News Briefs: Blended cast to put on ‘Technicolor Dreamcoat’ March 8-11; Northfield gambling survey open till March 10; Library to preserve local newspaper; Wilmette D39’s bond rating

Grammar-school students are teaming up with New Trier high schoolers this week to perform the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

The united performances will take place at 7 p.m. on March 8-11, in New Trier High School’s Gaffney Auditorium at its Winnetka campus, 385 Winnetka Ave.

“We are thankful for our colleagues at the schools who are running amazing general music and choral programs at the elementary and junior high levels,” New Trier Director of Choirs Amy Branahl said in a press release.

The 27 younger students hail from McKenzie Elementary, Romona Elementary, Highcrest Middle and Wilmette Junior High schools in Wilmette District 39; Avoca West Elementary in Avoca District 37; Crow Island Elementary and The Skokie School in Winnetka D36; Glencoe West and Glencoe Central schools in Glencoe D35; Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth D38; and Sunset Ridge School in Northfield.

They auditioned for the children’s choir in January, the release says, and received help from New Trier’s choral program through workshops and tutorials.

“Working with the children’s choir has been such a joy,” Branahl said. “My favorite thing about working with them is seeing their faces light up when they learn new music, when they are able to sing in two parts and having pride in learning their own parts, and being able to inspire students at such a young age to participate and enjoy musical theatre.”

The choir opera, or cho-op, performance has welcomed younger students into the show since 1980, the release says. This year the younger students will be included in six songs.

“Just watching them be excited about the new experiences that they are having with our production, it reminds me of how I felt when I started musical theatre,” said Sadie Block, a New Trier student with the choir opera.

Fellow student Anna Howie added, “We want to engage with our sender schools and want to share our knowledge with the Children’s Choir to help them grow. We think it is important to see what performing arts are like at the high school level, and this is an opportunity for them to learn from their older peers.”

The show is broken into two casts. Cast A performs Wednesday and Friday, March 8 and 10, and Cast B on Thursday and Saturday, March 9 and 11. Cast and crew lists can be found HERE.

“Everyone is committed to an environment where you can be passionate about what they are creating,” said Asher Alcantara, a New Trier choir opera student. “Performing with choir opera helps the students practice the level of professionalism required to put together a full production main stage show.”

Video gaming survey is live until March 10 for Northfield residents

Following a request from a local restaurant, the Village of Northfield wants residents opinions on video gaming within town limits.

Stormy’s Tavern and Grilled pitched the Village on allowing it to add video poker machines, and the Northfield Village Board discussed the idea during its Feb. 21 meeting.

While a majority of trustees opposed the plan, the board decided to seek more information before making a final decision. The Village released a one-question survey that is open to residents until Friday, March 10.

The survey asks: Are you in favor of amending the Village Code to permit video gaming in Northfield?

Northfield also released a FAQ page with more information on video gaming, which it — along with other New Trier communities — does not currently allow.

Library, historical society to digitize Winnetka Talk

The Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District and the Winnetka Historical Society are joining forces in to help preserve Winnetka’s historical record.

The organizations reportedly will digitize past issues of the Winnetka Talk, a local news publication that has been in circulation since 1913, and provide access to them through the library.

A release from the library says the project will take approximately 12 months to complete and information about how to access the collection will be shared at that time.

District 39 Receives Aaa Rating from Moody’s Investors Service

Wilmette District 39 received a triple-A (Aaa) bond rating that “is reflective of the district’s commitment to financial responsibility, stability and long-term planning,” according to a press release from D39.

The rating is provided by Moody’s Investors Services in the category of general obligation limited tax school bonds.

“Maintaining our Aaa rating — the highest on the scale — is significant for District 39,” said Amy Poehling,
president of the Wilmette District 39 Board of Education. “This is representative of our long-standing and continued commitment to maintaining a strong financial position while providing our students with a high-quality education.

“This rating is also a testament to the strength and stability of our community, and our careful, long-term planning and budgeting.”

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