NL_041819

18 | April 18, 2019 | the new lenox patriot life & arts
newlenoxpatriot.com
Women learn tips and tricks for self-defense
MARY COMPTON
Freelance Reporter
Women taking the Self-
Defense, Distraction and
Awareness Tactics class,
April 9, had one word
in mind for themselves:
safety.
The class taught by
One Light Self-Defense
and hosted by 37th District
State Rep. Margo
McDermed, , was held at
Parker Road Bible Church
in Mokena.
“We do these free community
events about four
times a year,” said Amy
Shanks, communications
analyst. “This is less
about politics and more
about providing services.
This is something that
when you really need it,
you want to have that
knowledge. This is to prepare
for something ahead
of time. We heard about
this group, One Light
Self-Defense who gives
these free classes. We
thought we’d bring them
in because they put on a
great class. Last year we
had someone come back
and tell us they had used
what they had learned.”
Shanks has taken this
class.
“There are common
misconceptions about
defense,” Shanks said.
“Such as when women
walking with their keys
between their fingers,
that’s actually not a great
way to keep safe because
the keys bend over. Tonight
(April 9), these
women will learn how
to get out of holds when
someone grabs your arm
or your neck. They don’t
teach fighting back. It’s
about how to get away
from your attacker.”
Debbie Karlson of Mokena
said learning techniques
is very important
to her.
“I’m so glad I came,
I’ve learned a lot, especially
awareness,” Karlson
said. “I’m a woman
and have a daughter, safety
is very important. I’ve
learned how to be more
aware in parking lots,
sometimes it could be
more than one perpetrator.
I would encourage women
to take this class... it will
be very helpful.”
Staying safe is important
for Leslie Labit from
Mokena. She and her
adult daughter Amy Griffin,
of Frankfort, took the
class together.
“It’s important to me
because I wanted to learn
how to defend myself and
for my daughter to learn
that as well,” Labit said.
“I feel the world is not
a safe place anymore. I
work at a hospital and
there has been incidents
in parking lots. Watching
what is going on in some
malls, I don’t feel safe.
I would like to take this
class again to learn what
to do in different situations.”
Gary and Jeanette
Brook, two of the cofounders
of One Light
Self-Defense and Orland
Park residents, show
skills on how to act in various
situations. They have
been married 33 years and
they have dedicated their
lives to serving others.
Both have been practicing
martial arts for more than
23 years.
“We were asked in 2009
to go to the slums in Nairobi,
Kenya to teach selfdefense
skills to over 300
high school girls,” Jeanette
said. “These girls were being
attacked in their hometowns.
When we came
back, we knew a lot of
problems were happening
in the United States. This
is a global issue.”
Gary agreed with his
wife.
“We have 10 people on
our team that volunteers
to do this,” Gary said. “We
help teach people on how
to stay safe. There is no
such thing as being safe,
the world is not safe.”
“Anyone can be a victim
at any time,” Jeanette
said. “We can make our
best efforts to watch for
safety, you need to be prepared
at all times.”
The Brook couple
teaches skills in high
schools in a P.E.-styled
curriculum.
Gary Brook from Orland Park, part of One Light Self-
Defense team, teaches a skill to Christine Hunt from
New Lenox. Margo McDermed, State Rep. for the 37th
District, hosted the Self Defense, Distraction and
Awareness Tactics class held at Parker Road Bible
Church in Mokena. Another free class will be held on
July 18th from 6-9PM. Mary Compton/22ND Century Media
“When we shine with
you, we become a bright
light,” Jeanette told the
women at the Parker Road
Bible Church. “There is
darkness in this world.
We’re counting on you
to do something. These
workshops are free. It’s
important to us for you to
learn and we want to pass
it on to somebody else.
You can make a difference
in this world by helping to
protect someone else in
what you learned tonight.
Make a positive difference
in this world.”
For more information
vist onelightselfdefense.
com
Another free class will
be held on July 18th from
6-9 p.m, call (815) 277-
2079 to reserve your spot
and find out the location.
Theatre
From Page 17
Cathleen Drakulich as Florence.
The two Park Forest women have
both been in theater for over 25
years, and have worked with director
MJ Renzi in the past.
For the two leads, getting into
character wasn’t a challenge,
with both relating to their character
personally.
“No one in my family was
surprised when I was cast in this
role,” Drakulich laughed. “I may
not be as much of a neat freak
as Florence, but there are times
when I can get compare.”
Brunette says that she relates
to Olive through her relationship
with her own sister.
“I hope I’m not as messy as
Olive, but my sister would definitely
be a Florence,” Brunette
joked.
As opening night approaches,
both cast and crew are met with
nerves and butterflies, but with
each rehearsal that passes, everyone
gets more excited as well.
“When it comes to opening
night, I’m just looking forward
to having fun,” Renzi said. “At
that point, it’s out of my hands.
I have an incredibly experienced
cast, and they’re all very talented,
so I’m excited.”
For those interested in seeing
LWTG’s production of “The
Odd Couple,” tickets can be purchased
in person at Trail’s Edge
Brewery at 20 Kansas St. in
Frankfort. Call (815) 671-1616
for any questions.
faith
From Page 16
always welcome. You do not
have to be a part of the church.
This group usually meets on
the first and third Sundays
of the month. For questions,
please see Pastor Dave or call
(815) 529-7546.
Ruth Circle Quilters
9 a.m. Mondays. No experience
necessary. You just have to know
how to have fun to join. And if
that’s not enticing enough, we
always have snacks! For more information,
call (815) 462-9527 or
(708) 479-7338.
Prayer Group
11:45 a.m. Wednesdays. Denise
Jones hosts a monthly gathering
for prayer. The prayers
include our church, our young
people, those on the prayer list
from the bulletin, and any other
concerns or celebrations. The
group will meet on the third
Wednesday of each month at
11:45 a.m. Please call (815) 838-
0388 or the church office (815)
485-5327 if you will be attending.
A Man in Recovery
7-8:30 p.m. Every Tuesday.
This recovery group is for those
who are struggling with addiction
or those who love someone
struggling. For more information,
call Tom at (815) 354-3195.
Bible Study
10 a.m. Every Wednesday.
For more information, call (815)
485-5327.
The Journey Church (14414 W. Ford Drive, New
Lenox)
Worship Service
10 a.m. Sundays.
Reverberate Youth Group
1-3 p.m. Every first Sunday of
the month. The group meets to
discuss a message geared toward
junior and senior high school
students. For more information,
email youth@ourjourney.cc.
Have something for Faith Briefs?
Contact Editor Sean Hastings
at sean@newlenoxpatriot.com
or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 48.
Information is due by noon on
Thursdays one week prior to
publication.