Books at Sunset

Mike Powers, an Elgin native and city councilman, will read from and sign copies of his debut book, All-American Stories: Elgin Myths and Memories.

Mike Powers' book is described as an evocative look at growing up during the 1960s and early 1970s in Elgin. Special guests at the event include Mike Powers' all-state basketball teammate Derrick Mayes and 1972 Olympian Brian Oldfield, who will be making a rare public appearance.

Sit back & savor a steaming hot chocolat' or cappuccino during the evening & enjoy giveaways with every book purchase. To RSVP, please call 847.888.1860.

Join paranormal Investigaor Tour Guide with Curt Morley, Psychic Medium Ruth Maklezow and Judi Brownfield for a Night like no other...

Curt Morley is a resident of the Fox valley with a keen interest in the mysterious and the strange. His lifelong interest in the Supernatural began a young boy when heard his grandparents talk of the haunted house they lived in during the 1920's. As a teenage, he began investigating the paranormal, spending long hours keeping watch in old buildings and graveyards. Referring to himself as a Supernatural Historian Morley combines his passion for the unknown with a thorough knowledge of Fax Valley History. He has serve as the tour guide for the Elgin Supernatural Tour for the last 3 years. Mr. Morley is also a professional hypnotist. A member of the National Guild of Hypnotist. He has been published in the Journal of Hypnotists and Hypnosis Today. He has recently released a Fox Valley Phantoms, a CD that contains 7 local ghost stories. He is currently working on a book about paranomal activity in the fox Valley conceived the Elgin SuperNatual Tour in 2003, after a very successful late October evening with adults, who had gathered to savor the works of Edgar Allan poe.

"Our Eeeerie Evening with Edgar A. Poe was organized to allow grown ups to enjoy the flavor of the Halloween season in a very adult way. No childish haunted Houses or characters jumping out of trees with chainsaws were allowed."

The intent was to have a night where we could still enjoy the chilling aura of the season, dress with flair (no one's allowed to arrived in normal clothes), and sample the writings of a classic author in a darkened room. Judi Brownfield declared the evening was such a hit, she decided to bring it to higher level by including a city tour of local legends and energy hot spots.

Ruth Maklezow....while games to conjure ghosts may seem like harmless forms of amusement, they are advised against by Ruth Maklezow, an Elgin residen and psychic medium. A psychic medium is someone who can communicate with people who have pased on into the spirit world. Ms. Maklezow has profiled several historic buildings in the Elgin area with interesting links to the past. She kept her abilities under wraps for a long time, but since has become more comfortable with her gift. For her, psychic abilities are tied very closely with her spirituality. She is a member of Christabel Spiritualist Church in Rockfor and is studying to be a spiritualist minister.