Briefs: Restaurant fined $35,000

Six low-wage workers at Pickwick Restaurant in Park Ridge will receive $35,000 in unpaid overtime wages and damages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. The Labor Department and restaurant owner George Paziotopoulos agreed to the consent judgment in federal district court in Chicago, the Labor Department said in a news release. The investigation covered various pay periods beginning in 2002. Payments to the six workers must be completed by Feb. 18.

Hospice names interim CEO

Bill Ries, former president of Lake Forest Hospital, has been named interim president and CEO of Hospice of Northeastern Illinois. The move follows the resignation of former CEO Carolyn Handler last week. Ries brings more than three decades of hospital administration experience to his new post, having worked at Lake Forest Hospital from 1975 to 2006. Ries holds a master of professional studies in hospital and health services administration from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., a bachelor of arts in economics from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., and is a candidate for a master of science in communication from Northwestern University. Hospice of Northeastern Illinois is a community based, nonprofit organization serving families throughout McHenry, Lake, northwest Cook, Kane, Boone and DuPage counties. It provides comprehensive end-of-life care to nearly 1,500 patient families each year. For more information, visit www.HospiceAnswers.org.

Donations for hunger fund

Those wanting to donate to the Youth Hunger Opposition in Palatine have a special incentive until Thursday. The Friends Foundation will match up to $3,000 raised by the students at Fremd and Palatine high schools until Thursday. The Friends Foundation is a local, nonprofit organization that assists people with basic necessities and is partnered with AXA Advisors. YHOP has raised $40,000 in three months for the Palatine Township Food Pantry. For details, visit www.yhop.org.

Loans for storm victims

Hoffman Estates officials are reminding residents who suffered storm damage in August that they can apply for low-interest loans with the Small Business Administration. The relief is offered to homeowners, business owners and renters. The deadline is Jan. 15 for property damage relief and Aug. 18 to return applications for financial losses. For more information, call (800) 659-2955.