Santa’s Trolley Express Tickets Available
Get ready for festive fun with Santa’s Trolley Express by the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin. Tickets are on sale for rides beginning from Blackhawk Station in the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve, located at 35W003 Route 31. This delightful event will be available on select weekends from Friday, November 28 to Sunday, December 20. The experience includes rides on a vintage 1959 subway train featuring holiday stories, complimentary hot chocolate, singalongs, and a visit from Santa himself.
Ticket prices are structured as follows: $38 per person until July 31, rising to $45 from August 1 through October 31, and $50 per person from November 1 onwards. Secure your tickets and further details on their website at foxtrolley.org.
U-46 School District Administrator Appointments
The U-46 School District has announced three new administrative appointments for the upcoming academic year. Luis De León, who possesses over two decades of educational experience, will serve as the principal of Streamwood High School. He recently worked as the assistant superintendent for Oak Park Elementary School District 97 and has prior roles within U-46, including principal positions at Tefft Middle School and Laurel Hill Elementary School.
Rafael Martinez-Ortiz steps into the role of principal at the Dream Academy in Elgin. He has been the associate principal there since 2023. Before that, he held various positions at Elgin High School, including assistant principal for freshman success and dean of students. He was also a bilingual teacher at Elgin and Larkin high schools from 2007 to 2016.
Angela DeMay has been appointed as the assistant director of specialized student services compliance. Her experience spans eight years, including serving as the director of student services for Skokie School District 73.5 since 2021.
New Certificate Programs at Elgin Community College
Elgin Community College is launching two new basic vocational certificate programs this fall. These programs are designed for careers in pipe welding and quality control technician fields.
The pipe welding certificate focuses on gas tungsten arc welding, gas metal arc welding, and shielded metal arc welding methods. For those interested in quality control, the program covers interpreting engineering drawings, precision measurement techniques, and necessary job tools. This certificate can be completed within two semesters and does not require any prerequisites. More information is available on their website at elgin.edu/manufacturing.