The Kankakee Valley Adult Reading and Literacy Program is currently conducting a book drive asking for donations of “gently used” childrens books.

Containers to gather donations are in place at St. Anne Grade School, Grant Park Grade School, Manteno Middle School and The Herald Country Market newspaper in Bourbonnais.

KVARLP offers no-cost, one-on-one tutoring for individuals in a private environment and offers a variety of tutoring levels. Our tutors will work with people who may need to learn English as a second language or work on completion of a GED or whatever their personal needs and goals are.

If you have books to donate and cannot reach one of the drop-off points, please call our offices at 815-802-0811.

Easy St. Theater will be presenting “SUPERHEROES, The Musical… or not” on April 18 and 19. The musical is written and directed by Monica Brigham, and music is courtesy of Plank Road Publishing Inc. Here are more details:

WHEN: Saturday, April 18, at 2 and 5 p.m., & Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m.

WHERE: First Church of the Nazarene, 1000 N. Entrance Ave., Kankakee, IL

TICKETS: $5 at the Door

Cast of "SUPERHEROES, The Musical ... or not"

Pictured are the cast:

Standing: Stosh Smith, Sue LeVeque – Kankakee, Kiley Lyall, Steve Weith – Bourbonnais, Chris Harris – St. Anne, Eli Rorem – Kankakee, Ed Barbieri – Chebanse, Kathy Carlin – Momence, Ryan Neese – Bradley, Jean Gebhardt – Kankakee, Shannon Archer, Chad Domont, Cassie Perkins – Bourbonnais, Dan Graham, Jemome James – Kankakee, Cindy Smith – Bourbonnais, Scott Laird – Bradley, Jenny Miller – Kankakee and Craig Brown – Bradley

The annual Top Cops/Top Docs fundraiser will be held Saturday at KCC. The Rotary-sponsored event raises money for the Greater Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Staley, the Chicago Bears mascot, will be there. Here are details:

WHERE: Kankakee Community College gymnasium

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday (March 28)

COST: $5

With spring on the horizon, why not enjoy a night of live music for a great charitable cause and have fun at the same time?

On Thursday, March 19, 2009, Paramount Theatre in Kankakee, IL will host a concert featuring local band The Silhouettes, with special guests The Paramount Horns. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the concert beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person in advance, or $15 at the door.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity, which offers everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running on a track or path for up to 24 hours in length. For this concert, sponsor Riverside Medical Center is using the proceeds for its Relay Team, the “Riverside Happy Feet,” to raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment. Tickets can be purchased in advance at all Kankakee County Homestar Bank locations, King Music and Veronda’s Music. Throughout the concert, soft drinks, popcorn and candy can be purchased at the concession counter. Before the concert there will be a basket raffle with many great items will donated by local merchants. For more information, please call Carolyn Whitaker at 815.935.7256 or email Carolyn-Whitaker@riversidehealthcare.net.

Classic Cinemas, based in Downers Grove, Illinois, is a family-owned company operated by Willis, Shirley and Chris Johnson. Established in 1978, Classic Cinemas operates 13 theatres with 97 screens located throughout the suburbs of Chicago and northern Illinois. For further information, please visit www.classiccinemas.com.

~ Submitted by Classic Cinemas

The 2009 Easter Seals Telethon will be broadcast live from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday on Comcast Channel 4 and on www.olivet.edu.

They are still looking for volunteers to staff the phones. For more info, call Jackie Havener at 815.932.0623 or send an email to easterseals@daca.net.

World Marriage Day Mass will be celebrated Feb. 22 at St. Patrick’s Church in Kankakee. Bishop Sartain will preside over the special Sunday Mass, which begins at 11:30 a.m.

Here are more details from St. Pat’s:

Brunch follows at the Knights of Columbus.

Married couples of all ages are urged to participate!

Make your reservation now! The cost of $25/couple is due by Feb. 13. Make checks payable to St. Patrick Church.

For more information call the Rectory Office at (815) 932-6716.

St. Patrick’s Church is at 428 S. Indiana Ave. in Kankakee.

If you would like to promote an event in this space, please email your event information to Denise Renckens.

Bishop Sartain

The Kankakee Primary Mayoral Debate will be begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 10) at the Kankakee Public Library’s 4th floor meeting room. The debate is for those candidates who have opposition in the city’s primary election.

From Classic Cinemas:

“The Fab Four as the American English group will be returning to the Classic Cinemas Paramount Theatre, located at 213 N. Schuyler Avenue in downtown Kankakee, at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2009.

The not-to-miss benefit performance will be hosted by WVLI’s James D. Jones in support of Saint Patrick Academy. Tickets are $20 per person and available for purchase at the Paramount Box Office, through St. Patrick Academy at (815) 472-2864 or online at beatlejames@ yahoo.com.

Those of us who remember the British Invasion of the 60’s – and those of us who were not even born yet – will love the Beatles Tribute concert by American English, a group that channels John, Paul, George and Ringo’s personas and music. “Everything about them – the look, the sound, the instruments – everything is authentic,” declares Sam Leach, the original promoter of the Beatles and author of “Birth of the Beatles. “They are without a doubt the world’s premier Beatles Tribute band.”

Winner of three consecutive Beatlefests, the American English group has traveled worldwide, inciting Beatlemania-type frenzy in Japan and performing on the “hallowed ground” of several original Beatles venues in England, including The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

All the songs by American English are performed completely live, without any tapes or backing tracks. The four performers – Eric Michaels as Paul, Tom Gable as Ringo, Young Hines as John, and Doug Couture as George – bear an uncanny resemblance to the original Beatles in looks, performance and personality. Accompanied by keyboardist Ken Zemarek – their “George Martin” producer – all of the signature Beatles instrumentation and special effects are there.

The American English Beatles Tribute concert at the Paramount Theatre is a benefit for St. Patrick Academy of Momence, IL.”

I received this info via email from Acorn Design Source and thought it was a clever idea. They are holding separate his and hers shopping nights for Valentine’s Day. Here are the details they provided:

Ladies Only ~ Thursday, February 5th from 3pm to 7pm

Come view our offerings and enjoy complimentary Champagne and Chocolate while you browse. You will be given a card to write down items you’re interested in, and a place to provide your spouse/boyfriend’s name and contact information. We’ll do the rest.
Men Only ~ Thursday, February 12th, from 3pm to 7pm

We will contact you after the Ladies Night and host an evening of shopping and complimentary Beer and Snacks. We’ll have a card with your spouse/girlfriend’s preferences to make your shopping quick and easy. Gift wrapping will be available.

Acorn Design is at 815 South McMullen Drive in Kankakee. Click here to register.