East Dundee buys downtown gravel lot for community event use
East Dundee has purchased a gravel-covered downtown lot for $266,000 that will be used as additional space for community events, according to a news release.
The property, which is being purchased from local businessman Tom Roeser, is parallel to the Fox River Trail between Railroad and Hill streets. It’s south of The Depot at 319 N. River St. and is already being used for spillover parking for village events and to provide additional space for The Depot’s seasonal Saturday market.
In the release, Village President Jeff Lynam said the land will provide more opportunities for downtown events.
East Dundee will pay for the property using money generated by its downtown Tax Increment Financing district.
Thriving After 55 Resource Fair being held Friday at ECC
A free Thriving After 55 Resource Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 25, in Building J on the campus of Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive.
About 90 local businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and organizations for people 55 and older will be in attendance. Free blood pressure checks, stroke risk assessments and blood sugar screenings will be offered, according to the ECC website.
For more information, go to elgin.edu/academics/continuing-education/events/thriving-after-55-resource-fair, call 847-622-3036 or email cemailbox@elgin.edu.
As the days start getting longer, the birds’ hormones rev up for spring, and the singing starts again.
Spring bird walk at Burnidge Forest Preserve on Saturday
Kane County Forest Preserve Naturalist Josh Libman will lead a spring bird walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at Burnidge Forest Preserve, 14N035 Coombs Road, Elgin.
Registration is not required to attend. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars to spot the various birds that can be seen at this time of year, according to a social media post.
The event is organized by the Kane County Chapter of Illinois Wild Ones. For more information, call 630-200-5665 or email gkwildones@gmail.com.
Randall Oaks Zoo’s ‘Party for the Planet’ set for Saturday
Randall Oaks Zoo in West Dundee will be hosting a “Party for the Planet” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26.
Activities will include tossing around a giant Earth ball and a game about garbage, according to the Dundee Township Park District website. Visitors can take home native wildflower seeds that grow plants attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies and sample cookies made with sustainable cricket protein.
All activities are included with regular admission. The zoo is located at 1180 N. Randall Road.
For more information, go to dtpd.org/randall-oaks-zoo, call 847-551-4312 or email randalloakszoo@dtpd.org.
Three U-46 student named National Merit Scholarship finalists
Three School District U-46 students who are seniors at Bartlett High School have been named finalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship program.
Kyle Depakakibo, Frederick Lorek and Nina Mangriotis will compete for about 6,800 scholarships worth nearly $26 million, according to a U-46 news release. Winners will be named later this spring.
The three placed among the top 1% of juniors nationwide who took the 2023 PSAT, which serves as the initial screening. They advanced to the finals based on their academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received, a news release said.
Depakakibo plans to major in nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Frederick wants to study biomedical engineering on a pre-med track at the University of Texas in Dallas. The release did not provide any additional information about Mangriotis.
