Park Forest Police were on scene May 22 patrolling the downtown and carnival area when a disturbance/fight broke out in the area of Main Street and Victory Boulevard.

Cook County news briefs

Chicago

Cortland Street bridge closed to motor vehicle traffic for structural repairs

The Chicago Department of Transportation announced that the Cortland Street Bascule Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River is closed to motor vehicle traffic for structural repairs, weather permitting. At least one sidewalk will remain open to pedestrian traffic during the work, scheduled to last until November. The bridge will be open to bicycle traffic, however bicyclists will be directed to walk their bikes on the sidewalk.

Cars will be detoured via Webster Ave. and truck traffic will be detoured via North Ave. The project is needed to repair sections of the roadway as well as floor beams, trusses and sidewalks ahead of a project to completely rehabilitate the bridge in 2018.

The Cortland Street Bridge, originally built in 1902, was the first Chicago Style Fixed Trunnion Bascule Bridge. The design was developed by City of Chicago engineers in the late 1890s. This model has been copied worldwide since. As the very first bridge of this type, the Cortland Street Bridge is now considered a historical landmark.

Evanston

City warns of potentially misleading electricity supplier solicitations

The City of Evanston is warning residents about potentially misleading alternative electricity supplier mail solicitations after receiving numerous inquiries from community members.

Residents report receiving mail solicitations from power suppliers offering the opportunity to switch to renewable energy. However, the city’s Community Choice Electricity Aggregation program already provides participating residents and small businesses with 100 percent renewable energy through its contract with Homefield Energy.

In April 2014, the City selected Homefield as Evanston’s electricity supplier for a three-year contract, from August 2014 through July 2017. If residents are satisfied with the program, there is no need to take any action.

Residents and small businesses can opt out or in to the City’s program at any time without penalty during the three-year contract. No matter which supplier a resident chooses, ComEd will be responsible for delivering the electricity.

More information about Evanston’s aggregation program can be found at cityofevanston.org/cca. For questions, please call or text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.

Evanston

CTA conducting Purple Line Express pilot program through July 10

The CTA and the City of Evanston will conduct a six-week pilot program through July 10 to test an additional weekday evening round-trip Purple Line Express train between Linden and the Loop.

The train will depart from Linden southbound at approximately 7:58 p.m. and make all regular Purple Line Express stops between Linden and the Loop and back. The train will depart the Davis station at approximately 8:05 p.m. Scheduled departure times include:

• Linden – 7:58 p.m.
• Davis – 8:05 p.m.
• Howard – 8:12 p.m.
• Belmont – 8:29 p.m.
• Fullerton – 8:34 p.m.
• Clark/Lake – 8:48 p.m.
• Adams/Wabash – 8:54 p.m.
• Washington/Wells – 9:00 p.m.
• Fullerton – 9:15 p.m.
• Belmont – 9:20 p.m.
• Howard – 9:37 p.m.
• Davis – 9:44 p.m.
• Linden – 9:50 p.m. (arrive)

Note: The train will run express southbound and northbound between the Howard and Belmont stations.

In order to maintain service beyond the pilot program, the CTA estimates that 468 round-trip weekday riders are needed. The CTA is expected to make an official count of Purple Line Express pilot program riders on the train cars on June 25.

To encourage Evanston residents and commuters to take advantage of the extended Purple Line Express train, the City and Downtown Evanston have teamed up with local businesses and organizations to plan a number of restaurant promotions and events throughout the pilot program. Activities include It’s Thursday, Let’s Dance! events, a Wine Walk, Scavenger Hunt and more.

Residents can sign up to receive text message notifications alerting them 20 minutes prior to when the last southbound Purple Line Express train is scheduled to leave Davis Street. To sign up, visit cityofevanston.org/newsletter or text PURPLE to (847) 448-4311.

For more information, please call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.

Forest Preserve District

Board OKs land purchase in Barrington Hills

The Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners today approved a request to purchase a 24-acre parcel of land in Barrington Hills located at 165 Algonquin Road. The parcel will provide a greenway connection from the Forest Preserve’s Spring Lake Preserve, one of the Forest Preserve’s finest natural area properties, to the 400-acre Horizon Farms property, acquired in 2014.

“As outlined in our Land Acquisition Plan, making purchases near existing parcels of Forest Preserve property is a benefits the plant and wildlife in the surrounding area,” said Forest Preserves of Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. “Natural connections to larger areas act as buffers to between developed areas and the habitats we are trying to protect.”

Forest Preserve land comprises some of the most diverse habitats in Cook County such as forests, wetlands, prairies and savannas.

Today’s board approval grants the FPCC the authority to purchase the parcel for $2.15 million. The money will come from the FPCC’s Real Estate Acquisition Fund which is appropriated with General Operating Funds. In 2012, the sale of General Obligation Bonds provided an additional $27 million earmarked for Land Acquisition.

Once this and other recent acquisitions are final, the District’s total land holdings will be 69,337 acres. Under the leadership of President Preckwinkle, the FPCC increased its efforts to buy land having acquired 1,060 acres since 2011 including this property and recently approved acquisitions. Land Acquisition is one of the goals of the Next Century Conservation Plan, commissioned by President Preckwinkle, which aims to expand the Forest Preserve footprint to 90,000 acres over the next 25 years.

Forest Park

Shots fired in Forest Park

Park Forest Police were on scene May 22 patrolling the downtown and carnival area when a disturbance/fight broke out in the area of Main Street and Victory Boulevard. Due to the large number of individuals involved, outside agencies assisted to respond. During the incident there was a report of two shots fired and a subject running from the area, however no one was reported injured and no further evidence was found. Six subjects were taken into custody for disorderly conduct related offenses. The report of shots fired is being investigated.

Tinley Park

Mayor Zabrocki leaves office June 1

June 1 was Tinley Park Mayor Edward J. Zabrocki’s final day in office. He announced his resignation in early May during the annual Business Breakfast at the Tinley Convention Center.

Zabrocki, 73, cited the health of his granddaughter, Faye, who has spina bifida, and his own battle with abdominal cancer, which has returned after 10 years in remission, as reasons for his decision to resign.

“This was not an easy decision,” Zabrocki said. “The next few years will be exciting for this community. I will hate not being a part of it.”

Zabrocki, who was reelected in 2013 and has two years left on his term, made a recommendation to name Trustee David Seaman as his replacement. Seaman has served on the Village Board since 1984 and is the current Mayor Pro-Tem.

Zabrocki has been mayor of Tinley Park since 1981, following 10 years of service before that on Village commissions and then the Village Board. He also was elected and served as 37th District State Representative to the 89th Illinois General Assembly.

Zabrocki also was selected as a 2005 finalist for the World Mayor Award sponsored by the City Mayors international organization. He also was given a Community Leadership Award by Diversity, Inc., and was featured in the “Who’s Who in Government” publication.

Zabrocki retired in 2005 as director of guidance at Brother Rice High School in Chicago. He has been inducted into the Brother Rice Hall of Fame and received a Man of the Year award from the school. He also has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn., and the Outstanding Alumni Award from Annunciata Grade School in Chicago.