Lake County briefs

Hearing on park renovation:Grayslake Community Park District officials have announced a public hearing for Wednesday, June 16, on proposed renovations for Cullen Park at Glen and Alta streets in Grayslake. The session will start at 7 p.m. at the park district's administration building, 240 Commerce Drive. The park district is applying for an open space and land acquisition development grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to remake the quarter-acre Cullen Park's playground and grounds. Contact the park district at (847) 223-7529 for more information.Learn a language:The Wauconda Area Library has added an online language learning system that teaches real conversation skills for practical communication. The Mango system is available from any computer with Internet access for free at the library's home page, wauclib.org. Every lesson incorporates vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and culture with a variety of critical thinking and memory exercises. Users will learn how words and phrases can be rearranged and combined to make new thoughts and conversations. Mango offers 12 complete courses and 37 basic courses. Users must have a current library card. Visit the website or call (847) 526-6225.Lakes Youth Athletic Association food drive:Lakes Youth Athletic Association plans to host a food drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Homer T. Cook Memorial Park off Main Street in Wauconda. Proceeds are to benefit a food pantry serving Island Lake and Wauconda. Juice, snacks, canned food, granola bars, pretzels, toothpaste, diapers, shaving cream and pacifiers are among the needed items. Drop-off will be in Cook's skate park across from Wauconda High School. Lakes Youth Athletic Association is involved with providing children ages 6 through 16 from the Wauconda and Island Lake areas an opportunity to play organized baseball and softball.Fishing day:The Vernon Hills Park District hosts a kids fishing day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Big Bear Lake in Century Park. Kids ages 5 to 13 will receive instruction from members of the Libertyville Fishing Club and then fish in hopes of catching the big one. A limited supply of fishing poles will be available for use and bait will be provided. Prizes will be awarded for "fun fish categories." Families are welcome but only kids ages 5 to 13 can participate. Preregistration is required. The fee is $5 for residents and $6 for nonresidents. Visit vhparkdistrict.org.