Kane County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

The Geneva Public Library has created a website that offers additional information and artist’s renderings for the $21.8 million building bond referendum on the April 4 ballot.

FOX VALLEY PARKS

Job fair March 11 to fill 150 seasonal spots

Seeking to fill more than 150 part-time and seasonal positions, the Fox Valley Park District will host a community job fair from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 11, at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora.

As one of the area’s largest employers, the park district offers opportunities for teens, students, adults and retirees, with flexible work schedules and a wide range of jobs.

Interested candidates are encouraged to visit and get information about available positions and job requirements. Park District staff will be on hand to answer questions and perform introductory interviews.

Potential job applicants are advised to come prepared by printing out a job application form from the district’s website and bringing the completed form to the job fair. A camp counselor application form is also available for those applying for summer camp jobs.

Potential job applicants should visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org to read job descriptions and acquire more detailed information.

AURORA

Kifowit hosts meeting on upcoming roadwork

To help keep local families informed about ongoing local road repair and upgrading projects, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is hosting an Area Road Construction Update on Thursday, March 16 at 6 p.m. in the Aurora Public Library-Eola Branch, located at 555 S. Eola Road in Aurora.

Kifowit will welcome representatives from both the Illinois Department of Transportation and the City of Aurora. Attendees will also have the opportunity to provide their feedback on the current conditions of local roadways, and recommend areas in need of improvement.

To RSVP for this meeting, or for more information on these or other events, please visit www.ILDistrict84.com or contact Kifowit’s constituent service office at 630-585-1308 or Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net.

To stay updated on where area road construction projects are taking place, residents can visit www.aurora-il.org/construction and www.gettingaroundillinois.com/gai.htm.

AURORA

City seeks marshals for two parades

The City of Aurora is seeking nominations for residents to serve as grand marshals for the 2017 Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades.

The nominees must be Aurorans who have made significant contributions to the quality of life in the City, whether it be in the areas of civic or social services, humanitarianism, or through personal achievements such as athletics or the arts. Nominees must be current or long-time past residents of Aurora or have brought some distinction to Aurora. All nominees for the Memorial Day Parade must also be veterans, active military personnel or supporters of veterans’ causes.

Nominees must be willing and available to serve as grand marshal, including receiving honors at City Council, attending a special reception and leading the parade. People previously nominated but not selected may be nominated again.

Nomination forms are available at www.aurora-il.org/events/permits.php or by calling (630) 256-3370. Deadline for Memorial Day nominations is April 21 and the deadline for Fourth of July nominations is May 18.

The Memorial Day Parade will step off at noon on Monday, May 29. The Fourth of July Parade steps off at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4  in downtown Aurora.

For more information contact Aurora’s Special Events office at 630-256-3370.

GENEVA

Information, renderings of new library available

The Geneva Public Library has created a website that offers additional information and artist’s renderings regarding a $21.8 million building bond referendum on the April 4 ballot.

Library officials announced in late December that the district would ask voters to approve issuing 20-year bonds to pay for a new library at 210 S. Sixth St. Officials say the existing library at 127 James St. is landlocked and cannot be expanded to provide additional services and resources.

Plans for a new library include a computer/technology lab, spaces to create and learn new skills like robotics, book publishing, cooking and crafts, imaginative play space, parent networking opportunities, meeting, study and function rooms and on-site parking.

The estimated real estate tax increase for a home with a market value of $300,000 is $98 to $99 per year, or approximately $8.25 per month, according to a Library District news release.

The Geneva library referendum is one of nine referendums listed on the Kane County Clerk’s Office election website.

PLATO TOWNSHIP

Nesler Road closed for bridge replacement

Nesler Road will closed to through traffic from South Street to Bowes Road to allow for the replacement of Fitchie Creek Bridge through approximately Sept. 10.

The Plato Township website says a map of the detour route will be posted shortly before the closure takes place.

The second phase of engineering for the project was completed last month, and Dunnet Bay Construction Company of Glendale Heights was the low bidder at $727,790, coming in well under the estimate of $879,704.

Eighty percent of the work will be paid by federal highway and state motor-fuel-tax funds. Plato Township’s “Hard Road Tax” funds will not be used in the construction of the bridge that carries Nesler Road over Fitchie Creek.

AURORA

City plans Harry Potter festival this July 30

It’s called City of Lumos — brilliant right?! Because Aurora is the City of Lights.

City of Lumos: Aurora’s Harry Potter Festival is Sunday, July 30, just one day before Harry’s birthday.

The festival is the brainchild of Aurora resident Kate Purl and is presented by Culture Stock, a used bookstore and gathering place in downtown Aurora.

A brief overview of events:

Diagon Alley will be set up along Water Street Mall with vendors and crafting stations. Hogwarts Classes in Potions, Herbology,Wizards’ Chess, and Care of Magical Creatures will take place at venues along Downer Place and at Millenium Plaza off Stolp Avenue.

Search for Horcruxes throughout the downtown area. Children can ride the Hogwarts Express mini train attraction. Dress as your favorite character for the Costume Parade.

Businesses throughout downtown will also host independent events.

Basement of the Dead is working to transform “The Basement” into “Hogwarts” and will give customers the opportunity to battle Death Eaters, Dementors, Werewolves, and other creatures from the World of Harry Potter with laser tag wands.

SUGAR GROVE

Group show features art by WCC students

The Waubonsee Community College Art Department and Aurora Downtown Campus Café present “All Together Now,” a group show featuring the various works of Waubonsee students.

Student artists exhibiting in the show are Haley Dixon, Oswego; Adrian Gutierrez, Mongtomery; Patricia Janecek, Aurora; Sam Larsen, Aurora; Nathalie Martinez, Plano; Zach Schulz, Batavia and Hailee Tyner, Oswego. Their various works include painting, collage, drawings and photography.

The show is open in the Waubonsee Aurora Downtown Campus Café, located on the first floor at 18 S. River St. in downtown Aurora, until April 19. Viewing hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ELGIN

Teachers vote to ratify one year deal with U-46

The Elgin Teachers Association (ETA) last week voted to ratify a one-year contract extension for the 2017-18 school year. The tentative agreement by the ETA, the professional organization that represents the District’s 2,400 teachers, was scheduled to  go before the U-46 Board of Education for a vote on Monday.

The agreement honors all current teacher compensation and benefits, including “step” and “lane” increases under the teacher salary model. The tentative agreement calls for a base salary increase of 0.94 percent with an average step increase of 3.1 percent.

The one-year extension is set to expire Aug. 10, 2018. District and ETA joint committees addressing teacher workload, special education, compensation, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support will identify and research current and emerging best practices within those topics, and make recommendations on each to District and ETA leadership as they look toward developing a multi-year contract.

–Kane County News Briefs–