Niles Herald-Spectator

Special Gifts program combines therapy, performance art

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:02:30 -0600

Dorothy met Captain Hook in an original tale created by the children in the creative drama program of Special Gifts Theater. In four months, children age 7 to 9 with special needs, learned how to create characters, write lines, sing and act on stage in the creative drama class. The result was “The Wizard of Neverland,” performed by eight children with special needs and their eight peer buddies, in the auditorium at Crow Island School Saturday morning. The class for children who have cognitive, physical or social disabilities, started in October. The class met for an hour to an hour …

Students guide visitors through a night at the ‘Museum’ at Northridge Prep

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:54:40 -0600

Students at Northridge Preparatory School in Niles brought history to life as they guided guests through their exhibits at the Northridge Museum last month. The second museum held at Northridge included exhibits featuring various events and concepts pertaining to World War I, the Egyptian Era, Celtic history and more. Many of the youngsters made audio-visual presentations, built complex miniature models, created life-size models and made poster boards. Dressed in white lab coats, two students introduced themselves as “doctors” and began to educate visitors about chemical warfare and the varied types of hazardous gases used in war. Another group of children …

Niles Township residents can appeal property taxes until Feb. 22

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:52 -0600

The Cook County Board of Review has opened Bloom, Hanover, Proviso, Niles and Schaumburg Townships for assessment appeals. Any property owner who believes their property is over-assessed or contains factual errors in their assessment may appeal at the Board of Review. Residents will have until Feb. 22 to file an appeal. For the first time, property owners may appeal online at www.cookcountyboardofreview.com. To date more than 45,000 online appeals have been filed. In addition the commissioners have scheduled Property Tax Appeal seminars across the townships. Consult the Board of Review website for a complete list. Contact the Board of Review …

Voterama in Congress, week ending Feb. 10, 2012

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:20:02 -0600

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to bar members of Congress and their staff from using inside legislative information in personal stock trading. Members empowered presidents to veto discretionary-spending items providing that both houses of Congress then vote to approve of the rescissions. Members also required new rules for figuring the budgetary impact of federal loan programs. Senators, meanwhile, approved a federal aviation budget, and they advanced a bill to authorize federal road, bridge, transit and highway-safety programs through Sept. 30, 2013.

Snow, warmer temperatures expected this week

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:56:20 -0600

The bitter cold temperatures that hit the Chicago area over the weekend are expected to give way to snow Monday and then milder weather by the end of the week. Temperatures are expected to climb to 35 degrees on Monday, when there is an 80 percent chance of snow after 3 p.m., according to the National Weather Service’s website. About two inches of accumulation is possible by Tuesday morning. While the temperature is expected to climb from a weekend low of 10 degrees Saturday morning, wind gusts as high as 20 miles per will remain Monday afternoon, the weather service …

Mexican food chain makes fresh start in Niles

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:38:00 -0600

Fresh. It’s more than just a word in the name of the restaurant — it’s what makes Baja Fresh unique, said Jignesh Patel, owner of the new restaurant that opened this week at 8610 W. Golf Road. “We are unique,” Patel said of the casual Mexican chain, which has changed its decor and created a more customizable menu. “We are not pre-made. It’s all fresh, never frozen.” The restaurant chain is known for its signature burritos and offers a variety of other items, as well. The menu allows diners to customize their meal. First, they can choose a Baja Fresh …

Niles Township residents can appeal property taxes until Feb. 22

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:14:20 -0600

Last day to register for primary is Feb. 21

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:10:00 -0600

Maine Township Clerk Gary Warner has announced that the last day to register to vote in the upcoming March 20 election or to update registration information is Feb. 21. Residents may register at Maine Township Town Hall, 1700 Ballard Road, Park Ridge, during regular Clerk’s Office hours, which are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Registered voters may also apply for a mailed ballot until March 15. Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than March 19 and any Illinois voter may request one. For more information about registering to vote or voting by mail go to www.mainetownship.com, …

District 63 breaks down barriers to walking, biking to school

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:39:54 -0600

East Maine School District 63 is creating a plan to make walking and bicycling safe, convenient and fun for students. The district has partnered with nonprofit advocacy organization Active Transportation Alliance to address the barriers students face in traveling to school and to identify solutions. “It’s not just about building safe roads,” said Heather Schady, of Active Trans, in a Feb. 1 presentation to the Board of Education. Teaching children about alternative modes of transportation and getting them active is also important, she said. Active Trans provides technical assistance to schools to create policies that enable and encourage active transportation. …

Niles Fire Department commemorates 100 years of community service

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:56:00 -0600

The village of Niles Fire Department will mark its 100th anniversary on Feb. 19. At the January village board meeting, Mayor Robert Callero presented a proclamation honoring the anniversary on behalf of the village board and the community. In 1912, the Niles Volunteer Fire Company was established and consisted of only seven members. In September 1953, the village board passed an ordinance that made it a full-time fire department under Fire Chief George Pasek. Pasek was followed by Fire Chiefs Albert Hoelbl, longest-serving Fire Chief Harry Kinowski, Barry Mueller and current Fire Chief Steve Borkowski. In 1958 the Fire Department …

‘Heart Health’ is focus of event at Golf Mill mall in Niles

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:26:33 -0600

Heart Health will take over Center Court of Golf Mill Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 11 as clinicians from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital lead Healthy Heart 2012, a free heart-screening and educational event. The core goal of this event is cardiac education toward early detection of heart disease, as many people who suffer from a sudden heart attack are unaware of the risk. During this free event, which is open to the public, the first 200 people who preregister for a heart screening by calling 1-855-ONE-HEART will receive a free gift. Heart screenings will take place …

Kirk moved to Chicago rehab center

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:06:02 -0600

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who suffered a stroke nearly three weeks ago, was transferred Friday to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Niles Community Calendar for Feb. 16, 2012

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:02:06 -0600

Submissions for Community Calendar are required 14 days preceding the date of publication. Send to: Niles Managing Editor, Pioneer Press, 3701 W. Lake Ave., Glenview IL 60026. Information may be faxed to (847) 486-7495 or emailed to mbottari@pioneerlocal.com. Center of Concern The Center of Concern, 1580 N. Northwest Highway, Suite 310, Park Ridge, (847) 823-0453, calendar of events includes: Monday, Feb. 27 – Employment counseling, by appointment. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays – Income tax preparation, by appointment. Tuesday, Feb. 21 – Medicare counseling, by appointment (sponsored by the federally funded Senior Health Insurance Program). Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Grief and loss …

New signs call on motorists to hang up in school zones

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:06:00 -0600

A ban on cell-phone use in school zones has been a state law for more than two years now, but it apparently hasn’t convinced all drivers to hang up. With the belief that motorists may just need additional, visual reminders, the Park Ridge Police Department has commissioned “no cell phone” signs for school zones across the city. The Park Ridge Public Works Department recently affixed the white signs with red lettering to school-zone speed signs within the immediate areas of all public and private schools. “People on their phones are so distracted,” said Park Ridge Police Officer Laura Kappler. “They …

Snow makes its way back to the area Friday

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:02 -0600

Feeling a chill in the air? Snow will be back as soon as Friday when lake effect snow could hit the city and Northwest Indiana with six inches.

Maine South students mark last day of Chinese New Year celebration

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:16:20 -0600

Chinese-language classes at Maine South High School in Park Ridge celebrated the 15th day of the Chinese New Year with a tea ceremony and entertainment Feb. 6. The 15th day of the new year is also called the Lantern Festival, marking the final day of new-year celebrations. On the day, colorful lanterns are hung and lit to commemorate the festival. Maine South’s Chinese Club and Asian Club taught students how to make traditional lanterns while Yi Liu, cultural-events coordinator of Shen Yun Show Chicago, shared the significance of the lantern festival. Students also enjoyed a Chinese breakfast and music by …