Northbrook Star

Greenbriar students enjoy new gymnasium opening

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:26:46 -0600

Though it just opened its doors Monday, the new gymnasium, at Greenbriar School is already getting a workout. The school held special programs Monday to inaugurate the facility and the Northbrook Park District, which helped pay the cost of building the gym, had programs already scheduled to begin this week. “We’re very pleased with the design, layout and craftsmanship that’s been put into this,” said Larry Hewitt, superintendent of Northbrook Elementary School District 28. “The partnership with the park distinct means it will be used all the time.” The new gym is part of a three-phase construction project at the …

Baseball player tryouts herald spring

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:56:26 -0600

It was 12 degrees and sunny on Feb. 11 — but indoors at the Glenbrook North High School field house — it felt like spring. “Everybody loves baseball especially this time of year,” smiled Mark Malter, a 16-year Northbrook resident and Northbrook Baseball Minor League umpire director. Malter volunteered for baseball evaluations which began at 8:00 a.m. sharp for fifth-grade players. “Everybody is getting excited for baseball,” said Malter. “Spring is around the corner.” With Opening Day set for Saturday, April 21, inside the GBN field house, boys lined up with paper numbers taped to their backs, waiting to be …

Voterama in Congress, week ending Feb. 10, 2012

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:20:02 -0600

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to bar members of Congress and their staff from using inside legislative information in personal stock trading. Members empowered presidents to veto discretionary-spending items providing that both houses of Congress then vote to approve of the rescissions. Members also required new rules for figuring the budgetary impact of federal loan programs. Senators, meanwhile, approved a federal aviation budget, and they advanced a bill to authorize federal road, bridge, transit and highway-safety programs through Sept. 30, 2013.

Snow, warmer temperatures expected this week

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:56:20 -0600

The bitter cold temperatures that hit the Chicago area over the weekend are expected to give way to snow Monday and then milder weather by the end of the week. Temperatures are expected to climb to 35 degrees on Monday, when there is an 80 percent chance of snow after 3 p.m., according to the National Weather Service’s website. About two inches of accumulation is possible by Tuesday morning. While the temperature is expected to climb from a weekend low of 10 degrees Saturday morning, wind gusts as high as 20 miles per will remain Monday afternoon, the weather service …

Wolfson, District 225 board member, charged with stock fraud

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:45:54 -0600

A Glenbrook School District 225 school board member and Northbrook resident faces federal charges that he profited more than $17 million from improperly trading shares. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleged Jeffrey Wolfson and his brother, Robert Wolfson, sold borrowed shares in hopes of profiting from declining prices. Called naked short selling, while the transaction is legal, SEC rules require sellers to locate shares to borrow before selling them short, according to a SEC release. Naked short selling also occurs without borrowing the securities to make delivery. The brothers neither located the stock before the sale, nor did they …

Kirk moved to Chicago rehab center

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:06:02 -0600

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who suffered a stroke nearly three weeks ago, was transferred Friday to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Snow makes its way back to the area Friday

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:02 -0600

Feeling a chill in the air? Snow will be back as soon as Friday when lake effect snow could hit the city and Northwest Indiana with six inches.

Catholic cemeteries offer to bury 300 bodies stacked at morgue

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:28:02 -0600

The Archdiocese of Chicago is offering to pay for up to 300 burials for the bodies being held at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Ted Nugent remembers ‘Chicago’s Woodstock’

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:27:03 -0600

Nothing suggests a cup of comfort more than a glass of milk with homemade cookies. Besides cold milk in a tall glass — Motor City Madman Ted Nugent also enjoys dishing about the superhot Super Bowl of Rock - Game III when milk jugs became Chicagoland pop culture. At that July 10, 1977 concert — when Nugent headlined after Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, Journey and REO Speedwagon — plastic gallon milk jugs (some water-filled) were airborne like popcorn, as many people in Northbrook remember (see last week’s Snapshot). “It was insane, people were throwing full ones,” recalls fan Bob Wilbat. …

District 31 officials work to explain ballot question wording

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:27:25 -0600

If voters in West Northfield Elementary School District 31 rely solely on the wording in a tax hike referendum question to help them determine how much it will cost them, they will seriously underestimate the amount. That’s because the referendum question does not factor in the Cook County Multiplier which increases the amount by more than three times. District 31 officials recognize that, and have provided accurate information on the district web site. In addition, Superintendent Alexandra Nicholson addresses that issue in a presentation she has been giving in the community and will give again at a series of meetings …

TIF District eyed for downtown area

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:26:39 -0600

A committee that has been working on a plan for developing Northbrook’s downtown area is recommending that among other things the village establish a tax increment financing district to help support improvements and promote development in the downtown area. Also, the committee, following a Jan. 31 review of the draft plan, said the village should consider the use of eminent domain to obtain property needed for development. The Northbrook Village board is expected to review the plan and a list of recommendations from the Downtown Plan Steering Committee at its Feb. 21 meeting. The proposal incorporated into the draft plan …

Police Blotter for Feb. 7

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:29:01 -0600

The following incidents were listed in the official reports of the Northbrook Police Department. Readers are reminded that an arrest by police does not constitute a finding of guilt; only a court of law can make that determination. DUI James R. Doar, 48, of 1052 Briarwood Lane, Northbrook, was charged Jan. 30 with driving under the influence and failure to yield. He was released on $1,000 bond with a Feb. 27 court date. Police said he was arrested after he was involved in an accident at Waukegan and Walters. FRAUD Cosmin F. Catalinoiu, 21, of 38599 Draper, Westland, Mich., was …

Meadowbrook Bingo Night goes Hawaiian

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:27:13 -0600

It was Bingo Night at Meadowbrook School on February’s first Friday. And while the school was abuzz with a luau-themed evening ahead, as families arrived, they walked down a long, quiet hallway to the back of the school by the North Gym. “It’s the big gym, it’s not the little gym, honey,” said one mom, holding the hand of her toddler daughter. “I smell popcorn,” said the youngster. “Yes, it smells good,” her mom said. And then the chitter chatter of Bingo Night could be heard. Now down to the right but in a shorter hallway was the north gym …

Special Gifts program combines therapy, performance art

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:02:30 -0600

Dorothy met Captain Hook in an original tale created by the children in the creative drama program of Special Gifts Theater. In four months, children age 7 to 9 with special needs, learned how to create characters, write lines, sing and act on stage in the creative drama class. The result was “The Wizard of Neverland,” performed by eight children with special needs and their eight peer buddies, in the auditorium at Crow Island School Saturday morning. The class for children who have cognitive, physical or social disabilities, started in October. The class met for an hour to an hour …

St. Norbert speaker shares Columbine victim story

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:28:24 -0600

Those attending the Rachel’s Challenge event at Northbrook’s St. Norbert Church Jan. 31 arrived in light coats — where speaker Adam Northam rolled up his sleeves for a gentle challenge. Would an interfaith congregation of 50, he asked, sign a pledge in honor of Rachel Scott, 17, the first victim of the Columbine High School tragedy in April of 1999? As part of Catholic Schools Week, the faithful or curious would first listen to Northam, who used a laptop multimedia presentation to share Scott’s story. “It’s kind of a sacred space to talk about a sacred topic,” reflected the Rev. …

Northbrook Park district

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:28:00 -0600

Cosmic skating A Valentine’s Cosmic Skate Party from 8 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 10 features DJ music, games, prizes and two hours of skate time at the Northbrook Sports Center. Non-skaters can celebrate in the Club Cosmic room. Cosmic skating programs welcome students in 6th grade or higher. The fee is $5 per youth, and skate rentals are available. For more information, visit nbparks.org or call (847) 291-2995. Greenbriar programs Family Sports Nights, indoor soccer, wiffle ball, cheerleading and tumbling begin in February at the new Greenbriar Gym. Teens and adults can enjoy open gym time for basketball, volleyball …