Chefs Lonnie Brady, center, and Patricia Mahoney right, offer a visitor a sample of their chicken vahnmi wrap at the Holmstad retirement center in Batavia recently. Cooking demos by Mahoney, Holmstad executive chef and Brady, executive sous chef, highlighted the retirement center’s an annual senior health and fitness fair. In addition to preparing the wrap, the chefs demonstrated creating flatbread caprese. The duo offered free samples to the audience. Other features of the free, public fair included an indoor farmers’ market, health screenings and free chair massages. (Al Benson photo)

ELGIN

Lane closure on Route 20 bridge

The Illinois Department of Transportation plans a lane closure this week on the structure that carries U.S. 20 over the Fox River in Elgin.

In order to complete the repairs, the right lane of eastbound U.S. 20 will be closed over the Fox River. IDOT expects the work to be completed in about a week — by Monday, June 19, weather permitting.

The scope of the work includes concrete bridge deck patching and repairs to the bridge approach structure.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

AURORA

PNC Bank owners donate building to city

The owners of the PNC Bank Building at 65 S. Broadway – the corner of Broadway and Benton – have agreed to donate the property to the City of Aurora.

After moving office operations to its W. Galena Branch, PNC’s downtown main branch was left vacant but in good internal condition.  The parking structure in the rear of the facility had not been utilized when PNC Bank occupied the building because of safety concerns for its customers.

PNC then began marketing the property for sale but given the conditions present and pending legal action were unable to secure buyers.

“The City has had a repair order on this property for the parking deck that is need of demolition,” said Aurora Chief Development Officer Bill Wiet. “Rather than expend the funds necessary to remove the parking structure, PNC Bank offered the property to the City of Aurora.”

The City will undertake the demolition of the parking structure in the near future using construction funds. City staff will be preparing specifications sometime after the city acquires the building,

“For the cost of the demolition of the parking structure and internal rehab work, the City will inherit prime redevelopment space in downtown Aurora,” said Aurora Chief Management Officer Alex G. Alexandrou. “As we seek to cut costs, consolidate operations, increase efficiency, enhance customer service and put some of our other properties back on the tax rolls, with some work, this building could be instrumental in our plan.”

Discussions have been had on possibly relocating some City offices located in various buildings in the downtown.

EAST DUNDEE

Fire that kill man, dog could be intentional

The Kane County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation after an unnamed person and a dog were found dead last Wednesday following a house fire near East Dundee.

“Detectives were notified by the Kane County Coroner’s Office that the deceased did have a gunshot wound,” Kane County Sheriff’s Office Administrative Director Pat Gengler said Thursday afternoon. “Detectives do believe that the fire was intentionally set.”

Gengler said the incident remains under investigation, and the Kane County Coroner’s Office is expected to issue a news release soon regarding the cause of death.

According to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies and East Dundee Fire Department personnel responded at around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday (June 7, 2017) to a report of a house fire at 15N384 Richardson Dr. near East Dundee.

Deputies were notified by fire personnel that they located an unidentified subject and dog inside the residence, and both the subject and dog were deceased. There was extensive damage to the residence, Gengler said.

The cause of the fire and cause of death are under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, Kane County Fire Investigation Task Force, Kane County Coroner’s Office and the Illinois State Fire Marshall.

AURORA

Vet’s Week auto who moved to July 29

The Aurora Veterans Advisory Council Car Show, which had been scheduled during Vet’s Week but was cancelled due to rain, has been rescheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the West Aurora Plaza, 2131 West Galena Boulevard., far west parking lot.

Originally, the event had been set for May 20, the first day of Vets Week 2017 in Aurora.

The Armed Forces Car Show is new this year. The event is free for spectators, and the entry fee to display a motorcycle, car, truck, new or old/restored or other kind of vehicle is $10. Several awards will be presented, including “Best in Show,” “People’s Choice” and others. For more information call Joe Toma at 630-899-9021.

All proceeds will go to AVAC serving local veterans in need, the AVAC scholarship fund, service dogs and local vets housing.

For more information call Joe Toma at 630-899-9021 or visit vetsweekaurora.org.

COUNTY

Guide to 70 local museums now available.

Free guides to 70 museums in Kane and DuPage counties are now available at the Aurora Historical Society as well as the Aurora Regional Fire Museum and Sci-Tech Museum in Aurora. Published by the Kane-DuPage Regional Museum Association, the guides are intended for children ages 4 to 12.

Children have their passports stamped at each location they visit and can enter a drawing for a $25 gift card if they collect at least six stamps. The program ends on Aug. 31.

The booklets are available during Tanner House Museum tours every Wednesday and Sunday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The Tanner House is located at 304 Oak Ave. The Pierce Center is open noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and also on First Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is located at 20 E. Downer Place.

Entrance to both locations is free.

–Kane County News Briefs–