Ryan Dowd is back as executive director at Aurora’s Hesed House

Aurora

Former director returns to Hesed House

Hesed House welcomes back Executive Director Ryan Dowd, who will replace former director Michael Cobb on Feb. 8.

Dowd worked as Executive Director of the Aurora homeless shelter for nine years before leaving in 2013 to start a non-profit of his own based in Washington D.C. Hesed staff said they are thrilled to have Dowd back at Hesed House.

Board Chair John Ball said “we believe (Dowd) is the right leader who possesses the vision and experience to guide us as we move forward with the goal of becoming one of the premier anti-poverty organizations fighting to end homelessness in the Fox River Valley.”

Most recently, Dowd served as executive director at Ayuda, an organization serving vulnerable immigrants in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland with legal, social and language services.

According to Hesed House board members, Dowd returns at a time when the state budget is putting considerable pressure on many not-for-profits.  Hesed House is waiting on more than $250,000 of state funds that may never come, they said.

“This is a really difficult time for nonprofits serving vulnerable families in our state, but I feel blessed beyond measure to be rejoining a community that cares so much about every member,” Dowd said.

First Fridays to return to downtown

First Fridays continue this week in Aurora where downtown businesses open up for an evening of music, art and adventure.

More than a dozen shops, galleries, businesses and restaurants will be participating in the monthly event that begins at 5 p.m. in the downtown area.

Mausoleum Gallery, 213 S. River St., is open with art, glass blowing, music, and hundreds of glass pieces on display from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. This month, the gallery is showcasing healing crystals from Arizona.

Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd., will host an open mic from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St., is open with free admission, plus fun craft stations from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Other participating venues include Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway; Gillerson’s Grubbery, 33 W. New York Street; AKA Dance, 14 W. Downer Place, Ste. 10; and River’s Edge Cafe, 14 W. Downer Place, which is open until 10 p.m. with food, art, and music. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Free trolley service runs throughout downtown from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Kendall County

State Rep. Kifowit invites residents to talk over coffee

Illinois State Representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, will be hosting several coffee dates with residents over the next several weeks, as part of her “Coffee with Kifowit” series.

Residents from around her district are invited to discuss their thoughts on state and local issues during the hour long events.

Kifowit said the coffee shop events allow her to talk with residents about programs, policies, and what’s working in their areas. Events begin at 8:30 a.m.

The next event will be held on Feb. 8 at Maxfield’s restaurant, 2290 Ogden Ave., Aurora.

On Feb. 15, residents are invited to stop by Benny’s Place, 1158 Douglas Road, Oswego. On Feb. 22, Kifowit will be at Panera, 2775 Showplace Drive, Suite 123, Naperville.

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.

Oswego

New director named for Senior Center

A new Executive Director for the Oswego Senior Center was named last month.

Sandra Pastore, who previously held the position of community Connection Center Manager at the center, began her new position as Executive Director on Jan. 18.  According to the center, Pastore brings 17 years of nonprofit experience to the job, including six years working at the Oswego Senior Center.

Pastore is the president of Kendall County Service Providers and serves on the Governing Council and as the Education Chair for the Association of Illinois Senior Centers.   

She holds a master of social work with a specialization in gerontology from Aurora University and a bachelor of arts in sociology with a minor in women’s studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Little White School Museum hosts Valentine’s event

Get ready for Valentine’s Day at the Little White School Museum in Oswego on Feb. 6 and Feb 7 during the museum’s “Victorian Valentine’s” event.

Participants will get to create homemade Valentines, similar to ones made in the 1890s. There will also be a special exhibit of antique Valentines on display. The event takes place between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on each day. Those wishing to attend can stop in at anytime. Preregistration is recommended, but not required.

The free event is for those ages three and up. For more information call Cindy Benson at (630) 554-1010. The museum is located at 72 Polk St., Oswego.

Sandwich

Park District to hold sledding night, Daddy/Daughter dance

The Sandwich Park District will host “Light up the Hill” sledding night on Feb. 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sandwich Sledding Hill on Fairwind Boulevard.

If there’s snow on the ground, residents can sled down the hill amidst hundreds of twinkling light. Hot cocoa and s’mores will be served by a fire during the all-ages event. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fathers and daughters, grandfathers and granddaughters, uncles and nieces, are all invited to attend a Daddy/Daughter dance on Feb. 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Fox Valley Community Center, 1406 Suydam Road, Sandwich. Special dresses for girls, suits and ties for dads are recommended, but not required.  All young ladies will receive a complimentary gift bag.  Professional pictures are available at an additional fee. The Dinner/Dance fee includes one adult and one child.  Each extra person is an additional charge of $10. Register at www.sandwichparkdistrict.org by Feb.  5 to assure a reservation.  

Voter registration now available at library

Residents can begin registering to vote this month for the upcoming 2016 election by heading to the Sandwich Public Library, 925 South Main St.

Registration begins on Feb.16 to vote in the General Primary Election on March 15.

Call ahead to confirm voter registrar availability at (815) 786-8308.

Yorkville

Free gardening webinar programs coming up

University of Illinois Extension’s Four Seasons Gardening Program will be offering a webinar series beginning this month, focusing on plants, trees and terrariums.

All sessions are free and open to the public, but participants must register in advance at http://go.illinois.edu/4seasons_webinars.

The “How to Kill Your Tree: A Guide of What NOT to Do” webinar will be held on Feb. 23 at 1:30 p.m. or Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

“Unique Terrariums for Indoor Spaces” will be held on March 8 at 1:30 p.m. or March 10 at 6:30 p.m.

“Naughty, Nasty, and Simply Annoying Plants” will be held on March 22 at 1:30 p.m. or March 24 at 6:30 p.m.

For more information on local University of Illinois Extension programs, call (630) 553-5823 or visitweb.extension.illinois.edu/dkk. University of Illinois

Riverfront Park skating to close this month

Ice skaters have a couple more weeks to enjoy the city’s Riverfront Park ice skating rink, 131 East Hydraulic Avenue. The rink, which opened in December, will close on Feb. 15, depending on the condition of the ice.

Residents are warned that the rink is unsupervised, and may not always be safe. Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult and wear a helmet.

For more detailed information on skating rink rules and regulations please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at (630) 553-4357 or www.yorkville.il.us.

–Kendall County Area News Briefs–