The briefs

Eateries face demolition

Two visible restaurants in Vernon Hills could be demolished for a proposed condo development. The Vernon Hills village board is set to consider the plan Tuesday. Demari Development wants to clear OPA and Portofino's restaurants at Lakeview and Hawthorn parkways to build a mixed- use development with 100 condos and 44,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Each condo building would be seven stories tall. The board will consider the matter at a special meeting following the regular board meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at village hall, 290 Evergreen Drive.

Take a marsh walk

Take a walk through the marsh at the Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 2. Visitors are invited to explore the marsh atop its frozen surface, walk up to muskrat lodges in search of mink tracks and look into an ice hole to see fish. The Marsh Walk is led by naturalist Stacy Iwanicki. Make reservations at dnr.volobog@illinois.gov or by calling (815) 344-1294.

Air quality improves

Air quality throughout the state has improved significantly, according to a report recently released by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The report for 2006 shows air quality ranked either good or moderate 97 percent of the time throughout Illinois, compared with 90 percent of the time in 2005. Significant decreases were noted in sulfur dioxide (36 percent); carbon monoxide (32 percent); lead (30 percent); ozone (10 percent); nitrogen dioxide (6 percent) and particulate matter (8 percent), according to the agency. Visit www. epa.state.il.us for information.