Oak Lawn honor Fire and Public Safety Contest winners

By Joe Boyle

The Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce presented awards to the winners of the 2023 Fire and Public Safety Coloring Book Contest at the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting on April 9.

Fire Bureau Chief David Wheeler and Police Chief Daniel Vittoro were on hand to present the plaques, along with Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer.

The winner of the Fire and Safety Coloring Book Contest was Tristan Guzman, a second-grade student at Columbus Manor School. His artwork will be featured on the cover of the 2024 Fire and Safety Coloring Book.

Placing second in the Fire and Safety Coloring Book Contest was Bella Aguayo, a third-grade student at Covington Elementary School. Placing third was Jonelle Irankunda, a third-grader from St. Linus Catholic School.

The winner of the Public Safety Contest was Jacob Carohedi, a first-grade student at St. Linus. His artwork will be featured on the cover of the 2024 Fire and Safety Coloring book.

Placing second in the Public Safety Contest was Luke Lebarre, a first-grader at St. Linus. Placing third was Stasia Dobill, a second-grade student at St. Linus.

The first place winners also received a family membership to the Oak Lawn Children’s Museum, donated by a chamber member and the Oak Lawn Bank & Trust.

Natasha Miller Williams, the chamber president, also presented the winner with a “candy suitcase” that was donated by Ferrera Candy. Jeff Reynolds, of Nothing Bundt Cakes and a past chamber president, donated treats for the winners.

Williams also mentioned at the meeting that for the past 30 years the Oak Lawn Chamber has collaborated with the Oak Lawn Fire Department to produce the coloring book, a teaching tool for nearly 4,000 kindergarten through fourth-grade students in the community.

Over the past few years, the fire and police departments have worked together on the production of the book. Books are distributed to the students by the Oak Lawn Fire Department during Fire Safety Week in October.

Williams also said that student artists at Oak Lawn Community High School contributed drawings for the coloring book. Art teacher Jen Clark from Oak Lawn High School organized the effort.

The student artists from Oak Lawn High School were honored at the chamber member luncheon in March.

The Oak Lawn High School artists contributing to the coloring book included Christianna Bell, Gianna Delorenzo, Haley Dynia, Daniel Harvey, Victoria Mendoza, Alani Moseley, Lance Pereira, Ashley Tillman, Mona Saleh and Miriam Cote.

The Oak Lawn Chamber donated $200 towards the OLCHS art program.