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More than 120 Orland Township volunteers were recognized for their contributions at a recent Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.
After describing the work done by volunteers and thanking them for their commitment to the community, department coordinators named a Volunteer of the Year for their department, a daunting task given the number of residents who regularly give their time to help out.
Those named Volunteer of the Year in their respective fields were Sandy Mulcahy — Health Services, Jalen Harris — Youth Services, Chris and Bill Weir — Senior Services, and Sharon Heft — Food Pantry.
Marist students earn top score on ACT exam
Marist High School juniors Kyle Kohn and Jack Molenhouse earned a top composite score of 36 on a recent ACT exam.
They are the fifth and sixth Marist students to score a 36 in the past four years, and the seventh and eighth since 2004. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students who take the ACT earns the top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2017, only 2,760 out of more than 2 million graduates who took the ACT earned a composite score of 36.
Chicago Tribune Sports
Kohn, of Lemont, is a member of academic and math teams, National Honor Society, and the lacrosse team. He also participated with Marist young adults on a trip to bring clean drinking water to the Dominican Republic in partnership with Blue Missions. He is considering Northwestern University, Emory University, and the University of Notre Dame and may pursue a career in psychology.
Molenhouse, of Mt. Greenwood, is also a member of the math team and National Honor Society. He also served as a hockey team captain this season, leading the squad to growing success on and off the ice. Molenhouse’s list of potential colleges is long, although Massachusetts Institute of Technology is at the top. He hopes to pursue a career in engineering.
Thorn Creek offers Trees for Kids program
What kinds of trees make up Thorn Creek Woods? Where do different types grow in the woods? How do trees grow? Find out from 1 to 3 p.m May 11, at Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest. Participants also get to make a tree banner to take home.
This is a Partnership for Programming event sponsored by the Thorn Creek Audubon Society in an effort to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of birds, to educate concerning our natural environment, to preserve, protect and restore wildlife habitat and create awareness of local conservation issues.
Trees for Kids program is free and for children age 5 to 12 years. Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required by May 9.
More information is at 708-747-6320, email thorn_creek@att.net or go to tcwoods.org. The Nature Center is open Fridays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. and the trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.
State police to host child seat check in Orland Park
A free car seat safety check, sponsored by the Illinois State Police, will be held at the Orland Park Police Station from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 1. Parents are encouraged to bring their children in their car seats to the station, 15100 South Ravinia Ave. Certified car seat technicians from the state police and the Orland Park police will answer parents’ questions and will ensure seats are correctly installed. Past car seat safety checks have shown that four out of five car seats are incorrectly installed.