Niles News Briefs

Farmers Market seeks volunteers

Did you know that the Park Ridge Farmers Market started in 1989?  The market is committed to bringing local farmers and artisans to our community who offer a variety of fresh herbs, flowers, specialty foods, baked goods, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and more.  It also offers free live music and kids activities every week with vendors from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. 

Vendors needed for Health Fair

The Community Health Commission and Park Ridge Park District are looking for vendors who would like to participate in its June Health Fair event.   This year’s event is planned for June 20, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Hodges Park. 

Businesses that would like to be considered for participation should submit an application.  Applications are due before March 23.  

Focus On Your Future Post-High School Options Fair on Feb. 19

All students (grades 8-12), families and community members are invited to attend this resource fair to meet with representatives from over 50 companies, organizations and institutions which offer post-secondary, non-traditional options including associate degrees, certificate programs, apprenticeships, and other job training credentials, as well as gap-year, study-abroad experiences, and summer enrichment programs.

In addition there will be Breakout speaker sessions facilitated by speakers in various career pathways, as well as Open Houses. (Engineering/Manufacturing/Computer Science/Business/Automotives; Early Childhood Education/Teaching; Fashion) that will include introductions of faculty, course information, lab tour/demonstrations, related club information, and information on post-high school learning options. Come and discover what non-traditional education, training, and skills are required for fulfilling careers and experiences within these pathways.

Schools to Begin Using Maia Learning for Career/College Search Process

To our students and families of District 219:

Our school district is pleased to announce that we will be transitioning from our current “Naviance” Career and College Platform, to a new platform called “MaiaLearning”.  Current students will continue to have access to Naviance for the rest of this semester, and it will not impact our seniors during their career and college search process.

However during the course of this semester, we will be rolling out the new platform to our juniors first, and then the rest of the student body.  After reviewing a variety of products last year, our teams have concluded that the new platform MaiaLearning will clearly benefit our students and their families as they begin their career and college exploration.  Please watch for additional information from your respective schools.

Park Ridge Chamber announces Green Business Award Recipient - Ash and Willow Eco Salon and Beauty Apothecary

Holly Santelli, owner of Ash and Willow Eco Salon and Beauty Apothecary, not only tries to make her salon sustainable, but has also made it a core value – considering both environmental and social impacts with every decision she makes. Eco-friendly practices are what sets her salon apart. Ash & Willow is certified sustainable Green Circle Salon - a program that helps them recycle up to 95 percent of the salon waste including hair, color tubes, foil, aerosol cans, and virtually anything used in the salon. In 2018, Ash and Willow recycled 615 pounds of solid waste and 65 pounds of liquid waste in addition to actively using the regular city recycling program which is not included in the numbers. The salon incorporated reclaimed wood and brick into their décor, restored the old original ceiling from 1920, uses high efficiency water heaters, air conditioning, and LED lighting which all contribute to their sustainability. Eco Heads are used on shampoo bowls which help clean and conserve water and glass beverage cups are used for serving coffee made in a reusable glass coffee pot. Additionally, the hair care brands used are passionate about sustainability and use green practices.

Ash and Willow Eco Salon and Beauty Apothecary clients leave with not only beautiful hair, but also the satisfaction of knowing that they too are making a difference by patronizing a local business that practices sustainability benefiting our world for generations to come.