Fox Valley in 60 seconds

Blood drive

The Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 1307 will hold a blood drive for the Heartland Blood Center from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 1601 Weld Road, Elgin. Call Lynnetta at (847) 428-3020 for an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome. Give blood in September and you will be entered in a drawing. Two entries will win a Vespa scooter, a third will win a Wii game system, and a fourth will win an iPod Nano.

Work starts on traffic lights

Work has begun on traffic lights designed to improve safety at two Huntley intersections. The village is installing traffic signals at Haligus and Dundee roads and at Haligus and Reed roads. Village officials expect the signals to be in place by the end of this year. The Huntley village board awarded a $413,000 contract for the work to Home Town Electric in August. The village is also paying Civiltech Engineering $89,000 to design and engineer the signals. The project came in $6,000 under what the village budgeted in April. The village will end up paying only about half the cost of the signals. Centegra Health System, Huntley Unit District 158 and the developer of the Wing Pointe subdivision will shoulder the rest of the cost.

Local pantry to give out food

The Grafton Township Food Pantry will distribute 10,000 pounds of food to needy individuals and families on Thursday, Sept. 18. Through the food giveaway program, which started last year, the food pantry has been able to serve hundreds of local families. The food giveaway will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 10109 Vine St., Huntley. Meat, produce, baked goods and household cleaning supplies will be available. The food pantry will also provide free books, refreshments and free transportation for seniors. For senior transportation, call (847) 669-8500.