Lake County briefs

Downtown Antioch improvements on hold:

Planned improvements for downtown Antioch are off the table for now. Village officials have decided to use most of the nearly $700,000 from a tax increment financing district to purchase a piece of property near downtown. The original planned called for spending around $300,000 for major downtown corners to be spruced up with landscaping, signs and lighting, and the addition of a commissioned art piece. Downtown alleys were to be upgraded with new paving, lighting, handrails and iron archways. Director of Planning and Zoning Dustin Nilsen said the village hopes to eventually complete those improvements using money from the village's capital improvement account. The location of the purchased property won't be announced until the deal is final, officials said.

Have spaghetti with the Boy Scouts:

Boy Scout Troop 66, serving parts of Beach Park, Zion, Winthrop Harbor and Waukegan, is hosting its 15th Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, Sept. 25, at Our Lady of Humility School, 10655 Wadsworth Road in Beach Park. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. The boys will serve home-cooked spaghetti with the usual complements of salad and garlic bread. For details, call (847) 872-1402.

Run for charity:

Vernon Hills High School will host a fundraising 5K race on Oct. 4. The event will benefit the American Heart Association. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Big Bear Lake, Route 60 and Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills. Up to 200 people can participate. Registration forms are available in the school's main office. The registration fee is $30. Participants who register by Sept. 25 will receive a free T-shirt. For more information, call Cheryl Steffens at (847) 932-2015.