Open Door Clinic to host 8th 'World of Chocolate: A World of Hope'
The Open Door Clinic will host its eighth annual "World of Chocolate: A World of Hope" at 7 p.m. March 29 at the Heritage Ballroom of the Centre of Elgin.
The event drew more than 300 patrons last year. Funds go to the clinic's medication, treatment and education programs.
Bill Walter, the board vice president, says the night will features an appetizer buffet and a three-hour open bar with eight different chocolate tasting stations.
There will be 15 different kinds of chocolate from Africa and Asia. Accenting Images from Cary will set the mood with changing lights. A five-piece band will play music for dancing.
In addition, a raffle will be held. Prizes include a Nintendo Wii video game system and travel certificates.
Silent auction items include a rooftop for 30 at a Cubs game, and art from the former Fox Valley Arts Council.
For details and reservations, call the clinic at (847) 695-1093 or visit www.opendoorclinic.org .
Roll call for vets
Wednesday will be the last opportunity for vets to meet in the Fireside Room of the Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon to share their stories, artifacts, and thoughts about service in the military.
Dennis Bulat facilitates the discussions, which in the past have included a tank driver who served under Gen. George Patton and an Army Air Corps vet who served in England and was very close to a V2 rocket strike that caused extensive damage.
Attendees have brought albums of photos, helmets and other meaningful artifacts to share. The talk covers actual experiences, which give a whole new meaning to the history that most people only get from books or the History Channel.
For details, call Bulat at (847) 608-1314.
Neighborhood plan
The Gifford Park Master Plan, in the works for more than four years, now is a reality and has been slated for approval by the Elgin City Council.
As a first of its kind, the plan is a model for other neighborhood groups to do in-depth studies of the strengths and opportunities for growth that are important in their area of Elgin.
Fran Cella of the Gifford Park Association said the many steps to completion began with the application for a Neighborhood Improvement Grant, brainstorming, a survey, opinion groups and neighborhood meetings. Several groups were targeted for special input: young families and working singles, Hispanic families and youth and teens.
The plan mirrors the 2005 comprehensive plan for the city at large. However, it specifies areas of importance to the GPA: land use, parking, traffic, open space, neighborhood communications, and youth activities.
Take a look for yourself at www.gifford-park-assoc.org/.
Sustainable Jobs
Elgin Alive's presentation on Workforce Education is slated for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Community Room of the Gail Borden Library. High school students and their parents are invited to the program.
Elena Gardea, an educator from Elgin Community College, will be joined by Pat Hayes, founder and chairman of the board at Fabric Images in Elgin.
They will discuss the development of a sustainable workforce here in Elgin.
According to Hayes, Elgin has many of the components of a skilled and motivated workforce: a valuable training institution, the local government that is business oriented, the chamber of commerce involved in economic development, and a large number of interested local businesses.
He will discuss "Work Keys," a plan to empower students to move into the next generation of manufacturing jobs. South Elgin and Bartlett High Schools will use these criteria in a pilot program this year.
Gardea will lead a panel of ECC instructors from manufacturing technology, office administration, human services and graphic design. She also will talk of the resources the college has to assist students to take advantage of the training and education from the college.