Tri-Cities briefs
Christmas tree pickup:Batavia's Christmas tree pickup concludes this week. Residents do not have to use a sticker for tree removal on these dates only. Plastic bags, ornaments, lights, nails, etc. should be removed from the trees. Pickup on the east side of town will be Thursday and on the west side of town (east of Randall Road) Friday. Call (630) 454-2423.Waubonsie assists Avilas: To assist the Avila family with medical and funeral expenses related to Thursday's accident that killed Waubonsie Valley freshman Jackie Avila of Aurora and injured her parents and sister, many school organizations have come forward to assist in holding fundraisers. A moment of silence will be held at Friday and Saturday's basketball games. During the game students will be "canning" for change and monetary donations to financially support the family's needs. Each House at Waubonsie has also put a box in their reception areas to collect monetary donations to assist the family.Sojourner Truth visits:Actress Pamela Welcome will portray abolitionist and women's rights advocate Sojourner Truth at 10 a.m. Monday at the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St. Admission for "A Visit From Sojourner Truth" is $10 for adults and $5 for children and center members. Call (630) 232-4951.Ice harvesting program: Visitors can step back in time to learn about ice harvesting during programs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 21, 23, 24 and 28 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road near West Chicago. Weather permitting, staff members from the 1890s living-history farm owned by the DuPage Forest Preserve District will take to Timber Lake to demonstrate how blocks of ice are removed, packed and stored so they can last for months in an icehouse. The program is free. For details, call (630) 876-5900.Parenting workshops:"Parent to Parent 2000/Lessons Learned" workshops are offered Jan. 21 to April 29 at the Geneva 304 District Administrative Offices. All sessions are free and parents from throughout Kane County can participate. For complete schedule and to sign up, call Chic Williams at (630) 463-3083 or Linda Williams at (630) 463-3084.