Make a Valentine for troops overseas

The Batavia Cares group is soliciting homemade Valentines for two Batavia sisters serving in the military overseas.

Heather and Ashley Ritchey are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Both are graduates of Batavia High School -- Heather in 2000 and Ashley in 2002.

Both hold leadership positions. Heather is the provost marshal with the 10th Mountain Division and Ashley is a platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne.

Anyone interested in sending Valentines to the women or their troops should contact Ralph Gebes at (630) 363-3646 or rgebes@sbcglobal.net.

For the big fans:ŒThe Albright Theatre Company will present Stephen King's "Misery" as a play at the end of the month.

Michael Kott of Carol Stream and Maureen Morley of Batavia will play the only roles, of writer Paul Sheldon and his "biggest fan," Annie Wilkes.

The play will run on weekends from Feb. 29 to March 15. Showtimes are 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays at the theater on the third floor of the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave.

Tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Audience members can get $2 off their ticket price if they bring a new or gently used book to donate to the Batavia library.

To reserve tickets, call the theater at (630) 406-8838 and press option 1.

Bags tourney:ŒThe Batavia Park District will hold a bean bag tournament at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Shannon Hall, 14 N. Van Buren St.

The event is for adults ages 21 and up and includes at least three games, drinks, snacks and child care.

The cost is $50 per team of two. Prizes will be awarded for the first and second place teams.

Registration forms are available on the park district's Web site, www.bataviaparks.org or by calling (630) 879-5235.

Classical concert:ŒThe Metropolis Quartet will play a concert at Fermilab at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the second floor art gallery of Ramsey Auditorium.

The group of oboe and strings will play both classical music and contemporary works.

Tickets cost $15 and are available by calling (630) 840-2787 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays.

River clean-up: The Batavians for a Healthy River group will be holding a cleanup from 8:45 a.m. to noon Feb. 23.

Volunteers are needed to help with cleanup and restoration of Batavia Creek on the southeast side of town. Volunteers are asked to wear work clothes and shoes, as well as bringing their own gloves, loppers and protective eyewear.

For more information, visit the group's Web site at www.bataviansforahealthyriver.org.

lhague@dailyherald.com