NORTHBROOK—Officers stopped a vehicle after observing it commit several traffic violations, the morning of September 8.

In speaking to the driver, officers determined that he was driving while under the influence of drugs, and placed him under arrest.

The driver, 41-year-old Evanston resident Scott Schiff, was transported to the station for processing and released after posting bond.

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

WILMETTE—A resident of 201 Millbrook reported his wallet stolen from his bedroom after Kulas Maids had cleaned the residence, the afternoon of September 10.

Though he did not observe anyone take the wallet, he insists it was one of the maids.

The wallet contained $220, his driver’s license and Visa debit card. The resident noticed two fraudulent charges on the debit card, both of which occurred at a Meijer.

The card was cancelled; no further information has been given.

From the Wilmette police blotter

Alcoholic drinks are now sold at a number of North Shore movie theaters. Photography by Jake Jarvi

There’s nothing quite like kicking back in a massive leather lounge chair with a glass of wine and watching a 900-inch screen.

At least, that’s what the movie theater industry is hoping will spur Americans away from home entertainment systems and back into movie theaters.

Movie houses all along the North Shore have added VIP experiences, upgraded seating, and wine, beer, and specialty cocktails that can be taken into auditoriums.

A large part of the renovation of Highland Park’s Renaissance Place Cinema two years ago consisted of the inclusion of a bar next to the concession stand. Two auditoriums were cleared of traditional seating, with 30 oversized electronic recliners taking their place.

The Century 12/CinéArts 6 in Evanston breaks the moviegoing experience in half — 10 theaters on one side playing blockbuster Hollywood fare and six on the other playing festival favorites and indie darlings. Connected to the artsy side is the Rhythm Room, a bistro-style dining room with a menu of appetizers, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and a full-bar menu. It also features a pool table and live music on weekends.

The more refined atmosphere is also cultivated at the Arclight in Glenview that opened in the spring. With a lounge experience of movie-themed menu items and a full bar, there’s more to entice a discerning adult audience to make a night of it at the movies.

“When I’m at home, I can’t pay attention to a movie because there’s a hundred other things going on,” says Maggie Topalian of Lake Forest. “I love the reclining leather seats. It’s an experience. It’s not just a movie now.”

Morgan Moss of Highland Park is less impressed.

“Now, you can pay $40 for beer instead of popcorn,” he says. “But it’s still not going to put butts in the seats. Hollywood needs to make better movies — that’s what needs to change.”

This new brand of moviegoing was popularized in Austin, Texas in 1998 with the birth of The Alamo Drafthouse. Each auditorium has a long table extending in front of each row of seats with soft lighting emanating from the underside to read the extensive food and drink menu. Orders may be written on sheets of paper anytime and placed upright in clips on the table where waiters come and unobtrusively collect them. Checks are brought 30 minutes before the end of the show. Though the Drafthouse brand has started expanding beyond Texas, none have made it to the Midwest so far.

The closest thing the North Shore has to the Drafthouse experience is the Star Cinema Grill in Arlington Heights — also originating from Texas in Houston. With tables at the seats and a comparable ordering mechanic, it mimics the model quite closely.

Even with the inclusion of all the added features, there are still a few hurdles facing the new movie-theater culture. Some purists consider the fact that movies are digitally projected instead of projected off 35-millimeter prints to have diluted the experience. Perhaps the largest deterrent is the behavior of other moviegoers. It’s increasingly rare to make it all the way through a movie without hearing someone’s cell phone ring or without seeing three or four screens light up while people check their texts. The more people acclimate to watching everything at home, the less they remember movie theater etiquette, talking amongst themselves throughout a picture.

Several theaters, like the Alamo Drafthouse and the Arclight Cinemas have made pulling out your cellphone an ejection-worthy offense. And several chains like the Carmike Muvico in Rosemont are experimenting with a VIP seating area prohibiting anyone under 21 in order to cut back of chatter and cell phone abuse.

Movie theaters are still a place for experiencing entertainment as a community. Like live theater or a concert, there’s a particular energy created when entertainment draws a group of strangers together and affects them en masse. That’s one thing a home theater will never be able to replicate.

NORTHFIELD — Add to your fond memories of playing lively games of Monopoly by joining North Shore Senior Center supporters on September 19th for a full evening of Monopoly themed fun and frivolity.

The Center’s Arthur C. Nielsen, Jr. Campus will be transformed into a grand party venue with ambiance for revelry, serious bidding and dining. Food will be provided by The Happ Inn; emcee duties will be handled by Judy Markey, Chicago radio personality and musical entertainment will be presented by Streder Productions.

Local businesses and individuals have donated dozens of items that will be offered in the silent auction in Monopoly-themed packages. And guests (as well as other website visitors) can purchase a ticket or two ($100/each) for the raffle of a 2016 BMW 320xi provided by Fields Automotive!

A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Janet Burgoon Philanthropic Excellence Awards. Created in honor of the Center’s first executive director, the awards will be given to C. Reed Parker of Glenview (Outstanding Philanthropist); Winnetka Congregational Church Woman’s Society Benevolence Committee (Distinguished Community Partner); and Glenview State Bank (Dedicated Corporation).

Proceeds of “Monopoly Merriment” will support two North Shore Senior Center programs: House of Welcome Adult Day Services and Family & Senior Services. The Center was founded in 1956 and offers social services, educational programs, recreational opportunities, and a variety of resources for seniors. According to Julie and Fred Crandall (Glencoe), who are co-chairs of the event, “The Center is a gem of the community. We are delighted to do everything we can to support it.”

Tickets for “Monopoly Merriment are available through the website at www.nssc.org or by calling 847.784.6050.

# # #

About North Shore Senior Center:
North Shore Senior Center, founded in 1956, is a not-for-profit organization of professionals and volunteers enhancing and enriching the lives of seniors and families in the northern suburbs of Chicago. North Shore Senior Center provides options for health, independence, and well-being and offers more than 300 educational and experiential programs per trimester. For more information, please visit www.nssc.org.

Andy Anderson on Jeopardy!

HIGHLAND PARK – Highland Park High School math teacher Andy Anderson recently fulfilled a longtime dream of competing on the well-known game show Jeopardy! His show will air September 15.

Anderson said he started watching Jeopardy! around 1986; he and his mother recorded it on the VCR and watched it every night. He first tried out for the show’s teen tournament as a high school freshman in 1991. In 1997, as a college student, he made it to the mock game/interview portion of the auditions for the college tournament, and made it that far in the process again when auditioning for the regular show in 2002.

In 2006, Jeopardy! started using an online test as the first filter, so Anderson’s new goal was to get an in-person audition. In 2010, he finally got invited to an in-person audition, which are a random draw from among those who passed the online test.

“I was then in the contestant pool for 18 months but never got the call. This summer I got an email on July 17 inviting me to an in-person audition on August 16,” he said.

Anderson had a month to get ready for the audition.

“I started catching up on recent shows–I had about 85 unwatched episodes on my DVR. Once the summer school program I work at Northwestern University ended on August 7, I started reviewing using flash cards of old Jeopardy! questions,” he said, adding that a fan run website, j-archive.com, was his source for prior questions.

“Based upon online advice, I focused on my weak areas: food and drink, fabrics, and fashion, among others. As I continued to review, I started making connections between my old and new knowledge,” he said. “The scope of Jeopardy! questions can be a paradox. It’s limitless but also finite. The reality is that a core set of topics is at the heart—this is what makes it fun for the viewer at home.”

Anderson said he knew from prior tryouts that the most important part of the in-person audition is the 50-question test spanning 50 categories, as Jeopardy! is looking for contestants with a wide breadth of knowledge. He said he felt good after the test, feeling that he had gotten some easy questions in potentially difficult categories.
Windy City Live surprised Anderson on air August 19 with the news that he had been selected as a contestant, and he had just a few days between that announcement and his taping dates. In addition to continuing with flash cards, he worked on developing his wagering strategy and practiced buzzing in.

“Because I have a math mind, wagering strategy came easy thanks to the work done by a website, The Final Wager,” he said. “At the audition, everybody gets to take a home a Jeopardy! pen that is shaped roughly like the buzzer, so I began watching episodes while standing with the buzzer pen in hand.”

His goal, he said, was to get in the habit of “buzzing in” just after Alex finished reading the clue.
“Without other contestants you can’t really simulate the experience, so practicing with that pen is about all you can do,” he said.

Tune in to Jeopardy! September 15th to see how Anderson fares.

“The Math Department is so excited for Andy!” said Math Department Chair Debby Finn. “Since I have known Andy, this has been a dream of his.”

Submitted by Township High School District 113, which includes HPHS and Deerfield High School

Love and Marriage by Joanna Brown

In those six summer weeks I spent observing my son’s swim lessons, I caught up on the Hollywood news. Divorce seemed to be the common thread among the headlines.

Most every branch of celebrity (movies, music, modeling) reported that a superstar’s marriage had ended. There was actors Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck splitting after 10 years, country music legend Reba McEntire and manager Narvel Blackstock divorcing after 26 years together, actor Brian Austin Green and model/actress Megan Fox ending a five-year marriage, country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert stopping their nine-year relationship, and rockers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale terminating their 13-year marriage.

I know that Hollywood is a long way from my home, but reading as many articles about divorce as I did during my summer at the Park District pool inevitably got me thinking about how my marriage is different from any of theirs. I, like Jennifer, am a working mom, married to a working man, struggling to balance the various demands on my time. My marriage can’t always come first either. So how can I be so confident in the success of my marriage when divorce seems so prevalent in their community?

I’m still not sure, but I found an interesting article online: “10 Things I Do Every Single Day To Divorce-Proof My Marriage.” Yourtango.com, a media company dedicated exclusively to love and relationships, published Chaunie Brusie’s reflections after seven years of marriage.

Brusie touches her husband; holding hands or sharing a hug, she wrote, keeps them connected. She thanks him for the little things he does and efforts he makes, like changing a poop-filled diaper.

She does things she doesn’t feel like doing, like making his the first cup of coffee poured in the morning. She takes care of herself and exercises, confident that the alone time and physical benefits of exercise trickle down to her marriage.

She tells her husband about her day, blow by blow, and stays connected with him throughout the day via text message. She lets her husband cook dinner; he likes to cook, and she’s stopped chasing expectations of what wives are “supposed” to do.

She prays for him each night before bed. And she embraces the good things about him, in spite of his less attractive habits.

“Don’t get me wrong; I focus plenty on the annoying (stuff) my husband does,” she writes. “But when I’m tempted down the road of thinking, ‘Hmm, I wonder how hard a divorce really would be?’ it helps me to remember that the good things about my husband are just as real as any time he left his underwear for me to pick up again.”

Her advice is constructive, and a good reminder than my marriage is worth the effort every day – even when I’ve been up late with my infant daughter. But her title is arrogant, and it may prove to be Brusie’s Achilles heel.

By definition, an Achilles heel is a weakness in spite of overall strength, and the assumption that a few text messages and a hug make their union as sure as death and taxes is foolish. I applaud her for reminding me to put more effort into my marriage than I do my makeup, but I caution her, too. External stressors — money matters, illness, changing priorities — can be as accurate as the mythical Paris with his bow and push good people apart.

What do you do every day to strengthen your relationship? Tell me at joanna@northshoreweekend.com

Gov. Scott Walker Illustration by Barry Blitt

Ensconced in a chair at The Grille on Laurel restaurant, Gov. Scott Walker thinks for a moment about the 17-person strong Republican field for President. Businessman Donald Trump is a publicity magnet; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is raking in tens of millions of dollars. How does the Wisconsin governor distinguish himself from the pack?

“I’ve fought and won,” says the 47 year old, dressed in a dark suit with an American flag pin nestled on his lapel.

In fact, few governors in American history have faced the vitriol of voters the way Walker has — and emerged on top. He reined in Wisconsin’s public unions (the same ones whose pension bill in Illinois threatens to sink the state) while enduring death threats and rabid protests. The provocateur was Act 10, a bill Walker proposed that curbed collective-bargaining rights and became law in 2011. He also signed a right-to-work law. Despite Wisconsin’s Democratic leanings, Walker has won two elections and even prevailed in a rare recall effort.

“What we did was take power out of the hands of the special interests and put power back into the hands of the hard-working taxpayers,” he explains.

Before his recent exclusive interview with The North Shore Weekend, Walker regaled more than 50 campaign contributors and potential donors during a breakfast featuring scrambled eggs and bacon at The Grille on Laurel, a gathering organized by long-time friend and Lake Forest resident Karen Schmid.

Like one of his political heroes, President Ronald Reagan, Walker promotes a small set of clear principles. Should he be elected in 2016, his three-pronged plan involves reform, growth and safety.

Reform essentially would transfer power back to the states and give them a bigger chance to decide how to spend money than Washington. By repealing ObamaCare and lowering the tax burden on consumers and employers, Walker — who is a big fan of the 1986 tax reform Reagan championed — believes solid growth will follow.

The Republican candidate says President Barrack Obama has made America less safe, especially with his Middle East policies.

“We have a President who drew a line in the sand (in Syria) and let them cross it,” Walker notes. “Iran has not fundamentally changed since the (1979) hostage crisis.”

Articulate and passionate, Walker was happy to sink his teeth into presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

“As bad as this President has been, Hillary would be infinitely worse,” he says. “Everywhere Hillary touched as Secretary of State is worse off. People like Hillary think you grow wealth in Washington.”

Though Walker is behind in the Republican polls and has suffered criticism about the direction of his campaign recently, his position as governor is an asset. From 1977-2009, former governors occupied the Oval Office save for a four-year stretch (President George H.W. Bush). Governors are often seen as chief executives and leaders; if they can run one of the 50 states successfully, the Presidency is the next natural step.

Still, why is the conservative aiming for the toughest job in the land? He cites two reasons: Alex and Matthew — his two boys.

“I want my kids to inherit a better life,” Walker says. “That’s why when they threw death threats and protestors at us in Wisconsin, I didn’t back down.”

Walker has found important support south of the border. Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein of Lake Forest — whose Uline company moved from northern Illinois to Pleasant Prairie, Wis. in 2008 — are top Illinois supporters, giving more than $2 million to Walker’s super political action committee, according to the Chicago Tribune. Todd Ricketts of Wilmette, part of the family that owns the Chicago Cubs, is another major donor as well as Walker’s national finance co-chairman.

Walker is a big backer of the state’s new governer, Winnetka businessman Bruce Rauner.

“I think Bruce is incredible. He has a similar mindset to do the right thing. It’s about leadership.”

Aside from Reagan, Walker admires the leadership shown by President Abraham Lincoln (“he had incredible courage”) and President George Washington (“tremendous foresight”). He’s also a fan of President Harry Truman’s post-World-War-II foreign policy.

A self-described policy geek, Walker loves history — perhaps as much as his main hobby, riding his Harley motorcycle. The book “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin is a favorite, and he says if he’s elected, his Cabinet would reflect Lincoln’s decision to keep rivals close to him, especially given the strength of the Republican field.

Just like 2012 Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Congressman, Walker worked at a McDonald’s in his youth. Unlike Ryan, the Wisconsin native took orders at the counter.

“He had to work in the back because it was believed he didn’t have the interpersonal skills,” Walker recalls. “I wonder what that manager thought when he saw him at the Republican National Convention.”

Walker hopes to appear at the 2016 convention in Cleveland to accept his party’s nomination, and the Republican debate this week in California will be crucial to that goal. The buster of unions in his state then wants to give the State of the Union. The presidential campaign to reach that exalted spot is grueling, but it features light moments as well.

Handed a gift of coasters with the Lake Forest logo on them at The Grille on Laurel, Walker was told, “When you have your next Schlitz, hopefully you can use them.”

That prompted Walker to share a story about campaigning at The Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago. Double cheeseburger in hand, he was ushered behind the bar and liked what he saw: the beer that made Milwaukee famous.

“I poured a cold one,” he recalls. “I thought, ‘If I don’t get the Republican primary vote, at least I’ll get the Schlitz vote.’ “

District 113 Role of Honor

HIGHLAND PARK and DEERFIELD – Twelve Township High School District 113 students have been named Semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program: Anne Greene, Corey Novick and Thomas Wehner from Highland Park High School, and Tara Cruise, Benjamin Edelstein, Zachary Frischer, Aarohi Mahableshwarkar, Benjamin Sachs, Ariel Sheffey, Asher Silverglade, Ilyssa Silverman and Dana Suri from Deerfield High School. These academically talented seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships that will be offered next spring.

Approximately 1.4 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, which represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Semifinalists will learn in February whether they have advanced to the Finalist level, and all National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists.

Summer was a time for learning and growth in District 113

In Township High School District 113, summer continues to be a time of learning and growth for students and staff alike.

Again this year, District 113 offered a variety of summer school courses for Highland Park High School and Deerfield High School students including Consumer Economics, Graphic Design, Introduction to Programming, World Literature, Creative Writing, Etymology, Music Essentials: Bach to Rock, Mural Design and Creation, Summer Dance Workshop, Summer Theatre, and various math, science and social studies classes.

Our teaching staff is dedicated to continually honing and improving their craft to better serve students. Many participated in a variety of learning opportunities this summer, including more than a dozen classes sponsored by District 113 and taught by administrators, District 113 staff, and outside facilitators. Workshops centered on the District’s Equity goals and the integration of technology/utilization of the Chromebook.

Giving our students and teachers the tools they need to succeed in a digital world is an important endeavor for District 113, and 2015-16 marks the second year of our phased-in 1:1 rollout that provides each student with a Chromebook to use throughout the day and at home. In addition to offering a variety of in-district technology integration/1:1 workshops throughout the summer, on August 20 District 113 joined forces with North Shore District 112 and Deerfield District 109 to host the second annual TechCamp North Shore. This day-long symposium brings together teachers and administrative staff from all three districts to share ideas and best practice related to the use of technology as a teaching and learning tool.

District 113 also continues to offer staff development aligned with our Equity goals. Learning opportunities this summer included Beyond Diversity: Eliminating Racial Disparities to Achieve Excellence for All Students, and Restorative Justice in Action.

Board of Education launching new meeting format

In keeping with the District 113 Board of Education’s goal of better communication, outreach and transparency to all constituencies, the Board meeting format has been restructured for the 2015-16 school year. While the Board has historically held two business meetings a month, this year the first meeting of the month will be a regular business meeting while the second meeting will be a 3S meeting, where the 3S stands for students, staff and schools.

The new format is intended not only to provide an opportunity for the Board to celebrate — and gain a better understanding of – District 113’s students, staff and schools, but also to help conduct Board business more efficiently. During 3S meetings, the Board will hear reports from students, staff and community groups and do deep dives into the academic departments at HPHS and DHS, leading to an improved understanding of the important work being done in the schools on a daily basis.

The full schedule of Board meetings for 2015-16 can be found on the District 113 website at www.dist113.org/boardofeducation. The first 3S meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 21.

District 113 welcomes new staff, honors staff for service milestones

District 113 welcomed two dozen new certified staff members for 2015-16.
New to the District 113 administrative team are Dr. Daryl Herrick, Interim Superintendent; Christopher Dignam, Deerfield High School Principal; Tiffany Chavez, Director of Student Support Services; and John Sprangers, Interim Director of HR.

New to HPHS are Leonard DePasquale, English Department Chair; Joseph Horeni, HPHS PE/Health teacher; Radmila Olshansky, Applied Arts teacher—dance; Jennifer Rodriguez, Special Education teacher; Jonathan Rowley, Athletics Director; Kia Sosa, Social Studies long term substitute; Michael Viken, PE/Health teacher; Alyssa Wilson, PE/Health teacher; and Anthony Woldeit, Math teacher.

New to DHS are Courtney Bohannon, Math long term substitute; Maja Donev, math teacher; Kim Daniel, Social Studies teacher; Carly Micheles, PE/Health/Traffic Safety teacher; Emily Nowicki, Applied Arts teacher; Danielle Ripkey, PE/Health/Traffic Safety teacher; Nicole Schroeder, Spanish teacher; Marc Szulc-Cieplicki, Math teacher; Beatriz Wagener, Special Education teacher; Kimberleigh Wiley, College Counselor; and Christopher Ytzen, Applied Arts teacher.

District 113 also recognized nearly two dozen staff members for reaching significant employment milestones in 2015.

The following Highland Park High School employees were honored for their years of service to District 113:

• Joe Bucolo, English teacher, 20 years of service
• Judi Elman, English teacher, 20 years of service
• Paul Harris, Special Education teacher, 20 years of service
• Tom Koulentes, Principal, 20 years of service
• Traci Jacobson, Special Education instructional assistant, 20 years of service
• Reyes Mendoza, custodial staff, 20 years of service
• Cynthia Powers, Special Education teaching assistant and testing coordinator, 20 years of service
• Pat Sassen, Assistant Principal for Student Services, 20 years of service
• Frank Avona, custodial staff, 25 years of service
• Scott Shallenbarger, Theater teacher, Director of Theater Arts, 25 years of service
• Paul Swanson, English teacher, 25 years of service

The following Deerfield High School employees were honored for their years of service to District 113:

• Mary Boote, ARC and WERCS teacher aide, 20 years of service
• John Bruss, Science teacher, 20 years of service
• Blanche Esgar, Math teacher, 20 years of service
• Greg Kapsimalis, PE teacher, 20 years of service
• Bettie Liberles, administrative assistant, 20 years of service
• John Motzko, Science teacher, 20 years of service
• Herb Regan, Applied Arts teacher, 20 years of service
• Kathleen Stone, Attendance Office, 20 years of service
• Alicia Akers, choir director, 25 years of service
• Dawn Bryson, Special Education Department Co-Chair, 25 years of service
• Kevin LeFevre, men’s locker room attendant, 25 years of service

Click here to view the 2015 Role of Honor booklet, which contains bio information on each of this year’s honorees. Congratulations to all!

District 113 staff, volunteer named Those Who Excel recipients for 2015

Three Township High School District 113 staff members and a community volunteer were chosen as recipients of 2015 Those Who Excel awards from the Illinois State Board of Education for going above and beyond in the service of students.

Each year, ISBE’s Those Who Excel awards program honors outstanding teachers, administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel and community members for their exceptional contributions to schools throughout the state. Candidates are nominated by their local schools or people in their communities.
This year, four members of the District 113 community will be recognized during ISBE’s Those Who Excel banquet in October. Highland Park High School Math Department Chair Debby Finn, HPHS counselor Pablo Alvarez, Deerfield High School security guard Tim Benton, and DHS parent volunteer Lori Zwart.

Debby Finn: Highland Park High School Math Department Chair Debby Finn is an incredible advocate and leader of her department, as well as an all-school leader who models integrity.

Debby Finn taught math for nine years at Deerfield High School prior to assuming the role of Mathematics Department Chair at Highland Park High School in August 2008. Debby’s passion, and that of her entire department, is ensuring that every student who passes through their doors feels part of the school community and knows that their teachers want them to succeed. They constantly talk as a department about ways to reach each student—to motivate them, to connect with them, to grab them and bring them “into the game.” Debby cares deeply about the success of every student and holds them all to high standards.

Debby has the incredible gift of building in already high-performing, skilled teachers the genuine desire to continue to grow and learn. She supports her staff in taking risks, gives them every opportunity to dream big dreams, and encourages them to try again the next day if something doesn’t go well. She is a caretaker of students, staff and administrative colleagues, always seeing and bringing out the best in everyone and constantly thinking of ways to honor, uplift and support. Debby teaches two classes and works primarily with freshmen; an overarching goal, she says, is to create strong learners and instill in the students skills they will need to be successful going forward. She stays after school twice a week to tutor students in the TLC Learning Center, and frequently visits the TLC throughout the day to support her teachers and help prepare students for tests and assessments.
Debby serves as the program liaison for the District 113 Grand Times program, finding ways to involve seniors and retirees in meaningful, authentic educational experiences with young people at HPHS and DHS. She also serves as HPHS staff liaison for the District 113 Education Foundation, which raises and donates funds to support innovative programming at DHS and HPHS. Debby also belongs to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and Northwest Suburban Math Chairs Association.

Pablo Alvarez: In the spring of 2008, when Pablo accepted a position as a Counselor at Highland Park High School, he and his wife made the decision to move their family to Highland Park. From the minute they arrived, Pablo has immersed himself in the school and community.

Pablo strives to make connections with students and parents both in and out of school, meeting regularly with families outside of school hours to accommodate parents’ work schedules. He is truly invested in the well-being of the entire child, and devotes countless hours getting to know them and formulating plans to support them. He is passionate about ensuring that Spanish-speaking families know how to be involved with their child’s education. Each winter Pablo, along with several other HPHS staff members, organize and lead a workshop to help acclimate parents/guardians to the college process.

In addition to his role as a counselor, Pablo is also the sponsor of the HPHS Chess Team and recently led the students to compete at the national level this year for the first time. He runs the school’s Young Men United counseling groups, aimed at providing Latino males with additional support and education in preparation for college.

Pablo is also heavily involved in the Highland Park community. He is a facilitator for the District 113 All Voices Program, which examines visible and invisible barriers that may impact connections to the school community. He has held various offices with Friends for Health, which supports North Shore Health Center; chairs the Moraine Township Latino Advisory Committee; and has been assisting the newly formed Highland Park/Highwood Legal Clinic and serving as community liaison to HPHS. He also helps to organize the school’s Sunday soccer and swimming program for young people in the community.

In all of this Pablo will always stop and say, how can we improve this? How can we do better? What more can we do? During his “free” time, Pablo trains for the Chicago marathon raising money for ALS research. Pablo was recognized with a Character Counts Award from the City of Highland Park in 2014.

Tim Benton: Sitting in a line of traffic to drop off or pick up a high school student can be stress-inducing and unpleasant—but not at Deerfield High School, thanks to security team member Tim Benton. Tim not only ensures the safety of DHS students, staff and parents, he puts a smile on their faces with his signature dance moves and warm greetings–even when it is below zero or above 90 degrees.

Tim came to DHS in 2012 following his retirement from the Highland Park Police Department, where he served for nearly 30 years. Many DHS alumni recall encounters with Tim as being among their favorite DHS memories, and parents say that when they are in a rush in the morning, they see Tim and immediately feel calmer and more positive. Some parents even commented that Tim’s attitude toward his work has provided opportunities for them to talk with their student about how the little things can make a big difference in other people’s lives.

Tim also spends time at the front security entrance of DHS, where his warm smile and genuine greeting for each and every student, staff member, parent and visitor set the tone for the building and create an immensely positive first encounter with the school. He is the consummate ambassador for DHS and is all about customer service.
Tim perfectly blends his wealth of knowledge and experience and his commitment to safety with his desire to make a difference in the lives of students by fostering genuine, caring relationships. Students feel comfortable confiding in Tim, and they say if they are having a rough day, an encounter with Tim makes it better. Students have incorporated Tim’s name into talent shows, plays and skits, and at the prom, numerous couples requested to have their photos taken with Tim. During this year’s School Chest, DHS’s major annual fundraiser, students created stickers bearing Tim’s face and his signature phrase, “How Ya Doing?”, which sold out immediately. Tim sets a daily tone of going above and beyond a job description to contribute to a culture and a climate that brings out the best in students, staff members and the community.

Lori Zwart: Lori Zwart spent the past six years as a parent volunteer at Deerfield High School, where she selflessly contributed to the positive atmosphere not just with her can-do attitude, but her ability to bring people together and motivate them. Lori constantly thought about what was best for the students, staff and school. If Lori was involved with a project, other parents and guardians were more likely to sign on, knowing she brought a keen blend of affability and ability to get things done.

In her role as chair of the PTO Hospitality Committee, Lori spearheaded the planning on some key events in support of staff members, such as staff breakfast and staff appreciation luncheon. The teachers all felt incredibly supported by the spread of food that gets set out, and by Lori’s warm expressions of appreciation to the staff for all that they do, whether or not she knew them personally.

Lori served on booster club for various sports all six years, and was a team parent for multiple sports. Lori has served as the Village liaison for the annual Youth Service Scholarship, and because of her exemplary commitment to youth in the community, she was asked to take the lead in creating the first-ever Village of Deerfield Government Services Teen Internship Program. Lori spent hundreds of hours talking with community and school stakeholders to gain an understanding of the vision for the program; developing the list of responsibilities for the students to accomplish; coordinating the selection process for the two positions; and overseeing the development of these two student leaders. The highly successful program, now in its second year, is a wonderful way for students who are interested in public service and politics to gain a local understanding.

Lori has served on panels helping parents work through periods of transition, and she is clear, knowledgeable, empathetic and understanding of developmental issues facing adolescents. Because she is so positive and enthusiastic, she is often asked to speak, and she always says yes. She attended countless sports, fine arts and other events at DHS in support not only of her own children, but the children of her friends. In addition to her incredible support for DHS, Lori also volunteers heavily in the community.

HPHS helps students acclimate to new routes through building

Referendum construction work may have changed the way Highland Park High School students are getting around the halls and the campus this year, but students and staff are adjusting well to the new routes thanks to a number of steps HPHS has taken to assist–including scavenger hunts, Link Crew tours, even an instructional video.
Junior/senior HPHS Link Crew leaders provided a full tour to all freshman students on Orientation Day August 25th, which included an overview of all of the different ways to get from one part of the building to another. On the first day of school August 26th, Link Crew leaders wore their distinctive blue shirts and provided directions to all students who needed assistance, personally escorting students to classes as needed. In addition, all freshman P.E. classes participated in building scavenger hunts the week of August 31st during their Link Crew times.
“This was a fun way for freshman students to practice navigating our building,” said HPHS Principal Tom Koulentes.
Building security staff, along with deans and support staff members, have been stationing themselves at key locations in HPHS during passing periods to provide directions to students, and directional signs have been posted to help students navigate.

HPTV is getting in on the action, as well. Crews have been filming short segments for the daily morning announcements, which are shown throughout the building, to help students learn where different resources in the building are located. The first segment in the August 28th Daily Announcements featured Assistant Principal Patrick Sassen talking about the new building configuration and the best ways to get from one side of the building to the other. To further illustrate the routes, HPHS news crews filmed a student walking portions of each one as Sassen narrated. At the end of the segment, Sassen encouraged any students who have questions or concerns to ask a staff member.

And students don’t need to feel stressed if they are running late getting from one class to another during the first few weeks of school, as staff have been told to be lenient while everyone learns their way around.
“Students are reporting to me that all is going well, and I am confident that after the first initial learning curve, we will all be confidently navigating these new routes,” Koulentes said.

Deerfield High School’s Reciprocal Exchange program featured in national publication

Deerfield High School’s Reciprocal Exchange with Rodez, France, was one of nine programs from across the nation to be featured in a recent issue of The Language Educator magazine, published by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

According to the feature in the publication, DHS’s program “provides special opportunities for its participants to compare cultures through experiences in the community. The program focuses on investigation of specific characteristics of both communities so that students can gain deeper insight into the culture of the United States and France. Living with host families, students explore and compare everyday life at home, at school, and at work. Students are surprised to see the effects of globalization while they visit, as American pop culture has permeated French culture and the arts of France are prominently displayed in Chicago’s museums. For the Deerfield-Rodez exchange, engaging in the culture means reflecting upon cultural differences and deepening relationships with students who have much in common yet live in such different worlds.”

Charities invited to apply by Sept. 25 to be considered as beneficiary of HPHS Charity Drive 2016

Highland Park High School is now accepting applications to be considered to be the recipient of the 2016 Charity Drive fundraiser. All materials need to be submitted by September 25. Over the past two decades, HPHS’s annual Charity Drive, which takes place during February, has raised more than $2 million to support worthwhile charities.
The application, timeline and criteria for selection can be found on the Highland Park High School home page under the Charity Drive link. A few glitches in the online form that were reported earlier this month have since been resolved; charities who tried to fill out a 2016 application previously but weren’t able to submit it are asked to please try again.

Highland Park High School teacher competes on Jeopardy!

Highland Park High School math teacher Andy Anderson recently fulfilled a longtime dream of competing on the well-known game show Jeopardy! His show will air September 15.

Anderson said he started watching Jeopardy! around 1986; he and his mother recorded it on the VCR and watched it every night. He first tried out for the show’s teen tournament as a high school freshman in 1991. In 1997, as a college student, he made it to the mock game/interview portion of the auditions for the college tournament, and made it that far in the process again when auditioning for the regular show in 2002. In 2006, Jeopardy! started using an online test as the first filter, so Anderson’s new goal was to get an in-person audition. In 2010, he finally got invited to an in-person audition, which are a random draw from among those who passed the online test.
“I was then in the contestant pool for 18 months but never got the call. This summer I got an email on July 17 inviting me to an in-person audition on August 16,” he said.

Anderson had a month to get ready for the audition.

“I started catching up on recent shows–I had about 85 unwatched episodes on my DVR. Once the summer school program I work at Northwestern University ended on August 7, I started reviewing using flash cards of old Jeopardy! questions,” he said, adding that a fan run website, j-archive.com, was his source for prior questions.
“Based upon online advice, I focused on my weak areas: food and drink, fabrics, and fashion, among others. As I continued to review, I started making connections between my old and new knowledge,” he said. “The scope of Jeopardy! questions can be a paradox. It’s limitless but also finite. The reality is that a core set of topics is at the heart—this is what makes it fun for the viewer at home.”

Anderson said he knew from prior tryouts that the most important part of the in-person audition is the 50-question test spanning 50 categories, as Jeopardy! is looking for contestants with a wide breadth of knowledge. He said he felt good after the test, feeling that he had gotten some easy questions in potentially difficult categories.
Windy City Live surprised Anderson on air August 19 with the news that he had been selected as a contestant, and he had just a few days between that announcement and his taping dates. In addition to continuing with flash cards, he worked on developing his wagering strategy and practiced buzzing in.

“Because I have a math mind, wagering strategy came easy thanks to the work done by a website, The Final Wager,” he said. “At the audition, everybody gets to take a home a Jeopardy! pen that is shaped roughly like the buzzer, so I began watching episodes while standing with the buzzer pen in hand.”

His goal, he said, was to get in the habit of “buzzing in” just after Alex finished reading the clue.
“Without other contestants you can’t really simulate the experience, so practicing with that pen is about all you can do,” he said.

Tune in to Jeopardy! September 15th to see how Anderson fares.

“The Math Department is so excited for Andy!” said Math Department Chair Debby Finn. “Since I have known Andy, this has been a dream of his.”

Submitted by Township High School District 113

Artist Julie Rotblatt Amrany with sculpture

HIGHWOOD – Under cloudy skies, the City of Highwood unveiled its homage on Friday morning to the memory of the 2,977 office and maintenance workers, fire fighters and police officers who lost their lives in the tragic September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

A group of Highwood firefighters unveiled “Solace,” an original sculpture by Julie Rotblatt Amrany. She is a native of Highland Park who, with her husband Omri, operate the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt-Amrany at Fort Sheridan.
The statue shows a firefighter kneeling from exhaustion on that memorable day and includes a piece of metal from the World Trade Center that was given to the Highwood Fire Department by the New York/New Jersey Port Authority.

Highland Park firefighter David Baron posed for the statue.

Speakers included Highwood Mayor Charlie Pecaro, State Sen. Julie Morrison, State Rep. Scott Drury and Highwood Alderman Eric Falberg, who with his wife, Karen underwrote the memorial sculpture.

Artist Julie Rotblatt Amrany also spoke about how very soon after she watched the destruction; she conceived the idea for the memorial. She credited Falberg’s support for its casting. The city provided additional funding for its setting.

Some 150 spectators including a contingent of sailors from Great Lakes Naval Center and soldiers from Fort Sheridan Reserve attended the hour-long ceremony. Music was provided by the Highland Park High School Chamber Orchestra in spite of a stiff northwest wind that kept blowing the music off their stands.

Highland Park High School Chamber Orchestra

Highland Park Firefighter David Baron

AJ Goldsmith is a Lake Forest-based freelance writer for Daily North Shore

Highland Park High School’s D.J. Penick

Highland Park High School junior running back D.J. Penick Jr. has opened the season in sensational fashion. His two-game rushing numbers are off the chart.

After collecting 375 yards in HP’s season opener at Hersey, the flashy ball carrier — a star wrestler, as well — rolled up 216 yards in a win over Lakes High School on Sept. 4.

In addition to his 591 yards, he has scored six touchdowns.

For his sensational efforts, Penick has been named The North Shore Weekend/Daily North Shore.com Athlete of the Month. He will receive a special gift from @Properties/

It took Emmett Clifford a few weeks to earn the job of starting quarterback at Loyola Academy last season.

After coming in off the bench to lead the Ramblers on comebacks against Edwardsville and Providence, coach John Holecek made the then-junior Clifford the starter for Loyola’s matchup with DePaul College Prep at Gately Stadium. But Clifford broke his collarbone, ending his season.

Clifford has the starting QB job again this year, and if he stays healthy he figures to be in the nightmares of offensive coordinators throughout the Chicago Catholic League. The coaching staff at Brother Rice — the Crusaders (2-0) visit LA’s Ramblers on Sept. 12 (1:30 p.m.) — must have had some restless nights looking at film of Clifford running the Ramblers’ offense on Sept. 4 in a 49-8 win at Maine South.

Clifford completed 17 of 21 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns before giving way to backup Jake Marmede in the second half with the Ramblers up 42-8 and a running clock already invoked.

“I think we’ve been clicking the last two weeks, but this was against a big-time team, so it felt pretty good,” Clifford said.

Loyola (2-0) enjoyed such an offensive outburst despite losing running back Jack Loper to an elbow injury on the first play from scrimmage. The Ramblers turned to their passing game.

While the Hawks (0-2) were able to limit Northwestern recruit Eric Eshoo to just two catches, they were helpless stopping wide receiver Thomas Smart, one of the area’s top high school third basemen. Smart, a Wilmette resident, has gone from manning the hot corner to burning corners man-on-man, catching 11 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns against the Hawks.

Clifford also connected three times for 32 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Robert Sullivan, who lines up opposite Smart.

“We’re able to make them pay, because they crowd the middle a lot,” Clifford said. “We’re able to go to two unbelievable receivers outside, and hopefully that can open up the middle. Eric’s so good, teams almost have to key on him or else he’ll just make them pay. Teams will start to realize that they can’t do that to us when we have such good weapons on the outside.”

After his 2014 season ended on the field, Clifford went to quarterback school, sitting in the press box with offensive coaches Tyler Vradenburg and Ryan Gallagher.

“I’d know what they want on every play because they’re calling the offense,” Clifford said. “I was really dialed in even when I was hurt. I have been working hard in the offseason, just working on being as smart as I can on the field.”

“You will not find a smarter and more poised kid, and then he had great instruction from that point of view with the coaches all last year,” Holecek said. “It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”

Defensively against Maine South, the Ramblers also dominated, collecting seven sacks, forcing two turnovers and blocking a punt. The punt, blocked by Frank Doherty, was recovered by Anthony Romano at the Hawks’ 1-yard line and set up a Dara Laja touchdown run. Romano also forced a fumble that Jack Hough recovered and ran back 34 yards for the touchdown that started the running clock.

Romano is from Park Ridge and attended Emerson Middle School, just like many of the Hawks. His opportunity to play Friday came only after an apparent wrist injury to linebacker John Shannon.

— In a battle between a pair of high-powered offenses, visiting Warren claimed its first win of the season by pulling out a six-point victory, 34-28, over Lake Forest on Sept. 11.

LF senior quarterback Danny Carollo threw for 341 yards, while fellow senior Quinn Julian ended up with 148 all-purpose yards.

Julian came up with a head-turning play in LF’s opening series, when he took a toss from Carollo and went 60 electrifying yards to tie the game 7-7. Brian Doherty made a crushing open-field block to help him get into the end zone.

Julian also had a pair of rushing TDs (1 and 11 yards).

The Scouts (2-1) will play at Libertyville on Sept. 18.

LF’s Game Balls: Danny Carollo (QB), Quinn Julian (RB-WR), Jack Skinner (TE), John Deering (LB), Jonathan DiValerio (DB), Cal Wonham (OLB)

LF’s Offensive Stat Leaders: Carollo (23-36-0 passing, 341 yards, 1 TD), Julian (23 carries, 69 yards, 2 TDs; 3 catches, 79 yards, TD), Skinner (6 catches, 64 yards), Reed Thomas (4 catches, 86 yards), Brian Doherty (4 catches, 47 yards)

Warren’s Offensive Stat Leaders: Darrius Crump (32 carries, 139 yards, 2 TDs), Nicholas Marcinkus (5 catches, 134 yards, 2 TDs), Jalen Powe (80-yard kick return for TD)

LF’s Defensive Stat Leaders: Deering (10 tackles, QB sack, tackle for loss), DiValerio (3 tackles, interception), Wonham (6 tackles, interception), Andrew Athenson (5 tackles), Gabe Funk (5 tackles)

Moment of Truth: Warren’s Jalen Powe shocked the home crowd at Lake Forest, when he ran a kick back 80 yards with 15.8 seconds left in the first half. The Scouts had erased a 21-7 deficit by scoring twice in the final 2:02 of the second quarter on one-yard runs by Danny Carollo and Quinn Julian.

Notable: One of the LF’s biggest plays of the game came with just over two minutes to play, when Jonathan DiValerio intercepted a Kyle Debevic pass deep in LF’s territory. He returned it to the LF 20-yard line. But the Scouts, who trailed by six points at the time (34-28), were unable to turn it into points. … Carollo has turned into a big-time QB. So far, he has one scholarship offer: Northern Iowa. … Former Warren head coach, Dave Mohapp, now a member of LF’s coaching staff, went up against his former team on Friday night.

Sound Bites: “This was not a good game for us by any stretch of the imagination. And everybody — players and coaches —has a stake in it. We didn’t perform up to our ability. We should be sick to our stomachs,” — Lake Forest head coach Chuck Spagnoli.

“We get the momentum, and then he runs it back on us. We missed some tackles, and he broke clean,” — Spagnoli, on the 80-yard kick return for a touchdown by Warren’s Jalen Powe just before halftime.

“We were pretty excited about (Jonathan) DiValerio’s interception. It was a great play by our defense. It gave us a chance. We just didn’t capitalize,” — LF quarterback Danny Carollo.

It was D.J. Penick vs. Ryan Janczak on a football field Friday night, or Highland Park High School’s feature running back vs. Glenbrook South’s feature running back.

Penick (207 yards rushing) won the battle within the battle with Janczak (161 yards rushing) on Military Appreciation Night at Wolters Field in Highland Park.

But Janczak’s Titans captured the significant victory on Sept. 11, defeating Penick’s Giants 33-14 for their first win of the season.

Two of Janczak’s 22 carries resulted in touchdowns — the first and last of the game. He ran for a four-yard TD in the first quarter and sprinted 21 yards for a TD in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

Penick’s lone TD of the night cut South’s lead to 20-13 at 7:14 of the four quarter. He toted the pigskin 31 times and, like the rest of the Giants (1-2), wore a jersey without his last name on the back of it. “Fort Sheridan” adorned each nameplate instead, above camo numbers. Penick is two yards shy of 800 rushing yards. Games left in the regular season: six.

Glenbrook South (1-2), protecting a 20-7 lead, had forced HPHS to turn the ball over on downs in successive possessions in the third quarter. The first trip ended at Glenbrook South’s 12-yard line, the second at South’s four-yard line.

“That’s a physical team,” Giants senior running back/defensive back Cristian Volpentesta said. “We’re a physical team. We didn’t execute, didn’t do the job as well as we should have. Every little thing matters.

“We have to have a good week of practice, lock in, focus.”

Titans senior quarterback Daniel Jenkins completed 11 of 16 passes for 130 yards and tossed a pair of TD passes. He hit junior wingback Jake Smiley for a 15-yard tally and senior tight end Owen Boyle for a six-yard score. His favorite target was senior wideout Jack Healy (eight catches, 92 yards).

A six-yard keeper from HPHS senior quarterback Toby Tigges answered the visitors’ opening-drive TD. Titans senior fullback Calvin Sailer (12 rushes, 68 yards) capped the scoring in the first quarter with a 22-yard run.

GBS, which had allowed a combined 105 points in its first two games, led 20-7 at the half.

— This was the Dara Laja Show.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound running back proved to be a major star in Loyola Academy’s 28-0 victory over visiting and previously undefeated Brother Rice on Sept. 12.
Laja amassed 209 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards. And he scored three of his team’s four touchdowns, including a 36-yard catch and a 46-yard run.

But he wasn’t the only showstopper. LA’s defense pretty much stopped Brother Rice’s high-energy offense cold. The Crusaders, who came into the contest averaging 52.5 points per game, managed only 15 yards rushing. Quarterback Camren Miller needed 46 attempts to pick up 232 yards.

The 3-0 Ramblers have now posted two shutouts. Their first-string defenders have yet to give up a point.

LA quarterback Emmett Clifford had another solid outing, completing 18 of 30 passes for 213 yards. He connected with five different receivers.

LA’s Game Balls: Dara Laja (RB), Jonah Isaac (WR), Emmett Clifford (QB), Robert Sullivan (WR), Bobby Desherow (DB), Graham Repp (LB), Patrick Tata (K-P)

LA’s Offensive Stat Leaders: Lara (31 rushes, 209 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 40 yards, TD), Isaac (5 catches, 47 yards, 17-yard TD), Clifford (18-for-30 passing, 2 TDs), Sullivan (4 catches, 66 yards), Thomas Smart (5 catches, 37 yards)

LA’s Defensive Stat Leaders: Daffada (8 tackles), Romano (8 tackles, interception), Repp (7 tackles, QB sack), Doherty (6 tackles, QB sack), Desherow (4 tackles, interception, 5-yard tackle for loss), Ben LeRoy (5 tackles), Ian Swenson (6 tackles), Jack Hough (4 tackles)

LA’s Unsung Heroes: Offensive linemen John Brekke, Jack Badovinac, Sam Badovinac, Thomas Nute and Daniel Kurkowski

Moment of Truth: With a strong wind behind their back, the Ramblers scored touchdowns on their first two series. On their opening drive, they traveled 97 yards on six plays.

Notable: Patrick Tata not only went 4-for-4 on PAT kicks, but he also had two brilliant punts. On his very first punt of the game, he pinned Brother Rice down at its own one-yard line. In the second half, he used the wind and a nice bounce to send a punt 65 yards. … If this was baseball, Bobby Desherow would have been awarded a save. He preserved the shutout by making two big plays in the red zone on Brother Rice’s best scoring opportunity of the game midway through the fourth quarter. First, Desherow tackled Brother Rice wide receiver Julian Blain for a five-yard loss at the LA 13-yard line. Two plays later, he tackled Blain at the LA one-yard line on fourth-and-goal. … Bobby Desherow is the son of LA defensive line coach Beau Desherow. Beau Desherow, a 1993 LA grad, played defensive end for the University of Tulsa. He’s been coaching the Ramblers for 12 years.

Sound Bites: “We were able to take away their run offense today,” — LA head coach John Holecek.

“He’s a hitter. He brings a lot of physicality to the safety position,” — Holecek, on Bobby Desherow.

“They have a lot of weapons. Their quarterback is accurate and a good athlete. But you have to ignor that and just keep coming, keep pounding away,” — LA defensive lineman Ben LeRoy.

LAKE FOREST – During Illinois Rail Safety Week, which runs from September 13th to 19th, the Lake Forest Police Department wants to promote safety for pedestrians around railroad tracks. Operation Lifesaver offers the following advice for commuter train passengers to help keep you safe during your travels;

• Stay alert. Trains can come from either direction at any time and can be very quiet. Obey warning signs and signals and use caution when using headsets or cell phones around trains.
• Watch the overhang. Trains are wider than the tracks; never sit on the edge of a station platform.
• Stand away from the platform edge. Pay attention to painted or raised markings at the platform edge, and stay at least three feet away from the train while it is coming in or out of the station.
• When on board, hold on tight to poles or seats, and listen carefully to directions from the train operator or conductor.
• Watch your step. Be careful getting on or off the train – there may be a gap between the train and the platform or steps.
• Do not take shortcuts with your life! Follow directional signs and markings that let you know where it is safe to cross the tracks. Crossing the tracks anywhere else is dangerous and illegal.
• If you would like more information about Illinois Rail Safety Week, please visit www.illinoisrailsafetyweek.org.

LAKE BLUFF – The State of Illinois has declared September 13 to 19 as Illinois Rail Safety Week to promote vehicle and pedestrian safety around railroad tracks and trains. In Illinois during 2014, there were 134 crossing collisions involving motor vehicles, which resulted in 55 injuries and 24 fatalities. In addition, there were 48 trespasser incidents that resulted in 19 injuries and 29 fatalities when people trespassed on to railroad property. During 2014, Illinois ranked 2nd in the nation in vehicle collision fatalities and 3rd in the nation in trespasser fatalities.

To promote rail safety awareness and education, the Lake Bluff Police Department, along with many other police agencies across the State, will participate in Illinois Rail Safety Week. Enforcement details are planned throughout the week at railroad grade crossings and at the METRA commuter station to promote safety at with railroad grade crossings and railroad property. Police officers will distribute literature to the public that contains information on how to be safe around trains and train tracks.

Lake Bluff Police Chief David Belmonte said: “Unfortunately we have seen too many incidents of railroad accidents in the area. This is just one way we can remind drivers, commuters, and our kids to use extra caution around trains and railroad tracks.”

Operation Lifesaver reminds drivers it is not only against the law to stop your vehicle on railroad tracks, it is also against the law to stop your vehicle anywhere within the highway-rail grade crossing. Highway-rail grade crossings are typically marked by white stop lines located on the pavement in advance of the crossing, and if not marked by white stop lines, the highway-rail grade crossing extends from protective gate arm to protective gate arm.

According to Illinois Operation Lifesaver, more than 67 percent of all collisions occur at crossings with active warning devices (flashing lights, gates, and ringing bells). For more information about Illinois Rail Safety Week, please visit www.illinoisrailsafetyweek.org.

Firefly Kitchen’s Truffle Mushroom Risotto is cooked just right. Photography by Joel Lerner

Wilmette is a long way away from Brooklyn. But with the unveiling of the Brooklyn-style bistro on Green Bay Road, Firefly Kitchen, it might as well be home to a number of airy, lighted patios as in Williamsburg or Park Slope.

Not quite. Firefly Kitchen is alone and electric in this regard, offering diners an exquisite outdoor dining experience in the summer months on its back patio. Inside, the restaurant is aglow with bulbs mimicking the bioluminescence of fireflies.

“Neon heart, day-glow eyes a city lit by fireflies,” reads a caption along the wall from the U2 song “City of Blinding Lights.” Aesthetically, you wonder how the food can top the artistic treatment given to the space.

I’m here to tell you it does. The relative newcomer is located in the same building as the former A La Carte. (A perplexed woman came in wondering what had happened to the café: it has moved to Highland Park.) The two could not be more different. Chef Dean Salerno of Firefly Kitchen has been busy transforming the space, adding a bar and a craft beer, bourbon, and wine list cultivated by mixologist James Pierce; a rooftop herb garden; and a cozy dining room, not unlike the restaurants he opened in Manhattan.

Chef Dean Salerno

Salerno is from the South Bronx. Growing up, he was bombarded with the substantial, ample meals of a Sicilian family, described by Salerno as “heavy, heavy, filling food.” His family lived above his grandfather’s German bakery in Castle Hill. When Salerno was a young boy, he would sneak downstairs to steal jelly donuts and marvel at his grandfather — who would still be working at 2 a.m.

When he was old enough, he started washing sheet pans. That turned him on to a life in the kitchen.

“They had that way of raising you to understand what it’s like to have a job, what it is to work, to have respect for yourself, for others—to put out a product and stand behind what you do,” says Salerno.

Following a string of successful New York City restaurants, Salerno relocated to Chicago and established Firefly Events and Catering, of which Firefly Kitchen is an offshoot. In opening Firefly Kitchen, Salerno is able to showcase his favorite seasonal comfort dishes that include classic French, creative American, and Pan-Asian cuisines — one of which is the truffle mushroom risotto.

“It’s something that people don’t know how to really cook,” says Salerno, “and it’s not the hardest thing in the world, it’s just to the point where you get the risotto to that crispy but not mushy, not overcooked or undercooked.”

Salerno adds mascarpone cheese to his dish but says people can substitute cream cheese to get that just-right creamy taste.

“It’s a constant time process of adding liquid slowly and allowing it to absorb, and finishing with whatever the person chooses to stick in,” he says, adding, “One more cup of water or mushroom stock — game over.”

Firefly Kitchen is located at 111 Green Bay Rd. in Wilmette. Call 224-408-2464 for reservations.

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes
SERVES: 1-2

Firefly Kitchen’s Truffle Mushroom Risotto
1 cup rice
5 cups mushroom stock
1 Spanish onion, finely diced
3 cups mixed mushrooms (shitake, oyster, domestic, and portobello)
1 cup madeira wine
3 sprigs thyme
1 tablespoon mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped sage
1 fried sage leaf

Over medium heat in a saucepan, sweat the onions in butter until soft. Add rice and cook until rice turns opaque. Add mushroom stock in three separate pours, letting stock absorb into rice before adding next pour. Sear mushrooms in separate pan with Madeira wine and thyme. Add chopped sage, mascarpone cheese, and Parmesan. Finish with butter and garnish with red pepper vinaigrette.

Red Pepper Vinaigrette
1 red pepper, cut in half and roasted
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine red pepper, oil and vinegar, and salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth.

Chase the Bear Run course map

Get ready, Glenview Runners!

The 18th Annual Chase the Bear Run – formerly the Rotary Run for Glenview – is this Sunday, Sept. 13 from 7-10 a.m. Participants can register online or arrive early at Hoffman School, where the race will begin.

Last year’s event saw nearly 300 runners with a great turnout expected again for 2015.

“It will be my first race since surgery so I’m excited to get back to it,” shared Tammy Owens, a North Shore mom of four who had ACL reconstruction almost two years ago and plans to run on Sunday. “This is a great way to do something with my family and try out this knee!”

The community fundraiser donates 100 percent of proceeds in support of Glenview service organizations and Rotary International Service Projects. In previous years, donations have been made to area nonprofits including Youth Services of Glenview-Northbrook, Glenview Youth Baseball, the Northfield Food Pantry and Character Counts.

The CARA-certified run offers 10K, 5K and 1-mile races, plus a 1-mile family fun run and walk. Participants and supporters can also enjoy live entertainment and an emcee with prizes and refreshments. Ample parking can be found nearby.

A full schedule and map of courses are all available at www.chasethebear.com. Questions? Contact Howard Silver at 847-657-9977 or email info@chasethebear.com

Other upcoming events

4th Annual Firehouse 5K Charity Run

When: Sept. 20

Where: The race starting line is just east of the West Lake and Patriot Boulevard intersection, on the north side of Gallery Park. Enjoy a winding path with a mix of paved and crushed limestone surfaces (a copy of the course map is available here).

About the race + registration: Online registration is now open for this USATF-certified, pet-friendly race. All registered runners will receive a timing chip to ensure accurate times. Check out photos from last year’s event!

• 7:30 am – Registration and packet pick-up (near the intersection of Patriot Blvd and Navy Blvd)
• 8:30 am – Youth Run (approximately 1 mile)
• 9:00 am – 5K Run

Why you should go: The Firehouse 5K loops around beautiful Gallery Park in the heart of Glenview and supports Glenview Firefighters Local 4186 and local charities including the Glenbrook South Titan Booster Club and Camp I am Me. Plus, runners receive a t-shirt and goodie bag and can enjoy refreshments and firefighting displays at the finish line (register by Sept. 14 to guarantee T-shirt size).

Other details: Parking is available south of Gallery Park at Attea Middle School or in the public parking garages located just west of the park along Tower Drive. Interested in volunteering or want more information? Email 5k@glenviewfirefighters.org.

OLPHun Run

When: Oct. 4

Where: Jackman Park

About the race + registration: The 5k USATF-approved course starts and finishes on Washington Street next to the Jackman Park gazebo. The course, which is fully paved and mainly flat, is suitable for all fitness levels and is open to runners and walkers. Runners, who are officially timed, will go off in the first group. Walkers, not timed, will follow directly after.

Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. on race day but participants are encouraged to register online. Race number, packet, and shirt pick-ups maybe be done early at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent, Oct. 2, 2-7 p.m. and Oct. 3, 3-5 p.m.

Why you should go: OLPHunRun is a 5K run/walk through the beautiful Glenview neighborhood of Swainwood to raise money for the Needy Family Fund. For more than two decades, The Needy Family Fund has helped families in Glenview and around the Chicagoland area. The organization assists over 200 families each year, and 600 families use the NFF’s food pantry. NFF has raised nearly $200,000 in contributions. After the event, celebrate with your family and friends at the post-race festivities on the grounds of Jackman Park.

Other details: Parking is available at the downtown Glenview train station parking lots and at OLPH. For a map of the course, a list of sponsors and more information on how to volunteer, please visit www.olphunrun.org.

Lake Forest resident James Hollander, 55, died in a collision on Route 52 southeast of Plattville on the morning of September 11, according to WSPY News.

According to the article, Illinois State Police reported that a tanker struck a Nissan Altima, and two passengers were taken to two separate hospitals: A 48-year-old woman was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet, and a 17-year-old girl was taken to Morris Hospital.

The following information was also reported online at WSPY News:

• The tanker struck the Nissan Altima, and the tanker rolled onto its side spilling fuel onto the roadway.
• A Toyota Camry that was travelling westbound on Rt. 52 behind the tanker also struck the Nissan Altima.  According to the Kendall County Coroner’s Office the female driver of the Camry suffered a broken leg.
• The coroner’s office said that Hollander and his two passengers were enroute to a football game in Iowa and were traveling to Interstate 80.

For more information go to:  wspynews.com.

Amazon.com images of pages from The Noisy Paint Box

LAKE FOREST – The Lake Forest School District 67 Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) is pleased to welcome award-winning author Barb Rosenstock to Sheridan, Cherokee and Everett Schools, as part of the Visiting Author program sponsored by the Spirit of 67. Ms. Rosenstock will spend one day at each school with large and small group presentations planned for students on October 20, 21 and 22.

Barb Rosenstock is the author of several biographical and historical fiction books, two of which are about presidents, including The Camping Trip that Changed America, Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library, Ben Franklin’s Big Splash, Fearless, The Streak, and The Noisy Paintbox. The Noisy Paintbox was named a Caldecott Honor Book for 2015.

Submitted by Lake Forest School District 67