Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health
  • Chicago ranks as 161st worst city for crime in new national survey Chicago
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Kat Abughazaleh raises over $520,000 in Q2 of 2025 with more than $630,000 cash on hand for 2026 Democratic primary election elections
  • Silent Threat: The True Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries — How to Stay Safe and Respond to a Battery Fire Fire

Bridgeview treats seniors to Halloween lunch

Posted on November 3, 2017November 3, 2017 By Steve Metsch No Comments on Bridgeview treats seniors to Halloween lunch
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Bridgeview treats seniors to Halloween lunch

About 300, some in costumes, attend Toyota Park event 

By Steve Metsch

The day after the Chicago Fire lost a playoff game, Toyota Park was still a festive place to be.

That’s because a Halloween luncheon, sponsored by Mayor Steve Landek and the village board and free to Bridgeview residents, was held in the second-floor Stadium Club for an estimated 300 seniors age 55 and older.

Because of the Halloween theme, several seniors dressed in costume. There was a Bears player, a Cub, a bumble bee, a witch and a clown, to name a few.

But for most of those there, it was simply a time to meet with friends and enjoy a hearty lunch of lasagna, zucchini, veggies, garlic bread and dessert on Oct. 26.

“Yeah, I’m having fun. All the time. Every time they have something, my friend, Amy, and I are here,” Betty Noto, 64, said.

Noto brought a friend, Amy Ramirez, along with her.

“The food is great,” Ramirez, 80, said. “You see old friends and you meet some new ones. I know a lot of people from Moraine Court who come here, too. I live in an apartment.”

DJ Mike Heavrin played a wide variety of music during Bridgeview’s Halloween luncheon for seniors. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

The task of keeping the two-hour event moving along fell to emcee Ken Pannaralla and DJ Mike, alias Mike Heavrin.

“These (events) are a lot of fun to emcee for. I can kid and joke and they understand. Keeping things lively and entertaining. In fact, I’m a senior myself, but don’t tell anyone,” Pannaralla, 69, said.Pannaralla, of the 6500 block of Kostner Avenue in Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood, sings at St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church during Mass on Sunday mornings, so he’s no stranger to attention. But being emcee is a special treat, he said.

“Oh, (the seniors) look forward to these luncheons. You can see the crowd, and this is lighter than last year when we had an Oktoberfest luncheon,” Pannaralla said. “Mike is great. He can play any song you want.”

Heavrin, 68, did indeed lay a wide variety of music for the event, including some golden oldies, of course. He even dusted off “Ain’t That a Shame” by Fats Domino, who passed away last week at age 89.

A Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, Heavrin brought the crowd to its feet when he played Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Some sang along with the patriotic lyrics.

A couple of seniors even got up and danced to some of the slower songs.
Bridgeview Village Clerk John Altar said he “heard good reviews from the ones I’ve talked with.”

Village Trustee James Cecott said seniors “look forward to these and we don’t blame them. It’s nice to see them come out. We try to do Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, things like that.”

One of those happy seniors was Miles Rose, 69, whose clown costume was judged the best, earning him a blanket and a $20 gift card to Walmart. “I’m having fun,” Rose said.

Cecott and fellow trustees Claudette Struzik and Norma Pinion judged the costume contest.

— Desplaines Valley News

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at [email protected]
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are still rockin’ - August 10, 2023
  • Weathering personal storms - July 20, 2023
  • Countryside solution irks some - July 20, 2023
NPV: 84
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Bridgeview, Halloween, seniors, Toyota Park

Post navigation

Previous Post: Bridgeview approves three ordinances
Next Post: Illinois Democrats push bill to combat sexual harassment

Related Posts

  • Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States sworn in on Jan 20, 2021. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Zogby Poll shows Biden holds small but weak lead over Trump elections
  • J.B. Pritzker from his campaign Facebook Page at UFCW union endorsement. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Pritzker activates 500 National Guard Troops for Capital Security at DOD request Government
  • Chicago Businessman Willie Wilson
    Former Mayoral Candidate, Business Leader Dr. Willie Wilson Endorses Vallas for Mayor Chicago
  • Pekau’s fake concern for Orland Park taxpayers Blogger
  • Fourth Illinois resident dies after vaping related lung injury Health
  • DuPage County Government Center (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Glen Ellyn Man Sentenced to 50 Years for 2011 Murder and Criminal Sexual Assault of His Ex-Wife Crime

More Related Articles

Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate Funding for mental health and education in Tinley Park secured by Senator Hastings Government
Suspect Dwayne Johnson charged with domestic battery in Tinley Park. Photo courtesy of the Tinley Park Police Department Maywood man charged with aggravated battery to a child after incident May 23 at Super Target in Tinley Park Cook County
Police tape lies on the ground in front of the now closed Crossing Bar and Grill. (File photo courtesy of the Southwest News Newspaper Group) Worth’s Crossing Bar and Grill won’t reopen after shooting Crime
Summit’s Katie 3rd in “Voice” News
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders’ Fighting Oligarchy Tour Announces New Stops in Western U.S.  Civil Rights
Nazareth in state title game News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    October 29, 2025
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured
    October 28, 2025
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday
    October 26, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme