Naperville News Digest: July 4 fireworks show being held at Frontier Sports Complex; Naper Settlement's new farm exhibit uses AI technology
Naperville's annual Fourth of July fireworks show will be held at 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at the Frontier Sports Complex, 3380 Cedar Glade Road.
Prior to the show, cohosted by the city of Naperville and Naperville Park District, the Naperville Municipal Band will perform patriotic tunes at 7:30 p.m. in the Wagner Pavilion at the 95th Street Community Plaza, 3109 Cedar Glade Drive.
Parking and entry to the sports complex are free. The Frontier Sports Complex has 906 parking spaces and adjacent Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th St., has 1,000 spaces.
Maps and parking options can be found at www.naperville.il.us/eventinfo prior to the event.
The Thresher Experience, a new exhibit at Naper Settlement, showcases Naperville's farm history through AI technology, officials said.
Located in the museum's Herman and Anna Hageman Memorial Thresher Hall, the exhibit utilizes cutting-edge technology and projection mapping to bring a 1912 Wood Brothers Threshing Machine to life, a news release said.
The 1912 threshing machine was used by the Hageman family and area farmers for decades and is one of Naper Settlement's macro-artifacts.
The exhibit animates the workings of the machine through projection mapping on the surface, allowing viewers to learn about its role in the mechanical revolution of agriculture, the release said. Visitors can see the operations of the thresher and the simple mechanics used to separate grain from chaff.
Substitute teachers at Indian Prairie School District 204 will earn a slightly higher pay rate following a school board vote approving an increase in the daily fee.
The per-day rate will go from $126 to $130, district documents said. Long-term substitutes and district retiree substitute teachers will make $310 per day, up from $300.
According to a memo from the district's Chief Human Resources Officer Carey Beth Harry, the district's average fill rate for daily teacher substitutes this past school year was 87%. The goal of the increase, the memo said, is to keep the district competitive with surrounding districts.
Board President Laurie Donahue and board Secretary Allison Fosdick abstained from voting because they are both district substitute teachers.
Connor Potterton, who recently completed his freshman year at Naperville North High School, is the first recipient of a $2,500 U4Uganda ambassador scholarship.
U4Uganda is a nonprofit organization that supports school children in remote Ugandan villages, a news release said.
Connor began working with the organization when he was 7 by fundraising for solar lights for families and provide classrooms with desks in Alenga, Uganda. This summer he will join nine other missionaries in going to Alenga and Gomi, Uganda, where they will build desks and visit with local school children.
The ambassador scholarship recognizes young leaders who make a difference both locally and abroad, the release said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Where are fireworks legal in the Kansas City area in 2025?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Fourth of July is less than a month away, which means it's almost time for fireworks. But is it legal to buy or shoot them off where you live in the Kansas City metro? This year, fireworks sales in Missouri are permitted to start on Friday, June 20, and run through Thursday, July 10. In Kansas, , allows for the year-round sale of fireworks in the state by permanent retailers and extended sales periods for seasonal retailers. Local ordinances however still regulate when fireworks can be set off and sold. But buying fireworks in both Kansas and Missouri doesn't mean you can shoot them off in every city. Some metro areas do not permit fireworks at all, while others have varied regulations. Here's a breakdown city-by-city of where you can shoot off your Fourth of July fireworks. Some regulations may change ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox Belton: Fireworks can be discharged from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 28 through July 2, noon to 10 p.m. on July 3, and from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4. The possession, sale and/or use of bottle rockets, skyrockets and Roman candles are prohibited. Blue Springs: Fireworks are allowed from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 1-3 and from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4. Bottle rockets and aerial luminaries are prohibited, according to city code. Gladstone: The possession, sale and use of fireworks are prohibited in Gladstone under city ordinance. Grandview: The sale or use of fireworks is not allowed in Grandview under city ordinance. Independence: You can shoot off consumer fireworks from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 3 and 5 and from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4. It's against city code to have or use sparkler bombs, sky lanterns and altered or combined fireworks. Kansas City, Missouri: Shooting off fireworks is illegal in Kansas City under city ordinance. Lee's Summit: Fireworks can only be discharged on July 2 and 3 between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m., and July 4 between 10 a.m. and midnight. Each household is required to have a free Fireworks Use Permit before discharging fireworks within the city limits. Liberty: Non-aerial fireworks are allowed from 4-10 p.m. on July 3 and 4. Aerial fireworks are allowed during the same timeframe for Liberty residents who live on three-acre tracts of land or more. North Kansas City: Fireworks are not permitted within city limits, according to city code. Parkville: Fireworks can only be discharged on July 1-3 and July 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on July 4 from 10 a.m. to midnight. All aerial fireworks are prohibited. Platte City: Fireworks are allowed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June 20 to July 3, and from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4, except on Sundays when fireworks can't start before noon, according to city code. Raymore: This year, fireworks are allowed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 1-2, from noon to 10 p.m. July 3 and from 10 a.m. to midnight July 4, according to city code. Raytown: Consumer fireworks can be discharged from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4 and noon to 10 p.m. on July 5. Stick rockets, missiles, sky lanterns and other items which, in the opinion of the Fire Marshal, are deemed dangerous, shall be prohibited, according to city code. Riverside: Fireworks can only be used from June 20 through July 5. Bottle rockets are prohibited, according to city code. Smithville: Fireworks can be discharged from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. July 3-5. to the hours between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. beginning June 20 through July 5. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Bonner Springs: City code only allows fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. from July 3-4. Fireworks are not allowed in city parks or parking lots. Bottle rockets and lanterns are illegal. Sales of fireworks are permitted from June 27 through July 4. De Soto: Fireworks are prohibited to sell or use in De Soto unless they're part of a public display with a permit issued, per the city code. Gardner: The sale of fireworks is permitted between June 28 and July 4 in Gardner. They can be discharged from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 2-4. Click here for details on where they can be discharged. Kansas City, Kansas: Fireworks are legal, except for sky lanterns, rockets and missiles, to sell from June 29 through July 4, according to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK. You may shoot from July 2 through July 4, 9 a.m. through 11 p.m. Lawrence: The city ordinance states that the use, possession, handling and sale of fireworks are prohibited except for the use of fireworks for display, as outlined in supervised public displays. Novelty items such as party poppers, snappers, snakes, sparklers, toy caps and toy smoke devices are acceptable. Douglas County: People can ignite or discharge fireworks and novelty items legally on private property in the unincorporated areas of the county on July 2 and July 3 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and July 4 from 7 a.m. to midnight. Leawood: Fireworks cannot be sold, used or possessed in Leawood, city code says. Lenexa: The sale and use of fireworks is not allowed in Lenexa. Merriam: Fireworks are illegal in Merriam, according to city ordinance. Olathe: Fireworks are illegal to possess and shoot off in Olathe, police say. Overland Park: It's illegal to buy or use fireworks in Overland Park with some exceptions such as snappers, snakes, toy pistols or canes with caps. Any device that produces a visible or audible effect through combustion or detonation is not allowed in Overland Park. Prairie Village: Fireworks aren't allowed in Prairie Village's city limits. Roeland Park: Only novelty items like sparklers, snakes, snappers, smoke devices and cone fountains are allowed, but they're limited to noon to 10 p.m. on July 4, the city said. Bottle rockets or aerial fireworks are not allowed. Shawnee: The City Council voted in May of 2022 to allow fireworks during a specific time frame. The city says fireworks may be legally set off within city limits between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. on July 3 and July 4. Bottle rockets, sky lanterns and M80s are not allowed. Tonganoxie: Fireworks are allowed from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on June 30 through July 4. Bottle rockets are not allowed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Bristol announces Navy ship coming to town for 4th of July
BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) — The U.S. Navy is sending the USS Billings up Narragansett Bay to be part of Bristol's Fourth of July Celebration. The 378-foot Freedom-class littoral combat ship will arrive in Bristol on Thursday, July 3, and leave on Monday, July 7. She is named after Billings, Montana, and is designed for operations in near-shore environments while retaining open-ocean capabilities. The ship will be open for public tours, but those times have not been released yet. RELATED: Bristol to repaint 4th of July parade route lines red, white and blue The Navy has been sending ships to Bristol for the town's historic Fourth of July celebration since the early 1900s. Bristol will also have the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Maurice Jester in town for the holiday. It will be moored at the Bristol Town Pier adjacent to the Maritime Center south of Rockwell Park. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Associated Press
The Roger Effect: How One Refugee Father Transformed His Family and Community
Posted by Action Against Hunger . By Diana Sharone Tumuhairwe. When Roger Okuna fled Congo with his wife and four children (ages ten, five, three, and one), life was brutal. They arrived at the Uganda 's Kyangwali refugee settlement in November 2023 and were supplied with blankets, fuel containers, and a few meager provisions. Sadly, a robber took everything, and the family was once again left with nothing. 'We didn't have food to eat,' Roger recounts, the memory still raw. 'I once went hungry for three days.' A pastor in the refugee settlement heard of his plight and offered him 20,000 Uganda shillings ($6) and some food. It kept them going for a few days, but the constant worry about feeding his young family, especially his pregnant wife, took a heavy toll. Roger is hypertensive, and his blood pressure soared. While mornings brought hope and promise for many people, Roger dreaded mornings. 'Every time the morning came, I dreaded what the day would hold, what were we going to eat? I preferred the nighttime,' Roger recounted. For six months, he made a living with whatever labor he could find, but the income was barely enough to survive on. Then, his life turned a corner. Roger and his family were enrolled in the Action Against Hunger's Fresh Food Program, which supports refugees and households with pregnant and lactating women. The family received monthly Fresh Food Vouchers pre-loaded with 16,5000 Ugandan shillings per family member — about $4.50 each— enabling them to buy meat, fruits, and vegetables from designated vendors. An essential component of the program is nutrition education, which supports families in making informed food choices that prevent malnutrition. Action Against Hunger also introduced Roger to the Optimized Land Utilization Model (OLUM). This approach encourages efficient land use on small plots. It was new territory for Roger. Back in Congo, he was a commercial farmer with traditional farming methods that he used to cultivate maize and beans on a large scale. The idea of nourishing a family of six using a small plot of land and Action Against Hunger's cutting-edge technical advice was foreign to him, but he was willing to try. The OLUM approach transformed Roger's life. He received seedlings of tomatoes, eggplant, and onions and learned how to maximize his small piece of land to grow nutritious vegetables year-round. He and his family now not only have enough to eat, but they also have surplus produce to sell, earning extra income for other necessities. Over time, Roger built up enough income to participate in a Village Savings and Loans Association. Roger's transformation extended beyond farming - he also learned about nutrition and gender equity in Action Against Hunger's care group. He speaks openly about how his understanding of family and fatherhood has evolved. 'I have learned to treat my wife better,' he explains. 'I was not a bad man, but I was just ignorant about certain things, especially about pregnant women and caring for children.' He understands the importance of relieving his wife of hard labor during pregnancy. 'Before I depended on my wife for labor' Roger confirms. 'But now I know that she shouldn't do certain forms of work while pregnant.' He admits that, culturally, he once believed nurturing children was solely his wife's role. Now, he understands his integral part in the family and embraces any knowledge that makes him a better father and husband. Roger is now a more intentional parent. 'I can now prepare meals for my lastborn, and I see myself as a better-educated father,' he says. Roger took a series of Action Against Hunger courses on breastfeeding, hygiene and sanitation, and proper nutrition. The more he learned, the more he felt drawn to share information with his community. He signed up to become a care group volunteer and eventually became a 'lead father' for other men in his community. Roger found great joy in educating the men and women of his community, witnessing firsthand the positive changes his efforts brought. Roger is unfazed by the ridicule of other men and the community he sometimes receives. 'As long as I am empowered,' he asserts, 'I don't care if people laugh or call me less of a man. As long as I see my family thriving, I keep fighting to provide and be present.' His commitment has won over many members of the community. Thanks to his tireless effort, every household in his neighborhood now has a pit latrine and a handwashing station, remarkable improvements that have reduced open defecation. His neighbors have also embraced simple yet crucial practices like handwashing, recognizing their importance in preventing illness. Small backyard vegetable gardens in every neighborhood homestead further illustrate Roger's influence. Around the community, these positive impacts have been nicknamed 'the Roger effect.' Neighbors regularly gather at Roger's homestead, eager to learn more. He welcomes them, enthusiastically sharing his expertise on nutrition, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene practices), and the crucial role men play in family health. He has become a beacon of change, transforming his community through one conversation, one demonstration, and one household at a time. He is even building a temporary church on a piece of land near his home, and is an ordained clergyman passionate about changing lives, both physically and spiritually. Once a hungry refugee living in fear of what each morning would bring, Roger Okuna has become a provider, a leader, and an example of resilience and hope. *** Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Action Against Hunger
