Elgin News Digest: ESO named Organization of Year by Elgin Hispanic Network; Moeller holding holiday gift drive for foster care children

ESO named Organization of Year by Elgin Hispanic Network

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra has been chosen as the Elgin Hispanic Network’s Organization of the Year.

The honor recognizes the ESO for its efforts in collaborating and engaging with the Elgin area’s Hispanic community and providing culturally relevant programming, according to a post on the ESO Facebook page.

Elgin Hispanic Network presented the award at its biggest fundraising event of the year, its annual Thanksgiving luncheon held Nov. 20 at the Villa Olivia Country Club in Bartlett.

For more information about the Elgin Hispanic Network, go to www.elginhispanicnetwork.org. For more information about the ESO, go to www.elginsymphony.org.

Moeller holding holiday gift drive for foster care children

State Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, is collaborating with Aunt Martha’s Carpentersville Community Health Center to collect new, unwrapped gifts for children in foster care.

Gifts are need for youth ages 12 to 17, according to a social media post. Suggested items include Hello Kitty stuffed animals and accessories; tumblers; art, jewelry-making and journaling kits; basketballs, footballs and other sports equipment; new winter coats; age-appropriate board and video games; Lego and Kinetic Sand kits; LOL Surprise Dolls; Polaroid cameras; and gift cards.

Donations are being accepted through Monday, Dec. 9. Items can be dropped off at these locations:

• Moeller’s Office, 164 Division St., Suite 103, Elgin;
• Taylor Family YMCA, 50 N. McLean Blvd., Elgin;
• Streamwood Community Center, 777 S. Bartlett Road, Streamwood.

For more information, call 847-841-7130 or email staterepmoeller@gmail.com.

Take a selfie with the Grinch Saturday at chamber office

The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce will be offering free selfies with the Grinch from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, inside its office at 31 S. Grove Ave. in downtown Elgin.

“Whether you are feeling a little Grinchy or full of holiday joy, this is your chance to make a memory that will last all season long. A Grinchy good time awaits,” chamber President/CEO Carol Gieske said in a news release.

The event ends just before the city of Elgin holds its holiday tree-lighting ceremony at nearby DuPage Court. For more information, call 847-741-5660.

Elgin Community College holding concert series Dec. 2-4

Elgin Community College will be hosting a series of concerts this coming week at its Arts Center on the Elgin campus, 1700 Spartan Drive.

At 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, the ECC Concert Choir will perform a selection of choral music at the Arts Center’s Blizzard Theatre, according to the center website.

Adam Schlipmann will direct ECC’s American Roots Ensemble in a program of blues, country, bluegrass and folk music at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in the Arts Center’s SecondSpace.

Also in the SecondSpace, Schlipmann will lead the ECC Electronic Music Ensemble in a concert featuring originally produced music at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Tickets for each show are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets and for more information, go to eccartscenter.org/events/ame/.