Blood drive honors Olympia Fields native
Kristin Arielle Oliver always gave from her heart.
As a teenager, Kristin, who grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago, donated blood to help a young boy in the community diagnosed with leukemia.
“Kristin was a giver,” said her mother, Pam Oliver. “She had a tremendous heart and cared deeply for all those around her.”
As an adult, Kristin found herself needing the life giving donation of blood when she was diagnosed with a rare heart cancer, sarcoma of the heart, at age 29. Her chemotherapy treatment required her to receive blood transfusions.
“With every transfusion, I was grateful for the donation,” said Oliver,
After a two-year battle with the disease, Kristin died in June, 2020, and her family is honoring her memory with a blood drive and food drive.
The blood drive is from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 23 and from noon to 4 p.m. April 24 at Sgt. Means Park, 20712 Western Ave., Olympia Fields.
“One way for us to give back in memory of Kristin is to organize this communitywide blood drive in our hometown every year,” said Kristin’s father, Kelvin Oliver.
The family also is asking participants to donate a nonperishable food item which will be donated to The Center for Food Equity in Medicine, which provides food for people facing health challenges in the Chicago area.
High school journalists compete at state level
The Oak Lawn Community High School Journalism team recently won the Illinois High School Association sectional championship, topping Joliet West and Homewood-Flossmoor high schools, and is competing in the IHSA Journalism State Finals at Heartland Community College in Normal.
The Spartans won sectional championships in five 18 events. Among the winners were Tori Prause, Quinn Haywood, Layla Nemri, Matthew Perry, Sierra Knutsen, Mia Reyes, JM Claudio, Grace Tynski, Adrianna Hall, Sarah Lindsay, Ash Argueta, Yusra Abdelrahman, Brendan Gallian, Paulina Komperda, Omar Tellez and Breanna Buttney.
Rich Township High School’s Eyitayo Awe also is competing at the state competition, after finishing in the top 3 in News Writing.
Road work to slow area interstates
A patching and resurfacing of Interstate 57, from Interstate 294 in Posen to Halsted Street in Chicago, passing through Dixmoor, Riverdale, Blue Island and Calumet Park, is scheduled to begin Monday.
The Illinois Department of Transportation said in a release work will initially require daytime shoulder closures, and starting the week of May 2, various overnight and occasional weekend lane and partial ramp closures on both sides of I-57. At least one lane in each direction will remain open. The project is expected to be completed in November.
A project to repair the bridge carrying Interstate 55 over the Kankakee River in Will County, is scheduled to begin May 2. I-55 will be reduced to one lane in both directions between River Road and Lorenzo Road. To bypass excessive backups and congestion, Illinois 47 and Interstate 80 are the posted alternative route. The project is anticipated to be completed in August.
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Motorists can expect delays, IDOT said.
Rail crossings to close for repairs
Repairs to the Metra Rock Island District Line crossing on 119th Street west of Vincennes Road in Blue Island will require a full closure starting May 11. A detour will direct motorists to Vincennes Road, 127th Street and Western Avenue. The work is expected to be complete by May 20.
Repairs to the Chicago Rail Link crossing on 100th Street east of Torrence Avenue in Chicago will require a full closure starting May 9. A detour will direct motorists to Torrence Avenue, 106th Street, Muskegon Avenue and Commercial Avenue. The work is expected to be complete by May 20.
Input, ‘Pals’ sought for Hickory Hills park
The Hickory Hills Park District is conducting public input meetings to discuss the renovation of Doug Osborne Park at 2 p.m. May 14 and 5:30 p.m. May 16 at the Cynthia Neal Center, 8047 W. 91st Place.
The park, 9400 S. 84th Ct., currently has a playground, play features, swings, benches and picnic seating. The district is applying for an Illinois Department of Transportation grant and wants to know what residents like and dislike about the park as well as thoughts on new amenities.
Children can become an Osborne Park Pal by attending the meeting and sharing their thoughts while looking at new playground equipment. Osborne Park Pals will also be invited to attend the selection of the playground equipment once bids are presented to the Park District in 2023. The first 35 children to attend the public meeting on May 14 will receive an Osborne Park Pal T-shirt and can sign up for construction updates. Comments and suggestions can also be sent to [email protected].
Auto dealerships host diaper drive
Ed Napleton Auto Group is collecting new packages of diapers in all baby sized through April 30 at its dealerships, including River Oaks Honda and River Oaks Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Lansing and Hyundai at River Oaks, River Oaks Lincoln, and River Oaks Kia, all in Calumet City.
The drive is being held in partnership with the March of Dimes.
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