Elgin-made product doesn’t make the Final Four in Makers Madness contest
The item named coolest thing made in Illinois won’t be from Elgin.
In the Elite Eight round of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s “Makers Madness” contest, the BoulePro 200AX made by USACH in Elgin collected fewer votes in a machine-to-machine matchup against the Komatsu Mining Truck manufactured by Komatsu in Peoria, according to a news release from the association.
The BoulePro 200AX takes silicon carbide balls, called boules, and shapes them into discs. The discs are then used by companies in a process designed to create semiconductors.
The contest is set up like the NCAA college basketball tournaments and seeks to name, by online voting, the coolest thing made in Illinois.
The other items making it to the “Makers Madness” Final Four are Mullen’s Imitation French Dressing produced by Mullen’s in Palestine; the MQ-25 Stingray drone refueler built by Boeing in Mascoutah and Mod Box Enviro Buildings made by Craig Industries in Quincy.
Voting for the final round is taking place now through 11:59 p.m. Sunday at www.makersmadnessil.com. The contest will culminate with an awards ceremony April 10 at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield when The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be named.
Elgin Community Bikes hosting kids bike and trike ride April 12
Elgin Partnership for Early Learning and Elgin Community Bikes will be hosting a free bike and trike ride for kids from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 12 at Elgin Community Bikes, 69 S. Riverside Drive in Elgin.
According to an online posting for the event, in addition to the ride, the event will include safety education, bike registration, bike washing and decorating and Gail Borden Public Library services.
For more information, email info@elginpartnership.org.
Elgin Master Chorale concert featuring Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle at ECC April 14
The Elgin Master Chorale will perform Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle at 3:30 p.m. April 14 in the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive in Elgin.
This mass is arranged for choir, four soloists and will be accompanied by two pianos and a harmonium, according to a news release from the chorale.
Concert goers are invited to join EMC Music Director Andrew Lewisfor a pre-performance talk about the piece starting at 2:30 p.m.
Adult tickets are $31 and seniors/student tickets are $26. Tickets are available through the ECC Arts Center Box Office or by phone at 847-622-0300. For more information, go to ElginMasterChorale.org.
Tickets on sale for Elgin History Museum Roaring Twenties-themed fundraiser set for April 20
Tickets are on sale for the Elgin History Museum’s Roaring Twenties-themed fundraiser taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 20 in the banquet room at the Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road in Elgin.
The evening will feature a cocktail reception, cash bar, a Waldorf-Astoria inspired buffet menu, a silent auction and a live auction. Martina Mathisen will present “Chicago: True Stories of the 1920s,” according to the museum’s website.
Tickets are $75 for museum members and $90 for guests. For tickets and more information, go to elginhistory.org/event/museum-gala-with-martina-mathisen-presenting-chicago-in-the-roaring-20s/.
Elgin Parks and Recreation Foundation hosting pickleball tournament April 27
Registration is underway for the Elgin Parks and Recreation Foundation’s Randy Reopelle Paddle Battle Pickleball Tournament April 27 at the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin.
Teams of two will play in either a competitive division starting at 8:30 a.m. or a recreational division beginning at noon, according to the foundation’s website. The entry fee is $25 per player.
For more information, call 847-531-7006, email lind_b@cityofelgin.org or go to www.elginparksfoundation.org/randy-reopelle-paddle-battle-pickleball-tournament.
Mike Danahey is a freelancer.
