Odds & Ends

I have several tabs open of things I’ve been meaning to write about, so here ya go:

+My good friend Dru Clark wrote an article on microbreweries in Chicagoland. No mention of Prairie Rock, but oh well. I plan on giving some of those breweries my full support this weekend!

+This car/bike crash happened weeks ago, but I can’t stop thinking about it. If the info in the report is correct, the motorist was at fault yet no citation was issued. Not too sure what I can do about it especially considering I just missed a community police meeting. Any ideas?

+Many members of the Courier News staff won awards recently. Congratulations ladies and gentlemen!

+Tonya of the DNA is going to spend a day a week working at a different downtown Elgin business. Sounds like fun!

+This arrogant Valley View blaming Chicago parents for their children’s poor academic achievement made my blood boil. This one advocating U46 rid itself of bilingual classes definitely didn’t calm me down. Maybe I’ll write a letter to the editor.

Tags: bicycling, bikes, bilingual, cars, Chicago, CMAP, Courier News, crash, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Dru Clark, Elgin, IL, Illinois, language, spanish, U46, Valley View
Filed under Chicago, Elgin, bicycling, news | Comment (0)

This sounds great but I’ll be out of state

Dr. Vincent Gaddis, chair of the Department of History, Philosophy and Religious Studies at Benedictine University and pastor of the New Generation Christian Center in Aurora, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at 729 S. McLean Boulevard, Elgin. Topics to be addressed include, “Is America a Post Racist Society” and “What happened to Martin Luther King’s Dream?” and “Revolution in Values: Why we must embrace Martin Luther King’s call for the Beloved Community.” There will be time for questions and discussion after the talk. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Gaddis’ talk is sponsored by the Elgin chapter of Rainbow Push and the Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice. Please call Mary Shesgreen at (847) 742-6602 for more information.

Tags: Courier News, Elgin, Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice, IL, Illinois, racism, Rainbow PUSH, Vincent Gaddis
Filed under Elgin | Comment (0)

Parks & Rec Board Meeting, Downtown Tech Blender

I went to two meetings last night. First, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meeting because I wanted to support the dog park. Click here for a great write-up of where the park would be and how it would operate.

I decided to stay for the entire meeting out of curiosity. It was interesting! Surprisingly I already knew two people on the board–Carl Missile from the Elgin Community Network and Paul Bednar from his involvement with Bike-to-Work Week. I also recognized Mike Bailey from his column in the Courier News. (Didn’t get up courage to introduce myself.) Aside from the dog park they also discussed possible improvements to Hawthorne Hills Nature Center, whether or not the Cyclone swim team is outgrowing the Centre pool, and if they should fund a defibrillator or lightning predictor for a local football league.

I think for fun I will make a visit to each board and commission meeting in Elgin. I’m a nerd, I know. I like knowing what goes on and how things work behind the scenes.

Downtown Tech Blender

This was the third event of its kind put on by the Downtown Neighborhood Association. The purpose is for tech-minded people to network and talk about how technology can affect Elgin for the better. It was held at the office of Sensory Productions. There I knew Steve Munson from DNA (he’s the one who invited me) and Sensory Productions’ Adam Flikkema–an acquaintance I’ve known through mutual friends for years.

The more involved I become in Elgin the more aware I become of the six degrees of separation phenomenon. Really I think it’s more like three degrees of separation around here.

There were 6 people at the meeting and I was definitely the least tech-minded of them all. It was still interesting and I can imagine good things coming out of it. I plan on going again.

What did you do last night?

Tags: , DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, IL, Illinois, networking, tech blender
Filed under Elgin | Comment (0)

TONIGHT!!

On Tuesday, August 26 at 7:00pm, SWAN’s Dog Park committee will be presenting a proposal to Elgin’s Parks and Recreation Board for the first dog park within Elgin’s city limits.

Please join us to show your support for this much needed park. The meeting will be take place at The Centre of Elgin’s west conference room, room 100.
You are encourage to pass along this e-mail inviting your friends and neighbors to attend with you

Tags: dog park, dogs, Elgin, meeting, Parks and Recreation Board, SWAN
Filed under Elgin | Comment (0)

Life in Elgin Photos of the Week, August 3 - 9

Here are the Life in Elgin flickr pool photos of the week, taken August 3 - 9 by members of the flickr group. Click each photo to go to its flickr page.

Photo by James Jordan

Photo by talekinker

Photo by James Jordan

Photo by GtrGeorge

Photo by XPHALCON

Tags: alley, bicycles, bicycling, bikes, blueberries, Elgin, flickr, IL, Illinois, Judson University, photography, photos, stairs, storm, tower
Filed under Elgin, photography | Comment (1)

Nominate your favorite Elgin business!

If you know of an awesome Elgin business that consistently provides good service, nominate them for the Better Business Bureau Torch Award! The publicity would be good for the business and Elgin in general. This is open to all for-profit businesses in Northern Illinois.

To nominate a company, go to www.chicago.bbb.org or e-mail sbernas@chicago.bbb.org or write to BBB Torch Award, 330 N. Wabash Ave., #2006, Chicago, IL, 60611. Deadline for completed entries is Sept. 5.

Tags: BBB, Better Business Bureau, Chicago, Courier News, Elgin, IL, Illinois, Torch Award
Filed under Chicago, Elgin, business, news | Comment (0)