The Jazz Consortium Big Band, a group of former and current University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Northwestern University musicians, will host its fifth annual Holiday Canned Food Drive Nov. 8.

Palatine

Jazz band to host canned food drive at Durty Nellie’s

The Jazz Consortium Big Band, a group of former and current University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Northwestern University musicians, will host its fifth annual Holiday Canned Food Drive from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 8 at Durty Nellie’s, a restaurant and club located at 180 N. Smith St. The event, designed to benefit the Palatine Township Food Pantry, also will feature Wheeling High School Jazz Band 1 as an opening act for the Jazz Consortium. All ages are welcome; reservations are suggested. The cost is $10 ($5 for students ages 17 and under). For tickets and more information, call (847) 358-9150, visit www.durtynellies.com or contact Roy Vombrack at 847-695-3710. To view a list of needed food items, visit www.palatinetownship.com/foodpantry/

Schaumburg

Park district event offers look at 1880s farm families’ food prep

The Schaumburg Park District will present From Hog House to Smokehouse, an annual event (sponsored by Whole Foods market) examining how 1880s farm families put meat on the table and preserved food for the winter, from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 15 at Volkening Heritage Farm, located at 201 S. Plum Grove Road. Staff members will smoke hams, show salt-cured meat, and explain how every part of a pig was used late in the 19th Century. Refreshments and food will be available for purchase, and children’s activities will be held throughout the day. Admission is $3 (free for children ages 3 and under), and $12 per family of six or fewer members. For more information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit www.parkfun.com.

Elk Grove Village

Library to host program on celebrated war dog

The Elk Grove Public Library, located at 1001 Wellington Ave., will present Smokey the War Dog, a special veterans program featuring presenter Adrian Brigham, at 7 p.m. Nov. 4. Brigham will recount the heartwarming story of Smokey, and her owner/trainer Bill Wynne, detailing how the dog was discovered at the bottom of a foxhole during World War II and then became a decorated war dog. Smokey is credited with inspiring the creation of today’s dog therapy programs. For more information, call (847) 439-0447 or visit www.egvpl.org.

Mount Prospect

Village to present Veterans Day Ceremony at Lions Park

The village will present its Veterans Day Ceremony from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Nov. 11 at Lions Recreation Park, located at 411 S. Maple Street. Sponsored by Mount Prospect VFW Post 1337, the free event will include participation by students from Lions School, and any veterans are encouraged to wear their military uniforms. For more information, call Dutch DeGroot at (847) 577-5374 or visit www.vfw1337.us. In addition, VFW Post 1337 and American Legion Post 525 will co-host a Veterans Day Dinner, beginning at 6 p.m. on Nov. 13, in the banquet room at Club Casa Café, located in the Golf Center at 35 N. River Road, in Des Plaines. The dinner is free for members of VFW Post 1337 and American Legion Post 525, and $30 for all others — and includes two free drinks, as well as a live musical performance by Jimmy Boyd. For more information, call (847) 299-3510 or visit www.vfw1337.us.

Palos Hills

Veterans Day event to be held at Town Square Park

The city will host its Veterans Day Celebration at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at Town Square Park, located at 8455 W. 103rd St. The program — which will honor service members who have fought, and continue to fight, in our nation’s military conflicts — will last approximately 30 minutes, and will be held outside (weather permitting). For more information, call Sandy at (708) 430-4500 or visit www.paloshillsweb.org.

Melrose Park

Ceremony to observe Veterans Day set for Bulger Park

The village, along with Veterans Park District, will hold a Veterans Day Observance Ceremony from 10-11:30 a.m. Nov. 6 at Bulger Park, located at 1601 Hirsch Street. For the past nine years, Veterans Park District has observed Veterans Day with a ceremony attended by community members, as well as representatives from area businesses, schools and churches. For more information, call (708) 343-5270 or visit www.veteransparkdistrict.org.

Homewood

Theater group offers free audition workshop for youths

The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District will hold a free audition workshop (for ages 5-18), hosted by The Stage Theatre, from 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 11 at Irwin Community Center, located at 18120 S. Highland Ave., in Homewood. Participants will learn tips and techniques from the theatre’s creative staff in order to prepare for auditions, in January, for the 2016 spring play. For more information, call (708) 957-7275 or visit www.hfparks.com.

Morton Grove

Village offering free rain barrels to residents

The village reported that it recently completed an intergovernmental agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to participate in a free rain barrel distribution program. The program was introduced in an effort to provide relief to residents of Cook County municipalities regarding basement back-ups, system overflow volume, and flooding. The 55-gallon barrels are designed to capture and re-use rain water that normally would be headed to the sewer system. The MWRD’s vendor will deliver free rain barrels to qualifying residents, who can complete an application online or complete a paper application at Village Hall, located at 6101 Capulina Ave. For more information, call (847) 965-4100 or visit www.mortongroveil.org to access an application.

Brookfield

Area homebuilder wins national energy award

The village reported that Brookfield-based BrightLeaf Homes has won a prestigious U.S. Department of Energy Award, in recognition of its innovations in building construction. The award recognizes a home constructed by BrightLeaf — located on McCormick Avenue, in northeastern Brookfield — that meets the DOE’s Zero Energy Ready Home Program’s criteria for an energy-efficient residence utilizing advanced design technologies that provide healthy indoor air, high-performance lighting, and solar-ready components for low utility bills. For more information, call (708) 485-7344 or visit www.brookfieldil.gov.

Prospect Heights

City receives grant to install new sidewalks on Willow Road

The city announced that it has obtained an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant to install sidewalks along the north side of Willow Road, from Schoenbeck Road (in the city right-of-way west) to just past Tomah Avenue, which will connect with the existing sidewalk in Arlington Heights. The purpose of the sidewalk is to provide pedestrian safety. The Illinois Department of Transportation-conducted project will be performed by ALAMP Construction, and is expected predominantly to be completed by winter. For more information, call City Hall at (847) 398-6070 or visit www.prospect-heights.il.us.

Alsip

Fire department to host series of CPR classes

The Alsip Fire Department will host Heartsaver/AED CPR classes, to be held from 6:30-10 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, beginning Nov. 18. Classes will be held at Firehouse No. 1, located at 12600 S. Pulaski Road, and will consist of a minimum of two and a maximum of eight students. The cost is $50 (residents) and $75 (nonresidents); re-certification costs are $25 (residents) and $50 (non-residents). For more information, call (708) 385-6902, Ext. 233 or visit www.villageofalsip.org.

Wheeling

Library to hold Evening Book Discussion session

The Indian Trails Public Library District’s Adult Services department will hold Evening Book Discussion from 7-8 p.m. Nov. 5 in the library’s Small Meeting Room, located at 355 Schoenbeck Road. The topic of discussion will be “Some Luck,” a book by author Jane Smiley detaining a multi-generational, 33-year saga of an Iowa farm family. Registration is required. For more information, call (847) 459-4100, Ext. 2 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Evanston

Neighborhood Education Workshop offers wide range of classes

The city announced that the Community Initiative Network will present Evanston’s first Neighborhood Education Workshop, to be held (in one-hour increments) from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Family Focus Building, located at 2010 Dewey Ave. The free workshop includes a wide range of classes, including Native Plant Gardening, Healthy Weight Loss, Crochet 101, and Tax Preparation 2016. Registration is required. For more information, visit the Upcoming Events section at www.cityofevanston.org or call 847-448-4311.

–Cook County News Briefs–