Briefs: Parking deck in budget

Libertyville's 2008-09 budget includes money for a parking deck at Brainerd Avenue and Lake Street and a park at the Cambridge Knoll development. The nearly $55 million budget was recently approved by the village board. Revenues were virtually flat from last year, with sales tax down 7 percent, village officials said. Most of the 23 percent increase in expenditures is for the $8.5 million parking deck. A slight boost in revenues in the general fund, which accounts for day-to-day operations, was attributed to increases in property tax revenue from new growth and building permit fees for the proposed Condell Medical Center expansion. Salaries increased 1.4 percent and benefits 6.2 percent.

Principal to do double duty

The Lake Zurich Unit District 95 school board has appointed Quentin Elementary School Principal Claudia Mall as principal of both Adams and Quentin schools for the 2008-09 school year. This stems from the board's decision to close Quentin at the end of the next academic year. It also fills the vacancy at Adams created by the departure of current Principal Chris Finch. District 95 will add assistant principals at each school next year to assist Mall. Stephan Laudenburger, a kindergarten teacher at Loomis, will be assistant principal at Quentin, and Julie Riddick, a seventh-grade language arts teacher at Middle School South, will fill the same role at Adams. "Having Claudia Mall as the principal of both schools will give the students at Charles Quentin the stability that is essential," Superintendent Brian Knutson said. "It will also allow her to make a smooth transition to Sarah Adams School, while also providing both schools with the benefit of an additional school administrator."

Two hires at Hawthorn

Luis Salto and Robert Collins have been named assistant principals for four schools in Hawthorn Elementary District 73, starting in midsummer. Salto, the dean of students at Plainfield North High School, will be at Elementary North and Townline schools. Collins, director of choral activities and chairman of the fine arts/social science department at Harvard Elementary District 50, will serve at Elementary South and Aspen schools.

Don't get ticked

The Lake County Health Department is urging residents to protect themselves from exposure to ticks during outdoor activities this spring and summer. There are two known species of ticks in Lake County, the American dog tick and the deer tick. Dog ticks do not carry Lyme disease but may carry other diseases. Deer ticks are rare in Lake County but can carry Lyme disease. The health department suggests that hikers stay on trails and wear light-colored protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, boots or sturdy shoes and a head covering. Tuck trouser cuffs in socks and tuck in shirt tails; apply insect repellent containing DEET primarily to clothes; walk in the center of trails so plants do not brush against you and check yourself and pets frequently for ticks. Visit www.co.lake.il.us/health/chs/disease/cdc.asp or call (847) 377-8002 for more.