Letters to Santa mailbox set up at DuPage Court in Elgin
Children can drop off their letters to Santa through Friday, Dec. 12, at the festive red mailbox located at DuPage Court in downtown Elgin.
Letters should be in sealed envelopes with legible names and return addresses, according to a news release. No postage is required. Santa will send replies if return addresses are provided.
For more information, email marketing specialist Heather Moore at heather.moore@elginil.gov.
ECC student bands to present four concerts in December
Academic music ensembles at Elgin Community College will present four concerts this week and next at the Blizzard Theater in Building H on the Elgin campus.
All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on these days:
- Wednesday, Dec. 3 — ECC Concert Band, under the direction of Greg Matushek;
- Thursday, Dec. 4 — ECC Steel Bands, led by Scott McConnell;
- Tuesday, Dec. 9 — ECC Concert Choir, under the direction of Kathi Bernhard;
- Thursday, Dec. 11 — ECC Jazz Ensemble, led by Shawn Maxwell.
Tickets to each show are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For more information, go to eccartscenter.org/events/ame.
Carpentersville firefighters holding Toys for Tots drive
The Carpentersville Fire Department will hold a “Fill the Ambulance” toy drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Walmart parking lot, 365 Lake Marian Road, Carpentersville.
Firefighters are collecting with new, unwrapped toys for kids in need, which will be given to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for its annual Toys for Tots program.
For more information, email mattjackson@iaff4790.org.
Chat with South Elgin village president set for Dec. 8
South Elgin will be holding a chat with Village President Steve Ward from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, at the Gail Borden Public Library South Elgin Branch, 127 S. McLean Blvd.
The public is welcome to ask Ward questions and share their thoughts about things happening in the village or issues the village board is discussing, according to a social media post. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, call 847-742-5780.
U-46 radio station WEPS holding anniversary open house
School District U-46 will hold a public open house to mark the 75th anniversary of its radio station, WEPS (88.9 FM), from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the station, located at the Dream Academy, 46 S. Gifford St., Elgin.
WEPS is one of the oldest continuously-operating school district radio stations in the United States, according to a news release. Visitors are asked to enter through the Dream Academy through Door 15 and be prepared to show a state-issued identification.
Members of U-46’s Communications & Community Relations Team will be available to answer questions, give tours and record visitors reading the call sign identification for the station.
WEPS is launching a revitalized programming lineup, including a podcast, student-created content and an evening story time for young children. The schedule can be found online at u-46.org/weps.
Carpentersville extends yard waste collection through Dec. 11
With leaves falling later than usual, Carpentersville and Groot Waste Management Services have extended yard waste collection in the village through Thursday, Dec. 11.
There will be no additional cost to residents, according to a social media post. Residents living in homes are to set out yard waste as usual, either in biodegradable bags available at local merchants or in seasonal carts on their regular waste collection days.
For more information, call 847-426-3439.