Briefs: Hospital merger moves on

Advocate Health Care and Condell Medical Center signed a letter of intent Monday to continue moving forward with merger discussions. The hospitals announced their exclusive agreement to explore a potential merger last month. Details surrounding the specific elements of the proposal are not yet available.

Assessor reappointed

The Ela Township board recently reappointed John Schweda to be township assessor. Schweda was first appointed to the post in absentia Dec. 13. He stepped down from the post in January after the Lake County state's attorney's office investigated and determined there was an irregularity with the appointment. Schweda had not resigned his township trustee post before applying for the assessor's job. Once Schweda agreed to resign as assessor, the state's attorney's office agreed not to file criminal charges against him. Last week, the township board reinterviewed several candidates for the assessor's job, which comes with a $56,367 yearly salary and still determined Schweda was the most qualified. The meeting was monitored by an assistant state's attorney to ensure proper procedure was followed, Ela Township Supervisor Lucy Prouty said. Schweda will serve as assessor until Dec. 31, 2009. The assessor's post will be up for election in spring 2009, but the term starts Jan. 1, 2010.

Comment period extended

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has extended the deadline for public comments on the draft scope of an environmental impact statement being prepared for Canadian National Railway and Grand Trunk Corp. 's proposed purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway. The new deadline is Feb. 15. The statement's draft scope of study is available on the board's Web site www.stb.dot.gov under "Environmental Matters," "Key Cases" and "Canadian National Railway-EJ&E Railway." It is available in English and Spanish by calling (800) 347-0689. Comments may be submitted by mail to the Surface Transportation Board, Attn. Phillis Johnson-Ball, Environmental Filing STB Finance Docket No. 35087, 395 E St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20423. To submit comments online, visit www.stb.dot.gov or by telephone call (800) 347-0689.

Fire academy for seniors

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department will hold a fire academy for seniors in March. The five-week program will be at the Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive, Buffalo Grove. The meetings will be 10 to 11 a.m. March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. This is a shorter version of the citizen fire academy and will provide an overview of fire department operations and the methodology behind the fire and life safety education offered to residents. A tour of the fire department will be included. For details or to register, call (847) 850-2117.

Psychology open house

The Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science psychology department will host an open house from 3 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, for prospective students interested in the new master of science in psychology: clinical counseling program. It will be in the Health Sciences Building. Prospective students will meet the department faculty, tour the academic facilities and receive personal guidance about the clinical psychology program. For more information or reserve a seat, contact Dr. Kenneth Kessler, director of the RFUMS Clinical Counseling Program, at (847) 578-8740.