Tuscany Woods residents should see finishing touches

Residents of the Tuscany Woods subdivision in Hampshire will see some much needed work done to their neighborhood this summer after the village board made way for the village engineers to bid out several overdue projects.

After Tuscany Woods' developer Pasquinelli Homes went bankrupt in 2008, the property went into foreclosure at which time Park National Bank took control. But the bank was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2009.

The village had a $1.3 million letter of credit with an escrow company, which ensured the village would have access to funds to complete any work the developer did not complete if the bank failed or ran into financial difficulties. Village Administrator Eric Palm said the village had anticipated the bank's financial troubles and acted accordingly in taking out the $1.3 million letter of credit.

Now, residents of the subdivision, which is about 50 percent complete, will benefit from the village's planning.

Palm said the village will begin this construction season to finish roads, sidewalks and landscaping in the neighborhood off Route 72 and Romke Road.

Pasquinelli Homes began building its first phase in the fall of 2006. There's a punchlist of items the village will complete, which Palm characterized as loose ends.

The entire development was expected to be about 600 homes and townhouses, but so far only about 300 have been completed and 115 have been sold.

Jazz in Dundee: April is Jazz Appreciation Month and the Dundee Township Public Library is giving music fans the opportunity to spend the afternoon with a world-traveled pianist and his trio. The library will host the Samuel del Real Latin Jazz Trio at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 11.

The band will fire up audience members with its Latin American rhythms featuring piano, bass and percussion.

Del Real was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and currently resides in Chicago. He has performed at many festivals, concerts, and events in cities around the world such as Chicago, London, New York, Minneapolis, Miami, Caracas and Barranquilla.

Known as "The Master Piano Man" or "El Maestro del Buen Ritmo," del Real is known for selecting fellow musicians of different nationalities, which gives a blended sound to his music. "Piano Caliente," "Piano Jamboree," and "Piano Navideno" are among his most recent albums.

The event is free. Registration is not required, but is recommended as space is limited.

For more information or to register, contact the library at (847) 428-3661, ext. 308 or visit the registration and events page at dundeelibrary.info.