Move on over David Cook

The big weekend isn't until August, but start planning now if you want to compete in the fourth annual South Elgin Idol

Here's your chance to replace TV's latest "American Idol" winner, David Cook, in village minds.

Applications and background music are due by June 16 at Village Hall, 10 N. Water St., for the August competition.

The South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department and its not-for-profit arm, The FUNdation, will host the competition Aug. 16 and 17 at Riverfest at Panton Mill Park.

There are three age categories: under 11, 12 to 17, and 18 and older.

All contestants will perform from noon to 2 p.m. on Aug. 16.

The top two contestants from each category will perform from 1 to 2 p.m. the next day.

The Village Idol grand prize winner will receive $200.

Each of the winners from the three age group categories will receive a $100 gift card.

For information, call (847) 622-0003 or visit the Web site at www.southelgin.com or www.fundation.org.

Congrats to

Kathy Parks of Elgin was the winner of the 2008 Rib Fest Cook-Off for Elgin's eighth annual event. She also is a three-time champ.

Cindy Abu-Gheida of St. Charles, the 2006 winner, finished second and Dennis Doyle of Elgin was third.

Bob Duffy, also of Elgin, won the Star Rib Master. He represented the Elgin Police Department.

Leading the way

Carole Medal, the executive director of the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, recently was elected to serve as the president of the Illinois Library Association.

Medal will begin her term in July 2008 and serve for three years.

For the ILA, the third-largest state association in North America, she will be the major spokeswoman for Illinois libraries, setting priorities for the future and leading conference planning.

"Carole has the track record as a creative and innovative leader," said Sarah Long, executive director of the North Suburban Library System and former ALA president, in a statement. "We are so proud of Carole, and look forward to having her vision and energy at the helm of the Illinois Library Association."

Medal joined the Gail Borden Library in fall 2004 and also has served as executive director of Rolling Meadows Public Library and as a division chief at the Chicago Public Library.

Never too early to plan

The Elgin Police Department and the National Association of Town Watch will be sponsoring the 25th annual National Night Out from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 5.

The event is an opportunity to build neighborhood unity, strengthen police community partnerships, heighten crime awareness, and to show crooks that you're organized and fighting back.

In Elgin, neighborhoods each have their own events instead of one centralized location.

Last year more than 40 neighborhoods joined in the effort to make it a successful event. Officers drop by each neighborhood event, but neighborhoods must register with the police first.

To register, contact Cherie Aschenbrenner at the Elgin Police Department at (847) 289-2626 by June 27.