Northwest suburbs in 60 seconds

Open house to honor veterans

A community gathering to honor local servicemen and women and veterans takes place 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 18 at the Starbucks at Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. The event is hosted by Project Join Us, a company that designs and markets products that deliver messages of gratitude and raise money for servicemen and women and veterans through the USO. The grass-roots effort was established by concept artist Diana Anastazia of Schaumburg. The USO of Illinois will provide entertainment. For more information, go to projectjoinus.com.

Vanderpoel Citizen of Year

The Barrington Area Development Council has named local volunteer and environmentalist Tom Vanderpoel of Fox River Grove as its 2009 Citizen of the Year. A member of Citizens for Conservation, Vanderpoel was recognized for his pivotal role in the restoration of 10 preserves encompassing a total 355 acres in the Barrington area. Vanderpoel cited the influence of his late parents, Ruth and Waid Vanderpoel, who themselves played leading roles in the formation and development of Citizens for Conservation. "I know that they both would be proud of this moment," Vanderpoel said. His father, Waid, received the same Citizen of the Year Award in 1993.

Better drive safely in Palatine

The Palatine Police Department has started an aggressive traffic safety campaign that runs through June 1. Using grant funding through the Illinois Department of Transportation, officers are saturating roadways patrolling for drivers who are reckless, impaired or fail to wear seat belts. The enforcement will take place at different times.