Rotary Fest seeks bands for this year's battle

Band will battle band for bragging rights again at this year's Rotary Fest in Elk Grove Village.

Does your band have what it takes?

It's not too late to sign up for the contest, which will be held on June 11.

The top two bands will move to the final round on June 15. The winner will receive a cash prize and a spot at the 2009 fest.

First prize is $500. Second place gets $250, third place is $150 and fourth is $100.

Last year's winner, Short Attention Span, will take the stage at 6 p.m. June 13.

Those interested can submit a CD to: Rotary Club of Elk Grove, Attn: Battle, P.O. Box 326, Elk Grove Village, IL. 60009.

If you have questions, call Bill Beaupre at (847) 437-0030, or log onto www.elkgroverotary.com.

Riverwalk on track: Des Plaines is moving along with plans for a downtown riverwalk.

Aldermen this week decided to use grant money to hire a consultant for a 12-foot-wide trail along the river from Touhy Avenue to Golf Road.

This is one of the pet projects of Mayor Tony Arredia, who won the approval of Cook County officials to build the trail on forest preserve property.

Work is expected to start next year for completion by 2010.

The contract for design work with Civiltech Engineering Inc. of Itasca will use $233,423 of a $1 million grant.

Because the grant requires a local match, Des Plaines will pay $58,356.

Former Elk Grove employee dies: Joseph R. Gamache, a retired 27-year employee of the Elk Grove Village building department, and former manager of the Oasis Mobile Home Park, has died.

Services were held earlier this week for Gamache, 68, of Elk Grove Village, and formerly of Des Plaines.

He was a member of VFW Post 9284 and the American Legion of Des Plaines Post 690; a former trustee for the Elk Grove Township Fire Department; and an Army veteran who served in Vietnam.

Neighborhood Watch meetings: There are three Neighborhood Watch beat meetings later this month in Des Plaines.

At 7 p.m. May 27, one will be held at Rosemary S. Argus Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road.

A second one will be held at 7 p.m. May 28 at city hall, 1420 Miner St.

A third will be at 7 p.m. May 29 at St. Stephen's Church, 1267 Everett St.

Topics will include traffic concerns, underage drinking parties and park patrols. Des Plaines Police Cmdr. Tim Veit will attend.