Elgin to usher in holiday season
The city of Elgin will usher in the holiday season at 5 p.m. Saturday with a tree lighting ceremony at Festival Park, on South Grove Avenue.
Mayor Ed Schock, city council members and special guest Santa Claus will turn on the holiday lights.
The City Skate ice rink will be open for the day with free skate rentals from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Civic Center Plaza.
At Festival Park, a reading of the book Polar Express will take place at 5:30 p.m., and sleigh rides will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Because of the sleigh rides, South Grove Avenue will be closed from Prairie Street to Lake Street from 3 to 8 p.m.
More information is available from special events coordinator Barb Keselica at (847) 531-7056.
Annual toy giveaway campaign to begin
Today marks the start of the 13th annual Elgin Community Holiday Toy Giveaway at the Grand Victoria Casino.
Coordinated by the Community Crisis Center and a community planning committee, this event is sponsored by the Grand Victoria Casino and the Grand Victoria Foundation, along with co-sponsors The Courier-News and WJKL/WRMN Radio.
Last year, Grand Victoria Foundation presented a check for $3,700 to the crisis center and is making another cash donation this year.
As in previous years, the community is encouraged to participate in the 2007 Community Holiday Toy Giveaway by depositing new, unwrapped toys for Elgin-area families in need at the holiday tree located in the lobby of the Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Ave., through Monday, Dec. 17.
There is a great need for toys suitable for children ages 10 and up.
The crisis center reports that last year's community holiday toy giveaway made it possible for it to serve more than 930 families. The center distributed more than 5,000 toys to more than 2,500 children, and organizers expect to have more families in need of toys this year.
Toys will be picked up from the Grand Victoria Casino on Dec. 17 and taken to Hemmens Auditorium for distribution the next day.
Volunteers are needed. For information on how to get involved, people should call the Community Crisis Center at (847) 697-2380.