DuPage County briefs

Roselle parking permit hikes:

The Roselle village board has approved commuter parking fee increases. Effective for 2010, permits for the Metra station north and south lots will be $27 a month, $66 a quarter and $240 a year. Permits for the Maple Avenue lot will cost $15 a month, $36 a quarter and $132 a year. Daily fee parking at the north daily fee lot, located off Irving Park Road and Lawrence Avenue, and at the American Legion daily fee lot, at Maple Avenue and Spring Street, will be $1.50. Permits for 2010 will be available starting Monday, Dec. 7, at village hall, 31 S. Prospect St., by cash or check during normal business hours, or by credit card online at roselle.il.us.

Polar Express at Blackberry:

You can jump aboard the Polar Express train during the first two weekends of December at Aurora's Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road. The decorated train will run continuously around Lake Gregory from 4 to 7 p.m. the weekends of Dec. 5-6 and 12-13. Holiday music will play during the event, "The Polar Express" will be read at the school house and Santa will meet youngsters at the Early Streets Museum. Admission to the Polar Express is $3 for Aurora residents and $5 for others. For more details, call (630) 892-1550.

Golfers helping the needy:

Naperville's Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry was one of the big winners of the park district's Turkey Shoot tournament Saturday at Naperbrook Golf Course. Golfers wound up donating 22 turkeys and 300 pounds of food for the pantry, which helps feed those in need in the Naperville area. The turkey shoot was the last tournament of the season at the course, which is operated by Naperville Park District.

Holiday collections:

Boxes, barrels and bins are set up in Lombard's village hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave., for donations of gently used and new coats; nonperishable food items to benefit the Lombard Food Pantry and the York Center Food Pantry (especially peanut butter and jelly, paper products, personal hygiene items, cereal and pasta); items for the troops (see www.villageoflombard.org for a list of desired items) and new unwrapped toys. Candy, which will also be sent to the troops, is being collected at the police department.

Prayer breakfast tickets:

Tickets are available to attend the Mayor's Community Prayer Breakfast in Naperville from 7 to 8:15 a.m. Dec. 3, at Fry Family YMCA, 2120 W. 95th St., Naperville. Mayor George Pradel will preside over a breakfast that includes inspirational music, scripture and guest speakers. Norris Lineweaver, a retired YMCA executive who served in the United States and as director general of the Jerusalem International YMCA, will speak on "Celebrating Diversity." Former Naperville resident Kristy Glass, now an actress and performer living in New York City, will be back. Tickets are $15, and available at the Fry Family YMCA and the Kroehler Family YMCA, 34 S. Washington St., Naperville. For details, call (630) 420-0960.

Energy evaluations available:

Naperville is accepting applications for the Home Energy Savings Program through 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30. The program is designed to provide qualified residents an opportunity to improve their home's energy efficiency through a free home energy evaluation. Participants also receive a 50 percent reimbursement of up to $1,500 for qualifying energy improvements. Naperville created the program through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy using stimulus money. A minimum of 350 qualified residents will receive an energy evaluation. For details, call (630) 420-6077 or visit naperville.il.us/hesp.aspx.