The Best Prom Money Can Buy: South Suburban Spending Habits

We called on our Facebook fans from across the south suburbs to share their experiences dealing with the expenses of a modern-day prom.

For some, prom is the apex of the high school experience—a magical night to be looked back on with nostalgia for years to come.  Others will recount it as a well-dressed ten-ton credit-munching beast with an insatiable appetite. Like Matt L., our Tinley Park Patch Facebook friend who needed several years to pay his parents off his parents for a prom loan. Or Angie S. from Oak Lawn, who budgeted $1,000 for her daughters’ proms (and she’s not the exception). Now that we’re in the heart of prom season, we were curious to hear about the financial impact prom has on the typical south suburban family. How much does the average local family spend on a prom, and who foots the bill? Mom and dad, or the teens? We asked our Facebook fans across the …

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New Mother McAuley President Chats With Patch

Patch sat down with new Mother McAuley President Mary Acker Klingenberger for an exclusive video interview.

Three weeks ago, Mary Acker Klingenberger began her new job as president of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School. Patch’s Dan Lambert recently sat down with Klingenberger to chat about her return to her alma mater, her role as president and her plan for the school. Klingenberger is a 1975 graduate of Mother McAuley. She was previously director of gift planning at Hinsdale Hospital and was a regional president Harris Bank of Hinsdale. Now, she's taking her background in fund raising and management back home. I love Mother McAuley and think it provided me with an opportunity to be fearless throughout my career. You can find the rest of the interview and exclusive video on Evergreen Park Patch.

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Heroin is a Terrorist Attack on Our Young People

Orland Fire Battalion Chief Mike Schofield shares his perspective on the drug from a career working emergencies.

Over the past several years our area has seen the reemergence of the drug heroin. Though this time around it is more pure and potent then it was many years ago. Heroin is a cheap, highly addictive drug and has no clinical/medical use. As the use of this drug increases so does the impact in our communities. The devastation of families, increase in crime (to fund the addiction), robbing our young of their innocence, making some a lifelong prisoner to addiction and in the most extreme cases death. One of the most shocking things is how accessible this drug is. In almost any high school students know a user or supplier. Heroin can be smoked, snorted or shot into your veins. It is relatively cheap and surprisingly easily to get. This drug is …

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Carl Sandburg 2011 Graduation: Viewfinder

The Orland Park high school held its 2011 graduation outdoors, despite the unseasonably rough weather.

Cold weather and strong winds didn't stop the Class of 2011 from enjoying their moment as Carl Sandburg High School held its graduation ceremonies on the football field.

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New Board and New Leadership for D230

After swearing in one new and two re-elected board members, District 230 voted for a new president, vice president and secretary.

Thursday was a night of change for the District 230 school board, with a new member and new president, vice president and secretary. Following the results of the April 5 election, the new board was sworn in Thursday night. Re-elected board members Patrick O'Sullivan and Kathy Quilty and newcomer Rick Nogal took their oaths. The three ran as a slate. Board member Dennis Cook did not seek re-election after eight years on the board. "It feels strange to say 'retiring' at the age of 33," the 1996 Sandburg High School graduate said. Although Nogal, who was until Tuesday the president of the Palos School District 118 board, is the only new face on the board, there were more shake-ups in the election of a new president, vice president and …

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VIDEO: Scenes From the D230 Mid-Year Graduation

On Thursday night, 43 students from District 230's three high schools – Victor J. Andrew, Carl Sandburg and Amos Alonzo Stagg – participated in the district's mid-year graduation, opting to move on a semester ahead of their fellow 2011 seniors. For a full list of the students, see the program brochure located below the video. Click here to go back to "Graduation Central"

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Olympians Come Out Flat Against Sandburg

Rich Central lost to Sandburg 55-51 after falling behind by double digits in the fourth quarter.

Rich Central head coach Terrone Parham has seen better efforts from his team. The Olympians (9-7) dug themselves a double digit hole in the fourth-quarter, and despite fighting back to within two points, lost 55-51. The non-conference match-up was a potential let-down game for Rich Central, as the team was coming off of a rivalry-game victory over Rich South last Friday night and looking forward to a game against Crete-Monee this coming Friday. “Not to make any excuses…it’s one of those dead, middle of everything games,” Parham said. “I was afraid for this game. My fears came true.” In the first quarter, Sandburg (9-5) looked to senior guard Jason Viane to lead the way. Viane, who was fighting through a cold all night, hit two threes in …

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D230 Honored for Relay For Life

The district's May fundraiser for cancer research raised nearly $400,000.

For the past 14 years, District 230 has sponsored a Relay for Life overnight walk fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Andrew High School teen event chair Kyle Polke said the stories cancer survivors tell at the event are what brings it home for him. "The best moment to me is when students are close to crying because they realize the true meaning of the event and why we're doing it," he said. During Thursday's school board meeting at Andrew, students and staff from the district's three schools – Andrew, Stagg and Sandburg – were honored for creating one of the nation's most successful Relays. In its 14 years, the district's Relay for Life event has raised more than $2 million for cancer research, with more than $396,000 raised at …

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Sandburg vs. Stagg: Here, There, Anywhere

District football rivals have bigger issues on their minds than the odd location of the game.

When District 230 rivals Sandburg and Stagg square off for the sixth straight season Friday at 7:15 p.m., something will be odd. The location. Sandburg is supposed to be the home team, but the game is being played at Andrew High School in Tinley Park because the Thunderbolts have the only District 230 school whose field is ready with the new field turf. "We haven't given the location of our game any attention," Stagg coach Brian Buglio said. "We are focused on getting better as a football team, being prepared for Friday night and competing at a high level." The location actually could be a home-field advantage of sorts for Sandburg, which defeated Andrew 23-16 on that same field in last Friday's season opener. "We had a routine there, and …

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