A private security guard working at the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., reportedly returned fire after a group of three people started harassing him and then fired read story
Taft HS senior Ryan Porebski receives leadership scholarship that honors memory of former Taft player Phil Vierneisel, member of 1972 Public League champs
The scholarship was set up in memory of Vierneisel, who played at the University of Illinois following his career at Taft. Pictured are (from left) Frank Klimala, Phil Peterson, Porebski and Phil Tondelli.
The Taft High School Football Booster Club recently presented the annual team awards, including the new Phil Vierneisel Leadership Scholarship Award to senior Ryan Porebski.
A group of Taft alumni, including Phil Tondelli, Frank Klimala and Phil Peterson, have set up a scholarship fund in memory of Vierneisel, who died of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2020. They played together on Taft’s 1972 Public League Championship team.
Vierneisel went on to play at the University of Illinois, where he had nearly 300 career punts. The scholarship criteria states that the award is intended for the player who “best exemplifies Phil V’s quality of unselfishness, toughness and dedication.”
“Phil was a great leader and was also a terrific friend,” Tondelli said. “We wanted to honor his legacy with a student athlete scholarship to a deserving Taft High School varsity player who excelled in both the classroom and on the field.”
Porebski, who also was named “Varsity Most Valuable Player,” played running back and linebacker at Taft and is planning to play this fall at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.
The following awards also were given out the club’s annual banquet: Stephan Carrera, freshman MVP; Richard Del Rio, sophomore MVP; Isiah Cruz, “Varsity Offensive Player of the Year;” Grzegorz Krupa, “Varsity Defensive Player of the Year;” Nick Moleda, “Varsity Special Teams Player of the Year;” Mike Barretto, “Varsity Offensive Lineman of the Year;” and Michael Oledipo, “Varsity Defensive Lineman of the Year.”
In addition, “Eagle Awards” for those who demonstrate the Taft virtues of leadership, team spirit, sportsmanship and respect were presented Porebski, sophomore Nativo Rivera and freshman Josiah Ramirez.
No Pop-Ups
Weekly Digital Edition
Read every story. Skip every pop-up.
Get the full weekly edition delivered to your inbox — no interruptions, no waiting. Just local news the way it was meant to be read.
Only $19.50/year — less than 38¢ a week
Subscribe Now
This is just part of today’s coverage. Get the full story - every article, every ad, every page. Subscribe now.
The Latest From Our Community
A man was stabbed in his hand at about 4:50 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, on a CTA Blue Line train near the Harlem station, 5550 N. Harlem Ave., after a read story
by BRIAN NADIG 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt and his Dems 45 organization have endorsed Jefferson Park resident S Gronkiewicz-Doran in the ward’s aldermanic race, which will be held read story
by BRIAN NADIG A new business, possibly a daycare, is in the works for the former CVS Pharmacy at the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Lawrence avenues. The pharmacy closed read story
by BRIAN NADIG A possible suspect is in custody after gunfire was reported at or near the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., at about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, read story
by BRIAN NADIG A luxury hotel and spa for cats is planned for a vacant one-story office building at 5510 W. Montrose Ave. in the Jefferson-Portage Park area. Local resident read story
Browse by Category
No Pop-Ups
Weekly Digital Edition
Read every story.
Skip every pop-up.
No pop-up ads — ever. Just stories, the way they were meant to be read
Full weekly edition delivered to your inbox every week — no waiting, no missing issues
Support local journalism and help keep our community connected
Only $19.50/year
That's less than 38¢ a week
Purchase Digital Subscription
Paypal
$19.50
/year
You can submit your payment via Paypal with a Credit Card. You DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT.. Just click the “Paypal Subscribe” button below to iniate your secure payment! You will be directed to a Secure Paypal page in which you can pay with a Paypal account if you have one, or you can select "Pay with Debit or Credit Cardt" option below and process your payment via credit card.
Venmo
$19.50
/year
You can submit payment of $19.50 for a 1 year subscription to Nadig Newspapers' Venmo account using this link. Please include the email address in the comment/note section that you would like the digital subscription sent to.