Batavia teen donates 1,500 books to Little City
When Nicole Schwarzbauer of Batavia was looking for an idea for a service project, she only had to go as far as her family bookshelf.
"We had quite a few books and I thought there might be an organization that would want them," said the Aurora Central Catholic High School senior.
That organization was Little City in Palatine, a community for individuals dealing with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The group's mission is to provide "the best options and opportunities for these individuals to live safely, work productively, explore creatively and learn continuously throughout their lifetime."
Once Nicole decided she wanted to donate books, she put the word out to friends and neighbors.
"We were able to donate more than 1,500 books to the Little City Foundation," said Nicole, "and I was also able to donate books to my elementary school, St. Rita of Cascia."
It's great to see young people not only pay it forward, but also give back to those who helped them along the way.
On the cover:
It was also exciting to see former Batavian Jamie Hogan make the cover of the Lakelife Magazine, which is a community publication geared to the Indiana Dunes beach communities along Lake Michigan. The magazine features a local resident in each issue. Hogan has lived part-time in the area for more than 30 years.
I first met Jamie when she joined our 4-H group, the Batavia Tireless Teens. She credits the 4-H program with having a major impact on her life. After high school, she headed to the University of Illinois to live in the 4-H house there.
When she was a student at University of Illinois, she took on the job of cooking for an entire fraternity of hungry farm boys.
In Porter Beach, Jamie Hogan is well known for bringing people together at her home. She certainly has no problem cooking for large groups.
When asked about the best part of the Dunes, she responded, "The people, the people and the people! The truest treasure I know is in the connecting of so many quirky characters here. They've added much to the color and texture of life here."
A passionate writer, Hogan got her first byline as the writer of the high school column "Bulldog Barks" for the Batavia Herald. She continues to write, chronicling life along Lake Michigan, from the beautiful sunsets to the lively music scene.
A sad goodbye:
Sadly, the Fox Valley said goodbye to two men who were committed to creating outstanding theater in our community.
Ron Koeppl directed students in St. Charles School District 303 for more than 50 years and he worked with two community theater groups, No Center Aisle and Playmakers. Prior to Ron's involvement in Playmakers, David Morris held the directorial position for Playmakers, while also directing plays at Pheasant Run theater.
As one who enjoyed being involved in these productions, I can say how fortunate we were to have both these talented men in our community. When it comes to theater, the director is the one who paints the picture on stage.
They both provided Tri-City audiences with outstanding productions. They will be missed by thespians and audiences alike.