Northwest suburban briefs

'Conservations' with Dr. Torres delayed

The Thursday, Jan. 15 session of Conversations with Dr. Torres, a bimonthly evening forum for parents and community members with the U-46 superintendent, is being postponed to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, and will be held in the library of Bartlett High School, 701 Schick Road in Bartlett.

The session will still take place during the hour preceding the general meeting of the Citizens' Advisory Council which will also be held at Bartlett High School.

Feb. 12 is also the date of the next Brown Bag Lunch with Superintendent Jose M. Torres, from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 251 at 355 E. Chicago St., in Elgin. Parents and community members are welcome to bring their lunch and enjoy an hour of conversation with the superintendent.

Late fines benefit Schaumburg pantry

Numerous food items and kitchen supplies will be donated to the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry by the Schaumburg Township District Library, thanks to the library's annual "Food for Fines" collection.

Each December, the library accepts nonperishable food donations in place of money for certain overdue items. This past month the library collected 3,940 canned goods and 1,092 boxed foods and kitchen supplies.

"We are really pleased with the outcome of this year's collection," said circulation director Richard Hanrath. "In today's economy, with so many people out of work, the food pantry plays a vital role in our community. The library is happy to contribute and plans to continue the Food for Fines program, which began nearly 30 years ago."

'Cats' auditions this month at Harper

ArtReach Educational Theatre and Spotlite Theatrix will conduct auditions for its upcoming Theatre Mentoring Production of "Cats," to be performed at Harper College in April and May.

High school and college-age performers to serve as performance-interns are needed. Performance-interns are production assistants at Saturday workshops and also perform in the final production. Adult performers with strong dance backgrounds are also being sought to round out the cast.

Auditions will be held 6-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 3839 W. Frontage Road, Palatine. Come prepared to dance. If you are interested in a singing role come prepared with an accompaniment/karaoke CD of a pop or musical theater song. Call (847) 372-7798 to set up an audition time or e-mail ArtReachSpotlite@aol.com. These are nonpaid positions. www.artreachspotlite.com.

Prayers for peace in the Middle East

On Thursday, Jan. 15, a 7:30 p.m. prayer service will be held at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 909 Main St., in Barrington. This service is held on the 15th of each month as part of an ecumenical effort in the United State and the world to pray daily until a just and lasting peace comes to all citizens of the Middle East.

The service includes reading from the Bible, music and prayers. Following the service, R. Cotton Fite, an Episcopal priest and clinical psychologist at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, will share his experiences in Israel and the Occupied Territory of the West Bank. (847) 381-0243.