Members of the Collins School Girl Scouts are sponsoring a book drive for School District 54's new preschool that opened this fall. The group is requesting donations of new or lightly used children's books of all levels in addition to puzzles, crayons and safety scissors. The drive is ongoing through December 12. Donation boxes are located in the following places: Schaumburg Township Library, 130 S. Roselle Rd.; Hoffman Estates Library, 1550 Hassell Rd.; and Elk Grove Hattendorf Center, 225 E. Elk Grove Blvd. Contact the group for more information by calling (847) 361-8748.

Donate to the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry

Regardless of the time of year, there are those in need of food and other items from the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry. More than 600 families per month visit the food pantry. The pantry is frequently in need of staple items such as canned meats, diced tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, canned pasta meals, canned fruit, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, hot and cold beverages and more. Cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, paper products, toothpaste and deodorant are also needed. Collection boxes for donations will also be available at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday until January 2, 2015. For more information about the food pantry, call the township at (847) 884-0030. The township is located at 1 Illinois Blvd. in Hoffman Estates.

Woodfield Mall Offers Holiday Hours

Woodfield Mall will be open at 6 p.m. Thursday, November 27 and will remain open for 28 hours until 10 p.m. on "Black Friday," November 28 to kick off the holiday season. Shoppers can visit Woodfield's website for a complete list of hours.

Santa is also is available during select hours for photos through Wednesday, December 24 at the grand court in the mall. For a full list of hours, visit the mall's website or call (847) 330-1537.

Speaking of Schaumburg

Speaking of Schaumburg is a monthly program hosted by Schaumburg's own Village President Al Larson. Mayor Larson offers his own unique insight and knowledge of the village and its history through interviews with village staff, officials and prominent residents. Visit the website to watch the November 2014 Speaking of Schaumburg.

Employment Opportunities:

Check out the Employment Section of the website to view specific position details. Interested applicants can apply directly, save the job to complete an application at a later time or email the job posting to a friend. For more information, contact the Human Resources Department at (847) 923-3900.

Quick Links:

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This weekly e-newsletter provides timely information on general news and events from the Village of Schaumburg.

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Digital Cities Award Winner

Schaumburg Village President Al Larson along with Village Trustees George Dunham, Mark Madej and Frank Kozak and Village Manager Brian Townsend accept the Digital Cities Survey Award for placing third in its population group. Top-ranked cities in the survey provided financial transparency, city performance measurement dashboards and citizen feedback on city initiatives. The award was accepted November 20 during the National League of Cities' annual conference in Austin, Texas. For more information, read the press release.

Annual Tree Lighting Nov. 28

The Village of Schaumburg invites the public to attend the annual tree lighting ceremony on Friday, November 28 that will include a visit from Santa Claus.

The evening's activities will begin with holiday caroling at 6 p.m. at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court. The Schaumburg Fire Department will escort Santa who will arrive at 6:30 p.m. in the plaza between the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center and the Prairie Center for the Arts.

The plaza tree will be decorated with ornaments crafted by area youth groups and organizations. Santa will be greeted by village officials who will assist him with his lighting duties. After the tree is lit, Santa will meet with youngsters in the Prairie Center's Maggie Atcher Theatre where parents are encouraged to bring their cameras for photos. Seasonal entertainment will be featured and refreshments will be served. The event is co-sponsored with the Schaumburg Jaycees. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit the village's website.

Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to this event for the Schaumburg Food Pantry. Requested items include canned meals, soup, juice, snacks, crackers, dry pasta, tomato products, tissues, paper towels, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner. All items can be placed in the designated boxes located in the Prairie Center lobby. Additionally, items will be accepted at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday until January 2, 2015.

The Schaumburg Jaycees will also have a Wish Tree available in the west lobby of the Prairie Center beginning November 28 where families can select an "ornament" that will list the gender and ages of kids with a few things they are requesting for the holidays. Participants can shop for the gifts, wrap them and label them with the name of the recipient before dropping them off to the Prairie Center by Monday, December 15.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Village of Schaumburg wishes you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. The Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center and all Schaumburg administrative offices will be closed Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Residents who need assistance can call the village's Customer Service Representatives by dialing 311 with any questions or concerns. Residents can also visit the village website for more information about the village and its services.

Please be sure to observe these important safety tips offered by the Schaumburg Fire Department to keep your family safe this holiday:

Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop
Stay in the home when cooking your turkey and check on it frequently
Keep children away from the stove: have activities to keep them busy outside of the kitchen
Be sure electric cords are not within reach of children and that anything that can catch fire is kept away from the stove and oven
Keep the floor clear to avoid the risk of trips or falls
Test your smoke alarms to make sure they are functioning

For those who plan on deep-frying their turkeys, please check out the public safety announcement provided by State Farm that features the cast of Duck Dynasty.

Shop Small Businesses on Saturday

Small Business Saturday is Saturday, November 29. Schaumburg has approximately 4,500 businesses that employ 50 or less. The village encourages the public to shop on Saturday as part of the Small Business Saturday initiative. Learn more.

Schaumburg Resident Receives Honorable Mention in Zoo Photo Contest

Dominic Williams of Schaumburg received an honorable mention in the adult category in the Chicago Zoological Society's 2014 Photo Contest. Nearly 275 photos featuring lions, gorillas, butterflies and many other animals were entered in the contest. A panel of professional photographers judged the photos. All winning photos are on display in Brookfield Zoo's Discovery Center lobby through the end of the year. They may also be viewed online.

Ride the Woodfield Trolley

The Village of Schaumburg's Woodfield Trolley will expand its service to run daily beginning Friday, November 28 through Thursday, January 1.

Additional trolleys will also be in service during the holidays which will reduce wait times in between trolleys to approximately every 15-20 minutes making this transportation mode more convenient for the public.

The Woodfield Trolley is free and provides service to nine stops with front door service to eight stops including Woodfield Mall, Streets of Woodfield, Woodfield Village Green, IKEA and the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center.

Visit the village's website, call the Trolley Hotline at (847) 923-3880, or contact the village at (847) 923-3861 for updated service information. No trolley service will be provided on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.

Construction Updates

For a link to all village projects, please visit the website.

Barrington Road Resurfacing: Lake St. to IL 72

Resurfacing on Barrington Road from U.S. 20 (Lake St.) to IL 72 continues. The project affects Schaumburg, Streamwood and Hanover Park and is anticipated to last through November. Work this year will include patching as well as curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements. The public can expect reduced lanes and delays associated with the project.

Tollway Update:

Contractors working on the Meacham Road Bridge will be drilling the support structures for the new bridges. Minor delays and lane closures may also occur for the next few weeks as contractors install new lane lines and other pavement markings to last through winter. Contractors are also continuing to install new village water and sewer infrastructure under I-90. Please visit the village's website for further information about work on both of these projects.

Advertise in this e-Newsletter:

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The village is offering a way for local businesses to connect with the community by placing ads in this newsletter. For more information, contact Bob Hoyer with Municipal Media Solutions at (312)640-9540.

Calendar of Events

November 28: Annual Tree Lighting

Santa Claus will be escorted to the Prairie Center for the Arts at 201 Schaumburg Ct. to kick off the village's annual tree lighting ceremony. Activities include caroling, photos with Santa, holiday balloon twister and more. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Special Events Coordinator Roxane Benvenuti by email or by calling (847) 923-3605.

December 2: Argosy University Blood Drive

Argosy University is hosting a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2 in library rooms 103 and 104 of the campus located at 999 North Plaza Drive, Suite 111, in Schaumburg.

Email Karen Krantz to schedule an appointment or register online and use Group Code 138D.

December 3: Community Blood Drive

The blood drive will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 3 at The Barn, 231 S. Civic Dr. in Schaumburg. Call LifeSource at (847) 543-3768 to schedule an appointment.

December 4 & 5: AARP Safe Driving Class

Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 4 and Friday, December 5 at the Schaumburg Police Department, 1000 W. Schaumburg Rd. To register, contact Paula Diaz at (847) 348-7274.

December 5 - 14: The Nutcracker

Schaumburg Dance Ensemble will be performing 10 shows of The Nutcracker from Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 14 at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Ct. The production of Tchaikovsky's magical ballet features live narration, professional dancers and a cast of 140. Tickets are $26 and $18 for seniors, students and children. For showtimes and tickets, visit their website.

December 10: Game Night

Adults in their 20s and 30s with autism or Asperger's, as well as others facing social challenges, are invited to a Game Night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10 in the adult classroom of the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 N. Roselle Rd. To register, call (847) 923-3347 or register online.

December 10: Property Tax Appeal Seminar

A property tax appeal seminar for taxpayers seeking to appeal their 2014 property tax assessments will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 10 at the Schaumburg Township Office, 1 Illinois Blvd. in Hoffman Estates. The event is free to the public, and there is no fee to appeal at the Board of Review. Taxpayers are asked to bring a copy of their most recent tax bill. Additional information can be found on the assessor's website.

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About the Village

of Schaumburg

Schaumburg is the largest center of economic development in the State of Illinois, outside the City of Chicago, but it is also very much a community of neighbors and neighborhoods. Quality of life is important to us and we are constantly working to enhance it. Visit the website.

Disclaimer:

The Village of Schaumburg accepts no liability for the advertisements in this newsletter and does not endorse any product advertised. Any advertisement does not necessarily represent the view or support of the Village of Schaumburg.

If you attend a local festival or village function and the event is photographed, your image may be used for news and promotional purposes.