Cook County news briefs

Bridgeview

Northwestern soccer signs deal for Toyota

Thirteen Northwestern University soccer matches will be held in Toyota Park, home of Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, during 2015.

The action is needed because renovations are being done on the Lanny & Sharon Martin Stadium at Northwestern through the fall. The deal, reached between the university and the village of Bridgeview, will have the NU men’s team playing six games at the 20,000-seat soccer facility, while the university’s women’s team will play seven games at Toyota.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes to compete in a venue that regularly hosts some of the best players in the world,” said NU men’s coach Tim Lenahan. “Chicago is a great soccer town, something evident throughout last summer’s World Cup and the great support the Chicago Fire receives. Our program is excited to showcase a high level of soccer to fans in the city and on the Southwest Side who may not regularly get to Evanston.”

“This is a thrilling announcement for our student-athletes, their families and our program as a whole,” said women’s coach Michael Moynihan. “Following a strong finish to last season, expectations and excitement are at an all-time high as we enter the 2015 campaign. This is a great reflection of our ongoing mission to provide a world-class experience to our student-athletes, while work continues to create an exceptional venue at Lanny & Sharon Martin Stadium alongside Lake Michigan.”

Evanston

Chicago man killed

Evanston police are seeking help in their investigation into the shooting death of a Chicago man who was found shot in his vehicle.

Ray Owens, 27, was shot multiple times at 1:45 p.m. June 8 on the 2000 block of Emerson Street. Officers said they found Owens in a car in a parking area adjacent to the alley on the north side of the street. Owens was transported to Evanston-Northshore Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Evanston detectives, with the assistance of the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force, are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact Evanston police at (847) 866-5000 or text an anonymous tip to CRIMES (274637), entering EPD TIP in the message line, along with the information.

La Grange

Bookstore planned downtown

Efforts are underway to create a bookstore in downtown La Grange.

Anderson’s Bookshop, a sixth-generation, family owned business in the Chicago area celebrating its 50^th year in operation, has launched an Indiegogo campaign to create a La Grange store. There are various perks being offered for individuals’ donations to the effort.

The Anderson family’s link to publications dates back to 1875 when the current owners’ great-great grandfather opened a pharmacy in Naperville and started selling books on the second floor

In 1964, the current owners’ grandfather opened Anderson’s first bookstore above the drug store, calling it Paperback Paradise. Since then, Anderson’s has moved to a separate location in Naperville and opened a location in Downers Grove.

Oak Park

LeeAndra Khan

New principal joins Brooks

A new principal has been named for Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in Oak Park.

LeeAndra Khan, formerly principal at Bronzeville Scholastic Institute in Chicago for three years, will replace Mike Michowski, who will be taking a position in another district. Khan will take over the position July 1.

Khan, who resides in Chicago with her 11-year-old son, Ausar, said she is looking forward to joining the Brooks team and the Oak Park community.

“I consider it a great honor and privilege to be the new principal for Brooks Middle School,” said Khan. “I have always respected and admired Oak Park’s steadfast belief in the importance of education. It is this belief, as well as the desire to carry on the district’s proud tradition of academic excellence, that will guide my efforts and those of my team as we work together to meet the diverse and critical needs of our students.”

Michowski served as Brooks principal for three years.

“I want to thank Mike for his dedicated service during the past three years and wish him the best in his new position,” said District 97 Superintendent Al Roberts. “I also want to welcome LeeAndra to the District 97 family. She is an innovative educational leader and tireless advocate for children whose passion, creativity and commitment to learning will build on the history of success at Brooks and help the school, its staff members and its students reach exciting new heights.”

Carol Kelley

Kelley named new Dist. 97 superintendent

The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97 appointed Dr. Carol Kelley as its new superintendent of schools. She will succeed Dr. Al Roberts, who recently announced his plan to retire at the end of June after many years of service to public education.

Dr. Kelley comes to Oak Park upon successful completion of her service as superintendent of schools for Branchburg Township School District, N.J. Branchburg School District, like Oak Park, serves grades kindergarten through eighth grade. Dr. Kelley was selected from a national pool of candidates.

“The District 97 Board of Education and the entire school community have been working toward this moment since January,” said District 97 School Board President Jim Gates.? “A truly rigorous process was followed. A national search brought forth outstanding candidates. Multiple layers of intensive interviews were conducted, and the board has reached a unanimous decision. On behalf of the board and the Village of Oak Park, I am so pleased to ?welcom?e? Dr. Kelley as ?the next superintendent? of District 97 schools.?”

“I am delighted to become a part of the Oak Park educational community. As a former middle school teacher and principal, elementary education is where my heart is,” said Kelley. “An engaged community such as Oak Park offers no end of potential. I’m excited to be joining you.”

In addition to her years as a middle school teacher and principal in New Jersey, Dr. Kelley served for three years as the Director for Curriculum and Instruction for Hunterdon Central Regional High School, a 3000-student comprehensive high school serving students from five townships in New Jersey. From there, she became the Superintendent of the Branchburg Township, New Jersey, a high-achieving and diverse school district, where she has served since 2012.