News Briefs: Arbor Day in Northfield; Chamber recognizes community leaders; Wilmette 39 adds to admin team; Wilmette brewer earns international recognition

The Northfield community celebrated Arbor Day with a gathering at Clarkson Park on April 26 to recognize the Village’s designation as a Tree City for the 39th consecutive year.

Sunset Ridge fourth-graders, District 29 teachers, Village trustees and staff, and park district staffers attended the event, in which the students took turns shoveling dirt to cover the roots of a newly planted Accolade elm tree.

The Arbor Day Poetry Contest winners were also announced in conjunction with the event, with Chloe Yue, Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido and Julianne Bufalino taking home first, second and third place, respectively.

Local chamber of commerce celebrates local difference-makers

The Winnetka-Northfield-Glencoe Chamber of Commerce, during the 46th annual Recognition Lunch on April 24, honored 10 community members for their local contributions.

A sold-out event at the Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield, the event featured a spring fashion show with local merchants, followed by the announcement of the 10 honorees and their contributions.

The honorees were: Children’s Theatre of Winnetka volunteer Connie Yonan, Woman of the Year; Winnetka Village Manager Robert Bahan, Man of the Year; Vivid Art Gallery owner Cynthia Burr,Business Leader of the Year; local volunteer and donor Ellie Schwimmer, Helping Hands Award; Rocky Flintermann, Impact Award; Glencoe’s Early Learning Center teacher Jackie Kozelka, Glencoe Park District Employee of the Year; Winnetka library Acquisitions and Technical Services Associate Stephanie Girardi,Winnetka Public Library Employee of the Year; Christ Church Rummage Sale, Pillar of the Community Award; Detective Josue Perez, Winnetka Public Safety Officer of the Year; and Officer David Ciecko,Glencoe Public Safety Honoree of the Year.

In a statement, the chamber thanks its sponsors North Shore Community Bank & Trust and Northview Bank & Trust, Fields Auto Group, and Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore.

Wilmette District 39 selects new administrator

The Wilmette Public Schools District 39 has appointed Dr. Joshua Swanner as the district’s new assistant director of curriculum and instruction.

According to a statement from Wilmette District 39, Swanner will work with the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction to help direct the long-term planning of the district’s educational program and operations in order to ensure the district is equipped with the resources needed to meet the future educational needs of the community.

Swanner has 18 years of experience as an educator, having served in various elementary and middle school settings in the area. He began his professional career in 2006 as a language arts and social studies teacher in St. Charles, Ill. and then moved to the North Shore where he served as a middle school teacher at Carleton Washburne Junior High in Winnetka for five years.

He made the transition to administration in 2015 when he was named assistant principal of The Skokie School, where he served for two years before becoming principal at Greeley School in Winnnetka in August 2017.

“It is an honor to be selected for this leadership role within the Wilmette Public Schools,” Swanner said in a press release. “I am eager to contribute to the continued success of the district, and I am excited to bring my background and experiences to a team that clearly values families, staff members, the larger community, and all facets of the student learning experience.”

He will assume the position of assistant director of curriculum and instruction on Aug. 1.

Double Clutch wins international bronze for Altbier

The world’s largest beer competition, the 2024 World Beer Cup, has named Evanston’s Double Clutch Brewery as the winner of the German-style Altbier category.

The brewery was awarded a bronze medal for its 4.7-percent alcohol-by-volume Altbier, created by Wilmette brewmaster Scott Frank.

This is the first time Frank and the brewery have won an international award, and “the win is a testament to the brewery’s commitment to excellence and innovation in the craft beer industry,” according to a release from Vandalay Brands, parent company of Double Clutch.

The brewery’s Altbier is a medium-bodied, amber-colored ale with a background from Düsseldorf, Germany.

The release says, “The Altbier exemplifies Double Clubch Brewery’s commitment to authenticity and innovation.”

The win is a welcome addition to the brewery’s growing list of awards. In 2022, Frank, was awarded Brewer of the Year at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival. The brewery has also received numerous other accolades, including the Helles Lager and Helles Sprecher Lager designations.

The 2024 World Beer Cup is the largest beer competition in the world.

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