Lester: Suburban support still key to Villanova's Brunson

In a whirlwind year's time, Adlai E. Stevenson High School basketball standout Jalen Brunson has gone from breaking records in the IHSA Class 4A state title game to prepping for the NCAA Final Four Saturday night in Houston as a starter for the Villanova Wildcats, my beloved alma mater.

But despite those changes, Brunson's deep suburban support network continues to be a major part of his journey, his mother tells me.

“We were in Louisville the other day, we saw both his assistant principal at Stevenson, his dentist from Arlington Heights,” Sandra Brunson says. “He's taking so many people along for the ride with him.”

A working arrangement

Among those influential to Brunson's development is Stevenson varsity boys basketball coach Pat Ambrose. While Jalen's father, former Chicago Bulls player Rick Brunson, took a very active role in his son's development as a player, the men worked out an arrangement. Rick Brunson focused on teaching his son skills and mechanics but shied away from trying to exert any influence on Ambrose's coaching style.

The family could have moved to North Carolina in 2012 when Rick Brunson took an assistant coaching job with the Charlotte Hornets. But Sandra said the couple decided that she, Jalen and sister Erica should stay in Lincolnshire because of Stevenson's superb academics.

The family is traveling to Houston on Thursday for the Final Four. “I'm still pinching myself,” she says.

Conflicting anniversaries

Buffalo Grove atheist activist

Rob Sherman tells me he'll be celebrating two contradictory anniversaries this week - the 30th anniversary of his pilgrimage to Zion in Lake County to remove a cross from its municipal water tower and the 50th anniversary of his bar mitzvah. Confused (as I initially was)? Sherman, who was raised Jewish, tells me he quietly became an atheist about a year before the traditional religious coming of age celebration but ultimately caved to what he calls a “very high-pressure social situation.”

Sherman says he knew early on he'd find his life's work in activism, noting “I'm the kind of a guy who takes on challenges nobody else is taking on.” This fall, the Green Party candidate for Congress is waging a campaign against Democratic incumbent Mike Quigley of Chicago.

Dad-isms

For those who are expectant parents - or simply want to remember the full spectrum of emotions accompanying those days - I'd encourage you to check out Matt Paolelli's “Dad Has a Blog” page. The

Park Ridge resident - who you'll remember was the creator of the #FlatFrancis social media campaign to welcome Pope Francis to America - spent 40 days of Lent profiling 40 fathers as a way to both adjust to and broadcast the news that he and wife Theresa are expecting their first child this summer.

Highlights include his male perspective on battling morning sickness, impatiently waiting to share news of the pregnancy with family and friends, and choosing whether to find out the child's gender.

Crime drop

I got an early look at police department data showing Hanover Park's crime dropped by more than 20 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year, as part of a continuation of efforts to combat the violence that was synonymous with the town in past decades. Deputy Police Chief Andrew Johnson tells me the village of roughly 38,000 residents saw 305 “Part I” crimes - more serious offenses that can include aggravated assault, burglary, rape and murder - in 2015, down from 385 in 2014 and nearly 700 in 2006. Of those categories, Johnson says property crimes constituted nearly 85 of the village's 2015 total. Police Chief Dan Webb credits a working partnership between residents and police, and the growing popularity of the Police and Citizens Connected Program, as instrumental to efforts.

Dramatic props

West Chicago Community High School parent Rick Gieser (who's also a Carol Stream trustee) writes that the school's drama program - which his son Ricky is part of - was selected to represent the United States and the state of Illinois at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland this summer. It's the largest arts festival in the world. To raise money for the trip, students will hold a stand-up comedy benefit April 5 in the school's auditorium. The event will feature comics who have appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Late, Late Show” and Comedy Central.

Thanks

Thanks to all of you for the tips and suggestions as to real-life Rosie the Riveter figures to interview about the women's homefront war effort during World War II. My voice mail box has filled up in recent days with messages from former “Rosies,” one of whom described herself as “pretty sharp for an old broad.” Stay tuned for some profiles in the coming days.

Got a comment or tip? Email Kerry at klester@dailyherald.com or reach her at (847) 427-4603.