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Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Evergreen Park Community High School band director Ken Kazin retires after nearly 40 year career
Teaching can be a tough job, but then something happens that makes all the effort worth it. Ken Kazin, the longtime band director at Evergreen Park Community High School calls them 'aha moments,' when his students 'finally get something really well. You just see it.' 'That's something I can never get too much of,' he said. After a nearly 40-year career at the school, Kazin retired at the end of this school year. The school's new band director is Colin Curatolo. Kazin said he'll miss his students, and is proud of how far the band program has come since he started in 1987. Back then, the marching band didn't participate in competitions and the band director position wasn't even full-time until he started. Among his more recent accomplishments was introducing a rock band element to the music program about five years ago. Now the school also has strong jazz and concert bands. It's a full time job indeed. In fact, as of his retirement Kazin had banked 406 hours of paid sick time, the equivalent of about 50 days. In addition to overseeing the school's bands, he's taught classes in AP Music Theory, Technology in the Performing Arts, World Music and other related topics. He is also principal percussionist for the Southwest Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians. He was a drummer for Oak Lawn Theatre musicals and plays percussion with his son Keaton, a junior at Stagg High School, in the DuPage Youth Symphony. Kazin grew up in Oak Lawn, attended St. Laurence High School in Burbank and obtained a degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. He lives in Hickory Hills with his wife, Amy, who is activities director at EPCHS. His son Jason teaches music at Scarlet Oak School in Oak Forest and his daughter, MacKenzie, teaches English in Columbus, Ohio. A song called 'Evergreen' performed during Evergreen Park Community High School's recent spring concert, which Kazin directed, was commissioned for him and the school by William Owens, his former VanderCook classmate. Kazin credits working with his wife as a big part of the school's musical/artistic success. She was formerly choir director there and directed and choreographed musicals, sharing his enthusiasm for ensuring students grew in their musical abilities. Their combined talents helped students work together in the school's band, choir and theatre programs. 'I think that made a big difference in the school environment and especially the kids,' said Kazin. 'What I'm most proud of is we built a music department. It was about all the music students and making sure they participated in the arts.' A big part of his overall success goes back to his parents, Kazin said. His mother was a professional pianist and organist, and he performed with her for a local VFW, playing drums. His father, a roll tender and inkman for RR Donnelley Printing, taught him his strong work ethic and the importance of showing up ready to give the job his all. He also gets a kick out of student shenanigans, chuckling when he noticed a mustache drawn on his picture in the hallway. 'You put the kids first, our job is to make them better by the end of the year,' he said. Students appreciate Kazin, too. 'Mr. Kazin has explained the importance of trying new and different things time and time again,' said Ryan Brennan, a rising junior, who plays in the concert band. 'He suggests that you don't need to understand everything to try … try something different and ask questions when you need to. 'That's how you can be most successful,' said Ryan. He also had a way of boosting self confidence, according to Zion McCadd, a rising senior and drum major in the marching band. 'I have learned so much from Mr. Kazin,' said Zion. 'Just from being in his band for three years, I've learned to be confident in everything I do from leading the band to playing my instrument. 'He also taught me it's okay to have a little fun!' Kazin also made an impact on Louise Brady, a band student who also just finished junior year. 'I am beyond grateful to have had him as a teacher, mentor, and dad-joke provider,' said Louise. 'I truly couldn't ask for a better experience and hope he has enough adolescents to tease in his retirement!' Principal Matt Dugan said Kazin had made a significant impact with his 'dedication toward the community and school as a whole.' But coming to work was no chore for Kazin, both because of his students and the many colleagues who 'had my back.' He said he might teach college students in the future and he plans to continue performing. 'I had the best job in the teaching world,' he said. 'I was a band director, so I got to grow with my students over four years. 'I loved growing with them.'
Chicago Tribune
22-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Evergreen Park student recycling paper into warmth for homeless people
Evergreen Park Community High School student Billy Duffner started creating paper bricks to fuel backyard bonfires last summer when he formed an idea to use the homemade fuel packages to help those in need. He's started making more of the bricks and distributing them as part of a larger effort to provide warmth to people experiencing homelessness on cold nights, and even as a fuel for cooking. The effort is something Duffner is doing on his own, not part of a service project at EPCHS, where he is a senior. But the school is plenty proud of him. 'Everyone throws out paper,' he said. 'This way you can actually see what it can become,' said Duffner. Duffner dubbed the effort the Heat4Homeless project, and he does much of the work in his grandfather's workshop in Chicago's Mt. Greenwood neighborhood. Retired accountant Bill Duffner, his grandfather, takes time out of his furniture restoring hobby to help out. 'This is just my mancave,' said Bill Duffner of the workshop space. 'I come here to make things.' The brick-making process, which the younger Duffner learned from online videos, starts with recycled newspapers, which are shredded and then watered down in a big barrel. Billy then places them in a mold with three PVC tubes in each and then the paper slurry is pressed down with a bottle jack. The PVC pipes help hold the bricks together, aids in airflow and saves paper, he said. 'When on fire, the air goes through the holes so they burn better,' Billy said. The bricks are then placed on racks, built by Billy's grandfather, and left to dry for four or five days. The elder Duffner is also making an oven for quicker drying. When finished, Billy includes firestarters with each pack of bricks, as well as a detailed description of how to start the fire logs. Each fire log burns for about 45 minutes and fire starters burn for 15-20 minutes. He said he gained experience helping his dad, a former carpenter, who is now an engineer, when he would build decks for people. He also said he likes taking an idea and building it up into a real business. 'We can really push them out now,' said Billy. 'Every week distributors bring them out to people who need them.' Those distributors are nonprofit organizations such as Oak Lawn-based Almost Home Chicago, and he is looking for more who can use the bricks. One distributor who took bricks found them so helpful to homeless people that he came back and asked for 10 more, Billy said. It's become a family affair, too, with grandmother Mikki Carping getting the word out to the media and grandmother Marianne Duffner reaching out to homeless agencies. Friends and neighbors are helping supply the recycled paper. Bill Duffner, said helping others has direct benefits for his grandson as well. 'I think it's great business experience,' he said. 'And I think it's good he's thinking about people other than himself.' Billy feels such passion for the project that he's gathering paperwork to apply for non-profit status. He's also working on making sure his Heat4Homeless organization stays alive, possibly in high school service groups or non-profits with space for the brick-making equipment. 'I think the idea of this nonprofit is here to stay,' Billy said. 'This summer I'm going to work really hard on this to build up a stockpile.'
Chicago Tribune
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Around the Southland: Evergreen Park students show off for charity, and more
Talent show raises money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Students at Evergreen Park Community High School raised nearly $1,000 for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society through the 12th annual National Honor Society Talent Show. Thirteen student acts performed in the show, including rappers, a Mexican folkloric ballet, singers, the high school's Unaccompanied Minors a cappella group and members of the Rock Band class Members of the NHS voted to give money to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society because one of its members' sisters is being treated for lymphoma. The talent show donation will be made in her name. Money was raised through sales of the $5 tickets and baked goods made by students in the Culinary Arts Club. Amy Kazin and Ken Kazin helped with the show's production. Trout season starts begins at Cook County lakes Anglers can start fishing for trout at sunrise April 5 in the Forest Preserves of Cook County, including at Axehead Lake and Belleau Lake in Park Ridge, Sag Quarry East in Lemont, Horsetail Lake in Palos Park and Green Lake in Calumet City. The district has stocked more than 5,000 pounds of catchable-sized rainbow trout at the fishing lakes. During the season, there is a five trout per day creel limit with no size restrictions. Those fishing may not use more than two lines and no more than two hooks per line. Anglers 16 and older must have a valid Illinois sport fishing license with an inland trout stamp. The license is not required for Illinois residents who have a disability and a State of Illinois disabled ID card showing a Class 2 or 2A disability; have a Veterans Disability Card; or are residents on active military duty who are home on leave. Fishing guides are available at and include the location and depth of each lake as well as the main fish species. For details, call 708-403-6951. Parents of children with autism can learn about IEPs The Midlothian Public Library observes Autism Acceptance Month with 'What Is an IEP? Does My Child WIth Autism Need One?' from 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 8 at the library, 14701 S. Kenton Ave., Midlothian. Susan McMillan-Quilantan will explain the Individualized Education Program to parents of preschool or school-age children. She has a master's degree in social work and education and a doctorate in education. McMillan-Quilantan is a certified autism spectrum disorder clinical specialist and has written 'Step-By-Step Guide to Learning Independence for Daily Living Skills,' a book for children with autism and their parents that is in the library's collection. The program is free but registration is encouraged. Visit and click on 'events' or call 708-535-2027. Pulitzer Prize-winning authors speaks at Leo HS Jonathan Eig, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, recently spoke to students and others in a packed auditorium at Leo High School in Chicago, which purchased the youth version of his latest book, 'King: A Life,' published in January. Thanks to sponsors, including Leo alums, enough books were made available that the entire student body and next year's freshman class of about 100 students could have a copy. Eig shared that it took him six years to write the book, a biography of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. He was introduced by students who read passages they selected. 'Dr. King died in 1968, so he's just a figure in the history books to our Leo students and most of our staff,' Leo President Dan McGrath said via a news release. 'But in the book and in his presentation, Jonathan Eig did a wonderful job of bringing Dr. King into the room, bringing him to life in a way that underscored why his work was so important then and remains important now.' Free baby expo set for April 12 in Olympia Fields Franciscan Health Olympia Fields offers Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Baby Expo from 10 a.m. to noon April 12 at its hospital at 20201 S. Crawford Ave., Olympia Fields. Attendees will be treated to refreshments, gifts, giveaways and tours of the Family Birth Center, as well as being entered into a raffle to win a TAVO Next Stroller. Birth center staff will provide information on prenatal care, car seat safety, breastfeeding and safe sleep, and community resource representatives and health vendors will be on hand. The expo is free but advance registration is required by going online or calling 866-790-2229.
