Elgin heart patient unfurls ‘Bear Down’ flag at Bears game
Advocate Sherman Hospital Care heart patient Diana Esposito, of Elgin, unfurled a giant “Bear Down” flag Sunday, Jan. 4, before the Chicago Bears game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.
Esposito, 72, graduated from the cardiac rehabilitation program a year ago after undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure at Sherman, according to a news release.
Esposito is a retired physical education teacher and former athlete. In 2024, she was diagnosed her with severe aortic stenosis, a disease in which the aortic valve narrows and restricts blood flow. She also learned she was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, a heart defect where the valve has two cusps instead of three.
TAVR offers an effective alternative to traditional open-heart surgery, with quicker recovery and reduced risk of complications, the release said. Esposito also received a pacemaker that helped detect atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm.
Kiln-formed glass art open house at Kimball House
The Elgin Historical Society will present “Kiln-Formed Glass: An Artist’s Medium,” from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House, 305 W. Chicago St., Elgin.
Artist Hans Klemmer of Prairie Street Arts will be at the free event to share insight into his work, process and inspiration. Klemmer is an award-winning glass artist who has studied his craft in Northern Ireland.
To learn more at Klemmer and his art, go to prairiestreetstudios.com.
‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ being presented at Hemmens
Musicians from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and actors from point2pointproductions will present “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
The concert-style performance is based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, showcases music from Disney’s Academy-Award nominated 1996 animated film and incorporates new songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, according to the ESO website.
Tickets range from $17 to $67. For tickets and other information, go to www.elginsymphony.org.
Gail Borden Public Library holding MLK discussions
A panel of local pastors, educators and activists will debate Martin Luther King’s beliefs on theology, civil rights, nonviolence and poverty in a discussion series being held Wednesdays in January and February at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.
Held in collaboration with the MLK Subcommittee of the Elgin Human Relations Commission, the free programs will be presented from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 14, 21, 28 and Feb. 4, according to the library’s website.
The Jan. 14 discussion will focus on King as an American theologian, followed by King and the Civil Rights Movement on Jan. 21, King and nonviolence on Jan. 28 and King and poverty on Feb. 4.
Attendees are asked to bring donations of nonperishable food items, toiletries or paper products to benefit Elgin’s annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Food Drive.
To register to attend, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/14926621.
Kids can be librarians as part of Dundee Library program
Children in kindergarten through 3rd grade are welcome to take part in a “Be a Librarian for a Day” program from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Dundee Library, 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee.
Participants will be able to see what happens behind the scenes at the library with staff member Erin Sikorski, according to the library’s newsletter. Registration is required to attend the free event.
For more information, email esikorski@frvpld.info or call 847-428-3661 To register, go to www.frvpld.info/event/be-librarian-83687.
