The Wheaton Grand Theatre’s classic facade is one of the assets mentioned as why Wheaton has been included in Money magazine’s 2018 ranking of the best places to live in America.

STATE

Applications to be accepted for heating bill aid

The state’s winter heating assistance program for seniors and people with disabilities will begin scheduling appointments and accepting applications for aid Oct. 1. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s Office of Community Assistance.

Customers must bring all required documentation when applying for assistance including:

• Proof of gross income from all household members for the 30-day income period beginning with the date of the application.
• A copy of current heat and electric bills issued within the last 30 days (if they pay for their energy directly).
• A copy of the rental agreement (if they are renting) showing that utilities are included, the monthly rental amount and landlord contact information.
• Proof of Social Security numbers for all household members.
• Proof that the household received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (AABD); or other benefits, such as Medical Eligibility or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), if receiving assistance from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Disconnected households and families with children ages 5 or under can begin applying for LIHEAP assistance Nov. 1. Individuals not eligible for priority enrollment can start applying Dec. 1. LIHEAP applicants will be served on a first-come, first-served basis until May 31, 2019 or until funding is exhausted.

For additional information about the program, go to liheapIllinois.com or call 877-411-9276.

COUNTY

More judges needed for Nov. 6 election

The DuPage County Election Commission is looking for more election judges.

Registered voters are eligible to take the four-hour training course offered by the election commission. The course teaches the election code, how to set up voting equipment, and how to process voters.

More than 1,000 judges have been trained and certified. But the commission says more volunteers are still needed to work Nov. 6, the date of the general election. Oct. 5 is the deadline to apply for the training course, and more information on how to qualify is on DuPage County’s website, dupageco.org.

High school students may apply to become election judges if they have a 3.0 GPA or higher, receive approval from their parents and principal, and are U.S. citizens.

Candidates on the ballot include those running for governor and other top state offices, U.S. Congress and the Illinois General Assembly.

ELMHURST

Symphony salutes Bernstein as it begins 58^th season

The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra will open its 58th season Oct. 7 with a celebration of the work of Leonard Bernstein.

Soprano Michele Areyzaga will join the orchestra in a “Bernstein Spectacular,” to mark the 100th anniversary of the legendary composer and conductor’s birth. Under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Stephen Alltop, the concert will be held at 3 p.m. at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Road.

The program will include music from “Mass,” “West Side Story” and “Candide,” along with Aaron Copland’s Suite from “Our Town.” The 2018 Stanger Young Artist Audition winner violist Margaret O’Malley will perform Bruch’s Romance in F major.

Concert tickets, which can be purchased on the ESO website, elmhurstsymphony.org, or by calling the box office at 630-941-0202, are $35 for adults, $32 for seniors and $12 for students. Group and family rates are also available. Save on ticket costs by purchasing a 2018-19 season subscription online, by calling the Box Office, or at the Oct. 7 concert.

“Behind the Music Stand,” an informative and lively discussion led by audience favorite Dr. Ted Hatmaker takes place at 1:45 p.m. before the concert.

In keeping with its tradition of contributing to the community, the ESO will accept donations of non-food items for the Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry at the concert. Concertgoers are invited to bring paper and cleaning products and personal care items for all ages of pantry clients. 

DOWNERS GROVE

Halloween costume sale to support Buddy’s Place

Name your price, buy a Halloween costume and support a local charity. Do all that at

Charlie & Grace Children’s Consignment Boutique during its Name Your Price Costume Sale from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 29-Sept. 30. The boutique is at 37 Curtiss St., Downers Grove.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit Buddy’s Place, Pillars Community Health’s childhood bereavement program. Buddy’s Place offers family-based support groups to grieving children, teens and their families. There is no charge to attend the programs offered by Buddy’s Place.

NAPERVILLE

Downtown parking lots closed for repairs

Parking in downtown Naperville could be difficult for the rest of this week as maintenance work is done on several parking lots. The work is requiring full or partial closures of some parking. 

The Riverview and Van Buren surface parking lots will be partially or fully closed at certain times.

Daily closure notices are being posted on message boards outside of the impacted parking lots. The city’s downtown parking website is also posting updates about the parking lot closures at naperville.il.us.

WHEATON

City makes 2018 Best list

Wheaton has been ranked 27^th out of 583 communities included in Money magazine’s 2018 ranking of the best places to live in America.

The new rankings, released last week in partnership with realtor.com, were compiled by looking at more than 135,000 data points including economic health, cost of living, diversity, public education, crime and income. The study included only towns with populations of 50,000 or more, but excluded communities with more than double the national crime risk, less than 85 percent of their state’s median household income or lack of diversity.

Judges named some of Wheaton’s winning assets, saying the “features a downtown out of central casting: a red-brick town hall, an old theater with a classic facade, and locally owned shops. Its authentic character owes to history spanning nearly 200 years.” The report credits the school district, Wheaton/Warrenville School District 200, with being “one reason Wheaton has made repeat appearances on Money’s Best Places To Live rankings over the years.”

–DuPage County News Briefs–