Tri-Cities briefs
Toys for Tots drive:
For one more day the Fox Valley Park District and local police continue their annual Toys for Tots drive to provide holiday gifts for less fortunate children. People can drop off new, unwrapped toys at Fox Valley Park District facilities, the Aurora Police Department, Aurora Fire Department, Aurora City Hall, the North Aurora and Campton Hills police departments, Daleiden Mortuary in Aurora, and the Kane County Sheriff's Department in Geneva through today. For details, visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
Holiday basketball camp:
St. Charles North High School will host its annual holiday basketball camp Dec. 29 and 30 at the school. For those in grades three through five, the camp will run from 9 a.m. to noon. For those in seventh and eighth grades, the camp runs from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Preregistration for one day is $35 and $60 for both days. The walk-in fees are $40 for one day and $65 for two days. For information and a registration form, go to scnbasketball.org.
Aurora collecting coats:
Aurora's Youth Services Department is collecting both new and gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves through Monday for Aurora residents of all ages; all sizes are needed. Community members may drop off items between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at: Youth and Sports Activities Department, 501 College Ave., Suite 304; Aldermen's Office, 60 E. Downer Place; and Customer Service Center, 3770 McCoy Drive (adjacent to Fire Station 8). Call (630) 844-3619.
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.