DARTS & LAURELS

DART

To the U.S. Postal Service, which is increasing the price of stamps Monday, the second price hike in two years. Monday's rate hike also represents the fifth price increase since 2001. Stamp prices have gone up nearly 24 percent during that time. If this is going to be a yearly occurrence, Americans need to know so we can adjust accordingly to more e-mail.

LAUREL

Uplifting news from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which reports nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were done last year, including 119,000 face-lifts (11,000 for men); 348,000 breast augmentations; and 106,000 breast reductions. On the reconstructive-surgery front, the surgeons reported doing 31,000 to repair dog bites, up 2 percent from 2006.

DART

To state Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, for taking the debate over lawmakers getting a pay hike to the personal level. Hendon, chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee, on Thursday called fellow Democrat Susan Garrett, "the esteemed senator from Richville." Garrett, who opposes the pay hike -- the second in as many years -- is from Lake Forest. It's likely Senate Democratic leadership will block a vote on the measure, making the raises automatic. All of Lake County's House members voted Wednesday with the overwhelming majority to reject the raises.

LAUREL

Girl Scout Troop 1475 in Zion did an Earth Day cleanup at the ravine under the bridge which 33rd Street crosses over. The Scouts even got to see a few wood ducks using the ravine as a nesting area. Troop members are Alyssa Riley, Allesandra Mazur, Eleani Rocha, Natalia Flores and Candy Dominguez. Troop leader is Anita Riley.

LAUREL

To the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program, which this year, in conjunction with the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, collected more than 25,000 old athletic shoes in the county in the recent drive. It's the fourth year SWALCO has been involved in the program and 2,000 pairs were donated to community agencies. The used shoes are turned into athletic surface material. If you still want to donate, the office of state Rep. Kathy Ryg, D-Vernon Hills, and the Vernon Hills Public Works building are year-round drop-off sites.

LAUREL

There's a sea change afoot for the Navy down South. The Pentagon says it will substantially beef up naval forces in the Caribbean and Latin American regions by re-establishing the Fourth Fleet this summer, 58 years after it was disbanded. During World War II, the fleet defended against blockade runners and enemy subs in the South Atlantic. The fleet, with its home in Mayport, Fla., on the Atlantic Coast, will be led by a nuclear aircraft carrier and will roam the waters off Latin America and the Caribbean on counterterrorism and other duties.