To have one member of a family who is a celebrated artist is amazing, but to have to entire family successfully involved in the arts is phenomenal.

The James Swanson family currently has a display at the La Grange Park Public Library of their work.

Jim is a professional illustrator and story board creator. He collaborates with advertising agencies to create effective ad campaigns and draws up the television commercials in story boards as they would appear. Some of his clients include McDonald’s, Anheuser Busch and Kraft Foods. Jim designed the logo for the U.S. Open one year. Jim’s pieces include beautiful landscapes that transport you to the very spot he has painted and a few expressive and realistic portraits of interesting people.

Becky’s work are still life, with vivid colors and contrasts. Along with painting, Becky also teaches classes at the La Grange Art League and has been involved in the Art Enrichment program at Ogden School through the years. She worked for 12 years at an advertising company as art director, and then became freelance once the kids were born. The couple met at Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio, and both secured jobs the same week at city ad agencies.

Emily, 13, is a singer and considers music her passion. She has appeared in many local productions, and the community is bound to see her in many more in the coming years. Her drawings are caricatures of the actors and roles seen in such musical productions at Sweeney Todd — the costumes are precise as well as the characters.

Owen, 10, has his photography and a drawing of a ship  on display. He is interested in battleships, wars and the Civil War and draws accordingly.

As Becky said, “I gave him my camera because I couldn’t get a good picture with it. He took it, got down on the floor and began snapping photos.”

Owen has won second place in the Eye of the Stone contest at Graue Mill last year for his photo of ducks currently on display and his drawing of a ship won first place in the 8-to-12 group at a Naperville Art League competition.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, the Swanson family have a reception for the display on the second floor of the La Grange Park Public Library. The work is on display through September.

The Jimmy Reynolds Training Table

The Lyons Township High School football team sold more than 700 advance tickets and more than 50 people paid at the door for the Jimmy Reynolds Scholarship Dinner Sept. 7.

Young siblings, grandparents, parents and friends of the team and Jimmy filled the cafeteria. Enlarged photos of Jimmy in action were on display throughout the cafeteria.

The team served bread, salad and a spaghetti and meatball dinner to the diners, with the team parents in the kitchen dishing the food and brewing the iced tea and lemonade.

Strategic planning played a part, too.  This year, the Bears were on at 7:15 p.m. and the dinner took place from 3 to 6 p.m.

On top of the dinner, the team raffled football-themed prizes donated by various organizations and parents within the community. Jimmy’s family was in attendance as well and he continues to be touched by the number of people that care about him.

The word really traveled for this worthwhile event as last year there were about 300 people in attendance.

As one of the mothers commented, “We will have even more scholarships this year.”