Two walls of an Elgin home were partially blown out in an explosion that occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of West Chicago Street, according to the Elgin Fire Department.
Five residents were inside the house at the time of the explosion, two of whom had to be taken to local hospitals for treatment, a news release said.
Crews dispatched to the scene saw smoke and smelled natural gas in the basement but found no fire. Work was being done in the basement at the time of the explosion, which caused about $150,000 in damage, officials estimated.
The house has been deemed uninhabitable and the residents taken in by relatives, the release said.
ROUTE 31 FUEL SPILL CONTAINED IN WEST DUNDEE
A fuel spill in West Dundee caused by a truck that dropped its fuel tank Wednesday afternoon on Route 31 was contained by fire department crews.
The truck was stopped in the center median of Route 31, south of Bonkosky Road, when the West Dundee Fire Department arrived to put diking and containment materials in place to prevent fuel from going into nearby storm drains, a news release said.
All Route 31 southbound lanes and one northbound lane were closed until about 4:50 p.m. to accommodate the work required to remove the truck and tank and to clean up the spill, the release said.
Cleanup contractors will continue remediation efforts to ensure all remaining fuel residue is properly removed, officials said.
MICHELEROS FEST BEING HELD SATURDAY IN ELGIN
Micheleros Fest will take place from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 13, in Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., Elgin.
The family-friendly event will feature six bands, food and drinks, according to the event’s website. The michelada is a cocktail similar to a Bloody Mary made with beer, lime juice and a variety of sauces.
General admission tickets are $45.66. Children ages 10 and younger are free, with a limit of six per family. To purchase tickets and for more information, go to elginmichefestival.com.
SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE ZOO ON JUNE 12, JULY 25
Dundee Township Park District will host Summer Nights at the Zoo from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 12, and Saturday, July 25, at the Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee.
On both nights, an animal show will be presented at 6 p.m. and there will be music, free face painting, family games, a raffle, a backpack giveaway and a bonfire, according to the park district website. S’mores as well as items from Kona Ice and Nothing Bundt Cakes will be sold.
Admission is $10. Children age 1 or younger and U.S. military personnel with ID will be admitted for free.
For more information, go to www.dtpd.org/Summer-Nights-at-the-Zoo.
‘NEWSIES’ BEING PRESENTED AT ECC JUNE 12-21
Children’s Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Theatre Company will present Disney’s “Newsies” on two weekends in June at the Blizzard Theatre in Building H on the Elgin Community College campus.
The Tony Award-winning musical tells a story set during the 1899 New York City newsboys strike, according to a news release. It’s based on a 1992 Disney live-action film of the same name. Local performers ages 7 to 23 are featured in the production.
Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 12-13, and Saturday, June 20, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14 (ASL-interpreted), and Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21.
Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for children, students and seniors. To purchase tickets and for more information, go to www.cteelgin.com.
‘PICTURE DAYS’ OFFERED BY SIDESTREET STUDIO
Local artists can get their headshots, portraits and group shots taken for free by a professional photographer in a ‘Picture Days’ event being offered by Sidestreet Studio Arts in Elgin.
Appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14, at the studio’s Backspace, 15 Ziegler Court, according to the Sidestreet Studio Arts website. Space is limited and dependent on the number of registrants and the availability of a photographer.
To book a time and for more information, go to www.sidestreetstudioarts.org/event-details/side-street-picture-days.