In the Rear View: Going Bananas, Helping Young Cancer Patients And Fencing Classes

We look back at a week of police contract news, police maybe breaking burglary ring, House of Brides moving, Drew Peterson being found guilty and the village planning a media blitz for its tax rebate program.

MONDAY Comings & Goings: Halloween Stores Return Halloween stores return, Miroballi Shoes is holding a clearance sale as the business gets ready to move into its permanent location, Buona Beef is under construction. Former Olympian teaching fencing classes at Cultural Center Instructor wants unusual sport to grow in south suburbs and let students and parents know that fencing is safe swordplay. TUESDAY 'A Peeling' New Cafe in Orland Park: Blissful Banana Three concepts in one is a sure way for any guest to try something different at new cafe that opened earlier this year. 3 Women Charged With Stealing From Sandburg High School Three women will appear in court later this month on charges they stole $10,000 from Sandburg High School's …

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Treasure Chest Expands to Send More Toys to Young Cancer Patients

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest helps children fighting cancer deal with the pain that comes in the treatment for their illness.

Colleen Kisel took a lesson learned while her 7-year-old son, Martin, battled leukemia and turned it into a special project that helps 1,000 kids each month remember that they are still kids. “I started to bribe my son with toys because the procedures were so brutal,” Kisel says describing what inspired her to create the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation in 1996. Martin recently celebrated his 19th anniversary of remission from the disease. Kisel said the cancer treatments at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn were painful and did not address the fact that the young patients were just kids. “They didn’t even have suckers for the kids,” she said. “Nothing. The kids didn't know what cancer was. All they knew was that when they came to …

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Business Comings 'n Goings

Comings & Goings: Tinley Repair Shop Serves 100,000th Customer

Foundation dedicated to comforting children and teens fighting cancer moves into a new location in Orland Park.

It took a little longer than expected, but Matt’s TV serviced its 100,000th customer last week. Warren Kilmer, of Mokena, was the lucky customer on Aug. 8. He was surprised with an LG Network Blue-ray player, an LG Smart TV adapter, a Sycom surge protector, connecting cables and a certificate for $100 toward a new TV of his choice. He also took home a bag of munchies for his TV watching. Store manager Walter Jones said the total value for all of the prizes was $500. The store has been around for more than 50 years and has been at 17236 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park since 1971. The store has been owned by Jim Fuentes, known as the Mayor of Oak Park Avenue, for the past eight years. He also runs his State Farm Insurance Agency from inside …

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Celebs Raise Money in Orland Park to Honor Jack Brickhouse

Chicago sports luminaries came to 94 West last week to raise money for the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, and had some fun in the process.

She always has energy in her words, but Patricia Brickhouse was even more excited than usual when asked about the recent Jack Brickhouse Benefit in Orland Park. “For our first time in Orland Park, I’m very pleased,” said the wife of the legendary Chicago broadcaster, who organized the event in honor of her husband. "Everyone had a lovely time." 94 West hosted a packed house Thursday night for the first Orland Park Jack Brickhouse Benefit, to raise money for the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. A live auction during the event brought in $4,185 alone, Patricia Brickhouse said. More funds from ticket sales and other donations also came in and are still being tallied. Serving the attendees were an all-star slate of Chicago sports …

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Letters to the Editor

Treasure Chest Director 'Amazed' By Generosity

Colleen Kisel, director of Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, expresses gratitude toward businesses, schools and organizations who donated resources and effort to help children suffer less during cancer treatment.

Dear Friends, The mission of the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation is to provide comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens who have been diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift card from a treasure chest. During this past December, several local schools and businesses hosted holiday toy drives which resulted in an enormous donation of toys. Each year I am amazed by the fact that these organizations—all located within close proximity to our Orland Park headquarters—are able to provide enough toys to directly benefit children and teens at more than 41 treatment centers across the nation. As the Founder and CEO of the foundation, I would like to convey my personal thanks and deep sense of …

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Treasure Chest Chock Full of Gifts for Kids

The Orland Park-based foundation collects toys for children suffering from cancer and recently saw a 20 percent increase in donations.

Kristine Bulian knew what her family had to do. About two and a half years ago, her daughter Hannah was admitted to Advocate Hope Children's Hospital for intense chemotherapy to treat leukemia. It was her 12th birthday. When the doctors found out it was Hannah's birthday, she immediately got to pick a present from the "treasure chest," a selection of toys donated to hospitals across the country from the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. During 16 hospital stays that followed after her birthday, the staff would bring her toys to choose from on days when she needed rest, especially after a difficult procedure. "It was significant. She always smiled," Kristine Bulian said.  "The hospital staff would always look for the perfect …

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