Bugle Newspaper 4-20-23

troy Heritage trail students read to comfort Dogs

Troy Heritage Trail Elementary School second-graders delighted in reading books to comfort dogs Nigel and Brutus this month. The students took turns reading and petting and hugging the friendly golden retrievers as their handlers sat near and answered questions the students had.

Teacher Melissa Lundy has hosted the program for several years, beginning when she taught first grade at H.T. She then brought it to secondgraders when she transferred grade levels this year. The dogs visit the classrooms once a month.

They make reading fun, Lundy said, and give a helping hand to those students who are a little more reluctant to read aloud. They have a calming effect, too, she added.

“The dogs give comfort, love and

support to the students,” she said.

“Nigel’s been part of my class and our class pet for four years. Having him here just makes us all happy.”

Nigel’s handler James Morrison is a U.S. Army Security Agency veteran who served as a German translator. Brutus’ handler Gene Weisbecker is a U.S. Navy veteran who served on a submarine.

The Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Military Ministry dog program currently has over 130 K-9 comfort dogs serving in more than 27 states. A spokesperson for the organization said its comfort dogs are good listeners, non-judgmental and confidential.

Troy Heritage Trail Elementary School is a Troy Community School District 30-C school.

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SUBMITTED PHOTO

Second-grade students in teacher melissa lundy’s troy Heritage trail elementary School classroom read to comfort dog Nigel, with his handler u.S. army veteran James morrison and lcc k-9 military ministry dog program representative marta rees.

Niles-maine District library hosts Stbf event

The Niles-Maine District Library will host the Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project (STBF) as they recognize and honor the winner and two runners-up of its annual self/indie-published novel competition at a live media event on Monday, April 24, 4-5 p.m.

Alina Rubin, Niles-Maine District Library patron and member of the Library’s Creative Writing Club, will accept the award, which includes a $2,000 cash prize for her debut novel, A Girl With a Knife, part of the Hearts and Sails series. Set in 19th century England, the novel tells the story of a young woman who manages to escape the very limited life choices available to her, and becomes a surgeon. Rubin is an IT professional and a mom, who, during the pandemic used the time and

energy saved on the commute to write this award-winning book.

Illinois State Senator Ram Villavalam of the 8th district will attend and present a special proclamation honoring Rubin.

Finalist Rebecca Taniguchi’s family’s history inspired her to write Hiro’s War, a work of historical fiction that follows one man’s journey from his childhood spent in a Japanese internment camp in the U.S. during World War II through his lifelong search for justice and peace.

Skokie Library patron Len Joy, also one of the finalists, wrote American Past Time, following the story of an American family as they navigate the challenges of the 1950s through the 1970s as issues of race simmer in the background.

Entering its tenth year, the STBF

Project is the brainchild of library marketing professionals and is coordinated in collaboration with Illinois Library Association (ILA) and Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) and is supported by the American Library Association Digital Content Working Group, the Public Library Association (PLA), and the Illinois Heartland Library System. The goal of the STBF Project is to demonstrate the power of libraries to create a market for authors and find more great reads for their patrons.

For more information about the STBF Project, please visit www. soontobefamous.info.

The Niles-Maine District Library is located at 6960 W. Oakton St, the northeast corner of the Oakton and Waukegan intersection.

oakton foundation spotlights manufacturing programs

Community leaders, industry partners and Oakton College Educational Foundation supporters got an up-close look at how Oakton College prepares students to meet the local manufacturing industry’s workforce needs during a special event Monday, April 10. The Oakton College Educational Foundation hosted “Spotlight On: Manufacturing,” highlighting Oakton’s array of innovative manufacturing degree and certificate programs. More than 50 guests attended the event at Oakton’s Ray Hartstein Campus, 7701 Lincoln Ave., Skokie, Ill., 60077.

“As an industry that is increasingly becoming automated, our business partners and employers rely on workers who have the ability to program and troubleshoot equipment, maximize Computer Aided Design systems, utilize ro-

botics and navigate supply chain challenges — among a long list of other skills,” Oakton College President Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., said during her welcome remarks.

“Oakton is preparing the next generation of manufacturers to efficiently and cleanly build and deliver the products we rely on every day.”

Public officials in attendance included State Senator Laura Murphy (D-28), State Representative Kevin Olickal (D-16) and representatives from the office of State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-17).

Guests toured each of Oakton’s three labs within Oakton’s Sylvia and Irving M. Footlik Manufacturing and Engineering Center, including the Computer Numerical Controls Lab, Automation/ Mechatronics Lab and Engineer-

ing/Mechanical Design Lab. Manufacturing faculty, alumni and current students led demonstrations of how the lab’s cutting-edge equipment is preparing students for success in the modern manufacturing industry.

Oakton alumni leading lab demonstrations included Yong Yoo and Francis Barar, both of whom were Oakton College Educational Foundation scholarship recipients. In addition to their employment with local manufacturers, both Yoo and Barar also serve as adjunct faculty at Oakton.

The event also included a demonstration of Oakton’s NASA Robotics Competition Team’s latest rover project. Supported by donors who give to the Oakton

See ‘oaktoN’ page 5

College Educational Foundation, Oakton’s Robotics Team has competed against students enrolled in some of the nation’s top university engineering programs annually for more than a decade. Student competitions, along with apprenticeship and internship opportunities, offer experiential learning opportunities to complement classroom and lab instruction.

Oakton students — many of whom have industry experience and wish to advance their careers — can pursue associate degrees in Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Mechatronics or Supply Chain Automation. Students can also enroll in short-term certificate programs focused on specialized skills, including automation programming, robotics, computer numerical controls (CNC) and welding, among others. Oakton offers stackable credentials, allowing students to apply credits earned through certificate programs toward an associate degree.

Recent manufacturing program graduates are currently employed by local manufacturers including S&C Electric Company, John Crane, Vetter Pharma, Federal-Mogul Corporation and others.

The Oakton College Educational Foundation’s “Spotlight On: Manufacturing” is part of a continuing series highlighting

Oakton College’s exceptional educational programs, learning experiences, and faculty who train the workforce of today and tomorrow. The Educational Foundation proudly supports the mission and vision of the College by raising funds for student scholarships, academic programs, teaching excellence and capital improvements that enhance the quality of education at Oakton.

“It was wonderful to have so many community members experience the amazing opportunities available to students enrolled in Oakton College’s Manufacturing and Engineering Programs,” said Katherine Sawyer, Oakton College’s chief advancement officer and executive director of the Oakton College Educational Foundation. “The Foundation is proud to support students enrolled in these programs through scholarships, and underwrite initiatives that enrich learning experiences such as the NASA Robotics Competition Team. We are grateful to all of the Foundation supporters who enable student success through philanthropic contributions.”

If you have interest in enabling the success of Oakton students and enhancing Oakton programs through charitable giving, contact the Educational Foundation at foundation@oakton.edu or 847-635-1893.

lawmakers consider banning vehicle searches based on cannabis odor, changes to probation

Just before lawmakers went on a two-week spring break, the Illinois Senate passed two bills that would work to further decriminalize cannabis use in Illinois.

The bills – Senate Bill 125 and Senate Bill 1886 – would prevent an individual’s vehicle from being searched solely based on the smell of cannabis and would allow some individuals on probation to consume cannabis or alcohol.

When Illinois legalized cannabis in 2020, it also made individuals previously charged with minor cannabis offenses eligible to have their records expunged. At the end of 2020, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced 492,129 cannabis-related convictions had been expunged and 9,219 people with lowlevel cannabis convictions had been pardoned.

“It was incredibly important as we were looking to legalize this product that has clearly demonized so many communities,” Rep. Jehan GordonBooth, D-Peoria, said of the legalization law at a Tuesday news conference.

Both bills will still need approval in the House and a signature from the governor to become law.

Cannabis odor in motor vehicles

SB 125 would ensure that the smell of “burnt or raw cannabis in a motor vehicle” cannot alone be probable cause for an individual’s vehicle to be searched.

“People – especially people of color – are unnecessarily pulled over far too often,” Sen. Rachel Ventura, a Democrat from Joliet and lead sponsor on the bill, said of the legislation during floor debate. “The odor of cannabis alone shouldn’t be one of those reasons (for their car to be searched).

Cannabis is legal in Illinois and it’s a pungent scent that can stick to clothes for extended periods of time.”

An amendment to the bill created an age exemption, specifying that individuals under the age of 21 are still eligible to have their vehicle searched solely based on odor.

After that provision was added, the ACLU of Illinois shifted from supporting the bill to having a neutral stance on it.

“We do have concerns that the amendment to the bill creates a workaround, or a loophole, that could have the effect of incentivizing police to target youth for unnecessary traffic stops or vehicle searches,” Atticus Ballesteros, an attorney with ACLU of Illinois, said in an interview.

Ballesteros added that ACLU of Illinois originally supported the bill because there are many reasons why a vehicle may smell of cannabis.

“And to us, that applies irrespective of age,” Ballesteros said.

The measure passed 33-20 in the Senate and awaits action in the House.

Substance use on probation

SB 1886 would bar courts from preventing individuals from using cannabis or alcohol if they’re on probation, conditional discharge or supervision.

The bill has several exemptions, though, including if the person is sentenced to a crime that involved

“the presence of an intoxicating compound in the person’s body.”

Courts would also still be allowed to impose substance use restrictions if the person is under the age of 21 or if they are participating in “problemsolving court,” a system of courts designed to help people with mental health and substance abuse problems.

The measure passed with a 34-21 vote and will head to the House.

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