On behalf of the Downtown Neighborhood Association Board of Directors, I would like to congratulate Jason Pawlowski, our DNA Managing Director, who will be leaving our organization to pursue his next adventure. Jason has accepted a position as Marketing Manager with the St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau. His last day with us at DNA will be at the City of Elgin’s July 4th Parade.

We have been blessed to have Jason as a part of the DNA for three years, first as our Promotions Coordinator and most recently as DNA’s Managing Director. It was an honor to watch him evolve in those positions within our organization and we have learned much from him as a part of our DNA family. It is with a heavy heart that we bid him farewell, but also excitement as we embrace the next chapter for DNA and Downtown Elgin. As with Jason, Don, Suzan, Jennifer, and many other staff members, we welcome the opportunity for change and are receptive to the opportunities the DNA will address in 2013.

So please help us celebrate the time we have had with Jason over these next few weeks! Stop by the office and wish him well. If you have a positive story to share about your dealings with Jason, please share it. If you would like to show your appreciation, I’m sure he’d love for you to buy him a drink (or perhaps some Star Wars memorabilia or a Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory) at our “Not Goodbye-Just Good Luck” party for Jason at Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Avenue, on Thursday, June 27 starting at 7PM.

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

Thank you, Jason! It has been a pleasure.

Karin Jones
DNA President

——————————————————————————————————————-

Dear DNA Friends & Family:

It is with a profound sense of excitement tempered with some sadness that I announce this move. Even though I’m not an Elgin resident, the people of this City have adopted me as one of their own and after three years of seeing the impact the Downtown Neighborhood Association can have on revitalizing our downtown, I have never been more proud to call myself an Elginite.

This new position would not have been possible without all that the DNA has provided me in the way of experience, skills building, community connections, teaching moments, and opportunities for personal and professional development. I have the utmost gratitude to the DNA Board, volunteers and staff – past and present – for your support and confidence in me. I would also like to thank the City of Elgin, Mayor Kaptain, City Councilmembers, and the hard-working City Staff for all that you do to help us make Downtown Elgin a great place to live, work, and enjoy.

I am also grateful for the many professional connections, personal relationships and treasured friendships I have gained thru my position with DNA that I will carry with me long after I leave.

While I’m looking forward to writing this next chapter in my professional life, rest assured my heart will always be with the wonderful people and businesses of Downtown Elgin. Please continue to support the DNA, whether as a Community or Business member, volunteer, or as a regular patron of all of our downtown shops, eateries and special events.

And you’re not getting rid of me that easy. You’ll be seeing me around at plenty of downtown Elgin events like the Pub Crawl, DNA Awards Gala, and others. After all, you can take the boy out of downtown, but you can never take downtown out of the boy. I ♥ Downtown Elgin!

With Sincere Gratitude,
Jason

By Jason Pawlowski
DNA Managing Director

Big city amenities? Downtown Elgin has them. How about Gail Borden Public Library, The Centre of Elgin, The Hemmens Cultural Center, Elgin Art Showcase, Festival Park, Grand Victoria Casino, a brand new riverwalk plus first class police, fire and public works departments?

Big time arts scene? Between the nationally acclaimed Elgin Symphony Orchestra, top flight performing arts venues hosting local theatre, music and dance groups, arts festivals, and a new residential artistic community in the Artspace Lofts, we’ve got you covered.

Big special events calendar including Elgin’s 4th Parade, Harvest Market, Art & Soul on the Fox, iFest, Nightmare on Chicago Street, and Window Wonderland.

For big social service resources, big city infrastructure, and big quality of life no one does it bigger.

Size does indeed matter. And in Elgin’s downtown smaller is better.

Downtown Elgin boasts nearly 200 businesses, including over 35 eateries and well over 75 shops and services.

From its founding, the image of the small business owner is indelibly engrained in every historic downtown façade down to very last brick. Walk our historic thoroughfares on any given day and see shop keepers sweeping out storefronts, toiling in the kitchen, or helping customers carry merchandise to their cars. That is the essence of small business. These are just some of the stories that make Downtown Elgin a small business community.

Ray Maxwell from Elgin Antiques & Uniques clearing off snow with his trusty snow blower not just from his front walkway but the entire block of Chicago Street.

Leo Urdaneta of Domani Café knowing how every one of his regulars takes their coffee.

Jerry Newman of Central Barber Shop shortening the ears of a third generation client.

Erin Rehberg and Tanner Melvin’s Side Street Studio Arts hitting the ground running by creating myriad community connections thru the arts in just a few short months.

Pete Shockey helping a lifelong customer’s granddaughter select the perfect engagement ring, with Andersen’s owner Dave Andersen customizing the wedding invitations.

Villa Verone’s namesake Pietro opening his “house” weekly to Elgin non-profits to help raise money and awareness for local causes.

Brothers Mike and Dan Butirro of Chooch’s Pizzeria transforming an historic building into downtown’s first riverfront restaurant in over 50 years.

Tom Creighton of On the Side Restaurant bringing breakfast back to the heart of downtown Elgin.

New faces such as Soulful Sparrow, Mr. Tequila’s, and IJORERE Atelier, or familiar faces in new spaces, including Danny’s Pizza, Elgin Books & Coffee, and Elgin Knit Works, are all making their mark on downtown’s shopping scene.

Rediscover Records’ Rich Wagner’s tweets, Retro-A-GoGo’s vintage seats, or AJ’s Feathered Friends’ parakeets are all a big part of downtown’s small fabric.

This year the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) is celebrating 15 years of downtown revitalization. We invite you not only to experience these and countless other success stories of our small business community but to help write the next chapters by shopping small in your downtown.

We HEART Downtown Elgin.

Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) has named Krisilee Murphy, Director of Marketing at the Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau an ambassador for their 30 Under 30 program.

In its third year, DMAI’s 30 Under 30 program, sponsored by Searchwide, LLC, focuses on identifying and developing the talent of destination marketing professionals, aged 30 and under, through increased access to top-level networking and professional development. As one of DMAI’s 30 Under 30 group, Murphy has been awarded complimentary registration and hotel accommodations to the DMAI Annual Convention, the foremost professional development opportunity for individuals working at official destination marketing organizations (DMOs).

Destination Marketing Association International chose two previous 30 Under 30 winners to serve as program ambassadors in 2013. Ambassadors attend DMAI Leadership events including the DMAI Board of Directors meeting, mentor the 2013 class of 30 Under 30 at the convention, participate within DMAI committees throughout the year and advocate for the 30 Under 30 program at industry events.

Krisilee’s big take away from last year was working with locals to extend the reach of the convention & visitors bureau. Shortly after returning from the conference she implemented the #ResidentRec social media campaign. Locals are asked to share all the things they think visitors should know by using the hashtag #ResidentRec. Visitors are also encouraged to use the hashtag if they have questions while visiting the area.

“Identifying and developing future industry leaders is an important priority. The DMO world has incredible and exciting career path opportunities. To have Krisilee at the forefront of this initiative speaks volumes of her leadership and the impact she is having here in the Elgin Area”, stated Kimberly Bless, President and CEO, for the Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

We shine this week’s DNA Member Spotlight on:

Law Offices of Shirley Sadjadi
169 E. Chicago Street
Elgin, IL 60120
847-741-6180

View Larger Map

Attorney Shirley Sadjadi provides immigration legal services in Elgin and surrounding area. Ms. Sadjadi is a former U.S. Justice Department attorney.

Legal services Include:

• Family and employment based petitions
• Deportation defense
• Waivers / perdones
• Temporary visas
• Citizenship
• Payment plans available

Be sure to attend Shirley’s Open House event on Monday, June 17 from 4-7pm to celebrate their beautiful new office renovation and first floor expansion at 169 E. Chicago Street in beautiful downtown Elgin. Munchies from local Elgin eateries will be served.

“This is an effort to promote and educate students (K – 6) about healthy eating, being active, and related activities with additional focus on sustainability and agriculture, plus time to shop and talk with vendors,” says Harvest Market Manager Jennifer Benson.

“Rainbowland will feature three 20 minutes sessions from active fitness fun, to cooking demos, to an interactive activity, as well as fun stuff to bring home.”

Rainbowland: An Adventure at the Market starts at Noon each week and is open to children at the market either supervised by adults or in organized kids groups. Currently dates available for larger kid groups of 15 students or more include June 20, 27, and August 8.

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market’s “Rainbowland: An Adventure at the Market” is sponsored in part by Bright Horizons and organized by Boys & Girls Club, Centre of Elgin, Chef Quincy & Northern Illinois University students, Elgin Area History Museum, Elgin Public Museum, Greater Elgin Family Care Center, Side Street Studio Arts, and YWCA Elgin.

For more details about weekly events, vendor information, live entertainment and attractions at the 2013 Downtown Elgin Harvest Market, visit www.ElginHarvestMarket.com. To sign up or volunteer for the kids program please contact Harvest Market manager Jennifer Benson at 847-488-1456 or email elginharvestmarket@gmail.com.

The following is a list of 2013 Elgin 4th parade entries who will be “Marching Thru Time” with us starting at 9am on Thursday, July 4, as well as the time period their parade unit will be representing:

The Golden Era (Pre 1900′s-WWII)

American Indian Center/Trickster Gallery - Pre-1900′s
Gail Borden Public Library - Pre-1900′s
Fox Valley Libertarian Party - Pre-1900′s
Elgin History Museum - Pre-1900′s
Elgin Police/Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA) - Pre-1900′s
ABODE - 1900-1920′s
Fox Valley Chapter of the Model T Ford Club International, Inc. - 1900-1920′s
Elgin Lions Club - 1930-1940′s
Redmon’s Towing - 1930-1940′s
Ballet Folklorico Huehuecoyotl (BFH) - 1930-1940′s

Back to the Future (1950′s-The Future)

West Suburban Shrine Club Roaring ’57s - 1950-1960′s
St. John’s Lutheran School and Church - 1970-1980′s
Raging Waves Waterpark - 1970-1980′s
Rescue Warriors Corp - 1970-1980′s
Elgin Youth Football League - 1970-1980′s
PLS Loan Store - 1970-1980′s
Spring Hill Gymnastics - 1990-Present
Elgin Medi-Transport, Inc. - 1990-Present
Danny’s Pizza on Douglas - 1990-Present
South Elgin High School Band & Dance Team - 1990-Present
First Congregational Church of Elgin - The Future
MEGA (Midwest Elite Gymnastics Academy) - The Future
Elgin Parent Co-op School - The Future
Dance It Off with Kim - The Future

First, second and third place winners will be named from each of the “Elgin Marching Thru Time” judging categories. Winning entries will receive award plaques plus recognition at an upcoming Elgin City Council meeting.

There is still time for your 2013 Elgin 4th of July Parade unit to participate in the “Marching Thru Time” judging contest. Contact the DNA at 847-488-1456 or e-mail downtownelgin@gmail.com to sign-up now.

Participating Cash Mobsters agree to spend a minimum of $10 between 4-6 pm that day. Following the Cash Mob they will then be entered into a subsequent raffle drawing for $10 in Downtown Elgin Gift Certificates. There will be a total of two gift certificate drawings.

Interested readers will also have access to information about the Gail Borden Public Library’s “Read on the Wild Side” summer reading program.

Our first Downtown Cash Mob in April at Elgin Knit Works, 8 Douglas Avenue, and Soulful Sparrow, 10 Douglas Avenue, had over $400 in economic impact on those two businesses.

Join the mob with us in Downtown Elgin all summer long!

We shine this week’s DNA Member Spotlight on:

Kirkpatrick, Jones & Herzog Insurance Agency, Inc.
19 S. Spring Street
Elgin, IL 60120
847-741-9393
www.kjhins.com

View Larger Map

TasteNTweeters will participate in a variety of social media driven activities throughout the evening as well as provide running social media commentary on their experiences at Villa Verone utilizing the Twitter event hashtag #tastentweet or the EACVB’s Resident Recommended program hashtag #residentrec.

Social media newbies are also invited to attend Twitter 101 - a simple, hands-on, beginner’s crash course to life in the Twitterverse lead by EACVB Director of Marketing Krisilee Murphy and DNA Managing Director Jason Pawlowski. Twitter 101 begins at 5:30 pm at the DNA office at 2 Douglas Avenue inside the Elgin Tower Building.

DNA and EACVB’s #TNT events combine the best elements of a social mixer blended with just the right amount of social media engagement into a dynamite evening of tasting, tweeting, and talking.

For more information on the Elgin Area Convention & Visitors’ Bureau and their Resident Recommended program, visit www.NorthernFoxRiverValley.com.

For more information about the Downtown Neighborhood Association and other downtown Elgin events, visit www.DowntownElgin.com.

Classes begin Tuesday, June 4 from 6-8pm. Participants must attend all 4 classes to receive the class certificate. Class summaries are as follows:

June 4th ~Orientation

What you need to know about the home buying process and products available to you

June 11th ~ Budget & Credit

How to get yourself qualified for the best mortgage possible.

June 18th ~ Shopping for a home

Who and what is involved once you’re ready to buy a home.

June 25th ~ Closing the deal

All you need to know about the real estate closing on a new home and keeping it safe and secure.

To register, contact Norma Hommrich at (847) 695-0399, e-mail nhommrich@nhschicago.org or visit www.NHSChicago.org.