The Indian Prairie Public Library will celebrate National Library Week April 13-19 with two Big Read events and presentations by two local authors.

The Big Read program Songs of Woody Guthrie: American Balladeer, will take place Sunday, April 13, from 2 to 3 p.m. Folk singer, storyteller, and Autoharp virtuoso Adam Miller tells the true story of the man who wrote "This Land Is Your Land" through words and music. This program is being funded by The Friends of The Indian Prairie Public Library.

Another Big Read program, Walt Whitman: America's Poet, will take place Tuesday, April 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Whitman will be portrayed by R.J. Lindsey, who will share both stories of Whitman's life and readings of his poetry, including his masterpiece "Leaves of Grass" and his most popular poem, "O Captain! My Captain!."

An Evening with "Breakfast Queen" Ina Pinkney will take place on Wednesday, April 16, at 7 p.m. Pinkney, a well-known Chicago restaurateur, will share memories of her popular restaurant Ina's Kitchen, She will also sign copies of her recent book, Taste Memories.

On Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m., national bestselling-author Bret Nicholaus and literary agent/editor Joseph Durepos will provide Secrets to Getting Your Book Published.  

Participants can register online at www.calendar.ippl.info, by phone at (630) 877-8760 x239, or in-person at the library's Ask Us Desk.

Hinsdale South High School Theatre Department presents "REGIFTING" a benefit concert for The Gift of Carl Foundation.  The concert will be held on Friday, April 11th at 7:30 p.m. at the Hinsdale South High Auditorium.  Tickets are $5.00 for Students and $7.00 for Adults.

The Darien Park District will host a Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, April 19, from 10:00am to Noon at the Community Center, 7301 Fairview Avenue.  Deadline to register is April 14.  For cost and more information please visit their website or call 630-968-6400.

The Darien Area's Pop Warner Organization invites boys & girls aged 5 - 14 to join the Darien Swarm.  In person registration date for football is April 16 at the Darien Police Department, 1710 Plainfield Rd., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  On-line registration runs until April 30.   Registration for cheerleading is open until May.  For more information please visit the Swarm website.

The Darien Park District will host their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19 at 9:00am Sharp!  The hunts will be held at both Community Park, 7100 Clarendon Hills Rd., and Westwood Park at 75th & Fairview Ave.  The Easter Egg Hunt is for children 8 years old and under.  Bring your basket to collect the eggs.

St. John Lutheran Church & Early Learning Center located at 7214 South Cass Avenue in Darien, IL will continue the tradition of hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with an Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m.  The event is open to the public free of charge as a community outreach.

In addition to looking for treat-filled plastic eggs, children and their families will have the opportunity to participate in games and to make crafts throughout the event.   There will be a puppet show at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The congregation's K-9 Comfort Dog, Shami, will greet all who attend. It promises to be a joy-filled morning.

Sponsored by the Darien Lions Club. For award criteria and a nominating form visit their website

The Indian Prairie Public Library will be one of 2,300 libraries and book stores across the country giving away free books in support of the third annual World Book Night on April 23.

Look for IPPL volunteers at restaurants, stores and other businesses in Darien, Willowbrook and Burr Ridge during the evening hours. Businesses include: Buona Beef, Darien; Cooper's Hawk, Burr Ridge; Culver's, Darien; Darien Park District; Sportsplex, Darien; McDonald's, Darien; Starbucks, Burr Ridge; Starbucks, Willowbrook; The Patio, Darien; and Whole Foods, Willowbrook.

Books titles to be given away include After the Funeral by Agatha Christie, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, Miss Darcy Falls in Love by Sharon Lathan, Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow, The Dog Stars by Peter Heller, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown, Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple.

World Book Night was created to spread the love of reading, person to person. Each year on April 23 - William Shakespeare's birthday - approximately 25,000 volunteers give away a half million free books in more than 6,000 communities across the country. For more information about World Book Night, visit www.worldbooknight.org.

Come to Dariens 15th Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m. It will take place in Smart Oaks Park (at the corner of Bailey and Frontage Rds., next to Cass Jr. High). Cass and Lace school children will be in attendance; grow butterflies and then release them, here. Memorial trees will be planted to honor and remember those who are no longer with us.  This mid-morning event has always proved memorable! All are invited! Do join us and get inspired!

Darien's Arbor Day Celebration is sponsored by the Darien Park District, The City of Darien (awarded "Tree City USA" in 2012) and funded by The Gift of Carl Foundation- www.giftofcarl.org 

For additional information about Darien's Arbor Day, feel free to contact Kathy at kathyminardi@comcast.net.  Check us out on Facebook: Darien Arbor Day.

For valuable tree information, go to The City of Darien - www.darien.il.us : mature tree care, and information about the Ash borer, can be researched.  For Tree Memorial plantings, contact: Darien Park District - www.darienparks.com , or 630-968-6400

The Hinsdale South Athletic Club is excited to host this year's Hornet Hustle! The race will take place Sunday, April 27 at Darien Community Park! Registration is now open for the 5K run, as well as the Youth 1 Mile.

The 5K attracts competitive Illinois runners as well as dedicated walkers.  Visit the race website for more details and for online registration!

The Darien Lions Club is holding their annual BIG RAFFLE.  Only 375 tickets will be sold.  It is a $100 Donation per ticket.1st Prize $10,000.00, 2nd Prize $5,000.00, 3rd Prize $2,500.00, 4th thru 13th place receive $200 Dollars each.

To purchase a ticket Call Darien Lions Big Raffle Chairman Lion John at 708-516-9966, or click on www.darienlions.org for more information.  Drawing will take place at the Darien Lions Golf outing on June 5, and you do not have to be present to win.

The St. John Lutheran Early Learning Center located 7214 South Cass Avenue in Darien will be offering three two-week Summer Day Camp sessions this year. They will help extend children's learning over the summer months. Each camp will feature a themed and play-based curriculum to provide the preschool child with fun-filled, hands-on, sensory experiences that encourage exploration, discovery, and creativity.

The schedule for each session will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday as follows: Under the Sea Adventures, June 3-5, 10-12; Blast Off to Outer Space, June 17-19, 24-26; Summer Fun, July 1-3, 15-17.

The cost for each session is $150.  A deposit of $25 is required for each session.  The deposit will be deducted from the cost of the session.  Full payment must be made on or before the first day of the session.  Each child is responsible for bringing his/her own snack and juice each day.

If you would like more information or wish to enroll your child, email elc@sjlcdarien.org or call 630-324-6582.

On Saturday, May 17, from 8:00 a.m. to noon, the Woodridge Rotary Club, its partner groups and various recycling organizations will hold its 5th Recycling Extravaganza at Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park, 8301 Janes Ave. in Woodridge. Paper shredding will take place and a variety of items will be collected for recycling as in the past. Specific information coming soon on the  Woodridge Rotary Website.