10 Illinois Stories That Made Us Smile In 2021

ACROSS ILLINOIS — From a generous restaurant owner who cooks up to 100 hot meals for the homeless every week, to an elusive bison that has evaded police officers and firefighters as it continues to wander free in the Chicago suburbs, it's time to look back on some stories that have made us smile over the past year.

Other stories that gave us some warm fuzzies were those where area residents stepped up to help families in need, including the help bestowed upon the Oehrlein family in Oak Forest, who received more than $51,000 in donations after their 9-year-old daughter suffered a nearly fatal brain hemorrhage. Katelyn Oehrlein has since been recovering and the funds are being used to help pay for her continued medical expenses and needs.

The positive attitude of a woman who turned 100 years old, a new Rainbow Cone store in the suburbs and the sweet gift an 8-year-old girl bestowed on the firefighters who battled a blaze at her home also turned our frowns upside down.

As we usher in 2022, here is a look at some of our favorite heartwarming stories of 2021:

More Than $50K Raised For Girl, 9, Who Is Recovering From Nearly Fatal Brain Hemorrhage

A suburban girl who is recovering from a nearly fatal brain hemorrhage has underone medical treatment and surgeries in recent months, which were funded in part through several generous donations from area residents.

Katelyn Oehrlein, 9, suffered a brain hemorrhage due to an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) rupture this past summer. As a result, Katelyn became very sick before being rushed to the hospital, according to a GoFundMe, which brought in more than $43,000 in the first week after it went live.

Katelyn returned to her home in Oak Forest in August after several surgeries.

"For those of you who don't know Katelyn, she is a sweet 9-year-old little girl, who loves to draw, spend time with family, and goof around with her little brother," the GoFundMe reads.

The fundraiser has since surpassed its goal of $50,000, raising more than $51,000. Katelyn again underwent surgery in October, and doctors have since learned her AVM went deeper into her brain than they originally thought and there is a small risk she may lose vision in her right eye due to how close the rupture is to her optic nerve, according to the GoFundMe.

"She will be monitored closely for the next two years and hopefully the AVM will be gone by the 2 year mark," according to an Oct. 1 update on the GoFundMe page.

Elusive Bison Still Roaming Free

Residents in Lake and McHenry counties have been on the lookout in recent months for a bison that has been roaming free after its daring escape from Milk & Honey Farmstead in Wauconda.

The bison got away from its owners in September and has been on the lam since, evading capture by police and fire departments offering their assistance to help get her back home.

"It happened when we were unloading the bison at the farm and she got away," Comstock said. "It went through a big swamp area, and I met up with her on the other side. And then she looked at me and started walking toward [Route] 176. I followed her and she just looked at me and said, 'See ya.'"

The bison has made a name for herself. Most recently, she's been spotted in Cary. Before that, she was seen in Island Lake and turned the heads of motorists as she darted down Route 176 during rush hour.

Milk & Honey Farmstead bought the bison and her half-sister in September. They plan to use the bison for educational purposes; the farm hosts educational programs for children from the city, Comstock said.

Officials are asking anyone who spots the bison not to chase her; she is docile but could become aggressive if she feels threatened. Scott Comstock, owner of Milk & Honey Farm, said he's hopeful she will be easier to catch once it begins to snow and she can be easier to track.

"Our hope is that we are able to bring her in without having her hurt or hurting anyone else," Comstock said.

Lisle 8-Year-Old, Family Thank 'Heroes' Who Battled House Fire

An 8-year-old girl showed her appreciation to the firefighters who battled a blaze at her home back in February by delivering a handwritten note, along with gifts and cards, to Lisle-Woodridge Fire Fighters Union IAFF Local 2986.

On the day of the fire, Myra's stepdad, Raza Siddiqui, was woken up by the smell of something burning. Raza told Patch he got Myra, his wife Sara Sadat and their other children out of the home safely and called 911, just moments before discovering a fully involved fire in the furnace room of the home's basement.

The fire forced the family to live elsewhere due to the damage sustained. Firefighters were able to save the family's turtle as well as an entire series of Sara's original paintings.

The family met with the fire department and Myra gave them a card with a fire truck she drew on it. She also picked out games for the firefighters "because they have been working so hard."

Since the fire, Myra has become "so much more of a caring individual," Sara told Patch.

That's not the only way the 8-year-old was influenced by each of the firefighters who worked to save her home on Feb. 15.

Myra told Patch, "I want to be a firefighter when I grow up because they're heroes and I want to be a hero one day."

The Forge Takes Third In USA Today Best New Attraction Contest

A massive outdoor adventure park in the suburbs, which opened this past summer, received a nod from USA Today, which ranked The Forge: Lemont Quarries as the third best new attraction in the U.S. Readers across the country voted on the top 10 new attractions in the United States, and the Lemont business made its way into the top 3.

The Forge has ropes courses, climbing walls, kayaking, ziplines and mountain biking trails. The business also features the Forgefire Globes for outdoor dining, an ice skating rink, as well as a space for movies and entertainment at The Mount.

"We are honored to be included in this list of notable attractions across the United States," Jeremie Bacon, The Forge: Lemont Quarries co-founder, said. "We are incredibly thankful for our Forge Fam and the community's support, and we look forward to many adventures to come!"

Wandering Pig Rescued In Joliet By Police Officers

Several Joliet police officers found themselves responding to an unusual call for service earlier this year when they learned there was a wild pig roaming a Joliet neighborhood.

Joliet police made the following announcement about the case on the department's Facebook page: "Let's start off the week with a story. This tail has a twist! This past Saturday, dayshift officers went hog wild after being flagged down near Gardner Street and Doris Avenue about a loose pig was seen exploring our city. After some teamwork, a commandeered children's bicycle, and the assistance of the Joliet Township Animal Control the big fella was safe and wee wee wee all the way home! We're glad it all turned out just swine!"

Niko's: 100 Free Meals For Joliet's Poor, Homeless Every Week

The staff at a Joliet business has kept busy every Thursday earlier this year as they packed up dozens of free meals for homeless residents. The owner of Niko's Pizzeria told Patch this past January they'd been doling out 100 meals at no cost every week for three months.

Israeio Holloway, the founder/CEO of Hope and Divine Purpose Transitional Living Home in Joliet, would come to the carryout restaurant in Joliet to pick up the food orders. Hope & Divine Purpose Transitional Living Home and Igniting The Fire Prayer Ministry, 114 East Cass St., would give the "Hot Meals To Go"to Joliet's homeless and others in need every Thursday afternoon.

"So every week, it's a new dish," Niko told Joliet Patch's editor in January. "We're doing it for the homeless people and the poor people. We're trying our best to help the community and those in hard days.

"God bless everyone. Stay safe and healthy, and stay hungry my friends," Niko said with a smile.

Original Rainbow Cone Opens 1st Suburban Store In Lombard

For nearly 100 years, residents of Chicago's suburbs had to travel into the city —or track down an Original Rainbow Cone truck— to get a sampling of the shop's iconic stacked, multi-favor ice cream cone. That all changed in June when Original Rainbow Cone opened its first suburban location at 498 E. Roosevelt Rd. in Lombard.

Since 1926, the Original Rainbow Cone has been beloved for its five-layer cones, which come piled high with orange sherbet and pistachio, strawberry, chocolate and Palmer House (vanilla blended with cherries and walnuts).

These cones are likely to be a big draw at the Lombard store too, but customers can also order shakes and sundaes in a variety of flavor that include cookie dough, bubble gum, chocolate peanut butter and mint flake.

100-Year-Old Skokie Woman Credits Family For Longevity

Skokie resident Diane Cohen marked her 100th birthday this past February with four generations of her family, crediting them for her longevity. The freshly minted centenarian celebrated with a drive-by parade led by a Skokie squad car, a 100-balloon garland, a decades-themed game of trivia, an inflatable tube man and lots of chocolate.

"I've been so lucky," Cohen said. "I have such a wonderful family that every single one of my birthdays was always a big holiday for them."

For the past nine years, Cohen has lived with Doris Hyman, the eldest of her three daughters. Cohen also has three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

"If every mother in this country had a daughter like mine, there'd be so many old people we would overrun the country," Cohen said.

"I had the most wonderful life any woman could possibly, possibly ask for, and it was because I had wonderful children, and if you have wonderful children your life will be fulfilled," she added.

Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen Comes To Orland Park

Orland Park became a "flavortown" earlier this year when well-known Food Network celebrity chef Guy Fieri has brought his new delivery-only restaurant chain to the village.

Flavortown Kitchen is expanding across 24 states, including Illinois, popping up in already established restaurant kitchens. It is a "ghost kitchen," meaning it's a delivery only establishment, ditching the traditional sit-down restaurant concept, according to Deadline.

The publication reports that Flavortown has partnered with Robert Earl, the founder of Planet Hollywood, in a company called Virtual Dining Concepts, which trades in virtual kitchens to help existing restaurants earn more money from celebrity-branded concepts.

Illinois has three locations — Orland Park, Wheeling and Lombard —all of which are connected with Buca di Beppo. Orland Park's location can be found at 15350 S. 94th Ave.

First-Ever 'Golden Girls' Festival Slated For Chicago In April

Super fans of NBC's "The Golden Girls" are set to celebrate their love for the classic sitcom in Northalsted, the LGBTQ+ neighborhood formerly known as "Boystown."

"The Golden Girls" was ahead of its time in television during its seven-year run starting in 1985.
The series followed the escapades of four progressive – and sex-positive – retired women in Miami, and included episodes devoted to gay rights and the AIDS crisis. The show inspired a 1993 spin-off called "The Golden Palace," musicals, drag shows and off-Broadway plays.

Now, the first-of-its-kind, weekend-long classic TV comedy fan fest "Golden Con: Thank You For Being A Fan" is scheduled for April 22 to 24, 2022, at Center on Halsted and surrounding bars.