Batavia resident Brittany Rosas, left, and Chloe Albert of Sycamore, right, were among Aurora University students who wrapped presents for 80 area needy kids in a 13th annual holiday giveaway recently. Rosas and Albert are criminal justice majors. Business and criminal justice majors partnered to raise $2,700 from multiple fundraisers for gifts for convicts’ kids and Salvation Army Aurora Corps families. (Al Benson photo)

AURORA

Family New Year’s Eve celebration at Vaughn

Families and children can start their New Year’s Eve activities early with a celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Vaughan Athletic Center.

The Family New Year’s Eve Party will ring in 2017 with a variety of festivities. Kids and adults can get energetic while climbing and bouncing on giant inflatables, playing interactive games, competing in hula hoop contests and dancing to the latest tunes with a live DJ.

Popular features also include the “Active Toddler Zone,” a “Meet-and-Greet” with favorite characters including Spider-Man, Tinkerbell, Storm Trooper, Elsa, Cinderella and others and the traditional New Year’s countdown featuring a colossal balloon drop at noon.

Guests are encouraged to pre-register by noon on Dec. 30 to guarantee admission, party favors, activities and snack. Advance tickets are available online at $8 per person (ages 2 and up). Children under 2 are free. Day-of registration is $11 per person, but the event often sells out; party favors and snacks are not guaranteed for those who register on event day.

For more information, call the Vaughan Athletic Center at (630) 907-9600 and follow updates on the Vaughan Center’s Facebook page.

GENEVA

After thefts, drivers asked to not leave car running

The Geneva Police Department is asking residents to not leave their cars unattended and running after two vehicles were reported stolen on the City’s west side the past several days.

The unlocked cars were reported stolen around 2:30 a.m. Dec. 18 in the 900 block of Lewis Road and around 3 a.m. Dec. 20 in the 200 block of West State Street.

A third unlocked vehicle, which was not running but had the keys left inside, was reported stolen around 7 a.m. Dec. 8 in the 1800 block of Belter Court.

The convenience of a warm car is welcomed during the winter, but it is also an invitation for thieves to steal a vehicle, which can be done in just a matter of seconds.

Police believe these incidents are crimes of opportunity and can be reduced with help from the community and ask residents to use common sense and not leave their vehicles running unattended whether or not the doors are locked. Even if a car is locked, a window can be broken to gain entry into a running vehicle.

ST. CHARLES

1st Street parking deck named for former mayor

St. Charles’ new parking deck on 1st Street, informally referred to as First Street Parking Garage-East, is now officially named in honor of a former mayor of St. Charles: Sue Klinkhamer.

The action to rename the parking facility was made at the Dec. 19 St. Charles City Council meeting.

Klinkhamer served as Ward 1 alderman from 1989-1997, and then was elected as the first female mayor of St. Charles. Klinkhamer served as mayor from 1997-2005. Planning for the First Street development got under way in 2002.

“The genesis of the First Street development (took place) during Mayor Sue Klinkhamer’s administration,” said St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina. “During her tenure and leadership, with support from the City Council and from a variety of St. Charles citizens, the foundation for creating a vibrant and strong pedestrian-friendly downtown environment was established. What we see today over a decade later is a result of the execution of that original vision and effort.”

The public parking garage, which is on the north east corner of 1st and Illinois streets, has 110 spaces and is part of Phase 3 of the 1st Street Development Project.

COUNTY

Panel of experts takes look at 2017 in Kane County

Kane County Development Director Mark VanKerkhoff will be among an elite panel of local experts taking a hard look at Kane County’s economic future during a Jan. 17 forum in Geneva.

An Economic Forecast event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at Eagle Brook Country Club, 2288 Fargo Boulevard, Geneva.

During the event, attendees will get a glimpse at what’s in store for Kane County and the economy in 2017. The event will include information about where the economy is heading, as well as the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

Panelists for the event include some of Kane County’s top economic development leaders.

Slated for the panel are Dan Stellato, president of BEI Properties in Batavia; Dr. Christine Sobek, president of Waubonsee Community College based in Sugar Grove; Tom Russe, president of Sterling Bank in St. Charles; Mary Porter, CEO of Emergent Safety Supply in Batavia; and VanKerkhoff, AIA (American Institute of Architects), director of the Kane County Development and Community Services Department based in Geneva.

The keynote speaker for the event will be Ralph M. Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. The event moderator will be Kathy Balcazar, weekly group editor for a local newspaper chain.

Cost to attend the event, which includes lunch, is $35 a person or $350 for a table of 10.

AURORA

School officer injured in East Aurora altercation

An Aurora Police Department school resource officer and EAHS staff member were injured in an altercation on Friday, Dec. 16, that occurred during the East Aurora High School dismissal.

The officer and staff member had been attempting to deal with two non-compliant students at the school’s dismissal time. The officer left briefly to attend another issue but was summoned back. He then learned that one of the students had intentionally struck the staff member with the school door, and the staff member wished to press charges.

The officer gave verbal orders to the student, who did not comply and struggled with the officer. The officer held her in place and summoned assistance.

Lester Swafford, a 52-year-old resident of the 1200 block Summit Avenue, entered the school, interfered in the arrest and battered the officer, police said. The officer and Swafford fell to the ground during the struggle.

The students involved in the previous dispute with staff then began to punch and kick the downed officer in the head, according to the Aurora Police Department news release. Police said the original school staff victim was then approached and battered by 48-year-old Claudette Fleming from the 1200 block of Summit Avenue.

All of combatants were eventually arrested. The school resource officer and staff member both suffered minor, diagnosed injuries.

Swafford, Fleming and the juveniles were charged with aggravated battery and mob action. The adults were held for bond call, and the juvenile was sent to the Kane County Youth Home.

ELGIN

Image Award nominations now being accepted

Elgin’s Image Advisory Commission is seeking nominations for its annual Image Awards, which recognize  individuals, businesses and organizations that have had a positive impact on Elgin.

Nomination forms are currently available at cityofelgin.org/imageawards, or can be picked up at The Robert Gilliam Municipal Complex, 150 Dexter Court. The deadline to submit nominations is January 25, 2017.

Winners are selected by members of the Image Advisory Commission, and will be honored at the annual Image Awards event scheduled for March 16, 2017 at The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way. Event details will be available as the event nears.

Awards are available to all ages in five categories: individual professional; individual volunteer; projects, such as special events, fundraising projects and neighborhood improvements; organizations or businesses; and citizenship. Click to see a list of past winners.

For more information, contact Barb Keselica, special events and community engagement manager at keselica_b@cityofelgin.org or 847-531-7056.

–Kane County News Briefs–