Bugle Newspapers 4-15-20

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COVID-19 Local colleges stepping up to help during pandemic INSIDE

COVI D-19

State news Pritzker defends IDES page 6

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News from Plainfield • Joliet • Shorewood • Lockport • Crest Hill • Bolingbrook • Romeoville • Downers Grove • Westmont • Woodridge • Lisle • Niles • Morton Grove • Park Ridge & more

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Will County

JCA faculty salutes seniors during COVID-19 lockdown By mark gregory Editorial Director

@Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com

When the word came down to students at Joliet Catholic Academy that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker had closed all schools – public and private – because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was near the end of the day when seniors were either at the end of the day or had already left their lockers for what could be the very last time.

There were no good-byes, no hugs and no tears – just empty hallways where the Class of 2020 was supposed to be planning for prom, training for spring sports and cramming for finals – all in a lead up to graduation.

With all of that now in doubt as states across the nation have already announced school is done for the year, those seniors were left

see ‘jca’ page 6

upcoming events in your area

LOCAL NEWS

Wednesday, April 15, 2020 | buglenewspapers.com

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COOK COUNTY

Oakton student employee leading 3D printed PPE project School is donating face shields to local health care facilities

Oakton student employee and alum Matt Slizys is helping to save lives. Slizys is spearheading a project using 3D printers at the college’s Skokie campus to create COVID-19 face shields to distribute to local hospitals and health care facilities.

Slizys, with the assistance of Oakton’s Manufacturing Technology Department faculty members, have created at least 25 face shields, with the goal of producing 100. Once that objective has been reached, college officials will determine which agencies would be the most feasible to donate the vital equipment to for immediate use.

“Being able to do something to help others with this PPE movement is simply an amazing feeling,” Slizy says. “Instead of sitting in and quarantining myself, I’m able to be productive with my days and make a difference.”

As a proud Lithuanian, Slizys, 24, is also looking to lead a cause dear to his heart – donating PPE equipment to senior living care facilities in the Chicago area that house members of the Lithuanian community.

Slizys said he came up with the idea to create PPE after finding a Facebook group page geared toward making face shields for Swedish medical professionals.

“I saw the Facebook page had some files to make PPE and with some help I was able to modify the design to make the equipment fit better and easier to produce,” he says.

Slizys attributes Oakton for preparing him to tackle such endeavors. He said he is able to apply all the knowledge he gained at Oakton through courses like Introduction to 3D Printing, Introduction to Solid Works and computer-aided design courses to assist others during the pandemic.

Faculty Coordinator of Manufacturing, Mechanical Design/ CAD Boguslaw Zapal says that Slizys always shined in the classroom and was enthusiastic about applying what he learned for practical use.

“In every course Matt took with me, he was always asking for additional sources to expand his learning beyond class curriculum,” Zapal says. “While taking courses, he was always curious about how the

material he learned could be utilized for real word applications.

I wish we get more students in manufacturing program that are so engaged and passionate about learning about modern manufacturing and industrial automation as Matt is.”

Slizys graduated from the col-

lege last semester with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Manufacturing Technology. While attending Oakton, he served as a student employee for the Manufacturing and Technology Department. He still works in that capacity while he waits to transfer to Purdue University, where he plans

to study reprogramming robots or working with industrial 3D printers.

“Oakton helped me to gain valuable hands-on experience, confidence and knowledge to be able to create projects that can help the world,” he says.

DUPAGE COUNTY

DuPage Children’s Museum continues to serve families during closure DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) values creativity, curiosity, community and collaboration. During the temporary closure, which has been extended through April 30, the DCM team is finding new ways to deliver on its vision and mission.

As childhood development experts, DCM’s staff members know that creative play mitigates stress and promotes overall health. Music, movement and laughter are great stress busters. Focused learning is important too. DCM Early Learning Specialist Alix Tonsgard explains, “Routines and structure are critical to helping children to feel safe and in control.

This sense of security is a key component of healthy growth and development. By providing caregivers with activities and resources, we are hoping to give them the tools to establish a routine that will support their child’s growth and development in

this uncertain time.” That is why the Museum’s creative team is producing “Play to Learn at Home,” a new online community of programming and support that will provide a daily dose of DCM. The program aims to share playful learning activities with isolated families.

DCM Public Programs Manager Cassie Coffey delivers story time weekly via Facebook Live. Arts & Maker Specialist Dustin Thacker performed an original song, ‘Big Pig!’ with his children to demonstrate playful music, movement and silly play. Since science and art are also core to the Museum’s mission, DCM recently shared a short video about DIY Sidewalk Paint.

The team has more in development that will be shared throughout the coming weeks including family yoga, book making, sensory bags, bilingual story time and more. Everyone is en-

couraged to explore creativity and curiosity at home by visiting DCM’s Blog at dupagechildrens.org/blog and social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

In addition to creating and sharing online content, DCM donated $2,000 worth of developmental toys to shelters and pantries in its service area from the Museum’s Explorer Store. Visitor Services Manager Hiroki Ogawa and Director of Development Renee Miklosik practiced safe social distancing measures to coordinate donations to Hesed House in Aurora and West Suburban Food Pantry in Woodridge.

“I was thrilled with the opportunity to be able to help bring the DCM experience directly to children and families during this stressful time,” Ogawa said. “Toys were chosen from the DCM Explorer Store to engage the imagination and creativity in children

to keep the play growing.”

Miklosik went on to say, “Our physical doors might be closed, but DCM is very much delivering on our mission to bring quality early childhood education experiences to all.

Hesed House and West Suburban Community Pantry are amazing organizations, and our team is proud to do what we can to help those on the frontlines serve their clients.”

Rest assured, DCM’s early learning team continues to work to design and build new exhibit experiences to

ignite the potential for all children to learn through hands-on exploration.

Now more than ever, the Museum must creatively inspire curiosity, wonder and discovery in determined critical thinkers who will solve world problems like the current global health crisis.

To connect with DCM resources, join its online communities. Follow, like, comment, and share @dupagechildrens social media posts with its new online content via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

local news

Wednesday, April 15, 2020 | buglenewspapers.com

DUPAGE COUNTY

Hinsdale Humane Society shares updates on pets and coronavirus

By Dr. Kristin TVRdik

Medical Director, HHS

On Sunday, April 5, news was released that lions and tigers at the Bronx Zoo started showing respiratory signs, including a cough.

The animals had been exposed to a zoo employee who worked closely with the cats and tested positive.

Only one of the cats, a tiger named Nadia, was tested due to the logistics of getting a sample from a large, dangerous cat, and she was positive for COVID-19. This story joins previous reports of a cat in Belgium

and 2 dogs in China who tested positive after being exposed to a COVIDpositive DR . KRISTIN owner.

TVRDIK , D.V.M Based on sources including the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), the USDA, the CDC, and the American Veterinary Medi-

cal Association (AVMA), all of the animals, including the big cats at the Bronx Zoo are expected to make or have already made full recoveries. You may have heard that one of the dogs in China was euthanized, but this was unfortunately due to it being a 17-year-old dog who was near the end of its life and it passed away after being released from the quarantine hold.

Despite more than 1.3 million people testing COVID-positive in the world, there have only been four pets that tested positive from these homes. When considering that there are more than 800 million dogs and cats living with people in their homes across the world, this is a staggeringly low percentage of possible animal cases.

IDEXX, a well-respected, large veterinary laboratory, began including COVID-19 testing on all respiratory samples from cats and dogs in the United States approximately one month ago. Out of thousands of tests evaluated so far, the company has seen zero positive results. These include pets from hotbed areas like Seattle and New York.

You may have also heard of a study showing that ferrets and cats in particular can become infected and transmit COVID-19 to other animals. When evaluating these stories, it is essential to know all of the facts. This study involved scientists innoculating, or swabbing the virus at high doses directly into the respiratory tracts of these animals.

This is not a representation of how a pet would be exposed in a normal environment with its owner.

It is important to consider our pets in the same way we are protecting ourselves at this time of social-distancing. If you are sick or know of someone who is sick, consider isolating yourself from the animals in your home in the same way

see ‘PETS’ page 7

Ne w s a b o u t lo cal b u si nesses i n yo u r c o mm u ni t y

Local news

Wednesday, April 15, 2020 | buglenewspapers.com

cook county

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Niles library tower glows red for frontline workers Starting on Wednesday, April 8, the Library Tower will be lit red each night to show appreciation for all of the frontline healthcare workers. The Library includes in their appreciation the police officers, firefighters, and EMTs who are often in direct contact with infected patients.

“We salute all frontline workers who are so important in the fight against COVID-19,” said Assistant Director Greg Pritz.

The Niles-Maine District Library is closed through Thursday, April 30.

Out of an abundance of caution, all in-person programs are cancelled and passport services will not be available through the end of May. A schedule of virtual programs, some hosted by library staff, is available on the library’s website.

Patrons should hold onto their library materials until the library re-

opens.

As of April 1, the library is officially fine free though no overdue fines have been charged since the library closed.

Niles-Maine cardholders will continue to be able to access online resources, movie and music streaming services, ebooks downloads, and more on the library’s website 24/7.

For more information, visit www. nileslibrary.org/explore.

Niles-Maine District Library serves 59,000 residents in the Village of Niles, unincorporated Des Plaines, and unincorporated Glenview.

The library is located at 6960 W. Oakton St, the northeast corner of the Oakton and Waukegan intersection.

Library hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. -7 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

WILL COUNTY

USF helps address needs in face of pandemic While the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges that have impacted the globe, it has also inspired individuals and organizations to step forward to provide aid and assistance in a variety of ways as society navigates these uncertain times. The University of St. Francis (USF) is one of many area organizations to step forward in an effort to provide materials and equipment for front line professionals leading the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jessica Monu, Assistant Professor in USF’s Recreation and Sport Management Department, recently put together a sewing group through her church to make masks for essential employees in a variety of medical settings after finding out a relative was one of those professionals in need.

“Many front line professionals are working without masks. My aunt, who works in the hospice field, was one of those professionals until I made and sent her several.

Not only can we help minimize the spread of COVID-19 through selfisolating and following the State’s ‘stay-at-home’ order, but we can also help by making masks to protect these front line professionals,”

she said.

Monu’s sewing group continues to make masks with double-layered cotton fabric with elastic cords. Collectively, the group has made and donated over 500 masks and anticipates keeping up this pace as long as they have the materials to do so.

To date, masks have been delivered to Good Samaritan Hospital; Edwards Hospital; Rezin Orthopedics;

see ‘US F ’ page 6

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STATE

Pritzker defends IDES response to unemployment claims House Republicans say more should be done to handle volume of calls, applications

By Peter hancock

Capitol News Illinois

Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday that his administration is stepping up efforts to keep up with the flood of unemployment applications coming into the Illinois Department of Employment Security as the state is seeing a record number of claims being filed by people left jobless due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The unemployment claims process has been a source of hardship for all too many Illinois residents as it has been for dozens of states across the nation,” Pritzker said during his daily news conference in Chicago. “So many families are hurting at a scale of this country hasn’t seen ever in our lifetimes, and our state. Unemployment filing systems which were built a decade ago, for a much lower number of claims, simply haven’t kept pace.”

Pritzker made his comments as the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 1,173 new cases of COVID-19 during the previous 24 hours and 74 additional deaths.

That brings the total for the state to 22,025 cases, including 794 deaths, in 87 counties.

Pritzker said that since March 1, IDES employees have put in 6,500 overtime hours and they have processed and paid out more than 270,000 claims totaling $200 million in benefits. The agency, however, has reported receiving more than 500,000 initial claims during that period.

IDES also recently began hiring back retired employees, although they are given laptops and assignments that allow them to work from home because many of them are in a vulnerable category.

The agency is also establishing an outside call center with an additional 200 agents who will help in the application and certification process, Pritzker said, while it has also upgraded its online platform to handle more volume and waived

some of the normal verification checks that applicants normally go through.

Pritzker made those comments just hours after Republican House leaders held a video news conference to criticize the administration for not being better prepared for the onslaught of unemployment claims that ensued after Pritzker ordered nonessential businesses, including restaurants and bars, to close in order to slow the spread of the disease.

Also on Monday, the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission announced it has adopted an emergency rule that gives “front-line workers” such as medical staff, first responders, grocery store employees and certain others who contract COVID-19 a rebuttable presumption that they caught the disease at work and are therefore entitled to workers’ compensation insurance.

A coalition of business groups issued a joint statement criticizing the order, saying it will result in higher costs for businesses at a time when many of them are under severe financial stress.

with unsaid farewells.

On April 1, several JCA teachers and administrators, led by Suzi Arnett and Holly Scordo, spent four days visiting all 152 of the Angel and Hilltopper seniors at their homes and placing a sigh in the yard in recognition of their pending promotion from JCA. “We covered almost 400 miles,” Scordo said. “It was a labor of love and it was great to see the looks on the kids’ faces as well as the parents.”

“We wanted to visit our seniors that are pretty distraught like all seniors are. We have gotten a lot of text messages and emails from the seniors saying they can’t believe they are saying it, but they wish they were back in school,” Arnett added. “We kept our masks on and social distance and we went and put the signs in the front yard and told the kids we loved then and missed them and it was a nice thing

for us and them.”

While the faculty wanted to do something to give back to the students, they found themselves in a position where they were able to say good-bye to the seniors as well.

“We had talked about dividing it up and having two or three teachers go to each home, but we all wanted to see each student, so it was really meaningful,” said Arnett.

The event took four days and as word spread, the seniors that were not visited on the first day knew what was coming, but that did not take away from the excitement.

“I was the fourth day and I was still super excited. Everyone that lives around me was excited when there were 15 cars and a bus that pulled up,” said Madi Mikuska, president of the JCA student council senior executive board. “We knew before that JCA was a family and now with this going on and all this happening, it shows it even more. We are all coming together.

“It was a hard pill to swallow at

first that we may not have spring sports, prom or graduation, but this is such a unique experience that our kids will never even experience and we know JCA and we know they will do something for us even if it is next year when we are back from college.”

Mikuska said she knew she couldn’t let the faculty’s good deed go without a proper thank you, so she used the one thing everyone has plenty of during quarantine – technology and time.

“I was thinking we needed to find a way to thank the teachers and we can’t go parading to their houses, so I thought maybe we could get 50 kids to volunteer to do a video and after 30 minutes of me putting it on social media, we had over 100 volunteers,” she said. “We ended up with 114 people in the video out of 152 seniors.”

You can watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=6uWTArMuAis&feature=youtu. be

in the Joliet area and learned that Silver Cross was in need of masks.

We were able to gather and donate several N95 and R95 masks, 300 procedural masks, 200 procedural masks with face shields to help address their need,” said Jennifer Wills-Savoia, Teaching Instructor/

Clinical Simulation & Learning Specialist in USF’s Leach College of Nursing.

USF Director of Community and Government Relations Dave DiLorenzo added that these are just two of many examples of USF serving the community.

“As an institution rooted in Franciscan values, we place a high priority on service and compassion.

Given the many challenges we are all facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, living these values through our actions is extremely important,” DiLorenzo said.

‘jca’ from page 2

‘usf ’ from page 5 Edward Hines, Jr., VA Hospital; Optimal Case Management; Riverside Village; and DuPage Care Center.

Masks have also been given to several area emergency medical technicians.

While making masks is one way assistance is being provided, donating personal protective equipment is another as USF’s Leach College of Nursing also recently donated a variety of masks to Silver Cross Hospital, which was in need of supplies.

“We checked with both hospitals

blueroomstream.com

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, announces there were 1,173 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 74 additional deaths in the past 24 hours during a news conference Monday in Chicago.

W e d n es day, April 15 , 2 0 2 0 | b u g l e n e w spap e r s. c o m | pag e 7 ‘pets’ from page 4 you would isolate yourself from other people. Feed them and attend to their basic needs, but limit contact. Animals with COVID-positive owners should be quarantined in the home if possible and avoid contact with other people or animals.

While at this time, there is emerging evidence that it is POSSIBLE for animals to contract the virus, there is absolutely no evidence that ani-

mals can give it to us. Neither the CDC nor the USDA see any evidence of a credible threat for domestic animals to spread this disease and recommend continuing to care for and love your pets while taking the previously-mentioned precautions.

If you or your pet appear to be sick with COVID-like symptoms, please contact your veterinarian and your personal physician for advice on next steps as soon as possible.

In these uncertain times with

constantly-evolving recommendations, it is important to remain thoughtful when evaluating sources of information. A wide variety of truth, lies and sensationalism exists and it is important to look to the experts to provide you with the most up-to-date and reliable information to keep you, your loved ones, and your beloved pets safe. HHS is committed to continually researching and evaluating these sources to keep you as up-to-date as possible.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 | buglenewspapers.com

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Phone: 1515.436.2431 >> Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. FAX: 1515.439.25415 email: classifieds@enterprisepublications.com IN PERSON: Enterprise Publications >> 231556 Andrew Rd. >> Plainfield, IL

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