Easter Seals Telethon moves from television to the World Wide Web

After 25 years, the venerable Easter Seals Telethon has given way to the new generation who use the computer. The agency wanted to become better stewards of donated money and conserve the time of the staff and many volunteers who worked so long and faithfully on the telethon.

Volunteers willing to help the clients at the agency are going to be called Easter Seals Champions and will use the same "network of friends" approach to giving as the telethon did.

They will have a Web site to request funds and then keep track of donations. There will be a rolling time frame and pages with pictures of events.

Crystal Hoppe, manager of public relations for the agency, and other staff have been in training through a national teleconference. The Chicago-based Easter Seals organization is using affiliates in the Chicago area on a pilot program. The program will kick off Feb. 18 and will be found at www.eastersealsdfvr.org.

Funds will go to new therapies, new equipment and scholarships for therapy. Call Crystal at (630) 282-6030,

Knight time

For the 10th year, the Knights of Columbus will sponsor its Chili for Charity at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Thomas More gymnasium, 1625 W. Highland Ave. More than 60 recipes of this winter warm-up will be available, including up to a dozen made by kids. Hot dogs, ice cream bars and salad will complete the meal.

This family friendly evening will feature magicians, acrobats, balloon gymnasts and face-painting. A disc jockey will provide background music and play your favorites.

Earlier, about 20 judges will have selected the winners. Top prize for best chili nets the winner $400; second prize gets $200; and third, $150. Top prizes for the decoration of the tables -- and some are really elaborate -- earn $90 for first and $60 for second.

Money earned goes to support the Soup Kettle in Elgin, Elgin area youth sports and the four Catholic grammar schools in Elgin.

Adults or kids who wish to register as contestants should call Terry Green at (847) 888-0831. For details, e-mail Mike Ochs at threeochs@yahoo.com.

Sweetheart auction

The Larkin Center's 12th annual Sweetheart Auction takes place Saturday night at the Marriott Northwest.

Ten bachelorettes and 11 bachelors have volunteered to spend an evening with the highest bidders to raise funds for the general operation of the center.

Jim Shea, host of the morning show at Y103.9 FM, will be the master of ceremonies. Guests are treated to hors d'oeuvres and desserts, silent and live auctions and three hours of dancing with disc jockey David Leith. There is a silent auction and a chocolate raffle with hidden lucky numbers.

The committee lines up date packages for the contestants ranging from dinners all over the Fox Valley to symphony tickets, sports events and other entertainment.

The bachelors and bachelorettes get support in the form of tuxes, hair updos and spa treatments.

I asked Sharon Prizy how the center every year gets so many talented people to sign on. She said that last year's contestants have asked their friends to volunteer this year. For details or reservations, call Sharon at (847) 695-5656, ext. 263.

Wade Schaaf

Dancer Wade Schaaf has returned to Chicago with the River North Chicago Dance Company.

When Wade got a dancing part in "The Music Man" at Kimball Middle School in Elgin, his love for dancing began. At Larkin High School, he founded the Orchesis program and was given a bronzed dance shoe at graduation. He went on to earn a bachelor degree in dance cum laude at Northern Illinois University. He has been with dance companies in Akron, Ohio; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Omaha, Neb.; and on a Norwegian Cruise liner.

His mom, Liz, says he plays 10 different instruments. His mom and dad have gone to Omaha and Cleveland to see him perform and are attending the Saturday evening performance in Chicago.

He will be seen in the Valentine Weekend Special of the River North Chicago Dance Company on Feb. 15 and 16 in the Harris Theatre in Millennium Park. He will perform in Frank Chaves' staging of "Habaneros," "At Last" and "Take a Seat."

Wade is still in touch with friends in Elgin, particularly Sarah Grosland and Amy Cook. He is pleased to be back home in the Midwest, and his parents are thrilled.

For ticket information, go to www.harristheaterchicago.org or call (312) 334-7777.

Vote

While still in single digits, I remember my dad saying "Time for a change!" to my mom, while she smoked her Adlai Stevenson cigarettes. I learned to care about politics and voting the way kids learn anything -- by example.

Be that example this coming Tuesday! Vote, talk about voting, take your kids to the polls. See what your friends think of the candidates while watching the game this afternoon.

Sure those telephone surveys and taped candidate's pitches are pains. The post office people must be sick of the huge expensive post cards.

But, the real deal -- the pivotal point -- is you getting to the polls on Tuesday.