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

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Serving Palos, Orland and Worth townships and neighboring communities

75th Year, NO. 9 • 3 Sections

PALOS HEALTH & FITNESS

Save PHFC allies turn to Atty. Gen. in fight for facility

By Jack Murray

Regional News Editor Members of the movement trying to save Palos Health & Fitness Center from being closed on May 1 are now turning to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan for help.

The grassroots Save PHFC Photos by Jack Murray group also plans a bus trip for Four 42-unit apartment buildings under construction are among the Residences of Orland Park Crossing, marketed as a luxury rental community in members to attend the March 29 the heart of Orland Park. meeting of a state board expected to decide whether to permit Palos Community Hospital’s expansion plans on the site of the fitness center in Orland Park.

Meanwhile, the group urges fitness center members to send letters or emails to Madigan in support of Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady’s request that she look into Palos Community Hospital’s plan to close and demolish be seen as a concrete and visible

By Dermot Connolly the fitness center. O’Grady asked sign of recovery. the attorney general to explore The compact new community A new neighborhood with whether that “subverts the hosis a walkable antidote to the suba rental housing mix of pricey pital’s obligation as a non-profit, apartments, townhouses and row urban sprawl of yesteryear that tax-exempt” institution to serve necessitated using the car to get houses is rising toward completion local community needs. around for shopping and errands. hard by Mariano’s and the new “Closure of the Palos Health It’s a short walking distance from Downtown Orland Park evolving and Fitness Center would directat the village's northern gateway. Orland Park Crossing shopping ly contradict the hospital’s stated center and the new Mariano’s groThe 231-unit Residences of Ormission and be detrimental to the land Park Crossing is part and cery store that opened in January, public interest it claims to serve,” parcel of the pedestrian-friendly, as well as restaurants.

O’Grady wrote in his letter to A pedestrian walkway above La mixed-use development for the Illinois’ attorney general dated Grange Road connects it to the area straddling LaGrange Road Feb. 24. north of 143rd Street that village Main Street, or Metra, Triangle, Palos Community Hospital and where the University of Chicaofficials first envisioned more than the fitness center manager notigo Medicine center is being built a decade ago. fied its members in mid-January near the Ninety7Fifty apartment After the intervening housing that April 30 would the final day complex. market collapse and Great ReA row of three-story townhouses line 95th Avenue at 141st Street. On the open of the 15-year-old facility See HOUSING SPURT, Page 2 next block west, two-story row houses near completion this month. cession, the building project can at 15430 West Ave. in Orland

A growth spurt in housing Village’s new Downtown lands Residences of Orland Park Crossing

Park. Membership has declined since then from about 4,900 to less than 4,500 as some younger members without special needs found alternative workout sites.

Members determined to save the facility have since disputed the hospital’s contention that the site is needed for the hospital’s south campus expansion plans for a $133.2 million medical office building, underground parking lot and connections to the exisiting Palos Primary Care Center, at 15300 West Ave. State regulators could rule on March 29 whether to grant a permit called a certificate of need for the hospital to build the project.

A state board held a public hearing to take testimony on Feb. 18 at the Orland Park Civic Center.

More than 200 attended. Most were PHFC members, scores of whom spoke against the hospital’s plans if they mean the demise of their beloved facility Noting the expansion plan in his letter to Madigan, O’Grady wrote that he and local elected state lawmakers “have urged the hospital to work creatively with its architect and contractor on a revised design to preserve the [fitness] center – perhaps by building around or above it.”

State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18) and state Reps. Fran Hurley and Kelley Burke have each urged the hospital to reconsider its closing of PHFC, or provide a similar facility in the planned See SAVE PHFC, Page 2

Ald. Harris states her case in Cook clerk of court race County Dems back her over incumbent

By Joe Boyle Chicago Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) heard the rumors and her suspicions were confirmed after receiving a phone call.

“I was told that the Democratic Party was rescinding Michelle Harris its support for Dorothy Brown for the Clerk of the Circuit Court and was supporting me,” recalled Harris after receiving the decision of the Cook County Democrats. “It’s amazing.

I had overwhelming support.”

Brown has been Circuit Court Clerk since 2000 and originally

had the support of the Cook County Democrats. But an ongoing federal corruption investigation of Brown resulted in the local Democrats looking in another direction.

The Democratic Party informed Brown on Oct. 23 that they rescinded their support and were backing Harris. Despite a passionate plea by Brown, the Democrats told her at the slating meeting that the decision was final.

Harris was formally introduced that night at the Cook County Suburban Publishers dinner. Not to be outdone, Brown was also in attendance trying to sway party members.

Along with Brown and Harris, Jacob Meister, an attorney who has been practicing law for 25 years, is also running in the Democratic primary. The winner in the Democratic primary race will face Diane Shapiro, the

I T’ S B E T T E R AT

Republican committeeman from Chicago’s 46th Ward. Shapiro is unopposed in the primary.

In an election year that Harris said is “upside down,” she said her greatest challenge is to inform the public on what the duties of the Circuit Court Clerk are.

“There needs to be a culture change,” said Harris. “Government is there to serve the public, not the other way around. We need to be cross-trained in all departments. We are in the people-pleasing business. It’s about delivering what people want.”

The office of Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps court records, decisions and events, handles fines, bail bonds, records storage, mi Photos by Jeff Vorva crofilming and automation.

Harris has lived in the 8th Ward for over 40 years and has been a member of the 8th Ward Regular Chicago Christian boys basketball coach Kevin Pittman gets ready for a hug before Jeff Mayberry (No. 40) and Democratic Organization for over Anajuwan Spencer embrace him after Friday’s 59-48 win at Illiana Christian. The Knights won their first regional title since 2008 and it’s the first regional title won by a boys basketball team from the area since 2013. For details

See HARRIS, Page 2 on the win and an update on how the Knights did in Tuesday’s sectional game, see Sports.

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2 Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Regional News

New wheelchair-friendlier bleachers coming to D230

By Dermot Connolly All three District 230 high schools will get new gymnasium bleachers this year to comply with the latest federal mandates for public accommodation of persons with disabilities.

The bleachers, fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will be replaced on the main floor and balcony in the gyms at both Andrew, in Tinley Park, and Sandburg, in Orland Park.

At Stagg, only the bleachers on the main floor of the gym in Stagg will be replaced, because the Palos Hills school received new balcony bleachers in 2005.

Members of the school board agreed at their meeting last Thursday to accept a bid of $732,790 from Carroll Seating Co. to do the work. Bob Hughes, facilities director for the district, explained that only a few companies do this type of work, and the other company invited to bid, Larson Equipment & Furniture Co., offered $737,500.

Both bids came in lower than the $820,000 budgeted for the bleacher-replacement program.

The work will likely be done

during summer break.

“We have worked with Carroll Seating several times in the past on our locker room renovation projects, and their work was finished on time and within our budget,” Hughes told the school board.

The new bleachers use individual plastic seat modules instead of traditional wooden, “blank” seats, and comply fully with new ADA codes, Hughes said. The bleachers will also have their own electric traction motors allowing them to be opened or closed with a handheld controller.

Asked what the new ADA codes are, Hughes said they include having railings at the proper heights on each side of aisles, which will also be wider.

Superintendent Dr. James Gay pointed out also that individual sections of bleachers will also be able to retract to make room for wheelchair seating.

Also at the meeting, the school board recognized Andrew Principal Bob Nolting for being named Illinois High School Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association. He will now be under consideration for the national award.

“It is really a recognition for the school, so for Andrew it is good,” Nolting said afterward. “It is a big school, but not so big that as principal, you cannot take time to get to know the students,” he added.

Nolting, a Lockport resident, joined District 230 in 2004, as associate principal of Andrew. He then moved to Sandburg, where he held the same position, from 2006 to 2009. He came back to Andrew as principal in 2009.

Earlier in his career, he was social studies teacher and athletics/ activities director in Wisconsin.

He currently serves as the District 3 representative on the IHSA Board of Control.

The Andrew principal said he was most touched by what a former student, one of three people who nominated him, said in a letter of recommendation. In part, the student said, ““Mr. Nolting is more than a principal, he is a man with an unconditional loving heart for his students and staff, and he is a glow of confidence and an inspiration to better yourself in every way.”

“It’s pretty cool to hear those words,” said Nolting.

Harris

Continued from Page 1 30 years. She is a graduate of Chicago Vocational High School and received a bachelor’s degree in General Studies from Chicago State University.

She said that Cook County Board President John Stroger served as a mentor. She was chief of staff under her aunt, Ald. Lorraine Dixon (8th), for over five years. Dixon died of breast cancer in 2001 at the age of 51. Harris was also a liaison to Peoples Gas and ComEd for Dixon.

Harris has been a member of various committees and served as superintendent of Streets and Sanitation for the 8th Ward, which she took great pride in. She often went with workers and assisted in dispensing garbage. Harris said she wanted to get a better idea of what the job entails. She held the position of superintendent for four years.

In 2006, Harris was appointed alderman by former Mayor Daley to replace Todd Stroger, who became Cook County Board President after his father, John Stroger, suffered a debilitating stroke. Harris has won aldermanic elections in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Harris said one of her first goals, if elected, is to update criminal records. She said the system has to be updated because it creates frustration for the judicial system and attorneys who have to wait lengthy periods to receive records of information. Even bail bond information has to be improved, said Harris. Hand-written carbon copies may not be clear and the information is often recorded incorrectly, said Harris.

“That’s why we have to do this first,” said Harris. “Waiting for files and incorrect information costs money.”

Brown said her system is not antiquated and that her department has introduced programs such as electronic filing, the online traffic ticket payment system, mortgage surplus outreach and a new mobile app. Brown added that she seeks to deliver new and enhanced services at the clerk’s office.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Brown.

Harris disagrees, stating that Brown is “on an island” and doesn’t work enough with other agencies.

“What I have learned as alderman is that you have to learn to work with people,” said Harris.

“The people will let you know how they feel.”

Meister calls for the circuit court to become completely automated and said that it will need more funding. Harris agrees that more technology is necessary but said costs have to be considered initially. More computer terminals can be added when not enough manpower exists, she said.

Harris disagrees with her critics who say she lacks managerial experience. The alderman said she has worked with former Gov. Quinn to build an improved sewer system in her ward and worked with state Sen. Donne Trotter (D-17th) to raise funds for infrastructure improvements at Chicago Vocational High School.

Facing the challenges as alderman has prepared her to lead the circuit court, Harris said. She has also served as chairman of the City Council Rules Committee.

She was criticized in some circles

Chicago Ald. Michelle Harris (second from left) has been holding sessions with city and suburban residents to discuss her candidacy for the Clerk of Circuit Court in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, March 15.

Early Voting in Palos-Orland Palos Heights Admin Building 7607 W. College Dr. Palos Heights Mon - Fri | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sat (March 5 and 12) | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. for not holding a hearing on an ordinance to empower Inspector General Joe Ferguson.

However, she joined other members of the Black Caucus calling for the firing of Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, who she said did not listen to the needs of the communities he serves. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who has a mostly positive relationship with Harris, dismissed McCarthy

Orland Township Hall 14807 Ravinia Ave. Orland Park

Mon - Fri | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sat (March 5 and 12) | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sun (March 6 and 13) | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. that month.

“People want to see you,” said Harris. “I can’t depend on the Democratic Party to get the word out. I appreciate it. Government puts me in a position to help people. It’s all about the community.

It’s not about Michelle Harris.”

The primary election is Tuesday, March 15.

ResidencesofOrlandparkcrossing.com image

Rendering shows a swimming pool and clubhouse available to residents of the 231-unit rental community being built as part of the new Downtown Orland Park.

Housing spurt Continued from Page 1

In close proximity to the Metra train station at Southwest Highway, the Orland Park Crossing is expected to attract professionals and others who commute to jobs in downtown Chicago. In good weather, it is an easy walk to catch the train.

REVA Development Partners, which broke ground on the 12.5-acre project in 2014, began pre-leasing of the residences this week.

Neither the village nor the developer were willing or able to say how many millions of the dollars the development represents in terms of investment being made in the village.

REVA rep Sara Williams said the nearly 7,000-square-foot clubhouse has been completed.

It features a fitness center, gaming/ theater room, club room, demonstration kitchen, Internet cafe and management offices.

The sales center, which is now taking appointments for community tours, is located in the clubhouse.

Outdoor amenities will include a swimming pool, fire pit, patio seating, outdoor kitchen, bocce ball court and landscape seating areas with walking paths. They

Save PHFC

Continued from Page 1 new medical building.

O’Grady had not received a response to his letter from Madigan’s office as of Tuesday morning, his office administrator said.

O’Grady’s support for keeping PHFC open reflects the views of many resident senior voters who are members of it. “Orland Township seniors, especially, rely each day on the Palos Health and Fitness Center’s water therapy programs, cardiac fitness classes and numerous other senior-oriented services to support their health, wellness and longevity,” he wrote to Madigan.

A grateful Save PHFC group asked its members this week “to start sending more letters and some emails. Please send a letter to Lisa Madigan telling her you support Paul O’Grady’s request. “ “Send letters and emails to both the Palos Hospital/St. George Cor-

lead to the network of bicycle paths that link up to the forest preserves and Cal-Sag Trail.

Scheduled to be completed in November, the community will feature four mid-rise elevator buildings. Each hold 42 apartments with various one- or two-bedroom options.

Nearing completion this month are 38 two-story row houses, each with three bedrooms and 2½ baths. Another 25 three-story townhouses will offer two- and three-bedroom floor plans, each with 2½ baths.

Apartment residents will have access to attached garage parking, while an attached, two-car garage comes with each townhome and rowhome.

Rents will start at just over $1,300 for one-bedroom units, and go up to more than $2,700 for three-bedroom units.

“We expect the combination of townhomes, rowhomes and apartment flats to attract a diverse array of renters from young professionals to transferees and empty-nesters,” said Matt Nix, principal of REVA Development Partners, in a statement.

“The walkable, transit-oriented location of the property has been a strong driver of demand for the Residences of Orland Park Crossing. The high-end, condo-quality finishes combined with the luxury

amenities synonymous with living in a REVA development make this a highly desirable rental community,” he continued. “We’re really excited to bring luxury living to area renters,” he added.

When local residents expressed concern about the high number of rental units when the project was first announced in 2013, developers said at the time that due to the downturn in the economy, the rental market is hotter. They said that the development was designed so that if the real estate market improves, some of the units could be sold as condos.

But as of now, Williams said the residences will be entirely rental.

Residents living in homes east of the property, on 141st Street, had expressed initially reservations at village board meetings about the size of the development and how it may affect their existing neighborhood.

But their fears were addressed by changes will limit vehicular access to the development’s eastern edge by the installation of a gate near 141st Street and John Humphrey Drive. The electronic-access gate will only be used by emergency vehicles and by residents living in the proposed development, officials said.

— Jack Murray contributed to this story.

poration boards and the Loyola Hospital boards asking them “Why is Palos Community Hospital razing the Palos Health & Fitness Center to build a parking lot?” the group posted on its Save PHFC Facebook page. It also contains instructions to do so.

The group also urges people to contact Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin, and “ask him to withdraw [his] support for the Palos Community Hospital Expansion because they want to demolish the Palos Health & Fitness Center to build a parking lot!”

pansion project at that session.

“We need to show up in force for the IHFSRB board meeting,” states a post added to the group’s Facebook page Tuesday. “This is when the entire nine- member board will hear final arguments and actually vote on the certificate of need (CON) for the hospital’s planned expansion.

To make it easier to go, Orland Supervisor Paul O’Grady’s office will provide transportation to the meeting. People can park in the township parking lot on Ravinia and ride either a handicapped-accessible or a coach bus to the meeting.

To join the trip, people can comment on the Save PHFC page by early Friday, especially if they need to use a handicapped accessible bus.

The group says the meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at Bolingbrook Golf Club, 2001 Rodeo Drive in Bolingbrook, for people who want to drive themselves.

PHFC group plans bus trip to IHFSRB The grassroots Save PHFC is telling its members to sign up

by Friday to attend the March 29 meeting of the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

The board is expected to rule on Palos Community Hospital’s $133.2 million south campus ex-

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The Regional News

Thursday, March 3, 2016

3

Four allegedly pull teen from his car to beat him

COMINGS & GOINGS

By Jack Murray

Four people face charges after they allegedly pulled a 17-yearold boy out of his car and beat him on Harlem Avenue the afternoon of Feb. 19, police said.

Arrested were Ishaak I. Hamdan, 22, Damin Hamdan, 23, Isa D. Hamdan, 55, and Aida L. Hamdan, 51, all of the same address in Photo by Bob Bong Orland Park. All four face felony Sports Authority will close three south suburban stores, including the store pictured above in Matteson. aggravated battery and vehicular hijacking charges.

Orland Park police officers were dispatched to a fight in progress in the 15100 block of Harlem at 12:40 p.m., police said.

A witness had called 911 and reported that the boy was dragged out of his vehicle by a group of people, police said in a release According to employees, sports office of Sports Authority was last Thursday. retailer Sports Authority is preparPolice arrived on scene and not returned. ing to close three south suburban The Village of Matteson posted learned that a Nissan crashed into stores as part of a major reoron its Facebook page that staffers ganization aimed at keeping the had been notified of the closing struggling company afloat. of the store at Matteson Square Employees said they had been shopping center. The village said informed that the Sports Authority a liquidation sale would precede store at 4832 Lincoln Highway they were aware of the Matteson, the closing, which might come in Matteson and 1510 Torrence Orland and Cal City closings, but as early as March.

Ave. in Calumet City would be added that their stores were not in A manager at the Cal City store closing though no timetable had said that location would act as a danger of being shuttered. They been announced. clearance outlet for merchandise Employees at the Orland Hills also said the Water Tower place from other stores and would not store at 9231 W. 159th St. said location in downtown Chicago be closing immediately.

By Jack Murray nothing was official, but they had would be closing.

Many of the Sports AuthoriThere were conflicting reports ty locations including Matteson, been told to expect the store to be A 23-year-old Tinley Park man about the store in Joliet. Employ- Calumet City, North Riverside among those closed by the retailer. was charged with two counts of Employees at the Frankfort ees at other stores said the Joliet and Oak Lawn were originally felony theft after police found him store was among those slated for store at 11185 Lincoln Highway, Sportsmart stores before that chain with belongings stolen from lockOak Lawn store at 9633 S. Cice- closing, but employees there said was acquired in a 1998 merger. ers and gym bags at Life Time ro Ave., North Riverside store at it would not be among the stores The chain is reportedly preparFitness, 16333 La Grange Road, 1800 Harlem Ave. and Burbank closing. ing to close at least 140 of its in Orland Park, police said.

A call to the Colorado head 450 stores. store at 7720 S. Cicero Ave. said Ahmad M. Qreini, of the 8600 block of Cranberry Court, was arrested Feb. 12 after police located him at Smokey Top Tobacco, 7301 W. 183rd St., in Tinley Park.

Orland Park police received reports of several locker thefts at the fitness center on Feb. 7 and 10, police said. Several credit cards stolen in the thefts were used in Tinley Park and Mokena, police added. term as alderman

By Dermot Connolly Qreini was later identified usof the 21st Ward ing a stolen credit card in Tinley One of the few contested elec- on the South Side Park, police said. tions in the Southwest Suburbs on of Chicago.

In addition to Qreini was seen early on the March 15 primary ballots is be the race among incumbent U.S. Rep. being alderman Bobby Rush (D-1st, Chicago) and since 2003, he is two challengers battling for the also a partner in seat in Congress that he has held the Brookins and Rush Brookins Brutus Wilson law firm, since 1993.

The 1st District stretches south as well as a licensed funeral diand west from the Chicago lake- rector. Prior to that, Brookins front to communities such as was an assistant public defendManhattan and Elwood in Will er, assistant state’s attorney, and County. Locally, it includes all special assistant attorney general. or part of Evergreen Park, Oak He serves on the board of CommuLawn, Palos Heights, Worth and nity Media Workshop, a no-profit Orland Park, as well as nearby organization.

Tillman Deuser Brookins lists the three core iscommunities such as Alsip and Madigan’s organization.

By Dermot Connolly sues of his campaign as job creCrestwood.

While Rush is often accused of Rush, 69, seldom has serious ation, public safety, and education. not being accessible in his district When Dr. D.J. Skogsberg beHe has criticized Rush for not primary challengers, but this year or active in Washington, a press gins his new role as superintenHoward Brookins Jr., and O. Pat- being accessible enough to his release posted on his website dent of Orland School District rick Brutus are running against constituents. points out the House’s passage O. Patrick Brutus has been coor- on Monday of a bill he introduced 135 on July 1, he will already be him. a familiar face to many people In the November general elec- dinator of economic development aimed at opening up more jobs for in the district. tion, whoever wins will face either for the Department of Planning minorities in the energy sector won Skogsberg earlier this month Jimmy Lee Tillman II or August and Development for the past nine bipartisan approval. It will now accepted a three-year contract to O’Neill Deuser, the two candi- years. Prior to that, he spent 11 go to the Senate for consideration. lead the district that he served as dates running in the Republican years with the Illinois Department With the passage of H.R. 4583, assistant director of curriculum primary for the seat long held by of Transportation.

Rush said in a statement, “Today, from 2010 to 2012.

Madigan has not said publicly the American public witnessed a Democrats.

School board President Laura Tillman, who promises to pro- why he has given his support to House united in creating econom- Berry was his boss, the director vide representation to “the urban Brookins, but his father, Howard ic growth for all people,” said of curriculum at the time, and she and middle-class communities in Brookins Sr., served in the Illinois Rush. “Here we have bipartisan was the one who called him to Cook County, to the rural and bed- Legislature with Madigan from members of the Energy and Com- see if he was interested in comroom communities in Will Coun- 1982 to 1992, first as a represen- merce Committee who represent ing back. ty,” is the son of former Chicago tative and then a senator. various constituencies from diBerry retired in 2012, the same Brookins has said that he has verse regions of the country and alderman Dorothy Tillman. year that Skogsberg, who lives in Brookins, who has garnered the known Madigan since his father who come with different political Plainfield, left District 135 for backing of House Speaker Michael was a state representative, asked persuasions. We were able to put his current position as superinMadigan (D-22nd), the chairman him for his support and was aside our differences and focus our tendent of Taft School District of the state Democratic Party, “proud” to get it. efforts on bringing forth a jobs 90 in Lockport. It is one-school Brookins is listed as the pre- bill that will benefit all commu- district with about 350 students probably has the greatest chance of unseating the incumbent. He is ferred candidate on voting in- nities and help lift up the entire from kindergarten through eighth an attorney now serving his third formation being distributed by American economy.” grade.

Skogsberg, 41, said it was “humbling” that the school board reached out and asked him to consider returning to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Dr. Janet Stutz. Her three-year contract ends June 30.

District 135 is much bigger than the Lockport district, encompassVisitors will journey through following items: original photoing 10 schools in Orland Park, time and experience the history graphs and memorabilia of Sitting and about 5,000 students, includof the Civil War and the Ameri- Bull and Geronimo, swords from ing four primary schools, three can Indian Wars in the McCord the Battle of Little Bighorn, muGallery & Cultural Center’s ex- seum quality uniforms from the hibit, The Civil War and American First Illinois Battalion, General Indian Wars, Wednesday, March Custer’s gun, a display on slav16 - Sunday, March 20, from 10 ery, including bills of sale and a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. shackles, surgeon’s tools and kits An impressive mix of artifacts from Gettysburg, artifacts from from the private collections of four Chicago’s Camp Douglas, flag local residents, Dr. Joe Matheu, remnants, swords, and original Dan Michalak, Jason Krausz, British weapons. and David Carroll will illustrate General admission is $12 and concepts such as how the Battle $10 for members of McCord. of Little Big Horn relates to the Students and children under 18 General George Custer Civil War and will provide insights are free. into the daily life of a soldier in McCord Gallery & Cultural Park. For more information, call the 1860s.

Center is at 9602 W. Creek Road 671-0648 or visit www.mccordHighlights will include the (129th and LaGrange Road), Palos gallery.org.

Sports Authority expected to close three area stores BOB BONG

Races in Rush’s 1st Dist. among few contests here

Ishaak I. Hamdan Damin Hamdan

the side of the boy’s vehicle as both were northbound on Harlem Avenue approaching 151st Street.

The Nissan blocked the teen’s path before its occupants and those of a third vehicle rushed the teen’s vehicle, police said. The group of four attackers entered the teen’s vehicle and pulled him into the street, where the four wrestled him to the ground while punching and kicking him, police said. The beating continued in the roadway until some bystanders approached to help the victim, police said.

The teen was treated for cuts

Isa D. Hamdan

Aida I. Hamdan

and bruises on his face at the scene by the Orland Fire Protection District, police said.

Police said their investigation determined the attack was not random. The juvenile victim knew the attackers and was targeted by them because of “family issues,” police said.

All four were held for a bond hearing on Feb. 21 at the Cook County Court Building where bond was set at $10,000 per person, police said. The next court date is March 28 in Bridgeview.

Man charged with thefts from lockers at Life Time morning of Feb. 12 entering and leaving the locker room at Life Time several times, police said in a release last Thursday.

Qreini Shortly after he left the fitness center, reports came in that several lockers and gym bags had been entered and items stolen, police added.

After he was found with the assistance of Tinley Park police, Qreini was found to be in possession of the items stolen at Life Time that morning, along with valuables stolen on the two previous dates, police said.

Some of the valuables recovered included a Rolex watch, an Audomeirs Piguet watch, several Life Time Fitness locker keys, numerous wallets and credit cards,

two iPhones, cocaine and a loaded handgun, police said.

Police said their subsequent investigation revealed that Qreini used the stolen credit cards to buy large amounts of cigarettes and resell them to tobacco stores.

Qreini was charged in Cook County with two counts of misdemeanor theft, two counts of felony theft, one count of criminal trespass the vehicle and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, police said.

Bond was set at $10,000.

Last Thursday, Qreini was charged in Will County with three counts of burglary, three counts of unlawful use of a credit card, one count of continuing financial crimes, two counts of identity theft and one count of possession of a stolen firearm, police said.

All charges in Will County are felony charges. Bond was set at $100,000, police said.

ORLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT 135

Former administrator to make comeback as superintendent

McCord to host Civil War and American Indian Wars exhibit

intermediates, and three junior high schools.

“It’s bittersweet, because I have made such a strong connection with here at Taft with Skogsberg the parents, students and staff,” he said in an interview with The Regional News last week. “But I am looking forward to rekindling old acquaintances.”

When the D135 board accepted Stutz’s resignation on Jan. 11, the board issued a short statement accepting her resignation “with deep regret.”

The statement went on to say that Stutz “played an integral part in rebuilding the relationship between the administration and the union, as well as between the district and the community.”

Skogsberg will be the district’s fifth superintendent in seven years.

Stutz followed three superintendents, two of whom were interim, who each lasted only a year.

In addition to the hiring of several new principals and administrator during her tenure as superintendent, Stutz also oversaw the rollout of the district’s new policy of providing takehome computers to every student in third through eighth grades.

New teacher and principal assessment systems were also introduced.

Skogsberg’s contract calls for a salary of $182,500 in his first year, while Stutz, 52, is making $185,650 in the final year of her contract.

At least one parent praised Stutz at the Feb. 8 meeting, and asked why the board hired Skogsberg so quickly, rather than doing a more extensive search.

When that question was posed to Berry on Tuesday, she said, “We really wanted someone who was familiar with the district and who could ‘hit the ground running’ so to speak and had experience in the superintendent seat. Several board members were familiar with his work both in the district and the area.”

“To go to a full search would entail expense as well as time,” the board president added.

“As it stands right now, I am in the beginning stages of transitioning into the new superintendent position,” said Skogsberg.

“I want to honor all of the great work that was done by the previous superintendents, and maintain the vision for the district that the board has,” he said.

“They have a multi-year plan that I am becoming familiar with,” he continued. “We’re definitely going to hit the ground running on July 1.”

4 Thursday, March 3, 2016

GUEST EDITORIAL

OPINION

The Regional News

Open Lake Katherine board to public scrutiny

Let it be subject to both the Open Meetings and Freedom of Information acts because it has operated in the dark for too long

By Barb Gerosa The city of Palos Heights is currently in the process of drawing up a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Lake Katherine Nature Center. That agreement could determine the nature of the relationship between the city and the Nature Center for the next five years.

Along with many of my fellow neighbors who live alongside Lake Katherine, I have grown increasingly concerned with the operation and planned developments of the Nature Center. While I appreciate the substantial work the staff and volunteers at the Nature Center perform I am concerned about the lack of transparency under which the Nature Center operates as well as the potential commercialization of the area.

An independent Board that operates beyond the scrutiny of the general public currently administers the Lake Katherine Nature Center. The meetings of its Board are not open to the residents of Palos Heights, even though our taxes pay the salaries of the staff of the Nature Center and are used to help fund the activities of the Center. Additionally, given that structure, residents of Palos Heights are in the unfortunate position of having to react to decisions that have already been made by the Board behind closed doors, as opposed to being proactively involved in the discourse regarding how tax dollars are to be spent.

It has long been the hope of many that Lake Katherine Nature Center reach a point of financial self-sufficiency. The fear of area residents is that in attempting to achieve that goal the area becomes increasingly commercialized. Further commercialization of the area will reduce our property values. The over-development of a natural area can destroy the very justification for that area.

There does not appear to be a compelling reason to allow this institution to continue to operate beyond public accountability. All residents of Palos Heights should be concerned over this issue as their tax dollars are used to support the Nature Center—but without the ability to directly influence how those tax dollars are spent. Illinois residents are tired of government operating behind closed doors. Therefore, in order to achieve greater transparency and accountability, I call upon the city of Palos Heights to bring the administration of the Lake Katherine Nature Center directly under city control.

To paraphrase the founders: there should be no taxation without representation.

Barbara Gerosa is a resident of Palos Heights.

READERS WRITE ‘Illinois a Failed State’ right on, plus this …

Dear Editor: Right on Dr. William S. O’Reilly in your Guest Editorial last week, “Illinois a Failed State.”

But there is more! The Illinois problems started at least 20 years ago.

Because of Illinois corporate/ business tax policy, hundreds of small and midsize companies relocated out of Illinois. As we too know, major corporations seeking to expand never choose Illinois due to a lack of state financial discipline. Boeing, though headquartered in Chicago, chose South Carolina to build a huge manufacturing facility.

Along with companies leaving, the exit of citizens has followed. Over a broader expanse of time, Illinois has Editor’s Note: In any given year, the city of Palos Heights lost approximately one million pays around $150,000 toward Lake Katherine’s operations. residents. As United Van Lines The city’s 2015 general fund budget contains a page for annually reminds us, Illinois Lake Katherine Nature Center. A line item in the budget has been one of the most exited states in the union -- some shows an interfund operating transfer of $156,366 from general revenues of the city added to $102,500 attributed to years THE most exited! UVL has been tracking population Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanical Garden Board movement in the US since revenue. The sum makes up the total revenues of Lake 1977.

Katherine Nature Center of $258,866. That sum is equal to Compounding our problems the total expenditures listed for Lake Katherine. The interis the underfunded public fund operating transfer to Lake Katherine in the 2014 budget pensions. For more than a year was $152,000. The budgets can be found on the city’s decade these pensions stopped website. being funded by the Chicago City Council and the state legislature. The leadership of these public unions knowingly ignored the fact that millions The Regional News encourages letters to the editor. Letters due to the union coffers never must be signed and the name of the writer will be published. arrived.

Yet, not one public Include your address and telephone number for verification union official came forth to purposes. Limit letters to no more than 300 words. We reserve demand what was due. It is the right to edit letters. amazing too that public union E-mail letters to: theregional@comcast.net THE THE REGIONAL NEWS members did not prevail upon REGIONAL NEWS An THEindependent, locally-owned their leadership to protect their REGIONAL NEWS An independent, locally-owned community newspaper retirement funds. community newspaper published weekly An independent, locally-owned Job creation is near impossicommunity newspaper Regional Publishing Corporation ble in Illinois. Illinois is sur12243 S. Harlem Ave. Regional Publishing Corporation rounded by right-to-work states.

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

dom of the press, whenever and This newspaper newspaper dedicated This dedicated to to however it may beisthreatened. the memory memory of those who the who gave gave theirlives lives to protect America’s their to protect America’s free-

states in the U.S. are! A recent article in USA Today identified seventeen huge manufacturing facilities built or being built.

All were in right-to-work states.

Unions in general need to develop new business models that recognize how the landscape of jobs and employment has changed.

The leadership of the state legislature and the Chicago City Council have cleverly managed to have some media suggest the fault lies with Gov. Rauner. In fact, the problems have been caused by them, yet they refuse to accept the responsibility that it was they who created the mess Illinois is in!

Madigan/Cullerton need to come to grips that many other states are managed much better thusly become more financially viable and attract more residents and companies.

Tough pill to swallow!

— Joseph A. Murzanski, Palos Heights

Illinois will not fail Dear Editor: Last week’s guest editorial (“Illinois a Failed State”) misdiagnoses the state’s condition, and misunderstands what “separation of powers” is all about.

Illinois has survived much worse crises in its past. In the 1820s, pro-slavery forces unsuccessfully tried to make Illinois a slave state. In the 1830s, state Rep. Abraham Lincoln (and others) passed an Internal Improvements Act, which collapsed after the Panic of 1837, leaving behind a massive state debt. Our state struggled through the Panic of 1893, and the violent Pullman Strike, which followed. State and local government revenues cratered during the Great De-

pression of the 1930s, threatening the Teachers Retirement System (established 1915), and leading to income taxation and retailers taxation for the first time. Each time, Illinois got out of the crisis at hand.

Our state has the highest per-capita income in the Midwest, and the 17th highest in the country (Indiana is 38th). We have abundant fresh water supplies, excellent public universities and community colleges, and a transportation system second to none. While Indiana let its roads, bridges, and public buildings crumble, Gov. Quinn and the General Assembly passed a multi-year Capital Plan, which made the new US 45 and the new Moraine Valley buildings possible. Each day, thousands of Hoosiers commute to Illinois, for the higher wages and better benefits offered here. Things are not greener on the other side of the “Land of Lincoln”.

If things are so wonderful there, why is voter discontent so high, and the mainstream Republican Party frantically trying to stop front-runner Donald Trump?

Yes, we have problems.

But Illinois’ problems are not insurmountable. Bring Illinois’ tax code and revenue streams into the 21st century. Make Wall Street, hedge funds, private equity firms, billion-dollar “unicorn” companies, and multistate/ multinational corporations, pay their fair share. Rationalize public pensions, and tax them above a threshold level. Reform tax RAIDS (rebates, abatements, incentives, and diversions), cut corporate welfare, and prevent “crony capitalism” from taking root. Bring more money into the state coffers, and invest it in infrastructure and public education. In sum, tax fairly, and

spend wisely. If we do these, Illinois will be OK. You, I, and every voter in Illinois are the CEOs of the State. The General Assembly, Governor, and courts only have such power as we, the people, have seen fit to give to them.

The Founding Fathers, and the founders of our great State, created three co-equal branches of government, to ensure “checks and balances” on each branch, and to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Government CEOs were abolished in 1776, when the colonial legislatures (“middle management”) threw off then“CEO” King George III. Our General Assembly is not “middle management,” but stands co-equal with Gov. Rauner and the State courts.

It is time for us to exercise our power, at the ballot box. Are you registered to vote? Is everyone in your family registered to vote? All of your friends? All of your relatives? If you have a child, niece / nephew, or grandchild who will turn 18 before the Nov. 8 general election, take them to register and vote, and show them what being a United States citizen is all about.

Grace period registration and voting are available at the Bridgeview courthouse (Monday-Friday), the Orland Township Hall (Monday-Sunday), the Palos Heights Administration Building (Monday-Saturday), and other locations. Go to cookcountyclerk.com for more details, and be prepared to register and vote on the spot.

2016 is not about Gov. Rauner. It’s not about Speaker Madigan. It’s about the young people, our future. Let’s be heard.

— Elias M. Gordan, Palos Park

Presidential politics has gone off the deep end I’ve never seen more people who are running for president lie more than this year’s crop of presidential contenders, in both parties.

It’s amazing that the candidates for president will say and do anything to get votes. That’s sad on so many levels, but most importantly, the election “noise” is taking valuable time from real issues that need to be addressed.

Take the Republican contest, please!

Now, I don’t like everything Donald Trump says. I dislike his broad and somewhat racist swipes at Mexicans and Muslims. He wants to ban all Muslims from entering the United States and all Mexicans who do it “illegally.”

There is something to both issues, of course. Terrorists, murderers and killers are coming in from the Middle East and from Mexico, sneaking in with the many desperate and innocent people seeking sanctuary from their country’s troubles.

But not all of the people coming into America from Mexico or Muslim countries are terrorists, drug dealers or killers. Some are, unfortunately. There is a substantive way to address that issue, but sadly, it’s not being addressed by any of the candidates.

What do Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have to say about all that? They’re crazy, too.

Rubio is desperate to get votes and

RAY HANANIA stay in the election contest. This week he accused Trump of failing to denounce David Duke, the notorious anti-black racist.

David Duke? It’s such an obvious election stunt. Who cares about David Duke? More importantly, why is Marco Rubio paying attention to David Duke and racist haters in the first place?

Turns out Rubio is one of the most racist people in the U.S. Senate. Rubio is Cuban American and he grew up watching his wealthy parents complain about Communist dictator Fidel Castro, who took away all of their wealth and privileges.

Now, I am no big fan of Fidel Castro.

The guy was a tyrant and killer. But, the government that ran Cuban before Castro was so corrupt and the class racism in Cuban was so horrible that it made it easy for a “revolutionary” like Castro and Che Guevara to rise up and violently takeover the country.

Maybe Rubio should talk about how the anti-Castro forces were cozying up to the Mafia and organized crime money when

his parents were there to build casinos for the wealthy and exploit the poor?

Ted Cruz is a nut job, too. This guy is insane. I can’t even imagine him being president of the United States. He is so way out there when it comes to basic issues.

The Democrats are sidelined as the GOP circus rages. Hillary Clinton, however, is not as popular as she was eight years ago.

Her message is unclear. I have no idea what she really stands for.

Senator Bernie Sanders seems to be appealing to many Democrats with his hardcore liberal and progressive views.

But despite the votes, Clinton is using the system to lock in the Super Delegates to “steal” the nomination from the people.

What kind of democracy is this people?

No wonder the vast majority of Americans are fed up and disgusted with elections and don’t vote.

Personally, I like Sanders and I like Trump. As a non-politician business person, I think Trump steps in it a lot with his shoot-from-the-hip rhetoric. But I always favor the underdog, anyway. And a Sanders-Trump battle would be fascinating to see.

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

The Regional News

Thursday, March 3, 2016

5

Interim no more, Schofield named Orland Fire chief The Orland Fire Protection District last week named interim Fire Chief Michael Schofield as the district’s new fulltime fire chief.

The district’s board of trustees approved a three-year contract effective March 1, directing attorney Jim Roche to negotiate and recommend Schofield’s salary. Schofield’s salary currently is $187,000, the amount he received as interim fire chief, according to a district spokesman.

Schofield’s family was recently featured in The Regional after son Michael, an offensive lineman, played on the championship Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

One of the district’s top three longest serving firefighters, Schofield became interim fire chief after Fire Chief Ken Brucki requested a leave of absence in August for “personal reasons.”

Brucki requested retirement in January. His salary was $186,449, and his paid leave of absence extended until his retirement, according to the district spokesman.

A 44-year resident of Orland Park, Schofield served as a battalion chief and managed the Orland Fire Protection District’s Operational Services before being named interim chief.

Schofield, 54, joined the OFPD in 1977 as a cadet, eight years after the district was created. In 1979, Schofield became paid on call, which was considered a parttime position.

“Serving the residents of the Orland Fire Protection District has

Fire Chief Schofield

been my life and I am humbled and honored to be able to continue that service now as the District Fire Chief,” Schofield said.

“I want to continue the direction the Fire District has been going in. There are a lot of people in the Fire District, and a lot of great volunteers. Providing and maintaining the highest level of professional emergency and safety services is my goal.”

Schofield doesn’t anticipate making major changes during his first year, he said, but hopes to see the district maintain and enhance training for paramedics and emergency responders.

“There are no pressing issues right now, but I will take a close look at everything,” Schofield said.

Schofield was hired fulltime by the OFPD in 1986. He was

promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1989 and became a battalion chief in 2012.

Fire District Board Chairman Chris Evoy praised Schofield saying the board was moved by both his three-decade career in fire service and that he is a longtime resident in the district.

“We’re confident Fire Chief Schofield will do an exemplary job leading the district and supervising emergency fire response to uphold the safety of the district’s residents,” Evoy said. “He knows this district and what needs to be done.”

Schofield will celebrate his 30th year with the OFPD on his March 1 start date as full-time fire chief.

During his part-time tenure with the OFPD, Schofield worked from 1983 until 1986 as a paramedic with the Chicago Fire Department.

In 1985, Schofield received the paramedic award of valor from Chicago for the rescue of an employee involved in an industrial accident at the Nabisco plant in Chicago.

Schofield also worked in Homer Township as a part-time firefighter from 1995 to 2002, and then in the part-time position as Homer Township Fire Chief from 2002 to 2012. Schofield is the co-founder of the Will County Fire Chiefs Association, and Past President of Mabas 19 mutual aid group.

Schofield and is wife Kathy have six children, Nicole, Stephanie, Michael III, Andrew, Kathleen and Jacqueline.

POLICE BLOTTER: ORLAND PARK Store manager saves Grandma from scam A quick-thinking CVS store manager saved an Orland Park grandmother from being bilked out of $2,000, police said.

While at her home in the 15300 block of South Wilshire Drive at about 10 a.m. Feb. 16, the woman received a phone call from a man she believed to be her grandson.

The caller claimed to be in trouble in Nashville, Tenn. and that he needed her to send him $2,000 to hire an attorney. Following instructions, she went to the CVS store at 14300 S. Wolf Road a short time later and asked to purchase four $500 Green Dot cash cards.

She had been told to purchase the cards, give the serial numbers to the caller and not tell anyone.

Upon hearing the story, the CVS manager told the woman she was being victimized by a confidence artist, and store staff refused to sell her the cards. She then went home and called her son-in-law, who alerted police.

Burglar hits restaurant A burglar smashed through the window of a restaurant in the 15800 block of South Wolf Road, knocked two surveillance cameras off their mounts and stole about $80 from a cash register.

The crime was discovered by

police on routine patrol at 4:04 a.m. Feb. 18. One surveillance camera captured footage of the burglar. He is described as black, with brown eyes and black hair, wearing a puffy black coat, black pants and gloves, according to the police report.

Charged with felony retail theft Police charged Oak Lawn resident Timothy G. Pufunt, 56, with felony retail theft after he allegedly stole two pairs of designer sunglasses—worth a total of $479—from a store in Orland Square Mall at 11:10 a.m. Feb. 19.

Pufunt’s car was curbed outside the mall by police who said they found the glasses and other items in the vehicle, which was towed and impounded. Pufunt was due at a bond hearing on Feb. 20.

Obscenties scrawled on home’s garage A man reported that someone used a black marker to draw a penis and write obscene insults on the door of his garage in the 15500 block of South Merion Drive. The victim told police that he discovered the vandalism when he came home from work at about 8 a.m. Feb. 18. He said he did know of anyone who would want to damage his property, according

to the police report.

Charged with theft Police charged Souzi Kawar, 18, of Mokena with misdemeanor theft after she allegedly was found to be in possession of various items of stolen clothing at 2:35 p.m. Feb. 11. Police said they spotted Kawar near a secondhand clothing store in Orland Square Mall—a store they know has been “involved in retail thefts where suspects steal from [shops at] Orland Square and then sell the stolen clothing…for cash,” according to the police report.

Police said they recovered five stolen garments in Kawar’s car, as well as several she was wearing. Kawar was cited for theft and is set to appear at a hearing at the Orland Park Civic Center on Tuesday.

Wallet swiped at Goodwill A 35-year-old Harvey woman told police that someone stole her wallet while she shopped at Goodwill, 7400 W. 159th St., between 5 and 6 p.m. Feb. 13. The victim said she believed her wallet was in her open purse, which was in her shopping cart while she was at the thrift store. She said the wallet contained $200 cash, among other items, according to the police report.

Disabled veterans due higher property tax savings: new law Under a new law taking effect this year, veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who were severely wounded while serving their country will no longer be required to pay property taxes in Illinois.

A property tax exemption for disabled veterans has been in effect since 2007, but the law taking effect this year applies to more disabled veterans and provides greater tax savings than was the case in prior years. Under the new law, the most severely wounded veterans will not pay any property taxes at all. “Given these changes,” Palos Township Assessor Maloney said, “I urge all disabled veterans to check the eligibility requirements under the new law.”

To qualify for the Disabled Veterans Exemption, a property must be owned and occupied by a disabled veteran, and the veteran must have a disability that is connected to military service. The law requires that the service-connected disability be certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which determines the extent of a veteran’s disability. The chart below reflects the savings taking effect this year:

Level of Disability Tax Savings 70% or more Veteran’s home is completely exempt from property tax 50%-69% $5,000 in Equalized Assessed Value 30%-49% $2,500 in Equalized Assessed Value 0%-29% No tax savings for this level of disability Houses with very high market values ($917,000 or more last year) are not eligible for the exemption. It should also be noted that if a disabled veteran dies and is survived by a spouse, the surviving spouse can retain the Disabled Veterans Exemption until the survivor remarries.

First installment bills. First installment tax bills are issued before any exemptions are calculated.

This means that disabled veterans who are completely exempt from paying taxes this year will nonetheless receive a first installment tax bill that is 55% of their total property tax bill from last

Pushing Polk into Polar Plunge Local residents can help raise $1,000 for Special Olympics of Illinois. Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk will be freezin’ for a reason if donations reach that amount by the time the Polar Plunge is held this Saturday. And Police Chief Joe Miller is hoping to make it happen: “Who wants to see the Commissioner of Police in the water for the Polar Plunge? Our own Police Commissioner Dan Polk will go in if we raise $1,000 all pledged contributions go to Special Olympics Illinois and we are short of what it will take!” Chief Miller said. Contact Palos Park police for more info at 671-3770 or email jmiller@palospark.org

POLICE BLOTTER: PALOS HEIGHTS Thefts reported Unspecified electronic equipment was reported stolen from a detached garage in the 12700 block of South Oak Park Avenue sometime overnight, between Saturday and Sunday morning.

A man reported at 12:03 a.m.

Sunday that sometime earlier that night someone had stolen loose change out of his car while it was parked in the 13000 block of Timber Court.

Charged with DUI Francisco J. Sanchez, 36, of Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol at 1:04 a.m. Feb. 24, in the 12400 block of South Harlem Avenue.

Police said he was also cited for improper lane usage, and failure to dim headlights. He is due in court on March 25.

Russell J. Golubiewski, 53, of Palos Heights, was charged with DUI following a traffic stop in the 7200 block of Ishnala Drive, Palos Heights, at 7:30 p.m. last Thursday. Police said he was also cited for illegal transportation of alcohol, failure to signal a turn,

and failure to wear a seatbelt. He is due in court on April 8.

Ramon A. Rivera Jr., 32, of Chicago, was charged with DUI following a traffic stop at 3:26 a.m. Sunday, in the 11900 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said he was also cited for speeding and having no rear registration plate.

He is due in court on March 25.

Charged with driving while license suspended Daniel J. Hoover, 29, of Oak Lawn, was charged with driving on a suspended license following a traffic stop at 7:49 p.m. Wednesday, last week, at in the 13400 block of South Ridgeland Avenue.

Police said he was also cited for illegal use of a data communication device while driving. He is due in court on April 8.

Graciela Diaz, 29, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license following a traffic stop at 6:48 a.m. last Thursday, in the 12900 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said she was also cited for speeding. She is due in court on March 25.

Amber T. Stevenson, 21, of Chicago, was charged with driving

on a suspended license at 4:12 p.m. Friday, in the 6400 block of West 127th Street. Police said she is due in court on April 8.

Nancy Rios, 24, of Worth, was charged with driving on a suspended license at 12:57 a.m. Sunday, in the 11900 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said she was also cited for driving without insurance and with only one headlight. She is due in court on March 25.

Keith L. Naide, 21, of Harvey, was charged with driving on a suspended license following a traffic stop at 12:07 a.m. Monday, in the 12200 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said he was also cited for speeding. He is due in court on March 25.

Charged with aggravated speeding Mohammed B. Shaibe, 19, of Orland Hills, was charged with aggravated speeding at 11:39 p.m.

Feb. 23, in the 13000 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said he was speeding 29 mph over the speed limit. He is due in court on March 25.

POLICE BLOTTER: PALOS PARK Charged with DUI Damian Lukasz Smiech, 26, of Hickory Hills, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and other offenses at 3:31 a.m. Feb. 20 after leaving the scene of a collision in which his car hit a tree at Wolf and Ford Road, police said.

Police saw the car when they responded to calls of a suspicious person knocking on doors on nearby Shadow Ridge before Smiech was found at Forest Edge Drive and Oak Tree Court, police said.

Police said Smiech told them he fell asleep at the wheel, but submitted a breath sample registering .248 blood-alcohol count, more than three times the legal limit.

He was also cited with leaving the scene of an accident, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and driving with an expired license and no insurance. He is due in court on March 9.

Charged with aggravated speeding Travis M. Poulson, 21, of Palos Park, was charged with aggravated speeding at 12:17 a.m. Feb. 20,

year. Once second installment bills come out in July, however, these veterans will be eligible for a refund of the amount paid for Puzzle on Page 11 the first installment. Veterans with questions about first installment bills should call the Palos Township Assessor’s office.

Application information. All veterans who received the Disabled Veterans Exemption last year received renewal forms in late January. The renewal applications must include a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs dated after Jan. 1, 2015 that verifies the veteran’s level of disability.

Those who did not apply for the exemption last year will not get Puzzle on Page 11 an application in the mail. “In the past, veterans with disabilities of 50 percent or less were not eligible for the exemption, but eligibility now starts at a disability level of 30 percent,” Assessor Maloney said. “These newly eligible veterans, along with any other disabled veteran, can call Palos Township Assessor’s office at 598-4449 if they have questions about the exemption or need help completing the application.”

Answers

Sudoku

in the 12600 block of South LaGrange Road. Police said he was driving his Ford F20 Super Cab truck 95 mph in a 45 mph zone.

He is due in court on March 9.

Charged with driving while license suspended Andrew J. Nowak, 21, of Worth, was charged with driving on a suspended license and no insurance when he was stopped at 1:18 a.m. Feb. 18, in the 12300 block of South 86th Avenue. Police said he was also cited for driving with no insurance and an obstructed

window. He is due in court on March 9.

Cindy L. Sweeney, 44, of Lockport, was charged with driving on a suspended license at 7:47 p.m. Feb. 20, in the 12300 block of South Fox Lane. Police said she was also cited for driving without insurance. She is due in court on March 9.

Shawn A. Flores, 36, of Midlothian, was charged with driving on a suspended license at 2:11 a.m.

Feb. 13, in the 13500 block of South LaGrange Road. Police said he is due in court on March 9.

6 Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Regional News

The Regional News

Thursday, March 3, 2016

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The Regional News

The Regional News

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The Regional News

HEALTHY ANSWERS FOR LIFE

New help for diabetes and also high cholesterol Q: I’ve read a couple articles recently about the supplement berberine for type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol- two problems I have. The things I’ve read sound almost too good to be true. I wanted to see if you had information about berberine and diabetes, since I don’t want to buy something that doesn’t really work.

A: Berberine is a little known supplement that has been gaining popularity for its impressive benefits for diabetics as well as people dealing with high cholesterol. Berberine has been touted lately as a wonder supplement, but I’m happy to report that the science actually does back up the hype around berberine, especially for diabetics.

Berberine has been the subject of several recent scientific studies for diabetes. Scientists concluded that taking berberine, at a dose of five hundred milligrams two to three times a day, was shown to be as effective as three different prescription oral diabetes medications for lowering blood sugar. The researchers reported that berberine had “identical effects in the regulation of blood sugar” when compared to the top diabetes medications for type 2 diabetics.

In another study in patients with type 2 diabetes, 500 milligrams twice a day of berberine lowered fasting blood sugar from just above the range of being classified as diabetes (i.e., 126ml/dL) to normal blood sugar levels (less than 100mg/dL) in most people.

Similar positive results were observed in studies focusing on people with high cholesterol and high triglycerides. A review of the current studies also determined that berberine was safe to take in conjunction with prescription medications for the above issues, and produced better results than the medications alone. In one placebo controlled trial, berberine lowered triglyceride levels by 35.9 percent, LDL cholesterol by 21 percent, and total cholesterol by 18 percent. The participants in the study that took berberine also experienced lower blood pressure as well as weight and abdominal fat loss.

The accumulating research on berberine is really showing it to be an impressive supplement, and one that would be of benefit to many people, particu-

CAROLYN JOHNSON

PassHealthFoods.com

larly those with blood sugar or cholesterol issues.

The recommended dosage is typically five hundred milligrams two to three times a day. Berberine has also been shown to be well tolerated, and without side effects with the exception of constipation for some people at higher dosages. People who do experience constipation after taking berberine in higher dosages usually experience relief if they reduce their dose.

So, to answer your question, yes, the science backs up the many benefits of berberine, and no, it is not too good to be true! I would recommend the Natural Factors brand of berberine, known as WellBetX Berberine, since it contains the 500 milligram dose used in the above research studies.

Also, since I’m writing about berberine this month, we will be offering the Natural Factors brand berberine on sale for the month of March at the store for 25 percent off. If you have type 2 diabetes or issues with high triglycerides, I would very much recommend giving it a try!

Carolyn Johnson is one of the knowledgeable associates at Pass Health Foods at 7228 W. College Drive. Feel free to stop by the store for more information or advice. www.passhealthfoods.com This column makes no claims to diagnose, treat, prevent, mitigate, or cure diseases with any advice or products.

Any health related information in this article is for educational purposes only. The ultimate responsibility for your choices and their effect on your health are yours and before applying any therapy or use of herbs, supplements, etc., you should consult your health care provider.

PICK OF THE LITTER

Dental cleaning: We got NADs JOHN FLEMING DVM • Prairie StateVet.com

Orland Twp. monthly immunization clinic Orland Township will hold its monthly immunization clinic this Saturday, March 5, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the township building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave. Free vaccines are available to township children 18 and under.

Some eligibility restrictions apply. Non-residential children who meet the eligibility guidelines are

welcome. For children residing outside of the township’s boundaries, a $20 administration fee per vaccine will be charged (does not apply to those with Medicaid/All Kids). An up-to-date shot record is mandatory to receive any vaccine, and children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Children’s vaccines that are available include DTaP, DTaPHep B-IPV, DTaP-IPV-Hib, DTaPIPV, Hep A, Hep B, Hep B-Hib, HPV, Meningococcal, MMR, IPV, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus, Tdap and Varicella. Adult vaccines

that are available include HPV, Pneumococcal, Hep A, Tuberculosis, Hep B, Tdap, IPV, Meningococcal, Hep A-Hep B, MMR, Typhoid, Varicella and Shingles.

Immunizations may seem like a hassle and can be easily forgotten but with school requirements, international travel and the rapidity in which illness is spread, it’s important for children and adults alike to receive immunizations.

For additional clinic dates and adult immunization prices, visit www.orlandtwp.org.

The first session will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, at the PLOWS office, 7808 College Drive, 5th Floor, Palos Heights.

Call PLOWS at 361-0219 to register.

“A Musical Maid in America.”

The show is based on the popular American sitcom ran from 1961 to 1966. Prior to the performance guests will enjoy lunch.

Bus will depart at 10 a.m. the parking lot on 151st and 94th Avenue directly between Bank Financial and Robert Morris College in Orland Park. Tickets can be purchased through the Orland Township office. For more, call Marie Collins Ryan 403-4222.

SENIOR NOTES Grandparents raising grandchildren support PLOWS Council on Aging offers a six-session support group for grandparents raising grandchildren.

Each session will have a specific focus, including financial and legal assistance, building relationships, and caring for oneself along the way. Knowledgeable and experienced guest speakers will provide additional information and guidance.

Orland Twp. ‘Hazel’ Drury Lane outing Orland Township’s Senior Services offers a “trip down memory lane” to the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace on April 14 for the luncheon and play, “Hazel”-

Smith Village free health fair offers free food, health checks Smith Village invites the public to attend its free annual Health Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, at 2320 W. 113th Place in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood.

The life plan community sponsors this free event to share with neighbors the same wealth of expertise available to its residents.

“March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is “Savor the flavor of eating right,’” says Christina O’Neil, Smith Village nutrition care manager, dietician and coordinator for this year’s event. “Our executive chef David Yunker will conduct food demos to introduce people to lots of delicious healthy choices.”

O’Neil also will provide information about healthy snacking and recipes.

In addition to free food, at-

tendees can receive free health assessments and more.

• Smith Village fitness coordinator Jaimie Wall will talk about the benefits of establishing exercise regimens tailored to individual fitness needs. Fitness Center coordinators will provide fitness assessments pertaining to: heart rate, body mass, arm strength and overall flexibility.

• Arash Koochek M.D., dermatologist from Little Company of Mary will conduct skin cancer screenings.

• Great Lakes Caring will offer blood pressure checks.

• Smith Village nurses will administer blood glucose screenings and review medications for compatibility with diet and other factors.

• Memory support coordinator Diane Morgan will share infor-

SIMPLE GIFTS

Dear Dr. Fleming, I have an 11-year-old Yorkie who has bad teeth and I‘d like to get them cleaned but am afraid of putting Pongo under anesthesia.

I’ve been reading on-line about vets who do dental cleaning without anesthesia. What is your perspective on this?

Robert, Oak Forest Dear Robert, There is a lot to consider on this issue, but I’ll give you my short answer first. If I could convince you that today’s anesthetics are extremely safe and you would let us clean her teeth under anesthesia we would be able to do a top-notch job. In 35 years of practice I have never seen a pet die under dental anesthesia. That being said my feeling is that if you aren’t going to allow Pongo to be anesthetized for teeth cleaning then a veterinarian should at least try to do something for you.

This non-anesthetic dental cleaning issue is being discussed on our veterinary journals quite a bit and I think this discussion has begun in earnest now that a California-based company has come up with a new business model wherein they go from veterinary clinic to clinic performing non-anesthetic dentals (NAD) for clients of that clinic who want this service.

As I expected, those veterinarians who have spent extra time in their education process to become veterinary dentists, and who restrict their practice to veterinary dentistry, are against this concept of NAD. They have very valid reasons for their opposition. Some of these oppositions include not being able to make dental radiographs on an awake dog thereby missing pathology, not being able to do as complete a job as you can in an anesthetized dog, and not being able to perform extractions in an awake animal (unless the teeth are already so far gone that they are “finger loose”). To these objections I will add that an awake dog can chomp down on one of our beautiful 30-thousand Hertz, LED illuminated Protégé magnetostrictive ultrasonic dental cleaning inserts and destroy a perfectly beautiful expensive piece of equipment.

HEALTH BEAT

Supplied photo

Our clinic dentist, Dr. Joe Solek, of Orland Park, performs non-anesthetic dentistry on me.

I don’t need two techs to hold me down. Of great comfort, Joe allows me to hold his dog Riley on my lap, which distracts me greatly as he does his thing.

I am one of those veterinarians who are ambivalent to this issue and just go with the flow. If I have a client whose dog obviously needs a teeth cleaning with no obvious teeth that need extracting I will consider an NAD. As I said, we have already been doing these for years.

We choose our NAD dogs carefully. Any dog with an attitude toward biting is immediately excluded from consideration and dogs with horribly infected teeth are likewise excluded since they deserve a thorough job under anesthesia. Otherwise if an owner wants to give it a shot here is what we do. On our dental table we put down a towel for the dog’s head. I have relegated myself to the position of Chief Head-Holder and I stand on one side of the table to hold the dog’s head in the proper position. I have also become quite adept at retracting gums as I secure the pet’s head.

We talk to the dog a lot and are usually amazed at how calm they can be. We usually have the owner stand opposite me to help hold the pet on their side and also act as a comforter to their pet. We find that most people who are nervous about anesthesia are the type of people who love to help out. Directly opposite me Ashly does her magic with the ultrasonic cleaning tip. She and I have developed into an NAD team equal to anything out of California. I know any other tech could do this and I know that I am certainly am not indispensable but the two of us have a good track record doing

these. Perhaps it’s time that one of our other vets and techs pair up and form their own NAD team.

If the rare owner does not want to be present then another tech helps with restraint. I have to say if you pick your cases right it can be extremely gratifying to see the finished work.

Dear Readers, Last week I saw my eye doctor and got a good report about the flashes of light I had been seeing.

As I am aging the vitreous gel in my left eye has begun to tug on my retina which interprets that “tug” as “light”. This is a normal aging process, one of many that I am looking forward to. I also learned that I am developing nuclear sclerosis, which is a normal “graying” of the lens. This does not affect my vision and I see this every day in dogs. Many owners tell me that they think their dog is getting cataracts because they can see the lens “graying”. I quick exam tells me that cataracts are not present and that the dog is just experiencing run of the mill nuclear sclerosis. I asked my eye doctor if there was anything in human medicine that can slow the process and the answer I got was that some doctors think fish oil supplementation can help. I will do my due diligence research and see if there are any thoughts about the use of fish oil to slow nuclear sclerosis in dogs.

Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.

— George Washington

Volunteers needed for Housewares Show pack-up Housewares Show Pack-up is back and Sertoma Centre is gearing up: 70 volunteers have been secured and at least 70 more are needed to make this day a success.

Transportation will be provided by two luxury coach buses that will depart from Sertoma Centre’s 123rd location at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, and bring volunteers down to McCormick Place where participants will pack up donated items for the Housewares

Super Sale happening on Friday and Saturday, April 2 and 3, in Palos Heights.

Donations from companies at this event on March 8 will stock the sale, allowing Sertoma Centre to price items at 50 to 90 percent off retail. Food and refreshments will be provided.

To to sign up, contact Laura Gardner, Volunteer Services Manager at 730-6211 or email her at lgardner@sertomacentre.org. Visit www.sertomacentre.org for more info. Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

LEGAL NOTICE

mation for older adults and their families on coping with dementia.

For more information about the Smith Village Health Fair, please call at 773-474-7300.

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR MORGAN STANLEY IXIS REAL ESTATE CAPITAL TRUST 2006-2 MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-2 Plaintiff, -v.THOMAS M. JOSEPH, JULEA J. JOSEPH, DISCOVER BANK Defendants 14 CH 11915 12125 S. 90TH AVENUE Palos Park, IL 60464 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 6, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 7, 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: LOT 1 IN DE BOW’S SUBDIVISION, A SUBDIVISION OF THE WEST 329.45 FEET OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 37 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, (EXCEPT FROM SAID WEST 329.45 FEET THE NORTH 330.00 FEET THEREOF) IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS Commonly known as 12125 S. 90TH AVENUE, Palos Park, IL 60464 Property Index No. 23-27-206-059-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $856,666.29.

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, contact Plaintiff s attorney: POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 263-0003 Please refer to file number C14-96560.

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.

POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 263-0003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw.com Attorney File No. C14-96560 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 14 CH 11915 TJSC#: 36-320 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.

The Regional News

Thursday, March 3, 2016

PHOTO MEMORIES FROM THE REGIONAL ARCHIVE

11

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Across 1 “Invisible Cities” author Calvino 6 “I ran away from you once. I can’t do it again” speaker 10 Ford Field player 14 Surgery acronym 15 It’s a gas 16 “Snow White” character flaw 17 Forgeries that are easy to spot?

20 By way of 21 French pronoun 22 Habituate 23 Dude in the CIA? 28 Essen’s valley 29 Spotted 30 Slug relative 33 Roll

File photo from Feb. 29, 1996

20 Years Ago This Week

34 Word after clip or pop 37 Trivial blunder?

42 Colorado native Strong framework: The new church building for Incarnation parish is rising high and sturdy as it approaches its 43 “About his head he wears the completion in late summer. The structure, at 5757 W. 127th St., will be attached to the present building. winner’s __”: “The Two Noble Kinsmen”

SCHOOL NOTES

File photo from March 2, 2006

10 Years Ago This Week Beloved poetry teacher retires: Ruth McGinnis recently retired from teaching poetry at The Center in Palos Park. Everyone who reads The Regional News must already know who Ruth McGinnis is. Her column and picture appear weekly in this paper. Having a smile as big and generous as her talent as a writer, Ruth loves life. That is obvious to her readers, and even more so to those who know her more intimately.

44 Guanaco cousin 45 Beantown athlete

Pancake breakfast at Incarnation School

47 Peek follower

Incarnation Catholic School will hold a pancake breakfast with the Easter Bunny, this Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the school, 5705 W. 127th St., in Palos Heights.

Cost is $7 adults, $3 children/ seniors. Pictures with the Bunny $5. Free face painting and other fun activities for the kids will also be held.

54 Some Highlanders

Sandburg craft show The 27th annual Carl Sandburg Music Boosters Spring Craft Show will be held Saturday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, March 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Carl Sandburg High School, 13300 S. LaGrange Road, Orland Park.

Sandburg offers free, ample onsite parking. Admission is $2 per person/ free children age 12 and under. Proceeds benefit Sandburg’s music program.

For more information, email Elise Wehmeier at springcraftshowcshs@gmail.com or CSHS Music Boosters at cshsmusicboosters@gmail.com.

49 Pancake cook in pinstripes?

56 U.N. workers’ agcy.

57 Roasting time in Toulon?

58 “My fireplace is defective!”?

63 “Footloose” co-star Singer 64 Word after “funny” that clarifies its meaning 65 1995 Stallone title role 66 City NNE of Boston 67 Senate Republican leader before Frist 68 Sources of wisdom

• Teen Gaming, Board Games, Media Lab for grades 6 and up Bring your friends to the library to relax with Wii or Xbox gaming every Friday from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

No registration is necessary.

• Batman vs. Superman-all age - With the release of the movie on March 25, we are hosting our own election to select a library superhero from March 6-25.

The winner will be announced on opening day.

• Dr. Seuss Birthday Party Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with your favorite stories, a craft, fishy snacks and door prizes on Monday, March 7 at 2 p.m. Registration is needed for this event.

• After School Club-grades 1-3 - Enjoy stories, activities, crafts and snacks based on popular books series on Tuesday, March 8, at 4 p.m. Please register for this event.

• Make Your Own Movie-grades 6 and up - Use our media lab and your own device to make your own short movie on

the house’s luminous, monochromatic disco looks with humungous wigs. I found these strikingly reminiscent of the spooky lady in the radiator in David’s Lynch’s Eraserhead film.

Simone Rocha’s show featured a broad range of feminine looks, citing having a baby as her personal inspiration. She showed dreamy tulle dresses in pale pink, ivory and red, as well as various darker elements intermixed throughout.

The effect was a fantastical showcase with a slightly eerie surrealist twist.

J.W. Anderson’s presentation was certainly a favorite. The collection was an “exercise in fashion,” as described by designer Jonathan Anderson. Similar to the approach taken by Proenza Schouler in their New York collection for fall, Anderson said, “The starting point was a kind of modern cocktail wear...there is a structural part, and then there is a sort of moving part.” He used waves of color throughout the collection from royal blue zipup tops, mint-colored folded mini

38 It’s surrounded by white

6 Like some soccer games

39 Game ender

7 Pope before Benedict III

40 Morlock prey

8 Plant

41 Bomb

9 Taylor of fashion 10 Pressure

45 He served between Warren and Herbert

11 Finish, as a tat

46 Bay State motto starter

12 Finished

47 Like most rafts

13 Where to see MMM

48 Rorschach image

18 “Toy Story” character who draws

49 Ache

19 County on the Firth of Forth

50 “__ Men Out”: baseball scandal film

24 Composer Satie

51 Pequod co-owner

25 Gag __

52 Chopin’s “Winter Wind,” e.g.

26 Isaac’s eldest

53 Orchestra group

27 Team whose logo involves a “wishbone C”

54 Fish feature

31 Trivial objection

1 Affectionate text

32 One-spot

2 It’s often just inches

33 Pan for Yan

3 Syrian leader

34 Recipe words

4 Full deck Nero wasn’t playing

35 Mojito ingredient

55 “Hi, sailor!”

59 Vezina Trophy org.

60 Lao Tzu principle 61 Some pop-ups 62 Brother

Answers on Page 5

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.

Answers on Page 5

CLUB ACTIVITIES

Genealogists

Latest London Fashion Week showcases fun and eccentricity CAROLINE FOREMAN

5 Gave a thumbs-up

Down

Tuesday, March 8, from 6-8 p.m.

Registration is needed.

• Chess Club-all ages - Play chess and get advice from our teen volunteers on Wednesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. No registration is needed.

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

FASHION CHAT

London Fashion Week’s fall and winter 2016-17 presentation wrapped up on Feb. 23 after presenting the world finest expressions of eccentricity.

As is characteristic of this fashion hub, designers brought a sense of personality-driven style to the catwalks in their collections.

Among the fashions presented in London were works by designers J.W. Anderson, Charlotte Olympia, Simone Rocha, Gareth Pugh, Mary Katrantzou, TOPSHOP Unique, Vivienne Westwood, Mulberry, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Peter Pilotto, Ashish, and Erdem.

There were historical references from the 1960s and ‘70s, as well as dabbles of ‘30s and ‘40s. Erdem Moralioglu breathed life into his ‘30s or ‘40s style cinematic imagination with a theater-like setting with gunmetal pailletted bias-cut dresses with a swishing hem and many dark metallic sequins cut into capes and midcalf length skirts. Frocks and ensembles played upon the ‘60s and ‘70s with cuts and embellishments. There were modern and fabulous cropped pants with slight flared legs also seen all over the collections.

The underpinning theme of the shows appeared to be dream states and surrealism. For instance, a particularly fun and enjoyable iteration was that from Ashish through

36 Not yet determined, in skeds

30 Mustangs’ sch.

LIBRARY NOTES Heights library youth programs

with?

skirts, and poppy orange ruffled skirts. The boldness of the colors, along with the thought-provoking techniques and silhouettes were intensely contrasted against the whitewashed corridors of the Yeomanry House setting.

On the other hand, Sarah Jane Burton’s collection for Alexander McQueen featured countless lush embroideries, boudoir elements, and symbolic motifs of butterflies, lips, pocket-watches, and moons.

There was certainly a transformative fairytale style of dressing.

Other designers, such as Burberry and Mary Kantrantzou, created very wearable and fun frocks and girly looks with shiny fabrics, pleats, and flourishing prints.

There were charming butterflies, geometric shapes and large energetic, swirling patterns. Another way in which designers brought about a sense of energy and fun was by way of proportion. Exaggeration in the size of everything from skirts, tunics and sleeves brought thought-provoking modernity to wearable looks.

I encourage you to scan runway recaps if you have not already seen some of these brilliant presentations. Next time, we will delve into the presentations on the Milan and awe-inspiring Paris runways.

Caroline Foreman is a fashion mode, writer and critic. She lives in Palos Park.

Tips and Tricks for Cook County vital records: Tinley Moraine Genealogists will meet at 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 10, at Tinley Public Library, 7851 Timber Drive.

The speaker will show how to access vital records by using alternative methods. Learn about hidden sources used as out-of-state indexes and records created after the fact. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Free. (535-1863)

Palos Heights Woman’s Club The Palos Heights Woman’s Club plans its Bargain Seekers Event to be held on Saturday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Palos Heights Recreation Center, 6601 W. 127th St. Lots of gently used clothing, accessories and household items will be available at low prices. They will also be collecting goodwill donations of non-perishable food to benefit the Worth Food Pantry.

Proceeds from this event will fund the club’s latest project, an LED sign for the newly remodeled and expanded Recreation Center.

SW Widows and Widowers The Southwest Suburban Widows and Widowers Social Club will hold their next meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. this Friday, March 4 at Zion Church, 17100 S. 69th Ave., Tinley Park.

Beverages and snacks are served at the meeting. Entertainment is usually provided at the monthly meetings. The club also organizes restaurant outings, dances, trips and theater outings. Get acquainted meetings are held for guests who are attending their first meeting.

For more, call Danell Chmura, (630) 728-9368.

Photo by Joe Boyle

WHATIZIT? Several readers recognized the photo in Whatizit quickly this week.

Several readers guessed correctly that it was Condrady Junior High School, 7950 W. 97th St., Hickory Hills.

Hickory Hills residents Calen and Mike Howley knew it was the exterior of Conrady School facing west along Roberts Road. Palos Hills resident Bob Hartley also knew it was Conrady Junior High School. Carol and Jerry Janicki, of Worth, also knew it was Conrady.

The school has nearly 1,000 students and has a variety of activities.

Conrady Junior High is in North Palos School District 117.

The clue for this week’s Whatizit photo above for this week is: Around the ridge.

Send your responses by noon Monday to thereporter@comcast.net.

BUSINESS FINANCIAL FOCUS

12 Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Regional News

‘Cost basis’ can affect your investment strategy

Orland Chamber 2016 board installed

Supplied photo

The Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce installed its 2016 board of directors earlier this year at Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park. Shown are Vice President Renee Tabor, Metamorphosis (bottom row from left); Immediate Past President Heather Warthen, President Renee Oswald, Your Mind Over Matter; President-Elect debi Ross, Inside Looks; Secretary Mike Hardek, Centrue Bank; and (second row from left)) board members Michael Buck, Law Office of Michael A Buck; Lynn Cialdella, Parkway Bank & Trust Company; Ed Schussler, Karen Nemeth, BMO-Harris; Ray Klosowski, Mulcahy, Pauritsch, Salvador & Co., Ltd.; Andy Varga, American Family Insurance; (top row from left) Susan Byrne, Coldwell Banker Real Estate; Patrick Zomparelli, Baird & Warner; and Joyce Bibeau, Kerry Funeral Home.

CAREER & BUSINESS RE/MAX broker credited for big sales gains in 2015 Dave Shalabi of RE/MAX Synergy in Orland Park was recently cited by Chicago Agent magazine for the exceptional sales growth achieved in 2015.

The magazine looked at the sales results of all real estate agents in the metro area and then ranked them by total sales for the year. It

then compared that ranking to the one done a year earlier. In terms of which agents saw their ranking increase the most in 2015, Shalabi Dave Shalabi had the second largest increase, advancing 2,010 places in the ranking.

Shalabi credits the strong uptick in his business to an enhanced focus on communicating with his roster of past clients. “We’ve always done that, but last year we put a greater emphasis on it, and the dividends paid were huge,” Shalabi said. “It demonstrated again the importance to anyone in our business of building a large pool of satisfied clients.”

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 Fitzmaurice Judith M to Iovino Tanya C, 15502 Whitehall Ln, Unit #71D, $162,000; Kouris Kiki A to Abed Muthyfah A, 9049 140th St, $240,000; Waller Eva to Salas Raul, 13618 Mccabe Dr, $337,500; Othman Eyas to Hamoudeh Mohammad, 10857 Lentfer Ct, $485,000; Bank NY Mellon to Akers David M Tr, 9900 Treetop Dr, Unit #4006, $74,000; Jochheim Joseph F to Gawel James A, 14415 Crystal Tree Dr, $317,000; Cachey Anthony to Powers Ryan, 7700 157th St, $255,000; Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Deitche Eric, 15261 Catalina Dr, Unit #152613, $90,000; Gencius Albin Tr to Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr, 11803 Lynch Dr, $300,000; Chow Kai W to Seltzner Mar-

garet, 9008 W 140th St, Unit #90081D, $102,000; Fey Ellen to Liskiewicz Michael, 11008 Laurel Hill Dr, $440,000.

Palos Heights Ready Robert J Jr Tr to Bracken William R Tr, 7643 Arquilla Dr,

Unit #7643, $280,000; Tapia Vanessa C to Shobe David R, 12700 S Austin Ave, $210,000; Lasalle Lavina H Tr to Mansour Heidi, 11927 S 76th Ave, $160,500; Kelly Mary to Ryan Diane M, 7698 Arquilla Dr, Unit #76981AA, $191,500.

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

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

RATES APR POINTS 3.875 3.910 0 3.125 3.180 0 3.875 3.920 0

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

RATES APR POINTS 3.625 3.645 0 2.990 3.026 0 2.875 2.927 0

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

RATES APR POINTS 3.625 3.673 .25 3.375 3.442 .25 3.000 3.067 .25

United Trust Bank (as of Feb. 29)

Prospect Federal (as of Feb. 29)

All rates subject to change daily. Equal opportunity lenders.

reStaurant & Bar

ST. PATRICK’S DAY THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016 STARTING 11 A.M. IN OUR DINING ROOM AND BAR!

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Now that it’s Tax Season, you may want to pay close attention to every part of your financial picture because it’s important to understand the factors that affect your taxes. One area to be aware of is the “cost basis” of your investments.

Cost basis, also known as “tax basis,” is essentially your investment in a financial asset, such as a stock. Your cost basis is generally the amount you will use to determine your taxable profit or loss when you sell the investment.

Let’s look at an example. Suppose you bought 50 shares of XYZ stock for $1,000 several years ago. Now you decide to sell your shares and use the proceeds for a different investment, which you think will help further diversify your portfolio. (Keep in mind that while diversification can reduce the impact of volatility on your holdings, it can’t guarantee a profit or protect against loss.) Your shares are now worth $1,500, so you will have a $500 gain — but will you be taxed on all of it?

To answer that question, you’ll need to review what has transpired with your investment since you bought it. You know that the value has gone up $500, but let’s also assume that, during the last few years, you received $150 in dividends and you reinvested the entire amount into your shares of XYZ stock.

Your adjusted cost basis would increase to $1,150, rather than the original purchase price of $1,000.

Since your sale price is $1,500, your taxable gain would actually only be $350 ($1,500 minus $1,150), rather than $500. Consequently, if you were to report your cost basis as $1,000 — your original purchase price — you’ll end up paying taxes on a bigger gain than is necessary.

And we’ve just looked at one isolated example.

If you were to under-report the size of your cost basis on all your investments when you sell them,

JIM VAN HOWE

Edward Jones Investments you could end up paying far more in capital gains taxes than is actually necessary.

Fortunately, you probably don’t have to worry about constantly calculating cost basis on your own; if you’re investing with a financial advisor, he or she will likely provide you with statements that include these calculations.

Still, your knowledge of cost basis is important.

For one thing, you can choose which particular shares of an investment to sell first. In the above example, we looked at what might happen if you bought shares at one time and then sold the same shares a few years later. But if you purchase shares of the same investment at different times, you are almost certainly buying them at different prices — and these differences in price will affect your cost basis when you sell. So your decision on which shares to sell first — as expressed in different accounting methods, such as “first in, first out” (FIFO) or “last in, first out” (LIFO) — can be more, or less, beneficial to your tax situation. Your tax professional can help you make the right choices.

By learning the basics of cost basis, you will become a more informed investor — and you can help potentially minimize your tax burden.

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.

SPORTS The Regional News • The Reporter

Making a big splash Two Sandburg swimmers finished in the top 10 at state. Page 2

Jeff Sports Editor • sports@regionalpublishing.com

KenVorva, Karrson, Sports Editor • sports@regionalpublishing.com

Thursday,March March5,3,2015 2016 Thursday,

The waiting game SXU basketball teams wait to see who they will play in the NAIA nationals. Page 4 Southwest••Section Section2,2,Page Page11 Southwest

Erin Drynan had 23 games in which she recorded at least a doubledouble, and six of those were triple doubles.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Moraine Valley freshman Michelle Borgen had 22 double-doubles in 30 games this season and led the nation in number of free throws made.

They’re a double-double dynamic duo Borgen’s double-doubles Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 14 Nov. 17 Dec. 1 Dec. 3 Dec. 12 Dec. 19 Jan. 14 Jan. 19 Jan. 21 Jan. 23 Jan. 26 Jan. 28 Feb. 2 Feb. 4 Feb. 9 Feb. 13 Feb. 16 Feb. 18 Feb. 25 Feb. 27

Lincoln Land Black Hawk East Lincoln Kennedy-King Harper Trinity Wright Joliet Lake County Waubonsee McHenry Co. Kankakee Morton Prairie State Elgin Lake County Waubonsee South Suburban Morton Prairie State Black Hawk Waubonsee

23 pts, 17 reb.

23 pts, 13 reb.

27 pts, 15 reb.

17 pts, 10 reb.

23 pts, 16 reb.

19 pts, 16 reb.

20 pts, 17 reb.

20 pts, 14 reb.

17 pts, 17 reb.

14 pts, 11 reb.

34 pts, 10 reb.

25 pts, 11 reb.

24 pts, 15 reb.

30 pts, 13 reb.

21 pts, 11 reb.

14 pts, 11 reb.

22 pts, 10 reb.

16 pts, 17 reb.

19 pts, 10 reb.

21 pts, 12 reb.

36 pts, 21 reb.

14 pts, 11 reb.

By Jeff Vorva • Sports Editor

hen Mother McAuley’s Erin Drynan and Andrew’s Michelle Borgen signed up to play at Moraine Valley Community College on the same day last offseason, it was uh-oh time for the two power players. After meeting each other, both wondered how much they would get to play.

W

“I looked at her and said, ‘It looks like I’m going to have to split playing time with her,’ ’’ Borgen said.

“I was thinking the same thing when I saw her,” Drynan said.

Fortunately for both and unfortunately for opponents, Cyclones coach Delwyn Jones decided to use the 6-foot-3 Drynan and the 6-1 Borgen on the court at the same time. The Cyclones closed their season with a 20-10 record after losing to Waubonsee in the Region IV semifinals on Saturday, and the two freshmen finished the season with a huge collection of double-doubles — and, in Drynan’s case, a handful of triple-doubles as well.

All told, the two Cyclones combined for 45 games in which they had at least a double-double showing.

That included six games in which Drynan had six triple-doubles.

They were the double-double dynamic duo of Moraine Valley.

FIRE OPENS SEASON SUNDAY

IN SEARCH OF THAT NIFTY 50

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

Preseason games are generally useless when trying to judge how a team is going to do in the regular season. But for Chicago Fire fans, it’s the only body of work to base opinions on.

The team has a new general manager (Nelson Rodriguez), a new head coach (Veljko Paunovic) and a roster with a lot of new faces to get used to.

So when the Fire went through an unbeaten preseason of six matches – including a 2-0 victory Saturday over defending Major League Soccer champs Portland to win the Simple InviPhoto by Jeff Vorva tational ChampionVeteran Fire goalie Sean Johnson said the changes ship – it gave followon the team are positive. ers a chance to dream about making it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

But now reality hits. The Fire opens the 2016 campaign hosting the New York City Football Club at 1 p.m. at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.

This will give people a clearer picture of what this team can do.

MEET THE 2016 FIRE The Chicago Fire roster as of Monday: GOALKEEPERS: Sean Johnson, Matt Lampson, Patrick McLain DEFENDERS: Jonathan Campbell, Joey Calistri, Patrick Doody, Eric Gehrig, Michael Harrington, Johan Kappelhof, João Meira, Rodrigo Ramos, Brandon Vincent MIDFIELDERS: David Accam, Razvan Cocis, Drew Conner, Collin Fernandez, John Goossens, Nick LaBrocca, Matt Polster, Michael Stephens FORWARDS: Gilberto, Kennedy Igboananike Seven nations of birth are represented on the current roster: Brazil (Gilberto, Ramos), Ghana (Accam), the Netherlands (Goossens, Kappelhof), Nigeria (Igboananike), Portugal (Meira) and Romania (Cocis).

Fourteen players were born in the United States.

“Winning the first game is important but not crucial,” Rodriguez said. “We’re going to lose a game over the course of the year. The way we look at it is that 50 points is pretty much the barometer for getting into the playoffs. We have broken the season down in bytes and we will approach the season in that way. To win at home, would be an energizing moment.

“It’s two marquee teams in the league. It will be an interesting first game.’’

See FIRE, Page 2

Moraine Athletic Director Bill Finn, a longtime basketball coach in the area, was puzzled when watching the two work during a late regular-season game.

“I can’t believe these two aren’t playing Division I basketball somewhere,” he said. “They are so strong inside and can run the floor. I’ve seen a lot of players at this school, and these are two real good ones.’’

Both said they received little notice from colleges coming out of high school.

“In high school, I was more of a quiet player,” Drynan said. “We relied on a lot of outside shooting and not as much inside play for offense. But coming here, I had to be more aggressive and help lead the team.

“It’s definitely a turnaround for me and people were surprised to see me doing this.’’

Drynan averaged 17 points, 14 rebounds and six See DOUBLE DUO, Page 4

Drynan’s double-doubles Nov. 17 Nov. 24 Dec. 8 Dec. 12 Dec. 19 Jan. 12 Jan. 14 Jan. 19 Jan. 23 Jan. 28 Feb. 2 Feb. 4 Feb. 6 Feb. 9 Feb. 11 Feb. 18 Feb. 27

Kennedy-King DuPage Malcolm X Wright Joliet Elgin Lake County Waubonsee Kankakee Prairie State Elgin Lake County Oakton Waubonsee McHenry Co. Prairie State Waubonsee

28 pts., 21 reb.

13 pts., 11 reb.

11 pts., 11 blocks 21 pts., 14 reb.

17 pts., 12 reb.

35 pts., 15 reb.

20 pts., 12 reb.

14 pts., 11 reb.

21 pts., 19 reb.

10 pts., 13 reb.

16 pts., 18 reb.

17 pts., 20 reb.

18 pts., 16 reb.

14 pts., 13 reb.

28 pts., 12 reb.

11 pts., 15 reb.

15 pts., 11 reb.

Drynan’s triple-doubles (pts-reb.-blocks)

Nov. 7 Dec. 1 Dec. 3 Jan. 26 Feb. 13 Feb. 16

Lincoln Harper Trinity Morton South Suburban Morton

12-15-10 26-19-10 20-16-13 12-18-12 24-18-11 31-19-10

Knights’ season comes to stunning end Loss to Reed-Custer ends Chicago Christian’s season at 22-7

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

This magical Chicago Christian boys basketball season inspired by Ronald Slager has come to an end.

The Knights (22-7) lost to Reed-Custer, 6865, Tuesday night at the Class 2A Clifton Central Tournament to end their best season since the 2007-08 campaign. CC’s Malik Parker (24 points) missed a 3-point attempt in the closing seconds.

Chicago Christian beats Teammate Anajuwan Spencer rebounded and his 3-pointer Illiana for the also missed the mark in the regional title.

See Phil Arvia’s heartbreaking loss.

There was a lot of fun and story: Page 3 joy this season, especially in winning the regional, but the team members opened the season with heavy hearts as they began practice a month after Slager, a longtime assistant coach at the school died of cancer after an eight-year battle. Immediately after Chicago Christian beat host Illiana Christian, 59-48, Friday night in Lansing for the regional title, players donned shirts in Slager’s honor.

“This isn’t about us, it’s about coach Slager,” senior guard Daylon Washington said. “He knew what type of team we were going to have. He was looking forward to this season. He thought we would be able to win a championship.’’

Slager is the son of Will Slager, who coached at Chicago Christian for close to 40 years and won

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Chicago Christian senior Farrell Winchester raises a shirt in honor of late assistant basketball coach Ron Slager after the Knights won the Class 2A Illiana Christian Regional on Friday night.

746 games. He died after the 1989-90 season.

Current coach Kevin Pittman is in his 10th season. During his second season, his team won regional and sectional titles en route to a 2210 mark in 2007-08. But in the next six out of seven seasons, the team posted sub .500 seasons including a career-worst 8-19 mark when Washington was a sophomore in 2014.

But last year, the Knights broke even at 14-14 and this year opened the season with a 14-2 mark.

A four-loss streak to Stagg, Illiana Christian, Wheaton Academy and Oak Lawn tested the team’s mettle, but Pittman and the Knights survived and won eight straight before Tuesday’s loss.

2

Section 2 Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Regional News - The Reporter

A lot of good things have happened to Yates since Feb. 15, 2014 he first time I ever saw Rudy Yates wrestle, he lost.

It was Feb. 15, 2014 at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional.

Most times I cover an event, I do my homework and know who’s who and what’s what.

On this day, I didn’t.

I wasn’t the sports editor at the time but my job at part of being the Reporter editor was to shoot sports photos at three events a week. That weekend I called an audible and at the last minute headed to Hinsdale Central and had a 20- or 30-minute window to shoot before heading to another assignment.

I knew a bunch of our teams were there and wrestling matches usually provide a lot of arms, legs and drama – some good photo ops.

What I didn’t know was who was who. I shot some Sandburg and Stagg kids and while I was walking back to the work area to get ready to leave, I saw a Marist kid and a Brother Rice kid going at it in the 113-pound division and a lot of people were hollering and screaming.

Now, I may not have done my homework that day, but I followed one

T

JEFF VORVA

Making the Extra Point of my top Vorva Rules of Journalism: If anyone from Brother Rice and Marist are battling each other, it’s smart money to take photos. I don’t care if its football, basketball, wrestling or a poker game, you just don’t walk away.

So I sat down on the corner of the mat and watched these two go at it during the last period and the Marist crowd was going bananas. The Marist kid won. The Brother Rice kid smiled and raised the Marist kid’s arm.

It was time for me to scoot to my next assignment. I planned on figuring out who these guys were later.

I almost got to the work area when a little kid screamed to another “Did you hear??!!?? A Marist kid just beat Yates!!!.’’ The other kid was stunned, too.

Yates? Wait a minute…

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Rudy Yates (left) lost as many matches as he won state titles — three — during his high school career at Brother Rice and Sandburg.

I knew Rudy Yates was a sophomore Brother Rice wrestler who had this big winning streak, but that wasn’t him, I just watched lose, was it?

Yes it was.

Marist’s Nick Lukanich upset Yates in the semifinals and that snapped a 72-match winning streak. Yates had gone unbeaten his freshman year and was unbeaten until I accidentally stumbled upon his match with

Lukanich.

“I’ll always remember that one,” Yates said. “I just smiled when it was over. I knew the crowd was going to get loud so I looked at them and said ‘let’s get louder.’ I tried to let that one roll off my shoulder.’’ ‘’It was really tough but at the end of the day, I recovered from it. I never let it keep me down. Those who let losses keep them down aren’t the best

wrestlers.’’

Yates lost a state semifinal match to Plainfield South’s Miguel Silva and a third-place match to Glenbard North’s Austin Gomez that year.

His family moved from Oak Lawn to Orland Park and his junior and senior mart he was perfect for Sandburg’s powerhouse wrestling team, winning a 126-pound crown as a junior and a 132-pound title in February.

He finished his career at 167-3.

Since seeing one of those losses, I have covered him a few times and watched him rack up big victories.

He is heading to Northern Iowa to wrestle next year.

“I’m proud of that and I’m proud of all the steps that I’ve taken and the records that I’ve set,” Yates said.

“I want my name to be remembered forever and I think I did an OK job of that.’’

Think about this: He had as many losses in his career – three – as state championships.

Needless to say, when I first saw him wrestle on Feb. 15, 2014, we were both a little off our games.

He’s recovered pretty well since then.

IHSA STATE SWIMMING AND DIVING MEET

‘We rocked it this year’

Sandburg coach pumped that Eagles brought home several medals

By Anthony Nasella Correspondent

Faces in the crowd

Supplied photo

Century Junior High hosted a "pack the house" night Jan. 18 for its eighth grade basketball game. Parents created Fatheads to surprise the players with during halftime of the game.

Klopas will provide color for Fire on TV

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

The Chicago Fire and Comcast SportsNet Chicago announced regional broadcasting plans for the Fire's 2016 MLS campaign and Fire legend Frank Klopas will be handling the color duties while Dan Kelly handles the play-by-play.

A Chicago soccer icon, Klopas returned to his hometown in advance of the 1998 season and led the Fire to the double, helping the club to the 1998 MLS Cup in a 2-0 win over D.C. United before scoring the huge goal days later in a 2-1 extra time victory over the Columbus Crew in that year's U.S. Open Cup final.

Klopas served as the Fire head coach from 201113 and in the same capacity for the Montreal Impact from 2014-15. A U.S. international, Klopas scored 12 goals in 39 appearances and represented the United States in the 1988 Summer Olympics, the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1995 Copa America tournaments.

Kelly, a native of St. Louis, called play-by-play for the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks on Comcast SportsNet from 2006-2008. In addition, Kelly has done play-by-play for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Big Ten Network (including men's and women’s college soccer for six years), as well as both the men’s and women’s Big Ten Tournament, University of Denver men's hockey and for MLS games on HDNet. They will be joined by sideline reporter Paul Tenorio, who joins the broadcast team after serving as the Orlando City SC and soccer beat writer for the Orlando Sentinel for the past three years. A gradu-

ate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Tenorio additionally served as a sports writer for The Washington Post from 2007-12.

Klopas is the name most Fire fans are familiar with and Fire bosses are happy to have him back.

“I’m particularly excited with Frank’s new association with the Fire,” said Fire COO Atul Khosla. “I’m confident that he will be a great fit in the booth with Dan and, when supported by Paul's work on the sideline, believe that we have assembled a top-class on-air team which will provide unmatched coverage and analysis this season.”

CSN Chicago will carry 28 Fire matches, beginning with the home opener against New York City FC at Toyota Park at 1 p.m. Sunday. This season's plans also include expanded All Access programming, a five-game Spanish-language simulcast schedule and more linear and digital coverage of the team.

The season kicks off with a three-and-a-half hour broadcast window starting at noon Sunday with the rebroadcast of the debut episode of Chicago Fire All-Access, a behind-the-scenes program, followed by a 30-minute pregame show, the season opener against NYCFC and a 30-minute postgame show.

“The Chicago Fire continues to make an impact not only in terms of growth of their fan base over the past several years, but also in their devoted impact in our community,” said Phil Bedella, vice president/ general manager of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

“We are proud to be the regional television home for the Fire and fans can count on us once again to deliver expert game coverage, along with enhanced digital coverage, for what promises to be an exciting 2016 MLS season.”

Fire

Continued from Page 1 The veteran of the team, goalie Sean Johnson, has looked around the locker room and has seen a lot of new teammates trying to learn Paunovic’s system.

“It’s a positive change for us and we’re adapting to it,” Johnson said. “We’re trying our best to get up to speed.’’

Rodriguez is not making the rookie mistake of getting too giddy over the preseason.

“Winning is nice and it was especially nice to win Saturday night,” Rodriguez said. “But 24 hours later, it meant nothing. This Sunday will be the real first test that the team faces. We still have to get better. But I’m satisfied with the progress we have demonstrated so far and the team has the capability to improve.

“We haven’t been punched in the face yet. We haven’t lost four games in a row yet. We haven’t lost 4-0 yet. We haven’t had the media criticize us yet. The real test of that character will come when we face genuine adversity. But for the moment, we’re very pleased with how the character of the group has come together.’’

Paunovic was happy with the team’s 5-0-1 preseason.

“The players are trying to do what we are asking and demanding,” Paunovic said. “They are doing it and they want to do it. And they believe it. And it shows it with how we performed in the preseason.

They can see how the system can work.’’

But the players and coach meshing is something that may not work as easily during the regular season.

“Pauno’s style and demands are great,” the GM said. “But there is no substitute for time and ex-

Sandburg didn’t win a state championship trophy in boys swimming, but you might say the Eagles brought home some heavy medal.

At this past weekend’s Illinois High School Association State Meet in Evanston, the Eagles had their share of individual success stories – as every swimmer on the team that qualified for state earned at least one medal, while the team scored medals in five different events.

Senior Kevin Stratton placed seventh in 100yard backstroke (50:93 seconds), and junior Aidan Farley placed ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:42.97) and tenth in the 500 freestyle (4:38.24).

In relays, Sandburg placed 12th in both the 200 freestyle (1:27.25) and the 200 medley (1:36.62).

“If you asked us at the beginning of the season what we would have gotten out of this state meet, we just wanted some medals,” Eagles coach Jim Caliendo said. “We came out of it achieving our goals. We’re not a team that’s in hunt for a trophy like some powerhouses are. Our goal was to score, and we rocked it this year.

“We wanted to get out of the state meet with some wins, and we ended up medaling in five events. We had a wonderful Saturday, and it was a great experience for all of our kids and seniors because everybody earned at least one medal.

Everyone is happy, for once, in our program.”

200 Freestyle Relay was comprised of Farley, seniors Jake Gobielle and Cobie Fritsch and junior Marty Blake. Making up the 200 Medley relay was Stratton, Gobielle, Blake and senior Josh Lang.

Caliendo recognized that the pressure for state finals was a little more intense this year due to the team performing exceptionally well at sectionals, specifically Farley, who had the top sectional time in the state in the 500 with a 4:53.59.

“We were very, very fast at the sectional meet, and we came in with some very high seeds at the state meet,” he said “That added to a lot of the pressure for Aiden and the relay. I just told them and Aiden, there’s no pressure despite the fact that we overachieved toward the end of the season.

“We swam well in our own pool with our crowd. Nobody choked — I thought the performances were solid considering the pressure.”

For Farley, he admitted that the pressure was there but was thankful that it wasn’t more overwhelming.

“There was quite a bit of pressure involved, but I wasn’t too nervous,” he said. “It could have been much harder. I had nothing to lose. I wanted to finish in to top 10 in my two events, and I did that. I thought I performed well.

“The state meet has the best competition and is an entirely different environment. There’s no sympathy for bad times, and there was a good amount of pressure going in based on my sectional scores. Getting up on the blocks in the best lane and the best heat: everyone is watch-

Farley

Stratton

ing you.”

Stratton, who failed to advance to Saturday’s finals last season, said he was thrilled to realize that goal this season.

“Last year I made it in the 100 backstroke, but I didn’t do as well as I would have liked to,” he said. “One of my goals was reaching the finals and doing better than my seed time going in.

I accomplished both goal, and it and made my night.

“Considering how long season is and being able do that at last meet, it really means something and I’ll always remember that forever.

This was a great experience.”

Caliendo had nothing but praise for the performance of his solid and consistent senior captain.

“Aiden has been the story, but our leader and captain has been Kevin all year along,” he said.

“He was solid and had the best state meet. He swam faster in everything all weekend. Kevin showed he was a true leader and our MVP. It was important for him to have a good state meet.

He lit it up.”

In addition to Sandburg, Stagg competed at the state finals but the District 230 school didn’t enjoy the same success.

Junior Lucas Smiarowski, who finished sixth in the 200 IM last year, was disqualified from that event in the preliminaries on Friday and the missed the cut of 12 in the 100 breast by just 19 hundredths of a second (57.89).

Senior Gabe Jezierski finished 16th in the 100 breaststroke (58.43). Both Smiarowski and Jezierski both reduced seconds off their sectional times.

“Lucas swam well, but it was just one of those things that didn’t quite fall into our plans,” Chargers head coach Jason Carr said. “Lucas and I talked about some strategy for next year, and we now know what to expect and how to strategize. We have something to build on for the future.”

“Gabe was able to drop some more time, which was great. He was fully tapered at sectionals and realized the goal of reaching state — something that he fell short in reaching last year. It was fun to see him swim well with all the excitement and the crowd.”

HIGH SCHOOL/COMMUNITY SPORTS NOTES Photo by Jeff Vorva

New Fire coach Veljko Paunovic meets the media before the team’s kickoff luncheon on Monday.

perience in that setting. Five weeks is plenty long enough for preseason but it’s not the same as five months. Or five years. One thing that will benefit us in more time together. Now keep in mind that when you add or subtract a piece, you stunt that timeline a little bit.

“We are looking at Sunday as a microcosm of where we are. We need to do better in possession.

We gave the ball away a little bit too easily. Our back line is still getting to know each other and will get better. We will limit chances against us. And I think there is room for us to generate even more opportunities on the offensive side of the ball.’’

New York, only in its second year of play, also has a new coach – Patrick Viera – who took over for Jason Kreis after a 10-17-7 debut in the MLS. Spain’s David Villa is the team captain.

The New York squad finished 5-1 in its preseason and beat the Reykjavik FC 2-1 on Saturday with Andrea Pirlo and Mix Diskerud scoring goals.

Last year, the Fire beat New York City 1-0 and the two teams followed with a 2-2 tie.

Vail inducted into Oak Lawn Hall of Fame Oak Lawn Community High School was scheduled to induct its 23rd Alumni Hall of Fame recipient, William J. Vail on Wednesday as part of the school’s winter sports awards night.

Vail, who graduated from Oak Lawn in 1967, is also a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. He is a licensed engineer, educator, and a real estate salesman.

Vail wrestled while Vail attending OLCHS and eventually became a world-class freestyle wrestler. Vail continues his involvement with the sport as a coach, team leader, and administrator. He was the assistant completion director for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, competition manager for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, administrator and coach for the 1992 Olympic Team, Treasurer and chairman of the finance committee for U.S.A. Wrestling, team leader

and coach for Olympic, World Cup, and World Championship Competition. Vail was also highly involved in Chicago’s bid for the 2016 games.

Additionally, Vail has been inducted into several state and national Hall of Fames as an athlete, coach, administrator and team leader.

Oak Lawn baseball, softball registration

Oak Lawn Baseball and Softball offers baseball and softball for kids ages 4-18. Instructional leagues for boys and girls are also offered. Registration is open in February and March online at www.oaklawnbaseball.com.

PBO still offering registration The 2016 Palos Baseball season still has opening and there is time to register.

Go to www.palosbaseball.org and click on the registration link on the registration tab. Nearly 600 players annually participate in the league.

We welcome submissions from the community at sports@regionalpublishing.com

BASKETBALL

The Regional News - The Reporter

Thursday, March 3, 2016 Section 2

3

H-F 60, MARIST 42

Missing easy shots is hard on RedHawks

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

Chicago Christian players mob each other after winning the school’s first regional title since 2008 Friday night.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Blood and glory for Chicago Christian Two days after bloody Wednesday practice, Knights net regional win

By Phil Arvia Correspondent

When Kevin Pittman Sr. brought his boys basketball team to the practice floor in advance of Friday’s regional title contest against Illiana Christian, he came armed with one particular fact: “This (Illiana) team, when they beat us (Jan. 15), was one of the few teams to out-rebound us during the season,” Pittman said. “Wednesday we had a two-hour practice, and about an hour and thirty-five minutes of it was competitive rebounding drills — to the point guys were getting hacked off at each other.

“That’s what we wanted. Rebounding is a physical thing. And we’re not very good against these guys if they’re getting second and third shots.”

Friday, when Chicago Christian was the team getting those extra looks, the result was a 59-48 win for the Knights’ first regional title since 2008, sparking a wild celebration on Illiana’s home court. The Knights (22-6) beat Illiana (21-7) for the second time in three tries this season, both wins coming in Lansing.

“It’s crazy,” Anajuwon Spencer said of playing in the bedlam of Illiana’s packed gym. “You can’t hear yourself think at all out there. Everything is going so fast around you.

You just have to block that out and play the game you’ve been playing your whole life.”

Spencer did so with aplomb, scoring a game-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the line. The 6-foot-7 senior center also joined Trevor Wolterink and Jack Ellison with eight rebounds each to help the Knights to a 31-21 advantage on the glass.

“Boxing out and defense, that’s all we did in practice,” Spencer said.

“During practice Wednesday, I got hit in the nose. I had a bloody nose and a busted lip. It was pretty in-

Anajuwon Spencer who was bloodied in practice on Feb. 24, put up 18 points and hauled down eight rebounds against Illiana Christian to help Chicago Christian win its first regional title since 2008 on Friday night in Lansing.

tense.”

Spencer had two put-backs and Wolterink and Ellison one each in the first 10 minutes, during which the Knights raced to a 22-8 lead. The Vikings never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Asked about the put-backs, Spencer smiled, saying, “You demoralize the defense with those.”

Yet, he was equally pleased by the two free throws he hit 3:10 to play, evidenced by the fist-pump he allowed himself after the second fell through following two big hops off the rim to give the Knights a 51-42 edge.

He made two more with a minute left, further exorcising the ghost of the January loss to Illiana.

“I missed the go-ahead free throw, they put a put-back on us, I end up

When Marist’s Claire Austin popped in a dramatic 3-point basket with 4 minutes, 36 seconds left in the second quarter of last Thursday’s sectional game against Homewood-Flossmoor, it gave the RedHawks a 2220 lead.

H-F coach Tony Smith, who had been jumping around most of the night as if his underwear was on fire, called a timeout.

He likely told his troops to put the defensive clamps on the RedHawks. The Vikings didn’t listen right away and Marist was primed to do more damage with some open shots.

The problem for the Redhawks was that they were missing those easy shots and soon, the Vikings were back to their old tricks of tightening up the defense and creating steal- GIRLS BASKETBALL and-layup op- FINAL RECORDS por tunities.

The RedHawks Chicago Christian 8-20 12-15 went 8:10 be- Evergreen Park 24-9 fore scoring an- Marist other basket and Mother McAuley 17-14 by that time, the Oak Lawn 10-20 Vikings scored Queen of Peace 19-12 11 straight to Richards 19-5 take a 31-22 Sandburg 13-17 lead and ended Shepard 2-27 up winning the 3-25 E i s e n h o w e r Stagg Class 4A Sectional title with a 60-42 win in Blue Island.

“We beat ourselves,” Marist’s Claire Austin said. “We needed to make our short shots and free throws. I think we did OK on free throws, but our short shots were not good.’’

That brought the curtain down for the area on the 2015-16 girls basketball season.

Marist finished up playing a killer schedule with a 24-9 mark. Some of the losses came out of state as well as to state powers Marshall, Young, Evanston, New Trier and Benet Academy.

The RedHawks spread the scoring around against H-F (24-3) but no one scored in double figures. Tehya Fortune had nine points, Julia Ruzevich eight and Austin had seven points and nine rebounds.

Marist is one of just four teams from the area to rack up a .500 or better record this season. Richards, Queen of Peace and youthful Mother McAuley were the other three. The other six teams finished with losing records.

Marist and Queen of Peace were the only area teams to win regional titles as the RedHawks won the Oak Forest Regional while Queen of Peace won its own regional in Class 3A and has no seniors on its roster. Mother McAuley made it to its own regional final but lost out to Lincoln-Way East in overtime.

Richards was beaten in the first round of the regional by Bloom.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Chicago Christian’s Daylon Washington hits a layup early in the Knights’ 59-48 victory over Illiana Christian Friday night for a regional title.

taking the last shot, a three to win that hit the rim and went off,” Spencer said. “This was big.”

So, too, Pittman said, was the loss.

“After they beat us at our place, that set us on a streak of losing four games in a row,” he said. “It really knocked us on our heels.

“I told my son (Kevin Pittman Jr.), ‘I’m glad they beat us. It’s tough to beat any team twice in one season.

But it’s impossible to beat them three times.’

“It was painful at the time, but I knew we’d grow from it.”

Some of the Knights have been growing together longer than others. Spencer, Woltering and Daylon Washington are in their third season together on the varsity, and this is their first with a winning record.

“This is something, with this core

group of seniors, we’ve been building toward for three years,” Pittman said. “They were terrific tonight.

They defended the places we wanted to defend and let some of the things go we thought they could.”

Wolterink and Washington contributed 15 and 13 points respectively, while Malik Parker added nine.

Illiana was led by Matthew Zandstra’s 11 points.

“Twenty wins, a conference championship, a regional championship — now on to the sectional and maybe state,” Washington said. “It’s a really good feeling.”

It broke a two-year skid for area boys basketball teams as no area team won regional titles in 2014 or 2015. Stagg was the last team to win a crown, taking a 4A regional title in 2013.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Junior Claire Austin, a 6-foot center-forward from Marist, tries to defend 6-foot-5 Eva Rubin of Homewood-Flossmoor last Thursday in sectional play.

FOCUS ON BOYS BASKETBALL

Willis wows ’em with big 3-pointer in Richards’ win over Oak Lawn

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

A legend is born?

That’s still to be determined.

But Richards freshman Sean Willis made a legendary shot on Friday night and as a result, his team won a strange South Suburban Red title with a 74-68 victory over rival Oak Lawn.

Richards and Argo were on top of the conference with 8-3 marks with two games to go.

But on Feb. 19, Richards lost to Reavis and Argo lost to Oak Lawn.

So both teams took 8-4 records into their respective games and Argo was upset by Evergreen Park, 58-56.

The trouble for the Bulldogs is that they were struggling mightily against Oak Lawn Photo by Jeff Vorva in the third quarter as the Spartans hung 25 Richards freshman Sean Willis, shown talking to a referee earlier in the season, hit a big 3-point shot to help his team beat Oak Lawn and win points on them to take a 50-47 lead heading into the final eight minutes. the South Suburban Red title.

Oak Lawn, led by Rashad Johnson’s 21 points and Othman Othman’s 19 in the game, kept the lead for most of the final frame until Willis’s dramatic 3-pointer with 58 seconds gave the Bulldogs the lead and they piled on after that.

“What a big-time shot,” Richards coach Jevon Mamon told reporters after the game.

“I’m so proud of Sean.’’

Oak Lawn coach Jason Rhodes’ description of the shot to reporters was “Wow.’’ Mamon brought the 5-foot-7 freshman up to the varsity after the holiday break and earlier in the season praised the freshman’s basketball IQ. Guard Jaaron Coleman led the Bulldogs with 22 points, showing he is back in form after injuring his knee against Argo in late January.

It is Richards’ 10th conference title in 11 years. The Bulldogs won nine straight crowns but stumbled last year when Eisenhower claimed the title.

Conference chatter Richards and Chicago Chrstian were the only two area teams to win their conference.

Chicago Christian won the Metro Suburban East with an 11-1 mark, two games ahead of Illiana Christian and Ridgewood.

Brother Rice tied Seton for second in the Chicago Catholic League South with 6-3 marks. Mt. Carmel won the league with an 8-1 record.

Marist finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the East Suburban Catholic Conference with Joliet Catholic and St. Viator. All three teams were 5-4. Benet and Marian Catholic tied for first with 8-1 marks.

Stagg had been flirting with first place early in the SouthWest Suburban Blue Conference when it won its first three games but fell to 7-7 to finish fifth. Homewood-Flossmoor won the conference championship with a 13-1 record.

4

Section 2 Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Regional News - The Reporter

FOCUS ON ST. XAVIER UNIVERSITY

Cougars basketball teams wait for national opponents

By Anthony Nasella Correspondent

St. Xavier University’s basketball teams spent the early part of this week in limbo.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams knew they were in their respective NAIA National Tournaments, but that was about all they knew. Times and opponents were not determined until Wednesday, after this paper’s deadline.

Both teams were eliminated from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference in the semifinals over the weekend.

When the women’s basketball team held a two-point halftime lead against Olivet Nazarene University Friday night, Cougars head coach Bob Hallberg said his team played as good of a first half as it had all season.

The same couldn’t be said, however, for the second half, when No. 2 ranked St. Xavier committed 18 second-half turnovers and eventually dropped a disappointing 102-94 decision to the fast-paced Tigers at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament to cap off regular-season play.

The Cougars (29-3) waited for five days for word of which team they’ll draw at next week’s NAIA Division II National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, that begins Wednesday.

“All teams that reach the national tournament have a record of 0-0,” Hallberg said. “It doesn’t make a difference how you got there or what your record was. When you’re in that first-round game, you can’t afford look any further than that game.

“We’ll see if we can win the first game and survive to the next night. If we lose, we’re back on the bus to Chicago. It’s very important to get that first game under your belt; you can’t have a bad game. If you miss free throws, commit too many turnovers, or suffer bad shooting — your season is over.”

Against Olivet, junior guard Mikayla Layden and sophomore guard Kara Krolicki each scored 19 points to lead St. Xavier.

“Aside from the box score, all of the fans said that it my 16 years here that it was the most exciting basketball game they ever witnessed,” he said. “It was fast paced women’s basketball with two great teams. We played as great of a first half as any game we’ve played

St. Xavier University’s Larry Motuzis (left) and Mikayla Leyden and their respective teams will be heading to the NAIA National Tournament next week.

this season.”

There’s another challenge that the team is still battling to overcome — how to compensate the loss of junior forward Sarah Vozel, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the team’s recent defeat to Cardinal Stritch.

“We’re still struggling to find an adequate replacement for Sarah,” he said.

“Losing her has hurt us. It’s not that the rest of the players are not capable of stepping up, but she meant so much to the team. She’s very hard to replace, and we’re struggling to be as good as we were.”

The men also played the waiting game after the third-seeded Cougars were knocked out of the tourney in the semifinals Saturday, 71-69, to seventhseeded Indiana University-South Bend.

A short jumper by senior guard Riley Stichter with one second left in regulation proved to be the game-winner. The Cougars (19-12 overall) tied the game, 69-69, on a jumper by senior forward Mitch Uratchko (Streator/Mid-State Tech/Sauk Valley CC/Streator) with 30 seconds remaining, but Indiana con-

trolled the final possession and had an inbounds play under the basket with three seconds left to set up the gamewinning shot. Sophomore guard Larry Motuzis (Darien/Hinsdale South) led all scorers in the game with 25 points for SXU off 9-for-18 shooting from the field.

Saint Xavier earned one of the conference’s three automatic bids to the NAIA Division II National Championship and waited for Wednesday’s announcement.

Barry very good

Saint Xavier junior outside hitter Sean Barry (Wilmette/Loyola Academy) was named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Men’s Volleyball Player of the Week last week.

Barry was recognized for his .267 hitting percentage and 5.4 kills per set average in SXU’s 2-1 play during a stretch in late February. He also averaged 2.7 digs and 0.7 blocks over three matches. With the conference recognizing men’s volleyball as a var-

sity sport for the first time this season, Barry becomes the first Saint Xavier University player to earn the weekly award under its current name.

Barry recorded double-figure kill totals in each of his team’s three contests topped by his 26 against Marian (Wis.), where he also produced three aces, 25 receptions and five block assists. The 26 kills against Marian (Wis.) set a single match school record for the program surpassing the old mark of 23 kills set by former standout Evan Muys back on March 30, 2012.

SXU to host NAIA showcase in July

Saint Xavier will serve as one of three host sites for the NAIA Showcase recruiting events, now in its third year, this July. The Kansas City, Chicago and Atlanta metro areas will host a total of 21 showcases designed to connect high school and junior college athletes with NAIA coaches.

“This is a wonderful event to host at our University,” said SXU Athletic Director Bob Hallberg. “We could

Photos by Jeff Vorva

have hundreds of potential Saint Xavier University students from across the country descending on our beautiful campus and city. Once they see our facilities and the opportunities that our University can offer them, they may just decide to enroll here, even just as students.”

These events have connected more than 800 prospective students and their parents with NAIA coaches since launching in 2014. In 2015, 180 coaches representing 60 NAIA schools made more than 150 on-site scholarship offers to participants during the Showcase events in football, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s soccer.

In addition to athletes showing their individual skills with sport-specific performance drills developed by NAIA coaches, attendees learn about NAIA recruiting, eligibility rules and scholarships. Presentations on NAIA character initiatives and opportunities to visit with admissions representatives from NAIA schools are included at every showcase.

FOCUS ON TRINITY CHRISTIAN

Trolls open baseball season winning three out of four Trinity Christian College opened its baseball season winning three out of four games on the road against Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky on Friday and Saturday.

The Trolls started with 4-0 and 7-1 victories on Friday and picked up a 5-4 extra inning victory in the first game on Saturday before losing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh in the final game.

In Friday’s opener, the Trolls had eight hits by eight different players. Five of those hits came in the first inning in which the team scored three runs. The team kept their 3-0 lead until the sixth inning when they tacked on one more run. They kept Brescia off the base path as pitcher Tanner Reklaitis, who pitched the complete game, recorded 13 strikeouts and allowed only two hits.

The Trolls started the second game in much the same fashion as the first game as they had the majority of the hits and scored three runs in the opening inning. Mike Levigne picked up

the win on the mound with eight strikeouts in six innings. Trinity ended the game with eight hits while Brescia had two. Tyler Sroczynsi, Kyle VanKalker, and Zack Jones each had two hits and Jones registered three RBI. The next day, the two teams were knotted at 4-4 after eight innings and Sroczynski opened the ninth with a single and a stolen base and scored on a RBI single by Blake Kerzich. Brescia got one runner on base in the bottom half, but Trinity held them for the win.The Trolls had 11 hits for the game with Sroczynski posting three and Jones getting two. The team had four pitchers on the game with Jones finishing out the final two innings for the win.

In the lone loss, the Trolls gave up a passed ball in the seventh inning for the deciding run.

Brent Kiesel took the loss.

Trinity will play next at home in doubleheaders with Goshen College on Friday and Saturday.

Compiled by Jeff Vorva from submitted reports

FOCUS ON MORAINE VALLEY

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Left photo: Moraine Valley’s Erin Drynan (left, with her arms up) finished the season as the No. 1 shot blocker in the nation among junior college Division II players. Above: Michelle Borgen drives for a basket during a game this season.

Double Duo

Continued from Page 1 blocked shots per game. She was ranked No. 1 in the nation in NJCAA Division II play with 191 blocks and No. 2 in rebounds with 404.

Borgen was also taken aback by her numbers as she averaged 21 points and 13 rebounds per contest. She was seventh in the nation with 610 points and 12th with 333 rebounds. She was also No. 1 in the nation with 199 free throws.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this type of season,” Borgen said. “This is a

much higher level than high school. But playing with Erin and having us do so well was the most fun I’ve ever had playing. We didn’t win a lot in high school and this was great.’’

So far, bigger schools are not knocking on either star’s doors yet.

“We’re returning a lot of freshmen and I think we can really go far next year,” Borgen said. “I would rather play with a team that should have success rather than risk going somewhere else and losing.’’

Drynan has a method to her successful blocking.

“You have to stay on your feet and it helps that I have long arms,” Drynan said.

Speaking of long arms, she comes from

a basketball family with some pretty long arms. Her twin brothers , juniors Patrick and Mike, play for Evergreen Park and were listed at 6-10 and 6-8 respectively at the beginning of the season.

“They are almost 7-feet tall,” she said. “I was always taller than them until they got into high school. I used to beat them all the time. Now, I usually always lose against them because they just dunk on me.’’

Their father, Tom, played at Brother Rice and was a walk-on at the University of Illinois in the Lou Henson era.

“Basketball was passed down to my brothers and me,” Erin said.

And she didn’t try to swat it away.

Both basketball teams see their seasons come to an end Moraine Valley Community College’s two basketball teams had their seasons come to an end over the weekend.

Having to face Waubonsee Community College for a third time Saturday, in the NJCAA Region IV semifinals, the Cyclones dropped a 70-59 decision.

The Cyclones jumped out to a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Waubonsee caught up and passed them in the second and Moraine was never able to get the lead back.

Erin Drynan led the final effort with her 23rd double-double at 15 points and 11 rebounds along with four blocks. Michelle Borgen ended with 14 points and 11 rebounds — her 22nd doubledouble. Ashley Carroll chipped

in 12 points and eight rebounds.

In their quest to prolong the season after winning the Skyway Conference title on Feb. 18, the Cyclones men’s team was dealt an 82-76 loss to Black Hawk East College in the NJCAA Region IV semifinals Sunday.

Ermias Nega played one of his best games this season, with 30 points and five rebounds. It was the fifth time he scored 30 or more points this season. He went 11-for-17 from the field.

Tommy Demogerontas had 15 points and six boards.

The Cyclones closed the campaign with a 16-15 mark.

Compiled by Jeff Vorva from submitted reports

The Regional News - The Reporter

Thursday, March 3, 2016 Section 2

Images from a winter sports season that’s winding down Marist’s Kate Ruzevich (left) picks up her twin sister, Julia after Julia took a charge in the sectional semifinals against Lincoln-Way North on Feb. 22.

Mother McAuley’s Tara O’Malley gets ready to fire a shot in the 3-point shooting contest at the Eisenhower Sectional last Thursday.

Chicago Christian coach Kevin Pittman has some words of wisdom for Malik Parker toward the end of the Knights’ regional title win over host Illiana Christian on Friday night.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Homewood-Flossmoor coach Tony Smith’s tie gets a workout in the Vikings sectional title win over Marist last Thursday.

The Chicago Christian crowd was beside itself all night Friday at the Class 2A Illiana Christian Regional. Here, it is going nuts at halftime over a cheerleading contest.

Brother Rice’s Dominick Capron beat Montini’s Peter Christiansen in a wild 17-13 match on Feb. 23 but the Crusaders lost the Class 3A Argo Sectional dual, 41-21.

A Marmion wrestler does some gymnastics minutes before his team beat Sandburg in sectional play on Feb. 23.

5

6

Section 2 Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Regional News - The Reporter

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Section 2 Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Regional News - The Reporter

BUYING OR SELLING?

For Sale

Put 42 years to work 34 years with RE/MAX

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST Plaintiff, -v.DAVID E. ANDERSON A/K/A DAVID C. ANDERSON, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ARLEEN ANDERSON, EMJSOC, INC. F/K/A SENERGY OF CHICAGO, INC., SPRINGLEAF FINANCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS, INC. F/K/A AMERICAN GENERAL FINANCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS, INC., VILLAGE OF SCHILLER PARK, AN ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, MIDLAND FUNDING, LLC, IRWIN COMMERCIAL FINANCE CORP., EQUIPMENT FINANCE, MIDLOTHIAN COUNTRY CLUB Defendants 13 CH 11441 6006 WEST 124TH STREET 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 January 4, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 5, 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 6006 WEST 124TH STREET, Palos Heights, IL 60463 Property Index No. 24-29-309-009-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $144,540.78.

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, contact The sales clerk, SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL 60015, (847) 291-1717 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. only Please refer to file number 13-066880.

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.

SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 13-066880 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 13 CH 11441 TJSC#: 36-1218 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.

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For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR NOMURA HOME EQUITY LOAN, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FM2 Plaintiff, -v.DARLENE M. MANOS, STATE OF ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, TOWNHOMES ASSOCIATION, INC., UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 15 CH 005376 28 PARLIAMENT DRIVE 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 13, 2015, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 22, 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 28 PARLIAMENT DRIVE, PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463 Property Index No. 23-24-300-053-0000. 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. 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 14-15-04679. 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. 14-15-04679 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 15 CH 005376 TJSC#: 36-2079 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.

I685529

For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST BY PURCHASE FROM THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AS RECEIVER OF WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK FKA WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK, FA Plaintiff, -v.JOZEF HARMATA AKA JOSEF HARMATA, CITY OF CHICAGO, MIDLAND FUNDING LLC Defendants 15 CH 02663 10210 S. 86th Ave. 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 7, 2015, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 5, 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 10210 S. 86th Ave., Palos Hills, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-11-306-013-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $237,883.71.

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, contact Plaintiff s attorney: HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC, 111 East Main Street, DECATUR, IL 62523, (217) 422-1719 If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the purchase price paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee s attorney.

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.

HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 111 East Main Street DECATUR, IL 62523 (217) 422-1719 CookPleadings@hsbattys.com Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 15 CH 02663 TJSC#: 36-1882 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.

34

POTENTIAL TO BECOME SPECTACULAR! BIG OAKS – HILLTOP SITE – 2.8 ACRES

California style ranch on wooded On the top of an exceptional 2.8 .8+ acre across from Forest acre site on highly prized Old Creek Preserves awaits talents! 4 Road, Palos Park, your this spacious bdrms,needs 3 baths, walkout 35x25 ranch your creative ideas! bsmt w/office.

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Extra deep 4-car att. Gar, plus $319,900 30x50 shop/garage.

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NEW as of 7/7/11 For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK NA TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2004-FF6, MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2004-FF6; Plaintiff, vs.

VIDA DOUGLAS AKA VIDA MIKLIUS; FIRST MIDWEST BANK AS ASSIGNEE OF THE FDIC AS RECEIVER FOR PALOS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST AGREEMENT DATED MARCH 5, 2007 AND KNOWN AS TRUST NUMBER 1-7143; UNKNOWN OWNERS, AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 12 CH 34155 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause on October 14, 2015 Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 23-26-300-005-0000.

Commonly known as 12321 S. 88th Avenue, Palos Park, IL 60464.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Mr. Frederic Deraiche at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Kluever & Platt, L.L.C., 65 East Wacker Place, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (312) 236-0077.

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I685738

Lovely 4 bdrm CRYSTAL split level with basement on 3/4 Rareacre ten room patio site in the home overlooking LAST Park.

Large famgolf course location. ily room, luxuriMain floor master, two ous master suite. bedrooms up, and 4th 2 1/2 baths. bedroom in full finished walkout.

Value price at $419,900 $399,900

TREE

Cell: (708) 269-0490 www.SharonKubasak.com 14340 S. LaGrange Road, Orland Park, IL 60462 Sharon Kubasak

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 Rent

OFFICE/STORE FRONT 750 sq.ft with water, gas, electric included $800 per month 9241 S. Roberts Rd. Hickory Hills

708-745-4761

DO YOU HAVE A HOUSE FOR SALE? CALL TO PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! (708) 448-4000

Donate Your Real Estate...

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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

Call us at 1.800.385.0422 Or donate on line at:

MatchingDonors.com

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.

8

Section 2 Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Regional News - The Reporter

Help Wanted

Estate Sale

Palos Heights Estate Sale 12244 Flambeau Dr. Friday March 4 9-3 Saturday March 5 9-3 Vintage furniture, pool table, kitchen, decorative household, garage and garden items and much more Help Wanted

Part-Time Office Manager/ Bookkeeper

2-3 days/week. Quickbooks experience required. Organizational and phone skills a must. We are a local family owned business.

Send resume to: office@ williamquinnandsons.com or apply in person.

3860 W. 127th St. Alsip, IL 60803 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

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE WANTED 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 FAX OR E-MAIL RESUME TO AMY RICHARDS: 12243 South Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463 Phone: 708-448-4000 • Fax: 708-448-4160

arichards@regionalpublishing.com

Help Wanted

For Sale

South Suburban law firm seeking full time

2007 Cadillac CTS

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.

708-361-8864

LITIGATION SECRETARY

Please email resumes to: ffrazier@odelsonsterk.com

4 door, 2 wd/4 wd Excellent condition Low mileage Call for information

Wanted

SNOWBLOWERS,

small engines, regular and riding lawnmowers, bicycles.

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Call (815) 450-0004

Lost

Ladies’ wedding ring 18K gold setting with 3 1 carat diamonds Substantial Reward

Do you have unused items for sale?

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Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cleaning Services

Clean-out Services

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Let Us Professionally Clean Your Home or Office. • Satisfaction Guaranteed • References Available Bonded/Insured FREE ESTIMATES

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Removal of all unwanted items.

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7 days 773-206-9309 www.stanscleanout.com

Nurse’s Assistant

Lots of Patience & Trustworthy

Plumbing & Sewer

GGEORGE’S EORG E’S

PLUMBING & SEWER

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

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CAREGIVER LOOKING TO CARE FOR THE ELDERLY

Snowblower Repair

Available Mon.-Fri. Hours depend on need

Snow Blowers Lawn Mowers

Excellent References.

Rates Vary Please call Mary anytime

at 708.439.6238

Leave a message & number

PLACE YOUR AD TODAY

Repair/Tune-Up

Will fix at your house

Reasonable Rates

Call: (815) 450-0004

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

OUT & ABOUT

The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, March 3, 2016

PINTO’S POPCORN PICKS

Nothing new in predictable ‘Eddie The Eagle’ sports film TONY PINTO “Eddie The Eagle” is an unoriginal sports movie. With minor tweaks and changes this could basically become every sports movie ever made. The underdog faces triumphs and tribulations followed by some kind of big achievement.

This movie is “Cool Runnings” but with a British ski jumper instead of Jamaican bob sledders.

For those still interested this is the tale of an underdog athlete who makes his way to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. The first part is true but the part where he gets help from a former American sporting great who’s now languishing in disgrace is untrue and a fabrication for the movie.

Hugh Jackman plays the made up Bronson Peary, the bad-boy American who becomes the reluctant coach. His rebellious streak is shown through the shorthand of him constantly smoking and sipping from his flask.

Jackman’s character may not be the lead, but his character brings a much needed sense of edge and charisma. It may be cringe-worthy charisma as he compares a ski jump takeoff to sex complete with fake orgasm sounds. It’s not as if these scenes work well, but they, or better yet different scenes, are needed to show the title character’s childlike nature.

STARTING THIS WEEK:

“CREED’’: The “Rocky’’ saga continues with a surprising degree of impact in director Ryan Coogler’s solid and re-energizing continuation of the franchise, focusing on the boxing-hopeful son (Michael B. Jordan, who also worked with Coogler on “Fruitvale Station’’) of Apollo Creed ... but the film also is trained on Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone, amply and properly rewarded on the awards trail for his excellent work here), who faces new challenges of his own as he becomes the younger man’s trainer. Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad also give notable performances, but the film clearly belongs to Jordan and Stallone - with an especially hearty “Yo!’’ to the latter. *** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “ROOM’’: Director Lenny Abrahamson’s engrossing drama has put a very bright spotlight — particularly during the movie industry’s award season — on Brie Larson and young Jacob Tremblay, both superb as a mother and son held captive in one room for years.

After such a long stretch of isolation from the rest of the world, they map out a strategy for their escape, setting up the powerful second half of the film. Emma Donoghue adapted her novel for the screen, also providing roles for Joan Allen, Sean Bridgers (as the captor), William H. Macy and Wendy Crewson ... but this unquestionably, and justifiably, is a star-making vehicle for both Larson and Tremblay. **** (R: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “THE DANISH GIRL’’: After his Oscar win for “The Theory of Everything,’’ Eddie Redmayne took on another challenging role and gave another widely praised performance in the true drama of one of the first men to undergo sexreassignment surgery. Landscape artist Einar Wegener becomes Lili Elbe, necessitating changes in her relationship with wife and fellow painter Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander) — who finds herself on the verge of a romance with an

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS THIS WEEK Tuesday luncheon: Midway Airport

Midway Airport is the topic at a Tuesday luncheon on March 8, from noon to 2 p.m., at The Center, 12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park.

Local author, pilot, and aviation history enthusiast David Kent will discuss the history of Midway Airport, including memories of the observation deck where people stood to watch in awe and wonder as the roaring planes took off and landed. Kent will show old photos and tell interesting facts dating back to the airport’s beginnings in the 1920’s, tracing the story of how this one square mile of land became the world’s busiest airport for over 30 years.

The luncheon costs $20 per person and requires advance reservations. Call The Center at 361-3650.

8, students will learn how to make delicious fajitas with fresh ingredients.

• Pizza & Post-It Art - 4 to 5 p.m. March 9, will challenge students to get creative and make a mural out of post-it notes, then sit down to chat with friends and eat pizza.

• Beaded Friendship Bracelets - 4 to 6 p.m. March 10, students will get the chance to make a special friendship bracelet for a friend.

• Build Your Own City - 4 to 6 p.m. March 10, students will learn about community development, then get the chance to sketch out blue prints for their own city.

• March Madness - 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. March 11, Students are encouraged to wear their favorite sports jersey. Free food will be provided by Jimmy John’s.

These free events are for teens in 7th through 12th grade. For more information call 532-0500.

Kids’ Knitting Club Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman star in “Eddie The Eagle.”

The movie stars Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) as Michael “Eddie” Edwards, a working-class weakling of a Brit with knee and leg aliments who has the dream of becoming an Olympian. He just wants his Olympic moment. After a montage of failed track and field mishaps and many broken glasses, Eddie decides he is not an Olympian.

He comes to the conclusion he is a Winter Olympian. Surprisingly, Eddie becomes a solid downhill skier after turning his attention to the winter games.

The problem for Eddie is he is not good looking enough. He is not Olympic material as the Brits in charge tell him. From his average look to his modest background, the people in charge of the British Olympic committee try to keep him out of the games. He is not “sponsor friendly,” so he’s told.

Eddie eventually sets his sights on becoming the first British ski jumper since the 1920’s.

The film has quite a few flaws, the biggest being the person at the center of the film. Eddie “The

Eagle” Edwards, is ironically the least fleshed out character of the film. He is such a simplistic character; he doesn’t seem human at times. Taron plays him goofy to the point that this character, who should be endearing, actually becomes off putting.

For those who can’t figure out how this movie ends, this writer won’t ruin it for you. This film does include a surprise cameo by Christopher Walken as a legendary coach who wrote the book on ski jumping. They actually show the book with his face on the cover multiple times, so it’s not actually that big a surprise when he shows up.

From the ads and trailers this seems like an uplifting story kids of all ages would enjoy, which is not the case. This writer doesn’t know who the demographic for this film is, but it could be you if you like cliché filled films with cheesy ‘80’s montages, complete with bold colors and a synth soundtrack featuring Van Halen, Hall & Oates and other ‘80’s favorites.

Tony Pinto’s grade: C-

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.)

Southwest • Section 2, Page 9

art-dealer friend (Matthias Schoenaerts). Director Tom Hooper’s cast also includes Ben Whishaw (alias Q to Daniel Craig’s James Bond), Sebastian Koch and Amber Heard. **** (R: AS, N. P) (Also on Bluray and On Demand) “YOUTH’’: Expert acting by several masters of it, led by Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, is the principal joy of writer-director Paolo Sorrentino’s drama. The two stars play entertainment talents vacationing at a resort in the Alps and viewing their careers different — with the filmmaker played by Caine still very active, and the musician portrayed by Keitel considering himself retired, though he’s still in demand. Also highly notable is Jane Fonda as a veteran actress who has worked with the Caine character many times. Rachel Weisz and Paul Dano also are featured. *** (R: AS, N, P) (Also on Blu-ray) “THE NIGHT BEFORE’’: To the long line of contemporary comedies that try to put an amusing take on the end-of-year holidays but ultimately misfire, add this example. Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie play buddies who seek the biggest party they can find on Christmas Eve. It’s long been an annual ritual for them, but it’s about to vanish as they (allegedly) become adults, so finding the wildest bash they can is imperative. Those familiar with the Rogen brand of humor certainly will find it here, especially since he’s also one of the picture’s producers; Lizzy Caplan (“Masters of Sex’’), Mindy Kaling, Jillian Bell (“22 Jump Street’’) and Michael Shannon also appear. DVD extras: four “making-of’’ documentaries; outtakes. ** (R: AS, N, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “LEGEND’’: The story of the Krays, the twin brothers who made names for themselves in the 1960s London underworld, has been told on the screen before — but it gets fresh treatment from an able Tom Hardy in the dual roles in this retelling by director-screenwriter Brian Helgeland (“L.A. Confidential’’). Reggie and Ronnie Kray’s reign is seen from the perspective of Frances Shea (Emily Browning), whose involvement with Reggie gave her a unique view of their psyches and frequently violent activities. Christopher Eccleston, Colin Morgan and Tara Fitzgerald are in the supporting cast. *** (R: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)

COMING SOON:

“MACBETH’’ (March 8): Michael Fassbender portrays Shakespeare’s legendary character in this latest of the play’s screen adaptations; Marion Cotillard plays Lady Macbeth. (R: AS, V) “IN THE HEART OF THE SEA’’ (March 8): The Ron Howard-directed drama re-creates the true whaling-ship crisis that inspired Herman Melville to write “Moby Dick’’; Chris Hemsworth stars. (PG-13: AS, V) “OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY’’ (March 8): The supposed presence of a werewolf puts the residents of a forest — human and otherwise — on edge in this animated, direct-to-video sequel.

(Not rated) “THE PEANUTS MOVIE’’ (March 8): Snoopy goes after the Red Baron again, while Charlie Brown deals with another affair of the heart, in this computeranimated feature. (G) “FREAKS AND GEEKS: THE COMPLETE SERIES’’ (March 22): The cult-classic show, about a Detroit high school circa 1980, makes its Blu-ray debut and features Seth Rogen and James Franco. (Not rated: AS, P) “THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY — PART 2’’ (March 22): The movie franchise concludes as Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) targets her society’s leader ... who’s also targeting her.

(PG-13: AS, P, V) FAMILY-VIEWING GUIDE KEY: AS, adult situations; N, nudity; P, profanity; V, violence; GV, particularly graphic violence.

A new kids’ knitting club for children in grades 5 and up will hold its first meeting on Monday, March 7, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at The Log Cabin Center for the Arts, 12700 Southwest Highway in Palos Park.

Instructor Georgann Ring invites any interested knitters who know how to make the knit stitch to join the new group which meets on the first Monday of each month. Members will choose their own projects to expand their skills and supply their own materials. At the first meeting kids should bring something they are currently working on or an idea and supplies for a new project.

The club costs $5 per meeting. Advanced registration is required. Call 361-3650 to register by phone.

UPCOMING Easter basket workshop

An Easter Basket Weaving Workshop will be held at The Log Cabin Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 12, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at 12700 Southwest Highway in Palos Park.

Instructor Lois Shive invites you to come and create this Easter Basket with no previous experience required. The cost of this class is $42, which includes all supplies. Advanced registration is required by calling 361-3650.

Second Saturday Art Show

A Second Saturday Art Show will be held at The Log Cabin Center for the Arts, 12700 Southwest Family Art: Easter Bunny Sculptures Highway Palos Park on Saturday, March 12, from A ceramic sculpture class for families will be 4 to 6 p.m. hosted at the Log Cabin Center for the Arts on This is a free and family friendly art show feaWednesdays, March 9 and 16, from 6 to 7 p.m. turing a variety of artwork created by teachers and The Log Cabin Art Center is at 12700 Southwest students of The Log Cabin Center for the Arts. Art Highway in Palos Park. work will be on display and for sale. RefreshInstructor Heather Young invites families with ments will be served and the public is invited. children of any age to make colorful ceramic rabbit For more information call 361-3650. sculptures on March 9. Families will come back to glaze their creations on March 16. The class fee is $20 per person and includes all supplies and two New Class: Fairy Tales kiln firings. Advance registration is required. Call and the Second Half of Life The Center at 361-3650.

Fairy Tales and the Second Half of Life is the topic of a discussion class at The Center, 12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park, on six Wednesdays, The Bridge Teen Center programs • Improv Night & High School After Hours - 7:30 beginning March 9, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

The class will explore “what happens in the everto 10:30 p.m. March 4, The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 S. 71st Court, Orland Park, students are in- after when the hero and heroine have children of their vited to an Improv Night hosted by Andrew High own and white hair crowns the prince and princess.”

School’s Drama Club. In addition to the Improv set, The group is facilitated by the Rev. Debora-Ellen students will enjoy live music from singer/songwriter Brown, an interfaith minister who invites participants Christal Luster. High School students are welcome to reflect upon, discuss, and bless the tasks of the to stay for extended hours (10:30 p.m.-midnight). second half of life, using Allan B. Chinen’s book, “In the Ever After: Fairy Tales and the Second Free food will be provided by Famous Dave’s.

• Design a Dress - 4 to 5:30 p.m. March 8, a Half of Life.”

Everyone is welcome. The six-week class program with Pink Slip Boutique to teach students how to design a dress. Students will sketch out a costs $54 and requires pre-registration. Purchasing the book online or at a local store is recommended dress design and see it come to life.

• Bridge Cocina Fajitas - 4 to 5:30 p.m. March but not required. Call The Center at 361-3650.

OMARR’S WEEKLY ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST

By Jeraldine Saunders ARIES (March 21-April 19): You understand the nuances of networking. In the week ahead it will be easy to widen your sphere of influence by participating in group activities. Your net worth will increase in the workplace due to your friendliness.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Business tactics and a teamwork approach trump fantasies. Your ability to lead others is inspired and wise in the week to come so don’t be afraid to open up a dialog. Launch a new project or plan with a trusted partner.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): It isn’t what you think, but what other people think about you that count. In the week ahead be sure to honor your obligations and live up to your promises. Family members can offer a safe haven and sound advice.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You will never be last if you put others first. Your companions may act like divas or primp like superstars while you are content to just accept your place in the world. Take your place in line in the week to come.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The holidays are long gone but visions of sugarplums could be dancing in your head. Your dreams of material success can easily become a reality as this week unfolds. You have the shrewdness to see past the spin and fluff.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Fame is the name of the game.

In the week to come your good deeds or leadership abilities could earn you some positive press. Your entrepreneurial skills and judgment about financial matters could be better than usual.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Focus on friendliness. You may start out the week feeling less than attractive, but your cheerfulness and idealism in the face of adversity will bring new admirers. Join in when groups form for a worthy common purpose.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stretch the dollars like elastic bands. In the week to come your penny pinching ways will pay off.

You may find creative ways to make more money or to make your money work for you. Achieve worthy goals.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Tomorrow is another day. You could feel that the world is against you but as the days go by everything will look much better. Wait until at least the middle of the week to make crucial decisions or changes.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You can be a good motivator and strong negotiator in the week ahead. Although you may start off with selfish motives or a cynical viewpoint you could finish up as the most generous person in the room.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Some people take offense when subjected to a “back seat” driver. Do your best to avoid giving unasked for advice in the week ahead. Focus on being friendly and diplomatically helpful without offering criticism.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): There will be light at the end of the tunnel. You may feel pressured to perform at your best even though you are in the dark where your partner’s motives are concerned.

Keep your attention trained worthy goals this week.

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

OUT & ABOUT

The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Supplied photo

Trinity Christian College SALT programs offer trips, classes and book club discussions open to adults 45 and over.

Trinity Christian College offers wide variety of SALT programs For “seasoned” adults looking for outings, classes, book club discussions, entertainment, and informative sessions, Trinity Christian College has many different offerings.

Each spring and fall, Seasoned Adults Learning at Trinity (SALT) provides low-cost,

no-commitment opportunities to pursue intellectual and practical interests while learning, traveling and developing new friendships.

With SALT, there are no membership fees, grades or homework.

SALT students are welcome to join Trinity’s chapel services, use the on-campus library and bookstore

and free parking.

For more information, including a schedule of SALT offerings, or to register, visit www.trnty.edu/salt or call Ruth De Bruyn at 2394827. Trinity Christian College is at 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights.

Supplied photo

Ten-year-old Charlie Roth holds a baby chick at The Children’s Farm in Palos Park, which re-opens on Saturday.

The Children’s Farm re-opens Saturday for the spring season The Children’s Farm reopens for the spring season this Saturday.

The Children’s Farm is located at 12700 Southwest Highway in Palos Park.

The Children’s Farm will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 1 until 4 p.m. starting this weekend.

Visitors to the farm can tour the barns and see the farm animals. New piglets, lambs, goat kids, calves, bunnies, chicks, and ducklings are due to arrive this spring.

Families are invited into each animal pen by a farm volunteer who helps children to touch and learn

about the animal. According the Farm Director Amy Didominicis, the farm is a hands-on opportunity for children to experience the life of the farm.

Admission to the farm is $6 per person. No reservations are required on the weekends from 1 until 4 p.m. The exception is Easter weekend, when advance tickets are required for the Easter Egg Roundup on Saturday, March 26, and the farm is closed on Sunday, March 27.

The farm is also open for groups tours throughout the year by advance reservation. For more information, call The Center at 361-3650.

Southwest • Section 2, Page 10

Rammstein among headline acts at Chicago Open Air concert Chicago Open Air has announced Rammstein as one of the headlining acts for the three-day music, craft beer and Gourmet Man Food festival coming July 15, 16 and 17 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, just outside Chicago.

This marks Rammstein’s only 2016 U.S. performance and first Chicago show since 2012.

Chicago Open Air will feature a massive lineup of top rock artists, an outdoor Gourmet Man Food selection incorporating local and regional cuisine, a craft beer village highlighting top brews from the region, and other entertainment and fan experiences.

Discounted Early Bird General Admission three-day weekend tickets are available for purchase now at www.ChicagoOpenAir. com. See below for more details.

Rammstein are known for their explosive and creative live performances with spectacular lighting.

In the course of two decades, the German rock band have risen to the apex of the great rock pyramid, achieving album and DVD sales in the millions, headlining major festivals and bigger venues around the world (including New York’s Madison Square Garden, a show that sold out its 18,200 tickets in under 30 minutes!), and establishing themselves as peerless master showmen with an approach to their art — and ‘art’ is the word — that is dramatic, epic in scale and capable of touching all of the senses; a dark and spectacular fairy-tale laced with controversy and don’t-

try-this-at-home theatrics.

“Rammstein is an act that is headlining major festivals all over the world,” says Chicago Open Air producer Danny Wimmer. “I’ve been trying to get Rammstein here for years and I couldn’t be more ecstatic to launch Chicago Open

Air with them. If you’ve never seen Rammstein LIVE before, you are in for a real treat.”

Look for the full list of Chicago Open Air music, craft beer and artist-inspired beverages, as well as the Gourmet Man Food lineup as the fest nears.

TINLEY PARK

HOME & GARDEN EXPO

The Home Expo Promoted by America’s Handyman Bob Vila

March 5-6 Sat & Sun 10am-5pm

E R IS T N R RT CO A ’S N ID OO K LL BA

Tinley Park Convention Center 18451 Convention Center Dr. Tinley Park Adult Admission: $5.00 Senior Admission: $3.00 Children Under 17: FREE

HomeShowEvent.com EXHIBITING VENDORS INCLUDE:

Exterior - Interior - Building - Landscape - Granite Design - Renovation - Remodeling - Plants - Decks Basements - Kitchens - Bathrooms - Security - Garage Windows - Roofing - Siding - HVAC - Beds - Blinds

Bring Ad For

$2.00 OFF Admission

Design Expert Kelly Edwards of HGTV Fame Presents 12p-1p

Offering the finest plants in the area, Ted’s Green House will be selling a wide variety of annuals, perennials, biennials, herbs, vegetables and specialty stock.