Fox Valley briefs

Elgin book fair celebrates written word:

The Center City Book Fair, part of Elgin's celebration of Preservation Month, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at the Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St. The mission of the book fair is to promote reading, encourage writing, and heighten an awareness of literacy and the literary arts in Elgin. It's free and open to the public. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be served. For details, log on to cantmisspress.com or call (847) 902-3664. Among the featured authors will be Rick Kogan, with Charles Osgood, Don DeGrazia, Donald G. Evans, Kathy Wolter, D.C. Brod and Beckie Butcher.

Help needed for Shelter Inc. fundraiser:

Shelter Inc. is seeking volunteers to serve as "taggers" at their 18th annual Shelter-A-Child Tag Days, on Mother's Day Weekend, May 8-10 at stores, intersections and Metra stations throughout the Northwest suburbs. Over the past 19 years, Shelter's taggers have included individuals and families, civic groups, corporate volunteer groups and school groups. Approximately 200 taggers are needed this year. Taggers solicit contributions in two-hour shifts. Proceeds will benefit Shelter, a nonprofit child welfare agency that serves Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties. For details or to volunteer, call the volunteer coordinator at (847) 590-6188, ext. 22, or visit shelter-inc.org.

Register for youth football:

Registration for Hampshire youth football and cheerleading will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today on at the Rutland Township offices, 16N491 Powers Road, Gilberts. Football costs $155 and is open to boys 7 to 14. Cheerleading costs $125 and is open to girls from kindergarten through eighth grade. There is a discount for families who register more than one child. Registration is open to families in Hampshire, Gilberts and Sleepy Hollow. Call (847) 404-5263.