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We highlight the contributions or recommendations of community leaders, and invite them, and you, to become contributors in the Local Voices section on Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch.
Kenilworth resident Donna Calk teamed up with Harris Sophocleous of Personal Peak to open North Shore Boot Camp in the summer of 2010.  Calk, a West Point graduate, says she decided to start a business in Kenilworth because “I figured we do so much together in this town, why not start working out together, too!”  “It truly makes it more fun to work hard and sweat with those you like to be around!” she said.  Patch: What's your favorite thing about Wilmette or Kenilworth? Calk: My favorite thing about Kenilworth is that it is a quaint, close-knit community, where you really get know your …
Senior Pastor Peter Hawkinson has served at the Winnetka Covenant Church, 1200 Hibbard Rd., since the spring of 2001. Before coming to Wilmette, Hawkinson served Covenant Churches in Seattle and Minneapolis. The Chicago native is the father of two daughters. Patch: What makes Winnetka Covenant Church a great place of worship? Winnetka Covenant Church is a vibrant, compassionate and caring community of spiritual pilgrims. What I enjoy so much about the community is the community, the sense of belonging, and of being accepted exactly where I am on my spiritual journey. WCC is a regional Church…
Reverend Dr. Stephanie Perdew VanSlyke has been the senior pastor of First Congregational Church of Wilmette since 2004. The church draws its congregation from Wilmette, Winnetka, Glenview, Northfield, Glencoe, Evanston and Chicago.   Patch: What makes First Congregational Church of Wilmette a great place of worship? First Congregational Church has a long history in the village.  It was founded in 1875 and our current building, constructed in 1905, was renovated in 2010.  It is fully accessible and a wonderful example of the arts and crafts architecture that was prevalent on the North Shore …
Jeremy Schoenecker, 35, associate athletic director at Loyola Academy, also coaches the girls basketball team, which was a final four at the 2012 Class 4A Illinois High School Girls Basketball Tournament. Patch: What’s your favorite thing about working with Loyola students? Most of the kids do come here, rightly so, for academics first, then I get the opportunity to see them in a different light on the athletic field. So my favorite thing about working with Loyola students is just being able to see the students grow not only academically but also on the athletic field as well. Patch: Most …
During the day, Aaron Dubnow, 25, teaches science at Wilmette Junior High School, by night, he coaches the school’s track and cross country team. The Glencoe resident has taught at the school for four years. This is the first year he has coached the track team, and it’s his third year as the cross country coach. This past year, the school’s girls cross country team placed 9th at state, and 21 athletes qualified to compete at the state. Patch: What's your favorite thing about working with Wilmette students? Dubnow: My favorite thing about working with Wilmette students is their dedication. …

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