From the clubs
To list your club's meetings, e-mail to mchenry@dailyherald.com or fax to (847) 608-0849.
Cary Pack 457: Cub Scouts from Cary Pack 457 are seeking 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.
The pack wants alumni to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the pack by participating in 2008 pack 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: Being a mature single whether through divorce or death, can at times, be lonely and frustrating and you don't know where to go to meet others in the same situation.
Social activities such as wine tastings, restaurants, theater, sports activities and more will be added for singles age 45 and older.
There are no membership fees and participants can pick and choose their outings based on their schedules and interests.
A singles dance will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight, Dec. 30 at American Legion Hall, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Route 62 and Pyott Road, Lake in the Hills.
Admission is $10. The event is non-smoking and dress requirement is no jeans or gym shoes.
Well-known DJ Scott Pastorino will play songs from the decades that Baby Boomers love to hear and dance to.
Raffle prizes include a hair makeover by Sassy Kathie of Island Lake and a restaurant gift certificate.
For more information, check the Web site www.babyboomersinglesclub.com or call Steffens at (815) 529-8138.
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 or e-mail to keepitsharp@dis.net; or jake@aap.org.
Recovery International: A 70-year-old mental health association has opened new group meetings in Crystal Lake under its new name.
Recovery International will hold open meetings at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the National Association for the Mentally Ill of McHenry County offices, 330 Commercial Drive, Suite 900A, Crystal Lake.
Recovery Incorporated was founded in 1937 by 30 ex-patients who regained their health after receiving treatments -- including shock treatments -- at the Psychiatric Institute of the University of Illinois.
Dr. Abraham Low, a psychiatrist at the Institute, became the group's medical director. Three years latter the group expanded its work to include the outpatient department.
Low's cognitive and behavioral self-help methods were explained in his 1950 book, "Mental Health Through Will Training." When Low died in 1954 his patients kept the association running using the book as the basis of their "Recovery Method."
Today there are about 600 weekly meetings throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland and several other countries. Last May members changed the name of the group to Recovery International to reflect its global composition. The change also was intended to correct the misapprehension that it was a for-profit operation. Like all Recovery International meetings, the Crystal Lake meeting is open to the public. There is no charge, although a free will offering is taken.
For more information call (815) 338-5609, or visit Web site www.recovery-inc.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.