Crowning ceremony begins Juneteenth Week in Aurora
The city of Aurora officially launched Juneteenth Week 2025 with the crowning of the new Mr. and Miss Black Aurora on Thursday night at Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium, city officials said.
The ceremony honored four high school students from across the city, each a symbol of academic success, community service and cultural pride, according to a press release from the city.
West Aurora High School senior James Baker was crowned Mr. Black Aurora and will serve as king of the Royal Court. He is a scholar-athlete with a 4.0 grade point average and a student leader, the release said.
The new Miss Black Aurora and queen of the Royal Court, Mbayie Tendong, is a junior at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora. She has a 4.2 grade point average and is a science tutor, Sunday School teacher and multi-sport athlete, city officials said.
Chantz Trotter, a senior at West Aurora High School, earned the title of prince of the Royal Court. His resume includes government internships, youth advisory roles, volunteerism and more, according to the release.
Zyon Askew-Ward, a senior at Metea Valley High School and accomplished cellist, peer mentor and Tri-M Music Honor Society member, was named princess of the Royal Court, city officials said.
The 2025 Black Heritage Royal Court will serve throughout the upcoming school year as youth ambassadors and be involved in mentorship, outreach and cultural engagement, the release stated.
State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit. D-Oswego, will host her free annual Recycle and Shred Day event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 28, in the parking lot of Kifowit's district office at 1677 Montgomery Road in Aurora, organizers said.
The event is dedicated to helping residents safely dispose of sensitive documents and unwanted electronics while supporting environmental sustainability and local nonprofit causes, according to a press release.
On-site paper shredding for residents will be offered, with a limit of three 13-gallon trash bags or two banker boxes per vehicle, the release said.
The electronics recycling effort at the event will accept items such as computer towers, printers and fax machines,
DVD and VCR players, video game consoles, microwave ovens, and receivers and cables, organizers said.
TVs and computer monitors will not be accepted at the event, according to the release.
There will also be collection of cellphones to be donated to Mutual Ground to support survivors of domestic violence,
eyeglasses to benefit Lions Clubs International global vision programs and new or gently used books for donation to Scarce and the Will County Sheriff's Office, organizers said.
For more information, call 630-585-1308 or email stephanie.kifowit@att.net.
State Reps. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, and Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, will host the Outside Kids Fair on Saturday, June 21, at Chapelstreet Church in Geneva.
The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church at 3435 Keslinger Road.
The family-oriented event includes free admission, refreshments and giveaways, according to a press release about the fair. Demonstrations will be given by the Kane County Sheriff K-9 Office, Traveling World of Reptiles Show, DancEncounter School of Dance and World Martial Arts Academy, organizers said.
A medical helicopter from Superior Air Medical will be landing at 10 a.m., and a drawing for a bicycle is scheduled for 11:15 a.m., the release stated.
Kids will have 27 options for Touch-A-Truck activities, and there will also be face-painting stations, according to organizers.
The fair will include participation from over 50 local businesses, state agencies, county departments, police departments, park districts, villages, cities and more, the release stated.
The St. Charles Public Library concludes its 2024-25 Sunday Concert Series at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, with a performance by percussionist Josh Graham at the library, 1 S. Sixth St. in St. Charles.
Graham will perform several recently commissioned works for solo marimba, library officials said in a press release.
Graham is assistant professor and percussion program coordinator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, as well as executive director of the trio F-PLUS.
The free performance is funded through donations to the St. Charles Public Library Foundation.
The second annual Solstice Century Ride cycling event will be held Friday, June 20, to raise money for six area nonprofit charities providing mental health and housing insecurity programs, organizers said.
Riders are asked to collect $1,000 or more in donations by completing 100 miles of cycling through the Whalon Lake Forest Preserve near Royce Road and Route 53 near Naperville.
Money raised will help support Hesed House in Aurora, DuPage PADS, 4:13, SamaraCare Counseling, Grow Wellness Foundation and Max's Mission.
The event begins at 6 a.m. and is organized by Zac Larson, a wealth advisor and avid cyclist. A celebration for riders, donors and volunteers with dinner, music and drinks will take place from 6 to 9 p.m.
For more information, go to www.solsticecentury.com.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has broken ground on its new Grounds and Natural Resources Campus at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.
The 112,900-square-foot facility will be a main hub for crews that maintain nearly 26,000 acres of preserves in the county and will replace aging and scattered maintenance buildings, officials said.
Its eco-friendly features including a solar array for renewable energy, rainwater harvesting systems to conserve water, and native bioswales and basins that support stormwater management and habitat restoration, a district news release said.
The campus also includes a native plant nursery support building and greenhouse, which increases its ability to collect and distribute native seeds.
The $36.4 million project is expected to be mostly completed by February 2027 with final completion set for December 2027, the release said. It is the largest of 32 projects the district included in its 2019 master plan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Danny Boyle's rise from Bury to British film visionary
Not many directors can convince a reigning monarch to appear in a comedy skit, but Elizabeth II was said to be "very amused" when invited by Danny Boyle to star in a James Bond sketch for the 2012 London Olympics. The Bury-born filmmaker will add the highly-anticipated 28 Years Later to a back catalogue that includes Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, as the zombie flick screens in cinemas this weekend. The 68-year-old has always been proud of his hometown of Radcliffe, and fulfilled a promise to mention his local social club during his Academy Awards acceptance speech in 2009. His family and friends gathered at St Mary's Catholic Social Club which his father used to run and where Boyle drank lemonade as a boy, to watch him on screen that year when Slumdog Millionaire scooped eight Oscars. The Indian-set movie, inspired by the TV quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, became a runaway global success despite a relatively small $15m budget. But it was the latest in a string of unconventional movies that had become unexpected mainstream commercial successes for Boyle. He recently told the Guardian newspaper: "I want to push the boat out, but take the popular audience with me." Boyle became enamoured by cinema at a young age, and graduated with a degree in English and Drama from Bangor University in 1978. He later worked at the prestigious Royal Court in London, dubbed the "writers theatre", and directed productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company. A move into making TV dramas for the BBC in Northern Ireland and ITV's Inspector Morse came next. Boyle drew fame in the mid-1990s when he directed the dark movie comedy Shallow Grave about Edinburgh flatmates who find a large suitcase of money, which starred Christopher Eccleston and Ewan McGregor. The film's modern story telling and visual style was credited with breaking away from the traditional image of British cinema, which had been associated with period dramas. Boyle collaborated again with McGregor for Trainspotting with its gritty and humorous take on heroin addicts in the Scottish capital. However the pair fell out when Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the lead role for Boyle's 2000 movie The Beach. The director has admitted "we didn't treat [McGregor] very well", while the latter said he had "felt like it was a badge on my sleeve: I am Danny Boyle's actor". They have since made up and reunited with the rest of the Trainspotting cast to make a sequel in 2017. Boyle was chosen to direct a hugely memorable opening ceremony at the 2012 Olympics – dubbed Isles of Wonder. The extravaganza drew more than 20m viewers in the UK, and celebrated British achievements in industry, culture and the NHS. And then there was the viral moment when the Queen Elizabeth II appeared in a sketch with James Bond star Daniel Craig, where she had requested to utter the unforgettable words: "Good evening, Mr Bond." Boyle was later chosen to direct the most recent 007 film No Time To Die, but he pulled out months before the start of filming due to "creative differences". The filmmaker's risk-taking and creativity has won him not only fans among audiences but actors too. Jodie Comer, who appears in 28 Years Later, recently said to be "led by him and be on one of his sets is a proper dream". A follow-up to the 2002 film 28 Days Later, their new movie marks a return to horror for Boyle, who recently told the BBC he still found "something intangible but amazing about cinema". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Danny Boyle and Jodie Comer talk Covid, horror and making 28 Years Later 'The 28 Years Later make-up was terrifying'
Chicago Tribune
13-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Crowning ceremony begins Juneteenth Week in Aurora
The city of Aurora officially launched Juneteenth Week 2025 with the crowning of the new Mr. and Miss Black Aurora on Thursday night at Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium, city officials said. The ceremony honored four high school students from across the city, each a symbol of academic success, community service and cultural pride, according to a press release from the city. West Aurora High School senior James Baker was crowned Mr. Black Aurora and will serve as king of the Royal Court. He is a scholar-athlete with a 4.0 grade point average and a student leader, the release said. The new Miss Black Aurora and queen of the Royal Court, Mbayie Tendong, is a junior at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora. She has a 4.2 grade point average and is a science tutor, Sunday School teacher and multi-sport athlete, city officials said. Chantz Trotter, a senior at West Aurora High School, earned the title of prince of the Royal Court. His resume includes government internships, youth advisory roles, volunteerism and more, according to the release. Zyon Askew-Ward, a senior at Metea Valley High School and accomplished cellist, peer mentor and Tri-M Music Honor Society member, was named princess of the Royal Court, city officials said. The 2025 Black Heritage Royal Court will serve throughout the upcoming school year as youth ambassadors and be involved in mentorship, outreach and cultural engagement, the release stated. State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit. D-Oswego, will host her free annual Recycle and Shred Day event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 28, in the parking lot of Kifowit's district office at 1677 Montgomery Road in Aurora, organizers said. The event is dedicated to helping residents safely dispose of sensitive documents and unwanted electronics while supporting environmental sustainability and local nonprofit causes, according to a press release. On-site paper shredding for residents will be offered, with a limit of three 13-gallon trash bags or two banker boxes per vehicle, the release said. The electronics recycling effort at the event will accept items such as computer towers, printers and fax machines, DVD and VCR players, video game consoles, microwave ovens, and receivers and cables, organizers said. TVs and computer monitors will not be accepted at the event, according to the release. There will also be collection of cellphones to be donated to Mutual Ground to support survivors of domestic violence, eyeglasses to benefit Lions Clubs International global vision programs and new or gently used books for donation to Scarce and the Will County Sheriff's Office, organizers said. For more information, call 630-585-1308 or email State Reps. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, and Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, will host the Outside Kids Fair on Saturday, June 21, at Chapelstreet Church in Geneva. The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church at 3435 Keslinger Road. The family-oriented event includes free admission, refreshments and giveaways, according to a press release about the fair. Demonstrations will be given by the Kane County Sheriff K-9 Office, Traveling World of Reptiles Show, DancEncounter School of Dance and World Martial Arts Academy, organizers said. A medical helicopter from Superior Air Medical will be landing at 10 a.m., and a drawing for a bicycle is scheduled for 11:15 a.m., the release stated. Kids will have 27 options for Touch-A-Truck activities, and there will also be face-painting stations, according to organizers. The fair will include participation from over 50 local businesses, state agencies, county departments, police departments, park districts, villages, cities and more, the release stated. The St. Charles Public Library concludes its 2024-25 Sunday Concert Series at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, with a performance by percussionist Josh Graham at the library, 1 S. Sixth St. in St. Charles. Graham will perform several recently commissioned works for solo marimba, library officials said in a press release. Graham is assistant professor and percussion program coordinator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, as well as executive director of the trio F-PLUS. The free performance is funded through donations to the St. Charles Public Library Foundation. The second annual Solstice Century Ride cycling event will be held Friday, June 20, to raise money for six area nonprofit charities providing mental health and housing insecurity programs, organizers said. Riders are asked to collect $1,000 or more in donations by completing 100 miles of cycling through the Whalon Lake Forest Preserve near Royce Road and Route 53 near Naperville. Money raised will help support Hesed House in Aurora, DuPage PADS, 4:13, SamaraCare Counseling, Grow Wellness Foundation and Max's Mission. The event begins at 6 a.m. and is organized by Zac Larson, a wealth advisor and avid cyclist. A celebration for riders, donors and volunteers with dinner, music and drinks will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information, go to The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has broken ground on its new Grounds and Natural Resources Campus at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville. The 112,900-square-foot facility will be a main hub for crews that maintain nearly 26,000 acres of preserves in the county and will replace aging and scattered maintenance buildings, officials said. Its eco-friendly features including a solar array for renewable energy, rainwater harvesting systems to conserve water, and native bioswales and basins that support stormwater management and habitat restoration, a district news release said. The campus also includes a native plant nursery support building and greenhouse, which increases its ability to collect and distribute native seeds. The $36.4 million project is expected to be mostly completed by February 2027 with final completion set for December 2027, the release said. It is the largest of 32 projects the district included in its 2019 master plan.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Buckhannon's 83rd Strawberry Festival honors first responders
BUCKHANNON, (WBOY) — The 83rd Strawberry Festival in Buckhannon began its Friday evening festivities on a high note with the annual Fireman's Parade. Residents and visitors from across the region lined the streets of downtown Buckhannon to see the approximately 100 fire units from the Mountain State that took part in the procession. The parade also showcased the Strawberry Festival queen, king, and royal court. West Virginia Strawberry Festival 2025: Full schedule 'The spirit of the festival to me is very magical in the community and it's also special and very sentimental to me. Being a life-long resident here and also a board member is special because as a young boy I was participating in the festival,' an Associate Board Member of the WV Strawberry Festival, Brandon Zickefoose, said. If you missed Friday's festivities, the festival continues into the weekend. Saturday's schedule features an antique car parade at noon, followed by the highly anticipated Grand Feature Parade at 1 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
