Downtown window contest-winners announced

The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin recently announced the results in the 2007 Window Wonderland Contest, in which more than 20 businesses and organizations decorated windows in downtown Elgin with the theme "Holidays from the Past, Present, and Future."

After tallying the judges' votes and the public's popular votes, the winners are:

• Business category: first place, Razor's Edge decorating 55 Douglas Ave. with a clever, retro hair display, showing the view from past holidays; and second place, Books at Sunset, decorating 24 Douglas Ave. with a traditional display on Christmas past, showcasing the classic children's book, "Polar Express."

• Open category: first place, Art for All, decorating 225 E. Chicago St. with a fun and whimsical display covering cartoons over time with the Flintstones, the Simpsons, and the Jetsons; and second place, Elgin YWCA's Adult English as a Second Language Program, decorating 53 Douglas Ave. with a clever and educational display, showing English words in their past, present and future tenses.

• Student category: first place, St. John's Lutheran School, decorating 109 N. Spring St. with an artistic display of winter scenes made out of construction paper that the whole school worked on during art class. There was a tie for second place between the NorthEast Neighborhood Association's Kids Create Group decorating 15-19 Ziegler Court with the kid's autographs on the window, along with garlands and more; and Larsen Middle School's student council doing a simple and smart decorating project at 16 Douglas Ave. with the window detailing three snowmen reading holiday books from throughout the ages.

The winning groups will be presented with their prizes at the Jan. 23 Elgin City Council meeting at 7 p.m. at the city hall, 150 Dexter Court. For information, call DNA at (847) 488-1456 or go to www.downtownelgin.org.

The DNA is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of the downtown area. Its purpose is to foster a center of activity and ensure economic stability for the heart of Elgin through organization, design, promotion, and economic revitalization. If you are interested in more information or would like to volunteer, call (847) 488-1456 or visit www.downtownelgin.org.