Melissa McCarthy: From Plainfield to celebrity actress in Hollywood!

“Gilmore Girls,” a very popular comedy-drama television show, premiered 23 years ago, on Oct. 5, 2000.

But, did you know that Melissa McCarthy, who plays Sookie St. James in the show, is from Plainfield, Illinois?

McCarthy was born on Aug. 26, 1970, in Plainfield. She was raised on a corn and soybean farm in a large Catholic family. She graduated from St. Francis Academy, now Joliet Catholic Academy. She also attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

McCarthy began her performing career as a stand-up comedian in New York City. She worked on her acting skills at the Actors Studio, and appeared in stage productions. Later, McCarthy moved to Los Angeles. But McCarthy’s big break came when she was cast as Sookie St. James, Lorelai Gilmore’s best friend in the show “Gilmore Girls.”

McCarthy’s success on “Gilmore Girls” may be her claim to fame, but her most notable role is the character Megan in the 2011 film “Bridesmaids.”

McCarthy has received several nominations and awards for her roles in the CBS sitcom “Mike & Molly” and “Bridesmaids.”

Lincoln made Thanksgiving a holiday 160 years ago today

It’s been 160 years since former President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that made Thanksgiving a national holiday.

“I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens,” the proclamation stated.

Although previous presidents had called for a Thanksgiving celebration in a similar fashion, each state still continued to celebrate on separate dates. After Lincoln issued his proclamation, states began celebrating Thanksgiving on the same date, thus giving Lincoln the credit for nationalizing the holiday.

Lincoln issued the proclamation following significant events that happened in 1863, such as the Battle of Gettysburg. The proclamation was made in part to honor the fallen soldiers of the civil war and their families. Additionally, a strong proponent for the holiday, Sarah Josepha Hale – a magazine editor – wrote to Lincoln directly calling for Thanksgiving to be made a national and fixed festival to solidify it as an American custom and institution.

Her request was granted by Lincoln after spending 15 years advocating for a national Thanksgiving holiday. Now, 160 years later, people across the nation look forward to celebrating with their loved ones and spreading gratitude thanks to Lincoln.

Celebrating 20 Illinois schools named National Blue Ribbon Schools

The U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 20 Illinois schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or the closure of achievement gaps amongst diverse groups of students demonstrating their ability for all students to achieve high levels of learning.

“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to Raise the Bar in education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program began 1982, under the second Secretary of Education, Terrel H. Bell, to highlight the best schools in the U.S. with the purpose of sharing the best practices among schools across the country. The program is supported through ongoing collaboration with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Middle Level Education, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

“Here in Illinois, we know the importance of investing in education for our next generation of leaders,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Congratulations to the 20 exceptional institutions named as National Blue Ribbon Schools. As we continue our work to make Illinois the best state to raise a family, we commend the dedication of educators, administrators, parents, and students who made this achievement possible.”

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Chicago ranks in the top five safest U.S. cities for pedestrians

For those traveling on foot, Chicago is the fifth safest city to commute as a pedestrian according to a recent KURU Footwear study.

Walking safely is particularly key this time of year when warmer weather and longer days brings out more people. This is why the footwear brand ranked the 37 U.S. major metro cities from safest to the most dangerous for pedestrians. Rankings are based on an overall Walk Score – the walkability between residential areas and business areas – and the number of fatal pedestrian accidents.

Higher walking scores and fewer pedestrian related deaths earned these U.S. cities top five rankings: 1) New York, 2) Boston, 3) San Francisco, 4) Washington D.C., 5) Chicago.

On average, Chicago has two pedestrian deaths per 10,000 people and a Walk Score of 77.2, for a total safety score of 81.

Traffic and safety conditions can vary from city to city, so it is advisable to follow the local traffic regulations in your neighborhood and when walking in any urban environment.

Read about the study on KURU Footwear.