Published every week covering the towns of South Holland/Thornton, Lansing, Dolton/Calumet City, Munster, Highland, and Schererville. Our circulation is independently audited by CAC.
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Timeless Expressions: The Gift of Love Letters
by Janice R Newman
The season inspires feelings and expressions of gratitude, appreciation, and love for family and friends. While gratitude and appreciation may be easier to express, conveying love for others through spoken or written words can be challenging. Often, people say the words without fully connecting to the emotions behind them, leaving the expression feeling hollow and insincere. Truly saying I love you can be expressed in several ways.
What is love? Love is a feeling of deep affection or fondness for another. Most people think of love as romantic love, however, there are several types of love: Storge, Philia, Eros, and Agape. Storge is a familial love through a family relationship. Philia is brotherly love between friends. Eros is romantic love between individuals. Agape love is unconditional love that we experience with God.
Each type of love plays an important role in our lives. We are born into a family and have a need to connect with people as friends. We develop deep desires to bond with an individual romantically. The unconditional love received from God centers us in life. Each love presents different emotions. Writing a love letter allows us to reflect on these loves and what they mean to us plus gives them a keepsake of your affection.
A letter, whether it’s one page or many, allows you to express your thoughts fully. Handwritten letters are personal, warm, timeless, and tangible. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone important to you? A love letter can be addressed to a family member, spouse, significant other, friend, God, or even yourself. Each type can serve a unique purpose.
Writing to a parent, child, or sibling can express gratitude for their love growing up. You can convey gratitude to your parents being there for you and teaching you life lessons. It can repair relationships, express forgiveness, bridge gaps, and strength bonds.
Writing a romantic love letter to your spouse or significant other allows you to share your feelings that might feel awkward to say aloud, or you want a lasting keepsake to deepen your connection. You can highlight how they have impacted your life or the things you adore about them. We should be devoted in our relationships as Ephesians 5:25 tells us “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Writing a letter to a close friend is a great way to celebrate your bond or how much their support means to you. It reminds them of their worth and value in your life. Most times love between friends is left unspoken and unacknowledged. Writing a letter to God can feel like a prayer on paper. It’s a way to express your gratitude for His blessings, share your struggles, and reflect on your spiritual journey. Agape love is unconditional love of God. It is beautifully express in the Bible verse 1 John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
Finally, writing a letter to yourself can be an act of self-care. It can help you to reflect on your growth, be motivational, and forgive yourself for your mistakes. The letter can remind you that you’re worthy of receiving love as much as giving love. Love letters are more than just words on paper. They are acts of love, appreciation, and gratitude that create lasting memories. They help us to connect, reflect, and express emotions to our family, spouse, friends, God, and ourselves that might otherwise go unsaid. So, this season, take time to write a love letter to someone important to you. The best gift is your love in words. Y? Why Not!
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National Tax Security Awareness Week, Day 5: Tax pros urged to guard against identity theft with updated Written Information Security Plan
On the final day of National Tax Security Awareness Week, the Internal Revenue Service and its Security Summit partners urged tax professionals to reassess their plans for protecting themselves and their clients’ sensitive information amid increasing attempts by identity thieves to steal tax data.
Identity thieves on the hunt for taxpayer data aren’t just targeting taxpayers, they’re going after the tax professionals, who hold enormous amounts of sensitive taxpayer data, in hopes of filing fraudulent tax returns. This year, the IRS has already received more than 250 reports of data breach incidents from tax professionals affecting approximately 200,000 clients.
Amid these continuing reports of tax professionals encountering data breaches, the Security Summit partners urged practitioners to review the newly updated Written Information Security Plan (WISP).
Tax professionals are required by federal law to have written plans identifying foreseeable data security risks and safeguards, and a plan of action to take in the event of a security breach. To simplify this complex task, a special team of Security Summit members from the tax community released an updated WISP that tax professionals can use as a roadmap to apply to their own practice.
The IRS also reminds taxpayers that additional safeguards, like multi-factor authentication (MFA), are required by federal law to better protect themselves and their clients. MFA provides an extra layer of security to ensure the proper people are accessing sensitive accounts and systems.
“Countering identity theft is a collective effort, and tax pros are the first line of defense when it comes to protecting taxpayer information,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Millions of taxpayers entrust their personal data to tax professionals, and we want to make it as easy as possible for tax pros to know what they need to do to keep themselves and their clients’ information safe. The Written Information Security Plan forms an essential part of the tax professionals’ defense against data breaches and identity thieves, helping protect their clients and protect themselves.”
The WISP, available in IRS Publication 5708, Creating a Written Information Security Plan for your Tax & Accounting Practice, walks tax professionals through the steps of assembling a plan, including understanding security compliance requirements and professional responsibilities. It also provides a sample
template that tax professionals can use as they draft a plan for their business.
The new version of the WISP, the result of a year-long collaborative effort between the IRS and its Security Summit partners, includes several updates, like highlighting best practices for implementing multi-factor authentication.
During National Tax Security Awareness Week, now in its ninth year and concluding today, the Security Summit partnership of the IRS, tax professionals, tax software and financial companies as well as state tax agencies work to raise awareness among taxpayers and tax professionals about the importance of safeguarding information to protect against identity theft. The Security Summit formed in 2015 to combat tax-related identity theft through better public-private sector coordination as well as strengthening internal protections in the tax community and raising public awareness about security threats.
Tax pros are on the front lines of defense in protecting taxpayer information. The Summit partners highlighted several key steps that tax pros – regardless of the size of their practice – should take to protect their systems and comply with federal standards.
LOCAL CHURCHES
CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH, COGIC
1151 E. 170th St., South Holland
708-331-8389
FAX 708.331.8374
Admin@ChristCommunityCOGIC.org
ChristCommunityCOGIC.org
PASTOR DR. CARL E. KING, SR. WORSHIP SERVICES
SUNDAY
Church School 9:15 a.m.
Worship Services 10:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY Bible Study…… 7:00 p.m.
COVENANT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1130 East 154th St., South Holland
708-333-5955
www.covucc.org
PASTOR REV. DR. PATRICK L. DAYMOND WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday Worship 7:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m.
Wed. Bible Study Noon
FIRST CHURCH (PCA)
3134 Ridge Rd, Lansing
708-474-9610
www.firstchurchpca.org
Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
Evening Worship 5:30 p.m.
JESUS LIGHTHOUSE OF LOVE
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES 19058 Burnham Ave, Lansing 312-206-1833
facebook.com/JLOLMinistries
PASTOR EL CID ZOLLICOFFER
PASTOR SHONNI ZOLLICOFFER WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday........................................... 11:00 a.m. Wed. Service on Facebook.............7:30 p.m. Women of Worship via Zoom 3rd Sat. @ 12 pm
8601 Harrison Avenue, Munster, In. 46321 219-838-6720
stplmunster.com
Pastors: Peter Speckhard, Adrian Krebs WORSHIP SERVICES: Monday: ..........................................6:30 p.m. Sunday: .....................8:00 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.
Heart Smart
RICHARD ZEKVELD
Proverbs 16:18 (NIV) says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” In the beginning, Satan exalted himself to take God’s place, but God cast him down. Then Satan tempted Adam to exalt himself to God’s throne, causing Adam to fall from his original glory.
Jesus says in Matthew 23:12 (NIV), “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled.” Then he adds a line: “and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus is the prime example in Philippians 2:5-11. As God’s Son, he always existed with his Father and the Spirit and shared their glory as God over all. Yet Jesus willingly set aside his radiance and rights as God the Son to climb down to our level and become one of us. He wrapped his glory in the tattered cloak of our human flesh, like a man with an Armani suit might hide the glory of his appearance under a soiled overcoat, denying himself the admiration and respect it generates.
But that’s not all. “And being found in human form, he became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8, ESV). He lowered himself still further to suffer a painful, humiliating death sentence in our place for our sin.
But there’s more. “Therefore, God has highly exalted him”, Philippians 2:9 (ESV) exclaims. Today, Jesus is exalted as the God-Man at God’s right hand in heaven’s oval office. He is also lifted high in the gospel as the one who died on the cross for us so that “whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16) and “every knee shall bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10a,11, ESV).
Richard Zekveld
Pastor, Covenant Fellowship Church cfcsh.org
FIRST ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH OF SOUTH HOLLAND
16248 South Park Ave., South Holland
708-333-8211
www.firstchurchsh.org
PASTOR REV. DANIEL SVENDSEN WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday 9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.
Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, LCMS
8303 Sheffield Avenue Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 865-1137
Bible Study Sunday 10:30 a.m. Monday...........................................7:00 p.m.
Saturday Prayer Service 10:30 a.m.
Bible Study: Sundays at ........9:15am (Sunday school at this time too) 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month (Ladies’ Bible Study) Wednesdays at 10am Thursdays at 10am (Nursery available for Sunday morning services)
www.unitynwi.org ALL WELCOME MINISTER: REV. GERALDINE COLVIN SUNDAY SERVICE.......................10:00 AM
LIBRARY HAPPENINGS
Calumet City Public Librar y
Address: 660 S Manistee Ave, Calumet City, IL 60409
Phone: (708) 862-6220
Email: info@calumetcitypl.org
Website: http://www calumetcitypl.org/index.html
Dolton Public Libr ar y
Address: 14037 Lincoln Ave, Dolton, IL
Phone: 708-849-2385
Email: lincoln@doltonpubliclibrary.org
Website: www.doltonpubliclibrary.org
BINGO NIGHT
Starting October 12th, from 3 – 4pm. Held every 2 nd and 4 th Thursday in the Kopac. Please call (708) 849-2385 x3 leaving your full name, email address and phone number or send email to lincoln@doltonpubliclibrary.org to register. FREE
Virtual Zumba
Dolton Public Library District presents
VIRTUAL ZUMBA with licensed instructor
Yvette Roberts Come and join in the fun every Friday at 5pm Please call (708)8492385 or email lincoln@doltonpubliclibrary org and leave your full name, email address and phone number to register (5pm – 6pm every Friday). FREE
BEGINNERS LINE DANCING with “DAWN the DANCIN’’ DEEVA”
Every Wednesday, from 3pm to 4pm. Please call 708-849-2385 ext. 3 to register, RSVP between Friday, 9am and Tuesday, 4pm ONLY Leaving your full name and phone number Held in the Josway Auditorium. FREE
VIRTUAL SENIOR YOGA
Every Wednesday taught by Dionne Arnold, Certified Yoga Instructor, (4pm to 5pm) Please call 708-849-2385 or email lincoln@ doltonpubliclibrary.org and leaving your full name, email address and phone number to register. FREE
SENIOR BRIDGE CLUB
Held e v ery Tu es d a y, i n perso n, f ro m 3:3 0 pm t o 4: 3 0pm P
cal li n g 708- 8 49- 2 3 8
l i ncol n @dolt o npu
your f u l l name, em a
n d p h o n e n umber t o registe r. FRE E
VIRTUAL WORKOUT with SHEENA STINSON
Get in Shape from Home. Classes held every Monday from 6pm to 6:30pm Please call 708-849-2385 or email us at lincoln@ doltonpubliclibrary org leaving your full name, email address and phone number to register. A Zoom Link will be sent day of the program FREE
Get up and Move with Simon Says Join the Dolton Public Library Youth Services Dept. as we play “Simon Says”. Held every 3rd or 4th Friday from 10:45 to 11:45am starting Oct. 27 th . PLEASE CALL FOR FUTURE DATES. Register by calling (708849-2385, ext. 4) or emailing at lincoln@ doltonpubliclibrary.org leaving your name, email address, phone number and the number of children participating. FREE
Buriobo
Burbio is a one-stop free resource to find out about all the Dolton area events and activities. If your group wishes to post your events on burbio contact: groupsupport@burbio. com Sign-up at Burbio.com or download the free Android or iPhone app and follow the calendars that interest you. FREE
VIRTUAL PASSPORT TO KNOWLEDGE,
Every first Monday of the month from 3:30 – 4pm. Pack your bags for a virtual trip around the world and learn about other countries and cultures. Register at lincoln@ doltonpubliclibrary.org or call (708-849-2385) and leave your name, email and phone number Come curbside to pick up your Passport Packet prior to departure. The link for Zoom will be emailed prior to the program. FREE BET WEEN the PAGES : A Virtual Story Time
Every third Saturday of the month at 1:30pm. To register call (708-849-2385) or email lincoln@doltonpubliclibrary.org and leave your name, phone number and email address. A link will be sent to you. FREE
COOKBOOK BOOK CLUB
Will meet in the Josway Auditorium on one Saturday a month, from 11am to 1pm at the library (14037 Lincoln Avenue, Dolton, IL 60419). To discuss the selected cookbook and to taste samples that have been prepared by our members from the recipes within the book
Potential new members please call 708-849-2385, ext. 5 to register leaving your name, email and phone number to get complete details. FREE
Homework Help
GOT HOMEWORK? NEED HELP? For ages 5 – 14yrs, make an appointment with Mrs. Brooks on Fridays or Saturdays by calling (708) 849- 2385 x 4. Sessions are limited to 30 minutes each. FREE
Toddler Time
For young children (18 mos – 4 yrs.) and their caregivers. Every 2nd Tuesday, 10:45am – 11:45am. 14037 Lincoln Avenue, Kopac Room, starting June 6, 2023. To join us, please register at lincoln@doltonpubiclibrary.org leave your name, email address or call at 708-8492385, ext. 4. FREE
Family Game Time
Join us twice a month on Saturday, from 1:00 to 2:30pm for free fun and activities. To be held in the Youth Services department. Call (708) 849-2385 x 4 for future dates. NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. FREE
Creative Craft
Join Ms. Barbara every 4th Wednesday for a new fun art craft from 3:30 – 4:00 pm in the Kopac Room. NO NEED TO REGISTER KIDS &YOUTH 5-16 YRS. FREE!
FREE online Line Dancing with Dawn the Diva, Tuesdays at 6:30pm
Join Us For Vir tual Programs : Each day at 4:00 pm, “stop” in for online family-fun at the Harvey Library Tuesday: Craft Wednesday: Story Time Thursday: Bacon Bits & Cooking Tips Monthly Virtual Music Class (Friday, check calendar each month)
Our food pantry is open to everyone and is located in the entryway of library. Donations are also welcome and can be dropped off at the Circulation Desk. Please ensure that food items are non-perishable, non-glass containers and not expired.
Weekly Walking Group 9 – 10 am Ages: Adults/Seniors This walking program is for everyone interested in achieving a healthier lifestyle. What better way to start your path to better physical and emotional health, than on your feet making strides to help your heart and improve your general health.
South Holland Public Librar y Address: 16250 Wausau Ave., South Holland IL Phone: 708-527-3160 or 708-580-6161
Thor nton Public Librar y Address: 115 E. Margaret St. Thornton, IL. Email: library@thorntonil us Website: https://www thorntonlibrary org/
C alendar Of Events
Holiday Carols
Men of A-Chord invite you to an Evening of Lessons & Carols on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at First Church OPC, 16248 South Park Avenue, South Holland. For more detail please visit: menofachord.org
Consider these year-end financial moves
SUBMITTED BY
As we enter the holiday season, your life may well become busier. Still, you might want to take the time to consider some financial moves before we turn the calendar to 2025.
Here are a few suggestions:
• Review your investment portfolio. As you look at your portfolio, ask these questions: Has its performance met my expectations this year? Does it still reflect my goals, risk tolerance and time horizon? Do I need to rebalance? You might find that working with a financial professional can help you answer these and other questions you may have about your investments.
• Add to your 401(k) and HSA. If you can afford it, and your employer allows it, consider putting more money into your 401(k) before the year ends — including “catch-up” contributions if you’re 50 or older. You might also want to add to your health savings account (HSA) by the tax-filing deadline in April.
• Use your FSA dollars. Unlike an HSA, a flexible spending account (FSA) works on a “use-it-or-loseit” basis, meaning you lose any unspent funds at the end of the year. So, if you still have funds left in your account, try to use them up in 2024. (Employers may grant a 2½ month extension, so check with your human resources area to see if this is the case where you work.)
• Contribute to a 529 plan. If you haven’t opened a 529 education savings plan for your children, think about doing so this year. With a 529 plan, your earnings can grow tax deferred, and your withdrawals are federally tax free when used for qualified education expenses — tuition, fees, books and so on. And if you invest in your own state’s 529 plan, you might be able to deduct
PATRICK ZAMKIN
your contributions from your state income tax or receive a state tax credit.
• Build your emergency fund. It’s generally a good idea to keep up to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund, with the money held in a liquid, low-risk account. Without such a fund in place, you might be forced to dip into your retirement funds to pay for short-term needs, such as a major car or home repair.
• Review your estate plans. If you’ve experienced any changes in your family situation this year, such as marriage, remarriage or the birth of a child, you may want to update your estate-planning documents to reflect your new situation. It’s also important to look at the beneficiary designations on your investment accounts, retirement plans, IRAs and insurance policies, as these designations can sometimes even supersede the instructions you’ve left in your will. And if you haven’t started estate planning, there’s no time like the present.
• Take your RMDs. If you’re 73 or older, you will likely need to take withdrawals — called required minimum distributions, or RMDs — from some of your retirement accounts, such as your traditional IRA. If you don’t take these withdrawals each year, you could be subject to penalties. These aren’t the only moves you can make, but they may prove helpful not only for 2024 but in the years to come. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Patrick Zamkin, located at 18735 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430. Contact us at (708) 798-9066. Edward Jones. Member SIPC.
Deadline to Apply for Federal Assistance for July Severe Storms is Dec. 13
FEMA has approved more than $126.8 million for homeowners and renters with July 13 - 16 storm damage to their home and personal property in Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will and Winnebago. Help is still available, so don’t delay! There’s one week left to apply for assistance from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) before the Friday, December 13 deadline.
You don’t need to wait for contractor estimates or insurance settlements to apply for FEMA assistance. In fact, you shouldn’t wait. You need to get your application in by the deadline, even if that application will need more information or documentation submitted at a later point. By law FEMA cannot duplicate benefits covered by insurance, but FEMA may be able to help with costs that insurance doesn’t cover—which may include grants for temporary housing, basic home repair or replacement, moving and storage costs, primary vehicle repair or replacement, essential furniture and appliances, medical and dental costs, and childcare costs.
Apply for FEMA assistance one of three ways:
• Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Use the FEMA mobile app.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available to take your call; press option 2 for Spanish and 3 for all other languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
SBA Physical Disaster Loans
After you apply for FEMA assistance, don’t wait to apply for a long-term, low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) too. You aren’t required to apply for an SBA loan to be considered for FEMA grants, but you could miss out on SBA’s help with disaster-related expenses that FEMA assistance doesn’t cover. There is no cost to apply, and you are under no obligation to accept a loan if approved.
Homeowners, renters, businesses and certain private nonprofit organizations can learn more about SBA long-term, lowinterest Physical Disaster Loans that can go towards repairing and replacing disaster-damaged property, by going online to sba. gov/disaster.
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance and an SBA Physical Disaster Loan is Friday, December 13. For even more information about the disaster recovery operation in Illinois, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4819.
Speaking Of Seniors
Helped Hobart Client with Bill for $1,778
WOODROW WILCOX
On November 5, 2024, I wrote a letter to a medical billing firm for a client from Hobart, Indiana. With some editing to protect privacy, here is the letter that I sent. Our client sent to our firm a bill from your firm for our review. The bill seeks a balance of $1,778 on Account Number XXXXXXXXX for services rendered on 8/21/24.
I phoned the client’s secondary insurer to learn what it knew of this claim. It reported that Medicare never sent the claim information to it. That is not the fault of our client – your patient. It is the fault of either Medicare for not sending the claim information or the fault of your firm for not filing the claim with Medicare. I don’t know which it is.
To fix this problem as fast as possible, please send both the original billing information and the Medicare EOB information about this claim directly to
the secondary insurer at the following address. Thank you.
All the help that I gave this client was FREE OF CHARGE. This insurance agency helps all clients with similar medical bill problems without charge to demonstrate that we really do appreciate and value our clients. If your insurance agent or agency does not give this high level of customer service, why don’t you switch to another firm that does. This one does!
Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville, Indiana. He has saved clients of that firm over three million dollars by fighting mistakes and fraud in Medicare billing. Also, Wilcox wrote the book SOLVING MEDICARE PROBLEM$ which is available through book stores or online.
Pritzker education policy advisor named to head new Department of Early Childhood
Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday appointed Teresa Ramos to be the first permanent secretary of the newly-formed Illinois Department of Early Childhood.
“I’m eager to get started working with an incredible team of state employees, parents and families, advocates, and early childhood providers to create something exceptional that will give every infant, toddler, and young child an opportunity for a strong and healthy start,” Ramos said in a statement.
Pritzker announced plans in 2023 to establish a new agency that would consolidate under one roof a host of state programs currently scattered across several other agencies that serve the needs of families with infants and toddlers. Those include oversight and funding of preschools, childcare centers, home visiting and early intervention programs.
The legislation authorizing the new agency, Senate Bill 1, passed the Senate unanimously in April, and passed the House with bipartisan support in May. Pritzker signed the bill into law in June. The new agency is expected to be fully operational in July 2026.
Ramos, who currently serves in Pritzker’s office as first assistant deputy governor for education, will take over as acting secretary in January. She will take over the job from Irma Martinez Snopek, who was named to serve as acting secretary in August while the search for a permanent secretary continued. Ramos’ appointment is subject to Senate approval.
Before joining the governor’s office in 2022, Ramos served as vice president of public policy, research, and advocacy at Illinois Action for Children, a nonprofit advocacy and research organization that
MARQUEZ
Efren Diaz Marquez, age 86, of Grant Park, IL, passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2024. Beloved husband of Alma Diaz Marquez, nee Romero. Devoted father of Maria (Juan) Haro, Juanita Martinez, Noemi Milagros Martinez, and Rosa Elena Romero Hernandez. Grandfather of many grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents Antonio and Marcelina Diaz. Visitation for immediate family Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. then visitation for more family and friends from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Smits, DeYoung-Vroegh Chapel 649 E. 162nd St. (Rt.6/159th St/) South Holland, IL. Prayer service Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 10:15 a.m. from Smits Funeral Home to Our Lady of Knock Catholic Church, 501 163rd St, Calumet City, IL. for an 11:00 a.m. funeral Mass. Interment at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery –Calumet City, IL.
For further information, please contact 219-3227300 or visit our online guestbook and obituary at www.SMITSFH.com
DEVITT
Constance L. Devitt, nee Doherty, age 76, of Dyer, IN, passed away Saturday, November 30, 2024. Beloved wife of the late William Devitt. Loving mother of Peter (Loni) Hoff, Paul Hoff, Michael (fiancée Karen Potoski) Hoff, George (Tammy) Hoff, Nicole (Michael) Shipp, and Andrea (Nicole) Hoff.
Devoted grandmother of 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Dear sister of Bill Doherty, Dennis Doherty, Gloria Marich, Susan Carrillo, Darlene Mull, David Doherty, Dena Doherty, and late Colleen Doherty. Preceded in death by her parents William and Gloria Doherty Connie was a registered nurse in the G.I. Department at Community Hospital in Munster.
CHRISTIAN
focuses on child care and early childhood education. She also previously worked as director of community engagement for Advance Illinois, an advocacy and research group focused on public education.
Ramos holds a doctoral degree in anthropology with a minor in Latina/ Latino Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“Dr. Ramos has served the state of Illinois admirably in both the public and private sector, and I can think of no person better positioned to shepherd IDEC as it ramps up to full operations,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Her expertise across education, child care, community engagement, and early childhood development make her a leader in her field that I know will lead the new Department to success.”
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Efren Díaz Marquez, de 86 años, de Grant Park, IL, falleció el miércoles 27 de noviembre de 2024. Esposo de Alma Díaz Marquez de soltera Romero. Padre de Maria (Juan) Haro, Juanita Martinez, Noemi Milagros Martinez, y Rosa Elena Romero Hernandez. Abuelito de muchos nietos. Precedido en la muerte sus padres Antonio y Marcelina Díaz. Visitación para familia directos el martes 3 de diciembre de 2024, de 3:00 a 4:00 p. m. luego visitación para más familiares y amigos de 4:00 a 8:00 p.m. en Smits, DeYoung-Vroegh Chapel 649 E. 162nd St. (Rt.6/159th St/) South Holland, IL. Servicio de oración el miércoles 4 de diciembre de 2024 a las 10:15 a.m. desde Smits Funeral Home hasta Our Lady of Knock 501 163rd St, Calumet City, IL. para una misa funeral a las 11:00 a. m. Entierro en Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery – Calumet City, IL. Para obtener más información, comuníquese al 219-322-7300 o visite nuestro libro de visitas y obituario en línea en www. SMITSFH.com
Memorial visitation Friday, December 6, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. until time of the memorial service at 10:00 a.m. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane, Dyer, IN. For further information, please contact 219-3227300 or visit our online obituary and guest book at www.SMITSFH.com
POORTENGA
Heath W. Poortenga, age 53, of Merrillville, IN, passed away Sunday, December 1, 2024. Beloved husband of the late Brenda Poortenga, nee Staal. Loving father of Austin Poortenga, Hope (Josh) Knoblich, and Summer Poortenga. Cherished grandfather of Micah Knoblich. Dear son of David Poortenga and Lindsay Poortenga. Loving brother of Jason Poortenga, Beth (Pete) Batinic, and Tami (Mark Van Beek) Poortenga. Uncle of Emily, Sebastian and Preston. Heath was loved by many and will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held Friday, December 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. followed by a time of visitation with family and friends until 7:00 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane, Dyer, IN For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www. SMITSFH.com
Lucille M. Christian, nee DeLorenzo, age 81, of Crete, IL, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Beloved wife of the late Michael Christian. Dear sister of the late Rose Marie (late Jerome) Baron, late Anna Mae (late Charles) Zamarocy, late Barbara (late Joseph) Herman, late Virginia (Alton) Bradley, late Patricia (late Phillip) Fowlie, and the late Christina (Frank) DeLuca. Sister-in-law of Vera Christian. Kind aunt to 14 nieces and nephews, several great-nieces and nephews, and two greatgreat nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents Michael and Anna Mae DeLorenzo. Lucille was loved by many and will be dearly missed. Visitation Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane, Dyer, IN. Prayer service Friday, December 13, 2024 at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home leaving to St. Liborius Catholic Church 71 W. 35th St. Steger, IL for a 10:00 a.m. funeral Mass with Fr. Greg Skowron officiating. Interment Calvary Cemetery –Steger, IL. Memorial contributions in memory of Lucille may be given to St. Liborius Church. For further information, please contact 219-3227300 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www.SMITSFH.com
MALM
Edward E. Malm, age 93, of St. John, IN passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Beloved husband of the late Barbara Malm, nee Lewis. Loving father of the late Robert (Andrea) Malm and John (Renee) Malm. Devoted grandfather of Lauren (Scott) Mackela, Robert (Katie) Malm, Jordan (Kerianne) Malm, Dane (Sydney) Malm, and Noah (Morgan) Malm and 12 great-grandchildren. Dear brother of the late Elaine Boldman and the late Lillian Thompson. Preceded in death by his parents Edgar and Mabel Malm.
Ed was a U.S. Navy veteran and a retired carpenter. He was loved by his family and will be missed. Private family arrangements entrusted to Smits Funeral Home – Dyer, IN. For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online obituary and guestbook at www. SMITSFH.com
Gov. JB Pritzker announces his intention to form a state department to manage early childhood education and other state services at an October 2023 news conference.
(Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)
Smell of raw cannabis allows police to search a vehicle, Illinois Supreme Court rules
By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com
The smell of raw cannabis in a vehicle gives police probable cause to search it, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled last week.
The ruling comes months after the court ruled the smell of burnt cannabis does not give police probable cause to search a vehicle, drawing a fine line for motorists and police to follow when evaluating legal possession of cannabis.
“The odor of burnt cannabis suggests prior or current cannabis use, and the odor of raw cannabis suggests that cannabis is currently possessed in the area where the odor is detected. Different laws are implicated based on those inferences,” Justice P. Scott Neville, a Democrat, wrote in the majority opinion.
The 4-2 ruling by the court, with Republican Justice Lisa Holder White abstaining, found that an Illinois State Police trooper conducted a legal search of a car in which Vincent Molina was a passenger in December 2020, after the driver was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 88 in Whiteside County.
According to court documents, the trooper said he smelled raw cannabis in the vehicle and initiated a search. The trooper then found multiple joints in a cardboard box in the car’s center console and cannabis in a sealed plastic container in the glove box. Molina was charged with a misdemeanor for illegal possession of cannabis.
A circuit court initially ruled in Molina’s favor, finding the search was unreasonable because Illinois law allows people over age 21 to possess recreational cannabis. But an appellate court and the Illinois Supreme Court disagreed with that ruling, citing the state’s laws for how cannabis should legally be possessed in a vehicle.
Illinois law requires cannabis to be in a “sealed, odor-proof, child-resistant cannabis container” when in a car and for it to be “reasonably inaccessible while the vehicle is moving.”
Neville wrote the trooper made a “reasonable inference” that the smell meant cannabis was illegally possessed.
“While cannabis is legal to possess generally, it is illegal to possess in a vehicle on an Illinois highway unless in an odor-proof container,” Neville wrote. “The odor of raw cannabis strongly suggests that the cannabis
is not being possessed within the parameters of Illinois law. And, unlike the odor of burnt cannabis, the odor of raw cannabis coming from a vehicle reliably points to when, where, and how the cannabis is possessed — namely, currently, in the vehicle, and not in an odor-proof container.”
The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously ruled in September, with White abstaining, that the smell of burnt cannabis does not indicate a crime has been committed and does not give police probable cause to search a vehicle. Though a state trooper found a gram of cannabis in the car at the center of that case, the driver exhibited no signs of impairment, and the trooper should not have searched the vehicle, the court concluded in an opinion authored by Neville.
Justice Mary Kay O’Brien wrote a dissenting opinion in Molina’s case, joined by Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis.
“It makes no sense to treat raw cannabis as more probative when the odor of burnt cannabis may suggest recent use, whereas the odor of raw cannabis does not suggest consumption,” O’Brien wrote. “If the crime suggested by the odor of burnt cannabis is not sufficient for probable cause, then certainly the crime suggested by the odor of raw cannabis cannot be either.”
O’Brien, a former state lawmaker, noted it is legal to possess certain amounts of cannabis in Illinois.
“The result, whether intentional or not, is to continue to stigmatize the use of cannabis despite the legislative efforts to legalize the use of cannabis,” she wrote.
Supreme courts in other states have also issued rulings placing limits on when the smell of cannabis gives probable cause to police to search a vehicle.
Illinois lawmakers have also sought to enshrine limitations on vehicle searches based on the smell of cannabis into state law. The Senate passed a bill in 2023 that would prohibit police from searching a vehicle based on the smell of burnt or raw cannabis, but it stalled in the House pending resolution of the court cases.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Homewood Self Storage located at 501 Ridge Rd, Homewood, IL 60430 (773-974-8797)
intends to hold an auction of the goods stored in the following units in default for non-payment of rent: Tyseray Preston - Unit 17; Christopher Smith, Unit 100; Ralph Jacques, Unit 121. Auctions will be conducted online on www.storageauctions.com at 12PM CST on January 6, 2025.
South Holland native serves aboard USS Frank E Peterson Jr.
Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Artez Patterson, from South Holland, Ill., connects the fueling hose to fuel station seven on the aft missile deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), during a replenishment-at-sea with the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204). Frank E. Petersen Jr., assigned to Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group as integrated air and missile defense warfare commander, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Victoria Armstrong)
Barrier Breakers: Poll Reveals Illinois’ Most Inspiring Immigrant
Immigrants have long been at the heart of what makes America extraordinary. From the neighborhoods they’ve built to the industries they’ve revolutionized, their stories reflect innovation, resilience, and an unrelenting spirit of possibility. They’ve brought unique perspectives, traditions, and expertise that have shaped science, art, business, and civil rights.
To shine a spotlight on this incredible legacy, Guide2Fluency conducted a poll of 3,000 respondents to highlight the most inspiring immigrants in each state. The results showcase individuals who not only made a new life in America but became icons of ingenuity and determination, reminding us all of the power of embracing diversity.
Illinoisans voted Helmut Jahn as their most inspiring immigrant. Born in Germany, Jahn moved to Illinois and became a celebrated architect, known for Chicago landmarks like the Thompson Center and the United Airlines terminal at O’Hare. His work is emblematic of Illinois’s iconic architectural landscape.
Their second choice was Mies van der Rohe. Originally from Germany, Mies moved to Chicago while establishing his architectural career. He became one of America’s most influential architects, leaving a significant legacy in Chicago with iconic structures like the Lake Shore Drive Apartments.
And in third Enrico Fermi. From Italy, Fermi became one of the 20th century’s most important physicists. His work on nuclear fission at the University of Chicago was pivotal to the Manhattan Project and advanced Illinois’s scientific community.
Nationally, the top 10 were as follows:
1. Albert Einstein (New Jersey)
Think of New Jersey, and you might picture the Princeton labs where Albert Einstein transformed our understanding of the universe. Originally from Germany, Einstein brought his brilliance to Princeton University, making New Jersey a beacon for global academic excellence.
2. Elon Musk (California)
Elon Musk’s journey began in Pretoria, South Africa, before finding his way through Canada and landing him in the United States. As the visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX, Musk’s innovative spirit reshaped California’s tech landscape, though his influence now spans far beyond one state.
3. Arnold Schwarzenegger (California)
Who knew an Austrian teenager with a love for bodybuilding would go on to conquer Hollywood and politics? Arnold Schwarzenegger’s story is as dynamic as his on-screen characters, with California becoming the stage where he transitioned from Mr. Olympia to movie star to governor.
4. Nikola Tesla (New York) New York was the launchpad for Nikola Tesla’s genius. Born in what’s now Croatia, Tesla electrified the world
with his groundbreaking work in AC electricity and wireless technology, ensuring New York remained at the forefront of innovation.
5. Madeleine Albright (New York) Madeleine Albright’s remarkable journey began as a young refugee from Czechoslovakia, arriving in New York with her family. Those early years in the city forged her resilience, helping her rise to become America’s first female Secretary of State and a global advocate for democracy.
6. Mary Harris “Mother” Jones (West Virginia)
“Mother” Jones may have traveled far and wide from Ireland, but her impact was deeply felt in West Virginia. A fierce advocate for miners, she led pivotal labor movements during the Mine Wars, fighting tirelessly for workers’ rights and fair conditions.
7. Irving Berlin (New York)
Few stories embody the American dream like that of Irving Berlin. Born in Russia, his family landed at Ellis Island when he was just five. He grew up to write timeless songs like God Bless America and White Christmas, solidifying his place as one of the greatest songwriters in American history.
8. Henry Kissinger (Massachusetts) Henry Kissinger’s journey from Germany to America shaped the course of history. After arriving in New York as a refugee, he became a towering figure in international relations, with his time at Harvard in Massachusetts serving as the foundation for his influential career in U.S. diplomacy.
9. Elie Wiesel (New York)
Born in Romania, Elie Wiesel’s survival of the Holocaust brought him to New York, where he became a voice for humanity. His Nobel Peace Prize and writings about human rights have left a profound legacy, teaching future generations to fight against injustice.
10. Joseph Pulitzer (New York) Joseph Pulitzer’s name is synonymous with excellence in journalism. Born in Hungary, he made waves first in Missouri before transforming The New York World into a powerhouse of investigative reporting. His work set the standard for modern media and established New York as the heart of American journalism.
“Immigrants have not only contributed to America’s industries and culture but have also enriched our understanding of the world through the languages, ideas, and traditions they bring with them,” says Mathias Johansen of Guide2Fluency. “From Albert Einstein’s groundbreaking theories to Irving Berlin’s timeless melodies, these individuals remind us that diversity is America’s greatest strength.” Guide2fluency provided findings can be found here: guide2fluency. com/language-resources/survey-mostinspiring-immigrants-every-state/
Photo of Artez Patterson by Petty Officer 2nd Class Victoria Armstrong
Classifieds
Services
AC/HEATING
SERVICES: Summer Special! Furnaces or A/C’s , Clean & check $59.95. Furnaces, A/C’s, Boilers, water heaters, sump pumps, humidifiers, installations, repairs, furnaces installed from $1495.00 R/D Heating & Cooling. IL. and IN. 219-616-3281
SMITH PAINTING 30
YRS EXP FREE ESTIMATES Mention Sherry, get 5%off job. Call Mike 2197429867
GUTTER CLEANING: SUPER FLOW Gutter cleaning, Free estimates. Very reasonable. Ask for Rob. No Sundays. 708877-6860
JUNK REMOVAL Time to make space! Cleanouts (garage attic, basement, shed). Hauling away appliances, furniture, trash. WE RECYCLE! Call ‘til 8pm. 708-898-8668
CAR / TRUCK TROUBLE?
Vehicle shopping? Onlocation diagnosis: Will find needed repairs / maintenance. Uncertain of mechanic estimate? 32 years exper. Any day! 708-898-8668
Wanted
Used or new musical instruments for a local school that does not have a music program. Students need arts like music to appreciate its many benefits. Please donate your working instruments. We need oboes, saxophones, double French horns, trumpets, flutes, clarinets, upright bass, and percussions. (219) 6807215
WANTED: OLD BEER CANS AND POP CANS. Single cans or whole collections.Also, beer signs, trays, other misc. vintage beer/tavern items.Cash paid. 219-730-9624
Need cleaning woman (or man) for doors, baseboards and exterior of kitchen cabinets; also vacuuming carpets. (708) 895-2647
In need individual looking for older model car donation or under $1000 708-341-3106
Single, childless, and disabled, female is in need of a smoke free and quiet room. Anyone interested in helping financially or with a bed? Not interested in drama, or sexual favors!! I”m trying to pay off debts and pay for my monthly expenses. I will not bring over family/friends. Thanks. Text/call 312.736.2037
WANTED DEGAN OR MUSSER VIBRAPHONE CALL 219-801-0955
WANTED - As many can of salmon fish as you have. 219-801-0955
WANTED - Thick rubber roll roof for (4) car garage. 219-801-0955 IN DESPARATE NEED SMALL CAR FOR 80 YEAR OLDECONOMICAL CAR CAN BE DAMAGED IF RUNNING FOR LOW INCOME SR. CITIZ. Does not have to pass emission test if the price is right - Call 219-801-0955
WANTED: 1972 & OLDER CARS & TRUCKS, PARTS, RUNNING OR NOT (and parts) unfinished project and 67-69 Camaros. 708-439-9770
WANTED - GARAGE TO STORE MY OLD DODGE CAR. Could use 1 or 2 Stall Garage. Prefer the Lansing area. Call James between 9am and 9pm, 708-460-8308 IN SEARCH OF OLDER COBRA CB RADIO BASE STATIONS & ACCESSORIES let me know what you have. Dan 312-720-0844
SENIOR LOOKING TO RENT 2 OR 3 BEDROOM HOUSE WITH GARAGE. Have Sect. 8, also have 24hr caregiver. Looking in Lansing, Calumet City, South Holland, or Thornton ASAP. Call 815-263-0490. Ask for Carol
WANTED: Electric chainsaws and as many chains as you have. Exterior Brown Paint. 219-801-0955
For Sale
1 GE electric stainless steel double oven, 1 Amana electric glass cooktop, both are in excellent condition. $600 for both or available separately. Best offer considered. 5 foot long, 30 inches high all glass jewelry case with light, $100 or best offer. NordiTrack treadmill in great shape, $150 or best offer. For more information, call 708-536-3228.
DUCKS ARE STARTING TO FLY. I have mallard decoys in good condition. 35$ a dozen. 7088953767
Trailer hitch Curt 13146 with plug & play wiring harness. Honda Pilot 201622/Acura MDX 2014-20. $150 used708 955 4890
Modern Medical Counselor, book, guide to health, 1943...$25.00... Queen mattress , box spring., guest room,.. like new . $125.00. 708-6454245
Trailer hitch Curt 13146 with plug & play wiring harness. Honda Pilot 201622/Acura MDX 2014-20. $150 used708 955 4890
Emerson stereophonic phonograph ( record player) used lightly in original box late 1970s model $30. 312-720-0844
Late 1960s Gilbert
American Flyer All Aboard Pioneer 600 train set 6 scenic panel 5 unit train original box is rough nearly all pieces inside $100. 312-720-0844
100 yr old Singer Pedal Sewing MachineAntique Croquet Set with all piecesAntique Royal Typewriter with stand$100 each or best offer Lansing Illinois - 630-697-0188
CHICAGO BEARS VS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
DEC 26 @7PM Prime Time2 seats section 218 row 4Tickets are digital $225 ea Cash only Text 219-308-5442
FOR SALE TWO BURIAL PLOTS LOT I&2 AT OAKLAND MEMORY LANES CEMETERY. $6000.00 OR BEST OFFER. Contact Adrienne At 708-378-2195
6 PIECE FRENCH
PROVINCIAL SET- SOFA, LOVE SEAT, CHAIR, SOFA TABLE, TWO END TABLES, GOOD CONDITION $650. Cedar Ridge Swing Set for 3-8 years, new in the box $250.00. (708) 715-9009 between 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Drill Press Vintage Wards Powercraft Bench Mount
$60 OBO; Trailed Winch Brand New Fulton Model 511, 1600 LBS Capacity $20 OBO; Industrial Heat Gun HG301A $20 OBO; Copper Sulphate Root Killer for Sewer Lines have several bottles, $5 each; A&W and Dog & Suds Root Beer Mugs $5 each OBO; House Box Fan $10; Rare R-12 Freon $30 each; Battery Charger 12 and 6 volt $15; Snow Blower Ariens two-stage elec. start, 20in $110 OBO; Snow Blower 5HP two stage 24” Runs Great $150; Lawn Mower Troy Bilt 21in Self Propelled $110 OBO. 708-837-9814. Please leave a message.
Pyrex Bowls and Bakeware $3-$5 a Piece; Champagne and Wine Glasses (Crystal) $2 ea; Crystal Wine, Liquor Decanters $15-$25; “Johnson’s Bros.” White English Ironstone Set of Dishes (64 pc.) $40 or OBO. Vintage Madame Alexander doll, “Degas” girl #1575 in original box, wrist tag and stand, $45. 708-481-6907
Turkey Fryer w/ Regulator, Water Fountain, Stock Pot, Women’s Skechers, new 9.5, Johnson Sea Horse w/ Stand. Bacgammon Game, Scott’s 20” Push Mower New OBO. 708-877-6088
FOR SALE: Schwinn Men’s 26” Jaguar bike, as is. $100.00. 219-8366104.
GOLF BALLS. LIKE NEW. REASONABLE. PLEASE CONTACT CHUCK IF INTERESTED. 219-7187712
Fisher-Price Power Wheels Barbie Jeep. In original box. Excellent condition. Needs battery and charger. $50 Call or text 708-6739361
Black and Decker electric lawn mower. Great condition. $110 Call or text 708-673-9361
Manual push lawn mower. Excellent condition. $35 Call or text 708-673-9361
Nostalgia Electronics popcorn machine , tabletop...$35.00. Danish modern style chair. solid walnut. tan cushions .$49.00 708-645-4245
Old vhs tapes $1, walker $40, extra large punch bowl $20, glass dinette set $50, new portable toilet , African Art $MISC 708-501-1388
Exercise Bike Pro Form Model GR 75 $60 OBO; Drill Press Bench Mount Wards Powercraft $60 OBO; Trailer Winch Fulton Model 511 1600 LBS capacity $20 OBO; Rare R-12 Freo $30 ea; Greenlee Slug Buster, Have Two Kits Model 7235 BB and 7237 BB $100. BOth OBO; Industrial Heat Gun HG301A $25 OBO; Copper Sulfate Root Killer for Sewer Lines have several bottles, $5 each; A&W Dog and Suds Root Beer Mugs, $5 each OBO; House Box Fans $10 ea. OBO. 708-837-9814
Nordic Track Pro, excellent like new condition $100 708-8914798
Radio Flyer Red Wagon for 2 Comes with Seatbelts and 4 Cup Holders. Hauling Capacity 200 lbs. Gently used $40. Twin Size Bed Sheets $1 each; Twin Size Duvet Covers $5 ea. Call 708-481-6907
Ethan Allen Wingback Chair - $70; Hardwood Kitchen Chairs (Windsor Type) $30; Heavy duty universal bed frame, $15. Stiffel brass table lamps, $25-$35 each. Assorted lamp shades, $5-$10ea; Occasional Squire 26” dark wood 2 tier table. $50; Assorted Luggage, $5-$10 each; Kitchen Cabinet 33.5”h x 16.5”w x 18”d with 1 door (3 shelves inside);$30 OBO; Stainless Steel, Almost new, Whirlpool Over the Stove Microwave, $50. 708-4816907
40 hummels in original boxs and 4 goebel plates best reasonable offer 708 308 4634
New Electric Coffee Maker w/2 Stainless Steel Travel Cups. Still in box $20.00Call 708-474-9568
Estate Sale, Shark Navigator Vacuum, anti-allergen, pet plus, more suction/lighter, New, Boxed, $159.00,,cash, originally $259.00 708-645-4245
Queen mattress/box spring ..guest room.. like new ..$125.00 , West Bend electric stainless wok, w/ accessories, used once. $25.00 708-645-4245
Trailer hitch for Honda Pilot 2016-22 or Acura MDX 2014-20. Curt 13146. Gently used. $125
Set of Rugs $20 - and a cargo liner $30 for Subaru. (708) 895-2647
55 in Vizio TV $50 or best offer. (708) 895-2647
Christmas tree 5 foot pre lit full plus ornaments and storage bag 150.00 call 219 663 8544
New Power Air Fryer Pro all attachments and cook books 65.00 call 219 663 8544
Large heavy concrete bird bath, good condition. $60.00; Metal commercial clothing rack on wheels 64 in long x 61 in high$75.00; Senior bath/shower chair like new $45.00; Shop vac 5 HP includes manual and 2 attchmts$50.00; Stihl backpack blower - runs well, no manual. $325.00 private owner; Echo handheld leaf blower, runs good, includes user manual $150.00 219-218-6466
Ladies winter coat, wool, boucle, camel shade, large mink collar, medium ... excellent condition..$75.00..official Chicago Bears glasses...8/$20.00 708645-4245
2 Broyhill end tables with drawer and lower cabinet 25” high x 26” wide x 28” deep. Good condition Pickup in St.John, IN 219-308-5442
Cabbage Patch Doll 1992 Tenth Anniversary Zora Mae numbered new in box ( box has some dents rips) never played with smoke free home. Can provide pics on request ! $75 312-720-0844
Size 10.5 Brown LaCoste Hiking Boots w/ Steeel Toe, New in Box, Paid $65, Asking $40 OBO. Call 312-203-41-67 ask for Tony! Blaupunkt antique stereo and turntable with centerpiece. $125.00, email at Patc96259@gmail.com
4 chairs wrought iron all black and table wrought iron.$125.00 email to Patc96259@gmail.com
Leaf Blower-700 Rake O-Vac-like new $25, Miscelaneous movice cameras, projectors and tripod--Best Offer! Office Chair New--In BoxModway EEI-757 $95. Matching Buffet Lamps --New $20. Tomato Grinder Antique -$ 15. Sausage Grinder Antique-$15. Beleek China Plate--New in Box $20 708-448-5672
Scotts EZ Patch and Repair Seed, Fert, Mulch Complete, $19; Preen Weed Preventer stops weeds for 3 months, $15; Grub Control, 15lbs, 5200 SQFT coverage, $15; Large Sunflower Pinwheels, Yellow w/ Brown Centers, $8 Ea. 780-460-8308
Small Shovel, 5” Steel Blade for kids or Adults, new, $6; 3 ft. Weed Wacker, double cutting blade, $10; Alum. Scoop shovel, USA Made, new, $39; Steel Scoop HD Shovel, very old, $15; Timex 7” Wall Thermometer, new $4. 708-460-8303
Heavy Duty Halloween Floormats $9; Parts for a 1985 Toyota Truck - Lug Wrench in cloth pouch, new, $20, Toyota Owner’s Marual, $25; S.S. Radio Antenna $25, Twin Tan Carpet Floor Mats, $40. 708-460-8308
4” Magnetic Parts holder, new, $5; 4 Pc. New Brush set, misc, $8; 20 pc. Drill Bit set in holder, $22; 9pc mini screwdriver set in the case, $7; small packet dielectric grease, $1.25 each. 708-460-8308
12 foot Lighted Booster Cables in pouch, $17; Plastic float for applying grout, $5; Ladies extra long snuggly sox, red or pink, $4 ea; 2005 New Green Bay Pckers Xmas Ornament, $12; N95 Face Mask Respirator, $3 ea; Ladies Perfect Used Black Shoes, size 8, $6; Mens Totes Rubber Zipper Boots, New, USA, Size XXL $18. 708-460-8308
Toro snowblower model CCR2450. 5 H .P.Electric start. $75.00(402)6701694
Full size bed with mattress, box spring and frame
$100, 4 drawer dresser $25, Drive extra large size manual wheelchair with pad never been used $100. Please contact Vicki at 708 634-9464. Leave message on voicemail I will return you’re call..
Snow season!! MTD Pro snow blower. 21’ swath, electric start. Runs great! $75.00708-895-3767 Lansing
Full length mink coat, medium, older , good condition $150.00. Red wool blazer, size medium/ petite, Nordstroms, new, $29.00. 708-645-4245
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum named among top 10 ‘Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights’ by USA TODAY
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum has been nationally recognized as one of the top 10 ‘Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights’ by USA TODAY. The distinction is part of USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2024.
Currently in its 12th year, Illumination is the only holiday light show in Illinois to receive the Top 10 designation. This is the third time Illumination has landed a spot on the USA TODAY’s 10Best list.
The Arboretum was nominated by a panel of experts, including USA TODAY 10Best editors. Readers then voted for their favorites. Illumination also recently appeared on the U.S. News and World Report’s list of “28 Best Christmas Light Displays + Tours for 2024.” “Illumination continues to be a standout holiday experience, drawing national recognition for its fresh take on holiday light displays, where the trees themselves are the main attraction, not just the lights,” said Amy Scott, the Arboretum’s head of exhibitions.
More than 2 million people have experienced Illumination since its inception in 2013. The one-of-a-kind spectacle of color, light and music was custom designed by Lightswitch LLC, and incorporates new and updated features each year.
This season features a vibrant, new display of interactive tree shapes synchronized to different musical instruments in the Arboretum’s Grand Garden, along an ADA-compliant, one-mile walking trail
with 17 immersive light displays. “What sets the Arboretum’s holiday light displays apart is our focus on the natural beauty of trees in winter, creating a unique, family-friendly experience that celebrates the season in a way no other light show does,” Scott said. “It’s an outdoor holiday tradition that families look forward to every year.”
USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight the best of the best in categories such as destinations, food and drink, hotels, and things to do and see in the U.S. and abroad.
Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum runs through Jan. 4, 2025. For tickets or more information, visit mortonarb.org. Illumination is generously sponsored by Invesco QQQ and ComEd.
IL youth 4-H leaders selected for food advocacy grants
By HANNAH SPANGLER FarmWeek
Illinois 4-H selected 14 youth-led projects to receive funding from the 2024 Food Advocacy Grant program.
The grants are designed to invest in the next generation of food access leaders, supporting projects that take on the challenge of food security in their communities. The selected applicants will receive a grant of $500 to $1,000 based on the project’s budget.
This year’s recipients include the following 4-H groups: Clay County 4-H Federation and Dismal Creek Critters, Johnson County 4-H Eagles, Hilltoppers 4-H Club, Wayne County 4-H Ambassadors, Blue Ribbon 4-H Club, Funny Farmers 4-H Club, Edgar County 4-H Federation, Casey Achievers 4-H, Sangamon Valley and Cisco Clovers 4-H Clubs, Hancock County Youth Leaders Academy and Teen Teachers, Kankakee 4-H Lepra’ Club, Urban Adventurers 4-H Club, Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences and Trinity Trailblazers 4-H Club.
“Since the 4-H office started offering this grant in 2020, we’ve really been able to take advantage of it and get several kids involved,” said Lora Ford, a leader of the Trinity Trailblazers 4-H Club in DuPage County.
This year, the club is working with DuPagePads, an organization working to end homelessness in the county, through a new project led by 4-H member David Wiewiura. After meeting with Erica Whelan, the DuPagePads grants manager, Wiewiura and other club members decided on a project to reach those who need more help this time of year.
During a Dec. 15 service learning event, the club will pack meal gift bags to help people who are single and homeless during the holidays. The event will also mark the launch of “Food Advocacy Heroes”, a new service-learning 4-H SPIN club that
will help more youth become involved in fighting food insecurity.
“We just want to encourage the kids to raise their voice and to think about their community where they live, and what they can do to make everything better,” DuPage County 4-H Coordinator Nancy Reppe said. In Edwards County, the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club saw a different need in their community and wanted to help. The Edwards County Senior Citizens Lunch Program, organized by club member Chloe Isle, will help the senior center in Albion provide pork and hamburger meat to more than 100 people.
“It doesn’t matter how old our members are, they can make a difference,” said the club’s leader, Debbie Fearn.
Mark Becker, Illinois 4-H food systems specialist, said the program was launched to help teens play a key role fighting food insecurity. Teens are less likely to access the services meant to help them because of the shame they can associate with not having access to food. The program gives youth leadership opportunities to address the problem while showing them that they don’t have to figure it out alone.
“Since its inception, we’ve been able to fund $80,000 worth of projects led by youth,” Becker told FarmWeek. “That’s for about 85 projects in 50 counties.”
Last year eight people applied for a grant and this year there were 26 applicants. Becker expects the program to continue growing.
“4-H has programming in all 102 counties,” Becker said. “So the goal moving forward, we’re at 50 counties, … we want to see a program in every county.” This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.
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Question: We made an offer on a Home listed for $280,000. We offered $275,000 and our offer was countered at full price. We feel it was a good offer. Don’t they want to sell?
Answer: Your offer sounds reasonable to me, but I’m not the owner of this home. It’s possible the homeowner priced it well and they feel the asking price is fair. Perhaps the home is beautifully updated, and they know they can get a better price. Maybe the home is new on the market & they don’t want to jump on a low offer. $5000 is a lot of money!
If you asked the seller to pay for your closing costs in addition to the $5000 off listing price, then that “net offer” is very low and not acceptable and maybe even insulting to the sellers.
Maybe your offer was contingent on selling your home first. If this was the case, then your contract was definitely not appealing to the sellers.
The bottom line is if both buyer OR seller are not happy with the terms of the contract, then there is no deal.
My Suggestion: In this seller’s market, (which is the case especially if the home is beautiful) pay the asking price. You may regret it if you really love the home. Home prices usually appreciate, so your home should increase in value every year unless there is a huge recession. Also, your lender will require an appraisal of the property. If the appraisal shows the home price is too high compared to similar properties in the area, your lender will not grant the loan unless you come up with the difference or if the seller drops the price to the appraised value. If neither option works, then you are, in most cases, entitled to get your deposit returned.
E-mail us your Real Estate questions at Cathyah@aol.com. Thinking of selling your home? Call Cathy & Jim Higgins, Licensed Broker/Realtors in Indiana & Illinois. IN: 219-865-4361 IL: 708-8283304. McColly Real Estate. Website: www.Cathyhiggins.com. Personal Real Estate Journal: www.Higginshousechat. blogspot.com
