St. Patrick Shamrock Shuffle March 14

St. Patrick Catholic Church of St. Charles is once again offering the community a chance to forget the gloom of a long winter and enjoy the warmth of an evening of dining, dancing and socializing.

The church is holding its 48th annual Shamrock Shuffle beginning with cocktails at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St. in St. Charles. The evening includes dancing to the music of Copycat, a local band, as well as a silent auction and a raffle. Tickets are $35.

The semiformal event has been a longtime tradition in St. Charles, as the first Shamrock Shuffle was held in 1962.

"The first event was a fundraiser to decorate the church," said parishioner Thea Stowell of St. Charles. She and her husband David are on the planning committee.

Stowell has researched the event and discovered it was tremendously popular.

"In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were between 400 and 800 guests," Stowell said. "The attendance went down over the years. We don't really know why."

Last year, 192 people attended the Shamrock Shuffle. The church is hoping for a good turnout this year, but expectations are not sky high, considering the economy. Proceeds will support local charities, such as Lazarus House and the Fox Valley Pregnancy Center.

"You get to dress up, have good food, enjoy the camaraderie and meet new people," Stowell said.

Sponsorships are still available, and volunteers to help with the event are still needed. Donations for the silent auction are also needed.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available until Friday, March 6. Call Stowell at (630) 377-6865 for tickets.

For information on special hotel rates for guests, call Pheasant Run Resort at (630) 584-6300.

St. Patrick parish has churches at Main and Fourth streets in downtown St. Charles, and on Crane Road near Bolcum Road about three miles north of Main Street in St. Charles.

Celebrate Purim: The Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors are holding a masked Margarita Purim party at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at the home of Leslie and George Weems in Geneva.

Tacos and beverages will be served. Guests are encouraged to wear a Purim mask or a sombrero. Guests are also asked to bring snacks such as chips and salsa and guacamole.

Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from Babylonian Captivity. The story is recorded in the Old Testament Book of Esther. The tradition of celebrating Purim includes feasting, as well as giving to the poor.

Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors, a group of Jewish individuals and interfaith families, has a center at 121 S. Third St. in Geneva.

For information, visit fvjn.org.