WB_121318

8 | December 13, 2018 | The wilmette beacon NEWS
wilmettebeacon.com
Callie, of Wilmette
The Grygotis family,
of Wilmette
In April 2017, Callie,
a 10-month-old terrier
mix, was thrown from
a third-floor balcony in
Chicago and suffered
multiple fractures. Itasca-based Fetching Tails
rescued her, and after extensive surgery and a
three-month recovery period with a wonderful
foster family, she “landed” in her forever home
and has now fully recovered from her injuries.
Despite the trauma and pain she endured, Callie
loves everyone she meets — two-legged and fourlegged
alike.
To see your pet as Pet of the Week, send information to
eric@wilmettebeacon.com or 60 Revere Drive, Suite 888,
Northbrook, IL 60062.
Santa makes local appearance at Wilmette’s Chalet Nursery
Alexa Burnell
Freelance Reporter
The calendar had barely
turned to December, but
yet a line of eager children
lined the aisle’s of Chalet
Nursery & Garden Center
on Dec. 2, awaiting the arrival
of Santa, who each
year, offers to take a break
from toy-making to hear
the wishes of local children.
Despite the line wrapped
half-way around the store,
families remained happy
and warm, thanks to the
cider and cookies offered
by general manager Nathan
Herman, who mingled with
visitors, sharing his love
for this highly anticipated
event.
“Chalet has hosted Santa
for 50 years, a tradition that
we all look forward too, because
we understand how
this moment has turned into
happy memories and family
traditions for so many of
our guests,” Herman said.
“We have one woman who
comes every year, showing
us a series of photos of she
and her family visiting Santa,
here at Chalet. We love
knowing we are part of our
customer’s history.”
After chatting with
guests, Herman announced
that Santa had arrived and
would soon be escorted to
the place where he would
meet with children for the
next several hours.
Once he made his appearance,
families began to
cheer, as Santa stopped to
give high-fives and hugs to
very excited children.
When the moment came
to have their very own turn
with Santa, children like
Ella and Charlie Thomson,
4-year-old twins from
Wilmette, jumped on his
lap. Ella asked him for a
dollhouse while Charlie
wished for a Transformer.
Mom and dad, Scott and
Krissy, recently moved to
Wilmette, thrilled with the
Jerry Melissaratos, of Skokie, visits with Santa Dec. 2
at Chalet Nursery & Garden Center in Wilmette.
Alexa Burnell/22nd Century Media
opportunity for their children
to see Santa.
“This is what we envisioned
moving to the suburbs
would be like,” Scott
said.
Krissy added, “This is
such a great event. The kids
are so excited to see Santa
and everyone here has been
so nice.”
The Melissaratos family,
of Skokie, included
children Angelina, Evi and
Jerry. The children collectively
asked Santa for more
slime, and Jerry asked Santa
if he could have some
new video games.
Harper Sheehan, 7, of
Wilmette, wore her fanciest
dress, ready to take a memorable
picture before asking
Santa if she could have
an air hockey table placed
in her basement this year.
As the event went on,
Santa stayed in a holly, jolly
mood, happy to take pictures
and create memories
for years to come for each
and every family that came
to Chalet.
students
From Page 4
from Virginia, Congressman
LaHood from Illinois,
Congressman Gallego from
Arizona and Congressman
Gomez from California,
just to name a few.
“We asked the senators
to do their job by keeping
an eye on another part of
the government that wasn’t
doing what they are supposed
to be doing,” Lola
Jensen said.
Both girls were excited
to find out that many of
the senators and congress
people had personal experiences
at the Boundary
Waters, and that everyone
showed genuine interest in
the topic and the kids themselves.
Through the experience,
came many lesson
learned, just as important
as the ones Lola and Piper
learned while at the Boundary
Waters.
“Talking with all these
senators and congressmen
gave me another sense of
accomplishment,” Lola
Jensen said. “I learned
that even though we are
young, we have loud voices
and can give a different
perspective than adults.”
“I think all kids should
speak up if there is something
important to them.
We can make a difference
and we shouldn’t wait for
the adults to make changes
when we can do it ourselves,”
Piper Jensen said.
To learn more about
protecting the Boundary
Waters, visit www.savetheboundarywaters.org/
or www.kidsfortheboundarywaters.org/.
LOYOLA
From Page 6
if he posts $75,000 to satisfy
bail on the other two
cases.
In court, Meczyk said
Laird, his client, would
likely not be able to post
$75,000 to be released
while awaiting trial.
Laird’s next hearing is
scheduled for Dec. 21.
Teaching, coaching career
Laird worked as a teacher
at North Shore Academy
in Highland Park from
the fall of 2017 until Sept.
18 of this year, when the
Glenview Police Department
notified the North
Shore Special Education
District of an ongoing
criminal investigation into
Laird for alleged internet
crimes against children.
He taught English at
Loyola Academy in Wilmette
from 2011 to 2014
and served as a scholastic
bowl moderator at the
school from 2004 to 2008
and from 2010 to 2014,
according to Loyola Academy
President Patrick
McGrath and Principal
Charles Heintz.
After leaving Loyola
Academy in 2014, Laird
worked as a question-writer
for National Academic
Quiz Tournaments LLC
for about nine months,
from September 2014 until
the summer of 2015.
Laird also recently
served as a moderator for
a scholastic club at Stevenson
High School in Lincolnwood.
Before his arrest, Laird
was employed by Amazon,
Meczyk has said.