Auditions for the Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance will be held Jan. 8 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Aurora. (Photo courtesy of the FVYAO)

Aurora

Fox Valley Park District Board Approves Tax Levy

The Fox Valley Park District’s Board of Trustees on Dec. 12 approved the agency’s $23 million tax levy that will support the District’s 2017 fiscal year budget.

The levy represents a slight increase over the prior year, marking the first time in six years that the District will be capturing new construction. But with the probability of a higher Estimated Assessed Valuation (EAV) in Kane and DuPage counties, the tax burden for residents is expected to be less than the previous year.

That translates into $11 less paid annually for the owner of a $250,000 home. For each $100 in taxes paid by residents in Kane County, $5.35 of that goes toward the Park District.

“This year’s budget continues our model of best practices in accordance with the Government Finance Officers Association,” Board President Chuck Anderson said. “We continue to focus on fiscal accountability and outstanding stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”

Fox Valley Park District Executive Director Jim Pilmer said district staff is focused on enhancing efficiencies and generating more non-tax revenues.

“We will continue to explore feasible alternatives and collaborative efforts to ensure maximum efficiencies,” said Pilmer.

The park district’s levy of $23,256,211 does not necessarily reflect the amount of tax receipts that will be received by the District for next year. Final numbers from Kane, Kendall, DuPage and Will counties are expected in the spring.

Kendall County

Fox Valley youth orchestras to hold auditions

The Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance invites students, ages 8-18, to audition for the second half of its 2016-2017 season. Our orchestras are principally looking for string and woodwind players.

The FVAMP is comprised of various orchestral ensembles. Its members study challenging music, work with music professionals, perform in the Fox Valley community and enjoy the camaraderie of other student-musicians. Auditions on Jan. 8 are at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Aurora. Students should prepare scales, and a solo or étude. Call or email to set up an audition time or for more information.

Rehearsals begin Jan. 15 at Eden Supportive Living in North Aurora.

The Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance includes the Academy Orchestra, Youth Strings, Access to Music, and the adult Philharmonic Orchestra. Ensembles rehearse on Sundays from January through April, with a summer session in May and June.

Members of the FVAMP orchestras represent more than sixteen different communities in the Fox Valley and Chicagoland area. For more information, call (630) 476-9072, www.FVacademy.org, info@FVacademy.org.

WCC hosts First Responder Appreciation Day

Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird and Chairman of the Sheriff’s Merit Commission Jack Westphall attended the First Responder 50th Appreciation Day on Nov. 4 at Waubonsee Community College at the Plano campus.

This event honored and recognized the efforts of our first responders who serve every day to keep our communities safe and paid a tribute to our alumni serving in our local police and fire departments and as EMT’s. This was a way to show gratitude to our local police and fire departments.

“Waubonsee Community College continuously displays their commitment to the education of first responders by growing their programs to meet the changing needs of the community,” Baird said. “They hire excellent instructors that provide text book instruction partnered with real world experience which enhances the learning environment and prepares for future challenges. I would like to thank the Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustees and College President Dr. Sobek for their unwavering commitment to our community.”

Jack Westphall thanked WCC “for providing such instrumental teaching and instruction to the First Responders of our community for over 50 years. As a retired First Responder and graduate of Waubonsee Community College, I can testify to the invaluable service that Waubonsee Community College provides to the community that it serves.”

Sheriff’s Office finds success with Fugitive Apprehension Efforts

In 2016, the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office set out to tackle a backlog of felony warrants that were unable to be served. Since January, these efforts resulted in a 16 percent reduction of felony warrants. The success in the service of these warrants is credited to the warrants coordinator working in cooperation with operations and corrections deputies who assisted in locating and apprehending fugitives.

The reductions in warrants were further aided by social media efforts and a “Fugitive Friday” Facebook posting. Every Friday a fugitive was profiled on the office’s Facebook page. Fugitive Friday’s created an informal partnership with the community that greatly enhanced the success of our program. This initiative resulted in an increase in tips to Crimestoppers. These tips led to numerous arrests and the reduction in the warrant backlog.

The warrants coordinator is also a member of United States Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. The task force concentrates on investigating and apprehending fugitives who are wanted for violent crimes, sex crimes, crimes against children and other serious felony offenses throughout the Chicago area.

This program was created under the leadership of Sheriff Dwight Baird.

Oswego

Teens shoot hoops for Heart Health

Plank Junior High School’s eighth grade boys’ basketball team will take on members of the Oswego Police Department and Plank staff to see who is better at shooting hoops while raising money to combat heart disease and stroke.

On Dec. 21, Plank Junior High School will host Hoops for Heart, a national service learning program sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. The jump ball will be thrown at 10 a.m., and the game is expected to last until noon.

“Hoops for Heart engages middle school students in the physical activity of playing basketball while raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research and education,” said Steve Tubman, eighth grade basketball coach and physical education teacher at Plank as well as the school’s Hoops for Heart coordinator.

Dec.  21 is a “red out” day at Plank, and Plank’s Poms and cheerleading squads will perform during halftime.

The funds raised through Hoops for Heart will help the American Heart Association (AHA) in accomplishing their mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Oswego Senior Center seeks volunteers

The Oswego Senior Center has multiple opportunities for volunteerism, for all ages, individuals and groups throughout the year. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Ruth Mattson for a volunteer application and interview, (630) 554-5602 or email volunteer@oswegoseniorcenter.org.

Current positions available:

• Mobile Device Assistance: Are you patient and tech savvy? Join our volunteer tech team by providing one-on-one education to seniors. Devices would include smart phones, tablets, notebooks, etc. Provide assistance in social media, photo sharing, texting, and other applications.
• Kids Younger than 14: Make holiday crafts or cards at home and drop off at the senior center for distribution.
• Income Tax Assistance Volunteer: Seeking a person knowledgeable in Income Tax filing. Must take online self-training courses and test to qualify. We do income tax returns for seniors and low income persons on Mondays from 12:30 to 5 p.m. starting in mid-February and a few Saturdays in March until close of season.
• Van Driver: Must be over 21 years of age and have a clean driving record; some experience driving a 12-passenger van would be ideal, but not required. Will train. Van is used to transport our choral group to events, day trips in area and to Chicago, shopping; substitute driver for meal days as needed. Contact Pat Feeley at (630) 554-5602.

–Kendall County News Briefs–