Lake County briefs

Trustee dies of cancer

Spring Grove trustee Pamela Kerpec died Sunday evening after a three-year battle with cancer, village officials announced. Kerpec, 63, was appointed trustee in 2007 and filed petition papers to run for another term in the April 7 general election. She withdrew those papers about a week ago, officials said, just before her death. A wake was held in her honor Wednesday night at Strang Funeral Home in Antioch, and the funeral service was Thursday morning at St. Peters Church on Main Street.

District 95 candidate forums:

Candidates for the Lake Zurich Unit District 95 school board will participate in two forums hosted by the combined PTOs. The forums are scheduled for Wednesday at Middle School North, 95 Hubbard Lane, and March 9 at Middle School South, 435 W. Cuba Rd., both at 7:30 p.m.

Five candidates are running for four, 4-year terms and two candidates are up for one, 2-year term on the April 7 ballot. The district is facing daunting budget cuts, and the board received recommendations to cut some teachers, programs, athletics and more two weeks ago. Both forums are open to the community, and attendees will be able to submit questions.

Woman's Day Magazine essay contest

The Vernon Area Public Library, the American Library Association and Woman's Day Magazine are sponsoring an essay contest for women 18 years and older. They want to know how women have used library resources and services during these hard economic times. Essays should be 700 words or less. Four winning stories will be reprinted in the March 2010 issue of the magazine, which boasts a circulation of more than 4 million readers. The deadline for entries is May 18. Details and rules can be found at womansday.com.