The Willow Springs Lions Club Community Dinner will be held from noon to 5 p.m. April 24 at the Willow Springs Community Center, 8156 Archer Ave.

Schaumburg

Nicor upgrading gas services throughout village

The village reported that Nicor Gas currently is modernizing its customers’ gas distribution system in Schaumburg by replacing copper gas services at 1,500 homes throughout the village. Work is expected to last through the end of 2016. Upgrading the current gas services is intended to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable gas service to homes. During the project, Nicor will send letters containing information about scheduling the replacement, possible service interruption, and subsequent relighting to any properties included in this year’s replacement program. A Nicor representative may need to gain access to homes or places of business to complete important steps in the modernization work, such as relighting gas appliances. In addition, if Nicor replaces a home’s gas service while its residents are away, a blue hanger will be placed at the home, advising the residents that service had to be temporarily disconnected while Nicor worked on its utilities. For more information, call Nicor at (888) 642-6748 or visit www.ci.schaumburg.il.us.

Hinsdale

Hinsdale Central boys basketball tourney expands

A report stated that the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament, scheduled to be held Dec. 27-30 at Hinsdale Central High School, 5500 S. Grant St., has added four new schools to its lineup, increasing the total to 16 teams for the 2016 tourney. Bolingbrook High School, Glenbrook North, Marian Catholic and St. Viator are the new additions, joining Crete-Monee, DePaul College Prep, Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln Park, Maine South, Richards, St. Charles East, Stevenson, Urban Prep-Englewood, Westinghouse, Auburn (Rockford) and the host Red Devils. The field boasts 11 teams that were either conference champions or conference runners-up in 2015-16. In postseason play, Auburn finished fourth overall in the IHSA (Illinois High School Association) Class 4A tournament. For more information, call (630) 570-8241 or visit www.holidayclassic.com.

Buffalo Grove

Park Dist. to hold annual Senior Citizen Expo

The Buffalo Grove Park District will hold its 14th Annual Senior Citizen Expo from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 18 at the Arboretum Club, 401 Half Day Road. Hosted by the Friends of the Park Foundation, and coordinated by the park district and the village, the event is intended to provide a dynamic, one-stop shop for seniors to interact with vendors and service providers, enabling them to become familiar with a wide range of available services. Fliers with additional information are available at the Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive, and at Village Hall, 50 Raupp Boulevard. For more information, call Terri Ebner at (847) 850-2117 or visit www.bgparks.org.

Oak Forest

Fire Dept. new chief, deputy chief

The city announced that Jack Janozik has been named as the Oak Forest Fire Department’s new Fire Chief, and that Patrick Duffy was appointed as the new Deputy Fire Chief, effective immediately. Both appointments were approved by the City Council, on March 22, following the resignation of former Fire Chief David Griffin. Janozik was hired by the city as a paramedic/firefighter in 1986, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2009. He also has served as director of the fire prevention bureau, and was appointed to the position of Deputy Fire Chief in 2014. During his tenure, Janozik has received two merit awards from the city, and he earned recognition from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Duffy was hired as a paramedic/firefighter in 1989, and was promoted to lieutenant in 2008. He also serves as a member of the Oak Forest Firefighters Union Local 3039, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Associated Firefighters of Illinois, the Illinois Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Fire Academy Alumni Association.

Willow Springs

Lions Club to host Community Dinner

The village announced that the Willow Springs Lions Club Community Dinner will be held from noon to 5 p.m. April 24 at the Willow Springs Community Center, 8156 Archer Ave. The menu includes a boneless pork chop on a bun, baked beans and coleslaw. A children’s menu features hot dogs and potato chips. Take-outs will be available as well. In addition, anyone bringing two or more items for the local food pantry will receive a free soda or bottle of water. Cost for the dinner is $7 (adults) and $2 (children ages 6-12), and all proceeds will be used to fund local programs. For tickets, and more information, call Mike Weeg at (708) 839-1056 or Mike Smigielski at (708) 839-5178.

South Holland

South Suburban hoops coach Scott gets Hall of Fame nod

The village reported that South Suburban College women’s basketball head coach Darrell Scott recently was selected to the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IV Hall of Fame. Scott, a 1987 graduate of Grinnell College, has coached the Lady Bulldogs for 24 seasons, compiling an overall record of 450-298. During Scott’s tenure, the team has appeared in the NJCAA national tournament five times (2000, 2001, 2005, 2013 and 2015), and has won five regional championships. In addition, 12 of Scott’s players have achieved NJCAA All-America status. This season, the Lady Bulldogs reached the Region IV District L finals and were defeated by Waubonsee Community College 57-55 on March 5. For more information, call (708) 596-2000, Ext. 2463 or visit www.ssc.edu.

Wilmette

Village to host public meeting on rental issues

The village announced that the Land Use Committee of the Village Board — sitting as a Special Zoning Committee — will hold a public meeting to solicit input from residents regarding the short-term renting of residential property at 6 p.m. April 14 in the Training Room at Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Ave. Over the last year, the village has seen a dramatic increase in the number of residential properties being offered for short-term rental through websites such as Airnb and VRBO, and the Land Use Committee is interested in receiving feedback from residents concerning such use of rental properties. For more information, call (847) 251-2700 or visit www.wilmette.com. 

–Cook County News Briefs–