North Shore Blog

Knobel Kitchens and Baths, Wilmette IL

Margaret Goss, Winnetka Realtor Winnetka & North Shore IL Homes for Sale (Baird & Warner Real Estate), Jan 26 2012

Knobel Kitchens and Baths in Wilmette has been around for a long while - since 1933 to be precise.  Longer than any of their local competitors.  

Owned by brothers Peter and Paul Knobel, along with Peter's son Mark, the company is three-generational.  It was started by Peter's father's, a carpenter, in his basement, and then moved to a workshop in an area that is now the Mackenzie School field.  In 1948, he bought the current building where they remain to this day on Washington Street just west of Green Bay Road.  

The Knobel brothers are Certified Kitchen and Bath Designers, an accreditation given by the National Kitchen and Bath Association.   They must take continuing education to retain this certification.

Knobel Kitchens and Baths is a full service company that will work with you to design and install your new kitchen or bath.  They work with many designers and architects and are current on up-and-coming trends in the industry.  In order for you to better visualize your dream, they are happy to take you to a recent job and show you their kitchen work - where you have the opportunity to see  their workmanship first hand as well as find out a little about their work ethic from the homeowner.

Peter says that white kitchens are still very popular, and darker woods are being used in innovative ways such as a walnut drawer head installed into a painted cabinet.  Non-porous countertops such as Silestone, Cambria, and even Corian are being used more often because they don't require sealing like granite.  Some of these materials are being made to look more similar to granite, which is still the favorite.  LED lighting is being used more often in kitchens as well.  

They also do many bathrooms, including masters that are incorporating deluxe features like extra-large showers with rainheads and body sprays, and even televisions being inserted into mirrors.  

Knobel Kitchens and Baths is available for all remodeling projects, except room additions. They employ skilled carpenters who can remodel family rooms, bedroom suites, media rooms, basements, or any other room in your home.  They will stay on task and follow the job carefully from beginning to end.  They are excellent at space planning and detail, and work diligently to deliver a competitive price to you.   

Knobel Kitchens and Baths
1218 Washington Ave.
847-251-4465

Winnetka Property Taxes - Where Does the Money Go?

Margaret Goss, Winnetka Realtor Winnetka & North Shore IL Homes for Sale (Baird & Warner Real Estate), Jan 23 2012

Winnetka residents understand that our taxes are what they are because the lion's share helps fund our excellent school district.  But how much exactly and what else do they pay for?

Here's a great graphic (reprinted with permission from the Winnetka Village.)

Almost two-thirds of our Winnetka property taxes go to the school district - 62.23%.  This includes both New Trier High School (23.89%) and the Winnetka Public School District (38.34%.)   The balance is divided between the the Village of Winnetka, Cook County, Winnetka Parks, Winnetka Library, and several miscellaneous items. These numbers are from 2009 but the percentages would be very similar today.  

Looking at this from a different angle:  our property taxes contribute 53% to the Winnetka operating budget, with the balance coming from such sources as retail sales tax, permits and licenses, income tax, natural gas tax and several others.

It's important to be informed on where our Winnetka property taxes go - and yes, we have excellent schools to show for it.

Who is Joby Berman and Why is There a Parking Lot Named After Her? Wilmette, IL

Margaret Goss, Winnetka Realtor Winnetka & North Shore IL Homes for Sale (Baird & Warner Real Estate), Jan 22 2012

Joby Berman is an old friend and neighbor of mine from Kenilworth.  Unbeknown to most of us, the Wilmette Commuter Parking Lot for the Metra train (at the corner of Lake and Green Bay) is named after Joby Berman.  You may miss the sign as you whiz by on Lake or Wilmette Avenues, but it's there.  Why?

Joby has a fascinating 50 year long career in the transportation field for the city of Chicago, state of Illinois, and Illinois Tollway.  She was, in fact, a feminist trailblazer, who worked in a mostly male field.  In 1960 she was the first non-clerical woman ever hired by Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Her working background also included:

• Hired as the first Director of the Division of Public Transportation (Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT)
• Worked for Mayor Richard J. Daley  to devise strategies to retain large employers in the City  and get people more efficiently to areas of employment
• Started her own civil engineering firm which she grew from two people to seventy before selling it to an international firm
• Worked as the Deputy Chief of Engineering for the Illinois Tollway helping implement the $5.3 billion capital improvement program including the Open Roads Tolling project.
  
• Retired - sort of - and started consulting business

So what about that parking lot?  It happens that in 1977 while living in Wilmette, the Wilmette Village President at that time approached her and asked her about the idea of levying an assessment on the Village of Wilmette to procure funds for a new train station.  

Joby had a better idea.  As part of her job with the state, she worked with Wilmette to apply for and receive a federal and state grant to build the station and and associated parking lot.

In gratitude, Wilmette named the parking lot after her. 

And how fitting that someone who has spent her career lifetime in the transportation field should have a parking lot named after her?