Orland Park Area Chamber of seeks golfers, sponsors

The 2013 Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce golf outing will take place on June 20 at Silver Lake Country Club.

The chamber is looking for golfers and sponsors for the event.

Information or a registration form: orlandparkchamber.org, (708) 349-2972.

Staff reports

Orland Park Area Chamber ceremony for Pro Sports Performance

Pro Sports Performance owners Steve Purvin, John Binkowski and Scott Hejna and the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce were part of the fitness facility’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for its grand opening.

The business is at 10649 W. 163rd Place, Orland Park.

The chamber performs ribbon-cutting …

Lockport names valedictorian, salutatorians

The Lockport Township High School Class of 2013 will have three salutatorians, a situation believed to be a first in the 100-plus years of school history. Alyssa Brehm, Karolina Gogola and Kimberly Johnson have tied for salutatorian honors, each with a grade-point average of 4.763 …

Community Sports Calendar (Central) for May 19, 2013

Here is a look at sporting events in the SouthtownStar’s Central region, which includes Crestwood, Frankfort, Homer Glen, Manhattan, Midlothian, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Orland Hills, Orland Park, and Tinley Park.

Vickroy: Guiding knight: Lab gets woman where she needs to go

Up concrete stairs, around giant flowerpots and through throngs of bustling commuters, Kathy Austin makes her way to work each morning. Though she is virtually blind, only able to distinguish contrasts of light and dark, she makes getting from her home in the leafy suburb …

District 135 celebrates Arbor Day

The schools of Orland School District 135 were budding with pride in celebration of Arbor Day.

The village of Orland Park’s Recreation & Parks Department collaborated with the students and staff of eight district schools to plant elm trees at the schools and educate students …

Homer Glen, Orland Park police blotter

HOMER GLEN

DUI ARREST: Taylor Lode, 18, 15956 Oak Valley Trail, Homer Glen, was charged with drunken driving and improper lane use after a stop May 3 at 159th Street and Crystal Creek Drive, police said.

SUSPENDED LICENSE: Ramon Castillo-Sebillag, 23, 13728 Bell Road, Homer …

Work  to start on Meijer

Construction is expected to begin soon on a Meijer store at 143rd Street and Bell Road in Homer Glen. The 191,000-square-foot store is expected to be the largest Meijer store in the southwest suburbs when it opens in 2014, Mayor Jim Daley said. The store …

Hinderman: May’s busy schedule leads us into summer

Welcome, May, a month that evokes visions of mums, moms, Mexico, memories and music — beginning with May Day and wrapping up with Memorial Day. The celebration of May Day historically was marked by a ritual in which small baskets are filled with flowers and …

Emergency! Orland Park Scouts practice being prepared

Orland Park Boy Scout troop holds surprise mock emergency training.

Girl Scouts honor Moss’ dedication with badge

The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana conducted a recognition luncheon at Georgios of Orland Park.

Robin Moss received the Thanks Badge II in honor of her more than 30 years of dedication to the Girl Scouts of Chicago, Illinois and United States. …

Homer Glen, Orland Park police blotter

HOMER GLEN

VANDALISM: The rear side window of a Dodge van was broken April 25 in the 14000 block of Elizabeth Lane.

TRUCK BURGLARY: Cash was stolen April 28 after a large rock was used to smash the driver’s side window of a Ford F-250 …

Vickroy: Pennies from an angel to help special-needs dancers

At face value, the penny is worth next to nothing. But for those who believe in the power of serendipity, the penny can be priceless.

As her sister, Linda, lay dying in 2000, Cathy Epstein-Faxel and her mother wondered how they might honor the 29-year-old’s …

Monitoring muskies: Garage is fish operating room for a day

Her operating room was a cold garage in Orland Township, with a few boat motors hanging on the wall, and Dr. Jennifer Langan’s patients tended to thrash around before the anesthesia finally took hold. Working with the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the veterinarian from Brookfield Zoo was inserting radio transmitters into muskies on Friday.

159th Street merchants fighting higher median

While the state aggressively tries to acquire the land needed to widen 159th Street in Homer Glen, business owners along the two-lane road have been equally aggressive in fighting the plan. For the past few years, merchants have voiced concerns about the loss of their …

Family sues Orland firefighter charged in fatal crash

The family of a Downers Grove woman killed in a crash in March is suing the Orland Fire Protection District and Crestwood firefighter allegedly responsible for her death.

The suit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court by the mother of Anasis Knox. It claims …