Event in Montgomery to focus on farm life

Visitors can get a taste of what farm life was like in bygone days and explore native plant gardens during an event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at the Conservation Foundation’s Dickson-Murst Farm at 2550 Dickson Road in Montgomery.

The free event will feature children’s crafts, activities and play spaces, farm animals to observe and pet, hayrides, barrel train rides, farm demonstrations, face painting and more, according to a press release about the celebration.

Antique trucks and tractors will be on display and all of the restored historic farm buildings will be open for exploration, event organizers said.

Students from the Newark Chapter of Future Farmers of America will have their farm animals at the event and will also be selling flowering annuals and hanging baskets, according to the release. The Kendall County 4-H clubs will be offering make-and-take craft projects and activities as well.

Free parking is available and the event will go on rain or shine, organizers said.

Senior Services Associates to host course for drivers

Senior Services Associates will host a two-day AARP Smart Driver Course from noon to 4 p.m. May 12 and 19 at its Senior Center at 2111 Plum St. in Aurora.

During the course, drivers will learn evidence-based driving strategies, new traffic laws and rules of the road, according to a press release about the class. The cost to attend is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members.

To sign up for the course, contact Paul or Amanda at Senior Services at 630-897-4035.

Spring Shop Crawl  planned in St. Charles

The 2026 Spring Shop Crawl event in St. Charles will be taking place on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, event organizers said.

During the event, shoppers will have the opportunity to visit 25 participating St. Charles businesses that will be offering deals, specials and promotions, according to officials with the St. Charles Business Alliance.

The 25 participating shops are St. Charles Arts Council’s Arts Resource Center, Becky’s Bouquets, Boutique Baby, Campbell Creations, Circa Vintage Gallery, Curious Fox Gift Shop, The Diamondaire, Dick Pond Athletics, Double Take Consignment, Gait + Main, Ghoulish Mortals, Heinz Brothers Greenhouse Garden Center, Industrial Treasures, Magnolia Soap & Bath Co., Makoma House, MION Artisan Soap, Mr. Marco’s Jewelers, The Pep Line, Play It Again Sports, Rocket Fizz, SG Too Consignment, Swaby’s on the Fifth, Town House Books, Trellis Farm & Garden, and trend + relic.

Shoppers will also have the chance to win one of two grand prize giveaways valued at over $300 when they make a purchase at a participating store during the St. Charles Spring Shop Crawl, according to a press release about the event from the St. Charles Business Alliance.

For more information on the 2026 St. Charles Spring Shop Crawl, including a list of business promotions, go to www.stcalliance.org/stcshopcrawl.

Event in Elburn to accept unused prescription drugs

State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, and state Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, along with the Elburn Police Department, will be hosting a prescription drug drop-off event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Town and Country Public Library District, 320 E. North St. in Elburn.

Residents can remain in their vehicles while safely dropping off unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs during the event, organizers said.

Accepted medications that can be disposed of at the event include tablets, capsules and other solid forms of prescription drugs, patches, vaping devices and cartridges with lithium batteries removed, prescription ointments, pet medications and vitamins. Restricted items that will not be accepted include liquids, syringes, needles and illegal drugs, according to organizers.

For more information, contact DeWitte’s office at 847-214-8245 or Ugaste’s office at 630-797-5530 or go to their websites at senatordewitte.com or repugaste.com.

Children invited to create art for Geneva calendar

The city of Geneva is inviting children to create artwork for a community calendar focused on the benefits of trees, city officials said.

Geneva has more than 2,000 open locations for planting parkway trees, and the city is turning to students to help highlight their importance, according to a press release about the calendar project.

The art contest for the calendar is open to Geneva students in first through eighth grade, officials said. Children may use crayons, colored pencils or markers to create tree-themed artwork on an 8.5- by 11-inch blank sheet of paper, according to a press release about the project.

Artwork may depict how trees provide wildlife habitat, improve air quality, produce oxygen, offer shade and enhance beauty and tranquility, city officials said.

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The submission deadline is Monday, May 18. Parents can enter one original piece of artwork per student in person at Geneva City Hall, 22 S. First St., or online through the city’s website at https://www.geneva.il.us/. Submission forms and more information about the contest are available at the website.

The city’s Student Government Committee will review the submissions and select entries from multiple grade levels and schools for inclusion in the calendar, city officials said. Winners will be recognized at a future Geneva City Council meeting and will receive a free copy of the calendar when it is published this summer, according to the release.