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

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Serving Palos, Orland and Worth townships and neighboring communities

75th Year, NO. 49 • 3 Sections

PALOS HEIGHTS

City’s new website ‘state-of-the-art’

By Jack Murray Palos Heights has launched the city’s new website.

The improved Palosheights.org has now been up for four days as of Tuesday, Mayor Bob Straz said after Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

The site now has an app for mobile devices, Alderman Jeffrey Key (1st Ward) told the council.

It allows people to access the site and special discounts through their smartphones and tablets.

“Shop Local” is a focus of the site, Key said.

The updated site was designed

by Sochaki Communications, it states, and contains virtually everything anyone wants to know about Palos Heights — businesses, government services, a ward map Photos by Dermot Connolly and traffic count map, demographTrish Gliori (from left), Julia Marquez and Franny Otrembiak of Beau Geste Salon and Spa stopped to admire Paul Lally’s sheep and other livestock on ic information, the entire city code display during Holidays on Harlem held Friday and Saturday in Palos Heights. and more.

In the new welcome page, Mayor Straz notes that “state-of-the-art technology allows the site to work on desktops, laptops, tablets and mobile devices.”

The interactive site allows people to email the city and register their business and log in to a feature called “Palos Now.” Aiming for “honest, open and Market, held Friday night in the

By Dermot Connolly transparent government,” the webmunicipal lot at 122nd Street Holidays on Harlem celebrat- and Harlem Avenue. The open ed its second year, with its own air market featured local busilighting of lights on the season for nesses such as Dough’s Guys all ages last Friday and Saturday and Camille’s Confections, along with independent vendors from in Palos Heights.

More businesses participated LaGrange and elsewhere selling this year in the weekend event, their wares on Friday evening. which the Harlem Avenue Associ- Shoppers were serenaded by a ation of businesses began last year choir of local residents singing as a way of bringing the holiday carols, and hot chocolate and other spirit to the downtown business refreshments provided by Palos district on Harlem. This year, the Heights Library warded off the festivities expanded beyond the crisp winter weather. downtown business district, to inLast year, the event coincided clude some on 127th Street and with the holiday tree lighting, but Ridgeland Avenue participating. that was held a week earlier this Anne Girzadas (left) and Mary McKinstry donned festive antlers as they enjoyed last Friday’s Kris Kringle Market, which Girzadas helped organize, An especially popular addition See HOLIDAYS, Page 2 as a new addition to Holidays on Harlem. this year was the Kris Kringle

Holidays on Harlem begin

Season’s greeting broadens scope to Kris Kringle Market and beyond

site has links to City Council and committee meeting agendas and minutes, audits, treasurer’s reports.

Council meeting agendas for all of 2016 are available in pdf format, and go back to 2004.

The site is still heavy on business, offering ways “to search deals” at local restaurants and information from the Community Development Coordinator Ken Busse on how to open a business in the city and where vacancies are. Businesses may also advertise on the site.

Miss something on Channel 4?

The site contains links to live online streaming of its content, the Channel 4 YouTube Channel and archived City Council meetings.

“Community Links” take browsers to web pages for the Cal-Sag Trail, Lake Katherine, the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce, Palos Community Hospital, the Palos Heights Public Library and Trinity Christian College.

The site contains listings of community organizations and their contact information, from A to Z, the American Cancer Society to VFW Post 2604.

Public safety information, including Code Red alerts, arrests, and special anti-crime tips are posted on the link to the Police Department.

Challenger emerges vs. Orland mayor

By Steve Metsch Twenty-four years is a long time to be in one job, Keith Pekau said of Dan McLaughlin, who was first elected mayor of Orland Park in 1993 and is seeking another fouryear term.

Talking at an Orland Park coffee shop Monday morning, Pekau, 50, said it’s time for a change.

He said he realized, in chats with fellow residents, that he’s the one to make that change happen.

“I can make a difference. We need new ideas. Somebody needs to run and challenge Mayor McLaughlin. I’m willing to do it,” he said, adding, “I certainly think I can win or I wouldn’t run.”

His interested was spurred when the Village Board raised the

Mayor McLaughlin

Keith Pekau

mayor’s salary from $40,000 to $150,000 earlier this year.

“But more important is the spike in his pension from $30,000 to around $110,000. As I looked into that, I said, ‘Somebody should run against him.’ I realized nobody was running, and I have a lot to offer,” Pekau said.

When he explains the salary and pension issue to residents, Pekau said that those who were not angry soon became mad.

McLaughlin said that he’s been paying into the pension fund for the past 32 years and noted the IMRF fund, not the village, pays out the pension.

Regarding his salary hike, McLaughlin said a study by the board’s finance committee determined the village needed a second assistant village manager and an economic development coordinator. Rather than hiring both and adding $300,000 to expenses, the board decided McLaughlin can fill the roles if re-elected.

Money in the budget pays $67,000 to an assistant manager. That money along with the $43,000 now paid to McLaughlin comes to $110,000, and the finance committee decided to add $40,000 more, bringing it up to $150,000, so he can essentially

do three jobs, he said.

“We potentially are saving much more money. It made a lot of economic sense and gave me the opportunity to work fulltime and enables me to lobby in Springfield and work on economic development,” McLaughlin said.

Pekau, who grew up in Orland Park, served in the Air Force and returned to raise his family here, said he will push for term limits if elected, and thinks the job of mayor “warrants being part-time.”

McLaughlin disagreed, saying Orland Park has grown so large it needs a full-time mayor. His “institutional knowledge” of government is invaluable, noting he’s worked 20 years on widening and improving La Grange Road.

Supplied photo

Trolls are national champions

Trinity Christian College’s women’s volleyball team celebrates after winning its second National Christian College Athletic Association title in three years after nipping Campbellsville (Kentucky) 25-17, 25-27, 25-17, 22-25, 15-13 on Saturday in Kissimee, Fla. The Trolls were seeded fourth in the tournament and needed a five-set victory over Oklahoma Baptist in the semis to get to the title match.

See MAYOR, Page 2 For more on the championship, See Sports.

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Visit us on the web at www.theregionalnews.com • email: TheRegional@comcast.net • To advertise, call 708-448-4000

2 Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Regional News

PALOS PARK

Do-over hearing for medical building nears

By Jack Murray and Michael Gilbert The Palos Park Plan Commission will hear it all over again next week.

The Village Council voted unanimously last month to send a developer’s request to rezone residential lots on McCarthy Road for a medical office building back to the Plan Commission for another hearing.

Developer Brad Wilson is seeking to have the parcels at 7831, 7835 and 7919 W. McCarthy Road rezoned from R-1 residential to Photos by Dermot Connolly B-2 business in order to construct Santa Claus waves as he arrives at the Kris Kringle market. He was dropped off by a Palos Heights fire truck, and a two-story, 43,769 square-foot children lined up to see him later at the Palos Heights Fire Protection District station at 12300 S. Harlem Ave. medical office building, with 190 parking spaces. Some 10 homes border the site.

The redo hearing on the developer’s petition is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Palos Park Recreation Center gym, 8901 W. 123rd St. The venue is large enough to fit another anticipated overflow crowd opposed to the zone change.

The Plan Commission had voted unanimously on Oct. 20 to recommend the Village Council reject the rezone petition. Cheers erupted among the remaining residents who had earlier packed the council chambers to oppose the

Ella Raine Moller, 7, of Palos Heights, Palos Heights Mayor Bob Straz and Santa Claus together press the button stands beside Frosty the Snowman, turning on the holiday lights on Harlem Avenue during the Kris Kringle which an ice sculptor carved on Market on Friday.

Saturday evening.

During Holidays on Harlem on Friday, many people wandered through the Art Garden, admiring the holiday trees decorated by local groups and organizations. Palos Animal Hospital won first place in the competition.

Holidays

Continued from Page 1 year, and at a new location, Lake Katherine. But it only meant more work for Santa Claus, who appeared at both events. On Friday, Santa Claus opened the festivities with Mayor Bob Straz, as they both pressed a button turning on the holiday lights along Harlem Avenue at 6 p.m. in the Kris Kindle Market in the municipal lot at 122nd and Harlem Avenue.

Children then lined up to meet and have their photos taken with Santa in the firehouse, just like last year.

“This really turned out great,” said Anne Girzadas, who was enjoying the Kris Kringle market she helped organize, wearing colorful antlers and singing along with the choir. The Palos Heights Beautification Committee/Classic Car Event donated $1,000 as a sponsor of the holidays event.

Kids also had a choice of places to go for face painting this year, both at the Kris Kringle Market and in The Shoppes of Palos, where another station was set up.

All the participating businesses offered snacks as well as sales, which brought out the crowds both days. At Beau Geste Salon, in addition to cookies and soft drinks, shoppers were tempted to try Warrior vodka, made by a non-profit company in Crestwood that raises money for “wounded warrior” veterans.

Deb Jasinski (left) and Vicki Meyer show off the displays of homemade Camille’s Confections, designer bags and wreaths for sale at Type Concepts, 12216 S. Harlem Ave., during the Holidays on Harlem in Palos Heights on Friday.

Restaurants were crowded: Mid-Villa Pizza was packed as were Joe Daniel’s and other favorite spots.

A trolley car transported shoppers throughout the business district both days, and plenty of people took the hayrides through the backroads too. Many people wandering along the 12300 block of Harlem on Friday were surprised to find a small petting zoo there, with pens of sheep, donkeys and a llama owned by Paul Lally.

Children and adults alike stopped to pet the animals.

On Saturday night, a jazz band playing inside Diane’s Place restaurant drew large crowds,

along with the free Granite City craft beer that was available along with the usual sandwiches and ice cream.

Outside on Saturday, an ice sculptor carved Frosty the Snowman out of a block of ice in about a half hour.

After visiting with Santa Claus, Ella Raine Moller, 7, stopped by to see the finished sculpture with her mother, Angela Jean.

“This is really a great event for the whole family,” said Angela Jean Moller, as she watched her daughter brush shavings off the ice sculpture. “It really brings out the Christmas spirit in Palos Heights,” she said.

any, in the general area of the property in question, including changes, if any, which have taken place since the date the property was placed in its present zoning classification; Proposed uses of property within the general area of the property in question as represented on the Village Comprehensive Plan; The frontage and square footage of the land and whether or not it adjoins a parcel of land, which bears the same zoning district classification as the proposed amendment.

Not following those factors “so that the decision is not arbitrary but based upon the evidence presented,” could open the village to legal action by the developer if it upheld such a recommendation, officials said.

Residents organized to fight the zone change were unhappy with that decision and are ready for the next hearing, recruiting others to join. “Our fight is not over,” a flier states. “Happy with your property values? Ours could be going down and yours could be next!”

The group also created a website, www.PreservePalosPark.com.

After next Thursday’s hearing, the Village Council will take no action on the rezoning recommendation until at least the first meeting in January, the mayor said.

ChildSafe: Palos Park police offer free gun locks for parents The Palos Park Police Department, will provide village residents, or gun owners with children in Palos Park, free gun locks and gun safety literature as part of Project ChildSafe.

Project ChildSafe is a nationwide program whose purpose is to promote safe firearms handling and storage practices among all firearms owners through the distribution of key safety education pamphlets and free gun locking

Sisters Alice (left) and Eleanor Doyle get their faces Brothers Noah, 3, and Issac Serrano, 7, petted the donkeys painted at the Kris Kringle Market. and llama on display.

zone change.

But the Village Council said the plan body’s reasons to deny the rezone lacked the specificity required by the village code, when the council considered the recommndation at its meeting on Nov. 14.

Village council members upon the advice of Village attorney Thomas Bayer told the more than 170 residents filled the Rec. Center’s gym that night that the Plan Commission did not fully explain its reasoning for denying the rezoning in its recommendation to the Village Council.

The code lists six factors the Plan Commission is to consider and address when deciding whether or not to recommend approval or denial of a rezoning request, Bayer said.

In reviewing a petition for the rezoning of land, the village code states that the Plan Commission must consider the following factors: Existing uses of property within the general area of the property in question.

The zoning classification of property within the general area of the property in question; The suitability of the property to the uses permitted under the existing and proposed classifications; The trend of development, if

Mayor

Continued from Page 1 “It’s amazing how long some of this stuff takes. If there’s not the leadership consistency to keep on top of these projects and know the history, sometimes they don’t get done,” McLaughlin said. Executive director of the Builders Association, McLaughlin will leave that job if re-elected.

Pekau wants to attract more light industry and office buildings along the village’s I-80 corridor. Doing so would bring in more tax dollars and discretionary income, he said.

Workers there may want to shop and dine in Orland Park, he said.

“We need to work with Frankfort, Tinley Park, Mokena and New Lenox to bring this to the area. It’s a regional issue. Even if industry goes to Frankfort or Mokena, it helps Orland Park,” he said. “We do have a section that’s in Will County (which offers better property taxes for businesses).”

It’s not that easy, McLaughlin said: “It took us years to annex land along the I-80 corridor. But we don’t own the land, we just annexed the land,” he said.

This is his Pekau’s first foray into the political world.

“It was as hard as my decision to get out of the Air Force,” said Pekau.

He served nearly 10 years in the Air Force, leaving in 1998 at the rank of captain. He said he was an instructor weapons systems officer in the F-15E fighter jet, and served three tours to Southern Iraq where he flew 45 combat sorties and logged 150 combat hours.

After earning his MBA from Duke University while living in North Carolina, he jumped at a job offer with a consulting firm in Chicago because he grew up in Orland Park and loves the area.

“It’s a great community. That’s why we moved back in 1998,” he said.

He bought GroundsKeeper Landscape care in 2003 when it had four employees and a couple trucks. It now has 25 employees and 14 trucks.

Pekau thinks his experience in the military and working in private business prepares him for being mayor.

“If you look at our economic development, in the last eight years, our sales tax revenue has

devices. The program is supported by the United States Department of Justice.

The Palos Park Police Department has obtained 200 gun safety kits through Project ChildSafe.

These kits will be made available to any village resident or gun owners within the Palos area.

Police Commissioner Dan Polk said, “We encourage all gun owners to store weapons in a location that is inaccessible to children,

regardless of age, with ammunition stored separately.” Anyone interested in receiving a free kit can stop by the lobby of the Palos Park Police Department.

Police Chief Joe Miller said, “Even one accidental death from a firearm left unattended or accidentally discharged is one too many, It’s a horrible tragedy every time it happens and it’s preventable.”

gone up 7 percent, less than 1 percent per year. With inflation, that’s less real dollars across more stores. One way to improve that is to have more diversity. We need more upscale retail and restaurants, which will bring other shoppers in. We need diversity in industry so people can work closer to home instead of having to go to downtown Chicago.”

Pekau said he’s heard from residents who don’t feel safe shopping at Orland Square and sometimes take their shopping dollars to Oak Brook or Bolingbrook.

“If that’s the perception, that they feel unsafe, that’s a huge problem because we’re basically restaurants and retail. Andrew left.

A good portion of Panduit left. We need to diversify our industry. We have the I-80 corridor and nothing is coming in. We need to change that,” he said.

McLaughlin disagreed, saying “studies have shown we have one of the safest shopping centers in the Chicago area.”

The village has been talking for two or three years with land owners about what they want to attract there. “The first step was annexation and then infrastructure and now we’re working with owners on a comprehensive plan,” the mayor said.

There are “regular conversations” with many retailers about moving into Orland Park, he added.

Pekau conceded that McLaughlin “has done some nice things” as mayor, but most of those were in the tremendous growth years of 1993 to 2001.

“We’ve been stagnant the last eight years. I think that’s a big reason why there should be term limits. Even for myself if I get in.

After eight, 12 years, you need

fresh blood, fresh ideas. It’s hard to stay in that long and have the same drive,” Pekau said.

Pekau is not running as part of a slate, and knows the board “has been working with Dan for a long time.”

“I’ll have headwinds when I get in. I’ll have to work with them and, hopefully, they’ll be open to my ideas. I have no doubt we have the same goal of making Orland Park a better place. If they’re not, in two years the voters can make more decisions,” he said.

The Pekau name may sound familiar to longtime residents.

His father, Donald, 81, who now lives in Arizona, served as a village trustee in Orland Park when the board approved building the mall.

“They knew when they approved the mall they may all get bounced at the next election. They said, ‘We don’t care because it’s the right thing to do.’ And they all did get bounced in the next election. People who lived near the mall were upset the mall was going in,” he said.

His father cautioned Pekau “you know, they’ll come after you” in reference to political rivals. But Pekau isn’t worried. He’s looking forward to the challenge and to campaigning throughout the village.

“I’ve worked in government for 10 years, dealing with bureaucracy in the military. I’ve worked in the consulting business world. I’ve had 13 years owning a business. It’s a diverse education that prepares me very well for being mayor.

I’ve seen it from a lot of sides,” he said.

Pekau has three grown children, and a 2-year-old granddaughter.

He and wife Betty, a teacher, will celebrate their 25th anniversary in March.

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The Regional News

Thursday, December 8, 2016

3

Candidates for local posts file to run starting Monday

By Jack Murray Not long after the presidential election is finally over, candidates will begin filing nominating papers Monday to run for local offices in the April 4, 2017, Consolidated Election. The filing period ends Monday, Dec. 19.

City of Palos Heights In Palos Heights, Mayor Bob Straz plans to file to run for a fifth term as mayor.

The city clerk’s post held by Photos by Patricia Bailey Thomas Kantas, city treasurer spot Village Commissioner Nicole Milovich-Walters assists Mayor John Mahoney as the gathering crowd awaits the held by Frank Oswald and four of arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the village’s tree outside the Rec. Center at Palos Park’s Holiday Market eight aldermanic seats are also up and tree lighting last Friday. for election. They are held by Aldermen Donald Bylut (1st Ward), Jack Clifford (2nd Ward), Dolores Kramarski (3rd Ward) and Jerry McGovern (4th Ward) Candidates file their nomination petitions at the city clerk’s office at City Hall.

Palos Park Holiday Market means ‘Tis the Season now

Palos Heights Fire Protection District One of three seats on the district’s board of trustees is open for election for a six-year term.

Trustee Sheila Corrigan now holds the seat.

Orland Fire Protection District Two seats are open for six-year terms. The seats are now held by Blair Rhode, board secretary and Christopher G. Evoy.

The Holiday Market’s main hall was filled with display tables from local vendors and organizations. People mingled about, while those shown in the foreground were watching the film “Miracle on 34th Street,” being shown from the stage.

The four-year terms of mayor, village clerk and four commissioners are not up for election until April 2019.

Orland Park Village Board Seats held by Mayor Daniel McLaughlin, Village Clerk John Mehalek and Trustees James Dodge, Kathleen Fenton and Dan Calandriello are open for election, all for four-year-terms.

Orland Park Library Board There will be three seats on the seven-member library board up for election. The seats are sixyear terms. They are now held

by Trustees Nancy W. Healy, board president; Denis P. Ryan, vice-president, and Elan Kleis.

Candidates must file their petitions at the Orland Park Village clerk’s office Library board meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.

Members of both the Palos Heights and Palos Park public library boards are appointed by the respective city and village councils.

Townships In each local township, the posts of supervisor, clerk, assessor, higway commissioner and all four trustee seats are up for election.

All are four-year terms.

• Orland Township – Incumbents are Supervisor Paul O’Grady, Clerk Cindy Murray, Assessor Richard Kelly, Highway Commissioner Brian Younker and Trustees Patrick Feldner, Maria Sanfilippo, Anthony Rubino and John Lynch.

• Palos Township – Incumbents are Supervisor Colleen Grant Schumann, Clerk Jane Nolan, Assessor Robert E. Maloney, Highway Commissioner Gene Adams and Trustees Sharon Brannigan, Richard C. Riley, Brent Woods and Pamela Jeanes.

• Worth Township – Seats are held by Supervisor Kevin M. Hughes, Clerk Katie Elwood, Assessor John Dietrick, Highway Commissioner Edward Michael Moody and Trustees Patrick Hanlon, Theresa Roche, Richard Lewandowski and Michael Mahoney.

Moraine Valley Community College Petitions for a seat on the Board of Trustees of Moraine Valley Community College, District 524 may be filed with the Board Secretary Susan Murphy or her designees between the 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Dec. 12 through Monday, Dec. 19, in Building D, Room D215 (President’s Office), 9000 W. College Pkwy, Palos Hills.

There are two openings on the board of Trustees to fill full terms of six years each. They are held by John Coleman and Susan Murphy

Orland man cited in crash that killed teen in Silo Ridge Orland Park police last week charged a 74-year-old Orland Park man with traffic violations after a crash that fatally injured 17-year-old David Dolitsky, who was mowing the lawn last June, police said.

Ibrahim N. Ziad was charged last Thursday with driving on the wrong side of the roadway, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to exercise due care to avoid striking a pedestrian, police said.

Police said Ziad was driving a 2009 Mercedes-Benz sedan westbound on Silo Ridge Road North from the area of Silo Ridge Road

Santa’s Secret Shop at the Holiday Market provided a fun way for children to shop for their family and friends. Sponsored by Palos School District 118 PFA, Boy Scout Troop 699’s chocolate station was well manned elves were available to assist children as they shopped

by Stagg High School students Andrew Staron, a junior, in a secret room of the Rec Center. Their purchased gifts were wrapped on the spot and sophomore Kyle Barbalic.

Palos Park Village Council

East when his car veered off the roadway and struck the teen last June 17. The teen was on the lawn pushing a lawn mower when he was struck, police said in an earlier release. A brick mailbox was also struck by the vehicle, police added.

Police responded to the crash in the Silo Ridge subdivision at 4:33 p.m., police said in the earlier release.

Dolitsky was transported by the Orland Fire Protection District ambulance to St. James Hospital, Olympia Fields, where he was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m.

Ziad was not injured, police said.

Orland Park Police Traffic Safe-

ty Unit and the investigations Division began their investigation, now completed, and the case has also been reviewed by the Cook County States Attorney’s Office, police said.

Ziad was released on his signature and given a court date of Dec.21 at the Bridgeview courthouse, according to the release by police on Monday.

David Dolitsky would have been a senior this school year at Sandburg High School. He played on the Eagles Hockey Club junior varsity all-star hockey team.

Orland Park OKs 2017 budget

By Dermot Connolly

The Orland Park Village Board has approved the $139.51 million budget for 2017, following a brief public hearing during the regular board meeting on Monday.

“I’m happy that this is the sixth year in a row that we have not had to raise the tax levy,” said Mayor Dan McLaughlin following the unanimous vote. “It is also the 23rd year of balanced budgets,” he said. No new or increased taxes are included in the budget either.

The only fee being raised is a 5 percent increase in each of the next two years for liquor licenses, which the board approved last month at the suggestion of McLaughlin, who also serves as liquor commissioner. “This means there actually is one fee being raised, but liquor license fees haAfter Santa arrived for the tree lighting, he was escorted Emily Blanco, a senior at Stagg high school, had the to the lower level of the Palos Park Rec Center where he important job of collecting the ballots for the best ven’t been raised in many, many years,” said the mayor at the time. happily listened to each child’s Christmas request. decorated tree.

“We’re getting a lot of work done too, including upgrades to the Palos Health and Fitness Center, which we are in the process of taking over,” said the mayor on

Monday. In addition to “significant mechanical improvements to the fitness center,” he said the planned improvements include “continued development of the village’s nature center, and major road and stormwater management projects.”

Trustee Carole Griffin Ruzich, chair of the village board’s finance committee, noted that the budget includes $24 million in infrastructure improvements.

In addition to having a balanced budget, Ruzich pointed out that the village continues to benefit from its high bond ratings. Moody’s sets the village’s rating at Aa1 and Standard & Poor’s sets it at AA+, which allows the village to pay the lowest interest rates available in the municipal bond market, Ruzich said.

“We’ve rebated part pf the village’s taxes for 11 of the past 14 years,” Ruzich said, giving back nearly $36 million. “The village has also made $500 million in road, street and infrastructure improvements during the last 10 years,” the mayor added.

McLaughlin pointed out that

while businesses do not receive tax rebates like residents do, they benefit from the low interest rates.

No residents made any comment during the public hearing.

“I would just like to remind everyone to submit their tax rebate applications by the Dec. 16 deadline,” said Ruzich.

Eligible village residents must apply for the property tax rebate by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. More information is available at www. optaxrebate.com or by calling (708) 403-3086.

During the earlier Public Works Committee meeting, Michael Morley of Waste Management gave a brief presentation on his company’s At Your Door service that allows residents to have electronic items such as TVs, and paint and other hazardous materials, picked up for disposal at their door. Chicago Ridge recently joined the program, which costs each household $15 monthly. The committee agreed to place a survey on the village website to determine whether residents would be in favor of Orland Park getting involved with the program.

Cook County sheriff launches anti-discrimination hotline Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart’s office has launched a reporting hotline for discrimination and hate crime incidents — (773) 674-HELP(4357) — for anyone who feels they are being threatened or targeted as a result of their religion, race, nationality and/or sexual orientation.

Those who call the 24/7 hotline will receive a direct response to The Community Tree Decorating Contest involved donating $25 to receive live trees with lights that could be their incidents by Sheriff’s Office decorated to reflect participating community organizations’ theme. Participants could begin decorating their staff, who will help connect calltree starting on Nov. 23. First place was won by the Palos Village Players. People’s Choice winner was the Palos ers to other agencies, Sheriff’s detectives, or legal assistance if Park Woman’s Club.

the matter would be best addressed by external resources.

“With the F.B.I. reporting spikes in hate crimes nationwide, this will act as a pro-active resource,” Dart said. “Hate crimes should not be dismissed as a fleeting issue or only a problem outside of Cook County. Any act of discrimination or targeted intimidation within my jurisdiction will be met by the full extent of the law.”

The impetus for a dedicated hotline to report for discrimination or hate crime issues came

after Sheriff Dart heard directly about a sense of increasing fear and intimidation in the county’s minority communities, especially the Muslim American community.

“The Chicago area has always drawn its greatest strength from the hard work and dedication of religious and immigrant groups.

To protect the real strength of our community — diversity — we must stand up for these good people.” Dart said. Sheriff Dart reminds the public that those in immediate danger should call 9-1-1.

4 Thursday, December 8, 2016

EDITORIAL

OPINION

The Regional News

Fireside Chat will lighten dark places While most people in our area can enjoy the holidays as a season of comfort and joy, a significant proportion are going through times of anguish and despair.

“About one in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5 percent—experiences mental illness in a given year,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

It is not every day that someone like Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who has been lauded nationally for his work on mental health issues, comes to the Palos-Orland area. He is scheduled to be here next week, however, to meet the public and talk about his work on behalf of persons with mental illness his department encounters – on the street, at court or in County Jail.

People can hear him next week in the warm and cozy confines of the Eugene G. Simpson Clubhouse at Lake Katherine Nature Center, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive.

Sheriff Dart will be the guest speaker at a Fireside Chat there organized by the Palos-Orland League of Women Voters on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m.

The meeting is open to the public and appetizers will be served. RSVP to Charlene at cmotero@comcast.net.

Sheriff Dart oversees about 8,000 inmates in the Cook County Department of Corrections, 500 police officers and a staff of 100, according to the League. “He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2009 for his innovative solutions to improve the life of inmates in Cook County Jail, including those with mental health issues,” the League said in its materials promoting Dart’s upcoming visit.

“On any given day, between 25-30 percent of the inmates at Cook County Jail suffer from mental illnesses,” according to one of the websites on mental health issues maintained by Sheriff Dart’s office. “The majority of these inmates are in jail for nonviolent offences closely associated with their mental health issues and would be far better served by treatment rather than incarceration.”

One of the sheriff’s initiatives in response to those facts is his Office of Mental Health Policy and Advocacy, which “leads Sheriff Dart’s comprehensive response to the criminalization of mentally ill individuals in Cook County.”

The sheriff now actually operates a community mental health clinic after six of 12 closed in the city of Chicago.

Locally, the Orland Park Police Department has taken a lead in crisis-intervention training for its officers to better equip them to respond to cases involving a person with mental illness. One goal is to get these folks professional help rather than take them to jail. The Orland Park Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team described its efforts to the League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area at one of its forums last January. Palos Park and Palos Heights police have also made their own efforts in this area.

Sheriff Dart’s department has also made crisis-intervention training a priority. “All Sheriff’s Police officers by virtue of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Basic Law Enforcement Curriculum have received disturbance call and crisis intervention training (CIT) as part of their police certification,” according to the department.

“There is a 40-hour specialized course where officers will learn skills and knowledge to effectively and safely interact with someone who is experiencing a crisis, including a mental health episode.”

“There are over 1,500 active Advanced Mental Health trained officers working in the Cook County Department of Corrections. In addition, there are hundreds Crisis Intervention trained correctional officers.” All hired since 2009 have received CIT training, which is 3,500 to 4,000 officers. Prior to that it was only officers in the mental health unit who received such training.

The League of Women Voters has made mental health a focus this year. In July, the local League held a first aid for mental health forum for the public.

At a time when budget constraints have taken money away from crucial mental health services and nearby facilities have closed, we applaud the League of Women Voters for its focus on these issues. We are similarly impressed not only by Sheriff Dart’s efforts in the same area, but taking the time at this very busy time of year to come speak to its members and guests. League meetings are always enlightening and well worth attending.

An independent, locally-owned community newspaper published weekly Southwest Regional Publishing 12243 S. Harlem Ave. Palos Heights, IL 60463 Phone: (708) 448-4000 Fax: (708) 448-4012 Website: www.theregionalnews.com email: TheRegional@comcast.net Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Publisher: Amy Richards Editor: Jack Murray Sports Editor: Jeff Vorva Classified Manager: Debbie Perrewe (708) 448-4002 Graphic Design and Layout: Lauren Ziemann Deadlines Editorial: Noon, Saturday Advertising: 5 p.m., Monday Subscription rates: Local, delivered by mail, $47 a year in advance. Out-of-State, $57 a year. Single copies, $1. Postmaster: Send address changes to THE REGIONAL NEWS, 12243 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463 and additional post offices.

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This newspaper is dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives to protect America’s freedom of the press, whenever and however it may be threatened.

READERS WRITE Keep Palos Park’s pastoral, rural splendor Dear Editor, As a resident of Palos Park for nearly 23 years, I feel compelled to express my feelings about the proposed 43,769 sq. ft. medical office building and parking lot for 190 cars at 7831,7835, and 7919 W. McCarthy Road.

I chose to live in Palos Park because of the abundance of nature and low traffic volume. I am not alone in appreciating these attributes of our lovely village. There is a beautiful plaque, which is displayed in the Kaptur Administrative Center, and this is what it states: “Pastoral Setting, Rural Splendor, Palos Park, Illinois, 1914.” 102 years after village incorporation, the words and vision of this plaque still hold true. If you share the vision that Palos Park remain a “pastoral setting,” please attend the meeting of the Plan Commission at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15 at the Recreation

Center 8901 W. 123rd St. — Carol Alesia, Palos Park

Grateful for Christmastime in Palos success and support Dear Editor, Another fantastic Christmastime in Palos occurred Saturday at the Palos Heights Public Library. Nearly 400 area residents enjoyed the holiday entertainment, the festive atmosphere and, of course, the delicious goodies provided by our local businesses. We would like to thank Breadsmith, Doughs Guys Bakery, Diane’s Place, Entenmann’s Bakery, Chicagoland Ham, Jewel Food Stores, Mariano’s, Orland Park Bakery, Trader Joes, Walt’s Food Center and Zettlmeier Bakerei for their very tasty donations. We also thank Midwest Bank for again sponsoring the Christmastime celebration and the Regional News for its continuing support and publicity.

Special thanks go to the staff at the library for their assistance at this event and throughout the year, and to all the area residents who support the Friends of the Library.

— Marge Damm, Friends of the Palos Heights Library

When mail comes late Dear Editor: I would like to know why our mail is delivered so late in the evening. I went out at 4:30, 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m. The mail was delivered after 6 p.m.. It is dark and cold at this time. Cars are going by as you stand by the mailbox in the dark. This is an old community and seniors should not have to be going out in the dark to get their mail. There is something wrong with our post office that this is a regular occurence.

— Janet Sheerin, Palos Heights

Pearl Harbor’s impact is still felt 75 years later In many ways, it was just a typical December day in the Chicago area. My dad, Frank Boyle, told me that he was lying on the floor with a pillow positioned behind his head. He was listening to a radio broadcast of an encounter between the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cardinals.

But at about 1:30 p.m., the game was interrupted by a bulletin. Reports had confirmed that the U.S naval fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii was hit with a surprise attack by the Japanese.

My father listened intently to the reports that did not have all the details as of yet.

The football game later resumed and my dad knew exactly what he was going to be doing very soon -- he was going to war.

My father was right. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared war on Japan

JOE BOYLE the following day. Roosevelt told Congress the next afternoon that Dec, 7, 1941 is “a date which will live in infamy.”

This nation has been shaken by surprise attacks, random acts of violence, and numerous natural disasters. Shootings at grade schools, high schools, colleges and universities have become too common the past 16 years.

So, to a degree, it is understandable that many younger Americans are unaware of the impact the invasion of Pearl Harbor

had on our country. On one hand, the day was no different than any other at this time of the year. The temperatures were in the mid-20s and reached an afternoon high of 38 on Dec. 7, 1941. The temperatures reached a morning low of 31 and a high of 38 degrees on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor this year.

But when my father and millions of other Americans heard the radio bulletin about the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, everything changed. My father was typical of that generation. He couldn’t wait to sign up to defend his country. But he still had to finish high school. Many other American teens did not wait, dropping out of school and signing up.

I imagine many of them felt the U.S. would defeat Japan quickly while bringing Continued on Page 5

Random thoughts from Taiwan to flag burning Finally, a president who doesn’t care what China thinks.

Why must we kowtow to China and their corruption, economic blackmail and cheap manufacturing industry that relies on subpar wages and a work force of children?

If China is our friend, why don’t they do something about that murderous maniac in North Korea, Kim Jong Un? Despite their rhetoric, China keeps Kim Jong in power.

Why shouldn’t President-elect Donald Trump take a congratulatory call from Taiwan’s president? Yes, will call Tsai Ing-wen “president” and not “leader” as the Chinese insist.

Taiwan is currently America’s ninth largest goods trading partner with $67 billion in goods traded between us last year.

Exports totaled $26 billion and imports totaled $41 billion, which means we took in more of their products than we gave them, a trade deficit of $15 billion we need to change.

So to you Trump haters and hypocrites, quit kicking your own country down. Be real Americans for once!

On Bruce DuMont’s “Beyond the Beltway” radio show Sunday night, substitute host Bruno Behrend asked panelists (including myself, Brian Kasal, Tio Hardiman and DePaul’s Mike Miller) what ideas we had to help stimulate the economy.

I remembered enlisting in the Air Force during the Vietnam War while in college gave me an experience that helped me focus on my future by giving me my first full-time job (after working part-time at Berlands Shoes at the Ford City Mall for a great boss, Ed Bliss).

I suggested imposing a military draft to stimulate the economy, rebuild our military, and to train recruits for careers, professions and trades. It even helped straighten out the “tough guys” making them productive

RAY HANANIA members of society instead of becoming into short-lived gangbangers.

Several of my military pals at basic training in Lackland AFB had street gang backgrounds that the military broke right away.

It was also my first real contact with health care, something many people don’t get until they are too old and it’s too late.

It forced me to quit an eight-year smoking habit I started at age 12.

You want to burn the flag, take a hike and join those radicals overseas. Sure, the Constitution says everyone has a right to burn the flag, but I think it’s so wrong.

Trump is right. We should change the Constitution to ban the desecration of our flag.

Funny how free speech didn’t prevent people from yelling and screaming about flying the Confederate flag. The “Johnny Reb” flag is a part of America history dating back more than 150 years. It’s not just about slavery, which has long been abolished, but about a Southern tradition that was a major part of our nation. Not all of those who respect the flag are racist, but they have been bullied by that claim.

And yet the same people attacking them think it’s OK to burn the American flag.

That’s why Trump was elected. To say what needs to be said. Burning the American flag should be a crime.

I read Trump’s book “Great Again: How to Fix our Crippled America,” where he spelled out his goals and I was impressed.

Trump explains his policies on immigra-

tion, which he claims have been distorted by the biased mainstream national news media. What other nation allows people to come into their country illegally, without consequences?

His objectives are clear. He wants to implement a secure immigration system to control who comes and enters and who doesn’t. He wants every immigrant to have the same rights and respect for this nation.

My father immigrated here in 1926. I know the times have changed. He came here to better his life and build a career ad business. He embraced this country totally.

He wouldn’t even let me speak Arabic when I was young. I had to learn English, and I am glad he did that.

Trump insists he is not anti-Mexican and blames the media for promoting that lie.

Accusations of “drug traffickers and rapists” refer to a small percentage of illegals from Mexico like the murderous killer El Chapo Guzman, who exploited a weak border to commit crimes.

Once the borders are secured, immigration can resume legally. And we can address the issues of those who are undocumented to give them a path to citizenship.

Becoming a citizen should be a proud moment, but it is a privilege that must be earned, not a right.

LOCALLY IN OAK LAWN: Longtime Trustee Bob Streit is preparing to enter the race for mayor. His supporters are distributing literature and petitions. I’ve known Streit for many years. He is a good family man who loves Oak Lawn and has many ideas to make Oak Lawn great again. I’ll check the race out more closely later, but for now, check his website at FriendsofBobStreit.com. He’s a good candidate.

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

The Regional News

Thursday, December 8, 2016

In case of ice and snow, POLICE BLOTTER: PALOS HEIGHTS drivers take it slow: police Charged with driving while license suspended

From Palos Park PD Palos Park takes a proactive approach, using best practices to respond to snow and ice: Snow, ice and extreme cold can play havoc with village streets and traffic. In Palos Park, winter can bring heavy rain, high winds, ice and snow.

We’re always monitoring conditions.

Our staff follows weather reports 24 hours a day, all year long, with a direct line to the National Weather Service and live Doppler radar feeds.

We use real-time, live-streaming cameras to see actual conditions on key streets.

Palos Park Village Snow Response The Public Works Department begins preparing early for the snow season by getting snow equipment ready, stockpiling supplies, training staff for emergency response and updating the snow response priorities map.

Planning before the extreme weather, or following common-sense tips once a storm has hit, can limit problems.

During a snow storm, village

crews work around the clock.

Designated neighborhood priority routes are cleared first to accommodate fire, medical and police response, as well as school buses and commuter traffic. If snowfall is continuous, those arterials may require repeated plowing and sanding before crews can work to clear neighborhood streets.

Driving on Ice and Snow: Ice and snow, combined with Palos Park’s steep hills, can make for hazardous driving conditions.

The Villages campaign, “Ice and Snow, Take it Slow,” to raise awareness about winter driving.

The campaign reminds drivers of safe driving tactics in winter conditions, including slower speeds, slower acceleration, slower steering and slower braking.

• Check conditions: When you see snow or ice forecast, plan ahead. Talk to your employer, local school or day-care center. How will they provide you information?

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) offers reports on highway conditions with online Statewide Traveler Information. If conditions appear hazardous, don’t leave home unless you have to.

• Extra time: Give yourself ex-

Jeffrey A. Adduci, 25, of Palos Heights, was charged with driving on a suspended license following a traffic stop at 7:37 p.m. Nov. 29, tra time. It’s not worth putting in the 6400 block of West 127th yourself and others in a dangerous Street. Police said he is due in situation just to be on time.

• Before leaving home: Pack winter safety equipment and a breakdown kit in your vehicle.

Prepare your vehicle by packing a shovel, flashlight, blankets and Charged with driving chains or cables for the tires along while license suspended with a breakdown kit (winter drivDennis L. Maddox, 36, of Buring checklist).

• Driving tips: The faster you’re bank, was charged with driving on going, the longer it will take to a suspended license following a stop. When accelerating on snow traffic stop at 4:05 a.m. Nov. 20, or ice, take it slow to avoid slip- in the 12700 block of South 104th ping. When braking, do so slowly Avenue. Police said he was also and never slam the brakes. If you cited for failure to signal when have anti-lock brakes, press on required. He is due in court on the pedal down firmly and hold Jan. 6. it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal. Charged with driving Either way, give yourself plenty without a license of room to stop.

Vincent D. Hankins, 48, of • Black ice: Roads that seem dry or just wet may actually be slippery with black ice. Take it slow when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady areas; all are hot spots for black ice.

• Snowplows: Give snowplows room to work. The plows are wide Three hit with and can cross the centerline or DUI charges shoulder. Do not tailgate and try Orland Park police charged not to pass. If you must pass, take Frankfort resident James P. Lewis extreme caution and beware of Jr., 38, with DUI, illegal transporthe snow cloud. tation of alcohol and failure to wear seatbelts after they curbed his car near 159th Street and Oak Park Avenue at 1:57 a.m. Nov. 17. A search of the vehicle yielded an open can of Miller High Life beer, according to the police report. The car was towed and impounded, and Lewis was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday in Bridgeview.

Orland Park resident Kathleen Murphy Vazquez, 59, was charged with DUI and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident as police investigated a one-vehicle “property damage” crash near 144th Street and Highland Avenue at 5:35 p.m. Nov. 11. The police report did not say what property was damaged in the crash. Her SUV was towed and impounded, and Murphy Vazquez was expected to appear in court in Bridgeview on Tuesday.

Police charged Orland Park resident Stanislaw R. Galarowski, 54, with DUI and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident as they investigated a one-vehicle crash near Brigitte Terrace and Wolf Road at 8:20 p.m. Nov. 14. Galarowski’s SUV hit a utility pole, police said. The vehicle was towed and impounded, and

court on Dec. 30.

Charged with DUI

Margaret E. Zubel, 52, of Oak Lawn, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic accident in the 12400 block of West 125th Street.

5

Police said Zubel was found nearby, and identified as the driver of a vehicle that struck a parked car and drove away. She was also cited for leaving the scene of a property damage accident and driving without insurance. She is due in court on Jan. 10.

POLICE BLOTTER: PALOS PARK Chicago, was charged with driving without a license following a traffic stop at 10:18 p.m. Nov. 23, in the 9700 block of West 131st Street. Police said he was also cited for driving without insurance, no rear registration plate light and possession of drug paraphernalia.

They said a pipe used to smoke crack cocaine was found in the ashtray. He is due in court on Jan. 6.

Ibrahim Mohammed Alyousef, 36, of Orland Park, was charged with driving without a license following a traffic stop at 8:04 p.m.

Nov. 26, in the 12200 block of South LaGrange Road. Police said he was also cited for speeding and driving without insurance. Court information was not available.

Charged with driving with suspended registration Willie E. Cole III, 19, of Calumet City, was cited for driving a car with suspended registration following a traffic stop at 2:37 p.m. Nov. 26, at 131st Street and LaGrange Road. He is due in court on Jan. 6.

POLICE BLOTTER: ORLAND PARK

Photo by Patricia Bailey

C.O.P.S have fun helping Palos Park PD

Galarowski was due in court on Tuesday in Bridgeview.

Moms stole, hid loot in baby strollers, police say Two Hickory Hills residents were each charged with one misdemeanor count of retail theft after they allegedly stole merchandise from a department store in Orland Square Mall at 9:20 p.m.

Nov. 17. Store security staff told police that both women concealed cosmetics in baby strollers they were pushing. The three children with the women were turned over to one of their husbands, police added. The police report did not indicate a court date.

Charged with swiping 70 items from toy store Chicago residents Slyvania N. Martin, 27, and Larika D. Franklin, 24, were charged with felony retail theft after they allegedly stole 70 items of merchandise worth $1,099 from a toy store on Orland Square Drive at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 13. Store security told police that Martin and Franklin were part of a quartet of women who initially met in the Lego aisle of the store, filled two shopping carts with merchandise and pushed them out the door without paying.

Acting on information provided by witnesses, police located one of the suspects’ two vehicles at

Target, 15850 S. 94th Ave., a short time later. Martin and Franklin were apprehended at the vehicle, and the merchandise was recovered and returned to the store, police added. The two other suspects remain at large, according to the police report.

Charged with stealing jewelry Police charged Dolton resident Tony L. Guthrie, 47, with felony retail theft after he allegedly stole seven items of jewelry worth a total of $419 from a department store in Orland Square Mall at 3:11 p.m. Nov. 18. A charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was added after a pat-down of Guthrie yielded a crack pipe, according to the police report.

He was set to appear at a bond hearing on Nov. 19.

Police: Tinley Park woman stole for ‘adrenaline rush’ Tinley Park resident Keanna S. Barnes, 33, was charged with retail theft after she allegedly stole cosmetics and clothing worth a total of $114 from a department store in Orland Square Mall at 4:05 p.m. Nov. 18. According to the police report, Barnes admitted to the crime and said she did it “for the adrenaline rush.” She is set to appear at a hearing at the Orland Park Civic Center on Tuesday.

Heights officer assigned to task force honored as Outstanding Crime Fighters

A drug enforcement task force to which a Palos Heights police The Citizens on Patrol Service (C.O.P.S.) were one of the local organizations hosting a table at Palos Park’s Holiday Market last Friday at the Recreation Center. Shown enjoying the evening are Ed Verdino, Tom Crowhurst and officer is assigned was honored Phyllis Adams. C.O.P.S. volunteers donate about a 1,000 hours of service a year helpings the Palos Park Police last month by the Chicago Crime Department serve and protect the village. C.O.P.S. members do not apprehend anyone or get involved beyond Commission.

Palos Heights Police Officer simple observation and reporting of what they see and hear.

Craig Clark serves with the Chicago Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) group, which received the Excellence in Law Enforcement award for illegal narcotics enforcement.

For the past several years Officer Clark has been assigned to the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as a Task Force Agent. The Palos The men and women of the to well-lit, well-traveled streets, do online transactions.

Palos Heights Police Department walkways and parking areas for • Regularly check credit card, remind everyone to be vigilant both walking and parking. debit card, and checking account • Do not display large amounts statements during the holiday seaduring the holiday season and to take a moment to review the of cash or offer alluring targets for son.

Continued from Page 4 following shopping crime preven- theft such as expensive jewelry • Inoculate your computer or clothing. tion tips. against malware with regular up- down Hitler as well. It was a • Carry a purse or shoulder bag dates to your anti-virus program. different time. When the Twin close to your body, not dangling • Create a unique password that Towers at the World Trade Holiday shopping by straps. Put your wallet in an Center fell to the ground in crime prevention tips: inside pocket of your coat or front cyber thieves can’t compromise. New York City on Sept. 11, • Avoid public computers to • Always walk and park in pants pocket.

2001, the nation and the world well-lit areas. Park close to the • Always have your car keys purchase items online.

• Only use a Wi-Fi connec- was stunned. Many of us saw entrance of the store, if possible. in your hand, and ready to use tion if you access the Web over it live on TV. Terrorists took • Cellular telephone conver- when you reach your car. over two planes and intensations can be a distraction that • If you believe someone is a virtual provider network (VPN) tionally crashed them into the connection. makes you vulnerable to thieves. following you, cross the street, structures. We were also aware A cellular telephone itself can also switch directions, walk into a store • Skepticism in most cases can of the tragedies near Shanksbe a tempting target to thieves. or restaurant. If you are concerned go a long way in saving you from ville, Pa. and the Pentagon in • Do not electronically unlock for your welfare, yell for help. an online scam.

Washington, D.C. by the end of your vehicle until you are within Don’t be embarrassed. Your safety Also, if you are a resident of the that morning, also the work of door opening distance. This helps is more important!

City of Palos Heights and antici- terrorists taking over planes. In stop a thief from getting into the pate traveling during the holiday all, 2,977 people were killed. car and waiting to strike when season, we recommend that you Safe online shopping tips: No one had televisions in you least expect it. contact the Palos Heights Police 1941. My father could not • Use trusted websites rather • If you are leaving a store Department and have your home have turned on a TV to watch and feel uneasy about entering than shopping with a search enthe parking lot or garage by your- gine that can be rigged to lead placed on a “vacation watch.” wall-to-wall cable news shows While on the vacation watch list, for updates. Many people who self, stay in the store and ask for you astray.

• Never buy anything online us- officers check the exterior of your lived in my dad’s Englewood an escort to your car.

• Do not open your car door ing your credit card from a site that home for damage, or signs of a neighborhood in Chicago had to for any strangers in a parking lot doesn’t have SSL (secure sockets break-in. Have a safe holiday wait until the evening editions season. of daily newspapers for further or garage. If you believe you are layer) encryption installed.

— Palos Heights Police news on the invasion. in danger, call 911 immediately.

• Never give out your Social • While outside of a store, stick Security number or birthday to Chief George Yott Jr. They had no Twitter or

Palos Heights police offer holiday shopping crime prevention tips

Joe Boyle

Heights Police Department will share in the assets seized from this narcotics trafficking investigation.

Through OCDETF’s work they dismantled one of the largest drug trafficking organizations ever charged in Chicago, which was originally a simple Chicago street gang case. The Sinaloa Cartel supplied most of the heroin in the region and 1,500 – 2,000 kilograms of cocaine each month.

To date, these investigations have resulted in federal indictments of 67 defendants, including Cartel leader Joaquin Guzman Loera and other high level Sinaloa targets,

the seizure of over $32 million in U.S. currency, 3,100 kilograms of cocaine, 72 kilograms of heroin, 704 pounds of methamphetamine, 25 weapons, and 32 vehicles. In total, the investigation sought over $1.8 billion.

The Chicago Crime Commission held its Stars of Distinction Awards Dinner to recognize outstanding individual and organizational contributions in fighting crime. Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson was the keynote speaker at the event.

— Palos Heights PD

Facebook. The attack on Pearl Harbor took place at about 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time. My father and millions of other Americans found out about this attack later on.

But this much we do know about Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona was completely destroyed and the Oklahoma was capsized. More than 2,400 people were killed and over 1,000 more were injured. The attack lasted just under two hours. Twenty American ships were damaged. Most of those fatalities and injuries were from the USS Arizona.

Dec. 7, 2016 was the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. While we have dealt with more tragedies in this new century in the U.S. and throughout the world, the Pearl Harbor attack is still shocking. This was the first time this young, vibrant nation, which was just shaking off the effects of the Great Depression, was attacked. Hawaii was an American territory at the time.

Americans now had legitimate

fears that the mainland could be next.

My father told me several stories about his time spent in World War II. He joined the Marine Corps and served in Okinawa, an island 350 miles south of mainland Japan. He did not elaborate much about his time being a gunner for the Marine Corps. Someone once asked him if he ever killed anyone. He was quiet for a moment and the said he did not know because he was far away.

With the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor invasion, memories of my father are still with me. The numbers of Americans who can recall that day are dwindling. But as a nation, we can’t forget. The lessons of Pearl Harbor are that freedom cannot be taken for granted.

Joe Boyle is the editor of The Reporter. He can be reached at thereporter@comcast.net.

6 Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Regional News

Rep. Rush votes yes on 21st Century Cures Act U.S. Cong. Bobby Rush (D-1st), a ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Energy and Power, last week voted in favor of H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Acts.

The bill seeks to prevent and cure disease and improve health Rep. Bobby Rush for all Americans. The 21st Century Cures Act also requires that public, private and research institutions around the country takes action to accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of new treatments.

H.R. 34 also includes a provision sponsored by Rush that he said will improve minority inclusion in clinical trials.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), among the

10,000 known diseases, 7,000 of which are considered rare, there are treatments for only 500.

Rush introduced five provisions for adoption into the Energy and Commerce Committee’s 21st Century Cures bill that sought minority inclusion in clinical trials. Two of Rush’s amendments were adopted into the full bill, which will boost the biomedical workforce in unrepresented communities to address ending health disparities among minority populations and improve outcomes in maternity health.

The first provision will require the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to include within its strategic plan for biomedical research ways to increase representation of underrepresented communities in clinical trials. The second provision will ensure that it remains a pri-

ority at NIH that the biomedical workforce of the future includes groups from traditionally underrepresented communities.

“Research professionals tend to work toward solutions to diseases that they have a personal connection with,” said Rush.

“That enforces the need for minority participation in order to foster research that gets to the root causes of diseases not only affecting other communities, but cures for underrepresented minority groups. This is why I offered an amendment that will address these disparities by requiring that the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities within the National Institute of Health include within its Strategic Plan ways to increase representation of underrepresented communities in clinical trials.”

Save lives in an ugly sweater tee LifeSource is spreading holiday cheer the best way it knows how – with the return of its popular ugly sweater tees.

All participating donors who visit a community donor center or select mobile drives through Dec. 31 are eligible to receive the long-sleeve shirt while supplies last. The nearest of LifeSource’s 18 community donor centers is located in Orland Park, at 11120 W. 179th St. To expedite the donation process, schedule your appointment in advance by registering online at www.lifesource. org or by calling (877) 543-3768.

Donors must be at least 18 years

of age to give blood. Sixteen- or 17-year-olds with signed parental consent are also eligible to donate.

One donation has the potential to save up to three lives.

LifeSource, the largest blood center in Illinois, is a not-for-profit organization. As the largest blood center in Illinois, LifeSource distributes more than 250,000 blood products annually to approximately 45 area hospitals in meeting the need for patient transfusion therapy. The need for blood is constant yet fewer than 5 percent of eligible donors regularly give the gift of life.

LifeSource is giving away an ugly sweater tee to participating donors who visit a community donor center through Dec. 31

Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to attend a memory support group at 6:30 p.m. today (Thursday).

Smith Crossing, 10501 Emilie Lane (enter at 104th Avenue and 183rd Street), will hold an open forum discussion led by its life enrichment director Dana Mahler

and social services director Amy Majcina. Light refreshments will be served before the meeting ends at 7:30 p.m.

To reserve a seat, call 708-3262300 or email to familyandfreinds@smithcrossing.org.

Supplied photo

HEALTH BEAT Smith Crossing support group for caregivers of people with dementia Smith Crossing, a life plan community, is inviting residents in or near Orland Park who are caregivers of older adults with

PICK OF THE LITTER

When giving eye exam to dogs Remember your training

St. Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church in Palos Heights held its annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Show, complete with Greek food and desserts last weekend. Despite the snow on Sunday, there were crowds lining up for the Greek specialties and sweet delicacies (top). A decorated tree adorned the staged dining area where shoppers could relax and mingle. Palos Heights resident Corny Morgan’s enjoyed his Greek chicken dinner, which looked good to a lady seated at his table. On Oct. 15, 2017 the church will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. People can save the date to help remember the past and celebrate their future in the community.

HOUSES OF WORSHIP Do it Yourself ‘Messiah’ at Peace Memorial Church Peace Memorial Church, 10300 W. 131st St. in Palos Park, will hold a Do It Yourself ‘Messiah’ at 2 p.m. this Sunday.

Professional musicians and soloists will provide the accompaniment, and Robert Mohr will direct.

The audience is the chorus, but people may attend and listen only.

Scores will be available for sale at $10 each, cash please.

Part I , traditionally called the Christmas section, and the Hallelujah Chorus will be performed, and will take about an hour.

Call 448-7833 or email pkueltzo@pmcucc.org to register; no ticket required. A free-will offering will be received.

JOHN FLEMING

DVM • PrairieStateVet.com

Dear Readers, I’ve had two similar eye cases in dogs so far this week.

Both dogs had irritated corneas and both had seen other vets in town in the past two weeks. Things usually come in “threes” so perhaps I will see one more before the week is over. Both of these dogs had eye discomfort. Both dogs had one eye that was red (inflamed) and uncomfortable (rubbing at the eyes). Both dogs had distichiasis.

In both dogs I could not see the problem without a head loupe (magnification) and good illumination.

Both owners told me that the other vets did not use any magnification and both dogs were treated with an antibiotic/steroid ointment. Both owners were told, by me, that I am not a great vet but that I just methodically follow through with the training that I received in Gainesville back in ‘81. I always tell my young vets: “Don’t forget your junior year”.

I would not want my vets to miss this diagnosis.

I’m sure I have in the past, but I shouldn’t, and won’t, if I go slowly down and follow the routine.

A proper eye exam, in my opinion, requires the use of good lighting and good magnification to rule out misplaced eyelashes – distichia. Normal eyelashes develop from hair follicles on the skin surface of the eyelids. Distichia and ectopic cilia are eyelashes that grow out the duct of the glands in the middle layer of the eyelid. Distichia grow out of the duct and point downward or upward from the smooth edge of the eyelid. These short barb-like eyelashes brush against the cornea as the lids open and close. Ectopic cilia exit from the inner surface of the lids and point directly at the cornea. I can almost always find distichia but if I suspect ectopic cilia, and cannot find them, I will occasionally have a client see Dr. Vernot, our clinic ophthalmologist we refer to, to have her use her specialized equipment to hunt for them.

Distichiasis may be inherited, as in Cocker Spaniels, shih tzus, Bedlington terriers, boxer, shelties, collies and pekes. Ectopic cilia are less common but may be found in all types of dogs, usually before the age of 1 year. Signs associate with distichiasis depend upon the number and location of the misplaced lashes. Cocker spaniels often have numerous distichia but they are short and fine and often cause no problems. In other dogs, watery tearing,

Grecian delights at St. Spyridon

Photos by Patricia Bailey

Supplied photo

Meet my father-in-law Eugene, who is at the veteran’s home in Manteno. He is surrounded by the Lewis Sisters who sing songs made popular by the Andrews Sisters in the 1940s. When we saw them perform last week, I learned that the Andrews sisters had more number one hits than either Elvis or The Beatles.

increased mucous production, blinking and squinting or conjunctivitis may be noted. Corneal ulceration may also occur, as in one of the two dogs I saw this week. Ectopic cilia are worse. These misplaced hairs often cause corneal ulcers. If I have an ulcer that is not healing after appropriate treatment I will have the client consider seeing Dr. Vernot to have her look for these hairs on the backside of the lids with her scopes.

No treatment is needed for distichiais if the dog shows no problems. If only a few distichia are found or only minor signs are present, then topical lubricant ointments may be used to coat the cilia in oil and protect the cornea. If signs resolve this therapy can be used long term. Plucking the eyelashes gives immediate relief but the area must be checked periodically to see if they are regrowing.

Problematic distichia can be treated with cryotherapy or surgery. Ectopic cilia are best removed surgically, usually with the aid of an operating microscope.

You can do your own preliminary exam at home for distichia using a good magnifying glass and a bright light source. This usually requires the help of a second person.

I’d come from a long ways off and had started a long ways down. But now destiny was about to manifest itself. I felt like it was looking right at me and nobody else.

Bob Dylan

St. Alexander Church Santa shop and pancake breakfast St. Alexander will host its annual Santa’s Secret Workshop and Pancake Breakfast this Sunday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the St. Al’s Parish Center, 7025 W. 126th St..

Tickets $5; children $3, children 3 and under are free. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, fruit, coffee and juice. Children can also do their holiday shopping at Santa’s Secret Workshop, which provides a large assortment of gifts for family and friends. Santa Claus will make a special appearance for people to take photos. The event is hosted by St. Alexander Family School Association and the Knights of Columbus.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ at Calvary Church Calvary Church and Faith Theatre Company present “It’s a Wonderful Life” in two performances on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17 and 18, at 6 p.m., at the church, 16100 S. 104th Ave., Orland Park.

The Christmas classic is retold with live drama and music. Admission is free and no tickets are required.

For more, call 429-2200 or visit Calvaryop.org.

Selected “Finest Funeral Service”

Palos-Gaidas FUNERAL HOME 11028 Southwest Hwy. Palos Hills

708-974-4410

www.palosgaidasfh.com

The Regional News

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Southwest Symphony Orchestra Yuletide Celebration Concerts The Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform its Yuletide Celebration concerts this Friday, Dec. 9, at St. Michael Church, 14327 Highland Ave., Orland Park, and this Sunday, Dec. 11, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 15050 S. Wolf Road, Orland Park.

The SSO Yuletide concert at St. Michael Church on Friday will combine with the St. Michael Music Ministry and the Voices of the Valley to kick off the holiday season.

Tickets can be purchased at the door: adults $21, seniors $16 students $6 children 12 and under are free.

For ticket information, visit southwestsymphony. com or call 802-0686.

Waddles Winter Wonderland The Palos Heights Parks and Recreation Department and Waddles the Penguin offer Winter Wonderland this Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Palos Heights Recreation Center, 6601 W. 127th St. The free event includes games, cookie decorating, craft decorating, a candy cane hunt, other holiday entertainment and photos with Santa Claus.

Schedule of events: • 10 a.m. Cookie and craft decorating, holiday games and refreshment • 10-11:30 a.m. Pictures with Santa begins, please

COMMUNITY NEWS

Thursday, December 8, 2016

7

bring your camera.

• 10:30 a.m. Magic Show • 10:45 a.m. Hayrides begin • 11:45 a.m. Candy cane hunt The cookie decorating, craft making, and games will continue throughout the entire event so families who cannot arrive right at 10 a.m. will still have the opportunity to participate in all of the activities.

Palos Orland GOP annual Christmas party Palos-Orland township Republicans will hold their annual Christmas party on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Hackney’s Restaurant, 12301 S. La Grange Road, Palos Park.

Tickets are $15 each. Food, music and open bar.

Purchase tickets online at palostownshipgop.com.

Fireside Chat with Sheriff Tom Dart Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart will be the guest speaker at the Palos-Orland League of Women Voters fireside chat on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m., at Lake Katherine’s Eugene G. Simpson Clubhouse, 7402 Lake Katherine Drive, in Palos Heights.

The meeting is open to the public and appetizers will be served. Please RSVP to Charlene at cmotero@comcast.net.

For more information on the Fireside Chat, email Barbara at mspasq@aol.com.

Stagg High offers free holiday concerts as gift to the community Amos Alonzo Stagg High School will present its annual holiday concert, Spectrum, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14 and at 6 and 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at the school’s Performing Arts Center, 8015 W. 111th St. The performances are free and open to the public.

Stagg P.E. teacher Mary Gaido coordinates the event and volunteers from the Music Boosters provide support for rehearsals that week and on performance nights. According to the concert program, “Spectrum is a continuous, 75-minute show that begins in complete darkness and culminates with a triumphant finale.”

“This performance is special because students have the opportunity to demonstrate their individual musical talent,” said Sandy Mech,

division chair for English, Music and ELL. “This concert showcases the talents of our music students of Stagg High School. A variety of holiday musical selections will be performed.”

Mech said it is different from a traditional concert, including the entire decorated Performing Arts Center being used and not just the stage. “Students perform on the stage and in all the aisles and balconies surrounding the theater,” she said.

“Once the concert begins, the performances are continuous.

There is no applause after each performance, which keeps the music quickly moving from one song to the next. All applause is held until the end of the concert,” she said. “The final piece is a combined ensemble singing the

‘Hallelujah Chorus,’ which is guaranteed to awe the audience.”

When considering what to call a concert such as this, Gaido wanted to choose a name that would convey the uniqueness of such an event. A spectrum occurs when a white light is passed through a prism and the light is sepaSupplied photo rated into its many colors. This Pictured are Susan Blais and Ann Purcell (seated) with Geri Eisenstein, Patt Bailey, Barb Campbell Deckinga, chairphenomenon formed the perfect man of the event and Wendy Lundberg from Mona Lisa Boutique metaphor for the musical “spectrum” listeners experience at this concert. Each of Stagg’s bands and choirs will showcase their unique talents before uniting to form the beautiful unified sound of the finale.

For those looking for a way to kick start the holiday season, this family friendly event is sure to impress.

The Raffle Committee of the two night stay at the South Point Restaurant in Willow Springs, four Palos Heights Woman’s Club has Hotel, Casino and Spa. Round trip rounds of 18 holes with cart at been working very hard assem- airfare from Chicago to Las Vegas Old Oak Country Club, tickets for bling 14 raffle baskets with a total aboard Southwest Airlines, dinner the Performing Arts Center at Movalue of more than $3,000 for the at Don Vito’s Italian Restaurant raine Valley Community College and headline tickets for The and activities at the Palos Heights Club’s annual Christmas Walk.

Recreation Center.

There will also be the popu- Showroom at South Point.

The Third Prize is a White Sox The second prize is a Local lar Win-Win Raffle, along with a special Super Raffle this year. Dining and Activities Package Package with four club box seat The tickets for the Super Raf- including two tickets for each game tickets, Stadium Club passfle are $10 each or three for $25 event, tickets to the Southwest es, a parking pass, a Coleman porand the prizes are great. People Symphony Orchestra, to the table gas grill, Sox-logo grilling do not have to attend the event Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, tools, cooler and tumblers and to to participate in this raffle. The for “Unforgettable”, the Nat King complete the tailgating package, winning tickets will be drawn on Cole tribute at Governors State Omaha steaks.

For tickets, call Barb at 708Performing Arts, a gift certifiSaturday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m.

First Prize is a Las Vegas Pack- cate to Petey’s Bungalow in Oak 743-2621 or Sue at 1-630-738age for two including a three day, Lawn, a gift certificate to Greco’s 9100.

Heights Woman’s Club offers chances to win big prizes

LIBRARY NOTES Orland Park Library programs

Advent Labyrinth Walk

Supplied photo

The Center will host an Advent walk at the in-ground labyrinth on Monday Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. This walk around the labyrinth is designed to be a time to reflect upon the meaning of the Advent season. Advent literally means “coming” and it is the time of spiritual preparation awaiting the celebration of the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth. The walk will take place no matter what the weather. The Center is at 12700 Southwest Hwy, Palos Park. 708-361-3650

• Twitter Basics Computer Class– Dec. 9 at 11:30 a.m. Adults will learn to create an account and Tweet. Prerequisite: Email account.

• Buenas Noches Bedtime Storytime – Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. Children ages 4 and older with a parent or caregiver. Wear your pajamas and bring a stuffed animal.

• Book Appetit – Offsite book discussion hosted by the Orland Park Public Library – Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., at Granite City Food & Brewery, 14035 S. LaGrange Road, for a discussion of “Free Winds Blow West” by L.P. Holmes.

• Bright Starts Family Storytime– Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. Children of all ages with a parent or caregiver.

• Discovery Depot S.T.E.M. Crafts– Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. Children of all ages, drop in between 1-4 p.m. to explore, create or discover.

• Book Discussion – Dec 13 at 10 a.m. Adults can join to discuss, “Same Kind of Different as Me”

by Ron Hall.

Programs are free and don’t require registration. The library is at 14921 S. Ravinia Ave. Phone 428-5205.

Heights library upcoming programs • The Essential Christmas Carol – Sunday, Dec. 11, 2 p.m. Learn about the curious origins behind Supplied photo one of the most popular stories ever written, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” from storytellThe Presbyterian Church in Orland Park offers its own new Little Free Library on the church grounds, 13401 S. er William Pack. Then William Wolf Road, Orland Park. An outreach to the community, the Little Free Library stands in the southeast corner of Pack will perform a reading from the church’s parking lot (by the mailbox). All are welcome to check it out: Take a book, return a book. For more, Dickens’ only existing abridged reading copy, enhanced with a call 448-8142 or visit pcorlandpark.org.

Books for the borrowing

modern recreation of a magic lantern slide show popular during Dickens’ lifetime.

• The following clubs meet weekly at the Palos Heights Public Library: Needle Club – Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Scrabble Club – Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m.

Mah Jongg – Tuesdays from 1-4 p.m.

Contact the library to register for these programs at 708-448-1473 or visit the library’s website at www.palosheightslibrary.org. The Palos Heights Public Library is located at 12501 S. 71st Ave.

• Drop In Story Time-2 years and older — Stories, songs, and a craft at this drop in program this Friday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m.

No registration is needed.

• Holiday Special with Folksinger Anna Stange – this Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m., all ages.

Folksinger Anna Stange offers upbeat programs featuring traditional folk music to audiences all across the country. From ballads to

singalongs, Anna’s performances feature old favorites from American folk tradition and newer songs she’s written and some gathered along her travels. Anna sings songs for the whole family with a focus on fun. Kids can watch and listen to her accompany herself on guitar, banjo, mountain dulcimer, and simple folk instruments.

• Smart Art - Kids are invited to create fun art using chalk on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. Please register for this event.

• After School Club - Students in grades 1-3 are welcome to visit the library’s After School Club on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m.

Registration is advised.

• Teen Scene, 5th grade and up - Students in grades 5 and up are invited to participate with gift making on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. Registration is needed.

All programs are free and open to everyone at the Palos Heights Public Library, located at 12501 S. 71st Avenue in Palos Heights. For more information or to register for a program, visit www.palosheightslibrary.org, call 448-1473, or stop by the Youth Services desk.

Answers

Sudoku

Heights library youth programs

Puzzle on Page 9

Puzzle on Page 9

BUSINESS

8 Thursday, December 8, 2016

FINANCIAL FOCUS

The Regional News

Time for a year-end investment review With the holiday season upon us, you may well be busier than usual. However, by spending a few minutes reviewing your investment scenario of this past year, you can see where you’ve been, where you might be going, and what you need to do to keep moving forward toward your long-term financial goals.

So, as you look back at 2016, pay close attention to these elements of your investment picture: • Performance – Reviewing your investment performance over time is important in helping you determine if you’re on track to achieve your financial goals. So, in evaluating how your investments did in 2016, ask yourself some key questions: How did your investments do relative to their performance in past years? If there was a big difference, what might have accounted for it? Were your returns relevant to your long-term goals? In other words, if you have already established a return rate you’ll need to reach your goals — and you should indeed set such a rate — were your actual returns “on track” to help you make progress toward your objectives?

And, just as importantly, were your return expectations realistic, based on your investment mix and the market environment?

• Investment mix – If you are a diligent investor following a well-designed strategy, you probably started out in 2016 with an investment mix that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon, and shortand long-term goals. But over time, your investment mix can change, even without your having done so on purpose. If you owned a certain percentage of an asset, such as growth stocks, and those stocks appreciated in price substantially, they could take up a larger percentage of your portfolio than you had intended, thereby exposing you to a higher risk level than that with which you are comfortable. So now that the year is coming to a close, examine your investment mix to see if it needs “rebalancing.”

Jim Van Howe Edward Jones

• Contribution levels – Are you taking full advantage of your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan? Specifically, if you got a raise this past year, did you boost your contributions to your plan? The more you invest now, and throughout your working life, the less likely it will be that you have to play “catch up” in the years immediately preceding your retirement.

• Mistakes – We all make mistakes in every walk of life — including the way we invest. In looking back over 2016, can you spot some investment mistakes you might have made? Did you temporarily “bail out” on investing immediately after the “Brexit” vote, only to find, a few weeks later, that the markets had soared to record highs? Did you act on impulse and buy a so-called “hot” stock that turned out to be inappropriate for your needs and risk level? While mistakes like these might be costly in the short term, they can ultimately prove invaluable — if you learn from them.

We’re just about ready to turn the page on the 2016 calendar. So, as you review your investment decisions for the past year, try to determine what worked, what didn’t — and what you can do to improve your results in 2017.

Jim Van Howe is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Palos Heights. His office is at 7001 W. 127th St. He can be reached at 361-3400. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Community Care Program helps older adults remain in their homes The Community Care Program (CCP) helps persons, age 60 and over, live independently, in their own homes for as long as possible. Services available through this State of Illinois program include In- Home services, Adult Day Care and Emergency Home Response. There is no cost to eligible participants.

In order to begin the process, PLOWS sends a Care Coordinator to the senior’s home to determine eligibility for the program. After determining eligibility, the Care

Coordinator helps the client identify needs and sets up appropriate services.

The Illinois Department on Aging funds this program for individuals 60 or older who are U.S. citizens or legal aliens, have assets of $17,500 or less for a single person, not including home, car, or personal furnishings, and are determined physically in need of service, meaning the senior is at least moderately impaired. Asset guidelines for couples are more complex and are best evaluated

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.

Orland Park Van Huis Bryan to Pearson John, 8810 140th St, Unit #312, $124,000; Armia Joseph to Ali Mamoon, 11900 Greenfield Dr, $297,000; Stamatiou Dimitri to Nolan John, 10711 Maue Dr, $300,000; Freeman Christine M to Freeman Michael, 13749 85th Ave, $250,000; DHE II LLC to Flaherty Bldr Inc, 14421 Wolf Rd, $215,000; Flaherty Bldr Inc to Alamawi Rami, 14421 Wolf Rd, $973,000; Andrijauskas Regina to Liberis Eimutis, 13954 Stonehenge Dr,

$160,000; Heartland Bank & Trust Co to Kobza Marie Tr, 15414 S Harlem Ave, Unit #15414, $150,000; King Josephine M Tr to McDonough David M, 15714 Foxbend Ct, Unit #157141S, $141,000; Berst Lisa K to Lapinski Daniel, 14530 Woodland Dr, $250,000; Zambrano Miguel to Abdallah Nisreen, 7843 Hastings Dr, $435,000; Graffy William to Sierocki David J, 7504 Halasia Ct, $260,000; Tiggelaar Roy F to Turner Scott, 8926 Lori Ln, $262,000; Brown Celeste to Campagna Jean, 7330 154th Pl, Unit #567330, $133,000; Lail Laura M to Clark Susan A, 8135 Collette Ct, $220,000; Augle Chris M to Bartholomew Brian R, 10513 Timberline Ct, $489,000;

Mortgage Rates Around the Area First Midwest Bank (as of December 5)

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

RATES APR POINTS 4.125 4.160 0 3.375 3.430 0 4.125 4.170 0

United Trust Bank (as of December 5)

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

RATES APR POINTS 4.125 4.146 0 3.500 3.537 0 3.250 3.303 0

Prospect Federal (as of December 5)

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

RATES APR POINTS 4.125 4.186 .25 3.875 3.938 .25 3.375 3.438 .25

All rates subject to change daily. Equal opportunity lenders.

Photo by Bob Bong

The Primal Cut Steakhouse is coming soon to Tinley Park.

New steakhouse coming to Tinley Park A new steakhouse is under construction in the former home of Bogart’s Charhouse in Tinley Park.

The Primal Cut Steakhouse is coming soon to 17344 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, which most recently was home to El Coco Mio, a Latin American restaurant that closed in October.

El Coco Mio was a second restaurant for Juan-Carlos and Fanny Guzman who also operate Isabella’s Italian Ristorante down the street in downtown Tinley Park. Calls to Isabella’s were not returned.

On its Facebook page, Primal Cut said it would feature aged steaks that it would cut and age in-house.

Before it became El Coco Mio, the same site had been home to Casablanca’s Steakhouse. Images of Humphrey Bogart still adorn the restaurant’s front window.

Smoke shop closes in Justice

I-Smoke, an Oak Lawn-based smoke shop, has closed a second location it opened over the summer in southwest suburban Justice.

The Justice location at 8118 S. Roberts Road offered an assortment of smoke-related merchandise, including tobacco products, by a care coordinator. e-juice for e-cigarettes, vaporizers, Help is a phone call away. Se- hookah pipes and glass electronics. niors living in any suburban Cook It closed last week.

County town or portion of a town in the Townships of Palos, Lem- Toy store opens ont, Orland and Worth, or con- at River Oaks cerned family members, should B Toys Zone opened its third call the PLOWS Council on Aging toy store last month at River Oaks at 361-0219 for information. Se- Center in Calumet City.

The store is located next to niors living outside these townJCPenney and is open during ships can find their local agency mall hours. by calling the Illinois Senior Help It will celebrate with a grand Line at 1-800-262-8966. opening from noon to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 10. Guests will be able to meet and greet Batman and Elsa from “Frozen.” The characters will be supplied by “Party Like a Princess.”

The store also has locations inBrockway David to Sanchez side Ford City Mall and Chicago Thomas A, 15712 Orlan Brook Dr, Unit #152, $139,000; Abdullai Kimet to Olivares Alejandro, 7809 Sequoia Ct, $325,000.

BOB BONG Ridge Mall.

For information, visit its website at www.btoyszone.com.

Bank closes in Summit Chicago-based Byline Bank closed its branch last month at 7600 W. 63rd St. in Summit. Byline operates more than 65 branches including a dozen branches in the south suburbs.

Aspen Dental opens office in Orland Park Aspen Dental opened an office last week at 15894 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

The new dental office is led by Dr. Niveditha Rajagopalan, who received her degree at Midwestern University. The office will provide dental services ranging from dentures and preventive care to general dentistry and restoration.

The Orland Park office is one of 22 Aspen Dental practices in Illinois. The office will be open extended hours, including evenings and select Saturdays, so that patients can see the dentist at a time that works best for their schedule. Walk-in and emergency patients are welcome.

For information, call 708 7375325 or 800-277-3633 or visit www.aspendental.com.

Love’s Travel Stop to open in South Holland Love’s Travel Stop will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in South Holland.

The $9 million development at 1533 E. 162nd St. includes auto and diesel pumps, compressed natural gas fueling stations, a large convenience store, a tire and lube

shop and a Hardee’s restaurant.

Love’s Travel Stop was built on the site of the former Gibson Chevrolet.

They complex will employ about 65-70 people and will be open 24 hours a day.

Pie Five kicks off days of giving In celebration of its one-year anniversary in Chicago, Pie Five Pizza Co. is giving back to the local community with its “25 Days of Giving” program. The chain has a location in Oak Lawn.

From Dec. 1-25, the fast casual pizza restaurant known for its handcrafted pizzas prepared in five minutes or less will donate $1 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository for every entrée purchased at all Pie Five restaurants in the Chicago area.

“In the spirit of the holiday season, and Pie Five’s one-year anniversary in Chicago, we wanted to give back in a big way,” said Wendy Moats, Senior Vice President of Pie Five Pizza. “We believe no one should go to bed hungry, so we’re proud to support the Greater Chicago Food Depository in their continued mission of ending hunger in the Chicago community.”

Guests are also encouraged to bring in nonperishable canned food items to any of Pie Five’s Chicago-area restaurants.

These items will be delivered to the Greater Chicago Food Depository throughout the month of December.

“At a time of year where many of our neighbors in need are struggling to access the food they need for a healthy life, we are grateful for the generous support of Pie Five Pizza Company,” said Joan Chow, Chief Marketing Officer for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “Their donation will make a difference in many families’ lives.”

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

CAREER & BUSINESS

Palos Heights First Midwest Bk Tr to Stahl Brad A, 6508 W 126th Pl, $1,050,000; Nelson Erik R Sr to Ramanauskas Vytautas, 12422 S Richard Ave, $155,000; Wall Terrence to Speh Michael, 16 S Surrey Hill Ct, $409,000; Habich Emily K Extr to Cirrincione Salvatore, 12039 S 74th Ave, $234,000; Provenzano Susan M to Provenzano Susan M, 13155 Oak Ridge Trl, Unit #131552B, $155,000.

Trinity Christian College names VP of Advancement Trinity Christian College is pleased to announce that Rick VanDyken, Class of ’83, has been named Vice President of Advancement. He will serve as a member of the President’s Council and oversee the Office of Advancement.

VanDyken most recently served as general manager of Global Green Products in Palos Heights.

Previously, he served with the college from 1997-2014 as vice president for development and

executive associate to the president.

“Rick’s ability to develop friendships for the college and invite those friends to sup- Rick VanDyken port the good work being done here is precisely what we need,” said Trinity Christian College President Kurt D. Dykstra, J.D. “He has a long and significant involvement with Trinity: student, parent of students, supporter, senior employee, neighbor, and vice president.”

VanDyken said, “I’m thrilled to be coming back ‘home’ to Trinity, and I look forward to working with the community here in Palos Heights and beyond to support the vital, important mission of the College.”

He and wife Sue ’83 also spent six years in Jos, Nigeria, with Christian Reformed World Missions and eight years at Rehoboth Christian School among the Navajo people. VanDyken has a B.S. in Business Management from Trinity Christian College and an M.A. in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

The Regional News

Thursday, December 8, 2016

PHOTO MEMORIES FROM THE REGIONAL ARCHIVE

10 Years Ago This Week

File photo from Dec. 7, 2006

Kiwanis at work: The Kiwanis Club of Palos Heights held a pancake breakfast last month to raise funds to purchase a machine to help children with autism at Elim School. Through ticket sales, donations and matching Kiwanis funds, the club was half way toward the $4,375 goal for the cost of the machine. Shown doing kitchen duty are Gene Bruce (from left), Jim Baillie and Kiwanis President Al Kepka. Baillie’s daughter, who teaches autistic children, recommended a machine called the “Squeeze machine,” which gives comfort and has a calming effect on the children.

9

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Across 1 Victorian 5 Like much 67-Down 10 Bay of Bengal setting 14 Extinct pigeon relative 15 First name in puppetry 16 __ jar: lab glass 17 Hold banned in amateur wrestling 19 Take one’s leave 20 Make sure of 21 Stretched to the max 23 Reggae cousin 24 Premier League athlete 28 Apply gently 31 CBS-owned cable sta.

32 Pond gunk 33 Prefix with footprint 34 Pulls down 37 Winter pick-me-up?

40 Innocents 44 Mite-sized 45 “Tut-tut!”

46 Actress Tyler 47 Important stretches 50 Beef cut 51 Maple syrup source 52 Influential teams 57 Louisville Slugger wood 58 Comfy footwear 59 Jewish scholar 63 Swindle 65 April golf tournament, four of whose winners appear in 17-, 24-, 40- and 52-Across 68 Movie plantation 69 Sea-born jewelry material 70 “Right now!”

71 Song and dance 72 Urgency 73 Snoopy Down 1 Sharable digital docs

2 Libertine 3 Onetime Palin collaborator 4 Feathers one’s nest, in a way 5 Full of: Suff.

6 Gp. with Sharks and Penguins 7 Decorator’s asset 8 Cheering like crazy 9 Hangers in lockers?

10 Justice Fortas 11 Figures in 9-Down 12 “Very nice!”

13 A proposal may ultimately lead to one 18 Lasso loops 22 Dr. Mom’s forte 25 Spiced tea brewed in milk 26 Toe woes 27 Mustang, for one 28 Chapter 11 factor 29 Berry in faddish supplements 30 Star of a classic sitcom set at a Vermont inn

35 Imprecise degree 36 Like provolone piccante 38 1998 Sarah McLachlan ballad 39 Initial request for an answer?

41 Bront’ heroine 42 German actor Jannings 43 Some outdoor grills 48 Slot machine part 49 __ tape 52 Macaroni Grill selection 53 Acting honor 54 Golfer Lorena 55 AOLers, e.g.

56 “Paradise Lost” figure 60 Spanish smooch 61 Lingerie catalog buys 62 Car trip game 64 Some advanced degs.

66 Floor pad 67 Part of IPA (Answers on page 7)

SUDOKU 10 Years Ago This Week

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers.

Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

File photo from Dec. 7, 2006

Palos Park police cadets are holding a holiday food drive for the needy to help supply the Worth Food pantry with canned goods and other non-perishable food. Shown are cadets Ross Chibe (from left), Matt Baca and Frank Slabenak. The food pantry [now based at Palos United Methodist Church] is part of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Residents may drop off donations at the Palos Park police station during regular business hours. The station is at 8999 W. 123rd St. [The cadets are still holding the food drive this year through Jan. 1 for the Palos Township food pantry. They will even pick up donations, Police Commissioner Dan Polk said last month. Call 671-3770.]

(Answers on page 7)

Photo by Joe Boyle

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

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

We had readers contribute responses this week, but we only had a couple of right answers. We would have accepted Mother McAuley High School, 3737 W. 99th St., Chicago. The all-girls Catholic high school borders Evergreen Park and the all-male Brother Rice High School and St. Xavier University.

Evergreen Park resident Elllen Reddington knew it was Mother McAuley, which last month won their 15th state volleyball championship. Oak Lawn resident Steve Rosenbaum was even more specific.

He knew it was the Sisters of Mercy Chapel at Mother McAuley.

10 Years Ago This Week

File photo from Dec. 7, 2006

In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas: Palos Heights rung in the holidays last Friday night with the city’s annual tree-lighting celebration at the Palos Heights Fire Protection District Station One, 123rd Street and Harlem Avenue, in the heart of the city’s central business district. [The annual tree-lighting was moved to Lake Katherine and held Nov. 25 this year, but Santa Claus was back around the firehouse last Friday and Saturday for the second Holidays on Harlem celebration.]

LIFESTYLE

10 Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Regional News

Christmastime by the books

Supplied photo

One of the homes on the Palos Heights Woman’s Club’s annual Christmas Walk. Tickets are still available by phone.

Christmas Walk: last chance to buy tickets, order by phone It is not too late to purchase tickets for the Palos Heights Woman’s Club annual Christmas Walk being held on this Saturday, Dec. 10.

Tickets are no longer available at Mona Lisa Boutique, but people can call Rose at 708-945-6254 to reserve a spot.

A full, hot breakfast is served at the Palos Country Club starting at 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The holiday Boutique with special vendors

will be open from 8:30 to 12:30. . There will be the popular WinWin raffle, where you win a prize worth at least as much as the cost of the tickets; the gift basket raffle filled with special items; and the sale of homemade cookies. From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., five local homes decorated for the holidays will be open for viewing.

To finish this fun-filled day, Bon A Pit Restaurant on 122nd

Photos courtesy Jeannine Kacmar

Stagg High School Choir Director Chris Betz directs the Madrigal Singers performing at the 12 annual Christmastime in Palos event at the Palos Heights Public Library on Saturday.

and Harlem is offering $5 martinis and reducing their appetizers $2 from 2 to 7 p.m. to participants of the walk.

This is the club’s main fundraiser for the 2016-2017 club year.

Proceeds go to local charities and scholarships for Stagg and Shepard High Schools and a returning woman scholarship to Moraine Valley Community College.

Library Director Jesse Blazek is shown with Library Board President Susan Snow and the Friends of the Library President Bill Poore at the Christmastime in Palos holiday extravaganza sponsored by the Friends of the Library and First Midwest Bank.

Christmas concerts at Marist

Library Director Jesse Blazek and members of the Friends of the Library are joined by Santa & Mrs. Claus to kick off the Christmastime in Palos celebration.

Supplied photo

Marist High School’s band will hold its annual Christmas concerts this Saturday, December 10, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 11, at 3:00 p.m. in the main gym. The group will perform many holiday arrangements that will set the mood for this joyous season, along with several Christmas classics. Tickets for the Christmas concert are $5 at the door. For more information call 773-881-5362. Enter the school, 4200 W. 115th St., at the main gym doors at the east end of the building.

Palos Heights city officials led by Mayor Bob Straz sing Christmas carols along with Stagg High School’s Madrigal Singers and an enthusiastic crowd at the Christmastime in Palos celebration.

Supplied photo

Greg Weiss reads from “A Christmas Carol” before and after a traditional Christmas dinner at The Center.

The Center will serve yuletide Bob Cratchit Candlelight Dinner In the tradition of Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol,” The Center will serve a turkey and plum pudding dinner this Sunday Dec. 11, from 5:15 to 9 p.m., just as Tiny Tim’s family did in merry old England.

Both before and after dinner, storyteller/drama teacher Greg Weiss will read from Dickens’ classic tale of the Christmas spirits visiting Ebenezer

Scrooge.

The tradition of reading “A Christmas Carol” at The Center dates back to the 1930s, and in the 1980s dinner was added.

Dinner tickets are $35 per person and are limited in number. Reservations required. Please reserve early. The Center is at 12700 Southwest Hwy, Palos Park. Call 708-361-3650

Supplied photo

Palos 118’s Santa’s Secret Shop at Holiday Market

Palos School District’s Parent Faculty Association (PFA) held its annual Santa’s Secret Shop this year in conjunction with Palos Park’s Holiday Market last Friday evening at the Palos Park Recreation Center. Eighth grader Anika Sagle and other Palos South students became Santa’s assistants as they helped younger children like Palos East second-grader Simon Gallovitch and his sister Vivienne, a kindergartner at Montessori, select gifts for their loved ones.

SPORTS The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, December 2016 Thursday, March 5,8,2015

Vorva,Sports SportsEditor Editor••sports@regionalpublishing.com sports@regionalpublishing.com KenJeff Karrson,

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

Great on land and in water

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Dylan Jacobs of Sandburg, who had the 17th-best time in state competition history, is the Reporter/Regional’s Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

April van Ryn was the top area placer in state competition, claiming fifth in Class 1A and was named the Reporter/Regional Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

April van Ryn Chicago Christian

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

Chicago Christian senior cross country runner April van Ryn beat the heat in the summer and beat a lot of runners in the fall.

Even though she has been running seriously for only two years, she finished 28th in the Illinois High School Association Class 1A race last year. Missing all-state by three spots fueled her desire, and the Tinley Park resident did a lot of running in the summer to get ready for the fall.

“I would get up around 6 a.m. and run,” she said. “It’s run and then it’s done, and the is not that bad.’’

Girls Cross Country heat This year, she moved Runner of the Year up more than 20 spots and finished fifth in the state — the highest finish by an area runner — and for the second year she has been named the Reporter/Regional Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

She covered the Detweiller Park course at the state tournament in a personal-best 17 minutes, 30 seconds while helping the Knights to a sixth-place state finish.

Van Ryn began the season opening a lot of eyes as she knocked off two-time Class 1A runner-up Daly Galloway of Gardner South Wilmington, 18:48-19:31, at the Morris Early Bird Invite in August.

The two met again at the Bishop McNamara Regional on Oct. 22 and Galloway won, 17:30-18:05, as the two finished first and second.

The following week, at the Lisle Sectional, van Ryn ran 18 minutes, 32 seconds — nine seconds ahead of Galloway, as the two finished first and second again.

Galloway finally evened things up at the state meet Nov. 5 as she finished third with a 17:23 and van Ryn was two spots behind with the 17:30.

Both Galloway and van Ryn were well behind four-time champ Anna Sophia Keller of Effingham St. Anthony, who ran the course in 16:32.

“She’s kind of the one to chase,” said van Ryn. “She kind of went out of sight after the first mile. Then it was settle into your own pace. I was just focused on staying with the leaders and seeing what I could do in the second and third mile.”

By Jeff Vorva

Dylan Jacobs • Sandburg Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year

Sports Editor

When Dylan Jacobs got tired of playing soccer while he was at Jerling Junior High School, his parents urged him to find another sport.

So he tried running.

It was a pretty smart choice.

The Sandburg junior is now being mentioned in the same breath with such Eagles legends as Tom Graves and Lukas Verzbicas after finishing third in the Illinois High School Association Class 3A state meet. He clocked a time of 14 minutes, 10 seconds at Peoria’s Detweiller Park in what some are calling the fastest race in state history.

His time was 17th best in state championship history despite finishing behind Mi-

nooka’s Soren Knudsen (14:02) and Lyons’ Danny Kilrea (14:08). Knudsen is a senior, but Kilrea is also a junior so a Jacobs/Kilrea battle could be on tap multiple times in 2017.

Jacobs claimed regional and sectional titles as well, and he has been named the Reporter/ Regional’s Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. This is the second year the honor has been given, as Sandburg’s Sean Torpy was the inaugural winner in 2015.

As for that sport Jacobs gave up in grade school?

“I miss soccer a little bit, but I like this a lot,” Jacobs said.

Even though this honor is bestowed for his running during the high school season, he is also shining at the Midwest level and qualified for two national meets in recent weeks.

The Eagles finished 10th this season after taking second in 2014 and winning the state championship for the first time in school history in 2015. Jacobs missed a chunk of the postseason last year with a hamstring injury.

When he returned to active duty this season, it was a different atmosphere.

“We had a lot of team goals, but there were also some individual goals as well this year,” he said. “It was definitely a different experience. I was more of a leader. We have a lot of young guys on our top seven and they need to learn how to prepare for big races because they will be doing it for a lot of years to come.’’

Eva Kelly • Mother McAuley

By Jeff Vorva

Mother McAuley sophomore Eva Kelly shot up from 48th to ninth in state diving.

She has been named the Reporter/Regional Girls Swimmer of the Year.

Sports Editor

The Foo Fighters flew up the music charts in 1999 with their single “Learn to Fly.’’ Seventeen years later, Mother McAuley sophomore diver Eva Kelly used that song, along with a of counGirls Swimmer bevy try songs, as of the Year her pump-up music before she dove.

She also flew up the charts.

Kelly, who has been diving seriously for just two years, finished 48th in the Illinois High School Association State Swimming and Diving meet in 2015, but this year she zoomed up to No. 9 with a 395.55 in November in Evanston. She was the highest area placer and has been named the Reporter/Regional’s second Girls Swimmer of the Year.

Last year, Sandburg’s Claire Lawlor won the first honor.

“I was not expecting what I did last year or this year at all,” Kelly said. “It’s been an exciting year.’’

In the first round of the 2016 meet, the Beverly resident scored a 183.80, good for 13th place, narrowly making the 17-diver cut. In

Photo by Jeff Vorva

the semifinals, her score was 305.10, which launched her into sixth place and guaranteed her a spot in the championship round.

What made it even more special was that one of the fans who was watching the championship event was Erika Murphy, who holds McAuley’s best diving finish at eighth place in the state in 2010.

“She was very supportive and I’m happy I got a chance to meet her,” Kelly said.

Mighty Macs diving coach PJ Murphy, who has either been diving or coaching since 1980, said that most of the top finishers in the

state meet have been diving for a lot longer than Kelly.

“She has progressed a lot faster than anyone I have coached,” Murphy said. “She’s very competitive but she is having fun doing it. I stress that if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing. If you are having fun, you are going to get better at it. I would say 98 percent of her success comes from her desire, determination and drive.’’

During the offseason she said she will hone her skills at the University of Illinois-Chicago, working with coach Susan Bromberg.

More runners and swimmers excelled this year

By Jeff Vorva

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

The three Players of the Year honored above are outstanding area athletes in cross country and swimming.

But there are others who picked up recognition for qualifying in Illinois High School Association state competition. Here is a list of those standouts:

The Sandburg team qualified in Class 3A and Brother Rice in 2A. For Sandburg, Dylan Jacobs, Martin Skucas, Robbie Sieczkowski, Nico Calderon and Alex Szymanski scored points.

Jacobs and Skucas were named all-state.

For Brother Rice, Steve Sloan, Tommy Gleeson, Dan Spellman, Joe Sweeney and Justin Frias scored points.

Sports Editor

NEXT WEEK: We reveal our football and volleyball players of the year.

Individually, Shepard’s Caleb Washington qualified in Class 3A and was named all-state.

Individually, Marist’s Maryclare Leonard and Colleen Murphy qualified along with Shepard’s Kelly Callahan.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

GIRLS SWIMMING

Chicago Christian’s team qualified in Class 1A. April van Ryn, Jill Van Dyk, Allie Boss, Cassidy VanderKamp and Emily Damstra scored for the Knights and van Ryn made all-state.

Individual state qualifiers were Mother McAuley’s Eva Kelly, Stagg’s Claire Van Dame, Tina Juronis, Lauren Johnson and Megan Vallance, as well as Sandburg’s Marilyn Sedlak, Isabelle Wrobel and Rachel Apter.

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2

Section 2 Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Regional News - The Reporter

FOCUS ON TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Trolls claim second NCCAA title in three years with wild win

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

It doesn’t get much closer or more nail-biting than this.

The Trinity Christian College women’s volleyball team was not too far away from the Disney-themed amusement parks and it’s doubtful the Trolls could have had a wilder ride than they had in the Kissimmee Civic Center in Florida.

The Trolls won their second National Christian College Athletic Association title in three years after nipping Campbellsville (Ky.) 25-17, 25-27, 25-17, 22-25, 15-13 on Saturday.

The Trolls had five kills, an ace serve, and two blocks in the first part of the fifth set to take an 8-4 lead. Campbellsville

roared back and closed the gap to 11-10.

The Trolls (who finished the season with a 31-15 mark) held a 14-13 lead and Danielle Oeverman put an end to the marathon match with a kill. Oeverman and Rachel Verhage each had 16 kills and Tori Mantel had 44 assists.

Kacie Stoll, a sophomore who attended Timothy Christian High School, was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and Trolls coach Bill Schepel was named Coach of the Year.

The Trolls, who were seeded fourth in the eight-team tournament, finished 2-1 in pool play, which included a four-set loss to No. 1 Colorado Christian. They were able to recover to win a

five-set match over third-seeded Oklahoma Baptist University in the semifinals, 25-23, 26-24, 2125, 22-25, 15-11, on Friday.

Stoll had 21 kills and six blocks while Verhage added 14 kills and Tina Massey 10. Oeverman had five kills to put her over 1,000 kills for her career.

The Trolls caught a break when Campbellsville knocked off Colorado Christian, 17-25, 25-15, 25-23, 22-25, 19-17, in another crazy semifinal on Friday.

Women’s soccer: The Trolls women’s soccer team also was in Kissimmee for the NCCAA national championship. TCC dropped a 1-0 decision to Oklahoma Baptist on Nov. 30 to close its season at 11-7-1.

The third-seeded Trolls

Submitted photo

Trinity Christian College team members dispay the NCCAA national championship banner on Saturday.

opened the tourney with a 7-0 win over No. 7 Cincinnati Christian University. Kayla Di-

emer had a pair of goals and two assists. Jessica Bianchi added two goals. Sierra Christopher

and Lindsey Dykema were the Trolls goalies who registered the shutout.

BIG TEN’S BIG DECISION TO PLAY FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Area coaches say scouting and visits could be reduced

By Frank Gogola Correspondent

Photo by Jeff Vorva

SXU’s Sarah Vozel (right) and St. Francis’s Angelica Osusky got close last season after hitting the deck in a game in Joliet. The two teams are tied for third in the nation in NAIA Division II and will face each other Jan. 7 in Chicago.

FOCUS ON AREA COLLEGE SPORTS

Rivals SXU and USF both ranked 3rd in nation

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

The campuses of St. Xavier University and the University of St. Francis in Joliet are 35 miles apart.

But in the rankings, the two Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foes are much closer than that.

The rivals are both ranked third in the nation in NAIA Division II coaches’ poll, which was released Nov. 29. SXU was ranked sixth in the nation in the preseason poll and won its first seven games, including a convincing 93-72 victory over ranked Davenport (Michigan) on Nov. 12.

St. Francis was ranked fifth in

the preseason polls and peeled off six victories to open the season and also moved up to third.

The Cougars host St. Francis on Jan. 7 at the Shannon Center.

Other CCAC teams in the rankings are Purdue Northwest (15th), Cardinal Stritch (16th) and Olivet Nazarene (25th). Dakota Wesleyan of South Dakota is first in the rankings while Marian (Ind.) is second.

The Cougars improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the CCAC on Saturday with a 79-45 road victory over Governors State University. Junior Kara Krolicki had 23 points and freshman Maddie Welter added 20. Brittany Collins hauled down 12 rebounds.

Men’s basketball: Former

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BEARS GAMES ON SUNDAYS

Brother Rice sharpshooter Quinn Niego nailed a 3-point basket with six seconds left to help the Cougars nip Governors State, 81-79, in a road victory on Saturday. Freshman Keating Rombach added 16 points and had five assists and two blocked shots.

The Cougars, who dropped out of the top 25 last week after opening the season ranked 22nd, improved to 4-6 overall and 3-2 in the CCAC.

Moraine Valley Women’s basketball: The National Junior College Athletic Association polls were scheduled to come out this week and Moraine Valley was hoping to earn a spot in the national rankings by starting the season 9-1.

The one loss came Thursday in a 69-67 loss to Triton. Michelle Borgen had 30 points and 11 rebounds and Erin Drynan added 11 points, 24 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Two days earlier, the Cyclones beat Kennedy-King, 83-58.

Drynan returned from missing three games with a knee injury to score 23 points, including 19 in the third quarter — which is a Cyclones record since women’s college basketball went to a four-quarter format last year.

“I’ve had some players not even score 19 points in their career and Erin came off an injury and had 19 in one quarter,” MVCC coach Delwyn Jones said.

Borgen had 21 points and 11 rebounds while Ashley Carroll had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Photos of the Kennedy-King game can be found on page 4.

Men’s basketball: The Cyclones lost a 91-71 decision to Kennedy-King on Nov. 29 as Northern Illinois University recruit Tommy Demogerontas had 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists and Jordan Radlif added 18 points. Joe Ruzevich chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Richards football coach Tony Sheehan usually has several hours to rest after he heads home after coaching Friday night games. He’ll flip on college football — usually a Pac12 or Mountain West game — before a brief sleep and a return to school for Saturday morning film review.

College football on Friday nights isn’t a new phenomenon, but it’s been a topic of discussion around the Midwest since the Big Ten announced it will play Friday night games beginning next season. Area coaches see the decision by the Big Ten negatively impacting recruiting and having a neutral effect on attendance.

“As a player, I loved playing on Saturday mornings in college,” said St. Laurence football coach Harold Blackmon, who played at Northwestern.

“I wouldn’t trade that for the world. This seems a little awkward to have to play on a Friday night as a college student.”

High school players will feel the biggest impact, Sheehan and Blackmon believe.

The number of opportunities decreases for a Big Ten coach to scout a high school game or for a player to make a visit to a Saturday college game. It’s one less potential contact for players looking to secure an offer.

Blackmon said he has no is-

Sheehan

Blackmon

sue with the Big Ten going after TV exposure and money. But, as a traditionalist, he’d like to see Fridays reserved for high school football. It’s a sentiment shared by Sheehan.

“I understand they’re trying to get more people to watch,” Sheehan said. “But at the same time, Friday night is supposed to be high school. You know, ‘Friday Night Lights’ … I just liked that Friday night is high school football and is revered for that.”

Big Ten teams will play six Friday night games per year over the next six seasons as part of a new television agreement. The games will be confined to September and October. The Big Ten previously played Friday games only on Labor Day weekend.

In Illinois, the Illini will host Nebraska on Sept. 29. Northwestern will travel to Maryland on Oct. 13 and will host Michigan State on Oct. 27.

There were 65 Friday night college games across the country during the 2016 season, according to a Big Ten news release. A schedule search showed all 10 conferences had teams playing on a Friday at least once.

“It’s just a trend,” Blackmon said. “And I think it’s this oversaturation of football on the collegiate and pro level.”

Sheehan and Blackmon don’t expect the Big Ten playing on Friday to affect attendance at their schools or others in the area. Northwestern is one hour away, while Illinois is a twohour drive. Neither team is a perennial contender.

“This won’t destroy high school football on Fridays,” Blackmon said. “Most of your fans are students who don’t play football. They’re not as interested in Big Ten football as you’d like to think.”

Added Sheehan: “With phones and tablets, they can watch part of the game or get updates (while at a high school game) if they’re that interested.”

Even if a handful of fans remain home, Steve Smithers, first-year Marist athletic director, doesn’t see football gate receipts being severely lessened.

That $5 ticket, $2 hot dog and $1 coffee add up to support football and non-revenue sports. But, Smithers said gate receipts haven’t so far been as big a budgetary issue at Marist (enrollment: 1,655) as compared to the smaller Rock Island Alleman Catholic (enrollment: 448), where he worked from 2005 to 2016.

“There are probably enough fans to go around,” Smithers said. “So, I’m sure after the dust settles we’ll all be OK.”

FOCUS ON AREA SPORTS

Jacobs wins All-American honor at Nike; Foot Locker next

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

One All-American honor down and one to go.

Sandburg junior Dylan Jacobs finished in 19th place — good for a spot on the All-American team — in the Nike Cross Nationals Saturday at the Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland Oregon, covering the muddy, hilly course in 16 minutes.

Jacobs was third among Illinois runners behind Lyons Township’s Danny Kilrea (13th place) and Grayslake Central’s Jack Aho (17th).

The Eagles runner will try to make it two-fortwo on Saturday when he runs in the Foot Locker National Championship at Balboa Park in San Diego.

Zaccone shines at Anderson Invite

With his fourth-place finish in the state at 106 pounds as a freshman, Stagg’s Domenic Zaccone figured to be one of the area most promising underclassmen this season.

He is on a hot streak and racked up three pins at 113 en route to the title and Outstanding Wrestler honors at Stagg’s Dave Anderson Invitational on Saturday in Palos Hills.

Stagg finished second in the tournament to Crown Point, Ind., and had a second champion in Noah Price at 132. Chargers coach Brian Jackson also had Josh Gentry (138) and Peter Radev (160) take second.

Bowling them over

Sandburg’s boys bowling team won the Oak

Forest Invitational on Saturday with a 6,242 at Oak Forest Bowl. Sophomore lefty Cameron Crowe, a SouthWest Suburban Conference, regional and sectional champ as a freshman, won the individual title with a 1,512 in six games.

Chicago Christian took second place in the 18-team IC Catholic Invitational at the Brunswick Zone in Glendale Heights. Junior Matt McCarthy finished 12th with a 594 three-game series, while senior Colin Schaafsma took 16th with a 578.

Knocking them over

For the second year in a row, Indiana University’s Dan Feeney, an offensive lineman from Sandburg, was knocking defensive opponents all over the field and was named first-team All-Big Ten. The senior is the fourth OL in school history to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons.

CBS Sports projects the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Feeney as the 24th best prospect in the 2017 NFL draft and the second-best offensive lineman.

Top 40

Former Stagg runner Declan McDonnell finished 39th out of 6,174 runners at the California International Marathon Sunday in Sacramento.

He ran the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds.

McDonnell is a Palos Park native who is a volunteer assistant track and cross country coach at the University of Minnesota.

FOCUS ON COMMUNITY SPORTS

St. Alexander wins a pair of Catholic Grade School Conference football titles The St. Alexander football teams won two championships in the Catholic Grade School Conference.

The varsity football team, led by coach Tom Hardiman, with assistants Bob Carroll, Mike Coogan and Kevin Wagner, beat Our Lady of the Ridge 43-12 in November at St. Laurence High School to claim the crown.

The JV team, led by coach Jim Bettinardi, with assistants Tim Allison, Mark Antkiewicz, Kevin Monahan, Chris Montell and Jeff Obradovich, also won the cham-

pionship by beating Infant Jesus of Prague 26-0.

The JV team is comprised of fourth-, fifthand sixth-grade boys and the varsity team is comprised of seventh- and eighth-grade boys.

OL baseball and softball teams accepting registration

Oak Lawn Baseball & Softball registration is currently available online and accepting payment for the 2017 spring season. Visit oaklawnbaseball.com for more details.

Registration is open for girls and boys

ages 4-18.

PBO registration open

Registration for the 2017 Palos baseball season is open. This is a way to take advantage of early-bird prices and signup. PBO offers an in-house program with the opportunity to play additional part-time travel baseball.

Visit the PBO website for more details.

— We welcome community news at sports@ regionalpublising.com

The Regional News - The Reporter

Thursday, December 8, 2016 Section 2

3

AREA HOOPS AT A GLANCE BOYS

John Contant and his Stagg teammates visit Sandburg Friday night in a SouthWest Suburban Blue contest. Stagg entered the week with a 4-2 mark and Sandburg was 5-1.

Brother Rice Chicago Christian Evergreen Park Marist Oak Lawn Richards Sandburg Shepard Stagg St. Laurence

W-L STREAK 5-1 W2 2-4 W1 4-2 L1 4-0 W4 2-3 L1 4-1 W1 5-1 W2 3-2 L1 4-2 W1 1-5 L1

NEXT hosts St. Francis De Sales, Fri.; hosts Lake View, Tues. hosts Guerin Prep, Fri. at Thornton Fractional North, Fri. hosts Carmel, Fri.; hosts RedHawk Tourn. Mon.; at Mt. Carmel, Tues. at Tinley Park, Fri. at Bremen, Fri. hosts Stagg, Fri.; hosts St. Ignatius Sat. at Lemont, Fri. at Sandburg, Fri.; hosts Lemont, Tues. at Mt. Carmel, Fri.

* Records through Sunday, Dec. 4

Photo by Jeff Vorva

GIRLS Chicago Christian Evergreen Park Marist Mother McAuley Oak Lawn Queen of Peace Richards Sandburg Shepard Stagg

5-1 5-2 8-0 6-1 3-3 8-0 3-2 1-6 2-4 3-3

W5 W5 W8 W2 W2 W8 L2 L2 L2 L3

at St. Edward, Thurs.; at Bremen, Tues. hosts Thornton Fractional North, Thurs. at Young Shootout vs. Harvest Christian, Fri. at Young vs. S. Shore, Sat.; at H-F vs. King, Sun.; at LZ vs. R.Meadows, Tues. hosts Tinley Park, Friday; hosts tournament Sat., Mon. and Wed. at Regina, Thurs.; hosts Reavis, Mon. hosts Bremen, Thurs.; hosts De La Salle, Tues. at Lyons, Thurs.; at Oak Lawn Tourn., Sat., Mon. and Wed.; hosts Stagg, Tues. hosts Lemont, Thurs.; hosts Plainfield North, Tues. at Oak Forest, Sat.; at Sandburg, Tues.

* Records through Sunday, Dec. 4

— Compiled by Anthony Nasella

Boers loses the jerk act for a most Aching Catledge dishes out some pain riveting retirement announcement FOCUS ON BOYS BASKETBALL

By Phil Arvia Correspondent

Oak Forest coach Matt Manzke minced zero words Friday, a few minutes before his Bengals tipped off against host Richards and two-time Regional/Reporter Player of the Year Jaylan Catledge.

“He might be the most athletic high school kid I’ve ever seen as a high school coach,” Manzke said. “He just goes to the basket like no one I’ve ever seen — and he makes his free throws. I can’t remember a guy as strong and as athletic as him.

“Everything we’re doing tonight is to try to neutralize him.”

For three quarters, it worked, as a frustrated Catledge — who came in averaging 24 points per game — had just one field goal and five points. But, behind his 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, the host Bulldogs put down the upset-minded Bengals, 50-44, in a South Suburban Conference crossover game.

Sean Willis and Arrin Westbrook added eight points for the Bulldogs (4-1 1-0), who struggled mightily when Catledge missed nearly five minutes after hurting his right ankle late in the first quarter. But the Bengals (1-4, 0-1) were already under his skin, forcing him into two turnovers in the first four minutes.

“I played them last year — it’s never easy with them,” Catledge said. “The most frustrating part was me catching the ball and every time they’re slapping me, it ends up being a jump ball.”

Still, the Bulldogs were up 11-9 when Oak Forest’s Charles Finch careened through the lane for a layup, landing in a heap with Catledge.

“He rolled over my foot and my ankle went,” Catledge, after exiting the locker room on crutches and with his foot wrapped in ice, said. “At first, the pain hurt so much … then I got it taped and it felt decent.”

For a span of 5:23, all but 37 seconds of that without Catledge, the Bulldogs went scoreless and fell behind 18-11.

They’d not see the lead again until the fourth quarter, when Willis hit a 3-pointer to put Richards up 29-28.

Catledge, on his way to game highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds, scored Richards’ next nine points, but a floater from Bishop Liggins (9 points) put Oak Forest up 39-38 with 1:21 left in regulation.

Fifty-five seconds later, Rico Griffin nailed a baseline 3-pointer that Richards coach Chris Passafiume called, “Probably the biggest shot of his life.”

“Oak Forest is extremely well-coached, and they did a great job junking up the defense (against Catledge),” Passafiume added. “But we figured they were going to stay in the boxand-one at the end of regulation, and they did.

“Rico went downstate for us in the 3-point shooting contest last year. … When the zone shifted and we got the kick-out, he shot it with confidence.”

Though Oak Forest’s Jake Jones (15 points, 11 rebounds) would tie it with a pair of free throws at the :07 mark, Catledge hitting 7-of-8 free throws in the overtime put the game away.

“Sometimes, other guys need to be ready to step up,” Passafiume said. “But some good teams will defer to their star player. When Jaylan went out, the guys were sort of looking around going, ‘Who’s going to be that guy?’”

As it turned out, a certain

erry Boers took time out of his busy schedule of calling people “asswipes” and “steaming piles of crap” to break down and cry.

The longtime voice on WSCR, a sports talk radio station in Chicago, announced his retirement on Nov. 29 in a 15-minute segment that found him choking up and having a hard time finishing his thoughts.

It was captivating and riveting radio.

Boers, an Orland Park resident, has honed his trade over the years of being a jerk announcer very well the past quarter century. He and his partner, Dan Bernstein, have perfected the art of antagonizing people and pushing their buttons.

And they have been pretty successful at it. They have their fans and they have their haters. They Boers poke fun at people and sometimes are a little cruel in their bile and cross the line. I never cared for the cruel way they poked fun at Ron Santo, someone I knew personally.

Boers has been in lousy health in 2016 and, while he said he was mulling retirement before multiple surgeries for an undisclosed illness, he definitely showed his human side when he made his emotional announcement. He dropped the jerk act to show emotion from the heart.

Reaction to his retirement was mostly supportive on social media, but there are some who crowed and are glad he is leaving. Karma was mentioned more than once.

When you constantly insult the public the way he has done, you open the door for that.

But let’s remember this. The jerk act was just that — an act.

Away from the microphone, Boers is a husband, father and grandfather. He has lived in the south suburbs for years, including a threeyear stint in Orland Park and a longer time in Mokena, and is back in Orland Park. So he is one of us.

I knew Bernstein when we covered the Bears back in the Dave Wannstedt era and he

T

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Richards’ Jaylan Catledge, pictured facing Marist earlier this year, scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and OT in a victory over Oak Forest on Friday.

6-foot-5 senior would find a way to be that guy, again.

“I had to fight through the pain a little bit,” Catledge said.

“I was just happy we came out with the win.”

Vikings win one without the coach

St. Laurence entered Friday’s game with Solorio Academy with an 0-4 mark, and the team was missing its head coach, Jim Maley, due to illness.

Assistant Jim Sexton stepped in and the Vikings pulled off a 68-57 victory in Burbank.

“I found out Thursday afternoon that I would be filling in, but I felt very well-prepared” said Sexton, a former Brother Rice star. “(This win) is a big momentum swing for us.”

The game came down to the final three minutes when Solorio came within five points of the Vikings. In need of a big defensive stand, St. Laurence senior Christian Ferrer stepped up with steals on consecutive Solorio possessions that led to points on the other end. By the 2:00 mark, the Vikings saw their lead back to double-digits.

“Defense is definitely one of my strong suits,” said Ferrer. “But our coaches made adjustments all throughout the game and we just followed through with them. (Our coaches) were able to get us a win in the end.”

Senior Justin Wierzgac a St. Linus graduate from Oak Lawn, and sophomore Lance Jackson contributed 22 and 20 points, respectively, to shoulder much of the scoring load on the evening.

“My teammates have been putting me in the position to score all season,” said Wierzgac. “My role is to put the ball in the hoop, but they do all of the little things to help make that possible.”

Hinsdale tourney pairings released

Officials for the 16-team Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic released the tournament pairings Sunday. Richards will take on Rockford Auburn at 3:45 p.m. Dec. 27. The winner takes on the Homewood-Flossmoor vs. St. Viator winner at 7 p.m.

Dec. 28. The loser takes on the H-F vs. St. Viator loser at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 28.

Other teams in the tournament include Marian Catholic, St. Charles East, Stevenson, Bolingbrook and DePaul Prep.

— St. Laurence’s Mike Madera and Sports Editor Jeff Vorva contributed to this report.

Submitted photo

St. Laurence’s Justin Wierzgac tries to get around a Solorio player on Friday night.

JEFF VORVA Making the Extra Point seemed to be a good guy — different than his current on-air persona. His smarter-than-everyone shtick rubs people the wrong way, but you have to admit he’s pretty intelligent and when he is not performing the jerk act is pretty thoughtful.

Taking unpopular stances, tearing down sports icons and belittling callers is just a part of their show. Their goal is to entertain and inform, and if you get these two guys hooked up with an expert in a sport, you learn things.

I prefer to hear them talk college football with someone like Gary DiNardo rather than labeling a caller a “cretin’’ It’s hard for people to separate the real men from the jerk act.

Bernstein is willing to share some of his family life and funny stories about being a husband and father more than Boers. For the most part, Boers kept that stuff off the air and only showed a human side in small doses.

During his retirement announcement, it spilled over like a bursting dam.

The Boers and Bernstein show is known for comedy, and even Boers’ tearful goodbye had an accidental slice of humor when a couple of times the ringer of his cellphone (a yell from singer James Brown) went off in the background.

Boers will be on the air — when he is healthy enough — until early January, when the station turns 25.

After that, who knows? It’s likely the last we will hear from him.

I didn’t always like what he said or did. But while he was on the air, I listened.

And so did countless others.

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Section 2 Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Regional News - The Reporter

Images from a basketball doubleheader with the King

Above: Moraine Valley’s Tommy Demogerontas, a Northern Illinois University recruit, relaxes and watches the women’s game before taking on Kennedy-King. Right: Diamond Dortch races down the court during Moraine Valley’s victory over Kennedy-King on Nov. 29.

Left: Moraine Valley and Kennedy-King players get ready to pounce on a loose ball during a battle in a 91-71 Kennedy-King victory.

Above: Moraine men’s coach Anthony Amarino talks to one of his players, whose head was covered with a towel, on Nov. 29.

Photos by Jeff Vorva Michelle Borgen, one of the top junior college scorers and rebounders in the country, handles the ball for Moraine Valley on Nov. 29.

Erin Drynan, returning after missing three games with a knee injury, puts the defensive clamps on Kennedy-King’s Lamichael Dean. Drynan scored 19 of her 23 points in the third quarter of an 83-58 victory during her comeback Nov. 29. On the same night, her brother, Mike, hit a gamewinning shot in the closing seconds of Evergreen Park’s 52-50 victory over Chicago Christian.

Stagg graduate Nick Sims launches a shot in a loss to Kennedy-King on Nov. 29.

Moraine Valley’s Sharnita Breeze, an Argo graduate, drains a third-quarter 3-pointer against Kennedy-King in Palos Hills.

Cyclones women’s coach Delwyn Jones improved his record to 9-0 with a victory over Kennedy-King.

5

Section 2 Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Regional News - The Reporter

For Sale

For Sale

For Sale

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION SPECIALIZED LOAN SERVICING LLC Plaintiff, -v.WILLIAM MEYERS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF DOROTHY E. MEYERS, KATHRYN JENIG, LAURA ABED, ROBERT MEYERS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF PETER MEYERS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, WILLIAM P. BUTCHER, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR DOROTHY E. MEYERS (DECEASED) Defendants 16 CH 002938 11317 S. WESTWOOD 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 September 12, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 5, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:Commonly known as 11317 S. WESTWOOD DRIVE, PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-24-108-020-0000. 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, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, 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 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 14-1601937. 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. 14-16-01937 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 002938 TJSC#: 36-11371 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.

I708209

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION GREEN TREE SERVICING LLC Plaintiff, -v.NORBERT J NOEL Defendants 12 CH 06549 15436 SUNFLOWER COURT 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 18, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 20, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 15436 SUNFLOWER COURT, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462 Property Index No. 27-13-108-022. The real estate is improved with a white brick split level; two car attached 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, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, 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 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 5 pm. McCalla Raymer Pierce, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300, CHICAGO, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 476-5500.

Please refer to file number 9664. 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 Pierce, LLC One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300 CHICAGO, IL 60602 (312) 476-5500 E-Mail: pleadings@pierceservices.com Attorney File No. 9664 Attorney Code. 60489 Case Number: 12 CH 06549 TJSC#: 36-13297 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.

I709227

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION DITECH FINANCIAL LLC Plaintiff, -v.ARTURAS LEE F/K/A ARTURAS JANKAUSKAS, BANK OF AMERICA, NA, LOLITA JANKAUSKIENE Defendants 15 CH 002397 20 COUR DE LA REINE 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 17, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 19, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 20 COUR DE LA REINE, PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-23-110-024. The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse. 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, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, 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 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 14-15-02011.

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. 14-15-02011 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 15 CH 002397 TJSC#: 36-12590 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.

I708982

HAVE A HOUSE FOR SALE?

For Sale

CALL TO PLACE YOUR AD TODAY!

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

(708) 448-4000

Ditech Financial LLC Plaintiff, vs.

Barbara Clark aka Barbara B. Clark; Michael Clark aka Michael A. Clark; Tatra Condominium Association; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants Defendants, Case # 14CH18406 Sheriff’s # 160291 F14100321SVTSPT GTS 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 13th, 2017, 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: PERMANENT REAL ESTATE INDEX NO.: 24-18200-032-1046 Common Address: 10620 Brooks Lane, Unit C6, Chicago Ridge, Illinois 60415 P.I.N: 24-18-200-032-1046; Improvements: This property consists of a Residential Condominium.

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.

If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale may be entitled at most only to a return of the purchase price paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the mortgagee’s attorney, or the court appointed selling officer.

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 Anthony Porto

1771 W. DIEHL., Suite 120

Naperville, IL 60566-7228 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.

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For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION SPECIALIZED LOAN SERVICING LLC Plaintiff, -v.RAFAET KHALIL, SABAH KHALIL, THOMAS CHARLES ESTATES TOWNHOUSE ASSOCIATION Defendants 15 CH 017483 8653 THOMAS CHARLES LANE HICKORY HILLS, IL 60457 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 9, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on December 28, 2016, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 8653 THOMAS CHARLES LANE, HICKORY HILLS, IL 60457 Property Index No. 18-35-307-040-0000. The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse. 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, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, 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 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 14-15-18636.

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. 14-15-18636 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 15 CH 017483 TJSC#: 36-13447 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.

I708559

For Rent

MONEE HOUSE FOR RENT

3 bedroom, 2 bath, fenced yard MUST SEE $1900 per month Available Now! 309-212-4368 For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CITIMORTGAGE, INC. Plaintiff, -v.DANIEL A. CLAUS A/K/A DANIEL CLAUS, RHONDA J. CLAUS, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. S/I/I TO LASALLE BANK N.A. Defendants 16 CH 003349 13030 S. 70TH COURT PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 7, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 9, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 13030 S. 70TH COURT, PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463 Property Index No. 24-31-105-014. 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, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, 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 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 14-1608423. 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. 14-16-08423 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 003349 TJSC#: 36-12299 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.

I708384

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.

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“10 in the Park�

NEW as of 7/7/11 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 For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.RICHARD POSTILLION, ANITA NAMBO A/K/A ANITA POSTILLION, RICHARD V. POSTILLION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE RICHARD V. POSTILLION REVOCABLE TRUST, AMENDED AND RESTATED OCTOBER 30, 2013, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MB FINANCIAL BANK, N.A., CITY OF CHICAGO, UNKNOWN BENEFICIARIES OF THE RICHARD V. POSTILLION REVOCABLE TRUST, AMENDED AND RESTATED OCTOBER 30, 2013, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 14 CH 017778 9712 S. 81ST COURT 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 25, 2015, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 4, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 9712 S. 81ST COURT, PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-11-203-009.

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, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, 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. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. 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 14-14-19836.

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. 14-14-19836 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 14 CH 017778 TJSC#: 36-13562 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.

I708884

The Regional News - The Reporter

Thursday, December 8, 2016 Section 2

Estate Sale

Help Wanted

Thursday, Dec. 8 Noon to 6 PM Friday and Saturday Dec. 9 and 10 8 AM to 4 PM 6 full rooms and furnished basement Classic, vintage, antique and modern All furniture, kitchenware Electronics, collectables, etc.

11301 Oak Park Ave. Worth

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE WANTED

Help Wanted

South Suburban law firm seeking full time

LITIGATION SECRETARY

with outstanding proofreading and organizational skills to do work for multiple attorneys.

Must have experience with transcribing and organizing pleadings, discovery and correspondence and must be proficient in Microsoft Office.

Knowledge of Federal and State court electronic filing systems required. Use of ProLaw a plus.

Please email resumes to: ffrazier@odelsonsterk.com Help Wanted

PART TIME PRESSMAN Experienced pressman needed to operate a Goss Community press part time. 20-30 hours per week. Day shift.

Please email resumes to

Amy Richards at arichards@regionalpublishing.com or call Southwest Regional Publishing at

708-448-4000 For Sale

Full length ranch mink coat Excellent condition Call 708-692-5001

Cleaning Services

Southwest Regional Publishing and Southwest Community News Group is seeking an Advertising Sales Representative.

The Sales Representative will prospect and cold call in addition to maintaining established accounts.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL: • Have 2-5 years proven outside sales experience and customer retention • Be highly self-motivated, competitive and organized • Have the ability to hit the ground running • Have proven ability to close sales on a one to two call cycle WE ALSO LOOK FOR CANDIDATES TO DISPLAY: • Drive and Energy • The ability to succeed in a fast paced, deadline oriented environment • The ability to multi-task • An outgoing personality WE OFFER: • Competitive salary plus commission • High earnings potential

PLEASE E-MAIL RESUME TO AMY RICHARDS:

12243 South Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463 Phone: 708-448-4000

Wanted

Leather sectional hunter green $400; Antique Heywood-Wakefield highboy dresser $150; Antique Metz Mada buffet $150; Soloflex total gym $150.

(815) 351-1093

small engines, regular and riding lawnmowers, bicycles.

Reasonably priced or free.

Call (815) 450-0004

SNOWBLOWERS,

NEED QUICK CASH? We Buy Guns Why give away to the city or government?

Get what your gun is really worth!

ALMOST WHOLESALE GUN AND SUPPLY

ALMOSTWHOLESALEGUNS.COM All guns purchased will be handled in full compliance with state and federal laws.

Snowblower Repair

Plumbing & Sewer

GEORGE’S GEORGE’S

PLUMBING & SEWER

Flood Control Specialists All Types of Plumbing Repairs • • • • • •

Painting

Hot water tanks • Bathroom installations Toilets, Tubs, Sinks & Faucets Sewers rodded • Sump pumps Sewers inspected by camera Foundation leaks repaired Battery back-up systems

FREE ESTIMATES (most cases) Quality Work - Reasonable Prices

K&K PAINTING Commercial - Residential Interior - Exterior Bonded & Insured Gutter Cleaning Keith

40 years experience -Lic. #SL574

708.952.1833

Snow Blowers Lawn Mowers Repair/Tune-Up

Will fix at your house

Reasonable Rates

Call: (815) 450-0004

Advertise in the service directory Call today 448-4002

708-239-0161 Remodeling

arichards@regionalpublishing.com For Sale

6

FATHER & DAUGHTERS REMODELING Not affiliated with Ron Kafka & Father & Sons

AUTUMN Special 1/3 OFF • Bathrooms • Kitchens • Rec Rooms • Attics • Flooring

• General Repairs • Garage Repairs • Decks • Windows • Doors

• Porches • Dormers • Roofs • Concrete • Tuckpointing

• Siding • Soffit Fascia • Gutters • Electrical • Plumbing

FREE Architectural Drawings and Permit with Room Addition Purchase Free Estimates Guaranteed Work Full Insured

708-795-6940

Senior Discount Veteran Discount Licensed & Bonded

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

OUT & ABOUT

The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Southwest • Section 2, Page 7

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS Orland Park Theatre Troupe to hold auditions for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Programs at the Center

• Laughter Circle Wednesday Dec. 14, 6 p.m.

Laughter leader Kathy O’Brien, R.N., brings laughter and all its benefits to the Laughter Circle, a group for people who want to laugh! Beneficial laughs will come not from jokes or comedy routines but rather from laughter for the sake of laughter, reducing stress, alleviating pain, strengthening the immune system, and even fostering interpersonal cooperation. The cost each month of participating in the Laughter Circle is $5, which Kathy donates to The Center. Call 708-361-3650 to reserve a spot.

The Bridge Teen Center programs

• Art Studio Night with the Aaron Williams Band and Panera Bread 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Dec. 13, The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 S. 71st Court, Orland Park. Students are invited to bring their favorite projects and supplies or use what The Bridge has to make their own art. There will be free food samples from Panera Bread and Indie/Pop music from the Aaron Williams Band.

• Gingerbread House Competition w/ CarMax 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Dec. 13, Teams of students will be given building materials and a time limit in which to create their unique, thematic gingerbread house.

• What It’s Like To Be: A Judge - 4:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 13, Students will learn about hearing

a trial, assessing evidence, and assigning a sentence.

• Spirograph Art - 4 to 5 p.m. Dec. 14, Students will create complex patterns with a spirograph, a geometric drawing tool. They can add color and texture to create a unique piece of artwork.

• DIY Holiday Gift Wrap & Tags - 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 14, Students will learn how to make their gifts extra thoughtful and extra creative with packaging designed by them.

• Culinary: Healthy Baking Substitutes - 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Students will learn about baking substitutions that can make their recipes healthier and just as flavorful.

• Wood Burned Ornaments with Dave - 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Students will learn how to operate a wood burning pen to craft snowflakes, words, and festive designs into round slices of birch wood.

• Second Day Hair w/ Opulent Beauty - 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 15, Opulent Beauty will be leading this program, sharing stylish and unique hair styles as well as healthy ways to treat hair and keep it looking healthy and fabulous.

• Karaoke & Open Mic Night with MG Bailey and Chick-Fil-A - 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Students will have the chance to get up on stage for karaoke and open mic night. Free food samples provided by Chick Fil-A. These free events are for teens in 7th through 12th grade. For more information call (708) 532-0500.

WOLFGANG PUCK’S KITCHEN

Take away holiday hassles with a quick pot of chicken soup

By Wolfgang Puck ‘Tis the season to feel stressed out. At least, that’s how too many people feel as December looms before us. Suddenly, there are too many gifts to buy, too many parties to plan and cook for, too many cookies to bake, too many errands to run, too much food to eat. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention: too many pounds to gain.

Yes, the holiday season can be, and most often is, a joyous time. But, if you aren’t careful, the month’s demands can sometimes take their toll. That’s why I always try to plan regular breaks during the coming month for quiet family time and exercise. I also like to make sure that I include some simple, home-style dinners that are not only comforting but also light and healthy.

For me, one of the smartest comfort foods of all is chicken soup. Just sipping it spoonful by spoonful causes you to slow down, reflect, get back in touch with what’s important and let needless distractions fall away. Like all good food, it also draws the family together. And chicken soup really does nourish the body, especially when you make it the healthy way I do, using low-sodium broth, skinless chicken pieces and lots of vegetables.

But, you might be wondering, how is it possible to make chicken soup during this busy time of year when the best versions rely on slow simmering?

Fortunately, the answer can be found in many kitchens, or can be purchased inexpensively as an early holiday gift: the electric pressure cooker.

Pressure cookers are perfect for making great chicken soup. In fact, many professional kitchens rely on them nowadays for making stock.

Cooking under pressure reduces from hours to minutes the time it takes to coax maximum flavor from soup ingredients. And there’s another bonus: The pressure also prevents the formation of froth and other impurities that sometimes cloud soups. So you’ll get rich-tasting, crystal-clear results.

I like to prepare my pressure cooker chicken soup in two stages. First, I cook the chicken in good-quality canned low-sodium broth, simultaneously enhancing the taste of meat and broth. Then, after releasing pressure following manufacturer’s instructions, I remove the chicken and let it cool slightly so I can bone and cut it up while I quickly pressure-cook the vegetables for the brief time it takes them to turn tender. All that remains is to adjust seasonings to taste and serve the soup.

If you like, you can add some cooked rice or noodles to make it a meal in a bowl.

You’ll be amazed by the results.

And I predict you’ll find that this easy soup helps you stay happier and healthier throughout the festive season.

Olena Danileiko/Dreamstime.com

Using a pressure cooker helps prevent the formation of impurities that sometimes cloud soups.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH PARSNIPS, CARROTS, CELERY AND LEEKS Serves 8 • 1 1/2 pounds (750 g) skinless chicken thighs and legs • 10 cups (2.5 L) goodquality canned lowsodium chicken broth • 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more as needed • Freshly ground black pepper • 3 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) dice • 2 medium parsnips, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) dice • 2 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) dice • 1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch (12-mm) dice • 1 large leek, white and light green parts only, quartered lengthwise, thoroughly rinsed under cold running water, and cut into 1/2-inch (12mm) pieces • 2 tablespoons mixed chopped Italian parsley, fresh chervil leaves, and chives, for garnish • 4 cups (1 L) cooked white rice or small egg

noodles, optional • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, for garnish In a pressure cooker, combine the chicken, broth, salt and pepper to taste. Attach the lid and bring to full pressure; then, cook under pressure for 20 minutes.

Release the pressure. Remove the chicken thighs and legs, leaving the liquid in the pressure cooker, and set them aside on a plate or in a bowl to cool slightly.

Add the carrots, parsnips, celery, onion and leeks to the pressure cooker. Secure the lid, bring back to full pressure, then cook under pressure for 5 minutes.

When the chicken thighs and legs are just cool enough to handle, remove and discard the bones and any fat and cartilage. Cut the meat into bite-sized pieces. As soon as the vegetables are done, release the pressure, remove the lid, and stir the chicken pieces into the soup. Taste the broth and adjust the seasonings, if necessary.

If you like, divide the rice or noodles among individual heated bowls or soup plates.

Ladle the soup into the bowls or plates. Garnish each serving with some of the mixed fresh herbs and the dill.

The Village of Orland Park Theatre Troupe will hold auditions for a Disney favorite, “Beauty and the Beast,” on Sunday Monday, Dec. 18 and 19 at the Cultural Center, 14760 Park Lane.

On Dec. 18, children ages 6-15 may audition from noon to 5 p.m. with adults auditioning from 7- 10 p.m. On Dec. 19, there will be a second night of adult auditions from 7- 10 p.m.

All performers must bring sheet music with 16 measures of a prepared piece and be dressed for a dance audition. Music does not need to be from a particular show.

“Our spring musical is always the village’s biggest show of the year,” said Resident Producer/Director Frann Carnivele. “We are very excited to present ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and invite everyone near and far to audition. This area is a wealth of musical theater talent and we look forward to assembling a phenomenal cast.”

Rehearsals will be held three times a week from January 5 March 23 at the Cultural Center.

Sunday rehearsals will be from noon to 4 p.m. and Monday and Thursday rehearsals from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Performances will be March 23, 24, 25 at 7 p.m. and March 26 at 2 p.m. at the Carl Sandburg High School Performing Arts Center.

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” features music by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. The story is based on the book by Linda Wolverton. It was originally directed by Robert Jess Roth and was originally produced

by Disney Theatrical Productions.

For more information, call the Village of Orland Park Recreation Department at (708) 403-7275.

VIDEOVIEW

BY JAY BOBBIN NOTICE: Ratings for each film begin with a ‘star’ rating — one star meaning ‘poor,’ four meaning ‘excellent’ — followed by the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and then by a family-viewing guide, the key for which appears below.

STARTING THIS WEEK:

“JASON BOURNE”: After sitting out the preceding installment, Matt Damon returned to the franchise based on Robert Ludlum’s novels — and reunited with director and co-writer Paul Greengrass — for this effective chapter. It’s an original story that takes estranged CIA operative Bourne back to his roots, thanks to former contact Nicky (fellow returnee Julia Stiles) who enlists him to help expose questionable agency initiatives ... including some he’s quite familiar with. Of course, others don’t want him involved, with Alicia Vikander and Tommy Lee Jones’ characters representing that side of the equation along with Vincent Cassel as an assassin they send. As usual, the action is furious and well-filmed, and Damon’s ability to handle the abundant physicality still has to be admired. DVD extras: four “making-of” documentaries. *** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Bluray and On Demand) “THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS”: Two dogs (voices of Louis C.K. and “Modern Family’s” Eric Stonestreet) newly united by their owner (voice of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s” Ellie Kemper) run away and find a society of abandoned pets in New York City in this animated hit from some of the pivotal talents behind “Despicable Me,” also boasting entertaining vocal work by Kevin Hart as an extremely spirited rabbit who’s the group’s leader. Ultimately, the canines decide to return home, but they face a complicated journey back. The many characters also allow for voice work by Jenny Slate, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Steve Coogan, Hannibal Buress, Albert Brooks and “Saturday Night Live’s” Bobby Moynihan. DVD extras: seven “making-of” documentaries; three “mini-movies”; “Hot Dog Sing-Along”; music video. *** (PG: AS) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN”: One of screen history’s ultimate cult classics got a do-over in this recent, Fox-televised version, which acknowledges the project’s past by including an on-screen audience to react along with at-home viewers.

Ryan McCartan and Victoria Justice now play Brad and Janet, the straitlaced couple who undergo a big transformation upon becoming stranded with mad scientist FrankN-Furter (Laverne Cox, “Orange Is the New Black”) and company.

Continued on Page 8

Supplied photo

Comedy for PAWS

WGN’S Pat Tomasulo and Mike Toomey were the main attraction at the PAWS Fundraiser held recently at Palos Country Club. A crowd of nearly 400 enjoyed an evening of comedy along with a “Spayghetti Dinner.” Proceeds benefited the PAWS animal shelter in Tinley Park.

Crystal angels creations

Supplied photo

Students will turn bowls and vases into angel sculptures at the Log Cabin Center for the Arts this Saturday Dec. 10, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Instructor Joyce Icenogle will guide students in choosing from a variety of bowls, vases, and feathers to design a gorgeous angel sculpture. This could be a wonderful gift or decoration for the holidays, or even to leave out year round. The workshop fee is $20. The Log Cabin Center for the Arts is at 12700 Southwest Hwy, Palos Park. Call 708-361-3650

OMARR’S WEEKLY ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST

By Jeraldine Saunders ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may be prompted to work harder and more efficiently than usual in the week to come. You tend to display confidence even if you do not possess the requisite skills or experience.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Silence is golden but knowledge is platinum. As this week unfolds gather information before you tackle new projects or tasks. Just

because something seems easy doesn’t mean it is.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The higher you climb the harder it is to cling to the ladder. Your ambitious nature may put you in a precarious position in the week ahead. Be prepared for all possible contingencies.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You may become serious about adding structure and organizing your financial affairs. Avoid beginning new projects, making major

purchases or taking the initiative in the week ahead.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Work hard but don’t be hard hearted. As this week unfolds you may become more creative about achieving your ambitions but some influential people may find your actions callous and calculating.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Before you lay down the law consider the consequences. It is said that if guns were outlawed, then Continued on Page 8

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

OUT & ABOUT

The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Southwest • Section 2, Page 8

The Center luncheon: An Eric Carle Christmas Party!

The Center artists Heather Young, Lois Lauer, Robin Neumann, and April Schabes will share their love and enjoyment of illustrator/author Eric Carle of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” fame on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from noon to 2 p.m.

Among Carle’s 70 books is the delightful Christmas title, “Dream Snow,” which will be featured at the luncheon.

There will be a reading of some of his books and a video of how he creates his colorful bold images Supplied photo by John Sullivan with tissue paper collages. The lunA photo taken by John Sullivan of Crest Hill of cute raccoons cavorting on a tree limb won the November portion cheon will move to the log cabins of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Preserve the Moment Photo Contest. December is the final month to share some Eric Carle-inspired of the contest and overall contest winners will be announced in January after online voting.

Christmas crafts.

Luncheons cost $22 and advance reservations are necessary. The Center is at 12700 Southwest Hwy, Palos Park. Call 708-361-3650

Raccoons go out on a limb to capture photo contest win Young raccoons cavorting on a tree branch upped the cuteness quotient in the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Preserve the Moment photo contest in November.

The photo, taken at Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve in Plainfield by John Sullivan of Crest Hill, won the November portion of the contest.

Contest judges chose the photo for its animated subject matter and playful composition.

Sullivan said he’s outdoors a lot and he always brings his 35 mm camera.

“I get up at 4 in the morning to be outside at daybreak,” he said.

“I just love sharing the pictures.”

He said he got interested in taking photos as a child.

“My grandfather used to send me the National Geographic school bulletin, and I was inspired by the photography,” he said.

Honorable mentions were awarded to: John Mobley of Oak Park for his shot of a slug slithering along the forest floor at Veterans Woods in Romeoville; Pam Ridgley of Braidwood for her serene fall kayaking photo at McKinley Woods in Channahon; Ronald Kapala of Shorewood for a picturesque sunset photo that featured fall foliage and waterfowl at Lake Chaminwood in Channahon; and Ryan Sing for his bold shot of a corroded bolt at Joliet Iron Works Historic Site in Joliet.

Only one month is left in the Preserve the Moment photo contest. December entries are due by

midnight Dec. 31. Once December’s top photo has been picked, monthly winners from June through December will vie for top honors, which will be awarded based on online voting via Facebook. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place photos after the online voting session concludes.

Eligible photos must be taken by amateur photographers in a Will County forest preserve during the contest period, June 1 through Dec. 31, 2016.

For more information on the contest, visit ReconnectWithNature.org. To see all of the photo entries so far, visit the Forest Preserve District’s Flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/willcoforests.

OMARR’S WEEKLY ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST Continued from Page 7 outlaws would be the only people with guns. Think before issuing mandates in the week ahead.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Diplomacy is the key to making your week ahead less challenging.

Tensions can be easily soothed through a mere kind word or two.

Maintain a positive attitude and use good judgment.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): This is a good week to keep your money in your wallet and the credit card in the drawer. Be businesslike

and above reproach at the workplace. A partner may have some great ideas.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): It could be stressful to be successful in the week to come.

There could be a domino effect that causes a crucial tile to fall if you overreact to criticism or a temporary family crisis.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stick to safe, sound and conservative principles in the week to come. Don’t give your heart or money away impulsively. You can blind to facts or only hear what

䐀攀挀⸀ ㄀㌀琀栀 㜀㨀㌀ 倀䴀

you want to hear.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A penny saved is a penny that does not jeopardize your financial security. You might let your attraction to fads rule your head in the upcoming week. Avoid making impulsive purchases.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): If you aim for fame you risk losing the game. In the week ahead you may get more than your fair share of attention or end up in the public eye, especially if you do something wrong.

Supplied photo

The Center artists will discuss the work of author Eric Carle and show some related crafts at a luncheon on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

VIDEOVIEW BY JAY BOBBIN Continued from Page 7 The original film’s Tim Curry narrates, and Ben Vereen and Christina Milian also are among stars of the restaging directed by Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical”). DVD extras: “making-of” documentary; extended cut of the film; Comic-Con footage; Cox’s screen test; photo gallery. *** (Not rated: AS, P) “THE HOLLARS”: John Krasinski (“The Office”) is a triplethreat talent on this comedy-drama, producing and directing as well as starring in the tale of a graphic novelist who leaves New York for his hometown to deal with his mother’s (multiple Emmy winner Margo Martindale) illness. Once there, he finds many of the situations he left behind rising back up, including his problems with other family members and old acquaintances. The well-assembled cast also includes Anna Kendrick, Richard Jenkins, Sharlto Copley (“District 9”), Charlie Day (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), Randall Park (“Fresh Off the Boat”), Mary Elizabeth Winstead and singer Josh Groban. DVD extras: two “making-of” documentaries; audio commentary by Krasinski and Martindale; Los Angeles Film Festival interview panel. *** (PG-13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “SCREAM QUEENS: SEASON ONE”: Before “Glee”’ ended, its executive producers (including Ryan Murphy) had this offbeat, very stylized Fox horror-comedy

series in the works. Though Year 2 has shifted to a hospital, this initial season is set at a college sorority where a murder doesn’t dissuade pledges of different social classes from wanting in ... and there are many more fatalities to come.

One of the movies’ most legendary scream queens — Jamie Lee

Curtis — plays the school’s dean, with “Glee” alum Lea Michele, Emma Roberts, Abigail Breslin, Keke Palmer and music’s Ariana Grande and Nick Jonas also in the cast (at least for starters, in some cases). DVD extras: three “making-of” documentaries. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V)

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“BELIEVE THE BUZZ!” –VARIETY

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䠀漀氀椀搀愀礀 椀氀礀 䘀愀洀 ℀ 䘀甀渀

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PHOTO OF LUKE TREADAWAY BY HUGO GLENDINNING

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DECEMBER 6–24

• 800-775-2000 •

T I C K E T S A V A I L A B L E A T A L L B R O A D W A Y I N C H I C A G O B O X O F F I C E S A N D T I C K E T M A S T E R R E T A I L L O C A T I O N S G R O U P S 10 + C A L L 3 1 2 . 9 7 7. 1 7 1 0