Norridge Harwood-Heights News

Norridge pool filled with fun summer events

Fri, 10 May 2013 09:23:34 -0500

NORRIDGE — The start of the summer season is only a couple of weeks away, and the Norridge Park District is offering new ways to enjoy the upcoming warm weather. The pool has revamped its pool pass prices to reflect the reality of today’s families.

Bank teller charged with theft

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:35:13 -0500

A Park Ridge bank teller is accused of stealing several thousand dollars from the account of one her customers. Park Ridge Police on May 17 arrested Marianna Bonanno, 46, of the 4800 block of North Knight Avenue, Norridge, on charges of theft and aggravated identity theft after she allegedly withdrew over $12,000 from the account of a senior citizen while working at PNC Bank, 607 W. Devon Ave. Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen said the thefts occurred between April 2012 and January 2013. A total of 15 bank account withdrawals were made from the customer’s account, he said. Bonanno’s next …

Local Disaster Center opens for flood victims

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:22:27 -0500

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 jointly by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Residents do not need to visit the center to register for FEMA reimbursement or assistance. Registration is available online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling (800) 621-3362. The center is an additional …

Health and wellness activities at Central Baptist

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:02:22 -0500

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 of the 20th anniversary of National Senior Health & Wellness Day, with featured events including: • Conductorcise Class led by Maestro David Dworkin. This is an upper body workout that relieves stress, builds aerobic stamina and helps with weight loss while you learn basic conducting techniques, improve listening skills and discovering the lives and works …

Norridge looks to revamp, simplify zoning

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:31:30 -0500

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

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:58:55 -0500

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 for Student Services. That system has about 5,000 students in 12 elementary and junior high schools. “Getting parents involved early in their child’s education and helping them connect with any needed [supportive] and community services is always part of what we do,” says Voehringer, has a contract to lead the one-school district for the next …

Norridge will honor local casualties of Vietnam War

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:58:35 -0500

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 memorial is being dedicated at a local school. U.S. Army Specialists Fourth Class Kenneth Wayne Wells and James Chris Shukas, U.S. Marine Cpl. Donald Warren Bollman and Privates First Class Neil Joseph Cacciotiolo and Ronald Chester Rogowski all left their homes in Norridge to fight in the Vietnam War. Each died in battle. However, they …

International Taste brought variety of food to church

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:20:00 -0500

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

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:01:05 -0500

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 big. And they had no idea, when they started, that they would make in the life of a student from their own school. “We wanted to do something bigger and different than anybody else had done before,” Katherine said. The girls brainstormed and spent much of their break discussing options. Then Jenny met another teen …

3 Brookfield Zoo dolphins expecting

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:48:20 -0500

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

Thu, 23 May 2013 05:59:23 -0500

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 Melendez, 37, of the 2200 block of North Springfield Ave., Chicago, was charged May 12 with driving without a license following a traffic stop in the 4700 block of Nagle. Her next court date is June 4. Claudia Vergara-Fernandez, 27, of the 4700 block of North Lawndale, Chicago, was charged with driving without a license, …

Harwood Heights restaurant knows atmosphere is key ingredient

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:30:00 -0500

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

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:03:33 -0500

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 Army Norridge Citadel. ‘They did a great job.” Now in its 21st year, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive enlists the services of letter carriers nationwide to collect donations of bags of non-perishable food left by postal customers near their mailboxes. Davis said she couldn’t even guess how much food the union will be able …

Author Lawrence Okrent at Norwood Park Historical Society May 22

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:04:36 -0500

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 free. During the most recent 25 years of its history, Chicago has undergone unprecedented change — Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Museum Campus, airport expansion — and a surprising list of public and private development projects too numerous to recount. Okrent, a photographer and urban historian, offers a pictorial, annotated record of this story. In …

Salvation Army garage sale Saturday in Norridge

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:21:42 -0500

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

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:38:46 -0500

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.