There are important notes, at least to many observers, within this page this week. Likely none is more important than the note from Carol Tidwell, president of the League of Women Voters (LWV) Aurora Area:
“The forum originally scheduled (to be held Wednesday, Feb. 12 for State House District 83’s two candidates) is again scheduled to happen at 6:30 p.m. at the Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Trail, Aurora.
“Both candidates, Juan Thomas and Barbara Hernandez, have confirmed their participation.”
Originally, incumbent Hernandez could not attend. There will be questions of the candidates. Hernandez was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation Linda Chapa LaVia to be the top executive in Illinois for veterans affairs.
The Aurora Area, Central Kane County, and Naperville chapters will form to hold the season’s first forum Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Avenue for the 14th Congressional District to begin at 7 p.m. and to be followed by a combined forum for contested races of State legislators.
Attending such events, and even submitting questions, expands our democracy, even if in small measures, that keeps our society on an even keel.
Other worthy notes include:
• The Kane County Health Department takes note that the report of influenza cases is increasing: “The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a viruses.” Washing our hands is one solution.
• One second past midnight January 17, 1920, historic Prohibition took effect. The Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed in 1919 and rescinded in 1933. Club Arcada Speakeasy & Restaurant will hold events in St. Charles to observe the experiment. The event will salute the 100th anniversary.
• The Music Venue, 21 S. Broadway in Aurora, will be host to ZAZZ, jazz/pop combo at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17. The group spans the gamut from jazz standards, to pop tunes, to new works.
• More music: The Thomas J. RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway Street, downtown, an outdoor Summer concert venue, has booked many excellent tribute bands, including Chicago, Grateful Dead, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, The Bee Gees, Bob Seger, Led Zeppelin, and Rolling Stones.
• Climate change will be the focus of the 2020 DuPage Environmental summit, 7:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 30 at the NIU Naperville Meeting and Conference Center, and presented by the The Conservation Foundation, an advocate of environmental prosperity since 1972. Presenters will be plentiful. The beneficial seminar is free of charge.
• Wordsmith function, a second week: What is the difference between first-ever and first? Why is irregardless in the dictionary when we have regardless? The word also seldom is needed when a solid construction of a sentence presents facts in sequence.