Blogging about some preservation
A St. Charles woman's battle to keep her house from becoming a historic landmark has officially entered the blogosphere.
Go figure.
Annshirley Bowie's nephew, Jim Bowie of Elgin, is rallying support for his aunt's cause at www.annshirleyfight.blogspot.com. So far, the blog contains links to a few news stories, a reader poll and a synopsis of the situation from Bowie's perspective.
"I decided to try and help out in one of the few ways I can: Blog this whole … mess and hope that there will be enough people that will … put pressure on (city officials) and anyone else to leave my aunt to do what she needs to do to survive," Jim Bowie writes on the site.
Unless you've been on vacation for the last month or so, you probably know that Annshirley Bowie, 67, wants to sell her 1890s-era house to a developer who plans to tear it down and rebuild.
But her plans have been stalled by a recommendation from the city's historic preservation commission to preserve the house at 405 S. Seventh Ave. as a local landmark.
The issue already has spurred much debate at public meetings and out on the street. City aldermen will reopen the discussion Oct. 8.
Until then, feel free to chatter away on the Web.
Window shopping: No, Gunther Hoepfner hasn't gotten into the wine- or cigar-selling business.
He's just helping out.
Hoepfner, who owns the building at 228 W. Main St., is letting nearby businesses in the Fox Island Square shopping center use his highly visible storefront windows to advertise their products.
It's a way to remind motorists and downtown shoppers the businesses are still open at 1 W. Illinois St., even though a six-block redevelopment project in the area can make getting there tough.
The nonprofit Downtown St. Charles Partnership says it's paying a "nominal fee" for the window space, which isn't usually available.
"Mr. Hoepfner stepped up and is doing his part in keeping our downtown alive and well," David Richards, the partnership's executive director, said in a statement.
Featured in the window are Bull & Bear Tobacco, the Wine Exchange, Fox Valley Cleaners and Gramp's Frozen Custard, among others.
"The business owners are doing their part by staying in St. Charles and working toward that goal of revitalizing the district," Richards said.
"Now it's time for the residents to step up."
Ginger's goes west: Charlestowne Mall's loss might be West Towne Market's gain.
After about five years of operating in the east-side mall, Ginger's Gift Gallery has packed up and moved west.
The specialty shop known for its kaleidoscopes, vases, paper weights and other cool knickknacks, will celebrate its new location at West Towne Market, 1980 W. Main St., with a two-day grand opening from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29.
The first 100 visitors to show up get a gift bag; everyone will get to enter a prize raffle. Artist Jim Flood of Bovano Glass Enameled Sculptures also will be on hand to show off and sign his work.
This is Ginger's fourth location since opening in St. Charles 16 years ago. Here's to hoping it's the best yet.