Tri-Cities in 60 seconds

Nature programs for kids

Children ages 3 to 6 can explore nature in the Kane County Forest Preserve's "Near to Nature" programs this summer. Children and their parents will explore natural areas, go on hikes and play games. The cost is $5 for each session. The dates offered are Aug 26 at Burnidge Forest Preserve, 38W235 Big Timber Road in Elgin; Aug. 27 at Tekakwitha Woods Nature Center, 35W076 Villa Maria Road, St. Charles; and Aug. 28 at the Les Arends Forest Preserve, 2S731 Route 31 in Batavia. All programs are from 10 to 11 a.m. To register, call (847) 741-8350.

U-46 will display budget

Elgin Area School District U-46 will place its tentative 2009 budget on public display from Aug. 18 through Sept. 8 at the Educational Services Center, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin. A public hearing on the budget will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 8.

Kiwanis grants

Applications for St. Charles Noon Kiwanis Club financial grants are now available to organizations that serve children. The grants are tailored to nonprofit groups that provide an "unduplicated" service in the Tri-Cities area. The application deadline is Aug. 15. To apply, e-mail Dennis Haggerty at dhagg6483@ sbcglobal.net.

'Passport' to museums

The Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., is participating in the "Passports to Adventure" program through Labor Day. Children 4 to 12 collect stamps in a booklet by visiting museums throughout the suburbs, and are eligible for prizes. The booklet is available at the history center. Forty museums participate.

Jazz fest returns Sept. 5-6

Tickets are on sale for the 11th Annual Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival Sept. 5 and 6 along the upper banks of the Milwaukee River at Riverside Park in West Bend, Wis. The festival features internationally recognized jazz musicians and vocalists, and is expected to draw some 5,500 fans. The event also includes international cuisine, a marketplace featuring local art and sponsor exhibits. Festival hours are 4:30 to 11:30 p.m. Sept. 5 and 1 to 11 p.m. Sept. 6. Call (877) 271-6903 or go online to www.kmjazz.com.

Get free legal advice

In celebration of its 150th anniversary, the Kane County Bar Association has scheduled monthly Ask a Lawyer Days throughout 2008. Under the program, free legal advice is available to the public by calling (630) 762-1900 from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of each month. For more information, visit the Web at www.kanecountybar.org.