The Fermi Lab Family Open House is will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31. (Photo courtesy Ferm National Laboratory)

BATAVIA

Fermilab hosts annual Family Open House Jan. 31

Fermilab’s free Family Open House is more than just an annual tradition. It’s a chance for the whole family to spend an afternoon learning about science in a hands-on way and have fun doing it.

The Open House is will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31.

This year’s event will include activities for the whole family, from hands-on science exhibits to tours of some of the lab’s attractions. There will be a series of performances by Jerry Zimmerman, the ever-popular “Mr. Freeze,” demonstrating the effects of liquid nitrogen, and about a dozen scientists will be ready to answer questions in the exhibit area on the 15th floor of Wilson Hall.

In the atrium, families can enjoy a “physics carnival,” including interactive exhibits by students from four area schools. On the second floor of Wilson Hall, visitors can play “Cosmic Shuffleboard” while learning about the role of dark energy in the universe.

Fermilab’s new operations center on the first floor of Wilson Hall will also be accessible for the Open House. Many of the center’s experiments are controlled from this room, and there will be operators at their stations, all of them ready to talk about the work they are doing. Next door to that operations center, a panel of lab employees will present an interactive talk about their day-to-day jobs.

This year, in addition to tours of the linear accelerator and main control room, there will be two special tours on offer: one to see the 50-foot-wide Muon g-2 electromagnet that was transported from New York in 2013, and one to visit a laboratory where parts of our neutrino beam production devices are created.

Tours of the linear accelerator and main control room will be given throughout the day, with no registration required. Attendees will need to register in advance for the Muon g-2 and neutrino horn lab tours.

These tours will fill up fast, so those who want in should register quickly at http://ed.fnal.gov/openhouse. There are a limited number of seats available, and standbys will be accepted. More information is available behind the link.

ELGIN

City honored as ‘exceptional workplace’

The Illinois Parks and Recreation Association has honored the city of Elgin with the “Exceptional Workplace” award for 2015. This honor is being presented for the steps that the Wellness Committee has taken to provide city staff with a healthy workplace environment.

In order to win the award, the committee had to complete a 49 question survey consisting of closed and open-ended questions, including an essay as to why the city of Elgin deserves this award.

The evaluation examined benefits, wellness policies, wellness needs assessment, employee assistance programming, on-boarding, educational opportunities, environmental stewardship, and other measures. Based on the scoring criteria, the program earned 44 out of a possible 48 points.

MONTGOMERY

Cell phone donations to benefit Mutual Ground

State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is organizing a used cell phone drive, where residents are encouraged to drop off old cell phones at her constituent service office, located at 1677 Montgomery Road, Ste. 116 in Aurora.

Residents are invited to drop off cell phones, accessories and chargers for donation to Mutual Ground. Donated cell phones will be reprogrammed and given to people in need or recycled with the proceeds going towards helping victims.

Mutual Ground is one of the oldest and largest domestic violence and sexual assault service agencies in Illinois. The agency provides 24-hour hotlines staffed by trained crisis intervention advocates who counsel over 2,000 women a month. Those interested in donating their time or other resources can reach Mutual Ground at (630) 897-0084.

For more information,  contact Kifowit’s constituent service office by phone at (630) 585-1308, by email atStephanie.Kifowit@att.net, or by visiting www.ILDistrict84.com.

SUGAR GROVE

WCC seeks nominees for Chiefs Hall of Fame

Waubonsee Community College is accepting applications for the Chiefs’ Athletic Hall of Fame. Inductees will be honored at the school’s year-ending Athletic Banquet on May 12, 2016. Individuals or groups can be nominated for induction.

Nomination forms are available online or through Waubonsee’s Athletic Office on the college’s Sugar Grove Campus. Nominations can be submitted until Feb. 1.

Inductees will be determined by a selection committee representing Waubonsee’s staff, administration and former Waubonsee student-athletes.

Nominated athletes must be five years removed from competing for Waubonsee. Nominees will fall into one of five categories: administrators, faculty and staff; athletes; coaches; community supporters; and specific teams. Selections will be announced the week of April 4, 2016.

For more information, please contact the Waubonsee Athletic Department at (630) 466-2524.

–Kane County Area News Briefs–