New principals at Eisenhower, Shepard high schools
The District 218 Board of Education unanimously approved hiring two new administrators at its high schools.
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Benjamin Blakeley will become the new principal of Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, where he will will succeed Erik Briseño, who recently was appointed the district’s director of Curriculum and Instruction.
Earlier this month, the board approved Jennifer Pollack as the new principal of Shepard High School in Palos Heights. Pollack, who has served as associate principal the past six years, will succeed Greg Walder, who recently was appointed assistant superintendent of Operations, which covers human resources, security, operations and maintenance.
Blakeley comes to Eisenhower being a physical science and physics teacher at Proviso East High School and then became dean of students at Hales Franciscan High School and De La Salle Institute.
He is one of the founding members of the Urban Prep Academies in Chicago, and served as principal at two of the campuses. Blakeley most recently served as assistant principal at Thornton High School for five years.
“Understanding that I am the new guy from outside District 218, I have embraced this responsibility and challenge. I will work tirelessly to ensure that I am the type of leader that will support the students and staff of Eisenhower in ways that result in our students having a positive high school experience while preparing them for their postsecondary journey,” he said.
Pollack arrived in District 218 as a math teacher at Delta Learning Center in 2007. She became an instructional coach and later the district Curriculum Director for Mathematics.
“I am excited to continue supporting many of the great traditions that the Shepard community promotes, from our homecoming celebrations to our academic challenges in AP and dual credit programs,” she said. “I am also looking forward to growing new traditions that showcase the many talents of our student population.”
Will County native plant sale begins
The Nature Foundation of Will County’s Summer Blooms Native Plant Sale began online on Friday. The summer sale features a variety of late-blooming native plants that are much-needed sources of nutrition for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. In addition, these plants provide beautiful blooms that last well into fall.
More than 75 individual species of native plants are available — from big bluestem and aster to goldenrod and purple prairie clover — as well as ready-made collections that offer a convenient way to add native plants in your lawn and garden. Individual species include pollinator magnets like anise hyssop, ironweed, culver’s root and both blue and hoary vervain.
“The Summer Blooms Native Plant Sale takes its inspiration from pollinator conservationist and author Heather Holm. Her research on native bees has shown how critical late-blooming native plants like asters and goldenrod are to pollinators as they prepare for overwintering or migration,” explained Cindy Harn, the Nature Foundation’s executive director.
All online orders must be placed by 6 p.m. Sunday, July 10, on the Nature Foundation’s 2022 Native Plant Sale page, www.willcountynature.org/2022-native-plant-sales.html. Online plant sale orders may be picked up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 23, or noon to 2 p.m. July 24 at Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E. Romeo Road (135th Street), in Romeoville.
All proceeds from the plant sale assist the Nature Foundation in supporting the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s efforts to provide recreational opportunities, host programs for diverse audiences and protect the health and well-being of nature through land conservation.
Richton Park Car & Bike Show set
A Car & Bike Show at the Richton Park Metra Station, 22120 Richton Road, is planned from noon to 5 p.m. June 25, featuring classic, custom and muscle cars and motorcycles.
Event organizer resident Gary Jones said funds raised at this event will be donated to the Franciscan Health Comprehensive Cancer Institute in Olympia Fields. He was inspired to launch the Car & Bike Show by the memory of this sister, Carmen Jernigan, who succumbed to cancer in 2018.
“My sister never stopped helping people, whether they were members of our family or other people in the community,” said Jones, who also lost a grandmother and aunt to cancer. “This is a way for us to make sure that cancer is not the end of her story.”
The show will also feature vendors selling arts and crafts, barbecue and more.
Admission is $2, free for children under 12, and registration for cars is $25 and $20 for motorcycles. Vendor tables are available for $80.
More information is with Jones at 708-515-3716.
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