A golden award for local Girl Scout's book drive
A love of reading and a ton of dedication has earned one Fremd High School junior a prestigious award.
Palatine resident Kristin Palarz was named a recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award for a project that resulted in the collection of more than 1,300 books for the Maryville Jen School in Des Plaines. She was the only Girl Scout to win the Gold Award in all of VISTA 3, which covers the Northwest suburbs.
Palarz will be honored June 15 at the Girl Scouts of Great Chicago and Northwest Indiana Gold Award Ceremony at the Center for Performing Arts in Chicago.
Last September, she started going door-to-door in her neighborhood asking for book donations and money. She also held a book drive at a local elementary school, sold Girl Scout cookies and organized a swimming party-book drive. The money was used to buy specific books requested by the principal of Maryville Jen School.
That's a high school for boys ages 13 to 19 who have emotional, behavioral and learning disabilities. The library's small collection barely filled one shelf. Thanks to Palarz's drive and more than 80 hours of work, the school now has an extensive library of age- and ability-appropriate books.
Her troop leader, Sandy Cramer, said Palarz has participated in nearly every event and outing since she became a Girl Scout in kindergarten. The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout ages 14 to 18 can earn.
- Kimberly Pohl
Police promotions: Congratulations to Nick Pecora, who was promoted to Arlington Heights police captain; Andrew Whowell, who was promoted to police commander, and Stephanie Mack, who was promoted to sergeant. The Arlington Heights Village Board approved the three promotions on Monday.
Mack had a special friend and fellow bagpiper at the meeting for support: Tim Sheehan who, in his wheelchair, remained next to Mack as she was swore in.
On Feb. 15, 2006, a drunken driver hit Sheehan's squad car dead on. The impact killed the other driver and crushed the right side of Sheehan's body, breaking most of his bones from his pelvis down. After the crash, he spent nine weeks in a coma and continues to recover.
- Sheila Ahern
Anniversary plates: Hoffman Estates will offer residents a chance to order special license plates for their cars to celebrate the village's 50th anniversary. The temporary plates cost $20 and will be valid from July 28 though Sept. 27, with the latter being the date of the village's 50th anniversary gala.
The plates feature the special 50th anniversary logo and are made of the same metal as regular state license plates.
A check made out to the "Village of Hoffman Estates" for $20 should be submitted along with a completed application to the village's Rebecca Suhajda by June 26. Your vehicle registration must expire after Sept. 28 to receive a plate, or you must first renew your registration before submitting an application to the village for a commemorative plate. There's a limited supply, and plates will be available for pick up on July 20.
Plates will also be available for $20 after Sept. 27 for display purposes only, if you don't want to fasten a plate to your vehicle. Applications are available at hoffmanestates.org and at village hall. Call Suhajda at (847) 728-2616 for more information.
- Ashok Selvam
Outdoor concerts this June: With the return of warm weather, the Schaumburg Township District Library will be bringing a series of outdoor concerts and shows to Schaumburg's Town Square throughout the month of June.
All performances are free and will be staged in front of the Town Square pond near the library on the southeast corner of Schaumburg and Roselle roads.
New Colony Six, a band that put Chicago firmly in the rock revolution of the '60s, will perform from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. June 1, with a June 4 rain date.
Special Consensus will play acoustic bluegrass from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. June 8, with a rain date of June 11.
The a cappella rock music of AcRock will be performed from 7 to 7:45 p.m. June 10.
Chicago Outskirts, a 17-piece jazz ensemble comprised entirely of women, will perform with vocalist Carol Bennett from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. June 15 with a June 18 rain date.
A change of pace is in store as Town Square takes a break from music to host the extreme bike tricks of X Games Medalist Matt Wilhelm from 7 to 7:45 p.m. June 16.
The music returns June 22 when Tenors 3, a trio of classically trained vocalists, will perform a variety of opera, Broadway and ethnic tunes from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. The rain date will be June 25.
Teens especially are invited to the third annual Battle of the Bands from 6 to 9 p.m. June 23.
Julie Ann Caselli will serve as featured vocalist when the Limited Edition Big Band performs a big band, swing, jazz and dance arrangements from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. June 29 with a July 2 rain date.
Children and families will want to hear "Radio Poetry" - an interactive evening of music, poetry and drama - presented by poet and performer Bill Buczinsky of A Child's Voice from 7 to 7:45 p.m. June 30.
For more information or scheduling updates, visit the library Web site at stdl.org.
Heating, air conditioning fix-it places: Chicago Magazine released its 28 Top-Rated AC and Heating shops in the June issue, and two Arlington Heights businesses made the list: Ibbotson Heating, 514 S. Arthur Ave., and Steve's Heating & Air Conditioning, 210 N. Dunton Ave. The only other Northwest suburban shops to make the list was Buffalo Grove's North Farm Heating & Cooling at 397 Armstrong Drive and Palatine's Jay Mar Energy Center, P.O. Box 1189.
The rating were based on cost and customer surveys.
- Sheila Ahern
A village engagement: Congratulations to Hoffman Estates' Doug Schultz, who recently popped the question to his fiance, Shadia Nassar. His job includes sending media alerts about this and other fascinating village happenings. However, he did not submit a news release about his engagement.
- Ashok Selvam