Kendall County News Briefs

Chronicle Media
Students at Lakewood Elementary School in Oswego recently participated in the Pinwheels for Peace project raising $3,300 for charity. (Photo courtesy of Oswego Community School District 308)

Students at Lakewood Elementary School in Oswego recently participated in the Pinwheels for Peace project raising $3,300 for charity. (Photo courtesy of Oswego Community School District 308)

Aurora

Aurora officers honored for burglary arrest

Aurora Police extended their congratulations to several officers and investigators who recently received commendations for their teamwork that led to the arrest of a man who allegedly robbed six fast food restaurants in February.

Officers Dave Bemer, Matt Bonnie, Jay Ellis, Kyle Hoffman, William Melendez, Steven Pacenti, Nathan Petschke, Doug Rashkow, Justin Shepherd; and Investigators Jason Cudebec and Jordan Hilton were all honored as a result of the successful operation.

According to Aurora Police, Officers Hoffman, Pacenti, and Shepherd, along with Investigators Cudebec and Hilton, developed information on two possible suspects following a string of local robberies. The men then teamed up with the Community Policing unit on a proactive plan that included watching businesses that were likely to be targeted.

On Feb. 29, as officers were holding a briefing on the armed robberies and their strategies on solving them, one of their suspects allegedly committed another armed robbery. Knowing the name, address, and vehicle driven by the likely offender, Officers Bonnie, Bemer, Ellis and Petschke immediately left the meeting and responded to the area of the latest robbery.

Police said Officer Bonnie located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it but the suspect was able to flee. He ended up heading to his home, which turned out to be a bad decision, as Officers Rashkow, Melendez, Ellis, Petschke and Bemer, beat him there and took him into custody.

Donny & Marie take over Aurora

Last Summer, thousands of people lined up at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora to see recording artist and television stars Donny & Marie. Now, the duo is back again, and ready to rock the crowds with their songs, choreography, and charm.

With more than 90 years in show biz between them, Donny & Marie are bringing their catalog of chart-toppers like “Puppy Love,” “Paper Roses,” “A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock N Roll” and countless more to the stage, according to a Paramount release.

“Add in their fun-loving personalities, high-energy style and serious dance skills, and this is one production that’s a total blast for the young and young at heart,” promoters said.  There will be multiple performances from May 22-29. Tickets start at $69. For more information and to purchase tickets visit  paramountaurora.com

Kendall County

Consumer Protection Seminar

Area residents concerned about identity theft and financial scams are invited to attend a Consumer Protection Seminar being sponsored by state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, on Thursday, April 21 at 6 p.m. in the Eola Branch of the Aurora Public Library, located at 555 S. Eola Road in Aurora.

“I have heard from many residents who have been the victim of fraud and scams,” Kifowit said. “One woman answered a help wanted ad and wound up being scammed. This Consumer Protection Seminar will provide residents with the resources and knowledge they need to better protect themselves from these scam artists.”

Kifowit’s Consumer Protection Seminar will feature a representative from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office who will speak about telephone scams, online scams and fraudulent charitable solicitations.

The Attorney General’s office received over 4,000 complaints from Illinoisans in 2015 regarding identity theft and scams.

“I am committed to helping protect people from these criminals who fraudulently take people’s money,” Kifowit said.  “Residents should bring any financial documents or suspicious mail to the seminar to receive one-on-one assistance.”

To RSVP to the Consumer Protection Seminar or for more information, contact Kifowit’s full-time constituent service office by calling (630) 585-1308, by email at Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net, or by visiting www.ILDistrict84.com.

Youth Summer Symphony openings

The Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance invites young musicians, ages 7-18, to audition for the Academy’s orchestras for its Summer Symphony and its 2016-17 season. Openings are available in all strings, woodwinds, and brass. For the auditions, students should prepare scales and a solo or étude. Auditions will be held on Sunday, May 1 (or by appointment) at Eden Supportive Living in North Aurora.

During the FVAMP Summer Symphony program, students from the Youth Strings and Academy Orchestras are invited to play with other FVAMP ensembles to challenge their musical skills. The culminating concert is Sunday, June 26.

College musicians and other community musicians are invited, without audition, to perform with the Philharmonic Orchestra for its summer season.

The FVAMP ensembles include the Access to Music program, the Youth Strings Orchestra, the Academy Orchestra, and the adult Philharmonic Orchestra. Ensembles rehearse on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

Members represent more than 16 different communities in and around the Fox Valley and Chicagoland area. To schedule an audition time or for more information, contact the FVAMP at (630) 476-9072, write to info@FVacademy.org, or visit www.FVacademy.org.

“Respect for Law” police banquet

The Kendall County Association of Chiefs of Police will be holding its 31st Annual “Respect for Law” banquet Friday, May 6 at the Whitetail Ridge Golf Course in Yorkville.

The event honors law enforcement officers and personnel throughout Kendall County.

Social hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. with award presentations afterward. The event is open to the general public and seating is limited.

The cost to attend, which includes dinner, is $30 per person. It’s preferred this cost is paid in advance, but can be paid at the door. Meal choices include a New York strip steak, chicken dijon or a vegan dish. Special dietary needs can be accommodated upon request.

The public is encouraged to RSVP early by calling Det. Sgt. Kevin Norwood the Oswego Police Department at (630) 551-7325 or emailknorwood@oswegopoliceil.org. The deadline to RSVP is noon on April 28.

Four Season’s Gardening program

The spring series of University of Illinois Extension’s Four Seasons Gardening program, which focuses on environmental stewardship, home gardening, and backyard food production, gets underway in April.

In the first session, Extension Specialist David Robson will share water conservation tips and techniques, as well as information about the latest in watering equipment.

WaterSmart Gardening will be presented online Tuesday, April 26 at 1:30 p.m. and again on Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. The April 26 presentation also may be viewed in the Kane County office in St. Charles. Each topic will be offered online twice, and some are available for viewing in-person at a local Extension office.

Other parts of the series include, Growing Vegetables in Containers and Raised Beds on Tuesday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m. and May 12 at 6:30 p.m., and Backyard Greenhouse Basics on Tuesday, May 24 at 1:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m.

All webinar sessions are free and open to the public to view online, but participants must register in advance athttp://go.illinois.edu/4seasons_webinars.

Participants may choose to view the April 26 webinar at the U of I Extension office in St. Charles, or to view the May 24 webinar at the Extension office in Yorkville. There is a fee of $5 to join in person, which includes the session handouts. Local registration closes one week before each program. To sign up to attend in person or to learn more, visit the “Register Online” section atweb.extension.illinois.edu/dkk or call 630-584-6166 for more information.

The U of I Extension office in Kane County is located at 535 S. Randall Road in St. Charles, and in Kendall County at 7775B Illinois Route 47 in Yorkville.

Oswego

Pinwheels for Peace

Lakewood Creek Elementary School students recently finished their Pinwheels for Peace project, directed by art teacher Jamie Glaser.

Over 1,100 students participated in the project, creating 1,332 pinwheels with the help of other elementary school teachers. Together, they raised $3,300 for charity through www.studentsrebuild.org

The money raised will go to help Syrian refugee children feel more at home in their new countries through the Healing Classrooms initiative and the Students Rebuild organization.

There is still time to donate to Pinwheels for Peace. Information is available online at www.studentsrebuild.org.

Glaser said her mission in doing the project was to show students that art has many purposes; we can all make a difference in this world, and that one small act of kindness can be all it takes.

Sandwich

Zombie 5k Run

Radioactive Zombies will infiltrate the Sandwich Fairgrounds this summer, and it is your mission to find your way through the obstacles and glowing brain eaters as quickly as possible during this fun 5K run. This run will challenge your speed, agility and courage as you maneuver through hordes of zombies, obstacles and figure out which mazes will help you come out alive.

It’s advised that participants dress to get down and dirty;  t-shirts will be given to those that pre-registered. Runners are invited to stay after the race and bring friends to participate in the radioactive glow party where your first beer is free.

Must be 21 to drink and show valid I.D.  If you want to participate as a zombie, registration is only $15 and following your volunteering as a zombie for half an hour you are free to participate as a runner!  Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Run takes place from 6-9 p.m. on May 21 at the Sandwich Fairgrounds. Registration is $40 by Sunday,  May 1. $55 registration on the day of the race.

Visit http://www.sandwichparkdistrict.org/ for more information and to register.

Sugar Grove

Waubonsee Community College named top 5 school

According to a recent survey by Schools.com, Waubonsee Community College is one of the top five community colleges in Illinois.

The school ranked fourth out of the state’s 48 eligible schools after Schools.com developed a system of metrics to analyze seven categories of data released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and other independent agencies.

They considered total attendance cost, student-faculty ratio, distance education focus and transfer rate to four-year institutions, among other factors, and came up with a who’s-who of top Illinois community colleges.

“With one of the largest student bodies among the top community colleges in Illinois, the Sugar Grove campus of Waubonsee Community College perhaps deserves extra recognition for its considerable percentage of students who transfer out with a goal of finishing,” the site raved. “Only four schools on our list had higher transfer rates than Waubonsee.”

The site also noted that WCC’s affordable cost of tuition and fees were around $900 less than the statewide average and ranked No. 1 for affordability statewide in 2014.In addition to affordability, The Waubonsee Community College Foundation (WCCF) endows dozens of scholarships for which Waubonsee students may be eligible. Using an online tool on the school’s website, students can apply for awards designed for single parents, technology students, aspiring elementary school teachers, nursing majors, fine artists and many other specific populations and interest groups.

The top three schools ranked were Olney Central College, Lincoln Trail College and Highland Community College. Rounding out the top 10 were Elgin Community College, Lake Land College, Oakton Community College, McHenry County College, Harper College and John Wood Community College.

“This ranking reaffirms our commitment to providing access for our students to high quality education at an affordable price,” said Waubonsee President Dr. Christine Sobek. “We appreciate this recognition of our ability to prepare our students for their educational and career goals and our accessibility.”

Yorkville

Bristol-Kendall Fire Bowling Fundraiser

Bristol-Kendall Firefighters are teaming up wit the Kendall Lodge #471 Freemasons to host their 2nd Annual bowling fundraiser to raise money for Camp I Am Me. Camp I Am We was established to provide a safe environment for children who have experienced significant burn injuries and to allow for a non-judgmental atmosphere where the children have the opportunity to build their self-esteem as they enjoy their camp experience. The event will take place on April 23 at 2 p.m. at Yorkville Bowl and Pinheads Bar & Grill, 1211 N. Bridge St., Yorkville. Registration must be submitted to John Najdzion at John.Najdzion@gmail.com by April 16. Cost of the event is $30/person and includes two games of bowling, Red Pin bonus prizes and a pizza buffet. Bowling teams are five members. Business sponsors are being sought. Anyone donating more than $100 will be recognized at the event.

Senior Wisconsin Trip

Do you enjoy getting out and shopping, having lunch, and meeting new people? This may be the club for you, according to Senior Service Associates.

Register now for a trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for a day of fun. The cost, which includes transportation, is $15. The group will be leaving on April 14 at 8:22 a.m. from Senior Services Associates at 908 Game Farm Road, Yorkville. The bus will return to the same location by 4 p.m. that afternoon.

If you are interested in attending the event, please contact Gina Dunlap, Activity Director at Senior Services Associates, at (630) 553-5777.

–Kendall County News Briefs–