As Kathy O’Neal, 66, of Warner Robins, Ga., watched her relatives skate Nov. 27 at Ridgeland Common’s Paul Hruby Ice Arena, she answered a few questions for the Oak Leaves.
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Q: What brought you to Oak Park?
A: I’m visiting my niece and nephew and great-niece and -nephew twins. We’re here for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful. I’ve been to Chicago a couple of times, but I’m getting to experience it from their point of view. I think anybody that hasn’t been to Chicago should come to one of these little towns first to get a feel for it. It’s so quaint and cute.
Q: Occupation?
A: I work for an organization called the Georgia Family Connection Partnership. It brings together representatives from every county in the state that work with families and children to strategically plan how to fix issues. … That is my heart. I’ve been a social worker my whole life. It brings together the people who are already doing the work, to work smarter.
Q: Travel destination on your bucket list?
A: We’re going on a cruise in January to St. Barth’s and St. Kit’s to celebrate my retirement. … We love traveling and seeing things.
Q: Words you live by?
A: “It’s amazing what you can accomplish when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” It goes along with my work.
Q: Favorite holiday tradition?
A: Seeing family. The tradition is just getting together and laughing and playing and talking.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Check out more online at ChicagoTribune.com/ShoutOut.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.