Elgin Bike to Work Week - June 11-18

Below is a list of Elgin Bike to Work Week events between June 11-18 (all events are free unless noted)

Click here to download Elgin Bike to Work Week Printable Poster

Saturday 6/11
9:00 am–Noon

Bike Donation Drive - The BPAC will collect bikes at the Centre and then send them to Working Bikes Cooperative, where most will be repaired and sent to areas/countries in need of bikes for transportation.

Sunday 6/12
6:00 am–3:30 pm

Bike for Life Ride in rural Kane County - A fund raiser for school bike racks. Fee involved. Register at www.cityofelgin.org/bikes

Monday 6/13
6:30 pm–8:00 pm

Local historian, Jerry Turnquist, will lead a bike tour through the Elgin Historic District. Meet at Old Main, 360 Park Street.

Tuesday 6/14
6:00 pm

Join a bike fitness class for a 90-minute ride on the Fox River Trail. Meet at the Centre.

Wednesday 6/15
Noon

Celebratory lunch for bike commuters at noon on Walton Island, sponsored by the Elgin Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Rain date is Friday, 6/17. Reservations are required. Call 847 931 6788

Wednesday 6/1
7:00 pm

The Bicycle Garage will conduct a bike education/repair clinic at the Gail Borden Public Library.

Thursday 6/16
7:30 am

Breakfast ride with the Mayor - Meet in front of City Hall and ride for 30 minutes before stopping for coffee at Ravenheart Café in Downtown Elgin.

Thursday 6/16
Noon

The Bicycle Garage will conduct a bike education/repair clinic at the Harvest Market in Downtown Elgin.

Friday 6/17
6:45 pm

Matt Wilhelm, X-Games Medalist will perform a BMX trick bike show at the “old library” parking lot in downtown.

Friday 6/17
8:00 pm

Watch the movie “Chasing Legends” in The Centre ballroom.

Saturday 6/18
Noon–5 pm

Avoid the traffic in the area of the boat races by biking to the event and securing your bike at the bike corral sponsored by the BPAC. Donation requested.

ONGOING BIKE TO WORK WEEK EVENTS (ALL WEEK LONG)

- Bike to the Gail Borden Public Library and get $5.00 worth of late fees waived and a coupon for a free drink with a purchase from Chicago Gourmet Cafe.

- Visit the bike display at GBPL, including a typical commuter bicycle outfitted by Main Street

-Bikes and history of biking in Elgin presented by the Elgin Area Historical Society.

- Take advantage of the new bike loan program at the Eastside Recreation Center. Call Aaron at 847-888-1989 for details

- Free showers at the Centre for bike commuters.

- Attend any event and get a free water bottle, sponsored by Elgin BPAC, Elgin Community Network and The Bicycle Garage

- Locate the BPAC sponsored “Thrones of Summer” decorated chair along the bike path.

Please contact Paul Bednar, BPAC staff coordinator at 847-931-6788 with any questions, or go to www.cityofelgin.org/bikes for more information.

New Season, New Location for Downtown Elgin Harvest Market

Opening Day of the 2011 Downtown Elgin Harvest Market - Presented by Alexian Brothers Health System kicks off next Thursday, June 2, with special extended market hours from 10AM-6PM, at its new location at the Old Library Lot at 200 N. Grove Avenue (Kimball Street and N. Grove Avenue) next to The Centre of Elgin and across from the Gail Borden Public Library.

Opening day at the Harvest Market will feature:

- Free Harvest Market tote bags with proof of purchase

- Alexian Brothers Health System Booth - wellness information and screenings

- Sponsor and Community Partner Informational booths

- Kids' Corner complete with face painting, table games, coloring pages, puzzles, plus prizes provided by Highland Fellowship Church/Highland Christian Academy

- Live Entertainment consisting of a strolling violinist, folk singer, and more

- Artisans selling their artwork via Artz Zone 4-6pm

- "Art at the Market" Demonstrations at Noon

- "Market Munchies" from 4-6PM for customers with a purchase of $15 or more

- Month-long free raffle at the DNA Booth hosted by United Way, along with newly launched Harvest Market membership, merchandise, etc.

- The first clue on the whereabouts of DNA's Wandering Gnome will also be posted with a picture of the gnome hiding in a nearby DNA member business/organization - first ten people to find the gnome will get a prize!

- Donation container for vendors and customers to donate food to the Community Crisis Center

This year the market is placing special emphasis on local vendors selling primarily locally grown and produced foods, as well as, education on good sustainable practices for healthy living and adding a weekly component of arts and artisans.

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market will be open every Thursday from June 2-September 29. Normal market hours are 10AM-4PM. On every first Thursday of each month, the market rolls out its special First Thursday market featuring extended hours from 10AM-6PM and offering added components such as live entertainment, Artz Zone, Kids Corner, sustainability and wellness booths, market munchies and much more.

Our market vendors, farms and local businesses will be offering bread, eggs, meats, fruits, vegetables, flowers, honey products, olives, hummus, cheese, spices, pickles, applesauce, mustards, salsas, knife sharpening services, lunch foods and more!

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market is sponsored by Alexian Brothers Health System, Chiro One, Highland Fellowship Church & Highland Christian Academy, Landin Chiropractic, Salon Couture, and Simple Balance Holistic Center. Thanks also to our partners City of Elgin, BocaJump, Elgin Climate Change Organization, Elgin Community Network, and Northern Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity's Restore. "Art at the Market" is made possible by a grant through the Palmer Foundation.

For more information about the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market, contact Harvest Market Manager Jennifer Benson at (847) 488-1456 or e-mail ElginHarvestMarket@gmail.com.

Frock Swap Returns to Hemmens July 16

Frock Swap, the annual wardrobe revitalization event which benefits the Community Crisis Center, returns to The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, on July 16.

For a $10 entry fee, shoppers & swappers can revitalize their wardrobes for little or no money. It's green. It's affordable. It's good for our community. What could be better?

In addition to the shopping and swapping, new additions to this year's event include a performance by The Reverends, the Frock Swap fashion show judged by Project Runway's Althea Harper and special honorary chair, WGN's Nancy Loo.

It's fashionably fun! For more information on how to participate in Frock Swap, visit their website at FrockSwapCCC.com

Deadline to Recognize a Grand Elgin Teacher Extended Until June 1

The deadline to nominate a "grand" Elgin teacher as a Parade Grand Marshal for the City of Elgin's 2011 Fourth of July Parade has been extended until Wednesday, June 1.

In conjunction with the City of Elgin’s 2011 Fourth of July Parade – Presented by Sherman Health, which steps off at the intersection of Slade and Douglas Avenues on Monday, July 4 at 9AM, the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) of Elgin is asking your assistance to help us in recognizing outstanding teachers in the Elgin community by nominating them to be one of the 2011 Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshals!

The Parade Committee is asking parents, local PTO members, school administrators or students to write a brief essay about why they feel their teacher is “grand” in the classroom and therefore deserves to be honored as a Grand Marshal in the 2011 Fourth of July Parade.

The competition is open to any teacher (K-12) currently working in an Elgin public or private school. Additional guidelines and restrictions are outlined in the nomination packet.

To download the nomination packet, visit the Fourth of July Parade page on the DNA website at www.DowntownElgin.com.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association will accept nominations in person or by mail at DNA, 2 Douglas Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120; by fax at (847) 488-1449; or by e-mail at DowntownElgin@gmail.com.

The Parade Committee will then announce the three Grand Marshals selected from all of the nominations on Friday, June 3. Our Parade Grand Marshals will ride in a special classic car at the front of the parade courtesy of Mr. Richard Bennett. They will also each receive an official City of Elgin Fourth of July Parade t-shirt and other goodies.

PLEASE NOTE: Those teachers selected must be available the morning of the parade from approximately 8AM until 12PM.

If you have any questions about the Grand Teacher/Grand Marshall nomination process or for additional information about the City of Elgin's 2011 Fourth of July Parade, please contact Jason Pawlowski, DNA Promotions Coordinator, at (847) 488-1456 or e-mail jpawlowski@elginil.org.

Fourth of July Parade Application Deadline Approaching

The parade application deadline for the City of Elgin’s 2011 Fourth of July Parade - Presented by Sherman Health is Friday, May 27.

Completed applications, along with proof of liability insurance for your group and any applicable parade fees, must be submitted to the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin by 5PM this Friday to guarantee a spot in this year’s parade. Parade paperwork can be faxed to (847) 488-1449 or dropped off at or mailed to:

Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin
2 Douglas Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120

The parade entry fee is $100 for businesses and political groups. There is no fee for not-for-profit organizations.

Parade applications are available at the DNA’s website at DowntownElgin.com or interested participants can stop into the DNA Office Monday-Friday from 9AM-5PM to pick up an application.

Over 15,000 spectators annually attend this Elgin summertime tradition. Last year's parade featured over 110 units, 25 floats, 150 different parade vehicles, 2,600 participants and took over 50 volunteers to coordinate.

For more information about the City of Elgin’s 2011 Fourth of July Parade, contact DNA Promotions Coordinator Jason Pawlowski at (847) 488-1456 or e-mail jpawlowski@elginil.org.