Frankfort resident Thomas Swierczyna made his music directing debut at an Aurora University art walk Thursday, April 21. Swierczyna, a junior nursing major, was among AU students invited to direct a number by the AU band at a U-Direct station. The walk hosted 29 performance, exhibit and workshop stations showcasing student and faculty artists at outdoor and indoor venues. (Al Benson photo)

AURORA TOWNSHIP

Driver dies after striking vehicle parked in garage

A 75-year-old Aurora man last  Thursday after his car left a rural road and crashed into a car parked inside an open garage.

Lloyd Manning of Tall Oaks Road in Aurora, was driving a Toyota Camry east on Molitor Road in unincorporated Aurora Township at around 4 p.m. Thursday, when the Camry left the road for an unknown reason, according to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office. The Toyota struck a Chevrolet Impala that was parked inside an open garage in the 1800 block of Elizabeth Drive, which intersects Molitor.

“It appears that the impact was only with the parked car inside the garage and not the building,” Kane County Sheriff’s Office Administrative Director Pat Gengler said in an email release.

Manning, who was the sole occupant of the Camry, was transported to an area hospital and pronounced deceased.

“It appears that the driver may have suffered an unknown medical emergency prior to the crash,” Gengler said.

Kane County sheriff’s deputies and investigators from the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating the crash.

BATAVIA

Electric project to close Fabyan lane

The City of Batavia will be closing one lane of eastbound Fabyan Parkway Parkway from Western Avenue to east of Van Nortwick Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily this week.

The daily single lane closure of eastbound Fabyan Parkway is necessary for approximately three weeks, weather permitting, to allow construction crews to safely replace existing utility poles and upgrade the City’s electric transmission capacity citywide.

AURORA

Nyhammer named new WCC vice president

Waubonsee Community College has named Dr. Diane Nyhammer as the college’s Vice President of Educational Affairs. She began working at the college this month and comes from Blackhawk Technical College where she was Vice President of Learning/Chief Academic Officer since 2013.

Nyhammer served for more than 11 years as a full time English faculty member at McHenry County College and has more than 10 years of experience as an academic administrator. In addition to working at associate-degree granting institutions, she has also worked at the state and national level as the Assistant Director for Academic Affairs for the Illinois Board of Higher Education and as Assistant Director of Accreditation Services for the Higher Learning Commission.

Among her successful initiatives with previous employers was the Running Start Program at Rock Valley College, which she said increased student access and success. The dual credit program offers high school students the opportunity to complete their junior and senior year of high school while simultaneously completing their first two years at Rock Valley College. 

She received her Ph.D. in Higher Education from Loyola University. She also earned an M.A. in English from Northern Illinois University and her B.A. in English from Barat College.

GENEVA

‘My Nosh’ moving into long-vacant property

MyNosh LLC, a collaboration between Nosh Restaurant and My Salon, will be revitalizing a longtime vacant building at 22 N. Third St.

Built in 1942, the downtown property has been empty since 2008 and is in need of a variety of service and façade upgrades. The Geneva City Council approved a sales tax sharing agreement in March to assist with the costs of upgrading utilities and retrofitting the structure. The project entails a $1.8 million investment that will result in the retention and expansion of jobs, help anchor the North Third Street corridor and strengthen the City’s commercial tax base.

Nosh has been bringing fresh, flavorful food to Geneva since 2007 at 211 James St. The new location will offer expanded seating, both indoors and outdoors.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to bring the Nosh vibe that our customers love to the new, bigger location, along with a revamped menu and a fresh look,” Owner Mike Dixon said. “We’re calling it Nosh 2.0.”

My Salon, currently located in St. Charles, will bring its contemporary atmosphere and modern approach to the west end of the building. Owner Tom Stuart remarked “20 years ago when I started doing hair, I started in Geneva. Now I’m coming back home.”

Nosh and My Salon are expected to open their new location this summer.

ELGIN

Commission to honor nine for preservation work

The Elgin Heritage Commission will honor outstanding contributors to Elgin’s heritage at the prestigious Mayor’s Awards Ceremony held at the top floor of 1 Douglas Avenue in Elgin on May 2.

Given annually by the Mayor, upon recommendation of the Elgin Heritage Commission, the awards recognize those who have preserved and promoted the heritage of Elgin.   

Mayor David Kaptain will present nine recipients with preservation awards this year. Nominated by their peers, the award recipients were selected based upon their dedicated efforts to preserving Elgin’s historic architecture, neighborhoods, and cultural resources. 

The Mayor’s Awards for Preservation will be presented to the following nine recipients:

• Christopher & Rebekah Berry for their exterior and interior rehabilitation of 442 DuPage Street.
• Glen & Susan Holland for rehabilitating, upgrading and maintaining the historic McClure Family properties located at 770 W. Highland Avenue and 272 McClure Avenue.
• Grant Born for revitalizing and rehabilitating the cloistered buildings located at 265, 263-267 and 269-271 Douglas Avenue.
• Jacqueline Vossler & Richard Renner for their numerous contributions to the Elgin History Museum such as their exhibit, “Designing for America: Elgin American Compacts, 1926-1951.”
• Jennifer Fukala for her extensive contributions to the Near West Neighborhood and Elgin heritage.
• Jim & Kelly Langenberg for their personal hands on effort in the restoration of their home located at 582 Park Street.
•  Karen TerHorst & Perry Pollock for their complete restoration and rehabilitation of their home located at 844 Brook Street.
• Ken Gough for his development and implementation of Civil War educational programs and his impressive interpretation of Elgin Civil War history.
• Linda Rock for her leadership, dedication and participation for the past 30 years as a steward of the Elgin History Museum and the prestigious Elgin Cemetery Walk. Linda Rock will be receiving the Mayor George Van De Voorde Outstanding Service Award. 

COUNTY

Forest district offers free wood chips

Back by popular demand, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County is offering free wood chips to the public, in late April.

Wood chips will be available for pick-up at two locations on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30,

from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin and also at Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock.

Forest Preserve District staff will be on hand to help load with a tractor at both sites from 8 a.m. – noon.

Afterward, the public may on their own through 5 p.m. Non-District machinery to load/unload is not permitted. Residents should bring their own shovels and containers. The public is welcome to take as many wood chips as they can haul away.

The chips are from hardwood trees removed throughout Kane County because of storm damage or clearing efforts. None of the wood chips are from ash trees.

Burnidge Forest Preserve is located at 14N035 Coombs Rd., Elgin. Big Rock Forest Preserve is located 46W072 Jericho Rd., Big Rock. Signs within both preserves will direct people to the pile location.

For more information, contact the Forest Preserve District of Kane County at 630-232-5980 or visit our web site at www.kaneforest.com.

–Kane County News Briefs–