Book selected for Naperville’s Embracing Community Book Read
“Community: The Structure of Belonging” by Peter Block is the book that’s been chosen for the Embracing Community Book Read.
Sponsored by the city of Naperville and Naperville Public Library, the Book Read will kick off with a virtual book talk with the author at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 31. Participants can join the event via Zoom or watch the session at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.
In the book, Block describes how in a true community every person is a citizen and relationships are key, a news release from the city said.
Participants can read the book between Aug. 1 and Oct. 5. During October, two small group discussions will be held, and a final community discussion will take place Nov. 7. More information about the discussions will be shared later, city officials said.
The Book Read is one of several inclusive community conversations being held as part of Naperville’s “Embracing Community: Expanding Our Dialogue, Deepening Our Understanding” series, the release said.
The book is available at Naperville Public Library as well as through book retailers.
It’s free to participate in the program, but registration at naperville.il.us/embrace-community is required.
Recycle and shredding event being held Saturday by Kifowit’s office
An electronics recycling and paper shredding event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 13, at state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit’s Aurora office, 1677 Montgomery Road.
Items that will be accepted include computer towers, microwaves, DVD players, video game consoles, printers and a variety of other electronics. No televisions or computer monitors will be accepted at this event.
Residents can also drop off eye glasses, gently used books and cell phones, according to Kifowit’s office.
Donated eyeglasses will be given to Lions Club International, and donated books will help area literacy programs, including Scarce in Addison and the Will County Sheriff’s Department for individuals who are incarcerated.
Cell phone collections will benefit Mutual Ground, an Aurora-based nonprofit that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Paper for shredding will be accepted until the truck reaches capacity, Kifowit’s office said. Community members are limited to paper contained in three 13-gallon garbage bags or two banker boxes.
For more information, contact Kifowit’s district office at 630-583-1308 or stephanie.kifowit@att.net.
Naperville corporation wins federal grant through Underwood’s office
Naperville-based Acheminall Corp. has received a $300,000 federal grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to fund a research project on “novel schistosomicidal agents,” according to U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville.
Schistosomiasis affects nearly 240 million people worldwide, and more than 700 million people live in endemic areas, a news release from Underwood’s office said. Infection occurs when people come into contact with fresh water infested with the larval forms of parasitic blood flukes, known as schistosomes, the release said.
The grant was secured through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is one of three recent grants Underwood helped secure for the 14th District.
Other grant recipients are Toyal America Inc. of Lockport, which is receiving $330,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to help lower energy bills and improve operations, and Joliet Junior College will get $93,330 from the National Science Foundation for research to improve physics education across the country.
