Mount Prospect honors those who give

Thirteen people, a business and a dog were honored at a banquet Saturday night at Mount Prospect's 15th annual Celestial Celebration Awards. The ceremony honors good works by people in the community.

A volunteer school librarian, a special education teacher and a University of Illinois student were among those honored at the Bristol Court Banquets in Mount Prospect.

One of the evening's highlights was a surprise appearance by Dandy, a drug-sniffing golden retriever, who received an award for her involvement in a Prospect High School anti-drug program.

Glenn VadeBonCoueur, manager of Interquest Detection Canines of Chicagoland, led the 7-year-old dog up on stage and accepted the plaque for her.

For the past 15 years, the village has recognized businesses, organizations or individual people, who have made Mount Prospect a better place to live.

Each winner was summoned up on stage to receive a plaque and then give a speech.

A special village committee selected the winners from a pool of candidates, whose nominations were submitted by village residents and business owners.

The awards were presented to:

Robert Bosch Tool Corp. -- Best Business Partner

Claude Bjork -- The World Is A Better Place

Carol Murray -- The Unsung Hero

Tarina Wimmer -- There Ought To Be More People Like This

Mary Gallagher --- Youth Should Be Served

Sue Ramstedt -- Champion for Youth

Jeffrey Nellessen Jr. -- Rising Star

Dandy from Prospect High School Safety Dog Program -- Horizons for Youth

Marilyn Genther -- Toast of the Town

Carlos Huizar -- Hometown Hero

Linda Lampe, Dianna Franzen, Wendy Gonzalez, Mary Jane Matecki -- Good, Better, Best Neighbor

Rosemary Grier -- Living Legend