Briefs: Tollway opens Nov. 12
The 12.5-mile southern extension of I-355, named the Veterans Memorial Tollway, will be open to morning commuters on Nov. 12, tollway officials said Thursday. The new road links the tollway from I-55 to I-80, from Bolingbrook to New Lenox in Will County. The new road will have six interchanges: at I-55, 127th Street, 143rd Street/Route 171 (Archer Avenue), 159th Street, U.S. Route 6 and I-80. A day earlier, there will be a Veterans Day celebration of the extension of the road, Festivities include a 5K family walk/run and a 20-mile bike ride.
Math teacher to be honored
Keriann Obrochta, an eighth-grade math teacher at Benjamin Middle School near West Chicago, will be honored during the school district's Nov. 12 board meeting. Obrochta received two grants designed to enhance the personal financial literacy skills of eighth-graders. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Benjamin Elementary District 25 offices, 28W250 St. Charles Road near West Chicago.
Addison Parent University: Parent University will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Addison Trail High School, 213 Lombard Road. Register at the school between 8 and 9 a.m. The free event begins with an opening address by Lourdes Ferrer, Hispanic academic achievement specialist. Four, 45-minute workshops follow. Parents will choose from topics that include navigating the educational system, parenting a teen, homework help, substance abuse, and human growth and development. Each topic will be presented in English and repeated in Spanish. Childcare for children 3 and older is available. The event is funded by the village of Addison, the Addison Public Library, Addison School District 4, and DuPage High School District 88. For details in English or Spanish, call Marco Gasca at (630) 458-4114.
Scholarship workout
The Villa Park Junior Women's Club's second annual Jazzercise Benefit will be at 10 a.m. Sunday in the Willowbrook High School gymnasium, 1250 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park. Check-in starts at 9 a.m. for the scholarship fundraising event. Registration is available at the door with a $30 donation. Attendees will receive a T-shirt, raffle ticket and a one-hour Jazzercise class. Proceeds will benefit the 2008 Villa Park Junior Women's Club Scholarship. For details, visit www.vpjwc.org.
Dist. 204 hosts cultural fair
Indian Prairie Unit District 204's Parent Diversity Advisory Council is holding its second annual cultural arts fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 8 at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora. The event will include a book fair and art display. If anyone wants to set up a display or perform at the fair, e-mail Sandra Charles at PDAC-204@ipsd.org.
Gifts to soldiers
The city of Aurora is sending gifts to residents in active service, stationed in the U.S. and overseas. Personnel will receive a 1-pound box of mixed nuts with a card for the holidays. The gifts are a thank-you, Mayor Tom Weisner said. Names and addresses of Aurora citizens in active service can be phoned to the city's special events office at (630) 844-4731. Names must be sent by Nov. 20.