Local Disaster Center opens for flood victims

A Disaster Recovery Center, which will allow residents to apply for federal reimbursement and financial aid for damage caused by April 18 flooding, has opened in Des Plaines.

The center is located at 1486 Miner St., next to the Des Plaines Theatre. It is operated …

Health and wellness activities at Central Baptist

Norridge Central Baptist Village, 4747 N. Canfield Ave., Norridge, will host a day of free health and wellness activities open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, at The Commons in the independent living facility. This event is in honor …

Norridge looks to revamp, simplify zoning

NORRIDGE — Lowering lot-size requirements and lessening the number of zoning districts are among changes being proposed for the village’s zoning ordinance. But the most welcomed change could be making the village document much more readable for residents and other interested parties.

School District 79 superintendent starts July 1 at Pennoyer

NORRIDGE — Veteran educator Brad Voehringer will begin his first term as Pennoyer School District 79 Superintendant on July 1.

Last week, Voehringer spoke to the Norridge-Harwood Heights News from his office at Des Plaines School District 62, where he is the current Assistant Superintendant …

Norridge will honor local casualties of Vietnam War

NORRIDGE — Nearly 40 years after the Vietnam War ended, the village of Norridge is asking the public to help honor local soldiers who died in that conflict.

To do that, the village is holding two Memorial Day ceremonies taking place this month and a …

International Taste brought variety of food to church

CHICAGO — Pietro Parto made several trips to the food tables at Our Lady, Mother of the Church’s International Taste. The 43-year parishioner enjoyed Italian pasta with peppers, a Danish roll, and a German bratwurst among other items, but he bypassed the sweets table filled with desserts on each trip.

Union Ridge students organize fund-raiser with extra motivation from classmate

HARWOOD HEIGHTS — Last summer — in the weeks preceding their final year as elementary school students — Union Ridge eighth-graders-to-be Jenny Esquivel and Katherine Resche made a pact.

They resolved to do something big before their graduation.

They just weren’t sure what. Or how …

3 Brookfield Zoo dolphins expecting

Chicago Zoological Society officials say three Brookfield Zoo bottlenose dolphins are pregnant. Officials say Allie, 26, Tapeko, 31, and Spree, 10, are due to give birth this summer and fall.

Harwood Heights and Norridge police blotter for May 23. 2013

The following incidents were listed among the official reports of the Harwood Heights and Norridge police departments. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that determination.

Harwood Heights

DRIVING WITHOUT LICENSE

Orly …

Harwood Heights restaurant knows atmosphere is key ingredient

HARWOOD HEIGHTS — Homemade food and family atmosphere are what keeps them coming back, said customers of Di Maggio Ristorante and Café.

Letter carriers get to deliver more than mail

Norridge and Harwood Heights residents stepped up to the plate to support the National Association of Letter Carriers’ efforts to alleviate hunger. “We really want to thank the residents,” said Debbie Green, a letter carrier who noted the food collected was going to the Salvation …

Author Lawrence Okrent at Norwood Park Historical Society May 22

Author Lawrence Okrent will be at the Norwood Park Historical Society next week.

Okrent, author of “Chicago from the Sky: A Region Transformed,” will appear at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at the Historical Society’s main event room, 5624 N. Newark Ave., Chicago.

Admission is …

Salvation Army garage sale Saturday in Norridge

NORRIDGE — Boutique clothing, books and baked goods will be among the wares at the Salvation Army Women’s Ministries annual garage sale. “We have some great bakers,” said Maj. Lesa Davis.

Veteran Morton Grove, Pioneer Press reporter dies

In his youth, Nick Katz motorcycled across Texas and Oklahoma, played blues guitar, and successfully smuggled his pet dog into a Las Vegas casino during a road trip with college buddies.

FBI: Chicago man wanted in 3 suburban bank robberies

A Chicago man was charged Monday with robbing a Norridge bank and is suspected of robbing two other suburban banks, the FBI said.