The briefs

Give gift of life at blood drivesbull; The deLacey Family Education Center, 50 Cleveland Ave., Carpentersville, will host its annual blood drive with LifeSource from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, in the gym. For an appointment, call Lori Pepper at (224) 484-2375. Walk-ins are also welcome. Bring a photo ID.bull; St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 300 Jefferson St., Algonquin, will host its annual Heartland blood drive from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 2. Registration is available through St. John's church office at (847) 658-9300 or online at heartlandbc.org.Cary Parks has pool passes on saleChilly Willy season pool passes for Cary Park District's Community Pool are now on sale and will continue through Friday, April 30. Park district residents who purchase a pass early will receive a discount. Chilly Willy passes are only available to park district residents. Nonresidents may purchase pool passes, at the regular rate, beginning May 1. Passes may be purchased at the Community Center, 255 Briargate Road, from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For details, call (847) 639-6100 or visit carypark.com.Join Hands Day to benefit pantryCatholic Order of Foresters members are gearing up for local volunteer activity supporting the 11th Join Hands Day, a national service day on Saturday, May 1, at St. Charles Borromeo School, 288 E. Jefferson St., Hampshire. The event will bring together volunteers from local COF Hampshire Court 729 and students of St. Charles Borromeo School to collect items for the Burlington/Hampshire Food Pantry. America's Fraternal Benefit Societies created Join Hands Day in 2000 to promote intergenerational community service and relationship development.Elgin church to host Italian NightFirst United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin, will host an Italian Night on Saturday, May 1. Seatings will be at 5:30, 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m. Enjoy the Venetian experience with Italian food, atmosphere and music which includes strolling violinists. The dinner includes minestrone soup, green salad, mostaccioli, garlic bread, spumoni ice cream/Italian lemon ice and beverages. Tickets are $12 or $6 for children ages 2 to 10. Call the church office at (847) 741-0038 to make a reservation. Profits go toward church ministries.Church youth to host barbecueBethlehem Lutheran Youth Group invites you to enjoy Fay's Bar-B-Q from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 8. The fundraiser features drive-through service, so you won't need to leave your car. Pull into the church's parking lot, off Oregon Street in West Dundee, then present your ticket, A member of the youth group will bring your order to your car. For tickets, call the church at (847) 426-7311.Maplewood school celebrating 60 yearsMaplewood Elementary School, 422 Krenz, Cary, will hold an open house from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 15, to celebrate more than 60 years of educational excellence. The cornerstone school of the community will close at the end of this school year. The open house will a celebration of all Maplewood has been and is to the community as the teachers, parents and students say goodbye. There will be food, prizes and more. Hundreds of photos and Maplewood memorabilia will be on display. Teachers past and present will greet guest who visit the classrooms. If you are a former or current Maplewood family, be a part of the Maplewood Memories Project by having your family included in the Maplewood Memory box. For details, call (847) 639-2152.