The Huntley Farmside

              Del Wehb supports schools — see inside Homecoming photos — see inside
35 cents
The HimtleY Famiside
Thursday, October 15,1998
A Press Publications newspaper«/ serving the Huntley community
Volume 37 Issue 79
Iit»Biy Board chooses'e^i^eieiiced'p^isMi to head libra^
Planning and organizing the construction of a new library is right up Virginia Maravilla's alley.
After months of interviewing 30 candidates, members of the Huntley Area Public Library announced last week the hiring of Maravilla as the new librari¬ an.
""It was a very pleasant sur¬ prise," said Maravilla, who is now manager of extension ser¬ vices for La Porte Public Library. ""I really like the people and I think it will be an exciting place to work."
Library Board Vice President Jan Schadt, who was board pres¬ ident when voters approved the referendum to build a new library, said the board chose
Maravilla because of her knowl¬ edge. ""She has building expe¬ rience. She planned and com¬ pleted a 24,00-square-foot library in Lowell, Ind," Schadt said.
Maravilla hopes to finalize the purchase of a home in town before she starts work on Nov. 9. Her annual salary will be $51,500.
Since 1996, she has super¬ vised six branches of the La Porte County library, a book mobile and the library's out¬ reach services. The La Porte Library serves a population of 60,000.
""They are very different," Maravilla said about the com¬ parison between Huntley and La Porte. ""This La Porte library
celebrated its 100th anniversary last   year   and   the   Huntley
"It was a very pleasant surprise, I really like the people and I think it will be an exciting place to work."
Virginia Maravilla
new libriarian
Library  is only  seven years old."
Before working in La Porte,
Maravilla served about 11 years as the director of the Lowell Public Library, where she helped plan the construction of a new building in 1993.
. Maravilla is married to Lou for 32 years. The couple has two adult sons who are graduate stu¬ dents in Southem California.
Maravilla said her biggest challenge will be to prepare for the move to the new $2.8 mil¬ lion library under construction on Ruth Road. Major funding for the new library was obtained from a $2.4 million referendum and a $250,000 state grant.
Weather permitting, the new library should be open June I.
""I have seen the floor plans and it looks like a functional building," she said.
While    she    said    she    is
impressed with the children's summer progaming, Maravilla said she is putting off any changes in programming until later on.
Interim Librarian Mary Jane Kepner, who served as a consul¬ tant in hiring
a new full-time librarian, will be leaving the library in November.
Maravilla was scheduled to appear at the board's Wednesday meeting at the offices of Board President Michael Fleck on Route 47.
""We had a good turnout for the job," Schadt said. ""This is a good time to come to Huntley. It's very exciting."
Park Dist pn^ram teaches tips to budding artist
Instructor J oie Rogers draws a caricature for a cartooning class at the Deicke Recreation Center.
Huntley could someday be the home of an artist who first learned his or her craft at the Huntley Park District.
Children ages 3-13 are trying their hand at leaming artistic techniques ranging from staying within the lines to making cre¬ ative funny faces at the Deicke Recreation Center.
Young Rembrandts, the Elgin-based company which provides the instructors, is dedi¬ cated to teaching and encourag¬ ing children to enjoy the arts.
Instractor Joie Rogers of Huntley said younger children may need help in drawing squares and circles and experi¬ enced youths are ready to dab¬ ble in watercolor and cartoon¬ ing.
""We teach them fundamen¬ tals and the basics," Rogers said during a class on cartooning. ""Our basic things is to make them like art. Art is leamable."
While some children may struggle to draw straight lines, others can tackle creative and difficult types of art.
""Staying in the lines can be really hard for some children," she said. ""At that age we are not pushing them to pick specific colors."
During a recent cartooning class, Rogers taught eight stu¬ dents how to draw sniiling, sad and angry faces.
""Since cartoons don't talk, we have to express emotions," Rogers told her class.
Starting with a circular shape that represents a head, children next added hair and a curved smile to the caricature.
All new classes will meet on Saturdays for four weeks begin¬ ning Nov. 7. Drawing classes for children ages 3 1/2-5 will be offered from 1:30-2:15 p.m.; drawing classes for children ages 6-12 from 2:30-3:15 p.m.;
and cartooning class for chil¬ dren 6-13 from 3:30-4:15 p.m. The cost is $31 for district mem¬ bers and $42 for non-members. Park District Recreation Director Betsey Warrington said the district strives to offer a vari¬ ety of programs.
""We would like to promote the arts as well as sports," she said.
Young Rembrandts will be featuring ""Holiday Art" for children ages 7-13 from Dec. 5- 19. The cost is $45 for members and $61 for non-members. ""Holiday Arts and Crafts Workshop" for children ages 5- 10 will be offered from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21.
For adults, the Park District is featuring ""Window Design and Treatment" from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. Registration must be completed by Nov. 2.