State Rep. Anna Moeller, Centro de Informacion holding holiday toy drive through Friday, Dec. 5

State Rep. Anna Moeller, D – Elgin, and the social services agency Centro de Informacion are currently holding a holiday drive through Friday, Dec. 5.

According to a news release, people are encouraged to donate new and unwrapped gifts at the following locations:

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. any day at Carpentersville Fire Station No. 93, 5000 Sleepy Hollow Road., Carpentersville
From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday and from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday at Taylor Family YMCA, 50 N. McLean Boulevard, Elgin
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday at Moeller’s district office, 164 Division Street, Elgin
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at BMO Harris Bank, 94 Kennedy Drive (Route 25), Carpentersville

Suggested gifts include Barbie dolls, Lego sets and building toys; soccer balls and basketballs; baby dolls and strollers; Hot Wheels and monster trucks; board games and puzzles; gift cards for clothes or makeup; kitchen toy sets; remote control cars or toys; art sets; sensory toys; skateboards and scooters.

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

Registration for Carpentersville’s holiday lighting contest begins Thursday, Nov. 20

Registration opens Thursday, Nov. 20 and closes at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10 for Carpentersville’s home holiday lighting contest.

For judging purposes, displays must be lit from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly, Thursday, Dec.11 to Monday, Dec. 22, according to the village newsletter. Winners will be announced the week of Dec. 22, with awards presented at the Tuesday, Jan. 20 village board meeting.
Categories include: Clark W. Griswold, for over-the-top brilliance; Traditional for timeless and elegant displays; “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” for lights set to music; Small Space for big spirits in smaller spots; and People’s Choice for votes taken through Facebook.

To become a judge or for more information, email Jen Hyde,  jhyde@cville.org.

‘Bison Tales and Tallgrass (cq) Trails’ presentation at Gail Borden Public Library, Thursday, Nov. 20

Members of the Wild Ones Greater Kane County, Illinois Chapter will present “Bison Trails and Tallgrass Trails”  from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Elgin Room at the Gail Borden Public Library,  270 N. Grove Avenue, Elgin.

Those attending the free program will learn about how bison played a role in Illinois’ tallgrass prairie, their history and habits, according to the library’s website. The talk will also cover how bison are portrayed in literature, music, art, popular culture, and where you can see bison in Illinois.
Wild Ones Greater Kane County Illinois Chapter is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the use of native plants in landscaping, gardening and land restoration, according to its website.

The bison program will also be available to view live online. To register, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/14288440.

Elgin area police ramping up seat belt and DUI enforcement campaigns for Thanksgiving holiday starting Friday, Nov. 21

Elgin area police departments and the Illinois State Police are ramping up their “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaigns for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The concerted campaigns will run from Friday, Nov. 21 to Tuesday, Dec. 2, according to a news release from the South Elgin Police Department. The Thanksgiving time enforcement effort is supported by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

West Dundee firefighters holding meat raffles Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22

The West Dundee Firefighters Association will be holding meat raffles from 7 to 11 p.m. on both Friday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Nov. 22 at West Dundee VFW Post 2298, 117 S. First  Street, West Dundee.

Turkeys, hams, bacon, ducks, and meat packages will be raffled, according to a social media post for the event. Tickets are $1 each.

People who cannot attend are welcome to donate or purchase tickets online at wdfa.org. Proceeds will benefit the FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville. For more information, call 847-551-3805.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/18/elgin-news-digest-nov-19/