New arrivals at Kline Creek Farm 

Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago has some new arrivals — several newborn lambs have recently joined the flock of Southdown sheep. Visitors can see the new lambs jumping and frolicking in the sheepfold and take a trip back to life in the 1890s at this living-history farm. The farm is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays. Outbuildings, including the sheepfold, close at 4:30 p.m.

The first lamb arrived on a Monday morning in late January. Staff and volunteers found a healthy newborn ram among the flock when they started morning chores. “The lamb was strong and nursing on its own, just as we hope for every delivery,” said Keith McClow, the farm’s manager. Several other ewes have given birth since then, and more births are expected over the coming weeks.

Kline Creek Farm is owned and operated by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. It is located at 1N600 County Farm Road. For more information on Kline Creek Farm, call 630-876-5900.

St. Charles celebrates Arbor Day on April 26 

Sure there’s snow on the ground now, but Spring is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for the annual Arbor Day event Friday, April 26 at Lincoln Park on Main Street, between 4th and 5th streets. All ages are welcome to this annual celebration of trees. Come and enjoy live music, a tree raffle, tree care demonstrations, delicious cookies and more! The fun begins at 4:00 p.m.

This year’s celebration includes an art contest for children up to and including 5th grade and a writing contest for students 6th grade through adults. Winners will receive prizes and special recognition at the festivities. 

Winning submissions also will be displayed throughout April at the St. Charles Municipal Building, 2 E. Main Street. 

For contest information, visit the City’s Arbor Day page.

Human Relations group's open houses  

The first of three open house events hosted by the City of Aurora’s Human Relations Commission (HRC) will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on March 7, at the city’s Customer Service Center, 3770 McCoy Drive. Each open house is designed to inform community leaders and Aurora citizens of the services that the commission provides.

The mission of the Human Relations Commission is to promote understanding among and preserve recognized rights of residents of the city and those who interact within the community, particularly in the areas of equal employment, housing, and access to public services and facilities.

Forums will also be held from 11 a.m. to noon on March 21, at the Aurora Police Headquarters, 1200 E. Indian Tr.; and from 4 to 5 p.m. on April 18, at the Aurora Public Library West Branch, 233 S. Constitution Dr.  Light refreshments will be served at the events.

More information is available on its website: www.aurora-il.org/hrc .

District 203 to study future planning

Naperville Community Unit School District 203’s Future Focus Community Engagement Initiative aims to bring together members of the community, including families, residents and District 203 staff, to study and deliberate over issues important to future planning and decision making in District 203. 

The first community engagement session will give participants a State of the District report and provide a thorough orientation to the overall process and create an opportunity for participants to meet new people and hear different perspectives. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions in order to build continuity. The first two sessions will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12 at Grace United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, Lower Level, 300 W. Gartner Road, and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 in the cafeteria of Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave. To register your intent to participate, call (630) 548-4342 and leave your name, the date of the session(s) you plan to attend and the number of people attending or email this information to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information, including all Community Engagement Session dates in 2013 and more on Future Focus, visit www.naperville203.org/community/FutureFocus.asp.

Geneva seeks input for plan updates

The City of Geneva is in the process of updating its Strategic Plan and is seeking citizen input on city services and opinions on living in Geneva.

Interested residence can offer input and influence operations and city policies by completing a survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/59QBWNY.

Participation is open to adults ages 18 and over. Persons unable to finish this survey in a single session may exit and return to the survey but must: 1) access the survey from the same computer; and 2) save answers to each question as answered it or the responses will be lost. 

Responses will remain anonymous. 

Soil, water district selling plants, shrubs

The Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District is holding a plant sale to help residents get ready for spring.

Items include trees such as Dogwood, White Pine and Douglas Fir; prairie plants such as Little Bluestem, Wild Petunia and June Grass; and shrubs such as Witch Hazel, Nannyberry and American Plum.

A catalog of all items is available at www.kanedupageswcd.org or at the Montgomery Village Hall, 200 N. River Street.

Trees and shrubs must be ordered by March 18 and prairie plants by April 29. Order forms must be sent to Kane-DuPage SWCD, 2315 Dean St., Suite 100 St. Charles, IL 60175. 

Call (630) 584-7961 ext. 3 for more information.