Author: 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]

Lyons concert series returns

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Lyons concert series returns “Music in the Park” starts July 11 By Steve Metsch Eight weeks of free music will be presented in the gazebo at Veterans Park in Lyons starting on July 11. The village’s “Music in the Park” series presents a wide variety of music from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday nights….

Entertainment, Suburban Chicagoland

Summit tables paving contract

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Summit tables paving contract Officials to decide parking lot’s future By Steve Metsch The Summit Village Board on Monday night tabled plans to approve a $140,479 contract with M&J Asphalt, of Cicero, for the paving a gravel lot the village owns on 63rdStreet, behind Taste of Heaven on the west side of Archer. “We are…

Government, Suburban Chicagoland

Summit police promote pair

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Summit police promote pair Ortiz is first Hispanic lieutenant in village By Steve Metsch Monday night’s meeting of the Summit Village Board had a law enforcement flavor. Longtime lieutenant David Otto retired. Officer Steve Kirkolis was promoted to sergeant. And detective sergeant Mel Ortiz was promoted to lieutenant. Each was unanimously approved by the village…

Government, Suburban Chicagoland

Free concerts in Brookfield

June 14, 2018September 28, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Free concerts in Brookfield BritBeat kicks off series Friday evening By Steve Metsch Starting this Friday, the village of Brookfield will offer a summer of free music in the band shell at Kiwanis Park, 8820 Brookfield Ave. Each concert runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. If you’re going, bring a lawn chair or blanket. A…

Entertainment, Suburban Chicagoland

Countryside concerts return

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Countryside concerts return Free music fills Thursday nights this summer By Steve Metsch Billed as a “Passport Through Countryside,” the City of Countryside again presenting its annual Summer Concert Series on Thursday nights through Aug. 2. Each week has a different country for a theme. The series started on June 7 with Rosie & The…

Entertainment, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Bridgeview rededicates Muehe Park

June 13, 2018June 13, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Bridgeview rededicates Muehe Park Resident made “ultimate sacrifice” in Vietnam in ’69 By Steve Metsch John Rigo never met Mark Muehe, but they have the Vietnam War in common. Both served there in the Army. And the heart of Rigo, a Vietnam veteran who survived, goes out to the family of Muehe, a veteran who…

News, Suburban Chicagoland

Cheap Trick, Poison shine

June 10, 2018June 13, 2018 Steve Metsch 1 Comment

Cheap Trick, Poison shine “Nothin’ But A Good Time” tour is just that By Steve Metsch After an entertaining nine-song set by Pop Evil, a fan wearing a “Hall & Oates 2018” T-shirt asked me – maybe it was my Cheap Trick T-shirt? – why the band from Rockford would open for Poison. The pairing,…

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Editors Pick, Entertainment, Features, News, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

Bridgeview to rededicate park

June 9, 2018June 9, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Bridgeview to rededicate park “He was my hero” veteran’s brother says By Steve Metsch When Muehe Park is rededicated today, Gary Muehe will be thinking a lot about his late older brother Mark. “He was my hero. He was four years older than me and I looked up to him,” Gary said in the backyard…

News, Suburban Chicagoland

Lyons demolitions funded

May 30, 2018May 30, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Lyons demolitions funded State grant of $180,000 targets vacant houses By Steve Metsch Lyons now has funding needed to pay for the demolition of vacant and abandoned houses the village has acquired. The village board, at its May 15 meeting, unanimously approved a $180,000 grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority to pay for demolitions…

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News, Suburban Chicagoland

Lyons delivers

May 30, 2018May 30, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Lyons delivers Firefighters deliver baby in mother’s home By Steve Metsch When they got the call about a pregnant woman in distress, Lyons firefighters/paramedics thought they’d be rushing her by ambulance to the nearest hospital. They didn’t expect they’d be delivering a baby in the woman’s house. But that’s just what happened. Lyons firefighter/paramedics Justin…

Summit to test raffles

May 30, 2018May 30, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Summit to test raffles St. Joe’s raffle to be closely watched by village By Steve Metsch The Summit Village Board wants to take a look at how raffles are run and how to best regulate them. With that in mind, the board approved an ordinance that would allow raffles in Summit, using one run at…

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Festival, Suburban Chicagoland

U2 rocks and preaches

May 24, 2018June 12, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

U2 rocks and preaches Band gets messages across in dazzling concert By Steve Metsch When a band has been a staple on radio stations for 38 years, its easy to phone it in. Play the big hits known by even the most casual of listeners, toss in two or three new songs, and call it…

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News, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

Bridgeview a perfect fit

May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Bridgeview a perfect fit New firefighter/paramedic excited to join department By Steve Metsch Kris Aguilar has long wanted to help people. And, he doesn’t mind dashing into burning buildings. Put those two qualities together and he’s ready for his new job. Aguilar, 29, was sworn in as a Bridgeview firefighter/paramedic by Mayor Steve Landek at…

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Fire, Suburban Chicagoland

Camp Lyons opens June 4

May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Camp Lyons opens June 4 Summer camp to include more field trips By Steve Metsch Registration is open for Camp Lyons, a summer camp which promises to be bigger and better than last year with more emphasis on field trips. The 11-week camp starts on Monday, June 4 and runs through Frida, Aug. 17, said…

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Suburban Chicagoland, Village of Lyons

Advantage: Bridgeview police

May 21, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Advantage: Bridgeview police Nip firefighters in basketball game for charity By Steve Metsch Bridgeview Fire Chief Mike Daly, Police Chief Ricardo Mancha, and the village trustees had fun at the last village board meeting talking about the recent “Battle of the Badges” basketball game played between the police and fire departments. The police won by…

News, Suburban Chicagoland

LED to save money

May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

LED to save money Township of Lyons to install new lighting at HQ By Steve Metsch The Lyons Township headquarters, 6404 Joliet Road, Countryside, is getting new lighting that is expected to save on electric bills. The building will have all LED lighting, Township Supervisor Christopher Getty said. “We had a free assessment from ComEd…

Popular Lyons chicken BBQ returns

May 21, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

Popular Lyons chicken BBQ returns Mustangs host 64th annual event June 10 By Steve Metsch The Lyons Mustangs Athletic Club will soon hold its chicken BBQ, an annual tradition in the village now in its 64thyear. This year’s cookout will be held from noon to 7 p.m. June 10 at the Mustangs Hall, 4047 Leland…

News, Suburban Chicagoland, Village of Lyons

“Just Judy” tells Topinka’s story

May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

“Just Judy” tells Topinka’s story Son writes book about popular Illinois pol The son of the late Judy Baar Topinka is a hoping a book he’s written about this mother can teach valuable lessons to our youths. Joseph Baar Topinka, 50, who now lives in Texas and teaches employment law at Texas State University, has…

Politics, Suburban Chicagoland