Friday, February 15, 2013
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Jeff Long
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Friday, February 15
The calendar says February and the thermometer is barely pushing 30 degrees. I know what you’re thinking. This is the perfect time to start planning spring activities. It may not make the spring season get here any faster, but the anticipation of warmer days is a guaranteed mood enhancer. Saturday marks the official start of spring at the Fox Valley Park District. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., residents can fulfill their wish lists as registration gets under way for hundreds of programs, events and activities – from swim lessons to line dances to cave hikes (non-residents can register Feb. 25). It’s heartening (Valentine’s pun intended) to know the Park District offers options for everybody. All ages, all interests and all ability levels are …
Friday, February 1, 2013
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Jeff Long
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Friday, February 1
Parents often find themselves in a conflicted conundrum. On the one hand, we want our children to get out of the house (and our hair) to go experience the world (and give us some peace). On the other hand, we want to know where they are, what they’re doing and be sure they are safe. We’re all aware that those late-afternoon hours – the oft-unsupervised window from 3 to 6 p.m., between the final school bell until the parents come home – is a notorious time when kids and trouble seem to find each other. The same goes for those long summer days when school is out of session. For myriad reasons, idle time is much better spent as productive time. Recognizing this, the Fox Valley Park District has offered local youth a plethora of programs to …
Friday, January 25, 2013
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Jeff Long
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Friday, January 25
It’s not quite time to proclaim spring is here, but you can certainly begin to plan for it, especially with this snow-less winter we’ve been experiencing. The Fox Valley Park District is already envisioning those warm-weather days. Next Friday (Feb. 1), the doors fly open for the outdoor party season as picnic shelter reservations for the 2013 season will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. With each day getting a little brighter and a few minutes longer, we’ll be back outside soon, enjoying the sweet aroma of smoky grills, the sounds of laughing children on the playground and the friendly-but-competitive games of bags. The Park District features 17 picnic shelters for family get-togethers, special events, team parties, baby …
Friday, January 18, 2013
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Jeff Long
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Friday, January 18
Parks are symbolic to us in so many ways. On the surface, they represent freedom, natural beauty, open space, recreation … and that’s just naming a few of their many attributes. We all have a very unique and different perspective of what parks mean to us. It’s a personal relationship that is distinct and different for every park and every person. Parks are a frame of reference to memories and moments in our lives. They are a scrapbook of times and events that help animate our slide show of life with snippets of experiences both special and meaningful. A sunset. A kiss. Hangin’ out with friends. That dramatic home run over the left field fence in the championship game. Your first child’s first steps. The summer aroma of grilled hot dogs …
Friday, January 11, 2013
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Jeff Long
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Friday, January 11
There’s something magical about seeing a vintage show come to life, when yesterday’s classic is transformed into a fresh-yet-familiar masterpiece by talented new performers. That would certainly describe the upcoming Winter Stage performance of Anything Goes, set for four performances Friday through Sunday at the Prisco Community Center. “This show will feature some of the best theatre talent we’ve assembled in 11 years of Winter Stage performances,” promised Kyle Donahue, performing arts manager. The cast of 40 performers range in age from 7 to 76, with lead roles played by adults, teens and even some of the youngest in the cast. Collectively, they blend their uniquely bright talents to create a light-hearted, fluffy show of catchy tunes…
Friday, January 4, 2013
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
Kids’ sports have taken on a different meaning these days. Not long ago, all the action took place at the park or the local gym; now it seems those venues have been replaced by the couch or “gaming chair.” PlayStation, X-Box and Wii certainly have their place in terms of fun and entertainment. But rapid-fire button-pressing and joystick-shifting don’t quite equate with active sports, no matter what’s happening on the TV screen. Fortunately, there are still plenty opportunities for kids to engage in physical exercise beyond a thumb workout. Thanks to the Fox Valley Park District and a lineup of six schools throughout Aurora and North Aurora, wintertime Saturdays can still be days of sports and camaraderie and athletic excitement. Sports …
Friday, November 23, 2012
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
The four-day respite that kicks off on Thanksgiving Day is always welcome, especially when it involves the celebration of family, friends and other things we cherish most, like food, football and naps. The holiday season has officially begun, as tomorrow’s Black Friday hysteria will evidence. This seasonal segue always happens quickly. No sooner do autumn leaves fall when the glittering lights of Christmas begin to multiply. Soon, neighborhoods and towns will be aglow in holiday spirit. For as magical as this transformation is, we’re four weeks behind Cori Buis, who’s been busily preparing Blackberry Farm with dazzling displays of holiday cheer. Next Saturday, it all comes to life as the Polar Express train takes to the track for the first…
Friday, November 16, 2012
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
The Prisco Community Center is always a hub of activity, but Thursdays are especially noteworthy. Every week, as lunchtime approaches, members of the Friendly Center Club (seniors 55 and better) arrive for their big luncheon. At the same time, numerous preschool classes are letting out. I always enjoy seeing the interaction when the two groups encounter each other. The seniors light up, smiling with delight as they say hello to the little greeters. And the young children are always excited as they point to their artwork on the bulletin board and explain with great enthusiasm how much they enjoyed their cool school project. Those encounters are often referred to today as intergenerational interaction. Like visiting grandparents, it used to …
Friday, November 2, 2012
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
Back in 1989, a memorable event took place in the heart of Aurora as part of a heartfelt, national movement. For several days in May of that year, the Veterans Memorial Moving Wall was stationed at what was then known as Illinois Avenue Island Park. Meant to serve as a travelling tribute to all of our nation’s great veterans, the wall was visited by more than 150,000 well-wishers. It had a profound impact on our local communities, so much so that it inspired a movement to create a permanent memorial for the tens of thousands of local veterans whom we call family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. In 1992, the Fox Valley Park District donated the northern portion of Illinois Avenue Island Park to serve as a site of remembrance and …
Friday, October 26, 2012
Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Jeff Long
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Friday, October 26, 2012
Anything Goes – and that is certainly the case when it comes to the latest Winter Stage production by the Fox Valley Park District. That is to say, if you have a flair for acting, singing, dancing, laughing, telling jokes or anything else entertaining, there’s a role waiting for you. “It’s going to be a huge cast of characters with performers of all ages,” said Kyle Donahue, performing arts supervisor. “There’s something for every type of performer, with at least 15 leads and all types of supporting roles. At times, the entire stage will be filled – it’s that kind of show.” Auditions for Anything Goes are set for next Thursday (Nov. 1) from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Prisco Community Center. But you can – and need to – get a head start before …
