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Vickroy: Good spouse helps you get to heaven

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:12:10 -0600

As another Valentine’s Day approaches, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves that as nice as candy, flowers and dinner reservations may be, true love does not require any of that. In fact, sometimes it’s expressed through sutures, intravenous lines and long, long hours. “It’s not chocolate or diamonds or material things that make a marriage last,” Karen O’Mara said. “Love is giving of yourself and being invested in each other’s happiness.” Karen and her husband, Michael O’Mara, both physicians trained in emergency medicine, will be married 40 years in June. For much of that time, they worked side by …

Dodgeball fundraiser hits its target

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:06:38 -0600

Sporting knee-high polka dot socks, brightly colored shorts and a green shirt with her team’s name across the front, Spanish teacher Lindsey Waichulis was ready to dominate Saturday night at Homer Junior High School’s second annual dodgeball fundraiser. Out of the 13 teams, Waichulis’ team, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, was one of the most enthusiastic, a quality that brought them to the final game of the night against the fundraiser’s reigning champions. Still, after working their way through the bracket for more than three hours in the school’s gym filled with loud music, student cheers and extreme moves …

Gift ideas for her and for him on Valentine’s Day

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:22:01 -0600

For Valentine’s Day, all you need is love.... and some really cool gifts. Click through the photo gallery to see gift ideas for her and for him.

Stay-At-Home Dad: Bubba Bueller’s day off

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:17:00 -0600

I’ve always thought of myself as Ferris Bueller. But last week, I found myself in the role of Ed Rooney. I wasn’t bitten by a dog or anything. Rather, I was forced to play the part of truancy officer as my 5-year-old son faked an illness to get out of school. I’m fairly certain the seed for Bubba’s phony tummy ache was planted that morning. Over breakfast, I told him and his 4-year-old brother, Peter, about my summons to jury duty. I fully expected to be released from my obligation. (Judges and attorneys tend to shy away from jurors with …

Frankfort teen likes role of leading man

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:07:55 -0600

Marquis Robertson is a leader who does more than lead. He aspires to help others succeed as he has, by setting an example for them. It shouldn’t be surprising that Robertson, 17, a junior at Lincoln-Way North High School, is involved in a number of school activities. They include cross country, swimming, water polo, student council, Junior Classical League, National Honor Society, National Latin Honor Society and varsity club. He also serves on the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Advisory Board Committee and tutors in the school’s writing center. The varsity club is a favorite of his. As part …

Faces of Faith: The Rev. David Peters

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:14:23 -0600

Meet the Rev. David Peters, senior pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park. He lives in Frankfort.

Religion Briefs For Feb. 10

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:15:54 -0600

Here is a look at news from Southland houses of worship

Answer Man: What happened to Columbia Heights?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:22:15 -0600

A long time ago, there was a Southland village known as Columbia Heights, so named in honor of the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. What happened to it? Well, it’s still there, but folks these days call it by a different name: Steger. According to www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org, the name change was the brainchild of John Valentine Steger, who opened a piano factory in Columbia Heights in 1893. When the village incorporated in 1896, John Steger decided to pay $400 toward election costs if the village agreed to one condition — that the town be renamed Steger. Thus, with a few dollar …

Your Pets for Feb. 9, 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:02:39 -0600

We want your pet photos. Whether it’s you with your dog, cat, bird, fish or lizard, please email a jpeg photo with your name, your pet’s name and hometown to Jason Freeman at jfreeman@southtownstar.com with "Your Pets" in the subject line. …

Restaurant couples get creative in the kitchen to celebrate love

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:09:53 -0600

For a handful of chefs in Chicago, Valentine’s Day dinner is spent with a spouse, but not over wine and white tablecloths. Instead, they’re working as a team to ensure that their restaurants live up to diners’ expectations on one of the busiest and most challenging nights of the year.

Campus for Feb. 9, 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:02:17 -0600

Here is a look at what some Southland students are accomplishing in college, including news from Flossmoor, Frankfort, Lansing, Lockport, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Mokena, Tinley Park, Homer Glen and Country Club Hills.

Vickroy: Dream cars provide a road trip from reality

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:58:03 -0600

Another Chicago Auto Show, another road trip down fantasy lane. Most days a car is a car is a car. It’s a mode of transportation, a means of getting from point A to point B, sometimes with kids, sometimes with groceries, sometimes with five flats of impatiens. But every now and then, say when a glitzy fleet of brand spanking new vehicles rolls into town, a driver gets to pimping her ride. Wow, wish I had satellite radio or a built-in GPS or heated seats. And sometimes, things get out of hand and she opts for a whole new ride …

What’s Going On for Feb. 9, 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:02:07 -0600

Here’s a look at What’s Going On in the Southland including in Oak Lawn, Burbank, University Park and Frankfort.

Rich Township seniors director earns state award

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:59:50 -0600

Sally Fuhrmann found her career niche more than 25 years ago when her college internship placed her with Rich Township Senior Services. “A month after graduation, I was hired,” Fuhrmann said. Her first position as in-home services coordinator led to her present position in 1987 as senior services director. She’s been overseeing the organization’s work ever since. In acknowledgement of the services the program has provided on her watch, Fuhrmann recently received the 2011 Illinois Senior Services Director of the Year Award from the Illinois Township Association of Senior Citizens Services Committee. “I was really very, very touched,” Fuhrmann said. …

Pets o’ the Week for Feb. 9, 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:02:32 -0600

The Thursday Neighborhood Star prints adoptable pets. Area shelters should send photos, pet descriptions, shelter hours, address and contact information to Jason Freeman at jfreeman@southtownstar.com with “Pets o’ the Week” in the subject line.

Get this paczki party started

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:00:08 -0600

Before we get to Mardi Gras, let’s welcome Tlusty Czwartek. You don’t have to be Polish to kick-start your pre-Lenten food celebration the week before Ash Wednesday. Much like the French Fat Tuesday, Polish Fat Thursday is a day dedicated to big eating. It marks the start of the final week of pre-Lenten celebrations. This year, Fat Thursday is Feb. 16. Fat Tuesday is Feb. 21. And, of course, a big part of both holidays is paczki. Sure, they look like bismarks on steroids, but they’re different. Kathy Lenart, assistant manager at Witek’s Bakery in Palos Hills, says like doughnuts, …