Morton Grove Champion

Could Grammy gig be Park Ridge band’s big ‘Break’?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:40:31 -0600

Park Ridge rock band The Break got their start playing low-key school variety shows and church festivals. On Feb. 12 they will have a part in the American music industry’s biggest awards night of the year, the Grammys. The Break, consisting of Maine South High School seniors Sean Cahill-Lemme, Paul Ansani, Matt Gieser and Miles Malin, has been selected to headline a concert during the 54th Annual Grammy Awards telecast viewing party presented by the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy. The event will take place at Lincoln Hall in Chicago’s Lakeview community and is an invitation-only show open to …

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.

Latin-influenced Zumba makes fitness fun

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:47:12 -0600

The Morton Grove Park District is now offering Zumba Fitness classes. Zumba is a fitness program that features exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats. The Park District also offers classes such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and many more. To sign up for classes or join the Health Club, visit or call the Park District at (847) 965-1200. …

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. …

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.

Making peace, piece by piece at Morton Grove Library

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:57:07 -0600

Children used Legos — and their imaginations — as the building blocks for a more peaceful world during a recent program at Morton Grove Public Library. The program was one of two events in recent weeks geared to remembering the works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday was celebrated last month. Using Legos, older children built structures for helping the world, said Mary Ann Rohn, library information assistant. The models were then placed on display at the library. “They’re wonderful,” Rohn said last month. “We have shelters, space stations. And a couple of peace signs.” She noted: “We …

District 69 partnership offers kids pizzas, parties as learning incentives

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:42:07 -0600

With the help of a couple of businesses, School District 69 has started a reading-and-mathematics incentive program. The district serves portions of Morton Grove and Skokie. The monthly program at Edison School started out as a way to create a partnership between the district and local businesses, Superintendent Quintin Shepherd explained. “I know there are ways our businesses can support our schools and in turn, we have a responsibility to support our businesses,” Shepherd said. “I’ve always believed this is what makes for a strong community relationship — a feeling of mutual responsibility to each other and for each other. …

New technology to help sort our Metra parking ticket mix-ups in Morton Grove

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:14:00 -0600

The village of Morton grove is embarking on a course to embrace technology while keeping a personal touch. “The focus is on solving problems,” said Ryan Horne, interim village administrator. First on the list are upgrades to the payment system at the Metra parking lot at 8501 Lehigh. The system now accepts credit cards, and the village has put in place system to mitigate parking mishaps, Horne said. “We know people are busy, and that they can hit the wrong parking-space number,” he said. “It can make people angry when they have to take time off to fight the ticket. …

Morton Grove Library Board hires firm for website redesign, at last

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:39:51 -0600

The Morton Grove Public Library’s website will sport a new look, most likely by the end of summer. Trustees Feb. 9 voted 6-1 to authorize a $21,500 contract with Americaneagle.com,, of Chicago, to redesign the site, which is more than a decade old. Board Treasurer Catherine Peters said a lack of time to review the information put together by library staff was her reason for voting against the motion. “It has nothing to do with Americaneagle,” she said. During discussion, Peters had championed taking a second look at the proposal submitted by Weblinxinc, of Oswego. Also submitting a proposal was …

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 …