Briefs: Learn about liquor laws

The Algonquin Police Department will lead a training class that teaches merchants who sell alcohol how to spot phony identification cards, who to serve, who not to serve and state laws that govern alcohol sales. The class costs $35 and starts at 8 a.m. April 22. Anyone 18 years and older can take the class. All attendees, however, must register for by calling (847) 658œ2720.

Local art on display at MCC

McHenry County College this month is hosting a display of artwork created by student artists in the Fox Valley. The Fox Valley Conference High School Art Exhibit will be held in the lower level of Building A. The student art show ends April 25. Call (815) 455-8785.

31st Latino awards on tap

Elgin's Club Guadalupano will host its 31st annual Latino Awards Banquet on Saturday at Villa Olivia Country Club, Lake Street and Naperville Road in Bartlett. Graduating Hispanic students from the Elgin area will be recognized and awarded scholarships. The banquet's reception will start at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. followed by the awards presentation. Call Linda Barbosa at (847) 888-3130 or Luis Cabrera at (847) 695-4028. Donation is $50 per ticket.

A nature 'open house'

Several area conservation groups are hosting an "Open House for Nature," at 7 p.m. today at Countryside School, 205 West County Line Road, Barrington Hills. The event celebrates five years of restoration work at the Spring Creek Forest Preserves in the Barrington and Carpentersville areas. Citizens For Conservation, Audubon, Friends of Spring Creek Forest Preserves, Spring Creek Stewards and the Cook County Forest Preserve District are sponsoring the event, which will feature presentations and displays on progress that's been made at Spring Creek. The program will also include demonstrations from a variety of experts, including mappers, frog monitors, brush cutters, prescribed burners, seed growers and planters, bird callers, weed whackers and chain sawyers.