The Yorkville Library will hold a book sale as part of the annual Yorkville Hometown Days Sept. 3-4.

Aurora
Tree board seeks nominations for Heritage Tree Registry
In an effort to enhance public pride, tree preservation efforts, and awareness of the benefits of trees, the City of Aurora’s Tree Board is accepting nominations for 2016 inductees to the Heritage Tree Registry.
The Historic Tree Registry is a voluntary program that honors and recognizes those trees that add to the value, aesthetics and character of Aurora neighborhoods.
Trees can be nominated by Aurora’s Tree Board, the Preservation Commission, City department heads, individuals and community groups through Friday, Sept. 30.

To be considered for recognition as a Heritage Tree, a tree must be at least 50 years old and meet minimum size requirements. In addition, the tree must have some other significance, for example: trees listed on state or national registries, trees associated with an historic event or person, trees planted for Arbor Day or in memory of an individual or event, trees that provide a unique habitat for wildlife, trees of a unique or rare species, or simply trees or groves of trees with incomparable aesthetic qualities.

Trees selected for honors will receive a letter and certificate and will be entered into the registry and added to the City’s Geographic Information System to help protect them from changes in infrastructure, construction and property ownership. However, the program is voluntary and non-binding, and there are no additional requirements for the preservation of trees on the registry.

Nominations should be emailed to Bill Chinetti at bchinetti@arborlegacy.com by Friday, Sept. 30 for consideration. Include the location of the tree, photos, and any additional information relating to the tree’s significance, for example, historical documentation or a written history of the tree.

The Tree Board will evaluate nominations in the fall. Trees recommended for the Heritage

Tree Registry will be recognized during Arbor Day activities on April 28, 2017.
For more information on the Tree Board, go to www.aurora-il.org/boards/tree_board.php.

Montgomery

Senior program, luncheon and activity
Join other seniors for lunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 13 as you learn about Sir. Winston S. Churchill.

A presentation: Sir Winston S. Churchill: The Greatest Statesman of the Twentieth Century will be given by Daniel N. Myers.

Winston Churchill lived to be 90 years old and his life was filled with excitement and drama. He played a prominent role in the late 19th Century colonial wars of the British Empire, as well as World Wars I and II; held every British government office other than Foreign Secretary; met and was intimate with virtually every world leader during the first half of the 20th Century; and, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. This presentation covers his entire life and times, including rare photos and brief excerpts from his speeches.
Presentation starts at 10 a.m. in the Village Board Room, 200 N. River St., Montgomery. The senior lunch will follow immediately after the presentation.

The cost for the senior lunch is $4 and reservations are required one week in advance. To register visit, https://ci.montgomery.il.us/.

Oswego
Interim Principal Chosen 
Community Unit School District 308 Board of Education recently approved the appointment of John Francis as interim principal at Bednarcik Junior High School. Francis was the assistant principal at Bednarcik and has replaced former Bednarcik Principal Dr. Sharon Alexander, who now serves as the assistant director of assessment, data, and accountability for District 308.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Bednarcik as interim principal. I have had the opportunity to work in some great settings with exceptional people over the last 11 years. Bednarcik is no different,” said Francis. “The community and staff will do whatever is needed to support the students we serve. Being a part of the leadership team we have in SD308 is humbling and I am thrilled to take the next step as principal.”

Francis joined District 308 in 2005 to teach fourth and fifth grade at Old Post and Hunt Club elementary schools. In 2011, he became the assistant principal for both schools. He then became Long Beach Elementary School’s full-time assistant principal in 2013, a position he held until 2015, when he accepted an assistant principal position at Bednarcik.

Francis received his undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 2004, and his master’s degree in educational leadership from Concordia University, Chicago, in 2009.

Alexander has served as Bednarcik Junior High School’s principal since 2013 before assuming her new role in the assessment, data and accountability department..

Police issue warning about online sales
Oswego Police would like to remind residents to be wary when buying or selling merchandise online.

Recently, police took a report of a theft after the victim met a seller in order to purchase an electronic device that was being offered for half of its value.

Another person came forward to report a suspicious incident similar to the first, however the seller walked away after the buyer and seller could not come to terms.
Unfortunately, buying and selling online takes some trust, it also requires one to be cautious and smart, police said.

Oswego Police offer the following tips when buying and selling online:

• Look at a potential seller or buyer’s profile for past ratings.
• Review an item’s listing photo/description carefully. Is it an actual photo or a catalog photo?
• Do not share personal information. Communicate through the website or app. 
• Never meet someone alone – bring a friend with you.
• Meet in a public place. Be suspicious if the buyer/seller refuses to meet at a public place or changes the agreed-upon meeting place.
• Tell a friend or family member where you are going.
• Avoid having strangers come to your house and avoid going to a stranger’s house.
• If you are selling, don’t photograph the item with your house easily identifiable in the photo, especially if you’re selling high-value items. Additionally, do not list your address in the post.
• Don’t accept personal checks.
  Put your trust in the old adage – If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

District 308 students log best composite ACT score

Community Unit School District 308’s class of 2016 has proven to be the best. For five consecutive years, District 308 students have consistently scored above the state ACT average, and this year they logged their highest overall composite score to date.

This year’s 1,205 ACT-tested students in School District 308 had an average composite score of 21.5, well above the Illinois statewide average composite of 20.8. Moreover,

District 308 students scored higher than the state average in all subjects:

• 21.2 in English, compared with a state average of 20.5
• 21.1 in mathematics, compared with the state’s 20.6
• 21.8 in reading, compared with 21.0 for the state
• 21.5 in science, compared with the state’s 20.6
• 21.5 composite, compared with the state’s 20.8

A score of 21 is generally accepted by higher education institutions as the minimum standard for being “college ready.”
As another measure of district success, the percentage of ACT-tested students who are ready for college coursework also outpaced the state average in every subject. The percentages of college-ready ACT-tested students from District 308 show that: 

• 72 percent are ready for college English composition coursework, compared with only 64 percent statewide and 61 percent nationally.
• 49 percent are college-ready in social science coursework, compared with 42 percent statewide and – – 44 percent nationally.
• 46 percent are college-ready in college algebra coursework, compared with 41 percent statewide and – 41 percent nationally.
• 42 percent are college-ready in biology coursework, compared with 36 percent statewide and 36 percent nationally.
• 30 percent are college-ready in all four subjects, compared with 26 percent statewide and 26 percent nationally.

Oswego Fire Protection Fire Chief Mike Veseling

Oswego Fire Protection District earns honor

The Oswego Fire Protection District is Waubonsee’s 2016 Distinguished Contributor for their many contributions to the college’s programs.

Waubonsee Community College has honored the Oswego Fire Protection District as their 2016 Distinguished Contributor.

Dr. Michelle Evans, assistant dean for Health Professions and Public Service, said the Oswego Fire Protection District has worked closely with the college in recent years to provide opportunities to maximize skill development opportunities and student networking opportunities.

Those efforts have included participation in advisory committees, allowing paramedics to participate as preceptors for the paramedic program, donating hay and pallets for live fire training, and donating use of equipment and parking. In addition, firefighters have participated in college events including the Fox Valley Fire Challenge, assisted in managing equipment and helped staff prepare training sites.

In 2014, the fire district donated a 1998 International Road Ranger ambulance. That vehicle provides students with opportunities to learn and practice valuable patient care skills while participating in practice scenarios. Evans said that the relationship between Waubonsee and the district demonstrates how a community employer can have an impact on programs at multiple levels.

Evans credits the leadership of Chief Mike Veseling and the Oswego Fire Protection District Board of Trustees for supporting the collaboration between his district and the college.

Veseling said many of his colleagues are former Waubonsee students, and some district employees are currently pursuing degree work through the college.

Sandwich
Wrigley Field outing
Spend a day at the ballpark, and leave the driving to someone else. 

The Sandwich Park District is rallying together fans interested in heading to Wrigley Field on Sept. 16 for one of the team’s last home games of the regular season. The game pits the Cubs against the Brewers. Participants will be spending the day in comfortable terrace seating that should be well shaded yet with a great view of the entire stadium.

There will be an elevator nearby for those who may be challenged by a lot of stairs. A charter bus for this trip will take participants from the Sandwich Park District to and from Wrigley Stadium. The fee is $85 Per ticket and includes transportation costs. For more information, visit http://www.sandwichparkdistrict.org/

Yorkville
Hometown Days book sale
Book browsers will have thousands of titles from which to choose at Yorkville Library’s eighth annual Used Book Sale during Yorkville’s Hometown Days festivities. Money raised by the sale goes to the library.

Books are priced from 50 cents to $2 and include hard covers and paperbacks. There is a wide selection of children’s and adult books, fiction and nonfiction. Checks will be accepted for amounts over $5; credit cards are not accepted.

The Friends of the Library are sponsoring the sale, and individuals may also join the Friends during the weekend event. Membership forms will be available at the sale, and those joining or renewing their membership during the sale may select three free books.
The sale will be during Labor Day weekend, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, and 10 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4 in the Michelle Pfister Room of the Library.

The Friends of the Yorkville Library is a volunteer group of individuals committed to supporting and promoting the services and programs of the Library. The Friends meet the second Monday of each month at 10:15 a.m. at the Library. The Yorkville Public Library is located at 902 Game Farm Road.

–Kendall County News Briefs–