Des Plaines Theatre to open
The newly renovated Des Plaines Theatre is set to open this weekend with a major Hollywood star as the headliner.
Kevin Costner and Modern West will perform during the theater’s opening night on Sunday, Oct. 31 as part of the rock band’s “Tales From Yellowstone Tour.”
The show is set for 5 p.m. and tickets are available at desplainestheatre.com/events.
Darkened for several years, the Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St. in Des Plaines, is reopening for live shows under a joint partnership between the city of Des Plaines and Ron Onesti of Onesti Entertainment. Renovation of the theater, which was built in 1925, has been taking place over the last two years.
Earlier, plans called for the theater to open Oct. 1, but the opening was later pushed back to the end of the month and Kevin Costner and Modern West were announced as the featured act.
“The community has been so supportive of my decision to run the Des Plaines Theatre,” Onesti said in a statement. “I have promised them it will be worth the wait, starting with a huge and historic opening night.”
Other upcoming performers at the Des Plaines Theatre include Paul Anka on Nov. 1; the Orchestra, featuring former members of Electric Light Orchestra, on Nov. 4; the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band on Nov. 5; and Amy Grant on Nov. 6.
Niles Night of Roses winners honored
Seven winners of the 2021 Night of Roses Awards were recently recognized by the Niles Chamber of Commerce.
The annual award ceremony, which honors residents, businesses, workers and volunteers within the community, was held Oct. 22 at White Eagle Events and Convention Center.
This year’s award winners included the following:
* Chasers Sports Bar and Grill: Small Business of the Year award.
* Tony Dati, streets superintendent for Niles Public Works: Distinguished Voluntary Service award and Public Safety Award of Excellence.
* Bob Kostuch, director of student activities and chair of the physical education department at Notre Dame College Prep: Dedication to Youth Excellence award.
* Rev. Constantine “Father Dean” Botsis, a longtime priest at St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church credited for starting the Big Greek Food Fest: Niles Citizen of the Year award.
* Advocate Lutheran General Hospital: Corporate Citizen of the Year award.
* Suzanne Wulf, head of digital services at Niles-Maine District Library: Ken Scheel Chamber Member of the Year award.
* Dean Strzelecki, former Niles chief of police and current village trustee: Bob Wordel Living Legend award.
Park Ridge Kiwanis Club holds food basket drive for local families
The Park Ridge Kiwanis Club is again holding a Holiday Food Basket Drive to help provide holiday meals to Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 families with financial needs.
The fundraising drive kicked off on Oct. 22 with a goal of raising enough money to provide roughly 150 families with a $125 Mariano’s gift card.
Last year, 122 families received gift cards.
Families are selected based on size and income and whether they have applied for a fee waiver from District 64.
Donations to the Holiday Food Basket Drive can be made online at kiwanispr.org. Checks may also be mailed to Kiwanis Holiday Food Basket Fundraiser, 19 N. Seminary Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068.
The fundraiser is set to end on Nov. 22, according to the Kiwanis Club. Gift cards and additional coupons for a free ham and pie, provided by Mariano’s, will be distributed to selected families in December.
Gemini School in Niles selected for $5,000 donation
Gemini Middle School in Niles is the recipient of a $5,000 donation through new Niles retailer Burlington and the nonprofit organization AdoptAClassroom.org.
According to Burlington’s website, the retailer, which is scheduled to open at Golf Mill Shopping Center, partners with AdoptAClassroom to provide funding to school districts in communities where Burlington stores are located. The money is used to help teachers purchase classroom supplies, according to the company.
East Maine School District 63 Spokeswoman Janet Spector Bishop said the district selected Gemini as the school to receive the donation because it houses the largest number of low-income students in the district and it serves all of the district’s neighborhoods.
“Certainly this gift will help enhance our middle school classrooms for all our students,” Bishop said.
