News Briefs: Rec center’s solar panels up and at work; Skokie officer selected for honor; The Vibe opens on Ridge in Wilmette

The Wilmette Park District announced last week that the solar panel system installed atop the Community Recreation Center is now operational.

The system, which the Park Board approved in October 2023, was activated on Dec. 12 and according to the district, “represent(s) a significant milestone in the District’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.”

The installation consists of 1,054 solar panels, each of which is 585 watts. The system reportedly can generate more than 700,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy a year, and the park district estimates that over 10 years the system’s impact (10 million kilowatt-hours) will equal the benefit of 235,358 tree seedlings grown over 10 years.

The solar panels will help power the Community Recreation Center, and surplus energy generated is supplied to the electrical grid, providing benefits to the broader community. The district said in a news release that it “will monitor system performance throughout 2026 and assess its impact on energy consumption and operational efficiency at this high traffic facility.”

An energy consultant, Verde Solutions, reportedly informed the district the system is projected to yield approximately $50,981 in first-year savings, with total lifecycle savings estimated at $1.54 million over 25 years.

“Bringing solar power online at the Community Recreation Center is an important step forward for the Wilmette Park District,” stated Chris Lindgren, the park district’s executive Director. “This project demonstrates the District’s commitment to environmental responsibility, long-term financial sustainability, and investments that benefit residents both now and in the future.”

For more information, visit a webpage dedicated to the solar-panel project.

Skokie officer in the news

Village of Skokie police officer Kimberly Blue found her way on the small screen earlier this month.

Blue was selected as WGN TV’s “Spotlight Chicago” First Responder of the Month, a program that brought Blue to WGN studios on Dec. 11.

During her interview with Sarah Jindra and Ji Suk Yi, Blue talked about her involvement with the Skokie Police Department’s mental health response program, which began in 2021.

“We focus on mental health and addictions and unhoused individuals and try to make that difference for them,” she said.

Blue also spoke about her continuing education that include a master’s degree in counseling.

Recently, Blue helped an individual in crisis who was threatening to jump out of a window get to a hospital and also threw a birthday party for an unhoused teenager.

“I feel it’s important where I’m at in my career to have a better understanding of mental health and different ways to help people,” she said, “and counseling other first responders down the line. We need it just as much as the public.”

The monthly WGN segment is sponsored by the Mancini Law Group, which made a $1,000 donation in Blue’s name to the 100 Club of Illinois.

The Vibe now open on Ridge in Wilmette

The Vibe has moved from Evanston into its new space at 410 Ridge Road in Wilmette.

According to a press release, The Vibe has increased class offerings by 190% and its team by 150% since opening in Evanston in 2023. The studio reportedly has offered more than 2,300 classes for more than 36,000 attendees in that time.

“The Vibe has grown in ways we’re incredibly proud of, and as demand has expanded for our approach focused on form and fun, so has our need to expand capacity to serve more people,” said Lauren Edmonds, founder of The Vibe, in a statement. “We are humbled by the response from the community. We know there are a lot of options when it comes to fitness today, which is why we customize our classes with safe, effective and empowering workouts that anyone can do.”

The Record in November reported The Vibe’s impending move.

In its new space, The Vibe will also offer personal and small-group training.

“With this launch, we’re tripling the size of our studio and now offering classes in two dedicated spaces,” Edmonds said in the release. “We want our workouts to be places people look forward to coming to and where fitness feels fun, social, and sustainable.”

The company is also expanding its team, with the addition of Chicago fitness pioneer Brent Locey, a trainer and nutrition coach who is a SoulCycle Chicago instructor and who leads Build It Athletics.

“My background in athletics, from coaching USS swimming to AAU basketball in high school and college, allows me to elevate athletic potential in everyone,” Locey said in the release. “The Vibe aligns with my mission to help everyone, at every fitness level, discover their inner athlete and have fun with fitness.”

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