Deerfield Insider

Last year, the first Community Services Day took place in Deerfield.  It was quite the success, and did a lot of good things for the community.  So this year, for the second annual Community Services Day, the village is expanding the event to “highlight local community service agencies and what they do, and also give residents a chance to participate in things they can do to improve the environment.”   The village would like for residents to see what their community services provide, and show what individual residents can do to improve their community.  On Saturday, September 16, head on over to Brickyards Park and the Patty Turner Senior Center in Deerfield between noon to 4 p.m. and see Community Services Day in action.  You can even trade in your existing gas-powered equipment for a voucher to purchase new environmentally friendly equipment.  It’s not everyday you get to do that!  But be sure to make sure your equipment is clear of gas and oil.  Bring old gas cans in exchange for new spill-proof ones.   You can also catch a firefighter challenge obstacle course, child car seat inspections and police dog demonstrations as well as a lawncare buyback program.  The lawncare buyback program will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Public Works Building, 465 Elm Street.  Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity and fun-filled event in Deerfield!

Technorati Tags: Deerfield, Community Services Day, lawncare buyback program, Deerfield Fire Department, Brickyards Park

It may quite possibly be the busiest time of the year for the village of Deerfield.  There are three annual events this weekend that are converging.  The annual Mudfest and Historical Fall Festival is something Deerfield is used to having take place on the same weekend, which is this Sunday.  But this year,  the new Apple Pie Contest of the Farmers Market will take place on Saturday.  So there’s not much of a dilemma, because you can actually go to everything without missing out on anything.  However, you’ve gotta have the time to do it all!  Last year was the first year for the Apple Pie contest and it did well.  This year, 18 people have signed up to compete at 9 a.m. on Saturday.  It should be pretty fun seeing these people chow down some good old fashioned homemade Apple Pie.  This is a great family event and fun for all ages.  Come out and get your eyes on some of these beautiful pies that will be judged at 10 a.m.  You can buy slices of the pie and know that the proceeds will go to the West Deerfield Township Food Pantry.  As far as Mudfest goes, it’s always enjoyable to watch a bunch of teenagers having fun in a pit of mud.  Right?  At least it’s a good way for kids to get some energy out and be able to act like kids instead of being in that teenage slump where you don’t feel like a kid and you don’t feel like an adult quite yet.  The Mudfest is at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Jewett Park.  There is also going to be a tug-o-war contest between high school students and a mud volleyball game, plus, a pie-eating contest.  It’s pretty funny because the teens will be up against a team of police and fire officials, which when was the last time you played tug-o-war against police officers?  That is worth watching for sure.  Last but not least, the Deerfield Historical Society will hold its annual Fall Festival on Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Historic Village, Deerfield Road and Kipling Place.  There will be music entertainment, tours of historic buildings, pioneer craft demos and story telling for children.  It is a free event for the public, more of a country party for all to enjoy.  Come out and enjoy watching the Deerfield Community Concert Band, Hummers and Strummers, and the Big Band Sound of Deerfield.

Technorati Tags: Deerfield, Deerfield Historical Society, Historic Village, Historical Fall Festival, Mudfest, Farmers market

Cordogan’s Piano Gallery is now marked as one of my favorite places in all of Deerfield.  Back in April, a sixteen-year-old New Orleans piano teacher, Brittany Williams, received a $2,500 piano that was shipped vertically from Deerfield to New Orleans.  Brittany Williams has been giving piano lessons to children with autism and down syndrome for several years now, and even had hopes of putting together a recital.  After the devastating storm, Williams had to evacuate her home, and came back to find a ruined piano covered in mold.  Putting forth extreme effort, Williams sent out requests to tons of different piano galleries and dealers, but Cordogan’s was the only one to reply.  Knowing William’s reason for needing a piano, John Cordogan, the co-owner, immediately knew he wanted to help her.  Not only did he want to have her continue teaching music, but he also found it as a way to bring back music to New Orleans.  A few months after the piano arrived, Williams and her family made a special trip to Chicago to thank Cordogan in person.  After treating them to lunch and an architectural boat tour, Williams and her family decided that if need be, they would use Chicago as a second home.  Hopefully with the generosity of the Cordogan Piano Gallery, others will use this example and begin following it, bringing more and more music back where it belongs.

Technorati Tags: Deerfield, Cordogan’s Piano Gallery, Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, Chicago