The gates to Centennial Beach will open for the season Saturday. The Naperville Park District swimming facility, just off the Riverwalk on the west end of the downtown area, will be open daily through Aug. 17, with weekend hours scheduled through Labor Day.
Daily passes and season memberships are available, and a twilight option offers pass holders unlimited visits to the beach after 5 p.m. Friends and Family passes also can be purchased for out-of-town visitors.
Centennial Beach members are invited to a pre-season party from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday that will feature music by a D.J., inflatables for kids and fun activities, in addition to swimming. Guests may bring a picnic or purchase food from Centennial Grill. Those who wish to purchase a season membership can do so at the door and still attend the event.
The beach again will extend its hours to include times for adults to float on inner tubes on most Saturday and Sunday mornings, and also in the evening on June 21 and July 19. Also returning are nights reserved for families that include people with disabilities, set for June 7 and 28 and July 5 and 26.
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New in 2015, young swimmers who pass the deep water test will be given an identification bracelet, allowing them to swim in the deep end and use the diving boards after taking and passing the test once for the season.
In addition to open swim, Centennial Beach offers aquatic programs including swim lessons, swim team, springboard diving, fitness classes, triathlon training, water polo and beach yoga. More information can be found at http://www.centennialbeach.org.
Vietnam vets on view
Students in the Naperville North High School military history classes will screen their feature-length documentary showcasing interviews with Naperville residents who are also veterans of the Vietnam War at 7 p.m. Friday in the NNHS Auditorium, 899 N. Mill St.
For more information, visit http://www.naperville203.org/domain/879.
AAUW sets book drive
Organizers of the AAUW Naperville Area’s annual used book sale will be collecting donated hardcover and paperback volumes, CDs, DVDs and vinyl records from 9 a.m. until noon May 30 at the District 203 Administration Building, 203 W. Hillside Road, and from 2 to 5 p.m. June 7 at the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Celebration Community Life Center, 919 S. Washington St.
Unloading assistance and tax receipts will be provided.
The sale is scheduled for June 10-13 at the Celebration Community Life Center. All proceeds benefit AAUW scholarships, fellowships and other programs supporting women and girls. For more information, visit http://naperville-il.aauw.net.
Illinois Policy hires Senger
Two anti-tax activist groups, the Illinois Policy Institute and Illinois Policy Action, have hired Darlene Senger, who formerly sat on the Naperville City Council and served six years in the Illinois state House, to handle their external relations.
The organizations said in a news release that Senger will work in her new position “to advance liberty-based public policy solutions aimed at turning around Illinois government and making the state an economic beacon once again.”
A longtime city resident, Senger challenged 11th District Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, for his U.S. House seat in last November’s general election. She fell short of the incumbent, who took 54 percent of the votes cast.
Growing gardeners
A group that has followed “green” practices since long before they went mainstream next week will award scholarships to tomorrow’s sustainability specialists at its annual meeting and scholarship luncheon.
Naperville Garden Club members will gather at 11 a.m. Wednesdayat White Eagle Golf Club, 3400 Club Drive.
For the past 37 years, the club has awarded scholarships every spring to students pursuing degrees in biology, botany, environmental science, horticulture and landscape architecture that reflect the organization’s mission. The scholarship program is funded with the proceeds from the club’s annual Cup of Cheer house walk and holiday market, held in Naperville each year on the first Friday in December.
For more information, visit http://www.napervillegardenclub.org.
Compiled by reporter Susan Frick Carlman.