The South Holland Police Department has created Securing Our Seniors, a program designed to regularly check in on seniors who are not mobile or easily connected with family.

Deer Park

Johnson tabbed to fill vacant seat on village board

The village announced that Jodie Johnson recently was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Deer Park Village Board through April 30, 2019. Johnson fills the seat formerly held by Village Trustee Mark Van Ryne, who resigned in September 2017. Johnson, a lawyer and a former Cook County prosecutor, currently serves as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteer to assist abused and neglected children in the foster system. As a village trustee, Johnson will be assigned to public safety and utilities. For more information, call 847-726-1648 or visit www.villageofdeerpark.com.

Barrington Hills

Police Dept.’s Riedel earns Life Saving Award

The village announced that Barrington Hills Police Sergeant Ron Riedel was recently presented with the Barrington Hills Police Department (BHPD) Life Saving Award for exemplary service and dedication in the line of duty. After being dispatched to a home on Nov. 17, 2017 to investigate the report of an unresponsive 19-year-old woman who apparently had overdosed on heroin, Riedel observed that the subject was not breathing and immediately administered two doses of Naloxone (also known as Narcan) that all BHPD officers carry while on duty. Almost immediately, the woman began breathing on her own, and Riedel was credited with taking decisive action to save her life. For more information, call 847-551-3000 or visit www.barringtonhills-il.gov. 

Barrington

Henning named new executive director of library

The Barrington Area Library and its Board of Trustees announced that Jesse Henning will begin serving as the library’s new Executive Director on April 18. Henning has served as Executive Director of the Garfield Public Library District, in Colorado, since 2016. In that position, he coordinated library services across a six-branch system, serving 58,000 residents with a total operating budget of $4.5 million. Previously, Henning worked for 10 years as both youth librarian and adult services librarian at Westerville Public Library, in Ohio. Henning holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State University, and is currently working on a Master of Public Administration degree, also from Kent State. For more information, call 847-382-1300 or visit www.barringtonarealibrary.org.

Oak Park

Rainwater management focus of new grant program

The village announced that applications are now being accepted for 30 grants through RainReady Oak Park, a new program to help homeowners pay for smart landscaping approaches designed to better manage rainwater. Each participating homeowner will receive a free assessment of their yard, a customized landscape design and a grant of up to 50 percent of the cost of green landscaping solutions such as rain gardens and permeable pavement. The maximum grant is $1,300. To be eligible, applicants must be residents of Oak Park who own and live in a single-family home with a yard and downspouts disconnected from the municipal water system. Applicants must also have no outstanding village obligations or building code violations, be able to maintain the landscaping improvements for at least three years and be willing to participate in an evaluation of the program. Residents can apply for the program online (www.surveygizmo.com) or pick up a paper application from the Neighborhood Services Division (Room 214) at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. The deadline to apply is April 1. In addition, the village will host a community workshop about the RainReady program from 10-11:30 a.m. March 24 at the Oak Park Conservatory. For more information, call 708-358-5410, send an email to housing@oak-park.us or visit www.oak-park.us.

South Holland

Police Dept. offers Securing Our Seniors program

The South Holland Police Department has created Securing Our Seniors, a program designed to regularly check in on seniors who are not mobile or easily connected with family. If extreme weather conditions exist, or if a senior has not been seen for a reasonable period of time, police officers will knock on the door of those registered in the program for a well-being check. Securing Our Seniors is intended for the most vulnerable, particularly shut-ins and others who find it difficult to quickly reach family and friends. Participants must also be able to communicate easily, and not suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Residents who meet this criterion are required to provide emergency contact details for two people, as well as a short description of any serious medical conditions. To register a qualified senior, call the South Holland Police Department at 708-331-3131 (option 2). For more information, visit www.southholland.org.

Skokie

Village approves new mixed-use development

The village announced that the Skokie Village Board recently approved a new mixed-use commercial/residential development at the northwest corner of Church Street and Crawford Avenue. The building will feature modern architecture, plaza seating, public art and a pedestrian-friendly design. The proposed plan replaces the existing commercial building at 4000 Church St. with a four-story building featuring 3,800 square feet of modern commercial space and 24 upper-story residences. The units will all have two or three bedrooms and range in size from 1,500-1,600 square feet. It is anticipated that the units will be sold as condominiums. Parking for the development will be located primarily in a two-level garage. The mixed-use building is part of a larger development that includes the synagogue at 9220 Crawford Ave. Construction of the new mixed-use building is expected to begin in the fall. For more information, call 847-673-0500 or visit www.skokie.org.

–Cook County News Briefs–