Belvidere Daily Republican: Events

 

SATURDAY, FEB. 22

Rivers Edge Recreation Center's "Girls Night Out Pajama Party" Ages 6-12 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Come in your comfy pajamas and bring your pillow, sleeping bag & stuffed animal too! Enjoy a fun treat, make new friends, play slumber party games, and bring home a craft. For more information and registration call (815) 547-5711.

Cherry Valley Library will be holding their second annual Mini-Golf at the Cherry Valley Library 755 E. State Street Cherry Valley Feb. 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Feb. 23 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. For more information or to reserve T-time call 815-332-5161. They are also looking for volunteers for the event, ages 16 and older for 2 hour shifts each day. If you would like to be a volunteer  please call ASAP 815-332-5161.

TUESDAY, FEB. 25

Meet and Greet for Boone County Sheriff’s Candidates Dave Ernest and Phil Beu.

7:00 PM at Candlewick Recreation Center, 1812 Candlewick Dr. SE.
Poplar Grove. This will be a question and answer session.

Secretary of State Jesse White, in cooperation with Keen Age Center, is offering a Rules of the Road Review Course for all citizens in the Belvidere area, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Keen Age Center, 2141 Henry Luckow Dr., Belvidere. The course is free to anyone who wishes to attend.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26

Belvidere McDonalds presents The Second City Comedy Group at 7:30 p.m. at the Belvidere High School Performing Arts Center, 1500 East Ave.. Tickets can be purchased at the door and McDonalds or via phone at 815-544-5454.

THURSDAY, FEB. 27

Boone County's got Talent Audition from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Community Building Complex of Boone County. For more information please call or Email Dan Holmes, Artistic Director, at

815-547-4558 or dholmes@district100.com.

Citizens of Belvidere Ward 1 are invited to an informal meeting  with Mayor Mike, Alderman Clinton Morris and Clayton Stevens, Police Chief Jan Noble, Fire Chief Dave Worrell, and the Public Works Director Brent Anderson in the City Council Chambers from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

MONDAY, MAR. 3

YWCA Leader Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Giovanni's Convention Center in Rockford. For information call Tiffany at 815-316-6123.

TUESDAY, MAR. 4

Boone County's got Talent Audition from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Community Building Complex of Boone County. For more information please call or Email Dan Holmes, Artistic Director, at

815-547-4558 or dholmes@district100.com.

THURSDAY, MAR. 13

Center for Sight and Hearing, Second Annual "Dinning in the Dark" Event at Franchesco's Ristorante 7128 Spring Creek Rd. Rockford at 5:30 p.m.. Tickets and reservations can be made by contacting Lorena Merrick at 815-332-6823.

FRIDAY, MAR. 21

Boone County's got Talent Show at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Building Complex of Boone County. For more information please call or Email Dan Holmes, Artistic Director, at 815-547-4558 or dholmes@district100.com.  Tickets are available at The Belvidere Park District, Alpine Bank Locations or from any Rotary Member, cost is $5.00.

FRIDAY, MAR. 28

Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment, Bryan Adams solo acoustic concert. Tickets go on sale Feb. 7 through Ticketmaster .com or by calling 800-745-3000.

SATURDAY, APR. 12

The Fourth Annual (I dodged a Ball for a Kid) Dodge Ballers tournament at the Jefferson High School, 4145 Samuelson Rd., Rockford at 9:00 a.m.. Proceeds will benefit Children's Safe Harbor.  For more information call 815-316-7772 or email cshdodgeballfun@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 8

Shelter Care Ministries' Annual Spring Luncheon,  will be held at Prairie Street Brewhouse 200 Prairie St. Rockford, Ill. 61107 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. More information to follow.

FRIDAY, MAY 30

Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment,  The Legendary B.B. King will perform at the Coronado PAC. Tickets go on sale Feb. 7 at 10:00 a.m. available at the Coronado box office, and all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 815-968-0595. For more information please visit coronadopac.org or call 815-968-2722.

Check for additions by clicking on the following:  rvpnews | BDR Events

Sneak peak from Tuesday's BDR: Belvidere comes together to support Water.Org

By Tricia Goecks
Editor, Belvidere Daily Republican

Imagine if you had to walk two hours each way to get access to water. And you had to wait hours in line in order to fill up your containers with water that may not be sanitary. And then you had to trudge back with home with the additional weight of the water containers.
Imagine living without indoor plumbing or even an outhouse, and you were forced to relieve yourself outside in a crowded slum.
Imagine going to a school that does not have a washroom.
Imagine if you only earned the equivalent of $2 per day as a day laborer and lost several days of work per month because you had to spend that time collecting water.
Imagine having a bucket of water with which you use to bathe once a week.
Imagine having to share that same bucket of dirty wash water with others in the community.
This is the stark reality of many of the nearly one billion people who do not have ready access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Half of hospital beds in the world are occupied by patients suffering from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.
In the 1980s, a child under the age of 5 died every 6 seconds due to diarrhea. Through the efforts of organizations like Water.Org, the situation is improving, but it is still dire. More recently, a child under the age of 5 dies every 21 seconds due to diarrhea.
Water.Org is a nonprofit developmental aid organization. It works with local partners to provide aid to developing countries. It helps build community wells. It works with local lenders to provide low cost loans to provide for home water connections and toilets.
This group that provides hope to improve the lives of millions of people in developing countries is the one that DECA is supporting through two fundraisers. On Feb. 26, Second City will perform at the Performing Arts Center at Belvidere High School. On Mar. 1, students from all area schools will showcase their talents at the Community Building with performances, science projects, a book fair, and food sales.
"Our touring company is honored to be able to assist in bringing wider recognition to the ongoing water crisis and the work being done by Water.org and to be part of the effort toward finding solutions that work in ending it," Joseph Ruffner, the Producer for The Second City Touring Companies said.
“This is one of the first times that a student has brought all of the district schools together for an event,” said Maureen Koteles, owner of the Belvidere McDonalds Restaurant and a member of the DECA board of advisors. “It is about awareness for something that we take for granted.”

To learn more about Water.org, go to belviderewaterproject.wordpress.com and watch the video.

Com Ed Partners with Community Action to Offer Extra Help with Electric Bills

Com Ed Partners with Community Action to Offer Extra Help with Electric Bills
In response to concerns regarding higher than usual electric bills during this extreme winter, Com Ed is announcing temporary changes to their Residential Special Hardship program to help their customers in Winnebago and Boone counties manage their bills. Effective immediately, income eligible households applying for assistance under this program will NOT be required to provide proof of additional hardship such as job loss, documented illness, military deployment, or senior or disability hardships. This temporary change will remain in effect until April 1, 2014 unless otherwise notified. Residents applying are not eligible if they have received assistance through the Residential Special Hardship program within the last two years. LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) recipients are eligible to apply. The available grant amount remains up to $1,500 per household.
Com Ed partners with the City of Rockford Human Services Department, a Community Action Agency, to provide this service. For application requirements and to make an appointment for assistance, call the City of Rockford Human Services Department at 815-967-6237.
###