Shalom Klein’s Blog

Looking to promote your business? Take advantage of the JCCWRP Facebook Page!

Posted on by Shalom Klein

The Jewish Community Council of West Rogers Park’s Facebook page is dedicated to promoting economic development in the entire community.  Local businesses are encouraged to post information on the Facebook page including events, specials and promotions.  At press time, our Facebook page had 260 fans and growing.

As most business owners already know, Facebook is a great way to bring in leads and increase sales.  Facebook can be especially beneficial to small business owners as it gives them the potential to reach a significant audience with little cost and effort.  By utilizing the JCCWRP Facebook page, local businesses can expand their reach to an engaged audience that has demonstrated its support for spending locally.  We frequently post community news, promote West Rogers Park businesses and provide fans with information on the benefits of shopping locally.  Please consider submitting a brief text with an image/photo to jccwrp@gowrp.org to promote your business on our Facebook page.

Remember to “like” the JCCWRP Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GOWRP to post business information/special offers and to enhance your business’s reach!  Be sure to also recommend the page to all of your fans and friends.

This free promotional opportunity is available to local businesses which JCCWRP judges to be consistent with its organizational mission.

Target is Coming to Skokie

Posted on by Shalom Klein

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Target announced today development of a 33,000-square-foot retail store on the southwest corner of Dempster Street and Bronx Avenue in Skokie. The flexible-format store is projected to open in fall 2017, and will be smaller in scale than a traditional Target. The new location will feature offerings for families and children, baby care items, sporting goods, toys, portable technology accessories, gift items, stationary, health/beauty products and a grocery section including fresh produce, select Kosher items and many ‘grab and go’ food selections. The new store also will include a pharmacy and order pick up service.

 

“The construction of a new Target store on Dempster Street is great news for the Village of Skokie,” said Mayor George Van Dusen. “The Village has long sought a major retailer to serve as a catalyst for additional transit-oriented development near the Skokie Swift station. Having 33,000 square feet of retail space added to the growing mix of businesses on Dempster Street has the potential to generate further economic growth to benefit the community.”

 

Construction of a new O’Reilly Auto Parts store is underway on Dempster Street across from the site of the new Target store, and will join numerous other new businesses in the area. “The steady, continued development on Dempster Street began more than a decade ago with the relocation and restoration of the historic Skokie Swift station that now houses a Starbucks and other businesses,” said Mayor Van Dusen. Over the past decade, other significant developments on Dempster Street near the Skokie Swift station include Chicago Jewish Funerals, Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store/That Burger Joint, Pita Inn, Kaufman’s Deli, Creative Paths Learning Center, Gross Point Crossing shopping center and more.

 

The new Target store is being developed by BlitzLake Partners, Chicago. It will be supported by 77 surface parking spaces on the south side of the building and in new parking spaces being added on Carol Street.

50th Ward Public Safety Meeting

Posted on by Shalom Klein
50th Ward Public Safety Meeting
Tuesday, July 19 at 7 p.m.
Bernard Horwich JCC, 3003 W. Touhy.
Safety concerns have dominated the news in Chicago.  Our neighborhood, although still one of the safest in the city, has experienced serious incidents, as well. It is our responsibility as residents to know the facts about this situation and what steps the police are taking to deal with this challenge to all of us.
On Tuesday, July 19, 7 p.m. at the Bernard Horwich JCC, 3003 W. Touhy, Alderman Debra Silverstein is inviting the community to meet new Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, as well as 24th District Commander Roberto Nieves and 17th District Commander Elias Voulgaris.  The 50th Ward is covered by these two districts.
This is our chance to hear the facts as opposed to sharing rumors.  What is the trendline of the number of discharged firearms, shootings and violent crimes?  What is the level of police presence in the neighborhood as compared to past years?  What can our leaders do to increase police presence and increase its effectiveness?  What other concerns of residents require the attention of our top police leadership?
This is our chance to get answers to our questions from the top leadership of the Chicago Police Department.  It is imperative that we attend this meeting and we thank Alderman Silverstein for making it happen.

Skokie Review: Fourth Parade brings 'largest crowd ever' to downtown Skokie

Posted on by Shalom Klein

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Not too hot, not too cold, all dry and a bunch of families with smiling children — the recipe for a successful Fourth of July parade if there ever was one.

The Skokie Fourth of July Parade Committee could not have asked for a better environment, it said, as Oakton Street was lined several rows deep for the annual Fourth of July parade Monday.

Right up until the last minute, Committee Chairman Alan Gerstner said, the parade was adding to its itinerary. Although packed with celebrity and military grand marshals and special guests, the parade made room for one more big one late in the planning stages:

Jonathan Kite of the CBS hit comedy “Two Broke Girls” rode in the parade, joining a long list of other dignitaries, celebrities, politicians and military men and women. They included Karen Jordan, news anchor at WLS Channel 7 and Christian Farr, news reporter at NBC Channel 5, as parade grand marshals; Roger Baldesch from WGN Radio as reviewing stand announcer; and CBS Channel 2 meteorologist Ed Curran and well-known radio personality Catherine Johns as featured guests.

Retired Col. Jill Morgenthaler served as the military grand marshal of the parade, Sgt. Eduardo Villarreal as the second military grand marshal and Lt. Bill Klopsch as the third military grand marshall.

Gerstner said more than 1,650 people, well over 100 units, were expected to participate in the parade — many more than last year.

Before the event, the chairman said that he hoped to see some 6,000 people in downtown for one of the largest parades Skokie has ever thrown. There was not an official count, but after the parade, the committee posted on its Facebook page just what a successful turnout there was.

“Wow! What a Parade!,” it said. “Thank you to the thousands of people that came out to the Skokie Fourth of July parade. This was the largest crowd ever. Thank you for making our parade the best parade in Chicagoland.”

misaacs@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @SKReview_Mike

Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/skokie/news/ct-skr-skokie-fourth-parade-tl-0714-20160705-story.html

Register for The ARK's free job clinic on 7/21 in Skokie

Posted on by Shalom Klein

Jewish B2B Networking and The ARK invite all jobseekers from the Skokie community to a newly developed employment clinic series. The 2-hour interactive sessions in Skokie will address the several obstacles today’s job seekers face, and provide realistic, relevant information that can assist in conducting a more productive job search. There are no prerequisites regarding income or employment status, and affiliation with JB2B or The ARK is not required.

The job search has changed dramatically, and the challenge of knowing how and where to look for employment can be overwhelming, especially for the older job seeker.  Arm yourself with as much information as possible – there are options!!  Join us for our next employment clinic and learn about different approaches that might just change your luck.

HOW TO CONDUCT A

PRODUCTIVE JOB SEARCH FOR THE MATURE JOB SEEKER

Sponsored by the ARK and JB2B