Local briefs

Help with heat bills

Grocery shoppers at Jewel-Osco stores can help needy families with heating bills this winter by using Nicor Gas "shop and share" coupons on specified dates. Five percent of their bill will go the Nicor Gas Sharing Program when the coupons are presented to a cashier on Oct. 29, 30, 31 and Nov. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14. The coupons are available on at www.nicorgas.com.

Artists invited to apply

The Naperville Art League is accepting applications for the 23rd annual Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, which will be held Sept. 20 and 21, 2008. Original work in all media will be considered. For applications, visit www.zapplication.org and submit by April 2. A nonrefundable $35 jury fee is required; pay with a credit card or check sent to the Naperville Art League, 508 N. Center St., Naperville, IL 60563. Late applications will be accepted until April 10 for an additional $30 fee. For details, call (630) 355-2530.

Cloud 9 singing in Chicago

Waubonsie Valley High School's Cloud 9 a cappella group has been invited to perform among college groups at Navy Pier's A Cappella Weekend. Waubonsie students will be singing at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 3 and 3:20 p.m. Nov. 4 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. in Chicago. Cloud 9 is the only high school group invited. The full event runs from noon until 8 p.m. Saturday and noon until 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

Artists show woodworks

The North Suburban Carvers' Artistry in Wood show will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton. The event will include displays of wood carvings by local artists, raffles, silent auctions, demonstrations and more. Admission costs $4, free for children 17 and younger accompanied by an adult. For details, call (847) 458-2919 or e-mail woodwizzards2@comcast.net.

Early jump on Halloween:

Downtown merchants in Glen Ellyn and Lombard will offer Halloween activities today. Spooktacular Saturday will be from noon to 4 p.m. today in downtown Lombard. The event includes trick-or-treating at downtown businesses, a petting zoo, musical entertainment, a costume parade and contests, a pumpkin giveaway and more. For details, call Lombard Town Centre at (630) 620-8063 or visit www.lombardtowncentre.org. Glen Ellyn's Halloween Fun event offers families a wealth of activities in the downtown area from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. A 10 a.m. costume parade kicks off the day, starting at Prairie Path Park. Downtown merchants will be passing out treats. The chamber of commerce will sponsor children's crafts, face-painting, bean bag toss games and a variety of street performers on Main Street, which will be closed off to traffic from Crescent Boulevard to Pennsylvania Avenue until late afternoon. For information, call (630) 469-0907.