Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 6-4

COMMUNITY PROFILE EAST DUNDEE DETAIL AREA KANE COOK Chicago is LAKE MARIAN pENNY East Dundee Fox River Miles DARRELL GOEMAATPHOTO FOR THE TRIBUNE George Koulis, from left, owner of the Manor Restaurant since 1978, his wife, Stella, and a friend chat inside the establishment. SOURCES: ESRI, TeleAtlas Serene enclave along Fox River Santa's Village Azoosment Park. "And, how many towns can say they have a creek running under village hall?" said village administrator Robert Skurla, referring to Mcintosh Creek. Together, the Dundees share a charming downtown that straddles the Fox River, an enviable collection of 19th- and early 20th-century restored houses and a Scottish heritage. Mostly in Kane County, a portion of East Dundee reaches into Cook County.

East Dundee used to be a stop on a rail line (now a bike trail), from which farmers shipped their milk and cheese to Chicago. Older folks still call the corner of Barring-ton and Summit avenues "Cheese Hill." Living is easy in East Dundee in the summer, when residents gather monthly by the Depot (a 1984 replica) for lunches and at Lions Park for movies. After a 10-year absence, Dundee Days will be revived in May. Scottish bagpipes highlight parades on Memorial Day, St. Patrick's Day and, after the winter holidays, the Dickens in Dundee festival.

BY LESLIE MANN Special to the Tribune World leaders could resolve all their problems if only they would listen to the "Couch Potatoes" who gather daily for coffee at the Manor Restaurant in East Dundee. So-dubbed because of the banquette they occupy shortly after dawn, the group includes Manor owner George Koulis, who has fried thousands of breakfast skillets in the 34 years he and his family have fed the folks who call this historic burg home. Outside, the valley awakens, as a fog rolls off the Fox River and disappears among the older houses that define the village's quiet downtown. Shopkeepers roll up their blinds. Early-bird fishermen pack their tackle boxes and reel in their lines.

Thirty-five miles from the Loop, East Dundee is West Dundee's older sister, incorporated in 1871. Divided by the river, the two villages appear as one to visitors traveling their shared east-west corridor, Illinois Highway 72. PHOTO BY DOUG BERGREN Formerly a train depot, the village's information center is adjacent to a bike path. In 1956, East Dundee wanted to merge, who defeated the incumbent in the April 9 but West Dundee voted against the plan. In election.

1962, it was the other way around. "Now East Dundee has about 2,900 residents, we're better off each having our own, West Dundee has a mall and larger popula- smaller government," said East Dundee tion, but East Dundee has Haeger Potteries Mayor Lael Miller, a former village trustee (an icon since 1871), the Fox River Trail and Who lives there Reported raceethnicity Median age of residents Median home price $209,400 Have lived there since 2005 69.800 Growth since 2000 Population 2,887 Black 2.2oo White 92.goo Asian 2.700 Hispanic 7.900 46.