Lake County briefs
Emmons needs school board member:
Emmons Elementary District 33 is looking for interested parents and community members to join the school board. Current board member, Jim Fischer, who is moving out of the district, has resigned. Applicants must be at least 18 and live within District 33. Contact Dan Jordan at (847) 838-5085 or Robert Machak at (847) 395-1105 x213 before Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 for more information. The board will conduct interviews to fill this vacancy on Jan. 21.
Youth read for a cause in Lake Villa
In January, the Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa, is offering children and teens a chance to make a difference in their community just by reading. Area students will be reading for charity as part of the library's Winter Reading Program. Participants will track how many minutes they read using a special reading log. Based on the total number of minutes, the library will donate up to $5 per participant to Lake County PADS, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter and supportive services for local homeless families and individuals. The program starts Jan 4. Participation is open to youth in preschool through 12th grade. Children who are not yet reading, but who are being read to by others, are also encouraged to take part. Call (847) 356-7711 for information.
Cook Library director to retire
Dan Armstrong will retire from his position as director of the Cook Memorial Public Library District as of Dec. 31, 2010, library officials said. He's been the library's director since 2007. One of Armstrong's first proposals called for a major expansion of the facilities. The plan called for the construction of a 20,000-square-foot library in Vernon Hills and a 10,000-square-foot addition and remodeling of the Cook Park Library in Libertyville. Both projects are currently under construction and are scheduled for completion in 2010. Armstrong noted that, "Opening two new libraries in one year is a very nice way to cap off my career." The announcement comes a year in advance of Armstrong's departure to allow enough time for the library board to search for a new director, he said.