Originally published in the April 17 issue of the Graylsake Journal
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A game to remember
By DAN MORRIS
GRAYSLAKE – In an epic showdown April 12 at Grayslake Central High School, David slew Goliath as the Grayslake Police Department beat the Grayslake Fire Department 64-53 in an annual Basketball Showdown game to benefit the Hero’s Fund.
For the first time in the game’s four-year history, the mighty Grayslake firefighters fell to the city’s police officers, despite having an eight-player advantage.
Breaking out to a quick lead with 10 unanswered points, the Grayslake police officer never lost the lead.
“It’s the first time, but we’ll see about next year,” said Capt. Jon Cokefair of the fire department.
Fun seemed to be had by all, and the atmosphere was one of friendly competition.
Before the game, kids shot baskets with the teams, and plenty of good-natured ribbing went back and forth between players. After tip-off, fans in the stands blew horns, had silly-string fights and cheered.
Signs in the crowd declared, “No. 31 is our block captain!” and “Cokefair For President.”
Master of Ceremonies Greg Koeppen of Medleys In Motion DJ Service provided play-by-play for the game and kept the crowd riled up, calling out raffle winners and occasionally taunting players through the PA system.
Koeppen and Medleys In Motion have been involved with the showdown since its inception.
“My dad was a firefighter, and as a company, Medleys In Motion has always tried to support the community,” Koeppen said. “We’ve been around for 11 years, and the community’s always been good to us, so we like to give back.”
A crowd of more than 200 reached into their pockets, and between admissions, the 50/50 drawing and raffle tickets for prizes donated from several local businesses, more than $2,500 was raised. Grayslake High School Boosters also raised $275 to plant a tree in honor of former firefighter Mike Dertz, who died in 2004 from cancer.
“The first game, four years ago, was dedicated to [Dertz], and we raised money for his kids,” Cokefair said.
The original showdown provided scholarships for their education funds.
Today, the Hero’s Fund goes toward providing scholarships to students from Grayslake Central, Grayslake North and Warren high schools. Money raised at last year’s game was enough to provide five $500 scholarships this year.
Roughly 20 students from each school applied for scholarships, each of whom submitted an essay describing how an emergency-services professional has influenced them.
In a ceremony at half time, Cokefair awarded this year’s recipients with their certificates. The recipients were Andrew Trahan and Sarah Wimmer (Grayslake North), Chelsea Dertz and Chelsey Wagner (Grayslake Central) and Rebecca Lutz (Warren).
This year’s showdown provides scholarships for the class of 2009. Funds beyond the scholarships are donated to families of police officers or firefighters who have suffered catastrophic injuries.
When all was said and done, Cokefair mopped his brow and said, “It’s fun! We enjoy doing it. People come out and have a good time, and we help out some kids.”
It seems a safe bet that next year, Grayslake’s bravest and finest will bring their A game.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Church Comes to Town
Might as well post here, as I'm not exactly generating any blog-specific content.
Originally printed in the April 17 Grayslake Journal
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Church comes to town
By DAN MORRIS
LIBERTYVILLE – More than 200 Greek Orthodox stewards celebrated the consecration of the new St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Libertyville Sunday, April 13.
In an official door-opening ceremony, His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago presided with the Rev. Cosmas Halekakis, Presbyter of St. Demetrios. The celebrants performed a brief service in the adjacent Fellowship hall, then led the congregation in a procession to the doors of the new building. Iakovos then performed a traditional door-opening ceremony and led the crowd in for the first liturgy in the new house of worship.
“Christian brothers and sisters, now is the time to open the doors of the new St. Demetrios Church,” Halek-akis said.
The new church represents the culmination of 25 years of planning and organization. St. Demetrios Parish bought the land at 1400 N. O’Plaine Road in Libertyville in 1983 as the congregation outgrew its facilities at North Avenue and Glen Flora in Waukegan.
During the intervening years, the property was used for the annual St. Demetrios Festival, a celebration of Greek culture and the parish’s largest fundraising event.
“Its taken time. Six years ago, we formed the building committee and things really got rolling,” Parish Council treasurer Bob Morris said. “We brought in architects and contractors and broke ground about two years ago.”
Christ Kamages, the architect behind The Monastery of the Theotokos in Dunlap, Calif., and The Cathedral of Panagia in Toronto, Ontario, designed the new building. Topped by a dramatic golden dome and cross rising 75 feet from the ground, the church dominates the landscape and is visible from I-94.
Covering 9,000 square feet, the St. Demetrios sanctuary offers seating for 500. It represents a traditional Byzantine cross-in-square design, reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Inside, the walls and dome are white, with ornate wood and gilt fixtures for the altar and sacristy.
St. Demetrios parish was founded in 1929 as the spiritual community for many Greek immigrants who settled in the Waukegan and North Chicago area. The new church is a touchstone occasion for the parish, which spent much of its early history in search of a home.
The Greek community blossomed in the early 20th century, settling around 22nd Avenue in North Chicago. Faith played a major part in their culture, and they would gather in each others’ homes to celebrate holy days and liturgical feasts. The first formal services presided over by a priest began in 1925 and still took place in private homes.
Illinois chartered St. Demetrios on Aug. 7, 1929. The first parish council raised enough funds to buy a small lot, but the consequences of the Great Depression delayed its plans to build. From 1931 to 1943, the parish rented facilities at Ebenezer Congregational church for $20 a month.
In 1942, the congregation raised enough funds to buy the Armory Building on County Street. Renovations were made, and the church was consecrated in 1943.
The community quickly outgrew the old Armory Building, and new land was bought on the corner of Glen Flora and North Avenue in Waukegan in 1957.
Ground was broken for a new building in 1959. On July 4, 1960, the doors to St. Demetrios’ first real home were opened, 35 years after the first Greek Orthodox liturgies took place in living rooms of the area’s original Greek settlers.
Now a thriving congregation of more than 200 families, the community of St. Demetrios continues its 83-year history. And with its spectacular new building officially open, all eyes seem to be on the future.
“St. Demetrios Festival is coming up in July,” said Morris. “And anyone can come.”
Originally printed in the April 17 Grayslake Journal
Click Here
By DAN MORRIS
LIBERTYVILLE – More than 200 Greek Orthodox stewards celebrated the consecration of the new St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Libertyville Sunday, April 13.
In an official door-opening ceremony, His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago presided with the Rev. Cosmas Halekakis, Presbyter of St. Demetrios. The celebrants performed a brief service in the adjacent Fellowship hall, then led the congregation in a procession to the doors of the new building. Iakovos then performed a traditional door-opening ceremony and led the crowd in for the first liturgy in the new house of worship.
“Christian brothers and sisters, now is the time to open the doors of the new St. Demetrios Church,” Halek-akis said.
The new church represents the culmination of 25 years of planning and organization. St. Demetrios Parish bought the land at 1400 N. O’Plaine Road in Libertyville in 1983 as the congregation outgrew its facilities at North Avenue and Glen Flora in Waukegan.
During the intervening years, the property was used for the annual St. Demetrios Festival, a celebration of Greek culture and the parish’s largest fundraising event.
“Its taken time. Six years ago, we formed the building committee and things really got rolling,” Parish Council treasurer Bob Morris said. “We brought in architects and contractors and broke ground about two years ago.”
Christ Kamages, the architect behind The Monastery of the Theotokos in Dunlap, Calif., and The Cathedral of Panagia in Toronto, Ontario, designed the new building. Topped by a dramatic golden dome and cross rising 75 feet from the ground, the church dominates the landscape and is visible from I-94.
Covering 9,000 square feet, the St. Demetrios sanctuary offers seating for 500. It represents a traditional Byzantine cross-in-square design, reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Inside, the walls and dome are white, with ornate wood and gilt fixtures for the altar and sacristy.
St. Demetrios parish was founded in 1929 as the spiritual community for many Greek immigrants who settled in the Waukegan and North Chicago area. The new church is a touchstone occasion for the parish, which spent much of its early history in search of a home.
The Greek community blossomed in the early 20th century, settling around 22nd Avenue in North Chicago. Faith played a major part in their culture, and they would gather in each others’ homes to celebrate holy days and liturgical feasts. The first formal services presided over by a priest began in 1925 and still took place in private homes.
Illinois chartered St. Demetrios on Aug. 7, 1929. The first parish council raised enough funds to buy a small lot, but the consequences of the Great Depression delayed its plans to build. From 1931 to 1943, the parish rented facilities at Ebenezer Congregational church for $20 a month.
In 1942, the congregation raised enough funds to buy the Armory Building on County Street. Renovations were made, and the church was consecrated in 1943.
The community quickly outgrew the old Armory Building, and new land was bought on the corner of Glen Flora and North Avenue in Waukegan in 1957.
Ground was broken for a new building in 1959. On July 4, 1960, the doors to St. Demetrios’ first real home were opened, 35 years after the first Greek Orthodox liturgies took place in living rooms of the area’s original Greek settlers.
Now a thriving congregation of more than 200 families, the community of St. Demetrios continues its 83-year history. And with its spectacular new building officially open, all eyes seem to be on the future.
“St. Demetrios Festival is coming up in July,” said Morris. “And anyone can come.”
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