Memorial Day

Monday (May 28) is Memorial Day.  Originally called Decoration Day, it is a day set aside to honor the memory of those who have died in our nation's service.  The Mount Prospect Memorial Day Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Emerson St. and Busse Ave.  The parade will march south on Emerson to Lincoln, then to the Lions Park Veterans Memorial Band Shell.  A Memorial Day Ceremony will be presented by VFW Post 1337  at the Veterans Band Shell, rain or shine. Fly your Flag and be thankful for those who made the ultimate sacrifice!

--Honor your hero! As part of the recently approved expansion of the Veterans Memorial in Lions Park, a limited number of commemorative bricks and benches are available for purchase through the Mount Prospect Parks Foundation. Order forms and additional information are available at www.mppd.org/veteransmemorial or by calling 847/255-5380.

--The Library and Village Hall will be closed as will most banks, government offices, the post office, and courthouses.

Friday Night on the Green

After a successful debut last summer, the Friday Night on the Green concerts return on every first and third Friday from June through September.  Friday (June 1) will feature Ken Dix and the Friday Night Lawn Jockeys.  Bring your own chairs and blankets and pick up dinner or snacks at a local MP restaurant and enjoy a great evening.  Shows begin at 6 p.m. on the Village Green in front of Village Hall (50 S. Emerson.)

AutismOne Conference

The AutismOne/Generation Rescue Conference runs through May 27 at the Westin Lombard Hotel/Yorktown Center (70 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard). The latest findings in the science of autism, treatments, speakers, legal rights and social events will provide valuable ideas and resources for those facing this growing disease.  For more information, go to www.autismone.org or call 714/732-0704.

Stamp Collecting

Discover the fun of stamp and postcard collecting at the Compex Stamp Show on Friday (May 25/10 a.m. - 6 p.m.); Saturday (May 26/10 a.m. - 6 p.m.); and Sunday (May 27/10 a.m. - 4 p.m.)  The show will be held at the Forest View Educational Center ( 2121 S. Goebbert Rd., AH) and admission and parking are free.  For more information, call 773/775-2100.

Horsey Hundred

The Mount Prospect Bike Club will cycle through beautiful Blue Grass Country as members participate in the "Horsey Hundred Invitational" in Georgetown, Kentucky, on May 26 and May 27. Closer to home, the Sunday (May 27) bike ride leaves at 9 a.m. from Frontier Park (Palatine and Kennicott roads, AH) on Shoe's Red Apple Adventure through the Paul Douglas Woods  with a lunch break at the Red Apple Restaurant in Rolling Meadows. The Memorial Day (May 28) Ride leaves from Lions Park at 9 a.m. sharp.  What a great way to spend a beautiful weekend!

Idol Autograph

Get American Idol Haley Reinhart's autograph when you purchase her new CD, Listen Up!, at Walmart (1455 E. Lake Cook Rd., Wheeling) on Saturday (May 26) beginning at 2 p.m.

Cruisin'

In honor of Henry Ford, it's "Ford Night" at the BluesMobile Cruise Night on Saturday (May 26) from 6 - 9 p.m. in the west Metra Parking Lot (Rte. 83 and Northwest Hwy.) Music will be provided by Tony the 50s Flashback DJ. 

Flag Retirement Ceremony

The public is invited to brings flags that are no longer suitable for use to a Flag Retirment Ceremony on Sunday (May 27) at 1 p.m. at the American Legion Post 36 Hall (1291 Oakwood St., DP.) Members of the Cub and Boy Scouts will assist the American Legion members at the event.  For more info, call 847/824-3236.

Channeling Miles Davis

Travel inside Mile Davis's iconic jazz album, Kind of Blue, at a solo piano concert and discussion featuring Mount Prospect's own Jose Sandoval. "My Kind of Blue: A Piano Tribute to Miles Davis" will be presented on Tuesday (May 29) at the Mount Prospect Public Library (10 S. Emerson) at 7:30 p.m. This program is sponsored by the Mount Prospect Historical Society.  For more information  and to register, call 847/253-5675.

Got Glove?

The Chicago Bandits women's professional softball team will hold open tryouts on Saturday (June 2) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Tryouts are open to women age 21 and over.  Participants must bring their own equipment. Last season, four players made the team through the open tryouts.  Deadline for registration is May 31.  For more info, call 1-877-722-6348 or go to www.chicagobandits.com .

Splish, Splash!

Save by buying your Mount Prospect Park District pool passes before June 1.  It's good at all three pools and gets a reciprocal resident rate at Mystic Waters Pool in Des Plaines. For more information, call 847/640-1000 or go to www.mppd.org . Swimming pools are NOT open this Memorial Day weekend. The River Trails pool opens on Friday, June 8.  Big Surf Wave pool opens on June 2 and the Meadows pool opens on June 4.

New Store in Town

Get a taste of the frozen yogurt at "menchies" during the store's grand opening on Saturday (June 2).  There will be free frozen yogurt from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., give-aways, and kids' activities.  The new shop is located in Randhurst Village next to the Pei Wei restaurant.

Cruisin':

It's Chevy Night on Saturday (June 2) at the BluesMobile Cruise Night from 6 - 9 p.m. in the west Metra parking lot. The Drive 97.1 will be on hand to provide the tunes. Check it out!

Blood Drive

Give the gift of life at the Community Blood Drive on Thursday (June 7) from 3 - 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall (50 S. Emerson.)  Eat well, stay hydrated and bring an ID.  Walk-ins are always welcome. 

Junior High Fitness

Take advantage of the summer to get fit and have fun. Join the Summer Fitness club for Junior High Students at the Mount Prospect Park District.  The program meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, June 18 through August 8, from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.  Other offerings for the 9 - 13 age group include a ZumbAtomic class (Saturdays, June 9 - July 14) and the Youth Fitness College (age 12-13) where participants will focus on proper equipment use.  For more info, call 847/640-1000 or go to www.mppd.org.   These classes are held at the RecPlex (420 W. Dempster.)

Summer Camps

Mount Prospect Park District and the River Trails Park District offer a variety of camps and summer activities for kids of all ages.  There are full-day, half-day, athletic, art, and eco camps from which to choose.  For more information contact the Mount Prospect Park District at 847/640-1000 or at www.mppd.org.  River Trails Park District can be reached at 847/255-1200 or at www.rtpd.org .

News You Can't Use

Of the following countries - Canada, Spain, Portugal and Italy - Spain was not an original member of NATO.

May 27 marks the 75th birthday of the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge opened to pedestrian traffic on May 27, 1937, and to vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937.  At the time, the 4200-foot suspension span was the longest span in the world and held that title until 1964.  It's now the 8th longest suspension span.  How long did it take to construct the Golden Gate Bridge?

a)  two years       b)  four years    c) eight years     d) ten years