Got an idea for the former Illinois Youth Center?
The fate of St. Charles Township's shuttered and dilapidated Illinois Youth Center will be up for discussion Tuesday at a joint meeting of park district and forest preserve officials.
Representatives of the nearby Eastside Homeowners Association also will be on hand to share thoughts during the 7 p.m. meeting at Bethel Baptist Church, 6N192 Weber Drive.
In August, the Kane County Forest Preserve District bought the 26-acre site from the state for about $3.5 million, putting to use funds from an $85 million bond sale approved by voters the year before.
Its next challenge is deciding what to do with the land along Villa Marie Road, east of Route 25 and south of Courier Avenue, in the area known as Valley View. The St. Charles Park District is working on planning aspects of any project, although the land belongs to the preserve.
Preliminary development suggestions have included razing the old youth correctional facility, which closed in 2002 as part of state budget cuts, or opening it up to the public.
But maybe you have a better idea. If so, Tuesday's your chance to get it out there.
Teen band battle: Those of us who've aspired at one time or another to be professional musicians know playing in a garage band can be a constructive outlet during those awkward teenage years.
On Saturday, you can support that kind of activity by attending the St. Charles Park District's teen Battle of the Bands.
Five groups comprised of teens in grades 6 to 12 are scheduled to perform from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Ave. Admission is a mere $5, with proceeds benefiting STC Underground, a nonprofit teen hangout run by the St. Charles Youth Commission.
And get a load of the band names: Yellow Jello Solution, Rocket Boots, Right For Avengence, 90 Pieces and All For Aspen.
That's not to say this columnist -- and founding member of the short-lived punk band The Smarties in the 1990s -- is poking fun.
For information, call (630) 513-4380.
Or…: If you're more of a motorhead than a music nut, you might go see some other enterprising teens over at St. Charles East High School, also on Saturday.
The East Auto Club is having its 4th Annual Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show fundraiser from 1 to 4 p.m. in the southwest parking lot at the school, 1020 Dunham Road.
As it usually does, the club hopes to have a strong showing of cars, trucks, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and alternative rides this year. Anyone can enter a vehicle for $10; the entry fee is only $3 for students.
Also on tap for the show is live music (All For Aspen apparently has two gigs that day), food, drinks, games and prize drawings. Several "People's Choice" awards will be handed out as well.
For information, call (630) 377-4781.