Brandon Kooi, right, Aurora University criminal justice professor, opened “Taking Responsibility and Building Relationships,” a student-police forum at North Island Center in Aurora last week. About 100 Aurora-area high school students, school administrators and Aurora police attended the two-hour evening session co-sponsored by the City of Aurora and the APD. The forum’s goal was to host a diverse group of Aurora-area students to discuss national issues and address them at the local level. Clayton Muhammad, Aurora community relations director, moderated for Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner who was scheduled but unable to attend. Schools represented were East Aurora, West Aurora, Metea Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley, Oswego East, Oswego and Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora.(Al Benson photo)

COUNTY

Home, auto burglaries were up in August

The city of Geneva Police Department and several other law enforcers in Kane County saw an uptick in burglaries to vehicles and homes last month.

Last  week, North Aurora police sent a news release to make residents more aware of smash-and-grab car burglaries at preschools, after a mom’s car window was bashed in and robbed during the eight minutes it took her to drop off her child.

Geneva Police also reminded  residents to take preventative measures to protect their valuables after an increase in thefts and burglaries have been reported from unlocked cars and homes in August.

The incidents have occurred both during the day and evenings, and the locations are spread throughout the city. In an effort to make property less of a target, people should lock their vehicles and remove valuables such as computers, iPods, purses and keys at night.

Residents should make sure their garage door is closed and check that access to their home’s doors and windows are secured. Outdoor lighting may act as a deterrent in some cases since many car burglaries occur under the cover of darkness.

Applications for winter heating help now available

Officials with the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s Office of Energy Assistance have announced that applications for winter heating assistance are now being accepted.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Percentage of Income Payment Plan are designed to help Illinois citizens with their heating bills during the winter. Individuals with disabilities, as well as the elderly, are encouraged to submit an application for assistance.

Officials say the applications will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis and that applicants must submit the following information:

• Proof of the household’s gross income for 30 days
• A copy of a current rental agreement, if the applicant is renting a residence
• Social Security numbers of everyone living in the home
• A copy of their current heat and electric bills
• Proof of receiving TANF, AABD, SNAP, or medical benefits through the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Disconnected households and families with children under the age of 6 can apply for assistance on Oct. 1, with all individuals ineligible for priority enrollment able to submit applications on Nov. 1.

ELGIN

Pianists invited to 2017 American Grands

Pianists of all levels are invited to apply to perform in Elgin Community College Arts Center’s American Grands XXII. The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 in the ECC Arts Center’s Blizzard Theatre located in Building H at the college, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

Billed as “the piano event of the year,” American Grands features almost 500 performers of all talent levels and age groups from throughout the area. Up to 24 musicians perform classical and popular music at once on a dozen grand pianos generously provided by Cordogan’s Pianoland in Geneva, the event sponsor.

Applications will be accepted at www.elgin.edu/americangrands through Sunday, September 18.  Performers are required to attend three to four rehearsals and may be required to perform in two of the three concerts-which will be held at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. There is a $20 per performer participation fee.

Colin Holman returns as conductor and Jon Mortensen as percussionist for the event. For more information, contact music director Larry Dieffenbach at 847-214-7404 or ldieffenbach@elgin.edu. 

Heritage Commission honored for Historic Elgin website

The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions has honored the the Elgin Heritage Commission  with a “Best Practices” award for their Historic Elgin website (www.historicelgin.com).

The award was presented at the group’s biennial conference held earlier this summer in Mobile, Ala. The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions is a non-profit group that is focused on aiding local commissions across the country accomplish preservation goals.

The group’s awards committee was “very impressed by the Elgin Heritage Commission’s effort to digitize and make accessible to the public the information about Elgin’s historic properties that has been assembled over the years as part of the organization’s plaque program.”

The Awards Committee was also “impressed by the commission’s resourcefulness in pursuing an affordable way to both make the information readily accessible and provide the necessary flexibility to add new information over time.” The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions recognized this initiative as an excellent example of Best Practices by a commission in the use of technology.

The Elgin Heritage Commission is a citizen’s advisory commission that promotes Elgin’s historic preservation activity through the protection, maintenance and preservation of the city’s architectural, historic and cultural resources.

–Kane County News Briefs–