The briefs: Bubble bash planned
You can ring in the new year when the DuPage Children's Museum's Bubble Bash features its annual countdown to noon on New Year's Eve. This year's celebration has been moved to the Paramount Theatre at 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, to handle the ever-increasing crowds. The event will feature a concert by Imagination Movers leading up to the countdown to noon. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children. For details, call (630) 637-8000 or visit dupagechildrensmuseum.org.
Yule Log hunt on tap
You can hunt for the Yule Log at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Morton Arboretum, 4300 Route 53, near Lisle. This is the hunt's 30th anniversary in which visitors follow rhyming clues to find the log that's hidden on the outdoor museum's grounds. For details, call (630) 968-0074 or visit www.mortonarb.org.
College prof joins band
North Central College jazz saxophone instructor Mitch Paliga recently became a member of the Lt. Dan Band, a cover band led by actor Gary Sinise. The band is named after the character Lt. Dan Taylor, whom Sinise portrayed in the film "Forrest Gump." Recent performances included concerts at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., the Illinois USO Ball at Chicago's Navy Pier, the Big Brother Charity Ball at the Beverly Hills Hilton and the Hollywood cast party on the set of "CSI New York." Paliga has been a faculty member of the North Central College jazz studies program for the past three years, where he teaches applied jazz saxophone, leads a student jazz combo and teaches the jazz history courses.
Reading program to start
Kids can get on the trail of the great dogsled race in Alaska during the Naperville Public Library's IditaREAD winter reading program. For children up to grade five, the program starts Jan. 7 at all three library buildings -- Nichols, Naper Boulevard and 95th Street -- where they can pick up their reading logs and welcome prize. Participants have a chance to win tickets to a Chicago Wolves hockey game and other prizes. A program highlight will be a visit from a Wolves player at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive. The six-week program ends Feb. 17. For details, call (630) 961-4100.
Trinity honors students
Trinity Lutheran Elementary School in Roselle recently launched its own chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. Ten seventh- and eighth-graders were inducted during a candlelight ceremony this month. They were Sarah Blackwell, Deborah Ebbinghaus, Zachary Gross, Rachel Hasler, Jonathan Knittter, Christopher Lozano, Rachel Race, Katherine Schoield, Benjamin Stone and Jacob Vance. The organization's goal is to promote enthusiasm for scholarship and leadership, stimulate a desire to render service, develop character and to encourage good citizenship.
Chili and golf
Orchard Valley Golf Course, 2411 W. Illinois Ave. in Aurora, will conduct its first "Chili Bowl" golf event at noon Jan. 27. The nine-hole event is $30 per person and includes greens fee, chili, beer and door prizes. Reservations will be taken beginning Jan. 8 at the Orchard Valley Pro Shop. Golfers can reserve a spot with a credit card, but fees will be collected the day of the event. The golf course must have frozen ground and adequate snow cover for the event. Visit www.orchardvalleygolf.com or call (630) 907-0500 for updates.