Nov. 6: Coffee with the Mayor of Montgomery

Montgomery Village President Marilyn Michelini will hold a Coffee with the Mayor on Saturday, November 6th from 9 – 11 a.m. at Bill’s Restaurant, 702 Montgomery Road in Montgomery.

This Coffee will provide an opportunity for residents to meet the Village President on an informal basis and discuss items of concern with her. Residents are encouraged to bring their comments, questions and ideas to the session.

Coffee and a continental breakfast will be provided by Bill’s Restaurant.

Oct. 22 to 24: VAC celebrates 5 years with free fun

The Vaughan Athletic Center will mark its fifth anniversary with a three-day celebration from Oct. 22 to 24 with free events and activities that are open to the public.



The triple-header weekend begins on Friday (Oct. 22) with a family gala from 5 to 8 p.m., highlighted by a performance from the Jesse White Tumblers. The evening will feature inflatables for the kids, face painting and caricature drawings. A magician and DJ also will be on hand.



On Saturday, a health fair featuring more than 20 vendors will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will feature insights, exhibits and information about everything from massage therapy and foot screenings to health supplements and nutrition.



An array of fitness demos are slated on Sunday. From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Vaughan Center will showcase live demonstrations on fitness routines such as spinning, Pilates, kettle bell, Tai Chi, yoga, tire-flipping and a ZumbaTomic demonstration for kids.



Also on Sunday, a “Zumba Party in Pink” will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., with optional donations accepted to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation supporting breast cancer research.



The state-of-the-industry, 225-000-square foot Vaughan Center opened in 2005 and currently hosts 11,000 members. Since its opening, more than 2 million guests have used the facility.



For information, contact the Vaughan Athletic Center at 630-907-9600.

Oct. 18: Downtown Auroran magazine release party

You're invited! Downtown Auroran magazine is celebrating the release of the Fall/Winter 2010-2011 issue.

When: Monday, Oct. 18
Where: Aurora Regional Fire Museum
53 N. Broadway Ave. in downtown Aurora
Time: 4 - 5:30 p.m.

A family-friendly magazine event. Pick up a copy. Stay for a minute or two and explore a fabulous museum right in downtown Aurora.

Meet the folks who are featured in the magazine and learn how to submit to the only free arts and culture magazine in Aurora.

Free parking in the rear of the museum.

Oct. 15: Art opening at the DLP "Skillets" by Donnell Collins

DONNELL COLLINS PHOTO GALLERY COMES TO AURORA

Award-winning photojournalist Donnell Collins explores the theme of race and the beauty industry in a gallery at the Aurora Public Art Commission this fall.

An opening reception for “Skillets, a Photo Essay by Donnell Collins” will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, at the Public Art Commission, 20 E. Downer Place. The reception, which is free, will feature musical entertainment by Allison Zabelin.

Collins, 54, who lives in Aurora, has worked on “Skillets” for more than 15 years. The gallery delves into negative messages and stereotypes that Collins said pervade in the beauty world. Studying race has been “one of the more exhausting themes” of his life, he said.

“Somewhere along the way, I have noticed within the so-called beauty world that many of us will go out and attempt to purchase what someone else has been naturally blessed with,” Collins said. “We sit in a salon or spa for hours adding on, cooking our skin, changing our eye color, bleaching our skin, avoiding the sun and having no fun.”

Collins attended Oak Park Elementary School, Simmons Junior High and East Aurora High School. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University, he served in the U.S. Army from 1974-1977. Collins then worked as a photographer for 20 years at the “Aurora Beacon-News,” winning numerous awards for his photo journalism.

In 2004, Collins was honored by the City of Aurora’s African-American Heritage Advisory Board for his outstanding achievements. He now works as a freelance photographer for the “Beacon-News” and operates his own photo studio in downtown Aurora.

“Skillets” will headline the Aurora Public Art Commission gallery Oct. 15 through Saturday, Dec. 4. Regular gallery hours are noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday. Admission is free.

Oct. 12: AU presents "Race, Roots and Relations"

Lecture: "Race, Roots and Relations: Native and African Americans"

(Lectures/Speakers)

The Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures at Aurora University will host anthropologist and author Terry Straus in "Race, Roots and Relations" at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the center in Dunham Hall, 1400 Marseillaise Place in Aurora.

The public is invited. Admission is free. The program is part of the Schingoethe Center's 20th anniversary celebration.

Straus will discuss her latest book, "Race, Roots and Relations." She is a lecturer in the graduate division of the social sciences, anthropology of Native Americans, at the University of Chicago. Straus works with African-Native Americans in Chicago to help them preserve their heritage and determine their future.

Center hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is available adjacent to Dunham Hall.

The museum opened in 1990 as a place to display some of the 6,000 artifacts donated by collectors Herb and Martha Schingoethe. The late Aurora couple also funded the construction of Dunham Hall and the museum on its lower level.

Call (630) 844-7843, e-mail museum@aurora.edu or visit aurora.edu/museum.

Oct. 8: Free football at East High

Tomcat fans can earn FREE admission to Friday night’s football game by donating at least one non-perishable food item to the East Aurora High School Food Drive.

On Friday, October 8, the East Aurora Tomcats host South Elgin High School at the Roy E. Davis Field. The sophomore game is at 5:15 p.m. and kick-off for the Varsity game is at 7:30 p.m.

One free ticket per person will be issued for donating at least one non-perishable food item at the main gate. More than one item will be accepted. Students, staff, parents, and community members are invited to participate and support a very worthy cause.

All food items will be donated to the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry.

Regular paid admission is still available.

Oct. 22, 23 & 24: Vaughn Center turns 5!

Happy Anniversary VAC! Celebrate five years of fitness at the Vaughan Athletic Center from Oct. 22 to 24. There will be a health fair, fitness demonstrations, children's activities and more. Call 630-907-9600 for more information.