REGIONAL

 Indian Valley Band to host its spring performance

Indian Valley Community Band will perform its 33rd annual spring concert in Sandwich on Sunday, April 28. (Photo courtesy of Indian Valley Band)

Indian Valley Community Band, under the direction of Jeff Ford, will perform its 33rd annual spring concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, at the historic Opera House in beautiful downtown Sandwich, 140 E. Railroad St.

The concert will feature a variety of popular tunes suitable for all ages and showcases the musical talents of more than 35 band members from a dozen area communities.

The volunteer band, comprised of musicians age high school to senior citizen, plays not only for its own enjoyment, but to help raise funds and awareness for many worthwhile organizations in the area.

This year’s concert will benefit the historic Opera House in Sandwich. Built in the 1890’s, the Opera House is on the National Register of Historic Places.

This is a free concert, but donations will be gratefully accepted at the door to assist in continuing upkeep to this landmark building that has hosted so many performing arts programs.

Concert goers are invited to stay for a punch and cookie reception following the musical performance. For more information about Indian Valley Community Band’s spring concert phone 815-786-6752. For information on the historic Opera House, phone 815-786-2555.

  Senior conference focuses on ‘create and contribute’

All area seniors are invited to come to the Oswego Senior Center, 156 E. Washington St.  for a full-day conference on Tuesday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that focuses on “Connect, Create and Contribute” the theme of 2019 Older American’s Month.

The lineup of speakers that will talk about connecting, creating and contributing as many of you can look forward to 25-40 years of retirement.

The Keynote Speaker is Marc Blesoff, Conscious Aging Facilitator (Institute of Noetic Sciences). Concurrent education sessions include: Holistic Medicine, Civic Engagement, Gardening Home Modification, The Arts, World of Honey, Spirituality, Laughing for your Health with Madeline Holstrom and more. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Symphony at the Tillers; Continental breakfast from 8 -9am will be provided by Cedarhurst Senior Living and Law Elderlaw is an Investor Sponsor. For full details and to register, call 630-554-5602.  Registration by Friday, May 10 required.

Senior Services Offers Class Focused on Balance

Do you have concerns about falling? Many older adults experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. This program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls.

You will learn to view falls at controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.

Who should attend? Anyone concerned about falls, interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength, fallen in the past, and who has restricted activities because of falling concerns. Senior Services Associates will be offering A Matter of Balance Class at 908 Game Farm Road starting on

Tuesday, June 1 at 1 p.m. This is an eight-session class that will meet on Tuesdays until July 30, 2019.

If you are interested in attending the event, please contact Senior Services Associates, at 630-553-5777.

KENDALL

Sheriff’s Office reveals tobacco compliance results

On April 17, 2019, the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office completed the second of three rounds of compliance checks to be conducted on all tobacco retailers within unincorporated Kendall County. A total of seven tobacco retailers were inspected and seven were found to be in compliance with the Illinois tobacco laws.

The compliance checks are performed to determine if local tobacco retailers are complying with state minimum age tobacco laws which prohibit the sale of tobacco to persons under the age of 18.

With the help from a grant awarded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) “Kids Can’t Buy ‘Em Here” Tobacco Enforcement Program, Kendall County Sheriff’s Office Community Policing Deputies educate tobacco retailers in unincorporated Kendall County on minimum age tobacco laws and the importance of verifying the age of customers before selling age restrictive products such as tobacco.

Residents urged to sign up to notification system

Back in 2014, the Kencom Public Safety Center changed its mass notification system designed to provide emergency notification to residents and businesses in Kendall County to the Everbridge Mass Notification System .

People who previously registered under the old system must visit the new site to re-enter their information. This mass notification system gives Kendall County the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency notifications and informational messages to either targeted areas or the entire County via telephone calls, text messages, or email.

With tornado season coming up, it is a good idea to be sure you are registered to receive emergency updates when necessary. Be sure to update your information whenever you get a new phone number or address.

Sign up here:

https://member.everbridge.net/index/1772417038942682#/login

Montgomery

Rotary Club hosting cyber-bullying seminar

The Rotary Club of Montgomery is hosting a free event at Waubonsee Community College on Thursday April 25 at 6:30 p.m. entitled Cyber Bullying and Social Networks. The event is geared towards parents and kids third through sixth grade.

The presentation will be held in the auditorium at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. Both parents and students are encouraged to bring their electronic devices to this presentation.

Register for this free event at https://rotarymontgomeryil.clubexpress.com/

Oswego

Volunteers needed for Wine on the Fox festival

Wine on the Fox organizers are looking for more volunteers to help with the event being held the weekend of May 4-5 in downtown Oswego. (Chronicle Media photo)

Wine on the Fox returns to Oswego on Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5 and volunteers are needed to help make the event a success.

Proceeds from Wine on the Fox benefit other family-friendly events in the Oswego community throughout the year, including Fourth of July fireworks, Movies in the Park, and much more.

Volunteers are needed for three-hour shifts to help pour wine, sell tickets, set up and tear down, check gates and more.

As a thank-you for their time, volunteers get a commemorative glass and wristband, and either free food vouchers or exclusive discounts on wine packages at the event.

To sign up, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b49ada628a0fd0-volunteer1 and pick out your time slot. Volunteers handling alcohol must be 21 or older to participate. All volunteers must submit a release form and safety check the day of the event.

In addition, community organizations in Oswego can promote their organization and earn donations by offering volunteer time from their members.

For more information about this opportunity, contact Community Engagement Coordinator Julie Hoffman at 630-551-2344 or jhoffman@oswegoil.org.

Schools compete at the 2019 SPC Literary Festival

The Literary Festival is an annual writing competition for all Southwest Prairie Conference schools where their writing is judged by professional writers and performers.

Students submit writing in the following categories: poetry, short fiction, personal narrative, personal essay, critical essay, dramatic scene and descriptive sketch.

This year, the district an overwhelming number of submissions at both schools. Teachers received over 152 submissions from 72 students. Districts are only allowed to send off 10 submissions per category, except for poetry which is 25.

Out of the hundreds of submissions to the competition, combined both schools brought home a total of 30 awards out of 48 (Oswego East writers bringing home a total of 18 awards and Oswego writers bringing home 12 awards).

The high schools look forward to continuing their successful writing program throughout the school year and summer. The Creative Writing program has received over 500 writing awards and recognitions in the past twelve years.

Ribfest Heads to Romeoville, Not Oswego

Oswego will not be the new chosen home of Naperville’s Ribfest as officials have announced the festival will likely move to Romeoville in 2020.

On Friday, the Board of Directors of the Exchange Club of Naperville voted to approve the Ribfest Relocation Team’s recommendation to enter into final discussions on a contract with the Village of Romeoville.

According to a statement issued, a specific location has not yet been finalized. However, a 35-acre site next to Romeoville’s Village Hall is being considered.

Yorkville Local church seeking household donations

Unwanted, but usable and clean household “treasures”, as well as functional furniture, toys, books and clothing may be brought to Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ to be sold at the church’s upcoming May 3 and 4 Rummage Sale.

Donations of clean, usable items in good condition will be accepted at the church, Monday, April 29 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); Tuesday, April 30 (8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.); and Wednesday, May 1 (8:30 a.m. to noon only). Items which will not be accepted for donation include: electronics (TVs, computers, printers, typewriters, land/cell phones, fax equipment), infant car and/or booster seats, any sized mattresses, and cribs. A donation form is available for tax purposes.

Proceeds from the sale will support various church programs and building needs as well as charitable organizations that help provide for the needs of people in the Yorkville area and beyond. In the past several years, the Kendall County Food Pantry, Chapel on the Green, PADS, Mutual Ground, Association for Individual Development, Open Door, Wayside Cross, Feed My Starving Children, Ottawa Tornado Relief, Suicide Prevention Services, and Cornerstone Young Women’s Learning Center have benefited from donations made possible by Rummage Sale proceeds.

The church is located at 409 Center Parkway, two blocks west of Route 47 and two blocks north of Route 34 in Yorkville. For further information, call the church office: 630-553-7308.