Community briefs
Tragically 80 percent of home fire deaths in the U.S. occur in homes with non working or no smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms cut your risk of dying in a home fire by providing the early warning that is needed for you to be able to escape. There should be at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home, one in the hallway outside of bedrooms and it is recommended that there also be a smoke alarm inside each bedroom.
To property maintain your homes smoke alarms you should test them and vacuum them to remove dust every month. Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years. Please be aware that most smoke alarms that operate on your household electric also have a battery for back up in a power outage. Some smoke alarms have ten year batteries; they should still be tested monthly to ensure that the battery is still working; sometimes the battery does not last the entire ten years.
Every home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector. State of Illinois law requires there to be a carbon monoxide detector within fifteen feet of bedrooms. If your home has bedrooms on multiple levels then you will need additional carbon monoxide detectors for each area. Test your carbon monoxide detectors monthly and check the manufacturer's recommendation for how long they can remain in service before they should be replaced.
Please take the time to change your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries this weekend and also plan and practice your family's home fire escape plan. For more information on home fire safety or escape planning please call the Plainfield Fire Protection District at 815-436-5335 or visit the United States Fire Administration Web Site at www.firesafety.gov.
Dubbed "Boo to Hunger!", Crosswinds Church went door-to-door dressed in costume and asked for donations for the Plainfield Food Pantry. The event was a huge success and in only two hours 60 bags of food were collected weighing about 300 pounds.
Community Pastor Ken Schultz said, "We wanted to do our part to help those in need and we wanted to make it easier for the people of Liberty Grove to help out too. There are many people hurting because of the economy and this is the time to open our hearts to help. We are so proud to see how much our neighbors care! A big thank you to the residents of Liberty Grove who donated!"
Crosswinds Church Worship Services are conducted at the Shops of Dayfield, located at the corners of Route 30 and 143rd Street (behind the Family Video). The church can be contacted at 815-230-7624, at P.O. Box 1358, Plainfield, IL 60544, or at their Web site, www.xwindschurch.org. The mission of Crosswinds Church is "to help people discover God, his love, and his ways while we pursue them together."
• Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop of Joliet, 845 N. Larkin Avenue, Joliet. Call 815-744-4877.
• Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop of Plainfield, 16007 S. Route 59, Unit 100 in Plainfield. Call 815-609-9070.
Now in its 18th year, Snug Hugs for Kids(tm) has collected and delivered more than 180 tons of usable clothing which benefits Merlin's charity partner, Children's Home + Aid.
On Dec. 10, Merlin franchisees, employees, and corporate staff will deliver the clothing to strategically located Children's Home + Aid Family Centers in Illinois and to their affiliates in Wisconsin. Since 1883, Children's Home + Aid has been a leader in responding to the changing needs of disadvantaged children and families in Illinois, and they are recognized as a leading provider of quality programs and services to children and families in need. More information about Children's Home + Aid can be found at www.childrenshomeandaid.org.
Harvest House quilters will host an Christmas open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7 at 24231 Apple Tree Lane, Plainfield (shop access is by stairs).
There will be refreshments, door prizes, demos, sample sales and other special sale items. Find a class to take, or suggest a class idea and they will teach you. It's never too late to join the "Thangles" Buck-a-Block Club-three colorways available. Come meet "Sally," the Gammill Classic Plus. Rentals available.
The purpose of the biannual speech contests, according to Murdoch, is to provide an interesting educational program for Toastmaster members and for the general public. Contests provide an opportunity for members to observe highly proficient speakers from all over the state and to give talented speakers an opportunity to participate competitively. Contests are one of the many educational opportunities offered to Toastmasters members, to help build communication skills and greater confidence.
Murdoch also publicized that in November the Plainfield area Walker's Talkers Toastmasters chapter will be changing its meeting location to the multi-purpose room of the Plainfield Law Enforcement Center at 14300 S. Coil Plus Drive, Plainfield.
For several years, the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce provided office space for the club, but growth in membership has made a larger meeting space necessary. Walkers Talkers meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month. The first meeting at 14300 S. Coil Plus Drive will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 5. Newcomers are always welcome to attend as guests. Find out more about Walker's Talkers and Toastmasters International at www.walkerstalkers.org.
Specializing in Great American songs, Mercedes and Friends also performs Broadway tunes, country and western music, banjo solos and sing-alongs. The group has been together for five years.
Mercedes Astgren, vocalist, began singing in the church choir in her teens and was a music major in college with a degree in vocal music. She sang in musicals in high school, college and community theater. In the early 1990s, she began singing professionally with bands.
Lyle Gaaskjolen plays piano and banjo with Mercedes and Friends. Since the early 1960s, he has played in various bands. He played in a college jazz band, show groups, dance bands and a Dixieland band. Currently, he is playing with three groups: Mercedes and Friends, Fun Tymers and The Plinks and Plunks.
Marty McCarthy provides bass and banjo with the group. He has been a musician for the last 40 years.
The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments as well as a full schedule of activities and services.
The performance is free and open to the public. For more information call 815-609-0669, or visit www.timbers-shorewood.com.
Residents of Portage, Ind., the couple presents a "full-throttle" show of jazz, soul, R&B, country, swing and Rat Pack. Janice plays percussion, and Samuel is a harmonica-playing, sunglasses-wearing blues man who has opted to give up on playing late nights at clubs and bars with bands for a different kind of audience.
Five years ago, Samuel accompanied a musician to a Valparaiso assisted living facility. When he saw how much the residents enjoyed the performance, he started seeking out more retirement communities that might be interested in booking him. Today he has a client list of about 65 such homes in Illinois and Indiana. Samuel and Janice average about 25 shows a month.
"Seniors are blown away with the show, each and every time," Samuel said, "and it is a great opportunity to bring some joy in to their lives for an hour. I'm not going to get rich with it, but if you can see their faces and see them get up and dance, it's worth it."
Two of Samuel and Janice's most prized possessions are gifts from residents--a pink stuffed monkey and a red stuff bull named Louie who accompanies them to all shows. They were finalists in the Region Idol competition and have recorded one CD.
The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments as well as a full schedule of activities and services.
The performance is free and open to the public. For more information call 815-609-0669, or visit www.timbers-shorewood.com.
The assembly will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the school, 14723 South Eastern Avenue, Plainfield. Veterans are asked to be at the school by 8:15 a.m.
Veterans who are interested in attending should contact Indian Trail staff members Shannon Kozak or Erin Menconi by Monday. The staff members can be contacted via phone at (815) 436-6128 or via e-mail at skozak@psd202.org or emenconi@psd202.org
Veterans will be asked to supply their branch of military as well as a brief description of their service to the country.
Kozak and Menconi are also putting together a slide show of the veterans who will be honored. Veterans are asked to submit a military photograph for the slide show before Monday.
Photographs can be submitted via e-mail or can be dropped off at the main office. Photos should be clearly marked with the name of the veteran on the back of the photo. All pictures will be scanned and returned.
A pancake breakfast for veterans will be provided immediately after the assembly. Following the breakfast, veterans interested in sharing their experiences with students are invited to tour classrooms and respond to questions.
Catholics Returning Home is a supportive, non-judgmental group where you can freely explore your concerns and questions. We meet in a small group community including others thinking about returning, recently returned Catholics and clergy. It is a safe haven in which private issues are identified and dealt with privately, with compassion.
The 6-week series begins Nov. 16. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m. in the North Wing Room A at St. Mary Immaculate Parish, 15629 S. Route 59, in Plainfield.
In Session 1, the group surveys the questions and issues the group wants to explore. Sessions 2 through 5 topics are adjusted to ensure that everyone's needs are addressed.
Pre-registration is requested. For more information or to register, please contact: Deacon Tom O'Connell at 815-230-2241 or call the Parish Office at 815-436-2651.
We are parishioners starting a Support Group for those, like you, who want to let our Troops to know how much we appreciate their service and want our service men and women's families to know they are not alone in this Journey. Working together, we will gain comfort in knowing that there are others on the same Journey. We can gain strength from one another.
We invite all, young adults and up, to our first meeting from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Nov. 11 in Cana West at St. Mary Immaculate Parish.
This first meeting will begin with a short prayer, followed by discussion of what our ministry can be or what we can do for each other. Next, there will be a short prayer service honoring our veterans, then end with coffee and cookies". If available, bring a photo of your Military person with contact information.
If you have a family member or friend serving in the military overseas, please contact us so that our faith community may keep them in our prayers.
For more information please contact Maria Prekop, 312-259-6851 or send an e-mail to maria.prekop@navigantconsulting.com or Ann Eckhorn at 815-254-9656, e-mail aeckhorn7@comcast.net.
The "Explorations 2014" program will help incoming freshmen and their parents get acquainted with the school, the curriculum and opportunities for extracurricular activities.
Department chairpersons and counselors will be on hand at each school to assist and answer any questions. Students and their families will also be able to browse the array of after school activities at the extracurricular fair. Students interested in athletics can meet with coaches and discuss the high school sports programs.
The Schedule for "Explorations 2014" is:
Plainfield High School-Central Campus Auditorium, Dec. 9: 6:30 p.m.- All Students with last names beginning with letters A-L
7:30 p.m.- All students with last names beginning with letters M-Z
Plainfield East High School Auditorium, Dec. 2: 6:30 p.m.-All eighth grade students at John F. Kennedy Middle School
7:30 p.m.- All eighth grade students from Indian Trail Middle School who will attend Plainfield East High School and Private School Families
Plainfield North High School Auditorium, Dec. 2 6:30 p.m. - All eighth grade students from Ira Jones Middle School and Private School Families
7:30 p.m.- All eighth grade students from Heritage Grove Middle School
Plainfield South High School Auditorium, Dec. 14:
6 p.m.- All Students with last names beginning with letters A-G
6:45 p.m.- All students with last names beginning with letters H-O
7:30 p.m.- All students with last names beginning with letters P-Z.
Based on St. Mark's gospel, "The Song of Mark" tells Jesus' story with compelling, contemporary music and captivating lyrics. This musical features the outstanding talent of the Music Ministry's adult and children's choirs, cantors, musicians and stage production artists. A short reception will follow.
Admission is a free will offering and all proceeds benefit the Music Ministry.
For more information about "The Song of Mark," or the music program at St. Mary Immaculate Parish, contact Cherie Perine at 815-436-2651, ext. 850, or go to the Music Ministry Web site page at www.smip.org. For more information about St. Mary Immaculate Parish and its many services, please call 815-436-2651 or go to www.smip.org.
On Nov. 30, he will discuss the Sacraments of Initiation--Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Discussion topics include: Where do you feel comfortable and welcome? Why did Jesus like to party so much? Do you know who the lost member of the Trinity is? What do bowling shoes have to do with Confirmation? A one hour talk followed by Fellowship in Cana Hall.
On Dec. 1, he will discuss The Sacraments of Healing - Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation. Get answers to: Why is Hollywood boycotting Vatican II? What is the difference between the Fifth and Sixth Commandments? Find out why the Plainfield Police Department will be flooded with calls tonight. No more than an hour tonight including talk and Confessions.
On Dec. 2, The Sacraments of Vocation - Matrimony and Holy Orders.
Find out why you should never get married. Come and get your dish towel. And he ponders:
if you are alive; if you are male or female; if you are young or old or somewhere in between; if you are a bishop, priest, deacon, sister, brother, or lay minister; if you are married, divorced, widowed or single; if you said yes to your vocation or are still wondering what it is; you need to be in Church Wednesday night. We will celebrate the Eucharist with an extended homily to end our Parish Mission. Fellowship follows in Cana Hall.
Fr. McCarthy is an experienced teacher, administrator, retreat director and popular mission preacher. For more information, contact Geralyn Kuban at 815-436-2651, Ext. 810.
