Ringing bell Salvation Army Red Kettle

Today during my lunch hour I volunteered to ring the bell to collect money for the Salvation Army Red Kettle. All money today at our collection site, the Walgreens at 137 and Milwaukee Ave. in Libertyville, went towards the Libertyville Township Food Pantry.

I think it is great to volunteer as a citizen but also as a Libertyville Township Trustee.

LIbetyville Township Ringing Bell for Salvation Army Red Kettle

Tomorrow, Monday, there are volunteers who work at the Libertyville Township Food Pantry as well as people who work in the office and the trustees, volunteering their time to ring the Salvation Army Bell at the Walgreens at 137 and Milwaukee Ave. (21) from 10 - 2 (for sure) and maybe until 4pm.

Any money collected will go directly to the Libertyville Towship funds for the food pantry.

We are excited to be out there ringing the bell for our Township. Come donate!!

Copy of Article this year on Sheridan

Here a part of the Libertyville and Mundelein Pioneer press article andt he picture they posted.

Sheridan Hurtig, 10, of Mundelein competes in the American Coed Pageants Inc. annual state pageant. Hurtig competed against 11 other girls in the state pageant and was first runner-up. Because of her strong performance at that pageant, Hurtig has been selected to represent Chicago at the 2009 National Miss American Coed Pageant Nov. 23 through 28 at the Hilton Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Miss Northern Suburbs Meeting

There is a Miss Northern Suburbs meeting today at Beach State park at 4pm. This is a pageant that is part of the Miss IL / Miss America system.

Sheridan holds the title of Miss Dupage County outstanding pre-teen but the title was appointed her. She then competed in the state competition in Springfield on Memorial day weekend last year. It was fun and a good experience.

Last year they started the Pre-Teen program for 10-12 year olds so many of the girls were appointed. This year there a competitions in order to go to state. Not sure how many girls in this age range will compete, but it can be very competitive. Her friend Cassidy is competing against her and she held the title Little Miss Vernon Hills. These girls are 2 days apart in age but Cassidy has 6 inches on Sheridan and is definitely looking like a teen (developing) where Sheridan still looks young.

This year for talent Sheridan is going to sing the song Good Morning Baltimore from the Musical Hairspray. For this competition they only have 90 seconds. Luckily I have friend, John, with a sound studio and he was able to cut/splice the song to get it to 90 seconds and sound right.

The competiton for Miss Northern Suburbs is at Lake Forest College on January 16 and there are Miss, Teen and Pre-Teens competing. They have private interviews with a panel (20%), have a question on stage & model their gown (15%) and Lifestyle/fitness wear (15%) and talent (20%).

The preteens are supposedly modeling some sports outfit. The Miss model a bathing suit. The teens, not sure. At Dupage County last year the teens modeled shorts and tanks and did a little stretch while modeling to show their shape and athleticism.

Will keep you updated.

American Coed Nationals, Pageant Week day 1

Sheridan in welcoming suit.

Sheridan w/Michael Galanes rehearsing on stage.

Sheridan and Sam at Gatorland.

Wow, The week in Florida was amazing.

As I said in earlier post, we arrived much later than planned on Sunday evening. We got settled in and went to bed by 1am.

We slept in on Monday, if you call 8 am sleeping in. We had breakfast and then went to Gatorland and spent about 3-4 hours there. It was a nice time. We saw all these cool Gators and some neet white ones too, and they aren't albino b/c they have blue eyes, they are some special accidental breed that was found in LA. Very cool.

We got back in time to attempt to take a nap, which sheridan needed but wouldnt take. Then we we got our number for signing in. There was a few hours wait. Sheridan was wearing a grey suit and looked very cute. We went in a few of the ballrooms to practice for optionals and pageant competition while waiting. Sheridan practiced her speech, modeling and actress optionals and then in the other ballroom practiced walking in her gown. Michael Galanes our IL director was there to help her!.

That night we had an IL meeting too. It was good to get together and get the lay of the land, rules etc. and see everyone.

We did not go to the nightly dinner but went to the concierge lounge and ate there that night.

it was yummy.

catching up - luggage, packing for nationals.

There is so much to catch up on.

We had a great time at the American Coed national pageant in Orlando Florida this past week. It will take me time to post all the information.

to start when we gotto the Milwaukee airport I unloaded the car and realized I forgot to pack the most important bag, the one with the competition clothing.

A few tips, work off a list. That helped, i didnt forget anything on the list in the bags.

Make sure to take ALL the bags and keep them togther. The garment bag piece of luggage with all the competition outfits was in another room and I didnt bring it downstairs into the living room with all the other luggage - whoops, big mistake.

We arrived at airport at 8 am,plenty of time for teh 930 Southwest flight, but then forgot the bag so had to go back home to get the most important bag. Hmmm what to do, leave Sam, our friend, hair stylist and coach at the airport with my 10 year old daughter, let them go on the flight and me come back later with the bag and go on standby? Pay $1200 for a new ticket for each of us, ONE WAY, hmmm. We called Southwest, said we overslept and missed the flight. They found us a new flight leaving at 620pm arriving at 10 in FL and we actually got a credit of $51, not bad.

We did end up having to spend the day in cold IL instead of sunny, warm FL but we relaxed, ate and caught a movie. I made sure to put that last bag in the car too.

It all worked out. See the picture of the girls on the plane.