Aurora growing green with quartet of events
By Matt Brennan and Erika Wurst June 12, 2011 5:16PM
Louche Puce Flea Market Saturday on Water Street in Downtown Aurora. Several vendors line Water street just south of Galena Blvd, selling everything from vintage clothes, records, Yo-Yo's to recycled vintage dinner ware made into garden flowers. | Michael R. Schmidt~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: September 29, 2011 12:52AM
Paddlesport Festival
Chris Hanson stood along the shores of Mastodon Lake watching her 12-year-old son Stuart paddle his way through a canoe lesson Saturday morning.
He had been looking forward to the lessons since he returned from school with a flier on the event. The lessons were part of Paddlesport Festival at Phillips Park in Aurora.
“This will be good for him and fun,” she said. “He wants to canoe on the river. This is a good lead-up for that.”
The festival ran all day Saturday and Sunday in Aurora. Several vendors came to Aurora to sell various types of canoes and kayaks. Approximately 125 people were taking classes at the festival, according to Gary Mechanic, co-owner of Paddle and Trail, an outdoor store in downtown Aurora.
The festival is the largest event of the year for the Illinois Paddling Council, Mechanic said. It is the third year in Aurora, and he hopes to keep growing the festival into one of the larger paddling events in the Midwest.
“It just makes sense to do this here, near the major population center in the Midwest,” he said.
Kayaks and canoes lined the shores of the lake. Some had sails, some were stand up paddle boards. Paddlers made their way into the water to test boats and take lessons.
It helps to be able to take your boat into the water, Mechanic said. It is an advantage you don’t receive at the larger department stores.
“It’s really the way you want to buy,” Mechanic said.
Jeff Morse, with the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, stood on the shores of the lake while about nine children from his group paddled their way along the water.
The group came out to help an organization called Wounded Warriors, who offer assistance to veterans injured after the 9/11 attacks. They paddled before the veterans needing their assistance arrived at the event.
“They’re letting the cadets go out and do some paddling,” he said. “They didn’t know they’d have the chance to do this.”
The Wounded Warriors, based in Oak Brook, brought about 10 veterans from their group to take kayaking classes, and the NJROTC personnel were there to help with any logistics, Morse said.
The day is about having fun, according to Kurt Whitney, with Confluence Watersports.
“It’s just a relaxing, enjoyable way to spend your recreational time,” he said.
— Matt Brennan
Green Fest
Rosa Nevarez put on her walking shoes Saturday morning.
She began her day with the Louche Puce Flea Market and walked from there to the Green Fest at the Prisco Center. The Green Fest consisted of approximately 30 vendors and several speakers working to educate the public on the environmental movement.
“I just like the festivities going on today in Aurora, really,” Nevarez said.
Nevarez perused the outdoor portion of Green Fest and was happy to find Walnut Acres Family Farm, from Walnut, Ill., producers of grass-fed beef. The farm is about 90 minutes southwest of Aurora, but they offer meat pickup sites in Batavia, Yorkville, South Elgin and Lisle.
“Even though you’re in an urban center, it’s hard to find healthy meat at an affordable cost,” according to Robin Jameson from Walnut Acres.
The Conservation Foundation in Naperville was also at the event, providing pickup of rain barrels that had been ordered through the city of Aurora.
“It’s another way to keep more water on your property,” foundation volunteer Laura Edwards said.
Users cut a downspout and put the barrel underneath to collect rainwater runoff from the roof. That water can then be used on plants. There have been studies conducted where one plant is watered with tap water, and one plant watered with rainwater, Edwards said.
“The plant watered with rainwater was twice as big,” she said.
Festival organizer Mavis Bates was pleased with the crowd that came through Saturday morning. The lot at the center was full, and the main room of exhibits was crowded with people walking through.
“Our speakers have been well attended, and the crowd’s been great,” she said.
Amber Gribben of Urban Worm Girl in Chicago gave one of the presentations about composting. Urban Worm Girl sells bins for composting and the worms themselves. It is a great way to compost paper products and trimmings from fruits and vegetables, Gribben said.
“The worms will eat half their body weight every day,” she said.
Composting can be done year round, and it does not leave an odor, so it can be done in an apartment, she said.
Educating the public about the benefits of a green lifestyle is important., Bates said.
“It’s not just what we’re doing, it’s why,” she said.
— Matt Brennan
Louche Puce Market
Aurora’s first Louche Puce Market kicked off Saturday on Water Street downtown, where vendors brought out their most eclectic items and put them on display for sale.
The European style, juried flea market, which will be hosted every second Saturday this summer, is a place where collectors can bring in their retro, vintage and antique collectables to share with the world.
Buyers could browse the market and find everything from flower-patterned vintage prom dresses to Betty Crocker cookbooks dating to 1958.
“I like to buy things, hold them for a while and then sell them,” said Aurora resident Wayne Lee, who stood behind a booth of antique items.
Lee and his wife scour estate sales for interesting finds, then hit the market circuit to see what they can sell.
“I’ve got everything from horse saddles to stage speakers for the musicians,” Lee said. He also deals with a lot of old photography equipment and other antiques.
“A lot of this stuff I’ve had, played with and decided to let go for someone else to enjoy,” he said as he bartered down the price of a train set.
Sharon Harwick, part owner of Past and Present Shoppes in North Aurora, was also on hand to give the inaugural Louche Puce market a shot.
“It’s been a very nice time,” she said. “I’m happy with the turnout..”
Luckily for Harwick, the rain was kept at bay, limited to a light mist along the Water Street corridor.
“We would have been in big trouble,” she said, standing behind a table of displayed collectables.
Vendors offered wooden shoes, old LP records and a variety of art. Brooches and bracelets accompanied hot pink, plastic lunch boxes — assurance that there was something for everyone at the Louche Puce Market.
“We really enjoy this,” Lee said of traveling the flea market circuit. “We get to meet all kinds of interesting people, and the money isn’t bad either. It’s a win-win situation for us.”
— Erika Wurst
Farmers Market
From homemade roasted habenero hot sauce to stalks of ripe, red rhubarb, Aurora’s Farmers Market had something to offer everyone Saturday morning.
Farmers from across the Midwest and local merchants alike swarmed the Aurora Transportation Center parking lot from 7:30 a.m. to noon to peddle their products during the first market of the season.
“Business has been brisk,” said Aurora City Events Office Coordinator Dee Basile. Despite the morning drizzle, residents showed up in droves to purchase fresh produce and browse other local offerings ranging from honey to hanging plants.
Sitting underneath a small tent, Danielle Slavik of Enjoi Bakery in Morris was surrounded by fresh baked goods. Tiramisu cupcakes sat next to homemade cherry croistini. Turnovers and moist breads were also offered.
“It’s been a busy day,” Slavik said. Although Aurora’s market was a bit of a drive from Enjoi bakery’s home base, the young woman said she was glad to be part of the event.
Variety, Basile said, is what the market is all about.
Residents could get their blood pressure checked, take home balloon animals or obtain a banana plant by donating to the Friends of Phillips Park.
“These are my babies,” said the city’s horticulturist Susan Johnson, who tended to the plants for sale. Proceeds are fed back into Phillips Park restoration projects.
The plants weren’t the only products being recycled on Saturday. Thanks to Hunger Resource, a company dedicated to feeding the hungry, unsold produce is given to the poor. Last year, more than 2,000 pounds of fresh food was donated to Hesed House, Basile said.
In keeping with the city’s “Go Green” theme, Kap Farms Inc. displayed many shades of green: zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, beans and cucumbers.
“It’s been a long winter, and three producers aren’t here today,” Basile said. “They got a late start because of the weather, and some of their fields are in pools of water.”
Next week, however, everyone should be back on board.
— Erika Wurst
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