Northwest suburban briefs

Countryside gets new pastor:

Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church in Palatine recently welcomed the Rev. Hilary Landau Krivchenia as its new minister. Krivchenia, a New Jersey native, spent a year in VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and eight years as minister of a Unitarian Universalist Church in Lafayette, Ind. She says she's passionate about encouraging and embracing cultural and ethnic diversity. For more information on the church, which is located at 1025 N. Smith Road, call (847) 359-8440 or visit ccuu.org.

Village seeks salt bargain:

Streamwood trustees have authorized the village's public works director to buy up to 4,000 tons of road salt for this winter as cost effectively as possible, up to $391,800. The village board allowed staff the freedom to be more strategic in its salt purchase for this year because of a significant increase in cost from most vendors over last year. The lowest cost the village originally found this year was $105 per ton, while last year's cost was $39 per ton. Village Manager Gary O'Rourke said Streamwood already has enough salt for a typical winter but is looking for more in case this year's is as bad or worse than last year's.

Firefighter expo Saturday:

Firefighters from across the suburbs will gather from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, outside Cabela's in Hoffman Estates for a fire apparatus exposition and are inviting the public. The day's events will feature a demonstration by technical rescue team rappelling 100 feet and using the jaws of life to tear through a car. Kids will have a chance to try on firefighter gear. Admission is free, and firefighters will be available to talk about safety-related matters. Departments including Algonquin, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Elgin and Hampshire will be on hand. Cabela's is at 5225 Prairie Stone Parkway near Route 59 and I-90.

Beware of scam:

Buffalo Grove police are warning of a scam similar to one several residents experienced recently in Arlington Heights. The scam targets older residents. A caller claims to be a grandson or other relative who says he has been in an accident or is in jail. The caller then asks for a wire transfer of money. Anyone who receives this call should get as much information as possible and then call police at (847) 459-2560. Buffalo Grove Cmdr. Steve Husak said both incidents involving village residents turned out well since those residents called their grandchildren or their children to confirm the call wasn't real.