southtownstar.suntimes.com

Scouts pitch in with collection to tackle hunger

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:31:37 -0500

The Cub Scouts of Pack 773 participated in the Scouting for Food program, which offers the Scout a hands-on approach to learning community service as well as addressing a social problem of hunger. Scouts distributed bags to their friends and families and collected 313 food items at their meeting. Scouts also provided bags to the parishioners at Annunciata Parish, where they collected another 808 items. All of the nonperishable food items collected remain in the community and are donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Annunciata. The Scouts will receive a patch for their efforts. Staff report …

Area alumni get call from Leo Hall of Fame

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:31:19 -0500

Some longtime Southland residents recently were inducted into Leo High School’s Hall of Fame at the 58th Annual Leo Alumni Association banquet. Leo’s Man of the Year is 1985 graduate Mark Lee. Richard Furlong, of the Class of 1959, received the Dr. Thomas P. Driscoll Award, while Michael Anderson (1991) was recognized with the Community Service Award. The banquet brought together hundreds of alumni from all class years, honoring the golden (1963) and silver jubilee (1983) classes. Hall of Fame inductees included Dr. James Stankiewicz, Class of 1966; Dr. Lawrence J. McCaffery, 1943; William R. Murphy, 1958; Harold Blackmon, 1996; …

Community Sports Calendar (North) for May 19, 2013

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:41:56 -0500

Here is a look at sporting events in the SouthtownStar’s North region, which includes Alsip, Chicago Ridge, Evergreen Park, Hometown, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Palos Hills, and Worth.

Elaborating on Entertainment: Beverly Theatre Guild’s 50th anniversary

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:50:32 -0500

The Beverly Theatre Guild is the oldest community theater group in Chicago and marking that milestore with “Fabulous @ Fifty.” More about the theater troupe can be found on Elaborating on Entertainment at blogs.southtownstar.com/entertainment.

Lions Club of Evergreen Park meeting features mayor

Wed, 15 May 2013 06:24:00 -0500

Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton was the featured speaker at a recent meeting of the Lions Club of Evergreen Park. The mayor gave a complete updating of all activities in the community and answered questions from Lion members. Sexton was complimented on a job done well in making Evergreen Park a fine place to live. Information on the Lions Club is at lionsclubofevergreenparkil.lionwap.org. Staff reports …

Beverly Theatre Guild celebrates with ‘Fabulous @ Fifty’

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:38:01 -0500

Southland theater fans are spoiled — in a good way. Not only can they travel to downtown Chicago for a number of Broadway shows, but they also have a bevy of close-by community theater. Case in point is the Beverly Theatre Guild, which is billed as the oldest community theater group in Chicago. “We truly love the theater in every aspect and we want to support our mission to constantly put up quality productions and embrace the community,” said Barbara Moore, a Tinley Park resident who is the guild’s publicity director. “There’s a love of the theater. There’s just something …

Vickroy: Gardens are proof that life goes on

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:49:22 -0500

“God gave us memories that we may have roses in December.” J. M. Barrie Since the beginning of time, man has sought comfort in tilling the earth. Gardens provide sustenance, joy and, increasingly, solace in times of grief. Flowers, trees and other plants are reminders that life does indeed go on. About six years ago, the Rev. Rod Reinhart began planting a memory garden on the south side of St. Joseph and St. Aidan Episcopal Church in Blue Island. He started with a couple of rose bushes and dedicated them to local people who had been killed either while serving …

Three McAuley students named Evans Scholars

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:31:05 -0500

Three Mother McAuley High School students have been awarded Chick Evans scholarships. Mary Joan Evans, of Chicago’s Morgan Park community; Tarran King, of Palos Heights; and Megan Malloy, of Evergreen Park, have been named 2013 Chick Evans Scholars. The scholarships are funded through the Evans Scholars Foundation and provide four-year tuition and housing to students attending one of 17 universities throughout the country, 14 of which boast a Scholarship House. To be eligible for a Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, students must have a high academic standing, an impeccable caddie record for two or more years, strong character and must have …

SXU names Shield winner

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:30:45 -0500

The Shield of St. Xavier Award was presented to Henry Bros. Company.

Campus (North) for May 12, 2013

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:30:36 -0500

Here is a look at what Southlanders from the SouthtownStar’s North region are accomplishing in college. News includes Oak Lawn, Alsip, Burbank, Chicago, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Justice, Palos Heights, Palos Park and Worth.

Vickroy: Mother’s reading habit led to son’s penchant for writing

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:17:19 -0500

Mothers impart a lot of things to their children: wisdom, advice, recipes. But sometimes the most endearing gift a mother leaves her son or daughter is a lifelong passion, something that sparks their interest, taps their creativity and engages them in the workings of the world. And sometimes such gifts are handed down unknowingly, more by example than instruction. Monica Joria didn’t become a writer until she recently began penning her autobiography. But in many ways, the 99-year-old South Sider and current resident of Smith Village in Chicago’s Morgan Park community lived the lifestyle of a writer — observing, analyzing …

Beverly Arts Center offers slew of summer camps

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:30:05 -0500

Beverly Arts Center offers a wide variety of summer camps for kids, adults

Lions Club of Evergreen Park helps library

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:30:55 -0500

A special guest at a recent Lions Club of Evergreen Park meeting was Nicki Seidl, director of the Evergreen Park Public Library. She explained various programs that are happening at the library and what the future holds. Seidl was presented with a check from Lions Club president Terry Summers and Lions Club treasurer Harry Onderwater. The check represented the Lions annual contribution to the library for the purchase of large-print books and audio books. The donation is taken from the John Brazzale Memorial Fund, of the Lions Club of Evergreen Park. Information: lionsclubofevergreenparkil.lionwap.org. Staff reports …

Stay-At-Home Dad: Family yoga outing filled with distractions

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:32:44 -0500

I’m not particularly flexible. I knew my physical limitations going into a recent family yoga class. I wasn’t nearly as aware of my rigid parenting style until that afternoon. The Wife signed us up for the family yoga class at the Beverly Yoga Center. The studio at 1917 W. 103rd St. on Chicago’s Southwest Side filled up quickly with about 20 parents and children. I haven’t been able to touch my toes since sixth grade. So I knew yoga was going to be a challenge. The Wife has attended classes at the BYC on and off for about a year. …

Vickroy: Remembering Kaylah with music, poetry and new safety measures

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:17:44 -0500

A year ago this weekend, Kaylah Lentine was celebrating her 14th birthday at a sleepover party with friends. They sang, laughed and made a video parody of “The Hunger Games.” In a bittersweet nod to life’s unpredictability, those same friends, along with members of Kaylah’s large extended family, gathered Friday — Kaylah’s birthday — at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School to remember the girl who not only changed them for the better but changed them for good. The mourners sang, laughed and watched a snippet of Kaylah’s version of “The Hunger Games.” Kaylah died May 25, 2012, one day after she …

Varjavand: Immigrants should respect customs, culture of their new country

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:16:18 -0500

Why do we Muslims demand that Americans accommodate, even embrace, every odd thing we do under the umbrella of religion? We seem to have a predisposition to be obsessed with our religious rites so they have an almost pathological influence over us and others. Some Muslims in the U.S. seem to have only two things to worry about — halal meat (the meat of certain animals slaughtered in the way prescribed by Islamic decrees) and the veil, or hijab (the woman’s complete hair covering). While halal meat can be found in some ethnic food stores, the hijab is visible almost …