U-46 named a top school district for music education
School District U-46 is among 738 school districts across the country cited for being the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation.
The distinction recognizes school districts and schools for their support and commitment to music education and efforts to assure access to music for all students as part of a well-rounded education.
This was the second consecutive year U-46 has made the list, Superintendent Tony Sanders told school board this past week.
The foundation was established in 2006 and funded through trade association activities and donations.
Boys & Girls Club of Elgin to receive $1M from state
The Boys & Girls Club of Elgin has been awarded $1 million from the state for programming designed to combat violence.
The funding is part of $240 million in the 2022-23 budget for the Reimagine Public Safety Act, which is supported with money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Boys & Girls Club of Elgin CEO Cathy Russell said in a news release that her organization’s goal is to keep children engaged in activities after school, which is the most critical time of day for young people who might engage in risky behaviors if left unsupervised.
The club operates out of 32 sites throughout Elgin, South Elgin, Streamwood, Schaumburg, Hanover Park and Aurora. For more information, go to www.bgcelgin.org.
Briska to lead tour of old Hilltop Cemetery in Elgin
The Elgin History Museum is offering a free guided tour of the Hilltop Cemetery from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 14.
Hilltop Cemetery is on land owned by the city of Elgin that once was part of the old Elgin State Hospital. There are 974 people buried there, and Elgin historian Bill Briska will share stories about the graveyard and the state-run hospital.
Walk participants will meet in the parking lot of the Elgin Sports Complex, 709 Sports Way.
To register for the event, go to elginhistory.org/event/10am-hilltop-cemetery-tour-with-bill-briska.
State Rep. Moeller holding May 11 town hall meeting
State Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, will hold a town hall meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin.
Discussion will focus on the recent legislative session and the state’s new $46.5 billion budget, which includes a $1.8 billion tax relief package.
For more information, contact Moeller’s office at staterepmoeller@gmail.com or 847-841-7130.
Judicial center space set aside for abuse agencies
Elgin-based Community Crisis Center and Aurora-based Mutual Ground have been granted dedicated space inside the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles.
Both groups will occupy a conference room on the third floor of the building so staff can have a place to meet privately with victims of domestic and sexual abuse, a news release said.
Without a designated space, the agencies had to use whatever conference rooms might be available or sit in hallways to assist victims with orders of protection, the release said.
Agency advocates also meet with victims to make arrangements for other services that might be needed.
Ecker Center holding fundraising events, programs
Elgin-based Ecker Center for Behavioral Health is hosting two fundraisers and holding two programs to provide mental health-related information to the community.
A free online presentation on dealing with stress and making self-care a priority will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1. To register, go to www.eckercenter.org/event-details/self-care-sunday.
The center also is releasing free content on Mental Health Mondays every Monday in May. To receive the information, go to www.eckercenter.org/selfcare.
To raise money, the nonprofit is selling baskets filled with flowers and other items for $25. To order one, go to www.eckercenter.org/product-page.
And during May, it also will be holding an online auction of wellness-themed gift baskets. Donated items for the auction will be accepted through May 14. To make a bid or donation or for more information, go to www.eckercenter.org/selfcare.
