| BG's Ayoub shows guarded optimism
As a freshman, Buffalo Grove's Ellen Ayoub was smooth as silk. Today, she's solid as gold. That slick-shooting freshman guard is now a senior for Buffalo Grove's highly-regarded girls basketball team, which returns four starters from a Class AA Elite Eight qualifier. The 5-foot-10 Ayoub makes no secret about how she would like to finish her career. "It's crazy but we're not satisfied yet," said Ayoub, referring to her team's back-to-back Elite Eight appearances. "I literally think about that loss to Bolingbrook (in overtime two years ago when the Bison lost it in the final seconds on a steal). I definitely want this to be our year." If it is, Ayoub will have to be a major factor. Earlier this week, she made a verbal commitment to play for Loyola University.
The losing begins for local teen
Flanked by her parents, Alexis Khan arrived Oct. 17 at Medical University Hospital for gastric bypass surgery. "I woke up with nerves," she said from her hospital bed before the four-hour procedure. Her father, James Debrum, pinched her polished toes through the crisp sheet. .
Owls football has local flavor
Three Berkshire County athletes were members of the Westfield State football team this fall. They are junior Shane Parrott of Pittsfield (Taconic), junior Joe Salvatore of Dalton (Wahconah) and freshman Nick Panetti of Pittsfield (Pittsfield). Parrott is a 6-foot-3, 305 pound lineman. "Shane was our starting offensive tackle who showed great improvement over the last two years," coach Steve Marino said. "He will be a three-year starter next year and anchor a very experienced offensive line." Salvatore, a 6-foot, 270-pounder, is also a member of that offensive line. "Joe won the starting guard job this year because of his toughness and enthusiasm," Marino said. "He also played in the backfield in our goal line package." Panetti, a 6-foot, 256-pound lineman, saw action as a backup.
BG's Ayoub shows guarded optimism
As a freshman, Buffalo Grove's Ellen Ayoub was smooth as silk. Today, she's solid as gold. That slick-shooting freshman guard is now a senior for Buffalo Grove's highly-regarded girls basketball team, which returns four starters from a Class AA Elite Eight qualifier. The 5-foot-10 Ayoub makes no secret about how she would like to finish her career. "It's crazy but we're not satisfied yet," said Ayoub, referring to her team's back-to-back Elite Eight appearances. "I literally think about that loss to Bolingbrook (in overtime two years ago when the Bison lost it in the final seconds on a steal). I definitely want this to be our year." If it is, Ayoub will have to be a major factor. Earlier this week, she made a verbal commitment to play for Loyola University.
Retailers gear up for big day
Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving that traditionally gives retailers a significant sales boost - should wake up consumer's wallets with plenty of holiday shopping options this weekend.Greenwood Mall will begin its shopping blitz at 6 a.m., giving away shopping bags filled with goodies for the first 500 adult patrons who show up near the carousel entrance. Bags will be filled with retail discounts and randomly placed prizes, including a Nintendo Wii, and mall gift cards ranging from $50 to $250, according to Greenwood Mall marketing manager Shelli Rose."They typically go very fast," Rose said. "People have been known to line up as early as 4 a.m."Mall shoppers can also browse the mall's seasonal in-line stores, including Pet Dreams, which provides clothing, furniture and other trendy items for pets; Kitchen Collection, which specializes in gadgets for the kitchen; Quail Hollow Candles and Gifts, and Big Country Power Sports, Rose said.At Best Buy, product process manager Kyle Gerkins will accommodate those who flood the long lines at his store early Friday morning with port-a-potties."Last year, people started lining up on Thanksgiving morning," Gerkins said.Gerkins said the store has increased its stock to handle the crowds, especially those looking to stuff stockings with flat-panel, plasma or LCD TVs, MP3 players and video game systems.Gerkins expects the Nintendo Wii to garner considerable attention again this year, since shoppers are still hungry for the console because of supply shortcomings.Digital picture frames, which flash slideshows of snapshots loaded from a memory card, are also expected to be a huge seller.Doors will open at 5 a.m.
Gogoi now rushes into award for cricketers
Two days ago, as Team India defeated Pakistan in the first one-day international cricket match at the Nehru Stadium here, the first thing that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi did was to declare a cash award of Rs 1 lakh to each of the Indian team members. What is surprising is that the Assam Government is yet to disburse cash awards that Gogoi had announced for each of the 148 players from Assam who had won medals in the 33rd National Games held here in February. Assam had won 38 gold, 53 silver and 27 bronze medals in the National Games and became the overall third best team, Gogoi had announced Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh each for the gold, silver and bronze medallists, respectively, in individual events. For team events, the awards announced were Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh.
Warriors want to drink from big cup
The St. Charles West Warriors hockey team is the first from St. Charles County to advance to the finals in one of the three Mid-States Club Hockey Association playoff tiers four times.After three trips to the Wickenheiser Cup finals in this decade, the Warriors were 0-3 in trips to the finals. But last season, they beat Clayton in a shootout to capture the Founders Cup, the county's first Mid-States postseason hardware.But this year's team has higher aspirations. Like challenging for the Suburban North Conference title and earning the right to compete in the highest playoff tier: the Challenge Cup. First-year head coach Brad Schneider and his two assistants, Bill Heisse and Harris Schiff, want to help the Warriors get to Scottrade Center."It's a nice honor, it's always nice to win that last game, but these seniors had played for the Wickenheiser Cup for two years so they were used to being at the (Scottrade Center) competing for something bigger," Schneider said."As far as the coaching staff goes, that (Challenge) is our goal.
Roosevelt backers look to raise renovation money at R Party
Sixty-one years ago Roger Stetson pulled up a stool and sat down at a long lab table in Mr. Koch's science lab, across from beakers, Bunsen burners and that beautiful girl on the other side of the table.
The two Roosevelt High School 10th-graders quickly formed a friendship, sitting across from each other every home room, chatting about the latest school gossip, the upcoming dance and tennis. Yes, tennis.
Roger was "hooked" on tennis. Shirley would watch from the bleachers, which she continued to do even as the two headed to Iowa State University. They'd later wed and Roger would be called up to the Navy.
After discharge, Roger returned home and the two raised a family of four, all of whom would follow dad onto the court.
They've since picked up whistles and clipboards, focusing now on coaching.
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