Volunteers at ‘Rusty Rodeo’ to capture invasive crayfish
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County will hold its seventh annual “Rusty Rodeo” from 10 a.m to noon on Saturday, Aug. 9, to reduce the number of rusty crayfish in the Fox River, officials said.
Volunteers are going to seek out the invasive crayfish in shallow waters as part of the free, family-friendly event, a news release said. Using dip nets, naturalists will help them collect, identify and remove the freshwater crustaceans.
Two locations have been designated for the event: North Aurora Island Park, 4 E. State St. in North Aurora, and Mt. St. Mary’s Park, at 79 Prairie St. in St. Charles.
Officials recommend that volunteers wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get muddy, the release said.
The event is cosponsored by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, St. Charles Park District, Fox Valley Park District and Friends of the Fox River.
No registration is required. For more information, go to www.kaneforest.com, email programs@kaneforest.com or call 630-444-3190.
Martini Room to mark 20th anniversary with special events
To mark its 20th year in business, the Martini Room in downtown Elgin will hold a celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5.
As part of the event, the cocktail bar will display a photo series by James Kalernis titled “Taste the Experience,” according to a social media post. The collection features shots of 20 local people, including locals of note, city officials and longtime patrons, with each embodying a signature martini.
The bar also will be unveiling its anniversary poster series entitled, “20 Martinis for 20 Years.”
Martini Room is located at 161 E. Chicago St. For more information, go to martiniroomelgin.com or call 847-741-0349.
Village of West Dundee adds 686 residents since 2020
A special census shows that the village of West Dundee has grown by 686 residents since the 2020 Census, an 8.9% increase in population, officials said.
Based on a special census conducted in the first quarter of 2025, West Dundee’s population is now 8,372, up from 7,686 in 2020, according to the village newsletter.
Because of the growth, village officials estimate that West Dundee could receive an additional $769,000 to $844,000 in revenue through the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) and through qualification for funds through an Illinois Department of Transportation program for high-growth municipalities.
Through the LGDF, local governments receive a designated portion of state income tax revenues on a per-capita basis.
