“Community Trees,” such as this one, are on display at the Robert R. McCormick House at Cantigny Park. Continuing through Dec. 30, seven trees are decorated for Christmas by nonprofit organizations. Each participating organization receives a a grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and collects donations made by museum visitors, who come to view the trees.

OAK BROOK

Area Sears store might stay open

The Sears store at Oakbrook Center might survive the company’s bankruptcy plans. It is one of 11 locations in Illinois that Sears Holdings Corp. hopes to sell to a bidder willing to continue the retail business. The 11 are among a total of 505 stores the bankrupt retailer hopes to sell to a new owner.

The other stores are in Bloomingdale, Chicago Ridge, North Riverside, Schaumburg, West Dundee, Cherry Valley, Peoria and Fairview Heights and Kmarts in Bridgeview and Des Plaines.

Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings Corp., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in mid-October, received court approval recently to begin trying to sell its best-performing stores. The retailer earlier received court approval to begin store closing sales at 142 unprofitable stores, including a Sears in Joliet and Kmart stores in Moline, Quincy and Norridge.

Sears has until Dec. 15 to find an initial bidder, or “stalking horse,” for the stores it hopes to keep open. Other potential buyers have until Dec. 28 to submit bids, and the auction will be conducted Jan. 14.

LISLE-WOODRIDGE

Hospital honors EMT crew

Edward Hospital has awarded its 2018 EMS (Emergency Medical Services) “Run of the Year” to members of the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District, Red Shift, Medic 52 and Engine 52. James Loehman, Matt Schebo, Mike Sharp, Kevin Sievert and Scott Wezalis were honored for their treatment of a patient who suffered a stroke. 

The “Run of the Year” recipients were honored in a ceremony at Edward Hospital’s monthly Management Team meeting on Nov. 20. The recognition capped off the year-long “Run of the Quarter” program, through which Edward Hospital has honored System EMS providers since 2015. Teams are selected based on excellent communication from the field, excellent work in gathering information, clear and thorough documentation, superior clinical assessment skills, heroic behavior in the field, and superior partnership and teamwork with Edward Hospital.

WHEATON

Charities decorate ‘Community Trees’ for donations

The Robert R. McCormick House at Cantigny Park is playing host to a holiday attraction honoring the colonel’s philanthropic legacy.

Continuing through Dec. 30, McCormick House, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, is featuring seven “Community Trees,” each decorated for Christmas by nonprofit organizations. The area charities were invited to participate because their missions involve issues or causes that were important to McCormick during his career and life at Cantigny.

Each participating organization receives a $2,500 grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. It also collects 100 percent of optional donations made by museum visitors, who are encouraged to vote for their favorite tree.

The agency whose tree gathers the most votes receives an additional $2,500. The foundation commits $20,000 annually to the program.

Tree decorators in 2018 are:

• Family Focus, Inc., which offers innovative, community-based programs that help parents, grandparents, and foster and adoptive parents gain confidence and competence as the primary educators of their children.
• Freedom Golf Association, based in Burr Ridge, dedicated to bringing joy and a sense of freedom to the special needs community through golf. FGA offers workshops and free instruction opportunities for children, adults and veterans.
• Glen Ellyn Food Pantry, an organization of Glen Ellyn churches working together to fight hunger and food insecurity in Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Glendale Heights, Lisle, Lombard, Carol Stream, Addison and Bloomingdale.
• Operation Welcome You Home, a volunteer organization dedicated to assisting local veterans.
• Streamwood Choral Society, which supports the musical arts in Streamwood and surrounding communities. The society promotes cultural diversity through music and provides private music lessons, college scholarships and performance opportunities to students and youth who could not afford them otherwise.
• Unity Partnership, which creates positive impacts between police and civilians by developing new pathways for dialogue in the community. The Naperville-based organization is composed of various cultural, ethnic and religious groups.
• West Suburban Humane Society, which is a volunteer-based animal welfare organization dedicated to operating a no-kill animal shelter and finding safe, permanent homes for domestic dogs and cats.

McCormick House hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, with visits by free guided tour. The museum will close Dec. 24-25. For more information, go to Cantigny.org.

NAPERVILLE

Junie B. Jones on stage at North Central

Everyone’s favorite first grader comes to town when Casa Manana Children’s Theatre out of Fort Worth, Texas, presents “Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” for two performances at 2 and 4 p.m. Dec. 1 at Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville.

Morgan Haney stars as Junie B. Jones in the stage version of the beloved book, which is No. 25 in the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park.

Tickets cost $6-$12. For more information, call 630-637-7469, or go online to northcentralcollege.edu/show.

ELMHURST

Church’s project is to ‘Fill the Stable’

Each week of Advent, the Elmhurst Presbyterian Church will focus on a wish list of items that area residents can place in a replica stable in the church’s main lobby. The list is filled with supplies that represent what the Holy Family may have needed on their journey to Bethlehem. All donations will be presented to organizations that help area residents in Elmhurst and surrounding communities.

From now through Christmas Eve, the public is invited to join the church for worship service on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m., or drop off donations weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. by ringing the bell at the church’s main entrance on the east side of the building which is accessible from the parking lot. 

All are welcome to donate from the list below at any time. The church is at 367 Spring Road in Elmhurst, at the corner of St. Charles and Spring.

Week one (Dec. 2) — How did the Holy Family care for themselves? 

Bring toothpaste and toilet paper for distribution through the Yorkfield Food Pantry.

Week two (Dec. 9) — What did the Holy Family need for warmth?

Bring hats and gloves for Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) guests who visit the PADS site at EPC on Saturday nights from October through April. Donations will also go to the Erie House in Chicago

Week three (Dec. 16)  What did the Holy Family wear? 

Socks are always in high demand by PADS guests to help keep feet warm in cold weather. 

Week four — (Dec. 23) What did the Holy Family need for the baby?

Bring diapers of any size for distribution through the Yorkfield Food Pantry

–DuPage County News Briefs–