South Elgin with hometown award
South Elgin leaders recently were recognized for thinking outside of the box to honor and memorialize children who have died.
The village of South Elgin and its Parks and Recreation Department recently garnered the 2008 Governor's Hometown Award for the "Footprints in Time" Plaza.
Located at the southeast corner of Route 31 and State Street, the plaza was dedicated Sept. 29, 2007 to the memory of children whose lives were cut short.
The project got started when local residents approached the village to find an appropriate way to memorialize children lost in tragedy.
Officials looked at some traditional ways, such as naming a ballfield or playground or planting a tree, but no site could be found.
The village and its leaders will be honored at an Oct. 20 banquet in Springfield.
There, one of the eight Hometown Award winners will receive the Governor's Cup.
"We are very honored and pleased to have been chosen as the recipient of the Governor's Hometown Award and are hoping to be awarded the Governor's Cup", said Jim Reuter, director of Parks and Recreation.
The South Elgin Parks & Recreation Department, South Elgin's Recreation Board, the department's not-for-profit arm, FUNdation, and area residents and businesses helped make construction possible.
Some 525 volunteer hours and more than $5,000 were donated for planning and construction.
A street sign proclaiming the award is scheduled to be installed near the plaza.
The sign will be across the bridge from the 2002 Governor's Hometown Award sign the Village received for "A Special Night for Special Kids" event held each year before the official start of Riverfest.
Funny? Funny how? Nationally-acclaimed humorist and author David Sedaris will appear at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 8 at the Elgin Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
Sedaris is touted as one of the nation's pre-eminent humor writers. His essays appear in magazines such as Esquire and The New Yorker.
He is author of the best-sellers "Barrel Fever" and "Holidays on Ice," in addition to his collections of personal essays such as "Naked," "Me Talk Pretty One Day" and "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim."
Sedaris will read from his current book, "When You Are Engulfed in Flames," during his ECC performance.
The audience will have the opportunity to ask Sedaris questions.
He also is available to sign books following the show. Townhouse Books of Geneva, a partner with the Arts Center for this show, will have books for sale.
Tickets are $52 and may be purchased online at www.elgin.edu/arts or at the ECC box office. To purchase tickets by phone, call (847) 622-0300.