OCTOBER 30, 2025 • VOL. 65 ISSUE 1
INSIDE:
Village of Niles 1st Pass Assessment 2025
Joliet Central and West Students Selected to Participate in ILMEA Festival See Page 3
Talented musicians from both Joliet Central High School and Joliet West High School have been selected to participate in the prestigious Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 1 Festival. A total of 27 students across both campuses earned spots in the District I Band, Choir, Jazz Band, and Orchestra following a highly competitive audition process. Students submitted video auditions that included etudes, prepared pieces, and other performance elements.
PAGE 2 | OCTOBER 29-30, 2025 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM
NEWS
OCTOBER 29-30, 2025 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 3
Joliet Central and West Students Selected to Participate in ILMEA Festival Joliet Central and Joliet West Students Selected to Participate in ILMEA District 1 Festival Talented musicians from both Joliet Central High School and Joliet West High School have been selected to participate in the prestigious Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 1 Festival. A total of 27 students across both campuses earned spots in the District I Band, Choir, Jazz Band, and Orchestra following a highly competitive audition process. Students submitted video auditions that included etudes, prepared pieces, and other performance elements. Each year, thousands of student musicians across the state audition for ILMEA ensembles, making selection a significant achievement. Being chosen not only reflects exceptional musical ability but also highlights the students’ dedication, preparation, and passion for their craft. The District I Festival will take place on Saturday, November 8 at Elmhurst University, and the District I Jazz Festival will follow on November 15 at Argo High School. The music faculty at both Joliet Central and Joliet West are incredibly proud of these outstanding students for their hard work and musical excellence. Selection into these honors ensembles is a prestigious accomplishment Joliet West High School ILMEA District 1 Participants
Malorie Berry (12), Bb Clarinet Devion Campbell (11), Tuba Cathryn Governale (10), Bassoon Layla McKinney (11), Bass Clarinet Gavin Rodriguez (12), Trumpet Claire Wellman (11), Flute/Piccolo Vee Barbour (11), Soprano I Charlotte Dean (12), Soprano I Jordin Gray (12), Alto II Gianna Groh (11), Soprano II Tyler Jolly (11), Tenor I Morgan Kelley (11), Soprano II Ava Morrissette (12), Soprano I Alaina Potocki (12), Alto II Xierra Rapata (12), Alto I Tabitha Witthouse (11), Soprano I Christian Toth (11), Jazz Trombone Violet Conboy (10), Cello Aaryn Reyes (10), Trombone Joliet Central High School ILMEA District 1 Participants Aiden Hadley (12), Bb Clarinet Jeremy Lannan (12), Trumpet Ruby Garcia (11), Soprano II Abigail George (10), Soprano II Morgan Humann (11), Alto I Jerson Ibarra (12), Bass I Angela Kranz (12), Alto II Rocco Jones (10), Cello Move information about the festival can be found at https://ilmea.org/d1srfestival and https://ilmea.org/d1jazzfestival
Talented musicians from both Joliet Central High School and Joliet West High School have been selected to participate in the prestigious Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 1 Festival. A total of 27 students across both campuses earned spots in the District I Band, Choir, Jazz Band, and Orchestra following a highly competitive audition process. Students submitted video auditions that included etudes, prepared pieces, and other performance elements.
NEWS
OCTOBER 29-30, 2025 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 4
2026 MCCOLLUM PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Downers Grove Park District is preparing to break ground on the McCollum Park Playground Improvement Project in spring 2026, with construction anticipated to be completed by mid-summer 2026. The project is supported by a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, announced by Governor JB Pritzker on December 16, 2024. With these upgrades, the Park District is ensuring the park remains vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming for generations to come. LOOKING AHEAD: MCCOLLUM PARK IMPROVEMENTS The transformation at McCollum Park will bring brand-new playgrounds and recreational amenities designed to serve visitors of all ages and abilities. School-Age Play Area (Ages 5–12) A 3-story “PlayStax” structure, with ramps that provide wheelchair access onto a portion of the play tower. A “Zoom Twist”—a unique merry-go-round with climbing ropes on top, combining spinning and climbing play. A 40-foot-long track ride with dual tracks, allowing two kids to race side by side. One of the tracks will feature a high-back inclusive swing seat, ensuring children of all abilities can enjoy the ride together.
Additional play elements including tall slides, spinners, and climbing features. Preschool Play Area (Ages 2–5) A new play structure with multiple slides designed for younger children. A “Team Totter” see-saw to promote cooperative play. Two new ground-level playhouses, including one designed to resemble a fire station in reference to the neighboring Downers Grove Fire Station at the north edge of McCollum Park. Expanded swing options, with 12 total swings—two more than the current playground. Additional Recreation Enhancements A new 24’x34’ pavilion in the playground area featuring a unique overlapping roof design. Revitalized outdoor fitness area with new surfacing and modern equipment. Renovated baggo set and historic horseshoe courts with updated features and accessibility. Fabric shade structures over concession patio seating and the games area for visitor comfort.
BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE
OCTOBER 29-30, 2025 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 5
What buyers can do to get the best mortgage rate Mortgage interest rates have been headlining financial news segments for several years running. Much of that news has been met with less than open arms, as rates have risen dramatically in recent years, an increase that is related to the ripple effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mortgage interest rates did not immediately spike after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic in March 2020. In fact, data from the lender Freddie Mac indicates mortgage rates were still well below 4 percent on January 1, 2022. However, those rates hovered around 7 percent by the end of that year, and were still around that level at the start of 2024. With such high interest rates, it’s understandable if prospective home buyers feel helpless. However, there’s much buyers can do to help themselves as they seek to secure the lowest mortgage interest rate possible. • Read your credit report and improve your score, if necessary. Many prospective home buyers save up for years in anticipation of the day when they will purchase their own home. During this period, buyers can read their credit reports and address any discrepan-
cies while taking steps to improve their credit scores. Lenders consider a host of variables to determine an applicant’s credit worthiness, and credit history and credit scores bear significant influence. The higher an applicant’s credit score, the more favorable mortgage rate he or she is likely to get. • Take control of your debt-to-income ratio. Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio refers to what you owe in relation to how much you earn. T he lower your DTI, the better you look to lenders. According to Bankrate, lenders typically want to avoid issuing mortgages to individuals if the monthly payment will exceed 28 percent of their gross monthly income, and people who may be near that threshold for a given home may be denied a mortgage if their DTI is high. Prospective home buyers currently carrying significant debt, including consumer debt like credit cards and/ or student loan debts, should make a concerted effort to pay down that debt prior to applying for a mortgage. Prioritize paying off consumer debt before applying for a mortgage.
• Maintain a strong employment record. Steady employment and consistent earnings make mortgage applicants more attractive in the eyes of lenders. If you are currently shopping for a home or about to make an offer, now might not be the best time to switch jobs. Self-employed individuals and free-
Take Advantage of Year-End Savings The year is ending soon, take a minute to think about your health. If you have met your insurance deductible, now is the perfect time to schedule screenings, scans or procedures.
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lancers working multiple jobs can still qualify for a good mortgage rate, but they may need to provide more extensive documentation that indicates their earnings going back several years. Individuals who have been working fulltime for the same company for years may only need to provide W-2 forms from the two most recent tax years. • Shop around for rates. Rates may not fluctuate much between lenders, but it’s still worth shopping around for
mortgage rates. A study from Freddie Mac found that the benefits of shopping around for a mortgage rate were especially notable in 2022 compared to the decade prior, saving borrowers who took the time to shop for rates substantial sums of money. Mortgage rates remain high compared to a half decade ago, but prospective home buyers can take steps to increase their chances of qualifying for a favorable rate.
PAGE 6 | OCTOBER 29-30, 2025 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM
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NEWS
OCTOBER 29-30, 2025 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 7
DuPage Foundation Awards More Than $110,000 in Capacity Building Grants to Local Nonprofits DuPage Foundation is pleased to announce the recent awarding of more than $110,000 to 10 local nonprofits from its Capacity Building grant program. Awarded grants support nonprofits in growing their internal capacity via technology upgrades and other critical infrastructure improvements. “To date, DuPage Foundation has awarded more than $200,000 through our Capacity Building grant program’s first two cycles,” said Barb Szczepaniak, DuPage Foundation vice president for programs. “These investments help strengthen the backbone of our nonprofit sector and deepen its impact across the region.” 2025 Capacity Building grant re-
cipients include: B.R. Ryall YMCA: $3,588 – to pilot Instrumentl, an all-in-one grant platform that finds relevant grant opportunities in minutes, tracks deadlines, and streamlines collaboration with a centralized calendar, tasks, and smart matching tools. DuPage Children’s Museum: $10,000 – to support server updates that will use virtual cloud storage infrastructure, significantly improving everyday operations. DuPage Health Coalition: $20,000 – to support research and implementation of an integrated client management system. DuPage
Symphony
Orchestra:
$8,250 – to upgrade patron and donor database software to streamline operations, reduce administrative inefficiencies, and jumpstart a data-driven development approach to foster long-term sustainability. Green Halo Scholars: $20,000 – to support a fundraising plan and donor-focused website redesign that will increase capacity to expand the program to additional schools and serve more low-income, first-generation DuPage County students interested in going to college. HOPE Fair Housing: $7,000 – to establish a cloud-based network and collaboration tools, enhance security, enable mobile access, and implement compliance tools for preserv-
ing files in discrimination cases. Loaves & Fishes Community Services*: $12,000 – to support the implementation of a cloud-based inventory management system, improving inventory accuracy, efficiency, and data tracking to strengthen food distribution across the hub & spoke network. Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services: $8,500 – to purchase and implement the Bloomerang Giving Platform to improve donor management, streamline communications, and build fundraising capacity to support long-term growth and sustainability. Senior Home Sharing: $14,380 – to
support a consultant and the purchase of new software to develop effective fundraising strategies and structures for cultivating deeper donor relationships and increased giving for sustainable program expansion. The Conservation Foundation*: $6,568 – to support the advancement team with software for a capital campaign and beyond for better and more efficient data analysis, decision-making, and stakeholder communication. To learn more about DuPage Foundation’s Capacity Building grant program, visit dupagefoundation. org.
PAGE 8 | OCTOBER 29-30, 2025 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM