DuPage County briefs

Bensenville honors author: Bensenville Public Library has selected Elizabeth Berg's "We Are All Welcome Here" for its fifth annual Bensenville Reads program. Each year the library selects a book to promote reading in the community and invites the selected author to appear with support from the Bensenville Arts Council. Berg's book involves a polio victim and is set during the Civil Rights movement. She will read from several of her works when she appears at 7 p.m. April 9 at the library, 200 S. Church Road. For details, call (630) 766-4642.Court taps public defender:Jeffrey R. York has been named DuPage County's head public defender. The Naperville man filled the position on an interim basis since November, when former boss Robert Miller became an associate judge. York joined the public defender's office in 1997 and rose to senior, supervising and deputy leadership positions while defending the rights of the accused in criminal courtrooms.Naperville bridge to close:The Jefferson Avenue Bridge in Naperville will close to vehicular and pedestrian traffic beginning Monday, Feb. 22. Built in 1962, the bridge will be removed and reconstructed. The project is expected to be completed in late August and will give the bridge two lanes wide enough for vehicular and bicycle traffic as well as protected sidewalks for pedestrians. The official detour route can be found at naperville.il.us/jeffersonbridge.aspx.Park employee honored:The Fox Valley Park District board has honored horticulturalist Debbie Augusburg for her 36 years of service to the district and its residents. Augsburg retired in January after a career with the district that began when she was a high school student in a joint work program offered through local school districts. In 1973, Augusburg was hired to begin a horticulture program, becoming the first full-time female employee in the parks department. At that time, only about 3,000 flowers were planted at four park district locations. Today, the park district's horticulture program cultivates and plants more than 55,000 annuals across 152 parks each year.3 charged in drug bust: Three men face drug-related charges following a two-month investigation by Elmhurst police and the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Authorities said they recovered more than two pounds of cannabis after serving a search warrant Feb. 4 at 850 Prospect Ave. John J. Starbeck, 47, of 850 Prospect Ave. was charged with two felony counts of unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver; Steven J. Starbeck, 45, of the same address, was charged with misdemeanor unlawful possession of cannabis; and David M. Sorensen, 45, of 223 High Ridge Ave., Hillside, was charged with misdemeanor unlawful possession of cannabis.