Briefs: EPA to test air at beach
A special team from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon begin air sampling at Illinois State Beach in Zion. The EPA's Environmental Response Center wants to better determine the level of airborne asbestos, the agency said Friday. A sister agency of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did sampling and issued a report last year, but the EPA has recommended additional sampling would be useful. Air sampling, expected to begin in September, will be done over several days during typical activities, which could include volleyball, sunbathing and playing on the beach.
Job fair for residents
Fidelitone Logistics hosts a job fair today at 1275 Karl Court in Wauconda, seeking to hire residents from the Wauconda area. The company is looking to fill two warehouse positions, an accounts payable specialist job, a business systems analyst spot, an operations professional opening and a freight manager position. The fair is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Potential employees must fill out applications and bring a photo ID and a Social Security card. The company will conduct drug screening and background checks. Call (847) 487-3689 for more information.
Clean cars, clean air
Sierra Club's Illinois chapter will host what it's calling a free "clean car wash" from 9 a.m. to noon today at Station Square at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake. The event will be off Route 45, between routes 137 and 120. In addition to washing cars, club members will promote the California's clean air emissions standards. Participants will be asked to sign a petition asking Illinois legislators to adopt the California emissions standards for vehicles. Sierra Club members also plan to distribute information about global warming at the car wash.
New commanding officer
Great Lakes Naval Station has a new commanding officer. Navy Capt. David Schnell assumed the post from Richard Postera during a change-of-command ceremony at the base Friday. Postera served as Great Lakes' commanding officer and chief of staff of Navy Region Midwest since August 2005. Great Lakes, between North Chicago and Lake Bluff, is the Navy's only boot camp. About 40,000 recruits are expected to pass through the naval base this year. Schnell comes to Great Lakes from a previous position assigned to NATO in Naples, Italy. "I'm really excited to serve with the incredible team of professionals here at Great Lakes," said Schnell, who was raised in upstate New York. "I'm also looking forward to working with the local communities to find mutually beneficial solutions to some of the challenging issues that we share."