CHICAGO COMMUNITY NEWS - UPTOWN, EDGEWATER, LINCOLN PARK, LOGAN SQUARE, EVANSTON
UPTOWN
Wilmette Rotary considered a book drive for Chicago's inner-city schools, although some wondered whether it would work in the Internet Age.
Many years later, the book drive has become a huge success. Currently there's a shortage of space to store the donated books before their delivery to Chicago's Near West Side, Back of the Yards, Little Village and Uptown communities.
"It's amazing," said Maurice Ann Sullivan, who is in charge of the drive. "Every year, it gets more successful."
This year, Wilmette Rotarians received 15,000 books from a number of groups.
Click here to read more about this cause.
EDGEWATER
Raised in rural Mexico, Idalia Serrano waited 12 years for a teacher to show her how to read. She doesn't intend to let her daughters wait that long.
She and her family work at home with her young daughters to help them have a love for learning and reading. They also take part in the family literacy program offered by the Jane Addams Hull House Association.
Housed at Edgewater Presbyterian Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., the family literacy program encompasses Head Start for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children; courses in English as a second language. Special parenting classes that help moms and dads reinforce teaching outside the classroom.
Click here to read the whole story.
LINCOLN PARK
'Tis the season for model train exhibitions. If you don't have a ton of money to shell out to see a bunch of model trains, then the option for you is the Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Drive, 312-742-736).
The conservatory's flower show will kick off December 6th. It will showcase several model trains, including an old-fashioned steam engine, a freight train and a trolley. The trains will steam their way through a quaint village among red, white and pink poinsettias. The village will be a mirror of Chicago, with Chicago-style homes and landmarks. Admission is free.
For more details, click here.
LOGAN SQUARE
When Redmoon Theatre stopped producing its beloved "Winter Pageant" in Logan Square several years ago, it seemed the neighborhood became a little less special over the holidays.
Rooted in pageantry, celebration, and community, the old "Winter Pageant" was one of those shows that people counted on experiencing every year.
Happily, "Winter Pageant" is back, in a new way. The new production, renamed "Winter Pageant Redux", at Redmoon Central does not share the involvement of the community groups that once were vital parts of this experience. But it is still a warm and pleasant way to enjoy some time with your loved ones over the coming holiday season.
Click here to learn more.
EVANSTON
If basketball, tennis, chess, art or the great outdoors sounds exciting for your child, you can probably find a program at one of the 11 winter break camps being offered this holiday season by the city of Evanston's Recreation Division.
The camp options range from drop-in programs to sessions that meet over one week or even two, half-day or full-day. Choices include the Ecology Center's "EcoFreeze" camp on winter survival. Another is the youth artists program for children ages 11-15 years old.
Other camps are devoted to specific sports, including "Holiday Hoops" camp and winter break indoor volleyball camp.
Most camps start Dec. 22.
Click here for more information.
JENNIFER ARCAND & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
