Historian writing book about Hegewisch

Next time I ride the South Shore from my Hegewisch neighborhood to downtown Chicago, I will take a closer look at the Van Buren Street station.

Walk this way to nature events

Life starts to move outdoors this time of year and many local nature-themed events this weekend can help keep you busy.

Charities receive golden touch

It’s always exciting to open a real letter. It’s even better when you recognize the handwriting on the envelope and feel instantly happy, like I did a few weeks ago when I found a letter in my mailbox from my old friend Ray Scahill.

Prepare for all 'Taste' has to offer

It’s the first day of May and it finally feels like summer, that great time of year when our minds drift to warm weather and daydreams about all the fun in store in the next few months.

Visit to state capital a worthwhile trip

“We are now traveling at a speed of 100 miles per hour,” the conductor announced as our Amtrak train sailed toward Springfield, Ill.

Visit to state Capitol a worthwhile trip

The Illinois state Capitol in Springfield, Ill., is a beautiful and historical place to visit. The domed ceiling, murals and statues make it a living, working piece of art.

Appreciation well done at LARC dinner

Frank Sinatra sang in the background as chatter, laughter and good vibes filled the room at LARC's annual appreciation dinner Friday night.

All aboard the Springfield express

Indiana and Illinois seem to have an ongoing feud over which state can claim Abraham Lincoln.

Museum Passports make summer fun affordable

I have already started crafting my summer bucket list and it includes some day trips to local Chicago hot spots like Brookfield Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Bribery gets you everywhere with Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny entertained the crowd at the Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast on Sunday in Chicago's Hegewisch neighborhood.

Bribery gets you everywhere with Easter Bunny

There’s a secret to getting a great photo of your kid with the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse. I just haven’t figured it out yet.

Flu bug can hop away any time now

Our household had its first confirmed case of the flu last week and I was the sufferer, or the culprit depending on how you look at it.

Marian students showcase runway style

Parents, students and staff at Marian Catholic came together last weekend to stun guests at their Evening of Excellence Senior Showcase.

Mall memories tie together community

By now I’m sure you have read or heard that Sears in River Oaks Center is scheduled to close in June. Last week I wrote a column that mentioned Siam Marina restaurant pulling out of its River Oaks location to move to Tinley Park.

Finding rays of sunshine in chilly hometown

My family just returned home from beautiful Florida, and I am proud to say that I can now add taking a 1-year-old on a plane to my mommy experiences.

Valentine’s Day haters, lovers will enjoy these events

As a devoted fan of Valentine’s Day, I’ve faced my share of Valentine haters. I can’t imagine not loving a day devoted to hearts and the color pink and candy. That’s like not loving puppies or rainbows, but to each his own.

Visit a theater near you

Watching segments of the Screen Actors Guild award show got me to thinking about local drama and how lucky we are to have so much of it.

Birthday boy will always be my baby

When my son was a newborn, it didn’t take much to make me cry. One day it was a commercial for baby laundry detergent that said, “You have a child forever, but a baby for just one year.” Until that moment, I hadn’t realize the term “baby” had an expiration date.

Open up little one's world at library

Baby books are painful to read out loud when you’re a writer. The stories lack cohesion, the wording is awkward and don’t even get me started on the lack of punctuation.