West Aurora friends a special pair
When it is difficult for a person to nurture a friendship because of a learning disability, it takes someone special help open that door.
Two friends from West Aurora High School were honored Monday at Brookfield Zoo for opening that door.
Michael Perez and Jonathan Konduri, both juniors at West Aurora, were named the Best Buddy Pair of the Year by Best Buddies of Illinois at its annual Brookfield Zoo Bash.
The nonprofit organization creates one-on-one friendships between responsible role models and students with developmental disabilities.
In this case, Michael is known as the “peer buddy” as a general education student, and Jonathan is the “best buddy,” a student dealing with a disability.
“Michael knew of Jonathan in middle school, but never really had the chance to talk with him,” said Kristin Voss, one of the organization advisers at West Aurora. “At one of our first Best Buddies events, at our football game, Michael and Jonathan clicked very well.
“After the football game they became ‘buddies’ and have developed a very good friendship, talking almost every day,” Voss added. “They have gone to movies, and Michael also attended Jonathan’s surprise birthday party.
“Michael says that Jonathan is also able to talk to him when something is bothering Jonathan. These two boys have really shown what this club is all about.”
No country bumpkinBravo once again to the Fox Valley Repertory and its staging of #147;Always ... Patsy Cline#148; at Pheasant Run. The opening show last weekend was excellent, with Megan Long in the lead role of Patsy Cline. It#146;s the story of the country music legend#146;s friendship with a fan, Louise Steger of Houston, whom she met at a performance. Cline continued to write letters to Steger for two years before Cline#146;s tragic death in a plane crash.Kate Brown was hilarious in the role of Steger, a rough-around-the-edges Texas gal who had a full arsenal of wisecracks when it came to the men in her life. The show runs through May 15. Even if you are not a country music fan, this one should be put down on your #147;to do#148; list.Let burger wars rageI#146;m hearing all sorts of pros and cons regarding who has the best hamburgers of the soon-to-be full-scale burger wars unfolding along Randall Road.With a new Five Guys Burgers and Fries looking for a summer opening in the Geneva Commons, it figures to be going one-on-one against Tom and Eddie#146;s gourmet burgers, located a stone#146;s throw north in the Commons. Farther south, we have Smashburger in Batavia, looking for its share of the burger-eating market.Much like any other restaurant, each place has its followers and detractors. If there is a consistent feedback out there, it has to be this time-tested guideline: Keep the cost reasonable for good food and good service, and there#146;s a good chance you#146;ll do fine. Sales start bloomingAnother sign of spring? Church rummage sales. Jump-start your rummage sale season by stopping by Baker Community Church in St. Charles for its spring sale from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.dheun@sbcglobal.net