Glenview briefs: Teacher honored for 30 years of service

Kids Care Food Drive exceeds its goals

Students participating in the 2020 Kids Care Food Drive far exceeded their goals.

The students of School District 34, Northbrook/Glenview District 30, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and St. Catherine Laboure School collected 20,078 food items that were donated to the Northfield Township Food Pantry.

A volunteer effort done from Oct. 19-30 in conjunction with Character Counts! Week, the amount was nearly twice the goal of 10,000 food items.

District 34 donated 13,134 nonperishable food items, including more than 4,000 alone on Oct. 26.

Congratulations to teacher Linda Hoth

Linda Hoth, a teacher at Wesley Child Care Center in Glenview, on Oct. 21 was honored for 30 years of service at the nonprofit center. She's been there for the majority of Wesley's 48-year history.

Through her time at Wesley Child Care, Hoth has served in nearly every program: Kindergarten Enrichment, Before and After School, Summer Camp, Preschool. She also helps children through a collaboration with the Glenview Park District's Camp REC program.

"For over three decades, our organization has benefited from her flexibility, reliability and unparalleled experience," said Craig Solomon, Wesley's executive director.

"Linda is the true definition of a dedicated teacher who has touched thousands of children's lives," said Jennifer Quintas, multisite school-age director. "She has helped children grow socially, emotionally and educationally."

Glenview Connect case study site tours

The next step for the Village of Glenview's "Glenview Connect" mission to involve residents in developing development blueprints is ready to roll: self-guided case study site tours of three other towns that have blended new construction among traditional buildings.

Whether in person or virtually, residents are encouraged to take walking tours of the Elmhurst, Downers Grove and Mount Prospect downtown areas. Suggested elements include these places' combinations of new and old, integration of park and office space, height and density of buildings, and quality of signage and storefronts.

All of this information is available at www.glenviewconnect.com. The Glenview Village Board notes that the next interactive public workshop with Glenview Connect is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 18.

Local businesses can apply for aid

In response to higher COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations, stricter mitigation efforts took effect in Cook County on Oct. 28.

State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) reminded business owners to apply for available aid and encouraged people to support local business. Through a Business Interruption Grant, $220 million in aid is available to Illinois small businesses, with priority given to those in regions under increased mitigation measures.

Glenview is in one of them, the Illinois Department of Health's Region 10, suburban Cook County.

Fine also encouraged people to support local restaurants and businesses through ordering delivery or carryout food, purchasing gift cards, even engaging businesses on social media.

For information on Business Interruption Grants, visit accionilin.formstack.com/forms/big.

Make your donation to Glenbrook South drives

Glenbrook South High School currently is conducting two drives for charity - a food drive and a winter clothing drive.

Actually not limited to food since items like dish washing liquid and shampoo are being accepted, the Titans are accepting a variety of food items, plus monetary donations, for the Northfield Food Pantry.

Information on accepted items is available on the Glenbrook South High School Facebook page. Donations are accepted at the school at Auto's Courtyard door OO from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on three Saturdays in November: Nov. 7, 14 and 21.

More immediately, through Nov. 10 the school is accepting donations of new or gently used winter jackets, hats, boots, scarves and gloves of all sizes for children and adults. Sweaters and sweatshirts also are being accepted.

Donations are accepted in the Glenbrook South main entrance lobby.

Avoca board, teachers reach tentative pact

After more than four months of negotiations, the Avoca School District 37 board of education and the teachers union - the Avoca Education Assocation - reached a tentative agreement on a five-year contract Oct. 27.

The previous contract expired at the start of the 2020-21 school year in August. Details of the settlement will be released once both the board and union ratify the pact.

"Our teachers, in partnership with our district families, are our strength," board of education President Rick Zelinsky said.

"We are happy we have reached a settlement with the teachers, which will help the district sustain a high-quality education for its students now and in the future."

Teachers union President Jennifer Pease agreed: "The AEA bargaining team is pleased we have finally been able to reach an agreement. We believe that the new contract we present to our members will help continue to retain our high quality teachers, attract new teaching talent, and continue to provide the excellent learning opportunities the Avoca community has come to expect."

The parties expect the details of the settlement to be codified and brought forward for ratification in the next month.