Category: Tech

Kiwanis Club of Aurora member Amy Roth, left, hands a Kiwanis coffee mug to Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman at the Kiwanis Club meeting Tuesday at the Prisco Center in Aurora. Chief Ziman shared this year’s Police Department initiatives. Aurora has the second largest municipal police department with a budget of $73 Million and has 301 sworn officers, an increase from 289 recently, including four police dogs, 73 full-time non-sworn officers in telecommunications, booking, and records, and 33 part-time non-sworn employees. Chief Ziman said work is in focus to address a slight increase in violent part 1 crimes, although shootings are down by 19%. Shooting numbers include property and are not just individuals struck. Aurora had zero homicides in 2012 and four homicides in 2018. She said in a city the size of Aurora, it’s well below the national average. Progress in 2018 included the addition of a Critical Incident Intel Center, reduction in time and cost of DUI prosecution, addition of a drone team, partnership with National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, which reads a bullet shell casing and recently was linked to eight shootings after confiscation of a gun. Partnership with RING doorbell systems for video of crimes has been added. Last year there were only five excessive-force complaints against officers with two sustained. Chief Ziman said the goals for this year remain the same, to reduce violent crime and community engagement. Right is Kiwanis president Kim Groom, a retired Aurora police officer, and president of Kiwanis Club of Aurora. Chief of Police Ziman, right photo, stands with her former West Aurora High School guidance counselor Archie Needham (retired). Jason Crane/The Voice

Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman “Mugged” by Kiwanis Club of Aurora after presenting Police Department initiatives

Kiwanis Club of Aurora member Amy Roth, left, hands a Kiwanis coffee mug to Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman at the Kiwanis Club meeting Tuesday at the Prisco Center in Aurora. Chief Ziman shared this year’s Police Department initiatives. Aurora has the second largest municipal police department with a budget

Dan Palace, external investment consultant from Allianz Global Investors shares information Monday with the Rotary Club of Aurora members about water scarcity and sustainable investing. Palace said the increase in water insecurity will drive up the need for investment in smart water technology. An estimated 2 trillion gallons of water leaks from broken pipes in the U. S. each year. Jason Crane/The Voice

Increase in water insecurity will drive up the need for investment in smart water technology

Dan Palace, external investment consultant from Allianz Global Investors shares information Monday with the Rotary Club of Aurora members about water scarcity and sustainable investing. Palace said the increase in water insecurity will drive up the need for investment in smart water technology. An estimated 2 trillion gallons of water

Montgomery Village attorney Steve Andersson, left, explains the legal aspect to Board members, including Village president Matt Brolley before a vote to amend the Village zoning ordinance regarding gas and petroleum manufacturing at the Montgomery Village Board meeting Monday. Two weeks prior, petitioners for a proposed $40 Million pyrolysis facility said the plant would help recycle scrap tires using a thermal distillation process by converting tire chips into carbon powder and liquid fuel under a vacuum seal and airlock. After research and discussion, trustees Denny Lee, Doug Marecek, and Theresa Sperling voted 3-1 against the amendment. They agreed while the technology is in use in Germany their concerns are for the references given by the interested entity and safety concerns for the residents and Aurora University’s $20 Million athletic facility next door to the proposed location. Trustee Steve Jungermann voted in favor. He said the facility would create jobs and petitioners weren’t given a fair shot. Jason Crane/The Voice

Montgomery Village Board votes 3-1 against proposed $40 Million pyrolysis facility

Montgomery Village attorney Steve Andersson, left, explains the legal aspect to Board members, including Village president Matt Brolley before a vote to amend the Village zoning ordinance regarding gas and petroleum manufacturing at the Montgomery Village Board meeting Monday. Two weeks prior, petitioners for a proposed $40 Million pyrolysis facility

Illinois rates second best in U.S. for electric grid leadership

For the third year in a row, Illinois has received the second best ranking among all states for its leadership in moving toward a modernized electric grid, according to Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) chairman Brien J. Sheahan. Gridwise Alliance in collaboration with Clean Edge Incorporated recently released the results of

Jason Pikscher, Broadway technical director for the Paramount Theatre in Aurora shares some behind-the-scenes information Monday with the Rotary Club of Aurora, at Two Brothers Roundhouse. It is generally accepted, one of the many reasons the Paramount Theatre Broadway Series has been successful is the teamwork behind the scenes to bring amazing sets. He said approximately 95% of the sets are built by their crew. To put the size of the sets into perspective, a normal set for the Paramount would fill two to three semi-trailers. His favorite set was for the play Les Miserables because of the unique engineering challenge. His least favorite, and most problematic set was for Grease. The most complex set was for Mary Poppins because of the illusions. Jason Crane/The Voice

Behind-the-scenes perspective of the Paramount Theatre in Aurora

Jason Pikscher, Broadway technical director for the Paramount Theatre in Aurora shares some behind-the-scenes information Monday with the Rotary Club of Aurora, at Two Brothers Roundhouse. It is generally accepted, one of the many reasons the Paramount Theatre Broadway Series has been successful is the teamwork behind the scenes to

Arlene Hawks, executive director of SciTech Hands On Museum in Aurora, shares plans with members of the Kiwanis Club of Aurora, Tuesday at the Prisco Center in Aurora. The museum in downtown Aurora with approximately 200 hands-on exhibits, recently celebrated 30 years of educating students of all ages. Founding director Ernest Malamud, a Fermilab physicist, envisioned an inspiring space to introduce people of all ages to science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Hawks, a former teacher and theater director at East Aurora High School, hopes partnerships and funding from Fox Valley businesses and organizations will continue to help the Museum develop fresh, interactive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) exhibits. She was happy to report the museum traffic has increased by 40%.

SciTech Hands On Museum in Aurora recently celebrated 30 years of educating students

Arlene Hawks, executive director of SciTech Hands On Museum in Aurora, shares plans with members of the Kiwanis Club of Aurora, Tuesday at the Prisco Center in Aurora. The museum in downtown Aurora with approximately 200 hands-on exhibits, recently celebrated 30 years of educating students of all ages. Founding director

Mike Mainthow Representative from Smart City Media at Aurora City Hall 10-22-18

Discussions held on interactive outdoor kiosks in downtown Aurora

Questions about interactive outdoor kiosks in downtown Aurora are answered by Mike Mainthow, representative from Smart City Media, right, Monday, Oct. 22 at Aurora City Hall. This was the first of three open houses the city government plans to hold with representatives of Smart City Media to get the facts

Amy Roth

Aurora Police Department seeks to purchase drones

An Aurora Police Department request to purchase four drones and equipment to operate them in the amount of $56,500 will be on the unfinished business portion of the Tuesday, Oct. 23 Aurora City Council agenda. Alderman-at-large Robert O’Connor, who leads the Finance Committee, asked Tuesday at the Committee of the

John Whitehead

Big Brother assisted by technology

It’s a given that Big Brother is always watching us. Unfortunately, thanks to the government’s ongoing efforts to build massive databases by using emerging surveillance, DNA, and biometrics technologies, Big Brother, and his corporate partners in crime, are getting even creepier and more invasive, intrusive, and stalker-like. Indeed, every dystopian

Aurora Public Library digital services assistant manager Giovanna Diaz-Fabiani conducts 3D printer training at the Santori Library. Submitted photo

Cutting-edge technology available at Santori Library

By Anthony Stanford –  The Richard and Gina Santori Public Library of Aurora is a state-of-the-art center for information, literacy, creativity, and many other services. Some individuals may not be aware that it’s a great place to learn about the flourishing technology-based, maker culture movement. Whether it’s a 3D printer

Mayor of Aurora, Richard C. Irvin, presents proclamations to three individuals working to create suicide prevention awareness at the Aurora City Council meeting Tuesday. Former Aurora resident and Yorkville alderman, Joel Frieders, second from left, Liza Olivia, co-founder of Simply Destinee Youth Center and Dance Team, third from left; Martin Luna-Espinoza, co-founder of Simply Destinee Youth Center and Dance Team. Simply Destinee is a youth-inspired dance team that promotes suicide awareness in the memory of Destinee A. Oliva. Frieders who has struggled with the grief of losing friends to suicide, launched a national campaign for the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Proclamation Project. The program has grown to 228 cities, 18 counties, and 38 states.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month recognized at Aurora City Council meeting

Mayor of Aurora, Richard C. Irvin, presents proclamations at the Aurora City Council meeting Tuesday to three individuals working to create suicide prevention awareness. Former Aurora resident and Yorkville alderman, Joel Frieders; second from left, Liza Olivia, co-founder of Simply Destinee Youth Center and Dance Team; right, Martin Luna-Espinoza, co-founder of

Aurora GreenFest exhibits free at Prisco

The Aurora GreenFest will be Saturday! Wonderful exhibitors from our forest preserves, park districts, green businesses, green car owners, and artists all will be at the Prisco Community Center and the beautiful McCullough Park to help everyone learn more about taking care of the Earth. The GreenFest always makes it