Parade to honor Elginites

Have you ever been disappointed that the grand marshal for Elgin's Fourth of July parade didn't live in Elgin or wasn't an Elgin native?

Well, now you have a chance to make sure your voice - and neighborhood - is heard.

The Downtown Neighborhood Association recently announced the city's parade will not have one grand marshal - but several.

Each of the city's neighborhood associations has been invited to designate a person to march as one of the parade's grand marshals.

Tonya Hudson, DNA executive director, said the parade's theme is "Bringing Back the Neighborhood."

The group opened up the grand marshal selection to neighborhood groups and to emphasize how the parade is one event that brings the community together, she said.

"The Fourth of July is always a special time for family and friends to come together and celebrate life and our freedom. What better way to show that appreciation than to nominate a great neighbor for Grand Marshal?" added Janet Schmoyer, chair of the parade committee, in a prepared statement.

The parade, which begins at 9 a.m., figures to be the highlight of city festivities that day - and night - because the city decided to scrap its fireworks display for later that night.

Last year, the DNA sponsored a blues concert immediately following the parade.

This year won't have a centralized concert, but the DNA is working with restaurants and other merchants to plan activities, Hudson said.

For more information about the grand marshal or to volunteer for the parade, call the DNA at (847) 488-1456.

On a positive note: An Elgin-based long-term care facility for severely disabled adults and children was slated to be a local recipient of the latest "Comcast Cares Day."

This column was due before the team of 97 Comcast workers were to converge at the Little Angels facility, 1435 Summit St., for about hours this past Saturday.

But Allen Roscoe, a team leader, said there was no place he'd rather be than helping Little Angels.

The group was slated to take on a variety of projects, including helping create centerpieces for their dining area, each of them with a season specific theme.

Roscoe, a Palatine resident and Comcast manager for leadership development, first participated in the volunteer day by helping sort and pack some 5,000 items for a food pantry.

"For me personally, it was one of the best unlike any experience I've ever had," Roscoe said. "It's one of the many ways we're able to give back to the community."

On Saturday, some 50,000 Comcast employees will fan out nationally - including 4,300 in the Chicago area, downstate, northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan - will participate in Comcast Cares Day, said spokeswoman Angie Amore.