South Holland will host its first E-Waste Collection event of 2017 from 8 a.m. to noon March 25 in the rear parking lot of the South Holland Public Library, 16250 Wausau Ave.

Deerfield

Village targets Pfingsten Road/Kates Road for project

The village announced that the Deerfield Engineering Department is targeting the Pfingsten Road/Kates Road bridge and roadway for rehabilitation during the 2017 construction season. The project includes bridge deck replacement, resurfacing of Pfingsten Road/Kates Road between Lake Cook Road and Waukegan Road, repair of any pavement failures, minor drainage improvements, and modernization of the traffic signal at Kates Road and Corporate 500 Drive to include pedestrian movements. Construction is scheduled to begin during the second half of 2017 and conclude by the end of the construction season. For more information, call (847) 945-5000 or visit www.deerfield.il.us.

Schaumburg

WACO offers scholarship program to high school seniors

The Woodfield Area Children’s Organization (WACO), 725 E. Schaumburg Road, is accepting applications through the end of March for its three annual $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are open to all high school seniors who have volunteered at WACO’s Christmas shopping tours, helped with the charity’s food, book or coat drives, or in any way volunteered for WACO’s programs or fundraisers. Qualifying students must also be planning to attend a four-year college or university in the fall of 2017. Applications are available in school guidance counseling and career offices or online at www.waco4kids.org. WACO will present the scholarships to the winning students and their parents May 9. For more information, send an email to infowaco4kids.org or visit the WACO website.

Palatine

Village offers delivery of ground wood mulch

In anticipation of the spring planting season, the village announced that residents can call the Palatine Public Works Department to schedule an appointment for delivery of ground wood mulch, created from trees removed throughout the village. The cost of delivery is $14 per cubic yard, with a 3-cubic-yard minimum order. Mulch will be dropped off at participating residents’ driveway aprons on Fridays throughout April (while supplies last). For smaller amounts of mulch, residents can visit the mulch bins at the holding center, located at 550 N. Smith Street. Residents must provide their own shovels and containers to gather mulch at the holding center. To schedule a delivery, and for more information, call the Public Works Department at (847) 705-5200 or visit www.palatine.il.us.

Tinley Park

Reeder gets nod as new chief of Fire Dept.

The village has selected Forest F. Reeder Jr. as the new chief of the Tinley Park Fire Department, effective April 10. Reeder, a Palos Heights resident, has been in fire service for 38 years and is currently Division Chief of the Des Plaines Fire Department. He also served as Director of Training for Southwest United Fire Districts, as a battalion chief for the Pleasantview Fire Protection District and as a captain/shift commander for the Palos Fire Protection District. In addition, Reeder was a recipient of the George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award from the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, and the Instructor of the Year Award from the Illinois Society of Fire Service Instructors. Reeder also co-authored and was supervising editor of a fire service textbook.

South Holland

Village to host E-Waste Collection event

The village will host its first E-Waste Collection event of 2017 from 8 a.m. to noon March 25 in the rear parking lot of the South Holland Public Library, 16250 Wausau Ave. Electronic waste (e-waste) consists of electronic devices that are broken, outdated, discarded or at the end of their useful life. Acceptable items at the collection event include cell phones, laptops, desktop computers, monitors, tablets, PDAs, TVs, printers, fax machines, scanners and similar electronic devices. The village also will host E-Waste Collection events on the fourth Saturday in July and October. For more information, call (708) 210-2900 or visit www.southholland.org.

Bill would require presidential candidates to show tax returns

For politicians vying for Illinois seats or even the presidency a south suburban Illinois legislator wants to make sure their background is made public to the electorate.

State Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-South Holland)  said that he was prompted to draft House Bill 780 partially because of the president’s refusal to make his finances available to the public, which could reveal potential conflicts of interest. He believes clarity is needed in all levels of the political process. “Donald Trump doesn’t want us to know anything about his finances,” he said in a statement. “He doesn’t want us to know who he does business with, who he owes, or how the decisions he makes as president are being influenced by his own personal greed. This is unacceptable for the American people. Releasing tax returns has long been a common practice for candidates running for president and regardless of what Donald Trump may think we still deserve to know whether our president is making the best decisions for us or just the best decisions for him.” If passed, Jones’ bill would require any presidential candidate to release their previous five years of tax return at least 50 days prior to the election. Failure to comply with the new law would ban the candidate from appearing on the ballot in Illinois. Similar legislative proposals have been made in other state legislatures.

The legislation is currently in subcommittee and awaits further hearings in the House.

For more information on the legislation call (708) 933-6018.

Oak Park

Village to begin collection of yard waste      

The village announced that collection of yard waste will begin April 3. Bundled brush no longer than two feet in diameter and four feet in length, and yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, shrubs and vines, will be picked up on regular refuse collection days. A green yard-waste sticker must be attached to each brush bundle, 32-gallon paper bag and rigid container. Stickers are $2.50 each, and are available at Village Hall, 123 Madison Street; Dressel’s Ace Hardware, 1137 Chicago Ave.; Fair Share Finer Foods, 6226 Roosevelt Road; Pete’s Fresh Market, 259 Lake Street; Walgreens, 811 Madison Street and 6412 Roosevelt Road; Jewel Food Stores, 438 Madison Street and 7036 Roosevelt Road, and 7525 Lake Street (River Forest); and Schauer Ace Hardware, 7449 Madison Street (Forest Park). For more information, call (708) 358-5700, send an email to publicworks@oak-park.us or visit www.oak-park.us.

Mount Prospect

Library to host program on self-defense for adults, seniors

As part of its Afternoon Encore Series, the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson Street, will host Practical Self-Defense for Adults and Seniors at 1 p.m. March 30. Instructor Peter Honigmann, a practicing attorney with more than 15 years of experience in martial arts, will address the legal ramifications of using self-defense. Time also will be spent on basic defenses against knife and club attacks, and on learning to defend yourself with a cane. This single-session, low-impact class is intended for those new to self-defense. Participants with physical limitations will receive individual instruction on alternative self-defense options. Registration is required. To sign up, and for more information, call (847) 253-5675 or visit www.mppl.org.    

Evanston

City names Efiom as Equity and Empowerment Coordinator

Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz has appointed Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Efiom as the city’s Equity and Empowerment Coordinator. The position was created in 2016 to provide coordination and leadership regarding issues of access, equity and empowerment to city services, programs and offerings to the Evanston community. Efiom previously served as the chief executive officer of the Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston from 2010 to 2016. Her responsibilities included managing two senior Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) properties housing 200 residents in Evanston. She also has served as the project director of the Garrett-Evanston CDF Freedom Schools program since 2014.

–Cook County News Briefs–