Cook County briefs

Produce market starts Saturday:

The Arboretum of South Barrington's weekly "Fresh Produce Farmer's Market" will be held each weekend in August and September from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays. The market is located at The Arboretum's southwest parking lot near DSW and Victoria's Secrets. Offerings will include seasonal fruits, melons, and vegetables sourced from growers around the country. Also featured are specialty olive oils and herbs. Cooking demonstrations will be held each week, occasionally featuring Arboretum chefs. For information, visit shopthearboretumsb.com or call (847) 426-6200.

Senate approves flood work:

The Senate has approved $6.8 million in funding in the government's upcoming fiscal year for the $26 million Levee 37 Des Plaines River project on which ground was broken last spring.

The money is being used to construct a levee on the west side of the river in Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights. The Senate also approved $500,000 for studies of tributaries of the river to determine how to further stem river flooding, reduce tributary flooding and restore degraded ecosystems in the river basin, Sen. Dick Durbin's office said. Another $200,000 was approved for a Lake County study of wetland preservation and restoration to improve flood control.

Hood Award winner announced:

The Arlington Heights Senior Citizens Commission Thursday announced its second annual Dr. Kenneth Hood Award recipient will be Shirley Garrison, a 25-year employee of Alexian Brothers Medical Center. She began as a patient representative advocate and retiring as its senior services director. She has been involved in many other activities, including serving as Older Adult Ministries Coordinator at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, where she expanded senior citizen programs and developed support teams to assist seniors in a variety of areas. She will be honored with a reception 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Arlington Heights Municipal Building, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road. For information, contact Maureen Seleski at (847) 618-7450.