U46 hosts STEM Expo
Students from District U46 will work with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through various experiments during the ninth annual STEM Expo from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 25 at South Elgin High School, 760 E. Main St., South Elgin.
The STEM Expo provides U46 students an opportunity to explore and discover science, technology, engineering or math through hands-on investigation and research, according to a news release. Participating kindergarten through 12th-grade students will present projects and explain their findings to the judges, the release stated.
Admission is free.
Elgin Knights of Columbus host Chili for Charity
Elgin Area Knights of Columbus are sponsoring their 19th annual Chili for Charity Cook-off and Dinner from 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the St. Thomas More Gym, 1625 West Highland Ave in Elgin.
Donations are $7 before the event or $8 at the door.
This is the largest fundraiser that the Knights sponsor, according to a news release, and the proceeds benefit Elgin Catholic Schools, Elgin Soup Kitchen, Elgin Youth Sports, Special Olympics and Elgin Knights of Columbus.
For tickets, contact Chris Gulik at 847-931-9641; chrisgulik@sbcglobal.net.
ESO presents American Heart & Russian Soul
Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s concerts set for 7:30 p.m. March 3 at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts and 7:30 p.m. March 4 and 2:30 p.m. March 5 at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin highlight two of the most popular composers of their native countries — Russia’s Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and America’s Aaron Copland, according to a new release.
Concertgoers will hear the Russian folk theme in Tchaikovsky’s passionate “Symphony No. 4” and the uniquely American sound in Copland’s “Billy the Kid Suite,” complete with a Wild West gun battle, according to the release. The program, led by Resident Conductor Stephen Squires, also features Copland’s jazz-influenced Clarinet Concerto, written for Benny Goodman and performed by guest artist Alexander Fiterstein.
Squires will give a pre-concert chat one hour before each concert. Tickets are $30-$65. Student tickets $12. There is free parking or valet service at Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Saturday concertgoers are invited after the performance to Mingle with the Musicians at the Elgin Public House. For concert tickets, call 847-888-4000 or visit Elgin Symphony.Org.
Naturalist’s photo gets accolade
Forest Preserve District of Kane County Naturalist Erica Lemon’s photo of a honeybee pollinating Common milkweed at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles earned the District First Place award in the Integrated Photography category of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and Illinois Park & Recreation Association competition.
The District’s Director of Community Affairs and Environmental Education Laurie Metanchuk began a staff photo competition eight years ago with the goal of images from the District’s forest preserves as well as creating a calendar. “The only prize is bragging rights for being included in the calendar,” Metanchuk said.
Metanchuk entered Lemon’s photo, taken in June 2016, into the statewide competition. Judges said Lemon focused on the honeybee’s thorax and the photo showed detail of its body, even the yellow pollen it was taking, Metanchuk said.
Elgin Community Network hosts city Code Department
The Elgin Community Network is hosting the city’s Community Development Director Mark Mylot at a program introducing Code 2.0 and the new Code Compliance Academy from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove, Ave.
Neighborhood residents and neighbor based organizations are a valuable and largely untapped resources in making code enforcement more efficient, according to a news release. Residents and organization want their neighborhoods to be better, safer and cleaner places, the release stated.
The city is introducing its Elgin code enforcement program and its Code Compliance Academy, an educational program for citizens to identify what is a code violation.
For information, call 847-429-4680.
Cambridge Lakes School presentation offers advice for stressed students
Cambridge Lakes Learning Center, 900 Wester Boulevard in Pingree Grove, will hold a presentation on helping parents of middle and high school students learn how to relieve their children’s stress and anxiety.
The presentation, led by licensed clinical counselor Stephanie Hawotte, will run from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the Green School Kiva.
To confirm attendance, call 847-464-4300.
Park district hosts Pickleball Social
The St. Charles Park District hosts its first Pickleball Social from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 3, at Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Ave, St Charles.
Open to players ages 16 and older, the Pickleball Social is $25 for residents and $38 for non-residents. Advance registration is recommended and players can bring their own equipment.
The gym at the Pottawatomie Community Center will be transformed into Pickleball Central, with four courts set up for open play. All skill levels are welcome for this night of fast-paced fun, said Josh Williams, Adult Programs and Special Events Supervisor.
“We have a great following of dedicated pickleball players,” Williams said. “They are always looking for more times to play and more opportunities to have fun.”
Pickleball is a fast-paced game that can be played as a singles or double competition. The Pickleball Social will be set up to accommodate both regular play or can be transformed into a mini-tournament.
And when players want to take a break, food and drink will be provided.
The park district will also give away pickleball-themed apparel and raffle off pickleball-themed prizes throughout the night.
Combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball dates back to 1965 when three fathers created a new game to entertain their young children. There are various accounts of how the sport got its name. According to one of the creators, it was named after a family pet. Another one said the amalgamation of various sports was reminiscent of the pickle boat tradition in crewing where oarsmen where chosen from leftover members of other boats.
For information on the Pickleball Social, contact Josh Williams at 630-513-4329 or go to the park district’s web site at www.stcparks.org.
Forest Preserve District seeks summer job applicants
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County seeks applicants for 2017 summer seasonal and internships positions.
Available positions include full– and part–time positions. Internships and seasonal positions are available in the following specialties: naturalist, natural resources technician, horticulturist/garden, public relations, human resources/volunteer services, campground attendant, wildlife technician, maintenance-field operations and trades.
For information, go to www.kaneforest.com or contact Betsy Scaletta at 630-208-8662 or e-mail hrforest@kaneforest.com..
All candidates must apply online at http://www.kaneforest.com/employment/apply.aspx.
Hampshire church slates pancake supper
Zion United Methodist Church, 157 West Jefferson Avenue in Hampshire, will hold its annual German Shrove Tuesday pancake supper from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
The event is being sponsored by the Men of Zion. They will prepare the meal and clean up.
Church officials said that the church’s German roots date back to 1845 in Hampshire. While German is no longer spoken in the church service, members still serve a traditional pancake supper the day before Lent begins.
Free will offerings will be accepted. Proceeds will benefit the John and Linda Gehringer fund.
