Briefs: Reunion for 1st Fremd grads
A special 40th reunion for the 1968 graduating classes of both Fremd and Palatine high schools is planned for Oct. 3-5. The joint nature of the reunion is because the members of the class of 1968 started out together as freshmen at what was then called Palatine South High School. But the school later became Fremd High, and as juniors the class was split, with some students finishing at Palatine High. Those who remained at Fremd became its first graduating class and established many traditions that continue, such as choosing school colors, the school song and the school crest. Organizers are trying to locate as many members of that class of 1968 as possible. For details on the reunion, go to fremd-palatine-hs-1968.com.
Citizenship events Saturday
Workshops to provide assistance in applying to be a citizen will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave. in Arlington Heights and from 9 a.m. to noon Christ Presbyterial Church, 6900 Barrington Road in Hanover Park. The events are part of the statewide New Americans Initiative project managed by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. No advance registration is required. Call (312) 357-4666, or in Spanish (312) 673-3245.
In flowers, real trumps fake
Des Plaines aldermen decided Monday night to stick with real flowers in its hanging baskets along the city's streets. Seventh Ward Alderman Don Smith voted against his colleagues, who rejected staffers' plan to use silk flowers instead. The lowest bidder for the silk flowers was Flowers by Design, of Carol Stream, which bid $45,300. City public works officials had wanted to use silk flowers to save time for its employees, who must spend time watering the real flowers. Also, the fake flowers would have lasted up to five years. Real flowers cost the city about $18,500 a year and must be replaced each year.
Front yard pool? Not so fast
Des Plaines will look further at how to handle requests to put certain structures in front yards, such as swimming pools. Aldermen Monday night voted 5-2 to have staff look more at the issue. Two homeowners who have as much as a 100-foot setback are asking for an exception so they can put pools in their front yards, which is against the city's current code. One family already has a landscaped front yard with a gazebo. "Every night at least one person tells me how beautiful my yard is," resident Marie Burton said. Second Ward Alderman Marty Moylan and 8th Ward Alderman Rosemary Argus oppose the idea of allowing the structures.
Back to School Safety Day
The Streamwood police and fire departments will present their 11th annual Back to School Safety Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the McDonald's at 91 W. Irving Park Road in Streamwood. Also there to provide information and demonstrations will be Illinois-Wisconsin Rescue Dogs, Illinois State Police and the "Rollover Machine," the safety belt "Convincer" from the Joliet Police Department, free child IDs from Mooseheart, the Illinois Secretary of State with driver's license renewals, the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Sherman Hospital, St. Alexius Hospital, U-46 School Bus Transportation and more.