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12 | November 27, 2019 | the orland Park Prairie news OPPrairiedaily.com FROM THE LOCKPORT LEGEND Oak Prairie Junior High students perform their rendition of beloved story It was a sweet world made from pure imagination. Students from Oak Prairie Junior High performed their rendition of “Willy Wonka Jr.” on Nov. 15 and 16 at Ludwig School. The cast featured nearly 30 students, many of whom played multiple parts. Students grades 6-8 displayed their talents in their theatrical rendition of the classic Roald Dahl novel, though many moments in the play paid homage to the iconic Gene Wilder film. Co-directed by Nicole Tolentino and Anissa Danley, the play performed in front of a sold-out crowd on opening night. “We’re the ones with the biggest gym and a stage,” said Lisa Lyke, principal of Ludwig School, in reference to the performance venue. “We had the opportunity yesterday for them to perform the first act for [Ludwig] students, and they did a really great job.” The audience reception amplified Lyke’s praise. Every act was met with a round of applause — a confirmation of the hard work the performers have put in throughout the year. “The crowd exceeded our expectations; we actually ran out of tickets,” Danley said. “It was opening night, so there’s always room for improvement, but I’m happy with the performance tonight.” Reporting by Derek Swanson, Editorial Intern. For more, visit LockportLegendDaily. com. FROM THE MOKENA MESSENGER D159 superintendent to retire June 30 Mokena School District 159 Superintendent Don White announced in a letter to the district’s School Board members his intention to retire effective June 30, 2020. The letter appears in the board packet for the district’s Nov. 20 regular meeting. “It is with very mixed emotions that I am writing to notify you that I plan to retire at the end of this school year,” White wrote. “This will be effective at the end of the work day on June 30, 2020. It has been my true honor to serve as a public school district superintendent for [19] years and as an educator for [33] years; with the last two years being a joyous capstone. In fact, these two years have reinforced my belief that a group of dedicated people working as a team can accomplish great things in service to children and the community.” White was elected by the board on Dec. 20, 2017, to replace then-outgoing Superintendent Omar Castillo. White had one year remaining on that contract. White has spent the past 33 years in education, 17 of which were spent as superintendent at D181, and the last two as superintendent of D159. A special board meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at which board members began the process of finding a replacement for White with a superintendent search firm. Reporting by T.J. Kremer III, Editor. For more, visit Moke naMessengerDaily.com. FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION Dozens of teachers turn out to D228 meeting as potential strike looms Dozens of teachers turned out at the Bremen High School District 228 School Board meeting Nov. 19 as the threat of a strike draws nearer. The D228 Joint Faculty Association has been asking for more pay, no cuts in classes offered and smaller classes, but so far — after 11 months of negotiation — district officials have balked at the demands. As previously reported by The Junction, the union members have been working without a contract since July 31 and negotiating with the BOE since December 2018. On Oct. 3, the D228-JFA voted “overwhelmingly” to authorize a strike. The union submitted its final contractual offer to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board for public posting, prompting what could lead to a strike, according to the release. Amanda Godin, one of the teachers in attendance at the board meeting, spoke for the assembled, and said teachers should feel appreciated by the district. “The educators in this district are a group of hard working, devoted men and women who deserve a contract that shows every member of the 228 community that they are appreciated by you, the board of education,” Godin said. Reporting by Jesse Wright, Freelance Reporter. For more, visit TinleyJunction Daily.com. FROM THE HOMER HORIZON Ten Lockport Township athletes honored at fall signing day Success in female athletics always has been a big part of Lockport Township High School. That showed when the school held its fall signing day earlier this month. All 10 of the Porters who announced they were taking the step to sign at the next level were from girls teams. In fact, five of them were from the softball team, which has had a lot of success over the years with a pair of state championships. With the players who signed their letters of intent last week on the team this past season, the Porters produced 29 wins and another regional championship team. “Our program is proud of these young ladies, their hard work and commitment to the game, in and out of the season,” Porters softball coach Marissa Chovanec said. A trio of volleyball players who helped the Porters produce back-to-back regional titles for the first time in 13 years also signed on the dotted line. They are Taylor Morgan (Southern Illinois University), Becca Oldendorf (University of Illinois at Chicago) and Morgan Schmutzler (Franklin Pierce University). Expecting to help the Lockport basketball team to great heights this season is 6-foot-4 Jenna Cotter. She will continue he playing career at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis. Lindsey Merk, who has been a longtime standout on the girls swimming team, should have a bright future ahead of her swimming at Georgia Tech. Reporting by Randy Whalen, Freelance Reporter. For more, visit HomerHorizon Daily.com. FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT Realtor’s Good Neighbor Award grant doubled Dale Taylor nearly fell to the floor when it was announced that he, along with the other Good Neighbor Award recipients, would have their $10,000 grants doubled. The surprise came at the annual convention for the National Association of Realtors Nov. 8-11 in San Francisco. It was done to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Good Neighbor Award. Taylor was given the award for his work with the South Suburban Public Action to Deliver Shelter — a nonprofit organization that assists with homeless people in the Chicago southland region. Taylor works every Monday night at his shelter in Homewood that helps homeless men. “On stage, there was a prompter that I could see, and there was an audience of about 6,000 colleagues,” Taylor said. “I saw the ‘20,000’ come up on the prompter just before they announced it. When I saw it on the prompter, I just bent over, and Bruce Johnson [another award recipient] was standing next to me, and I just grabbed him and hugged him. I was in such shock. It was a natural reaction of surprise.” Before the convention, Taylor had not had a chance to meet any of the other winners but was floored as he read about the work they do in their respective communities, he said. Nov. 9 was the day he met the other winners, along with NBA Hall-of- Famer Magic Johnson, who also assists people in need. “To be present with those caliber of people, it was so fulfilling for me,” Taylor said. Reporting by Sean Hastings, Editor. For more, visit New LenoxPatriotDaily.com. FROM THE FRANKFORT STATION Frankfort Arts Association opens downtown gallery Margi Hafer has lived in Frankfort for 43 years and has created art for as long as she remembers. She has multiple fine arts degrees, has taught students at all levels and even tried her hand at running a gallery in Frankfort. But she has never seen an effort in her hometown quite like the Frankfort Arts Association, a burgeoning organization that formally opened its new art gallery Nov. 17 in downtown Frankfort. The space — which will host exhibits, classes and lectures — represents a big milestone for the group and Frankfort’s artistic scene, those involved said. “The FAA is the kind of organization I’ve been hoping for since I first moved here,” said Hafer, a group member. “They’ve done amazing things in their first years, and having a space to call home should really help them grow their presence in our community.” The association, now with 75 members, started roughly two years ago and became a nonprofit in 2018, Board Member Katie Stempniak said. A number of local artists and art supporters got together after realizing they “really didn’t have a lot of opportunities for artists in our southwest area,” she added. The group drew inspiration from galleries and studios in Tinley Park, Chicago Heights and Park Forest. “We took a little bit of all those, and made it our own,” Stempniak said. Reporting by Will O’Brien, Freelance Reporter. For more, visit FrankfortStation Daily.com.
OPPrairiedaily.com sound off the orland park prairie | November 27, 2019 | 13 Social snapshot Top Web Stories From opprairie.com as of Friday, Nov. 22 1. Homer Glen: Shorewood Home & Auto has groundbreaking for future 159th Street facility 2. Hope Covenant pastor takes case for shelter to Orland Park Village Board 3. Police looking for three people who committed two armed robberies 4. Home of the Week: 68 Silo Ridge Road East 5. Church continues with shelter in face of violations cited, court proceedings Become a Prairie Plus member: opprairie.com/plus Orland Park Public Library on Friday, Nov. 22, asked, “What is the title of one book that you would read again that you read in school?” Like The Orland Park Prairie: facebook.com/opprairie “Thank you @StaggHighSchool #KeyClub students for #volunteering at our #ThriftStore helping to support the free programs offered to local teens. #TeenService #SupportsTeens #TheBridge #Thankyou” @TheBridgeTC — Bridge Teen Center on Friday, Nov. 22 Like The Orland Park Prairie: facebook.com/opprairie Poetry in OP ‘Puppy Love’ Lin Peterson Orland Park resident My puppy, it seems, Has us very welltrained She insists on walks Except when it rains She’ll never eat dogfood If chicken is around. And never eat chicken If treats can be found. Couches she’ll abide If laps can’t be slept in. And sometimes her own bed, That her toys are kept in. She has her routines Which she absolutely insists on Eat, sleep; eat, sleep Then a walk by the pond Rides in the car And visiting friends Then back home to nap As the day ends One last trip outside And wash up her feet Then curl up in our bed The sandman to meet As long as we do Whatever she’s bidding We’re allowed to live here And pay for her living. From the Editor Great + Attitude = BILL JONES bill@opprairie.com You can’t have gratitude without attitude. OK, that might initially sound clever verbally but the notion falls apart in print when you realize, “Hey, ‘attitude’ has too many Ts to fit inside of ‘gratitude.’” You are correct. It is also just a bogus philosophy. A show of appreciation tends to ring truer when one humbles oneself a bit and expresses what difference those things that warranted the thanks made, on a personal level. I bring up this bad example, though, to show how things differ depending on how you say something — in this case, writing versus speech. Many of us are about to be sitting around a table with family somewhere, and some might be prompted to share what they’re thankful for. Many a teen will mumble. Some will default to the meal before them as a stock answer. An aunt will likely remind everyone that being together is what’s most important. Thursday, your Facebook feeds will be inundated with lengthy posts Gratitude reflecting on similar things. Your Twitter feeds beset by debates over the merit of the holiday. Many will just be gearing up for the shopping extravaganza that follows. That it is all so predictable is part of the problem when it comes to this day of giving thanks. And it got me thinking again about Bill Nicholson, who I interviewed a few weeks back for our cover story about his World War II history. It was mentioned to me that Nicholson had shown some appreciation recently by writing thank you notes, and no one does that anymore. That small show of effort left a real impression on someone. At some point, thank you notes might have been commonplace. But today, we’re content to simply like a comment, send a “TY” or “thnx” by email, or offer a verbal “thanks” without even thinking about it. Don’t get me wrong — any show of thanks feels better than nothing. And I’m not advocating for every “thank you” to be submitted in writing. But there is something about a personal touch to a thank you — something that shows a bit of effort — that makes that gratitude stand out in a sea of autoresponses. That means taking the time to craft a handwritten note, actually telling your family what they mean to you rather than simply acknowledging that you are sitting at a table with them, or reminding that retail worker that you come to that shop because of her great recommendations, because she always remembers your name and she takes care to get your orders right — and you appreciate her for that. And when you inevitably take your thanks to social media, maybe reach out to the people who are important to you rather than simply directing all attention to the wall of you, the thankful. Think not about how you’re a thankful person but rather what you want your gratitude to make someone else fee. Then, take the effort to make it so. K? thx 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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