The Paddleboat Quarry on the DuPage River in downtown Naperville will open Saturday, May 10.

Paddleboats, paddle boards and kayaks are available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis, and 20-minute and 40-minute rides are available, according to a Naperville Park District release.

Paddleboats hold up to four people, and both one-person and two-person kayaks are available.

Paddleboards can be used by anyone 13 or older, but teens under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who must sign a waiver, officials said.

The quarry, located at 441 Aurora Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends only until Memorial Day weekend, when daily hours begin.

For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org/paddleboatquarry.

Student volunteers awarded Edward Foundation scholarships

Ten Endeavor Health Edward Hospital student volunteers, including several from Naperville high schools, have been awarded $2,000 scholarships from the Edward Foundation.

Student volunteers greet visitors, deliver flowers, transport patients and assist behind-the-scenes at the hospital, a news release said.

To be eligible for a scholarship, a volunteer must be a high school senior, have at least 100 volunteer hours at Edward Hospital, maintain a 3.2 or higher grade point average out of 4.0, demonstrate leadership qualities, and maintain excellence in conduct and attitude, the release said.

The Naperville recipients are:

Naperville Central High School: Katherine Andersen and Adam Borbely.

Naperville North High School: Vaitheswaran Gopiram and Sufiyah Siddique.

Waubonsie Valley High School: Yagnesh Lokesh.

Metea Valley High School: Gayathri Balaji and Vrinda Tadepalli.

From Plainfield North High School, the recipients are Cynthia Carlos, Huda Jaleel and Yunus Khan.

Ducks on sale for Downtown Naperville Alliance river race

The Downtown Naperville Alliance’s Riverwalk Rubber Duck Race will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 6, on the DuPage River near the Eagle Street and covered bridges.

Only 2,025 ducks will be sold through the June 5 deadline, according to the Downtown Naperville Alliance. They cost $10 each, three for $25 or 15 for $100.

The first-place prize is $1,981 in recognition of the Riverwalk’s founding in 1981. The second-place winner will receive a $300 Downtown Naperville gift card, and third place nets a $150 Downtown Naperville gift card. Winners do not need to be present to claim their prize.

Proceeds benefit the Naperville Riverwalk Foundation.

The ducks will race rain or shine, but if there is inclement weather or the river conditions are not conducive to the event, the race will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 13.

To buy a duck, go to www.downtownnaperville.com.

City replacing residential water lines in area near train station

Replacement of lead service water lines in the residential area south of the Naperville Train Station on 4th Avenue will be ongoing through October.

The project area includes homes along 4th Avenue, North Avenue, Center Street and surrounding streets within the historic district, officials said.

During the project, all streets should remain open but there may see some intermittent traffic disruptions, city officials said. Potential traffic disruptions are most likely to occur during 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and on some Saturdays.

The area has been identified as having a large number of lead service lines within the city, officials said. Lead lines will be replaced with new copper service lines.

For more information, go to www.naperville.il.us.

Benet, Carmel, Joliet Catholic, Marian Catholic, Marist, Marmion, Nazareth and St. Viator are joining the GCAC. All of those high schools except Marmion, which will be going coed for the first time that academic year, are members of the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

Benet, Carmel, Joliet Catholic, Marian, Marist, Nazareth, Notre Dame, St. Patrick and St. Viator will be joining the Catholic League. All of those schools also are from the ESCC. Notre Dame and St. Patrick are all-boys schools.

Thomas Schergen, the principal of De La Salle and executive representative of the GCAC and Catholic League, welcomed the development.

“Both leagues are extremely competitive,” Schergen said. “With the addition of these tradition-rich East Suburban Catholic institutions, we have set our respective conferences on a continued path of success and continue to strengthen these premier Catholic athletic organizations.

“We look forward to having these new members under the Chicago Catholic League and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference banners, both athletically and academically.”

Founded in 1975, the ESCC began with Carmel, Holy Cross, Marist, Notre Dame, St. Joseph, St. Patrick and St. Viator. Between 1982 and 2014, Joliet Catholic, Benet, Marian Catholic and Marian Central Catholic entered the mix. Fenwick, Bishop McNamara and Providence joined the ESCC with girls teams before leaving for the GCAC.

Since 1974, the ESCC have won 96 team state championships and 91 individual state titles.

The addition of the ESCC schools and Marmion will boost the GCAC to 24 teams. The Catholic League will expand to 26. The Catholic League was started in 1912. The GCAC was established in 1974.

Dan Tully, principal at Notre Dame and chairman of the board of the ESCC, also was excited about the move.

“The ESCC’s legacy of academic and athletic success, as well as our standards for competitive excellence, align closely with the heritage of the Chicago Catholic League and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference,” Tully said. “Bringing our schools together will expand competitive opportunities based on geography and parity while also maintaining long-standing rivalries for the benefit of our communities, teams and student-athletes.

“As faith-based institutions, we strive to offer a comprehensive educational experience, along with high-quality co-curricular programming. The ESCC’s history of achievement dovetails with the rich traditions of the CCL and GCAC and we look forward to furthering our partnership.”

Now the Green Bay recruit and the Redhawks are just plain rolling.

With senior forward Callie Tumilty on the team for the first time, Brozek isn’t its leading scorer anymore, but the goals and wins are piling up.

“I definitely think she’s adapting,” Naperville Central senior midfielder Rebecca Ruggiero said. “Being able to play with Callie is a huge help.”

As a sophomore, Brozek was a varsity rookie trying to find her place. She was known mostly for her speed and also for running track during the soccer season.

Then Brozek was the area’s breakout star as a junior, recording a team-high 14 goals and a team-high 10 assists as Naperville Central won its first sectional title in 29 years.

Brozek is still producing at a high rate this season, contributing seven goals and seven assists. But she’s no longer the top scoring threat. Tumilty, an Ohio State recruit, has taken over that role and the spotlight that goes with it. She leads the Redhawks (13-1-1), who have won seven games in a row, with 15 goals and 12 assists.

Brozek, who no longer runs track, doesn’t mind. She and Tumilty give Naperville Central perhaps the best pair of wingers in the state, with senior forward Emma Russell operating in between them.

“It’s a help because it’s both of us, and then we have a strong center forward, Emma, and our subs can fill in without missing a beat,” Brozek said. “So I think being able to bump it off of each other is really helpful because when forwards find forwards, that’s when good things happen.”

Plenty of good things are happening for the Redhawks, who are averaging four goals per game and have outscored their opponents 61-5.

Brozek, whose play has been key, has multiple strengths.

“Definitely her speed is probably the main one and also her work ethic,” Ruggiero said. “She does a really good job of recovering balls if she loses it and just working hard to track back her mark. She does a really good job of that.”

Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said that latter trait stood out during a 2-0 win over previously unbeaten Barrington in the Naperville Invitational semifinals at Memorial Stadium on Friday.

“The thing that I’ve been most impressed with is her defensive work rate as far as learning when to come back and double to win balls,” Adams said. “Today was especially important. She understood that hey, come back, win the ball and now we can go forward.

“That’s in addition to the fact that she is the most unselfish player, to the point that sometimes you’re like, ‘Bella, you’re a forward. You’re allowed to shoot too.’”

Brozek displayed her unselfishness against Barrington when she beat a defender into the box on a counterattack. Instead of shooting, she passed to sophomore midfielder Nicole Sacek, who scored on a 15-yard shot.

“I think for both of us, it just shows our hard work — Bella fighting to keep the ball, especially when she had a defender on her,” Sacek said. “It led to me, and that’s how the goals happen on our team, because everyone works. That’s just how it is.”

Adams said Brozek is optimally exploiting defenses better than she did in the past. With so many attack-minded players in the lineup, the Redhawks are creating scoring chances at a high rate. That sometimes leads to situations akin to a basketball player passing up a good shot to give a teammate a great shot.

“We use the term balance a lot,” Adams said. “There’s a balance between when do I play a ball across and when do I shoot it myself. Bella’s done a really good job of balancing when do I shoot and when do I pass.”

Brozek just wants to win. The Redhawks do that a lot, and she thinks she knows why.

“We just have a lot to offer,” Brozek said. “We’re very diverse. Pretty much everyone on our team can play a different position. Everyone is willing to work hard, everyone is willing to fight for each other, and that’s how people win.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.

All teams crave senior leadership, especially younger teams. It becomes a bit tougher, though, when that responsibility falls on the shoulders of just one senior — as in the Warriors’ case.

But for Wiertelak, this spring has been a revelation.

“Being the one who takes on that leadership responsibility has been kind of crazy,” she said. “All of these girls are like younger sisters to me and I’m very protective of them. I want them to do well.”

Wiertelak continued to lead the way Saturday morning, throwing a one-hitter and driving in three runs for host Waubonsie Valley in a 15-0 victory in four innings over Joliet Central in Aurora.

Sophomore outfielder Dezirae Kelly stepped up with a two-run triple and added four RBIs for Waubonsie (7-11). Wiertelak struck out three, walked one and also went 3-for-3 at the plate.

Pitching and hitting? Wiertelak believes one feeds the other.

“Everything goes hand to hand,” she said. “Hitting in the fourth spot, I know once the first two or three batters get on that I can get them moving.

“The same with pitching. I just work on hitting my corners and let my defense do the work.”

Kelly, meanwhile, finished 2-for-3 and scored three runs. She’s one of five sophomore starters for the Warriors. Giavanna Pyle, who had a two-run single, is one of two freshmen starters.

Sophomore shortstop Aislee Morgan pointed out the impact Wiertelak has made.

“Sammy’s just an amazing person, a great player and fantastic leader,” Morgan said. “She has a great personality. She’s funny, sarcastic, and she has a great connection with the rest of the team.”

A four-year varsity player, Wieterlak never imagined she would be the sole representative of her senior class.

“We started with a decent amount my freshman year and then they just all decided they wanted to focus on other sports they were more competitive or comfortable with,” she said.

“My first three years were a big learning experience for gaining that leadership role. We always had at least three seniors. I have to step up now being the only one.”

Waubonsie coach Valerie Wood said Wiertelak’s combination of experience, savvy and two-way talent is a connective thread that bonds the different players.

“She never seems to be rattled out there,” Wood said. “Things could be going horribly wrong and she just has a cool, calm and collected attitude.

“They could be hitting off of her or our team could be making tons of errors, but she never gets frustrated. I think the younger girls see that and it helps them get through the inning.”

Along with older sister Caroline, now a sophomore at Illinois State, Wiertelak took up dance and played T-ball growing up. Caroline stuck with dance, but Samantha stayed with softball.

At the start of her freshman year, Wiertelak then threw a curve of sorts.

“I started bowling, which I’d never really done before,” she said. “Now I have four bowling balls and I go all the time. I’m very competitive with everything I do.”

She’s also a free thinker who loves adventure, something Wiertelak developing in the summer.

“I love exploring,” she said. “Any time I go somewhere for travel ball and we get done a day early, I love going to a nearby zoo. I just love experiencing when I have those free days.”

Being Waubonsie’s only senior is far from a burden as well. Wiertelak enjoys leading the way.

“My greatest thrill is knowing I had the chance to come here and not only play for the school, but play for all the girls who either graduated before me or are going to graduate after me,” she said.

“I can create a safe space for them and I can do anything for them.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelancer for The Beacon-News.

Email Daily Southtown results to southtownsports@gmail.com, Beacon-News, Courier-News and Naperville Sun results to tribwestsports@gmail.com and News-Sun results to newssunsports@gmail.com.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

LOCAL COLLEGES

SOFTBALL

Benedictine 2-7, Aurora University 1-4

Lake Forest College 2-6, Monmouth 0-1

Game 1 Lake Forest College: Riley Stiles CG, 3 H, 0 ER.

Game 2 Lake Forest College (25-14-1, 14-2 Midwest): Kyla Chevalier 2-for-3, double, 2 runs. Emmie Nyen solo HR.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

HIGH SCHOOLS

BASEBALL

Argo 16, Hubbard 0 (4 innings)

Aurora Central Catholic 10, Leo 0 (5 innings)

ACC (11-10, 2-4 CCL White): Luke Torrence CG, H, 10 Ks. Brodie Curry 2-for-3, double, run, 2 RBIs.

Bartlett 3, Riverside-Brookfield 2

Bartlett (11-13-1, 8-4 Upstate Eight): Josh Colaizzi CG, ER, 12 Ks. Alex Bihun 2 RBIs; GW RBI in bottom 7th.

Beecher 5, St. Anne 1

Benet 6-8, Carmel 5-3

Game 1 Benet: Quinn Rooney GW sac fly in bottom 7th.

Game 2 Benet (15-7, 7-3 ESCC): Luke Wildes 3-run HR.

Brother Rice 13, St.Rita 0 (5 innings)

Chicago Christian 7, Marian Central Catholic 4

Chicago Christian (15-8, 6-3 Chicagoland Christian): Micah Buikema 2-for-3, double, 2 RBIs. Rafe Slager 2 runs.

Deerfield 6, Crystal Lake Central 5

Deerfield (11-12): Easton Newman 2 runs, RBI, 2 stolen bases.

Fremd 10, Warren 9 (8 innings)

Warren (14-8): Mason Durst double, 3 RBIs. Braxton Goodfellow 2 RBIs.

Geneva 4, Batavia 3

Geneva (18-6, 8-3 DuKane): Nick Price 2-for-3, run, 2 RBIs. Noah Hallahan 2-for-4, run, RBI.

Jacobs 2, Lake Zurich 1

Joliet Catholic 6-15, St. Patrick 2-2

JCA (12-11, 6-2 ESCC): Keegan Farnaus combined 3-for-4, 4 runs, 6 RBIs.

Joliet West 2, Lockport 0

Kaneland 15-6, Lisle 0-0

Game 1 Kaneland: Aidan Whildin 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Game 2 Kaneland (17-5): Kayden Johnson 2 RBIs.

Lake Central (Ind.) 8, Lincoln-Way Central 6

Libertyville 1, Highland Park 0

Libertyville (21-2): Ryan Wilberding 2-for-3, run.

Lincoln-Way East 7, Oswego East 3

Lincoln-Way East (19-4): Colin Bettenhausen 5 IP, 2 H. Charlie Cosich 3 runs.

Marist 8, St. Viator 0

Marist (13-8, 6-2 ESCC): Tommy Hosty 5 IP, 0 H. John McAuliffe 2 RBIs. Matt Molesky 2 RBIs.

Marmion 10, Fenwick 9

Marmion (14-9-1, 5-1 CCL White): Trajan Storto-Featherson 2-for-2, double, 2 runs, 3 RBIs. Kevin Schultz 2-for-5, double, HR, 3 RBIs. Scored 4 runs in top 7th.

Metea Valley 9, Taft 2

Metea (10-14): Caleb Allen CG, 9 Ks. Ethan Singer run, 2 RBIs. Tyler Gluting 2-for-3, 2 runs.

Montini 14, De La Salle 3 (5 innings)

Naperville Central 6, Prospect 3

Neuqua Valley 10, Crete-Monee 0 (5 innings)

Neuqua (9-10-1): Kiet Truong 4 IP, 0 H, 11 Ks; 2-for-3, run, RBI.

Oak Forest 15, Bradley-Bourbonnais 2

Providence 8, Mount Carmel 5

Providence (16-7, 4-1 CCL Blue): Blake Jenner 2-run HR. Declan Kane 2-run HR.

Mount Carmel (14-8, 3-2): Kolin Adams 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs.

Rolling Meadows 2, Dundee-Crown 0

St. Charles North 3, St. Charles East 0

St. Laurence 3, Loyola 0

St. Laurence (20-3, 6-0 CCL Blue): Sam Chin 6 IP, H.

Shepard 5, Bremen 2

Shepard (10-8-2, 6-4-1 SSC Red): David Nelligan 4 IP, 8 Ks. T.J. Georgis 2-run single.

South Elgin 2, Stevenson 1

South Elgin (12-9): Connor Lund double, RBI. Justin Pold double, run.

Stagg 4, Reavis 3 (10 innings)

Stagg: William Houston 5 IP, 0 R. Jasper Willis scored GW run in bottom 10th.

Tinley Park 20, Simeon 0 (5 innings)

Waubonsie Valley 8, Glenbard East 4

Waubonsie (12-9): Josh Hung 2-for-3, double, run, 2 RBIs. Connor Beren 3-for-4, 2 runs, RBI.

West Aurora 12, Bolingbrook 0 (5 innings)

West Aurora (18-4): Zach Toma 2-for-4, 3 RBIs. Henry Hinkle 3-for-3, 2 RBIs.

Yorkville Christian 5, Westminster Christian 1

Yorkville Christian (13-7): Nolan Hooper 6 IP, 0 ER, 13 Ks.

Zion-Benton 7, Vernon Hills 5

Zion-Benton (6-16): Brayden Duran 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs. Sam Villareal 2 runs.

COAL CITY INVITATIONAL

Burlington Central 10, Coal City 1

Burlington Central (13-10): Sam Maglares 3-for-4, doble, 2 runs, 2 RBIs. Jake Johnson 2-for-5, 3 RBIs.

Tolono Unity 5, Burlington Central 0

SANDWICH INVITATIONAL

Mahomet-Seymour 11, Sandwich 6

Wheaton Academy 15, Sandwich 2

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

LINCOLN-WAY EAST INVITATIONAL

Glenbard West d. Lincoln-Way East 24-26, 25-8, 25-20, championship

Downers Grove North d. Brother Rice 25-21, 25-19, third

Cathedral (Ind.) d. Lincoln-Way Central 15-25, 26-24, 15-13, fifth

GIRLS SOCCER

Bartlett 2, Elgin 0

Burlington Central 3, Belvidere North 1

Burlington Central (6-9): Elsa Carlson goal, assist. Annie Magan goal, assist.

Jacobs 2, Larkin 1

Joliet West 2, Sandburg 1

Lemont 3, Oak Forest 0

South Elgin 1, Hampshire 0

South Elgin (9-7-2): Lucy Tomasi goal.

Timothy Christian 2, Argo 0

Tinley Park 4, Bremen 2

Wheaton Warrenville South 7, East Aurora 0

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS (Iowa)

Batavia 1, Normal Community 0

Arrowhead (Wis.) 2, Metea Valley 1 (SO)

Metea (11-2): Lily Senese goal in regulation.

Dunlap 6, Reavis 0

Helias (Mo.) 1, Carmel 0

Middleton (Wis.) 3, Batavia 2 (SO)

St. Charles (Mo.) 2, De La Salle 1

St. Teresa’s (Wis.) 2, Kaneland 1

SOFTBALL

Batavia 6, Naperville North 5

Naperville North (5-16): Maddi Larsen 3-for-4, 2 RBIs. Sara Rossi double, 2 RBIs.

Beecher 9, Sandburg 5

Beecher (24-1): Alexa Gliva 2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs. Ava Lorenzatti 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs.

Sandburg (8-12): Olivia Trunk double, 2 runs.

DePaul Prep 4, De La Salle 1

Dundee-Crown 14, Elk Grove 4 (5 innings)

Dundee-Crown (8-14): Alyssa Gale 4-for-4, 2 doubles, 4 runs, 2 RBIs. Jordyn Jeffs 3-for-4, double, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.

Gardner-South Wilmington 4, Yorkville Christian 0

Harvest Christian 15, Wheeling 12

Harvest Christian (8-10): Makayla Richards 3-for-4, double, HR, 3 runs, 2 RBIs. Alyssa Burke 3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs.

Lake Zurich 12-2, Jacobs 5-7

Lake Zurich (10-12-1): Brianna Rubicz combined 5-for-8, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 4 RBIs.

Jacobs (13-13): Molly Hoch combined 4-for-7, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 6 RBIs.

Lockport 3, Naperville Central 1

Lockport (15-9): Kelcie McGraw CG, 4 H, 0 ER, 15 Ks; double, RBI.

Mother McAuley 11, Lyons 5

Niles North 16, Lake Forest 1 (4 innings)

Oswego East 10-9, Downers Grove South 9-5

Game 1 Oswego East: Danielle Stone 2-for-2, 4 RBIs.

Game 2 Oswego East (12-9): Kylie Mannis 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Stevenson 7, Taft 4

Stevenson (17-3): Aubrey Jepsen 2-for-3, double, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs. Sara Saiki 2-for-3, double, run, 2 RBIs.

Waubonsie Valley 15, Joliet Central 0 (4 innings)

BRADLEY-BOURBONNAIS BACKYARD BASH

Benet 8, Rock Island 3

Benet (7-12): Alaina Rosner 2-for-3, double, run, RBI.

Neuqua Valley 5, Rock Island 3

Neuqua: Ashley Pape run, 2 RBIs. Nalia Clifford 2-for-4, 2 runs.

Rock Island 6, Oak Forest 0

LIBERTYVILLE ROUND ROBIN

Lincoln-Way East 15, Libertyville 5 (5 innings)

Lincoln-Way East (19-2): Zoey Bullock triple, 4 RBIs.

Lincoln-Way East 7, Loyola 0

MARENGO INVITATIONAL

St. Charles East 13, Joliet West 12

St. Charles East (14-12): Caleigh Higgins HR, 4 RBIs. Addison Wolf 3 runs.

St. Charles East 8, Kaneland 2

St. Charles East: Wolf 3-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Kaneland 15, Cary-Grove 0

Kaneland (12-10): Lillyana Crawford 5 RBIs.

Huntley 7, St. Charles East 6

St. Charles East: Hayden Sujack 2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBIs.

LOCAL COLLEGES

BASEBALL

North Central College 3-5, North Park 2-4

NCC (23-17, 14-6 CCIW): Parker Wyatt combined 4-for-8, 2 HRs, 3 runs, 4 RBIs.

CCAC CHAMPIONSHIP

St. Xavier 6, Judson 0

St. Xavier (31-22): Jimmy Fairley 5.1 IP, 2 H. Shea Zbrozek run, RBI.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP

The Master’s (Calif.) d. St. Xavier 28-26, 25-23, 18-25, 25-19

St. Xavier (31-1): Matt Pannala 20 kills. Vejas Cuplinskas 12 kills. Caydann Cox 11 kills, 11 digs. Cameron Daniels 43 assists.

SOFTBALL

CCAC TOURNAMENT

Championship Bracket

St. Xavier 9, St. Ambrose (Iowa) 6

St. Xavier (35-6): Taylor Becker 3-run double.

Elimination Bracket

St. Francis 4-4, Olivet Nazarene 1-10

St. Francis (20-20): Jaelynn Taylor combined 3-for-6, double, HR, 3 RBIs.

Compiled by Josh Krockey.

Even though the measure failed in Bensenville, at least 163 communities around the state have recently enacted local grocery taxes.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill last year repealing the state’s 1% grocery tax, saying it hit poorer families harder. But the bill also allowed municipalities, which depend on the revenue, to implement their own tax. Bensenville put the proposal on the ballot to get voters’ input, but local officials are not required to do so. In many municipalities, local governing bodies are casting the deciding vote.

The political hot potato promises to create a patchwork of taxes and has already led to finger-pointing between local and state officials. The debate over local grocery taxes also comes at a time when many consumers are worried about rising food prices.

“I don’t like it, but I guess I kind of understand it,” Jane Kramer, 73, said of the tax as she shopped for groceries in west suburban Batavia. “Yes, I’m disappointed about it, but that’s our lives.”

Other shoppers don’t think a 1% grocery tax is a big deal.

Ken Mate, 66, buys his groceries in bulk, and said he relies on two-for-one deals and sales to keep his food costs low.

“I don’t think it’s gonna hurt anybody’s bottom line here,” Mate said while shopping in Batavia, “because nobody’ll notice it.”

Notice it or not, the tax generates an estimated $400 million annually, according to Pritzker’s office. All the money collected from the state grocery tax is passed on to local municipalities, where it is spent on basic services like police, firefighters, snow plowing and garbage pickup.

The state suspended the grocery tax for fiscal year 2022 to help fight rising inflation, but municipal leaders say losing the stream of revenue permanently forces them to consider cutting services, raising sales or property taxes, or implementing a local grocery tax. If they approve a local grocery tax by Oct. 1, it would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, when the state tax expires.

Pritzker called the statewide grocery tax “embarrassing” because it hurts poorer people the most by taking a bigger bite out of their income, though low-income recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, do not pay the tax. While the governor takes credit for cutting the tax, local leaders say it leaves them with hard choices.

“Unfortunately, the governor threw it to the municipalities,” Algonquin Mayor Debby Sosine said. Her northwest suburban village, which receives $2 million annually in state grocery tax proceeds and uses it to pave and repair roads, has already approved its own tax.

Sosine was one of the mayors who warned last year, as the Pritzker proposal was being debated, that loss of the tax would hurt them immensely.

Chicago officials have yet to decide whether to impose their own tax. The state grocery tax generates an estimated $60 million to $80 million for the city, said Ald. Pat Dowell, chair of the Committee on Finance. “It’s a not insignificant amount of money,” she said.

Whether the city will impose its own grocery tax will be decided in upcoming budget hearings across the city.

“People should be involved in the budget process,” Dowell said. “Residents should come out and speak their mind and talk to their aldermen.”

Illinois residents already pay the highest combined state and local taxes in the nation, at more than $13,000 annually, according to a recent report by WalletHub. Food prices rose 3% in the past year as of March, and the federal government forecasts them to rise another 3.5% this year.

Cook County also has a 1.25% grocery tax to fund the Regional Transportation Authority.

More than a dozen suburbs in the Chicago area have already adopted local grocery taxes, including Barrington, Berwyn, Buffalo Grove, Carol Stream, Cicero, Des Plaines, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich, Lombard, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palatine, Schaumburg, Tinley Park and Wheaton. Officials in other suburbs, including Naperville, Batavia and Oswego, are considering doing so.

The state grocery tax generates about $6.5 million annually for Naperville, where the City Council is expected to take up the issue in May or June.

“We will be looking at both expenditure reductions as well as potential revenue sources over the next couple of months,” City Manager Douglas Krieger said.

The south suburbs, which collectively receive more than $20 million in funding from the state grocery tax, will be hit particularly hard, South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association Executive Director Kristi DeLaurentiis said.

Many towns in the south suburbs have little commercial base.

Some areas also are food deserts, with no grocery stores to tax. To remedy the lack of fresh food, some municipalities have pledged part of their state grocery tax revenues to attract grocery stores, and are contractually obligated to come up with the money whether the state provides it or not.

“Many of our communities are significantly distressed, and don’t have a lot of economic activity,” she said. “The grocery tax revenue is very important to communities that have less commercial activity,” she said. “So many of them are evaluating, do we need to go to the taxpayer? The grocery tax is likely far easier than additional property taxes.”

In west suburban Batavia, City Administrator Laura Newman said the loss of the state tax will mean a reduction of about $1.2 million in revenue annually.

The City Council took preliminary action to approve a local grocery tax, but not before criticizing the state’s decision.

“It was just a motion to make somebody look good, is what this was,” Mayor Jeffery Schielke said, deeming the decision a political move from Pritzker.

Ald. Abby Beck called a grocery tax “regressive” and said it would “hurt our most vulnerable citizens the most,” suggesting Batavia reduce its version of the tax below 1% in the future and compensate with other funding sources, like property taxes.

Passing its own tax would allow Batavia more local control, Ald. Kevin Malone said.

“It’s kind of a big stinker that this got put on our lap,” he said.

Downstate cities like Carbondale, Danville and Peoria also have approved their own grocery taxes.

“If local governments believe it is necessary to tax milk, bread, eggs, etc. to fund local services/local government, then they should be responsible and accountable for that decision to local taxpayers,” Illinois Department of Revenue spokeswoman Maura Kownacki told the Tribune. “The state should not be imposing a regressive, statewide sales tax on groceries especially during a time when inflation is hitting the pocketbooks of Illinois families.”

Email Daily Southtown results to southtownsports@gmail.com, Beacon-News, Courier-News and Naperville Sun results to tribwestsports@gmail.com and News-Sun results to newssunsports@gmail.com. 

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

HIGH SCHOOLS

BASEBALL

Batavia 6, Geneva 1

Benet 2, Naperville North 1

Bishop McNamara 2-7, Aurora Christian 1-2 (Game 1, 5 innings)

Burlington Central 7, Jacobs 5

Burlington Central (12-9, 5-7 Fox Valley): Liam Schultz HR, 2 RBIs.

Byron 4, Harvest Christian 3

Cary-Grove 4, Hampshire 3

Chicago Christian 10, Marian Central Catholic 9

Chicago Christian (14-8, 5-3 Chicagoland Christian): Josh Sedakis double, 4 RBIs.

Herscher 4, Beecher 0

Lakes 7, Lake Forest 2

Lincoln-Way West 15, Riverside-Brookfield 2 (6 innings)

Lincoln-Way West (17-5): Conor Essenburg 3 doubles, 3 runs, 4 RBIs.

Marian Catholic 6, Homewood-Flossmoor 5

Marian (10-14): Jonathan Trotter 2 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Oswego 2, West Aurora 1

Peotone 12, Hillcrest 2 (5 innings)

Prairie Ridge 8, Dundee-Crown 1

Richards 9, Tinley Park 8

Richards (14-5, 9-2 SSC Red): Ryan Golinski 2 runs, RBI.

Tinley (12-10, 6-6 SSC Blue): Brendan Draves double, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.

Ridgewood 19, East Aurora 0 (4 innings)

St. Charles East 3, St. Charles North 2

St. Charles East (11-9, 7-3 DuKane): Joey Arend 5.2 IP, ER, 8 Ks. James Feigleson RBI single.

Sandburg 2, Oak Forest 1 (12 innings)

Sandburg (13-8): Nick Seaman 6 IP, 0 H. Ryan Evoy GW RBI in bottom 12th.

Sandwich 5, Woodstock 0

T.F. South 10, Whiting (Ind.) 0 (5 innings)

T.F. South (5-17-1): Ryan Marnell 2 runs, 3 RBIs.

Thornton 20, Thornridge 4

Timothy Christian 10, St. Edward 3

Westminster Christian 4, Harvard 2

Westminster Christian (9-11): Brian Powers 2 RBIs.

DO IT STEVIE’S WAY CLASSIC

Lemont 8, Montini 2

Lemont (18-3-1): Shea Glotzbach 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER; 2 RBIs.

Lockport 3, Lyons 1

Lockport (13-7): Drew Satunas double, 2 RBIs.

GIRLS SOCCER

Highland Park 6, North Shore 2

Kankakee 3, Beecher 1

Richards 1, Chicago Christian 0

ED WATSON NAPERVILLE INVITATIONAL

Semifinal

Naperville Central 2, Barrington 0

Consolation Pool

Lincoln-Way East 0, Loyola 0

Naperville North 2, Downers Grove North 0

Naperville North (8-2-5): Claire DeCook 2 goals.

Oswego 2, Downers Grove South 1

Hinsdale Central 1, St. Charles East 0

Lyons 1, Benet 0

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS (Iowa)

Lockport 3, Peoria Richwoods 0

Metea Valley 6, Pleasant Valley (Iowa) 0

Metea (11-1): Liv Hernandez 3 goals.

Waunakee (Wis.) 5, Carmel 1

SOFTBALL

Aurora Christian 8, Lisle 5

Aurora Christian (4-10): Madi Kossakowski triple, run, 2 RBIs.

Fremd 10, Oak Forest 0

Glenbard North 12, Batavia 2 (6 innings)

Highland Park 10, Lake Forest 0 (5 innings)

Huntley 5, Kaneland 0

Naperville Central 11, West Aurora 1 (5 innings)

Naperville Central (12-9): Cali Lenz HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Reavis 5, St. Ignatius 4

Reavis (14-11): Kenzie Welsh run, RBI. Scored 3 runs in top 7th.

St. Charles East 5, Wheaton Warrenville South 3

St. Charles East (12-11, 3-4 DuKane): Addison Wolf 3-run HR.

St. Charles North 20, Geneva 12

Geneva (5-13): Kat Cerwin 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

St. Edward 9, Chicago Christian 2

St. Edward (9-9, 6-2 Chicagoland Christian): Kendall Pemberton 3 RBIs.

Sandburg 5, Lemont 4 (8 innings)

Stevenson 7, Lane 0

Stevenson (16-3): Ava Potempa 5 IP, 0 H, 11 Ks. Maahi Patel HR, 3 RBIs.

Tinley Park 12, Mother McAuley 11

Wheaton Academy 6, Harvest Christian 2

Wheaton St. Francis 14, Aurora Central Catholic 13

ACC (18-7, 6-3 GCAC White): Sophia Delgado 2 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

LOCAL COLLEGES

BASEBALL

Aurora University 13-3, Wabash 3-8

Lewis 8-16, Indianapolis 1-4

North Central College 5, North Park 2

CCAC TOURNAMENT

Championship Bracket

St. Xavier 7, Judson 6 (12 innings), championship

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

NAIA SEMIFINAL

St. Xavier d. Missouri Valley (Mo.) 25-18, 25-13, 11-25, 25-20

St. Xavier (31-0): Caydann Cox 15 kills, 10 digs. Matt Pennala 15 kills. Cameron Daniels 35 assists.

SOFTBALL

CCAC TOURNAMENT

St. Xavier 8, Indiana South Bend 0

St. Ambrose (Iowa) 3, St. Francis 2

NJCAA REGION IV

DIVISION 3 TOURNAMENT

Joliet Junior College 13-6, College of DuPage 3-4

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

HIGH SCHOOLS

BASEBALL

Argo 6, T.F. South 3

Argo (9-13, 5-7 SSC Red): Valente Melero run, 2 RBIs.

Aurora Central Catholic 3, Leo 2

Beecher 5, Clifton Central 4

Brother Rice 7, St. Rita 2

Brother Rice (21-1, 5-0 CCL Blue): Jackson Natanek double, run, 2 RBIs.

Deerfield 6, Maine South 3

Evergreen Park 8, Washington 2

Evergreen (16-8): Jack Rourke HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Fenwick 8, Marmion 6

Grayslake Central 5, Antioch 0

Grayslake Central (17-5, 8-1 Northern Lake County): Nathan Fuko 5 IP, 6 Ks. Carson Woods 2 RBIs.

Grayslake North 15, Round Lake 5 (5 innings)

Jacobs 15, Huntley 10

Kaneland 12, Sycamore 2

Lemont 16, Crete-Monee 0 (4 innings)

Lincoln-Way East 4, Homewood-Flossmoor 2

Lincoln-Way East (18-4, 8-2 SWSC): Jack Bauer (W) 4 IP, H, 9 Ks.

H-F (10-13, 5-5): Arthur Stamps triple, 2 RBIs.

Lincoln-Way West 6, Bradley-Bourbonnais 3

Lincoln-Way West (16-5, 5-4 SWSC): Conor Essenburg double, HR, 2 RBIs.

Montini 9, De La Salle 0 (5 innings)

Morgan Park 13, Brooks 12

Mundelein 10, Carmel 6 (6 innings)

Mundelein (15-5-2): Caden Earing HR, 3 runs, 2 RBIs.

Naperville Central 7, DeKalb 3

Naperville North 12, Metea Valley 0 

Naperville North (10-10, 6-3 DuPage Valley): Matt Sonnenschein CG, H, 9 Ks; triple, 4 RBIs.

Niles West 4, Vernon Hills 2

Oak Forest 10, Marian Catholic 3

Oak Lawn 11, Hillcrest 0 (5 innings)

Oak Lawn (13-10, 10-3 SSC Red): Jackson Hilger double, run, 4 RBIs.

Oswego 15, Bolingbrook 6

Oswego East 7, Plainfield North 6 (8 innings)

Oswego East (9-14, 1-5 Southwest Prairie West): Devin Wheaton double, 3 runs. Niko Villacci GW single in bottom 8th.

St. Laurence 15, Loyola 0

St. Viator 4, Marist 3

Marist (12-8, 5-2 ESCC): John McAuliffe HR, 2 RBIs.

Sandwich 10, Lisle 7

Sandwich (11-11, 8-2): Braden Behringer 2 runs, 4 RBIs.

Waubonsie Valley 1, Neuqua Valley 0 (5 innings)

Wauconda 10, Grant 9

Wauconda (14-10, 7-5 Northern Lake County): Lucas Swanson double, 3 RBIs. Scored 4 runs in bottom 7th.

West Aurora 10, Elmwood Park 0 (5 innings)

West Aurora (17-3, 10-2 Upstate Eight): Mason Atkins 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Benet d. Carmel 25-10, 25-9

Homewood-Flossmoor d. Andrew 25-17, 24-26, 25-22

Lincoln-Way Central d. Lincoln-Way West 25-17, 25-13

Lincoln-Way East d. Lockport 25-17, 25-13

Marian Catholic d. St. Viator 25-20, 25-21

Marist d. St. Patrick 25-18, 25-7

Marist (23-1, 5-0 ESCC): Roman Vucinic 8 kills.

Oswego d. Minooka 25-19, 25-18

Vernon Hills d. Lake Forest Academy 25-19, 25-22

GIRLS SOCCER

Aurora Central Catholic 3, Montini 2

ACC (9-5-1): Gabby Montes GW goal in final minute.

Burlington Central 5, Jacobs 1

Eisenhower 3, Reavis 1

Glenbrook North 6, Deerfield 1

Grayslake Central 2, Grant 0

Lemont 8, Evergreen Park 1

Libertyville 10, Waukegan 1

Mother McAuley 6, De La Salle 4

McAuley (7-10-1): Calli Edwards 4 goals.

Prairie Ridge 1, Dundee-Crown 0

Stevenson 6, Lake Forest 1

Vernon Hills 3, Maine West 1

Vernon Hills (5-6-2, 3-0-1 Central Suburban North): Frannie Poulos 2 goals.

Warren 3, Mundelein 0

Warren (9-3-1, 4-0 North Suburban): Addison Stanciak goal, assist.

Wauconda 5, Round Lake 0

Wauconda (7-5, 4-1 Northern Lake County): Meagan Gerle 2 goals.

ED WATSON NAPERVILLE INVITATIONAL

Quarterfinals

Naperville Central 4, Lincoln-Way East 1

Lane 1, Neuqua Valley 0

New Trier 6, St. Charles North 0

Consolation Pool

Benet 3, Downers Grove South 1

Benet (10-3-2): Natalie Grover goal.

Naperville North 2, Fenwick 1

Naperville North (7-2-5): Lucy Fitzgerald goal.

Oswego 7, Bolingbrook 0

Waubonsie Valley 1, Geneva 0

Downers Grove North 5, Oswego East 0

Lyons 3, St. Charles East 2

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS (Iowa)

Lockport 3, Normal West 0

SOFTBALL

Beecher 10, Clifton Central 0 (6 innings)

Beecher (23-1, 10-0 River Valley): Taylor Norgus CG, 3 H, 14 Ks. Ava Olson double, triple, 4 RBIs.

Burlington Central 14, Crystal Lake South 2 (5 innings)

Burlington Central (9-3 Fox Valley): Addison Beltran triple, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.

Crystal Lake Central 8, Dundee-Crown 2

Elmwood Park 16, Streamwood 0 (4 innings)

Glenbard East 20, Elgin 2 (3 innings)

Grant 17, Round Lake 2 (4 innings)

Highland Park 2, Glenbrook North 0

Highland Park (7-5, 2-4 Central Suburban  South): Lily Freedman CG, 15 Ks.

Huntley 11, Jacobs 0 (5 innings)

Lake Park 6, St. Charles East 2 (9 innings)

Lemont 9, Andrew 7

Lemont (14-6): Jessica Pontrelli HR, 3 RBIs.

Lincoln-Way Central 8, Lockport 2

Lincoln-Way Central (18-1, 8-0 SWSC): Teagan Berkshire HR, 4 RBIs.

Lincoln-Way West 12, Homewood-Flossmoor 2 (5 innings)

Maine West 4, Vernon Hills 0

Marist 10, Downers Grove North 0 (5 innings)

Marist (21-1): Soleil Tate no-hitter, 8 Ks; 2 HRs.

Oak Lawn 15, Hillcrest 0 (4 innings)

Oswego 17, Joliet West 2 (5 innings)

Oswego (21-0, 8-0 Southwest Prairie West): Jaelynn Anthony HR, 3 runs, 4 RBIs.

Oswego East 4, Romeoville 0

Oswego East (10-9, 5-3 Southwest Prairie West): Danielle Stone double, run, 2 RBIs.

Prairie Ridge 6, Hampshire 2

Richards 8, Tinley Park 1

Richards (13-7, 9-2 SSC Red): Sarah Scott 3-run HR.

Riverside-Brookfield 19, Larkin 6 (6 innings)

Larkin (9-12, 5-6 Upstate Eight): Ali Herrick double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Sandburg 9, Stagg 1

Sandwich 4, Johnsburg 2

Sandwich (8-8, 5-4 Kishwaukee River): Brooklyn Marks solo HR, 2 runs.

Wilmington 16, Crete-Monee 0 (3 innings)

Yorkville 10, Plainfield South 1

LOCAL COLLEGES

BASEBALL

CCAC TOURNAMENT

Championship Bracket

Judson 7, Olivet Nazarene 2

St. Xavier 12, St. Ambrose (Iowa) 1 (7 innings)

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

NAIA TOURNAMENT

At Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Pool Play

St. Xavier d. Grand View (Iowa) 18-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23

St. Xavier (30-0): Matt Pennala 18 kills, 9 digs. Vejas Cuplinskas 14 kills. Caydann Cox 10 kills, 8 digs. Cameron Daniels 51 assists. Won pool.

SOFTBALL

GLVC TOURNAMENT

Elimination Round

Maryville (Mo.) 4, Lewis 2

Compiled by Josh Krockey.

Sure to quack a smile.

Downtown Naperville Alliance’s annual sculpture series returns in June, once again adorning city streets with specially painted sculptures through the summer months.

This year’s theme: “DUCKS!”

In all, 18 duck sculptures are flocking to downtown for this year’s installment of the series. They will be on display from June 2 through August, according to Katie Wood, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance. A map of each sculpture location will be published to the alliance’s website later this month.

“This is the fun stuff,” Wood said. “I mean, there is so much to love about downtown Naperville, but doing these (sculptures) every summer is really a highlight for all of us.”

The series has been a tradition since the early 2010s. The organization took up the program from the United Way, which used to have offices in Naperville and had its own summer painted sculpture program some two decades ago, according to Wood. When they “left town, that program left Naperville” until the alliance decided to bring it back, she said.

Organized around a new theme every year, sculptures have taken the shape of dogs, benches, trains and hearts, to name a few. Last year, the theme was bugs, complementing what was a historic summer for cicadas.

This year’s theme is a nod to the Naperville Riverwalk, Wood said. The concept was in part inspired by the Riverwalk’s 50th anniversary coming up in 2031 but was also just an ode to “a wonderful feature of our downtown,” Wood said.

Preparation for the series starts about six months in advance, she said. The alliance works with Chicago-area manufacturers to produce the sculptures, which are made out of fiberglass. Each is sponsored by an area business and passed off to local artists to be painted.

Once finished, the sculptures go back to the alliance, which works with Gerald Auto Group to glaze them so they’re more weather resistant, Wood said.

Each sculpture will also have its own theme-inspired name. Ducks to look out for include an underwater-themed bird aptly dubbed “Tropiquack” and the ever-groovy “Disco Duck.”

Sponsoring businesses this year include DJK Custom Home Builders, Naperville Bank & Trust, Pinot’s Palette, Pure Barre, Turning Point Autism and Treasures Naperville, among others.

Naperville artist Marianne Kuhn is painting two ducks, one sponsored by Magnitech and the other by Caton Commercial. She’s been a part of the series since the program was under the United Way’s auspices, she said.

Asked what brings her back each year, she said, “It’s just really fun doing public art and seeing the public get involved.”

Kuhn’s ducks are a colorful and distinctive pair. The first offers a painted scene of the Riverwalk, including a recreation of Dandelion Fountain. The second is Hawaiian-themed, complete with an illustration of two surfing ducks catching a wave. The ducks don’t yet have names, Kuhn said.

In tandem with the alliance’s sculpture series, a few other duck-themed activities are lined up for the summer. Various downtown businesses will be hiding rubber ducks inside their stores for patrons to find in a scavenger-style hunt, Wood said.

The alliance is also hosting a Riverwalk Rubber Duck Race on June 6 on the DuPage River. Ahead of the race, community members can pay to “adopt” rubber ducks for the chance to win prizes. All proceeds will support the Naperville Riverwalk Foundation. Duck sales end June 5.

More information about this year’s summer sculpture series can be found at downtownnaperville.com/events/summer-painted-sculptures-introducing-ducks.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com

The senior forward plans to major in psychology at Arkansas.

“I just really liked the class when I took it, and a lot of my friends have told me I’m the group therapist,” Russell said. “I’m the one that kind of helps with people’s issues, so I think it would be nice to carry that into my future.”

Russell, who will not play college soccer, said her interest in psychology is a fairly recent development.

“When I decided that I wasn’t going to play soccer, I needed to figure out what to do,” she said. “After I took the class, it really stuck with me. I think the brain is super interesting, everything that goes on in it.”

Psychology isn’t merely academic for Russell, who is using what she has learned and applying it to her game.

“It just helps me keep my calm,” she said. “I do get in my head a lot, but it’s easy to kind of get out of it when I start thinking, ‘Take deep breaths and realize it’s just a game and it’s fun.’

“I’m out here for fun. I’m not playing in college, so I’m just going out for my last hurrah, and this is my favorite team. We all connect with each other.”

That’s true in different ways. Ohio State-bound senior forward Callie Tumilty, who is playing high school soccer for the first time, said Russell is warm and accepting.

“Being such a strong returning varsity player, she’s definitely helped a lot of us through being comfortable, especially including the freshmen and even including me in things because I’m obviously newer to the team,” Tumilty said. “She’s very good at making everyone feel welcome, but also on the field keeping us structured, especially helping us out with the front line.”

Russell has six goals and three assists this season for the Redhawks, who beat Lincoln-Way East 4-1 in the Naperville Invitational quarterfinals at Memorial Stadium on Thursday.

Russell assisted on the first goal of the game, squeezing a perfect pass up the middle to Tumilty, who got a step on a defender and scored on a 20-yard shot to give the Redhawks (12-1-1) the early edge.

“That was awesome,” Tumilty said. “She’s very good at picking out who to play and just threading that needle.”

While most center forwards focus first on shooting, Russell likes to post up and pass the ball, often to Tumilty.

“I know that she’s one of our fastest players, and she’s really good at 1v1, so I saw that little gap that she had,” Russell said. “I was scared that it was going to close, so I just wanted to slip it through the middle.”

Russell often is in the middle of things, as she was when sophomore midfielder Nicole Sacek gave the Redhawks a 2-0 lead against the Griffins (10-3-1).

“Part of it was Emma keeping that ball alive, throwing her body and not letting the defender get a clean service out,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “That’s what Emma does, and that determination is probably one of the best things about her as a player.”

Russell’s efforts off the field are just as important. She has thought about becoming a school psychologist or opening a clinic.

“It would be fun to come back because I understand the issues of high school and the stress,” she said.

Social media, Russell noted, causes much of that stress.

“Because of Instagram and TikTok, I think a lot of teenage girls just compare themselves to other people, and that puts bad thoughts in your head,” Russell said. “People just stay on their phone all day, so it’s draining, and they don’t go outside.

“It’s such a different generation. Like my parents don’t understand it. When they hear about problems, they’re like, ‘Why do you care?’ and it’s just hard.”

Russell hopes to be part of the solution one day. She’s optimistic too.

“I think once people get out of high school, it will click, and they’ll realize that high school is just drama and nothing that happens here matters,” she said. “The memories matter, but the drama you’re going to forget about the second you leave.”

Russell plans to make some incredible memories before she leaves.

“After last year when we lost in the supersectionals, the first thing we said was we’re not doing this again,” she said. “Ever since that game, it’s just been in our heads that we’re going to win state.

“I believe in it. We’re one of the best teams in the state, and I think that we’ve shown it.”

Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.

Naperville Park District will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, May 6, to celebrate the completed playground renovations at Spring-Field Park and Arbor Way.

The event will take place at 5 p.m. at Spring-Field Park, 2031 Springside Circle, which is adjacent to Arbor Way.

The newly renovated playground at Spring-Field Park includes a 20-foot-long zipline, silo net climber, inclusive spinner and a multiuser disc swing, a park district news release said.

New amenities at Arbor Way include a climbing circuit with both rope and rock components and a playhouse.

Two new picnic tables have been added to each park, the release said.

Light refreshments will be served. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 7.

School district libraries to receive grant money from state

Naperville District 203 and Indian Prairie District 204 are among the recipients of $1.3 million in grants awarded to public school libraries across the state by Secretary Of State Alexi Giannoulias, who also serves as the state librarian.

District 203 is to receive $13,301 and Indian Prairie $21,855, a news release said.

The grants are awarded each spring to support students in kindergarten through high school and allow school librarians to bolster their offerings, the release said. Resources and services provided through the grants include books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.

Grants are based on a formula in which districts receive $0.885 per student enrolled at each school having a qualified library. Funds are appropriated by the General Assembly.

Naperville Woman’s Club announces new officers, board members

The Naperville Woman’s Club has chosen Nina Casey as its president, Wendy Piepho as vice president of leadership, Susan Paral as vice president of membership and Susan Stockton as vice president of communications for 2025-2026.

Barbara Huffman will serve as secretary and Esther Cook as treasurer, a news release said.

Arts and culture chair will be Anita Danza, civic engagement chair is Anna Territo,  education and libraries chair is Maryanne Greif, facilities chair is Jennifer Kashur, meetings chair is Julie Berkowicz, rentals chair is Ann Jansen, and ways and means chair is Roz Morris.

The club was founded in 1897 and focuses its philanthropic activities on art, education and community service.

For more information, go to www.napervillewomansclub.org.

Fort Hill Wellness Series program to focus on orthopedic surgery

Two orthopedic surgeons from Advocate Health Care will lead a program on new trends in orthopedic surgery Thursday, May 15, as part of the Fort Hill Wellness Series.

The presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive.

Drs. Saad Khan and Socrates Brito will speak about how new techniques and technologies have revolutionized hand, upper and lower extremity surgeries and improved recovery time, a Naperville Park District news release said. They will focus on hip, knee and shoulder replacements.

Fort Hill fitness members can attend for free by registering in person at the center or by calling 630-995-8900. Nonmembers will pay $5 and can register at www.napervilleparks.org by clicking “Register Online” and searching for “Wellness Series” or activity code 105316.