Rose Festival helps sight- and hearing-impaired individuals
This summer's Rose Festival in Roselle means more than just good food and carnival rides.
Money spent by attendees on everything from beer to a bags tournament is given back to the community in the form of eyeglasses, hearing tests and even equipment for a blind baseball team.
The Roselle Lions Club, which has a historic mission of helping the hearing- and sight-impaired, is organizing the 51st annual festival today through Sunday, June 3-6, in the village's Metra station parking lot.
It is one of the group's largest fundraisers each year, with food vendors, bingo, carnival rides, live music from four different bands and a newly added blind draw bags tournament.
Robert Jilke, chairman of the club's festival committee, says the group raises an average of $15,000 to $20,000 annually at the event. All the profits go back to the community, particularly to those who are sight- or hearing-impaired at places such as the Philip J. Rock Center and School in Glen Ellyn and the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision in Wheaton.
The Spectrios Institute's director of marketing, Lynn Freyberg, said the Lions Club has helped greatly in providing transportation for students to the clinic when needed, along with providing funds that buy glasses and tools for students who can then return to their school and improve their work, all at no cost to the student.
"We've had regular classroom teachers amazed that the students have been able to read what they can and do the activities that they can because they always thought they just couldn't do that," she said. "They've been shocked and pleasantly surprised that these students can be successful."
Freyberg added that the donations the club makes to community organizations are vitally important.
"Without their generosity we would not be able to see the kids that we see, and we see about 350 to 400 students annually," she said.
The Lions know this and are happy to help.
"Most of our members enjoy doing the carnival, and I think that's a plus because their enthusiasm rubs off on the people attending," Jilke said.
Enthusiasm is especially abundant at two events on the last day of the festival - a 5K race and the Rose Parade.
More than 80 entries are marching in the parade, sponsored by the Roselle Chamber of Commerce and the village, including the 2009 Rose Queen and the Jesse White Tumblers.
The 2009 Roselle Chamber Business Person of the Year, grand marshal Greg Martucci, will lead the parade, stepping off at 2 p.m. Sunday from the intersection of Devon Avenue and Roselle Road.
"I've noticed in local areas here some villages are giving up these types of community activities due to the cost and the current economic times," chamber Director Gail Croson said. "I think it's great that the village of Roselle continues to do this. It's a community event that brings business people, as well as the residents, all together."
Although there was talk of raising the prices for this year's festival, the Lions Club made sure the cost of food and rides remained the same.
"We don't charge for the entertainment," Jilke said. "We like people to buy some food, buy a few beers, but there is no cover. It is affordable and it is family-oriented."
The 5K Run for the Roses is yet another part of the festival that is family-friendly and helpful to the community. All proceeds from the run are donated to the Tourette Syndrome Association and the Tourette Syndrome Camping Association.
Dr. Mark Mandel, the race director, started the run 16 years ago and originally sent the net profits to the American Cancer Society. The next year his daughter was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and he changed where the funds went.
"We took a negative and made it into a positive for many others as well," Mandel said. "It's really a blessing to have this opportunity to give back."
Mandel, who is also the co-owner of Mark's Drugs in Roselle and Deerfield, said the race draws an average of 700 to 850 participants each year, along with 300 to 500 spectators and more than 70 volunteers. He is thankful for all the community support and the ability to help others in the area who struggle with Tourette syndrome.
"It simply reaches our arms out for a wider embrace of those around us and who need that embrace," he said. "But in order to make it work really well, we need human assets and we could use that on our race day."
Jilke also hopes this year's Rose Fest will be a success by combining a lack of summer festivals in surrounding communities, good weather and emphasis on where dollars spent at this festival go.
"We say to people, 'come out and enjoy yourself, and you're contributing money to a good cause,'" he said.
The festival runs June 3-6 at the Roselle Metra Station parking lot, Irving Park Road and Maple Avenue. Hours: 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 3; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, June 4; noon to midnight Saturday, June 5; and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Admission and parking are free. Info: (630) 980-2000 or roselle.il.us.
THURSDAY
6 to 11 p.m. Carnival special, 10 rides for $15; food court open
8 p.m. Chunky Monkey performs in the beer garden
FRIDAY
6 p.m. to midnight Carnival and food court open
8 p.m. Hazzard County performs in the beer garden
SATURDAY
Noon to midnight Carnival and food court open
Noon Blind-draw bags tournament, $15 entry
Noon to 5 p.m. Carnival special, $20 per person for unlimited rides
1 to 5 p.m. Bingo
8 p.m. Howard and the White Boys perform in the beer garden
SUNDAY
8 a.m. Run for the Roses 5K at the Clauss Recreation Center, 555 W. Bryn Mawr
Noon to 10 p.m. Carnival and food court open
Noon to 5 p.m. Carnival special, $20 for unlimited rides
2 p.m. Rose Parade steps off at Turner Park, 81 E. Devon
4 to 8 p.m. Broken Hip performs in the beer garden
<p class="factboxheadblack">51st annual Roselle Rose Festival</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 3; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, June 4; noon to midnight Saturday, June 5; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 6</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Roselle's Metra station parking lot, Irving Park Road and Maple Avenue</p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> Free</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://roselle.il.us" target="new">roselle.il.us</a></p>