News Briefs: Bosworth Bridge replaced; Library picks One Book, Everybody Reads title; HP foundation picks up Jordan grant

A new Bosworth Pedestrian Bridge is now in place and can be used as soon as Monday, April 3.

Workers installed the structure on Wednesday, March 29, between Bosworth Lane and Northfield Road in Northfield.

The old bridge, which was 25 years old and past its “useful life,” officials said, was removed on March 9.

Calling it a safety issue, the Northfield Village Board in June 2022 signed off on a contract to replace the degrading Bosworth Pedestrian Bridge.

An assessment of the bridge in 2020 determined that several structural portions of the bridge were in “poor condition,” according to village documents. In response, Northfield trustees agreed to replace instead of repair the pedestrian bridge, which at 70 feet long and 8 feet wide stretches over the north branch of the Chicago River.

Village staff repaired damaged board and railings on the bridge in 2022 ensure its safe usage until the replacement.

Wilmette library picks community read

Now in its 16th year, One Book, Everyone Reads — Wilmette Public Library’s annual communitywide reading and discussion series — has its subject for 2023: “Now Is Not The Time To Panic,” by Kevin Wilson.

A press release from the library describes the novel as a coming-of-age tale of two teenagers who spend a summer creating anonymous art that sends their quiet Tennessee town, and the nation, into a frenzy.

Wilson will virtually visit the library via Zoom on May 11 and will discuss the book with Chicago-based writer, journalist, and curator Alison Cuddy. The event will be free.

Throughout the spring, the library will host a slate of programs and book discussions centered on the novel. 

“Programs will examine influential art movements and the impact of real-life moral panics through community discussions, presentations and a film screening,” the release says. “In addition, three librarian-led book discussions and a wide range of art workshops will be held throughout the series. 

Wilson is the author of three earlier novels. And “”Now Is Not The Time To Panic” is a New York Times bestseller and a Read with Jenna book club selection. He lives in Sewanee, Tenn., with his wife, the poet Leigh Anne Couch, and his sons, and is an associate professor in the English department at Sewanee: The University of the South. 

For more information, visit the program’s website  to find a full schedule of events and to register for Kevin Wilson’s author visit.

One Book, Everyone Reads is funded by the Friends of the Wilmette Public Library.

Highland Park’s Beyond Sports secures major grant

Beyond Sports Foundation in Highland Park will receive a grant from Michael Jordan Brand’s Community Grant Program. The award is part of the program’s 10-year, $100 million Black Community Commitment.

According to a press release from Beyond Sports, Jordan Community Grants are awarded to grassroots, nonprofit organizations that are driving action and leading sustainable solutions to improve Black lives in their neighborhoods.

Beyond Sports Foundation will use the grant funds to “empower and elevate student-athletes in Chicago to succeed in the classroom, on the court, on the field, and ultimately in life,” according to the release.

“We are honored to have been selected as a recipient of Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand’s Community Grant Program. Their commitment to support the growth and development of Black youth in Chicago is incredibly impactful,” said Josh Binder, Beyond Sports’ executive director, in the release. “This grant provides us the resources to continue offering free academic, professional, and athletic support to elevate our students and families in our BSF Community and beyond.”

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