Family Remembers Laliberte, Raises Funds for Youth Programs

Live4Lali's miniature golf event, held in memory of Alex Laliberte, who died from a heroin overdose, will benefit a number of suburban youth programs.

Jody Daitchman remembers her son, Alex Laliberte, as a “wonderful student” who had “a zillion friends.” Still, she knew he had flaws. While attending Stevenson High School, Alex began using marijuana and harder drugs. By his junior year, he was receiving drug counseling and attending a support group. He graduated from high school in 2007, and his family thought he was turning his life around. Then in 2008, while on a break from college, he died from a heroin overdose in his Buffalo Grove home. He was 20 years old. Alex’s death was shocking and heartbreaking to his family, who documents his story on Live4Lali.org. His family hopes others won’t have to experience the same struggles that they and Alex faced. In 2009, they established …

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About Town

Twin Groves Student Skates with Evan Lysacek

Rudi Baruch skated with the Olympic gold medalist Thursday in Buffalo Grove.

What do eighth-grader Rudi Baruch, CASA of Lake County and Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek have in common? Here’s the answer: Rudi’s parents, Wynne and David Baruch were at a charity event supporting CASA of Lake County, “a nonprofit membership organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the juvenile court system.” At that event in 2010, Wynne says, “The room was filled with live and silent auction items. I only saw one. It was a private lesson with men's Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek. It also came with four tickets to Smuckers on Ice, which starred amongst others, Rudi’s idol, Sasha Cohen." This was purchased as an incredible Bat Mitzvah gift for their daughter, who lives and breathes…

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Stevenson Lights Up Spirit Fest, Smashes World Record

In its first nighttime appearance, Stevenson High School's annual Spirit Fest crushed the record for the world's largest glow stick design.

After an evening of music, snacks and soaking teachers in a dunk tank, 826 people arranged on Stevenson High School’s football turf shattered the world record for the largest glow stick design. With the stadium lights shut off, participants at Saturday night’s Spirit Fest held up blue glow sticks to form the letters C-A-S-A, an acronym for the nonprofit beneficiary of this year’s event. And after posing for photographic evidence to send to Guinness Book of World Records, the crowd pitched their glow sticks skyward, cheering and dancing to LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem.” This is the second year that the school has broken a world record at Spirit Fest, its annual kickoff to Homecoming week. Last year, 525 attendees set the record for the …

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Video: Buffalo Grove Park District Dedicates Rebuilt Playgrounds

Nearly a year after the Alcott Park playground was ruined by arson, the park — along with the new Lexi Kazian playground — is officially open.

As a child in Buffalo Grove, Kristy Kazian played at Alcott Park. When her own daughter was born, she wanted her, too, to experience playground fun. But trips to parks turned out to be more work than pleasure for the Kazians, who found that many facilities were not designed for children with special needs. “Going to a playground became not so fun,” said Kristy Kazian, who struggled to maneuver 2-year-old Lexi’s wheelchair over the ground, and then found much of the equipment too difficult to use. “When she passed away, I said, ‘How can we make parks better?’” she said. Kristy and her husband, Kris, began The Lexi Kazian Foundation — Helping From Heaven, which aims to improve the quality of life for children with special needs. Since its …

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New Resale Shop Benefits Charities

Community Threads, which opened Sept. 1 in Buffalo Grove, offers deals on a wide variety of items.

Many are looking for a good deal these days and, regardless of economic conditions, charities can never raise too much money. Elizabeth Maring acknowledged both truths when she established Community Threads, a nonprofit resale shop that opened Sept. 1 at 70 W. Dundee Rd., Buffalo Grove. The stor depends entirely on volunteer workers and community contributions. Its proceeds will be distributed among three nonprofits whose volunteers make the operation possible. “We’ve had a strong service emphasis in our family,” said Maring, a Palatine resident who has volunteered with her church and as a Rotarian. Maring was a lawyer for more than 20 years before she began working at a church in Rockford. She was inspired to open her own thrift store …

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