Another way for Meadows to go green

If all grows well, Rolling Meadows will be 250 trees richer in a few years.

With an eye to the future, two groups combined efforts last weekend to plant tiny saplings in various spots along Route 53.

A suburban-based organization called Trees Across the Miles chose Rolling Meadows as one of the places it would plant about 150 evergreens. When city forester Jim McFaggen heard about it, he contributed about 100 saplings -- handouts that were left over from a recent public works department open house.

Volunteers, including city Rotary Club members, did the rest. Now the southwest corner of Route 53 and Euclid is dotted with colored flags where 6-inch arborvitae, red maples and gingko have been added. In addition, a section of East Frontage Road just south of Kirchoff Road has several evergreens planted.

Harold Hoover, president and founder of the nonprofit Trees Across the Miles, says trees are a great benefit near highways. Not only do they add beauty, they help absorb pollution and reduce highway noise.

At an optimum growing rate of 12 inches per year, McFaggen says, the next generation of residents should be able to enjoy a lovely mini forest. They're small saplings, he says, but "you have to start somewhere."

Time change for trash: City rules allow you to now set garbage out as early as 3 p.m. the day before pickup. This semiannual change, from the summertime's 6 p.m. restriction, means you won't have to haul it out in the dark.