News Briefs: Regina robotics only all-girls team at regional; New Trier Lit Fest gets big boost; Lakefront Park restoration is underway

The Regina Dominican robotics team had a standout performance during the Robotics Midwest Regional on March 30, as the only all-girls team to compete and placing 35th out of 50 teams.

The team, known as The Regina Riveters, competed in a competition for the first time in the school’s history and received the 2024 Rookie Inspiration Award for the Midwest Regional. This award is given to rookie teams that demonstrate outstanding success in advancing knowledge and appreciation for engineering and engineers in their school and community.

“The Regina Dominican community is thrilled with the accomplishments of the 2024 Regina Riveters, and we’re proud of their outstanding commitment to their team and their community,” a release from the school says.

Endowment donation benefits New Trier’s Lit Fest

A recent gift will give the New Trier High School English Department’s Literary (Lit) Fest a boost this year, according to a release from the New Trier Educational Foundation.

An endowment of $100,000 will be given in honor of Phyllis Barbara Marschall — by her son Hale Curtis III, a 1966 graduate of New Trier — who graduated from the same school in 1947.

“My mother enjoyed reading,” Hale said in the release. “She always had a book in her hand, fiction or nonfiction. Supporting Lit Fest would be a fitting tribute to her memory.”

The endowment will be used to enhance the learning experience for students and faculty alike, said English teacher Carlo Trovato.

“This announcement pairs well with the 20th anniversary of Lit Fest this year,” Trovato said.

Future plans for the Lit Fest include a speaker leading a workshop with faculty, two sessions with students, and a public reading in the evening either at school or in conjunction with The Book Stall in Winnetka. The English department is already in the process of planning for next year’s Lit Fest.

Bluff work ongoing at Glencoe’s Lakefront Park

A restoration project is underway at Lakefront Park in Glencoe. Restoration specialists are removing invasive plants to restore the natural habitat of the area, according to information from the Glencoe Park District.

The invasive plants are being removed to allow the planting of native and regionally appropriate species, which, according to the park district, will enhance the aesthetic appeal of the bluff and provide vital habitats for wildlife. The restoration project is part of an effort to maintain a healthy and diverse ecosystem.

The district says the restoration project at Lakefront Park is a critical step in maintaining the ecological health of the area. The removal of invasive plants will allow native flora and fauna to thrive, restoring the balance of the ecosystem.

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