Latest news with #KidsMatter
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest
The 18th annual Kite Fly will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at the Frontier Sports Complex, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive. Large kites will be flown by professionals from Chicago Kite, and attendees are invited to fly their own kites as well, a Naperville Park District news release said. The event is free and also features live music entertainment, including the Prairie Sky Quintet and the Naperville Municipal Big Band, and food trucks. KidsMatter will be running Games From Around the World in which children receive a passport to participate in other country's games, the release said. The annual event is presented by the Naperville Park District and The Branch-Naperville Moms. For more information, go to To celebrate the end of the school year, Lou Malnati's Pizzeria will donate 20% of its proceeds to KidsMatter on Tuesday, June 3. The annual 'School's Out' fundraiser will be available at its Naperville locations at 131 W. Jefferson Ave. and 2879 95th St. Donations apply to all dine-in, carry-out or delivery orders placed between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., a news release said. Customers should mention KidsMatter when ordering. Student musicians will perform from 5 to 8 p.m. at the downtown Jefferson Avenue location. 'We are so grateful for Lou Malnati's partnership, and we look forward to this event every year — both to celebrate our area students and to kick off summer,' Nina Menis, CEO and executive director of KidsMatter, said in a statement. Proceeds will help the organization expand its programs supporting youth and families, Menis said. For more information, go to The Will County Resource Recovery and Energy Division will hold its annual three-day book reuse and recycling event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday to Sunday, May 30-June 1, at Pilcher Park Nature Center, 2501 Highland Park Drive, Joliet. Schools, libraries and individuals can bring unused and unwanted books to donate for potential reuse and recycling, county officials said in a news release. Any of the thousands of books at the event can be taken for free, saving them from a landfill, officials said. During last year's event, more than 1,800 people dropped off books or browsed the event's selection. Attendees took more than 80,000 books home, and another 10,000 were recycled after the event. Book categories include fiction, nonfiction, children's, romance, hobby, travel, health and living, religion, textbooks, periodicals and cookbooks in both hardcover and paperback, the release said. Organizations can make an appointment to drop off large quantities of books by calling 815-727-8834. For more information, go to The Millennium Carillon's weekly recital series kicks off at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, and will feature a rotation of local, national and international performers throughout the summer. Recitals will take place most Tuesdays through Aug. 19. The only Tuesday not on the schedule is June 24, but there will be a Saturday performance at 7 p.m. June 21. All performances are free to the public, and audiences can bring folding chairs and blankets to use while sitting on Rotary Hill, 443 Aurora Ave., or anywhere along the Riverwalk, a Naperville Park District news release said. Carillonneurs from Naperville and Chicago are scheduled to perform as well as from Iowa, California, Connecticut, New York, the United Kingdom and Belgium, the release said. Concerts are held rain or shine and picnicking is welcomed. Moonlight carillon tours of Moser Tower will be offered after all performances other than the one on Aug. 19, the release said. The cost is $2 per person,. Information on concerts and performers can be found at
Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: Naperville mayor to give State of the City address on May 22; fundraisers to benefit KidsMatter and mental health efforts
Naperville mayor to give State of the City address on May 22 Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli will deliver the annual State of the City address at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 22 at the Embassy Suites Chicago-Naperville, 1823 Abriter Court. Registration is available online at Tickets are $75 for members of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and $90 for the community. Wehrli will talk about the efforts that shaped 2024 and how that guides decisions on the city's economy, development and finances this year, according to the chamber's website. The event also provides for networking between local civic and business leaders and ideas to contribute to advancing Naperville's vision, chamber officials said. Fundraisers to benefit KidsMatter and mental health efforts Two fundraisers this month will benefit KidsMatters' work in helping youth deal with mental health issues. Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar, 436 S. Route 59, will donate 15% of a customer's total bill to KidsMatter through Saturday, May 10. Diners should mention KidsMatter at the restaurant or use the code 01NAPERVILLE when ordering online. Later this month, Kendra Scott jewelry boutique, 55 S. Main St., will donate 20% of in-store purchases from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 23, to KidsMatter. The event includes light refreshments and signature KidsMatter pieces. Use the code GIVEBACK-JJKJQ for online orders made between May 23 and 25. KidsMatter is a nonprofit that addresses mental health through a variety of initiatives, the organization said in the release. It trains adults and teens to identify signs of mental health and substance use so they can provide initial help and connect with care. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, bullying and more, the release said. It also hosts free mental health forums that address stressors affecting teens such as online safety, depression and suicidal ideation and provides other programs. Naperville students receive National Merit Scholarships Several Naperville residents have earned $2,500 National Merit Scholarships, company officials announced. Naperville Central High School: Anay A. Apte and Iris E. Shadis-Greengas. Naperville North High School: Aanika M. Parekh. Waubonsie Valley High School: Vikram J. Narasimhan. Neuqua Valley High School: Monish Ramesh Jayakumar, Armaan Sidhu and Meiling Sun. The scholarship recipients are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies, a news release from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. said. The number of winners in each state is proportional to the state's percentage of the nation's graduating high school seniors. Edward Hospital given an 'A' grade by watchdog group Edward Hospital in Naperville is one of six Endeavor Health medical centers to receive an 'A' grade from the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog group. The biannual safety grade is assigned to all general hospitals in the United States based on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections, the organization said. Elmhurst Hospital has maintained a straight-A record since the inaugural grading system, and is one of only 11 hospitals nationwide to have achieved this distinction, an Endeavor Health news release said. Other Endeavor hospitals to receive 'A' grades are Evanston Hospital, Glenbrook Hospital, Highland Park Hospital and Northwest Community Hospital. Edward Hospital earned 'A' grades in the fall of 2024 and 2023 and 'B' grades in the spring of 2024 and 2023, the company's website said. For detailed descriptions of each hospital, go to Bills in the mail for first installment of DuPage County property taxes Residents in DuPage County will be receiving their property tax bills this month with the first installment payment due June 2, county officials said. Next year, residents will have the option to receive the real estate bill via email instead of U.S. mail. Residents interested in receiving their bills electronically can fill out a form on the county website, Residents can also view their tax bills, review various options for payment and read an explainer about how the bill is broken down at the site. Payments can be made online, in person, via drop-off boxes and by mail, and at some DuPage County banks. The deadline to pay the second installment is Sept. 2
