Nominate a shining star
The deadline for nominations for this year's Shining Star award nominations is midnight on Monday. So if you have always wanted to nominate someone who has changed the lives of others through their selfless acts or their desire to help others, someone who has been a great neighbor, someone whose life stands as an example of giving without expecting anything in return or someone whose act of bravery or compassion saved a life or changed the course of someone else's life, get busy!
If you are not familiar with the annual awards, Mount Prospect's Shining Star Awards honor these individuals and/or organizations. The winners are chosen by a committee assembled by the Mount Prospect Special Events Commission.
The awards will then be presented at the Celestial Celebration XVI ball at Mount Prospect's Bristol Court Banquets on Feb. 7, 2009.
To nominate someone or to learn more about the awards, nomination categories, past winners and the Celestial Celebration, log onto mountprospect.org and click on Special Events, or phone (847) 506-4949.
I, personally, try to nominate someone each year because I am able to meet so many "stars" through this column. I cannot tell you how exciting it is as a nominator to have one of my suggestions chosen and honored.
So take some time this weekend to check out the categories online and think about your neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances to see if you might know someone who deserves this wonderful honor.
Comic Book workshop: Russell Lissau, writer of DC Comics' "The Batman Strikes!" and "Hope: New Orleans," will give a hands-on workshop on the craft of comic book writing from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Nov. 22, at the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St.
Students and teens in grades 6 through 12 will learn about comic book pacing, dialogue, action and other key storytelling elements from Lissau. They will then have a chance to letter a page from a real comic book.
Copies of Lissau's titles will be available for purchase after the program. Space in this workshop is expected to be tight, so register soon by logging onto www.mppl.org/events, or phoning (847) 253-5675.
El Sombrero helps out: El Sombrero Mexican restaurant, 1100 S. Elmhurst Ave., Mount Prospect, will donate 20 percent of its proceeds on Monday, Nov. 17, to the Mount Prospect Historical Society.
Anyone who that day eats in the restaurant, purchases a gift card, purchases a carryout order or picks up catering or orders catering for the future will see some of their purchase benefit the Society.
No coupon is needed. El Sombrero is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and can be reached by phoning 847-364-0030.
Gift of reading: Help the Mount Prospect Public Library give the gift of reading this holiday season by bringing new or like-new unwrapped books for local children in need, age six and under.
Donations of books in English and Spanish will be greatly appreciated.
The holiday book drive begins Monday and runs through Dec. 14. Phone (847) 253-5675 for more information.