North Cook News

The Skokie Village Board presented awards to residents across the city on behalf of the Beautification and Improvement Commission during the board's meeting on April 3.

Commission Chairman Bob Quane thanked the council and other village officials for their support in the creation and continuation of the awards program, which was introduced by Valerie Shuman, who explained that their program had been completely redone to have more modern criteria that focus on sustainability, a critical component of agriculture and the environment, Shuman said.

"It’s that time of the year for the village and beautification commission to recognize and thank property owners for going above and beyond to beautify their property," Quane told the board. "Our collective congratulations are extended to all of the residents that were nominated for consideration of the recognition tonight. To our winners: the effort to beautify your property is exemplary and an inspiration for the residents of Skokie to follow."

The Beautification and Improvement Commission also added three new award categories to their program: Pollinator Pantry, for those who cater towards pollinators in the area with the plants they choose, Edible Garden for those who integrate food into their beautification efforts, and Skokie’s Best for a competition of the top five properties. These will be the new regulations for the 2023 awards which will be given out later this year, the board said. Mitchel Sandler then presented the winners from the 2022 season, which were highlighted in a short video with pictures of all their landscaping and beautification efforts.

Properties from the following addresses were honored as award winners: 8733 Keystone, 9543 Keeler Ave., 51 Williamsburg Rd., 8027 Long Ave., 7530 Kilbourn Ave., 3907 Keeney St., 4530 Concord Lane, 33 Williamsburg Rd., 8316 Harding Ave, 3800 Jarvis Ave., 63 Williamsburg Rd. , 9509 Leamington Ave., 3800 Howard St., 3920 Cleveland St, 3939 Fargo Ave., 9851 Kedvale Ave., 4200 Keeney St., 4225 Lee St., 8442 Keystone Ave., 8632 Lawndale Ave., 3943 Fargo Ave., 8850 Karlov Ave., 8001 Long Ave., 9455 Skokie Blvd. 9445 Latrobe Ave., 4635 Howard St., 8303 Emerson St., 4224 Brummel St., 9300 Ridgeway Ave., and 9655 Karlov Ave. The top three winners were recognized specially. The third-place winners were Javier and Leticia Montoya at 8101 Kenneth Ave. Judith Holman at 28 Williamsburg Road took second place. First place went to Dennis and Judy Yang-Murawski at 8455 Skokie Blvd.