Sustaining, reclaiming pieces of Elgin

Sustainability is the underlying topic for the fourth annual Prairie Fest from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Elgin.

The motto of sustainability is "Don't eat your seed corn!"

This conference, open to all free of charge, is an all-day series of seminars on topics such as:

• 9 to 11 a.m.: Bill Switzer's slides and discussion of "An Inconvenient Truth;"

• 11 a.m. to noon: Debra Shore's "Using Water as a Resource not as Waste;"

• 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Susan Swing speaking on Urban Permaculture.

Shore is the keynote speaker and is a commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

There will be a special program for children called "Global Changes." All day "Movies That Matter" will have continuous showing in the screening room. Information booths from the Kane County Forest Preserve District, Friends of the Fox, Pat Hill's native landscape design and others will be available. And there will be food and beverages.

For details, go to www.uucePrairieFest.com.

Aging gracefully

On Thursday, the Donor Club of Elgin is sponsoring Barbara Rinella, book reviewer and dramatist, with her rendition of Nora Ephron's "I Feel Bad About My Neck."

This lighthearted look at getting older will be performed at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Elgin.

Rinella has done "academic entertainment" in lectures all over the metropolitan area, and most recently on the Crystal Cruise Line, where she was rated best lecturer.

This 21st annual book review meeting is a fundraiser for the club, founded in 1913, and money is distributed to many charities in Elgin that support women and children. Last year more than 300 people heard the presentation and were treated to homemade baked goods.

For reservations or details, call (847) 741-5153.

Y not walk?

The YMCA is sponsoring "Moving with the Mayor" from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. This one-mile family walk will begin and end at Festival Park. It is part of the Y's commitment to activate Elgin in the national America on the Move drive. After completing the walk there will be a community health fair. Many agencies will be present to share their expertise: Elgin Fire Department will talk on fire safety; Sherman and St. Joe hospitals will have programs on health family eating and blood pressure screening. Senior Services, the Girl Scouts, Renz Center, and the Library will have information.

At the north end of the park, there will be a disc jockey and a climbing wall for the kids. The first 150 participants get a free T-shirt. For details, call (847) 888-7410 or go to www.elginymca.com.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, the YWCA will hold its second annual 5K walk. This program supports the Y's mission to support safe and affordable child care, fuel for vans to pick children up after school, keeping the pool warm for senior arthritis exercise classes, and adult basic education classes.

Pledge packages should be turned in at 12:30 p.m. Participants will do a warm-up exercise. Chairmen Luis and Judy Cabrera and Mayor Ed Schock will speak at the opening ceremony. After the walk, healthy snacks will be provided to participants.

For details, call (847) 742-7930.

Image on the line

Whether you live in 60120 or 60124 or numbers in between, the recent spate of shootings in Elgin is bad news. Seeing Elgin in the regional news for these types of incidents brings back unhappy memories of the old image of our town. I talked to east-siders who have ideas on what can and should be done.

• Fran Cella: "This isn't just a neighborhood issue, and it is very complicated. Trouble can brew in any place and, because of the mobility of gang members, violence can erupt anywhere. The police are doing their job, but citizens need to be informed, aware, less in denial. Parents need to assume responsibility for their children's activities in the community."

• James Vaughn: "Over 100 people and the mayor and all the councilmen were at the Summit Neighborhood march on Sept. 14. Some people who didn't march stood on their porches with candles. These neighbors need to be vigilant and watch with open eyes the events in their streets. We've had 10 years or so without incidents. The police have blanketed the neighborhoods now and there's an eerie quiet."

• Kristian Webb: "I feel frustrated with these incidents. Unfortunately, it is part of our world, and can happen anywhere in town. Letters to the editor, calls to police and councilmen can only do so much because they are bound to follow the laws. Neighbors should step in by getting to know kids on the block, support these kids and their parents, and provide role models. In personal dealing, be smart, not fearful!"

• Bill Wilson: "This is a nerve-wracking and disappointing chain of events. The first shootings were in a house that had known problems, and the fact that crime is down 1 percent doesn't help much. Neighbors can only do so much. Where are the parents of these young gang members? Have they given up or don't they care? City of Elgin has done a great job addressing congested housing. The crowding has sticky legal problems -- maybe it's time to involve landlords in solutions."

We have come such a long way. Time to readjust our sights to reclaim our neighborhoods.