Still reasons to get excited about Illinois State Fair
Next week is my birthday and, to celebrate, I'm heading to the Illinois State Fair!
Sure, I know, it's not considered "cool" for grown-ups to get all excited about a fair, but I can't help myself. Ever since I was little, I've loved it all - the crowds, the corn dogs, the rides, the farm animals - ever the Butter Cow! Why would I choose a candlelight dinner, I explained to my husband, Rusty, when I can have funnel cake and a lemon shake-up under the neon lights of a Tilt-a-Whirl?
At last week's McHenry County Fair, several local 4-Hers were named delegates to the Illinois State Fair, winning top prizes in their categories. Congratulations go to Huntley entrants Sarah Rinn (Visual Arts/Paper), Hannah Rinn (Photography, Floriculture), McKenna Schaller (Geology), Sarah Sheehan (Food/Preservation, Champion Holstein, Grand Champion Dairy/Female, Senior Dairy Showmanship and Overall Champion Showman), Brianna Sheehan (Reserve Champion Holstein, Intermediate Dairy Showmanship) and to Madeline Vavricek of Lake in the Hills (Photography, Child Care, Food/Cooking 101). See you all at the fair!
Bike Rodeo planned: Round up the kids tomorrow, and head on out to the Huntley Police Department's free Bike Rodeo, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Deicke Park. Children of all ages may register their bikes, get them inspected, and test their riding skills on a special course. For details, call Sgt. Amy Williams at (847) 515-5331.
Farmers market goes "Healthy": Tomorrow is also "Healthy Huntley Day" at the Huntley Farmers Market, 8 a.m. - noon on the downtown square. Centegra Healthcare will offer free screenings, Heartland Blood Center is planning a blood drive, and other local health professionals also will take part. As usual, locally grown produce, flowers, fresh-baked pastries and other homemade goodies will be sold from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"Faire" fun, "Summer Sunday" hours at library: This month, the Huntley library is open Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., a change from years past when the building closed on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "In the survey we did last fall, that's one thing people said they want," said library director Virginia Maravilla. "We get it all the time in our suggestion box, so we decided to extend the hours."
If you haven't visited the library lately, stop by soon to see the Medieval-themed decor they've created for this summer's reading program, "Summer Knights & Dragon Tales." Colorful, hand-painted banners, castle-themed crafts and real suits of armor, donated for the program, make this display much more spectacular than any prepackaged kit could ever be. Many kudos to all the library personnel who worked so hard on this remarkable collection.
It's too bad they won't have room to keep some of these one-of-a-kind items, but their loss could be your gain. Fans of knights and pageantry won't want to miss the silent-auction sale of three life-size suits of armor at the "Medieval Faire," a summer reading finale celebration set for 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 16. All ages are invited to enjoy free games, prize drawings, and refreshments, plus medieval musicians and even a juggling court jester. Over 3,600 children and adults took part in this summer's reading programs, 18 percent more than last year, Maravilla said. For details, call (847) 669-5386 or visit www.huntleylibrary.org.
Free concert features "Fairlanes": The Huntley Park District and American Community Bank & Trust will co-host the "The Fairlanes" in a free Summer Concert in the Park, from 7-8:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at Deicke Park, with classic rock 'n' roll hits from the 1950s-'80s.
Bring your blankets, chairs, kids, and picnic baskets, but leave the dogs and the iPods at home. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Rec Center's Cosman Theater.