Articles filed under Kane County Forest Preserve District

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League of Women Voters again slams Kane forest districtNov 5, 2013 12:00 AM
The Elgin area League of Women Voters issued a report this week criticizing Kane County Forest Preserve District commissioners for drifting away from their mission to preserve open space by pursuing revenue-generating recreation outlets for area residents. The study is also critical of the handling of the Brunner Forest Preserve opening and revives tension about possible gravel mining at the site. The chapter president said she may have a tough time supporting future district tax increases if the pattern doesn’t change.
Kane Co. forest district hires company dumped by county Oct 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Kane County Forest Preserve District officials have hired a company once shunned by the county for its political connections to former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. Forest preserve commissioners unanimously agreed this week to contract with Progressive Energy Group for one year. The company’s job is to package the various electricity and gas accounts among the district various suppliers and get a cheaper rate for the district.
Kane County forest commissioners decry budget shifting but give preliminary approval Oct 4, 2013 12:00 AM
Kane County Forest Preserve commissioners decried a budgetary shell game at both the county and the forest preserve district Friday, but gave the budget a preliminary OK, anyway. The forest district will use a $150,000 riverboat grant for one-time construction projects. "We need to be following sound policies with how these funds are used. Our use of the riverboat fund is not sound,” Commissioner Mike Donahue said.
Creepy creatures: Myths and truths about spiders, bats and snakes Oct 4, 2013 12:00 AM
Spiders, snakes, bats and other animals of ill-repute are everywhere this month. In real life, they’re way cooler than their Halloween personas, and their presence is a plus in our lives. The autumn holiday will come and go, yet these silent creatures will continue to creep and crawl and slither and flutter all year long.
Latest Kane budget plan bails out forest preserveOct 2, 2013 12:00 AM
Few obstacles remain to approval of Kane County's 2014 budget as finance staff seemed to convince board members Wednesday they will be in good position on pension payments despite a reduced tax levy. The regular pension payment will still be made.
Historic harvests recreated in fall festivals Oct 2, 2013 12:00 AM
The Fox Valley has a rich agricultural heritage. Several festivals this weekend allow visitors to experience a taste of what fall harvest time was like in days past.
70 people give back to Mother Nature in Schweitzer Woods Sep 28, 2013 12:00 AM
Nearly 600 trees found a new home Saturday at the Schweitzer Woods Forest Preserve near West Dundee, thanks to a host of volunteers who came out for National Public Lands Day. Seventy people spent the late morning and early afternoon planting seedlings and sappings that will later grow into Burr Oak, red oak and hills oak trees. “We’re out here, we’re having fun and we’re helping the community,” said Marissa Foster.
Campton Prairie Fest aims for old fashioned funSep 18, 2013 12:00 AM
Campton Township will host ITS 7th annual Prairie Fest Saturday at Corron Farm in Campton Hills. The fest will have the usual attractions of hayrides, storytellers, live music and refreshments, but the Corron Farm Preservation Society also wants to get opinions on what should be done with an 1875 barn that has roof and structural issues.
Red oaks: Where and how they grow Sep 15, 2013 12:00 AM
Did you know that black oaks are part of the red oak group? In this column we’ll take a look at the red oak group — who they are, where they grow, and what the future holds for islands of oak groves in a sea of suburbia.
Photojournalism inspires Batavia artist Sep 12, 2013 12:00 AM
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that's true, Daily Herald photojournalist Laura Stoecker should feel honored by the work of Janine Webbles. The Batavia resident enjoys Stoecker's nature photography so much, she's created some paintings inspired by Stoecker's photos, including one she named "Laura's Barn."
Kane County forest preserve district to delay tax hike vote Sep 11, 2013 12:00 AM
Kane County Forest Preserve officials agreed to delay a vote that would've raised the district's property tax levy by about 83 cents for the average homeowner Tuesday. The delay will allow exploration of other options that would pull in the $150,000 the tax increase would generate. The most likely target will be seeking a riverboat gambling funds grant from the county. However, county board members have been trying to move away from funding operations with that dwindling pool of money.
Kane Co. Forest Preserve officials to vote on property tax increaseSep 7, 2013 12:00 AM
Kane County Forest Preserve District commissioners are poised to vote on a new budget that will raise local property taxes by about 83 cents for the owner of a home worth $225,000. While the amount is small, it comes during a time of big pledges at the county level to keep the property tax levy flat. Fans of the increase, which will fund raises for staff, said the spending increase is minimal compared to what is being proposed at the county with or without the levy jumping.
Leaf peepers: Clues to help identify white oaks Aug 19, 2013 12:00 AM
“There were many splendid oaks,” wrote John S. Wilcox in 1906, describing Kane County at the time of European settlement. These magnificent trees included white oaks, red oaks, black oaks and bur oaks. There were swamp white oaks and chinkapin oaks, Hill’s oaks and shingle oaks, too. Although oaks are in serious decline, these species can still be found in Kane County.
Public invited to ribbon-cutting, picnic at Big Rock Campground Aug 7, 2013 12:00 AM
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Big Rock Campground will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17. The public is invited to the “Picnic at Big Rock Campground.” Camping will be free that day.
Find out why oaks are endangered and how to help preserve them Jul 29, 2013 12:00 AM
The oak tree was once hailed as king of the forest. People called it magnificent, majestic and mighty. But that was then. Now, the oak no longer reigns supreme. As a group, oaks are in serious decline. As ecological communities, oak woodlands are imperiled.
Bow hunting to expand this fall in Kane County Jul 26, 2013 12:00 AM
Bow hunters will benefit from an expanded deer management program in the Kane County forest preserves this fall. But fans of the deer, who have long decried the state's annual culling program, say it's gotten to the point where forest preserve officials care way more about plants than deer. “Four, five years ago there were dozens of deer all the time,” said Bill Siers of the North Rutland Deer Alliance. “Now, go take a look. They are all gone."
Free wood chips offered in Kane County Jul 24, 2013 12:00 AM
If you’re still looking for wood chips for landscaping, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County will once more offer them free to the public. Wood chips will be available for pickup Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28 at Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin.
Learn how the land in Illinois has changedJul 8, 2013 12:00 AM
Learn about the fascinating cultural and natural heritage of Illinois in a July 18 “Learn from the Experts” program, “Voices of the Land” in Geneva. Author Joel Greenberg tells that story of change through the words of those who were here: visitors, settlers, naturalists, hunters, poets, journalists and others.
Creek Bend Nature Center to hold learning program on butterflies Jun 20, 2013 12:00 AM
Learn identification and ecology of native butterflies at Creek Bend Nature Center on Saturday, June 29, with the Kane County Forest Preserve District. The program will begin with an introduction indoors, and then participants will head outdoors to find butterflies in various habitats.
Group bike ride planned on Great Western Trail Jun 17, 2013 12:00 AM
Enjoy the sights and sounds of summer with a leisurely bike ride along the Great Western Trail on Saturday, June 22, as part of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County's Nature Network.