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THE REGIONAL NEWS Named best small weekly in Illinois five times by the Illinois Press Association

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Serving Palos, Orland and Worth townships and neighboring communities

77th Year, NO. 1 • 2 Sections

ORLAND PARK

Video gaming sparks dueling ballot choices

By Dermot Connolly Staff Writer

There will be not one, but two advisory referenda related to video gaming on Orland Park ballots March 20.

At a special meeting last Thursday, the Orland Park Village Board voted 5-1 in favor of putting a referendum on local ballots asking whether the village should allow video gaming on a limited basis in the village. But not before a group of residents opposed to gaming circulated petitions and gathered more than 2,100 signatures, enough to get another referendum on the ballot asking whether “Orland Park should prohibit video gaming.”

Mayor Keith Pekau and Trustee James Dodge were among the board members who said they were blindsided by the “citizens’ referendum” and felt the village’s own referendum was now necessary to clarify the situation. They said the citizens’ referendum is misleading, because Orland Park already prohibits video gaming.

The village referendum is more detailed and explanatory about what type of video gaming would be allowed and in which businesses. It would be limited to restaurants and bars with Class A liquor licenses, and only those in operation for at least 18 months.

Before the board members spoke, several residents shared their views, both for and against a referendum.

“There is no need for a referen-

dum,” said Tim McCarthy, owner of Paddy B’s bar and restaurant at 11969 W. 143rd St., on the southwest edge of the village. He said he was representing 10 family businesses who have told village officials they need video gaming to stay open and compete fairly against businesses in neighboring communities that allow gaming.

He urged the board to approve gaming without going to referendum.

“At the two town hall meetings held on this subject, I’ve provided facts and information. But this issue has turned into the ridiculous,” he said.

McCarthy said that the last two referenda on ballots in the 2017 elections were about issues, waste collection and sports fields, which would cost residents money. “But video gaming will not cost residents money. It will bring in money,” he said.

“They’re talking about a possible $10 million deficit in 2018. We’re not going to make that up with bake sales,” he added.

An ordinance prohibiting video gaming in Orland Park has been on the books since 2009. But McCarthy and other business owners have been asking village officials to legalize it for some time. The possibility of doing so was first discussed publicly at the village board meeting on Nov. 7, after Village Clerk John Mehalek placed discussion of a proposed ordinance

Photo by Anthony Caciopo

Officer Ross Chibe of the Palos Park Police Department speaks with a driver whose car he noticed had stopped on Southwest Highway, almost entirely in a lane of traffic. The driver was found to be impaired and was arrested.

Palos Park police give insider’s view with live video streaming

By Anthony Caciopo Regional News Editor

Police officer Ross Chibe is about an hour into his 12-hour shift as he gets ready to hit the streets and be broadcast on Facebook Live, providing an inside look at the activities of the Palos Park Police Department.

See ORLAND PARK, Page 2 “So far on this shift, it’s almost

7 p.m. and there have been five calls,” he said as he wheeled his powerful Ford Explorer patrol vehicle east on 123rd Street from police headquarters where he had stopped to pick up a passenger.

The calls included a couple of motorist assists, a complaint of solicitation, a citizen assist and one other of rather routine nature, as defined by Chibe himself.

Adults, children celebrate at “Noon Year’s Eve”

By Anthony Caciopo Regional News Editor

See 2018, Page 2

where people around the block, around town and even conceivably around the world could watch Officer Chibe at work.

It didn’t take long for comments to appear from viewers.

“This looks cool,” said one Facebook follower.

“The public could definitely See POLICE, Page 2

Palos Heights water main relocation may prove expensive

DANCING INTO 2018 The new year arrived 12 hours early at the Palos Heights Recreation Center Sunday—at least ceremonially—as hundreds of adults and children jammed the gym floor to dance, play games, socialize and get rained on by 2,000 balloons at the stroke of high noon.

Except only half the total number of balloons was in a party mood, at least at first.

The second batch of balloons, released several minutes later due to a minor equipment malfunction, floated down on the crowd that had been gazing toward the ceiling with perhaps even more anticipation than they had for the first release.

Many in the crowd cheered the Rec Center staff when the second batch was released, and the party didn’t miss a beat.

“We can’t practice this,” Recreation Manager Lauren Marino shouted over the noise as she talked about the sometimes-tricky nature of operating the netting that held the huge number of balloons aloft. She smiled, knowing that such a minor detail didn’t quell the festive atmosphere.

With DJ music pumping, a confetti machine blasting and children running to-and-fro, there was just too much fun to be had at “Noon Year’s Eve,” sponsored by the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce.

“This is our first time here and it’s very nice to see how people come together,” said Palos Heights resident Gonzalo Morales who attended the event with his wife, Joanna and their children, Nathan, 8 and Zachary, 2. “It’s something special for the kids.”

Mike Leonard, director of Parks & Recreation, paused to talk with a visitor and take in all the activity, a scene he has witnessed before but with not as

“A lot of what we do depends on the time of day,” he explained.

“If this was 2 in the morning instead of 7 at night…everything changes-hour-to-hour.”

Seated behind the veteran officer was Logan Maske, a cadet with the Palos Park Police Department who streamed large portions of the shift from his phone to the department’s Facebook page,

By Anthony Caciopo Regional News Editor

Photo by Anthony Caciopo

Peter Carroll, a former Palos Heights resident whose grandmother still lives in town, dances with his daughter, Brooke, 3. Carroll’s other daughters, Julie and Alexis, were also present for Noon Year’s Eve at the Recreation Center.

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Palos Heights faces a potentially costly water main relocation project ordered by the Illinois Dept. of Transportation (IDOT) due to proposed road re-configuration IDOT intends to undertake at the intersection of Rt. 83 and 127th Street.

The precise cost is currently unknown prior to engineering studies, but Ald. Don Bylut, chairperson of the Palos Heights Water and Sewer Committee, described it as “an expensive proposition.”

The location is not within the City of Palos Heights, but a 16inch water supply pipe that serves Palos Heights from Alsip must be moved in order to accommodate the roadwork, which will include a turning lane and possibly additional construction.

“Where IDOT plans to do their

work is where we have our water main,” said Bylut.

“Unfortunately, they don’t help municipalities that are impacted by their decisions,” he said of IDOT. “It’s one of those things that’s very expensive and it’s really not our choice,” he said.

At the Dec. 19 meeting of the Palos Heights City Council, the final meeting of 2017, Bylut made a motion “to approve entering in an Intergovernmental Agreement with IDOT for the Rt. 83 Water Main Relocation Project.”

Ald. Alan Fulkerson of Ward 3 added “Subject to review by the City attorney and approval by the City Council.”

The motion passed.

Another motion presented by Bylut was “to approve entering into a contract with Robinson Engineering for professional See WATER MAIN, Page 3

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2 Thursday, January 4, 2018

The Regional News

POLICE BLOTTER: PALOS HEIGHTS Drug possession Paul Abbasi, 25, of the 400 block of Shadow Creek Drive, Palos Heights, was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance after police responded to a disturbance at his home at 12:48 p.m. Monday.

Police said two controlled substances were found in his possession. Abbasi was also cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was held for a bond hearing.

DUI Mathew R. Toppel, 22, of Hometown, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 1:02 a.m. Saturday, in the 12000 block of South Harlem Avenue.

Police said he failed field sobriety tests. He is due in court on Feb. 13.

Possession of stolen property Antonio Blackstrom, 26, of Harvey, was charged with unlawful possession of stolen property following a traffic stop at 10:04 a.m. Saturday, in the 7600 block of Route 83. Police said an investigation determined that the registration plate on the vehicle had been stolen from a business in Calumet City. He was also cited for driving without insurance and not wearing a seatbelt. He is due in court on Feb. 13.

Suspended license Marwan Matari, 25, of Tinley

Park, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 12:26 p.m. Dec. 26, in the 12700 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said he was also cited for driving without a seatbelt. He is due in court on Feb. 13.

Basim Ismail, 32, of Orland Park, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 8:17 a.m. last Thursday, in the 12700 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said he was also cited for driving without a seatbelt and no insurance.

He is due in court on Jan. 26.

Mazing Concept, 55, of Alsip, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 8:54 a.m. Friday, in the 7100 block of College Drive.

Police said he is due in court on Jan. 26.

Erica Stamps. 45, of Blue Island, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 1:50 a.m. Saturday, in the 6400 block of West 135th Street. Police said she is due in Photos by Anthony Caciopo court on Feb. 13.

A crowd of hundreds of people are almost completely obscured by a huge release of balloons at the Palos Heights Rec Center as part of Noon Year’s

Aggravated speeding

Anthony S. Melander, 36, of the 12500 block of South 73rd Court, Palos Heights, was charged with aggravated speeding following a traffic stop at 10:46 a.m. Friday, in the 6600 block of College Drive.

Police said he was also cited for driving a car with expired registration. He is due in court on Feb. 13.

POLICE BLOTTER: PALOS PARK DUI Anthony M. Wolak, 38, of Willow Springs, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 5:08 p.m. Dec. 17, in the 13500

block of South LaGrange Road.

Police said he registered .224 blood-alcohol count on a breath test, nearly three times the legal limit. He was also cited for failing to signal when required. He is due in court on Feb. 1.

POLICE BLOTTER: ORLAND PARK Retail theft Shuree Y. Jones-Washington, 49, of Joliet, was charged with retail theft at Carson’s in Orland Square Mall at 9:37 p.m. Dec. 8.

Police said she took merchandise worth $162.75, allegedly leaving the store with the clothing hidden under her coat in a shopping cart. Court information was not available.

Credit card fraud Keonna Dishay Buckner, 23, and Monee J. Dixon, 22, both of Chicago, were charged with felony alteration of credit cards at Akira in Orland Square Mall at 4:43 p.m. Dec. 9. Police said they were called to the clothing store because the women made repeated attempts to use a fraudulent credit card. Police said the numbers on the card were changed and the magnetic strip did not work. They said Dixon was carrying seven similarly altered credit cards, and Buckner had 22. Buckner was also arrested on a fugitive-from-justice warrant from Lake County on an outstanding forgery charge.

The women were held for bond hearings.

Suspended license Monique L. Pruitt, 37, of Chicago Heights, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 6:42 p.m. Dec. 7, on 143rd Street and LaGrange Road. Police said she was cited for driving with a revoked license, illegal use of an electronic communication device while driving, and having a loud

Police

Continued from Page 1 benefit from seeing things from your perspective,” said another.

And there were multiple comments with “Thanks for your service” or small variations.

“There are three (police) cars out tonight,” said Chibe, who began his career as a cadet 14 years ago, “and the chief is working as well.”

Chief Joe Miller is a vigorous proponent of social media and he uses multiple platforms to get the word out about the work his officers are doing on behalf of Palos Park residents. He also uses social media to keep local residents informed about potential crime concerns in the area, such as senior scams, a string of car burglaries and similar topics.

With Facebook Live, Miller said “We’re trying to show people that there are a lot of great men and women who go out to serve their community and do their job,” he said, “from a mundane barking dog complaint to a serious, fatal car accident.”

Miller, who became a police officer at the age of 21 with the Or-

muffler.

Ramon Villanueva Jr., 24, of Tinley Park, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 7:58 p.m. Dec. 6, on Lakeview Drive.

He was also cited for improper lighting because only one headlight was working, and driving without insurance. He was due in court on Dec. 18.

DUI Daniel R. Lopez, 60, of Homer Glen, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol at 4:07 p.m. Dec. 3, following a disturbance outside Gizmos Fun Factory in Orland Square Mall. He allegedly was driving recklessly around the parking lot, squealing tires. The man who reported Lopez’ conduct was allegedly almost hit twice by the vehicle Lopez was driving, police said. Lopez is due in court on Jan. 2.

Dwight Reed, 48, of Crest Hill, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving with a suspended license with a previous conviction, both felonies, following a hit-andrun accident at 1:45 a.m. Dec. 4, at 94th Avenue and Wheeler Drive.

Police said an open 24-ounce can of beer was found in the center console when he was stopped in a parking lot in the 9900 block of West 159th Street. Police said his license was already suspended for DUI. He was also cited for failure to yield turning left, leaving the scene of an accident, illegal transportation of open alcohol and driving without insurance. He was held for a bond hearing. land Park Police Department, said that any day could be uneventful or the calls can be non-stop.

“I want people to see that the officers need to be critical thinkers, that they have to treat people with respect and that they can communicate,” he said. “These are all cornerstones of what we do.”

And Miller is occasionally employing streaming video to give the public just such a view.

Cadet Maske’s smartphone screen is dark—understandably— as Chibe’s cruiser traverses many of Palos Park’s signature winding side streets. After nightfall, there’s just not that much to see other than glimpses of beautiful houses, tasteful property lighting and the stately driveway entrance or two.

But that’s just what the uninitiated notice.

Chibe’s got a different vision.

While he undoubtedly appreciates the beauty of Palos Park, he’s watching for other things—a darkened car on a dark street in which all the other cars are in garages or driveways, or a school parking lot that unexpectedly has a lone car in it at 4 a.m.

His “vision” also includes the ability to quite literally see in the

Eve, a celebration of the new year exactly 12 hours in advance of the actual date change. Below: Bob Gaw of Palos Heights was showered with confetti at Noon Year’s Eve, an afternoon celebration of the new year at the Rec Center on Sunday. Gaw attended the event with his three grandchildren; his wife, Sally; son, Mike and daughter-in-law, Alison.

2018

“We have a hallway full of craft-making,” she said, “with food in the Orchard Room and a ‘selfie station’ for photos.”

The food was provided by Fat Tommy’s, an establishment in Chicago’s Mt. Greenwood community.

In the gym was an inflatable castle for jumping and a popular “gaga balls” game, in addition to the DJ and other games.

“We run it like an open house,” Harty said. “People can stroll through, take their time, do what they want to do first or just come for the balloon-drop.”

Palos Heights residents Tonya Gierut and her family stopped amid the bustle to answer a question about New Year’s resolutions.

“So much pressure!” she said of the request, smiling while holding her five-month-old daughter, Briana. After brief consideration, she said her pledge for 2018 is “To be happier and healthier.”

Her husband, Matthew, who was taking care of their son, Connor, 3, a few feet away, said his resolution is “To have more fun. It could be anything, something different, anything new, even stuff I already like to do.”

He counted among his favorite activities snowboarding, concerts, sports, movies and “fun with the kids.”

Dan McCarthy attended Noon Year’s Eve with his wife, Nicole and their children William, 2; Danny, 4; Lia, 9 and Brittany, 12.

As he bundled up his sons for the cold weather before departing—the girls were still inside with their mom—he looked ahead to 2018 and said he intends to work out and exercise more.

His wish for the community for the new year reflected a major, home-grown news story that took place in 2017.

“I’d like to see another Palos resident win the lottery,” he said, referring to the $393 million local winner, a woman who played the Mega Millions game this past summer and scored the largest payout in Illinois Lottery history.

McCarthy said he happened to be out of town when the big lottery prize news erupted around town and throughout Chicagoland last August.

“A friend of mine who plays the lottery, who actually won half a million dollars at one point, said ‘I hope you won the lottery’ but told him it wasn’t me.”

His lottery-win scenario, for himself or someone else, would be to spend some of the money in Palos Heights and invest in the community. He has a big plan for such a big windfall.

“I’d take the money and purchase the vacant building that was formerly the Dominick’s (at 127th Street and Ridgeland Avenue) and donate it to the City of Palos Heights,” he said.

McCarthy said he envisions it becoming an important addition to the Parks & Recreation Department, an expansion facility that could house an indoor hockey rink, an indoor soccer field and more, similar to the larger recreation complexes located in some other communities, including his example of Darien.

With that lofty goal in mind, McCarthy smiled and headed out the Rec Center door with his sons and walked into the sunny but cold New Year’s Eve afternoon following a great party.

on the agenda, without consulting the trustees or mayor.

McCarthy claimed Thursday that Mehalek did it for his “personal political gain,” and blamed him for circulating “a misleading petition” that led to the citizens’ referendum.

William Pappas, of Coach’s Corner Bar & Grill, who also works for Excel Entertainment, also asked the board to “opt in to video gaming.

I ask you to take a stand against hypocritical anti-gaming people.”

He claimed a lot of “fake news” is circulating about video gaming.

“Small family businesses are suffering and cannot compete against neighboring businesses with gambling. We, the small family, local businesses need this,” he said.

“You elected officials have done a great job putting together a restrictive ordinance. Please take a stand,” he urged them.

But another Orland Park resident asked them to let it be decided by referendum, stating, “I don’t want to take my grandkids into a restaurant with video gaming. I don’t know what the restaurants are afraid of. I think the referendum is a good piece of information for the town.”

Trustee Patricia Gira said she had hoped if there was a referendum, it would not be voted on until November. But now that the first referendum will be on ballots, she said the second is needed.

“Our responsibility is to inform our residents about what is being requested. I don’t think (the village referendum) is tilted any way at all. Our responsibility is to inform people what the issue is, and to make sure the information is clear honest, information and let the residents decide. I believe it is important to let the residents weigh in on this,” she said.

Trustee Dan Calandriello, the only no vote, said “adding another

referendum will add confusion” for voters. “(The first referendum) wasn’t challenged. We’re stuck with the language. It turned into a big mess.”

“I want the issue clarified,” said Trustee Carole Ruzich, explaining why she voted for the referendum.

“I intend to follow the results of the referendum. It is all about those small businesses.”

Dodge said that he is “not generally in favor of referendums, but we were going through a proper deliberative process,” which he said was “corrupted by an overt political move. I was never notified by anyone in the clerk’s office that this referendum was filed. My only choice is to reverse a longstanding policy to clarify an issue of public importance.”

Pekau agreed, saying “We are here tonight because the deliberative process was hijacked.” He said referenda don’t “drive turnout,” so if like in the mayoral election, only 25 percent of voters turn out, the

decision will be made by them.

“Since all these referendums are advisory, we could choose to ignore them, but I don’t think voters want us to do that,” said the mayor.

Therefore, he said he was voting for the village referendum, “because the citizens’ ballot question does not represent what we are dealing with.”

“I think it would be better to put it on the ballot. The village board was to put politics aside and provide the correct information,” he said.

Mehalek did not speak during the meeting, but said afterward “I absolutely reject the theory that any of my actions have been political.”

Both referenda are sure to be discussed at the third and final planned town hall meeting on video gaming, which is being held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, in the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave.

dark, thanks to an infrared-sensitive camera mounted in the Explorer.

“This is where infrared really comes in handy,” he said as he pulled into an even darker, more isolated side street.

“We can see if there’s someone walking, we can see an animal,” he explains as he uses a control to point the camera in various directions, revealing anything on the dashboard-mounted screen that is giving off heat.

“A recently fired gun, someone in the woods… our bosses do a phenomenal job of equipping us with what we need to do our jobs,” he said.

Chibe takes his patrol vehicle all over town, based on where he’s seeing his fellow officers’ cars on his computer screen.

“I describe it as zone defense on a basketball team,” he said. “I look at where all the other players are, and I go where they’re not.”

In the course of just a few hours, Chibe has covered a lot of ground, from the far western edge of town, the newly annexed areas, multiple side streets, and trips up and down Southwest Highway—lots of them.

Chibe has already stopped a couple motorists for “malfunctioning equipment” which on this night includes headlights and taillights that are burned out or not tuned on. He’s investigated two calls from the same residence, more than a half-hour apart, of a suspicious person in the area.

He’s backed up a couple fellow officers on traffic stops. He’s cruised and walked around businesses, patrolled the Metra lot and accompanied the fire department on an unfounded call at a nursing care facility—all being streamed in part on Facebook.

But it’s along Southwest Highway that trouble strikes. As he proceeds north approaching Cal Sag Road on one of his many trips on the thoroughfare, Chibe notices a Lexus stopped on the opposite side of the road, partially on the shoulder but partially in a lane of traffic.

The car is occupied and the driver has her foot on the brake pedal, as if stopped at a traffic light. Chibe swings the cruiser around to investigate. After speaking with the driver and conducting tests, he places the motorist under arrest for being impaired.

Continued from Page 1 large of a turnout.

“I’d say we easily have 600 (attendees),” he said. “This has exploded in popularity with the community. I see families from our pre-school, families that I see at our Fourth of July (celebration).”

Leonard was quick to give credit to his team for planning and executing the event—and for preparing all those balloons that had to be inflated one-by-one with an air compressor.

“The staff did it all in one day,” he said.

The event is in its fifth year and was originally held in Orchard Room of the original recreation center before the new facility was constructed directly behind it. The new building is connected to the original building and features a much larger gym.

“It’s been two years in this gym,” said Marino, the program director, “and he gave me the original idea,” referring to Leonard.

“I said ‘let’s do a New Year’s event for the kids’ and Lauren took it to the next level,” Leonard said.

Delaney Harty, the department’s new recreation supervisor, was the leader of Noon Year’s Eve and described the activities that were available.

Orland Park Continued from Page 1

Photo by Anthony Caciopo

Behind the wheel of his patrol vehicle, Officer Ross Chibe stops to check notifications on his computer. Most of his calls arrive via the computer instead of radio.

During this encounter, Facebook streaming was tuned off to protect the driver’s identity. Within minutes, the car was taken away by a towing service.

“In my opinion,” he said, “the thing that makes this job awesome is the one, two or three percent of the time when you’re doing stuff that gets your heartbeat going a little bit more, pushing the adrenaline.

“This isn’t Chicago; it’s a small

town. We’re not going to shootings,” he said. “It happens, but it’s very rare.”

Chibe and Cadet Maske pull back into the police station to drop off their passenger and then head right back onto the streets. It’s still a long time before calling it quits for the night.

Follow the Palos Park Police Department on Facebook for information about the next live-streaming event.

The Regional News

Thursday, January 4, 2018

3

Lipinski supports bills to ‘curb gun violence’

Photos by Dermot Connolly

Sharing Christmas with friends Kathy Lovitt cuts a piece of cake for fellow Palos Heights resident George Popelka during a festive Christmas party she hosted at McDonald’s, 11050 Southwest Highway last Thursday morning. For the past four years, she has been sharing cake, homemade cookies, and conversation with the many veterans and who stop in for breakfast at the restaurant.

Cong. Dan Lipinksi (D-3rd) is co-sponsoring the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Denial Notification Act (House Resolution 4471), a bill he says would create a system to alert state and local law enforcement Lipinski when a person legally prohibited from purchasing a gun attempts to buy one.

“While the scourge of gun violence continues to plague our nation, there are numerous commonsense measures that we could implement to combat this violence. We should all agree that we want to keep firearms out of the hands of people who are not legally allowed to purchase them,” Lipinski said in announcing his support of the bill. “I am joining colleagues from both sides of the aisle in cosponsoring H.R. 4471.

“We trust the police in our communities to help keep us safe,” he said. “We should all be able

to get behind legislation that lets them know when felons, domestic abusers, and the mentally ill are prevented by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System from purchasing a gun. We need to give law enforcement the tools they need to intervene before a dangerous person acquires a weapon and commits a violent crime.”

The authors of H.R. 4471– Reps. Quigley of Illinois (D-5th) and Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) – “are requiring Democrats who want to co-sponsor the legislation to bring a Republican co-sponsor onboard,” said Lipinski.

“I reached out across the aisle to my colleagues Reps. Leonard Lance (N.J.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) to urge them to cosponsor this bill,” he said. “They subsequently signed on to the legislation. I will continue to work to garner additional support so that we can finally start getting some commonsense legislation passed to curb gun violence.”

Other bills Lipinski said he is supporting “would establish a

committee on gun violence prevention (H.R. 367), and eliminate policy prohibiting the Health and Human Services Department from researching causes of gun violence (H.R. 1478, Gun Violence Research Act).”

Also: “Make firearms trafficking a federal crime and impose stronger penalties on straw purchasers of guns (H.R. 1475, Gun Trafficking Prevention Act); ban bump stocks and similar devices (H.R. 3947, Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act), and reauthorize and strengthen the criminal background check system and subject gun show, internet, and classified ad sales to the background check system (H.R. 4240, Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act).

“I understand these changes are not going to solve all our problems related to this life-and-death issue, but these necessary steps are long overdue,” Lipinski said. “After what we have witnessed as a nation in recent years, we can’t afford to just keep doing nothing.”

Cook County files lawsuit against makers of prescription painkillers

Kathy Lovitt of Palos Heights, in Santa dress, joins (from left) Joe Szostak of Palos Hills, Barney Janecki and Steve Targosz of Oak Lawn, Joe’s wife Vernice Szostak, Rich Olund of Palos Park, and Raymond Munoz of Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood, during the Christmas party she hosted last Thursday at McDonald’s.

Kathy Lovitt shares a laugh and her homemade treats with Vernice Szostak of Palos Hills during her annual Christmas party held last Thursday morning. “I just do it because it makes people happy,” said Lovitt, who began the tradition four years ago of hosting various holiday parties, from Valentine’s Day to Veterans Day for the veterans and other regular customers she has befriended at the restaurant in Palos Hills.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced the county has filed a lawsuit against the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies over their manufacture and aggressive marketing of prescription opioid painkillers, and the resulting climb in overdose and fatality rates ravaging families and communities throughout Cook County.

The complaint was filed Dec. 27 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, seeking relief including compensatory and punitive damages for the millions of dollars in costs incurred annually as a result of the unlawful marketing practices of defendants which led to the opioid crisis facing Cook County residents, according to a statement issued by Preckwinkle’s office.

These costs include the rapidly increasing number of overdose patients being treated by Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS), as well as opioid treatment and prevention programs operated by CCHHS at the Cook County Jail. There has been a dramatic increase in autopsies in opioid-related deaths conducted by the medical examiner, which in 2016 accounted for more deaths than for gunshots and vehicular deaths combined, said

the statement.

“Opioid deaths in Cook County are growing at an alarming rate.

This is a public health crisis affecting nearly every community in the County for which we must find a solution,” Preckwinkle said.

“We believe a good start is to aggressively confront one of the root causes of this national epidemic: the pharmaceutical companies and those paid by the pharmaceutical companies who put profits before public health and safety.”

“The impact that opioids are having on Cook County cannot be ignored,” said Foxx. “We see it in every part of the county, and the human cost is truly staggering.

We must act in the public interest and hold accountable those who have been complicit in the creation of this epidemic.”

Defendants in the Cook County lawsuit, according to the news release, include: Purdue Pharma L.P.; Purdue Pharma, Inc.; The Purdue Frederick Company, Inc.; Abbott Laboratories; Abbott Laboratories, Inc.; Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.; Cephalon, Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc.; Endo Health Solutions Inc.; and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Preckwinkle’s office said that with more than 5.2 million residents, Cook County’s 30 townships and 130 municipalities are grappling with an ever-growing opioid epidemic. The detrimental effects of opioid addiction can be seen across every socioeconomic group and demographic in the county,” according to the statement.

According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, in 2015, 647 persons in the county died from drug overdoses involving opioids. Opioid-related overdose deaths in Cook County rose to 1,091 in 2016, an increase of 70 percent, as part of figures released by the county.

As of the beginning of December, there have been 847 documented opioid-related deaths in 2017 — a number expected by Cook county officials to grow because it can take weeks to complete toxicology testing that confirms the cause of death.

Cook County is represented

by Simmons Hanly Conroy, and Meyers & Flowers, two of the nation’s largest law firms focused on consumer protection and mass tort actions, the press statement concluded.

Incarnation School faces closure; needs big turnout at Sunday fundraiser event

Kathy Lovitt shares her homemade treats with Palos Hills residents Ruth Klimasz (in front), Joe Szostak and Angie Cotter during the fourth annual Christmas party she held last Thursday at McDonald’s.

Water main

Continued from Page 1 engineering services and design engineering” for the project. That motion passed, too.

“Robinson Engineering specializes in this,” Bylut said. “That’s what they do and we’re going with them.”

Bylut said the Village of Alsip “might be in the same fix” because of its own pipe in the proposed construction area.

“We (the Palos Heights Water and Sewer Committee) had an emergency meeting before the Dec. 19 City Council meeting just so we could be able to pass this (the motion to enter into the agreement with IDOT) because we needed to,” he said.

“This has actually been discussed for a few months that this possibility existed,” he said of the need to relocate the water main.

Currently, the City Council has no firm date in which the pipeline relocation work must begin.

In other news, Santa Claus

(cleverly disguised as Ald. Jack Clifford of Ward 2 during the rest of the year), paid a visit to the Council to present a $300 donation on behalf of the Palos Lions Club to Mayor Bob Straz, a member of Sertoma, another community service organization.

“Each year we sell (Christmas) trees to help benefit some families and causes,” said Clifford, “and this year we’re donating to Sertoma.

“Sertoma and Lions across the country are unified with a single purpose: to serve our communities and improve the lives of people who need help,” Clifford explained as he handed a check to Straz, noting that the donation was intended for the benefit of the group houses Sertoma operates.

“Sertoma has a program in Alsip that provides training for 1,000 developmentally disabled adults every year,” said Straz, who explained that Sertoma runs Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) in which six adults who are developmentally

disabled reside together, along with a full-time caregiver.

“This will go for their Christmas dinners,” Straz said of the donation.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 at City Hall, 7607 W. College Dr. in Palos Heights.

Incarnation Parish and School families have urgent need for a large turnout at a fundraising event to potentially stave off a threatened closure of the school.

The fundraiser will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. this coming Sunday at 115 Bourbon Street, Merrionette Park.

Incarnation Elementary School in Palos Heights is facing possible closure despite a budget that is in the black, according to a school insider. The closure would supposedly be based on budget predictions by the Chicago Archdiocese, the source said.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased through Give Central at www.givecentral.org/ location/156/event/14417 Those purchasing tickets in advance qualify for an entry into a raffle for a 55-inch TV. The cost of admission includes

a food buffet, alcoholic beverages, performances by dancers from the Lavin School of Irish Dance, a performance by the Bagpipers and Drums of the Emerald Society and entertainment by the Superfly Redneck Band.

The event will also include raffle baskets, a “cork pull” wine raffle with such prizes as Disney Park Hopper passes, four-day Lollapalooza passes and more.

Sponsorships and donations are

also being accepted by Incarnation School. Donations can be sent directly to the school, 5757 W. 127th St., Palos Heights, 60463.

More information can be obtained at the following website: visitsites.google.com/view/incarnationschoolpalosheights/home Anyone interested in the event or supporting the school in general can also call (708) 385-6250, or send an email to IncarnationPC. events@yahoo.com.

4 Thursday, January 4, 2018

For 2018, look in the mirror

OPINION

The Regional News

By Dr. Glenn Mollette

How did 2017 go for you? Was it a good year or a not so good year? Regardless of what happened you can’t change 2017.

The year is behind us and 2018 is ahead of us.

What can you do to make 2018 a great year?

Make a list of what you want to accomplish in the year ahead.

Don’t make it so long that it’s overwhelming. Most people’s list can go on and on and then it becomes a daunting task.

Here are some ideas for you.

Focus on your health. You can do almost anything if you have your health. Go to your doctor for a physical. Have blood work done. Find out what your numbers are then adjust accordingly.

If your cholesterol is high or your sugar level is high you will need to exercise more and eat a better diet with more fruit and vegetables and less red meat. Eating less sugar will probably be a good thing for you in 2018 as most Americans eat too much sugar. I had my blood work done about four days after Thanksgiving. Everything came back good except my sugar level was 106, which is a little high. It needs to in the nineties. However, I ate at least four pieces of pie over the Thanksgiving holiday.

When you have your blood work done, don’t go right after a blowout-eating holiday.

Remember if you have your health you feel like doing something. You can work hard, sell pencils, work retail, work your garden, mow your grass and enjoy life. A lot of sick people have money but they can’t enjoy their money because they threw away their health. Things still happen. Our bodies are flesh and blood and you can lose your health even being a fitness nut.

However, your chances are better if you at least try. Keep walking, keep moving your body, be active.

My father was actually very unhealthy in his eating habits. He was overweight and ate anything and everything. He wasn’t big on desserts but was big on anything fried, red meat and lots of squirrels and rabbits. He was a hunter. He made it to 85 and one of the reasons I believe he did was become he kept moving. He was out in the hills about three days before he died and shot a rabbit from his truck to eat for dinner.

Find ways to keep moving and things to keep your interest.

Winter months are tougher for most Americans so be creative in your efforts to keep body and mind active.

Make and save money. You can’t take money with you but you can enjoy it here and then leave some for your family. America’s economy is coming back. There are more jobs now than we have seen in a while. Some corporations which moved their work to other countries will bring some of their jobs back to America.

Any jobs they bring back will be more than we have had the last 16 or so years. There is work to be done in America. You might have to drive or move to another town but there is money to be made if you are willing to work. Even if you have to work two jobs you can earn a paycheck in America. Every time you get a paycheck put some money aside in your bank. Eventually buy some stock in a mutual fund or preferably an index fund.

Unless you have a crisis in your life, leave your saved money alone and keep adding to it. Eventually you will have enough for hard times and good times. Even if you can only save $20 a paycheck, it’s better than nothing and even a small amount will add up.

Pursue one or two interests in 2018. Fourteen months ago, I started taking violin—or should I say fiddle—lessons. I enjoy it. It’s something to do. I write these columns. It’s something to do. I like to travel. It’s something to do. I hope to write a book in 2018. It’s something to do. I try to do only what I enjoy but that’s not easy because not everything is enjoyable. There are some parts of life that are tedious, trying and just a pain. This is why you need to pursue a personal interest or two. Do something you want to do.

Of course, there is always more. You have a closet or a garage you need to clean out. You have chores and more chores to get done and most everybody does.

Find time for God in 2018. Most Americans believe in God but spend very little time in spiritual pursuits. When all your friends have walked away and even your family and other loved ones are no longer there for you, there is a friend who sticks closer than all others.

There is only one person who can make 2018 a great year for you. Go look in the mirror and look this person over.

Dr. Glenn Mollette is President of Newburgh Theological Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana and his syndicated column is read in all 50 states. His new book is titled “Uncommon Sense.”

Holidays today are not like holidays of the past The Christmas Holidays are a wonderful time to gather with family to reminisce about our childhood and the past. Life was so different, more fun and safe in the 1950s and 1960s.

Entertainment and travel were so much easier and cheaper to enjoy, too.

Traveling was easier before. We didn’t have computers and technology to distract us from families.

Having said that, traveling today is a real hassle, and no matter how they improve the movie theater, people will still be people.

The costs of vacations are in direct relationship to the time when children are out of school. In other words, most families can’t travel most of the year because they have kids in school. They can only travel when schools are closed. The day schools close, travel costs triple. The day they open, travel costs drop.

Some call it supply and demand, but I call it punishing parents who care about their children. Bad parents make kids miss school to save money.

The airlines have also turned the vacation experience into a shell game. Cheap vacations are not really cheap at all.

Frontier Airlines, for example, advertises cheap flights. But when you get to the airport, the costs start pouring down. It will cost you as much as $180 per person so you can check a bag, carry one on board, and get a seat where your knees don’t rub raw on the seat in front.

I miss the days when they charged us

RAY HANANIA one flat fee for everything. I knew what I was going to get and I knew what it would cost. Now, it’s like throwing away money at the casino.

Cruises are worse. The unlimited buffet has its limits. The buffet experience is akin to cows feeding at a trough. If you want to eat like a civilized person, you pay as much as $100 per person to eat at a “specialty” restaurant, where the food is only so-so.

They force you to buy your pop, too. You get water and ice tea at the buffet, but have to pay extra, as much as $200 for a soft drink and juice package. Who designed these cruise plans, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle?

Even the decks are separated by cost. The more you pay, the better the view.

And gratitude has been taken away from “gratuity.” You don’t have a choice and most patrons pay as much as $500 for “maid service” to their rooms. Pay it up front, or through the nose during the cruise.

The movie experience isn’t any better.

But in this case, I blame the people, not the theaters.

I love that you can purchase tickets on-

line and reserve your seats. These seats are not just seats. They are cushioned recliners, arranged so that no seat ever blocks your view of the huge screens with the deafening sound systems.

Marcus and Emagine theaters in Orland Park and Frankfort charge only $9 for the spacious, comfortable seating. Employees bring food to you on a tray that you can order before the movie starts.

The problem is the people. They’re lazy.

They buy their tickets online for a 4 p.m. show and they arrive at the theater at 4 p.m. figuring “why rush?”

For the first 15 minutes of every show now, half the people are walking in and looking for their seats. They’re talking, slowly removing their jackets, switching seats, and blocking everyone’s view. That first 15 minutes is the key to movie enjoyment.

The movie theaters should impose a rule that says that if you don’t get to the theater at least 15 minutes before the movie starts, you will be charged extra to enter.

I want to go back to the old days when all we had interrupting our lives was a TV set with six channels and one large black telephone in the kitchen.

You could sleep with the front door wide open, back then. Now, you have crooks stealing UPS boxes from your front porch.

Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist, author and former Chicago City Hall reporter. Email him at rghanania@gmail.com.

READERS WRITE A family medicine cabinet inventory of opiates

Lawsuits were filed last month by the state’s attorneys of Lake, McHenry, Will, Kane and DuPage counties against opioid drug manufacturers to stem opioid overdose in the Chicago metropolitan area.

There have been 11,000 drug overdose deaths in Illinois since 2008.

Because of the “opioid crisis” with people dying of legally prescribed opioids and illegal street opioids—the latter completely uncontrolled and unregulated—I decided to take inventory of the Gierach family medicine cabinet and found three bottles of pills, one bottle Owned and operated by Southwest Regional Publishing Co. each prescribed by a different Mark Hornung, Chief Operating Officer doctor, each for a different person in our household. Those The Business Side The News Side prescriptions included: Donna Brown, Sales Director Anthony Caciopo, Editor Monica Cotter, Finance Director Dermot Connolly, Reporter 1st bottle, from 2015: 30 Debbie Perrewe, Classified Manager Jeff Vorva, Sports Editor pills prescribed, 26 remaining, Mike Russell, Production Director Lauren Ziemann, Art Director one refill unused.

Bonnie Hesik, Pre-press Manager Chuck Ingwersen, Designer (Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen, 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to Southwest Regional Publishing 6 hours as needed).

12243 S. Harlem Ave. 2nd bottle, from 2009: 60 Palos Heights, IL 60463 pills prescribed, 59 on hand, Phone: (708) 448-4000 no refills. (Hydrocodone/ Fax: (708) 448-4012 Apap 5 mg/325 mg tabs, 1 to Website: www.theregionalnews.com 2 tablets every six hours as email: TheRegional@comcast.net needed).

Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3rd bottle, from 2015: 12 pills prescribed, 10 remaining.

Deadlines (Acetaminophen/Codeine #3 Editorial: Noon, Saturday • Advertising: 5 p.m., Monday tablet, one tablet every four Subscription rates: Local, delivered by mail, $48 a year in advance. Out-of-State, $58 hours as needed). a year. Single copies, $1. Postmaster: Send address changes to THE REGIONAL NEWS, My first observation: Just 12243 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463 and additional post offices. because a physician prescribes The Regional News cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material. USPS 419-260 Periodical postage paid at Palos Heights, IL 60463 and additional post offices. a pill does not mean one has to take it.

Entered as periodical mail at the Post Office at Palos Heights, IL, 60643 and additional post offices under the Act of March 3, 1879.

My second observation: I paid for the drugs in my © Entire contents copyright 2015 Southwest Regional Publishing medicine cabinet. Why should This newspaper is dedicated to the memory of I surrender my drugs in a pill those who gave their lives to protect America’s turn-in program? I paid the freedom of the press, whenever and however it bill for the pill-scrip writer to may be threatened. get the pills. Why should I

surrender my hard-bought legal drugs? If family members in my household abused pills or drugs, emptying the medicine cabinet would not stop them from getting drugs. And substituting unregulated, “guesswhat” street drugs is a vastly more dangerous behavior than using family, medicine-cabinet drugs, even after expiration date.

My third observation: It’s difficult to say whether more people are dying of legally prescribed opioids, over-prescribed opioids, diverted opioids, illegal opioids or mixed opioid drugs containing, say, illegal heroin and legal Fentanyl. And it’s also difficult to say which use, legal or illegal, led to most addiction, abuse, overdose or a deadly mixture of alcohol and opioids.

What is clear from decades of experience with opioids is that during a policy of zero tolerance for drugs (“Just say no,” increased drug penalties, more drug police, drug dogs and drug arrests, UN drug-prohibition treaties, the 1970 Controlled Substances Act., etc.), the potency of street opiates (heroin) has changed from two percent pure to 90 percent pure. Profits remain astronomical. Heroin availability has changed from very hard to get, when the 1971 War on Drugs was declared by President Nixon, to ubiquitous, nickel and dime bags of heroin and Fentanyl-laced heroin, today.

What neighborhood or school is without opioids, today?

Prosecutors, by their support of the Al Capone/Elliott Ness-style prohibition system, aligned the economic interests of law enforcement,

drug cartels, street gangs and unscrupulous physicians and opioid diverters — each benefiting financially, by pulling on opposite ends of the drug-war, tug-of-war rope. All players are just drug-war gravy train riders wearing different hats.

Hopefully, the opioid manufacturers sued in these lawsuits will bring counterclaim actions against the politician-elected prosecutors who brought these lawsuits. The counterclaims should allege that the politician/prosecutors have added to opioid inundation by prohibition policy execution.

Prohibition is the heart of America’s drug epidemic, including the opioid epidemic.

Finally, the unaffordable cost of bullet-hole healthcare should be another element of the manufacturers’ counterclaims.

James Gierach Palos Park

Speak out to prevent legalization of marijuana in Illinois While Big Marijuana pours millions into Illinois to legalize cannabis, Leftist lawmakers, giddy about a tiny new revenue source to aide their insatiable spending, ignore the unmistakable damage legalization is causing in Colorado.

Those nasty facts are hard to

escape.

Colorado now ranks number 1 in the entire nation for marijuana use among teens, scoring 55 percent above the national average, so says the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Colorado High School drug violations have increased 71 percent and suspensions for drugs have increased 45 percent since legalization.

Based on alarming research by the Denver Post, drivers in fatal car crashes who tested positive doubled since legalization.

Residential neighborhoods reek of marijuana as do warehouse growing operations along major freeways. As if that isn’t enough, the Colorado homelessness growth rate now ranks among the highest in the country.

The bottom line is this: Does Illinois want more drugged drivers on our roads, more buzzed employees on job sites and more stoned students in our homes and schools?

If the answer is no, don’t remain silent. Tell your state representative and senator to oppose legalization efforts before it is too late.

Kathy Valente Tinley Park

Letters Policy The Regional News encourages letters to the editor.

Local content is strongly suggested and will be given first consideration. Letters must be signed and the name of the writer will be published. Include your telephone number for verification purposes. Limit letters to no more than 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

E-mail letters to: theregional@comcast.net

BUSINESS

The Regional News

FINANCIAL FOCUS

Time is a key factor in investing With the arrival of the New Year, many of us will pause and ponder the age-old question: “Who knows where the time goes?” And, as is always the case, none of us really do know.

However, wherever the time goes, it will usually be a key factor in your success as an investor.

Time can affect how you invest, and the results of your investing, in different ways: • Growth potential – Contrary to myth, there’s no real way to “get rich quick” when investing.

To build wealth, you need patience — and time. If you own quality investments with growth potential, and you give them years — in fact, decades — to increase in value, your perseverance may be rewarded. Of course, there are no guarantees, and you’ll need the discipline to withstand the inevitable downturns along the way.

But in describing how long he likes to keep his investments, renowned investor Warren Buffet says his favorite holding period is “forever.”

• Targeted goals – To accumulate resources for retirement, you need to save and invest throughout your working life. But along the way, you’ll probably also have some shorter-term goals — making a down payment on a home,

Matthew Van Howe Edward Jones

sending your children to college, taking a round-the-world trip, and so on. Each of these goals has a specific time limit and usually requires a specific amount of money, so you will need to choose the appropriate investments.

• Risk tolerance – The element of time also will affect your tolerance for risk. When you have many decades to go until you retire, you can afford to take more risk with your investments because you have time to overcome periods of market volatility.

But when you’re on the verge of retirement, you may want to lower the risk level in your portfolio. For example, you may want to begin moving away from some of your more aggressive, growth-oriented investments and move toward more income-producing vehicles that offer greater stability of principal. Keep in mind, though, that even during retirement, you’ll need your portfolio to provide enough growth opportunity at least to help keep you ahead of inflation.

every year since Berrios’ first full year as assessor. The latest early completion of the assessment cycle sets up another on-time billing, which would make it seven straight years. This is despite a 31 percent reduction in staff since Berrios became assessor.

On-time tax bills ensure that school districts, municipalities and other taxing bodies receive revenue on schedule and thus do not have to borrow money to meet budget. By eliminating that borrowing, $5 million to $6 million of would-be monthly interest is saved countywide; those savings are passed on to taxpayers.

Tax bills had never gone out on time for 34 consecutive years before the Berrios administration, the assessor added. Some 13 years under the previous assessor totaled 39 late months, which cost tax-

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

payers tens of millions of dollars in interest.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has said, “Assessor Berrios has worked closely with the President’s Office to modernize the Assessor’s Office and to lead the effort to get tax bills out on time. This is not a small thing because we collect taxes for every unit of government in Cook County.

“When we don’t get bills out on time and revenue does not come back on time, local units of government have to either dip into their reserves or borrow money to make their payroll,” she continued. “[On-time billing] is one of our basic responsibilities, and Joe has been instrumental in our ability to make that happen.”

Chicago Christian students visit 1871 The 37 students of the Chicago Christian High School Distributive Education Club of America, under the leadership of Ken Kreykes, had an opportunity to visit 1871 in the Merchandise Mart.

1871 is currently home to over 400 start-up businesses and serves as a headquarters for many national accelerators, as well as satellite offices for many local universities and colleges, including Trinity Christian College, who helped make this opportunity possible.

The students were able to tour the 1871 facility and see entrepreneurs in action collaborating and working on business plans.

Students listened to presentations from Trinity Christian College Business Department Chairman John Wightkin and Assistant Professor of Business Omar Sweiss,

Supplied photo

Some of the Chicago Christian High School DECA students who attended the field trip to 1871 in the Merchandise Mart take a break from their tour.

who emphasized to the students that being an entrepreneur does not just involve starting one’s

own business, but also devising creative solutions to problems in today’s world.

Orland Park Chicago Trust Co Tr to Hilo Sam, 11112 W 167th St, $147,000.00; Verbeek Mark H to McConville Thomas D, 7448 Ponderosa Ct, Unit #3D, $123,000.00; Hardy Dorine E to Rtl Ent Llc, 9102 Franklin Ct, Unit #305, $80,500.00; Cirrus Inv Grp Llc to Evangelista Kristoffer, 15109 Saint Andrew Ct, $265,000.00; Gargoles Alfredo to Joudeh Bassel Y, 7505 Tiffany Dr, Unit #1B, $106,500.00; Gennarelli Geno Tr to Anbocol Llc, 15165 West Av, $685,000.00; Marth Enterprises Inc to Kostiuk Anthony J, 11249 167th St, $513,000.00; Filer Anthony J to Thomas Casie, 10820 Green Manor Ct, $600,000.00; Chicago Title Land Trust Co

Tr to Nietzke Walter, 15152 Quail Hollow Dr, Unit #401, $92,000.00; Labriola Pasquale to Bethshan Assn, 7517 Hemlock Dr, $295,000.00; Negrete Rudy to Wawrzyniak Robert B, 11634 Brookwood Dr, $354,000.00; Esparza Maria I to Ortega Jose L, 7555 Ponderosa Ct, $307,500.00; Davids James A Tr to Wisnewski Henry, 14433 Dorstep Ln, $446,500.00; Kuyper Henry M to Rodriguez Alberto, 11820 Lynch Dr, $400,000.00; Toner Janet to Garnett Brandon P, 8741 170th St, $219,000.00; Garczek Dariusza to Spalla John T, 17727 Bernard Dr, Unit #3C, $162,000.00; Basso Robert D Tr to Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr, 8014 Wheeler Dr, $269,000.00; Heemstra Laurie K Tr to Paragas Francis, 10502 Owen Dr, $400,000.00; Aga-Number 5 Llc to Wilk Christopher, 13519 Natchez Trl, $293,000.00; Malinski James R to Jachymi-

COMINGS & GOINGS

Fasano Pies opens up a new shop Fasano Pies, which to some is as much a Chicago favorite as Frango mints, Dove bars or Tootsie Rolls, has its first retail location since coming back to life as a business in 2011.

The company opened a storefront in November at 74 S. LaGrange Road in downtown LaGrange and sells both full-size pies and single-serve junior pies.

Popular flavors include apple, cherry, blueberry and pecan as well as cream varieties such as chocolate, lemon meringue, banana, strawberry banana and coconut.

“We opened quietly, with no significant promotion, really— just a way to say hello again to our most loyal customers; and what we got was a steady stream that at times was almost a stampede,” said third-generation baker Peter Fasano, a grandson of the company’s founder. He also manages the store. “We saw a lot of old friends and made a whole bunch of new ones.”

A formal grand opening is coming.

The shop’s business is take-out, although there are plans for limited seating and beverage service.

Hours at present are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

The company also helps local schools, libraries, churches, youth athletic associations, Scout troops and other nonprofit groups raise funds through special pie sales. St. Joseph School in Summit and St. Cletus in Countryside are among those that have partnered with Fasano.

Relaunched in 2011 after a nearly 30-year absence, the Fasano Pie Co. was once the largest pie baker in the Midwest and one of the largest in the nation. Its bakery at 65th and Melvina in Bedford Park, at its peak, produced 6,000 pies an hour, 24 hours a day. Fasano Pies were everywhere: grocery stores, restaurants, school cafeterias and more, as well as the company outlet store on 65th Street.

Indoor speedway sets grand opening

AREA PROPERTY TRANSFERS Following are the property transfers in the area, according to the latest report, as received from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office. The Regional News does not attempt to correct errors made by that office.

5

Thus far, we have looked at ways in which time plays a role in how you invest. But there’s also an aspect of time that you may want to keep out of your investment strategies. Specifically, you might not want to try to “time” the market. The biggest problem with market timing is it’s just too hard.

You essentially have to be right twice, selling at a market top and buying at the bottom. Also, as humans, we appear to be somewhat wired to think that an activity — especially a long-running activity — will simply continue. So, when the market goes up, we seem to expect it to keep rising, and when the market drops, we think it will continue dropping. This can lead to big mistakes, such as selling after a major market drop even though that can be the time when it may be much smarter to buy because prices are low.

As we’ve seen, the way you interact with time can affect your investment efforts. So, think carefully about how you can put all Photo by Joan Hadac the days, months and years on your side. Time is the one asset Third-generation pie baker Peter Fasano (right), along with Peter Fasano Jr. and Maria Fasano, stand among a you can’t replenish — so use it wealth of full-size and junior pies in the company’s new shop at 74 S. LaGrange Road in La Grange. wisely.

Tax bills on time, county assessor says The Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) recently announced that it has again completed its property assessment cycle ahead of schedule, making possible on-time tax bills from the Treasurer’s Office.

This will save communities tens of millions of dollars, a benefit to taxpayers which remains a firm commitment of Assessor Joseph Berrios, the assessor said in a statement.

The completed assessments now go to the Cook County Board of Review, which will later turn over its final figures to the Cook County Clerk. If those agencies do their work per schedule, as they have in recent years, bills will be on time once more. The 2017 bills are mailed in two installments during 2018.

Tax bills have gone out on time

Thursday, January 4, 2018

ak Marzena, 8628 W 143rd Pl, $285,000.00.

Accelerate Indoor Speedway, which opened late last year at 8580 Springlake Drive in Mokena, will hold its grand opening next week with a host of events including a go-kart race among local officials.

Accelerate is gigantic at about 75,000 square feet. The facility has 45 adult carts and 16 junior carts. They are electric and will

Palos Heights Leipold Hans A to Murphy Maura, 12731 S Shoshone Rd, $305,000.00; Cody Brian K to Oliva Anthony M, 12739 Algonquin Rd, $322,500.00; Sullivan Brian P Extr to Bjork Pamela K, 13247 Golf Dr, Unit #132571CR, $187,500.00; Alligood Matthew D to Prohaska Ashley C, 12721 S Auburn Ave, $263,000.00; Doubek Dorothy A Tr to Hrudzevych Yura, 6626 W WyWorkplace harassment andot Dr, $347,500.00; Morey Jeannine to Marran is Chamber lunch topic The Orland Park Area Chamber Jeffrey, 12323 S Harold Ave, of Commerce is a sponsor of a $170,000.00. “lunch and learn” event set for noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 Palos Park Dain Michael W to Me- at Orland Township government ground Prop Llc, 100 Powell Rd, headquarters, 14807 S. Ravinia, Orland Park. $369,000.00; Featured topic will be workplace 4 Winn Const Inc to Zorab Ahmed, 10746 Cherrywood Dr, harassment, in a discussion led by attorney Sonia Coleman. $1,225,500.00; For fee and reservation informaBarnes Dolores E Tr to Garcia Celina, 9022 123rd St, tion, call the OPACC at Chamber Office (708) 349-2972. $274,000.00.

CHAMBER CORNER

BOB BONG be powered in part from solar energy gleaned from panels on the roof.

“The carts are clean and emit no fumes,” general manager James Galdikas said.

Drivers are able to compete on two grand prix-style indoor tracks.

“We like to think that anyone from 8 to 80 can enjoy our facility,” said Galdikas.

He said the adult carts can fit just about anybody. “I’m a pretty big man and I can get in and out.

One size fits many.”

“These are fourth generation carts,” he added. “They come from Italy and cost $10,000 each.”

Other grand opening events on Thursday, Jan. 11, include vodka tasting from 6-8 p.m. with the Stoli Girls, and Chase a Cop races all day.

Events will run from noon to 10 p.m. and will benefit the Illinois Special Olympics.

The speedway features the Finish Line Bar & Grill and a gaming area.

The Mokena location is the company’s first in Illinois. It’s located near the end of 88th Avenue north of 191st Street by Interstate 80, which is one of its selling points.

For more information on Accelerate Indoor Speedway, visit http://www.acceleratespeed.com/

Target stores are closing It’s almost the end of the line for Target stores in Matteson and Romeoville on Feb. 3.

The Minnesota-based retailer announced the stores were among 12 it plans to close next month.

The 126,000-square-foot Matteson store at 4647 Promenade Way opened in late July 2007 as part of a redevelopment plan for adjacent Lincoln Mall, which has since closed and been demolished.

All that’s left is the Carson Pirie Scott store.

Target’s Romeoville store is at 349 S. Weber Road.

Employees at both stores will have the option to transfer to a nearby Target store.

If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.

Mortgage Rates Around the Area First Midwest Bank (as of December 29)

30-year fixed 15-year fixed 30-year fixed Jumbo

RATES APR POINTS 4.000 4.045 0 3.500 3.555 0 3.865 3.920 0

30-year fixed 15-year fixed 10-year fixed

RATES APR POINTS 3.990 4.011 0 3.625 3.662 0 3.750 3.803 0

30-year fixed 20-year fixed 15-year fixed

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6 Thursday, January 4, 2018

The Regional News

DEATH NOTICES Michael ‘Mike’ Carollo

Michael “Mike” Carollo, an Orland Park resident, died Friday.

Mr. Carollo was 75 at the time of his death. He is survived by his daughter, Christina (David)

Charnot and three grandchildren.

Services were Tuesday from Becvar Funeral to Incarnation Catholic Church, Palos Heights.

Interment was at St. Mary Cemetery in Evergreen Park.

HOUSES OF WORSHIP Pro-lifers set annual Mass For Life The Multi Parish Respect Life Knowledge and Prayer Series has announced that a concelebrated Mass For Life is set for 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 21 at Our Lady of the Woods Church, 10731 W. 131st St., Orland Park.

The pro-life Mass will be concelebrated by the pastors of Our Lady of the Woods, St. Bernard’s, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Michael, Our Mother of Good Counsel and Annunciation Byzantine Catholic parishes.

The Mass, which fulfills Catholics’ Sunday Mass obligation, begins the sixth year of the Knowledge and Prayer series sponsored

by the six participating parishes above.

The series’ 2018 schedule of events will be released at the event.

The Mass is one of a number of annual activities that commemorates the legalization of abortion in America in 1973 through “the now-infamous Supreme Court decisions in Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton,” according to a statement from organizers. “This Mass gives witness to the truth concerning the greatest human rights violation of our time, legalized abortion on demand. People of many faiths or no faith are welcome to join us in prayer for the overturning of this decision and the restoration of respect for life from conception to natural death.”

Bethany Christian Services will hold fundraiser lunch

Bethany Christian Services, a global non-profit organization with an office in Palos Heights, will host its Strengthening Children and Families fundraising luncheon from noon to 1:15 p.m. March 1 at The Carlisle, 435 E. Butterfield Rd. in Lombard. Doors will open at 11:15 a.m.

“Bethany Christian Services has a heart for children and we equip families to be the answer for children in need,” said the organization in a news release announcing the luncheon.

Located at 12416 S. Harlem Ave., Bethany Christian Services “is a global nonprofit organization that brings families together and keeps families together,” the news release continued. “Strengthening families for the well-being of children is our top priority. Our services include adoption, foster

care, Safe Families for Children and pregnancy counseling.”

The organization also provides counseling to families, and assistance to refugees and immigrants resettling in the United States. Bethany partners with several countries to help keep families together.

“The work we do equips families to be the answer for children in need—as Christ intended,” according to the press statement.

The luncheon is an opportunity to learn about the organization’s services and to provide support.

More information can be obtained by contacting Veronica Studnicka at vstudnicka@bethany.org or (708) 653-3060.

RSVP for the luncheon is requested by February 16, 2017 and can be made by visiting www.bethany.org/chicago/events.

Palos Hospital receives five-star rating from CMS Palos Hospital received a fivestar rating—the highest possible—from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that runs the Medicare program. Overall hospital ratings were published late last month on the Hospital Compare website.

Across Illinois, 161 of 185 hospitals were rated. Only 20 Illinois hospitals received a five-star rating.

Palos Hospital previously had a four-star rating from CMS. The new, improved rating makes Palos one of only two five-star community hospitals in the south suburbs.

“The five-star rating from CMS offers further support that our goal to provide high-quality, compassionate health care to our community is being met,” said Terrence Moisan, M.D., president and CEO of Palos Health. “Our high marks for quality in many categories speak to the commitment and

dedication of our staff at Palos to achieving the best possible outcomes for patients.”

CMS awards an overall rating to hospitals throughout the country of one to five stars based on 57 quality measures. The ratings were developed to help consumers make informed decisions about where to seek medical treatment and other kinds of care.

The quality measures evaluate each hospital’s performance in seven areas: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, effectiveness of care, timeliness of care and efficient use of medical imaging. Star ratings demonstrate how well each hospital performed, on average, compared to other hospitals in the United States.

CMS ratings began in 2016 and are published annually, although there are plans to issue the ratings semi-annually beginning this year.

Crisis Center offers course about domestic violence The Crisis Center for South Suburbia (CCSS) is offering a year round revolving 40-hour domestic violence training course.

The training will start from the beginning again on Saturday, Jan. 6 at the Crisis Center for South Suburbia in Tinley Park. Sessions take place Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. for a six-week period.

Participants can complete sessions at their own pace and must attend all sessions to earn the 40hour training certificate. The cost for the program is $250. Some topics within the course may be sensitive to survivors of domestic violence.

To enroll in the program; contact Deonne Senese, at (708) 429-7255 ext. 143, or email dsenese@crisisctr.org To obtain additional information about the program; contact Tonya Schassburger, Director of Residential and Transitional Services, at (708) 429-7255 ext. 115, or email tschassburger@crisisctr.org Enrollment is limited and participants are accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Individuals considering volunteering at the Crisis Center are encouraged to participate, as well as professionals who work with victims of domestic violence.

After completion of the 40-Hour DV Training, participants will be allowed to do direct services and ‘client-based’ volunteering (working hotline or childcare) at the Crisis Center. Additionally, participants will be able to apply to complete 150 hours of direct client services in order to sit for the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional examination.

Some of the topics covered during the training include: the various definitions of domestic violence, myths and realities of abuse, types of abuse, direct service issues, safety planning, abuser profiling, teen dating, the Cycle of Violence, and legal issues related to domestic violence. Crisis Center’s highly skilled and licensed professionals will give participants an inside look into how to properly address a victim or abuser and how to face issues within the workplace. This is a course open to any individual interested in becoming educated on domestic violence.

The Crisis Center for South Suburbia’s mission is to provide emergency shelter and other essential services for individuals and families victimized by domestic violence and to address the societal issues that contribute to domestic violence.

Walsh staff donates toys for kids with cancer Employees at Chicago-based Walsh Construction, as well as their subcontractors working at Palos Community Hospital’s south campus in Orland Park, were recently asked to bring a toy to the construction site. They responded by donating more than 100 toys on behalf of the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF) to directly benefit children fighting cancer.

“The team chose to help the Treasure Chest Foundation because we wanted to give the kids some good cheer this holiday season, “ said Walsh Construction’s Senior Project Manager Andy Kocher. “We are in the process of building a healthcare facility that will provide care for cancer patients, and this was a great way

Supplied photo

Walsh Construction and subcontractor workers at Palos Community Hospital’s south campus in Orland Park display the toys they donated to benefit children and teens with cancer.

to give back.”

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and founder Colleen Kisel said, “We are extremely grateful to Walsh for showing their com-

passion by collecting so many toys. It is amazing to receive such a tremendous donation, especially during our important holiday toy drive season.”

For more information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687TOYS (8697).

PICK OF THE LITTER

Sadie returns home as we ring in the new year

Dear Readers, It was a good Christmas at Sadie’s house. Last week we discussed the young retriever who had consumed a toxic dose (28 tabs) of ibuprofen off the kitchen counter and went into near-fatal acute kidney injury. Due to financial constraints, the owners declined intensive 24-hour care at a specialty practice or at the veterinary teaching hospital at Purdue University and instead elected the second choice of having her treated here at our small place.

Sadie needed round-the-clock IV fluids and administration of prostaglandin analogs, sulfated polysaccharides and proton pump inhibitors. Our dedicated techs really liked Sadie and gave her tender and attentive care. We are fortunate to have the expertise of a board-certified internist on our staff, and, along with his guidance plus the great overnight care from Animal Emergency Clinic of Mokena (we transferred her each night for 24-hour continuity), Sadie was able to go home on the 23rd. At the time of discharge her kidney values had returned (near miraculously) almost to normal.

Everyone involved knows how lucky we were. I called her home Christmas Eve and continued to get good reports.

Speaking of dedication, I’d like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of all vet techs in all of the clinics around here. It’s not always a glamorous job and all you do is not always recognized

JOHN FLEMING DVM • Prairie StateVet.com

or complimented, but some of the owners, and all of the veterinarians, know what you do each day to make everything work. I don’t know many of you out there but I have the highest regard for your commitment to the profession. By the way, we’re looking for another tech and vet.

We are a small practice and here’s a sample of what our techs did in 2017. They helped us examine close to 10,000 pets; they performed 383 dentals; extracted 1,086 rotten teeth; expressed 1,000 anal glands; oversaw the general anesthesia, and assisted in the surgery and recovery, of well over 1,000 pets without incident, as well as administered more than 1,600 various injectable medications and more than 2,000 vaccine injections.

Our vet techs also inserted over 1,500 IV catheters in sick and surgical patients; read 1,759 fecal tests; performed more than 2,000 Lyme and heartworm tests; assisted in numerous ultrasounds; lasered over 300 arthritic and injured pets; read 800 urine sediments as part of a routine urinalysis; performed hundreds of cytology tests on infected ears; dewormed 350 puppies; listened to innumerable

Meet Lee and Athena from Tinley Park. Lee keeps me on track at the gym.

I plan to have an abdomen as flat as his and biceps nearly as large by midJune.

pet stories and an equal number of personal stories from clients; took grief from a few disgruntled clients (the worst of whom were booted out of the practice) and treated everyone, regardless of their social or economic status, as if they and their pets were the most important people to ever walk through the doors.

And there’s more! Our techs generated 21,788 bits of laboratory data from blood tests (complete blood counts, serum chemistry tests, hormone assays, etc.) and dispensed 22,804 pills, lotions and potions. They used the crystal ball 14 times and the dart board on occasion to help the vets arrive at a diagnosis 37 times. They kept us on course when things got hectic and made us veterinarians laugh at least 24,000 times. They missed

a lot of lunches and never complained. They praised us when we did good and admonished us when we needed a little butt-kicking. They fed us, made tons of coffee and for another year made this place a workplace where you still looked forward to coming to each day.

It was our best year out of all 29 years and, regardless of the stress they work under, they seem ready to do it again in 2018. God bless all of you technicians in all of our area clinics and may you have a wonderful new year.

The light that shines from the humble manger is strong enough to lighten our way to the end of our days. Anon.

Teens may donate organs, Illinois Secretary of State says Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s legislation allowing 16and 17-year-olds to register for the state’s First Person Consent Organ/Tissue Donor Registry when they receive their driver’s license or identification card took effect earlier this week.

“Our main priority is to save lives,” said White. “Thousands of Illinoisans are waiting for an organ. Those who are waiting are someone’s mother, father, daughter or son. This new law is an important step in reducing the number of individuals on the waiting list.”

Until now, an individual needed to be at least 18 years old to join the First Person Consent Organ/ Tissue Donor Registry. The legislation amends the Illinois Anatomical Gift Act, allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to join the registry.

Those who join the registry will receive a letter of thanks from the Secretary of State’s office.

By joining the First Person Consent Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, 16- and 17-year-olds will be giving consent to donate their organs and tissue at the time of their death, with only the single limitation that the procurement or-

ganizations (Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Network and Mid-America Transplant) must make a reasonable effort to contact a parent or guardian to ensure they approve of the donation. The parent or guardian will then have the opportunity to overturn the child’s decision.

Once the 16- or 17-year-old turns 18, that decision would be considered legally binding without limitation.

There are 47 states that have enacted similar legislation. In 2016, more than 350,000 16- and 17-year-olds in Illinois were is-

sued driver’s licenses and identification cards.

“Approximately 4,700 people are on the waiting list in Illinois and about 300 people die each year waiting for an organ transplant,” White said. “One person can improve the quality of life for up to 25 people. Currently, 6.3 million Illinoisans are registered with the state’s registry.”

Illinoisans can register with the Secretary of State’s Organ/Tissue Donor Registry by calling 1-800-210-2106 or by visiting their local Driver Services facility.

Free vaccines are available to Orland Township children 18 and younger who are uninsured, underinsured (insurance does not cover vaccines), insured by Medicaid Title 19 or are Native American (American Indian, Alaskan Native).

Non - residential children who

meet the eligibility guidelines are welcome. For children residing outside of the township’s boundaries, a $30 administration fee per vaccine will be charged (does not apply to those with Medicaid/All Kids Title 21).

An up-to-date U.S. shot record is mandatory to receive

any vaccine and children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Proof of residency required.

For more information and other health services provided by Orland Township, call the township at (708) 403-4222.

HEALTH BEAT Orland Township offering immunization clinics Orland Township is hosting monthly immunization clinics from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 10 at the township building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave.

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The Regional News

Thursday, January 4, 2018

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

SCHOOL NOTES Seek opinions on MVCC Moraine Valley Community College is seeking comments from the public about the college in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

The college will host a HLC team visit Feb. 5-7, 2018. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. Moraine Valley has been accredited by the commission since 1975.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the college on HLC’s website at hlcommission.org/comment, or via mail to: Public Comment on Moraine Valley Community College, Higher Learning Commission, 230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411.

Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be submitted in writing and must be received by Jan. 8, 2018.

District 118 hosts two public meetings Palos Community Consolidated School District 118 will host a public Meeting of the Whole that will include a closed-door session to discuss a student disciplinary matter, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 at the district administration building, 8800 W. 119th St., Palos Park.

Also, the district will host a public Meeting of the Whole at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 at the administration building, to discuss long-term financial planning and 2018 summer projects.

Supplied photo

Kids help Ugandan entrepreneurs The kindergarten class at Southwest Chicago Christian School in Oak Lawn hosted a “Jingle Bell Post Office” this month. Each day, kindergarten students sold paper, envelopes and stamps for a penny each to raise money for a “Buzzy Bundle”, which includes a beehive, a smoker, training and protective clothing to help a future entrepreneur in Uganda through the World Renew Organization. The school hopes the project will promote literacy, improve letter writing skills, and share good Christmas cheer through the fun activity. Pictured are (from left) Southwest Chicago Christian School students Ryder Lenarz, Analei Kamp and Hannah Grace-Long working at the Jingle Bell Post Office.

Number of students in Dist. 218 AP courses sets a new record

District 218 teachers and administrators understood the consequence of their choice. If they campaigned to get more students to enroll in Advanced Placement courses, they would see the overall pass rate on national exams dip.

It was a choice, now a decade old, but not a difficult one.

Achieving a higher pass rate paled to teaching students to embrace challenge, learn not to set limits and discover their capabilities. The decision has yielded new records year after year and more importantly, a generation of students who have accepted the toughest challenge offered in high school.

In 2017, more than double the number of students in District 218 took AP exams compared to a decade ago. Passing an AP exam results in college credit at most colleges, including all institutions of higher education in Illinois.

Overall, 18 percent of students last year took at least one AP exam, “an impressive percentage of the population,” said Curriculum Director for English Anthony Corsi, who coordinates the AP program for the district.

Between 2009 and 2017, the number of students taking AP exams in District 218 rose every year. In 2009, 957 students took AP exams. Last spring, the total was 1,912 students.

ACROSS 1. Put within 6. Learned person 12. Resistance 16. Female title 17. Logical basis for a belief 18. Of I 19. Indicates position 20. Article 21. Insignificant organizational member 22. __ route 23. Expression of disapproval 24. Microelectromechanical systems 26. Ponds 28. Satisfy 30. Dad 31. Spanish soldier “El __” 32. Pouch-like structure 34. Obscure unit of measurement 35. Okinawa prefecture capital 37. Platforms 39. Jazz singer Irene 40. Benefits 41. Hellenistic governors 43. Brownish-green fruit 44. Needed to see 45. Political action committee 47. Fast plane 48. Bahrain dinar 50. Urgent request 52. Raccoon genus 54. Millisecond 56. Atlanta rapper 57. Rural delivery 59. Intrauterine device 60. The Wolverine State 61. Free agent 62. For instance 63. Reduces 66. Lincoln’s state 67. Quit 70. Midsections 71. Bullfighting maneuvers DOWN 1. The arch of the foot

2. Canadian peninsula 3. Koran chapters 4. Abba __, Israeli politician 5. Youngster 6. Burns 7. Comedienne Gasteyer 8. Valley 9. Belongs to sun god 10. Nickel 11. Great in salads 12. Leader 13. Forced through a sieve 14. Entryway 15. Support pillars 25. Aquatic mammal 26. __ Farrow, actress 27. Unhappy 29. Holds molecules 31. Thrifty 33. French dynasty 36. Scottish port 38. Irish militant organization

39. Dawn 41. Musical group of seven 42. Used to fry things 43. Carrot’s companion 46. Rough stone landmarks 47. Fourth son of Jacob and Leah 49. Goes against 51. Passion 53. Hard white animal fat 54. Soybean pastes 55. Beckon 58. Mountain and morning are two 60. Self-referential 64. Data executive 65. Retirement plan 68. Star Trek character Laren 69. You and I (Answers on page 8)

SUDOKU

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box.

You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

(Answers on page 8)

Supplied photo

Last year, District 218 students established another new record for Advanced Placement enrollment and exams passed. Here, students of Shepard High School physics teacher Joey Sparenberg (background) participate in a lab on thermodynamics. Sparenberg’s students performed exceptionally on their national AP exam last spring.

Finally, District 218 students established a new record for the number of exams passed. Last year they passed 800, more than double the number (295) compared to 10 years ago.

MVCC jazz ensemble musicians awarded The talents of five members of the Moraine Valley Jazz Ensemble were recognized at the 2017 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Jazz Festival held last month at Elgin Community College.

Awarded as Outstanding Soloists were Tom Hahn, of Homer Glen, tenor saxophone; and Carl Coan, of Michigan City, Ind., alto saxophone. Honorable mentions were awarded to trumpet players Vicki Beck, of Tinley Park; Frank Huber, of Northlake; and Allyssa Micele, of Oak Lawn.

“I’m always proud of our wonderful Jazz Ensemble, which is comprised of both students and community members, and I’m very glad when they get recognized not

7

only for their musicianship but also for their dedication to the group,” said Douglass Bratt, associate music professor and coordinator of Academic Music and director of the ensemble. “The judges commented that the band had great soloists and section playing all around and, in particular, noted the outstanding trumpet section, many of whom were award winners.”

Selections performed this year included pieces by Charles Mingus, Bill Holman, Kris Berg and Sonny Stitt.

“It is exciting to see so many members of the Jazz Ensemble be recognized for their hard work, and it’s a testament to the music program at Moraine Valley,” said

Dr. Lisa Kelsay, assistant dean of Liberal Arts and director of Academic Arts. “Doug has been instrumental in guiding the Jazz Ensemble to where it is today. What this group accomplishes year after year is phenomenal.”

The Moraine Valley Jazz Ensemble, which is in its 21st season, explores a range of styles from classic swing and soulful blues to Latin jazz and gritty funk. The group meets Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. Those interested in joining should be a proficient music reader and play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass or drum set.

For more information, contact Bratt at (708) 974-5215.

Chicago Christian HS recognizes students

Supplied photo

Chicago Christian High School recently held a recognition assembly to honor students for their hard work during the first quarter. Students were recognized for academic excellence, Christian character, leadership, determination and other qualities. Students were honored with a special lunch for their efforts. Students honored included (front, from left) Emma Dykstra (Palos Heights), Cyla Vos (Tinley Park), Rachel Jones (Palos Hills) and Emma Gricus (Tinley Park). Other students honored include (middle row, from left) Charles Woodson (Dolton), Ella Altena (Evergreen Park), Adeline Larsen (Palos Heights), Liela Pressley (Chicago Heights), Dailyn Burks (Chicago), Caleb Thompson (Chicago), AJ Kuipers (Worth), Danielle Tyson (Crete), Isayas Aris, Rylei Jackson (South Holland), Brooke Seiber (Chicago), Bethany Regnerus (Palos Heights), Blake VandeKamp (Tinley Park) and Mark Schaaf (Tinley Park). Also earning recognition were (back row, from left) Mae Lopez (Oak Lawn), Haylie Rynberk (Homer Glen), Bella Shan, Michelle Ptak, Spencer Rice (Mokena), Alfonso Corder (Lansing), Marley Bulthuis (Orland Park), Lia Moore (Matteson), Joey Mavrogiannis (Orland Hills), Joey Gawron (Oak Lawn), Stephen Fry (Blue Island), Carly Byrnes (Oak Lawn), Casey Staroska, Emily Mikitka (Orland Park), Niara Foster, Emily Damstra (Orland Park), Johnny Dieck (Tinley Park), Renee Powers (South Holland), Tim Timmons (Homer Glen) and David Falb (Frankfort).

Stagg hosts safety expert

Supplied photo

Stagg High School recently hosted FBI Special Agent Beth Kreppein, a crisis negotiator and active shooter preparation and response trainer, for a school safety presentation to a group of more than 50 representatives from southwest suburban law enforcement agencies, high schools and elementary schools. At the networking and professional development opportunity, Kreppein discussed prevention of such incidents, identification of threats, preparation for an active shooter event and how schools and police can respond to an active shooter scenario.

MVCC offers online classes

Moraine Valley Community College has announced a slate of more than 100 online and hybrid courses for the spring semester.

Online classes are taught primarily over the internet, while hybrid courses are taught through a combination of classroom and web-based instruction. Both allow students to attend all or part of their class via the internet with the ability to gain access to the instructor, classmates and course materials. Access to a web-equipped computer is required.

Some of the online and web-assisted classes this spring include American history I and II, Arabic, general biology I and II, composition I and II, general sociology, music appreciation, intermediate algebra, medical terminology and world religions, among others.

To learn more about online learning, visit morainevalley.edu/ online-learning.

A complete list of credit and noncredit classes can be found in the spring 2018 class schedule or online at morainevalley.edu. Registration is ongoing.

Tuition is $122 per credit hour, plus fees and books. New students must complete an admission application at morainevalley.edu/apply, and then can register in the Registration Office, located on campus in the Student Services Center (Building S), 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills; by phone at (708) 974-2110 or online.

Photo by Joe Boyle

WHATIZIT? The clue for this week’s Whatizit photo (above) is: Lourdes connection.

Send your responses with your name and hometown by noon Monday to thereporter@comcast.net.

Readers responded in force to last week’s quiz as the new year approached. The correct answer was Glen Oaks Elementary School, 9045 S. 88th Ave., Hickory Hills, just across the street from the Krueger Park Recreation Center.

Chris Slowik and Beverly Yazumbek, who both happen to be residents of Hickory Hills, knew it was Glen Oaks School. They also knew that the school was the winner of the Blue Ribbon Award.

Other readers who had the correct answer were Rich Rahn, of Evergreen Park, and Steve Rosenbaum, of Oak Lawn. Tom McAvoy, a former alderman of Hickory Hills (2003-2017), naturally knew this was Glen Oaks School. Also answering correctly were Ron Wagenhoffer, of Palos Park; Janice Mastro, Hickory Hills; and Rosanne Arnold, Palos Hills.

8 Thursday, January 4, 2018

The Regional News

COMMUNITY NOTES Public invited to hear about services for veterans The League of Women Voters of the Palos Orland Area will hear an update on services available for local military veterans, at a public meeting set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. Ave. Coffee will be served at 9:30 a.m., and the program is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.

Commander Jim Hudik from Tinley Park VFW Post 615 will talk about services available at the Joliet Clinic, now located in the old Silver Cross Hospital building.

He also will address what some say is a need to expand health care services to more suburban areas.

Also invited is Ron Wolflick, who will talk about the Honor Flight program.

The League of Women Voters of the Palos Orland Area includes members in about 15 suburbs, including Palos Heights, Palos Park, Palos Hills, Orland Park, Evergreen Park, Worth, Hickory Hills, Homer Glen, Oak Lawn, Mokena, Lemont, Lockport, Tinley Park and New Lenox.

Learn sign language in Orland Park The Village of Orland Park’s Recreation Department offers an array of winter classes, including American Sign Language instruction.

A session for learning ASL

runs on Tuesdays, from Jan. 16 to March 6 at the Cultural Center, 14760 S. Park Lane.

A family class is taught from 6 to 7 p.m. (at least one adult must be registered with child. Open to children age 5 and up). An adult class (ages 16 and up) runs from 7 to 8 p.m.

Fee is $50 for residents, $80 for non-residents.

To learn more, contact the village’s Recreation Administration Office at (708) 403-7275.

Neat Repeats Resale shops seek volunteers Volunteers are being sought by the Neat Repeats Resale shops in Worth and Orland Park. Opportunities are available in fashion merchandising, customer service and donation processing. Volunteers work one five-hour shift a week.

Volunteer applications are now being accepted at both locations: Orland Park, 9028 W. 159th St. and Worth, 7026 W. 111th St. All sales at Neat Repeats Resale benefit the clients served by the Crisis Center for South Suburbia, a non-profit community organization that provides emergency shelter and other services for individuals and families victimized by domestic violence.

For more information, call the Orland Park store at (708) 3647605 or the Worth store at (708) 361-6860.

Orland Twp. brightens Christmas for needy Christmas came a few days early for some Orland Township residents. More than 150 township families received a holiday meal and gifts courtesy of the Orland Township Holiday Program, according to Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady.

A township tradition for more than 30 years, the Holiday Program offers residents who wish to participate the option to adopt an entire family, individual children or provide donations of their choice.

Township staff and volunteers sort and organize the thousands of items and on distribution day, recipient families bring home the ingredients for a holiday meal and bags of toys, clothing and other items that were on their wish lists.

“Each year I am amazed at how bighearted our residents are with their willingness to ensure others in the community will have a Merry Christmas,” said Supervisor O’Grady. “I want to thank everyone who so generously donated Supplied photo and helped to make this year’s Officials with the Orland Township Holiday Program stand with a portion of the thousands of donations destined for local families. program a huge success.”

CLUB ACTIVITIES riencing in dealing with the death of a spouse because they’ve all been there.

The Southwest Suburban WidSome of the group’s activities ow/Widowers Social Club will include monthly general meetings, meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, monthly games, discussion, interFeb. 2 at Zion Lutheran Church, action meetings, newcomers’ “get 17100 S. 69th Ave., Tinley Park.

Beverages and snacks are served acquainted” meetings, organized at the monthly meetings. There restaurant outings, dances, trips, will be entertainment provided theater events and more.

For more information, call on most months. The club offers support to widowed of all faiths Danell Chmura at (630) 728and ages. Club members know 9368 or Bill Dolehide at (708) what the newly widowed are expe- 342-6820.

Widowed club to host meeting

LIBRARY NOTES Palos Heights Library has programs for kids Several activities for the week ahead are scheduled at the Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. 71st Ave. For more information or to register for a program, call (708) 448-1473.

• A children’s winter reading program started last Saturday and runs until Feb. 17. Anyone who completes the reading log will be entered in a drawing for Chicago Wolves hockey gear.

• “Read to the Dogs” is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday Jan. 5.

Register for this all-ages program and practice reading out loud to a certified therapy dog from Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy organization.

• “How to Build a Computer” begins at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5.

Kids ages 8 and up will learn from Computer Greeks’ Steve Georgiou how to assemble a real computer.

• “Smart Art” is set for 4 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 8. Children in kindergarten through fourth grade will have the opportunity to create a floating chalk work of art.

• “Nerdy Night at the Library,” designed for children in grades 6 and up, is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 9. Fans of Star Wars, anime and Harry Potter are welcome to dress in costume and enjoy YouTube videos and food.

• Chess for children starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10. Beginning players can drop in and play against teen volunteers to improve their game.

• For adults, author Richard Lanyon will discuss why and how the building of a canal to reverse the flow of the Chicago River was needed to save the city from disease, floods and pollution--and how critical it was to the future of Chicago. The hour-long event starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Answers

Puzzle on Page 7

• Several clubs meet each Tuesday at the library, including the Needle Club (for knitting and crocheting) from 10 a.m. to noon, Scrabble Club from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Conference Room and the Mahjong Club from 1 to 4 p.m.

Participants are asked to register in advance because space is limited.

Orland Park Public Library invites children, families to events Several events are coming up at the Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave. For more information or to register for this or any other program, call (708) 428-5100.

• “Once Upon A Time Family Storytime” is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. Children of all ages are invited to drop in for stories, music and finger-plays to build pre-reading skills.

• “Photoshop Elements” for adults begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12. The hands-on class “is ideal for any budding photography enthusiast, home user with photos they want to edit, or for anyone wishing to do basic photo manipulation,” according to a publicity blurb.

• “What a Novel Idea!” starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. Children in third through fifth grades are invited to join library staff for a story and coordinating handson activity. Registration required with child’s Orland Park Public Library card.

• “Before You Call the Handyman: Common Home Repairs” is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. Dan Findley, a professional handyman and licensed building engineer, will discuss several of the most common fixes easily done with a small home tool kit.

• “Make It a Mystery” begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. Adults are invited to discuss “City of the Lost” by Kelley Armstrong.

COMING SUMMER 2018:

LOYOLA COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALTY CARE IN ORLAND PARK. • Digestive Health • Ear, Nose and Throat Care • Orthopaedic Surgery • Outpatient Surgery Center • Radiation Oncology • Spine Care • Surgical Oncology

Sudoku

Puzzle on Page 7

Palos Health South Campus 15300 West Ave. Orland Park, IL

©2017 Loyola University Health System. All Rights Reserved. • October 2017 • 20171012-01

loyolamedicine.org

SPORTS The Regional News • The Reporter

Ken Karrson, Sports Editor • sports@regionalpublishing.com Jeff Vorva, Sports Editor • sports@regionalpublishing.com

Thursday, 2018 Thursday,January March 5,4,2015

Southwest Section Southwest • Section•2, Page 1 2, Page 1

EVERGREEN PARK WINS AGRICULTURE SCHOOL TOURNAMENT

Balance due for Mustangs’ opponents

By Phil Arvia Correspondent

A year ago, Evergreen Park won the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences Holiday Tournament and left the Southwest Side school with a gaudy 13-4 mark.

Saturday, the Lady Mustangs again took the Ag School tourney title, leaving with an even gaudier 15-2 mark.

That’s where the similarities end.

HOLIDAY RECAP: A look at how area teams fared in boys and girls holiday tournaments: Page 3

A 38-32, title-game cruise past Bremen (6-8) was Exhibit A. The Mustangs, up 38-19 with 3:50 to play before Bremen closed with a flourish against their bench, were led neither by their tournament MVP, Kacey Gardner, nor their other all-tourney player, Samariah Jones-Tinsley.

Instead, Emma O’Grady topped Evergreen Park with 12 points, and matched Jones-Tinsley and Nyssa Wagner with a team-high six rebounds.

“We are a pretty well-balanced team,” coach Bruce Scaduto said.

“Last year, we relied on a point guard, Kacey, and a post player (the graduated De’Anna Stewart).

This team is more rounded, we play better as a group.”

Gardner added 10 points and

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Emma O’Grady of Evergreen Park (No. 12) drains a 3-point basket against Richards Friday in the semifinals of the Agricultural School Tournament.

The Mustangs won the tournament two years in a row.

Wagner eight in support of O’Grady.

“The togetherness, the unity, our ability to feed off each other, those are our assets,” Scaduto said.

Evergreen Park’s Kacey Garder (left) is defended closely by Richards’ Halle Idowu on Friday. Gardner was named the MVP of the Agricultural School Tournament.

game.

“Her presence, being able to handle the ball, her defense, she’s certainly controlling what we do,” Scaduto said. “But she

“These girls are athletic, they go after it, they’re willing to go hard in games and in practice.”

Led, usually, by Gardner, who’s averaging nearly 13 points per

shares the ball, she sees Emma open, Emma gets the ball. That’s the way they are.”

Gardner had 14 points and JonesTinsley 10 in a crucial pool play

win Friday, 42-32 over Richards.

The Bulldogs’ Halle Idowu, an impressive 5-foot-10 guard/forward, See EP, Page 3

Ho, ho, ho and oh, no, no moments for St. Xavier women’s basketball

I

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Future Notre Dame runners Danny Kilrea (left, Lyons Township High School) and Dylan Jacobs (Sandburg) will be running for the United States in Scotland on Jan. 13.

Jacobs, Kilrea ready to race for USA in Scotland

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

OK, they are going to run one more time.

It appeared in early December that Sandburg’s Dylan Jacobs and Lyons Township’s Danny Killrea ran their last competitive high school cross country races when Jacobs won a national championship and Killrea placed third at the Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego.

Well, the two stars have one more race, and this one is even bigger than a state, regional or national race. They will take their running talents to Scotland, where they will represent

the USA Track and Field junior team and run in the Great Edinburgh XCountry Challenge Jan. 13 at Holyrood Park.

The United States will challenge an international field against team members from Team Great Britain and Team Europe in a 6K race. Aside from the local dynamic duo, who both will attend Notre Dame next season, Texas Class 5A champion Graydon Morris (a runnerup to Jacobs at the Foot Locker event) and another Illinois star, Clayton Mendez of Whitney Young High School are also on the See RACE, Page 2

t’s been a very odd holiday season for the No. 1 ranked NAIA Division II team in the country — the St. Xavier University’s women’s basketball team.

There were times the Cougars received bars of gold and times they received lumps of coal in an 11-day stretch to end 2017.

The first bar of gold was when they got to go to Hawaii to play a couple of games.

The first lump of coal was when they were JEFF VORVA shocked by unranked Baptist UniMaking the Wayland versity (Texas), 84Extra Point 77, on Dec. 19 as they committed 22 turnovers.

The second bar of gold came with a 55-52 survival against Carroll (Montana) the next day. The second lump of coal was that they scored just six points in the third quarter to let Carroll back into the game.

The third bar of gold came Thursday at the Shannon Center with a 105-53 win over Goshen in the SXU Holiday Classic as Kara Krolicki became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,331 points after her 25-point performance.

The third lump of coal came Friday when the highly anticipated battle with No. 2 Concordia (Nebraska) turned into a rout in a 81-60 loss on the second day of the Holiday Classic and Krolicki was held to three points.

A fourth bar of gold came with the See VORVA, Page 2

TOP-SCORING COUGARS The top five scorers in St. Xavier University women’s basketball history: Name Kara Krolicki Morgan Stuut Mary Cain Erin Hannemann Suzie Broski

Points 2,334 2,327 1,968 1,889 1,793

Years played 2014-present 2011-15 2000-2004 2006-10 2011-15

Above: St. Xavier’s Kara Krolicki, who set the school record for most career points on Thursday, tries to get by the Concordia defense on Friday. Left: SXU coach Bob Hallberg talks to his players during a 21-point loss to Concordia (Nebraska) on Friday.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

2

Section 2 Thursday, January 4, 2018

The Regional News - The Reporter

If you’re on thin ice, please be careful t’s ice fishing season, so let’s be careful out there.

No fish is worth the risk of going through thin ice. In addition to checking conditions locally and being prepared with an ice safety kit, anyone recreating on hard water should be wearing a life jacket.

A life jacket is the one piece of equipment that exponentially increases your odds of not drowning from cold water shock, hypothermia or exhaustion OUTDOORS should you fall through the ice.

WITH County, ice JIM KIRBY fishIn atCook your own risk at Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Flatfoot, Green, Horsetail, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee Slough, Sag Quarry East and West, Tampier, Turtlehead and Wampum.

Remember, no ice can ever be considered safe ice, but following these guidelines can help minimize the risk: • Carry ice picks, rope and an ice chisel.

• Check ice thickness at regular intervals – conditions can change quickly.

• Bring a cell phone or personal locator beacon.

• Don’t go out alone, let someone know the plan and expected return time.

• Always wear a life jacket on the ice, except when in a vehicle • Before heading out, inquire about conditions and known hazards with local experts.

The minimum ice thickness guidelines for new, clear ice are: • 4 inches for ice fishing or other activities on foot.

• 5-7 inches for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle.

• 8-12 inches for a car or small truck.

• 12-15 inches for a medium size truck.

• Double the minimums for white snowcovered ice.

• A fall into extremely cold water can incapacitate you within seconds which means it’s more important than ever to wear that life jacket.

I

Stagg’s Kyle Neputy is one of two area athletes who committed to Cornell in the Ivy League.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Marist’s Elijah Teague (No. 52) makes a tackle against Brother Rice early in the 2017 season.

He is heading to Minnesota.

Area football players take advantage of early signing period

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

The new early signing period in late December saw a handful of area standouts commit to big schools while NAIA power St. Xavier University also benefitted by signing seven players.

In the Big Ten Conference, Indiana had a nice haul of area players as Marist receiver TJ Ivy, Marist lineman Gavin McCabe and Brother Rice lineman Nick Marozas are heading to Bloomington in the fall.

Marist lineman Elijah Teague is heading to Minnesota.

Closer to home, Brother Rice kicker Josh Richardson committed to Northern Illinois University.

Since Ivy League schools are not allowed to offer athletic scholarships, there were no official letters of intent involved, but Stagg’s Kyle Neputy and Marist’s Delonte Harrell have committed to Cornell.

Marist’s Michael Lawler committed to the University of Chicago.

Interestingly, SXU picked up a nice haul in December. Conventional wisdom is that players will wait until later to see if they can go a level higher, but SXU picked up some players anyway.

“I don’t know if any of the small college football coaches knew how the new initial signing date would affect us, but it certainly trickled down to the lower levels and we are ecstatic with the start

of our recruiting season,” SXU coach Mike Feminis said. “These seven are all Chicago (area) kids and I believe they will all have outstanding academic and athletic careers at SXU.’’ SXU signed seven players, including Oak Lawn standout lineman Kam McNicholas (6-4, 250).

The Cougars signed three players from Providence Catholic Highs School — offensive lineman Tommy Farley, linebacker Joey Markasovic and defensive back Steven Meyer.

Notre Dame offensive lineman Brian Beran, CreteMonee lineman Jaleel Holloway and Eisenhower defensive back Tim Baity are also on board for the Cougars.

The next signing period will come in February.

AREA COLLEGE ROUNDUP

Cyclones women’s hoops team showing great forty-tude

By Jeff Vorva

TOP OF THE CHARTS

Sports Editor

Heading into this season, just two players in Moraine Valley Community College women’s basketball history had scored 40 or more points in a game.

This season, two Cyclones have accomplished that in less than 30 days.

Creighton Fed, who attended Dundee-Crown High School and spent a season at Rock Valley College, scored 43 in a 122-48 victory over Harper on Nov. 21. Her offensive explosion included seven 3-pointers.

Fed That output was one point shy of Kym Campin’s 1982-83 school record of 44.

Fed lived up to her name on Dec. 19 as she fed her teammates with 10 assists including several to Ashley Hunter, who broke the MVCC record with 48 points in a 124-37 victory over DuPage.

Hunter Hunter, a graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School who didn’t get too much playing time on a state- and nationally-ranked Vikings squad, shot 21 of 29 from the floor and added 10 rebounds and five steals in the rout as

The top five Moraine Valley performances for points in a game: Player Ashley Hunter Kym Camlin Creighton Fed Michelle Borgen Michelle Borgen

Points 48 44 43 40 38

Season 2017-18 1982-83 2017-18 2016-17 2016-17

the Cyclones closed out the 2017 portion of their schedule with a 10-3 mark.

“Creighton was trying to help Ashley break that record,” Moraine coach Delwyn Jones said.

“As Ashley was getting closer to 40, Creighton was trying to get her the ball. That’s a very unselfish deal when you come one point short (of breaking the record) and you want your teammate to do it.

“To have two kids score 40 points in the same season is nice to have.’’

Hunter’s shot was on all night in that game.

“She was on fire and most of her shots were 12-to-15-foot jumpers,” Jones said. “She is very deadly from mid-range. She wasn’t forcing shots.

She was taking shots within the offense.’’

Jones said another player capable of putting up big-time numbers for the Cyclones is Kristen McGee,

who has a pair of 26-point performances.

“We have three big-time scorers on this team,” he said. “Any one of them can have a game like that at any time.’’

Last year, the Cyclones went to the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament for the first time since 1989 and went 1-2 to finish in the top 12 in the nation in Division II. Despite losing some major firepower from that team, the Cyclones have hopes of making it back.

They have received votes in the most recent NJCAA poll.

Trinity Christian College

Women’s basketball: Trinity Christian broke a six-game losing streak with an 87-85 overtime road win over Ohio Christian University on Friday as Lauren Stokes hit a buzzer-beating shot for the victory.

Ally Giampapa led the Trolls with 34 points, including eight 3-pointers, and added 11 rebounds and six steals.

St. Xavier University

Men’s basketball: The Cougars returned from a two-week break with a 94-76 home victory over Huntington (Ind.) on Saturday.

Quinn Niego led the Cougars (9-7) with 25 points and Jack Brody added 20. The Cougars shot 58 percent (35 of 60) in the victory.

AREA SPORTS REPORT

Berg hoping to charge up Stagg football program

By Jeff Vorva

coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Syracuse for the past two seasons, is the youngest Football Bowl Subdivision head coach in the nation.

Brian Berg, named as the new football coach at Stagg High School, takes over a program that hasn’t had a winning season or playoff appearance since 2005.

Berg was the offensive coordinator for the past three years. In 2017, the Chargers finished 4-5 and averaged 29.3 points per game, which ranks second in school history.

The 2001 Andrew High School graduate has some experience with turnarounds. He was a defensive Berg coordinator at Reavis High School and the Rams finished 17-12 and made a playoff appearance that extended into the second round.

Prior to that, the Rams were 1-17 the previous two seasons.

Beat the champs

Sports Editor

Lewis named Kent State coach Former Richards football player Sean Lewis was named head coach at Kent State University in late December.

The 31-year-old Lewis, who was a co-offensive

Vorva

Continued from Page 1 performance of freshman Meg Knutson, who came all the way from Florida to turn up the heat during these single-digit days, as she scored 15 points against Goshen and 12 more against Concordia and was given an All-Tournament plaque on her 19th birthday. But she couldn’t totally enjoy the moment because of the blowout loss.

It was the first time the Cougars lost by 20 or more points since March 13, 2014 when they dropped a 68-43 decision to the College of the Ozarks in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament — a span of 119 games.

Veteran coach Bob Hallberg may have forgotten what it’s like to get beaten so soundly, but he had a bad reminder on Friday.

Sandburg’s wrestling team beat defending Illinois High School Association Class 3A champion Lockport on Dec. 22. The final score was 36-36, but the Eagles won on a tiebreaker of winning eight matches to the Porters’ six.

Winning for the Eagles were Sam Wojcik (126), Zach Bateman (132), Chris Panfil (138), Tyler Villa (145), Mike Bosco (182), Alex Hirschfield (195), Nate Goodman (220) and Joe Boyce (285).

All-state, all-American volleyball stars Molly Murrihy, the 6-foot setter who had 1,132 assists and 132 blocks for Illinois High School Association Class 4A state champion Marist, was named as a MaxPreps All-American player and was named to the Champaign News-Gazette All-State Volleyball team.

She was joined by teammate Savannah Thompson (403 kills, 307 digs) on the all-state team.

“This wasn’t a battle between No. 1 and No. 2 — it was a battle between No. 1 and No. 32,” Hallberg said.

The next NAIA poll comes out Tuesday and the Cougars will be bumped from the No. 1 spot but might not fall too far down.

Things started out well as they took a 17-9 lead against Concordia (15-0), but then — POW! They committed 28 turnovers, which had Hallberg hot.

“We cannot be that careless with the ball and expect to be in the game,” he said. “And in a big game, your stars have to step up. The stars didn’t step up. Anybody can play against cupcakes. They put a little pressure on us and we acted like we never played basketball before.’’

What’s next for the Cougars (12-2) after being steamrolled and committing 28 turnovers?

They took a couple of days off and were scheduled to be back at practice

Mother McAuley’s Charley Niego (456 kills, 366 digs) also made the all-American team and all-state first team.

Marist’s Grace Green and McAuley’s Nancy Kane were named to the all-state second team.

Shepard’s Sarah Kiwan, Marist’s Maggie Meyer were special mentions.

Sandburg’s Maureen Imrie and Erica Staunton, Stagg’s Nikki Marsh and Chicago Christian’s Danielle Tyson were honorable mentions.

PBO registration There is still time to register for the 2018 Palos Baseball Organization season.

PBO offers a quality youth baseball program designed to provide an environment in which players can learn and develop fundamentals, skills, teamwork and good sportsmanship Please see the PBO website — www.palosbaseball. org — for more details on the registration.

LAX signings Marist’s Jenna Ford (Aurora University) and Taylor Nesbitt (Concordia, Michigan) participated in signing day on Dec. 20 for lacrosse.

on Tuesday. Hallberg was at a loss as to how to fix the turnover problem.

“There are certain skills that you can teach,” he said. “But you can’t teach (preventing) panic. You can work on shooting. You can work on boxing out. The mental aspect of taking care of the ball? You can’t teach that. It’s just something they have to do.”

“We’re just going to have to come back and work harder than we have been working,’’ Knutson said.

The Cougars open 2018 with a home game against Governors State University on Saturday and visit Trinity Christian College on Wednesday before hitting a tough stretch of hosting Cardinal Stritch (which received votes in the latest poll) on Jan.13, 14th-ranked University of St. Francis in Joliet on Jan. 17 and 13th-ranked Olivet Nazarene in Kankakee on Jan. 20.

How did Asian Carp get here?

Many people are worried about the live silver carp that was caught above the electric barriers near Chicago, nine miles from Lake Michigan in June. Charlie Wooley, Midwest Deputy Regional Director to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said they haven’t learned how the fish got past the barrier yet, but they’re still investigating the area.

Some groups have been critical of the federal government’s efforts, saying it’s taking too long to put in new control measures to keep the carp out of the Great Lakes.

Pretty safe season

While firearm deer hunters in Illinois took more than 80,000 deer during the state’s busiest hunting season, Illinois IDNR Conservation Police report just four huntingrelated accidents were reported, three of them involving injuries from tree stand falls.

Agencies support Wildlife Act The introduction of (H.R. 4647) would redirect $1.3 billion in existing revenue from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters be dedicated to the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program.

“Our nation’s fish and wildlife are among the most valuable resources, along with clean air, water, healthy forests and agricultural lands that support all of us,” stated Virgil Moore, president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “Today we find ourselves at a critical crossroads and impending fish and wildlife challenge that could alter our children’s and grandchildren’s opportunities to enjoy these resources.’’

Smallmouth bass record Michigan’s existing state record for smallmouth bass was broken by Robert Bruce Kraemer, a longtime angler with a cottage on the Indian River, Cheboygan County. Kraemer said he’s been fishing Michigan waters since 1965, but this is his first state-record catch. Using night crawlers for bait, Kraemer landed a 9.9-pound, 23.10 inch smallmouth bass while out fishing on the Indian River.

The record was verified by a Michigan DNR Biologist in Gaylord.

Talking diets Chinook diet is around 95 percent alewife while lake trout diet is typically 60 percent alewife or less, so in 2015 Chinook salmon consumed over 30 kiloton of alewife in Lake Michigan while lake trout consumed less than 14 kt of alewife.

Think about it When seconds count, help is only minutes away.

Jim Kirby’s column runs every first and third Thursday of the month. E-mail him at Kirbyoutdoors@sbcglobal.net.

Race

Continued from Page 1

Photo by Jeff Vorva

St. Xavier freshman Meg Knutson, pictured shooting against Concordia, was named to the SXU Holiday All-Tournament team.

United States team.

In the junior women’s race, another Illinois star will represent the United States as Glenbard West’s Katelynne Hart is scheduled to run in Scotland.

Kilrea won the 2017 Illinois High School Association Class 3A state championship at Detweiller Park in Peoria in November. He was the first champion from Lyons since Warren Dreutzler won it in 1946 — the first year of the race. Kilrea also finished sixth in the NXN Nike national meet in Oregon.

Jacobs claimed sixth in state and 13th at NXN.

The Regional News - The Reporter

Thursday, January 4, 2018 Section 2

3

FOCUS ON GIRLS BASKETBALL

Chargers continue stellar play with 3rd-place finish at Hillcrest

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

None of the players on Stagg’s girls basketball team have enjoyed a winning varsity season at the Palos Hills school.

The Chargers’ last winning season was 201314, when the team finished 15-12 and the current players were in grade school.

But that is changing. Stagg finished third in the Hillcrest Holiday Classic and owns a 12-3 record.

Bill Turner’s club finished off the 2017 portion of the season on a high note, knocking off Bradley-Bourbonnais, 55-48, as Kelsey Kelley had 18 points and Nicole Vacha added 14.

Bradley was the top seed in the tournament.

The Chargers head back into action today (Thursday) visiting perennial power Homewood-Flossmoor.

Sandburg (8-9) was also at Hillcrest and dropped a 46-42 decision to Bloom in the consolation bracket to finish 1-2.

Sandburg has a tough opponent to open the 2018 portion of the schedule as the Eagles host Bolingbrook tonight (Thursday).

Montini beats area powers Mother McAuley and Marist, two of the

area’s strongest teams in a season with several teams posting impressive records, both were beaten by Montini at the Montini Christmas Tournament.

McAuley (11-5) dropped a 54-35 decision to the Broncos in the semifinals on Friday, shortly after losing to them 59-30 on Dec. 21 in a regular-season game. The Mighty Macs went on to finish fourth.

Marist (12-3) lost a 58-40 quarterfinal game to the Broncos. The RedHawks went on to finish seventh in the 16-team tournament.

Montini beat Geneva, 52-50, to claim the title.

McAuley hosts Trinity tonight (Thursday) and challenges Batavia at the Benet Academy Chicagoland Invitational Shootout on Saturday.

Marist takes on Stevenson at the Benet Academy Chicagoland Invitational Shootout on Saturday.

St. Laurence third at Geurin St. Laurence evened its record to 8-8 with a third-place finish at the Guerin Prep Yuletide Tournament. Nine players scored in the 55-19 third-place game victory over the hosts including Lourdes Andrews and Ashley Murphy, who each had nine points while Kyra Harty added

nine rebounds.

Murphy had 20 points in the first quarter and 30 points overall in a 55-13 win over Lake View in the previous game.

The Vikings host Wheaton St. Francis today (Thursday) and visit Shepard on Friday night.

Well-Coyled machine Shepard was able to pick up its third victory of the season with a 35-28 won over Glenbard East, 35-28, in the Riverside-Brookfield Tournament as Dubuque-bound Jess Coyle had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

The Astros visit Bremen tonight (Thursday) and host St. Laurence on Friday.

Knights battle at Lisle

Chicago Christian finished fourth in the consolation round of a Lisle Tournament after suffering a 42-39 setback to Westmont one game after beating the hosts, 47-36.

The Knights visit Illiana Christian tonight (Thursday).

Look who is back Oak Lawn has not played since Dec. 19 and should be well rested when it visits Hillcrest tonight (Thursday).

Photo by Jeff Vorva

With players such as Nicole Vacha (No. 44) coming up big, Stagg coach Bill Turner could have his first winning season since 2013-14.

FOCUS ON BOYS BASKETBALL

Brother Rice impresses with 2nd-place finish at Tosh tournament

By Jeff Vorva

(Ohio), 46-43, to start things and fell to Bishop Eustace Prep (from New Jersey) 69-63 before the big comeback win.

The Knights play just their second home game of the season when they host St. Edward on Friday night.

Sports Editor

EP

Continued from Page 1 scored 16 points against the Mustangs before bouncing back with 25 in a 61-45, third-place-game victory Saturday over the hosts.

Richards, which will see Evergreen Park again in South Suburban Conference play, improved to 12-2 with the consolation win.

“They did a nice job defensively,” Richards coach Jeff Kortz said of Evergreen Park. “Bruce and his staff do a good job of taking you out of the things you want to do.”

Meanwhile, there are things the Mustangs want to do — starting with getting past Argo, Oak Lawn and Richards in a talented South Suburban Red conference race.

“We finished second behind Argo last year,” Gardner said. “We

Shepard takes third Shepard took third place in the eight-team Large Division bracket of the Kankakee Holiday Tournament. The Astros (8-4) were 2-1 with wins over DuSable and Reavis and a loss to Peoria Central. Shepard’s Chris Harrison was named to the All-Tournament team for the second straight year.

The Astros open the 2018 portion of their schedule at Oak Forest on Friday.

No repeat for Mustangs Photos by Jeff Vorva

After a hard-fought double overtime win over Brother Rice, Conant players celebrated their Jack Tosh Holiday Classic championship Saturday night.

Brother Rice’s Josh Boulanger (left) is about to block Conant’s Ryan Davis’s shot Saturday night. Despite that, the 6-foot-9 Davis finished with 31 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out in the first overtime of a double-overtime Conant win.

Also in Elmhurst…

St. Laurence, Sandburg and Stagg represented the area in the tournament.

St. Laurence (12-4) won two games before its loss to Brother Rice and then dropped an 85-52 decision to Naperville North. Tim Molloy was named all-tournament.

Sandburg (10-3) finished 2-2 and dropped a 79-73 overtime decision to Lyons in the consolation semifinals. Jake Pygon was named all-tournament.

Stagg (5-8) also went 2-2 and lost to Downers Grove South, 7066, in the consolation semifinals.

John Mahoney was named to the All-Tournament team.

ended when they dropped a 57-51 decision to Champaign Central in the semifinals.

Later that night, they beat Al-

ton, 49-45, to finish third.

In the Champaign loss, Morgan Taylor led the team with 18 points and Jack Ellison had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Against Alton, Taylor scored 26 while David Daniels had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Taylor, last year’s tournament MVP, was named to the All-Tournament team.

The RedHawks (14-1) are back in action Friday night when they host Harlan.

to end the 2017 portion of their season with a 64-40 victory over Brooks. Sophomore Sami Osmani led the team with 20 points and his brother Adem had 16 and was named to the All-Tournament Team for the second straight season.

The Spartans, 9-4, are trying to surpass the 16-win mark for the first time since 1980-81. They resume action at Lemont on Friday night.

Oak Lawn even at T-Town

Chicago Christian closed the 2017 portion of its season pumped up after a wild 52-50 victory over Newsome (Fla.) at the Disney KSA Tournament at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando after trailing by double figures in the second half.

The Knights nipped Fairborn

Oak Lawn, gunning for one of its biggest seasons in decades, split four games at the TeutopolisEffingham Christmas Classic.

The Spartans shot 61 percent

Meanwhile in Florida…

Evergreen Park finished 2-2 and was not able to win back-to-back titles at the Immaculate Conception Catholic/Westmont Tournament. Dan Woodal hit a gamewinning basket in a 43-41 victory over Beecher to send his team off on a good note to end the 2017 portion of the schedule.

The Mustangs (5-8) get back into action on Friday at Tinley Park and are at the St. Anthony High School Shootout on Jan. 6.

Richards roughed up at Hinsdale Central

Richards, which owns one of the top records in the South Suburban Red at 3-1, had a tough time at the Hinsdale Central Tournament, going 0-4. The Bulldogs (5-7) hope to get back on track on Friday when they host Thornton Fractional South on Friday night.

BRIDGEVIEW

SPORTS SALES Bait Shop • Guns • Ammo

Marist’s tourney streak ends

Marist’s tournament championship streak stopped at an impressive five.

The RedHawks had won five straight regular-season tournaments heading into last week’s action at Centralia. They won the District 218 Thanksgiving Tournament in 2016 and 2017 and their own mid-December Holiday Tournament the same years. They won the 16-team Centralia Tournament for the first time since 1991 last season but on Saturday, the streak

would like to get past them, and get out of the regionals (after losing a regional title game last year).

I think that’s very reasonable — then from there, keep working.”

That last notion isn’t an issue.

“We work very hard,” Gardner said. “We’re all driving to the basket, we’re moving with the ball on defense — everybody gets involved.”

Even Scaduto, who conceded he can’t recall the last Evergreen Park girls team to go 15-2, and wasn’t too worried about his players getting carried away with their early results.

“Yes and no,” he said. “They come down to be realistic when they have to be. Me, I have to remember to enjoy this group — the season’s already half over, and I’m going to miss them when they’re gone.”

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Entering the 44th Jack Tosh Holiday Classic with losses against Eisenhower and Loyola and bringing in a modest 6-5 record, Brother Rice didn’t look like a team that was going to make a lot of noise in the 32-team event.

But the Crusaders won four games in four days at York High School in Elmhurst and they found themselves in the championship game against defending tournament champ Conant on Saturday night.

They continued to make noise but eventually fell 54-53 in double overtime in one of the most exciting championship games in the tournament’s history.

“I was proud of our guys all week,’’ said Crusaders coach Bobby Frasor before he was interrupted by a tournament representative who said, “I’ve been watching a lot of high school ball doing that (score)book and you guys are great.’’

“Every game we took as a onegame tournament,’’ Frasor added.

“I didn’t want them thinking they were going to win five in a row, because that’s just insurmountable.

We came to play every day. We showed bits and pieces of what we can do.’’

Vermont-bound Ryan Davis, a 6-foot-9 Conant senior, scored 31 points and hauled down 15 rebounds before fouling out in the first overtime. With Davis out of the game in the final four-minute second overtime, it appeared the Crusaders would have an advantage, but Conant’s Jonathan Kolev opened things up with a 3-pointer and hit a basket with 2.3 seconds left, five seconds after Marquise Kennedy hit a reverse layup after a Brendan Coghlan steal.

After Brother Rice missed a shot just past halfcourt, Conant, 11-4 and coached by former St. Laurence coach Jim Maley, had a wild celebration.

“When their best player is gone, you would like to think your odds have gone up,” Frasor said. “But we were chasing them the entire overtime. After we scored after the steal, I knew that they had no timeouts so I didn’t take one because I didn’t want them to get set up. It’s a chaotic moment. Obviously hindsight is 20-20 and I wish I did. But the guy hit a tough long two and give credit to him.’’

Brother Rice (10-6) beat Waubonsie Valley (60-38), Andrew (70-65), St. Laurence (70-58) and Batavia (61-40) to reach the final. Kennedy, a junior, and Josh Boulanger were selected to the All-Tournament team by the 32 coaches.

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Section 2 Thursday, January 4, 2018

The Regional News - The Reporter

It was the day — and night — after Christmas...

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

Four of the area’s 10 boys basketball team battled in the 32-team Jack Tosh Holiday Classic, which began a day after Christmas at York High School in Elmhurst. They played in the morning, afternoon and night.

St. Laurence drew the early morning game at

8:30 a.m., but the Vikings didn’t appear too sleepy as they scored 45 points in the first half en route to a 78-64 victory over Oswego.

Zion Fortune scored 32 points and hauled down nine rebounds while Timmy Molloy had 13 points and five assists. Isaiah Harvey came up with 11 points and nine assists.

Brother Rice had an early afternoon game and snapped a two-game losing streak with a 60-38

victory over Waubonsie Valley. The Crusaders held a 58-24 lead after three.

Marquise Kennedy scored 15 points for Rice while Josh Boulanger had 10 points and seven rebounds. Ryan Kellogg had 12 points on four 3-pointers.

As the day wore on, however, wins were tough to come by for area teams.

Sandburg, which came in with an 8-1 record,

Waubonsie Valley’s Marcus Skeete and Derrien Porter try to prevent Brother Rice’s Brendan Coghlan (with ball) from passing to Conor Glennon (left).

went cold in the late afternoon and failed to hit double figures in the second and fourth quarters of a 69-45 loss to Highland Park. Jack McNulty led the Eagles with 12 points.

In the evening, Stagg dug itself an 11-0 hole against Minooka and lost 48-33. John Mahoney scored 12 points and Martin Macenis added 10 for the Chargers.

Here are a few photos from the first day of action:

Oswego coach Chad Pohlmann has a close-up view of his player Jack Kahoun (left) and St. Laurence’s Timmy Molloy battling for the ball in the first round of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York High School in Elmhurst.

A familiar face — former St. Laurence coach Jim Maley — is now at the helm at Conant and he coaches the Cougars to a first-round win over McHenry.

Brother Rice’s Marquise Kennedy, left, and Waubonsie Valley’s Kyle Schroeder collide during an opening-round game at the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

St. Laurence’s Isaiah Harvey arches back after a shot against Oswego in the opening round of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic on Dec. 26.

Sandburg’s Jason Pygon looks to pass in a loss to Highland Park in the first round of the Jack Tosh tournament.

Sandburg’s Jack McNulty scores an inside basket against Highland Park on Dec. 26.

Stagg’s Josh Blim gets ready to move the ball up court against Minooka on Dec. 26 at the Jack Tosh Tournament.

Stagg’s John Mahoney (left) and Josh Blim try to put the clamps on Minooka’s Mike Fruscione in Elmhurst.

The Regional News - The Reporter

Thursday, January 4, 2018 Section 2

Get Fast Action

The Reporter Newspapers Call 448-6161 Deadline 5 p.m. Monday Hours M-F 9 to 5

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Real Estate Property Listings

Houses For Sale

Houses For Sale

Houses For Sale

Houses For Sale

Houses For Sale

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION (‘’FANNIE MAE’’), A CORPORATION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN SUCCESSOR, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF A DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED SEPTEMBER 8, 2005, AND KNOWN AS THE JAMES B. KRATOVIL LAND TRUST, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., VILLAGE SQUARE OF ORLAND CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION II, CONDOMINIUMS OF VILLAGE SQUARE OF ORLAND CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION II, JAMES KRATOVIL, JR., AS HEIR OF JAMES B. KRATOVIL, DEBORAH FALSTAD, AS HEIR OF JAMES B. KRATOVIL, KIMBERLY KRATOVIL, AS HEIR OF JAMES B. KRATOVIL, KATHIE SAMSON, AS HEIR OF JAMES B. KRATOVIL, UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW AND LEGATEES JAMES B. KRATOVIL, WILLIAM P. BUTCHER, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES B. KRATOVIL, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 16 CH 16251 15633 ERIN LANE, UNIT C6 Orland Park, IL 60462 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 27, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 5, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 15633 ERIN LANE, UNIT C6, Orland Park, IL 60462 Property Index No. 27-15-301-028-1019 Vol. 146.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $109,778.18.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact Plaintiff’s attorney: JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 230 W. Monroe Street, Suite #1125, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 541-9710 Please refer to file number 16-4179.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 230 W. Monroe Street, Suite #1125 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 541-9710 E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com Attorney File No. 16-4179 Attorney Code. 40342 Case Number: 16 CH 16251 TJSC#: 37-10376 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

I3069746

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION TCF NATIONAL BANK Plaintiff, -v.RICHARD T. CREAL, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 17 CH 09074 11020 S. EASTWOOD DRIVE Palos Hills, IL 60465 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 5, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 14, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 11020 S. EASTWOOD DRIVE, Palos Hills, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-13-304-018-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $251,126.26.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in AS IS condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact DAVID T. COHEN, COHEN JUTLA DOVITZ MAKOWKA, LLC, 10729 WEST 159TH STREET, ORLAND PARK, IL 60467, (708) 460-7711 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

COHEN JUTLA DOVITZ MAKOWKA, LLC 10729 WEST 159TH STREET ORLAND PARK, IL 60467 (708) 460-7711 E-Mail: Foreclosure@CJDM.Legal Attorney Code. 25602 Case Number: 17 CH 09074 TJSC#: 37-9166 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR DEUTSCHE ALT-A SECURITIES, INC. MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-1, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES Plaintiff, -v.MANAL KANAAN, MALIK KANAAN, LORENZ APPLIANCE, INC., STATE OF ILLINOIS, PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, L.L.C., DISCOVER BANK, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 15 CH 002926 8841 W. 100TH PLACE PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 17, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 17, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 8841 W. 100TH PLACE, PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-10-401-079-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-15-02450.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-15-02450 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 15 CH 002926 TJSC#: 37-10989 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

I3071118

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BANK OF AMERICA, NA; Plaintiff, vs.

FRANK C. LIVIGNI AKA FRANK LIVIGNI; FIRST MIDWEST BANK FKA STANDARD BANK AND TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST AGREEMENT DATED 16 NOVEMBER, 1999 TRUST NUMBER 16418; Defendants, 17 CH 4856 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 23-13-103-037.

Commonly known as 7956 West Tiffany Court, Palos Hills, IL 60465.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 17-012119 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3070757

Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NEW PENN FINANCIAL LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING Plaintiff, vs.

RICHARD BRAUN; CITY OF PALOS HEIGHTS, AN ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL CORPORATION Defendants, 17 CH 6403 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 24-30-131-006-0000.

Commonly known as 12202 South 68th Court, Palos Heights, IL 60463.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 17-021548 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3071471

HAVE A HOUSE FOR SALE? PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! CALL 448-4000 OR 448-6161

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.FRANK PENSA Defendants 10 CH 31488 22 NORTH WOODLAND TRAIL PALOS PARK, IL 60464 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 16, 2011, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 26, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 22 NORTH WOODLAND TRAIL, PALOS PARK, IL 60464 Property Index No. 23-26-206-029-0000.

The real estate is improved with a brown brick one story single family home with a two car detached garage.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in AS IS condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information: Visit our website at service. atty-pierce.com. between the hours of 3 and 5pm.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 416-5500. Please refer to file number 856.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 416-5500 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 856 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 10 CH 31488 TJSC#: 37-11022

Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, vs.

ADELA PEDROZA; THE CITY OF CHICAGO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION Defendants, 16 CH 466 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 23-26-310-014-0000.

Commonly known as 12533 SOUTH IROQUOIS ROAD, PALOS PARK, IL 60464.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 15-036310 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3071465

Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Chancery Division.

Fifth Third Bank Mortgage Company Plaintiff, vs.

Steven J. Malmborg; Terri A. Malmborg; Fifth Third Bank (Chicago); Citizens Bank, N.A. F/K/A Charter One Bank N.A.; Unknown Tenants; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants Defendants, Case #17CH4234 Sheriff’s # 170242 F17050184FT FITH Pursuant to a Judgment made and entered by said Court in the above entitled cause, Thomas J. Dart, Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, will on January 19th, 2018, at 1pm in room LL06 of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction the following described premises and real estate mentioned in said Judgment: Common Address: 8549 Lawler Ave, Burbank, Illinois 60459 P.I.N: 19-33-405-047-0000 Improvements: This property consist of a Single Family Home.

Sale shall be under the following terms: payment of not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the successful and highest bid to be paid to the Sheriff by cashier’s check or certified funds at the sale; and the full remaining balance to be paid to the Sheriff by cashier’s check or certified funds within twenty-four (24) hours after the sale.

Sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments.

Premise will NOT be open for inspection.

Firm Information: Plaintiff’s Attorney ANSELMO, LINDBERG OLIVER LLC 1771 W. DIEHL., Ste 120 Naperville, IL 60563 Sales Department foreclosurenotice@fal-illinois.com 866-402-8661 fax 630-428-4620 For bidding instructions, visit www.fal-illinois.com This is an attempt to collect a debt pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING LLC A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; Plaintiff, vs.

TODD W. BEAN; SHANA G. JOHNSON; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 16 CH 8497 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Thursday, January 25, 2018, at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 27-15-212-015-0000.

Commonly known as 15157 Royal Georgian Road, Orland Park, IL 60462.

The mortgaged real estate is a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: Bidders must present, at the time of sale, a cashier’s or certified check for 10% of the successful bid amount. The balance of the successful bid shall be paid within 24 hours, by similar funds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Mr. Stephen G. Daday at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Klein, Daday, Aretos & O’Donoghue, LLC, 2550 West Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008. (847) 590-8700.

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3070911

5

The Regional News Call 448-4000 Deadline 5 p.m. Monday Hours M-F 9 to 5 For Sale

5 ACRES RT. 45 IN PEOTONE 600 ft. frontage x 400 ft. deep 40 ft. x 60 ft. pole barn CALL 815-450-0004 Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FIFTH THIRD MORTGAGE COMPANY; Plaintiff, vs.

EDITA GRIGALIUNIENE; VYTAUTAS GRIGALIUNAS; FIRST AMERICAN BANK; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; HERITAGE CONDOMINIUMS OF PALOS HILLS; Defendants, 16 CH 3935 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, January 22, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 23-22-200-086-1005.

Commonly known as 9029 West 111th Street, Apartment 2A, Palos Hills, IL 60465.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g) (1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 16-006119 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3070718

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All Real Estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1 (800) 669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is: 1 (800) 927-9275.

6

Section 2 Thursday, January 4, 2018

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Your Guide to Arts and Events in the Southwest Suburbs and Beyond

OUT & ABOUT

The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Southwest • Section 2, Page 7

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS Bridge Teen Center offers free events for teens

allowed. Parking for people with disabilities will be available at the ranch.

More than 35,000 children— many who hail from the Palos and Orland Park communities—visit Big Run each year to see wildlife shows and attend birthday parties, according to founder and owner John Basile. There’s also a campground at the facility. Several Boy Scouts have worked with Big Run to complete their Eagle Scout projects.

Many of the animals at Big Run have been rescued when the only other alternative was euthanasia.

The sanctuary’s primary objective is conservation through education.

For details, call (815) 588-0044.

to the first five individuals to sign up for each quarter: • First quarter is open to cooks between the ages of 12 and 54.

• Second quarter is open to cooks employed in public service, such as police, fire, education and the military.

• Third quarter is open to those age 55 and older.

• Fourth quarters is open to those who have received a culinary degree or certificate.

Soup cooks will be asked to prepare one and a half gallons of soup for the event and an additional batch that will be donated to a local soup kitchen.

Prizes will be awarded to one MVP each quarter and will be determined by votes from a panel of judges, the Souper Bowl Committee and the audience. All cooks must be registered to participate

by Jan. 19.

“Even though our hometown team most likely won’t be playing in the big game, I hope all residents will start their pre-game festivities with us,” said Supervisor Paul O’Grady. “Come help Orland Township score a touchdown by joining us for an afternoon of football related fun.”

Pre-sale tickets for the event will be available starting Jan. 8 and will be $5 each ($3 for senior citizens).

Tickets will also be available at the door for $10 ($6 for senior citizens).

For more information on the First Annual Souper Bowl Challenge, call (708) 403-4222.

The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 S. 71st Ct., Orland Park, offers several free events for teens in seventh through 12th grade.

For more information, call (708) 532-0500. These are free events for youths in seventh through 12th grade.

• A showdown featuring cheese versus chocolate will be held from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. Teens in seventh through 12th grade are invited to taste samples of both and give their input while taking a quiz to determine their loyalty. Berkot’s Super Food will provide brownies and macaroni and cheese for all to enjoy. The Long Lost will take to the stage and entertain with indie music.

• Fighting Procrastination with OPTT casting call for the Huntington Learning Center ‘Pirates of Penzance’ Actors of all ages are invited to will be held from 4:15 to 5:15 bring their best pirate swagger to p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10. Teens audition for Village of Orland Park who procrastinate tend to sleep Theatre Troupe’s spring musical, poorly, have higher levels of anxiSupplied photos “Pirates of Penzance.”

Watercolor painting instruction and a woodcarving workshop (below) are among the upcoming programs at ety and depression and have lower Auditions for children (ages immunity caused by the unnecesThe Center.

6-15) will be held on Sunday, Jan. sary stress of procrastination. This 28 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Adult program will offer a few tips on auditions will be held Sunday, Jan. how to manage time better.

• Soul Café: How to Deal with 28 and Monday, Jan. 29 from 7 Negativity with Mrs. Illinois Inter- to 10 p.m.

Auditions will be held at the national 2016 is scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. Teens village’s Cultural Center, 14760 can join the former Mrs. Illinois S. Park Lane.

The 50-plus cast includes roles International who has done extensive work combatting bullying and for men, women and children. spreading kindness. This program OPTT seeks male actors for four will discuss practical steps of not principal roles, as well as 10 pirates and 10 comical cops. There are nine The Center, 12700 Southwest Highway, Palos allowing negativity to steal joy.

Park, has announced a slate of activities for the • Doubles Pool Tournament and principal female roles, with 10 to days ahead.

Karaoke/Open Mic is slated from 12 additional female roles, and up Seek vendors for For more information or to register for a program, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12. to seven roles for boys and girls. Sandburg craft show Those wishing to audition should call (708) 361-3650.

Teams of two can enjoy classic Crafters and vendors are invited bring a prepared piece of music, at • The January Labyrinth Walk is scheduled for 9 billiards or take to the stage to to apply to be a part of the 2018 show off their talent at either Open least 16 measures. A dance audition Sandburg Music Boosters’ Spring a.m. Saturday Jan. 6. This walk around the labyrinth piece will be taught.

Mic or Karaoke. Those interested is designed to be a time to reflect upon the meaning Once cast, members pay a $35 Craft Show, set for March 10-11 in performing for The Bridge Teen of the New Year, regarding questions surrounding registration fee. Rehearsals begin at Sandburg High School, 13300 Center’s Open Mic should contact living differently and the opportunities and invitaS. LaGrange Road, Orland Park. on Feb. 4.

Justin no later than Wednesday, Jan. tions that the new year might bring. The walk will “The highly anticipated shop“I fell in love with the show 10 at Justin@thebridgeteencenter. take place no matter what the weather. ping event is expected to boast well when I did sound for it, back in org or by calling him at the number • Lapidary will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. for six over 150 exhibitors and thousands above. Mod Pizza, the food spon- 2009,” said show director Frann of paid attendees,” said Don Vacha, Monday mornings beginning Jan. 8 or from 6:30 Carnivele.“I sang the songs for sor, will be providing desserts and to 8:30 a.m. for six Wednesday evenings beginning weeks after it closed; very fun CSHS Music Booster president. signature lemonades.

Jan. 10. Art teacher Larry Rothenberg will help “This is a fantastic opportunity for and catchy tunes!” students turn rough hunks of rock into beautifully Gilbert & Sullivan’s award- crafters and vendors to showcase polished gemstones and to create a pair of round Wildlife rescue center winning, two-act comic opera their wares to a community of exor oval stones and then advance to more complex sets open house first debuted in 1879 and has been cited shoppers who are there to designs. The class fee is $115. Students may purThe first open house of 2018 is charming audiences ever since. support the music program and chase rocks for advanced projects. set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, OPPT’s spring performances will students at Carl Sandburg High • Instructor April Schabes will have beginning Jan. 27 at Big Run Wolf Ranch, run April 27-29 at Carl Sandburg School.”

The cost for a two-day booth and intermediate students experiment with color and will be given to continuing/advanced students. The 14857 S. Farrell Road, Lockport. Performing Arts Center.

Animals in residence at the composition to create mixed-media collages from class fee is $100 plus a $30 materials fee.

To learn more, contact Jean rental is $115 with 100 percent of • Spirituality 101: Falling Upward: A Spirituality wildlife rescue facility include the proceeds benefiting the music 9:30 a.m. to noon for six Mondays beginning Jan. Petrow at (708) 364-0682. students at Sandburg High School.

8. This is an opportunity to play in one’s world of for the Two Halves of Life will be held from 6:30 nine wolves, a Siberian tiger, a Booth size is approximately 10 feet artistic expression with a fun and easy art form. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 9 or 10 to 11:30 black bear, a cougar, a groundhog, Cooks invited to wide by 8 feet deep.

The class fee is $120. A list of required supplies a.m. Thursdays beginning Jan. 11. Richard Rohr a skunk, porcupines and more.

Returning crafters who wish to Admission is $6 per person— soup competition strives to show how the heartbreaks, disappointments, is available in the office.

Local cooks are invited to secure the prior year booth prefer• Instructor Marge Boyd will instruct the class and first loves of life are actually steppingstones cash or credit cards at the door.

The day’s attractions will include compete in Orland Township’s ence must have applications postin lettering with a pen and also in learning unique to the spiritual joys that the second half of life has dog sledding demonstrations from first-ever Souper Bowl Challenge, marked by Dec. 22. Applications in store.

Students will need a copy of the book for calligraphy styles done with pencil and markers set for 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 and payment can be mailed to from 1 to 3 p.m. for six Mondays beginning Jan. the class. Registration is appreciated and the cost 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Orland Township headquarters, Sandburg Spring Craft Show, P.O. Hot food and hot chocolate will 8. Participants will also learn to construct a book of each class is $8.

14807 S. Ravinia, Orland Park Box 1066, Orland Park, IL 60462. be on sale, and the days will in• Instructor April Schabes will have students conwith decorated pages and a favorite quote. Class The Souper Bowl Challenge Checks can be made payable to fee: $100. A list of required supplies is available tinue on their journey into the world of collage when clude a bonfire, music, raffles and will feature “four quarters” of Carl Sandburg Music Boosters. they attend Collage Advanced being held from 9:30 an open gift shop. in the office. competition with soup sampling, Further questions should be diParking will be available at the a.m. to noon for six Wednesdays beginning Jan. 10.

• Knitting/Crochet 101...And Beyond will be held plus games, raffles and activities rected to CSHS Music Boosters Wal-Mart at 16241 S. Farrell Road, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for six Mondays beginning Schabes will have fun projects planned including for all ages.

Craft Show Committee at springwith a free school bus shuttle opJan. 8 or from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six Fridays experimenting with papers, paints, images, and text.

Cooking participation is limited craftshowcshs@gmail.com. erating continuously. Strollers are This class is only for students who have studied beginning Jan. 12. Instructor Georgann Ring will teach beginning knitters to learn the basics. Ring with Schabes previously. The class fee is $120.

• The next weaving class will be held from 9:30 will help those with experience choose their projects and learn more advanced knitting/crochet skills. The to 11:30 a.m. beginning Wednesday, Jan. 10 and class fee is $100. Beginner students should bring a runs for six weeks. Instructor Georgann Ring will ball of Sugar n’ Cream yarn. Knitters need a pair of help new weavers learn the basics while making a 10”, U.S. size 8 (5 mm) needles. Crocheters need a sampler of different patterns and then design and size “H” aluminum crochet hook. Students purchase complete a project of their choice such as a scarf, placemat or table runner. Returning weavers will their own yarn for advanced projects.

• Heather Young, art director, will teach beginner study and weave a project in the pattern of their and intermediate potters from 6 to 8 p.m. for six choice. Registration is due by Tuesday, Jan. 9 so Mondays beginning Jan. 8. The class fee $135. that the loom can be warped and ready to start.

Advanced students who have studied with Young The class fee is $100.

While it’s difficult to gauge just how many people • Instructor Denise Dulzo asks participants to bring make New Year’s resolutions each year, various facpreviously will meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for eight Tuesday mornings beginning Jan. 9 or from their own sewing machine and choice of fabrics to tors suggest millions of people resolve to improve 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for eight Tuesdays beginning Jan. the next quilting class being held from 1 to 3 p.m. their lives each January. Television segments devoted Wednesday, Jan. 10 and continuing for six weeks. to healthy resolutions and discounted memberships 11. The class fee is $175.

Eight Tuesday mornings beginning Jan. 9, 9:30 Students will learn to design a project, cut fabrics, are just two of many indicators suggesting resolutions - 11:30 a.m. or eight Thursday nights beginning piece them together, add batting and backing and are popular and potentially big business.

Jan. 11, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Advanced students who stitch it all together to create a baby quilt, wall As popular as making resolutions may be, reports have studied with Heather before, class fee $175. hanging, or other pieced fabric project. The class indicate that they’re more popular to make than • Basketmaking is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. fee is $100. Students are asked to purchase fabrics commit to. For example, a 2015 report from U.S. for six Tuesdays beginning Jan. 9. Instructor Lois and batting before the first class. A list of required News & World Report indicated that 80 percent Shive will show students how to make an easy fabrics and supplies is available in the office. of resolutions fail. So how can men and women • Structured lessons for beginning watercolorists become part of the minority who see their resoluand beautiful wood-bottomed basket with a choice of colored trim. Participants will continue to learn will be featured during the next watercolor paint- tions through to fruition? The following strategies techniques for weaving a variety of shapes and sizes ing class being held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. for six may help. of baskets and get to choose their own project in Wednesdays beginning Jan. 10. Lenox Wallace will • Plan on being patient. Men and women who is a great way to generate support for your pursuit. consultation with the instructor. Students typically help beginning students with critique and guidance expect immediate results may be in for some dis- And that support can motivate you if you hit a make two or three baskets over the six-week ses- in composition, values, textures, negative painting, appointment, and that can compromise their future rough patch and keep you on track as you progress sion. The class fee is $100 plus a $30 materials fee. brush stroke usage and more, while experienced efforts. Recognize that resolutions rarely produce toward your goal. By sharing your resolution with • A Beginner’s Guide to the Golden Age of Radio painters work individually with occasional guidance overnight results, and that commitments to losing others, you’re also indirectly inviting others who Luncheon is set from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday Jan. and critique. Opportunities will arise to expand the weight and saving more money take time. If neces- might have set similar goals in the past to offer 9. Steve Darnall, host of WDCB’s “Those Were the advanced students’ painting experience. Individual sary, set small goals that can serve as markers on incite and/or advice, which can prove invaluable.

• Expect setbacks. Just like it’s important to be Days” and the publisher of “Nostalgia Digest,” will and group critiques will point out what has worked your way to achieving the larger goal. patient, it’s equally important to recognize there will talk about how radio was not only the first mass and how to improve that which has not. The class • Be as specific as possible. In addition to being media in America, but also how it established itself fee is $120. The list of required supplies is avail- patient, being specific when deciding on a resolu- be setbacks. Men and women who resolve to save as a “Theater of the Mind.” He’ll discuss programs able in office. tion can increase the likelihood that the successful more money and have set specific monthly savings • Woodcarving will be taught from 9 to 11 a.m. pursuit of that resolution will have as positive an goals should not allow one monthly shortfall to such as “The Bob Hope Show,” “The Jack Benny Show,” “The Shadow,” and others that inspired the for six Thursdays beginning Jan. 11. Instructor Keith impact on your life as possible. For example, a derail all of their efforts. An unforeseen expense imaginations of listeners everywhere. Luncheons Miller will help students learn and practice the tools nonspecific resolution to lose weight may be suc- such as an automotive or home repair might comcost $22 and advance reservations are necessary. and techniques of woodcarving using a variety of cessful if you only shed a single pound. But men promise your ability to meet your monthly savings • Metalsmithing for Jewelry will be taught from types of wood. Participants will create animals, and women who resolve to lose weight typically goal. Such setbacks are inevitable regardless of your 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for six Tuesdays beginning Jan. objects and faces. New students will make three want to lose more than one pound. By resolving resolution, so don’t be discouraged when they hap9. Instructor Mary Michaelson will show students to six projects such as a bird, a shoe, an egret and to lose a predetermined and specific number of pen. Just commit to getting back on track in time how, by working with silver, copper or brass, they miniature people. Experienced students may design pounds, you might be more likely to commit to to meet your next goal.

Successful New Year’s resolutions might be hard can create either a silver ring or pendant. Participants their own projects. The class fee is $100. Wood and your goal, and more encouraged the closer you get to come by. But there are ways to stay the course will learn the basics of metalsmithing such as sawing, bench knives are available for purchase in class for to achieving that goal. filing, sanding and soldering. Advanced instruction approximately $25.

• Don’t be shy. Sharing your resolution with others and see resolutions through to realization.

The Center starts 2018 with various classes

How to succeed with your New Year’s resolution

Your Guide to Arts and Events in the Southwest Suburbs and Beyond

OUT & ABOUT

The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Southwest • Section 2, Page 8

McCord wins Simpson Award

Officials at the McCord Gallery and Cultural Center have announced that McCord has won the 2017 Eugene Simpson Award for Civic Improvement.

The award, named in honor of the late Palos Heights Mayor

Eugene Simpson, is presented to businesses or institutions that have, through improvements or additions, enhanced the appearance and landscape of the Palos community.

The award will be presented at

the Palos Country Club on Jan. 26 at the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner.

Located in Palos Park in a historic building, McCord opened its doors in 2004 and promotes art and culture in the area.

A new take on traditional spaghetti Spaghetti is a staple of many family dinner tables. But home cooks who want to veer away from traditional pasta without giving up their love of marinara can try the following, zucchiniinspired alternative to traditional spaghetti, “Z’paghetti Marinara with Shrimp,” courtesy of Lisa Lillien’s “Hungry Girl Clean & Hungry” (St. Martin’s Press).

Z’PAGHETTI MARINARA WITH SHRIMP Makes 2 servings

Pictured is 2017 Orland Township Senior American Idol winner Bob Smith during his audition.

Supplied photo

Invite seniors to Idol auditions gins at 5:45 p.m., with auditions starting at 6 p.m.

To register or obtain more information, call (708) 403-4222.

Each contestant will sing a 2-3 minute segment of a song of their choice, a cappella, for a panel of judges. At the end of the evening, the top 16 contestants will be se-

lected to compete at the finals in May. “Our seniors have such talent and a zest for life that this event is always an entertaining, energy packed evening,” said Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady.

HOROSCOPES ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Expressing yourself authentically is proving difficult, Aries.

But this will pass shortly. Eventually, your persistence will pay off, and others will see that your intentions are genuine.

GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, don’t obsess about a specific approach to working through a problem. Seek feedback from a number of people and explore all of your options.

CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, it may take an intense effort to concentrate on your work this week because your thoughts keep drifting elsewhere. You must rein in your wandering mind.

LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 It may be challenging to separate your fantasies from reality

VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Surprising news leaves you a little bit frazzled, Virgo. However, once you work your way through the surprise, you’ll see that this news bodes well for you.

LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, others feel like you have everything figured out this week and are as sensible as can be. But there’s a fun side of you that is just waiting to pop out.

SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Something in your life is causing you undue stress, Scorpio.

Find a way to let it all go by focusing on thoughts and things that bring you happiness.

SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/ Dec 21 Sagittarius, it may seem like your time in the spotlight has come and gone, but that isn’t the case.

You have plenty of time to show what you can accomplish.

CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, your vision of the future may be set right now, but there is always room for some modifications. Embrace some of the uncertainty that can lead to greatness.

PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 The search for the truth could lead you on a bit of a wild adventure, Pisces. Eventually, you can get to the bottom of the situation.

JANUARY 6 Norman Reedus, Actor (49)

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tomatoes 1/4 cup tomato paste 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Serving Oak Lawn & SOuthweSt Side FOr Over 60 YearS

AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, no career goal is out of reach right now. Therefore, if you’ve been thinking of a career move, now is a great time to put those plans in motion.

JANUARY 4 Tina Knowles, Fashion Designer (64)

center of the foil and top with shrimp. Sprinkle with seasonings. Top with marinara sauce and Parmesan.

4. Cover with another large piece of foil. Fold together and seal all four edges of the foil pieces, forming a well-sealed packet.

5. Bake for 25 minutes, or until zucchini noodles have softened and shrimp are fully cooked.

6. Cut packet to release hot steam before opening entirely.

7. Transfer packet contents to a large bowl, and toss to mix.

Plaza

(Bison Center - S.W. Corner of 87th & Ridgeland)

Serving Oak Lawn & SOuthweSt Side FOr Over 60 YearS

Serving Oak Lawn & SOuthweSt Side FOr Over 60 YearS

TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 If your dreams are within reason, there is no reason why they can’t come to fruition, Taurus. You just may need a few friends in your corner to help make things happen.

right now, Leo. Even though things are vivid in your mind, others may help clarify things for you.

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lay a large piece of heavy-duty foil on a baking sheet and spray with nonstick spray.

2. Using a spiral vegetable slicer, cut zucchini into spaghettilike noodles. (If you don’t have a spiral veggie slicer, peel zucchini into super-thin strips, rotating the zucchini after each strip.) Roughly chop for shorter noodles.

3. Place zucchini noodles in the

Serving Oak Lawn & SOuthweSt Side FOr Over 60 YearS

Seniors age 55 and older are invited to try out for Senior American Idol, a singing contest sponsored by Orland Township government.

Auditions will take place on Thursday, Feb. 15 at the township headquarters, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. Check-in be-

• 28 ounces (about 4 medium) zucchini • 8 ounces (about 16) raw large shrimp, peeled, tails removed and deveined • 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper • 1 cup Clean & Hungry Marinara Sauce (see below) • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese