South Asian community wins Septemberfest award
Not only has Schaumburg successfully increased civic participation among its growing Indian and Pakistani population through an outreach grant it won last year, but these residents also won best commercial float in the recent Septemberfest parade.
The float was decorated in the colors of the Indian and Pakistani flags and carried two dozen people in the traditional clothing of these countries.
The South Asian courtesy booth at the festival proved popular for its Bollywood movie clips, raffle prizes and its temporary mehndi tattoos that are traditionally applied at Indian weddings.
"It was a great event," said Laurie Stone, president of the Schaumburg Business Association which is implementing the grant. "The spirit, the enthusiasm and the pride of Schaumburg's South Asian community was evident as the float navigated its way through the parade and thousands of Schaumburg residents stopped by to learn more about the South Asian culture at the courtesy booth."
Autumn Harvest Festival back: It's the chance for the ultimate stay-cation - a fall afternoon in the country without even leaving Schaumburg.
Spring Valley Nature Center's popular Autumn Harvest Festival will return from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 5.
The event will feature hands-on demonstrations of pioneer-era and 1880s farm life, such as cider pressing, grain threshing and blacksmithing.
The crisp autumn air will be filled with the smells of homemade foods and the sounds of old-time string music. Crafts and games for children and a hayride add to the festive atmosphere.
Parking is available at both Spring Valley itself, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, and at nearby Olympic Park on Old Schaumburg Road east of Meacham Road.
Admission is $4 per person, or $16 for a family of six or fewer, with each additional person at $4 each. Children 3 and under are free.
For more information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit the Web site parkfun.com.
Teen Lock-in, Battle of Bands: Teens are invited to register for two upcoming after-hours events at the Schaumburg Township District Library at 130 S. Schaumburg Road.
"Locked in at the Library" will take place from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 4 for teens in grades 7 to 12.
Events will include a Twilight Trivia contest with themed prizes from books, as well as movie making, Rock Band gaming, Air Guitar tournaments, pizza, spooky crafts, a Horror-ible Scavenger Hunt and other activities.
Teens must register for this event and stay until the end of the program. Register by sending an e-mail to teenservices@stdl.org or call (847) 923-3191.
The popular Battle of the Bands is heading indoors this winter for an after-hours event. The actual battle night won't take place until 6 p.m. Jan. 17, but local bands must register for the competition by Dec. 1.
The majority of each band's members must be Schaumburg Township residents and no one over the age of 20 on Jan. 17 may participate in the competition.
To audition, submit one song on MP3 or CD to the central library's Reader Services Desk or submit a link to your audition electronically through a Web link like Purevolume or MySpace by Dec. 1.
Final selections of bands will be made by a panel of staff and teens.
For more information, contact Amy Alessio at (847) 923-3191 or at aalessio@stdl.org.
Bands submitting an audition must be available at 5 p.m. Jan. 17. Teens attending the concert that day must stay for the entire program.