Next Generation Pediatrics

11/04/2025

Have you heard of EPEL? Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning is a phenomenal group that helps our littles become more successful in development and growth. I need a child, under the age of 5, that would want to be on a brochure and on EPEL's website. It would be a picture of me examining that child at my office. This is an unpaid picture, but know that you are helping this great nonprofit.

11/03/2025

Becky here, with something fun.

If you're in the office during October and November, you know I typically have a couple Hedge Row Apples on the counter. I think they look cool and they are conversation starters.

Here is more info for those that may be interested.

Whether you call it a hedge apple or Osage orange, this tree has a story to tell.

- The tree is originally from Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, the ancestral lands of the Osage Nation. Tribes used the wood, known for being very strong, for tools and bows.

- As European settlement expanded, the Osage orange became a popular tree on homesteads because its thorns were a useful living fence. When dried, its wood has a higher heating value than other species of wood by burning hotter and longer.

- Midwestern folklore extolls the virtues of Osage orange fruit for repelling insects and rodents. But the science has shown it may only repel mosquitoes.

- Why such large fruit? The Osage orange fruit is a relic of times past. Scientists hypothesize that the Osage orange was eaten by the massive herbivores like mammoths and mastodons that roamed North America millions of years ago during the Pleistocene era.

Learn more at https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-11-11-massive-fruit-myths-and-mastodons-osage-orange

10/30/2025

Schedule Update for Halloween

We will be leaving early on Friday, October 31st, at 2pm and back in office on Saturday, November 1st.

We will have a provider on call for your urgent needs.

Have a fun time, whether you're out walking with your kids or staying in and handing out treats!

10/28/2025

Becky here, with some information that some may find helpful. Some of the information may be duplicated on websites listed.

If you find yourself in need of food in the upcoming weeks, for whatever reason, below are some links that can help you get food for you, your family, or a loved one.

https://findhelp.org - enter your zipcode to be connected to a database of a variety of supports, from food and housing to transit and legal support.

https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=31245 - coordinated by the Illinois Dept of Human Services, you can find information about local foodbanks

https://www.feedingillinois.org/food-resources-illinois - searchable by zipcode, it provides a list of Illinois Food Bank partners.

If you know of any additional resources that may be of help, feel free to list them below.

If you have locations of Little Free Pantries, I would love to build a list of those too.

Search and connect to support. Find financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost help in your area, anywhere in the US.

10/27/2025

Progress and an update - traffic signals are scheduled to be functioning on November 7.

10/23/2025

This does not look like one of the books from our lobby. Did someone leave this here?

10/17/2025

I love supporting small businesses. Give Luv Butter some likes and love. They have some of the best tasting butter!

09/26/2025

Becky here, with the official update from the village on McLean Blvd opening for traffic.

McLean Boulevard is open to one-way traffic in each direction! North Lancaster will remain closed until the traffic signal is operational. A temporary 4-way stop sign has been placed at South Lancaster. This 4-way stop will be removed when the road is fully open to traffic. We cannot stress enough that McLean is still an active work zone with reduced speed, flaggers and construction vehicles present. Please allow time to travel through the work zone. Extra South Elgin PD patrols will be on site and enforcing construction zone speed limits and hands-free laws!

Importantly, pedestrians crossing McLean must remain alert. After a full year without vehicle traffic, know that significantly more precaution is required;

Outside lanes will remain closed during installation of sound wall, bike trail and traffic signal completion;

Be safe, South Elgin. We will post updates as they're available. This project and other road construction updates are also posted at southelgin.com/projects.

09/25/2025

Becky here, throwing off the safety vest because McLean Blvd is open! David, our UPS driver came up McLean from Stearns today, to drop off packages and the good news. I'm not sure of the status of the sound wall and I believe that there is a side street that is not yet open and the new stoplight on McLean at Lancaster is not yet operational, so there could be some work that way later, but as of today, McLean is open from Spring to Stearns.

09/17/2025

Free Parent Presentation regarding School Anxiety and Avoidance

FREE Online Parenting Workshop!

Topic: School Anxiety and Avoidance
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 1st at 12 PM (online)

Anxiety around school can be overwhelming for kids—and for parents, too. Join us to learn about the causes of school-related anxiety and discover practical parenting strategies to help your child feel supported and encouraged.

✅ No registration required
👉 Just visit our website homepage on the day of the workshop to access the link!

Don’t miss this chance to gain tools that can make a difference for your child’s school experience.

09/10/2025

Becky here, with my safety vest on! They are grading McLean Blvd today and you cannot enter our parking lot from the entrance off of McLean, by The Learning Hills. If you're headed our way, you'll have to enter by the grocery store and come through the lot that way. Give yourselves an extra few minutes to navigate today.

I'm not sure how long the grading project will be, but will definitely keep you updated.

09/08/2025

Becky here with a construction update, cut and pasted directly from the Village Website. It could be updated to reflect that the traffic signals have been installed. There is no anticipated completion date, outside of Fall 2025:

8/11/25 - The 4 main line lanes have been complete and curing since early July. The majority of the curb and gutter has been poured for the project. Utility poles remain in the way of Plote being able to excavate the shoulders/bike path on the east side of the roadway. AT&T has not provided a date that they plan to complete their removal. The electrical work and foundation pouring has been ongoing for the traffic signal to be installed at N Lancaster/McLean. When complete, the traffic signal components will be delivered to the site to begin installation of the hardware. The drilling rig for the Noise Abatement Wall foundations is scheduled to be onsite in late August but could be delayed if the poles have not been fully removed. At the August 5 progress meeting, Plote expressed their desire to leave the road closed to traffic for the remainder of the project. IDOT and the Village both stated that they would prefer a partial opening as soon as is feasible.

SCROLL DOWN FOR PROJECT UPDATESProject DescriptionThe Village of South Elgin and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have entered into an agreement to reconstruct the portion of McLean Boulevard between Spring Street and Stearns Road, which has been one of the Village's goals for many y...