“Timeless Romance” will be the theme of the Fox Valley Orchestra and Chorus at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at Aurora University’s Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaborarion, 1347 Prairie St. in Aurora.
The public is invited.

ELECTIONS

DuPage count problems did not affect results

DuPage County last week said that an election-night vote-tabulation issue did not affect the results of the March 20 primary.

DuPage results were a factor in determining the results of several Kane County referendums,  required adding votes from Kane and DuPage counties for two South Elgin Countryside fire referendums, a Fox River and Countryside Fire referendum and a Fox Valley Park District referendum.

The DuPage County Election Commission said counting delays involved an outside vendor’s printing of an “Ender Card” form which did not conform with the printing bid specifications.

Officials said today that the issue “did not affect any voter’s ability to cast a ballot at the polls, nor did it affect the count of ballots processed at the polling place, the memory cards, or the integrity of the process.”

Following a pre-election process involving this form established in 2001, the DuPage Election Commission had not experienced an Ender Card issue in the nearly two decades of its use.

County officials said they “deeply regret the delay and will take the necessary steps to correct the situation.”

COUNTY

Longmeadow project moves into spring work

The Longmeadow Parkway project moves into spring with daily lane closures along Illinois Route 62, starting this week.

The Kane County Division of Transportation advises drivers to expect intermittent temporary daily lane closures along Route 62 between Regan Boulevard and North Autumn Trail to allow crews adequate room to safely unload supplies and equipment needed to begin storm sewer installation along Route 62.

The lane closures will take place during non-peak travel times.

Motorists are asked to exercise care and reduce speed while driving through the construction zone, obey flaggers and watch out for construction equipment entering and leaving the project site. Drivers may want to add additional time to their commutes and consider the use of alternate routes while this work is being completed.

The Longmeadow Parkway Fox River Bridge Corridor is a planned, tree-lined parkway and Fox River bridge crossing with a landscaped median, approximately 5.6 miles in length, running from Huntley Road to Illinois Route 62. The proposed road passes through portions of the villages of Algonquin, Carpentersville and Barrington Hills, as well as unincorporated areas of Kane County.

STATE

Two dead, 89 hurt by synthetic cannabinoids

Two Illinois residents are dead and 89 — including one from Kane County — have suffered severe bleeding after ingesting synthetic cannabinoid products, as late last week.

According to the most recent report from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the outbreak has been escalating since the first case of severe bleeding was reported on March 7, 2018, and might be related to rat poison found in some of the sampling.

The IDPH has issued this warning about synthetic cannabinoids, also known as fake weed, K2 or spice:

“If you have purchased any of this product in the past month, do not use it. If you have used any of these products, and start experiencing severe, unexplained bleeding or bruising, please have someone take you to the hospital immediately or call 911.

“Do not walk or drive yourself. Tell your health care providers about the possible link between your symptoms and synthetic cannabinoid use.”

Of the 56 people who have experienced severe bleeding and reported using synthetic cannabinoids, one was from Kane County.

All cases have required hospitalization for symptoms such as coughing up blood, blood in the urine, severe bloody nose, and/or bleeding gums. Three of these cases have tested positive for brodifacoum, a lethal anticoagulant often used as a rodenticide, or rat poison.

AURORA

Nominate city resident for parade grand marshals

The City of Aurora is seeking nominations for residents to serve as grand marshals for this year’s Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades.

The nominees must be Aurorans who have made significant contributions to the quality of life in the City, whether it be in the areas of civic or social services, humanitarianism, or through personal achievements such as athletics or the arts. Nominees must be current or long-time past residents of Aurora or have brought some distinction to Aurora. All nominees for the Memorial Day Parade must also be veterans, active military personnel or supporters of veterans’ causes.

Nominees must be willing and available to serve as grand marshal, including receiving honors at City Council, attending a special reception and leading the parade. People previously nominated but not selected may be nominated again.

Nomination forms are available at www.aurora-il.org/1260/Permits-Applications or by calling the City of Aurora Special Events Division at (630) 256-3370.

The Memorial Day Parade will held on Monday, May 28, 2018 at Noon. The Fourth of July Parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4, 2018.

ELGIN

City calls for entries for public art display

The City of Elgin Cultural Arts Commission (ECAC) seeks two new pieces of public art as part of the “new works program” as outlined in the City’s Public Art Plan: one 2D piece and one 3D piece. 

Available locations for the 2D work include the first floor of The Centre’s parking deck and the south-facing wall near Exhibition Hall of the Hemmens Cultural Center.  Available locations for the 3D works include Newsome Park, Foundry Park, or a pedestal on Riverside Drive. 

As part of the application, the artist must select a location from those available, and propose their new public art piece specifically for that location.  Artists must provide a completed application along with a narrative, design illustrations, budget, resume, work samples, references, and supporting materials (if applicable).  The honorariums offered are $6,000 for each of the two new pieces of public art. 

Specifications and applications are available online at cityofelgin.org/publicart. Hard copies of the applications must be delivered to City Hall, located at 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120, by Friday, May 25 at 4 p.m. 

For more information, contact Amanda Harris at 847-931-6019 or harris_a@cityofelgin.org.

ST. CHARLES

City to defend America in Bloom national title

St. Charles is going for back-to-back national titles in the America In Bloom competition.

Last year, St. Charles took home top honors, winning its population category, along with the Outstanding Achievement Award for Overall Impression, besting 40 other communities that entered from across the nation.

The America in Bloom – St. Charles Committee has selected the red geranium as the 2018 flower and asks residents and businesses to plant the flowers this season.

On July 16 and 17, two America in Bloom judges  will be in St. Charles touring floral displays, landscape and forestry areas, and environmental projects. The judges will also look at St. Charles’ heritage preservation, community involvement and overall impression.

This is the fourth year St. Charles will be represented in the competition.

Elgin Community College will host the 2018 Latino Film Festival Elgin on April 13-15 featuring films from Mexico, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and the United States.

ELGIN

ECC presents Latino Film Festival

Elgin Community College will host the 2018 Latino Film Festival Elgin on April 13-15 featuring films from Mexico, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and the United States. All films are in Spanish with English subtitles.

The sixth annual festival kicks off on April 13, with the screening of the Mexican romantic comedy “American Curious” at 6:30 p.m. in the Building G Spartan Auditorium on ECC’s Spartan Drive Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

An opening reception will be held after the film. Tickets to the film and reception is $30, $20 for seniors.

Tickets to see the film only are $15, $12 for seniors.

The remaining films will be shown at Marcus Theatres, 111 S. Randall Road, Elgin, and tickets to each film are $15, $12 for seniors. Tickets to all events can be purchased at the door, by phone at 800-344-0538 or online at www.latinofilmfestivalelgin.com.

The April 14 schedule includes: 5 p.m.   “Looking for a Boyfriend…For My Wife/Se Busca Novio Para Mi Mujer” (Chile), 7 p.m.   “The Final Hour/La Hora Final” (Peru).

The April 15 schedule includes: 3 p.m.   “Home Team/Mi Mundial” (Uruguay), 5 p.m. – “Run Fast or Fly High/El que no corre … vuela” (U.S.).

The festival is sponsored by ECC President’s Office, the ECC Humanities Center, ECC Student Life, ECC Multicultural and Global Initiatives Committee (MAGIC), ECC Global and International Studies Taskforce (GIST), the City of Elgin, and the City of Elgin Cultural Arts Commission.

For more information, contact Margarita Mendoza at 630-335-5229.

–Kane County News Briefs–