The Highland Park Fire Department will host its Pancake Breakfast & Open House from 7:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 9 at Fire Station No. 33, 1130 Central Ave.

 Lake County 

County taking part in medication disposal program 

A report stated that local and state-elected leaders — including Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor, State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim, Undersheriff Raymond J. Rose and State Sen. Terry Link, along with Walgreens Regional Vice President Joe Willey — announced the start of the Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Program in Lake County. The program, part of an effort to combat drug and opioid abuse, includes new medication disposal kiosks at three Walgreens locations in the county, allowing individuals to safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescriptions (including controlled substances and over-the-counter medications) at no cost. Walgreens is installing safe medication disposal kiosks in select stores throughout the United States. The Lake County locations include Buffalo Grove Walgreens, 15 N. Buffalo Grove Road; Deerfield Walgreens, 780 Waukegan Road; and Waukegan Walgreens, 1811 Belvidere Road. For more information, call (847) 377-2000 or visit www.lakecountyil.gov.

Ela Township 

 Urry named Ela Township’s new director of Youth Services 

The office of Ela Township, located in Lake Zurich, reported that Chris Urry, a 2007 graduate of Lake Zurich High School and a 2012 graduate of Northern Illinois University, has been named as the township’s new director of Youth Services. Urry replaces Alexandria Tonigan, who recently resigned to attend graduate school. Prior to joining Ela Township — which includes Barrington, Deer Park, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, North Barrington and portions of unincorporated Mundelein and Palatine — Urry worked in membership and marketing for the YMCA corporate office, in Chicago. His previous experience also includes serving as the Youth and Teen Development Director at Foglia YMCA, in Lake Zurich. For more information about the Ela Township Youth Program, call (847) 438-9160, send an email to youth@elatownship.org or visit www.elatownship.org.

Fox Lake 

Fox Lake Parks and Rec Dept. to host Teen Painting Party 

The village announced that the Fox Lake Parks and Recreation Department will host its Teen Painting Party from 6-8:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Lakefront Park Building, 71 Nippersink Blvd. Participants (ages 12 and up) will paint, along with David Becker of The Studio, in McHenry, to create the “MockingJay” masterpiece from “The Hunger Games” series. Each participant will receive step-by-step instruction; no painting experience is required. All painting supplies, including aprons, will be provided. The cost is $37 per attendee, and includes pizza, beverages and an 11-by-14-inch canvas painting to take home. To access a registration form (due by Oct. 14), visit www.foxlake.org. For more information, call (847) 587-3944.

 Island Lake  

Islane Lake, Chamber to co-host Annual Fall Festival  

The village announced that the Annual Fall Festival, sponsored by the Island Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Island Lake, will be held from 2-5 p.m. Oct. 8 at Veterans Memorial Park, 3720 Greenleaf Ave. The event includes free hayrides for all attendees, and free crafts for children. In addition, children can pick their own pumpkin right off the vine and decorate it for $3 each, and children wearing Halloween costumes will be entered into a contest, with prizes awarded for the top three costumes. For more information, call (847) 526-8764 or visit www.villageofislandlake.com.

Lindenhurst 

Lindenhurst announces special leaf disposal program 

The village reported that Groot Industries, Lindenhurst’s contracted waste hauler, is offering a special, 2-for-1 leaf disposal program from Oct. 15 through Nov. 28. During the program, only one yard-waste sticker will be required for the disposal of two parcels of leaves. Leaves must be contained in 35-gallon, biodegradable yard waste bags and placed curbside for pick-up each week. Yard waste stickers are $3.15 each, and are available at Walgreens, 399 S. Route 45, and at Butera Finer Foods, 1500 W. Grand Ave. Stickers are also available online at www.groot.com. For more information, call Groot Industries at (847) 693-2700 or visit www.lindenhurstil.org.

Highland Park 

 Highland Park Fire Dept. to host Pancake Breakfast & Open House 

The Highland Park Fire Department will host its Pancake Breakfast & Open House from 7:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 9 at Fire Station No. 33, 1130 Central Ave. The event includes an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and a variety of family-oriented activities, including a vehicle extraction demonstration, a ladder rescue demonstration, a firefighter clothing display, a fire sprinkler demonstration trailer and tours in the training smoke house. Admission is $7 for adults and $3 for children. All proceeds will go toward the refurbishment of the fire department’s 1929 antique fire engine. For more information, call (847) 432-0800 or visit www.cityhpil.com.

Highwood 

Highwood Pumpkin Festival includes attempt to set Guinness World Record 

The city announced that the 7th Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival will be held from 4-10 p.m. Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 8 and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 9 in downtown Highwood, along Waukegan Road to Webster and Highland avenues. The event includes a carnival, live music on two stages, food vendors, a beer tent, meet-and-greet sessions with HGTV’s Tiffany Brooks, a kids’ trick-or-treat, a pie eating contest, costume contests, crafts, a football tailgate area (Oct. 8 and 9), the Highwood Superhero 5K Run/Walk (beginning at 9 a.m. Oct. 8), a parade (beginning at noon Oct. 9) and more. Admission is $3, and $5 (includes in-and-out privileges). All proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish Illinois. In addition, the city is seeking carved pumpkins in an attempt to establish the Guinness World Record for most lit jack-o-lanterns on display. To participate, bring a carved pumpkin (with a candle inside) to the designated drop-off location in front of City Hall, 17 Highwood Ave., from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Oct. 6. Anyone bringing a carved pumpkin will receive a free weekend admission pass to the fest. For more information, visit www.highwoodpumpkinfest.com or call (847) 432-6000.