This photo captures a monarch raised at the Knoch Knolls Nature Center in 2016. The Naperville Park District will host its inaugural Monarch Festival Sept. 17 at Knoch, 320 Knoch Knolls Road.

COUNTY

New judge named to fill vacancy

The Eighteenth Judicial Court in DuPage County has appointed a new associate judge. She is Christine Cody, and she will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Bruce Kelsey.

Cody attended the Loyola University School of Law and was admitted to the practice of law in Illinois in 1995. Before her appointment, she is a partner with the Law Offices of Rohde & Cody, P.C. in Addison. She also had been with the law offices of Charles A. Rohde; an adjunct professor at the College of DuPage; a partner with the law offices of Cody, Mitacek & Rohde, P.C.,; an assistant state’s attorney for the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office; and an associate at DiMonte, Schostack & Lizak, LLC.

HINSDALE

 Free films shown outdoors in autumn

Outdoor films are not just for summer. The Hinsdale Parks and Recreation Department will show two movies in the park as autumn approaches. Both movies will be held at Katherine Legge Park, 5901 S. County Line Road, Hinsdale. The first movie, “Sing,” will be shown at dusk (about 6:30 p.m.) Sept. 13. Guests should bring a blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy the show. The rain date is Sept. 20.

The second movie, “Hocus Pocus,” will be shown Oct. 11 and will begin at dusk (about 5:30 p.m.). The rain date is Oct. 18. Guests will be able to celebrate Halloween and dress in costume, as well as enjoy some popcorn and other refreshments.

State rep to hold property tax forum

State Rep. Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale) will host a property tax forum. The forum, “Understand & Learn How to Appeal Your Property Taxes,” will explain the process for determining property taxes and how to appeal if they are being over-assessed. The topic will be presented by Greg Boltz, Downers Grove Township Assessor. The free forum will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 in Kettering Hall at The Community House, 415 W. Eighth St., Hinsdale. Light refreshments will be provided. Reservations are requested. Call (630) 852-8633. Bellock announced recently she will not seek re-election in 2018.

DARIEN

DarienFest opens Sept. 8

The 30th annual DarienFest will be held Sept. 8-Sept. 10. The three-day festival will be held at Darien Community Park, at 71st and Clarendon Hills Road, and will feature food, beer, wine, music, a carnival and business expo. Activities will include the fifth annual Pet Parade and Darien’s Got Talent. Hours will be 6 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 8; 1 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 9; and 1 to 7 p.m. Sept. 10. Musical acts include Hillbilly Rockstarz, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 8; Ides of March, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 9; and American English, 5 p.m. Sept. 10. For more information, call darienchamber.com.

DOWNERS GROVE

Outing shows how honey used in beer brewing

The Downers Grove Park District and Alter Brewing Company are offering a one-day excursion about honey, brewing and how the two come together to produce beer.

The Field to Fermenter program will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 9. The day will begin and end at Alter Brewing Company. 2300 Wisconsin Ave., #213, Downers Grove. Transportation to and from Lyman Woods will be provided. Registration costs $50 per person and is available online at dgparks.org.

Alter Brewing Company provided the funds for Lyman Woods to install five hives that have been harvested specifically for an exclusive new brew—Lyman Woods Honey Wheat Ale. This new ale will not be served until the Park District’s 2017 Harvest Fest and DG 5 & 8 Miler at Fishel Park Sept. 30. However, Field to Fermenter participants will be the first to taste it.

The tour will begin at Alter Brewing Company and travel to Lyman Woods where participants will learn about the history of local beekeeping and the science behind how honey is made. At Lyman Woods, they will suit up and visit the apiary, harvest honey from the hives, and take part in a honey tasting. The next stop will be Alter Brewing Company where the head brewer will give a tour of the facility and explain the basics of brewing. After lunch there, beekeepers and brewers will speak.

NAPERVILLE

Festival to celebrate efforts to save monarchs

The Naperville Park District will host its inaugural Monarch Festival from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 17, a free event where the public can learn about the monarch butterfly and other pollinators that live in the area. The festival is an outgrowth of the park district’s efforts to restore habitat for monarchs and other pollinators and its educational activities designed to tell the monarch’s story and inspire others to get involved.

Guests will receive milkweed seeds that can be planted this fall, learn about how to plant other nectar plants that attract pollinators, and watch monarchs being tagged for scientific study.

The monarch is in trouble as its numbers locally and globally dramatically decrease because of environmental factors such as climate change and loss of habitat.

The festival will take place at Knoch Knolls Nature Center at Knoch Knolls Park, 320 Knoch Knolls Road, where the park district has planted a monarch waystation. Activities will include educational games, crafts and storytelling for children, a presentation on native plants and an opportunity to meet two local beekeepers.

Volunteers are needed to help at the festival. Interested people may register at napervilleparks.org/volunteer-with-the-naperville-park-district. A training session will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 14.

–DuPage County News Briefs–