Northwest suburbs in 60 seconds
Letter carriers hold food drive
The Palatine chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers will hold its annual food drive on Saturday, May 9. Palatine residents can donate non-perishables food and toiletries by leaving items on their porch or by the mailbox. Either letter carriers or Boy Scouts will pick them up. For larger donations, call the Palatine Post Office at (847) 359-1799 to arrange for a pickup.
Park districts award finalists
Many local park district are finalists in the 2009 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. In the 100,001-250,000 population category, Fox Valley Park District is a finalist. In the 50,001-100,000 population category, Arlington Heights, Glenview and Hoffman Estates park districts are finalists. In the 25,001-50,000 population category, Bartlett, Buffalo Grove, Downers Grove and Lombard park districts are the finalists. In the less than 25,000 population category, Batavia, Itasca and Vernon Hills park districts are finalists. There are four finalists in each category. Winners will be announced in October.
Walk at Relay For Life
The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Palatine/Rolling Meadows/Inverness will take place Friday and Saturday, June 12-13, at Fremd High School, 1000 S. Quentin Road, in Palatine. The overnight walk raises money to help find a cure for cancer. Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. followed by a cancer survivor celebration. The site hopes to raise $200,000. For more information, call Taylor Bogdan at (847) 368-1166 or go to relayforlifeprmi.com.
Des Plaines community fair
The second annual Des Plaines Community Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 16 in the Juno Lighting parking lot, 1300 S. Wolf Road, and at the adjacent Mountain View Mine Adventure Center, 510 E. Algonquin Road. It is organized by the Des Plaines Park District in cooperation with the chamber of commerce, the city's special events commission, police department, youth commission, Corporate Coach of Des Plaines, and the Des Plaines Community Foundation. Activities include "Touch a Truck" and child safety seat inspections at the Juno Lighting parking lot. There will be a Pooch, Pet and Pedal Parade at Mountain View. Registration is from 9 to 10 a.m.; parade and activities are from 10 to 11 a.m. There also will be a mini health fair. Many activities are free. Call (847) 391-5700 or visit desplainesparks.org for more information.