Police officer lauded for saving child’s life in swimming pool
The Johnson-Phelps VFW & Auxiliary Post 5220 in Oak Lawn recently presented their Police Officer of the Year award to Oak Lawn police Officer John Vasquez along with the VFW’s Life Saving Award.
The award stems from an incident when while off duty and attending a swimming party, Vasquez heard a group of children start to scream after a 4-yearold boy sank to the bottom of the pool. Vasquez and another partygoer administered CPR with chest compressions and breath support and the child began breathing again.
Emergency responders from the Oak Lawn Fire Department said Vasquez’s actions likely saved the boy’s life.
Four high schools collect for McDonald House
Students from District 228 high schools held a toiletry collection drive in November for Ronald McDonald House in Oak Lawn, amassing a total of 450 toiletry care packages.
The items collected will benefit families who are staying at the facility while their family members are being treated at Advocate Children’s Hospital.
Oak Forest High School assistant principal Mike Boniface started the drive as a way for the district’s schools to come together while giving back to the community, according to district spokesperson Jamie Bonnema.
DAR honors Sleep in Heavenly Peace
The Swallow Cliff Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, presented a DAR Community Service Award Dec. 4 to the Oak Forest of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The group is made up of volunteers who build beds for those children who don’t have one because of disasters such as fires and floods or struggles with domestic violence, finances, or relocation.
At a build in October, the crew of 50 volunteers built 12 twin beds and delivered three the next morning. Each bed delivered comes with a new pillow, sheet set and comforter. Chapter president Dave King and volunteer Dale Schmitz were on hand to accept the award.
The DAR Community Service Award is presented to individuals or groups to recognize achievements in cultural, educational, humanitarian, patriotic, historical, citizenship, or environmental conservation endeavors.
‘Afro-Optimism’ author to talk at Evergreen Park library
Evergreen Park Public Library welcomes author Ayana Contreras to talk about her new book, “Energy Never Dies: Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago” at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16. The book shares the implausible success stories and breathtaking achievements of Black Chicago’s artists and entrepreneurs.
“So many of the stories of Energy Never Dies are about how generations (and even cultural artifacts) in Black Chicago are in conversation with one another. And this flow of energy plays an absolutely crucial role in maintaining our connection to a beautiful narrative that we can be proud of,” Contreras said of her book, which was published this month and will be available at the event.
Contreras is a radio host/ producer at Chicago Public Media, a founder/ blogger at darkjive.com, and a columnist and reviewer at DownBeat Magazine.
The program will be in the library, 9400 S. Troy Ave., and simulcast on Zoom. Registration is at evergreenparklibrary.org or 708-422-8522.
‘Elephant Kate’ brings Tinley students virtually to Africa
Honors Biology students at Tinley Park High School recently heard from award-winning behavioral ecologist and conservation biologist Kate Evans also known as Elephant Kate.
During the presentation, Evans discussed her background as well as the objectives, challenges, and progress made by the elephant conservation program Elephants for Africa which she founded and directs.