Kenilworth Insider

Bradley Roland Will

Flora — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:22:59 +0000

North Shore joins South Side, raises money, makes friends

Meagan — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 19:02:12 +0000

Cocktail parties are very enjoyable and sociable. Anything can happen. But at a recent cocktail party in Kenilworth, philanthropy began and a partnership sparked. Denise and Doug Nash held the party at their Kenilworth home to meet Paul Adams III who is launching a new charter school in Englewood on the city’s South Side. Adams is a well-known educator throughout Chicago and vicinity. Adams hit the jackpot so to say with his Providence Englewood Charter School, and before he realized what was happening, families from Kenilworth were lining up and pledging at least $25,000 each (more than the median annual income in Englewood). Not exactly your typical cocktail party. Not only did these amazing contributionists donate money, but donated time as well. Many Kenilworth families have offered to be tutors and volunteers. The story just keeps getting better. A neighborhood Boy Scout troop helped assemble desks and chairs for the school. Kenilworth resident and donor Art Duquette bought bottled water for the students when the drinking water at the school was unusable. On Labor Day weekend, instead of spending it like sloths, families headed to the school, equipment in hand and held a cleaning marathon to make sure the school could open on time. This is the first in the Chicago school reform movement that involves suburban-city partnership, and it is already inspiring other suburbs to help out with other Chicago public schools. Winnetka has become a philanthropic copycat as well as residents of Barrington, Hinsdale and Lake Forest. They have all made inquiries about similar partnerships, and Winnetka has a project underway.

Technorati Tags: Kenilworth, Englewood, Chicago public school reform, Winnetka, Barrington, Hinsdale, Lake Forest, Paul Adams III

Kenilworth school district asks for upgrades

Meagan — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 01:15:57 +0000

The Kenilworth School District has announced its intentions to ask for funding to upgrade things at Joseph Sears School in 2007. Kenilworth School District 38 will ask for $8.2 million in building upgrades for the school and an increase in Education Funds from taxpayers in April. This means that because of these requests, if it passes, individual tax payers will see an increase between $750 and $775 in the near future. By asking for this money, the school district plans to improve life-safety items in schools and fix issues right now that are out of date with the state code or pose a risk to students and staff. The School Board of Education is in agreement with these improvements, so it is likely that we’ll see the tax increase take place.

Technorati Tags: Kenilworth, Joseph Sears School, School District 38, Board of Education

Kenilworth/Wilmette Library

Meagan — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 22:03:42 +0000

The Wilmette Public Library’s card sign-up campaign during September is almost over. Only a few days left to visit the libraries website and fill out the preliminary paperwork online. More than two dozen merchants have supported the campaign. Go to 1242 Wilmette Aveto pick up the card. This year, the North Suburban Library System is taking part in the “Wicked” essay contest for children in grades 6-12. Basically, the students may subit a typed essay to describe what it is to be popular along with an official entry form to participating libraries by Sept. 29. Your chances of winning are pretty good, considering each library will select one winner who will win an official “Wicked” gift and Shiz University diploma signed by the Wizard. The grand prize will be awarded to the best essay throughout the Chicago area. That lucky person will win four tickets to see “Wicked” and may read the winning essay at Wicked Day Oct. 29 at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. Be sure to participate in this event so you don’t miss out on your chances to see Wicked in Chicago.

Technorati Tags: Kenilworth, Wilmette, Wilmette Public Library, Wicked, Daley Plaza

A Kenilworth Great was laid to rest

Meagan — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 22:05:43 +0000

Donald J. Wells, the eldest son of W.O. Wells is no longer with us. W.O. Wells is the man behind one of the world’s largest glove manufacturers, and Don Wells is the former CEO of Wells Lamont Corp. He was a hardworking business man who will be dearly missed. Donald Wells was in charge of Wells Lamont until his retirement in 1980. He died on peacefully on Sunday, September 3 at Glenview Terrace Nursing Center. Wells was the man behind the company that now has manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe. His father started the business in 1908 and was only five years into it when Donald was born in 1912. It sure has been successful and has come a long way since then. In the late 1930s, the company moved from Minnesota to Niles. He is a great person, a great businessman, and will be dearly missed. Kenilworth is proud to have had such a wonderful man in their community throughout the years. A memorial service was held at the Church of the Holy Comforter, 222 Kenilworth Ave., Kenilworth on Wednesday.

Technorati Tags: Kenilworth, Church of the Holy Comforter, Wells Lamont Corp.

Kenilworth hosts annual Holy Comforter Housewalk

Meagan — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:13:42 +0000

The 52nd annual Holy Comforter Housewalk in Kenilworth is coming October 4, 2006. From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., you can tour four different homes as wells as visiting the bake sale and casserole sale at the church. At the Kenilworth Club (down the street from the church) you can see this year’s boutique showcasing artisan’s collections. There will be boxed lunches served in the Great Hall for advanced orders of $12. Three of the touring homes are in Kenilworth and hone is on a private lane in Winnetka. Tickets for this fun event are $40 in advance and $45 at the door.

Technorati Tags: Kenilworth, Winnetka, Holy Comforter Housewalk, Kenilworth Club

Meals on Wheels needs your help delivering in Kenilworth

Meagan — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 18:48:02 +0000

The Meals on Wheels Association of America has a group called Meals at Home who deliver meals to homebound clients. They are currently looking for volunteers to deliver meals to those clients. As a volunteer, you would pick up meals provided by Evanston and St. Francis Hospitals between 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday and then distribute them to clients residing in Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, east Glenview and east Northfield. If you volunteer, you can choose to do it once a week, once a month or if you feel up for more, it is always welcomed. No route takes more than two hours to deliver. Please do what you can to help this wonderful organization, and provide for those in need.

Technorati Tags: Meals on Wheels Association of America, Meals at home, Kenilworth, volunteers

A brief Kenilworth History lesson

Meagan — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 17:05:22 +0000

In 1889, Joseph Sears planned our North Shore village in the essence of the bucolic English countryside, even though it contrasted with his urban mansion on Prairie Ave. He purchased 223 acres of woodland, pasture and wetlands located between Wilmette and Winnetka, some of the last of farmland lying along Lake Michigan north of Chicago. This attracted serious botany students from Northwestern University. The village name was taken from a town in the midlands of England, which was taken from a romantic novel entitled Kenilworth, written by Sir Walter Scott. The streets Abbotsford and Essex were also adopted from the novel Kenilworth. From the start, commercial development was limited and can only be found along Green Bay Road which parallels the railroad. For more information, check back soon.

Technorati Tags: Kenilworth, Il, history, Joseph Sears, Northwestern University, Sir Walter Scott

Dollop Coffee Co. in Kenilworth

Meagan — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 19:51:34 +0000

Every town needs to have a good coffee shop, and Kenilworth has just that. Dollop Coffee Co., may be one of the best coffee shops in the area. Doctored up from an abandoned pharmacy, everything from the atmosphere to the coffee is amazing. It is perfect for those who want to set up shop with laptops, newspapers, books and caffeine for hours at a time. In the main room, the furniture is comfortable, large and plentiful. There is free wi-fi as well, which is a major bonus. The back wall contains comfy couches, tables and bookshelves, just like going to the library! There is also an iMac with free internet access. I know I am not alone when I talk about how wonderful this place is, so the next time you’re in the mood for a hot cup of Joe, stop by Dollop Coffee Co. for a tasty beverage and a delightful and comfortable hang out spot.

Technorati Tags: Kenilworth, Dollop Coffee Co.

Kenilworth subject to the “Teardown Movement”

Meagan — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:25:27 +0000

Kenilworth is one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places. No need to panic for your safety, just need to panic for your historical home falling subject to the Teardown Movement. One of the great things about Kenilworth is its history and historical homes and buildings. With architects such as Daniel H. Burnham, Franklin P. Burnham, George W. Maher, Joseph L. Silsbee and Paul Starrett as well as landscape architect Jens Jensen, Kenilworth has a lot of charm and beauty in its visionary wonder. But recently, a movement entitled the “teardown movement” has invaded and torn down nearly 50 homes in Kenilworth, and are replaced with “McMansions”. The world doesn’t need any more McMansions, and bigger and newer isn’t always better. The heritage and history in the homes and buildings in Kenilworth is what makes Kenilworth what it is. I love the homes, I love the buildings, and to see them replaced with these McMansions devastates me and many others. Since the village has no ordinances to protect the historic homes, the teardowns are occurring at an alarming rate. The village did not anticipate the teardown threat, and has no comprehensive plan to stop it. The community needs to establish a landmark ordinance and designation program, as well as modernized-zoning ordinances. With Kenilworth on the National Trust’s list, the first step is already taken. Hopefully, the McMansions will stop soon enough, and Kenilworth can find a way to protect its history and heritage to keep it beautiful the way it already is.

Technorati Tags: Kenilworth, architects, teardown movement, National Trust, America’s 11 most endangered places