A day next to Dorothy

Baseball season is under way and I’m excited to be able to spend a few days each season at Wrigley Field, which is truly my very favorite place. The second I step through the gates, the rest of the world melts away and for three hours I feel so relaxed and free. I guess that’s because it tak…

Good parks contribute to good communities

More than 20 years ago as my husband and I were planning our wedding, we started looking at houses in the south suburbs and Northwest Indiana. We decided we wanted to move to Lansing. One thing that factored into that decision was the parks, which made it an inviting place to live. My brothe…

Lansing Historical Society hosts author

This year the Lansing Historical Society has had a World War II theme and as vice president I’ve had the responsibility of arranging for speakers related to the topic, which has really been a fun task.

Shaving heads for cancer research

On Saturday, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer charity that aims to eliminate childhood cancer through research, is hosting a local event to raise money for the cause.

Benefit Police Cadet program in Lansing

The Lansing Police Cadets will be holding a fundraising event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lansing Municipal Airport, Glenwood-Lansing Road and Burnham Avenue. The event has been held each spring for several years now and it’s something that my kids have really enjoyed. If you have…

Remember Speck's victims, not him

Recently in a casual conversation about the history of Lansing with a longtime resident, he made several references to a sister who died long ago and it seemed like he assumed I knew her story, even though I’d only just met him. Finally, I asked about the sister he had mentioned and how she …

Lansing organization to grant scholarships

The Lansing Old Timers organization will be awarding six, one-time grants of $1,000 or $500 to three male and three female high school seniors who have participated in a Lansing Old Timers sponsored program.

Club to sponsor complimentary dinner for veterans

Little kids look up to superheroes. Some worship celebrities. To me, it’s those in our military who deserve the most respect and who I most admire.

There's a flurry of activity in Lansing

It’s been a busy couple of weeks and I’ve been to several events around town. Normally this time of winter is a slow time, I’ve noticed, but this year I’ve been proven wrong. There’s been a flurry of activities to keep people entertained and occupied.

Celebrate Lansing’s history with us today

I’ve been looking forward to this afternoon’s festivities for a few weeks now. Monday is the date the vote took place to incorporate Lansing and the nearby communities of Bernice and Oak Glen into the village of Lansing in 1893. Can you imagine what life must have been like back then?

An opportunity for suburban kids to learn about agriculture

As a kid growing up in the suburbs, I didn’t give a lot of thought to agriculture. There were no farms in my community. My parents had a pond in our backyard and enjoyed their flower gardens, but with the exception of a backyard apple tree and some wild rhubarb, we didn’t grow food.

The village of Lansing to celebrate 120 years

It was back in 1996 when I first joined the Lansing Historical Society and I’ve learned so many fascinating things about this place in that time.

It’s not too late to resolve to volunteer in your community

Well, it’s now Feb. 3. How are you doing on your new year’s resolutions? By now, many people have given up on those commitments. If yours was to start volunteering or become more involved in your community, it’s never too late to do so. Here are a few groups where you can lend your time and …

Goodbye to two more of the greatest generation

If you’ve been reading my articles and columns for a while, you know that one topic I cover often is our veterans and you may have picked up on my affection for one group in particular, our country’s World War II veterans. They’ve been labeled “The Greatest Generation.” And while I appreciat…

Mom Moments: I miss them already

When I ask myself what I’d tell my teenage self, the first thing to come to mind is WEAR THE BIKINI!

Two worthy fundraisers next month in south suburbs

The Lansing Junior Woman’s Club, of which I am a member, will be hosting their second annual Ladies’ Afternoon Delight fundraiser from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Lansing Knights of Columbus, 17800 Lorenz Ave. The event is a chance for ladies to shop, snack and be pampered.

Dear Younger Self: Wear the bikini

When I ask myself what I’d tell my teenage self, the first thing to come to mind is WEAR THE BIKINI!

Golden K Kiwanis is a delightful group

Each week, in a classroom at the Eisenhower Center in Lansing, a group of seniors gets together. They plan fundraisers and carry out business and “then sit and have coffee and talk about solving the problems of the world,” according to Mel DeVries, president of the Lansing Golden K Kiwanis Club.

Why I might hang on to the 'dumb' phone

Last month I attended a blogging conference in Chicago with my friend, Jen, who is also a writer and blogger. The event was called “Bloggy Boot Camp” organized by hosts Tiffany and Fran. The blogging gurus also lined up several interesting speakers.

Peteyville celebrates 25 years

It was 25 years ago when Pete Basala, of Hammond, first started spreading Christmas cheer in his neighborhood with a few strings of lights and some holiday decorations. And each year, he’s added and added and added. He makes Clark Griswold look like a lightweight.