Familiar Foe Awaits Downers South in Second Round

With a trip to Bolingbrook for Saturday’s 6 p.m. second-round Class 8A playoff game, Downers Grove South’s football team will have faced the Raiders more than any other opponent in the state since the 2007 season.
And if recent meetings are any indicator, a close game can be expected.


The Mustangs edged Bolingbrook 10-7 in the 2007 season opener, but the last two games have narrowly gone the Raiders’ way.
Bolingbrook (10-1) opened this season with a 16-14 win over Downers South (8-2), and also edged the Mustangs 21-20 in the 2008 opener.
“As a senior, this is my final chance to beat them, so it means a lot to us,” said Downers South linebacker Dan Miller. “This is what we were planning for.” (More)

Source: fnl.mysuburbanlife.com

District 58 Makes the Grade With AYP Standards

Downers Grove Grade School District 58 was only 8 percent away from having every student in the district making adequate yearly progress.

Marybeth Webeler, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said the district is pleased with the results and will continue to work on weaker areas to keep high scoring on exams.

“I feel incredibly proud of the children in the district and the very strong performance,” Webeler said. “We have 92 percent of our students meeting and exceeding (state requirements).”

To improve education for students in District 58, Webeler said each year staff looks at each area being assessed, whether it counts toward making adequate yearly progress or not, and develops goals for improvement. (More)

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

Another Home Granted Historic Landmark Status

The Downers Grove Village Council has unanimously approved the home at 4943 Highland Ave. as a historic landmark during Tuesday’s, April 21, meeting.

This is the second home in Downers Grove to seek the designation under the village’s the Historic Preservation Ordinance.

The homeowner, Lea Wayne, requested the property be designated a historic landmark for several reasons including one of its former residents, Gustav H. Bunge. (More)

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

Village Gears up for Restaurant Week

The Downers Grove Hospitality Alliance and the Economic Development Corp. are sponsoring Downers Grove Restaurant Week 2009 from April 26 to May 2.

The event will feature 18 of the Downers Grove Hospitality Alliance members which will offer promotions through out the week.

Each restaurant will offer its own menus that include three-course meals and dinner for two among more.

Reservations are not required, but are encouraged. To view a list of the participating restaurants and their promotional menus, visit dineindownersgrove.com.

For more information, contact Cindy Klima, director of marketing and tourism for the EDC, at (630) 729-0380.

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

‘Anything Goes’ to Take Stage at Downers South

Students at Downers Grove South High School will perform “Anything Goes” as the spring musical Thursday to Sunday, April 16 to 19.

Shows are at 7 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8 for adults; $7 for students and admission for senior citizens is free.

The students in the cast and crew are lead by drama directors Chris Blum and Jason Jaffe. Music is directed by Joy Belt-Roselieb and the pit orchestra is directed by Craig Roselieb. Nancy Bocek choreographed the show. Hunter Evans is the tech director and costume design was done by Holley McKee.

To reserve tickets, call the Student Activities office at (630) 795-8518. The high school is located at 1436 Norfolk St.

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

Good Sam Makes List of Top Hospitals for First Time

For the first time in Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital’s history, the Downers Grove facility was listed in a recently released report of top 100 hospitals.

Good Sam also was named one of the top 20 large community hospitals in the nation in the 2008 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks Study. (More)

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

Local Humane Society to Hold Upcoming Events

Adoptions by the numbers

In 2008, the West Suburban Humane Society, 1901 Ogden Ave., Downers Grove, adopted out 448 dogs and 277 cats. Executive Director Carolyn Mossberger said animals generally come to the humane society through animal control centers, “owner give-ups” and the society also takes its own animals back if an adoption doesn’t work out. To contact the society, call (630) 960-9600. Or visit wshs-dg.org. (More)

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

Firefighters Endorse Three For Village Council

The Downers Grove Professional Firefighters Association has announced its endorsements of candidates running for seats on the Village Council.

Candidates Robert Barnett, Marilyn Schnell and William Waldack were selected by the group following their responses to a questionnaire from the DGPFA Political Education Committee. (More)

Source: Downers Grove eporter

Downers Grove Police Department Tour

One of the top priorities identified by the Village Council for 2009 was Facilities Planning, including design, funding, and public education.

The purpose of the Downers Grove Police Department Tour video is to provide information about existing conditions within the Police Station. The current building poses significant challenges regarding the space and security needs required by modern law enforcement.

Public Information Manager Marion Heintz narrates the tour and describes the challenges associated with the building.

Source: Village of Downers Grove

Yard Waste Collection Begins April 1

Yard waste collection begins April 1st and continues through the last collection day of December (to be determined for 2009).

For more information and collection guidelines, visit the Yard Waste and Leaf Collection page.

Source: Village of Downers Grove

Park Board to Create Pool Committee Once Site is Public Knowledge

The Downers Grove Park Board will develop another new pool committee, but only after an aquatic site or sites are disclosed publicly.

That motion, prepared by Commissioner Cathy Mahoney, narrowly passed 3-2 during Thursday’s Park Board meeting.

Mahoney said the board will continue to examine potential locations as they arise, but following a timeline for choosing sites is not practical. (More)

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

Residents are Standing on Both Sides of Sidewalks

Some residents in the northeast corner of Downers Grove have found themselves walking in different directions when it comes to sidewalk construction.

Sixth Street resident Cheryl Popielarz has lived in the village for about four years. She and her husband chose the neighborhood because of its rural appeal.

During the March 17 Downers Grove Village Council meeting, Popielarz said she became aware of the sidewalk matrix a couple years ago, which resulted out of the Total Community Development Two process in the mid-1990s. (More)

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

District 99 Candidates to Appear at Forum

A candidate forum for the Community High School District 99 Board of Education will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Downers Grove North High School, 4436 Main St.

The forum is hosted by the Downers Grove North High School Parent’s Club.

The League of Women Voters will moderate the forum.

The candidates running for four open seats are Julia Kennedy Beckman, Allyn Barnett, Deborah Boyle, Alex Leventis, Terry Pavesich and Bill White.

The forum is open to the public and will take place in the school’s choir room.

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

Council Discusses New Police Station, Maintaining Current Village Hall

The Downers Grove Village Council is discussing the possibility of building a new $33.5 million police station.

Village officials discussed a motion prepared by village staff at its March 24 council meeting.

The motion sets a timeline of three to five years, if the village’s financial situation allows, to build a 70,000 square-foot, $33.5 million new police station in the western commuter lot of the Village Hall/Civic Center property, 801 Burlington Ave.

The recommendation also calls for the village to maintain the existing Village Hall facility for at least 10 more years. Any major system maintenance or repair should not exceed $500,000 during that time period.

The Village Council is expected to vote on this motion at its next meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. April 7 at Village Hall.

Source: Downers Grove Reporter

Registration Open For District 58 Leap Into Kindergarten Program

Downers Grove Grade School District 58 will offer Leap into Kindergarten summer sessions and registration is open.

The three-week programs are offered to incoming kindergarten students to work on reading and math activities and fine motor skills. Classes will be held at Hillcrest School, 1435 Jefferson Ave.

Sessions will take place from 8:15 to 11:30 a.m. June 9 to 12, June 15 to 19 and June 22 to 26.

The last day to register is May 8 and space is limited. The cost is $95.

Registration forms are available at dg58.org or by calling (630) 719-5820.

The completed registration form and payment should be dropped off or mailed to District 58 summer school, c/o Belle Aire School, 3935 Belle Aire Lane, Downers Grove, IL 60515.

For more information, call Linda Jennings at (630) 719-5820.

Source: Downers Grove Reporter