Briefs: Smoke alarms alert family
The Arlington Heights fire department battled a basement blaze Thursday night that left a house with $90,000 in damages. The fire, at 1441 W. St. James St., was called in about 11 p.m. Deputy Chief Ken Koeppen said the family had smoke detectors in the basement, which alerted them to the fire. Koeppen said the fire was extinguished in 12 to 15 minutes; the cause is still being investigated. The fire did not spread beyond the basement but left smoke damage in the rest of the house.
Route 72 speed limit cut
The Illinois Department of Transportation has reduced the speed limit on what officials call a dangerous stretch of Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates. Starting Friday, motorists would have noticed the speed limit on Higgins Road, from Kingsdale Road to just west of Manchester Lane and Volid Drive, has been reduced to 45 mph in both directions. The village has tried for years to cut the speed limit from 50 mph.
Open house in Hoffman
Hoffman Estates police invites the public to attend an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the police station, 1200 Gannon Drive. People of all ages are invited to talk with officers and ask questions. Police vehicles will also be available to inspect, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call police at (847) 882-1818 or Deborah Whited at (847) 781-2874.
Car wash benefits troops
A car wash to benefit Operation Support Our Troops will be held at Hanover Township hall, 250 S. Route 59 in Bartlett, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. There is no charge for the car wash, but donations will be accepted. Checks can be made payable to Operation Support Our Troops of Illinois. Call the Hanover Township clerk's office at (630) 837-0301 or go to htonline.info. The car wash has been organized by Township Clerk Brian P. McGuire and Highway Commissioner P. Craig Ochoa in cooperation with the Cook County sheriff's office Work Alternative Program.
Food pantry drive is on
The Palatine Amateur Football Association is holding a food drive today to benefit the Palatine Township Food Pantry. The association's "Get a Pound, Give a Pound Food Drive" will take place at all Palatine football fields, including Ost Field, Community Park and Palatine High School. Nonperishable foods and toiletries are needed.
See a 'green' ride today:
Greenpeace's Rolling Sunlight is a demonstration and educational vehicle showcasing clean energy technologies, and it's in Palatine today. It will be at the farmer's market from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the Metra station in downtown Palatine. The vehicle features 256 square feet of solar photovoltaic panels and supplies enough energy to power three energy-efficient homes. Greenpeace staff and volunteers will be asking market attendees to write appeals to their members of Congress urging strong and immediate action on global warming. Greenpeace will also be giving away "Solar Smoothies."
Town debuts Wine and Dine
Long Grove will host its first Wine and Dine weekend noon to 6 p.m. today and Sunday. The event includes a sampling of more than 80 wines. Live entertainment is also scheduled for both days. The $20 per person fee includes sampling in the wine tent and a souvenir Long Grove logo wine glass. The wine tent will be near the Mill Pond Shoppes on Robert Parker Coffin Road, east of the downtown intersection with Old McHenry Road. For more information, visit longgroveonline.com.