The village of Montgomery’s Beautification Committee offers opportunities for businesses and residents to participate in the “Enhancing Montgomery’s Beauty” Flower Planter Program each year. This program maintains elements of the popular Business Planter and Adopt-a-Box programs. Deadline to purchase is May 5. (Photo courtesy of village of Montgomery)

Aurora

Police warn of Internet robbery ruse

Around 12:40 a.m., April 9, a 19-year-old Carpentersville man came to Aurora to meet with a “customer” who answered the 19-year-old man’s ad he had posted on “Offer Up” to sell his I-phone.

The “customer”, or suspect, told the 19-year-old to come to his home in the 400 block of Watson Street, Aurora police said. The two ended up meeting on the corner of Watson Street and Fourth Avenue and when the 19-year-old man showed the suspect the cell phone, the suspect grabbed it and ran.

The 19-year- old chased him through some yards and alleyways and caught him when the suspect was jumping a fence in the 400 block of Marion Avenue. When the 19-year-old tried to pull him down by the leg, the suspect punched him in the face and was able to escape.

The 19-year-old did not require medical treatment.

The suspect, a black male, referred to himself as “Nick” during the “business exchange.” He’s around 18-years-old, 6-feet tall, thin, has no facial hair and was wearing black hooded sweatshirt and red pants.

Police asked residents to please remember that the anonymity the internet offers can be a haven for crooks.

“Our best advice is if you sell or buy items in this way, you can meet at the Aurora Police Department either in our lobby or parking lot, to do the actual transaction. If the other party doesn’t agree to meet there, maybe they’re not who they’re purporting to be,” police said.

In the meantime, call Investigators at (630) 256-5500, Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000, or drop a line using the My PD app if you have any information on the I-phone theft.

Kendall County

New quarter auction at annual Spring Gala

Announcing the addition of an exciting Quarter Auction to the fabulously popular Fox Valley Older Adult Services 24th Annual Gala & Auction. Come join the fun, Saturday, May 6, starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets available now.

Quarter Auction Fever has been sweeping the country. A chance to win great things for as little as a quarter and the first quarter is on FVOAS. Remember to bring some extra quarters of your own. Your $50 ticket includes deluxe hors d’oeuvres, dessert buffet and entertainment provided by Ferris and The Wheels with a guest appearance by Comedian Gerry Grossman.

The combination of the new exciting Quarter Auction, the always magnificent live auction, a cash bar, great music, hysterical comedy and fun make this an evening to remember. A special thank you goes out to all annual sponsors, Gala sponsors and community donors. Donation opportunities are still available. All proceeds help to support our DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle and Bureau county Seniors through the services and programs at the Fox Valley Community Center, our Adult Day Service (ADS) and Home

Services available 24/7. Call (815) 570- 2531 for Home Services or call Fox Valley Community Center for ADS and ticket information, (815) 786- 9404.

Montgomery

Registration open for community garage sale

The village of Montgomery is pleased to announce that its Spring Community Garage Sale will take place on May 18, 19 and 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Each year, nearly 100 households participate, and this year promises to be even bigger and better.

The fee to participate will be $10 per address. Registration forms are available at the Village Hall, 200 N. River Street in Montgomery and on the village’s website. The registration form gives the option of participating on all three of the scheduled dates or selecting specific days to participate. 

The Community Garage Sale will be advertised in local newspapers beginning on May 17. Garage sale flyers will also be created featuring a map showing all garage sale locations, plus a 15-word ad for each address describing the items for sale.  Maps will be available at the Village Hall and on the village’s website starting May 15.

The deadline to be included in the advertising is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 5.

This event is sponsored by Montgomery’s Historic Preservation Commission. The $10 participation fee will help support Settler’s Cottage on River Street.  For additional information, call Debbie Buchanan at (630) 896-8080, Ext. 9003.

Adopt-a-Box Flower Program back

As part of the village’s beautification efforts, the Beautification Committee offers opportunities for businesses and residents to participate in the “Enhancing Montgomery’s Beauty” Flower Planter Program each year.

This program maintains elements of the popular Business Planter and Adopt-a-Box programs.  Deadline to purchase is May 5.

There are two packages. The Friend of the Village package, which cost $30.

For your $30 donation you can have your family name, business name, or personal message printed on a 4” x 22” sign that will be on display next to the flower boxes on the Mill Street Bridge, showing support for beautifying Montgomery.

The Mayor’s Choice package costs $110 and is for businesses only.

Beautify your business with the eye-catching Mayor’s Choice arrangement. For your $110 donation you will receive this professionally designed deluxe flower arrangement consisting of a variety of colorful and appealing annual flowers and decorative vines planted in a large, approximately 30-inch tall planter and delivered right to your office.

Additional planters are available at a discounted price of $95 each.

Planters are designed and prepared by the floral professionals at Schaefer’s Greenhouse in Montgomery and are delivered to your business. The planters remain on display for the entire summer into early fall; at that time, the Department of Public Works will retrieve the planters for winter storage.

Orders for the 2017 flower planter program must be postmarked by May 5. Planters will be delivered by June 16. Visit http://ci.montgomery.il.us for an application.

Oswego

Superintendent urges state to pay late funds

Community Unit School District 308 Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Sparlin submitted a letter to Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, asking that the state disburse all mandated categorical funds for fiscal year 2017 that are owed to the district.

“These unpaid funds are key for the district being able to maintain a balanced budget, as required by law,” Sparlin noted.

In June 2016, Illinois policymakers announced that the state would “fully fund” public school districts, but since then the term “fully fund” has been narrowly applied to only include the General State Aid (GSA) funding.

Although School District 308 is receiving 100 percent GSA funds for fiscal year 2017, it has not received any mandated categorical reimbursements (MCATs), which are owed quarterly.

“These (MCAT) payments provide revenue to our schools for things such as special education, transportation, early childhood education, free and reduced-priced lunches, and more,” Sparlin wrote.

Delays in MCAT payments have had serious repercussions for District 308 and other districts. “Payment delays cost school districts money, including the loss of interest earnings and potentially trigger the need for short-term borrowing and additional interest costs. MCAT delays have created cash-flow problems for our district,” Sparlin wrote.   

To date, the delay in MCAT payments has resulted in an $11 million shortfall in School District 308’s budget.

“If education is to be a priority in Illinois, funding for it must be a priority as well. I urge you to disburse the funds that have already been earmarked for District 308 so that we will be ‘fully funded’ with both GSA funding and the disbursement of MCATs as promised,” Sparlin urged.

Robotics team headed to World Championships

Congratulations to FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition team, Gear it Forward 2338, for earning a spot at the World Championships to be held in St. Louis April 26-29.

The team recently won the Chairman’s Award for the third straight year at the Midwest Regional held at UIC in Chicago. The Chairman’s Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, as it recognizes the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the purpose and goals of FIRST.

In addition, the team’s robot was a consistent force to be reckoned with during competition and finished as part of the number 5-ranked alliance. Students from Oswego East and Oswego High Schools make up this team. The team is sponsored by Community Unit School District 308, Caterpillar, and Navistar.

The mission of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, inspire innovation, and foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

Senior Center needs volunteers

The Oswego Senior Center has multiple opportunities for volunteerism, for all ages, individuals and groups throughout the year. Anyone interested in volunteering should call Ruth Mattson for a volunteer application and interview, (630) 554-5602 or email volunteer@oswegoseniorcenter.org. Current positions available include assisting at:

Celebrating Women Luncheon: Wednesday, May 10 (morning set-up crew; serving during event; afternoon tear-down crew)

Sock Hop: Friday, June 2 (afternoon set-up crew; serving during event; tear-down crew)

Vendor Business Fair: June 8 (set-up crew Wednesday, June 7; tear down crew June 8)

Day of Service event: Saturday, April 29 Join us from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as we clean up our garden and prep it for the upcoming growing season

Kids younger than 14 are also invited to make spring crafts or cards at home and drop off at the senior center for distribution.

–Kendall County News Briefs–