Briefs: Aurora burglary spree

Aurora police are asking residents in a small area on the city's west side to help combat a string of burglaries that began in July and has continued this month. Police on Friday said 29 houses have been burglarized in an area roughly bounded by Sullivan Road on the north, Illinois Avenue on the south, Edgelawn Drive on the west and Highland Avenue on the east. Police say they believe the same burglars are responsible for many of the break-ins, most of which have occurred in broad daylight. Investigators said they have few leads. Anyone needing security tips or wanting more information to help stop burglaries should call police at (630) 859-1700.

Grand jury indictments:

A convicted sex offender nabbed near an area park is among several defendants a DuPage County grand jury indicted on felony charges this week, according to court records released Friday. Sam J. Argento, 27, of Villa Park is charged with having improper contact with a child as a sex offender in a Sept. 9 incident at College Park, 2170 College, Glendale Heights. In other indictments: Matthew O. Stephens, 25, of Dublin, Ohio, was indicted on child pornography charges after being arrested in a Wheaton police Internet sting; and Derek Hill, 33, of Naperville is facing resisting a peace officer and criminal damage to property charges for a Sept. 24 scuffle in traffic court.

Discuss library referendum

The Villa Park Public Library board will sponsor a meeting to discuss two questions that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the library, 305 S. Ardmore Ave. Voters will decide in November whether they want to pay $24.9 million for a new public library. The village board voted 5-1 in August to allow the library board to ask voters for permission to borrow money for a new 48,000-square-foot facility that would be built south of the existing building at Central Boulevard and Ardmore Avenue. The board also signed off on a measure allowing the library to seek an operating tax rate increase of 8 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value. For details, call (630) 834-1164.

District 7 preschool screening

Wood Dale School District 7 will conduct preschool screenings for children ages 3 to 5 on Monday, Oct. 20, at the district office, 543 N. Wood Dale Road. Children will be screened in the areas of speech and language, basic concepts, motor skills, hearing and vision. The school district provides programs to help students who need improvement in these areas. For details or an appointment, call Patti Meenan at (630) 694-1174.

Dinner helps veterans

American Legion Post 76 will host its second steak fry of the season from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at 570 S. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Dinner costs $13 and a children's hamburger plate costs $3. All proceeds benefit local veterans and community service projects. For details, call (630) 682-0076.

Forum on Dist. 203 superintendent

Anyone interested in giving input as to the qualities they'd like to see in a new superintendent for Naperville Unit District 203 can attend a forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 and Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the district administrative center, 203 W. Hillside Road. Current Superintendent Alan Leis will retire at the end of the school year. For more information visit naperville203.org.

Naperville forums on fields, garden plots

Naperville Unit District 203 and the Naperville Park District will hold three community engagement meetings to discuss the need for athletic field space and proposals for relocating the city's garden plots. Meetings will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and Nov. 12 at the district administrative center, 203 W. Hillside Road and Nov. 10 at the Alfred Rubin Community Center, 305 W. Jackson Ave. For more information visit naperville203.org.