Smith Village, the only a life plan community on Chicago’s Southwest Side, broke ground last week on a $22.3 modernization of its Beverly facility at 2320 W. 113th Place in Chicago.
Construction began last Thursday for the modernization of Smith Village’s Johanson Wing, built in 1991, to convert double-occupancy rooms to private suites and rooms and to add a three-story, 10,204 square-foot extension to the current building that will house state-of-the-art therapy rooms on the first floor, and dining rooms on the second and third floors.
The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved Smith Village’s request to decrease its current number of 100 licensed beds, mostly in semi-private rooms, to 78. This change quadruples the number of private accommodations to 66 for short-term stay rehab and skilled nursing care residents. This planned 22 percent decrease in licensed beds includes 12 shared rooms.
First opened in 1924, Smith Village is one of 19 skilled nursing care providers in Chicago to achieve an overall top-performing rating from U.S. News & World Report for 2018/19. In 2007 and 2008, the original site was transformed with a $68 million construction program to create the area’s only continuing care retirement community. Today, Smith Village is home to 300 adults, 62 years and older, who are independent and assisted living, memory care, short-term stay and skilled nursing care residents benefiting from healthcare and lifestyle programs.
Amish bakery to open Friday
Rise ‘n Roll Bakery will hold its grand opening at 6 a.m. Friday at its newest location in northwest Indiana.
The Amish-style bakery will open at 1542 U.S. Highway 41 in Schererville, in the former Angelo’s Prime restaurant and deli, a defunct chain that once also had locations in Flossmoor and Tinley Park.
The first person in line Friday morning will get free doughnuts for a year. The next 24 people will each receive a free dozen cinnamon caramel doughnuts. The next 75 people in line will each receive a free cinnamon caramel doughnut.
Rise ‘n Roll began in 2001 in Shipshewana, Ind., when a young Amish couple made baked good from old family recipes and sold them from their front porch.
In 2004, they opened a bakery in Middlebury, Ind., that did not use electricity, refrigeration or modern technology. All the mixing, sheeting and prepping was entirely done by hand.
In 2009, the Amish couple sold the company to a non-Amish farmer and his son from Kansas. The new owners moved the bakery into a much larger facility and began franchising.
The bakery features preservative-free products including doughnuts, cookies, pies, cinnamon rolls, breads, and cheeses. The specialty is a cinnamon caramel doughnut. All the baked goods are shipped fresh daily from the Middlebury location.
The Schererville location will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
There are 10 other locations in Indiana.
For information, call 219-319-0911.
New Chipotle hiring in Lockport
A new Chipotle is coming to 16433 W. 159th St. in Lockport and the restaurant is now hiring. Information is on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Remodeled ALDI to open in Matteson
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To celebrate the reopening of the Matteson store at 20731 S. Cicero Ave., ALDI will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 8:25 a.m., followed by its popular Golden Ticket giveaway offering gift cards to the first 100 customers. Shoppers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a year’s supply of ALDI produce.
The Matteson store is part of the $1.9 billion ALDI investment to remodel and expand more than 1,300 stores nationwide by the end of 2020. Locally, ALDI is investing $180 million to update more than 130 stores in Chicago and the Chicagoland area by the end of 2020.
Vegan restaurant to open in Summit
A new vegan restaurant is one of five businesses that recently received licenses from Summit trustees.
The Eat Food Station, 6204 S. Archer Road, will sell carry-out vegan food, said Trustee Sam Dardovski.
“We have a vegan place coming in. That’s interesting. I’m looking forward to that,” said Mayor Sergio Rodriguez, who runs daily to stay in shape.
Other approved licenses were:
Kids R Kids Childcare Center, 7543 W. 63rd St., which will be a place where children can be cared for when their parents are at work.
Windy City Auto Spa 1, Inc., 6028 S. Harlem Ave., a car wash and car detailing. It’s an existing business, being taken over by a new leasee.
Archer Wine and Spirits, Inc., a liquor store at 7403 W. Archer Ave. Another existing business with a new owner.
U.S. Leasing & Finance Auto, an auto leasing company, at 7601 W. 59th St.
Degas Ballet relocating to Bridgeview
The Degas Ballet Program, which specializes in the Russian style of ballet called Vaganova that has produced some of the world’s best ballet dancers such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, is moving to Bridgeview.
The Degas Ballet Program’s artistic director, Nancy Bonkowski, who created and directed a pre-professional youth ballet company in the Chicago suburbs for over 25 years has joined with Ohana Academy of Gymnastics Dance Music & Art in Bridgeview, which has provided instruction in the arts to children in the area since 2008.
Students start with the Fairytale Prince and Princess weekly class for ages 3-6 and progress into the Russian Technique (Vaganova method) and pointe work classes, which demand stringent technical classes several times per week.
Bonkowski says, “Ballet is an art, but the process should be joyful and the disciplines a creative privilege.”
Bonkowski has earned many accolades as an established ballet mistress. Her professional ballet training consists of the Stone-Camryn School of Ballet in Chicago and performed for their school in professional roles at the Lyric Opera House of Chicago.
Her students have won several recognitions performing at the celebrated Dance Chicago with her choreography. She also created and choreographed a full-length youth ballet “Hansel and Gretel,” which was performed annually in the southwest suburbs for over 14 years.
Bonkowski says, “It is both a privilege and pleasure to now be able to join with Ohana Academy of Gymnastics Dance Music & Art.”
Free intro classes are now available at OhanaAcademy.com on the dance page. Space is limited and slots are expected to fill up quickly.
More information and how to register for The Degas Ballet Program can also be found on the same page for children ages 3 and up and some adult classes as well. The phone number is 708-598-0080.
Ohana Academy of Gymnastics Dance Music & Art is located at 7504 W. 85th Place in Bridgeview.
Runnion now a Stellar Industries dealer
Hodgkins-based Runnion Equipment Co. has announced that they are now a dealer for Stellar Industries, the premier manufacturer of mechanic trucks, service cranes, hooklifts and tire service trucks.
Runnion’s focus will be on the mechanic trucks and service cranes, as well as the TMAX line of steel and aluminum service bodies offered by Stellar.
“We are a traditional full-service dealer that offers sales, service, parts and rental and are proud to be able to team up with Stellar to provide this great line of equipment to the customers in our market area,” noted Mike Prochot, president at Runnion Equipment Co. “We are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Stellar. They are a first-class operation and a great fit for Runnion Equipment in our new facility.”
Runnion will offer the full line of both heavy- and light- duty telescopic service crane trucks. Both types of equipment come standard with features that increase efficiency and working speed, including proportional radio remote control, a planetary winch with a hydraulic or mechanical brake system, and a hexagonal tubing boom construction. With lifting capacities ranging from 3,200 pounds to 14,000 pounds, Stellar has cranes to complete any vertical lift project.
In addition to offering service crane trucks, Runnion will also stock the complete line of Stellar TMAX service bodies. Designed to be turnkey solutions to add to any size truck, there’s a TMAX body that meets almost any application requirement, from municipal markets to mining and large construction projects.
White Sox store appearances
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The White Sox have announced that team mascot Southpaw will make an appearance Thursday at the team store now open at Orland Square Mall.
Additional appearances are planned by former players and ambassadors.
The team also announced there will be special offers and giveaways on Black Friday, Nov. 29.
The pop-up shop that carries official Sox merchandise, hosts personal appearances by Sox players and personnel and stages official team events was open at the mall through the holidays last year and was considered a success.
The store is located on the mall’s lower level in the H&M wing. It will remain open until Jan. 15.