Tri-Cities briefs
Campton toy drive:
Campton Hills police are collecting toys for needy children again this Christmas as part of the U.S. Marine Corps' popular "Toys for Tots" program. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be made during regular business hours through Friday at the police station, 40W115 Campton Crossings Drive, or at the Fox Valley Marines Detachment 1233 office, 1005 Prairie St., St. Charles. Of particular need this year are toys for ages 8 to 14. Call (630) 584-0330.
Hip-hop, Batavia:
The Cherry Valley Revival and Tina Turner Overdrive will perform house, electro and hip-hop music in "The Secret Night of Science" from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Water Street Studios, 160 S. Water St., Batavia. The event is free.
Learn to baby-sit:
American Red Cross Babysitter's Training Course will be conducted for students ages 11 to 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. Registration priority is given to Batavia cardholders. Sign up at bataviapubliclibrary.org.
Library holiday hours:
The Batavia Public Library will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 and Jan. 1. It will also close at noon on Dec. 31.
Disaster grant issued:
A $52,000 disaster assistance grant was issued to the College of DuPage through the Illinois Department of Commerce. The grant will assist the college's Small Business Development Center to provide disaster assistance and emergency preparedness education, training and outreach to more than 100 county clients through May 2010. The county is a federally designated disaster area following the fall 2008 flooding. For more information about grant funding, call Carol Anglet at (630) 942-2461.
ECC health program expands:
Elgin Community College's Pathways to Health Careers Program has added four certificates to allow more students to enter the program, obtain grant funding to pay for their tuition, books and fees and attain skills quickly for employment in health care. A basic vocational specialist in clinical laboratory assisting and phlebotomy, vocational specialist in histotechnology and vocational specialist certificate in massage therapy are the new study options added to the program. They join current associate degree offerings in clinical laboratory technology, physical therapy assisting, histotechnology and radiography, along with a vocational specialist certificate in dental assisting. For details, call (847) 214-7956 or log on to pathwaytohealthcareers@elgin.edu.