Independent Aurora bookstore Yellow Bird Books will celebrate its first anniversary with a day-long event on Saturday, Oct. 19. The celebration at the store at 34 S. Stolp Ave. in downtown Aurora will begin at 11 a.m. with storytime and a visit from Rory, the Aurora Public Library District’s fox mascot, according to a press release about the event. Balloon animals will follow from noon to 2 p.m., and then face painting at 3 p.m. Live music by Ian Jake Robleza will take center stage from 6 to 8 p.m., and mocktails will be available during that time. Visitors can enjoy specials, giveaways, a selfie station and a make-and-take bookmark activity throughout the day, according to the release. “I’ve always loved books and dreamed about owning a bookstore,” said Karen Nicholas, who opened Yellow Bird Books last fall. Nicholas, a former teacher, said her dream came true when she and a friend learned that the perfect spot was available in the George Grant Elmslie-designed, prairie-style Keystone building on Stolp Avenue, according to the release. For more information on the free event Oct. 19 or the bookstore, go to yellowbirdbooksaurora.com. Used book sale to be held in St. Charles The Friends of St. Charles Public Library will hold its annual fall used book sale from Oct. 18 to 20 at the library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles. The event will run from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19; and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. The book sale will include books, CDs, DVDs, computer and board games and more, organizers said. On Oct. 20, shoppers can purchase a bag of books for $15 in a cloth library-branded bag. Established in 1979, the Friends of St. Charles Public Library is committed to raising funds to support the library, officials said. For more information on the sale, call 630-584-0076, Ext. 231, or go to scpld.org/used-book-sale. Fill the Bowls fundraiser set in Aurora The 10th annual Fill the Bowls fundraiser for the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry is set from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. The event, which will feature over 25 local chefs serving a variety of dishes, raises funds for the pantry to provide holiday meals for local families in need, according to a press release about the event. Tickets are $50 for adults, $17 for children 6 to 12 years old and free for kids 5 years old and younger. Tickets can be purchased at mwfoodpantry.org. Along with food, the event will feature live music from the Fox Valley Jazz Big Band and DJ Omarin, according to the release. There will also be a raffle, a Drawdown Contest offering cash prizes up to $3,000, a live auction featuring eight international travel destinations and the giving out of Marie’s Annual Spirit Awards. Nominations sought for Montgomery Halloween Display Contest The Montgomery Beautification Committee is looking for nominations for its annual Halloween Display Contest, designed to recognize homes and businesses in the village for outstanding Halloween decorations. Residents can nominate their property or someone else’s by submitting the property address online at montgomeryil.org. Online nominations are open through Oct. 20. Committee members will visit the nominated addresses on the night of Oct. 23 to judge and award the best displays. Residents participating are encouraged to make sure their lights are on by 5 p.m. that day, officials said. Addresses of the homes awarded will be available online after judging is complete for those in the community who want to drive around and see the displays, according to officials. Tickets on sale for ‘Murder’s in the Heir’ Tickets are now on sale for the adult fall production of “Murder’s in the Heir,” running from Oct. 25 to 27 at Playhouse 38, Geneva Park District’s community theatre at 321 Stevens St. in Geneva. The production is a murder mystery where the audience answers the question about who committed the crime. The play’s ending utilizes secret ballots gathered during intermission from the audience to determine the culprit, according to a press release about the show. The directing team includes Pratik Mamtora and Alex Simko. The cast includes Natalie Anderson, Antoine Carpentier, Antonio Contreras, Beth Hedger, Remya Kightlinger, Kat Metzger, Maureen Navadomskis, Mary Pastorello, Jacqueline Schiro, Alex Simko, Mary Tracy, Alexander Wisniewski, Paula Wisniewski, Christopher Yee and Lillianna Zuniga. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25; 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the show. Concessions will be available for purchase, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, popcorn and candy. The recommended age for audience members is 13 years old and older, according to the release. Those interested are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at GenevaParks.org/Playhouse or in person at Sunset Community Center or Stephen Persinger Recreation Center in Geneva, the release stated. Information about group sales discounts is available by calling the Geneva Park District at 630-232-4542. Fall scavenger hunt planned The Kane County Forest Preserve District will hold an outdoor fall scavenger hunt from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve, 41W600 Hughes Road in Elburn. At the event, participants will meet a naturalist at the preserve shelter to gather directions and supplies, then hit the trails to see if they can find everything on the scavenger hunt list. Once done, participants will head back to the shelter to claim a prize on a first come, first served basis. Space is limited for the free program, and advance registration is required. To register, go to www.kaneforest.com/register, call 630-444-3190 or email [email protected]. For more information on the program, go to www.kaneforest.com or find the district on social media by searching @forestpreserve. Organ and flute recital scheduled Organist Mark Downey and flutist Gwen Petersen will present an organ and flute recital at St. Charles Episcopal Church at 994 North Fifth Ave. in St. Charles at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. The free recital will feature the works of Guimont, Bach, Buxtehude, Paul Manz and Louis Vierne. A free-will offering will be taken with proceeds to go toward the renovation of the Howell 21-rank pipe organ at the church, which will begin in January 2025. Single-use plastics in the spotlight The city of Geneva’s Natural Resources Committee will host a discussion about single-use plastics during its next lecture series presentation on Saturday, Oct. 26. The presentation, called “Day in the Life of Plastics,” is set for 2 to 3 p.m. at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St. The event is free and open to the public. A representative from LRS, the city’s waste hauler, will highlight various single-use plastics and the damage they can do to the environment, according to a press release about the event. The Natural Resources Committee will lead a short discussion during the event on what the public can do individually to reduce waste. People interested in attending the presentation can register online with the Geneva Public Library at https://gpld.org/.