The briefs

ECC Steel Bands to 'Think Warm'

The Elgin Community College Steel Bands will present "Think Warm" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets are $9, $7 for students and seniors. For tickets, call (847) 622-0300 or visit elgin.edu.

Auxiliary hosts a wine tasting event

Provena St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary invites you to taste, learn and enjoy at its first wine tasting event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Elgin Community College Business Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Cost is $50 per person. Wines will be provided for tasting and purchase by Geno's Fine Wine & Spirits in Elgin. All proceeds benefit the auxiliary's pledge to the hospital's expansion and modernization project. For details, call (847) 888-3165.

Flu clinic slated at Jacobs High

The McHenry County Department of Health has scheduled its next community clinic for H1N1 injectable vaccine for priority groups from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Drive, Algonquin. Priority groups include pregnant women; caregivers of infants less than 6 months of age; children and individuals ages 4-24; those ages 25-64 with a chronic health condition; health care workers; and first responders. Pregnant women should call for an appointment. Appointments can be made online at mcdh.info or by calling (815) 334-2800.

ECC to host its winter jazz concert

Trumpet and fluegelhorn artist Bob Lark of the DePaul University School of Music joins the Elgin Community College Jazz Ensembles as a special guest for a "Winter Taste of Jazz," an evening performance of big band musical styles, standards and favorites, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive. Cost is $11 for adults and $9 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at tickets.elgin.edu or (847) 622-0300.

Candlelight and comedy at Judson

On Friday, Dec. 4, Judson University will offer "Christmas By Candlelight: Comedy Style," by GreenRoom Productions, a semiprofessional ensemble-based theater company that specializes in improvisation. This event includes a dessert extravaganza, a gift bazaar and bake sale. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Betty Lindner Dining Commons on Judson University's Elgin campus, 1151 N. State St., Elgin. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors and children 12 and younger. Call (847) 628-2514 or visit www.judsonu.edu/candlelight.aspx.

Help out with Living Nativity downtown

Larkin Avenue Baptist Church invites you to join the Living Nativity scene from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, on North Grove Avenue as part of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin's Window Wonderland. Volunteers are needed to assist with hospitality, music, acting and labor in setting up and taking down. There will be live animals. Volunteers are needed for the entire six hours or from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 to 5 p.m. Practice will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. If you can participate, e-mail info@labcelgin.org, call (847) 742-5014 or visit labcelgin.org and click on Holiday Plans and then Living Nativity Scene.

Cary Parks offers Santa's Workshop

Cary Park District will host its annual "Santa's Workshop" holiday program. Area residents are invited to "get on board" the train that takes families to Santa's Workshop. There, a lunch buffet will be served with time for children to visit with Santa. After the visit, families board the train and return to the Cary train station. It will be offered from 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Registration is $18 and $27 for nonresidents per child; $15 and $23 for nonresidents per adult. Registration includes train ticket, meal and activities. Space is limited. Registration is accepted at the community center, 255 Briargate Road, Cary. For details, visit carypark.com or call (847) 639-6100.

Holiday tea features the EYSO quintet

As part of Elgin's Home for the Holidays celebration, the Elgin Area Historical Society will hold its annual holiday tea from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Old Main Museum, 360 Park St. The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra's Sterling Brass Quintet will be featured at 1 p.m. Society member Jan Embree will provide craft supplies for children to make holiday ornaments. For details, call (847) 742-4248 or visit elginhistory.org.