NL_071218

8 | July 12, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot NEWS
newlenoxpatriot.com
GRAB YOUR GIRLFRIENDS
AND HEAD OUT TO
PRESENTED BY
22ND CENTURY MEDIA
FO OD
DRIVE
THURSDAY, AUG. 9 • 6-9 PM
GEORGIOS BANQUETS QUALITY INN AND SUITES
CONFERENCE CENTRE, ORLAND PARK
8800 W. 159th St., Orland Park
FREE ADMISSION! FREE PARKING! FREE TOTE BAGS!*
*guaranteed to first 200 people at event
THIS EVENT WILL OFFER:
• Vendor booths for shopping
• Mini workshops
• Cash bar and light snacks
• Sample the latest from KIND Snacks
- the exclusive health bar of Ladies Night Out!
• AND MORE TO COME!
Bring canned food items
for the Micro Pantries in
the Will County area!
REGISTER FOR FREE TICKETS TODAY AT
22NDCENTURYMEDIA.COM/NIGHTOUT
Longtime D210 bus driver Therese Janus poses for a photo in her bus next to some of the
decorations she created. Photos Submitted
A century’s worth of driving experience
retires from LW transportation staff
Submitted by Lincoln-Way
Community High School
District 210
Many school districts
throughout the U.S. are experiencing
a shortage of bus
drivers, and Lincoln-Way
is no exception. When the
2018 school year ended,
District 210 lost 101 years
worth of driving experience
from just six members of its
staff.
Bus drivers Joann Bonow,
Therese Janus, Marcia Myers,
Joe Brown, Karen Ruttenberg
and Rose Wright
have each driven for Lincoln-Way
for more than a
decade. Bonow and Janus
total nearly 50 years of
driving between the two of
them.
Bonow began driving in
1990 and will retire at the
end of the school year with
28 years of experience.
During her time with District
210, she’s driven multiple
state champion teams
to and from their competitions,
and is perhaps best
known by students for the
spirited décor that covers
her bus. Bonow consistently
updates bus signage,
props and her own ensemble
to encourage her riders
in their individual activities
and sports. On special
milestones, she even brings
treats like freeze pops
and sandwiches for the students.
“She decorates for every
holiday, for every season,
spirit day and for every
team,” Janus said of Bonow.
“One time she picked up
German exchange students
from O’Hare Airport and
had the signs written in German.
She goes above and
beyond.”
Bonow said her best
memories are of the kids
she’s driven along the way.
“I’ve been really lucky;
I got to take Girls Soccer
down to state. I’ve taken the
Mathletes to state,” Bonow
said. “Just seeing the kids
mature throughout the years
is the best part.”
Bonow’s fondness of the
students is a mutual feeling.
Students think highly of her,
too.
“When she drove soccer
down to state, it was
Mother’s Day and all the
girls gave her flowers,” Janus
said.
Bonow also received a
charm bracelet from boys
soccer. Each year, the team
would bring her a new
Please see Driving, 9