The briefs

Join bicentennial Lincoln planning

On Feb. 12, 2009, Illinois will commemorate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln.

To honor America's 16th president, state Rep. Ruth Munson, along with representatives from the city of Elgin, Elgin Area School District U-46 and the Gail Borden Public Library, are making arrangements for a yearlong celebration of Illinois' most famous son, culminating in a birthday party in 2009. The Abraham Lincoln 200th Birthday Committee will meet from 4 to 5:30 p.m. today in the community room at the library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin.

If you are an Abe Lincoln aficionado, a history lover, or just can't resist a good birthday party, Munson invites you to help plan the celebration. For details, call Tim at state Rep. Munson's office at (847) 622-1048 or e-mail tim@ruthmunson.com.

Beaux Arts welcomes guests

Fox Valley Beaux Arts will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the second-floor conference room at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. The program will be a discussion of the story "Franny and Zooey" by J.D. Salinger.

If you have not yet read the book, copies are available at the library. This is a program offered by the library, and Beaux Arts members and their guests are welcome to participate in the discussion.

For information, call Marge Haefliger, (847) 697-7374. Beaux Arts supports the arts in the Elgin area through its programs and scholarships.

Here's how to enter snapshot contest

Our Snapshots contest is open to amateur photographers of all ages in Kane and McHenry counties.

Photos will be judged by our staff photographers who will select three winners for publication each week. Once a month, a grand-prize winner will receive a prize from The Frame Shop in East Dundee.

To enter, send your photos in a digital JPEG format, sized at two megabytes if possible (minimum size 300 dpi), to foxcontest@dailyherald.com. Put "photo contest" in the subject line. Include your name, phone number and address. Please also include information about where the photo was taken and who or what was in the picture.

Photos received by 5 p.m. on Mondays will be considered for Saturday publication. Only one photo a week per photographer, but you can enter as many weeks as you'd like.