Church group heads to Honduras for building project

At 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning, 10 members of Batavia's Covenant Church headed to the airport for a trip to Honduras.

"On a medical mission trip last November, I spent time with a former partner of mine, Dr. Nashim Nasralla, who showed me a Christian camp that was being developed," said Dr. Wes Ryd. "I was so impressed with the vision of the leaders of the camp that I promised that if I could get 10 guys from my church to join me, we would come there and construct a cabin for the camp."

Ryd even convinced the pastor, Pastor Chris Ek, to go along. The group includes two boys traveling with their dads.

For Ryd, having the two boys along is an added plus, so that they can experience what it is like living in a Third World country

"Not only will we be building this cabin but we will be getting to know each other and deepen our relationships with one another," added Ryd.

Sewing seeds: Anyone who reads this column regularly knows that I am not a gardener. I once treated a broccoli plant for three weeks with an organic solution to kill bugs until I realized that the bugs were actually buds on a Brussels sprouts sprout plant.

I also don't quilt. My only attempt left the underside of my quilt bloody. I kept hitting my finger every time I took a stitch.

I have great respect for those who do both gardening and quilting.

Bonita Deering of Prairie Shop Quilts tells me that Burpee Seed Company is offering a prize for the best quilt in the Burpee Quilt Challenge. Quilters were invited to create quilts that reflect the flowers or plants featured in their catalog. Forty-five quilters created quilts that will be on display this weekend at the Fox Valley Park District Prisco Community Center on Route 31 in Aurora.

"The entries are fantastic," said Deering. "One of the quilts features a Burpee Seed packet with the flower in three D coming out of the fabric. Many of our Batavia quilters will be exhibiting."

If you have time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday, check it out.

Fantastico: Is there any other chef in the western suburbs that makes his own homemade pasta? I had dinner at Fantastico's and it was just amazing. Try and support our downtown businesses. Many of them struggled through the downtown bridge project.

Prime time parade: Speaking of downtown, it is homecoming week and there is a big change this year. The parade will take place in this evening rather than this afternoon. It is scheduled to kick off from the high school at 6:30 p.m. and travel east on Wilson and turn at north on River Street. The change has nothing to do with the construction. The administration at the high school felt that moving the parade to a later time gives parents who work and kids in other Batavia schools the opportunity to see the parade as well. Go Bulldogs!