Mentoring program donates school supplies
School officials from Matteson District 162 went on a school supply shopping spree this week thanks to a donation from the Making Disciples Boys Mentoring Program, continuing a partnership established four years ago.
The $3,000 donation enabled school administrators to purchase supplies for students from families that may not be able to afford all the items on back-to-school lists.
“This donation makes a big difference in helping our students start the school year with what they need,” said Rebecca Dixon, assistant director of special education, who shopped with Jaimie Goodley, director of special education. Among the items they purchased were backpacks, notebooks, earbuds and glue sticks. Dixon estimated about 50 district families will benefit from the donation by Making Disciples.
Making Disciples was founded in 2015 by Eric and Annette Bassette. During the District 162 shopping trip, they surprising a family with two small children with $200, according to a news release from the district.
“Students need help and we want to support the parents in helping the children,” Eric Bassette said. “It’s a wonderful thing for my wife and me. It’s amazing to be able help a child to begin the school year with what they need to succeed.”
Richards JROTC students complete leadership training
A group of students enrolled in the Navy JROTC program at Richards High School in Oak Lawn got a chance this summer to learn about life as a military officer after more than a dozen of them spent a week at Basic Leadership Training at the National Guard base in Marseilles.
According to a school district news release, the leadership training included a varied menu of fun and challenging activities.
Students trained physically, learned first aid, completed uniform inspections, ate MREs (meals ready to eat), and participated in a range of team building activities.
The group from Richards was part of a contingent of nearly 150 U.S. Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps students from the Chicago area at the training.
Groundbreaking set for Flossmoor veterans memorial
The organizers behind an effort to create a veterans memorial in Flossmoor will have a ceremonial groundbreaking event to mark the success of a 20-month goal to raise $100,000 to fund construction of the monument.
The event will be from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Aug. 9 at the site of the proposed Wall of Honor, north of Flossmoor Road between the Flossmoor Metra station and Park Place.
Designed by Flossmoor architect Michael Matthys, the Wall of Honor will provide a tribute to all current and former Flossmoor residents who are or were members of the U.S. armed forces, according to a news release from Flossmoor Veterans Memorial, Inc.
Former Flossmoor Mayor Paul Braun, president of the group, said it has collected more than 950 names to be included on the memorial, noting one of the objectives is “to educate the public about the sheer number of veterans who have lived, worked, and raised their families in our community since World War I.”
“Keeping our veterans’ stories at the forefront of our village’s story is important to our continued to success,” he said in the release.
More information on the memorial and event is at https://flossmoorvets.square.site
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or via email at [email protected].Lemont resident competing in pageant
Oak Lawn native and Lemont resident Iza Glinkowski, who works at the Downers Grove Hooters restaurant, is representing the Chicago region in the Hooters International Pageant in Las Vegas, where she is competing for the title of 2023 “Miss Hooters International” and a cash prize of $30,000.
Online voting for an associated Fan Favorite contest is open through Aug. 2 at http://www.hooters.com/fanfavorite/#7-izabelle-glinkowski. The Fan Favorite cash prize of $2,000 will be announced Aug. 3.
Glinkowski, a student at University of Illinois at Chicago, also appeared in the 2023 Hooters Calendar.
School supply drive in Evergreen Park
The Evergreen Park village and library are teaming up for a Community School Supply Drive for families in School District 124 who are experiencing financial hardship, according to a news release from the Evergreen Park Public Library. The drive is ongoing through Aug. 18.
Supplies, such as new or like-new backpacks, markers, pens, crayons, colored pencils, dry erase markers, notebooks, folders, binders, highlighters, scissors, glue sticks, and pencil cases can be dropped off at the Evergreen Park Public Library at 9400 S. Troy Ave., Evergreen Park Youth Department at 3450 W. 97th St., or Village Hall at 9418 S. Kedzie Ave.
The items will be distributed to each school building in District 124. Families in need can contact their school to pick up school supplies or the Evergreen Park School District 124 offices at 708-423-0950.
Thornton Historical Society sets Starved Rock trip
The Village of Thornton Historical Society offers day trop to Starved Rock State Park in Utica that includes a trolley tour and Illinois River cruise Sept. 15.
The tour begins with at 8:45 a.m. when a coach buss will deliver participants in time for lunch at Starved Rock State Park Lodge, followed by the trolley tour with narration about the area’s history and lore. Then a boat tour will showcase the east end of the state park by water.
Minimal walking is involved, according to a news release from the society, and the group is scheduled to return to Thornton by 5 p.m. Tickets are $100 and available by email at [email protected].
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