Posts by Steve Metsch
Queen and court named for Saturday’s Countryside’s St. Paddy Day Parade
By Steve Metsch When the seventh St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday in Countryside, Colleen Ramicone will have a great view. Ramicone, a junior at Nazareth Academy and a Countryside resident, will ride atop a float as queen of the parade. Her appointment was announced at the Countryside City Council meeting…
Read MoreLongtime Lyons Trustee Pat Alonzi resigns for health reasons
By Steve Metsch Longtime Lyons Village Trustee Pat Alonzi has decided to resign as she faces mounting health issues. Mayor Christopher Getty read her letter of resignation, dated Jan. 3, into the record when the village board met on Feb. 7. Alonzi, 85, had been a trustee for 12 years, Getty said. Her letter to…
Read MoreCountryside’s 342 water valves to be inspected
By Steve Metsch Water valves and fire hydrants were on the agenda when the Countryside City Council’s Infrastructure Committee met on Jan. 25. With 342 valves in the Countryside water system, the City Council’s Infrastructure Committee wants to make sure there are no surprise problems. That’s why every other year, the city pays a company…
Read MoreRecord turnout for BEDS Plus Soup & Bread fundraiser
By Steve Metsch Thousands of cups of soup were savored during the Soup & Bread event hosted by BEDS Plus, which organizers called a smashing success. Attendance was 700, which exceeded the 600 who attended in 2020, just before the pandemic broke loose. “It’s our biggest ever,” BEDS Plus Community Relations Manager Erin Molek said.…
Read MoreBridgeview hires four part-time police officers
By Steve Metsch The Bridgeview Village Board hired four part-time police officer – each with backgrounds in law enforcement – at its most recent meeting. “We’re adding to our staff, a way to help the community,” Police Chief Ricardo Mancha told the board on Feb. 1. The four new part-timers are Joseph D. Keeter, John…
Read MoreLongtime Bridgeview Trustee Mary Sutton, 88, dies
By Steve Metsch Bridgeview Village Trustee Mary Sutton, who had served on the board since 1999, died early Wednesday, Mayor Steve Landek announced at the board’s matinee meeting. Sutton “was dedicated to our community,” Landek said before the board paused for a moment of silence. Sutton, who turned 88 in December, died of cancer, Trustee…
Read MoreSen. Hastings secures $250,000 state grant for Together We Cope after fire
By Steve Metsch After a fire just before Thanksgiving shut down Together We Cope – a longtime southwest suburban charitable organization – state Sen. Mike Hastings (D-19th) knew he had to help. Hastings said he was moved to help because of the important role the organization plays by helping needy families in the region. Hastings…
Read MoreCountryside plans summer concert series, bluegrass festival
By Steve Metsch It might be winter, but it’s never too soon to talk about summertime music. Such was the case Jan. 11 when the Countryside City Council’s Special Events Committee heard from promoter Katie Goggin regarding the city’s annual Summer Concert Series. The committee also heard about the second annual Bluegrass and Brews Festival from Sharon…
Read MorePorfirio resigns township post to take Senate seat
By Steve Metsch Mike Porfirio is now a state senator and the Township of Lyons Board of Trustees has a vacancy. Porfirio submitted his resignation as a trustee, which was accepted by the board at its Jan. 10 meeting. Porfirio was elected to the Illinois Senate in November, and was sworn in as a state…
Read MoreDrone takes McCook crime fighting to new level
By Steve Metsch The McCook Police Department has a new weapon to fight crime. A new drone equipped with an infrared camera and the ability to zoom in 200 times was at the village’s latest board meeting on Jan. 17. The village used part of a $50,000 grant from the Secretary of State’s office to…
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