Naloxone training helps community to combat opioid crisis

Originally published in New Lenox Patriot

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 130 Americans die every day from an opioid-related overdose. These numbers are overwhelming, especially for the Substance Use Initiative Task Group of the New Lenox Safe Communities Coalition, which aims to reduce preventable injuries and deaths. Their latest plan to fight back? A naloxone training class that not only teaches how to use the life-saving medication, but also distributed it to attendees.

The free training class took place Thursday, Feb. 27 at Village Hall, where more than 80 people learned about how to identify and respond to an overdose, the Illinois good Samaritan law, as well as the risks of substance-use disorder and how to find help for someone struggling with substance abuse.

The class was led by Dr. Kathleen Burke, the director of substance use initiatives for the Will County Executive Office. With a Ph.D. in education, she wants her training sessions to get the community better informed, but ultimately, to save lives.

“Naloxone is a harm reduction strategy that will prevent a person from overdosing and dying, but it also allows us time and an opportunity for a person to get into treatment, because hopefully they will interface with someone in the emergency room or the hospital that can help them get into the proper care,” she explained.

During an overdose, opiates will cluster on breathing receptors on the brain, slowing or stopping the person’s breathing altogether. Naloxone, more commonly known by brand-name Narcan, works by pushing the opiates off the receptors, allowing the person to breathe again. It can take two to five minutes for that to happen, and often takes more than one dose, which is why kits have two doses. Naloxone only lasts 30-90 minutes, so seeking medical treatment after use to prevent another overdose is essential.

In 2019, there were 2,167 opioid-related deaths in the State, with 101 deaths in Will County. 80% of those deaths in Will County were attributed to synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is up to 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the National Institute of Health.

“There are no instructions on the bag. There’s nothing that says what amount you should take so you don’t die,” said Dr. Burke about synthetic opioids during her presentation.

After a loved one overdosed and was revived with naloxone, June Skowronski of Tinley Park took it upon herself to become naloxone trained.

“I see it a lot, I have other people in my life who have used and I just wanted to understand better and be prepared, because if they don’t have the proper help and people that support and believe in them, how are they going to survive?” Skowronski asked.

Jan Dombrowski, the executive director of the Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization, or HERO, got involved with the organization because of her two nephews in addiction. While one of her nephews recently celebrated five years sober, she credits HERO with her learning how to help and not enable the nephew that still struggles with addiction.

At these training classes, Dombrowski features props from HERO’s “Hidden in Plain Sight” trailer, which is designed to look like a teen’s bedroom with ordinary items placed in plain view to show where drugs or alcohol can be hidden. She says that it’s important for parents to start the conversation early, and for grandparents to even talk to their grandkids.

“I think we’re losing a generation, and I can’t sit idly by while this generation is dying,” she said. “There were 80,000 overdose deaths last year; 80,000 Americans died. They’re talking about the Coronavirus now, and that’s important, but 80,000 in one year?”

For Dan Martin, safe community coordinator for the village, it’s all about saving lives.

“This isn’t an issue that we can bury our head in the sand for, and we don’t. We recognize that we aren’t immune to drug overdoses, so that’s why we do programs like this and the most wonderful things about it is the success stories we’ve had,” Martin said. “If one life is saved, that’s tremendous. The more we can do to reduce these overdoses, that’s more that we’re doing to reduce deaths.”

D228 teachers hold rally amid contract negotiations

Originally published in the Tinley Junction

Teachers are the heart of our community, helping to educate the next generation of those that will lead.

But as more than a month of the school year has passed without a contract in place, teachers in Bremen High School District 228 are left feeling undervalued, so they decided to take to their community with their voices.

As you drove down Central Avenue near Oak Forest High School on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 16, both sides of the street were lined with people in support of D228 teachers. Many of those on the street were D228 teachers themselves, distinguishing themselves in red t-shirts. However, many of those were people from the community: students and parents, former teachers and students, and even some passing by opted to park and join in.

The rally was put together by the Joint Faculty Association, an organization comprised of D228 of teachers, counselors, librarians, social workers, psychologists, speech pathologists and nurses that aims to advance education while promoting the welfare of the active welfare. As of last week, the organization has 353 members.

Negotiations over contracts started last October, and when the contract expired in July with no compromise in sight, teachers understood that this could be a long negotiation process. At that point, the JFA was founded, gaining traction through social media channels.

Gregory Fitch, a Hillcrest teacher and the president of the JFA said that more than anything, the association’s goal for the rally was to communicate their commitment to their students.

“We as educators, we’re dedicated to our students, and we’re dedicated to their education,” Fitch said. “Even though the school board has not yet come up with a contract that is fair and is equitable, we’re going to keep working, and we’re here to celebrate the great work that we do.”

For Tinley Park High School special education teacher Michelle Beary, Tinley Park not only has a place in her heart, but it’s also in her blood. The TPHS alum has lived here her entire life, which is why fighting for a fair contract is so important to her.

“This is where I’m from. I graduated from [TPHS,] my sister graduated from [TPHS,] and my mom even went there, too,” Beary said. “We’re fighting for a fair contract because we want to do the best for our students that we can, and I want to keep Tinley in my blood as long as I can.”

Lori Vitt, a business and special education teacher at TPHS, also elaborated on how TPHS is close to the heart.

“Working at Tinley Park High School is like family. We’re all great friends, we all enjoy each other’s company and we couldn’t ask for better kids,” Vitt said.

“We’re fighting for a fair contract so that we can keep and retain good teachers and keep doing great things for these students,” she explained.

One of the things that TPHS counselor Dory Neven was most excited about was the amount of faculty that attended the rally.

“It impacts us all as educators,” Neven explained. “We all have something to gain by being out here. It really shows so much support to all of us that we’re showing this unified front.”

Contract negotiations are ongoing.

Follow the Joint Faculty Association at @D228Educators on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

"We are not pawns:" JeffCo students speak against APush curriculum

Originally published at MyMetMedia

Parents, politicians, teachers and students of all grade levels gathered on Oct. 2 at the Jefferson County Public Schools building to protest the proposed changes to the Advanced Placement US History curriculum during a school board meeting.

6-year old Aubrey Magid attended the meeting to stand up for her teachers. This issue is important to her because she likes school.

Hundreds of people who opposed the changes arrived at the administrative buildings hours before the school board meeting. The normal overflow area was at capacity, forcing the nearly 300 not admitted to listen to the meeting in a field outside the buildings.

This regularly scheduled school board meeting follows walk-out and sick-out protests in district high schools, prompting numerous schools to cancel classes due to absenteeism.

The protests began after a conservative-majority school board planned to create a new committee to review curriculum in an effort to challenge the curriculum set by College Board, the organization that maintains standards in AP classes.

According to Julie Williams, a member of the Jeffco School Board and the leader of the proposed committee, the changes would “present positive aspects of the United States and its heritage”, as well as to “promote citizenship, patriotism, essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system.”

“It’s very stressful on our teachers,” said Richard Yardberry, whose wife is a Jeffco teacher and son is a Jeffco student. “We need to make it easier on them, letting them focus on teaching rather than politics.”

Courtney Smith, a teacher in Douglas County, said teachers in her district are attending meetings and protests in support and solidarity for JeffCo teachers. “We’ve been in the same spot for five years. [Efforts to] destroy public educations are expanding.”

The topic of future generation’s education didn’t just impact parents and educators; infants in stroller’s donned signs that said “Future JeffCo Kid” and elementary-aged students wore shirts that read “JeffCo Rebel.”

Ryan Martinez, a 7th grader at JeffCo Open School in Lakewood, was stands up for his own education, saying he deserves an education that matters.

Ryan Martinez, a 7th grader at JeffCo Open School in Lakewood, was standing up for his own education. “I want an education that goes in depth,” Martinez said. “Everyone should be able to have a history that matters.”

Another protestor, 6-year old Aubrey Magid, attended the meeting to stand up for her teachers. Her reason? “I like school!”

“We wonder what in the heck happened, what’s going on?” said Jane Goff, representative of the 7th Congressional District of the State Board of Education, who’s currently campaigning to keep her seat. “I was a teacher before… I graduated from Jefferson [High School]. I spent 35 years in this district. It’s close to home. It’s something I can’t get over.”

To a group of 11 graduating seniors from five area high schools, the issue doesn’t affect them, but for future siblings and eventually children that may be JeffCo kids, they voiced their concern. The students gathered in front of the building where the meeting was in session and chanted “we are not pawns”, and didn’t stand down when supporters of the proposed changes were face-to-face with them.

When they were asked why they did it, one student replied “there is a time and a place for disobedience, and that time is now.”

Despite a bipartisan appeal to repeal the proposed committee, the vote passed 3-2.

MMA Fighter says, 'Fight me Mike Vick!'

Originally published at Examiner.com

MMA fighter Gordon “Shotgun” Shell retired from the ring in 2010 due to a serious heart condition, but, he’s offering to get back in the ring under one condition: Michael Vick joins him in a televised battle to raise money for animal welfare groups. Since retiring from fighting, Shell has worked as the vice president of an innovative countertop company, but he has taken up a second career of busting dog fights and rescuing and advocating for pit bulls.

For the past few years, Shell has been selling black and white t-shirts with the slogan “Fight me Mike Vick!” through his website. After hearing the outrage following the announcement that the Pittsburgh Steelers signed former dogfighter Michael Vick to a one-year contract, he decided to offer the folks in Pennsylvania something special: a special anti-Vick shirt in Steelers’ black and gold.

Even better? Shell is offering free shipping to supporters in Pennsylvania. “I’m going to offer free shipping to Pennsylvania residents so the shirts make it to the games,” Shell told The Huffington Post. The new line of Steelers shirts launched on Wednesday, the day after it was announced that Vick would be joining the team. The quarterback’s arrival has caused some longtime Steelers fans to sever their allegiance.

Shell promised to call off his protests and encourage forgiveness if Vick pays this (potentially gory) penance. “I think the public wants and needs blood to feel closure,” Shell said. “I just want a clean hard fight in a great event that can raise awareness and funds.” Shell took to his Facebook to say that he extended the offer when Vick was originally released from prison for dogfighting in 2009, and that he’s not “8 years late to the party.”

Vick has been less than amused about the former MMA fighter’s campaign against him. In 2013, Vick was scheduled to make an appearance at a Pennsylvania Buffalo Wild Wings to sign autographs and take pictures (with the hefty price tag of $75 each). He cancelled after animal rights activists caught wind of the event and flooded the Buffalo Wild Wings Facebook page with angry comments. While Vick’s camp claimed they didn’t even know about the appearance, a new party took over as host for the event and received similar backlash.

When asked about the fight in 2013, Vick’s agent Chris Shigas said that he “can’t comment on any threat by someone to fight him.” However, yesterday Shigas told the HuffPost through email that he thinks Vick has already raised plenty of awareness for animal welfare through campaigns to make attending a dogfight illegal. “I am proud of the work in the community that Michael Vick has accomplished,” Shigas said. “Many people have tried to make money from using Michael Vick’s name, but threatening violence or cyberbullying is never acceptable.”

Shell responded on Facebook by saying:

“I never once threatened Vick, nor would I attack him outside of a ring or cage. If I was to attack Vick then that puts me at his level and does nothing for my cause of raising awareness and funds to end dog fighting … We need to be above that type of protest, we need to speak intelligently and in a non-aggressive manner to be taken seriously and heard,” he said. “This is an invite from one aging athlete/advocate to a much younger faster, richer athlete and alleged advocate to put on an event that would reach millions of viewers and possibly raise millions of dollars to end Dog Fighting.”

Shell is disappointed that Vick has re-emerged, saying, “I honestly thought he was done.” But since Vick’s not done, nor are protestors, then neither is Shell. “I think the new colors freshen the shirt and give it a strong meaning to disgruntled Steelers fans,” Shell said. The Pittsburgh nonprofit Hello Bully, which works with dogs that have been rescued from the fighting circuit, is urging people to call and email the Steelers and raise their voice in anger that Vick is joining the team.

Math professor develops new theory that could explain disappearance of MH370

Originally published at Examiner.com

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has confounded experts since it went missing after dropping off air traffic control screens last March while traveling to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. Recently, a Texas A&M professor and his team in Qatar have developed a mathematical theory as to why the plane went missing without a trace.

Dr. Goong Chen published his research in the American Mathematical Society’s journal, arguing that the plane could have remained somewhat intact by nosediving into the Indian Ocean at a 90-degree angle. He argues that if the plane were to enter the ocean at another angle, the large “bending moment” created from the force of hitting the water would have caused the fuselage to break into pieces with a field of debris.

Through simulated scenarios, Chen and his team were able to conclude different outcomes with each angle based on computed data and aviation precedents, as well as atmospheric and ocean surface conditions. The team simulated five different scenarios, including a gliding water entry similar to the one Capt. Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger skillfully performed when US Airways flight 1549 landed in the middle of New York City’s Hudson River, a feat that’s referred to as “the miracle on the Hudson.”

His research shows that a vertical entry straight into the water would be much smoother and without a large “bending moment”. Although scenarios showed the wings likely breaking off at impact, they still likely would have sunk due to weight. The theory believes that the plane would have sunk somewhat intact and landed belly-up on the ocean floor.

In the animations, they noticed that lesser angles created bigger waves that likely cause more break-up at the surface, but at a 90-degree angle, those waves weren’t created at impact. Based on the various scenarios examined, a nosedive is the most-likely explanation of what happened to the plane, otherwise they believe debris would have been found by now.

Despite ongoing investigations for the past year, MH370’s disappearance is one of the most bizarre and tragic aviation disasters. While there are many theories as to what happened to the plane, no conclusive explanation has been given.

Australian officials announced last month that they will expand the search area into the Indian Ocean, which takes up a large portion of the 19 million square km area where officials believe the plane could be after disappearing from radar. Officials say if the plane isn’t found there, they’re not sure where else to look.

Wheat Ridge dispensary faces red tape

Originally published in Metro Post-Telegraph

Cannabis may be legal, but for marijuana business owners, the battle is still being fought as opposition threatens the sale of marijuana in Wheat Ridge.

While Amendment 64 approved the legal use and sale of marijuana by adults over the age of 21, the City of Wheat Ridge put a moratorium in place on submitting, accepting, processing, and approving all applications and requests for a city permit, license, land use approval or other approval for any marijuana establishment during a city council meeting on Oct. 27.

“Some anti-marijuana groups heard a rumor that construction for a new marijuana-infused product manufacturing facility was beginning in Wheat Ridge, and intent on preventing the facility from coming into existence, they called this emergency city council meeting,” said Jason Saunders, owner of Chronic Therapy, a recreational marijuana dispensary in Wheat Ridge.

Smart Colorado, an organization “founded to protect the health, safety and well-being of Colorado youth”, and Colorado Christian University is among some of the main opposition of recreational marijuana in Wheat Ridge. Many of the complaints towards marijuana in Wheat Ridge lie in a lack of education and accessibility to youth, as well as the smell that “radiates” from dispensaries.

In response to complaints, Saunders, along with other dispensary owners has adapted his business practices to cater to some of the issues addressed at these meetings. 

“Chronic Therapy actively listens to the opposition's complaints presented at the Wheat Ridge City Council meetings,” Saunders said. “For example, Chronic Therapy has installed charcoal filters as part of an expanded smell suppression system aimed at eliminating any smells emanating from the stores.”

Chronic Therapy is one of two recreational dispensaries open in Wheat Ridge; with three medicinal dispensaries currently open for business within city limits as well. 

Despite the issues with City Council, Saunders still says that his business is growing at a steady rate. The majority of public turnout at meetings belongs to the opposition, and he doesn’t believe that any growth in sales is due to publicity with the city council meetings.

Lockport-Homer Glen group hosts Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration

Originally published in Homer Horizon

“People come from different paths, yet we have the same destination.”

Ahmed Ali, an Egyptian-born Islamic motivational speaker, shared those words of unity and more at the first annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration on Sunday, Nov. 18, at First Congregational Church in Lockport. The event was hosted by the Lockport-Homer Glen Ministerial Association in an effort to help local charities, but also to show how our differences shouldn’t divide us.

The Lockport-Homer Glen Ministerial Association has hosted the Thanksgiving celebration at different area churches to help benefit the FISH Food Pantry, but this year, Rev. Eric Quinney-Burnard of the First Congregational Church decided he wanted to change things up. Rather than dividing the offering, all money raised would benefit the Resource Center in Lockport, and food would be also be collected for the Fairmont Pantry - but the biggest change would that this would be the group’s first true Interfaith service.

The hourlong service featured nine local speakers of different faiths to discuss their meaning of Thanksgiving, followed by a reception of holiday treats among good company. While each religion may have different traditions or ways to celebrate, one message was made clear: being faithful means being thankful.

“Literally giving thanks and giving gratitude to God, in whatever way that is, is something we need to share with one another,” said Rev. Eric Quinney-Burnard. “We all want to raise our children to be good people of faith who get along with everyone, and this is how we start.”

“The key is to get to know each other,” said Rev. Dana O’Brien of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Homer Glen. “Our similarities and commonalities are so much more important than our differences, and we all have the common goal to love our neighbor.”

Throughout the service, every speaker’s message was one of unifying rather than further dividing, and trying to find the common ground among us.

The booming voice of Rev. Phil Sheets of Lockport’s First United Methodist Church filled the First Congregational Church as he shared his interpretation of Thanksgiving. His allotted time of five minutes was filled with spreading love rather than hate. He quoted Pope Francis in saying that we don’t build walls, we build bridges. “How especially true that is here in Lockport, when our life is dictated by the Route 7 bridge,” he joked.

“I really believe in that, that we should be building bridges instead of walls,” said Jeanne Roberts of Lockport. “Doing God’s work and being one of God’s children, whoever that God is, it supersedes everything else.

For Ali, he believes that Thanksgiving is a value among all religions that adds to our human value, and to share perspectives of gratuity is a necessity to help further acceptance. “I think it’s not just an opportunity to talk about this, but it’s also a duty for both sides to hear each other out. We need to communicate, we need to learn not to fear, we need to see each other clearly.”

“It’s not often that you can get a diverse group of people like this together. We’re proud of the turnout, we’re proud of the reception, just everything,” Rev. Quinney-Burnard said. “We achieved our goal.”

“I was humbled by the discussions of Thanksgiving that we had, and I’m more cognizant now of how I can give more thanks,” said Rev. O’Brien.

Chamber of Commerce hosts town hall for graduated income tax

Originally published in Orland Park Prairie

As the upcoming 2020 Election season quickly approaches, becoming an educated voted can seem like a daunting task. Thanks to organizations like the Small Business Advocacy Council, understanding complicated ballot initiatives while also connecting with the legislators that are putting them into action is easier than it seems.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Orland Park Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the SBAC, held a town hall to discuss the upcoming proposed graduated income tax, or a “fair tax.” The nonpartisan town hall featured a panel of local legislators of varying offices to discuss their opinion of the proposed amendment, as well as answer questions from chamber members.

Panel members were State Senator Bill Cunningham (D), 18th District; David Harris (R), State of Illinois Director of Revenue; Keith Pekau (R), Mayor of Orland Park; and State Representative Justin Slaughter (D), 27th District.

The ballot measure would repeal the state flat rate across income and would instead allow the state to enact legislation for a graduated income tax. This means that higher-earning individuals or businesses will be taxed at a progressive rate, meaning the more you make, the more you pay. Currently, the individual tax rate is a flat 4.95% for everyone regardless of income, and has been that way since 1971.

Mike Hardek, President of the Orland Chamber of Commerce, believed that helping local owners and especially local business owners to be educated in the upcoming election was an obligation of the chamber.

“There are a lot of different issues in the next election that are going to be affecting business owners, and the community as well. We want to put information out there, and be a resource of education,” Hardek said.

Hardek elaborated that one of the biggest challenges when trying to create an event like this as a Chamber of Commerce is trying to be non-political while still being informative.

“You want to support your whole community, and just by nature, that’s going to be a 50/50 split,” Hardek said. “That’s why partnering with the SBAC was such a good fit. They’re nonpartisan, they’re active and they’re out there as a voice for small-business owners in Illinois.”

Elliot Richardson, president of the SBAC, was excited to start their series of town halls in Orland Park.

“We thought that this would be a great place to start our series. We have a great relationship with the chamber, and we were able to make a great event happen that’s going to educate a lot of voters,” Richardson said.

The panel began by Director Harris giving an overview of the schedule of predicted new rates, followed by the opinions of the legislators on the panels. While Senator Cunningham and Representative Slaughter voiced their agreement, Mayor Pekau was the panel’s dissenting opinion.

Pekau, a member of the SBAC himself, was originally asked to do a welcoming speech for the event, but after hearing that the current panelists were all in favor, he offered to step in to offer a contrasting opinion.

“This vote, in my opinion, could have a huge impact on whether or not Illinois ever climbs out of this hole, and quite frankly, I think if this passes that you’ve given the state a blank check to keep raising taxes. It’s really important to me that voters get out there and vote on this, but they need to understand the facts,” Pekau said.

Orland Park resident Jim Harmening, president of Chicago-based Computer Bits, Inc., pays close attention to local issues, but was impressed at how much more information he learned at the town hall, as well as the way that the information was presented.

“I loved the format, and I appreciated a place where people discussed the issue intelligently on both sides. It’s nice to hear arguments for it and against it, and personally I think it’s important for Illinois’ finances to get it passed, even after hearing the negatives,” said Harmening.

“I was very reticent at the beginning when I first learned about it, I thought it was going to be bash one side and only support the other,” Harmening said. “That’s one of the reasons I came, I thought it was going to be all one-sided and it wasn’t at all. It was very respectful.”

Racino draws mixed opinions from community at board meeting

Originally published in Tinley Junction

Following the passing of the new gaming bill SB 690 HA, the Tinley Park Village Board is considering the creation of a new entertainment district which will incorporate a racino, a combined harness racetrack and casino. During the Tuesday, Sept. 3, village board meeting, the board had the first reading for two items related to the potential racino entertainment complex. On Aug. 15, the plan commission held a public hearing regarding the racino, and the commission voted unanimously 9-0 to recommend approval of the text amendments to the board.

While the board unanimously passed a voice vote for the voice read, a few citizens voiced their thoughts when it came time for public comment.

Tinley Park resident Carl Lindokken pointed out that in the Chicagoland area, other harness racing tracks have shut down, such as Aurora Downs in 1976; Washington Park in 1977; Sportsman Park in 1997; and both Maywood Park and Balmoral Park in 2015. He also remarked that in 1995, horse racing attracted more than 3.9 million people throughout the state, but less than 909,200 for 2018.

“Competition for the gambling dollar is the problem for horse racing, and gambling casinos is now seen as a way to subsidize horse racing,” said Lindokken. “Harness racing is generally a dying enterprise dependent upon subsidies. Why would we encourage this in Tinley Park? And what if we didn’t get the subsidies?”

Another Tinley Park resident, Nancy Oconnor, had a different point of view.

“As far as the racing being down, yes it has been, but it’s been because of prohibitive taxes. With the new bill, I think a lot of that will be reversed,” Oconnor said. “Having a casino with the racetrack will allow people to be hired which will bring the horsemen back, which creates more competition. It’s all tied together.”

She referred to Ohio, who’s seven racinos received $1 billion in revenue, as well as New York and Georgia who also have successful racinos.

Oconnor also asked police chief Matthew Walsh about concerns regarding increased crimes around the racino. Walsh responded that he spoke with the Des Planes police chief Bill Kushner, stating that they got on average one call per day, usually regarding parking violations or nuisance complaints. He also spoke to Chief Pecora of Arlington Heights and said that there were few instances related to the track, and both jurisdictions said traffic is not an issue.

Oconnor believes it “we just need to do it right.”

Eagle Scout John Ucha recognized for earning every Boy Scout Merit Badge

Eagle Scout John Ucha was recognized by the Village Board for his scouting accomplishment of attaining all 139 Boy Scouting merit badges. He graduated from Andrew High School last spring.

Trustee William Brady, a member of the Eagle Board of Review, explained what it meant to be an Eagle Scout and some of the 365 requirements it took to be one. He also stated that considering that there’s more than 2.5 million Eagle Scouts and that only 400 have succeeded in receiving all their merit badges, it’s quite the achievement.

Brady continued by explaining that when he’s explaining potential Eagle Scouts, he’ll first ask applicants how many merit badges they have. If they only have 21, the minimum requirement, he joked that he scares them to keep pushing them to receive more. He said on the other side, he worried about scouts who have too many, thinking that they’re focused on merit badges rather than a rounded life.

With Ucha, Brady said he doesn’t have to worry.

Ucha proudly proclaimed his achievements throughout high school, notably theater and choir for all four years, as well as being a member of the National Honors Society. He also donated his hair to St. Baldrick’s all four years as well.

He is attending DePaul University.

Round It Up

A brief recap of action from the Tuesday, Sept. 3, meeting of the Village of Tinley Park Board Meeting

·         September 2019 was proclaimed Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in support of all village community members affected by ovarian cancer, and Sept. 16 was proclaimed the American Legion Day in celebration of the organization's 100th anniversary.

·         The village appointed Matthew Labriola to the position of public works maintenance position, and approved the staggered terms to the Civil Service Commission for Terrence Sullivan, one year; Barbara Moore, two years; and Martin Gainer, three years.