Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Countless area groups came together to collect about 1,000 pounds of supplies for soldiers overseas.
Three Companions Youth Groups from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church packed and shipped 101 boxes to wounded soldiers in medical units in Afghanistan, adding up to roughly 1,000 pounds of total supplies, and about 225 pounds of Halloween candy. On Nov. 18, three Companions Youth Groups gathered to pack boxes, managing to pack the boxes within two hours. Through the generosity of Monroe School Hinsdale fifth grade class, the Cass 63 Foundation, Morgan Stanley employees of Oak Brook, Companions Youth Groups from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and friends and neighbors in Darien and Timberlake, the groups were able to collect food, games, magazines, hygiene products, letters of support, and books to ship. Soldiers’ Angels is a nonprofit …
Monday, June 6, 2011
Crowd outside Woodridge Police Department greets James Guerra on Saturday from deployment to Afghanistan.
Dozens waited outside the Woodridge Police Department Saturday night to welcome home Marine corpsman and Woodridge police officer James Guerra. Guerra, a gunnery sergeant in the Marines, returned home from a deployment in Afghanistan. He has served in the Marines for 15 years and as a Woodridge police officer for nine years. As part of the Marine Corps reserves, he left a year ago when his unit was activated. He has a wife, Andrea, and three children: Vanessa, 15, Gavin, 8, and Charlize, 3. Woodridge police met Guerra at Midway to escort him to Woodridge. Members of Operation Welcome You Home, Warrior Watch freedom riders, family, friends and community members formed a flag line as Guerra and the caravan arrived. As he hugged those …
Monday, May 16, 2011
The five must-read stories from last week.
We know you're busy. That's why we hand-pick the five must-read stories from the past week to get you caught up on the big news in Woodridge. Want to read more? Check out all of our stories under the 'News' tab. Village Releases Statement on Pabst Move After the news emerged from a released internal e-mail, the village commented on the move of the brewing company to Los Angeles. Village Board Approves Final Site Plan for New Clara's Location The popular Woodridge restaurant got the go-ahead for its final site plan Thursday night. The new location will be next to Clara's current location. Man Allegedly Threatens Two People with Shotgun The incident occurred May 8. Woodridge Welcomes Thomas Novotny Home from Afghanistan Novotny returns …
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thomas Novotny, U.S. Navy HM2, returned to Woodridge May 7 after serving in Afghanistan for seven months.
To watch a video of Novotny's homecoming, click the image on the right. Some of those waiting Saturday for Thomas P. Novotny II to return after serving in Afghanistan for seven months knew him. Two were his neighbors, who had grown closer with his family after their son enlisted in the Marines three years ago. “We’re experiencing the same thing, the worry,” neighbor Alan Husby said. “We talk over the fence and worry together. Sometimes we cry together.” Some didn’t know Novotny personally. Terry Cornell has been to 20 homecomings for soldiers from the Chicago area, she said. She packs boxes for troops with Operation Support Our Troops. That’s how she became acquainted with Operation Welcome You Home, which organized Novotny’s homecoming…
Summer Hobik
9:29 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Both my husband and I are veterans and we cannot thank you enough for serving our country and keeping us safe!!!! It is wonderful to hear that you made it home! Our prayers are with all of the soldiers and their families. Thank you for your sacrifice, thank you for our freedom, to all veterans! Thank you, thank you, thank you! more ›