IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – March, 2013

| March 1, 2013

NORM GOODMAN SCHOLARSHIP

A new scholarship fund for East Leyden High School athletes has been formed in honor of the legacy of East Leyden basketball Coach Norm Goodman. Goodman coached basketball at East Leyden from 1961 to 19990. He died this past October. The scholarship was made possible by through the generosity of two former players, Jim Bradof and Glen Grunwald who both donated $10,000 towards the fund.  The $1,500 one-time scholarship will be awarded to an East Leyden senior varsity athlete planning to attend a two or four year college. The award will be given out at the Spring Athletic Awards on May 8th. Donations to the Coach Norm Goodman Scholarship Fund are also being accepted.

FIRE DISPLACES TENANTS

A fire on February 8th at an apartment building on the 2800 block of 74th Avenue has displaces several people who live in the building. The fire gutted one of the units. The owner of the building Frank Schaffner was glad nobody got hurt in the fire, but  the resident whose unit the fire started in lost his pet cat. Elmwood Park Fire Chief Michael Ventura believes the fire started by the tenant falling asleep on the couch while smoking.

$30 Hotel Suites at O’Hare

The Chicago City Council agreed to allow second-floor space in the rotunda between Terminals 2 and 3 to be turned into 29 extended-stay suites for weary air travelers. Minute Suites plans to offer suites for $30 an hour or $120 overnight for travelers in by 11 pm and out by 7 am. The 62 square foot suites will include a day bed sofa, workstation, high-definition TV and personal computer with Internet access. However, concerns were raised that the Minute Suites would become staging rooms for terrorists and a haven for sexual trysts.  Before the Aldermen signed off on the agreement, their concerns were put to rest that it would not become a “no-tell motel.”  The Minute Suites is just one of 10 new concessions at a dozen locations at O’Hare expected to collectively generate at least $5.6 million in annual revenues for the city.

BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR TWO MORE DISTRICT 81 TEACHERS

Two teachers who have achieved National Board Certification were recognized at a recent District 81 Board of Education meeting in Schiller Park. Those teachers, Barbara Folan and Louise Stompor passed the assessments on their first attempt. There are now six national board certified teachers in District 81. The mission of the National Board is to advance student learning and achievement by establishing high standards for certifying teachers and engaging leaders in the field of education through this process. The process to become a national board certified teacher is rigorous with performance-based assessments that take a year to complete. The assessments include teaching portfolios, student work samples and videotaped lessons with the teachers’ self-reflection on the teaching and learning in their lessons.

Candidates are also required to take a three-hour computer-based exam that includes six essay questions. Only an estimated 30 percent of teachers pass on their first attempt.

RIVER GROVE SUBWAY OPENS

On February 6th, a new Subway location opened up in River Grove at the corner of Grand Avenue and River Road. DePaul University graduate, Shaun Purohit, opened the business right out of college with the help of his parents who also own numerous businesses in the Chicago area. Purohit has set a lofty goal of opening four more stores in five years.

ELMWOOD SCHOOL RAISES FUNDS

On February 8th, students at Elmwood School participated in the Hoops and Jump Rope for Heart event and raised approximately $4,600. The monies will be donated to the American Heart Association.

LEYDEN TOWNSHIP POST GOES UNOPPOSED.

Bradley Stephens is retiring as Leyden Township supervisor after 20 years saying it was time to move on. Stephens took over from Angelo “Skip” Saviano in 1993 when Saviano was elected state representative. The Republican caucus has slated Joe Thomas to run for Township supervisor and he has no opposition. Thomas worked for the utilities department of Franklin Park for 32 years and exited as superintendent.

Struggling families can now apply for nonprofit’s Pet Food Stamps 2BC77B23ADC6CB07AD511E5535E_h316_w628_m5_cjgitLFuR

Although the government has offered food stamps to struggling Americans for decades, there haven’t been any provisions for their four-legged family members, until now. Marc Okon has launched Pet Food Stamps, a New York-based nonprofit that will give qualifying pet owners throughout the U.S. (who must be receiving government assistance for themselves) funds to buy food for their animals from the website PetFoodDirect. In the program’s first two weeks, Okon says he has already fielded more than 12,000 applications. “It’s aimed at preventing people from having to choose feeding themselves or their animals or having to surrender them to a high-kill shelter,” Okon said

USPS LOST $1.3 BILLION OVER QUARTER

The U.S. Postal Service says it lost $1.3 billion in the first quarter of the new budget year, following record loses last year. Officials say that in the three months ended December 31 there was continued growth in the agency’s revenue from package delivery, including during a busy holiday season. And there was growth in political ad mailings due to the November elections.  In an effort to cut costs, Saturday first-class mail delivery will end starting August 1st.

REMEMBER WHEN?

How many of you remember the North Avenue Roller Rink or the “Hub”? Way back that used to be the place to hang out and have a good time with family and friends. Walker Baylor was an organist there playing the skating songs on a Hammond organ. Well, there are still roller rinks located in the area. One such rink, the Tinley Park Roller Rink, was featured in the Sun Times. It was a former square dance hall and was converted to a roller rink back in 1965 by Ray and Margaret Quitter. The rink is still owned and operated by the Quitters along with their son Carey Westberg. Westberg is also the executive producer of the inspirational family film “My Lucky Elephant” which was released  February 26th on DVD and iTunes. Margaret Quitter is the producer or the film.  The film is highly recommended for a teaching tool in schools with its theme of respect, sharing and understanding.

If anyone has any pictures of the North Avenue Roller Rink, send them along and we’ll feature them in our Remember When column.

SCHILLER PARK MAN WINS BIG! 

A Schiller Park man was busy making big plans for his future after hitting a million dollar Powerball jackpot.

Standing with his commemorative check is Octavio Perez, 27, who matched five numbers in the Jan. 5th Lottery drawing. Perez, who works in a warehouse in Elk Grove Village, said he plans to buy a house for his mom and a Camaro for himself. He said he’ll also spring for a college education. “When I realized I won the million dollars I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it. It’s amazing,” he said. Perez said that he was so excited about winning he couldn’t eat for a day. The Powerball numbers drawn on Jan. 5 were 26, 30, 49, 51, 54 and the Powerball was 25

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Category: Articles, In Case You Missed It

About the Author ()

Comments are closed.