Tri-Cities briefs

Volunteers sought for shelter:

With Public Action to Deliver Shelter set to open a location next month in West Chicago, organizers are asking anyone interested in volunteering to attend an orientation meeting at 7:30 tonight at First United Methodist Church, 643 E. Washington St., West Chicago. Call (630) 840-2448.

Audubon fundraiser:

A bird seminar Saturday in Campton Hills will raise money for the Kane County Audubon Society. The event, featuring society member Jerry Hope, is planned for 8:30 a.m. at Wasco Nursery & Garden Center, 41W781 Route 64, and will include a walk through nursery fields to identify different species of birds. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars. Admission is $5. To register, call (630) 584-4424.

Hike for Hospice:

The Hike for Hospice, a 5K walk along the Fox River to honor loved ones, is at 9 a.m. Sept. 26 at the Peg Bond Center, 151 Island Ave. in Batavia. All registered walkers will receive a T-shirt, and there will be face painting, massages, refreshments, and prizes for the top fundraisers. The fee is $25 for those 13 and older, $15 for ages 7 to 12, free for 6 and younger. Proceeds go to Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice. Register at fvvh.org; call (630) 232-2233; or e-mail info@fvvh.org.

Divorce and children:

TriCity Family Services offers the Bridges Divorce Adjustment Workshop. It is for children ages 7 to 11 who struggle with issues related to their parents' separation or divorce. Cost is $75 for an individual child or $125 for two or more children from the same family. Fee reductions are available based on need. The six-session workshop meets from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, beginning Oct. 19, at First Baptist Church of Geneva, 2300 South St. Call (630) 232-1070.

Judson climbs Top Tier:

Judson University in Elgin ranked in the Top Tier of schools in U.S. News and World Report's Baccalaureate-Midwest division in its 2009 edition of America's Best Colleges. The magazine, which has rated the country's colleges since the early 1980s, rates by test scores, peer reputation, selectivity and alumni giving. Judson first appeared in the Top Tier by ranking 54th in the U.S. News and World Report's 2005 Best Colleges survey. Last year, the university climbed higher in the Top Tier by jumping to 21st in the rankings and now has earned the 18th spot. The 1,200-student school costs about $23,500 in tuition and fees each year to attend.