Bed bugs have become a serious issue throughout the Chicago area. Keep reading to find out more about National Bed Bug Awareness Month. 

Also, the Cultural Arts Commission meets tonight to discuss all things art in Geneva. 

Here are five things going on today, Thursday, Sept. 1:

1. Geneva's Cultural Arts Commission meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall. The aim of Geneva's Cultural Arts Commission is to engage the community by creating diverse cultural art experiences. 

This commission meets the first Thursday of every month to discuss matters pertaining to active participation and cooperation of the art community, government, business, education, and private sector. The Cultural Arts Commission also provides resources and opportunities for both the art community and art patrons to experience art in their daily lives, and develops new and exciting cultural initiatives that encourage economic growth.

2. The following parents only Back-to-School events are planned at Geneva Schools tonight:

• Fabyan Elementary School has curriculum night in two sessions. The first runs from 6 to 6:25 p.m., the second from 6:30 to 6:55 p.m. Parents may attend either session as the teacher presentations are the same. Kindergarten parents with A.M. students are asked to attend session one and P.M. parents should attend session two. Parents with children in Mrs. Heinz's A/E reading and/or A/E math will have their session from 5:30 to 5:55 p.m. An Outdoor Education meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. 
• Harrison Street School has its back-to-school meeting at 6:30 p.m. Classroom visits will follow at 7 p.m. with an Outdoor Education meeting scheduled for 8:15.
• Heartland Elementary School has a curriculum meeting for kindergarten parents scheduled for 6:45 p.m. and two sessions for grades 1 through 5 starting at 7 and 7:30 p.m. 
• Mill Creek Elementary School will have its back-to-school curriculum meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. An Outdoor Education meeting starts at 6:30 in the fifth grade wing area. 
• Western Avenue School's curriculum night starts at 7 p.m. 
• Williamsburg Elementary's curriculum night starts at 7 p.m. 

3. The second installment of property tax bills are due today. Make your payments today to avoid late payment penalties of 1.5 percent if bills are paid from Sept. 2 through Oct. 1. or 3 percent from Oct. 2 though Oct. 22.

4. Recent legislation passed changing the Rapid Transit Authority's (RTA) seniors ride free program. Starting today, only low-income seniors enrolled in the Illinois Circuit Breaker program will ride for free on Metra, CTA and Pace fixed routes. Seniors are still eligible for the reduced fare rate. For more information on RTA fare programs, click here. 

5. National Bed Bug Awareness Month starts today with the launch of an interactive, online tutorial series and the North American Bed Bug Summit being held in Chicago from the Sept. 25-27 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. 

Got a "5 things" item you'd like to see featured? Contact Devon Vida at devonv@gmail.com.