Donations, volunteers sought for back-to-school event

The D300 Food Pantry is seeking supply donations and volunteers to work at a back-to-school giveaway event being held Aug. 2, at Carpentersville Middle School, 100 Cleveland Ave.

More than 420 children are signed up to participate in the event, a social media post said. The nonprofit organization is in need of 90 people to cover three shifts: 9 a.m. to noon to set up before the giveaway starts; 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to work during the event; and 2:30 to 4 p.m. to do cleanup work.

For a list of supplies sought and other information, go to www.d300foodpantry.org/2025-back-to-school-event. To volunteer, email mjohnstone@d300foodpantry.org.

Elgin to use safety barriers on Riverside, South Grove

New safety wedge barriers have been installed along Riverside Drive and South Grove Avenue for use during crowded events, restricting vehicle access but not impeding pedestrian traffic.

When not in use controlling traffic during Festival Park events between Friday and Oct. 12, the barriers will lie flat, sitting about an inch above the road’s surface, according to a city news release. Drivers should slow down before driving over them.

Every Friday starting this week, the barriers at each end of Riverside Drive will go up at 3 p.m. and be taken down at 6 a.m. Monday so that the street can become “a pedestrian-only promenade for the Downtown Elgin Market, concerts and other weekend events,” the release read.

On South Grove Avenue, the barriers between Prairie and Lake streets, next to Festival Park, will be in use only during large events.

Detour signs will be posted when the barriers are being used, but will not block pedestrians and cyclists, officials said. Public lots at the northwest corner of South Grove Avenue and Prairie Street will remain open to vehicles.

Additional parking options can be viewed at elginil.gov/parking.

Elgin library holding program on the 1915 Eastland Disaster

A presentation marking the 110th anniversary of Eastland Disaster in Chicago will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in downtown Elgin.

The Eastland Disaster Historical Society is conducting the program, which will feature two granddaughters of Bobbie Aanstad, who survived the ship accident, according to the library’s website.

On July 24, 1915, the Eastland was embarking on an excursion cruise when it became unbalanced and rolled over into the Chicago River. Of the more than 2,500 passengers and crew members on board, 844 people died, including 22 entire families. Many of the victims were employees of Western Electric attending a company outing.

To register to attend the event and for more information, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/13623878.

Elgin High School student news team gets equipment grant

The Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Foundation have awarded a $1,500 grant to the Maroon Buzz Weekly News Team at Elgin High School.

Team members plan to use its grant to buy a memory card and batteries, memory card holder and USB holders, charger for lavalier mics, rolling tripod, charging block, large storage cabinet, handheld mics, a camera rig and cage and a handheld recording in progress sign, a news release said.

The Illinois High School Journalism Grants Program awarded more than $35,000 in funding to 26 high schools, the release said.

— Mike Danahey