That chill in the air is more than just a change in the weather. October is here, which means Halloween is on the way, promising tricks, treats, and all manner of community events for every thing that goes bump in the night. So get ready for some spooky fun for all the mummies, daddies and chillin' children in the North Shore with our special Halloween guide.

From a news release from Lake County Forest Preserves:

A former retirement community executive who has toured and evaluated more than 170 independent, assisted-living and nursing home locations will deliver a free seminar on Thursday, October 2, at Spring Meadows senior living community in Naperville.

Birthday parties, holiday gifts, goodie bag stuffers and just good old fashioned FUN is what's inside these "Party in a Tube" kits.

With J.C. Penney’s marketing homage to “The Breakfast Club” as it hawks its trendy back-to-school clothes to the Jonas Brothers singing the catchy “Hello, Goodbye” in Target commercials, stores are replacing lawn chairs and beach towels for notebooks and protractors. The changes are a less-than subtle signal that school is right around the corner.

The summer months are a great time for picnics, so pack up some sandwiches, grab a blanket and cut open the watermelon. We at NeighborhoodCircle.com scoped out some of our favorite picnic spots in the North Shore and compiled a handy picnic guide.