Remember this? On the air: Skokie's small business guru hosts radio show
Shalom Klein must have the largest hat rack in all of Skokie considering how many hats he wears in his day-to-day life.
Just when you think he could not possibly fit another one, Klein takes advantage of a new opportunity that he says was too meaningful to pass up.
Not long ago, the Economic Development Commission chairman, Dempster Street Merchants Association co-founder, student, Jewish B2B Networking chairman, jobs adviser and vice-president of Moshe Klein & Associates Ltd. in Skokie added another unlikely role to his arsenal: radio host.
What was not unlikely, though, is that just over a year later, “Get Down To Business With Shalom Klein” on radio’s AM 560 (WIND) seems a big success.
“This was another real opportunity to make a difference with small businesses and to help people looking for employment,” Klein says. “The radio show has extended my reach to people that I otherwise would not have been able to meet and people I otherwise would not be talking to.”
Look more closely at many of those hats Klein wears and they are made of the same thread. Only in his mid-20s, Klein wants to boost small businesses and to help people looking for jobs, to put into practice the advantages of networking, to match small business owners with ideal job seekers.
Backlot Bash takes sting out of back-to-school time
If there is anything that takes a little of the sting out of the approaching end of summer — when schools throughout Skokie call students back in session — it’s the popular Backlot Bash.
The Skokie Park District’s three-day weekend festival, which fills the downtown Skokie area near Village Hall with carnival rides, music, games and more, could not come at a better time as far as many are concerned.
Park district officials have called the festival a “last hurrah” for families before fall sets in and the calendar heads toward colder days and more serious endeavors.
Although the turnout is always dependent on the weather, park district officials acknowledge, the Backlot Bash is undoubtedly the most heavily attended event the park district and other village agencies operate, they say.
“As much as any of our events, this one appeals to a wide range of ages and backgrounds,” Skokie Park District Executive Director John Ohrlund said. “It sounds cliched, but it’s true: it has a little something for everybody.”
A little something for everybody seems to add up to a lot for everyone.
The Backlot Bash, which runs from Aug. 26 to Aug. 28, includes popular and diverse live music; three days of a variety of carnival rides; the Backlot Dash 5K run; classic films shown at the Skokie Theatre and the Skokie Public Library; bingo; a pancake breakfast; a classic car show; family entertainment at the library; the Skokie Farmers Market on Sunday morning and more.
Like Ohrlund, Skokie Park District Superintendent of Recreation and Facilities Michelle Tuft said the festival’s strong appeal is based on having so many activities for people to enjoy.
“There is a carnival for kids, music and a beer tent for adults, vendors selling a lot of different foods and a lot more,” she said. “It’s hard not to find something to like.”
But more than any other event in Skokie, music stands at the center of this village-wide extravaganza. From the beginning of the festival Friday night to the end of the festival early Sunday evening, live music is always in the air.
Since 2007, when the Backlot Bash first kicked off in downtown Skokie, organizers say, the festival has staged eclectic rock, blues and R&B music, including the Presidents of the United States of America, Lonnie Brooks, The Fixx, The English Beat, The Romantics, Cracker, Fastball, Spin Doctors and Smoking Popes.
Headliners this year include Blue Oyster Cult on Friday, Living Colour on Saturday and Tributosaurus transforming into the Police on Sunday.
The Skokie Review will have more details on the music offerings and other Backlot Bash events closer to the festival opening.
While the park district manages and develops the Backlot Bash every year, the event is possible because of multi-agency cooperation and coordination, organizers say. The village, the library, the Skokie Chamber of Commerce and others contribute to its success, they say.
Business sponsors this year include North Shore Community Bank; Joseph Mulllarkey Distributors Inc. (Miller); Renewal by Andersen (window replacement); the Illinois Science + Technology Park; Bath Planet; Bath Fitter; Window Works; Lyft; Sports Clips Haircuts; and State Farm.
For more information on the Backlot Bash, access backlotbash.com.
Twitter @SKReview_Mike
Loved paying a visit to Keshet's summer programs at Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Skokie
Ran Kehillat Chovevei Tzion's annual 5k in Skokie
Target is Coming to Skokie
Target announced today development of a 33,000-square-foot retail store on the southwest corner of Dempster Street and Bronx Avenue in Skokie. The flexible-format store is projected to open in fall 2017, and will be smaller in scale than a traditional Target. The new location will feature offerings for families and children, baby care items, sporting goods, toys, portable technology accessories, gift items, stationary, health/beauty products and a grocery section including fresh produce, select Kosher items and many ‘grab and go’ food selections. The new store also will include a pharmacy and order pick up service.
“The construction of a new Target store on Dempster Street is great news for the Village of Skokie,” said Mayor George Van Dusen. “The Village has long sought a major retailer to serve as a catalyst for additional transit-oriented development near the Skokie Swift station. Having 33,000 square feet of retail space added to the growing mix of businesses on Dempster Street has the potential to generate further economic growth to benefit the community.”
Construction of a new O’Reilly Auto Parts store is underway on Dempster Street across from the site of the new Target store, and will join numerous other new businesses in the area. “The steady, continued development on Dempster Street began more than a decade ago with the relocation and restoration of the historic Skokie Swift station that now houses a Starbucks and other businesses,” said Mayor Van Dusen. Over the past decade, other significant developments on Dempster Street near the Skokie Swift station include Chicago Jewish Funerals, Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store/That Burger Joint, Pita Inn, Kaufman’s Deli, Creative Paths Learning Center, Gross Point Crossing shopping center and more.
The new Target store is being developed by BlitzLake Partners, Chicago. It will be supported by 77 surface parking spaces on the south side of the building and in new parking spaces being added on Carol Street.
Elisheva Klein and I love visiting the Skokie Farmers Market!
Register for The ARK's free job clinic on 7/21 in Skokie
Jewish B2B Networking and The ARK invite all jobseekers from the Skokie community to a newly developed employment clinic series. The 2-hour interactive sessions in Skokie will address the several obstacles today’s job seekers face, and provide realistic, relevant information that can assist in conducting a more productive job search. There are no prerequisites regarding income or employment status, and affiliation with JB2B or The ARK is not required.
The job search has changed dramatically, and the challenge of knowing how and where to look for employment can be overwhelming, especially for the older job seeker. Arm yourself with as much information as possible – there are options!! Join us for our next employment clinic and learn about different approaches that might just change your luck.
HOW TO CONDUCT A
PRODUCTIVE JOB SEARCH FOR THE MATURE JOB SEEKER
Sponsored by the ARK and JB2B
It was great chatting with our Skokie parade grand marshal, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler
An Engaging Evening of Speed Networking on June 29th in Skokie
REGISTER HERE!!!
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EVENT DETAILS Wednesday WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUTSPEED NETWORKING New York Times Fox News Watch Speed Networking in Action SPEED NETWORKING SOLUTIONS LLC Questions?
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AN ENGAGING EVENING OF Don’t miss out on the hottest networking event of the year! ADVANTAGES OF SPEED NETWORKING EVENTS
HOW IT WORKS?
After completion of payment you will receive instructions on completeing your networking profile online. This process should take approximately 5 minutes or less. When you arrive at the event you will be provided your customized schedule of meetings. Your SpeedNetworking.com host for the evening will provide you all the details for the evening and manage the time for each round. CAUTION: These events are highly energetic, fast moving, EVENT DETAILS THE FINE PRINT!
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