Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church, 12312 S. 88th Ave., has met the criteria to receive Historic Landmark designation.

Deerfield

Mayor takes pledge to help boost Monarch butterfly numbers

The village reported that Mayor Harriet Rosenthal recently took the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, a new national campaign committed to taking action in the quest to help save the declining monarch butterfly population. The NWF reported that the monarch population across the United States has declined by approximately 90 percent since numbering nearly 1 billion in 1996, a result of lost habitat due to agricultural practices, development and cropland conversion, and other factors. Through the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, cities and municipalities commit to creating habitats and educating citizens on ways to make a difference in their own communities. Mayors who take the pledge commit to at least three of 25 specific actions. The actions include creating a Monarch-friendly garden, hosting or supporting a native plant sale or milkweed seed giveaway effort, and planting milkweed and native nectar plants in medians and public right-of-ways. For more information, call (847) 945-5000 — or visit www.NWF.org/MayorsMonarchPledge or www.deerfield.il.us.

Buffalo Grove

Grocery store chain anchor of new development

The village reported that Woodman’s Food Markets and Shorewood Development Group are proceeding with plans for a 25-acre development at the western corners of Deerfield Parkway and Milwaukee Avenue. The development will be anchored by a 240,000-square-foot Woodman’s Food Market, to be located on the northwest corner of the intersection. Woodman’s also plans to develop a fuel center, convenience store, quick lube and car wash on the south side of Deerfield Parkway. Additional commercial and retail developments — conducted by Shorewood Development Group — would occupy the remaining five acres at the southwest corner of the intersection. Final approval of the project will require a public hearing, in addition to zoning and development agreement approvals from the Buffalo Grove Village Board. Woodman’s, based in Janesville, Wis., is an employee-owned and operated grocery store chain with 16 locations in Illinois and Wisconsin. For more information, call (847) 459-2500 or visit www.vbg.org.

Morton Grove

Photo contest to showcase village’s new tagline

The village announced that the Community Relations Commission is sponsoring a Summer 2016 Photo Contest to showcase Morton Grove’s new tagline: Incredibly Close — Amazingly Open. Participating photographers can submit up to five photos highlighting ways in which the village is both “close” and “open.” Photos will be judged on subject, composition and how they relate to the village’s new tagline. Selected photos will be featured on the village’s Facebook page and website, and five winning photos will be enlarged, framed and displayed at Village Hall. The contest is open to all Morton Grove residents, businesses, employees and visitors. Contestants should email their high-resolution digital photos (no larger than 14MB) in the JPG or JPEG format with a completed registration and release form (available at www.mortongroveil.org). Print photos (no smaller than 4-by-6 inches) may mailed to Spring Photo Contest, 6101 Capulina Ave., Morton Grove, Ill. 60053 or submitted in person. All entries must be submitted by Sept. 9. Winners will be announced Sept. 26 at the Village Board meeting. For more information, call (847) 809-1209 or send an email to CRC@mortongroveil.org.

Palos Park

Presbyterian Community Church nets Historic Landmark status

The village reported that the Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church, 12312 S. 88th Ave., has met the criteria to receive Historic Landmark designation. The Village of Palos Park Historic Preservation Commission reviewed the criteria and made a recommendation to the Village Council, which approved the motion in April. The structure, previously known as People’s Church of Palos Park, was built in 1902. It was designed by architect Alfred Pashley, a Palos Park resident who worked for Willet & Pashley, best known for its work on the design of the Catholic Archbishop’s residence and Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. In 2007, the Granacki Architectural and History Survey Book noted the property to be historically significant as the first community church constructed in Palos Park. For more information, call (708) 671-3700 or visit www.palospark.org.

Stickney

Village offers 50/50 sidewalk replacement program

The village, in a joint effort with homeowners, is conducting its annual 50/50 sidewalk replacement program. The program is based on a cooperative agreement in which the village contributes half the cost of the project, with the homeowner contributing the other half. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of the pedestrian walkway system within the village. Funding for the program is limited, and will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents will be allowed to replace no more than five sidewalk squares at a time per year. Applications will be accepted through July 29, and are available at Village Hall, 6533 Pershing Road or online at www.villageofstickney.com. For more information, call (708) 749-4400.

River Forest

Wesley hired as new principal at St. Luke

The village reported that Timothy J. Wesley has been hired as the new principal at St. Luke Parish School, 519 Ashland Ave. For the last four years, Wesley served as assistant principal for Academics at Loyola Academy, in Wilmette. His duties at the school included overseeing the academic curriculum, leading the department chairs and directors, and mentoring and supervising teachers. Wesley also is the founding executive director and a trustee of the Benebikira Sisters Foundation, an organization that led awareness and fundraising efforts to help build Our Lady of the Angels School in Kigali, Rwanda. In addition, Wesley is a recipient of the Harry W. Smith Award for service at Boston College; the Cardinal Bernardin Scholarship award at Catholic Technological Union; and the Founder’s Award from the Benebikira Sisters Foundation. He also has served as the National Chairperson for Assistant Principals of the Jesuit Schools Network for the last three years.

–Cook County News Briefs–