A historic Viking warship replica will be open for tours on Saturday in Geneva. The boat is an exact copy of the Viking ship Gokstad, built around 850.
Thirty-minute guided tours begin every 30 minutes. Self-guided tours are also an option for attendees, who can see the ship from a viewing platform that allows them to see the inside of the vessel.
The replica was built in 1893 and is about 78 feet long, 17 feet wide and 6.5 feet high from the bottom of the keel to the gunwale. The replica was sent from Norway to Chicago for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
After being exhibited at the Museum of Science and Industry, the Viking was displayed in West Chicago before it moved to its current location in 1996.
Tour leaders will discuss the history of the Viking, Norwegian sailing and ship-building skills, recent preservation efforts and plans for the future.
The tours are the first of 10 days of tours in 2017. Other visit days are Nov. 11 and Nov. 18.
The Viking warship is open for tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Drive, Geneva. The last guided tour starts at 3:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for teens. For questions, call 630-753-9412 or email viking1893@gmail.com.
Life skills class series in Aurora
First Christian Church will host Adulting 101, a class series to teach life skills and STEM literacy starting on Monday.
Classes will cover life-lesson skills such as budgeting, resume writing, gaining a successful mindset and presenting a professional image. Hands-on activities to increase STEM literacy will also be offered.
Future classes will be offered monthly on the second Monday of every month.
23 Foods, an Aurora food home-delivery service, is co-sponsoring the series.
The event is free and open to the public. Childcare will be offered for free.
For information or to register, call 630-801-8871.
The first Adulting 101 class is from 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23 at First Christian Church, 635 N. Randall Rd., Aurora.
College financial aid workshop in Geneva
An informational workshop on college and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications will be offered on Thursday. The event is the result of a partnership between the Kane County Regional Office of Education, Greater Fox River Valley Operation Snowball and College Changes Everything.
Attendees will have the opportunity to apply for college and submit their FAFSA in a group setting with volunteers from local schools and community organizations on hand for assistance.
In preparation for the event, students and parents should come with the information they need to fill out their FAFSA and college applications. Information typically required for college applications includes: date of birth, residency information, citizenship information, family military information, high school information and transcripts, ACT or SAT scores and social security number.
For questions about attending or volunteering at the event, contact Melissa Byrne at Melissa.byrne@d303.org or Mike Aderne at mademe@kaneroe.org.
The College and FAFSA Application Informational Workshop is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Kane County ROE office, 28 N. First St., Geneva.
Recycling event in Montgomery
The Village of Montgomery will host a recycling event for Montgomery residents on Saturday.
Residents can drop off electronics, rechargeable or lead acid batteries and metal. The event also accepts household hazardous waste including pesticides, flammables (oil-based paint, paint thinner, gas and oil), caustic cleaners, toxics such as pool chemicals, CFL bulbs and propane tanks 20 pounds or less.
The event will not accept latex paint, appliances, regular light bulbs, regular alkaline household batteries or tires.
Recycling events will be offered quarterly on the third Saturday of the month in Oct., Jan., April and July.
A photo ID is required.
Call 630-896-8080 ext. 9003 for questions.
For information, go to www.ci.montgomery.il.us.
The recycling event is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 at the Public Works facility at 891 Knell Rd., Montgomery.
Got Pulse? Columnist Joy Davis is looking for interesting, quirky and just plain funny stories about people and places in the Fox Valley. Email her at joydavis234@gmail.com.
