More than 20 people receive special rec group awards
More than 20 people were honored with awards by the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, including Justin Pearce and Shavon Sanders as its Adult Participants of the Year.
Other winners included Kira Cummings, Sunshine Award; Ben Bluemond, Athlete of the Year; and Lincoln Koeppen and Aubrey Mandat as Youth Participants of the Year.
A full list of award recipients can be found at www.fvsra.org. Honorees were recognized at a banquet held at Lincoln Inn Banquets in Batavia.
Sing-along Messiah being held at ECC this Friday
The Greater Elgin Sing-Along Messiah will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, in the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive.
Among the musicians participating are the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, four professional soloists, Larkin High School Concert Choir, members the Elgin Master Chorale, choirs from Church of the Cross of Hoffman Estates and Second Baptist Church of Elgin, and students in Judson University’s Master of Arts in Community Music program, a news release said.
Audience members are invited to take part in singing Handel’s “Messiah” choruses.
Tickets are $7 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Ticket buyers should use the code MESSIAH to have a $5 processing fee per order waived.
For tickets and more information, go to www.ElginSing-AlongMessiah.org. Proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Northern Illinois.
Kane County Forest Preserve District holding bird hikes
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The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is holding three birdwatching hikes led by district naturalists in early and late winter.
Advance registration is required for the free programs, which will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Sessions are set for Sunday, Dec. 10, at Lone Grove Forest Preserve, 49W055 Perry Road in Maple Park; Friday, Jan. 19, at Fox River Shores Forest Preserve, 701 Williams Road in Carpentersville; and Friday, Feb. 23, at Campton Forest Preserve, 4N379 Town Hall Road in St. Charles.
During the sessions, participants will learn basic bird identification skills and about seasonal adaptations and lifestyles, district officials said. The programs are open to all ages.
To register, call 630-444-3190 or email [email protected]. To view other upcoming Kane County Forest Preserve District nature programs, go to www.kaneforest.com.
Fire department Toys for Tots drive open till Dec. 9
The Carpentersville Fire Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign.
Donations can be dropped off at the village’s three fire stations — 213 Spring St., 305 Lake Marian Road and 5000 Sleepy Hollow Road — anytime through Saturday, Dec. 9, an online news release said.
For more information, call 847-426-2131.