Naperville News Digest

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ to be shown Friday night in park

Naperville Park District’s last two outdoor movie nights are scheduled for this Friday and next.

The Night at the Movies series, which began in July, will end the 2025 season with a showing of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” at 7:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, and with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12.

Both will be screened for free at the 95th Street Community Plaza, 3109 Cedar Glade Drive. Families can bring chairs, blankets and snacks, park district officials said.

For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org.

Youth basketball registration starts Sept. 9 for residents

Registration will begin in September for the Naperville Park District’s youth basketball fall season, district officials announced.

Naperville residents can sign up at noon Tuesday, Sept. 9, followed by nonresidents at noon Thursday, Sept. 11. Registration deadline is Sept. 28.

Practices for the fall season begin the week of Oct. 20. The season will consist of seven games from Nov. 1 to Dec. 14.

Registration for the winter basketball season, which runs from January to March, will begin at noon Tuesday, Nov. 4, for residents.

Last year, more than 3,400 children registered for the program, officials said.

For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org/napervilleyouthbasketball.

Cars of Hope celebrating 15 years with ribbon-cutting

Nonprofit Cars of Hope will mark its 15th anniversary with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Community Christian Church, 1635 Emerson Lane.

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce will be participating in the event, which also includes food and exhibits from the organization’s community partners, organizers said.

Cars of Hope aims to reduce poverty by transforming donated cars into reliable transportation, a news release said. The organization is staffed by volunteers who repair donated cars so they can be safely gifted to those in need.

Local auto repair centers also volunteer their time and resources, and the nonprofit works with 18 social service agencies, including Mutual Ground, Hesed House and Community Christian Church, to vet its clients, the release said.

Since its inception, Cars of Hope has gifted 60 cars to people in need and would like to double that number in the next five years, the release said

Founder and executive director Roman Povilonis said he started the group after realizing that some residents in the suburbs struggle to find transportation to get to work or drive their kids to school. Donating a car can be a tax deduction and a nonworking car can be used for its parts, he said.

For more information, go to www.carsofhope.org.