Herald News

Joining the cancer fight

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:45:51 -0500

Eighteen months ago, Annais Rodriguez, now 17, was sitting in Kristen Koppers’ English class at Joliet West High School when Koppers announced she was beginning a Relay for Life club if anyone might be interested in joining. Rodriguez didn’t hesitate. “My grandma died of cancer two years ago and I wanted to get involved,” Rodriguez said. “You can’t go through it alone; it’s so hard. We need to be considerate, think about the other person and help them get through it.” Since the club’s inception, they have participated in and fundraised for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Members …

Reflexology: Relieving pain without meds

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:10:01 -0500

Years ago, when Sylvia Lamping of Braidwood received reflexology treatments to help with infertility, she never considered learning the alternative therapy. Not until she realized its self-help benefits at a support group for caregivers did she decide to learn more. So Lamping looked online, found a school in Downers Grove that taught a 10-week course and, lo and behold, her teacher was the speaker she had met at Leeza’s Care Connection at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center On Tuesday, both Lamping, owner of Serenity Reflexology and Awareness, and her teacher, Joy Klein, an instructor at The School of Holistic Massage …

Gotta Do It

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:00:01 -0500

Saturday Native plant sale: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie headquarters, Route 53 about 12 miles south of Joliet. Plants come in 2-inch-diameter plugs or pots, and shrubs are in 3-gallon containers. Call Jerry Heinrich at 815-476-6171 or g.heinrich@sbcglobal.net or visit www.midewinalliance.org. Free pancake breakfast: 8 to 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Clara Avenue and Larkin Road, Joliet. Saturday deadline Lebanon’s Got Talent show: Area church groups are invited to participate in this talent show, based on Matthew 25: 14-30. Share your talents either individually or as a group through Christian music, poetry, spoken word, …

Hello muddah? Not everyone loved sleepaway camp

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:01 -0500

NEW YORK — When the school year ends a few weeks from now, millions of kids will head off to sleepaway camp for a summer filled with color wars, kayaking and bunk life. Most will have a great time, some will make friends for life, and many will look back on the experience fondly. But amid these happy campers is another group of veterans who recall sleepaway camp quite differently. These were the kids who cried every day and sent letters home begging to be picked up. They were lonesome, miserable, bullied; hated the bugs, hated the pool. Many refused …

A break from the norm

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:44:04 -0500

Some people may presume a church pastor shouldn’t write a romance novel about a wealthy couple — best friends since grade school — their international business and the husband’s sordid and criminal secrets. But that’s what former Lockport resident Birdella Hall-Walker did with her first novel, “Manhattan’s Secret,” and she doesn’t care about negative reactions. “People like to limit their gifts and their talents,” Hall-Walker, of South Carolina, said. “Because of my freedom and creativity, I don’t live in a box. I let the imagination I have fall to the ground. Then I take it and put it on paper …

She’s still a volunteer force

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:43:54 -0500

Friends and family of Mary Kenny, 66, know her as a wife, mother of five and grandmother of two. To them, she’s been a typical stay-at-home mom for the past 42 years. But it’s highly unlikely any of them would limit Kenny to those titles. They’re more likely to label her a force of nature. In the words of Roy Corrigan, former president of the Summit Hill School District 161 board, “Mrs. Kenny is an exceptional person.” A recent surprise tribute at Summit Hill Junior High in Frankfort to honor Kenny for her retirement after 28 years as a District …

Religious notes

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:43:36 -0500

Women’s services The Women’s Ministry at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Joliet is inviting other women’s ministries to be guests in worship services Saturday and Sunday at the church, 104 E. Zarley Blvd. At 11 a.m. Saturday, the church will host its annual Women’s Brunch and Mini Women’s Conference. At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, speakers will be Sister Tracy Theard and Sister Clarissa Shelby. R.S.V.P. at 815-726-7080. Hour of prayer The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate and their associates invite the public to join them for an hour of prayer and reflection at 7 p.m. May 28 at …

Steps to avoid knee replacement

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:27:12 -0500

Knee replacement is one of the most common major surgeries today, up by 162 percent in the last 20 years. Osteoarthritis is the major cause of all the trouble and is booming with the increase in the aging population, the rising rates of obesity and a more active group of older adults unwilling to live with the pain and disability of arthritis. But a report in the January 2013 Consumer Reports explains that there are ways to ward off having knee replacement surgery, delaying it by a few years or even preventing it altogether. Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center pain …

Health Calendar

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:27:21 -0500

Tuesdays through June 25 Yoga: The Lockport Township Park District offers several different yoga classes Tuesdays through June 25 for ages 14 and older at the Gladys Fox Museum, 231 E. Ninth St. Seniors can participate in a class done primarily in a chair. The cost is $57 for residents or $62 for non-residents. For information about specific classes and times, call 815-838-3621 or visit www.lockportpark.org. Ongoing Free stroke risk assessments: Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center, 333 N. Madison St., Joliet, offers stroke risk assessment and a stroke clinic with an NSI stroke expert. Call 815-725-9438 for upcoming clinic dates …

Gotta Do It

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:43:44 -0500

Saturday Native plant sale: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18 at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Headquarters, Route 53 about 12 miles south of Joliet. Variety of native wildflowers, grasses and shrubs will be offered for sale. Call Jerry Heinrich at 815-476-6171 or email g.heinrich@sbcglobal.net or visit www.midewinalliance.org. Free pancake breakfast: 8 to 11 a.m., May 18 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Clara Avenue and Larkin Road, Joliet. May 25 Giant garage sale: Noon to 4 p.m. May 25 at Harvey Brooks Foundation, 100 McDonough St., Joliet. Everything you can bag for $10. Gently used clothing, jewelry, purses, shoes and household …

Have a H.A.R.T., help shelter

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:28:08 -0500

It’s because of dogs like Asa, an abandoned, pregnant 2-year-old bulldog/pit bull mix, that Jill Kerzisnik, of Plainfield, founded H.A.R.T. of Illinois in 2007. Asa required an emergency Cesarean section to deliver 14 puppies, 12 of which died at birth. Kerzisnik brought the other two home to bottle feed, but they died eight days later. Asa herself is up for adoption. “She is great with kids and does well with other dogs, too,” Kerzisnik said. Along with Asa, 41 dogs and 30 puppies are available for adoption at the H.A.R.T. (Homeless Animal Rescue Team) shelter at 18644 N. Frontage Road …

Pets of the Week for May 14, 2013

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:34:21 -0500

The following animals are available for adoption at area shelters. …

Lost and Found: Boy learns a powerful lesson

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:25:18 -0500

On April 30, I shared the sad story of a toddler named Jackson. While out on a play date in Bolingbrook, Jackson lost his very best friend in the world, a multicolored teddy bear named Teddy. Now, teddy bears are an important part of the lives of many children, but so much more so to Jackson, who has had to endure several open-heart operations to correct a congenital disorder. Teddy had been in Jackson’s life since the boy was 6 months old. The bear helped Jackson through the surgeries, lending the lad his grizzly bear courage, assuring Jackson all would …

Kids’ Korner

Mon, 13 May 2013 02:29:52 -0500

Hey kids! How would you like to see your artwork in The Herald-News or on our website? Simply draw a picture of Summer Vacation, My Parents, Baby Animals, or Outdoor Fun. Pictures should be no larger than 8.5-by-11 inches. Please include your name, address and phone number on the back of each picture. Send pictures to Kids’ Korner, The Herald-News, c/o Chicago Sun-Times, 350 N. Orleans St., Chicago, IL 60654, Call Rose Panieri at 312-321-2354 for information. …

Stadalsky: Teens dream up library adventures for peers

Mon, 13 May 2013 02:29:23 -0500

If you or your teenagers ever wonder who comes up with some of the great teen program ideas at Three Rivers Library District, you can tell them to thank a group of their peers. The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) at Three Rivers gathers monthly for socialization, a bit of community service work and to brainstorm ideas for other teens in the Channahon and Minooka area. Since the board was organized just a year and a half ago, they’ve come up with some great ideas, such as laser tag, all night lock-ins (think pajama party at the library), a book club …

Classroom notes

Sun, 12 May 2013 03:03:11 -0500

Building a better robot LOCKPORT — Students from the Lockport Township robotics team tested their skills and creativity when they competed at UIC Pavilion last month in the Midwest Regional Robotics Competition called the Ultimate Ascent. Teams had six weeks to design, program and build the robot. Team members included Kegan Anspach, Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak, Trevor Bandauski, William Cattaneo, Amir Khalaf, Eddie Kline, Brett Kovanda, Collin Mehnert, Jordan Parker, Jack Parrinello, Mitchell Pericak, TJ Waddell, Cody Ziarko and Danielle Alfrey. In addition to competing, Alfrey received honorable mention for the event’s poster. Student earns journalism award LEMONT — A Lemont High …