🌱 Patch AM: See what big projects are changing Elgin’s schools, downtown, and jobs.

Hello again Elgin! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• See what big projects are changing Elgin’s schools, downtown, and jobs.
• How Elgin Community College topped Illinois in fighting student hunger.

Today's riddle: I got fired from the M&M factory. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Considerable cloudiness, with a high of 28 and low of 12 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Periods of sun, temps: high: 29, low: 26.
• Monday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 42 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 2025 was a busy development year for Elgin, and the new year promises more (chicagotribune.com) — Major construction and redevelopment projects are reshaping Elgin in 2026, from Elgin Community College’s new $85 million Manufacturing and Technology Center to a long-awaited football stadium at Larkin High School. Downtown is adding a boutique hotel, mixed-use redevelopment, new businesses, and even the city’s first solar farm, signaling strong investment in schools, jobs, and local services.
   

• Illinois Community Colleges Double Food Drive Effort to Fight Campus Hunger (wmix94.com) — Elgin Community College just won a statewide “Feed the Need” food drive, collecting more than 34,000 non-perishable items for its Spartan Food Pantry and local needs. The effort was part of an Illinois-wide campaign that nearly doubled last year’s totals, underscoring how campus and community partners are stepping up to fight student hunger.
   

📸 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!

Sunday January 4

• Dinosaur Explorer Exhibit
  Main Library -
  12:00 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
• Bounce & Rhyme Storytime
  Rakow Branch - Rakow - Small Exhibit Area
  10:00 am
• 1, 2, 3 Go!
  Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
  10:00 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

Saturday January 3

• Celebración de los Reyes Magos / Three Kings Celebration
  Gail Borden Public Library District: Main Library , 270 N Grove Ave , Elgin
  1:00 pm
• Terrapin Flyer
  Rookies RocHaus , 96 W Main St , West Dundee
  8:00 pm

Monday January 5

• Monday Movies
  South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Hoffer Meeting Room
  10:00 am
• Puppet Pals- Grades: Pre-K & K
  South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Shales Children's Activity Room
  4:45 pm

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

• Is this someone’s cat?
  They keep coming handful of times looking into our patio door. We are located off ToastMaster Road near Beverly exit. We are by the park near… (Nextdoor Bradley Circle)

• GDI Integrated SV J posted a job opening for Part Time Cleaner in Elgin. Apply here.
• John B Sanfilippo & Son Inc posted a job opening for Processing Material Handler I/2nd Shift in Elgin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Elgin here.

🗞 Nearby News

Carpentersville

• Tinley Park considers new fees, fines and inspections to deter absentee landlords (bnd.com)

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 kept throwing out all the W’s.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
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• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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