Cook County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

Target Corporation will open a store in downtown Oak Park in October 2017 as part of a major redevelopment project under construction on Lake Street, just east of Harlem Avenue. (Village of Oak Park)

Schaumburg

Pair of village police officers earn Award of Valor

The village reported that Schaumburg police officers Bryan Poradzisz and Kevin O’Connor recently were awarded the Police Award of Valor from the Illinois Security Professionals Association (IPSA) for their quick thinking that helped save the life of a 19-month-old girl in respiratory distress on March 10. The officers arrived on the scene — Higgins Road near Route 53 — and quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver and CPR, and then cleared the girl’s airway prior to the arrival of Schaumburg paramedics. The girl, who was traveling in a car driven by her grandmother, made a full recovery as the result of the officers’ actions during the emergency. Poradzisz and O’Connor received their awards during the ISPA’s 55th Annual Holiday Awards Banquet. For more information, call (847) 895-4500 or visit www.ci.schaumburg.il.us.

Oak Park

Target to open new store as part of downtown development

The village reported that Target Corporation announced plans to open a store in October 2017 as part of a major redevelopment project under construction on Lake Street, just east of Harlem Avenue, in downtown Oak Park. The 22,000-square-foot, “flexible-format” store will be part of the discount retailer’s growing number of smaller locations customized for urban and densely populated suburban areas, as well as college campuses. The new Target location will anchor the mixed-use Elevate Oak Park project that includes 270 apartments, 26,000 square feet of retail space and a 424-space parking garage within a five-story building on Lake Street and a 20-story building on North Boulevard. The project also includes a new block of Maple Street on the Lake Street site’s western edge. The site will offer Target high-visibility space on both streets and easy customer access. According to Target, merchandise in the Oak Park location will be tailored to the local market, with a select assortment that includes groceries, cosmetic, skin and hair care products, men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, toys, home goods, electronics and tech accessories. For more information, call (708) 383-6400 or visit www.oak-park.us.

Evanston

City sets deadline for 2017 pet registration

The city issued a reminder to dog and cat owners in Evanston that 2017 pet registration must be submitted by Dec. 31. By city ordinance, all dogs and cats are required to have pet licenses. The annual cost is $10 if the pet is neutered or spayed, and $15 if not altered. Pet registration forms were mailed out in early December, and residents can renew their pet license by mailing in the renewal form (using the provided envelope) or by delivering the form in person to the City Collector’s Office, located in the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave. — or online at www.cityofevanston.org/pet. The application form must include a current rabies tag number. Application forms also are available online or at the City Collector’s Office. For more information, call or text (847) 448-4311 or visit www.cityofevanston.org.

Western Springs 

Police Dept. nets reaccreditation status, award for excellence

The village reported that the Western Springs Police Department was awarded a fourth reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) during CALEA’s Fall Conference, held in Charleston, S.C., on Nov. 5. The Police Department, nationally accredited since 2004, successfully completed a 36-month process in which every aspect of the department’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services were thoroughly examined. In addition, the department was selected by CALEA Commissioners to receive the Accreditation with Excellence Award, signifying the department’s continuous commitment to public safety professionalism. The Western Springs Police Department is one of only 50 accredited police agencies in Illinois, and one of only 821 in the entire United States. For more information, call (708) 246-1800 or visit www.westernsprings.com.

Park Forest

Moore earns Business Person of the Year award

The village announced that Patricia Moore, curator of Salon Artists Gallery, 294 Main St., recently was named the Sam Montella Business Person of the Year for 2016. The annual award recognizes Park Forest business owners for their contributions to the community. Moore, a lifelong resident of the village, has a long history of involvement in the local arts community. In her youth, she participated in arts courses at the Park Forest Art Center — renamed the Tall Grass Arts Association — and remained a fixture, eventually having a scholarship named in her honor. Moore, now a well-known leader in the local arts community, received numerous nominations from fellow Park Forest residents to secure the award. For more information, call (708) 748-1112 or visit www.villageofparkforest.com.

Park Ridge

City offers Holiday Lights Recycling Program

The city announced that it has once again partnered with Elgin Recycling, Inc. to offer its Holiday Lights Recycling Program. All holiday string lighting and extension cords can be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Public Works Service Center, 400 S. Busse Highway, through March 1, 2017. Garland, live greens, wreaths and other non-recyclable items will not be accepted. Following the collection process, light strands and cords will be separated, baled and sent to be chopped or shredded and sold to foundries and mills in the United States. For more information, call (847) 318-5200 or visit www.parkridge.us.

Winnetka

Village begins approval process for development project

The village announced that Winnetka’s village attorney and staff are working on details of a draft of a Preliminary Planned Development Ordinance and development agreement for the One Winnetka Development project at Elm Street and Lincoln Avenue. The village anticipates that the ordinance and development agreement will be introduced during a meeting in January 2017. As part of the preliminary approval process, the draft ordinance and related agenda materials will be available for public inspection once the packet materials for the January meeting are posted on the village website. For more information, call (847) 501-6000 or visit www.villageofwinnetka.org.

–Cook County News Briefs–