Lake County briefs

H1N1 dates extended:The Lake County Health Department is extending the dates of its H1N1 flu vaccination clinic in Gurnee. While clinic appointments were originally being scheduled through Jan. 31, appointments can now be made through the end of February. To make an appointment for an H1N1 vaccination in English or Spanish call: (888) 523-5727. The clinic is in the Advocate Condell Medical Building, 1425 Hunt Club Road, Suite 103. Hours for the month of February are 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Beginning Jan. 11, H1N1 vaccinations will also be available at the health department's immunization clinic, 2303 Dodge Ave., Waukegan. Vaccination consent forms can be filled out in advance at www.lakecountyil.gov/Health/H1N1.htm.Porter endorsement in 10th:Beth Coulson, a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 10th Congressional race, was endorsed Friday by John Porter, the man who held the seat for 20 years before retiring in 2001. In a statement released by Coulson, Porter is quoted as saying she is the best fit for the district and would "restrain runaway federal spending." Porter is currently a lobbyist in Washington. It is the second high-profile endorsement for Coulson, a state representative from Glenview, who last month was backed by former Gov. Jim Edgar. She is among five Republican candidates seeking the nomination for the 10th District seat, which has been held since 2000 by Mark Kirk. Kirk is running for U.S. Senate. The other Republican hopefuls are: Kenilworth businessman Bob Dold; Arie Friedman, a pediatrician from Highland Park; Dick Green, an economist from Winnetka; and Paul Hamann, an electrical engineer from Lake Forest.Early voting:Early voting for the Feb. 2 primary election begins at 20 locations in Lake County on Monday, Jan. 11, and ends Thursday, Jan. 28. Early voting is open to all registered voters from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Voters can visit WhereDoIVote.info to find their early voting location, driving directions, and to see a picture of the site. Early voters are required to present a valid Illinois driver's license, an Illinois identification card issued by the Secretary of State, or another government-issued identification document containing their photograph. Each early voting site serves the respective municipal or township residents with specified exceptions. Visit LakeCountyClerk.info.Land eyed for preserves:Lake County Forest Preserve District Board committees Thursday approved three land purchases, the first of the new year. The deals must be approved by the full board Jan. 12 and then go through proper real-estate closing efforts. One site is 59 acres near Round Lake and will merge with a recently acquired parcel to create a new preserve, officials said. The land is set to cost the district $2.6 million. A second deal will expand the Grant Woods Forest Preserve near Lake Villa, at a cost of $603,000. The third site is a 5-acre addition to the Grainger Woods Conservation Preserve near Mettawa. It will cost $500,000.