Briefs: School thwarts cuts

Prairie Crossing Charter School will be able to maintain its current staffing through this fiscal year because of a December fundraiser that collected more than $200,000. Parents, students, staff, community groups, businesses and school board members helped collect funds to ease the school's financial woes. Prairie Crossing, which is Lake County's only charter school and offers an environmentally focused curriculum, received a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the Liberty Prairie Foundation up to $75,000 toward the total. Unlike traditional public schools, Prairie Crossing depends on a combination of per-pupil state aid and private donations. Officials said earlier the school is in danger of having a $251,000 budget shortfall when the academic year ends. Prairie Crossing is within the boundaries of Fremont Elementary District 79 and Woodland Elementary District 50.

Public hearing at village

The village of Wauconda hosts a public hearing Feb. 5, at 6:45 p.m. on the Lake Napa Suwe Estates annexation and resubdivision at village hall, 101 N. Main St. For more information, call the village at (847) 526-9600.

Daddies, daughters dance

The Island Lake Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Daddy/Daughter Dance on Feb. 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in village hall, 3720 Greenleaf. Admission is $35 per pair and $10 for each additional child. Registration by Feb. 1 is preferred, but call the recreation department for last-minute availability at (847) 526-4851. Girls will get a souvenir of their special evening, refreshments will be available and a photographer will offer portrait packages. Stepfathers, uncles and big brothers all welcome. For more information, call Karen Luebbers or Cindy Haberichter at (847) 526-4851.

Library docents sought

The Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich is looking for volunteers ages 13 and older interested in being docents for the upcoming exhibit "Anne Frank: A Private Photo Album" during March. Training will take place 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28 and 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 29 at the library. An educator from the Anne Frank Center USA will present in-depth information about Anne Frank and prepare participants to provide gallery tours for the public. A light dinner and refreshments will be provided. Sign up for only one session. Registration is required. To sign up, call (847) 438-3433 or stop by the library's information desk, e-mail infodesk@eapl.org or register online at www.eapl.org.