The St. Charles Public Library’s Sunday Concert series will continue at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, with a performance by the Alba Quartet playing the music of Mozart and his contemporaries, interspersed with fun facts about the man and his life, library officials said.
The free performance is funded through donations to the St. Charles Public Library Foundation, officials said.
The St. Charles Public Library is at 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles. For more information, go to www.scpld.org or call 630-584-0076.
Waubonsee students finish second in international competition
Two Waubonsee Community College students, Briana Harris and Kevin Bustamente Fontanel, of Yorkville, achieved a second-place finish at the University of Illinois’ fourth annual Reimagine Our Future sustainability competition earlier this month.
The virtual event took place on Dec. 7 and featured 250 undergraduate students from colleges and universities worldwide. Harris and Bustamente Fontanel stood out as the only community college students competing, Waubonsee officials said in a press release.
Guided by Waubonsee faculty members Steven Zusman, an associate professor of philosophy, and David Voorhees, a professor of Earth science and geology, the Waubonsee team excelled in a rigorous challenge to develop a sustainable solution addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, according to the release.
Harris and Bustamente Fontanel proposed a new product named Return, a 100% biodegradable water bottle crafted from waste-derived wax, cellulose acetate and triacetin plasticizer, officials said. Unlike traditional plastic bottles, Return fully decomposes within two years, offering a sustainable solution concerning plastics, according to the release.
Tickets on sale for Groundhog Day event
Tickets are on sale for “Groundhog Day Celebration: Breakfast with Wanda,” a fundraiser for Anderson Humane being held from 9 to 11 am. Sunday, Feb. 2, at Enticing Cuisine Banquets and Catering, 1117 N. Washington Ave., Batavia.
Attendees will get to meet Wanda the Groundhog, learn about her role in the ecosystem and snap photos to commemorate Groundhog Day, according to the South Elgin-based Anderson Humane social media post.
Admission is $35 and includes a breakfast buffet, a Bloody Mary and mimosa bar and photo opportunities with Wanda and other animals.
To purchase tickets, go to bit.ly/3BATPhS. For more information, go to ahconnects.org/events.
Church plans all-you-can-eat dinner
Helmar Lutheran Church at 11935 Lisbon Road in Newark will hold an all-you-can-eat dinner fundraiser from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at the church.
Proceeds from the event will go to support the HLC Food Pantry which has grown from serving 10 to 120 families twice a month, church officials said.
The upcoming free-will donation dinner will include ham, kumla (a Norwegian potato dumpling), applesauce, dessert and beverage. For those that would prefer, a baked potato will be substituted for kumla.
Carry-outs will be available, event organizers said.
DuPage Forest Preserve District earns environmental award
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s fleet has been given top environmental honors by the NAFA Fleet Management Association.
The district’s fleet maintenance program was named the No. 1 Green Garage for 2024, which tops the list of the 10 most progressive and environmentally-committed fleet maintenance garages in the country, district officials said.
The Green Garage Contest highlights the best practices in sustainable garage operations, the district said.
Rhea Courtney Bozic, an environmental scientist, green fleet consultant and sustainable transportation expert, was the contest’s chief judge, the NAFA Fleet Management Association’s website said.
The association is a global organization of professionals who manage a wide variety of vehicle fleets, such as commercial, public safety, utility, military and off-road equipment.
According to the association, DuPage County was the only Illinois organization in the top 10 although the University of Illinois did receive an honorable mention.
Greene Valley Forest Preserve gets $600,000 state grant
The Forest Preserve District of Will County will use a $600,000 state grant to fund improvements at the Greene Valley Forest Preserve in Naperville, district officials announced.
The Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant will help pay for relocating the entrance drive, enhancing picnic shelters, adding a canoe and kayak launch, replacing latrines with flush restrooms and realigning trails, officials said in a news release. A new patio will be built near the historic Greene Barn to provide a better visitor experience, the release said.
The improvements were part of the preserve’s master plan that was adopted in 2023.
Earlier this year, the district was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to put toward the Greene Valley project.
The district plans to break ground on the grant-funded improvements in 2026.
