Young Meadows residents show creative side in 4-H competition
When you think of 4-H clubs, it's natural to envision kids tending to beef-up cows and well-groomed sheep.
But the suburban version of 4-H has a different look.
"We can do over 100 types of projects, including houseplants, bicycling, sewing, electricity, computers and cooking," said Pat Sturgeon, co-leader of this area's 4-H club.
Two Rolling Meadows residents were among several of the club's members whose projects were exhibited at last week's Illinois State Fair in Springfield.
Maggie Evenson, 15, displayed her poster project in the outdoor cooking category, and Bertram Jannes, 11, earned a spot in visual arts for his origami display.
Their projects were chosen from more than 160 exhibits at the Cook County 4-H Fair in Niles in July.
Sturgeon says that Maggie's project included a poster that demonstrated her knowledge of the food pyramid and recipes for outdoor cooking that she had tested.
Maggie attends Fremd High School. Bertram, who is schooled at home, made five different origami pieces for his display.
The two are members of the Clever Clovers 4-H group, which meets once a month and includes teens and preteens from several suburbs. It's sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension Service.
Sturgeon, an Arlington Heights resident, has led the group for 22 years.
In addition to Maggie's and Bertram's successes, the entire club received a top honor for its intercultural project on Costa Rica. Of the six other entries at the fair, theirs was the only one to receive a Superior rating.
To enroll or volunteer with 4-H, call (847) 437-6449.
Why police are smiling: The Rolling Meadows police department's latest quest for accreditation brought them a pleasant surprise. Not only was the department accredited, but it also received an honor designating it as a "flagship" department by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
The honor sets Rolling Meadows police as a model for other departments. This is the fifth time they've been accredited, but the first time to receive the higher award.
The accreditation process began last November, according to police Cmdr. John Pearson. A team from the commission visited to observe procedures, interview officers and pore through records to determine whether the department meets a variety of professional standards. Only eight other agencies in Illinois received this accreditation.
Pearson traveled to Montreal in July to accept the award on behalf of the department. "It's a great honor to be sharing the stage with other exceptional agencies," he said.
Cook among the books: The Rolling Meadows library is welcoming Chef Francisco Lopez of Hel's Kitchen Catering for a cooking demonstration of creative autumn foods, from 7 to 8:30 Sept. 26. The best part is you get to sample the food after the show. Class is limited to 40 participants, so register early by calling (847) 259-6050.