St. John’s parish will dish up its annual chili cook-off Saturday, Nov. 1, in Sebahar  Hall, after the 5 p.m. Mass. Anyone who has a great chili recipe is encouraged to participate. Call Linda Clare at (630) 231-1414 or Tricia Danner at (630) 876-4999 for details. Cost is $5 for all one can eat, or $20 per family. Hot dogs and chips will be available for purchase.
 
Meeting change
Winfield Area Gardeners has changed the time of its November and December meetings to accommodate “Snack and Chat.” Instead of starting at 7 p.m., the group will gather at 6:30 p.m., with programs commencing at 7 sharp. WAG members and guests will meet Tuesday, Nov. 4, in Winfield Community Bank, 27W111 Geneva Road. A Morton Arboretum instructor and expert in horticulture and landscape design will discuss “Pruning Tips and Favorite Gardening Tools.”

Candidates’ night
Winfield Chamber of Commerce will provide its annual Candidates’ Night Tuesday, Nov. 18. Four people will be elected to the board of directors for three-year terms from 2009 to 2011. There are 13 members on the board. Serving on the nominating committee are chamber President Patty Shupp, Linda Chirikos, John Czech, Matt Suddarth, Diane Moyers and Kate Doremus. Committee members met Oct. 13 to preview candidates, said Chamber Executive Director Rich Bysina. The entire board will be sworn in at the annual inaugural dinner in January.  

Movie Fest
Winfield Public Library plans a Movie Fest from 9:15 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 28, featuring “Monsters, Inc.” and “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas.” Refreshments will be served. Both movies are rated G. 

Turkey Shoot
Winfield Park District will host its 12th annual free throw shooting contest Saturday morning, Nov. 22. The age categories are fifth-graders through adults. First-place winners in each group will win an actual frozen turkey. Other prizes include ribbons and candy bags for younger children. Distance and basket height adjustments will be made for the younger age divisions. Cost for district residents is $4 in advance, $5 at the door, and $5 and $6, respectively, for nonresidents. The family rate for three or more people is $10 for residents, $12 for nonresidents.
 
WUMC
Winfield Community United Methodist Church members will collect hats, gloves, socks and scarves through Sunday, Oct. 19, for Public Action to Deliver Shelter. Donations for PADS can be placed in baskets in the church narthex, 0S347 Jefferson St.
The church choir rehearses at 7 p.m. every Monday, and everyone is welcome to join. 

‘Festive’ thanks
About two dozen Winfield Chamber members and guests who donated their time, energy and talent to make the 40th Good Old Days celebration a success were invited to a thank you party Sept. 23 in the Winfield Community Bank’s large meeting room. Hot and cold appetizers and beverages were served, and a message of gratitude was delivered by chamber President Patty Shupp. Everyone shared laughs, stories and ideas. There always is room for improvement, said Shupp, who thanked everyone for what they did to make the 2008 Good Old Days the best in years.

Record market 
Favorable weather and the high number of vendors helped make 2008 a record year for the Winfield Chamber’s Farmers Market, which closes Wednesday, Oct. 29.
The weather each week was sunny, cool and almost rain-free. This year’s market had a record 38 vendors. Four farms — Gunderson Orchards, Stojan’s Vegetables (the only Illinois farm and the one participating the longest in the market), Noffke Farms and Tidey Farms — sold fresh produce, a variety of apples (gala, honey crisp, Jonathan), potatoes, pumpkins, corn on the cob, squash, lettuce and nectarines.
Tidey Farms from Berrien Center, Mich., is a family operation. Kathy Tidey with daughter Jenna and parents Judy and Tom Zobel arrive at 7 a.m. each Wednesday to weigh and bag produce. The farmers market, sponsored by the Winfield Chamber  of Commerce, is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Prairie Trail shopping mall, County Farm and Geneva roads.

New trustee
Angel Oakley recently was appointed and sworn in as the new village trustee to replace Christine Petitti. Everyone is delighted, including Christine.