Copyright 2013 Daily Herald, Paddock Publications, Inc. http://www.dailyherald.com/community/naperville/ en-us Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:41:15 -0400 http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130618/news/706189813/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130618/news/706189813/ Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:01:11 -0400 Kindergarten will last longer next fall for more than 500 students in Naperville Unit District 203. Board members voted unanimously Monday to approve a 2013-14 budget that, among other things, provides funding to switch to all-day kindergarten at seven of the district's 14 elementary schools. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179891/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179891/ Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:21:40 -0400 After a 40-year career with Illinois Bell and Ameritech and a decade of involvement with the Naperville Heritage Society, Mike Krol now is serving as the interim president and CEO of Naper Settlement. In his new position, he'll develop community partnerships, work on a succession plan, continue fundraising efforts and move forward with the capital campaign. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179772/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179772/ Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:42:27 -0400 A project aiming to increase the reliability of the water distribution system in downtown Naperville began Monday and is expected to last until September, city officials said. Crews began staging equipment for a $471,000 water main improvement project along 5th Avenue and Columbia Street in advance of construction scheduled to start Wednesday, spokeswoman Linda LaCloche said. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/entlife/706139976/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/entlife/706139976/ Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:23:11 -0400 The new Superman reboot "Man of Steel" opens today and prominently features the Northwest suburbs of Oswego, Naperville, Aurora, Sugar Grove, Plano and Sandwich, all playing parts of Clark Kent's hometown of Smallville. Clark Kent meets Lois Lane at the IHOP on Augusta Way in Aurora. A tornado touches down in Sugar Grove. A school bus careens off a bridge in LaSalle County. And more! http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130618/entlife/706189971/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130618/entlife/706189971/ Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:21:54 -0400 Naper Nights return this weekend at Naper Settlement with rock tribute bands American English (playing music of the Beatles on Friday) and Heartache Tonight (playing music of The Eagles on Saturday) in Naperville. Fans of comic books, cartoons and graphic novels won't want to miss Mighty Con at Pheasant Run in St. Charles. Plus, the Filipino Kingz of Comedy takes the stage at The Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130618/business/706189893/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130618/business/706189893/ Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:41:31 -0400 Sikich LLP said it will merge with Brookfield, Wis.-based public accounting and consulting firm Kolb+Co. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179860/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179860/ Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:31:58 -0400 This edition of The Week in Pictures features kids playing outside, adults playing outside, and dogs playing outside. People ran in races, paddled on rivers, and played in local parks. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179951/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179951/ Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:29:47 -0400 A bridge is the next frontier for RiverEdge Park in Aurora. The new park, fresh off its grand opening weekend, is meant to revitalize downtown Aurora and the city's Fox River shorelines. Leaders say the next step toward that goal is building a bridge to carry walkers and bikers between the west side of the river and the concert venue and transportation hub on the east. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179957/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130617/news/706179957/ Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:30:18 -0400 Hollywood Casino has been floating on the Fox River in Aurora for 20 years, spanning at least two major pushes to revitalize the downtown of Illinois' second-largest city. The casino has brought $238.7 million in tax revenue to Aurora since it opened June 17, 1993. "There's no question that the revenue infusion that's come to Aurora from the casino is very significant," Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130615/news/706159858/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130615/news/706159858/ Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:39:31 -0400 Elva Rodriguez donned a new black T-shirt with enthusiasm Saturday as she moved back into her apartment at the Towers at Four Lakes in Lisle for the first time after a nearly two-month exile caused by the April floods. "There's no place like HOME," the shirt read. "It really did feel like it was home," Rodriguez said. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130615/news/706159913/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130615/news/706159913/ Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:27:23 -0400 "Beautiful" was a common word Friday night as Aurora's RiverEdge Park hosted its grand opening for Blues on the Fox. The night was relaxing for thousands of guests, but stressful for a couple hundred staff members working behind the scenes. "We have an amazing system we need to tweak into place," operations leader Jeremy Gehman said. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130614/news/706149642/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130614/news/706149642/ Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:36:43 -0400 A state appellate court on Friday voided a 35-year prison sentence for a man who pleaded guilty to killing a woman in Aurora in 2005. Gareng Deng, now 21, was 17 when he accepted a plea agreement with Kane County prosecutors for the Oct. 31, 2005, murder of 47-year-old Marilyn Bethell of Aurora. On Friday, the Second District Illinois Appellate Court overturned a circuit court ruling, allowing the case to go back to that court where Deng can enter a new plea. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139698/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139698/ Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:05:48 -0400 Lee R. Patterson III acknowledged the forgiveness shown by the mother of the 22-year-old woman he killed while driving drunk 20 months ago in North Aurora. "Whether I walk out of the courtroom today or I go to prison, that's the best grace I've been given in my entire life," Patterson said in the second day of an emotional sentencing hearing during which he repeatedly apologized to the family of Doreen Cardenas. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139746/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139746/ Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:51:50 -0400 A federal jury awarded an Aurora man $50,000 as part of a civil rights lawsuit against an Aurora police officer. The jury ruled Kurt Kopek had been a victim of excessive force, false arrest and malicious prosecution stemming from his 2008 arrest. The jury's ruling allows the city to cover $35,000 of the damages awarded Kopek, but Detective Edgar Gallardo is responsible for the remaining $15,000. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139750/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139750/ Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:48:48 -0400 It is no surprise recent Wheaton North graduate Johnny Peltz received an award for athletic achievement. In his family, athletic achievement is par for the course. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139838/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139838/ Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:11:00 -0400 A lightning strike has not been ruled out as the cause of a house fire Wednesday night in Aurora, authorities said Thursday. The fire began just before 9 p.m. at a two-story single-family home on the 2100 block of Schoolhouse Lane on the city's west side, according to Aurora spokesman Dan Ferrelli. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139972/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130613/news/706139972/ Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:26:28 -0400 Emotions are running high as residents of the Towers at Four Lakes apartments in Lisle prepare to move into their homes Saturday for the first time since flooding inundated the area April 18. Towers resident Debra Schulz said she and her 15-year-old daughter, Haleigh, are "thrilled" to return to their eighth-floor home after the "humbling" and "stressful" experience of being away for almost two months. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130612/news/705239576/ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130612/news/705239576/ Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:46:07 -0400 As the park designed to revitalize downtown Aurora's Fox River waterfront comes to life, the festival that brings major blues artists to town is coming home. RiverEdge Park officially opens at 6 p.m. Friday, June 14, for the Blues on the Fox festival, featuring JJ Grey & Mofro opening for Dr. John. "I think it's a perfect way to kick off what's going to take place," said Jim Jarvis. "It's kind of a homecoming for Blues on the Fox."