Montgomery residents Gina Galanis, second from right, and Haley Pessina, right, deliver gifts to kids of jail and prison inmates Dec. 13 in Aurora. Galanis and Pessina were among 11 Aurora University business and criminal justice majors who raised $7,000 for gifts and pizza at a 10th annual Angel Tree party for 70 children of prisoners and their caregivers. Luigi’s Pizza in Aurora hosted the event. (Al Benson Photo)

Kane Forest District offers program on bald eagles

With a wing span of more than 6 feet, bald eagles can be hard to miss.

Forest Preserve District of Kane County naturalists will teach participants about the magnificent bald eagles that live among us, right on the Fox River. Learn about the fascinating history of these iconic birds at the “Eagles in Our Midst” nature program.

This “Learn from the Experts” program is on Saturday, Jan. 10, from 1-3 p.m. at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center. The address is 3795 Campton Hills Dr., Saint Charles.

The registration fee is $10 per person and this program is for ages 16 and up. Call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com to register.

“Learn from the Experts” programs are taught by experts in the field and offer in-depth information and  learning opportunities about our local ecology. This program will feature stunning images captured by Ron Dickenson, a local wildlife photographer who has been chronicling our area’s “Mooseheart eagles” since 2008.

For more information or to view the full roster of Forest Preserve District winter nature programs, visit www.kaneforest.com.

Elgin Fire Department to provide, install detectors

The Elgin Fire Department has teamed up with Kidde Manufacturing to provide free smoke detectors to Elgin residents who do not have working smoke detectors.

An Illinois law requires that all family residences have at least one approved smoke detector installed on every story of the dwelling unit, including basements. A working smoke detector must be installed within fifteen feet of any room used for sleeping.

A limited supply of free smoke detectors will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. A condition of this program requires the Elgin Fire Department to come out to the residence for installation.

To request a free installed smoke detector, contact the Elgin Fire Department at (847) 931-6175. An adult resident must be home when the smoke detector is delivered and installed.

Grammy Foundation honors Batavia, Metea, Waubonsie

The Grammy Foundation has announced that Batavia, Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley high schools are among the 120 schools nationwide and 10 from Illinois that have been selected as Grammy Signature Schools Semifinalists for 2015.

Finalists will be announced in mid-March and the selected schools will receive a Grammy award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to benefit their program.

Created in 1998, the Grammy Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year.

Poor quality makes holiday paper a bad choice to recycle

Many people think they are doing the right thing when they recycle their wrapping paper and tissue paper, but unfortunately, they are not recyclable. Kane County Recycles asks residents to not put these materials in your recycling bin.

“The reason is they are such low-grade paper and the wood fibers are so short that they cannot be turned into paper again,” Kane County Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Jarland said.

Additionally the mass volume of wrapping paper at Christmas can overwhelm the sorting facilities.

For more information contact Jarland at recycle@countyofkane.org or 630-208-3841.

Yum! Chocolate Fest on Jan. 11 at Naperville Central

The 12th annual Chocolate Festival — a daylong festival of chocolate for the whole family — returns on Jan. 11 at Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave., Naperville.

The event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m.,  features chocolate tastings, baking competition, a family activity room and live entertainment.

For more information, visit www.360YouthServices.org. 

Benedictine, COD co-host King breakfast on Jan. 19

College of DuPage and Benedictine University will sponsor the 20th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the Krasa Center Dining Room on the Benedictine campus in Lisle.

The event, which honors the legacy of the civil rights leader and celebrates the diversity of community colleges, will feature speaker Eboo Patel, Ph.D., founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a Chicago-based organizations building the interfaith movement on college campuses.

“This event affords us the opportunity to reflect on how individuals continue to work toward Dr. King’s vision and to inspire others,” said COD Board Chair Erin Birt.

—Suburban Chronicle News Briefs are compiled from news sources and submitted items.