Downers Grove 1-15-20

Ja nuary 15 , 2 0 2 0 vo l . 1 2 i ss u e 6

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Calendar Events Upcoming events in your area see Page 3

sP orts

Rivalry renewed

Westmont defeats Lisle in battle of rivals see Page 5

Bu si ness

Dave Says Dave Ramsey’s Column see Page 3

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wednesday, January 15, 2020 | BuglenewsPaPers.Com

PoliCe >> woodridge

Dept. issues citations in zero tolerance campaign woodridge Police department completes recent drive sober or get Pulled over campaign By ryan ostry Bugle staff

@RyanOstry_BR18 rostry@buglenewspapers.com Recently, from Dec. 16 through Jan. 2, the Woodridge Police Department partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation [IDOT] and law enforcement across the state of Illinois for the 2019 holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

In those couple weeks, law enforcement officers showed more attentiveness and zero tolerance for impaired driving, seatbelt violations and other traffic violations.

“The Drive Sober or Get Pulled

Over is really in conjunction with the states Click It or Ticket,” said Sergeant Dennis Brinkman. “Those programs are run through IDOT.” IDOT, which is a state agency in charge of state-maintained public roadways of the U.S. state of Illinois, both programs pass through highway transportation money from the federal level that has to goes to local municipalities.

Through those two weeks, Woodridge Police issued 45 additional citations during the campaign, including eight seat belt violations, 13 speeding tickets and 24 other citations for various other offenses

more info Through those two weeks, Woodridge Police issued 45 additional citations during the campaign, include: ≠ eight seat belt violations ≠ 13 speeding tickets ≠ 24 other citations for various other offenses including driving with a suspended license including driving with a suspended license.

“Through the grants with the municipalities that apply for those get money either for impaired driving enforcement or occupant driving enforcement,” Brinkman said. “They have then identified certain campaigns throughout the entire calen-

dar year where they are required if you’re receiving this money to perform those enforcement actions.”

This is not the first occurrence this campaign has happened, as there is one for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Super Bowl, St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Once the grants come out around those celebrated holidays, the Woodridge Police Department hires officers to work above and beyond their normal duties for either the impaired driving enforcement or occupant driving enforcement for a set amount of hours.

“We’ve been getting the IDOT grants for as long as I can remember,” Brinkman said. “I’ve been here about

19 years and we’ve had them about every year since I’ve been here.”

In the last seven years, Brinkman has been in charged of the grants that have been disseminated.

For each grant, on average, the Woodridge Police Department gets between $15,000 and $25,000.

“That money is to spend on the additional enforcement,” Brinkman said. “We’re actually one of the smaller grantees, there’s a lot larger departments out there that receive a lot more grant money than we do.”

Along with the Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign that is administered by IDOT, the campaign is also with federal highway safety funds managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

village news >> downers grove

County news

latin Jazz Quartet performs at Man pleads guilty downers grove Public library in crash that killed 17-year-old Beth Dunlap 52-year-old Joseph kucharsk faces up to 14 years in prison Joseph Kucharski, 52, with a last known address in Naperville, appeared in Court this morning where he entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Aggravatwd DUI-Alcohol/Drugs Causing Death, a Class 2 Felony and one count of Reckless Homicide, a Class 3 Felony. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections to be served at 85 percent.

Kucharski appeared before Judge Liam Brennan, who accepted his plea.

On February 19, 2019, at approximately 10:55 a.m., the Downers Grove Police Department responded to a report of a person, later identified as Downers Grove North student Elizabeth Dunlap, struck by a vehicle in the intersection of Main and Grant Streets, just steps away from the main entrance to Downers Grove North High School. An investigation into the incident revealed that Dunlap was on her way to

school crossing Main St. within the marked crosswalk, in conjunction with the “Walk” signal, when she was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes on Main Street.

The investigation further revealed that the vehicle, driven by Kucharski, entered the intersection at Grant Street against a red light. At the time of the crash, Kucharski had a blood alcohol content of 0.031 and exhibited signs of impairment when interviewed by police. Further investigation revealed that Kucharski had alcohol, Xanax and cocaine in his system.

Authorities also found two crack pipes, crack cocaine and other drugs as well as vodka and beer at a hotel room in which Kucharski was staying. In his car authorities found Xanax, Benadryl and suboxone. Elizabeth Dunlap suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead from her injuries on Friday, February 22. That same day, Judge Robert Miller issued a $5 million arrest warrant for Kucharski. Four days later, on February 26, Kucharski appeared

see dunl aP Page 7

steve hashimoto discusses how his love for music at young age has brought success to his music career throughout life

By ryan ostry Bugle staff

@RyanOstry_BR18 rostry@buglenewspapers.com

For the last 21 years consecutively, the Suenos-Latin Jazz Quartet has performed at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Stylistic music encompassing AfroCuban, Brazilian, Flamenco, Fusion and other music is what is performed, and they’re led by Steve Hasimoto.

Hashimoto, from the age of five, started playing music and said he never felt right if a day went by where he wasn’t making different types of music.

Originally a trumpet player, Hashimoto then moved on to be a guitar and a bass player.

“This band sprung out of another new-age jazz band that was named Fireworks Jazz,” Hashimoto said. “I thought to myself that I could put together a band that is jazz themed just as good as this new band at that time, and that’s what I did.”

One thing that Hashimoto said keeps him going is his love for music and the friendships that he has made

PHOTO BY RYAN OSTRY

with the other band members.

Each performer in the band Hashimoto said he has known for at least 35 years, and their relationships outside of performing has helped made them into the successful quartet that they are today.

“I’ve known Mike the saxophone player for 35 years, I’ve known the drummer for 35 years and I’ve known todays piano player for 40 years,” Hashimoto said. “Our regular piano player who is actually from Argentina who is the new guy in the band, and I’ve known him for almost as long as

the others.”

In front of a crowd that registered more than 90 people clapping and in awe of the performance, Hashimoto said that performing is something he hopes never gets old, because not too many people are fortunate enough to go into work every day and thoroughly enjoy what they do for a living.

“To be honest I just really love playing music like I have since I was five years old,” Hashimoto said. “There are some days, like any job, where I don’t

see liBrary Page 7

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JANUARY 15 ROMEOVILLE artist guild. 4-6 p.m. Romeoville Branch White Oak Library District. Come join us for some social drawing time!

Bring your own paper and favorite pens or pencils and we’ll talk about drawing, share our drawings, try some baroque techniques, or just spend some quiet time doodling together. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins will be accepted.

For ages 16 and plus. Registration is required due to limited space. If you are not able to attend, please inform us 24 hours in advance so we can offer your spot to someone else. No shows may be waitlisted for future programs.

JANUARY 17 PLAINFIELD sarah Jayne lane. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Plainfield Public Library District. Get ready for a rocking-good time at this interactive, family-friendly concert.

Register each adult and each child attending.

JANUARY 18 LISLE league of women voters: voter registration drive!. 2-4:30 p.m.

Lisle Library District. Kick off the New Year as a registered voter. The League of Women Voters of Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Lisle, in partnership with the Lisle Library District, will offer voter registration.

JANUARY 18 WOODRIDGE featured artist reCePtion - mary yeZek. 2-4 p.m. Woodridge Public Library. Members of the community are welcome to meet Mary Yezek and to discuss her artistic methods used to create collages at a reception in the lobby of the Woodridge Public Library on Saturday, January 18 between 2 and 4 p.m.

JANUARY 18 BOLINGBROOK winter Carnival 2020. 7-10 p.m.

Fountaindale Public Library. Don’t miss our exciting after-hours celebration to kick off our 50th anniversary. Enjoy games, prizes, snacks, laser tag, and meet Anna & Elsa and much more. All ages are welcome to this event.

JANUARY 20 PLAINFIELD Canvas art for kids. 1:30-2:15 p.m.

Plainfield Public Library District. For Ages 6 to 9. Design your own piece of modern art. Use tape and paint to create a canvas masterpiece.

Column >> dave says

Dave Says: Keep your dignity and work your way out dear dave: My wife and I will both turn 30 next month. We have two young children, and we make a little over $85,000 combined. The problem is we have about $70,000 in debt. Some of it is credit card debt, but nearly $50,000 is in two car loans. Her mom and dad have offered to let us move in with them, so

we can save up money and start getting a better handle on our finances, but we’re not sure how we feel about this. What’s your advice?

dear Justin:

Justin

You’ve got a ridiculous amount of money wrapped up in those cars. I’d sell the stupid things, get into a couple

of little beaters, and start living on a budget and paying down debt.

In your situation, the only scenario where I’d even consider taking the inlaws up on their offer is one where the stay is for a very short, agreed-upon period of time. They’d have to be absolutely wonderful people, too, and everyone involved would need to know

their boundaries. But you guys can get out of debt pretty fast if you’ll just lose the cars. You could even save a little money on the side while you were paying down debt, and buy a better car as soon as the debt was gone.

You might love your cars so much that you’re unwilling to make the sacrifice.

Not me. I’d rather keep my dignity in-

tact, and work my way out of the mess I created!

Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms.

Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

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BASKETBALL SOCCER CROSS COUNTRY FOOTBALL SOCCER TENNIS BASEBALL SOFTBALL VOLLEYBALL TRACK & FIELD SWIMMING CHEERLEADING DANCE Bowling BasketBall

rivalry

renewed

despite no longer being in the same conference, westmont defeated lisle in a battle of old rivals By ryan ostry Bugle staff

@RyanOstry_BR18 rostry@buglenewspapers.com For the first time in at least 15 years, Westmont and Lisle going head-to-head was not considered a conference match up.

This time around, the Sentinels (5-11, 1-3) got the best of the Lions (7-8, 4-0).

“It’s a good learning experience for us because we have a lot of young guys on our roster,” said Westmont coach Craig Etheridge.

“Earlier in the year we were really struggling to finish games, so for us today it was nice that we made some good defensive plays and finished the game strong.”

During the 2019-20 season, the Sentinels have not been able to put together consecutive wins so far, and have lost as many as five games in a row.

In a battle against a familiar opponent in the Lions, the Sentinels received a much-needed boost from junior center Qati Dalipi who scored 25 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.

“It’s a lot of just being in the gym when nobody else is there,” Dalipi said. “I just keep working hard for these moments like today.”

With two free throws from Dalipi with just .48 seconds remaining in the game, the Lions didn’t go away easily.

A foul called for Lions senior guard Ray Bandzoumouna put

him at the line with just five seconds remaining.

The first shot was missed, but the second shot was made.

The Sentinels were up 44-43 with those five seconds remaining, and Dalipi was fouled with four seconds left in the game.

The junior knocked down both free throws, and the game ended with the Sentinels on top 46-43.

“This will always be a rivalry game,” said Lions coach Mark LaScala. “We just came out on the wrong end tonight.”

So far this year, the Lions have been mediocre in non-conference games, but during conference, they have thrived, as they have not lost yet.

As of late, the Lions have been on a five game losing skid going back to Dec. 14 against Indian Creek, but they have a veteran roster, which LaScala said should help his team get going into the direction they want to be at this time of the year.

The Lions roster consists of seven seniors and six juniors, led by senior guard Demetrius King Jr. and Bandzoumouna.

“We have a long way to go in our own conference with about 10 games to go to finish out the season,” LaScala said. “We’re sitting in a pretty good spot right now, but we have to defend our home floor in this conference race that will be tough going forward.”

lisle and westmont met in nonconference action for the first time in more than 15 years.

PHOTO BY RYAN OSTRY

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feature

Bolingbrook Suggs to be honored March 14 suggs is top african-american male high school scholar-athlete for the midwest region

By BoB narang for the Bugle

@BugleNewspapers sweditor@buglenewspapers.com

Bolingbrook senior Devyn Suggs is rapidly carving his own memorable legacy.

Hailing from a family of athletes, Suggs signed a letter-of-intent to play quarterback at Yale on Dec. 21.

In late December, the National Alliance of African-American Athletes selected Suggs as the top African-American Male High School Scholar-Athlete for the Midwest Region for 2020.

Suggs and the other regional honorees will be honored on March 14 at the Crystal City Hilton in Arlington, VA. “I’m beyond grateful to receive an award like this,” Suggs said. “I hold success in academics very close to me. My dad raised me and my sister to value academic excellence. I’m very blessed to receive an award of this magnitude. I’m proud of my work and had a lot of people around me that helped me.”

Suggs endured a rigorous process to earn the honor.

He had to fill out an extensive application that included an essay and detailed information of his daily academic and athletic life.

Suggs said he spent nearly a week on his application, but didn’t hear about his award until a few months later.

Suggs, a dual-threat quarterback, led Bolingbrook to an 8-4 record this season and has a 3.8 grade-point-average.

“I was surprised and it’s kind of shocking and humbling to receive this kind of award,” he said.

“Growing up, academics was very important in our household. We all took it seriously. My mom and dad instilled in us how important it was. To receive an award, outside of athletics, that recognizes my work as a student is very gratifying.

There will be a day when football ends, and academics will open up many more opportunities for me.”

Family is a key part of Suggs’ life — and success.

At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Suggs is an imposing and physical player on the football field.

But there was a time in his life when Suggs was more known for being the son of NFL and Ball State star safety Shafer Suggs — and the little brother of former Homewood-Flossmoor and Duke standout guard Faith Suggs.

Shafer Suggs, a member of the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame, played five years in the NFL (1976-80) for the New York Jets and

Cincinnati Bengals.

Faith Suggs had a standout career at Duke (2015-19). Shafer Suggs is slated to say a few words about his son’s award in a Bolingbrook board meeting leading up to Martin Luther King Day. “I’m really proud of Devyn,” Shafer Suggs said. “To watch him grow through this years, and watch him observe Faith and navigate his own recruiting process and earn this award is special.”

Devyn Suggs’ path from younger sibling to star recruit, though, was not an easy one.

His mother, Susan Hoster-Suggs, passed away due to melanoma cancer on October 9, 2011. She was 44.

At the time, Devyn was just 10 years old.

He endured a rough few years, being forced to navigate his early teen years without the aid of his loving and supportive mother.

Meanwhile, Shafer Suggs, then 58 years old, had to raise two young teens through a difficult time amid a busy academic and athletic schedule.

“Devyn and Faith have always had a really close connection,” Shafer said. “It’s been truly amazing to watch them navigate the last eight or nine years together.

Their mother would be so unbelievably proud of both of them, and would be so proud to watch him achieve this milestone and all these awards.

“We had to endure a lot, to be able to get through that rough time was helped because we are very spiritual people. We have all supported each other. We have been through some storms and endured them together. It was rough, just unimaginable what we went through. But our family was able to rise above those adversities because of our faith, our love and by working hard.”

Devyn Suggs, no longer the little one in the family, credited his father and sister for guiding him through a difficult process of his life and help set him for athletic and academic success.

“I’m very blessed to have such a wonderful family,” he said. “I’ve had many people in my life help me, from coaches, my dad and sister and friends and family to guide me to this point of my life. My dad’s experiences in life and being able to show me what important

really helped me. My sister has been a very good aid helping me and guiding me by showing me the proper way to about things.”

Faith Suggs, now the director of basketball operations for the women’s basketball team at Long Island University, said she’s excited to watch her younger brother follow in the family’s footsteps in college.

“It’s so special to see Devyn achieve so much,” Faith Suggs said. “His life has been the definition of overcoming adversity. I admire him every day for how he carries himself, and from the way he has always worked hard in the classroom is what I’m most proud of. I’m so excited for his next four years at Yale.”

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state news

Residents to Give Back on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

martin luther king, Jr. day of service is January 20, 2020

M

artin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is January 20, 2020.

Serve Illinois encourages people across the state to take part in National Day of Service by volunteering in their community.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was designated a National Day of Service by

dunl aP from Page 2 in Bond Court where bond was set in the amount of $750,000 with 10% to apply. On May 15, 2019, Kucharski posted the necessary $75,000, or 10%, of his bond and was released from custody.

“This morning, Mr. Kucharski appeared before the Court where he took responsibility for the death of Beth Dunlap,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said. “While today’s plea does nothing to ease the pain Beth’s family, friends and the entire community have endured since February 19 and will most likely feel their entire lives, it is the first step in holding Mr. Kucharski responsible for his incredibly reckless and irresponsible actions.”

Kucharski’s next court appearance is scheduled for February 27, 2020, for return of the Pre-sentence Report.

His sentencing date is scheduled for March 6, 2020.

liB rary from Page 2 love it as much as other days but usually I would say 95 percent of the time when I go to work I’m excited.”

This popular Quartet that has regularly played at the Downers Grove Public Library since 1999, doesn’t travel all over the country, but instead, Hashimoto said they play in the Chicagoland area to develop better relationships and gigs they play while meeting people and becoming more of a name brand.

During the live performance, Hashimoto called out a random song name, which the Quarter as a whole has more than 350 songs in their book.

Part of why the Quartet is special to Hashimoto is because each performer knows every song so well and there is the trust factor that everyone has with each other to know each and every song even if they don’t know which song is about to be played.

“They never know what song I will choose,” Hashimoto said. “We’re all just very comfortable with each other because we have been with each other so long so I have a lot of confidence in

Congress in 1994. Dr. King said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’”

“Illinoisans answer this question each day by helping their neighbors and their community.

Volunteerism is the answer,” said Serve Illinois Executive Director Scott

McFarland. “We are proud that Illinois was the first state to honor Dr. King with a holiday, and we are prouder still that Illinoisans make it a day on, not a day off.”

Illinoisans have a rich history of service. People can find volunteer opportunities at www.Serve.Illinois.gov.

Serve Illinois also wants to recognize those who serve their commu-

nities throughout the year and is accepting nominations for the annual Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards.

These awards recognize individual volunteers and for-profit businesses. The awards highlight the importance of community service in Illinois.

“Each year, millions of Illinoisans take time out of their busy lives to help their neighbors,” said McFarland. “These volunteers are helping keep children safe, safeguarding the environment, helping people find jobs, and so much more. They improve and save lives each and every day, and with these awards, we recognize the best of Illinois.”

Serve Illinois will present individual awards to one youth (18 years and younger), one adult (19-54-years-old), and one senior (55 years and older) in each of Serve Illinois’ five volunteer network regions across the state (Northeast, Northwest, East Central, West Central, and Southern).

Serve Illinois will present National Service Awards to one AmeriCorps member, one Senior Corps member, and one for-profit business in each of the five service regions.

Nominations are due to Serve Illinois by February 21, 2020. Please visit www.serve.illinois.gov for nomination forms and more infor-

we are proud that illinois was the first state to honor dr. king with a holiday, and we are prouder still that illinoisans make it a day on, not a day off.

- serve illinois executive director scott mcfarland

mation. Serve Illinois will host a ceremony on April 21, 2020 at the Old State Capitol in Springfield to honor recipients.

The Serve Illinois Commission is a 40 member (25 voting and 15 non-voting), bi-partisan board appointed by the Governor and administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the state.

The Commission is accomplishing this mission through the support of local community-based efforts to enhance volunteer opportunities and the administration of Illinois’ AmeriCorps program.

For more information on Serve Illinois, or to find one of more than 2,500 volunteer opportunities in the state, please visit www.serve.illinois.gov.

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