Fox Valley - admin

White Stag to serve up British dishes in St. Charles

For 16 years, Geneva resident Chris Yovanovic has done just about any job in the restaurant industry, including dishwasher, waiter, bartender and general manager. ... Full story

Geneva opens discussion  on recreational burning

Geneva officials surveyed residents, other municipalities and fire departments to get an idea of how the city might allow for recreational burning. ... Full story

High-tech ﬁrm looks to build second facility in Batavia

City officials hope that a high-tech firm that manufactures products used in light-emitting diodes will build a second facility in the city of energy and bring Batavia an additional $500,000 in revenues. ... Full story

Special Events Celebrate West Chicago's Multi-cultural Roots

West Chicago celebrates its multi-cultural roots this fall with two special events. An Oktoberfest-style community dinner, planned for Friday, September 9, 2011, will honor twenty-seven guests from West Chicago’s sister city, Tuafkirchen (Vils), Germany who arrive on September 2, 2011 for a ten-day visit. ... Full story

Valley officials urge Congress to fund transportation bill

As Congress considers the form of its new transportation bill, Illinois business and elected officials are urging the House to pass a bill that is at least the same size of the last transportation legislation. ... Full story

STEM growing in U46 schools

Marianne Palczewski, 17, of Bartlett never would have thought she could use a compound mitre saw, she said. ... Full story

Batavia educators expand their 9/11 series for kids

With the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 approaching, Cindy Rodriguez and Joyce Elliot have created a way to help children begin to understand how the country united and heroes were made on that day. ... Full story

Agency’s name now VNA Health Care

VNA of Fox Valley has changed its name. ... Full story

Rt. 31 in Elgin will close from U.S. 20 to Adams St.

A short stretch of Route 31 in Elgin will be closed for four days, starting Wednesday, because of an unforeseen problem with the combined sewer separation project near U.S. 20. ... Full story

Kane court fee hike plan moves on

The effort to obtain pay increases for assistant state’s attorneys and other Kane County judiciary employees has moved a step forward. ... Full story

Elgin will speed up graffiti cleanup

Under pressure from Elgin City Council members to erase the city’s growing amount of graffiti more quickly, city officials have changed their approach to eradicating this mixture of street-gang advertising and amateur artistry. ... Full story

What’s right, wrong with downtown? Elgin officials ‘walk-and-talk’ to find out

From Mayor Dave Kaptain and Police Chief Jeff Swoboda down through a man whose whole job is to write parking tickets, about 30 police officers, city officials and business people spread across the downtown area Tuesday afternoon to ask businesspeople what is right — and, especially, what is wrong — about the downtown area. ... Full story

Aurora council committee approves ban on synthetic drugs

A resolution that would ban the selling of synthetic drugs in the city passed unanimously at Government Operations Committee Tuesday. ... Full story

Damaging storms possible as cold front moves in

Strong thunderstorms could hit the Chicago area Wednesday afternoon when a cold front and instable atmospheric conditions create the potential for “explosive thunderstorm development,” according to the National Weather Service. ... Full story

Schmitz announces re-election bid

State Rep. Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia, Wednesday announced his intention to run for re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives. ... Full story

East kicks off HOPE campaign

In an effort to make sure every Tomcat has the opportunity to succeed, the East Aurora School District has kicked of its 165 HOPE campaign to raise money for academic, athletic and art programs which some students couldn’t otherwise afford. ... Full story

Aurora sells former quarry for $1.25 million

The city is selling a former stone quarry property at Interstate 88 and Route 25 to a recycling company. ... Full story

Chemical health hazard listing could force South Elgin company to move overseas or close down

A local company says that a recent government decision listing styrene as a potential health threat is itself a threat to the manufacturer’s continuing operation. ... Full story

In a struggling economy, Premium Outlets Mall in Aurora planning major expansion.

Fans of the Chicago Premium Outlets Mall could have one-third more shopping space next year. ... Full story

West Aurora schools hoping churches can help mentor troubled students

Some grade school students in the district could use a little mentoring from adults in the community, and West Aurora School District 129 is reaching out to area churches to provide it. ... Full story

Dist. 303 sees average ACT decline

St. Charles Unit District 303’s average ACT score dropped slightly this year, but includes a record-high science score and remains well above the state average. ... Full story

U-46 uncertain about salaries, state funding in new budget

School District U-46 officials have drafted a balanced budget for the upcoming school year, but one with large question marks remaining on both the revenue and expenditure sides. ... Full story

Ramp to close at I-90 and Route 31

Another Interstate 90 ramp near Elgin is closing tonight for construction, but two others will reopen. ... Full story

Plan for bridge connecting Bolingbrook to Naperville moving forward

The Will County High Department is moving forward with a plan to extend 95th Street in Naperville over the DuPage River to Boughton Road in Bolingbrook. ... Full story

City Wide Block Party

Batavia Covenant Church, 1314 W. Main Street, will be hosting a City Wide Block Party, Saturday, August 27th from 4-7 p.m.. ... Full story

Elgin, Carpentersville-area high schooler’s ACT scores on the rise

Composite ACT scores are up this year in both Elgin School District U46 and Carpentersville-area Community Unit School District 300. ... Full story

South Elgin reels in Top 100 rank again

The village has been named one of the top 100 small towns in the United States by Money magazine and CNN. ... Full story

Aurora mayor: Examine affordable housing citywide

Mayor Tom Weisner is urging the Aurora Housing Authority to pull in the reins on plans to redevelop the troubled Jericho Circle housing complex on the city’s west side. ... Full story

Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau selects new director

A former Kentucky tourism director will be the next executive director of the Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. ... Full story

Mayor will appoint Jericho Circle resident Mattie Coble to the Aurora Housing Authority Board

Mayor Tom Weisner announced he is appointing Mattie Coble, a Jericho Circle resident, to the Aurora Housing Authority board at a tense Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday night. ... Full story

West Aurora Schools examining cost to air condition all buildings

As the school year began last year, a heat spell made conditions unbearable in the West Aurora schools for teachers and students alike. ... Full story

Balanced budget presented to U46 board as questions linger

Several unknowns still hang ominously over the figures, including unfinished labor talks and the iffyness of the state’s school funding. But the administration of Elgin School District U46 on Monday presented the board of education with a proposed budget for the 2011-12 school year that actually sees $11 million more coming into U46 coffers than going out. ... Full story