DuPage County briefs
Road closes for railroad fix:
A portion of Prospect Avenue in Itasca will be closed for a week starting Thursday so crews can repair a railroad crossing. The portion of Prospect that will be closed runs between Thorndale Avenue and Irving Park Road. Detours will be posted utilizing Arlington Heights Road, Devon Avenue, Wood Dale Road and Thorndale for north side traffic. South side traffic will be detoured using those four roads as well as Irving Park. The road is expected to reopen Oct. 28. Visit metrarail.com for more details about the closure.
Red light fines begin today
Aurora motorists will be fined $100 for running red lights at three city intersections equipped with camera enforcement systems, beginning today. The intersections include Commons Drive and East New York Street, Farnsworth Avenue and New York, and Farnsworth and Molitor Road. The cameras operate through in-ground sensors that continually monitor each passing vehicle. If a motorist enters an intersection after the light turns red, the sensors trigger a high resolution camera system that records several still images and a video clip of the red light violation. Vehicles entering the intersection on a yellow light or those caught in an intersection when the yellow light turns red, are not considered in violation. Violators will be sent the $100 citations through the mail within 20 days of the infraction. They can then either pay the fine or contest it through a municipal hearing process. They will also be able to view the red light violation online by logging onto www.photonotice.com.
Glenbard needs volunteers:
Glenbard high schools will need volunteers from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at all four high school cafeterias to help sort and box books collected through the Glenbard Gives Books drive. The program will collect books from students during their lunch hours and after school on that day. The books and supplies will then be distributed to Book Worm Angels, a local nonprofit group which provides the books to teachers who can give them to families facing poverty. They also will accept art materials. For more information, call (630) 942-7573.
Volunteers sought for cleanup:
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is seeking volunteers for Saturday morning's Make A Difference Day cleanup of East Branch Forest Preserve in Glendale Heights. Litter will be removed from the preserve's shorelines and trails from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is open to all ages, though children under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult. For more information or to volunteer, call (630) 933-7681.
Library welcomes author:
Author Wendy Mass, who has written eight novels for young people - including "A Mango Shaped Space," "Heaven Looks a Lot Like a Mall" and "Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life" - will discuss her work and sign copies of her books during an appearance at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Bensenville Public Library, 200 S. Church Road. Select titles will be available for purchase. For details, call (630) 766-4642.
Polio drive on streets;
National Honor Society students from Fenton High School will be walking the streets on Oct. 24 and 31 in Bensenville and Wood Dale to help the Bensenville Rotary in drive to eradicate polio. The students will carry small orange boxes that say "Trick or Treat for UNICEF." UNICEF and Rotary International are partners in the effort to eliminate polio. The Rotary also will distribute the orange Trick or Treat boxes in schools, churches, the library and community businesses. To find out how to get collection boxes, call (630) 766-4642.
Hispanic board expanding
Aurora's Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board is seeking six new members. The board is a nonpartisan advisory board that is community-based and funded by Aurora. The board, which is appointed by the mayor, acts as a liaison between the Hispanic community and all other communities in the city. The Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board meets the second Monday of the month at 9 a.m. in City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place. Those interested in applying to the board may contact Chairman Cynthia Hernandez at (630) 768-2027 no later than Thursday, Nov. 12. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.