West Aurora’s Kayla Battle competes in the high jump Friday, April 28, during the Kane County girls track and field meet at West Aurora High School. Battle won the long jump. West Aurora won the 15-team meet. (Al Benson photo)

AURORA

Irvin, Council will be sworn in May 9

Richard C. Irvin is scheduled to be sworn in as Aurora’s new mayor in a May 9 ceremony at the downtown Paramount Theatre.

Irvin, elected last month in a close contest over city staffer Rick Guzman, take the oath of office at around 6 p.m. along with the six aldermen.

Doors are scheduled to be open at 5 p.m. at the theater, 23 E. Galena Blvd. A reception will follow the inauguration ceremonies.

Aldermen to be sworn in include  Robert J. O’Connor,  Juany Garza, Bill Donnell, Scheketa Hart-Burns, Edward Bugg and newcomer Judd Lofchie.

AURORA

Buses are coming to East Aurora district

The East Aurora School District 131 Board of Education approved a three-year financial commitment to provide busing for students residing more than 1 1/2 miles from their school.

While details of the busing plan are still being finalized, the busing plan for District 131 expects to provide transportation to and from school for more than 3,000 students.

With the State of Illinois reimbursing about 80% of the costs, it is anticipated that busing with increase student attendance, resulting in additional revenue from the state.

“We are now in the planning stages to make busing a reality,” said School Board president Annette Johnson. “It will require no tax increase and no referendum. We look forward to next school year when the buses start rolling.”

The Board approved spending up to $5.4 million to First Student, a school transportation company.

School administrators are working to have the busing in place for the 2017-18 school year.

GENEVA

Landberg named Swedish Days marshal

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce has named retired city clerk Lynn Landberg as 2017 Swedish Days Parade Marshal. 

A life-long Geneva resident, Landberg is was the fourth generation to go through the Geneva school system, finishing at Geneva High School in 1962. After graduating with a Communications degree from the University of Illinois, he wrote for several trade publications. In 2003, after 30 years, he retired from Reed Business Information as editor of Construction Equipment magazine.

In the 1970s Geneva Mayor Bert Wood, appointed him to the Economic Development Committee, working on the formation of the first TIF district. In 1979, Wood then appointed him to the Plan Commission, where he served for six years. In 1985, at the urging of his father, he ran and won the City Clerk position, serving two terms. His father, Harold Landberg, had served as City Clerk in the 1960s. In 2005, he ran again for City Clerk and after a combined 20 years on the City Council, retired this year.  

In addition to his civic contributions, Landberg has also volunteered at the Geneva History Museum.

The Swedish Days Festival runs June 20-25. Brochures will be available around Geneva beginning of June.

ST. CHARLES

Vintage cars blossom monthly in downtown

You can tell it’s spring because the vintage cars are blossoming in downtown St. Charles.

The St. Charles Chamber of Commerce’s popular Downtown Cruise Nites are back every fourth Tuesday from April to September from 5 p.m.to 8 p.m. on Riverside Avenue.

There is no charge to car show participants and entry is free to spectators. Sponsorships and merchant goody bags are available to help promote Chamber of Commerce members.

The car shows take place at the same time and place every fourth Tuesday. The first event was last Thursday and next next is scheduled for May 23.

In the event of poor weather, backup dates have been set for June 6, Aug. 1 and Sept. 5.

Events include trivia challenges, a 50/50 raffle, sponsors and vendors providing giveaways and other fun activities for children and families. Car Registration goes from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., shows are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and awards takes place at 7:45 p.m.

For more information, visit the Chamber of Commerce’s Cruise Nite web page or Facebook events page.

ST. CHARLES

Derby Day at History Museum celebrates racing

The St. Charles History Museum will be hosting Kentucky Derby Day this Saturday, an event series highlighting the city’s own connection to horse racing and celebrating the national legacy of the Kentucky Derby.

Activities will be held at the Museum at 215 E. Main St. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Beginning at 11 a.m., local resident Vanessa Bell-LaSota will lead a presentation titled, “Greyhound: Mr. Baker and His Horse,” shining additional light on St. Charles’ proud and award-winning connection to horse racing history: Greyhound.

The star of Mr. (Colonel) Baker’s Hotel Baker Stables, Greyhound set an astonishing 25 world records and helped to ignite the Harness Racing industry in Europe.

Afternoon events will also include kid-friendly, Kentucky Derby-inspired activities such as Make Your Own Race Horse or Derby Hat. There will also be staff visits from  Friends of Great Trotter Greyhound and  The Galloping Out Thoroughbred Rescue Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, care, rehabilitation and retraining of off-the-track thoroughbreds.

The cost to attend is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Space is limited; RSVP is required.

For more information and to register, please visit the museum’s website at www.stcmuseum.org/events.

ELGIN

ESO Listeners Club offers final Passport to Russia

The final events of the ESO-Gail Borden Public Library season-long project, Passport to Russia, are free ESO Listeners Clubs on Wednesday, May 3 led by music historian Jim Kendros at Greenfields of Geneva at 10:30 a.m. and at the Gail Borden Public Library at 1 p.m.

He will discuss the May 6 and 7 ESO season finale concerts, the highlight of which are Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s towering Pictures at an Exhibition.

Passport to Russia was designed to enhance the ESO concert-going experience during the 2016-17 season.  The ESO presented a Russian composer on each of its Classic Series concerts, including works by Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and more. 

Programs included a recital by ESO cellist Nazar Dzhuryn and a pop-up concert with ESO guest artist, Russian-born Yana Resnik, a Russian Tea at the Elgin History Museum and an overview of Russian history, politics and art by Elgin Community College (ECC) Associate Dean Dr. Irina Del Genio and ECC Russian Language instructor John Schwartz.

For more information and to RSVP for the May 5 event, visit gailborden.info/Russia.

AURORA

City seeks nominations for historic preservation

The City of Aurora’s Preservation Commission is hosting its annual Historic Preservation Awards in May and currently seeking nominations of local property owners who have made significant structural improvements while maintaining the historic character of their building. 

Nominations are being sought for projects completed between Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2016. Eligible properties should be at least 50 years old or designated as historic by the City of Aurora. Builders or residents are urged to submit their own work or other projects warranting consideration.

Winners will be named during the celebration of National Historic Preservation Month in May and in conjunction with the awarding of the 2016 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award by Landmarks Illinois to Aurora’s Grand Army of the Republic building.

–Kane County News Briefs–