Briefs: Local poets honored

Six poets from DuPage County communities will be honored at 2 p.m. Saturday among the winners of the Poets and Patrons contest at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago. The annual competition is composed of 10 categories of poetic subjects or styles. Local winners are: Nancy Carrigan, Warrenville; Pat Gangas, Oak Brook; Mardelle Fortier, Lisle; Donna Pucciani, Wheaton; Glnna Holloway and Mikki Mendelsohn, both of Naperville. For details, visit www.poetsandpatrons.net.

Naperville fundraiser

Neo Bella Salon will host a fundraiser to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the salon, 1292 Rickert Drive, Suite 136, Naperville. The salon will offer haircuts for $25 and both conditioning treatments and manicures for $15. All net proceeds will benefit the foundation, along with 10 percent of any retail products sold going to the charity. Naperville native Jes Rickleff, hair stylist and star of VH1's "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels," will attend the event, which will also include merchandise raffles. Appointments for salon services are recommended. For details or an appointment, call (630) 717-8966.

Addison Parent University

Parent University will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3 at Addison Trail High School, 213 Lombard Road. Register at the school between 8 and 9 a.m. The free event begins with an opening address by Lourdes Ferrer Hispanic Academic Achievement specialist. Four 45-minute workshops follow. Parents will choose from topics that include navigating the educational system, parenting a teen, homework help, substance abuse, and human growth and development and more. Each topic will be presented in English and repeated in Spanish. Child care for children ages 3 and older is available. The event is funded by the village of Addison, the Addison Public Library, Addison School District 4, and DuPage High School District 88. For details in English or Spanish, call Marco Gasca at (630) 458-4114.

Kitchen Walk raises $8,600

Glen Ellyn's fifth annual Kitchen Walk raised $8,600 for Bridge Communities. The funds will be used to provide 86 days of care for a family of four. Last year the walk raised $5,900, but this year's Oct. 5 walk that featured a handful of Drury Design Kitchen and Bath Studio's works had a slight boost in attendance and fundraising. Bridge Communities is an organization that serves homeless families in the Midwest and provides housing, mentoring, tutoring, employment counseling and career and financial planning assistance.

Wheaton shops offer treats

The Downtown Wheaton Association's annual Spooktacular Trick-or-Treat will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31 in downtown Wheaton. Children will be able to trick-or-treat at stores that display an orange poster. Visit www.downtownwheaton.com or call (630) 682-0633.

Firefighter honored

A Carol Stream firefighter/paramedic is being honored for his dedication to public safety. Greg Schwarze received his department's "Outstanding Service Award." Schwarze began his career in 1999 and, for the past four years, has served as the public education coordinator in addition to his regular duties. In his extra role, Schwarze is responsible for coordinating public events such as school presentations, fire prevention education, fire extinguisher training and senior citizen fire and safety education. He received the award during Monday's board meeting.