Divina Arellano, the Crystal Lake Kiwanis' Little Miss Peanut, waves to the 4th of July Parade viewers in Kathy Gossett's convertible.
Each year Crystal Lake Kiwanis sponsors a Little Miss Peanut pageant.
It’s not a beauty contest, just a way to allow your girls to get some experience in front of 30-40 people.
The winner this year was Divina Arellano.
2009's Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club Little Miss Peanut Emma Wasilk
At last year’s Little Miss Peanut Pageant in the basement of the Home State Bank building near Route 14, I took lots of photos, but my computer crashed and I never got around to writing an article.
Not so this time around.
So, let me walk you though the event.
Former Kiwanis Club President Joe Johnson and Little Miss Peanut Master of Ceremonies for the seond year Blake Hobson
Former Kiwanis Club President Joe Johnson introduced Master of Ceremonies Blake Hobson. Both were shavees at the St. Balderick’s children’s cancer fundraiser the Friday before St. Patrick’s Day. Johnson raised the most money, while Hobson came in second. Johnson raised $1,832, while Hobson supporters gave $1,310. Notice that they both have hair.
With a goal of raising $5,000 event chairman Mike Splitt saw a whopping $24,772 come in for pediatric cancer research.
Click any image to enlarge it.
The program began with the little girls walking into the room.
Then, they went down the center aisle. Note that I am not the only one taking pictures.
The interviews were next.
Natalie Alexander
First up was Natalie Alexander. I was so disorganized the only note I took was that she has two older brothers.
Daviana Arellano's lovely hair
I rode down the elevator with black haired Davina Arellano. She really had long, beautiful locks, as you can see this photo I took before the event began.
Daviana Arellano being interviewed by Blake Hobson.
Her favorite book is “Take a Mouse to the Movies,” which delighted EM Hobson.
Anna Austin listening to a question.
Anna Austin followed. Her favorite book was “Puppies in the Pantry.” Perhaps not surprisingly, she has a dog named Bella. He likes to chew on pencils.
Blake Hobson coaxing an answer from Haley Benard.
Like Natalie Alexander, Haley Benard has two older brothers. A dog is named Hershey.
Mallory Hoffman
Mallory Hoffman likes ice cream. Hobson went through four flavors and she liked them all. In school she said she liked making paper best. At home, she plays with Barbie dolls.
Tess Meisner
Sponge Bob is the favorite show of Tess Meisner. Patrick is her favorite character. Her favorite subject in school is art. She likes to draw faces.
Alyssa Pavlicek also likes Sponge Bob. And, lo and behold, her favorite is Patrick, too. Why? “He’s funny!”
Alyssa Pavlicek
In school, she like computers. She mentioned a 7-month old youn brothers’ family. All the girls were asked why they wanted to be Little Miss Peanut. Alyssa’s answer: “I want to win.”
Mary Clare Schofield
Mary Clare Schofield was the last candidate. Being a guy whose last names starts with “S,” I know about alphabet discrimination. (It’s the last great discrimination.)
Math is Mary Clare’s favorite subject. “It’s fun!” Why? “I like money.”
She also likes pickles, which seemed to intrigue the MC. Turns out she likes sweet pickles.
Later I learned from her mother, Crystal Lake City Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield, that Mary Clare donated her hair at St. Baldrick’s, raising $750. Her hair went to a girl with cancer.
From left to right, the judges were 2010 Miss Crystal Lake Mel Walter, 2009 Miss Crystal Lake Colleen Bechtold, 2010 Miss Illinois Heather Mueller of Cary and Crystal Lake Police Officer Sean McGrath.
After all the girls were interviewed, the judges, Mel Walter, Miss Crystal Lake 2010, Colleen Bechtold, Miss Crystal Lake 2009, Heather Mueller Miss Illinois 2010 and Crystal Lake Police Officer Sean McGrath, who runs Operation Click, retired to decide who would win the tiaras.
Before those announcements, the girls again entered the room.
Second runner up Mallory Hoffman
Second runner up was Mallory Hoffman.
Here you see first runner up Davina Arellano in the center, with second runner up Mallory Hoffman to her right and Little Miss Peanut 2010 Alyssa Pavlicek to her left.
First runner up was Davina Arellano.
The crowning of Little Miss Peanut 2010 Alyssa Pavlicek.
Little Miss Peanut for the next year is Alyssa Pavlicek.
All the girls received gift bags and standing applause.
We’re sitting at Colonial Cafe at a Crystal Lake Kiwanis meeting discussing last week’s Little Miss Peanut contest and the meal was served.
All of a sudden I see Mike Split, President of In-Sync Systems, grab the women next to him and put her in a Heimlich hug.
He squeezed twice and the choking woman started talking. It was obvious that whatever was blocking her windpipe had been expelled.
So, let’s hear it for Mike Splitt!
The right man at the right time.
He’s the guy ringing the bell for the Salvation Army while he was club president.
“Socialize,” not “socialism.”
After the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club’s Little Miss Peanut contest at the big Home State Bank building on South Main Street, I drove out to Nick’s Pizza, where the Young Republicans were building Esprit de corps.
Here are some pictures of one table.
On September 27, the Crystal Lake Kiwanis hosted their Third Annual Little Miss Peanut Contest.
Skyla Chestelson, age 6, was crowned Little Miss Peanut by Miss Crystal Lake 2007, Shannon McCarty. Skyla is the daughter of Solange Diaz and attends West Elementary in Crystal Lake.
Judges included Miss Illinois 2007 Ashley Hatfield; Blake Hobson, McHenry County Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors; Joan Hoffman, Director, Miss Crystal Lake; and John Jung, McHenry County Board Vice-Chairman.
Emcee of the event was State Representative Michael W. Tryon and the Host was Mike Splitt, In Sync Systems, Inc.
First Runner-Up is Amber Lynn Johnson daughter of Larry and Mercia Johnson and Second Runner Up is Sedeja Thompson daughter of Shanika Thompson.
Ten girls participated and all received gift bags donated by sponsors of the event.
Sponsors were Crystal Lake Pontiac, First Midwest Bank, State Representative Michael W. Tryon, The Freeze, Crystal lake Title & Trust, State Senator Pamela J. Althoff, AmCore Investment Group, Home State Bank, Image Industries, Inc., Cunat Inc. Countryside Nursery and Algonquin Bank and Trust.
Little Miss Peanut 2007 duties will include being the Ambassador our the Kiwanis club campaigns to help children in our community. She will represent the club in community events including the Crystal Lake Downtown Christmas parade, Crystal Lake Gala Fest parade, assisting in crowning Miss Crystal Lake and participating in Peanut Days.
On September 27, the Crystal Lake Kiwanis hosted their Third Annual Little Miss Peanut Contest.
Skyla Chestelson, age 6, was crowned Little Miss Peanut by Miss Crystal Lake 2007, Shannon McCarty. Skyla is the daughter of Solange Diaz and attends West Elementary in Crystal Lake.
Judges included Miss Illinois 2007 Ashley Hatfield; Blake Hobson, McHenry County Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors; Joan Hoffman, Director, Miss Crystal Lake; and John Jung, McHenry County Board Vice-Chairman.
Emcee of the event was State Representative Michael W. Tryon and the Host was Mike Splitt, In Sync Systems, Inc.
First Runner-Up is Amber Lynn Johnson daughter of Larry and Mercia Johnson and Second Runner Up is Sedeja Thompson daughter of Shanika Thompson.
Ten girls participated and all received gift bags donated by sponsors of the event.
Sponsors were Crystal Lake Pontiac, First Midwest Bank, State Representative Michael W. Tryon, The Freeze, Crystal lake Title & Trust, State Senator Pamela J. Althoff, AmCore Investment Group, Home State Bank, Image Industries, Inc., Cunat Inc. Countryside Nursery and Algonquin Bank and Trust.
Little Miss Peanut 2007 duties will include being the Ambassador our the Kiwanis club campaigns to help children in our community. She will represent the club in community events including the Crystal Lake Downtown Christmas parade, Crystal Lake Gala Fest parade, assisting in crowning Miss Crystal Lake and participating in Peanut Days.
It’s not too late for your 5-7 year old daughter to enter the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club’s Little Miss Peanut contest on September 27th. (Details below.)
Do you have a vivacious daughter or granddaughter?
I don’t know all the judges, but State Rep. Mike Tryon is scheduled to ask the little girls questions, and other judges include and Miss Illinois for 2007, Ashley Hatsfield.
Hatsfield spoke to Wednesday’s Kiwanis luncheon at the Colonial Café.
This 24-year old is articulate, educated and good looking.
Did I mention vivacious?
She has her master’s degree in communication disorders from the University of Mississippi and is 9 months of supervised practice away from becoming a licensed language pathologist. Her undergraduate college years probably explain why her southern accent is more pronounced than it would be had she attended Southern Illinois University for her schooling.
Winning the Miss Illinois contest brought her a four-year scholarship to SIU, where she wants to earn a Ph.D. in her field. The scholarship envisioned an undergrad, but the university has allowed her to use it for grad school.
If she wins the Miss America contest in Las Vegas next January, she’ll get $40,000 more. Hatsfield is thinking about following in the footsteps of the former Miss Illinois who just graduated from Harvard Law School.
Miss Illinois is from Anna, Illinois, in far southeastern Illinois.
“Do they have flights out of Southern Illinois?” Kiwanis President Mike Torchalski jokingly asked her.
She made the sound of a propeller plane and replied,
”Just a little bitty plane.“I’m just getting oriented to the Chicago area.”
Contestants have to select a platform and hers is breast cancer awareness. It’s in memory of her grandmother who died in her 70’s of the disease when Hatfield was “a little girl.”
“She hadn’t done early detection,” she added.
Miss Illinois also goes to schools to speak on character education. She rattled off the “six pillars” faster than I could write them down…or maybe I was taking pictures.
Fortunately, they are on a handout:
“Don’t follow the crowd,” is her basic message to students.
“If you give 110% of what you’re passionate about, someone will recognize you for it.”
A third emphasis is Miss America’s new “partnership” with the Children’s Miracle Network, which has affiliates in Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital and facilities in Peoria and Springfield.
She visits hospitals to “meet with patients to see if we can raise their spirits.”
Helping her and her driver is a GPS navigation system.
“When I first heard it, I thought it sounded like someone who smoked forever,” she said.
Leaving the meeting, she was on her way to a school in DuPage County.
Anyone wanting to enter a young lady in the Little Miss Peanut contest should contact Tina Hill at 815-347-4222 or email her at tinarenee78@hotmail.com.
The 6:30 event will be held at the Home State Bank located at the intersection of Route 14 and South Main Street in Crystal Lake. The public is invited.
One Kiwanian’s bank offered a $50 United States Savings Bond as one of the prizes.
= = = = =
Ashley Hatsfield, the 2007 Miss Illinois, appears along in the first and third photographs. She is to the right of Crystal Lake Kiwanis President Mike Torchalski in the bottom picture. Little Miss Peanut 2006, Erika Dacanay, appears in the 4th of July Parade car being driven by Kathy Gosset.
It’s not too late for your 5-7 year old daughter to enter the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club’s Little Miss Peanut contest on September 27th. (Details below.)
Do you have a vivacious daughter or granddaughter?
I don’t know all the judges, but State Rep. Mike Tryon is scheduled to ask the little girls questions, and other judges include and Miss Illinois for 2007, Ashley Hatsfield.
Hatsfield spoke to Wednesday’s Kiwanis luncheon at the Colonial Café.
This 24-year old is articulate, educated and good looking.
Did I mention vivacious?
She has her master’s degree in communication disorders from the University of Mississippi and is 9 months of supervised practice away from becoming a licensed language pathologist. Her undergraduate college years probably explain why her southern accent is more pronounced than it would be had she attended Southern Illinois University for her schooling.
Winning the Miss Illinois contest brought her a four-year scholarship to SIU, where she wants to earn a Ph.D. in her field. The scholarship envisioned an undergrad, but the university has allowed her to use it for grad school.
If she wins the Miss America contest in Las Vegas next January, she’ll get $40,000 more. Hatsfield is thinking about following in the footsteps of the former Miss Illinois who just graduated from Harvard Law School.
Miss Illinois is from Anna, Illinois, in far southeastern Illinois.
“Do they have flights out of Southern Illinois?” Kiwanis President Mike Torchalski jokingly asked her.
She made the sound of a propeller plane and replied,
”Just a little bitty plane.“I’m just getting oriented to the Chicago area.”
Contestants have to select a platform and hers is breast cancer awareness. It’s in memory of her grandmother who died in her 70’s of the disease when Hatfield was “a little girl.”
“She hadn’t done early detection,” she added.
Miss Illinois also goes to schools to speak on character education. She rattled off the “six pillars” faster than I could write them down…or maybe I was taking pictures.
Fortunately, they are on a handout:
“Don’t follow the crowd,” is her basic message to students.
“If you give 110% of what you’re passionate about, someone will recognize you for it.”
A third emphasis is Miss America’s new “partnership” with the Children’s Miracle Network, which has affiliates in Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital and facilities in Peoria and Springfield.
She visits hospitals to “meet with patients to see if we can raise their spirits.”
Helping her and her driver is a GPS navigation system.
“When I first heard it, I thought it sounded like someone who smoked forever,” she said.
Leaving the meeting, she was on her way to a school in DuPage County.
Anyone wanting to enter a young lady in the Little Miss Peanut contest should contact Tina Hill at 815-347-4222 or email her at tinarenee78@hotmail.com.
The 6:30 event will be held at the Home State Bank located at the intersection of Route 14 and South Main Street in Crystal Lake. The public is invited.
One Kiwanian’s bank offered a $50 United States Savings Bond as one of the prizes.
= = = = =
Ashley Hatsfield, the 2007 Miss Illinois, appears along in the first and third photographs. She is to the right of Crystal Lake Kiwanis President Mike Torchalski in the bottom picture. Little Miss Peanut 2006, Erika Dacanay, appears in the 4th of July Parade car being driven by Kathy Gosset.
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