Groot Industries will collect Christmas trees in Oswego through Jan. 15, 2016. Residents should place bare trees at curbside on regularly scheduled garbage days.

Kendall County

Sheriff’s Office nets grant to enforce tobacco laws

A report stated that the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office will receive a $1,100 grant from the Illinois Liquor Commission for the purpose of establishing an educational and enforcement program to address minimum-age tobacco laws. As part of the program, Sheriff’s Office deputies will conduct compliance checks on retailers who sell tobacco products in the area, and all such retailers will receive the Illinois Liquor Control Commission’s Tobacco Retailer Kit, which includes training guides regarding the state’s tobacco laws. For more information, visit www.state.il.us/lcc.

Aurora

Park District to host ‘Mary Poppins’ on stage

The Fox Valley Park District will host Winter Stage: “Mary Poppins,” a theatrical presentation produced by the Premiere Theatre Company based on the classic Disney film about a lovable English nanny, at 7 p.m. Jan. 8; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 9; and 2 p.m. Jan. 10 at Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois St., Aurora. Admission is $9 (advance) and $11 (day of show). Tickets can be purchased online at www.seatyourself.biz/foxvalleyparkdistrict. For more information, call (630) 859-8606 or visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

University to host ‘just culture’ event

Aurora University’s Human Resource Institute will present Fairness and Equity through Just Culture from 7:30-9 a.m. Jan. 7 at the university’s Orchard Center, 2245 Sequoia Drive, Suite 301A, in Aurora. The free event, courtesy of Aurora University’s Center for Adult and Graduate Studies, will offer a standardized investigation process using elements of the “just culture” model that focuses on organizational values and management skills in workplace situations. Janelle Crowley, Chief Human Resources Officer and Title IX Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, will be the featured speaker. The event will begin with a networking session and continental breakfast, followed by a presentation and Q-and-A session. To register, visit www.aurora.edu or call (630) 844-5294.

Sci-Tech to host daytime New Year’s Eve bash

The Sci-Tech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St., will host Noon New Year’s Eve Party: A Family Celebration, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 31. The event includes a science show, Creation Station: Blending Art and Science, as well as a dance party, snacks and sparkling cider, party favors, balloons and a toast to the new year at noon. Admission is $12 (free for children ages 3 and under). For more information, call (630) 859-343 or visit www.scitechmuseum.org.

Sandwich

City receives overdue funding from state

The Sandwich City Council announced that overdue funding from the state has been received. The figures include nearly $49,000 from motor fuel tax funds for July, August and September of 2105, as well as video gaming receipts for June through October totaling nearly $16,500. In addition, the City Council announced that it approved the abatement of taxes levied for water works and sewer bonds because bond payments are made via regular sewer bill and water bill collection.

Library to host Common Core education program

The Sandwich Public Library, 925 S. Main Street, will present Understanding Common Core at 6 p.m. Jan. 4. The program, featuring School District 430 Curriculum Director Wally Marquardt, will focus on the educational system’s adoption of Common Core, and how its presence will potentially strengthen the future of our youth’s learning capabilities. Admission is free; registration is required. For more information, call (815) 786-8308 or visit www.sandwichpld.org.

Oswego

Village sets schedule for Christmas tree pick-up

The village announced that after the holidays, Groot Industries will collect Christmas trees through Jan. 15, 2016. Residents should place bare trees — with no lights, ornaments, tinsel or any decorations — at curbside on regularly scheduled garbage days, without a yard waste sticker and not in a bag. Any trees discarded after Jan. 15 will not be picked up until the yard-waste program begins, in April, and a yard-waste sticker then will be required. For more information, call (630) 554-3618.

Montgomery

Library program digs deep into ‘Downton Abbey’

In anticipation of the final season of the popular television series, “Downton Abbey,” the Oswego Public Library District will present Behind the Doors of “Downton Abbey” from 1-2:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Montgomery Campus, 1111 Reading Drive. Participants will learn about the historical context of the show’s characters and stories, and other inside details, and listen to behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Registration is required. For more information, call (630) 554-3150 or visit www.oswego.lib.il.us.

Plano

Library program makes sleeping mats for homeless

The Plano Community Library, 15 W. North St., will host New Life for Old Bags from 10:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 9. The program (for adults) features volunteers making “plarn” (discarded plastic shopping bags cut into strips for crocheting) in order to construct sleeping mats for the area’s homeless. Volunteers are also needed to crochet mats at home. In addition, donated plastic bags can be dropped off at the library. For more information, contact Ceil Carey at jackandceil@att.net or call (708) 846-1704.

Plainfield

Murphy Junior High teacher Waldron earns award

Kelly Waldron, a Sheltered English Instruction teacher at Murphy Junior High School, 26923 W. Grande Park Blvd., was the recipient of the Digital Leaders Now (DLN) Digital Leadership Award, presented by the Illinois Resource Center, at the 39th Annual Statewide Conference for Teachers Serving Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students, held Dec. 8 at the Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center. Waldron — cited for exceptional work in the classroom — was nominated for the award through the Illinois Association for Multilingual Education.

Newark

Village names section of Main Street after Mathre

The Newark Village Board recently issued a proclamation to name a section of Main Street, located near the Newark Fire Department, as Honorary Lowell Mathre Drive. Mathre, a former Newark fire chief, was honored for more than 50 years of service to the fire department, as well as many years of service to various community organizations.

–Kendall County Area News Briefs–