Teen reigns as queen at Chicago's Polish day parade
Prospect Heights resident Monica Ignas, a senior at Hersey High School, reigned over the 117th Polish Constitution Day parade along Chicago's lakefront last Saturday as its queen.
Ignas and her first runner-up wore white dresses while the second runner-up wore a red dress, representing the red and white of the Polish flag.
"It was chilly, but the rain held off until after the parade, so we were lucky," Ignas reflected afterward. "Because of the weather, it was a smaller crowd than usual, but we had fun."
Ignas was chosen by the judges from a field of 12 candidates in front of a live audience at Beau Jolie by Victoria banquet hall in Schiller Park on April 11. The young women were judged based on essays, accomplishments and poise. Ignas also won the "Public Choice" Award, bestowed by the audience.
"This was totally unexpected," Ignas said. "I found out about the contest through a photographer who had taken my picture for a book illustration. I never expected to win."
In fact, Ignas said, she entered simply because it was something that she had never done before and thought that it would be a fun experience.
As the winner, Ignas was awarded a $2,000 scholarship funded by AT&T which she plans to use at Dominican University in River Forest in the fall. She plans to major in psychology because one day she hopes to become a child therapist.
The oldest of four girls, Ignas is the daughter of Barbara and Zbigniew Ignas who immigrated to the United States from Poland 20 years ago. The family has lived in Prospect Heights for eight years.
At Hersey High School Ignas has been involved with the yearbook, the National Honor Society and the Foreign Language National Honor Society. She is also a dancer in Lajkonik, a Polish folk dancing ensemble.
If you would like to see a delayed broadcast of the parade, it will air on CBS-2 from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Wine tasting for a cure:ŒVino 100 Mount Prospect, 110 S. Emerson St., will hold a wine tasting fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday to raise money to help find a cure for muscular dystrophy.
A selection of 10 wines will be available to sample, along with hors d'oeuvres, for an admission cost of $10 per person.
One hundred percent of the admission cost and 10 percent of all wine sale proceeds will be contributed to Team Joseph, a muscular dystrophy fundraising team named in honor of Joseph Penrod, a 5-year-old boy who has recently been diagnosed with the disease.
Currently there is no cure. But family members in Mount Prospect are determined to make a difference by raising funds for treatment and a cure. Many times research is stifled by lack of funding, they say.
"This event could have a profound impact on people everywhere suffering from this disease. I am just glad Vino 100 can help make a difference in the community. Isn't that what small business is all about … giving back?" said Jennifer Martinez, owner of Vino 100.
Rick Haskins of Platinum Distributing is donating wine for the event.
"Electric Boogaloo" finale:ŒThe local garage band sensation known as "Electric Boogaloo" will perform its final local show from 7 to 9 p.m. May 16 in the garage level of the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St. The show is free, but registration is requested at (847) 253-5675 or www.mppl.org/events.
According to Rose Allen of the library, organizer of the concert, several members of the band will soon be moving out of state, so "Electric Boogaloo" will no longer be playing together.
The band is made up of Mike Sonnefeldt on the guitar; Peter Roach, percussion; Doug Ferdinand on keyboards and synthesizer; Mike Cantella, bass guitar; and Alex Blackshere, drum set and sampler.