I'm going to attempt to keep this short, but I wanted to make sure I reached out to everyone on the site. The wonderful Oak Forest Patch Facebook fans have heard the news already, but in case you're not a fan (why aren't you?!), here goes: I'm no longer the lucky journalist who has the pleasure of running Oak Forest Patch. After just over a year—one filled with supportive readers, breaking news, heartwarming (and heartbreaking) stories—I'm moving on to a different role within Patch. Despite my excitement to assume new responsibilities and help Patch flourish in other areas, this moment is …
Show of paws—who wants an Oak Forest dog park? Huck just gave me paw. And then he popped a breath mint. He has picked out his best bow tie (he has to look spiffy!) and is ready to plant a slobbery kiss on anyone who steps right up and donates $1. My goofy pit bull mix will be behind the kissing booth at the Oak Forest dog park wine-tasting fundraiser, to be held March 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. Huck will give out kisses from 1 to 2 p.m., and then he'll stick around for some autogr—errr, I mean, socializing. So far, Bark for a Park supporters of an Oak Forest dog park have raised just under half of …
"Look out for the smile," Ald. Rich Simon wrote in an email to me. "It will capture you. "She is an inspiration to everyone who knows her." He was referring to his wife Becky—a woman I had eagerly been waiting to meet since the pair was crowned Oak Forest's favorite lovebirds. I was tickled pink when they were nominated. A marriage that endures the undulations of 50 years is sweet, heartwarming, and impressive, especially nowadays, and I was eager to highlight the pair. But I was even more excited to meet Rich's other half: a woman battling cancer whom friends said did so fearlessly, filled …
Each time I'm out and about in Oak Forest, I encourage readers to stop me and say hello. Some have said they spotted me and didn't want to "bug" me, or didn't know quite what to say. "Hey Patch Lady!" ... "Hey, Lauren!" ... "YO, TRAUT!" ... "FISH! Heeeeeere Fishy, Fishy!" All of these are acceptable greetings. And you could never bug me. I promise. So during this Saturday's Fleadh, I'm not only encouraging you to hook me for a howdy (and hopefully your confession of how much you love Patch), but I'm downright demanding it. Really. When you see me, pull me aside, look both ways, lean in and…
When my coworkers were looking for a female volunteer for a speed dating event at Chicago Blu in Frankfort, suddenly I was 7 years old again. My hand shot up in the air. I squirmed in my seat. "Oo! Oo! Me! Me!" Not that everyone was jumping at once, but I really wanted to be picked. A room full of single people my age? Not inebriated? All looking to meet new people, possibly future significant others? Yessir, sign me up. I've been in the single world for what feels like a very long time. My dating history is dotted with relationships (some long-term) and failed attempts. I've learned a lot, …
I was going to kick off this column by shocking readers with the most recent divorce rate in America. I planned on breaking it down by age and location, even. That marriage parade you're all marching in? I was about to rain all over it. For a single lady in her late 20s, with plenty of pressure to "hurry up and settle down," and very little hope of that happening any time soon, marriage is a touchy subject. Typically, it's best not to mention the "m" word around me. If you must, you should probably be wearing a hockey mask or holding some sort of shield. ... Or Kleenex. ... Because I don't …
It's the big game, and Patch needs to know who to send in. We're talking pizza, folks—and we know that no one knows Oak Forest's pizza places better than you. In the next few days, we'll be pitting the best locally owned pizza places in Oak Forest against each other, and those in Tinley Park. This time around, we'll be looking more for the mom-and-pop pizza stops, so keep that in mind. Avoid the chains or franchises. We're looking more for the dark horse of the competition Whose pie blows your mind? Who should be in our starting lineup? ONE winner will emerge from the Oak Forest and Tinley …
Did you hear something this morning, Oak Forest? Right around 6 a.m.? Not quite as loud as a car backfiring, but a little louder than a door slamming? That was Mokena Patch Editor Paul Dailing throwing down the Patch gauntlet. Dailing, the man behind Mokena Patch Facebook, thinks he can secure more Facebook fans than Oak Forest Patch. Now, don't get me wrong—I like Dailing. He's clever, delivers a mean karaoke performance, cooks up some delicious homemade vodka sauce, and usually smells OK. But I also think he's a silly little man to think his cute, sweet Mokena can take down this feisty Oak …
I think it's safe to say we've all done it. We've broken the rules of "Think before you speak," or "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Get us all fired up, and we sound off—verbally, or nowadays, electronically. A Facebook post or comment on an article sets us off and before we know it, our fingers are flying across the keys in a barrage of blistering verbiage, clicking and punching out insults and comebacks. It's reactive. Defensive. Cathartic. Some would even claim instinctual. Whatever you call it, it's everywhere. Negativity abounds on the 'net, and it can be …
Many summer nights during my childhood, I pedaled my way up to the local video store (Evergreen Video, to be specific) to grab the newest release, or at least one on my mom's list. If I was lucky, she would have sent me with a little extra cash to stop at the Baskin Robbins next door, for a scoop of strawberry ice cream. I'd place my treasures in my white wicker basket and steer my purple, rainbow banana-seated bike right back home. That video store was virtually the town's water cooler. We would run into neighbors, classmates, fellow parishioners. It was a tiny store with a pretty limited …
It's easy to set some pretty lofty resolutions. One day you look in the mirror, set your sights, lift your chin and proudly state, "This year will be better than the last." You'll quit smoking. You'll lose weight. You'll be nicer to your in-laws. You'll take up running. You'll spend more time with family. And you'll stick to your word. ...For a few days, at least. Maybe for a few weeks—and for the truly dedicated ones, months. At some point, the mirror fogs up. The finish line is clouded over with distraction, temptation, or just plain resignation. I know—some things are a lot easier said …
I don't know about you, but I had a wonderful Christmas. One filled with the love of my family, the laughter of little ones and the lights of a 9-foot tall Christmas tree. There was a feast of filet and turkey, homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce and deviled eggs. We stuffed our bellies and warmed our toes and hearts by the flickering fire, until we were close to dozing off. Picturesque, really. Perfect, even. But for some, holidays aren't always as full of all that good stuff. For some, the holidays can trigger sadness, stress and even depression. Those without family …
I have never considered myself "lucky." I don't gamble, because the few times I have, I have never won. Red lights don't flash into green as I'm approaching (yeah, yeah, I know this is more of a timing thing. But we've all tried to 'will' a red light green). I never find money in the pockets of my winter coats (who doesn't love that?). Nope. I would not say that Lady Luck and I were ever buds. Until now. Today, as Oak Forest Patch officially hits its one-year Patchiversary, I'm feeling pretty darn fortunate. A few years ago, I left behind my passion for journalism for a new career path. I …
My Mom's ice cream cake. You name the occasion in the Traut/Hosty family, and the resounding "tradition" will be that chocolate-whipped-cream-frosting-covered, two layer chocolate cake with a slab of vanilla ice cream sandwiched in between. Topped with strawberries. Thanksgiving is no exception—that cake has to make an appearance. Cousins even joke about wanting that cake as their wedding cake. I'm not kidding. We also try to remember to slow down after a holiday meal, and sip on some Bailey's and coffee—my late Grandpa Hosty's own favorite. AND if we can manage to pry our overstuffed selves …
"Kids will be kids." ... "Words will never hurt you." But they might drive you to hurt yourself. Last week, 10-year-old Ashlynn Conner couldn't take it anymore. After enduring what her mother calls years of bullying, the fifth-grader and honor student took her own life by hanging herself in her bedroom closet. In the wake of the news, her mother Stacy Conner told a local TV station that Ashlynn had been teased for years both in her school and community of Ridge Farm, IL. Just two weeks before Ashlynn's suicide, Conner thought she'd given her sound advice, and hoped she had pointed her …
Bengals fans, I'm betting that many of you wouldn't miss tonight's Oak Forest vs. Lemont football playoff game for anything. But maybe there are some who have to—things come up, right? Special events, occasions, etc. might keep you from watching your Bengals live. In that case, have no fear, Lemont Patch blogger Erik Anderson is here! Anderson will stream the game live on Lemont High School's streaming service, iHigh. Check it out by visiting the Lemont High School iHigh site. The stream will be live at kickoff, tonight at 7 p.m. Anderson will also provide pre-game coverage at 6:50 p.m. If, …
My cheeks still hurt from smiling. It's been hours since trick-or-treating ended. The kids have crashed after an epic (estimated) three sugar highs. The costumes are tucked back into the closet for possible future use (though you know next year they'll want new ones). The parents are strategizing how many Almond Joy bars, Snickers, Fun Dips and Dots they can steal without the kids noticing. And that's right, I'm still giggling after my evening out with Oak Forest's little munchkins. You have to check out who—and what—we saw traipsing around Oak Forest in search of sweets. Thanks for the great…
Anyone visiting the Markham Courthouse will have to shell out $4.75 in parking fees if the proposed Cook County budget is approved, according to a Sun-Times Media report. The increase would also apply to the Bridgeview courthouse. Jury duty? Yep.Court-date? Yep, you too. Accompanying someone? Yep, even you. I don't know about you, but this makes me a pretty peeved little park-er. I visit the courthouse, 16501 S. Kedzie Parkway, often to cover developments in local cases, and I don't typically have $4.75 to hand over. In the past, the Daley Center in downtown Chicago has been the only …
I was what most would call a nerd. I cared about my grades. I sang in the chorus. I was in every all-school musical. I was one of the first into the school every morning (my mom dropped me off on her way to work, around 6:30 a.m.), and often one of the last to leave due to extracurricular activities. I had a small, reliable circle of friends who met me at my locker in between classes. We had tame weekends (compared to the "popular" girls) and really didn't care all that much about boys—at least, not until junior and senior year. There were the girls who wore their skirts Britney Spears short…
Chicago's Field Museum earned a rather interesting distinction this week. It was voted as having the best bathrooms in the country. The museum topped the 10th annual America's Best Bathroom contest, which let people vote online for their favorite restroom. The contest was sponsored by Cintas Corp., which designs restroom supplies. So I'm wondering: Who has the best public restrooms in Oak Forest? Where's your favorite place to go when you have to "go?" It might sound like a silly question, but I'll bet you've noticed. I like the bathrooms at the Arbor Park District 145 District Offices, and …
