People laughed and joked while getting creative at the Avon Township Center Monday during the first Paint with the Supervisor event.
It was exactly the type of environment township Supervisor Michele Bauman wanted, and she said she was happy with how it turned out.
Aimed to get residents’ thoughts and ideas on how to make the township “an even stronger community,” the gathering drew 15 people to the two-hour session, which actually went longer as attendees kept discussing and painting past the planned end time.
Bauman, who is in her third year as supervisor, began by introducing herself and giving a tour of the center. She spoke about its services and resources. She said volunteers make all the difference; some give yoga classes and others run clubs, such as the coin club that meets regularly.
“I love partnering with people,” Bauman said.
Avon Township has been serving communities in Grayslake, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Park, Round Lake Heights, Third Lake and Hainesville, since 1850. With a small office staff, Bauman helps the township’s 63,000 residents connect with the organizations, businesses and agencies that provide what they need.
“I’m not traditional as a government official,” she said. “In my former life, I was a professional clown. I’m an entertainer … so you’ll find that my personality is a little more out there, and I find people are more engaging with me.”
On Monday, those who attended got to see what happens within the walls of the center at 433 E. Washington St. in Round Lake Park. A food pantry with diapers and toiletries, a “new to me” section of donated clothing and accessories, a small library in progress to become bigger — thanks to a young scout and his scouting project — and a meeting space that groups can utilize at no cost, are just some of the amenities offered.
“I’m beyond impressed by all this,” Kathleen Kinahan of Grayslake said.
Kinahan didn’t know the center collects donated walkers, wheelchairs, canes and other items that can help with mobility, and that residents who need them can take at no cost. She said she’ll be sure to spread the word to her active adult community.
With a garden outside the window as a nature setting, each one of the attendees’ individual brush strokes made their own creations, all the while having a dialogue with one another and with Bauman.
Flowers are what Kinahan painted. Others painted landscapes or animals. And one woman made everyone laugh out loud when she lifted her canvas up to show her painting of the man sitting across the room from her.
“Look, it’s you,” she told him.
Along with art supplies, there were cookies, veggies and other snacks and water.
As the painting continued, the exchange of ideas kept flowing. Parents learned there are cooking classes offered for children, and grief support meetings for those who have lost a loved one. Also discussed was how the need for food is so great that the line for the food pantry is usually long two hours before it opens.
They told each other about events they know through their jobs, churches, personal hobbies and family. An example was the Grayslake Bike Rodeo on May 11 for children 10 and under.
For Esmeralda Garcia of Waukegan, Monday’s gathering was a way to inform herself about what support services she can tell her clients are available to them.
Garcia said she works with people from all over Lake County, but specifically the Spanish-speaking community.
“I’m happy to make a connection with you,” Garcia told Bauman.
The idea for Painting with the Supervisor came out of a collaboration Bauman had with a high school student who approached her with a plan to teach a five-week art class to children at the center, she said. The student wants to go into teaching, and wants to get the experience as a volunteer.
“I always tell the youth, I’m here to support them if they want to better themselves and give back to the community,” Bauman said. “This student took me up on it.
Bauman plans to host other events that are unique and different to appeal to more residents.
