DuPage County briefs

Coloring contest

West Chicago children 12 and younger are invited to participate in this year's National Night Out Coloring Contest. National Night Out will be celebrated from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at Reed-Keppler Park, 129 W. National St. The event will include a flashlight walk, movie in the park, pool party and softball game. Coloring contest forms can be picked up at the West Chicago Police Department, 325 Spencer St.; West Chicago Park District, 157 W. Washington St.; or city hall, 475 Main St. The deadline for entries is July 27. Winning pictures in three age categories will be displayed.

Flags on sale for display

Residents can help fill Naperville's Rotary Hill with flags during a Veterans Day display the week of Nov. 8-14. Three-by-5-foot American flags with 8-foot poles are being sold for $30 each. The flags will be used to create a Naperville Healing Field of Honor to say thank you for those who served our country and to raise awareness of unmet needs of veterans and their families. Proceeds also will benefit Fisher House, a facility being built to provide lodging for family members of patients at Hines VA Hospital. For details, contact Anna Zimmerman at annaz@wowway.com.

Book benefit

Junior Girl Scout Troop 1548 of Pleasant Lane School in Lombard is collecting new and used children's books for disadvantaged families in DuPage County. This is the troop's final step in achieving the Bronze Award, the highest community service award given to Junior Girl Scouts. Books may be dropped off from Aug. 1 to Aug. 15 at Mr. Z's Supermarket, 401 S. Main St.; Helen Plum Library, 110 W. Maple St.; Hobby Lobby, 255 E. Roosevelt Road, and Clancy's Corner Butcher Shoppe, 15 S. Park St.