Relay For Life®, the American Cancer Society's signature event, is a fun-filled overnight experience designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer. At Relay, people from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against this disease. Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue. During Relay For Life ® events, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. The events are held overnight to represent the fact that cancer never sleeps. Through the survivors' lap and the luminaria ceremony, we honor the people who have faced cancer first hand, and we remember those who have been lost to this disease.

But, Relay isn't about taking laps -- it's about coming together in the fight against cancer. It’s a time to remember those lost to this disease and celebrate those who have survived. It’s a place where people connect with others, share the cancer experience, and find comfort and solace. And it's an opportunity to build hope for a future where cancer no longer threatens the lives of the people we love.

As volunteers and donors, your efforts support research, education, advocacy, and services that allow the American Cancer Society to offer help and hope to people across the country when they need it most. By joining together at Relay, we celebrate life, friendship, and an opportunity to work to defeat cancer for future generations.

Free Movies presented in Usher Park starting just after Dusk. August 23rd Movie - High School Musical 2
Concert 6-7:30 The Neverly Brothers

September 13th Movie - Pirates of the
Caribbean III
Concert 6-7:30 Little Nashville

All movies are Saturdays starting just after dusk in Usher Park (rain date is the following Sunday).
Concessions are available supporting the Friends of Spring Brook Nature Center.
If popcorn and other great goodies are not your thing, the Walnut Street Deli Hot Dog Cart will be there with their famous Deli Dog.

The Kelly Miller Circus will come to town on Sunday September 7 at Washington Park. Show times for the Circus are 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. Tickets are being sold at the Village Hall, Library and Park District. Prices are $5 for children and $9 for 12 and older. this event is sponsored by the Itasca Lions Club. For more Kelly Miller Circus information please go to www.kmcircus.com

New repository for unwanted prescription drugs outside police department. The Itasca Police Department has acquired a galvanized steel depository and collection storage unit as a repository for unwanted prescription medications.

Each year, millions of Americans resolve to clean out their medicine cabinets. Studies have shown that keeping unused medications can increase the chances of taking the wrong one and old medications can lose their potency over time.

In the past, the advice has been to flush old and unused medications down the toilet or put them in the trash. Neither is a good method. Prescriptions drugs can kill helpful bacteria in septic systems and pass largely untouched through sewage treatment plants. Unfortunately, scientists are finding traces of prescription medications in our streams, rivers and lakes. Furthermore, children and animals can get into drugs discarded in the trash and once in landfills, drugs can trickle into the groundwater.

Prescription medication abuse among teens and young adults is a serious and increasing problem in the U.S. The Partnership for a Drug Free America’s annual tracking study recently found:

• 1 in 5 teens has abused a prescription pain medication.
• 1 in 5 teens report abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers.
• 1 in 10 teens has abused cough medication.

Many teens think these drugs are safe because they have legitimate uses. However, taking them without a prescription to get high or “self medicate” can be dangerous and as addicting as using street narcotics and other illicit drugs.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health identifies four types of pain medication that are commonly abused: Pain relievers, stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers. Eleven percent of teens (ages 12 to 17) reported lifetime non¬medical use of pain relievers and four percent reported lifetime non-medical use of stimulants. Lastly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations prohibit the recycling of pre scription medications and there few sites to properly dispose of these unwanted medications.

In response to this, the Itasca Police Department has launched a Prescription Drug Disposal Program. The purpose of this program will be to collect old, unwanted and discarded prescription medications and properly dispose of them through an approved EPA site.
The Itasca Police Department, in cooperation with the Itasca Lions and the Itasca Knights of Columbus, has acquired a galvanized steel depository and collection storage unit as a repository for unwanted prescription medica¬tions. The unit is equipped with a front key located access door, removable totes for safe and easy collection and constructed of 16 gauge heavy steel. The collection box will be placed at the Itasca Police Department and citizens will have access 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Itasca Police Department will dispose of unused medications on a monthly basis. These medications will be transported to an approved EPA location for proper disposal.
For further information contact Officer Jack Pearson at 630-773-1004.

The reconstruction of the VFW Memorial in User Park is complete. Working with the VFW member the Village has increase the area around the memorial. This allows for easier access and increased particiption. We have added new flag poles and flags for each service branch, improved the sound system and replaced overgrown trees and shrubs.

Need a place to hold a great summer get-together: try renting out time at the Itasca Waterpark. Rent the Waterpark

For many years the Nature Center has focused on three components.
Education: Offer programs designed to teach an awareness and appreciation for the environment.
Conservation: Provide a natural habitat, which fosters Itasca’s commitment to restore and preserve the environment.
Recreation: Provide programs designed to encourage enjoyment of and interaction with our natural environment.
With these components in mind, the Village of Itasca has some exciting changes that will strengthen these components.
• A River Walk connecting downtown Itasca to the Nature Center and the Municipal Complex
• The installment of museum quality interactive health and nature displays inside the Nature Center.
• New and improved universally accessible walkways around the Prairie Loop to enable patrons to more easily walk, bike and otherwise explore the Nature Center grounds
• Beautiful gardens to stroll through and enjoy
• Revamped campfire ring with stone benches to provide a more cozy environ¬ment
• Improved picnic shelter area
• A strengthened relationship with the Itasca School District and Itasca Park District to help cultivate a greener mentality for our community
• Free health related outreach programs to be offered by Health World
• More recreational opportunities such as: a sledding hill, fishing, iceskating and more
During this exciting transition period, the Village of Itasca’s current offerings are:
• Open space for hiking, biking, birding and exploring
• Bird of Prey programming and birds displayed by Flint Creek
• Summer camps
• Animal hours
• Environmental education programs held at the Nature Center for the Itasca Schools
• Environmental outreach programs taught at the Itasca schools
The Village of Itasca is committed to improving the Nature Center to make it a destination spot for the community, and attract visitors to not only enjoy the serenity of the Nature Center sanctuary but to also patronize downtown Itasca and its fine business establishments.
We invite any input or feedback you have during this time of growth. We will keep you updated and informed throughout the transition period at our website www.itasca.com/naturecenter

Excellence in Aquatics Award from NRPA. The Itasca Waterpark has won a National Award for Excellence in Aquatics. This is an award from the National Recreation and Parks Association that can be won only once every five years! Itasca also won this award in 2001.