Today: Visit a Cop on Top and Support Special Olympics

Please join members of the Schaumburg Police Department in their annual Cop on Top event to raise money for Special Olympics. Visit Dunkin Donuts TODAY from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at either 477 W. Golf Road or 1440 N. Meacham Road in Schaumburg and say hello to one of our officers on top of the building.

Officers will be selling hats, t-shirts and travel coffee mugs along with raffle tickets for a chance to win a Harley Davidson motorcycle. All proceeds go to Special Olympics Illinois. Patrons who donate will receive coupons for free coffee and doughnuts. Read more.

In the spirit of helping one another and fostering a strong community, the Village of Schaumburg is now offering Schaumburg residents and businesses the opportunity to help those who are going through challenging financial times and are at risk of having their water shut off. 

The new Neighbors Helping Neighbors program enables anyone to make donations to a fund set aside to assist in situations that are determined to be legitimate emergencies.

 
"This program is a great way for someone to do something kind for someone else in the community who may be struggling financially to pay for village services such as water," said duRee Bryant, the village's Supervisor of Human Services. "Often times, we're made aware of residents in these emergency situations who could use a little help, and now we're giving people an outlet to provide some assistance if they are interested."

Those interested in helping may make a donation on the village's website and click on 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors' or you may write a separate check to the Village of Schaumburg with "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" written in the lower left corner and submit it with your water bill payment. Questions about the program may be directed to Supervisor of Human Services duRee Bryant at (847) 524-1505.

Schaumburg's 2015 Farmers Market--featuring locally-produced fruits, vegetables, baked goods and more--will open Friday, June 5 and run every Friday through the end of October. 

The market, which is in its 35th year, will be open to the public from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is held in the parking lot of Trickster Art Gallery, 190 S. Roselle Road in Town Square.  

The market includes locally-grown fruits and vegetables, meats, flowers, plants and gourmet cheeses sold by the farmers who produce them. It also features decadent pastries, baked goods, olives, spices, homemade pasta and knife sharpening services. This family-friendly event also offers freshly-squeezed lemonade, kettle corn and snow cones made on site.

New to the market this year will be a booth with Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension Service. The booth will be available once a month for market patrons to ask questions of these gardening experts. For more information, visit the village's website.

Sonesta ES Suites Schaumburg recently held a ribbon cutting at 901 E. Woodfield Office Ct. to commemorate the opening of its newly renovated guest suites. After beginning renovations in 2013, Sonesta now has 112 spacious suites for individuals who prefer or need extended stay accommodations. Guests now have the opportunity to choose from a one-bedroom, two-bedroom or trio two-bedroom suite which have either one or two full bathrooms. These rooms can accommodate anywhere from 1 to 8 people and feature a number of amenities including fully-equipped kitchens, full-size living rooms, satellite TV's and free Wi-Fi.

This May, members of the Schaumburg Firefighters Benevolent Association presented a check for $20,000 to the Loyola University Medical Center Burn Unit. The money was raised during the association's annual firefighter softball tournament that was held in September. Over the last 21 years, the tournament has raised more than $580,000. 

In addition to the donation to Loyola, $5,000 was donated to the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry and $5,000 was used to purchase Christmas gifts for 12 families this past holiday season.

Loyola's Burn Center uses the money to purchase specialized equipment to be used exclusively in the care of burn victims. Some of the past items purchased include blanket warmers, a bladder scanner, specialized pediatric therapy equipment and a vein scanner to help locate the veins on a burn patient to aid in starting IV's.

The Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA) is offering scholarships for post-secondary education at an accredited institution of higher education or vocational training in Illinois for the 2015-16 academic year. Scholarships range from $500 to $3,000 to income-eligible residents of Suburban Cook County who demonstrate academic achievement, career potential and educational motivation. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, June 12. For more information and to apply, visit their website.

Last summer's reintroduction of daily service proved so popular--providing more than 11,000 rides--that the village is doing it again this year. Now through Labor Day, the trolley will be operating the following schedule:

Monday - Friday Noon - 9 p.m. (trolleys run every 20 minutes)
Saturdays  10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (trolleys run every 15-20 minutes)
Sundays  11 a.m. - 6  p.m. (trolleys run every 20 minutes)

The trolley is the perfect option for every rider whether you live in Schaumburg, a surrounding community or are here to visit Woodfield Mall.  Visit the village's website, phone the "Trolley Hotline" at (847) 923-3880 or contact the village at (847) 923-3861 for updated service information.

The next Community Blood Drive will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 at The Barn, 231 Civic Drive in Schaumburg.

The blood drive is open to the public. Participating donors will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win gift cards to Home Depot.

Interested participants should call 1-877-LIFESOURCE (1-877-543-3768) or register online at www.lifesource.org and use sponsor code SH98.

Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Schedule your donation time online or call (877) 543-3768.