THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2006
Party On, Elk Grove
Now half a century old, Elk Grove Village will celebrate its birthday in style this weekend with fireworks, a concert and a dream house giveaway.
The Village's 50th Birthday Bash begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 16 at Haskell Memorial Stadium, Elk Grove High School, 500 W. Elk Grove Blvd.
"This is going to be a true community celebration of our first 50 years," said Mayor Craig Johnson. "Young or old, there is something for everyone."
The highlight of the celebration is the "Hometown Home Giveaway" where one lucky person will win a half million dollar house.
The village randomly picked the giveaway's ten finalists last week from pool of entries. All ten will receive a $1,000 prize. After the final drawing at the 50th anniversary celebration, one person will win a newly-built, fully furnished dream home on 1099 Cheltenham Rd., hosted by Alexian Brothers Medical Center.
The finalists were chosen at Elk Grove Village Hall on Thursday, July 6. The next drawing for the house will begin at 7 p.m. where finalists will introduce themselves and have the chance to select the winning "key" to win the house.
The finalists include Elk Grove Residents Emil Schiavo, Robert Mohr, Kim Mills, Jugoslav Kokotovic, Jessica Morton, Susan Wadkins, and Matthew Faughn. Non-residents include Christopher Soriano of Elmwood Park, Kanu Patel of Des Plaines and Carolyn Collyeir of Edgewater, Florida.
Raffle tickets for the contest were $50 each and sold over the last eight months.
Meanwhile, residents will be able to snack on free ice cream and brownies at concession stands. After the drawing, rock group REO Speedwagon will give a concert at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
The 50th Birthday Bash is free but only open to Village residents. In order to get in, party goers must pick up wristbands at the municipal complex on 901 Wellington before the event.