Northbrook Star

Lacey Horwitch wears her friendship well

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:03:18 -0500

Lacey Horwitch, 9, of Northbrook has come back home to her family. Lacey is still recovering from liver failure last year, the result of from two rare medical conditions. Her nine months since the August diagnosis have galvanized a community. “She is inspirational, knowing her makes our life complete,” said Marla Lampert, whose daughter Bekah, 11, is a Wescott School fifth-grader. Bekah and Lacey’s sister Maya (Bekah’s best friend), both 11 and Wescott fifth-graders, donated their hair May 10 so Lacey could receive a new wig in six weeks, handmade with sisterly love. A temporary beauty salon, set up in …

Mom celebrates 100th birthday on Mother’s Day

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:18:47 -0500

To put a price tag on a birthday year, if you had to, amounts to a nice cashier’s check of $100, a gift presented Thursday to Elizabeth Wolf of Northbrook, who turned 100 on Mother’s Day. “One dollar for every year,” said Wolf, who was stunned her fellow Crestwood Place senior living apartment neighbors all generously pitched in. “How can I say thank you?” asked Wolf, tearful. “I can’t write anymore, how am I going to say thank you?” A well-wisher suggested she tack a small note with a few words on a community bulletin board. Of the large birthday …

Family, strangers come to aid of Northbrook man

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:40:40 -0500

Larry Strom says it’s easy to become cynical in life. But that has changed for him since he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. “You’re cynical most of your life. I’m no longer cynical,” Strom said. What changed his outlook is the outpouring of help he has received from total strangers who have helped make his Northbrook house more accessible. They have done everything from removing a backyard swimming pool to installing ramps for his wheelchair to enlarging doorways. It started a few weeks ago when Strom, who was still then able to …

Consignment shop takes ‘repurposing’ to heart

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:49:56 -0500

Melly and Mitch Schwartz, who run the store Turn The Tables...Creations and Consignment for the Home in Meadows Shopping Plaza, are excited about their store’s new neighbor. “We are thrilled to have the Dollar Tree move into the old Blockbuster Video space!” said Mitch. “Nothing looks worse for a downtown shopping district than closed store-fronts with ‘for lease’ signs being displayed. We believe that any additional business openings will add to our existing walk-up traffic,” said Mitch, a Northbrook resident since 1986. Repurposing former uses speaks to his wife Melly, who adds “bling” to steely Turn the Tables in-store fixtures …

Suit: Let disabled athletes go to IHSA state meet

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:53:41 -0500

The Illinois High School Association girls state track and field meet will be held this weekend — and Fenwick’s Mary Kate Callahan won’t be taking part. But a lawsuit to be filed Wednesday by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in federal court aims to make it possible for student-athletes with disabilities, like Callahan who is paralyzed from the waist down, to compete in future IHSA state meets.

Students learn about citizenship at NBJH naturalization ceremony

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:10:01 -0500

They were short and tall, thin and fat. Blond and brunette, black, white and shades in between. They were Asian, European, Mexican and Scandinavian. They came from Belarus and Brazil, Germany and Guatemala, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland and 15 other countires. In short, the 52 new American citizens gathered in the gym at Northbrook Junior High Friday were pretty much like any cross section of America, a mix of languages, cultures, religions and traditions. As U. S. District Court Judge Edmond E. Chang told them as he administered the oath of citizenship, “No one group can lay claim to America. …