Briefs: United Way merges offices
Far Northwest Suburban United Way merged with Northwest Suburban United Way Oct. 1, the two agencies announced Tuesday. The former group's Hoffman Estates office will close around Thanksgiving and the merged agency will work out of the Mount Prospect office. Merger discussions began a few weeks ago after the director of the Hoffman Estates office took a job in Missouri. The consolidation will save money and improve efficiency, officials said. A new position of program manager is being created and the office will have six full-time employees. The merged agency, called Northwest Suburban United Way, distributes $3.5 million annually to 78 agencies in 29 Northwest suburbs. The chief professional officer is Marcia McMahon and the board president is Michael Abruszzini, president of Buffalo Grove Bank & Trust. More information is available at uwnorthwest.org, or (847) 768-1074.
Catch the candidates
The League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights-Mount Prospect-Buffalo Grove Area will host a candidates forum at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Arlington Heights village hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road. The forum will also be shown live and rebroadcast on the village's access channels, Channel 6 on WideOpenWest and Channel 17 on Comcast. Those attending can park on any floor of the municipal garage. The candidates include: Peter Gutzmer and Matt Murphy for state Senate District 27; Carol Javens, Sid Mathias and Rob Sherman for state House District 53; Mark Walker and Christine Prochno for state House District 66; and Dan Kotowski and Mike Sweeney for Senate District 33.
'Sky blue' teen earns honor
Avni Bavishi of Hoffman Estates, who was named one of the nation's top 10 student scientists in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, returned home from the finals competition near Washington, D.C., with prizes including $1,000, Discovery Channel DVDs and forensics camp, where she will experience what it's like to be a crime scene investigator. Avni earned her spot in the finals with a video on why the sky looks blue, which can be seen on www.dailyherald.com. She completed the video as an eighth-grader at Mead Junior High School in Elk Grove Village and now attends Hoffman Estates High School. The contest's top prize, $50,000 in savings bonds, went to a teenager from Missouri. All finalists will be featured on a Science Channel special on Jan. 18, 2009.
Slimming down the topic
Des Plaines Pounds Down, a cooperative effort between the City of Des Plaines, Des Plaines Park District and local health and fitness businesses to help residents slim down, will hold a Family Health Fair 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E. Thacker St. The fair includes free health screenings including cholesterol and blood glucose screenings, bone density screenings, blood pressure checks, body fat and body mass index testing, hearing and vision screening and sleep screenings. There will also be a nutritional cooking demonstration, a climbing wall, batting and pitching, food exhibits and dental care exhibits. Call (847) 391-5711.