Update: 6:18 p.m. March, 5

Naperville Department of Public Works crews are working hard this evening clearing streets of snow and slush throughout Naperville.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for Naperville until midnight when snow begins to taper off, according to the National Weather Service.

Total snow accumulation of 10 to 12 inches is possible. As of 6 p.m., the Naperville area had a total of about 7 inches of snow on the ground.

Winds will pick up to 15 to 25 mph, which could result in drifting snow in open areas, according to the NWS.

The National Weather Service forecasts the night-time low temperature will dip to 28 Tuesday and reach a high of 33 Wednesday.

Update 2:05 p.m. March, 5

All Naperville School District 203 after-school activities remain canceled for today.

The Naperville City Council meeting is still scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

Naperville's Department of Public Works plans to begin plowing cul-de-sacs between 5 and 7 p.m. Snow removal updates can be found on the city’s website at www.naperville.il.us/winteropsupdate.aspx as they become available from the city’s snow command personnel, according to the city of Naperville.

The city is also providing weather updates on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NapervilleIL and the city’s Twitter account at http://twitter.com/NapervilleIL.

The city has issued the following tips for snow removal:

• In order for city crews to remove snow efficiently, do not leave your car parked on the street during a snow storm or overnight.
• According to the Naperville Municipal Code, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to clear the snow and ice on any public sidewalk when the snow exceeds two inches in height or ice accumulates.
• Please assist the Naperville Fire Department by clearing snow from fire hydrants when clearing snow from your walkways.
• If you have a high-efficiency furnace, please clear snow away from the outside exhaust vent pipe.

Update: 12:49 p.m. March, 5

The Naperville Public Library, Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry along with a number of Naperville businesses are closing today due to the winter storm warning.

From the Naperville Public Library Facebook page:

Due to weather conditions, we will be closing at 3:00 p.m. today. The Library will re-open at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The Naperville Park District has canceled all programs and classes for Tuesday.

Updated list of Naperville closures:

• Naperville School District 203 - School canceled
• Indian Prairie School District 204 - School canceled
• Covenant Classical School - Closed
• Little Friends Krejci Academy - Closed
• Little Friends Mansion High School - Closed
• SS Peter & Paul Religious Education - Closed
• St. Thomas the Apostle Church/Religious Education - Closed
• Wheatland Salem Christian Academy - Closed
• Montessori School of Lisle - Closing at 1 p.m.
• DuPage Montessori School - Closing at 3 p.m.
• Naperville Public Library - Closing at 3 p.m.
• College of DuPage Naperville Campus - Classes Canceled
• Naperville Park District - Programs canceled
• Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Headquarters - Closed (DuPage forest preserves will remain open as conditions are deemed safe for visitors.)
• Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry - Closed
• DuPage Children's Museum - Closed
• Cafe 'N Play - Closing at 1 p.m.
• Go Green, Baby - Closed
• Comfy Bummy Diapers - Closed
• Bows and Babes - Closed
• Naf Naf - Closing at 3 p.m.

Update: 12:08 p.m. March, 5

According to the National Weather Service, more than 3 inches of snow has accumulated in the Naperville area Tuesday.

An additional 1 to 5 inches is predicted throughout the afternoon and a new overnight forecast calls for an additional 2 to 4 inches in Naperville.

The National Weather Service forecasts the night-time low temperature will dip to 25, with wind gusts as high as 30 mph.

Update: 9 a.m. March, 5

As of 9 a.m., Kroehler and Fry Family YMCA facilities have remained open, but the winter storm warning has prompted Fry Family YMCA to cancel several classes Tuesday.

The following was posted on Fry Family YMCA's Facebook page:

Due to District 204 canceling classes for today, our two preschool classes Let's Explore and Pre-K are also cancelled. Stay tuned for more updates.

Update: 8:40 a.m. March, 5

The DuPage Children's Museum will be closed Tuesday due to the winter storm warning. 

The following was posted on the DuPage Children's Museum's Facebook page:

The Museum is closed today due to the inclement weather. We plan to be open tomorrow, but check back here for updates.

Classes and programs scheduled to take place before 3 p.m. at the Naperville Park District have also been canceled Tuesday.

The Naperville Park District said it will provide updates later today regarding late-afternoon programs.

From the park district's Facebook page:

Due to the impending winter storm, all park district programs scheduled to take place before 3:00 p.m. today are cancelled. We will make a weather-based determination later today for programs scheduled for the late afternoon and evening. Pls. check www.napervilleparks.org for details.

Update: 8 a.m. March, 5

Local school district officials in Naperville put a smile on the faces of many students with the announcement of a "snow day" Tuesday.

A winter storm warning prompted both Naperville School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204 to cancel school Tuesday. After-school activities have also been canceled at both districts, but if conditions improve, District 203 will make an announcement regarding activities at 2 p.m.

All Naperville Park District programs scheduled to take place before 3 p.m. Tuesday have been canceled as well.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Naperville area from 9 a.m. to midnight Tuesday and is predicting as much as 8 inches of snow could fall.

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"Accumulating snow should begin by midday and linger into this evening. Snow could fall rather heavily at times with snow fall rates around an inch per hour possible this afternoon," the warning states.

Snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches in Naperville is possible Tuesday, with an additional 1 to 3 inches Tuesday night.

Wind gusts as high as 30 mph are expected throughout the day and into the evening, according to the NWS.

Heavy snowfall is most likely late Tuesday afternoon, in time for rush-hour traffic. Due to the conditions, travel will be "extremely dangerous," according to the NWS.

Check Naperville Road Conditions Here

The city of Naperville provides road condition updates online as well as a mobile-friendly version. Also, The Illinois Department of Transportation's Getting Around Illinois website provides real-time road conditions.

The National Weather Service forecasts the high temperature Tuesday will reach 29 degrees, and the night-time low will dip to 24.

Check back with Patch for local weather updates

Public schools in Naperville and Lisle were closed on Tuesday due to the snow, although many towns to the east like Glen Ellyn and Downers Grove kept public schools open or had early dismissals.

Many private schools in the area—who often bring students from further away—were also closed, like Calvary Christian, All Saints Catholic Academy and Benet Academy.

Patch reached out to our readers on Facebook to find out whether or not they thought closing the public schools was a good idea:

Yes, it was good to close the schools:

“The driving conditions are pretty poor and it is accumulating fast. After review, I would say the call is confirmed.”
– Philippe Lambert, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“ISATs were supposed to start today. I thought it was the right call.”
– Patty Andrick, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“Dan Bridges made the right call to protect our children.”
Vikki Bradley Stella, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“I think we can handle one snow day if they have to add one. It may not look bad now, but the majority of the snow is supposed to come mid-day right when school would be getting out and buses would be transporting students. I say they made the right call.”
– Renee Griffin Hacker, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“I don't let my teen driver drive to school when there is this much snow, but many teens do drive, so safety had to be first for not only the bus students and parents, but student drivers as well.”
– Ann Stanley Dobbels, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“Yes it is the right call - even if the snow doesn't get as bad as they predicted seeing the smiles on my kids faces makes it right! Snow days are magical...”
– Mary Reid-Vizintos, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“I agree with the call because of safety with the transportation of our children. And the sounds of "YES!!" from them when we received the call was priceless!”
– Donna Mitchel, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“Think of the parents that have to pick up their kids, I have one at Jefferson and one at North. Last week was stressful as I could not see the road (plow trucks always miss our street) out to Mill St then dealt with the congestion and panic that set in with all the cars on the road. Thankfully we all got home safe & sound.”
– Melinda Aquino, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“I think they did the right thing. The kids who walk would have had no trouble, but my kids ride the bus. I would rather been in school an extra day then worry about them coming home or when they would get home. One year they were supposed to be home by 3:50 and did not get home till 4:45.”
– Dana Jacobson, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“If you don't have kids then your opinion really doesn't count. We can all agree that storms can be very unpredictable and in that chance I would rather have my kids home safe with me.”
– Boerema Gene, Naperville Patch Facebook.

No, schools should have stayed open:

“Better safe than sorry, but I wish we could have gotten a half day in, then maybe we wouldn't have to make up in June?”
– Deborah Ryerson-James, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“They called it too soon. This amount of snow is not snow day-worthy!”
– Sue Byron Henderson, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“No.”
– Jennifer Schemmel, Dave Vincze, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“Called it too soon.”
– Sarah Behling Williams, Naperville Patch Facebook.

Other observations: 

 “Can you imagine how distracted the kids would be knowing that they MIGHT get out early? The ISAT scores would have been trash anyway. It's one day. One. Day. Enjoy the extra time with your child!”
– Joyce Counihan, Naperville Patch Facebook.

“Our district - 365u - got the call at 11:30 last night. Never that late before, but appreciated not having to set the alarm clock!”
– Terri Cirar, Naperville Patch Facebook.

Join the conversation! Follow us on Facebook

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The route for the much-anticipated Inaugural Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon was approved by Naperville City Council Tuesday night.

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The Naperville Marathon, which sold out within one day back in January, will take place Sunday, Nov. 10 and will be a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon. The marathon will start and finish at the North Central College athletic complex - near South Loomis Street and East Porter Avenue - and run through an extensive loop in central, south and east Naperville.

"This is going to be a great event," said Councilwoman Judy Brodhead during Tuesday's Naperville City Council meeting. "You can tell by the speed with which it sold out that there's really a hunger for this sort of thing."

Earlier: Inaugural Naperville Marathon Sells Out in One Day

Naperville Marathon and Half Marathon organizers planned the course with input from city staff. The course will cause road closures on some main streets in Naperville, such as 75th Street and Washington Street, but roads will reopen as runners clear each section.

The city plans on notifying residents and motorists by placing electronic message boards along the route a week prior to the inaugural marathon. Effected neighborhoods will also receive information regarding the marathon and closures.

Registration was nearly split in half, with 1,846 runners signing up for the half-marathon and 1,654 for the marathon.

Of the 3,500 registered for the marathon, 96 percent are from Illinois and four percent are from other states. Naperville residents account for 41% of the participants.

After facing criticism in January, registration was cut to $105 for the marathon and $75 for the half marathon. Originally, registration fees were $150 for the 26.2-mile marathon and $115 for the 13.1-mile half marathon. However, the marathon's Facebook page was flooded with comments from runners who said prices were too high, especially for an inaugural race.

Depending on the success of the marathon, organizers said the runner demand could reach nearly 16,000 participants over the next five years.

Naperville Marathon Road Closures Sunday, Nov. 10:

• Washington St., from Chicago Avenue to Edgewater Drive – Closed from 6:45 a.m. to 7:25 a.m.
• West St., from Hillside Road to Rickert Drive – Closed from 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
• 75th Street, from Rickert Drive to Book Road – Closed from 7 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
• Northbound Book Rd, from 75th Street to 83rd Street – Closed from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Washington Street, from Foxcroft Road to Naper Boulevard – Closed from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Note: as runners become more sporadic, the Naperville Police Department will open this roadway and stop traffic intermittently as runners approach.)
• Naper Boulevard, From Riverwoods Drive to Boughton Road – Intermittent closures from 7:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
• Royce Road, from Route 53 to Naper Boulevard – Closed from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Note: as runners become more sporadic, this road will reopen with traffic stopped intermittently as runners approach.)

Naperville Marathon Route Details:

• From North Central, the route runs southwest down West Street to 75th Street. A portion of lanes on 75th Street from Plainfield/Naperville Road to Book Road will be closed for 15 minutes during the marathon.
• Runners then travel south on Book Road to 83rd Street before entering a path in Springbrook Praire Forest Perserve traveling east. The route briefly travels south on Modaff, east onto Cedarbrook Drive to 87th Street and then south again on Washington Street. 
• The marathon splits at 87th Street and Washington, when the half marathon route turns north and travels along Washington Street and the DuPage River toward the finish line.
• The full marathon route continues from Washington and 87th Street, stretching south on Washington Street to Weber Road and then east into a portion of Woodridge.
• In the final stretch, the route makes a small loop in northwest Woodridge, turns north to Washington Street and hugs the DuPage River before finishing at North Central.

For more information and details, visit www.naperville26.com.  

After facing its fair share of obstacles, delays and plenty of revisions, plans for a major downtown Naperville hotel development were moved forward by City Council Tuesday.

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Council members gave approval to staff to prepare ordinances for the 2.4-acre multi-use Water Street District development, which was passed by a 7-2 vote during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The development will sit south of the Riverwalk between Main and Webster streets and hold a hotel, retail shops, restaurant, office space as well as a parking deck.

The 166-room "boutique" hotel will be named the Naperville Riverwalk Hotel, despite a passionate opposition from Councilman Grant Wehrli.

“'Thou shalt not name anything Riverwalk' to me should be in the ordinance," said Wehrli, who was one of the dissenting votes along with Councilman Doug Krause. "The city has worked hard with blood, sweat and tears to get that Riverwalk where it is; I don’t want to see anybody commercializing it with a name of 'Riverwalk' anything.” 

While nixing the "Riverwalk" name from the development didn't make it into the ordinances, City Council members did vote to approve a total of 524 spaces within the parking deck.

The project has been tweaked and revised numerous times during the last several months, but the developer, Marquette Companies, presented its final plans to City Council members Tuesday night.

“This process has been lengthy, but we believe the result before you tonight is truly an ideal realization of the city’s Water Street vision statement,” said Marquette Companies director Jeff Prosapio.

The hotel will still sit at five stories and have a height of 61 feet, with a 69-foot architectural element. The Loggia Building, located north of the hotel, connected by an elevated pedestrian bridge, is also the same height.

Along with retail and commercial space, the Loggia Building will hold a rooftop restaurant overlooking the DuPage River.

In January, hundreds of people gathered to get a look at revisions when Marquette Companies held an open house at Naper Settlement's Pre-Emption House.

During the open house, a majority of residents who provided feedback expressed their support for the project, Proscapio said.

“Of the 80 written comment cards we received, over 70 percent were in favor of the revisions and the development overall,” he said.

City Manager Doug Krieger acknowledged that the property is within a tax increment financing (TIF) district, but no discussion was held regarding how those funds could be used.

“At this point in time we have no agreement with the developer surrounding any of the financial matters including the TIF; that will be a matter for future public discussion,” Krieger said.

Shortly after the vote Tuesday, Naperville's business community issued its reaction to the city's approval of the development.

“Projects like the Water Street District are a rare generational opportunity for the entire community," said Naperville Chamber of Commerce CEO Mike Evans  in a statement. "This was a momentous decision in the history of Naperville, and will make a positive difference in the growth and vitality of Naperville’s economy."

Earlier: 

Developers 'Diligently Working' on Water Street Project, Ask City for More Time

New Revisions for Downtown Water Street Hotel Project

With Open House Scheduled, City Holds Off on Water Street Vote

Changes Made to 'Game-Changing' Naperville Water Street Project

What's your reaction to Tuesday's vote?

Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean!

At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch.

Congratulations to Rick Anderson, who provided the winning punchline to last week's Driving Dog cartoon:

It's called roadkill don't worry about it.

Monday, March 4

No insurance

Natanael Ibanez, 18, was arrested at 5:50 p.m. near River Road and West Ogden Avenue, Naperville Police Department said. He was charged with operating a vehicle without insurance. He posted bond.

Driving under the influence

• William G. Hood, 58, was arrested at 8:42 p.m. near Hobson Road and Washington Street, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.
• Jorge Flores-Medrano, 40, was arrested at 11:33 p.m. near Liberty Street and Route 59, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.

Car keyed

A vehicle was keyed in the 800 block of South River Road, police said.

The Fast and the Stupid

Someone reported that a red, rear-wheel drive car with a loud exhaust was drifting near Ring Road and West 87th Street, police said.

Car entered

A car was entered and its steering wheel and vents were pulled apart in the 1300 block of Modaff Road, police said.

Stolen cellphone

A cellphone was stolen in the 700 block of South Route 59, police said.

Naperville Police are investigating reports of shots being fired in the air near Madison Junior High School in east Naperville.

The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Fairoak Road and River Oak Drives, west of the school, which is located at 1000 River Oak Dr. Police responded to the area after reports of shots being fired in the air from a white, late-model Chevrolet pickup truck, according to the Naperville Police Department.

Police said several witnesses saw a white, younger male adult fire three shots in the air from a black handgun, according to the police department.

Police searched the area, but did not find anything.

Any information regarding this incident can be reported to the Naperville Police Department Investigations Division at 630-420-6726 or Naperville Crime Stoppers at 630-420-6006.

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With 230 kindergarten students enrolled in Naperville District 203's all-day kindergarten for the 2013-2014 school year versus only 10 in half-day, the all-day program, approved in January to be instituted at Beebe, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Mill, Naper, River Woods and Scott schools, is proving massively popular, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Earlier: All-Day Kindergarten Approved for District 203 Schools

According to the paper, the program is so popular that the few half-day students (the district is legally required to offer half-day) may need to be grouped in a single class at one school and bussed in.

"What we would do is enroll those students in the nearest school that has room for them rather then set up a very small classroom of those students who are only going to be enrolling in half-day kindergarten," Ryan told the paper.

The district is still sorting out various curriculum and logistical issues caused by the transition, including potential additions and remodeling at schools like Ellsworth and Naper, the paper said.

Read the full story at the Chicago Tribune website.

Patch readers, you're up!

We need your wit, creativity and animal psychic abilities to craft the perfect caption for the next edition of our pet photo caption challenge! 

Aww! Big dog in a little hat! Cute, right? Dog doesn't look too thrilled. What's it thinking?

Suggest your caption in the Comments section below. Comments will close at 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 13. The winner will be announced Thursday, March 14. 

The author of the winning caption and pet owner will receive a Patch-branded version of the photo, with the caption inserted. 

Congratulations to the winner of last week's contest, michael, with the caption to Caption This: Dog Enjoys a 'Breeze':

Do I look like Marilyn Monroe?

Have a photo you'd like captioned in future editions? Add it to our collection and your pet will be featured in weeks to come!

Remember:

1. Any animal will do. Dogs, cats, horses, lizards, birds, guinea pigs—you name it, we'll take it.
2. Limit of 4 photos per person (or family), per month. 
3. Submission is ongoing. Post your photos whenever you have them; the more photos, the better.

By now, most people in have noticed that daylight is beginning a little earlier each morning.

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That means spring and Daylight Saving Time are near. In 2013, the big shift happens on Sunday, March 10.

On that date, most of the U.S. will 'spring' clocks forward at 2 a.m., meaning, yes, that you'll lose an hour of sleep. But you'll get an extra hour of daylight at the end of the day.

And when does it end? DST will last until Nov. 3, 2013.

The change affects all states except Arizona and Hawaii. 

Of course, many people would prefer that Daylight Saving Time become the norm.

A Florida legislator even introduced the "Sunshine Protection Act" in the state legislature to try to make that happen. He admits it has little chance of passing, but he wants to stimulate discussion on the topic.

How do you help your internal clock adjust to Daylight Saving Time?

Heavy snow fell fast during Tuesday's late-winter storm - but not quite as fast as the sleds on Naperville's Rotary Hill.

Gripping onto colorful sleds and inner tubes, kids, teens and parents flew down the most popular sledding hill in the city Tuesday. Taking advantage of a snow day issued for Naperville schools, kids were able to enjoy the fluffy snow to the fullest.

And there was certainly plenty of snow to go around. 

More than 8 inches of snow buried Naperville by late Tuesday night—one of the highest totals in the Chicago area, according to the National Weather Service.

Nearby towns saw the following accumulations, according to the NWS:

• Darien: 7.4 inches 
• Wheaton: 6.5 inches
• Glen Ellyn: 7.1 inches
• Oak Brook: 8.6 inches
• Bolingbrook: 7 inches
• Lemont: 7.5 inches

Among the heavier totals reported Tuesday was 11 inches in La Grange Park and 11.1 inches in La Salle.

It's been 59 years since a March snowstorm generated as much snow in a single day as Tuesday's storm, according to WGN meteorologist Tom Skilling.

Naperville Park District sledding hills:

Rotary Hill

441 Aurora Ave.

Arrowhead Park

711 Iroquois Ave, Naperville, IL

Brooks Crossing Park

1015 95th Street, Naperville, IL

Springhill Park

703 Springhill Circle, Naperville, IL

Country Lakes Park

1835 North Aurora Road

Gartner Park

524 W. Gartner Road

May Watts Park

804 S. Whispering Hills Drive

For more information on local sledding hills, visit http://www.napervilleparks.org

A 3-bedroom townhome that spent 102 days on the market sold recently for $585,000, according to real estate records. 

The home, located at 459 Le Provence Circle, featured a professional kitchen, two-story family room and a fireplace.

Originally, the home was put on the market at $639,900. It also includes a master suite, high-end finishes and a finished basement, according to listing information. 

The following Naperville property sales were recorded on Oct. 5, 2012.

$135,000: 2404 Golf Ridge Circle

$425,000: 1220 Millet St.

$185,000: 605 Timber Trail Dr.

$300,000:1226 N. Main St.

$366,000: 1265 Marls Court

$452,000: 635 Balmoral Circle

$925,000: 1248 Hamilton Lane

$325,000: 2048 Cherrywood Circle

$320,000: 1037 Ravendale Court

The following Lisle property sales were recorded between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1, 2013.

$25,000: 4500 Beau Monde Drive, # 409

$120,000: 5937 Oakwood Drive

$114,000: 5357 Newport Drive

$364,000: 4611 Main St.

$167,500: 1830 Middleton Ave.

For more information on local real estate visit our Naperville or Lisle Real Estate Section. 

Are you a real estate agent with a distinctive home or property you’d like to see featured in one of our columns? Contact Mary Ann Lopez at maryl@patch.com.

Tuesday, March 5

Possession of cannabis

Michael Roger Macduff, 22, was arrested at 1:14 a.m. near 12th Avenue and North Loomis Street, police said. He was charged with possession of cannabis. He posted bond. 

Intoxicated man

A highly intoxicated man said that he wanted to kill himself in the 2000 block of University Drive, police said. 

Lost license plate

A resident reported losing a front license plate in the 2200 block of Petworth Court, police said. 

In what Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Mike Evans called a "momentous decision," City Council approved a game-changing development for the city's downtown area Tuesday.

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The vote to approve the Water Street hotel and retail development came after several delays and revisions as well as feedback from the public during an open house in January.  

After Tuesday's vote, Patch reached out to our readers on Facebook and here on the site to find out their reaction to City Council's approval of the development:

Economic game-changer

"More Jobs!" - Marilyn Robbins Lawless, Naperville Patch Facebook.

"Great! New jobs..and a nicer looking block in the downtown area...I just wish it was going to be a different hotel...more upscale than a Holiday Inn Express....It will be a great addition to our beautiful River Walk for sure, once it is done....." - Paula Howland Cree, Naperville Patch Facebook.

"Jobs, income for city and its business. I can deal with the extra traffic!" - Deanna Kariotakis, Naperville Patch Facebook.

"Yeah!!! I think it will be a beautiful addition and bring more business to Naperville!" - Roxanne Lang, Naperville Patch Facebook.

Good idea, bad location

"I like the idea of more jobs in Naperville, but disagree with the location downtown Naperville. The huge Barnes and Noble store is enough of an eyesore, I feel like Naperville is losing some of it's charm with the large retail stores taking over. Yes, it's a sign of times I guess, but I don't like it. Not from here originally, but enjoy the river walk and downtown area a lot. If we get a casino, I'm moving." - Deborah Ryerson-James, Naperville Patch Facebook.

Financing questions

"No problem with the project as long as it is completely paid for by the investors and not city tax payers by yet again subsidizing political cronies and hacks through TIF and other funding grants!" - Gerard Schilling, Naperville Patch

Traffic concerns

"Yes, in worried about traffic. Nightmare. It's cramped already!" - Bear, Naperville Patch

"I can hardly wait to see the traffic jams this behemoth creates.Wait till guests try to get to the hotel during downtown special events." - Albert Gazalooch, Naperville Patch

Wrong type of hotel

"I think that we have enough of the middle range hotels already in naperville...not in downtown but within 10-15 min drive....I think that if you had a Hotel Arista type in downtown it would fit better than a Holiday Inn...You don't think of Holiday Inn as a place for a great meal and great rooms....you think of it as a place to sleep and that is it...." - Cathy Hollendoner Diesman, Naperville Patch Facebook.

"Hotel in downtown. ...AWESOME!!!! Holiday Inn Express....NOT in best interest of downtown Naperville. Why can't you bring in a more upscale brand?"- Mary Bridget Hart, Naperville Patch Facebook.

Unwelcome guests?

"Well perhaps it will attract drunk downtown bar patrons. Think how affordable a room split 6 ways can be. It'll be like spring break all year round! Ought to provide a lot of work for carpet cleaners..." - Bev Nameliss, Naperville Patch Facebook.

Other suggestions

How about if they add a casino? It has done wonders for Aurora's downtown. The casino patrons can even stay at the Holiday Inn Express when they run out of quarters. - Maureen Brown Thomas, Naperville Patch Facebook. 

Earlier: 

City Moves Forward With Downtown Water Street Hotel Development

Developers 'Diligently Working' on Water Street Project, Ask City for More Time

New Revisions for Downtown Water Street Hotel Project

With Open House Scheduled, City Holds Off on Water Street Vote

Changes Made to 'Game-Changing' Naperville Water Street Project

Former Naperville mayor and World War II veteran Chester "Chet" J. Rybicki, who helped propel the city's growth and create one of Naperville's most defining features, the Riverwalk, passed away Wednesday. He was 96.

Rybicki served as Naperville mayor from 1975 until 1983, working hard to construct Naper Boulevard, the Naperville Riverwalk as well as commission a project that would later become Safety Town, Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel said in a statement Wednesday.  

"As a two-term mayor, Chet loved Naperville so much and gave so generously of his time and talents to help move the city forward during a period of growth from 1975-1983," Pradel said in the statement.

Rybicki was born in Chicago in 1916, but called Naperville home since the 1960s. He served overseas in World War II as a pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps before working as a buyer for Sears Roebuck & Co, Pradel said.

Rybicki is preceded in death by his wife Lillian "Mickey" Rybicki, who Pradel said was always by Chet's side. 

“As they say, behind every good man is a great woman. For Chet, that woman was his lifelong love Lillian, who was known as ‘Mickey.’ Every meeting, luncheon or public event he attended, she was right there with him. Their love for each other was an inspiration," Pradel said in the statement.

Pradel later added that Rybicki was still very much involved in the city and community well after he served as mayor.

"He was so involved in city life until his last days and never hesitated to share his thoughts with me on some of the big issues of the day," he said in the statement. "Even in his final days, he made sure to tell me what he thought needed to happen in our beloved town! I will miss my good friend so very much and will never forget how he helped make Naperville the wonderful City it is today.”

Arrangements are pending at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St. 

All flags at city buildings have been lowered at half-staff in his honor.

Over the objections of some City of Naperville staff and the concerns of a few commissioners, the Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday voted 4-2 to issue a positive recommendation for Finish Line Hand Car Wash and Detail Center operator Bill Loumbardis to sell used luxury cars out of the facility under certain conditions, the Naperville Sun reports.

According to the paper, some commissioners were worried about increased traffic at the 75th Street and Naper Boulevard intersection, though Loumbardis was supported by testimony from the president of the Hobson Oaks Homeowners Association and the operator of a former car wash at the site.

Loumbardis said he expects to do most of his business online. “If we have more than three customers a day, I’d be surprised,” the paper quoted him saying. “It’s way underutilized as it is ... it makes sense.”

"I don’t know why they’re giving me a hard time," he told the paper.

Conditions include keeping his car inventory in the back of the property, do no repair or body work on-site and look at cross-access with the shopping center to the east of the car wash, the paper said. The issue proceeds to City Council.

Read the full story at the Naperville Sun website.

The Illinois House of Human Services Committee approved a measure to legalize the use of medical marijuana on Wednesday, the Huffington Post reports. The final vote came in at 11-4.

The measure now moves to the Illinois House for deliberation.

House member Lou Lang (D-Skokie) has been pushing the legalization of medical marijuana for years.

Whenever asked about the possibility of Illinois becoming the nineteenth state to legalize the green leafy substance, Lang is always optimistic.

"Nobody should fear the bill," Lang told Skokie Patch. "This is about quality of life for people.

While the House of Human Services approved the measure, nothing is set in stone.

“As the State Journal-Register notes, similar legislation failed in the General Assembly over the years — including the most recent lame-duck session in January,” the Huffington Post reported.

However, other states have recently passed similar bills and Lang is hoping Illinois can become the next state to ride the green wave and help those who can seriously benefit from the drug. Recently, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia now allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Meanwhile, Colorado and Washington have taken it to another level, allowing citizens to smoke pot recreationally.

But for Lang the legalization of medical marijuana isn't about recreation use - it's about helping people who can benefit tremendously from the drug, he said.

"Illinois would be the nineteenth state to pass the bill (the District of Columbia also recently passed the bill)," Lang said. "And of all of those, Illinois will be the most tightly regulated."   

The bill, known as HB 1, can be read here.

Former Naperville mayor and World War II veteran Chester "Chet" J. Rybicki, who helped propel the city's growth and create one of Naperville's most defining features, the Riverwalk, passed away Wednesday. He was 96.

Thursday, March 7

Retail theft arrest

Arkadiusz Robert Olszanski, 25, was arrested at 8 p.m. in the 2700 block of South Sacramento, police said. He was charged with retail theft and transported to DuPage County Jail. 

Possession of drug paraphernalia 

Ryan Michael Kennedy, 19, was arrested at 6:44 p.m. in the 1000 block of Preserve Avenue, police said. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and transported to DuPage County Jail. 

Suspended/revoked license

• Jose Angel Gaytan, 22, was arrested at 9:31 a.m. near Hassert Boulevard and Book Road, police said. he was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. He posted bond. 
• Megan Kathleen McCarthy, 28, was arrested at 11:05 p.m. near Book Road and 95th Street, police said. She was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. She posted bond.

Warrant arrest

• James Patrick Johnson, 39, was arrested at 3:55 p.m. in the 1500 block of West Ogden Avenue, police said. He was charged on a warrant and transported to DuPage County Jail. 
• Kurt Brian Tromp, 49, was arrested at 4:59 p.m. near Naper Boulevard and East Chicago Avenue, police said. He was charged on a warrant. He posted bond.  

Memory cards stolen

An envelope containing two flash memory cards from Amazon.com was stolen from a front porch of a home in the 300 block of Tamarack Avenue, police said.