Area Notes

Bean Encounters presents the ACME Improv group at 7 p.m. ('Decaf,' all-ages show) and 9:30 p.m. ('Dark Roast,' an adult show) on Nov. 7 at Bean Encounters, 859 Ridge Road, in Brannick Court, Minooka.

Get ready for an extraordinary evening of fast-paced humor as Bean Encounters presents the ACME Improv group. This Second City trained comedy uses audience participation and suggestions to create a hilarious show that's sure to entertain and amaze. Every ACME performance is completely original, totally interactive and absolutely unforgettable. Tickets are $5. Call 815-744-3041, ext. 16, for reservations and details.

Bogey Nights, a fund-raising event held by the People for Channahon Parks Foundation, was an outstanding success.

More than $9,000 was raised by the 96 participants on Sept. 26, a beautiful fall evening at Heritage Bluffs Public Golf Club.

Forty-eight golfers took on a "moonlight golf" experience, playing three holes in the dark using glow in the dark golf balls. Guests enjoyed live music, raffles, a putting contest, and an array of appetizers, light entrees and desserts prepared by the Heritage Bluffs food and beverage staff. Proceeds from the event will primarily support the George A. McCoy Scholarship Fund, which helps families who are unable to pay for Channahon Park District programs, and future foundation initiatives.

People for Channahon Parks Foundation, founded in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization formed with the assistance of the Channahon Park District. A board of trustees consisting of 11 local community members acts to increase awareness, use, and opportunities for people utilizing the park system. It is the mission of the foundation to provide opportunities for the preservation of open space and the development of recreational resources within the Channahon Park District.

For more information about the People for Channahon Parks Foundation, visit the Web site at www.peopleforchannahonparks.org.

All Academic Teams have been announced at Morris Community High School. These students must have a 3.0 grade-point average, be a junior or senior, and be on a varsity squad.

• All Academic Football: Brett Clauson, Eric Day, Matt Gronek, Jared Kopczick, Mitch Redford.

• Honorable Mention: Brett Borgstrom, Derrick Cheshareck, Tyler Coleman, Mark DesLauriers, Kevin Henry, Cody Hester, Max Highland, Chris Ingram, Jake Perry, Josh Shannon, A.J. Ulrich.

• All Academic Boys Soccer: Alfonso Arellano, Chris Cichon, William DelTorro, Jack Dingbaum, Kyle Peters, Zach Schmitt, Nick Terhal, Jake Waldron, Tom Woodard.

• Honorable Mention: Sergio Gabaldon, Josh Henschen, Colton Kelly, Rigo Magana.

• All Academic Volleyball: Leslie Claire, Kayla Concord, Kaileen Cummings, Lauren Hausken, Tamra Kren, Taylor Severson, Hail Steffes.

• Honorable Mention: Monica Belt, Kristen Dunbar, Alexa Rezin.

• All Academic Boys Golf: Ethan Chouinard, Zach Gregory, Kalin Howell, Grant Magers, David Mantey, Frankie Menozie, Greg Nordstrom, Jon Scholtes.

• Honorable Mention: David Gibson, Patrick Keegan, Thommy Vota.

• Honorable Mention Girls Golf: Shana Cook.

• All Academic Girls Tennis: Michelle Lutz, Katie Reed.

• Honorable Mention: Breanna Black, Sara Steil, Alex Stephenson.

• All Academic Boys Cross Country: Chris Gallick, Nathaniel Hunnewell, Ryley Steele.

• Honorable Mention: Trevor Boers, Tom Finnegan, Jordan Walker.

• All Academic Girls Cross Country: Katie Kreig, Maddy Pfaff, Hayley Robinson, Mallory Runion, Kelly Schwanter, Amy Wilson, Taylor Wolfer,

• Honorable Mention: Teesha Benson, Anna Burbank, Kara Larson.

• All Academic Girls Swimming and Diving: Heather Lamb.

• Honorable Mention: Kayla Onsen.

For more information, call Corri Trotter at 815-941-5337, or e-mail to ctrotter@morrishs.org.

The Illinois Poet Laureate will be at the Morris Area Public Library at 6 p.m. Nov. 12 for the Catherine L. Hatcher Memorial Program. Dr. Kevin Stein will read a selection of poetry, answer questions, and sign copies of his books.

Stein began teaching at Bradley University in Peoria in 1984 after receiving both a Ph.D. and M.A. from Indiana University. He was named Illinois Poet Laureate in December 2003, filling the position previously held by Howard Austin, Carl Sandburg, and Gwendolyn Brooks. Stein has received several awards and accolades for his writing, as well as for his outstanding teaching methodology.

Stein teaches a range of graduate and undergraduate courses in American literature, including several poetry courses. Stein also serves as director of the Creative Writing Program, leading workshops ranging from the introductory level to the capstone course in which students write and design a chapbook of their own poetry. He currently serves as the Caterpillar Professor of English at Bradley University.

Stein is the author of seven poetry collections, three scholarly books, two poetry anthologies, and numerous poems and essays published in journals and anthologies. His newest poetry collection, Sufficiency of the Actual, appeared in January 2009 from University of Illinois Press. In addition to poetry, Stein has written several scholarly works, including his forthcoming book of essays, Poetry's Afterlife: Verse in the Digital Age (University of Michigan Press, May 2010). This book rejects the current notion that poetry is dead and instead argues for its lively hereafter in our increasingly digital age.

Married for nearly thirty years, Kevin Stein resides with his wife Deb and their two children in Dunlap.

Please register for this free event by calling the library at (815) 942-6880 or by visiting the library at 604 Liberty St.

The Catherine L. Hatcher Memorial Program is sponsored by the Edward D. Hatcher family.

On Oct. 23, Morris Hospital employees filled We Care's pantry. The hospital provided the $650 donation and 10 volunteers to help unload the 6,741 lbs. of food that was ordered from Northern Illinois Food Bank.

"Morris Hospital recognizes the strain these tough economic conditions are having on many of our neighbors throughout Grundy County. We were happy to participate in We Care's Fill the Pantry program. Hopefully our participation will provide some relief to our neighbors in need," says John Roundtree, PACS Manager, Morris Hospital.

During the month since the last Fill the Pantry visit, We Care has helped 130 families from its food pantry, which represents 413 individuals. "Due to the high needs we've been experiencing, our pantry shelves were in desperate need of revitalization this month," says We Care's Denise Gaska."We were really looking forward to the relief provided by the hospital."

We Care receives a monthly delivery of food for the pantry from the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The NIFB is able to provide food to food pantries at prices that are unattainable in grocery stores.

If your organization would like to schedule a Fill the Pantry date, call We Care at 815-942-6389. Upcoming Fill the Pantry sponsors include Living Water Church of the Nazarene, Peace Chapel Assembly of God and LyondellBasell.

We Care is a local nonprofit agency that provides emergency assistance to Grundy County residents in the form of food, rent, utility and prescription assistance. We Care is a United Way partner agency and is funded primarily by private donations.