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16 | December 13, 2018 | The orland park prairie news opprairie.com From THE FRANKFORT STATION Frankfort feeds hungry across the world The basement of Camp Manitoqua was filled to the capacity of the assembly lines that lined the room, all manned by volunteers of all ages who measured, packaged, sealed and labeled individual meal packets. These Frankfort-area residents are feeding children in povertystricken areas across the world, one packaged meal at a time. The annual food packaging event raised enough money to send 108,000 nutritional meals to children in Haiti and Peru. Jeff and Kari Kemerer started this event several years ago, after realizing that there are limited volunteer opportunities that invite all ages to participate. “Most soup kitchens say that children have to be 12 or older, and this was really something we wanted our kids to experience, even though they were young,” Kari said. “After that we thought that we should start one in our own community.” The couple partnered with Kids Around The World to create this now annual tradition. Money is raised to purchase the ingredients from Kids Around The World. After those ingredients are packaged, they are sent to poverty-stricken areas across the world. “We wanted our kids to learn that there’s more to this then Frankfort,” Jeff said. “Many kids around the world don’t have the same opportunities as they do.” In its first year, the fundraising effort hit its goal of $10,000. As the event grew and gained more sponsorship, it raised nearly $27,000 and surpassed its goal this year of $25,000. Reporting by Megan Schuller, Assistant Editor. For more, visit Frankfort Station.com. FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION ‘Trains & Miniatures’ Christmas gallery runs through January To Sheila Lorence, of Tinley Park, it is not Christmas unless there is a train under the tree. Her husband Bruce, who has three layouts on display at the Vogt Visual Arts Center for its “Trains & Miniatures” Christmas exhibit running until Jan. 26, has been fascinated with miniature locomotives since he was 5 years old. “I’ve been collecting and playing with trains for over 40 years,” Bruce said. “I still have the original train I got when I was a kid one Christmas.” On Dec. 1, an artists reception was held in conjunction with the Village of Tinley Park’s Holiday Happenings. The first person in line was former Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki, who has a running Marklin Mini Club 8130 set up for the exhibit. A total of seven indoor and outdoor train configurations are available to admire. “There is something about trains,” said Julie Dekker, VVAC gallery director. “The men are passionate about it, along with the itty bitty children. It’s universal. Maybe because it moves, the doll houses just don’t move.” The gallery’s regular hours are from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. It is located at 17420 S. 67th Court in Tinley Park. Reporting by Mary Compton, Freelance Reporter. For more, visit TinleyJunction.com. FROM THE LOCKPORT LEGEND Midwest SOARRING invites community to learn about Native Americans Only 1.3 percent of people in the United States are American Indian or Alaska Native, according to the U.S. Census Bureau website. And although these people first settled in America at least 14,000 years ago, their culture provides the foundation for the United States. Lockport’s own Midwest SOAR- RING Foundation is inviting community members to its holiday open house to learn more about the Native American culture, visit with members of the organization, and peruse handmade Native American items and crafts from around the country from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at 133 W. 13th St. in Lockport. “We talk about ourselves as a nation of immigrants, but that isn’t entirely true,” said Dave Nardin, the special projects manager at Midwest SOARRING. “That’s true with respect to Europeans or Africans or Asians, whose history only goes back the thinnest sliver of our country’s history, no farther back than about 1500. But it’s important to understand that there was a whole civilization that existed here for thousands and thousands of years.” According to Midwest SOAR- RING’s website, their mission is to “work toward repatriation, protect sacred sites, educate the public and promote community building among all people regarding indigenous lifeways.” There are 50 active members of the organization, some with Native American ancestry, and others who just have an appreciation for and awareness of the culture and values, and want to share them, Nardin said. For more information about the event and Midwest SOARRING, visit www.midwestsoarring.org. Reporting by Jacquelyn Schlabach, Assistant Editor. For more, visit Lock portLegend.com. FROM THE MOKENA MESSENGER Village issues home burglary advisory There have been several home burglaries in Mokena over the past few weeks, and it appears these burglaries may be related. Mokena Police are asking residents to be extra-vigilant as they come and go from their places of residence. The home burglaries were reported in the Tara Hills, Grasmere and Forestview subdivisions, according to Mokena Police Chief Steven Vaccaro. In each of these recent residential burglaries, no one was present at the home at the time of the burglary, and jewelry and/or cash was taken. Activity has generally taken place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. A common denominator associated with each of these burglaries appears to be a white, newer model Ford crew cab pickup truck with a yellow light on top. Two male subjects reportedly have been seen with the vehicle. Police are requesting residents who notice a vehicle in their neighborhood matching the above description, observe any other suspicious vehicle or if they see people engaging in activities that seem even the least bit out of place not to ignore them; rather, call 911 immediately. Anyone with questions or desiring further information can contact the Mokena Police Department at (708) 479-3912. Reporting by T.J. Kremer III, Editor. For more, visit MokenaMessenger.com. FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT Lincoln-way gymnastics co-op continues to dominate despite transition year Lincoln-Way co-op took a big hit after placing seventh in the state last February. The team, which features gymnasts from the three Lincoln-Way high schools, lost eight key contributors this season, including allarounder Una Farrell, as they all graduated. That does not mean the team is starting completely from scratch, as sophomore Grace Kmak and junior Korina Jarosz both return after representing the team as allarounders at state in Palatine last year. The team looked like it is already making positive strides during a 133.44-117.35 victory at Andrew on Dec. 4 — a week after it won its season/home opener, cruising past Sandburg/Stagg co-op 131.25- 116.35. Coach Kim Lago is to find out more about this new-look team in its next competition: the New Trier Invite on Saturday, Dec. 22, which is slated to be the team’s final meet of 2018. “I think we have 14 new girls out of the 27 in the entire program,” Lago said. “So, it’s a new team, a new atmosphere and there’s a lot to learn. So, it’s going to take us some time.” And patience. “I think it’s going to be a little more unique this year — especially with multiple girls doing a couple events and everyone contributing,” Lago said. “It should be a cool experience, but it’ll take a while to figure it out, and they have to learn to keep each other accountable for hitting and figure out that whole team vibe.” Reporting by Chris Walker, Freelance Reporter. For more, visit NewLenox Patriot.com. From THE HOMER HORIZON Homer Meijer donates more than $6,000 to 35 military families The Meijer in Homer Glen was all smiles, tears of joy and community bonding Dec. 4, as 127 veterans, their children and spouses were shown appreciation for their service and dedication to our country with an unforgettable gift. Each member of the 35 local families invited to Meijer was given a $50 gift card donated by the store to be used for anything they wanted. Those cards totaled more than $6,000. The fourth annual Heroes Helping Heroes initiative paired a veteran and their family with either a police officer or firefighter to go around the store and shop. “More or less, why we named it Heroes Helping Heroes [is] Will County Sheriff’s Department or any police office is a hero, fire[fighters] are heroes and our veterans our heroes,” said Karen Szynkowski, president of the Lockport VFW Auxiliary Post 5788, who helped select the veterans. Air Force veteran Debra Ghalam was paired with Will County Sheriff’s Deputy Marco Villalobos, while her two daughters shopped with other first responders. “Honestly, all week I’ve been excited to just be able to take my girls shopping,” she said. While the whole experience is dedicated to veterans. But the first responders who helped make it a reality had just as much fun giving back. “It’s awesome,” Will County Sheriff’s Deputy Danielle Strohm said. “It’s great that there are people around to help us out, because everyone needs help at some point.” Reporting by Jacquelyn Schlabach, Assistant Editor. For more, visit HomerHorizon.com.
opprairie.com sound off the orland park prairie | December 13, 2018 | 17 Social snapshot Top Web Stories From opprairie.com as of Friday, Dec. 7 1. UPDATED: Carbon monoxide hospitalizes four, impacts two dozen at Red Robin 2. Team 22: Football (Defense) 2018 3. Team 22: Football (Offense) 2018 4. Girls Basketball: Sandburg star Stavropoulos out for season 5. Holiday Fest activities shine bright in Orland Park Become a Prairie Plus member: opprairie.com/plus Orland School District 135 posted the accompanying image Dec. 4 with the note, “Teacher Tuesday: This week, our featured teacher is Joanne Rowe, 2nd grade teacher at Center School! ‘I have really enjoyed teaching 2nd grade the past 26 years and teaching in District 135 for the last 30 years! The students enter 2nd grade just beginning to read and are not very confident. By the end of the year they are so much more confident in reading and all their learning. I am so lucky to be able to be a part of my students’ journey in learning! ...’ - Rowe” Like The Orland Park Prairie: facebook.com/opprairie “See rejection as redirection. #WisdomWednesday” @TheBridgeTC — The Bridge Teen Center, on Dec. 5 Follow The Orland Park Prairie: @opprairie Weathering the Storm Looking back at a cold and snowy November Mark T. Carroll Contributing Columnist November weather in review November temperatures were well below normal. The highest temperature for Chicago for November was 52 degrees, which was reached on Nov. 1 and 4. The highest temperature of 52 degrees for the month was record setting, as it was the lowest maximum temperature for November dating back to the 1870s, when official records began for Chicago. The average temperature for November was 34.6, which was 5.7 degrees below the normal average. November snowfall was well above normal, especially in locations north and northwest. O’Hare International Airport recorded 12.7 inches of snow in November, which was the fourth-highest November total for Chicago dating back to the 1870s. The normal November snowfall for Chicago is 1.2 inches. The following are November snowfall totals for our area. • Midway: 9.2 inches • New Lenox: 4.6 inches • Homer Glen: 4.4 inches • Lockport: 3.9 inches The heaviest snowfall event began during the night of Nov. 25 and ended on Nov. 26. The greatest snowfall totals were recorded to the north and northwest of our area. O’Hare recorded a total of 8.4 inches of snow on the 25 and 26. This was the fifth highest November snowstorm total in Chicago history. Local snowfall amounts are listed below. • Homer Glen: 3.4 inches • New Lenox: 3.1 inches • Lockport: 2.4 inches • Mokena: 2.4 inches The storm also produced strong winds and icing conditions, as rain changed to snow during the storm. Wet heavy snow caused damage from falling trees and power lines, which lead to homes and traffic signals losing power. Peak wind speeds from the storm were 47 mph at Chicago Midway International Airport. Winter weather preparedness Rely on a dependable source for weather information. Many sources are available, including the Internet, television and radio. Winter forecasts can change quickly, so closely monitor available forecast information. Remember that snow and ice totals can vary greatly over a short distance. Large snowfall differences across our region were evident during our late November snowstorm. Because of the influence of Lake Michigan, snow totals can vary greatly in northeast Illinois, northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan. If a winter weather watch is issued, get prepared for hazardous weather. If a winter weather warning or advisory is issued, take action — hazardous weather is occurring or will occur soon. For example, if a windchill warning is issued, dangerous cold is expected. If a windchill advisory is issued, cold weather is expected. If a watch is issued, cold weather is possible. The weather for December and beyond The temperature forecast from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction for Chicago for November was for belownormal temperatures. Temperatures were well below normal in November. The NCEP precipitation forecast for November was for above-normal precipitation, and we were just slightly above normal. The Centers’ forecast for December is for abovenormal temperature and below-normal precipitation. The prediction for the months of January and February is for belownormal temperature and near-normal precipitation. Mark T. Carroll is the president of CALM Weather LLC, a meteorological consulting service based in Oak Forest. For more information, visit calmwx.com. Poetry in <strong>OP</strong> ‘My Maple Tree’ Lin Peterson Orland Park resident I watch my maple tree All dressed up in green I keep my faithful vigil As she changes the scene Other trees have lost their leaves, But her red dress she keeps Modesty or stubbornness? She refuses autumn’s sweep We walk this morning, The dog and I head west My maple tree is still clad, Now in her yellow dress The dog and I agree The wind is strong today A shorter walk is our goal Back home we go to stay. Off we trot now, homeward bound, But my maple’s dress Has fallen to the ground My maple is bare now The time to sleep is near Keep a fire to warm yourself Winter is here. Sound Off Policy Editorials and columns are the opinions of the author. Pieces from 22nd Century Media are the thoughts of the company as a whole. The Orland Park Prairie encourages readers to write letters to Sound Off. All letters must be signed, and names and hometowns will be published. We also ask that writers include their address and phone number for verification, not publication. Letters should be limited to 400 words. The Orland Park Prairie reserves the right to edit letters. Letters become property of The Orland Park Prairie. Letters that are published do not reflect the thoughts and views of The Orland Park Prairie. Letters can be mailed to: The Orland Park Prairie, 11516 West 183rd Street, Unit SW Office Condo #3, Orland Park, Illinois, 60467. Fax letters to (708) 326-9179 or e-mail to bill@opprairie.com.
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