Articles filed under North Aurora

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  Learn about invasive pests at workshop Jan 18, 2015 4:24 PM
  Submitted by University of Illinois Extension The University of Illinois Extension will offer “First Detector: Invasive Pests Workshop” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Cantigny Park and Museum in Wheaton. The Illinois First Detector Workshops are aimed at improving first detector training and invasive species awareness.
  

   
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  Waterleaf to Host Hall and Walt Wine Dinner on Feb. 12 Jan 16, 2015 5:12 PM
  COD News Bureau Waterleaf Restaurant in Glen Ellyn will host an exclusive Hall and Walt Wine dinner on Thursday, Feb. 12. “In the cold of a Chicago winter, we invite guests to Waterleaf to taste of the sunshine of California’s Napa Valley and Sonoma County,” said Waterleaf General Manager Jean-Pierre Leroux. “This exclusive evening features a delicious menu complemented by the wonderful wines of this distinctive Pacific Coast winery.” Following a reception at 6:30 p.m. featuring 2013 Hall Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, the first course includes Seared Scallops, fig caponata, preserved meyer lemon and grapefruit-melon sabayon paired with 2012 Walt Chardonnay, La Brisa, Sonoma County. The second course offers Lamb’s Lettuce with strawberries, brie, binoche, hazelnuts and raspberry vinaigrette paired with 2012 Walt Pinot Noir, La Brisa, Sonoma County. The third course features Coffee Crusted Beef Short Rib with glazed baby carrots, crisp shallots and coffee scented just paired with 2011 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley. The fourth course includes Artisanal cheeses and toast points with marmalade paired with 2011 Hall “Kathryn Hall” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley. The final course is Flourless Chocolate Cake with chocolate sorbet and morello cherries. The price of this exclusive four-course, five-wine dinner is $80 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required for this event. To make a reservation for this exclusive Hall and Walt wine dinner at Waterleaf, call (630) 942-6881. Based in Sonoma, California, Hall and Walt Winery specializes in the production of artisan Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Owned by husband and wife team Craig Hall and Kathryn Walt Hall, the winery’s vineyards span nearly 1,000 miles in some of California’s most distinctive growing sites, including Anderson Valley, Sonoma County, Sta. Rita Hills and the Willamette Valley. The winery follows a philosophy of non-interventionist and organic farming practices winemaking that allows the wines to naturally reflect the character of the sites in which the grapes are grown. In addition, the winery uses hand and selective harvesting techniques that ensure only the cleanest and ripest fruit is used. In 2009, the winery became California’s first to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. Waterleaf, led by Leroux and Executive Chef Nadia Tilkian, is located on the College of DuPage campus in the Culinary & Hospitality Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn. Featuring moderately priced brunch, lunch and dinner options, the restaurant’s menu contains offerings developed with locally-sourced ingredients. The contemporary light-filled dining room has a modern décor and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a beautiful view of a scenic lake. Its walls display a collection of black-and-white lithographs by renowned American artist Richard Serra, and there is a cozy bar area to enjoy cocktails and light snacks. Waterleaf has earned Diner’s Choice Awards for Best Ambience, Best Overall, Best Service, Fit for Foodies and Special Occasion on OpenTable.com, where it maintains a 4.6/5.0 rating. Most recently, Waterleaf received its third consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. This award, given annually to restaurants in the U.S. and 65 countries worldwide, confirms that Waterleaf’s beverage program is consistent with its dining concept, style and price point. In addition, Waterleaf recently received a three-star “Excellent” review from Chicago Tribune’s renowned food critic Phil Vettel. For more information and to make reservations, call (630) 942-6881 or visit www.waterleafrestaurant.com.
  

   

• Classic Cinemas presents annual “Predict the Oscars” contest Jan 15, 2015 5:41 PM
  Bob Rakow The award season has begun, and Classic Cinemas has announced its annual “Predict the Oscars” contest for the 2015 Academy Awards competition! The nominees were announced on Jan. 15, and it’s time to pick your favorites to win.
  

   

• Sellers invited to join biannual Children’s Clothing and Toy Resale Jan 15, 2015 7:34 PM
  Alice Gustafson School PTO The Alice Gustafson School PTO will host its Bi-Annual Children's Clothing and Toy Resale March 13-14. The clothing and toy resale is a major fundraising event for the Alice Gustafson School PTO. Income from the sale will be used for educational programs, materials and equipment for the school’s students and staff.
  

   
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  Woodstock Theatre auditorium to be dedicated in honor of Harold Ramis Jan 15, 2015 6:17 PM
  Bob Rakow An auditorium at the Woodstock Theatre will be dedicated in honor of writer/director Harold Ramis at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, immediately prior to the showing of “Groundhog Day.” The 1993 film, which was directed by Ramis, will be shown at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, and Sunday, Feb. 1.
  

   
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  COD Testing Welcomes New Partnership Jan 16, 2015 5:24 PM
  COD News Bureau The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) recently admitted the National College Testing Association (NCTA) to its membership. “The Testing Centers at College of DuPage are dedicated to enhancing student success by providing comprehensive, accessible testing services,” said COD Coordinator of Specialized Testing Services Jarret Dyer. “All centers are committed to maintaining the highest compliance with NCTA’s Standards and Guidelines. As an institutional member of NCTA, the College is extremely pleased with this new partnership.” Founded 35 years ago as a consortium of 11 associations, CAS is dedicated to fostering and enhancing student learning, development and achievement. The organization creates and delivers standards, guidelines and self-assessment guides designed to lead to a host of quality programs and services. CAS membership currently comprises 41 professional organizations reflecting a wide range of student oriented functions across higher education. Members of the NCTA include testing professionals in post-secondary institutions and other professional testing venues, as well as companies with test-related products and services. The NCTA promotes professionalism and quality in the administration of testing services and programs, including issues related to test administration, test development, test scoring and assessment. Currently, the NCTA has more than 2,000 members, representing more than 60 post-secondary institutions and more than 40 corporations and certification agencies in the U.S. and Canada. College of DuPage Testing Centers are located in Glen Ellyn, Carol Stream, Naperville and Westmont. Click here for more information.
  

   

• COD to Host Scholar Visit Day on Feb. 3 Jan 16, 2015 5:25 PM
  COD News Bureau The College of DuPage office of Admissions and Outreach invites current high school students to Scholar Visit Day on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 5 p.m. in the Student Resource Center, Room 2000, on the College’s main campus in Glen Ellyn. This event is free and open to the public. “We are thrilled to offer current and prospective students the wonderful opportunity that scholarships can provide,” said COD Board Chair Erin Birt. “While COD is well-known for providing incredible value through top-notch academics at an affordable price, we are pleased with the opportunity to provide eligible students with some additional relief from the financial burden of earning a college education.” Aimed at 2015 high school graduates in College District 502 with a 3.80/4 or 4.75 grade point average or a composite ACT score of 27 or higher, this free session will offer information about scholarships that are available to College of DuPage students, including types of scholarships, qualifying standards and the application process. In addition, a tour of the College will precede the presentation. For more information and to RSVP, call (630) 942-3000 or email scholarvisit@cod.edu. Click here for more information on scholarships at College of DuPage.
  

   
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  COD’s Global Flicks Film Festival Begins Feb. 4 Jan 16, 2015 5:27 PM
  COD News Bureau Global Flicks, a festival of eight award-winning international films, will be presented on Wednesdays, Feb. 4 to March 25, in the Belushi Performance Hall of the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., in Glen Ellyn. Global Flicks is co-sponsored by the COD Field and Experiential Leading, Study Abroad and Global Education programs and the McAninch Arts Center. The films will be shown at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Films are shown in their original language with English subtitles, and each screening concludes with a moderated discussion of the film and its subject matter. Additionally, Waterleaf, the fine-dining restaurant at COD’s Glen Ellyn campus, will provide a pre-show themed prix fixe menu at 5 p.m. In addition, the College’s Continuing Education program will offer a themed lunch and casual film discussion at Wheat Café, the student-operated restaurant, at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, (“Waste Land”) and Wednesday, March 4 (“La Vita E Bella”). For more information, call the MAC Ticket Office at (630) 942-4000 or click here. “Omar” (Palestine) – Feb. 4 Directed by Hany Abu-Assad Academy Award Nominee 2014 for Best Foreign Language Film, “Omar” is a gripping thriller about betrayal, suspected and real, in the Occupied Territories. Omar is a Palestinian baker by day who climbs over the separation wall to visit his girl Nadja. By night, he risks his life with friends to strike at the Israeli military. Arrested after the killing of an Israeli soldier, Omar becomes an informant beginning a dangerous game. Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad has made a dynamic, action-packed drama about the insoluble moral dilemmas and choices facing those on the frontlines of a conflict that shows no sign of letting up. (97 min.) Vivir es facil con los ojos cerrados (Living is easy with eyes closed)” (Spain) – Feb. 11 Directed by David Trueba It is 1966 in Spain. English teacher and die-hard Beatles fan Antonio resolves to go on a road trip to Almería to meet John Lennon, who is shooting a film there. On the journey, he picks up two young runaways: Bethlehem – a pregnant girl fleeing a convent, and Juanjo – a boy escaping a dictatorial father. ‘Living is easy with eyes closed,’ from Lennon’s “Strawberry Fields Forever,” evokes the spirit of the 60s while reflecting on a time in Spanish history when dreams seemed impossible. (108 min.) “Waste Land” (Brazil) – Feb. 18 Directed by Lucy Walker Filmed over three years, “Waste Land” documents renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from Brooklyn, to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. He photographs an eclectic band of “catadores,” self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. With collaboration from these inspiring characters, Muniz creates photographic images using garbage that reveal the dignity and despair of the catadores, who begin to re-imagine their life. This documentary shows the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit. (99 min.) “Wadjda” (Saudi Arabia) – Feb. 25 Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour Wadjda, a 10-year old Saudi girl living in Riyadh, dreams of owing a green bicycle that she passes every day. She wants to race against Abdullah but riding bikes is frowned upon for girls and Wadjda’s mother refuses to buy the bike. Wadjda raises the money herself by entering a Koran competition at school. She wins, but is told that the money will instead be donated to Palestine on her behalf. This is the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first feature-length film by a female Saudi director. Wadjda presents a vivid window into a corner of the globe where cinema has been all but silenced. (98 min.) “La Vita e bella (Life is Beautiful)” (Italy) - March 4 Directed by Roberto Benigni In 1930s Italy, a carefree Jewish book keeper named Guido has a perfect life marrying a lovely woman from a nearby city. They have a son and live happily together until the occupation of Italy by German forces. In an attempt to hold his family together and help his son survive the horrors of a Jewish Concentration Camp, Guido imagines that the Holocaust is a game and that the grand prize for winning is a tank. (116 min.) “Brat (Brother)” (Russia) - March 11 Directed by Aleksei Balabanov Danila Bagrov returns home after serving in the Russian Army. Not satisfied in the small town, he moves to St. Petersburg to be with his older brother and start a new life. He discovers his brother is a contract killer and gangster, and is forced into the criminal world. This gangster film depicts the problems of Russia in the 1990s: crime, poverty, disaffection of the Russian youth and failing families brought about in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse. (99 min.) “The Wind that Shakes the Barley” (Ireland) - March 18 Directed by Ken Loach Set in rural Ireland in the 1920s, this war drama tells the fictional story of two County Cork brothers Damien and Teddy O’Donovan who join the Irish Republican Army to fight for Irish independence from the United Kingdom. While one brother started as a socialist and changes to adopt the ways of war, the other brother mellows after experiencing the endless suffering of war. The brothers oppose each other during the Irish Civil War just years later. (127 min.) “The Lady” (Burma) - March 25 Directed by Luc Besson Based on the true story of Aung San Suu Kyi (Nobel Peace Prize, 1991), the Lady is an epic love story about Suu Kui and her husband Michael Aris, and their extraordinary sacrifice of family happiness for a higher cause. Despite distance, long separations and a dangerously hostile regime, their love endured. “The Lady” follows the peaceful quest for democracy in Burma by Suu Kyi who was held under house arrest for more than fifteen years by military junta.(132 min.)
  

   
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  Choral-Aires Chorus Hosts Guest Night Jan 16, 2015 5:22 PM
  Tracy Hulett Sing those Winter Blues Away! Visit the Choral-Aires Chorus on Monday, January 26 at 7pm when we host a Guest Night for anyone interested in learning more about the chorus. We’re a vibrant group of more than 100 women who love to sing a cappella harmony, love making new friends and love to have fun. We perform at community events, ballgames, parties and in competitions. We’re the current Regional champs and will compete for the title of Sweet Adelines International Champion in Las Vegas this fall. There are days when it seems winter will never end. Although this winter has certainly been kinder than the last, spring sometimes feels very far away. Hard to even imagine, some days. No matter how gray the day, an evening of singing with some of your favorite people is a great way to put the sunshine back into your life. You don’t have to be a professional musician, you don’t even have to read music. You just have to love music and be willing to learn from our amazing directors and coaches. Stop by our Guest Night. We meet at Redeemer Lutheran Church Recreation Center in Elmhurst, at the corner of Kenilworth Ave. and St. Charles Road. We’d love to see you and help you make the the dark days of winter a whole lot brighter! Visit our website, www.choral-aires.com to learn more about us.
  

   
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  Reasons (and places) to love snow, ice and cold Jan 14, 2015 2:26 PM
  Local TV news anchors are aghast, reporting on the recent cold snap as if it were a wild freak of nature that’s descended upon us without warning. Pardon me, but … isn’t this typical January weather? It’s a time of snow, ice and cold that is best greeted with skis, sleds, snowshoes and skates. If it’s going to be cold, that’s how you make the best of it.
  

   
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  “Ballroom with a Twist” comes to Batavia Jan. 23 Jan 14, 2015 8:23 PM
  Batavia Fine Arts Centre So you can’t get your fill of “Dancing with the Stars,” “American Idol,” and “So You Think You Can Dance?” Take your obsession with live talent-based reality TV shows to the next level. Enjoy “Ballroom with a Twist” at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre.
  

   
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  Sedgebrook’s Squires Club honors Lambs Farm partnership Jan 19, 2015 9:02 AM
  Submitted by Ivy Marketing Group Since the opening of Sedgebrook senior living community in Lincolnshire nearly ten years ago, residents of nearby Lambs Farm for people with disabilities have provided waste management services to residents of Sedgebrook.
  

   
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  Fox Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Day events aim to inspire Jan 13, 2015 2:33 PM
  Daily Herald staff reports A great leader deserves to be honored and remembered. Here’s where you can find Martin Luther King Jr. events in and around the Fox Valley.
  

   
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  PM Prime Steakhouse Offers Truffle Dinner Jan 14, 2015 10:17 AM
  Carolyn Jacobs On Wednesday, January 28 at 6 p.m., PM Prime Steakhouse will host a special six-course dinner exploring one of the most sought after culinary treasures: The Truffle.
  

   

• First Baptist offers new ministry space for children with special needs Jan 14, 2015 3:05 PM
  Submitted by First Baptist Church of Geneva First Baptist Church of Geneva has recently completed a ministry expansion project that includes state-of-the-art space for children with special needs, children’s programming and middle school programming. This is one part of a greater expansion project called Growing to Serve. The community is welcome to come see the spaces during the open house starting at noon Sunday, Jan. 18.
  

   
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  Marmion-Rosary Music Boosters to serve up pancake breakfast Jan. 25 Jan 13, 2015 11:32 AM
  Marmion-Rosary Music Boosters The Marmion-Rosary Music Boosters will host their annual Pancake Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, in Marmion Academy’s Lux Dining Hall in Aurora. It includes scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, beverages and unlimited pancakes and toppings.
  

   

• Get tickets now for Elgin Master Chorale’s gala Jan 12, 2015 9:03 PM
  Elgin Master Chorale The Elgin Master Chorale invites the community to "It's A Grand Night," celebrating a new beginning and building a new foundation, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at St. Charles Country Club. Cocktails will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m., with a cash bar. There will be dancing from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. It will be formal attire; black-tie optional. The gala will feature a dinner, dancing, and live entertainment as Bobby G. sings timeless classics in Frank Sinatra-style. Pre-dinner music will be provided by Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Honors Chamber Ensemble.
  

   

• Join conversation asking “Is War Ever Justified?” Jan 12, 2015 7:16 PM
  Fox Valley Citizens for Peace & Justice Fox Valley Citizens for Peace & Justice presents "Is War Ever Justified?," a public conversation about one of the great questions of all time, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin. They will have a panel of four speakers, representing a range of opinions on both sides of this challenging question. Some of the speakers will base their opinions on religious grounds, some on social justice, and some on philosophical and historical grounds. An open dialogue between the speakers and the audience will follow.
  

   
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  Girl Scouts introduce Rah-Rah Raisins to 2015 cookie lineup Jan 10, 2015 1:29 PM
  Submitted by Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois Local Girl Scouts will begin taking orders for the 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Program from Jan. 9-30. New this year is Rah-Rah Raisins, a cookie featuring whole grain oats, plump juicy raisins, and trendy Greek yogurt-flavored chunks. The team of flavors in this new, crisp cookie is likely to attract customers and increase sales. The rich, creamy taste of Greek yogurt has exploded in popularity over the last several years. And, in a national Girl Scout Cookie Survey, over 65 percent of participants indicated they wanted an oatmeal raisin Girl Scout Cookie.
  

   
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  CEO Unplugged offers personal look at ESO leader Jan 9, 2015 6:04 PM
  Pat Szpekowski, APR How does a corporate executive transition from retirement to overseeing a leading local symphony orchestra? What prompted his decision? How has his business experience affected the direction of his new role? Find out how David Beardon, chief executive officer of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, defines his leadership style by attending the next Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce popular series, “CEO Unplugged.”