News Briefs: Art in Village awards; Target and Skokie schools; Historical Society gala success

The North Shore Art League’s annual Art in the Village took place June 13-14 in Winnetka’s Hubbard Woods Park.

The exhibition featuring artists from across the country was also a juried art show. Winners this year were:
• First place: Scott Hartley, of Ann Arbor, Michigan,
• Second place: Marie Lamothe, Interlochen, Michigan,
• Third place: Jonathan Rutledge, of Evanston, and
• Honorable mentions: Jeff Condon, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jack Kraig, of Evanston; Ning Lee, of  Northbrook; and Samuel Yao, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

Artists were presented certificates and prize checks by North Shore Art League’s Executive Director Linda Nelson. 

Winnetka gallery owner Cynthia Burr and NSAL faculty member Michael Van Zeyl served as  judges for the annual show. In a statement, they said, “As judges, we were honored to be asked to review and  decide the awards for this show. It was a pleasure to see such high quality works, presented so well and representing such a wide range of mediums. We were both so impressed with the caliber of the artists that you’ve attracted to this boutique show!”

All proceeds from the silent auction  and raffle were donated to the North Shore Art League and the nonprofit’s educational outreach. 

“We were lucky to host many new and returning artists to this warm and inviting park,” Nelson said. “The  league staff and volunteers helped to make it a very special event and we look forward to many more shows as our gift to the community”

Partnership with a purpose for District 219

The Bridges Adult Transition Center — a program of Niles Township District 219 that provides inclusive curriculum in real-world settings — benefits from a Target lab where students with disabilities gain life skills and vocational training.

The lab, which replicates a Target store on a small scale, received upgrades in May 2026 thanks to an ongoing community partnership with Target. The project included the creation of new aisles and shelving while also refreshing store inventory in the space, according to a news release from the district.

As part of Niles Township High School District 219, Bridges established a partnership with Target in 2021. Since that time, the Target lab has “contributed to the successful independent living and vocational skills for many Bridges students,” the release says.

“Community-based experiences are at the heart of our special education programs that prepare students for life beyond school,” said Kate Seiwert, director of Bridges, in the release. “The incredible care and advocacy of our vocational coordinator, Nikki Ellis, has ensured that our students have access to resources that make a real difference in their daily lives.”  

Target team members and volunteers, many reportedly from the stores in Niles and Skokie, were part of the community engagement and collaboration efforts at Bridges.

“This partnership has a fantastic history … and today, we’re continuing to reinvest in this space to make the learning experience even better and more dynamic for the students,” said Matt Liska, a community captain with Target, in the release. “We truly believe that the Target experience starts deep in the community, long before you ever walk through our front doors.”

$160,000 collected at Winnetka Historical Society gala

The Winnetka Historical Society raised approximately $160,000 at its annual gala, What’s Old is New Again, on May 30, according to a release from the organization.

Approximately 150 guests attended the event held at the historic Winnetka home of Heather and Jim Pigott, 731 Prospect Ave.

The event included a tour of the first and second floors of the home, a buffet dinner, and a live auction that offered everything from an Italian getaway to Cubs and Bears tickets.

Mary Westerman and Bob Marren co-chaired the event, from which all funds raised support the mission of the Winnetka Historical Society to honor and preserve the village’s heritage, gather and share the artifacts and stories of its past, and foster meaningful connections among Winnetkans and the broader community.

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