Fox Valley briefs

Elgin parks planning meeting:The Elgin Parks and Recreation Department is inviting all interested residents to participate in the master planning process by attending a public input meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday. The meeting will take place in the Heritage Ballroom at The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way. Findings from the previous held input meetings will be shared, along with an associated needs and gap analysis. Discussions regarding future parks, recreation facilities and recreation programs will follow as the city solicits resident input for this planning document. For details, visit elginparksmasterplan.org.Swim registration nears: The Centre of Elgin will begin swim lesson registration for city residents on Saturday and March 26 for nonresidents. Lessons are available for those six months old through adult. Classes with a ratio of eight students to one instructor are offered once a week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings along with Saturday and Sunday mornings. Smaller classes with a 4:1 student to instructor ratio are offered on Monday and Wednesday nights along with Sunday morning. For details, call (847) 531-7029.Try walking in her shoes:The Friends of the McHenry County College Foundation are holding a Take a Walk in her Shoes Ball, which includes fashion, people modeling their footwear and fun. The ball will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn and is one way the foundation is celebrating Women's History Month - men and women are invited to the event that is raising money for a woman, 24 years and older, to attend MCC. For more tickets or information, send an e-mail to kpfister@mchenry.edu or call (815) 479-7529.County hosts vaccine clinic:The McHenry County Department of Health is hosting a shingles vaccine clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24. The health department recommends the vaccine for people over 60. The clinic will be at 100 N. Virginia St., Crystal Lake. Appointments are required. The vaccine costs $200. Medicare is also accepted. Call (815) 334-4500.