In This Issue

Are You a Member?
Are you a member of Canal Corridor Association?  If not, consider joining today.  Memberships begin at just $35 per year, with discounts for multi-year memberships. Your gift will both provide fun CCA member benefits AND help build an exciting future for a region that brings to life a rich and vibrant past. Membership forms are available online.

If you are a member, thank you.  Please let us know if there is anything we can do to improve the membership experience.

Send eNews to a Friend

Help us build our mailing list and increase the number of people who receive Canal Passages eNews.  If you have a friend who would enjoy receiving Canal Passages eNews, please send them this issue by clicking here. If you received this message from a friend and like what you see, subscribe today!

Volunteers Wanted
Here's a great volunteer opportunity for fans of the Gaylord Building. We're looking for people to help staff the front desk. Its a great opportunity to share your love of this historic site with visitors. Hours are flexible. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Pat Chinderle, 815.588.1100, or pchinderle@canalcor.org.

Send Us Your News!
If you have an event, activity or brief news item you would like to see in eNews, please email us at enews@canalcor.org.

If you wish to unsubscribe from eNews, please use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this message or send an email to enews@canalcor.org.

Canal Corridor Association is a membership organization that preserves history, protects nature and open space, and creates destinations where people can learn and have fun in the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, from Lake Michigan in Chicago to the Illinois River in LaSalle/Peru. It enhances, raises awareness of and expands the parks, trails, landscape and historic sites that make the I&M Canal region a special place. CCA manages the Gaylord Building, a National Trust Historic Site, in Lockport, Illinois. One of the oldest industrial buildings in the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, the Gaylord Building is a model of adaptive reuse, featuring the Public Landing restaurant, canal exhibits and more.

CCA President's Note

Hello Everyone,

Great prizes are to be had! Each spring, CCA has a raffle at our annual Boat Captain’s Luncheon, which will be held this year on Monday, April 25. While we hope to see you at the event, you don’t need to attend to win.

Our prize list this year is led by American Airlines’ generous donation of two tickets to anywhere American flies in the continental United States. Our other prizes introduce you to some part of the I&M Canal Corridor.

Experience the newest tourism attraction in the Starved Rock area with an overnight stay and water park tickets at the Grand Bear Lodge – a perfect little getaway for children or grandchildren. This year we offer two golf packages: One at the new Bolingbrook Golf Club; the other at Nettle Creek Golf Course outside Morris.

It wouldn’t be a CCA raffle without a chance to learn, so enjoy two dinner/lectures for two at the Gaylord Building, our own National Trust Historic Site in Lockport, donated by CCA and the Public Landing Restaurant. How about a birds-eye view of the corridor and Chicago lakefront, courtesy of Lewis University, which has donated a twin-engine plane ride and lunch at the historic Fitzpatrick House.

You can’t truly enjoy the heritage corridor without a dinner with wines at the four-star Tallgrass Restaurant in Lockport. And if you’re inclined toward prehistory, you might like an exclusive opportunity to fossil hunt in the world-famous Mazon Creek for you and nine others, with a BBQ to follow.

Raffle tickets are $10 a piece or 7 for $50. You can send a check to CCA in Lockport or call Pat at 815.588.1100 for more information. Both the luncheon and the raffle are important to CCA’s ability to fulfill our mission. Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

Ana B. Koval

President & CEO

Spring Dinner/Lecture Series Kicks-off at Gaylord Building

There's still time to make reservations for the Spring 2005 Gaylord Building Dinner/Lecture series.  The first lecture, scheduled for Thursday, March 10, features a lecture by CCA's own Ron Vasile on the historic rivalry between Lockport and Joliet.  Dinner consists of your choice of grilled salmon or sauteed chicken breast with picotta sauce (both come with wild rice and green beans almondine and strawberry cheesecake for desert). 

A single dinner/lecture is $25 for CCA members or $30 for non-members, while a package of three lectures is $65 for members and $80 for non-members.  For required reservations or further information contact Pat Chinderle, 815.588.1100 or pchinderle@canalcor.org.

Resource Conservation & Development in Grundy County

The Grundy County Planning and Zoning Committee and the Morris Community Foundation Open Space and Conservation Task Force want your help in exploring ways to accomplish open space and conservation goals.  On Thursday, March 10 they are hosting an informational meeting on a federal program, called Resource Conservation and Development, that can help develop, improve and conserve natural resources.  The meeting features three panelists with experience in the program and other conservation activities.  Anyone interested in conservation or open space development should plan on being there.  The meeting begins at 7 pm at the Morris Area Public Library.  More information is available through the Morris Community Foundation, 815.941.0853

Upcoming Events

Here is a sampling of events happening in the corridor.  For a more complete listing of winter and spring events, visit the eNews Calendar.  Don't see your event listed here?  Please send it to enews@canalcor.org.

Saturday, March 12--Migratory Bird Walk, Lake Renwick Heron Rookery, Plainfield

Migratory Bird Hikes offer a golden opportunity to see countless birds visiting Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve. Groups will meet at the Lake Renwick Visitors' Center. Please bring binoculars and field guides. This program, for ages ten and older, runs from 8 to 10 am.  Also on March 19 and 26.  For further information call 815.727.8700.

Sunday, March 13--"Second Sundays" Lecture Series, LaSalle

In March the "Second Sundays" series features “Mary Hegeler Carus: The Quiet Trailblazer” from 4 to 5:30 pm at the Hegeler Carus Mansion.  Admission is free and includes refreshments and a brief mansion tour after a one-hour talk. For further information call 815.224.5892.

Sunday, March 13--"Super Sunday Program", Joliet Area Historical Museum
Learn about the history of St. Patrick’s Day and discover the story of Joliet’s Irish residents. Test your luck with games and create your own lucky shamrock! You may even find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!  These drop-in programs, held from Noon to 4 pm, feature fun activities for the entire family to and the program is included in the cost of museum admission.  For further information call Kim Shehorn-Martin, 815.723.5201, ext 235.

Sunday, March 13--Sunday Program Series, Starved Rock Visitors' Center, Utica

Bob Bluett, wildlife biologist for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will do a program on river otters.  Find out more about these playful creatures and how they have made a comeback in Illinois.  All lectures in this on-going series begin at 1 pm, last about one hour and are free.  For further information call 815.667.4906.

Tuesday, March 15--Brown Bag Lunch, Joliet Area Historical Museum

Join historian Dennis Cremin as he presents “Let Children Be Children: Lewis Wickes Hine’s Crusade Against Child Labor”.   Make sure you bring your lunch for this noon lecture. The cost of the program is $3 for non-members and free for museum members.  For further information call Kim Shehorn-Martin, 815.723.5201, ext 235.