Niles 3-21-13 by Bugle, Sentinel & Enterprise Newspapers

DANNY QUINN AND ALYSSA RUEHL STAR AT VOYAGER MEDIA PREP SHOOTOUT FULL COVERAGE STARTS ON PAGE 11

Our Community, Our News

www.nilesbugle.com

MARCH 21, 2013

Vol. 57 No. 24

TWO PARTIES. TWO CANDIDATES. TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS OF NILE’S FUTURE.

A QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The New Niles Party Slate consists of (from right) Morton Grove restaurateur George Alpogianis, Niles Village Trustee Andrew Przybylo, Niles Library Board Trustee Danette O’Donovan Matyas and East Maine School Dist. 63 board member John Jekot.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Trustee Chris Hanusiak (right) is running on the Responsible Leadership For Niles Party slate with trustee candidates Louella Preston (left), Mary Marusek (center front) and Jim Hynes (center back).

The Bugle asks mayoral candidates Hanusiak and Przybylo five tough questions By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter

andidates in the contested April 9 election for mayor of Niles were invited to answer questionnaires submitted by The Bugle.The two candidates who are running are Trustee Chris Hanusiak, of The Responsible Leadership for Niles Party, and Trustee Andrew Przybylo, of The New Niles Party. Incumbent Mayor Robert Callero has

chosen not to seek reelection but has endorsed Przybylo’s campaign.

What are your top three priorities for Niles?

Trustee Chris Hanusiak: First, attention must be paid to completing the budget for the next fiscal year. Niles is like a big corporation, and there are many nuances in budgeting which have to be ferreted out before a useable

budget can be completed. Niles administrations and boards have not kept up with the problems of the employee pensions, and we are facing a big problem. This document will drive our plans for future years relative to the projects which the village is currently contemplating. Second, the village has to systematize and to make uniform all of the forms and supporting documents which we require businesses and residents to fill out. As we

learned recently, applications for special tax reconsiderations under the 6B tax incentive were inconsistent over the years. Businesses need to know that they are being treated fairly and equitably. Third, several of us trustees have been discussing and exploring management approaches which maximize service and minimize expenditures. We have faced roadblocks, for lots of disappointing reasons, but

we will eventually get things done.The approach recently presented to the board is interesting, even though it is geared toward a more expansive bureaucracy and obviously constructed to handle thousands of employees. Nothing is off the table. Trustee Andrew Przybylo: Number one, we will lower property taxes by keeping our See QUESTIONS, page 3

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

QUESTIONS Continued from page 1 stores thriving and increasing the level of services to seniors. Number two, we will be instituting Performance Management in the Village. Each department head will be responsible for efficient services in his or her department. Performance Management uses a series of metrics to evaluate all department heads and measure his or her success or failure rate. Third, we will expand the senior-teen co-operative and have management teams from each group work together. We will expand and ensure the quality of animal control services – no more skunks running in our streets!

With the legacy of former Mayor Nick Blase still in the minds of your constituents, how do you plan to continue to expand the transparency and accountability of the government of Niles? Przybylo: We will make mandatory ethics training for all Village employees and elected officials, and we will maintain ethical standards by appointing an independent inspector general. Hanusiak: The Blase scandal is receding into the past, as rightly it should.Amen! We have more important things

to consider in Niles.The Responsible Leadership for Niles Party has always been about honest and open government. It is interesting that among the four of us, while we have both agreed and disagreed with each other over other issues in the past, we came together in the last two years as we realized a lot of the reforms we wanted were being blocked and ignored.That united us into a team which vowed to end this unnecessary impasse. We supported the televised meetings; fought so resident comments could be made at every public meeting, and pushed for complete disclosure of all public expenditures and the like.We want to strengthen the current ethics policies so that they are perfectly clear to everyone.

If elected, will you be a full-time mayor or will you also be working the job you currently hold outside of government? Why or why not? Hanusiak: I own a business here in Niles so I am able to get to the village hall or senior center or wherever to attend public functions. I do not send “deputies” or “representatives” in my place. I sought the position of trustee knowing that it required a sacrifice of time. I do not have, nor do I want, any political job. I love owning a business, and my family is supportive of the things I do for the village.The position of mayor is not a full-time

Niles New Party calls for performance management in Niles Andrew Przybylo, candidate for Mayor on the Niles New Party ticket along with Trustee Candidates George “Kappy’s” Alpogianis, John Jecket and Danette O’Donovan Matyas, is calling for applying Performance Management in all of Niles government offices when elected. “Performance Management is all about Village Department Heads,” Przybylo said. “Each and every person must adhere to

the rules and regulations we will have so that each department is run efficiently and effectively.” Przybylo said he has learned a lot from watching Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinckle apply the system to county government. “It’s all about metrics,” he said. “Procedures must take place in a certain amount of time and sufficient follow up must be done on each and every issue.,” he said.

employment job. It is a position which requires some hours of duty, but the amount of time is determined by the mayor. We don’t have a full-time mayor because we have a full-time village manager and other such supervisors. Przybylo: I will significantly cut back my responsibility to the family business. For my Mayoral duties, I will appoint an official Vice-Mayor to help at celebratory events and as acting chair at Village Board meetings if necessary. Furthermore, I will create six standing committees and appoint a trustee as chairperson of each committee.

What are your ideas about ways to balance keeping Niles affordable and attractive for families of all income levels while also attracting more businesses and industry? Przybylo: We will work very diligently with the new Economic Development person in Niles and use all the programs available to us on the local, state and federal levels to create a better business environment and will seek to lower property taxes while maintaining mandatory services. Finally, we will invigorate the neighborhoods by creating an identity with street lights and signage and we will sponsor block parties and bring back the Welcome Wagon for new residents.

Hanusiak: Niles is an attractive place to live for reasons which are self-evident. We are geographically close to a large city which has employment opportunities and commercial services; proximity to a world-class airport, a functional public transportation system, recognized schools both public and private, a comprehensive library system, a full-service park district, hundreds of stores, a low crime rate, and the list goes on.The Village of Niles government represents only about 6 percent of the total tax bill resident receive. Niles is an affordable place to live in terms of home prices. However, those values are set by the “market” and, as we have experienced in the last few years, by the mortgage industry. Our village can generally affect affordability in terms of zoning requirements. It is not uncommon for a prospective resident to purchase an older property, raze the building and construct a totally new home. Their decisions are based upon their pocketbooks. People should also remember that the Cook County Assessor sets the assessments for the properties and from that value the tax rates are computed by and for the various taxing bodies which can claim our dollars. Attracting business and industry also fits into the “market” model. For those commercial entities which want to relocate to Niles, open for the first time, or

request tax incentives, we have to have a systematic and fair process as I described above. Sometimes people get things a tad bit confused. During a board meeting on tax incentives I questioned a possibility that for 6B incentives, businesses might put five thousand dollars in a sort of escrow account from which the village would withdraw village investigative expenses just as other suburbs do. Bang! The next day I was accused of being anti-business because I wanted to “charge” a business five thousand just to apply! People need to understand that there is a lot which goes into evaluating applications; that’s why municipalities require such escrow accounts.The Responsible Leadership for Niles Party is committed to straightening out this before the applications come to the board for approval.

What are your ideas on how to handle term limits after the April 9 election? Hanusiak: Plain and simplefollow the law. It is obvious that one of the two term limit referenda will pass. It is then the law. Period.The Responsible Leadership for Niles Party wants terms limits and will not challenge the law. Przybylo: There isn’t an issue until we see what ordinances on the ballot shall be enacted.

Police Blotter

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

The following items were compiled from the official reports of the Morton Grove, Niles, and Park Ridge Police Departments. Appearing in the police blotter does not constitute a finding of guilt, only a court of law can make that determination.

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Niles

Marshall Carly, 37, of the 8600 block of W. Berwyn, Chicago, was arrested on March 8 on the 7900 block of Milwaukee for DUI.

Billy R. Hazelwood, 52, of the 60 block of N. Broadway, Des Plaines, was arrested March 8 on the 7100 block of Milwaukee for two counts of DUI and one count of DUI/Drugs.

1 7

Jesse J. Charchut, 20, of the 8600 block of Stolting, Niles, was arrested March 9 on the 8600 block of Greenwood for two counts of DUI.

2 6

Alejandro Ruiz, 33, of the 3400 block of N. Lincoln, Chicago, was arrested March 11 on the 8000 block of Elmore for DUI.

Tina Zamora, 34, of the 3000 block of N. Sawyer, Chicago, was arrested March 11 on the 9300 block of Milwaukee for driving with a suspended DL.

Steve Stanojevic, 56, of the 8500 block of N. Oketo, Niles, was arrested March 12 on the 7100 block of Milwaukee for two counts of DUI.

Robert Zimolag, 41, of the 8800 block of Belleforte, Morton Grove, was arrested March 12 at the intersection of Harvard and Harlem for two counts of DUI and driving with a suspended DL.

Park Ridge

Improper Turn.

Cannabis.

Jozef Paciora, 49, of the 300 block of Lawn Ln., Des Plaines, was arrested on March 8 at the intersection of Devon & Crescent for Improper Lane Usage and DUI.

Randy Mattis, 45 yrs, of the 5400 block of N. East River Rd., Chicago, was arrested March 10 on the 5400 block of N. East River Rd., Chicago for DUIDrugs, Improper Lane Usage, and Possession of Cannabis.

Jeffrey Levin, 53, of the 7300 block of N. Damen, Chicago, was arrested Feb. 15 on the 5600 block of Old Orchard Rd. for Residential Burglary.

Manuel Gonzalez, 20, of the 9000 block of N. Clifton, Niles, was arrested March 9 at the intersection of Ballard & Parkside for driving without a DL and Improper Overtaking.

Neri Venteria, F/W, 36, of the 8200 block of Elizabeth, Niles, was arrested March 7 on the 2600 block of Dempster for driving without a valid DL and

Ruiz, 21, of the 2700 12 Arnold block of N. New England, Chicago, was arrested March 9 at the intersection of the I-90 Ramp & Cumberland for Possession of

Morton Grove Marilyn R. Torres, 21, of Chicago was arrested March 6 for Retail Theft.

Aixa A. Rios, 22, of Chicago, was arrested March 6 for Retail Theft.

Thomas M. Holton, 61, of Morton Grove was arrested March 7 for Retail Theft.

Edgar R. Mendiola, 30, of Cicero was arrested March 7 for DUI.Roxana Villalobos, 27, of Bellwood was arrested March 7 for Aggravated DUI.

Roque, 41, of 18 Santiago Rosemont was arrested March 7 for driving with a suspended DL. Robert M. Ponarelli, 24, of Evanston was arrested March 8 for driving with a suspended DL.

Lizethe B. Sasco, 21, of Morton Grove was arrested March 8 due to a FTA Warrant from failing to appear in court.

Donta L. Anderson, 31, of Chicago was arrested March 8 driving with a suspended DL.

Batzorig Altangerel, 41, of Skokie was arrested March 8 for Felony DUI.

Mikaela Snyder,of Glenview was arrested March 9 for Retail Theft.

Uriel Ramirez, 31, of Niles was arrested March 9 for Retail Theft.

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

Mayoral candidate accused of politicking on village time at Niles board meeting By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter

At a March 12 Niles village board meeting, one trustee running for mayor was accused by another trustee of using village board time to campaign for office. Trustee Andrew Przybylo, who is running for mayor under the New Niles Party slate, scheduled an informal consideration of a presentation on Cook County’s STAR system of performance management for March 12’s meeting agenda. During board meetings, informal considerations are used for the board to learn more about a topic, program or grievance. However the board does not vote on these considerations. Przybylo has talked about his interest in implementing Cook County’s STAR system as one of the reasons he should be elected mayor of Niles, even releasing a New Niles Party press release March 11 where he praised the system and called for applying it to all of Niles’ government offices when he is elected mayor. Because of this, during the March 12 meeting, Trustee Rosemary Palicki said she believed Przybylo was using board meeting time to campaign.

She said it was inappropriate, unethical and even possibly illegal. Przybylo responded that he believed bringing up the system at the meeting would be a good opportunity to discuss it. And while Trustee Jim Hynes said he thought the system was an interesting, professional program, he said it was not the time and place for it to be presented. “[Przybylo’s] party is using this as a platform,” said Hynes. “It’s grossly inappropriate.”

Callero not running On April 9, Niles will hold elections for mayor and trustees. Mayor Robert Callero has chosen to not run for re-election and has endorsed Przybylo and his slate of candidates. Palicki is not up for reelection in April. During the meeting, Palicki spoke to the Cook County official there to present the system, telling him he was caught in the middle of this and apologized for it. “I thought maybe this was my last great opportunity, because I have no idea what’s going to happen next month,” said Przybylo about scheduling the presentation. He then stood from

his seat and began addressing the audience present, adding that he thought they should not be discussing why performance management was being presented at the meeting and instead discuss why Trustees Hanusiak, the other candidate running for mayor, and trustees Preston and Palicki have not presented anything of “substance” over the previous four months. “I submit because they have not much to offer,” said Przybylo to the audience seated at the board meeting. Palicki then challenged Callero’s decision to allow political campaigning at the board meeting as unethical and possibly illegal, but when the village attorney was asked for a legal opinion he did not make one publicly.As of press time the village attorney has not commented on the matter. “If a candidate wants to present a new idea for implementation or consideration, it can be done in a candidates’ debate, in a newspaper article or in literature distributed to residents,” said Palicki in an open letter March 14.“Never should a scheduled meeting of the Village Board of Trustees be hijacked and used for getting a campaign message out to the voters.”

Hair salon bandit pleads not guilty By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter

The Evanston man alleged to be the “Hair Salon Bandit” pleaded not guilty to five counts of armed robbery at the Cook County Circuit Court in Skokie March 8. Jason B. Logsdon, 41, is believed to be the man behind a robbing spree in Cook County of hair salons between Dec. 6 and Feb. 4. His appearance on March 8 in Skokie is only for the crimes he was charged with in Cook County, specifically in Skokie, Morton Grove and Niles. Logsdon faces other charges in Chicago and DuPage County and will need to go to court in each jurisdiction to file his plea. In total, Logsdon is facing 15 counts of armed robbery, a class X felony, which has a sentencing range of six to 30 years prison. Logsdon was arrested in February, hours after a robbery at a Wicker Park hair salon where a witness was able to provide a license plate number of the vehicle alleged to be used in the robbery to police. According to officials, Logsdon was alleged to have used a BB gun in the robberies and was able to walk away with between $100 and $800 in each robbery he is accused of. His next court date is April 11.

Calendar

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

MARCH 20 Sports Time at the Teen Center. 4:00 pm. Niles Teen Center, 373 Golf Mill Ctr, Niles. From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. weather permitting, the Teen Center staff will set up organized outdoor games at Golf Mill Park. Games may include basketball, soccer, or flag football.

MARCH 21 Green Thumbs. 4:00 pm. Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove. Drop in and explore what’s growing at the Library! Each week will feature a different activity or hands-on demonstration. Meets on the YS patio. Park District Board Meeting. 6:00 pm. Morton Grove Park District, 6834 Dempster St, Morton Grove. Renovated in 1996, the Morton Grove Park District is a large facility for community events and recreation. The district oversees 14 parks with a total of 67 acres of land in Morton Grove. There is a 5,000 squarefoot fitness club with equipment for cardio and fitness, as well as outdoor space for exercise. The building provides multipurpose meeting rooms for the community. In addition, the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation (MNASR) is located on the second floor.

MARCH 22 Sports Time at the Teen Center. 4:00 pm. Niles Teen Center, 373 Golf Mill Ctr, Niles. From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. weather permitting, the Teen Center staff will set up organized outdoor games at Golf Mill Park. Games may include basketball, soccer, or flag football. FREE MOCK EXAM. 1838 Waukegan Rd, Glenview. For any high school student who wishes to use the service from now until June 1st. To take advantage of this opportunity, call a day in advance with the specifications of your testing needs.This is just in case you want to take only certain portions of the test. The heads up is a way for us to pull the needed material and reserve our testing room for your test! Free. http://www.ilearna cademy.net. Phone 847834-0791 Email s b o z a r t h @ ilearnacademy.net.

MARCH 23 FREE MOCK EXAM. 1838 Waukegan Rd, Glenview. For any high school student who wishes

to use the service from now until June 1st. To take advantage of this opportunity, call a day in advance with the specifications of your testing needs.This is just in case you want to take only certain portions of the test. The heads up is a way for us to pull the needed material and reserve our testing room for your test! Free. http://www.ilearna cademy.net. Phone 847834-0791 Email s b o z a r t h @ ilearnacademy.net. Spring Egg Scramble. 9:30 am. Golf View Recreation Center, 7800 N Caldwell Ave, Niles. Bunny will scatter eggs filled with lots of goodies. Remember to bring a basket to collect your eggs. All pre-registered children will receive a goodie bag. There will be refreshments for all to enjoy. Scramble is for children ages 1-8. $8.00 Breakfast with the bunny. 10am – 11am. Golf Mill Shopping Center. Enjoy a warm French toast breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Golf Mill Café. $6 per ticket. Rick Lindy & the Wild Ones. 9:00 pm. Chambers Seafood Grill & Chop House, 6881 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles. Members of “The Wild Ones” live up to their name. With upbeat music and a charismatic group, the band offers to take listeners to “the wild side of town.”The band started in 2000, when lead singer Rick Lindy decided to start his own rock-a-billy band. Today, the group consists of Lindy, Joe Smith on drums, Dave Eliot on guitar, Eric T. Stoliker on bass, and the newest addition, Gary Bloom on the keyboard. $8.95

MARCH 24 Gale Gand’s Brunch. 2:00 pm. Niles Public Library, 6960 W Oakton St, Niles. Chef Gale Gand, James Beard Award winner and founding pastry chef and partner of the 4 star restaurant Tru, known for her humor and unique style of teaching cooking, will share stories and demonstrate a few dishes from her latest cook book, Gale Gand’s Brunch, helping you to create the perfect brunch. A book signing will follow the presentation. Register by calling 847-663-1234 or online at nileslibrary.org/calendar. Celebrate the Year of Snake. 20 S Prospect Ave, Park Ridge. A glimpse into Chinese culture featuring Guzheng zither

music, a Chinese calligraphy demonstration and a lecture on the Shen Yun performing arts. The event is presented by Shen Yun Show Chicago, a nonprofit organization that seeks to revive traditional Chinese culture and is free of charge. To Register, please contact Angela Moy moy.angela1@gmail.com or call 847-920-8828. Dave & Donna. 5:00 pm. Chambers Seafood Grill & Chop House, 6881 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles. Dave has played professionally since he was 16. He was classically trained and heavily influenced by the blues. He has worked with icons such as Luther Allison, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Pearl Jam, and The Cryin’ Shames. Dave went on a ten year tour across the globe with Otis Rush and plays key board as well as sings. Donna has been a professional singer since the age of 17. She began her career in theatre and starred in such productions as Jesus Christ Superstar, Music Man, and Evita. She also can be heard in a variety of television and radio jingles. Her hit “Sweet Holiday” has had wide air play and earned her a record deal with a Chicago label and Sony Records in Canada.

MARCH 25 Culver’s of Morton Grove presents Kid’s Night. 6:00 pm. Culver’s, 7310 W Dempster St, Morton Grove. Culver’s of Morton Grove Kids Night takes place every Monday from 6pm9pm. Bring the family, have a delicious meal, let your kids have fun with Scoopie and don’t forget to take advantage of the kids special. $1 OFF Kids Meals. $3.99 Kickboxing Class. 5:45 pm. Morton Grove Park District,6834 Dempster St, Morton Grove. The Morton Grove Park District now offers a Kickboxing class. Cost is $60 each 6 week session. Niles Sister Cities Meeting. 6:00 pm. Niles Public Library, 6960 W Oakton St, Niles. All residents are invited to partake in the re-energizing of the Niles Sister Cities program. Let’s build a bright future. Come ready to discuss ideas.

MARCH 26 FREE MOCK EXAM. 1838 Waukegan Rd, Glenview. For any

high school student who wishes to use the service from now until June 1st. To take advantage of this opportunity, call a day in advance with the specifications of your testing needs.This is just in case you want to take only certain portions of the test. The heads up is a way for us to pull the needed material and reserve our testing room for your test! Free. http://www.ilearna cademy.net. Phone 847834-0791 Email s b o z a r t h @ ilearnacademy.net.

MARCH 27 Connie Marshall & Johnny Gabor. 6:30 pm. Chambers Seafood Grill & Chop House, 6881 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles. When not performing or creatively putting together new material for the shows, Connie channels her talents into the recording studio. She has recorded three CD’s entitled, “Connie Marshall - At Last”, “Sway”, and “Inspired”. She was also featured as a vocalist on Frank Pellico’s CD and James Fernandez invited her to sing all of his “original compositions” on his CD. An educational CD for students grades 4 through 8, featured Connie singing songs in Spanish and English. $8.95

MARCH 28 Job Seeker Workshop. 9:30 am. Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove. This workshop is provided by employment coaches from Illinois WorkNet. (For more information about Illinois WorkNet,call 847-448-8647 or go to www.illinoisworknet.com.) The morning sessions focus on resumes,cover letters,and online applications. The afternoon focuses on interviewing with a practice session. To register for this workshop, call MGPL at 847-929-5101 or go to calendar. mgpl.org and register online. Chris McBrien Comedian Ventriloquist Extraordinaire. 2:00 pm. Niles Public Library, 6960 W Oakton St, Niles. Come to Niles Library for some side splitting laughs as Chris McBrien delivers his hilarious family friendly stand up comedy routine. This Spring Break comedy is sure to bring down the house! Pick up your free tickets at the Youth Services Desk 30 minutes ahead of time, space is limited. Caregivers need to stay in the room with children grades K-2.

ONGOING Win 2 two tickets to see the

Blackhawks. All day. Golf Mill Shopping Center. Stop by the center court for your chance to win 2 Chicago Blackhawks tickets and free parking. Tickets available from now to April 14. TOPS. 5-7 p.m. every Monday at the Niles Park District Howard Leisure Center, 6676 W. Howard Street, Niles. This not-for-profit weight loss organization meets every Monday. Visitors are welcome. For more information contact Sandie at 847-691-7122. FISH Seeking Volunteers. Due to the economy, FISH is experiencing over a 40 percent rise in ridership. It is straining both the volunteer service level and budget. Since 1971, FISH volunteers have been serving Park Ridge and Maine Township residents by providing free rides to medical appointments. To continue to provide a high level of service to all residents of Maine Township, FISH needs volunteers. Can you spare four hours per month to drive neighbors to medical appointments? To volunteer, call Ed Oken, President, 847 6960761. Meet US Rep Schakowsky’s Representative. 9 a.m. to noon at the Park Ridge Library.A member of U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky’s Evanston office will be at the library every Wednesday morning to answer your questions about government, health care, retirement issues, immigration visas, and anything else related to federal benefits. For more information, contact Ann Limjoco at 847-328-3409. Stroke Club. 3-4:30 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Center for Advanced Care, Room 1220, 1700 Luther Lane, Park Ridge. This is a free program for stroke victims and survivors (plus a guest). Free parking is available in the attached parking garage. For more information contact Meg Potterfield, 847723-4765 or Dorene Wlodarski, 847-296-2470. TOPS Club. 8:30-10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Feldman Rec Center, 8800 W. Kathy Lane, Niles. Lose weight with TOPS: Take Off Pounds Sensibly. Everyone is welcome. Call Dorene Wlodarski, 847296-2470 or Lenore Lunquist, 847-729-2530 for more information.

ForuM

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

Letter to the Editor

Guest Columnist

Responsible Party opposes favoritism

In the tax assessment game, the government always wins

The Responsible Leadership for Niles Party has taken a strong stand against political favoritism. Since the 1930s, Illinois prohibited village trustees and mayors from holding offices if they had a liquor license, prompted by the corruption of the Roaring Twenties. Mr. Przybylo became a trustee in 1989 and held a liquor license (based upon the scant records available) after the passing of his father in 1992. He should not have kept both. He now admits he did, because of all things, for a decade his business was “in transition.” Did he know he was violating the law by remaining a trustee? He said: “That’s when it became clear I had to have the law changed. My responsibilities and ownership was changing. I had to change the law or resign.” He didn’t resign. Starting in 2001, trustees could hold both. Andrew mulled over this dilemma for a decade but didn’t leave as

trustee as the law required. But he still couldn’t run for mayor. So back to his legislator friends who pushed on several occasions to change the law just for him, and they were successful in 2012 … just in time for the next Niles mayoral election. But … and there’s always a “but,” if he does serve as mayor and keeps his liquor license Niles is required by law to hire a lawyer (yes, that’s what the lawyer filled legislature demands) to do Andrew’s liquor control job, aided by the current deputy liquor commissioner (who gets $80,000 a year plus “bennies”) to watch 101 liquor licenses in Niles. The Responsible Leadership for Niles Party has a simple goal- end the favoritism and special treatment for politicians. Sometimes politicians think they are immune from the law and can just continue whatever they want in defiance of what the law says. Simple. Chris Hanusiak Niles

Opinions printed on this page, whether in Letters to the Editor or in columns or cartoons, are the opinions of the writer and not necessarily of this newspaper, its publishers, editor or employees. Only editorials reﬂect the views of the newspaper.

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uring the real estate downturn, people often wondered,“If my home value went down, why didn’t my tax bill go down as well?” In gambling there’s a rule – the house always wins. In taxing, the same rule applies – the government always wins. Years ago, there wasn’t a lick of sense in the assessment value and your true property value. Many homeowners felt they were getting away with something as they knew their house value was two or three times the amount the Assessor showed. Instead, the trick was on them.The difference in values stopped many people from ever fighting their tax assessment.They thought they’d get in trouble. A new law was passed that forced the Assessor to more accurately assess the value of properties in Illinois. So, the values got switched around, but the formula to calculate the

amount of taxes was changed as well meant that taxpayers didn’t see massive increases, at least not in proportion to their actual valuation. This caused people to be just as complacent as before.Then came the massive and sustained property dive with values plummeting 40 percent or more in some cases. Why didn’t tax bills fall 40 percent or by the amount your property value fall? Here’s how the system really works:The local taxing authorities place an order for tax monies.This is quite literally an order for money, just like you’d place an order for some product or service. If a local taxing authority needs $6 million or $60 million, they make that request by setting their budgets.The Assessor knows about how much they’ll need given their history, so there aren’t any big shocks or surprises. If they pass a tax increase to get more money, the Assessor will account for that and raise the assessment. If the rare tax reduction, debt

Illustrated Opinions

payoff or abatement occurs your tax amount will be lowered. Once the order for tax money is placed the Assessor’s most important job is to make sure the money is there.To do that, you need to make certain the Equalized Assessed Valuations are set just right. Then the tax multiplier does the rest, and you get a tax bill. So what happens when your property value falls, but government still needs the same amount of money? The EAV is adjusted to make certain the right amount of tax money is paid. Even if you fight your taxes and they are lowered, that lowered amount just gets spread across all the properties. Lately, the Assessor’s Office has been using every trick in the book to make certain your assessment isn’t lowered. Even the tax boards are in on the act. You could get an appraisal and still be denied because they start with the amount of taxes ordered and then they figure out the property values. Like a lot of things in Cook County the taxation doesn’t work forwards, but backwards.

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Honorees for the 2013 Niles of Night of Rose include (above left and clockwise) Teacher of the Year Richard Balentine, Business of the Year Niles Animal Hospital and Dr. Peter Sakas, and Citizen of the Year Chris Zalinski.

Niles Night of Roses Chamber to honor 12 who bloom with community spirit With an overwhelming response from the community for nominations, the Niles Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected the 2013 Niles Night of Roses – A Tribute to Home Grown Success award recipients. This event celebrates the achievements of twelve who go above and beyond. Join us to honor these deserving recipients on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the tenth annual Niles Night of Roses – A Tribute to Home Grown Success dinner held at the White Eagle Banquets. Companies that continue to support this event as sponsors include: Shure Incorporated, Stalwart Systems, Golf Mill Shopping Center, BMO Harris Bank, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Rich Products, Physicians Immediate Care, Assi Plaza and more. Invitations can be found in this edition of the Niles Bugle newspaper or for more information contact the Niles Chamber, 847-268-8180 or www. nileschamber.com. This year,the Bob Wordel Living Legend Award is presented to Norm Stranczek.A Niles resident, an engineer and an irreplaceable

gardener at Our Lady of Ransom, Stanczek leads one of the most responsive St. Vincent DePaul programs providing to the needy. And takes his compassion for others to Africa where he annually spends time to build a school and community in Tanzania. • Business of the Year: Niles Animal Hospital A local veterinarian who is kind and compassionate towards both his patients and their owners, highly regarded in his field, Dr. Peter Sakas cares for homeless animals, supports local rescues, and educates owners to best care for their pets. • Coach of the Year: Steve Greif Greif has coached wrestling for the past 13 years, challenging his athletes to build skills, maintain academics and strive for high performance, he always reminds his athletes “whatever you chose to do, be the best at it.” • Dynamic Parent Volunteer: Mary Krueger Krueger has been serving Culver School and the community for the past sixteen years, a hands-on volunteer Mary is always involved in the

“thankless” jobs that see the task through to completion. She is a volunteer for the Niles Baseball League, the Park District, Culver PTA, and serves as Culver School Board Secretary. • Fire Fighter Hot Spot: Brian Tull A teacher and mentor to other firefighters, Tull has been vital in recently saving two patients because of his quick thinking and decisive actions. He has a positive attitude, strong work ethic and unlimited patience to help others. • Ken Scheel Chamber Member of the Year: Krystyna Koda Owner and operator of Ridgewood Gardens, Koda has built a successful flower shop in Niles over the past 20 years and her extreme generosity has supported many local causes and community organizations in that pursuit. • Niles Citizen of the Year: Chris Zalinski An active parishioner at St.John Brebeuf, Zalinski has volunteered his time and the resources of his local landscaping business to maintain the Niles rain gardens and has been instrumental in the

Village’s recycling program. He has given countless hours to the SJB gala and other fundraisers for the school and parish. • Niles Golden Senior: Lucille Kozanecki A 55 year resident of Niles, Kozanecki is an inspiration to many, including homebound seniors and the illiterate seniors she helps. She works daily to give back to her community and bridges the generation gap to share her experiences with young people. Police Officer Special Agent: Roy Balsamo Officer Balsamo has received numerous Department Commendations and distinguishing letters from citizens throughout his career for his dedication, initiative, leadership and professionalism. He has been described as having an “outstanding level of concern for others, and invaluable kindness.” • Teacher of the Year: Richard Balentine The Department Chair for Religious Studies at Notre Dame College Prep, Balentine inspires students outside the classroom. He takes students to build

houses for Habitat for Humanity, and coordinated trips to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. One parent states, that because of Balentine, “students discover skills they never knew they had, along with an eagerness to serve others in need.” • Unsung Worker “Not Enough Hours in the Day”: Mark Williams Williams took a failing teen center, oversaw its move to the mall, built its membership and later its expansion. Now, the growing center encourages teens to participate and work with each other. Mark has built a sense of belonging and keeps teens engaged and active. He has secured grants, donations and continues to engage members of the community to strengthen the teen center. • Youth of the Year: Melissa Anderson A 16-year-old high school student, Melissa excels at academics, has a positive attitude, and is active in her school and church. She is a Girl Scout, alter server, and has received awards for leadership. She is an inspiration and a role model.

News Community Briefs D207 hires consulting group to address hazing In response to the ongoing allegations of hazing and bullying, Maine Township High School District 207 has hired a consulting company to lead focus groups on such behavior. Community Matters will be leading group exercises designed to teach kids and adults to speak up when they see intolerance or incivility in the form of bullying and hazing. Previously six Varsity boys’ soccer team players have been charged with hazing underclassman as part of initiation and since then two soccer coaches alleged to have known about it have been fired.

Skokie to offer electronics recycling The Village of Skokie has planned a recycling day for electronics recycling for

April 7 at Niles North High School, located 9800 N Lawler Avenue. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m people can being electronics like computers (desktops, notebooks, tablets), computer monitors, printers, cable receiver, computer cable, converter boxes, DVD players, fax machines, keyboards, mice, mobile telephones, MP3 players, PDAs, satellite receivers, scanners, televisions, video game consoles, VHS players, and zip drives to be recycled. Under the Illinois Product Recycling and Reuse Act these items are prohibited from being thrown in the trash.

New restaurant opens in Niles EuroPlate new restaurant in Niles that features homemade style Polish and Eastern European cuisine which includes stuffed cabbage, breaded pork, chicken cutlets, pierogi, Polish sausage and

Hungarian goulash with a potato pancake and sour cream. In addition to dining in EuroPlate can also handle carry out and catering. Hours are Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Niles West students going to Science Expo Niles West High School seniors Felicia Phan and Patrick Liscio are set to compete at the Illinois Junior Academy of Science State Expo in the spring. Students can head to the state expo only after winning the district’s science and engineering fair last earlier in the month.The state event will be held May 3 and May 4 in University of Illinois’s Urbana campus.

Debate team from Niles North wins tournament The Niles North High School Debate Team was in

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013 competition at the Illinois Debate Coaches Association Novice/JV State Tournament the week of March 4. Sophomore D’Angelo Oberto was named Top Speaker out of 74 students the Junior Varsity division and won a scholarship to a summer debate institute. Oberto plans on going to the seven-week Hoya-Spartan Scholars Institute, where he will spend three weeks at Georgetown University and four weeks at Michigan State University. Students Leelabari Fulbel was named sixth speaker, Luc Walkington was named 11th speaker and Ambria Benesch was named 14thspeaker. With the conclusion of the tournament students form Niles North High School finished the tournament with a 3-2 preliminary record.

Oakton lowers adjunct faculty hours Oakton Community College is beginning to lower the number of hours an adjunct teaches in order to avoid playing their health care benefits. Employers

with at least 50 full-time equivalent employees will be required to offer health care to those who work 31 hours or more per week Under the Affordable Care Act.This is expected to begin in 2014 and as such Oakton adjuncts are being assigned no more than 21 learning hour equivalents in 2013 to avoid them being listed as full-time employees by the IRS. Additionally Oakton trustees are also considering a tuition increase, which will be voted on in the Spring.

Maine East, Rotary launches service club Maine East partnered with the Park Ridge Rotary club to establish the the new Maine East High School Rotary-Interact club this past January. Advisor John Schwan emphasized the value of a service club like Rotary Interact at Maine East, where RotaryInteract has brought change by becoming East’s first club established solely on service and the value of giving back and helping people in need.

taKe 5

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

C ro s s w o rd P u z z l e

Across

Down

1 Dollar bill weight, roughly 5 Dey job? 10 __ Stream 14 San __ 15 Silly 16 Adidas alternative 17 From the top 18 Blanche __, pseudonymous author of the 1983 best-seller “Truly Tasteless Jokes” 19 “No ice, please” 20 questions 23 Terhune collie 24 Annual sign of bad behavior? 25 “Alice” singer Lavigne 28 Orator’s vocal quality 33 Sacramento daily 34 Sched. B item on a 1040 35 High point of an Alaskan trip? 36 hours 40 Seven-time N.L. batting champ 41 Storm dir.

42 They lead to an F 43 Six-pack abs? 45 Seat of Colorado’s Pitkin County 47 TriBeCa neighbor 48 Blueprint subject, perhaps 49 ers 57 Frankfurt’s river 58 Phils, e.g. 59 Deception 60 ‘70s pinup name 61 Beneficiary 62 Its state bird is the cardinal 63 2-Down unit 64 Fixes 65 Place to cross, on signs

1 Seles rival 2 Eye care brand 3 Flock response 4 “The Jungle Book” boy 5 Dug, so to speak 6 Heart lead singer Wilson et al. 7 Where kip are spent 8 Silliness 9 Party pooper 10 Underworld 11 Where the iris is 12 Neeson who voiced Aslan in the “Narnia” movies 13 You may have a brush with it 21 It merged with Continental in 2010: Abbr. 22 Swindler, in slang 25 Trinity test subject 26 Locale 27 Maker of pieces? 28 Genetic letters 29 One of the convicted Rosenberg spies

30 Image Awards org. 31 1930s public enemy 32 NFL Network sportscaster Rich 34 Devil’s tools, metaphorically 37 Touchdown site 38 Big shot 39 More than zero 44 Walk bouncily 45 Modeled after 46 Sneaky devil 48 “It’s nobody __ business” 49 Go out 50 Nose wrinkler 51 Sommelier’s prefix 52 Singer Horne 53 Hunted 54 Pre-coll. catchall 55 Shower in public? 56 Urban miasma

H o ro s c o p e s First come, first served. St. Patrick’s Day gives you an excuse to drink green beer or hunt for four leaf clovers. Even without a lucky charm, you could be lucky in love or money in the upcoming week.

Do exactly what you agreed to do and honor meaningful commitments in the week ahead. Being true blue and dependable is the best way to maintain your reputation and pleasant working relationships.

You won’t need to have the best of everything if you make the best of everything this week. You may get a chance to wear green for St. Patrick’s Day, but aren’t in much danger of becoming green with envy.

Rely on intuition to follow a carefree path. Float along on inspiration, while others struggle along on the hard cold ground. This is a week when you can make your dreams come true if you let go of hang-ups.

In the upcoming week, use the litmus test to see who is true blue and devoted to you. Achieve harmony by presenting a united front and keeping romance alive. You and a partner will be on the same wavelength.

A leprechaun’s pot of gold is within your reach. When you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, the rock may be the Blarney Stone and offer you a way out by using your charismatic appeal.

“When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” you could be swept away by a hot new office romance. In the week to come, you might be the center of attention when praise or promotions are passed around at work.

The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but it is also the color to wear today. You can enjoy and share in other people’s success in the upcoming week without discarding your own habitat.

Your impishness sometimes appears when you get a chance to improvise. In the week ahead, you will find that your practical jokes and a devil-maycare attitude receive a warm reception.

Get buttered up, buttercup. Someone in the immediate vicinity may seem to have kissed the Blarney Stone and you could receive more than your fair share of flattery. Enjoy praise in the week ahead.

Stick close to hearth and home in the week ahead, giving all your devotion to those you can depend upon and trust. A friend could give you a tip about something worthwhile if you follow through.

Partners can take a trip through paradise. If you have love and affection on your mind, or a job offer on the table, the first part of the week could offer a chance to make some of your dreams come true.

Sudoku

J umble

Tribune Media Services 2013

Previous puzzle ’s answers

Previous puzzle ’s answers Jumbles: • BRAWL • FEIGN • NUDISM • DAMPEN

Answer:

When the couple couldn’t afford a vacation, they let their -- MINDS “WANDER”

INSIDE: North girls all-stars fall to South, page 13; Resurrection’s Ruehl competes at state in three-point contest, page 15

www.nilesbugle.com

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

North all-stars claim first victory By Mark Gregory Sports Reporter

Reavis Photo/www.reavisphoto.com

Maine South’s Danny Quinn goes up for a basket in the North all-stars’ 121-69 win over the South.

Normally at the end of a 12169 basketball game, the losing team would be walking out of the gym upset with their heads down. That was not the case on St. Patrick’s Day at the University of St. Francis when the North team defeated the South squad by 52 points at the fifth annual Voyager Media Prep Shootout. “It was really fun,” said Joliet Central’s Jalen Heath, who had five points for the South. “This was an all-star game. We are supposed to be out here having fun no matter what. We were shooting a lot of threes early on and they were going to the rim.” The win was the first for the North team in Prep Shootout history. The North squad was led by Bolingbrook’s Ben Moore, who tallied a game-high 27 points.The total earned Moore the game’s Most Valuable Player Award. “This was a really good experience out here,” said Moore, who was asked to sign autographs and take photos with fans after the game. “We just got out there and pushed the ball up the floor and the guards were getting us the ball where we could have fun. They were really getting into the game.” After a basket by Joliet West’s Morris Dunnigan opened the scoring for the game and gave the South the 2-0 advantage, North went on an 11-0 run, thanks to a three by Downers Grove North’s Nick Norton (9 points) and a couple of baskets from Westmont’s Jean Pietrzak. “It was a lot of fun out here,” Dunnigan said. “It was about everybody getting to shine. It was kind of like the NBA out there with not a lot of defense

getting played.” The South battled back and a lay-in from Dunnigan cut the lead to 29-21, but that was followed by the first of five rim-rattling dunks from Bolingbrook’s Kendall Guyton (17 points) to go back ahead by nine. “It was great to get out with all the guys and go out there and have fun,” Guyton said. “This is my kind of game (being a dunker), so it was all about having a good time. All the guys were real unselfish. It was almost to the point where guys were passing too much.” The North team would then close the half outscoring the South 23-11 to take the 53-32 lead at the intermission. The North then jumped out to a 9-0 run to open the second half thanks to a pair of threes from Notre Dame’s Justin Halloran (8 points). “It was fun. It’s not like a regular game; the score’s going to be really high, just up and down. Everybody’s just trying to have fun,” Halloran said.“It made me realize I was playing my last high school game, but it was fun. It was good to go out with a win. It was just a fun day.” The game was full of highlight reel plays, several coming on dunks by Moore and Guyton set up by Donte Scooter Stephenson, one of the true point guards on the squad. “It felt really good out there. I know who (Moore) is so I knew I was going to be able to throw him some lobs,” said Stephenson, who posted eight points of his own. “Before the game we were doing some lobs with him and his teammate (Guyton). It was a great experience. It was a great atmosphere, playing with guys and being to be able to do some See VICTORY, page 15

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

Sports

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

South girls all-stars get revenge on North By Mike Sandrolini Sports Reporter

Plainfield East’s Gabby Williams’ performance for the South all-star team in the fifth annual Voyager Media Prep Shootout was one of the best the event has seen. Williams went strong to the basket throughout the matchup to score a bulk of her game-high 24 points, leading the South to a 62-47 victory over the North at St. Francis University’s Sullivan Center. “I know I normally play post all the time, so I wanted to mix some things up and try some new things and it worked out in the end,” Williams said. “It was a good night. This is a one-time thing, so for me to win MVP is really good.” Williams’ Bengal teammate, Nikia Edom, contributed 12 points as the South led throughout, grabbing a 9-2 lead at the outset and never looking back. Williams extended the South’s advantage to 28-13 late in the first half with a layup.The South led 30-18 at intermission.

Reavis Photo/www.reavisphoto.com

Resurrection’s Alyssa Ruehl scored eight points for the North squad in the loss to the South.

Earlier in the game, the North trimmed the South’s lead to four points, 11-7, following a three-pointer and layup from Bolingbrook’s Kamari Jordan, who tallied nine points. But that ended up being as close as the North would get. The South went on an 11-2 run from there to open up a 22-9 advantage. Jordan combined with her Bolingbrook teammates, Kennedy Cattenhead and Shay Robinson, to score 33 of the North’s 47 points. Cattenhead, a University of Illinois recruit, topped the North with a 15-point effort, and Robinson netted nine. The North featured two of the state’s best three-point shooters in Jordan—who won this year’s Class 4A Three-Point Showdown—and Resurrection’s Alyssa Ruehl, who placed fifth in the contest. Ruehl connected on two shots from beyond the arc early in the second half and ended up with eight points. “It was really fun,” Ruehl See REVENGE, page 14

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

Sports REVENGE Continued from page 13 said. “I played basketball with Kennedy from fifth to seventh grade with the (Chicago Hoop Express) Flash (an AAU team for fourth- through eighthgraders).” Ruehl will be attending the University of Kansas later this fall, but the all-star game marked the last time she put on a Bandits’ uniform and plays competitive basketball. Ruehl reflected on the Bandits’ 1911 season during which they advanced to the sectional semifinals. “Our season was awesome,” she said. “We just had fun with it; we worked hard and got as far as we could.” Ruehl and Claire Raphael of Maine South teamed up in the backcourt for the North periodically throughout the game. The Hawks finished 27-6 and eliminated the Bandits in the semis. Raphael said she was familiar with some of the Bolingbrook players who were her teammates for the evening because the Hawks and Raiders

both advanced to the 2011 Class 4A state finals in Peoria. The Raiders won the 4A crown that year. “It was pretty cool to play with some of the Bolingbrook girls because when we went downstate, we saw them,” said Raphael, who is playing defensive center-mid this spring for the Maine South girls’ soccer team. “The game was awesome. It’s definitely an experience I’ll never forget; it’s pretty cool to play with some of the top players of different teams.” Coaching the South team was Missy Mitidiero, Williams’ mentor at Plainfield East. Plainfield North teammates Carlie Corrigan (six points), an SIU-Carbondale recruit, and Illinois Wesleyan-bound Kaitlyn O’Boye also were part of the team. Nicole Pease (three points) represented Plainfield Central. Four members of the Lemont regional champion Romeoville Spartans also suited up for the South: Brianna Harris, Kiera Currie (committed to Gardner Webb University), Abby Smith (six points, McKendree University) and Angelica Osusky, who’ll be attending St. Francis.

Another St. Francis recruit, Minooka’s Larissa McLemmon, finished with seven points. Minooka’s Sydney Lilly also was on the North squad, as was Joliet Central’s Bernasia Fox, Joliet West’s Aaliyah Stepney and Joliet Catholic’s Mary Susan Rouse (St. Francis). Rounding out the North team was Brittany Dietz and Kirsten Zemke from Downers South,and Megan Seratt from Westmont, who had four points. “It was definitely different,” Seratt said.“I was really nervous at the beginning. There’s just a lot more speed and a lot more height so it was very different. It was really fun; I’m glad I got the opportunity. It was nice playing with the other girls, especially with other girls that will be going to universities to play.” “It’s kind of bittersweet,” said Zemke in reference to her prep basketball career coming to an end. “It’s a good way to end, though. It’s always fun to play with girls that offer this type of competition. The talent level (here) was awesome; it was a lot of fun.” Mark Gregory and Scott Taylor contributed to the story

Sports

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

Ruehl competes in state three-point showdown By Mike Sandrolini Sports Reporter

Alyssa Ruehl will put on her Resurrection High School uniform one last time on Sunday when she participates in the annual Voyager Media Prep Shootout 2013 Senior All-Star Game at the University of St. Francis in Joliet. But the senior guard also donned Resurrection’s crimsonand-white at Illinois State’s Redbird Arena as one of 32 finalists in the annual IHSA Class 4A Three-Point Showdown to determine the top three-point shooter in the state. The competition coincided with the Class 3A and 4A girls state championships. The 32 finalists were divided into four groups of eight. Ruehl, who was part of Group 4, competed on Feb. 28—the day before the 3A and 4A state semifinal games. Each finalist took 15 shots

VICTORY Continued from page 11 things you can’t really do in a normal game.” However, the play of the game was not an alley-oop dunk or a deep three pointer, but a defensive play late in the first half. Joliet West’s Morris Dunnigan, who has arguably the Illinois high school play of the year with his dunk over Curie’s Cliff Alexander in the Pontiac Christmas Tournament, had an open lane to the rim and went up to posterize Pietrzak only to have the shot blocked. “He went up and I saw him and I said, ‘Aww I’m going to get dunked on if I contest (it),’” Pietrzak said. “But our coach before the game said, ‘If we play some defense we’ll win.’ So I stepped up and I thought for sure I was going to get dunked on, but I jumped and it ended up with me winning.” The South got the rebound and Dunnigan got some revenge, juking Pietrzak (14 points) off the dribble and hitting a runner in the lane. Dunnigan led the South squad with 19 points.

from beyond the three-point circle, shooting from either the top of the key, or the right and left wings. Ruehl hit seven shots at state, and although she didn’t make it to the finals, she ended up tied for fifth place overall. Initially, Ruehl thought she would be nervous once it was her turn to step onto the court because all eyes would be on her. But any nerves quickly went by the wayside when she started shooting. “It was kind of nerve wracking, everyone looking at me and watching me shoot,” she said. “But when you’re out there, it’s completely different. You’re focused and it’s just you and the basket.” Ruehl’s father, David; her mother, Val; her younger brother, Justin; her aunt Gerise; and her grandmother, Carol, made the trip downstate to watch her. Ruehl and three Resurrection teammates—senior Liz

Rehberger, junior Kate Moriarty and sophomore Taylor Farrell—all took part in ThreePoint Showdown regional competition. Ruehl advanced to sectionals after finishing among the top four in regionals, and secured a state berth when she again placed among the top four at sectionals. She hit 7 of 15 at the regionals, but had to win a shootout to make it to sectionals. At sectionals, Ruehl sank 8 of 15. “It was awesome,” Ruehl said. “I met a ton of other people from other areas of Illinois. It was really fun.” Ruehl, who started playing basketball in the third grade as a member of a travel league team that her father coached, will be attending the University of Kansas later this fall, majoring in elementary education. She plans to play intramural basketball at Kansas, but said her days of playing competitive basketball are over.

“It’s kind of sad,” she said, “but I look back and I’m very happy that I played basketball. It made me who I am.”

“Once he got the rebound I knew he was going to go right back at me,” Pietrzak said. Pietrzak, who will play football and probably basketball at the University of St. Francis, was the first boys player from Westmont to play in the Shootout, as they joined the Voyager coverage area last year. “It was great. I didn’t know what to expect coming here,” he said. “I didn’t know anyone, but when I was out on the floor everybody introduced themselves, everyone was cool, everyone knew everyone. It was a fun time.” Also added for the first time was Northridge Prep in Niles, a school added to the coverage area this season and James Stoll, who tallied five points in the game. “It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun to watch. It was what I expected, just good basketball up and down the floor,”said Stoll,who enjoyed his years at Northridge Prep. “I love this uniform (his high school uniform). I may never give it back.” Before the game, Joliet West’s Brandon McCullum was presented with the Jeremy Izzo CharacterAward.Named in honor of the late JCA head coach, the

award is presented annually to a senior who displays character, class and sportsmanship on and off the floor. “I always try and set an example for the younger kids,” McCullum said. “Especially for Griffin, coach (Luke) Yaklich’s son because I guess I am his role model, so I have to be a good role model to the young kids and the community.” McCullum tallied nine points in the game. Plainfield North’s Marcus Fair had six points, Plainfield Central’s Duvuan Goodlow had six, Plainfield Central’s Curtis Harrington added four, Romeoville’s Jimmy Moon had six, JCA’s Ryan Peter had two, Lockport’s David Robinson had three, Joliet West’s Carl Terrell had seven and Plainfield East’s Roger Taiting had two. “I hooped with a lot of these players before, so it was pretty fun to hoop with them for the last time,”Taiting said.“It was fun to put the Plainfield East jersey on for the last time. Their shots were going in and ours weren’t, and they were getting easy dunks. It’s an all-star game and you’re supposed to have fun, but they 50-pieced us. It was still a lot of fun to play with these guys.”

“They came out a little harder, ready to go,” Fair said. “We were trying to have a little more fun. We all had fun out here, so it was cool. It was fun playing with guys you played against during the season. It was cool to represent our schools. I tried to get my highlight, I hit a three.” Goodlow played with Moon at Romeoville last year. “I wanted to have fun because this was my last time playing with all the high school players,” Goodlow said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the moment because the season went by so fast. I still wish we were playing. I just wanted to let people do what they do out here. I wish we could have kept it a lot closer, but I was having fun, so it didn’t matter to me. I liked playing with Morris, he is an explosive player and I liked his style.” “I had a lot of fun,” Moon said. “I didn’t get the ball as much as I wanted to, but it was still a lot of fun. I was 2-for-2 for threes, so I guess it was a good night, 100 percent. It was my last time wearing a Spartan jersey, so I just wanted to come out and have fun.” For the victorious North, Benet’s Jack Toner scored three points, Benet’s Eddie Eshoo

BADMINTON Maine South opened its 2013 season by crushing Glenbrook North, 18-0. Meghan Salgia and Becca Klages, the Hawks’ No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, respectively, cruised to victories in their matches. Also winning at Nos. 3-6 were Natalie Michalski, Maddy Gaertner, Rinya Kamber and Bonnie Schultz. Picking up victories at Nos. 7-12 were Meg Guo, Sharon Shim, Mary McCann, Brenna, Bartkowicz, Abbey McAleer and Maggie Schmit. “I was very impressed with how well my girls played, showing a lot of the skills that we were working on in practice,” said Maine South coach Eve Muir-Wilson. “They did not look like ‘beginning of the season’ players, but ones who have

played for more than two weeks. It was nice to start the season off on a good note.” The Hawks continued their winning ways on Saturday by taking their own five-team invitational. Maine South tallied 31.7 points, while runner-up Elk Grove had 22.7 and third-place Conant 14.1. Maine South captured first place in Nos. 1-4 singles as Saliga, Klages, Gaertner and Sierra Ridge each recorded wins against foes from Conant, Zion-Benton, Elk Grove and Waukegan. Two Hawks doubles teams also were victorious. The No. 3 team of Schultz and McAleer, and the No. 4 team of Schmit and Kaia Parenti swept their four opponents en route to winning titles. The No. 2 team of Bartkowicz and Guo won three matches, and the No. 1 team of Michalski and Kamber took two matches. mike@buglenewspapers.com

posted five, Notre Dame’s Jake Maestranzi had three and Maine South’s Frank Dounis had eight. “It was a pretty good time,” Dounis said. “It was everyone’s senior year,one of their last games as a player. We came out here and had some fun and just had a good time. It’s really bittersweet (playing my last game). It’s hard thinking about it, but it’s one last time to put on the jersey before you put it away for good.” Downers Grove South’s Jordan Cannon was in double digits with 14. “It (the game) was amazing,” Cannon said. “I’m humbled to be here and it was a great experience to meet all these people from different schools. I’m ecstatic to be here. It was a great experience. We were having fun out there and I was just doing my part, doing as much as I could to get this win. “I have mixed emotions about (putting on my jersey for the last time). I put in so much sweat and tears, blood in this uniform, but I was glad to have the experience with my teammates. It was a good senior year and I’m glad with the way we ended. I met some wonderful people.” Scott Taylor and Mike Sandrolini contributed

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

www.buglenewspapers.com/madness

Last chance to register for Voyager Media contest Time has nearly run out to register for the Voyager Media Madness contest, sponsored this week by Five Star Fitness. The free contest will coincide with the NCAA Division I menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball tournament. Completed brackets, which must include a name, age and hometown, must be received by 11 a.m. Thursday, March 21. Entries are available at buglenewspapers.com/

madness If you do not sign in or do not have a Yahoo account, you will be prompted to register or sign The group ID # is 9063 and the group password is newspaper. Create a bracket that includes your first and last name, age and hometown. You must be able to verify you are at least 18 years of age to win a prize. Agree to the terms and

conditions, then check back Sunday evening to see all the brackets and make your picks. Points will be awarded for wins in each round. One point will be awarded for a win in the first round. The feed-in games will not count. Standings will be found online at buglenewspapers. com each week. Employees of Voyager Media are eligible to compete in the

competition, but are not eligible for prizes. Immediate familYou must be 18 years or older to participate and be online by 11 a.m. Thursday.

HOW TO REGISTER 1. Log on to www. buglenewspapers.com/ madness 2. Click on the Voyager Media Madness link.

3. If you do not have a Yahoo account, you will be prompted to create one during the registration. 4. The Group ID # is 9063. 5. The Group password is newspaper. 6. Create a bracket that includes your first and last name, age and hometown. Those who do not will be ineligible. 7. Agree to the terms and conditions.

Business & Real Estate

THE BUGLE MARCH 21, 2013

Motivational ‘espresso’ can take boredom out of job Q. I am bored out of my mind with my job. Don’t get me wrong; I’m grateful to have a job, but I’ve been doing the same thing for years and could do it in my sleep. How can you regain some enthusiasm for a job that you’ve been doing for years? A. There are no permanently boring jobs, but there are people who have jobs that keep themselves in a boring prison of their own making. If you are bored in your current job, pretend you are the CEO of the company. Ask yourself what else your

CEO might love for you to do, to learn to do, or to add to your job description if he or she got a vote. The trouble with boring jobs is we get good at them. We like doing things we’re good at and we stop thinking of other things we could do that might be interesting but might cause us to fail. Most of us have two speeds at work: scared and bored. When we are doing what we know and playing it safe, we feel bored. When we are taking risks and learning new things we feel

scared. On any given day you can chose either to feel scared or bored, the problem comes when you only pick bored. Bored people end up feeling like they are stuck in a version of the movie “Groundhog Day” populated by zombies. It may seem unfair that your only other option is to feel scared. However, consider the great explorers. Christopher Columbus, Lewis and Clarke, and Sir Francis Drake were definitely not bored; in fact, they risked sailing off the edge of their known worlds. I doubt any of these guys got up and contemplated another boring

day at the office. Next time you are so bored that even espresso isn’t waking you up, make a list of everything you are scared to do at work. Now cross reference this list with everything your CEO might be excited for you to try. Any item that is on both lists is an excellent place for you to start to make your work rewarding again. You can quietly and slowly start doing some of the items on your list. As you get results, you can even go in and formally pitch your boss on adding some of your new tasks to your formal job description. As you rekindle your interest

in your formerly “boring” job and expand your job description, you will set yourself up to get promoted to an even more interesting job. Promotions, raises and opportunities tend to come to the workplace explorers, not to the employees who only mindlessly perform their daily tasks. You can always choose to be bored when you need a vacation from risk taking, but at least you won’t feel trapped in a dead end job. Remember: apparent dead ends at work are often just secret passageways that require creativity to find the opening.

Motivating parents financially may be a lost cause Dear Dave, My parents are close to retirement and very heavily leveraged. Do you have any advice on how I can help motivate them to succeed financially? Jack Dear Jack, I appreciate your concern for your mom and dad, but I’m not sure you can motivate anyone to do something. Sometimes people don’t have motivation because they’ve lost hope. In turn, it’s that sense of hopelessness that keeps them from moving forward. I think in these situations the best you can do is to show them hope. And one of the best ways to do that is to share your own story. You can also examine the numbers with them to show that the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t always an oncoming train. I do this a lot with callers on my radio show. After we look at the pieces of the puzzle together, I might show them how they can pay off $50,000 of debt in a year’s time. Most of these people aren’t bankrupt; they’re just plain scared. So there’s a lot of power in that little word “hope.” Sit down with your parents and let them know how much you love them and want them to enjoy their retirement. See if you can find out how much income they have versus the amount of debt they’ve piled up, then begin to formulate a step-by-step plan. Show them how they can begin to get traction and free up their money by living on a budget and getting out of debt.You

can even offer to be their counselor or accountability partner. You want them to be safe and secure in their retirement, and they deserve some dignity after working hard all their lives. So, in my mind, hope is the best thing you can offer. Motivation is a different story. That has to come from within. You can’t really motivate the unmotivated. —Dave

No on rent-to-own Dear Dave, What do you think about rentto-own housing? I’m not sure we’re financially ready to buy yet, but we don’t like giving money to landlords. Is rent-toown a wise compromise? Mike Dear Mike, I wouldn’t recommend getting

mixed up in a rent-to-own situation. I don’t think it’s a wise compromise, and it’s also the kind of deal that works out well for the landlord, not the buyer. If you’re not financially ready to purchase a house,then you need to get your life in order before you take on a major commitment like becoming a homeowner. Get your debts paid off,

get an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses in place,and save up for a down payment of 20 percent. I know it’ll take some time and it might be difficult, but that’s what I’d recommend. Buying a home when you’re broke, or trying to trick the system with a rent-to-own deal, usually doesn’t work. I spent

a lot of time in the real estate business, and I still own several properties. I don’t do these deals because statistically the majority of people who rent to own never end up owning the property. Take my advice and go slow,Mike. When you buy a home, you want it to be a blessing, not a burden! —Dave

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Senior Style Niles Senior Center For a detailed description of programs & activities or to ask about membership or registration requirements, please check the Naturally Active Program Guides or call the Niles Senior Center at 5888420. Information about the Niles Senior Center can be found on the Village of Niles Website at www.vniles.com. Click on “Departments” (upper left), and then Click on “Senior” You can now see what’s new at the Senior Center. Advanced registration is required for programs. For a detailed description of programs & activities or to ask about membership or registration requirements, call the Niles Senior Center at 847588-8420 Individuals must be a registered member of the Niles Senior Center to receive the member price. Non members are invited to participate in programs at the non-member price. For more information about membership and programs, contact the Senior Center. Got the dot? It may save your life Assist first responders with the information they need. Become part of the Illinois Dot Program. The Illinois Dot Program is a statewide initiative designed to provide vital medical information on vehicle drivers and passengers. Information contained on the medical card can assist first responders in the “Golden Hour” immediately following a serious crash. This can very well mean the difference between life and death. For more information, please contact the Niles Senior Center (847 588-8420). Desserts •1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14 Instructor: Kelly Donlea, Author & Owner of Organizing Dinners. Get some delicious new dessert recipes.This is a hands-on course, you will learn to make these tasty desserts and get a chance to sample them. Ingredients are supplied. $12M/$17NM (#7180) Tai Chi Demo • 10:15 to 11 a.m., Friday, March 22 Instructor: Renee Gatsis, Arthritis Institute certified. Free

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(#6947) Niles’ Styles & Stories • 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 27 Instructor: M.E. Hansburg, award-qinning author. Join us for the adventure of saving and sharing our stories! Thinking about sharing your stories with family, friends, fellowship groups, grandkids, or as an eyewitness to history? Join M.E. Hansburg, Oakton Community College instructor, poet, published author, and Award Winning teacher on this journey to bring out the hidden writer in you! This session will give you the basics on what you need to put pen to paper and let the creative energies flow. If there is enough interest, this class may be ongoing. Free M/$1NM (#7142) Book Discussion • 9:30 a.m. Thursdays, March 21 to 28 Facilitated by Pam Samorez. Books can be picked up at the front desk. Free. Blood Pressure Screening • 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 27 Walk-In, Free. Diabetic fingerstick and health counseling. $3M/$4.50NM (#6881) Adults and Money: To Your Credit • 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, March 27 Presented by Consumer and Family Economics, University of Illinois Extension Services In this workshop, learn the purpose of a credit report and how it is used, how to order a free copy, and read and dispute errors. Includes information on ways to build and repair credit history.This program is presented to you in cooperation with the Niles Public Library and Niles Senior Center.(#6802) Women’s Club Meeting • 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, March 25 Lunch includes corned beef, boiled potatoes, and dessert. The Twilight Troubadour will be performing following the lunch. $5M/$7.50NM (#7111) Comedy Video Series: Laverne & Shirley • 2 p.m. Thursday, March 28 Free (#7053) Wii Bowling Tournament • 2 to 4 p.m. March 21 Refreshments will be served,

and prizes awarded. Remember, you can call ahead to schedule Wii practice time. Space is limited so sign up today. $2M/$3NM (#7101) Poker Tournament • Noon to 3 p.m. Friday, March 22 Play 7-Card Stud and 5-Card Draw. Cost includes lunch and prizes. $5M/$7.50NM (#7090) Fishing Kick-Off • 1 to 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, March 20 Join us, at the Niles Senior Center, for a great afternoon discussing the new fishing season. Refreshments served, raffles, and more! New participants are welcome! After the meeting you can register for outings. Free. (#6776) All outings meet at 8 a.m. at the designated location. Cost includes morning snack & juice, bait, and lunch.You must register at least one week prior to the outing.You can register for any or all outings and get maps/directions at the NSC Front Desk. Bangs Lake is the exception, see your schedule for more details.Cost: $15M/NM, except Bangs Lake: • Busse Woods - Friday, April 26 (#6771) • Fish Lake Beach - Friday, May 24 (#6772) • McHenry Dam - Friday, June 21 (#6773) • Big Bear/Little Bear - Friday, July 19 (#6778) • Bangs Lake Tournament - Saturday, Aug. 10, 7:30am2:00pm (#6775) • The Glen - Friday, Aug. 23 (#6774) • The Hollows - Friday, Sept. 20 (#6777) “Oliver!” at Drury Lane Theatre • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 2 One of the most beloved classics of all time,“Oliver!” is the wildly successful British musical based on the Charles Dickens novel. After a successful opening run in the West End in 1960,“Oliver!” has brought Dickens’ ageless characters to life, enjoying numerous critically acclaimed runs and revivals in the United States and England. Audiences will follow orphan Oliver Twist as he embarks on a life-threatening adventure through the dismal streets of 19th century England. The sensational score includes “Food Glorious Food,”“Consider See SENIOR, page 20

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SENIOR Continued from page 19 Yourself,“ “You’ve Got to Pick-aPocket or Two,”“I’d Do Anything, “ “As Long As He Needs Me” and many more. Lunch will be at Drury Lane before the show. We will dine on a garden salad, rolls, veggies, your choice of chicken asiago (with spinach, shitake mushrooms, basil, croutons, and a whole grain mustard demi glaze), or roast sirloin in a merlot sauce and dessert. $65M/$70NM (#6981) Registration Deadline: Friday, April 5 Cadillac Palace Theatre & The Signature Room • 9:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 22 Head downtown to get a behind the scenes tour of the The Palace Theatre. The Palace Theatre opened at the corner of Randolph and LaSalle Streets in Chicago on Oct. 4, 1926. Designed by legendary theatre architects the Rapp Brothers, the theater’s interior featured a splendor previously unseen in Chicago — a breathtaking vision inspired the palaces of Fontainebleau and Versailles. Following the tour, we will head to the Signature Room, located on the 95th floor of the John Hancock. The group will have a private lunch buffet in the The Chicago Room. This is a corner room with floor to ceiling windows facing south and west, the best view in the house. $60M/$65NM.

Park Ridge Senior Center The Park Ridge Senior Center is now accepting half-price memberships that run through

June 30, 2013. Cost for a single resident is $22.50; resident couples, $34.00: non-resident single, $31.50 and non-resident couple, $48.50. There are special rates for those members 90 years of age and older. Call the center at 847-692-3597 for further details. Non-members can drop in and pay a $2 fee to participate at the Center. This is a good way to become familiar with all the activities. Bridge If bridge is of interest there are several opportunities to enjoy the game. Groups meet on Friday mornings, Sunday afternoons, and Couple’s Bridge meets the first Thursday of the month. Call the Center at 847692-3597 for more information or to be put in tough with one of the group moderators. Membership dues Membership dues for the 2012- year are being accepted. The dues are: single $45 resident/$63 non-resident and couple (must reside in the same household) $68 resident/$97 non-resident. Bring in a new member and receive a $5 gift card. Ask the front desk for more details. Exercise class Jo Buck continues her exercise classes at 9and 10:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This class covers a variety of movements including stretching, strength training and floor exercise. The first class is free. After that it is $2 each time you come. Ongoing activities Following are number of ongoing activities at the Center: • Woodcarvers meet Thursdays at 9 a.m.…a free activity: • Gamers, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Fridays play dominos, hand and foot, scrabble for rummikube … also free. • Ceramics students meet 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays and Tuesdays and work on projects of your choice. There is a charge of $7 per class. • Pinochle players meet the second Monday,Third Thursday and every Saturday of the month at 1 p.m. • Table tennis players start play at 1 p.m.Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All abilities are welcome for this free activity. • Bocce ball players gather just north of the Center at 10

a.m. Wednesday. Ken Hewelt is bocce master and will explain how the game is played. • Have you ever thought of tap dancing? This is a fun way of exercising. The class is at 12:30 p.m.Tuesdays.The fee is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. The Sea Islands: Mayflower Tour • 9 a.m. Friday, May 3, to 5 p.m. Friday, May 10 Discover the hidden treasures of the south! We will be exploring the beauty and charm of the Sea Islands, Charleston, and Beaufort. We will also get the chance to admire the majestic Great Smoky Mountains and visit Lexington, Kentucky.This 8-day trip includes free homepickup and return, motor coach transportation, lodging, and 11 meals (4 dinners, 7 breakfasts). • Class #28389; Single; $1,597 • Class #28392; Double; $1,198 • Class #28393;Triple; $1,184

Morton Grove Senior Center

North Shore Senior Center offers programs, classes, activities, and travel opportunities for adults at the American Legion Memorial Civic Center at 6140 Dempster Street. You may register for all programs at the Center or call 847-470-5223. Lunch & Bingo Join us Wednesday for lunch from a local restaurant and a lively Bingo session with prizes. Line Dancing • 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Mondays, through April 22 “Country Bernie” will lead you in a dance class featuring country music. Bernie has been a guest instructor at The Taste of Chicago and the main attraction at Skokie’s Festival of Cultures. Memory Camp • 1 -3 p.m. Wednesdays, through April 17 Developed by Dr. Gary Small of UCLA, this memory boosting course of proven techniques can help improve brain functioning, increase verbal fluency, and keep your memory sharp. Research demonstrates that memory begins to decline in one’s 30s, but you can slow this process, and even improve functioning, with these proven

Obituary Dickran A. Kelekian Dickran A. Keleckian, age 83, passed away Thursday, March 14, 2013 Beloved husband of Zaghik nee Kazarian; loving father of Sahag (Maria) Kelekian; Cherished grandfather of Ryan and Steven Kelekian; dear brother of Krikor (Varoujnag),Yesai (Vicki) and the late Misak (late Anna) Kelekian. Fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Visitation was at St. James Armenian Church 816 Clark St., Evanston. Lying in State until time of Funeral Service at St. James Armenian Church. Interment was in Ridgewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. George Armenian Church in Waukegan would be appreciated. Arrangements by Skaja Terrace Funeral Home.

techniques. Course includes your own copy of The Memory Bible, memory quizzes to assess your own progress, group discussions, and fun and learning.This is a memory loss prevention program, and is not suitable for those diagnosed with dementia. Fees are $49 member; $59 non-member. Call 847-470-5223 for more information or to register. Mommy Dearest • 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 3 The biographies of famous and infamous people never reveal the truth about their mothers - women like Ma Barker, Mrs. Einstein, and Gladys Presley. Learn “the rest of the story” in this lighthearted program with Lisa Didier. Fees are $8 member; $10 nonmember. Call 847-470-5223 for more information or to register. The 25 Most Influential People in History • 1 to 2:300 p.m. Monday, April 8 It is a great challenge to select 25 people to whom we can give this impressive label, especially as such a list includes thousands of years of human history. What criteria should we use? How do we choose between two equally compelling people in different fields? Do we include mainly political or military people? How about the cultural arts? Please come to this Willian B Haase presentation that invites your input, and bring your own list to the discussion as well. $8 member; $10 non-member Call 847-470-5223 for more information or to register. Self Defense for Seniors •1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 Join the Morton Grove police to learn how to maintain the

highest level of personal safety. Learn simple techniques to enhance your safety and help to avoid being the target of criminals. Call 847-470-5223 to register for this free program. Down California’s Golden Coast • 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays, April 18, Between his corporate servitudes in Hawaii and Sydney, Australia, Bill Helmuth lived in Orange County, California. Highway #1 is etched through extraordinary scenery where the Coastal Ranges meet the Pacific Ocean. After inspecting the essentials of San Francisco, we will leisurely motor through the charming seaside villages of Carmel and Monterey, home to Cannery Row and the famous 17 Mile Drive.Then we gasp at the dramatic chasms of Big Sur and drive to the Hearst Castle, the largest European style mansion in the US. We stop for coffee at Solvang, a postcard Danish village, and dream of our vacation home on the slopes of Santa Barbara. Our delightful journey ends in Newport Beach, with a side trip to Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. Climb Aboard! $8 members; $10 non-members. Call 847-470-5223 for more information or to register. Spring Fling Preview Celebration • 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25 Renew an old interest or dive into a new adventure with North Shore Senior Center in Morton Grove. Come to this free preview celebration and enjoy music, refreshments and the opportunity to explore new programs. Listen to a comedy preview of “Mr. Sound Effects”Wes Harrison and try out line dancing at this enjoyable sneak peak at programs available during the Summer of 2013. Call 847-470-5223 to register for this free program.

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Tips to avoid new scams targeting seniors By StatePoint Media

While we are all taught to use good manners when answering the telephone, not everyone who calls you necessarily has good intentions. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a recent spate of lottery scams or advance fee frauds originating in Jamaica are targeting seniors and other Americans by telephone. While the Jamaican and U.S. governments have teamed to tighten laws and combat the problem, it’s important to guard against becoming the next victim. Knowing the difference between legitimate telemarketers and scammers is crucial. Protect yourself by taking the following precautions: • Never pay money to collect supposed sweepstakes winnings. Legitimate operations won’t require you to pay to collect winnings. It’s against U.S. law to play foreign lotteries. If you get a call saying you’ve won one, it’s probably a scam. • Never wire money to anyone you don’t know. • Ignore unsolicited calls from anyone, even charities and companies with whom you already do business. You have no way to confirm the caller is

legitimate. Even caller ID can be faked. When in doubt, just hang up. • Place your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. It’s fast and free. Visit www.DoNotCall.gov or add your number to the registry by calling 888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register. • Check unfamiliar area codes before returning calls. Be aware that there are many three digit area codes that connect callers to international telephone numbers. • If you don’t make international calls,ask your telephone provider to block incoming and outgoing international calls. • Never provide anyone with personal information, such as bank accounts, pin numbers or Social Security numbers. • Prevent criminals from accessing your money. Contact your bank, brokerages, as well as the Social Security Administration to add a password to your accounts. • If callers insist on speaking with you, tell them you’ll call them directly. Don’t take a number offered by a potential fraudster. You’re safer looking up the number independently. • Scammers often create false deadlines. If you feel pressured, hang up. You’ve spent a lifetime earning your money.You deserve

STATEPOINT MEDIA

Knowing the difference between legitimate telemarketers and scammers is crucial for seniors.

time to choose how to spend it. • Help others from falling victim to scammers by warning friends and family. If you’ve received a call, mail or email you think might be from a scammer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission by calling at 877-FTC-HELP (877382-4357) or contact local authorities. “The Jamaican Government is resolved to successfully combat this scourge. We have put in place both legislative and operational measures that will ensure that persons who prey on vulnerable seniors are held

accountable,” said. Jamaica’s Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting, who is working with U.S. officials to stop new Jamaican lottery scams. You don’t have to live in

fear to avoid being a victim. By becoming informed of the latest tactics used by scammers to defraud consumers, you can protect yourself and your finances.

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Tips to stay safe and secure while traveling By StatePoint Media

Spring travel can offer a muchneeded cure for cabin fever. Whether you’re planning to head to the closest national park or sunny beach, or you’re trekking around the globe, there’s no question that technology has made traveling easier than ever before. What many travelers don’t know, however, is that the technology they use in the vacation planning stages or on the trip itself can actually put them at risk for cybercrime or even identity theft. These days, keeping yourself protected means more than just wearing sunscreen. “People can use mobile alerts to find flash sales on flights and resorts, and their PC to book vacations without the extra expense of a travel agent,” says Marian Merritt, Internet safety advocate for Norton by Symantec, global leaders in online security. “But, in the excitement of planning a vacation, security can often be an afterthought.” Offers for free airline tickets on social media sites, phony (“phishing”) emails about how to earn more frequent flyer mileage, or offers for discounted excursions are all ways cybercriminals try to lure you in so they can steal your personal

information. At first glance, any of these scams can look entirely legitimate, so before you click a link in an email or on a social network, take the extra step to verify the offer by visiting the company website. One of the most used digital devices on vacation is the smartphone -- you use it to take pictures, search for the best places to eat and to find your way around with GPS. But, if your phone goes missing, it can be a bigger headache than the security line at the airport. Merritt recommends installing security software like Norton 360 Multi-Device before you hit the road, so if your phone or tablet is lost or stolen, you can remotely locate it or even temporarily lock it to prevent anyone from accessing it until you get it back. If you’re going to be spending time in the sand or out on an excursion, leave your phone locked up in the hotel room safe for the day. Not only is it likely to be a distraction from the fun, but bringing it everywhere increases your risk of loss or theft. And, considering all of the apps, photos and private information that live on your phone, losing it is probably worse than losing your wallet. Finally, while it may be

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What many travelers don’t know, however, is that the technology they use in the vacation planning stages or on the trip itself can actually put them at risk for cybercrime or even identity theft.

tempting to make purchases while lounging by the pool or to check your bank account balance while waiting at the gate for your flight, unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspots can be a virtual paradise for cybercriminals.

Let yourself really unwind and wait until you’re on a protected network at home before conducting potentially sensitive activities, or consider using a virtual private network (or “VPN”), like Norton Hotspot

Privacy to surf securely and without leaving a trail of your personal data. Make your spring vacation memorable for all the right reasons and don’t let digital security risks stand in your way.

Disease causes cartilage inflammation throughout body DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was just diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis.What has been your experience with this disease? ANSWER: Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease that causes inflammation of cartilage throughout the body, especially in the ears, nose, eyes and throat. Symptoms of this disease come and go.The severity of symptoms, and how often they appear, varies quite a bit from person to person. Although no cure currently exists for relapsing polychondritis, it often can be effectively controlled with medication. The specific cause of relapsing polychrondritis is not known.The underlying trigger for the disease could be related to a person’s genetic makeup, and triggered by environmental factors. But, whatever the cause, relapsing

polychrondritis appears to be an autoimmune disorder. In these disorders, the immune system mistakenly targets healthy organs and tissue. In this case, it attacks the body’s cartilage. Cartilage is the firm, flexible tissue that cushions your joints and gives shape to other parts of your body, such as your nose, ears and windpipe. In relapsing polychondritis,cartilage becomes inflamed, causing redness, swelling, irritation, discomfort and pain in the affected areas. The inflammation of this disease may cause your windpipe, or trachea, to narrow, resulting in hoarseness, shortness of breath and wheezing. In addition, relapsing polychrondritis can cause complications in the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys and arthritis affecting both small and large joints. Arthritis is also a

common complication. Because symptoms come and go, and are not specific to the disease, diagnosing relapsing polychrondritis can be difficult. For example, the first symptoms many people experience are redness, pain and increased warmth of the ears. This can often be mistaken for an insect bite or an infection, leading to an incorrect diagnosis and a prescription for antibiotics. Because the severity and frequency of symptoms can be so different from one person to another, once the disease is diagnosed, you may need quite a few appointments with your doctor. These visits can help your doctor gauge the aggressiveness of your relapsing polychrondritis, determine what type of treatment you need, and watch for complications.

If the disease is mild, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug may suffice in relieving symptoms. In more severe cases, medications that suppress the immune system may be necessary. Some people’s bodies respond very quickly to treatment for relapsing polychrondritis, while others are quite resistant. So being able to work closely with your doctor to have treatment tailored to your situation is key to effectively managing this disease. Even after you and your doctor have established a treatment plan, you will still need regular followup appointments. Everyone with this disease, even those with mild forms, should be watched closely because serious complications can develop quickly. For people who were treated for this disease in the 1970s and 1980s, the long-term outlook was

not very good. That has changed significantly over the last two decades. Even though there is still no cure, the prognosis for people with relapsing polychrondritis is now quite good. That is due in large part to the much wider range of drugs we have to choose from to help control its symptoms.Today, with close monitoring and prompt, individualized treatment, most people who have relapsing polychrondritis can lead normal lives. - Harvinder Luthra, M.D., Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to medicaledge(AT SIGN) mayo.edu , or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2010 Westridge Drive, Irving, TX 75038. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org.

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Tips to avoid new bank fees and penalties By StatePoint Media

If you’ve noticed your banking and financial service fees going up, you’re not imagining it. Thanks to new rules and regulations restricting banks from making certain kinds of risky investments, they are finding new streams of revenue. But experts say that there are steps you can take to avoid paying a price for the nation’s well-intended but costly new banking reforms. “Now more than ever, reading the fine print is a must if you want to protect yourself from higher fees and surprises,” says Shari Olefson, legal, financial, and real estate expert and author of the new book, “Financial Fresh Start: Your Five-Step Plan for Adapting and Prospering in the New Economy.” Here are some tips to avoid pitfalls and bank smarter in the new economy: • Compare: Just as you might shop prices for a manicure or personal trainer, shop for bank and financial services too. Compare at least three different banks and the details on services you need. What are the fees associated with these services and what are the requirements you have to meet to avoid penalties? • Explore alternatives. Consider switching to a smaller bank, credit union or online bank to avoid paying certain fees. Fees can also sometimes be avoided by consolidating accounts and credit cards, or by switching to a less expensive service, such as away from a premium account to basic checking. Look specifically for banking services to which the new rules don’t apply. For example, banks

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Experts say that there are steps you can take to avoid paying a price for the nation’s well-intended but costly new banking reforms.

with less than $10 billion in assets are exempt from many of the new rules and reforms. • Monitor rewards: Some banks and financial service companies are aggressively cutting expenses. So if you use your bank’s reward program, watch for signs that the program may change or be phased out.“You want to be able to use your rewards before you risk losing them,” says Olefson. • Practice overdraft prevention: Keep a cushion in your account. Try tracking spending manually, using an old-fashioned paper register to spend more mindfully and pay your bills manually, too, since auto-payments are among the leading causes of account overdrafts. If you do become overdrawn, be sure to pay fees

quickly to avoid being charged again for the original offense. • Stick to your own ATMs: Plan your ATM visits and cash needs in advance to avoid using another bank’s ATM machines. • Rinse, wash, repeat: “Like most other businesses, banks innovate, especially when it comes to the potential types of new fees they can charge, even under the new rules and reforms,” Olefson observes. “These innovations are never-ending. Periodically revisit the financial services you use and how much they cost in order to ensure you’re paying the least amount possible.” More tips for thriving in the new economy and information about “Financial Fresh Start,” by Shari Olefson, can be found at www. FinancialFreshStartTheBook.com.

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