SWAN-Elgin

Today I got a note from Dawn Hartney, who asked me to share her story with all the pet owners:

Our dog Mo was diagnosed with Lyme Disease last week. He doesn’t go to the dog parks or the woods (He has a large fenced in yard to run and play in) so, I’m thinking he may have picked it up in our yard or the neighborhood during a walk. My Sister also told me that a child was also diagnosed in the neighborhood with Lyme (I don’t know the entire history behind the child.)

Our Vet, Jean Churan told us there has been an increased amount of documented positive cases in the area. If your pet has increased thirst with urination, vomitting,loose stools and lameness they need to get to the Vet immediately. Mo will be on antibiotics for at least 1 month and be tested 2-3 months after this.

I would hate to hear that another families pet contacted Lyme in the neighborhood and disregarded it as “eating something in the yard.”

Both our dogs will be getting Frontline for fleas and ticks. I wish I had done this sooner.

Please make sure your pet is protected, and keep an eye out for the symptoms Dawn describes.

SWAN will meet tonight, Monday, August 16 at  7 PM. Steve Stroud, accomplished local historian and author of the “There Used to Be” books that highlight Elgin’s history will be presenting slides and information about some of the SWAN homes. He will also have books available for sale. We will be meeting this month at 331 Griswold, directly across the street from Zion Lutheran Church.

We have all watched the transformation of this home. The realtor listing it has invited us to host our meeting there – the perfect setting for learning more about the historic homes of SWAN. You can park at Zion as usual and just walk across the street.

Also on the agenda, Bill Klaves from the Northern Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity chapter will talk about Habitat’s work in the SWAN neighborhood, at 355 Moseley and 511 Washburn.

We hope to see you tonight! Feel free to bring neighbors and friends.

Zion Lutheran Church will be hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, August 3, from 3:30 – 6:30 PM. For donating, you’ll receive a certificate for a free quart of Oberweis ice cream.

To schedule your appointment, call Gudrun at 847.931.9774. Walk-ins are welcome. Be sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids before donating, and bring photo ID.

Zion Lutheran is located at 330 Griswold Street (at Washburn) in the SWAN neighborhood.

Elgin is well-known for its Painted Ladies, but in the 1920’s a new style of house began sweeping the nation–the Craftsman Bungalow.  First developed in California, the Craftsman Bungalow was 1 to 1-1/2 stories high, with a low pitched roof with a wide, unenclosed eave overhang, and a full or partial width front porch.  The Southwest Area Neighborhood has a stunning collection of Craftsman Bungalows plus several gardens which we, once more, invite you to see.

Please join us for Part Two of our Bungalows & Blooms Walking Tour this coming Saturday, July 24, at 9:30 AM.  We will meet in the driveway of 626 Orange St. on the corner of Orange and Gertrude.  Parking is on both sides of Gertrude and on the north side of Orange.  We will visit 27 bungalows–exterior only–plus 5 extra gardens from Wabash to Orchard this time.  It is a little over a mile long and will take approximately 1 -1 1/2 hours to complete.  There will be more “jerkinhead gable roofs” and “piano windows” to see.  As last time, a booklet telling about the architectural features of the houses and the historical information of the first owners will  be furnished. This is a joint effort of SWAN and the Elgin History Museum.

Jennifer Fritz-Williams, Historic Preservation Specialist with the City of Elgin and Pat Hill, neighborhood resident and bungalow owner, will lead the tours.

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased the day of the tour.

Procedural
Call to Order
Introductions & Announcements
Approval of Minutes
Treasurer’s Report

Guests
Elgin Police Department
Elgin Code Enforcement

Committee Reports
Code Enforcement
Fundraising
Environmental
Preservation- Bungalow & Blooms Tour on Saturday at 9:30 AM

President’s Report
Bike & Pedestrian Survey
Habitat for Humanity – Marlene Hensrud
Foreclosure Ordinance
Community Conversations – July 20, 27 and Aug 4 at 6:30 PM
Elgin Alive: Green Urbanism – July 20, 6:30 PM at Gail Borden

Upcoming Dates
July 24 – Bungalows & Blooms tour
August 16 –  SWAN Meeting – Steve Stroud, “There Used to Be”
September 20 - SWAN Meeting

The City of Elgin is hosting a series of Community Conversations throughout the summer to solicit residents input on neighborhood and community wide issues, and to express their thoughts on the future direction of the city. The meetings will be held at five sites, located in different neighborhood areas of Elgin.

All meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. Residents unable to attend the meeting nearest their home are encouraged to attend any of the other meetings scheduled at other locations.

The Community Conversations are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

Thursday, July 8 at The National Bank, 3151 US Highway 20, at the corner of Nesler and Rt. 20.
Tuesday, July 13 at Provena St. Joseph Hospital Auditorium, 77 N. Airlite
Tuesday, July 20 at Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, 355 Dundee Avenue
Tuesday, July 27 at Elgin Art Showcase, 8th Floor of the Professional Building, 164 Division St.
Wednesday, August 4, Elgin Recreation Center, 1080 E. Chicago Street

Spanish translation will be available at the meetings on July 13 and August 4. A sign interpreter is available upon prior request.

For more information email strategicplan@cityofelgin.org or call 847-214-5861.

For more information call 847-931-5667

Do you have ideas for improving conditions for bicyclists and walkers in Elgin? Are there aspects of bicycling and walking you particularly like or dislike? What keeps you from walking or biking more? The city’s new Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee wants to hear from you. Take this quick survey and give feedback about areas that need better lighting or other improvements: http://www.cityofelgin.org/forms.aspx?FID=159

From the City of Elgin:

A special tree limb and brush collection to assist residents sustaining damage from last Friday’s storms will begin Wednesday, June 23. Service will run through Wednesday, June 30 and includes Saturday, June 26.

“Regular trash collection will continue as scheduled,” said Parks Superintendent Jim Bell. “But tree limbs and brush too large for normal pickup will be collected the day after a neighborhood’s regularly scheduled trash pickup.”

Residents are encouraged to cut brush and limbs in 4-foot lengths, bundle in piles less than 50 pounds and place curbside for normal trash collection. But for material too large and cumbersome to handle, Elgin’s forestry crews will be out the day after a neighborhood’s regular trash pickup day.

“For city crews to pickup this material, it must be placed curbside,” said Bell. “Crews will not be able to go on private property.”

The service is being offered to residents at no cost.

Door Sale Josh Harris is selling all the items he has been storing from Will’s antique store. The sale is today and tomorrow only at 570 N Spring Street. He has 240 wood doors ($10 each), interior and exterior, all styles! Over 1000 sets of hardware, vintage register grates, three claw foot tubs ($100 each), plinth blocks, rosettes, and more! Everything is priced to sell, and everything must go!

SWAN Garage Sale – Once again, we’ll be hosting a neighborhood garage sale on June 25-27. We’ll be advertising the sale (including items available) in the local paper, online and on our blog. The more who participate, the more people we can attract, so spread the word to your friends and neighbors. The fee to participate is just $5. Send your name, address, phone, email, list of items you’re planning to sell, and the $5 fee to Erin Curtin no later than June 16 to be included in our advertisements. You can contact Erin at 847-341-7620 or erinecurtin@gmail.com.

“Together We’re Elgin…A Community Cookout” will be held on this Saturday, June 5 from 12-5pm at the City of Elgin Plaza between City Hall and the Hemmens. The event will include a Not for Profit fair and lots of activities and games. There will be live bands playing, including two local favorites, Vehicle and The Reverends. This is a free event to everyone. Food is free as well (while supplies of hot dogs, burgers, chips and more last). For more information, contact Jeff at 847.888.9486, visit https://www.itndeli.com or e-mail itndeli@gmail.com. I believe several SWAN people are going to be there – I plan to be there by 1 PM or so.

Gone Fishin’ Lately? The City of Elgin, with the help from the Izaak Walton League of America, proudly present Ike’s Fish for Fun event on Saturday, June 5 from 9-11am at Walton Island. Fish for Fun features a fishing derby for youths 15-years-old and younger. Awards are presented for the largest catch in each category. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Depending on weather, time and location is subject to change. This is a FREE event! Call 847.531.7000 for updated information.

It’s summer in the city, so there’s lots more happening. Check out the DNA blog for lots of specials and events downtown (opera and symphony, celebrations for Flag Day and Juneteenth, specials at Elgin Public House and Al’s Café), or the City Events page for tons of family-friendly activities. Gail Borden is also kicking off its summer reading program, a comic book exhibit, and a visit from Spider-Man.

Our next meeting will be Monday, June 21 at 7 PM at Zion Lutheran Church. Jason Pawlowski from the Downtown Neighborhood Association will join us – hope to see you then!