Category: Environment

Aurora Fifth Ward Cleanup April 25

Fifth Ward alderman, Carl Franco, will host an Aurora Fifth Ward neighborhood cleanup Saturday, April 25, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hall Elementary School, 2001 Heather Drive. Trash compactor trucks will accept items, including toys, bicycles, grills, wood, metal, household appliances, furniture, mattresses, building materials, and discarded paint

Talking energy conservation: Lions learn about sustainability

“It’s up to us to (practice) sustainability.” That was the message April 2 to Aurora Lions Club members from Mavis Bates, chair of Aurora mayor John Laesch’s Sustainable Aurora advisory board. Bates, District 4 Kane County board member, also chairs the County’s energy and environmental committee. As guest speaker at

Illinois waterway protections under threat from Trump administration

By Gabriel Matias CastilhoMedill Illinois News Bureaunews@capitolnewsillinois.com As the Donald Trump administration moves to slash federal protections for waterways and wetlands, Illinois Democratic lawmakers and environmental advocates are racing to finally pass a measure that would enact state safeguards. The Wetlands Protection Act was discussed in both chambers of the

Cathy Hayen retiring after years of beautifying Aurora

Cathy Hayen is retiring from the City of Aurora government at the end of February. You might not know her by name, but you know her by the gardens, baskets, and planters of vibrant colors that have transformed downtown Aurora over the years into a seasonal paradise. In 2014, Hayen

Forest Preserve District Polar-Palooza Winter Festival

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County invites residents to shake off the winter blues at Polar-Palooza, a nature-inspired arcade experience, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, from noon to 3 p.m. at Creek Bend Nature Center. Guests of all ages can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities. Participants will earn tickets as

Bison return to Kane County prairie, after 200+ years

With a few steps off a trailer and onto Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in Sycamore, American bison, also known as buffalo, have made a triumphant return to Kane County prairie, for the first time in more than 200 years. The move follows a three-way partnership between the Forest Preserve District

Forest Preserve District of Kane County program for young explorers

Building on the popularity of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County’s, “Little Saplings” preschool series, the District is excited to introduce, “Twigs to Trees,” a new nature program designed specifically for school-age children in kindergarten through second grade. Each session of “Twigs to Trees” invites young explorers to investigate

Learn about Winter Wildlife during free nature programs

Learn about local, winter wildlife during a new nature program series by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. The lineup of free programs is designed to showcase the fascinating creatures that stay active throughout Illinois’ colder months, such as Chickadees, owls, eagles, woodchucks, beavers and more. District naturalists will