News Briefs: Raiders raise $16K for Alzheimer’s research; Free small business assistance panel; Native plant sale at Gillson

North Shore Country Day’s Dunk Alzheimer’s Basketball Bash looked a little different this year, but students rallied to find a creative way to keep the fundraiser alive for its ninth consecutive year, according to a press release from the Winnetka school.

Despite limitations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSCD community raised more than $16,000 to support Alzheimer’s research during a reimagined outdoor event April 24.

Instead of the typical full schedule of varsity, junior varsity and middle school games in the Mac Gym, students organized an outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament and spikeball games for the entire upper school community. Leading up to the event, the press release says students sold Dunk Alz t-shirts and sweatpants, held a virtual silent auction and sold raffle tickets for gift cards and other items that were raffled off throughout the day. A food truck from La Cocinita also made an appearance in the afternoon. 

Dunk Alzheimer’s was started by NSCD alumnus Jonathan Segal, of Glencoe, who graduated in 2015, and has been carried on by several other students over the years, including his younger sister Caroline Segal, who graduated in 2020, per the release. Their grandmother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at age 60. 

Local libraries, chambers of commerce partner for ‘The State of Small Business Assistance’

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its second year, a wide array of federal, state and local programs have been enacted and extended to help small businesses survive and adapt. Four local libraries and chambers of commerce are teaming up to help the business community stay informed about these continually evolving programs, according to a press release.

From 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 4, the Wilmette, Evanston, Glenview and Skokie libraries, in partnership with the Wilmette/Kenilworth, Evanston, Glenview and Skokie chambers of commerce will host “The State of Small Business Assistance.”

The event is a panel discussion featuring representatives from the federal and state governments, as well as a small business advocacy organization, per the release.

Join representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowski; Illinois Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and Elliot Richardson, president and co-founder of the Small Business Advocacy Council as they provide updates on the progress of small business assistance initiatives and ways they can help small businesses continue to meet the challenges of operating during the pandemic.

Registration for this virtual event is free and open to all. To learn more about the event and to register, visit the Evanston Public Library’s online events calendar, call (847) 448-8630 or contact Susan Markwell at smarkwell@cityofevanston.org.

70 varieties of native plants for sale May 8 in Wilmette

Anyone looking to attract butterflies and birds to their garden, soak up rainwater, or just add a splash of natural beauty to their yard will have their choice of more than 70 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees that are native to the Chicago area at Go Green Wilmette’s in-person, socially-distant Native Plant Sale.

The sale will run from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 8, at Gillson Park in Wilmette.

Masks are required for this socially-distant event, hosted by Go Green Wilmette and Wilmette Park District. A list of plants and more details can be found here.