The Shores of Turtle Creek, 7908 Winn Road, Spring Grove, will host a Community Kickoff Celebration for U.S. Army SPC Anthony Chobanov from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 17. Chobanov is the 2017 home recipient through a program sponsored by A Soldier’s Journey Home, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to building homes for wounded military veterans.

Lakemoor 

Photo With Santa event to be held at library 

The village announced that it will host Photo With Santa from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 17 at the River East Public Library, 813 W. Route 120. The event features photo opportunities with Santa Claus, and includes punch and cookies. Children can make a holiday craft at the library or take it home. Admission is free. In addition, the library is accepting new, unwrapped toys as part of a Toys 4 Tots donation drive to support area families in need. Toys also can be dropped off (until Dec. 19) at Village Hall, 28874 Route 120; the Bannockburn Police Department, 27901 W. Concrete Drive.; and Walgreens, 2501 Waukegan Road. For more information, call (815) 385-1117 or visit www.lakemoor.net.

Johnsburg 

Boat launch closed for facelift; sticker purchase due 

The village reported that the Alfred May Boat Launch, located on Riverview Drive, is currently closed for excavation and construction, and is expected to remain closed through the end of the year. Funds were included in this year’s budget to pursue improvements to the launch, including a new seawall and 50-foot pier as well as the installation of a new, 40-foot concrete ramp. In addition, current boat launch stickers will expire at the end of 2016. Anyone wishing to use the Alfred May Boat Launch is required to purchase a sticker and display it on the vehicle used to launch the boat. The two-year sticker cost is $20 for residents and $100 for non-residents. New boat launch stickers are available at Village Hall, 1515 Channel Beach Ave. For more information, call (815) 385-6023 or visit www.villageofjohnsburg.org.

Spring Grove 

Welcome bash on tap for war veteran home recipient  

The village announced that the Shores of Turtle Creek, 7908 Winn Road, will host a Community Kickoff Celebration for U.S. Army SPC Anthony Chobanov from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 17. Chobanov is the 2017 home recipient through a program sponsored by A Soldier’s Journey Home, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to building homes for wounded military veterans. Volunteers from 14 states will build a home for Chobanov and his family in the Spring Grove Estates subdivision, on Prairie Drive, in May 2017. Chobanov, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, suffers from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) sustained in combat. The event, intended to introduce the Chobanov family to the community and raise awareness for the project, includes a buffet provided by Billy’s Catering and a cash bar. Dress is business casual. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. For more information, call (815) 675-2121 or visit www.asoldiersjourneyhome.org.

Crystal Lake 

 City offers Holiday Lights Recycling Program 

The city announced that it is offering a Holiday Lights Recycling Program, in partnership with Elgin Recycling, through Feb. 24, 2017. Residents can drop off unwanted holiday lights at City Hall, 100 W. Woodstock St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drop-off bins are located in the lobby next to the Finance/Administration counter. The program accepts all holiday string lighting, including mini-lights (or Italian lights), C7 lights, C9 lights, rope lights, LED lights, extension cords and other related wiring. All colors and lengths will be accepted. Garland, live wreaths and other non-recyclable items will not be accepted. For more information, call (815) 459-2020 or visit www.crystallake.org.

Dolphin Swim Club to hold Holiday Open House 

The Dolphin Swim Club, 825 Munshaw Lane, will host its Holiday Open House from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Dec. 17. The event includes a free family open swim, refreshments and crafts. Some crafts will require a nominal participation fee. Families participating in the open swim must have an adult in the water with all children under the age of 17. For more information, call (847) 854-1300, send an email to kellyk@dolphinswimclub.com or visit www.dolphinswimclub.com.

Cary 

 Residents invited to view plans for Three Oaks Road project 

The village announced that residents are invited to visit Village Hall, 655 Village Hall Drive, to view the latest plans for the Three Oaks Road Improvement project, slated to begin construction in 2019. Preliminary design plans are on display in the main lobby at Village Hall, and also can be viewed on the village website at www.caryillinois.com/559/Three-Oaks-Road. Written comments can be submitted at Village Hall or sent via email to CaryPW@caryillinois.com through Dec. 22. The preliminary design will be submitted to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for review following the public comment period. The IDOT review is part of the process in accordance with a $1.5 million federal grant received for the project. For more information, call (847) 639-0003 or visit www.caryillinois.com.

Woodstock 

Northwood teacher nets grant for equipment upgrade 

Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 reported that Melinda Parrent, Library Media Specialist at Northwood Middle School, 2121 N. Seminary Ave., has been awarded nearly $600 in grant money from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation (IRTAF). Parrent will use the funds to purchase a Padcaster and accessories, enabling students to create web series. A Padcaster is an aluminum frame for an iPad that allows the use of lenses, microphones and more. The Padcaster will protect the iPad used for filming, and will allow for the attachment of accessories funded by the grant, including a microphone and lights. During this year’s program, the IRTAF Foundation allotted a total of $15,000 to public school educators in 26 Illinois counties. For more information, call (815) 338-8200 or visit www.woodstockschools.org.

McHenry 

City conducting water meter change-out program  

The city announced that it is currently conducting a water meter change-out program. Some of the city’s meter-reading infrastructure has reached its useful life, and batteries used within the equipment are beginning to fail. Residences affected by this program in the Winding Creek, Whispering Oaks, Cooney Heights, Park Ridge Estates, Lakeland Park, Legend Lakes and Boone Creek subdivisions will be receiving notices in the form of door hangers. Residents receiving notices are encouraged to schedule an appointment within five days of receiving the notice. To schedule an appointment, and for more information, call the Public Works Department at (815) 363-2186 — or visit www.ci.mchenry.il.us.