Briefs: Fire kills family pets

Two family dogs perished from smoke inhalation in a house fire at 24063 Lakeside Drive in unincorporated Lake County Wednesday night. The Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department responded to the call at 6:10 p.m. and requested aid from area fire departments. The first arriving unit reported fire and smoke coming from the rear of the two-story, single-family home. There was no one home at the time of the fire. The home was in an area with no hydrants. Firefighters established a continuous water supply with the use of water tenders from Barrington and Long Grove fire departments, and brought the fire under control within 30 minutes. Roughly 25 mph winds caused the flames to spread. The fire caused the home's electrical service wires to fall along the driveway and across Lakeside Drive shortly after the first fire engine arrived at the scene. Firefighters placed safety cones and barrier tape around the live wires until Commonwealth Edison was able to cut the power. Lake Zurich and Buffalo Grove fire investigators believe the fire started in the kitchen, but an exact cause could not be determined due to the extent of the damage. Firefighters advise anyone who sees power lines or service wires going to a home or other building hanging low or down to stay away and call the local fire department and Commonwealth Edison. Such wires should be considered extremely dangerous.

Group recognized

Grass Lake Elementary District 36 school board officials recently honored Open Arms Mission for a new program the organization helped run this year in its special-education self-contained classroom. Open Arms Mission provided a backpack each Friday to students who come from families with financial need. The backpack is filled with kid-friendly foods, which the oldest child in the family carries home. The purpose is for the family to have some extra food for the weekend, so children will not go hungry. The child's homeroom teacher discreetly gives the backpack to the child, so it is less obvious to other students. Helping to run this program are Kristine Weisenberger, who teaches the special-education class, and the Rev. Scott Keenan from Open Arms Mission.

Input sought in District 117

Antioch-Lake Villa Area High School District 117 hosts public forums at 7 p.m. April 23 at Lakes High School and at 7 p.m. April 24 at Antioch High School to gather input regarding the school board's five-year plan. The board's five-year plan will end at the end of the 2008-09 school year. The plan can be viewed at the district's Web site www.d117.org.

Arlington thanks towns

Arlington Park will host Community Appreciation Weekends this coming season for residents and businesses in nine local communities. Each three-day event will be highlighted on Saturday with an Official Community Appreciation Day. A race will be named for the community honored with that day's trophy presentation following the race made by the mayor of that community. Residents and businesses will get free admission when they reserve tickets at www.arlingtonpark.com. The dates are: May 2-4, Arlington Heights; May 16-18, Palatine; May 30-June 1, Rolling Meadows; June 6-8 Barrington; June 20-22, Wheeling and Prospect Heights; July 18-20, Buffalo Grove; July 25-27 Hoffman Estates; Aug. 15-17, Schaumburg; Sept. 12-14, Arlington Heights again.