Cook County briefs

Towns react to OTB proposal:

Riverwoods village officials this week approved a resolution opposing the operation of an off-track betting facility in Buffalo Grove, and Wheeling's village board is expected to discuss the matter at tonight's meeting. However, Wheeling Village Manager Mark Rooney said last week the item is informational and the board will not be taking a position for or against off-track betting facilities in neighboring communities. Riverwoods' position is that such a gambling facility would hurt the health, safety and welfare of its residents and other neighboring communities. The Buffalo Grove village board on Monday, June 1, will hear Melrose Park-based Inter-Track Partners LLC's proposal for an off-track betting facility at Adam's Rib and Ale House, 301 Milwaukee Ave. That village already has amended its zoning ordinance to allow off-track betting as a special use.

Chess champion falls short:

Barrington resident Yury Shulman was unable to repeat his U.S. Chess Championship of 2008, finishing sixth at the recent national tournament in St. Louis. Shulman won three matches, lost two and played to a draw in four of the matches in the nine-round tournament. He finished with five points, two behind the winning total of Hikaru Nakamura of New York City. Shulman is a Belarus native who moved to the United States in 1999. He won the 2006 U.S. Open Championship and tied for first at the 2001 World Open, in addition to his 2008 title.

Preparing for disaster:

The Mount Prospect Fire Department is hosting a Family Emergency Preparedness Night 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at the Police and Fire Headquarters, 112 E. Northwest Hwy. Families can learn how to build an emergency kit, develop a family action plan, learn where to go in the village for help during a disaster, and review and exercise skills at interactive learning stations. Advance registration is requested. Call (847) 818-5253 for information or visit mountprospect.org.

Congressional art contest:

Sayali Sakhardande of Hoffman Estates High School is the winner of a congressional art competition. She competed in Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean's 8th Congressional District contest. Sakhardande won with a colored- pencil drawing titled, "The Future Generation's America. High school pupils from across the district were invited to submit original artwork to compete for the right to have their creation displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex. Kayleigh Snasone placed second. Her creation will go up in Bean's Washington office for a year. "Contrasting Flavors" by Schaumburg High School student Travis Morrison will be placed in Bean's local office for one year. Bean said she was impressed with all of the art submitted for the competition.