The Thursday Neighborhood Star prints adoptable pets each week. Area shelters should send photos, pet descriptions, shelter hours, address and contact information to Jessi Virtusio at jvirtusio@southtownstar.com with “Pets o’ the Week” in the subject line. ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 02:17:32 -0500 http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/neighborhoodstar/20134490-423/pets-o-the-week-for-may-23-2013.html http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/neighborhoodstar/20134490-423/pets-o-the-week-for-may-23-2013.html

His grandmother walked across the Mexican border all the way to Blue Island nearly 100 years ago. Having arrived, she lived in a box car in the Rock Island Railroad yard for years. Today, Domingo Vargas, her grandson, is a defense attorney and the first Hispanic mayor of Blue Island. “My maternal great-grandmother died on a roadside after crossing the border with her children during the Mexican War,” Vargas, 51, said. “They buried her there and kept on walking. My grandmother was about 14 or 15 years old at the time. “They crossed the border and kept on walking until … ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 02:13:17 -0500 http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/neighborhoodstar/20273862-452/kadner-new-mayor-offers-hope-to-the-island.html http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/neighborhoodstar/20273862-452/kadner-new-mayor-offers-hope-to-the-island.html

We want your pet photos.Whether it’s you with your dog, cat, bird, fish or lizard, please email a .jpg with your name, your pet’s name and hometown to Jessi Virtusio at jvirtusio@southtownstar.com with “Your Pets” in the subject line. ]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 00:26:47 -0500 http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/neighborhoodstar/20121867-423/your-pets-for-may-22-2013.html http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/neighborhoodstar/20121867-423/your-pets-for-may-22-2013.html