Thursday, May 17, 2012
A new court designed to specifically serve the needs of military veterans was created Wednesday.
Marco Vizcaino served parts of two years in Iraq. A new court created in Will County can help him avoid doing up to three years in prison on a drug charge. "All the things are coming together here like a perfect storm," State's Attorney James Glasgow said as he submitted a petition to Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes to establish a specialized veterans and servicemembers court in Will County. Policandriotes approved the petition and accepted Vizcaino as its fist applicant. Vizcaino, 31, was up on a class 4 felony drug charge. He also has a case in DuPage County for the alleged "attempt to foil or defeat (a) screen test by spiking or substitution." Glasgow said he would be in touch with the DuPage County state's attorney to see if the …
Try not to hit the school buses.
A Joliet woman ran her car into a school bus in Shorewood and didn't bother to stick around and sort things out, police said. Jeanne Gonzalez, 52, of 216 Morris St. was charged with hit and run and a traffic signal violation in connection with the reported crash in the 100 block of East Jefferson Street. Gonzalez crashed her car into a school bus as children were getting off it shortly after 4 p.m., police said. Gonzalez was released from custody after posting bond.
Joliet Catholic Academy held a ceremony to dedicate a new baseball backstop for Gillespie Field.
It was a beautiful day for a ballgame. And an even better day for a ceremony. Joliet Catholic Academy dedicated its new baseball backstop for Gillespie Field on Wednesday afternoon, including a pair of plaques that were made to commemorate the project’s completion. Coordinated by the Development Office and with the approval of the administration, the extended, state-of-the-art backstop, new grandstand platform and landscaping was a project initiated by the families of the baseball program and achieved through the generosity of the JCA baseball community. Jeffrey Budz, JCA’s Principal and CEO, was joined by Athletic Director Dan Sharp and Hilltopper baseball coach Jared Voss as speakers before the Rev. Jeff Smialek offered a prayer and …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Area 5th grader excels in school, sports, and helping others.
A big sister is someone who watches out for you, teaches you important stuff and always sets a good example. Magnolia “Maggie” Powell of Channahon does just that. The oldest of three siblings, Powell is an honors student at Three Rivers Elementary School, an avid softball player, and a young philanthropist who earlier this year raised over $1,400 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation which benefits kids with cancer. Powell heard about St. Baldrick’s when Officer Michael Lazzari came to her school to promote the annual event. Maggie was inspired by the idea of helping people and donating her hair to someone who had no choice but to lose theirs. Maggie diligently raised funds and then shaved her beautiful locks clean off in support of the …
When do children become too old for breast milk?
A good friend of ours told the story of how she had to wean her then 2-year-old son off their evening nursing routine. She was deeply saddened, but felt it was time. When we first had Liam, I thought that two years old seemed extensive. I never expected to nurse him a full 18 months. (A very healthy child, his first antibiotic wasn't until he was 25 months!) The head-turning Time Magazine cover of a mom nursing her 3-year-old son also has tongues wagging. How old is too old for a child to breast feed? My husband says if the boy can walk, talk, and shave, he's too old. Other friends say they've witnessed drive-by-nursings — when kids run over and pull up their moms' shirts to latch on for a quick drink in between game playing. That's not my…
Joliet Catholic Academy held its annual Spring Concert.
Under the direction of music teacher Joyce Kelstrom, Joliet Catholic Academy recently held its annual Spring Concert in the Student Activity Center. The overall theme was music favorites from Broadway, Disney, pop artists, classical and the movies. Highlighted were performances from five handbell groups — two beginning groups, one intermediate group and one advanced group — and the Handbell Club. “The Handbell Club is composed of seniors who come in during their lunch period and eighth period to ring because they like to,” Kelstrom said. “This is the first year JCA has had a Handbell Club.” One of the musical highlights was the combined Handbell Club playing, Tapestry singing and Kelstrom playing the handbell solo on “My Heart Will Go On” …
If you've got wit, add your caption to Patch's weekly comic challenge and win a personalized print.
Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your southwest suburban neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean! At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch. Congratulations to Terry Flanagan, who provided the winning punchline to last week's Mitt Romney VP comic: Dick Cheney, I didn't expect to see you. You say the …
With continued sightings of the missing pooch, his foster mom is asking anyone who spots him to let her know.
Finn, the 2-year-old Brittany spaniel mix who escaped en route to his forever home in March, continues to get around. The brown and white rescue dog has been seen in neighborhoods throughout Minooka since Sunday, and his fomer foster mom, Susan Hennis, is asking for the community’s continued support him helping to track him. Hennis, coordinator with the National Brittany Rescue and Adoption Network, said the dog has been seen traveling through Romeoville, Shorewood, Joliet, Channahon and Minooka since he escaped March 31. “Most of the sightings have been him doing 'normal' things...walking down the street, trotting through people's yards, and sleeping in gardens (twice),” Hennis said in an email. “We ask that people call or email with …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Johnny Depp delivers a memorable, Van Winkle-esque performance
Has Johnny Depp ever turned in a poor performance? If so, I’ve never seen it. Whether he’s channeling Keith Richards (Pirates of the Caribbean), Hunter S. Thompson (The Rum Diaries), Ed Wood or even Edward Scissorhands, Depp always turns in a wonderful performance, and in Dark Shadows he again demonstrates his remarkable acting prowess. Depp is easily the best actor of his generation, sporting the intelligence and depth of Laurence Olivier, the suave charm of Adolphe Menjou and the humorous potential of Charlie Chaplin. He does whore himself out with the endless Pirates train of sequels, but hey, in some ways, we all have to sell out somehow. Even Orson Welles pimped wine (when it was time). I arrived at the Cinemark Louis Joliet Theater a…
Joliet Catholic Academy's Spanish Exchange Club enjoyed a trip to Vilanova, Spain.
A different language. A different place. A different pace. “People are a little different when they’re at home,” nodded Lauren Finaldi, a Spanish instructor and the moderator of National Spanish Honor Society and Student Exchange. “When you have the opportunity to see your students living and speaking in this type of environment, it gives you more of a full picture.” From April 5 to 18, 14 students from Joliet Catholic Academy’s Spanish Foreign Exchange Club viewed that picture in Vilanova, Spain, a suburb of Barcelona. JCA hosted the same families from Sept. 4 to 15. “That gave us a certain comfort level,” Finaldi said. “Vilanova is a half-hour drive from Barcelona — like Joliet to Chicago, the same kind of distance. The kids were …
Butch
7:54 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
This is great news for people who have problems resulting from there service to our country. more ›