Fox Valley briefs

Check to see if beaches back open:

The McHenry County Department of Health conducted beach water samplings at 34 licensed beaches on Thursday. Two beaches are closed due to high bacteria levels: Park & Beach, 4811 Orchard Drive, McCullom Lake, and Lake Park Beach, 300 Lake Shore Drive, Crystal Lake. Both beaches were to be retested Friday, with results available today. All beach locations and water results are readily available at www.mcdh.info or by calling (815) 334-4585.

Bake sale today:

As part of the Share Our Strength Great American Bake Sale, Mirella Trozzo-Baillie is histing a bake sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at 1435 Prairie Pointe Drive, South Elgin. There will be cupcakes, Italian lemon cookies, cakes, carmel popcorn, homemade granola, chocolate chuck cookies, sweet breads, balloons and more. It is part of a national campaign to end childhood hunger by holding bake sales in local communities. For details, visit greatamericanbakesale.org.

Back-to-school 'fun-raiser' today

School supplies and nonperishable food donations will be collected during a back-to-school "fun-raiser" in Streamwood today. The event also features live entertainment, games, a silent auction and free food, and takes place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Sam's Club, 900 S. Barrington Road, and is also sponsored by Children's Memorial Hospital and CiCi's Pizza. Food donations will go to the Hanover Township food pantry.