Toys for Tots: The Heartfelt Gift of Kindness

Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.

For all the economic indicators that are bandied about in the media each day, none of them are really understandable to an underprivileged child. Nor do they make a difference. To these young people whose families are struggling, they only know what they have. Or, more accurately, what they don’t have. The holidays can be a particularly tough time. While other children enjoy overflow celebrations and plentiful presents under the tree, the less fortunate raise a cup that’s half-empty. That reality has hit home with the Fox Valley Park District, among other local agencies, businesses and organizations. Once again, the Park District is serving as an active partner in local collection efforts to provide gifts for children as part of the …

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Rockin’ Oldies Dinner Theatre Comes to Prisco Center Sept. 7

In the midst of the music, audience members will enjoy a catered meal.

Editor's note: The following is a press release from the Fox Valley Park District. Dining and entertainment are together as one next Friday, when the Rockin’ Oldies Dinner Theatre Variety Show hits the Prisco Community Center for a performance at noon. Rockin’ oldies tribute artist Mike Valentine and the Valentine Singers will perform some of the all-time classic songs from the likes of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Roy Orbison and more. In the midst of the music, audience members will enjoy a catered meal of chicken breast with garlic mushroom sauce, red-skin potatoes, California blend vegetables, dinner rolls and a couple of Elvis-inspired desserts – peanut butter pie and banana cream pie. Tickets with table assignments are…

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Fox Valley Park District Happenings

A Fox, a Wolf and a New Children’s Theater Come Together

Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.

Remember the first time you saw a live performance? Be it a stage show, a short skit or a band concert, to watch it happen before your eyes is a thrilling experience. There’s just nothing else quite like it. Even after seeing hundreds of performances, it’s special each time. Kyle Donahue would certainly agree. As performing arts supervisor for the Fox Valley Park District, he’s devoted his career to the business (and production) of show—and he wants to share the joy which, for him, has lasted a lifetime. So Donahue is unveiling Parker’s Children’s Theater as an exciting new way to introduce young audiences to the world of theater and performing arts. Aimed at students from preschool to sixth grade, the program invites schools and community…

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Fox Valley Park District Happenings

Preschool Labs: Young Minds at Work, Bright Futures Ahead

Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations manager with the Fox Valley Park District.

“Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America’s success. But if we want to win the future, then we also have to win the race to educate our kids.” President Barack Obama, January 2011 They don’t know it yet, but the young preschoolers bouncing around the halls and classrooms each school day at the Prisco Community Center are the future of our country. The same 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds who are creating finger-paint art today could, in just a few short decades, be applying those creative and innovative skills as leaders in the worlds of science, technology, engineering and math. The prospects and possibilities are especially exciting for Sara Cass, coordinator for the Fox Valley Park District’s Creative Play …

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Fox Valley Park District Happenings

Halloween Family Night Promises Frightfully Good Fun

Weekly musings from Jeff Long, public relations director with the Fox Valley Park District.

Is Halloween your favorite holiday? Ask around, and you’re likely to get a lot of “yes” votes to that question. Halloween is not just trick-or-treat night but a season of celebration that begins when the leaves change colors, and goes through early November (or until the pumpkins are smashed). Halloween falls on a Monday this year, and that’s a good thing, because it extends the weekend. In fact, the Fox Valley Park District is giving us an early start when it hosts Halloween Family Night next Friday (Oct. 28) at the Prisco Community Center. That’s followed up by the final two days (Oct. 29-30) of Pumpkin Weekends at Blackberry Farm, and then the month’s capper, Halloween, on Monday. So for those of you who revel in these ghoulishly good …

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Fox Valley Park District Happenings

Spring Break Will Be Action-Packed Right Here at Home

Weekly musings from the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District.

My inclination every year in March is to head for the beach. Florida, that is. A week of sun, sand and surf is the perfect remedy to the late winter blues, and besides, isn’t that why spring break was invented? But the reality of having to pay for airfare, lodging and all the associated travel costs always clouds my sunny vision. “Let’s save that money for summer vacation and ski trips,” says the miserly man (me), to which the kids reply, “Then what are we going to do for spring break?!” It’s a good thing the Fox Valley Park District has families like mine in mind. When school is out during the week of March 28 to April 1, fun is in throughout the District. From open gym to expanded water park hours to E-Fit fun and spring break camps, …

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