Seasonal & Holidays
2021 Year In Review: New Lenox Shows Heart, Character In 2021
This past year was hard for many New Lenox residents, but they showed that the people — and the town — have plenty of fight in them.
NEW LENOX, IL — This past year marked the 75th birthday for New Lenox. And throughout 2021, the people showed why New Lenox is the place "The Home of Proud Americans."
When tragedy struck, the people responded, often in huge and unexpected ways. But 2021 wasn't all gloom and doom; there was plenty to celebrate this past year, as well.
So, without further ado, let's bid adieu to 2021 as we head into the new year.
Find out what's happening in New Lenoxfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
GoFundMe Set Up For Children Whose Parents Both Dead In 8 Months
When Brandon Sorensen died Feb. 23, he left behind a wife and two young sons. The family had not even begun to grieve the loss of Brandon when his wife and mother of the two boys, Melanie Moak, died Dec. 1o, just eight months later.
The devastating loss has left twins Brayden and Ryder, 9, without their parents. Moms Club in New Lenox has stepped in to help the young brothers by creating a GoFundMe page for the boys, said President of Moms Club New Lenox Gretchen Valenta.
Find out what's happening in New Lenoxfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"She was just the most selfless person I've known," Valenta said. "She's been part of our Moms Club for the past four-and-a-half years. We always have a focus on a service project, and this last year during this time she came up with the idea of doing Blessing Bags for the homeless. So, she has always just thought of other people. She was always so caring and giving, and she had the biggest heart. She always went above and beyond for her boys. They were the world to her. "
Moms Club of New Lenox is collecting funds to raise money for funeral expenses, the boy's education and other financial needs.
'Any Parent Would Do This': Dad Donates Kidney To Daughter
Emme Ward, of Manhattan, is a young woman just starting to make her way in the world. Her father, Bob Ward, of New Lenox, has found his path in the world as a coach for several teams at Lincoln-Way Central High School. Both of their futures are now brighter, thanks to a successful kidney transplant last month.
In October of last year, Emme was on a family vacation. On her way home, she started to get sharp pains in her side. Symptoms of nausea persisted throughout the month. She lost her appetite and became lethargic. Emme went to see a gastroenterologist, who was able to diagnose the first sign of serious trouble.
She was facing end-stage renal failure due to an autoimmune disease, vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels.
"The inflammation can cause the walls of the blood vessels to thicken, which reduces the width of the passageway through the vessel," according to the Mayo Clinic. "If blood flow is restricted, it can result in organ and tissue damage."
The vasculitis attacked the young woman's kidneys, lungs and liver, with the majority of the damage centered on her kidneys, Emme said. By November, she started getting treatment.
Bob and Emme tried to handle the news the best that they could. They joked around with each other and tried to keep each other's spirits up, but neither of them really understood just how serious Emme's condition was.
"I knew she was sick, but you really couldn't tell it because she was very positive and strong throughout the entire process," Bob said.
"I was just kind of shocked," Emme said. "I was so new to being sick and I didn't know any of the medical terms. It just kind of shocked me, and I still didn't believe it until I was put on dialysis a couple of days later."
Photos: Lincoln-Way Marching Band Takes Macy's Parade By Storm
The Lincoln-Way Marching Band got its shot to perform Thursday on one of the nation's biggest stages: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Scroll down to check out some photos from the big day. All phots were submitted by groupphotos.com.
New Lenox Woman's Rottweiler Headed To Westminster Dog Show
Otis, a 3-year-old Rottweiler owned by New Lenox resident Melissa Buehler, will head to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Sunday. Otis is the American Kennel Club's No. 8 ranked Rottweiler in the country.
Buehler and her husband have lived in New Lenox for over 20 years, and Otis is her third show dog.
Buehler told Patch that Otis was born to a litter of 13 puppies from a breeder outside of Kalamazoo, Michigan. His AKC registered name is GCHS CH Brzustowicz's Gladstone Gentlemen, CGC TT.
Buehler said Gladstone is the town in upper Michigan where her parents were born and raised. GCHS stands for grand champion silver, and Otis has the titles of CGC and TT for Canine Good Citizen and Temperament Tested.
Buehler said Otis started dog shows when he was 6 months old, and earned his championship and grand championship at 15 months and 17 months old, respectively.
New Lenox Family Rebuilding After Fire Destroys Home
Gerald and Debra Platta moved to New Lenox in 1991. For the last 30 years they made their house in the 2000 block of Rydal Street their home. It only took about 30 minutes for it all to go up in smoke.
The Plattas had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 25. The next night their home caught on fire.
The New Lenox Fire Protection District reported that a call came in at approximately 9:15 p.m. Sept. 26. The call first went through to the Manhattan Fire Protection District, which borders the Plattas' home. Fire crews were on the scene in about three minutes.
The Plattas were sleeping at the time the fire broke out. Debra heard what she thought was a knocking on the door. So Gerald got up to check what the noise was and discovered the fire in the back of the home heading toward the interior.
"He started screaming, 'Fire! Fire! Fire!' And he ran back down to get [Debra] and the dog," the couple's daughter Tina Platta said.
Gerald was able to get Debra and the dog, Lilly, outside. Gerald had his keys to his truck in his pocket. In the few short moments it took to pull the truck up to Debra and Lilly, the entire house was engulfed in flames, Tina said.
"They just made it out," Tina said.
NL Shop Owner Gets Creative With Elf On A Shelf — In A Balloon
The Elf on a Shelf craze is back in full swing this holiday season, only this year the elf has an updated mode of transportation on the way to eager children across New Lenox thanks to New Lenox business LGM Balloon Decor.
Stephanie Marquardt, owner of LGM Balloon Decor, came up with the idea to pack Elf on a Shelf inside a balloon filled with candy, and the balloons can be customized with messages or children's names. It's a new twist on what has become a holiday favorite.
For the uninitiated, Elf on a Shelf arrives every year around Christmastime to watch over children and fly back to Santa each night to report the children's naughty or nice deeds, Marquardt said. The following morning, the sometimes mischievous elf returns and can be found in a different area of the home than the night before, proving to the children that the elf is always watching and moving around, so there is no escaping any naughty reports back to Santa.
"The big thing is the elves 'arrive,' so [the Elf on a Shelf balloons] are the elves' arrival," Marquardt said.
LGM Balloon Decor owner Stephanie Marquardt (left) presents Jamie Krueger, of Frankfort, with an Elf on a Shelf inside a balloon Tuesday at Raffy's Candy Store in New Lenox. (TJ Kremer III/Patch)Marquardt partnered with Raffy's Candy Store Owner Pam Rafalski last year and again this year to help draw in business to Raffy's while the pandemic kept many people away, Marquardt said.
"It worked out beautifully, which is why we were here again so people could shop for candy [while picking up Elf on a Shelf purchases]," Marquardt said.
Thomas Eubank, Known As 'The Birdhouse Guy,' Dies: Obituary
Thomas S. Eubank, 77, of New Lenox, died in his home Friday, according to an obituary posted on the Kurtz Memorial Chapel website.
Eubank, known in New Lenox as "the birdhouse guy," was a U.S. Army veteran who worked for Kraft Foods at the Kool Aid plant on Chicago's Southside for 33 years, and he would dress up as the Kool Aid man for picnics, according to Kurtz.
Eubank was born in Chicago to the late Thomas and Evelyn (nee Wicklund) Eubank. He is survived by his wife, Elaine (nee McLean) Slee Eubank; brothers John (Anne) Eubank and Ronald Eubank; also survived by Elaine's children, Edward (Carrie) Slee, David (Lynda) Slee, and Sherri (late Robert) Sanders; 12 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren, according to the Kurtz obituary.
Party Like It's 1946: New Lenox Celebrates 75th Anniversary
The Village of New Lenox will turn 75 years old Monday, but eager revelers can plan on starting the celebration a couple days early. The Village has announced a free, three-day party to mark the milestone, starting Friday in the Village Commons.
"A lot has happened in 75 years, and the town has really grown and is continuing to grow," said New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann. "We always want to keep that small-town feel. That's why we do the things we do in The Commons area downtown, and this is just an extension of that, just a way for our people to come gather down in The Commons and celebrate together our rich history and our extremely promising future."
Special Events Coordinator Beth Alderson said the Village has been planning the events for the semisesquicentennial — that's this reporter's fancy word for 75th anniversary — celebration since January. And the amount of planning shows with what the Village has in store for celebrants.
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