Fox Valley briefs

Parade volunteers needed:

Elgin's Downtown Neighborhood Association is still looking for volunteers for its Fourth of July parade. The parade begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 4 in downtown Elgin. It lasts about two hours and draws about 15,000 people. For more information about volunteer roles and duties, call (847) 488-1456 or visit downtownelgin.com.

South Elgin High administrator to leave:

Carol DePue, South Elgin High's chair for career and technical education, has been selected as the Coordinator for Career and Technical Education and Director for Northern Kane Regional Vocational System. DePue started her career as a career and technical education teacher at Larkin High School in 1995. At South Elgin, she has planned and facilitated the development of programs, planned workshops for parents and students, and written grant proposals for new curriculum opportunities.

ECC student writers lauded:

Two Elgin Community College students had a strong showing in the 2009 Skyway Conference Writers Festival in April, placing first and third in their categories. The event is a juried writing competition for students submitting poetry, short fiction, nonfiction and drama for evaluation by professional writers. Ryan O'Connell of Elgin won first place in the fiction category for "The Ticking in the Crocodile," a story about growing up with his brother and father over several years without their mother. Clarissa Koch of Elgin won third place in the nonfiction category for her piece, "Salvation." ECC competed against seven other schools in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference.

New walk-in clinic in Elgin:

The Greater Elgin Family Care Center will hold an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 to mark the opening of its newest walk-in clinic at 901 Center St., Elgin. For details, visit gefcc.org.