Flip Out with Flapjacks at OF Rotary Breakfast

On Feb. 17, at Oak Forest High School, the Oak Forest Rotary will host a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will also be a free pancake breakfast during the event.

The Oak Forest Rotary club is stepping up to help save lives, and they're asking residents to help by donating blood. The rotary club will host a blood drive and pancake breakfast at Oak Forest High School, 15201 S Central Ave., on Sunday, Feb. 17. The pancake breakfast is free to attend. Local bands and groups will get in on the fun, with live musical and dance performances, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Performers will include the Oak Forest High School Jazz Ensemble, the Kerkstra and Foster school choirs and the Hille Middle School Jazz and Woodwind Ensembles. A full list of performers can be found here. Preregistration is not required to donate blood, but it is encouraged. Registration can be done by contacting Rotarian Jim Watson at (708) …

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Donate Blood This Weekend and Get an Oberweis Gift Card

Appointments are recommended for the Oak Forest Rotary Blood Drive on Saturday.

Oak Forest Rotary and the Oak Forest Park District are sponsoring a community blood drive this Saturday. The drive will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Park District Building, 15601 S. Central Ave. Those who make an appointment ahead of time will be honored ahead of walk-ins. To schedule a time, contact Rotarian Jim Watson at 708-687-7026 or the park district at 708-687-7270. A photo ID also is required. Organizers recommend eating at good meal and drinking plenty of water before making a donation. Everyone who donates gets a free gift card to Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy. Join the conversation. Like Oak Forest Patch on Facebook and sign up for the breaking news alerts! Want more local news?

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Oak Forest Man Donates 190th Pint of Blood, In Memory of Daughter

Forty years after losing his 3-year-old daughter to leukemia, Jim Watson continues to help others—and honor her memory—by donating blood.

Forty years after the death of Jim Watson's 3-year-old daughter Joleen, he still has trouble talking about it. The grief never quite goes away, he said—he's always thinking, 'what if.' Joleen succumbed to leukemia in 1971, and with today's technology and advances in medicine, he wonders if she might have survived. He tries not to dwell. Instead, he lies down, rolls up his sleeve, takes a deep breath and gives blood. On Feb. 12, he donated his 190th pint during the Oak Forest Rotary's Annual Pancake Breakfast. "My passion is for my daughter," Watson said. "That's what keeps me going." Shortly after her death, Watson started the blood drive in Joleen's name. At the time, he was employed by Montgomery Ward, which helped publicize his efforts …

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Gone Fishin'

Sign Your Name (and Your Platelets) On the Dotted Line

Oak Forest Patch Editor Lauren Traut closes her eyes, sits back and watches a pint of blood drip out of her, into Heartland Blood Center's blood banks, in her first blood donation ever.

Legend has it that when I was a child visiting my pediatrician, I once reached for a needle headed for my arm and fought to turn it around on the nurse holding it. There was no way that needle was going into my skin. No way. No sir. That's how fond I am of needles. (Don't worry, the nurse didn't end up the one stuck; my mother prevailed at holding me still long enough for the stick.) Somehow, during my visit to the Community Awareness Fair Saturday, Oct. 8, a member of the Oak Forest Rotary talked me into donating my blood. "You'll save three lives!" Rotarian Jim Watson said. I looked at him, knees trembling, and shakily agreed to throw some of my platelets (and red cells, and plasma) into the pot, along with 51 other donors that day (…

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Constance Barrera

11:59 am on Tuesday, October 11, 2011

My arm was sore for about two hours then all was good.   more ›

This Weekend: Taste of Palos, Sweeney Todd and More

Festivals, performing arts, sports, kid friendly and charitable events this weekend, July 14 - 17, in the Orland, Palos, Tinley and Oak Forest area.

Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus and Magellan knew how to party.  Life's more fun when you get out and explore it. So put down the remote and pick your GPS - it's time to discover the weekend. This weekend brings monsters, horror, and blood (donations). Taste of Palos July 17, 12pm - 7:30pm | W 123rd St & S 89th Ave, Palos Park, IL Enjoy a day of good food, entertainment, games and much more. Sponsored by the Palos Park Woman's Club, proceeds from the Taste of Palos help support Grade School District 118, High School District 230, Police and Fire Departments and the library. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street July 15, 8pm; July 16, 2pm & 8pm, July 17, 2pm | Marist High School The Lantern Theatre presents a musicial considered …

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PatchCast: A Daily Video Report

Daily PatchCast: Pancakes, Music and Basketball

A daily video recap of the region's top stories

For the Love of the Music: Seniors Jam on Valentine's Day Back to Triangle Case Delayed Until April While New Judge Takes Over Back to Food 4 Less Grand Opening: Big Scissors, Big Checks, Big Store Boys Basketball: Stagg Ends Lemont's Upset Bid Back to Rotary's Free Flapjacks, Local Entertainers Draw a Crowd

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Club Cooks Up Free Flapjacks and Fun, Hopes for Blood Donations

OF Rotary hosts 17th Annual Pancake Breakfast, Blood Drive Feb. 13

Breakfast and blood don't typically add up to a good time, but 16 years have proved differently for the Oak Forest Rotary Club. Each year the club provides a free pancake breakfast and entertainment for hundreds, but some of the more charitable guests also donate blood during the event. Last year, the club fed more than 700 people, with blood donations from 61 patrons. They hope to beat that record this Sunday, Feb. 13 at Oak Forest High School with its 17th Annual Rotary Blood Drive and Free Pancake Breakfast.   In 1994, John Keane and other Rotarians decided to hold a pancake breakfast for the community and make it free for seniors. With only a small group of seniors in attendance, Keane wasn’t satisfied. Something had to change. “I knew…

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