southtownstar.suntimes.com

Reading gets red-carpet treatment at Palos East

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:33:26 -0500

Fifth-graders at Palos East Elementary School recently celebrated their reading achievements at the 14th Annual Academy Awards for Books. The purpose of the show is to celebrate and promote lifetime reading. Each quarter, fifth-graders are required to read and report on three to four books from different genres to expose them to a variety of literature. The students nominate and vote on their favorite books in 24 different categories, which culminates with an Academy Awards-style show complete with red carpet, hosts, “Oscar” trophies, and even paparazzi upon entrance. Parents of fifth-graders and fourth-grade students are invited to attend the student-driven …

Chicago Ridge, Oak Lawn police blotter

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:20:00 -0500

CHICAGO RIDGE RETAIL THEFT: Charles R. Payne, 50, 3806 S. Parnell Ave., Chicago, was charged with retail theft after stealing copper fittings worth $919 on May 13 from Home Depot, police said. RETAIL THEFT: Mohommad Abousalem, 18, of 6440 W. 84th St., and Yaseen Ghouleh, 18, 6415 W. 84th St., both of Burbank, was charged with retail theft after they stole goods May 13 from Kohl’s at Chicago Ridge Mall, police said. RETAIL THEFT: A 13-year-old boy was charged with retail theft after he stole a cellphone May 17 from Sears at Chicago Ridge Mall, police said. RETAIL THEFT: Maria …

Sabadosa: Some good books to escape in this summer

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:31:57 -0500

The way this year is zipping by, summer will be here before we know it. If you are lucky enough to have the summer off from a job, are planning a vacation getaway or simply have your sights set on kicking back often during the hot weather, a good summer book can be the perfect complement. I recently polled my readers and asked them to share some of their favorite books with us. I also asked them to explain the reasons for their recommendations. All I can say is, watch out Oprah! My daughter Sara was one of the first …

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.

MVCC offers extensive list of summer classes

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:09:11 -0500

Moraine Valley Community College will offer weekend classes, summer classes at three campuses, and online and Internet hybrid classes during the summer semester, which starts with a three-week pre-session beginning the week of May 20. The eight- and first four-week sessions begin the week of June 10, and the second four-week session begins the week of July 8. Friday-only classes include Orientation to IT Professions and Mechanical Universe I, beginning June 14 for four weeks; Mechanical Universe II, beginning July 12 for four weeks; Chemistry (University Oriented) II, beginning June 14 for eight weeks, and College: Changes, Challenges, Choices, beginning …

Palos Scout troop tackles trashy assignment

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:31:47 -0500

Boy Scout Troop 729, of Palos Heights, participated in RID Litter Day, leaving behind a much cleaner McCarthy Road. The Palos Park Beautification Committee, led by Denise Cowan, sponsored the cleanup operation, a communitywide effort to pick up litter and recyclable items from roadways in Palos Park. The committee provided garbage bags and plastic gloves, and public works employees picked up the orange garbage bags after they were filled. Participating Boy Scouts included Jared Thompson, Welby Moore, Ian Reed, Tyler Pesce, Alec Jonanovic, Joshua Blim and Dominick Perino, and Weston Schwartz, a Cub Scout from Pack 3729. The Scouts picked …

Eisenhower High School seniors sign national letters of intent

Wed, 15 May 2013 06:08:09 -0500

Three Eisenhower High School seniors recently signed a national letter of intent to play in college. Sycory Walker signed with Illinois Wesleyan University. Dion Wells signed with Arizona Western College. Jesse Gonzalez signed with Minnesota State University, Mankato. Staff reports …

Oak Lawn police blotter

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:16:00 -0500

OAK LAWN THEFT: An air conditioner and a hot water heater were stolen between March 15 and May 1 from a vacant house in the 9800 block of Southwest Highway. THEFT: A gold wedding band was removed sometime between May 1 and 3 from the finger of a 100-year-old female resident of Concord Nursing Home, 9401 Ridgeland Ave. The ring was replaced with a metal key ring. SUSPENDED LICENSE: Rjaei Abuznade, 23, 6027 W. 103rd St., Chicago Ridge, was charged with driving on a suspended license May 2 after a stop at 103rd Street and Parkside Avenue, police said. RETAIL …

Center offers kids outdoor summer art classes

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:30:15 -0500

The Log Cabin Center for the Arts, 12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park, is holding registration for summer outdoor art classes for kids in kindergarten through ninth grade. Classes will meet from 9 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. One-week sessions begin July 1 and July 22. Two-week sessions begin June 17, July 8 and July 29. Outdoor Art for Kids, nicknamed “OAKS” for the wooded environment of the log cabins, features an immersion into the worlds of art and nature. The children will explore the Children’s Farm and its surrounding woods, fields and creeks, which provide not only the …

Eisenhower women build home, camaraderie

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:30:26 -0500

More than a dozen women who work at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island recently replaced vacation time and weekends for hard labor at no pay — and loved it. Habitat for Humanity offered a rare kind of compensation, they said, as they toiled over spring break and on several Saturdays to help bring home ownership to others. “It was a rewarding feeling to know that I somehow had a hand in building what will be someone’s home very soon,” teacher Syreetha Holmes said. They took part in Women Build, sponsored by Habitat. The international project has resulted in the …

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.

Chicago Christian inducts four to Wall of Honor

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:59:14 -0500

Chicago Christian High School recently celebrated its third annual Wall of Honor Induction Ceremony. The Wall of Honor was created to highlight the accomplishments of CCHS athletes and their contributions to the school’s success while they were players. Four alumni were honored this year, Mark Hiskes, ‘75, Bob Schaaf, ‘90, Ross Stuursma, ‘05, and Rebecca Kamp, ‘08. Mark Hiskes played basketball for four years and also ran track and cross country. He is 15th on the all-time scoring list in basketball at CCHS with 892 points. The 1974 team finished third in the state. Mark was also All-State in 1974 …

Stagg teacher honored as outstanding educator

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:32:24 -0500

Stagg High School English teacher Lisa Thyer recently was recognized with the University of Chicago Outstanding Educator Award. She was nominated for the award by Mara Heneghan, a 2012 Stagg graduate and current University of Chicago student. “She goes out of her way to attend school events from football games to drama club productions and is always interested to hear what her students are doing outside of the classroom,” Heneghan said. “This interest in her students’ lives and respect for their time fostered the most positive learning environment I have ever experienced and earned her mutual respect from all of …

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

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:18:10 -0500

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 memory. Then a friend gave Epstein-Faxel a copy of the poem “Pennies From Heaven” by Charles Mashburn. The work is a reminder that loved ones who have passed often send messages of hope in the most unsuspecting ways. It was meant to be a comfort, to get her family through the difficult times ahead. Little …

Oak Lawn police blotter

Mon, 06 May 2013 22:02:01 -0500

OAK LAWN DUI ARREST: Edgar Ortega, 19, 8055 Lavergne Ave., Burbank, was charged with drunken driving, consumption of alcohol by a minor, speeding, improper lane use, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and no insurance April 27 after a stop at 95th Street and Meade Avenue, police said. RETAIL THEFT: Tiesha Wilson, 28, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft April 27 after stealing merchandise from Target, 4120 W. 95th St., police said. DUI ALLEGED: Ahmad Alshalabi, 35, 9835 Ridgeland Ave., Oak Lawn, was charged with drunken driving, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, driving off the …

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 …