Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, a member of baseball’s Hall of Fame, will serve as the keynote speaker at Schaumburg’s 30th Annual Volunteer of the Year Awards Luncheon, to be held at 11:30 a.m. April 20 at Chandler’s Chop House, 401 N. Roselle Road.

Deerfield

Kates Road Bridge closed due to cracks on underside

The village announced that the Kates Road Bridge has been closed to all vehicular traffic following an inspection that found the bridge to be structurally deficient. The bridge, which is slated for reconstruction this summer, was closed — on the advice of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) — in the interest of public safety. An inspection by structural engineers revealed cracks on the underside of the bridge that greatly reduced its sufficiency rating. The bridge remains safe for pedestrian use, allowing the sidewalk to remain open. Until the bridge fully reopens, vehicular traffic will be routed around the bridge using Lake Cook Road and Waukegan Road. Northbound traffic at Pfingsten Road/Kates Road will detoured using Lake Cook Road to northbound Waukegan Road. Southbound traffic will be detoured using southbound Waukegan Road to westbound Lake Cook Road. On March 20, the village Board awarded the contract to fully reconstruct the bridge to Lorig Construction Company in the amount of $2.01 million. For more information, call (847) 945-5000 or visit www.deerfield.il.us.

Buffalo Grove

Village Manager earns prestigious ICMA credential

Buffalo Grove Village Manager Dane Bragg recently received Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). To receive the prestigious credential, a member must have significant experience as a senior management executive in local government, hold a degree — preferably in public administration or a related field — and demonstrate a commitment to high standards of integrity, as well as lifelong learning and professional development. Bragg has 18 years of professional local government executive experience. Prior to his appointment as Buffalo Grove Village Manager, in 2010, he served as City Manager of Galesburg, and as Assistant City Manager in Decatur. In addition, Bragg is the current Northwest Water Commission Treasurer, and he also has served on various state and national association committees and conference panels on subjects ranging from finance to economic development and infrastructure planning. For more information, call (847) 459-2500 or visit www.vbg.org. 

Hillside

Youth Commission to host annual egg hunt event

The village’s Youth Commission will host its annual Egg-citing Egg Hunt and Free Donuts with the Bunny, beginning at 9:30 a.m. April 15 at Hillside Commons, 4950 Washington Street. The event includes the Basket Egg Grab and Run (for ages 2 and under, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and 9-10). Participants should bring their own basket or bag to collect eggs. Prizes will be awarded to “Lucky Egg Finders,” and other prizes will be available (while supplies last). Free donuts also will be available (while they last)Attendees are encouraged to bring cameras for photo opportunities with the Bunny. For more information, call (708) 449-6450 or visit www.hillside-il.org.

Schaumburg

Former Cubs star Jenkins to speak at awards luncheon

Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, a member of baseball’s Hall of Fame, will serve as the keynote speaker at Schaumburg’s 30th Annual Volunteer of the Year Awards Luncheon, to be held at 11:30 a.m. April 20 at Chandler’s Chop House, 401 N. Roselle Road. The event — open to the public — annually recognizes adults, young people and organizations dedicated to making the village a better place through volunteer efforts. Jenkins won 284 games during a 19-year career that included two stints (1966-73 and 1982-83) with the Cubs. The registration deadline is April 17. To register, visit www.villageofschaumburg.com. For more information, call Schaumburg Special Events Coordinator Roxane Benvenuti at (847) 823-3605.

Elk Grove Village

Youth Committee offers trio of scholarship awards

The Elk Grove Youth Committee, in partnership with the village and the Elk Grove Parks Foundation, is offering three $1,000 scholarship awards to recognize high school seniors for outstanding leadership, community participation and service in the community. Applications are available in the Elk Grove High School College & Career Center, 500 W. Elk Grove Blvd., and on the village’s website (www.elkgrove.com). Completed applications must be submitted to the Charles J. Zettek Municipal Center, 901 Wellington Ave., no later than May 5. For more information, call (847) 439-3900 or visit www.elkgrove.com.

Des Plaines

Oakton College earns national humanities grant

Oakton Community College announced that it has been selected as one only four community colleges nationwide to receive a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant. The grant, worth nearly $99,000 over 30 months, will fund “People, Place and Purpose: Fostering an Understanding of a Complex World,” an interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the college’s new environmental studies concentration. The grant will make possible the addition of two new courses at Oakton. Acceptance of the grant is pending approval of the Oakton Board of Trustees. For more information, call (847) 635-1600 or visit www.oakton.edu. 

Oak Park

Fire Dept. nets grant for smoke detector program

The Oak Park Fire Department plans to raise awareness about the importance of smoke detectors through a new program made possible by a grant from FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers. As part of the new program, when a house fire occurs in Oak Park, Fire Department personnel will blanket surrounding homes on the block with information about the incident and reminders to check batteries in smoke detectors. Funding from the grant also will help the Fire Department provide a limited number of smoke detectors free of charge. Fire Department personnel will track the location of smoke detectors provided through the program and follow up with regular maintenance reminders. Residents interested in acquiring a smoke detector can contact the Fire Department’s Public Education Division at (708) 358-5600 or via email at fireprevention@oak-park.us. For further details about the program, visit www.oak-park.us/fire. 

–Cook County News Briefs–