Tri-Cities briefs
Anti-suicide fund-raiser:The Michael Joseph Kimmer Memorial fund-raiser for the Trevor Project is Jan. 6 at Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in the Geneva Commons shopping center on Randall Road. Patrons must present a flier, which an be picked up at the main office at Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave. The Trevor Project is a national organization that focuses on crisis and suicide prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning teen-agers. Kimmer, a freshman at Geneva, died Nov. 6 as a result of suicide.Eat noodles, help woman:The Geneva High School Key Club is holding a fundraiser Jan. 6 at Noodles and Co. in the Geneva Commons shopping center on Randall Road. It will help defray medical costs of Rachel Pinson, a GHS graduate battling leukemia. Noodles will donate an amount equal to 25 percent of your bill; just tell the order-taker "I'm here for Rachel."Governor, judicial candidates at forum:The Women's Bar Association of the 16th Judicial Circuit will host a candidate forum for governor and judicial candidates at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Eagle Brook Country Club, 2288 Fargo Blvd., Geneva. All Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates have been invited. Republicans Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard and Dan Proft have said they will attend. The candidates will be asked questions from a panel regarding their campaign agendas and goals for Illinois. In addition, for the Illinois 2nd District Appellate Court races, Justice Ann Jorgensen and Kenneth Moy, opponents for an open seat, have said they will attend. Justice Mary S. Schostok, running for a second open seat, also will be present. For Kane County elections, expected to be present for 16th Circuit judgeships are: Judge Kevin T. Busch and Fred M. Morelli, who seek the Republican nomination for the circuitwide seat; Judge Karen Simpson, who seeks the Republican nomination in the Third Subcircuit; Judge Susan Clancy Boles, who seeks the Republican nomination in the Fourth Subcircuit; and Judge Robert L. Janes, T. Patrick Rice and D.J. Tegeler, who seek the Republican nomination for the Kane County resident judgeship, with Michael C. Funkey, who seeks the Democratic nomination for this seat. The forum will begin with the judicial candidates. The gubernatorial forum is expected to begin at about 7:30 p.m. There will be a meet-and-greet for all candidates immediately following the forum. The forum is open to the public. Questions will be taken from the audience or can be submitted in advance to WBAElectionForum@gmail.com.Gift cards for blood donors: Heartland Blood Centers is offering $5 McDonald's gift cards to people who participate in National Blood Donor Month by giving blood in January. Donors also receive basic medical examinations of their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin level. Upcoming blood drives in the Tri-Cities area are planned for 1 to 3 p.m. today at First Choice Bank, 1900 W. State St., Geneva; 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Baker Memorial Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles; 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 320 Franklin St., Geneva; 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at John Stewart Elementary School, 817 Prairie Valley Street, Elburn; 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 24 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 950 Hart Road, Batavia; and 8 to 11 a.m. Jan. 25 at the Geneva Park District, 3507 Kaneville Road. For more information or a full listing of Heartland blood drives, visit heartlandbc.org.