The leaves are falling. Autumn’s the time of year when we open the shed doors and shove in the lawn furniture. Of course, cleaning out the shed is a pre-requisite.

Coincidentally, the Carol Stream Sanitary Treatment Plant, 245 N. Kuhn Road, is hosting a household hazardous waste day from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. You can drop off unused oil-base paints, thinners, chemical cleaners, old medicines, anti-freeze, motor oil, kerosene, weed killers, insecticide, pesticides, adhesives, hobby chemicals, household batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and thermometers containing mercury. For information, call Jim Monkemeyer at (630) 671-5692.

Alkaline batteries can always be recycled through the Johnson Recreation Center, 172 S. Circle Ave., Bloomingdale. It’s one of the ways in which the Park District is going green.

“We’re replacing our light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent T-8’s,” said Park District spokesperson Anita Escalante. “The new bulbs produce fewer greenhouse gases.”

A grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation financed the purchase.

The park district also recycles its computers and printer cartridges. Did you know that the sign at Erie Park, 354 Eric Circle, is made from recycled materials? Kudos to the park district for reducing, reusing and recycling.   

Haunted happenings

Jason, Freddy Kruger and Leatherface are waiting for those who attempt the Haunted Hike at Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin.

“I’m really excited about this year’s hike,” said Don Gatske, chairman of the Boy Scouts’ Three Fires Council Haunted Hike. “We have a professional make-up artist, film makers and set designers on our staff.”

Last year, 5,000 visitors attended the 18-year-old tradition. Admission is $7 for Scouts in uniforms and $10 for others. Prepare to be frightened from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, or 6:30 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. From 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, there’s a $6 kiddie hike. For information, log onto www.tfchauntedhike.org.
 
Sight Night Light Parade

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, downtown Bartlett will illuminate with glowing bicycles, go-carts, cars and costumed skate boarders, roller bladers and pedestrians in the Fourth Annual Sight Night Light Parade.

Entrants will use glow sticks, flashlights or string lights to scare away the ghosts of Halloween. The trick-or-treat alternative is a Bartlett Lions Club event. Along the parade route, there will be boxes for the collection of used eyeglasses, hearing aids, cell phones and keys.

“Prizes will be awarded for entrants of this fa-boo-lous Bartlett event,” said chairperson Maggie Girardi.

To enter the parade, e-mail sightnight2005@yahoo.com.