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Rosie Newmark

I am a rising senior working toward my undergraduate degree in journalism and history at Northwestern University. I like to cover social issues, local politics and activism.

I have experience writing for multiple Chicago-area publications as well as campus publications. I am originally from Chicago but I am currently based in Evanston, Illinois.

The Record •

Highland Park council loosens mural restrictions

The city of Highland Park is about to get a lot more colorful.

Highland Park council members unanimously approved on Monday, Sept. 11, an updated city-art and mural policy that will support more public art throughout the city.

“We have had businessowners and people come to us and say this is a way to bring vibrancy into our community and all we do is put it off, and it’s time to do it,” Councilmember Annette Lidawer said.

After a nearly two-hour debate with presentations from Director of Comm
The Record •

Free Bird: Winnetka Fire Department rescues red-tailed hawk

Birdie, eagle, albatross, hawk. One of these don’t belong on the golf course — unless that course was Indian Hill Club on Aug. 16.

A red-tail hawk became the center of attention at the Winnetka facility when it was caught in a discarded fishing line in a tree.

Dan Dunn, who witnessed the scene, said the bird was entangled into the line and hanging by its neck, struggling, when Winnetka firefighters — Lt. Jon Colpaert and firefighters Zach Fudalej and Christian Kroeger — showed up and saved its
The Record •

High-ranking Chicago police officer to take over Glencoe Public Safety

After working for the Chicago Police Department for 27 years, Sean Loughran is coming to Glencoe.

Loughran, the city’s deputy chief in the office of the first deputy superintendent for the CPD, will take the role of the Village of Glencoe’s next Public Safety Director on Oct. 5, Glencoe Village Manager Phil Kiraly announced on Aug. 23 in a village press release

The recruitment process — conducted by GovHR, with the help of community partners, elected officials, Public Safety Department staff a
The Record •

Community steps up for Highland Park family displaced by house fire

Alexander Morales, the owner of Northshore Cleanaholics, said his family appreciates the Highland Park community, even in the face of the tragedy they are experiencing.

The Morales family set up a GoFundMe digital fundraiser to offset the costs of clothing, food and personal hygiene items that they lost during the fire that damaged their house on Aug. 9 in Highland Park.

The Morales family created the fundraiser on the day of the fire, following encouragement from clients and other family memb
The Record •

Affordable housing units on Deerfield Road get council approval

The city of Highland Park wants to maximize residential space on Deerfield Road.

Councilmembers unanimously approved a development agreement on Monday, Aug. 22, to construct affordable townhomes on Deerfield Road.

The eight-unit complex will replace three single-family homes at 925, 929 and 937 Deerfield Road, according to the meeting agenda packet. The construction timeline is not clear.

Community Partners for Affordable Housing, an affordable-housing developer in Chicagoland, owns the prope
The Record •

Winnetka Park District to search for new executive director

The Winnetka Park District will soon have a new leader, but just how soon is not clear.

The new executive director will follow the retiring John Peterson, who was appointed to the position in April 2020. Prior to then, Peterson served on the Park Board from 2015 until 2019, serving as the board’s vice president beginning in 2018.

Peterson said he agreed to serve as executive director for three to five years. He is currently embarking on his fourth year and said he will retire when the Park Boa
The Record •

Animals rescued, no injuries reported in home fire in Highland Park

The Highland Park Fire Department extinguished a fire on Wednesday morning at a home on Country Lane just north of Lake Cook Road near Northbrook Court shopping center.

According to a City of Highland Park press release, the fire was reported at 5:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, and the cause remains under investigation.

The release says the residents of the single-story structure were outside when fire units arrived, and that firefighters rescued a fish, a turtle and a cat. A second cat has not
The Record •

Weapons detection, advanced card readers and more coming to Highland Park High School

After months of outcry from students and parents for stricter security measures, Township High School District 113 board members agreed on Tuesday night to move forward with enhanced safety measures for its two high schools: Highland Park and Deerfield.

A weapons-detection system for HPHS highlights 10 safety recommendations and expenditures to be implemented starting this upcoming school year, thanks to decisions by the D113 School Board during a Committee of the Whole Meeting on Aug. 8.

The
The Record •

Trying to stay in business, new Winnetka bakery turns to its neighbors

Lincoln Avenue Bakery owner Don Reilly is asking the community for help.

Reilly — owner and founder of LAB, originally known as Brittany’s Butters and Gourmet Bakery — is hoping to raise $50,000 to offset the new storefront’s financial struggles following a surprise funding change, he said.

After opening the bakery in January at 544 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, Reilly said he began to face financial challenges and could not keep up with daily operational costs.

“For us to be back at an ideal comfo
The Record •

Inaugural Taste of Ravinia will keep party going after farmers market on Aug. 9

Highland Park residents can enjoy a second helping if they stick around after the weekly Ravinia Farmers’ Market next week.

Highland Park’s farmers market guru, Ed Kugler, is hosting the first Taste of Ravinia, an event on Wednesday, Aug. 9, that will include local businesses, live music and family activities.

Kugler, who is the market manager for the Glencoe Farmers Market and Ravinia Farmers Market, said Abigail’s American Bistro, Maddie’s Market, Chunky Scones and Scoops will be among the b
The Record •

Report shows Albion Highland Park is violating the city’s noise ordinance

The Mordini family and their neighbors are one step closer to peace and quiet.

At an administrative hearing on Thursday, July 20, the City of Highland Park’s corporation counsel reported that a sound test conducted by the city’s Community Development Department over the Fourth of July weekend showed that Albion Highland Park was in violation of the city’s sound ordinance.

A hearing officer granted the property owner a deadline of Aug. 17 to present new evidence from their own sound tests or ad
The Record •

Approve contracts get ball rolling on Glencoe Golf Club improvements

The formal process for designing and constructing the new clubhouse at the Glencoe Golf Club can now begin.

Glencoe trustees approved the contracts for both FGM Architects for architectural and engineering services and W. B. Olsen for construction management at a Village Board meeting on Thursday, July 20.

The village plans to construct a clubhouse with a “new, multi-purpose facility to include a restaurant and event space that will be open and available to the public and that will also expand
The Record •

Residents prevail in fight for safety measures along Glencoe side street

Hohlfelder Road residents can stop now. In fact, they’re required to.

The Glencoe Board of Trustees on Thursday, July 20, directed village staff to install two stop signs and pedestrian crosswalks on Hohlfelder Road following months of advocacy from Glencoe residents.

According to an edition of Glencoe’s “Village eNews,” installation of a three-way stop at Orchard Lane and four-way stop at Sunset Avenue will happen within the next month or so.

The trustees, who agreed on the safety measures d
The Record •

Glencoe teenagers spend summer helping others prepare for school year

Two 13-year-old girls from Glencoe spent their first four weeks of summer vacation doing math calculations and the next two weeks spending six hours a day indoors.

But it was worth it — for them and at least 250 other Chicagoland students.

At the beginning of June, Thi Chaplin and Lilah Brady, students at Glencoe’s Central School, began to raise money to purchase school supplies for Chicagoland children who need them.

After four weeks of fundraising, the pair had $6,500 — $500 above their goa
The Record •

Highland Park clears way for Ravinia bike shelter

A bike shelter is coming to Highland Park’s Ravinia district. How and when, though, is still undetermined.

The Highland Park City Council passed on Monday, July 17, an ordinance to build a Ravinia bike shelter but the council would like to review more options before choosing a design.

According to the agenda packet, the funds for the structure will come from the Ravinia Tax Increment Financing District, not the City’s general fund.

The recommended bike shelter was “simple and sleek” and would
The Record •

Wilmette-Germany student exchange program returns after four years off

This summer 26 Wilmette middle-school students said “tschüss” to their hometown for two weeks.

Sixth- through eighth-graders at Wilmette Junior High School and Highcrest Middle School participated in a German exchange program for the first time since 2019. Although District 39 students had traveled to Germany every other year from 1996-2019, the trip was postponed for the past three years because of COVID-19 concerns.

The trip aims to allow students to apply their German language skills while
The Record •

Terry’s Toffee, Sweet Home Gelato unite to take over former Panera building in Highland Park

The sweet taste of toffee is coming to downtown Highland Park.

Terry’s Toffee is moving to 1853 2nd St., the former Panera Bread location, from its spot in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. It will sell its homemade toffee, caramel pecan clusters, fresh cookies, gelato, truffles, chocolate lollipops, and caramel apples and other seasonal treats, according to owner Greg Reich.

“Highland Park has been great because they’re trying to make it such a family-friendly neighborhood and make it so much more invi
The Record •

Facing residents' pleas for quicker solution, Park Board reaffirms support for ADA access to Langdon

Wilmette Park District commissioners are one step closer to a Langdon Beach access plan.

Although no vote was taken, the commissioners agreed they will likely only vote on a redesign plan for Langdon Beach if it is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act on Monday, July 10. Shorthanded, the Park Board decided to table an official vote until its next meeting, Aug. 14, when all commissioners are present.

The decision to only vote on a design plan that ensures ADA compliance was initia
The Record •

Record Roundup: What, when and where for local Fourth of July festivities

North Shore communities are ready once again to party like its 1776.

Events in The Record’s coverage area (New Trier Township and Highland Park) will feature everything from races and shows to food and family activities to celebrate Independence Day.

See details on all the events below and check out village and park district websites for more information and registration instructions.

Celebrate Independence Day in Wilmette on Monday, July 3, with a variety of events, including two annual trad
The Record •

Wilmette library patrons sing loud and proud in response to protestor at Pride event

Love won this month at the Wilmette Public Library .

When a man interrupted performer and author Lindz Amer’s Rainbow Storytime on June 14 at the Wilmette Public Library, attendees drowned out his disapproval with joyful song, according to Amer and library officials.

Amer, who makes queer content for children primarily through their web series Queer Kid Stuff, began touring for their book “Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies” in May at schools and libraries whe
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