Cook County News Briefs

Chronicle Media
The 21st West End Art Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 17 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the landmark Stone Avenue Metra Station, located along Burlington Avenue between Brainard and Spring avenues, La Grange.

The 21st West End Art Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 17 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the landmark Stone Avenue Metra Station, located along Burlington Avenue between Brainard and Spring avenues, La Grange.

Buffalo Grove

BG Singers to present 24th Annual Choral Celebration

The Buffalo Grove Park District announced that the BG Singers, a community choral group featuring more than 70 vocalists, will present its 24th Annual Choral Celebration, “Carry On,” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17, and 3 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center, 225 McHenry Road. The performance will include selections from a wide variety of genres, including Broadway, pop, rock and folk music. The BG Singers, in partnership with the Berkowitz Fine Arts Fund, help fund arts scholarships for area students and help local schools acquire equipment needed for arts programs, among numerous other philanthropic efforts. Tickets for “Carry On” are $17 (adults) and $15 (ages 12 and under; ages 62 and up) if purchased online (at www.bgsingers.org) in advance. All tickets will be $20 at the door. For more information, call Lindsay Grandt at (847) 850-2132 or visit www.bgparks.org.

Schaumburg

Rutledge named recipient of 2016 Spring Valley Award

The village reported that Schaumburg resident Mert Rutledge has been named the 2016 recipient of the Ellsworth A. Meineke Spring Valley Award, presented by the Spring Valley Nature Club. Rutledge has logged 1,450 hours of volunteer service at Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm since she began volunteering in 2003. Rutledge, who holds an animal care position at Spring Valley, has spent the bulk of her time serving as a Saturday morning feeder. She also assists during special events at the farm as a historic interpreter, and has volunteered for the Sugar Bush Fair. The Spring Valley Nature Club is a nonprofit service organization that provides volunteer and financial support for the Spring Valley Nature Center and Heritage Farm. For more information, call (847) 985-2100, send an email to springvalleynatureclub@gmail.com or visit www.springvalleynatureclub.org.

Oak Park

Annual Ulyssean Award Dinner set for Sept. 23

The Senior Citizens’ Center of Oak Park River Forest — “The Lifelong Learning Center”— is hosting the 13th Annual Ulyssean Award Dinner Sept. 23 at Brookdale Plaza Oak Park, 1111 Ontario St., Oak Park. This year’s dinner is honoring Ann and Gene Armstrong and Marty Noll. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:45. Business Attire. Donation is $65 per plate. For reservations or information, call (708) 848-5251.

La Grange

La Grange Business Assoc. to host 21st West End Art Festival

The village announced that the 21st West End Art Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 17 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the landmark Stone Avenue Metra Station, located along Burlington Avenue between Brainard and Spring avenues. The festival, presented by the La Grange Business Association, features artwork created by juried fine artists throughout the Midwest, available for browsing and purchase. The fest also includes culinary demonstrations, children’s art activities, food and beverages from local restaurants, and various musicians and dancers performing in the Performance Art tent. In addition, a live auction of birdhouses from “Tweet Home La Grange,” an art exhibit that was on display in the village’s Business District during the summer, will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 (with proceeds benefiting local charities), followed by the Big Band Era sounds of the Reunion Jazz Orchestra from 7:30-10 p.m. Admission to the fest is free. For more information, call (708) 579-2300 or visit www.villageoflagrange.com.

Westchester

Police Dept. offers Citizens Police Academy program

The village announced that the Westchester Police Department will hold its Citizens Police Academy from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 5 and running through Dec. 14. Topics to be covered include Patrol/Detective Operations, Bomb Unit, K-9 Unit, SWAT, Gangs/Drugs, Terrorism, Traffic Stops/DUI Enforcement and Firearms. The program is open to residents 18 years old and up, and to village business owners, and all applicants will be subject to a criminal background check. To access an application, visit www.westchester-il.org. Completed applications should be returned either in person or by mail to the Westchester Police Department, Attention: Officer Robert Verder, 10300 W. Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Ill. 60154. For more information, contact Verber at (708) 223-3095, ext. 440 or via email at rverber@westchesterpolice.com.

Park Forest

Village to host legal assistance info program for seniors

The village announced that “Planning for the Future,” an educational program for seniors sponsored by the Park Forest Senior Advisory Commission, will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive. During the program, speakers from the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago will be on hand to share details on numerous topics, including how to create an estate will; how to create a power of attorney for health care and for property; how to establish a trust for property owned, versus a transfer on death instrument; how to obtain legal guardianship as a caregiver for an adult, child or senior; and how to establish an agreement with Social Security to become the representative payee for a family member with dementia. To RSVP, call (708) 748-1118. For more information, visit www.villageofparkforest.com.

Mount Prospect

Fire Dept. opens 2016 Poster Contest to young students

In conjunction with Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15), the Mount Prospect Fire Department is sponsoring the 2016 Fire Department Poster Contest, open to Mount Prospect students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Participants are encouraged to design a poster using this year’s theme: Don’t Wait — Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years. All entries will receive a participation ribbon, and a first-, second- and third-place winner will be chosen from each grade level. Each of the first-place winners will then be entered in a village-wide contest, with final winners receiving an award from Mayor Arlene A. Juracek at an upcoming Village Board meeting. All entries must be completed on poster board, with a maximum size of 16-by-20-inches. Submittals must contain the following information (listed on the back of entries): student’s full name; student’s home phone number; name of school; grade level; and teacher’s name. Entries can be submitted in person at Police/Fire Headquarters (Fire Dept., 2nd Floor), 112 E. Northwest Highway, or at the main office of the student’s school. Deadline for entries is Oct. 12. For more information, call (847) 870-5666 or visit www.mountprospect.org. 

Deerfield

Farmers Market Harvest Fest & Touch-a-Truck event on tap

The Deerfield Park District will host Farmers Market Harvest Fest & Touch-a-Truck from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 24 at the corner of Deerfield Road and Robert York Avenue. In addition to fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers and specialty food items for sale at Farmers Market, the event includes kids’ activities, balloons, face painting, prizes and more. During Touch-a-Truck, attendees can explore military vehicles, snow plows and a fire truck, among others. Admission is free. For more information, call (847) 0650 or visit www.deerfieldparks.org.

–Cook County News Briefs–