Mokena's Top 10 Stories of 2012

See which articles were among the most read during the past year.

As the year draws to a close, Mokena Patch revisits some of our most read stories of 2012. The articles below were among those that most captivated readers during the last year: 1. Mokena Barber Cuts Hair With Fire: VIDEO Paper beats rock, scissors beat paper and, for Mokena, IL, barber Tony Dina, Jr., sometimes fire beats scissors ... to read more, click here. 2. Five-time Cancer Survivor Says 'Remain Positive' For New Lenox's Edith Saurer, a 75-year-old survivor of five different forms of cancer, the words "give up" never entered her mind ... to read more, click here. 3. Mokena Teen Killed in Homer Township Crash A 16-year-old boy was killed Tuesday night in a one-vehicle crash in Homer Township, the SouthtownStar is reporting ... to …

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Mokena Burros: Headline Highlights From 2012

Mokena Patch revisits the many ways that the youth football team made headlines during the past year.

The Mokena Burros youth football team made headlines in 2012 for several reasons. Hot topics involving the Burros included the introduction of the Mokena Junior Griffins, controversy surrounding the behavior of a Burros official, difficulty determining a location for play and conflict regarding whether players should be allowed to wear pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Check out our roundup of Burros news from the past year below. Mokena Adds Youth Football Team to River Valley League  Football fans, meet the Mokena Junior Griffins. On Feb. 25 and March 3, registration will be held at the Mokena Park District Administration Building for a new Mokena youth football team ... to read more, click here. Letter to the Editor: Mokena …

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Southland Stories

Burros Ban on Pink Has a Lot of People Talking

You see a lot of pink on the football field for Breast Cancer Awareness month. But not on the boys who play youth football in Mokena. A clueless call? Or overreaction?

The boys who play tackle football for the Mokena Burros can no longer garb themselves in shades of pink if they want to remain on the gridiron. So says Burros Athletic Director Sal Della Fave. In an e-mail at the onset of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to his players and coaches, Della Fave laid down the law: Only small, pink stickers can be affixed to helmets. "This is the only approved addition to our uniform," he wrote. "No other pink item is to be added to the uniform ie. socks, laces, duct tape etc. I am holding each of you accountable to ensure compliance." Patch's story about the decision and the ensuing displeasure felt by moms prompted much conversation among Patch's south suburban Facebook fans and followers of Patch sites.  Here'…

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Burros Player Sports Pink Socks, Despite Policy Change

Jamie Turner wore pink apparel for Breast Cancer Awareness Month at his Oct. 6 football game.

Mokena Burros Athletic Director Sal Della Fave’s recent decision to ban pink Breast Cancer Awareness Month gear from tackle games has become a source of conversation in the community in recent weeks. One mother-and-son team used that conversation as an opportunity for action. Jamie Turner, a 12-year-old Mokena Junior High School student, plays on Della Fave’s varsity heavyweight team. During the first game in October, he decided to advocate for breast cancer awareness, despite the youth football program’s new policy. “It’s an illness that, unfortunately, affects a lot of lives,” said Jennifer Gingerelli, who is Turner’s mother. “Even though we’re not raising money, we’re bringing awareness to it, and I think that’s important.” Gingerelli …

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Burros Athletic Director Bans Pink Uniform Accents

Tackle football players for the Mokena Burros can no longer wear pink gear in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

For years, Mokena Burros youth football players have worn pink athletic gear during October games to honor breast cancer survivors. And in the NFL, October is the season where the pros go pink. Every player wears pink shoes, pink socks, pink wrist-bands and more throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Boys and men might not always be fond of pink; October is the exception. But Mokena Burros Athletic Director Sal Della Fave says the young Burros who play tackle football can no longer wear pink. In an e-mail sent to Burros coaches on Oct. 1, Della Fave placed strict limitations on what tackle players can wear. Della Fave distributed small, pink stickers to be affixed to helmets, in the bottom left corner. "This is the only approved …

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Burros Looking to Play at L-W East, Providence

After the Mokena Park District parted ways with the Mokena Burros, the youth football and cheer organization has found new places to play.

Following the loss of their field and a barrage of rumors and miscommunication, the Mokena Burros are moving forward with new places to play football in 2012. At a Burros Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, athletic director Sal Della Fave said both Lincoln-Way East and Providence Catholic High School have offered their varsity fields to the youth football organization. Earlier this year, the Mokena Park District decided it would not rent football fields to the Burros. The two organizations discussed an agreement but nothing ever materialized. Early in March, the Burros announced an agreement with the Meijer Corporation to use a vacant development at Route 30 and Wolf Road. Some parents said they were told that’s where games would be …

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Flag on the Play? Burros Field Has Mokena Parents Talking

A misunderstanding over a field for Mokena Burros practice has generated a slew of comments on Mokena Patch about whether the Burros or the Park District is at fault. Check out today's comment thread.

Burros Don't Have a Field After All

Burros parents contacted by Patch on Thursday said the youth football organization told them different things about whether a replacement field was for practice, for games or for both.

If you signed up your children for Mokena Burros football, flag or cheer believing the group had space to play games this season, you were wrong. A vacant lot intended for a Meijer that never materialized is a field only for practice, not for play, the Burros board president said this week. On Tuesday, five days after the Burros second and final registration for the 2012 season, board President Joe Lentz and several parents spoke at the Mokena Community Park District board meeting. The groups have been at loggerheads for months, with the park district refusing to rent Main Park football fields to the Burros without a change in leadership. During the speech, which Lentz e-mailed to Patch after the meeting, Lentz spoke of the Meijer lot as "…

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Burros Youth Football Registration Today

First registration is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at Mokena Elementary School. Read on to find out about what's new for the 2012 season.

The Mokena Burros youth football and cheer program will hold registration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at Mokena Elementary School. In addition to a new field, for the 2012 season, the Junior Burros cheer program will be open to first graders and the flag football program has been expanded to include a 12- to 14-year-old division. Also for the first time, children will be allowed to pick their own numbers. Numbers will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. A second registration will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 22 at the elementary school. Get more information at the Burros website.

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