Hanover Park gears up for its 50th anniversary
Hanover Park recently ushered in its 50th anniversary with a gala dinner, the first event in a year-long celebration.
Headlining 2008 will be a four-day Family Festival Aug. 14-17 featuring a carnival and music by Survivor and others.
The village will host an Arbor Day Ceremony in April with Elsie Johnson Elementary School, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Other events include Relay for Life in June, the second annual Fine Arts Fair Sept. 21, and the Holiday Tree Lighting Dec. 5.
For details, call Kim Benedix at (630) 372-4218.
Hanover Park's best: Several awards were presented at the gala dinner.
The Humanitarian award went to original Sister City Committee member Maria Woerle. A traditional Ghanian ceremony was performed.
The Service to Youth award went to Rick Roberts, president of Hanover Park Hurricanes Football for six years.
Anne Fox School Principal Nick Myers won the Leadership in Education award for his work with the "No Excuses University" and "Kids at Hope" programs.
The Mayor's Choice Business award went to Camcraft for its work in the village and a partnership with Parkwood Elementary School.
And finally, Anita Komorski was named Citizen of the Year for organizing the first annual Fine Art Fair. She owns A & A Music and Ontarioville Art in Hanover Park.
Impound fee: Streamwood's new controversial $500 fee on impounded vehicles will take effect April 1.
The fee will be charged when a vehicle is directly involved in the commission of a crime or when its driver is charged with DUI or without a valid license, possession of weapons or drugs, drag racing or fleeing police.
This $500 is in addition to the towing and storage fees drivers would have to pay to contractors anyway. The fee is meant to recoup the costs from hiring two new police officers and three new firefighters later this year.
Each firefighter shift will get another person, while the two extra officers will allow for the creation of a new policing taskforce that will respond to specific complaints and allow regular patrol officers to not be tied up on nuisances, Chief Alan Popp said.
He estimates about 800 vehicles could be seized each year, resulting in $400,000 in revenue. The cost of the new fire and police hires is estimated at $375,000.
New day to discuss the old: The Bartlett Historical Society now meets on the second Monday of each month. The public is invited to the next gathering at 7 p.m. April 14 at the Bartlett Public Library. For details, e-mail carolbartletthissoc@comcast.net.
One last note … : This will be the final Kim Pohl-Eric Peterson column for the Tri-Villages. Continue to check the Daily Herald, and www.dailyherald.com, for coverage of Bartlett, Hanover Park and Streamwood, and please keep your story ideas coming.