Highland Park News

Highland Park closes theater, Port Clinton garage

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:35:29 -0500

Highland Park ordered the immediate closing of the Port Clinton parking garage and Highland Park Movie Theater over the weekend after finding several fire-safety violations.

Residents divided on part of Rosewood Beach plan in Highland Park

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:36:07 -0500

Nearly two years after the Park District of Highland Park unveiled its previous conceptual plan for the redevelopment of Rosewood beach, residents still appear polarized over the need for an interpretive building down on the lakefront. About 100 residents packed the Park District’s West Ridge Center May 2, with just more than half the 29 speakers voicing opinions against the proposal. The majority of those took issue with the 1,000-square-foot, glass-encased educational space and adjoining 900-square-foot maintenance shed. “You take away the interpretive center and I think we have a good plan,” said Highland Park resident Doug Purington, among several …

Highland Park Council orders quick fix to parking garage fire sprinklers

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:54:25 -0500

Highland Park City Council members directed staff Wednesday night to take immediate action to fix the nonfunctional fire sprinklers at the Port Clinton parking garage. On his first day on the job, new City Manager David Knapp was assigned to solicit informal bids and expedite the process to ensure public safety and reopen the garage as soon as possible. The emergency council direction circumvents the typical formal, sealed-bid process. The garage, which serves the Port Clinton businesses and surrounding downtown business district, was ordered closed over the weekend after independent inspectors discovered the fire-safety issues. The city-owned Highland Park Theatre …

Partners want to help with Highland Parkers’ errands

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:36:25 -0500

Just last winter, Deerfield moms Marianna Kurzydlo and Jennifer Templeton noticed how difficult it was for some families to keep up with day-to-day tasks. While out walking together one day, they came up with a solution: an errand-running service for the North Shore. After going through a list of names for their new business, they settled on Errand Mamas, reaching out to their busy Highland Park, Deerfield and Riverwoods counterparts. “People have been so supportive,” Kurzydlo said. “They think it’s a great idea.” Since both Kurzydlo and Templeton were in the workforce prior to becoming stay-at-home moms, they knew how …

Future classrooms ease their way into Deerfield, Highland Park

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:25:17 -0500

Highland Park High School junior Alen Kamysz and his Deerfield High School counterpart Jake Porento both left District 113’s new technology-infused prototype classrooms last week with the same thought. They hope Promethean smart boards, wall-to-wall white board space and flexible furniture is part of the standard classroom experience in District 113, not a testing ground. “I’d like to see this become the traditional classroom,” Porento said. Two classrooms at both schools recently underwent the 21st Century remodel. The Promethean smart boards turn wall space into an interactive computer screen. The wall-to-wall white boards allow for nonstop and participatory note taking, …

Students’ moving tributes honor armed forces

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:36:42 -0500

North Shore School District 112 students honored and celebrated their classmates from military families throughout April during the Month of the Military Child. The series of patriotic activities began with Operation Thank You, in which all District 112 students wrote thank-you cards to those classmates who have parents currently serving in the military. Each military child — there are 90 at Red Oak, 70 at Wayne Thomas and two at Oak Terrace — was able to receive at least two cards. Community members also chipped in, and one thank-you card was even mailed in from a former Highland Park student …

Sweet sounds

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:53:26 -0500

Choir members from Highland Park’s three middle schools took the stage at Ravinia Festival’s famed Bennett Gordon Hall on Friday to showcase a gospel ensemble. The Elm Place, Edgewood and Northwood students worked with guest gospel choir conductor Shanka Falls to prepare for the show. They also performed African American spirituals and a South African piece as well. “Even though Ravinia is in their back yard, I think (the students) really understood the magnitude and how wonderful of an experience it is to be on a professional stage where professional musicians perform every summer,” Edgewood choir teacher Christine Frega said. …