Established 1958

Robert E. Maloney, Palos Township Assessor, wishes to inform the residents of Palos Township that the time period to file an appeal with the Board of Review is September 14 through October 13. Palos Township is located at 10802 S. Roberts Rd., Palos Hills. The hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The cutoff date for the Appeal to be done through the Township is no later than October 5 due to preparing and entering all documentation before the October 13 deadline at the Cook County Board of Review.

If you want to file an appeal after the Palos Township location deadline, you can do so online at cookcountyboardofreview.com. If you need comparable properties and step by step instructions, then contact Heather at 708-598-4449 or assessor@palostownship.org and they will be sent to you. 

Full story available in the Palos Citizen

Despite the rain and gloom of the day, staff members and students from Shepard High School gathered the morning of Friday, September 11 for a socially-distanced remembrance of 9/11.

U.S. Air Force JROTC instructors Major (ret.) Dan Johnson and MSGT (ret.) Chris Saberniak organized a poignant ceremony that also served as lesson in history: None of their students had been born when the terrorist attacks happened.

The JROTC colorguard brought students to attention to start the ceremony. As trumpet players from the Shepard marching band performed ‘Taps,’ JROTC students lowered the American flag to half-staff while classmates saluted.

Students Nick Bucio, Kiana Gonzalez, Julia Sinisi and Chanel Talbott then took turns reading the presidential proclamation declaring September 11 as Patriot Day. 

Pictured: Shepard High School senior Jocelyn Anaya leads her U.S. Air Force JROTC classmates in a salute while other students lower the flag to half-staff during the remembrance of 9/11.

Full story available in the Palos Citizen

District 218, like all school systems, scrambled to shift from traditional instruction to remote learning last spring as the pandemic surged. As one of the few districts with a remote learning plan in place at the time teachers adjusted.

Still, as novices in online instruction, teachers learned on the job. Over the summer, however, district staff prepared along two tracks: That students would return for a traditional school year and the possibility of continued remote learning.  

Based on recommendations from health authorities, District 218 chose to keep students home indefinitely. Teachers were ready.

“I think the biggest difference between the remote learning last spring and the remote learning now is contextual to the calendar. Last year it was sprung on us at the end of the year. This year we had more time to prepare for opening the school in a remote model,” said Dr. Mike Jacobson, principal at Richards High School in Oak Lawn.

Jacobson knows this from experience. He chose to co-teach an English class.

“I can tell you first hand that we have had to go above and beyond to connect with our kids. I understand that it is a different kind of work than we have done in the past. But I assure you it is not less work. Every lesson I plan takes twice as long as it used to. There are so many more things to consider from how can I make this learning more engaging, to how can I better use the technology to give kids inspiration and access,” he said.

Full story available in the Palos Citizen

The Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce will host the 20th Annual Business Showcase and Health Fair in conjunction with Oak Lawn Community High School’s Craft Fair on Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Oak Lawn Community High School. The event will be held outside in the student parking lot (95th & Austin Ave.)

Several businesses are expected to participate by showcasing their various products and services. 

Flu shots will be available from Walgreens Pharmacy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your insurance card or a copy for billing purposes. If you don’t have insurance, Walgreens will give a special discount. They will also have a full spectrum of healthcare providers, and more. 

For more information, or for an exhibitor application, call the Chamber office at 708-424-8300 or email office@oaklawnchamber.com. Booth fees are $50.00 for Chamber members and $100.00 for non-members. 

Full story available in the Palos Citizen