Community Corner

Top 10 Northbrook Stories of 2012

The year was marked by tragedy, particularly in the Glenbrook North community.

While there was plenty of good news to come out of Northbrook this year, there was also a disproportionate amount of sadness. We've compiled a list of the top 10 most read stories on the site, and you'll see that a large number involve unexpected deaths, particularly of young people. The Glenbrook North community was hit hard, with the deaths of two students, a recent graduate and a teacher happening within a few months of one another.

Here's the list:

Cicero man dies after fall into Wheeling chemical tank

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Fire crews recovered the dead body of a man from the bottom of a chemical storage tank at the Sunnyside Corporation in Wheeling. He was cleaning the tank near an opening at the top and fell into the chemical "slime" at the bottom of the structure. It was unclear whether the man fell accidentally or was overcome by fumes emitted by the chemical contents of the tank. 

Car crash kills Glenbrook North student

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A 17-year-old Glenbrook North High School senior, Kyle Caraher, died after his car collided while he was driving to his friend's house in Wisconsin where his family was vacationing.

Northbrook grappling with 2 recent suicides of young men

Billy Garrity, a GBN football player and school volunteer, and Ryan McCarthy, a 20-year-old Glenbrook North alumni, both commited suicide this summer.

Glenbrook North teacher dies from meningococcal disease

Jodi Polikov, a beloved 41-year-old special education teacher, died after a brief illness with meningococcal disease.

The bodies of Glenview’s Burton Lindner, 69, and his wife Zorine, 70, were found beneath the wreckage of the 138-car freight train debris following the train derailment near Willow and Shermer Roads July 4.

Readers Choice: What's the best preschool in town

Finally, some happy news. Readers had a spirited debate about what they consider the best preschool in Northbrook. Little Ones Nursery School came out on top.

Funeral held for Tori Wilensky

Tori Reese Wilensky, just 2 years old, was the beloved daughter of Eric and Heather nee Stern, and the loving sister of Jenna and Brandon.

Glenbrook North ranks best high school in Cook County suburbs

Chicago Magazine named Glenbrook North High School the best among suburban Cook County's top 20 high schools, based on factors such as average student-family income level, graduation rate and school spending per pupil.

Northbrook man dead after breaking up fight between son and neighbor

A 77-year-old Northbrook man died of a stroke after he fell while trying to break up a fight between his son and a neighbor on Thornwood Lane.

Josh’s Hot Dogs in Northbrook inadvertently became a drive-through when a woman behind the wheel of an SUV accidentally slammed her car straight through the front door and into the restaurant.

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