Latest news with #CentennialGrove
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Kane County Forest Preserve District holding centennial event; ECC math, science and engineering dean wins national award
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County will hold a centennial celebration at noon Saturday, June 8, at Johnson's Mound in Elburn, the first forest preserve established by the district. In addition to speeches by local leaders and district representatives, the event will debut the Centennial Grove project, a new initiative at Johnson's Mound in honor of the anniversary, a news release said. Centennial Grove will include the planting of 800 native trees, a restored 23-acre prairie, expanded trail connections and a new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible branch of a trail at Johnson's Mound, the release said. There also will be a gathering space and a two-piece sculpture being created by local artist Mike Baur, the district's first permanent public art installation. Residents are invited to help plant 500 oak trees as part of the event, the release said. Following the tree planting, individuals at the celebration can participate in guided hikes. There will also be live music, food trucks, an educational pollinator station and commemorative coins. Anyone interested in volunteering to plant a tree, sponsor a tree or make a donation should go to the Kane Forest Preserve Foundation's website, or call 630-232-5980. For more about the event, go to The deadline to sign up for the Dundee Township Lions Club 'Fun-Raising Bowl-A-Rama' fundraiser, set for 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Liberty Lanes in Carpentersville, is Wednesday, June 11. Registration is $35 per player, and includes three games, shoe rental, ball use and pizza, a social media post said. Raffles and a cash bar will be available. For more information, email DundeeTownshipLions@ To register, go to Registration is underway for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County's 'Explore the Fox River by Kayak' program being held from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Voyageur Landing Forest Preserve, 50 Airport Road in Elgin. Participants will receive instruction on basic kayaking techniques from an experienced instructor before embarking on a 4-mile trip led by a naturalist, according to a social media post. Open to beginners, participants must be at least 16 and able to hold their breath underwater while wearing a life jacket; independently turn from a face down to a face-up position in a kayak; effectively communicate with the instructor and other participants; and manage all mobility and personal care independently or with the assistance of a companion, according to the post. Registration is $89 per person and includes use of a kayak, personal floatation device and paddle. For those who provide their own kayaks, the fee is $45. To register, go to call 630-444-3190 or email programs@ Farah Bennani, Elgin Community College's dean of math, science and engineering, is one of three national winners of a McGraw Hill Pathfinder Award. Bennani was honored for incorporating emerging technologies, including augmented reality and artificial intelligence, into the classroom and for developing remote web-based science labs for the North American Network of Science Labs, according to the McGraw Hill website. 'This prestigious recognition amplifies my resolve to innovate, inspire and drive meaningful change, serving as both a milestone of achievement and a powerful motivator to continue striving for transformative excellence,' Bennani said in a news release. For more information, go to The Hanover Township summer tutoring program runs from Monday, June 2, through Monday, Aug. 4, at Hanover Town Hall, 250 S. Route 59, Bartlett. Board-certified teachers will provide weekly, one-hour sessions for four students per group from 5 to 8 p.m. weeknights, according to a news release. Tutoring groups are based on age, subject matter and learning needs identified by referring teachers. The program is open to students grades 2 through 8 and costs $50 per student. To register and for more information, go or call 630-483-5799.
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Forest Preserve District of Kane County to celebrate centennial on June 8 in Elburn
The Forest Preserve District of Kane County will hold a centennial celebration on June 8, according to a press release Thursday from the district. The event will begin at noon at Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn, the first preserve the district established. In addition to speeches from local leaders and Forest Preserve District representatives, the celebration will mark the debut of a new initiative at Johnson's Mound in honor of the centennial, the news release said. The Centennial Grove project will include the planting of 800 native trees, a restored 23-acre prairie, expanded trail connections and a new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible branch of a trail at Johnson's Mound, according to Thursday's release. The preserve will also have a gathering space and a two-piece sculpture by local artist Mike Baur, which will be the district's first permanent public art installation. A map of the preserve can be found at Residents are invited to help plant 500 oak trees as part of the event, the release said. Following the tree planting, individuals at the celebration can participate in guided hikes. There will also be live music, food trucks, an educational pollinator station and commemorative coins. The district is inviting local community groups to attend, the release said, and those interested in participating can email forestpreserve@ Individuals and businesses can also sponsor the Centennial Grove project with varying levels of donation, the release said. Those interested in sponsoring a tree can do so via the Kane Forest Preserve Foundation's website or by calling 630- 232-5980. There are also corporate sponsorships available, the release said. For more information on the event, go to
