The 10th Annual Taste of Highland Park, running in conjunction with the 33rd Annual Port Clinton Art Festival, will be held from 5-10 p.m. Aug. 26, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 27 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave. (Amdur Productions, amdurproductions.com, photo)

Lake County 

 New coalition to address county’s mental health needs 

In an effort to strengthen mental health services across the county, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor and former Illinois State Sen. Susan Garrett will lead the Lake County Mental Health Coalition, a new community-wide initiative focusing on data-sharing and evidence-based practices to identify gaps and recommend a sustainable continuum of care. The coalition will include a diverse group of stakeholders representing hospitals, the health department, supportive housing, veterans, homeless assistance, law enforcement and others. According to a National Health Interview Survey, a total of 4.6 million adult hospital visits for acute mental illness occurred in the United States in 2010, with 17 percent of adults living in northern Lake County reporting incidents of mental illness in the same year. Lake County currently has 59 psychiatric beds and less than 100 psychiatrists to serve those with serious mental health needs. As co-chairs of the new coalition, Lawlor and Garrett will look to enhance existing services and treat mental illness before it results in tragic situations, including unemployment, homelessness, poverty and suicide. For more information, call (847) 377-2000 or visit www.lakecountyil.gov.

Lake Forest 

 Chamber of Commerce to host free networking event 

The Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce will host B4Work, a morning networking event designed to build new business relationships, from 7:15-8:30 a.m. Aug. 26 at Market House on the Square, 655 Forest Ave. Admission is free, and the event is open to Chamber members and non-members. Participants are encouraged to bring numerous business cards and provide a 30-second introduction of their respective businesses. To RSVP, and for more information, call (847) 234-4282 or visit www.lflbchamber.com.

Highland Park 

 Art fest to run in tandem with Taste of Highland Park 

The city announced that the 10th Annual Taste of Highland Park, running in conjunction with the 33rd Annual Port Clinton Art Festival, will be held from 5-10 p.m. Aug. 26, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 27 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave. The event will feature food and beverages from a variety of local restaurants, youth activities and more. Daily live entertainment includes the Gold Coast All Stars headlining at 8 p.m. Aug. 26, Too White Crew at 8 p.m. Aug. 27 and Check With Lucy at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 28. The art fest features fine art from more than 260 of the world’s most celebrated artists, and the Youth Art Division, which offers young artists (ages 18 and under) an opportunity to exhibit their work. Admission to the Taste of Highland Park and Port Clinton Art Festival is free. For more information, call (847) 432-7625 or visit www.cityhpil.com.

Antioch 

 CLC horticulture student Kondenar earns trio of scholarships 

The College of Lake County (CLC) reported that horticulture student Bernard Kondenar, a resident of Antioch, has received two prestigious industry scholarships: the inaugural $5,000 Denny R. Church Memorial Scholarship from the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) and a 2016 Proven Winners 2-Year/Technical School Scholarship of $2,000. The Denny R. Church Memorial Scholarship, created in 2015, is awarded to a student enrolled full-time or part-time in an accredited horticulture degree program who completes an essay describing educational and career goals, and submits a written evaluation from a counselor or department head. The Proven Winners award is presented to a student earning at least a 3.0 grade-point average in horticultural science or a related field. Kondenar was one of only five North American students to receive a 2016 Proven Winners Scholarship. Kondenar, who is majoring in sustainable agriculture, also received a $500 Devore Leadership Scholarship from the CLC Foundation for his involvement in student government. He plans to graduate in 2017 before pursuing a bachelor’s degree in plant service.

Grayslake 

 Balloon fest to kick off with 19th Century baseball game 

The Grayslake Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the village and the Grayslake Park District, will host the 4th Annual Color Aloft Balloon Festival from 4-9 p.m. Aug. 27 at Central Park, 250 Library Lane. The event will feature a colorful display of hot air balloons in the sky, and includes musical entertainment, children’s activities, storytelling and business booths. In addition, the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum will host a 19th Century baseball game at 4 p.m. between the Grayslake Athletics and the McHenry County Independents at the north end of Central Park to kick off the fest. Admission is free. There will be no food vendors on-site; attendees can set up a picnic in the park. For more information, call (847) 223-6888 or visit www.grayslakechamber.com.

Waukegan 

 Benefit event to support Words on Wheels organization 

The city announced that the Words on Wheels Music Benefit will be held from 2-6 p.m. Aug. 28 at Green Town Tavern, 110 S. Genesee Street. Words on Wheels is a volunteer, non-profit organization focused on providing literacy skills, music and other activities for at-risk infants and children living in shelters, transitional living facilities and other low-income child care facilities. The benefit event includes live performances by musicians Sipos & Young, Ivy Ford, Jon Pekkarinen, and raffle prizes. Food will be provided by Rosati’s Pizza. Admission requires a $5 donation to support Words on Wheels, and includes one raffle ticket per person. For more information, call (847) 599-2500 or visit www.waukeganweb.net.

Highwood 

 Historical Society offers program on North Shore Railway 

The Highland Park Historical Society will host “North Shore Line & Highwood,” a special presentation on the history of the North Shore Railway, from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 1 at Oak Terrace School, 240 Prairie Ave. Presenters Joe Stupar and Norm Krentel from the Illinois Railway Museum, in Union, will share photos and stories of the railway, which was a major transportation connection for all communities along the North Shore from Milwaukee to Chicago. Highwood served as the administrative and work center for the railroad, which operated from the early 1900s until shutting down in 1963. Admission is free. For more information, call (847) 682- 9039 or visit www.highwoodhistoricalsociety.com.