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Get free ESO tickets

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra if offering one free ticket to a performance in exchange for 10 items for the city's food drive. Items can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the ESO office, at 20 DuPage Court in downtown Elgin. Tickets may be redeemed for any concert from now through June 2009 at the Hemmens Cultural Center. Most needed items are: cans of fruit, vegetables, beans, ravioli, spaghetti, chili, tuna, white rice, macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, oatmeal and powdered milk. For more information, call (847) 888-4000 or (847) 888-0404.

U-46 state scholars named

Two hundred and thirty Elgin Area School District U-46 high school students have been named Illinois State Scholars. The State Scholar program is an honorary recognition received by approximately 10 percent of Illinois high school graduates each year. In order to qualify, students must take the ACT or SAT, perform in the top one-half of their high school class or score in the 95th percentile on a college-entrance exam, and graduate from high school during the academic year in which they are selected. For a full list of names, visit www.u-46.org.

Museum holiday exhibit open

The McHenry County Historical Society Museum's annual Christmas exhibit, "Mid Twentieth Century Main Street," will be open from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday throughout the month with the exception of Dec. 24, 25, 26, and 31. Call the museum at (815) 923-2267 or visit mchsonline.org for complete schedule information. The museum is at 6422 Main St. in Union.