The briefs

Learn about Elgin street programs

The Elgin Golden K Kiwanis will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., Elgin. The program will be by John Loete, Elgin Public Works Department. His topic will be "Street Programs for 2008." Visitors are welcome. For information, call (847) 741-7176.

'Excavating Grandma's Privy'

The Kane County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the first-floor meeting room of the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., Geneva. The guest speaker will be Craig Pfannkuche, who will present "Excavating Grandma's Privy for Family History Data." This amateur archaeologist explains why and how to research the "family" outhouses for historic information and insight. A retired teacher of American history and anthropology, he is the current president of Memory Trail Research Inc. He is the current genealogical archivist for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Historical Society, and serves on the board of directors for the Chicago and McHenry County genealogical societies. For details, call (847) 697-1029 or visit www.rootsweb.com/~ilkcgs.

Organ recital continues Friday

At noon Friday, Marsha Webster will present the 30-minute organ recital in the sanctuary of First Congregational United Church of Christ, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. He is music director and organist of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. This is the fourth in the Jane Hampton Chipman Lenten series.

On March 7, Phyllis Lange-Connelly, director of music/organist at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Cary, will perform. On March 14, the Chicago Gargoyle Brass Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. with organist Michael Surratt and conductor Jon Warfel. The music will be "All-Night Vigil" by Sergei Rachmaninoff. On March 20, it will be "St. Matthew Passion" by Heinrich Schutz. For details, call (847) 741-4045 or visit www.fcc-elgin.org.

City Sake stays open to Sunday

City Skate, Elgin's outdoor refrigerated ice rink, will remain open for an additional week through Sunday. It is located on Civic Center Plaza, between Hemmens Auditorium and City Hall. The ice rink is open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ice skate rental is $4 with identification and only available when the warming shelter is open. Warming shelter hours will be 4 to 9 p.m. today through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 9 p.m. March 1, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call the information line at (847) 931-6140 or visit www.cityofelgin.org for daily updates on hours and ice conditions. City Skate is open to the general public, and there is no fee if you have your own ice skates.