Lake County briefs

Attorney running for Congress:

Highland Park attorney Elliot Richardson is running for Congress as a Democrat in the 10th House District, a spokesman said Friday. Richardson is after the seat now held by U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, who GOP sources have said is running for Senate in 2010. Richardson is among several Democratic and Republican candidates interested in the post, which represents parts of Cook and Lake counties. Other declared candidates include Democrat Michael Bond of Grayslake and Republican Patricia Bird of Mount Prospect.

Local artists:

The works of more than 20 artists will be available for sale at the Volo Bog's second annual Summer Bog Art Show, which helps promote local artists while increasing awareness of the world's unique bog ecosystems. Paintings, photography and three-dimensional pieces will be available through a silent auction. Ten percent of the proceeds will go to the Friends of Volo Bog. Viewing and bidding runs through July 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at the visitor center, between Routes 120 and 134 and west of Route 12, Ingleside. A reception will be held July 26 as part of Volo Bog's International Bog Day celebration, which includes music and storytelling. (815) 344-1294; FriendsofVoloBog.org.

Read and be trendy at once:

The Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich is now offering most of their 2,500 digital audiobooks in iPod-compatible formats. A library card and free iTunes software are all one needs to access them on an iPod. A wide range of titles are available spanning fiction, mystery, nonfiction, young adult and children's books. The digital audiobooks can also be played on other mp3 players or burned onto CDs. www.eapl.org or (847) 438-3433.

Health improvements:

The Lake County Health Department has received a grant of more than $1.7 million from the American Rcovery and Reinvestment Act to expand Mid-Lakes Health Center, 224 W. Clarendon Drive, Round Lake Beach. This facility is the Health Department's only health center in western Lake County. Since it opened in 2004, annual medical visits have increased by 46 percent and annual dental visits have increased by 109 percent. The expansion includes exam rooms, a dental operatory, and behavioral health and nutrition counseling space.

A new phone system to support a call center for the department's community health center system will be added to decrease delays for patients. Previous grants of nearly $2 million are being used to build a sixth community health center and help respond to a demand for primary care services.

Bonds for downtown:

Improvements to Route 134 in Round Lake Park are getting closer with the approval Thursday of a $1.5 million bond issue. "We should have the money in about two weeks," said Mayor Jean McCue. The village also waiting for grant funds for planning and work on what is considered its downtown area. A committee will be assembling concept and engineering plans. Trees may be planted this fall but substantial work is not expected soon, McCue said. Voters in April agreed the village should issue the bonds to upgrade the area.

Car burglar nabbed in Gurnee:

Kyle T. Esser, 21, of 17129 W. Tigertail Court in unincorporated Lake County, was charged in connection with a car burglary in May, Gurnee police announced Friday. Police said officers found Esser in his car outside a restaurant on Grand Avenue about 8:05 p.m. Thursday. Police then found what they said was a stolen digital music player in Esser's vehicle that was traced to a car burglary that was reported in May. Esser was being held in lieu of $300,000 bond at the Lake County jail in Waukegan.