Lake County briefs

Route 45 info session:

Vernon Hills residents are invited by the village board to an informational presentation Tuesday, June 16. regarding plans for the expansion of Route 45. The board will discuss the plan as a committee of the whole, following the regular board meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at village hall, 290 Evergreen Drive. The Illinois Department of Transportation is nearing completion of the Phase I study, which will determine the design for expansion of Route 45 from Mundelein through Vernon Hills to Lincolnshire. Village trustees are reviewing how best to mitigate impacts to properties adjacent to Route 45. The presentation will include an overview of the project followed by questions and answers. Those who wish to comment but are unable to attend should contact Village Manager Mike Allison at mikea@vhills.org or Village Engineer David Brown at daveb@vhills.org.

Veterans meeting set:

Local military veterans and their families can attend a free informational seminar about benefits and services on Thursday, June 18. The forum is set for 6:30 p.m. at Gurnee American Legion Post 771, 749 N. Milwaukee Ave. For information, contact state Rep. Sandy Cole's district office by calling (847) 543-0062 or sending an e-mail to representativesandycole@comcast.net.

HGTV coming to area:

Home & Garden Television's "Bang For Your Buck" is returning for a second season and looking for homeowners in the Chicago area who have completed renovations in the past three years. Each of the show's episodes will tour three similar remodels at similar price points in the same city. A design expert and real estate expert will be brought in to determine how the renovation affects each home's value. Taping is scheduled to begin soon. Homeowners interested in participating are asked to send photos of their master suite and request an application at: BSchledewitz@highnoonentertainment.com or to call Brooke Schledewitz at (303) 712-3168.

I-94 closure:

Travelers are being alerted that one lane of I-94 northbound from Russell Road to just south of Highway 50 in Wisconsin will be closed until December, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The closure began Tuesday on the northbound right lane and will switch to a left lane closure overnight on Saturday, June 13, remaining in place until December 2009. This closure is the beginning of work that will shift southbound traffic to the northbound freeway for the remainder of the year while the new southbound lanes are being constructed. The work will also require closure of the southbound exit ramp to Route 165 in Wisconsin and southbound entrance ramps from Route 165 starting June 15 until late July 2009. Visit www.plan94.org for the latest project and construction information.