Briefs: Exhibit comes to Des Plaines

The Portrait of a Soldier memorial exhibition, in Schaumburg earlier this year, will be unveiled at 10 a.m. today at the Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., in a ceremony involving several elected state officials. The exhibit features a series of hand-drawn portraits of more than 180 Illinois men and women who have died in service to the country since Sept. 11, 2001. Portrait of a Soldier will be on display from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. today, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and from 1-5 p.m. Sunday. It will continue from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Several members of local families with members represented in the exhibit will be present.

School supplies drive on

The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago is asking residents to help provide backpacks and school supplies for children who live in the backstretch at Arlington Park. The "Backpacks for The Backstretch" campaign is working to provide school supplies for 250 children ages 3-13, who live on the backstretch because their parents work for the track. To help donate supplies, contact Lyn, Jackie or Jean at the Volunteer Center, who will put donors in touch with the list of materials needed. Call (847) 228-1320.

Car wash for troops

A car wash benefiting Operation Support Our Troops will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Hanover Township, 250 S. Route 59, Bartlett. The organization sends care packages to troops abroad. Call the township clerk's office at (630) 837-0301.

Inline clinic in Hoffman

The Chicago Skate Patrol and Team Rainbo, the Chicago-based inline-skating team, will offer a skating clinic for novice skaters at 1 p.m. Saturday in Hoffman Estates. The clinic is in preparation for the July 26 Chicagoland Inline Marathon, which will be held on the streets of Hoffman Estates. Saturday's 1-hour clinic will cover beginner's skills like stopping, skating on hills, as well as an intro to speed skating. The clinic is free and skaters will meet at the northwest corner of Pratum Avenue and Prairie Stone Parkway. E-mail caleskater2@aol.com for more information.

Old well shut down

A water service line from Schaumburg's old Well No. 2 was emptied between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning before being shut down for the final stage of tearing down a pump house next to Campanelli School on Springinsguth Road, Deputy Director of Utilities Dave Varner said. The process ended with the shut-off of water on its block for a couple of hours Thursday, he added. One resident who lives near the site said he thought more than a million gallons of drinking water had been wasted. Varner, however, said the flow was only about 20 gallons a minute, costing a total of about $50 for the entire time the water was left to flow. A fire hydrant at full pressure releases 1,200 gallons a minute, Varner said.

Man injured in crash

A 67-year-old Hoffman Estates man was treated for minor injuries Thursday morning after being ejected from his car when it was struck by a vehicle that police say ran a red light. The collision occurred at about 10:30 a.m. at Higgins and Salem roads in Schaumburg. Schaumburg police Officer Mark Eschel said witnesses saw a vehicle eastbound on Higgins Road drive through a red light and strike a vehicle driven by the Hoffman Estates man northbound on Salem Road. The Hoffman Estates driver was ejected out his driver's side door, Eschel said. No tickets were issued by Thursday afternoon as the investigation continued.