COME SEE THE WORKS: The Mount Prospect Public Works Department hosts its annual Open House on Saturday (May 18) from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Mount Prospect Public Works Facility (1700 W. Central Rd). Learn about different services including the water and sewer system, snow plowing, tree maintenance and more. The Open House features a tour of the facility, rides in the department’s aerial trucks and a Children’s Fun Fact Hunt. You can even meet P.W. Paws! Refreshments are provided by the Lions Club. For more info, call the Public Works department at 847/870-5640.

GARAGE SALE-ING: Find treasures this Friday – Sunday (May 17-19) from 9 a.m. – dusk  at the Mount Prospect Annual Garage Sale. Navigate your way through the neighborhoods with maps provided throughout the Village. Want to sell instead of shop? That’s great too!  Click here for more info. Not interested in the sale, but still want to dispose of some things? Contact the Mount Prospect Historical Society as they are accepting donations for their garage sale site. Call the Historical Society (847/392-9006) to arrange a drop-off time.

CELEBRATING FITNESS: Stay Fit Physical Therapy and Core Wellness (127 W. Prospect Ave. MP) celebrates its 7th Anniversary on Friday (May 17) from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.  Check out the gym and enjoy free food, live music, a complimentary chair massage, raffles, prizes and more. Everyone is welcome! For more info, call 847/782-9348 or click here .

RELAY FOR LIFE: The Mount Prospect/Prospect Heights Relay for Life kicks off on Saturday (May 18) at 6 p.m. and continues through Sunday (May 19) at 6 a.m. at Prospect High School (801 W. Kensington Rd. MP). The schedule is as follows: gates open at 4 p.m., raffle tickets and luminaria sale: 5 p.m., opening ceremony followed by survivor/caregiver laps and survivor dinner, luminaries ceremony: 9 p.m., recognition/fight back ceremony: 12 a.m. and closing ceremony laps: 5:30 a.m. Jazzercise, and a Mariano’s healthy cooking demo are just part of the fun. For more info, contact Dave Jacobson of Prospect High School at 847/718-5230.

CRUZIN’: The beauties are back! Enjoy a night of classic cars on Saturday (May 18) from 6 – 9 p.m. when Bluesmobile Cruise Nights takes center stage in the Metra parking lot, (Rte. 83 and Northwest Hwy.) See old friends or make some new! This week features military vehicles of all shapes and sizes. So get your Jeep on and share your enthusiasm for great automobiles and a fun season ahead! 97.1 The Drive will be on hand to provide the music.

PEDDLIN’: The Mount Prospect Bike Club rides 28 – 70 miles on Sunday (May 19) from 6:30 – 10 a.m. in the Arlington 500 Invitational at Barrington High School. A fee is required to participate. For info, click here .  The Thursday evening ride leaves from Lions Park at 6:30 p.m. sharp.

FLOOD RECOVERY ASSISTANCE: The Presidential Disaster Declaration signed by President Obama on May 10, 2013, will benefit those individuals and businesses impacted by the April 2013 flooding. Grants to help with temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses are now available. There are three ways to apply: online; via a smartphone at m.fema.gov;  or by calling 800/621-3362. (TTY 800/462-7585.) For more info, go to the Village website .

STAY IN THE LOOP: Be informed about what’s happening in Mount Prospect. The Village Board meets Tuesday (May 21)at 7 p.m. at Village Hall (50 S. Emerson St.) Village Board meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of each month.

WRITERS GROUP: Do you write fiction, poems or perhaps the next great American novel? Share your creativity and receive constructive feedback from fellow writers on Tuesday (May 21) from 7 – 9 p.m. in Meeting Room B at the Mount Prospect Public Library (10 S. Emerson St.) The group is open to adult writers with all levels of experience, in all genres. Bring up to five double-spaced pages and copies to share with group members. A small fee is required on a quarterly basis. For more info, e-mail l-larsen@att.net

CONGRESSIONAL REP: Cut through the red tape with the help of a representative from Congresswoman Jan Shakowsky’s office on Wednesday (May 22) from 2 – 5:30 p.m. at the Mount Prospect Public Library (10 S. Emerson/Room 130). No appointments are needed – just stop in!

HAZING FORUM: A panel of experts will share information about hazing and bullying in schools on Wednesday (May 22) at 7 p.m. at Des Plaines Park District Leisure Center (2222 Birch St.) Two of the panelists include Dr. Gina Lee-Olukoya, associate dean of students at the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign and B. Elliott Hopkins, director of Sports, Sanctioning and Educational Services for the National Federation of State High School Association. Time will be allotted for a Q&A.

SIGN UP FOR SUMMER CAMP: Get a jump on slots and savings at a Mount Prospect Park District summer camp now through May 23. Options include full-day, half-day and athletic camps. All day Monday through Friday camps cost as little as $3.55/hr. For complete details, call 847/640-1000 or click here .

ELECTRICAL SUPPLIER MAKES CONTACT: Residents who have moved into Mount Prospect between May 17, 2012 and April 7, 2013 will receive a letter from First Energy (the Village’s electrical supplier) asking if they want to participate in theVillage of Mount Prospect municipal aggregation program. Those who choose to participate, will receive a significantly lower electricity supply than what is provided by ComEd. The letter will give residents the option to “opt out” of the municipal program. The new rate provided through First Energy will show up on residents’ ComEd bills by August if residents do not “opt out” of participating. Questions? Contact First Energy at 866/636-3749.

FOR ROAD WARRIORS: 
–Rte. 83 will be down to two lanes (one in each direction) in the center of town for most of next week as the storm sewer repair at 206 N. Main is finally completed.  The detour which will divert all traffic to the two northbound lanes (making one of them southbound) in the 100 and 200 blocks. The repairs are expected to take all of next week so plan accordingly!

–Beginning Sunday (May 19), the CTA will shut down nine stations between Cermak/Chinatown and 95th/Dan Ryan on the Red Line in order to rebuild tracks in the area.  These stations will be closed for five months, so if you’re planning a trip to see the White Sox, re-route accordingly!  For more info, click here .

NEARBY HAPPENINGS:

—-GREENFEST AT NAVY PIER Celebrate, learn, and indulge in all things green!  Workshops and nationally acclaimed authors and environmentalists will be on hand as will the always popular organic, vegetarian and vegan specialties food court on Saturday and Sunday (May 18 -19) at Chicago’s Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.) Other events featured throughout the weekend include live music, an organic beer and wine garden and the Sierra Club Green Cinema. For more info, click here .

NEWS YOU CAN’T USE: 

As of May 7, over (c) 300 homes had signed up for this year’s Garage Sale.  Now, that number is over 400!

The Chicago Blackhawks are enjoying a great season.  Who is the all-time leader in goals scored for the Blackhawks?
a)Stan Mikita      b) Bobby Hull       c) Dennis Savard      d) Steve Larmer