Life Is Better at this Beach North Skokie Corridor

Published by the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce
SUMMER 2015
Rosewood: Life Is
Better at this Beach
P/28
North Skokie Corridor:
The Road More Traveled
P/22
Ravinia’s High Note:
Reach * Teach * Play
P/16
E
V E R Y D A Y
. . .
A
N Y D A Y
. . .
IT’S ALL THERE
AT THE SQUARE
ADESSO
ALX HAIR SALON
ASIAN FOOT SPA
DAIRY QUEEN
EDWARD JONES
HIGHLAND PARK CHIROPRACTIC
JUST 4 FRIENDS
MATHNASIUM
NEW BALANCE NORTH SHORE
PORT CLINTON JEWELERS
REAL URBAN BARBEQUE
STATIONERY STATION
SUSHI BADAYA
TALES & TOYS
THE BAR METHOD
WALKER BROTHERS
PORT CLINTON SQUARE
THE SQUARE IN THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN
HIGHLAND PARK ON CENTRAL AVENUE
Indoor Parking, 3 Hours Free
847.433.5306
www.PortClintonSquare.com
HIGHLAND PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chamberhp.com
508 Central Avenue, Suite 206
Highland Park, Illinois 60035
North Shore
Chinese Medicine
ACUPUNCTURE
847-432-0284 • fax 847-432-2802
info@chamberhp.com
Chamber Staff
Virginia Anzelmo Glasner | Executive Director
Renee Diedrichs | Finance Manager
Alycia Margolis | Marketing Coordinator
Gayle Pervos | Membership Development
board of DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
President | Gurv S. Anand
Amber Insurance Services
Vice-President | Larry Bloom
ATI Graphics, Inc.
Vice-President | Ryan Newberry L’Heureux
@ Properties
Immediate Past-President | Sue Monhait
The Ribbon Print Company
directors
Hania Fuschetto | NorthShore University
HealthSystem, Highland Park Hospital
Mindy Moore | Ravinia Festival
Benjamin Nusinow | Lexus of Highland Park
Sheryl Oberman | The Stationery Station
Alan Pearlman | Alan Pearlman, Ltd.
Aggie Raup | DON Medical, Inc./Smart GI
Stacy Theodorakakis | First Bank of Highland Park
EX OFFICIO
Paul H. Frank | City Councilman
Ghida Neukirch | City Manager, City of Highland Park
PUBLICATION NOTES
60035@chamberhp.com
Editorial | Virginia A. Glasner, Executive Editor
Maureen Liebenson, Editor
Chamber Staff, Editorial Support
Graphic Design | Bohringer Creative, Inc.
Bohringer.com
Printing | Vogue Printers
Sales & Marketing | Jen Flick
jen.hpcc@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of the
Highland Park Chamber of Commerce. Every effort has
been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in
this publication. The publishers cannot guarantee the
correctness of all the information available to them at
the time of publication, and assume no liability arising
from error or omission. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any part of this publication without the
prior expressed written permission of the Highland Park
Chamber of Commerce is strictly prohibited.
six00threefive TM
©2
015 Highland Park Chamber of Commerce,
published to promote the diverse
business community
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Come See Us At Our Beautiful New Office:
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North Shore School of Dance
Performance Opportunities
Celebrating our 27th Annual
Production of The Nutcracker
Local, National, And Internationally
Renowned Faculty
North Shore Repertory Dance
Ensemble
North Shore Dance Company
North Shore Ballet Theatre
Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz,
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475 Roger Williams Ave
Highland Park, IL 60035
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SUMMER 2015
On Our Cover
Contact US or Our ColumnistS
Highland Park’s freshly renovated Rosewood Beach looks
absolutely tropical from this aerial shot of the shore.
Please call 847-432-0284, or email 60035@chamberhp.com
with the column name in your subject line.
Photo: Airborn Media
Features
Engine No. 3: Long May You Run………………………… 10
Sidewalk Sale……………………………………………… 13
Rotary Club:
Revolves Around Service………………………………… 14
Ravinia’s High Note:
The Reach * Teach * Play Program……………………… 16
North Skokie Corridor:
The Road More Traveled………………………………… 22
Rosewood:
Life Is Better at this Beach………………………………… 28
Columns
Speaking Professionally ………………………………………6
“Speaking Professionally”
announces honors, awards, and other news about
service and non-profit organizations ~ by Wes Wenk
“Contractors’ Corner”
offers news of our fine building, designing, mechanical,
and contracting professionals ~ by Jan Grevers
“It’s New to You”
highlights new businesses in our community
~ by Maureen Mostyn Liebenson
Write Now!
We have assignments for freelance writers and community
volunteers. Please call 847-432-0284, or email
60035@chamberhp.com.
Welcome, New Members……………………………………8
Advertising Information
Contractors’ Corner………………………………………… 20
Six00threefive magazine is published three times a year and mailed
to all the homes and businesses in Highland Park, Highwood, and
Town of Fort Sheridan. To receive a complete Media Kit, please call
Jen Flick at 847-757-2393 or email Jen.hpcc@gmail.com
It’s New to You……………………………………………… 26
*Service
*Repair
*Replace
SUMMER 2015
3
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Phone (847) 432-0850
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Talk about your antioxidants!
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Large selection of certified
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1636 Old Deerfield Road
in Highland Park
The best bar in town. Bar none.
thank you
to all our Advertising Partners who help move the
Highland Park Chamber of Commerce mission forward:
Supporting and promoting our businesses and the
community of Highland Park.
Index of Advertisers
Extraordinary Health
& Wellness
Right at Your Doorstep
Amdur Productions……………………………………… 2
Bluegrass………………………………………………… 4
Carefree Comfort………………………………………… 7
Chicago Gold & Diamond……………………………… 4
Introducing our exclusive Freedom Client
Wellness Tracking System (FreedomCWTS).
Crossroads Carwash…………………………………… 9
College of Lake County………………………………… 25
D & R Autoworks………………………………………… 11
Duxler Complete Auto Care…………………………… 19
Freedom Home Care…………………………………… 5
Highland Park Bank & Trust…………………………… 18
Infinity Foundation……………………………………… 24
Irina Makkai Classical Ballet & Dance School………… 23
Little Tommy’s Plumbing………………………………… 3
Menoni & Mocogni, Inc.………………………………… 4
North Shore Chinese Medicine ……………………… 1
North Shore School of Dance………………………… 2
Park District of Highland Park………………………… 25
Port Clinton Square…………………… Inside Front Cover
Health & Wellness Services:
• Case Management
• Medication Management & Reminders
• Diabetic Care & Supervision
• On-going & Chronic Illness Supervision
• Accompanying Clients to Appointments
• Basic Wound Care & Dressing Changes
• Post-Hospital Care & Day Surgery
Companion Care
• Respite Care
• Bedside Care in Hospitals & Nursing Homes
• Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care
Companion Home Services:
• Client Transportation
• Running Errands & Shopping
• Light Housekeeping & Personal Laundry
• Meal Preparation Following Special
Dietary Needs
• Personal Care Services Including
Grooming, Bathing & Dressing Assistance
• Morning Wake-up & Evening Tuck-in
• Concierge Services Available Upon Request
• Hospital Recommended
1 Hour to 24/7 Coverage
“I have been working with seniors for over 20 years as a Gerontologist and Geriatric Care
Manager… I truly love working with seniors and their families. My clients come from different
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Julie Fohrman, MA
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Razny Jewelers………………………………… Back Cover
Renaissance Place……………………………………… 24
Rick’s Auto Care & Collision Repair…………………… 24
State Farm Joe Palminteri……………………………… 2
The Art Center Highland Park………………………… 21
Therapeutic Kneads …………………………………… 21
Wenk Insurance Agencies……………………………… 12
Whitehall of Deerfield………………… Inside Back Cover
847-433-5788
www.freedomhomecare.net
Serving the North Shore, Chicago,
and the Western Suburbs Since 1997
Speaking
PROF ESSION
At Silverado creativity keeps the mind active and young
Silverado
David Gill, of Silverado Assisted Living
and Memory Care, (1651 Richfield
Ave., Highland Park), reports that the
facility recently launched “NEXUS at
Silverado.” This new program has been
designed specifically to help residents
who are in the early stages of dementia
build and maintain cognitive ability.
“NEXUS is based on evidence
suggesting that there may be ways to
delay the onset of dementia, or slow its
progression. Participants in the 20-hourper-week program take part in a variety
of activities based on six brain-building
components that recent research
support as being beneficial,” Gill points
out. “These components range from
taking part in purposeful social activities
like volunteering, to physical activity,
to stress reduction techniques that
include Tai-Chi, and to such cognitively
stimulating activities as word strategy
games, digital brain fitness work on
electronic devices, and taking part in
resident support groups,” Gill adds.
“To provide world-class memory care,
we regularly refine our programs based
6
SUMMER 2015
community that captures media in a
way that standard, full-size aircraft never
could, and at a fraction of the cost.”
Although NEXUS, from the Latin word
for “connections,” was designed to
enhance the lives of residents with earlystage dementia by making meaningful
connections, the program consists of
components that are clearly helpful for
everyone. You can learn more about
NEXUS and review the research data
at silveradocare.com/nexus. Or call
Silverado at 224-765-0094.
Airborn Media
Using unmanned aerial vehicles,
Stewart and Spero have worked
for many high profile clients in the
Chicagoland area, including Special
Olympics Illinois and the American
Cancer Society. “Our clients generally
have the same fundamental need,”
Spero points out. They want “a unique
media experience that sets their
business apart from the pack.”
Photo: Airborn Media
Photo: Silverado
on two things: observations made
within communities, and the latest
research studies,” explains Kim Butrum,
Silverado’s Senior Vice President of
Clinical Services. “NEXUS is exciting
because it combines nearly 18 years of
clinical observation in our communities,
with cutting-edge studies from our
nations’ top research institutes.”
“We’ve all seen articles and news
stories about the controversy
surrounding drones. At Airborn Media,
we are using these amazing flying
robots to benefit local businesses by
creating stunning, cinema-quality aerial
media!” explains Brendan Stewart, coowner of the company.
“Each of the drones in the fleet
carries high-powered cameras that are
stabilized by brushless (electronically
commutated) camera gimbals (pivoting
supports). By 2018, it’s predicted that
a staggering 79% of all Internet traffic
will be video driven. Is your business
prepared for this?” Stewart asks.
Both Stewart and Airborn Media coowner Peter Spero are Highland Park
natives and licensed pilots who are on a
mission to use drones safely to benefit
both businesses and society. “We’ve
always been geeks,” Stewart adds, “and
we’re proud to provide a service to our
Peter Spero and Brendan Stewart of Airborn Media
The drone industry is opening up
lots of new opportunities for science,
technology, and the media, and Spero
said that Airborn Media strives to stay
in the thick of things, helping the FAA
create new regulations that keep the
public safer, as well as to drive the
industry forward. Drones create a
whole new way to look at our planet,
and Airborn Media, along with other
pioneers in the industry, is determined
to make the future of UAVs a high-flying
reality. You can check them out at www.
AirbornMedia.net.
Welcome,
NEW MEMBERS
AG Gallery
Custom fine art portraiture of newborns,
children, and families.
Gina Sanders, Principal
3150 Skokie Valley Road
847-379-5441
www.aggallery.net
Bernardi Auto Service
Complete automobile service and
repairs on all makes and models.
Raymond Bernardi, President
2666 Waukegan Avenue
847-433-2158
www.bernardiautoservice.com
DirecTV/USA Wireless
DirecTV cable installation with local
Highland Park Call Center.
Warren Schoen, Owner
1360 Old Skokie Road
847-831-4561
www.usawireless.tv
Airborn Media LLC
Chicagoland’s premier source for aerial
photography, video, mapping, and surveying.
Brendan Stewart / Peter Spero, Owners
847-826-0449 www.airbornmedia.net The Box/Ethen Chiropractic
& Wellness
Specializing in crossfit, personal training,
yoga, sports performance conditioning,
physical therapy, and more.
Joseph Ethen, Owner
1892 First Street
847-801-9348
www.theboxhp.com
Forever Thank You
Author and public speaker specializing
in ways to express gratitude personally
and professionally.
Ivan Levi, President
www.foreverthankyou.com
Alden Kennels
Pet vacation planner, boarding, training,
spa treatments, group classes, and
holistic care.
Janet Domrase, Owner
6810 Barnard Mill Road
Ringwood, IL 60072
815-728-0559
www.worldclassdogkennels.com
Anne Roberts Gardens, Inc.
Providing sustainable, eco-friendly
urban landscape design, build, and
maintenance services for commercial
and residential clients.
Anne Roberts, President & CEO
4414 North Kenneth Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
773-777-7064
www.annerobertsgardens.com
Babydreams
Baby boutique for sizes newborn
through 24 months.
Vicki Kriser/Kay Schwartz, Owners
448 Central Avenue
847-432-4704
www.babydreamshp.com
Beelow’s NorthShore
Serving North Shore diners with aged steaks,
fresh seafood, farm-to-table dry-aged burgers,
hand selected wine, and local craft draft beer.
Bob Vorachek, General Manager
1850 Second Street
847-780-3300
www.beelowsnorthshore.com
8
as of JUNE 2015
SUMMER 2015
BMO Harris
Retail and private banking.
Jeff Lewison, AVP Bank Manager
1746 Second Street
847-748-7000
www.bmoharris.com
Cover-Rite
Furniture upholstery and repair.
Marvin Bernstein, Owner
1510 Old Deerfield Road
847-831-3800
Current Affairs
Specializing in event planning services
for occasions ranging from large multiday productions to small get-togethers.
Alexandra Wendt, Owner
312-515-3309
Fidelity National Title
One of the nation’s premier real estate
service companies, providing title
insurance and other real estate-related
products and services.
Kathleen Shanahan, Account Manager
750 E. Bunker Court, Suite 700
Vernon Hills 60061
847-769-9597
www.fidelitydesktop.com
HP Elite Soccer Club
A community-driven program designed
for youth and high school players.
Dan Olswang, President
P.O. Box 1072, Highland Park
224-999-5660
www.hpelitesoccerclub.net
JBS Builders
A full-service residential/light commercial
general contracting firm specializing in all
phases of residential remodeling.
Jeff Schwartz, President and Owner
1740 Midland Avenue
847-831-4450
www.jbsbuidersinc.com
KJB Socks & More
Family socks, sunglasses, and Beanie
Babies.
Mark Schilling, Owner
106 Augusta Drive
Vernon Hills 60061
847-362-6656
Modern Opulence
Offering a sophisticated collection
of apparel, jewelry, and accessories
catering to the modern woman.
Mary Andersen, Owner
461 Central Avenue
847-780-3089
www.modernopulence.com
A L LY
By Wes Wenk
HPHS’s “Athletic Hall
of Fame”
Assistant Athletic Director Bobbie
Monroe served as Master of
Ceremonies at this year’s “Athletic Hall
of Fame” inductions at Highland Park
High School. It was a night of fun and
entertainment as three new recipients
entered “the Hall”: softball hurler Becky
(Knotek) Casey (2001), wrestler Michael
Poeta (2004), and All-Conference
basketball star Rick Piacenza (1971).
Photo: Bobbie Monroe
Casey’s long-time coach praised the
softball player’s strikeout records and
winning streaks. Casey also spoke,
reflecting back on an enjoyable
three-sport school career. She has
continued her softball career, coaching
for the Park District and giving
pitching lessons.
Wes Wenk
Poeta was busy coaching the
night of the induction, so his mom
happily accepted his Hall of Fame
plaque. Principal Tom Koulentes,
who also coached Poeta, listed the
wrestler’s school and conference
wrestling records.
The night’s finale was Coach Chuck
Schramm’s emotional recap of his nearly
50-year association with Piacenza,
who was the
star forward
on the varsity
basketball
team Schramm
coached in
the late 1960s
and early 70s.
This was the
infamous team
that somehow
upset the state’s
third ranked
powerhouse, the Waukegan Bulldogs,
in the 1970 regional tournament. The
6’6” coach and his friend and former
6’6” player stood even taller posing for
pictures with the Hall of Fame plaque at
the end of the presentation.
All three of the new members to the
Hall have continued coaching in the
sports they excelled at in high school,
but more importantly, they have given
back to the school and community in
multiple ways. Congratulations to three
terrific athletes who did much more
than shine during school competition!
Wes Wenk covers professional
endeavors, including nonprofit
organizations and financial, medical,
legal, and consulting businesses based
in homes or offices. He can be reached
at wenkinsurance.com or by fax at
847-433-1345.
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SUMMER 2015
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3/16/15 11:57 AM
7
Call the Highland Park Chamber of
Commerce at 847-432-0284 to be
referred to a local resource or
browse an up-to-date directory at:
www.chamberhp.com.
North Suburban Wellness
A community-based integrative medical
clinic and wellness center.
Dr. Jeffrey Hensen, Owner
1732 First Street
847-266-8000
www.nswellness.com
Round Table Companies
An alternative marketing agency and
storytelling company.
Corey Blake, President
P.O. Box 511
815-346-2398
www.roundtablecompanies.com
Toddler
Children’s boutique for ages
2 through 8.
Vicki Kriser/Kay Schwartz, Owners
458 Central Avenue
847-780-8947
www.toddlerhp.com
Northern Trust
Wealth management, trust advisory, and
fiduciary services.
Julie Mokdessi, VP, Wealth Strategist
1700 Green Bay Road
847-266-4200
www.northerntrust.com
Soul 2 Sole Dance/
Gotta Have It
Dance instruction for pre-schoolers
through adults; birthday parties; dance
shoes and apparel.
Debbie Kramer, Owner
799 Central Avenue
847-579-4660
www.soul2soledance.com
Yodelpop, Inc.
A results-driven creative marketing and
branding agency.
Camille Winer, Dir. of Creative Strategy
450 Central Avenue, Suite 215
312-203-7301
www.yodelpop.com
Orangetheory Fitness
Bannockburn
Offering boot-camp style fitness
classes that are a mixture of cardio and
strength training.
JD Kaulentis, Owner
2553 Waukegan Road
Bannockburn, 60015
866-601-0025
www.orangetheoryfitness.com
PAWS Chicago’s North Shore
Adoption Center
A no-kill shelter focusing on dog and cat
adoptions.
Sara Rehfeld, North Shore Center Manager
1616 Deerfield Road
224-707-1190
www.pawschicago.org
State Senator Julie Morrison
Illinois State Senator serving the 29th
legislative district.
Julie Morrison, State Senator
700 Osterman Avenue
Deerfield 60015
847-945-5200
www.senatorjuliemorrison.com
Appearance is everything…
Pinstripes
A dining and entertainment venue
featuring a bistro, bowling, and bocce.
1150 Willow Road
Northbrook 60062
847-480-2323
www.pinstripes.com
Rotary Club of Highland
Park/Highwood
Comprised of business people from
different professions working together
to serve the public interest.
Carolyn Cerf, Chair
P.O. Box 42
847-525-8245
www.highlandparkrotary.org
Over One Million Satisfied Customers!
Superior Soft-Cloth Car Washing And Hand Detailing Service
(847) 831-1011
64 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park
Open year-round, seven days a week for your convenience!
www.crossroadscarwashhighlandpark.com
Engine No. 3:
Photos: Larry Bloom, ATI Graphic, Inc.
By Donald Liebenson
Long
Highland Park firefighters Larry Amidei, Stan Olson, Matt Stanley, Rich Foley and John Brens
One of Highland Park’s most treasured
residents turned 86 this year and at
first glance, she looks as beautiful and
regal as the day she made her first
appearance in our community. Truth be
told, she is a little worse for wear; one
could say she has a lot of miles on her.
But thanks to her tireless and devoted
caregivers, she is being given a new
lease on life that could allow her to
run for perhaps another 86 years. She
is Engine No.3, an integral part of the
Highland Park Fire Department family,
and in June she embarked on a twoyear restoration.
The 1929 American LaFrance engine
is the fire department’s goodwill
ambassador, a popular feature at city
parades and other functions she graces
with her presence. She was built for the
Highland Park Fire Department and, like
baseball players of yore, played only for
one team.
10
SUMMER 2015
She was originally purchased for and
housed in the fire department’s central
station, according to a history of the fire
department created for its centennial in
1989. Engine No. 3 was “a 750 G.P.M.
pumper with a rotary gear type pump.”
It was in service for 30 years.
Following her “retirement,” Engine
No. 3 ended up in a garage and was
going to be stripped and made safe
for children to play on, said Roger
Underwood, a retired Highland Park
firefighter. Enter the local chapter of
the Kiwanis service club, which used the
engine for its functions, such as parade
appearances or to deliver presents
donated for the Toys for Tots program.
Though not associated with the fire
department, it remained in the city for
about 15 more years.
Engine No. 3 returned to the fire
department around the late 1960s or
early ‘70s, Underwood said, but by then
“it was pretty much a pile of junk (and)
in bad disrepair,” Underwood said.
Clarence Cropp, the fire department
mechanic at the time, (now retired)
spent time working on her and by 1989,
she was “parade ready” in time for the
department’s centennial celebration.
“He did the best he could with
what little money and time he had,”
Underwood praised.
Following that parade, Engine No. 3
was relegated to a public works shelter
on Route 22. There it collected dust
until the police department needed the
space to store equipment.
Enter a new hero, Mike Walusiak, the
department’s present-day fire apparatus
mechanic. “He took it upon himself
to get Engine No. 3 out of storage,”
Underwood said. “He worked on it in
his spare time and got it running again.
May You Run
He stopped the bleeding, performed
CPR; however you want to call it. But he
got it to where it is today.”
Given a green light by his chief at the
time and with money from the city in
his budget to perform repairs, Walusiak
took it upon himself to learn about the
ancient engine (“I had never worked
on anything this old,” he laughed) via
records and the original manual. “I got
addicted,” he said. “I would work on it
after work. I couldn’t stop myself. I just
wanted to see this thing run.”
This was no small feat, especially
considering that parts for it are near
impossible to find. For example, the
engine’s metal wheels were rusted out.
It took Walusiak a year to find new
ones. It also took him a year to repair
the radiator. Even an oil change was a
challenge. The vintage engine can’t use
modern oil—it has detergents.
But he was driven to return Engine
No 3 to her former glory. When he
was a child playing on the authentic
playground fire truck that used to sit
in Sunset Park, he recalled, “I used to
look at all the components and wonder,
‘What’s this for?’ and ‘What’s that for?’
1920’s bunker pants of firefighter Ray Mann
Now I’m 60 years-old and I know where
all the parts are and how they work. I’ve
come full circle.”
Make no mistake, Engine No. 3 is a
gas to drive. Just ask Underwood, who
on a whim one day, decided to bring
the engine to the classic car show that
Buffo’s restaurant in Highwood holds
about every two weeks during the
summer. “It was a big thrill to drive it,”
he enthused. “Absolutely the coolest
thing. You have to use both hands
because the engine is so heavy and
(Continued on page 12)
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SUMMER 2015
11
Engine No. 3:
(continued from pg. 11)
Long May You Run
there is no power steering. You have
to know how to double clutch the stick
shift. It being summertime, by the time I
got to Buffo’s, I was dripping sweat.”
Thus began Engine No. 3’s role as a
PR-public education tool as a living
piece of the history of firefighting in
Highland Park. “Kids love to climb on
it,” Underwood said, “and their parents
or grandparents might remember seeing
it (in action).”
After about two decades and about
$10,000, the time had come to give
Engine No. 3 a thorough restoration. In
its almost 90-year history, its engine had
never been overhauled. “It’s amazing that
it is still running,” Walusiak said. “But it
needs (proper) attention. It’s not a question
of if it fails, but when, and if we don’t do
anything, it’s not going to be around.”
KVR Restoration, the repair company that
is part of the Reliance Fire Museum in
Estes, CO, will perform the refurbishment.
Doug Kleink, the company’s owner,
estimates it will take the better part of
two years and 20,000 man-hours.
All things considered, Kleink said in a
phone interview, Engine No. 3 is “in
great condition. We work on a lot of
trucks that have been kept outside
and are literally rusted through or have
catastrophic engine damage. This truck
has been well cared for. But no matter
how well you take care of something,
when it gets to be 86 years-old, you can
start to run into wear problems.”
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SUMMER 2015
Donald Liebenson writes frequently
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When Engine No. 3 returns home,
she will be given a hero’s welcome
and the royal treatment. “(She) is a
source of pride, tradition and history
for the organization,” said Deputy
Chief Larry Amidei. “(She) represents
the department’s roots as the engine
that leads the line of fire apparatus at
the Fourth of July parade every year.
The refurbishment project will take the
engine to well over 100 years old, and
lead the parades for many more years.”
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Rotary Club:
Revolving Aro
Like many philanthropic groups, Rotary
members engage in such fundraising
activities as hosting charity galas and
golf outings. The local Rotary Club also
has fun at meetings raising what it calls
“happy dollars.” Members literally give
a buck or two to tell the group about
something good they experienced that
Photos: Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood
“Rotary” means the motion of revolving
around a central axis. The word is
perfect as the name for Rotary Club,
a unique service group designed as
a hub for local business owners and
professionals looking to give back to the
community in which their customers live,
work, and shop.
City Manager, Ghida Neukirch and Rotary participating in this year’s Highland Park Bike Fair
When Chicago attorney Paul Harris
started Rotary Club in 1905, he set
out to create an organization in which
professionals of diverse backgrounds
could exchange ideas, form meaningful
relationships, and put business skills
to work for the common good. Over
100 years later, this concept is the
foundation of an influential institution
with clubs in cities worldwide.
“The local Rotary Club of Highland
Park/Highwood has impacted
our community and economy in
innumerable ways,” said Cynthia
Plouché, incoming Rotary president.
She explained that during local Rotary
meetings, members build relationships
and raise money for important causes.
14
SUMMER 2015
week, such as acquiring a new client,
celebrating a graduating grandchild, or
volunteering at a nearby food bank.
At weekly meetings, speakers from
either the private or public sector
educate members on a variety of topics,
including a North Pole expedition, the
experiences of local exchange students
in Japan, and the current state of our
community’s economy. And the group
sings at every meeting—members
can choose to thank or blame Rotary
member Larry Block, founder of the
Highland Park Strings, for keeping that
tradition alive!
The cities of Highland Park and
Highwood provide non-profits a
membership pool that is diverse in
gender, age, income, ethnicity, and
skill sets, but also educated and aware
of social needs. While the community
boasts great schools, public safety,
and natural beauty, there is still a need
for creative problem solving on issues
related to education, hunger, health,
and public services.
Enter Rotary, whose motto is “Service
above Self.” To that end, members
of the Rotary Club of Highland Park/
Highwood have brought their resources
to bear on several fronts in our
community. For example, retired Baxter
executive and engineer Fred Orkin
established a financial literacy program.
Geared toward Highland Park High
School students, the program offers
workshops on managing credit cards,
buying insurance, taking on student
loans, and buying a car. All of these
workshops are led by fellow businesssavvy Rotarians such as Highland
Park Bank and Trust President Sandy
McCraren, First Bank of Highland Park
Executive Vice President Tom Olivieri,
Gregory Hyundai dealership owner
Greg Mauro, and State Farm Insurance
Agent Joe Palminteri. The program just
completed its third year and soon will
be expanded to middle school students.
On another front, Karen Dennis,
Administrative Director of Midwest
Young Artists, has assembled a
Community Service Committee in
which the club partners with Moraine
Township, Martin Luther King Service
Day, the City of Highland Park, and
many other agencies on service
projects. Furthering the club’s current
focus on helping to eradicate hunger,
Rotary member and retired Hewitt CIO
Len Tenner established the weekend
meal delivery program for qualifying
HPHS students’ families.
By Carolyn Cerf
Around Service
The primary target of Rotary’s
fundraising and grant-making efforts
is college scholarships and youth
exchange programs. According to the
club’s current Scholarships Committee
Chair, Paul Munk, over the last three
years, the club has awarded nearly
$250,000 in scholarships and grants for
dozens of deserving local high school
TABU is a student exchange project
co-sponsored with the Belfast Rotary
Club in Northern Ireland. Every other
year, six area students are selected to
go to Northern Ireland on the exchange
program, while in alternate years, six
Northern Ireland students come to our
community.
Rotary walking proudly in the Highland Park July 4 Parade
grads who might not otherwise pursue
a college degree. In addition to college
scholarships, the RYLA (Rotary Young
Leadership Awards) program is a chance
for local students to gain leadership
skills and experience at an annual
retreat with other Rotary youth.
Under the leadership of International
Committee Chair and Coldwell
Banker Realtor Martha Gray, the club
also operates two student exchange
programs, TABU (To Achieve a Better
Understanding) and the Rotary Youth
Exchange Program.
Youth Exchange is a study-abroad
program for young people who spend
anywhere from a few weeks to a year as
an international student. Local Rotary
clubs host students and offer room and
board.
Rotary’s international organizational
structure also helps individual clubs
maximize the impact of local fundraising
and service projects. Last year, the
umbrella Rotary Foundation offered
matching grants for clubs looking
to support capital improvement
projects that smaller non-profits
couldn’t otherwise afford. This resulted
in $10,000 of support for much-
needed improvements to Tri-Con and
Community Nursery Schools and Family
Service’s Nuestro Center.
So what does it mean to be a non-profit
member of the Highland Park Chamber
of Commerce? For Rotary, it’s a natural
fit. The club serves as a charitable core
for business owners and professionals
looking for visible ways
to make a meaningful
difference in local
markets. In turn, the
business acumen and
problem-solving skills
common in Chamber
members infuse the club
with the talent it needs
to thrive. Partnerships
formed from a shared
background in the local
business community are
some of the strongest.
They enable a nonprofit like Rotary Club
to fulfill its mission,
and they enable local
businesses to thrive as
an established member
of the community.
Together, non-profits like
Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood
and the Highland Park Chamber of
Commerce can accomplish even more.
For more information about Rotary
Club of Highland Park/Highwood
including local service projects and
sponsorship opportunities, visit www.
highlandparkrotary.org, call 847-5258245, or follow the club on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/hprotary. Meetings
are held every Monday at the Highland
Park Country Club with networking
and lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by a
program and speaker at noon.
SUMMER 2015
15
By Mira Temkin
Ravinia’s High
Photos: Ravinia Festival
“Ravinia’s work in schools began in
earnest in 1995 with the Ravinia Jazz
Mentors Program, founded in part by
jazz legend and Ravinia Jazz Artistic
Director Ramsey Lewis,” Taylor
explained. “That program matched
talented high-school students with
Chicago’s finest jazz musicians, providing
intensive pre-professional training and
mentorships,” she continued.
Three violinists perform at the Douglas Park Field House in Lawndale
For Highland Parkers, Ravinia Festival
has always been their summer playground for outstanding music, great
performances, and a night under the
stars. Couple all that with friendly gatherings as well as dining al fresco, and
summer continuously makes Ravinia the
star of the show.
What many residents don’t know about,
however, is Ravinia’s efforts throughout the year to bring music and music
education to underprivileged students
in Lake and Cook counties, as well as to
provide music instruction to Highland
Park students. Reach * Teach * Play is a
multifaceted program designed to educate, foster audience involvement, and
ensure that underserved populations
have access to live music experiences
both in their own communities and at
Ravinia. Through Reach * Teach * Play,
there are currently more than a dozen
education programs, serving more than
75,000 young people.
Keeping tempo with student
education programming
In 1965, the Ravinia Women’s Board
planted the seeds of Reach * Teach *
Play with the Opportunity Lawn Pass
program, which gave students free
access to concerts. This program led
to other initiatives that served as the
nucleus of the current signature Reach
* Teach * Play program, said program
director Christine Taylor.
Taylor said that other initiatives came
through individual Ravinia Board or staff
members. For example, Welz Kauffman, president and CEO of Ravinia,
proposed One Score, One Chicago,
a music appreciation program that
introduces thousands of children and
adults to a selected piece of classical
music each year. This year’s selection is
Verdi’s Aida. “Bringing music to kids and to those
who otherwise would not have access
is one of the things that really gets my
juices flowing,” said Kauffman. “When
I was growing up, it was only because
I wanted to play the piano that my
parents found me a teacher, and that’s
what set me off on a trajectory. It’s really
Circle Rocket’s orchestra students take a pre-concert break
16
SUMMER 2015
Note:
The Reach * Teach * Play Program
important we find those kids, who, like
me, will make music a lifelong obsession,”
he commented.
Kauffman also suggested Ravinia’s
Guest Artist in the Classroom program,
which introduces children in Chicago,
Highland Park, North Chicago, and
Waukegan schools to live classical music
in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.
Inspired by Venezuela’s influential
El Sistema model, students in the
program receive daily ensemble and
orchestra instruction in their chosen
instrument. Ravinia is looking to expand this program into Lake County
schools in the near future.
workshops and performances that connect them and their families to Ravinia.
This year, Highland Park’s three middle
school choirs came together under
guest artist Bryan Johnson to perform
several Gershwin pieces at Bennett
Gordon Hall at Ravinia.
“We serve all of the schools in District
112,” said Taylor. “This year’s musical
theme is Porgy and Bess. Fifth grade
teachers integrate the story and the
music into their curriculum, so when their
students see it come to life at Ravinia,
they’re very familiar with it.” Taylor
added that as part of Ravinia’s annual
Kids Go Classic program, all students
K–8 were eligible for free lawn passes to
the July performance of Porgy and Bess.
In tune with HPHS
Welz Kauffman and Alexis Lombre rehearse Ramsey Lewis’s “The In Crowd” for an upcoming performance
performances by renowned ensembles
and soloists.
Kaufmann himself “is a fantastic pianist
who routinely plays for and with students in our schools,” Taylor said. “The
Guest Artist program is a wonderful
opportunity for him to share his passion
for music with the students.”
Another program, El Sistema Ravinia
is an intensive after school orchestra
that encourages social development
through exceptional music training
at the Circle Rock Charter School
The Ravinia Lawndale Family Music
School helps bring children and adults
together around musical experiences.
Ravinia provides high-quality music
instruction in guitar, piano, and choral
performance at no charge, in cooperation with the Chicago Park District at
various park locations. Participants also
receive free tickets to Ravinia concerts.
Ravinia partners with Highland Park
High School through the school’s
biennial Focus on the Arts program.
At “Focus Music Night” last April,
Ravinia’s own Ramsey Lewis was
honored with a new orchestration of
his greatest hits by music students,
which was followed by a memorable
performance by Lewis himself.
In harmony with young local
students
Nick Pullia, Director of Communications
at Ravinia, serves as an industry
specialist at the high school’s “Marketing
for Sports and Entertainment” class
in which students interested in
entertainment-related careers learn how
to market and promote a show. A group
of 15 students worked with Ravinia’s
marketing team to “pitch” their peers on
attending Chicago Symphony Orchestra
concerts at the festival. Through the District 112 Education
Foundation Partnership, students in our
neighborhood schools enjoy unique
“We first explained to the students
that classical music faces a shrinking
(Continued on page 18)
SUMMER 2015
1717
Ravinia
(continued from pg. 17)
audience around the globe, especially for younger
generations,” Pullia said.
“Then we asked them to help solve this problem by using the
voice and tools of their generation to market CSO concerts to
other high school kids who would otherwise regret not having
experienced one of the world’s great ensembles for free in
their own backyard.”
Pitch perfect programs come to life
The festival’s new interactive family-friendly space on the
north lawn lets kids touch, play, and interact with Ravinia’s
classic “instrument petting zoo.” At selected Ravinia concerts,
children can explore the world of music with sing-a-longs,
storytelling, and musical crafts as well as experience large-scale
percussion instruments to make their own brand of music.
When you come to Ravinia this summer, you’ll do more
than experience a brilliant performance, you’ll have a new
appreciation for all the ways Ravinia continues to inspire a love
of music for the Highland Park community and beyond!
Students from George Tilton Elementary School sing onstage during Ravinia
Days at Ravinia
Author Mira Temkin is a North Shore freelance writer whose
articles have appeared in Lakeland Boating, Natural Awakenings, Chicago Upscale Travel Examiner, and NY Lifestyles
magazine. She also writes advertising and web copy. Reach
her at miratemkin@gmail.com.
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SUMMER 2014
Debit
Student Honor Dinner
Celebrates 50 Years!
Oh what a night! The 50th Annual
Student Honor Dinner held on
April 29, 2015, was heartfelt,
inspirational, and a testament to the
Chamber’s commitment to invest in
Scheduled MAINTENANCE
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the future of business and community.
The Chamber recognized twenty-three
Highland Park High School students
for their outstanding achievements
and exceptional character.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of
the Dinner, the Chamber, individual
business donors, and the Hershenson
family gave $23,000 in scholarships.
Guest speaker Kathy Morris (Class
of 1968, Student Honoree) shared
great life advice, and ABC News’
Brian Ross (Class of 1966, Student
Honoree) congratulated the students
and shared memories of Highland
Park via video. HPHS Principal,
Tom Koulentes spoke movingly about
each student and everyone enjoyed
the video highlighting each honoree
created by Tom Vogelsang from the
Media Center.
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SUMMER 2013
Contractors’
CORNER
Stay Current with
Electrical Safety in
the Home
If you’re like most people, you probably
have more things to plug in than places
to plug them. Everything you buy these
days seems to need power. Here are
some tips and safety reminders when
dealing with the never-ending need to
plug stuff in.
Cords – Cords are everywhere in a
home. But a few things need to be kept
in mind in order to safely use extension
and appliance cords.
can help keep a food processor from
falling off a counter or a toaster from
tumbling into the sink while plugged
in. Avoid the urge to use an extension
cord on appliances in the kitchen and
elsewhere; have additional outlets
professionally installed.
• Never conceal an extension cord
under carpet, over a drop ceiling, or
through a wall.
• Inspect extension and appliance cords
for frays, cracks, or kinks. If a cord is
damaged, discard the cord or appliance
or have the cord professionally
repaired. If discarding, consider cutting
power rating of the cord is related to
its length. The longer the cord, the
larger the rating needs to be to carry
the same amount of power. By plugging cords into each other, you may
create not only a safety issue, but also
potentially damage the tool or
appliance you are using.
• Do not use interior-rated cords outside. Extension cords rated for exterior use will have thicker insulation, and
a grounding wire—this is the “third
prong” on the end of some plugs.
• Never modify a cord’s end by cutting
off the third prong. This is the
grounding prong for the cord, and it
is critical for safely. A professional can
replace an ungrounded outlet with a
grounded one to use with cords with
three-prong plugs.
Outlets – Every cord plugs into an outlet.
If your home has too few, have additional
outlets installed professionally.
• If you don’t have enough outlets, use
a power strip, but don’t overload the
circuit or wall outlet that it is plugged
into. A good rule of thumb is if you find
yourself wanting to plug one power strip
into another, you’re in unsafe territory.
• Do not conceal or route power strips
behind walls or within furniture or
fixtures.
• Extension cords are meant to provide
convenient and temporary power for
a specific task. They should never be
used as a permanent power solution.
• Do you ever wonder why some appliance cords are so short? A manufacturer will keep cords short for safety,
not to make it difficult for people to
use their appliances. A short cord
20
SUMMER 2015
the cord in half or off completely to
keep the safety issue from making its
way into someone else’s home.
• Extension cords can be a tripping hazard. Do not place them across a high
traffic area such as a hall or doorway.
• Do not “daisy chain” extension cords
by plugging one into another. The
• Critical circuits such as sump pumps
should be on dedicated circuits and
outlets. Never install an adaptor or
power strip to plug other things into
these outlets, even for a small load.
A simple thing like a short in a power
supply for a security system may cause
this circuit to trip, losing power to the
pump. There is a reason a single-style
By Jan Grevers
At Highland Park Electric, we can
provide solutions and installations for
all your electrical needs. Call us at
847-433-6300, or visit online as
www.hpelec.com. No job is too small,
and estimates are free.
Jan Grevers, President
Highland Park Electric
For a list of Chamber
members that specialize
outlet was installed for the pump —
it’s to keep you from plugging other
things into it.
in electrical supply or
• If an outlet or power strip is warm to
the touch, it’s overloaded.
the Highland Park
Solutions – So what do you do about
the never-ending need to plug stuff
in with nowhere to plug it? Well, the
obvious answer is to be safe. Either
find other areas to plug things into or
have additional outlets professionally
installed. This is particularly the case in
the kitchen, office, and entertainment
areas of you home, places that electrical
needs tend to be the highest.
contracting, consult
Chamber of Commerce
27TH ANNUAL
RECYCLED
Community Guide, or
the online Business
Directory at
www.chamberhp.com.
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SUMMER 2015
21
North Skokie Corridor:
The Road More
All that traffic is a boon to visibility. “It’s
good for our business,” said Dan Miotti, coowner of Menoni & Mocogni, the building
and landscape supply company located at
2160 Skokie Valley Road. “People know
you are here.”
located at 1333 Park Avenue, West. “We’re
not part of the mainstream business
district,” he said. The unique services
offered, he added, are the very definition
of destination business. “You don’t come
here by accident,” he said.
Miotti uses a different term: a necessity
business, for which customers will go a
little out of their way. “Where else are you
going to get what we service?” he said
of his company that offers a complete
line of landscaping and building materials
such as ready-mix concrete, sand, gravel,
and decorative stones. “We service all
the communities from the south side of
Chicago up to the state line.”
Route 41 is managed by the Illinois
Department of Transportation, not the
city. The entities meet semi-annually or
Photo: Foss Swim School
Most business owners are always looking
for ways to increase their traffic. The
more than 100 businesses along Highland
Park’s North Skokie Corridor business
district literally do not have that problem.
Situated along Route 41 between Park
Avenue West and Old Elm Road, the North
Skokie Corridor has a daily traffic count of
approximately 74,000 vehicles.
Photo: Fenceworks
Fun in the water at Foss Swim School
Along with visibility, another lure of
establishing a business along the North
Skokie Corridor is the availability of
ample space, not only for the businesses
themselves, but also for customer parking.
Sandy Diamond, president of Fenceworks,
at 2356 Skokie Valley Road, agrees. “Traffic
is the No. 1 benefit,” he said, adding
“Thousands and thousands of cars drive by
everyday. It is the most impactful form of
our advertising.”
“Twenty-two years in one location gives
you a lot of credibility. People know where
we are,” added Stan Ascher, Fenceworks
CEO (and “the Guy on 41”).
The highway gives the North Skokie
Corridor its own cachet, offered Alan
Frisch, President of Highland Park Ford,
22
SUMMER 2015
Hersch said that the North Skokie Corridor
is distinguished by the sheer variety of
businesses. To name a few, the district
includes numerous auto dealerships; autorelated services; Dunkin’ Donuts, at 1990
Skokie Valley Road, and other casual dining
spots; home design business Studio 41, at
3160 Skokie Valley Road; building material
suppliers; contractors and distributors; self
storage facilities; DCS Cleaning Service, at
1596 Old Skokie Road; and Illinois Bone
and Joint’s Health Performance Institute,
1919 Skokie Valley Road.
Photo: Dunkin’ Donuts
Lindsey, Sandy, Stan, and Susan Ascher of
Fenceworks
as needed to discuss improvements to
signage, safety and access, notes Highland
Park Business Development Coordinator
Carolyn Hersch.
Who can resist the sweets at Dunkin’ Donuts?
“Space-hungry businesses can’t go into
the downtown district,” said Ben Nusinow,
general manager of Lexus of Highland
Park, 2930 Skokie Valley Road, which
recently made a “significant investment”
in its business and the community with a
new showroom contiguous to its former
location. “We have 231 spaces on this
property. That isn’t available (elsewhere).”
Some of the city’s oldest businesses
are located along the Corridor. Menoni
& Mocogni, established in 1909, is the
oldest business in the district. Mutual
Ace Hardware has been at its location
at 1393 Half Day Road for four decades.
Pasquesi Plumbing, 3218 Skokie Valley
Road, has been in operation almost that
long, as has Manfredini Landscaping and
Design, 2344 Skokie Valley Road. Frisch’s
Highland Park Ford has been at its location
By Donald Liebenson
Photo: Manfredini Landscape and Design
will fondly remember Leo’s delicatessen
in downtown Highland Park. Frisch’s uncle
founded it.
A beautiful garden by Manfredini Landscape
and Design
for just over three decades. Tellingly, all
are family-run businesses. In fact, many
of the North Skokie Corridor businesses
have longtime affiliations or personal ties
to the community. Readers of a certain age
North Skokie Corridor is also home to
successful new businesses. Foss Swim
School, at 1927 Skokie Valley Road
and next to the Trek Bicycle Store, for
example, has made a big splash since it
opened in 2010. And when children’s
photographer Gina Sanders wanted to
develop her business, she opened
AG Gallery, 3150 Skokie Valley Road, in
2013 on the Corridor. The latest arrival to
the area is Deckwerks, which specializes
in the custom design and construction of
outdoor additions.
Several established Corridor businesses
are now building or expanding. For
Photo: AG Gallery
Traveled
AG Gallery creates custom fine art portaiture
example, in addition to Lexus of Highland
Park’s new showroom, Semersky
Enterprises, which operates The Exchange
Audi, Porsche and Saab dealership, is
undergoing an expansion, as well as
(Continued on page 25)
SUMMER 2015
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Photo: Studio 41
North Skokie Corridor
constructing a car storage
lot at the corner of Half Day
Road and 41, Hersch noted.
Many Corridor business
owners live in the area and take
personal pride in how their
products and services have
enhanced the community. “I’m
very proud of what this business
has brought to Highland Park,”
Diamond said. “If you drive
Beautiful displays at the Studio 41 showroom
anywhere here and in the (rest
of the) North Shore, yard after
yard will have something (Fenceworks) sells – a playground, a trampoline, a basketball net, or
a fence. We’ve brought a lot of smiles to a lot of children, as well as their parents.”
Diamond said that over the last 20
years, he’s seen the district “completely
change from (offering) barely anything
to now . . . and the trend is only going
up. It’s definitely getting even better.”
While the speed limit on Route 41 maxes out at 50, business owners see no limit to the
North Skokie Corridor’s growth. “We believe in the area and the business district,” Nusinow
said. Lexus has “been in Highland Park since 1989. We love our brand, and we also love our
market – there’s no better luxury market in the Midwest than Highland Park.
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It’s
NEW TO
Bake425°
Bake425° customers never have to ask
at what temperature they should cook
their artisan, bake-at-home pizza. It’s
right there in the name of the pizzeria!
What are Bake425°’s best-selling pizzas? Borneman said they’re the Margherita
and the Omnivore—the later, which
has butternut puree, mozzarella,
bacon, grilled chicken, arugula, cherry
tomatoes, red onion, basil,
and parmesan, is also one
of the owner’s favorites. Two other of his top choices
are the Short Rib pizza
and the Earth Lover, which
has a white béchamel
sauce, portabella and
cremini mushrooms, yukon
potatoes, truffle oil, basil,
and parmesan.
seafood. After enjoying dinner
at the restaurant recently, a local
businessman labeled it “a cross
between Wildfire and Ruth’s
Chris’s.” Owner Dan Beelow calls
it “fine dining in a 1950’s, relaxed
atmosphere.” Beelow said that the menu’s
most popular items are lobster tempura,
Kelly’s Asian spicy shrimp, and filet
mignon, although his personal favorite
is the rib-eye steak. Beelow’s burgers,
another customer favorite, come from
the Mundelein family farm where
Beelow was born, and where his brother
Duane continues raising cattle. Beelow
said that customers enjoy hearing “the
family farming history.” Photo: John Naughton
Photo: Bake425°
Owner/President Bill Borneman said
that as of July, his company has six
Bake425° gourmet pizzerias on the
North Shore, and two more will open in
restaurants use, but we would rather
make less money and get something
to the table that is cleaner, higher
quality, and something I would feel
comfortable feeding my own children.”
Fresh home cooked pizza for dinner from Bake425°
the western suburbs before the end of
September. The Highland Park location,
however, is especially near and dear to
Borneman’s heart. “I personally love
Highland Park,” he said. “It was our first
location, our concept store, and we put
a lot of heart into it.”
Borneman said the company is “trying
to bring something healthy – for both
our customers and the environment
– and, at the same time, delicious to
the family table.” What goes into a
Bake425° pizza makes it the special pie
that it is. “We are uber conscientious,”
he said. “We use organic vegetables;
all natural, nitrate-free meats; non
GMO organic flour; (and) organic
sauces. These ingredients cost
more than what 99% of other pizza
26
SUMMER 2015
In developing the menu,
Borneman said it was
important to feature items
in keeping with “our focus
on farm-to-table, organic, and
small batch.” In addition to the pizzas,
Bake425° offers salads, desserts, and
beverages that include small-batch
wines and locally-sourced craft beers.
The carry-out restaurant is open from
1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, and from
2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays.
479 Central Avenue
847-681-9700
Bake425.com
Beelow’s
NorthShore
Beelow’s NorthShore, which opened
in March, already is known about
town for serving great steaks and
Owner Dan Beelow pours a craft beer from his exclusive
30-tap beer tower imported from Slovenija for the newly
opened Beelow’s NorthShore
In addition to the great food, an
impressive wine list and a vast selection
of craft beers, many of them locally
brewed, contribute to making Beelow’s
a new dining favorite in town. And the
restaurant’s beautiful patio is quite the
lively place on a warm summer night.
General Manager Bob Vorachek
came over from Beelow’s Steakhouse
in Lake Zurich to get the Highland
By Maureen Mostyn Liebenson
YOU
Beelow said he chose the location
for his new restaurant because “of
downtown Highland Park’s feel.”
Parking availability was also a plus.
And the restaurant’s location makes
it the perfect place for dinner before
or even after a movie at Renaissance
Theatre. “We have a late night menu
starting at 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
nightly,” said Beelow. The restaurant
also takes reservations.
step in PAWS Chicago’s mission to
expand (animal) lifesaving and build nokill communities.” Petco offered PAWS space inside their
large, bustling Highland Park location,
enabling the shelter to “find more
homes for pets who need them—
especially large dogs, which are popular
with suburban families,” Fasseas
explained. “Large dogs have become
the most at-risk of being euthanized in
In addition to offering the late night
menu, Beelow’s serves lunch daily from
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner
Sunday to Thursday from 4:00 to 9 p.m.,
and from 4 to 10:00 p.m. Friday and
Saturday.
1850 Second Street
847-780-3300
www.beelowsnorthshore.com
PAWS Chicago’s
North Shore
Adoption Center
You can’t have too many friends – in
fact, you should consider adopting
at least one more at PAWS Chicago’s
North Shore Adoption Center, now
located inside the Petco animal supplies
store in Highland Park.
Paula Fasseas and her daughter Alexis
founded the no-kill animal shelter
PAWS Chicago in 1997. The “opening
of the North Shore Adoption Center,”
Fasseas said, “represents an important
individuals committed to giving the
animals a lifetime of love and security.
The selection ensures that families can
find the companion who is a perfect fit
for their household.
Pet adoptions at the Highland Park
facility have been fantastic, Fasseas said,
adding, “We are truly grateful to the
Highland Park community for embracing
us, and also for their dedication to
helping us end pet homelessness.” If you can’t adopt,
however, consider
volunteering at the
facility. Volunteers are
the life force of the
organization, Fasseas
said.
Photo: PAWS
Park restaurant off to a good start.
In addition to being proud of the
handsome dining room and the diverse
menu options, he is quick to point
out the large, friendly bar area. Beer
aficionados are sure to be awed by the
30-handle draft system behind the bar. PAWS helps pets find happy homes
kill shelters. We wanted to bring our
progressive sheltering practices to a
new, great community of adopters who
will help us solve the pet homelessness
problem,” she added. “Many visitors are shocked to see all
the wonderful animals we have available
for adoption,” she said. “It’s hard to
believe that these sweet faces were
once homeless. It’s so important to
break the old stereotype that shelter
animals are somehow ‘damaged.’”
From age to breed and size, a wide
array of dogs and cats are available
for adoption by loving families or
Save the date for
PAWS Chicago’s
“First Annual Angels
With Tails Highland
Park,” presented
by Merrick Pet Care
on October 18,
from noon to 4 p.m.
The Highland Park
Chamber of Commerce
is happy to promote the event, which
will offer an opportunity to stroll city
“sidewalks and press your nose against
storefront windows to sample the joy
a pet can bring to your life. Dozens of
homeless puppies, kittens, dogs, and
cats will be available for adoption that
afternoon,” Fasseas explained. The adoption center is open inside of
Petco weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
and Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1616 Deerfield Road
224-707-1190
www.pawschicago.org
SUMMER 2015
27
Rosewood:
By Elizabeth Gogola
Life Is Better at this Beach
It has been the buzz all year– the renovation and this summer’s
opening of the Park District of Highland Park’s new Rosewood
Beach. If you haven’t been down there yet, you really should!
Rosewood opened to the public in early June, and WOW, what
a beach it is.
Center is open to the public during busy beach days and serves
as a shelter for visitors in the event of inclement weather.
During off season days and hours, the Center will be available
for community use and rentals.
Planning for the restoration of
Rosewood began in 2011, with the
Park District breaking ground in
October 2013. The complex restoration
project not only improved the beach
infrastructure for recreational and
educational purposes, but the shoreline
and ecosystem were restored as well.
It’s time to hit the beach!
Like no other in Illinois, Rosewood beach offers three protected
coves – a nature cove, a swimming cove, and a recreational
cove; a one-of-a-kind beachfront Interpretive Center; and
amenity buildings that include concessions, restrooms, and
guard buildings that are all connected by a boardwalk. The
buildings are small in scale, natural in appearance and blend
into the environment, thus allowing Lake Michigan to be the
focus of attention.
The wide boardwalk runs the length of the beachfront and
connects to a stairway and path at opposite ends of the beach,
both of which lead to the upper Rosewood Park on the bluff.
The boardwalk features benches, picnicking areas, and built-in
loungers facing out to the beach and lake.
The gateway for educational exploration is the beach’s
Interpretive Center. This 1,960 square foot building is the
gathering and departure point for Park District of Highland
Park camps and school groups who explore the diverse
lakefront ecosystem. Interpretive information panels, dissecting
and projecting microscopes, computers, and a 70-inch video
monitor communicate the conservation efforts in progress and
the fragile ravine system that is unique to Highland Park. The
28
SUMMER 2015
The Park District of Highland Park
entered into a partnership agreement
with the United States Army Corps
of Engineers (USACE) to renovate
and expand the beach. The project
was made possible via the Great
Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem (GLFER)
program, which authorizes federal
funding for the USACE to cooperate
with the federal, state, and local
agencies. Also enabling the project
was the Great Lakes Fishery Commission,
which implements projects that support restoration of the
fishery, ecosystem, and beneficial uses of the Great Lakes.
“This project was one of the most ambitious projects of its
kind in the state and serves as a role model for ecological
best practices. It also showcases how a collected vision can be
transformed into a shared reality,” said Liza McElroy, executive
director of the Park District of Highland Park. “The restoration
of Rosewood Beach and surrounding park area is a lasting
legacy of Highland Park’s commitment to environmental
stewardship, conservation, recreation, and education.”
This summer, the Park District of Highland Park is offering
Rosewood Beach summer camps, Rise and Shine yoga, and
open water swim workout programs. In the fall, the District
will premier its new “Monarchs & Minnows” early childhood
nature-based education program, as well as a variety of oneday programs for all ages. These single-day programs will
include digital photography, family adventure days, and parent/
child activity days.
Elizabeth Gogola is Director of Marketing & Communication for
the Park District of Highland Park.
Photo (left): Ben Farcy
Photos: Google
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