Grant Woods to expand with land buy:

Grant Woods Forest Preserve will grow by 97 acres following the approval Tuesday by the Lake County Forest Preserve District board to buy two adjoining properties at a cost of about $3 million. The decision to buy the Zimmermann and Grunewald properties north of Grand Avenue and east of Route 59 near Lake Villa, will expand Grant Woods, one of the largest preserves in Lake County, to 1,225 acres. The acquisitions also will allow for an eventual trail connection with Bluebird Meadow Forest Preserve to the north, officials said.