Buy a car in East Dundee, get free gas

If you are in the market for a new car - or a used car - don't forget to check out the dealerships in East Dundee this month.

The village is offering a $100 gas card for buyers of a new vehicle, and $50 worth of gas for the purchase of a used vehicle worth more than $5,000. While the values are not tremendous, it's reassuring that the village is taking measures to shore up its bottom line at a time when action is needed. The village faces the loss of its biggest revenue maker - Walmart - and shortfalls.

Granted, car sales do not make or break the village's budget, but they do make up at least $350,000 of it. The 1 percent sales tax from auto sales may be a wash with the cost of the gas cards, but bringing traffic to the Route 25 corridor and enticing consumers to check out what the village has to offer, is priceless.

If the gas card incentive program proves a success, perhaps the village would consider expanding the program to include gift cards or gift certificates to local businesses, which would ensure the gift cards are used within the village. Even still, if the gas cards are redeemed at gas stations in other municipalities, the local gas stations are benefiting since the village is purchasing the gas cards from the two local gas stations in the village.

Keeping it local: The Heartland Blood Bank will hold a blood drive from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22 at Public Safety Center No. 2, 100 Carrington Drive, West Dundee.

All donations will stay in the community since Heartland is the exclusive provider for Sherman Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital in Elgin.

The goal this year is to obtain 50 pints of blood. Donors receive a certificate for a free quart of Oberweis ice cream.

If you would like to make an appointment, call village hall at (847) 551-3800 or go to wdundee.org and follow the links to the sign up page to set up a time. Walk-ins are welcome until 7 p.m. but preference will be given to registered donors. A photo identification is required.

Sponsors sought: Don't forget that the West Dundee Police Department is looking for sponsors for its fireworks show at this year's National Night Out Against Crime, scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Though the event has been a success - and award winning - budget constraints are threatening at least the fireworks show.

National Night Out encourages local communities to get to know their local law enforcement agencies through games, demonstrations and a free cook out. The department had considered canceling the event altogether, but too many people encouraged them to keep it going.

But now it needs your help to make the event a success. Contact Andy Wieteska at (847) 551-3810 if you can help the police department put on a fireworks show that has become a crowd favorite year after year.

• Larissa Chinwah covers Carpentersville, East and West Dundee, Dundee Township and Hampshire. She is on vacation and will return July 24. Call (847) 608-2700 with news tips or concerns.