It makes cents to check out these bargains
If you like garage sales, yard sales or rummage sales, you're going to enjoy the first items in today's column.
Many of our local elementary schools conduct important clothing and toy sales, as Alice Gustafson in Batavia did this weekend, and Western Avenue School in Geneva will do Sept. 25 and 26.
Today's public service will be in reminding readers that some of the grandest sales we encounter during the entire year are about to take place.
We'll start at Mooseheart and work our way north.
On Saturday, anyone looking to save money on children's clothes would benefit by checking into the Tri-Cities Mothers of Twins and Triplets Club fall resale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mooseheart Fieldhouse at Route 31 and Mooseheart Road.
It only costs $1 to get into the sale, and some items are half-price between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Money raised helps support club events, but is also distributed to area homeless shelters and other organizations.
It would be a good first stop before heading north on Randall Road to the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, where the granddaddy of the year unfolds with the St. Peter Barn Sale.
A year-round effort: Anyone who has worked on a past barn sale knows that it calls for detail and attention for 12 months.
This year's St. Peter Barn Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 20. If you really want to get a jump on things, you can buy tickets for the Harvest Moon Auction and Barbecue on Friday night.
Those involved in the barn sale know the history behind this event - it started at St. John Neumann in St. Charles more than 30 years ago, it went to St. Peter in Geneva for 10 years, then to Holy Cross in Batavia for 10 years, and then back to St. Peter.
One might say it's the hot potato of yard sales. But it's a lot of work, and the key to keeping it going has been the sharing of that work with the various parishes in the region. When one sees the massive number of items available for sale, you get a quick understanding of what is involved.
This sale, being called the largest in its history, is definitely one to check out - especially in these tough times.
And then Baker Memorial: If you want to mark your calendar for Oct. 1 through 3 at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church on Cedar Avenue in St. Charles, you won't forget about the upcoming church rummage sale.
This big sale will also feature clothes, furniture, household items, linens, crafts and all sorts of other things that one would expect at these types of events.
It will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 2 and 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 3. So there should be a time for just about everyone.
This sale supports the church's various missions - with church youths traveling to other parts of the country or world for disaster relief aid, or for local efforts to support homeless shelters, food banks and TriCity Family Services.
Ready for soft shoe: They've made the commitment - now their feet and knees just have to hold up for the next four months.
Five of the six couples who will compete in the Dancing with the Geneva Stars event in February were announced at the Festival of the Vine in downtown Geneva.
Those competing for dollars (votes) in the fundraiser for the Geneva arts and schools will be:
Weldon "Mr. Viking" Johnson, owner of Viking Office Supply, and Joanne Buckley, former owner of The Newsstand in Geneva; Chiropractor Dave Ginsberg and his wife Shawn; Harry Smith, a local lawyer, and his wife Marcia, a Geneva School District employee for the past 19 years; Tim Moran, vice president of the Geneva School Board, and his wife Barb; and Susan VanderVeen, president of the Geneva Park District Board, and her husband, Jim.
The couples will find out in mid-October which dance routines they will tackle.
Club is 40 and counting: "It's a wonderful club and I wouldn't give it up - unless I couldn't get there anymore," Lorraine Winter says of her beloved Batavia Senior Citizens Club.
Winter, who has served as membership chairman for the past eight years, is more excited than normal about the club's monthly meeting, which will be held at noon Wednesday at Lincoln Inn Banquets.
That meeting will mark the 40th anniversary of the club, which emphasizes meeting new people, learning new things and simply having a good time.
"The members really enjoy coming to the club meetings (which are held monthly at Shannon Hall on Batavia's east side) because there is entertainment, a lunch and then just a lot of fun," Winter said.
It is no coincidence that the club's anniversary coincides with the Batavia Park District's 40th anniversary. The club has been part of the park district program since its inception.
"It's mostly a social club," said Robin Soderquist, the recreation supervisor at the park district and liaison to the club. "They will raise donations for the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry, but it is mostly activities for local seniors; mostly Batavians, but some from Geneva and Elburn."
Winter continues to interest those 55 and older in joining the club.
"I had seven new members just last week," she proclaims. "And we now have 128 members."
More information about the anniversary luncheon and the club is available by contacting Soderquist at (630) 406-5282 ext. 2164.
dheun@sbcglobal.net