I love reading the newspaper

+Here’s an article about the western expansion of RTA not being a priority. Essentially the demand is there, but the money isn’t. What’s new?

+Here’s an article on religious diversity in the area. Maybe I’ll start visiting different places of worship. I’ve never been to a Buddhist temple or a Jewish synagogue. Really I’ve only been to a smattering of Christian churches and a Unitarian Universalist congregation.

+Someone threw acid onto someone’s car. That’s terrible. Where do people even get acid?

+I was interviewed for an article on Bike-to-Work week. It was surreal to read about myself in the paper. I was misquoted a couple times, but the overall gist is correct. One quote does make me look like I have bad grammar–not true! Two days later my photo was in the paper, also for bike stuff. Someone called me a “media maven” that week.

Tags: Courier News, Elgin, IL, Illinois, news
Filed under Elgin, news | Comment (0)

Elgin Bennigan’s will stay open

Have you heard about hundreds of local Bennigan’s restaurants locking their doors overnight, never to open again? Well have no fear, the one in Elgin is open and staying open. Apparently it’s a franchise–click here to read all about it.

It’s not my favorite restaurant of all time, but they will make any sort of veggie burger you ask for and the desserts are great, so I’m glad we aren’t losing it.

Tags: Bennigan's, Courier News, Elgin, food, IL, Illinois, news, vegetarian
Filed under Elgin, food | Comment (0)

Elginites protect each other

Looks like it was a bad day for Humberto. I hope Elginites step up like this if I’m ever robbed or attacked!
Cut and pasted from today’s Courier:

Robbery foiled: Humberto Romero, 23, 323 Summit St., was charged with robbery after allegedly attempting to steal a woman’s purse in the parking lot of a business, located in the 20 block of Tyler Creek Plaza Thursday afternoon. A number of witnesses to the incident reportedly chased Romero and were able to tackle him to the ground and hold him until office arrived, police said. Bond was set at $10,000. Romero is scheduled to appear in court May 30.

Tags: Courier News, Elgin, Illinois, news, police report, robbery, safety
Filed under Elgin | Comment (0)

Beautiful gardens around Gail Borden?

I’m not sure that the Courier could publish an article that would excite me more. Click here for the full thing.

Water and wind turbines, a fish-watching spot, interactive games, rooftop gardens and babbling brooks could one day wrap around Gail Borden Public Library.

…

Hornig’s design includes cisterns that would capture water from the library roof. The water would then be directed into small streams, which would turn small turbines. Another spot, toward the Fox River, could have small windmills, which also would produce a small amount of power.

That power could be used to run an outdoor electronic game. “It’s like the game Simon,” where players must touch lighted screens in time with the game, Hornig said.

On the banks of the Fox River, the plan includes a fish library — a floating wetland in the river that would provide a habitat for the fish found in the Fox. To make that area accessible to people, a glass wall would be built into the bank.

Awesome!

Tags: Elgin, environment, fish, Fox River, Gail Borden Public Library, games, gardens, Illinois, nature, news, outdoors, rooftop garden, water, wetland, wind turbines, windmills
Filed under Elgin, Gail Borden Library, nature | Comment (0)

Allow me to make fun of my state’s capital for a minute.

I went to the Springfield, IL website for work-related reasons, where I saw a funny headline.

First vehicle “booted” as city goes after parking scofflaws.

Photo of a booted car, for those who have never seen one. Photo from dcist.com

I wondered, why is booted in quotes, and who uses the word scofflaws? I mean, they have a nice photo of Abe Lincoln on their site, but they’re still in the year 2008 right?

Springfield’s Honest Abe graphic.

So I clicked the link. To a former Chicagoan who thinks of “the boot” as a regular occurrence, the article was pretty funny. They actually published who got the first boot on their car!

The City of Springfield has applied the “boot” to the first vehicle that belongs to an individual who owes $500 or more in unpaid parking tickets. The vehicle was located in the 100 block of North Fourth Street. It is owned by Gary Corcoran, who has since come forward and paid all of his past due parking tickets.

Poor Gary! Though I’m glad to hear he came forward and paid his tickets.

Sometimes small towns are cute. I wonder what other things people can get their name in the paper over? And how many people do you think have been gossiping about that scofflaw Gary Corcoran?

Tags: Abe Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln, articles, cars, humor, Illinois, joke, news, parking tickets, parking violation, small towns, Springfield, the boot, tickets
Filed under Illinois, fun | Comments (2)