Briefs: Dundee seeks Web material
East Dundee residents are encouraged to submit photographs for the community gallery section of the village's new Web site at eastdundee.net. Photographs can be e-mailed to eastdundee@eastdundee.net. The village's updated Web site includes access to important village documents such as the flood recovery survey and online payment of parking tickets and fines.
French club collects books
The Jacobs High School French Club is collecting new and used books to send to needy communities in Africa. The book drive is the club's annual service project. Club members are asking residents of Community District 300 to bring books for adult and children to Jacobs' school services office, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive. You can also drop off books at the district's central office in Carpentersville, 300 Cleveland Ave. The club aims to collect 50 50-pound boxes of books and $2,000 to pay for postage to ship the books. So far, the club has collected 350 books. The drive ends Jan. 22. Call (847) 658-2500, ext. 333.
Soccer for toddlers
South Elgin parks and recreation department will hold an indoor soccer program for preschoolers who are interested in learning how to play the game. The program begins Jan. 15 and is limited to 3- and 4-year olds. It will cover the basics of passing, scoring and dribbling. It will be held from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. every Tuesday from Feb. 19 to March 11 at the Community United Methodist Church, 400 W. Spring St. Cost is $32 for residents and $37 for nonresidents. The fee includes a T-shirt. Deadline to register is today. Call (847) 622-0003.
Former chief resigns
South Barrington Police Chief Charles A. Gruber, who was formerly the chief of the Elgin Police Department, has announced he will retire on Jan. 23. Gruber informed the village of his intentions, citing a need to focus on his law enforcement consulting business. He was the Elgin police chief until 1998 and started in 1999 with South Barrington. Gruber's replacement will come internally, as Senior Sgt. Michael Deegan has been promoted to chief, South Barrington announced Monday.