
Newly installed Orland Park Area Chamber president Ramzi Hassan addresses members during last week’s installation dinner. (Photos by Steve Neuhaus)
Comings & Goings: Orland Area Chamber installs new officers

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau installs new officers for the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce.
Ramzi Hassan of Edwards Realty Company was installed last week as president of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce.
The 2023 board of directors was also installed and annual membership awards were handed out during ceremonies last Thursday at the Crystal Tree Country Club.
Installation duties were performed by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau.
Northwestern Palos Hospital breast health program earns national accreditation
The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a quality program administered by the American College of Surgeons, has granted accredited status to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital and the Northwestern Medicine Breast Health Program in Orland Park. To achieve NAPBC accreditation, a breast center demonstrates compliance with the NAPBC standards addressing leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement for patients. Breast centers seeking NAPBC accreditation undergo a site visit every three years.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by the NAPBC with this accreditation,” said Miraj Shah-Khan, MD, medical director of the breast cancer program at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. “At Palos Hospital, we strive to provide patients with exceptional comprehensive breast cancer care from the moment they walk through the door.”
As a NAPBC-accredited center, Palos Hospital and the Breast Health Program are committed to maintaining levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered care for patients with breast disease. Patients can be confident their breast care team includes health care professionals from a variety of disciplines who are committed to working together to provide the highest quality care available through their entire course of treatment.
The NAPBC provides the structure and resources to develop and operate a high-quality breast center and accredited program. Patients receiving care through the Palos Hospital and the Breast Health Program have access to:
Comprehensive breast cancer screening, including three-dimensional mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, and automated breast ultrasound.
A multidisciplinary team of breast cancer experts who provide a full range of state-of-the-art services and leading-edge treatments.
Access to clinical trials, patient navigation support, supportive oncology services, genetic counseling, and novel treatment options.
High-risk breast clinic, providing comprehensive risk assessment and surveillance strategies for patients at elevated breast cancer risk.
Savor the Southland rewards program
The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched Savor The Southland, a new program that aims to reward users for visiting local restaurants.
The passport is a free program that any user can sign up for. With over 67 local restaurants included within the passport, it showcases the best of the Chicago Southland in an easy, mobile-friendly way.
“What a great way to encourage both visitors and locals alike to frequent some of the best Chicago Southland restaurants,” said CSCVB President/CEO Jim Garrett.
Among the restaurants participating are Mama Luigi’s in Bridgeview, Jenny’s Steak House in Chicago Ridge, Chuck’s Southern Comfort Café in Burbank, Papa Joe’s in Orland Park and The Patio in Bridgeview and Orland Park.
Guests can visit a dedicated mobile passport landing page (https://www.visitchicagosouthland.com/savor-the-southland) where they can sign-up for Savor The Southland by providing their name, e-mail address and mobile phone number. A link is then sent to their mobile phone, which opens the passport and directs the user to add the button icon to their home screen, where they can access it any time. There is never anything to download and no bulky apps take up space on a user’s phone.
Guests earn points when they check in at participating restaurants and can redeem coupons (when applicable) by sharing that coupon with their server.
Non-CSCVB restaurants or breweries interested in joining the Savor The Southland passport can call the CVB at 708-895-8200.
The Savor The Southland mobile passport ends March 31 at which time users that have checked in at five or more participating restaurants will be entered into a sweepstakes to win restaurant gift cards.
If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at [email protected]
Local News

Baseball | Chicago Christian kicks off Brandon Hickey era with win over Bremen
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent Brandon Hickey is optimistic about his first season as head coach of the Chicago Christian baseball team. The Knights struggled to an 11-18-1 record last year, when Hickey was an assistant. But he saw some things to be excited about. “We saw we had a lot of talent last…

It was cold, but there was warmth
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 My family took a walk around West Elsdon with 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares, her son and some residents of the community on March 12. We were hanging ribbons in memory of CPD Officer…

Something smells at 62nd and Washtenaw
Spread the love. . By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 From time to time I’ll mention something I’ve caught on the downtown TV news that I know won’t make the front page here, but I think you’ll be interested in, since it has a…

Campaigns over, time to lead
Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Now that the aldermanic part of the city elections is over, it’s time for aldermen to let go of campaigning and get down to the business of being aldermen. We have all seen enough photo ops of politicians posing…

College Notebook | Marist grad Alex Knight slaying buckets for Lake Forest
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent Lake Forest College’s Alex Knight has been named to the All-Midwest Conference First Team in men’s basketball for the 2022-23 season. Knight, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard who prepped at Marist, was the league’s leading scorer this season, averaging 18.1 points per conference game. He finished third in the MWC…

Pro Sports Report | SeatGeek to host Major League Rugby championship; Hounds sniff out first win
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer SeatGeek Stadium, host of the expansion Chicago Hounds, will host this season’s Major League Rugby championship game. The game is scheduled to be played July 8 in Bridgeview. It will air nationally on FOX. “Moving the championship match to a predetermined venue has long been a goal of…

Area Sports Roundup | Nazareth grads Martinucci, Evans have unfinished business at NJCAA National Tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Martinucci family carries a lot of weight in the Berwyn-Cicero area. Tony Martinucci has coached boys basketball at Morton High School for 24 years, racking up five regional titles and a trio of conference crowns during his tenure. His daughter, Jovanna, is hoping to do something even…

‘He’s our brother’
Spread the love. Clearing, Garfield Ridge mourn Officer Vásquez Lasso By Tim Hadac Chicago Police Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso didn’t live in Clearing or Garfield Ridge—he lived east of the airport, in West Lawn—but he and his family were essentially adopted by as many as 700 men, women and children here earlier this month.…

$15 million expansion for Stagg approved
Spread the loveFrom staff reports The Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education last week approved a $15 million expansion at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills. The expansion will include much-needed classroom space, several science labs, offices and teacher workspace, as well as a rooftop environmental learning space. The project is…
Neighbors

Baseball | Chicago Christian kicks off Brandon Hickey era with win over Bremen
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent Brandon Hickey is optimistic about his first season as head coach of the Chicago Christian baseball team. The Knights struggled to an 11-18-1 record last year, when Hickey was an assistant. But he saw some things to be excited about. “We saw we had a lot of talent last…

It was cold, but there was warmth
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 My family took a walk around West Elsdon with 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares, her son and some residents of the community on March 12. We were hanging ribbons in memory of CPD Officer…

Something smells at 62nd and Washtenaw
Spread the love. . By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 From time to time I’ll mention something I’ve caught on the downtown TV news that I know won’t make the front page here, but I think you’ll be interested in, since it has a…

Campaigns over, time to lead
Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Now that the aldermanic part of the city elections is over, it’s time for aldermen to let go of campaigning and get down to the business of being aldermen. We have all seen enough photo ops of politicians posing…

College Notebook | Marist grad Alex Knight slaying buckets for Lake Forest
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent Lake Forest College’s Alex Knight has been named to the All-Midwest Conference First Team in men’s basketball for the 2022-23 season. Knight, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard who prepped at Marist, was the league’s leading scorer this season, averaging 18.1 points per conference game. He finished third in the MWC…

Pro Sports Report | SeatGeek to host Major League Rugby championship; Hounds sniff out first win
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer SeatGeek Stadium, host of the expansion Chicago Hounds, will host this season’s Major League Rugby championship game. The game is scheduled to be played July 8 in Bridgeview. It will air nationally on FOX. “Moving the championship match to a predetermined venue has long been a goal of…

Area Sports Roundup | Nazareth grads Martinucci, Evans have unfinished business at NJCAA National Tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Martinucci family carries a lot of weight in the Berwyn-Cicero area. Tony Martinucci has coached boys basketball at Morton High School for 24 years, racking up five regional titles and a trio of conference crowns during his tenure. His daughter, Jovanna, is hoping to do something even…

‘He’s our brother’
Spread the love. Clearing, Garfield Ridge mourn Officer Vásquez Lasso By Tim Hadac Chicago Police Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso didn’t live in Clearing or Garfield Ridge—he lived east of the airport, in West Lawn—but he and his family were essentially adopted by as many as 700 men, women and children here earlier this month.…

$15 million expansion for Stagg approved
Spread the loveFrom staff reports The Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education last week approved a $15 million expansion at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills. The expansion will include much-needed classroom space, several science labs, offices and teacher workspace, as well as a rooftop environmental learning space. The project is…