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14 | January 10, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger life & arts mokenamessenger.com Stark ‘grateful’ for LWC auditorium being named after him Jon DePaolis Freelance Reporter Charles Stark has seen a lot of change over the years at Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Now, Stark — a 46-year employee of the district — will see one more thing change: the naming of the Central fine arts center after him. Implementing the arts Stark, who began his career at Lincoln-Way in 1969, has left an indelible mark on the district. Chief amongst his many accomplishments with the district was when he founded the Madrigals program in December 1970. “I brought it to Lincoln- Way from Illinois State University,” Stark recalled. “I was a Madrigal singer at Illinois State, and I was part of the program there.” Years later, with Madrigals programs at all the Lincoln-Way schools, Stark said he was surprised by the reach of the program. “I would have never imagined it,” he said. “I think this year, Central just completed their 48th year of Madrigal dinners. And now, all three schools have them.” Stark said the Madrigals program was a big highlight for him during his career. He said he’s happy with how engrained in the communities the dinners are, and how well they’ve done over the years. “It’s kind of like Bears tickets,” Stark joked. “You better get them early, or you better know somebody that has a way to get a ticket.” Stark’s career didn’t begin and end with Madrigals, though. He served as choral director at Lincoln-Way from 1969-1991, and then served as a supervisor in charge of attendance from 1991-1997. In 1997, Stark went back into music education as the music department chairman from 1997-2002. After that, he stayed on to work at the auditoriums until 2015. “I had a great run,” he said of his time at Lincoln-Way. Along the way, he racked plenty of great memories, including six European trips the choir went on while he was director. He also saw a number of his students go on to work professionally as musicians at places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York. “None of these were my doing,” he said. “I just happened to be the choral director when those people came through the program.” Recognizing his impact on D210 D210 Board of Education member Joseph Kosteck, a former participant in the Lincoln-Way Madrigals program, said a group of D210 alumni came to him over the past few years to ask what could be done to honor Stark. In their eyes, Stark had done “so much for the district and [was] such an integral part, if not the face, of the music program throughout District 210,” Kosteck said. One of the alumni suggested naming one of the auditoriums after Stark. “It made sense that because most of his tenure was at Central that it would be the place to do it,” Kosteck said. The school board member said this has only been done a few times in Lincoln- Way’s history, but there was previous board policy on record for such matters. The previously established policy stated that for naming a large area of the school, it should be done by board action — as opposed to a smaller area being done by administrative action. Kosteck said the D210 Board of Education reached out to the community to get On top of an accomplished career with Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, Charles Stark also kept himself busy throughout his career by serving as the Lincoln-Way Area Chorale’s director for serveral years before stepping down in 2012. Photos Submitted feedback on if it was an acceptable idea to name the auditorium after Stark. He said the district received around 60 responses, with the overwhelming majority of them being positive. “The thought of the board was that if you were going to do something like this, why not give it to somebody during their lifetime, so they can enjoy it,” he said. Kosteck said that Stark was “a great teacher of life lessons” and who led by example. “Mr. Stark made music and music education at Lincoln-Way — and throughout the community — his life’s work,” Kosteck said. “He is a perfect example of the kind of teacher who showed up every day to make a difference. He demanded your best and always gave his in return. His name is synonymous with excellence in music throughout District 210 to generations of Lincoln- Way families.” In November 2018, the committee that was formed to be in charge of naming the auditorium ultimately voted for Stark. “I’m really honored that the school has decided to name a fine arts center after me,” Stark said. Stark said he was contacted by a school board member, asking if it would be alright for them to do so. He had been hospitalized earlier in the fall. “I said, ‘yes, of course,’ but I felt that I already had a plaque at each auditorium from 2012,” he said. “I told the person who called me that I’ve had my time in the sun. I got four plaques in each of the theaters. I’m not going to say no. But I’m very honored that they’d see fit [to name the Central fine arts center after me], because usually this type of thing doesn’t happen until the person is no longer here.” Looking back on his career at Lincoln-Way, Stark was effusive in his praise for the music department. “It was great department, and it still is a great department,” he said. “They’ve been through a lot the last four years, but I think they are on the right track. The academics didn’t miss a beat, as far as I’m concerned — nor did the extracurricular.” Most of all, he said he’s grateful to have been part of Lincoln-Way. “I’m very grateful to have worked there for as long as I did,” he said. “I’m humbled by the number of outstanding faculty that my kids were fortunate to have. My two children graduated from Lincoln-Way. And I’m grateful for the parents and the students that I was able to have [while teaching at Lincoln-Way] through the years. “It’s a great district, and a great place to teach. I’d recommend it to anybody.” Pictured is the plaque made in 2012 to honor Charles Stark’s involvement with District 210 arts. This plaque is outside each school’s auditorium, including Lincoln-Way North.
® mokenamessenger.com Faith the Mokena Messenger | January 10, 2019 | 15 Faith Briefs St. Mary’s Catholic Church (19515 115th Ave., Mokena) Church Service 5 p.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m, 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays Young at Heart Senior Club 1 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month. Join the senior club for activities and outings Sept.-June. For more information, call (708) 699- 5018. St. John’s United Church of Christ (11100 Second St., Mokena) Traditional Service 8 a.m. traditional mass, 9:45 a.m. contemporary & traditional music in a service of praise and reverence. Supervised childcare available. For more information, call (708) 479- 5123. Bundles of Love 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month. Enjoy fun and fellowship while making baby quilts for infants baptized at St. John’s and lap quilts for shut-ins. Mokena United Methodist Church (10901 LaPorte Road, Mokena) Service and Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Sundays. Church service and children’s Sunday School will be held. For more information, call (708) 479-1110. In Memoriam Peter Lovrich Jr. Peter Lovrich Jr., 76, late of Mokena, died Dec. 26. He was the beloved husband of the late Lynda Lovrich; loving father of Patti Roderick; step-father of Nancy Olson, Michael Olson and Eric Olson; proud grandfather of Jahlieh and Menzie Henderson, Jessica Love, and Keith Olson; caring great-grandfather of Rubie and Rebecca Roderick; Community Prayer Gathering 2:30 p.m. every fourth Sunday. Choir Practice 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Newcomers welcome. Marley Community Church (12625 W. 187th St., Mokena) Church Service 10 a.m. Sundays. Childcare is provided. Sunday School 9-10 a.m. Sundays. Senior High Youth Group 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. For more information, email marleycom munitychurch@gmail. com. Junior High Youth Group 6-7:30 p.m. Fridays. For more information, email marleycommunitychurch@ gmail.com. Men’s Group 6 p.m. Sunday nights in the church basement. All men are welcome. Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (10731 W. La Porte Road, Mokena) Worship 9 a.m. Sundays. God’s Kids Club 10:15 a.m. Sundays in Sept.-May. and dear brother of Paul, Donna, and Sharon. Lovrich was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Athletics. In lieu of flowers, a memorial can be made in Lovrich’s name to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org. Emil Marske Emil Marske, 87, of Mokena, died Dec. 30. Mokena Baptist Church (9960 W. 187th St., Mokena) Sunday Services 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, call (312) 350-2279. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Sundays. Mokena Baptist offers Sunday School classes for all ages. For more information, call (312) 350- 2279. Parker Road Bible Church (18512 Parker Road, Mokena) Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Be sure to arrive early for our Sunday Worship Service to enjoy a hot, complimentary cup of coffee every week at the church. Following the Christian Education Hour (9:15-10:15 a.m.), all beverages can be found just outside the sanctuary. Grace Fellowship Church (11049 LaPorte Road, Mokena) Narcotics Anonymous 7-9 p.m. Mondays. All those struggling or who have struggled with a narcotics addiction are welcome. All meetings are confidential. For more information, call (708) 479-0300. Spanish Mass 12:30 p.m. Sundays. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Marske’s name to Shriner’s Hospital, diabetes research, World Hunger or a charity of your choice. Do you have someone’s life you’d like to honor? Email Editor T.J. Kremer III at tj@ mokenamessenger.com with information about a loved one who was a part of the Mokena community. Worship Service 10 a.m. Sundays. Women’s Bible Study 8:45-9:45 a.m. Sundays and 2-3 p.m. Tuesdays. Victory Baptist Church (13550 US Route 6, Mokena) Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sundays. Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Sundays. Evening Worship 6 p.m. Sundays. Weekday Worship 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Please call 708.326.9170 to reserve your Ad. www.22ndcenturymedia.com Have something for Faith Briefs? Contact Assistant Editor Megan Schuller at m.schuller@22ndcm.com or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 34. Deadline is noon Thursday one week prior to publication. NEW YEAR. NEW SUCCESS. ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN The Mokena Messenger LORA HEALY 708.326.9170 ext. 31 l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com CONTACT Cutting Values A 22 ND CENTURY MEDIA PUBLICATION Reach more than 89,000 homes and businesses in our coupon section ! All ads will also appear digitally on each publication’s website. Appearing February 28 Reserve your Ad by Jan. 31 • Approve your Ad by Feb. 7
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