Mount Prospect Public Works mascot P.W. Paws. This last week of April is a special one with Arbor Day falling on the 26th and Earth Day on the 22nd — both hallmark holidays celebrating the planet and its resources. Mount Prospect Mayor Paul Hoefert read the proclamations at last week’s (April 16) village board meeting. “We’ve recognized Arbor Day since 1872 when J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Neb ..read more

The Bluesmobile Cruise Nights Car Show is held every Saturday night in downtown Mount Prospect through October. In the spring, the village of Mount Prospect donates $2,500 to the Lions Club as an annual way to fund their events serving the community like the farmers market, 4th of July Festival, Easter Egg Hunt, and Cruise Nights. The village approved the annual donation during its meeting on April 16. The board also talked about whether or not it could be a conflict of interest for members of the Lions Club with seats on the board. “I wear many organizational hats as it relates to volunteer ..read more

Mount Prospect Village Hall. (Journal photo) Mount Prospect’s Village Board meeting April 16 also served as a workshop discussion for the finance commission’s first quarter review, as well as looking back at village finances for 2023. For the most part, the report by Finance Director Amit Thakkar details a strong end to 2023 and a first quarter of higher revenue collection as well as higher expenditures. Thakkar said that accomplishments in the past year have been Mount Prospect’s revenue collection, elimination of vehicle stickers, a property tax reduction of 5%, the economic emergency fund ..read more

Village officials April 18 met outside the site of a new downtown development that is expected to begin construction later this year. Several village officials gathered at a construction site at Northwest Highway and Emerson Street last Thursday (April 18) to talk about the redevelopment project that lies ahead. Village Manager Michael Cassady stated village staff met with representatives of Nicholas & Associates, which plans to construct a building for restaurant/retail use as well as potential offices at 104 W. Northwest Hwy. “They are getting ready to do water and street improvements ..read more

Residents gather inside Lions Park Rec Center in Mount Prospect last Thursday morning to view concepts for Lions Park and other areas of the park district. (Journal photo) Big Surf Pool, otherwise known as the “wave pool” in Mount Prospect, will likely close for good following the 2025 season due to ongoing maintenance issues. Before next year, however, the Mount Prospect Park District is considering asking voters during this November’s presidential election for $46.2 million through a property tax increase referendum to replace the Lions Park Recreation Center and Big Surf, as well as addre ..read more

Montague A Bensenville man has been charged by Mount Prospect police following a shooting that occurred Nov. 12, 2023 in the 100 block of N. Maple Street.  Detectives on April 4 charged Solomon J. Montague, 56, of 630 George St., Bensenville, with one felony count each of home invasion and aggravated battery.  According to police, at approximately 7:23 p.m. Nov. 12, 2023, officers responded to the 100 block of N. Maple for an unknown problem, after neighbors heard a subject yelling for help. As officers responded, they were updated and told there may have been a firework or gunshot ..read more

Soldier Field (Google Earth image) Tomorrow’s (Wednesday) unveiling by the Chicago Bears of a proposed new domed stadium along the Lake Michigan shoreline south of Soldier Field will elevate Chicago to a new level where supporters envision Super Bowls and possibly the selling of naming rights of the arena, all of which will generate billions of dollars for the regional economy. Certain state and Chicago leaders recently got a sneak preview of the plans that the Bears will roll out to the public Wednesday at a press conference at Soldier Field. The Bears have been playing their home games the ..read more

Mount Prospect village trustees April 16 approved spending over $200,000 to improve the parking lot at the former Elk Grove Township Rural Fire Protection District on Algonquin Road that will soon be home to the village’s new Fire Station 11.  According to village officials, maintenance of the access roadway and parking lot that service Fire Station 11 is important to the efficient operations of the fire station. The scope of work includes resurfacing the paved areas, adding curb & gutter and storm inlets along the access roadway to improve drainage, replacing storm sewer pipe in the ..read more

OFF THE RECORD  column Mount Prospect developer Nicholas & Associates is expected to become the builder and operator of two new indoor ice rinks in Rosemont, we’ve learned. Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens announced earlier this year that plans exist for the village to use vacant property across from its Barry Recreation Center to build the two rinks. Once up and running, local hockey leagues and teams will use the facility to hold practices and games. The Chicago Wolves professional hockey team may also practice there.  Nicholas & Associates developed and operates an indoor ice ..read more

Still image of offender. Mount Prospect police are investigating a retail theft that occurred March 20 at Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets in downtown Mount Prospect.  According to police, officers were called to the grocery store at 215 E. Prospect Ave. at approximately 9:53 p.m. following a reported theft that occurred about 30 minutes prior.  Police said employees were in the process of closing down for the day and one worker was counting cash at the service counter when an unknown man walked in and asked for assistance in the liquor department.  That employee assisted the man ..read more