Fundraiser to help buy service dog for Worth veteran

By Joe Boyle

Worth officials are asking the community to help provide assistance for a local veteran to assist her in purchasing a service dog.

Shireen O’Brien, a Worth resident who served as a Marine, has been dealing with a series of threatening illnesses since she concluded her service.

O’Brien is a longtime member of Marrs-Meyer American Legion Post 991. Members of the post said that she will be given a medical boost when money is raised for the purchase of Riley, a lifesaving service dog.

A “Furry Hero for Shireen” fundraiser is being held from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Post, 11001 S. Depot St., Worth.

The fee to enter is $20 and includes a door prize entry. The first prize is an iPad and the second prize is $200. The third prize is $100. A buffet is included in the fee. A cash bar and more raffles will be offered at the event.

The post members have organized the fundraiser to raise funds to assist O’Brien with the extensive costs to acquire and train this unique dog. The veterans at the post said it will cost over $35,000 to accomplish this.

O’Brien will be provided with lifesaving alerts and other forms of aid to keep her safe from her many military-related illnesses, according to local veterans. Donations can be made payable to Shireen O’Brien.

Information about the fundraiser is available at the Village Hall, 7112 W. 111th St., and the post. News of the event was also announced at the Worth Village Board meeting on Jan. 3.

Trustee Brad Urban also said during the meeting that anyone who has broken strings of Christmas lights or non-working extension cords can recycle them with the Village of Worth.

“We have entered into an agreement with a company that recycles Christmas lights and extension cords,” Urban said during a meeting last month. “Instead of throwing them out they can be brought right here.”

Urban said a red container can be found near the entrance to the Village Hall parking lot next to the payments ‘drop box.”

The broken strings of Christmas lights and faulty extension cords can be dropped off in the containers until Sunday, Jan. 15.

The Worth Fraternal Order of Police Pancake Breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Feb. 5, at the Marrs-Meyer Post. The fee is $7 per person to attend, while children under the age of 4 can attend free.

Trustee Laura Packwood, who is the head of the golf committee, said last month that revenue from the Water’s Edge Golf Course has improved dramatically. Video gaming has been a boost and Packwood said a fifth machine will be added this spring.

Another highlight is that the 2023 Illinois State Mid-Amateur Qualifying event will be held at Water’s Edge from July 24 through Aug. 11. The managers of the course, Orion, has helped raise the stature of the Worth course, Packwood said.

The tournament is limited to 84 to 90 contestants ages 25 and up with a USGA handicap indexes of 7.4 or less.

“They (Orion) have really been doing a great job with the course,” Packwood said.