North Central College holding ‘For Love of Waterways’ film festival
A film festival that includes a short film on the watersheds of DuPage County will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 22, at North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave.
The “For Love of Waterways” Film Festival is a free, public event to kick off Earth Month in April.
NCC, The Conservation Foundation and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County created the short film, “Mussel Matters: Saving Critical Species in DuPage County,” which looks at the modern challenges in the Upper DuPage River and Salt Creek systems and community efforts to protect the local watersheds, a news release said.
Four North Central College students were involved in the project.
“The overarching goal of this project is to use short films to increase the knowledge, concern and action about our local water and sustainability issues,” said Reed Perkins, North Central professor of environmental studies and director of the environmental studies program at North Central College.
“This has been a tremendous learning opportunity for our students, and a great way for us to engage community members to think about how we — as individuals and communities — see, manage, enjoy and impact our rivers and streams.”
The film festival will also include seven other screenings on topics such as the Colorado River, river restoration and how road salt goes from street to stream.
Park district may name Knoch Park field for Wintrust Bank
The Naperville Park Board may name the synthetic turf field at Knoch Park for Wintrust/Naperville Bank and Trust under a proposed five-year sponsorship deal.
During the term of the agreement, it would be named Wintrust Athletic Field and a sign bearing that name installed on the field’s west side.
The park board approved the resolution supporting the designation at its March 14 meeting, kicking off a 60-day consideration period. Park district officials will receive community input before taking formal action to name the field, according to park district policy.
DuPage health separtment offering swimming aafety funding
The DuPage County Health Department is awarding up to five public swimming facilities up to $4,500 each to provide free swimming lessons to preschool-aged children in need.
The funding opportunity is part of an initiative to prevent fatal childhood drowning, county officials said in a news release.
The free swim lessons are for Illinois children who are 3 to 5 years old.
The public swimming facilities eligible to apply for the funding include those pools operated by civic and community organizations, schools, municipalities, park and recreation organizations, swim schools, residential communities and health centers.
Applications can be found online at forms.gle/iZ2SpoEX6ur3EAjz7 are due by Friday, April 12.
The initiative is focused on public swimming facilities in regions with higher child drowning incidents. The county has received the Pool Safely grant since 2018.
