Moraine Valley opens its new baseball field; pair of banks merge
Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month to commemorate the reopening of its renovated baseball field.
The baseball field features new dugouts, backstop and fencing, along with an improved drainage system, which was necessary due to ongoing flooding issues that forced the team to play their home games at a field in Chicago.
Hugh Dennehy, head baseball coach, said, “This field is going to serve a great purpose for our young men moving forward. We’re very excited for the future of Moraine Valley baseball.”
Also in attendance were longtime baseball coach for the college, Al Budding, and Bob Morack, one of his players, who currently serves as Reavis High School’s athletic director. The current Cyclones baseball team also was on hand to dedicate the field.
First Midwest, Old National banks merge
Chicago-based First Midwest Bancorp and Evansville, Indiana-based Old National Bancorp on Monday announced they have agreed to an all-stock merger of equals.
First Midwest operates branches throughout the southern suburbs including locations in Palos Heights, Palos Park, Orland Park, Oak Lawn, Hickory Hills, Evergreen Park, Bridgeview, Lyons, Frankfort, Mokena, Lansing and Homewood.
The new entity will operate under the Old National name and will have $45 billion in combined assets.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, First Midwest stockholders will receive 1.1336 shares of Old National common stock for each share of First Midwest common stock they own.
Following completion of the transaction, former First Midwest stockholders are expected to collectively represent approximately 44% of the combined company.
The new organization will have dual headquarters in Evansville and Chicago. Michael Scudder, chairman and CEO of First Midwest Bancorp, will be the executive chairman and Jim Ryan, chairman and CEO of Old National Bancorp, will maintain his role as CEO.
The transaction is expected to close in late 2021 or early 2022 subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approvals.
Orland Park’s Darvin wins national award
Orland Park-based Darvin Furniture & Mattress is the recipient of the 2021 Retail Giant of Bedding Award from Furniture Today publication.
The award was presented to Darvin president Will Harris and Darvin vice president of merchandising and business development Hanny Diab at the annual bedding conference held via Zoom in May.
According to Sheila Long O’Mara, executive editor of Furniture Today, as they were going through the nominations for 2021 Retail Bedding Giant, the Darvin Furniture & Mattress name kept coming up.
“Furniture Today has been highlighting great bedding retail since 2006 with our Retail Giants of Bedding,” says Long O’Mara. “Darvin Furniture & Mattress has great partnerships with a broad swath of bedding manufacturers, and several of them mentioned Darvin as a leader in the mattress category. Other home furnishings retailers also see the retailer as a significant player.”
Tropical Sno opening in Palos Heights
Sno Daze Tropical Sno, which features Hawaiian shaved ice, has announced it will be opening a second location in mid-June in Palos Heights.
The original location has been open in a few locations in Bridgeview since 2013 and is owned by Danielle and Ed Reinhart.
The new location is scheduled to open at 3 p.m. June 15, at 12230 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights with Mayor Bob Straz on hand to cut the ribbon, as well as special pricing and contests.