News Briefs: Botanic garden’s 1,000 jack-o’-lanterns; Local National Merit semifinalists; Traveling North Shore history exhibit

The Chicago Botanic Garden’s popular Night of 1,000 Jack-o-Lanterns is creeping its way back.

The event, which actually lasts 10 nights between Oct. 11-22, features a display of more than 1,000 pumpkins lit with LED lights lining a family-friendly outdoor path at the Glencoe venue.

“Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns is a festive annual tradition for visitors to walk through the garden after dark guided by the glow of pumpkins,” said Jodi Zombolo, associate vice president of CBG’s visitor events and programs, in a press release. “It’s a great opportunity to spend an evening outdoors with friends and family while being entertained along the way.”

Eighty of the pumpkins — some reportedly up to 150 pounds — are intricately carved by artists for the New York-based company Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns. They reportedly spend eight to 10 hours to illustrate and then 10 to 20 hours to paint and carve each large pumpkin.

Also along the lit path will be carving demonstrations, costumed entertainers, and “light” food and drink for purchase.

The event runs at 6 p.m. for 10 nights: Oct. 11-15 and Oct. 18-22. Tickets, which can be purchased online, cost between $19 and $23 for adults and $13-$16 for children between 3-12. Children age 2 and under are free. Parking is $15 for nonmembers if purchased in advance and $25 on the day of.

Local students named as National Merit semifinalists

Thirty-five New Trier High School students and five Loyola Academy students were named as semifinalists in the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Program, according to information from the high schools.

High school juniors across the country entered the 2024 program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and only approximately 16,000, or less than 1 percent, earned the semifinalist designation. The semifinalists will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million.

About 95 percent of semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level, and about half of those will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

New Trier’s National Merit semifinalists are: Alison K. Beanblossom, Tal M. Belkind, Jacqueline R. Berman, Emily J. Boyd, Tolga K. Bozkurt, William Choi, Maya Echambadi, Jasmine Fang, Hayden M. Fountain, Alivia A. Gao, Ashley Geohas, Constance H. Gillum, Samuel Kaiser, Sophia A. Korobov, Charles J. Ktsanes, Nalin V. Kundu, Magnus J. Lee, Megan K. Lu, Daniel C. Matten, Jacob A. Matten, Ella L. McCurdy, Andrew E. Moore, Cax H. Moore, Michael J. Moran, Lauren Moutvic, Niyati Naveen, Raina M. Patel, Sarah F. Popoff, Colleen S. Schindler, Rohan M. Sharma, Caleb Sim, Pranshu Venkatesh Rao, Victoria I. Wenzke, Andrew Y. Xia, and Jasper S. Zettelmeyer. 

Loyola’s semifinalists are: Emmett F. Boyd, Leah M. Harker, Daniel B. McGuire, Elizabeth B. O’Hara and Townes X. Robertson.

Traveling Winnetka history exhibit Creating Communities: A History of the North Shore opens

Creating Communities: A History of the North Shore opened on Friday, Sept. 15, at the North Shore Senior Center, 161 Northfield Road, Northfield.

The exhibit showcases the history of the North Shore’s early settlers, transportation, commercial development, architecture, recreation and notable women, according to a press release from the Winnetka Historical Society. In addition, the exhibit includes unique artifacts such as wedding shoes, a bus and train belted coin dispenser, wooden ice skates, an engraved bowling pin, and more.

In November, specific exhibit topics will travel to the Community House Winnetka and the Winnetka Public Library. The exhibit is open to the public free of charge at all three venues and is geared toward children and adults ages 10 and up. It is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. between Sept. 15 and Oct. 27 at the North Shore Senior Center; from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. Friday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday between Nov. 1 and Feb. 28 at the Winnetka Public Library, 768 Oak St; and 5 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday between Nov. 8-Feb. 28 at the Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka.

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