Jaycees Host Halloween Party

The Palatine Jaycees hosted a Halloween Party for Special Needs individuals ant their families.

For the first time, the Palatine Jaycees held a Halloween Party for Special Needs individuals and their immediate families. About 150 people came to the event at Fremd High School on Wednesday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. They enjoyed multiple games including bowling, Halloween Buckets and Ring the Witch's Hat. Guests had the opportunity to take home a photo and all the treats they could collect. Thank you to McDonald's at 1576 N. Rand Road in Palatine for cookies and toys, The Knights of Columbus (N. American Martyrs Council #4338) for the Tootsie Roll Banks, and Ma and Pa's Country Candy in Long Grove for donating 7 pounds of candy. This information was submitted by Jennifer Iannuzzelli of the Palatine Jaycees.

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Palatine Street Fest: Bags flying

Baggo tournament draws friendly, intense competition at Street Fest.

Twenty-one baggo teams competed Saturday during a tournament sponsored by the Palatine Jaycees at Street Fest. “It’s pretty intense, isn’t it,” said Andy McCruley, of the Palatine Jaycees, who was tracking the brackets during the tourney. Each team payed $20 to compete in the bean bag tossing tourney, said McCruley, with proceeds going to Jaycee charities. Eight courts were set up in front of the Village Barber Shop, 17 N. Brockway St. This is the third year the Jaycees have sponsored the tournament, McCruley said.

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Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest Drew 40,000

Parade, food and fireworks, carnival and entertainment enjoyed by many, with one minor snag.

Hometown Fest 2011 took over Community Park in downtown Palatine and drew more than 40,000, according to organizers. The crowd came out to enjoy the carnival, parade, fireworks, entertainment and food.   The Palatine Jaycees event began Thursday June 30 and ended on the 4th of July. “All in all, I have to say the fest was a great success; given the heat on Saturday the turnout was relatively low that day, but people still came out to enjoy a great time,” said Kristin Bureta, Hometown Fest co-chair and Palatine Jaycee. There was only one real setback at the event, which many people might not have even realized. “There was a 10-hour power outage in the food tents on Saturday, which we found out about just after 10:30 a.m.,” Bureta said. …

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Final Day To Enjoy Hometown Fest

Hometown Fest winds down Monday. The carnival starts at noon and ends at 5 p.m.

Monday, July 4, marks the final day of Hometown Fest. The carnival starts at noon and ends at 5 p.m.  From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will Free Family Day activities, including singing and dancing on stage for the whole family from 12:30 p.m. until 1 p.m., games from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., a crawling contest for babies 18 months and under, a water balloon toss, three-legged race and piñatas. The free activities do not include food or the carnival rides. Carnival wristbands, that are good for unlimited rides one day only, from noon to 5 p.m., can be purchased for $20. Hometown Fest is run by the Palatine Jaycees.

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There's Fun for All Ages At Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest 2011

The celebration begins Thursday, June 30, and runs through Monday, July 4.

Hometown Fest 2011 has something for everyone from carnival rides to fireworks, '80s cover bands to arts and crafts, and corn dogs to cotton candy.  The 54th annual July 4 celebration, held at Community Park, off Palatine Road near Northwest Highway, begins Thursday, June 30.  The celebration runs through Monday, July 4. Food vendors will include Beef on the Move, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Georgie’s Greek Tasty Food, Jamba Juice, JJ Twigs Pizza & Pub, Lee’s Concessions, Pancho’s Mexican Food, Photo’s Hot Dogs, Heybeck’s Meat Market and Lunch Wagon. Adult and regular beverages will also be available throughout the fest. Thursday, June 30 On opening day, the Special Needs Carnival kicks of at 2:30 p.m. The Windy City Amusements carnival …

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Melanie Santostefano

12:51 pm on Thursday, June 30, 2011

Hi Mary and all who are planning on enjoying the upcoming festivities! Just wanted to make it clear (sorry if it wasn't in the article) that a one-day pass is $20, and is good for unlimited rides from noon until 5pm each day of Hometown Fest. The Mega Pass costs $70 ($60 was the early bird price last week) and is good for unlimited rides at all times the fest is open to the public! Both can be …   more ›

Palatine Jaycees Address Live Fetus Banner Parade Issue

The Palatine Jaycees addressed the recent parade controversy at its general meeting Thursday.

The Palatine Jaycees addressed the Hometown Fest parade controversy at its general meeting Thursday. Palatine Area Catholics Respect Life will not be in the July 2 parade after refusing to drop a banner that includes a picture of a live fetus. Respect Life officials have said the image is not offensive or inflammatory and was necessary for the message they wanted to convey. Jaycees President Chrissy Trilling Raices began the Jaycees meeting by saying she wanted to address the "800-pound gorilla in the room." She read the following statement: The Respect Life Group was denied participation in the Palatine Jaycee Hometown Fest parade because the Respect Life Group refused to work with festival organizers. Unlike other groups who fully …

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Palatine Pro-Life Group Out Of Parade Over Banner

The Palatine Area Catholics Respect Life Group were denied participation in the July 2 Hometown Fest parade after refusing to change a banner that included a picture of a live fetus.

A pro-life group is out of the Hometown Fest July 2 parade after refusing to drop a banner that included a picture of a live fetus. "They decided that an unborn baby is too offensive," said Martin Kelley, co-founder of Palatine Area Catholics Respect Life. "It's an ultrasound photo. It's not a picture of an aborted baby." The banner also includes a photo of an elderly woman. Hometown Fest is organized by the Palatine Jaycees, a private organization. Jaycees officials said the pro-life group was rejected because they refused to work with parade organizers, not because of their message. "The Respect Life Group was denied participation in the Hometown Fest parade because [they] refused to work with festival organizers regarding their display …

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casey

11:03 pm on Saturday, July 2, 2011

I just want to say that I agree with the Herald ad that stated that "the Jaycees do many good things but this wasn't one of them. Shame on the Jaycees"..   more ›

Palatine Happenings

Palatine Area Community Marching Band Begins 4th Season

Musicians make music and friendships.

Do you have a musical instrument from your school days collecting dust in the back of the closet?  If you want to play that band instrument again, an opportunity is close by. The Palatine Area Community Marching Band inaugurates its 2011 season this month. The band is a program of the Palatine Park District and is open to adults and high school students with previous instrumental experience, although no marching experience is necessary. The marching band is under the co-direction of Melissa Hartley and Emily Frazier.  Frazier and Hartley got the idea to form the band from a book they had both read, “American Band” by Kristen Laine, said Frazier. “We began to reminisce about how much fun we had in high school marching band and lamented the …

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Palatine Jaycees Accept Requests for Financial Assistance

The Palatine Jaycees are accepting applications from residents and community organizations in need of financial assistance.

The Palatine Jaycees are accepting applications from Palatine residents and local community organizations in need of financial assistance as part of their annual Community Donations Program. "Historically, these awards have ranged from $100 to $5,000," said Jackie Butler, Co-Chair of the Program in a press release. "The requests for assistance have been for medical or utility bills, training equipment, housing, clothing, senior citizen assisted living care and many other worthwhile programs. We receive applications from both individuals and groups like Little City and the Bridge." "Individuals and organizations with specific needs should submit written proposals to the Community Donations Committee for consideration," said Christopher Rick…

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Grab & Go Kids Planner: Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt, Healthy Kids Day at Buehler and More

Here are this week's suggestions for something fun to do with your kids this weekend.

Here's our weekly list of kid-friendly activities and new places to try with your children. Help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips by just adding them to the comment box. Even if you disagree with our suggestions, let us know. We want to hear from you. Grab your kids and go have some fun. Family Best Bets of the Week Where / When: Towne Square, 150 W. Palatine Rd., Palatine; 9:30 a.m.; Saturday, April 16. Why Go?: 3,500 eggs, some with prizes from local merchants, four different age groups of kids up to age 9. Pictures can be taken with the Easter Bunny for a $2 sitting fee. Pricing: Free egg hunt   Where / When: Buehler Y,1400 W. Northwest Hwy., Palatine; 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Friday, April 15. Why Go?: Bring the whole…

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