Nancy Schmitz, a member of the Alliance, said the award was named in Conley’s honor because he embodies the spirit of caring and compassion that they would like to see in all who care for families experiencing this difficult type of loss.

“Conley was recognized for the great appreciation, and respectful, caring way he cares for babies and how parents can have the time that they want to be with their child, no matter his or her size,” Schmitz said at the ceremony. “The life stories (obituaries) that Conley writes come from the hearts of the parents as they talk to Conley about how much this little one meant to them. He has the gift of being able to put into words the heartfelt emotions of this baby’s family, and the result is a beautiful narrative that affirms the life and value of this child.”

Schmitz said when other children and siblings are present and parents are struggling to know how to help them understand this sadness, Conley and his son, Ben, always take the time to explain in a way that the child can understand what has happened, what this thing called death means, and what grief can feel like. Their questions are answered and they have a beginning at understanding this hard life lesson.

Schmitz said Conley’s caring also extends to families, in that he would meet with them in their homes as arrangements need to be made. He built on the legacy of his parents’ work as funeral directors, and developed the aftercare program at Conley Funeral Home and the Conley Outreach program to be a resource for families after their loss.

“It is truly evident that being a funeral director is not just a job for Conley, it is a calling to which he has faithfully and humbly given his best,” said Schmitz.

Conley accepted his award on behalf of his brother, Wayne, who passed away as an infant.

Conley described his brother’s short time with his family when accepting the award.

“Wayne’s brief life in this world has now changed and touched four generations of the Conley family, and the way we choose to care for infants and their families. Wayne was born in 1948 with spina bifida. My mother was kept from him so she would not ‘bond’ with Wayne, and it was believed her grief would thus be lessened. Of course, nothing could have been further from the truth. Both my parents suffered greatly at Wayne’s death a few months after he was born. That suffering wrought a deep conviction that no other infant, no other parents entrusted to our care would ever face the profoundly compounded grief that cultural and religious norms of the day had caused,” he said.

“In order that women like my mother could see and hold their children days after death when they left the hospital (remember this is 1948), my father literally invented ways of embalming and caring for newborns that were unheard of at the time. My mother hand sewed countless tiny infant outfits, complete with lace for the girls and trousers for the boys. The setting for parents’ viewing was, and still is, in a cozy room with a rocking chair and a fireplace and anything else that could make a parent feel ‘at home’ at the very hardest time in their lives,” Conley said. “My parents taught me all of these things, and I endeavored to improve upon them as I was called to meet the challenges of newborn death in my own career.”

Conley concluded by saying, “So as I receive this award in my infant brother’s honor, I say to all of you: for every family with whom you ‘endure weeping for the night,’ may these families and you, yourself find that ‘Joy cometh in the morning,’ for I believe with all of my heart, that there will come a day when you will see them again; and they shall be whole, and healthy and anxious to tell you how grateful they are for the care you gave when they passed through your hands and left footprints on your heart. God bless you all and thank you.”

In the future, The “Bruce Conley Excellence in Caring Award” will continue to be presented by The Alliance to funeral homes in the Chicago region which embody a spirit of caring and compassion as they work with families who experience perinatal loss.

Founded in 1987, The Alliance is an interdisciplinary professional organization of individuals from organizations including hospitals, social service organizations, churches, funeral homes and hospices in the Chicago area who provide education, support and resources for individuals who care for grieving families and their babies. The members are nurses, social workers, chaplains, therapists, funeral directors, photographers and physicians who have a leadership role in their organization’s support program. They work with families who have experienced a perinatal loss—miscarriage, fetal death, stillborn or newborn/infant death.

Photo: (From left) Judy Friedrichs, RN, and Nancy Schmitz, RN, award Bruce Conley the first-ever Bruce Conley Excellence in Caring Award from The Alliance of Perinatal Bereavement Support Facilitators—Chicago Region on July 22. In the future, the award will continue to be presented by The Alliance to funeral homes in the Chicago region which embody a spirit of caring and compassion as they work with families who experience perinatal loss. Photo courtesy of Todd Hochberg

The roof is 60 percent complete and is set to be finished by Monday, Aug. 19, Kaneland Assistant Superintendent for Business Julie-Ann Fuchs said. Construction on the roof has been delayed at times this summer because of excessive rainfall.

The air conditioning in Kaneland High School is projected to be fully operating again about a week after the roof is completed, which also is when school is set to start.

“It’s going to be close (to when classes resume),” Fuchs said. “If, for some reason, we get another couple of rain days here, that delays the progress of the roof, so we all need to be prepared for the first week of school, (because the air) may or may not actually be working.”

The significant rainfall from last weekend also caused the roof to leak, damaging some of the high school carpeting to the extent that it may need to be replaced.

“It seems like sometimes our rains are just pretty hard lately, and with a new roof like that, it’s tough,” Fuchs said.

The high school’s air conditioning will not be functional for Kaneland freshman orientation on Tuesday, Aug. 10.

Meagan was born with microcephaly, a rare neurological condition in which an infant’s head is significantly smaller than the heads of other children of the same age. Children with microcephaly often have developmental issues. She also has encephalocele, another rare disorder that prevents a baby’s skull from closing completely before birth. After Meagan was born, she had surgery to reinsert brain tissue and close the gap.

When Meagan was born, doctors also said the top part of her brain was missing. However, when Meagan had an MRI when she was 6 months old, the test showed that her upper brain was there.

“Her doctor believes she is a living miracle,” Luellen said.

Based on the conditions she does have, Meagan was not expected to be able to hold up her head or even drink from a bottle. But she surprised everyone when she could do both soon after her parents took her home.

Despite these miraculous milestones, Meagan is not able to sit up and faces many other developmental challenges in the future, her mother said.

“The doctors say she might get to a 2-year-old level,” Seals said. “They don’t think she will ever talk or walk.”

Earlier this summer, Meagan began experiencing up to five full seizures and 30 to 50 smaller spasms daily and had to be hospitalized. This month, she is receiving injections of a serum that costs $30,000 per vial. She still has the seizures but not every day.

Meagan’s parents’ goal is to provide her with whatever medication, medical equipment or therapy that will help her to develop as much as she possibly can.

Although their health insurance covered many of the hospital expenses for Meagan, the Seals still owe thousands of dollars in medical bills. In addition, they are concerned that insurance will not pay for equipment that will help Meagan in the future, such as a feeding chair that would support her in a sitting position, and water therapy.

Since Seals must care for Meagan full-time and the family has only her husband’s income, she is grateful that several of her friends are hosting a fundraiser Friday, Aug. 6, at Old Towne Pub and Eatery, to help with those expenses.

“It just shows that there are people in the world with good hearts,” she said. “It’s neighborly love.”

One of the fundraiser organizers is the Seals’ neighbor, Kim Cole. She wants to help raise awareness of Meagan’s condition and to raise money to help the Seals family.

“Meagan will have a life time of medical needs and expenses,” Cole said. “It’s more than the family is able to cover on their own. I am hoping the community will pull together and help them to help her.”

Fundraiser for Baby Meagan

Friday, Aug. 6 • 6 to 8 pm
Old Towne Pub & Eatery
201 W. State St., Geneva

Raffles and silent auctions
Tickets cost $25 per person

For reservations,
call Ali at (630) 605-1007 or
Jen at (630) 437-1985

Send donations to
“Praying for Baby Meagan”
Old Second Bank, P.O. Box 8018,
Elburn IL 60119-8018

This year’s winner, Beverly Holmes Hughes, fit that criterion.

“She’s an asset to the community; she knows everyone,” Graceffa said.

The annual Citizen of the Year award ceremony took place on Saturday during the Corn Boil and highlighted Hughes’ service to the community for the past 20 years.

“I’m quite honored by this,” Hughes said on Tuesday at the Sugar Grove Public Library, where she is the director.

“And truly, like the rest of my life, this wasn’t conventional,” Hughes said. “To do what I do, in a place that I love, has been just a wonderful adventure.”

Nearly 40 Sugar Grove residents nominated Hughes for the award.

Aside from being the library director, Hughes has given many hours of her time to the Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Sugar Grove Library Friends, \Sugar Grove Corn Boil, Sugar Grove Historical Society and Sugar Grove Park District Garden Club, among other organizations.

“Being involved for the last 20 years and to be recognized is just amazing,” Hughes said. “To think all those times people said, ‘You should be that person (Citizen of the Year),’ and I’ve always discounted that and said ‘I’m just doing my job.’”

The Citizen of the Year Committee, which selected Hughes from among the nominees, issued a statement about their choice: “Beverly has enriched life in our village with her selfless and creative involvement in many areas that truly enhance Sugar Grove’s cultural opportunities.”

A prominent example of Hughes’ time and effort for the community was her role in the library’s move a year ago to a brand-new building on Municipal Drive in Sugar Grove.

“It’s about always moving forward and as a community and seeing what the next step is in order to help people in the community,” Hughes said. “It’s like the reference desk; people come to us with a question and we help them find the answer.”

Hughes, of North Aurora, follows previous winners Jim Wilhelm in 2009, Karen McCannon in 2008 and Joe Wolf in 2007.

Photo by Ben Draper

Village officials’ first step in next year’s budget planning has been reviewing proposed capital expenditures from village staff, including Public Works Superintendent John Nevenhoven.

“This is going to be the hardest part of the budget (process), because we will have to get a clear idea of what the (Village Board’s) priorities are,” Village Administrator Erin Willrett said during Monday’s Public Works Committee meeting.

Nevenhoven said his 2011-12 budget request list is “heavy on the water side.” Among items on the list is replacing collapsed sections of clay-tile storm sewer pipe under Route 47 at Pierce Street, for $25,000.

“At some point, that is going to give way, and we need to get in there,” Nevenhoven said.

A more expensive project that Nevenhoven listed as one the village should do next year is maintenance of the north water tower, at a cost of $101,259 plus engineering expenses.

Aside from those water-related capital projects, the village needs to spend $40,000 on road improvements in 2011-12, Nevenhoven said. Because of budget constraints, the village will not replace the sub-base on most roads slated for improvement. Instead, crews will grind down the streets’ surfaces and replace the asphalt.

“It is more cost-effective,” Nevenhoven said.

The Public Works Committee will review Nevenhoven’s budget request and recommend to the Village Board the projects they believe the village should undertake next year.

“We found there wasn’t much of a choice out there, and having an electronics and computer programming background, (I) decided to put something together,” said Gierke, who owns Nexpump in Elburn.

Gierke invented a sump pump that calls and e-mails its owner if any part of the pump is failing to operate. The pump also performs self-tests every 12 hours on its battery condition, notification module and even the phone line, greatly minimizing the risk of flooding and water damage.

“Say the water sensor on sump pump units besides ours becomes disconnected or damaged,” Gierke said. “Well, you are not made aware of this condition, and the sump pump will never turn on (because) it can’t sense the water. (Our sump pump) has a second sensor that will take over and also lets you know there’s an issue.”

The pump’s artificial intelligence comes from its use of state-of-the-art micro controllers, which allow the pump to think critically and make decisions. The unit will cycle its pumps if any of the water sensors are not functioning and will even act as a virtual water sensor if all of the actual sensors are disabled.

Also, as if the notification system wasn’t enough, the unit also has an LCD display that will list any issues the pump is experiencing.

“We think we have taken the sump pump to the next level with advanced electronics, software that has been refined over the years, and taking a ‘what happens when’ attitude, meaning we try to figure out what we can do to minimize the risk of flooding when conditions are changing for the worst,” Gierke said.

Gierke said that the public has shown strong interest in the advanced sump pump, which is available in plumbing-supply stores in Illinois and on the Internet.

“Our dual pump has come through during worst-case scenarios for many people, and I think our support is by far the best in the industry,” he said. “We’ve started where the industry left off and took sump pumps into the computer age.”

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on July 21, witnesses told investigators that the Volkswagen was southbound on Route 47 approaching Route 56/30 overpass.

It appeared as if the driver of the Volkswagen passed out, crossed the median and crashed into the side of the semi truck that was traveling northbound. The car sideswiped the trailer and then went under the rear of the trailer at which time the rear wheels of the trailer went over the front of the car. The trailer was fully loaded with mulch.

The driver of the Volkswagen, Romon Alcaraz, 29, of the 500 block of Charles St., Aurora, was transported by Sugar Grove Ambulance to Provena Mercy Hospital in Aurora, where he was listed in serious condition. The truck is owned by Mid–States Cartage, Inc. of Tonica, Ill. The driver of the truck, Robert B. Seifert, 57, of McNabb, Ill., was also transported to Provena Mercy Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Sugar Police are still investigating the cause. They were assisted by The Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team, Kane County Sheriff’s Department, Kane County OEM, and the Illinois State Police.

Edward O. Cook, 25, of the 600 block of Galena Boulevard, Aurora, was sentenced last week by Associate Judge T. Jordan Gallagher to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Cook was convicted May 21, 2010, by Judge Gallagher of 11 counts of reckless homicide, each a Class 3 felony, 15 counts of aggravated driving under the influence (five are Class 2 felonies and 10 are Class 4 felonies), and one count of unlawful possession of a converted motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony, in the July 2009 death of 57-year-old David Long of Batavia. Cook had waived his right to a jury trial.

At about 6:45 a.m. July 29, 2009, Long was walking his dog on the sidewalk in the 1000 block of Woodland Hills Road on Batavia’s southeast side when a 2003 white Acura driven by Cook left the roadway and struck and killed Long and the dog.

Cook had been drinking, smoking marijuana and ingesting cocaine the previous night and early into the morning at a residence in Aurora and later in DeKalb. After being given a ride to the residence of an acquaintance, Cook took the car without permission. A blood sample taken at least three hours after the crash revealed that Cook’s blood-alcohol concentration was .106, and he had marijuana and cocaine in his system.

Cook had had his driving privileges revoked for a 2008 aggravated DUI conviction.

During sentencing, Judge Gallagher cited Cook’s violent and reckless past, which includes numerous drug, battery and theft charges. Judge Gallagher also cited the 2008 conviction of aggravated DUI conviction and noted that Cook was on parole from IDOC at the time of the 2009 crash that killed David Long.

In addition, the state noted that Cook had never successfully completed terms of a sentence for any of his numerous prior offenses, as well as Cook’s insistence that he does not have a drug and alcohol problem despite the presence of drugs or alcohol during many of his prior offenses.

“Anyone who has a prior conviction for DUI should not be anywhere near drugs or alcohol,” Judge Gallagher said. “I don’t know what it will take for this man to realize he has a drug and alcohol problem, but until he does I have to get him off the street.”

By law, Cook was sentenced on one count of aggravated DUI and the unlawful possession of a converted motor vehicle count. He was sentenced to 10 years for the aggravated DUI, for which he must serve at least 85 percent, and five years for the possession of a converted motor vehicle, for which he must serve at least 50 percent. Cook was given credit for 359 days served in the Kane County jail.

He had been held on $750,000 bail before his trial. Bond was revoked upon conviction.

Nevenhoven said residents can do their part by eliminating standing water in their yards (including water in cups or other open receptacles) because it provides a breeding ground for mosquito’s.

Elburn
• Maribel Lucio, 31, of the 400 block of North River Street in Aurora, was arrested at 11:49 p.m. July 26 for driving while her license was suspended. Police stopped her for speeding on Route 47 at North Street in Elburn. Lucio also was cited for failing to secure two child passengers in appropriate safety restraints.

• Angela I. Mason, 45, of the 100 block of Babcock Street in Elburn, was arrested at 8:35 a.m. July 22 for driving while her license was suspended. The arrest took place following a two-car accident Mason was involved in, in the 500 block of Main Street. No injuries were reported.

Sugar Grove
• A resident of the first block of Terry Lane in Sugar Grove, reported a burglary that occurred at her residence on July 16 between 7 and 10:30 p.m. Two cameras, valued at $520, and a phone valued at $300 were removed from the home. Sugar Grove police are investigating.

• Angel Sandoval-Melendez, 33, was arrested July 24 at 11:30 p.m. for driving under the influence when he was found unconscious outside his vehicle at a gas station at 201 N. Route 47, Sugar Grove. A court date of August 24 was set.

• Michael Seib, 32, of the 2000 block of Garden Road, Aurora, was arrested for criminal trespass to a residence when Sugar Grove police responded to a report of a suspicious person entering a vacant residence July 27 shortly after 10 p.m.

As millions of gallons of crude spewed into the gulf waters and the oversight by MMS officials on BP’s well was being called into question, an anonymous source in that office told reporters far different stories than what they had been initially told. This anonymous source set the record straight by coming forward and speaking out, and suddenly the world knew that this was more than a mechanical failure; it was a full system failure. The people hired to keep these events from occurring were ignoring their responsibilities.

At times, anonymous sources provide crucial information to the press. Stories of oil disasters may be the latest, but without citizens coming forward and sharing vital information, Americans would not know about steroids in sports, excessive military spending, or food and drug hazards. We would never have been told about Watergate.

A bill currently in the U.S. Senate will help assure such stories continue to reach the public. S. 448, The Free Flow of Information Act, will protect the sources on whom journalists rely from having their identities exposed in all but a few circumstances including where national security concerns are raised. Five years in the making, the current version of this bill is supported by more than 50 journalism organizations, the White House, the Justice Department and most of your Congressional delegation.

Most states have laws that can protect a source’s identity from overzealous prosecutors and judges, but there is no such protection yet at the federal level. S. 448 would change that and extend the same protections offered through statute or common law in 49 states to the national government. Without it, stories focusing on the federal government will not be told because reporters are faced with threats of jail time and fines if they do not turn on their sources.

Subpoenas against the press numbered more than 3,000 nationwide in 2006 with 335 issued by federal prosecutors seeking the identities of news sources, according to a survey conducted by a Brigham Young University law professor. More than a few journalists have spent time in jail, and some have been forced out of the profession all together by heavy fines that crippled them financially. These are all heavy-handed tactics to illicit the names of people who can then be identified and retaliated against. Media companies large and small faced with the enormous expenses of fighting such legal battles to protect sources are turning their backs on compelling stories.

As S. 448 awaits permission from key senate leadership to come to the floor for a full vote, all senators, representing the interests of American citizens, need to hear from their constituents. Citizens who value the importance of transparency in governance and think the American press needs to continue to serve as the watchdog on the federal government should tell their senators to support this measure.

The clock is ticking as Congress will recess in August. Tell your senator to have the bill moved to a full Senate vote as soon as possible and support its passage.

Without this bill, stories that affect lives, like the oil spill in the Gulf, will never get the detailed attention they need to bring about change. Without this bill, your government has a better chance of operating in darkness or lying its way out of trouble. Help bring this to an end by voicing support for S. 448.

Only when there is a free flow of information from the government to its people can we truly appreciate the beauty and power of a democracy.

One of the reasons for this abnormality is that foreclosures and short sales are not included by law by assessors in a region’s allocation of the local tax burden. This is obviously an inaccurate reflection of property value, especially in the most devastated areas.

I sponsored SB3334, which passed the Senate and House without a single “No” vote against it, and the governor signed it into law. This law requires local assessors to include short sales and foreclosures in their comparables to come to a more fair, complete, and lower property valuation.

I appreciate the Illinois Realtor Association’s legislative help in getting this correction made.

Before we go out to celebrate, we should keep in mind that it is the spending levy issued by local taxing agencies that, in total, determine the amount of our property tax bills. Until state, federal and local governments spend less, we the taxpayers will pay more.

Senator Chris Lauzen
IL—25, Aurora

Marjorie was born on Aug. 17, 1922, in Taylorville, Ill., to Frank and Margaret (Lupton) Curtin.

After WWII, during which she worked at an aviation plant, Marjorie finished beauty school in Springfield, Ill., and became a licensed beautician. She practiced her art in Decatur, Ill., where she partnered with her friends in her first private enterprise.

After marrying Bill Salins, she moved to Chicago with her children, Judy and Billy, and operated Avalon Beauty Salon in Maywood and Bellwood.

Even after retiring, she continued to work for Hair Crafters in Elgin.

Marjorie was involved with the Holy Name Society, Elburn Book Club and Senior Vitality of Delnor in her later years. She did the crossword puzzle everyday.

Marjorie was a member of St. Peter & Paul Church in Virgil, where a memorial mass will be held in her honor on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m.

Survivors include her son, Bill (Christine) Youmans; her grandson, S. Aaron Etienne; and her niece, Marjorie Ann (Jim) Schick and their son, Robert.

Marjorie is preceded in death by her daughter, Judith K. Etienne; and William D. Youmans, Bill Salins and Ralph Klein, her loving husbands.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to The American Cancer Society in honor of Marjorie at www.cancer.org or American Cancer Society, 225 North Michigan Avenue #1210, Chicago, IL 60601-7833 (312) 372-0471.

She was born on May 26, 1936, in Aurora, the daughter of Lloyd and Helen (Schuld) Fritsch.

Joan was raised on a farm outside of Big Rock and went through 12 years of school there. After graduating from Big Rock High School, she entered the Copley Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Aurora, and made many lifelong friends there.

Joan was united in marriage on Sept. 23, 1956, at the Baptist Church in Big Rock, to Mr. Donald C. Needham. They made their first home in Maple Park.

Joan went to work as a registered nurse at the Sycamore Municipal Hospital and continued there until 1970. She held many positions, including charge nurse of pediatrics, evening house supervisor, and assistant night house supervisor.

Joan’s family began to grow; Pamela Jo was born in 1957 and Peggy Ann was born in 1960. In 1969, Joan accepted a position at the new Mid-Valley Area Vocational Center, where she was one of the eight “original” teachers who developed curriculum and taught junior and seniors from the participating schools.

Joan went back to school and earned her baccalaureate degree from the College of St. Francis in 1977. After completing her degree, Joan moved on to Delnor Hospital in St. Charles for three years, working as an in-service education instructor. In 1980, she was hired as director of education at DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Facility.

Joan graduated in 1981 from Northern Illinois University with a master’s degree in adult education. She also taught continuing education courses for nurses and nursing assistants at Kishwaukee Community College, Elgin Community College and Waubonsee Community College.

Joan’s career expanded when she began writing textbooks for Delmar Publishers in New York. She authored, co-authored and contributed chapters for a total of 13 books. In addition to writing, she served as a consultant for the development of media materials used in teaching nurses and nursing assistants.

Through the years, Joan was active at Grace United Methodist Church in Maple Park, serving as a Sunday school teacher, and on various committees at First United Methodist Church in DeKalb, and as secretary for two years for the United Methodist Women. Joan was also a member of the Illinois Nurses Association and Delta Kappa Gamma sorority for women in education.

Joan was an original board member establishing the Maple Park Public Library in 1963 and continued to serve on the board for 20 years. She volunteered at both the DeKalb County Hospice and the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center.

In her spare time, Joan enjoyed several hobbies, including photography, needlework, sewing, genealogy, traveling and entertaining.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Pamela Needham-Volkert of Rochelle, Ill. and Peggy (Jeff) Yagen of Maple Park; her grandchildren, Samuel Volkert of Rochelle, Ill., Margaret Joan Yagen of Maple Park, Kim (Todd) Stecker of Creston, Ill., and Stephanie (Eric) Kersten of Ashton, Ill.; her great-grandchildren, Noah and Luke Steckert, and Madison and Elias Kersten; her brothers, Ken (Barbara) Fritsch of Wheaton, Ill., and Ron Fritsch of Chicago; her sister, Beverly (Gene) May of Sugar Grove; her good friends, Blen and Perry Lakin, Gwen and John Fox, Barbara Hoffman, Myrna and Bob Stouffer; and many nieces and nephews.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Needham; and her parents, Lloyd and Helen Fritsch.

A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 31, at the First United Methodist Church, 321 Oak St., DeKalb, with Reverend Laura Crites officiating.

Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 30, at the Nash-Nelson Memorial Chapel, 141 N. Maple St., Hinckley. Interment will follow in the Ohio Grove Cemetery in DeKalb.

Memorials in Joan’s name made by made to either the DeKalb County Hospice, 2727 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, IL 60115, or to the First United Methodist Church, 321 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115.

Joan’s family would like to thank the DeKalb County Hospice for their wonderful care of Joan.
Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Homes & Crematory, (815) 286-3247. For information, visit www.NelsonFuneralHomes.com.

1) You must have a current physical on file in order to tryout or practice. There will be no acceptions. Physicals are good for one calendar year.

2) A participation fee of $100 per sport, $100 per season for cheerleaders (please indicate season on check), and $100 for pompons per season.

3) The Kaneland High School Athletic Department will host a mandatory pre-season meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 18, in the east gym beginning at 7 p.m. for fall athletes. One or both parents are required to attend the meeting with their athlete(s) in order to meet Kaneland High School’s eligibility requirements. Parents and students will meet with their fall coaches. The mandatory part of the meeting will be available on the Kaneland website as a podcast that fall parents and students must listen to by Aug. 27.

FOOTBALL— Equipment handed out on Monday, Aug. 9, from 5 to 6 p.m.

Football insurance is available to or parents may sign a waiver and use their own medical insurance.

Practice begins on Wednesday, Aug. 11. All levels will meet in the east gym at 7:30 a.m.

Practice will be from 8 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. (lower levels—bring your lunch. Practice for varsity is from 8 to 10:30 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Meetings will take place at 2:15 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL—Tryouts are Aug. 11 and 12, all levels 8 to 10:30 a.m. First practice is on Aug. 13, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. in the east gym.

TENNIS—Tryouts begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11, for all levels from 9 to 11 a.m. The location is at the tennis courts behind the high school.

GOLF—The opening meeting will take place on Monday, Aug. 9, at 8 a.m. in Room C114. You will not be playing at this time but will turn in physicals, receive practice schedules and go over team expectations. Tryouts take place on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and Thursday, Aug. 12, at Hughes Creek at 6 a.m.

SOCCER—Tryouts begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11. V/JV/Frosh from 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. at the soccer fields. All players must purchase from the school a spirit pack for $30. Bring cleats, shin guards, water and gym shoes (in case of inclement weather).

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY—Practice begins at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The team will meet in the high school cafeteria. The XC team will also embark on an overnight camping trip on Thursday-Friday, Aug. 12 and 13. Parents with questions can e-mail head coach Chad Clarey at theclarey5@yahoo.com.

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY—Practice begins on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 a.m., meet in Room C117.

POMS—Mandatory practice begins on Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 8 to 11 a.m. Meet in the high school commons.

CHEERS—Mandatory practice begins on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Meet in the east gym balcony.

Mandatory fall sports meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

Knights Under The Lights is Thursday, Aug. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Opening Contests for KHS Fall Athletics

Football—
Friday, Aug. 27, at
Burlington Central,
7:30 p.m.

Volleyball—
Wednesday, Aug. 25, at
Wheaton North Tourney,
TBA

Tennis—
Tuesday, Aug. 24, vs.
Wheaton Academy,
4:30 p.m.

Golf—
Monday, Aug. 16, vs.
Wheaton Academy,
8 a.m.

Soccer—
Tuesday, Aug. 24, at
Marengo,
4:30 p.m.

Boys’ XC—
Tuesday, Aug. 31, vs.
W. Chicago/Wheaton Admy,
4:30 p.m.

Girls’ XC—
Tuesday, Aug. 31, vs.
W. Chicago/Wheaton Admy,
4:30 p.m.

All tryouts will be held at McNair Field in Elburn

(11U) Saturday, Aug. 14, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; Sunday, August 15, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
(12U) Saturday Aug. 28, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 29, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
(13U) Saturday, Aug. 28, from 10:30 a.m. to noon; Sunday Aug. 29, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
(14U) Saturday, Aug. 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; Sunday Aug. 28, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

*** Tryouts are for all athletes residing within the Kaneland School District. For additional information, please go to the Express web site www.elburn.com/baseball/express.

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The Maple Park Baseball League will hold tryouts for the 13U Boy’s Travel Team. This team will compete in the Kane County Bronco League during the 2011 season. The season runs from mid-April through July.

Fees will be between $300 and $400 per player. Players must be younger than 14 as of April 30, 2011. Tryouts will be held at the Maple Park Baseball Field on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 5:30 to7 p.m.

The goal of the Maple Park Travel program will be to develop fundamental skills while instilling a positive attitude and good sportsmanship in a competitive environment.

For more information, please contact Jeff Violett (815) 827-3664 or Tom O’Shea (815) 827-3810.

Friday, Aug. 6, (12U), 5 to 6 p.m.; (14U), 6 to 7 p.m.; (16U)7 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 7, (12U), 8 to 9:30 a.m.; (14U) 9:30 to 11 a.m.; (16U), 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Unlike Express Baseball, it is not required that you live within the Kaneland School District to participate.

For additional information, please go to the Express website www.elburn.com/ baseball/ express.

Games will be played on Saturdays only at Verhaeghe Field and Poyner Park. Register on-line or download a form from the website. Registration ends on Saturday, Aug. 7, at 5 p.m. and the cost in $99. After that time, all registrants will be wait-listed, and teams filled in as needed. For more information, e-mail president@wascofastpitch.com.

The bride is a 2005 graduate of Honoegah Community High School in Rockton, Ill., and a 2009 graduate of Bradley University, with a B.S. in civil engineering. She is employed by Sargent & Lundy as a civil engineer.

The groom is a 2004 graduate of Kaneland High School in Maple Park, and a 2008 graduate of Bradley University with a B.S. in civil engineering with environmental option. He is employed by Strand Associates as a civil engineer.

The wedding ceremony will be Oct. 16, 2010, at Cross & Crown Lutheran Church, Roscoe, Ill. The couple will honeymoon in Mexico.

He weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long.

The proud grandparents are Rick and Carol Montalto of Sugar Grove, and the late Randy and Joanne Guthrie of Elburn.

This is the couple’s first child.

The bride, an attorney at Fisher and Shapiro in Chicago, is the daughter of Barb and Carson Landis of Maple Park. The groom, an urban planner for the village of Downers Grove, Ill., is the son of Ratko and Mirsada Latinovic of St. Charles.

The matron of honor was Elizabeth Schultz, sister of the bride. The best man was Srdan Latinovic, brother of the groom.

After a honeymoon to Antigua, West Indies, the couple resides in Chicago.

“After serving our country so bravely, our wounded warriors should not have to face additional challenges to get the support they deserve,” Foster said. “I am pleased that the VA has made a change so that veterans suffering from PTSD are promptly and properly cared for—and I am certainly pleased that veterans from wars fought in decades past may not be eligible for the claims that were previously denied. I have never met anyone more heroic than the veterans recovering from life-changing injuries—we have to do everything we can to help them and their families recover as quickly as possible.”

Before this rule change, veterans who applied for disability benefits to compensate for PTSD had to prove to the VA that their illness was service related—essentially denying benefits to thousands of veterans unable to document their claims decades after their discharge from service. This new rule grants presumption of service connection to any veteran who served in a combat zone and has been diagnosed with PTSD, making it easier for them to receive the care and support they need.

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The night will feature Butch Bradley, who has appeared numerous times on Comedy Central. Tickets are $25 per person, and the Fox Valley Wildlife Center will receive 100 percent of the ticket sales, which will benefit the animals in their care. A two-drink minimum is required, and all attendees must be 21 and older. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling (630) 377-2847.

The Wildlife Center is in urgent need of monetary donations and volunteers age 18 and older. Animal handling volunteers help with all aspects of wildlife rehabilitation, from hand feeding baby mammals and birds to doing laundry and washing food dishes, and need to commit to at least one four-hour shift each week, April through September. Morning shifts are also available October through March. Support volunteers are also needed to help keep the center running. There is no specific time commitment for support volunteers.

Call the Wildlife Center at (630) 365-3800 or visit www.FoxValleyWildlife.com for more information.

The Fox Valley Wildlife Center is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit volunteer organization. The center is state and federally licensed to care for orphaned and injured wild birds and mammals and is privately funded, supported entirely by membership fees, donations, grants and fundraisers.

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Geneva—This is the time of year for buying school supplies, rearranging schedules and everything else that goes along with getting back to school. Many children, however, are anxiously awaiting their first day of school because they will not be able to afford needed school supplies.

This is where Delnor’s Giving Tree can help.

In July, Delnor has joined efforts with the Regional Office of Education and Lazarus House to collect school supplies to help children have a great start to the new school year, and everyone in the community can help do their part as well.

Give back to kids going back to school
Vacations, late nights, sleeping in and hours of playing video games each day are about to end for many children. These events will soon be replaced with meeting new and old friends, a daily schedule, sports and homework. However, for many children, having the proper school supplies is financially out of reach as many families in the Fox Valley are being affected by the current economic situation.

For the entire month of July, Delnor will collect much-needed school supplies. It is a good time to think about how you might give back to make this the best school year ever for at least one student.

Consider donating the following items for a child in need, items will be collected through July 31. For a complete list, visit delnor.com.

Items needed include: Crayola washable markers; 24 box of crayons; #2 pencils; pink erasers; pencil boxes/cases; colored pencils; pocket folders; spiral bound notebooks; 1 inch, 3-ring binders; loose leaf paper; backpacks (new or gently used); glue sticks; Fiskers scissors (new or gently used); rulers; pens; post-it notes; clipboards; yellow highlighters; boxes of tissues; ziplock baggies (sandwich or snack size).

An actual ‘Giving Tree,’ located in the Delnor Hospital atrium, allows for employees to easily drop off their contribution. For community members, making a donation is simple, just pull in to the entrance of Delnor Hospital and the valet parking staff will take donated items and place them by the Delnor Giving Tree. Valet is available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Delnor Hospital, located at 300 Randall Road, Geneva, is part of Delnor Health System.

She was born Dec. 15, 1933, in Elmhurst, Ill., the daughter of Donald and Mable (Anderson) Talty.

Before she was 1, her father took a different path. Mable then married Edward Reinink Jr., who became the man she always saw as her father.

Donna jumped on a train each day to attend Wheaton High. Her younger years were filled with happy memories and times spent in the family-owned meat market and general store, Andersons, in Elmhurst.

She found love very early in life and caught the eye and the heart of William Crook. They were united in marriage on Oct. 21, 1950, in Warrenville, Ill. Donna and Bill spent many years raising a family and making their house a home.

When Bill became afflicted with MS, Donna became his caretaker for more than 20 years. Their love increased with every day; their bond becoming unbreakable until his passing in 1993.

They began their new life together on the family farm for a time until 1953, when they moved to Lily Lake. They built a new home two years later. After Bill’s passing in 1993, Donna moved to live with her son, Tom, and his family for the next 13 years.

Donna’s heart was big enough to care for the world and everyone in it. For most of her years, she was affectionately known by all as “Grandma.” She never met a stranger, and very few ever left without having their lives changed for the better.

Never one to brag about herself, Grandma could do anything. She worked on the farm, at a pickle company for a time, worked as a welder, and later worked many years in the restaurant industry. Grandma worked at The Farm Inn in Wasco, Campton Inn in Lily Lake, and later at the Kountry Kettle in Elburn.

Family was most important in her life, so for the next many years she helped take care of her grandchildren, spoiling them rotten and loving every moment. Grandma was a fixture in their lives, present for every step and every accomplishment.

She went back to work after the grandkids were grown at her best friend and daughter Linda’s restaurant, Gert’s Place in Batavia, before dedicating her energy and care for the next many years at the Valley Sheltered Workshop until December 2009. It was the perfect place for a woman with an unlimited amount of love to give, and it didn’t take long for her to adopt “her kids” as her own. They adopted her as well, and the legend of Grandma grew exponentially.

Later she was featured in several newspaper articles lauding her hard work and determination, and deemed her the reason for the continued success of the shelter. After meeting Grandma, no one was ever the same, and the mark she left on the hearts and minds of all she knew will last for generations and beyond.

She is survived by her son, Tom (Deborah Lee) Crook of Elburn; seven grandchildren, Ted Crook, Jenny (Jason) Peak, Billy Norton, Eleni (Mark) Zelazoski, Cynthia Higgins, Kit Crook and Cody Crook; seven great-grandchildren, Emma Peak, Danielle Norton and her daughter, Lilly Ann; William Norton Jr., Brandy Norton, Joey Melby, Ashley Zelazoski and Derek Zelazoski; one sister, Charlene Terlecki; many nieces, nephews and a countryside of “family” that will never forget her.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; daughter, Linda Runge; son, Willy (Doreen) Crook; sister, Kaye Brogie; and brother, Ed Reinink.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life on Saturday, July 31, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Lily Lake Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in hers name to benefit Valley Sheltered Workshop and other favorite charities. Checks may be made to the “Donna Crook Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.

Saturday, July 24
7:30 a.m.: 5K Run/Walk
8 a.m. to noon: Farmers Market
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Support Our Troops Car,
Truck, Classic Tractor, Motorcycle Show
10 a.m.: KidZone—Fascinating Faces
by Laurie; free face painting until noon
Arts and crafts, business booths
Cards for Troops
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.:
Sugar Grove Library Friends book sale
10:30 a.m.: KidZone—
Shutterbug Baby Photo Contest—
Winner announced at 4 p.m.
11 a.m.:
KidZone—Traveling World of Reptiles
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Bingo—Kaneland
(KMS & KHS) Music Boosters
Noon to 11 p.m.:
Carnival, food vendors, beer tent
12:15 p.m.: KidZone—SG Library storytime
12:30 p.m.: KidZone—
Balloon Toss Competition
1 p.m.: Kidzone—Mac and Cheese Contest
2 p.m.:
Kidzone—Magic by Amazing Tim Adams
3 p.m.: Kidzone—Amazing Balloon Twister;
free games and activities
4 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Bingo
4:30 p.m.:
Kidzone—Kane County SWAT Demo
8 p.m.: Burn the House on the Main Stage
9:30 p.m.: Infinity on the Main Stage
Nightfall: Fireworks
11 p.m.: Park closes

Sunday, July 25
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sugar Grove Library Friends book sale
Bingo—Kaneland Peer Leadership Group
11 a.m.: Kidzone—Fascinating Faces
by Laurie; free face painting until noon
Noon: Teen Rock on the Main Stage
Noon to 6 p.m.:
Carnival, food vendors, beer tent
12:30 p.m.: Kidzone—Radio Disney Road
Crew; music, dancing, games, prizes
1 p.m.: Fire Fighters Association water fights
2 p.m.: Kidzone—SG Library storytime
2:30 p.m.:
Kidzone—Corn Boil 500 Big Wheel Race
3 p.m.: Kidzone—Amazing Balloon Twister
4 p.m.: 28 Days on the Main Stage
Kidzone—Pie eating contest
5:30 p.m.: Kidzone—Santa’s Summer Visit
6 p.m.: Park closed, clean up, tear down

“My sister knows I’m creative and like to bake and felt I could make these,” said Siebens, of Maple Park.

The next four days she worked around the clock on sizing and shaping the cakes and suddenly it all came together.

Siebens brought the cakes to her vacation Bible school, and after that, it snowballed–or perhaps a better word is cakeballed—into a home business that sometimes consumes 14 hours a day. Mothers who taste the cakes ask her if she would be willing to make some for birthday parties and other events.

“It’s an easy dessert that immediately impresses your guests,” Siebens said. “And men seem to like them the most. No slicing, no falling off a plate—just pick up the cake and eat it.”

News about Seiben’s creations soon spread by word-of-mouth and through Facebook. When she decided to have a contest on her Facebook page to create the most interesting advertisement for her cakes, one of her Facebook friends linked her to Fox News. The next thing she knew she was on the show, which aired July 12 in Chicago.

Lilly Siebens, 5, of Maple Park, enjoys a pink-bear specialty LillyCake that her mother, Kelly, made for a client’s baby shower. Kelly Siebens named her new business after her daughter. Courtesy Photo

Seibens said the secret to the cakes’ taste is mixing the frosting in with the batter and then dipping the cakes in chocolate. They are super-moist, but learning to shape them and make sure they’d stay on the stick took a great deal of practice. She will do any design people request, such as children’s characters and apples for teachers. One of the most popular requests is baseballs.

Seibens will ship or deliver the cakes, or you can pick them up at her home. When shipping LillyCakes, she insulates them with two ice packs and Styrofoam peanuts. One of her regular customers lives in West Virginia, and Seibens overnight-ships the cakes at 4 p.m. so they arrive by noon the next day.

Since Seibens’ kitchen has been turned upside down, she dreams of one day having her own shop. Her husband and stepdaughter both volunteered their time to assist; and her 5-year-old daughter Lilly, the namesake of the business, is her constant helper.

Siebens still cannot believe what has happened.

“Before April I had never heard of these cakes, and I had no idea that by July I’d have a thriving business,” she said.

Cupcakes on a stick
Visit www.facebook/lillycakes1
For pricing, flavors and styles, click ‘Info’ and then click ‘Photos’to view various cakes.

Contact information for LillyCakes
Kelly Seibens, owner
e-mail: lillysmom@mchsi.com
or call (815) 405-8342

For those unfamiliar with Lions lingo, current Maple Park Lions President Larry Stachura explained the purpose of these two official club positions.

“The Tail Twister promotes harmony, good fellowship and enthusiasm at meetings through the judicious imposition of fines on members,” Stachura said. “He himself may not be fined unless by unanimous vote. The Lion Tamer is the custodian of club property such as flags, banners and gavels and is the sergeant at arms during meetings.”

Ken Hinchy has been part of the Maple Park Lions Club longer than any of its other members—more than 40 years. He said what he likes most about the club is the camaraderie with his fellow Lions. Hinchy has participated in many of the club’s fundraisers over the years.

“One of my favorites is when we raise money by selling roses for Mother’s Day.”

The price for a dozen roses from the Maple Park Lions is $15. Stachura said that all funds that the Maple Park Lions Club raises at its events go back into the community for numerous charitable purposes.

“Although fighting blindness is the Lions main focus, the Lions contributions are far reaching,” he said.

Through the annual rose sale and dozens of other fundraisers each year, the Maple Park Lions have been able to pay for eye exams for the needy and vision testing for diabetes, paint the Legion Hall, and buy a computer for the Fire Department ambulance.

Every year, the club also gives scholarships to students from the Fox Valley Career Center in Maple Park. This year’s scholarship recipient was Stuart Hopkins, who will attend Waubonsee Community College.

The club also joined with the Rockford Lions, hosting events for the blind such as skiing, bowling and dances, and this fall, the club will offer a screening for retinal diabetes.

About the club
Source: Lions International
Maple Park Lions Club has a membership of 26 men and three women. To become a member, a person must be invited to join by someone currently in the club.

The Maple Park Lions Club is one of 45,000 charters in 190 countries that are part of the International Lions organization. In 1925, when Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become “Knights of the Blind,” she could not have possibly imagined the impact of Lions commitment to blindness prevention, a club brochure states.

Lions International has established eye banks worldwide, funded ground-breaking research on leading causes of blindness, organized eyeglass recycling and helped hundreds of thousands of visually impaired people develop productive skills. Through SightFirst, launched in 1990, the Lions have approved more than $280 million in grants for humanitarian services, disaster relief, immunizations, and vocational assistance.

Lions International was founded by Chicago businessman Melvin Jones in 1917.

“Our biggest goal is to promote the village and be developer-friendly, because we’ve been fighting that a bit over the years,” Village President Sean Michels said. “And by doing that, we hope to attract new residential developments, as well as new business developments, too.”

The Sugar Grove Village Board on July 20 reviewed its short-term and long-term strategic goals that it put into place in early 2009.

The Village Board focused a great part of its discussion on attracting business developments to the Village; several trustees expressed their desire to see more businesses relocate to Sugar Grove. However, the Kane County Transportation Impact Fee currently is a deterrent for anyone interested in making their business a part of the community, village officials said.

“That fee can be quite substantial because it’s based on the square footage of the facility, so we’re trying to minimize that (fee) and work with the county to earn credits,” Michels said.

“And in some cases, if it’s a good-size business that means enough to the development of community, we’ll even pay for that County Transportation Impact tax,” Michels said.

Board trustee Kevin Geary supported the idea of business relocating to the Village because it could create more jobs for the community.

“It has to be related to creating jobs,” Geary said. “I would like to see a multi-governmental board put together to explore through the county, school district, township and village and see if there is some way we can find some dollars to encourage businesses to relocate out here.”

Among the village’s other strategic goals are improving relationships at the state and federal level; networking with neighboring communities; establishing a transportation bike plan; reviewing current zoning ordinances for adjustment; and achieving an AA bond rating.

Village officials have postponed pursuing several other goals because of budget concerns, such as updating the village’s comprehensive plan, evaluating the current Route 47 corridor development plan, finalizing a street maintenance and transportation plan and purchasing a future Public Works Department facility site.

Kevin Schmidt, owner of Schmidt’s Towne Tap in downtown Elburn, asked the Village Board on Monday for permission to open his bar at 11 a.m. on Sunday instead of at noon as currently allowed under his Class A liquor license.

Currently, restaurants, clubs and taverns may not sell alcohol on Sundays until noon. However, liquor stores in the village may sell packaged liquor starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Schmidt said since the village allows liquor stores to sell alcohol Sunday morning, bars should have the same privilege.

“I want to be able to open the doors (of Schmidt’s, a sports bar) at 11 a.m., for the pre-game shows,” Schmidt said.

Also on Monday, Hughes Creek Golf Club manager Heather Espe requested that the village allow clubs that hold a Class F liquor license, including Hughes, to begin selling alcohol at 9 a.m. on weekdays and at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

“We have golfers who want a beer or a bloody Mary at the (course) turn,” Espe said. “It would be a nice added bonus for us, since our competitors (Bliss Creek Golf and Tanna Farms golf clubs) can do it.”

Trustee Jerry Schmidt said he supports both the proposed Class F and Class A liquor code changes.

“I think it’s good for Elburn,” Schmidt said.

Trustees Gordon Dierschow and Patricia Romke also said they support allowing the earlier liquor sales.

If the Village Board approves the Class F and Class A ordinance changes, all businesses in the village that hold those liquor licenses would be affected, not just Schmidt’s and Hughes Creek.

Trustee Bill Grabarek said he is hesitant about permanently allowing the sale of liquor at bars before noon on Sunday, as opposed to just permitting a temporary variance during football season.

Grabarek said that before the board votes on the proposed liquor-code change for Class A licenses, he wants to gauge community sentiment about the issue.

“Do they really want the bars to open at 11 a.m. (Sunday)?” Grabarek asked.

The Village Board possibly will vote on the proposed changes on Monday, Aug. 2.

Liquor stores in Elburn, which hold Class C liquor licenses, would not be affected by either proposed liquor-code change.

“I think it's good for Elburn.”

-Trustee Jerry Schmidt

“We are inserting the Police Department and the village administration into something we don’t know as much about,” Smith said.

Fire Chief Kelly Callaghan agreed and said the Police Department still would enforce burning code violations.

Village Administrator Erin Willrett said village staff will bring the issue to the Village Board for a possible change in the municipal code allowing for the Fire Department to conduct burning permit inspections.

“I think it’s a great idea to work together,” Willrett said.

Preform Traffic Control Systems, Ltd. of Elk Grove Village, Ill. will perform the work. The Kane County Division of Transportation hired the company for the project in April, , which will remark portions of Main Street, Cross Street, Norris Road and Denny Road, at a total cost of $9,000.

The village issued $590,000 of general obligation alternate revenue source road bonds in July 2008 with the intention of using motor-fuel tax funds to address indebtedness.

Village officials will propose a similar resolution each of the next three years.

The County Board chose, instead, to seek out another way to ease the Health Department’s current financial strain without eliminating several of its programs.

“I am just hoping I can put my vote forth towards solving the problem,” Kane County Board member Drew Frasz (Dist.26-Elburn) said. “We obviously want our Health Department to be fully staffed, and we certainly don’t want to have to cut anyone.”

About half of the Health Department’s funds currently come from Illinois state grants; however, the state currently owes Kane County between $1.5 and $1.7 million for services already provided. If the budget amendment goes into effect, the County Board no longer will accept several grants for certain health programs because of the state’s inability to follow through on its financial responsibilities.

“Paul (Kuehnert, Kane County Health Department executive) is advising everyone to not rely on state funds,” Frasz said. “And if there’s no positive movement in a positive direction in the next 30 days, we’ll have to vote in favor of the cuts.”

Despite the grim outlook, Frasz credits Kane County Board member Cristina Castro (Dist. 20-Elgin) with attempting to salvage Health Department positions by pushing to postpone budget cutbacks.

“Cristina basically came up to me and said, ‘Thirty days isn’t going to make or break us,’ and I give her a lot of credit for trying to make a difference,” Frasz said.

Anticipating the possibility that the County Board may approve the proposed budget cuts, Health Department officials are working on finding other providers for clients needing certain state-grant-funded services that the County no longer would provide.

“The Health Department is working closely with the state and two federally qualified health centers (Greater Elgin Family Care Center and the Visiting Nurses Association of the Fox River Valley) to assure a smooth transition of case management services that would be discontinued by the Health Department,” Kane County Public Relations Officer Tom Schleuter said.

Grant-funded programs at risk
Source: Kane County Health Department
Kane County Health Department Executive Director Paul Kuehnert recommended that the county reject certain state grants that fund some health programs. He said the Health Department’s budget cannot absorb the programs’ cost if the state does not come through with the money. If the County Board approves the budget revision, the county no longer will accept the state grants that fund programs including Family Case Management and Women, Infants and Children.

Kane County’s Family Case Management program has about 6,000 clients, and the Women, Infant and Children program has about 2,000 clients, many of whom both programs serve.

In 1997, Maple Park residents approved a referendum for a capital bond issue for the village’s sewer system. If the village does not extend the bond issue past its expiration in 2011, existing property taxes for the village will drop 33 percent, or about $90,000, according to an Austin Meade Financial report.

Village trustees listened to a financial overview from Dan Denys of Austin Meade Financial at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday.

Denys presented trustees with three potential options to avoid this loss of revenue. Maple Park could approve a new bond issue, approve taxes for nonreferendum bonds or approve a general tax increase.

The village is in the early stages of looking at these options.

“Last night was the first introduction to the concept of extending the bond issue,” Village President Kathy Curtis said Tuesday.

Village officials will continue their discussion at the Village Board meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4.

Each firm outlined its cost structures and services. The firms detailed their engineering experience, proposed fee structure, and availability to attend Village Board meetings and work on current and future infrastructure projects.

The companies submitting proposals included Baxter & Woodman, the village’s current engineering firm; Howard R. Green Company; Lintech Engineering; Rempe-Sharpe & Associates, Inc.; Scheflow Engineers, Inc.; and Wills Burke Kelsey Associates, Ltd.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Maple Park trustees reviewed the proposals and decided to invite three of the firms back for future interviews: Lintech Engineering; Rempe-Sharpe & Associates, Inc. and Scheflow Engineers, Inc.

Elburn
• Andrew S. Hoelscher, 27, of the 6300 block of North Francisco Avenue in Chicago, was arrested for driving while his license was suspended. Police stopped him on Keslinger Road at Route 47 in Elburn, for improper lane use.

• Armando Alfaro, 33, of the 4200 block of Maple Avenue in Stickney, Ill., was arrested at 3:21 a.m. July 18 for driving under the influence of alcohol. Police stopped him on Route 47 at Kansas Street in Elburn, for speeding.

Sugar Grove
• A dog belonging to a resident of the 100 block of Main Street, Sugar Grove, got past its owner and ran out a door around 6 p.m. on July 15, and attacked another dog. The other dog was being walked by a resident of the 200 block of Maple Street, Sugar Grove. The injuries to the attacked dog were reported to be minor. The owner of the dog that attacked said the dog, a pit bull, was current on its vaccinations. No charges were filed in the incident.

• A resident of the first block of Terry Lane, Sugar Grove, reported fraudulent charges had been made on her debit card July 16 between 8:55 and approximately 10 p.m. The resident believed they dropped their card at the Citgo Gas Station in Sugar Grove after paying for gas. A total of over $410 was charged to the card, including almost $140 at local gas stations and a $273.18 purchase at Village Liquors in Sugar Grove. On July 17, an employee at Village Liquors described the individual that made the purchase as a black make in his 20s, with short hair. He was driving an older model GMC SUV that was either dark gray or blue in color with no front license plate and an Indiana license plate with a small B or and E, and the numbers 4435. A video capture of the suspect was also taken at the store.

• An employee of the Sugar Grove Park District reported to police on July 16 that someone had damaged a sign, a bird house and a post with a small caliber weapon. A damage estimate was not given.

• At approximately 4:23 p.m. July 16, an employee of Genoa Pizza, 44 Cross St., Sugar Grove, reported two individuals paid with counterfeit $50 bills. The suspects entered the restaurant 10 minutes apart, paid for a small purchase, each with a $50 bill, and left. Suspicious, the employee brought the bills to Old Second Bank, where a teller there confirmed the bills were counterfeit. The suspects were filmed by in-store security cameras. The first suspect was described as a white male with a skinny build in his mid-teens, wearing a dark gray shirt and blue jeans. The second suspect was described as an Hispanic male with a skinny build and black, short-cut hair, wearing a white tank top, blue jeans, and a black and white checkered backpack. The bills will be sent to the U.S. Secret Service.

• A resident of the 200 block of Gillette Street, Sugar Grove, reported on July 19 someone had tried to break into his 2002 Lexus two weeks prior. According to the report, it was not clear if the incident occured in Sugar Grove. The damage to the car was estimated at $700.

• Cary Budach, 51, of Hawthorne Avenue, Bensenville, Ill., was arrested on a warrant out of Lake County and also for having no valid driver’s license and operating an uninsured vehicle, after police stopped him July 19 at 8:19 a.m.

From Friday, July 23, through Sunday, July 25, the area behind Kaneland John Shields Elementary School, 85 Main St., will be full of food, fun and entertainment for three days.

The three-day festival is funded through sponsorships, donations and various fundraising efforts that occur throughout the year.

While the festival continues to grow each year—with more events, more entertainment and more people— the sagging economy of the past couple of years has begun to place some pressure on the event’s finances.

For example, the Sugar Grove Lions Club, which is responsible for the Saturday fireworks show, is short by more than $2,500 as of this week. With just a day left before the festival kicks off, we share the organization’s hope that patrons and/or organizations will lend their support and help ensure that all aspects of the festival will continue in the future.

In addition, we hope you, the members of our Kaneland communities, take advantage of our hometown festivals, which will take us right through the beginning of September.

The Corn Boil in Sugar Grove starts the Kaneland community festivals off, and it is certainly not one to miss.

With traditional fair fare like the carnival, food, craft vendors and business booths, as well as more-unique offerings like Kids Zone activities, shows and demonstrations, plus a variety of live music at the soundstage during each day and night at the festival, there really is something of interest for everyone and any age.

These are the types of events that connect each of us to each other and each of us to our communities. If you are from Sugar Grove, Elburn, Maple Park or Kaneville, you share something in common—you are part of the Kaneland communities. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity to connect and support each other—and of course, have lots of fun and corn as well.

Beverly was born July 7, 1939, in Mattoon, Ill., the daughter of Paul and Lois (Grant) Jones.

Bev grew up in Mattoon but moved to the Elburn area in 1949 and attended local schools.

On June 30, 1956, Beverly married her high school sweetheart, David Siebert. They made their home in California for a time but soon returned to Illinois, settling in the Elburn-Kaneville area, where they would share most of the next 48 years together. David and Bev moved to Yorkville in 1996. She continued to make her home there following David’s passing in 2004.

Though Bev worked at various jobs over the years, she made it her job to raise her children and care for David. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her children, even pulling them in a wagon for over eight miles to a friend’s home who had a swimming pool. She truly made her house a “home,” making not only delicious meals but everlasting memories.

When the holidays came around, Bev was unofficially credited with inventing Chex Mix, a mixture of seasoned cereal now sold in bulk, but was once uniquely her own. She was firm but fair with her children, but when grandchildren came along, Bev found her calling, taking them shopping, teaching them how to bake, and she attended nearly all the various school events. Her family was her life, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

She is survived by three children, Paula Siebert of Yorkville, Terry (Sarah) Siebert of Manatee County, Fla., Trent (Dawn) Siebert of Sugar Grove; four grandchildren, Krista (Jay) Lutz and their son, Jayden, of Manatee County, Fla., and Jake Siebert of Oswego, Ill., Kylie and Tyler Siebert of Sugar Grove; one sister, Claudette Liehr of Oswego, Ill.; many nieces, nephews; and a family of friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; a step-father, Walter “Bertie” Gregory; husband, David; and brother-in-law, Rick Liehr.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 24, with a service to conclude visitation at noon at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. Interment will follow at Blackberry Township Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in her name to benefit her favorite charities. Checks may be made to the “Beverly Siebert Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or at www.conleycare.com.

ELBURN HERALD (EH): Mark, you came along and gave this year’s team whatever experience and wisdom that you could give them. How did your arrival to the team this year come about?

Mark Claypool (MC): I’ve been watching the teams over the years. Coach Drendel and Coach Baron have asked me to come in and speak to the team at different parts of the year, and I used to run against Logan’s dad,
Jay, and he ran for Batavia. So we got to know each other pretty well back then, and I’ve watched Logan since he was a freshman and seen how well he was doing at scoring varsity points. I was interested in Logan’s progress and saw how well the team was doing as a whole, and saw that this team could really do something down at county and State.

I wanted to be there somehow and support them and show them that Kaneland history lives on and that somebody from the past cares about it. So, I went to a couple of the meets, and initially nobody even knew I was going to be there except for Mickey Marin, a sophomore who actually found me on Facebook and asked how to run a 400, and so I gave him some pointers and went out to see how he and the team would do, and went to the Peterson Prep first. I had a chance to see some of the other guys run, and saw Logan come out of the starting blocks and thought he might need some pointers. So a couple of the guys and I struck up a friendship and to know I was there to support them.

I went to the County meet as well and thought they had a real shot to be the first team since ’75 to win. It’s real hard to compete against big schools like that and to have the kind of showing Kaneland had. They gave it their best.

Anyway, I was interested in the team as a whole and then in the individuals as I got to know them, just because they’re quality young men and they worked hard and the coaches all said it was a special group. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of team.

EH: Talking with Baron for the Preview article in March, he mentioned the team had a very high ceiling. He didn’t know how far they’d go, but that they were capable of great things.

Logan Markuson (LM): Definitely. Back in seventh or eighth grade we had like eight kids in track, I think it was 12 actually. But our coach called us “The Dirty Dozen.” I knew that as our group moved through high school, as a group like that moves through high school, you become friends. We hung out throughout the years and that was nice. It was nice to see how we worked out and how we progressed during those four or five years. I think just having that friendship and training, it just went hand in hand.

EH: Did your team have a senior core that you came up with, similar to Logan’s?

MC: Yeah, we had a pretty good cross-section. Back then we seemed to have sophomores, juniors and seniors all participting, but we had a pretty good core group of seniors, in the 4×880 relay and the 4×440. We had a good group of seniors for sure in ‘77. In ‘75, we had the Ackermans, the Bishops and Larry Will. A big thing for Bruce Pederson was senior leadership. He always talked about that as a key.

EH: With both of you being relay guys, you hear people often say the 4×400 is the biggest event of the meet. Describe what you go through in a very competitive event like that.

MC: Often times, it can decide who finishes first or second or third.

LM: We came down to a few of those this year.

MC: There’s always a lot riding on it. There’s a lot of pressure on those four guys to go out and perform and not drop the baton. It’s something where the teams all know that this is it. It’s often the last race, and you’re performing as a group. As you get to the end, you see your team colors and the team is jumping up and down. I never heard a whole lot. I never paid too much attention to the buzz but I could tell there was excitement. At State championships there was always the roar of the crowd, but you’re in such a zone you don’t even pay any attention. For us, that’s what it was like, and I saw it was like that downstate for you guys.

LM: Yeah, it was like that for us. In the 4×4, it’s definitely lots of pressure. I like to think of it as a “who’s got the most guts” kind of thing. It’s at the end of the meet, and some of these bigger schools like to run a fresh team. For a smaller school like us, we’re coming back after two or three races. It’s like “this is my last event of the night and I don’t have to run any more,” and lay it all down on the field.

EH: Can the finish dictate your mood for the week, or how you practice leading to the next meet?

LM: Yeah, it can a little. In indoor conference, I was supposed to run the 4×4, and was having some injuries, and ran on a different team. It was a two-point difference headed into that race, and our alternate team won it. That whole week, going into our first outdoor meet, we were stoked. We were like “that was amazing.” Training ahead, it just sets the mood for the whole week.

We just came off of that and see what we could do next week.

EH: Coaching has to be quite strong in a season like this. What did your coaches stress and what kind of personality did they show while coaching?

MC: Track and field is so diverse. You’ve got weight events and pole vault, hurdles, sprinting. Every one of these events has it’s own set of techniques. It’s a very difficult thing for a finite group of coaches to be real good jacks-of-all-trades. But Kaneland’s been very fortunate over the years. Back when I was there, Bruce Pederson was an icon, and everybody looked up to him. He’s still my greatest mentor, and I still talk to him a couple of times a year and he’s in St. Augustine, Fla. He would set the tone mentally.

LM: I’ve loved the coaching. It’s not just “go to practice and do your workout.” It’s “go to practice, and if you’re feeling bad, give them a call.” They’re not just your coaches, we really got to develop a friendship. Just the time and effort they put into it, you can tell they’re really dedicated. I would think it’s hard to do with a family and everything. I was fortunate to have such great coaches. I really don’t think I’m going to find something like this anywhere else.

EH: Mark, you competed in Big Ten track, what was the time like for you and what can Logan expect?

Knights track great Mark Claypool shares some mementos from his athletic career with KHS standout Logan Markuson at the Elburn Herald office. Photo by Ryan Wells

LM: I’m looking forward to it. I know, with the different ballgame, how busy it’s going to get. I’ve already kind of scheduled my classes, and I’ll probably have to work out in the mornings. Then class and then practice and maybe another class. They expect you to study two hours for every hour you’re in class.

EH: It’s only for four years, though.

LM: I’ll catch up on sleep when I’m older.

MC: Time management’s going to be key. It’s not just going to school, it’s school and athletics in there.

EH: In college sports, you’re not looking at a three-month season, especially nowadays. It’s almost a year-round profession.

MC: Absolutely, even in high school, you had to find something to keep yourself in shape. We were typically running three-lappers around the school. We would get heavy sweats and wrap towels underneath in the wintertime. We were outside in January and Feburary, below zero. I played basketball my freshman and sophomore years and that kept me in shape in the offseason. After sophomore year, I went to Purdue basketball camp and got hurt.

EH: Was Gene Keady not happy?

MC: Well, Bruce Pederson wasn’t happy. He said, “okay, that’s it. No more basketball for you.” I got my cast off in August and couldn’t run on it just yet, so I went out for the golf team.

EH: Mark, it obviously meant a lot to come back and be involved. Logan, can you see yourself coming back in 30 years if asked?

LM: If I was asked to come back and coach or do something else, I’d be happy to. My mom told me that she sat next to Mark Claypool at the Kane County Meet, and said he’d be willing to work with me on starts and I was just like, “Mark Claypool? That’s awesome.” I’d love to come back and help any way I could. Just because it’s really cool when others come back to share their memories.

Practices will start Monday, Aug. 9, with games starting Saturday, Aug. 21. The season will conclude in October with playoffs.

Games will be played on Saturdays only at the home fields at Verhaeghe Field and Poyner Park.

Register online or download a form from the website. Registration ends at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7. After that time, all registrants will be wait-listed and teams filled in as needed. This year’s registration fee is $99. For more information, please e-mail president@wascofastpitch.com.

The program will run from Monday through Thursday, July 26-29, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the church, 506 Willow St., Maple Park.

Registration is available online at www.groupvbspro.com or call (815) 739-4168.

Lord of Life Church offers vacation Bible school
Elburn—Lord of Life Church, 40W605 Route 38, will offer its vacation Bible school program, titled Egypt: Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace, from Monday through Friday, July 26-30, from 6 to 8 p.m. nightly.

For information or to register, visit www.lolchurch.net, or call (630) 513-5325.

Kaneville UMC offers vacation Bible school
Kaneville—The Kaneville United Methodist Church (KUMC), 46W742 Main Street Road, invites children in preschool through sixth grade to SonQuest Rainforest Vacation Bible School.

KUMC will be transformed into the Amazon rainforest, where kids will learn about God’s love for them from some of Jesus’ parables. They will also take part in music, games, crafts, snacks and storytellers.

The SonQuest Rainforest adventure begins Monday, July 26, and continues through Friday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Registration forms are available at the church, the Kaneville Public Library, Hills Country Store and the Kaneville Community Child Center. For more information or to register, call (630) 557-2245.

They have one older sister, Jessica, and three older brothers, Casey, Bradley and John. Their grandparents are Ed and Virginia White of Chicago and Ron and Carol Molitor of Elburn.

He weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long.

The proud grandparents are Rick and Carol Montalto of Sugar Grove, and Tate Randy and Joanne Guthrie of Elburn.

This is the couple’s first child.

The bride is employed by Fairview Dental in Aurora, and the groom is employed by James Olson Associates Land Surveyors in Yorkville.

The couple will reside with their children, Amanda, Vanessa and Ben, in Sugar Grove.

We will be forever grateful to those who planned and organized the benefit, those who donated items for the raffles and auctions, and to all that worked the benefit.

Thanks to all who came out to the benefit; we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. As hard as we tried to get around and talk to everyone, we missed some of you and apologize for that.

To those who missed the benefit but have sent us cards with your thoughts, prayers and/or donations, we thank you. Everyone’s thoughtfulness means more to us than you will ever know.

We are so very fortunate to have the support of such wonderful family and friends.

Carol’s transplant process should begin within the next two to three weeks. Thank you all who have made this difficult time manageable.

Steve, Carol, Jordan,
Megan and Shannon Herra
Elburn

As a successful small businessman, Bill has real-world experience creating jobs and balancing a budget. He knows what it takes to grow a small business and can draw on this background to help create jobs here in the 14th District. His background and dedication to service prove his commitment to this district and the people he represents.

He is working hard to find real solutions and refuses to play the usual political games of false promises and constant pandering.

During his short time in office, Bill has already demonstrated his commitment to job creation through his efforts to protect Fermilab and develop a new health information tech center at NIU. He is creating jobs right here in the district and standing up for the jobs already here.

When someone new to politics shows that kind of passion and success, he gets my attention and has earned my vote. This is a great country, and we need leaders who are dedicated to the people they serve, not entrenched political interests. Bill Foster isn’t interested in the same old political games, just the plain old idea of working hard to represent his constituents.

We need to support Bill Foster and his continued efforts to create good jobs right here in the 14th District and keep America moving forward down the path of economic recovery.

Ronald L. Bedard
Aurora

One type of infection successfully prevented at Delnor is called a “central line associated bloodstream infection” (CLABSI) and can occur when a central line or large catheter is inserted into a major blood vessel to administer medications and IV fluids to patients. The second is known as a “hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,” (MRSA) infection, and is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that’s become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections.

Either type of infection can become serious, or even life-threatening, and can extend a hospital stay, costing thousands of dollars in additional medical expenses, as well as discomfort and hardship for patients and their families, according to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

Keeping infections at bay
For the past 18 months, Delnor has had no hospital-acquired MRSA cases on patient units, an accomplishment the hospital credits to an initiative launched in 2008 by Delnor called “Project Zero.”

This effort was aimed at reducing all types of hospital-acquired infections, including preventing MRSA infections in the inpatient population.

“Infection rates at hospitals across the country are a big concern, and something people don’t often think about when going into the hospital,” said Steven Lewis, M.D., internist and infectious disease specialist at Delnor. “We started with a comparatively low infection rate, but were not satisfied. We take quality of care very seriously at Delnor and have excellent outcomes to prove it … Some people thought it was unrealistic that we set the bar at zero—and seemingly tried to achieve the impossible. But for CLABSIs and hospital-acquired MRSA, we’ve proven we’re able to achieve it.”

Since September 2009, Delnor has also had no cases of central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), an accomplishment the hospital credits to a collaborative initiative launched over three years ago, adopting the IHI’s 100K Lives Campaign.

Delnor leaders attribute the hospital’s success to a top-down commitment to improving quality at Delnor that starts with the board of directors and administration and extends to physicians and hospital staff, including the IV therapy team.

“The team of 14 specialty certified nurses are responsible for inserting 30 central catheters per month, which comprises 75 percent of all central lines placed,” said Nancy Moran, IV therapy and outpatient infusion services team leader. “These lines are usually placed in patients receiving care in intensive care units, medical/surgical units, newborn intensive care units and surgical areas.”

Moran said Delnor’s ability to eliminate CLABSIs is due to the hospital’s adoption of strict clinical practices. She said that the IV team, as well as physicians, are required to follow the practices for every central line inserted.

“If at any time a member of the team feels that compliance has been compromised, they will stop the procedure,” she said. “We are very strict in following the standard of care.”

There have been no CLABSIs reported in the last 9 months and only one infection in the last 18 months.

What you can do to protect yourself
Lynn Skelton, infection preventionist at Delnor, encourages patients to take a proactive role in their health care by knowing what to ask and do before a catheter is inserted:
• Ask a doctor or nurse to explain why the catheter is needed and for how long.
• Ask the care giver if they will be using all of the prevention methods, including washing their hands with soap or an alcohol-based solution and wearing sterile gloves before touching the catheter or the area around it.
• Patients should notify their doctor or nurse immediately if the bandage over a central line comes off, becomes wet or dirty, or if the area around the catheter is sore or red.
• Patients should not let family or friends who visit touch the catheter or the tubing.
• Patients should make sure family and friends clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after visiting.

To learn more,visit www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov for the Illinois Hospital Report Card.

Delnor Hospital, located at 300 Randall Road in Geneva, is part of Delnor Health System, which provides a broad range of health care and wellness services for the community.

If you are in the process of moving into the Kaneland School District, please register as soon as possible. Contact the appropriate school building to be certain that you meet the state residency criteria to attend the district’s schools. You are encouraged to visit the building before school starts. Each school will have an open house for new students. Please check a school’s website via www.kaneland.org to locate this information.

Also, please note that if a student is not registered by Aug. 1, bus service cannot be guaranteed for the first two weeks of school, depending on locations and other factors. If your child will be transported to or from an approved child care facility, please make sure you have filled out the necessary paperwork included in your registration packet by Aug. 1.

Additional information about the Kaneland School District, as well as information about the district’s registration deadline on Aug. 15, will be available in the Elburn Herald’s Kaneland Back to School Guide, which will publish Aug. 5.

The teenage students come from more than 30 countries and attend local high schools. The students have their own spending money and insurance.

Host families are responsible for meals, a place to sleep and a nurturing environment. STS Foundation has a local coordinator that will supervise the student and support the family throughout the school year.

For information, call or e-mail David Keating at 1-800-522-4678 or david@stsfoundation.org.

Village Treasurer Michael Greenen reported to the Finance Committee Monday that he is working with banks to negotiate the best rate for the merchant services account.

The NIAAA appointed Franck to the Advisory Council in June and she can’t wait to get started.

“There are so many things we can try and things we can offer to the elderly to help them,” Franck said. “I’m so excited about it.”

Franck’s enthusiasm about helping seniors is what the NIAAA looks for in Advisory Council representatives.

“Our volunteers are very dedicated,” NIAAA public relations director Loretta Cowhig said.

The Advisory Council representatives are volunteers from eight counties, two each for small counties and three each for larger counties such as Kane. Franck will represent Elburn and Maple Park.

Advisory Council representatives advise the NIAAA board on senior citizen issues in their area, Cowhig said. Representatives also get out the message on aging services that are available and serve on committees that prioritize senior programs for funding and support legislation for the elderly, among other tasks.

In addition, Advisory Council representatives keep informed on local news affecting the elderly, look into issues and report back to their committees with what they have learned and suggestions they have.

Franck feels that rural people don’t always realize how much help is out there for them and often are more isolated from services they need. She’s hoping she’ll be able to bridge this gap for seniors in her area.

To find people like Franck to serve as Advisory Council representatives, the NIAAA board announces vacancies through the media and word of mouth.

“We’ve been very fortunate in that we usually have more applicants than vacancies,” Cowhig said.

Franck is an avid newspaper reader and zeroes in on issues involving the elderly, she said. In fact, Franck heard of the Advisory Council representative opening through an announcement in the Elburn Herald.

Franck’s own health issues, including surgeries and some physical problems, help her to understand what other seniors might be going through, she said.

An upcoming event that Franck will be involved in is the Senior Lifestyle Expo, which will be held at Drury Lane in OakBrook Terrace Aug. 24-25.

People who have questions or concerns about senior citizen issues may contact the NIAAA through its website: www.ageguide.org or call (800) 800-528-2000.

She began a warm-weather shelter for homeless individuals in St. Charles in 1997, and since then, Lazarus House has transformed into a bridge from emergency to self-sufficiency for countless individuals from throughout the area.

Marcusson led the program to expand to a permanent site open year-round one year after it began. Five years after that, in 2003, the Lazarus House Center for Transitional Living opened. In the years since then, the program opened a center for women and children, began providing rental subsidies for those on the verge of homelessness, and opened a Community Resource Center that provides easy access to its homeless prevention program. Lazarus House also affers a soup kitchen for struggling families, as well as an unofficial crisis hotline that serves more than 2,600 callers each year.

According to its website, Lazarus House provided care for 83 children, 103 women and 193 men, providing nearly 23,000 nights of shelter. In addition, Lazarus House provided 68,000 meals. The amount of support provided in the forms of skill-building, counseling, and other forms of service are beyond measure.

This began with one woman and an idea, and now a growing group of volunteers provide more than 18,000 hours of service each year.

Both Marcusson as an individual, and Lazarus House as a program, have won numerous awards for their efforts as serving a population in need.

It is one thing to write about a bunch of statistics and numbers as a way to demonstrate the impact Marcusson has had, but when one considers the fact that each individual number represents a person or a family who began to find a way back to self-sufficiency because of the efforts of Lazarus House and its supporters, it begins to boggle the mind. It becomes clear how much impact one person can have when they act on the inspiration they receive, and then in turn inspire others.

One of those inspired by Marcusson will serve as the new Lazarus House Executive director as of January 2011. Marcusson recently made the decision to semi-retire from her efforts. Read Elburn Herald reporter Keith Beebe’s story, and it is clear that Marcusson does not plan on leaving entirely; she plans to continue her work on a part-time basis.

We doubt Marcusson will ever fully “retire” from the program she founded, nurtured and grew. As the years pass, her actual time spent “working” may lessen, but her impact on the lives of countless individuals and families will never fade.

“I’m old,” she said. “I’ll be 62 years old in September, and my husband is already retired, so I think it’s time to join him.”

Marcusson, who founded Lazarus House in 1997 and has served as executive director for more than a decade, still plans to work on a part-time basis for the homeless shelter and service provider in St. Charles.

“It’s not like Darlene is leaving for good … She’ll still occasionally be available for consultations,” said Bill Grabarek, Lazarus board member. “We know, however, that there is indeed life after Lazarus House for Darlene, and we wish her well.”

Now that Marcusson has relinquished her leadership role at Lazarus, she will have the opportunity to visit her daughter in south Florida more frequently.

“My daughter lives about halfway between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and I miss her,” Marcusson said. “My husband and I really look forward to being able to visit her more often.”

The shelter’s current associate director, Liz Eakins, will become the new executive director at the start of 2011. Grabarek, of Elburn, said he was extremely confident about Eakins ability to handle the leadership role.

“Liz is an excellent replacement choice for Darlene, and I have no doubt that Lazarus House will continue to grow with her serving in that position,” Grabarek said.

Marcusson also has confidence in Eakins.

“Liz is well-respected by the entire staff, and I know she’ll do a wonderful job as the new director,” Marcusson said.

The Lazarus board unquestionably holds that respect for Marcusson.

“She was the driving force behind Lazarus House and was a huge reason for its overwhelming success in the service area,” Grabarek said.

Marcusson is grateful for the opportunity she was given to work closely with the community during her time as executive director, she said.

Under Marcusson’s leadership for the past 13 years, Lazarus House has assisted thousands of people in need with its 24-hour shelter, three-meal-per-day soup kitchen, personal development programs, and transitional living quarters. In addition, Lazarus House helps subsidize household budgets and connects clients with appropriate social services agencies in the area to help them regain their independence.

Marcusson believes that founding Lazarus House was her destiny and now she is completely confident in her decision to step down at the end of the year.

“I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me, but we all have an assignment in life, and I have no doubt Lazarus House was what I was meant to do,” she said.

Shelter history
Darlene Marcusson founded Lazarus House in 1997 and since then led the organization through tremendous growth. Lazarus currently has approximately 40 employees and hundreds of volunteers, and serves St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and western rural Kane County. Following is an abbreviated history of the St. Charles organization.

• June 1, 1997: Marcusson founded Lazarus House, which began as a warm-weather shelter (June through September) for homeless individuals connected to St. Charles.

• 1998: The program expanded its service area and located at the Free Methodist Church in St. Charles as a permanent site open 365 days a year.

• July 2003: The Lazarus House Center for Transitional Living opened its doors.

• January 2006: Lazarus House received a grant for a pilot program to provide ongoing rental subsidies to qualifying low-income households in St. Charles

• October 2006: Lazarus House opened the Daytime Center for Women and Children.

• October 2008: Lazarus House opened the Community Resource Center for its our Outreach Program (homelessness prevention).

Source: www.lazarushouseonline.com

“Considering the amount of negativity (in the community related to recent library expense cuts), I don’t see how that can be turned around by November to have a successful referendum campaign,” Library Board member Sheree Novotny said during the board’s July 8 meeting.

“I am also not in favor of holding a referendum in this economy,” Novotny added.

Other board members agreed.

The Library Board on June 23 cut employees’ salaries by 5 percent because of revenue constraints in the library’s operating budget, which funds staff wages and benefits.

Village resident Mari Johnson told the Library Board members July 8 that she opposed the pay cuts and wanted them to look at how to boost property tax revenue to address the budget crisis, instead.

“Focus your energy on how to get a referendum passed and why the public won’t approve one,” Johnson said.

Novotny told the board July 8 that the greatest challenge they must tackle to achieve a successful referendum is making sure the public understands it.

Sugar Grove opened the doors to its new library building in August 2009. An $8 million building bond that voters approved in a November 2004 referendum paid for the building. However, during the same election, voters did not approve a referendum for a tax increase for library operations.

Since then, the Library District has held operating tax increase referendums in nine elections, and voters defeated all of them: one in 2005, two in 2006, one in 2007, two in 2008, one in 2009, and another in February 2010.

The proposed operating budget for 2010, which is based on the current tax rate, is $505,936.

Library Director Beverly Holmes Hughes on July 8 made a presentation before the Library Board that outlined the impacts of a hypothetical operating-fund referendum.

If voters approved a referendum increasing the tax rate to 20 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation, operating budget revenue would increase to $1.1 million.

According to Hughes’s presentation, a tax-rate increase to 20 cents would raise the annual property tax bill for the owner of a home valued at $250,000 by $44.

Hughes said that if the district held a successful referendum this November, the 2011-12 library budget would include the additional tax revenue. However, if the district waits until next spring to hold a referendum and voters approve it, the additional tax dollars would not be available to apply to the budget until 2012-13.

“(Sheriff) Pat Perez told me about it. He said it would be really cool,” Hill said.

And she found that to be true.

She liked the Citizen Police Academy so much, she was disappointed when the 10-week, weekly program ended this spring.

“I looked forward to it (class),” Hill said. “I hoped it was going longer.”

She learned a lot, including the reason for the fingerprint results delay.

“Now, I know,” Hill said. “It’s backlogged. The state is so backlogged with handling everything unless it is a violent crime. Mine was just vandalism.”

The academy gave Hill look into the life of a police officer. She learned how police officers train, as well as what constitutes their daily job duties. The academy also teaches about the different divisions in the Sheriff’s Department, including K-9, SWAT, 911, crime scene investigation, evidence, corrections, patrol and criminal.

“You get to see all the aspects of everything,” Hill said.

One of the highlights of the class for Hill was to ride along with a patrol deputy and see how the officer would handle different situations.

“When we went on patrol and had to pretend to stop people, I had to stop a guy who had a gun tucked away in the front seat and he flipped me off,” she said. “I had to pretend when he was pulling the gun and say, ‘Put your hands on the wheel’ and pretend to pull my fake gun out on him.”

Participants even had an opportunity to fire real guns.

“I had never touched a gun before in my life; I had never shot a gun before in my life, and I got to in the simulator,” Hill said. “I got to do the assault rifle, the pistol and the tazer. They were so heavy. You would not believe how heavy a gun is.”

She also enjoyed the the K-9 unit class.

“They (the Sheriff’s Department) have these dogs from Hungary or Germany,” Hill said. “You have to speak to them in that language. They are trained that way.”

Participants also had a chance to drive a patrol car and wear a bulletproof vest.

In addition to all she learned by participating in the academy, the classes made Hill respect police officers more.

“I totally gained so much from it,” said Hill.

Through the academy, Hill gained insight into how risky a police officer’s role can be.

“I have a deeper appreciation for how dangerous their job is,” Hill said.

To participate in the Citizens Police Academy, a person must live or work in unincorporated Kane County, be 18 years or older, have no felony convictions or any misdemeanor arrests within a year of application.

“You have to, of course, be fingerprinted and your name is put through the database to make sure you are not wanted as a felon or anything like that,” said Hill.

The Citizens Police Academy is free and allows 20 students per session. All of the police officers who teach the classes donate their time for the program.

After graduating from the academy program, Hill decided to establish a Neighborhood Watch in Kaneville focusing on communication and education.

“We want to start (one) in the area because we had a rash of break-ins a couple months ago where locks were cut off garages and stuff stolen from sheds,” Hill said.

Next session starts Sept. 1
Wednesday nights
Sept. 1 through Nov. 3
6 to 9 p.m.
www.kanesheriff.com/citizensPoliceAcademy/default.aspx

Kane County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. John Grimes, Pat Hill, and Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez pose for a picture after Hill completed the Kane County Citizens Police Academy—A 10-week course offered by the Sheriff’s Department. Courtesy Photo

Photos by John DiDonna

Forty-eight police, fire, EMS, public works agencies and area hospitals participated in the discussion-based drill that focused on multi-jurisdictional incident management and interoperable communications.

“The drill was the culmination of a yearlong project to create a tactical interoperable communications plan for Kane County that will become part of the state’s interoperable communications strategy,” Director Don Bryant said. “Lessons learned from this drill will help the county and local municipalities better coordinate interagency responses during regional disaster events.”

The Kane County Office of Emergency Management conducts several drills throughout the year to support local emergency response to disasters.

Kane County Sheriff’s Deputies were notified that on July 7, Michael Keenan, 41, of Bristol, was taken into custody in Wauwatosa, Wis., and transported to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday, Kane County Sheriff’s Deputies picked him up and transported him back to Kane County.

Keenan was wanted in connection with a 2007 home invasion in the city of Geneva. Keenan had three warrants:
• Home invasion
• Domestic battery
• Violation of bail bond

The charges against Keenan are not a proof of guilt.

A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the state’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Elburn
• Someone broke a padlock on a cooler behind a concession stand at the ballfields in the 500 block of Main Street in Elburn and stole 30 bags of ice valued at $52. The theft occurred sometime between 11 a.m. July 3 and 4 p.m. July 12.

• Jordan Christopher Bergman, 20, of the 1100 block of Griffith Avenue in Elburn, was arrested at 3:50 p.m. July 28 for driving while his license was suspended. Police stopped him on Keslinger Road south of Liberty Street in Elburn for driving while his license plate registration was expired. He also was cited for failing to wear a seatbelt.

• Thomas G. McCartney, 23, of the 400 block of South First Street in Elburn, was arrested at 12:51 a.m. July 11, on a DeKalb County warrant for failure to appear in court on a DUI charge. Police arrested him outside a tavern in the 500 block of North Main Street in Elburn.

• Sameer Khan Ismaili, 26, of Arbor Creek Road in St. Charles, was arrested at 11:11 p.m. July 12 for possessing marijuana and illegal-drug paraphernalia. Police stopped him for speeding, on Route 47 at Walker Drive in Elburn.

• Someone stole a designer diaper bag worth $300 and a Cannon Power Shot camera valued at $400 from a vehicle parked in the 500 block of Parkside Drive in Elburn. The theft occurred sometime between 6 p.m. July 11 and 1 a.m. July 12.

• Kyle P. Wenk, 19, of the 800 block of Drover Street in Elburn, was arrested at 1:48 a.m. July 12, for driving under the influence of alcohol and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor. Police stopped him for driving a vehicle with a non-functioning tail light. A passenger in the vehicle, Georgia L. Porter, 18, of the 1000 block of Liberty Street, also was cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Sugar Grove
• Residents of a home on the 800 block of Black Walnut Drive reported July 6 that charges in the amount of $735.63 were made to their debit cards linked to a joint account without their knowledge. An investigation is ongoing.

• Ricardo Cabrera, 28, of the 8,000 block of Marion Drive, Justice, Ill., was arrested for driving on a suspended license when police stopped his vehicle at 4:46 p.m. July 11.

The effects of extreme heat conditions on the human body are cumulative and can lead to variety of health complications, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Residents can follow a few simple tips to keep cool:

· Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.

· Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.

· Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.

· Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.

· Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

· NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.

Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on:

· Infants and young children

· People aged 65 or older

· Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure

· Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

More information on how to beat the heat is available by visiting www.kanehealth.com/heat.htm.

We were informed at 8:30 a.m. that the delivery van broke down on its way to the Elburn Post office at 3:30 a.m., and is at a repair shop in Sugar Grove. We are working on getting the papers to the local post offices and newstands, but it looks like we will miss today’s mail.

Those that should get it tomorrow at the latest are Elburn, Sugar Grove, Maple Park, Kaneville, Geneva, Batavia, St.
Charles, North Aurora, Aurora, Sycamore, Dekalb, Wasco and LaFox. Others may take a little longer to be delivered.

-Elburn Herald staff

The library has held a concert annually at the end of the summer reading program in the past, but this is the first year it is offering the four-concert series.

“The attendance was always good for the year-end concert, so I thought this year I would also try having four concerts with a variety of music styles,” series coordinator Cathy Korthals said. “These concerts are being held to entertain and thank our patrons.”

Attendance is free for the concerts, which the library pays for with help from the Friends of the Library fundraisers.

Anyone is welcome to attend. Concert-goers may bring their own chairs and refreshments. Attendees may sit anywhere on the grass and if the crowd is large, people may sit in Prairie Park, located east of the library.

The library owns the garage behind (to the north of) the library and the bands will be set up in the driveway there, Korthals said.

Parking is in the library parking lot and overflow parking can use the Village Hall lot since the village offices will be closed.

The library is open until 9 p.m. Concert-goers may step inside to cool off and are also welcome to use the bathroom facilities. If it rains, the concert will take place inside the library. For more information, call (630) 365-2244.

Summer Concert Series
6:30 p.m. outdoors behind
Town & County Public Library
320 E. North St., Elburn

July 15 — Mark Dvorak will present folk songs on
his guitar and will have sing-alongs.

July 29 — Latin jazz

Aug. 5 — The Midnight band plays oldies, classics and
current hits, covering songs from
Frank Sinatra to Bon Jovi

Aug. 19 — Running Fox, a four-piece Blue Grass band

Tickets are $10. Each year, Broadway Bound show earnings are dedicated to a local charity or community organization selected by group founder Mark Michelson Jr. For the second year, all ticket sales will go to Lazarus House, a community-based nonprofit emergency shelter and center for transitional living and a community outreach service provider serving people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and are connected to St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia or western rural Kane County. 

Broadway Bound was initiated in 2005 by Michelson when he assembled a group of like-minded talented students whom he had grown to know through the years in various theater groups throughout the area.

“I thought we had a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community with the knowledge and skill we gained over the course of our artistic development,” Mickelson said. “Broadway Bound is a unique outlet for the cast members to explore their personal passions … Lazarus House is a group which I feel works similarly to aid those who become engulfed with monetary restraints, which I think are the key factor in inhibiting the pursuit of an individual’s personal passions and ambitions.”

For more information, call (630) 587-2144.

Photo: Broadway Bound singers John Stombres, (from left) Amy Marik and Emory Tower, provide a sampling of their sound at a past Lazarus House Open House/Block Party. Courtesy Photo

Nathan is a member of the DeKalb Huskie Track Club and will be a freshman at Kaneland in August.

Howland, of Elburn, and the junior elite women led off the first of five races at the Flatland Kids Triathlon Festival. Howland and Tanelle Berard (Clive, Iowa) raced side-by-side through the 750-meter swim and six-lap, 20-kilometer bike. Howland managed to open up a 15-second lead on the run to claim first in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 7 seconds.

On the junior elite men’s side, Ben Kanute of Geneva made a solo swim-bike breakaway attempt over a chase pack of six. However, it was Verzbicas of Orland Hill, Ill., the reigning junior duathlon world champion, who took control of the race on first of two laps of the run and crossed the finish line in 55:14. Chris Wiatr, of Long Grove, Ill. enjoyed a breakthrough performance to edge Kanute for second place.

The day also featured competition in the 13-to-15-year-old Youth Elite Division. Tamara Gorman, of Rapid City, S.D., was the girls’ champion, besting Rachel Mann, of Homer Glen, Ill. Spencer Clark, of Clive, Iowa., took top honors in the Youth Elite boys’ race over Carter Dickson of Aurora.

Following the draft-legal elite races, approximately 175 youth triathletes between the ages of 6 to 15 took to the course.

Bank Iowa sponsored travel scholarships for being first out of the water in the youth and junior elite races in honor of Chandy Barr Clanton, a standout swimmer, triathlete and famed air show pilot from Iowa who lost her life in an accident one year prior to the day of the Flatland Kids Tri Festival. Winners of the “Spirit of Chandy” prize were Kanute, Berard, Gorman and Clark.

The event, originally slated to take place at Gray’s Lake Park in Des Moines, Iowa, was relocated to West Des Moines on Wednesday because of severe flooding around Gray’s Lake.

Visit flatlandkidstrifest.com for complete results.

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon—one of the fastest growing sports in the world—as well as duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 3,100 races and connects with more than 133,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USAT provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Championships, Pan American Games and the Summer Olympic Games.

Photo courtesy of www.usatriathlon.org

Look deeper, and you’ll see a young team working on its craft and even a great thing or two.

Case in point: a no-hitter thrown by KHS pitcher Bryan Van Bogaert on Tuesday in Maple Park against the Class 3A runner-ups DeKalb.

Van Bogaert threw a six-inning no-hitter against the visiting Barbs, winning 7-0, and would have a perfect game under his belt if not for two hit batsmen.

In game two of the doubleheader, Drew French went four innings in a 5-1 win.

On Monday in Yorkville, Kaneland tamed the Foxes and held off a late-inning rally in an 8-7 win in game one. The Knights were up 6-0 in the second inning of game two before the rains came.

Eric Eichelberger, Jordan Jones and Brian Maras pitched against the Foxes.

So far, it’s been a valuable chance for KHS coach Brian Aversa to see what lies ahead in the spring of 2011.

“We’ve played decent ball,” Aversa said. “We’re seeing which guys are on the radar and seeing how our pitching and defense is working out, and it’s going alright so far.”

On Monday, July 19, at Kaneland, the Knights will host West Aurora in the second round of the IHSBCA St. Charles East Regional. The winner will play either St. Charles East, Marengo or Woodstock North at a later date.

“We’ve got a lot of youth right now, and we’ll see how it unfolds,” Aversa said.

Photo: Kaneland pitcher Eric Eichelberger deals toward the plate during an 8-7 win at Yorkville during Summer League play on Monday evening. Photo by Ben Draper

He is the grandson of Theodore and Lauryce Weydert of Maple Park, and the son of Martha Weydert-Cohen, a 1982 Kaneland High School graduate.

Local graduates include Benjamin Cork of Elburn, and Nathan Fabrizius and Brock Foster, both of Maple Park.

Millikin named Rebecca Hof of Elburn to its high dean’s list; and named Michelle Buck and Erika Davidson, both of Elburn, to its dean’s list.

Chad Papke of Elburn was among those who graduated from the University of Northern Iowa following the spring semester. Kristina Srog of Elburn was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2010 semester.

Steven Campbell of Maple Park, and Jessica Foody, Jennifer Howard and Ashley Urra, all of Sugar Grove, were named to the list.

Each retiree received a memento. Retirees contributed a combined total of 263 years of service to the university.

Stan Pistorius served as a university grounds worker from 1980 to 1985 and as grounds manager from 1986 to 2010. During his first five years, he served under his father, George, who was grounds manager from 1963 to 1986. Together, their service totaled 53 years. Pistorius plowed snow, mowed, edged, mulched, raked, trimmed trees and bushes, and performed other grounds-maintenance activities. Additionally, he maintained university vehicles and equipment, including mowers, snow removal equipment and tractors.

Joseph Burroughs of Elburn received Cum Laude rankings at level 4 in Latin. In the National Latin Exam Competition, Burroughs and Colin Sikic of Sugar Grove earned a silver medal and a Maxima Cum Laude certificate. Benjamin Pho of Maple Park earned a Magna Cum Laude certificate. Zachary Locjmueller of Elburn earned a level one Cum Laude certificate.

The National Latin Exam was taken by more than 135,000 students from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries including Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, England, Italy, Mozambique, New Zealand, Poland, and for the first time, Israel and Lithuania.

Reid Weigelmann of Sugar Grove earned a silver medal in the National Spanish exam, while Anthony Perez and Stuart Quinn of Sugar Grove earned bronze.

The award is given to a senior teaching assistant who has shown excellence in teaching while being a consistent leader for the other student teaching assistants.

The service will be at the church’s 40-acre campus (4S633 Harter Road), west of Route 47, past Harter Middle School.

Blessing the animals is a way of affirming God’s creatures who mean so much to us. Please be sure your pet is leashed, bridled or caged (whatever is most appropriate to keep it under control). For information, call (630) 466-4501.

St. Gall Catholic Church
offers rummage sale
Elburn—St. Gall Catholic Church in Elburn, located at the corner of Route 47 and Shannon Street, will begin accepting donations on Monday, July 19, for its 26th annual rummage sale.
The church asks that all items be in clean and usable condition. If an item is too heavy for one person to carry, the church cannot accept it. Drop-off hours are Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. to noon.
For information, call (630) 557-2819 or e-mail annerich@sbcglobal.net.

Grace UMC, St. Mary’s
offer vacation Bible school
Maple Park—Grace United Methodist Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church will present vacation Bible school, with the theme “High Seas Expedition.”

The program will run from Monday through Thursday, July 26-29, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the church, 506 Willow St., Maple Park.

Registration is available online at www.groupvbspro.com or call (815) 739-4168.

Kaneville UMC offers
vacation Bible school
Kaneville—The Kaneville United Methodist Church (KUMC), 46W742 Main Street Road, invites children in preschool through sixth grade to SonQuest Rainforest Vacation Bible School.

KUMC will be transformed into the Amazon rainforest, where kids will learn about God’s love for them from some of Jesus’ parables. They will also take part in music, games, crafts, snacks and storytellers.

The SonQuest Rainforest adventure begins Monday, July 26, and continues through Friday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Registration forms are available at the church, the Kaneville Public Library, Hills Country Store and the Kaneville Community Child Center. For more information or to register, call (630) 557-2245.

Lord of Life Church offers
vacation Bible school
Elburn—Lord of Life Church, 40W605 Route 38, will offer its vacation Bible school program, titled Egypt: Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace, from Monday through Friday, July 26-30, from 6 to 8 p.m. nightly.

For information or to register, visit www.lolchurch.net, or call (630) 513-5325.

St. Paul’s United
Church of Christ
offers spaghetti dinner
Hinckley—St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Hinckley will provide a spaghetti dinner on Wednesday, July 21, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Cost is $5 per person, and carry-outs are available.

For information, call (815) 286-3391 or (815) 286-7228.

As I am sure you are aware, it has been raining (downpouring at times) this evening. My family and I continually monitored the weather.

Around 8 p.m., after checking the website for information and discussing with neighbors the likelihood of the fireworks happening, we decided that they would not happen. We sent our children to bed at 8:30 and 9 p.m.

A few minutes after 9 p.m., we hear the booms. I look out the window to discover that in fact, the fireworks display was on. I was furious. We never would have thought that after hours of rain and lightning in the sky, the fireworks display would go on. Not only was I upset that the fireworks were on, but they were a half hour earlier than stated.

Would it really have been that big of a deal to postpone them for a day? I think people would have appreciated a drier, more enjoyable night. The decision to have the fireworks tonight was very disappointing and extremely aggravating. I certainly hope that more people step forward to voice their opinion on the very poor decision that was made tonight.

Cheryl Wykle
Elburn

We had a 2-week-old baby join us, an 80-year-old lady with a red floppy hat, a woman in a wheelchair, and a parrot on the shoulder of a rider, along with lots of bikes, skateboards, scooters and wagons. What a parade this year.

Also, I would like to thank Matt McCannon, Bob Beetham and Dave Smith from the American Legion for being our color guard. What an awesome job these three guys did. It was so great to see spectators stand and put their hand over their heart to respect our flag and our nation.

The Sugar Grove Police Department and Sugar Grove Fire Department always add to the parade. They make our small-town parade seem much bigger and a lot more important. The Fire Department provides some noise and lights to add to the excitement. Of course, the Police Department ensures our safety along our route. Every year, they have generously given their time and equipment to join the parade on this holiday. Special thanks go to Wayne Parson of the Fire Department and Brad Sauer of the Police Department.

We all can’t forget to thank the Sugar Grove Park District for providing freeze pops after the parade. The weather was hot, but the freeze pops were so cool. Thanks to Barb Larson and Brian of the Park District.

Now I want to extend a special thanks to my clown friends, Mr. Mumbles, Tiny T and Calico Rose, for the fun way they add to each and every day. Last year in July, I was in the hospital and then spent an extended time in rehab. But my clown friends made sure that Sugar Grove had a bike parade. This year, I was back on my “clown Victoria” golf cart and enjoyed every minute of the parade along with my friends.

Hope to see you all on Sunday at the Sugar Grove Corn Boil on July 25.

JoJo the Clown
Karen McCannon
Sugar Grove

GO TO 2040 will guide growth in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties for the rest of this century. In addition to land use and transportation, GO TO 2040 also addresses the full range of quality-of-life issues, including the natural environment, economic development, housing, and human services such as education, health care, and other social services.

An open house is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva.

The open house will feature a short plan overview presentation by CMAP staff, followed by a question-and-answer period. Formal public comments will also be accepted. Residents may also review the plan and submit comments on the GO TO 2040 website, www.goto2040.org.