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Merry Christmas

R E P O R T E R REPORTER

THE THE 3 SECTIONS 22 PAGES

Serving Chicago Ridge, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Oak Lawn, Palos Hills and Worth

Volume LV No. 42

Vorva recalls his favorite moment of 2014 (page 3), Rakow keeps gift giving in perspective (page 6) and Hanania says the decision to replace Topinka is all about politics (page 6). Tuition is going up at Moraine Valley but the school president says the school is still a great bargain, Page 8

Webb is coming to Palos Hills Page 5 INDEX Police News........................2 Our Neighborhood.............4 Sudoku.............................4 Commentary.....................6 Crossword.........................7 Death Notices...................7 School.......................8&9 Calendar..........................10 Consumer.........................11

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Thursday, December 25, 2014

Wish comes true

THE Hey,2even Santa SECTIONS (or a22St. Rita fan PAGES who looked like him) was at the Volume XLVII big game at No. 50 Moraine Valley on Friday night. The Palos Hills college hosted a battle of two high school powers in a game broadcast on ESPN2. See sports

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Thursday, March 1, 2007

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Rhonda-Rene Parker can’t tell the real Santa what she wants for Christmas because she can’t talk, but she can verbalize how she feels about the jolly old man as she gives a kiss to a replica Santa at the Evergreen Park Community Center.

Grant for my daughter to visit a speech pathologist is a blessing We got our wish! We got our wish! We got our wish! We got our wish! I can’t say it enough. I can’t sing it enough. Just thinking about it makes me want to dance. We got our wish and this is going to be a special Christmas in the Parker household. When I made a wish for what I wanted my daughter, who has special needs, to get for Christmas, it wasn’t exactly a common request. This wasn’t a wish for dolls, iPads or Beats. It was more of a collaborative wish. It went like this… “Hi Santa, my name is Rhonda-Rene Parker. I’m four years old and I have Childhood Apraxia of Speech. Because I have CAS, I cannot talk so I cannot tell you what I want for Christmas, so my mom helped me write this note to you. “I’ve been a good girl this year. I’ve worked really hard in therapy. I’d love it if you could grant my wish to see Nancy Kaufman. She’s an award winning Speech Language Pathologist. If you grant my wish, I promise to keep working hard to

learn new words. Toys to be a mutation of her would be nice, but what FOXP1 gene. We were I really want for Christadvised to teach her almas, is my voice!” ternative ways to com The Childhood Apraxmunicate and told she ia of Speech Association may never be able to (CASANA) created the produce words. aforementioned tem I grieved for the life plate note, for Santa’s I expected her to have lap. and wept over the antici CAS is a complicated pated difficulties being language disorder, supnon-verbal would bring pressing the voices of her. a growing number of Children with CAS children. It’s a motordiffer from those expeplanning barrier beriencing a speech delay. tween how the brain One indicator of CAS is By Claudia Parker communicates the timtypically a huge disparing and movement of the ity in a child’s receptive lips, tongue, jaw, and soft language. palate needed for speech to occur. It pres- The techniques for treating a speech ents itself as the child is learning to speak. delay and Apraxia are different. That’s Rhonda-Rene has been receiving speech why having a proper diagnosis is imperatherapy since she was 18 months old. A tive so that children can receive the appediatric neurologist diagnosed her with propriate therapy. CAS when she was three. By following Kaufman is the owner and director up with a geneticist, we found the cause of Kaufman Children’s Center in West

I, Claudia

Bloomfield, Michigan. Many regard her as a national expert in her field. She lectures locally, nationally and internationally on the subject of apraxia of speech in children. Kaufman said, “It’s my mission to empower parents, caregivers, families, and friends to help their infants, children, and adolescents to become effective verbal communicators.” Testimonials boast that Kaufman has been helping children with CAS learn to speak since she established the KCC back in 1979. She has a four-day Intensive program magnetically pulling families from around the world to participate. My Second City writing instructor, Nick Johne’s daughter Emma, who has autism, was accepted into Kaufman’s 4-day program, he said, “Claudia, I’m telling you. Take Rhonda-Rene to see Nancy. It’s expensive but it’ll be the best money you’ve ever spent. She got Emma talking!” My husband, Don and I agreed, that even though the cost exceeds our family’s budget, we’ll make the sacrifice. Rhonda(Continued on page 5)

Tragedy fueled by alcohol

Chicago man who killed two nuns was more than twice the legal limit according to medical examiner

By Bob Rakow Staff Reporter

.08 percent. Tests for the presence of benA Chicago man zoylecgonine who killed two (metabolite of nuns when his cocaine), opiates pickup truck coland carbon monlided into their oxide were negacar at 95th Street tive, the medical and Cicero Avenue examiner’s office had a blood alcosaid. hol concentration Sister Jean more that twice Stickney, 86, and the legal limit, the Sister Kab KyoCook County MediFile photo by Dermot Connolley ung Kim, 48, died cal Examiner has The driver that caused a tragic crash in Oak Lawn in October at the scene after reported. the car they were was ruled intoxicated, according to Cook County officials. Edward L. Cardriving was struck thans, 81, of Chicago had a BAC three Little Company of Mary by the pick-up truck. of .179 percent on Oct. 5 when nuns, the medical examiner’s Carthans also was killed in his truck veered into the op- said Monday. the crash, in which the pickup The legal limit blood alcohol posite lanes on 95th Street and slammed into a car occupied by concentration limit in Illinois is (Continued on page 12)

I T’ S B E T T E R AT

B E T T E N HAU S EN

Since 1956

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Seeing Alaska in the winter Stagg freshman Hannah Germann, left, and Kristina Macakova take a closer look at the pound cake portion of what will end up being a Tropical Alaska dessert. The two joined their peers in an Iron Chef competition at the school on Dec. 16. For more photos, see page 4.

From Our Family to Yours Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Bettenhausen Automotive

The Reporter Thursday, December 25, 2014

POLICE & COMMUNITY NEWS Chicago Ridge

Sundai Hardwick, 30, Lynwood, was charged with driving on a suspended license, improper use of registration and expired registration Dec. 18 after a stop at 106th Street and Harlem Avenue, police said. *** Norma E. Arreola-Vazquez, 28, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft Dec. 19 after allegedly stealing merchandise from Kohl’s at Chicago Ridge Mall, police said. *** Jose F. Valrierra, 19, of Justice, was charged with retail theft Dec. 19 after allegedly stealing goods from Carson’s at Chicago Ridge Mall, police said. *** Roberta J. Schultz, 53, of Palos Hills, was charged with retail theft Dec. 20 after allegedly stealing merchandise from Kohl’s at Chicago Ridge Mall, police said. *** Jose R. Salgado, 19, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft Dec. 20 after allegedly stealing goods from Carson’s at Chicago Ridge Mall, police said. *** Carlos Velerco, 27, of Chicago, was charged with driving without a valid license and making an improper turn Dec. 20 after a stop at 111th Street and Ridgeland Avenue, police said. *** Jose Flores, 20, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license and failure to wear a seatbelt Dec. 20 following a stop at 95th Street and Ridgeland Avenue, police said. *** Pedro Jimenez-Garcia, 39, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license, speeding and no insurance after a Dec. 20 stop at 102nd Street and Harlem Avenue, police said. *** Taria Angarah, 30, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license and improper

THE

backing Dec. 21 after a stop in the 6100 block of 95th Street, police said. *** Joseph Buckhalter, 35, of Chicago, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license Dec. 21 following a stop at 103rd Street and Austin Avenue, police said.

Evergreen Park Blake M. Machota, 43, of Naperville, was charged with possession of a controlled substance Dec. 9 after a stop in the 2600 block of 95th Street, police said. Matthew W. Moerle, 39, of Merrionette Park, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug equipment following a Dec. 9 stop in the 3100 block of 87th Street, police said. Marc S. Koronkiewicz, 19, of Evergreen Park, was charged with possession of drug equipment Dec. 10 after a stop in the 3900 block of 93rd Street, police said. *** Raymond J. Rice, 31, of Evergreen Park, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 11 after he was stopped at 91st Street and Pulaski Road, police said. *** Avis R. Heard, 50, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 11 after a stop at 99th Street and Utica Avenue, police said. *** Victoria M. Daley, 29, of Bridgeview, was charged with possession of drug equipment Dec. 11 after she was stopped at 87th Street and Pulaski Road, police said. *** Marquise T. Taylor, 25, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 11 following a stop at 96th Street and Pulaski Road, police said. *** Kevin L. Nichols, 24, of Ev-

REPORTER

Chicago Ridge / Evergreen Park / Hickory Hills Oak Lawn / Palos Hills / Worth Publisher Amy Richards Editor Jeff Vorva Sports Editor Ken Karrson Graphic Design/Layout Kari& Nelson Graphic Design/Layout Kari Nelson Jackie Santora Advertising Sales Val Draus

ergreen Park, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 13 after being stopped at 91st Street and Western Avenue, police said. *** Edison E. Zuniga, 24, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 13 after a stop at 95th Street and Homan Avenue, police said. *** Jalesha M. Davis, 26, of Evergreen Park, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 13 after being stopped at 95th Street and Kedzie Avenue, police said. *** Jesse B. Banks, 31, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 13 after a stop at 94th Street and Western Avenue, police said. *** Jordan E. Smith, 26, of Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 13 following a stop at 97th Street and Western Avenue, police said. *** Steven W. Nelson, 46, of Evergreen Park, was charged with resisting or obstructing a police officer Dec. 15 after a disturbance in the 8800 block of Troy Avenue, police said. *** William K. Rake, 24, of Berwyn, was charged with driving on a suspended license Dec. 17 following a stop at 99th Street and Kedzie Avenue, police said.

Pawel Piton, 20, of Oak Lawn, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and failure to reduce speed to avoid and accident Nov. 30 after a stop in the 6600 block of 91st Place, police said. *** Thomas J. Stankus Jr., 24, of Oak Lawn, was charged with drunken driving, speeding and possession of marijuana and drug equipment after a Dec. 5 stop at 101st Street and Central Avenue, police said. *** Richard P. Karnoski, 42, of Burbank, was charged

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Photo by Kelly White

Sgt. Chris Fernandez congratulates officer Michael Cozzi at the Worth Village Board meeting on Dec. 16.

Worth cops lauded at board meeting By Kelly White Correspondent Worth police officers are taking the holiday season to heart by repeatedly putting others before themselves. Police Chief Mark Micetich officially began his new role in the department last week, after being voted in unanimously by the village board at the Dec. 3 meeting. He replaced Martin Knolmayer, who retired in October after 28 years of service. Charles Kulisek was voted in as the new deputy chief. Micetich was sworn in dur-

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after a stop at 95th Street and Mayfield Avenue, police said. *** Several bottles of alcohol were reported stolen Dec. 13 from Walgreens, 4740 W. 95th St. *** Charles J. Dubiel, 54, of Oak Lawn, was charged with drunken driving and improper lane use Dec. 14 after he was stopped at 105th Street and Kilpatrick Avenue, police said. *** Eric Shenault, 42, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft Dec. 14 after he allegedly stole merchandise from Target, 4120 W. 95th St., police said. *** Two bicycles and other miscellaneous items were reported stolen Dec. 15-16 from a garage and shed in the 5100 block of 90th Street, police said. *** A television, tablet and laptop computer were reported stolen Dec. 17-18 from an apartment in the 10700 block of Kilpatrick Avenue.

Crystal B. Rodriguez, 20, of Hickory Hills, was charged with disorderly conduct Dec. 20 after allegedly providing false information to police, they said.

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A Coach purse was reported stolen Dec. 10 from a car in the lot of the Oak View Center, 4625 W. 110th St. *** The tires and rims were stolen Dec. 10 from a car in the 9500 block of Kildare Avenue, police said. *** Gwendolyn R. Razor, 20, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft Dec. 11 after allegedly stealing merchandise from Kmart, 4101 W. 95th St., police said. *** Breanna M. McDaniel, 22, of Oak Lawn, was charged with battery Dec. 12 after a disturbance in the 10400 block of Menard Avenue, police said. *** Clothing, jewelry and other miscellaneous items were reported stolen Dec. 12 from an apartment in the 10300 block of Pulaski Road, police said. *** Several bottles of alcohol were reported stolen Dec. 13 from Jewel-Osco, 9424 S. Pulaski Road. *** Artavius T. Sims, 20, of Darien, was charged with drunken driving, speeding, improper lane use, no insurance and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor Dec. 13

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with drunken driving, illegal screeching of tires, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of ammunition without a FOID card Dec. 7 following a stop at 95th Street and Ridgeland Avenue, police said. *** Two packages delivered to a house in the 8900 block of 49th Avenue were reported stolen on Dec. 7. *** Edwin Rodriguez, 48, of Oak Lawn, was charged with drunken driving, speeding and improper lane use Dec. 7 after he was stopped at 95th Street and McVicker Avenue, police said. *** A laptop computer was reported stolen Dec. 8-9 from a car in the 5900 block of 98th Street. *** A package containing a Coach purse and iPhone cases was reported stolen Dec. 9 from the front porch of a house in the 10100 block of Kedvale Avenue. *** Dusan Stupak, 39, of Burbank, was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting s police officer Dec. 10 after a disturbance at Christ Medical Center, 4440 W. 95th St., police said. ***

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Notice is Hereby Given that on 1-25-15, a sale will be held at G & M Auto Repair, 6146 W. 65th St., Chicago, IL 60638, to sell the following articles to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois unless such articles are redeemed within thirty days of the publication of this notice. Chad James Wright Dupriest, Ross Fascetta & Joseph P. Fascetta 2003 Cadillac VIN# 1G6DM57N130116819 Lien Amount: $8,770.00

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is Hereby Given that on 1-25-15, a sale will be held at B & D Auto Body Repair, 1226 E. 95th St., Chicago, IL 60619, to sell the following articles to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois unless such articles are redeemed within thirty days of the publication of this notice. Unique Auto Sales (Peter) 2002 Mitsubishi VIN# JA4MT31R32P007617 Lien Amount: $10,800.00

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is Hereby Given that on 2-1-15, a sale will be held at Quality Mobile Truck Repair, Inc.,2400 American Ln., Elk Grove Village IL 60007, to sell the following articles to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois unless such articles are redeemed within thirty days of the publication of this notice. VJK, Inc. 1999 Sterling VIN# 2FWYJWEB6XA982385 Lien Amount: $3,343.36

ing a private ceremony on Dec. 16. But in public, he was able to watch the board rave about members of his force. Officer Mike Cozzi was also presented with a police commendation by Sergeant Chris Fernandez at the Dec. 16 board meeting for stopping an armed robbery. On Oct. 15, Cozzi responded to an armed robbery attempt at the BP Gas Station, 10631 S Southwest Hwy. He arrived on scene and took the initial statement from the witness and the victim. The victim said the offender displayed a handgun and left the station with money, tobacco and liquor and reported the offender was driving a red pickup truck with a white cap. Officials said Cozzi reviewed the surveillance footage and later that same day saw the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. He spoke to the driver of the vehicle who informed Cozzi that the offender was currently inside of his condo with a handgun. Cozzi went to the condo with the gained consent from the driver and took the offender into custody. “Officer Cozzi earned this due to his prompt action, professionalism and diligence which resulted in the arrest of this violent offender,” Fernandez said. Cozzi and Sgt. Fernandez, along with Officer Dan Cichocki and Officer Brian Mase, also participated in the Worth Police Department’s Shop with a Cop by helping needy families in the village purchase Christmas gifts for their families. “This is the first time we have ever done this and it was a really nice experience,” Fernandez said of the commendation. In other news, the Worth Police Department was approved for a grant from Walmart, 10260 Harlem Ave., and with the grant money donations from

the Worth Lions Club, the officers were able to make several children’s Christmas dreams come true. The officers met with children from Worth Junior High, and with the assistance of Principal Joe Zampillo, determined the families in the most need of assistance for the holidays. The officers made contact with the parents of the children asked them to submit their child’s personal Christmas list, along with every member of their immediate families’ Christmas wish list. “There was an average of five siblings per child,” Fernandez said. On Dec. 6, Fernandez and the three other officers took the seven children from Worth Junior High in squad cars to Walmart and shopped alongside the child as they purchased gifts for their parents and siblings from the families’ wish list, spending an average of $500 per family. The officers and children then returned to the police station where they were able to wrap their families’ gifts and eat catered pizza from Waldo Cooneys. “This was a really great experience because for some of these children it was the first time they were ever able to buy gifts for all of the members of their family,” Worth Mayor Mary Werner said. The children were granted one more Christmas surprise. “The children did not know it at the time but before we took them shopping, we had already purchased all of the items off of their own personal Christmas list and had them wrapped and waiting for them back at the police station,” he said, “Watching them open up gifts they really wanted but didn’t think they were going to get was amazing.”

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Thursday, December 25, 2014 The Reporter

White’s Christmas photo shoot was my favorite moment of 2014 While I was working as a sportswriter at a local daily paper, someone had the bright idea to end the year by having each one of us write about a certain moment or behind-the-scenes occurrence from that year. The idea was to capture moments of something cool that didn’t make the paper. One year, I did a silly piece about Cubs catcher Michael Barrett accidentally using a doubleentendre after he suffered a groin injury that also included a tale about the expert belching abilities of pitcher Todd Wellemeyer. Another year, I did a piece on how right after the All-Star game, the Cubs had media accessibility and my trials and tribulations of covering that and trying to race home to see my son T.J.’s All-Star game. And one other time, I wrote about a moment after Bloom’s football team qualified for the playoffs for the first time in a loooooong time on a rainy night. Some of the big linemen celebrated by jumping into a mud puddle, splashed around and hooted and hollered like they were little kids again and got really dirty. The coach was hopping mad but I thought than in a time when teenagers act too cool to show emotion, this was something unique. It’s been awhile since I got a chance to reflect on moments like that. I missed writing those stories. Then, I slapped myself hard on the head and said “Wait a minute, dummy. YOU are the editor. YOU can write what you want!’’ So, here is my great moment of 2014 and it happened on Dec. 12. A little background, first… Last week, we ran a story written by our 76-year-old history columnist, Don C. White, about complications from his open heart surgery. Granted, not a lot of people want to read about some old guy’s operation, but when he incorporated his grandson into

IMPRESSIONS By Jeff Vorva

the mix, it became a sweet tale. Two years ago his grandson, Samuel, was eight and asked Don C. if he would still be around when he grows up. Don C. said he told the kid he would do everything he could to be there for him. Two years later, Don C. is shaking hands with his surgeon thanking him for allowing him to fulfill his wish. Great stuff. Hopefully people who read it either felt really good, or they wanted to reach for a Kleenex to blow their nose. I knew I wanted this column on our front page and I knew I wanted a special photo to go with his wonderful prose. Our window was limited because of Don’s schedule, my schedule and Samuel’s schedule. I went out to Joliet, where Samuel lives, on that Friday night to get their photo together. We took darn near 100 shots from various angles to get what I thought was the killer shot for the front page of grandfather and grandson toasting with lemonade. A couple of times during the shoot, Don said “I love you Samuel.’’ I darn near needed to find a box of Kleenex after that. What a moment. This may not be the best photo I ever took. It may never win any awards. But every time I see it, I’m going to remember the 76-year-old’s heartfelt verbal display of love to his grandson.

Here we go a caroling… Last week’s column on my 12

favorite Christmas carols ended by asking you all to add a few of your own favorites. Thanks to social media, a few folks responded with some dandies. Dave Tuley of Las Vegas said he couldn’t believe I didn’t have the comedy song “Holy S—t, It’s Christmas’’ by Red Peters. If a guy goes by the name of Red Peters, you know it has to be quality stuff. Tuley said it should have been my number 1 song with a bullet. Kyle Leonard of the north suburbs said he favors “Santa Lost a Ho” by the Christmas Jug Band of Mill Valley and it features a dude playing guitar named Turtle Vandermarr. If you have a guy named Turtle in your band, you know it’s going to be quality stuff. A man from Twitter named Adam Music digs “Circle of Steel” by Gordon Lightfoot and on less sentimental note, mentioned he also liked “Santa’s Gonna Kick You’re A—“ by the Arrogant Worms. Dan Ruane of the south suburbs gave a “LOL” shout out to AC/DC’s “All I Want for Christmas is my Mistress.’’ And Steve Metsch of LaGrange added the AC/DC song as well as “Run, Run Rudolph” by Chuck Berry, “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney, “And So This is Christmas/War is Over” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, “Little Drummer Boy” by Bob Seger, the “Motown Christmas Album” and the entire “Cool Yule” album. He adds a couple of Bob Dylan numbers -- “Must Be Santa” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Thank you all for playing.

Harold and Kumar? I almost threw our young movie reviewer, Tony Pinto, under the sleigh when he came up with his top 5 Christmas movie list and

Photo by Jeff Vorva

The byplay between Don C. White, left, and his grandson during the shooting of this photo, was Vorva’s favorite moment of 2014. it didn’t feature “It’s a Wonderful Life’’ but did put in “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.’’ Then I reflected on my own youth. When I was in high school, my musical tastes were vast, but my acts of choice were headbangers Ted Nugent, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. I used to listen to this guy on a Joliet radio station who would give a weekly entertainment report and pretty much bash any music that wasn’t done in the vein of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett or Dean Martin. Anything that resembled rock and roll was garbage in his book. As an aside, he was a big Bill Cosby fan, but I’ll just leave it at that.

I hated the guy’s opinions and I vowed that when I grew up, I would not be that guy. So when Pinto sent his top 5 movies to me, I was looking for some of the old classics and when I saw Harold and Kumar instead of “White Christmas” or Wonderful Life I was rubbing my palms together ready to give some friendly jabs. And I had some good one-liners lined up. But I will resist. I’m not going to be that guy. If the new generation sees Harold and Kumar as a classic, who am I to argue? I’m sure back in the old days, Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges were not universally accepted by the more sophisticated set at the time they were making moving pictures.

And they had pretty good careers. And “It’s a Wonderful Life” was not a blockbuster when it first appeared in 1946. A New York Times reviewer ripped it for being too sentimental and “its illusionary concept of life” that reflected “theatrical attitudes rather than average realities.’’ It didn’t take off until it came into the public domain and was shown on TV seemingly 24 hours a day. Then it became larger than life for a couple of new generations. Maybe Tony is ahead of his time and Harold and Kumar may become as iconic as George Bailey and Mr. Potter. We have to keep a mind that is more open than the Grand Canyon for that to happen.

Fire issues still burn in Chicago Ridge The more the merrier for Streit By Bob Rakow Staff Reporter

By Bob Rakow Staff Reporter

Four years ago, Oak Lawn Trustee Bob Streit’s opponent was thrown off the ballot for nominating petition irregularities. The challenger, Dan Sodaro, a newcomer to village politics, subsequently conducted a writein campaign and came within 11 votes of defeating Streit. Today, Sodaro is a member of the Ridgeland School District 122 school board, the same position he held when challenged Streit in 2011. Streit, meanwhile, is seeking re-election to his sixth term on the village board. This time he’s in a three-way race facing challengers Scott Hollis and J. John “J.J.” Zurek. Certainly, a three-way race benefits the Streit, who likely wants to avoid a head-to-head matchup with Hollis. The question is: who is J. John “J.J.” Zurek, and is his candidacy legitimate or did he enter the race to benefit Streit? Hollis’ supporters would like nothing more than to end Streit’s 20-year tenure on the board. He too is a relative newcomer to Oak Lawn, having moved to the village a few years ago. But he’s already released campaign literature critical of Streit that signals that a real battle is ahead in District 3. Streit has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of Mayor Sandra Bury, and has used the village’s decision to outsource the 911 dispatching center as his rallying cry. Steve Loulouis indicated a few weeks ago that he planned to run in District 3, but apparently changed his mind and did not submit petitions by Monday night’s deadline. Loulouis ran unsuccessfully for 3rd District trustee several years ago, losing a four-way race to Streit. Oak Lawn’s 1st District will see a rematch of the 2013 race, in which Trustee Tim Desmond defeated then-incumbent Cindy Trautsch. Trautsch was appointed to the board when Jerry Hurckes stepped down. She ran with former Mayor Dave Heilmann’s support in 2013. Trautsch has kept her hand in village politics since her defeat, filing a compliant that Desmond failed to file the required paperwork with the Illinois State Board of Elections before running for office. In the 5th District, the battle to replace Trustee Carol Quinlan will feature Dan Johnson, president of the Oak Lawn VFW, and Bud Stalker, who is endorsed by Quinlan. Meanwhile, Paul Vail,

who announced his candidacy several months ago, did not file petitions. Currently, Mayor Sandra Bury enjoys a 4-2 majority on the board with Streit and Quinlan typically opposing her. Victories by Streit, Stalker and Trautsch would be necessary to create an evenly divided board and force Bury to break 3-3 votes on some occasions. The races in the other towns covered by the Reporter also are set. In Evergreen Park, incumbents Mary Keane, Mark Marzullo and Jim McQuillan are running for reelection to the six-member village board. They will be joined on the ballot by challenger Christopher Trzeciak, president of the Evergreen Park High School District 231 school board. In Chicago Ridge, incumbents both Jack Lind and Dan Badon have submitted nominating petitions. Challengers Fran Coglianese, a long-time clerical employee at the Chicago Ridge Village Hall; Bill McFarland, a paid-oncall firefighter and a member of the Our Lady of the Ridge school board; and Don Pratl, a former trustee and member of the School District 218 board; and Dave Conrad, also have filed petitions to run election. Three seats are up for election. In Palos Hills, there are contested races for alderman in two of the city’s five wards. Mike Lebarre and Sonia Khalil are running for the 3rd Ward seat vacated by Ald. Bill Hansen. Meanwhile, in the 5th Ward, Dawn Nowak is challenging incumbent Ald. Frank Williams. Additionally, incumbents Marty Keefisch (1st), Pauline Stratton (2nd) and Joseph Marrotta (4th) have turned in their petitions and appear to be running unopposed. In Hickory Hills Mayor Mike Howley, City Clerk D’Lorah Catizone and Treasurer Dan Schramm are running unopposed. Additionally, Joe Mancuso has filed to run for alderman in the 2nd Ward against Ald. John Szeszycki. In the 4th Ward, Colleen Kelly, a member of the Lyons Township Town Board, will challenge Ald. Scott Zimmerman. Meanwhile, Ald. Mike McHugh (1st) and Ald. Tom McAvoy (3rd) will run unopposed for another term on the city council. In Worth, trustees Mary Rhein, Pete Kats and Warren Soldan along with challengers Bruce LeBeau, Forrest Tucker and Kevin Ryan have submitted petitions.

ANALYSIS

The Chicago Ridge Fire Department remain at odds with village officials over a variety of hot-button issues including what the firefighters union describes as a “staffing crisis.” “We are currently faced with more issues than I care to count,” Chris Schmelzer, president of the Chicago Ridge Firefighter’s Union, wrote in an Dec. 13 email to Trustee Bruce Quintos obtained Monday by the Reporter. “First on the list is the absolutely outlandish possibility of staffing a second station using only current personnel resources. To staff a firehouse with two people is unsafe, reduces services to the entire town, and just simply doesn’t make sense,” Schmelzer wrote. In an interview Monday, Schmelzer said poor communication between Fire Chief George Sheets and the firefighters remains a serious problem. “There is no communication. We’re coexisting. We’re doing things under threat of discipline,” said Schmelzer, who added the teamwork that existed at the house has transformed into a ‘’dictatorship.’’ Sheet was unavailable for comment Monday, but at last week’s village board meeting he said firefighters’ feedback is included in all his decisions. Mayor Chuck Tokar said Monday that plans to reopen the Lombard Avenue fire station by Christmas have been delayed until the end of January. But he contends that the decision is a good one. The station will be open 12 hours a day during the period that the fire department receives the most calls, Tokar said. The decision to reopen the Lombard station was made be-

cause it is located closer to the village’s residential area than the fire station in the village’s industrial park. Additionally, providing ambulance service from the Lombard Station would reduce the number of times service is provided by neighboring communities—a service for which residents must pay, Tokar said. But union officials said there are drawbacks to the plan to decrease response times. “While some residents may see a short decrease in response times for an ambulance, under the new plan, fire protection is eliminated within the entire town every time we get an ambulance call. “The new plan calls for two ambulances to respond to every call, reducing fire response within the village by 100 percent. Nobody is left to answer the next call,” Schmelzer wrote in his email. “To blindly place all of the village’s already limited resources into an ambulance response is short-sighted at best.” He added that two firefighters who retired in 2014 and were not replaced, a move that places a strain on the department. “We run with a four-person minimum per shift, as anything less than that would be unsafe, according to all applicable consensus standards, past practice and common sense. Two of the three shifts are currently staffed with four people, creating overtime whenever a member is off,” he said. “The bottom line is that our fire department has been defunded by two positions,” said Quintos, who cast the lone vote against the village’s 2015 budget for that reason. “With all but one member having over 10 years seniority on the department and having the commensurate accrued time off, someone is scheduled off the

File photo by Jeff Vorva

Chicago Ridge firemen and village officials are at odds over several issues including the purchase of a few fire truck. majority of the time. On these shifts, overtime is created every single time someone is off,” Schmelzer said. Tokar would not respond to Schmelzer and Quintos’ remarks. “Don’t believe everything that you hear,” he said, adding that decisions regarding the fire department with “the input and cooperation of the union.” “I understand the union’s position, but I represent the taxpayers of Chicago Ridge,” Tokar said. The union also has issues with the village’s recent decision to purchase a quint, a fire apparatus that has a pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial device and ground ladders. Purchase of the quint led the fire department to remove from

the fleet an aerial truck and two pumper trucks, one that is badly rusted and requires significant repair, Sheets said. Those vehicles will be sold and the proceeds will be used to help pay for the quint, he said. The quint will cost $685,000, which will be offset by the $250,000 the village expects to receive for the sale of the three vehicles it is removing from the fleet. A $350,000 state loan could be used to pay for the bulk of the balance, Sheets said. “To spend three quarters of a million dollars on a vehicle that will, according to the new response plan issued by the department, only be staffed with two people seems like an improper use of resources,” Schmelzer said.

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The Reporter Thursday, December 25, 2014

Our Neighborhood

Prepare ye the way of the lard

Stagg students sizzling in Iron Chef competition

Maciej Mucha, a sophomore, flips his toast during the Iron Chef competition at Stagg High School in Palos Hills.

Ellie Engel, Natalia Bryja and Kierstynn Hodgkinson team up to work on a dessert at Stagg’s Iron Chef competition.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Stagg teacher Jackie Roth, a former student at the school, poses with the clock used to time the Iron Chef competition in her classroom on Dec. 16.

High School District 230 Superintendent James Gay was one of the guest judges at the Stagg Iron Chef competition on Dec. 16.

SUDOKU

Senior Natalia Btyja puts the frosting on a red velvet creation during the Iron Chef competition at Stagg.

RETRO

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 digits1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

By Mark Andrews

Compiled by Jeff Vorva

News and events from our archives.

A gay and funny Doris Day film played at the Coral 50 years ago

From the Dec. 24, 1964 issue The story: Oak Lawn police Sgt. Kenneth O’Brien was credited for the arrest of ex-convict Raymond Wright for the attempted murder of a Chicago policeman. The quote: “It doesn’t seem possible that this is our fifth Christmas together…” — an editorial in the Reporter, which was just five years old at the time. Fun fact: Playing over at the Coral Theater on 95th and Cicero was the Doris Day comedy “Send Me No Flowers.’’ Some of the leading men in the film were Rock Hudson and Paul Lynde.

Bennett says Palos Hills has a heart 25 years ago

(Solution on page 10)

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History of the World

From the Dec. 28, 1980 issue The story: One of the new state laws scheduled to go into effect after Jan 1, 1990 included banning the use of tobacco on school property. But schools would provide special smoking areas for sporting events. A law requiring schools to provide instruction on steroid abuse was also scheduled to go into effect. The quote: “I’m disturbed about the bashing of Palos Hills, me in particular. I don’t mind being the fall guy on this issue but I think it’s unfair. And this council and the people of this town are not heartless.’’ — Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett on attacks from media about the city’s handling of not giving zoning relief to the Crisis Center for South Suburbia. Fun fact: The Worth Township Highway Department completed construction on a salt dome, with a capacity for 600 tons of salt.

Marist fans bring the noise against McAuley 10 years ago

From the Dec. 23, 2004 issue The story: Oak Lawn Fire Chief Tom Moran announced his retirement after a 39 career of firefighting. The quote: “That’s the way every high school game should be played. The only thing is, it’s hard to coach. The kids can barely hear you on the court,” — Mother McAuley girls basketball coach Tony Federici after his team’s 54-44 loss to Marist in a loud and packed house at Marist. Fun fact: The Reporter published a story on 10 foods that help fight cancer — tomatoes, broccoli sprouts, berries, soybeans, tea, pumpkin, spinach, garlic, pineapple and apples.

Dec. 25: ON THIS DATE in 336, the first recorded celebration of Christmas took place in Rome. In 1776, Gen. George Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River for a surprise attack on Hessian forces at Trenton, N.J. Dec. 26: ON THIS DATE in 1825, the Erie Canal opened. In 1954, “The Shadow” aired for the last time on radio. Dec. 27: ON THIS DATE in 1900, militant prohibitionist Carry A. Nation walked into the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas, and proceeded with her first public smashing of a bar. In 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened in New York. Dec. 28: ON THIS DATE in 1065, Westminster Abbey opened in London. In 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance. Dec. 29: ON THIS DATE in 1862, the bowling ball was invented. In 1940, Nazi Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London during World War II. Dec. 30: ON THIS DATE in 1911, Sun Yat-sen was elected the first president of the Republic of China. Dec. 31: ON THIS DATE in 1879, inventor Thomas Edison gave the first public demonstration of his incandescent lamp. Answer to last week’s question: This week in 1968, Julie Nixon, the younger daughter of President-elect Richard Nixon, married David Eisenhower, a grandson of former President Dwight Eisenhower. This week’s question: In 1754, Kings College was founded in New York City. What is the school called now? (Mark Andrews can be reached via e-mail at mlandrews@embarqmail.com.)

Thursday, December 25, 2014 The Reporter

‘Do you want this blessing or not?’ (Continued from page 1) Rene’s current SLP, Anne Scahill was completely supportive and helped us through the steps necessary to gain acceptance into the Kaufman program. We were anxious and wanted RhondaRene to go right away. However, there’s a six- month wait list. She won’t be seen until the spring. On the bright side, that meant we’d have time to save our money. It turns out delayed gratification was working in our favor. St. Xavier University offers a Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology. I’ve been taking Rhonda-Rene there for supplemental therapy for a year. We’ve developed a great relationship with our supervising SLP, Jennifer Brown-Fitzpatrick. She’s always offering us additional resources. One afternoon she said,

“Claudia, have you seen this?” It was a flyer she’d pulled from the wall. “You need to look into this.” It read, “Do you have One Wish for your child with apraxia? See the grant application at www.TheApraxiaConnection.org.” That was the THIRD time The Apraxia Connection had come across my path. Our Evergreen Park school district hosted a special needs event where they were sharing that same flyer. I’d also heard about them while at Rhonda-Rene’s classmate’s birthday party held at Little You. It’s a pediatric, speech, occupational and developmental clinic. I struck up a conversation with a personable and outgoing blonde, who I later learned to be Betsy Lowery, the owner, who’s also a SLP. When I told her Rhonda-Rene had CAS, she too went and grabbed a flyer. She said, “Here, contact The Apraxia Connection, they give grants to families of children with CAS.”

The good Lord was practically knocking me over the head saying, “Do you want this blessing or not?” Just days before their Nov. 30 deadline, I finally took action and applied for a One Wish Grant. On Dec. 9 I received a call from The Apraxia Connection’s Co-founder, Michele Kowalski informing me that Rhonda-Rene’s wish had been granted! The four-day intensive therapy program she’ll receive Kaufman next spring is being paid in full! I was so grateful, I went into a “baaahh” ugly cry. Rhonda-Rene knows about 50 words in sign language, works with a picture communication system and can verbalize a total of seven words. She can say, Mom, Dad, eat, hi, bye, more and tea. Our prayer is that after applying the techniques we get from Kaufman, maybe by next Christmas, she’ll be talking so much we’ll be wishing she’d hush up!

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Rhonda-Rene Parker received a great Christmas gift this year in the form of a grant to work with a renowned speech pathologist.

Kids talking back to these parents is often welcomed By Claudia Parker Correspondent Meet a couple of mother who actually want kids to talk back. But, not in a sassy kind of way. The Apraxia Connection was established as a 501(c)3 public charity organization in 2012 by three Chicagoland mothers of children with varied degrees of apraxia of speech, global apraxia, and associated disorders. Two of its co-founders Michele Kowalski, of LaGrange and Barbara Matt of Westmont, said their mission is to “unlock the voice of people with Apraxia.” These busy moms didn’t set out to establish their own organization — they

said things just fell into place that way. “I’m an attorney and mother of four girls, Alexandra, (11) Evelyn, (9) Rachael, (7) and Anna, (4),’’ Kowalski said. “Oh and [I’m] a wife. My husband’s name is Dave. Can’t forget him.” Of their four girls, the eldest, Alexandra, has Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and was diagnosed at the age of two. She couldn’t speak until she was four but today, Kowalski says, “She never stops talking!” Matt and her husband, Andrew, have three boys, Alexander (13), Ethan (10) and George (9). Both Ethan and George have CAS. “When you first get the diagnosis it’s hard,” Matt said. “I teach third grade

and I remember watching my students engaged in conversation and thinking to myself, ‘my sons are never going to do that.’ Ethan was diagnosed at 2½ years old, George at the age of five. However, both of them have become verbal communicators.” Kowalski said as awareness of apraxia grows, so does the demand for a network of local support. One of the biggest misconceptions of CAS is that children diagnosed will never learn to speak. Research is proving with the proper therapy and caregiver involvement, things will turn around. Kowalski said, “Barbara and I met during an annual conference hosted by The Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Association of North America (CASNA), which is the largest non-profit organization out there for Apraxia. They hosted a walk in Pennsylvania that year and during the conference they asked if anyone would be interested in hosting one in their area. Barbara and I signed up.” These women bring new meaning to the cliché’, “walk the walk and talk the talk.” They’ve hosted their Apraxia walk annually for six years. Kowalski said, “The 2014 walk was our most successful walk so far. We had 778 participants and raised $70,000.” Matt said they established The Apraxia Connection to connect neighbor-

hood resources and information about apraxia and associated disorders with families and other professionals who need them. Kowalski agreed saying, “We also provide families with monthly support meetings. In addition, we aim to reduce the high cost of therapy and therapeutic tools by offering grants to families in need. We approved nine, One Wish grants to families this Christmas.” Matt said, “The Apraxia Connection is here because we want families to know they’re not alone. We understand how they feel.” They serve all of the Chicago-area communities and surrounding states. For more information visit http://www. theapraxiaconnection.org/.

Webb Chevrolet ready to move into Palos Hills By Michael Gilbert Correspondent

definitely open in 2015.” The property is undergoing a major renovation with the razPalos Hills officials have given ing of the greenhouse area. The the green light for Webb Chevrolet other building on site is being to come to town. remodeled and will serve as the The city council voted unani- dealership’s office, Hanson said. mously last Thursday to approve He was unsure if a showroom a special-use ordinance allowing would be constructed on site. the sale and repair of cars on the Webb Chevy did not have a repproperty that formerly housed resentative present at last week’s Sid’s Greenhouse, 10926 South- meeting. west Highway. Aldermen Rickey Under the terms of the ordiMoore (4th Ward) and Mary Ann nance, the dealership can be open Schultz (5th Ward) were absent. Monday through Saturday while Webb Chevy already owns the the repair shop can operate from property and has been storing 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through new vehicles on a portion of the Friday. State law prohibits car site since April. The special-use dealerships from having Sunday ordinance was the final hurdle hours. Webb Chevy needed to clear in Webb Chevy can have a maxiorder to open a dealership selling mum of 200 vehicles on site; inand repairing automobiles. cluding both those it is selling When the dealership opens and storing, Hanson said. Webb is unknown, but Alderman Bill Chevy also operates a dealership Hanson (3rd Ward) said after the in Oak Lawn on Cicero Avenue. meeting he was confident it will “From what the [Webb Chevy occur in 2015. representatives] had said is that “So much of when they open some of the new cars stored [at the is going to be weather-related,” Palos Hills location] will eventuHanson said. “I was sort of sur- ally go migrate over to Oak Lawn prised they weren’t pushing [for to be sold,” Hanson said. the special-use ordinance] at our The Palos Hills location will last city council meeting to save predominately sell used cars with themselves two weeks but it will the special-use ordinance making

it clear those vehicles must be of the higher-end quality. “Junk vehicles, dilapidated and inoperable cars will not be displayed or stored on the property,” Alderman Joan Knox (1st Ward) said as she read the six-page ordinance at the council meeting. The ordinance further states the parkway in front of the property along Southwest Highway be landscaped and maintained, and a six-foot decorative fence be constructed along the property line in front Eastwood Drive so access from or onto Eastwood Drive is not possible. Lighting on the site will be directed toward Southwest Highway so as not to impact residents located behind the property. Those requirements are expected to ease concerns brought up by residents at a public hearing in October, Hanson said. “Residents had the concerns of [cars] going out onto to Eastwood Drive and [Webb Chevy] assured them they are putting a solid fence across so there will be no ingress and egress onto Eastwood Drive,” Hanson said. “Noise was an issue and Webb Chevy said they’d be operating at these specific hours. Lighting was also an issue and

Photo by Michael Gilbert

The site formerly occupied by Sid’s Greenhouse is expected to open in 2015 as a Webb Chevrolet dealership. Palos Hills officials approved a special-use ordinance granting Webb Chevy permission to sell and repair automobiles on the property. that has been addressed in the ordinance. “The ordinance is worded to take care of a lot of the concerns.” Hanson said the only concern that cannot be addressed is the temporary right lane closure on Southwest Highway when the car carrier is delivering automobiles. The topography of the property

in relation to the street is such that there is a drop in the curb line that prohibits the car carrier from turning into the dealership, Hanson said. Vehicle deliveries are expected to take place once or twice a week, he said. “That’s the one issue that we all basically came to a shoulder shrug,” Hanson said. “We all kind

of said ‘it is what it is.’” The auto dealership is expected to generate approximately $100,000 in annual sales tax revenue for the city, Hanson said. “It’ll be a nice addition for Palos Hills,” Hanson said of the dealership coming to town. “I’ll take all the $100,000 revenue per retail sites we can get.”

‘Don’t blame us’ District 230 officials say their portion of tax bill not going up By Tim Hadac Staff Reporter

about the fate of Senate Bill 16, the School Funding Reform Act of 2014. SB 16, which passed the Illinois Senate in late May, is expected to be considered by the state House of Representatives in the spring legislative session.

“It’s a team effort,” Nogal continued. “Our teachers, our support staff, our building maintenance “Don’t blame us” was the an- people, our contractors—we try swer that Consolidated School to watch every penny to be fair In its current form, passage of District 230 officials gave last to our taxpayers.” SB 16 would mean annual state Thursday to homeowners frus“Even though we’re not increas- aid losses of approximately $7 miltrated by ballooning property ing the levy, we’re not decreasing lion for Consolidated High School tax bills. what we provide to the students,” District 230. For its feeder dis“When you take your tax bill added board member Tony Ser- tricts, the estimated losses are: from this year and last year, there ratore. “We’re still providing the • $5.1 million for Orland School is an increase, but it’s not us,” best possible opportunities for District 135 said board member Kathy Quilty, our students, yet not increasing • $4.2 million for North Palos addressing a complaint she said taxes.” School District 117 she received via email from a loAlso last Thursday, board memcal taxpayer. “It’s the way that bers expressed guarded optimism (Continued on page 7) Cook County calculates it, and that’s what the lady was upset about, that it appears on your bill that taxes are going up, but that we’re claiming a zero-percent [increase].” Quilty’s explanation came during the board’s monthly meeting, held at Sandburg High School, where board members unanimously approved a 2014 tax levy of nearly $104.5 milfrom the lion, identical to what the district received in the 2013 tax extension. Mayor, James Sexton A year ago, board members approved a 2013 tax levy of Clerk, Catherine Aparo nearly $102.3 million, identical to what the district received in the 2012 tax extension. “This is not an easy task, to maintain a balanced budget with Mary Keane Daniel McKeown no tax increases for two consecuCarol Kyle James McQuillan tive years. I think we should be proud of that collaborative proMark Marzullo Mark Phelan cess,” said board President Rick Nogal, who added that the board and district staff are “fiscally prudent” and “have financial integrity.”

Village of Evergreen Park

—Trustees—

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The Reporter

Thursday, December 25, 2014

COMMENTARY THE

REPORTER

An Independent Newspaper Jeff Vorva Editor

Amy Richards Publisher

Published Weekly Founded March, 16, 1960

Battle to replace Topinka is all about the politics You get a honeymoon when you win office, but there is no honeymoon in the political afterlife. Before Judy Baar Topinka was buried, a battle between the Democrats and Republicans was already erupting over who would take Topinkaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place as Illinois comptroller. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like the office of comptroller is the most important state office. Sure, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. But the real issue is that Topinka was a Republican who held a statewide office and that is not so common in Illinois, which is a deep Blue State held by DemocratsÂ Although the new governor, Bruce Rauner, is a Republican, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more of a reflection on outgoing Gov. Pat Quinnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failures as a state executive than any seismic shift in Illinois politics that gave Republicans an edge. Quinn blew this election with one of the worst election campaigns I have seen in 40 years driven by his lack of loyalty to supporters, and an enormous failure to reach out to mainstream suburban Cook County voters. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a surprise at all. Quinn argues that for the sake of voters, the person appointed to replace Topinka should be forced to seek election in two years in 2016 rather than in four years in 2018 when the Topinka term actually would expire. Â Quinn is driven by bitterness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the kind he showed on election night when he refused to man-up and concede defeat. But his colleagues are driven by spoils. The bottom line is the state Democrats want the comptrollerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office back that Topinka, a Republican took. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued a ruling last week that basically said that outgoing Governor Quinn has the power to appoint a person to take over Topinkaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remaining term, which ends in January at the swearing in of a new comptroller. Madigan, a bright and brilliant state officer holder herself, said that incoming Gov. Rauner has the power to appoint the

The Grapevine By Ray Hanania person to replace Topinka in the new four-year term that she won in the November election. Topinka died at a very politically inopportune moment, between winning the election and getting sworn in to a new term. Madiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling was based on existing state law that does not require a special election to be held in two years, but instead should be held when the state elections are next scheduled in November 2018. She did say she believed that voters should be given the chance to elect a replacement in two-years. Quinn has called the legislature back into special session Jan. 8, a week before Rauner is sworn in to succeed him, which is an unneeded added cost to taxpayers. The Republicans won the office fair and square. Voters, despite being heavily Democratic in Illinois, soundly backed not only Rauner to replace Quinn but also re-elected Topinka by a wide margin. Â Those calling for the costly special election argue it best reflects the interests of the voters. Â But I think the interests of the voters were clearly determined in November 2014, when voters overwhelmingly endorsed Rauner and Topinka as the only two Republicans to hold statewide office in a field crowded with Democrats.Â Topinkaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successor should be a Republican chosen by the Republican Party.Â That should be respected. And I happen to be a Democrat. A â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reagan Democratâ&#x20AC;? but a Democrat nonetheless.Â

From bags to braggadocio, keep gifts in perspective â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;My daughter gave me a good-natured ribbing the other day about what she calls â&#x20AC;&#x153;the bag Christmas.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;The â&#x20AC;&#x153;bag Christmasâ&#x20AC;? refers to Christmas a few years ago when my wife and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a ton of money to dedicate to expensive Christmas gifts. Instead, Annette bought less-costly items (hoodies, socks, etc.) placed them in holiday gift bags and gave them to each of our three children. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;My daughter didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care much about the number or value of the gifts. I doubt she even remembers what she received. Rather, she recalls getting everything in one gift bag and missing the opportunity to unwrap individual gifts. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Understandable. It was a Christmas morning not well played on the part of my wife and me. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OK. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve redeemed ourselves since and have been as good to our children as possible. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been thinking a lot lately about gifts and gift giving this holiday season. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;My daughter told me re-

cently about a girl she knows whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showered with expensive gifts on Christmas and displays pictures of them on social media sites. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all you need to know. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;The gifts are points of braggadocio. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Look what I got, everyone. I bet itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better and more expensive that anything you got.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Sad. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;The young lady should spend a day or two at Together We Cope, the social service agency in Tinley Park that runs a food pantry and works diligently to make Christmas an enjoyable season for the needy who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to put gifts under the tree. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;I have a pair of socks in my dresser drawer given to me years ago by my wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandmother. They came with two other pair that are long gone. Every time I look at the socks, I think about Annetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grandmother and how she always included me with a Christmas gift when Annetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family got together on Christmas Eve. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;It was always something small but very thoughtful. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the whole idea of a gift,

no? â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a glass paperweight sitting on my dresser that features the Cubs logo. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Christmas gift I received several years ago from a boss that for the most part was rather distant and impersonal. She was a professional and she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get too close to employees. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;But when I thanked her for the Cubs paperweight, she looked up from her desk, smiled and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re your boys.â&#x20AC;? Yes, they are. She paid attention during the year, knew I loved the Cubs and remembered that when giftgiving time rolled around. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Speaking of my favorite baseball team, my Cubs jersey doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fit too well anymore, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the first gifts my wife gave me. Still have it, still brings back memories. Last Christmas, my wife and daughter bought me Blackhawks jersey for Christmasâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; one of my all-time favorites. And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll admit, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one gift I did display on Facebook. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve received books for Christmas and even gift cards for Dunkin Donuts. The whole

The B-Side

by Bob Rakow

family knows I enjoy coffee and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a good choice. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;We worry too much about gifts. Did we spend enough? Will the person receiving it enjoy it? â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;I especially enjoy when the gift giver asks, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is that OK? Is it enough? I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to get you.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;It shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work like that. Too much emphasis on gifts and value and not enough on their meaning. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not saying anything that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been said thousands of times before, but I it deserves saying anyway. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;You may be reading this column before Christmas or maybe after the big day. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;Either way, I sincerely hope you enjoyed the holiday season, including the gifts you unwrapped. Whatever you got, I hope they make you think about the person who gave you them item and the thought they put into getting just the right thing. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;More than that, however, I hope your cherished holiday season, family, friends and time away from the daily routine. Take it all in and relish it. Merry Christmas.

Ray Hanania is an awardwinning former Chicago City Hall reporter. Reach him at rghanania@gmail.com.

â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;The Reporter Newspaper encourages letters to the editor. â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Letters must be 350 words or less.â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Letters must be signed and the name of the writer will be published. Writers must also include their address and telephone number for verification, but that information will not be published and will remain otherwise confidential. Mail letters to the editor to The Reporter, 12247 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463 or e-mail us at thereporter@comcast.net

Who do you blame for the Bears poor season? (Asked at the Oak Lawn Pavilion) Photos by Bob Rakow

Justin Hurst, Plainfield â&#x20AC;&#x153;A little bit of everyone. Cutler, the coach is soft and management should have stepped in a long time ago.â&#x20AC;?

Don Haberkorn, Oak Lawn â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jay Cutler. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performing terribly.â&#x20AC;?

Fred LaGiglia, Oak Lawn â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of the players. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not putting out.â&#x20AC;?

George Coffey, Chicago â&#x20AC;&#x153;The owners. They are the worst in the NFL.â&#x20AC;?

Bill Foster, Evergreen Park â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to say Jay Cutler. He needs to sit.â&#x20AC;?

Thursday, December 25, 2014 The Reporter

Minnick wins DAISY from LCM Hospital Michelle Minnick, a nurse who works in Little Company of Mary’s Cancer Center is the 22nd recipient of the DAISY Award. The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. Little Company of Mary Hospital is proud to be a DAISY Award Partner. “It is rare that you come across a true individual who possesses the compassion, sincerity and devotion for others who have been impacted by cancer,” said Dorotha Harris, a patient of Michelle Minnick’s. “Over the past year, I have witnessed a caring individual who takes pride in the nurses’ profession while helping me believe that there is hope still in the mist of my trials and tribulations. “Michelle is committed to the cause and has helped me in ways I never thought possible. It is through this nurse’s car-

ing approach that I have found strength. Michelle is a motivating and inspiring person who gives all while ensuring me that I am not alone. Michelle’s nurturing and understanding of the disease helps me feel very comfortable through my journey. I truly hope that you are aware of the quality of a person and professional that you have on your staff at the hospital. Every treatment and conversation with Michelle just makes my experience much less painful. I enjoy her spirit and kindness and I wish every hospital could have a nurse like Michelle on their team.” Minnick was recognized by her department and received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a hand-carved stone sculpture entitled A Healer’s Touch. These serpentine stone sculptures are hand-carved for us by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

Celebrating a decade

Submitted photo

Smith Crossing, a continuing care retirement community at 10501 Emilie Lane in Orland Park, recently celebrated its 10th —Little Company of Mary year. Participating in the festivities were Mae Williams originally from Palos Hills, Elsie Aleck from Frankfort, and Jean Matthew from Naples, Fla.

District 230

(Continued from page 5)

• $2.7 million for Kirby School District 140 • $1.9 million for Community Consolidated School District 146 • $1.4 million each for Palos School District 118 and Worth School District 127 Other Southwest Suburban schools would suffer losses, as well, including approximately: • $1.9 million for Oak LawnHometown School District 123 • $1.6 million for Alsip-Hazelgreen-Oak Lawn School District 126 • $839,000 for Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 • $839,000 for Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 • $364,000 for Atwood Heights School District 125 • $330,000 for Chicago Ridge School District 127-S • $312,000 for Evergreen Park Community High School District 231

High School District 218 would see an annual gain of about $934,000 in state aid under the proposed re-formulation, but Palos Heights School District 128 would lose about $574,000. Finally, it was announced that the District 230 Foundation is launching a new fundraiser in connection with the NCAA Final Four men’s basketball championship. The 21-and-up fundraising event is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at Homewood Suites, 16245 S. La Grange Road, Orland Park, and is expected to last deep into the evening. Admission is $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and includes unlimited food and drinks, watching of the semifinal games that day on big-screen TVs, games, prizes, and a “super raffle” in which $22,500 in cash prizes will be awarded. Tickets for $50 each. Top prize Photo by Tim Hadac is $10,000, and only 1,000 tickets will be sold. Tickets may be District 230 Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Steve purchased online at d230founda- Langert (left) makes a point about the 2014 tax levy as board members Susan Dalton and Melissa Gracias listen. tion.org.

Death Notices Jerome R. Larson Jerome R. Larson of Chicago Ridge died Dec. 15 at Palos Community Hospital. He was 79. Mr. Larson is survived by children David (Holly Linn) Submitted photo and Sherri (Bryant) LarsonPatient Dorotha Harris, right, poses with Little Company of Mary Sullivan; grandchildren David, DAISY winner Michelle Minnick. James and Kristen; several

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

great grandchildren; and brothers Dave, Roy, Bob, Ernie, Clifford and Bill. Visitation was held at PalosGaidas Funeral Home in Palos Hills. A funeral Mass was held at Sacred Heart Church in Palos Hills. Born in Chicago, Mr. Larson worked for many years as a truck driver for Yellow Freight. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines. Irma D. Murphy Irma D. Murphy of Oak Lawn died Dec. 15 at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. She was 86. Mrs. Murphy is survived by children Phillip, Shirley (the late Conrad) Schaefer, Kenneth (Patricia) and Paul (Mary); 12 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Visitation and funeral services were held at Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home in Palos Hills. Interment was at Chapel Hill Garden South Cemetery. Mrs. Murphy was born in Cabot, Ark., and worked for many years at Johnson & Johnson in Chicago. She was a longtime member of Bridgeview Church of God.

Michael J. Cotter Michael J. Cotter passed away in Hazel Crest Illinois on December 11, 2014 at the age of 51. Mr. Cotter is survived by his daughter Katie Cotter and grandson Noah Michael Fagan; brothers Bernard Cotter (Chris), Mark Cotter (Elizabeth); sisters Monica Stopka (John), Christine Weiss and his lady friend Janet. He is preceded in death by his father Bernard T. Cotter and mother Hannelore Cotter. A church memorial service will be held Saturday, December 27, at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6850 W 159 St., Tinley Park IL. Mike was a dedicated truck driver, on the road for many years and local lately. He loved good music, was an awesome cook, loved to work with wood and collected wood carvings. He lived most of his life in Country Club Hills. He will be missed.

Funeral Directory Palos-Gaidas FUNERAL HOME

Across 1 Moll’s leg 4 Word after fire or power 9 Like some wedding dresses 13 Biblical priest who trained Samuel 14 Zellweger et al. 16 Together, in music 17 Architect’s add-on 18 *Make it not hurt so much 20 Tre times due 21 Bark relative 22 IHOP array 23 *Marching order 26 Type of cranial nerve 28 Role for John Cho in “Star Trek” 29 Jets and others 31 __ nutshell 32 Mex. neighbor 34 Motor extension? 35 At any time 36 *Has unfinished business with the IRS 40 Spot on the tube 41 Good buddy 42 Play about Capote 43 Ran across 44 Film critic Jeffrey

46 Long haul 49 __ de Chine: light fabric 51 *Entice with 54 Eggheads 56 Govt. surveillance group 57 PTA meeting site 58 *Sagacious 60 __ out: barely make 61 Aleutian island 62 Faunae counterparts 63 Grassy area 64 Harness part 65 Yeats’ “The Wild __ at Coole” 66 Many AARP The Magazine readers: Abbr. Down 1 Silly sorts 2 Strike zones? 3 Social setting 4 Mr. Holland portrayer 5 Put on again 6 Hip joint 7 Author Harper 8 Conversation opener 9 Drink ˆ la Fido 10 Capable of change 11 Cookbook categories 12 Nikkei Index currency 15 Lacking the required funds

(Answers on page 10)

19 Winged god 24 Turned around 25 Opponents of the ‘60s-’70s New Left 27 Golf, for one 30 Simpsons creator Groening 33 “Eight Is Enough” wife 35 Bedroom community 36 Orthodontic concern 37 Ride the wake, say 38 Awakenings 39 Some auction transactions 40 “Movies for movie lovers” network 44 “Aren’t you a little short for a Stormtrooper?” speaker 45 Isabel Allende title 47 Stands for things 48 Any of the top 25 NFL career scoring leaders 50 Song of praise 52 Egyptian dam 53 MLB team, familiarly (and what’s missing from the sequence found in the answers to starred clues?) 55 Bad check letters 58 Card game for two, usually 59 “What are you waiting for?!”

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The Reporter

Thursday, December 25, 2014

SCHOOLS

MVCC tuition going up but president still calls her school ‘a bargain’ By Kelly White Correspondent Tuition increases are set to take place at Moraine Valley Community College but most officials insist attending the school is still a bargain in an expensive collegiate landscape. School officials voted to increase tuition for the next three fall semesters at the Dec. 17 board meeting. Tuition will increase two dollars per credit hour for the fall semester of 2015, $3 per credit hour for the fall of 2016, and $3 per credit hour for the fall semester of 2017. Total tuition and fees for fall 2015 will be $133 per credit hour ($116 for tuition and $17 for fees); tuition in 2016 will rise to $136 per credit hour ($119 for tuition and $17 for fees), and in 2017 tuition will rise again to $139 per credit hour ($122 for tuition and $17 for fees). The vote passed, 6-1, leaving

one trustee questioning the increase. “I wonder if the tuition increase will affect our enrollment.” Trustee Eileen O’Sullivan said. “I want to make sure our college is as affordable as possible to our community members,” she said, “Any rise in tuition might steer students away. I fear any rise in tuition might prevent students from enrolling or continuing to attend Moraine Valley.” O’Sullivan said withh tuition increases and the cost of health insurance rising, families might be having a difficult time affording college for their children. College President Sylvia Jenkins told O’Sullivan enrollment would not be affected by the tuition increase. “Tuition for one year of courses at Moraine Valley costs less than $5,000,” Jenkins said. “This is a very good bargain compared to most colleges and universities in our surrounding area. Some

college rise tuition as much as $18 or $19.” Student Trustee Eamon Almiladi chimed in. saying Moraine’s students do not seem to mind the slight tuition increase over the next three years either. “Students are OK with the increase,” he said, “They are very happy with the services available on campus and with our staff. We have a very beautiful campus here at Moraine Valley and this is a very conservative increase.” Chief Financial Officer Robert Sterkowitz said the board approved the increase early to help students and the college with future planning. Any rise in tuition goes to benefit the college’s new facilities, classrooms and towards the additional staff members necessary to run these buildings. “In order to maintain and continue to provide all student services which the college cur-

rently offers, as well as meet all current and future contractual agreements of the college, this small tuition increase is needed in order to continue to develop a balanced operating budget each fiscal year,” he said. O’Sullivan was still not convinced the increase was justified, however, her motion to table the increase was denied by the rest of the board. Sterkowitz informed the board the approved three year increase is the lowest tuition increase the college has ever seen. “Moraine Valley continues to be an excellent value for students who are seeking an associate’s degree or certificate, especially when you compare our tuition to four-year private or public colleges and universities and to proprietary institutions,” Jenkins said, “Our graduates also tell us that in surveys.”

Submitted photo

Easy as ABC Chicago Christian High School student, Ellie Tiemens of Worth recently won the ABC-CLIO “Mapping Panem” contest. The contest was a nationwide contest sponsored by one of ABC-CLIO’s vendors to map the fictional land of Panem, the country of the Hunger Games. She won four movie tickets to the showing of her choice of the “Hunger Games: Mockingjoy” and Chicago Christian High School received a $100 certificate towards any ABC-CLIO books.

CLampus eaders

Submitted photo

AUGUSTANA COLLEGE Area Students Named To Augustana College Fall Term Dean’s List There were six local residents attending Augustana College in Rock Island who earned a position on the fall dean’s list. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for courses taken during the term. Students from the area include Oak Lawn residents Michelle Dempster, a junior majoring

EP honors 25 Illinois State scholars

The Kid’s Doctor

Twenty five seniors from Evergreen Park were named Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). The following students received this award: (Front row left to right) Roslyn Ainley, Elizabeth Grazevich, Jenna Haase, Kayla Hughes, Samantha Kelly, Hannah Kennedy, Iris Lamb; (second row left to right) Victoria Lambton, Abigail Langevin, Nicole Larkin, Anthony Miglieri, Virginia Miller, (back row) Joshua Pilat, Matthew Przeslicke, Jake Quigley, Neil Quigley, Michael Rizzo, Eileen Rohan, Viviana Valadez, Megan Wall, and John Zofkie. Not pictured were Mark Martin, Sean Potempa, Christina Raines, and Jillian Siemiewski.

District 123 students work to get to the pigs By Brian Jurinek District 123 Tech Coach Last year, Code.org launched the Hour of Code initiative in support of Computer Science Education Week. The program was successful in allowing over 67 million students to participate and to learn the fundamentals of computer programming. This year, Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 continued its involvement in the program by extending the opportunity to it kindergarten through eighth grade

students in early December. During this week, middle school students logged into code.org and began learning basic programming skills using the visual block interface. This platform also presents computer science in an incredibly engaging manner by introducing the concepts through the use of activities based on characters that are familiar to students. In the opening levels of the Hour of Code, students are programming one of the Angry Birds to navigate through a maze to get to the pigs. As students progress through the

levels, they are introduced to new challenges. Many teachers at D123 saw this as an opportunity to engage and challenge students in a unique way. Teachers in subjects ranging from Science to 21st Century Literacy were excited about the opportunity for their students to participate in this event. These teachers not only saw coding as a valuable skill, but also as an opportunity to use critical thinking skills that are easily transferrable to their other classes. Tiffany Strayer, who plans on incorporating Code.org into her

ST. LAURENCE HIGH SCHOOL Where Leadership Begins

curriculum beyond the Hour of Code and teaches 21st Century Literacy said, “I loved incorporating Hour of Code into my classroom. It required the students to use critical thinking skills, while keeping them engaged at the same time. They were determined to finish a level, and very proud when they were successful. It was fun to see how eager they were to help each other. The Hour of Code activity was a great way to introduce computer science to students of all ages.” Many other teachers shared the same sentiments when asked about this learning opportunity. When asked about using Code.org in her classroom, Colleen Safka, a sixth grade science teacher said, “My students were very excited to participate in the Hour of Code. Each student was able to choose from a variety of coding activities, all of which included completing very challenging, game-based puzzles. The kids were so proud after earning their certificates and were constantly showing off their coding skills to each other. Many want to complete the full 20 hours and several have moved on to other coding sites to enhance their knowledge. I’m so proud.”

By Sue Hubbard, M.D. www.kidsdr.com Older kids need encouragement to boost their vitamin D intake During all of my check ups, I discuss the importance of dairy products in a child’s diet to provide adequate calcium and vitamin D for bone growth and long-term bone health. It’s not difficult to get most little ones to drink milk, eat string cheese or slurp a yogurt, but older kids are more challenging. Teenage girls seem to be the most resistant when it comes to calcium intake. When I ask them if they drink milk, a typical response is, “Uh, no.” Then, if I ask about other dairy products they may say they drink the milk out of the cereal bowl, grab a frozen yogurt at lunch, or have a slice of cheese on occasion. When I ask them if they know how much calcium and viatmin D they need during the tween and teen years, I also get a blank look (although they always know how many texts they have on their cell phone plan!). The answer is: 1,300 mg per day once you hit the teen years. That being said, I’m always encouraging more dairy products, milk and a calcium/vitamin D supplement, as well. Interestingly, teens don’t usually balk at the idea of a vitamin, but the issue is getting them to stay on

Holidays From

ENTRANCE EXAM

Please bring (2) #2 pencils and a $25 testing fee. • St. Laurence offers a dual enrollment leadership class through Lewis University, taught by professors there. • The largest Catholic University in the country, DePaul, works with St. Laurence faculty and students on professional development to enhance the StL STEM curriculum. • For applied learning opportunities, St. Laurence partnered with the third largest energy company in North America, Kinder Morgan, along with the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Kelly Burke

the supplement for more than a few days/weeks, after which they typically start to “forget.” I was seeing a family with two teenage daughters who’d heard my calcium talk before. Both girls were both non milk drinkers, competitive cheerleaders who needed strong bones, and who by then could answer my calcium questions. When I asked if the girls were taking their calcium supplements, their mother said, “They have access to calcium and vitamins every day.” What a great line from a mother of teens! In fact, despite having “access,” the girls readily admitted that they “rarely” remembered to take them and might be more likely to bump up their consumption of dairy products every day. Calcium and vitamin D metabolism is a hot topic, and “banking calcium” during childhood is so important. Even with “access” to that supplement, you have to swallow it to make a deposit. (Dr. Sue Hubbard is an awardwinning pediatrician, medical editor and media host. “The Kid’s Doctor” TV feature can be seen on more than 90 stations across the U.S. Submit questions at http://www.kidsdr. com. The Kid’s Doctor e-book, “Tattoos to Texting: Parenting Today’s Teen,” is now available from Amazon and other e-book vendors.)

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Happy

Saturday, January 10, 2015, 8 a.m.

in communication sciences and disorders; Angela Rembles, a junior majoring in biology; and Isabel Valle, a first-year student with an undecided major. Palos Hills students named to the Augustana College dean’s list include Alexa Gutauskas, a senior majoring in chemistry and biology, and Christina Scott, a first-year student with an undecided major. Casey Janko of Evergreen Park, a junior majoring in communication sciences and disorders, was also named to the dean’s list.

Thursday, December 25, 2014 The Reporter Section 1A

SCHOOLS

Stagg and Sandburg scholars named Consolidated High School District 230 announced that 262 students from the Class of 2015 have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars. Illinois State Scholars represent approximately the top 10 percent of high school seniors from 671 high schools across the state. Selection is based on SAT, ACT or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. The following are Stagg and Sandburg students who earned the honor.

Shepard High School’s varsity speech team took first place at the Santaburg-Oaklaus Invitational, co-hosted by Sandburg and Oak Lawn. The Astros have won six of the seven tournaments in which they’ve competed thus far. Shepard also won first place at tournaments hosted by Fremd, Downers Grove North, Huntley, Marian Catholic, and Neuqua Valley high schools. The following Shepard students placed at Santaburg: Champion, Paige Harkabus, Original Oratory. Runners up included Jada Scott, Oratorical Declamation; Nick Loquercio and Nick Martinez, Humorous Duet Acting; Nick Martinez, Humorous Interpretation; and, Riley McDermott, Poetry Reading. Kimberly Rinck took fourth place in Prose Reading and Leeana Skuby was fourth in Extemporaneous Speaking. Antonio Martinez took sixth in Dramatic Interpretation and Mike Reddy took sixth in Informative Speaking.

Bulletin Board MARIST Marist High School, 4200 W. 115th St., Chicago, will hold an interactive “Meet Marist” event for prospective families from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 preceding the entrance exam Saturday, Jan. 10. The “Meet Marist” event offers an abbreviated look at the school, but still includes all the highlights of the campus. The program begins with a presentation followed by an interactive tour that features student life at Marist. Prospective families can enjoy a personal and informative evening with faculty, coaches, students, and administrators. Participants should enter at the main office at the west end of the building. The entrance exam for current eighth grade students will take place Saturday, Jan. 10. Students should arrive at 8 a.m., and enter through the gym doors, located on the east end of the school. There is a $25 test fee, however pre-registration is not needed. Students should bring two number 2 pencils and are asked not to bring a calculator. The approximate dismissal time is 12:15 p.m. In order to be considered a candidate for 2015-2016 admission at Marist, prospective students must test at Marist High School. Marist High School administers the HSPT Entrance Exam and study guides for this exam may be purchased at local bookstores. For more information, contact Alex Brown, director of Admissions, at 773-881-5330.

For a quarter century, Miracle Tree continues to branch out National Honor Society students from Richards High School continued a 25-year tradition recently with their holiday party at Childs School in Robbins. Staff members at Childs School provide a list of gift ideas. NHS members wrote down the requests on the backs of paper

ornaments and decorated the Miracle Tree in the main office at Richards. Richards’ teachers took the ornaments and bought gifts for the students at Childs. Earlier in the week, NHS students stayed after school to wrap the gifts. Service comprises an important

because we offer young women a whole new level of study through the nationally accredited curriculum, Project Lead the Way PLTW. Peace introduced this curriculum to ignite our Full STEAM Ahead initiative; including our vigorous Arts program, offering courses in architecture, graphic and web design and more.

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part of belonging to NHS. Over the course of the year, the organization sponsors a food drive and a dinner-theater for senior citizens. The also make fleece blankets for children in treatment for cancer at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital. —District 218

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Submitted photo

National Honor Society members from Richards High School travel to Childs School in Robbins to host a holiday party.

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Applause at Oaklaus for Shepard

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AMOS ALONZO STAGG HIGH SCHOOL Ali, Najia Baca, Kathryn, Bieniek, Alexander Chatha, Ibadat Christakis, Nathaniel Cianci, Natalie Coleman, Joshua Collins, Amanda Connolly, Bairbre Davenport, Paul Deangelis, Andrew Demma, Dominic Dettlaff, Ashley Digiacomo, Mia Doghmi, Omaima Donahue, Connor Dwyer, Michaela Dybaczewska, Ewelina Dziadkowiec, Aneta Garcia, Alondra Gbur, Jessica George, Serena Ghani, Saad Giffin, Eleni Glaza, Ethan Gogola, Nicholas Gray, Emily Hamarshah, Sireen Heneghan, Claire Jasielec, Gabriela Klimas, Brittany Klimas, Danielle Kohn, Andre Kokoszka, Natalia Kredens, Claire Kukulka, Justyna Leshyk, Mark Madura, Hayley Matelionis, Ignas Musallam, Battool Papadopoulos, Stephanie Pappas, Luke Peterka, Tyler Petrelli, Gianna Poynton, Elizabeth Renfree, Jonathan Revethis, Angelica Roczkowski, David Rojszyk, Natalia Salamah, Motasem Saqri, Yassmin Scarim, Grace Singer, Dominic Smith, Carson Stefan, Allison Stoffel, Elsa Szczerba, Angelika Wierzbiak, Kamila Winkelmann, Nolan Wojtyczka, Justyna Wolan, Brendan Zaremba, Joseph Zielinski, Julie CARL SANDBURG HIGH SCHOOL Abiona, Moyosore Ahmad, Sarah Azhar, Carma Banich, Amber Baste, Kholoud Beck, Christopher Bieszke, Patrick Borschel, Julia Brogan, Sean Brower, Michael Brown, Emily Burzinski, Gregory Call, Grace Calzaretta, John Carper, Connor Chesna, Timothy Connolly, Annie Conrad, Kevin Crotty, Clare Crouse, Gerald Dawczak, Cassidy Dempsey, Brendan

Duffy, Corey Dyrda, Michelle Elagha, Jeneen Elsen, Jaclyn Engel Ii, Michael Ernst, Christina Fabular, Kathleen Ferguson, Jack Ferrino, Michael Flaherty, Katherine French, Corey Gary, Alexandra Girlich, Anna Good, Alexis Gowgiel, Brett Grudowski, Noah Grzeslo, Crystal Hajyousif, Ennis Haugh, Sarah Horvath, Mike Huff, Alex Ignarski, Angela Ismail, Mohammed Issa, Nour Jacobs, Samantha Jaeger, James Jovanovic, Mirjana Kelly, Grainne Kelly, Kate Kickert, Alexandra Klein, Callahan Klovens, Jake Kranz, Ian Krause, Erik Krusenoski, Emily Krzus, Katherine Krzyston, Natalie Kummerer, John Kwon, Jun Lahucik, Kyle Laird, Alexis Landgraf, James Lane, Leah Lavery, Shane Letz, Renee Licata, Kelly Lukas, Michael Lusk, Mollymaeve Luzinski, Julia Macak, Mark Majeres, Mary Makdah, Jackie Manning, Kelly Mateja, Lindsey Mathew, Rachel Matre, Megan Maxfield, Robert McCaughey, Lauren McMahon, Brian McNamara, Conal McWilliams, Rebecca Melone, Alyssa Mohn, Alyssa Mokate, Anne Mokate, Meghan Naik, Roshni Nichols, Ciara Nicholson, Elaina Noonan, Anne Odeh, Ibrahim Olson, Caitlyn Orth, Timothy Osilaja, Joshua Osterman, Randy Oswiecimski, Madeline Pajkos, Danielle Patel, Jill Poulos, Joshua Reeves, Quinlan Riley, Nisha Ruane, Katherine Samardzija, Tanja Sandoval, Alexander Santo, Craig Shehata, Christina Smith, Eric Stefik, John Sullivan, William Swanson, Nicholas Szymczak, Cailey Trikolas, Thomas Turek, Mary Kathryne Upadhyay, Drashti Vana, Julianne Varghese, Jeffrey Walter, Brady Williams, Colleen Witt, Rachel Wojtczak, Austin Wood, Nicholas Youngwirth, Samantha Zaczyk, Olivia Zaidi, Kumail Zielinski, Natalie

Entrance Exam Sat., Jan. 10 at 8am

To be eligible for Peace Academic Awards, eighth grade girls must take the Entrance Exam at Queen of Peace. Scholarships range from $1000 to $6000 per year.

The Reporter Section 1A

Thursday, December 25, 2014

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Park Clips OAK LAWN March 18: The Oak Lawn Park District is offering a trip to Navy Pier from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The fee for residents is $88, and $98 for non-residents. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Feb. 18.Participants can enjoy a cruise on the Spirit of Chicago, with a twohour all you can eat buffet, great music and a garden demonstration. Once the Spirit of Chicago is docked, trip-goers can head inside to view the themed gardens, receive garden tips, and attend seminars at the Flower and Garden show, or feel free to shop at the many stores available at Navy Pier. For more information or to register, call 857-2200. April 11: The Oak Lawn Park District will take a trip to Balmoral Park to see harness racing from 5 p.m. until 12 a.m. Participants must be 18 years or older with a valid ID. The minimum bet is $2. The fee for residents is $60, and $70 for

non-residents. The deadline to register is Friday, April 3. Participants will start the evening out with a two-hour deluxe all you can eat buffet including a carving station, pasta station, chicken, fish, soup, salad and more. A three-hour all you can drink package, including beer, wine and soft drinks is also available. For more information or to register, call 857-2200. Oak Lawn Park District Seeks Community Input for Future Planning The Oak Lawn Park District is seeking input from residents on current and future parks, facilities, and programs through a community survey. Approximately every five years, the organization conducts a survey to evaluate how satisfied residents are with the agency’s operation and to learn more about residents’ needs and preferences as they plan for the future. Residents are encouraged to participate in the survey which can be accessed online at:

surveymonkey.com/s/olpd2014. After visiting this link, the survey will ask for a unique identification code password, which is 2014. Individuals who complete the survey will receive a coupon for a free sandwich at the Stony Creek Golf Course, Restaurant and Banquet Facility, 5850 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn. In this study, the Park District is particularly interested in understanding peoples’ use of and satisfaction with parks. Since 2007, the Oak Lawn Park District has acquired more land for parks and renovated many other parks within the community. In addition to feedback on parks, programs, and facilities, they seek input on the availability of sports fields, the Golf Course, Restaurant and Banquet Facility, and special events, among other program areas. For more information about the project, or to receive a printed copy of the survey, contact Jarrod Scheunemann at scheune1@illinois.edu, or call 217-265-5296.

Submitted photo

Students created more than 100 dishes using groceries from Together We Cope’s food pantry at the 2013 Food Pantry Challenge at Robert Morris University’s Orland Park campus.

Student chefs turn to food pantry for ingredients in cook-off ahead

The most creative cook would struggle to make a great dinner from wax beans or sardines packed in soybean oil. If you’re a food pantry client, you may have plenty of nutritious ingredients like these on hand, but it can be challenging to feed your family with foods you haven’t chosen. To help these clients, 18 culinary students will create great dishes using only food pantry staples for a panel of professional chef judges at the Food Pantry Challenge at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26, at Robert Morris University, 82 Orland Park Drive, Orland Park. The cook-off is hosted by Together We Cope (TWC), a homelessness prevention agency

that serves 80 families every weekday at its food pantry in Tinley Park, to generate recipes for its clients. “Everyone who has worked in the pantry has, at some point, come across a donation – something packaged, or a vegetable, or meat – and we’ve asked each other, ‘What would you do with this?’” said Kathryn Straniero, executive director at TWC. This is the second year for the event, which in 2013 generated 50 recipes including chicken tetrazzini, gumbo, and fried ravioli. TWC handed out the resulting cookbook to food pantry clients, who said they appreciated a novel twist on staples like canned pumpkin,

SUDOKU Answers

CROSSWORD Answers

which students used to create sloppy joes and brownies. This year, clients said they’re looking for more vegetable-based recipes and help using beans including lima, kidney and pinto varieties. Based on the success of the inaugural event, RMU turned the competition into a forcredit course in 2014. Working in teams of three, the student chefts will spend 10 weeks developing recipes to be judged in each of five categories: 30-minute meal, child-friendly dish, great leftovers, key ingredient, and chef’s specialty. “This is a great partnership for RMU,” said Mark Wroczynski, chef instructor. “The ingredients are challenging for our students, and they know the recipes can make a real difference for the clients at Together We Cope.” Together We Cope is a nonprofit agency based in Tinley Park that serves families in temporary crisis from 26 southwest suburban communities through a food pantry, resale shop and financial aid for costs like rent and utility bills. TWC this year received its fourth four-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management. Further information is at www. togetherwecope.org. —Together We Cope

St. Jude patient Anne Reagan

Give a gift of hope while helping St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® patients like Anne Reagan this holiday season. Through our special Holiday Tribute Program, St. Jude will deliver a personalized gift card to each person on your holiday mailing list. Call or visit www.stjude.org/tribute to complete your donation and greeting card order. ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memorial and Honor P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 174 Memphis, TN 38148-0174 800-276-8340

Library Notes GREEN HILLS PUBLIC LIBRARY The Green Hills Public Library, 8611 W. 103rd St., Palos Hills, will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1. For more information, or to register for a program, call 598-8446, or visit greenhillslibrary.org. Ongoing: The Adult Programming staff is looking for some talented, bilingual volunteers who are interested in helping run a foreign language conversation group or ESL/EIL adult conversation group at Green Hills Public Library. A time commitment of a few hours each week is required, along with fluency in another language besides English. For more information and/or to apply, please contact Judi Tichacek at ext. 118. Ongoing: The Green Hills Public Library District offers free academic and career resources and tutoring from Tutor.com for all students and adults. Students in kindergarten through grade 12 and college students can get help with homework, studying, projects, essay writing, and test prep in every subject, including algebra, chemistry, physics, and English. Adults can get help with resume writing, GED prep, and academic support. All sessions are online and one-to-one with a live tutor. Those needing help should visit tutor.com/ sls. For more information, call the library. Jan 4: Patrons can celebrate the new season of Downton Abbey at Green Hills Public Library with a show themed bingo. Patrons can play the library’s “Downton-ized” version at 1 p.m., and win Downton Abbey themed prizes while enjoying refreshments fit for a dowager count or countess. Registration is required and limited to 50. Registration is available online. Jan. 6: The hit series Downton Abbey is partly based on one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Patrons can join historical storyteller Lynn Rymarz at 7 p.m.at the Green Hills Public Library for her portrayal of Lady Almina in this retelling of her life. Participants can learn about how Lady Almina transformed the castle into a hospital during World War I to care for wounded soldiers, and how she distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman. Before the Lady Almina program, library patrons can come at 6 p.m. and get a photo taken Downton Abbey Style. A choice of several backgrounds will be available. Registration is available online.

dividuals of all ages are welcome. Registration is required and limited to 90. Participants are asked to register all attending online. Jan. 12: This is the first day to register for the Green Hills Public Library’s youth Winter reading program, Chill Out and Read. Students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade can ign up for the youth winter reading program and log your books for a chance to win prizes. Every 100 minutes students read, earns them a raffle ticket for the grand prizes. Weekly prizes will also be awarded. Registration will be held at the Youth Services Desk, or online. The program ends Saturday, Feb. 7. Books, ebooks, and audiobooks checked out from the Green Hills Public Library District collection are eligible. Jan. 12: The Green Hills Public Library is offering an adult winter reading program, Read to the Rhythm. Prizes include a musical gift package for two, gift certificates, and much more. Adults can register at the Information Desk, or online. The program ends Saturday, Feb. 7. Books, ebooks, and audiobooks checked out from the Green Hills Public Library District collection are eligible. Jan. 13: Gerald Knight of Tax Busters will help teens and their parents navigate through the FAFSA process during his presentation of, Mastering the FAFSA, at 7 p.m. at the Green Hills Public Library, and give helpful tips for financially planning for college. Registration is available online. Jan. 14: Children 6 to 8 years old are invited to Green Team Time with Miss Emily at 6:30 p.m. at the Green Hills Public Library, where they can enjoy nature themed stories and activities. Registration is available online.

participants per session. Due to high demand, the library is offering this program on two dates. Patrons are limited to registering for only one session. Registration is available online. Jan. 23: The Green Hills Public Library’s Friday Flicks presents, Jersey Boys, the story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960’s rock group The Four Seasons. The movie will be shown at 2 p.m. Jan. 26: Patrons of all ages can stop by the Green Hills Public Library Activity room between 2 and 4 p.m. to make crafts. No registration is required.

Jan. 16: Dolphin Tale 2 will be shown during Family Movie at 4:40 p.m. at the Green Hills Public Library. The whole family is invited to watch the movie. Each person gets popcorn and juice. Registration is available online. Jan. 17: Children 3 to 6 years old, with a caregiver, are invited to come to the Green Hills Public Library at 11 a.m. to do a science experiment based on a favorite storybook during Science Saturday. Registration is required and limited to 15 junior scientists. Registration is available online. Jan. 19: The Green Hills Public Libra presents, Drop-In Story Time, where children 2 Jan. 7: The Green Hills Pub- to 6 years old with a caregiver, lic Library supplies the Legos, can come to the library at 10 and children in kindergarten a.m. at for songs, stories, and through fifth grade supply the fun. No registration is required. imagination and building skills when the Lego Club convenes Jan. 20: A Tween Candy either from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Bash will be held at 6 p.m. at or from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Due the Green Hills Public Library to limited space, participants for patrons between 10 and 13. are asked to attend either Participants will play different the afternoon or evening ses- candy-themed games, make sion. Registration is required candy kabobs, and more. Regand limited to 30. Registration istration is required and limited is available online. to 30 tweens. Registration is available online. Juggling Funny Stories Jan. 12: Story-performer Jan. 21 and Jan. 22: Patrons Chris Fascione is coming to the can gather together at 6 p.m. at Green Hills Public Library at the Green Hills Public Library 6 p.m. to kick off the winter on one of two dates to paint reading program with a come- their own ceramic robot bank. dic, interactive performance The event is geared toward that combines comedy, mime, those 5 and older. Registration juggling, and storytelling. In- is required and limited to 34

Green Hills Public Library District Partners with Hoopla Digital Green Hills Public Library District, 8611 W. 103 rd St., Palos Hills, announced public availability of thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks, all available for mobile and online access through a new partnership with hoopla digital (hoopladigital.com). Library district cardholders can now download the free hoopla digital mobile app on their Android or IOS device or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of artists and titles – from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers – available to borrow for instant streaming, or temporary downloading to their smartphones, tablets, computers and Apple TV. Green Hills Public Library District is the 46th library system in Illinois to partner with hoopla digital. Hoopla digital is a category creating service that partners with public libraries across North America to provide online and mobile access to thousands of movies, TV shows, videos, music and audiobooks. With hoopla digital, patrons can borrow, instantly stream and download free dynamic content with a valid library card. All content is accessible via hoopla digital’s mobile app, and online at hoopladigital.com. Hoopla digital is a service of Midwest Tape, a trusted partner to public libraries for over 20 years. For more information, call 800-875-2785.

Jan. 28: The Pokémon Club convenes at 6 p.m. at the Green Hills Public Library. Members of all ages are invited to come to the library to meet and battle other Pokémon fans. Participants are asked to bring their Nintendo DS, games, trading cards, books, and anything else Pokémon that they would like to share and discuss. Registration is available online. Jan. 28: The Green Hills Public Library District presents, “Unshelved.” Participants will discuss “The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared” by Jonas Jonasson at 7 p.m. at Prime Time Restaurant and Bar, 7750 W. 95th St., Hickory Hills. Copies will be available at the Circulation Desk one month prior to the event. Registration is available online. Jan. 29: Steve Frenzel brings summery scenes and toe-tapping musical numbers from exotic and tropical-themed movies in cinema history to the Green Hills Public Library at 2 p.m. to help patrons “Beat the Winter Blues.” Registration is required and available online.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Reporter Section 1A

CONSUMER / FEATURES

Consider these New Year’s financial resolutions Now that 2015 is getting close, you may be thinking about making some New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you’ll decide to take up a musical instrument, or hit the gym more often, or even learn a new language. All these are worthy goals, of course — but you could also gain some key benefits by working to achieve some financial resolutions. Here are a few to consider: • Fill “gaps” in your investment portfolio. From time to time, you — or possibly your financial advisor, if you work with one — might identify “gaps” in your investment portfolio. For example, you might find that you are making insufficient progress on a key goal, such as saving for a child’s college education. Or you might discover that you need to place additional resources in a particular asset class to achieve proper diversification, which can help reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification, by itself, can’t guarantee profits or protect against loss.) So, put “filling portfolio gaps” high on your list of New Year’s financial resolutions. • Boost your 401(k) contributions. If your salary has gone up with the New Year, consider boosting your contributions to your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan. You may not be able to afford to contribute the maximum

annual amount — which, in 2015, is $18,000, or $24,000 if you’re 50 or older — but if you increase your contributions every year, you can greatly speed your progress toward your retirement savings goals. You can put this New Year’s resolution into effect by contacting your human resources or benefits department as soon as you get back to work in 2015. • Eliminate “unhealthy” investment habits. As part of your general New Year’s resolutions, you may have decided to cut back on “carbs” and sugar-laced soft drinks, with the expectation that these moves could help your overall health. But you can also make “unhealthy” financial moves, such as chasing after “hot” stocks (which may already have cooled off by the time you find them) or selling quality investments just because their price has temporarily dropped. Strive to focus more intently on your long-term investment strategy, as opposed to reacting to short-term stimuli. • Review your estate strategy. During any given year, you might experience major changes in your life — marriage (or remarriage), new child, new home, etc. — and these changes will have profound effects on your estate plans. But whether or not you encountered any of these events in 2014, it’s a good idea to look over your estate

planning documents* — such as a will, living trust, power of attorney, and so forth — to make sure they are still current with your wishes. It’s especially important to update beneficiary designations on your insurance policies and retirement accounts, so that they are aligned with the wishes you have expressed in your will. And if you haven’t drawn up your estate plans* yet, make a New Year’s resolution to do so in 2015 — because it’s never too soon to take the steps necessary to protect your loved ones in the future. Unlike some New Year’s resolutions, these financial ones won’t require a big shift in your lifestyle. But if you can stick to them, they can make a big difference in your life. Scott Johnson, CFP, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, 8146 W. 111th St., Palos Hills, 974-1965. Edward Jones does not provide legal advice. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial advisor.

Oak Lawn native wins Employee of the Year award from Assurance Assurance gave its Employee of the Year accolade to Oak Lawn native Michele Fournier, an Elmhurst College graduate who serves as the company’s marketing and communications specialist. “Simply put, she makes us all look really good,” said Assurance President Dan Klaras. “Both clients and internal audiences alike echo our opinion that Michele is a valuable member of our team who makes a difference in our organization daily.” Fournier was chosen by select managers and leaders throughout the organization. She learned of the accolade at the company’s annual holiday party, which was held on Dec. 6 at Park West in Chicago. “I’m excited to be a part of a growing, engaging company and have an amazing support system that stems all the way

rock star peers is something I’ll never forget.” Originally from Oak Lawn, Fournier graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary communications. She also played softball during her time at Elmhurst College, serving as the captain for two years while also holding the office of president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.Fournier is an active member of Assurance’s Wellness Committee and volunteers regularly through the Assurance Caring Together program. Fournier is a member of the Insurance Marketing and Communications Association, Public Relations Society of America and American Marketing Association. She also has Property & Casualty, as well as Life & Health insurance licenses. —Assurance

Area Property Tran$fer$ Fournier

from my family, to the marketing team, executive team and the different practice groups at Assurance,” Fournier said. “To be recognized among my

Area Property Tran$fer$ Following are the property transfers in the area, according to the latest report, as received from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office. The Reporter Newspaper does not attempt to correct errors made by that office. Chicago Ridge Standard B&T Co Tr to Reyes Ana D, 9840 S Nashville Ave, Unit #98404, $93,000; Gillett Steely J to Gabrielse David, 6159 Marshall Ave, Unit #302, $44,000; Treglown Kerry A to Rocha Stanislaw, 6605 W 106th Pl, $195,000. Evergreen Park Fredrek Jean M to Linder Ave Rlty Grp LLC Santa Maria Series, 9936 S Spaulding Ave, $125,000; Bell Gary S to Marquez Jose, 9801 S Maplewood Ave, $99,000; Standard B&T Co to Glazier Evergreen Pk LLC, 2400 W 95th St, $765,000; Miyashiro Deborah K to Coe Larry R, 3343 W 95th St, $349,500; Scott Shawnda K to Serc LLC, 9835 S Campbell Ave, $168,000; Fannie Mae to Szaflarski Elzbieta, 9800 S Hamlin Ave, $96,000; Federal Home Loan Mtg Corp to Hamilton Leah M, 2400 West 95th St, Unit #208, $77,000. Hickory Hills Pawlikowski Jozef to Cachro Katarzyna, 9105 S Roberts Rd, Unit #2A, $109,000; Gladden John T to Diaz Gustavo, 8901 S Roberts Rd, Unit #108, $69,000; Sarna John A to Myslik Kenneth Ftr, 7931 W 97th St, $165,000. Oak Lawn Papiernick Thomas J Tr to Weber Donna, 10301 Laramie Ave, $167,000; Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Kf OL LLC, 6345 W 95th St, $820,000; Nelson Michele to Conwell Sean Kenneth, 4831 Lamb Dr, $266,000; Munro Michael Extr to Duffy Kathleen A, 10700 S Washington Ave, Unit #10700208, $125,000; Gmat Legal Title Trust 2013 1 to Inverclyde LLC, 5315 W 90th St, $90,000; Chassuel Carie Tr to Das Vaskar, 10524 S Pulaski Rd, Unit #2SW, $61,000; Rian Reginald to Sulejmani Velbona, 5637 99th Pl, $215,000; Serna Jaime to Karlson Andrew, 10145 Cook Ave, $230,000;

Laporte Thomas Tr to Ponce De Leon Sylvia, 10732 S Kilpatrick Ave, Unit #207, $48,000; Foley Craig A to Bockowska Daniela, 10707 S Keating Ave, Unit #107073C, $45,000; Kirby Patricia A to Komperda Tomasz P, 8959 Melvina Ave, $147,000; Sherman Joanne H Tr to Aznueta Marlene, 9725 Keeler Ave, Unit #4309, $36,500; Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Abuawad Saada, 9312 Meade Ave, $215,000; Bernal Maryann C to Karaja Khaldun, 8700 Mobile Ave, Unit #8700F, $72,000; Ohs Valerie L to Bohne Carl, 10624 Laramie Ave, $113,500; Menke Emily M to Ras Closing Services LLC, 5356 Alexander Pl, $153,000; Federal Home Loan Mtg Corp to Nahm Joseph, 10910 Kilpatrick Ave, Unit #3SW, $55,000; Nowak Dorothy E Trust to Mancari Kaley M, 10441 S Circle Dr, Unit #42C, $82,500; Whooley Thomas F to Curiel Mario, 8916 55th Ct, $229,000; Allert Rosemary A to Hatfield Wendy

A, 5360 W 90th St, $149,000; Kolar Diane Tr to Mohamed Hussein Y, 9165 S Nashville Ave, $190,000. Palos Hills Ahem Mary to Bienkowski Bart, 8697 W 111th St, Unit #2D, $130,000; Yukich Robert Adm to Dybowski Grzegorz, 10015 S 82nd Ct, $205,000; Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Staszel Stanislawa, 9088 Del Prado Dr, Unit #90881W, $152,000; Mcclowry Richard M Extr 00Mcclowry Ri to Lopez Marina, 11241 Cherry Ct, Unit #56B, $113,000; Crittenden Shari L to Rian Priscilla A, 11141 Cottonwood Dr, Unit #18A, $145,000; Diaz Ludivina Castillo Sanchez to Scehura Mateusz, 9192 South Rd, Unit #9192B, $112,000; Edward Gal Inc to Bumbuliene Vilija, 11111 S 84th Ave, Unit #111112A, $55,000. Worth Fannie Mae to Znorko Artur, 6848 W 113th Pl, $98,500; Hernandez Javier M to Sierocki Sonia, 7219 W 114th St, $122,000.

Mortgage Rates Around the Area First Midwest Bank (as of Dec. 22) 30-year fixed 15-year fixed 30-year fixed Jumbo

RATES APR POINTS 4.000 4.047 0 3.375 3.644 0 4.250 4.295 0

United Trust Bank (as of Dec. 16) 30-year fixed 15-year fixed 10-year fixed

RATES APR POINTS 3.990 4.011 0 3.250 3.286 0 2.990 3.042 0

Prospect Federal (as of Dec. 22) 30-year fixed 20-year fixed 15-year fixed

RATES APR POINTS 4.000 4.038 .25 3.750 3.802 .25 3.250 3.314 .25

All rates subject to change daily. Equal opportunity lenders.

Photo by Bob Bong

Grant’s is holding a court-ordered liquidation sale in three locations, including Orland Park.

Grant’s starts liquidation sale Grant's Appliances was expected to reopen three of its stores to begin a court-ordered liquidation sale. Stores at 14704 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park, 331 S. Route 59 in Aurora and 321 Republic Avenue in Joliet will be open for the sale. Merchandise from the other stores will be moved for the sale. The sale will be conducted by Wood Dale-based HyperAMS for High Ridge Partners Inc., which was appointed assignee for Grant's assets. Joliet-based Grant's closed its five stores without warning in October. Dozens of customers were left without appliances they had paid for and no way to get refunds. The Illinois Attorney General's Office announced in November the company was undergoing a process similar to bankruptcy and that High Ridge Partners Inc., would distribute assets to pay off creditors. Anyone who's owed money for a purchase that was never delivered can file a claim to try to recover a portion of their loss with Assignee Patrick Cavanaugh at High Ridge Partners Inc., 140 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60603.

Karen's Cards retirement sale Karen's Cards & Gifts is in the final days of its retirement store closing sale at its Palos Heights location at 6433 W. 127th St. The store will close Jan. 3 or earlier if everything is sold. The Merrionette Park location was closed in October and its inventory was moved to the Palos Heights store for the retirement sale. Remaining merchandise has already been reduced by 50 percent or more.

Comings & Goings By Bob Bong First Midwest takes over Great Lakes First Midwest Bank completed its acquisition of Great Lakes Bank and absorbed all seven Great Lakes locations into the First Midwest network. Great Lakes customers will still be able to use their old checks and debit cards for the time being. Former Great Lakes locations that made the conversion are in Lansing, Blue Island, Mokena, Homewood, Matteson, Flossmoor and Alsip.

Ingredion acquires Penford Corp. Ingredion Inc., a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to diversified industries, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Penford Corp., a U.S.-based leader in specialty ingredients for food and nonfood applications. The acquisition has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. It is subject to approval by Penford's shareholders and regulators as well as to other customary closing conditions and could close as early as the end of the year. Ingredion expects to fund the approximately $340 million cash transaction with available cash and funds available under existing credit facilities. "This acquisition is another step in executing our strategic blueprint for growth. It expands our higher-value specialty portfolio, establishes manufacturing of specialty potato starches in North America, and builds our presence with Tony Dunst in nature-based hydrocolloid ingredients," said Ilene Gordon, Ingredion chairman and CEO. "Penford's range of products addresses growing consumer trends, including nutrition, gluten-free,

Talkin Poker

Owners Karen and Melvin Schroeder are 75 years old and decided it was time to retire. The stores opened 26 years ago.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

food textures, and sustainable green solutions. The added capabilities will further enhance our efforts to deliver new, value-added solutions to the marketplace."

Marquette Bank helps out at PADS Through April, Marquette Bank employees are dedicating the third Wednesday of every month to feeding those in need by volunteering with South Suburban PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), a program that provides shelter and support services to the homeless in Chicago's south suburbs. Bank volunteers purchase, prepare and serve meals to more than 70 guests at Our Lady of the Ridge Catholic Church in Chicago Ridge as part of the monthly Cook Team made up of eight or more volunteers. "As a neighborhood bank it is our duty to help our community in any way we can, and that includes feeding the hungry in our neighborhoods," said Betty KoskyHarn, Executive Vice President at Marquette Bank. "We take great pride in the dedicated employees that give their time every month to help South Suburban PADS." Marquette Bank also packs weekly lunches for South Suburban PADS through their Lunch Program. Each week a different Marquette Bank branch packs 75 sack lunches consisting of a sandwich, drink, fruit and snack and delivers them to South Suburban PADS. Some Marquette Bank employees purchase the food for the lunches and others spend time making the sandwiches and packing the lunches. Marquette Bank would like to encourage those who are able to help South Suburban PADS to donate online at www.sspads.org or call 1-708-754-4357 to learn more about volunteer opportunities. If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com. You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.com and www. southlandsavvy.blogspot.com

Talkin Poker

By Corwin Cole

Newhouse courts danger at main event final table We feel most comfortable and focused when we are in control of a situation. At the poker table, a cold run of cards or a table full of tough opponents can make us feel uneasy and powerless. Under such conditions, many players become impatient and try to force a win. With the deep stacks and tough lineup at this year’s World Series of Poker Main Event final table, we were bound to see at least someone in the November Nine attempt a desperate move. Following a long stretch of solid play by everyone at the table, a critical hand began with blinds of 250,000/500,000 and a 50,000 ante. Sitting in the hijack seat, Jorryt Van Hoof open-raised to 1.1 million with 8s 7h. Mark Newhouse called from the cutoff with 10h 10c, the button folded, and William Tonking reraised to 3.75 million from the small blind. Action folded back to Newhouse, who chose to call again. Heads-up with 9.55 million in the pot, Tonking and Newhouse saw a flop of Jh 4c 2d. Tonking bet 3.5 million, and Newhouse called. The turn brought the 4h. This time, Tonking decided to check, and Newhouse fired out 4.5 million. Tonking called. When the river brought the Jc, Tonking checked again, and

Newhouse moved all in for his last 10.2 million in chips. Tonking called, showing down Qd Qc, and eliminated Newhouse in ninth place. This hand underscores the depth of frustration and pressure that the November Nine players have to dealDunst with. with Tony Starting out, Newhouse just called the preflop raise from Van Hoof with the strong but vulnerable pocket 10s. There are only two good reasons one should do this: out of caution against running into a bigger pair, or to trap another player into overplaying a weak hand. With such a solid lineup of veteran players, all of with deep Tony Dunst whom had fairly stacks, neither of these reasons could have been valid. Entering the hand with a possibly unclear plan in mind, Newhouse set himself up to play it out in an inconsistent, disjointed way. Facing the reraise, Newhouse made a fairly standard and almost certainly correct call, getting great odds to see a flop and having a little better than a 40 percent chance to win against Tonking’s likely range of pairs 10s and up, ace-king and acequeen. For the same reason, his call on the flop was also mandatory. After Tonking’s check on the turn, however, Newhouse changed his approach, playing his hand as a bluff instead of accepting the cheap showdown he was offered. Firing off the

Talkin Poker

rest of his chips on the turn and river, he gave Tonking excellent odds to call — a proposition that would be irresistible to any opponent holding a hand stronger than pocket 10s. Newhouse confirmed in his exit interview that he had not planned to bluff and did not have a detailed reason to bluff either. It was an understandable mistake, but to win the Main Event requires navigating highpressure situations like this with patience and discipline. Learning not to force the situation is essential to the mastery of poker tournaments. (Corwin Cole is a poker coach whose instructional videos can be found at CardRunners.com. He can be reached at corwin@ crushlivepoker.com.)

ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Memorial and Honor P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 174 Memphis, TN 38148-0174 800-276-8340 www.stjude.org/tribute

The Reporter Section 1A

The

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Back Page

A very merry Christmas to all In the North Pole, there stands a small cottage with smoke curling up from the chimney. As snowflakes come down covering the house, Santa Claus is finally sorting out letters from children who are asking for certain presents. Surrounding the house, reindeer are waiting for Santa’s orders. Christmas Eve is here, and Santa must get started! Santa Claus is coming. He’s “making a list and checking it twice!” It is now Christmas season and Santa is all set to bring gifts and presents to children and parents alike. Jolly Old

St. Nick, as he’s called, with a twinkle in his eye, a garment of red and trimming in white. He is loading up his sleigh with the many gifts and presents he is to deliver on Christmas Eve. With his cheeks and nose red from the cold, he raises his whip and flicks it over the reindeer. The excited and jubilant reindeer are on their way. Dancer and Prancer are in the group, and Rudolph with his red nose is leading the way. Children who are excited and restless can’t wait for Christmas morning. Parents are excited, because there are presents for

The Wine Guy with Anthony Scarano them, too! After delivering all of the presents, Santa and his rein-

Crash Photo by Jeff Vorva

WHOIZIT?

We have Forrest Gumps, whose lives were like a box of cherries after getting last week’s WHATIZIT? correct. It was a can of cherries. We may also have Forrest Grumps, for those who got it wrong. And there is also Forrest Mumps in the NHL, but that’s a different story. Worth’s George and Theresa Rebersky was the first in line with the right answer. Others who were cheery over cherries were Worth’s E.J. Oahueke, Robert Solner, Donna Hirsch and Gene Sikora, Oak Lawn’s Jane Foley, Chicago Ridge’s Rick Towner and Patty Vandenberg, Evergreen Park’s Bernadette Pratl, Jen Merchantz, Rich Rahn, Hickory Hills’ Betty Beegle, Palos Heights’ Walter Mlynarski, Orland Park’s Tom Novak, the Friday Night Ladies Poker and Cherry Tart Lovers Club from the O-Towns -- Oak Lawn, Orland Park and Oak Forest and Jim Cap from parts unknown. Incorrect answers were black olives and plums. This week, we shift from what to who. Who is this person? The clue is that it’s a shame his sleeve is covering up his cheap watch. Send those guesses to thereporter@comcast.net with WHATIZIT in the subject line by SUNDAY (we have those rotten holiday deadlines) . Don’t forget your name and hometown.

Focus on Seniors

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Double Nickel

The Double Nickel Plus Chorus meets at the Community Center, 3450 W. 97th St. in Evergreen Park, every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in Room 111. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, call 422-8776.

Pinochle

The Worth Senior Pinochle club is seeking new members. Membership is free. Visit the group at the Worth Park District Terrace Centre, 11500 Beloit Ave., every Monday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Games begin at noon. Call 448-1181 for information.

Meals on Wheels

Submitted photo

Sisters Jean Stickney, left, and Kab Kyoung were killed in a traffic accident on Oct. 5. the hospital, officials said. Carthans then drove at a high rate of speed toward 95th Street and Cicero Avenue. As he approached the intersection,

he crossed into the eastbound lanes, ran the red light and struck cars stopped at a traffic light on eastbound 95th Street, officials said.

Palos Hills spin cycle student Jennifer Sulo was credited with helping to save her teacher at the Riviera Country Club in Orland Park. A 64-year-old male instructor on Friday collapsed in the front of the class. A Riviera Country Club worker and two students started CPR, did rescue breathing and used the AED prior to the arrival of OPPD emergency paramedics. Two Orland Park police officers brought an AED in with them to assist. The patient was conscious and interacting with the crews in the back of the ambulance. He was transported to Palos Community Hospital by paramedics. Orland Fire Protection District credited Sulo and two others who assisted in saving the instructor. —Orland Fire Protection District

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55 and Up

Palos Hills residents 55 years and older meet from noon to 2 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Palos Hills Community Center, 8455 W. 103rd St. Tickets for events must be purchased one week in advance. Entertainment includes musicians, singers, luncheons, movies, plays and bingo.

Anthony Scarano is not a doctor. He is an Evergreen Park resident, winemaker and certified naturopath. Suggestions in this space are solely the opinions of Mr. Scarano based on years of independent study and personal experience, and may not be beneficial to health. Wine should be consumed in moderation, as overindulgence may be harmful to health.

Local student helps save instructor’s life

(Continued from page 1)

he was driving veered in to the opposite of lanes of 95th Street, ran a red light and slammed into cars waiting at for the light to change, police said. The third person in the car, Sister Sharon Ann Walsh, survived the crash. Twenty-three people were treated at the scene and 11 were taken to area hospital, officials said. This investigation is now closed, Oak Lawn Police Division Chief Randy Palmer said. Witnesses told police they initially saw Carthans slumped over the wheel of the pickup truck at 95th Street and Western Avenue and asked if he needed assistance. Carthans declined help and drove away, police said. Moments later, Carthans was involved in a four-car accident at 95th Street and Keeler Avenue near Target. None of the drivers in the crash were seriously injured or transported to

deer head back home to await the coming Christmas. With a laugh of accomplishment and a “ho, ho, ho,” Santa wishes everyone a Merry Christmas!

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There will be Financial Assistance Presentation in the Dining Hall at 10:30 am on January 10th. Parents are invited to attend.

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Explore the life you love.

The Evergreen Park Office of Citizens’ Services offers a Meals on Wheels program for village residents 60 years and older who are unable to prepare their own meals. Meals are delivered Monday through Friday. For more information, call 422-8776.

Retirement is that unique and special phase of life when you have the time and opportunity to explore all the things you love to do. It’s also a time to expand your interests, learn something new and make new discoveries. The maintenance-free lifestyle at Smith Village gives you the freedom to do all of this and more—whether you’re diving deeper into a long-held passion or trying out something new.

You’re going to love the life you find at Smith Village. We invite you to explore further by calling today: (773) 451-9764. Or visit us online at SmithVillage.org.

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2320 West 113th Place • Chicago, IL 60643 (773) 451-9764 • SmithVillage.org Explore the life you love.

Sports S

The Regional News - The Reporter

Ken Karrson, Sports Editor

outhwest

sports@regionalpublishing.com

Thursday, December 25, 2014 Section 2 Page 1

Getting national notice

Show Time at Moraine Area college plays host to ESPN2 event

By Jeff Vorva and Tom Bunch The gym was rocking and fans were hollering, which made the scene resemble ones found at many other high school basketball games. What made it different was that cameras were rolling, too. But these weren’t just Momand-Dad-are-videotaping-it recording devices, but the kind that can present an event to a nationwide audience. And they were set up at Moraine Valley Community College Friday night. The Palos Hills school played host to a hoops contest between St. Rita and Simeon that was broadcast nationally by ESPN2. And as one Mustangs fan wrote on a poster: It was “Show Time” at Moraine Valley. The game was big enough to entice University of Kentucky coach John Calipari to attend. Calipari, in town with the No. 1-ranked Wildcats for last Saturday’s inaugural CBS Sports Classic at the United Center, was getting a firsthand look at St. Rita’s Charles Matthews, a Kentucky recruit. And Matthews didn’t disappoint either his future coach or the Mustangs backers in the crowd as he helped his team defeat the Wolverines 51-46. Matthews finished with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds in front of 2,600 fans. While the game at Moraine’s new Health and Fitness Center began at 5:30 p.m., preparations for it started well before that. “It’s been a six-week process,” Moraine Athletic Director Bill Finn said during a Friday inter-

Photos by Jeff Vorva

St. Rita’s Charles Matthews, a University of Kentucky recruit, gives out a yell after scoring a basket while Simeon’s D.J. Williams looks disgusted after the play. The Mustangs knocked off the Wolverines 51-46 in the ESPN2-televised game at Moraine Valley College. view. “We had to make sure we got the game [and] we had to prove to them that we can handle it with the staff. [There was] a crew of around 40 people [to] set up the cameras, the microphones, cabling and other intricate stuff. “The main challenge for the school at this point is to make sure the facility is clean, staffed and that there is enough change

for those who are buying tickets.” Pre-broadcast work got underway Thursday night and continued in earnest on Friday morning. “I’ve been working here since 10 a.m.,” Moraine Valley student worker Richard Gregg Jr. said on Friday afternoon. “It’s a big game. I’m an athlete myself so it’s exciting that ESPN is here.” Moraine officials said the game

was a boon to the school, which got a chance to show off its sleek athletic facility that opened in March. “Our [men’s basketball] games usually attract between 150 and 250 people, but this game should have at least 2,000 people watching as well as a national audience,” Finn said hours before tip-off. Neither he nor anyone else at Moraine went away disappointed.

St. Rita fans were ready for a show in Palos Hills and they got one as the Mustangs upset Simeon 51-46 Friday night in a game at Moraine Valley Community College that was broadcast across the nation on ESPN2. For more photos see page 6.

An awarding experience Christian grad Vander Laan wins Harlon Hill Trophy By Tim Cronin

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Heartbreaker

Brother Rice freshman Jake Kosakowski’s attempt to block Darias Oliver’s shot resulted in a foul and sent the Leo player to the freethrow line Friday night. A late basket handed the Lions a 55-53 victory in a Chicago Catholic League game played at St. Xavier University. Story on page 3.

Rapids to watch a webcast on a big screen to see if his name It wasn’t announced in a plush would be called from among nine theater just off Times Square, but nominees. for Jason Vander Laan a Buffa“I didn’t know how to feel going lo Wild Wings in Grand Rapids, into this because I don’t necessariMich., worked out just fine. ly like everything being about me, That’s where the Ferris State but I just want to thank everyone College junior quarterback and for coming out and supporting former Chicago Christian player me,” Vander Laan told the 100 heard his name announced Friday or so people on hand. as the 2014 winner of the Harlon “It’s a different feeling. The last Hill Trophy. Vander Laan, who time I can remember something got the news while sitting with like this was when I graduated teammates and family members, high school [and] everyone was was chosen for NCAA Division II’s coming to celebrate something equivalent of the Heisman Tro- just for you. So it is a little weird.” phy following his 50-touchdown Weird but earned. This fall season for the Bulldogs. Vander Laan led the Bulldogs “I want all of you to know I to an undefeated regular seacouldn’t have done any of this son and their first Great Lakes without any of you, especially my Conference title in 15 years. The linemen,” Vander Laan said, ac- only blemish in an 11-1 campaign cording to a Grand Rapids Press came in the playoffs, where Ferris report. “I love you guys and it State — making its first postseawas a great year. son appearance in 18 years — “With all of our coaches helping was upset by Ohio Dominican. me and supporting me and all you Vander Laan totaled 3,847 yards guys who got my back, I just can’t in 2014, which were broken down say how thankful [I am] for you as follows: 2,381 passing and 1,466 guys being a part of my life and rushing. Of his 50 touchdowns, 30 celebrating this with me.” came through the air while Vander With Ferris State on Christ- Laan scored the other 20 on the mas break, Vander Laan was back ground. That versatility helped home in Frankfort, but on Friday Ferris State to the No. 1 posimorning he decided to join the tion in Division II total offense. Photo courtesy of Ferris State watch party with teammates and The vote wasn’t a walkover. college friends. So he, his parents Vander Laan finished with 152 Chicago Christian graduate Jason VanderLaan received the Harlon Ken and Cindy and the rest of Hill Trophy Saturday for being the top play in NCAA Division II the family motored up to Grand football. (Continued on page 2)

2 Section 2 Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Regional News - The Reporter

BARTOSH

Doggone, what a race From March 24, 2005 Any of you who saw the movie “Snow Dogs” probably thinks the Iditarod isn’t really such a big deal. After all, it’s obvious the dogs do the work while their owners go along for a ride. How tough is that? Hey, if Cuba Gooding Jr. and James Coburn could handle it, so can we. Of course, Coburn has since died. His character did get a broken leg in “Snow Dogs” and probably would have suffered from hypothermia as well if the director would have waited much longer to end the scene where Coburn was stuck in a fake cave that was buried in ersatz snow. But chances are, the veteran actor perished for reasons not found in the script. My point is, Hollywood has a way of placing everything in a nice, neat package and tying up loose ends in a most unrealistic way. That’s especially true in sports films. For instance, how is it that Rocky Balboa could absorb more of a pounding in one bout than Joe Louis did in an entire career and remain coherent enough to finish off Mr. T or Carl Weathers or whatever foe du jour pops up in that particular edition of the Sylvester Stallone moneymakers? Yes, Rocky’s speech is somewhat garbled, but that’s due less to any celluloid-related beating than Mr. Stallone’s thespian shortcomings. Movie magic made Anthony Perkins look like a ballplayer when we all know, in reality, he was a deranged motel operator. And how many pint-sized kids have been shown making basketball shots Michael Jordan only wished he could, even in his prime?

So despite its entertainment value, don’t take “Snow Dogs” as a serious look at dog sledding. The real Iditarod is a taught struggle between animal and nature, with man thrown in to accept the congratulations and endorse the $72,000 check should his canines bring him across the finish line first. That prize money is actually paltry when balanced against what must be done to successfully navigate the race course, which stretches 1,100 miles and is housed in what could conservatively be called the “Ice Age for the New Millennium.” If competitors are lucky, the temperature might approach freezing; it could drop as low as minus-40 degrees. So why would anyone involve themselves and their dogs in such a grueling endeavor? After all, it’s not as if fame and notoriety automatically attach themselves to the triumphant team — can any of you name even one past champion, human or canine? I didn’t think so. According to those who’ve done it, the thrill of the chase is the lure. I’ll take their word on that, seeing as how that’s the closest I’ll ever come to participating since cats aren’t equipped for such — or any — work. My felines might, if the mood strikes them, bat an ice cube across the kitchen floor, but romping in the snow is out of the question. Without question, though, the most fascinating part of the Iditarod experience isn’t the people, but the well-conditioned animals that make it all possible. Animal-rights groups decry the event, citing the seemingly cruel conditions, but mushers counter with the argument that the dogs are really treated quite well except

for those times when they’re being driven to exhaustion. As one competitor put it when interviewed by an Associated Press reporter, “If the dogs don’t have adequate food and shelter and don’t feel good mentally, then they aren’t going to work and you’re going to lose. That’s the bottom line. Dogs that are abused don’t perform. It would never pay to abuse them.” It certainly wouldn’t pay $72,000. But there’s no doubt the Iditarod will continue as a source of debate for some time to come. That’s to be expected whenever perils are a regular part of any activity. Even if the sled dogs are well-fed and cared for away from the race, during the race they run the risk of encountering larger predators or falling into bodies of icy water, where all but salmon fear to swim. According to one report, 120 dogs have died since the Iditarod’s inception in 1973. That’s an average of only about four a year, but critics say that’s four too many. Perhaps they’re right. Instead of the Iditarod, maybe these dogs should take part in that Olympic-style competition I watched on TV several months ago. There were a variety of activities, including an obstacle course, in which pooches could potentially excel. Talent would be highlighted without terror being attached. Or the dogs could simply do nothing more taxing than catch a Frisbee in the park, just like the lazier factions of their species. There, the biggest danger would be stepping in feces deposited by other members of that species. And even if such a thing happened, at least the dogs could clean themselves without worrying about their tongues freezing onto another body part.

The garden of even

Knights’ .500 record provides a lift By Ken Karrson Chicago Christian coach Kevin Pittman is not at odds with being even. In fact, the veteran leader set that as one of the Knights’ two goals last week. The other was to out-rebound both of their Metro Suburban Conference opponents. The aspirations were rather modest, to be sure, but achieving them wasn’t that easy. Christian needed an extra period to vanquish Guerin Prep on Friday, which it did by a 60-55 count, and then it had to overcome a modest shooting percentage on Saturday versus Timothy Christian. That, too, was realized and after the Trojans were defeated 43-32 the Knights had squared their season record at 5-5 and improved their conference mark to 3-2. All of the league victories have come on the road. “We won two and I’m pretty happy we accomplished our goals,” Pittman said. “Winning that [Friday] game was a step in the right direction because it’s you down the stretch being in a close game.” Christian was up 44-36 early in the fourth period and appeared ready to shift into cruise control, but the Gators had other ideas. When Rich Zacharias (16 points, five 3s) nailed a shot from behind the arc, it gave Guerin nine straight points and eased it into a 45-44 lead. But Bradford Fitzpatrick responded with a jumper for the Knights and then Trevor Wolterink hit two close-in buckets to restore order for the locals – for a couple moments anyway. Before Christian could close the lid on the Gators in regulation, the latter pulled into a 51-all tie and Darius Parker’s final shot for the Knights was off-target. Christian might not have had momentum entering overtime, but Wolterink, Fitzpatrick and Daylon Washington all sank

Award

(Continued from page 1)

points to Henderson State quarterback Kevin Rodgers’ 143 in a vote of sports information directors. Other finalists included quarterbacks Mark Miller (Ohio Dominican), Anthony Abenoja (Pittsburg State), Tyler Sullivan (Delta State), Steven Laurino (Long Island University) and Sean McCartney (West Chester) and running back Andy Hibbett (Carson-Newman). “He’s an amazing young man that

Girls’ basketball roundup

After rough start, Eagles are soaring By Anthony Nasella After dropping its first two games to start the season, Sandburg has literally been unbeatable. With three victories last week at the Oak Lawn Holiday Tournament — which placed it in Saturday’s championship game against Lincoln-Way North — the Eagles had rolled off 10 straight wins and displayed no signs of slowing down. Sandburg started the week at Oak Lawn with a 58-26 triumph over De La Salle on Monday. That was followed by a thrilling 45-38 conquest of the host Spartans on Wednesday and topped off with a 55-45 victory over Joliet Central on Thursday. Suddenly those first two setbacks seem like a lifetime ago. “Winning 10 games in a row is very exciting,” Eagles coach Chris Hellrung said. “We didn’t play well in the first loss but played pretty good against a tough opponent in our second game. We were in the game the whole time, but they just beat us in the end. “Since then we’ve really played well. We’ve been sharing the ball real well on offense and our rebounding, which we were missing in the first few games, has really been solid. Defensively, we’re playing tough and making other teams work for their scores.” Victoria Stavropoulos tossed in 16 points to propel Sandburg past De La Salle. Rachel Distor and Laine Mackle added 10 points each for the Eagles. Stavropoulos (12 points), Sam Youngwirth (10) and Lauren O’Leary (eight points, seven rebounds) joined forces to carry Sandburg past Oak Lawn. The Spartans made a run late, however, by shaving a 15-point deficit to five with 2 ½ minutes to go. But steals by O’Leary and Youngwirth, plus 5-of-6 foul shooting in the final minute preserved the Eagles’ unbeaten streak. “Oak Lawn came out and played well,” Hellrung said. “They’re a solid team with a good coach [in Mark Sevedge] and they run a good motion offense. We switched to a 1-2-2 [zone defense] that held them in check and we made some good shots and really ran our offense well — [we were] getting easy baskets going to the basket.” In the 10-point win over Joliet Central, Sandburg held a double-digit lead throughout the contest. It was ahead by as many

Sandburg’s Jessica Merino brings the ball upcourt last Wednesday against Oak Lawn in a pool-play game at the latter’s holiday tournament. as 16 at one juncture. Not only have the Eagles been succeeding as a unit offensively, the improved rebounding has come from an unlikely source: the 5-foot-4 O’Leary, who is pulling down six per game as Sandburg’s starting point guard. “Lauren O’Leary is our smallest player on the court and she’s leading our team in rebounding,” Hellrung said. “She’s really a defensive stopper for us and one of the better rebounding guards in the area. She’s really doing a great job. “She’s a really good athlete — she’s fast and jumps well. But it’s more than just effort and heart. She just wants the ball more than anyone else on the court.” Hellrung said his entire squad has been reliable so far. “Taylor McGiles and Grace Bauer have been solid off the bench,” he said. “It’s been a team winning streak and not just one [player]. All 10 are sharing the load and making this whole thing go.

“It’s good to see the girls having some success.” RICHARDS The Bulldogs beat TF North in a South Suburban Conference crossover game last week, but that was their lone win in four tries. Getting the better of Richards were cross-town neighbor Oak Lawn, Lincoln-Way North and Romeoville. The Spartans topped the Bulldogs 59-42 last Monday as Brianna Markusic piled up 29 points and grabbed six rebounds. It took two Richards players to equal Markusic’s scoring as Sydni Tears notched 18 points and Takesha Powell added 11. Tears also had four rebounds and three steals, while Powell passed out three assists. Dominique Miller provided four points and six rebounds for the Bulldogs and Andy Sonichsen gathered in seven rebounds. The Bulldogs were ahead 1510 after one quarter, but Oak Lawn held sway after that. The Spartans owned a 30-25 lead at intermission and a 48-37 edge after three stanzas. “I thought we came out ready to play,” Richards coach Jeff Kortz said. “In the second quarter they did some things and we didn’t capitalize on them. We were a little stubborn in a few things we tried to do. [In the] third quarter we just got out of our comfort zone and didn’t respond the way we had hoped. “Brianna Markusic was very tough to stop around the basket and on the boards. Mark did a great job of getting her the ball and their guards made some shots to get them going. “Give them credit — they made plays to get ahead and they played very well. Mark does a nice job coaching them and they responded.” *** Tears poured in game-high 23 points and added six rebounds on Tuesday as the Bulldogs defeated TF North 59-38. Miller (11 points, nine rebounds), Powell (10 points, four assists, four steals) and Kennedy Brister (six rebounds) all contributed for Richards, which led at every quarter stop. “They were very athletic and Sandburg’s Sam Youngwirth waits for an official to confirm that her basket counted and she was fouled on the same play last wanted to run the floor, but I was Wednesday at the Oak Lawn Tournament. Youngwirth and the (Continued on page 4) Eagles beat the host Spartans 45-38 in pool play.

baskets to give it some juice. Wolterink wound up with 17 points, Fitzpatrick supplied a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds, Parker finished with 11 points and Jay Spencer pulled down 12 rebounds. “To come back says a little bit about our kids and where they’re going,” Pittman said. Pittman was not easy on his charges during practices earlier in the week, but he felt some important groundwork was laid in regard to the Knights becoming better on the glass. And that was the case here as they out-rebounded Guerin 41-32 overall and 16-8 on the offensive side. “That was kind of nice to see,” Pittman said. “Rebounding is a physical act but not something foreign to them that they’re unable to do.” Christian’s marksmanship wasn’t particularly great on this occasion, but its stout board work gave it 14 more attempts from the field than the Gators had. The Knights assisted on half of their 24 buckets and made only 13 turnovers. “When we had good ball movement and good rotations, we got any shot we wanted,” Pittman said. “But there were times we would try to jam the ball in places where we knew it couldn’t go.” Although not always aesthetically pleasing, Pittman was glad his squad’s performance was decent enough to get the job done against Guerin. “That’s not an easy place to play,” he said. “Perennially they have not been very good, but they’ve been markedly better the past couple years.” Chicago Christian 43 Timothy Christian 32 While Saturday’s matchup between the Knights and Trojans didn’t exactly harken back to the peach-basket era, it also didn’t possess many of the offensive dynamics evident in much of today’s basketball.

The only uprising of any consequence belonged to Chicago Christian, which outscored Timothy Christian 22-6 during one stretch of the opening half. Parker (12 points on four 3-pointers) and Wolterink (11 points) were the ringleaders as the Knights drilled six 3s in 10 tries to rupture the hosts’ zone defense. “Zone can make you look pretty good if you’re hitting your shots,” Pittman said. “Once we got our footing we basically took control of that game. It didn’t even seem like [the Trojans] were that close.” Timothy Christian was within 26-18 at halftime, but its 10-of44 showing from the field wasn’t the kind of thing that sparks a comeback. Indeed, the Trojans managed just single-digit scoring in each of the last periods and quietly went down to defeat against their longtime rival. Chicago Christian held 32-26 edge on the boards and, most important to Pittman, kept its miscues to a dozen. That cost the coach money as he had promised pizza to his players if they ever committed 12 or fewer turnovers. The Knights travel to Romeoville on Friday to begin play in that school’s holiday tournament.

is so deserving of this honor, not only for his tremendous achievements on the field but also for what he has accomplished in the classroom, as an ambassador for our program in the community and based on the outstanding leadership he has shown for our team,” Ferris State coach Tony Annese said in a news release. “Jason is such a humble individual who has represented our program in a first-class manner. There’s not a finer or better person who could have been selected.” Vander Laan is the first Hill Trophy winner from the Great Lakes

Conference since 2009 when Joique Bell, currently with the Detroit Lions, won it while at Wayne State. Vander Laan had already been named the conference’s Player of the Year and was the only Hill finalist to make the All-America Division II first team. Vander Laan will have a chance in 2015 to become just the fourth multiple winner of the Hill Trophy and the first since Chadron State’s Danny Woodhead in 2006 and 2007. First, though, comes an awards luncheon Jan. 9 in Florence, Ala., the home of the University of In the midst of several players, Oak Lawn’s Kara Melvin has the ball and drives toward the basket North Alabama, Hill’s alma mater. last Wednesday versus Sandburg.

Statistics Chgo. Christian 11 14 14 12 9 – 60 Guerin Prep 13 8 15 15 6 – 55 Chicago Christian Scoring: Wolterink 17, Fitzpatrick 15, Parker 11, Washington 8, Spencer 6, Mayberry 3. Rebounds: Fitzpatrick 15, Spencer 12. Assists: Parker 4, Washington 4. Chicago Christian 10 16 10 7 — 43 Timothy Christian 9 9 5 9 — 32 Chicago Christian Scoring: Parker 12, Wolterink 11, Spencer 7, Washington 7, Winchester 4, Fitzpatrick 2. Rebounds: Fitzpatrick 8, Washington 7. Assists: Washington 4

The Regional News - The Reporter

Thursday, December 25, 2014 Section 2

Taking a winter’s fall After beating Manteno, Astros tumble vs. Hawks By Ken Karrson It wasn’t a fall that matched those of the Roman Empire or Humpty Dumpty in noteworthiness, but that didn’t mean the landing was any softer for Shepard. After seemingly gaining momentum off a crisp performance at Manteno last Tuesday, the Astros saw every shred of it disappear beneath a relentless assault from Hillcrest on Friday. Forty-five first-half points by the Hawks pretty much told the tale as that outburst staked them to a mammoth 30-point lead. And the situation grew even worse after the break as Shepard mustered just 16 additional points and wound up on the receiving end of an 82-31 beatdown. That came on the heels of a 47-40 victory at Manteno. As pleased as Astros coach Tony Chiuccariello was about his team’s exhibition versus the Panthers, he was equally perplexed when he thought about Shepard’s Friday flameout. What made it rather maddening to him was that the Astros have competed well with Hillcrest in the past -- a 2007-08 meeting, for example, came down to the last shot and the Hawks needed a 3-pointer to force overtime a few years later, where they ultimately prevailed. “They’re good,” Chiuccariello said of Hillcrest’s current squad. “But how much of [what happened] was them being good and how much was us not doing the fundamental things? I think it was the worst loss of my career. “We used to see this [caliber of opponent] in the SICA East week in and week out. But even if you’re way overmatched, you should be trailing by maybe 10 at halftime and then you talk about the things you have to fix. When you’re down 30, you

can’t fix it on the fly and win the game.” The statistics were every bit as lopsided as the score itself. Shepard (3-6, 0-4) shot 30 percent lower than Hillcrest (2757), got out-rebounded (40-14) and was guilty of twice as many turnovers (22-11). “[With] too many numbers [against you], it equals trouble without a doubt,” Chiuccariello said. “Even when we got the ball out of traps, I thought our shots were rushed. It was a timid mind-set versus an aggressive mind-set.” Among the few instances when the Astros threw caution to the winds were two possessions at the beginning of the third stanza. Both Marlon Perkins and Zack Haxel drove to the rim for layups, the latter augmenting his with a free throw to complete a three-point play. However, that 5-0 run didn’t get extended and Shepard’s mini-uprising was soon forgotten by the Hawks. Perkins and Kenjrick Watson both tallied 10 points and Kyle Longfield added seven for the locals. Only five of the 14 Astros who saw action reached the scoring column. Chiuccariello said he had full attendance at a Saturday-morning practice and, while he admitted “some guys were in loss hangover and the energy level wasn’t what it should have been,” believes Shepard is ready to move forward. “It’s one loss and we took what we could learn from it,” he said. “Now we’re putting Hillcrest in the rearview mirror and we’re in building mode.” The Astros will compete in a holiday tournament at Romeoville starting Friday. Shepard 47 Manteno 40 A 16-8 scoring edge in the fourth quarter lifted the Astros

past the Panthers on Tuesday. Shepard was behind by three points near the end of the third period, but Perkins gave his team some juice with a steal and layup. From there the Astros continued to heat up as Kyrun Heard deposited two 3-pointers and Watson supplied one in a brief span of the final frame to boost Shepard into a 40-32 lead. Manteno wrapped a couple baskets around a missed 3-point shot by the Astros and then tallied again after a Shepard miscue. But the visitors extended their two-point edge on Longfield’s bucket and stretched it out to six on two Kenny Gorski free throws, which followed a defensive stop by the Astros. “That’s what was fun basketball,” Chiuccariello said. “It was good team basketball and it was nice to see. If you play like that, you have a chance to win.” Shepard did so here thanks to 14 points from Watson and Longfield’s double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Three other players netted at least six points as Shepard went 7-of-18 from beyond the arc and shot 40 percent overall. While not terrific, that effort was four points better than Manteno mustered Brother Rice’s Josh Niego tries to get around a Leo defender Friday night at St. Xavier University. from the floor. The Astros also topped their foe in rebounding (31-21), assists (10-7) and made free throws (8-2). That allowed Shepard to survive 15 turnovers, seven more than the Panthers committed.

An unhappy ending

Statistics Shepard Manteno

12 6 13 16 — 47 12 11 9 8 — 40

Shepard Scoring: Watson 14, Longfield 10, Gorski 8, Heard 7, Haxel 6, Ogungbemi 2. Rebounds: Longfield 10. Assists: Heard 2, Ogungbemi 2, Watson 2. Hillcrest Shepard

20 25 21 16 — 82 5 10 13 3 — 31

Shepard Scoring: Perkins 10, Watson 10, Longfield 7, Haxel 3, Hampton 1. Rebounds: Haxel 3, Heard 3, Longfield 3, Perkins 3. Assists: Newhall 3.

Slowed to a stop Deliberate Porters slip past Eagles By Ken Karrson

“We would have liked to have taken care of our home court betTaking things slow is sound ter,” Allen said. “It wasn’t anyadvice when building relation- thing glaring that was terrible [for ships, but it doesn’t do much us]. They made one more play for building momentum on the than we did to win the game.” basketball court. Neither team ever led by more And that’s especially so when than five in the second half, alone of the parties involved is though as Allen pointed out being coming off a game of the break- down by even that margin in a neck-pace variety. contest of this nature made him Sandburg fared well under the begin “thinking we’re really going latter conditions on Dec. 12 when to have to work [to come back].” it handled Joliet Central’s pre- Five points separated the club in ferred up-tempo style adequately the last 10 seconds, but Alec Marenough to collect a 10-point win. tinez reduced the Eagles’ deficit But when the Eagles returned to by sinking a 3-pointer. the SouthWest Suburban ConferThen Sandburg (3-4, 1-1) ence Blue schedule last Tuesday caught a break after it fouled a versus Lockport, the circumstanc- Porter to stop the clock as that es had changed dramatically. player misfired twice at the line. Unlike Joliet, the Porters fa- The Eagles got the ball to 6-foot-7 vor methodical play to the point Tommy Demogerontas, who drew where virtually every possession is a foul of his own with 1.4 seconds important. After getting 76 turns remaining. He missed the first with the ball against the Steelmen, and then intentionally missed the Sandburg saw that number sliced second, but Sandburg was unable in half versus Lockport. to corral the rebound. “It’s worse than going to the Demogerontas managed just dentist,” Eagles coach Todd Allen eight points on the evening and joked. “It was the kind of game only Niko Kogionis reached douwe expected. I don’t know what ble figures for the Eagles. The they do, but they always keep it senior guard totaled 20 points, low-scoring [and this was] another 18 of which were supplied on grind-em-put game.” 3-point baskets. With Kogionis as The Porters have a sub-.500 led- its trigger man, Sandburg held ger this season, but Allen pointed leads after each of the first two out that they have played several quarters, but Allen cited the end opponents tough. Lockport went of the second period as “kind of one better than that, though, a turning point.” against Sandburg as it captured The Eagles were ahead 21-16 a 45-43 victory in Orland Park. with five seconds left, but that

was enough time for Lockport to drill a 3. Then the Porters opened the third stanza with another long ball that inched them in front and left Sandburg to chase for all but a brief portion of the final 16 minutes. “It’s an adjustment,” Allen said of having to adapt to Lockport’s pace. “You’re playing defense a minute-and-a-half each possession, so your kids have to be patient. In a low-possession game every mistake is magnified. “And it was a tight offensive game. We had 11 turnovers [and] we couldn’t get anything going [for a sustained period].” Thanks to Kogionis’ handiwork, the Eagles were a very respectable 9-of-19 from 3-point range. However, they took only 12 shots from inside the arc and made five. Sandburg also missed a total of five charity tosses. The Eagles squared off with Lincoln-Way East this past Monday at the United Center in another conference game. Sandburg will take part in a holiday tournament at York starting the day after Christmas.

Statistics Lockport Sandburg

8 11 13 1 3 — 45 13 8 11 11 — 43

Sandburg Scoring: Kogionis 20, T. Demogerontas 8, Martinez 7, Paxinos 6, Razik 2. Rebounds: T. Demogerontas 3, Kogionis 3. Assists: Martinez 5.

Leo rallies from big deficit to beat Rice By Ken Karrson

Life is not a fairy tale. If it were, there’d be nothing but happy endings ever realized. And for Brother Rice that was definitely not the case at St. Xavier University Friday night. Using the Cougars’ facility to host Leo, the Crusaders enjoyed all the comforts of home at the outset. A 15-1 fueled by 10 points from sophomore Mike Shepski closed out the first quarter for Rice and handed it a 20-8 lead over the visitors. The Lions eventually slipped behind by as many as 16, that coming less than a minute into the final period when Connor Finn converted a steal into a layup. But from there everything went due south for the Crusaders. Only two baskets were netted in the remaining time, a scoring lapse made all the more pronounced by seven Rice turnovers. The Crusaders also misfired four times from the foul line in nine chances, two of those being on the front end of 1-and-1s. But none of that would have mattered had Kewan Smith not buried a jumper with 2.6 seconds left. That bucket proved the difference for Leo, which captured the Chicago Catholic League game by a 55-53 score. “To be honest, we just kind of blew it,” Rice coach Rick Harrigan said. “With a young team it’s about putting a whole game together. The game’s 32 minutes and we played 27 really good minutes. “We’re trying to do all the right things [and] we’re trying hard, but I don’t know if we’ve put 32 minutes of good decision-making together.” With a week to prepare for the Lions, Harrigan had his guys work on fine-tuning their execution in a half-court offense during practice sessions. The result was the aforementioned 20-point opening frame that Shepski (19 points, six rebounds) led. Finn (13 points, three assists) and freshman Jake Kosakowski (11 points, six re-

Brother Rice’s Joe Ruzevich dribbles into the frontcourt against Leo Friday night at St. Xavier University. bounds) also made their presences felt, and the threesome wound up with eight 3s between them in 17 attempts. Shepski wasn’t around at the end, though, as he fouled out with under two minutes remaining in the game. “There were some encouraging things,” Harrigan said. “Shepski continues to play well for us and Jake Kosakowski did a nice job. [But] we’d make a [good] play and then two bad ones.” Leo narrowed the halftime gap to seven by holding the Crusaders (3-6, 0-4) to six second-quarter points, but the latter erupted for 18 in the third and were ahead 42-27 with 3:17 left in the session. That differential pretty much remained unchanged until the Lions caught fire in the fourth period behind Darias Oliver (22 points, 11 in the quarter) and Smith (12, six in the fourth). “Desperation basketball is a big thing,” Harrigan said. “When you’re down 15 and your coach is all over you, you start playing with [the idea of having] nothing to lose.” As would befit a contest that was so competitive, little separated Rice and Leo statistically. Both teams sank 17 buckets, but the Lions did so in three fewer tries to post a field-goal percentage three points higher than the Crusaders’ (44-41). Leo did not have any 3-pointers, so it lost out badly in that category, but 10 more made free

throws compensated somewhat for the shortcoming. Rice won the battle of the boards (28-24) and dished out six more assists (11-5) but committed one more turnover. While Harrigan liked several aspects of the Crusaders’ performance, he reiterated that coming close without winning is not acceptable for anyone within the program. “Consolation victories are fine and dandy, but in the Catholic League and in and around the city that’s not good enough,” Harrigan said. “[The kids] have a good attitude, and if that continues we’ll continue to get better. But nobody’s going to feel sorry for us, give us anything or take it easy on us.” Rice is headed to Luther North for the first time for holiday-tournament play. The Crusaders meet Hubbard on Friday. “It’s just a changing of the guard,” Harrigan said when asked why Rice took on the new challenge. “We’ll give it our best shot.”

(113), Tom Slattery (160) and Cole Bateman (195). The Eagles, who had 13 wrestlers earn place medals at Hinsdale, were runner-up in the team standings to defending Class 3A state champion Oak Park River Forest. Defending 2A champion Montini took third. *** Reavis beat Shepard (44-21) and Hillcrest (63-17) in an SSC triad on Thursday. Peter Radev won by decision at 145 pounds, but that was one of the only bright spots for Stagg in its 57-12 SWSC Blue loss to Lincoln-Way East on Friday.

200-individual medley (2:13.06) to guide the host Astros last Tuesday. Yu also helped Shepard post the top times in the 200-medley (1:51.84) and 400-freestyle (4:07.46) relays. Joining Yu in the shorter race were Hayden Wiest, Jeremy Schultz and Andrew Choragwicki. Wiest, Schultz and Mike Graham teamed with Yu in the free relay. Graham also won the 50free (25.46), while Schultz set the pace in the 100-butterfly (1:04.29). Schultz and Graham partnered with Mike Jokubauskas, and John Wolniak to capture the 400-free relay (4:07.46).

BOYS’ SWIMMING Shepard defeated Evergreen Park 132-48 in an SSC Red dual as Sanders Yu prevailed in the 100-yard breaststroke (1 minute, 6.23 seconds) and

Producing the Astros’ remaining victories were Jokubauskas in the 200-free (2:15.55), Brendan Kachnowski in the 500-free (6:09.08) and diver Tyler Timmer (219.95 points).

Statistics Leo Brother Rice

8 11 13 23 — 55 20 6 18 9 — 53

Brother Rice Scoring: Shepski 19, Finn 13, Kosakowski 11, Badali 4, Ruzevich 3, Mahay 2, Webster 1. Rebounds: Ruzevich 7, Kosakowski 6, Shepski 6. Assists: Finn 3. Steals: Kosakowski 1, Niego 1, Shepski 1. Blocks: Badali 1, Finn 1, Ruzevich 1, Shepski 1.

Sports Wrap By Anthony Nasella

series last Tuesday that helped the Astros claim a 2,914-2,873 SSC When assessing the progress of crossover win over Lemont at his boys’ bowling team, Shepard Centennial Lanes. His 264 game coach Simeon Shama is quite and 641 series also paced Shepard pleased with the stability shown in an SSC crossover victory over by his top four players. TF North. But in order for the Astros to Walters, meanwhile, has postbecome a force in upcoming tour- ed the Astros’ highest individual naments and the South Suburban average. His scores greatly conConference meet, a steady fifth tributed to recent triumphs over contributor will be a necessity. Bremen, Oak Forest and Hinsdale “That has been our Achilles heel South. Walters rolled a 226 high so far,” Shama said. “It’s been game and 429 series versus the our struggle, [but] if we can fill Braves. in a consistent fifth bowler we’ll “We’re expecting big things really be doing well and have a from Eric in our tournaments and shot. We’ve got a pretty good core as an individual bowler,” Shama group of guys. As far as starters, said. “He’s our big man.” everyone has been performing up Noftz, who came up to the varto or beyond expectations.” sity last season as a freshman, Senior Matt Shaw, junior Eric bowled a 268 against Chicago Walters, sophomore Jordan Noftz Christian and had a 242 game and freshman Trevor Lorek have and 629 series opposite Hinsdale led Shepard to a 7-6 record. It South. was Lorek’s 234 game and 645 “Jordan made a big impact as

a freshman and he’s continuing to have impact as a sophomore,” Shama said. After Christmas break Shepard will take part in the Southland College Prep Tournament at Lakewood Bowl and Tinley Park Tournament at Centennial Lanes. “We only have a few matches after that and then we move to conference,” Shama said. “We’re just hoping for that fifth bowler to emerge. [Two] seniors averaged some real good scores in a tournament at Oak Lawn, [so] we’re going to keep at it.” *** Lockport defeated Sandburg 2,085-1,904 in a SouthWest Suburban Conference Blue dual at Orland Bowl last Tuesday.

Shepard dropped a 1,555-994 decision to Bremen in an SSC crossover at Centennial Lanes on Thursday. Sophomore Kailey Hurwitz had games of 114 and 125 for the Astros.

WRESTLING Already an Illinois state champion, Sandburg junior Rudy Yates captured a 12-6 decision at 126 pounds against Montini’s Jimmy Pawelski to give him his third tournament title at Hinsdale Central’s perennially tough Whitlatch Invitational. Yates also registered two pins and a technical fall in improving his season record to 18-0. Sandburg’s Louie Hayes (106), Brian Krasowski (170 and GIRLS’ BOWLING Patrick Brucki (182) all reached Lincoln-Way West beat Stagg title matches at their weights 1,695-1,233 in an SWSC crossover and placed second. Collecting at Laraway Lanes last Monday. third places were Robbie Precin

4 Section 2 Thursday, December 25, 2014 The Regional News - The Reporter Basketball roundup

A losing proposition

Vikings, Mustangs fall to defeat on Friday By Ken Karrson Friday was a lost cause for both St. Laurence and Evergreen Park. What made it unique for the former was the response generated by coach Jim Maley in the aftermath. Having experienced defeat just one other time this season, the Vikings’ first-year leader wouldn’t appear to have too much about which to quibble, especially since this latest setback was administered by a solid Hales Franciscan club. “If you’d have told me before the season that we’d be 7-2 going into Christmas, I’d have been happy,” Maley said. “But now that I’ve seen us play expectations have changed, not only in myself but with the kids, too. I was pretty mad after this game and that shows what I think of our guys. “In the past this [79-71 loss] might have been where we’re happy to be competitive against a good team, but [our players] realize they can play with just about anybody. I think they believe like I do.” Had St. Laurence (7-2, 2-1) gotten off to a typical start against the Spartans, things might have unfolded differently. But the Vikings were fighting an uphill battle right away as they spotted Hales a 14-2 lead. “We’re down 12 and we lose by eight -- that’s the game right there,” Maley said. “This was the first game all year we didn’t seem ready to play. We calmed down [later], but we seemed a little nervous at the very beginning.” There was no giant surge that brought St. Laurence back into the hunt, just a systematic return to the Vikings’ more familiar brand of play. Behind Matt Gurgone’s 24 points St. Laurence not only expunged the Spartans’ lead, it took one of its own late in the third period. The Vikings couldn’t hold it, but they remained within three points midway through the final

quarter before Hales finally distanced itself a bit. The Spartans had three players tally between 14 and 18 points. “I don’t think we ran out of gas,” said Maley, who felt his squad had grown tired down the stretch in its previous loss against Marist. “We made a couple of turnovers that kind of got us at the end.” Christian Ferrer added 12 points for St. Laurence and Brett Risley tossed in 11, but production wasn’t the Vikings’ primary issue. “We can score,” Maley said. “But we’ve kind of been relying on our defense and giving up 79 points was too many.” *** In its other outing of the week St. Laurence routed Solorio Academy 69-46 behind double-figure scoring from Gurgone (16 points) and Dan Cummings (12). Passing out four assists apiece were Risley, Quentin Forberg and Miguel Delvillar. Lemont 53 Evergreen Park 37 The Indians handcuffed Mustangs star Isaac Matthews Friday night, holding him to a season-low five points. Jordan Brown picked up some of the slack with a solid 20-point, 12-rebound exhibition, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Evergreen from absorbing a South Suburban Conference crossover defeat. “We got the secondary scoring [we’ve been seeking],” Mustangs coach Pat Flannigan said. “But this time we didn’t get the primary scoring. We think that’s what Brown can do [on a steady basis]. We’ve got to get them [both] going on the same night.” Even with so little input from Matthews, Evergreen (3-6, 0-4) was pretty much in step with Lemont through the first half. The Indians, however, gave themselves some breathing room in the third stanza by outscoring the Mustangs 18-8. “That was pretty typical [for us]

-- in the third quarter we struggled because we got away from the things we were doing good,” Flannigan said. “We followed the game plan for a while but didn’t stick with it. Some things I can’t explain.” Flannigan referred to a few instances when players made 3-point baskets and then weren’t heard from again. One of those was newcomer Declan Smythe. “Three different times that happened,” Flannigan said. “We told them, ‘This is the shot that’s going to be open,’ and one kid hits a 3, but we don’t look for him after that. Our kids aren’t selfish, so I think it’s a basketball IQ thing.” Evergreen was credited with only seven assists, four of them being distributed by Joe Moran. The Mustangs’ shooting percentage languished in the mid-30s and their turnover total was at 23. “We had some ‘weight-room turnovers’ as we call them,” Flannigan said. “We lost a lot of 50-50 balls. They were literally taking the ball from us because they were more physical.” Supplying a defensive highlight was Darren Pritchett, who continued being a shot-blocking machine. He recorded nine here, including three on a single Lemont possession. Evergreen heads to Immaculate Conception to participate in a Christmas tournament starting Friday. “It’s been pretty much the same scenario as last year so far,” Flannigan said. “But we’ll get better I promise you.”

Statistics Lemont Evergreen Park

7 12 18 16 — 53 8 8 8 13 — 37

Evergreen Park Scoring: Brown 20, Matthews 5, Horton 3, Smith 3, Sorbellini 3, Pritchett 2, Moran 1. Rebounds: Brown 12. Assists: Moran 4. Steals: Matthews 2. Blocks: Pritchett 9.

Raiders of the lost cause Bolingbrook overwhelms Chargers in SWSC Blue game By Ken Karrson

since I’ve been here [and] they’re a team that can go downstate.” John Daniels summed up his Ringleaders for the Raiders feelings about last Tuesday’s were Colorado State Universimatchup with Bolingbrook in ty-bound Prentiss Nixon and Wisunmistakable fashion: consin-Green Bay-bound Julian “You know those days when Torres. Daniels was impressed you say you should have stayed with how Nixon tallied 17 points in bed?” the Stagg coach said. in three periods despite being the “That was one of them.” specific focus of Stagg’s defense. What made Daniels long for the “We tagged him,” Daniels said, comforts of mattress and pillow “and normally when we do that was the discomfort the Raiders we keep guys from hurting us made his team experience in a very much.” SouthWest Suburban Conference As for Torres, his “ginormous” Blue meeting. Having already tan- size alone was enough to make the gled with perennial conference Chargers miserable. The 6-foot-9, contender Homewood-Flossmoor, 320-pound Torres finished with the Chargers might have figured 12 points and eight rebounds as things couldn’t get any worse for Bolingbrook “just destroyed us them. inside.” Twelve of the Raiders’ They were wrong. 21 points in the second quarter After staying within six of Boling- came off shots in the paint. brook in the opening quarter, Stagg Josh Strama and Joe Zaremba had its legs taken out from under it. scored 14 and 10 points, respecEight first-half turnovers certainly tively, for Stagg (2-8, 1-2), but didn’t help, but harming the Char- the visitors made no second-half gers even more was the Raiders’ headway. In fact, Bolingbrook rebounding dominance, especially outpointed the Chargers by 10 on the offensive glass. during the third quarter to go up The hosts grabbed 15 boards that by 25 and signal the entrance of extended possessions — three were the reserves. responsible for six points in the And even that didn’t slow the first frame — and used those to onslaught as the Raiders’ subs construct a hefty 35-20 halftime went on a 17-5 run over the last advantage. And the downhill ride eight minutes. Stagg committed a continued when play resumed as total of 18 turnovers in the game. Bolingbrook wound up winning by “They didn’t run it up,” Dan37 points, 75-38. iels said of Bolingbrook. “They “That’s 23 extra possessions,” beat us in the JV [portion of the] Daniels said, referring the turn- game, too.” overs-offensive rebounding combo Lake Park 57 that worked against his squad. Stagg 42 “You’re lucky they let you back Although the Chargers also lost in the gym after that. last Monday, their performance “Our kids didn’t quit; they against the Lancers garnered played their [tails] off, but [the praise from Daniels. Raiders] have all the tools. “We have to get better at little 4.25" They’re going to win the league things, but the effort was there — I don’t know how they lost and they’re listening [to the to Joliet [Central]. They’re the coaches],” he said. “Lake Park best Bolingbrook team I’ve seen was better than us.”

Not in the opening half, however, as the two teams were deadlocked at 22 after 16 minutes. No Stagg players ended up in double digits scoring-wise, but there was a degree of balance as Jeff Goral had nine points and three of his teammates netted six. Two of them, senior Brett Stratinsky and sophomore Tom Kazanecki, also pulled down seven rebounds between them. John Contant dished out a team-high five assists and five of the Chargers’ first-half baskets were directly set up with a pass. Eight players eventually reached the scoring column. “When we had good possessions, we had good results,” Daniels said. “You get high-percentage shots early in a possession because the defense isn’t set or at the end of a possession if you move the ball around because the defense starts to break down. “The key is to not be down in the fourth quarter.” That wasn’t the case here as Lake Park established a seven-point lead during the third stanza. The Lancers were unintentionally aided by an increase in Stagg miscues – after having only three first-half turnovers the Chargers made nine over the last two quarters, several of which led to Lake Park buckets, including three layups. Stagg also undercut itself by scoring only one point over a five-minute span that bridged the third and fourth quarters. The drought began at the 3:23 mark of the third period when the squads were tied at 33. “We started making some mistakes against their [defensive] pressure and the turnovers wound up being points,” Daniels said. “We weren’t out of the game, but we have had a hard time getting back into games.” The Chargers were slated to make up a game against Universal this past Saturday. They’ll join Sandburg in York’s holiday tournament that gets underway the day after Christmas.

Statistics Lake Park Stagg

10 12 19 16 — 57 11 11 12 8 — 42

3.5"

tagg Scoring: Goral 9, T. Kazenecki S 6, Strama 6, Stratinsky 6, Contant 4, Zaremba 4, Liput 3, Mohan 2, Worst 2. Rebounds: Stratinsky 4. Assists: Contant 5.

Nicole Rodriguez was killed by a drunk driver while walking next door to play with her friend. What should you do to stop a friend from driving drunk? Whatever you have to. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.

Stagg Bolingbrook

8 12 13 5 — 38 14 21 23 17 — 75

tagg Scoring: Strama 14, Zaremba 10, S Goral 5, Contant 4, Foster 3, Stratinsky 2. Rebounds: Contant 3, Stratinsky 3. Assists: Contant 3.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Richards’ Andy Sonnichsen fires a pass to a teammate during the Bulldogs’ 87-27 loss to LincolnWay North in pool play last Wednesday at the Oak Lawn Tournament.

Girls Basketball

(Continued from page 2) very proud of the girls for fighting all night,” Kortz said. The story was vastly different against Lincoln-Way North, which hammered the Bulldogs into submission. The Phoenix were ahead by 22 points after one quarter, 41 after two and 52 after three. Tears had 15 points and seven rebounds, but that mattered little. Miller’s four points and five boards were Richards’ other notable stats. “Lincoln-Way North is a very, very good team,” Kortz said. “They get everyone involved and they run. They were on fire from the start, outside and inside. They hit a school-record 17 3-point shots and we never recovered. “They put pressure on us at both ends of the floor and we didn’t respond well. I think we were a little tired and leg-weary, but I don’t want to take anything away from how they played.” Tears’ 21 points and seven rebounds weren’t enough to lift the Bulldogs (5-6, 3-1) past Romeoville. Powell (nine points, five assists), Briana Kuchenny (six points, nine rebounds) and Sonichsen (six points, six rebounds) also played well in a losing cause. “I thought both teams came out a little sluggish playing at 10:30 Saturday morning,” Kortz said. “I thought we did a good job of fighting back to get close at halftime. We came out in the second half and changed a few things, [but] they took advantage of them and we got down and tried to dig ourselves out of the hole. “I was and am very proud of the effort. We get after it, but we have to do a better job of fundamentals. We get some time off [now] and we will work on that and improve. “But I thought we never quit and kept getting after it. Overall we played very hard in every game.” OAK LAWN Richards wasn’t the only team to feel the wrath of Markusic last week, although the Bulldogs were the lone opponent to come up short against the Spartans. Sandburg survived Markusic’s 18-point, eight-rebound effort, Romeoville beat Oak Lawn 37-35 despite Markusic’s 14 points and 13 rebounds, and the senior’s 21 points versus Riverside-Brookfield as the Bulldogs collected a 61-50 triumph on Saturday. STAGG The Chargers split a pair of contests last week as they dropped a 52-42 SWSC Blue verdict to Lincoln-Way East on the road last Monday before bating Queen of Peace 46-20 on Saturday.

While Monday’s score was relatively close throughout the game, the Griffins held a significant rebounding advantage that proved the difference. “We did not do a very good job on the defensive boards and were out-rebounded 35-16 by a much more aggressive team,” Stagg coach Bill Turner said. “I give our opponent a lot of credit for attacking the glass the way they did. “Especially disturbing was the 14 offensive rebounds we allowed in the first half — seven of those boards resulted in Lincoln-Way East points. I thought we were fortunate to be down by only nine points (29-20) at the half.” Senior guard Alex Abed led the Chargers with 19 points, three rebounds and three steals while going a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line. Senior forward Mia DiGiacomo added seven points and four rebounds. “Alex played a nice game for us, but getting more scoring from some other players is also something we are going to need moving forward,” Turner said. “We have found ourselves playing more zone early on this season and need to figure out rebounding assignments. “We gave up a couple of easy baskets in transition defense [by] failing to get back quickly enough. We will keep working to improve in those areas.” Turner said playing a Saturday home game against a nonconference opponent was exactly what Stagg needed to secure its first victory of the season. The Chargers led the game from the opening tip and dominated on the glass against the Pride as they held a 36-22 rebounding edge. Abed again paced Stagg with nine points, but this time 10 other Chargers scored as well. Senior forward Katie Dwyer led the rebounding with six boards, while DiGiacomo, Hayley Gartner and Erin O’Leary each collected five. “What a difference from our prior game in terms of rebounding,” Turner said. “It was nice to get everyone involved on the offensive end and get them some significant playing time. Freshman guard Jaime Ryan scored points in her varsity debut and should really help us out [by] putting the ball in the net.” Stagg went 14-of-19 at the freethrow line and has been better with dribble penetration into the lane the last couple of games. “Hopefully, we can continue on with this type of effort on both ends of the floor at the upcoming Hillcrest Holiday Classic,” Turner said. Kara Shimko led Peace with 13 points and Allie Herman tossed in four.

QUEEN OF PEACE Besides their loss to Stagg, the Pride also fell to Reavis (66-43) last Monday. They did, however, slip past De La Salle (34-26) in a Tuesday Girls Catholic Athletic Conference contest. Herman (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Shimko (11 points) were Peace’s leaders versus the Rams. The Pride trailed 23-2 at the outset but climbed back to within 28-15 midway through the second quarter. The height supplied by the 6-foot Herman and 5-10 Erin Foley (five rebounds) helped spur the comeback although Peace could never overtake Reavis. Shimko’s five 3s and 19 points were the catalysts for the Pride (4-8) against the Meteors. Coach George Shimko also credited a couple other players for filling key roles. “Abby Bennett, our starting point guard, did a great job of providing tempo and playing excellent defense against DLS’s formidable point guard,” he said. “Mary Keenan battled all night long against DLS’s 6-7 center, grabbing clutch rebounds and loose basketballs against a young lady who weighed twice as much as her.” Herman contributed six points for Peace and Sarah Spencer came off the bench to energize the Pride on defense while scoring four points on two layups. Peace received additional help from Ashley Murphy, Amber Andersen and Ciarra Juggan. CHICAGO CHRISTIAN The Knights captured two Metro Suburban Conference victories last week to improve to 6-0 in league play while upping their season record to 7-4. Chicago Christian defeated Elmwood Park 35-27 last Tuesday as Emily Lemmenes (nine points) and Leah Kamp (eight) were the primary scorers. In the team’s 48-38 win over Timothy Christian on Saturday, Lemmenes poured in 17 points to lead the way. MARIST Dajae Black netted 13 points and Julia Ruzevich scored 12 to boost the RedHawks to a thrilling 56-52 overtime win over Resurrection last Monday. Marist improved to 8-3 with the triumph. SHEPARD Hillcrest handed the Astros a 65-27 setback in the South Suburban Conference crossover on Thursday. Abby Newsome had eight points for Shepard (2-7, 1-3). EVERGREEN PARK Lemont beat the Mustangs 39-29 in an SSC crossover last Thursday.

Moraine athletics wrap

Cyclones get it Wright By Maura Vizza Wright College proved to be the right stuff for Moraine Valley College when it came to the latter enjoying pre-holiday success. Both Cyclones basketball teams faced off against the Rams last Thursday and each emerged triumphant. For the women a 79-69 victory meant they could put behind them a loss to Malcolm X College the previous week in which Moraine had early control of the game before faltering. In the win over Wright College -- a future regional playoff opponent -- Moraine wasted no time establishing itself as it raced out to a 21-2 lead. The Rams recovered from the early blast

but still trailed by 15 (38-23) at the contest’s midway point. They never got closer than seven points over the last 20 minutes. Sandburg graduate Rachel Ruzevich had been mired in a shooting slump, but no signs of that were evident here as she hit 5-of-10 3-point shots and finished with a team-high 21 points. Nariman Jaber added a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds and also blocked three shots. Getting her first start after coming over from the volleyball squad, Jessica Chaput nearly posted her own double-double before settling for a 15-point, nine-rebound stat line. She also rejected a Wright College shot. Sharnita Breeze supplied the Cyclones with a fourth double-digit

scorer as she tossed in 10 points to go along with seven boards. MEN’S BASKETBALL The Cyclones had stopped a slide by beating Malcolm X the week before and they started an actual winning streak by downing Wright College 71-64 last Thursday behind another strong performance from Evergreen Park alumnus Brian Townsend (15 points, nine rebounds, three steals). Backing Townsend in a balanced Moraine attack were Sandburg product Niko Cahue (14 points, five rebounds), DJ Deere (10 points, six assists, two steals), Nick Bal (nine points, two assists, two steals) and Ermias Nega (seven points, six rebounds, three assists).

The Regional News - The Reporter

Trinity sports report

Trolls stuck in downward cycle By Amy Strong The Christmas break may be a more welcome sight than usual for some Trinity Christian College athletes. Besides basking in the joy of the holiday season, the Trolls are probably happy to be stepping away from the recent pain of the basketball season. As Trinity entered a brief down period it did so on a downward cycle as both its men’s and women’s teams went 0-3 in recent encounters, four of the defeats coming against Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foes. Neither team got embarrassed; in fact five of the six losses were by single digits. That included the Trolls men’s 70-61 setback versus NAIA Division II No. 22-ranked Cardinal Stritch last Tuesday at DeVos Gymnasium. The Wolves women, ranked sixth in the country, produced the only wide margin of victory as they rolled over Trinity 59-40 that same night. The Trolls men were fighting an uphill battle as they trailed by 15 at halftime before narrowing the gap when the second half commenced. Stritch, which closed the opening half with a 13-2 run, dominated inside with a total of 40 points tallied in the paint and the visitors also prospered at the foul line, where they outpointed Trinity by 18. The Trolls avoided a blowout by connecting 13 times from behind the 3-point arc. Six of those were delivered in the first 10 minutes of the second half and drew Trinity within 47-44. The Wolves recovered from the blitz, however, and eventually rebuilt their lead to double figures. Two Jared Jones free throws had the Trolls back within seven in the final minute, but the score would get no closer. Those were the only points Jones didn’t score from 3-point territory as he nailed six long balls and ended with a team-high 20 points. Cody Rhorer (13 points, five rebounds) and Trey Johnson (10 points) were Trinity’s other primary scorers. Logan Vos’ six boards paced the rebounding effort. The Trolls actually outshot Stritch from the field (46 percent to 39), but the Wolves were superior at the stripe (75 percent to 55). *** In its final outing before Christmas Trinity (5-10, 1-4) got tagged with a 70-63 loss by Judson University last Thursday in Elgin. The game essentially was a tale of two halves, the first of which was controlled by the Eagles, who constructed a 20-point halftime cushion. The Trolls netted just two points in the first five minutes, slipped behind by 10 and closed out the 20-minute session with only 20 points. After Judson began the second half with a basket, Trinity caught fire and went on an 18-6 tear. With 6:50 to go the differential was single digits, but a three-minute dry spell proved costly to the Trolls as they soon were chasing 12 points. However, Trinity refused to go down without a fight and it was back to within two (62-60) at the 1:30 mark before the rally died out. The Trolls remained in the hunt despite hitting just 43 percent of their field-goal attempts, compared to the Eagles’ 54 percent success rate. Trinity also got out-rebounded (32-18), although it was slightly better at the free-throw line (73 percent to 71). Rhorer was the Trolls’ ringleader with 20 points and seven steals. Jones tossed in 12 points and Ryan Tubbs’ four rebounds was Trinity’s top performance in that category. *** The Saturday before the Trolls fell short of Spring Arbor (Mich.) in a nonconference road game. Trinity lost 69-64. Five ties occurred in the first eight minutes, but Spring Arbor was ahead 32-29 at the break. The Trolls broke from the second-half gate with a 13-3 charge, but the Cougars answered with a run of their own that created another deadlock at 45-all. After Spring Arbor constructed a nine-point edge, two Trinity 3s drew the visitors within four with under two minutes remaining. A pair of Jones free throws kept the margin at four at the 28-second

mark and Caleb Jonkman followed with a 3-pointer, but the Cougars sank two charity tosses of their own to hang on for the victory. Jones had 14 points for Trinity, which hit 12-of-30 from 3-point territory but posted an overall field-goal percentage of just 42. It hit 72 percent of its foul shots. Johnson totaled 13 points and eight rebounds, Jonkman scored 11 points, Tubbs distributed eight assists and Joe Hehir set up four other Trolls baskets. Trinity’s next game is a CCAC clash at Purdue University-North central on Jan. 3 at 3 p.m. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The Trolls’ experience with Cardinal Stritch was made more difficult by a 29 percent success rate from the field, which rendered somewhat meaningless Trinity’s own good defense that held the Wolves to 37 percent shooting. The Trolls (6-9, 2-3) bettered Stritch at the foul line (75 percent to 67). The two teams jockeyed for position over the first 13 minutes before the Wolves used a 13-3 run to break free. Stritch was up 31-21 at intermission and then benefited from a Trinity dry spell -- the Trolls netted only five more points in the first nine minutes of the second half and fell in arrears by 21. Rebecca DeHaan tallied 10 points and Caitlin Cody added seven points and five rebounds for Trinity in a losing cause. Kelsie Foster matched Cody’s effort on the glass while scoring five points. *** The Trolls were within a point of Judson with a minute to go last Thursday but were unable to sink another shot. The Eagles nailed one free throw to finalize a 67-65 verdict in their favor. Trinity fell into three double-digit holes during the opening half -- two of them 12-point deficits -- but were within seven (39-32) by halftime. Four minutes into the second half the Trolls were in front, thanks to a 10-0 surge. Over the ensuing 13 minutes there were several ties and neither club enjoyed much of an advantage. Cody (17 points, five rebounds, four assists), Foster (11 points) and Maria Reinhard (10) were the top performers for Trinity, which shot 38 percent from the floor and 67 percent at the line compared to Judson’s respective figures of 36 and 71. The key statistic was rebounding, where the Eagles held a decisive 47-32 edge. *** Trinity’s nonconference loss was doled out by Goshen (Ind.) College, which collected a 7770 triumph on Dec. 13 in Palos Heights. Outside of holding an early 7-5 lead, the Trolls were pretty much in chase mode the entire evening. They trailed by 13 following a three-minute scoring drought, but Trinity’s defense stepped forward to limit the Maple Leafs to five points over the last six minutes of the first half and prevent the visitors from running away and hiding. Goshen was up 40-32 at halftime and used a 7-2 spurt to increase its lead, but with four double-digit scorers in their midst the Trolls weren’t going to just fade away. Trinity got within 59-57 at the seven-minute mark, then bit into a 70-60 Maple Leafs advantage with nine unanswered points, six of them delivered by Foster on a pair of long-range baskets. Goshen, though, buried some free throws near the end to seal the deal for itself. Foster finished with 15 points on five 3s and grabbed six rebounds. Also chipping in for the Trolls were Lauren Stokes (12 points, five rebounds), Celina Wanta (11 points, six rebounds), Olivia Schipper (10 points), DeHaan (eight rebounds, five assists) and Holly Boetsma (five assists). The Trolls struggled from both the field (36 percent) and the stripe (57 percent) and got out-rebounded by five (46-41). The Maple Leafs hit 43 percent of their field-goal tries and 79 percent of their free throws. Trinity returns to action Jan. 7 when it hosts St. Xavier University in a CCAC matchup.

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Thursday, December 25, 2014 Section 2

Chock full of success RedHawks make most of jam-packed slate By Ken Karrson Nine games between Dec. 2 and Dec. 19. To many, such a schedule might seem to border on insanity. Detractors would claim basketball is not a sport designed to be played in bunches, at least not if success means anything. Marist coach Gene Nolan, however, doesn’t agree with that sentiment. And as proof it can be done without consequences he need look no further than his own team. The RedHawks weren’t perfect while making their way through that jam-packed schedule, but they weren’t far off, either. Only two losses were suffered, neither of them happening last week as Marist won three times, including once in East Suburban Catholic Conference play. That Friday night meeting with ESCC newcomer Marian Central Catholic in Woodstock definitely tested the RedHawks’ mettle, though. Not only did Marist have a long journey to make, but it was operating in depleted form at crunch time as Jeremiah Ferguson was weakened by illness and Chamar Hawkins was the victim of a fifth foul. Without their two top scorers and defenders and facing a slight deficit, the RedHawks’ prospects did not look good. But Marist managed to tally the game’s final eight points and register a hard-fought 54-50 victory. That followed two more wins in the RedHawks’ holiday tournament: 62-38 over Gage Park on Tuesday and 55-39 over Leyden on Wednesday. But it was the conquest of the Hurricanes that most impressed Nolan. “It’s great for a team when you can learn how to win in a variety of ways,” he said. “I thought we were outstanding defensively late in the game.” Actually, Marist (11-2, 2-0) was pretty good in that regard throughout the evening. Evidence of that could be found in the point totals of Marian Central guards Adam Pischke and Wyatt Lindell, who had torched Marian Catholic with a combined 57 points in a 12-point Hurri-

canes victory one week earlier and sunk 60 3-pointers between them in their team’s first eight contests. Against the RedHawks those numbers dropped to 25 combined points and two 3s. “The best way to predict future performance is by past performances,” Nolan said. “You want to take away the knowns and let the unknowns [try to] beat you.” That nearly happened as Marian Central overcame the scoring drop-off from its backcourt to be tied at halftime and ahead 37-31 heading into the final stanza. The Hurricanes were in decent shape even though they had watched Marist open the game with 3-point baskets from five different players during the first quarter. Hawkins was not one of those players and he was held to two points through three periods, but he finally came to life in the fourth as he racked up 13 points before fouling out. Two three-point plays were part of his production, as was a 3point bucket. After he departed, Malik Parker hit a floater to bring the RedHawks within a deuce and then Brian Barry drilled a go-ahead 3-ball after Maurice Commander drew a double-team and then got the ball to his teammate. Commander joined Hawkins in double figures with 12 points, 10 of which were provided before halftime. Marist shot 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arc. Although it’d be easy to say the RedHawks handled all their assignments well enough to win far more often than not, Nolan admitted he wondered whether he should have called more practices and opted for a few less games. He doesn’t regret dealing with the hectic schedule, however. “I always feel games are a great learning tool because you can go back and see what you did [in a competitive setting],” Nolan said. “This year was different, but I’ve always said if you’ve got a group of kids who can bring it, they’re going to bring it, whether it’s 14 days [off between games] or backto-back-to-back nights. “It was a good start to the first

semester and I think we’ve developed some mental toughness that’s going to help us down the road.” Marist finally got a break as it doesn’t begin play in the Centralia Tournament until Monday. Marist 62 Gage Park 38 Tuesday’s game was over almost immediately as the RedHawks outscored the Owls 19-0 in the first quarter and never wavered. Marist forced nine turnovers in those eight minutes. “We played a very good quarter defensively,” Nolan said. “When you win that [turnover] battle, especially early in the game, it’s good.” So, too, was the involvement of everybody on the roster, save for Ferguson, who sat out because of the flu. Every other RedHawk scored. “We always say, ‘Good teams have good players, but great teams have great teammates,’” Nolan said. “We use terms like ‘we,’ ‘us’ and ‘ours,’ and we try to promote teamwork. Games like this do make us better [in that respect].” Nolan was as thrilled with the camaraderie shown as he was the win itself. He pointed to the way his regulars cheered Marist’s subs when they were on the court and how the former got a greater feel for what it’s like watching game action from the bench. “It connects you in terms of developing your team,” Nolan said. Only Kyle Reynolds (11 points, nine rebounds) tallied in double digits, but Commander and Andre Hardin both contributed nine points and Hawkins finished with eight, all of them in the first half. Hawkins and Commander also combined for six steals. Marist shot 54 percent and was guilty of just 10 miscues, 13 fewer than the Owls. Marist 55 Leyden 39 Never before Wednesday had a Nolan-coached club squared off with the Eagles, but Marist asserted itself with a 19-4 run that bridged the first and second periods. The first part of that blitz was a 7-0 surge that concluded the

opening frame and featured two Hawkins steals and a pair of assists as Ferguson and Reynolds both scored after them. A later 8-0 spurt was highlighted by a couple of on-the-ball steals by Commander, both of which he turned into layups for himself. Leyden was within eight by the end of the third quarter but would get no closer, thanks to Marist’s 62 percent shooting over the last eight minutes. “We had great, long possessions,” Nolan said. “The longer the possessions, [the more] their principals defensively are going to break down. I felt if we could get the lead in double digits in the fourth quarter, it would seem like more [to the Eagles].” Hawkins notched nine of his 11 points in the fourth period. He complemented his scoring with eight rebounds and four steals. Commander added 11 point and four assists, while Reynolds pitched in with 10 points and six boards. Marist wound up with 11 turnovers, eight fewer than Leyden. Nine of the Eagles’ mistakes occurred in the second stanza.

Statistics Gage Park Marist

0 13 16 9 — 38 19 20 12 11 — 62

Marist Scoring: Reynolds 11, Commander 9, Hardin 9, Hawkins 8, Dunican 6, Lerma 6, Hill 5, Weaver 4, Parker 3, Barry 1. Rebounds: Reynolds 9. Assists: Commander 5. Assists: Commander 5. Steals: Commander 3, Hawkins 3, Lerma 3. Leyden Marist

9 7 12 11 — 39 12 15 9 19 — 55

Marist Scoring: Commander 11, Hawkins 11, Reynolds 10, Barry 6, Ferguson 6, Lerma 6, Hardin 2, Hill 2, Parker 1. Rebounds: Hawkins 8, Reynolds 6. Assists: Barry 4, Commander 4. Steals: Hill 3. Marist 19 6 6 23 — 54 Marian Central 15 10 12 13 — 50 Marist Scoring: Hawkins 15, Commander 12, Parker 7, Barry 6, Hill 5, Lerma 3, Reynolds 3, Weaver 3. Rebounds: Reynolds 9. Assists: Barry 3, Commander 3. Steals: Hawkins 3.

Positive reinforcements Catledge plays well in return to Bulldogs’ varsity By Ken Karrson

teors at 42-37. Three minutes were still left, Having gotten a substantial but TF North fended off the amount of varsity playing time comeback bid by nailing eight as a freshman, Jaylen Catledge free throws in the remaining likely expected to be part of time. Christian Johnson (19 Richards’ opening-night roster points, 13 rebounds), Sadiq this fall. Salisu (10 points) and Cecil First-year coach Jevon Ma- Williams all delivered at the mon had other ideas, however. stripe for the Meteors. “I felt it would be best for The foul shots helped pin a him, for some maturity rea- loss on the Bulldogs, but Masons and other things, to stay mon cited other contributors to with the sophomores,” Mamon the downfall. Richards’ 1-of-10 said. “Quite honestly, I don’t marksmanship from 3-point know how happy he was being land certainly didn’t help nor down on the sophomore level, did 20 turnovers. but he’s done everything we’ve Also harmful were two asked him to do. He’s here [now] lengthy scoreless stretches and going to work out [for us].” and TF North’s dominance on Catledge’s reintroduction to the offensive glass. That latvarsity play came Friday night ter area featured the Meteors against TF North. While his netting 10 second-chance points team-high eight points and six before halftime and gathering rebounds weren’t enough to in 11 more possession-extending save the Bulldogs from a 48- rebounds after the break. 37 South Suburban Conference “We’re a young team that’s crossover loss at D-Wade Court, still learning,” Mamon said. “We Catledge reminded everyone know it’s a process and it’s goof his athleticism by throwing ing to take some time [to make down a monstrous fourth-quar- every necessary improvement], ter dunk that brought Richards but we have to be more aggres(4-4, 1-3) within five of the Me- sive on the boards.”

As for the long dry spells, one that lasted over 4 ½ minutes during the second period prevented the Bulldogs from building on a 14-9 first-quarter lead. TF North outscored Richards 19-4 in the session to assume a 10-point advantage. “When we were attacking [on offense], we were much better,” Mamon said. “We would make those plays and it would feed our defensive energy. We had spurts where we defended well and got some points in transition. “I knew things wouldn’t [always] be fluid, but it has a lot to do with us not getting to our spots and executing. We’re still working on [developing] consistency and we just didn’t play as well we would have liked [overall]” The Bulldogs’ other drought bridged the third and fourth stanzas and lasted nearly five minutes. By the time Richards regrouped it was staring at a double-digit deficit that was unable to be completely erased. Senior Spencer Tears tossed in seven points for the Bulldogs, but Mamon said to expect

more from Catledge and fellow sophomore Aaron Smith, who was also called up for Friday’s contest. “I wasn’t shy about playing them at all,” Mamon said. “I’m not bringing these guys up to sit. They have to earn their playing time, but I think that will spark competition on the team and make guys work harder to stay on the floor.” Richards enters a tournament at Kankakee on Friday. While Mamon isn’t placing a lot of emphasis on the results there, he said the Bulldogs’ “best basketball is ahead of us.” “I remain confident in what we do,” he said. “And when it gets there look out. I think this group of kids has talent and we’re just ironing out the kinks.”

Statistics TF North Richards

9 19 10 1 0 — 48 14 4 7 12 — 37

Richards Scoring: Catledge 8, Tears 7. Rebounds: Catledge 6.

Community Sports News Marist holding baseball-football camp Marist will host a two-day combination baseball-football camp on Monday and Tuesday from 3-6 p.m. The free event is open to boys in grades 7 and 8. RedHawks baseball coach Kevin Sefcik will focus on batting while football coach Pat Dunne will work on speed and agility, plus position-specific skills. Sessions for each sport will run 90 minutes. Campers should wear comfortable athletic clothing and gym shoes and bring a water bottle. Parents should register their child in advance at www.marist.net. For more information, call Sefcik at (773) 881-5315 or Dunne at (773) 881-5332. Split decision for Evergreen bowlers Jacob Ottenfeld’s 245 high game and 468 series helped Evergreen Park’s boys’ bowling team defeat TF South 1,867-1,807 at Arena Lanes. The win over the Rebels,

who were paced by Andre Holden (212; 415), ensured the Mustangs of a break-even week. Richards beat Evergreen 1,9701,739 in a South Suburban Conference Red match at Arena Lanes. Shaun Quinn (244 high game, 434 series) topped the Mustangs while AJ Balich (228; 451) led the Bulldogs.

season and is accepting registration to fill them. For more information, contact Chris Bogner at bognerc@hotmail. com or Scott Ladewig at sladelaw@ sbcglobal.net or visit the PBO website.

top individual score. Shaun Quinn was Evergreen’s ringleader against the Argonauts as he claimed both high-series (445 for two games) and high-game (223) honors. Nick Tonika bowled a 205 high game and 353 series for Argo. Quinn also doubled up for the Evergreen bowlers Mustangs in their loss to the Rams take two of three as he finished with a 466 series and Three McAuley athletes After dropping an 88-pin South 253 high game. Reavis’ Jason Barmake college choices Suburban Conference Red verdict rios was five pins shy of matching Three Mother McAuley softball to Reavis last Tuesday at Arena Quinn’s best game, but the former players made their college choices Lanes, Evergreen Park’s boys’ rolled the top series with his 474. official in mid-December. bowling team rebounded to post Emily Rux will attend the Uni- a winning record for the week as Vikings join Bears’ Allen versity of Wisconsin-Whitewater, it defeated Hinsdale Central (2,724Members of St. Laurence’s footNicole Majewski is headed to Loras 2,609) and Argo (1,683-1,616). ball team recently joined Chicago College in Iowa and Worth resident The latter match, played at Arena Bears defensive lineman Jared AlMaryssa Vela plans to enroll at Wis- Lanes, was another SSC Red affair. len in volunteering their time for consin-Stevens Point next fall. Five The Red Devils were a nonconfer- veterans of armed services. other Mighty Macs student-athletes ence foe that met the Mustangs The meeting with St. Laurence announced their college intentions at Suburbanite Bowl in Westmont. students wasn’t Allen’s first. A few earlier in the fall. Jacob Ottenfeld paced Evergreen members of the school’s Sports versus Hinsdale as he rolled a 637 Management Club saw him at a PBO still accepting registration series. Producing the day’s high commercial shoot for Proctor and for 2015 game was the Mustangs’ Isaiah Gamble, where they also got a Palos Baseball Organization still Colon, who registered a 247, three behind-the-scenes look at how the has player openings for the 2015 pins better than the Red Devils’ commercial was made.

6 Section 2 Thursday, December 25, 2014 The Regional News - The Reporter SXU sports summary

Honors keep coming for football players

It’s fan-tastic The St. Rita student section was in a patriotic mood before the start of the game.

Calipari sighting The coach of the No. 1 men’s college basketball team in the nation, Kentucky’s John Calipari, stopped by the Moraine Valley gym to keep tabs on his recruit, Charles Matthews of St. Rita.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Bench bunch The St. Rita bench was up and down Friday night during the Mustangs’ upset of Simeon.

You are here Moraine Valley College’s new Health and Fitness Center hosted a nationally televised basketball game between two of Illinois’ top high school teams Friday night.

Getting ready Mike Meyer of Palos Heights sets up a camera more than six hours before tip-off of Friday night’s ESPN2 game between Simeon and St. Rita.

While St. Xavier University didn’t play for the NAIA championship last weekend, members of its football team continued to be recognized for their efforts during the 2014 campaign. Once again senior defensive lineman Greg Hayward was feted, this time for both on-field play and academics. In regard to the former, the Oak Lawn alumnus earned a spot on the 25-member American Football Coaches Association NAIA Coaches All-America team. “Greg ranks as one of the very best defensive linemen in the history of our program and being named to the AFCA NAIA All-America team simply puts an exclamation point on a tremendous career,” Cougars coach Mike Feminis said. “He was an absolutely dominant player who brought an incredible work ethic and intensity every day to practice and then carried it through every Saturday. “However, as great as he was on the field Greg is also a fantastic student and character-wise as good as I’ve ever coached. He’s going to be nearly impossible to replace.” On the academic side Hayward joined senior linebacker Alex Walters and junior linebacker Jacek Wesolowski in being named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. The trio was among 319 NAIA football players nationwide to receive the honor. To be considered for the Daktronics award a student-athlete must be nominated by his head coach or the school’s sports information director, have achieved at least junior academic status and maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Hayward has a 3.868 GPA while majoring in criminal justice, Walters carries a 3.67 GPA in finance and Wesolowski’s GPA is at 3.607 as he works toward a degree in nursing. “All three of these young men have my utmost respect,” Feminis said. “They possess the dedication and discipline it takes to excel both on the football field and in the classroom. They truly define the term ‘student-athlete’ and I’m very proud that they are being recognized for it.” *** Selected to the NAIA Coaches All-America second team were senior wide receiver Nick DeBenedetti and sophomore offensive lineman Kevin Lonergan (Oak Lawn). DeBenedetti finished the 2014 season with 82 catches for 990 yards and nine touchdowns. In addition, he was SXU’s top returning specialist this fall as he ran back 28 kickoffs for 593 yards (21.3-yard average) and 22 punts for 294 yards (13.4) and a touchdown. DeBenedetti finished third on the team in total scoring with 66 points with 11 TDs. For his career DeBenedetti ranks No. 5 all-time in Cougars annals with 218 receptions, No. 6 in touchdown catches (24) and No. 7 in receiving yards (2,591). Lonergan helped lead an explosive offense that ranked No. 6 in the NAIA in total offense (456.8 yards per game) and No. 8 nationally in points-pergame average (38.1). SXU also ranked No. 15 in the NAIA in fewest sacks allowed (1.2 per game).

had difficulty finding its range. While a 41 percent accuracy rate from the floor wasn’t terrible, the same couldn’t be said of a 2-of-20 showing from long distance. The Cougars had canned 14of-21 3s versus the Eagles. “We were not the same team,” said SXU coach Tom O’Malley, who suspected that his athletes were still savoring the conquest of Robert Morris a bit too much. “Roosevelt’s no slouch,” he said. “I think our kids look at certain things and count their chickens before they’re hatched. Our guys thought they were [very] good after beating Robert Morris, but we can’t afford to let down at any time [or] at any place.” When reminded that overconfidence is not unnatural among people following a significant achievement, O’Malley said the Cougars shouldn’t have fallen victim to it if that was indeed the case. “It’s not my human nature,” he said. “You look at every game as one you’ve got to play [well].” O’Malley could have lived with SXU’s sub-par shooting had the Lakers been cowed into some of their own. But while Roosevelt’s field-goal percentage stayed under 50, it was still superior to the Cougars’ by eight points. “You can always miss some shots, but you’ve got to be consistent on defense,” O’Malley said. “Roosevelt slowed it down and got everything they wanted.” The contest was a back-andforth affair early on. SXU used a 7-0 run that was capped by Tony Core’s layup to establish its first lead, then the hosts clawed their way back from an eight-point deficit to create a 32-all tie on Larry Motzius’ free throw with a minute to go before halftime. Tyree York’s 3-pointer handed the Lakers a 35-34 edge at the break, but neither club could gain much of a foothold through the first 13 minutes of the second half. Finally, two free throws by Joe Harks (game-high 27 points) snapped a 56-all tie with 7:01 remaining and put Roosevelt ahead to stay. Those charity tosses were the start of a 10-2 surge that seemingly put the visitors in control, but a layup by Stanley Moore (team-best 20 points, four assists, two steals) drew the Cougars within five with 2:43 left. SXU would get no closer, though, as the Lakers made the foul line their ally down the stretch by picking up 11 points from there in the last two minutes. Jack Krieger backed Moore with 18 points and six boards. While O’Malley admitted he was “kind of surprised” by the outcome, he felt SXU hurt itself by getting away from the things it did well in vanquishing Robert Morris. “I don’t think we ran the ball where we needed [to get the best shots],” O’Malley said. “I don’t think we took any bad shots, but we were quick to take them.” And when some of them didn’t fall, O’Malley said many of his “It’s a great honor for Nick key offensive players had trouand Kevin to receive All-Amerible shrugging off the misses. can recognition along with Greg “That starts playing with -- both are very deserving,” Femyour mind if you’re not making inis said. “Nick did everything them,” he said. “But anybody for us and we tried to get him that’s a shooter has to forget the ball as much as possible. He about it because you can’t go caught a ton of passes, ran reback. And if you’re thinking verses for us, threw a few passes about the last shot, probably and was also a dangerous punt the next one you take won’t and kick returner. About the be very good, either.” only thing he didn’t do was sell The Cougars began play in popcorn. “It’s hard to believe that Kev- their annual holiday tournain is only a sophomore because ment this past Sunday against he plays like a senior. Kevin No. 6-ranked Davenport (Mich.) started as a true freshman for University. Four other teams us and will just continue to get were part of the field and games better and better. We’re lucky were also scheduled for Monday to have him for another two and Tuesday at the Shannon Center. -- Ken Karrson years.”

coach Bob Hallberg. “We got off to very slow start and didn’t play anywhere close to our first win of the tournament [an 81-55 victory over Dickinson State University on Friday],” he said. “We played tentative and therefore put ourselves in a big hole. I needed to wake the troops up.” Whatever Hallberg said during the break made an impression as No. 4-ranked SXU bounced back in the second half and had opportunities to forge a tie in the final minute. It couldn’t complete the rally, however, and had to deal with an 83-77 loss to the Mustangs. But at least Hallberg was no longer discontent. “You have to take the positives out of a game like that,” he said. “We proved that we can not only play against a top-rated team but also that we’re capable of beating a top-rated team. This is a game that we needed to prepare us for what we will face at the national tournament. “It was a great comeback effort after being down [by] as much as 19 points in the first half. We played a much more effective second half with a much higher confidence level. We came all the way back against the No. 1 undefeated team, [so] we just have to continue to put it all together.” The Cougars (11-2) cut the lead to 79-77 on a pair of free throws by senior forward Morgan Stuut with 33 seconds to play and then got the ball back on a Morningside turnover. Unfortunately for SXU, its next two shot attempts did not fall and the Mustangs sealed the win with free throws. “We miss[ed] an uncontested layup that would have tied the game,” Hallberg said. “That’s how close the game was down the stretch.” The trio of Stuut, freshman Kara Krolicki and senior Suzie Broski carried the load for the Cougars. Stuut shot an impressive 9-of-13 from the field while leading all scorers with 21 points. Krolicki sank five 3-pointers en route to 19 points and Broski chipped in 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. SXU clicked on 48 percent of its field-goal attempts, which included a 10-of-22 effort from beyond the arc. However, the Mustangs were dominant on the boards as they out-rebounded the Cougars 49-25. Twenty-four of Morningside’s rebounds came on the offensive end and resulted in 23 second-chance points for it. The loss snapped a nine-game win streak for SXU. *** On Friday the Cougars jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back as they defeated Dickinson State (N.D.) University. Krolicki had the hot hand for SXU as she used three 3s to key a 17-point output. The Cougars’ stout defensive effort helped construct their big advantage as they limited the Bluehawks to just 25 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers, 14 of those coming off steals. SXU took over the game quickly as it tallied 28 of the first 34 points. Things didn’t get better for Dickinson State, either, as it managed only one field goal in the last seven minutes of the half and finished 4-of-28.

The Cougars were ahead 3914 at intermission and got up by as many as 39 points during the second half. Broski finished with 14 points, while sophomore guard Sidney Prasse chipped in 11. Junior forward Caitlin McMahon just missed a double-double effort with nine points and a teambest 11 rebounds. “Those are the games you enjoy, where you can get a lot of people playing time,” Hallberg said. “But you don’t learn as much out of a Dickerson State game as you do in a Morningside game [as far as] how to prepare to play great teams. “So far our only losses have been to the No. 1- and No. 3-ranked teams in the counWOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEN’S BASKETBALL try, so we have nothing to The Cougars couldn’t take be ashamed of right now. We A five-game, nearly monthlong unbeaten streak came to down No. 1, but they made learned so much from this trip an end last Thursday as the sure Morningside (Iowa) College -- some valuable lessons” NAIA No. 15-ranked Cougars sweated for reasons other than dropped a 76-64 Chicagoland the Hawaiian heat on Saturday. SXU doesn’t take the court SXU didn’t always hang with again until Sunday when it hosts Collegiate Athletic Conference St. Rita senior Myles Carter throws decision to Roosevelt University its top-ranked NAIA foe at the a two-day holiday tournament at down a dunk in his team’s win over at the Shannon Center. Hoop ‘N’ Surf Classic in Hono- the Shannon Center. The first Simeon Friday night in a game at Five days after scoring 115 lulu -- the Cougars, in fact, were game is against Viterbo (Wis.) Moraine Valley that was broadcast points to knock off Robert Mor- down 16 points at halftime. That University at 1 p.m. —Anthony on ESPN2. ris University, SXU (8-3, 3-2) was enough to upset even-keeled Nasella

Dunk you very much

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Thursday, December 25, 2014 Section 2

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, I L L I N O I S COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FIRST MIDWEST BANK, AS SUCCESSOR IN I N T E R E S T ) TO PALOS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY; Plaintiff, v s . STEVEN J. ZEBROWSKI, AN INDIVIDUAL; C A R O L Y N M. ZEBROWSKI, AN INDIVIDUAL; SKYLINE, INC., AN ILLINOIS CORPORATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS; NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; UNKNOWN TENANTS AND OCCUPANTS; Defendants, 13 CH 3828 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Friday, January 16, 2015, at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: Commonly known as 12920 South Mason Avenue, Palos Heights, IL 60463. P.I.N. 24-32-205-003-0000. The mortgaged real estate is a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: Bidders must present, at the time of sale, a cashier's or certified check for 10% of the successful bid amount. The balance of the successful bid shall be paid within 24 hours, by similar funds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Stephen G. Daday at Plaintiff's Attorney, Klein, Daday, Aretos & O'Donoghue, LLC, 2550 West Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008. (847) 590-8700. INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I637416

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, I L L I N O I S COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS T R U S T E E , SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF A M E R I C A , NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE AS S U C C E S S O R BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF BEAR STEARNS A S S E T BACKED SECURITIES I LLC, ASSET BACKEDCERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-EC1 Plaintiff, v s . THERESA POSPISIL; DAVID POSPISIL Defendants, 13 CH 18345 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, January 12, 2015 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: Commonly known as 8812 West 103rd Place, Palos Hills, Il 60465. P.I.N. 23-15-202-008-0000. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 1 3 0 2 2 4 5 1 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I637369

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Chancery Division. Nationstar Mortgage LLC P l a i n t i f f , v s . Tricia Bradley aka Tricia Lynn Skowron aka Tricia Lynn Bradley; Michael Bradley aka Michael O. Bradley aka Michael Oliver Bradley; The Crystal Hills Condominium Association; Unknown Owners and Non-Record C l a i m a n t s D e f e n d a n t s , 13 CH 18494 Sheriff's # 140772 F13070021 NSTR Pursuant to a Judgment made and entered by said Court in the above entitled cause, Thomas J. Dart, Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, will on January 20, 2015, at 1pm in room LL06 of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction the following described premises and real estate mentioned in said Judgment: Common Address: 9120 West 95th Street, Apartment 3A, Hickory Hills, Illinois 60457 P.I.N: 23-03-400-037-1075 Improvements: This property consists of a Residential Condominium Unit. Sale shall be under the following terms: payment of not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the successful and highest bid to be paid to the Sheriff by cashier's check or certified funds at the sale; and the full remaining balance to be paid to the Sheriff by cashier's check or certified funds within twenty-four (24) hours after the sale. Sale shall be subject to general taxes, special a s s e s s m e n t s . Premise will NOT be open for inspection. The purchaser of a condominium unit, other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments as required by 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1) For information, contact the sales department, FREEDMAN ANSELMO LINDBERG LLC, 1771 W. Diehl Road, Suite 120, NAPERVILLE, IL 60563, (630) 453-6960 For bidding instructions, visit www.fal-illinois.com. Please refer to file number F13100372 CHOH. For bidding instructions, visit w w w . f a l - i l l i n o i s . c o m This is an attempt to collect a debt pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I631368

For Sale For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION QUICKEN LOANS, INC. Plaintiff, -v.ODAI KHUFFASH, KERI A. MARTINEZ, WESTRIDGE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 14 CH 05576 9831 NOTTINGHAM AVENUE, UNIT 14 Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 22, 2014, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 14, 2015, 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 9831 NOTTINGHAM AVENUE, UNIT 14, Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 Property Index No. 24-07-113-028-1014. The real estate is improved with a condominium. The judgment amount was $148,675.04. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certiÂżHG IXQGV DW WKH FORVH RI WKH VDOH SD\DEOH WR 7KH 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 WKH SXUFKDVHU QRW WR H[FHHG LQ FHUWLÂżHG 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 ,6 FRQGLWLRQ 7KH VDOH LV IXUWKHU VXEMHFW WR FRQÂżUmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purFKDVHU ZLOO UHFHLYH D &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 6DOH WKDW ZLOO entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate DIWHU FRQÂżUPDWLRQ RI WKH VDOH The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are DGPRQLVKHG WR FKHFN WKH FRXUW ÂżOH WR YHULI\ DOO LQformation. 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. <RX ZLOO QHHG D SKRWR LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ LVVXHG E\ D government agency (driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the VDPH LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ IRU VDOHV KHOG DW RWKHU FRXQW\ 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, 3OHDVH UHIHU WR ÂżOH QXPEHU & 98653. 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 Attorney File No. C14-98653 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 14 CH 05576 TJSC#: 34-17585 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 BANKFINANCIAL, FSB Plaintiff, -v.LINDA JARINA, BANKFINANCIAL, F.S.B., PALOS PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF JOYCE JARINA F/K/A JOYCE E. DAMON, LAURA ZOULEK, KEVIN R. JARINA, LENORE GOSLAWSKI, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF KENNETH J. JARINA, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, WILLIAM P. BUTCHER, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR JOYCE JARINA F/K/A JOYCE E. DAMON (DECEASED) Defendants 14 CH 005415 10561 PALOS PLACE UNIT C 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 August 28, 2014, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 6, 2015, 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 10561 PALOS PLACE UNIT C, PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-13-103-030-1027. The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse. Sale terms: 25% down RI WKH KLJKHVW ELG E\ FHUWLÂżHG IXQGV DW WKH FORVH 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 WR H[FHHG LQ FHUWLÂżHG IXQGV RU ZLUH WUDQVIHU 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;AS ISâ&#x20AC;? condition. The sale is IXUWKHU VXEMHFW WR FRQÂżUPDWLRQ E\ WKH FRXUW 8SRQ payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser ZLOO UHFHLYH D &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 6DOH WKDW ZLOO HQWLWOH the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after FRQÂżUPDWLRQ RI WKH VDOH 7KH SURSHUW\ ZLOO 127 be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the FRXUW ÂżOH WR YHULI\ DOO LQIRUPDWLRQ ,I WKLV SURSHUW\ 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 idenWLÂżFDWLRQ LVVXHG E\ D JRYHUQPHQW DJHQF\ GULYHUÂśV license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook &RXQW\ DQG WKH VDPH LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ IRU VDOHV KHOG at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For inIRUPDWLRQ H[DPLQH WKH FRXUW ÂżOH RU FRQWDFW 3ODLQWLIIÂśV DWWRUQH\ &2',/,6 $662&,$7(6 3 & 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please UHIHU WR ÂżOH QXPEHU 7+( -8',&,$/ 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 reSRUW RI SHQGLQJ VDOHV &2',/,6 $662&,$7(6 P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 Attorney File No. 14-14-04768 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 14 CH 005415 TJSC#: 34-15641 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are DGYLVHG WKDW 3ODLQWLIIÂśV DWWRUQH\ LV GHHPHG WR EH D debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I635915

For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO CHASE HOME FINANCE, LLC Plaintiff, -v.JEROME F. SAULINSKI, THE FOREST RIDGE AT WESTGATE VALLEY ELITE HOMES CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 10 CH 024099 13453 COVE COURT UNIT #52 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 20, 2014, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 22, 2015, 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 13453 COVE COURT UNIT #52, PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463 Property Index No. 24-32-300-063-1007, Property Index No. (24-32-300-057-1007 underlying). 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;AS ISâ&#x20AC;? 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 (driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-10-04676. 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 Attorney File No. 14-10-04676 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 10 CH 024099 TJSC#: 34-18804 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I638367

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;10 in the Parkâ&#x20AC;? For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO WELLS FARGO BANK SOUTHWEST, N.A. FKA WACHOVIA MORTGAGE, FSB FKA WORLD SAVINGS BANK, FSB Plaintiff, -v.WILLIAM P. PALAIMA A/K/A WILLIAM PALAIMA, YORKSHIRE ESTATES CONDOMINIUMS ASSOCIATION Defendants 14 CH 10307 7955 WEST 90TH STREET UNIT 3B HICKORY HILLS, IL 60457 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 3, 2014, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 27, 2015, 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 7955 WEST 90TH STREET UNIT 3B, HICKORY HILLS, IL 60457 Property Index No. 23-01-107-026-1024, Property Index No. 23-01-107-026-1046. The real estate is improved with a two story single family home; detached one car garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in â&#x20AC;&#x153;AS ISâ&#x20AC;? 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 (driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information: Visit our website at service. atty-pierce.com. between the hours of 3 and 5 pm. PIERCE & ASSOCIATES, Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300, CHICAGO, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 476-5500. Please refer to file number PA1404607. 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. PIERCE & ASSOCIATES One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300 CHICAGO, IL 60602 (312) 476-5500 Attorney File No. PA1404607 Attorney Code. 91220 Case Number: 14 CH 10307 TJSC#: 34-17473 I638014

For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, Illinois, County Department, Chancery Division. Citizens Financial Bank, Plaintiff, vs. Wolf Properties, LLC, Fathi Abdallah, Ibtisam Abdallah, Hani F. Abdallah, Ali H. Kutom, Ghassan Abdallah, Unknown Owners, Unknown Occupants, Unknown Tenants, and Non-Record Claimants, Defendants. 13 CH 21751; Sheriff's No. 140858-001F. Pursuant to a Judgment made and entered by said

For Sale

R e f . N o . 1 4 - 0 1 7 3 7 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF C O O K C O U N T Y, I L L I N O I S COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION C I T I M O R T G A G E , I N C . , P l a i n t i f f , v s . MICHAEL R. WHALEY A/K/A MICHAEL REYNARD WHALEY AND KARLENE M. W H A L E Y A / K / A K A R L E N E M I C H E L L E W H A L E Y, C I T I B A N K , N . A . , D e f e n d a n t s , 1 4 C H 9 6 5 5 C a l e n d a r 6 0 N O T I C E O F S A L E PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause on September 10, 2014, Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, January 12, 2015, at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: Commonly known as 6717 W. SHIAWASS I E D R . , PA L O S H E I G H T S , I L 6 0 4 6 3 . P. I . N . 24-30-415-015-0000. 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 within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. Ref. No. 14-01737 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION S e l l i n g O ff i c e r, ( 3 1 2 ) 4 4 4 - 11 2 2

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK C O U N T Y, I L L I N O I S C O U N T Y D E PA R T M E N T - C H A N C E R Y D I V I S I O N WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2004-FF4, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-FF4 P l a i n t i f f , v . SAWSON HADDAD A/K/A SAWSON R. HADDAD, RAJAEI HADDAD A/K/A RAJAEI J. HADDAD A/K/A RAY HADDAD, CHICAGO TITLE LAND TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE U/T/A DATED 1ST DAY OF APRIL, 1999 A/K/A TRUST NO. 1107004, INLAND BANK AND TRUST, MIDLAND FUNDING, LLC, INTEGRA BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, STATE OF ILLINOIS, UNKNOWN BENEFICIARIES OF CHICAGO TITLE LAND TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE U/T/A DATED 1ST DAY OF APRIL, 1999 A/K/A TRUST NO. 1107004, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS D e f e n d a n t s 1 1 C H 0 2 8 0 5 5 17128 POINTE DRIVE ORLAND PARK, IL 60467 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on November 15, 2012, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 15, 2015, 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 17128 POINTE DRIVE, ORLAND PARK, IL 60467 Property Index No. 27-29-313-003. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in â&#x20AC;&#x153;AS ISâ&#x20AC;? 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 (driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-11-18640. 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 Attorney File No. 14-11-18640 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 11 CH 028055 TJSC#: 34-20866 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I637239

For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, I L L I N O I S COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. P l a i n t i f f , v s . GHADA SHAABNAH; MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS NOMINEE F O R COUNTRYWIDE BANK, N.A.; D e f e n d a n t s , 10 CH 37060 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Friday, January 9, 2015 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: Commonly known as 10601 South 80th Court, Palos Hills, IL 60465. P.I.N. 23-14-217-037-0000. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 1 0 2 0 6 1 8 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I636092

ATTENTION Real Estate Brokers and Private Parties! Reach thousands by advertising on this page.

PUBLISHERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTICE All Real Estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise â&#x20AC;&#x153;any preference, limitation or discrimination.â&#x20AC;? 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.

Court in the above entitled cause, Thomas J. Dart, Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, will on February 2, 2015, at 1:00 P.M. in Room LL06 of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL, sell at public auction the following described premises and real estate mentioned in said Judgment: P.I.N.:

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something for everyone in the Classifieds!

27-32-101-009-0000.Address: 17831-49 Wolf Road, Orland Park, IL 60467.Improvements: The Property is non-residential and consists of a commercial retail strip center.Sale shall be under the following terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds.Sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments, and prior first mortgages. Premises will NOT be open for inspection. For information: Bryan E. Jacobson, Chapman and Cutler LLP, Plaintiff's Attorneys, 111 W. Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60603, Tel. No. 312-845-3000.This is an attempt to collect a debt pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.I637689

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are herby 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.

Section 2

Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Regional News - The Reporter

Real Estate

The Reporter Newspapers Deadline 5 p.m. Monday

For Sale

Hours M-F 9 to 5 Sat. 9 to Noon

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.WALDEMAR DZBIK, MONIKA DZBIK, SOUTH CENTRAL BANK, N.A., M&I BANK FSB Defendants 09 CH 024952 9720 MAPLE CREST COURT PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 7, 2014, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 9, 2015, 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 9720 MAPLE CREST COURT, PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-10-208-026. The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: 25% down RI WKH KLJKHVW ELG E\ FHUWLÂżHG IXQGV DW WKH FORVH RI 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 WR H[FHHG LQ FHUWLÂżHG IXQGV RU ZLUH WUDQVIHU 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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;AS ISâ&#x20AC;? condition. The sale is IXUWKHU VXEMHFW WR FRQÂżUPDWLRQ E\ WKH FRXUW 8SRQ payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser ZLOO UHFHLYH D &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 6DOH WKDW ZLOO HQWLWOH the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after FRQÂżUPDWLRQ RI WKH VDOH 7KH SURSHUW\ ZLOO 127 be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the FRXUW ÂżOH WR YHULI\ DOO LQIRUPDWLRQ ,I WKLV SURSHUW\ 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 ,/&6 J DQG J ,I WKLV SURSHUW\ LV D 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 3URSHUW\ $FW ,/&6 J ,) <28 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 idenWLÂżFDWLRQ LVVXHG E\ D JRYHUQPHQW DJHQF\ GULYHUÂśV license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook &RXQW\ DQG WKH VDPH LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ IRU VDOHV KHOG at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For inIRUPDWLRQ H[DPLQH WKH FRXUW ÂżOH RU FRQWDFW 3ODLQWLIIÂśV DWWRUQH\ &2',/,6 $662&,$7(6 3 & 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please UHIHU WR ÂżOH QXPEHU 7+( -8',&,$/ 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 Attorney File No. 14-09-16985 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 09 CH 024952 TJSC#: 34-18355 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are DGYLVHG WKDW 3ODLQWLIIÂśV DWWRUQH\ LV GHHPHG WR EH D debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I636450

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.JEFFREY M. THORNTON AKA JEFFREY THORNTON AKA JEFF M. THORNTON, SUSAN L. THORNTON AKA SUSAN THORNTON, BRIDGEVIEW BANK GROUP, CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A., UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 14 CH 8355 10108 SOUTH BUELL COURT Oak Lawn, IL 60453 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 14, 2014, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 15, 2015, 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 10108 SOUTH BUELL COURT, Oak Lawn, IL 60453 Property Index No. 24-09-315-031-0000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $139,709.47. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certiÂżHG IXQGV DW WKH FORVH RI WKH VDOH SD\DEOH WR 7KH 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 WKH SXUFKDVHU QRW WR H[FHHG LQ FHUWLÂżHG 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 ,6 FRQGLWLRQ 7KH VDOH LV IXUWKHU VXEMHFW WR FRQÂżUmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purFKDVHU ZLOO UHFHLYH D &HUWLÂżFDWH RI 6DOH WKDW ZLOO entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate DIWHU FRQÂżUPDWLRQ RI WKH VDOH The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are DGPRQLVKHG WR FKHFN WKH FRXUW ÂżOH WR YHULI\ DOO LQformation. If this property is a condominium unit, or a 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 and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). In accordance with 735 ILCS 5/15-1507(c)(1)(h-1) and (h-2), 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 765 ILCS J \RX DUH KHUHE\ QRWLÂżHG WKDW WKH purchaser of the property, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and legal fees required by subsections (g)(1) and (g)(4) of section 9 and the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of section 18.5 of the Illinois Condominium Property Act. 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. <RX ZLOO QHHG D SKRWR LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ LVVXHG E\ D government agency (driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the VDPH LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ IRU VDOHV KHOG DW RWKHU FRXQW\ venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact the sales department, FREEDMAN ANSELMO LINDBERG LLC, 1771 W. Diehl Road, Suite 120, NAPERVILLE, IL 60563, (630) 453-6960 For bidding instructions, YLVLW ZZZ IDO LOOLQRLV FRP 3OHDVH UHIHU WR ÂżOH QXPber F14040007. ,I WKH VDOH LV QRW FRQÂżUPHG IRU DQ\ UHDVRQ WKH 3XUchaser at the sale may be entitled at most only to a return of the purchase price paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee s attorney, RU WKH FRXUW DSSRLQWHG VHOOLQJ RIÂżFHU 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. FREEDMAN ANSELMO LINDBERG LLC 1771 W. Diehl Road, Suite 120 NAPERVILLE, IL 60563 (630) 453-6960 E-Mail: foreclosurenotice@fal-illinois.com Attorney File No. F14040007 Attorney ARDC No. 3126232 Attorney Code. 26122 Case Number: 14 CH 8355 TJSC#: 34-19107 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.

For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, I L L I N O I S COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BANK OF AMERICA, NA; SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING LP FKA C O U N T R Y W I D E HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP; P l a i n t i f f , v s . MOUNCEF ELALAMY; NADIA BOUKILI; TCF N A T I O N A L B A N K ; D e f e n d a n t s , 12 CH 7227 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, January 12, 2015 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: Commonly known as 10300 South 83rd Avenue, Palos Hills, IL 60465. P.I.N. 23-14-219-054-0000. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 1 4 0 1 7 3 5 5 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I637342

For Sale For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, I L L I N O I S COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HUDSON CITY SAVINGS BANK, FSB; P l a i n t i f f , v s . LISA BRANDAU; FREDERICK BRANDAU; J P M O R G A N CHASE BANK NA; Defendants, 12 CH 40831 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 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: Commonly known as 12327 South 71st Court, Palos Heights, IL 60463. P.I.N. 24-30-301-003-0000. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 1 2 0 2 6 4 5 7 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I637394

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R e f . N o . 1 2 - 0 2 4 5 6 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF C O O K C O U N T Y, I L L I N O I S COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF8 M A S T E R P A R T I C I P A T I O N T R U S T, P l a i n t i f f , v s . C A R O L E A . R A M E Y , D e f e n d a n t s , 1 2 C H 2 6 9 8 5 C a l e n d a r 6 0 N O T I C E O F S A L E PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause on October 2, 2014, Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: Commonly known as 9857 S. LAWNDALE AVE, EVERGREEN PARK, ILLINOIS 60805. P . I . N . 2 4 - 1 1 - 1 3 0 - 0 5 4 . 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 within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. Ref. No. 12-02456 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122

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For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION INTERBANK MORTGAGE COMPANY Plaintiff, -v.TADEUSZ SZWAJNOS, IZABELA SZWAJNOS, CITIBANK, N.A. S/I/I TO CITIBANK (SOUTH DAKOTA), N.A. Defendants 12 CH 17271 8824 WEST 92ND PLACE HICKORY HILLS, IL 60457 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 27, 2014, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 28, 2015, 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 8824 WEST 92ND PLACE, HICKORY HILLS, IL 60457 Property Index No. 23-03-412-091-0000. The real estate is improved with a single family home with an attached 2 car garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in â&#x20AC;&#x153;AS ISâ&#x20AC;? 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 (driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information: Visit our website at service. atty-pierce.com. between the hours of 3 and 5 pm. PIERCE & ASSOCIATES, Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300, CHICAGO, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 476-5500. Please refer to file number PA1209222. 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. PIERCE & ASSOCIATES One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300 CHICAGO, IL 60602 (312) 476-5500 Attorney File No. PA1209222 Attorney Code. 91220 Case Number: 12 CH 17271 TJSC#: 34-18808 I638396

For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK C O U N T Y, I L L I N O I S C O U N T Y D E PA R T M E N T - C H A N C E R Y D I V I S I O N U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF MASTR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES TRUST 2007-3 P l a i n t i f f , v . CHOUDHRY K. HUSSAIN AKA CHOUDRY K. HUSSAIN, SHAHIDA KAMRAM HUSSAIN D e f e n d a n t s 0 9 C H 4 0 7 9 8 8748 WEST 96TH PLACE PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 16, 2014, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 23, 2015, 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 8748 WEST 96TH PLACE, PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-11-103-007-0000. The real estate is improved with a brick, single family home with a detached 2 car garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in â&#x20AC;&#x153;AS ISâ&#x20AC;? 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 (driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information: Visit our website at service.atty-pierce.com. between the hours of 3 and 5 pm. PIERCE & ASSOCIATES, Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300, CHICAGO, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 476-5500. Please refer to file number PA0924114. 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. PIERCE & ASSOCIATES One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300 CHICAGO, IL 60602 (312) 476-5500 Attorney File No. PA0924114 Attorney Code. 91220 Case Number: 09 CH 40798 TJSC#: 34-18237 I637698

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Thursday, December 25, 2014 Section 2

Out & About

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

Stay away from these six stinkers With 2014 coming to a close, it’s about time we look back at the year in movies. Next week you’ll hear about movies that you should actually watch. This week you get the bottom feeders — the movies that should have never been made and the all-around horrible films of 2014. With so many bad movies, five spots just wasn’t enough. Even 6 spots wasn’t enough so here are some un-honorable mentions: “Sex Tape,” “The Equalizer,” “Interstellar,” and “The November Man.” While staying away from those, don’t forget to stay away from these the bottom six of 2014.

6) Transformers: Age of Extinction

Pinto’s Popcorn Picks by Tony Pinto

don’t expect that from this. Here you have a movie about the NFL draft. You don’t really need any other reason not to watch. It’s a boring event to watch so a movie about the draft should have been sacked before kickoff. At least with the real draft we get to watch a real horror of whom the Bears waste a pick on.

4) Dracula Untold

Just what we needed — another movie in the Transformers franchise. This time we get a different cast led Mark Wahlburg. It’s a Michael Bay film that should mean something because at one point he directed good films such as “Armageddon” and “Pearl Harbor.” Transformers are getting hunted, the world’s failing to pieces, and buildings blow up for no reason. Stay far away or you just might get blown up.

5) Draft Day

If you want a real sports movie,

This film won’t be seen on too many year-end lists because most movie reviewers were smart enough not to watch it. Luckily for you, this writer wasn’t, so he can tell you from first-hand experience don’t waste your time. If you know the Dracula story this doesn’t stray far from the traditional story, so for being the untold story: what was new?

3) Transcendence

Even the biggest Johnny Depp fan will have trouble sitting through this over two hour film. A mad scientist creates artificial intelligence

that eventually tries to take over the world. In order to fully understand this mess you’ll need to watch it twice, but one watching is far more than this deserves.

2) A Million Ways to Die in the West

Written and directed by leading actor Seth MacFarlane, this film needs to die. The biggest mistake was giving MacFarlane the limelight. He is not an actor; he is a voiceover guy who is most famous for hosting the Oscars. Liam Nesson also stars in this suburban mall western. Hopefully Nesson’s payday was good because this film sure wasn’t.

1) Dumb and Dumber To

A mere 20 years after the original, we get this mess. Two bumbling idiots played by Jim Carrey, 52, and Jeff Daniels, 59, are way too old to be in this kind of film. This is basically just an unfunny rehashing of the first film. Anything positive said about this movie would be a complete lie. These are the worst of the year, the films that don’t even deserve even the dollar rental from your local Redbox machine. Stay away from these films and wait until next week when you get to see the top films of the year.

Broaden Your Horizons This Week Bridge Teen Center New Year’s Eve party The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 S. 71st Court, Orland Park, will host a New Year’s Eve Party from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, with live music from the Protest and free food from Famous Dave’s and Giordano’s. Instead of paying admission, students can donate Clorox wipes, paper towels or toilet paper that will help to support The Bridge Teen Center’s free programs and events. Every student that attends will get a free T-shirt, prizes and a midnight countdown. RSVP is required. Sign up online and pick up your ticket at The Bridge. This free event is for teens in 7th through 12th grade. For more information call 532-0500.

Upcoming Labyrinth Group labyrinth walks will be held on New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1, at 10:30 a.m., and on Saturday morning, Jan. 3, at 8 a.m., at The Center, 12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park. The labyrinth, a new large circular stone path for spiritual meditation is located at the north end of The Center parking lot. In addition to the group walks focused on welcoming in the New Year, the labyrinth is available for individual walks at any time during the month. There is no cost to those wish-

ing to walk the labyrinth and no reservations are necessary. The walks will take place rain or shine. For information, call Pastor Chris Hopkins 361-3650.

calligraphy students learn the uncial, italic, and book-hand styles of writing. They also create a small handmade book to which they add lettering and other decorations. The class meets every Monday for six sessions and costs $110. A Laughter Circle list of required supplies is available A monthly Laughter Circle at The Center. Advance registrameets at 6 p.m. this Sunday, Jan. tion is required. Call 361-3650. 4, at The Center, 12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park. Knitting classes Laughter leader Kathy O’Brien brings laughter and all its benefits The Log Cabin Center for the to the Laughter Circle program. Arts, 12700 Southwest Highway, What’s a laughter circle? It’s Palos Park, will offer six week a group of people who want to knitting classes on Monday eveLAUGH! Not from jokes or come- nings beginning Jan. 5, 6:30 to dy routines, but rather from laugh- 8:30 p.m. and on Friday mornings, ter for its own sake. Research beginning Jan. 9, from 9:30 to shows that laughter strengthens 11:30 a.m. the immune system, reduces stress Master knitter Georgann Ring and anxiety, alleviates pain, and welcomes both beginners and exhelps people get along better. perienced knitters to her classes. O’Brien is a registered nurse Beginners will learn to use the and an Advanced Certified Laugh- knit and purl stitches, to cast on ter Leader. O’Brien welcomes and bind off, to manage simple innewcomers the laughter circle creases and decreases, and to read at any time. a simple pattern while competing The cost of the laughter circle their first two knitting projects, a is $5, which O’Brien donates to dishcloth and then a scarf. Ring The Center. Registration is ap- will help those with experience preciated. Call The Center at to choose individual projects and 361-3650. to learn more advanced knitting skills. The class fee is $90. Beginning Calligraphy classes students should bring a ball of A new session of Calligraphy Sugar n’ Cream yarn in a light classes begins at The Log Cabin solid color and a pair of 10-inch Center for the Arts on Monday, size US 9/5.5mm, preferably aluJan. 5, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., at minum, knitting needles to the 12700 Southwest Highway in first class. After the first project, students will purchase yarns and Palos Park. Led by artist Marge Boyd of patterns after consultation with Frankfort, calligraphy students the instructor. Registration is required. Call learn the beautiful art of fine lettering. In the course of a year, The Center: 361-3650.

Wolfgang Puck’s Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck

This year, enjoy your holiday chestnuts simmering in an open pot If you grew up almost anywhere cold in North America or Europe, one of the most evocative sensations of the holiday season is the smoky-sweet smell of chestnuts, roasting irresistibly on charcoalfueled street-corner stands. I’ll bet right now, at that very thought, you’re hearing in your head the famous lyrics of “The Christmas Song,” written and sung by the late Mel Torme, who dined often at my Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills. Both music and foods have an uncanny power to spark our memories. And chestnuts are among those ingredients that capture the holiday spirit. That’s been true now for centuries, with chestnuts figuring prominently in celebrations grand and humble across the Western world. How many times have you read or heard Charles Dickens’ description of the Cratchit family’s modest festivities in “A Christmas Carol,” when “apples and oranges were put upon the table, and a shovelful of chestnuts on the fire”? Nowadays, many home cooks hesitate to roast their own chestnuts, whether because they lack a fireplace or they simply don’t want to go through the time and bother of scoring an X in the hard, shiny shell of each nut, then cooking them in the oven, and finally peeling off those bothersome shells. Fortunately, you can now find whole already-cooked chestnuts, peeled and sealed in jars, ready to use. Imported from France or Italy, they’re available at this time of year in many gourmet food stores, Italian delis, and wellstocked supermarkets, as well as online. I love to use these chestnuts in two of my favorite holiday dishes: a silky, smooth chestnut soup to start a special meal, and a luxuriously thick puree to accompany a festive roast. The recipes share many similarities, particularly simmering the chestnuts with broth and some Port wine, and then pureeing them, using a blender for the soup and a hand-operated ricer for the much thicker side dish. Whichever you choose to prepare (and there’s nothing that says you can’t try both recipes, one for Christmas and one for New Year’s Eve), there’s another benefit of chestnuts that’s well worth celebrating: They’re a good dietary choice. Unlike most nuts, which are very high in fat, chestnuts get only about 7 percent of their calories from fat, so the rela-

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One serving of chestnut soup delivers a remarkable 62 percent of the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin C, possibly helping you ward off winter colds. tively small amounts of butter and cream in the recipes don’t impact them much. One serving delivers a remarkable 62 percent of the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin C, possibly helping you ward off winter colds. They’re also a good source of dietary fiber, so you’ll feel fuller before you get to those holiday desserts. Who knew that chestnuts could actually help you get a jump on the most popular New Year’s resolution: to eat more healthily?

CHESTNUT SOUP

Serves 6 • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter • 1 medium organic carrot, finely chopped • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped • ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped • 2 cups (500 ml) cooked chestnuts, from one 14.8-ounce (420-g)

vacuum-packed jar • 1 cup ruby port • 1 thyme sprig • 3 cups (750 ml) organic, low-sodium chicken broth • ½ cup (125 ml) heavy cream • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • Finely chopped fresh Italian parsley or chives, for garnish In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the carrot, celery, and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the chestnuts and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes longer. Add the port and thyme, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring frequently, until the port has reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Partially cover the pan, (Continued on page 10)

Mayor

John F. Mahoney

Videoview

Village Clerk

Marie Arrigoni

by Jay Bobbin (NOTICE: Ratings for each film begin with a ‘star’ rating — one star meaning ‘poor,’ four meaning ‘excellent’ — followed by the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and then by a family-viewing guide, the key for which appears below.) STARTING THIS WEEK: “THE GOOD LIE”: Reese Witherspoon spent this movie year in different types of roles, one example being this moving, factinspired drama about the Lost

Boys, youths from Sudan who fled their country’s civil war to seek safe refuge. It was found by the young people at this story’s heart in Kansas, where an emotionally guarded social worker (Witherspoon) tries to place them in jobs, though their skills and knowledge of the outside world are extremely limited. Corey Stoll (“House of Cards”) plays her boss, and the cast also includes several of the real-life Lost Boys. The screenplay is by Margaret Nagle, who

Commissioners

also developed television’s current “Red Band Society.” DVD extras: “making-of” documentary; deleted scenes. *** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “PRIDE”: A remarkable show of support — which occurred in real life — is spotlighted in this tale of a group of gay activists that took definite, demonstrable action to help striking miners and their

WE’RE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY We understand what this community means to you and your family. It means Security, Togetherness, Strength, Caring and Friendship. This community is a place where you matter. This community is where you make a difference in peoples’ lives. We share these values. It’s our job to make sure you understand what’s happening in your community by bringing the issues that matter most to you clearly and responsibly. It’s a job we take seriously. We’re proud to be a part of your community and prouder still to call you our neighbor.

Season Greetings, Neighbor!

(Continued on page 10)

James Pavlatos Dan Polk Nicole Milovich-Walters G. Darryl Reed Richard Boehm, Village Manager Barbara Maziarek, Finance Director/Treasurer Joseph Miller, Chief of Police Lori Sommers, Community Development Director Michael Sibrava, Public Works Director Theresa Tevsh, Recreation & Parks Director www.palospark.org

Section 2

Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Regional News - The Reporter

Out & About

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

Omarr’s Weekly Astrological Forecast

Top DVD Rentals

by Jeraldine Saunders ARIES (March 21-April 19): This week, your networking skills allow you to bubble with brilliance. Take the lead and others will follow. Delegate intricate organizational details, such as filing paperwork. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Find a spot under the mistletoe in the week ahead. Someone special wants an excuse to get a bit closer whenever possible. You may have a secret admirer who’s looking for a way to get your attention. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Scatter happiness as you prepare for holiday happenings this week. The longest night of the year is at hand and this could be the perfect time for lovers to snuggle in front of a fire and get closer. CANCER (June 21-July 22):

The New Moon highlights your most important relationships. As the week unfolds, you find proof that your significant other is also your best friend. You could be invited to enjoy holiday celebrations with new friends. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Duty calls in the week ahead. A long list of business obligations might require the organizational skills of a drill sergeant. Family and friends look to you for good advice, helpful referrals and knowledge of new technologies. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Show someone how much you care in ways that aren’t measured in dollars and cents. Compliment cooks, praise parents, or flatter friends this week. Everyone deserves a chance to feel loved and

appreciated. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Extra patience pays off in the week to come. Take care of extraneous holiday obligations. Find the time to contact distant relatives or family members who are sometimes exasperating but lovable anyway. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Deadlines may put you under the gun. Be creative about scheduling this week so everything gets done on time. Most people will be delighted to cooperate and help out if you discuss your needs frankly. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Use a practical touch to create joy for others in the week ahead. You may be the person elected to read the directions or put together a new bike to go

under the tree. Find ways to create magic moments. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Get in the holiday mood early this week. Sing carols in duet with a significant other and make some beautiful music together. Be prepared to discuss new ideas. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The busiest bees end up with the most honey. Concentrate on the business at hand as this week starts off to head off complications. Use foresight to avoid scheduling conflicts at home. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Make spreading season’s greetings a priority this week. Call loved ones far away, or use helpful stars that enhance your presentation skills to touch base with prospective clients.

Wolfgang Puck’s Kitchen (Continued from page 9)

or chives before serving.

reduce the heat to low, and sim- BRAISED mer until the ingredients are CHESTNUTS OR tender, and 30 minutes. Discard CHESTNUT PUREE the thyme sprig. Yield: Serves 6 Remove the pan from the heat • 2 tablespoons and stir the cream into the soup. vegetable oil Working in batches, puree the soup • 2 tablespoons in a blender, following the manufacunsalted butter turer’s instructions to avoid splat- • ½ cup (125 ml) finely tering the hot liquid, and pouring chopped yellow onion each pureed batch into a large bowl. • 1 cup (250 ml) Return all of the puree to the sauceruby port pan, return the pan to medium-low • 4 cups (1 l) cooked heat, and bring the soup to a simmer. chestnuts, from two Season to taste with salt and pepper. 14.8-ounce (420-g) Ladle the soup into heated servvacuum-packed jars ing bowls, garnishing with parsley • 3 cups (750 ml) organic,

low-sodium chicken broth • 2 sprigs fresh thyme • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • Finely chopped parsley or chives Heat a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the oil, butter and chopped onion. Saute, stirring frequently, until the onion turns a light golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the port and stir and scrape with a wooden spoon to deglaze the pan deposits. Add the chestnuts, broth, thyme, and a little salt and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, stirring occasionally. Then, cover the pan,

reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook until the chestnuts are tender and have absorbed most but not all of the liquid, about 30 minutes, checking occasionally to stir and to make sure the liquid hasn’t completely evaporated. Remove and discard the thyme. Offer as whole braised chestnuts. Or pass the chestnuts in batches through a ricer into a heated bowl, stirring in the remaining liquid from the pan, to make a puree. Season to taste, as necessary, with a little more salt and pepper. Serve the whole or pureed chestnuts garnished with chopped parsley or chives.

Videoview (Continued from page 9) families in the United Kingdom of the mid-1980s. They raised money for some of those affected, then traveled from London to Wales to present the funds. Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West (“The Affair”) are in the cast. DVD extras: “making-of” documentary; deleted and extended scenes. *** (R: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray) “THE TRIP TO ITALY”: “The Trip” was just the beginning for British humorists Steve Coogan (“Philomena”) and Rob Brydon, who reunite for another journey in this largely improvised comedy, though director Michael Winterbottom did provide them with the outline of a script. The duo travels along the coast of Italy, conversing about a broad variety of subjects while sampling food and lodging for columns they’re meant to write ... and trying to keep from getting on each other’s nerves. The film is excerpted from a longer series that was televised by England’s BBC. *** (Also on Blu-ray.) New releases are on the light side this holiday week, so here’s a look at several seasonal classics: “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”: Upon its release, this Frank Capra-directed 1946 classic

had a lukewarm box-office performance upon its release that gave no indication it would become as popular as it long as it has been ... its plentiful television exposure being a huge factor. James Stewart makes the perfect George Bailey, the hapless Bedford Falls citizen whose experience of seeing how life would be without him has been echoed by countless TV-series episodes. Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore and — as wing-earning angel Clarence — Henry Travers lend great support. DVD extras: theatrical trailer; “making-of” documentary. **** (Not rated) (Also on Blu-ray) “WHITE CHRISTMAS”: As comfortable as an active fireplace on a cold winter’s night, this tuneful 1954 retooling of the 12-years-earlier “Holiday Inn” — now available in a “Diamond Anniversary Edition” — makes great use of its Irving Berlin score. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye make an ideal team as military veterans who become successful entertainment partners, then use their talents to help their former commander (Dean Jagger) reenergize his failing resort. Rosemary Clooney — aunt of George — and Vera-Ellen are charmers as the siblings who distract the guys. DVD extras (“Anniversary Edition”): two theatrical trailers;

audio commentary by Clooney; seven “making-of” documentaries; Christmas television-show appearances by Crosby and Kaye; photo galleries. **** (Not rated) (Also on Blu-ray) “A CHRISTMAS STORY”: There’s never a doubt this holiday favorite will come back around, thanks to its annual 24-hour marathon on television. Anyone who ever desired that one special holiday gift can empathize with Ralphie (Peter Billingsley), author-narrator Jean Shepherd’s young alias who desperately wants a Red Ryder BB gun — the one his mother (Melinda Dillon) warns will “shoot your eye out.” Always deserving of citing is Darren McGavin as the gruff dad who never actually curses, though it sure sounds like it. DVD extras: theatrical trailer; three “making-of” documentaries; audio commentary by Billingsley and director and co-writer Bob Clark. *** (PG: P) (Also on Blu-ray) COMING SOON: “THE EQUALIZER” (Dec. 30): Denzel Washington reinvents Edward Woodward’s television role as Robert McCall, a former government agent who uses his skills to help people in trouble. (R: AS, P, V) “GET ON UP” (Jan. 6): Chadwick Boseman plays James Brown, the music icon who chan-

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neled his energy and ambition to become known as “the hardest working man in show business.” (PG-13: AS, P, V) “NO GOOD DEED” (Jan. 6): A family woman (Taraji P. Henson) comes to regret giving assistance to a stranger (Idris Elba) who turns out to be an escaped convict. (PG-13: AS, P, V) “A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES” (Jan. 13): A former cop turned private detective (Liam Neeson) becomes involved in a drug dealer’s (Dan Stevens) plight. (R: AS, N, P, V) “ANNABELLE” (Jan. 20): The spirit within a vintage doll makes things tough for the cultists who invade its new owners’ (Annabelle Wallis, John Gordon) home. (R: AS, P, V) “LUCY” (Jan. 20): An innocent woman (Scarlett Johansson) is transformed into a furious warrior by an untested drug in writer-director Luc Besson’s sci-fiadventure; Morgan Freeman also stars. (R: AS, P, V) FAMILY-VIEWING GUIDE KEY: AS, adult situations; N, nudity; P, profanity; V, violence; GV, particularly graphic violence.

1. Let’s Be Cops, 20th Century Fox, R 2. Tammy, Warner Bros., R 3. How to Train Your Dragon 2, DreamWorks Animation, PG 4. Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Studios, PG-13 5. When a Flame Stands Still, Indie film, not rated

6. 22 Jumpstreet, Columbia Pictures, R 7. The Expendables, Lionsgate, PG-13 8. Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas, Lionsgate, PG-13 9. Maleficent, Walt Disney Pictures, PG 10. The Giver, The Weinstein Company, PG-13

Top Country Albums 1. Man Against Machine, Garth Brooks, Sony Music Nashville 2. Old Boots, New Dirt, Jason Aldean, Broken Bow 3. Home for the Holidays, Darius Rucker, Universal Nashville 4. Anything Goes, Florida Georgia Line, Big Machine Records 5. The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium,

George Strait, Universal Nashville 6. Montevallo, Sam Hunt, MCA 7. Crash My Party, Luke Bryan, Capitol Nashville 8. Christmas With Nashville, Various Artists, Big Machine Records 9. BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE, Blake Shelton, Warner Bros. 10. 747, Lady Antebellum, Capitol Nashville (Universal)

Top Pop Albums 1. 1989, Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records 2. That’s Christmas to Me, Pentatonix, RCA 3. Rock Or Bust, AC/DC, Columbia 4. In the Lonely Hour, Sam Smith, Capitol Records (Universal) 5. Four, One Direction, Columbia

6. Holiday Wishes, Idina Menzel, Warner Bros. 7. Christmas, Michael Buble, Reprise 8. Man Against Machine, Garth Brooks, Sony Music Nashville 9. The London Sessions, Mary J. Blige, Capitol 10. Frozen, Soundtrack, Walt Disney Records

Palos Heights Parks & Recreation will be offering FREE Group Fitness Classes Monday January 5 - Saturday January 10 Classes will be held at the Palos Heights Recreation Center 6601 W. 127th Street, Palos Heights Try as many free classes as you like and receive a $5.00 off coupon to use toward the 8-week session starting January 12 For any questions call 708-361-1807

Child care will be available for AM classes (excluding Spinning) For a list of classes visit www.palosheightsrec.org and click on the online brochure – page 44 is the Group Fitness Calendar

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