http://elginite.org/blog Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:41:30 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en An article worth reading appears in the current edition of the Atlantic Monthly. It's about how the dismantling of Section 8 housing in large cities, like Chicago, has increased the level of crime in smaller satellite cities. Falling crime rates have been one of the great American success stories of the ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/07/12/should-200-locust-be-destroyed/ Paula over on the Lovin Elgin blog asks if July 4th fireworks should be held in downtown Elgin: The FoxFireFest proved that a supreme fireworks show could be held at Festival Park. If any of you were unable to go to the last FoxFireFest….it was spectacular. Especially the fireworks. ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/07/07/elgin-fireworks-downtown/ Elgin fireworks display in 2006. Photo by James Jordan Elgin's July 4th celebrations starts off with a parade at 9:00 a.m. in downtown Elgin at the corner of Slade and Douglas. The parade's grand marshall is...Tammy Duckworth! Yes, that Tammy Duckworth, who is now director of the Illinois Department of Veteran ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/07/04/elgin-celebrates-independence-day/ Elgin Water Tower, Photo by James Jordan Could this be the most handsome water tower in Illinois? What do you think? The Elgin logo on the water tower is not used anymore, which is too bad, because I think it looks better than the current logo, which to me just looks like ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/07/03/elgin-water-tower/ I was amused by a Courier story that came out last week detailing Congressman Bill Foster's federal funding requests amounting to a whopping $55,800,000. Since this is a campaign year, nobody has been left behind. Among the requests for Aurora ($13.6M total requests), for example, he's requesting $1.4 million ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/06/22/bill-foster-pork-barrel-spending/ Don't forget to make it out to Elgin's premier cultural event, which is happening right now at Festival Park in downtown Elgin until midnight and again tomorrow. Participating brewers in this year's Brewfest: Brass Restaurant & Brewery Emmett's Tavern & Brewing Co. Goose Island Brew Pub M.T. Barrels Restaurant and Brewery Prairie Rock Brewing Co. Ram Restaurant ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/06/13/elgin-brewfest-2008/ This mailing from 14th district Congressman Bill Foster's office, which arrived last week, is indistinguishable from a campaign mailing. From a new congressman who promises "real changes" it's disappointing to see this flagrant abuse of the frank, the congressional privilege of sending postage-free mail. As you can see ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/06/12/bill-foster-abusing-frank-2/ This is actually an old picture I took a few years ago at Bluff Spring Fen. There are said to be two varieties and five native species of blue flag. I believe what's pictured above--and what grows around here--is Iris virginiana. It has delicate blue and yellow flowers, and grows ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/06/02/blue-flags-blooming/ The Tribune reported last week that the city is now committing $711,000 to improvements at Judson University to allow the Chicago Bandits to play there. This represents more than a doubling of the $350,000 that was initially agreed upon. These improvements are for only three years of play ... http://elginite.org/blog/2008/05/20/chicago-bandits-elgin/ Go ahead, go to your secret places and gather up the fruits of May. http://elginite.org/blog/2008/05/17/elgin-illinois-morels/