The briefs
Welcome to St. James Farm
DuPage County Forest Preserve will open its newest space, St. James Farm Forest Preserve, to the community from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Winfield Road one-quarter mile north of Butterfield Road, Warrenville. The free event will offer horse-drawn hayrides and tours featuring the story of the estate. For details, call (630) 933-7248.
Audition for Willy Wonka
St. Francis High School will hold auditions for students entering grades 7-12 for "Willy Wonka Junior" from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday or Thursday at the school, 2130 W. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton. The musical rehearsals will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 5 to July 29, with performances at 7:30 p.m. July 29 and 31. The fee for the camp is $135. For details, visit www.sfhsnet.org.
Check out Hansel and Gretel
Kidz Kabaret performs "Hansel and Gretel and the Big Woods" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the DuPage Children's Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. The show also will be performed Friday and Saturday at the group's rehearsal studio, 1665 Quincy Ave., Ste. 143, Naperville. For details, call (630) 355-9212.
Free airplane ride for kids
Free airplane rides will be available to children ages 8-17 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1 at the Schaumburg Regional Airport, 905 W. Irving Park Road. The free plane rides are part of the EAA Chapter 101's Young Eagle Rallies to promote interest in aviation. Children who attend also will be able to meet pilots and explore different types of planes. For details, call Chuck Soumar at (708) 788-6390 or e-mail youngeagles101@aol.com.
DuPage PADS names president
DuPage Public Action to Deliver Service, PADS, has announced Mary Pat Wesche, partner with Forum Financial, has been elected the new president of the PADS Board of Directors. She will replace outgoing President William Hassett.
Carol Simler, executive director of DuPage PADS, was selected to receive the 2008 Robert Christ Affordable Housing Award presented by the DuPage Home Ownership Center. The award recognizes achievement in the field of affordable housing. Simler expanded PADS mission beyond providing short-term emergency shelter for the homeless to focus on housing as a solution to end homelessness in DuPage County. She will receive the award June 4 at DuPage Home ownership Center's 17th anniversary celebration. For details, visit www.dupagepads.org.
Cuts for a Cure for ALS
The Mitchell Christopher Salon will support the Les Turner ALS Foundation with Cuts for a Cure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 1 at the salon, 26W223 Geneva Road, Wheaton. Suggested donation, cash only, is $30 with all proceeds benefiting the foundation. For details, call (630) 462-0001.
How to become more responsible
The Theosophical Order of Service will present a experiential workshop, Becoming a Totally Responsible Person, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Theosophical Society, 1926 N. Main St., Wheaton. The fee is $75 and includes a workbook. For details, visit www.theoservice.org or call (630) 668-1571.