Tri-Cities briefs
Stories at park:
Enjoy a night of songs, skits and stories by Andy Talley at the grand opening of George's Circle from 7 to 9 tonight at Peck Farm Park in Geneva. Reservations are required. Cost is $20 for resident families, $30 for others. The circle is an amphitheater built from stone from a barn on the site. Call Jennifer Schmidt at (630) 262-8244.
Mothers club invite:
Mothers who are looking for a way to become involved in the community and meet other moms are invited to a new-member open house for the Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. To RSVP, e-mail bmcnewmember@yahoo.com or call (630) 748-1501.
Property taxes due Tuesday:
The second installment of Kane County property taxes is due Tuesday. If you are a new or existing homeowner and need a copy of the bill to remit payment, contact the treasurer's office at (630) 232-3565. To check the payment status of your property taxes or print a bill, go to kanecountytreasurer.org. Payments can be made by mailing the payment to the treasurer's office with a postmark no later than Tuesday. There is a property tax payment drop box available 24 hours a day. It's located behind Building A at the Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva. Payments are also accepted at participating banks in the county. Payment is also accepted online by credit card or E-check. For more information, call (630) 232-3565.
Judson climbs top tier:
Judson University in Elgin ranked in the top tier of schools in U.S. News and World Report's Baccalaureate-Midwest division in its 2009 edition of America's Best Colleges. The magazine, which has rated the country's colleges since the early 1980s, rates by test scores, peer reputation, selectivity and alumni giving. Judson first appeared in the Top Tier by ranking 54th in the U.S. News and World Report's 2005 Best Colleges survey. Last year, the university climbed higher in the Top Tier by jumping to 21st in the rankings and now has earned the 18th spot. The 1,200-student school costs about $23,500 in tuition and fees each year to attend.
Orchestra seeks musicians:
DuPage Symphony Orchestra has openings for its 2009-10 concert season entitled "In Nature's Realm." The openings are in all string sections and in selected woodwind, brass and percussion sections. The repertoire includes masterpieces by Respighi, Tchaikovsky, Grofé, Schumann and Strauss. The orchestra rehearses Tuesday evenings in Naperville and presents the concerts at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall. For more information, contact music director Barbara Schubert at (773) 709-7628 or b-schubert@uchicago.edu.