Above / March 12, 2021, was the 109th birthday of the Girl Scouts, marking the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization in Savannah, Georgia. From now through March 21, look for Girl Scout Cookie Booth Sales when local Girl Scouts set up at retail destinations throughout town. Last weekend booths were set up at Anderson’s Bookshop and Barnes & Noble in downtown Naperville. All varieties of cookies are $5. If cookies are not on your diet, donations will be accepted to send Girl Scout Cookies to men and women serving in the military. Thanks.

Updated, March 13, 2021 / Events that have passed this week have been eliminated from this page originally posted on March 8, 2021. Thanks for reading.

Consider a few briefs…

Patio openings spring up before spring officially begins March 20

Though all the spring plantings may not yet be in place, Mesón Sabika opened its patio for lunch, Mon., March 8, and will continue, weather permitting. To reserve a spot indoors or outdoors, call (630) 983-3000. Reservations for Easter Sunday, April 4, also are being accepted while available. Mesón Sabika is located at 1025 Aurora Avenue. Cheers! 

Note also that the patio at Quigley’s Irish Pub, located at 43 E. Jefferson Avenue in another historic mansion, has remained open all year, offering outdoor dining and take-out to-go. During Lent, Quigley’s signature Fish & Chips continues to be a popular menu item. And plenty will be happening on Sat., March 13, and on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. All in-person indoor reservations have been booked for March 13 and March 17, 2021. Patio seating is limited on first come/first serve basis. Curbside take-out is available every day at (630) 428-4774. All local protocols apply, including a mask upon entry. Sláinte!

Dine Naperville continues to promote tastes from fast casual to fancy dining at nearly 300 eateries. Discover plenty of choices for take out to whet every appetite and pocketbook. 

West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Parade plans to return in 2022

Remember that the WSI St. Patrick’s Parade again is canceled with high hopes of returning in 2022. For other ways members of the West Suburban Irish are spreading good luck and good health to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day here and in Ireland, visit www.wsirish.org.

Looking forward in 2021… According to WSI member Cynthia Cieckiewicz, club publicist and owner of Uptown Soda Bread, plans are being made for Irish Fest in Frontier Park the first weekend in August 2021. The first-time event is supported, in part, by the Special Events and Cultural Amenities (SECA) Fund via approval by the Naperville City Council.

Also, all month long, participants can enter the “virtual” St. Paddy’s Day 5K hosted by the Rotary Club of Naperville/Sunrise. Proceeds will benefit KidsMatter, 360 Youth Services and Teen-Parent Connection. Put on the green! 

American Legion Post 43 will honor healthcare workers

An Award Presentation and Recognition Dinner will be held on Sat., March 20, 2021, in the banquet hall at the Judd Kendall VFW Post in Naperville when the American Legion Post 43 resumes its monthly dinners. According to Junior Vice Commander Nadia Rios of the Naperville American Legion Post 43, the dinner will honor health care workers from Naperville and Lisle who have sacrificed this past year in the fight against COVID-19.

Social hour begins at 6PM, program begins at 6:45PM, and catered “Irish” dinner at 7PM. The cost of the dinner remains the same at $14 per person, $7 for kids 7-14, and children 6 and under free. Reserve a spot (limited 50 reservations) by Wed., March 17, 2021. RSVP to Rios at rios.nadia@gmail.com or via text at (630) 728-7519. 

All local protocols will be followed. Think springtime on March 20!

Family events for a cause

Save Sat., March 13, for Virtual Prayer Service ‘The Power of Prayer-Seeking God’s Peace’… Knox Presbyterian Church is set to host an interactive prayer service on Zoom at 6PM Sat., March 13. Pastor Pat Smith and Pastor Cindy Karis will lead Knox members and the surrounding community in a service to reflect on one year of remote life. Prayers will be said for personal losses and to give thanks, celebrating ways God has provided even in dark days. For information and for participants to sign up, visit knoxpres.org. 

Save Sun., March 14, to begin Daylight Saving Time at 2AM!

Save Sun., March 14, for Cross District Rally to Reopen Schools… Plans include a walk from Webster Street and Douglas Avenue to the Free Speech Pavilion. Accordingly, Naperville Park District has issued a permit for a rally at the Naperville Riverwalk at 11AM on Sun., March 14. The event titled the “Cross District Rally to Reopen” is planned by a group of citizens from several area school districts.

The Park District sent a news release to inform the community that this event is taking place. The permit requires that the activities will be in accordance with the Park District’s Ordinance 641 and in compliance with state and federal law. One of the requirements is that the group must not block streets or access to the Riverwalk.

Plans for the rally include a walk from the corner of Webster Street and Douglas Avenue to the Free Speech Pavilion at the Riverwalk, located on Jackson Avenue across from Nichols Library. 

Follow all local protocols for public safety.

Save Sun., March 14, to watch “Home Is Where the Magic Is,” a virtual and magical benefit for Hesed House. Justin Willman will perform at 4PM Sun., March 14. For info, visit www.magic21.givesmart.com.

Moving right along… Thanks for shopping, banking and dining locally whenever possible. 

Dine Naperville continues to promote tastes from fast casual to fancy dining at nearly 300 eateries. Discover plenty of choices for take out to whet every appetite and pocketbook. 

Kindness is what we need…

And in case you’ve missed this granite marker along the Naperville Riverwalk, let us post another photo, a springtime shot from 2019.  Always consider that a little kindness is what we need.

For everything about downtown Naperville shopping, dining, entertaining and safety protocols, visit www.downtownnaperville.com.

Watch for sunny skies! Breathe a little fresh air every day.

Venture to learn about Naperville’s rich history at Naper Settlement. Winter hours through March 31 are 10AM to 4PM Tuesday – Friday. Currently, the museum is closed Sunday, Monday and Saturday. Find stories about the city’s early beginnings, rapid growth and more recent development at Naper Settlement. General admission tickets are $5 for adults (13+), seniors (62+), and youth (4-12). Admission is free for Naper Settlement members, Naperville residents, and children under 4 years old.

Our past gives richness to our present. Thanks for taking note of Naperville libraries, Naperville YMCAs, Centennial Beach, Naper Settlement, Naperville Riverwalk and the DuPage Children’s Museum, creating volumes of stories that built this city. Consider how volunteers have teamed up with generous donors to contribute to Naperville’s can-do spirit every day. Consider all the treasured photos that have been taken along the Riverwalk since 1981!

One more thing… The 2021 Consolidated Election is April 6…

Early in-person voting for the 2021 Consolidated Election begins March 22. A large number of meet and greet events, both live and via virtual remote opportunities, are featured at this link to assist voters who wish to get to know candidates running in the 2021 Consolidated Election to serve Naperville.

Watch how local governing bodies work…

Mon., March 15, 2021…This week Naperville School District 203 Board of Education meets at 7PM Mon., March 15.

PN urges voters to watch their elected officials in session before casting a ballot, mindful of empty seats on all local boards that need to be filled with qualified and dedicated newcomers. All candidates seek one of four 4-year terms on Naperville’s elected bodies. (For the first time in many years, open seats are available on all governing bodies because of retiring incumbents.)

Tues., March 16, 2021… Naperville City Council meets at 7PM Tues., March 16, 2021. For now, to keep City business moving forward, City Council meetings are held virtually. (In PN’s view, all important votes and hearings on decisions that attract resident input need to be addressed eyeball to eyeball in public in City Council Chambers and before 11PM. Here’s hoping Council Chambers will reopen soon as important agenda items are addressed that impact the community.)

FYI: Click here to get to know about the City’s upcoming meetings via webinars as well as this next week’s current schedule with agendas. Also find procedures to address City Council with public comment. Note that all nine members of the city council recently voted to stop having written comments read out-loud by City staff during council meetings, a policy started during virtual meetings held because of the pandemic and safety protocols. Those written comments, we hope, will continue to be copied via email directly to all nine City Council members of which the Mayor is one. We also hope Council members who read emails will share constituent views with the tuned-in public. This link on the City’s website also features the past-meeting archive available for viewing in the future.

(We must admit, this link is the one we use most on the City’s website in order to pay attention to new developments. Check out “Upcoming Events” and “Archived Events.”)

Wed., March 17, 2021… Naperville Planning & Zoning Commission at 7PM Wed., March 17. For now, to keep plans moving forward, important city meetings are held virtually. Note that the City Council’s adopted resolution for public written comments indicates that Naperville Boards and Commissions may establish their own rules for public participation for their meetings. PZC has the item on its agenda along with new and old business.

FYI: Click here also to find current procedures to address PZC with public comment as well as the March 17, 2021, meeting agenda. (We’ve said it before, this link with meeting schedules and agendas as well as an archive of past meetings to review or view afterward is the one we use most on the City’s website in order to pay attention to new developments.)

Thanks for considering it takes a little time to be an informed voter…

Thirty-seven unedited candidate profiles and photos also are featured at PN’s Voters and Election Guide on this website. Other profiles with Q&A have been put together by other established local media and organizations. Thanks for taking time to be an educated Naperville voter before heading to the polls.

Thanks also for reading PN’s “Get to know candidates” page that features upcoming forums as well as “Meet and Greet” events, some virtual and some live!