Joe Cocker Tribute at the Opera House

The Choirboys in Woodstock

On Sunday, area families with children adopted from China are invited to gather at Plum Garden (3917 Main St. in McHenry) to celebrate Chinese New Year (the official holiday is February 14). Coordinators Rick and Ellen Bellairs of Woodstock - parents of two girls from China - enjoy this gathering with other families every year. "We started this several years ago and now it is our tradition, something we look forward to," Rick Bellairs said. "We had gotten to know a number of other families who had adopted from China and wanted to do this to celebrate their heritage. Plum Garden's owner Perry Moy, his family and staff always throw a great party for us." Children range from teenagers to recently adopted toddlers and come from all over China. Their families span the county, including Huntley, Island Lake and Johnsburg. Bellairs' daughters Mallory, 14, was adopted when she was 6 months old; and Jade, 9, was adopted at 10 months old.  "All these girls have a common thread," Ellen Bellairs said. "It is always fun to see the girls dressed up in their Chinese silks." For more, contact Rick Bellairs at 815-334-2618 or Rick@RickBellairs.com.

Come one, come all to the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce "Carnival of Commerce" on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McHenry High School West Campus located at 4724 W. Crystal Lake Road. "Carnival of Commerce" is not a typical expo - booths are attractions and entertainment invites families of all ages. Get autographs from Jarrett Payton (Walter Payton's son who plays for the Chicago Slaughter) and Marcus Harrison (Chicago Bears defensive tackle). Other entertainment is Amazing Animals By Samantha; Face Painting all day; Martin Lopez Presents "4 Strings Attached"; and Daisy the Balloon Clown; the McNulty Irish Dancers; and Parkland White Jazz Band. There will also be free popcorn, a duck pond, bean bag toss, bozo buckets, ladder game, putting green, giveaways and much more. Patrons have the chance to win a four-night Royal Caribbean Cruise for two to the Bahamas or Western Caribbean compliments of Worldwide Traveler. Few booths remain - for more information and booth application, call 815-385-4300 or download form at www.mchenrychamber.com.

The Crystal Lake Public Library will be hosting a kick-off event, on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the 5^th annual Read, Write and Win contest. The contest is open to all students, including homeschoolers, in grades 3-8 in Crystal Lake.  Students are asked to read one of two books selected for their grade level and then asked to write a new ending. Read, Write and Win is sponsored by the Crystal Lake Public Library, the Rotary Club of Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers and McHenry County College.  For more, call 815-459-1687.

"Bioethics and the Law: Truth and Fiction" Subject of February Program

Next  Wednesday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m., at the Byron Colby Barn (1561 Jones Point Rd., Grayslake), watch the acclaimed film "King Corn" -  followed by the short sequel "Big River." "King Corn" is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In this film, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America's most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat-and how we farm. "Big River" picks up where "King Corn" left off - in the banks of the Mississippi River. Where "King Corn"  was a light-hearted look at our industrial food system through the lens of two wide-eyed Yale graduates, "Big River" is a harsh reality check, examining the impact industrial farming has on the Mississippi River.

Countryside is offering an exciting trip to the Chicago Flower and Garden Show Thursday, March 11. Reservations are $35 per person and include round trip transportation, your ticket to get into the Flower and Garden Show and "New Additions for Your Garden," a presentation by Kim Hartmann on the way downtown! The bus will depart Countryside at 9:30 a.m. and leave Navy Pier at 4 p.m. to return to Countryside. Seats are filling up quickly! Make your reservation when shopping at Countryside or e-mail marcy@countrysideflowershop.com. Tickets available on a first come first serve basis by February 19, 2010.