Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg (left) and Martha Sonka. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg (left) and Martha Sonka. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Crazy Bingo in Summit makes for a fun day

By Carol McGowan

Nearly 100 players and vendors got together at Summit Park on April 6 for a few hours of fun with Crazy Bingo.

The event was in partnership with state Senator Steven Landek’s office, and took place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  It was free to play for Summit residents 50 and up.

Martha Sonka, community outreach coordinator for Landek’s office, said the event was a hit and there will be another opportunity for others to take part in the fun.

“It was exciting and successful because of all of the support from Summit residents,” she said. “Many chatkis were given away. We will do it again on May 18 at Summit Park.  Doors will open at 9 a.m., and Crazy Bingo will start at 10 a.m.”

When asked why it’s called Crazy Bingo, Sonka said, “It’s a fun time for all.”

“It’s a great opportunity for our residents to get out and socialize and have fun.  We call it Crazy Bingo because if someone calls bingo and they don’t have it correct, they get up and do a little dance, or do a little crazy dance in their chair.  It makes for a fun time to get people out and involved with others in the community.”

Besides bingo, there were vendors with helpful information for all inside the SPARK building.  Many vendors were there to help senior residents with information they may need for getting help around the house and medical assistance if needed.

The Summit Fire and Police departments were on hand for blood pressure checks, and to answer any questions anyone had.  Those on hand were able to take a COVID test if they wanted.

Pizza was provided by Vito & Nicks II in Hickory Hills.

Sonka thanked everyone for coming out for a good time, and their help in making the event a success.

“I would like to thank my volunteers, Francisca, Diane, Lydia, Lourdes, and of course, my husband Scott.  We have many other to thank, including Lyons Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg, the Summit Police and Fire Department, Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar, and Cecilia Salinas from his office, Summit Trustee Aleco Julius, Summit Park District Commissioners Tony Cervantes and Rudy Santoyo, United Covid Control, and Frito Lay.”

“We had many wonderful vendors, including Aging Care, Cano Health, Zing Health, Chicago Area Project, Summit Public Library, Humana, Sinai Community Institute, Access Community Health Network, AAA Insurance, Baird & Warner Real Estate, NAMI Metro Suburban, Sahara Home Care, Alivio Medical Center, Casa Maravilla, I Cash, Nicor, Caption Call, Oak Street Health, Age Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Autumn Green Living, and S.G.A. Summit.  All of our vendors help make this possible.”

Local News

swnh biz 9-29-24 starbucks grand opening

Starbucks opens on former vacant lot in West Lawn

A new Starbucks opened last week in Chicago’s West Lawn community on a lot that had been vacant for 40 years. Groundbreaking for the newest Starbucks took place in March at 6413 S. Cicero Ave. and was led by Mayor Brandon Johnson and 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn. The lot was a former gas station…

Monica Wiggins (from left), Mary Bowers, Kelli Moore, April Kates-Ellison, and Josette Thompson are members of Nubian 9 who are sponsoring get-out-the-vote efforts in Summit this fall. (Supplied photo)

Women’s social group launches voting initiative in Summit

A group of women from Summit called Nubian 9, better known as N9, are stepping up to ensure their community’s voice is heard at the ballot box. The social group of nine long-time childhood friends from the Summit-Argo community is committed to fostering sisterhood, social impact and sensational living (living life to the fullest). In…

Lyons Township Assessor Patrick Hynes assists taxpayers in Summit. (Supplied photos)

Lyons Township Assessor outreach event in Summit recovers $36,000 for taxpayers

An outreach event sponsored by the Lyons Township Assessor’s office at the Summit Park District recovered more than $36,000 for taxpayers. Nearly 200 Summit residents concerned about the recent jump in Cook County assessments attended the August 29 outreach. Assessor Patrick Hynes gave a brief presentation about the local property tax landscape, the recent reassessment, and tips…

Sophia Aviles, a 16-year-old junior at Lyons Township High School, placed as the second runner-up in the National Miss Illinois Junior Teen Pageant. (Supplied photo)

Lyons High School junior shines in pageantry, animal advocacy

Sophia Aviles, a junior at Lyons Township High School, earned a national honor that propels her closer to realizing her dreams in pageantry, fashion modeling and animal welfare advocacy. The 16-year-old from La Grange Park enjoys photography, reading in the park, and volunteering at a local veterinary clinic. Recently, she placed as the second runner-up…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Countryside Welcomes Revel Supper Club: A Fresh Start for La Grange Venue

The former Tavern On La Grange, a nightspot that shut down earlier this year in Countryside, is being reborn as Revel Supper Club. Renovations are underway throughout the building at 5403 S. La Grange Road, with plans to open the new restaurant and entertainment venue by November. Jeff Eaton, manager of Revel Supper Club and…

The Fire's Hugo Cuypers (right) and Toronto's Deybi Flores follow the ball in a Sept. 28 battle. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro soccer report: Fire eliminated from MLS playoffs again

The Chicago Fire’s chances for the playoffs officially ended at SeatGeek stadium. With a 1-1 tie with Toronto FC on Sept. 28 in front of an announced crowd of 16,097 in Bridgeview, the Fire (7-16-9) have been eliminated from the Major League Soccer postseason picture for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons. “This…

Mother McAuley players and fans rejoice after the Mighty Macs' win Sept. 26 at Marist. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Girls Volleyball | Hot time for Mother McAuley in rivalry win over Marist

Hot gym. Hot rivalry. It was all getting to Mother McAuley hitter Sydney Buchanan a little bit. So, during crunch time, she pounded kill after kill in the second set and the Mighty Macs took a 26-24, 25-23 road victory over Marist on Sept. 26 in a neighborhood rivalry game in a packed gym that…

Stuart Ross, shown in a game last season, threw for three touchdowns on Sept. 28 in a victory over Concordia Ann Arbor. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Area Sports Roundup: St. Xavier football holds off Concordia Ann Arbor

St. Xavier’s football team got pressed a little in the fourth quarter when Concordia Ann Arbor (Mich.) returned a fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown to make it a one-score game. But kicker Peyton Benes relieved the tension with a 23-yard field goal with 2 minutes, 24 seconds to play in what turned out to be…

Brother Rice senior wide receiver Jimmie Maxson, seen here making a catch earlier this season in a game versus Marist, caught 14 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown in a 28-21 loss to Loyola on Sept. 20. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

K.J. Morris kick-starts Brother Rice in romp past St. Patrick

As beginnings go, it’s tough to top the one that K.J. Morris provided his Brother Rice teammates. On the opening kickoff of the Crusaders’ 48-0 CCL/ESCC crossover victory over St. Patrick at Triton College in Week 5, Morris sprinted 95 yards for a touchdown. For an encore, Morris returned a punt 45 yards for a…

Logo-Richards

North Dakota State commit Myles Mitchell, Richards race past Argo

Fans at Friday night’s South Suburban Red matchup between Richards and Argo hoping to see running back Myles Mitchell at his best were not disappointed. Mitchell powered the Bulldogs to an impressive 41-0 victory in Summit, carrying 29 times for 191 yards and five touchdowns. The North Dakota State commit found the end zone on…

Neighbors

Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in case of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan

Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in case of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked in their deliberations over whether former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza bribed longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan via a no-work contract for the speaker’s political ally. After nearly 15 hours of deliberation…

High court: Smell of burnt cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search

High court: Smell of burnt cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Law enforcement officers in Illinois cannot rely on the smell of burnt cannabis alone to justify searching a vehicle without a warrant, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The decision was unanimous, though Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in it. Writing for the court,…

State wraps up case in challenge to assault weapons ban

State wraps up case in challenge to assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A federal judge invoked images from the 1917 race riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Thursday at the end of a trial in a case challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines. Judge Steven McGlynn, who has…

Gun expert says assault weapons ban ‘describes the most popular firearms I’m involved with’

Gun expert says assault weapons ban ‘describes the most popular firearms I’m involved with’

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A firearms expert testified Wednesday that the weapons restricted under Illinois’ assault weapons ban include many of the most common firearms that American consumers use for self-defense. Steven Randall Watt, a combat veteran and retired law enforcement officer who now owns a private firearms…

Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury

Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – On Valentine’s Day in 2017, then-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza got some good news: After years of trying to push for legislation in Springfield that would save the company hundreds of millions of dollars annually, powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan had agreed to a…

State Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett’s effort to overturn conviction

State Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett’s effort to overturn conviction

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in actor Jussie Smollett’s appeal to overturn his conviction on disorderly conduct charges for falsifying a hate crime. Smollett, who was an actor on the TV show “Empire,” was improperly charged with the same crime twice, his legal team…

Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban

Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – An engineer who spent decades designing weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified Tuesday that the assault-style weapons now banned in Illinois are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms. James Ronkainen, a former engineer…

Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties

Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Around 4.6 million records associated with Illinoisans in over a dozen counties – including voting records, registrations and death certificates – were temporarily available on the open internet, according to a security researcher who identified the vulnerability in July. The documents were available through an unsecured cloud storage…

Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – After years of pushing in Springfield, AT&T Illinois’ executive team was thrilled when the Illinois General Assembly in 2017 passed legislation that would get the company out from under expensive obligations to maintain its aging copper landline wires in Illinois. “Game over. We win,” AT&T Illinois…

Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban

Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – The owner of a gun store testified Monday that Illinois’ ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines has had a significant impact on his business and prevented his customers from buying items they would normally use for self-defense, hunting, target…