End summer on high note at picnic
Say farewell to both the good and the bad of summer Monday when the River Trails Park District holds its annual Old-Fashioned Labor Day Picnic in the Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Woodland Trails Park, 1500 E. Euclid Ave. All events are free.
Thoughts of flooded basements, downed trees, flashlights, spoiled food and generators should fly right out of your mind as you watch the pet parade at 10 a.m. and eating contests, swim in the pool from noon to 3 p.m. and more.
One of the highlights of the day is the annual Turtle Race which begins at 11:30 a.m. Small numbered rubber turtles will be sold, one for $5 or a family of six for $25. At the start of the race, the turtles will be taken to the tops of the slides at the pool and dropped. Water current provided by hoses and the slides will move the turtles across the pool and prizes are awarded to the owners of the turtles that cross the finish line first. The grand prize is $300.
Anyone can buy a turtle to help raise money for the park district. Even if you can't be there Monday, you can buy a turtle in advance at the Weiss Center.
Other events planned for the day include a petting zoo, obstacle course, safari train, tot town, face painting and, of course, the annual coin splash at 3 p.m. to herald the end of the summer swimming season.
For more information, call (847) 255-1200 or log onto www.rtpd.org.
We Survived the Storm party:ŒDue to the storm, the Mount Prospect Historical Society was forced to postpone its Aug. 24 "Back to School Party for Parents" fundraiser at Bogie's Ale House.
Executive Director Gavin Kleespies this week announced that it has been rescheduled for 6 p.m.-midnight Sept. 7 and has been renamed the "We Survived the Storm Party." Stop by for the $10 pizza buffet, cash bar, music and auction of celebrity autographs and decorated old school chairs (now on display in the lobby of the library).
Pass on your PC: Don't throw out your old personal computer, laptop, printer or modem. Donate them and you can save the environment and a needy person at the same time.
Many don't realize it but a computer contains many hazardous wastes including lead, cadmium, zinc and chromium, making them toxic for landfills. So instead of causing more of an environmental problem in the future, consider donating your old equipment when the Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates Rotary Club holds a computer equipment drop-off event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Weber Atrium Center, 721 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights. There is no cost to dispose of as much equipment as you can carry in your personal vehicle.
The usable computers, printers and other equipment donated will have their hard drives erased and then be refurbished and distributed to veterans as well as low-income and disabled citizens. Items which cannot be reused will be recycled safely.
Tax receipts will be distributed at the event but donors are responsible for making their own list of items donated.
Items that will be accepted are: personal computers, laptops, mice, keyboards, power cords, external drives and processing units, speakers and parts, monitors, CPUs, printers, scanners and all-in-one print/scan/fax/copiers. All other items will be prohibited.
For more information, log onto www.passonyourpc.com.