There were plenty of costumed kids at Lyons’ annual Halloween celebration. (Photos by Steve Metsch)
Hundreds attend Halloween celebration in Lyons
By Steve Metsch
Carmen Perez was looking for a distinctive Halloween costume this year.
She sure found one.
Carmen’s costume made it appear that a bright green space alien was carrying her around the Halloween Celebration in Smith Park on Oct. 31 hosted by the village of Lyons.
In reality, Carmen’s legs were in the green alien’s legs, and fake legs were in front of those, making it seem like the alien was holding her.
“I was looking for a costume. I found it at a store. I loved it,” the 11-year-old said.
A sixth-grader at Washington School, Carmen planned to go trick-or-treating afterwards. Her goal? Getting plenty of Snickers, her favorite candy bar.
Carmen and her father, Jose – dressed as the loyal Cubs fan he is with cap and shirt – enjoyed playing games and free hot dogs.
Carmen hoped her costume wins online voting sponsored by the village.
The top three vote-getters, their photos posted on the village’s Facebook page, win VISA gift cards worth $150, $100 and $50, respectively.
Hundreds attended the event. Some took hay rides around the park. Others played on inflatables or visited a petting zoo.
Some marveled at balloon animals created by Greg Bodnar, of Mount Prospect.
And a few were kind of leery when approached by a towering Grim Reaper, alias magician John Measner on stilts.
It all added up to plenty of smiles. Count Mayor Christopher Getty among those.
“We’re glad the weather held off. Everything’s coming together. It’s good to see people out so early. We’re happy,” Getty said.
Ted Tala, director of parks and recreation, was busy making sure plenty of candy from huge bags purchased at Costco was available for children playing games.
The village had 450 hot dogs at the ready, Tala said, along with about 800 boxes popcorn, bottles of water and taffy apples.
“We’re big on tradition,” Tala said. “Since I’ve been onboard – this is my sixth Halloween event in Lyons – it’s something that you know is here.”
“Maybe your kid is too young to be trick-or-treating. You know you can come here and we’re always going to give you something new. We’re always going to give you that you trust can be fun. We want to be known for that. Lyons is here. Come on out,” Tala said.
Older kids from schools in the village volunteered to help run games, he said.
One of the cutest costumes seen was a unicorn, alias 18-month-old Salma Talhy.
The toddler, who lives in Norridge, was there with her grandmother, Feli Dominguez, who lives in Lyons a few blocks from the park.
“She had COVID last year, her first Halloween, so she couldn’t come out. This year, we took advantage,” Dominguez said.
Dominguez planned to take Salma out trick-or-treating after. “We’re here before it gets crowded,” she said around 4:30 p.m.
The celebration was from 4 to 8 p.m.
Local News
La Grange cancels Endless Summerfest over higher costs
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch It turns out the summer is not endless, at least not in La Grange. Endless Summerfest, a three-day event held the first weekend in August at Gordon Park for many years, will not be held this year. The cancelation was announced Tuesday in a joint new release from the La…
Blotter: Evergreen Park police issue scam alert
Spread the loveThe Evergreen Park Police Department is warning the public of an ongoing scam where a caller claims to be an Evergreen Park Police Officer, and instructs the individual to send money in order to avoid criminal charges. In some versions of this scam, the offenders tell individuals they missed a court date related…
Moraine Valley Speech and Debate Team headed to nationals to defend title
Spread the loveWhen the Moraine Valley Community College Speech and Debate Team heads to the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in Reno, Nevada, for nine days this month, they’ll have a target on their back as incoming consecutive champions. But they’re ready. “Last year’s team was amazing. Everyone was on their A game. This year…
Summit attic fire displaces 4 families
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A fire Saturday afternoon in Summit left four families without a home. One firefighter was injured fighting the attic fire at 7613 W. 60th St. He was treated for a shoulder injury at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and released. No other injuries were reported. “We had a…
‘Impressive and beautiful’ eclipse wows Argo students
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Argo High School freshman Nicholas Kokarczyk was feeling pretty good after his solar eclipse debut. “I’ve never seen one personally. It looks like a big frowny face now,” Kokarczyk said around 2:15 p.m. Monday. “It’s better than I expected.” Kokarczyk, 14, of Justice, was joined by roughly 1,900 of his…
Bridgeview condemns wars around globe in new resolution
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch As village officials noted, warring factions in the Middle East and elsewhere probably don’t care much about what happens at the Bridgeview Village Hall. But the village board still took a strong stance against war at its latest meeting. At their April 3 meeting, trustees unanimously approved a resolution that…
Cardinal Cupich celebrates Mass on ‘a special day’ at St. Cletus
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch After waiting patiently in line, Indian Head Park resident Tim Kyzivat enjoyed a rare chance to visit with Cardinal Blase J. Cupich. Kyzivat, 77, was among several hundred people who attended the 11 a.m. Mass said by the Archbishop of Chicago at St. Cletus Roman Catholic Church in La Grange…
Boys Volleyball | Sandburg runs win streak to three with wins over Hinsdale South, DG North
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After a sub-.500 start to the season, Sandburg returned from spring break with two victories, defeating Hinsdale South in three sets on April 3 and needing two sets to take down Downers Grove North the following day. The Eagles (6-4) ran their win streak to three games by topping…
Boys Volleyball | Marist still unbeaten after downing Glenbrook South
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Marist is on a roll thus far this season, and improved to 9-0 after topping Glenbrook South in two sets last week. The RedHawks defeated the previously unbeaten Titans, 25-11, 25-21, on April 4 in Mount Greenwood, giving them eight straight matches that have gone two sets. Marist’s only…
Neighbors
State Senate advances bill to ban food additives linked to health problems
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Senate passed a bill Thursday that would ban four food additives that are found in common products including candy, soda and baked goods. Senate Bill 2637, known as the Illinois Food Safety Act, passed on a 37-15 bipartisan vote and will head to the House for…
INVESTIGATE MIDWEST: Farmers have clamored for the Right to Repair for years. It’s getting little traction in John Deere’s home state
By Jennifer Bamberg, Investigate Midwest Originally published April 10, 2024 During the 2023 harvest season, one of Jake Lieb’s tractors quit working. A week later, his combine stopped working, too. Both were new — and he was locked out from making any repairs himself because of software restrictions embedded in the machines. Instead, a technician…
Education leaders seek added state funding to help districts accommodate influx of migrants
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The recent surge of international migrants arriving in Illinois has brought with it a host of new challenges for state and local officials. Those range from filling their most basic needs like emergency food, clothing and shelter, to more complex issues like lining them up with…
Capitol Briefs: Lawmakers, advocates again call for affordable housing tax credit
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com Housing advocates are renewing a push to fund a $20 million state affordable housing tax credit in the upcoming state budget. Supporters of the “Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act,” modeled after a federal tax credit program, claimed it would result in over 1,000 affordable housing units being…
Solar investments take center stage as questions loom on state’s renewable future
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com BOLINGBROOK – A manufacturer in the southwest suburbs of Chicago received $2.6 million from electric utility Commonwealth Edison this week as part of a state program for generating its own electricity using solar panels and storing it in one of the largest batteries in the country. But even…
Advocates renew push to tighten firearm laws aimed at protecting domestic violence victims
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for stricter gun laws rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday for a measure aimed at protecting domestic violence victims and two other criminal justice reforms. The bills are backed by organizations such as Moms Demand Action and One Aim Illinois among others. “These policies support…
Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A mining truck manufactured by Komatsu was crowned the winner of the 2024 “Makers Madness” contest, earning the title of “the coolest thing made in Illinois” at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday. The truck was one of more than 200 entries in the 5th annual contest hosted…
Capitol Briefs: Pritzker appoints first-ever Prisoner Review Board director; Chicago advances migrant funding
By JERRY NOWICKI & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Weeks after two high-profile resignations at the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday appointed the first-ever executive director to help lead the beleaguered agency. To fill the newly created position, the governor tapped Jim Montgomery, who most recently served as director of…
INVESTIGATE MIDWEST: Farmers have clamored for the Right to Repair for years. It’s getting little traction in John Deere’s home state
By Jennifer Bamberg, Investigate Midwest, Investigate Midwest Originally published April 10, 2024 During the 2023 harvest season, one of Jake Lieb’s tractors quit working. A week later, his combine stopped working, too. Both were new — and he was locked out from making any repairs himself because of software restrictions embedded in the machines. Instead,…
Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – It’s been more than a year since the Illinois Supreme Court “respectfully suggest(ed)” state lawmakers clarify a law that’s led to several multi-million-dollar settlements with tech companies over the collection of Illinoisans’ biometric data. On Thursday, a bipartisan majority in the Illinois Senate did just that,…