Illinois will be joining the rest of the country in observing the full solar eclipse on Aug. 21. State police are stressing traffic safety during the hours of the eclipse.

STATE  

IDOT focuses on safe  traffic flow during eclipse  

The Illinois Department of Transportation says it will make sure traffic keeps moving and the traveling public remains safe leading up to the solar eclipse. Carbondale is in the path of the total eclipse, making it one of the prime viewing areas in the country for the Aug. 21 event. The rest of the state will experience a partial eclipse of approximately 90 percent.  

Unlike some states, Illinois is placing no special restrictions on truck activities because of the eclipse. To help with traffic flow, lane closures on major IDOT projects in the southern part of the state will be temporarily lifted during the weekend before the eclipse and the following day. Throughout the state, digital message boards will communicate traffic and safety messages.  

The department also is coordinating with Illinois State Police and local law enforcement to ensure that traffic control points are appropriately staffed.   

If you are traveling during the eclipse, here are some commonsense tips:  

• Plan ahead: Do not expect to park and view the eclipse from the side of the road.  
• Anticipate increased pedestrian and bike traffic near popular viewing areas.  
• Do not wear special viewing glasses or take photos of the eclipse while driving.  

• On the day of the eclipse, drive with your headlights on.  
• Use the Getting Around Illinois website to get the latest on traffic conditions.  

COUNTY  

Survey: How should DuPage spend its money  

Residents have a chance to tell the DuPage County Board and staff their priorities for how the county should spend their money by participating in this year’s county budget survey.
Each year, the DuPage County Board asks the public to prioritize county services including public safety and court services, road and trail maintenance, services to seniors and the disabled, flood control and public health initiatives. The information helps shape the next year’s budget, determining spending levels for the county’s various programs.

The survey coincides with the regular budget process as DuPage officials determine spending levels for Fiscal Year 2018, which begins on Dec. 1, 2017.

The survey is available online at surveymonkey.com/r/DuPageBudgetSurveyFY2018 and on the county’s homepage at dupageco.org.

Chairman Dan Cronin will present his Fiscal Year 2018 budget plan to the County Board on Sept. 26.  

BLOOMINGDALE   

Fair to match potential  volunteers with groups  

Do you have time to volunteer and wondering where to put your efforts?  

The Bloomingdale Public Library’s Volunteer Fair may give you some guidance. The fair will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 19 at the library, 101 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale.  

Representatives of agencies from DuPage County and around Bloomingdale will attend to promote opportunities to students, families and retirees and encourage the act of volunteering. Some of the agencies that will be represented include:  

Almost Home Foundation  

Anderson Animal Shelter   

Bloomingdale Friends of the Library  

Bloomingdale Historical Society  

Bloomingdale Park District  

DuPage Pads  

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County  

Glen Oakes Hospital  

Humanitarian Service Project  

Kids Against Hunger  

NAMI DuPage  

West DuPage Special Recreational Association  

This free program is open to the public. For more information, contact Kandy Jones at kjones@mybpl.org.  

DOWNERS GROVE  

Goats, sheep are clearing  away brush naturally  

Goats and sheep are again helping the Downers Grove Park District manage its natural areas. A herd of 68 goats and sheep is eating its way through 5.8 acres at the Belmont Prairie Buffer on Walnut Avenue and 1.2 acres at Patriots Park at 55th Street and Grand Avenue. The herd’s work is expected to be completed by Aug. 19.  

For the fourth year, the park district has contracted with Vegetation Solutions, a Wisconsin-based green business focused on vegetation management through controlled grazing.   

The herd eats a variety of plants including common buckthorn, honeysuckle, roses, spotted knapweed, Queen Anne’s lace and poison ivy. Clearing the invasive species will allow favorable plants to grow.  

The livestock is kept in a paddock by a low-voltage electric fence. Park district officials remind the public that the animals are working, and to look, but not touch them, and keep leashed dogs away.   

For more information and maps of the grazing areas, visit dgparks.org.   

VILLA PARK  

Contest is looking  for best pet photos  

The theme for Villa Park’s photo contest this month is “Pets Around Town.” Show your pets, and bonus points go to photographers who include Villa Park branding. Photos can be submitted by commenting, messaging or tagging the village  on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or by email to Kylie Cerk, public information officer, at kcerk@invillapark.com.   

First-, second- and third-place winners will be chosen. The first-place photo will be promoted through the village’s social media channels, displayed on the village’s website slideshow and archived in the village’s system. There is no limit to how many photos one person can submit, but only one photo per person can qualify for first, second or third place. All photos submitted will be placed in a public photo album on Facebook; a photo can remain private, if so noted when submitted.  

Photos must be of something in Villa Park and the photographers must be from Villa Park. Submissions of obscene content are not allowed. The deadline for August submissions is the end of the day Aug. 31. 

 –DuPage County News Briefs–