A third appearance by the Elk Grove High School Jazz Ensemble will be the special feature at the Jazz Consortium Big Band’s performance Dec. 13 at Durty Nellie’s Pub, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Directed by Ron Fiorito, the Elk Grove band will play at 6 p.m., immediately followed by the Jazz Consortium, which plays until 9 p.m. All ages are welcome. Cover is $10, or $5 for students 17 and under. Reservations suggested, phone (847) 358.9150, Ext. 0. Website: www.durtynellies.com.

Schaumburg

Village ranks third in national Digital Cities Survey

The village announced that Schaumburg placed third in the 2015 Digital Cities Survey for a second consecutive year. The survey was conducted by the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technologies and best practices in state and local government. The center is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government, and education. Schaumburg was ranked third in cities with a population of 74,999 or less.

Palos Hills

Police Dept. enters program to combat gangs, violence

The Palos Hills Police Department announced that it is participating in the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program. The program is designed to proactively help deter children from engaging in youth violence, gang activity and delinquent behavior in the years immediately preceding the prime ages for introduction into gangs. G.R.E.A.T., a national and international gang and violence prevention program, is built around school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curricula. For more information, visit www.great-online.org or call the police department at (708) 598-2992.

Park Ridge

Library serves as drop-off site for Holiday Food Drive

As part of a community-wide effort, the city’s 2015 Holiday Food Drive is accepting non-perishable food items through Dec. 30 at a drop-off bin in the lobby of the Park Ridge Public Library, 20 S. Prospect Ave. The food drive, intended to help needy families in Park Ridge and Maine Township, is being conducted in partnership with the Park Ridge Kiwanis, the Park Ridge Human Needs Task Force, and Maine Township. For more information, call (847) 825-3123.

Chicago Heights

City Council recognizes resident for heroic action in house fire

During its recent City Council meeting, the city recognized resident Charles Gluckleder for his heroic actions in helping three occupants safely escape a burning house in the 300 block of 16th Street on Oct. 14. With members of the Chicago Heights Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works Department and City Hall staff in attendance, Gluckleder received an official proclamation from Mayor David A. Gonzalez, expressing the city’s gratitude for his bravery.

Wilmette

Village closes on sale of former auto dealership property

The village announced that it has closed on the sale of a property at 611 Green Bay Road, which formerly housed a Ford auto dealership. Under terms of the contract, the village sold the property to M&R Development for $3.1 million, with M&R also making an $80,000 donation to the village’s housing efforts. M&R plans to construct a five-story luxury apartment complex, with retail and amenity spaces on the first floor. The development will have approximately 75 residences — offering studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units – and more than 6,300 square feet of first-floor commercial retail space. The building also will feature tenant amenities, including a fitness center and cyber cafe. For more information, visit www.wilmette.com or call (847) 853-7501.

Evanston

Winners of Paint Evanston Plows Contest announced

The city announced the winners of its 10th Annual Paint Evanston Plows Contest during its recent Administration and Public Works Committee meeting. The winners are: Pope John XXIII School (Evanstonians’ Choice Award), Lincolnwood Elementary School (Best Theme Spirit Ward), and St. Athanasius School and Lincoln Elementary School (Mayor’s Choice Award). Each year, the city’s Infrastructure and Maintenance Bureau invites all public and private schools in Evanston to paint murals on the blades of city snowplows. This year, students were encouraged to depict school, city, holiday or winter themes. For more information, visit www.cityofevanston.org.

Stickney

Village invites residents to IDOT open house meeting

The village invites residents to attend an Open House Public Meeting concerning the Illinois Department of Transportation’s I-55 Managed Lane Project, proposed for the improvement of Interstate 55 from I-355 to I-90/I-94 in Cook and DuPage counties. The meeting will be held from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Holiday Inn Countryside Conference Center, 6201 Joliet Road, in Countryside. Attendees will have the opportunity to review an audio-visual presentation, review project exhibits, provide comments, and meet with IDOT representatives on a one-on-one basis. For more information, visit www.i55managedlaneproject.org.

Buffalo Grove

Studio of Dance to present own version of “Nutcracker”

The Buffalo Grove Studio of Dance, in conjunction with the Buffalo Grove Park District, will present “Nutcracker: Rhythm & Dance” — described as a new twist on the beloved classic, incorporating ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance — at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12, and at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Community Arts Center, 225 McHenry Road. Tickets are $10 (advance) and $15 (at the door). For more information, call Buffalo Grove Studio of Dance Director Aly Stanczak at (847) 850-2105 or visit www.bgparks.org.

Oak Park

Oak Park Station project set to get underway

Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb recently met with representatives of Clark State Real Estate and Lennar Multifamily Communities to officially commemorate the start of Oak Park Station, the village’s next major downtown development project. The mixed-use project will include about 270 luxury apartments, 26,000 square feet of retail space, and a five-level parking garage with more than 400 spaces. The main project site is bounded by Marion Street, Harlem Avenue, Lake Street and North Boulevard. Plans call for a five-story building fronting Lake Street, and a 20-story building facing North Boulevard, with the two buildings being connected by a pedestrian bridge overlooking Westgate Street. Full-scale construction activities are anticipated to begin in mid-December, and the project is slated for substantial completion by March 2017.

Western Springs

Writers’ Society to meet at library

The Western Springs Writers’ Society invites all writers from the community to discuss and hone their craft with other local writers at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Thomas Ford Memorial Library Community Room, 800 Chestnut St. Writers of all levels and genres are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Marie Gerken at marie@gerken.org or Jim Swinehart at jswinehart@clausen.com, call (708) 246-0520 or visit www.fordlibrary.org.

Mount Prospect

First-ever Holiday Kickoff JAM set for RecPlex

The Mount Prospect Park District will present its first-ever Holiday Kickoff JAM Party from 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at RecPlex (Studio 200), 420 W. Dempster St. Attendees will receive a glow necklace at the door, and take part in various forms of dance, including Zumba, hip hop and jazz. In addition, free massages and refreshments will be offered afterward. The cost is $10 (residents) and $11 (nonresidents). For more information, call (847) 640-1000 or visit www.mppd.org.

–Cook County News Briefs–