The Briefs
JazzFest concert at ECC today
The Elgin Community College Jazz Ensembles present their annual JazzFest concert, featuring guest artist Mike Tomaro, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 6 at the Visual and Performing Arts Center's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
Tomaro, director of jazz studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, is a saxophonist, composer and arranger. Before his 1997 appointment at Duquesne, he served as an enlisted music director of the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, a unit of the prestigious "Pershing's Own" U.S. Army Band, and performed for three U.S. presidents and heads of state from around the world.
Tomaro released several recordings that showcase his performing and composing talents: "Forgotten Dreams," "Dancing Eyes" and "Home Again." His most recent CD, 2005s "Nightowl Suite," features his compositions and arrangements as performed by the Three Rivers Jazz Orchestra, a group that he co-founded last year. Directing the ECC Jazz Ensembles is Mark Bettcher, also director of the award-winning Dundee-Crown High School jazz bands and orchestras in Carpentersville. Bettcher recorded five CDs with the Frank Mantooth Orchestra that received multiple Grammy nominations. He also released the solo recordings "Through the Eyes of a Child" and "Take a Look Inside." In addition, Bettcher toured with Phil Collins throughout the United States and Europe and recorded a live CD with him in Paris.
Tickets to JazzFest are $13 for adults and $12 for students/seniors. JazzFest is sponsored in part by 90.9 FM - WDCB Public Radio from the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn.
Tickets are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC box office located in the Arts Center. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday. To purchase tickets by phone, call (847) 622-0300. Visit www.elgin.edu/arts.
Join 'Get Fit' on Tuesday
As a way to assist women who have had mastectomies, lumpectomies or other breast surgeries, and to benefit the fight against breast cancer, She She intimate apparel shop in Geneva will host a special "Get Fit" Bra Fitting Fundraiser.
Set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, the special event will give guests the opportunity to be properly fit for bras, foundations and other post-surgery products with the assistance of certified fitters, including special guest Amoena Fit Expert Julie Naylor Gottlieb. The shop, located at 17 S. Third St., is a part of the Merra Lee Shops in downtown Geneva. She She carries a variety of specialty post-surgery products from Amoena, Wacoal, and Le Mystere. A percentage of sales from all of the Merra Lee Shops that day will be donated to LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in Geneva, according to shop manager Denise Harshbarger.
"In addition to having our Julie in the shop for this special event, will are also pleased to announce that jewelry designer Tammie Dionardo will be on site as well to present her newest line," she said. "Profits from her jewelry sales will be donated to charities supporting lung, ovarian and colon cancers."
Guests who have appointments during this special event will receive free gifts and have the chance to register for additional giveaways. For information or to register, call (630) 232-0933 or visit www.merralee.com.
Life of Edvard Munch at library
Art historian Dr. Michelle Paluch-Mishur will discuss Munch's intriguing artistic vision through a study of paintings and prints that relate closely to his biography in "Edvard Munch - A Frieze of Life" from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7 in the second floor conference room of the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. This program is a complement to The Art Institute of Chicago's exhibition, "Becoming Edvard Munch: Influence, Anxiety, and Myth "that runs through April 26. Registration is required. For details, call (847) 742-2411 or visit www.gailborden.info.
New Golden Diners location starts up
Are you at least 60 years old and want a place to visit with others and have a hot meal at an affordable price? You can now visit Mother's Restaurant at 459 Randall Crossing, between Oak Street and Mooseheart Road in North Aurora. Salvation Army Golden Diner meals are served Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Suggested donation for the meal is $4.50, before tip. There are breakfast, lunch and dinner options on the menu. You do not need a Golden Diners card to have your first meal. The restaurant has applications available, for you to complete, to obtain a card. For details, call The Salvation Army Golden Diners Administration office at (630) 232-6676.