Carnival lights shine against the night sky at last year’s Last Fling. The carnival and many other features return for this year’s Fling, Sept. 2-Sept. 5.

DuPAGE COUNTY 

College of Dupage Arts Center marks its 30th year 

McAninch Arts Center on the campus of the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn has booked an array of world-class artists to celebrate its 30th-anniversary season beginning in September.

The MAC’s 2016-2017 Performance Series includes the mesmerizing MOMIX dance company (Sept. 10); rock singer-storyteller John Hiatt (Oct. 2); Stephen Schwartz and Friends, featuring the Tony Award-winning composer performing with some of his favorite Broadway singers (Oct. 7); a lecture by PBS’s Rick Steves on “Travel as a Political Act” (Oct. 22); a concert by Grammy Award-winning American singer and keyboardist Bruce Hornsby (Oct. 28); The Havana Cuba All-Stars, showcasing some of Cuba’s greatest and most prominent musicians (Nov. 6); Wynonna Judd & the Big Noise Christmas (Dec. 2); “Seven Things I’ve Learned: An Evening with Ira Glass” featuring the host of NPR’s “This American Life” (Feb. 25, 2017); and more.

The MAC’s resident symphony orchestra, New Philharmonic, under the direction of Maestro Kirk Muspratt, marks its 40th anniversary with a five-concert season, featuring a concert of Gershwin works and Gilbert and Sullivan’s comedic operetta, “The Mikado.”

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Connie Canaday Howard, returns to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding with a new three-play season opening with Marc Camoletti’s comedy, “Don’t Dress for Dinner” (Sept. 9 to Oct. 9).

Shows for the MAC’s 30th anniversary season are on sale by subscription and single tickets at the MAC box office. The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage is at 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn. For more information and event updates, visit AtTheMAC.org or call (630) 942-4000.

LISLE

Benet Academy achieves its highest ACT score

Benet Academy’s Class of 2016 posted the highest average composite ACT score in the school’s history. The 29.1 score was the first time Benet’s composite topped 29, but the 13th consecutive time it averaged 28 or higher. The composite average, both statewide and nationally, was 20.8.

All Benet students take the test during their junior year.

Benet students scored highest in English, with a composite of 30.3, far above the state average of 20.5 and the national average of 20.1. They scored 29.2 in reading (compared to 21.0 at the state and 21.3 at the national level); 28.1 in math (compared to 20.6 at both the state and national levels); and 28.1 in science (compared to 20.6 at the state and 20.8 nationally).

Over the past 10 years, Benet’s composite score has ranged from 28.1 in 2009 to 28.9 last year before reaching new heights this year.

The Lisle-based school serves students from more than 80 communities. For more details, visit www.benet.org.

GLEN ELLYN

Volunteers needed for Glen Ellyn children’s center

Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center is seeking volunteer tutors and people to lead enrichment programs this school year. After-school programs began this week at Lincoln Elementary and Hadley Junior High in Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41. A new program begins at Churchill Elementary on Sept. 12. Those taking high school Spanish can practice their skills at Churchill.

In addition to one-on-one volunteer tutors, Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center is looking for people to lead enrichment programs from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Fridays. Examples of past enrichment programs are chess, science and literacy club. The center is open to all ideas.

The center also is looking to hire people to fill a few bilingual (Spanish) positions at its Churchill location. To apply, send a cover letter, resume and two or three references to volunteer@gecrc.com. For information or to volunteer, visit gecrc.org or email volunteer@gecrc.com.

NAPERVILLE

Enjoy summer’s Last Fling

Enjoy music, food, a parade and more during The Last Fling, a premier event in Naperville to say farewell to summer during the four days of Labor Day weekend.

This is the largest annual fundraiser hosted by the Naperville Jaycees. The event runs from Sept. 2-Sept. 5, and includes national and local musicians on two stages, Family Fun Land, a carnival, unique special events, a business expo and a few running events. For a list of events and directions to Last Fling (which takes place along Jackson Avenue and Eagle Street), visit www.lastfling.org.

The Jaycees organize and staff the Last Fling in cooperation with the City of Naperville, the Naperville Park District, numerous community organizations and volunteers.

The Naperville Park District is the grand marshal of the 2016 Gerald Kia Labor Day Parade. The 50th Anniversary of the Naperville Park District, honoring the history of our Park District is the theme of the parade.

The parade will be held 10-11:30 a.m. Sept. 5.

The parade route will be the traditional route, starting at Naperville North High School, heading south on Mill Street, turning east onto Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street, west on Porter and ending at Naperville Central High School.

The main music stage, Men In Black Pest Control Services Main Stage, will showcase the following bands:

• Sept. 2: One of These Nights and Foreigners Journey
• Sept. 3: BoDeans, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Rusted Root
• Sept. 4: The Summerland Tour featuring Sugar Ray, Everclear, Lit and Sponge
• Sept. 5: Jamey Johnson and Adam Wakefield of NBC’s The Voice

For show times and admission prices, go to lastfling.org.

ELMHURST

Burglars targeting high-end, unlocked cars

Crimes trending this summer: the stealing and burglarizing of luxury unlocked cars appear to have spread to Elmhurst after numerous cases in Hinsdale, Bolingbrook and Naperville. Affected areas are close to major highways.

Elmhurst police urge residents to lock their cars and garage doors, because burglars continue to target unlocked vehicles with keys or key fobs, wallets and other valuables left inside.

According to police, more than 100 vehicles have been stolen and more than 200 vehicles have been burglarized recently in the Chicago area. In most reported cases, the stolen vehicles have been identified as high-end unlocked cars parked overnight in residential driveways.