Rev. John Boryk of Park Ridge recalled marching with civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., during a program at Aurora University Tuesday, Jan. 17. Boryk, a 1987 Aurora College graduate, joined the 1985 march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. He reflected on meeting King and took questions after a screening of the 2014 movie “Selma” in Crimi Auditorium. (Al Benson photo)

GENEVA

Police seek to solve incidents of graffiti

The Geneva Police Department is asking residents to be vigilant in monitoring their neighborhoods for suspicious or unusual activity after several reports of graffiti in the city this month.

Police continue to investigate the vandalism that took place Jan. 13-15 after spray-painted symbols and words referencing various gangs were found on properties throughout Geneva.

“The Geneva Police Department is taking these illegal activities very seriously and understands residents see this as an affront to their community. This type of graffiti will not be tolerated,” Police Chief Eric Passarelli said. “People who see vandalism taking place should immediately call 911 and allow police to investigate the incident.”

The City’s online request system, which was utilized by residents last weekend, should only be used to report non-emergency situations since it is not monitored 24 hours a day.

Police have worked diligently with property owners to remove the vandalism as quickly as possible.

Anyone with information regarding last weekend’s incidents should call the Geneva Police Department at 630-232-4736.

Cougars host ‘Meet the Diamondbacks’ night

Kane County Cougars fans can “Meet the Diamondbacks” this Friday, followed by a free coaches clinic on Saturday.

The event will be held inside the Super Suite banquet room on the upper level of Northwestern Medicine Field.

Admission is $49 and includes an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring marinated grilled chicken, rustic cod with a lemon butter sauce, a beef tenderloin carving station, macaroni and cheese as well as complimentary draft beer and wine throughout the night.

A cash bar will also be open for additional beverage purchases. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a social hour with dinner starting at 7 p.m. followed by a question and answer session with the Diamondbacks guest speakers from 8-8:45 p.m.

Speakers include former major league manager, Butch Hobson, who was recently named the 18th Cougars manager in franchise history along with other members of this season’s field staff including pitching coach Rich Sauveur, hitting coach Jose Amado and Arizona Diamondbacks Infield Coordinator Gil Velasquez.

Seating is limited as similar events in the past have sold out.

Fans can call 630-232-8811 to order tickets or visit kccougars.com to reserve their spot.

COUNTY

The Kane County Office of Community Reinvestment has announced that applications for 2017 Grand Victoria Riverboat funds are now available

The Kane County Board has budgeted $775,307 for the initiative, which supports projects that help strengthen Kane County communities and improve the quality of life for area residents.

Every year, the Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund provides gap funding for activities that address local needs in the areas of education, the environment and economic development.

Non-profit organizations and units of local government are eligible to apply for funding.

Applications must be prepared and submitted using the county’s web-based application portal, hosted by ZoomGrants. The submission deadline is midnight Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

Projects will be evaluated for their effectiveness at meeting the needs of area residents, leveraging other funding, readiness to proceed, and overall community impact and urgency. The staff of the Kane County Office of Community Reinvestment is available to answer questions regarding application procedures, project eligibility requirements, and the Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund in general.

Since its inception in 1997, Kane County has received a total of $140,634,643 from the Grand Victoria Casino. At its height in 2002, the county’s annual share was more than $12 million. This year, the county projects its share will be $3.15 million.

SOUTH ELGIN

Residents warned of fake Health Care workers

The Kane County Health Department is advising residents that it has been made aware by the South Elgin Police Department of a potential scam in which people posing as “Kane County Healthcare” workers tried to gain access to someone’s home.

Executive Director Barbara Jeffers said these were not Kane County Health Department employees. She said she would like to assure residents that department staff will make appointments before any home visits, that staff always carries proper identification and that they travel in vehicles clearly marked with Health Department logos.

“If there is ever any question as to someone’s identification, do not allow them into your home and never hesitate to contact the police and the health department,” Jeffers said.

Anyone with any questions can call the health department at the number above, or the South Elgin Police at (847) 741-2151.

FOX RIVER GROVE

Ski Club postpones annual tournament

For the first time in 112 years, Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove has been forced to postpone the Annual Winter Tournament due to the unseasonable weather.

The tournament had been scheduled for last Saturday and Sunday and has been rescheduled for Feb. 11 and Feb. 12 at the club located at 100 Ski Hill Road, just north of the Kane County line.

The ski club is a major venue for ski jumping and hosts events including the Junior National Qualifier and many national and international ski-jumping competitions. Ski jumpers from around the world compete on the club’s 70-meter hill.

The ski club has the ability to produce artificial snow, but the warm and wet weather of recent days proved too much to overcome.

ELGIN

ECC faculty receive awards for excellence

Five Elgin Community College faculty members will be recognized by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) for their teaching and leadership excellence in institutions of higher education.

Recipients of the 2016 NISOD Award for Excellence are Chalyce Deterding, Assistant Professor I of Mathematics; Michelle Kelty, Adult Basic Education (ABE) Unit Adjunct Faculty; David Lawrence, Math Unit Adjunct Faculty; William Pelz, Professor II of History and Political Science and Patrick Stewart, Assistant Professor I of Culinary Arts and Hospitality.

The recipients will be recognized at the Excellence Awards Dinner and Celebration at the NISOD conference in Austin, TX on Sunday, May 28.

Additionally, all five recipients’ names were submitted to receive the John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award.

Founded in 1978, NISOD is an organization dedicated to the professional development of faculty, administrators, and staff; and to the continued improvement of teaching and learning, with the ultimate goal of student success. NISOD has members from more than 700 community colleges around the world.

–Kane County News Briefs–