Oak Forest and the Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce announced that the Oak Forest Police Department’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois team will serve as grand marshals for the Oak Forest Fleadh family parade.

Glenview

Soda Bread Contest on tap at Irish Connoisseur

The Irish Connoisseur, 1232 Waukegan Road, will hold its 3rd Annual Irish Soda Bread Contest on March 5. Contestants can submit their soda breads at the shop on March 4 (until 7 p.m.). The Irish Connoisseur — which offers a variety of Irish products (including crystal, pottery, handmade sweaters, Celtic jewelry and Claddagh rings, framed blessings and prints, and specialty gifts) and authentic Irish food — and Kitchens & Baths Unlimited (located next door) will open their doors for a public sampling, served with Irish tea, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 5. Breads will then be voted upon by a panel of judges from 1-2 p.m. The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate; the second-place finisher will get a $50 gift certificate; and third place nets a $25 gift certificate. Pre-registration is appreciated. For more information, call (847) 998-1988, send an email to megan@irishirish.com or visit www.irishirish.com.

Mount Prospect

Library to hold mini golf fundraising event

The Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St., will hold its 2016 Mini Golf FUNdraiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 5. Participants will play miniature golf throughout the library, between the stacks and down the stairs, and a 19th hole entertainment area will offer refreshments, games and other activities. The fee to play is $5 per person, and $20 for families of four or more. Proceeds will benefit the Mount Prospect Public Library Foundation, which provides funding for special library programs and projects otherwise unattainable with tax dollars. For more information, call (847) 253-5675 or visit www.mppl.org.

Schaumburg

Village offers community scholarship program

Village President Al Larson announced that the 23rd Annual Community Scholarship Program — in cooperation with Business and Career Services, Inc., the Workforce Board of Cook County and the Northwest Municipal Conference — is underway. As a result of a joint scholarship development campaign in the business community, funding has been provided to award scholarships to qualified residents who are pursuing educational training, upgrading or retraining. The award can be applied toward tuition, books and any other commensurate educational expenses. Candidates must complete the scholarship application (including two references and photo identification) and submit it to Office of the President, 101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, Ill. 60193 by 3 p.m. April 8. A special Presidents Committee will select the winners, and recipients will be notified by April 29. The scholarship is valid until June 15, 2017, and is non-renewable. Applications, as well as eligibility and selection criteria, are available at www.ci.schaumburg.il.us. For more information, call (847) 895-4500.

Calumet City

City begins new garbage, recycling collection program

The city reported that it has partnered with Republic Services to provide garbage and recycling collection. Republic Services recently began delivering two new, blue carts to every single-family home and two-unit buildings in the community. One cart is for garbage collection, and the other is to be used for recycling only. Refuse carts should be placed out for collection by 6 a.m. on designated pick-up days, and garbage should be contained in trash bags within each cart. Recyclable items can be placed in the recycling cart without sorting, and will be collected on an every-other-week basis. For complete details, including a collection schedule map and an itemized recycling list, visit www.calumetcity.org/republic-services-information/. To replace a broken or damaged cart, call Republic Services at (708) 385-8252.

Arlington Heights

Home & Garden Expo coming to Arlington Racecourse

The Arlington Home & Garden Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 5 and 6 at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 Euclid Ave. The event will include hundreds of the latest home improvement products and services, presented by local and national experts, including a Normandy Remodeling seminar on kitchen trends at noon each day. In addition, Wisconsin-based Kitchen Kraft will present live cooking demonstrations several times each day, and Aged 2 Perfection will offer free wine tasting throughout the event. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call (630) 953-2500 or visit www.FreeHomeShow.com.

Oak Forest

Police officers to serve as grand marshals for parade

The city and the Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce announced that the Oak Forest Police Department’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois team will serve as grand marshals for the Oak Forest Fleadh family parade. The parade will step off on 157th Street at 11 a.m. March 5, and head north on Cicero Ave. As grand marshals, Law Enforcement Torch Run members will lead more than 60 parade units — including pipe and drum bands, civic and community groups, schools and churches, and local businesses — along the parade route. Before the parade, Oak Park police officers will help start the CNB Bank & Trust Oak Forest Fleadh 5K Run at 8:30 a.m., and interact with Fleadh-goers during the Open Streets Hour (10-11 a.m.) portion of the event. For more information about the Oak Forest Fleadh, call (708) 687-4600, send an email to oakforestfleadh@oak-forest.org or visit www.facebook.com/oakforestflkeadh.

Evanston

Annual job fair for city’s youth to be held at high school

The city announced that Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl’s annual Summer Youth Employment Program Job Fair (for Evanston youth ages 14-18) will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (doors close at 1:30 p.m.) March 12 at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave. More than 40 employers offering summer and year-round employment will be present, including Northwestern University, Six Flags Great America, Hyatt House Chicago/Evanston, McGaw YMCA, Salvation Army-Evanston, Office Depot, YoFresh Yogurt Café, the City of Evanston and more. Applications are available at www.cityofevanston.org/youthemployment, and should be filled out in advance to expedite the process at the job fair. In order to attend the fair, youths must be enrolled in in high school; be at least 14 years old when the program begins in June; and live in the 60201 or 60202 zip code areas. In addition, a Pre-Fair Resume and Interviewing Skills Workshop will be held from 4-6:30 p.m. March 2 and 9 at the ETHS Boltwood West Cafeteria; visit www.cityofevanston.org/workshop to register. For more information about the job fair, call (847) 448-4311 or visit www.cityofevanston.org.

–Cook County News Briefs–