Briefs: Police warn of phone scam

Police are warning residents about the "*72" phone scam in which victims are duped into allowing their calls to be improperly forwarded and illegally billed. Police said the scam begins with someone posing as a phone technician who calls the victim's house and says he was on his way for a service call but was arrested for driving on a suspended license. The caller then asked the victim to dial *72 and his wife's number to say he'll be home late. The *72 feature enables calls to be automatically forwarded and the scammer can accept collect- and third-party calls from anywhere.

Intern at theater

Today is the deadline to apply for "Oliver!" internships at Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Internships are available for students 16 and older. Visit www.noblefool.org/education to download an application form. Opportunities are offered in directing, choreography, wardrobe, hair and makeup, technical lighting and sound, production management, stage management, marketing and more.

Prep for high school:

Geneva High School's Eighth-Grade Parents Night is at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Viking Commons at the school, 416 McKinley Ave. Information about departments and progression of courses will be presented as well as information about counseling. Use the main entrance off McKinley. Call Assistant Principal Scott McPeak at (630) 463-3800.

Small business forum: Join other small business owners and area experts in an open forum exploring effective strategies and techniques to maintain business during the economic slowdown from 8 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. The free workshop is sponsored by the Congregational Church of Batavia Small Business Networking Group and Batavia MainStreet. For reservations contact Ellen Huxtable at ellen@advantage-biz.com or (630) 879-6511.

Hastert tribute dinner

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert will be the guest speaker at a tribute in his honor at 6 p.m. Thursday at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Road, Aurora. The event, hosted by the Aurora Township Republican Central Committee, is part of the 51st annual Lincoln Day Dinner. Hastert, who recently retired from the 14th Congressional District, was a U.S. representative for more than 20 years. Tickets are $65 each. To order, contact Davis Offutt at (630) 258-4661 or davisoffutt@yahoo.com.