Officials attending the May 10 Police Memorial Day ceremony in the Cook County Forest Preserves in Lyons honoring all who died in the line of duty were (from left) Ed Sajak, Memorial Foundation president, Cook County commissioners John Daley, Richard Boykin and Peter Silvestri, former Lyons trustee Pat Krueger and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.

Cook County

Housing Authority begins low-income fix-up projects

The Housing Authority of Cook County (HAAC) recently announced plans to improve affordable housing infrastructure in four communities of low-income housing in the South Suburbs. Construction has officially begun on exterior and interior infrastructure improvements at five low-income housing properties that include 556 housing apartments located in Harvey, Robbins, Chicago Heights and Park Forest. The $75 million project will consist mostly of senior and disabled units. The rehabilitation project was made possible through tax credits and loans from Cook County, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (HDA) and BMO Harris Bank. It is the single largest rehabilitation project the HACC has undertaken since 2005. The five housing sites include the Richard Flowers Homes and the Edward Brown Senior Apartments, in Robbins; the Turlington West Senior Apartments, in Harvey; Golden Towers I & II, in Chicago Heights; and Juniper Tower, in Park Forest. None of the residents at these sites will need to relocate permanently during the construction phases. For more information, call 312-443-5500 or visit www.cookcountyil.gov. 

Barrington

Grove School principal Matthews earns fellowship

Barrington 220 School District reported that the Board of Education recently recognized Grove Elementary School Principal Katie Matthews for being selected as a member of the Northern Illinois Marguerite F. Key Fellows Program’s inaugural class of 2018. The program was created in 2017 to honor the commitments of Key, a lifelong advocate of K-12 education in Illinois. The purpose of the program is to identify and reward school administrators who have implemented new and inventive strategies that benefit the future of students and communities in the region. Each class of Marguerite F. Key Fellows will consist of 12 principals from schools in the region. The selected principals will represent the leading voices in energetic and creative program delivery across northern Illinois, and will participate in an annual institute designed to provide information, training and an opportunity to further propel local efforts. Matthews will attend an induction ceremony at Northern Illinois University on June 21. For more information, call 847-381-6300 or visit www.barrington220.org.

Deer Park

Summer slate of kids’ films offered at low cost

The village announced that the Cinemark Sumer Movie Clubhouse, a series of 10 films for kids (all rated PG), will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays in June, July and August at Century 16 Deer Park, 21600 W. Field Parkway. The schedule includes “Boss Baby” (June 6 and 7); “Smurfs: The Lost Village” (June 13, 14); “The LEGO Ninjago Movie” (June 20, 21); “Storks” (June 27, 28); “The Nut Job 2” (July 4, 5); “My Little Pony” (July 11, 12); “Ferdinand” (July 18, 19); “Paddington 2” (July 25, 26); “Captain Underpants” (Aug. 1, 2); and “The Emoji Movie (Aug. 8, 9). The cost is $10 for all 10 films or $1 per show. For more information, call 847-438-8518 or visit www.cinemark.com/clubhouse.

Wheeling

Village approves new project in Town Center area

The village announced that the Wheeling Board of Trustees recently approved a Redevelopment Agreement with Uptown 500, LLC to build a new mixed-use development at 500 W. Dundee Road (the northwest corner of Dundee Road and Northgate Parkway), across from the Wheeling Town Center development, currently under construction. Uptown 500 — a $90 million, transit-oriented, master-planned project — will feature 321 apartment units, 10,500 square feet of retail space and a 444-unit parking structure. The village expects the project to help complete the transformation of Wheeling’s main commuter corridor in the rapidly growing Town Center area. For more information, call 847-459-2600 or visit www.wheelingil.gov.

Elmwood Park

Secretary of State Mobile unit to make visit for seniors

The village announced that the Illinois Secretary of State Mobile Unit will be stationed at the Parks and Recreation Department, 2 Conti Parkway, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 11. The mobile unit will be available to seniors (ages 65 and up) and will offer the following services: renewal/correction of driver’s license; new/renewal/correction of a state ID; obtaining license plate stickers; motor voter registration with renewal of driver’s license/state ID; and organ donor registration with renewal of driver’s license/state ID. There is no charge for state IDs. For more information, call Senior Coordinator Tina Gordon at 708-452-3962 or visit www.elmwoodpark.org.

Palatine

Harper exec makes Notable Women in Education list

Harper College announced that Dr. Maria Coons, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Institutional Planning and Strategic Alliances, is among 17 women representing a cross-section of Chicago-area colleges and universities to be recognized among Chicago’s Notable Women in Education 2018, compiled by Crain’s Chicago Business. Coons has served in many capacities during her 30-year tenure at Harper. In her current role, she leads planning, accountability and strategic partnerships. This includes the development of a community-based strategic planning process, overseeing institutional research and outcomes assessment initiatives, as well as developing and delivering programming with strategic partners in high-growth areas. Coons also developed and managed the Fast Track program, which provides cohort-based learning opportunities for adults. In addition, Coons serves on the board of the National Coalition of advanced Technology Centers and is a Harper ambassador to Jane Addams Elementary School. For more information, call 847-925-6000 or visit www.harpercollege.edu. 

–Cook County News Briefs–