DuPage County

10th annual Taste of Hope to aid DuPagePads

The DuPage County area’s effort to end homelessness will be aided by DuPage’s PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) 10th annual Taste of Hope. The event will be held 6-9 p.m. March 3 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Signature dishes from 30 of the area’s leading upscale restaurants and wine pairings from Wente Vineyards will be served. Live and silent auctions, mobile bidding, drawings and more are planned for the evening.

“This year’s Taste of Hope will be particularly exciting as we are recognizing milestones – 30 years of service to the community and the 10th year for this particular event – chefs uniting to end homelessness. We have all of the most beloved features of past Taste of Hope events, all in a larger venue with more space for attendees and restaurants. This will enable more supporters of DuPagePads to gather together to have fun, while raising funds that transform the lives of those who are homeless.” said Carol Simler, DuPagePads president and CEO.

Tickets cost $105 per person. Tickets may be purchased online at dupagepads.org/events. Funds raised will support DuPagePads’ programs that provide housing and support services, including employment to assist individuals and families who are homeless in DuPage County.

Additional sponsorship, advertising and auction item donation opportunities for local businesses and restaurants are still available. For more information, contact Kariann Lazansky at (630) 682-3846, Ext. 2290 or by email atKLazansky@dupagepads.org.

DuPagePads, founded in 1985 and based in Wheaton, is the largest provider of services to those who are homeless in DuPage County. DuPagePads’ solution to ending homelessness is housing, coupled with support services and employment to restore hope and transform lives. Additional information can be obtained by contacting DuPagePads at (630) 682.3846 or at www.dupagepads.org.

Naperville

World record eyed as way to support charities

Saturday, March 5 is an important day for Naperville resident Kevin Millar. Millar is aiming to break the Guinness World Record for longest marathon static cycling and raise money for a number of charities.

The record is currently held by United Kingdom resident Jamie McDonald, who cycled for 288 hours, 32 minutes and 44 seconds in 2012.

To beat the record, Millar plans to ride for 336 hours. He calculated that It will take him 14 days to do so, and each day he’ll be donating money to a different organization. The cycling began Feb. 21. So far, Millar has raised money for groups including Water.org, Action Against Hunger, Two Boston/Naperville Humane Society and Campaign Against Obesity.

Millar, who hails from Geneva and is a 2005 graduate of Geneva High School, is able to get off the bike for five minutes every hour, but told the Chicago Tribune he plans to save up those precious minutes for sleep.

“I’m going with the (Albert) Einstein power nap: 30 minutes every six hours,” he told the Tribune.

Donations can be brought to Handlebars Cycling Gym and Health Bar, 175 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, or through its website, http://www.handlebarscyclinggym.com/#!world-record-donations/ylfks.

Wheaton

Wanted: People who make Wheaton a better place

It’s time again to focus a spotlight on the community members who make Wheaton a better place to live. The Community Relations Commission encourages the nomination of a person or group for Wheaton’s 2016 Good Citizens Awards. 

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their service in the community? This award helps recognize those who make the quiet, generous and often extraordinary contributions that make Wheaton an outstanding community. This may be volunteer service for a school, church, nursing home, civic group or non-profit organization. A person may also be nominated for service to an individual, such as tutoring, assisting an elderly neighbor, etc.

The three categories for nominees are: high school student, adult and group. A nominee must be a current Wheaton resident who has done something for the benefit of Wheaton and its citizens.

Nominations are due by April 11.

Submit nominations through the city’s website atwww.wheaton.il.us/goodcitizens, or submit a nomination by email and send it to:lqualkenbush@wheaton.il.us, or mail a written nomination to Lindsay Qualkenbush, Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St., Wheaton.

You can find the nomination form online at www.wheaton.il.us/goodcitizens, or at the Wheaton Public Library and the Wheaton Park District Community Center. Nominations will be reviewed by the Community Relations Commission.

Award recipients will be honored at the Wheaton City Council meeting on May 16.

West Chicago

Old school records to be destroyed

Benjamin School District 25 in West Chicago plans to destroy temporary records for students, including youth in special education. If a parent or student wants the records, they should contact the district office by phone at (630) 876-7800 or by mail at 28W250 St. Charles Road, West Chicago, before March 15.

The temporary records of students graduated or transferred out of the district during the 2009-10 school year will be destroyed. Also scheduled to be destroyed are the special education temporary records of students graduated, transferred or dismissed from special services that year. Such records may include reports of psychological and social work evaluations, multidisciplinary planning, conferences, annual reviews, copies of individualized education programs and other information.

Glen Ellyn

Bonds continue to fund school improvements

Glenbard Township High School District 87 will be able to make more capital improvements to its four high schools after Board of Education members approved a resolution Feb. 22 providing for the issuance of up to $25.3 million in general obligation bonds, according to news reports.

Voters in 2014 approved a $35 million bond referendum. The district in 2015 issued $9.7 million in general obligation bonds to take advantage of bank-qualified rates.

Because the district’s recent application for the state’s Qualified School Construction Bond program was turned down, the district now must move ahead on issuing the rest of the bonds.

Improvements include a $16.5-million science addition to Glenbard West High School that is expected to be done by August. Some other projects have included installing air conditioning at Glenbard East High School and Glenbard West’s Biester Gym and a new parking lot and upgraded food service area at Glenbard North High School.

The bonds will support the district’s master facility plan, which includes about $100 million in work slated to be done over 10 years.

–Dupage County News Briefs–