Lake County briefs

Willow Road work:The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting an open house from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4, regarding the improvement of Willow Road from Route 43 (Waukegan Road) to the Edens Expressway. Exhibits will be on display, with an audiovisual presentation shown every half-hour, and staff will be on hand to answer questions. The open house is at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel, 933 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook. Visit willowroadfuture.org or call (847) 705-4125.Scholarship available:College students can apply to the Lake County sheriff's office for a $500 scholarship. Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents, and the scholarship must be used at a college or university in this state. To apply, go to ilsheriff.org. Applications must be postmarked by April 12 and mailed to: The Lake County Sheriff's Office, 25 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan, IL 60085.Local food bank on "Biggest Loser:" The St. Charles-based Northern Illinois Food Bank will be mentioned during the NBC show "The Biggest Loser" tonight at 7. Former contestants Jerry and Estella Hayes of Wheaton were the two oldest folks ever to compete. The couple will be featured in a special segment. At the same time, the food bank's effort in fighting senior hunger will be highlighted. Viewers will be encouraged to participate in the "Pound for Pound Challenge," at pfpchallenge.com. For every pound pledged, General Mills and other supporters will donate 14 cents to Feeding America with much of the money going to the local food bank, in this case NIFB, and for Cook County residents to Greater Chicago Food Depository.