Briefs: $12 million awarded in suit
A DuPage County jury this week awarded a record $12 million to a Warrenville couple whose 7-year-old son became disabled at birth. Benjamin Hayes can't speak and has no control over his limbs due to a brain injury at birth. His parents, Aaron and Michelle Hayes, filed a medical-malpractice lawsuit against the two doctors and Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. Last year, the hospital settled for $3 million; the obstetrician settled for $1.6 million. The insurer for the couple's general practitioner, though, opted to go to trial. The couple argued Dr. Steven Ambrust, who practices in Wheaton, was responsible for a 45-minute delay during the Caesarean surgery, causing Benjamin to be deprived of an adequate amount of oxygen. The jury awarded the record award late Tuesday after a seven-day trial.
Addison church family fest
WRTC Liberty Church in Addison will host a free family festival from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday in the lot behind the Green Meadows Shopping Center, Lake Street and Kennedy Drive, Addison. Church organizers will pass out school supplies, and the event will also include food, games, raffles and Mexican music. For details, call Maria Diaz at (630) 207-1213.
Police get safety grant
The Roselle Police Department has received a $17,300 grant to conduct alcohol-related roadside safety checks from the Illinois Department of Transportation. The Mini-Grant Alcohol Enforcement Program covers the department's overtime costs for drunken driving enforcement for eight periods during the year. The first such enforcement, in which officers will focus efforts on catching drunken drivers, begins Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 3.
Pay no bread for bread
Forget cake. Let them eat sourdough. At Boudin SF, the next restaurant scheduled to open at The Shops on Butterfield, near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Butterfield Road in Lombard, some lucky diners could get free bread for a year. The restaurant version of the San Francisco-style sourdough bakery, 348 Yorktown Center, will offer its first 100 customers at its 9 a.m. Tuesday grand opening complimentary sourdough bread for a year.
Harvest Fest on Sunday
Glendale Heights' annual Harvest Fest on Sunday afternoon will feature hayrides, pumpkin picking, scarecrows, taffy apples and live music. The festival will be from noon to 4 p.m. at Heritage Park, at the village's historic house at Windy Point Drive and Paul Avenue. The White Saddle Band will entertain. There also will be marionette puppet shows and baked goodies from the Glendale Heights Junior Woman's Club. Proceeds will benefit the historic house and area charities. For details, call (630) 909-5302.
Ideas sought for parks:
Villa Park's Parks and Recreation Department is asking residents for ideas and suggestions on ways to improve programs in the village. The department will hold two focus group meetings about the current state of the parks and the department's direction. The first is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Iowa Community Center, 338 N. Iowa Ave. The second is at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Community Recreation Building, 320 E. Wildwood St. For details, call (630) 834-8970.
City takes Cenacle stand
The city of Warrenville this week officially declared its hope that the Cenacle Retreat House property, operated by an international Roman Catholic community of resident nuns, will be preserved and used as public open space for recreational purposes. To that end, aldermen approved a resolution stating their support of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District and Warrenville Park District's bid to buy the property. The Cenacle sisters have owned 42 acres just north of the intersection of Batavia and Butterfield roads for 70 years, and recently announced plans to sell it.
West Chicago road closings
Two West Chicago streets have been closed at their junction with a railroad crossing due to repairs. Drivers won't be able to cross the Union Pacific and EJ&E Railroad tracks at Wood Street and Washington Street throughout October. Signs direct traffic to detours.
Health fair coming soon
Hearing testing, blood-pressure screening and spinal exams are some of the free offerings this Saturday at a health fair. The event sponsored by U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam will run from 9 a.m. to noon at Westfield Middle School, 149 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale. Help and advice will also be available for people with insufficient health insurance or with no benefits. For information, call (630) 893-9670.