Kids going in every direction, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Swim team, etc etc etc..

All that with Dad in School for a teaching degree and mom a RN..

Fun Times!!

We will have more Zion News soon!

Da-Chief

7:30 PM Kick off for Varsity!!

Come root on our Fighting ZeeBee Team!!
D/C

Ken and Sam Schroeder are biking around Australia to raise money for the newly established Chicago chapter of the Boys to Men, a worldwide mentoring organization dedicated supporting young men to become strong, accountable, and compassionate.

Ken, a substance abuse counselor for the Lake County Health Department, is not new to distance cycling. Nor is he new to trekking through Australia. In 1982, Ken logged 9000 miles there. And in 1984, he biked from Cairo to Cape Town in Africa to raise money for Milwaukee Children’s Hospital.

Ken’s son, Sam, a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, called his Dad from his station in Iraq one day last year. He told his father he was thinking of taking a long bicycle ride in Australia.

This call came like an answer to Ken’s prayers. Unbeknownst to his son, Ken too had been considering a cycling trip to Australia. He knew his knee was in bad shape. He knew there would be considerable financial sacrifices that would have to be made. He’d prayed for a sign.

Now, after knee surgery, and months of rehab and training, Ken is in Australian with his son. The Army has granted Sam a 45-day leave period to take the “ride-about,” as they are calling it. During those 45 days, Sam will accompany his father for the first 3000 miles of the 10,000 mile journey before heading back to Fort Bragg. The two will carry their supplies along the way in bike trailers, and will camp at night.

For more information about Boys to Men, you can visit their website here:  Boys to Men, Chicago.

You can follow Ken’s progress on Facebook , on Twitter, or on the RideAbout Website.

Check out the RideAbout video in the Featured Video section of our homepage!

What transpired (at least in the first half) was a sloppy, penalty filled game.

I believe the IHSA had given the word the ref’s to call a tight game, which they did.  There were more personal fouls, and Unsportsmanlike conduct  penalties then I have ever seen at a game (30 total!) and some probably would not have been called if North Chicago were not in the game.  This is not to blame North Chicago either, they played with class as did the ZeeBee’s.

Unfortunately for the Warhawks, they were short handed since so many of their players were suspended due to the fight with Simmeon. (You can hear my take on this on the BuzzCast.)

What I was awed by though were the moves by running back Jaevuan Moton!! He was juking and slashing in a way where it was actually physically hard to follow him with the naked eye!! Jaevuan gained 121 yards on 10 carries and had 2 TD’s.

ZBTHS Football

QB Eric Pasiewicz, kept control of his squad marching them down field several time to be pulled back by penalties or fumbles which while not his fault kept him from probably running the score up even higher. Eric did close out the 1st half with a 17 yard pass to Michael Braswell to run the score up to 21-2.

Unfortunately for me, I had to leave midway through the 3rd Quarter as the game was running long due to the penalties, and my daughter was at a friends house. (Note to self, next week have all kids situated someplace where I don’t have to retrieve them!)

The ZeeBee’s are now 1-3, ending a 17 game losing streak dating back to 2007. Congrats gentlemen on a game well played!! Let’s keep it up next week against Libertyville!

With football season underway and home games looming in the air the marching Zee-Bees dust off their uniforms, shine up their marching shoes, and don the field for yet another spectacular half time performance.

 In light of the recent events that deal with Michael Jackson’s passing, the band pays its respects to the late artist by performing the half time show entitled “Best of the Jackson 5″ featuring hits such as “I Want You Back”; “I’ll be there”; “Never Can Say Goodbye”; and “ABC.” Mr Rymer, the director, explains why he chose this particular show, “I want the kids to learn to appreciate different styles of music. Also to show the talent of all of the Jackson family including Michael before the unfortunate events occured. I also chose the music because the Jackson Five was a very successful Motown group.’

 Mr. Rymer has been teaching bands for about ten years, eight in Zion, and two in Lake Bluff, for beginning band. All of his experience is paying off because more members of the community are recognizing the improvement of the band.

Brittany MJarion a former Zee-Bee class of 2006 says, “When I was going to school we didn’t know there was a band. Mr. Rymer has made the band more popular and made it something worth going too. I really enjoy it when they perform popular music that is more up to date and with the times.”

Cheri Ditzig says, “I love the half time shows. I like seeing the different moves that the band does. I think it would be really cool to see some of Michael’s simpler dance moves being performed along side the band.”

Marquette Cook, who is currently a Senior at ZBT, says, “I like the band in general, my favorite halftime show would have to be Grease. I would really like to see the band perform Thriller.”

Band practices marching technique

If you think that band is all fun and games, it’s not. For a week during the summer the students head over to the school at eight in the morning  and work on marching technique and drill (the pictures that you see on the field during the show) for four hours. After an hour lunch break, they are at it again for the last 3 hours of the day hitting the instruments and learning all the songs that you see performed at the show. Pretty impressive, huh? Well a little snippet of what they learned in band camp can be found on youtube– just search ZBTHS Band Camp conclusion- Jackson 5– and you can see all that they put together during band camp.

 Marching season is also a time for students to display their leadership skills. Mr. Rymer appoints three student directors to lead the students on the field. These student directors are called drum majors. The 2009 Marching Zee-Bee drum majors are Jenny Cohn, Ryan Hansen, and Ben Lamm. These students are looked up to by most of the students and they are great leaders.

 Standing up in front of your peers is not an easy thing to do yet these students do it everyday. Jenny says, “I love being a drum major. It’s really hard at times, because you are a student leader, and some students just see you as another student, not as a leader. But it’s so much fun and rewarding. I’ve learned a lot about leadership and responsibility.”

Ben adds “Its a lot of responsibility but I find it enjoyable.”

Ryan says, “Although I still miss marching with the trumpets, I feel that becoming Drum Major has opened up a door that will allow me to continously grow as an individual and as a leader. This position allows me to help new (and sometimes the older) individuals/ performers to reach their potential with music, as well as their character development.”

Many members of the band are enjoying the band experience. Most of them also enjoy the music this seaso.

 Tom Owen, a Junior and new member to the band, had this to say, “I like the music we are currently playing it is fun and energetic.”

Melissa Silva a Sophomore says, “My favorite song is “I’ll be there.”

Jenny’s says, “My favorite song is “I Want You back,” or “ABC.”

Ryan, on the other hand, went all the way back to his freshman year for his favorite song when they performed Grease and it is “Born to Handjive.”

 Along with the instrumental musi,c the pre-game and post game features the drum line of the group performing cadiences bringing upbeat tempos and adrenalin to the crowd.

 Eric Pasiewicz and Aric Palmer, both members of the Varsity football team, state, “The drums really get the team pumped up.”

The Drum Line has entered the field!

The drum line is headed by Mr. Isaacs, an NIU graduate and former Zee-Bee. He says, “I like to see the kids faces when they accel and play something that they weren’t able to in the beginning. My role as a drumline instructor is to clean up any problem areas in the music and to make the students play together.” Mr. Rymer had this to say about Mr. Isaacs, “The drum line has really stepped up this year thanks to Mr. Isaacs even though it is a voulentary position. He is a PE teacher at the school but I hope to get him a paid position on the band staff.”

Talking to the staff of the school they are really excited to see the bands performance. Mr. Lee a dean at the school says, “The music is great as well as the discipline the students have. They do a great job as a highschool band.”

Steve Ceskowski of the social studies department said, “It’s exciting and nice to see diverse students working together as a team.”

Senora Tejada of the foreign language department says, “It’s impressive and well performed. I find it very entertaining.”

Mr. Niemi assistant principle states, “The band is much improved. Mr. Rymer has brought it up to date and makes it fun for the kids by intergrating the old music into the new music.”

 Aside from the regular show music, the band performes music in the stands. Some of their stand music is, “Scare Tatics,” “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” and many more. So if your not a Bee-liever I encourage you to go check out the half time show yourself. With so much great music, and great praise how can anyone resist? As for me, I hope to see you at the Football game rooting for our awesome football team and your local band.

 Hey Rah Rah Rah Rah Rah, Team, Team, TEAM, Go Bees!

Look for more images of the band on our Zion BuzzCast #4 coming up this Monday September 28, 2009!

About now, those fine local hot dog artists should have just about perfected their technique, so we are touring around Zion-Benton to find out who makes the best hot dog.

Our judge will be Da-Chief. He is the ultimate hot dog conniosseur. The hot dog has been his favorite food for 43 years now. He has eaten an estimated 4.472 hot dogs in his lifetime. He is a meticulous critic.

So here’s how we are approaching this: I go to the hot dog vender and ask for their best dog. I bring it to Da-Chief. He judges its appearance, ingredients, portion and flavor (this is HYSTERICAL to watch, by the way), assigning each element a score out of a possible 5 pts. In the end, we will declare Da-Chief’s choice of best dog in Zion-Benton.

The following vendors are on our list as having dogs to sample:

Chucks Dog House, Zion
Dairy Queen, Zion
Shirl’s Drive Thru, Zion
Bill’s Custard Cafe, Zion
Franks, Beach Park
Droopey’s, Winthrop Harbor
Hot Dog Harbor, Winthrop Harbor

If we are missing a fantastic vendor, feel free to add it to the comments and we will include it.

I am off to buy stock in Pepcid. Look for our results in the coming week!

According to the News Sun, Mudarth has announced that she will use the grant to take two graduate-level courses offered by the Environmental Education and Training Partnership through University of Wisconsin, Steven’s Point.

The primary goal of the Classroom Earth program is to increase the environmental literacy of high school students and to provide models for including environmental education in high school classrooms through the Web. Furthermore, the program aspires to encourage “the inclusion of environmental education into all high school subjects – from biology to art – and make it easier for teachers to access best practices online.” (Taken from the Classroom Earth statement online). Classroom Earth is Sponsored by the Weather Channel and the National Environmental Education Foundation.

So this Friday night, the ZeeBee’s will be hosting North Chicago in a on field battle!

The game starts @ 7:30 PM. Lets hope our Zeebee’s can get a victory Friday night, the Warhawks are missing 8 players from their team due to suspensions.

Good Luck!

 You can watch it here: http://zionbuzz.com/buzzcast/

If you want to get our shows automatically(Audio), we are on ITunes as well, Keyword “BUZZCAST” or “ZIONBUZZ.COM”. 

Join Karen and Darrell as we discuss all the Buzz about Zion!

I was thinking of taking a walk one day soon to the Lakemound Cemetary and having a conversation with John Alexander Dowie. I am not sure why, but it’s important to me that he like me. I was thinking I could convince him to like me. Of course, there is the dilemma of his being dead. He won’t answer and I’ll not be sure if this is deliberate.

I was thinking I wouldn’t start the conversation by offering him a drink–or a smoke (I long considered the offering-him-a-smoke part, however, because of the potential dialogue I’d drummed up in my head:  No? Me neither. I don’t smoke. I just confiscated these from the  Goth kid down the street. I don’t smoke, sir. Nasty habit!  That might win me some points).

For a while, I contemplated starting things off with a joke.

Maybe I’d say, “Hi Mr. Dowie, I am just here to take some seismic readings.” I would have props like a metal box and a pocket protector. Then I’d smile with the punchline, “I’ve heard numerous times lately that you were turning over in your grave.” 

Snort, snort! I still get a kick out of that. Each time I practice it, though, I can’t imagine him laughing back. Plus it kinda reminds me of that pick-up line guys try to use on girls at the bar–the one about how our feet must be tired because we’ve been running through their minds all night. (UGGH).

I have no way to gage Dowie’s sense of humor. And I wouldn’t want to sound disrespectful, so no jokes.

I’ve decided I will just say, “John Alexander Dowie, I don’t believe you were Elijah, but I like you. You may not like me. I am a Catholic and a nurse and am currently teaching myself to make a whole variety of mixed drinks, so you may not like me but I really wish you would.”

John Dowie won’t answer me and I’ll take it that he is thinking.

The other weekend I went to the Potawatomi Trails Pow-Wow here at Shiloh Park. Before this, I never knew the story of how this area’s natives made paths by bending and tying saplings, which ultimately grew into old, twisted trees who were ancient and wise to the way.

“I wonder if you met one of these trees while you were surveying this land,” I will say to him. Then after a few moments, I’ll ask, “Lying here all this time, did you ever think about these layers of believing?”

Upon this land of wise trees, beside this Great Lake, Dowie built our city of Zion. It was inspired by his faith, magnificently planned, and then poured over the footprints made by the Potawatomi as they fled north to Green Bay. One sacred history on top another–layers with particles that can be be dispersed into the air by the pounding of a drum, particles that can be kicked up with enough stomping–or dancing.

I won’t remind him outloud, but out of Dowie’s own political and financial ruin–and, in the end, his death– emerged another layer of believing.

In 1903, Dowie engaged in a well-publicized Mubahila, or prayer duel, with Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Ahmad was a Punjabi who had founded his own sect of Islam, Ahmadiyya, and proclaimed himself to be a reincarnated prophet, Hazrat Eisa Ibne Maryam (a.k.a. Jesus Christ). Ahmad prayed publicly that whomever was the false prophet of these two men should die a miserable death in the other one’s lifetime.

Dowie died first (after undeniable personal downfall) but I won’t go there to the Lakemound Cemetary to rub salt in that wound. Death is the ultimate humiliator. I have learned this working in oncology. Death is the ultimate humiliator and there is no point I need to make to Mr. Dowie anymore.

Ahmad also died, in case you were wondering. He died just one year later.

I was just thinking I would introduce myself  to Mr. Dowie and then be quiet.

Maybe this city, with its dozens of churches other than his own, is not the Zion City he imagined. And I suppose he could be disappointed. Maybe a Catholic healthcare worker isn’t the sort of visitor he would have dreamed of entertaining. So first I will tell him that, from the very beginning and at the very end, I put my hands on my patients and I pray.

Then, I will say how glad I am that my children play upon the boulevard Bethesda, named for that biblical angel of healing. And I will tell him that though I don’t believe he was a prophet, I know he envisioned this future for me in that small and meaningful way.