Neighbors in the News: Palatine native appointed to Illinois Asian American Family Commission

• Palatine native Aaron Del Mar was appointed to serve on the state of Illinois' Asian American Family Commission by Illinois state Rep. Tony McCombie. The appointment was made effective Sept. 11.

The purpose of the commission is to improve and expand existing policies, services, programs and opportunities for Asian Americans and their families.

"It's a great honor to be able to serve on behalf of other Asian Americans who are working hard every day to improve their quality of life and fulfill their own American dream," said Del Mar. "I'd like to personally thank Tony McCombie, the minority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, for appointing me to contribute to our state through this important commission."

Del Mar is the founder and president of four Palatine-based businesses: Adrenaline Special Events, Santa Hustle Race Series, LLC., US Casino Rentals and the American Pickleball Tour. Since 2018, he has also served as the Palatine Township Highway commissioner.

• Chicago-based Spertus Institute has named Deerfield resident Harold D. Israel as chairman of its board of trustees. Israel, who is a partner at Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, has served as a Spertus trustee since 2014, and as vice chairman for the past year.

"Harold is a long-standing community leader and a remarkable Spertus trustee," said Dr. Dean P. Bell, Spertus president and CEO. "As chairman of our Governance Committee, he guided important future-focused work. He is a respected thought leader who gets things done and I'm excited by the opportunity to expand our work together in the coming years."

Israel has shared his leadership expertise with a range of community organizations, serving as a past president of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, a past chairman of the Chicago Bar Association's Bankruptcy and Reorganization committee; and as a past president of Temple Beth-El in Northbrook. He currently serves on the Community Outreach and Scholarship committees of Chicago's Jewish United Fund and on the board of directors of Illini Hillel at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

• Rachel Varghese, daughter of Joseph and Jinoo Varghese of Long Grove, was crowned the 2023 National American Miss Illinois Junior Teen Queen at the state pageant held Sept. 1-4, in Indianapolis.

Varghese, who is a sophomore at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, received the official state of Illinois crown, banner and trophy, along with an invitation to compete at the national pageant being held Thanksgiving week in Orlando, Florida. She also received the Spokesmodel, Talent, Casual Wear and Photogenic awards.

In her free time, Varghese's enjoys the Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam, volunteering, reading and STEM projects.

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