Preschool nature programs in St. Charles
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is offering two nature programs for preschoolers on Thursday.
The sessions include a combination of stories, nature hikes, songs, games and crafts. The theme is “Snowflakes.”
Nature Tykes is for 3-year-olds to explore the natural world alongside a caregiver.
Little Naturalists is for 4- and 5-year-olds. Caregivers and siblings may enjoy the trails or wait inside the nature center during the program.
The Thursday, Feb. 28 theme will be “Whistlin’ Whistlepigs.”
Registration is $5 per child and can be done at 630-444-3190 or programs@kaneforest.com.
Nature Tykes is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and Little Naturalists is from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday at Creek Bend Nature Center within LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles.
Website seminar in Geneva
Kane County Board Jobs Committee will offer “Google Insider Tips for Boosting Leads” on Thursday. The program is offered by the Kane County Development and Community Services Department, NetSuite and Autumn Consulting.
The interactive seminar is designed to help businesses and nonprofits understand how Google analyzes and prioritizes websites. Attendees will learn the five most important features Google uses to increase leads and boost search engine optimization, including: titles and description tags, integrating keywords in navigation, readable banner text, page headings and keyword hyperlinks.
Autumn Consulting president Nathan Misirian will present the seminar. Misirian is a Google Insider with more than 20 years of experience helping businesses and nonprofits add more visitors, improve customer service and increase online engagement. He has completed more than 300 engagements throughout North America and Europe.
The event is free but registration is required at eventbrite.com/e/google-insider-tips-for-boosting-leads-tickets-53911354312.
“Google Insider Tips for Boosting Leads” is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24 in the first-floor auditorium of Building A at the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva.
MLK celebration in Aurora
The city of Aurora and the Aurora MLK Planning Committee will host the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration: A Day of Service, a Day of Hope on Monday.
The Rev. Teddy Matthews, senior pastor of Empowerment Church, will deliver a special message about the importance of service to the community. Matthews is an award-winning pastor, motivator and mentor who has been empowering youth in Aurora since his undergraduate years at Aurora University.
The ceremony will also feature performances by students from East Aurora, Metea Valley, Waubonsie Valley and West Aurora high schools, and the Illinois Math and Science Academy.
Aurora residents will be honored with the “Donna J. Williams Service Award” for their participation in the MLK Day of Service and local student leaders will receive Mayor Richard Irvin’s “Service Above Self Awards” for their year-round efforts to give back to the community.
“This year, we celebrate what would have been the 90th birthday of Dr. King and we’ll commemorate his life by shining a spotlight on those who are serving our community,” said Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin. “This also marks the first year that Aurora City Hall will be closed on MLK Day to honor the legacy of Dr. King. We are very proud of this significant milestone in our city’s history.”
Aurora students are encouraged to volunteer during the 2019 MLK Day of Service before the commemoration. Sign up at www.aurora-il.org/mlk to serve at one of the following locations: Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry, Aurora Public Library – Eola Branch, Aurora Public Library – Santori Branch, Aurora Public Library – West Branch, Elmwood Terrace Rehabilitation Center, Greenman Elementary School, Hesed House, SciTech Hands On Museum, Sunnymere Senior Housing or Symphony of Orchard Valley. Volunteers will be recognized at the commemoration.
The commemoration is at 6 p.m. on Monday at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane, and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit aurora-il.org/mlk.
Gallery concert in St. Charles
Ragged Rascals open the fifth season of Gallery Concerts at the Norris Cultural Arts Center on Sunday.
The popular Irish pub band is one of the Chicago area’s longest established Irish folk bands. The Ragged Rascals will perform authentic Irish folk songs, street ballads, rebel and drinking songs, sea shanties and other traditional music in the style of the Clancy Brothers, the Dubliners, the Chieftains and the Irish Rovers.
The February Gallery Concert features Fox Valley Lyrical Productions in “Voices from Around the World” on Feb. 24.
Tickets purchased at the door are $25 for adults and $20 for students (to age 16). Advance tickets are $5 less and can be purchased by calling 630-584-7200 or going online to norrisculturalarts.com.
Ragged Rascals perform at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles.
‘Swan Lake’ at Paramount Theatre
The National Ballet Theatre of Odessa will perform “Swan Lake” at Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora Saturday.
The full-scale production marks the legendary National Ballet Theatre of Odessa’s first U.S. tour. The company features 55 of the Ukraine’s most talented ballet dancers.
The story brings to life the tale of a young prince who falls in love with a princess who has been transformed into a swan. The ballet is based on Russian folklore and German legend and set to the timeless music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
Tickets are $35 to $65 and can be purchased at paramountaurora.com, by calling 630-896-6666 or at the box office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
“Swan Lake” is at 3 p.m. Saturday at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora.