WHALON LAKE EAGLE PHOTO WINS CONTEST
A photograph capturing an intense interaction between a bald eagle and a herring gull at Naperville’s Whalon Lake was the March winner of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s photo contest.
Laurie Lasseter, a Woodridge resident, told the forest preserve district she spotted the bald eagle hunting and began to take pictures as it flew toward her with a fish. The gull chased the eagle in hopes it would drop the fish, she said.
When Lasseter reviewed her images, she discovered the gull was biting the eagle’s neck, revealing a moment of raw conflict and survival, district officials said.
The Preserve the Moment photo contest continues through December. All monthly winners will compete for “likes” on Facebook in January 2027 to determine first, second and third place for the year. Overall winners will receive MasterCard gift cards worth $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $150 for third place.
Each monthly winner receives a $75 gift card, and three participants are randomly selected to each receive a $75 gift card.
For contest rules, go to www.reconnectwithnature.org.
NAPERVILLE DAR CHAPTER PRESENTS COMMUNITY AWARDS
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Fort Payne Chapter of Naperville recognized several local students and community members during its April 11 annual awards ceremony.
Students receiving the chapter’s Excellence in American History awards were eighth-graders Josiah Bain from All Saints Catholic Academy; Aahira Basu from Granger Middle School; Noah Hall from Madison Junior High School; Odin Sjordal from Lincoln Junior High School; Sadie Stevenson from Fischer Middle School; and Landon Tran from Hill Middle School.
The award is given annually to teacher-recommended eighth-grade students who have demonstrated excellence in U.S. History, a chapter news release said.
Other awards included:
- Daniel Webster Scholarship, presented to a high school senior who plans to pursue a career path in math, science or technology, was awarded to Nick Derbis of Benet Academy.
- Fort Payne Education Scholarship, given to a high school senior who plans to major in education, was awarded to Carol Montevecchi of Naperville North High School.
- Good Citizens program and scholarship contest winners were Rachel Chen of Metea Valley High School and Patrick Norton from Neuqua Valley High School.
- Outstanding Teacher of American History Award winner was Robert Lugiai of Naperville Central High School, who has also won the award at the state level.
- Community Service Award for volunteer work in the Naperville area went to Stephanie Jones-Kastelic.
- Naperville’s three public libraries received the Constitution Week Awards for their support of this annual event.
- VFW Smart/Maher National Citizen Education Teacher award went to Julie Hartmann, who was recognized for her enrichment efforts in her second-grade classroom at Skoff Elementary in Romeoville.
- Fort Payne Outstanding Junior Member award winner was Hannah Foote Barker, cited for her work designing the chapter’s newsletter.
- Chapter Service Award was given to Jane McCague, who has planted flowers around the Veterans Valor statue in downtown Naperville.
DUPAGE TRAIL EXTENSION IN WHEATLAND TOWNSHIP
Work to extend the DuPage River Trail in Wheatland Township is scheduled to begin in early summer and be completed by year’s end, Forest Preserve District of Will County officials said.
The district’s board of commissioners recently approved several improvement projects funded by the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program, which provided $50 million for land acquisition, facility improvements and restoration.
A $599,683 contract was awarded to Gallagher Asphalt Corp. to extend the DuPage River Trail from 119th Street to 127th Street. The project includes replacing a section of Book Road with a one-mile, 12-foot-wide paved trail, improving the existing trail crossing at 119th Street and installing new bench pads and benches, officials said.
The DuPage River Trail consists of three segments totaling more than 8.6 miles with access points at Whalon Lake and Riverview Farmstead Preserve in Naperville and Hammel Woods in Shorewood.
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