Northwest suburbs in 60 seconds

Hanover Park fire accidental

Authorities are certain the early Friday morning fire that caused $180,000 in damage to a Hanover Park duplex was accidental. A car was parked up against the house in the 2100 block of Laurel Avenue and something in it malfunctioned, according to Fire Chief Craig Haigh. "We're absolutely convinced of that," Haigh said. The fire department is working with car manufacturers and an insurance company to test different parts, a process that could last more than a month, he said. Reports of explosions were the air bags and other systems popping. Aerosol cans in the garage could have also made sounds resembling an explosion, Haigh said.

Whiteley wins energy award

The National Energy Education Department Project (NEED) has named Frank C. Whiteley School in Hoffman Estates and its "EcoPeeps" as winner of the national Elementary Rookie School of the Year. Whiteley students wrote letters to four mayors and the superintendent about having a Lights Out day in which schools, businesses and individuals would turn off the lights for one hour. Whiteley also took part in numerous energy-related activities this year, including an energy fair, giving away free trees and making commercials encouraging students to recycle shoes. Teacher Kathleen Cochrane and her students have been invited to the NEED youth awards program June 26-29 in Washington, D.C., at the Department of the Interior.

Stamp show coming

COMPEX, the Chicago area's premier spring philatelic event, will hold its 52nd annual exhibition this weekend at Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road in Arlington Heights. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and Saturday, May 23, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24. Admission and parking are free. The show will have several exhibits focusing on the 200th anniversary of President Lincoln's birth. COMPEX 2009 also features a bourse of over 50 booths, including philatelic dealers from across the nation catering to every philatelic need collectors may have. Special events aimed at youth will be part of the shot. For additional information, contact Randall Sherman at (773) 744-8839 or shermanrandall@hotmail.com.