Prairie State College will hold its 28th Annual Jazz Fest at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium, located in the Conference Center at the main campus, 202 S. Halsted St.

South Holland

Local entrepreneur Hoskins earns hall of fame distinction

Michele Hoskins, founder, owner and CEO of Michele Foods — which produces and distributes Michele’s Syrup from a plant at 16117 LaSalle Street — was among 20 local business owners recently inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame (part of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago) during the institute’s 30th anniversary celebration gala, held at the Field Museum in Chicago. Hoskins, who began her syrup business from her mother’s basement in 1984, has become a force in the food industry, turning a family recipe into a multi-million dollar business. Her products, which come in three flavors (Honey Crème, Maple Crème and Butter Pecan) are distributed in more than 8,000 stores nationwide, including Kroger, Jewel, Safeway and Mariano’s. For more information, visit www.southholland.org.

Chicago Heights

Prairie State to hold annual Jazz Fest

Prairie State College will hold its 28th Annual Jazz Fest at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium, located in the Conference Center at the main campus, 202 S. Halsted St. Featured musicians include trumpeter Orbert Davis, drummer Ernie Adams, bassist Junius Paul, saxophonist Ed Petersen and Prairie State Professor of Music Valerie Nicholson on piano. Tickets are $15 (general admission) and $10 (students and seniors), and are available in the college’s business office from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, and at the door. In addition, concertgoers are invited to a VIP reception at 6 p.m., with entertainment provided by the Prairie State College Student Jazz Ensemble. For more information, call (708) 709-3500 or visit www.prairiestate.edu.

Elk Grove Village

Friends of Library sets schedule for Used Book Sale

The Friends of the Library will hold its annual Used Book Sale in the Large Meeting Room at the Elk Grove Public Library, 1001 Wellington Ave., beginning with Preview Night (for Friends members) from 6-8:30 p.m. Feb. 26. The general public is invited to the Open Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 27, and the Bag Sale from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 28. In addition, mini-sales are available in the lobby during the book sale set-up from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 24. The purchase of at least one $5 bag is required for entrance to the Bag Sale, and attendees can fill the bag with as many non-specials as desired.

Featured sections at the sale include art, biography, children, cooking, fantasy, foreign language, Hollywood, military, music, mystery and religion. Tables with audio-visual materials and works by popular authors will be included as well. For more information, call (847) 439-0447 or visit www.egvpl.org.

Arlington Heights

St. Viator science team wins regional competition

Competing for the first time ever in the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) Academic Challenge, sponsored by the University of Illinois, the Saint Viator High School team placed first in regional competition at Oakton Community College, in Des Plaines, on Feb. 5. The team — consisting of 14 juniors and seniors selected by honors and AP instructors in the science department — now advances to the sectionals, to be held March 3 at Vernon Hills High School. The WYSE state finals will be held April 11-14 in Champaign. During the regional, senior Mark Perkowski finished first in the Biology category, junior Paulina Piwowarczyk was second and senior Max Paulus placed third. In Math, senior Simon Mo was first and senior Drew Morton placed second; Morton also finished second in Physics. In English, senior Liam Warner placed first, Piwowarczyk took second and junior Stephen Hannon was third. In Chemistry, junior Patrick Harris finished second and Mo came in third. St. Viator’s team also included seniors Emily Hayes, Ryan McMahon, Paige Smith, Thomas Swiderski and Matt Trimberger. For more information, visit www.saintviator.com.

Wheeling

Chamber of Commerce to host State of the City breakfast event

The Wheeling/Prospect Heights Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry will present its Annual State of the City of Prospect Heights & the Village of Wheeling Breakfast: 2016 from 8-10 a.m. Feb. 24 in the Devonshire Room at Chevy Chase Country Club, 1000 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Wheeling. The event features Prospect Heights Mayor Nick Helmer and Village of Wheeling President Dean Argiris, who will provide a review of ongoing community initiatives, accomplishments and upcoming developments, including infrastructure improvements and real estate development projects. Admission is $25 (in advance) and $30 (at the door) for Chamber of Commerce members, and $30 (in advance) and $35 (at the door) for non-Chamber members. To register, and for more information, call (847) 541-0170 or visit www.wphchamber.com.

Elmwood Park

Village to host slate of USA Boxing matches

The village will present Elmwood Park Fight Night from 6:30-11 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Parks & Recreation Center, 2 Conti Parkway. Sponsored by USA Boxing, the event also will feature food and beverages, and valet parking will be available. Tickets are available at Village Hall, 11 Conti Parkway. For more information, call (708) 452-7300 or visit www.elmwoodpark.org.

Palatine

Village seeks recipes for 150th anniversary cookbook

In conjunction with the village’s 150th anniversary this year, the Palatine Sesquicentennial Committee is seeking original recipes for its Sesquicentennial Hometown Cookbook. Palatine residents, businesses, community organizations, schools and restaurants are all invited to submit their recipes. In addition, anecdotes on how a recipe pertains to Palatine are encouraged, but not required. The cookbook also will include a special section for recipes submitted by children (of any age) who are interested in participating. All recipes should be postmarked by March 1 and sent to Palatine 150 Cookbook, P.O. Box 134, Palatine, Ill. 60078. For more information, call (847) 358-7500, send an email to info@Palatine 150.com or visit www.palatine.il.us.

Winnetka

Residents invited to Master Plan committee meeting

Community members are invited to attend the village’s Downtown Master Plan Steering Committee meeting, to be held from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 29 in the Council Chambers at Village Hall, 510 Green Bay Road. Attendees will have the opportunity to share ideas regarding the village’s Vision Statements, which serves as the foundation of the Winnetka Downtown Master Plan, focused in part on the Elm Street, Hubbard Woods and Indian Hills business districts. For more information, call (847) 501-6000 or visit www.WinnetkaDowntownPlan.com.

–Cook County News Briefs–