Sentinel 1-8-20

Ja nuary 8, 2 0 2 0 Vo l . 2 5 I ss u e 3

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In THI s I ssu e e VenTs

Calendar Events Upcoming events in your area see page 4

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Fast start

Joliet West is off to a fast start this season see page 5

bu sI ness

Dave Says Dave Ramsey’s Column see page 6

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local news

Legal marijuana sales nearly $3.2 million on 1st day consumers wait hours in line on Jan. 1 when illinois became 11th state to sell legal recreational marijuana by marK gregory & ryan ostry staff reporters

@BugleNewspapers sweditor@buglenewspapers.com

We already have Black Friday - the large retail shopping day the day after Thanksgiving - now add Green Wednesday to the list. While it will not carry the annual gravitas of Black Friday, for one day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 rivaled that day. That is the day Illinois began to officially legalize recreational marijuana after HB 1438 was signed into law in June.

Weed connoisseurs waited in line more than four hours outside Rise dispensary, 2903 Colorado Ave. in Joliet to partake in the legal purchase of cannabis. Normal hours of operation will be 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily, but Rise opened at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 10 p.m. on Jan. 1.

“We were here at 2 a.m. and we were afraid they were going to run out,” said Charlene Ford of Joliet. “If you are a real weed smoker, you have been waiting for this.”

Under the new law, Illinois residents who are at least 21 years old can to purchase and possess up to 30 grams, or one ounce, of cannabis at a time.

Nonresidents can purchase up to 15 grams, but cannot legally transport products across state lines.

One Romeoville native that waited outside the Verilife Marijuana Dispensary at 1335 Lakeside Drive in Romeoville, each had a menu as if they were looking at what to order in a restaurant.

“This is kind of like my last big hoorah before I have to go back home,” said a resident of Maryland who did not want to be identified. “I’m from Romeoville just visiting family, but my friends and I have been waiting for this day for a very long time.”

Marijuana may only be purchased at state-licensed dispensaries and those wishing can only partake in their own home. Those who violate such rules could be ticketed for public consumption.

PHOTO BY BY MARK GREGORY

some patrons waited four hours at the rise dispensary in Joliet, located on colorado ave., near the louis Joliet mall.

The Joliet location opened earlier and brought customers from all areas – even ones that had a shop opening in their own town.

A Romeoville resident, who chose not to be identified, said he waited in line to be part of history.

“It is legal today, I was in line at 4:30

a.m. and I don’t have to be standing here, I work outside in the cold. I used to go to NORML rallies all over the Midwest in the 80’s and a lot of people never thought this day would come.

I want to be part of it. The year 2020 sounds futuristic to me and we knew it would take the future to get to this -

the future is here.”

The Romeoville location had residents waiting in line as early at 3:30 a.m., and some up to eight or more hours.

“It’s an amazing turnout for people who are either brand new to it or people who have been doing it for years,” said general manager Russ Peters.

“This is a really cool opportunity for everyone and we’re very lucky to have this in Illinois.”

Both locations have a menu that will be expanding as time goes on.

Along with the 30 grams of cannabis flower patrons can purchase up to 500 mg of THC in a cannabis-infused product which includes gummies, chocolates and baked goods.

Also, up to five grams of a cannabis concentrate can be purchased.

“They have different allotments if you’re in state,” said Verilife district manager Clay Wynn. “It’s a 30-gram flower allotment versus 15 if you’re out of state and all of the other allotments are pretty similar to that with the day supply and possession limit.”

With the legalization of marijuana

see mariJuana page 6

local news

Joliet West Senior starts his own nonprofit for those with special needs

senior at Joliet west with autism spectrum disorder starts his own nonprofit organization benefiting kids and adults with special needs by ryan ostry bugle staff

@RyanOstry_BR18 rostry@buglenewspapers.com

Helping others is something that Anthony Maland has always been interested in doing.

A senior at Joliet West High School, who was recently featured on WGN Morning News, is the founder of his own nonprofit organization called Recycle Rhythm Incorporated.

“I was nervous at the start [to go on WGN] but as soon as it started I knew that God was on my side and he was with me through the whole entire thing,” Maland said.

At the age of three, Maland started off his passion by playing drums and never put down the drumsticks since then.

Fast forward to when Maland was performing at a location in Morris when he met a four-year-old-boy who

had cancer.

What followed his performance was Maland letting the ill boy play his drums, and some time after the interaction, Maland saw the boy doing music therapy and then found later that he was cancer free.

“That was a big part of why I started the foundation,” Maland said. “I really enjoyed that boy.”

For Maland personally, in 2018 his own life changed.

Maland was diagnosed with a touch of Autism spectrum disorder, which made him want to help other kids through the joy of music.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that a single diagnoses can’t ever hold me back,” Maland said. “I could do all things through God and through my life, so I don’t let this hold me back at all.”

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder

that lasts throughout a person’s life, and it affects how a person acts and interacts with others, communicates and learns.

Although Maland said he was surprised when he first heard about this disease and it has had some negative affects on his own life, he turned it around for the positive, to help others.

“Music has helped me in a lot of ways throughout my entire life,” Mal-

and said. “I wanted to help other people with the same diagnoses.”

The main focus of his nonprofit is the dedication to refurbishing used percussion instruments and gifting them to kids and adults with Autism and special needs.

Besides starting his own organization, Maland has also been in three different bands outside of high school and is currently in jazz band and his school band.

After Maland graduates this upcoming May, he said he plans to get a degree in Fire Science and double major in music business and music therapy at Joliet Junior College.

“I want to further the charity where it’s a international charity,” Maland said. “I will always want to benefit kids and adults that have special needs.”

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calendar

upcoming eVents in your area wednesday, January 8, 2020 | buglenewspapers.com

JANUARY 15 DOWNERS GROVE we the people: a us constitution discussion group. 6:30-8 p.m. at 908 Curtiss St. in Downers Grove. We will be getting to know the document so many people have been talking about lately.

Participants will receive their own pocket constitution and we will have a discussion about the historical context and main organization of the US Constitution.

JANUARY 11 BOLINGBROOK second annual ice bowl at pebble beach. Starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Mistwood Golf Dome. Grab a team of four, and get ready to play and win at Mistwood Golf Dome. It’s $180 per team -$45 per player and includes mat time. It is $30 for a Mistwood Member.

JANUARY 13 ROMEOVILLE west suburban community mobile pantry Visit. 4-5 p.m. at the Romeoville White Oak Library. Are you hungry? If you don’t have enough to eat, West Suburban Community Mobile Pantry in partnership with Northern Illinois Food Bank can help.

Nutritious food is distributed for free to low-income neighbors in need, and it is distributed on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last.

JANUARY 12 JOLIET aFternoon tea with leslie goddard.

2-3 p.m. at the Joliet Public Library Black Rd. Branch. Experience this beautifully illustrated lecture by Leslie Goddard that explores the history and elegant artistry of afternoon tea. How did this custom begin?

Why was it so important to the Edwardians in particular? And do you really have to hold your “pinkies up?” Tea and treats will be served.

JANUARY 14 SHOREWOOD intro to androids. 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Shorewood-Troy Library. This class will cover basic usage of Android smart phones, including adjusting settings, common buttons, apps, notifications and more.

JANUARY 12 PLAINFIELD young adults gathering. 6-8 p.m. at the Community Christian Church in Plainfield. Join us for an evening of conversation, fellowship, and acoustic music in our relaxed campfire-style environment. Each month, we discuss a different relevant topic with a variety of speakers in a comfortable setting. Come connect with other young adults in Room 132.

GENERAL MANAGER Vice President - Advertising & Marketing ANDREW SAMAAN 815-436-2431 ext. 104 andrew@buglenewspapers.com

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BASKETBALL SOCCER CROSS COUNTRY FOOTBALL SOCCER TENNIS BASEBALL SOFTBALL VOLLEYBALL TRACK & FIELD SWIMMING CHEERLEADING DANCE bowling basKetball

coming oF

age

although west is young, several players have the experience of varsity basketball by ryan ostry bugle staff

@RyanOstry_BR18 rostry@buglenewspapers.com A years difference in sports can change a lot, especially when it comes to records.

Last year, Joliet West finished its season three games below the .500 mark.

So far this year, the Tigers are 14-3, with a 5-1 record in conference play.

“Overall we have been playing really good basketball,” said coach John Placher. “All the girls I have this year have a full year of varsity experience which really helps us a lot.”

The three losses so far this year have come from a combined 21 points, with two of them coming from a combined four points.

Led by all-area superstar senior guard Jazz Evans, the Tigers have found success even though they are still a very young team.

The roster consists of just two seniors, and the rest are five juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen.

One of those freshmen is point guard Lisa Thompson who scored 23 points in the Tigers’ recent 55-32 win over Butler Prep at the Chicagoland

21

combined points in west s FiVe losses

Invitational Showcase at Benet Academy.

“Lisa is a dynamic player and I really can’t imagine how good she is going to be when she’s a senior,” Placher said. “If she keeps developing every part of her game she is going to be unstoppable.”

Another supporter of Thompson is Evans, who said she doesn’t see any reason why Thompson can’t be just as good as her — if not better.

“It’s great to have someone on the team like [Thompson],” Evans said.

“It’s crazy to think she is a freshmen, I hope she breaks every record at this school and surpasses me.”

The last loss for West was a month ago when it lost to cross-town rival, Joliet Central, but since then have put together a winning streak where their confidence is at an all-time high.

With expectations this year to play into March, Placher said he understands how tough his teams conference is, and still has a lot of work to do in the future.

“This month is just an absolute grind for us,” Placher said. “Everyone in our conference is good and plays at a high level, we have to finish in the top two or three in our sub-section.”

23

points For Freshman lisa thompson

Joliet west is off to a fast start this season.

PHOTO BY RYAN OSTRY

deadline For cl assiFieds: Friday at 11 a .m.

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wednesday, January 8, 2020 | buglenewspapers.com

business & priVate party classiFied ads: $21 per weeK, 20 words or less. weddings, births & engagements: blacK & white - $45, color - $55. obituaries: start at $45.

mariJuana From page 3 that is now in full effect for the state of Illinois, there are still some limitations for local jurisdictions.

Neighboring towns such as Bolingbrook, Crest Hill and Plainfield have opted out of whether or not they wanted to do recreational sales.

“In Illinois it’s legal, so you can buy a product here and take it to that town which is totally doable,” Wynn said.

The first day of legal sales of recreational marijuana in Illinois saw total sales on Jan. 1 hit nearly $3.2 million.

Former state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, an architect of that law who now serves as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s senior advisor for can-

nabis control, reported during a news conference Thursday that dispensaries across the state conducted 77,128 transactions on Jan. 1, with sales totaling more than $3.1 million.

Meanwhile, state officials remain busy implementing other parts of the bill. On Tuesday, Dec. 31, Pritzker issued 11,017 pardons that will lead to the expungement of records for people with low-level marijuana convictions. Eventually, Pritzker’s office said, more than 700,000 criminal records will be expunged under the new law.

Thursday, Jan. 2, marked the deadline for people to submit applications for the next wave of dispensary licenses. As many as 75 new licenses will be issued May 1, with priority being given to “social

phone: 815.436.2431 web: buglenewspapers.com/classiFieds email: classiFieds@buglenewspapers.com

equity” applicants – people with previous marijuana convictions, their families and people from areas of the state with high crime or child poverty rates.

A share of the revenue the state receives from recreational marijuana sales is earmarked for the new “Restore, Reinvest, and Renew Program” to fund community projects in neighborhoods that, in Hutchinson’s words, “have been hardest hit by the war on drugs.”

Other revenue is earmarked for a Cannabis Business Development Fund that will provide grants and low-interest loans to social equity applicants to help pay part of the startup cost of launching a marijuana-related business.

column >> daVe says

dave says: making resolutions become reality

dear dave,

My wife and I have our budget ready for next month, and we’ll be following your plan in 2020 to pay off debt and get our finances in order.

Do you have any tips for setting and sticking to goals in general?

dear rick,

rick

That’s a fantastic goal. Living on a monthly budget, and telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went, is an important step toward gaining control of your finances. Combine that with getting out of debt, and you’ll be in charge of your most powerful wealth-building tool — your income.

If you’re following my plan, you already have goals in front of you where your money is concerned. For most Americans, though, a new year means nothing more than new resolutions without real plans. Don’t get me wrong. It’s good to make resolutions and set goals, but you can’t stop there. You have to formulate a plan that turns your dreams into bite-sized pieces of progress that will gradually create a big event in your life. If you want to achieve your goals, then keep these next things in mind.

When setting goals, be very specific in what you want to achieve. Include steps that will help you get there, too.

Being vague will only cause you to feel

daVe says by dave ramsey

@DaveRamsey daveramsey.com

directionless and overwhelmed. Most people give up when these feelings arise. Make your goals measurable. If you want to lose weight, don’t simply write down “lose weight” as a goal. Exactly how much weight do you want

to lose? What will it take in terms of exercise and dietary changes to make it happen? Are your goals your goals?

Only you can realistically set your own goals. If your spouse, co-worker, or friend sets a goal for you, chances are you’re not going to achieve it. Taking ownership will give you more opportunity to meet your goal. Also, set time limits for your goals. Putting a time frame in place will help you set realistic goals. If you want to save a certain amount of money for a particular event, break it down and determine how much cash you need to put into your savings account each month leading up to that event.

And finally, put your goals and res-

olutions in writing. Putting them in writing will make you more likely to achieve them. Write down your goals, and review them often. This will give you motivation to make them reality.

I believe this is the process for success, Rick. Successful people reassess their lives regularly, and start living intentionally, in writing, and on purpose. Happy New Year!

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

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

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