Barrington native awarded Navy's Civilian Service Award
• The U.S. Navy presented Barrington native Greg B. Leicht with the Commander's Meritorious Civilian Service Award for exemplary service as the Environmental Program Director for Naval Base Kitsap.
Leicht is the installation environmental program director for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington. In this capacity, he has strategically guided external engagement for long-term military construction and major project support.
Leicht was recognized for his environmental stewardship and service, which garnered nine national awards for environmental compliance, sustainability, pollution prevention and cultural resources.
• Dr. Demetrius Lopes has joined Advocate Health Care's Brain & Spine Institute as co-director of the Stroke Program and medical director of the Cerebrovascular & Neuroendovascular Program.
He will practice with Advocate Medical Group primarily at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, with privileges at other Advocate hospitals across the Chicago area.
Dr. Lopes, a board-certified neurosurgeon, is skilled in neuroendovascular therapy, an innovative approach to treating brain and spinal cord diseases from inside the blood vessels. He specializes in the revascularization of the brain, including the treatment of brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cerebral ischemia, stroke and the conditions leading to stroke.
In addition to his clinical practice and research, Dr. Lopes is the founder of the Cure4Stroke Foundation, editor-in-chief of the Neurovascular Exchange and co-founder of the World Live Neurovascular Conference.
He served for many years as surgical director of Interventional Services and the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Rush University Medical Center and is currently a professor of Neurosurgery at Rush Medical College.
• Park Ridge-based Northwest Choral Society named Elgin resident Kevin Kelly its artistic director. The Northwest Choral Society was founded in 1965, and Kelly will be its fourth artistic director when rehearsals begin Sept. 4 for the 53rd season.
Kelly is also the artistic director of the Allegro Community Chorus, a program of the Palatine Park District; conductor for the Lake County Núcleo of Sistema Ravinia, an outreach program of the Ravinia Festival; and, since 1993, he has conducted the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra in Champaign.
Northwest Choral Society will host a Meet and Greet for prospective new members at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, at First Congregational Church, 766 Graceland Ave., Des Plaines. For information, visit www.nwchoralsociety.org.
• Kristin Muller of Northbrook is off to San Diego, California, to study with the Kingly Hair Group for advanced training in hair cutting, thanks to being chosen for a Presidents Scholarship from Cosmetologists Chicago, the largest association of salon professionals in the Midwest.
Muller is a hair stylist at Teddie Kassof Salon Spa in Northfield.
"This scholarship gives me the opportunity to learn from some of the top beauty educators in country - from those at the top of their craft - and I can bring what I have learned back to the salon to benefit my clients," said Muller. "I am grateful to Cosmetologists Chicago."
• Congratulations to Mount Prospect resident Clarence Rand Burdette, who recently marked his 100th birthday with a "Big Top" themed event at Grace Lutheran Church in Mount Prospect. The festivities included balloon characters, magicians, juggles, a barbershop quartet, clowns, a fortuneteller and a bearded lady. Happy birthday, Mr. Burdette.
• Submit your 'Neighbors in the News' items to Norrine Twohey at ntwohey@dailyherald.com.