Tri-Cities briefs

Rec center talks:The Batavia park board has planned four community meetings to discuss the downtown recreation center project. The meetings are at 7 tonight and 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 and 7 at the Batavia Civic Center, 327 W. Wilson St.Burlington Central homecoming:Central High School, 44W625 Plato Road in Burlington, is celebrating Homecoming Week. On Thursday the girls powder puff football game will start at 6:30 p.m., with the spirit bonfire from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. On Friday the homecoming parade will be held at 1:30 p.m., weather permitting. The homecoming football begins with the sophomores at 5 p.m., followed by varsity at 7 p.m. On Saturday the homecoming dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. in the gymnasium.Pumpkins at Marmion:The Marmion Abbey Farms Pumpkin Daze is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 30 at the abbey, 850 Butterfield Road, Aurora. General admission is $10 (family discounts are available) and include admission to two corn mazes, a hayride, bouncy huts, a pedal racecourse, games, a pumpkin-painting station, s'mores and a campfire. On Oct. 9 and 23 there will be nighttime maze runs. For details, visit abbeyfarms.org.Geneva hydrant flushing: Beginning Monday Geneva's water department will flush fire hydrants from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Signs will be posted in neighborhoods to remind residents. Refrain from doing laundry during flushing times, as it will stir up sediment that may stain clothing. Residents can view a progress map at geneva.il.us/Departments/PublicWorks/Construction%20Projects/Water Projects/2010 Hydrant Flushing Project.htm.National Merit semifinalists:Seven Geneva High School seniors were recently named semifinalists in the 56th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Brad Bernhard, Grant Fairchild, Molly Griffin, Melissa Nelson, Alexander Ostgaard, John Schrilla and Collin Waldoch are among the 16,000 students nationwide who can compete for 8,400 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million. About 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.