Naperville News Digest: Wonderful World of Wheels and Climate Stewards Program Coming This Fall

The Naperville Park District is hosting its annual Wonderful World of Wheels on Monday, September 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event takes place at Commissioner's Park, located at 3704 111th St. It is completely free and open to the public, so families do not need to worry about buying tickets.

The event is designed especially for young children between the ages of 1 and 5. Kids will get to see and touch real community vehicles, like police cars, fire trucks, and park maintenance tractors. Community workers who drive the vehicles will also be on hand, so children can meet the people who keep Naperville safe and running. For more details, visit www.napervilleparks.org.

The University of Illinois Extension is offering a four-week program called Climate Stewards this fall in Naperville. The program is open to any community member who wants to learn how to talk about climate change and inspire others to take action. Sessions run from 3 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday, starting October 14 and ending November 4.

Classes will be held at five University of Illinois Extension offices, including the DuPage County Extension Office at 1100 E. Warrenville Road in Naperville. The sessions include conversations with local leaders, real-world practice scenarios, and a field trip to the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center. There, participants can see real climate solutions being used in nature. After finishing the program, Climate Stewards are encouraged to get involved in community science projects, land and water stewardship, and civic engagement.

The cost to join the Climate Stewards program is $80 per person. If you want to help someone else afford the course, you can pay a suggested fee of $120 instead. Interested participants should sign up by September 30 at go.illinois.edu/climatestewards.

In other local news, the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that disaster loans are available for people affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that hit the area on July 27. Homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in DuPage and Will counties in Illinois, as well as Lake County in Indiana, may apply. These loans are meant to help cover losses that insurance did not fully pay for.

Three types of loan programs are available: Business Physical Disaster Loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and Home Disaster Loans. Applications can be submitted online at www.sba.gov/disaster or in person at the Hazel Crest Village Hall or University Park Town Center through September 8. The deadline for property damage applications is October 19, while economic injury applications are due as late as May 18, 2027. For more information, call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.