Winners emerge in local bee
The Forest Park Middle School hosted the annual district-wide spelling bee last week and winners were crowned in each grade level. To be eligible for the final round, students had to first win spelling competitions in their homeroom classes.
In third grade, Ralen Ricardo of Garfield Elementary won on the word “gimmick.” Fourth-grader Robert Hoskins, also of Garfield Elementary, spelled “hazardous” for the victory. From Field-Stevenson Elementary, fifth-grader Firas Shaher correctly spelled “ointment” for the win. Dana Marigmen spelled “grueling” to take the sixth-grade title. In grade seven, Kathleen Turek won on the word “coup.” In the eighth-grade competition Angel D’Souza correctly spelled “reservoir” to take the top prize.
Each contestant received a certificate and a gift card to Border’s. The winners were awarded with medals and a $50 savings bond from the Forest Park National Bank. The District 91 spelling bee is not affiliated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition.
Council meeting rescheduled
The regular meeting of the village council originally scheduled for Tuesday, May 29 has been moved. The council will conduct its second meeting of the month on Wednesday, May 30 in the council chambers at 7 p.m.
The Forest Park Village Council holds regularly scheduled meetings twice a month on the second and fourth Monday. However, May 28 is Memorial Day and village hall will be closed. The meeting was rescheduled to May 29, but a scheduling conflict was identified, pushing the meeting to May 30.
Not quitting her day job
A Forest Park woman vying for a shot at stardom said she will not be quitting college anytime soon.
Carrie Schwebl, a sophomore at DePaul University, auditioned for a local network television singing competition in which the finalists would compete in front of radio station disc jockeys. Though she didn’t get a call from Fox Chicago to appear in the final round, Schwebl said she enjoyed the experience and continue to focus on her academics.
“It was fun, it was cool,” Schwebl said, after the winner was announced on May 14.
Schwebl, a lifelong village resident, performed for thousands of soccer fans two years ago when she sang the National Anthem at the start of a Chicago Fire game at Soldier Field. The televised competition on Fox Chicago was actually a spin-off from the hugely popular “American Idol” series.
Schwebl said in lieu of a multi-million dollar recording contract she hopes to find a career in broadcast journalism.
Remembering the fallen
Memorial Day observances will begin at 1 p.m. next Monday as members of American Legion Post 414 lay wreaths in Forest Home Cemetery to honor fallen soldiers.
Legion members will gather May 28 at a memorial for the Grand Army Republic and at Veterans’ Triangle in the cemetery on Des Plaines Avenue. Wreaths will be laid at both sites and a three-gun salute will follow.
At 2 p.m. Legion members will march to the park at the corner of Harrison and Beloit streets. There, the colors will be presented and a 21-gun salute will follow remarks made by the mayor and other local dignitaries. The public is invited to attend all of the remembrance ceremonies and may join Legion members afterward for refreshments at 500 Circle Ave.
Also participating in the Memorial Day services will be members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7181.
-Compiled by Josh Adams
