Fox Valley briefs

Jobs speaker comes to Elgin:

The Community Economic Restoration Project of Elgin will present James Thindwa, the director of Jobs with Justice in Chicago, to lead a panel discussion at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, about the economic crisis. Thindwa will be joined by: Vicent Gaddis, professor of History, Philosophy and Religious Studies at Benedictine University in Lisle; Diane Nilan, founder and director of Hear Us, an organization that advocates for homeless children and youth; and Mae Hicks Jones, an Elgin activist and writer. For details, call (847) 742-1406.

Village launches 'finder':

The South Elgin Police Department has launched its own version of "Family Finder," a free, voluntary program in which residents can provide a photo of a loved one who is prone to getting lost, along with contact information for family members. The program is utilized by Elgin Police and other departments and is geared toward providing law enforcement with information that it can immediately share if, for example, a senior citizen with dementia gets lost. For details, call Sgt. Randy Endean at (847) 741-2151, ext. 219, or e-mail rendean@southelgin.com.

Special Olympics Motorcycle Run:

The Carpentersville Police Department, in conjunction with the Illinois Special Olympics, will hold its fifth Special Olympics Motorcycle Run on Sunday, July 12. The 115-mile ride will start at the Liberty Lanes Bowling Alley in Carpentersville and will make its way to Firehouse Pub in Roscoe, Washington Street Station in Woodstock and ending at Nero's Pizza and Pub in Algonquin. Cost is $20 ($25 on the day of the run). Registration starts at 10 a.m. at Liberty Lanes with the group leaving for the first stop at 11 a.m. To sign up early, e-mail Jim Marsolais at radarredrabbit111@aol.com or call the Carpentersville police station at (847)551-3810.