Northbrook briefs: COVID-relief aid available for local businesses
In response to stricter mitigation efforts against COVID-19 in Cook County, State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) reminded business owners to apply for available aid and encouraged people to support local businesses.
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.
As part of suburban Cook County, Glenview is in one of them, the Illinois Department of Health's Region 10.
Fine also encouraged people to support local restaurants and businesses through ordering delivery or carryout food, purchasing gift cards, and even engaging businesses on social media.
For information on Business Interruption Grants, visit accionilin.formstack.com/forms/big.
Support the restaurants
Through Dec. 31, people spending $50 or more at a Northbrook restaurant have a chance to receive a $50 gift card.
People can enter by emailing a photo of a receipt showing date and order total to business@northbrook.il.us. Each submitted receipt is one chance to win.
Winners will be selected each Monday through Jan. 4 and notified by email. There's a limit of one winner per residence per week.
Above and beyond
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.
The nominees are ...
The Northbrook Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its 2021 Chamber Business Awards through Nov. 30.
People may nominate chamber members for awards for Corporate Citizen, Chamber Volunteer and Business of the Year awards. Descriptions of each award and a nomination form is found on the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce.
For nomination information, email chamber President Tensley Garris at tensley@northbrookchamber.org.
Secret Santas
The Rotary Club of Northbrook seeks volunteers to help with its Operation Santa Claus, now in its 30th year.
The effort provides new books for some 1,200 students in Goethe Elementary School in Chicago and Forrestal Elementary School in North Chicago. The goal is to provide new books for each child in preschool through eighth-grade.
Each child composes a wish list of books, which runs around $30, and sponsors complete as many wish lists as they can. The Operation Santa Claus team then distributes the books at school events. Sponsors may also drop off their lists to another participant, the Book Bin, 1151 Church St., Northbrook.
For details, reach Rotarian Gary Moriello by email at gary3540@aol.com.
Solar Program
Northbrook residents and small businesses will soon be eligible to save money and help develop renewable energy under the CS2 Residential Community Solar Program, which is expected to begin late this fall. Subscribers will save 20% on their monthly electricity charges based on the solar generation credits received. There are no credit checks, enrollment fees or termination fees.
Subscriptions will be offered on a rolling basis as community solar facilities are built and connected to the electrical grid. Residents and small businesses can join the program waitlist at northshorecommunitysolar.com or www.northbrook.il.us/992/Community-Solar.These solar facilities are part of Illinois' Future Energy Jobs Act, which mandates that Illinois utilities must purchase 25% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.
Northbrook and other participating communities such as Deerfield and Skokie are members of the North Shore Electricity Aggregation Consortium, formed in 2011 to save residents money through competitive bidding for electricity.
Community Solar is a result of a partnership between the NSEAC and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
More information on Community Solar is available on the Village of Northbrook website, www.northbrook.il.us, under the Living & Visiting pull-down menu, at "Environmental Sustainability."
Dining: Deal me in
Pinstripes is offering 50% off on all curbside to-go orders now through Sunday, Nov. 15. Or, if you want to eat at the venues, each location offers heated outdoor dining areas and covered patios. Outdoor dining specials include buy a brunch, lunch or dinner entree and get the second one for free, now through Nov. 22. Pinstripes is at 1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, (847) 480-2323; pinstripes.com/.