North Side Report by Martin Flowers Well Cubs fans, we have entered the final month of the season and the Cubs find themselves 6.5 games back of the Brewers. Cubs have won the season series with the Brewers winning 7 out of the 12 games. Cubs have continued to slump a bit with injuries to the pitching staff like Jameison Taehn and Justin Steele being out for the better part of the season. Javier Asayad, who was the Cubs middle reliver and sixth starter has gone down as well. Cubs’ offense has slumped a little since the All-Star Break with Kyle Tucker and Pete Crowe Armstrong struggling since the Break. Cubs have seen others begin to pinch in like Michale Busch, Seyla Suski, and Ian Happ. Dansby Swanson has been streaky but is having a solid season. With 25 games left the Cubs are in position to make the post season as a Wild Card. With 78 wins heading into the final month of the season, the Cubs have had a great year. The Brewers went on a hot streak, winning 12 games in a row and have yet to slow up. There is still a lot of baseball to be played so let’s talk about the week ahead.

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Recovering from Summer StormsA Statement from Mayor John LaeschThe City of Aurora’s Street Maintenance Division continues to make excellent progress in cleaning up from the historic storms that hit the City last weekend. Nearly all of Ward 5 has been canvassed for debris, and Streets crews are working around the clock to spearhead clean up efforts throughout Wards 4 and 6. The Streets Team, which has worked mandatory overtime shifts since last Saturday, will refrain from work this Sunday, allowing crew members to receive a much-needed break. Beginning on Monday, the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network (IPWMAN) will provide Aurora’s Streets Team with significant help in order to expedite the clean up process. The Network, which sources qualified public works employees from neighboring municipalities, will perform five days of clean up work with no charge to the City. This valuable resource will greatly assist in completing post-storm clean up ahead of schedule.

Make Plainfield Count 2025 Special CensusOnline Census Survey Ends TodayPlainfield - Today is the last day to complete your online survey! Only 43% of the community has completed their Census survey and the online portal closes tonight! Please complete your survey today!The next phase of work will begin in September when Census Bureau representatives begin visiting homes to collect data. Residents who were unable to complete the online survey will receive a visit from a US Census Bureau representative. During the visit, they will complete a brief interview (less than 10 minutes). The Census Bureau is expected to complete their survey work in November. For more information regarding in-person enumeration, visit the Village website.

Contact: press@staterepresentativebarbarahernandez.com

Traffic Update: Woolley RoadUnfortunately, due to delays in franchise utility scheduling the opening of Woolley Road has been delayed. The closure is expected to remain in place through the end of day August 15. We appreciate your patience and understanding as this important infrastructure improvement project gets underway. Please continue to plan and follow all posted detours and signage.

Dad Takeover: Josh Caputo defends title in Pop-A-Shot National Championship Airing August 1 on ESPN the Ocho Pop-A-Shot, the arcade basketball game that ruled the late ’80s and ’90s, is back on the big stage—and so are the players who never stopped shooting. On Thursday, August 1 at 9 PM EST, ESPN the Ocho will air the Pop-A-Shot National Championship, featuring eight finalists, including Josh Caputo, of Montgomery IL, who won the 2024 Championship and is looking to defend his title. And here’s what makes this lineup unique: the field is dominated by dads in their 40s. Their days of full-court runs are behind them, but their shooting touch. As sharp as ever. Competitor Scott Setzke puts it best: ‘Knees don’t work anymore, but arms and eyes still do.’ What they all share is a deep connection to the game. These players grew up during the golden era of basketball and arcades, when Pop-A-Shot was as iconic as cherry Coke and Runts. Their stories stretch from winning a sixth-grade contest for a signed Isiah Thomas jersey to drawing crowds at the bowling alley, quarters lined up on the rail as they set a new high score. “Honestly, it’s an honor,” said finalist Jarrod Shappell. “It’s this joyful little game that’s somehow connected me to old friends, my kids, strangers at bars, and now… this great set of competitors on ESPN.” One name fans might recognize - Brad Johnson, the Super Bowl–winning quarterback. He showed up to the St. Louis Qualifier, drained shots, and proved he belonged. A dad, a competitor, and now a wildcard selection—Brad rounds out the field. This year’s championship will be played on the Pop-A-Shot Elite, the brand’s commercial-grade game designed for bars and arcades. It’s a fitting comeback for a company that held national tournaments in the late ’80s—and for the players who grew up with the game and never lost their touch. Watch the Pop-A-Shot National Championship live on ESPN the Ocho, Thursday, August 1 at 9 PM EST.

Movie Night in Settlers' ParkPack up the kids, chairs, and bug spray and head to Settlers' Park tonight! The Village and Plainfield Park District are showing Moana 2 (PG, 100 minutes) at 8:30 p.m. Plus, you can visit with the Police Department, Fire Protection District, and Plainfield Area Public Library. The 2025 Movie Series is presented by Waste Management. For more information, click here.

Memorial Ceremony at Village Hall – June 6The Village of Oswego invites the community to attend the Illinois Fallen Wall Closing Ceremony this Friday, June 6, at 10:30 a.m. at Village Hall (100 Parkers Mill).