News Briefs: Winnetka’s eco-friendly honor; Regina’s special author visit; Rotary club’s 12 grantees

The Village of Winnetka was recognized on March 18 for reducing its carbon footprint and protecting the environment at a ceremony held at Village Hall.

Winnetka reportedly reduced its energy use by 642,000 therms of natural gas over eight years of partnership with North Shore Gas, a change that has reduced the Village’s heating costs.

According to information from the Village, the energy saved equals nearly 3,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 456 homes’ energy use for one year and 8.6 million miles driven by a gas-powered average vehicle in a year.

“Our energy efficiency efforts are an important part of the Village’s overall commitment to sustainability and economic stewardship,” Village Manager Kristin Kazenas said in a statement. “Reducing our energy use and the equivalent carbon emissions aligns with our community’s values to protect the environment and encourage resource conservation.”

According to the Village, it has taken advantage of approximately $130,000 in North Shore Gas energy efficiency program incentives to help fund energy efficiency projects, including boiler tuneups, steam trap replacements and an HVAC boiler condensate recovery project currently being completed.

Using North Shore Gas incentives allowed Winnetka to complete projects at less cost, freeing up these funds to direct toward other Village priorities.

“Winnetka’s energy efficiency efforts illustrate its commitment to a cleaner environment and reduced costs for its residents and businesses, and the wider region,” said Jarred Nordhus, principal manager of Energy Efficiency Programs at North Shore Gas.

Special night at Regina Dominican

Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette on March 11 welcomed Norah O’Donnell, chief anchor of “CBS Evening News” for a special evening celebrating extraordinary women who helped shape the United States.

The event, held in partnership with The Book Stall in Winnetka, featured a conversation about O’Donnell’s new book, “We the Women.”

According to a press release, several hundred guests — including students, families, alumnae, faculty, and community members — gathered for the program, which highlighted the importance of preserving and sharing the stories of women whose leadership and courage have helped define our nation’s history.

The release says, “Through research and storytelling in “We the Women,” O’Donnell brings attention to remarkable women whose contributions have often been overlooked, reminding readers that history is richer and more complete when these voices are included.”

The conversation March 11 was moderated by Regina Dominican alumna Marie Saavedra, news anchor at CBS Chicago.

Throughout the discussion, O’Donnell reportedly encouraged young women to continue using their voices, break barriers, and lead with both passion and courage.

Local rotary club awards 12 nonprofits

The Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield continued its 102-year tradition of supporting local good works with its annual presentation of community grants.

Bob Baker, president of the Winnetka-Northfield Rotary Charitable Foundation, and Debra Campbell, club president-elect, presided over the presentations at the club’s weekly lunch meeting March 12 at the Community House in Winnetka.

“Rotary is all about “Service Above Self’,” Baker said in a release. “With these grants we are helping to provide physical and spiritual wellness, shelter and educational assistance to those in need, on the North Shore, in the greater Chicago community.”

“These annual grants, made possible through the various fundraising activities by our club, are but one way in which the Rotarians in our club serve,” Campbell said.

The grants went to:
• Counseling Center of the North Shore, a Winnetka-based nonprofit mental health center with a mission of helping people through life’s challenges and transitions by providing access to counseling, therapy, and community education.
• Deerfield Free Store at Holy Cross, which provides recently immigrated refugees and individuals working with a partnered agency to provide essential household items enabling them to create a home environment in their new housing within Chicagoland.
• Hadley, a Winnetka0based nonprofit that provides both practical and social/emotional help to older adults adjusting to vision loss, empowering them to adapt and thrive.
• Hunger Resource Network, a Northbrook nonprofit that aids in the alleviation of hunger by helping meet the needs of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.
• North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, a Highland Park nonprofit that provides accessible, quality, equitable, free legal services in the areas of domestic violence, housing, and immigration to give low-income, at-risk community members access to justice and the opportunity to live productive and secure lives.
• Our Place of New Trier, a Wilmette-based nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live meaningful, productive, socially connected lives in their communities.
• SaLT: Service and Learning Together, a Highland Park nonprofit that creates meaningful service-learning experiences for young people that meet the needs of the local community while promoting personal growth and understanding.
• SamaraCare Counseling, which provides affordable access to transformative counseling, psychiatric, and autism services
• Sue’s Food Pantry in Arlington Heights, which provides food and other essentials to families struggling to survive.
• TotalLink to Community, a Northbrook nonprofit and leading resource for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities or who are neurodiverse.
• The Volunteer Center, a Winnetka-based nonprofit that promotes volunteerism, support nonprofit organizations, and engages people in meaningful volunteer service.
• Youth Philanthropy Board of Evanston and the North Shore, which empowers the next generation of changemakers through a two-year program for high school juniors and seniors.

For more information about the rotary club, visit its website.

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