Briefs: Finance seminar in Roselle
Leaders in housing finance education, including multiple federal and local housing agencies, are hosting an informational seminar from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Park High School West campus, 500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Roselle. The seminar is designed to offer people resources and information about making sound decisions when purchasing or refinancing a home. Among those present will be U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam and officials with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Illinois Housing Development Authority, DuPage Homeownership Center, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Elgin and the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rolling Meadows.
Fire hits auto body shop
A dozen cars were destroyed during an early Monday morning fire at a Bensenville auto body shop, authorities said. Bensenville fire officials said they believe an electrical problem, possibly inside a large shed, sparked the blaze at Body Masters, 363 Evergreen Ave. When firefighters arrived about 3:15 a.m. Monday, they found the shed and cars on fire behind the auto body shop. While flames had spread to part of the main building, crews extinguished the fire in about 20 minutes and saved the rest of the structure. No injuries were reported. A damage estimate wasn't available. Crews from Elmhurst, Franklin Park and Wood Dale helped Bensenville firefighters combat the blaze. The business was able to open and operate normally on Monday, officials said.
Aurora trustee recognized
The Illinois State Crime Commission has selected 4th Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence to receive the 2008 Award of Excellence in Government award during the annual Salute To Those Who Make a Difference awards dinner on June 11 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Michael Prueter, president of the crime commission, said in a letter to Lawrence, "With your impressive achievements in government in the city of Aurora and your dedication to the residents and the various organizations that you have served with, we are pleased to bestow this honor upon you."
College sponsors forum
Naperville's North Central College will sponsor Social Entrepreneurship and New Visions of Community Building, a forum on applying business principles to effect social change on Thursday. The program is free and open to the public beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Koten Chapel at Kiekhofer Hall, 329 E. School St. Speakers include Gerald Thalmann, associate professor of accounting; Cliff Parish, CEO and founder of RemoteLink; Kristin Dean, president of the Homan Square Community Center Foundation; and keynote speaker Esther Benjamin, director of resource development for the Interntional Partnership for Microbicides. For details, call Professor Richard Guzman at (630) 637-5280.
Chamber hires directors
Glen Ellyn's Chamber of Commerce Monday announced that Georgia Koch and Mike Formento, a former Glen Ellyn village president, will be the new executive directors. Formento and Koch will work together as co-directors, replacing Kay Kendall, who announced her resignation in October. Kendall's last day at the chamber hasn't been determined. Koch and Formento are longtime Glen Ellyn residents with deep ties to the community. Formento is a DuPage County Forest Preserve District commissioner who previously has served on the DuPage County Board.