Good morning, DuPage! Grab a jacket today—it's going to be a chilly one with a high of 41°F and a low of 23°F, plus some light snow to keep things cozy.

Wheaton College is moving forward with plans to sell its 15-acre "East Campus," the former site of Scripture Press Publications, for a potential residential development of more than 100 townhouses. The property, located at the northeast corner of College Avenue and Glencoe Street, currently sits on a curious municipal boundary where part of the building is in Glen Ellyn and the rest is in Wheaton. To facilitate the sale and future development, the two municipalities have drafted a new boundary agreement that would consolidate the majority of the land under Wheaton’s jurisdiction.

The proposed agreement involves disconnecting several parcels from Glen Ellyn and annexing them into Wheaton. As part of the deal, Glen Ellyn would receive one-third of any future municipal property tax revenue generated by the development for a period of 20 years. The college, which has owned the site since the 1990s, stated that the property no longer fits its future campus plans and would benefit from being under a single municipal authority for clarity in zoning, permitting, and public safety responses.

While a formal application has not yet been filed, the college has been under contract with REVA Development Partners, the firm behind the Avere on Duane luxury apartments in Glen Ellyn. Any future project must be residential or institutional in nature and meet strict stormwater management requirements to ensure no negative impacts on surrounding properties. If the boundary agreement is approved, public hearings will be held before any official development plans can be authorized by the city of Wheaton.

The College of DuPage (COD) Horticulture program has been awarded a $650,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand its sustainable urban farming training. The three-year initiative, known as the COD-FORWARD project, is designed to create new career pathways for under-resourced and incarcerated students. The funding will provide for stackable certificates, hands-on training, and academic support, with the grant covering tuition, fees, and books for many enrolled students.

A key component of the program is its partnership with the DuPage County Sheriff's Office and JUST DuPage, which allows detainees at the county correctional facility to earn college credits. This collaboration has already shown significant success; current data indicates it has helped reduce recidivism rates from 75% down to 15%. Additionally, the program contributes thousands of pounds of fresh produce to local food pantries, addressing regional food insecurity while teaching valuable vocational skills.

The grant also includes funding for a new three-year staff position to manage recruitment and develop internship partnerships with local employers. To encourage community involvement, the grant will cover half the cost of paid sustainable urban agriculture internships for participating businesses. By fostering these connections, COD aims to meet the region's growing demand for agricultural professionals while providing life-changing opportunities for its students.

Arts DuPage, an initiative of the DuPage Foundation, has evolved into the primary advocate and central hub for arts and culture across the region since its launch in 2016. The organization currently supports more than 500 individual artists and arts organizations through a combination of strategic grantmaking, resource sharing, and advocacy. By providing capacity-building workshops and networking opportunities, Arts DuPage works to build a resilient creative ecosystem that contributes to the county's economic vitality and overall quality of life.

At the core of the organization’s outreach is its premier digital event calendar, which serves as an all-in-one platform for discovering local performances, exhibits, and festivals. This resource, along with social media and newsletters, connects more than 100,000 arts enthusiasts annually with cultural experiences throughout the county. The platform is free for local artists and organizations to use, helping to amplify their visibility and reach new audiences that might otherwise miss smaller, community-based events.

Led by Director Deborah Venezia, Arts DuPage continues to focus on making creativity accessible in every corner of the community. Beyond promotion, the group advocates for policies and investments that strengthen the arts sector as a whole. From administering nonprofit grants to hosting professional development programs for arts leaders, the organization ensures that DuPage remains a thriving destination for both creators and those who appreciate their work.

See our Calendar of Events Here!

Did you know that on March 18, 1965, cosmonaut Alexei Leonov made history by becoming the first person to walk in space? He stepped out of his spacecraft, Voskhod 2, for a thrilling 12 minutes, giving us a glimpse into the great beyond. Talk about taking a giant leap for mankind! 

If you look at a map of DuPage County, it’s a perfect rectangle—except for a strange "tail" that hangs off the southeast corner in Downers Grove Township.

When the county was officially carved out of Cook County on February 9, 1839, the boundaries were intended to follow the standard six-mile township grid. However, Downers Grove Township was drawn to include a specific extra slice of land that extends south to the Des Plaines River and the Will County border. This makes Downers Grove roughly half again as large as the other eight square townships in the county, giving DuPage its signature "boot" or "tail" profile.

Thanks for reading! See you tomorrow, and remember to always support your local businesses!

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