Pilot's mother on a mission to support troops in Iraq
Karen Larson-Meadows is always trying to come up with ways to send a little bit of home to her son, Drew, who is serving his third tour in Iraq.
Her latest scheme involved packaging at least 300 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to send to Drew Larson's troop. Larson is serving as a captain and an Aero Medical Evacuation Blackhawk pilot.
Larson's 8-year-old niece Nicole Marguerite -- related to him through his sister Stacey Marguerite -- is a Brownie in Troop 883 in the Sybaquay Council at May Whitney Elementary School in Lake Zurich.
She and others in that troop have helped collect the 300 boxes to send to Iraq for the 600 or so soldiers that her son can reach.
Now, Larson-Meadows said she needs a way to get them there.
Shipping costs about $1 a box, and Larson-Meadows is reaching out to the community for those interested in buying more cookies or for those who want to defray the costs of sending them.
"We started with 50 boxes, and we would love to send 600 boxes over there," she said.
Anyone interested in helping out can call Larson-Meadows at (847) 712-0958.
Calling all teens: A Teen Limelight Café, sponsored by the Buffalo Grove Arts Commission, will be from 7:30 to 11 p.m. April 25 at eSkape in the Buffalo Grove Town Center.
Performers from ages 14 to 19 will showcase their talents as musicians, composers, comedians and magicians. Admission is $5 for audience members.
To sign up to perform, e-mail BGArts@vbg.org or call (847) 459-2518.
New restaurant: A replacement is under way for the Weber Grill that moved out of Buffalo Grove and into Vernon Hills.
The village board on Monday approved a liquor license for Mi Mexico Mexican Restaurant at 220 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Another honor: The Buffalo Grove Police Department was given re-accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies for the fifth time since 1987.
The assessment is part of a voluntary process that included examinations of the department's procedures, management practices and field operations. The examination takes part every three years.
The department was also given its third Meritorious Citation, which is only given to those who have passed their assessments for more than 15 years.
Seeking artistic students: Wheeling Township Elementary District 21 is holding a logo contest for all its students. The logo will be used on the district Web site and for other printed materials.
Entries are due by April 16 and will be reviewed by teachers and administrators. The board's communication committee will make the final selection based on the logo's ability to communicate the ideas of District 21.
The winner will be announced by June of this year.