More than 200 motorcycle enthusiasts gathered at Mooseheart on May 19 for the 15th Blessing of the Bikes event. Moose Riders also brought checks totaling $15,264 for Moose Charities. Mooseheart students participated by riding bikes from from the campus’ school building to the House of God. (Mooseheart photos)

ELGIN

Woman’s death leads to June 2 community meeting

Elgin community members are invited to a community conversation about the death of DeCynthia Clements,  on June 2 at  The Centre of Elgin Heritage Ballroom,100 Symphony Way.

The session, running from 9-11 a.m., is hosted by the Clergy Coalition of Elgin in partnership with the City of Elgin and the Elgin Police Department.

The meeting will offer information about the process involving the investigation being conducted by the Illinois State Police into the death of DeCynthia Clements.

Clements was shot by police on March 12 following a traffic stop in Interstate 90 after Elgin police pulled her over. She exited her car with a knife in her hand and later died at a local hospital.

Although there is no new information to announce, staff will be able to communicate a general timeframe, the role of each government agency in the process and potential next steps.

Members of the Elgin City Council, the Elgin Police Department, staff from the City Manager’s Office, clergy leaders and other community leaders will be on hand to take questions and listen to concerns shared by the public. The presentation and a log of questions asked at the meeting and their answers will be made available following the session at cityofelgin.org.

This meeting is the first in a series of community conversations that encourages productive discussion and action related to policing and community needs. Topics brought forward on June 2 will inform future meeting agendas.

KANE COUNTY

Two local housing projects get low-income tax credits

The Illinois Housing Development Authority Board of Directors last week awarded more than $26.4 million in federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to fund 26 affordable housing developments within 15 counties across Illinois — including two in Kane County.

Once sold to investors, the tax credits will generate an estimated $241.4 million in private capital to finance the creation or preservation of 1,327 affordable apartments for low- to moderate-income families, seniors, veterans, and persons with special needs.

The two projects in Kane County include redevelopment of a historic site in Elgin and the construction of senior housing in St. Charles.

Full Circle Communities will create 47 units across a mix of new and rehabilitated apartment and townhome buildings at a property at 1212 Larkin in Elgin..

The development includes the adaptive reuse of two historic structures — the Larkin Center and Clubhouse buildings — into a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and amenities for income-eligible families.

Construction of a new senior apartment building that will create 74 affordable apartments for residents 55 and older at Anthony Place in St. Charles, located at the former St. Charles Mall property north of Route 28 and east of Randall Road.

CAMPTON HILLS

Village names Millar as  new police chief

The village of Campton Hills has named Steven M. Millar as the community’s next chief of police.

Millar will take the reins from Chief Dan Hoffman, who is retiring May 31, 2018.

Millar, a full-time Campton Hills police officer who has been with the village for five years, was chosen from an applicant pool of 36 candidates. Before joining Campton Hills, he served 25 years as a police officer for the village of Streamwood.

Millar’s responsibilities at Streamwood included D.A.R.E. Officer, juvenile officer, accident reconstructionist, court liaison, crime prevention, community relations officer and investigator. He selected in 1996 to supervise a 62-man team responsible for providing security at several of the Atlanta Olympic Games locations.

Since joining Campton Hills, Millar has worked as a Too Good for Drugs instructor and has been instrumental in developing the village’s citizen police academy program.

Millar has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Benedictine University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.

AURORA

‘Sustainable Choices’ display at SciTech

SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 West Benton Street in Aurora, is hosting “Sustainable Choices,” a display from NRG! Exhibits.

This interactive exhibit explores the concept of sustainability and the choices made by consumers.

Sustainability, or meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, is an increasingly important topic as the world’s population and consumption expands.

Opening on June 1 for Downtown Aurora’s First Friday, “Sustainable Choices” will engage visitors through hands-on activities and thought-provoking content.

The exhibit describes some of the choices that individuals and families can make every day to live in a sustainable manner. In some cases, there are no clearly correct choices to make; all of the available choices include environmental trade-offs. “Sustainable Choices” will help visitors make informed decisions.

“Sustainable Choices” has several themed kiosks, including electricity, water, transportation, shopping, and the yard.

The self-guided exhibit is free with museum admission and open to the public.

SUGAR GROVE

WCC names distinguished contributor, alumnus

Waubonsee Community College named its 2018 Distinguished Contributor and Distinguished Alumnus at the college’s annual commencement ceremonies earlier this month.

Jerry Rich, Chairman of the Board of Rich Harvest Farms, was honored as Distinguished Contributor. Ashley Lewis, singer, songwriter and performer, was this year’s Distinguished Alumnus.

Rich was honored for his service and support to the college. His relationship with the college began in 2012 with a discussion to explore partnerships related to Waubonsee’s automotive programs and his historic car collection. Since then, he and Rich Harvest Farms have hosted biology classes conducting research on the grounds and student interns from the Automotive Technology Program. Rich has also hired several Waubonsee graduates.

Rich and Waubonsee are now exploring partnerships related to the college’s Therapeutic Riding Instruction courses and an equine therapy program housed at Rich Harvest Farms. Rich was elected to the college’s Foundation Board in December 2015. In 2017, he donated the use of his golf course for the college foundation’s annual golf outing. This donation led to the Foundation raising more than $143,000 during that event; the largest amount in college history. Rich has made the golf course available again for the 2018 golf outing.

Lewis was selected as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus for her remarkable professional accomplishments. She earned an Associate of Fine Arts, Music Performance from Waubonsee in 2009.

Since then she has traveled around the world with her band, Legacy. With her musical roots in bluegrass, she has branched into other genres of music and been an innovator in new styles of music.

In 2007, Lewis was recognized as one of Waubonsee’s “Fab 40” graduates as part of the college’s 40th anniversary. 

KANE COUNTY

Tree-trimming projects to affect Fox River Trail

Two utility tree-trimming projects will prompt intermittent closures of portions of the Fox River Trail in East Dundee and Carpentersville next month.

In East Dundee, ComEd contractor Asplundh will trim trees underneath power lines and remove dead trees that threaten lines along the Fox River Trail, from Williams Avenue south to Interstate 90.

Additionally, ComEd contractor Arborworks will remove dead ash trees that threaten power lines along the Fox River Trail from Main Street in Carpentersville south to Barrington Avenue in East Dundee.

The tree-trimming/removal projects are expected to begin June 4, and will be completed by June 29.

The Forest Preserve District asks trail users to be mindful of the project, heavy machinery being used, and of the possibility of intermittent trail closures during the time frames indicated. Signs on both ends of the projects will alert trail users to each project.

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

REGION

14th District art contest winner to show in D.C.

Artwork by Oswego High School’s Sydney Berenyi be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, as a winner of the Congressional Art Competition.

Berenyi’s piece, “Lily,” won out of the 57 submitted from the 14th District and will be displayed courtesy of U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren.

The winning artwork piece will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year; the second place winner will be placed in Hultren’s Campton Hills district office and the third-place winner will hang in the McHenry district office.

As winner, Berenyi also receives two round-trip plane tickets to Washington, D.C to attend festivities in June with other winners from around the country.

–Kane County News Briefs–