Western Springs|News|
St. Francis Xavier Students Spend Day on Charity
The school's 600 students from kindergarten through eighth grade dispersed in the western suburbs on Friday for a complete day of holiday volunteerism.

E-mail: darren@patch.com
Phone: 708-275-8365
Hometown: Andover, MA
Current town: La Grange, IL
Birthday: September 24, 1987
Bio: I was born and raised in Eastern Massachusetts, and first took an interest in journalism when I was named the National Correspondent of the Year for SchoolSports (now called ESPN Rise.) I relocated to Chicagoland in 2006 to attend the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where I wrote for a number of student publications. During my time in school, I also completed editorial internships with Chicago Parent and Vicon Publishing. Upon graduating, I became Western Springs Local Editor with Patch.com, and have since held several jobs in the company. Currently I am a Community Editor for DuPage County.
My interests/hobbies include sports, reading, fiction writing, gaming, and outdoor living (hiking/camping/canoeing.) I play both indoor and beach volleyball, and I'm passionate about golf (if not terrific at it.) I also author the online graphic novel Panthera as "D. Z. McRoy."
Politics: I am a registered Democrat; my politics are socially liberal and economically moderate.
Religion: I am a member of the United Church of Christ, though my practice is largely casual.
The school's 600 students from kindergarten through eighth grade dispersed in the western suburbs on Friday for a complete day of holiday volunteerism.

Dennis Canfield's "South Pole Santa: Return to Christmas" tells a Christmas fable introducing an anti-Santa with a different type of gift to give.
Also this week: charges in attempted child abductions, an $800,000 lottery ticket sold in a local store and a debate over 7-foot tall Sudanese high-school basketball players.
Complete data from the 2010 for La Grange, La Grange Park and surrounding towns was released on Thursday. Check it all out here!
Complete data from the 2010 Census for Western Springs and surrounding towns was released on Thursday. Check it all out here!
The La Grange Park Police Department said that five village sewer grates have vanished since the end of November
Brother and sister Patrick and Mirielle St. Arnaud have a rare congenital blindness disease, but, with proper funding, a new type of gene therapy could cure them.
More than 700 runners participated in the annual run that benefits the Greater LaGrange YMCA and helps to fund its programming.
Part XII of an ongoing series spotlighting persons wanted on Cook County warrants whose last known address was in the zip codes 60525, 60526 and 605558 (the Lyons Township area.)
La Grange police reports, Nov. 28-Dec. 5.
The nearly two-decade-old tradition continues at Lyons Township High School South Campus as teen students help their smaller friends write to Santa and enjoy the holiday spirit.
The structure, built in 1951, was torn down last week; a property manager for the lot says there are many options for what might go in the space.
La Grange Park police reports, Nov. 27-Dec. 4
The DuPage County Health Department offers tips to ensure trees, decorations and lights look pretty and work safely.
Check out some photos from the Holiday Walk in the Western Springs downtown, and please feel free to add some of your own!
Check out some photos from the Holiday Walk in the La Grange downtown, and please feel free to add some of your own!
Sister Kathy Sherman of the Sisters of St. Joseph of La Grange defends the American nuns criticized by the Vatican in her song "Love Cannot Be Silenced."
Western Springs police reports, Nov. 26-Dec. 7.
The Illinois Senate amends its election code so that candidates in local elections—from City Council to School Board—can submit nominating petitions until 5 p.m. on the day after Christmas.
Our first 25 clearly were nowhere near enough. Here are 25 more equally excellent businesses in La Grange, Western Springs and La Grange Park you should consider "liking" on Facebook!