Northwest suburbs briefs

Foundation hosts Mardi Gras:The Schaumburg Township Elementary School Foundation is planning its signature Mardi Gras and Casino Night Friday, Feb. 19, at The Stonegate in Hoffman Estates. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. and include appetizers, dinner, casino games, a silent auction and prizes. Admission is $85 per person or $800 for a table of 10. All proceeds will fund programs for Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 schools which aren't covered by school budgets or tax dollars. For more information, visit d54foundation.com or contact foundation Manager Sophia Grassa at (847) 352-0652.Census cooperation urged:Arlington Heights, like other local communities, is urging its residents to cooperate with the collection of U. S. Census data. In late February and in March, census forms will be mailed or delivered to homes, according to a news release from the village. The form is one of the shortest forms in the history of the Census with only 10 questions that should take 10 minutes to complete. It cannot be filled out online. It is available in English and Spanish. The Census Bureau cannot share individual census responses with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. The village receives revenue from the state based on population count, which directly impacts village services. Residents who do not fill out and return the census form will be visited by census takers. Information about the 2010 Census is at census.gov or watch an informational video on the village's Web site at vah.com/video/default.aspx.Flyers Winterfest party Feb. 17:The Schaumburg Flyers' annual Winterfest party at Alexian Field's Schaumburg Club is scheduled from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17. Admission for this event is free and everyone is welcome. Manager Mike Busch and the Firefly dance team will be present and food and drinks will be served all night from the club's Tiki Bar. The Disorderlies of South of Disorder, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, will perform. All through the night, there will be a silent auction and raffle prizes for a mountain bike, summer-themed prizes and Flyers memorabilia. The Bulls game, the Winter Olympics and Big Ten basketball will be displayed live on flat screen TVs while Nintendo Wii games will be available to play. To RSVP, e-mail info@flyersbaseball.com or call (847) 891-2255 for more information.Des Plaines donates $12,000:Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan recently presented a check for $12,000, representing the proceeds from the Oct. 4 First Lady's Lunch, to the Rev. John P. Smyth, executive director of the Reverend John P. Smyth Standing Tall Charitable Foundation. The Standing Tall Foundation helps individuals who are categorized as lower socio-economic, underprivileged or underrepresented with academic scholarships. Applicants are referred to the foundation through school counselors, teachers and social workers. The foundation provides educational scholarships for primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, and/or vocational training.Drive-up drops at Palatine library:The new drive-up material drops at the Palatine Public Library District, 700 N. Court, are now operational. They're located at the foot of the entry ramp of the underground parking garage. The drops are a result of focus group meetings and surveys during summer 2008 in which patrons said it was the service they'd most like to see added. There are two drops of different heights to accommodate different-sized vehicles. The drops are unavailable for use when the garage is closed, but the walk-up drop at the front of the building remains open 24 hours a day.