Arlington Heights 125th celebration getting under way

Arlington Heights’ celebration of the 125th anniversary — or Quasquicentennial — of its incorporation under that name officially gets under way this week.

The celebration begins Friday with the tree-lighting ceremony at North School Park and will continue throughout the upcoming year.

One of the commemorative items that residents can buy is a 2012 calendar that has many dates of important village events already marked, as well as present colorful scenes merging with historical photos shown in sepia.

For example, September shows North School, now the administration center of the Arlington Heights Park District, along with students boarding a bus at Arlington High School in 1949.

Another month shows Mitchell Jewelers with an older version of Dunton Street that includes a horse trough where people paid $2 a year to water their animals.

The calendars are $20 with volume discounts available. They are sold at Village Hall, 33 S. Arlington Heights Ave., and at arlingtonheights125.com/.Other commemorative items are #147;Arlington Heights: a Brief History#148; for $20 and a sun catcher of recycled glass for $15 that shows the celebration#146;s logo. More street banners honoring the celebration will also be ordered. These are available for $500 each.

The motto of the celebration is #147;Honor the past. Celebrate the present. Explore the future.#148;

Arlington Heights 125 also has a Facebook page.