Hiding Spot Park is located at 307 Park St., Yorkville. (Photo courtesy of city of Yorkville)

Kendall County

Nicor dishes on how to avoid getting scammed

Here are some tips from Nicor Gas on how to avoid being scammed this summer:

Whenever a field service representative or one of our contractors visits your home or business, they will provide Nicor Gas identification. If you have further concerns, contact customer care at 888-642-6748 to confirm that a representative has been scheduled to perform work at your premises.

When a customer service representative contacts you by phone regarding the status of your account or to discuss payment, they will identify that they are a Nicor Gas employee.

If you want to verify that the call is legitimate, request to have the representative confirm information about your account that only you and the company would know, for example:

• The date of your last payment
• The amount of your last payment
• Your account number

Nicor Gas will never demand payment by one method such as prepaid debit /ATM card or checking account.

Nicor Gas will never knock on your door and ask to see your bill or ask for your account number. Any customer who has doubts about the legitimacy of any visit from Nicor Gas, or call (especially one in which payment is requested), should call Nicor directly.

If you feel uncomfortable and know you have an outstanding balance that needs to be resolved, hang up and call us directly.

Finally, Nicor will never ask for account or credit card information in an email. Customers can safely access and make changes to your account information and payment methods using our My Account online account management option.”

  New program allows inmates to assist Animal Control

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office launched a program that allows selected inmate workers to assist at the Kendall County Animal Control facility.

The program is a work detail consisting of inmates from the Kendall County Jail that are taking on some new responsibilities.

During the times the work is being performed, an assigned deputy will oversee the detail with the inmate workers allowing for direct supervision while the work is being performed to ensure the safety of the public and the inmate workers.

Inmates selected for the program are non-violent offenders who have followed the rules of the jail, and have no disciplinary issues while incarcerated. The inmates that are selected for this detail have have shown a willingness to work, and are excited for the opportunity that has been given to them.

The goal of the program is for inmates to carry that sense of accomplishment with them upon their release from the correctional facility.

Sheriff Dwight Baird said, “I would like to thank the County Board for their support in seeing this project through, and also the collaborative efforts that have been made by County Board Vice Chair Amy Cesich, Animal Control Director Laura Pawson, and the members of the Sheriff’s Office who worked together to facilitate this opportunity for the inmates of Kendall County. “This is an excellent program that allows for the inmates to be productive and contribute to society during their time of incarceration, and also provide a valued service to the Animal Control facility and the animals housed within.”

Fox River is open once again for boating

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is warning those who go on the Fox River about about blue-green algae. It’s naturally occurring algae, but when there’s a lot of it, it can make you or your pets sick if you come into contact with it or accidentally get a mouthful of river water. (Think of Rover catching a ball.)

You can help prevent algae blooms by reducing the use of fertilizers on your lawn. If you choose to feed your lawn:

-Go easy on the Nitrogen (that’s the first number in the three-number combo — you want something like 5-10-10 rather than 20-10-10)

-When you water, don’t allow water to run off onto streets and sidewalks — it will eventually end up in the river and contribute to algae blooms.

-Don’t let your grass clippings blow onto streets and sidewalks either. They contain phosphorus that also ends up in the river, feeding algae blooms.

These simple steps will help all the waterways in town, from the river to the retention pond in your backyard stay a little fresher.

: Dickson-Murst Farm Camp in Montgomery will be holding a summer camp June 24-28. (Photo courtesy of The Conservation Foundation)

Montgomery

Montgomery Fest Talent Show auditions now open

Do you sing, dance, or play a musical instrument? Do you have a unique talent? If so, you are invited to audition for the Montgomery Talent Showcase.

Tryouts are at the Village Hall on Saturday, July 13 at 10 a.m. The Talent Showcase panel will select family-friendly performers to be featured at the Montgomery Talent Showcase at noon on Aug. 10 at Montgomery Fest.

You can also print the form from our website at Talent Show registration page.

Farm Camp registration still open for children

There are just a few openings left for summer Dickson-Murst Farm Camp in Montgomery.

Registration is still open for the Dickson-Murst Farm Camp, where kids have fun doing chores learning about farm life with farm animals, big farm equipment, hayrides, and getting dirty while playing outside.

The camp runs daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28 at The Conservation Foundation’s Dickson-Murst Farm in Montgomery.

This week-long day camp introduces kids ages 7 to 10 to both the historic and modern methods of farming while experiencing a little bit of farm life at this historic farmstead.

Staff from the Kendall County Outdoor Education Center, TCF, and volunteers from the Dickson-Murst Farm Partners will guide campers through a variety of crafts, demonstrations including how to make butter and candles, and hands-on learning opportunities while campers learn about the rural lifestyle that is part of the region’s cultural heritage.

Cost is $125 per camper. Register online at theconservationfoundation.org/farmcamp. Call (630) 428-4500, ext. 128 for more information. Dickson Murst Farm is at 2550 Dickson Rd., Montgomery 60538.

Sunday in the Park comes to Lakewood School

The open park area behind Lakewood Creek Elementary School will be the location for a fun community event called Sunday in the Park on June 23 from 4-7:30 p.m.

Join friends and neighbors for free ice cream from 4-5 p.m., food to purchase from food trucks, face painting, games and activities for kids of all ages and a concert from 5-7:30 p.m. Bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs. Cap’n Funk and the Groove Train will provide energetic and family-friendly musical entertainment.

Plenty of parking is available at the school and in the surrounding neighborhood. The stage will be located near Prescott Drive and Jacob Avenue. Portalets and hand washing stations will be available.

This event is sponsored by the Montgomery Village Board and the Fox Valley Park District, with free ice cream provided by Engineering Enterprises, Inc.

Call 630-896-8080, Ext. 9003 with any questions.

Yorkville

Rock On at Hiding Spot’s Musical Playground

Bang on the bongos, tap the chimes, and listen to the beat of happy feet playing when you visit Hiding Spot Park.  Hiding Spot Park is located at 307 Park St., Yorkville and includes a music themed playground for children ages 5-12.

This park also includes a picnic area, shelter, open green space and a sand area which is perfect for a fun afternoon out with the kids.  This park features an inclusive swing and is a wheelchair accessible playground.

Hiding Spot Park was the first park to feature a music-themed playground nationwide and was built in partnership with Gametime along with several community volunteers in 2008.

City announces watering restrictions for summer

The United City of Yorkville is dedicated to preserving water and follows a Water Conservation Ordinance that is in effect from May 1 through Sept. 30.

• Lawn Sprinkling Permitted Times

The ordinance permits lawn sprinkling between the hours of 5 and 9 a.m. and/or 9 p.m. and midnight for landscaping watering or the filling of swimming pools only as follows:

Even-numbered addresses on even-numbered calendar days only during permitted hours of water use

Odd-numbered addresses on odd-numbered calendar days only during permitted hours of water use

• Unrestricted Water Use

The following is not restricted as to the hours or days when water may be used:

Landscape watering or sprinkling done by the use of a hand-held watering device

The filling of swimming pools with a volume of 50 gallons or less of water

The automatic watering of trees and shrubs by means of automatic root-feed or drip-irrigation systems within the drip line of the tree or shrub

Vehicle and equipment washing

Any other lawful use of water and other normal household uses not otherwise specifically restricted by the provisions of the ordinance

• Planting New Seed or Sod

Prior to sod laying or lawn seeding, residents must obtain a Sod Watering Permit (PDF) from the City of Yorkville. Sod laying, lawn seeding, and the planting of other landscaping for the establishment of a new lawn or new landscaping is prohibited from July 1 through Aug. 31 of each year, unless the source of water is derived from a private well, imported water or means other than any municipal water source.

• Months for Installing New Lawns

To conserve water during the hottest summer months (July and August), residents are prohibited from installing new lawns during these months. If your new lawn is not installed before July 1, you must wait until September.