Two back-to-back events are sure to draw big crowds.

The first is the annual classic car show hosted by Downtown Naperville from 9 a.m. to noon on Jackson Avenue between Eagle and Main streets.

The other is a Juneteenth celebration presented by Naperville Neighbors United from noon to 3 p.m. at Rotary Park.

The annual car show promises to bring about 100 classic vehicles to downtown.

It’s not a contest, Katie Wood, interim director of Downtown Naperville said Monday. No trophies are presented.

“I think they’re all winners,” she said. “They’re all beautiful. Each car owner is so proud of their car. They’ve worked so hard on it, and love to talk about it, tell people the history, where they got it, what they’ve done to it.”

She noted that “classic cars” means they look how they did when they rolled off of the assembly line, she said.

Years ago, classic car clubs approached Downtown Naperville with the idea of having a car show.

“We thought, ‘Yeah, why don’t we do this,’” she recalled.

Unlike some car shows, there’s no charge to display a vehicle and admission is free to admire the four-wheeled beauties.

“It’s a fun thing to bring your dad to, to bring you family to. It’s a look back in time,” Wood said.

Some of the cars date back to the 1930s and 1920s, she said. And there will be newer models to see.

After the car show, you can stroll over to Rotary Hill Park for a Juneteenth celebration hosted by Naperville Neighbors United.

Saily Joshi, the executive director of NNU, said the celebration of Juneteenth — now a federal holiday — has important historical implications.

Juneteenth, sometimes known as Black Independence Day, is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It became a federal holiday in 2021.

“Technically, it’s when the state of Texas was the last state where slaves were freed,” she said.

On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that enslaved people were now free, two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

News traveled slowly in those pre-Internet days.

According to the group’s website, the event will celebrate Naperville’s rich diversity by including spoken word, musical and dance and performances by the many African-American individuals and groups in the community.

There also will be speeches by elected officials and other community leaders, Joshi said.

The federal holiday is observed on June 19, but the Naperville Neighbors United decided Saturday was the better day to celebrate as more people will be able to attend.

That’s a good idea given the escalating popularity of recent Juneteenth celebrations.

“It has grown in attendance every year,” Joshi said. “We had 300 the first year, a little over 600 last year. This year, we have more than 1,000 registered to attend.”

Tickets are free.

“It’s exciting to see the community come together to recognize this holiday. And people of all colors too,” Joshi said.

A gospel choir, the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir, will perform as will Mays Music, a choir based in Naperville.

“There will be some artists also there with interpretative dance,” she said.

A jump rope team and a stepping group will also provide entertainment.

There will be information tents, a couple food trucks — including some soul food — and free samples of ice cream courtesy of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Joshi said.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.

• A 30-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on charges of battery and theft-unauthorized control at 2:06 p.m. June 3 in the 2500 block of West 75th Street.
• A 32-year-old woman from Dacula, Georgia, was arrested on charges of of battery and theft-unauthorized control at 2:29 p.m. June 3 in the 2500 block of West 75th Street.
• A 31-year-old man from Plainfield was arrested on a warrant at 6:39 p.m. June 3 in the 1600 block of West Diehl Road.
• A 22-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on charges of burglary and retail theft at 7:30 p.m. June 3 at West 75th Street and Beebe Drive.
• A 24-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on charges of burglary and retail theft at 7:30 p.m. June 3 at West 75th Street and Beebe Drive.
• A 25-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on charges of burglary and retail theft at 7:30 p.m. June 3 at West 75th Street and Beebe Drive.
• A 23-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on charges of burglary and retail theft at 7:35 p.m. June 3 at West 75th Street and Beebe Drive.
• A 24-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on charges of burglary and retail theft at 7:35 p.m. June 3 at West 75th Street and Beebe Drive.
• A 29-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on a warrant at 11 p.m. June 3 at North Aurora Road and North Route 59.
• A 35-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on a warrant at 1:25 p.m. June 4 in the 1500 block of Naperville Wheaton Road.
• A 56-year old man from Greendale, Wisconsin, was arrested on a charge of resisting a peace officer at 8:06 p.m. June 4 in the 1500 block of Fairway Drive.
• A 46-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of illegal lane usage, failure to reduce speed/driving too fast for conditions and driving under the influence of alcohol at 10:13 p.m. June 5 at West Ogden Avenue and West 5th Avenue.
• A 31-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on a charge of aggravated unlawful use of weapons at 10:24 p.m. June 5 in the 1500 block of Aurora Avenue.

But it happened a few times while Sergio Nuno, not your ordinary custodian, talked about the students he sees every school day.

What means the most to him, he said “is the success of the kids,” his voice filled with emotion.

“Their success,” he said and paused, “is the future for everybody.”

Nuno, 66, of Chicago Heights, has worked 12 years as a custodian for Matteson School District 162 and Southland College Prep Charter High School in Richton Park.

The care he puts into his job has earned him national recognition. In May, he was named one of 17 recipients nationwide of the LifeChanger Award.

As one of the national winners, Nuno will receive $3,000 from the National Life Group Foundation.

Each school year, the LifeChanger of the Year program receives hundreds of nominations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Administrators, teachers, staff, students and alumni posted comments about Nuno and his impact on their lives on his profile on the LifeChanger website.

A selection committee reviewed the comments as a part of their evaluation of nominees. Teachers, coaches, administrators and custodians were selected.

In the end, folks in District 162 and the high school were not surprised Nuno won because they know he cares deeply.

His work day starts at 6 a.m. but he arrives at 5:30, “to get a head start.” He often stays late. But it’s more than cleaning classroom floors or bathrooms.

“I give back to the kids. To motivate. To make things go forward. That’s my purpose. Everything the kids need, I am there for them,” Nuno said during a chat at the district office.

There have been countless times when Nuno has been approached by students seeking advice or when he sees one down in the dumps.

“The thing is, when the kids start to talk to me and share with me, I am there for them. I never walk away,” Nuno said. “When someone says something to me, I always listen. When you listen, you can always make a difference.”

He recalled the day he saw a boy crying.

“I asked are you okay? Then he opened up,” Nuno said.

It turned out the boy was upset about poor grades.

“I told him you can turn around and change and make a success. Don’t let it bother you. You’re still young. Right now, you feel this because you’re young,” Nuno said.

His caring attitude is why Blondean Davis, superintendent of Matteson School District 162 and Southland College Prep CEO, nominated Nuno for the award, calling him the “heart of the district.”

“From our youngest scholars at our preschool to the seniors at our high school and our alumni across the country, Sergio, as the students and staff affectionately call him, is loved,” Davis said in a prepared statement.

“Sergio sets the atmosphere of the school. He has impacted our students’ lives by encouraging them and letting them know that they are seen and loved.”

Nuno is now sidelined from work as he recovers from pacemaker surgery in May. His recovery is assisted by the award, which “feels great.”

He enjoys being a custodian “because I’m a people person. When you get along with everybody, (the job) won’t be stressful.”

Southland Prep music teacher Elizabeth Norman Sojourner said Nuno “makes everyone feel like a queen or king.”

Nuno, who moved to America when he was 18, worked for two steel companies before joining the school district. He works at Richton Square School in Richton Park, which has preschool students and he works at the high school on Saturdays.

Richton Square Principal Kim McGuire said Nuno “has a gentle kindness that spreads to all he encounters. His sensitivity reaches from our littlest of learners through to our seasoned professionals. … He is a joy to watch and work alongside.”

Olivia Brown, a 2019 graduate of Southland and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, works as a crisis counselor. She said Nuno’s encouragement had a lasting impact.

“His warm personality always turned my bad days into good days. Anytime I would tell Sergio I was having a long day he would always say ‘You keep going girl, you got this’ and those words will forever stick with me,” Brown said.

Because of his pacemaker surgery, Nuno was unable to attend a celebration announcing the award on May 20.

Davis, who accepted the award on his behalf, said a large celebration with students, alumni, the band and cheerleaders will be held in the fall.

“He deserves all of the recognition and accolades,” Davis said. “He is a much-loved member of the Southland and District 162 family.”

Security officer Lloyd Graham added: “We love Sergio because he’s always there for you. Very reliable. Great guy.”

Until he’s able to return to work, baseball fan Nuno plans to keep watching the struggling White Sox, hoping Ozzie Guillen returns as manager.

Nuno, who is no longer married, has a 37-year-old son and a 17-year-old grandson. They live in Ohio.

And that $3,000 prize? “A vacation,” he said with a smile.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. 

A 19-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on charges of retail theft, obstructing justice and resisting a peace officer at 11:51 p.m. May 30 in the 100 block of East Ogden Avenue.

A 21-year-old man from Bolingbrook was arrested on charges of aggravated battery, battery, battery/bodily harm, mob action and reckless conduct at 12:32 a.m. May 31 in the 100 block of Jackson Avenue.

A 26-year-old man from Oak Park was arrested on a charge of methamphetamine delivery at 1:55 a.m. May 31 at the police station, 1350 Aurora Ave.

A 66-year-old man from Oswego was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct at 12:02 p.m. May 31 at East Interstate 88 and North Naper Boulevard.

A 32-year-old woman from Maywood was arrested on charges of battery and disorderly conduct at 11:48 p.m. May 31 in the first block of West Jefferson Avenue.

A 25-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on a charge of failure to surrender an FOID card at 6:41 p.m. June 1 in the 1500 block of Fairway Drive.

A 23-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on charges of driving on a suspended/revoked license, driving without insurance and driving on expired registration at 12:23 a.m. June 2 at North Aurora Road and Waterfall Street.

A 24-year-old woman from Naperville was arrested on charges of illegal lane usage and driving under the influence of alcohol at 12:59 a.m. June 2 at West Ogden Avenue and North Washington Street.

A 39-year-old man from Woodridge was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol at 5:11 p.m. June 2 in the 1300 block of South Naper Boulevard.

A 20-year-old woman from Naperville was arrested on charges of battery and battery/bodily harm at 6:13 p.m. June 2 in the 1500 block of West Ogden Avenue.

Address: 3224 Route 59, Naperville

Phone/website: 331-226-2159, www.pureberrybowls.com

Owners: Neepa Mehta, 49, and Dorothy Sisnett, 48, both of Naperville

Years in business: Opened May 3

What does your business do? “We sell healthy, nutritious acai bowls and smoothies. Our acai product is all natural, not blended with water or ice. It’s the acai berry, a Brazilian berry,” Sisnett said.

What is the acai berry? “It’s super healthy, filled with anti-oxidants. And nutrients. It’s a super food,” Mehta said.

“Our product is that beautiful berry. We add organic juices, apple and beet juice,” Sisnett said.

What’s the background? “We owned separate Nothing Bundt Cakes franchises. I had one here in Naperville. Dorothy had one in Vernon Hills,” Mehta said.

“We both really love acai bowls. We love the health benefits,” Sisnett said. “And we love the flavor. Our product is different because it’s soft serve.”

Soft serve? “There’s no water, no ice. We put it in liquid form into our soft serve machine,” Mehta said. “It’s a different texture. Softer. Creamier. We fell in love the soft serve version.”

Why move on from cakes?  “We love cakes, so does everyone else. But we wanted to bring something healthy to our community. … It’s a healthier product than the cakes we used to sell,” Sisnett said.

What goes into the acai bowls? “Various toppings. Fruit. Granola. Fun toppings for kids like Nutella. Peanut butter,” Sisnett said.

How’s the response been? “Once people try our product, they understand why we want to bring it to the community because it’s unlike anything they’ve tasted before,” Sisnett said.

“You can eat this for breakfast, lunch or dinner and not be hungry until your next meal,” Mehta said.

How did you develop the menu? “Trial and error, 100%. Trying different recipes,” Mehta said.

How do you get the word out? “Some print marketing. Sampling has been the biggest,” Sisnett said.

What’s it like starting a business? “Luckily, we have experience running a business. If we didn’t, we’d be worse off. It’s still been quite an experience. It was a lot more work than opening a franchise,” Mehta said.

“But that also gave us more flexibility. With a franchise, they already have the model built for you,” Sisnett said.

Who comes in? “There are a lot of teens, younger adults who really enjoy the acai bowls and are looking for a healthy alternative. And, we saw a market we could tap. It’s like the bundt cakes. No one knew about bundt cakes when I opened in 2013. They knew the cakes, but they didn’t know what the franchise was,” Mehta said.

What does a new customer say? “I saw this driving by and decided to stop in,” Vidya Iyer, 53, of Naperville, said. “I like the different toppings. … It tastes like a berry sorbet.”

What’s the best part of this job? “Introducing people to the amazing product,” Mehta said.

“It’s happiness in a bowl. When people eat it, we look at them, they look at us, they smile and say, ‘Oh, this is really good,’” Sisnett said.

When are you open? “Nine to six, Monday through Friday, nine to three Saturday and Sunday,” Sisnett said.

When are you busiest? “The weekends,” Mehta said.

What challenges do you face? “The biggest right now is trying to get the word out. Some people don’t know what it is,” she said.

What misconceptions do people have? “They think it’s an ice cream store,” Mehta said.

What are the prices? $10.95 for a small bowl, $12.45 regular, $13.95 large. Smoothies cost $8.50 to $11.

Any memorable stories? “A couple people who live here, who are from Brazil, have come into our store and tried the product. They were pleasantly surprised that the product is similar to what they had in Brazil. … Small kids normally don’t like healthy things. So, to have younger kids try the product and love the product has been rewarding for us,” Sisnett said.

Any surprises? “We didn’t think we’d sell that many smoothies. Smoothie sales are close to our bowl sales, at least 30 to 35%,” Sisnett said.

Are you thinking of expanding? “Oh, definitely. This is just store number one,” Mehta said.

What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Failure is a part of starting any business. I’d say continue to press forward. There will be emotional highs and lows, but don’t let the valleys prevent you from reaching the peaks,” Sisnett said.

“Like Dorothy said, there will be challenges. You just have to know there will be better and brighter days ahead,” Mehta said.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact Steve Metsch at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.

• A 19-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of burglary and residential burglary at 1:55 a.m. May 28 in the 2600 block of Blakely Lane.
• A 32-year-old woman from Naperville was arrested on charges of aggravated cruel treatment of animals, cruel treatment of an animal and endangering the health/life of a child at 7:28 a.m. May 28 at the police station, 1350 Aurora Ave.
• A 21-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on charges of Illinois Vehicle Code felonies and knowingly damaging property at 6:07 p.m. May 28 at the police station, 1350 Aurora Ave.
• A 43-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of illegal transportation of cannabis, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia at 10:08 a.m. May 29 at South Route 59 and West Jefferson Avenue.
• A 37-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on a warrant at 1:39 p.m. May 29 in the 200 block of East Ogden Avenue.
• A 24-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on a charge of aggravated unlawful use of weapons at 10:40 p.m. May 29 at West Jefferson Avenue and West Ogden Avenue.
• A 52-year-old woman from Naperville was arrested on a warrant at 1:38 p.m. May 30 in the 600 block of South Route 59.
• A 25-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of speeding in excess of 35 mph over the limit and driving on a suspended/revoked license at 4:35 p.m. May 30 at 95th Street and Alan Deatherage Drive in Bolingbrook.
• A 32-year-old man from Geneva was arrested on a warrant and on a charge of driving on a suspended/revoked license at 9:05 p.m. May 30 at West Ogden Avenue and North Eagle Street.
• A 59-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident with vehicle damage and driving under the influence of alcohol at 10:31 p.m. May 30 at South Route 59 and 95th Street.
• A 23-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of speeding 26 to 35 mph over the posted limit, illegal lane usage, driving under the influence of alcohol and illegal possession/transportation of liquor by a driver at 11:59 p.m. May 30 at East Ogden Avenue and Iroquois Avenue.

• A 21-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on a charge of battery at 12:06 a.m. May 26 in the first block of West Jefferson Avenue.
• A 31-year-old woman from Aurora was arrested on charges of illegal lane usage, improper turn at an intersection, driving under the influence of alcohol and endangering the health/life of a child at 12:11 a.m. May 27 at North Route 59 and North Aurora Road.
• A 19-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on charges of reckless driving, disobeying a traffic control signal, improper lighting/head or tail lights, interfering with an officer and driving without a valid license/permit at 12:31 a.m. May 27 at North Route 59 and West Jefferson Avenue.
• A 20-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on a charge of illegal possession/transportation of liquor by a passenger at 12:32 a.m. May 27 at North Route 59 and West Jefferson Avenue.
• A 28-year-old man from Champaign was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without insurance and driving on expired registration at 1:40 a.m. May 27 at River Road and Aurora Avenue.
• A 23-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of battery, battery/bodily harm and knowingly damaging property at 3:58 a.m. May 27 in the first block of Olesen Drive.
• A 26-year-old man from Plainfield was arrested on a warrant, a peace bond warrant and on charges of speeding 26 to 35 miles over the limit and illegal transportation of cannabis at 10:51 a.m. May 27 at South Route 59 and Beebe Drive.
• A 19-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of burglary and residential burglary at 1:55 a.m. May 28 in the 2600 block of Blakely Lane.
• A 32-year-old woman from Naperville was arrested on charges of aggravated cruel treatment of an animal, cruel treatment of an animal and endangering the health/life of a child at 7:28 a.m. May 28 at the police station, 1350 Aurora Ave.
• A 21-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on charges of Illinois Vehicle Code felonies and knowingly damaging property at 6:07 p.m. May 28 at the police station, 1350 Aurora Ave.

It’s now a shining example for other high schools to follow.

Walsworth, the Overland Park, Kansas, company that publishes yearbooks nationwide, determined Shepard is deserving of its Gallery of Excellence Award, given to the best yearbooks.

The Shepard yearbook will be cited in a booklet Walsworth distributes to high school yearbooks staffs around the country, giving them ideas of how to best prepare their own yearbooks.

Advisers Jodi Pelini and Erin Kay won the Yearbook Dream Team Award.

Mary Slater, of Walsworth, who works with Shepard, surprised the yearbook club with an in-person announcement May 15. Slater had nominated Shepard and a Walsworth committee agreed, Pelini said.

“Our rep said she was coming over to our last meeting of the year. She wouldn’t give us details,” said Pelini, a digital media teacher. “I was joking, ‘Hmm, maybe we are winning something.’ She surprised us with a nice plaque.”

The Odyssey editor-in-chief, Alaina Simikoski, 18, of Alsip, said students in the club deserve recognition.

“We worked really hard, so I’m really proud of us,” said Simikoski, who graduated May 23.

“We worked on it at home, during our lunch period. Any free time was dedicated to the yearbook. But it was fun, it was enjoyable,” she said.

As editor-in-chief, it was her job to make sure all the layouts were error-free and names were correct.

“Missing deadlines wasn’t a big issue for us, but we had to make sure we got the names correct. That’s a big thing, matching names with faces,” Simikoski said.

Other Odyssey staff members were Wiktoria Baszewksi, Mariam Diab, Ava Gliva, Nicolas Griffin, Ivan Hernandez, Monica Hernandez, Brianne Katula, Ella Moller, Gavin Moore, Aya Mustafa, Jenna Pollack, Emily Smith, Olivia Uelman and Tennille Williams.

Students worked “thousands of hours” since August, Pelini said.

“It is so much work. We are grateful when it’s done,” she said.

“What’s unusual about yearbook is it’s a club. But instead of having fun and socializing, we have to produce something that’s held to a really high standard,” Pelini said.

“It’s challenging to do that with students who are 15, 16, 17 years old, to do something all the adults are going to criticize and scrutinize,” she said.

Reviews have been very positive.

“Everyone loves the book. That’s the greatest award. When kids are walking around, signing each other’s yearbooks, and are so eager to look at the pages, then you know you did a good job,” Pelini said.

The Odyssey was finished in mid-March but they didn’t see the final product until late April when they said, “oh, my gosh, it really does look good,” Pelini said with a laugh.

The yearbook staff covers every sport, every season and every major event at Shepherd. That includes theatrical productions, concerts and all kinds of events.

“It’s an archive,” Pelini said. “It’s a historical document about what life is like in this year.”

This year’s yearbook theme was “Now Showing,” which is based on Hollywood.

The club was inspired by a comment from Principal Jen Pollack in a meeting early in the school year. She told the club she liked the idea of showcasing Shepard High School, Pelini said.

That made them think of a Hollywood theme “to show that everybody at Shepard is a star,” Simikoski said.

With many underclassmen in the club, Pelini is hoping they take the skills learned this year and expand on them.

“The fact that we got this award this year with such a young staff, mostly freshmen, it sets the bar high for the next few years,” Pelini said.

All 475 copies of the yearbook have been sold. Early birds bought them for $60 at the start of the school year. They were $75 at the end of the year.

“That barely covers our costs. Publishing is expensive,” Pelini said.

Regarding the Dream Team Award, Pelini said she and Kay, an English teacher who works in the school library, are an excellent team.

“She’s very good with the details and I’m more of a design person,” said Pelini, whose career started in journalism.

The key to success, she said, is striking a balance.

“If you can find that balance between something of high quality and still maintaining the fun, the students will come back and work hard,” Pelini said.

As an example, those hard-working Shepard students didn’t have a party when they learned of the honor.

“(Slater) came on a day we were planning for next year’s book. It was back to work. We have to pick a theme,” Pelini said.

While she declined to reveal the theme, next year will be the 50th yearbook at Shepard.

“It will probably celebrate that,” she said.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

Neirmeyer and daughter Jesse McHugh, both of Coldwell Banker Realty in Naperville, are among the many who sponsor artwork to be part of the annual Downtown Naperville Painted Summer Sculptures series, which each year features a different theme.

Several years ago, Niermeyer and McHugh hired Graefenhain to paint a sculpture they sponsored. They were so pleased by the result, they’ve hired Graefenhain annually since.

“It’s not someone slapping paint on. This is a bona fide artist flying in and doing the best job she can do,” Niermeyer said Friday.

Eighteen sculptures can be found downtown starting this weekend.

They are located in the area bordered by Van Buren Avenue on the north, Water Street on the south, Washington Street on the east and Webster Street on the west.

With the symphony of cicadas providing a roaring soundtrack for our summer, it’s fitting that this year’s theme is bugs.

Although the less-than-fetching cicadas didn’t make the cut, there are honeybees, ladybugs, caterpillars and snails on the streets of downtown. Sponsors paid $2,000 if they chose one of the first three and $1,500 for a snail.

“They decided to do a fun garden creature this year,” Niermeyer said. “So, I picked a snail. I thought it would be fun. Gail. Snail.

“Part of my thing is like to see kids take selfies of themselves with the sculpture. Then, I put them on my Facebook page and have a contest for them. The winners will get a Gail’s Snail Pail, a bucket of candy or something,” she said. “I get a win and they get a win.”

Among the other winners are all community members who can admire the 18 sculptures during a stroll along downtown streets.

Niermeyer has been a sponsor since the series began.

“I’ve had a bear, carousel horse, a truck. Whatever (theme they’ve chosen), I’ve had. I really enjoy it,” Niermeyer said.

Her snail will be at Main and Jackson near Sullivan’s Steakhouse, she said.

Downtown will be infested with the bug sculptures until September. That’s longer than the cicadas but much more easy on our eardrums.

Downtown Naperville is partnering with the Gerald Auto Group and city of Naperville to present the art project.

You can make your search easier with a map of the bug sculptures found at www.downtownnaperville.com. The map lists these sculpture sponsors:

• Bill & Nancy Mitchell
• Busey Bank
• Caton Commercial Real Estate Group
• Coldwell Banker Realty-Gail Niermeyer & Jesse McHugh
• DJK Custom Homes
• DuPage Swim Center
• Expert Level Home Services
• Innovative Dental Partners
• Kelly Law Firm
• Little Luxuries
• Magnitech
• Naper Nuts & Sweets
• Naperville Yard
• Pinot’s Palette
• Potter’s Place
• Treasures
• Turning Pointe Autism Foundation
• Two Maids of Naperville

In past years, bears, dogs, book benches, trains, cars, trucks, hearts and golf ball chairs have been featured in the annual art project.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.

The Naperville Municipal Band has provided a soundtrack for the city for nearly 165 years, with roots dating back to July 4, 1859, when the then-Naperville Brass Band performed its first concert on Independence Day at Barber’s Corner.

Since that humble beginning, the band — which has gone by different names over the decades — has evolved and still plays a vital role in the community today. Fresh off its performances at the city’s Memorial Day Parade and ceremony, it’s set to launch its summer concert seriest at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Central Park.

Looking back, though, there’s a deep, rich history that includes band members helping entertain Union soldiers during the Civil War. In June 1861, it was reported that five members of the Naperville Brass Band joined the regimental band to play for the troops encamped in Joliet.

The first recorded report of the Naperville Light Guard Band dates back to June 4, 1866. Ten years later, that band performed during a celebration of the nation’s centennial in Naperville. It also reportedly performed at political rallies in Court House Square — now called Central Park — and “all around town.”

Joseph Bapst, band member and sometimes band leader, was the grandfather of the late Ron Keller, who served as band director for 57 years. Ron was the fifth generation Keller in the band when he joined in the early 1950s.

An internal dispute over when and where to play led the Naperville Light Guard Band to split in 1877. Fifteen members broke off to form the “official Regimental Band at the first regular regimental encampment in Illinois” in 1878.

The Naperville Light Guard Band carried on, however, celebrating its 15th anniversary with a performance on July 4, 1882.

In the photograph running with today’s story, the band is shown in 1886 wearing new uniforms and showing off a new bass drum bearing the band’s name. A story in the Naperville Clarion said “the band boys are very thankful to the citizens of Naperville who donated toward paying for their new uniforms.”

The band hit a bad patch in the 1890s, struggling to stay afloat and eventually dissolving the charter organization due to a lack of sponsorship.

That led to the Lounge Factory Band, founded in 1906. Peter Kroehler, owner of Kroehler Manufacturing Co., helped finance the band and provided the uniforms.

Ten years later, the name was changed to The Naperville Band. It had 22 members in 1917, although Kroehler no longer provided financial support.

According to the Naperville Home Coming booklet of 1917, “Mr. J. Fred Fehr, the present director, received his musical education in the School of Museum of North-Western College and the American Violin School.

“Under his able leadership the Band is producing most excellent results. There are 22 members, and the name is now The Naperville Band. Sixteen Saturday evening concerts in the business section last summer were enjoyed and financed by many friends and admirers.”

A new sponsor was found in 1924 when the Naperville Association of Commerce stepped up to support a series of outdoor concerts on patriotic holidays or other special occasions.

In 1928, a state charter was granted to the Naperville Municipal Band Association. A series of reorganizational meetings established the foundation for the modern Naperville Municipal Band.

Elmer Koerner, the Naperville Public Schools band director, became conductor in 1929, a position he held until he died of a heart attack in November 1965. The Elmer Koerner Band Shell in Central Park was dedicated to his memory in June 1966. Ron Keller succeeded him, holding the job until 2023.

To learn more about the Naperville Municipal Band, Mary Lou Cowlishaw’s 1981 history is available from the Illinois Digital Archives at www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/npl/id/12582.

Keller’s history with the band is available at www.napervilleband.org/our-director-emeritus.

Andrea Field is the curator of history at Naper Settlement. For more information, go to www.NaperSettlement.org. Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.