It’s time to grab a basket and shake off those bonnets. Easter comes early this year on April 8, and the grocery store shelves are already stocked with every imaginable holiday candy. TribLocal has gotten a bit creative with the gooey marshmallow Peeps, seen here in the midst of a zombie attack and defending themselves against a fearsome dragon. Other bunny peeps are having a better time of it, taking flight to their spring break destination.

What scenario would you create for these sweet, pastel-colored confections? Send us your clever Peep scene and we’ll be sure to add it to our gallery.
Not into Peeps? We’d love to showcase any beautiful dyed eggs you’ve made as well. Send your photo along with your name and hometown to triblocaltips.com.

TribLocal – Forest Park

Metra said today that trains on its 11 lines were on-time 97.4 percent of the time last month.

That overall on-time percentage would rank February among Metra’s best months ever, including ones during the years when the agency’s numbers were artificially inflated, by current standards.

Read more on Chicago Tribune.

TribLocal – Forest Park

Cicero police are at an apartment building this afternoon where an armed man has refused to come out after an argument with his girlfriend.

About 11 a.m., police were alerted to the situation at the building on the southwest corner of 27th Street and 59th Court, according to Ray Hanania, spokesman for the town of Cicero.

Apparently the girlfriend called police and said the man was angry, armed with a weapon and inside of the apartment, Hanania said.

Read more at the Chicago Tribune.

TribLocal – Forest Park

House lawmakers voted today to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in Illinois.

The bill went to the Senate on a 62-53 vote over protests that the Land of Lincoln is turning into a “nanny state.”

Read more at chicagotribune.com.

TribLocal – Forest Park

The 12U Windmills fastpitch girls softball
team is looking to add an player for
the 2012 season. We are interested in
evaluating a position player that has
travel team experience at the 12U level.

We will be playing in 10 local tournaments
at both the A and B level and anticipate
travelling to a regional tournament at the
end of the summer season.

The Windmills organization has a rich
history in area softball, supports teams
at all age levels and has an indoor
training facility in Forest Park.

To Schedule a tryout please contact Jim Abraham at 708-310-1230

TribLocal – Forest Park

In case you want to have a plate of corned beef or a pint in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here’s our guide to Irish pubs and restaurants in the ‘burbs. If we missed your favorite spot, let us know by sending an email to triblocaltips@tribune.com.

Are you Irish? Been to Ireland? Cook Irish food? Check out the Face and places of Ireland photo gallery and make sure to share your photos.

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant
28 W. New York St., Aurora
630-844-0400

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant
5157 Main St., Downers Grove
630-969-0600

Bob McCullough’s Pub
333 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg
847-352-1700

Bridie McKenna’s
254 Green Bay Road, Highwood
847-432-3311

Celtic Knot
626 Church St., Evanston
847-864-1679

Curragh Irish Pub
8266 Lincoln Ave., Skokie
847-675-9600

Durbin’s Pub
17265 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park
708-429-1000

Durbin’s Pub
10154 S. Roberts Road, Palos Hills
708-598-8881

Durbin’s Pub
14 Elwood St., Frankfort
815-464-1007

Durty Nellie’s
180 N Smith St., Palatine
847-358-9150

Finn McCool’s
72 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake
815-356-1155

Finn McCool’s
1941 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg
847-303-5100

Grandpa’s Place
1868 Prairie St., Glenview
847-724-1390

Hackney’s
1514 E Lake Ave, Glenview
847-724-7171

Hackney’s on Harms
1241 Harms Road, Glenview
847-724-5577

The Irish Mill
26592 N. Il Rt 83, Mundelein
847-566-7044

Katie O’Connor’s Pint House & Eatery
13717 US Route 30, Plainfield
815-439-4411

Kilcoyne Redwood Inn
342 N Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling
847-541-3650

McCarthy’s Irish Pub
506 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills
847-367-4704

McGonigal’s Pub
105 S Cook St., Barrington
847-277-7400

Molly Malone’s
7652 Madison St., Forest Park
708-366-8073

Mullen’s Bar and Grill
3080 Warrenville Road, Lisle
630-505-0240

Murphy’s Pub
13100 Southway Highway, Orland Park
708-448-6550

O’Charley’s Irish Pub
117 N Center St., Joliet
815-722-6382

Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant And Pub
8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights
847-577-7733

Quigley’s Irish Pub
3 E. Jefferson St., Naperville
630-428-4774

Sam Maguire’s
39 Orland Square Dr., Orland Park
708-460-1771

Teehan’s Irish Tavern
17329 S Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park
708-532-9707

Tom Kelly’s Chophouse and Pub
495 Degroate Road, New Lenox
815-462-8420

Tommy Nevin’s Pub
9680 Lincolnway Lane, Frankfort
815-464-1000

Tommy Nevin’s Pub
1454 Sherman Ave., Evanston
847-869-0450

TribLocal – Forest Park

A photo of a red-tailed hawk soaring through the air taken by Gene Steinman was voted TribLocal’s favorite photo from Feb. 16 to Feb. 22. As the contest winner, Steinman’s photograph will appear in all 21 print issues of TribLocal later this week. To have your photo considered for our weekly contest, just post a photo to your TribLocal town site.

TribLocal – Forest Park

Sen. Mark Kirk, who suffered a stroke last month, is “adapting well” at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and has started walking on a treadmill.

“We are pleased with his progress,” said Dr. Richard L. Harvey, medical director of the institute’s Center for Stroke Rehabilitation who is overseeing Kirk’s care. “This week he started walking exercises on a treadmill and is performing an increasing number of routine tasks independently.”

Read more: The Chicago Tribune.

TribLocal – Forest Park

On Monday, February 13th, 2012, the 6th graders went on a field trip to the Field Museum in downtown Chicago. This trip coincided with what the students have studied this year in Social Studies and Science.

The Social Studies teacher, Tricia Allocco, wanted the students to spend time in the exhibit, “Inside Ancient Egypt."

Science teacher, Beth Lee, wanted the students to explore the “Evolving Planet” exhibit.

Not only did this field trip help bring the curriculum to life, but it also gave the 6th grade students a chance to learn in an engaging way outside the typical classroom.

According to 6th grader Julius Kibir-Evans, “Egypt was the best part of the field trip because we got to see tombs and mummies!”

TribLocal – Forest Park

It looks like we dodged a bullet as snowfall totals were lower than expected in the area and a winter weather advisory has expired.

A winter weather advisory that was in effect for Cook and Will counties was canceled at 9 p.m., and the snow has “pretty much stopped,’’ according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Jim Allsopp.

Read more at the Chicago Tribune.

TribLocal – Forest Park