Northwest suburban briefs
Maine West band alumni invited back
The Maine West Marching Warriors will celebrate the school's 50th anniversary by asking band alumni to join their ranks for one number in the Homecoming halftime show at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9.
The halftime show highlights hit songs from 1959, 1984 and 2009. The alumni band will play the 1959 Ray Charles classic, "What'd I Say."
Practice for the alumni band is 5-6 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Maine West stadium, Wolf and Oakton in Des Plaines.
Participants must contact Director of Bands Bernie Gerstmayr by Friday, Oct. 2 to reserve a spot on the field. Call the Maine West band office at (847) 803-5872, or visit the Maine West Alumni Web site, mainewestalumni.org.
Hersey poms squad holds girls clinic
The John Hersey High School Poms Squad is inviting girls in grades 1st through 8th to a clinic, noon-4:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in the East Gym at Hersey, 1900 E. Thomas St. in Arlington Heights. Girls will learn poms, hip-hop and jazz and improve their dance skills. Participants will display their newly learned techniques at halftime of the varsity Homecoming soccer game against Wheeling High School on Friday, Oct. 9.
Registration fee is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. It includes the clinic, halftime performance, T-shirt, and snack. Register: jhhs.d214.org.
Join Prince of Peace for 'Pumpkinfest'
Prince of Peace United Methodist Church, 1400 S. Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village, will hold Pumpkin Fest Saturday, Oct. 3 to kick off its annual sale of pumpkins that continues through Halloween. Pumpkin Fest, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., has a craft show, music, free face painting and Moonwalk for the kids, and children's games. Free.
The Pumpkin Patch, with pumpkins and gourds for sale, is at Devon Avenue and Arlington Heights Road. Hours are 3-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
Elk Grove hosts children's charity
The charity Educate the Children will hold its annual fundraiser, "A Night In South America" on Oct. 2 at the Avalon Banquets in Elk Grove Village, with Latin American food and Andean music played by New York-based Andinay.
Educate The Children raises money to support the education of more than 1,000 underprivileged children. Since 1999, it has provided ongoing educational support to children in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Uganda, Rwanda, Benin, Ethiopia, Bolivia, U.S.A. and the Dominican Republic. Visit educatechildren.org or contact Marianna Zeidler at Marianna@educatechildren.org, or (847) 731-9705.