Des Plaines ate through another Taste

What do 700 funnel cakes and 200 turkey legs have in common?

That's right - they were both gobbled up at last weekend's Taste of Des Plaines.

Linda Forman, who chaired the three-day event, says 20,000 people came to the Taste this year - slightly down from last year.

What else did they eat?

Here goes (in no particular order):

• 120 frozen bananas

• 500 smoothies

• 150 assorted desserts

• 2,800 burgers

• 350 fried Twinkies

• 200 orders of wings

• 2,000 orders of tater tots

• 2,000 taco orders

• 700 funnel cakes

• 700 hot dogs

• 200 turkey legs

• 300 Sno Cones

• 3,000 pizza slices

• 420 corn dogs

• 2,000 ears of corn

• 350 pretzels

• 300 orders of nachos

• 400 orders of egg rolls

• 1,000 crab rangoons

• 7 trays of pad Thai

A crossing guard retires: Mary Markiewicz recently retired after helping children safely cross the streets of Elk Grove Village for more than 30 years.

She had been a crossing guard for Queen of the Rosary Catholic School since 1977.

City clerk's office loses a face: Des Plaines' city clerk's office just won't be the same.

Mary Alice Hardiman, who worked in the city clerk's office, died of cancer this week. She was the wife of Joseph Hardiman, 5th Ward alderman from 1983-1993 and sister of Margaret O'Toole, who also worked in the city clerk's office.

Visitation will be from 3-9 p.m. today at Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Alphonsus Liguori Church, 411 N. Wheeling Road, Prospect Heights.

Rotary rolls on: Elk Grove's Rotary Fest continues through Sunday.

Hours are 6 p.m. to midnight Friday; 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday; and 2-10:30 p.m. Sunday.

It's held off Elk Grove Boulevard near Elk Grove High School.

The parade starts at 6 p.m. Saturday along Elk Grove Boulevard, followed by fireworks at Lions Park.

Your tips and happenings can be forwarded to rboykin@dailyherald.com or (847) 427-4492.