Jacqueline Cecelia Roberti of Lake Forest, Illinois, died December 29, 2015. Wife of Dominick E. Roberti. Mother of Susan (Bob), Mark (Kathleen), Stephen (Jane), Robinlynn (David), Diane (Jim), Jacqueline (Bill), and Christopher (Cindy). Grandmother of Jennifer (Jeff), Alex, Mark, Claire, Jim, Laura, Jennifer, Jacqueline, Christopher, Mitchell, Matthew, Andrew, Christopher, and Eva. Great Grandmother to Griffin. Sister of Louis (Maryellen) Castellano and the late Marian (Nicholas) Zaccaria.

Loving sister-in-law and aunt to many. In lieu of flowers, contributions – In Memory of Jacqueline C. Roberti – may be made to: Divine Word Missionaries, PO Box 6099, Techny, IL 60082-6099, 800-275-0626 – www.svdmissions.org/donate (form); or to Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090-6231; 800-932-9541 – https://secure.smiletrain.org/site/SPageNavigator/donate_now.html (form).

No Visitation.

Funeral Mass 10:00 am Saturday, January 2, 2016, at the Church of St. Mary, 175 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045. Entombment at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, IL.

LAKE FOREST- The Friends of Lake Forest Parks and presents a $75,000 check to the City of Lake Forest Mayor, Don Schoenheider, on November 25 at the annual Lake Forest Tree Lighting ceremony. The $300,000 commitment made by the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation were instrumental in the planning and construction of the Friends Pavilion at Townline Park, dedicated in May, 2010. With this contribution the Foundation has fulfilled its financial support for the pavilion. “We’re excited to support the Parks and Recreation Board and their important role within the Community. These funds are a result of the hard work by our Foundation along with the support of many within the Parks and Recreation department”, commented Milliman.

City of Lake Forest Mayor, Don Schoenheider and Recreation Foundation President Mark Milliman

The Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Foundation supports Parks and Recreation projects and activities within Lake Forest. Major fundraising efforts include the Fred Jackson Golf Classic, July 4th Festival and Fireworks along with the Tree-lighting ceremony at Market Square.  They also act as a pass-through entity for those that wish to donate funds to other charitable causes within the community without having to establish a foundation for that specific cause. To donate or learn more, contact the Foundation at www.LFPR.org.

GLENVIEW — Since her daughter became a heroin addict in 2010, PJ Newberg has been fighting something as insidious as the drug: ignorance that there even is a problem.

She started a website and non-profit organization called North Shore Secret Heroin Problem, created a Facebook group with her daughter about heroin addiction, and shared her family’s story in a segment on the CBS show 48 Hours. Closer to home she has conducted community forums and is partnering with several police and county agencies to provide education about heroin addiction.

There still is much work to be done, she said.

“My biggest problem is that people don’t want to talk about it,” Newberg said. “Property values are more important than acknowledging a real issue.”

To read this story from Nov. 8, 2015, please visit this link

P.J. Newberg and her daughter Paula.

Tommy Hagerty of the Titans contends in the 100 freestyle during a recent meet against Highland Park. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JON DURR

The shout came from the balcony in Glenbrook South’s natatorium in Glenview. The voice belonged to a woman in her 20s, two pieces of luggage in tow. The woman was waving.

“Tommy!”

Glenbrook South senior swimmer Tommy Hagerty, flapping his arms and shaking his legs and jumping before the start of the 400-yard freestyle relay, heard the shout. He stopped moving on the pool deck. Then he turned his head, looked up, smiled and acknowledged the shouter, also smiling. His sister, North Carolina resident Kelly Hagerty, had arrived from an airport, just in time for the last race of the Highland Park High School-Glenbrook South dual meet on Dec. 18.

More than seven years ago, the siblings’ positions in the natatorium at Evanston Township High School were reversed. Tommy was a spectator then, looking down at a pool and swimmers, too many to count. Kelly was a Glenbrook South junior then, preparing to race in the championship heat of the 50-yard freestyle at the 2008 state meet. Six girls climbed start blocks, got ready, got set. Beep. Six girls entered the pool, water flying, arms propelling. The little brother watched his big sister, only his big sister. Kelly, the third-fastest qualifier in the previous day’s preliminaries, churned for 25 yards, ricocheted off a wall, churned for 25 more yards. The top three racers touched the final wall, seemingly simultaneously.

Eyeballs in the balcony and on deck shifted quickly to the scoreboard:

Third place: 23.75, Rosary senior Kara Savegnago.

Second place: 23.65, Homewood-Flossmoor senior Anna Dobben.

First place: 23.58, Glenbrook South junior Kelly Hagerty.

“It was crazy, being there and watching her win that race,” Tommy Hagerty recalls. “I’d seen her swim at meets my whole life. That race, though, that win … exciting. It was an exciting time for my family.”

The win moved him. The win fueled him. A state champ lived in his house. Tommy Hagerty was 11 at the time, a swimmer since the age of five, maybe six. He learned to swim under the guidance of Glenbrook Aquatics coaches. Like Kelly had. He competed for Glenbrook Aquatics teams. Like Kelly had. Unlike Kelly, he was a distance swimmer.

He sometimes cried before swimming practices.

“I was a little overweight, and I didn’t always want to swim,” Tommy, now standing 6-foot-2 and weighing a sturdy 185 pounds, says. “My sister encouraged me to stick with swimming. She told me, ‘Don’t give up.’ My mom [Anne] told me the same thing.

“Kelly,” he adds, “has been my main inspiration. What she did at state that year, finishing first in the 50 free, really inspired me.”

Tommy Hagerty’s love for the sport of swimming grew each time his personal-best time in the 500 free melted. The kid brother of a former Titans state champion tried out for the swimming program at Glenbrook South as a freshman, in 2012, hoping to show he was varsity timber. Titans varsity coach Keith MacDonald liked what he saw from the kid. Hagerty made the varsity club.

“At the time I thought, My sister must have convinced Coach Mac to let me swim on varsity,” Hagerty says.

“Not true,” Kelly says, “He was fast enough.”

He was fast enough to better the state cut in the 500 free as a sophomore. Unfortunately for Hagerty, two of his teammates in the 2013-14 season — a freshman, Sam Iida, and a senior, Kevin Benson — swam faster times in the 500 free than he had. Only two entrants from each school get to vie for state berths in events at sectional meets. Hagerty settled for relay-alternate status at the state meet. He was OK with that, thankful for that. It gave him the opportunity to see and hear and feel a state meet from a poolside spot.

What Hagerty accomplished at the two-day state meet the following season, last winter, was part wonderful and part stunning, filled with singular feats and double takes and looks from teammates that screamed, “Are you kidding me?” Hagerty had qualified for state in the 500 free with a sectional time of 4:43.4. That put him 25th among qualifiers in the event. In a 500-free heat in the state preliminaries, Hagerty clocked a 4:36.03. Blink, blink. Take, double take. Only one other qualifier — Iida, with a 4:32.01 — would swim a faster time in the prelims.

“Perfect,” Hagerty says of his taper. “I was hoping to break 4:40. No way did I think I’d swim a 4:36.”

He swam a 4:38.57 in the championship heat of the 500 free on the next day, a fifth-place effort from a non-circle seed (seeds 25-39). Among the hands he shook after receiving his first state medal belonged to the state champion in the event, Iida (4:31.13). Hagerty, rookie state participant, also helped a pair of Titans relays earn state medals (400 free, third place; 200 free, fourth place).

Glenbrook South tied Naperville Central for third place in the team standings.

“His breakthrough swim [in the 500-free prelims], that was impressive,” MacDonald says. “It surprised me. It also was fun to see and to see Tommy’s reaction to it. This year he understands his training better than he did last year. He’s also developing a sprinter’s mentality … something we’ll need from him at the end of the season.”

One of Hagerty’s favorite escapes from the pool this winter is on the sideline of a basketball court. He coaches a CYO team of peers once a week, dressing the part (nice shirt, nice pants, with a tie) and acting the part (yelling, at times).

“I mimic college coaches when I coach basketball,” Hagerty, a captain of this year’s Titans swim team and a water polo player (hole set) in the spring, says. “I copy Coach K [Duke men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski]. You know, the way he’s so serious while sitting on the bench during games. It’s fun.”

Hagerty intends to watch Boston University basketball games next winter, as long as they don’t interfere with his BU swim team commitments. He loves the city of Boston, the vibe at BU, and he can’t wait to hit the water for the Terriers. He is thinking of becoming an athletic trainer one day. His interest in that field heightened last spring after his nose got in the way of a flying elbow in a water polo game. Painful, educational.

Hagerty pushes Titans swimmers these days, encourages them, pulls for them. Leadership drips from the swimmer.

“Tommy is a really hard worker, his technique has improved, and his strokes in the 500 free … they’re smooth,” Titans senior breaststroker and relay member Byron Mandell says. “He’s an energetic guy, gets the team going, leads our cheers [in team huddles]. I like how he brings life to everybody on the team.”

Kelly Hagerty’s little brother climbed a start block, preparing to swim his leg of a Titans 400 free relay in that dual with visiting Highland Park last month. Tommy, the anchor leg, blasted off the block and pierced the water, following 100-yard legs from Byron, junior Lee Bryan and senior Peter Dales. Kelly Hagerty, a former swimmer at Duke and current college adviser/swim coach at Lee County High School in Sanford, North Carolina, watched her little brother, only her little brother, from a balcony. Tommy swam hard, swam fast, nothing new. He touched the final wall. The quartet’s time of 3:23.84 was a first-place time, by nearly eight seconds.

The little brother looked up, again, at his biggest fan, his visiting sis, after exiting the pool. Both were smiling.

“Tommy,” Kelly says, “is perpetually happy.”

Notable: Host Glenbrook South defeated Highland Park 110-76 on Dec. 18. The Titans’ other first-place swims: Bryan Lee (200 free, 1:52.61); Sam Iida (200 IM, 1:54.91; 100 butterfly, 52.28); Tommy Hagerty (50 free, 22.77; 100 free, 48.57); Byron Mandell (500 free, 5:11.3); and the 200 free relay (Justin Zenteno, Jack Wells, Iida and Mandell, 1:30.76).

Dog and cat owners must take care to protect their pets from extreme heat or cold after Jan. 1.

Illinois lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner have been unable to agree on a budget since June 30 but the General Assembly was able to enact legislation signed by Rauner designating the state’s official pie as pumpkin.

The designation of an official state pie was one of 237 new laws enacted in 2015 which take effect Jan. 1 regulating everything from care of pets to adding statewide course requirements to the high school curriculum.

It is now a crime to expose a dog or cat to extreme heat or cold resulting in injury or death to the animal. The law provides it is a Class A misdemeanor for the owner of a dog or cat to expose it in a manner that places it in a “life-threatening situation for a prolonged period of time in extreme heat or cold conditions.”

Conviction of a Class A misdemeanor can result in a jail sentence of up to one year and a $2,500 fine.

Another new law requires all public high school students to take two years of social studies including a semester of civics to help them “acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives.”

Three new legislative acts put additional conditions on persons convicted of driving under the influence before they can operate a vehicle again.

Once a person is convicted of a second DUI, they must use a breath alcohol ignition interlock device for at least five years. They must also install breathalyzers in all their work or personal vehicles. These requirements can also be imposed on a person operating on a restricted permit because a death or injury was caused by driving while intoxicated.

The state will now permit people with a terminal illness who have exhausted all existing remedies to use experimental drugs.

Also, parking in an electric car charging spot will now earn the vehicle owner a ticket.

Condominium owners’ rights have been expanded. A new law allows condo association members to participate in meetings over the telephone or other electronic devices. The legislation also requires a 48-hour notice before any meeting.

Protections for minors under the Amber Alert law will now be afforded to missing adults with Alzheimer’s, dementia or “other cognitive impairments.” When a person with one of those conditions goes missing, a Silver Alert will be issued.

A complete list all new laws and their sponsors can be found on the General Assembly’s website. The list will show how many bills North Shore state senators and representatives introduced which became law.

State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) introduced 11 bills which were enacted while state Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) put forth seven. State Reps. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) and Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) authored six each while state Rep. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) did five and state Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) one.

Three people were wounded by gunfire outside Nardo’s BBQ in Lake Bluff Dec. 25 resulting in what owner Rita Usher calls her “worst nightmare.”

LAKE BLUFF—A shooting which wounded three persons in the parking lot of Nardo’s BBQ Dec. 25 in Lake Bluff goes against everything restaurant owner Rita Usher holds dear.

“It’s my worst nightmare,” Usher said in a Daily North Shore interview Dec. 31. “Nothing like this ever happened and it’s not going to happen again.”

Usher named the eatery in memory of her son, Bernard Phillips, who she said was murdered during a home invasion in 2008. She said she has been working since to prevent gun violence.

“We want to stop the drama and violence,” Usher said. “We marched with (late state Rep.) Eddie Washington to stop the drama and violence.”

Christmas Eve did not turn out to be what Usher planned. She said the restaurant was closed to the public that night for a private party for college students. She said she and her staff were careful to make sure no one entered with anything illegal.

“Everyone was checked at the door,” Usher said. “They were given a wrist band. This was our first over 21 party.”

Around 1:30 a.m. Dec. 25, an argument broke out at Nardo’s, those engaged in the disagreement went outside and shots were fired in the parking lot wounding three people, according to Detective Christopher Covelli, the public information officer for the Lake County Sheriff’s Police.

Usher said the first thing she knew of the incident was when she learned about the commotion outside.

“I don’t know what it was about,” Usher said.

Covelli said he knows the subject of the disagreement between the victims and perpetrator(s) but was unwilling to tell the Daily North Shore Dec. 31 because of the ongoing investigation. He also said police have identified more than one person of interest but would not release names.

After multiple shots were fired, Covelli said a man and a woman were hit in the back while another male was wounded in the thigh. All three were treated at local hospitals and eventually released.

When told there were comments on Facebook that the restaurant was populated by gangs after 10 p.m., Usher reacted with anger.

“Thugs like that murdered my son,” Usher said. “They’re in jail now. We usually close up at 8 p.m. because it slows down by then. We get families in here.”

Usher opened the restaurant in August 2014 after years as a cook preparing the same kind of Southern barbeque she serves to customers in Lake Bluff.

Marylin Stolzman, 86, of Lake Forest, IL died peacefully in her home the evening of December 30, 2015. She lived in her Lake Forest home for the past 55 years. At the time of her death, she was surrounded by her entire family, her daughter Kathy Johnson, her son-in-law Jeff Johnson, her grandchildren Thomas Johnson, Lauren Johnson and Will Johnson, her son Michael Stolzman, her daughter-in-law Karen Stolzman and her grandchildren Michael Stolzman, Jill Stolzman, Christian Stolzman and Thomas Stolzman. Marylin was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI.

She attended Bayview High School, graduating in 1947. She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she earned a B.S. degree in Social Work in 1951. While attending the University of Wisconsin, she met her husband, Donald Stolzman, whom she married in 1951. They were married for 53 years. During their marriage, Marylin and Donald lived in Pittsburg, Pa, Birmingham, AL, eventually settling in Lake Forest where they raised a family. Marylin was a stay at home mom, raising her children through high school. Following that, she returned to school, earning her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle Campus. She spent the next twenty years as a Social Worker at DCFS and Great Lakes Naval Base.

Marylin is survived by her daughter, Kathy Johnson, son-in-law Jeff Johnson, son Michael Stolzman, daughter-in-law Karen Stolzman, brother Ralph Wiken, sister-in-law Lin Wiken and seven grandchildren, Thomas Johnson, Lauren Johnson, Will Johnson, Michael Stolzman, Jill Stolzman, Christian Stolzman and Thomas Stolzman. A funeral service was held at Faith Lutheran Church in Lake Forest on January 2, 2016. Interment was in Lake Forest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 680 W. Deerpath Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045.

GLENVIEW – A Chicago man was charged with aggravated driving under the influence after car crash in the 1200 block of Greenwood Road.

Frank M. Klupta, 60, also was charged Dec. 30 with operating an uninsured motor vehicle and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The incident happened at 10:41 p.m.

From the Glenview Police blotter; please note that an arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that determination.

WILMETTE – Police officers were called to a gas station at 3501 Lake Avenue Dec. 29 for a report of an intoxicated individual.

Police reports state that when officers arrived they approached an individual seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. Officers asked the individual to step out of the car.

Police stated that the individual shoved something into the driver’s seat, exited the vehicle and ran away. After a short foot chase the individual was caught. A search of the car revealed a bag of containing Molly.

Police charged Deon Stuckey, 26, of Chicago, with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor resisting a police officer.

From the Wilmette Police blotter; please note that an arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that determination.

NORTHBROOK—Northbrook property owners will be paying more real estate taxes in 2016 but the exact amount is dependent on a number of variables.

All but one taxing authority affecting village residents raised the property tax levy meaning owners of homes valued between $500,000 and $550,000 will be paying approximately $100 more next year than they did in 2005.

The precise amount will not be known until tax bills arrive in the mail in 2016 and even the estimates are murky because assessments remain uncertain and Northfield Township High School District 225 chose not to give an estimate.

While the Village of Northbrook, the Northbrook Park District and all four school districts which educate Northbrook children raised the levy, Northfield Township made a double-digit cut.

The township dropped its levy 14.6 percent meaning the owner of a $500,000 home will be paying $8.00 less than last year, according to Supervisor Jill Brickman. She said the primary reason for the change is the township no longer rents office space.

“We became property owners,” Brickman said. “We’re no longer renting space. We thought that would be the case and now we know it is. We decided to give it back to the taxpayers.”

The township was renting space from District 225 near the intersection of Lake Avenue and Pfingsten Road in Glenview before purchasing property at 2550 Waukegan Road in Glenview.

The village increased the levy 8.31 percent, according to information Jeff Rowitz, Northbrook’s deputy village manager and chief financial officer, provided to the Village Board of Trustees when they approved the levy Dec. 8.

Rowitz said in an email he anticipated the owner of an average home, valued at $550,000, would pay approximately $58.92 more next year.

The smallest increase, 0.6 percent, came from the Northbrook Park District. Finance Director Mindy Munn said in an email district residents who own a $500,000 house will pay approximately $4.00 more next year.

District 225 raised its levy three percent, according to information posted on its website but Superintendent Mike Riggle said in a telephone interview Dec. 29 with the Daily North Shore there were too many variables to estimate how much more a property owner would be paying in 2016.

Riggle said 2.2 percent of the increase applies to new property which will be added to the tax rolls and 0.8 percent applies to current real estate owners. He said even determining the amount for existing homeowners requires too much guesswork.

“A lot is speculative on new growth,” Riggle said. “No one knows what that will be until July. It’s not an even 0.8 percent for existing owners,” he added referring to possible reassessments and challenges.

Without the amount from District 225, village residents will be paying an additional $54.92 according to estimates from Rowitz on a $550,000 home and from Brickman and Munn on a $500,000 home, plus the amount levied by the three elementary school districts which educate Northbrook children.

In Northbrook School District 27, the levy went up 3.25 percent with existing homeowners capped at 0.8 percent, according to an email from Kimberly Arakelian, assistant superintendent for finance and operations. She said the owner of a $500,000 home can expect to pay approximately $56 more.

Though Northbrook School District 28 hiked the levy 4.99 percent, the owner of a $500,000 house can expect to pay approximately $33.16 more next year, according to an email from Jessica Donato, the district’s chief school business official. She also said all but 0.8 percent of the change applies to new property.

Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 residents with an existing $500,000 home can expect to pay approximately $45 more in the coming year, according to Chris Young, the assistant superintendent for finance and operations. He said the levy was raised 6.9 percent with all but 0.8 percent applying to property newly added to the tax rolls.

WILMETTE – Got a Christmas tree you need to get rid of? How about old decorative lights? Or large Styrofoam blocks that once provided protection to that perfect gift?

Wilmette has a number of recycling programs that specifically target holiday items.

The village will be accepting holiday lights for recycling through the Jan. 29. The old lights can be dropped off at the Wilmette Public Works facility at 711 Laramie Avenue.

The recycling boxes will be located in the visitor’s parking lot and accessible 24 hours a day. Garland, live greens and wreaths are NOT accepted through this program. Those items should be disposed of through the regular solid waste program.

As for Christmas trees, Advanced Disposal will collect trees for composting on Wednesday, Jan. 6 and Jan. 13. After  Jan. 13, Advanced Disposal will continue collecting trees with refuse. The village states that residents should place Christmas trees at the location of their regular recycling pickup:

• Residents with no alley access: place Christmas trees at the curb
• Residents with alley collection: Place Christmas trees in the alley while allowing for safe vehicular passage.

Also, Go Green Wilmette has partnered with Wilmette Public works to collect Styrofoam for recycling. Block Styrofoam cannot be recycled in village recycling bins. Residents can drop off their block Styrofoam at any of three locations: 711 Laramie Ave., 2024 Greenwood Ave, and 2149 Washington Ave. For more information visit Go Green Wilmette.

The previous information was provided by the Village of Wilmette.

HIGHLAND PARK – Barry Saffrin is closing Highland Park Furs this spring, and after 37 years, he’s not leaving quietly.

“Come to the store, and take my picture. I’m very handsome, and I’ll help you take pictures too,” said the 77-year-old ultimate salesman. “After I tell you all of my stories, you’ll be able to write a book.”

Saffrin’s mind and silver tongue haven’t slowed down with age, but his body is cause for an “early retirement.”

“I need both knees replaced, and a hip,” he said. “Pretty soon, I’ll be the Bionic Man.” He put off the surgeries for years, but decided it was finally time to “give the keys back to the landlord on April 30, 2016.”

“We’re having a tremendous going out of business sale,” said Saffrin. “We went to the market and got the best values in anticipation. About two years ago I knew this was coming.” He is determined to leave the fur business on his own terms. “My grandfather went out feet first, and I want to go out feet first,” he added.

Saffrin’s family has been in the fur business for 108 years. Saffrin’s paternal grandfather was a tailor who made shirts, jackets and coats in Europe. He followed his older brother to America after the turn of the century, said Saffrin.

His paternal grandparents had four children. “Uncle Benjamin was a very bright boy, and just before his Bar Mitzvah he fell off his sled and got blood poisoning,” said Saffrin. “My grandmother had a breakdown when he died.”

He continued, “I became my uncle reincarnated when I was born in 1938, because I was named Barry after Benjamin. “This brought my grandmother back to life, and she basically ignored all of my siblings after that,” he added.

He has fond memories of his grandfather’s store on North Avenue in Chicago. Saffrin Furs was near the original Buffalo Ice Cream Parlor, where his grandparents frequently rewarded him for good behavior.

Saffrin’s grandmother spoke seven different languages fluently in the Pale of Settlement. “Created by imperial decree, the Jewish Pale of Settlement was that part of the Russian Empire within which Russia’s Jewish population was required to live and work for more than 130 years between the late 18th and early 20th century,” according to faculty.washington.edu.

Her husband had a beautiful reception desk which Saffrin now owns. “Everyone would speak in their native tongues at Saffrin’s Furs, so grandma would privately translate, and none would be the wiser,” said Saffrin. “She was so tiny you couldn’t see her under the counter. She was the secret weapon.”

Saffrin also felt deep admiration for his dad. “Although my father was deferred during World War II, he gave it up for a bachelor who took care of his elderly mother,” he said.

Saffrin’s mom worked with his dad’s partner while he was away. “Dad didn’t like working for my grandfather, so he started the General Fur Corporation at a very young age,” said Saffrin. “Dad’s company was wholesale and Grandpa’s was retail so there was no competition, and they still gave each other referrals.”

“When I was nine-years- old, I had a friend who made $14 a week delivering papers, reflected Saffrin. “After I got the job, I tried leaving the house even earlier than my dad, but he still caught me. He said, ‘If you’re going to work, you’re going to work for me.’ I worked twice the hours for half the money.”

After he graduated from college in 1960, he formed H & S Fur Company with his dad and another partner. The wholesale manufacturer’s representative business began at State and Lake, and then moved to The Apparel Center, said Saffrin. “I really enjoyed the freedom of the open road, and making friends along the way.”

In 1979, his brother-in-law opened Highland Park Furs. “We ran it as a retail test bed,” said Saffrin. When his dad passed away 10 years later, he left The Apparel Center, and brought everything over to Highland Park.

Highland Park Furs will continue to update and restyle furs. “If we sell the store by the end of February, we’ll still complete the projects until April 30,” said Saffrin. “We’re known for quality and service in the store. My grandfather always taught me to buy the very best, never cut corners.”

After Saffrin recovers from his replacement surgeries he looks forward to spending time with his daughter who lives in New England with three of his seven grandchildren. “I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by my two sons and their wonderful families here, but I also need to catch up with my daughter and her family,” he said.

Saffrin also appreciates having his lovely wife of 57 years work by his side. “There’s never a dull moment,” said Cookie Saffrin, “Barry is always fun and games.”

“The truth is, Cookie is really good at ignoring me,” said the ultimate salesman with a  smile.

Highland Park Furs at 1894 Sheridan Road.  Photo by Barry Saffrin.

Barry with his grandchildren at an Ugly Sweater Holiday Party. From left; Barry; Kara; David Klapman; Lindsay; and Marissa. Photo courtesy of Barry Saffrin.

For more information call 847/ 432-0054.  Photo by Barry Saffrin.

Highland Park Furs owner Barry Saffrin.

Barbara C. Doolittle age 81 of Evanston. Beloved wife of Sidney N. Doolittle; loving mother of Scott (Leslie) Doolittle, Craig (Julie) Doolittle and Sally Sizemore; proud grandmother of Grant (Lucy) Doolittle, August Hoppmann, Evelyn Doolittle, Duane Sizemore, Jr. and Nicolas Sizemore; Half-sister of George “Butch” Taylor.

Preceded in death by her parents Herbert Colsten, Geneva Kays Taylor and stepfather Percy Taylor, her dear sisters Mary Scribner, Helen “Pee Wee” Beers, Dorothy “Judy” Morris, Jean Johnson and her brother Francis “Mickey” Colsten, as well as her sister/cousin Harriet Butler.

Memorial Service will be held Saturday, January 9th, 2:00 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2515 Central Park Ave. Evanston, IL 60201.

From The North Shore Weekend newspaper

Frank D’Angelo had never been treated like the Pope before. So it was altogether surprising when the general manager of Tuscany in Wheeling was treated like one in Lyon, France; people—friends of friends—came to meet him “because they thought we were important,” he said. He chuckled, recounting the memory fondly.

They had found out through the grapevine that they were from Wheeling, and needed to see for themselves, he explained.

Why? Well, because . . . Le Francias.

What was once known as one of America’s finest restaurants, Le Francias was the brainchild of Jean Banchet, a larger-than-life figure in the kitchens and minds of a whole generation of American chefs. Born in Roanne, France (a small town near Lyon), the eccentric Banchet loved to ride motorcycles and had a knack at playing cards. He also affixed what would be a lightning rod for the restaurant industry in Wheeling, attracting the most electric and eclectic restaurants as a result: the collection of which on Milwaukee Ave being known to this day as Restaurant Row.

Which is why Wheeling’s Taste of the Town is such a big deal. A little over a month ago, restaurants from all over the town descended on the Westin Chicago North Shore to show off their plates, bites, dishes, and hor d’oeuvres to a salivating crowd of lucky guests. This year, close to 1,000 attendees and over 20 local restaurants mingled in the Westin’s spacious Ravinia Ballroom.

“The chamber has been real supportive to the restaurant community in Wheeling,” said D’Angelo, who would be addressing the crowd at 5:30 p.m. “Wheeling is like a small big town . . . Restaurant Row has some world-class restaurants: we have Bob Chinn’s Crab House, [Tuscany], RAM [Restaurant & Brewery], and many of the restaurants that are represented here tonight.”

At their own booth were Executive Chef Peter Menteer and Sous Chef Yo Chang

of the Westin. Serving seasonal bisques off their banquet menu, the chefs ended up being a big hit with the attendees, who kept coming back for more of their different colored creamy vegetable soups.

“Some variations may require tweaking here and there with different steps and cooking methods but they all have the same basic base ingredients,” said Menteer. “One thing to keep in mind is that the vegetable needs to be cooked for quite some time in order to have a nice velvety consistency.” He added: “If the veggies are not cooked long enough, your soup will be grainy.”

For more information about the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry, please visit wphchamber.com. The Westin Chicago North Shore is located at 601 N Milwaukee Ave in Wheeling.

Executive Chef Peter Menteer’s Carrot Ginger Bisque

6 large carrots, peeled and chopped

1 small onion, diced

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 small ginger bulb, grated

3 cups carrot juice

2 veggie bouillon cubes

1 cup heavy cream

Lemon juice, salt & pepper to taste

Sauté carrots, onion, ginger, and garlic until vegetables start sweating and onions are translucent. Pour in carrot juice to cover. Bring to a boil, put in veggie base and simmer until carrots are fork-tender well done, to the point of falling apart. Add heavy cream at this point and cook about 10 more minutes.

Puree using a stick blender. Add a couple tablespoons of lemon juice and some salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Beet Bisque

6 beets, peeled and chopped

1 small onion, diced

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

3 cups fresh beet juice

2 veggie bouillon cubes

1 cup heavy cream

Lemon juice, salt & pepper to taste

Butternut Bisque

1 large butternut, peeled, seeded and chopped

1 small onion, diced

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

3 cups veggie stock

2 veggie bouillon cubes

1 cup heavy cream

Salt & pepper to taste

From The North Shore Weekend newspaper

The suburbs of the North Shore have a long and enduring history and presence in the world of modern rock music. Members of Fall Out Boy, singer/songwriter Liz Phair, musicians Jason Narducy and Freda Love Smith, and Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan are just a few music makers with connections to the stretch between Evanston and points north. It’s time to add the trio Yoko & The Oh No’s, featuring magnetic lead singer Max Goldstein (from Highwood) on vocals, drummer Stef Roti (from Wilmette) and bass player Max Loebman, to the list.

It takes more than a clever name to get people’s attention (although it doesn’t hurt) and Yoko & The Oh No’s have been getting plenty, including a mention in the December 2015 Out 100 issue of Out Magazine (featuring President Barack Obama on the cover).

Working in the band’s favor on its eponymous Autumn Tone Records debut is a strong set of tunes, including “Heart Attack,” “Nobody Wants To Know,” “In Pieces,” “Lone Wolf” and “Who’d Stop Me,” all performed with a youthful exuberance. I spoke with Max Goldstein and Stef about the band and more.

Gregg Shapiro: Max and Stef, I’d like to begin with the basics, such as what is the genesis of the band’s name?

Max Goldstein: We were with some of our band-mates from (our previous band) The New Originals. We were coming up with funny band names; some that were puns and some that had “and the” (in the title). They were all really goofy and sort of jokes. When one of our old friends said, “Yoko & the Oh No’s,” something about it stuck. When we put the band together it was there. And we love Yoko!

GS: That was actually my next question. Does Yoko Ono know about the band?

MG: Yes! She does Q&As on her website every week and I actually submitted a question. I have her book, I have her CDs, I read her Twitter every day. My question was, “Do you feel that all people are connected in some way? If yes, why do we try so hard to separate ourselves from one another.” I also mentioned that I am in this band called Yoko & the Oh No’s and I asked her if she liked our name. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a reply at all, and it took longer than I thought it would be. Stef sent it to me.

Stef Roti: She responded that she thought we were funny.

MG: That we have a good sense of humor.

GS: How did you all meet and how did the band form?

MG: Me and Max (Loebman) met at a rock summer camp. He was 11 and I was 13. A year or so later, I ran into him at a coffee shop. We started talking and then we formed The New Originals. Probably a year after we started The New Originals, I quit. It wasn’t really for me, I wasn’t feeling it. After that, Max and I really wanted to make music together. We started working together again because we both missed it. We also learned from The New Originals. What worked, what didn’t and what we liked. The music that we make is fun.

SR: Max and Max started making music on the side for fun. Then they asked me to join. It was really like a side project of that band and we just kept going with it.

GS: In what year did all of this taking place?

SR: The New Originals started in 2010.

MG: Two years ago (2013) was when I came home from school and The New Original broke up. That’s when Yoko became the main focus.

GS: The song “Nobody Wants To Know” includes a Velvet Underground reference. How would you define the band’s musical influences?

MG: They’re very all over the place. The other Max is really into 1960s garage rock. We all really like The Kinks. I’m obsessed with Amy Winehouse. We like a wide variety of music and it often overlaps, too. With The Beatles, for example.

GS: Stef, who are some of the drummers, female and male, that you look to for inspiration?

SR: I admire a lot of different drummers. I like when drummers don’t try to be fancy and don’t try to overtake the band. They just play what they’re supposed to. I really liked (the late) Keith Moon (of The Who) because of his energy.

GS: Songwriting on the Yoko & The Oh No’s disc is credited to the band. How does that process work?

MG: Max wrote some songs and I wrote some songs. Then we put our heads together. Each song isn’t necessarily written by all of us, but it’s a representation of who we are. The album wouldn’t have existed if any one of us wasn’t a part of it. That’s we decided to put that down. This album represents us as a collective and not as individuals.

GS: Chicago is well-known for its diverse and fertile music scene. Do you feel like the band has been embraced by area music fans?

MG: Yes, definitely! It took a while to really feel it, especially in the beginning. I’m not sure how much of it was reality and how much of it was my own insecurity. It took me a long time to feel comfortable talking to other bands at shows, to feel like a part of the scene. They’ve definitely embraced us. We’re doing something that’s pretty different than a lot of the other bands playing in the scene. It’s been cool to see that shift on a local level.

GS: Being a band based in Chicago, home of venerated music festivals such as Lollapalooza and Pitchfork, do Yoko & The Oh No’s have a preference for one fest over the other?

MP: I went to Lollapalooza every year from eighth grade through high school. It’s an amazing festival and it brings a lot to the city. I personally prefer Pitchfork a little bit. It’s a little less overwhelming. I would love to play either of them [laughs], I’ll say that.

GS: Do you think there’s a chance that Yoko & The Oh No’s will be playing one or both this summer?

MG: Hopefully! If we are, we don’t know yet. That’s definitely a goal of ours for the future.

SR: Especially as a hometown band, it would be great!

GS: Yoko & The Oh No’s have North Shore roots, with you, Max, being from Highwood and Stef being from Wilmette. Would performing at Ravinia

have special meaning to the band?

MG: I worked at Ravinia [laughs]!

GS: What did you do at Ravinia?

MG: I was an usher. I swept garbage in the pavilion. To be honest, it would be awesome to play there. To play for the people I used to work for.

SR: I’ve been there so many times with my family. I don’t know of another concert (venue) around the North Shore that can bring everyone out there. They have all types of music. I’d love to play there.

GS: What’s next for the band?

SR: We’re going to focus on recording our second album. We’re also planning to play SXSW (in Austin TX). We’re hoping to get some (show) dates on the way there and back.

MG: We want to go on tour this summer. We’re really looking forward to that.

GS: When do you think the new album will be available?

MG: That’s a good question. We have the material and we want to get it down while it’s still fresh in our minds. The (songs on) album we just put out is very old for us. We wanted to learn from that, how to play songs that are four years old. We wanted to get those down so that we, as a band, could start moving forward.

By Karen Anne Overtn

Downton Abbey returns to Jan. 3 on PBS.

“The thing I really love about Cora is that she can embrace the protocol, the parties, the menus, the servants, the grandeur, but she could also walk away from it without batting an eye. She loves it but it’s not essential to her, she doesn’t need it,” explains Elizabeth McGovern at the London launch of the final series of Downton Abbey.

McGovern is discussing the impending downsizing of Downton and the inevitable repercussions on the pampered aristocrats that reside there as the hit series comes to a climax. “I think, to a certain extent, Cora is naïve about what it will be like to live with no money, but she’s very happy to embrace the idea of having absolutely nothing, because she’s never experienced what that is. So, I don’t think she’s particularly stressed about the changes. She can roll with the punches,” smiles McGovern.

Lady Cora’s looming lifestyle change aside, the same could be said for the actress herself, who, despite finding huge success both at home and the UK, isn’t fazed one bit by the announcement that the upcoming sixth series will be the last. “I’m ready to put Cora to bed for a while, I really am. I tried my best to bring her to life for six years but I’m looking forward to doing the same now for somebody else.”

With her flawless complexion, incredible cheekbones, and regal air, it’s hard to believe McGovern’s 54 years; her beauty is timeless and no doubt part of the reason she was chosen to play Lady of the house Cora Crawley back in 2010, when Downton began. A woman of grandeur and matriarch-in-waiting to the fearsome Dowager Countess, played impeccably by Maggie Smith, Cora is also the most ‘real’ person amongst the Crawley characters; unafraid to cross the boundaries between master and servant, a woman not constrained by the usual trappings of English, post Edwardian society.

She is also the only American in the aristocratic Downton household; born and bred in the city of Evanston, McGovern’s family moved to Los Angeles when she was 10. While admitting she feels shaped by Los Angeles as much as Illinois, she still has very fond memories of her birthplace. “It was an absolutely brilliant place to grow up. Evanston is one of the great American cities; it’s got a lot of the culture that New York offers and not so much of the angst, because there’s more space. The Midwest tends to be more open and accepting, there’s a lot of music, a lot of theatre, it’s a great culture, and a beautiful city. The people are just more accepting and nice,” she says with characteristic warmth.

During Downton’s five years on our screens, we’ve watched the lords and ladies— and their staff—go through many highs and lows, both private and intensely personal. The series spans a significant time period in British history, beginning on the day after the sinking of The HMS Titanic in 1912 right through to the frivolous yet austere roaring 20’s. Lady Grantham endured a significant amount of the heartbreak, losing beloved son-in-law Mathew in a car crash and her daughter Sybil during childbirth. Surprisingly, these are the storylines McGovern relished playing.

“I thought the writing really got across the impact of the sudden death of Sybil on Cora and Robert’s relationship. It was really great writing because it wasn’t just generic grief,” she says. “Julian (Fellowes, show creator) really addressed the specific impact of grief on specific relationships and the kind of fallout that often occurs from a child’s death, the different stages of grief and forgiveness. I thought that it was done in an interesting way and I loved playing that.”

However, one aspect of Downton McGovern admits she won’t miss is the drawn out process synonymous with creating such a huge production: “The biggest challenge to surviving Downton Abbey would be surviving the tedium. It’s always the same on any TV show—it’s a slow, laborious process that actually has not changed that much since film began. I mean, it’s gotten a little bit more streamlined but you still do shot after shot and it’s still laborious, no matter how ahead of time we are technologically! So, you name it, I’ve tried everything—from reading books to joking around with people, listening to music on earphones, playing games. You just have to get a process.”

Now based in London with her husband, British filmmaker Simon Curtis, and two daughters, McGovern says that while she has a couple of projects in development, her main focus will be on her family and her other passion, music. “I’ve got plans to record some new songs with my band but that will be quite low-key and I’m looking forward to some quiet time. Not leaving the house, hanging out with my kids!” she smiles. McGovern is the lead singer and guitarist in the folk-rock band Sadie and the Hotheads. When not on screen in those period costumes, she can be found rocking out on stage to a unique blend of 60’s pop-tinged country. What Lady Grantham would make of her rock star alter ego, we’ll never know.

Over the last six years, Downton Abbey has become a worldwide phenomenon. The Crawleys have fallen in love, fought in The Great War, and in Lady Grantham’s case, hosted the kind of epic and decadent parties that are now an echo of a more glamorous age. One thing’s for sure, there will be gap in our TV schedules and our hearts once the final series wraps.

What does Elizabeth McGovern think about the rumoured movie of the series? “I really don’t know; I can’t say,” she insists. “At the moment, I’m very happy to take a break from it.” But of course, Downton Abbey simply couldn’t survive without the lady of the house.

Milton Stern, 98, beloved husband of the late Leona nee Brauer. Loving father of William Stern (Lyn Conniff) and Phillip Stern (Leslie Markman Stern). Father in law of Pat Stern. Devoted grandfather of Josh (Amy), Caryn (Zach), Lauren and Arianna. Great-grandfather of Eytan.

Son of the late Abraham and Clara Stern. Brother of the late Sam and George Stern. Private family services and interment. In Milton’s memory, contributions may be made to Keshet, 600 Academy Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062.

From The North Shore Newspaper

When we think of sword fights, we think of daring swashbucklers back to the days of Errol Flynn, maybe the cliffside battle of The Princess Bride, or, given the current climate, maybe a lightsaber or two. What we tend not to think of is women. Vicky Pappas is changing that. As a co-captain of the New Trier High School (NTHS) épée division of the women’s fencing team, she’s been showing people how it’s done. She took first place in épée at a pre-season fencing meet at the beginning of November.

“It was exciting,” Pappas says. “I’ve placed in tournaments before, but I’ve never placed first. I had to fence my co-captain (Amanda Wong) to win. She got second. In the next meet, though, I had to fence her again, and she beat me. So, that’s good.”

With the two co-captains of the NTHS women’s épée team facing off for first place after all the other schools fell away, it’s a real indication of the seriousness with which they approach the sport and the high level at which they’re achieving.

There are three types of competitive fencing—foil, saber, and épée. Foil is the version depicted in most media. Competitors wear electronic jackets called lamés and the torso is the only area where a hit, called a touch, counts. In saber, the target area includes the head and neck, and touches are achieved with the side of the blade as well as the point. In épée, the whole body counts as the target area and they compete with a stiffer, heavier blade. The fencer’s blades are all attached to electric wires to keep score electronically. The first competitor to five touches wins. Matches are typically quick. If a match lasts three minutes without anyone scoring five touches, the person with most touches wins.

Pappas originally became interested in fencing when her older brother took a fencing extension class the summer before his freshman year at New Trier. She signed up for the extension class the summer before she started eighth grade and has brandished the blade ever since.

“I like how we work a lot more on strategic ideas, so it’s not just about how strong you are or how fast you are,” Pappas says. “If you are holding your weapon incorrectly, then your arm is open and someone can hit you. You can also pretend to have your arm open, someone could try to hit you, and you could parry their blade and hit them. Or you could feint, pretend to hit them, disengage, then hit them. It’s just really interesting.”

NTHS fencing teams have proven a major force in the Great Lakes High School Fencing Conference. The girls team has won their annual championship nine times out of the last 20 championships, by far the best win record for women’s teams in that time period. The NTHS men’s team has won 14 championships in the last 20 years, including an unbroken winning streak for nine years in a row.

There’s a youngster who lives around here. Call him Paulie. We don’t use real names, but always use real stories…

Paulie’s in one of those North Shore neighborhoods where there’s a ravine nearby, and he likes to explore it.

The other day he got tangled in some dead branches and was pretty banged up. Scary looking cuts and probably a sprain.

But after a few hours in the ER, a few stitches, a few meds, and one of those inflatable casts that lock tight with Velcro straps, Paulie was getting life back on course.

You hear that he even kept a play date arranged by his folks. This involved a ride. Stops, starts and bumps in the road couldn’t have been comfortable for him, what with stitches and the blow-up cast that made him look and feel like a creature from another planet.

But, he ignored all that, and had a great time. He even got a little more active than he was supposed to. Lots of running and fun. But Paulie’s a fun guy and accepts things that can’t be changed.

Which is why you take notice.

After the play date, after he got home, you saw Paulie and his folks getting out of their car. He ran up to you, all happy, friendly, full of his usual enthusiasm, living large in every small moment.

Later, you muse to yourself: gotta be more like Paulie. Whatever life throws, roll with it and have as much fun as you can. Imagine, getting a life-lesson like that from a one-year-old dog.

At this time of year, we can’t help but reflect on where we have been, and where we are headed. In that spirit, a much younger friend recently recapped an exchange between her and her boyfriend:

“We had a pretty great year,” she told her boyfriend.

“Eh. It was average,” he replied.

I don’t know enough to take sides in their debate (though I’d probably side with her anyway), but I know that I, too, have had a pretty great year in this space. I am most appreciative of the feedback I’ve gotten from readers. I responded to all of it privately, and shared much of it in follow-up columns. This weekend, I’m looking back at the notes I’ve kept in my inbox.

Without question, I receive the most feedback when I write about divorce.

In September I wrote about two Canadians whose selfie went viral. They were smiling ear to ear outside of the courtroom after their divorce was finalized. Shannon Neuman wrote alongside her photo, “We have respectfully, thoughtfully and honorably ended our marriage in a way that will allow us to go forward as parenting partners.”

Among the responses was a long note from reader Jennifer Rosen, who divorced her husband in 2003. She described spending time with her two children and her ex-husband after the divorce, and how it feels normal and comfortable. “Relationships are all about choices.  My relationship with my ex is a crucial one not only to me but our children.  We have chosen the better path for our family.”

I also heard from attorney Jennifer Cunningham Beeler, who alerted me to some changes in family law for 2016. “The biggest impact will be that the term ‘sole custody’ will be eliminated; the thought has been that the majority of divorcing couples want to, and are able to, cooperatively joint parent, and demanding to be the sole custodial parent has caused costly and divisive custody battles. The new term will be an allocation of parental responsibilities, and the law changes ‘visitation’ to the more neutral ‘parenting time’ for each parent.” I plan to learn more about this in the coming weeks.

But before I look back at any more of 2015, let’s consider some advice I relayed in my favorite column from 2015. I asked residents of Vi at the Glen this summer to reflect on their experience and share their best advice for newlyweds. A study from the Harvard Business School reported that individuals who seek advice are perceived as being more competent than those who do not seek advice – especially when the task for which they need advice is difficult.

From Jim and Dolores Conway, married 59 years: “We have learned, sometimes the hard way, that there are three – not always easy – rules to follow. But it’s well worth the effort. First, compromise: no one is always right and no one is always wrong. Second, communicate: no one is a mind reader, so let your partner know what is bothering you. And third: keep your sense of humor. Life is short, so enjoy each other.”