Della Benveniste
Friends stage fundraiser for Garfield Ridge mom
Fighting lung cancer, medical bills
By Tim Hadac
A Garfield Ridge mom fighting lung cancer and a growing pile of medical bills is getting a boost from her friends, but more are needed to support a fundraiser coming this month.
Della Benveniste, already living with rheumatoid arthritis, learned she has small-cell carcinoma in January. Since then, she has undergone a rigorous and exhausting regimen of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
“It’s not unusual for me to sleep 12 or 14 hours a night,” she said. “I’m just that tired.”
The fundraiser is set for 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 12 at Fat Daddy’z, 5437 S. Center, Summit.
Admission is $25 at the door. There will be food (including pizza from Obbie’s), a cash bar, live music performed by several bands, and raffles for prizes such as a 50-inch television, a liquor bucket worth $150 and more.
Businesses helping sponsor the event are Geno Randazzo/All Exterior Contractors, Mike Riordan State Farm Agency, Obbie’s Pizza and Archer Liquors, among others.
For details on the event, call Nicole Rehak at (773) 330-1545 or Michelle Cyrus at (773) 240-7501.
Benveniste grew up in Garfield Ridge, graduating from St. Jane de Chantal School in 1980 and Kennedy High School in 1984. She and her husband, Sam, have raised their son, Vincenzo, in the neighborhood.
“Della is one of the most giving people I’ve ever met,” said Michelle Cyrus, her longtime friend and godmother to her son. “I’ve lost count of how many times over the years I’ve seen her generosity towards me and towards others. I think now it’s time for people to give to her, in her time of need.”
Local News
Young Roadrunners win first baseball title to cap a huge sports season at Naz
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Nazareth’s athletic class of 2024 could go down as the best in school history. The Roadrunners’ girls volleyball team finished first in the state in the fall. Two sophomores were among the eight players who were on the court during the Class 3A state championship game. The girls…
He’s a baseball player at heart
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com John Cruz-Barcenas is on his way to a career in mechanical engineering, but he’s a baseball player at heart. The photo his mom shared with me tells the tale. John recently graduated from the prestigious Milwaukee School of Engineering. But…
St. Dan’s carnival coming
Spread the love The simple childhood joys of a neighborhood carnival are just a week away at St. Daniel the Prophet Church, 54th and Natoma. The fun starts Thursday, June 16 and runs through Sunday, June 19. St. Dan’s Summerfest will feature carnival rides, games of skill and chance, food and beverages, raffles and live…
Knights of Columbus officers ready to serve
Spread the love Elected last month as officers of the Two Holy Martyrs Parish Knights of Columbus council are Darrin Bourette Deputy Grand Knight; Mike West, Treasurer; Jerry Hughes, Grand Knight; and Joe Donato, Financial Secretary. Founded on the principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus was established in 1882 by Father Michael…
Exhibit at Clearing Library honors war dead
Spread the love Former Gov. Pat Quinn talks with 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares at a recent public unveiling of Portrait of a Soldier, an exhibit that briefly visited the Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63rd Place. The traveling exhibit features sketches of all Illinois soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines killed in the line of…
Pappas to host phone bank for black, Latino homeowners
Spread the loveCook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and ABC 7 Chicago will host another Black and Latino Houses Matter phone bank on June 15 to help homeowners find refunds, apply for property tax exemptions and avoid the Tax Sale. “Since I started Black and Latino Houses Matter we’ve returned nearly $200 million owed to these…
All Exterior Contractors to the rescue
Spread the loveInstalls 400th roof in Garfield Ridge for homeowner in need By Tim Hadac A company known for saving homeowners and business owners thousands of dollars has come through for a Garfield Ridge homeowner in her time of need. Late last month, All Exterior Contractors donated a new roof (both house and garage) to…
Postseason Softball: St. Ignatius one-ups St. Laurence in supersectional heartbreaker
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It took a near perfect game — and a close play at the plate — to eliminate St. Laurence from its historic season. St. Laurence pitcher Sarah Klonowski and St. Ignatius hurler Ellie Giles were throwing zeroes through five innings in the Class 3A Rosemont Supersectional at the…
Postseason Roundup: Lincoln-Way East tops Marist in battle of volleyball powers
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer For the first time since 2014, no area boys volleyball advanced to the Elite Eight. In the past seven postseasons, either Marist, Sandburg, Brother Rice or St. Rita made it to the quarterfinals. This year, Marist was the last team standing, but dropped a wild 23-25, 25-22, 25-21…
Neighbors
Appeals court skeptical of Mike Bost’s case to stop ballot counts after Election Day
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A panel of federal appellate judges on Thursday seemed skeptical of legal arguments made on behalf of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, who claims Illinois’ law allowing counting of mail-in ballots for two weeks after an election is in violation of federal law. Bost’s late 2022…
DCFS hires on-the-spot at hiring events
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Cyrenthia Threat spent Wednesday morning at a hiring event in Fairview Heights waiting for word on whether she was hired by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Threat wants to move to Illinois from Georgia where she works as a social worker. She has 20 years…
Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance
By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…
Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact. That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…
Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal
COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval. Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…
Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…
Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement. Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…
After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…