Mission Meals serves nearly 200 in Mokena
More than 170 meals were served as part of Mission Meals’ December holiday dinner earlier this month at St. John United Church of Christ Community Center in Mokena, according to One Love Global Wellness Foundation founder Tammy Leonard. Mission Meals is under the umbrella of that nonprofit organization.
The event, which featured food catered by EggCetera Cafe, also allowed those who attended to receive winter hats and gloves, clothes, toiletries, toys and candy. Gift cards for Berkot’ Super Foods, Meijer and Walmer also were available.
More than 18 community volunteers, joined by Santa, welcomed guests, served meals and distributed holiday gifts. The organization, founded in 2011, has supported nearly 16,000 individuals and given out more than 150,000 pounds of food. One Love Global Wellness Foundation was established to help address food insecurity in Will County, where about 47,000 people, including about 10% children, struggle to have access to nutritious food, according to a news release.
The next Mission Meals dinner is set for April 2025. Mission Meals, which is funded by donations from the community, can be reached at 708-479-6613.
Class of 1969 alum promises $1 million gift to Marist
Philanthropist and lawyer Robert Clifford announced a donation of $1 million to Marist High School when he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni at the annual Night of Honor, Glory, and Fame earlier this month in front of more than 600 Marist faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends at the Larry Tucker Marist SportsPlex in Palos Heights.
The money will go toward supporting Marist’s ongoing mission and growth through scholarships and financial aid to Marist students. Clifford, a 1969 alum, came from a modest background but eventually had a successful legal career, ending as a founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices.
“The whole notion of coming from Marist and being part of Marist’s community has really inspired me to be someone who’s tried to achieve and do good deeds,” Clifford said that night, according to a news release. “When I was told I was getting this award, they asked me to talk about experiences at Marist that matter to me, and the truth is, it wasn’t experience. It was the people that mattered to me and made a difference in my life.”
“Robert Clifford’s generosity is a testament to the power of the Marist experience,” school President Larry Tucker said in the release. “His time at Marist played a pivotal role in his success and it is heartening to see him give back to the school that helped shape him.”
Ribbon-cutting marks end of Harvey’s 154th Street project
The $4.2 million 154th Street reconstruction project from Wood Street to Broadway in Harvey is complete and it was reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 23.
The project, which was extensive, included installing new curbs and gutters as well as a fully reconstructed roadway that eliminated potholes. Connecting the project to the history of the area was the discovery by construction workers of historic trolley tracks and original brick pavers.
The project’s goals were to upgrade roadway conditions for safer travel, incorporating enhanced safety measures for everyone, reducing street flooding and enhancing drainage, and installing green infrastructure to improve water quality and manage runoff.
It was paid for by the Regional Transportation Authority, The Nature Conservancy, Cook County, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Transportation and its Rebuild Illinois initiative.
Spartans earn third Vocabulary Bowl title
The Spartans of Oak Lawn Community High School have achieved a three-peat in Vocabulary.com’s Vocabulary Bowl, earning first place for the third time.
The team’s first title came in the fall of 2023, followed by a second title in the spring of 2024 and a third title in the fall of 2024. Senior Nathan Radloff led the way, earning second place in the world for word mastery.
Teachers also were part of the competition, with English teacher Bill Gerny named a top rookie teacher with a “student mastery of 14,661 words,” according to a news release. English teacher Amy Perras, who won 23rd place, said in the release. “Winning … is a testament to the power of words – not just as tools of communication, but as sparks of creativity. Vocabulary isn’t confined to the left brain; it’s where logic meets imagination, and where we craft stories, ideas and innovation.”
South Holland man serves aboard USS Frank E. Peterson Jr.
Navy Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Artez Patterson, from South Holland, served on the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. during a replenishment at sea event with the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock.
The Frank E. Peterson Jr., which is assigned to Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group as integrated air and missile defense warfare commander, was conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The fleet routinely interacts and operates with partners and allies in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
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