The Doings Weekly

Northlake lawyer, Western Springs resident seeks judicial post

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:48:27 -0600

Terry Gallagher, Democratic candidate for judge in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County, has been endorsed by all seven township committeemen in the subcircuit, Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, and Cook County Sheriff’s Police FOP Lodge 4. He has been found “Qualified” by the Illinois State Bar Association Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations and Chicago Bar Association, and “Recommended” by the Decalogue Society of Lawyers and the Women’s Bar Association. The judicial seat he is running for is the Riley vacancy in the subcircuit. Gallagher was born in Chicago in 1958,went to a Catholic grade school in Rogers Park, …

Burr Ridge Middle School heads downstate

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:10:00 -0600

In its first year of Illinois Elementary School Association play, the Burr Ridge Middle School boys’ basketball team has made it to the state tournament. Twelve players and 15 cheerleaders boarded a school bus Friday bound for Monticello, where the state finals will be played beginning today. “I’m very excited for them,” said Coach Michael LaCassa. This is his second year as coach of the Chieftans. The team weathered two rounds of regional play to qualify for the state tournament. Of the eight teams in Regional 2, LaCassa said, his team went in ranked fifth, but came out the winner. …

Woman killed when Metra train hits car in La Grange

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:30:00 -0600

A Chicago woman died Friday night after a Metra train collided with her car at a crossing near the La Grange Stone Avenue station. No passengers were on the train at the time.

Senator Kirk moved into Rehab Institute; family offers thanks

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:45:57 -0600

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has been transferred from Northwestern Memorial Hospital to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to begin his physical therapy. The Highland Park Republican is recovering from a stroke he suffered three weeks ago. “RIC’s team of experts will spend the next few days assessing Senator Kirk’s condition and developing a comprehensive, targeted rehabilitation program tailored to achieve the goals that will be established by Senator Kirk and his family,” said Dr. Richard L. Harvey, medical director of RIC’s Center for Stroke Rehabilitation. Kirk’s neurosurgeon at Northwestern had said he expects Kirk to make a full mental recovery, …

Durbin aims to please

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:01:39 -0600

James Durbin hit the ground running as he launched a tour supporting his recently released album “Memories of A Beautiful Disaster.” His recent performance at Austyn’s in Libertyville, was a fitting setting for this meat and potatoes performer. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more grounded artist. A finalist from last year’s “American Idol” competition, Durbin is just as likely to talk about his family as he is his music. While “Idol” served as a launching pad, Durbin’s roots are much deeper as he has been down in the rock ‘n’ roll trenches for years. This explains his humility and …

Bail lowered for Hinsdale-area man charged with abusing student

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:16:00 -0600

Sandburg High School teacher Steven Reynolds had sexual contact with a 17-year-old student in his Hinsdale-area home while his wife was out of town, prosecutors said Friday as Reynolds sought to lower his bail.

CHMS eighth-grader wins District 181 spelling bee

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:10:09 -0600

Paul Cumberland was in familiar territory when the championship of the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181 Spelling Bee came down to himself and Nick Speziale Feb. 9 at Clarendon Hills Middle School. The two students were down the same road about a week earlier during a CHMS competition to represent that school in the District 181 Spelling Bee. Nick, a sixth-grader, finished on top in the CHMS competition, but Paul, an eighth-grader, took first place this time. “I was thinking about, ‘what if it happens again?’” Paul said after winning. “I actually was less nervous this time. When you get …

Snow makes its way back to the area Friday

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:02 -0600

Feeling a chill in the air? Snow will be back as soon as Friday when lake effect snow could hit the city and Northwest Indiana with six inches.

Catholic cemeteries offer to bury 300 bodies stacked at morgue

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:28:02 -0600

The Archdiocese of Chicago is offering to pay for up to 300 burials for the bodies being held at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Service News

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:54:01 -0600

Volunteers honored in Springfield Three west suburban men were among 16 volunteers honored in Springfield Jan. 28 for donating hundreds of hours of service to the Illinois Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve agency. The U.S. Department of Defense established the agency in 1972 to promote understanding and support among employers of the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve. The agency responds to questions and provides information regarding programs supporting civilian employers and their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. Honored with the Gold Award for providing more than 500 hours of service in 2011 …

Police: Man faked own kidnapping to take $1,000 from family

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:35:39 -0600

A Willowbrook man who wanted to get money from his family staged his own kidnapping to demand $1,000 ransom, according to police who later arrested him.

Durkin reacts to Quinn speech

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:45:42 -0600

Governor Quinn’s Feb. 1 state of the state address included some big plans for improving the state and its economy. But the speech left many Republican leaders with one big question. “I’ll wait to see what the governor has in the budget address,” State Rep. Jim Durkin, R-82nd of Western Springs, said following the governor’s speech, which left him questioning where the money will come from to fund Quinn’s plans. Durkin noted the tax increase the governor signed last year was supposed to fix the state’s budget problem. “A year later the state is no better off than we were, …

Faculty takes on students to raise money for a cause

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:45:36 -0600

About 200 people filled the stands of the Hinsdale South High School gym on Monday to watch members of the school’s faculty take on students in the annual students vs. faculty basketball game. The event, now in its fourth year, raises money for cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “It was a pretty intense game,” said Greg Gardner, interim activities director and a member of the faculty squad. The students came out victorious with a 69-67 win in overtime. But the real winners of this event are those who benefit from the work of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Gardner …

Kids rock out at Hinsdale South

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:46:39 -0600

Five local bands battled for bragging rights and prizes at the second annual Battle of the Bands at Hinsdale South High School on Thursday. “We had a packed house,” said Brian Ormiston, president of the Hinsdale South Foundation, which organized the event. Held in the school cafeteria, the competition included bands from South, Glenbard North and Lyons Township high schools. After the music was played and the ballots cast by the contest’s panel of judges, Renegade was crowned the champion of this year’s competition. Members Austin Allen, Baron Downing, Ricky Monegain, and Brandon Marsh all are Hinsdale South students. “They …

School using grants to teach proper nutrition, exercise

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:47:31 -0600

Good nutrition and exercise are key to good learning, and Anne M. Jeans Elementary School is taking new steps to provide its students with both. The school recently received a grant from Fuel Up to Play 60, an initiative by the National Dairy Council, the National Football League and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help kids eat right and to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Anne M. Jeans isn’t stopping with its students. The school, part of Burr Ridge Consolidated District 180, is recruiting friends, parents, teachers and community leaders to join them in …