The Rev. Sean Parker Dennison

Barrington Hills 

 Park Dist. to host 4th Annual Barrington Hills Festival 

The village and the Barrington Hills Park District will host the 4th Annual Barrington Hills Festival, “The Hills Are Alive 2016,” from 1-5 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Barrington Hills Park District Riding Center, 361 Bateman Road. The event includes live music, crafts, games, pony rides, family activities, demonstrations, representatives from local organizations, Kids Fly-a-Kite (open to the first 300 kids) and Sunset Yoga (bring your own mat) at 4:45 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, including how to volunteer and/or donate, contact Village Clerk Anna Paul at (847) 551-3000 or via email at fest@ vbhil.com — or visit www.barringtonhills-il.gov.

McHenry 

Dennison resigns as minister of McHenry Tree of Life congregation 

A report stated that Rev. Sean Parker Dennison has announced his resignation as minister of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, located at 5603 Bull Valley Road. Dennison delivered his last sermon, “Heading Toward Hope and Healing,” on Oct. 2, and was honored by the congregation during a reception following the service. Dennison joined the congregation in 2012, shortly after it moved from its longtime location in Woodstock. Going forward, Tree of Life’s Worship Arts Committee will present lay-led services, with the assistance of Religious Education Director Sam Jones and Music Director Forrest Ransburg, and will open the pulpit to guest ministers as well. Over the next few months, an interim minister will be selected to guide the congregation through the search process for a new minister. For more information, call (815) 322-2464, send an email to office@treeoflifeuu.org or visit www.treeoflifeuu.org.

Lake in the Hills 

Pub in the Park Craft Beer Fest to benefit Lake in the Hills Parks and Rec Dept.  

The People for Parks Foundation of LITH, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department, will host its second annual Pub in the Park Craft Beer Fest from 3-7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road. The event includes a variety of craft beers from more than 40 breweries, food trucks and live music. Attendees will receive an ID wristband and a Pub in the Park souvenir glass for beer sampling. A special designated driver ticket is available as well. Non-alcoholic drinks will be available, and attendees wearing a designated driver wristband will not be served alcohol. No outside beer is permitted, and no animals will be allowed other than seeing-eye dogs and other medical service dogs. Tickets are $65 (VIP), $45 (general admission) and $15 (designated driver). All proceeds will benefit residents who participate in Park and Recreation Department programs. To purchase tickets, visit www.pubinthepark.org. For more information, call (847) 960-7460 or visit www.lith.org.

Huntley 

Huntley Library offers free access to online Early Learning Academy 

The Huntley Area Public Library, 11000 Ruth Road, announced that it is now offering free access to the ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy for families with young children. ABCmouse.com is a comprehensive early learning site for children (ages 2-7) with more than 3,500 learning activities, covering reading and language, arts, math, science, social studies, art and music. The library stated that ABCmouse.com has won numerous awards, and that it is child-safe, with no advertising links to other websites. For more information, visit the library, call (847) 669-5386 or visit www.huntleylibrary.org.

Spring Grove 

Trivia Night event to benefit Community Church of Richmond 

The village announced that the 3rd Annual Trivia Night, a fundraising event for the Community Church of Richmond, will be held on Oct. 22 at Richardson Farm, 9407 Richardson Road. Doors open at 6 p.m., followed by the first trivia question at 7 p.m. Teams of up to eight people each (ages 21 and up) will compete for the Winner Trophy, as well as prizes. The event also includes raffles. A variety of beverages will be available for purchase from International House of Wine and Cheese. Outside beverages will not be permitted, but attendees can bring their own snacks. The cost is $20 per person; registration is due Oct. 19. All proceeds will benefit the church. To register, and for more information, call (815) 678-6521 or visit www.richmonducc.org.

Crystal Lake 

Crystal Lake named 10th Best Small City in America by national finance group 

The village reported that Crystal Lake has been named the 10th Best Small City in America by WalletHub, a national personal and small business finance advisory group. Rankings for the honor correspond to 22 different criteria, measuring attributes from the quality of life and cost of living to the number of restaurants per capita. Crystal Lake’s education and health scores topped the scales for school system quality, and the availability of medical services. All three of the city’s high schools rank in the top 25 percent of public high schools in Illinois, and Crystal Lake High School District 155 also is one of only 500 school districts in the United States and Canada named to the Advanced Placement District Honor Roll. In addition, the city is ranked within the top 9 percent in the U.S. for fire suppression service. For more information, call (815) 459-2020 or visit www.crystallake.org.

Lakewood 

CASA to host fundraiser at Turnberry Country Club 

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of McHenry County will host the 7th Annual CASA Cup: A Night at the Races, a fundraising event designed to assist abused and neglected children in the county, from 6:30-11 p.m. Oct. 15 at Turnberry Country Club, 9600 Turnberry Trail. The event includes McHenry County’s only broomstick horse race, unique auction items, raffles, appetizers and live music by local band Hudson McCoy. Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the door. To purchase tickets, and for more information, call (815) 363-5920 or visit www.casamchenrycounty.org.

Cary 

Cary Police Dept. to host prescription drug take-back event 

The village announced that the Cary Police Department will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day initiative from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 22 at the police station, 654 Village Hall Drive. Residents will be allowed to drop off old, unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs for proper disposal. No liquids or syringes will be accepted. Authorized personnel will be on hand to accept prescription drug drop-offs. For more information, call (847) 639-0003 or visit www.caryillinois.com.