Park Ridge Herald-Advocate

Park Ridge council not impressed by Whole Foods tax-sharing ultimatum

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:43:41 -0500

A developer seeking a sales-tax subsidy from the city of Park Ridge in order to build a Whole Foods Market near Uptown told the city’s elected officials this week that the subsidy is necessary in order for the grocery store to open. But that wasn’t enough to convince aldermen to support the proposal that would have withheld a portion of sales-tax dollars from the city during a period of 20 years. Meeting as a Committee of the Whole, the City Council on May 14 unanimously voted to reject developer and property owner Lance Chody’s request for a sales-tax-sharing agreement that …

POLL: What are your plans for Memorial Day?

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:16:00 -0500

It’s known as the unofficial start of summer: Memorial Day weekend. More importantly, it is a time to remember and honor those who have lost their lives defending the United States. Whether it’s taking in a local parade or dropping by a backyard cookout, there’s almost always something to do on Memorial Day. What are your plans? Take this week’s poll and let us know. …

No pay hike for interim Park Ridge city manager

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:43:03 -0500

Park Ridge Deputy City Manager Juliana Maller is taking on a heavier workload following the City Council’s recent dismissal of top city administrator Jim Hock. But Maller will not be compensated for her added responsibilities. Aldermen voted 3-3 on a motion to give Maller, now Park Ridge’s acting city manager, a salary adjustment that would increase her annual pay by $12,000. The tie vote, which occurred during the May 14 Committee of the Whole meeting, defeated the motion, meaning it will not return before the City Council for a formal vote May 21. Mayor David Schmidt had recommended increasing Maller’s …

District 207 disputes national ranking snubs of Maine East, South

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:50:02 -0500

Maine Township High School District 207 is questioning the accuracy of an annual ranking of American high schools by U.S. News & World Report after two of the district’s three schools were omitted from the list.

New community-development manager eyed in Park Ridge

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:44:47 -0500

A man with a municipal-planning background bridging the public and private sectors is under consideration for the position of manager of Park Ridge’s Department of Community Preservation and Development. The Park Ridge City Council on May 21 is expected to vote on a recommendation to hire James Testin at a starting annual salary of $95,486. Testin is the current manager of planning and economic-development services with Robert E. Hamilton Consulting Engineers. In this role he assists municipalities with planning and economic development efforts, according to his resume. For eight years Testin also served as director of community development for the …

Purse, wallet, iPad not on menu for Park Ridge food burglar

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:54:51 -0500

Park Ridge Police are looking for a residential burglar who apparently preferred a carton of orange juice over far-more-valuable items. Residents of the 1000 block of South Rose Avenue reported that someone broke into their home between midnight and 4:30 a.m. May 8, removed several items from the kitchen refrigerator and drank their orange juice before slipping out undetected. Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen said the residents, who were home at the time of the burglary, said someone had broken their kitchen window, removed a pizza and lunch meat from the refrigerator and left the food on the …

Road rage blamed for damage to Norridge man’s vehicle in Park Ridge

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:58:15 -0500

A possible case of road rage allegedly led a man to damage another driver’s vehicle after he reportedly followed the car from the Harwood Heights-Chicago border to a store in Park Ridge. Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen said a 43-year-old Norridge man reported that on April 24 he was leaving a parking lot at Harlem and Foster avenues when another vehicle cut him off in traffic and the driver shouted ethnic slurs at him. When both vehicles were stopped the driver of the other car reportedly approached the victim and continued yelling at him. The Norridge man then …