Two north-side restaurants hang up closed sign

Restaurant choices on the north side recently shrunk by two.

In the past few months, Lone Star Steakhouse and Max and Erma's Restaurant -- both located along Rand Road -- closed up shop.

The Max and Erma's restaurant has been around the longest and dates back about 15 years, said Charles Perkins, director of planning.

"We were aware they were considering closing after they opened a facility in Deer Park," Perkins said. "I know the owner of the building is looking for other restaurants to replace it."

Max and Erma's was at 306 E. Rand Road and Lone Star was a few blocks away at 115 W. Rand Road.

Money well spent: As Arlington Heights gets older, so do its residents. The health department offers home visits for residents unable to get to medical appointments. Most of these patients have been discharged from Medicare but still need a professional to check in and administer medication.

In 1995, about two nurses conducted 1,250 home visits. In 2007, that figure was 2,480, according to a health department memo.

Trustees supported spending about $20,500 for two handheld mobile computers to help the two nurses who conduct these annual visits. Each visit takes about one hour, including paperwork and travel.

Water backup: Just because Arlington Heights residents all get their water from Lake Michigan, that doesn't mean village officials don't have a backup plan in case some catastrophic event hits the lake.

Before 1985, the village's main water supply came from 11 wells. Today, public works maintain six wells, just in case. However, in November, officials learned that the well at 2302 N. Arlington Heights Road stopped producing water and another well at 1405 W. Kirchoff Road is in pretty bad shape.

It will cost $250,000 to rehab each well. The cost includes replacement of column piping, oil tubes and bearings. A new well pump and motor is also needed.

Trustees will approve the costs on Monday.

Best line of the week: Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder had a few questions about shady characters who hang around the downtown Arlington Heights train station at a committee meeting on Monday.

Mulder said police should bring the new police dog to the station periodically to sniff for drugs.

Cmdr. Jeffrey DuFloth of the Arlington Heights Police Department said drugs aren't really the problem.

"More than anything, we see crimes that are alcohol-related," DuFloth said.

"Can the dogs sniff for that?" Mulder asked.

"No, but we can," DuFloth said.