La Salle artist John Kettman spent more than 20 hours turning a craft pumpkin into Dazzling Dolly the Gorgeous Gourd, a Dolly Parton portrait with metal-flake blue eyes, a yard of sequins and a styled wig. Kettman, who has painted pumpkin portraits since 2015, finished it while recovering from a hard month after neck surgery. About 20 of his pumpkins fill a basement he hopes to turn into a small museum. He hasn't decided whether to set Dolly out for Halloween, but says Dollywood would be her ultimate home.
St. Bede Academy in Peru hosts an American Red Cross blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Perino Science Center, aiming for at least 50 pints. If the school collects 100 pints between this drive and one in the spring, it can award a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior. Appointments are preferred at 1-800-RED CROSS or redcrossblood.org (sponsor code STBEDE), and walk-ins are welcome as space allows.
GasBuddy listed the cheapest unleaded gas around Starved Rock Country heading into Halloween weekend at $4.12 a gallon in Peru, Oglesby and Utica, with most other stations between $4.43 and $4.79. AAA put the La Salle County average at $4.61 a gallon, compared with $4.76 statewide, which is down 4 cents from a week ago but $1.55 higher than a year ago.
Utica's 19th annual Veterans Parade and Air Show is Sunday, with opening announcements at noon and the parade and air show at 1 p.m. Utica American Legion Pierce Davis Post 731 serves a free brunch for veterans from 8 a.m. to noon at the downtown community hall. The day features the Great Lakes Navy Band, World War II TBM torpedo bombers, T-6 trainers, military vehicles, color guards, the Emerald Society bagpipes and drums, Legion Riders and floats. No drones are allowed.
Streator was chartered in 1868 on a bluff above the Vermilion River. Coal brought the railroads, and glass made the name: for decades the town turned out more glass bottles than almost anywhere on earth. Walk the brick blocks downtown and the story is still there in the cornices.
