By RORYE O’CONNOR
rorye.oconnor@register-news.com
MT. VERNON — Almost 200 dads and daughters of Jefferson County dressed in their Sunday best for the Masquerade Father/Daughter Ball held Saturday evening.
The event, hosted by the Girl Scouts of Jefferson County, celebrated Mardi Gras at St. Mary’s Parish Center with purple, green and gold necklaces for each Daisy, Brownie or Scout, as well as mask-making and King Cake.
“This is a great, good experience,” said Donald Bradley, father of Brownie Lindsay Keen, 7. “Every father should experience it.”
Dads and their dates lined up out the door at times to have their photos taken. After their photo session, the Scouts and fathers were free to dance, create or snack as they wished.
Lauren Little, 7, a student at Woodlawn Grade School, said this was her second year to come to the Father/Daughter Ball.
Her favorite part of the ball is getting “to do artwork,” she said. She had a good time hanging out with her father, Mike Little, as well, though he said he’d been left dateless once or twice.
“She likes hanging out and dancing with her friends,” he said. “Dad gets ditched.”
Girl Scouts received a special Mardi Gras patch for attending the ball with their fathers, said Troop #645 leader Karen Ellis. The event was part pitch-in, as each Brownie or Junior was tasked with bringing some kind of snack or beverage to the ball.
David Stallons, father of Jade Stallons, 9, said the ball was a lot bigger than he expected it to be.
Greg Smith, father of Victoria Smith, 9, and Emily Smith, 5, said he was looking forward to hitting the dance floor with his daughters.
“They’re all dressed up,” he said. “Their mom made both of their dresses.”
Jeff Fernberg danced with his daughter Madison Fernberg, 8, in a sea of Scouts getting down to the “Cha Cha Slide.”
“I can’t dance,” he laughed. “Before we left, (Madison) made me promise I wouldn’t embarrass her.”
Wendy Rue of Centre Stage Dance Studio, one of the sponsors of the event, said it had been going on for about seven years.
She said it was created to encourage interaction between dads and daughters, because “There’s not a lot of things Girl Scouts can do with their dads.”
“It’s a couple hours so kids can feel special with their dads,” she said. “The younger ones may not remember, but the older girls can look back and remember this time with Dad.”
Local
Girl Scouts host father/daughter ball
- Local
-
-
Herb and Garden Show
Robert and Loris Butterfield were among a large crowd making their way through the 24th Annual Herb and Garden Show at Times Square Mall Friday afternoon. Hours today are 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event is sponsored by Herbs for Health and Fun Club and Mt. Vernon Convention and Visitors Bureau.
-
Village offering chat and performance
MT. VERNON – The Jefferson County Historical Village is offering two opportunities to learn about history in February.
-
Society to hold open meeting
MT. VERNON— The National MS Society is hosting an open town hall meeting in Mt. Vernon Outland Airport’s Banquet Room Sunday.
-
Principal shares information about school
MT. VERNON – City Schools District 80 Primary Center Principal Shannon Marler provided the District 80 Board of Education with an update on the school at the latest board meeting.
-
Bluford students collect donation
BLUFORD — There probably hasn’t been much loose change jingling in parents’ pockets who have children attending Bluford Grade and High Schools the last three weeks.
-
Men Cooking for CASA winners
MT. VERNON — The first-ever Men Cooking for CASA fundraiser officially came to a close Thursday afternoon.
-
Brehm offering free computer classes
MT. VERNON — C.E. Brehm Memorial Library is offering free computer classes through a grant funded by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
-
Teachers receive grants
MT. VERNON — Ten City Schools District 80 teachers recently received grants from the District 80 Foundation.
-
Overdose immunity law to go into effect
MT. VERNON — Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law that will go into effect June 1, which will give immunity from prosecution to people who call 911 to report drug overdoses.
-
Second Women’s Heart Night held
MT. VERNON — A sea of ladies dressed in red descended upon Cedarhurst Center for the Arts on Thursday for the second Women’s Heart Night.
- More Local Headlines
-





