Homer Glen residents collected about 708 pounds of pop tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House in the village’s second Pop Tab Challenge.
The Ronald McDonald House allows parents of children who are critically ill to sleep free of charge near the hospital while their child undergoes treatment. The number of pop tabs, which were totaled during this year’s Homer Fest, roughly equals about $350 for the Ronald McDonald House.
The village sponsored the contest for residents to raise money for a good cause and win one of three prizes that were donated by area businesses. The prizes were matching so winners earn a prize and get to choose a family that has an individual with special needs to also win that prize.
The first place winner, Maureen Dioguardi, collected more than 402 pounds of pop tabs, winning $1,000 for herself and $1,000 to the family of Jax Jankowicz. Dioguardi has indicated she plans to donate her winnings to another Homer Glen family with special needs, village officials said.
The Duzon family collected nearly 46 pounds of pop tabs, earning them a $500 gift card to Chesdan’s Pizzeria and Grille. The family donated a second $500 pizza gift card back to Homer Glen’s ability awareness committee.
The third place winner Pat Danaher collected more than 25 pounds of pop tabs and earned a gift card to Birchwood Gardens for a shade tree valued at $750. A second gift card for a shade tree was given to the family of Allison Kanosky.
Prizes for the contest were donated by Walt Konow, owner of Konow’s Corn Maze and Zachary’s Red Barn and Farm Events, Chesdan’s Pizzeria and Grille and Birchwood Gardens. Brookfield Zoo, the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Konow’s Corn Maze also donated free passes to residents who took part in the Homer Fest special needs day on June 24.
-Michelle Mullins
Bremen High School names Jessica Rucinski principal
Bremen High School in Midlothian has hired Jessica Rucinski as principal following the retirement of Dave Kibelkis. Rucinski was the school’s assistant principal for Teaching and Learning has spent all 14 years of her educational career at Bremen.
Bremen also hired English department supervisor Tom O’Shea as athletic director. Ryan Blackwell will become the school’s assistant principal for Teaching and Learning, after working as an English and special education teacher.
Rucinski, a 2003 Bremen graduate, began her educational career as a Biology and Chemistry teacher at the school in 2008. During her nine years teaching, Rucinski took over the girls volleyball program, and also coached girls basketball, and boys volleyball.
New middle school principal in Evergreen Park
Joe Zampillo was hired by the School District 124 Board as the next principal at Central Middle School in Evergreen Park, taking over from outgoing principal Shannon Swilley this summer.
Zampillo has 28 years of experience in education field, including as a social studies teacher, director of recruitment and admissions, middle school dean of students, middle school assistant principal, and school principal. He comes to Evergreen Park after 11 years as principal at Worth Junior High in District 127.
“I love serving middle school students because they need strong support,” Zampillo said. “They are in that in-between time where they are finding their identities and need an academic challenge as well as social and emotional support.”
Growing up in the south suburbs, Zampillo has called the Oak Lawn area home for the past 20 years with his wife of 24 years and two college-aged children. He was drawn to Evergreen Park and CMS because of the strong community and passion for students.
“I think that this is a special place,” he said.
Projects to slow Western Avenue at two spots
Patching and resurfacing of Western Avenue, from Lincoln Highway in Chicago Heights to Steger Road, in Park Forest, will require daytime, intermittent lane closures in a project that began Thursday, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The $2.6 million project consists of resurfacing the 2.5-mile stretch of Western Avenue and constructing new ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and is expected to be completed in November.
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Further north, cleaning and painting of the bridge carrying Western Avenue over the Cal Sag Channel in Blue Island is scheduled to begin July 11.
Western Avenue will be reduced from two to one lane in both directions at the bridge. The work is expected to be complete in early December.
Motorists can expect delays, IDOT said.
St. Coletta’s Kennedy Golf Invitational set
St. Coletta’s of Illinois is hosting its 33rd Annual Kennedy Golf Invitational Aug. 8 at Crystal Tree Golf & Country Club in Orland Park.
The event includes lunch, 18 holes of golf, drinks and snacks on the course and dinner with an open bar.
For those up to the challenge, Sister Maryann Dosen will be back for the “Beat the Nun” longest drive competition.
Registration is $600 for a single golfer or $2,400 for a foursome and is at www.stcolettasofil.org.
The one-day event will benefit individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Raffle tickets are being sold for a chance to play in the Lexus Champions for Charity National Championship at Pebble Beach Resorts this December. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Kennedy Golf Invitational on Aug. 8. Winner need not be present.
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