Welcome to Women's History Month
Welcome Women's History Month by coming to a brunch sponsored by 13 women's organizations on Saturday at Elgin Country Club.
The fun starts at 10 a.m. with a social, followed by a buffet luncheon. Word is that some of the host committee will get guests in the party mood by wearing period outfits from the 1890s. Favors will be at everyone's place, and there are many door prizes.
The speaker for the day is Leslie Goddard, who will introduce guests to Bertha Potter, a Chicago socialite and philanthropist.
I spoke to Leslie and asked her what we needed to know about Bertha. Her husband, Potter, who had been the most eligible bachelor of the day, gave her a hotel for a wedding present, which soon after burned down in the Chicago Fire of 1871.
Don't worry, thy went on to replace it with the then-fabulous Palmer House Hotel.
In the early 1890s she became president of the Lady Managers for the Women's Building at the 1893 World's Fair. She began a lifelong quest for impressionist painters and toured the world securing artifacts, costumes and scientific exhibits for the fair.
She and her husband were the first to build a mansion north of the Chicago River, and society followed. Her collection of impressionist art formed the nucleus of the Chicago Art Institute's current wonderful collection.
Reservations are required. Information and reservations can be made by calling the YWCA at (847) 341-9490.
Leader luncheon
A sure sign of spring in Elgin is the beginning of the process leading to the YWCA's Leader Luncheon. Nomination forms for the awards can up found at www.ywcaelgin.org. These awards select women outstanding in the arts, business and professions, communications and technology, education, public service, social service and volunteer service. There is also a special award for racial justice. Forms and supporting documents are due at the YWCA by 4 p.m. March 20.
The awards will be given at the 25th annual luncheon at the Seville in Streamwood on May 8.
For details about the nominations, call (847) 742-7930.
Children's events
The Kane County showing of the Christian Youth Theatre's production of "Beauty and the Beast" will be shown at Hemmens Auditorium from Thursday through next Sunday. Daytime, matinee and evening performances are available. Ninety-one students from almost every district, private school and home school group in the area will perform the well-known roles of Belle and her friends.
For details and to make reservations, write lbranson@cytchicago.org or call Lindsey Branson at (847) 516-2298.
On Sunday, March 9, the Elgin Children's Chorus will present "Perfect Pitch" at 3 p.m. in the Visual and Performing Arts Center at Elgin Community College. About 200 students from 7 to 16 years old -- coming from Woodstock to Montgomery and from Elburn to Hoffman Estates -- will sing in four different choirs.
Anne Kasprzak will direct both the concert choir and the chamber choir. Elizabeth Ellis will direct the intermezzo choir and Lisa Bettcher will lead the treble choir.
The special feature of the performance is a dual grand piano musical number by Reid Spears from Neuqua Valley High School and Editha Eppolito from Bartlett High School -- both accompanists of the Elgin Children's Choir.
For information or reservations, go to www.elgin.edu/arts or call the box office at Elgin Community College at (847) 622-0300.
Exhibit at Judson
The beautiful "Jewish Experience in Elgin" exhibit will return to town in the Benjamin Brown Library at Judson University. There will be a special presentation at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 221 in the Harm Weber Academic Center. Irving Cutler, a retired faculty member of Chicago State University, will speak on the Jews of Chicago. A panel discussion, moderated by Rich Renner, chief researcher of the exhibit, will follow. Panelists include: Laurie Braaten, Judson professor of Biblical studies; Rabbi Weiss of Congregation Beth Tikvah of Hoffman Estates; and Harry Seigel of the Seigel Family Foundation, the major sponsor of the exhibit. Light refreshments follow.
For details or to make reservations, write jbartha@judsonu.edu.
Crisis Center auction
The Crisis Center auction is being held on Saturday at the Q Center in St. Charles, and theme this year is "Cruisin' the Night Away."
Attendees will be serenaded by "stars" like Elvis, Barbra, and Frank as they check in at 5:30 p.m. Jeff Meyers will serve as the master of ceremonies.
Silent auction items number in the hundreds. Chairman Dan Fox tells me there is a new section for bidding: furniture. Dorel Industries in Dundee makes samples for customers to see before purchase. Some of these samples will be bid items.
Terry Dunning will run the live auction starting at 9 p.m. Items there include: a cruise to Prince William Sound for two to see the glaciers, a Devin Hester autographed football, and two roundtrip airline tickets anywhere in the U.S. Some special items are: a lesson and lunch for two at Le Titi de Paris, a Wii and six games, signed item from "Lost," lunch with Mayor Ed Schock, a Toro snow blower (hopefully for use next year), and a catered party from Rebecca Albert Catering.
Reservations can be made at www.crisiscenter.org or by calling Sue Travis at (847) 697-2380.
Vote!
If you live in the 14th Congressional District, Saturday is your last opportunity to vote until November! We'll have a new face in Congress in Washington to replace Dennis Hastert.
Be sure it's one you want to look at!