Friday, October 01, 2010

Deadline to RSVP for 2010 DNA Awards Gala Extended

Last call!

If you have not yet submitted your RSVP for the 2010 Downtown Neighborhood Association Awards Gala - Presented by TranSystems, JCT Services, Inc. and Landmark Contractors, Inc., please do so now! Deadline to submit your RSVP or remit payment has been extended to Friday, October 8.

Individual tickets are $60 each ($50 for current DNA members) and sponsored tables of 8 are $600 each ($500 for current DNA members).

CLICK HERE TO RSVP > > >

It's going to be the Cat's Meow!

Please join us for a hotsy-totsy night on the town at the Downtown Neighborhood Association's Awards Gala on Thursday, October 14 from 6-9 PM at the Grand Victoria Casino at 250 S. Grove Avenue in downtown Elgin.

In typical DNA fashion, we will be celebrating in style with a 1940's-themed night of fun, festivities and fundraising. There will be a live jazz band, ballroom dancers, cocktail dresses (and cocktails), black ties, awards, accolades, an art gallery, and after-parties in downtown. Cocktail dresses and tuxedos are encouraged, and the best-dressed 1940's guy and gal will be rewarded.

Speaking of style, the DNA is also pleased to announce that our Special Guest Emcee for the Gala is Mrs. Illinois America 2010 Amy Gregorio.

Amy was crowned Mrs. Illinois America this past July. She recently returned from Tuscon, Arizona where she competed at the 2010 Mrs. America Pageant and finished 2nd runner up.

An Emmy nominated TV journalist, professionally known as “AJ Sterling”, she was voted ”Best Reporter,” by the Associated Press. Her stories have appeared on CBS, CNN, and Fox while working in Nashville, Indianapolis and Chicago. She has been honored to meet four US Presidents and a multitude of other leaders while reporting on many historical events.

Covering Super Bowls, riots and flying with the Red Barons have been good practice for life as a mom. She and her husband, John, have a 4 1/2 year old son and a 2-year-old daughter and live in Northfield with their cat Mac. When not running after the kids, she runs for charity and climbs Chicago ’s tallest buildings. Amy is also a court appointed child advocate for abused and neglected children through CASA and involved with other child-centered organizations.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Route 31 & E. Highland Avenue Intersection Now Open

Access to Route 31 from E. Highland Avenue through downtown Elgin is now open. Please use caution as there are still construction barricades in this area prohibiting access to Highland Avenue west of Route 31. The traffic signals at Highland and Route 31 are now in operation.

The City’s Highland Avenue Sewer Separation project continues on W. Highland Avenue between Route 31 and Jackson Avenue. The underground work is complete, and restoration is expected to be complete within the next 2 weeks on W. Chicago St and the valley between Jackson and Lynch, weather permitting.

The City’s Highland Avenue Reconstruction project, which includes the complete removal and replacement of pavement, curb and gutter on Highland Avenue between Route 31 and the split at Larkin Avenue, is expected to be complete by late-October, weather permitting.

For more information on these projects, please contact Joe Evers, city engineer, at (847) 931-5955 or jevers@cityofelgin.org.

2010 Elgin Pub Crawl Raffle & Passport Drawing Results


Thank you Pub Crawlers for packing ten great downtown Elgin venues on Saturday, September 25th for the 2010 Elgin Pub Crawl.

Not only did the event bring hundreds of people into the downtown area but Pub Crawl raffle ticket sales as well as Pub Crawl t-shirts sales at Martini Room helped raise over $2,500 for Senior Services Associates, The John E. McCue Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin.

The winners of the Charity Raffle prizes were as follows:

Marta Keller - iPad from Senior Services Associates
Kris Walsted - $250 Cash from John E. McCue Memorial Scholarship Fund
Bob Knizer - $50 A-1 Cab Gift Certificate
Steph Alters - $50 A-1 Cab Gift Certificate
Rene Mendez - $50 A-1 Cab Gift Certificate
Renee Merrill - $50 A-1 Cab Gift Certificate
Tom Smith - $50 A-1 Cab Gift Certificate

The winners of the Budweiser Pub Crawl Passport drawing were as follows:

Greg Tucker - Michelob Mountain Bike
Larry Pahl - Budweiser Coleman Cooler
Bernice Hernandez - Amber Bock Golf Bag
Carolyn Buhrow - iPod Tower Speakers

Winners will be notified by phone and by e-mail. All winners must claim their prizes by October 15th. We will redraw winners for any unclaimed prizes on October 18th.

The Pub Crawl Committee and the Downtown Neighborhood Association would like to thank our ten participating downtown Elgin venues:

The AfterSet
158 Symphony Way
847.608.7570

Douglas Street Sports Bar & Grill
231 Douglas Avenue
847.695.5659

Elgin Public House
219 E. Chicago Street
847.468.8810

Gasthaus Zur Linde
15 N. Grove Avenue
847.695.8828

Hangout Club & Grill (formerly Mad Maggies)
51 S. Grove Avenue
847.531.5883

La Puesta Del Sol
165 E. Highland Avenue
847.468.1416

Martini Room
161 E. Chicago Street
847.741.0349

Medusa's
209 E. Chicago Street
818.342.9877

Red Bar Winery
74 S. Grove Avenue
847.695.1659

Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano
13 Douglas Avenue
847.742.0263

Thanks also to Tim McCay at City Beverage/Budweiser for your generous donation of passport prizes, signage, flyers, passports, lanyards, raffle tickets; thank you to A-1 Cab Dispatch for donating the discount fare coupons to ensure everyone got home safely as well as the gift certificate raffle prizes; and thank you to the volunteers who worked late into the night selling raffle tickets at each of the venues.