Naperville police seeking applicants for free Summer Youth Academy
Teens interested in participating in the Naperville Police Department’s free Summer Youth Academy should submit their applications by May 22 for the six-week course.
Classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday between from May 30 to July 11 other than July 4 at the police department, 1350 Aurora Ave.
The academy provides teens with a working knowledge of police operations through classes, discussions and hand-on demonstrations, a police department news release said. Topics covered include patrols, police canines, investigations, the special response team and forensics.
Eligible students must be in high school or entering high school in the fall, live in or attend high school in Naperville, be a good student with no criminal contacts, and have parent permission and transportation to and from the classes.
Space is limited and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications are available at www.naperville.il.us/cpa and can be returned by email to Sgt. Jon Pope at popej@naperville.il.us or mailed or dropped off to the Naperville Police Department, 1350 Aurora Ave.
Edward Foundation awards $20K in scholarships to hospital volunteers
Ten student volunteers at Edward Hospital in Naperville have been awarded $2,000 scholarships for volunteer work that includes greeting visitors, delivering flowers, transporting patients and helping at the hospital, Edward Foundation officials announced.
The recipients are Davidson Academy online student John William Austin of Naperville; Waubonsie Valley High School students Manjushree Balaji and Norah George, of Naperville, and Eiman Mohammedamin, of Aurora; Neuqua Valley High School students Dhruvi Patel, of Bolingbrook, and Fiddah Shereef, of Naperville.
Also, Metea Valley High School students Michelle Seby and Brynne Ward, of Aurora, and Naperville North High School students Julie Piot, of Naperville, and Kate Zhao, of Lisle.
‘Bumble Ballet’ selected for interactive mural at Fine Art & Artisan Fair
The Naperville Woman’s Club has announced Chicago-based artist Vandana Jain’s “Bumble Ballet” will be the 8-foot-by-12-foot interactive mural at this year’s Fine Art & Artisan Fair being held June 29-30 at Naper Settlement in Naperville.
The interactive mural will be broken down into 216 square sections for visitors of all ages to paint. Each of the 8-inch-by-8-inch sections will be stapled to the large mural frame to create the picture.
Jain’s work has been featured in galleries and renowned art festivals, a club news release said.
“’Bumble Ballet’ is like a thrilling play showing how we pass around good vibes just as bumble bees move pollen from one flower to another,” Jain said in the release.
The Fine Art & Artisan Fair is the longest running art fair in Illinois, featuring more than 100 juried artists and artisans showcasing their work.
For more information on the free event, go to www.nwcfineartfair.org.
Will County police chiefs group plans Law Enforcement Memorial Day
The Police Chiefs Association of Will County will hold the 43rd annual Law Enforcement Memorial Day on Thursday, May 9.
The day begins with a 10:30 a.m. mass at St. Mary Magdalene Church, 127 S. Briggs St., Joliet, followed by a procession at noon to the Memorial Wall on the north lawn of the former Will County Courthouse, 14 W. Jefferson St., Joliet.
Engraved on the granite memorial are names of 37 fallen officers from various departments across Will County.
“The sacrifices made by these individuals are deeply acknowledged,” Tracy Chapman, president of the Association and deputy director of the Forest Preserve District of Will County, said in a statement.
The public is invited to attend the events.
LWV holding Zoom session on ranked voting system Wednesday
Suzanne Chod, a professor of political science at North Central College, will lead a free virtual discussion on ranked choice voting being held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, by the League of Women Voters of Naperville.
A nonprofit group seeking to put a ranked choice voting referendum question on the Naperville ballot in April 2025. If approved, it would change the way residents elect the city’s mayor and council.
Ranked choice voting is an alternative electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates by their preference, a LWV newsletter said.
Chod’s presentation will include the advantages and complexities of adopting the ranked choice voting system, league officials said. She also will talk about how ranked choice can increase voter representation, promote consensus, logistical hurdles and potential voter confusion.
For more information and to obtain a Zoom code, go to lwvnaperville.org.
