ALERT! Beware of scammers
Beware of phone, e-mail and Internet scams. Never, never give your password, credit card number or social security number to an unknown caller over the telephone or via e-mail. No matter how convincing a professional scammer might seem, never give any personal information to someone you don’t know at any time.
Reports of scammers with official-sounding “Naperville” business names are growing. To be safe, say “NO!” to all solicitors.
In addition, the Naperville Fire Department is mindful that a company calling itself Naperville Fire Safety LLC has been soliciting fire safety services. The company is not affiliated with the NPD or the city.
If an individual calls or comes to your door from any company attempting to represent the NPD or the city, contact (630) 420-6142.
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Center for Lifelong Learning offers classes for adult learners
Benedictine University’s Center for Lifelong Learning offers adult noncredit classes, with no papers, tests, or grades, for adult learners age 50 plus at the Moser Center in Naperville, 1832 Centre Point Circle Ste. 102, just off Diehl Rd.
Most classes meet for 90 minutes, once per week for four to six weeks. The average cost is $50/total. For more information, visit www.ben.edu/CLL or call (630) 829-1384.
DuPage County and The Conservation Foundation Host the DuPage Energy Summit
The DuPage Green Government Council and The Conservation Foundation will host the 2014 DuPage Energy Summit, “Making DuPage a Cool County: A Plan for Energy and Economic Stability,” Thurs, Jan. 23.
DuPage County, with County Board Chairman Dan Cronin’s leadership, is developing a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction program with the goal of reducing GHG emissions 10 percent by 2020 and 20 percent by 2030 from 2007 levels. In August 2013, Chairman Cronin created the DuPage Green Government Council to develop a strategy to meet these goals.
The DuPage Energy Summit is an opportunity to discuss with those representatives and other community members how the County can, through collaboration, reduce GHG emissions and improve the quality of life in DuPage County. Speakers will present specific, local success stories about reducing vehicle miles traveled, increasing energy efficiency at various scales and gaining funding.
The free summit is open to the public and will be from noon to 5PM at Hotel Arista, 2139 CityGate Lane in Naperville. It is especially intended for local municipalities, businesses, school districts, hotels, retailers and representatives from manufacturing and industrial sectors. To see the agenda and register, visit www.theconservationfoundation.org.
Edward-Elmhurst offers online test to determine risk for anxiety disorders
Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare has added AnxietyAware to its menu of online assessments to help people determine if they’re at risk for one of the most common mental illnesses in the U.S. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults age 18 and older, but only about one-third of those receive treatment.
Anxiety disorders also include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias and panic disorder.
AnxietyAware, www.edward.org/anxietyaware, is a free, five-minute online screening to help identify a person’s risk of an anxiety disorder. A mental health professional at Linden Oaks at Edward reviews the confidential questionnaire and responds with a personalized assessment and recommendations about next steps.
If a person’s assessment indicates a heightened risk of anxiety disorder, they’ll receive a call within 24 hours from a Linden Oaks clinician who will offer a free mental health assessment. If contact information is not submitted, a phone number at Linden Oaks is provided so a person can schedule a free assessment.
The Linden Oaks Anxiety Program offers a full range of treatments for anxiety disorders, including separate Intensive Outpatient Programs for adults and adolescents and a Partial Hospitalization Program for adults. The programs include individual, group and family therapy. For more info, visit www.edward.org/anxiety.
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ESLP offers free GED and career training
The Early School Leaver Program (ESLP) is a unique program offering free GED preparation, workplace skill-building, and specific career training for DuPage residents aged 17-21. The Early School Leaver program is funded by the Workforce Development Division of DuPage County (Workforce Investment Act). For more information or to register, call (630) 691-7577.
German language church service
German church services will be held at St. John United Church of Christ at 11:30AM on Sun., Feb. 2. The service will be led by Pastor Egon Gerdes, and all are welcome to attend.
St. John UCC is located at 1190 Olesen Drive in Naperville. German services are held on the first Sunday of each month and will continue on March 2. For more info, call (630) 355-5208.
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Visit Veterans, play Bingo
Every month from September to June on the second Tuesday, a motorcoach departs at 6:15PM from the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 and American Legion Post 43, 908 W. Jackson Ave. with folks eager to spread good cheer to veterans receiving treatment at Hines VA Hospital in Maywood.
The public is welcome to help fill the motorcoach again on Tues., Jan. 14.
For more information about visiting Hines V.A. Hospital, call organizer John Shaw at (630) 961-3479, Mike Barbour at (630) 240-1645 or Jan Barbour at (630) 247-9007.
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Serendipity Shop seeks donations year-round
The Serendipity Resale Shop is a volunteer-run shop, located at 12 W. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville.
Donations of clean, gently-used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing of all sizes are welcome. Donors are asked not to include items that are stained or torn. The resale shop is in need of linens and home decorating items, such as lamps, dishes and clocks as well as household items, jewelry and collectibles.
Donations may be dropped off anytime during regular hours. For information, call Serendipity at (630) 357-3610.
New barbers on Webster St.
Master barbers Otto Miller and Brinda Hyatt recently opened a new barbershop at 116 S. Webster St. in downtown Naperville specializing in traditional cuts with a modern touch. Webster St. Barbers is at the northern end of the blue cottage building on the first level with ample parking available nearby in the Paw Paw lot.
Miller and Hyatt each offer 30 plus years expertise and quality service. Men’s and children’s haircuts are $13 and traditional straight razor shaves are $25. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 9AM – 6PM and Saturday 8AM – 5PM. For more info, call (630) 778-9870.
12 authors to be featured in Naperville READS 2014
Local educators, librarians, Anderson’s Bookshop and HarperCollins Publishers will launch Naperville READS 2014, a community-wide reading initiative featuring 12 middle-grade authors from the Class Acts literacy program from Feb. 3-6.
Author presentations and activities tied to the city-wide program will provide opportunities for more than 9,000 local young readers to share their reading experiences.
Naperville READS 2014 will celebrate the authors Peter Lerangis, Tim Green, Soman Chainani, Tom Watson, Christopher Krovatin, Caroline Carlson, Kevin Emerson, Nils Johnson-Shelton, Jeramey Kraatz, Jenny Lee, Chris Rylander, and John Kloepfer. Together as part of the Class Acts program, these 12 authors will visit fourth and fifth grade students in School Districts 203 and 204 for pep-rally style presentations promoting the love of reading. During the Class Acts presentation, classes will be matched with a particular author and assigned to that author’s team. The student participation fuels an interactive author vs. author competition and HarperCollins will supply a set of Class Acts books for each school.
Two free public events will take place at 7PM on Wed., Feb. 5 and 7PM Thurs., Feb. 6 at Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave. Community members will get an opportunity to meet the authors and have their books signed.
Participants can get up-to-date on Naperville READS events via www.napervillereads.org.
DuPagePads’ Online Volunteer Training begins this month
For the first time in the 28-year history of DuPagePads, volunteers will be able to complete a web-based program training program at their own convenience. This volunteer training program was made possible as a result of a grant from the Spirit of Volunteerism Fund of The DuPage Community Foundation.
Beginning this month, volunteers will be able to log into the DuPagePads website and learn about the agency mission to end homelessness, programs and services provided, best practices in risk management, volunteer roles and responsibilities and more. The $30,000 grant was one of three awarded May 8, 2013, at Volapalooza: A Celebration of Volunteerism at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College.
“We know that we could not provide all of our services without the tremendous support of our volunteers. The information and skills learned in the training modules will empower volunteers and give them the tools they need to be confident and successful while providing flexibility to complete the training at a convenient time for them,” noted Carol Simler, DuPagePads’ Executive Director, in a news release.
As a result of the grant, training materials will be available on the DuPagePads website for all registered volunteers. “Through educating volunteers about homelessness and appropriate responses, the overnight sites become safer and the community is more knowledgeable about the challenges program participants face and the resources available to them. We are grateful for the support of The DuPage Community Foundation to educate our volunteers with this formal online training,” Carol Simler said.
For more info call (630) 682-3846 or visit www.dupagepads.org.
Help change someone’s future by becoming a literacy tutor
Become an adult literacy tutor today. Literacy DuPage is a nonprofit, community‑based organization that provides accessible and customized tutoring for adults.
These tutor training sessions will prepare you to tutor other adults so that they can read, write, speak, and understand English. Plan to attend all 6 sessions: January 16, 20, 23, 27, 30, and February 13 at the Nichols Library from 1 – 4PM.
There is a $25 fee to help cover the cost of materials. No teaching background or second language is required. For more information or to register, refer to Literacy DuPage’s website www.literacyvolunteersdupage.org or call (630) 416-6699.
200 new Illinois laws now in effect
More than 200 new laws took effect on January 1, 2014, including measures developing the rules and regulations associated with the state’s new medical marijuana law. Many motorists likely will be pleased to learn the state speed limit will soon increase to 70 miles per hour on most Illinois interstates.
Effective Jan. 1, 2014 drivers are prohibited from using hand-held devices and cellphones while driving. House Bill 1247 stipulates that Illinois residents will no longer be allowed to talk on cellphones when driving, unless using hands-free technology. Texting already is prohibited.
Beginning Jan. 5, 2014, firearms owners in Illinois can apply for a license to carry a concealed gun. Note, a license is required to own a firearm. The Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) identifies 25 areas where concealed firearms are prohibited. Under the new law, most government buildings and schools will still not allow concealed weapons to be carried on the premises, but that’s not the case for private buildings or businesses. The law requires schools and government buildings to post a sign provided by the Illinois State Police that states the carrying of firearms into the building is prohibited.
PN aims to promote public safety around the clock. Pay attention, be prepared and stay alert.
19th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at Benedictine University
Timothy W. Goodly, Ph.D., senior vice president of human resources for CNN Worldwide, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Inc., will be the featured speaker at the 19th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast hosted by Benedictine University and College of DuPage (COD) on Monday, January 20.
The breakfast will be held from 8-9:30AM on the second floor of the Krasa Student Center at Benedictine University, named the fastest-growing university in the country by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Goodly will present “Invoking the Hero in Each of Us,” followed by breakout sessions centered on the theme of “Living Together” led by William J. Carroll, Ph.D., president of Benedictine University, and Joseph E. Collins, Ph.D., executive vice president at COD.
The King Breakfast, which honors the legacy of the civil rights leader and celebrates diversity, is one of the largest events of its kind in the state. More than 500 community leaders and citizens attend annually. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund at Benedictine and COD.
For more info, and tickets, call the McAninch Arts Center at (630) 942-4000 or visit www.cod.edu/MLK. Tickets are $25 each.
