southtownstar.suntimes.com

Crete Public Library launches summer reading program

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:20:00 -0500

The Crete Public Library’s Can You Dig It! summer reading program is under way. Programs include We Dig Trucks, Feeling Antsy?, Rocks Rock by Multidisciplinary Education for the Environment and a visit by the Frog Lady. The summer reading program will continue to Aug. 3. Information: (708) 672-8017 or cretelibrary.org. Staff reports …

Marya Yates students semifinalists in Fatherhood Essay Contest

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:18:00 -0500

Three students from Marya Yates Elementary School in Matteson were selected as semifinalists in the 2013 Illinois Fatherhood Initiative/Chicago White Sox Illinois Fatherhood Essay Contest. The theme of this year’s essay was “What My Father Means to Me.” Kindergartener Cymbre Robinson, fourth-grader Darion Jeffries and first-grader Kennedy Ross were selected as a part of the 156 winning essays from among 18,000 entries for this year’s contest. They and their fathers and families were invited to be guests at the Chicago White Sox vs. Miami Marlins game for the annual Faces of Fatherhood Celebration. Lisa Woods is principal at Marya Yates …

Shnay: A congregation reborn, a pioneer passes

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:31:57 -0500

Sometimes it seems as if we pass our lives in a chaotic series of coincidental events — as if we were part of a gigantic pinball game, with uncounted metal balls bouncing off life’s bumpers and caroming off each other’s thoughts and memories. So these words are about two events nearly 1,500 miles apart that are about both the religious and cultural life of Park Forest. This Saturday, after 55 years as a vital part of the village, Conservative Jewish Congregation Am Echad will conduct its last morning service. Rabbi Sholom Podwol, who is retiring after 20 years as the …

Mohawk Intermediate Center hosts Career Day

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:31:25 -0500

Several Southlanders participated in Mohawk Intermediate Center’s Career Day in Park Forest. Featured speakers included Ron Bean, a professor at Governors State University in University Park, who talked about the skills he needs to be an effective professor. Park Forest Fire Department Lt. Phillip Myers told students about the equipment he needs in the course of his firefighting duties. Gregory Thomas, a detective with the Harvey Police Department, discussed his duties, and Mark Kundla, a media producer and adjunct professor of media studies at GSU, stressed the importance of education and how strong academic skills help him in his profession. …

Community Sports Calendar (East) for June 16, 2013

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:34:01 -0500

Here is a look at sporting events in the SouthtownStar’s East region, which includes Beecher, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crete, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Homewood, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Steger, and University Park.

Matteson, Park Forest police blotter

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:26:00 -0500

MATTESON SCOOTER THEFT: A motorized scooter was stolen May 28 from outside an apartment in the 4000 block of Lindenwood Drive. DUI ARREST: Kory Begley, 37, 7925 S. Green St., Chicago, was charged with drunken driving, no insurance and driving on a suspended license after a May 31 stop at Vollmer Road and Crawford Avenue, police said. HIT AND RUN: Saprece Lumpkin, 21, 458 Talala St., Park Forest, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and no insurance after hitting another car June 1 in the parking lot of Marshalls, 4808 W. U.S. 30, police said. DISORDERLY CONDUCT: …

Open house to benefit Thorn Creek Nature Center

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 02:27:43 -0500

The Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest, will hold an open house benefit, Visions and Voices, featuring local artist Marikay Peter Witlock and musicians Patricia Caldwell and Jerry Santoni from 1 to 4 p.m. June 23. Guests can meet Witlock, who was inspired by the nature center to create “Prairie Chapel,” an original graphite drawing featuring the iconic 1860s church. Signed and numbered “Prairie Chapel” prints are available with a donation of $75 or more. Proceeds of sales of the prints and donations will benefit the nature preserve. Songs of inspiration and humor by Caldwell and hammered …

Huth Middle School hosts history fair

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:38:01 -0500

“Investigating History” was the theme for Huth Middle School’s recent history fair.

Award-winning journalist to speak at GSU graduation

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 02:33:37 -0500

Governors State University will award bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to about 1,500 graduates at its June 8 morning and afternoon commencement ceremonies at the Tinley Park Convention Center. GSU is awarding an honorary doctorate to Maria Hinojosa, an award-winning journalist. She will speak at 10 a.m. Hinojosa has had a 25-year career with well-known news organizations, including CNN, PBS, National Public Radio, and WGBH in Boston. She was the first Latina to be employed at NPR, the first Latina correspondent at CNN, and the first Latina anchor at PBS. Those “firsts,” she said, gave her a great sense of …

Griffin, Jones to address GSU graduates

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 02:33:28 -0500

Graduating Governors State University students Michael Griffin, of Carpentersville, and Shaniqua Jones, of Harvey, were selected to give commencement addresses during June 8 ceremonies at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Griffin will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony and Jones will speak at the 5 p.m. ceremony. Nearly a decade after being wounded in Iraq, Griffin is receiving his bachelor’s degree in social work, committed to helping fellow veterans deal with the scars of warfare. In 2004, Griffin was a U.S. Army sergeant when his unit was attacked in what he describes as a “head-to-head” battle. He was shot four …

Shnay: Bird watching a great way to enjoy nature

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 02:32:41 -0500

The bird feeders in our back yard need to be replenished daily. It’s been that way for the last two months or so, as even the first frosty days of spring did not deter those winged wonders from scavenging for food. Recently, two red-and-gray male cardinals, eyeballing an afternoon snack, scuffled with each other underneath one of the feeder stakes until one departed, looking for an easier meal and less of an adversary. The cardinal is our real national bird. Seven of our 50 states, including Illinois, list the cardinal as their state bird. The eagle is the majestic symbol …

Career Day at Forest Trail Middle School

Wed, 29 May 2013 07:26:00 -0500

Park Forest-Chicago Heights School District 163’s Forest Trail Middle School in Park Forest welcomed 40 businesspeople to the school for its annual Career Day. People from the fields of law, medicine, the arts, military, finance and sports visited classrooms to discuss their careers and the education and experiences that served as the foundation for these careers. Staff reports …

Matteson, Park Forest police blotter

Thu, 30 May 2013 22:30:00 -0500

MATTESON THEFT: A 13-year-old Matteson boy told police someone stole his iPhone May 13 after he left it on the ground during track practice at Huth Middle School, 3718 W. 213th Place. THEFT: An iPad was stolen May 15 from a customer at Burlington Coat Factory, 21203 Gray Hawk Drive. BATTERY: Lindsey Richardson, 24, 18350 Anthony Ave., Country Club Hills, was charged with battery after a domestic-related incident May 19 in the 700 block of Notre Dame Drive, police said. THEFT: A Crete man exercising at L.A. Fitness, 4340 W. U.S. 30, told police someone stole his iPhone and wallet …

Southland College Prep student makes Broadway debut

Sun, 26 May 2013 02:34:17 -0500

Morgan Brown, 16, a Southland College Prep Charter High School junior from Matteson, recently performed on Broadway in the national finals of the Fifth Annual August Wilson Monologue competition at the August Wilson Theatre in New York. Students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performed short monologues of their choosing from one of 10 plays written by the late playwright. Southland College Prep speech and theatre director Cheryl Frazier accompanied Brown to the competition with Brown’s parents, friends and relatives. “Morgan Brown, her teacher Cheryl Frazier and other members of the speech and theatre team …

Rich South students prepare more than good food

Sun, 26 May 2013 02:36:28 -0500

Rich South culinary arts students take a cross-curricular approach to food

Campus (East) for May 26, 2013

Sun, 26 May 2013 02:36:17 -0500

Here is a look at what Southlanders from SouthtownStar’s East region are accomplishing in college. News includes Beecher, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Crete, Homewood, Flossmoor, Lansing, Richton Park, Park Forest and South Holland.