Briefs: Museum wins award

The Illinois Association of Museums recently gave the Geneva History Center an Award of Excellence for a new outreach program, "What Was It Like … Native Americans of the Fox Valley." This program, created by educator Margaret Selakovich and volunteer Mary Jaeger, teaches students about the Potawatomi people, who once called Geneva home. It includes lesson plans, hands-on artifacts and fun activities to engage children. Representatives for the Illinois Association of Museums praised the program, noting, "The committee was impressed with the comprehensive qualities of the program. … You are to be commended for responding to a school request and developing a program that complies with the state learning standards. The Discovery Boxes and printed materials are very well done and obviously are effective." The history center is at 113 S. Third St.

Support Blackhawk bands

The West Aurora marching band and traveling jazz players are raising money for trips with two current fundraising efforts. From 9 to 11 a.m. today you can get a Blackhawk Band window cling for $5 at stores on the west side of Aurora and at the Walgreens in North Aurora. They are also taking orders for cheesecakes and coffees until Oct. 29. Products will be available for pickup just before Thanksgiving. Call Diana Wilke at (630) 896-8845 or Janice Luckett-Griffin at (630) 801-9402 for order forms.

Wearable art benefit

The Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles has its "Uncommon Threads" wearable art fashion show and luncheon at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Center in Hoffman Estates. The garments presented in the show are created by artists and designers, and sold after. There's an accessories boutique before lunch. Fiber artist Anita Luvera Mayer will speak. Tickets are $50. Call (630) 584-9443 for reservations or go online to www.finelineca.org.

Adopt a cat or kitten

At least 25 cats and kittens will be up for adoption Sunday during an adoption drive at PetsMart, 1512 S. Randall Road, Geneva. The drive is a project of Homes for Endangered and Lost Pets, a St. Charles-based nonprofit. All animals have had vaccinations, parasite control treatment, spaying or neutering, viral testing and micro-chipping. Call (630) 406-8460 or go online to www.helpinganimals.org.

St. Charles haunted house

The annual St. Charles Jaycees haunted house has opened for the season in its new location at Tin Cup Pass Shopping Center on the 1500 block of East Main Street. The house is open from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 28 and on Oct. 30 and 31. Admission is $7 or $6 with a canned good donation. A matinee for younger children also will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 28, with admission set at $2. Proceeds support several community service projects. Go online to www.stcharlesjaycees.org or call (630) 584-2666.