Fairfield schools campaign for tax hike

FAIRFIELD - Hundreds of Fairfield Schools parents will gather Saturday morning at the senior high school before canvassing the community in a voter registration drive.

The 8:30 a.m. event is the official kickoff to a tax-increase campaign by the Citizens for Fairfield Schools. The group is working toward passage Aug. 3 of a 6.9-mill levy expected to raise $9.1 million annually. If the levy is approved, taxes would increase about $211 annually on a $100,000 house.

The morning will begin in the high school parking lot, 8800 Holden Blvd., with music by the pep band while volunteers gather voter registration forms and absentee ballots. By 9 a.m. committee members will be going door to door.

Information: www.takeastand4fairfield.com.

West Chester Library adding 3 book drops

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Three new book drops at the West Chester Library will open in September with completion of a 500-square-foot extension to the north side of the building at 7900 Cox Road.

The old book drop attached to the front corner of the building will remain open during construction, which began this week, said Steve Mayhugh, branch manager.

The new drop-offs will be at two levels, and closer to the driveway, making it more convenient to people driving cars, vans or pick-up trucks, he said.

Up to 1,000 items daily are returned through the original book drop installed more than 20 years ago, Mayhugh said. The library circulated more than 1.14 million items last year, he said.

Donations relieve heat for troops in Iraq

An armed forces support group has started a heat relief drive at local Bigg's stores to send items to troops in Iraq who are suffering through desert temperatures in excess of 115 degrees.

The group, 4thetroops, placed barrels in local Bigg's stores for the "Cool-Aide Relief Drive," which began this week. The top requested items are Misty Mates, which are portable air coolers.

Among other items the group requests include Gatorade and powdered drink mixes, hand-held fans with batteries, small plug-in fans, squirt guns, cool ties, plastic drinking jugs, Under Armour athletic T-shirts, blow-up kiddie pools, pump bug spray, fly swatters, fly tape, sunscreen and dark-colored hand towels.

The group also seeks postage donations through checks made out to the U.S. Postal Service.

For more information visit www.4thetroops.net.