Frustration at the Pump: Why Americans are Exploring Electric Vehicles
(Feature Impact) For more than onethird of Americans, one simple number is leading them to research electric vehicles: the final tally at a recent gas station fill-up.
This, according to new research from Hyundai Motor America, isn’t a hypothetical situation. In fact, 23% of respondents reported it’s happened to them more than once. For nearly half of Americans, pulling up to the pump now brings frustration or outright dread.
Many drivers have a number in mind where the math begins shifting, and once the shift happens, it rarely goes away. The pump is no longer just the close of a sale; for a growing number of drivers, it’s where questions begin.
For 23% of those surveyed, $5 per gallon is where they would start considering alternatives to a gaspowered vehicle. While some say they wouldn’t consider alternatives based on gas costs at all, this meaningful share of Americans points toward a specific tipping point.
Question: A real estate agent came to my home recently to evaluate my home and give me an estimate of value. He told me my home needed to be decluttered & made to look sparkling clean. He was a nice person, but I was insulted by his insinuation that my home needed more cleaning. My home may not be updated but my house is clean. Is she being just rude?
Answer: You called a Realtor for advice and a selling price for your home. So, let’s make sense of what you are saying. You said he was a nice person, so obviously he wasn’t rude. home is cluttered & not updated. He told you to declutter & to make your home Sparkling clean for showings and you are upset with his advice?
Any good Realtor would give you this advice. Our job is to sell your home for the best possible price, at the least expense to you & in the shortest possible amount of time. By telling you to declutter, your home will look larger, which will help you in obtaining a higher selling price and it will look nicer and more appealing to a buyer.
By making your home sparkling clean, your home will look refreshed
Some begin by comparing models or brands while others find themselves on an automaker’s website, further along in the process than they initially expected to be. Most don’t act on this impulse right away, but drivers are increasingly caught somewhere between curious and committed – and 46% of those surveyed said they’d be likely to seriously research an EV.
The desire to leave the pump behind, which an EV would allow for, is a deal nearly half of respondents said they would take. However, the transition isn’t frictionless as charging access and range anxiety remain the top concerns for 28% of potential buyers.
While the move toward electric vehicles is often framed as a longterm decision made with spreadsheets and financial planning, for many Americans, it’s beginning somewhere smaller: a routine fuel stop and an eye-opening receipt.
If you’ve found yourself dismayed at the pump, find more information on electric vehicles at HyundaiUSA.com.
& more attractive to buyers. Sparkling clean will make your home look and feel newer, which will make up for some of that updating you chose not to do. All this “rudeness” creates a bigger demand for your home and basic economics dictates that demand increases prices. The alternative would be for him to say your home looks wonderful and it needs nothing.
The result would be a home that sits on the market longer and begs for a low offer.
My advice would be to listen to your Realtor. He is a professional who works for you and only wants the best for you. Stop being so sensitive and spend your energy decluttering and making your home Sparkling clean. Sounds like excellent, inexpensive & sparkling advice to me.
E-mail us your Real estate questions at: Cathyah@aol.com. Call Cathy & Jim Higgins for our opinion on your Home: Ind: 219-577-5905 Ill: 708828-3304. Licensed Broker/Realtors in Indiana & Illinois. McColly Real Estate. Website: www.Cathyhiggins. com. Personal Real estate Journal: www.Higginshousechat.blogspot.com
CATHY & JIM HIGGINS
No More Buts!
by Janice R Newman
Do you have a big “but”? One that you can’t get rid of? Our world would be different if we didn’t have any more “buts”! No more big “buts” or little “buts”. We don’t need “buts”!
I’m talking about excuses! Too many people stop themselves because of one small word: “but.” We say, “But I don’t have enough money.” “But I’m afraid.” “But I don’t have a degree.” “But maybe it’s not the right time.” Those “buts” quickly become excuses that keep us from accomplishing anything. We used “but” as kids: “But mom!,” “But dad!,” or “But I didn’t know!” And the word lives on into adulthood. But why?
Often fear is the root cause driving the “buts”. Fear tells us that people won’t patronize our business, we may fail in school, or we’ll waste our money and effort trying. Fear creates the buts which cause many people to never start, never try, and never move forward. If we’re convinced the buts are valid, we’ll never try, and failure is guaranteed.
Even people in the Bible struggled with excuses. Gideon had many “buts” when God called him to save Israel. Gideon said, “But Lord, my family is weak, and I am the least important person in my family” (Judges 6:15). Moses also made excuses when God told him to speak to Pharaoh. Moses’ “but” was he wasn’t a strong speaker. Yet, despite their buts God still used both men mightily in the kingdom. God did not focus on their excuses. He focused on what they could become through Him.
Many of our “buts” are mental obstacles in which we build walls before we take the first step. We never move beyond the first hurdle. However, there are a few things to do to “tear down that wall”.
1. Remove excuses by facing fear directly. Act quickly to counter the buts which prevents it from taking a negative hold on you. Many people are afraid to start but sometimes you must ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that can happen?” If you can handle the worst possible outcome, then everything else becomes easier. Even if you fail, at least you tried. You can learn
from failure, however, doing nothing teaches nothing.
2. Break the “but” excuse into to a smaller size. Big goals and obstacles seem scary when you look at or tackle them. Someone may say, “But college costs too much.” Break the problem down: apply for scholarships to reduce costs; study part-time while working; or take classes at the local junior college. Breaking it into smaller steps helps remove the excuses and makes it more manageable.
3. Believe that you can achieve. Excuses lower your confidence. You doubt yourself before you begin. You must believe that God will provide all that you need including strength and wisdom. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse says “all” which leaves no room for an excuse. Celebrate the victories. Each success builds confidence and destroys “buts”.
4. Stop listening to naysayers. Negative people often plant more “buts” into your mind. They may say, “But you’ve never done this before,” or “But you’re too old,” or ”But you don’t know enough.” If you listen to the negative voices long enough, you may begin to believe them. Avoid people who only speak doubt and discouragement.
Unfortunately, buts and excuses are powerful and self-sabotaging. They stop us from doing what we were created to do. We all struggle with fear and doubt sometimes, and I include myself in that. But we can’t let excuses control and limit us. Remove the fear. Break goals into smaller steps. Believe in yourself while trusting God. Stop listening to outside negativity. Eliminate the big buts and the little buts. Excuses end now! It’s time to act, move forward, and conquer more than you ever thought possible. Y? Why Not!
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Welcome to the ‘Bro-ocracy’: The Harsh Reality Awaiting Women After Graduation
Every year, new waves of young female graduates enter the workforce, believing the playing field is finally level. They’re about to learn it isn’t.
According to internationally recognized executive coach and leadership expert Dr. Lois Frankel, many early-career women are stepping into what she calls a “bro-ocracy” — a system where power and decisionmaking still rest largely with wealthy white men, and where the rules of success are often unspoken, uneven and unforgiving.
“The U.S. has moved backward when it comes to the rights of and respect for women,” Frankel said. “We currently live in what I call a bro-ocracy. This isn’t the workplace women were promised, but it’s the one they’re navigating today.”
That reality can come as a shock to young professionals who were raised to believe that hard work and education would be enough.
“When speaking with a recent college grad working in network television, she told me she never anticipated the roadblocks she would face as an African American woman,” Frankel explained. “She said to me, ‘I thought my mother fought to change all that.’”
While overt discrimination may be less common than it once was, the modern workplace is riddled with microaggressions like mansplaining and gaslighting, as well as deeply conditioned behaviors that can derail careers. The barriers may be subtler today, but they’re no less costly. And now, Frankel says, she’s taken off the nice girl gloves and is calling out bias with a renewed
sense of urgency.
In her new, 2026 edition of her bestselling career guide for women, Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office, Frankel delivers a direct, unfiltered playbook for women who are ready to stop self-sabotaging and start getting the success they’ve earned and the respect they deserve.
Using real-world scenarios and self-assessment tools, Frankel equips women with the same wisdom and guidance she has provided to Fortune 500 executives. She shows readers how to eliminate 100 career-limiting mistakes, such as:
· Buying Into Gaslighting
· Avoiding Office Politics
· Failing to Create a Memorable Brand
· Undervaluing Your Worth
· Letting Fear Eclipse Your Choices
Direct, practical and immediately actionable, Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office addresses today’s cultural shifts that impact women at work — including the Me Too movement, gender fluidity, the shift to remote work, the dismantling of DEI programs and the erosion of women’s reproductive rights — giving women clear strategies to identify and overcome today’s most pressing workplace challenges.
“Nice is necessary, but not sufficient,” Frankel said. “You have the power to take control of your career without being controlling, to speak your mind while still being respectful, and to chase your ambitions without fear or shame.”
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The Shopper reserves the right to edit any content supplied for publication as it sees fit, including but not limited to clarity, grammatical and factual accuracy, and to accommodate available space. All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to Fair Housing Laws which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, age, ancestry, parental status, source of income, military discharge status or housing status,” no matter how large or small the property. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.
Deadline to Apply for Property Tax Savings is May 15
Cook County – Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced the deadline for homeowners to apply for property tax exemptions is Friday, May 15. Exemptions are property tax savings that contribute to lowering a property owner’s tax bill.
“My goal is to ensure that homeowners receive all the money-saving exemptions to which they are entitled,” Assessor Kaegi said. “Until May 15, homeowners can visit our website or office locations to apply for exemptions.”
Here are some key things that homeowners should
know when applying for exemptions: The Homeowner, Senior, and Persons with Disabilities exemptions are automatically renewed. However, homeowners must reapply annually for the Veterans with Disabilities, in some cases, and the “Senior Freeze” exemptions. Seniors and disabled veterans that need to reapply were mailed application booklets by the Assessor’s Office. These must be turned in by May 15. Applications can be downloaded at www. cookcountyassessor.il.gov/exemptions, where forms are
available in Spanish, Polish, and simplified Chinese.
Homeowners can also easily access the online application at www.cookcountyassessor.il.gov/ exemptions. This streamlined online process can reduce the time it takes to apply.
Homeowners are strongly encouraged to apply this way because it allows Assessor’s Office staff to easily locate the application, provide a status update, and notify the homeowner if missing documents are needed.
LOCAL CHURCHES
CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH, COGIC
1151 E. 170th St., South Holland
708-331-8389
FAX 708.331.8374
PASTOR DR. CARL E. KING, SR.
COVENANT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1130 East 154th St., South Holland
708-333-5955
www.covucc.org
PASTOR REV. DR. PATRICK L. DAYMOND WORSHIP SERVICES
Worship
FIRST CHURCH (PCA) 3134 Ridge Rd, Lansing 708-474-9610
www.firstchurchpca.org
RECONCILIATION CHURCH
833 East 168th St., South Holland 708-331-7755
www.reconciliationchurch.org
PASTOR GLEN MCCARTHY WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH
651 East 166th St., South Holland 708-331-4100
redeemer-lutheran@sbcglobal.net
WORSHIP SERVICES
Heart Smart
JOSH BOOTSMA
Sometimes I wish life was like a math textbook. As things get harder and I learn new lessons, I wish I could sometimes turn to the back page and make sure my answers were right. And for those questions of life that I don’t know the answers to, maybe I’d find some of those answers in the back of the book as well. Even if I don’t understand why the answer is right, at least I’d have it correct!
Isn’t it tiring to constantly be making decisions? And not only that, but make the right decisions!
One of my friends once told me, “If you don’t know what the answer is, if you don’t know what you should do — just be more Christlike.”
That statement is profound, and I think of it often. In the sometimes overwhelming choices we need to make each day, in the hard conversations we don’t want to have, in the relationships we don’t know will survive, in the huge life choices that consume our thoughts, there’s
always a right choice to be made — be more like Jesus Christ.
Being more like Jesus Christ will always better equip you — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually — for the choices God places in your life.
Being more Christlike means loving God more than anything else in your life, and making sacrifices for Him. It means valuing the interests of others as more valuable than your own, and letting that evaluation show in everything you do. These Christlike virtues will undoubtedly change the way you live your life, and change the way you evaluate the decisions you need to make.
Each new day comes with new forks in the road. But as frustrating as the constant decisions may seem, each choice comes with a new opportunity: to be more like Jesus Christ.
Josh Bootsma Director of Ministries, Covenant Fellowship Church cfcsh.org
FIRST ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SOUTH HOLLAND 16248 South Park Ave., South Holland
708-333-8211
www.firstchurchsh.org
PASTOR REV. DANIEL SVENDSEN WORSHIP SERVICES Sunday 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, LCMS 8303 Sheffield Avenue Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 865-1137 gracedyer.org
PASTOR REV. DALE HETHERINGTON
ESPIRITU DE DIOS
16400 S. State St., South Holland 708-439-1220 sogfchurch.com
PASTORES Jose & Paula Lopez
SERVICIOS: Grupo de Oracion de Hombres Jueves ........................................... 7:30 p.m. Sabado Alabanza y Predicacion.....6:00 p.m.
UNITY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA Plum Creek Center 2138 Moeller Street Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 931-5284 www.unitynwi.org ALL WELCOME
MINISTER: REV. GERALDINE COLVIN SUNDAY SERVICE.......................10:00 AM
LIBRARY HAPPENINGS
Calumet City Public Librar y
Address: 660 S Manistee Ave, Calumet City, IL 60409
Phone: (708) 862-6220
Email: info@calumetcitypl.org www calumetcitypl.org/index.html
Dolton Public Libr ar y
Address: 14037 Lincoln Ave, Dolton, IL
Phone: 708-849-2385
Email: lincoln@doltonpubliclibrary.org
Website: www.doltonpubliclibrary.org
BEGINNERS COMPUTER CLASSES
Every Monday, from 1-2 pm.
Call to register 708-849-2385
THRIVE ON TUESDAYS W/ MARIO KOONCE
Every 4th Tuesday from 10-11 am. Nutrition Tips, Fitness & Exercise Guidance, Preventive Care, and the Importance of Sleep and Rest. ONGOING PROGRAMS
EVERY MONDAY: STAY FIT with SHEENA STINSON: In-house workout program from 9:30-10:30 am. Register by calling 708-849-2385.
EVERY THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH:
BETWEEN THE PAGES: A VIRTUAL STORY TIME! Register by calling 708-849-2385 the link will be emailed to you.
EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH:
TODDLER TIME with Ms. Brooks: 10:45-11:45 AM. No registration is necessary. Daycares are welcome!
EVERY THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, SIMON SAYS..GET UP AND MOVE with Ms. Lottie Maria: 11:30-12 PM. Jump, Clap, and Dance. Toddlers and Daycares are welcome! Call to register at 708-849-2385 ext 4.
HOMEWORK HELP: Call 708-849-2385 ext. 4 to make an appointment with Ms. Brooks on Fridays or Saturdays. Ages 5-12.
Hammond Public Librar y
Address: 564 State St., Hammond
Phone: (219) 931-5100, ext. 310 or 307
Email: swishl@hammond.lib.in.us Website: www.hammond.lib.in.us
Har vey Public Libr ar y
Address: 15441 Turlington, Harvey, IL 60426
Phone: 708-331-0757x3200
Email: has@harvey.lib.il.us Website:www.harvey.lib.il.us
Join Us For Vir tual Programs : Each day at 4:00 pm, “stop” in for online family-fun at the Harvey Library Tuesday: Craft Wednesday: Story Time Thursday: Bacon Bits & Cooking Tips Monthly Virtual Music Class (Friday, check calendar each month)
Homewood Public Librar y
Address: 17917 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430
Phone: (708) 798-0121
Email: hplhelp@homewoodlibrary.org
Website: www.homewoodlibrary.org/
MEET A H-F VIKING
May 18 | 6:30pm | Grades 7-12 - Regis. Req.
CRAFTS IN A JAR
May 19 | 5pm | Grades 3-6 - Regis. Required
SPICE IT UP
May 19 | 7pm | Ages 18+ - Regis. Required
TEEN MOVIE CLUB
May 21 | 6:30pm | Grades 7-12 - Regis. Req.
NERF WARS GAMING NIGHT
May 29 | 6pm | Grades 7-12 - Regis. Req.
SUMMER READING
June 6 - July 31 | All Ages
Sign up starts June 6. Either sign up in the library or online.
Lansing Public Libr ar y
Address: 2750 Indiana Ave., Lansing IL
Phone: 708-474-2447
Email: shari@lansingpl.org
Website: www.lansingpl.org
Riverdale Public Librar y
Address: 208 W 144th St
Riverdale, IL 60827
Phone: (708) 841-3311
Email: library@rpld.org Website: www.rpld.org
Riverdale Public Library District Food Pantry
Our food pantry is open to everyone and is located in the entryway of library. Donations are also welcome and can be dropped off at the Circulation Desk. Please ensure that food items are non-perishable, non-glass containers and not expired.
Weekly Walking Group
9 – 10 am Ages: Adults/Seniors This walking program is for everyone interested in achieving a healthier lifestyle. What better way to start your path to better physical and emotional health, than on your feet making strides to help your heart and improve your general health.
South Holland Public Librar y Address: 16250 Wausau Ave., South Holland IL
Phone: 708-527-3150
Email: library@shlibrary.org
Website: https://www.shlibrary.org/events
Thor nton Public Librar y
Address: 115 E. Margaret St. Thornton, IL.
Email: library@thorntonil us
Website: https://www thorntonlibrary org/
ACROSS
1. Neon, e.g.
4. Medieval name for China
10. Tooth on a gear rim
13. Agreement
14. Brooks Robinson, e.g. 15. Victorian, for one 16. Low female singing voice 17. ___ Tower in Chicago
18. ___ Zeppelin
19. Small plaque with occupant’s name or house number
21. “___ Cried” (1962 hit)
23. “___ Along the Mohawk,” novel
24. Final transport
27. “Are we there ___?”
28. Death on the Nile cause, perhaps
31. Meeting devoted to a particular activity
32. Janitor
34. New Mexico art community
35. Where ship’s passengers can leisurely walk (2 wds)
38. Attendee
39. Gloomy
40. Llama relatives
42. Armageddon
43. “I” problem
46. Bull sound
47. Retire from military service
49. Balaam’s mount
50. Phone customers’ shared service (2 wds)
54. Buff
56. Hard cattle fat
58. Baker’s dozen?
59. Appropriate
60. Anatomical ring
61. Algonquian Indian
62. “Absolutely!”
63. Confederate soldiers
64. “First Blood” director Kotcheff
DOWN
1. Aplenty
2. Represent an incident by action, esp. on stage (2 wds)
3. Attack
4. Hood
5. “Mi chiamano Mimi,” e.g.
6. Knight fight
7. Burrow
8. “Aladdin” prince
9. Acceptances
10. Celery variety with a large turnip-like root
11. Bauxite, e.g.
12. “Crikey!”
13. Rice ___
20. Church song
22. Move or act swiftly
24. In this place or document
25. Crybaby
26. U.S. Navy junior commissioned officer (abv.)
29. Go up and down
30. Imitates a hot dog
31. Bulrush, e.g.
32. Reef components
33. Negative vote
35. John Paul II, e.g.
36. Places in the ground again, e.g. perennials
37. Papa
38. Blah-blah-blah
41. Actor given equal status with another
43. Someone who leaves one country to settle in another
44. Struck and sounded a tam-tam
45. Corpulent
48. Choose someone by voting
50. Commoner
51. ___ vera
52. “Let’s ___”
53. “___ the night before ...”
54. Wray of “King Kong”
55. “Tarzan” extra
57. “___ we having fun yet?”
NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
Mental health is a hot topic. This is good news. It means the stigma for mental health issues is slowly going away. Mental health issues are finally getting the attention they deserve. Healthcare workers and individuals feel they can discuss mental health more openly. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still work to do, however. As a whole, we often misunderstand mental health because it is hard to define. Additionally, mental health includes several areas. These areas involve one’s social, emotional, and psychological well-being. Source: nationaldaycalendar.com
Darlene F. Boomsma, nee Erffmeyer, age 88, of Crete, IL went home to her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 8, 2026. Beloved wife of John “Jack” Boomsma. Loving mother of Larry (Janet) Boomsma, Dale (Teri) Boomsma, and Karen (Robert) Ford. Cherished grandmother of Jaret Boomsma, Wendi Boomsma, Ethan Boomsma, Derek (Liz) Boomsma, Jodi (David) Bultema, Grace (Trevor) Teeple, Emily Ford, and Samantha Ford. Greatgrandmother of Claire, Kate, Brynlee, Ember, David, and Westen. Dear sister of the late Robert (late Edith) Erffmeyer, and sisterin-law of the late James (late Jane) Boomsma, late George (late Rika) Boomsma, late Sylvia (late James) Drenth, and the late Claude (Doris) Boomsma. Preceded in death by her parents Edward and Frances Erffmeyer and infant son Daniel John Boomsma.
Darlene was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Lansing and the former Bethany Christian Reformed Church in South Holland, Illinois. She loved to bake and bring cookies to everyone around her. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed.
Visitation Monday, May 11, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. directly at Bethel Christian Reformed Church 3500 Glenwood-Lansing Road, Lansing, IL, with Rev. Daniel Bloesch officiating. Interment Oak Ridge Cemetery— Lansing, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Bethshan Association (www.bethshan.org).
For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www. SMITSFH.com
Faye Faber, nee Aardsma, age 90, of Lansing, IL passed away peacefully on Tuesday May 5, 2026. Beloved wife of (Marion) John Faber. Loving mother of Alice (Steven) Tuuk, Brenda (Roy) VanderMolen, Dirk Faber, Carl (Judy) Faber. Cherished grandmother of Patric (Janette) Tuuk, Alicia Tuuk, Emily (Tyler) Oswald, Sydnee (Kyler) VanVoorst, Craig (Jennifer) VanderMolen, Amy Magruder, Kyle VanderMolen (fiancé Tiffany Wisowaty), Carlee Faber, Tyler Faber, Ian Faber, Annika Faber, and Lydia Faber. Great-grandmother of Aubrey, Brendan, Elijah, Eloise, Evelyn, Hannah, Isaiah, Judah, Lottie, and Margo. Dear sister of the late Dirk (late Wilma) Aardsma, Marlene (Jim VanDyk) Betten, and step-sister to Calvin (Sandra) Aardsma, Wayne Aardsma, Harold (Joan) Aardsma. Kind aunt to many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents Dirk and Alice Aardsma, stepmother (late) Angeline Aardsma.
Family meant everything to Faye. She always loved gathering her family together and treasured every moment spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her home was a place of warmth, love, and welcome to all who entered.
In addition to her nursing career, Faye was co-owner of Faber Paint Stores located in St. John, Highland, and Crown Point, Indiana, until 2022.
A visitation and funeral service will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026 with visitation from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and the funeral service to follow at 11:00 A.M. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane, Dyer, IN. Private Interment and committal service will take place at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery - Elwood, IL.
A Celebration of life service will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. directly at Bethel Christian Reformed Church 3500 GlenwoodLansing Road, Lansing, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Bible League International (www. bibleleague.org) For further information, please contact 219-3227300 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www.SMITSFH.com
John Frank Szymanski, age 61, of Lansing, IL, passed away suddenly on Thursday, May 7, 2026. He was married for 28 years to his loving wife Lori Szymanski, nee Vierk. A one-of-a-kind dad to Jordan Szymanski and Megan Szymanski. Devoted nephew to Judith Roberts and dear brother of Joe (Carey) Szymanski and the late Judi Szymanski. He was someone to so many: a son, uncle, brotherin-law, friend, and confidant.
John was born in South Chicago to his late parents, Sharon and Tom Szymanski. He lived in Hegewisch before moving to Lansing at age 7. He would go on to make a name for himself in Lansing, dominating any athletic arena, setting school records for track and field, and competing in the Junior Olympics Decathlon.
Most people knew him as a star athlete—or the life of the party—but John would say his greatest accomplishment was his family. Whether they were enjoying a pool day or having a drink on the back deck at their home in Munster, his joy came from the memories he made with Lori and his girls. John was a provider, planner, a man who could fix anything, and gave his family the most beautiful life.
After 35 years in transportation and logistics, John retired to Glenwoodie Golf Club where he spent his days running the Pro Shop and trying for his 4th hole-in-one. John was taken from us too soon and will be truly missed by anyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home (off Route 30 on Pleasant Springs Lane). The “Celebration of Ski” ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. The next day, May 15, 2026, a service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church (18100 Wentworth Ave, Lansing, IL).
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to First Tee of Greater Chicago at Glenwoodie Golf Club. For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit the online obituary and guest book at www. smitsfh.com.
Award-Winning Chicago Stage Play TraumaAttraction Comes to ETA Creative Arts Theater May 15–17
Powerful Production Explores Childhood Trauma, Relationships, and Healing Through Theatre.
What happens when the pain of childhood quietly follows us into adulthood—and into our relationships?
Trauma Attraction, the emotionally powerful new stage play written and directed by Chicago playwright and Licensed Professional Counselor Benaiah Link, explores the emotional realities of love, trauma, attachment, and healing through an unforgettable theatrical experience. After winning First Place at the 2025 A Taste of Theatre Festival, the highly anticipated production will make its full theatrical debut for a special threenight performance event May 15–17, 2026 at the historic ETA Creative Arts Theater in Chicago.
Trauma Attraction explores how unresolved childhood trauma influences adult relationships, emotional behavior, and attraction patterns. Blending emotional truth, psychological insight, humor, heartbreak, and raw human emotion, Trauma Attraction follows the compelling characters whose adult relationships are shaped by the unresolved wounds of childhood trauma.
The audience witness how past emotional wounds can unconsciously shape present-day choices in love, family, and personal identity.
The production takes viewers on an emotional journey of awareness, healing, resilience, and self-discovery, offering a deeply relatable experience for anyone who has struggled with the lasting effects
of childhood trauma, emotional neglect, or dysfunctional relationships.
“This play was created to start conversations that many people are afraid to have,” said playwright Benaiah Link. “So many adults are still carrying emotional trauma from childhood into their relationships without realizing it. Theatre gives us a safe place to confront those realities, heal, and reflect.”
Link brings a unique perspective to the production as both a playwright and mental health professional. In addition to his work in theater, he has served in behavioral health, wellness, and social-emotional intervention counseling. He was also a featured guest speaker for the Illinois Woman’s Press Association, where he presented a seminar on playwriting and storytelling. In addition, Link serves as co-producer of the Chicago radio show A Taste of Theater on WIIT 88.9 FM.
The production features a talented Chicago cast including Quinniya Hearn, Donnell Brooks, Mabel Fleming, Reggie Robinson, Caiden Sanders, Allan Lonell, and Takeisha Monet.
Performances will take place at ETA Creative Arts Theater, one of the oldest African American theaters still operating on Chicago’s South Side.
Trauma Attraction will run May 15–17, 2026 at 6:30 PM at ETA Creative Arts Theater, located at 7558 S. South Chicago Avenue in Chicago. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $45 for VIP seating. For additional information visit www.1sttimeproductions.com.
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