Pioneer Day full of volunteers
To the Editor:
Even though all that wishing for rain finally paid off in the form of a drizzly wet day, the 27th annual Pioneer Day took shape.
Amazingly parents, grandparents and children of all ages gathered to enjoy skills of the past. Kids raced past in three-legged races, bobbed for apples, had their hair done in rag curls, pet the pony, talked to the chickens and rabbit and generally ignored the constant rain. Some carried umbrellas, but mostly they just wandered around playing games or watching the cowboy fights in the warm drizzle.
Dry spots were in the museum where you could listen to the old Genoa piano being played and listen to the golden tongue of the harp. The pie shop was another dry place where the huge variety of homemade pies could be enjoyed piece by delicious piece (run by all volunteers). The volunteers had tents over the corn bread and butter-making kitchen.
The stagecoach ride was another dry spot, only the horses and drivers got wet. Volunteers shared old skills with curious children and adults alike. The silent auction offered many special items to bid on and was its usual success, again run by all volunteers. Support for this event comes from many different quarters, local business and organizations in and around the community. The Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society wishes to thank all who volunteered for this special event.
Mike Ross
Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society president
Thanks for supporting benefit
To the Editor:
The family of Abby Rose Schirmer wishes to thank everyone who supported the Abby Rose Scholarship Benefit that was held July 28. More than 50 motorcycles from the Glen Ellyn area and more than 100 friends and family members participated in the benefit that included food and raffles at both Cabana Charley’s in Sycamore and at Uncle Paulie’s in Glen Ellyn.
We wish to give special recognition to the Daily Chronicle, B95 and The Orange Peel Gazette for helping us with the advertising. They were very generous. In addition, Cabana Charley’s and Uncle Paulies, thank you for hosting the event and Club Photo Booth for the entertainment!
The following were many of the people who donated prizes for the raffles: Studio One, Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor, Merry Maids, Service Master by Skip, Caribou Coffee of DeKalb, Sycamore Family Sports Center, PJ’s, Midwest Museum of Natural History, Sycamore Café, Casey’s General Store, Dolce Vita, Purse’s by Renee, Giordano’s, Hughes Creek Golf Club, Meagen Lee Floral, Angie Carter, Riccardi’s, Barnes & Noble, Pardridge Insurance, Shear Success, Hy-Vee, Moxie, Kishwaukee Family YMCA, Rosita’s Mexican Restaurant, Sweet Earth, Sycamore Speedway, Me and My Sister, Megan Morrison, Myra Walls, Karen Gerrity, Jake Warford, Martha, Jenny and Tom, Rachel, Maggie and Becky, Don Lieving, Bonnie Nowinski, Sara Warford, Fox Valley Medicine Ltd., Kim Neverouski, Teresa Djukic, Ginny Gomez, Cindy Babineau, Kim and Nick Theodore, and the Merry Maids staff.
We also wish to extend our gratitude to the many people and businesses that made silent contributions/donations and volunteered their time to help us make this emotional event successful. To all family members and dearest friends, thank you for all your continued support. We can’t do this without you.
Donations received were in excess of $14,000. This is a new record and we are overwhelmed with the generosity of others.
These contributions will be added to the scholarship fund that was formed in memory of our very beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter and dearest friend of many, Abby Rose Schirmer, who passed away April 10, 2005. Abby was known for her fun-loving and shared kindness personality. The Schirmer family will be awarding scholarships at the 2012 Sycamore High School Awards Night next spring.
Thank you from our hearts to everyone who made this benefit a success.
Paul, Joyce, Matt, Jackie and Bob
The family of Abby Rose Schirmer
FUMC golf outing a success
To the Editor:
On Sunday, Sept. 9, the DeKalb First United Methodist Church held its ninth annual Golf Outing and BBQ dinner at River Heights Golf Course and Clubhouse in DeKalb.
The golf event was attended by 46 golfers and a total of 77 people attended the dinner after the golf outing. The weather was beautiful and everyone had great fun. We would like to thank all the generous sponsors who donated door prizes, money, golf prizes and silent auction prizes for the outing.
We thank these businesses and individuals: American Family Insurance – Brian Evans, American Midwest Bank, Best Western Inn & Suites of DeKalb, Blaine’s Farm & Fleet, John and Kathy Butler, Buffalo Wild Wings, Gary and Pat Cordes, Mary Ann and Marty Christensen, Crum-Halsted Insurance Company – Ted Rosenow, DeKalb Florist – Sally Mullis, Diamond Tour Golf, Pam Faivre, Al and Urla Golden, Glidden’s Campus Florist, Hickey’s Corner Store – Lee Hickey, Hy-Vee, Illini Tire – Jim and Norma Anderson, Illinois Community Credit Union – Bob Schroeder, Betty Koehling, Laundry Lounge – Dave Melms, Lincoln Inn Family Restaurant, Barb Littlejohn, Dave and Karen Mason, Gordon and Lucy Melms, Barry Melton, MOI, North Central Cyclery – Tobie, Northern Illinois Ticket Office, Ollie’s Frozen Custard, Rob and Darlene Orth, Pizza Hut, Pizza Villa – John Finn, Bruce Rebhorn, Rosita’s Mexican Restaurant, Ralph Schwerian, Brad and Jen Smith, David Smith, Soft Water City, River Heights Golf Course – Jane, Robert D. Stearnes Foundation – Benetta and Bob Stearnes, Dr. Joseph Sullivan DDS, Sweet Dreams Dessert & Catering, VAC Catering – Ellen Rogers, Robert Walters and Walmart.
Thanks to everybody listed above for your generous donation of prizes or your time that contributed to another successful golf outing.
Dave Mason, Gordon Melms, Beryl Smith, and Tom Weber
DeKalb FUMC Golf/BBQ co-chairmen
‘Salute to Veterans’ appreciated
To the Editor:
I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the persons responsible for the special recognition given to me by various clubs and organization at the “Salute to Veterans” program recently held at the Oak Crest Retirement Center. I was very humbled and honored in being recognized for my commitment and service in helping the people of our community for over 50 years. I proudly display the many certificates, plaques and medals that have been presented to me over the years.
The clubs and organizations that took part in this program as well as the people who represent them are as follows:
1. City of Sycamore, Mayor Ken Mundy
2. DeKalb County Board, John Hulseberg
3. Illinois State Legislature, state Rep. Robert W. Pritchard, R-Hinckley
4. Viet Now, Frank Beierlotzer
5. Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center, Stephen Cichy
6. Sycamore Kiwanis, Skip Schramer and Berni Schelkopf
7. Sycamore Rotary, Dr. Paul Stromborg
8. V.F.W. American Legion, Steven Kreitzer
9. Warriors Watch Riders Group, Rob Halvax
I sincerely appreciate the thoughtfulness of all who took part in this special recognition. I would like to personally thank each one of you; however, my present status being confined to Oak Crest made that impossible.
Thank you very much and may God bless each one of you!
Joe Bussone
DeKalb
Thanks for helping FVOAS
To the Editor:
Volunteers, donors and sponsors all pulled together recently to support Fox Valley Older Adult Services for one of the most successful Sandwich Fair fundraisers ever.
The FVOAS food booth, Grannie’s Eatery, was bustling with activity from early morning until late night each day. Fairgoers consumed massive amounts of “bloomin’ onions,” pork tenderloin sandwiches, biscuits and gravy and a myriad of other dishes that the booth is known for. None of this would not have been possible without an army of hard working volunteers under the leadership of Beth Schmitt, DeAnn Zaeske, Linda McVicker and Diane Shroyer.
A group of generous sponsors supported Grannie’s Eatery by helping to defray the cost of the massive amount of food items needed to stock the booth. FVOAS offers their heartfelt thanks to Shabbona Living Centers, Alden of Waterford Senior Living, Citizens First National Bank, Community Disposal, Elliott Auctions, Law Elder Law, NB&T, Sandwich Chiropractic, Village Ace Hardware and Visiting Angels.
A craft booth staffed by a group of dedicated volunteers sold countless knit, crocheted and embroidered items created by the craft ladies at FVOAS. Many loyal customers look forward to that booth each year where they stock up on lovely kitchen towels and other handcrafted items.
Fairgoers were able to park up close in the parking lot at FVOAS just across Suydam Road from the fairgrounds. The parking lot team was coordinated by Greg Urech and Sam Hamilton.
Many fairgoers took advantage of the opportunity to cool off with an icy cold soft drink, beer or cocktail at the bar that was open each night of the fair at FVOAS.
Proceeds from all of these activities all go toward programs and services that FVOAS provides for seniors in DeKalb, LaSalle, Kendall and Kane counties.
Many thanks to all of the volunteers as well as all the customers who made this year’s fair such a successful fundraiser for FVOAS.
Fox Valley Older Adult Services