The Highwood Chamber of Commerce will host Bloody Mary Fest 2016 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 31 at Everts Park, 130 Highwood Ave.

Lake County

Office of County Clerk announces fundraising BBQ

The office of Lake County Clerk Carla N. Wyckoff announced that the Lake County Cares Fundraising Lunchtime BBQ will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 28 at the Daniel T. Drew Municipal Complex, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan. The event includes a hot dog ($6) or hamburger ($7) lunch (each including chips and a drink) from Dockside Dogs, a drawing featuring numerous prizes (including a table-top patio heater, a City Winery gift certificate, NuWave appliances, Target gift cards and more), and live music by guitarist Jazzman Jeff. Attendees who purchase a lunch ticket in advance will receive a free ticket for the drawing. Additional prize tickets are $5 (for six tickets). Advance lunch and prize tickets are available at the Lake County Clerk office, 18 N. County Street (Room 101), Waukegan. For more information, call (847) 377-2312 or visit www.lakecountyil.gov.

Deerfield

 Booth at Farmers Market to promote conservation efforts

The village’s Sustainability Commission is inviting residents to visit its booth from 9-11 a.m. Aug. 6 during Farmers Market, which is held from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday morning (through Oct. 15) in the Metra station commuter parking lot, located at the intersection of Deerfield Road and Robert York Avenue. The booth, intended to promote water and energy conservation efforts, will offer reusable water bottles featuring the “Green Up Deerfield” logo for $3, and host a water-tasting event. In addition, free milkweed seeds will be given to the first 500 visitors in an effort to help preserve and strengthen the dwindling Monarch butterfly population. Other activities at the Farmers Market on Aug. 6 include a market drawing, a bake sale by the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority North Shore Alumnae Group and live entertainment by L.J. Slaving & Hector Fernandez from 10-11:30 a.m. Representatives from the Deerfield Education Foundation and the Lake County Forest Preserve & Preservation Foundation will be on hand as well. For more information, call (847) 945-5000 or visit www.deerfield.il.us.

Highland Park

City to test drinking water at all public facilities

The city reported that it is partnering with North Shore School District 112, Township High School District 113, the Park District of Highland Park and the Highland Park Public Library to take additional precautionary measures, exceeding state requirements, in an effort to ensure the safe delivery of the city’s water. During the summer, the city will collect samples from drinking fountains and drinking water faucets at all city and school district facilities, park properties and the library, and then bring the samples to a certified laboratory to be tested for lead. Following the submission of samples, testing will take approximately two weeks to complete. Each respective government entity will receive test results for their facilities, and the results will be posted on respective websites as they become available. If sample results exceed the threshold limits, a contingency plan will be developed. For more information, contact Water Plant Superintendent Don Jensen at (847) 433-4355 or via email at djensen@cityhpil.com — or visit www.cityhpil.com.

Highwood

 Chamber of Commerce Bloody Mary Fest to benefit NSSRA

The Highwood Chamber of Commerce will host Bloody Mary Fest 2016 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 31 at Everts Park, 130 Highwood Ave. Attendees can sample a wide variety of original Bloody Mary concoctions from dozens of vendors in the area and across the country, with mixologists competing for the title of Best Bloody Mary in the Midwest. Judging will be conducted by a host of media celebrities, including WGN Radio’s Patty Vasquez, as well as Highwood Alderman Eric Falberg (founder of Bloody Mary Fest), and attendees. Each of the top three winners will receive a trophy. Vendors will also offer Bloody Marys for purchase. The fest includes children’s activities, a beer truck, food vendors and live entertainment by Project 2 Music (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Zydeco Voodoo (2-5 p.m.). A $2 donation is suggested for admission. Proceeds will benefit Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing and facilitating year-round recreation programs and services for children, teens and adults with disabilities. For more information, call (847) 432-6000 or visit www.celebratehighwood.com.

Lake Forest

 Lemmer appointed as new Lake Forest Library Director

The city reported that the Lake Forest Library Board of Trustees appointed Catherine A. Lemmer as the new Lake Forest Library Director. Lemmer, who has 15 years of experience at libraries in the private and public sector, most recently served as Assistant Director of Information Services at Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law. In addition to earning a Master of Science degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois, Lemmer holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University (Wis.). For more information, call (847) 234-0636 or visit www.cityoflakeforest.com.

North Chicago

 ‘Pint for a Pint’ blood drive offers free ice cream for donors

In conjunction with Baskin Robbins Ice Cream’s “Pint for a Pint” campaign, the City of North Chicago Blood Drive will be held from 2-6 p.m. July 28 in the Fire House Training Room at the North Chicago Fire Department, 1850 N. Lewis Ave. Participants who donate a pint of blood will receive a certificate for a free pint of Baskin Robbins’ hand-packed ice cream. Donations will benefit cancer and liver transplant patients, motor vehicle and gunshot victims, and newborns and community members requiring surgery. The event, conducted by Heartland Blood Centers, is co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of North Chicago and the Exchange Club of North Chicago. To schedule an appointment, visit www.heartlandbc.org or call (847) 596-8640. Walk-ins are welcome; a photo ID is required.

Bannockburn

 Village earns No. 2 ranking on Best Places to Live in Illinois list

The village reported that Niche, a company that provides rankings and statistics on every city and neighborhood in the United States in order to help people find the best places to live, visit and raise a family, recently ranked Bannockburn as No. 2 on its 2016 Best Places to Live in Illinois list — up from No. 6 in 2015. The ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the overall livability of a location, taking into account several key factors, including quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics and access to amenities. Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI and other sources. To view the entire list, visit www.local.niche.com/rankings/. For more information, call (847) 945-6080 or visit www.bannockburn.org.