Reading project is touted on television
Members of Rejoice Lutheran Church were thrilled to see the story of Aunt Mary's Storybook Project on Good Morning America last weekend.
The church has been involved in the project through the efforts of Batavian Joleen Batek.
Aunt Mary's Storybook Project allows mothers in prison to read and record age-appropriate children's books for their children. Books are provided to the moms through the efforts of people like Batek, who work through churches and organizations to get the new books donated.
Get there early: It's a big weekend for the Holmstad.
This Saturday is the retirement community's biggest fundraiser of the year. Doors open at 9 a.m. and usually there are people lining up waiting to see the many treasures, from antique furniture to handmade goodies. There are collectibles and jewelry, wood carvings and wood worker projects, too.
"We will have quite a few handmade things in needlework, as well," said Amy Haywood, who works in the creative arts center. "The residents have made beautiful Raggedy Ann dolls and sock monkeys, along with beautiful needlework."
The quilters at the Holmstad have been busy putting together a quilt that will be auctioned off at the bazaar.
Having been to the Holmstad Bazaar in recent years, I can tell you that the baked goods go fast. There are some amazing bakers there.
Were you there? Marsha Foxgrover will travel from Batavia to Wheaton Bible Church in West Chicago at 4 p.m. Nov. 9 to perform once again with calligrapher Timothy Botts.
The two artists will be collaborating on the song "Were You There?" by Leo Sowerby. Foxgrover is an accomplished organist who not only delights audiences with her talent, but also is involved in promoting organ music locally.
"2008 is the International Year of the organ," Foxgrover said. "The Wheaton Bible Church has a new Letourneau pipe organ, which is a wonderful instrument, capable of both great power and great subtlety."
The Wheaton Bible Church is at 27W500 North Ave., West Chicago.
A quarry by any name: A park district brochure regarding the proposed changes to the quarry arrived in my mail and I was quite surprised to see that the quarry has a new name.
I was under the impression that the pool was named after former park board member Harold Hall and that the name of the quarry remained the Frederick Beach Quarry. I hope this is just an error in printing rather than a name change.
The Beach family deeded the quarry (formerly known as the Barker Quarry) to the city in 1920. For three generations the popular community pool has been known simply as "The Quarry."
Special donations: Speaking of donated properties, we need to remember that many in our community were generous enough to sacrifice their own financial security for the benefit of the community.
Grace McWayne gave her retirement to add tennis courts at the Athletic Field, and the Engstroms donated valuable land for the park on Main Street.
I still remember the day the Batavia Civic Center opened. I was 11 years old and, to me, at that time $125,000 was more money than I could imagine. For the longest time meetings were held at the Bartholomew Room at the Batavia Civic Center. We very seldom see the Bartholomew name mentioned anywhere today.
It seems to me if these Batavians felt strongly enough about our community to give back land or money, the least we can do is honor them by keeping the names intact.