Get out your party hats: Rocky Horror Picture Show's coming back to Skokie

Screening to help fight against ALS

Pillars of the Skokie community invite the whole North Shore and Chicago area to this rare event: On Friday, August 24, after the Backlot Bash, the Skokie Theatre will show Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Proceeds from the screening will benefit the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Pat Hanley, corporation counsel for the Village of Skokie, was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) in March. 

Helping Pat has inspired this encore showing. Some might remember the last Rocky Horror screening in Skokie was two years ago.

Downtown Skokie's Scott Holtz fills us in on the screening's details.

LFS:  Looking forward to seeing Rocky Horror Picture Show again. Last time I saw it was when you screened it during Skokie's Backlot Bash 2010. What inspires this encore?

Scott: I have been asked to make that night happen again at the Skokie Theatre over and over...I found a good cause, so now is the time. The uncertain future of the Skokie Theatre also slowed my efforts.
LFS: Will Pat Hanley be able to join us at the show?

Scott: My best sources tell me Pat will be attending.
LFS: Black tie optional?

Scott: No, of course not. Now, you can wear your best corset or tighty whities.

LFS: You're heading up organization of this event. Who else is supporting this benefit?

Scott: There is a lot of people really behind this, but Randy Miles and IMODS are the producers. North Shore Community Bank printed the posters. The list goes on and on. The offers of support have been great.
LFS: Tickets at the door?  Online?  How are tickets being sold?

Scott: There are 140 seats and we sold out last time. We're selling tickets online and at the door the night of the show.

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Tickets cost $25.

Two years ago, the Rocky Horror screening caught some nice attention from the Sun-Times.

Joel Lerner's take from that eventing for the Skokie Review is still online.

To see who's expecting to be at this year's screening, check out Facebook.

Standby for list of props Scott will allow into the theatre.

Rocky Horror Picture Show participants at the Skokie Theatre, August 2010.
I made this photo and hope to make another one of participants on August 24 this year.

Skokie's 4th of July Parade 2012

updated July 11, 2012

Here's Scott Holtz', Joel Lerner's and my take on from this year's Skokie 4th of July parade.

More of Scott's image can be found on Facebook via Downtown Skokie.

More of Joel's take can be seen online via Skokie Review.

 

Niles Township Assessor Scott Bagnall. 

 

Temple Judah Mizpah's Maddy Foler.

 

 

Dance Troupe Aenacer Boliviano dances down Oakton St. during Skokie's 4th of July Parade.

 

John Haber and Jeff Gould atop the Haben Funeral Home's antique hearse. 

Mike Reid.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White holds a banner as one of the Jesse White Tumblers flips over it.

 

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky.

 

 

 

  

  

  

Illinois Representative Lou Lang (in blue cap) poses with neighbors for a picture.

 

 

Joel Lerner takes a break from covering the parade for the Skokie Review. 

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A few of Skokie's July business and community events

This just in from the Skokie Chamber of Commerce…

Monday Night Classic Car Shows - through Labor Day
Classic car shows held every Monday night on the west lot of the Westfield Old Orchard Mall. The free shows feature music, food, raffles and special guests. The shows benefit a scholarship fund for high school auto shop students to continue their education in the automotive field.
For specifics: http://www.mondaynightcarshows.com/


Wednesdays on the Green - July 3-August 29
Music, dancing, movies, classic cars and family fun on the Village Green
For details: http://wednesdaysonthegreen.com/


Fourth of July Parade & 3-D Fireworks Festival
a Skokie Park District event

Featuring a parade, picnic, live bands and an incredible 3-D fireworks show!
Monday, July 4, noon to dusk
Downtown & Niles West High School (Oakton St. and Edens Expressway)


Pancake Breakfast in the Woods - July 8
a Skokie Park District event

Visit Emily Oaks Nature Center for a sunrise breakfast in the woods!
Sunday, July 8, 8:30 a.m. to noon
Emily Oaks Nature Center, 4650 Brummel St., Skokie
$5-7 admission


Sunday Night Concerts in the Park - July 8-August 12
a Skokie Park District event series

Free world-class musical entertainment sure to please the entire community!
Sundays, July 8 – August 12, at 7 p.m.
Devonshire Park, 4400 Greenwood St., Skokie


Lunch and Learn - July 11
We are having an iPad, iPhone and Android App Party!

Join us for this month’s Lunch and Learn for a roundtable facilitated by Karen Sanders from Sander’s IT Consulting. Find out what your friends are using, how to choose the “right App for you” and learn about how Apps can increase your business productivity from Karen and Toby Greenwalt, Skokie Public Library’s Virtual Services Coordinator.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012; Noon - 2:00 p.m.
Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton Street, Skokie
This event is $20; includes lunch 


Business After-Hours: Meet and Greet for the International Pageant, Inc. - July 19
with the Chicago Visitors Bureau

Thursday, July 19, 2012
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
North Shore DoubleTree Hotel
9599 Skokie Blvd, Skokie


North Shore LAW presents Skokie Chamber Breakfast Club - July 20
facilitated by Catherine Johns: "Carrot or Stick - What Works Best?”

How do you motivate yourself? How do you motivate your customers? Discover the power of motivation direction at July’s Breakfast Club … and learn to use the language that will trigger the action you want.
Friday, July 20, 2012; 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Oakton Community Park Center, 4701 Oakton St., Skokie
This event is $12; includes breakfast; $15 for walk-ins and non-members
Breakfast Club is sponsored by Abbey Fishman Romanek, Erica Crohn Minchella and Linda Crohn of North Shore LAW


Wednesday Family Festivals: Summer Performers in the Park - June 20-July 25
a Skokie Park District event series

These free family-oriented performances feature singers, storytellers, magicians and more. Arrive a half-hour early and participate in the pre-concert games and contests.
Wednesdays, June 20 to July 25 at 7 p.m.
Various parks
Call for information. 847-674-1500


Fifth Third Bank presents Women in Business - July 25
Catherine Johns presents: “There’s A Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On!”

Discover why we shake hands and what your handshake says about you!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie
This event is $12; includes lunch; $15 for walk-ins and non-members


North Shore Festival of Art - July 27 - 29

July 27 - July 29, 2012 • Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Westfield Old Orchard Mall
4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie
For more information, contact Amdur Productions.


Save the Date: Friday-Sunday, August 24-26 for Skokie's Backlot Bash


If you have questions about Skokie Chamber events, call Chamber offices at 847-673-0240.
For more information about Skokie Park District events, call 847-674-1500.

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BizPics applying for Mission: Small Business grant

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Update: On June 29, we got the 250 votes we needed to be considered for the grant. Big thank-you to all who voted for us.

Like other Skokie-based business, Sweety Pies, Golly Gear, Urban Beat Dance, Illinois Nut & Candy among them, my company, Kring Lerner Group is going for it!

We've applied for a Chase and Living Social's Mission: Small Business grant for BizPics.

Scheduled approximately every other month, a BizPics shoot is a fun and affordable way to have a good business portrait made.

The grant money, $250,000, will support a new program for Chicago-area unemployed job seekers needing headshots for LinkedIn, Facebook and beyond, as well as help make BizPics a more sustainable operation.

We'll need 250 votes by June 30 to be eligible for the grant.
Grant recipients will be announced in September.

Please search on "BizPics" after logging in at https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com and cast a vote for us.

Thanks. We appreciate our community's support.

For more about Mission: Small Business' judges and sponsors, check out their press release on BusinessWire. 

Portrayed here: Holly Rotman-Zaid (top), Scott Holtz and Dr. Sue Becker Doroshow.

Discuss Illinois' pension problems and solutions in Glenview Monday, April 30

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It is no secret that the State of Illinois' pension system is a major player in our state's financial woes.

Illinois State Rep. Daniel Biss (9th Dist.) has proposed two bills intended on help reform the system and offer some relief.  One bill sets up a new plan for future public employees. The second is a benefits buyout program allowing current employees to take an immediate payout now in exchange for future benefits.

How much will these bills help? What other steps are needed? What is the likelihood of his bills passing? What are the political roadblocks needing to be navigated before Illinois can be on firmer fiscal footing?

Rep. Biss invites Illinois citizens, within and outside his district, to participate in a townhall discussion to learn more and offer feedback.

Monday, April 30,  7 p.m.

Glenview Police Station
2500 W. Lake Ave.
Glenview, IL 60026
Map

More information can be found on Rep. Biss' website.

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