The briefs

Learn how maple syrup is made

Learn how real maple syrup is made at a special event the first three weekends in March.

Participants will learn from Lake County forest preserve naturalists how to identify sugar maple trees, pick the trees with the sweetest sap and follow the process from sap to syrup, ending with a taste of the final product.

One-hour maple syrup hikes will be offered beginning every half hour from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods Road south of Half Day Road, Deerfield.

Ryerson is one of the few places in the world where conditions are appropriate for maple syrup production and where trees grow to a size that allows for tapping.

For more information, call (847) 968-3322.

View kids' artwork at chamber event

The McHenry Elementary Education Foundation from District 15 and the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce will again host the Celebration of the Arts Program, the sixth year it is being held.

The program will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. March 6 at the First Midwest Bank.

The event showcases student artwork from kids in District 15 schools. Choral and band students from McHenry Middle School and Parkland School will perform. The foundation will raffle off prizes and hold a "Taste of McHenry" featuring local restaurants.

For more information, call Cindee Nootbaar at (815) 385-7210.

Hang out with the bunny in Gurnee

Join the Easter Bunny at the Viking Park Dance Hall, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee, from 11 a.m. to noon March 15.

Enjoy a lunch of hot dogs, chips, beverage and dessert. Everyone will have the opportunity to visit with the Easter Bunny and receive a picture to take home. Following lunch, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt outdoors.

Register now, as space is limited. The cost is $7 for residents and $9 for non-residents. Fee is per person and all children must be accompanied by a paying adult. All children under the age of 12 months are free. High chairs are not available at this event. Registration is required by March 8.

For more information, visit www.gurneeparkdistrict.com or call (847) 623-7788.

Dr. Seuss-a-thon to be held in Kenosha

Cathage College in nearby Kenosha, Wis., will hold a "Seuss-a-thon" reading marathon on March 1.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Hedberg Library, Carthage College, 2001 Alford Park Drive.

Children and adults are invited to join Carthage faculty and students, and community leaders in the "Suess-a-thon," sponsored by the Center for Children's Literature and A Book for Every Child Foundation. Participants can expect non-stop readings of Dr. Seuss books, gourmet green eggs and ham, and have a picture taken with the Cat in the Hat.

The money raised will provide each baby born in Kenosha with a children's book, and support local not-for-profit organizations that help bring kids and books together.

The deadline for prospective readers to sign up is Feb. 27. For questions about donations or reading, contact Marilyn Ward at (262) 551-5875.