Briefs: Help out Salvation Army
The Tri-City Salvation Army, 1710 S. Seventh Ave., St. Charles, seeks items for its charity pantry: spaghetti sauce, crackers, pancake mix and syrup, stuffing, dried potatoes, peanut butter, jelly, pudding, gelatin, sugar, toothbrushes, toothpaste, diapers size 4-6, paper towels, shampoo and deodorant. Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The pantry, a United Way-funded agency, is open each weekday to those in need in St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva and Wayne. Call (620) 377-2769.
Wine Sergi top work spot
A St. Charles insurance agency has been named on of the best places to work in the state. For the second consecutive year, Wine Sergi Insurance, 225 Smith Road, recently received on the 2007 "Chicago's Best and Brightest Companies To Work For" awards by the National Association for Business Resources. The company was founded more than 80 years ago and is owned entirely by employees. It has a staff of more than 100 and boasts more than $175 million in sales, the company said.
St. Charles hosts cookouts
The Downtown St. Charles Partnership has planned weekly cookouts to help businesses grappling with construction for the First Street redevelopment project. The cookouts are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the Blue Goose Super Market, 164 S. First St. The cookouts include free drawings for $25 gift certificates for local businesses. For more information, go to www.dtown.org or call (630) 513-5386.
Dog training in Geneva
Free training for adopted or rescued dogs is available from 7 to 9 p.m. (other dogs, $20) Thursday at 321 Stevens St., Geneva. It is sponsored by Dogs4Life. To register, visit www.Dogs4Life.com.
Scarecrow Fest needs you
The St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau is seeking entries for the 22nd Annual Scarecrow Festival, set for Oct. 5 to 7 at Lincoln Park. There are five categories for the scarecrow making contest: traditional, whimsical, mechanical (automated), children's and business-related. Festival goers will decide the winners, who will receive cash prizes and gift certificates. For more information or an entry form, go to www.scarecrowfest.com. Sponsors are also needed for the festival. Contributions of $300 help pay for behind-the-scenes work and earns donors the rank of "Scarecrow Buddy." Sponsors receive special license plates, decals and promotions on festival signs. Call (630) 377-6161.