Elgin News Digest: Earth Month events at Hawthorn Hills Nature Center; Solar eclipse event at Jelke Creek Conservation Area; Police patrols stepped up for ‘distracted drivers’ month; Jazz pianist at Borden library

Carpentersville board recognizes achievements of Dundee Highlanders Wrestling Team members

At the March 19 board meeting, Village President John Skillman and the Village Board recognized the achievements of Dundee Highlanders Wrestling Team members at recent state tournaments.

Dundee Highlanders Diamond Rodriguez and Teigen Moreno won championships for their respective divisions at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials state tournament in Springfield, according to the village newsletter.

Dundee Highlanders who placed at the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation state tournament in Rockford were Angelina Perez, Addison Perez, Aiden Johnson and Ronnie Smith. Others who qualified for that event were Gavin Eich, Paul Kenny, Brooke Holm, Gianluca Juarez and Sadie Kenny.

For more information about the Dundee Highlanders, go to www.facebook.com/dundeehighlanderswrestling/.

Carpentersville Police Department stepping up patrols for Distracted Driving Awareness Month

The Carpentersville Police Department has partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies to step up enforcement efforts across the state this month in recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Throughout April, motorists can expect increased patrols looking for texting and driving as well as other traffic violations, according to a news release from the village of Carpentersville.

Between 2012 and 2021, approximately 32,000 lives were lost in crashes across the United States involving distracted drivers, according to the release. Police remind drivers that in Illinois, using your phone in anything other than hands-free mode is not only dangerous, but it is also illegal.

Earth Month events at Hawthorne Hills Nature center every Saturday in April

Earth Month events are on tap every Saturday in April at the Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive in Elgin. The following activities will be offered, beginning at 10:30 a.m. each Saturday, according to the Elgin Green Groups’ Facebook page:

April 6: The Purple Me Green Science Truck will present information about birds and flight. The KARE raptor program will bring owls and other birds of prey. Margaret Gazdacka will host a nature walk. Music will be provided by the Huckeby Band.

April 13: Patsy Hirsch and Sue Styer will talk about herbicides and oaks. The Wild Ones will give a talk for kids about pollinators. Linda Bailey will give a reading from her children’s books. The Huckeby Band will perform.

April 20: There will be a discussion about composting. Herman the Worm will talk to kids about worms. Nicor staff will discuss sustainability initiatives.

April 27: Friends of the Fox member Jenni Kempf will talk about her trip down the Fox River. The Men’s Shed Group will oversee simple building projects for all ages. Robin Migalla will be screening “Story of Stuff” from YouTube. The New Vintage Strings Orchestra will perform.

For more information, call 847-531-7055

Dundee Township Open Space group hosting solar eclipse event at Jelke Creek Conservation Area April 8

The Dundee Township Open Space organization will be hosting a solar eclipse viewing event starting at 12:30 p.m. April 8 at the Jelke Creek Conservation Area off Boncosky Road in Sleepy Hollow.

The first 25 people to arrive will receive a free pair of glasses for safe viewing of the eclipse, according to a post on the group’s Facebook page. The group will provide lemonade and cookies. Guests are welcome to bring camping chairs and picnic lunches.

The location will have an 80% view of the eclipse around 2 p.m., according to the group. For more information, email info@dundeetownship.org.

Hanover Township Mental Health Board holding mental health resource fair April 8

The Hanover Township Mental Health Board will hold a free mental health resource fair from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 8, at the Hanover Township Senior Center, 240 S. Route 59 in Bartlett.

Participating agencies are set to include Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Elderday, Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault, The Bridge, Greater Family Health Center, Shelter Inc., WINGS, Maryville and the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, according to a township news release.

For more information, call 630-837-0301 or email mhb@hanover-township.org.

Jazz pianist Chris White at Gail Borden Public Library April 10

To mark National Jazz Month, Chicago-area jazz pianist Chris White will be performing a free concert from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 10 in the Meadows Community Rooms at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin.

White’s performance credits include shows at the Chicago Jazz Festival, The Jazz Showcase, the Green Mill and Andy’s Jazz Club, according to the library’s website. He also teaches at Lake Forest College, North Park University and North Central College.

To register to attend, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/9807744.