Latest news with #Lockport
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Challenger Learning Center's summer programs ready to launch
Children naturally want to space out during their summer vacations, and Challenger Learning Center's space camp next week is just the opportunity. The space exploration and technology center offers one-week camps at its location at 160 Washburn St. in Lockport starting on Monday. Later sessions focus on robotics and Lego architecture. 'Space camp is kind of our flagship program, along with robotics,' said Michael Schian, executive director. 'Every camp week we have two half days, with younger students in the morning, and older students in the afternoon. We try to keep the activities updated from year to year. So if someone did it last year, it would be different now.' Mark Gerlach, Challenger's program and IT manager emphasizes that camp is not like school. 'It's important to us that rather than having kids sitting at tables doing three hours of experiments, we're breaking it up,' Gerlach said. 'It will never feel monotonous, and we try to add things that appeal to every type of learning. We're including planetarium time, which has the qualities of a light show.' At Challenger, kids enter a space simulator that goes through a launch sequence that sends them to a simulated space station. The planetarium simulates the night sky, showing the universe and allowing students to fly around the solar system. 'We keep things updated with the James Webb telescope and what NASA puts out on black holes, Schian said. 'We're utilizing our space mission simulator as the culmination of learning lots of things about STEM. All the different roles and jobs that are reflected in the simulator are explored.' Schian said campers handle roles in mission communications, navigation, weather, life support, medical, biology, geology, rover engineering, and operating a bot. Campers also explore astronomy, using the center's planetarium to look at Mars in detail. They learn where to find Mars in the night sky, its properties, and what it would be like to live there, he said. 'They are having the opportunity to assume the mantle of an important role and getting immersed in the whole thing,' Schian said. 'They get to feel like an important person or an astronaut for the time that they are there.' Hadley Douglas, summer camp program coordinator and a newly graduated aerospace and mechanical engineer, said each day offers special opportunities to handle and understand technology. 'We're launching rockets, we're doing simulations, making rovers, trying to land rovers,' she said. 'We design rockets and put them in the wind tunnel to test them.' Douglas said their heat shield testing experiment, in which kids put an egg in front of their shield and use a blow torch to see if the egg is protected, leaves kids with their jaws dropped. 'We're building terrariums so they can see how a closed system works on their own,' Douglas said, explaining that long-term conditions for going to Mars could require building a greenhouse for growing food. 'We have a whole Mars simulator. It takes them way out into the future to learn about life on Mars,' she said. Lockport High School graduate Trent McCarthy, a member of the school's award-winning robotics team, works as a summer camp program coordinator. McCarthy, who plans to study computer engineering, said activities like working with robotic arms in space camp, fed his interest in his college major. 'We try to balance physical stuff with science,' said Douglas. 'There's outdoor games that get them up and moving, like our astronaut training obstacle course.' STEM camp offers other challenging projects that can be applied to aerospace projects and other disciplines. 'We're building habitats and we're going to build boats,' she said. 'We're going to go through how to make a boat out of a bunch of different materials. If the water is turbulent, how does it do and how do we make them better?' It is one of many projects that allow students to get their feet wet in the field of science. For more information, go to Space Camp isn't accepting online reservations, call 716-434-3196 to see if spots are open.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Motorcyclist dead after colliding into deer in Lockport
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — One person is dead after a collision involving a deer occurred overnight Monday in the Town of Lockport. Officials said a person was riding a motorcycle when they hit a deer, left the road, and then hit a telephone pole overnight on Purdy Road. Police received reports of the accident just before 7 a.m. where they found the motorcyclist deceased. The name of the motorcyclist is being held pending notification to family. The investigation remains ongoing. Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Marie Baranowski keeps coming up with big hits as Lockport takes fourth in Class 4A. ‘A really cool experience.'
PEORIA — Before the weekend, senior second baseman Marie Baranowski had played many games during summer tournaments on the fields at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex. But she never played here in a Lockport uniform. And she never played on the main stadium field. Check that one off her wish list. 'It was a really cool experience walking in there on Friday,' Baranowski said. 'Seeing all of the people there to support you was very exciting. The energy was awesome.' The Wisconsin-Parkside commit came up big Saturday afternoon for the Porters in a 6-5 loss to Oak Park-River Forest in the Class 4A third-place game. Taylor Lane and Sophia Hutera each had two hits apiece for Lockport (31-11), which brought home the program's first trophy since winning the Class AA state title in 2004. Baranowski reached base twice and drove in two runs and Addison Way reached twice as well. Colgate recruit Kelcie McGraw struck out seven, while Bridget Faut struck out five in relief. Baranowski's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning put the Porters in front 5-2. But then Oak Park-River Forest (30-9) rallied for four runs in the top of the sixth. The Huskies denied Lockport a win, but it was a small blemish on a great season. 'This season has meant so much to me, especially the girls,' Baranowski said. 'I've never been on a team with this much energy, with this much bond. We all love each other. And the most important part to me was that it has been fun. Every game was fun. 'I'm proud of each and every one of us. We were the underdogs this season and we worked so hard to get here. We battled through some really hard games.' Among them was a marathon sectional championship game against Lincoln-Way Central and Florida State recruit Lisabella Dimitrijevic. The Porters scored twice in the 10th to win 2-0. Baranowski started the winning rally with a single. Talk about a good feeling. 'I've always wanted to beat Central,' Baranowski said, laughing. 'And we did it. And then we got here. I was so happy to have had this opportunity. 'I've worked hard for all of this, and I'm really grateful for all the opportunities that coach (Marissa) Chovanec has given me.' Baranowski has finished her second full season on the varsity. She started her first one as a reserve. 'I wasn't disappointed,' Baranowski said. 'I knew I had to work for a spot. But every day at practice, I worked as hard as I possibly could.' The situation changed early and dramatically when an injury resulted in classmate Mikayla Cvitanovich being moved to shortstop. Chovanec put Baranowski in at second base. She responded by hitting .309. Over the past two seasons, Baranowski made just four errors. 'Marie has really handled that side of the field for us last season and all of this one,' Chovanec said. 'She just is a great, bubbly kid. Her energy is infectious.' And the jokes … 'She has a really funny personality,' Way said. 'Her jokes make everybody on our team laugh. She's probably the most upbeat person on our team in general. And her laugh is contagious.' But it wasn't just fun and laughs that impressed Way. 'When I was on JV my freshman year with Marie, she was always super nice to me,' Way said. 'And you could tell last year she really wanted to work really hard to get that time to play. 'The difference between her sophomore year to now is crazy. I give her a lot of credit. She deserves every bit of it.'
Chicago Tribune
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Western Michigan-bound Liliana Janeczko leads Lockport as field general in state semifinals. ‘Unbelievably proud.'
PEORIA — She could have pouted. But she supported her teammates instead. She could have folded, especially after an injury. But she healed, watched and learned, and eagerly embraced a glorious opportunity. Lockport catcher Liliana Janeczko is having a remarkable senior season. She will be remembered as the field general on the first team for the Porters to bring home a state trophy since 2004. The Western Michigan commit is pretty proud of that. 'Unbelievably proud,' Janeczko said. 'After the things I went through, I'm just so happy with myself for getting through them and not giving up during the hard times that I've had.' Janeczko smiled as she and her teammates found solace in hugs following Friday's tough 1-0 loss in 10 innings to Barrington in a Class 4A semifinal game at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex. Colgate recruit Kelcie McGraw had two hits and struck out nine for the Porters (31-10), who will play Oak Park-River Forest at 2 p.m. Saturday in the third-place game. Alexis Vander Tuuk added a pair of hits. Janeczko gave Lockport a chance to walk it off against Barrington (35-3-1) in the bottom of the ninth when she doubled with one out. Junior right-hander Katie Taraschewsky was able to wriggle out of it, though, by getting a fly out and a lineout. They were oh-so close. 'I was so excited about that hit,' Janeczko said. 'I have been in a little bit of a slump, and I know I'm better than that. I have high expectations.' Janeczko's journey during her high school career has been a tough one. Before her sophomore season, she underwent shoulder surgery. 'I was at a camp at Wisconsin,' Janeczko said. 'I dove and tore my labrum and dislocated my right shoulder.' Janeczko came back strong as a junior, but Northern Kentucky recruit Brooke Keltner was in her senior season as a standout behind the plate. Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec used Janeczko primarily as a designated hitter and runner. But Janeczko never stopped believing. And when she graduated, Keltner offered some encouraging words. 'At the end of last year, she told me, 'You've got this — it's nothing new for you,'' Janezcko said. 'We've been been catching since we were little. She told me to do what I do and it'll turn out great.' Those words came true. Janeczko entered the weekend hitting .328. She has 10 doubles and 27 RBIs. 'Liliana has done a great job for us behind the plate,' Chovanec said. 'She is a fighter and she loves the game. She has caught every inning of every game for us this season. 'We've had some really great catchers the last few years, and Liliana has done a fantastic job. I'm a catcher at heart, so any time I get one like Liliana, I relish it.' The battery of Janeczko and McGraw have taken Lockport on an incredible playoff run. Even with Friday's setback, opponents have yet to score an earned run. It seemed like they jelled quickly in Janeczko's lone varsity season, but their ties go way back. 'I'm so grateful I got to be here with her,' Janeczko said of McGraw. 'We've known each other since we were 5 years old and played on the same travel team for a while. 'It's crazy that we got to grow up together and be here together.' Janeczko is also the catcher for McGraw during her pitching lessons. 'Liliana is a great leader on the field,' McGraw said. 'She is always there picking people up. And she is always there to keep me on my game. 'We have such a good bond that it helps pitching and catching. It's great to have.'
Chicago Tribune
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
After running long distances and sprints, Lockport's Nolan Lamoureux rolls to state title in 800. ‘A big jumble.'
A stress fracture in grade school has been a blessing in disguise for Lockport's Nolan Lamoureux. The Lewis-bound senior track star enjoyed cross country and distance running as a youngster, but as he approached the high school stage of his life, that aspect started to take a toll on him. Lamoureux suffered that stress fracture in seventh grade, but that's not all. 'COVID hit right after,' he said. 'It was just a big jumble.' When all was said and done, Lamoureux ended up loving the sprints. He spent three years concentrating on those events for the Porters, finishing third in the state as a junior in the 400. Veteran Lockport coach Tom Razo sat down with Lamoureux before this spring, and they came up with the idea of Lamoureux running races in the middle distances, in particular the 800. That plan worked out pretty well. So well, in fact, that Lamoureux went out and won the Class 3A state championship in that event at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Field in Charleston. 'He came into our school as a sprinter and I knew him as a distance runner,' Razo said of Lamoureux. 'He made his mark as a freshman sprinter, but I thought he would be at a whole different level if he moves up. 'It took us a while to talk him into it. His junior year, he dabbled in it. This year, after the indoor season was over, he said 'OK, I think the best shot for me winning a title is moving up.''' Lamoureux won the state title in a time of 1:51.92, edging out Yorkville's Owen Horeni at 1:52.22. Then, in the 1,600 relay, Lamoureux joined Fope Omisore, Xavier Adeniyi and Michael Nicholson to finish second for the Porters with a 3:18.01, losing out to Evanston's 3:17.73. Still, Lamoureux became Lockport's first state champion since John Meyer won the shot put in 2018 and the first runner for the Porters to take gold since 2008 when Kyle Engnell won the 1,600. Homewood-Flossmoor's 400 relay of Joaquin Jordan, Charles Dees, Myles Ellis and Zion Morrison won the Class 3A state title with a 41.00. In Class 2A, Southland Prep's Amauree Williams became the first boys track athlete in program history to win a state championship, prevailing in the 300 hurdles with a 37.77. Lamoureux's win, however, wasn't easy. It was a come-from-behind victory. 'No one challenged him all year long,' Razo said of Lamoureux. 'He controlled all of the races he was in. The young man from Yorkville took off at 400 meters, gapped him and gapped him good. 'I was kind of worried there for a second. I'm thinking 'OK, you've got to respond to this.' Prior to the race, we talked about going out at a certain pace, which he did. During the last 200 meters, I wanted him to kick like a mad fiend and he did. With 50 meters left, he took control.' Razo may have been a little worried, but Lamoureux was unfazed. 'Throughout the race, I knew that he was a fast mile guy,' Lamoureux said of Horeni. 'But I knew I had a stronger kick. I let him get out a little bit ahead of me, but it's all about tactical racing. 'I was staying not too far behind, and I was at a good point where I was still in the race. I knew that as long as I kicked, I would still have the race.' In grade school, Lamoureux started running because when he played basketball he was faster than everyone else. Track, though, is something that he has grown to love. 'It's a sport where I can challenge myself,' he said. 'And it keeps me motivated.'
