Community Services Celebration

Community Services Day, a FREE, unique, purposeful and fun community-wide event, returns on Saturday, September 10, 2011, 12:00-4:00 p.m., at Brickyards Park / Patty Turner Center in Deerfield. Everyone is invited to attend the event whose purpose is to promote services available to residents. The main event features informational booths, educational demonstrations, entertainment, inflatable rides, helicopter landing and takeoff (weather and schedule permitting) and more. Community Services Day, now in its 7th year, is hosted by the Deerfield – Bannockburn Fire Protection District, Deerfield and Bannockburn Police Departments, Deerfield Park District and Village of Deerfield. Local community service clubs and organizations set up booths and provide information and freebies/giveaways. The event remains free to the public due to the generous contributions from Title Sponsor The John Buck Company of Parkway North; the Deerfield Park Foundation as Entertainment Sponsor, Bannockburn Police Department and Waste Management. Contribution of lunches for volunteers and workers is again being made by Jewell Contract Dining. Concessions are available onsite for purchase from Il Forno Pizza. 

Pre-event activities include a Passenger/Child Safety Seat Checkpoint, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and a Pet (dog and cat) Vaccinations and Microchip Clinic (fees apply), from 9:00 a.m. – noon, set up near the Patty Turner Center building. From 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. a SWALCO Household Electronics Collection is available at the Public Works facility, 465 Elm, in Deerfield. For a listing of materials accepted, please visit: www.co.lake.il.us/swalco.

A peak at the day’s activities includes: 12:00-4:00 p.m.: free Inflatable Rides for kids, Touch-A-Truck, Art Tent, DJ, Entertainment and Balloon Twisters. Everyone is encouraged to attend the Posting of the Colors / Honor Guard parade by the American Legion Post 738 and the brief recognition of sponsors (allowing the event to remain free to the public), set for 12:45 p.m. at the main stage area. A featured singer from Deerfield High School and a trumpet player will also perform. Depending upon weather and schedule, a “Flight for Life” Helicopter landing is anticipated at approximately 1:00 p.m.; next, a Magic Show, “Magic by Dave” is scheduled from 1:15-2:00 p.m. (at which time the helicopter is anticipated to depart). A “Live Fire” (residential sprinkler) Demo is at 2:15 p.m. Popular-returning and new additions to our Mascot Race will be in attendance to mingle and amuse event-goers, from 2:45-3:15 p.m. At 3:00 p.m., a Police K-9 Demonstration is on the agenda. New additions to this annual venue include a Distracted Driver Simulation and a Safety Smokehouse. 

A Helicopter Ball Drop, an exciting and fun fundraising activity, takes place again this year and is expected to start at about 3:45 p.m., sponsored by the Deerfield Park Foundation. Everyone may buy a ticket for $10* corresponding to a numbered ball that will be dropped from a helicopter (weather-permitting). Prizes (with values up to $500) will be awarded to those ticket holders whose numbered ball is in (or closest to) the “Winners’ Circle.” Winners need not be present; in case of inclement weather, winning numbers will be selected by an alternate method. Ball Drop tickets may be purchased in advance at Jewett Park Community Center, Deerfield Golf Club, online at www.deerfieldgolf.org/foundation, at the Deerfield Farmers Market booth on August 20 or on the day of the event between noon and approximately 2 p.m. 

Community Services Day is at Brickyards Park, near Kates and Pfingsten; the Patty Turner Center is 375 Elm; both are in Deerfield. Public parking for this event is at the 155 Pfingsten office building parking lot (across from Brickyards Park). The event takes place rain or shine. Emergency services demonstrations and helicopter activities depend upon availability and weather. 

For further information, contact Linda Anderson at the Deerfield Park District at 847-945-0650 or Mary Anne Glowacz at the Deerfield Police Department, (847) 945-8636.