Lake County briefs

Learn why the census matters:The coming U.S. Census affects political representation and directs the allocation of billions of dollars in government funding annually for critical community services. The League of Women Voters of the Barrington Area has scheduled two informational meetings for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 16 and 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway. Each meeting is designed to cover census basics, such as history, why the census matters, use of technology and privacy, as well as allowing for questions and answers. Census questionnaires will be mailed in March, so the timing of these meetings is to encourage all Barrington area residents to "Stand Up and Be Counted."Flu clinics scheduled:The Lake County Health Department has scheduled additional free H1N1 flu vaccination clinics. They will be: Feb. 20, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Shalem Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1105 Pine St., Waukegan; Feb. 28, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at St. Matthews MB Church, 500 S. Genesee St., Waukegan; and March 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Shiloh Baptist Church, 800 S. Genesee St., Waukegan.Wauconda preschool receives accreditation:Messiah Lutheran Preschool in Wauconda earned accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. An accreditation means the program meets all NAEYC program standards. An accreditation indicates the highest-quality education and care, Director Lynda Janezic said. Only about 8 percent of early childhood programs and preschools are accredited. Walgreens Child Development Center in Deerfield and the American Association of University Women Nursery School in Waukegan are other NAEYC accredited programs in Lake County.Local tribute to the Olympics:In tribute to the Winter Olympics, a free exhibition of U.S. regional champion figure skaters and local skaters will be held at noon Saturday at the Barrington Ice Arena, 28205 W. Commercial Ave., Lake Barrington. The approximately 90-minute event will feature about 20 soloists ranging in age from 8 to 22 years old and group skaters, 6 to 13 years old. The arena's Figure Skating Director Tiffany Sfikas said many of the regional champions participating in the event may be Olympic-worthy in four to eight years.