Cook County briefs
Donate school supplies:
Starting today through Aug. 15, school supplies can be donated for distribution to needy children in Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54, Palatine Township Elementary District 15, Elgin Area Unit District 46 and Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211. The effort is spearheaded by the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce, and, in addition to its offices at 2200 Higgins Road, Suite 201, drop-off locations are at several chamber member businesses in Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Hanover Park, Streamwood and South Barrington. For a complete list of locations and school supplies, go to hechamber.com or call (847) 781-9100.
Special needs carnival set:
The Palatine Jaycees will continue an annual tradition by hosting its Special Needs Carnival from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at Hometown Fest. Individuals with mental or physical disabilities and their families are invited to enjoy complimentary rides. Registration begins at 2:15 near the carnival rides at Community Park, located at Northwest Highway and Palatine Road. For further information, go to palatinejaycees.org or call (847) 604-0288.
Autographed guitar raffled off:
The Mount Prospect Lions Club is raffling off a collector's rock guitar autographed by Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven, Ronnie Rice, and band members from the Buckinghams, The Ides of March, Shadows of Knight, the Cryan Shames, Jan and Dean and others. Tickets will be sold at the raffle booth at the Mount Prospect Lions Club Festival, which runs through Sunday, July 5, in Melas Park. Only 500 will be sold for $10 each. The drawing will be held at 9 p.m. Sunday. The winner need not be present. To view the guitar, go to wix.com/lionsclub/guitar.
Legislators hold forums:
State Rep. Sidney Mathias, a Buffalo Grove Republican and state Sen. Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican, will hold a series of forums to update constituents on the state budget and issues of local concern, ethics reform, tax relief, and investments in transportation, education and health care. The open meetings will feature a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. The meetings will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, in the Buffalo Grove Village Board Room, 50 Raupp Blvd., Buffalo Grove; Thursday, July 23, in the Arlington Heights Village Board Room, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road; Tuesday, Aug. 11, in Wheeling Village Hall, 2 Community Blvd., Wheeling; and Tuesday, Aug. 18, in Prospect Heights Village Hall, 8 N. Elmhurst Road, Prospect Heights. For information, contact Mathias' office at (847) 222-0061 or Murphy's office at (847) 776-1490.