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.

Let's talk politics.

Missed the last Township October meeting last month because we were out of town in Omaha at a wedding. This month, November we only have one meeting because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Let's talk politics in general... What do you think about the H1N1 Vaccinations. Have you gotten yours, are you going to? In Mundelein, IL we had a clinic available at a local Jr. High. Started on last week Thursday and the line was very long, or so my friend told me. They got smart and started handing out numbers and you could come back for the shot later. On Friday the clinic was busy as well and ran out of shots and turned people away. Saturday's clinic was cancelled.

Do you think this is the governments fault, or the manufacturer's. that there werent enough available? Do you think that that our president should have promised 10% of our H1N1 vaccines to other governments especially when there are aren't enough for our own US citizens to get vaccinated?

I had a regular flu shot but I wasnt sure if I was going to have my daughter and myself get an H1N1 vaccination b/c I dont know about these shots. Were they properly tested and are they effective or might there be other problems or long term effects? I guess with the clinic running out of vaccinations I didnt have to make that decision in the end. I try to keep our immune systems up with healthy diets, a lot of sleep, and acidophilus(sp?).

So going back to politics, does this mean that if the government can't handle doling out simple vaccinations, how would the government handle health insurance. Should they choose what doctors we can and can't see, if we can get treated, get an operation or if we are too old to get treatment? Did we really want or vote for a socialist president or want a socialist government, is that the way the Dems are going b/c that is not the kind of Dem I am... and if some health program is put into place, and we dont like it... can we eliminate it. How possible will that be with our government system and the horrible slow grind?

Just some thoughts and ideas for the day.

NISP pageant pictures

Check out the big honking crown

Sheridan home after the play trying on the new crown since we missed the pictures after the pageant.

Sheridan's formal gown.

Sheridan's queen friends

The stiff competition. These girls were great.

Left to right, Kara, Marissa, Sheridan, Reene and Meg.

Here are more pictures from NISP Pageant, Nov. 1, 2009

NISP Northern IL Scholarship Program Nov 1 2010

Sheridan's poster on donating to food pantries.

Sheridan in Interview suit

Sheridan in gown for talent, playing piano.

Sheridan showing her sportswear modeling outfit.

Sheridan in her Star modeling outfit.

Yesterday was a big day for us. Sheridan and I left the house at 730 am to go sign in at NISP for her competition.

The morning started with a practice at about 830-9 and then changing for the first of three performing optionals. The first optionals was Star Modeling, to be followed by Sportswear Modeling and lastly by Talent. Before these optionals began the judges also judged the girls on the optionals they could turn in, being essay, photogenic; and community service poster.

For Star Modeling Sheridan wore a zebra blouse with white capri pants, zebra sparkly flats, zebra earrings and a black hat. For Sportswear she wore a blue tennis skort, a white sleeveless top, a white visor, blue hanging heart earrings, white socks and gym shoes and of course nicely decorated tennis racket. For her talent, playing piano, she wore a beautiful coral gown and she played the Sea Chanty (What can you do with a drunken sailor).

After optionals it was lunch, mmm yummy healthy McDonalds, then back to redo the hair. I forgot to mention we put Sheridan's hair in hot rollers this morning, did the poof or bump and then a flip of the hair. We reroled it after lunch to get the curl back, her hair is very light, thin and drops, doesnt hold a curl very well or very long.

Next was a speech to be given. Sheridan wore her new suit and gave a speech on The person she most admires, and it was ME, so nice. She did a great performance. Then the girls changed into their gowns for the modeling of the gowns and answering the two questions, one from their information sheet and one from a basket of pop questions.

Sheridan's first question from her fact sheet was about her participating in a program at school called Walk Chicago and she explained what it was, how they go out on a track and walk and then earn rewards at the end of the year for the laps they counted throughout the year.

Her second question was about looks and do you have to look good all the time - her answer was no because I think inner beauty is what is important not the physical looks. Her replies were amazing.

Unfortunately these process took a long time and so did the tabulating and handing out the prizes and crowning. They started after lunch about 30 minutes late and that put the afternoon behind. This was bad for us because Sheridan had a play to be in at 630 and Sheridan earned a crown but we waited until 6pm. We were really pushing it.

Today was a hard day of competion. Only 15 girls/women competed overall in the pageant. Sheridan's division had 5 girls, like last year, and they were all very, very good, stiff competition, also like last year.

Sheridan's friend Marissa earned the princess ambassador, that is what Sheridan was last year. Kara was the Jr. winner, and she also hold a high title in Dream Girls. I failed to mention before the actual crowning awards were given for optionals. Sheridan won many medals including one for poster and essay and for both modeling optionals and she won the trophies and prizes for both the modeling, and some cool nisp bags with them as well. Sheridan also won the award for the highest overall points in the pageant portion alone, without the optional points. With that and with the two girls crowned in Jr. division we know that she had the chance of winning the two higher crowns she was competing for as well, including Elite and Jr. Supreme Star.

Sheridan won Jr. Supreme Star and the crown is sooo big. The trophy is over half her size. She also got a cool septor, a photo box, an address book, a mini calculator key chain, a gorgeous rhinestone necklace and earrings and a crown pin and tshirt, and I forgot the cool black and white sash too. She was very excited, overwhelmed and so was I. We were very proud.

You Rock Sheridan.

Pageant Clothes

So do you realize that pageants can be very costly?
Local pageants less so but when you get to the national ones...watch out.

In the Miss IL pageant system for example which leads to Miss America, those girls, the older ones especially, not the teens or preteens, they need to be in perfect shape, skinny, preened perfectly. they buy dresses that are $3000. it really bothers me because it shouldnt be about how much you spend on a dress but how you appear, the grace, elegance and presence. How you talk and walk and represent the organization.

Anyway, we had bought some new pageant gowns, very inexpensively, too big b/c they would be sized down but we need the length... well they cost more to be adjusted then the dress, but they are worth it. Sheridan grew too so we took the shawls that came with them and lengthened the dresses too. the seamstress did a great job. you would not know they were altered. I will post pictures of the clothes after the pageants have gone by. Can't show all our secrets.

Sheridan has two coral dresses and one hot pink. With her tan/olive skin she looks good in coral, brown, hot pink and turquoise.

We also had a gorgeous suit made for $95 and worth every penny!!! in coral and brown. This is really inexpensive, actually. She looks so cute and the woman who made the suit is amazing. The suit is lined and gorgeous. We bought the character shoes too, $40, but Sheridan looks great in them. She likes the cut because instead of cutting across the toes they have a v shape and are more comfortable.

For modeling Sheridan has a great capris outfit with zebra on top and white capris on bottom with shoes and accessories to match. For sports modeling she has a skort, white top, visor and tennis racket, white gym shoes. For her acting competions she has a cool hot pink and zebra pattern rock outfit that go with her "rock" theme for the commercials.

I try to keep expenses down and am sure I do better than most.

She loves the clothes and looks good in most everything. Not a bad problem to have.

Libertyville township meeting

There is a libertyville township meeting this Thursday, but it will be the first meeting I will miss because I am going to a wedding.

I am sure all will go well without me!!

NISP Tea

Sheridan, Cassidy, & Samantha just hanging.

All the queens with their new titles.

Yesterday,Sunday, was our annual tea. A great event where many moms helped put it together as well as various lifetime queens as well.

Everyone brought an appetizer or a dessert. All girls earned an award of somekind and some of the girls received their new crowns. Abbi - Ambassador Queen, Allison - Supreme Hostess Queen, Samantha - Queen of Queens, Kristen - Scholarship Queen, Jaime - Royal Honor Queen and Olivia and Mary are new Lifetime Queens.

Great job for all those girls. They should be proud because the moms and other girls are!!!

NISP coming up soon! Any girl or woman can compete

Do you have a daughter who loves to be on stage? NISP is looking for girls from ages 4-6 Tiny Little Miss and Ages 7-8 Little Miss to compete for their frist crown. Northern IL Scholarship program, a pageant with a purpose, Community Service. We have... no girls competing in these age categories & we want your little ones. This is a natural pageant not a glitz!!! check this site: www.nisprogram.com . It is not too late, Competition is Nov 1, 2009 at Round Lake Beach Civic Center. We do community service anywhere needed but especially Lake County and McHenry County IL. come to as many or few activities throughout the year as you want. Looks good on resujmes for adjults & for college applications for kids. Don't want to compete, become a community ambassador, get crown & sash & be one of the girls, come cheer us on!!! Join in the good deeds of community service & a great mentor for the litte ones & fun too. Ages 4 on up to women, married or single!!! Say Sheridan Referred you too, please!! And tell us you are going to compete or be an ambassador. Learn more on website!!!
www.nisprogram.com

Support from Friends

We are very lucky, Sheridan and I that is. We have a great support group. Tonight especially with our friend Sam. She came over and pushed Sheridan and coached her on her modeling routines to add some bounce and definiteness.

I worked with Sheridan on her walk and reminded her of what Tiffany taught her, how to walk and I also showed her a way to add natural swagger to her step.

Sam also went over her NISP speech. Got her to review it and SLOW DOWN. Remember they always talk faster on stage because they are nervous or excited so practice going slow and slow down. The speech for NISP is the person I most admire. She chose me, her mom again. So sweet but not necessary, but she did that last year too!!!

Sheridan is a great kid and she will be really ready and spunky by Nov !. Guaranteed.

Sheridan's Rock outfit

Last night, while Sheridan was at play practice I went to our local Justice store to find Sheridan her "rock" outfit for her two coed commercials on "rock the vote" and "kid rock".

I put the clothes on hold and then after play practice I grabbed her and took her to the store b/f it closed.

She liked what I picked out and we get a decent deal at 40% off the price of the clothing.

Now she just needs to work on memorizing the new commercials.

Seamstress and Suits

Met with Suzy Madrigal today, a seamstress in Chicago. She is amazing. She was referred to my by Jennifer Long Hyman, recently married, yeah Jennifer.

Suzy is going to fix 3 of sheridan's pageant dresses, take them in and lengthen them. They will be gorgeous but expensive at $45 for each one, I paid less than that for two of the 3 b/c they were on sale b/c the store was closing UGH.

Awesome suit will be $95. She better wear it A LOT!

Thanks to Sam she is also designing a suit for us, based on Sam's drawing. Coral suit with brown accents. It will look amazing. Now i have to awit the email with the costs...ugh.

I have to buy sheridan's taupe character shoes too, another $35 more ughs.

We then went to Jennifer's great house and we went over the giveaway items. She gave us our 1/2 of the giveaways. The bracelets are great and we took one poster of Chicago with the lights for the olympics in the skyline buildings, so cool.

We need to order our buttons and business cards this weekend.
Pageants coming up quickly, wish Sheridan luck!

Coed Weekend meeting with Director from IL

We met with Michael Galanes from Little Miss Perfect fame, he hosts the show, is the IL American Coed pageant director. He is soooo great. So kind, talented and smart and so young looking.

All the IL contestants for nationals met Saturday for a two hour meeting. We have a total of 12 girls competing. Two for Victory the sister pageant to American Coed and 10 for Americna Coed. The meeting was great. We talked about how the optionals and the queens part of the pageant. The same judges judging optionals judge the victory queens pageant. A different set of judges judge the American Coed Queens part of the pageant.

The American Coed Queen pageant consists of 5 girls at a time going into a room in front of 5 judges, they each introduce themselves and model their interview suit and then submit to the judges in individual interviews and rotate. Sheridan has to get a new suit and taupe shoes. We are meeting with a Seamstress/dressmaker tomorrow to have a nice suit of brown and coral - her colors be made. We are also having her dresses all adjusted, she grew since we bought them and they need to be floor length so they need to be lengthened and taken in too.

For optionals the judges are on the left of the stage when on the stage and for the queens part they are on the right of the stage.

On Sunday we had a coaching/private meeting with Michael and Krystal Williams - his assistant and the person who may take over as director of IL pageant. She knows Coed because she competed in prior years.

We came prepared but learned a lot. Michael gave us two new actress routines to learn, a new speech for optionals as well and a new intro for the interview portion. Sheridan was like, Oh My God, how am i going to learn all of this, but she is already on her way. She has a great knack for learning and memorizing and will then make it her own.

I have to get her a new outfit for actress. She has a "rock" theme in her two routines so we are creating a rockers outfit.

So much to do, so little time. We still need more sponsors too but I havent made calls lately. Picked up $25 from Jamaican Gardens in Libertyville, our latest sponsor.

We also picked out a new photo to submit for photgenic - need to send that in and swap it out for the old one.

That about sums most of it up.
Need to have a suit made and buy taupe shoes.
Need to have dresses taken in and lengthened
Need to learn new intro
need to learn new speech
need to learn two new actress routines.

But we are still having fun, I think.

Missing Man in Mundelein Found

Just received an updated that Brandon Weinfurteris safe at home. No details, but the family sends their thanks for all of the help, searches and prayers.

Man Missing in Mundelein

There is a man missing in Mundelein, if you see him please contact police.
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/mundelein/news/1816548,mu-missing-mundelein-man-100909-s1.article

Police in Mundelein are asking for help in finding a missing man whose family is concerned about his well being.
Brandon J. Kirchner-Wenfurter was reported missing just after midnight Friday by family members, according to a release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Kirchner-Wenfurter, 20, left Libertyville Acura, where he works, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday and has not been in contact with family since, the release said.He was last seen wearing dark blue pants and a light blue shirt with his name tag. He is 5-foot-9, 135 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair. He was last seen driving a 2002 black Acura MDX with a plate number of X308 403. Libertyville Acura is located at 1620 S Milwaukee Ave. in Libertyville, but Kirchner-Wenfurter resides in Mundelein. Anyone with information regarding Kirchner-Wenfurter's whereabouts is asked to contact Det. Bob Devee at (847) 377-4147 or (847) 549-5200.
- Sun-Times News Group

libertyville township meeting

Last night was an excellent Libertyville Township Meeting. The assessor, Peggy Freese, was asked by the supervisor to come and do a presentation about her job, her department and what they do and how they do or don't effect the tax rates.

She did a great presentation, very thorough. You could see how knowledgeable she was about her job, how much she enjoyed it and wanted to do a good job and is more than willing to field questions. I was very impressed and appreciative of her job and what she does.

The rest of the meeting was a typical meetingk, approving last meeting's minutes, approving the bills, hearing about the # of families our food pantry helped this month, it was 238 or so and over 700 families.

I won't be at the next meeting in two weeks because we are going out of town.

It would be great if more of the community would come and see what we do and ask questions and be involved.

Donations/Giveaways/Sponsors

Sheridan and I have worked really hard to get giveaways, sponsors and donations to help get money for the National Coed pageant.

Last week I called the Chicago Mayor's events office and they referred us to the Olympic office b/c I was inquiring about pins they donated last year to Amanda Luther Miss Chicago IL Junior Teen. Jennifer Long, her mom, told us what she did and I agreed to call for both our girls and then Jennifer would pick up something if we got it.

The Chicago Olympic 2016 office said they would donate about 100 bracelets and we were hoping for about 150 - 75 per kid. Now that the olympics did not pan out we definitely were hoping for more. Jennifer went Tuesday to pick up the donations. They gave her 150 + bracelets, 4 Olympic Skyline Chicago Posters and two Michael Phelps posters.

I am suggesting we sell the Phelps posters and two of the Olympic skyline posters on Ebay and split the proceeds for pageant fundraising money. Then we use the bracelets as our giveaways as planned. That is why they donated this stuff.

Sheridan and I also got the following donations; Gift certificates or gift cards from Buffalo Wild Wings, Famous Daves, Corner Bakery, Dover Straits, Taylor Street Pizza, Pizza Hut-Mundelein, Ruby Tuesday, Arbys, Mickey Finns, The Silo, Baker's Square, Culvers-Libertyville, TGI Fridays, Zanies and Bill's Pizza Pub.

We received sponsorship from IHope-Vernon Hills, Serendipity, The Present Moment, Berry Tires, and Jamaica Gardens, so far.

We sold raffle tickets to Shepard Chevrolet, Mario Soria, and AlMart.

We did 5 fundraisers, a Libby Liu event, 3 bake sales and selling glow sticks. We raised about $340.

Last Bake Sale at Prairie Crossing

Well it was very chlly today, VERY chilly, but a better week in sales than last week.
We brought homemade brownies, rice krispy treats and chocolate cookies, all available for $1. We also brought homemade hot chocolate mmmm. from milk, hot cocoa and sugar. Sheridan got the exact recipe for me off the internet b/c my two containers of hot cocoa didnt have it. I usually guestimate but because I was making a big container full I wanted exact measurements.

We sold about 8 cups, so that was good I brought it too.

We made about $32 today. Some people buy, some people donate, but all people are generous. It was a cold day at the farmers market but it was quite a success.

Still trying to sell a few more ads to get to the fourth page and get the pink sash and crown with pink stones. We still have a number of gift certificates for sale too. All at 10% off, a great discount off face value, I think.

Tonight Sheridan and I worked on her community service poster for NISP. I need to take a photo and post it and also worked on the scrapbook for the national contest of American Coed. It was a rocky start and then we got busy. Fun but still have more to do.

Update on American Coed Nationals - giveaway donations yeah

So we are working selling ads for Coed National pageant in Orlando,FL at Thanksgiving. We have sold a little over two pages and with the optionals of Speech and Photogenic they each count as 1/2 a page so we are at a little over 3 pages. We want 4 because then Sheridan can win a cool Pink banner and Crown with pink stones.

So today and every day or so I make at least 5 calls to introduce Sheridan and try to sell ads and get monetary sponsors. I have another email to send out today and sent two out yesterday and need to keep following up.

I have to send in the CD with all the pages for the Ad book but will keep trying to sell. We are waiting on one from Buffalo Wild Wings, should have it tomorrow and then I can overnight it.

Any way, Sheridan's sister queen is Amanda Luther, who is Miss Chicago Illinois Junior Teen. Her mom is Jennifer Long and she has been trying to contact the Chicago Mayor's special events department to try and get the girls to take a photo with the Mayor and to get a donation.

In this national system they do a cookie exchange, you have to bake and bring a dozen cookies, they also do a gift exchange. You are supposed to try and get a donation from the community you represent. Last year Jennifer got about 75 Chicago Olympic pins. So this year I am calling for both of us. The city had nothing b/c of financial reasons, bad year, economy and all.
Because they were olympic pins they referred me to the olympic committee and i reached someone and they said they would donate 100 bracelets. I think they are that rubber kind.

They called me today and also emailed to confirm and Amanda's mom is picking them up tomorrow. Yeah us. We are only getting 100 but Jennifer is going to try to get more because we really need about 60-70 per kid because there should be about that many kids competing, but I am thinking it will be more like 50 with the economy and I know the pageant is suffering a little this year too. We will see. But one more goal down, donations for the gift exchange, check that off the list.

School District 76 board

Tonight I interviewed for an open position on the District 76 School Board. there wer 6 members present and I was interviewed for about a 1/2 hour. It seems a member had to resign b/c they were too busy with other obligations. Many of the current members were first appointed and then re-elected.

Some have been on the board going on their 2nd term others as new as under 1 year. If I am chosen I would be appointed and then up for reelection april 2011.

There are 4 applicants.
I think I would do a good job and am interesting in getting on the board but if they have a better or more qualified candidate then choosing them would be right.

They interviewed 3 of the 4 applicants tonight and the last one will be interviewed in two weeks at the next meeting. I think I responded to all their questions well and hope I am seriously being considered. I do need to send a thank you note too. Look for future posts to see what happens.

Fundraising Grasylake Prairie Crossing Farmers Market Bake Sale

Yesterday Sheridan and I got up at 630 and left the house at 730 to set up for our bake sale at the Prairie Crossing Farmers Market in Grayslake.

We stopped to buy "home made" (made by Sunset Foods) chocolate chip cookies and I bagged them two for a dollar; because Sam, who is going with us to the National Coed pageant made homemade m&m and chocolate chip cookies but then they were wrapped and left on the oven overnight and the oven was left on and they all got ruined. Or so she tells me. She didn't come help either. I told her if she couldn't be there that would be okay but hope she was telling me the truth. She has no reason to lie. It sound like much havoc at her house yesterday and too busy. Sam is awesome, but she can overschedule because she is so kind and likes to help EVERYONE. I always try to give her an out.

We did make Brownies, Rice Krispy Treats, Blueberry muffins. We sold about $20 worth of baked goods, no water this week. It was very cold/cool out. With me buying the chocolate chip cookies we actually made about $12. But we had fun and it is a good experience.

We will be back one more week. There are actually two weeks left of this farmers market but we can't be there the 10th because Sheridan and I are meeting with Michael Galanes the IL pageant director for Coed for training, practice, rehearsal or whatever you call it to get ready for nationals.

I will post pictures later too. I did not bring the camera in yet.

Pageant Bake Sale and Buttons

I came home tonight and made goodies for our bake sale fundraiser for tomorrow.
I made a dozen (12) blueberry muffins; 8 chocolate chewy brownies; 14 Rice Krispy treats and Sam is making double batches of palm sized chocolate chip cookies and m&M cookies - all for a dollar.

We will be at the Prairie Crossing Farmers market from 8 until 12. Come visit us and buy some goodies.

I am also having 3" button pins made with a picture of Sheridan saying "Good Luck, Sheridan" and the parents at her school are all very willing to buy a button for $3 and have the kids wear the button the Friday b/f the week of Thanksgiving to show support and give well wishes.

The teacher may have the class make good luck cards too so she can have them and read them on the plane. These two last ideas are surprises and she has no idea this is being done. I thought it would be cool.

Picture of Sheridan with Libertyville Township Elected officials

Sheridan came and had her picture taken with the elected officials.
See photo included. In the picture is Bill Morgan, the Highway Commissioner, Terry White, Sari Hurtig, both trustees Kathleen O'Connor, the supervisor Robin O'Connor and Rick Mittelman also trustees and Anne Hansen the Clerk. We are sending in the picture for her national pageant because they like to see how the contestants are meeting officials and getting involved with the communities. How convenient that Sheridan has a mom who is in politics.

Sheridan with Libertyville Township Elected Officials

Libertyville township meeting and TOI Dinner

Last night was a township meeting.

It was a great meeting, brief and to the point.

We went over the $90,000 money we have budged to donate to various non for profit charities in Libertyville Township who meet the criteria and apply. Of the 25 applicants only one did not get processed b/c they did not meet the criteria or supply all required information. They were advised as well.

We made final votes last night and it went quit well and quickly.

We also voted on next years calendar and decided that meetings will remain 2x per month on Thursdays but will switch to 7pm instead of 730. therefore if there is a meeting that runs long it will not be as late.

Tonight Kathleen and her husband, Anne and myself attended the Township Officials dinner in Lake Villa at the Lehman mansion. It is a Township officials of Lake County organization and was very lovely. I have attached those pictures too.

Libertyville Township Meeting This week

I am a Libertyville Township Trustee. There are 4 of us and one supervisor, Kathleen O'Connor,a former trustee and former social worker at the Township. A Clerk, Anne Hansen, Highway Commissioner, Bill Morgan, and an Assessor, Peggy Freese.

We meet 2x a month on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 730-?? about 830 typically. We have a few in the community who attend regularly. Libertyville Township is a 6 mile by 6 mile area covering the communities of Libertyville, Green Oaks, part of Vernon Hills, Part of Mundelein, a very little part of Waukegan, Mettawa and Abbott.

We have a food pantry where families in the community can get food on Tuesdays from 10 am - 3 pm and must show they live in the community covered by Libertyville Township. - residency requirement. People in need can get food 2x a month.

Other service offered include a Community Emergency Fund, and offer a Meeting Room for public use at a low rent ($15 fee which goes towards the Community Emergency Fund). The Township also offers a General Assistance fund and we have a social worker who administers the fund, applications are necessary and she is great at assisting people or sending them to other community programs that can assist where we may not be able to.

Currently, at the next meeting, we are voting on how to disburse $90,000 we have budgeted as donations to non for profit organizations in our community who filled out applications to apply for monies to help sustain their organizations. This is a hard process, deciding who gets how much money. Come join us to see what is going on.

We meet at the Libertyville Township Building at 359 Merrill Court in Libertyville.

We are also looking for organizations who would like to join us in leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of a regularly scheduled meeting.

Would love to meet any of the readers of my blog!!!

Bake Sale Success

Yesterday we spent the morning at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake at a farmer's market selling our baked goods to fundraise for American Coed Scholarhip pageant.

There was an art fair yesterday, SURPRISE. We had about 90 pieces of baked goods and I thought it would be too much, if just the farmer's market, but with the Art fair we had just barely enough. We sold all the palm sized chocolate chip cookies and M&M cookies, Samantha made them and they looked and smelled great. There were none leftover so we didnt get to taste them. Maybe next week.

We had Rice Krispy treats, blueberry and banana chocolate chip muffins and I brought water to sell too. We sold about 25 bottles of the 30 bottles brought.

Our sale was quite a success.

About Nationals for American Coed and Bake Sale Fundraiser

Last night and tonight Sheridan and I were baking in order to have a bake sale at the Prairie View Crossing Farmers Market. This market is located off 137/45 in Grayslake accross the street from the Prairie Crossing Metra station.

I called some farmers markets in the area that were held on Saturdays to see if Sheridan, Samantha and I could do a bake sale in order to fundraise for our National Coed trip. At some you have to show you are a non for profit organization at others you have to live in that community in order to participate. There are many rules.

We just wanted to get into a local farmers market, while they were still being held and the weather as still nice, and have a few sales to see if we can fundraise for our trip.

We are trying to fundraise to raise money for optionals at competition and for Samantha to cover the cost of her plane ticket. Samantha is going with us as a Friend, Coach, Mentor, Hair stylist and all around moral support. She is a college student who has been in pageantry herself for at least 10 years. She is great to have as an "adult" friend as well as a coach for Sheridan.

If I tell Sheridan what to do then she hears Mom telling her what to do, but with Sam it is a friend and mentor, someone closer to her age and she listens. It works out quite well.

Anyway, back to the bake sale... Samantha is baking palm sized M&M cookies and palm sized Chocolate chip cookies and her mom baked a few loafs of bread. I baked some blueberry muffins, Banana Chocolate chip muffins and rice crispy treats and brownies.

We are selling water too. I also have a number of donated gift certificates/cards to sell at discounted prices for some local restaurants like Dover Straits, Taylor Street Pizza in Mundelein, Pizza Hut in Mundelein, Zanies comedy club tickets and others.

We are also putting out a collection/donation box so people can donate money if they want.

We have already sold glow sticks at the fireworks/concert at Schaumberg Days on Labor Day Weekend and made about $110. That all goes towards the pageant and payments toward plane tickets and optionals. All the money is going towards this scholarship program.

We have to sell at minimum two full add pages which are at $600 each and then you pay for optionals, Talent, Photogenic and Speech are $300 and then count towards additional add pages. Other optionals like Acting, Modeling, and Cheerleading are $100 each and aren't given as credit for ad pages.

We have gotten about 5-6 small sponsors, had many gift card/certificate donations and we are selling the gift cards to use like sponsorship money to pay for the optionals. We are using garage sale money, money from bake sale and selling glow sticks, money from going on surveys, queensational makeovers, and money from selling raffle tickets that another queen is handling - a 50/50 raffle where 200 tickets are being sold for $50 each and a person has a chance to win $5000. We make $20 off each ticket sold. We only sold about 3 on our own and many as a group with the other queens.

I have brownies in the oven, finished another batch of rice crispy treats and have to go to bed to get ready for tomorrow.

Wish us luck!!!

ACORN Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now

Did you see the articles about ACORN in the news. I listen to talk radio, WLS 890AM which unfortunately is more republican then democrat, but always interesting to listen to and they have a lot of political figures come talk on the station.

Yesterday on their morning show, Don and Roma Wade talked with Charlie Gibson and they asked him a news question about ACORN and what he thought about the scandal, and how the senate voted 83 to 7 to withdraw or no longer fund the federal money to ACORN.

Two of the 7 who did not vote for the withdrawal were our own IL senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris. After seeing all the bad publicity about ACORN, the undercover tapes of how they were willing to help some prostitutes with a brothel or what I heard was helping working girls realign their job so they can get a mortgage, a house loan and have this woman and a man (the pimp)"change" their occupations on the applications to allow them to get a mortgage. Either way, we all know that President Obama was affiliated with ACORN so again you cant help to wonder if the reason our two IL senators didnt vote to withdraw the monies was b/c they didnt want to indicate any scandals with Obama related to ACORN or maybe just didnt want to piss him off.

Either way, politicians should have and need to have morals. Obviously what has been going on wtih ACORN is wrong and any normal person would vote to NOT allow them our hard earned Tax money to go to such an organization. These Senators should be ashamed with themselves. At minimum maybe they could have abstained or only voted as "present" but not cast a vote or maybe they just should not have shown up for that vote, but to vote to allow the money still be given to ACORN, what an abomination.

I can only hope to give them the benefit of the doubt by thinking they knew the majority would vote to stop the money to ACORN and so they voted Yes to show support for the President, not upset him or make him look bad b/c of his relationship with ACORN. Yes, that must be it.

http://www.projo.com/news/johnmulligan/acorn_whitehouse_17_09-17-09_9QFOJ3V_v10.3985ece.html

In consideration of this article, above, it could be that we are just blaming the whole organization when only there are few who have caused this bad opinion of this group ACORN. ACORN has had previous scandal when they were trying to get people registered to vote and claims they were signing up anyone and not properly signing people up. This may be true and might not. maybe it would be better to investigate various ACORN sights before making the hasty decision of refusing all the government money. Or maybe it is better to just refuse them and let them have the burden to prove they are not doing anything wrong, or clean up the sites that are and then reapply for the federal monies. Hmmmm it is important to look at and see both sides of a story which we dont always hear in the media.

NISP Northern IL Scholarship Program - A pageant with a purpose

So because Sheridan had to take a few years off from the local Mundelein pageant system we looked into other pageant programs. One we found that was both local and affordable was Northern IL Scholarship Program - a pageant with a purpose. What is the purpose you ask? Community service.

We love this group of girls and women because you don't have to compete in the pageant to be in the program. You can pay $40 for a crown/sash and t-shirt and be a Community Ambassador. this is also great for girls who dont want to be in the pageant or are in other pageant systems and can't hold other titles but want to participate. It is a great way to be involved with so many different community service programs.

Sheridan competed with 5 girls. She was first runner up which is a title of Princess Ambassador. We have been involved for the past year, the next pageant is this November 1, 2009 where Sheridan will compete againt to win her division and if she doesn't win or place we will pay to be an Ambassador b/c we like the system so much. The women are great and so are all the queens. Anyone from age 3 + can compete. Yes older women too, there is a classic division for women I believe over 35.

This year we have helped at a blood drive, (by the way, I say we b/c mom, that is me,always has to go to, or at least to most of the things, sometimes other moms will take Sheridan or we carpool), anyway, we bowled for brain injury, we fund raised for the food pantry, we stocked and shelved and sorted food for Stomp out Hunger at the Beth Am Food pantry, we welcomed veterans visiting the Washington DC WWII memorial with Honor Flight Chicago, we greeted people at a nursing home, we decorate bulletin boards at two nursing homes, we Walked for Cancer and Helped fix up a Waukegan School Park and there are so much more things we did or could have done. Just a great group and all is affordable.

This pageant has 3 optionals you must participate in with a total of 6 if you wan to compete in al optionals as well as having to answer two questions on stage - a change from last year when they were individually interviewed. They all have to give a speech on a topic based on their age range and for a specific amount of time depending on age as well. They model their gown too.

The optionals include Essay on a choice of 3 topics, Poster board on Community service topic, submitting a photo for photogenic, performing a talent, performing a modeling routine in a fashion outfit and performing a modeling routine in a sports outfit.

Sheridan will do all optionals again this year.

There is a special if you buy/pay for all optionals.

You are eligible for at least two crowns, the title in your age range and princess and then possibly elite if you pay for that option. there is also a friendship and hostess title you can be eligible for if you have at least two people who you bring in, they say you recommended them or advised them of the program, or if you sell two full ad pages at $100 a page - but you can sell in increments to make up the $200.

Of course if you dont win or dont want to compete you can pay to me a community ambassador. At the end of the year before the pageant, upcoming in October, we have a Tea and there you may win other titles as well as special awards.

We love NISP and if you are looking for a good starter pageant or one with a lot of community service or a local pageant or one that is just fun and less political then this is a great place to be. NISP will let you hold other titles as well which other systems may not.

If you decide you want to be in NISP comment or email me or look up http://www.nisprogram.com/ . Please mention Sheridan recommended you. We would love any girl or woman to join.

State Representative Kathy Ryg Resigns

To all who dont know, State Rep. Kathy Ryg in district 59 resigned as of the 31 of August. There were many people interested in being appointed to that position, including myself.

The Lake County Democratic party leader along with the Northfield Township Dems representative, as well as the Wheeling Township Dems and a person representing the Vernon Township dems and lastly a representative from Speaker Madigans office all were available for leading the interview and had a part in the decision.

I was one of seven candidates who interviewed along with the village "mayor" Elliott Hartstein, and the Buffalo Grove Park District board member Larry Reiner. Also one of the Vernon Township trustees also applied along with myself. We were each given 10 minutes to present our case, why interested, our goals, political beliefs, and how we can fundraise to name a few things to discuss.

I had concerns about some of the people being looked at, including a new, but well known trustee from Buffalo Grove who has been causing many problems at their town meetings. She was also being considered by the GOP so that even disturbed me more, you need to pick a side and stay with it or be an independant.

Glad to say a decision was made and although I was not chosen, I fully support and am happy with the person they chose, Carol Sente. See article
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/northbrook/news/1770300,vh-sente-091709-s1.article
I wish her much success.

I have to add that State Senator Terry Link was kind enough to call me today to thank me for interviewing and appreciated my concerns in having the best person selected. I made sure to let him know I am here to help the Democratic party in Lake County and would like to be considered as other opportunities arise.

Sheridan first pageant competitions.

Day two of my "new" blog. Wow, where to begin. Sheridan, my now 10-1/2 year old daughter started pageants when she was 7 years old. Her first pageant was running in the 6-8 year old division in Mundelein, IL. In Lake County, IL community pageants are a big thing. Most communities in Lake county have a gown pageant. They all used to lead into the Lake County Fair pageant which then leads to the Illinois state fair pageant. However a few years ago they changed the town pageants so that now all the local town queens compete in a Lake County Pageant in Waukegan, IL in November. Only the local queens can compete. In the Lake County fair pageants anyone can sign up and compete.

At Lake County Fair the age ranges are 6-8 little; 11-13 Junior; 16-21 Miss. Mundelein follows those age ranges. In other towns they follow the age ranges of the Lake County pageant and they are as follows; 6-9 little; 10-15 (I think) Junior; 16-21 Miss.

Because we are in Mundelein, Sheridan competed at age 7 and did not place, in fact she was horrible and it really stressed me out. She was fidgeting, holding her dress and she was talking with a girl on stage who kept talking to her. She didnt want to be rude and tell her to be quiet but that is exactly what she should have done. She learned a lot from age 7 to 8, after we watched the video the week before the pageant when she was 8. That year she was amazing and made 2nd runner up - I was so proud and happy for her. I have to say that you are not judged by the when you are off stage and I wish these girls were because some are very genuine, nice kids and others when they are off stage are beasts and should not be holding a crown.

When the girl giving up her crown was wishing all the girls good luck, one girl in particular said "I dont need luck because I am going to win". Needless to say she did, but I thought that was the worst comment, and wished a judge had seen that. It was so inappropriate. Things like that are so upsetting in the pageant world and what gives the pageant systems a bad reputation. All girls are not like that, in fact most aren't but that is what we often see and it gives the public a bad taste of what pageantry is about.

What I really like about the Mundelein pageant system is that all the girls, the queen and the runners up are used in the parade and in various volunteer programming. They all win awards. Sheridan as first runner up won a $75 check from the city as well as many gift cards and little gifts. These were added bonuses and a great surprise. In other communities, like Vernon Hills they do not use the runners up nor do they win prizes. Mundelein happens to do an excellent job.

Because Sheridan now had to take a two year break from Mundelein, I looked into other pageant systems for her to compete in so she can stay fresh and remember what she needs to do. We then found NISP, Northern IL Scholarship Program - a Pageant with a purpose. I will explain about it on a separate blog.

Re-Starting my blog

So the past few days I was thinking what is my life most involved with and realized I am so busy with my daughter and Pageants and myself and Politics. Therefore I will be talking about both in this blog. I realize that politics includes being political and we all have to be political to function in society, in most groups including pageants as well as in a political role. How cool that the two can be linked together. Therefore in the next weeks you will learn about my road into politics and my daughters role and life in pageantry. Since my daughter is young it is our life in pageantry I guess you would say.

This will be my first post while running for Libertyville Township Trustee, April 7, 2009
It seems there are 4 open positions and 4 of us running, not much a contest.
Although it is nice to run unopposed, I do believe people deserve a choice and with only 4 people running for 4 spots, that doesn't leave any options.

A healthy bit of competition is good and important in a political race.
I have replied to the requests of the Pioneer Press in reply to various questions they asked the candidates. I still have to reply to the 2-3 pages of questions the Daily Herald wants answered.

If you have any questions as to why I am running, what I believe in, or things you want to get done through the Township of Libertyville, I am open to hear your comments, questions and suggestions. Together we can aim to make a difference.

Sari Hurtig