Briefs: Wheeling veteran honored
Anthony Altieri Jr. of Wheeling was named Illinois Veteran of the Month on Tuesday by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Altieri has spent decades as an advocate for veterans with AMVETS, fundraising for veterans rehabilitation programs and helping highlight the sacrifice veterans made. Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth presented Altieri with the award during a ceremony at the Phillips Carpenter AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling. Altieri was a member of the Illinois Army National Guard for eight years before he was discharged in 1963, holding the rank of Sergeant E-5. He has served in several elective and appointive offices for AMVETS in Illinois and nationally and he was recently selected as the "AMVET of the Year" for the state. He has volunteered more than 8,500 hours at North Chicago VA Hospital.
Barrington buys ambulance
The Barrington Village Board has approved the purchase of a new $199,500 ambulance for the fire department, from Wheeled Coach Industries in Florida. The cost will be split with the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, which approved the purchase earlier this month. The brand new ambulance will replace one of the village's current ambulances, which was purchased in 1998. That ambulance will be sold once the new one is put into service The village expects to get the new ambulance next summer.
Drug prevention forum
To help support Barrington Area Unit District 220 students and their families in making healthy decisions, Barrington High School and the Barrington Community Drug Prevention Coalition will present "Get Healthy, Barrington!" from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main Street. The event is free and will include a health fair for all members of the community and a presentation by Kris Povlson, who will use a humorous approach to offer new tools for students, parents and community members to work together toward drug and alcohol prevention efforts. The event is being held as part of Red Ribbon Week.
Ceremony at fire station: Representatives from the village of Bartlett and the Bartlett Fire Protection District will gather for an official groundbreaking ceremony at 8 a.m. Friday at the future site of Fire Station No. 3 at West Bartlett and Spitzer roads in the Brewster Creek Business Park. Construction has already begun on the $5.1 million station, which could open in fall 2008. Call (630) 837-3701 for more information.
Halloween Bash this Friday
Club Kidfield, the kids club of Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, will host a Halloween Bash from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday in Macy's Court. Open and free to the public, the indoor event will include professional storytelling and pre-school-aged games, including Pin the Grin on the Jack-O-Lantern, Mummy Wrap, Eyeball Relay and Spider Web Yarn Toss. Children are invited to come in costume and bring a carved or painted pumpkin. Woodfield Gift Cards worth $25 will be awarded for Most Original Costume, Best Impersonation of a Favorite Character, Scariest Costume and Outstanding Pumpkin. For additional information, call (847) 330-1537 or visit www.shopwoodfield.com.
Woman struck, killed
A Des Plaines woman died after being struck by a car in Skokie, police said Tuesday. Pauline Squire, 81, was crossing Howard Street in Skokie when she was hit by a Chicago man driving a 1999 Nissan Maxima east on Howard, Skokie police said in a press release. Squire was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving, police said. The driver of the Nissan, Georgiy Y. Bolotin, 54, of 3126 W. Birchwood Ave., Chicago, was charged with driving too fast for conditions and has court on Nov. 8 in Skokie, police said. The intersection does not have a pedestrian crosswalk or traffic control devices, police said.
Village backs fire contract:
Elk Grove Village trustees Tuesday night approved a new five-year pact with the union representing its firefighters. The new contract covers Elk Grove Village Firefighters Association Local 2340 retroactive to May through 2012. Firefighters will get a 3.3 percent increase this year, and a 3.25 percent hike next year and in 2009. In the fourth and fifth years of the agreement, salary negotiations will resume. Lieutenants will get a 4.25 percent increase this year, a 3.25 percent hike next year and 3.25 percent in 2009. "We worked together in the family atmosphere that we have in this community," Mayor Craig Johnson said. During the last round of contract negotiations with its firefighters union, the village had to call in a third party to reach an agreement.