12/22-12/23/12
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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
standout student N EW S DIGE S T REVIEW
pREVIEW
highland park
Kenilworth
The Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) handed out a record $131,700 in grants to dozens of recipients recently. Grant recipients included The Art Center of Highland Park, College Bound Opportunities and Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center. “We have a dual focus on cultural needs and agencies that work in Highland Park and Highwood that benefit our residents most at risk,” said HPCF Chairman Andy Livingston.
Ninety-five gallon recycling carts will be replacing paper recycling bags on Tuesday, Jan. 1. The recycling carts will be delivered to residents the first week of January. Republic Services will be collecting recycling every other week on Mondays. All recycling will be collected via backdoor service. Also starting on Jan. 1, all refuse will be collected once a week. Perrin Brothers Trucking will continue to collect all refuse via back door service. If a resident would like to add a second pickup, this can be arranged for an additional fee of $16/month by calling Village Hall at 847-251-1666.
highland park The City of Highland Park received a Aaa bond rating from Moody’s this month. the highest possible rating from the same agency that downgraded the United States government’s bond rating. “It is estimated that the City may be able to save as much as $500,000 in interest costs on its upcoming Water Treatment Plant project due to its stellar credit
the gingerbread. She hot glues all the pieces to their bases for added strength. The buildings are all original, though they may be inspired by real places. A log cabin made of pretzel rod walls and a Wheat Thin roof replicates a friend’s Wisconsin cabin, complete with the outhouse. An elf house, inspired by the Smurfs and roofed with Shredded Wheat, was designed to add color to the landscape. Gale Gand similarly emphasizes whimsy in the gingerbread houses classes that she leads for adults and children at Elawa Farm. While adults do the whole thing from scratch, this month the farm’s Chef in Residence helped children construct houses out of graham crackers so that the project is small enough to complete in 90 minutes and strong enough to survive the drive home. Gand offers her students a few ideas, such as using Tootsie Rolls as fire wood, but resists offering too much instruction. “It’s such a fantasy, from the end of every fairy tale, and it’s in your home,” Gand said of the houses they aim to create. “It feeds our childlike image of Christmas with a cozy cottage where Santa lives with Mrs. Claus. Remember when the Gingerbread came to life? There’s a whole mystique to gingerbread. “Plus, gingerbread lasts forever, so you could bring it out every year,” she added. Several years ago Gand spent every lunch period for a week in her son’s fifth
And he has already nabbed the top award at Joseph Sears
Lake Forest The annual Pancake Breakfast & Magic Show at the City of Lake Forest’s Dickinson Hall will take place Thursday, Dec. 27 at 9:30 a.m.
rating,” according to Nicole Winikates, Finance Director of the City of Highland Park.
GINGERBREAD >> from 12
There’s a new kid in town
grade classroom making a gingerbread house; any student who wanted could give up their recess to watch or help Gand work. “Every kid in the class stayed in,” she recalled. “The imagination in these kids was unbelievable.” When she suggested a snowman made from marshmallows and pretzel sticks, students suggested the marshmallows also be “turned inside out” as smoke for a chimney they wanted Gand to add. “In their minds, everything works.” Gand and Skutcki, both trained professionals, offered several tips for novice gingerbread artists. “I’m always hunting for material,” Skutecki said. She recommends collecting candy throughout the year from discount stores. “I learned long ago that it works best if every kid has their own house, and we need a ton of candy. It can be stale, and they still eat it.” If the baking and construction are intimidating, cheat by attaching graham crackers to a single-serving milk carton. The decorations will be just as cute. Gand encouraged bakers to use a pastry bag for icing. “Use it like a toothpaste tube. Don’t squeeze from the middle,” she said. “You don’t have to be a James Beard Award winning pastry chef like me to do this successfully. It’s a very approachable project for everyone. Yes, some of them get eaten, but in the end it’s about the visual fantasy and the interaction of building it.” ■
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angelika labno
Being the new kid in school is not easy, but Toby Ellison has already achieved the highest level of recognition at Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth: the Panther Pride Award. The award is given to a boy and girl in each grade who best exemplify the school’s cornerstone behaviors: kindness, respect, honesty and responsibility. As the male recipient for the eighth-grade class, Ellison understands the weight of his achievement. “It’s a great honor to be chosen,” he said. “I’m just trying to build a reputation as someone who a teacher can rely on to get things done, as well as being kind to everyone I meet.” Instead of shying away from the unknown, Ellison embraces the people around him. He can often be found helping out a teacher or encouraging a struggling student. Ellison also helps as much as he can with the special-education students in school. With a warm smile on his face and a respectful demeanor, it is easy to see how Ellison encompasses Sears’ values after four short months. “He is well-deserving of this recognition,” said Jennifer Willis, his eighth-grade advisor. “I applaud Toby for his leadership qualities and commitment to being the best student and person he can possibly be.” Ellison just moved to Kenilworth from Dallas before school started this year. Back in Dallas, he was involved with debate club and public speaking competitions. His interest in public speaking along with literature and social studies certainly helps his long-term ambition to continue on to law school after college. At Sears, Ellison is involved in Science Olympiads and plays low post on the school’s basketball team. In January, he will start baseball workouts with New Trier’s Pony League. He will continue on to New Trier High School, where he would like to enroll in a debate club and possibly pursue some acting. It is his first time in the public school
Toby Ellison
photography by j.geil
system, but he says the transition has been great. He enjoys Sears’ smaller class sizes and how his classmates are also his neighbors — something that is harder to come across at a private school. “It’s a close-knit community and I like that a lot,” he said of Kenilworth. Mom Liz Ellison agrees that this has been the easiest move, as the family has moved three times in the last five years. When she found out they were moving to Chicago, she chose Kenilworth specifically because of Sears School. “He is soaking it up like a sponge,” she said.
I’m just trying to build a reputation as someone who a teacher can rely on to get things done, as well as being kind to everyone I meet.” — Toby Ellison Ellison is committed to working hard and developing a good work ethic. In fact, he was eager to join the workforce this year. His family’s cottage is in Wisconsin, where the law states that by age 14, one can start busing tables or bagging groceries. He spent all summer bagging at the local grocery store. “I just enjoy having people rely on me,” Ellison said. “It gives me a nice feeling to see someone’s success because of how I influenced them.” ■