Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in Naperville will hold its 14th annual Candlelight Vigil for those affected by eating disorders on Monday, May 15, from 5:45 – 7:30 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Edward- Elmhurst Health)

Regional

Linden Oaks host 14th annual Candlelight Vigil for eating disorders

Linden Oaks Behavioral Health and the National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders (ANAD) will host the 14th annual Candlelight Vigil for those affected by eating disorders on Monday, May 15, from 5:45 – 7:30 p.m.

The event will be held in the Healing Garden at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health on the campus of Edward Hospital, 801 S. Washington St. in Naperville. The theme of this year’s Vigil is “Stepping Stones.”

“This year, our presentations will highlight the theme of our event as our speakers who are now in recovery will share their inspiring messages and talk about the stepping stones of the recovery process,” said Erin Terada, clinical director of Linden Oaks Eating Disorder Program.

The event is a powerful opportunity for those in recovery to share stories, reconnect with former patients and families, and give hope to others as well as themselves.

More than 300 people are expected to attend the vigil, which is open to the public and held each year to motivate and encourage recovery, provide support for families, to commemorate those who have lost their lives and recognize those who have recovered and survived.

The vigil will feature speeches by recovering/recovered eating disorders patients and family members whose loved ones passed away due to eating disorders, musical performances, presentations by former Linden Oaks eating disorder program patients and a candle lighting ceremony.

The Linden Oaks Eating Disorders Program, designated a Center of Excellence by The Joint Commission, offers four levels of care with the latest techniques designed to help adults and adolescents recover from anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders.

For more information, visit www.eehealth.org/services/behavioral-health/specialties/eating-disorders. For a free assessment, call the Linden Oaks Help Line at (630) 305-5027.

Aurora

Yorkville man shot In Aurora

Aurora police are looking for information on a shooting that occurred around 11:40 p.m. April 22, in the 1300 block of Eastwood Drive where a Yorkville man was injured.

Upon response to a shots fired call, officers saw multiple subjects running from the area and learned within minutes that a 21-year-old Yorkville man was brought to an Aurora hospital by an acquaintance suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his hip.

Upon investigation, it was learned that the man was shot after a verbal argument escalated during a large party taking place inside of a home on Eastwood. Once the shots were fired, most of the people fled from the scene.

The only suspect description is that the shots were fired by a light-skinned black man, 18 to 22 years old, 5’11” to 6’, wearing a gray windbreaker. It does not appear the suspect and victim knew each other and no definite motive has been established.

The shooting victim was treated and released. No one else was injured.

On April 21 around 10:55 p.m., multiple shots were fired in the 200 block of N. Ohio. One of the bullets hit a home in that block causing minor damage. There is no suspect information and no one was injured.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call Investigators at (630) 256-5500, Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000, or submit a tip without My PD app.

Public invited to 2017 mayoral inauguration

Join us for the inauguration of Aurora Mayor-Elect Richard C. Irvin and Aldermen Robert J. O’Connor, Juany Garza, Bill Donnell, Scheketa Hart-Burns, Edward Bugg and Alderman-Elect Judd Lofchie.

The 2017 Mayoral & Aldermanic Inauguration will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9 in the beautiful Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora 60506. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and a brief City Council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. prior to the inauguration.

Immediately following the inauguration, a public reception will be held in the Grand Gallery of the Paramount Theatre where guests can greet the mayor and aldermen while enjoying cake and music.

You do not want to miss this historic occasion in the City of Lights. Confirm your seats at http://evite.me/xes7nnbZN5

Kane County

Master Gardeners host Seed Saving Class May 11

Saving your own seeds is easy and free, but many home gardeners do not where to begin.

In May, join Master Gardeners Sue Styer and Leah Beck to discuss how to save seeds from your own garden. Find out which seeds are worth the effort, and which are not. Plus, learn methods of cleaning and storing your seeds.

“Saving your own seeds can be simple and successful with the right instruction,” said Sarah Fellerer, master gardener program coordinator with University of Illinois Extension. “Program attendees will learn valuable information to begin or improve the seed saving process for various vegetables, flowers and native plants.”

The “Seed Saving” presentation will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 at the University of Illinois Extension office in Kane County, located at 535 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Registration is required, and space is limited.

The workshop fee is $10 per person. Sign up online at go.illinois.edu/extensiondkk. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to attend this program, contact the office at 630-584-6166, at least two weeks prior to the event.

For more information on the University of Illinois Extension programs in your county, visit go.illinois.edu/extensiondkk. University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems.

Kendall County

Kifowit  schedules Coffee Events across the area

State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is encouraging area residents to meet with her to discuss state and local issues at her “Coffee with Kifowit” stops throughout her district this May.

“Throughout the ongoing budget crisis, I have been meeting with local service providers and area educational leaders and the message is clear, they need funding and they need it now,” Kifowit said. “That’s why I recently joined my colleagues in passing emergency funding to provide dollars to keep social service providers operating and our state universities open. I am looking forward to meeting with area residents and discussing my efforts to pass a fair and responsible budget, along with discussing other state and local issues facing our community.”

All “Coffee with Kifowit” events are free to the public, and those who attend will be treated to a refreshment of their choice. The events are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and will take place at the following locations:

• Monday, May 8 at Maxfield’s, 2290 Ogden Ave., in Aurora;
• Monday, May 15 at Benny’s Place, 1158 Douglas Road, in Oswego;
• Monday, May 22 at Panera, 2775 Showplace Drive, Suite 123, in Naperville.

For more information on these or other events, visit www.ILDistrict84.com or contact Kifowit’s constituent service office at (630) 585-1308 or Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net.

Montgomery

Village freezes property tax rate

The Village of Montgomery Board has frozen property taxes for the fourth year in a row. The new annual budget planned for Fiscal Year 2018 maintains the programs and services that our residents benefit from the most, while holding the line on expenses.

The new budget also includes an ambitious roadway improvement program utilizing funds from the 1 percent sales tax.

In 2017 the village plans to resurface approximately seven miles of road.

The new budget is available for viewing on the Village’s website at http://ci.montgomery.il.us/index.aspx?nid=132

Mayor on the Move will be May 6th

Montgomery Village President Matt Brolley will host a “Mayor on the Move” on Saturday, May 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Dunkin Donuts, located at 1601 Douglas Road in Montgomery.  Coffee and donuts for this event will be provided by Dunkin Donuts.

Residents are invited to drop by to meet the Village President on an informal basis and discuss items of concern with him.  Everyone is encouraged to bring their comments, questions and ideas to the session. 

“As Village President, I enjoy visiting with residents and hearing what issues are important to them,” Brolley explained.  “I also hope to tap into some of the great ideas people have on how to improve life in Montgomery

Oswego

District 308 hires special education director

Community Unit School District 308 has hired a new executive director of special education. Jennifer Volpe was chosen out of 54 applicants who initially applied for the position.

Volpe currently serves as director of student services for Country Club Hills School District 160. Prior to that, she worked as a special education administrator in Evergreen Park School District 124 and School Association for Special Education in DuPage. She also was a special education teacher in Indian Prairie District 204.

Out of the 54 candidates who applied for this position, six were selected for the first round of interviews with the senior leadership team. As the result of these interviews, three finalists were identified and invited to participate in committee interviews on April 3.

Each finalist interviewed with three committees. The first committee was composed of administrators, teachers, and support staff and was facilitated by Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Lisa Smith.

The second committee consisted of parents and special education administrators and was facilitated by Executive Director of Human Resources, Payroll and Benefits Roxana Sanders. The third committee consisted of Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Sparlin and Associate Superintendent Dr. Judith Minor.

Each of the committees was given a list of questions aligned to Illinois Administrative Standards for Special Education Directors and a rubric for scoring the candidates’ responses. At the end of the interviews, all of the scores were totaled and, based on the feedback received, the recommended candidate for the role was selected. 

The recommendation to hire Volpe as the district’s new executive director of special education was presented to the Board of Education at its April 10 meeting.

Volpe will begin her role with the district on July 1.

Police Junior Police Academy session sign-up

The Oswego Police Department will be hosting two sessions of the Junior Police Academy again this summer. The first session is from June 19-23 and the second session is from July 17-21.

Both sessions are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to noon. The Junior Police Academy is offered free of charge to all current District 308 Junior High School students and is held at the Oswego Law Enforcement Center.

Junior Cadets will learn about conducting traffic stops, crime scene investigation, building searches and more! Space is limited so please do not delay turning in applications. They are due by June 1.

Applications are available in the lobby of the Oswego Law Enforcement Center or online to download at www.oswegopoliceil.org. Contact Officer Wilson of the Oswego Police Department with any questions at (630) 551-7342.

Yorkville

AARP Smart Driver Course

Take our award winning AARP Smart Driver Course. Our enhanced course is based on the latest driver safety research and insights. Take the course at Senior Services Associates, where you will learn evidence based safe driving strategies, and refresh your knowledge of the latest rules and hazards of the road. After course completion you may be eligible for a multi-year car insurance discount.

You will learn defensive driving techniques, proven safety strategies, and new traffic laws and rules of the road. Plus, there are no tests to pass. You simply sign up and learn.

This class will be offered at Senior Services Associates at 908 Game Farm Road, Yorkville on Monday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 10 from 1-5 p.m. If you are interested in attending this course, please contact Senior Services Associates, at (630) 553-5777.

–Kendall County News Briefs–