BOREALIS growth takes off he has had the has been heading downward for the past few years. highest percentage of growth in traffic But the Aurora Airport is bucking that trend. volumes of all so far Fixed base operator (FBO) J.A. Air Center, which this year. T relocated to the Aurora Airport in late 2008, INSIDE Aurora’s airport experienced a 28 percent increase provides charter flights, flight instruction, aircraft repair, aircraft radio repair, storage and rental Eola Road Interchange in growth in 2009 when compared to the same to open this year time period in 2008. services. Aurora Public Page 2 Of the 13 airports Works Director Ken in Illinois that have Schroth said an FBO is Hal Carlson is new control towers, only akin to an anchor tenant fire chief Page 3 two others – in Decatur of a shopping mall, much and Cahokia – reported like a Macy’s or a Sears. Fall Calendar positive growth. The other FBO on site Pages 4 and 5 Decatur Airport’s is Lumanair Aviation Services, which has Below: Sisters Jessica (Garth) and growth was 3 percent Rachel (Wayne) Sosnoski of Aurora while Cahokia’s saw provided flight training, were the winners of the Wayne’s fueling services, hangar World Wayne and Garth look-alike a 7 percent increase. contest that was part of the O’Hare, Midway, and office space rental, Downtown Alive Rock on the Fox DuPage and Palwaukee airports all saw a decrease aircraft brokerage and sales and aircraft parts and Festival July 31 and Aug. 1. in traffic counts in the first six months of the year. maintenance services for more than 45 years. “The city has been focusing on a program for many Other businesses that specialize in services like years to develop the infrastructure of the airport,” aerobatic and exotic aircraft, flight simulation, Mayor Tom Weisner said. “That work is paying off ambulance flights and specialized airplane because it has created an attractive environment repair are known as the “boutiques” of for both corporate and recreational users.” the operation. The City of Aurora owns and operates the airport, The FAA is forecasting that nationwide, which has a Sugar Grove mailing address. the drop in air traffic this year will be 8 to 20 percent across the board. “That HondaJet Midwest, a sales and service makes our 28 percent increase even more representative for Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., impressive,” Schroth said. announced last year that the Aurora airport will be home to HondaJet’s Midwest Sales and Service The Aurora Municipal Airport is a general facility. Construction is set to begin next year. aviation reliever airport. Its task is to take small corporate and recreational aircraft According to monthly Federal Aviation away from larger airports like O’Hare Administration (FAA) traffic counts of airports with and Midway. control towers, the airport traffic trend nationwide

City of Aurora Autumn 2009 www.aurora-il.org Eola Interchange on he Illinois Tollway system’s new Eola Road Interchange on From the Mayor’s Desk Aurora’s far northeast side will City responds to economic crisis include four ramps providing Taccess for Eola Road traffic to and from I-88 via Bilter Road on the north side of the ith September already many as 37 employees and our personnel Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) and Diehl upon us, summer seems to cost by nearly $3.5 million. Road on the south side. Construction began have disappeared almost in mid-April and is scheduled for completion Additionally, we have frozen pay levels as quickly as it began. by the end of this year. and instituted 15 unpaid furlough Despite both weather and an W days through December of 2010 for The $50 million project is a collaboration economy that have been gloomier than among the Tollway, DuPage County and the management employees. We are usual, Aurora has had a good summer in City of Aurora. negotiating with unionized employees many ways. for comparable concessions, and we are Local road construction includes pavement Crime continued to fall below last year’s restructuring our organization to eliminate resurfacing and widening on Diehl Road record low levels and our Memorial Day positions (and possibly departments) that and on Bilter Road to accommodate Parade and Fourth of July Fireworks saw may not be absolutely essential during construction of the new ramps. The the largest crowds, ever. Our Downtown these difficult times. intersection of Diehl Road and Eola Road Alive summer music series featuring also will be widened as part of the project. I know many of you have been forced world-class bands – from Los Lobos, New traffic signals will be installed on Diehl to tighten your belts and I want you to to American English, to Billy Squire – Road and on Bilter Road for traffic entering know that I am committed to doing what drew tens of thousands from Aurora and and exiting the Tollway. is necessary to provide our City Council a beyond. The new Eola Road Interchange will provide balanced budget for 2010 without raising all-electronic toll collection, the first on As autumn beckons, we celebrate the property taxes. the Illinois Tollway system, and will include opening of Sincerely, tolled ramps to and from the east. I-PASS on Eola Road, Aurora’s ninth high toll rates will be set at 30 cents for passenger school. Speaking of Eola Road, the vehicles, and truck rates will range from Eola Road Tollway Interchange is $1.15 to $3 during daytime hours, with well into construction (and no doubt overnight discounts offered. Cash-paying inconveniencing folks, temporarily). It customers will have access to existing should be completed this year. Waubonsee Tom Weisner interchanges at Farnsworth Avenue two Community College’s Downtown Aurora Mayor, City of Aurora miles to the west or IL Route 59 two miles campus is rapidly taking shape and to the east. our new, state-of-the-art Aurora Police Facility will open before Christmas. Unfortunately all this good news is tempered by our nation’s economic Mayor Weisner appointed to posts downturn, which is negatively impacting Gov. Pat Quinn appointed Mayor Tom state’s pension system. The task force is to city revenues. Although we implemented Weisner to the Illinois Tollway Board of report its findings by Nov. 1. a hiring freeze last year and reduced both Directors in August. Quinn said it was his Weisner accepts no compensation for 2009 revenue estimates and budgeted privilege to appoint Weisner to the post serving in either state capacity. expenditures accordingly, actual revenue along with Bill Morris, former mayor of shortfalls have exceeded estimates. Waukegan, and public policy and regional planning expert Paula Wolff, who will serve BBRIGHTRIGHT IIDEASDEAS This has created the need for multiple as chairman. from ComEd cost containment measures over tthehe next 24 months, starting now. Earlier in the summer, Quinn appointed Through Smart Ideas for Already, we have offered Weisner to the Pension System Your Home, you can a Voluntary Reduction in Modernization Task Force. The 19-member purchase select CFLs at Force incentive that will group has been charged with researching a discount. rreduceedu our work force by as and discussing the reconstruction of the Learn more at www.ComEd.com or by calling 888-806-2273

2 City of Aurora Autumn 2009 www.aurora-il.org target Carlson is new fire chief Tenth Ward Alderman Lynda Elmore believes the ayor Tom Weisner has selected project will offer incentive Deputy Chief Hal Carlson to be the for new businesses and city’s new fire chief. Carlson has developments to locate served as interim chief since former in Aurora. Ninth Ward M Chief Tim Oelker retired in April. Alderman Leroy Keith Oelker served the citizens of Aurora for 30 years. agrees, and adds that “Hal has served the city well,” Weisner said. “He the exchange will lessen leads by example, and his example over the years congestion at the Route 59 has been exemplary. He lives the core values all access point. firefighters should possess: teamwork and the Photo courtesy of Scott Sanders, The Daily Herald Illinois Prairie Path drive to help others.” Detour in Place captain on Feb. 16, 1999; to battalion chief on July The section of the Illinois Former Chief Oelker endorsed the mayor’s choice, 10, 2000; to assistant chief on April 19, 2003; and Prairie Path that runs parallel saying, “I’m really happy for Hal. I always thought to deputy chief on Nov. 12, 2005. He was named to the Tollway between Ferry that he was one of the best qualified out there. He interim chief on April 4. Road and Bilter Road is closed has confidence in and respect for the rank and file Carlson said he considers firefighting “a fantastic for construction of the Eola and he’s always had the department foremost in job.” Road Interchange Project. all he does. I don’t know of anyone else who would A detour route is in place to do better. He’s meticulous and reflective and he’ll “I think the longer you are with it, the more you get allow full access to the Illinois do a real good job. Hal would have succeeded in to see the benefit to being a firefighter,” he said. Prairie Path throughout anything he did. “What has happened since 9-11 might have glorified construction. As fire chief, Carlson, 57, will oversee a department us a little too much, but people really appreciate the job we do. The opportunities that we are presented Upon completion of the that employs close to 215 employees including with help us make a difference in people’s lives.” interchange project, the firefighters and support staff. Carlson was sworn Illinois Prairie Path will be in to his new position during the Aug. 25 city Carlson and his wife Bridget, whom he calls his best routed north along the council meeting. friend, have been married for three yyears. Both are westbound exit ramp leading Carlson joined the department on Dec. 27, 1982. avid runners. They live in Aurora. to Bilter Road, cross the ramp He was promoted to lieutenant on May 20, 1990; to at Bilter Road and continue southwest on Bilter Road to join back up with the existing Illinois Prairie Path route. Soldiers return to grateful community yley Soloff won’t remember The soldiers were members of three Aug. 14, 2009, but his dad police mentor teams that trained the sure will. Afghan National Army and Police. They also conducted patrols and It was the day West Aurora security missions. RHigh School graduate Cpl. Benjamin Soloff held his son for the first time. The soldiers’ bus was escorted by Warriors Watch, Rolling Thunder Benjamin returned home from and Patriot Guard motorcycle groups Afghanistan to a hero’s welcome from Fort McCoy, Wis. Police officers at along from Aurora and North Aurora led the BRIGHT IDEAS with 16 other Charlie Troop 2-106th procession from Interstate 88 to East Cavalry soldiers. Aurora High School along a route lined About 80 members of Charlie Troop with more than 125 American flags were deployed to Afghanistan from placed by the City of Aurora. Benjamin Soloff, 21, embraces Fifth Ward Alderman John “Whitey” the armory based at the high school his son, Ryley Harris Soloff, upon Residents stood in front of their his return from Afghanistan on Peters signs a banner alongside last year. They were to return home Aureliano DeLaTorre of Fox Valley residences and businesses to show their Aug. 14. Ryley was born on in three waves. A welcome home July 28. Marines. The family of Corporal support for the returning soldiers. Benjamin Soloff lives in Peters’ ward. ceremony for all the soldiers is planned for December.

City of Aurora Autumn 2009 www.aurora-il.org 3 VETERANSVETERANS DAY PARADEPARADE Wednesday,Wednesday, November 11th,11th, 20092009 Aurora comes alive in Fall 2009! HONORINGHONORING September Perfect Perennials ALLALL WHOWHO SERVEDSERVED for Perpetual Color Farmers Market Saturday, Sept. 26 Through Oct. 3 10 a.m. to noon Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway Main Library, 1 E. Benton St. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon. Join Greg Bartoshuk of the Daylily FREE Society for a program that will show participants how to have color in the garden three seasons of the year. Bartoshuk is the Fiesta de Luces FREE! winner of both the Outstanding Master Saturday, September 19 Gardener of the Year and the Sustained 2 to 7:30 p.m. Excellence Award from the University of Aurora Transportation Center Parking Lot, Illinois. He also is a landscape designer who corner of Spring Street and Lincoln Avenue has appeared on radio and television. FREE The City of Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board hosts Fiesta de Luces (Festival of Lights) Aurora Public Art to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. A main Commission Exhibit highlight of the festival is the Parade of September 28-February 26, 2010 10:15 am Step-Off: Benton and Water Nations, where children participate in a fl ag-carrying procession of Latin American Art at City Hall (44 E. Downer Place) 10:30 am Ceremony: GAR Museum countries. featuring Yellow House Artists Schedule: Members of Yellow House Artists are from the west suburban Chicago area and paint Presented by 630.264.INFO 2 p.m. — Star Spangled Banner AURORA 2:45 p.m. — Parade of Nations exclusively in oil pastel and oil stick. FREE Mayor’s Office Of Special Events Thomas J. Weisner, Mayor 6 to 7:30 p.m. — Anima Pop Plus: Bilingual Story Hour La Enkantadora Banda Karembe, Taller Borin- Monday, Sept. 28 cano, Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl, Mariachi, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. beer garden, car show, boxing show, children’s Main Library, 1 E. Benton St. Trick or Treat cultural activities and arts and crafts. Bilingual storyteller Marcia Gutierrez will take participants on a cultural trip across the world as they listen to stories in English and hours: Spanish. Gutierrez has performed at Phillips Park Fall Festivalal Museum Africa in Johannesburg, South Saturday, Sept. 26 FREE! Africa, The Art Institute of Chicago, Saturday, Oct. 31 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Naperville’s Ghost Stories in the Park in the Phillips Park is accessible from Smith Boule- Dark, and the Fox Valley Folk Music and 4 to 7:30 p.m. vard, Parker Avenue, or Howell Place off Storytelling Festival. FREE Montgomery Road Pony rides, petting zoo, stilt-walker, hay rides, fi re trucks, caricatures, face painting, tempo- rary tattoos, super slide, jumping castle, October pumpkin painting Live entertainment: 11 a.m. — Truly Remarkable Loon Farmers Market Noon — Dave Rudolf, family songs and jokes Through Oct. 3 1 p.m. — Thaddeus Rex, music and family Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway entertainment Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon. 2 p.m. — Magic by Jaime Aponte Features fresh produce, handcrafted jewelry, natural soaps, soy candles, dog treats, salsas, jellies, dressings, vinegars, homemade pastries, donuts and bratwurst. FREE

4 City of Aurora Autumn 2009 www.aurora-il.org Hola/Hello: Technology to Holiday Magic FREE! Keep in Touch Friday, Nov. 27, 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5 North Island Center across from the 5 to 6 p.m. Paramount Theatre Main Library, 1 E. Benton St. Come usher in the spirit of the season Phillipsp Park Learn how to see, hear and talk to friends and welcome Santa’s arrival in Aurora! and family anywhere in the world for free • Meet & Greet with Santa & through the computer. Bilingual. FREE Mrs. Claus • Complimentary hot chocolate ArtWalk and holiday cookies Friday, Oct. 9 • Seasonal choir music 2009 6 to 9 p.m. • Countdown and lighting of the offi cial Aurora holiday tree with Downtown Aurora Saturday, September 26 Fox Valley artists (dancers, painters, Miss Merry Christmas and performers, vocalists, poets, sculptors, Jack Frost 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ceramicists, authors, songwriters, • Strolling costumed holiday performance artists, and musicians) will characters display their work. www. Auroraartwalk.com • Photo opportunities and Free Fun for the Whole Family! FREE holiday memories • Live reindeer Pony Rides Fire Trucks Super Slide All events at North Island Center. Aurora Public Art Petting Zoo Caricatures Jumping Castle No parade or fi reworks this year. Stiltwalker Face Painting Bungee Jump Commission Exhibits Hay Rides Tattoos Pumpkin Painting October 9-November 29 Three Generations of Artists at The David L. Pierce Center, 20 E. Downer Place The work of Anton Witek of Aurora, his December 11 a.m. Truly Remarkable Loon mother Patricia Humay, and his grandmother, Helen Balun Humay. FREE 12 p.m. Dave Rudolf Aurora Public Art 1 p.m. Thaddeus Rex Commission Exhibits 2 p.m. Magician Jaime Aponte December 11 - January 10, 2010 Winter Garden of Youth Art at the David L. Presented by November Pierce Center, 20 E. Downer Place AURORA Mayor’s Office Of Special Events An annual exhibit of works of art by Aurora 630-264-INFO Veterans Day Parade students in grades K through 12. The exhibit www.aurora-il.org Wednesday, Nov. 11 is held in the Aurora Public Art Commission’s Presented by the Mayor’s Offi ce of Special third fl oor gallery. FREE Events BBRIGHTRIGHT IIDEASDEAS 10:15 a.m. — Step off at Benton and Water streets Aurora Police Headquarters from ComEd 10:30 a.m. — Ceremony at the GAR Hall, 23 E. Open Houses Battery chargers that are Downer Place Saturday, Dec. 5 plugged in to an outlet use FREE 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. power even when not Teen Craft: Needle Felting Sunday, Dec. 6 actively charging. After Thursday, Nov. 19 1 to 4 p.m. your cordless phone, 6 to 7:30 p.m. 1200 E. Indian Trail portable music player or Eola Road Branch, 555 S. Eola Road Come and tour the city’s new police head- quarters, the largest municipal construction other device is recharged, Local sheep farmer and craftswoman unplug the energy charger. Natasha Lehrer will teach a class on project in the state. needle felting, a simple but amazing art. Go to www.ComEd.com for more FREE energy-saving tips Call 630-264-INFO for event information

City of Aurora Autumn 2009 www.aurora-il.org 5 Directions in Development Freudenberg Household Products CENTA Corporation, a U.S. subsidiary (FHP), makers of O-Cedar mops, brooms of a privately owned German firm, opened and other cleaning products, will open its a 23,000-square-foot facility in the Aurora North American headquarters in October. Corporate Center at 2570 Beverly Drive A total of 350 jobs will be housed out of the that will allow the company to do much 525,000-square-foot facility in the Prairie Point of its manufacturing in the United States. West Industrial Park at 2188 Diehl Road. CENTA manufactures torsional couplings Candlewood Suites opened at 2625 W. and shafting for the marine propulsion and Sullivan Road in March. The hotel features industrial power transmission markets. suites that include fully-equipped kitchens Technology Solutions Group, Inc., (TSG), and work areas with two-line phones and free has relocated its corporate headquarters to high-speed Internet access. Aurora’s White Oak Business Park at Eola Armanetti Beverage Mart opened in March Road and the Reagan Memorial Tollway. TSG at 2681 E. New York Street in a 7,000-square- operates in sales and installation of voice and foot space. The first Armanetti Beverage data transmission equipment. The company Mart opened in 1930. invested $2.5 million for land acquisition, construction and office build-out. Liberty Property Trust broke ground on Waubonsee Community College construction site BBRIGHTRIGHT IIDEASDEAS a 463,636-square-foot distribution building Waubonsee Community College is from ComEd designed to meet LEED (Leadership in constructing its $50 million, 132,000-square- Energy and Environmental Design) standards. Save money, lower your foot campus in downtown Aurora. The campus The new distribution center will be the sixth carbon footprint, discover will include nearly 60 classrooms and labs. building constructed at the 700,000-square- Classes are set to begin in August 2011. energy-saving tips, tools foot, master-planned Liberty Business Center and more. at 567 Wolverine Drive. Learn about ComEd’s Smart Ideas program at www.ComEd.com Skate Park, Dog Park on tap for Phillips Park og lovers, bikers and skaters will find and the skaters each have their own spaces.” new reasons to go to Phillips Park in The plan also is to include a smooth, level concrete the near future. Both a skate/bike park sidewalk around the whole skate/bike park to be and a dog park are under construction able to accommodate inline skaters. “This is a fully Din the 325-acre park on the city’s southeast side. functional project with a goal to reach as many Other new features of the park include a splash pad youth as possible to give them a positive place to near the Visitors Center, a new volleyball court, go,” Kifowit added. Nov.Novv. 2727 –– Dec.Decc. 2727 lights for two girls’ softball fields, a boat dock The dog park also will be unique. The park will and a walking path with exercise stations. Rosario be composed of two sections: the lower section DeLeon, acting director of parks and recreation, will contain open space and trees, while the upper said the new features are all either finished or section will have an exercise area. nearly done, with the exception of the skate park and walking path, which both will be completed The park improvements are being paid for next spring. with a state Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant, which will match Some components of the skate park are the result PhillipsPhillips ParkPark the city’s portion of about $400,000. Ward funds of a planning session with youth from all around 615 S. Smith Blvd. also will be used to complete some elements of the the city. “What we heard at the session is that it is skate park. Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m. difficult for BMX riders to use a skate park, and it Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m. Mayor Tom Weisner and Jim Pilmer, former parks is difficult for skaters to maneuver around the BMX Free; donations accepted and recreation director, applied for the grant several riders,” Third Ward Alderman Stephanie Kifowit Sponsored by the City of Aurora and the Rotary Club of Aurora years ago, DeLeon said. said. “Thus we created a BMX pod so the riders www.aurorafestivaloflights.com

6 City of Aurora Autumn 2009 www.aurora-il.org Aurora implements green infrastructure project Project Study Area ost people know infrastructure as Munson said. “That’s Legend Study Area streets, highways and utilities -- all how nonpoint source Streets Railroads

of which are commonly referred pollution reaches and N Root St Fox River Rural St McCarty Burlington to as “gray” infrastructure. But the pollutes the river.” 3 . Neighborhood .R.R. River Pierce St B.N Light of the Community MCity of Aurora is greening its infrastructure Nonpoint source Neighborhood 1 SPRING ST. RAIN GARDENS in the McCarty Burlington neighborhood High St pollution can be 2 LINCOLN AVE. BIO-FILTRATION planning area on the near northeast of St Wood x contrasted with point o 3 RIVEREDGE BIO-SWALE F the city. Superior St source pollution, where N Broadway 2 N Lincoln Av The City of Aurora has received a grant under a discharge occurs to Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act a body of water at a 1 through the Illinois Environmental Protection single location, such E New York St N St Agency and the Chicago Metropolitan as the discharge from Spring St N Loucks St Agency for Planning. The grant is focused an industrial factory N E Downer Pl on green infrastructure and stormwater best or combined sewer management practices (BMPs) that will overflow location. reduce nonpoint source water pollution and The grant area is within be slowed, allowing plants to trap some of help improve the Fox River. a well established neighborhood that was the pollutants. The overall project will: developed during the early days of the city. * Lincoln Avenue Metra Parking Lot – An * Reduce nonpoint source pollution Stormwater and best management practices existing detention basin will be turned into that reaches the Fox River. were not required when this area was originally a biofiltration system. This type of system * Reduce stormwater runoff that developed. The “Green Infrastructure helps reduce pollutants – oil, anti-freeze, reaches the Fox River. Implementation Project” will bring current grit, sand and sludge – that are deposited in stormwater management practices to the parking lot. A base of sand and gravel * Implement stormwater best the neighborhood. management practices. will filter the water after it passes through “When a city builds streets, buildings a top layer of plantings. * Educate individuals, developers and businesses on what they can do and parking lots, more rainfall runs off to * RiverEdge Park – A stormwater wetland to help. the river than it would if there were still bioswale will be created immediately west grass, trees and plants on the land,” Munson Pollution. The word brings to mind belching of the Combined Sewer Outflow Plant said. The runoff from a residential area near the Fox Valley Park District bicycle smokestacks, oil-slicked beaches and smoggy can be 9 times more than if the area was skies over large cities. path. A bioswale is a landscape element wooded. All the extra runoff can pick up a lot designed to remove pollution from surface But fast food wrappers, pet waste and cars of NPS pollution. runoff water. Water will come into a small leaking oil and leaving brake dust on streets The intent of the city’s “Green Infrastructure depression from an existing storm sewer can be classified as pollutants as well, say Implementation Project” is to capture some and drain slowly into the river. Plants will City of Aurora engineers who are working to of the pollutants early on and treat them with help trap some of the pollutants. find ways to treat the kinds of pollution that natural processes, Munson said. The project citizens see every day. Also as part of the grant, the city will have will also decrease the amount of runoff by information at the upcoming Fiesta de Luces That pollution -- nonpoint source pollution -- allowing more to soak into the ground. To event about what residents of the grant happens in residential neighborhoods as well that end, the grant will help the city in its area and all of Aurora can do to help reduce as commercial and industrial areas such as the quest to decrease the pollutants that reach the NPS pollution. The festival is on Sept. 19 grant area. Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution Fox River. in the Metra Parking Lot at the corner of affects the Fox River and all the streams and Three locations have been chosen to create Spring Street and Lincoln Avenue. Residents lakes that drain into the river in Aurora. natural areas (stormwater BMPs) that will will be able to see one of the sites where a “People who use lawn fertilizer or pesticides help accomplish the goal: BMP will be installed. Next year they will and herbicides probably don’t think about * Spring Street – A series of rain gardens be able to compare the site after the BMP is where those chemicals go when it rains,” will be planted between the sidewalk completed. The city also will give away five said City of Aurora Engineer Rick Munson. and the south side of the street from Fourth rain barrels at the festival. Rain barrels are “The runoff from rainfall that is not soaked to Root Streets. Rain gardens are colorfully a BMP residents can use that help reduce up into yards picks up all sorts of pollutants landscaped areas that are designed to trap runoff and NPS pollution because they catch from sidewalks, streets, parking lots and runoff from rain water. Some of the water and store rainwater to be used for plant and construction sites and takes them to the storm will soak into the ground, while some will garden watering. sewers, streams, and finally the Fox River,”

City of Aurora Autumn 2009 www.aurora-il.org 7 Your Elected Officials PRESORT STD Mayor Thomas J. Weisner U.S. POSTAGE 630-844-3612 PAID [email protected] AURORA, IL Aldermen’s Office PERMIT NO. 2 630-844-3619 At-Large: Robert O’Connor At-Large: Richard Irvin Ward 1: Abby Schuler 44 E. Downer Place Ward 2: Juany Garza Aurora, IL 60507 Ward 3: Stephanie Kifowit Ward 4: Rick Lawrence Ward 5: John “Whitey” Peters Ward 6: Mike Saville Ward 7: Scheketa Hart-Burns Ward 8: Rick Mervine Ward 9: Leroy Keith Ward 10: Lynda Elmore Postal Customer Aurora Borealis is published four times a year. Editor, Amy Roth Address correspondence to: Newsletter Editor - City of Aurora 44 E. Downer Place Aurora, IL 60507-2067 or [email protected] City Web site: www.aurora-il.org Aurora Community Television: Comcast Channel 10

Yard Waste, brush and leaf collection reminders Yard Waste Unbundled Brush Leaf Collection Yard waste collection began in Unbundled brush collection began in Each Fall, the city provides April and ends the first Friday in April and ends the first Friday in an unstickered leaf December (Dec. 4). Yard waste November (Nov. 6). Branches and limbs collection program. This (up to 60 pounds) must be placed ½-inch to 4 inches in diameter and 2 feet program begins Monday, in a 30-gallon Kraft paper yard to 4 feet in length can be placed at the Oct. 12. Leaves must be waste bag and have a waste curb without a waste sticker. Brush less placed in a 30 gallon Kraft sticker attached. The stickers than ½-inch in diameter is considered paper yard waste bag used for yard waste are the same yard waste and must be placed in a and placed at the curb on as the stickers used for garbage; Kraft paper yard waste bag with a waste your regularly scheduled however, yard waste mixed sticker attached. Brush must be in neat, garbage date. A waste with garbage or yard waste in a manageable piles with the cut side of sticker is not required. garbage can or plastic bag will the limbs facing the street. Brush that not be collected. Yard waste will is in unmanageable piles will not be be collected on the same day as collected. Brush which results from your garbage and must be at the contracted services will not be picked curb by 6 a.m. up. It is the responsibility of the contractor to remove and dispose of such material. Yard Waste Collection Unbundled Brush Collection LeafLeaf CCollectionollection ENDS Friday,y, December 4 ENDS Friday, November 6 BEGINS Monday,ay, October 12