Community

• The Friends of the DuPage Theatre continue to advocate for the building of a Center for the Arts. Meeting with local leaders, speaking with potential developers and getting input from the community, the Friends organization realizes the challenges that the present economy brings to the endeavor, however we also recognize the economic engine a civic arts center will generate for local and downtown businesses.
  
  
• The Friends of the DuPage Theatre are co-sponsoring the second annual DuPage Invitational & 3-D Art Show on May 8, 2010 in one of our favorite Spring locations: historic Lilacia Park. Last year, more than 1,200 people came to see what local DuPage County artists had produced. We expect an even greater turn out for this year's event. In 2009, Prize money was awarded to top professional artists and student artists were awarded scholarship money to allow them to further pursue their passion for the arts. The awards will continue for this year's event. We want to thank the Village of Lombard, Lombard Park District and Lombard Arts Coalition for their dedication to this event and the arts in our community. (www.dupagesculpture.org)
  
  
• The Maple Street Chapel is offering its annual Folk Concert series beginning in February. Always enjoyable and for a reasonable cost for the excellent cause of preservation funds for the building, the Maple Street Chapel looks to foster a "home-towny" feel in the professional performances they sponsor for the benefit of local residents. (www.maplestreetchapel.org)
  
  
• The Lombard Historical Society continues to bring history to life with its educational programming. Current events can be found at: www.LombardHistory.org. The Society is also working with the National Register of Historic Places to get local landmark, the Sheldon Peck Homestead, listed on the esteemed Register. Thought to be a stop on the Underground Railroad, the Peck Homestead is Lombard's oldest residence and home to nationally recognized portrait painter, Sheldon Peck. For more information on what is going on at Lombard's museums, go to www.lombardhistory.org.