Lion Ray Jackim (at podium) and Pastor Clark of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeview welcome guests. (Photos by Carol McGowan)

Lion Ray Jackim (at podium) and Pastor Clark of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeview welcome guests. (Photos by Carol McGowan)

Local teachers honored by Lions Clubs

Spread the love
Beene Edwards Toulios

Argo Summit Lions Club President Tula Beene (from left), Alexa Edwards, and Argo Supt. Dr. William Toulios.

By Carol McGowan 

The Lions clubs of Argo-Summit, Bridgeview, and Justice recently honored two teachers at their Appreciation Awards ceremony at the Bridgeview Community Center.

The event was presented by the Lions Clubs, and Indian Springs School District 109, and, sponsored by the Village of Bridgeview.

The welcome was given by Bridgeview resident, Lion Raymond Jachim Sr., who has been a charter member of the Bridgeview Lions Club since 1975, along with being a Past District Governor for Cook County Lions Clubs.  Jachim has emceed the event for 16 years.

The invocation was by Pastor Clark of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeview.

All that attended were treated to a luncheon of sandwiches, salads, and cake before the award ceremony.

Two Educator of the Year Awards were given out.  One was to Argo Community High School teacher Alexa Edwards, and the other, to Indian Springs School District teacher Mary Lou Wyderski.

Alexa Edwards came to Argo Community High School seven years ago from Kankakee High School, and she’s a mentor and instructor in the art department. She is an Assistant Division Chair of the Career Technology and Fine Art Division.

Her efforts into district projects such as the Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Memorial Plaza and Senior Class Mosaic Memory Wall, are endless.

The school says Alexa ‘Embraces the traditions and core values of our community as if she lived here for years.  She is a great educator in our community and makes every day count for our Argonaut community.”

Mary Lou Wyderski is a physical education teacher at Brodnicki Elementary School in the Indian Springs School District. She was hired in August of the 2005-2006 school year, where she was assigned to Brodnicki and Player School before being place into her current position at the beginning of the 2016-2017 academic year solely at Brodnicki.

Wyderski has a love for life-long learning, teaching and leading.

The school says, “Ms. Wyderski’s dedication to Brodnicki Elementary School, School District 109, and most importantly, to the children of the communities served, grows stronger with every passing school day and school year. She is an outstanding teacher and an equally outstanding person outside of the classroom.  She represents all of School District 109 impeccably.”

Along with Jachim, Lion Tula Beene from the Argo-Summit Lions Club was on hand to present the award to Alexa Edwards, along with Argo High School Supt. Dr. William Toulios.

Indian Springs School District Supt. Dr. Blair Nuccio presented the award to Mary Lou Wyderski.

The Wilkins Jr. High Band & Orchestra provided music for the event.

Jackim Wyderski Nuccio

Lion Ray Jachim (from left), Mary Lou Wyderski, Indian Springs School Supt. Dr. Blair Nuccio.

Local News

Chicago Christian’s Holland Winthrop eyes a high fastball during an at-bat last week. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Softball | Jocelyn Hovanec scores two runs, Ks 12 in Chicago Christian win

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Chicago Christian  is working to find its footing in the inaugural season of the Chicagoland Christian Conference. The Knights entered this week 6-8 overall and 4-6 in the CCC, putting them in fifth place with just two conference games to play among their final seven regular-season contests. The Knights…

Chicago Christian players celebrate after a point during a match agsint St. Edward. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys Volleyball | Chicago Christian finishes April strong, takes second at Ridgewood Invitational

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent A busy and largely successful final seven days of April saw Chicago Christian briefly climb back to the .500 mark after a tough first month of the season. The Knights (11-12, 4-4 Chicagoland Christian Conference) have won seven of their past 10 matches, all of which were played over…

Marist middle hitter Jack Meador attacks against Glenbard West  in the championship match at the Lincoln-Way East Invitational on April 27 in Frankfort. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Boys Volleyball | Marist hands Glenbard West first loss of season

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Marist was scary good in the first set. The RedHawks won it 25-12. Even by Marist standards, that’s pretty impressive. Complete dominance. What’s even more stunning is that it came against the second-ranked team in the nation. The RedHawks, who came into the match ranked sixth in the country…

Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson (left) looks for a pass from Penelope Hocking on April 27. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Sophia Smith’s brace sinks Red Stars

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Home has not been that sweet lately for the Chicago Red Stars. The team lost its second straight game at SeatGeek Stadium with a 2-0 setback to Portland in front of an announced crowd of 4,443 on April 27. Portland star Sophia Smith scored in the 10th and 26th…

Nazareth Academy Principal Therese Hawkins and football offensive coordinator Casey Moran pay close attention to the drafting of J.J. McCarthy at The Stadium Club. (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Nazareth Academy celebrates ‘special talent’ J.J. McCarthy in NFL Draft

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Dennis Moran has no doubts that J.J. McCarthy – the former Nazareth Academy quarterback who is now with the Minnesota Vikings – will succeed in the National Football League. Moran was among about 60 or so Nazareth Academy fans, friends and coaches who gathered Thursday night at The Stadium Club…

Al Perez

Brother Rice names Al Perez next soccer coach

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent A few new coaches are dotting the area high school athletic scene. One of the more notable hires was Brother Rice bringing Al Perez aboard as the soccer coach. Perez led Chicago Public League power Washington to a Class 2A state championship in 2013, a fourth-place finish in 2015…

The “no dogs allowed” signs will soon be removed from two parks in Countryside. Dogs must be on leashes and owners must clean up after their pets. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

Countryside puts dog park on hold, will require leashes in two parks

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The city of Countryside has put on hold building a dog park, but canines and their owners are still in store for a treat. The city council has unanimously approved a plan to permit dogs in City Park and Countryside Park this year. Previously, they were not allowed in the…

bridgeview logo

Bridgeview approves auto repair shop

Spread the love

Spread the loveMoves up time for May 1 village board meeting By Steve Metsch Bridgeview is getting a new automotive repair shop. The village board at its April 17 matinee meeting approved a special use permit that will allow a repair shop at 9010 S. Beloit Ave. There was no discussion among trustees. The board…

Summit Fire Chief Anthony Anderson was the first to donate blood at the fire department's blood drive. (Photos by Carol McGowan)

Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the…

Village, park, library, and school leaders speak at the business breakfast. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Hodgkins toasts village businesses

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Hodgkins Mayor Ernest Millsap and the Board of Trustees celebrated the village’s businesses at its annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on April 10. Over 100 people gathered at the Hodgkins Administration Center for a hearty breakfast hosted by the village. Representatives from many businesses that are located in or that work…

Neighbors

Capitol Briefs: Measure targets ‘legacy’ admission at public universities

Capitol Briefs: Measure targets ‘legacy’ admission at public universities

By DILPREET RAJU, COLE LONGCOR & ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois lawmakers missed a self-imposed Friday deadline for passing a budget, but they had approved more than 250 bills this week as of Friday afternoon. Amid the flurry of legislation was a measure prohibiting state universities from admitting students based on familial and…

Illinois could be 19th state to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers

Illinois could be 19th state to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers

By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com After years of negotiations and continued opposition from service providers, Illinois appears poised to prohibit employers from using a federal exemption that allows them to pay individuals with disabilities less than the minimum wage. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established minimum wage law, but created…

Capitol Briefs: Measure blocks interstate probes of abortion services

Capitol Briefs: Measure blocks interstate probes of abortion services

By PETER HANCOCK & COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Authorities in Illinois would not be allowed to aid another state’s investigation of people coming to Illinois to seek abortions or other reproductive health care under a bill that cleared the General Assembly Thursday. House Bill 5239, which needs only a signature from…

Advocates underscore need for statewide reentry programs

Advocates underscore need for statewide reentry programs

By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois legislators this week approved a bill to restructure an oversight board in charge of distributing state money to courts that provide prison alternatives, while other criminal justice measures introduced throughout the session remain stalled. House Bill 4409 would change the makeup of the Adult Redeploy Illinois Oversight…

Ban on wildlife killing contests ‘unlikely’ to clear state Senate this session

Ban on wildlife killing contests ‘unlikely’ to clear state Senate this session

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com A measure that would prohibit contests that award cash or prizes for killing certain wildlife is unlikely to clear the Senate after narrowly passing the House last week, according to its Senate sponsor.  House Bill 2900 would ban the practice of holding wildlife contests that reward participants with…

A security camera caught an employee beating a patient. It took 11 days for anyone to take action.

A security camera caught an employee beating a patient. It took 11 days for anyone to take action.

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois.  Cameras in the common areas of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center were supposed to make the troubled southern Illinois facility safer for the approximately 200 people with developmental disabilities who live there.  But…

Potawatomi land transfer advances in Illinois House

Potawatomi land transfer advances in Illinois House

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would help the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation expand their newly established reservation in DeKalb County advanced out of a state House committee Tuesday, despite concerns about the tribe’s long-term plans for the property. House Bill 4718 would authorize the state to hand over…

Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort

Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Seven months after Democratic Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch advanced a measure that would allow legislative staff to unionize, members of his own staff on Tuesday blasted the speaker for allowing the bill to languish. The legislation has not seen any action since its passage…

As legislative session adjournment looms, a rush to regulate carbon capture industry

As legislative session adjournment looms, a rush to regulate carbon capture industry

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A technology that some say is a key tool to address climate change and others say is a cash grab for heavy industry could face new regulations – if lawmakers can find the time before their scheduled adjournment this week. Carbon capture and sequestration technology is…

Nursing home industry unlikely to see much help from Springfield in tough budget year

Nursing home industry unlikely to see much help from Springfield in tough budget year

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com It’s been four years since some of the worst scenes of COVID-19 played out in locked-down nursing homes during the early months of the pandemic.  But while most of the world has moved on, the nursing home industry is still reeling from COVID, which exacerbated pre-existing challenges in…