10 Stories about Kids Who Made a Difference this Year

As the school year winds to a close, revisit these stories about students who are working to make Darien—and the world beyond—a better place.

8-Year-Old Boy's Letter Sparks Bike Safety Day at Concord Hunter Long knows that he and Hunter Himes, injured in a late February accident, share more than a name: They also share strength. EJH Student's Film on Diversity Moves on to State PTA Contest Eighth-grader Mike Roberge wrote, edited and produced the minute-and-a-half long animated clip. The Bold, Bald Students of Cass Junior High (PHOTOS) Students, teachers, firefighters and police officers shaved their heads Friday, raising more than $17,000 for pediatric cancer research. Downers Grove South Raises $65,000 for St. Baldrick's Sixty-five shavees and student group fundraisers contributed to the total. Students Raise More than $22K for Cancer Research The Cancer Smashers event raised …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (10)

Lace School Buries Time Capsule (VIDEO)

The time capsule, to be unearthed in 2062, is part of Lace School's 50th anniversary celebration.

Lace School, as we know it today, was completed 50 years ago. The school has been celebrating that anniversary with a series of events over the past few weeks with the burial of a time capsule Tuesday behind the school. The students pledged to gather around the brick that marks the time capsule's underground cocoon on June 1, 2062, to unearth their precious cargo. Items inside the time capsule include:

•  1 Comment
• Photos (9)
• Videos (1)

Lace School Holding Pet Food Drive

Help out dogs and cats in need by bringing pet food, as well as paper goods, to Lace from May 10-18.

When people find themselves facing hard times, it often proves difficult for their pets as well. Lace School students are doing their part to help pets in need by hosting a pet food drive May 10-18. The school's PAWS club is collecting pet food, kitty litter and paper goods such as napkins and plates, which it will donate to the Wet Nose Pet Food Pantry in Downers Grove. "Even one bag of food can make a difference," the pantry representative said.

• Photos (1)

Lace Students Showcase Creativity at Art Fest (PHOTOS)

Students from all grade levels presented their work and participated in art-related games and activities.

• Photos (13)

Lace Celebrates Dr. Seuss Birthday with Lorax Display

Students in Terry Whaley's special education class created a large-scale paper mural depicting scenes from the classic children's book.

Students at Lace School wished Dr. Seuss a happy birthday in a big way Friday. Terry Whaley's nine-student special education class constructed a giant paper mural featuring the beloved character the Lorax. Between Seuss' birthday and the movie version of The Lorax opening Friday, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Whaley also led the students in a lesson that combined reading with learning about the environment. The Lorax tells the story of a greedy industrialist who destroys the fanciful environment in which he lives. "The students said, 'That's not right to cut down trees,'" Whaley said. "So we made our own trees."  Each student also had to come up with one idea for helping the environment.

• Photos (2)

Community Members Say Thanks This Holiday Season

As we head into the season of giving, community members share what they’re thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Mayor Kathleen Weaver "It's my favorite holiday. I'm grateful for being with family and loved ones." Clare Bongiovanni, the Darien Chamber of Commerce president and chief operating officer “First I am thankful for being a 4-and-a-half year breast cancer survivor! I am also thankful for my beautiful family and all my awesome friends. I’m really thankful for my job at the Darien Chamber of Commerce and thankful for all of my wonderful Chamber members.” Jamie Bukovac, director of Indian Prairie Public Library “I am always very grateful for my family, friends and good health. I’m grateful that I live in the United States and the freedoms that we have. And I’m grateful for my job at the library and the opportunities it provides to serve others…

• Photos (1)

District 61 To Discuss Televising Board Meetings

Officials would have to determine the cost of televising meetings, including what equipment might be needed.

A request for Darien School District 61 to televise meetings will be discussed by board members next month. “It came up from a resident who had seen that the (Darien) City Council does that and he was inquiring, ‘Has the board ever considered this?’,” Bob Carlo, superintendent of District 61, said Thursday. “And the board really hasn’t had a discussion about it.” During Tuesday’s board meeting, some members said they would like to pursue the topic. “I’d be interested in putting that on a future agenda,” said board member Claudia Manley. Carlo said officials would have to determine the cost of televising meetings, including what equipment might be needed, and if someone would have to be there to run the equipment. “We can get volunteers (to…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

PHOTOS: Reptile Show Slithers into Eisenhower

The Mark DeLay and Lace elementary PTA sponsored a show Friday with Dave DiNaso's Traveling World of Reptiles.

• Photos (12)

VIDEO: Lace Kids Serenade Shoppers at Yorktown Mall

The children sang holiday favorites both old and new.

Shoppers at Yorktown Mall in Lombard were treated to a super dose of holiday cheer Wednesday as 35 students from Lace Elementary School in Darien sang a selection of merry tunes. Parents, grandparents and passersby all stopped to take in the show, which featured festive favorites both classic and contemporary. Chorus director Andrea Behegan Gough said the mall outing was a great opportunity for others to see the school's talent. The performers at Wednesday's show were in fourth and fifth grade. "This is what the holiday season's all about," Gough said. "It's a way to bring joy into holiday shoppers' afternoon." While the chorus sang Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, some audience members started to sing along. The students showed off their …

• Photos (5)
• Videos (1)

PHOTOS: Darien Becomes a Winter Wonderland for Kids -- and Coyotes

Pictures of this season's first major snowfall.

Darien saw its first major snowfall overnight, which transformed the gloomy, grey streets into a postcard-perfect winter wonderland. Patch traveled around town capturing a few of the prettiest scenes -- including two coyotes strolling along Cass Avenue by Waterfall Glen. The National Weather Service predicts snow will continue to fall through the afternoon, with the storm ultimately dumping four to seven inches by the time it's done. Did you take any good pictures of the snow in your neighborhood? If so, Patch wants to see them. Add them to the stream of pictures in this post.

• Photos (33)