Riverside resident Mary Rob Clarke and Brookfield resident Robert J. Lifka have been named committee chairpeople for the American Cancer Society’s West Cook region.

Based in Riverside, the West Cook Region includes 42 communities in west suburban Cook County from Schiller Park on the north to Burbank on the south.

Programs and services offered through the Regional Office include the Reach to Recovery program that pairs breast cancer survivors with recently diagnosed patients to whom they offer information and support; the Road to Recovery program that provides volunteer drivers to take patients to and from cancer treatment facilities; and the Man to Man one-on-one support group for prostate cancer survivors.

Promoted

The Riverside Police Department announced last month the promotions of two officers. Sgt. John Krull was promoted to lieutenant, while Officer William Gutschick was lifted to the rank of sergeant. Krull will be responsible for all patrol operations, while Gutschick will be assigned to a shift and supervise patrolmen assigned to his watch. In addition, Sgt. William Legg has been reassigned to the departments investigations division and will service as the departments detective sergeant, a role previously held by Krull. The promotions came on the heels of the departure of Cmdr. Mark Tuma, who left to become police chief in Cloverdale, Calif.

On stage

Riverside resident Leila Crestani, 17, performed on stage in the role of Cinderella on Aug. 4, 5 and 11 in the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” Crestani, a graduate of Hauser Junior High School and currently a senior at Riverside-Brookfield High School has performed in many school productions. Last fall she was cast in the role of Chava in the JPAC’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” and has appeared in plays at Circle Theater and Summerplace Theater. The JPAC is located on the campus of Morton College in Cicero.

Paula Scrofano, of Riverside, is currently starring in the world premier of the musical comedy “Once Upon a Time in New Jersey” at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire. The play runs through Sept. 10. Ticket information is available at 847/634-0200. Scrofano is a veteran Chicago actress, having appeared in musicals and plays including “Sunset Boulevard,” “Damn Yankees,” Evita,” Victor/Victoria” among others.

On campus

Morton College announced earlier this month that North Riverside resident Raul Vasquez was named to the school’s Dean’s List for the spring semester of 2006. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must carry a full-time course load and earn a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. In addition, Brookfield residents Tina Brasse and Socorro Moreno, North Riverside residents Jose Garcia and Marilyn Sandoval and Riverside resident Geanabelle Chapp were named to the Morton College Academic Honors List for part-time students with at least a 3.0 GPA.

Brookfield resident Catherine J. Melka, a student in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University, was named to the Dean’s List for the winter and spring quarters of the 2005-06 academic years. Students on the Dean’s List must attain a GPA of at least 3.70 on a 4-point scale. Melka is majoring in psychology and Spanish.

North Riverside’s Marijo Boskey was awarded an International Baccalaureate diploma during Trinity High School’s honors convocation at the end of the 2005-06 school year. Trinity High School is located in River Forest.

St. Ignatius College Prep announced in July that Brookfield resident Liam L. Hession and Riverside residents Cyrus C. Manjooran, Dylan D. Shannon, Ryan A. Shannon, Jason R. Prestinario and Giuliana Rotunno were named to its Honor Roll with Distinction for the 2005-06 school year for attaining a GPA of 3.83 or higher on a 4-point scale.

In addition, named to First Honors (3.33-3.82 GPA) were North Riverside residents Matthew A. Escalante and Nicholas V. Pesola along with Riverside residents William A. Kelleher, Natalia Linares, Hilary M. Korabik, Caitlin K. Cervenka, Brendan L. Thompson and Madeline L. Thompson. Achieving Second Honors (2.83-3.33 GPA) were Riverside residents Joseph A. Monahan, Josephine M. Dudek, Lauren J. Forssberg, Irma D. Reyes, Vincent B. Gomez and Courtney E. Corbisiero.

RBHS students receive music awards

Riverside-Brookfield High School recognized several students during the annual Music Department award banquet. The following students received distinction for the 2005-06 school year:

Carolyn Tomecek won the National School Orchestra Award, recognizing excellence in string performance.

Maria Vuolo won the John Philip Sousa Band Award, the highest band award for leadership and musicianship.

Bryant Rouleau and Brittany Vogel won the National School Choral Award.

Steve Kutschke won the Woody Herman Jazz Award.

Steve Wilhelm won the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.

Jeff Culver won the Director’s Award for Band.

Kristen Barnett won the Patrick Gilmore Band Award.

Angelica Landa and Karissa Strnad won the American Choral Directors Association Award.

Dan Mackey won the Director’s Award for Choir.

Dan Mackey and Leila Crestani were named to the All-State Choir.

The following students received the Merit Award for commitment to the music program: Mark Wolak, Racquel Ardisana, Kelly Gavin, Matt Nawara, Elizabeth Baratta, Mike Biro, Christine Braun, Steve Drake, Joe Esner, Will Gangware, Krystal Krejcik, Hannah Toriumi, Nicole Werner, Andrea Wodzinski and Rebecca Black.

In addition, the Musicianship Award for outstanding musicianship was presented to Samuel Brown, Chantal Olsen, Neven Armic, Kelly Baron, Nate Jebb, Jeff Kutschke, Dan Marvan, Chris Dunigan, Ellen Farnham, Madeleine King, Matt Olson, Jackie Pendola and Danny Gonzalez.

Riverside-Brookfield High School has students involved in the orchestra, band, and choir programs under the direction of Kevin McOlgan (orchestra and band) and Diane Marelli (choir).

 

Sokol Spirit represented at Prague Slet event

Tumblers representing the Chicago Central District Suburb Sokols performed in front of some 17,000 spectators at the Sokol Slet Gala Praha 2006 in Prague, Czech Republic in June. The event was held in the Sazka Arena, a state-of-the-art facility used by professional sports teams.

Among the Chicago area participants in the event were several from Sokol Spirit in Brookfield, including Tom Pajer, Kandi Pajer, Janet Lutha, Melissa Karlson and Chrsitina Kuckie Roberts.