This is an artist’s rending of a new Martin Memorial Plaza. As warm weather approaches, construction will resume on Front Street to install wider sidewalks, new lighting and the plaza.

STATE

New hotline to handle sexual harassment problems

The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) has announced the creation of a toll-free sexual harassment hotline to provide resources to the public, including referrals to counseling and legal services. The hotline, and accompanying website, will also allow for the reporting of sexual harassment allegations in both private and public places of employment.

In establishing and maintaining the hotline, IDHR enlisted the support of The Chicago Lighthouse, which provides employment opportunities to the blind, visually impaired, disabled, and veteran communities. Staff at The Chicago Lighthouse were trained by IDHR management on legal definitions of sexual harassment and resources available for reporting it, including filing of a charge of discrimination.

The Sexual Harassment Hotline Call Center can be reached Monday through Friday with the exception of state holidays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (877) 236-7703. By statute, all communications received by the department via the hotline or accompanying website are confidential and exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

For more information, visit illinois.gov/sexualharassment.

COUNTY

2018 road construction projects announced

The DuPage County Division of Transportation (DuDOT) recently announced upcoming road construction projects for 2018, all part of a $22.3 million program.

The county will patch and resurface 42 lane miles of county highways, improving the driving surface and extending the service life of the pavement. Roads to be resurfaced include County Farm Road from Jewell Road to Illinois Route 64 and from Army Trail Road to Schick Road; Schick Road from County Farm Road to Gary Avenue; 75th Street from Illinois Route 59 to Olympus Drive; and 63rd Street from Cass Avenue to Madison Street.

The county will leverage federal funding to perform capital projects that include congestion relief and operational improvements. Capital projects include widening 55th Street between Main Street and Fairview Avenue, providing left turn lanes, modernizing and interconnecting the traffic signals; resurfacing 55th Street from Dunham Road to Williams Street; patching and resurfacing Greenbrook Boulevard from County Farm Road to Lake Street; and expanding the county’s Central Signal System.

The county’s Central Signal System, which allows DuDOT to remotely monitor and observe traffic operations and make adjustments to conditions, will be expanded to include an additional 97 signals and connect to the City of Naperville’s system.

In total, the DuDOT construction program will be paid with county and federal funds and grants.

For more information about individual construction projects or the Division of Transportation’s 2018 construction program, go to dupageco.org/dot/construction

High schools invited to take Sustainable Design Challenge

DuPage County and SCARCE are accepting project proposals from local high school students for the 12th annual Sustainable Design Challenge. Scheduled for April 17, the Sustainable Design Challenge encourages students to construct building and landscape models using environmental and water-friendly design practices.

In addition to inspiring students to explore careers in urban planning, architecture and engineering, the competition promotes environmental and stormwater education within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum in local high schools.

SCARCE Founder and Executive Director Kay McKeen emphasizes the importance of STEM education both in and out of the classroom.

All DuPage County high schools are encouraged to participate. Frequent competitors include students from Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton), Wheaton North, Naperville North, Glenbard South (Glen Ellyn), Glenbard East (Lombard), Addison Trail, College Preparatory School of America (Lombard), Neuqua Valley (Naperville), York High School (Elmhurst), Willowbrook (Villa Park), Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South (Darien) and Lake Park (Roselle) high schools.

Registration will be open until April 4. For information on participating in this year’s challenge, visit scarce.org/event/2018-sustainable-design-challenge/.

All projects will be on display to the public from 9 to 11:15 a.m. April 17 at DuPage County’s JTK Administration Building, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton.

NAPERVILLE

City hopes special census confirms growth

U.S. Census takers are canvassing select areas of Naperville to officially certify the city’s recent population growth. The work is expected to take up to six weeks.

If the U.S. Census Bureau is able to certify what officials call “significant growth,” Naperville will be eligible to receive more state-shared revenue. The census interviews are taking place between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. Naperville officials say the partial census will take just one or two minutes to answer. Census takers are required to wear a badge that confirms their identity.

To see if your home is included in the special census, go to naperville.il.us.

WHEATON

Work moves above ground in memorial plaza project

Starting in March, construction crews will return to Front Street to make above-ground changes, including wider sidewalks, new lighting, a new Martin Memorial Plaza and more.

Crews had worked underground in the fall. Now, they will be working along Front Street in segments to ensure that one lane of traffic will remain open throughout the project. Crews will work on one side of Front Street at a time to keep traffic moving.

Downtown businesses will be open during construction.

Improvements will include:

• A reconfigured Martin Memorial Plaza on the north side of Front Street, complete with a water feature, gathering spaces, unique plantings and overhead light strands;
  A gateway element to welcome visitors;
• Wider sidewalks; and
• New signs, benches, banners and other details.

Updates will be posted on the city’s Facebook and Twitter pages and its website, wheaton.il.us/ downtownplan.

FOX VALLEY AREA

Model rocketry enthusiasts to hold meeting, launch

The Fox Valley Rocketeers, a local club of model rocketry enthusiasts, will hold its March club meeting from 7:30-9 p.m. March 5, at Woodstock North High School, 3000 Raffel Road, room D187.  The meeting will in preparation for the group’s March launch, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 10, at the Hughes Seed Farm field west of Woodstock off Dimmel Road. For more information, contact Mark Bundick at (815) 337-9068, or go to foxvalleyrocketeers.org for a map to the school, flying fields and latest launch information.

–DuPage County News Briefs–