Briefs: 2 cited in tobacco sting

Two St. Charles store clerks were cited for selling tobacco to a minor in an undercover police operation, officials said Tuesday. Cited were Charles J. Lencioni, 18, at 7-Eleven, 1705 W. Main St., and Thomas W. Warren, 57, at Meijer gas station, 855 S. Randall Road, police said. Officers sent a 16-year-old into 25 businesses Saturday to attempt to buy tobacco; 23 refused to sell, police said. The quarterly compliance check is funded by an Illinois Liquor Commission grant. Violations are reported to the city liquor commission, police said.

See lunar eclipse

Watch the total eclipse of the moon with the Fox Valley Astronomical Society at 7:45 tonight at Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve, on Main Street, six miles west of Batavia. For directions, call (630) 881-0172 or visit www.kaneforest.com//fp/blackberry_maples.asp.

St. Charles bank opens

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 28 will mark the opening of STC Capital Bank's new location at 2825 Foxfield Drive, St. Charles. The 5 p.m. ceremony is hosted by the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and will include wine tasting courtesy of the Wine Exchange and food compliments of Dimitri's, Gina's and Za Za's restaurants in St. Charles. Call (630) 584-8384.

Sign up for police academy

Registration is open for the Citizen Police Academy in St. Charles. Classes meet at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 4 to April 24 at the police department, 10 State Ave. Topics include criminal and narcotics investigations, court procedures, traffic stops and crime scene processing. Participants also will use a firearms training simulator and learn how to obtain fingerprints. The free program is open to anyone who lives, works or owns a business or property in St. Charles. High school juniors and seniors also can apply. Applications are available at the police department and at www.stcharlesil.gov/pd. Call (630) 443-3730.

Civil War ball planned

The Farnsworth Mansion Foundation will have its 8th Annual Civil War Ball at 5 p.m. March 15 at Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St., St. Charles. The fundraiser includes a buffet dinner, period music and dance instruction. Period attire is welcomed but not required. Advance tickets are $20 a person, $30 a couple and $1 for children ages 12 and younger. Tickets purchased at the door will each cost an additional $5. Proceeds fund the rebuilding of Farnsworth Mansion, along Route 25 in St. Charles, as a Civil War museum. Call (630) 587-1530.