Niles briefs

Commended Students in 2020 National Merit Program

Nineteen students from Niles Township High School District 219 were named as Commended Students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the school principals to these scholastically talented seniors.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.  Although they will not continue in the 2020 competition for Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2020 competition by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Commended Students from Niles West include:  Alexander Benitez, Sara Collins, Elizabeth De Klerk, Michael Filippini, Madelaine Foler, Hannah Kim, Christian Mancino, Agnes Manish, Omer Naveed, Thomas Nguyen, and Balaji Venkat. Commended Students from Niles North include: Cameron Churchwell, Shannon Dwyer, Jeffrey Garcia, Nimra Khan, Kieran Micari-Lawless, Alexandar Militchinski, Brooke Rickett Green, and Mercedes Sandu.

Young Professionals channeled their inner artist at Board & Brush Creative Studio

Park Ridge Chamber’s Young Professionals channeled their inner artist this evening as they created fun, on-trend pieces to display in their home or office! Each custom wooden piece was unique as members were able to choose their own stain, paint and distressing techniques.

Visit Board & Brush Creative Studio Park Ridge at 147 N. Northwest Highway and book your event today.

Women in Business Discuss Year-End Tax Planning Tips during Monthly Breakfast

Year-end tax planning for small businesses was the hot topic of discussion during the Chamber’s Women in Business Networking Breakfast this morning. Members and guests learned about various tax deductions, employee payroll requirements and more throughout the morning as they enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet at Sunrise Grill.

Join us next month and register at www.parkridgechamber.org/calendar.

Morton Grove Park District’s “Race to the Taste 5K”

Runners and walkers of all ages can participate in this annual fall race.

October 5 at Prairie View Park, 5K Run and Walk, Youth 50-Yard Dash and 100 Yard Dash.

Scenic 3.1-mile course and surrounding Morton Grove neighborhoods. Walkers & strollers welcome.

Race Entry Includes:

• Chip Timed Event

• 5K USATF Certified Course

• T-Shirt & Goody Bags

• FREE admission to the post-race buffet and celebration.

Morton Grove - Niles Water Commission receives the 2019 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award

Niles Water Commission received the 2019 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award for a project ranging from $35M to $100M from the Illinois Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. This prestigious honor  is awarded annually to an engineering Project which best exemplifies new or innovative application of technology, resourcefulness in solving complex problems, and environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

The Morton Grove- Niles Water Commission (“MGNWC”) was established in 2017 to provide Morton Grove and Niles with a long-term supply of top-quality Lake Michigan water at better and more stable prices than the rate charged by the City of Chicago. The MGNWC selected Evanston as its supplier because of the city’s 100 plus year track record of supplying safe high-quality Lake Michigan water to residents of Evanston, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Palatine, Skokie, and Wheeling. The MGNWC negotiated a 50-year agreement with Evanston at an initial rate approximately 75% less than Chicago’s. Future rate increases were stabilized at approximately 2% a year. The MGNWC then  designed and built new water-mains, pump stations and a water standpipe to deliver the water to both communities.

Outdated infrastructure was replaced or rebuilt , including over 9.5 miles of new water mains,  and over 10 miles of resurfaced streets in, Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie. The Project‘s $100 million cost were financed through low-interest loans from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and long-term bonds with a net interest rate of 2.8 percent payable over 30 years. General Village revenues will not be used to pay this debt. The loans will be paid by water customers as part of the water rate, which is less than the Chicago rate.

Unlawful Discharge of Firearm at Music Box Club

On September 22, 2019 at approximately 3:22 a.m. Niles Police Officers responded to reports of shots fired at the Music Box Club located at 6873 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Witnesses reported that an altercation between multiple subjects occurred inside the club. During that altercation a female in her 20’s suffered a laceration to her leg. Investigating officers learned that the shooting occurred outside in the parking, where the unknown male black, with a black jacket and hoodie fired a small handgun approximately six times towards the club. The shooter fled on foot south on Milwaukee Avenue. At this time, there are no reports of any victims being injured by gunfire.

The female who suffered the laceration was treated and released at the scene by the Niles Fire Department. Milwaukee Avenue remains closed from Harts Road to Albion while the investigation continues.

This is still an active investigation, anyone with information is asked to contact the Niles Police Department, Detective Bureau at 847-588-6570.

Cook County Board Approves Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved the County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) update this week. Under the leadership of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the County’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) spearheaded the revision to the 2014 plan which remains the largest of its kind in the United States.

The HMP update, which has already received approval from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), means Cook County remains eligible to receive funds through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

A total of 121 of Cook County’s 135 municipalities partnered with DHSEM. Those jurisdictions must now officially approve the plan update as well.

DHSEM worked closely with municipalities and other partnering agencies to address natural hazards that endanger lives and damage and destroy property, including flooding, extreme cold and heat, snow and other severe weather events.

“The safety and security of Cook County residents is a critical priority,” President Preckwinkle said. “This plan is key to helping us identify and mitigate natural hazards which can devastate our residents and many times disproportionately affect our traditionally underserved communities.”