The Champaign Park District hosted the "Kids Kayak Clinic" at Kaufman Lake in western Champaign on Wednesday, June 7. The event lasted from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and taught the children involved the safe and proper ways to ride in a Kayak. A dozen children took place in the event, which will be held on two more occasions later in the summer.

On Saturday June 3rd, the Champaign Public Library and Champaign Park District held the Fourth Annual "Battle of the Bands" at Hessel Park in Champaign. Seven bands -- with members' ages ranging from 14 to 19 -- participated in the event and the top two bands were awarded gift certificates for their efforts. The first place band was also given three hours of actual studio time. Steel Rose took first place in the competition and Seldan took second.

Health Alliance celebrated National Senior Health and Fitness Day on May 31 with a health fair at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. The event lasted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the mall's main lobby and had more than 15 different exhibits.

Visitors to the event were given the opportunity to have their blood pressure tested, sit in on lectures entitled "Staying Safe" and "Aging Gracefully" as well as sign up for new health clubs and fitness programs.

The three most popular booths at the health fair were a pair of booths that gave free back massages and a third booth offering free manicures.

More than 500 people attended the event.

On Wednesday, May 24, the Champaign Park District hosted "Touch-A-Truck" day at Centennial Park in Champaign,. "Touch-A-Truck" day is an event designed to give young children the opportunity to climb into different vehicles and imagine what it would be like to drive them.

Children are able to turn on the lights in a police car, raise the lift in wrecker and turn on the sirens in a fire truck. In addition to the fire truck and police cars, "Touch-A-Truck" also featured a garbage truck, a monster truck, the Bookmobile, two mail-delivery trucks, two Harley Davidson motorcyles and several cars.

The event also included two air-filled trampolines and an ice cream and soda stand.

Approximately 1,000 people attended the festivities — including several day care centers that bused their children to the event.