Briefs: Land buys could expand forest preserves
Three Lake County forest preserves could expand following recommendations Thursday to buy 103 acres. The forest preserve district's Land Preservation and Acquisition Committee approved contracts that would expand the Grassy Lake Forest Preserve in Barrington and the Hastings Lake and Fourth Lake forest preserves near Lake Villa. The largest recommended purchase was 94 acres on Kelsey Road just west of Old Barrington Road, to allow for the restoration of fens, marsh areas and savanna and potentially a mussel habitat in the Fox River. The 8-acre purchase for $378,000 at Geldon Road west of Grass Lake Road will add buffer for wetlands and provide a bird habitat at Hastings Lake. Seven-tenths of an acre at Fourth Lake would provide space for a tunnel beneath Grand Avenue and allow for the extension of the Millennium Trail. That cost is $350,000.
Firefighters raise cash to fight breast cancer:
Grayslake Fire Protection District raised $2,180 to go to a campaign to fight breast cancer. Officials said the money was collected last month during the "Real Men Wear Pink" campaign. Special pink T-shirts with the Grayslake Fire Protection District logo on them were sold at $14 apiece. The cash from the effort will be turned over today to representatives from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Firefighters donned pink T-shirts as part of their uniform last month.
District 73 offers diagnostic screening:
Hawthorn Elementary District 73 residents who have concerns about the developmental progress of their 3- and 4-year old children are invited to contact the district to schedule a free diagnostic screening Dec. 4 and 5. The screening, which covers speech and language, motor skills, socialization and overall cognitive development, will be done by appointment at the district office, 841 West End Court, Vernon Hills. To schedule an appointment, call Martha Skelley at (847) 990-4243 by Nov. 17.
Barrington hospital to host annual show:
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital will hold its annual craft and vendor show today, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the hospital's main lobby and ground level meeting rooms, 450 W. Route 22. Fifteen percent of sales will be donated to area food pantries.
Come to Waukegan, try to win a turkey:
Join the Waukegan Park District's annual turkey trot Saturday. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and foot races will start at 10 a.m. Donate two cans of food to register. All food collected will be donated to a local food bank. Races will be divided by age groups, and race lengths range from five yards to one mile depending on the age group. First-place finishers in each age group will receive a turkey and first-place ribbon. All participants will receive a participation ribbon. Everyone at the event will be entered into a drawing to win a free turkey. Only Waukegan Park District residents are eligible to win turkeys.