Briefs: State budget hearing

The Illinois State Board of Education will hold a hearing on the 2010 budget from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Briar Glen Elementary School, 1800 Briarcliffe Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Speakers are asked to provide 15 copies of all written testimony. For details, call (217) 782-2221.

Driscoll Catholic open house

Driscoll Catholic High School will sponsor an open house at 7 p.m. today, Dec. 2, at the school, 555 N. Lombard Road, Addison. Driscoll also will offer a pretest workshop for the entrance exam from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 6 and an entrance exam at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 10. For details, call Director of Recruitment Fran Sikorski at (630) 543-6310.

Two towns get grants

Two DuPage County communities will receive a portion of nearly $760,000 in funding from the Illinois Recycling Grant program, state officials said. Bensenville will receive $27,265 to expand its curbside recycling program. The village plans to replace bags with bin-style containers and expects to divert about 585 additional tons of materials away from landfills. Carol Stream will receive $6,450 to enhance its curbside recycling effort with the goal of diverting about 15 percent more of recyclable materials away from landfills.

Seniors raise funds for cancer

Residents of Alden Gardens of Waterford Assisted Living Community in Aurora are presenting a check for $2,000 to the American Cancer Society today, Dec. 2, for breast cancer research. Residents and employees raised the money during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October by making and selling pink ribbons, hosting two bake sales, and accepting donations from families who walked through Alden Gardens' Halloween Haunted House.

Leaf collection on hold

Naperville has temporarily suspended its leaf collection efforts due to the recent snowfall. When winter weather abates, the city will continue leaf collection on a modified schedule. Residents who have not received their last collection will need to rake any leaves to the curb for collection. Through Dec. 12, no sticker is required for paper yard waste bags filled with leaves only. The bags should be placed by the curb on the normal garbage collection day. All bagged and bundled yard waste collection will end for the year on Dec. 12 and resume in March 2009.