Cook County briefs
New principals in District 54
Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 recently named two new principals for the 2009-2010 school year. Marion Friebus-Flaman, the current assistant principal at Dooley Elementary School in Schaumburg and the dual/modern language coordinator for the district, will become principal of Dooley. She will succeed the retiring Thomas Dewing. Melissa Ribordy, the current assistant principal at Lakeview Elementary School in Hoffman Estates, will become principal of Lakeview. She will succeed Lisa Hopkins, who's becoming principal of Churchill Elementary School in Schaumburg to succeed the retiring Craig Gaska.
Police union soliciting funds
Des Plaines police Chief Jim Prandini said no city police officer solicits money over the telephone, and officers do not pick up donations from homes or businesses. Representatives of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, the union representing patrol officers and sergeants for collective bargaining purposes, are making solicitations, but they are for union activities, not the police department, he said. Each fall, the Des Plaines Police Association conducts a mailing to previous contributors seeking donations for a variety of civic groups in conjunction with its annual dinner-dance event, he added.
NIU open house
Northern Illinois University will host an open house for prospective students and families from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, in the Holmes Student Center, Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road, DeKalb. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet representatives from admissions, the faculty, financial aid and student services. Open house activities include a student-led campus bus tour, residence hall visits and a university information fair. Many of NIU's academic colleges and departments also will host individual open houses during the day. No reservations are required for the open house or related activities. Morning arrival is recommended to enjoy the widest range of program options. Free parking will be available at the Convocation Center with shuttle buses to the Student Center. For more information, call (815) 753-0446 or e-mail admissions@niu.edu. For information such as directions to campus, parking and special tours, go to niu.edu and click "Visit NIU."