Over 50 soldiers serving in Iraq will soon receive boxes filled with everything from toiletries to T-shirts to treats, thanks to the hard work of Village Clerk's office employee Linda Sacramento and the generosity of numerous people in and around village hall. The 54 boxes will find their way to one Marine unit and five Army units.

Sacramento came up with the idea after trying to think of ways to help support her nephew, who's currently serving in Iraq, and show him the folks back home care about the people there, regardless of how they may feel about the war. Sacramento is far from the only person around the village with a loved one serving in a Middle East war zone. Numerous police and fire personnel have friends, family members and colleagues serving as well, and they all chipped in.

Last Friday, Sacramento and Community Service Officer Carmen Castro were kept busy hauling cases of items and packaging material into Room 102 in the southeast corner of village hall. Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation donated many of the boxes for shipping, as did the U.S. Post Office. Those who didn't donate items for shipment donated cash for the shipping bills.

The Oak Park firefighter's union local gave $200 to the effort, and the Oak Park police lodge gave $250. Sacramento got additional help from her sister, Mary Ann Murdaugh, who took a vacation day from work, and her brother in-law, Michael. "We spent all day boxing them up," said Sacramento, who was pleased but pooped just before quitting time Friday. The items enclosed are a mix of the practical and the pleasurable, including new white socks, T-shirts, cotton balls, moisturizer, wet wipes and hand sanitizer, mouthwash, eye wash, assorted candy, cookies and granola bars and powdered Kool-Aid and Gatorade. They even included tuna fish and "noodles in a cup." There's also DVDs of old movies and 14-inch softballs. Sacramento thanked those who'd helped out the effort, and she's certain those serving over in the Middle East will be grateful as well.

5K Pender walk benefits domestic violence programs

Two years ago this April, Therese Acheson Pender, who was staying with friends in River Forest after separating from her abusive husband, was brutally murdered as she walked home from work on Lake Street. Her estranged husband and alleged murderer, James F. Pender, is currently awaiting trial.

As her family endures the long, drawn-out legal process leading up to his trial, they are hoping to honor her memory and help benefit programs that help women who are victims of domestic violence.

This Saturday, a number of Therese Pender's family and friends hope to be joined by many others in the 1st annual 5K Walk to Stop Domestic Violence. The walk, which will benefit Constance Morris House in Therese's name, will begin and end in Keystone Park, Lake Street at Keystone Avenue. Registration starts at 8 a.m. A minimum donation of $15 gets you a commemorative T-shirt. Those interested can contact Samantha at 708/387-1317, or e-mail Lisa at
Lisasatterthwaite@bcglobal.net.

D90 a lock, D97 barely misses Apple

Educational research and consulting firm SchoolSearch has presented the Bright Red Apple Award for Educational Excellence for 14 years, and last week, River Forest District 90 won its 14th.

A district receives the award based on its academic performance, pupil-to-teacher ratio, teacher qualifications and financial support. Award winners are "strong" in all four categories.

SchoolSearch selected 84 elementary school districts for the award, including Dist. 90, out of 772 Illinois schools serving elementary students.

"This [award] is an indicator that this is a quality school district," said Interim Superintendent Dr. David Bonnette. "This really is a district that cares about children."

Oak Park's District 97 received a Bright Red Apple the past 13 years but did not in 2007. The only criterion Dist. 97 missed was the required ISAT average score of 85.43, instead receiving an 85.33.

"They barely missed it," said SchoolSearch President Dee Shugart.

The award is important for schools, Bonnette said, because the information is shared with Fortune 500 companies and others, which inform parents looking to enroll their children in a new school when they move.

Oak Park and River Forest District 200 received the high school version of the award, one of 21 high schools chosen in 2007 out of 495 districts serving high school students. The district also received the distinction in 2005.

RF board honors Hazel's century

The River Forest village board took a moment Monday night to honor longtime resident Hazel Schuth, who recently turned 100 years old. Born in Chicago on July 29, 1907, Schuth moved to the village when she was 38.

President Frank Paris and the board of trustees publicly recognized Schuth "on this milestone event [and] for the outstanding contributions she has made to the community."

During her 62 years in the village, Schuth has served on the River Forest Council on Foreign Affairs and as a member and president of the River Forest Women's Club. She has also been a dedicated parishioner at St. Luke Church and volunteered for many years with Catholic Charities.

Wednesday Journal seconds the village board's best wishes for her continued good health and happiness in the years to come. And remember, she was alive when the Cubs last won a World Series.

OP, RF banks again among best

Oak Park and River Forest banks again were ranked near the top of the list of most profitable banks in the Chicago area in Crain's annual list.

Oak Park's Mike Kelly, who owns FBOP Inc., heads the fourth most profitable bank, Park National, which had a 2.43-percent return on average assets. The bank had $3.7 billion in assets last year. Corus Bank, which has River Forest roots, had a 2.13-percent return on $9.8 billion in assets. And Community Bank of Oak Park-River Forest, with Oak Parker Marty Knoll at the helm, had a 1.85-percent return on $275 million in assets.

PADS stats

Everyone knows about PADS, the rotating homeless shelter, which just completed its 15th shelter season and whose main offices are now located in Maywood. But not everyone knows about the PADS Daytime Support Center, which set a record by serving 442 individuals in 2006. According to their latest newsletter, PADS Notes, "The Support Center is a year-round, multi-service program that addresses the income, health, employment and housing needs of the homeless in our community in order to reduce the length of their homelessness."

Services break down into two tiers-"basic self-care services necessary for daily living" and "case management." In 2006 in the first category, PADS provided 1,065 showers, 1,435 clothing vouchers, 493 laundry vouchers and 370 haircut vouchers. Through case management, 191 people received income through public benefits or employment and 119 secured stable housing.

PADS is holding a Progressive Dinner on the Avenue on Sept. 10. Call 338-1724, ext. 262 for more information.