The Daily Chronicle from De Kalb, Illinois • Page 6

May 11, 2015 Daily Chronicle Section A Page 6 CONTACT: Inger Koch ikochshawmedia.com 'Mrs. Potts' coming to Sycamore On Thursday, step back in time to experience a first -person performance exploring an important invention that significantly improved the lives of women in the 1890s a cold-handled sad iron. Ellie Carlson will present "Mrs. Potts" and explore how her invention of an iron with a removable wooden handle made it easier to iron (it didn't burn your hand), and much quicker. At the Philadelphia Exposition in 1876, Mary Florence Potts' cold-handled sad iron was the toast of the fair.

She spent the next two decades touring the country with a promotional lecture. "Mrs. Potts" will visit Sycamore as a stop on her tour to promote her invention. She will discuss domestic life in the 19th century, the science and technology behind the development of her invention, and what it means for a woman to hold a U.S. Patent and manage her own affairs.

"Mrs. Potts" will appear in period costume circa 1893, returning from the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. She will be "stepping off the train," and will visit with local residents at the Chicago North Western Depot (the DeKalb County Community Foundation). She will provide examples of her invention and period-appropriate promotional materials. This presentation complements the Sycamore History Museum's current exhibit, "Connecting a Community: Photo provided Ellie Carlson will present "Mrs.

Potts" on May 14 at the DeKalb County Community Foundation's Freight Room in Sycamore. Beth Fowler dance school sets open house The Beth Fowler School of Dance St. Charles location has expanded and moved to a larger facility at 3720 Illinois Ave. in St. Charles.

An open house for the public will be held at the new location in the St. Charles Commons from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Open house activities include free classes for ages 3 and older taught by school staff and guest master teachers; entertainment provided by the school's dancers; free food and tours of the new facility. The dance school had its beginning in Genoa 31 years ago.

Five years ago, the school opened in St. Charles, and because of rapid growth, now needs a larger facility. The school is committed to both communities for generations to come. The school offers one- and two-week summer dance camps throughout July and August, with in-studio performances on the last day for family and friends. Following dance camp in August, there will be auditions for the Beth Fowler Dance Company and competition groups.

For the open house class schedule, schedules for the summer dance camps and other information, visit or call 630-945-3344. Girl Scout Troop 654 plans story time The public is invited to celebrate with Girl Scout Troop 654 on the completion of their Bronze Award with a pajama story time and grand opening of their Little Free Library. The event will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, 218 Somonauk St. in Sycamore.

Attendees are invited to wear their pajamas, listen to stories, snack on milk and cookies (gluten-free available), play some games, get a balloon animal and celebrate reading. There also will be a parent zone, where parents can relax while the children participate in activities. Astronomers plan star party The Northwest Suburban Astronomers, in cooperation with the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District, will host a public star party on Saturday at Afton Forest Preserve (north entrance) in DeKalb County. Look at stars, galaxies, nebulae and star clusters with the help of NSA member telescopes. Observing highlights will be Venus (early in evening) and Jupiter, globularopen clusters M3, M13 and M44, and galaxies M65 and M66 in the constellation Leo among others.

Dress for a chilly evening and bring a flashlight covered with red plastic or cellophane (red light preserves your night vision), also insect repellent if needed. Arrive around 8 p.m. (sunset is at 8:09 p.m.) or come early and hike the trails. Attendees are welcome to bring their own telescope or binoculars. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be canceled.

There is no cost to attend and no registration is required. Afton Forest Preserve is located at 13600 Crego Road, DeKalb, (approximately 1 mile east of Route 23 and 1 mile south of Perry Road). Park in the main parking lot and walk to the west where the group will be set up. For information, visit starz.html or www.nsaclub.org. day at the DeKalb County Community Foundation's Freight Room, 475 DeKalb Ave.

There is a charge of $5 a person. For information, call 815-895-5762 or visit sycamorehistory.org. The program is sponsored by the Mary E. Stevens Concert and Lecture Fund. How one railroad shaped a small town," which includes a section on the 1893's Chicago World's Fair.

Many people from Sycamore could have seen this new iron or even have met Mrs. Potts while visiting the fair. This program will be at 7 p.m. Thurs Exhibit to open at Ellwood House Museum the Ellwood mansion. The exhibit galleries in the Visitor Center are always free and are open to the public from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

daily, except Mondays. The Ellwood House Museum is located at 509 N. First St. in DeKalb. Call the Ellwood House office at 815-756-4609 or visit www.

ellwoodhouse.org for more information. The nonprofit Ellwood House Association operates the Ellwood House Museum in conjunction with the DeKalb Park District. Museum Studies Program. It provides a glimpse inside Harriet Ellwood's private collection of minerals, relics and curiosities. Displayed artifacts include items purchased and collected by Harriet during her world travels around the turn of the 20th century; many of the artifacts are listed on her original inventory.

The artifacts are exhibited in three oak display cases that originally lined Harriet's private museum, a structure she had built in 1905 and which still stands south of The public is invited to the Ellwood House Museum at 6 p.m. Wednesday for the 49th annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Ellwood House Association and the grand opening of a new exhibit. Both events are free to attend and will take place on the first floor of the Visitor Center. Refreshments will be provided. The exhibit, titled "Built by Barbed Wire: The Rise of an Industry and Development of a Grand Estate," is housed in the Joseph Towle Gallery, located inside a multi-car ga rage built for Perry and May Ellwood in 1912 (now a part of the Visitor Center).

Displayed artifacts showcase the legacy of the Ellwood family, including the history of Ellwood businesses and properties in DeKalb and around the country. Funding for the exhibit was provided by a grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation and through the generosity of Jerry and Cheryl Brauer. A section of the exhibit was developed by students in the Northern Illinois University Free community wellness event set Join us! Associated Bank CheckDebit Card Buy Back Program Bring in your Associated Bank debit cards and unused checks when you open any new checking account. We'll pay you for healthy living where people live, work and play. The primary goal is to eliminate barriers that are preventing kids, individuals and families from leading healthier lives.

A variety of events will be offered throughout the month in honor of Employee Health and Wellness month including Fit Fest and Bike to Work on May 15. For information about Fit Fest, call the Kishwaukee Family YMCA at 815-756-9577. May is Employee Health and Wellness month and Live Healthy DeKalb County has partnered with the Kishwaukee Family YMCA, KishHealth System, Suter Company and Old Second Bank to present Fit Fest, a noncompetitive one-mile walk on May 20. Fit Fest is a wellness event free and open to the community of all ages and ability levels. Wheelchairs and strollers are welcome.

The walk will be held on the grounds of Kishwaukee Hospital from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Fit Fest has been scheduled over a two-hour time span in both the morning and afternoon to allow participants to take a leisurely stroll or set a brisk pace. For those who want to take a longer walk, consecutive laps are encouraged.

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