The third annual Back to School Bash sponsored by Morrison Chamber of Commerce was held on Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event was on the grounds and inside Morrison Institute of Technology, 701 Portland Avenue, Morrison, IL. There were children’s games and activities, including frosting one of 200 Co-z Corner sugar cookies, cotton ball races, and bucket ball toss, at 11 tables created by some event sponsors. Boys and girls who visited all stations and had a paper marked to prove it, could enter for the Whiteside County Fair’s, Family Fun Pack for Four drawing.
Because 90-to-100 families attended, it is estimated about 250 persons were present.
Chamber member/sponsors included the following. An asterix indicates an activity station.
- Co-Z Corner Convenience Store*
- 1st Gateway Credit Union*
- Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois*
- Morrison Chamber of Commerce*
- Morrison Community Hospital*
- Morrison Community Preschool*
- Morrison Institute of Technology
- Morrison Lions Club*
- Resthave Home*
- Sauk Valley Community College
- Triumph Community Bank*
- United Way of Whiteside County
- US Cellular
- Wells Fargo Bank NA*
- Whiteside County Central Agricultural Society
- Windsor Manor Assisted Living*.
A perfect summer afternoon afforded aerial fun in the bounce slide and bounce castle.
A Co-Z Corner Convenience Store gift card went to Emma Perez.
Windsor Manor Assisted Living awarded school supplies to Sam Mills and the Perez Family. Hibbett Sports gift cards went to Ilmeta Dzeladoni and Brandy Rush.
The Whiteside County Central Agricultural Society (Whiteside County Fair Board) awarded a Family Fun Pack for Four, to attend the upcoming fair. Included were two adult and two child Season Passes (admissions) and two Mega Wristbands, that allow free carnival rides. This package was valued at $200. The winning entry was Kristin Laird.
Four children took home jam-packed, Under Armour backpacks when their names were drawn. They had chosen which colored pack they hoped to win and dropped their name into the appropriate paper bag. Lucky winners are listed below.
Red/Black: Lux Adolph.
Blue/Orange: Ethan Bush.
Green/Black: Jake Strobbe.
Purple/Pink: Anne Dykhuizen, 5 of Morrison. Her parents are Barry and Tara. It was a fortuitous win, as the kindergartener did not have one yet. Anne also won “Mike” the stuffed horse from the Wells Fargo Bank NA booth. She is shown below with fun stuff from the Bash. Her father submitted the photo.
Inside, at the Morrison Community Hospital booth, was a talented balloon artist who fabricated flowers, swords, animals and headgear. Hospital CNA Scott Akerman wore interesting headgear, too. The MCH staff designed a cotton ball race, to occupy children waiting for Akerman’s creations. They used straws to blow the cotton puffs along a racetrack. A second activity was to guest the number of crayons in a jar. With estimating help from her grandmother, Robin Brands, one youngster came closest. Jada Alvarado, 3, of Morrison, won a tray of cookies. Her parents are Izzy and Jenn.
The Windsor Manor Assisted Living station was staffed by, left-to-right, Executive Director Stephanie Neas holding daughter Evelyn; Activity Director Angie Strobbe, and Director of Health and Wellness Nicole Becker. Their table held a wide array of colorful school supplies. Children chose a sucker and selected from the erasers, note pads and books, storage bags and boxes, scissors, and markers.
John Jones, a Recruitment Specialist with Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, distributed registration information for future Girl Scouts. He allowed them to build an electronic circuit from assorted components.
The Morrison High School Cheers had a popular booth. They painted children’s faces or, as in the case of Noelle Neas, age 5 of Morrison, hands. The artist is Freshman Jaysie Pruis.
The Bramm children, like so many other youngsters, had a good time at the Back to School Bash. In front is Caelyn, 5; behind her are Caylee, 7, and Caeleb, 8. Their parents are Mark and Jill.
