OP_102016

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4 | October 20, 2016 | The orland park prairie News opprairie.com Tinley teen on the cusp of attaining Eagle Scout rank Donation from Orland Park Lowe’s helps with service project Michael Gilbert, Editor Boy Scout Troop 911 member Zach Unger knew exactly who he wanted to benefit from his Eagle Scout service project. “I wanted to do something for the veterans,” the 15-year-old Andrew sophomore said. “They have given so much to our country that I wanted to do something that benefits them.” There was just one problem. “I had no idea what I was going to do,” he said. Enter Zach’s father, Rob, who happens to be a pilot for Southwest Airlines and the assistant Scout leader for Troop 911. One day, while at Southwest’s training facility in Dallas, Rob spotted a handful of wooden benches outside the building. “I was out at the training center last April, and I noticed there were some benches put out, and they were really a strong, simple design. I mentioned it to [Zach], and he was all for it.” Rob said he reached out to the designers of the benches to get the specifications but never heard back. He ended up contacting the director of the training center, who actually went out and measured the benches and provided the information to the Ungers. Bench making was new to Zach, but he quickly took to his father’s suggestion. It also did not hurt when he visited VFW Post 2791 he noticed the benches were in less-than-stellar condition. “I noticed the benches they had [outside] were kind of old and falling apart, so I thought it was time to make new ones for them,” Zach said. “They were just standard benches, and they weren’t in great shape.” Assuming most of the people using the 6-foot benches would be veterans, and some may have physical limitations, Zach decided to make the bench seat 5 inches higher than the standard 16 inches. “We decided to elevate the seat, so it’s easier for them to get up and down,” Zach said. “We wanted to make it as comfortable for the user as possible.” “We took into consideration who would be using the benches most of the time,” Rob said. “We wanted easy in and easy out.” Zach, along with assistance from fellow members of Troop 911, constructed the benches over the course of two Sundays in September. He anticipates delivering the benches to the VFW in the next few weeks, with the hope that they will be on display by Veterans Day. Veterans Day would be fitting, considering each of the benches carries a patriotic theme. One bench has the American flag painted on it, with the Pledge of Allegiance written in the white, horizontal stripes. Another celebrates VFW Post 2791’s 75th anniversary, and the final bench has the logos of each military branch. Purchasing the wood, paint and other supplies needed to create the benches is not cheap, and since donations are accepted for the Eagle Scout project, Zach decided to visit the Lowe’s Home Improvement in Orland Park and speak with manager Don Wybourn. An Eagle Scout himself, Wybourn has donated materials for other Eagle Scout projects and offered Zach free wood and paint for his project. “We are very grateful for what Don did,” Rob said. “He probably gave $500 worth of material. Each of the gallons of paint cost $50, and he gave us over six gallons. He was very generous.” Wybourn was so impressed with the benches that he asked Zach to create an additional one that will reside outside the home improvement store. Zach is aware Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in Scouts. He also knows being an Eagle Scout can open doors when it comes to college and employment opportunities, and that some of the most successful men, like President Gerald R. Ford and astronaut Neil Armstrong, have achieved the rank. But it was not the prestige associated with being an Eagle Scout that fueled him. “I know that being an Eagle Scout helps with getting a job, but I really did it because I enjoy Scouts and all the activities we do,” he said. “I love the outdoors, so [being in scouts] is a natural fit. The Grissom graduate joined Cub Scout Pack 398 in first grade at the recommendation of his father. Looking back at the 20- plus merit badges he has attained, he said the First Aid and Aviation badges are the ones about which he is most proud. His father served as his counselor for the latter, he said. Please see Eagle, 6 Pizzeria & Restaurant 15764 S. BELL RD. HOMER GLEN 708.301.8300 • www.chesdanspizza.com “OUR BEST EFFORT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS” Order your Pumpkin Shaped Pizza 2 Sizes OR LARGE today! personal $ 6.20 $ 16.40 Tinley Park resident Zach Unger adds a touch of paint Oct. 12 to the bench he created for his Eagle Scout service project. Michael Gilbert/22nd Century Media
opprairie.com News the orland park prairie | October 20, 2016 | 5 The Great Pumpkin Party adds new events Amanda Del Buono Freelance Reporter Dressed up as Elsa and Anna from Disney’s “Frozen,” Elise, 5, and Sienna, 3, knelt next to a pumpkin that was nearly the size of them, poking and wobbling it as they investigated the giant vegetable. Their father, Rob Ator, stood next to them, as they tried to determine the pumpkin’s weight. The Homer Glen father and daughters made the trip to Orland Park to enjoy the fall weather and activities at The Great Pumpkin Party. “It’s beautiful weather, and we like to be outside as much as we can,” Rob said. After guessing the weight of the pumpkin, the girls were off running to the next activity. The Village of Orland Park’s Parks & Recreation Department hosted its annual Great Pumpkin Party Oct. 8 at Centennial Park. It was rescheduled from its original date of Oct. 1. After having to reschedule, event organizers said they were happy to see the clear skies and floods of people come to participate in a myriad of fall activities on the event’s rescheduled date. “This is a really great turnout,” said Irene Buikema, recreation operations manager for Orland Park. “It’s really great, having rescheduled.” Nancy Flores, director of recreation for the Village agreed that the turnout was strong, helped in part by the weather. Although each of the activities celebrates the fall, the event changes each year, Buikema said. “Each year, we try and add something new,” she Kaitlin Bauer, 11, of Orland Park, competes in the pie eating contest at The Great Pumpkin Party. said. “This year we have a seed-spitting contest and a catapult launching pumpkins into Lake Sedgewick.” The new events were a hit, Flores said. “The kids love the catapult,” she said. St. Charles resident Eddy English was determined to win the seed-spitting contest, his wife Dana said, as she held their 7-month-old son Duke and watched over their 3-year-old son Deacon. “Their dad is trying his hardest to win the pumpkin seed contest,” she said. “He keeps making them remeasure.” Also enticed by the seedspitting contest, 4-year-old Hailey Gross explained to her mother, Kristin, what the participants were doing. “They spit the seeds and see how far they went,” she said in awe. Kristen and her husband, Mike, who recently moved from Orland Park to Mokena, brought their two children, Hailey and Josh, as well as their dog, Klondike, who was dressed as the devil. Kristen said the family enjoyed all of the children’s activities and games. “It’s more than I expected,” she said. In addition to the pumpkin weight guess, seed-spitting contest and catapult launch, activities included building a scarecrow, hayrides, pony rides, roasting marshmallows, a pet parade, crafts, games, dancing, a pumpkin patch and a pie eating contest. “People love the pie eating contest,” Flores said. “Our goal is to provide community events that residents can enjoy in their own backyard.” Sue Heemstra, an Orland Park resident, was among those who said they enjoyed it. “We had so much fun when we came with my other grandchildren last year,” said Heemstra, the mother of Dana English. “Every year, it’s so nice and so well done.” Dana English added that she appreciated the organization of the event. “It’s really well organized, especially with this many strollers and kids,” she said. Alessandra Rodriguez, of Evergreen Park, hangs out with her pumpkin Oct. 8 at The Great Pumpkin Party in Orland Park. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media The Village of Orland Park Dance Company performs to “Footloose.”
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Orland Park’s Hometown Newspaper
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