GOWNS FOR GOOD SALE (APRIL 16 – 18)
Gowns For Good, a sale of deeply discounted wedding gowns, formal dresses and accessories, is set to take place Thursday, April 16, through Saturday, April 18 at The Haight, 166 Symphony Way, Elgin.
Thursday will feature two-hour time blocks at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. exclusively available to first responders, providing early access to the sale inventory before doors open to the public, according to a news release.
Friday will have two-hour time blocks at 3, 4, 5, and 6 p.m. Saturday’s blocks will be at 10 and 11 a.m. and 12, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
The sale is open to those 16 and older. Fitting time reservations are open to one shopper and three friends. Those trying on dresses should bring a pair of heels and shapewear (cq), Children, including babies, are not allowed.
Proceeds will be donated to the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association’s Heroes Family Fund, which provides financial assistance and ongoing care to the families of fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters.
To make a reservation, go to
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gowns-for-good-wedding-gown-pop-up-sale-tickets-1983548223131?aff=oddtdtcreator. For more information, go to thegownsforgood.org.
ELGIN CHAMBER LAUNCHES ELGINIL250 WEBSITE
The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce recently launched www.elginil250.com, a website filled with information about local efforts related to the United States’ celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Created by the Chamber’s vice president, Terry Gajewski , the website features details about how area residents and businesses can get involved, listings of local events and interesting stories about the history of Elgin, according to a news release.
On the website, people can learn about an exhibit at Gail Borden Public Library that features carved butter sculptures of an eagle, George Washington, Old Main and a dairy cow.
People can submit family recipes to be included in a new Elgin community cookbook and share their favorite Elgin-centric stories and photos. And artists under the age of 18 can submit original artwork that expresses a vision for the future. One selected design will inspire a sculpture that will be built in downtown Elgin.
Among the events listed are the Elgin Fourth of July parade and a challenge for participants to log 250 miles of physical activity throughout Kane County for America’s 250 with the fabulous Fox River and the National Water Trail.
For more information, call the Chamber office at 847-741-5660.
LARSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WINS HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE KANE CO SPELLING BEE
Yahya Mohammed , an eighth-grade student at Larsen Middle School in Elgin, last month and for the third consecutive year, won the Kane County Regional Spelling Bee, giving him another opportunity to compete in May at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Mohammed and champions from 26 other schools competed in the bee, which took place on Wednesday, March 18, at Thompson Middle School in St. Charles, according to a news release. Second place went to Dina Perdue from Hoover Wood Elementary in Batavia. Harry Stauter (cq) from McDole Elementary School in Montgomery placed third.
For more information on the Scripps National Spelling Bee, go to spellingbee.com/.
ECC STUDENT NAMED IACEA ADULT LEARNER OF THE YEAR
Elgin Community College student Maria Niño of Carpentersville has been named the 2026 Paul Simon Adult Learner of the Year by the Illinois Adult and Continuing Education Association.
After leaving high school without a diploma, Niño returned to the classroom through ECC’s GED preparation program, according to a news release.
A mother of three, Niño earned her high school diploma in spring 2023 and continued her education at ECC. She is now pursuing an associate degree in early childhood education and is expected to graduate in May.
As part of her studies, Niño created a project that explored the experiences of mothers returning to school, including the challenges they face and the strategies they use to succeed. Niño was inducted into the National Adult Education Honor Society and later served as president of ECC’s chapter.
“From the beginning, Maria’s determination was unmistakable,” ECC associate dean of adult education, Marcia Luptak, said in the release. “Her trajectory reflects the tangible, life-changing impact of adult education.”
CARPENTERSVILLE TEEN TAKING PART IN ROBOTICS COMPETITION (APRIL 29 – MAY 2)
Carpentersville resident Antonika Shapovalova , 14, will be heading south with a team taking part in an international robotics contest April 29 to May 2 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
Shapovalova said this is the third year in a row that the five-member team, called The Golden Ratio, will be going to the FIRST Championship. The competition bills itself as the world’s largest event of its kind. Its website says that 1,055 teams will be taking part.
Shapovalova’s teammates are high school students Josiah Ryan, Nehemiah Schultz, Josh Weston and Chris Ptaszek , who all live in McHenry County.
Shapovalova is currently homeschooled and also working toward an associate in science degree at Elgin Community College. She will be enrolling at the University of Arizona in the fall.
For more information on The Golden Ratio, go to goldenratiorobotics.com/. For more information on the contest, go to www.firstinspires.org/programs/first-championship.
SEIGLE FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS
The Seigle Foundation recently awarded a collective $218,000 in arts grants to 10 Elgin area nonprofit organizations.
The following is a list of recipients and how much each will receive, according to a news release:
Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra: $35,000
Hamilton Wings: $50,000
Chamber Music on the Fox; $15,000
Elgin Symphony Orchestra: $30,000
Children’s Theatre of Elgin: $20,000
Elgin Master Chorale: $30,000
Side Street Studio Arts: $15,000
YWCA Elgin: $15,000
Ballet Folklorico Girasol: $4,000
iambe theatre ensemble : $4,000
“The Seigle Foundation has been a vital and active partner for our Starter Strings program since it began. That support has enabled the program to grow year after year, now providing beginning violin and viola instruction to more than 120 fourth graders at local low-income schools,” Daniel Meyers, Executive Director of Elgin Youth Symphony, said in the release.
In addition to the arts, Seigle Foundation focuses on giving to nonprofits involved with food, education and housing issues. For more information, go to seiglefoundation.org.
