Elgin Golden K hear about upcoming Elgin Cemetery Walk
At the Elgin Golden K Sept. 4 meeting, John and Ana Devine presented plans for the upcoming 37th annual Cemetery Walk at Bluff City Cemetery. John is executive director of the walk and second vice president of its sponsor, the Elgin History Museum.
The walk was originally started when Jerry Turnquist, who currently serves as the Elgin Golden K president, suggested it to the historical society board. This year, the walk embraces a theme of literacy and equal access to education.
Visitors will be guided on a 70-minute tour that showcases the grave sites of former residents who are portrayed by actors in period costumes. The cemetery walk will be held at 3 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, and 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. Sign up at elginhistory.org/event/2024-cemetery-walk/.
Kane County Recycling Coordinator Clair Ryan spoke to the club on Aug. 28. She highlighted various aspects of the Kane County Green Guide which details what can and can’t be recycled as well as drop-off locations. The guide can also be found online at www.kanecountyil.gov/Recycling/Documents/2024GreenGuideWeb.pdf.
On Aug. 21, Elgin’s senior liaison Cherie Aschenbrenner spoke on her very active program to help and protect senior citizens. She served as senior services officer for Elgin Police Department before developing this program in 2020. Among services she described: TRIAD, Memory Cafe, and “Senior Showcase,” her WRMN radio show at 9:05 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Sign up for her email list for scam alerts at aschenbrenner_c@cityofelgin.org. The club donated $350 to the TRIAD program.
On Aug. 14, the club meeting featured Maria Cumpata, director of Elgin Parks and Recreation Department. A lifelong resident, Cumpata has held this position since February 1990. The department started with three people but now has 21 full-timers plus 330 part-time/volunteer workers. It is an impressive public service with 67 parks, 16,000 acres, 46 playgrounds for kids, and two golf courses. Current projects include the development of the new 400-acre Jack Cook Park on the west side and a major expansion of the Elgin Sports Complex with three synthetic turf fields, complete facilities, and two entrances. What an amazing park service we have!
On Aug. 7, Tony Sanders, Illinois Superintendent of Education (and formerly the U-46 Superintendent) spoke to Elgin Golden K Kiwanis Club. He described recent efforts to integrate education categories with a new emphasis on literacy of various kinds. He reported that assessment of school districts needs improvement because test scores alone cannot fairly serve as a basis of comparison among Illinois school districts. He explained that school districts are facing a serious shortage of teachers. He has initiated a “fireside chat” system with administrators — recently featuring a visit by Goldie Hawn.
July 31 featured Jason Krabbe, Elgin Township Highway Commissioner who fielded many questions on roads in Elgin Township. An lifetime Elgin resident, he served in similar positions in St. Charles for 13 years. Their work includes mowing, snow removal, clearing roads after storms, and monitoring calls 24/7. He also has a longtime volunteer commitment with Elgin Heat and Little League.
On July 16, the club welcomed Kelley Moreland, vice president of development at the Elgin Jane Shover Easter Seals Center. She made a clear case for the importance of early intervention in helping children. The Easter Seals crew of clinical experts offers services in medical needs, autism, delayed development, speech/language disabilities and many other areas. She explained that recently they are expanding services for families in mental health.
Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation’s Shane McKenzie spoke July 9 on a special Urban Coyote program. This group, in association with Ohio State University and Cook County, has been tracking local coyotes for 24 years. They have tagged and checked 1,611 so far and tend to each animal’s health and eating history. Recently the foundation has begun tracking river otters. It was exciting to see his maps tracking geographical tracks of several animals in the Chicago area.
July 24 was the club’s annual picnic in Wing Park. A great time and food) was had by all.
The upcoming meetings are: Sept. 11, Susan Cincinelli, executive director, The Atrium at Oak Crest; and Sept. 18, Jim Turner, retired Metra engineer.
Everyone is welcome to visit and enjoy a “free half-doughnut and coffee.” The Elgin Golden K weekly meetings are at 9 a.m. Wednesdays in Lind Hall of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St. in downtown Elgin.
For an up-to-date list of past speakers, go to www.elgingoldenk.org or facebook.com/elgingoldenk/
For general information on the Golden K Kiwanis, or to join, email goldenkelgin@gmail.com.