The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce and AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center will host Hinsdale’s 52nd Annual Christmas Walk from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 1 in downtown Hinsdale. (Photo courtesy of the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce)

Wheeling

Village to host CPR course

The village announced that the Wheeling Fire Department will host an American Heart Association Adult and Pediatric CPR Course from 6:30-10 p.m. Dec. 13 at Fire Station #24, 499 S. Milwaukee Ave. The course is open to the public. The cost is $20 for residents, $25 for non-residents and free for Village of Wheeling employees. To register, and for more information, call Ileen Bryer at (847) 459-2662. For more information, visit www.wheelingil.gov.

Buffalo Grove

Police Dept. raises funds to aid Muscular Dystrophy

The village reported that members of the Buffalo Grove Police Department recently collected more than $17,000 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). During “Restaurant Week,” firefighters collected more than $1,700 from local restaurant patrons, including those at The Buffalo, Continental, Nino’s, Culver’s and Dairy Queen. In addition, more than $10,000 was raised by firefighters who collected funds over a two-day period while stationed outside at various Buffalo Grove roadways. An additional $2,500 was collected during Buffalo Grove Days, with another $3,000 coming from anonymous donors. For more information, call (847) 459-2500 or visit www.vbg.org. 

Evanston

Association tabs Bobkiewicz as regional VP

The city announced that Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz recently was installed as a Midwest Regional Vice President of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) during the organization’s 103rd Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Bobkiewicz was elected to serve a three-year term. As one of 18 vice presidents, Bobkiewicz will represent ICMA to state associations of local government management and maintain relationships among other affiliated organizations. The Midwest Region is one of five ICMA regions in the United States. ICMA’s mission is to advance professional local government management worldwide through leadership, management, innovation and ethics. The organization claims more than 11,000 members representing 32 countries. An active member of ICMA since 1985, Bobkiewicz has served on a number of the organization’s task forces, committees and advisory boards through the years. He chaired ICMA’s International Committee (2006-09), participated in the organization’s Exchange Program to the United Kingdom in 2000, and received a ICMA Service Award in recognition of his 25 years of service to local government in 2014. Bobkiewicz has served as Evanston City Manager since 2009. For more information, call (847) 448-4311 or visit www.cityofevanston.org.

Mount Prospect

Park District to host Holiday Open House

The Mount Prospect Park District will host its Holiday Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. The event includes a holiday train, hay rides, musical performances, crafts, face painting, photo opportunities with Santa Claus, hot chocolate, warm cider and cookies, holiday displays, poinsettias for sale and live reindeer (noon to 2 p.m.). Admission is free. For more information, call (847) 298-3500 or visit www.mppd.org. 

Oak Brook

Park District earns national accreditation status 

The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) announced that the Oak Brook Park District has become the eighth park and recreation agency in Illinois to be accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation Association (NRPA). The process for accreditation required Oak Brook to demonstrate compliance with more than 150 recognized standards, as well as document its policies and procedures. The Oak Brook Park District was awarded the honor during the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference, held in New Orleans. NRPA is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives, and equitable access to parks and public space. IAPD, headquartered in Springfield, has been serving park districts, forest preserves, and conservation and recreation agencies in Illinois since 1928. For more information, call (217) 523-4554 or visit www.ilparks.org.

Hinsdale

Chamber to host 52nd Annual Christmas Walk

The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce and AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center will host Hinsdale’s 52nd Annual Christmas Walk from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 1 in downtown Hinsdale. The event will begin with Santa’s Arrival (by fire truck) and the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Village Hall, 19 E. Chicago Ave., beginning at 5 p.m. The event also includes the Santa House (on Washington Street), Santa’s live reindeer, an appearance by Cookie the Gingerbread Man, rides on a full-size, 30-foot carousel and trackless train, animated holiday characters, strolling giveaways, “Hot Deals” for valuable savings at local shops and more. Admission is free. For more information, call (630) 323-3952 or visit www.hinsdalechamber.com.   

Schaumburg

Village nets third in national Digital Cities Survey

The village announced that it recently placed third in the Center of Digital Government’s 2017 Digital Cities Survey, which recognizes communities for improving citizen services, enhancing transparency and encouraging citizen engagement. Schaumburg is the only Illinois community ranked in the top 10 of its population category (74,999 or less). Top-ranked digital cities and villages in this year’s survey were specifically recognized for promoting citizen inclusion in important government processes and sharing government data with the public. The village recently redesigned its website to create transparency by providing online meeting materials and an interactive calendar, among other tools. Additional technology achievements this year include developing a traffic dashboard to improve access to critical transportation data; creating new features on the village’s WebPay portal to increase convenience and efficiency for customers who make online payments; and transitioning fire department inspections from a paper process to a tablet-based electronic system. The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute affiliated with e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education. For more information, call (847) 895-4500 or visit www.villageofschaumburg.com.

–Cook County News Briefs–