Naperville News Digest: Free kids’ dental exams to be offered at College of DuPage; State of Naperville Park District podcast now available

Free kids’ dental exams to be offered at College of DuPage

College of DuPage will offer free dental cleanings, school forms, exams and X-rays for children ages 4 to 12 in collaboration with the American Dental Association Foundation’s Give Kids a Smile Day.

The free service is offered through the college’s dental hygiene clinic and will take place Friday, Feb. 28, in the Health and Science Center at its Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.

Appointments are available from 8 to 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Children must be accompanied by a parent.

To make an appointment, call 630-942-3250.

State of Naperville Park District podcast now available

The Naperville Park District is presenting a series of podcasts featuring interviews with park district staff members.

Six episodes of the 2025 State of the Naperville Park District is available on the park district’s website, www.napervilleparks.org/podcast, and on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Soundcloud.

The podcasts center around the theme, “Shaping a Sustainable Future in Parks and Recreation,” and include interviews with Executive Director Brad Wilson, park board President Mary Gibson, Director of Planning Eric Shutes and Director of Recreation and Facilities Andrea Coates. Featured guests include Director of Parks Tim Quigley, Director of Golf Kevin Carlson and Riverwalk and North Parks Operations Manager Tiffani Picco.

Residents can learn more about the park district, including how the district keeps parks and facilities environmentally sustainable, as well as partnerships and goals for the upcoming year.

This is the eighth year the district has offered the State of the Naperville Park District as a podcast series. It is hosted by Sameera Luthman, the district’s director of marketing and communications.

Susan Frick Carlman / Naperville Sun

Le Chocolat du Bouchard in Naperville will be providing the dessert at the 13th annual Chefs’ Culinary Celebration for the West Suburban Community Pantry. (Naperville Sun file photo)

Culinary Celebration to benefit West Suburban pantry

The 13th annual Chefs’ Culinary Celebration to raise funds for the West Suburban Community Pantry, which serves the Will and DuPage areas, will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at Abbington Distinctive Banquets in Glen Ellyn.

The event brings together some of the region’s top chefs for an eight-course meal that will include such dishes as shellfish chowder, Brussel sprout salad, sesame sweet chili salmon, coffee rubbed pork loin, braised short rib and sweet corn risotto. A vegetarian option is also available.

Dessert will be provided by Le Chocolat du Bouchard, located in Naperville.

In addition to the meal, there will be a cocktail hour, music, silent auction and paddle raise.

Proceeds support the West Suburban Community Pantry, which serves more than 9,000 people in DuPage and Will counties each month.

Tickets are $175 each and available at aesbid.com/ELP/WSCPCHEF25/EventInfo.

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