Cook County briefs

Burglary arrest:

Prospect Heights Police have arrested William S. Santa, 51, of the 1100 block of Pleasant Run in Wheeling, on charges of residential burglary and possession of burglary tools. A neighbor called 911 Friday morning, June 5, and said he had seen someone kick in the door to a home in the 400 block of North Elmhurst Road. Responding officers reported finding Santa hiding in the home. Santa was taken to Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows where bond was set at $100,000. The next court date is June 25. Santa is currently on federal probation for a weapons conviction, according to a report from Prospect Heights police.

Know someone who needs a laugh?

The Laughter Club of Northern and Northwest Chicago will bring a special Laughter Event to Arlington Heights this weekend. It'll be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13 at Lake Arlington, 2201 N. Windsor Drive. The one-hour session, which is free and open to all ages, will be led by the club's organizer and followed by an optional picnic lunch. The sessions are touted as a positive way to relax, meet new people, relieve stress and improve your health. To register, go to meetup.com/randomactsofkindnessAH. You can also pre-order a lunch from Jimmy John's.

Schools get grant for veggies:

Several area elementary schools are among 114 in the state that will receive a portion of the $2.2 million allotted to Illinois to provide more fresh fruit and vegetables to students. The money comes from the federally funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and is allotted based on enrollment, providing about $50 per student during the 2009-10 school year. According to the Fruits and Vegetables - More Matters federal public health initiative, more than half of all elementary students nationwide eat no fruit on a given day, and a quarter of all vegetables eaten by elementary students are French fries. Area elementary schools that will receive funding are Jane Addams in Palatine, Euclid in Mount Prospect, Walt Whitman in Wheeling and Sunny Hill in Carpentersville.

Small aircraft tours offered:

Small aircraft tours will be offered for those interested in learning to fly or owning an airplane. Sponsored by Windy City Flyers, the free open houses will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Chicago Executive Airport, 1098 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, and Sunday, June 14, at Schaumburg Regional Airport, 905 W. Irving Park Road. Board new aircraft from Cirrus, Diamond, Piper, Cessna and Beechcraft while manufacturer representatives answer questions about new technologies, amenities and ownership. Youth aviation programs will be on display at both airports, and $35 helicopter rides will be offered at the Wheeling location. Windy City Flyers is a 20-year-old flight school based in Wheeling. For further details, call Liz at (847) 808-1188.

Speed enforcement:

Special speed enforcement will continue through June 27 at the following Arlington Heights intersections: Arlington Heights and Central roads; Arlington Heights and Palatine roads; Arlington Heights Road and Euclid Avenue; Palatine and Rand roads. The purpose is to reduce the number of speed-related motor vehicle crashes and resulting injuries and fatalities. This is the third of six campaigns supported by a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation. The current campaign began on May 31. During a campaign conducted between May 3 and May 30, 297 citations were issued for speeding violations, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department. All told, 605 speeding citations have been issued under this grant. The efforts will be conducted primarily during morning and evening rush hour periods.