Tri-Cities briefs
Info on Japanese gardensThe "Patterns in Nature That Inspire Japanese Gardens" presentation is at 7 tonight at the St. Charles Library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. Tim Gruner, curator of Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, will speak. The sponsor is the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. Visit ppfv.org.RITAS Ministry's pokerThe first RITAS Ministry Luck of the Draw Poker Tournament will be held from noon to 2 a.m. Saturday at Pipers Banquet Hall, 1295 Butterfield Road, Aurora. The entry fee is $325 and the top 10 finishers win cash and prizes. The cost of the tournament includes hors d'oeuvres and a buffet dinner. Spectator tickets are $10. For more information or to register online, call (630) 966-0252 or go to ritasministry.org.Free tax help Free tax assistance is available at Waubonsee Community College's Aurora campus twice a week. The college's sixth annual Volunteer Tax Assistance program is open 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at 5 E. Galena Blvd. through April 15. Families with annual incomes of less than $50,000, and individuals earning less than $25,000 a year are eligible for tax assistance. Call (630) 466-7900, ext. 2992, or e-mail vita@waubonsee.edu.Help for parentsHalcyon Counseling Center, a private practice at 825 W. State St., Geneva offers free classes and discussion groups for parents of adolescents from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Each group is led by Lark Syrris, a licensed clinical professional counselor, and each group is limited to eight people. Call (224) 587-3893 to sign up.Kaneland seeks advisersThe Kaneland school district is seeking volunteers for its citizens advisory, facilities planning and finance committees. All advise the school board. For details about their duties, contact Sharon Sabin at (630) 365-5111, ext. 109, or sharon.sabin@kaneland.org. Applications are due March 1.Purchase Metra tickets onlineMetra accepts credit card payment for ticket purchases made online. Using a Web feature, My Metra, commuters can create an account to manage and order tickets online. The feature also will allow them to view ticket order history, create a customized view of their train schedule and set up personalized e-mail alerts. For details, visit metrarail.com.