaux Arts will hold its annual holiday dinner on Tuesday at the Anvil Club, 309 Meier St., East Dundee. The gathering begins at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Reservations are required by today for members and guests. Call Mary Ellen Kanies Beckmann at (847) 697-1085 for details.
Families of Military Personnel: Families of Military Personnel meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at American Legion, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills. Families with a loved one enlisted in the uniformed services gather together to learn how to cope with the changes and challenges with military service. Those with loved ones on deployment are especially encouraged to attend. For more information, call (847) 515-7878 or (847) 658-9241, send e-mail to keepitsharp@dis.net or jake@aap.org.
League of Women Voters: Candidates vying to replace Dennis Hastert in Congress as representative of the 14th Congressional District will be featured in a League of Women Voters candidates' forum at 7 p.m. Jan. 8 in St. Charles. The public is invited to attend the forum. Both Democratic and Republican candidates who are running in the Feb. 5 general primary will participate in the event. The forum will be held at the Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles.
The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Geneva-St. Charles and the League of Women Voters of Batavia in cooperation with the Daily Herald, Beacon News, and Kane County Chronicle.
Within a moderated format, a panel of reporters will direct questions to the candidates, followed by questions from the audience. Immediately after the forum, the audience will be invited to an informal "Meet and Greet the Candidates" session.
The League of Women Voters also will sponsor a public forum focusing on local contested Kane County board and state legislative races at p.m. Jan. 10 in the city council chambers at Batavia City Hall, 100 North Island Ave.
Candidates for county board chair, county board district 20, state legislative district 49, and state legislative district 50 have been invited. Questions from the audience will be presented to the candidates. For details, visit www.lwvgenstc.org.
Friends of the Fox River: The largest environmental film festival in North America is coming to McHenry and Kane counties.
Join Friends of the Fox River as they host the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival Tour at McHenry County College from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 31 and Elgin Community College from 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 2. Different films will be featured at each venue; consider attending both.
The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival Tour brings together award-winning environmental films in the spirit of inspiration and education.
On Jan. 31, doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts 6:10 p.m. at McHenry County College Conference Center, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.
On Feb. 2, doors open at 2 p.m. with the show starting at 2:05 p.m. at the Advanced Technology Center auditorium, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information, visit friendsofthefox.org.