Deerfield’s 2017 Winter Celebration will be held from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2.

Buffalo Grove

Village nets pair of grants from ComEd

The village recently received two grants through ComEd programs that promote sustainability, health and safety for the residents of Buffalo Grove. Each program offers grants of up to $10,000 each. The Buffalo Grove Police Department received a public safety grant from the Powering Safe Communities program, which is jointly supported by ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. The grant exists to assist with funding for public safety projects. The grant will help fund the installation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a police vehicle. The police department’s goal is to add one AED (a life-saving piece of equipment that is utilized when someone is experiencing cardiac arrest) to its patrol fleet every year. In addition, the village’s Public Works Department, in partnership with Jeff Weiss, Chair of Buffalo Grove’s Action Team, received an Openlands grant from ComEd’s Green Region program. The program provides funding for open space projects through conservation and preservation initiatives. Buffalo Grove received the grant for the Farrington Connect the Corridor Project, which aims to restore streambanks, buffer areas, basins and woodland along Farrington Ditch. For more information, call (847) 459-2500 or visit www.vbg.org.

Deerfield

Winter Celebration offers indoor and outdoor activities

The village’s 2017 Winter Celebration will be held from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2. The two-day event features indoor and outdoor activities at Village Hall, 850 Waukegan Road, including sleigh rides, a photo booth, treats, roasted chestnuts, ice sculpting, and musical performances by the Deerfield High School Choraliers, Hurricane Saxophone Quartet and The Caroling Party. On Dec. 2, participating businesses and organizations throughout Deerfield will feature winter-themed activities, discounts and/or treats. Activities include horse-drawn carriage rides from Deerfield Square to Village Center Plaza, as well as pony rides, a photo booth and live entertainment. For more information, call (847) 945-5000 or visit www.deerfield.il.us.    

Barrington

Donations from Uncork Barrington event aid charities

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) recently awarded nearly $7,000 in charitable donations from the proceeds of the 2017 Uncork Barrington wine-tasting event to six local charities. Recipients of the donations were: Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA), Barrington Area United Way, Barrington Children’s Choir, Barrington Youth & Family Services, CareerPlace and Samaritan Counseling Center. More than 900 people attended this year’s Uncork Barrington event, co-hosted by the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, BACOA and the Barrington Village Association. The next Uncork Barrington event is scheduled for July 6, 2018. For more information, call (847) 381-2525 or visit www.barringtonchamber.com.

Evanston

City to host public meeting on street light plan

The city will host a public meeting concerning the Street Light Master Plan at 7 p.m. Nov. 28 in the Parasol Room at the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave. This will be the first of several public meetings as the project progresses. Representatives from Christopher Burke Engineering, the project’s engineering firm, and city staff will discuss the project goals and schedule, present the existing street light conditions analysis and receive community input. The goal of the project is to develop a plan that identifies ways to meet future street lighting needs of the community in a manner that reflects the community’s values, as well as the context of the surrounding environments. Once completed and approved, the Street Light Master Plan will help guide future street light infrastructure improvement and operations programs in the city. For more information, call (847) 448-4311 or visit www.cityofevanston.org.

Clinton Polz

Orland Park

Polz named new wrestling coach at Sandburg High 

Carl Sandburg High School, 13300 S. LaGrange Road, announced that Clinton Polz has been named the Eagles’ new wrestling head coach after the District 230 Board of Education approved his hiring on Oct. 26. Polz, a Sandburg High School Class of 2006 graduate, was a state-qualifying wrestler for the Eagles and served as captain on two state championship teams. He then wrestled at the University of Illinois, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. Polz currently serves as a physical education teacher at Stagg High School, in Palos Hills. Prior to accepting the head coaching position, Polz served as an assistant coach on the Sandburg staff for five seasons, and also served as the head coach at Plainfield North High School.

South Holland

Thornwood High to hold annual 8th Grade Open House

The village announced that Thornwood High School, 17101 South Park Ave., will host its fourth annual 8th Grade Open House from 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 28. The event — for current 8th-grade students and their parents — is designed to welcome the Class of 2022 and their families into the Thunderbird family. Attendees can tour the school, learn about academic programming and receive answers to any questions. Parking is in the visitors’ lot on the north side of Thornwood High School. Entrance to the event is at Door 2 (near the flagpole). For more information, call (708) 225-4997 or visit www.southholland.org.

Arlington Heights

Fire Dept. collecting donations of coats, toys

The village announced that the Arlington Heights Fire Department, in collaboration with School District 25, is hosting a winter coat drive and participating in the Chicagoland Toys for Tots program. The Fire Department is collecting new and gently used coats, as well as new, unwrapped toys (until Dec. 15) at Fire Station 1, 300 E. Sigwalt St.; Station 2, 1150 N. Arlington Heights Road; Station 3, 2000 S. Arlington Heights Road; and Station 4, 3030 N. Arlington Heights Road. For more information, call (847) 368-5000 or visit www.vah.com.   

–Cook County News Briefs–