CHAT WITH THE CHIEF PLANNED FOR OCT. 14
An informal discussion, which is part of the Naperville Police Department’s Chat with the Chief series, will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Sweet Toast Cafe, 2035 S. Washington St.
There’s no formal presentation or agenda at the Chat with the Chief events. Residents can stop in at any time and talk with police Chief Jason Arres and members of the department, a news release said.
The talks happen several times a year throughout the city to promote dialogue and enhance police and community relations.
Residents can pose questions or concerns or get to know members of the police department, the release said.
For more information, go to www.naperville.il.us/npd/chatwithchief.
MEN WHO COOK FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER
Tickets are on sale for the 16th annual Men Who Cook fundraiser to benefit the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center.
The event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Joliet Junior College Event Center, 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet.
Professional and amateur cooks from throughout the area will serve samples of their favorite appetizers, entrees and desserts while competing for votes and bragging rights. The event also includes a cash bar, children’s activities and raffles.
All proceeds benefit the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center and its services for children who have experienced severe physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect and exposure to violence, a news release from the Will County state’s attorney’s office said.
The Children’s Advocacy Center was founded in 1995 by State’s Attorney James Glasgow to provide a coordinated, child-focused response to allegations of child abuse, the news release said.
The center brings together law enforcement, prosecutors, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, medical professionals, forensic interviewers, family advocates and trauma therapists to help children and their families with hope, healing and justice, the release said.
Tickets are $55 per person, or $100 for two adults. Children ages 6 to 12 years old are $20 and 5 and under are free.
For more information, go to www.willcountycac.org.
PHOTO OF WHALON LAKE RING-BILLED GULL WINS CONTEST
Joe Viola submitted the winning photo of a ring-billed gull captured at Whalon Lake Preserve in Naperville.
Viola, a Shorewood resident, entered the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s monthly photo contest with his wife’s encouragement and was named the September winner.
Viola took the photo in Naperville after stopping with his wife Noelle to watch the birds and other animals in the rain. He didn’t believe his photo of the gull was good enough to enter the contest, a news release from the forest preserve district said.
But contest judges were impressed with the photo’s moody colors and cinematic feel, the release said.
Honorable mentions for the month went to Mark Hanna for a photo of a fawn at O’Hara Woods Preserve, Romeoville; Laurie Lasseter for a turtle photo at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve and Bertrand Leclercq for a photo of a bee on an aster at the Riverview Farmstead Preserve, Naperville.
The Preserve the Moment Photo Contest runs through December.
Monthly winners receive $75 gift cards and advance to the final round in January where voters will select their favorite photos on Facebook. Top prizes are $500, $250 and $150.
To participate in the contest, photos need to be taken in a Will County forest preserve. For more information, go to www.reconnectwithnature.org.
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PARK DISTRICT POLICE COLLECTING FOR TOYS FOR TOTS
The Naperville Park District Park Police is collecting new and unwrapped toys through Saturday, Dec. 12 for the DuPage County Toys for Tots program.
The Park Police is offering six different locations for residents to drop off toys to benefit children in need this holiday season, a news release said.
Toys will be collected at the Naperville Park District Administration Building, the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, the Central Maintenance Facility, the Fort Hill Activity Center, the Knoch Knolls Nature Center and the Springbrook Golf Course golf shop.
Residents can drop off toys in the collection boxes during hours of operation at any one of these facilities.
Stuffed animals, food, clothing or toy weapons are not accepted.
For more information or to make a monetary donation, go to https://dupage-il.toysfortots.org.