Kankakee parish festival returns to roots to build community

When a group of people decide to go back to its roots, few are quite as literal about the venture as the members of Kankakee's St. Teresa Catholic Church, at 361 N. St. Joseph Ave.

The effort begins this weekend with a community-building parish festival. It culminates in November when the Rev. Sunny Castillo will lead a contingent of his church family on a pilgrimage to France.

"We plan to visit Lisieux, and see the Carmelite monastery where St. Therese spent her years," he said. "It's located in Normandy, not that far from Paris.

"This will be our second pilgrimage. And I think it's good to find out more about what our church is all about."

Meanwhile, the festival — set for Friday through Sunday — is more about where the parish is heading.

"We had a 'dream Sunday' a couple of years ago and I asked [the parishioners] to tell me what they thought God wanted from us," Pastor Castillo said.

View the original article here

Garlic festival Oct. 5 in forest preserve

Garlic festival Oct. 5 in forest preserve

There will be a celebration of garlic from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Thorn Creek Woods Nature Preserve in Park Forest. Admission is $5 per car, $1 per bicycle. Thorn Creek Woods is on Monee Road, north of Stuenkel Road.

Taste different varieties of garlic and dishes featuring garlic grown organically on Thorn Creek's historic farm. Get information on garlic growing, uses and cooking. See demonstrations of garlic preparation and learn to do garlic braiding. More than 20 varieties of organic garlic will be available for sale.

For more information, call 708-747-6320.

View the original article here

3-day music festival returning to rock Camp Shaw

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but with Shoe Fest it also built a long-lasting bond.

Last year, Chicago folk rock band Old Shoe needed a place to hold its second-ever three-day music festival. Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see near Manteno needed extra funds to balance its books and keep youth camp prices down.

So, during the second weekend of September 2012, Shoe Fest was held at Camp Shaw instead of its previous location near DeKalb. More than 1,000 fans and 30 bands descended on the 100-acre property for music and camping.

The fest was so successful that Shoe Fest will not only come back to Camp Shaw this year from Sept. 6-8, but for the next two years after that. Camp Shaw Director Greg LaPlante said the fest and the camp agreed to a three-year contract.

"A lot of good publicity came out of last year's event," LaPlante said.

View the original article here

At least 1 shot at Pembroke festival

At least one person was shot Saturday night after a rash of fights broke out during an annual festival in Pembroke.

Pembroke Days at Martin Luther King Park turned violent around 7:30 p.m. As hundreds of people gathered at the park, fights erupted and shots were fired, said Kankakee County sheriff's police.

One person was taken to the hospital with a graze wound to the head, and another person, who was originally believed to have been shot, was hospitalized with an unidentified injury, police said. The injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

At least five people have been detained for questioning by police.

Multiple police agencies from across the county assisted breaking up the fights. The park was cleared shortly after 9 p.m.

It is unknown if Pembroke Days — a two-day festival with a parade — will resume Sunday.

View the original article here

Greek festival in Kankakee draws 'best crowds in many years'

For Manteno's Joan Klein, it's the Greek family reunion she won't miss.

Even if it's not all family there, and even if she's not Greek.

Klein and her husband, Ralph, have made attending the annual Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church picnic in Kankakee year after year, returning for friends, food and fun.

"It's the friendships, the people," said Joan, 78. "We walked in and people know who we are and it makes you feel good."

Joan's been attending the festival, celebrating its 75th anniversary Sunday, for 40 years.

And Ralph, 75, has been with her for about half that time.

"We've been married 22 years," Joan said, as she played bingo across from her husband during the festival's final hour Sunday evening. "So I've been dragging him all this time."

The fest raises money for the church, located at 296 N. Washington Ave., and patrons don't have to worry about being Greek.

View the original article here

At least 1 shot at Pembroke festival

At least one person was shot Saturday night after a rash of fights broke out during an annual festival in Pembroke.

Pembroke Days at Martin Luther King Park turned violent around 7:30 p.m. As hundreds of people gathered at the park, fights erupted and shots were fired, said Kankakee County sheriff's police.

One person was taken to the hospital with a graze wound to the head, and another person, who was originally believed to have been shot, was hospitalized with an unidentified injury, police said. The injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

At least five people have been detained for questioning by police.

Multiple police agencies from across the county assisted breaking up the fights. The park was cleared shortly after 9 p.m.

It is unknown if Pembroke Days — a two-day festival with a parade — will resume Sunday.

View the original article here

At least 2 shot at Pembroke festival

At least two people were shot Saturday night after a rash of fights broke out during an annual festival in Pembroke. 

Pembroke Days at Martin Luther King Park turned violent around 7:30 p.m. As hundreds of people gathered at the park, fights erupted and shots were fired, Kankakee County sheriff's police said.

Both gunshot victims were taken to the hospital, one with a wound to the head, police said. The injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

At least five people have been detained for questioning by police. 

Multiple police agencies from across the county assisted breaking up the fights. The park was cleared shortly after 9 p.m. 

It is unknown if Pembroke Days — a two-day festival with a parade — will resume Sunday. 

This story has been revised to reflect the following update:

Aug. 24, 2013: An earlier version of this story reported that at least one person was shot and another was hospitalized with an unidentified injury.

View the original article here

3-day music festival returning to rock Camp Shaw

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but with Shoe Fest it also built a long-lasting bond.

Last year, Chicago folk rock band Old Shoe needed a place to hold its second-ever three-day music festival. Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see near Manteno needed extra funds to balance its books and keep youth camp prices down.

So, during the second weekend of September 2012, Shoe Fest was held at Camp Shaw instead of its previous location near DeKalb. More than 1,000 fans and 30 bands descended on the 100-acre property for music and camping.

The fest was so successful that Shoe Fest will not only come back to Camp Shaw this year from Sept. 6-8, but for the next two years after that. Camp Shaw Director Greg LaPlante said the fest and the camp agreed to a three-year contract.

"A lot of good publicity came out of last year's event," LaPlante said.

View the original article here

Annual Greek festival in Kankakee celebrates food, tradition

Among all the stereotypes Greeks are saddled with, that they are particularly partial to food is perhaps the least offensive and likely the truest one yet.

So it's no surprise that the annual festival of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church draws thousands of people clamoring for hundreds of pounds of pork and chicken roasted over a 15-foot-long fire pit.

A modest parish, the church, located on Washington Avenue and Chestnut Street in Kankakee, has grown to include people of all faiths. The object of worship uniting them all? Food, lots and lots of food.

And though there is no denying the succulent meat greased with lemon and oil, the pastries are where it's at. On Thursday, the women of the church were downstairs in the basement busy baking. Prepare yourself for crispy filo dough, chopped walnuts, powdered sugar, syrup, honey and pounds of butter.

And if you take a load off at the picnic tables in the bingo tent, you'll see Andy Nicholos.

View the original article here

Ashkum Lions Club's Homecoming Festival

Ashkum Lions Club's Homecoming Festival

WHEN: Aug. 23-25, Friday evening through Sunday night.

WHERE: Downtown Ashkum

COST: Free to attend, fees for various items

WHAT: Festival featuring ice cream, pizza, brats, lemonade, BINGO, raffles, miniature golf, trackless train, kiddie rides, dime pitch, softball tournament, car show, free entertainment nightly and free nightly drawings. Scheduled events Friday include 5 p.m. fish fry and 7 p.m. show by Back Paiges. Saturday: 8 a.m. 5k run/walk, 11 a.m. kiddie parade, 1 p.m. bean bag tournament; 5 p.m. broasted chicken dinner, 7 p.m. show by The Silhouettes. Sunday: 7-10 a.m. Lutheran Church breakfast, 10:30 all-faith worship service, noon-3 p.m. car show, 3 p.m. kids pedal tractor pull, 4 p.m. Iroquois County Pork Producers' pork chop dinner, and 5 p.m. Swing Kings Orchestra.

INFO: ashkum.net or call 815-474-0041 to sign up for the softball tournament, 815-383-2564 for information about the 5k run/walk or 815-698-2669 for information about the car show.

View the original article here

Crafters and antique vendors needed for Momence festival

• MOMENCE

Crafters and antique vendors needed for festival

Crafters and antique vendors are needed for the 22nd annual Good Shepherd Manor Fall Festival's craft and antique market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 14 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 15 at Good Shepherd Manor, 4129 N. Illinois Route 1 and 17, Momence.

There is a reduced booth fee if vendors stay for both days and a discount for returning 2012 crafters. Sunday's events include a 5K trail run, children's "super hero" races, one-mile fun run/walk, cash bingo, a children's area, instant money tree, live music and variety of food and drink booths. The event benefits Good Shepherd Manor, which provides a high-quality life and care for men with developmental disabilities.

For more information, call Jan Jackson, in Good Shepherd Manor's development office, at 815-472-3700, ext. 201, or email janjackson@goodshepherdmanor.org for a 2013 crafter application form.

View the original article here

England's Joe Root shows Bunbury Under-15 cricket festival is still hitting the heights

Only the South African-educated Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen missed out on cutting their teeth at the five-day event, now in its 27th year and being held at Durham University this week.

On average, two cricketers a year have emerged to become international players. David English — the founder, organiser and fundraiser who has become known as The Godfather of English Cricket — hailed Bunbury No?60 Joe Root after his stunning performance for England.

“It’s a route to being an England cricketer and the boys know the senior ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] officials are watching,” English said. “It’s a showcase for the boys. As Paul Collingwood told them on Monday morning, seven years ago Joe Root was standing there getting his cap, just like they were.”

Philanthropist David Fitzherbert is midway through rowing 140 miles along the Thames to Putney in his sculling boat Rocinante.

The aim of his venture, which ends on Saturday, is to raise £10,000 to bring rowing to the pupils of several state schools in Hammersmith & Fulham. Few state schools in the UK have access to rowing and even those on the Thames in London are rarely able to afford the extra cost of this sport.

“For £10,000 it is possible to get a squad of some 16 boys and girls from one school to learn to row for a year,” Fitzherbert said. Supporting donations should be sent to The Broadwall Foundation.

Email your letters on school sport to gareth.davies@telegraph.co.uk

View the original article here