Local Woman Kick-Starts Effort to Get a Goat for Haitians

This year for their annual Vacation Bible School mission project, Most Holy Redeemer Parish chose to raise money to buy a family in Haiti a goat. Help them reach their $150 goal.

After Arlene Astrowski's son returned home from a Haiti mission trip and a USA Weekend article about donating to relief efforts after the 2010 earthquake came across her desk, she knew she had to be involved. The Tinley Park resident has worked as director of religious education for Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park for 18 years. This year marks the 10th year the church has participated in Vacation Bible School, and to add more meaning, Astrowski attaches a special mission project. For the 2012 project, the parish will raise $150 to sponsor a goat for a family living in Haiti through Norwich, Conn.-based Haitian Health Foundation. "My son got home from his mission trip and described the devastation. At the same time, I saw the …

• Photos (1)

Tinley Business Owner Steps up to the Plate After Coach Scams Youth Baseball Team

If not for benevolent spirits like that of local business owner, James Garner, a Hobart, IN, traveling baseball team may not have a season this year. The team's coach scammed parents for nearly $8,000 before flying the coop.

Ten-year-old Matthew Benton says that when he steps into the batter's box, he knows God wants him to be a Major League Baseball player. But two weeks ago, he wasn't even certain he'd be able to play on his youth traveling team. The baseball-obsessed Hobart, IN, player's world shattered when his coach scammed his team for thousands of dollars, possibly eliminating the season. Then on Sunday, the Deep River Devils played—and won—their first game. It would not be so if not for the generosity of others, like Jim Garner, owner of the Sports Station in Tinley Park. "I heard about it, and I knew I had to do something," Garner, 32, of Frankfort, said. "You just feel bad for the kids. They were left with no direction. This guy was really running …

•  8 Comments
• Photos (1)

Remarkable Resident

Tinley Resident Says Life-Saving Act is 'Something I'd do for Anyone'

A local man was recognized Tuesday for rescuing a man who was choking at a November event at St. George School in Tinley Park.

Steve Siegel was expecting a November breakfast at St. George School to kick off an ordinary lazy Sunday. Little did he know, however, that his actions that morning would lead to him being regarded as a local hero. Village officials recognized Siegel at their regular board meeting on Tuesday for saving a man's life during the Nov. 6 event, which was held to pay gratitude to the school's volunteers. When friend and fellow diner Rich Clausius made the "universal sign for choking" while eating pancakes, Siegel didn't hesitate to dart to the other side of the table. "You've never seen a chubby boy spring up so quickly," Siegel said Tuesday, with a hearty laugh. " … I never really looked at it as a heroic thing. It's something I'd do for …

• Photos (2)

Remarkable Resident

Clowning Around: Tinley Woman Paints on a Smile For Hospital Patients

Who says hospital visits can't include a little gentle humor? Not this Tinley Park resident.

Fresh bouquets and the latest magazines are popular gifts to bring when visiting a friend in the hospital. Not so for 74-year-old Tinley Park resident Alice Swift, who totes plastic flowers, toys, bubbles and other trinkets in her bag of tricks. And rather than visiting friends, she visits perfect strangers. Swift, a trained clown and performer, regularly volunteers her time and talent at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Dressed as “Ali the Clown” in full head-to-toe comic attire and matching size 22 shoes, she walks the hospital’s pediatric and physical therapy wings to entertain and chat with patients and their families. “I do some simple magic tricks, play silly games and pranks ... Nothing grand, but they seem to cheer …

• Photos (2)

Remarkable Resident

Hungry to Help, Area Mom Runs 50 Miles for Together We Cope

Pam Erickson, of Frankfort Square, set out on a 50-mile mission to collect 3,000 food items for the Tinley Park food pantry—and she did it.

Pam Erickson has been recognized as Greatest Person of the Day on Huffington Post, a feature that spotlights ordinary and extraordinary people in Patch communities whose acts of courage, determination, volunteerism and compassion have made a difference in their towns. These are people who inspire and energize others to strengthen their communities and improve lives. Pam Erickson is "just that competitive." She once ran a 50-mile trail race in Michigan, during which the man running beside her mentioned he had solicited food donations from supporters prior to the race to donate to a local food pantry. He had collected 3,000 items. "I thought, 'I want to raise 3,001.' Just one more than him," she said, laughing. Well, she surpassed her goal, …

• Photos (2)

Loved Ones Remember Bob Oehmen, 'Mr. VFW'

Local unsung hero, Bob Oehmen, died in his Oriole Avenue home this week. Family and friends spoke of the ever-lasting impression he left on the community.

Bob Oehmen often said he lived to help his fellow servicemen and women. And after volunteering at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2791 for nearly 42 years, many would argue that he died doing just that. Oehmen passed away Monday afternoon, nine days after his 89th birthday. He died of natural causes in his Tinley Park home surrounded by family, his children said this week. Some of his 11 kids—five are his, four are those of his wife, Charline, and two they had together—were found in the VFW bar Tuesday, "having a drink for dad." They had just returned from solidifying burial arrangements at Vandenberg Funeral Home. "He was a hell of a guy," his son, Mark Oehmen, 57, said, shaking his head and gazing off. "He was my very best friend. I'm …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (3)

Remarkable Resident

Birthday Girl Asks for a Special Gift: The Chance to Help Others

You'll never guess what's on 8-year-old Isabel Garcia's birthday wish list.

Along with cake and ice cream, most kids look forward to scoring new toys, craft kits and video games when their birthdays come around. But 8-year-old Oak Forest resident Isabel Garcia is not like most kids. Sure she likes school, takes dance lessons, is a cheerleader and used to play soccer. But for her, birthdays are not about the gifts at all. They're about finding worthy community causes that need her help. This year, she pinpointed the Together We Cope Food Pantry in Tinley Park as the place she'd like to focus her energy. When she celebrated her 8th year on Sept. 10—six days before her actual birthday—with her friends from school, Isabel asked them to bring her food donations in lieu of gifts. The trend started after she turned 6 …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (3)
• Videos (1)

Remarkable Resident

On a Mission: Tinley Park Teacher Helps Orphans in Need

Angela Pudzimus had the chance to kick back and relax over summer vacay. Instead, she traveled to Haiti to volunteer.

Angela Pudzimis realized last academic year that for the first time since graduating college, she was about to have a free summer. Instead of spending it in a backyard hammock or sipping cocktails on a beach, the 30-year-old Tinley Park High School special education teacher decided to volunteer helping orphaned children—in Haiti. “I wanted to do something to give back to others and I knew I wanted to work with children,” Pudzimis, of Tinley Park, said, adding that she's typically spent her summers in graduate school or teaching. After doing some research, she found an organization that seemed a perfect fit for her educational background and good intentions. Visiting Orphans is a Christian-based nonprofit organization leading mission trips …

• Photos (3)

Remarkable Resident

Local Cancer Survivor Wears Pink to Save Lives

Tinley Park resident Jill Bettenhausen beat breast cancer. Now she encourages women to get mammograms once a year, for early detection.

When Tinley Park resident Jill Bettenhausen faces the sunrise every morning, she feels like she's unwrapping a gift. "Every day is a new day that I feel blessed to have," she said. "I try and live it to the fullest." In March of 2010, Bettenhausen was diagnosed with breast cancer. She recently celebrated her one year anniversary of being cancer free. She sat down with Patch to share her story of struggles, triumphs and helping other breast cancer sufferers fight for their lives. The minute they told me I had cancer, everything stopped. At first I cried a lot. In a day or two I pulled it together. I began to research about it and talk with other women who went through breast cancer. My family and I focused on how we were going to get rid of…

•  3 Comments
• Photos (3)

Remarkable Resident

Local Volunteer Keeps the Wheels Rollin' in Tinley

Together We Cope selected Andy Ashmus as one of its 2011 Volunteers of the Year. But that's not the only place he spends his time.

Walk into Andy Ashmus' basement and you'll find chains, aluminum fenders, handlebars and an assortment of various nuts and bolts. But he's not a collector. He's a bicycle fixer. That's one of the many reasons why the Tinley Park resident was a co-recipient of the Together We Cope 2011 Volunteer Award. Together We Cope assists families in temporary crisis from Bremen, Orland, Palos and Worth townships. "I was shocked," he said, of being honored. "The award wasn't what I was trying for. It's a fun place to volunteer." Ashmus began volunteering back in the late 1970s as an assistant Boy Scout leader for Tinley's Troop 378 when his sons were scouts, he said. "Because of all the community work and badges earned, both my sons earned Eagle Scout…

•  3 Comments
• Photos (4)