Will County selling permits for Whalon Lake, other dog parks
Permits are on sale for Will County’s six off-leash dog parks for use for the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County has dog parks at Whalon Lake in Naperville as well as Forked Creek Preserve near Wilmington, Hammel Woods in Shorewood, Lower Rock Run Preserve in Joliet, Messenger Marsh in Homer Glen and Plum Valley Preserve in Crete Township.
Each of the parks features separate enclosures for large dogs and small dogs weighing less than 35 pounds, a district news release said. Dogs must be at least six months old to use the parks, the release said.
Annual permits are $40 for county residents and $80 for nonresidents. Discounts are offered for senior citizens, veterans and active-duty military. Daily passes are $5.
Permits can be bought online at www.reconnectwithnature.org.
Permits can also be purchased at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township and Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet.
DuPage County Board, committee to hold night meetings
The DuPage County Board and its Finance Committee will meet the night of Wednesday, Nov. 12, to accommodate residents who unable to attend the regular daytime meetings.
Both the committee and board typically meet in the morning on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. This year, because the first November date falls on Veterans Day, a federal holiday, county offices will be closed.
For that reason, the regular meeting date has been changed to Nov. 12. The committee will meet at 5 p.m. and the board at 7 p.m. in the County Board Room, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton.
When ready, the agendas will be posted at www.dupage.legistar.com.
Naperville Sunrise Rotary plans food preparation drive
The Naperville Sunrise Rotary is hosing a food preparation drive for the West Suburban Community Pantry from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, outside the Naperville Country Club, 25W570 Chicago Ave.
Cooking and baking staples needed to prepare meals and holiday treats, including packaged flour, sugar, unopened spices and cooking oil, are requested.
Limiting the drive to a few types of staples will provide families with cooking options and helps pantry volunteers with sorting and shelving, Rotary spokeswoman Deb Newman said in a news release.
“Most people don’t think to donate basic cooking items, which families need to prepare healthy meals and holiday treats,” Newman said.
The West Suburban Community Pantry serves more than 1,000 households per week in DuPage and Will counties and is seeing an increase in new families seeking assistance.
Items also can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays at the pantry, 6809 Hobson Valley Drive, Suite 118, Woodridge.
Naperville District 203 approves new high school courses
The Naperville District 203 School Board has approved four new high school courses for the 2026-27 academic year based on an annual course audit that looks at enrollment trends, student interest, industry relevance and course duplication.
Students next year will be able to take Introduction to Hospitality and Culinary Arts, Blended Software Engineering, English Composition 1 and English Composition 2. All were approved by the board at its Monday meeting.
Courses being retired are Culinary Arts and Nutrition 1, Software Engineering 1, Blended Software Engineering 2, Honors Senior Rhetoric and Blended Honors Senior Rhetoric.
The English composition courses are each a semester long and are eligible for dual credit through the College of DuPage.
The English Composition 1 and 2 classes provide a more rigorous and college-aligned alternative to the retiring rhetoric options and have the added benefit of earning transferable college credit, district documents said.
