WB_072519

4 | July 25, 2019 | The wilmette beacon NEWS
wilmettebeacon.com
Posted to WilmetteBeaconDaily.com 4 days ago
Annual Sidewalk Sale & Summerfest delivers the goods in Wilmette
Alexa Burnell
Freelance Reporter
There was no shortage
of great bargains or good
times during the Wilmette/
Kenilworth Chamber of
Commerce’s annual Sidewalk
Sale & Summerfest,
running July 18-20.
Beginning on July 18,
local businesses took their
goods to the streets, giving
visitors easy access to the
best deals, while working
around the unpredictability
of the weather. Thankfully,
Julie Yusim, executive director
of the Chamber, has
perfected her skill of dancing
in-between the raindrops.
“I’ve officially been
coined the ‘rainmaker’ of
Wilmette, because nearly
every event I plan is
blessed with everything
from a steady drizzle to
a complete monsoon. We
certainly faced our challenges
during the first
day downpours,” Yusim
said. “But, we’ve learned
to work around it which is
why we’ve scaled back on
many facets of our outdoor
events, hoping to keep the
focus on uniting residents
with local shopkeepers.”
With that mindset at the
forefront of Yusim’s brain,
she stayed committed to
promoting the Wilmetteonomics
campaign.
“We started Wilmetteonomics
with hopes of reminding
residents how
each purchase made in
Wilmette, benefits the
greater good. I’m excited
to say, it seems to be
catching on,” Yusim said.
“I can’t tell you how many
people have been telling
me that they are making an
effort to shop in our Village,
understanding that
sales tax revenue benefits
the entire town.”
With that in mind, local
businesses like Staley
Martial Arts were eager to
sponsor and participate in
the annual days of sales.
“We opened in Wilmette
one year ago and now our
businesses is booming,”
owner Laurie Jacobs said.
“We are proud to say that
our business has its own
community. People are
excited to challenge themselves
by learning Brazilian
Martial Arts, while
supporting others who
strive to do the same.”
Local businesses from
West Wilmette, Green Bay
Avenue and the Village
Center actively participated
in the three-day event.
Youth entrepreneurs like
16-year-old jewelry maker
Katie Kelly and rising
fifth-grader and artist Fallon
Katz found a new market
to sell their goods too.
Laura Lash, of North
Shore Squares Square
Dancing, took her performers
to the front of
Village Hall. There, they
performed a choreographed
number, teaching
residents about the good
times square dancing can
provide.
“Summerfest is a great
opportunity to get out in
the community, show others
how social, fun and engaging
square dancing can
be and share information
about our upcoming fall
Attendees (left to right) Julia Lyons, 9, Emily Lyons,
11, and Charlotte Harron, 11, enjoy the festivities at the
annual Sidewalk Sale & Summerfest Saturday, July 20,
in Wilmette. Rhonda Holcomb/22nd Century Media
programming,” Lash said.
In addition, this year,
Yusim orchestrated a singing
portion on the final
day of Summerfest. Locals
like Nora and Mary Clare
Richards, along with their
mother, Eileen, were just a
few participants who embraced
the stage.
“Our family loves to
sing. In fact, the girls have
been singing before they
could even talk and I’ve
recently started taking guitar
lessons. I guess who
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