Northwest suburbs briefs

Ethics meeting called:

A forum on ethics and government reform sponsored by two state representatives will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 30, at Stevenson Elementary, 1414 Armstrong Lane, Elk Grove Village. Democrats Mark Walker of Arlington Heights and Paul Froehlich of Schaumburg will talk about current ethics legislation under consideration and discuss reform ideas with the audience. Terry Pastika, executive director of the Citizens Advocacy Center and a proponent of stronger Freedom of Information and Open Meeting Act requirements, also will be present. Ideas from the meeting will be shared with the new House-Senate Joint Committee on Government Reform.

Village Green work approved:

The Elk Grove Village Board has approved contracts for a little more than $800,000 for rebuilding the Village Green, adjacent to the new village hall, and adding a fountain. The work will be funded with money from the Grove Mall Tax Increment Financing Fund. The work will be completed in time for a Tuesday-night concert series to take place on the green in July, with four bands performing at a cost of about $60,000. Mayor Craig Johnson said that at a time when some villages are cutting festivals because of budget problems, he's glad Elk Grove Village is in sound shape and able to provide local attractions when residents may have less money to spend traveling.