Star gazing

ThinkGlobal turns Naperville Municipal Center into parade of peace-promoting celebs

Why is there a poster of Bono in the Naperville Municipal Center?

The image of U2's lead singer graces one of more than a dozen posters set up on easels in the lobby. Among them are Jimmy Carter, Angelina Jolie, Bill Gates and Muhammad Ali.

Visitors who take a closer look can read about the contributions of these "Contemporary Peacemakers," which is the title of the exhibit, sponsored by the ThinkGlobal Arts Foundation. The foundation is behind Naperville's Celebration of Peace 2009 from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15.

Halloween doesn't have to be scary.

Catch one of the revival screenings of "Young Frankenstein" Oct. 30 at Naperville's Hollywood Palms, and the spooky holiday will have plenty of laughs.

Better yet, Teri Garr -- Inga in the film -- will be on hand to answer questions and sign autographs before and after each screening.

Details are at www.hollywoodpalmscinema.com .

At the beginning of every meeting of the Naperville City Council, Mayor A. George Pradel leads the room in the "Pledge of Allegiance."

Tuesday, however, the mayor started the pledge with, "Whoa!"

He didn't realize until standing up that the American flag was missing.

After a moment of confusion and a few snickers from the audience, someone suggested where to look.

Then Councilwoman Judy Brodhead quickly ducked behind a wall on the dias, recovered the flag and replaced it in its stand behind Pradel's chair before the mayor uttered the actual first words of the pledge.

Dave Barry apparently thinks DuPage County has taken leave of its senses.

The Bartlett attorney's voice is part of a chorus calling on ComEd and the county to do a more-careful job of pruning trees and controlling weeds along the Illinois Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail. He's also calling for the Illinois Commerce Commission to hold public hearings on the issue.

Barry this week tossed his hat into the County Board race for District 6.

The new board hopeful said he had planned to wait another 10 days before announcing his candidacy, but pushed his timing up because of "ComEd's plans to destroy natural habitat of wildlife and the beauty of our trails."

The filing period for turning in nominating petitions for the February 2010 primary begins Monday and runs through Nov. 2.

Second place isn't all bad.

Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso, who hopes to be the next chairman of the DuPage County Board, sent out a press release Monday noting that a straw poll conducted over the weekend by the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization put him in second place among the four main contenders for the job now held by Illinois gubernatorial hopeful Bob Schillerstrom.

Only Debra Olson, the current District 4 board member from Wheaton, came out ahead of Grasso.

Also in the running for the post are state Sens. Carole Pankau, R-Itasca, and Dan Cronin, R-Elmhurst, chairman of the DuPage County Republican Organization.

During the rededication ceremony Monday afternoon for Naperville's Mill Street School, 48th District state Rep. Mike Connelly, R-Lisle, explained how he is proud to be 203.

"I like to wear this tie in Springfield," he said, gesturing to the orange and navy blue striped tie around his neck.

See, in Springfield and south of I-80, there are a lot of University of Illinois fans. And that's just what people say when they see him sporting this particular piece of neckwear.

"U. of I.!" they exclaim.

He quickly corrects them, he said.

"I go, 'Naperville North!' "