The City of Elgin Public Works will be hosting its annual Open House on Saturday, May 17th. The Open House will take place at the Elgin Public Works Department at 1900 Holmes Rd. from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Held in honor of National Public Works Week, celebrated May 18th – 24th, the free event features facility tours, informational displays, the “Touch-A-Truck” Program, refreshments and equipment rides---guaranteed fun for the entire family! Residents may also purchase rain barrels and compost bins during the event, while supplies last, for $60 and $40 respectively.

National Public Works Week recognizes the tens of thousands of men and women in North America who provide many of the basic public services that contribute to the overall quality of life in our communities. This year’s theme, “The Future is Now”, recognizes the impact public works employees and the services they provide have on the overall health, safety, sustainability and quality of life of our communities. “Whether you drive on the more than 300 miles of city streets maintained by the Elgin Public Works Department, take out your trash, visit a local park, or turn on your water facet, public works services play an integral role in our daily lives,” according to John Loete, Elgin’s Public Works Director.

For more information, please contact the Elgin Public Works Department at (847)697-3160. Information is also available on the City’s website at www.cityofelgin.org.
[Additional info...]

Looking for more opportunities to go green? Purchase a rain barrel or compost bin at the Elgin Public Works Open House on Saturday, May 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 1900 Holmes Rd.

The black plastic rain barrels are 57-60 gallons in capacity and feature a screened, screw top lid and an internal PVC overflow system. The barrels are the “Wide Overflow” model manufactured by Chicago Rain Barrel. The compost bins are the Earth Machine model manufactured by Norseman Plastics. Both the compost bins and rain barrels will available for purchase during this one-day event while supplies last. Rain barrels will be sold for $60/each and the compost bins for $40/each. Acceptable methods of payment include cash or check only.

Learn how to get the most out of your new earth-friendly products by attending a free seminar sponsored by the Conservation Foundation on “Creating Rain Gardens in Your Yard & Using Rain Barrels.” The presentation will also be held during the Public Works Open House event on Saturday, May 17th at 11:00 a.m.

For more information, please contact the Elgin Public Works Department at (847)697-3160. Information is also available on the City’s website at www.cityofelgin.org. Specific information on the compost bins and rain barrels can be found at www.earthmachine.com and www.chicagorainbarrel.com

The Elgin Police Department has received several reports from residents about individuals posing as City of Elgin Water Department employees requesting access to their home to check the water pressure or other water related issues. Once inside, the subject(s) divert to other rooms of the house, or inquire if anyone else is home. On two occasions, they stated that the homeowner paid too much on their last water bill and asked if they had change for a $100 bill.

Please be aware that, the City of Elgin Water Department will NEVER arrive at a residence without calling first. In addition, the employee will always wear a uniform (light blue shirt and dark pants), carry identification from the City of Elgin, and drive a marked City of Elgin vehicle, which will be parked in plain sight. If you are concerned and would like to confirm the identity of someone claiming to work for the Water Department, residents may call the City of Elgin Meter Shop at 847-931-6163 to verify the Water Department employee and reason for the visit.

We want to remind our citizens; DO NOT let anyone into your home without confirming their identity and reason for the visit.

To report any suspicious activity, please call the City of Elgin Police Department at 847-289-2700 or dial 911.

Elgin will kick off a summer full of festivals and special events starting on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008 with a variety of activities for the entire family!

Memorial Day Observances will begin at 8:45 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, with the American Legion and VFW Color Guards and Firing Squads, Rifle Salute and Taps, followed by a Catholic Mass. At 9:15 a.m. Lakewood Memorial Park will be the site of observances that include Guard of Honor, American Legion and VFW Color Guards and Firing Squads, Rifle Salute and Taps. At 9:45 a.m. the Elgin Marine Corps League, Elgin Navy Club and Northern Kane County VietNow will host a Memorial Day service at the Highland Avenue Bridge. Memorial Day Observances will take place at Bluff City Cemetery at 11:00 a.m., where the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association will present a Reading of General Logan’s General Order #11, The Gettysburg Address, Roll Call of the Deceased, Floral Tributes, and Raising of the Flag, Rifle Salute and Taps.

The 31st Annual Elgin Valley Fox Trot will begin promptly at 8:10 a.m. at Elgin City Hall, with more than 3,000 people of all ages and from all over the mid-west expected to attend. Sanctioned by the Chicago Area Runners Association, the Fox Trot includes a 10 mile run, 5 K run, and a 2 mile fun walk and Corporate Challenge. Awards, refreshments and the Kiwanis “Bottomless Pancake Breakfast” are great reasons to come on out and enter the event!

Each year, proceeds from the Fox Trot provide funding for the Elgin Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund. The scholarship program provides financial assistance to children who wish to participate in recreation programs and ensure that children whose families face economic difficulty are able to take part in wholesome, educational activities.

Applications are now being accepted for the race. The registration fee is $20 in advance or $30 on race day for the 5k and 10 mile run. Registration for the 2 mile walk is $5 per person or $18 for a family of four. Official entry forms for the 10 Mile Run/5k Run or the 2 Mile Fun Walk can be downloaded from the City of Elgin website www.cityofelgin.org. Copies can also be obtained at the Parks and Recreation Department located at the Centre, 100 Symphony Way, or in the lobby of City Hall at 150 Dexter Court. Mail-in applications must be submitted no later than May 17, 2007. Faxed applications will be accepted until May 21 and walk-in registration continues until 5:00 p.m., May 22nd.

Immediately following the race, the family can enjoy the rest of the day at Festival Park, 132 S. Grove, at the 7th Annual Rib Fest, presented by the City of Elgin and the Outside Exhibition Group. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Festival Park. The day will include live music, fun activities and great ribs! Twice as many rib vendors are participating than last year, including: Al’s Café & Creamery, Famous Kal’s, Boondocks B-B-Q and Grill, M.T. Barrels Restaurant & Brewery, Hemmens Concessions, Elgin Public House, Canyon Creek Bar-B-Q, A Private Affair, Ltd., and JC’s Barbecue. Admission is free and free parking is available at the Fulton Street Deck or at any city facility in the downtown area. For more information, contact Barb Keselica at 847-531-7056.

With the support of the 2008 season sponsors, Comcast and The Daily Herald, the City of Elgin will present a wide variety of different events throughout the season. In addition to these events, 15 independently sponsored special events and festivals have been scheduled as well, offering a summer full of fun close to home!

For the latest information and updates, please check the city website regularly at www.cityofelgin.or or for more information contact Barb Keselica, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Elgin at 847-531-7056.
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The Asian American Community of Elgin (AACE) will host its third annual Asian Fusion Festival as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. May 31st, 2008 at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 100 Symphony Way. The event is sponsored by the Elgin Human Relations Commission with collaboration from the Elgin Parks and Recreation Department. The event promises to be one of Elgin’s premier cultural and community festivals of the year.

More than 1,000 people, including local community leaders and Asian Americans throughout the Chicago land area will celebrate the richness and diversity of Asian culture at the annual event.
Cultural arts and mini-bazaar are FREE for viewing. Tickets for evening cultural performances are $10 for children 10 and under, $20 for adults.

Throughout the day there will be interactive craft demonstrations, including Indonesian Batik Printing by Dharma Wanita Persatuan, Thai Fruits Carving, Beadwork, and Chinese Calligraphy painting by Yellow River Performing Arts. Stand back as advanced martial artists demonstrate their talents, courtesy of the Kim’s Black Belt Academy from Elgin, IL. The Taste of Asia will delight your palate. There will be “Big Bucks” to be won in our raffle and “Bid Big” to win in the silent auction.

For Tickets please call 847.877.8224 or visit our website at www.aacelgin.org . Further information Liah Tehan, contact the Artistic Director of the Asian Fusion Festival, at 847.212.4810.

Elgin – the Centre of Elgin will offer two great full-day camp programs this summer.
Centre Sports Camp is a great camp at The Centre that will be non-stop fun all summer long! Players will meet in the gym each morning and engage in a variety of sports activities including dodgeball, basketball, football, kickball, swimming, rock climbing along with a weekly field trip! Bring a lunch, snacks, and your swimsuit and towel each day and get ready for a great summer! This camp is for 6-13 year olds and offered Monday through Friday from 7:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. Camp begins the week of June 4th!!

Summer Camp at the Centre is our traditional day camp where campers will fill the day with a variety of fun activities including arts & crafts, sports, games, swimming, rock climbing and a weekly field trip. Bring a lunch, snacks, and your swimsuit and towel each day and get ready for tons of fun! This camp is for 5-12 year olds and offered Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Weekly fees for both camps are $180 for residents of Elgin and $215 for non-residents. SIGN UP BEFORE THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE AND RECEIVE A $20 DISCOUNT ON EACH WEEKLY SESSION!!

Check out our website at www.cityofelgin.org where you can download a copy of our summer program brochure for more information on our camps and to view a listing of our weekly fieldtrips. Register by mail, fax or at The Centre Main Courtesy Desk which is open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information please call Brett Lind, Youth and Teen Coordinator, at 847-531-7017.

Are you looking for a day of fun and excitement in and around downtown Elgin? Look no further than Elgin’s Amazin’ Race. On Saturday June 7, teams of 4 – 8 people will race through downtown Elgin on foot, finding clues to take them to their next stop. We'll have stops at different spots around downtown -- you'll have to solve the clues to find the next stop and even perform "detours" and "roadblocks"! The team with the fastest time will win. Awards will be given for the top three teams! Elgin Public House is the main sponsor of the event and will provide some great eats at the end of the day!
Registration is on going at The Centre of Elgin and businesses located in beautiful downtown Elgin. Cost per team is only $99. Each team member will receive great discounts on goods and services from downtown Elgin businesses. All ages are welcome - get your team together now!
All proceeds from this event benefit Elgin Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund. The Youth Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to access recreation for families in need. This program assisted nearly 800 people in 2007. For more information on this exciting new event, contact Greg Bruggeman at 847-531-7007 or Bruggeman_g@cityofelgin.org.

The Centre will be offering a magic class on Tuesday, June 24 from 5:15 - 6:10 p.m. Children ages 5-12 years are guaranteed to have a great time as they learn a collection of fascinating and mesmerizing magic tricks! All materials are provided, and each child will receive magic tricks to take home.

For registration information and fees, please contact the Elgin Parks and Recreation Department at 847-931-6123.

Registration going on now, camp runs from June 4 – August 15. Make new friends while enjoying all kinds of activities at the City of Elgin Parks & Recreation Summer Camp Programs. Camp locations include the Centre, Wing Park, Lords Park, and at Prairie View School. Camp activities include organized games, hiking, arts and crafts, swimming, special events, singing, various sports, and an exciting field trip each session. Each camper will also receive a logo t-shirt. For more information please call 847/931-6123.

Applications are now available for the 31st annual Elgin Valley Fox Trot, to be held on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008. The event offers races for all levels of competition, including of a 10 mile run , a 5K run and a 2 mile fun walk for the entire family. The race is endorsed by the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA).

Applications are available at The Centre or on the city website at www.cityofelgin.org Completed applications can be mailed in or dropped off at the Parks and Recreation offices at The Centre with a check or credit card no later than May 19. The fee for the 10 mile or 5K race is $20.00. The fee for the 2 mile fun walk is $18 per family or $5 per individual. For more information call 847-531-7005.

The Elgin Valley Fox Trot event is the largest single fundraiser for the Elgin Parks and Recreation Department Youth Scholarship Fund. The fund was established in 1993 to assist economically challenged families in Elgin. The Scholarship Fund subsidizes the registration fee to any recreation program for youth 17 years old or younger, up to $75 per year. If you would like to donate to the Youth Scholarship please contact (847) 531 – 7056.

On Monday, May 19, Police Chief Lisa Womack and members of the Elgin Police Citizen’s Advisory Committee (EPCAC) will host the monthly Chief’s Community Meeting. The meeting will be held in the North Community Room of the Law Enforcement Facility, starting at 7:00 P.M.

Chief Womack and EPCAC members will address and discuss issues of concerns to the community. Feel free to e-mail any topics of community concerns, or issues, to the following email account: elgin_pd@cityofelgin.org

The meeting is open to citizens of Elgin, and light refreshments will be served.

The Elgin Police Department has received several reports from residents about individuals posing as City of Elgin Water Department employees requesting access to their home to check the water pressure or other water related issues. Once inside, the subject(s) divert to other rooms of the house, or inquire if anyone else is home. On two occasions, they stated that the homeowner paid too much on their last water bill and asked if they had change for a $100 bill.

Please be aware that, the City of Elgin Water Department will NEVER arrive at a residence without calling first. In addition, the employee will always wear a uniform (light blue shirt and dark pants), carry identification from the City of Elgin, and drive a marked City of Elgin vehicle, which will be parked in plain sight. If you are concerned and would like to confirm the identity of someone claiming to work for the Water Department, residents may call the City of Elgin Meter Shop at 847-931-6163 to verify the Water Department employee and reason for the visit.

We want to remind our citizens; DO NOT let anyone into your home without confirming their identity and reason for the visit.

To report any suspicious activity, please call the City of Elgin Police Department at 847-289-2700 or dial 911.

The City of Elgin Public Works will be hosting its annual Open House on Saturday, May 17th. The City of Elgin Public Works will be hosting its annual Open House on Saturday, May 17th. The Open House will take place at the Elgin Public Works Department at 1900 Holmes Rd. from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Held in honor of National Public Works Week, celebrated May 18th – 24th, the free event features facility tours, informational displays, the “Touch-A-Truck” Program, refreshments and equipment rides---guaranteed fun for the entire family! Residents may also purchase rain barrels and compost bins during the event, while supplies last, for $60 and $40 respectively.

National Public Works Week recognizes the tens of thousands of men and women in North America who provide many of the basic public services that contribute to the overall quality of life in our communities. This year’s theme, “The Future is Now”, recognizes the impact public works employees and the services they provide have on the overall health, safety, sustainability and quality of life of our communities. “Whether you drive on the more than 300 miles of city streets maintained by the Elgin Public Works Department, take out your trash, visit a local park, or turn on your water facet, public works services play an integral role in our daily lives,” according to John Loete, Elgin’s Public Works Director.

For more information, please contact the Elgin Public Works Department at (847)697-3160. Information is also available on the City’s website at www.cityofelgin.org.
[Additional info...]

Looking for more opportunities to go green? Purchase a rain barrel or compost bin at the Elgin Public Works Open House on Saturday, May 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 1900 Holmes Rd. Looking for more opportunities to go green? Purchase a rain barrel or compost bin at the Elgin Public Works Open House on Saturday, May 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 1900 Holmes Rd.

The black plastic rain barrels are 57-60 gallons in capacity and feature a screened, screw top lid and an internal PVC overflow system. The barrels are the “Wide Overflow” model manufactured by Chicago Rain Barrel. The compost bins are the Earth Machine model manufactured by Norseman Plastics. Both the compost bins and rain barrels will available for purchase during this one-day event while supplies last. Rain barrels will be sold for $60/each and the compost bins for $40/each. Acceptable methods of payment include cash or check only.

Learn how to get the most out of your new earth-friendly products by attending a free seminar sponsored by the Conservation Foundation on “Creating Rain Gardens in Your Yard & Using Rain Barrels.” The presentation will also be held during the Public Works Open House event on Saturday, May 17th at 11:00 a.m.

For more information, please contact the Elgin Public Works Department at (847)697-3160. Information is also available on the City’s website at www.cityofelgin.org. Specific information on the compost bins and rain barrels can be found at www.earthmachine.com and www.chicagorainbarrel.com