Local Author - "Just a Boy From Home"

Jim McMahon asked me to post this about a local author -

I just finished reading a book written by a woman from the neighborhood, Catherine “Bourke” Chambers. Many of us know Cathy from different neighborhood functions and sporting events as she and her husband Tom raised their 3 sons here in Mt Greenwood, while many more know her from when she was the Crossing Guard at 103rd & Central Park . If this still doesn’t ring a bell, I’m sure you’ll remember the incident when she was seriously injured as she fell victim to a “hit and run” driver at that intersection while she was working back in about 1998. She returned to work briefly but has since resumed her teaching career at Marist High School .

The name of the book is “Just a Boy from Home,” a biography about her Father “William Bourke” who immigrated to the United States of America from County Mayo, Ireland and settled on the southside of Chicago. It’s an eloquently written book full of wit & wisdom with all the funny stories, history, heartbreak and sayings that you could only expect from an Irish family growing up in Chicago . This book will take you back to a much simpler time and as I read it, it became apparent that nobody else other than a family member could have so vividly expressed the love and emotions in a biography than Cathy did for her Father. It’s written straight from her heart and was particularly fun for me to read because my Mother came from County Mayo too, and speaking from first hand personal knowledge, these hard working people were the “Salt of the Earth” and a rare cast of characters, “that we’ll never see the likes of again!”

I give this book a ringing endorsement as a literary masterpiece and would highly recommend it to anyone that grew up in Chicago , no matter where your roots are from. Please patronize this local talent by reading “Just a Boy from Home.” Here’s how you can get a copy:

Ø Winston’s @ 7961 W. 159th Street in Tinley Park
Ø Irish Imports @ 111th Street in Chicago ,
Ø Touch of Green @ 6761 W. 95th in Oak Lawn
Ø Shamrock imports @ 3150 N. Laramie in Chicago (Northside)
Ø St Xavier Bookstore on 103rd Street in Chicago
Ø Marist HS Bookstore on 115th Street in Chicago

You could also e-mail Cathy at:
catchambers@yahoo.com
or call her directly at (708) 910-8306

Best Buy - $$$$ for Grades

Go to the customer service counter with your child's original report card (Grades Kindergarten through 5th only) and your child will get $3.00 per "A" with a $21.00 gift card maximum. Nothing is better than free!

Open Post 4/13 - 4/19

This week's open post. Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all our bloggers out there!

Year Round Schools

I was reading an article the other day that got me thinking about year round schools. The article talked out the different programs that the CPS and Park District were going to do over the clean up week (this week) to keep kids out of trouble (in certain areas). Do you seriously have to keep them busy for a week to keep them from killing each other??? What is the CPS going to do when they are off for 2 MONTHS STRAIGHT for summer???

There are quite a few CPS schools that are year round. They work on different schedules, so some may have 3 weeks off in November, while some schools are in session. They still do the same amount of days of school, just different break schedules.

Now I will be happy when, next week, my kids will be home on Easter break. No school lunches to make, don't have to worry about uniforms, etc. Woo-hoo! However, a week or two is all I need and want because then I am ready for them to go back to school...See ya later, don't let the door hit you on the way out! Seriously, get out, you're driving me nuts!!!

Personally, and this is my opinion only, I would rather send my kids to school year round. I think they will retain more knowledge with shorter breaks, it would make it easier for parents to arrange daycare, etc.

What do you think. Public or Catholic. Would you prefer year round rather then the straight 10 month calendar our schools have now in 60655?

Open Post 4/6 - 4/12

MISSING BEVERLY GIRL (SHE HAS BEEN FOUND)

Molly has been found.