The party’s over, but it was a sensational and fun 40th anniversary Good Old Days celebration from Sept. 4 to 7, probably because the monthly sessions devoted to careful planning were attended by a majority of the participants.

That Friday morning, the meaning of Good Old Days sounded loud and clear to Winfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rich Bysina. He overheard children’s voices and looked out his office door to see a father walking with two children south on Beecher Street toward Winfield Elementary School. The little girl was actually jumping into the air and pointing south on Church Street to where the giant slide and Ferris wheel were located, obviously making some comment to her dad.

“And that’s what Good Old Days is all about,” Bysina said to himself.

The plentiful menu of foods was varied, thanks to Food Court co-chairmen Regina Czech and Dan Keck. Chinese Ho sold egg rolls, vegetable fried rice and combination plates. St. John’s Knights of Columbus offered pork chops and Italian beef sandwiches, perfectly put together by Bob Petitti, as Ed Hess lent a helping hand. Caliendo’s served large slices of different kinds of pizza, and Brian’s Charhouse dished up steaks and seafood.

There was no shortage of live entertainment, including the Friday night lineup that showcased the Street Legal Band from 5 to 8 p.m., sponsored by Central DuPage Hospital, followed by Rob Russo and The Loose Screws along with the I-Lites from 8 to 11 p.m.

Library events

Two-part creative writing workshops will be offered by the Winfield Public Library to sixth- to eighth-grade students from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Fridays, Oct.  10 and 17, at 0S291 Winfield Road. On the first date, students will learn how to use their own experiences and observations to create story ideas, characters and emotions. At the second workshop, participants will learn how to further develop their story or transform it into a different format. Registration is required. For more information, call the library at (630) 653-7599.

The weekly fall storytime schedule invites 2-year-olds at 9:30 a.m. Mondays or Thursdays; and 3- to 5-year-olds at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Mondays or 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Registration is required, and events continue through Thursday, Nov. 6.

A Halloween puppet show will entertain at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Children and parents are invited to the drop-in show presented by the staff. Library Friends will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in the library’s large meeting room.
 
Fore

The Winfield Golf League wrapped up its season with the annual banquet Sept. 16 at St. Andrews Golf Club, where the league had played all summer. After 20 weeks of play, Tony Albergo was in first place, with John Karwoski in second, Don Jeschke in third and Dale Kenny in fourth.

Fest fun for all

Many said it was the longest Good Old Days parade they could remember. And joining the parade for the first time in many years was the West Chicago Community High School Marching Band and Color Guard, who had called the Winfield Chamber to say they wanted to participate. One of the other hits in the parade was Miss Illinois USA Shannon Lersch.

Winfield Historical Society members displayed the more than 50 pictures of St. John’s fire entered in its coloring contest. Winfield Fire Chief Phil DiMenza presented awards to winners in the various age categories, which spanned children and adults. Although society members did not hold an open house as in past years, they did have an awards ceremony with all the entrants’ pictures exhibited. Lemonade and cookies were served and every guest could choose a colored pencil emblazoned with Winfield Historical Society to take home.

Now that all the signs, carnival rides and tents are gone, life in the village can return to normal.

Thank You Party

All the volunteers who contributed time, energy and talent to make the 40th Good Old Days the best in recent years will be invited to a Thank You Party, whose time, date and place will be announced soon. The event doubles as an opportunity to make suggestions and recommendations on how to improve next year’s festival, scheduled from Sept. 10 to 13, 2009. People who have comments — positive or negative — don’t have to wait until the party, but can forward them to the chamber office at (630) 682-3712. Like last year, they will be included in a questionnaire in the chamber’s October edition of Winfield Stuff to draw important feedback from residents.

This time around, the event’s biggest change was the expansion of the Lions Beer Garden, which according to comments worked out well, with most visitors able to move more freely about the festival grounds.