Niles News Briefs

Volunteers needed for Boards and Commissions

The City is currently accepting applications from individuals who would like to serve on one of the following Commissions:

Appearance (must be a licensed architect); O’Hare Airport; Farmers Market; Historic Preservation.

You are encouraged to review information about the various Boards and Commission.  Please visit our website at http://www.parkridge.us.  In the upper right corner “SEARCH” field, enter “Boards and Commissions.” While one lists the members and vacancies, the other describes the duties and meeting frequency.  The Municipal Code provides more in depth information.  Interested individuals should complete an application for Boards & Commissions and return it to Deputy Clerk Peterson at [email protected] no later than January 20. 

You will be contacted by the City to come in for a brief 10-15 minute interview on a Monday evening between 6pm and 7 pm to meet with the Mayor’s Advisory Board.  Each candidate that is recommended for appointment will be required to complete a non-fingerprint type background check, as required by Municipal Code.  Final appointment is made by the Elected Officials at a City Council meeting. Thank you for your interest in serving the City of Park Ridge.  Many times it has been said that the volunteers are the backbone of our community.  The City is extremely grateful for those who have chosen to serve. Please call Deputy Clerk Peterson with any questions at 847-318-5464.

Director of Student Services plans coffee chats

Do you have a question about District 64’s student services? Are there any concerns you want to tell us about?

Beginning in January, Dr. Lea Anne Frost, District 64’s Director of Student Services, will host a monthly coffee for parents to express their concerns, ask questions, or discuss any matters related to the Student Services Department. Please feel free to attend all or part of these meetings.

The times and dates for the coffees are:

8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 16 at the Franklin School conference room, 2401 Manor Lane, Park Ridge.

8 to 10 a.m. on Monday, February 3 in the Roosevelt School conference room, 1001 South Fairview Avenue, Park Ridge.

3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10 in the Emerson Middle School conference room, 8108 North Cumberland Avenue, Niles.

8 to 10 a.m.  on Wednesday, April 22 in the Carpenter Elementary School conference room, 300 North Hamlin Avenue, Park Ridge.

3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 in the Washington Elementary School conference room, 1500 Stewart Avenue, Park Ridge.

New Illinois Cannabis Law and the Forest Preserves

The Illinois state law legalizing recreational cannabis starting January 1, 2020 does not allow for consumption of cannabis (also known as marijuana, pot or weed) in public. Smoking or consuming cannabis flower, concentrates and infused products is prohibited in the Forest Preserves. Anyone caught consuming cannabis in the Forest Preserves will be cited and may be subject to administrative or criminal penalties.

You may possess cannabis in the Forest Preserves, subject to the Illinois recreational cannabis possession limits.

Anyone in violation of the Illinois recreational cannabis possession limits will be cited and may be subject to administrative or criminal penalties (unless they possess a valid Illinois medical cannabis registry identification card or a similar form of patient identification from another state where medical cannabis is legal).

The legal age for cannabis consumption and possession in Illinois is 21 years old.

Anyone under 21 years old and in possession of any amount of cannabis will be cited and subject to administrative or criminal penalties (with medical registration exemptions). Anyone under 18 years old will have a parent or guardian notified of the citation.

Moylan Announces Energy Utility Bill Clinic

Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, will host a free utility bill clinic for residents in collaboration with the Citizen’s Utility Board (CUB) on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Des Plaines Public Library, located at 1501 Ellinwood Ave. in Des Plaines.

“CUB does a terrific job informing people of all their options and ways to save money on a wide variety of bills,” Moylan said. “I want to bring this service to our community because residents deserve to know ways they can keep more money in their pockets.”

CUB will have experts available to review copies of residents’ utility bills such as electric, water, gas, phone, cable and internet. They will help identify unnecessary charges and recommend tips and strategies to cut down on costs. This clinic is free and open to the public. To reserve your spot, please call CUB at 312-263-4282 ext. 111 or email [email protected] using the subject line, “Des Plaines 1/23”. Walk-ins are also welcome.

“People use these critical services every single day and deserve to have them available at a fair price,” Moylan said. “There isn’t any reason they should be losing extra money out of their hard earned paychecks to get them.”

For more information about this event please contact Moylan’s full-time constituent office at 847-635-6821 or email [email protected].

Murphy offers free admission to Chicago museums

Resource Card Signup Drive FlyerSPRINGFIELD – To encourage residents to take advantage of the Constituent Education Resource Card program, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is hosting a sign-up drive on Jan. 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Elk Grove Village Public Library, located at 1001 Wellington Ave. in Elk Grove Village.

At the event, members of the public are invited to sign up for a date and location to use the card, which grants free general admission to over a dozen Chicago-area museums.

“This card makes it possible for anyone in the district to access the fantastic educational resources that Chicago has to offer,” said Murphy. “I want to help as many people as possible take advantage of this cost-saving opportunity.”

Museums in the Park, a coalition of Chicago museums, sponsors the program in collaboration with the State of Illinois. The card provides free entry for up to four people at 15 Chicago-area institutions, including the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium.

Any resident of the 28th District may reserve the card on a first-come, first-served basis. The card may be checked out from Murphy’s office in Des Plaines the day before use and must be returned the following day.