Fox Valley briefs

Light the green tree:

Pingree Grove will hold its second annual tree-lighting ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Park on Reinking Road. As part of the free festivities, there also will be hot chocolate, Christmas carolers and sleigh rides. For more information, call Cathie Vavra at (224) 659-4747.

Foundation's endowment:

The District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence, a nonprofit organization that supports students and staff in the district, has created a new endowment in memory of longtime district art teacher Patricia Ostewig. Ostewig, who taught high school art in the district for 34 years, died last year at the age of 59 from a brain aneurysm. The Patricia Ostewig Endowment, the foundation's first endowment, was started with a $10,000 check from Ostewig's estate. If you wish to donate to the endowment, send a check made out to D300 Foundation to 300 Cleveland Ave., Carpentersville. Please indicate that your check is intended for the endowment.

Toys needed for giveaway:

For more than 20 years the Elgin Community Holiday Toy Giveaway, a community sponsored event, has collected and distributed more than 5,000 toys and gifts to 2,500 children from more than 900 families in Elgin and South Elgin. Organizers are anticipating the need for even more gifts this year. New toys or monetary donations to purchase toys are acceptable; and a list of toys is available on the Community Crisis Center Web site at www.crisiscenter.org. Monetary donations can be sent to the Community Crisis Center, P.O. Box 1390, Elgin, 60121-1390; designate Toy Giveaway in the memo field. Toys can be dropped off at three locations: Grand Victoria Casino, Elgin Township Office, or Habitat for Humanity Re-Store in Elgin. This year's toy giveaway is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. For details, call Lea at (847) 742-4088.

Meeting canceled:

The Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at village hall, 600 Harvest Gate, Lake in the Hills, has been canceled. The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. Jan. 8.