Perri Hayes

If you are looking for a great getaway this coming Saturday, go on over to Waubonsee College in Sugar Grove and check out the Renewable Energy Fair. They even have Green Elvis singing the blues, greens and swinging a globe. For more info check it out on http://www.waubonsee.edu/energyfair/

Now that we have had a week of winter coats and chilly rains in the heartland... I am ready for that Indian summer. So much for global warming this week. If you want to think of warmer places and happier thoughts ... Check out happier.com

Today marks the meeting of the mayors - discussing, sharing the greenest of ideas in Chi - town the greenest of the large midwestern cities - or so we would like to think. You can catch a climpse of their agenda on http://www.greentownconference.com/ or highlights on Twitter https://twitter.com/thegreentown Was your town represented? Make it happen locally, Be a part of it. Join your town's Green committee.

Last year I joined the mayor's Des Plaines DEEP GrEEn Ad Hoc Committee as part of my involvement with Oakton Community College's Green Business program. We put on a Green Business conference. This year my hometown Arlington Heights, ranked eighth out of 408 communities with 50,000 to 90,000 people that participated in the Smarter Cities Project. This is an annual study by the Natural Resources Defense Council that measures sustainability efforts. See it at smartercities.nrdc.org/cities/arlington-heights-il If you want to make it happen - you can as many of the green activities are grassroots!

In a couple of weeks Business Week will put out their issue of the Best Places to raise children for 2010. Before we move on and forget even kiss this year good by - let's take a look at the towns that were recommended for 2009. Mount Prospect - named as the best place to raise kids in Illinois - it is the home of the Prospect Knights. Des Plaines was a runner up and next to Mt. Prospect and also the town that I was raised in. Palatine, also was a runner up, It is just north of Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect. As a matter of fact, in my opinion Arlington Heights should have made the list also. As Chicago's northwest suburbs are certainly a great environment to raise a family!

If you are in Chicago this weekend don't forget to stop by the Historic Chicago Bungalow and Green Home Expo. Admission is free, and it is held at the Merchandise Mart on October 17 from 10am to 4pm. Parking may be a challenge downtown but the Metra and CTA offer great ways to get there. For the green enthusiasts - this is a perfect way to spend a Saturday as you take in all the eco-friendly options for your home. They will have over 100 home restoration and energy-efficiency experts, tradespeople, companies and organizations and speakers include Lou Manfedini. For more info check it out at http://www.chicagobungalow.org/pages/expo/7.php