Volunteers needed this fall at Whalon Lake, Riverview Farmstead
The Forest Preserve District of Will County is seeking volunteers to clear brush at the Riverview Farmstead and Whalon Lake forest preserves in Naperville and at other preserves throughout the county.
Work will be done from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Riverview Farmstead on Book Road, south of Hassert Boulevard, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 14, at Whalon Lake on Royce Road, west of Route 53, a news release said.
Volunteers must be 10 or older and should wear weather-appropriate attire that can get dirty. Registration is required.
For more information, including other forest preserve clean-up dates and locations, or to register, go to www.reconnectwithnature.org or contact Emily Kenny at 815-722-7364 or volunteerservices@fpdwc.org.
DuPage County presents proposed $635.8M budget for 2024-25
DuPage County has unveiled a 2024-25 budget of $635.8 million, including $257.1 million in its general fund, that’s available for public review before being voted on Nov. 26 by the county board.
The balanced spending plan goes into effect Dec. 1 and includes $500,000 to fight food insecurity, $350,000 for mental health and substance use care, and $1.8 million for county board member initiatives, a county news release said.
There also is additional funding for the sheriff’s office, state’s attorney’s office and public defender. The budget provides funds to double the number of prosecutors available to handle cases involving child abuse and neglect, the release said.
About $151.9 million is earmarked for capital projects, including a multiyear plan to build a new maintenance garage and fueling station for the Division of Transportation, repairing water and sewer lines, renovating the DuPage Care Center, completing the Animal Services expansion, and funding stormwater and road construction projects.
The budget includes a $71 million property tax levy to capture new construction being added to the tax rolls without raising the property tax rate, the release said.
Residents can provide feedback on the plan at www.dupagecounty.gov.
FEMA teams to meet with residents impacted by July storms
Federal Emergency Management Agency teams will go door-to-door to help residents who were affected by the severe weather that came through Will County, including Naperville, between July 13 and 16.
The National Weather Service confirmed 48 tornadoes across Illinois, including one rated EF-1 in Naperville. Peak winds reached about 100 miles per hour near Oswego but were in the 70- to 80-mph range when it traveled through Naperville, the weather service has said.
FEMA is prioritizing areas that had heavier levels of damage, including Elwood, Joliet, Manhattan and Shorewood, the Will County Executive’s Office said in a news release. After that, FEMA will begin outreach in other areas, including the Knoch Knolls area of Naperville, which received high levels of property damage.
Representatives will not ask for or accept money when they visit, the release said. They will be wearing a FEMA badge with a photograph. Residents are encouraged to ask for identification before providing any personal information. They also can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify that the visit is legitimate.
Homeowners and renters who experienced underinsured disaster-related loss from the severe weather event do not need to wait for door-to-door assistance to apply for assistance. Applications are available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling the helpline or by using the FEMA app.
Naperville dental center offering free services on Nov. 1
Premier Dental Center will be offering free dental work as part of Free Dentistry Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at its 309 W. Ogden Ave. office.
Patients will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis to receive a free cleaning, filling or extraction. The event is open to anyone in need of dental care, a news release said.
Free Dentistry Day is a nationwide event in which thousands of dentists give back to their communities by offering easily accessible dental care. Nearly 4,400 patients were treated last year.
For questions, call 630-355-3339. For more information, go to www.freedentistryday.org.
KidsMatter to honor Tom Miers at upcoming fundraising gala
KidsMatter will honor community leader Tom Miers at its upcoming “Field of Dreams” Empower Gala from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at the Matrix, 808 S. Route 59, Naperville.
Miers, who recently retired as president of Naperville Bank & Trust, sits on several community boards, including the Naperville YMCA, North Central College, Naperville Development Partnership, Naperville Police Foundation, Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise and the advisory board for KidsMatter.
The event will include a reception, dinner, entertainment, live auction, paddle raise and dancing. Tickets are $175.
Ryan Chiaverini, sports anchor at ABC7 Chicago and co-host of “Windy City Live,” will serve as master of ceremonies. Special guest is baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson, a former Chicago Cub.
Proceeds benefit KidsMatter’s work to empower youth in DuPage, Kane and Will counties, organizers said.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go to kidsmatter2us.org/empower.
