Briefs: Prison for tax fraud conviction
A Lake Barrington woman was sentenced Tuesday to five months in prison and five months of home detention with electronic monitoring for felony tax fraud. Christine L. Frantz, 57, was charged last May for failing to report more than $262,000 of income, from 1999 to 2003, from her business, World of Languages, Internal Revenue Service Special Agent Maria Suarez said. The tax loss for the IRS from the fraud was nearly $76,000. Suarez said. World of Languages, once featured in The New York Times, provided foreign language instruction at Chicago-area schools. Frantz, sentenced in federal court in Chicago Tuesday by Judge John Grady, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
Real men wear pink
If you see a lot of men wearing pink today, it's because a number of Northwest suburban businesses and individuals have agreed to team with the local American Cancer Society chapter to illustrate the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Men today will don pink attire and put on a breast cancer pin - and remind women 40 and older to schedule mammograms. Partners include: Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village; the Bredemann Lexus-Ford in Glenview; the cities of Des Plaines and Rolling Meadows; the Countryside Association of Palatine; Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington; Fremd High School; Hanover Township; HIP Salon in Schaumburg; Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge; Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights; Northrop Grumman Corp. in Rolling Meadows; the Schaumburg Flyers; St. Mary's Church/Heart of Mary and Wheeling Township. To learn more about the initiative, contact Maggie Osborne at 847-502-1051 or maggieosborne@yahoo.com.
Tax appeal dates set
Property owners in Elk Grove Township can file assessment appeals with the Cook County Board of Review between Wednesday, Oct. 15, and Monday, Dec. 1. Helpful evidence can include a photo of the person's property, proof of recent sale prices of similar properties, a real estate appraisal, assessed valuation of comparable properties in the neighborhood and evidence of flood, fire or other damage. The assessment appeal complaint form is available at the Rolling Meadows court facility, 2121 Euclid Ave., Room 237, or by writing the Board of Review, Room 601, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60602. Call (312) 603-5542 or (847) 818-2067 for more information.
Schaumburg Hyatt renamed
Atlanta-based Noble Investment Group has announced completion of the comprehensive conversion of the newly renamed Hyatt Place Chicago-Schaumburg at 1800 Golf Road in Schaumburg. Renovations to the 127-room Hyatt included upgrades to all guest rooms, public areas and the 4,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The traditional guest lobby was reconfigured into the Hyatt Place Gallery, featuring self service kiosks, the Hyatt bar-cafe, an e-room providing Wi-Fi Internet access and freshly prepared meals available around the clock in the guest kitchen. Guest rooms feature a state-of-the-art media and work center with 42-inch flat-panel HDTVs, contemporary decor and stylish furnishings. A hotel restaurant also got a new name, Fresh 1800, and touts its new format as using fresh ingredients that are locally produced whenever possible.
Pick Schaumburg's best pizza
The Best Pizza in Schaumburg contest, sponsored by the Schaumburg Jaycees, takes place Friday, Oct. 17, at Frost Junior High School, 320 Wise Road. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a blind taste-testing lasting until about 9 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under, but those who bring at least two nonperishable food items to donate to the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry will receive a $1 discount on the entry fee. All proceeds go to WINGS of Schaumburg, which assists battered women, and the Autism Society of America. For more information, call (847) 879-1193, ext. 2.