All systems were a go for library's first space talk
The connection between the Gail Borden Public Library and the International Space Station on Wednesday was flawless.
A bunch of students from schools all over Elgin got to ask questions of NASA's Hal Getzelman -- an Elgin High grad -- and astronaut Clay Anderson.
The community room was full of dignitaries, anxious relatives and nervous students. The ARISS, or Amateur Radio Involved with the Space Station, group had members in force to make the vital radio connections. The administration and staff at the library did a superb job of making the day work. Kudos to all involved!
Symphony gala
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra kicks off its season with world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman playing with the symphony Saturday. The evening begins with a champagne toast at 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Hemmens Cultural Center, followed by a 6 p.m. concert. You'll hear pieces from Wagner and Strauss. And Perlman, of course, will play Beethoven's Violin Concerto.
After the concert, there will be a reception at The Centre of Elgin, where patrons can mingle with members of the symphony orchestra in a cocktail party atmosphere. About 50 items have been donated to a silent auction -- a special one is a week in the Cotswolds in England.
Money from the auction supports the youth education initiatives of the symphony.
For details and reservations (limited seating is still available), call the box office at (847) 888-4000.
Hispanic Heritage
Starting Thursday there will be a great variety of ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage in Elgin:
• At 6:30 p.m. Thursday there will be a Latino Art Showcase at 164 Division St. Such local artists as Ruth Gonzales, Delaria Cuca, Trinidad Armenta and Jean Diaz will display and discuss their art. The reception and hors d'oeuvres are sponsored by the Hispanic Heritage Coalition. For details, call (847) 695-2196.
• At 8 p.m. Friday the Organization of Latin American students at Elgin Community College will sponsor a breakfast meeting at the college's Business Conference Center.
At 8 a.m. The main speaker is Leda Santodomingo, a journalist for Telemundo. The OLAS Award for Distinguished Alums goes to Melina Lopez, a 1996-'98 member, who now is a mental health counselor at Provena St. Joseph Hospital. For reservations or details, call Marlen at (847) 214-7250.
• From 11 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Fiesta Salsa kicks off with a parade from the parking lot at Elgin Area School District U-46 headquarters on Chicago Street. The grand marshal is Natalie Martinez from Channel 5 news. The winner of the Scholarship/Heritage Beauty Contest, Martha Jimenez, and her court will be riding in the parade, too. Marching bands from Larkin and South Elgin high schools will play.
• The parade proceeds to Festival Park, where Mayor Ed Schock, and city council members will read the proclamation of Hispanic Heritage Month from the main stage. Grove Avenue will be closed for an auto show featuring more than 100 cars, chaired by Steven Roman.
• At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the Salsa Challenge begins. Professional, Student, and Open are the three categories, and making a gallon of salsa with ingredients assembled on site are the requirements. Four regionally selected judges will announce the winners at 4 p.m.
• At 3:30, the jalapeno eating contest starts. The winner gets $500 for eating as many peppers in 30 seconds as he or she can. Last year the winning number was six!
Twenty food vendors will tempt your taste buds. The main stage will have music all day and into the evening --South American, Puerto Rican, Mexican and rock bands.
• At 9:30 p.m., Sonora Carusseles, coming directly from Colombia, will play their tradition Colombian merengue, and other Latin favorites.
At the north end of Festival Park, music, dance and food from Haiti will be featured. Highlights of history will be presented, such as its 1804 independence from France, and the role of Jean Baptiste DuSable in founding Chicago.
• A week from today, from 1 to 4 p.m., the Elgin Public Museum will have a free presentation of Dr. Jesus Negrete, who will play guitar and sing traditional folk music from Mexico. Then Judge Manuel Barbosa will speak on Mexican independence, showing pictures of his family's part in the struggle. For details, go to www.elginpublicmuseum.org.
More on Randall
A reader asked me to find out if Caputo's Market was indeed coming to the old Dominick's site in South Elgin. Steve Super, economic development director for South Elgin, said that it will be open in October. La-Z-Boy, Red Robin and Buffalo Wild Wings also are coming to the same stretch on Randall.
I talked to Robertino Presta, from Caputo's and he said this sixth store is in response to their good customers moving here from the inner suburbs. They must be missing the imported, hard-to-find items carried by the market.
Caputo's started as a produce mart in the late 1950s by Angelo Caputo. The store still emphasizes fresh produce, driving to the farms in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois to get same-day freshness in vegetables and fruits. Presta says it is just like a farmer's market, but not as expensive.
There will be a full service deli, bakery and butcher shop, as well as a ready-to-go prepared section. By going to www.shopcaputos.com, a patron can place an order to be picked up after work, or shipped anywhere by UPS.