Briefs: Sale aids mission work
The Burlington United Methodist Church, 195 Center St., will hold its third annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Bedding plants of all sorts, hanging baskets and vegetables will be available. The church mission team will be holding a fundraiser. Teens will also be washing cars and hot dogs will be available. Homemade baked goods will be sold and there will be a raffle for a picnic table. Proceeds will help fund the mission team's trip to help needy people in Appalachia. Call (847) 683-3535.
Rock out at Marmion
Marmion Academy's National Honor Society presents Battle of the Bands at 7 tonight in the gymnasium, 1000 Butterfield Road, Aurora. Ten local bands will battle for a cash prize. Tickets are $5 at the door. Proceeds benefit the Marmion Scholarship Fund. A raffle will be held for an opportunity to play "Guitar Hero" against an "expert" student. For more information, visit www.marmion.org.
Run helps literacy
The seventh annual Jeanine Nicarico 5K Run/Walk for Reading will take place at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at River Woods Elementary School, 2607 River Woods Drive, Naperville. Registration is $25. During the past 12 years, nearly $100,000 in grants have been awarded to public and private schools in Naperville by the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Fund for Literacy. For details, visit nicaricoliteracyfund.org.
Museum invites Sprouts
The Safari Sprouts preschoolers drop-in program at the Midwest Museum of Natural History is at 10 a.m. Monday. It is designed to create an awareness and appreciation for the natural world. Cost is $2 per child. Call (815) 895-9777 or visit www.mmnh.org. The museum is at 425 W. State St. in Sycamore.
School board vacancy
School officials in West Chicago Elementary District 33 are looking for candidates for an open school board position. The vacant seat is an 11-month term. Applicants can pick up an information packet at the district offices, 312 E. Forest Ave., and submit a letter of interest by May 30 to the attention of school board President Dave Barclay. For details on the board vacancy, call Gayle Zuardo at (630) 293-6000, ext. 203.
Children's sports camp
The Norris Recreation Center in St. Charles is registering children ages 6 to 11 for its Summer Sports Camp series. This year, there will be seven one-week sessions starting June 9. For more information, call (630) 377-1405 or visit www.norrisrec.org.
March in Grand Parade
March, dance or ride in the Swedish Days Grand Parade June 22. The theme is America Goes Green. Applications and guidelines are at www.genevachamber.com, or call (630) 232-6060.
WWII plane rides offered
In honor of Armed Forces Day, an authentic World War II Douglas C-47 paratrooper transport plane will be on display and, weather-permitting, available for passenger rides from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Sunday at Schaumburg Airport, 905 W. Irving Park Road, Schaumburg. Made newly famous from the "Band of Brothers" miniseries, the C-47's dropped paratroopers and tow gliders on D-Day. Tours of the plane are available for $5 for adults and $2 for children. Twenty-minute rides cost $95; passengers must be at least 18. The fees help the volunteers of the Commemorative Air Force defray the costs to maintain the fuel the C-47 so the public can see it in action.