Faculty member, student lauded with annual award byMcAuley
As part of its annual Mercy Day celebration, MotherMcAuleyLiberal Arts High School bestows the Catherine McAuley Award on a senior student and a faculty or staff member who demonstrate a deep faith and commitment to the school and the students which inspires their coworkers, students and family members to be better stewards of Catherine’s vision.
This year the recipients of the 2020 Catherine McAuley Award are faculty member Lauren Dowden and senior Colleen Rooney.
Mercy Day commemorates September 24, 1827, the day Catherine McAuley opened the first House of Mercy — a place to shelter and educatewomenand girls— onLower Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland. This year, Mercy Daywas celebrated Sept. 22 and 23. The award presentations were prerecorded and students gathered in groups of 50 in specified locations within the building to watch and celebrate.
The student honoree, Colleen Rooney, of Beverly, has been or is a member of basketball, lacrosse, and cross country teams as well as CatherineMcAuleyHonors Scholars, National Honors Society, National Spanish Honorees Society and National English Honors Society. Colleen is the daughter of the late Jeanne Prendergast Rooney, ’88 — a 2018 McAuley Hall inductee, and granddaughter of Joan Curtin Prendergast, ’64.
Instructional technologist Lauren Dowden, of Evergreen Park, was honored as the faculty/staff awardee. Entering her fifth year at McAuley, Lauren has tremendously impacted McAuley by helping faculty, staff, and the student body enhance their skills and expertise in technology. In her multifaceted role, Lauren trains teachers in various instructional technologies while assisting students with their technological needs. She also teaches a self-created business course, B-Tech, that has quadrupled in popularity since she took it on.
LARC sets Fall Feast fundraiser
LARC, a not-for-profit organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is partnering with longtime supporter Glenwood Oaks Restaurant for its Annual Fall Feast. This year’s event will be carryout only. Dinners will be available from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 15, 16 and 17.
This year’s main courses include half-slab of Glenwood Oaks famous barbecued ribs for $15, a four-piece honey-fried chicken dinner for $15, a combination of fried chicken and ribs for $18, chicken tenders for just $7, plus a newly-added meatloaf entree for $14. Most entrees are served with mashed potatoes, green beans and a dinner roll. Chicken Tenders are served with French fries and a dinner roll.
All proceeds will support more than 100 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in programs that provide job training and employment, daily life skills enrichment, senior programming, 24-hour residential services, and special recreation.
Tickets are available through 4 p.m. Oct. 14 at www.larclansing.com. More information is at 708-474-1540.
Local Sierra Club chapter sets \online meeting
The Sauk-Calumet Group of the Illinois Sierra Club will continue its monthly meetings with its second online Zoom gathering.
The October meeting will feature DorelleAckermann, JanetMusil, and Sharon White, who will discuss a new citizen’s action group with the goal of implementing climate change solutions as inspired by environmentalist Paul Hawken’s book “Drawdown.”
The meeting itself will be held at 7:15 pm onMonday, October 12th on the Zoom platform. All meetings are free and open both to Sierra Club members and to the public. Registration is with Lois Lauer at lois.lauer@illinois.sierraclub.org by Oct. 11.
Sibley Boulevard bridge repairs begin
Repairs to the bridge carrying Sibley Boulevard over the Bishop Ford Freeway in Dolton will require lane closures, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation .
To complete the work, westbound Sibley Boulevard, Illinois 83, is reduced from two to one lane of traffic on the bridge. Motorists can also expect occasional weekend lane closures on the eastbound Bishop Ford at Sibley Boulevard. At the same time, the ramp from westbound Sibley Boulevard to eastbound Bishop Ford will also be closed. A detour will direct Sibley Boulevard traffic to Lincoln Avenue to connect to eastbound Bishop Ford via the Lincoln Avenue ramp.
Theproject, which includes bridge deck and structural steel repairs, is expected to be completed in December
Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area.
12Weeks of Christmas Raffle supports local businesses
A $20 investment could win a prize valued at $1,500 in the 12Weeks of Christmas Raffle being launched by the Beverly Area Planning Association.
Every week for 12 weeks, BAPA will offer a new prize package that’s composed of gift certificates, experiences and/or merchandise purchased at full retail price from small businesses and business owners in Chicago’s Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood. Each package is valued at $1500 and bidding is open for one week for each package. Details and tickets are available at www.bapa.org.
The prize for Week 1 is a private rooftop party for 24 at Open Outcry Brewing Company, 10924 S. Western Ave., Chicago, which features a special menu, beer pairing and live music. The drawing for Week 1 will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 9.
Winners will be chosen at random each week. Ticket purchases close at 5 p.m. Fridays for the first 11 raffles and on Dec. 23 for the final. The final prize in Week 12 is a four-course private dinner prepared by Top Chef Joe Flamm including a tablescape andwait service.
Other raffle packages are built around golf at Beverly Country Club, a culinary class and meal experience at Horse Thief Hollow, Taste of Beverly treasure trove of gift certificates from more than 25 local restaurants, a room makeover led by RMH Interior Design, Vinyl Virtuoso featuring everything for the audiophile from Beverly Records, Bike Beverly including a high end bike and accessories from Beverly Bike and Ski and Family inFocus that offers outfits and a family photo portrait plus framing.
More information is at bapa.org.
Kiwanis of
Frankfort plan OneDay service event
Kiwanismembersserve theircommunities all year long, but the excitement for service really builds in October of each year as Kiwanis members come together for Kiwanis .OneDay.
Theobjective is to unite volunteers to participate on the same day in a hands-onservice project to better our community, and this year it will be Oct. 24. It is also a chance for the Kiwanis Club of Frankfort to come together with localKeyClubstudents from Lincoln-Way East High School andinvite friendsandfamily to join in a day of service.
TheKiwanisClubof Frankfort will observe One Day 2020 by volunteering at Camp Manitoqua and Retreat Center in Frankfort for a cleanup service. Camp Manitoqua each year opens to more than 15,000 people with retreats, outdoor education programs and team building skills.
Kiwanis International estimates our annual Kiwanis One Day event will contribute nearly 1 million service hours to communities around the world. More information on the One Day of service at CampManitoqua or to volunteer to spend a few hours with theKiwanis Club of Frankfort is with Kiwanis Division 23 Lt. Governor SamGiordano at 815-693-2438 or Sammyg5781@gmail.com.