🌱 Patch AM: Elgin remembers former U-46 superintendent José Torres among 2025’s notable losses

Good morning Elgin! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Elgin remembers former U-46 superintendent José Torres among 2025’s notable losses
• How Elgin Community College beat every rival in a statewide food drive
• How Elgin police helped crack down on Thanksgiving DUI drivers

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: A little snow, up to 1", with a high of 34 and low of 7 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Thursday: Mostly sunny and very cold, temps: high: 22, low: 16.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high of 25 and low of 15 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Those we lost: Local leaders, former governors and a conservative activist among notable deaths of 2025 (dailyherald.com) — Elgin readers are reminded of the loss of former U-46 superintendent José Torres, who led the Elgin-based district for six years before moving on to head the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The year-end piece also recalls many other suburban leaders, educators, and public figures who died in 2025, highlighting their local roots and community impact across the region.
   

• Illinois Community Colleges Band Together to Fight Food Insecurity On Campus This Holiday Season (riverbender.com) — Elgin Community College just led all Illinois community colleges in the statewide Feed the Need food drive, collecting more than 34,000 non-perishable items for its Spartan Food Pantry. The friendly competition doubled last year’s totals statewide and underscores how deeply ECC students and staff are rallying to fight food insecurity on campus and in surrounding communities.
   

• Anti-DUI ‘no refusal' enforcement results in 8 drivers charged in Kane County (shawlocal.com) — Elgin police joined 11 other Kane County agencies in a Thanksgiving “No Refusal” DUI crackdown that led to eight drivers being charged, including one from South Elgin. Prosecutors obtained at least one search warrant for chemical testing, and officials say the effort aims to deter impaired driving as holiday travel increases.
   

📸 Around Elgin

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Elgin

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday January 1

• Happy New Year! ~ Building Closed
  Elgin Calendar Elgin, IL 60120-5570

Friday January 2

• First Fridays Improv with GreenRoom Productions
  Elgin Calendar , 45 Symphony Way Lower Level , Elgin
  8:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Celebración de los Reyes Magos / Three Kings Celebration
  Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
  1:00 pm

Monday January 5

• Preschool Storytime
  Main Library - Story Room - North
  9:15 am
• Story Mix for Birth-6
  Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
  10:00 am
• Evening Chess Club
  Main Library - 2nd Floor - Behind Elevators
  5:30 pm
• Planning and Zoning Commission
  Elgin Calendar , 150 Dexter Court City Council Chambers, Second Floor, North Tower , Elgin
  7:00 pm

Tuesday January 6

• Baby Rhyme Time
  Main Library - Story Room - South
  9:15 am

📣 Elgin Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 31

• Stretch Infusion
  Streamwood Park District's Park Place Family Recreation Center , 550 S Park Blvd Room 112 , Streamwood
  9:30 am
• New Year’s Neon Bash
  Scott R. Triphahn Community Center & Ice Arena , 1685 W Higgins Rd , Hoffman Estates
  11:00 am
• Noon Year’s Eve Party for all ages at Adrenaline Monkey West Dundee
  Adrenaline Monkey Adventure Park , 999 W Main St , West Dundee
  11:00 am
• Pinstripes Noon Years Eve Party! - South Barrington, IL
  Pinstripes , 100 W Higgins Rd , South Barrington
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Elgin PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• A large fire has broken out in a pile of scrap metal at a recycler on Central south of the Ike, with no injuries reported.
  4:18PM on Dec 29: A fire has broken out in a large pile of scrap metal at a recycler on Central south of the Ike, with no injuries reported. (Nextdoor )

• Federal Signal posted a job opening for Welder/Certified Welder - 2nd Shift in Elgin. Apply here.
• Federal Signal Corporation posted a job opening for Welder/Certified Welder in Elgin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Elgin here.

🗞 Nearby News

South Elgin

• Resident suffers minor injury in Geneva house fire (chicagotribune.com)

Carpentersville

• Hononegah girls split pair in weekend action (gazettextra.com)
• El Molino restaurant in Carpentersville reopens with new look, new owners who also run Elgin taqueria (barringtonhillsobserver.com)
• Carpentersville to hike rental house inspections after fire that killed three children (chicagotribune.com)

St. Charles

Ok Elgin! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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