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

Volume LVIII, No. 5

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Thursday, April 13, 2017

Bennett rails against state budget impasse

By Joe Boyle

Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett sees no end in sight to the state budget impasse in Springfield that is closing in on a second year.

“Nothing has changed on the state budget,” Bennett said. “The magic continues down there (Springfield). I don’t know if we can have a budget this year.”

Bennett provided a report on the budget during a Southwest Conference

Palos Hills mayor afraid deadlock will remain until after 2018 election of Mayors meeting March 29 at The Bridge Teen Center in Orland Park. Bennett, who serves as the president of the Southwest Conference of Mayors, was just one of a few mayors in attendance.

Several mayors were not present because they were campaigning for the April 4 consolidated election.

“From the people I have talked to, we

might not see a budget until after the 2018 election,” said Bennett, who was unopposed in the April 4 election. “I hope I’m wrong about that, but I don’t see anything happening right now.”

Mayors who were in attendance did not disagree with Bennett’s assessment.

Bennett switched gears and discussed the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for

Planning funding. Andy Plummer, a consultant for the RTA, provided a report on CMAP that he said is facing reductions due to the state budget impasse.

“We want to submit as many projects as we can,” said Plummer. “We want to be proactive because these (projects) are going to be done with Phase 1 funding.”

The legislation creating CMAP called

for the agency to produce a comprehensive land use and transportation plan for the southwest suburban region. It would also provide a funding source to enable CMAP to perform its duties.

But the budget implementation bill has dissolved this funding. Bennett said the issue has to be addressed to ensure that CMAP has a funding source to effectively implement future programs.

See MAYORS, Page 7

Pleasure Lake is now ‘stocked and thriving’ as fishing ban is lifted

By Michael Gilbert

Area anglers can rejoice. The long-awaited reopening of Pleasure Lake to fishing has finally arrived.

Ald. Mark Brachman (2nd Ward) told the council and approximately a dozen residents in attendance during the committee of the whole meeting April 6 that the fishing ban at the 8.1-acre lake has been lifted.

“Grab your fishing poles, enjoy the day and catch a big one,” said Brachman, adding that Public Works crews had removed the “no fishing” signs and reinstalled ones that say “catch and release.”

Fishing has been prohibited at the lake, 10801 S. Roberts Road, since October 2014 when Palos

Photos by Kelly White

Evergreen Park residents Charlie Cushing, 6, and his sister, Claire, 4, work on handmade Easter cards at the Evergreen Park Public Library, to be distributed to hospitalized children.

Young artists find inspiration at Easter Cards created at Evergreen Park Public Library are for hospitalized children

By Kelly White Maeve Broderick aspires to become an artist.

The 6-year-old Evergreen Park resident spends much of her free time coloring, drawing and making homemade craft projects In her first-grade classroom at Most Holy Redeemer School. Maeve also looks forward to art projects.

On April 3, she utilized her artistic talents and joined several other youngsters, including her 3-year-old sister Katie, at the Evergreen Park Library to make Easter cards for hospitalized children.

“I really like working on arts projects and making crafts that I can share with or give to other people,” Maeve said. “It makes them happy.”

“We visit the library on a weekly basis and I like to get my children as actively involved as possible, especially when it’s for such a good cause,” Brigid Broderick, Maeve’s mother, said.

The staff at the library, 9400 S. Troy Ave., Evergreen Park, hosted the youth event to make handmade Easter cards for hospitalized children just in time for the holiday.

All materials were provided by the library staff. The cards were created out of construction paper that had an Easter bunny cutout on it. They were then

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Maeve Broderick, 6, of Evergreen Park, creates an Easter card for hospitalized children.

decorated with markers, colored pencils, crayons, Easter-themed stickers and cotton balls for bunny tails, before being cut out in the shape of an Easter bunny.

Each card was designed by the children with their personal favorite colors and featured an uplifting and encouraging message written inside for the card’s recipient. The event was free. It was organized and guided by Laura Meyer, the children’s librarian.

“Kids love to make cards and be creative, so it’s fun for them,” Meyer said.

“It gives children in the community an opportunity to volunteer, be crafty and do something kind for someone else. It also gives them a chance to brighten the day of another child.”

The participants were not instructed

by Meyer on what to write. Children

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were instead encouraged to come up with their own message in accordance to the holiday as well as offering good wishes.

“The cards are very happy and positive,” Meyer said.

The cards will be going to “Cards for Hospitalized Kids,” a non-for-profit organization based out of Chicago that is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope and joy to hospitalized kids through uplifting, handmade cards. The program has been running for over five years and, at the discretion of the organization, over 100,000 children in hospitals in all 50 states have received a personalized card through the organization, including volunteers like those at the Evergreen Park Public Library.

Meyer sent the cards to Cards for Hospitalized Kids, and volunteers of the organization will be distributing them to children’s hospitals nationwide and to Ronald McDonald Houses for Children. The cards will be delivered prior to Easter Sunday.

“I like helping others,” said Charlie Cushing, 6, of Evergreen Park, as he colored a card filled with orange and blue Easter bunnies, alongside his 4-year-old sister, Claire. “It’s fun to make cards for other people.”

“My children love sitting and coloring and working on craft projects together,” said Colleen Cushing, Charlie’s mother.

“The library always has great ways to get the kids involved in something important.”

See FISHING, Page 7

SXU’s Birth to 3 program to continue in Evergreen Park

By Sharon L. Filkins The Evergreen Park Board of Trustees granted a request from St. Xavier University to renew its lease for property at 9549 S. Homan Ave. during the board’s April 3 meeting.

The university first leased that location last year. The property is used for programs for children from infant to 3 years of age.

Mayor James Sexton stated that the program and the agreement with St. Xavier University have worked very well during the last year.

“We have no problem in granting a second-year lease,” he said.

The SXU Birth to 3 program offers free screenings, play groups, field trips and parent support for

See EVERGREEN, Page 7

Joseph Deuter, 2, of Chicago Ridge, digs for Easter eggs on Saturday afternoon at Frontier Park Field House’s Easter Egg Hunt in Chicago Ridge.

More photos on Page 4.

Photo by Kelly White

Gerardo Rangel Jeep Brand Manager

preschool readiness. In addition to Evergreen Park, the facility serves families in the communities of Oak Lawn and Alsip.

For further information on the program, families may call (773) 941-5708 or email SXUbirthto3@ gmail.com Looking ahead on the 2017 calendar, the board also took action on a resolution approving the 49th Annual Independence Day Parade on Monday, July 3. The vote was unanimous, Sexton said.

“Please don’t ask me why it is on the 3rd. It’s not my call,” he said, laughing.

In the public forum portion of the meeting, Sexton commended the men and women serving in

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Hills officials placed an immediate and, at the time, indefinite ban.

The exceptionally harsh winter of 2013-14 caused a complete freeze at the lake, which, at its deepest point is only six feet, killing all of the fish, according to Ald. Joe Marrotta (4th Ward).

“The winter just froze us solid,” Marrotta said in the fall of 2014.

“Everything was lost.”

A year later, the city spent around $1,300 to restock the lake with 1,500 bluegills, 325 bass and 300 catfish. City officials decided to give the fish two full cycles to grow and reproduce before allowing fishing.

“The lake is stocked and thriving,” Palos Hills Public Works

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Thursday, April 13, 2017

POLICE REPORTS Chicago Ridge

Evergreen Park

• Rodney Boberg, 47, of the 6700 block of West 107th Street, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 12:17 a.m. Sunday on his block. Police said he was also cited for driving without a seatbelt and driving without headlights when required. He is due in court on June 5.

• Sean M. O’Toole, 39, of the 6500 block of South Lyman Avenue, Downers Grove, was charged with DUI following a traffic collision at 109th Street and Ridgeland Avenue at 1:02 p.m. March 29.

Police said he registered a .139 blood-alcohol count on a breath test. Police said he was also cited for driving in the wrong lane, driving with open alcohol, illegal screeching of tires, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

He is due in court on April 27.

Timothy Correll Bell, 19, of Chicago, was charged with unlawful possession of a fraudulent driver’s license, a felony, following his arrest at PLS Check Cashing, 2507 W. 95th St., at 5 p.m.

April 3. Police said he tried to cash a fraudulent check for $9,629.50, and had fraudulent ID. They said the charge was upgraded to a felony because of a history of similar incidents.

DUI charges

Second-generation officer

Submitted photo

Robert Kundrot (right), who was sworn in as a new Worth police officer at the April 5 board meeting, joins his grandfather, retired Worth Lieutenant Edward Wiley. Wiley climbed through the ranks of the Worth Police Department and served the village for 29 years.

Lipinski approves of U.S. airstrikes against Syria, but wants notice in the future

Cong. Dan Lipinski (D-3rd) agrees with the decision by the Trump administration to retaliate with airstrikes against Syria for their use of chemical weapons on April 4 that killed 87 people, 31 of them being children. But he also said further U.S. involvement needs Congressional approval.

“The recent chemical weapons attack on civilians by the Assad regime in Syria was reprehensible and a war crime,” Lipinski said. “(The) missile strikes by the United States shows the Syrian

government and its patrons that the use of chemicals weapons, especially against children and unarmed civilians, is unacceptable and will not go unanswered.

“If President Trump seeks to further escalate U.S. involvement in the Syrian conflict, then he must come to Congress with a plan and seek congressional approval,” Lipinski added.

“We owe it to our brave men and women in the U.S. armed forces before we put them into harm’s way.”

Hurley’s legislation spearheads domestic violence training, awareness A new education and awareness training course on domestic violence and sexual assault for salon professionals was implemented this year through legislation introduced by state Rep. Fran Hurley (D-35th).

House Bill 4264 became effective on Jan. 1. The law requires salon professional to complete a one-hour training course to renew their two-year license.

The course, “Listen. Support. Connect.” was launched the weekend of March 25 at America’s Beauty Show held at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Approximately 3,000 salon professionals completed the course.

“I found the instruction to

be very informative. I did get a lot out of it,” said Stephanie Plahm-Scott, a salon professional at Studio 10 in New Lenox.

Attendees were taught different warning signs to spot while providing clients with salon services. Some examples given during the instruction were repeated reports of insults from a spouse, reluctance to put on a robe for spa services, or missing patches of hair found on clients. Attendees at the training also learned the appropriate means to giving guidance to client victims who have found themselves in dangerous domestic violence or sexual assault situations.

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Selling drugs

Jon Callaway, 18, and Britta Hutchins, 39, both of the 3800 block of West 84th Street, Chicago, were charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance after allegedly conducting a drug transaction in the 10000 block of South Harlem Avenue at 10:23 p.m. Sunday. Tactical officers conducting surveillance in the area reported seeing the two transfer an item to a subject in exchange for cash. Police said they discovered the item was heroin, and the couple was found in possession of 14 more bags of heroin packaged for sale. They were held for a bond hearing on Tuesday.

Domestic battery

Jesus Garcia, 24, of the 10700 block of South Oak Avenue, Chicago Ridge, was charged with domestic battery after police were called to a disturbance at his home at 3:15 p.m. Sunday. Police said he allegedly caused bodily harm to a family member. He was held for a bond hearing on Monday.

Suspended license

Danielle Lewis, 39, of the 10500 block of South Central Avenue, Chicago Ridge, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 1:05 p.m.

Saturday in the 10800 block of South Central Avenue. Police said she is due in court on April 27.

Obstructing ID

Pierre Yates, 21, of the 200 block of 48th Avenue, Bellwood, was charged with obstructing identification following a traffic stop at 10:15 p.m. Saturday in the 5600 block of West 111th Street. Police said he was driving a commercial vehicle he was not licensed to drive, and initially gave a false name. He was also cited for speeding, illegal use of an electronic communication device while driving, and driving without a commercial driver’s license.

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Retail theft

• Jacob C. Kupsik, 30, of Worth, was charged with retail theft at 3 p.m. April 5 at Cool Clouds Vape Shop. 3837 W. 95th St. Police said he took a $40 piece of equipment used by e-cigarette smokers.

• Michael Hardy Jr., 30, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft at Walmart, 2500 W. 95th St., at 11 a.m. March 31. Police said he took a set of headphones worth 64.88.

• Robert A. Jackson, 30, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft at 11 p.m. March 31 at Walmart, 2500 W. 95th St. Police said he took 24 assorted items, including 20 unregistered gift cards, worth a total of $113.89.

• Quintin D. Cathey, 47, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft at 10:45 a.m. April 3 at Menards, 9100 S. Western Ave. Police said he took a $40 hunting knife.

Obstruction charge

Michael D. Holmes, 24, of Chicago, was charged with obstruction of identification following a traffic stop at 6:22 a.m. April 2 in the 9400 block of South Lawndale Avenue. Police said he was also cited for speeding, and initially provided a false name, birthdate and address.

Hickory Hills

Aggravated speeding

Tracy T. Mitchell, 42, of the 1000 block of Elizabeth Street, Joliet, was charged with aggravated speeding following a traffic stop at 1:48 p.m. last Thursday in the 9800 block of South 78th Avenue.

Police said he was also cited for driving without insurance. He is due in court on May 3.

Suspended license

Jatori A. Smith, 20, of the 6200 block of Marsh Lane, Matteson, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 2:31 p.m. Friday in the 8700 block of 88th Avenue.

Police said he was also cited for driving without a seatbelt. He is due in court on May 3.

Oak Lawn DUI charge

Patricia Bonaguro, 24, of Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a two-vehicle collision at 10:28 p.m. March 31

Retail theft

Christopher S. Lanham, 49, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft at 4:10 p.m. April 4 at Matriano’s, 2559 W. 95th St. Police said he was detained after leaving the store with a cart holding several bottles of liquor and containers of hot food. He is due in court on May 12.

Suspended license

• Mosa M. Shihadeh, 23, of Worth, was charged with driving with a suspended license twice within a few hours. In the first incident, he was also cited for improper lane usage following a traffic stop at 11:46 p.m. April 4 in the 10500 block of South Pulaski Road. He was issued a summons to appear in court on May 4 and released, but was stopped again at 2:09 a.m. April 5 at 110th Street and Pulaski Road. He was charged a second time with driving with a suspended license. He was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia because a digital scale with marijuana residue was found in the car, police said. He is due in court on May 22 for the second offense.

• Husain N. Alramahi, 23, of Palos Hills, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop at 8:47 a.m. April 4 at 92nd Street and Cicero Avenue. Police said he was also cited for driving with expired registration and without insurance. He is due in court on May 4.

Unlicensed driving

Sufyan Azaar, 29, of Springfield, Ill., was charged with driving without a license following a traffic stop at 11:38 p.m. April 5 at 111th Street and Cicero Avenue.

Police said he was also cited for failure to yield when turning left.

He is due in court on May 12.

Disorderly conduct

Darryl E. Johnson, 50, of Chicago, was issued a local ordinance violation ticket for disorderly conduct after police were called to Walgreens, 4740 W. 95th St., at 12:51 a.m. April 5. Police said he was disturbing other customers and refused multiple requests to leave. He is due at a hearing in Village Hall on May 2.

Palos Hills Retail theft

• Taquesha McGee, 21, of Bolingbrook, was charged with retail theft at the Shell gas station, 10300 S. Harlem Ave., at 2:30 a.m. April 5. Police were told she took an unspecified piece of

merchandise from the store without paying for it. She is due in court on May 18.

• A pack of cigarettes was reported stolen from the Speedway gas station at 10300 S. Roberts Road at 4:30 a.m. April 4. Employees told police an unknown person left with the cigarettes without credit card approval.

• Police are investigating a retail theft reported at Walgreens, 11053 Southwest Highway, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Employees said over-the-counter medication worth more than $300 was stolen from the store.

Burglary reports

• A small pistol and a five-gallon jar of change were reported stolen in the burglary of a home in the area of 111th Street and Cove Circle, which was discovered at 1:30 p.m. April 5. The homeowner told police that when he came home from work, his front door was damaged and the items were missing.

• Police are investigating a burglary that was discovered at Selma’s Sweets, 7205 W. 103rd St., at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The glass front door was broken and an unspecified amount of money was taken from the business, police said.

Battery charges

Two men face charges related to a disturbance that police responded to at Durbin’s, 10157 S. Roberts Road, at 2 a.m. Friday.

Adam McFarland, 37, of Worth, was charged with two counts of battery and resisting a peace officer, and Steven Witkus, 39, of Oak Lawn, was charged with one count of battery, police said. The two men allegedly started fighting with security after being told to leave the bar. They are due in court on May 18.

DUI charge

Bronislaw Marek, 59, of Palos Hills, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 5 p.m.

Sunday at 99th Street and Roberts Road. Police said he was also cited for improper lane usage, improper turning, disobeying a stop sign and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. He is due in court on May 2.

Unlicensed driving

Javier Tirado-Robles, 37, of Justice, was charged with driving without a valid license at 5 p.m.

Friday in the 7600 block of West 103rd Street. Police said he was also cited for using a cellphone while driving. He is due in court on May 18.

Police reports are provided by law enforcement agencies.

Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law.

Hurley’s bill aims at curbing human trafficking

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at 111th Street and Lavergne Avenue. Police said she registered a .178 blood-alcohol count on a breath test. She was also cited for failure to yield when turning left. She is due in court on May 12. The driver of the other vehicle was transported to Palos Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

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State Rep. Fran Hurley (D-35th) introduced legislation last week that will require curriculum on human trafficking for those obtaining their CDL license in Illinois.

“Truck drivers spend an enormous amount of time on our highways and roads, allowing them a unique perspective that can prove vital in the fight against human trafficking,” said Hurley. “This legislation will help ensure our truck drivers have the information they need to identify the warning signs of human trafficking, and take action to help prevent this form of outrageous exploitation.”

Hurley introduced House Bill 1677, which will add to the required curriculum for obtaining a commercial driver’s license, information about identifying the warning signs of human trafficking. Currently, human trafficking is the third-largest international crime industry reportedly generating an annual profit of $32 billion. Hurley hopes this bill will lead to increased reporting of activity that may be linked to human trafficking. House Bill 1677 passed out of Transportation: Regulation, Roads and Bridges committee, and now heads to the House floor for consideration.

“The only way we will ever be able to curb the tragedy of human trafficking is to ensure everyone is educated on ways to identify the warning signs,” said Hurley. “Engaging truck drivers in the fight to eliminate human trafficking can make a dent in these heinous crimes.”

Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Reporter

No easy answers for Trump, U.S. when Syria crosses lines

hen does a red line become a red line?

President Donald Trump was asked if Syria’s chemical weapons attack on April 4 that left 87 people dead, 31 of them children, had crossed a red line. Trump responded that it indeed crossed a red line, and it crossed many lines.

And last Thursday, the U.S. responded by firing 59 missiles at Syrian airfields that destroyed aircraft in retaliation for the chemical attacks. Trump had seen the images of children gasping for air and the many infants who perished in the chemical attacks. The red line question appeared to convince Trump — who previously said the U.S. would stay out of the Syrian conflict — that something had to be done.

This same scenario occurred in 2013 when then-President Barack Obama warned Syrian President Bashar Assad that his actions and Joe the use of chemical weapons had crossed a Boyle red line. But Assad continued to use chemical weapons and Obama decided to take a more measured response. Obama even admitted years later that this was a dark period of his presidency.

The overall response to the Trump administration’s decision to bomb Syria has generally been favorable. It gives the impression that America is tough. But several days have passed and I am wondering where we go from here. We have had other instances in American history that lines have been drawn in the sand and major decisions had to be made.

Before the U.S. got involved in World War II, we were often referred to as isolationists, caring only for our own self-interests.

Rumors had been circulating that the Nazi regime in Germany had been more than just critical of Jews, foreigners and homosexuals. Critics point out that the U.S. preferred to keep a cool distance. If that was true, it was due to the fact the U.S. did not want to return to another World War scenario.

However, a few years passed, and the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and shocked our nation. We were now in World War II. My dad and millions of other men would soon be fighting overseas. But it took a controversial decision to bring the war to a rapid conclusion when the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.

Since then, we have been in Vietnam, Iraq and Iraq again.

And we are still in Afghanistan and Iraq. Those two wars seemingly will never end.

Obama’s approach may have been too detached when it came to Syria. But as several military officials said at the time, there are no good alternatives. That’s when you have to review our history. In this case, we did not have to look back far. Sending in troops and getting involved in the quagmire that is Syria was not an option Obama wanted to explore. Getting involved in Syria while still having troops in Afghanistan and Iraq was not something Obama wanted to do.

Even Trump at the time said that Obama should stay out of Syria. And we believe the current president does not want to get involved in a ground battle in Syria. The irony of all this is that Russia and Iran are aligned with Assad in the fight against the Islamic State, or ISIS. But the problem here is that Assad appears to have no problem gassing his own residents, including children. He may be fighting against ISIS, but he also wants to terminate any perceived dissidents in his country.

Since Russia’s leaders are not big on human rights, they don’t care, even though they pretend to. What they are concerned about is keeping Assad in power. That’s why Russia can still say its primary goal is to defeat ISIS but we know more is at stake here.

Perhaps the U.S. won’t do anything more in the near future.

But Syrian residents are still in danger and Assad is still in power. I don’t think Trump or most of his cabinet members look long term when they have to make decisions about what needs to be done in Syria. Maybe the U.S. has made its point. We will use force if necessary when Assad uses chemical weapons.

But the violence continues in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that more attacks occurred on Saturday in Khan Sheikhoun, the town that was previously hit with chemical weapons. According to one published report, one woman was killed and several other people were injured. This time, no chemical weapons were used.

I believe the Trump administration will proceed with caution from now on when it comes to Syria. In World War I and II, the U.S. had no other choice but to go to war. We are currently involved in two. Getting involved in Syria is a line that the U.S. does not want to cross.

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OAK LAWN VILLAGE BOARD MEETING

Oak Lawn moves ahead with redevelopment plans for Patriot Station area

By Dermot Connolly Several ordinances related to the planned designation of the Patriot Station redevelopment project area as a tax increment financing district were introduced at the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting on Tuesday.

Village documents show the 17-acre area encompassing two land parcels north and south of 95th Street connected by the Metra tracks. Village Manager Larry Deetjen said the main section of the TIF district includes the shuttered Beatty Lumber property at 9537 S. 52nd Ave. and the adjacent Permacor Inc. site at 9540 S. Tulley Ave. This is where Advocate Medical Group plans to build a twostory, 58,400-square-foot facility with doctors’ offices, a lab, pharmacy and outpatient clinic affiliated with nearby Advocate Christ Medical Center. He said the owners of both properties have agreed to sell the land to the hospital group.

“The reason for creating the TIF is to enable the village to make infrastructure improvements,” said Deetjen.

Village attorney Matt Welch asked that the ordinances be introduced for discussion only so no action was taken because school districts 229 and 123 haven’t formally approved intergovernmental agreements allowing the TIF. “We will be coming back, hopefully by June, to enable the construction to begin,” said Welch.

Clinic plans were approved last

year, and Trustee Bob Streit (3rd) said he was “excited about the prospects of the medical clinic opening.”

But Streit said he wouldn’t support plans that included residential development because of local opposition.

“Right now, we don’t have any plans for residential development (from) 96th Street between Tulley, 52nd and Cook avenues,” said Deetjen.

Deetjen said wording allowing it is only included in the TIF documents because adding it later would make it difficult to make changes during the lifetime of the 23-year TIF. Streit, who ran against Mayor Sandra Bury in the April 4 election, and congratulated the mayor and Trustees Alex Olejniczak (2nd) and Terry Vorderer (4th) on their wins.

“I look forward to working together for the betterment of our community,” he said to audience applause.

The board also approved a special-use permit allowing the expansion of the radiation and oncology department of Advocate Christ Medical Center at 4440 W. 95th St. Patrick Lyons, director of design and construction at the hospital, said this will complete the medical center’s $500 million expansion that began in 2011.

The improvements include landscaping and a new canopy, entrance, waiting room and reception area on the west side of the hospital campus facing Kilbourn Avenue.

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Moraine Valley invites community to Civic Engagement Conference

As part of Moraine Valley Community College’s pledge to The Democracy Commitment, the college is hosting the ActOut 2.0 Conference for Civic Engagement from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 21 in the Moraine Business and Conference Center, on the main campus, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills.

Community members are welcome to attend this day focused on civil discourse. Registration is free.

The theme of the conference is “Our Common Ground: A Space for Civil Discourse.” Attendees will have several opportunities to learn and practice this important piece of the democratic process, including attending workshops on a variety of topics and viewing student posters about civic engagement.

Verdis Robinson, the national coordinator of The Democracy Commitment, is the keynote speaker. Robinson was an assistant professor of history and African-American studies at

Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y., before joining The Democracy Commitment.

Moraine Valley is one of the founding members of this initiative and integrates service opportunities, advocacy, guest lectures, and faculty development into its teaching and learning.

The conference agenda also features an Elected Officials Panel Discussion following lunch. Elected officials will discuss what led them to become advocates. They will work with constituents they disagree with on important issues and advise them on participating in the civic process beyond voting. The agenda will conclude with “Hot Topics: An Exercise in Civil Discourse,” during which attendees will get the opportunity to practice civil discourse with people at their table.

For more information about the conference, including workshop descriptions, and to register, visit morainevalley.edu/actout.

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4 The Reporter

Our Neighborhood

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Easter Bunny, egg hunt entertain kids in Chicago Ridge

A large group of parents and their children showed up for the Easter Egg Hunt Saturday at the Frontier Field House and Activity Center in Chicago Ridge.

Children had fun searching for eggs in straw at the field-

house. Kids found prizes as well as candy. Along with the search for eggs, there were inflatables that kids could play in and bounce on.

Face painting was held throughout the day. A bonnet contest

was also held. Balloon twisting was offered to entertain the children.

The special guest of the day was the Easter Bunny, who was on hand to greet youngsters and their parents.

Alyssa Watt, 8, of Chicago Ridge, gets her hand painted

by Frontier Park Field House employee Lilly Rivera, 18, of Chicago Ridge, on Saturday afternoon.

Children attempt to find some prizes Saturday afternoon during Frontier Park Field House’s Easter Egg Hunt in Chicago Ridge.

Photos by Kelly White

Paola Rico, 3 of Chicago Ridge, hunts for Easter eggs on Saturday afternoon during Frontier Park Field House’s Easter event.

Brooklynn Maglaris, 2, of Chicago Ridge, is having a blast on the bouncy house during Frontier Park Field House’s Easter event.

Lotto purchase Moraine to host ‘Hamilton: The Revolution’ co-author in Palos Hills brought someone a ‘Lucky Day’ Jeremy McCarter, co-author of “Hamilon: The Revolution,” will give a presentation Thursday, April 20 in the Dorothy Menker Theater, Fine Arts and Performing Center at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills. The presentation will be from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and is free The book, co-written with Lin-Manuel Miranda, who created and starred in “Hamilton,” follows the musical’s development from a performance at the White House to its opening night on Broadway; and includes behind-the-

By Dermot Connolly Anyone who bought a Lucky Day Lotto ticket in Palos Hills for the evening drawing on April 4 winning $575,000 Lucky Day Lotto ticket may want to check their numbers.

A winning Quick Pick ticket for that game was sold at the Speedway gas station at 10300 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills, matching all five numbers -- 3, 4,13, 6 and 35. But as of Tuesday, the winner had not come forward, according to Illinois Lottery officials. A second winning ticket for the same game was sold in Crystal Lake. The buyer of that ticket will also receive $575,000.

The manager of the Palos Hills Speedway declined comment, referring calls to regional headquarters. The gas station and convenience store will receive a bonus of $5,750, or 1 percent of the prize amount, for selling the winning ticket.

Illinois Lottery officials advise winners to immediately sign the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they visit one of the five Prize Centers in Chicago, Des Plaines, Rockford, Springfield or Fairview Heights.

Winners have one year from the original drawing date to claim their prize.

More than 39,000 players won prizes ranging from $1 to $200 in the April 4 Lucky Day Lotto drawing. Lucky Day Lotto drawings are held twice daily, seven days a week. More information may be obtained by visiting illinoislottery.com.

scenes glimpses of the show.

“It is exciting to have Jeremy McCarter present to our college community,” said Dr. Walter Fronczek, liberal arts dean. “This talented writer, director and producer will give our students and staff an insight on the arts and how they play an active role in our society.”

McCarter’s presentation is part of Moraine Valley’s “One Book, One College,” a collaborative effort between the college’s library and bookstore started in 2004 to encourage reading and conversation. The college selected the

musical “Hamilton” as its One Book text for the 2016-17 academic year.

“The faculty, staff and administration on this campus work every day to inspire our students in the same way ‘Hamilton’ has inspired so many young people,” said Dr. Linda Brandt, a counselor who helped to bring McCarter to campus.

The event is made possible by Moraine Valley’s Liberal Arts and Student Engagement subdivisions, and the library. For more information, call the Moraine Valley Box Office at (708) 974-5500.

Author to discuss new book, ‘Fallout,’ at Evergreen Park Public Library on April 24

Angler award Evergreen Park resident Joe Priori smiles after placing second in the bass competition for his catch of three pounds. Priori was competing in the Spring Fish Classic that was held Saturday at Lake Katherine in Palos Heights.

A best-selling author will discuss her new book at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 24 at the Evergreen Park Library, 9400 S. Troy.

Sara Paretsky will talk about her latest book, “Fallout,” which is about investigator V.I Warshawski taking on a puzzling case that will take the private investigator out of her comfort zone.

Warshawski will enter deadly new territory as she searches for a young film student and a former film star who are on the run in the heart of the Midwest.

Books will be available for purchase and signing. Registration is encouraged and can be arranged by calling (708) 422-8522 or visit evergreenparklibrary.org.

Submitted photo

Healthcare questions can be addressed at Advocate The staff from Mission and Spiritual Care and Palliative Care will be available to provide information on National Healthcare Decisions Day to be held from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, April 17 at Advocate Christ Medical Center, 4440 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn.

Staff members will be available to help people understand the value of advance healthcare planning at three locations at the hospital. Residents can go to Café 95, the Richard & Wilma Molenhouse Chapel entrance or the ground floor of the

Outpatient Pavilion.

Residents can also attend sessions from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 or 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 21.

Free valet service is available at the main entrance of the medical center and at the Outpatient Pavilion, located at the corner of 95th Street and Kilbourn Avenue. Free parking is also available in garages A, C and D on the medical campus.

More information can be obtained by calling the Mission and Spiritual Care Office at (708) 684-5175.

Compiled by Joe Boyle

News and events from our archives Real fire breaks out during rehearsal for play about firemen • 50 years ago

From the April 13, 1967 issue The story: A real fire broke out next door as the Stagg High School actors were rehearsing their spring play, “The Firemen’s Flame,” last week.

The students, many clad in firemen’s costumes, were busy perfecting the songs and dances that will spark the melodrama to be presented at 8 p.m. April 14 and 15 in the Stagg Commons Room. The fire, reported at 8:37 p.m., destroyed one of the outbuildings on a farm at 8400 W. 111th St. just west of Stagg in Palos Hills.

Real firemen from the North Palos and Worth fire departments put out the blaze. The play is about two rival volunteer fire departments that competed to outwit the villainous Napoleon Markham.

‘Junior’ officers take over Chicago Ridge Board meeting • 25 years ago

From the April 9, 1992 issue The story: Perhaps taxing bodies would vote on issues with less bickering if meetings were run by junior high school students. That seemed to be the case when students from Our Lady of the Ridge and Finley Junior High students took over the Chicago Ridge Board meeting on Local Government Education Night.

The eighth grade students, as part of a social studies project at their respective schools, had to pick a name out of a hat before the Monday night committee meeting to find out which official he or she would substitute for. Our Lady of the Ridge student Stacy Hovel acted as mayor. She was presented with a plaque by Chicago Ridge Mayor Eugene Siegel, naming her “honorary mayor.”

The quote: “I think the project shows the kids that there may be a good political future ahead for many of them,” Siege said.

Oak Lawn Park District considers site for dog park • 10 years ago

From the April 12, 2007 issue The story: The Oak Lawn Park District may finally have land on which to build a dog park. And the site is not even in the village – it’s in Worth.

Gary Major, executive director of the Worth Park District, presented a preliminary design for a dog park at a recent Oak Lawn Park District meeting. The dog park, which would be at Homerding Park at 116th and Oak Park Avenue, would be shared by both park districts. Oak Lawn Park District Commissioner Mary Wallace has advocated for a dog park in the village.

The quote: “We’re prepared to move forward immediately,” Major told the Oak Lawn Park District Board.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Reporter

5

Men ‘walk a mile in her shoes,’ raise awareness about sexual assault

By Kelly White

A group of 20 men traded in their regular shoes for a pair of high-heeled shoes to walk a mile around the St. Xavier University campus in Chicago last month.

The goal of the third annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event was to get the community talking about difficult topics such as gender relations and sexual assault.

The one-mile walk that took place March 29 around the campus, 3700 W. 103rd St., Chicago, literally put men in women’s shoes. It was organized by the university’s Student Life Department and was not limited to students. Faculty members, office employees and vice president administrators took part in the walk as well, wearing shoes ranging from a half-inch heel to five-inch stilettos.

One in five women is sexually assaulted at some point in their lives, according to Student Life officials.

“I think this is a unique way to raise awareness because it asks for men to be purposefully involved, and it has grown here at St. Xavier over the last three years,” said Alexa Zaharris, associate director of Student Activities for St. Xavier’s Office of Student Life. “Men in our community look forward to participating and walking in heels to show their support.”

“This is the third year I am participating in the walk,” said Kody Kleinricherc, 21, of Traverse City, Mich., and member of Student Life. “It’s important to the St. Xavier community. Although it may appear to be amusing, it really opens up

Photo by Kelly White

St. Xavier University hosted its third annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event on March 29, where over 20 men walked one mile wearing high-heeled shoes.

a dialog for the serious topic of sexual assault.

When I first heard about this three years ago, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.”

Kleinricherc was joined by many others, including Joseph Preston, 25, of Chicago, and director of Campus Ministry at the university.

“This is not only a great cause but I also participate to set a positive example to our male students here on campus,” Preston said.

The shoes came from a few sources, including donations from within the community and some from the St. Xavier Council. Many of the shoes

Worth mayor, board members celebrate their election victories, get back to work

By Sharon L. Filkins Twenty-four hours after the April 4 election results were in, it was business as usual for the Village of Worth Board of Trustees.

The board met on April 5, a day after the consolidated elections. The meeting consisted primarily of board members congratulating each other after winning their respective races.

Mayor Mary Werner was congratulated for her successful bid for a second term in office after defeating her opponent, former Mayor Randy Keller. Village Clerk Bonnie Price, running unopposed, garnered the highest number of votes. Incumbent trustees Rich Dziedzic and Tedd Muersch Jr. were returned to office for a third and second terms, respectively.

Longtime Worth resident Brad Urban was elected to fill the position of Trustee Colleen McElroy, who is stepping down after serving two terms.

Trustee Kevin Ryan thanked McElroy for all her work for the village and stated that it was her in-

fluence and commitment that encouraged him to become a trustee.

“I thank you for all you have done and I wish you the very best in your future endeavors,” Ryan said to McElroy.

Trustee Pete Kats also commended McElroy for her years of service.

“I have sat next to you here for eight years and have witnessed your tireless efforts on behalf of our village,” Kats said. “You are certainly going to be missed. I wish you well as you move on.”

Kats also congratulated Werner and thanked her for running a campaign based on her accomplishments.

In other action, the board approved May 25 as Poppy Day for the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, with May 26 as a rain date.

Also approved was a placement of a Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home insert in the May water bill mailed to residents at a cost of $125.

In other matters, Robert Kundrot and John Kenny have been sworn in as new police officers for Worth.

Alumni Memorial Mass at St. Laurence

The annual solemn Mass of Remembrance will be held to honor deceased alumni at St. Laurence High School beginning at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29 in the school library, 5556 W. 77th St., Burbank.

The Rev. Norm Trela, from St. Symphorosa Parish and the St. Laurence chaplain, will celebrate the Mass of the Resurrection. A wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the outdoor memorial, weather permitting. Following the liturgy, snacks and refreshments will be served.

Family, friends, and relatives of deceased alumni of St. Laurence are welcome to attend this liturgy. Reservations can be made by contacting Ed Kozak, the Office of Alumni Relations, at (708) 458-6900, ext. 244.

Th e

were purchased last year from the previous walk organizer and 2016 St. Xavier graduate Anna Goldman, 22, of Eagan Minn., from an Amazon online store that sells red high-heels that are intended for wide-set and large feet. Most of shoes are re-worn from year to year between participants, as long as they are able to fit the feet of the walkers.

Although the event was light-hearted with men walking in high-heeled shoes, it was sufficiently unique and brought together different people on campus in a setting that allows for discussion of the serious topic of sexualized violence.

“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a great way to start the conversation on a college campus about men’s sexualized violence toward women,” Zaharris said. “One of St. Xavier’s core values is respect, and this conversation aligns with the ideals of our community here at the university.”

“I’m doing this to support women everywhere,” said Lucas Daurer, 21, of Michigan City, Ind. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the St. Xavier community chose this event to help raise awareness about a pressing issue within society.

As the participants neared the end of the milestretch, a group of women from the college and other supporters lined up in rows to clap and congratulate them.

At the conclusion of the walk, the men immediately took off their heels to change into some more comfortable shoes. However, it brought to light the notion that one can’t really understand the experiences of another person until they’ve walked a mile in their shoes.

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6 The Reporter

COMMENTARY

THE

Thursday, April 13, 2017

REPORTER

An Independent Newspaper Published Weekly Founded March 16, 1960

Ray Hanania

Local elections brought a little drama but could have used more voters

Ghost of city machine dies in Orland Park

T

he consolidated election has passed, and the winners have celebrated and given their acceptance speeches. It is now time to govern.

The vote totals were low on Election Day, which was not really a surprise. For those residents who took the time to vote, we applaud your efforts. For those residents who did not vote, well, they have no right to complain if they do not care for the end results.

Consolidated elections do not usually draw a large amount of voters. It usually takes a presidential election or hotly contested state races to draw a lot of residents to the polls. But it is our opinion that everyone should vote no matter what. It is a privilege that should not be taken lightly.

Perhaps a number of us are worn out after the presidential election of 2016. It was an eventful and historic year.

And, quite frankly, it was a little exhausting.

But we do not think local elections should be ignored. Our basic services are often decided at the local level. We decide if taxes should be raised for local school districts. We can either to vote yes or no for referendums. We decide who our mayors and aldermen should be in local cities. That also goes for our local villages, where voters have to decide who should be the next mayors and trustees.

Factoring into the low voter turnout is that 67 percent of races in Cook County were uncontested. And the weather was a factor, especially during the morning of April 4 as a constant drizzle brought out the umbrellas.

Still, voters in The Reporter coverage area had some important decisions to make. In three of the municipalities we cover, three contested mayoral races took place. Dr. Sandra Bury, the incumbent mayor of Oak Lawn, held off a challenge by longtime Trustee Bob Streit. Bury won by a comfortable margin of just over 59 percent.

The race was much tighter in Chicago Ridge as Chuck Tokar will return for a second term after edging out trustees Fran Coglianese and Sally Durkin. In Worth, Mary Werner will return for a second term with nearly 60 percent of the vote in her victory over Randy Keller. Werner had defeated Keller in 2013 when he was the mayor.

Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett and Evergreen Park Mayor James Sexton ran unopposed.

Voters in the southwest suburbs did have some other choices to make. In Oak Lawn, incumbent trustees Alex Olejniczak (2nd) and Terry Vorderer (4th) scored impressive victories.

Michael Carberry stepped down as the 6th District trustee and was replaced by Tom Phelan, who held the position before him.

Phelan had just over 59 percent of the vote and will now return to the Oak Lawn Village Board.

And although Streit lost to Bury in the race for mayor, he remains the trustee for the 3rd District. Streit has been a trustee since 1991.

Chicago Ridge will have new trustees as independent Lisel Kwartnik and Tokar allies Ed Kowalski and Deb Pyznarski won their respective races. Chicago Ridge will even have a new village clerk. Barbara Harrison defeated incumbent George Schleyer by getting just over 61 percent of the vote.

Worth will have a new trustee in Brad Urban, who defeated Bahira Karim. Incumbents Rich Dziedzic and Tedd Muersch Jr. both will return for another term in Worth.

So, there were plenty of candidates to choose from in this past election. Our goal was to provide as much information about each candidate as possible. We covered Candidates Nights in Chicago Ridge and Worth. Stories on the mayoral races in Chicago Ridge, Oak Lawn and Worth also appeared in our paper.

Residents who did vote had information on the candidates and were able to choose which one they felt could better serve their municipality. And for candidates who fell short, they still can remain involved. They may have another opportunity in another election.

The winners had reason to celebrate, but over a week has passed since their victories. For incumbents, it is time to get to work. Newly elected officials soon will be sworn in.

The winners know they will be held accountable. The voters always have the final say.

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T LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Easter reminds us to open our hearts It bears repeating...

Easter is a time to open our hearts to the message of forgiveness, love and the promise of life everlasting. It is at this time the sleeping Earth awakens in a myriad of colors just like a rainbow. The sky is an azure blue as the sun radiates a golden hue upon the budding trees, the green of the grass and the blossoming of an array of pink, yellow, purple and white spring flowers.

Children will parade around in brightly colored new clothes. They are looking forward to the Easter baskets filled by the Easter Bunny. Hopefully, a solid chocolate Fannie May bunny resides in there. A feast is being prepared for the family and desserts are plentiful.

Churches will be adorned with fresh

white lilies and candles will cast a warm glow as the congregation celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those in attendance will join the choir in singing their praise to God. At my home there’s a thumpin’ in my attic. The plush bunnies are eager to come downstairs for the annual squeezing of their big feet and, of course, the nonstop hugging. The plastic eggs filled with candy delights are rollin’ around in between the thumpin’ bunny feet in anticipation of the egg hunt. You can almost hear them asking “Is it time?” “Is it Easter?” Yes, it is! It is time to share the blessings of Easter with one another.

Happy Easter!

— Marlene Jeziorski, Oak Lawn

Many thanks to Father Stan of St. Louis de Montfort Parish

On Ash Wednesday, when parishioners at St. Louis de Montfort Church in Oak Lawn assembled and entered our church, you could feel the Passion of Jesus on our altar.

Our pastor, the Rev. Stan Stuglik, began Lent by having our altar transformed into the Passion of Jesus. On the altar was a life-size replica of the cross Jesus died on. Purple-draped cloth held the scourges used to whip Jesus, the crown of thorns (which came from the Holy Land), nails and the mallets. We also had two Roman helmets to represent the Roman soldiers who guarded Jesus in the tomb. All of these were arranged perfectly to remind us that Jesus died to save all of us.

Father Stan has only been our pastor for nine short months, but he has brought back the feeling of “Family” to the St. Louis de Montfort Parishioners. On Jan. 11, Father Stan was faced with the sad news that St. Louis de Montfort School was slated for closing at the end of the school year. Through all the difficulties, Father Stan has continually been there for the children and all the families of St. Louis de Montfort.

During this Lenten season, Father Stan has asked us to pray always, say the rosary daily, listen in silence to God and thank him for the gifts he has given all of us. We should also read the Bible, attend the Stations of the Cross, pray for our children who are extremely saddened by the loss of our school, and celebrate their accomplishments.

May we remember Father Stan in our daily prayers and thank God for sending him to our St. Louis de Montfort Parish, where we needed a “Special” Shepherd of God. Thank you for loving your St. Louis de Montfort family. Happy Easter!

— Jackie Hojnacki, Burbank

Believes Trump’s comments are embarrassing to U.S.

There are times when you have to apologize to someone after an embarrassing mistake. The mistake was made by the USA when we elected Donald Trump.

His close relationship with Vladimir Putin and the Russian government is scary. His tough-guy approach to the North Koreans is just bluster. I have my doubts if he would know how to handle a touchy come to blows situation. The social behavior of Donald Trump is an abomination, not only to the U.S. citizens, but the world.

The way he mistreated Angela Merkel after she asked him if he wanted a photoshot of the two of them shaking hands in front of everyone in the room that they were in. He gave her a small disgusting look and then looked into space. Angela Merkel felt embarrassed and just looked away. I apologize, especially to Angela Merkel and the German people for the behavior of my president.

When I see how the Netherlands (my parents’ homeland) and other countries do their best to welcome refugees into their countries, and help get them settled as best as they can, I marvel at their efforts to help out all they can. I realize that it is a very difficult task to help these people.

I know that Canada, with their President Trudeau, does a great job in helping to settle refugees. I truly appreciate and do thank the leaders of all the countries involved for helping these people.

But just south of Canada’s border is the USA where President Trump has decided not to help the refugees, but ban them from coming here. His ban failed in the courts twice. He doesn’t understand the Constitution. When his staff wants to brief him, he refuses because he states, “I don’t need to be briefed, I’m smart.”

To everyone who has been seriously offended by president Trump, pardon us for the actions of our president. I believe he will be impeached before the year is over. He may have a lot of money, but he came up short on feelings for other people everywhere. And speaking of feelings, our Secretary of State Rex Tillerson refuses to talk with any of the press or general public. Maybe it’s because of his wealth ($385 million). He must feel that the general public and the press are beneath him.

I think God put us here on Earth to help out wherever we are needed. We will get this right. Stay strong.

— Dean Koldenhoven, Palos Heights

We want to hear from you!

Letters should be 350 words or less. Letters must be signed and the name of the writer will be published. Writers must also include their address and phone 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

he 1980s were not a great time for the Machine havens of Chicago’s Southwest Side, once lorded over by the Boss of Bosses, Mayor Richard J. Daley.

The Boss was Dead — long live the Boss! But then Jane Byrne became mayor in a raucous election in 1979, throwing a monkey wrench into the Machine’s plans for political domination.

Four years later, the son of the Boss, Richard M. Daley, managed to siphon off just enough white votes to derail Byrne’s re-election and elect Chicago’s first African-American mayor, Harold Washington.

The year 1983 was a decisive one for many Southwest Side wards, including the 19th. The future was as clear as day. Their ward may produce some of the largest election votes in the city, but it wouldn’t mean much without clout.

The Illinois Legislature, where the younger Daley and his pals from the Southwest Side wards — the 19th, 18th, 23rd, 15th and 11th — played, was slipping fast. Driving three hours or flying like vacation snowbirds from Meigs Field to and from Springfield was a boring burden — no wonder when he finally became mayor, Richie Daley had Meigs Field ploughed under.

The Chicago Machine was at a crossroads in 1983. The Machine had been painted into the city’s corners of the northwest and southwest sides.

With few options, the Machine did what any empire squeezed into a tight trough would do. Like the British Empire in the 17th century, it sent its best warriors over the horizon where the ocean dropped off into oblivion, and sailed precinct workers into uncivilized territory called the “Sub-burbs.”

“Suburb” is a derivative of the conqueror’s playbook, “Sub-Urban,” meaning “less than civilized.”

It’s said the British Empire didn’t really begin until it sent out its first colonists (precinct captains) to Virginia in Christopher Columbus’ New World.

The first colony was in Virginia, led by Sir Walter Raleigh.

So too for the New Chicago Machine, sending colonies to Oak Lawn, Stickney Township, Homer Township and Orland Park, a swampland of soggy former pig farms kept wet with pooling rainwater and annoying floods by a solid base of clay.

You can almost map the suburban regions where Chicago Machine Conquistadors landed. The 23rd Ward stepped into Oak Lawn. The 13th Ward stepped into Stickney Township. The 18th Ward, a branch of the Daley clan, sailed to Homer Township. The 19th Ward was based in Orland Park. The Northwest Side wards did the same, too.

And I remember back in 1983 when a 19th Ward precinct captain told me that he was off “across the oceans” to knock on doors in suburbia for a young Irish candidate named Dan McLaughlin.

The suburbs were ripe for the picking. Most residents skewed voting.

They had fled to curb-less suburbs and unpaved streets and cheaper homes during the white flight of the late 1960s.

A modern-day Sir Walter Raleigh, McLaughlin became a trustee in 1983.

I remember covering the election and writing his first story, he’d remind me.

Eight years later, McLaughlin became Orland Park’s mayor and the 19th Ward hegira of jobs, and suburban living for the powerful Hynes clan would begin.

Last week, 24 years later, that Chicago Machine dynasty came to a crashing end. McLaughlin decided his union pension wasn’t good enough. His Orland Park Board of Trustees voted to make him a full-time mayor, boosting his salary from $40,000 a year (which was pretty good for part-time) to $150,000 a year. But the crown jewel was the instant pension provision he would get at the end of that new four-year term as mayor, of more than $110,000 a year. Serve four years and get a $110,000 a year pension for life, almost like a Congressman (five years).

You can run from race, failing schools, a bad job market, and a neighborhood overwhelmed by street gang violence. But in Illinois, you can’t run from the stigma caused by pension politics.

Using the pension issue as his standard, McLaughlin’s challenger, Republican Keith Pekau, won the mayor’s race last week by a landslide with 6,933 votes to McLaughlin’s 5,804 votes. It was truly a Jane Byrne moment.

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist and author who covered Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992.

Email him at rghanania@gmail.com.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Reporter

A tale of perseverance that graduates should heed

G

raduates, you might want to lean in for this. Just in case your momma didn’t mention it, your diploma alone may not land you that dream job. Obtaining your education, yeah, that was the easy part.

Now the real work begins!

Keisean Marshall, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., said he dreamt of working in television since he was in grade school. Born and raised on the streets of Harlem, New York, there wasn’t a shortage of television stations nearby.

“I couldn’t have been any older than 10 years old when I used to loiter outside networks begging them to hire me as an intern,” said Marshall. “They’d look at me all sideways.”

Marshall said he was undeterred. His hunger to work in television never waned. After palming his diploma from Rice High School in Harlem, N.Y., he pursued and conquered a broadcast journalism degree from Hampton University in Virginia.

Today, Marshall can be found on the Paramount Studios lot working as an associate producer on the Dr. Phil show, which is currently in the coveted No. 1 slot in the daytime talk show lineup.

Marshall might be resting his head in Sherman Oaks with his chest stuck out like Sherman Hemsley for having ‘moved-on-up’ like The Jeffersons, but it wasn’t exactly an elevator ride to the top.

“I didn’t find a job in television for two years after graduation,” said Marshall. “I was working temp jobs… doing all kinds of stuff I didn’t want to do, like retail, standing on my feet all day. I found myself lingering in the dressing room feeling sorry for myself a few too many times.”

Marshall said his frequent interviews for positions within his field left him waiting by the phone.

“None of them ever called,” he said.

Desperate, he applied for an audience assistance position for a new British tabloid talk show called The Jeremy Kyle Show, which debuted back in 2005.

Not exactly sure what an audience assistant even was, Marshall said he eagerly accepted the on-the-spot offer that came with a whopping $7.25-an-hour wage.

“I was still living with my parents at that time so I made it work,” recalled Marshall.

However, what didn’t work was the duties of his job. “I was the audience hype man and I also had to figure out how to fill the audience seats.”

To prove himself worthy of a position more suitable, Marshall said he took the initiative to prepare and pitch various show topics to the suits above him. Impressively, he slid into a production assistant position.

Keisan Marshall is pictured at left working The Maury Show. He now works on the Dr. Phil program.

Submitted photo

Too bad the show was canceled shortly thereafter!

Thank heavens for friends and referrals because that’s exactly how Marshall went on to spend his next two years working for The Maury Show that eventually led to his associate producer title. Somewhere between the 45-minute train ride from Harlem to Stamford, Conn., and the baby momma drama we all know Maury for, Marshall said he needed a change. He applied for a job with Revolt TV. It’s an American music-oriented digital cable channel owned and operated by Sean “Diddy” Combs.

“When I accepted the job, I didn’t realize it wasn’t local,” laughed Marshall. “The job was in L.A. and I had just got my own apartment in NY.” Marshall found grace yet again with a friend who provided a small piece of real estate in the corner of her apartment on an air mattress.

“I had to get comfortable with the L.A. transit system quick because I didn’t have a car either. “ The Hampton U professors had warned Marshall that his quest into entertainment television may prove troublesome.

“They advised me to stay away from entertainment journalism. I don’t think they thought it was respectable,” said Marshall.

“They told me to pursue a broadcast position with the nightly news or something.”

He said that when his journalism classmates would be researching politics and crime, he’d be trying to find the latest Hollywood scoop.

A dream is a dream, even when there are obstacles blocking the view. And for Marshall, there were many.

Budget cuts at Revolt TV left Marshall unemployed again!

The Revolt pink slip didn’t sting quite as much as the one he received from his next talk show gig with The Real. There, Marshall worked with the beautiful and wittily entertaining cast of Adrienne Bailon, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai, Tamera Mowry-Housley, and formerly on the show, Tamar Braxton.

Mayors

Fishing

Continued from Page 1

Commissioner Dave Weakley said. “During hours when fish are active you will see fish jumping up at new insect larva. We are seeing a lot of activity in the lake. I’m sure our residents are going to enjoy fishing there again.”

Marrotta said it was “great to have the lake back open to fishing.”

“I believe (Resource and Recreation Department Commissioner) Kristin (Violante) did receive some calls from residents inquiring about the fishing ban, so we are happy to lift it and once again have fishing.”

With the lake reopened, Marrotta announced the city will resume holding its annual fishing derby. The free event, which is open to all ages, is scheduled for June 17.

The Department of Natural Resources has designated June 17 as one of only a few days in Illinois during which a person can fish without a state fishing license, Violante said. Therefore, in addition to being a free event, one does not need to purchase a fishing

Evergreen Continued from Page 1

the village’s police department for their recent work in apprehending a suspect fleeing from robberies in Chicago, Merrionette Park and Mount Greenwood. The Evergreen Park officers and the K-9 unit found the suspect hiding in a garage in the village.

“Our department is to be commended for their excellent work and cooperation with the officers from the other communities,”

Claudia Parker is an author, photographer and a reporter. Her columns appear every second and fourth Thursday of each month. She can be reached at AuthorClaudiaParker@yahoo.com.

of current public safety employees. The goal, according to the mayors, is to develop longer term, comprehensive solutions that protect local taxpayers and secure sustainable retirement benefits for all public safety employees.

Bennett said the Illinois General Assembly should take immediate action to consolidate the over 650 individual public safety pension funds into the Illinois Municipal Retirement

Fund or a similar single multiple employer pension system.

“The best way to get pension relief is to have a single consolidation state fund,” Bennett said.

The mayors also urge for the protection against any further efforts to erode municipal revenue sources, especially the share of the state income tax and the one percent local portion of the sales tax.

“The state must refrain from withholding, freezing, diverting, delaying or reducing any state-collected local revenue streams,” Bennett said. “If local revenue is withheld in any way, municipalities will be forced to cut essential services, raise property taxes or lay off critical staff to cover this loss.”

Bennett said that this would be harmful to taxpaying residents and businesses throughout the state.

Other local mayors who attended the meeting were Bob Straz (Palos Heights) and Mike Howley (Hickory Hills).

license to participate in the derby.

All fishing at the lake remains catch-andrelease, and Marrotta said Palos Hills police have been directed to make frequent checks at the lake to ensure the policy is being followed.

In other news, city attorney George Pappas told the council the Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee is expected to review Palos Hills’ request to acquire the property that currently houses the shuttered Palos Olympic Health & Racquetball Club through the county’s No Cash Bid program during a hearing April 11 at the Cook County Building in Chicago.

The seven-member committee has been tasked with offering a recommendation to the full Cook County Board of Commissioners as to whether to approve or deny Palos Hills’ request, Pappas said.

City officials voted unanimously this January to direct Pappas to file the required documents with the county in an attempt to acquire the racquetball club property, 11050 S. Roberts Road, through the No Cash Bid program, an economic development tool designed to assist municipalities in

acquiring tax delinquent property for reuse as private development and tax reactivation or for tax exempt municipal use. There are around $300,000 in back taxes on the property, which has been sold several times since the racquetball club closed more than a decade ago.

Pappas expects the hearing to go well for Palos Hills.

“I anticipate approval (from the Finance Committee) and recommendation to the County board to grant us the property,” Pappas said.

Mayor Gerald Bennett has previously said that if the city was to acquire the property, the building, which is around 40 years old and in “poor condition,” would be demolished.

The cost to raze the building and clean up the site would be around $100,000, he said.

City officials have said they would initially leave the land as open space but would listen if a developer was interested in the property.

The No Cash Bid Program for this property is only available to Palos Hills, Bennett said. Any individual looking to purchase the property from Cook County would need to pay the $300,000 in back taxes.

Sexton said. “We have a terrific relationship with both the police and fire departments of our neighboring towns.”

Trustee Mary Keane added that she wanted to thank the village’s fire department members for their kindness and compassion in dealing with her neighbors who had suffered a devastating fire several days prior to the board meeting.

“In the midst of their trauma, they took the time to tell me how wonderful the department was in trying to save their home and how they followed through the day after the fire to check on how they were doing,”

said Keane.

A member of the audience, who said he lives on the 9800 block of South Avers Avenue, also praised the fire department for its work during a recent house fire at his neighbor’s house.

“Within a couple of hours, they had the fire out and the site cleaned up. You couldn’t even tell anything had happened there,” he said.

‘They were very efficient and competent.”

In other action, business certificates were approved for Prime Plus Pharmacy, 2955 W. 95th St., Suite 100, and a beauty shop, Happy Shear’s Salon, at 3510 W. 95th St.

Continued from Page 1

The Southwest Conference of Mayors supports the passage of House Bill 6286 and Senate Bill 2966. Both bills seek to reestablish the Comprehensive Regional Planning Fund, which was dissolved in 2011.

In terms of the Regional Transportation Authority funding, Plummer said money is becoming scarce.

“We had about $400 million from the (former Gov. Pat) Quinn administration,” said Plummer. “We are now approaching our limit. The RTA CMAP projects were on hiatus last year. We are going to reintroduce it again this year on May 5.”

During the meeting that lasted just over an hour, the board discussed pension reform and protecting municipal revenue. The Southwest Conference of Mayors encourages the General Assembly to address and reform the pensions

“I was crushed when my department got downsized, I loved that job,” explained Marshall. “I was depressed after that.”

The Lord lifted Marshall right up outta his depression by leading him to the honorable Bishop T.D. Jakes. No, he wasn’t attending his megachurch, The Potters House, in Dallas. He was working on his new talk show, The T.D. Jakes show.

“It was such a great experience working for him. He truly cared about every show. He’d invest hours working with each producer, talking to us about our shows. He genuinely wanted to help every guest,” said Marshall.

“Sometime he’d be analyzing a person and providing counsel and in my head, I’d be like, ‘Hey…that sounds like my life. You could be talking about me.’”

Marshall didn’t confirm, however, several media sources have reported the T.D. Jakes show will not return for a second season.

“I already miss working there,” expressed Marshall.

Marshall is still settling into his new quarters on the Dr. Phil show. He’s anticipating a lot from the well-oiled machine they seem to have in place.

“My career is still young, I’m looking forward to learning and growing from everyone around me,” Marshall said. “When you surround yourself with people who are supportive, you can be successful in anything you try. Your attitude and how you interact with others is critical to your upward mobility. If you’re unlikeable, your education and experience is meaningless. Lastly, set your sights on a goal and hit it, then set another one.”

Graduates, you’re going to need passion, patience and perseverance if you desire true fulfillment. Knowing this in advance will help prepare you for the journey that lies ahead.

Photo by Joe Boyle

Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett listens as speakers discuss employee benefits and financial planning during the Southwest Conference of Mayors meeting held last month.

7

DEATH NOTICES Evelyn Elizabeth Dekker (nee Adler) Evelyn Elizabeth Dekker (nee Adler) of Chicago Ridge, age 88 died at home on April 2, 2017. Wife of the late Thomas Albert Dekker for 65 years. Daughter of the late Harry Hoffman Adler and the late Grace Catherine Adler (nee Holtrop) ; half-sister of the late Edward Frank Fisher; late sister in law of Mary Lou Fisher and brother in law Allen Douglas Dekker. She is survived by brother in law Henry (Roberta) S. Dekker, Jr. nephew Rodger S. Graham, niece Mary Newman, God-Daughter Christine M. Okelman and her loving four-legged best friend and companion, Sunny.

Retired from Institute of Gas Technology in 1990 as Assistant to the President after 30 years. Following this, began service work as artist and officer of Town and Country Art League where she served as treasurer for 20 years. She was also a member of Senior Citizens Art League now in Chicago and several other local art groups and exhibited her works in locales throughout Chicago and many sites in the country. She studied art at Moraine Valley College for many years and at workshops with acknowledged master artists.

Her paintings are located in CT, FL, KY, IL and Mexico.

A series of eight paintings depicting Chicago Ridge Historical sites are on display at the Village Hall commissioned by the library.

A native Chicagoan, she was an art major graduate of Chicago’s Harper High School.

Early employment included Morgan Park Academy, Argonne National Laboratory and Armour Research Foundation.

She and her husband were ardent travelers and RV enthusiasts and toured all but a couple of the lower 48 states plus Canada, Mexico, Cuba and Jamaica. Both were sports oriented especially snow skiing, tennis, golf and leading bicycle groups along Chicago’s lake front.

Memorial donations may be made to Best Friends Animal Society Angel Canyon Road, PO Box 567, Kanab, UT 84741-0567 or Animal Welfare League 10306 Southwest Highway, Chicago Ridge, IL. 60415. Services were held privately, arrangements entrusted to Schmaedeke Funeral Home 708-448-6000

Stephen Horosinski Stephen Horosinski, 91, an Evergreen Park resident, died March 31 at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

Mr. Horosinski, a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, was a supervisor at a malting company. He was a volunteer for Honor Flight Chicago.

Survivors include his wife, Lucille Scott-Horosinski; daughters, Marion Brown, Linda Zaleski and Sally Little; son, David Scott; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Services were last Friday at Kosary Funeral Home. Interment followed at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Nick Gellis Nick K. Gellis, 81, a Palos Hills resident, died on Friday.

Mr. Gellis, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1952 from Louka, Tripoli, Greece, worked for many years in the grocery produce business and the restaurant business in Chicago and St. Joseph, Mich.

He was a lifetime member of AHEPA Woodlawn Chapter 93 and Hellenic Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, Betty (nee Stamos); daughter, Mary Gellis; sons, Dean, Angelo and George; sisters, Stamatina Bratsos and Vasiliki Georgelos; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Services were Tuesday from Hills Funeral Home to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Interment followed at Evergreen Cemetery.

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8 The Reporter

Thursday, April 13, 2017

SW Half-Marathon organizers expect more runners to sign up

WHATIZIT?

By Dermot Connolly

Photo by Joe Boyle

The clue for this week’s Whatizit photo (above) is: Center of fields.

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

We were surprised that no one answered last week’s quiz correctly.

We would have accepted a couple of answers. But the primary response should have been Pacetti Field, which is located at 9400 S. Oak Park Ave, just across the street from the Oak Lawn Community Pavilion. Pacetti Field is surrounded by Westside Baseball, which plays its games on various fields nearby.

Pacetti Field is occasionally used for high school baseball games and traveling leagues in the spring. The Roy Hobbs men’s leagues utilize Pacetti Field during the summer and the fall. Pacetti Field is cared for by the Oak Lawn Park District.

SUDOKU

Organizers of the 10th Annual Southwest Half-Marathon and 10K are expecting a spike in registration in these last few weeks before the races kick off May 7 on Route 83.

As of last Friday, when race founders and coordinators Jeff Prestinario and Mel Diab held their monthly meeting with organizers, close to 1,200 people in total had registered for the races. In addition to upward of 740 people registered for the half-marathon and 250 for the 10K, the 1,200 figure cited also included about 50 children registered for the free Kids’ Dash, which was added this year for the 10th anniversary. Organizers are figuring as many as 100 kids will ultimately sign up for the Dash.

“We’re happy to sponsor the Kids’ Dash, to make the day more of a community event,” said Lori Mazeika-Myre, of Palos Hospital, which is sponsoring the Dash in addition to the half-marathon. CNB Bank & Trust is the chief sponsor of the 10K event.

The Kids’ Dash is for children ages 2 to 10 and is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., following the main races, which all start and finish at 7600 W. College Drive (Route 83).

The Dash is actually four races divided by age category, with all participants receiving

a commemorative ribbon and medal. For children up to age 4, there is the 50-yard dash; 100-yard-dash for 5- and 6-year-olds; 200 yard-dash for ages 7 and 8; and the quarter-mile for boys and girls ages 9 and 10. The main races are open to anyone 11 and older.

The entrance fee for the half-marathon is $80 per person, and $50 for the 10K race.

Registration and more information about all three of the main races, including a course map, are available at www.southwesthalfmarathon.com.

The half-marathon is scheduled to begin with a gunshot start at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 10K run/walk at 7:40 a.m. Then at 7:45 a.m., the Southwest Special Recreation Association’s Walk, Run or Roll will start.

Lori Chesna, executive director of SWSRA, said Friday that already 20 people had signed up for that half-mile fun run for people ages 3 and up with special needs. More are expected to sign up for that race as well. More information and registration for that race is available at www.swsra.

Cong Dan Lipinski (D-3rd) will be the grand marshal of the event, and he might run in one of the main races. Other local office holders likely to be there include state Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18th), as well as

local mayors Bob Straz of Palos Heights, John Mahoney of Palos Park, and Gerald Bennett of Palos Hills.

Route 83 will be closed to traffic between Harlem and Archer Avenue before the main races start, limiting access to nearby parking lots. Prestinario and Diab are suggesting that people coming later in the morning for the Kids’ Dash park in the north end of the Palos Park Metra station, located about four blocks west of the starting point.

Barb Bergamo, president of the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce, said Friday that space is also still available for vendors who would like to participate in the Chamber’s Health and Business Expo, which, as usual, is being held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 6, the day before the races, at Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave. Race participants also traditionally collect their number bibs, event shirts and “goody bags” containing snacks and other items put together by volunteers during the Expo.

Registration forms for vendors and details about the Expo are available at www.palosareachamber.org.

With all the details coming together for the 10th annual race, Diab said there’s one remaining thing to do: “We can cross our fingers for some good weather.”

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

CHICAGO RIDGE

Chicago Ridge Lions accepting clothing, donations for needy

Answers on Page 9

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

The Chicago Ridge Lions Club will hold their Second Annual Spring Cleaning Clothing Drive and Fundraiser for the Almost Home Group, which benefits Chicago Ridge and local communities who are less fortunate.

The items can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sunday, April 29 and 30 through May 20 and 21. The Saturday and Sunday drop-off spots for clothing will be Jack and Pat’s Butcher Shop, 107th and Ridgeland, and Jenny’s Steak House, 111th and Menard.

Chicago Ridge Lions will be at both locations to accept clothing and monetary donations for the Almost Home Fundraiser.

They will be accepting clean and gently-used clothing for infants, toddlers, boys, girls, maternity, teenagers, young adults, adults and seniors. They will also be accepting towels, sheets, blankets and comforters.

Cash donations will also be accepted and donated to Almost Home to help the homeless. More information can be obtained by calling Rich at (708) 289-8734.

EVERGREEN PARK

Evergreen Park Seniors to hold monthly luncheon

The Evergreen Senior Council will hold its luncheon and program beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 20 at Evergreen Park Senior Center, 9547 S. Homan Ave. The guest speaker will be Kristin Salkas, a representative of the RTA, who will talk to members about the services they provide.

The reservation fee for the luncheon is $7.

Tickets have to be purchased by Monday, April 17 at the Evergreen Park Community Center, 3450 W. 97th St., Room 107.

The Evergreen Park High School’s A Capella musical group, the “Unaccompanied Minors,” will perform after guests are served a baked ham lunch. More information can be obtained by calling (708) 422-8776.

Canned good donations will also be accepted for the Evergreen Park Village Pantry.

OAK LAWN ACROSS

DOWN

1 Sleep lab study 6 Dal’ works, por ejemplo 10 Drug cop 14 Some storytellers 15 Midday 16 Chevy hatchback 17 New York City park that hosted two world’s fairs 20 Current fashion 21 Put on any old way 22 Permissible 23 Ordinal suffix 24 First-rate 25 Albania’s capital 26 Dry out, so to speak 28 Fall behind 29 Periodontist’s deg.

30 “How Deep Is Your Love” group 34 Wks. and wks.

35 Rice cultivation lands 37 Prefix with life or wife 38 Star in Scorpius 39 Voice legend Blanc 40 U-verse provider 41 “Not just a scooter, a way of life” brand 45 Kind of surprise kick 47 Popular berry 50 Trawler’s catch 51 Present moment 52 Farm implement 53 Coil in a garden 54 More exciting circumstances 57 Tan tone 58 Scale for rock hounds 59 Alaskan native 60 Filing tool 61 Petty fight 62 Se-orita’s parent

1 Valet at Wayne Manor 2 Hand-washer of the Gospels 3 All for __: in vain 4 Celtic language 5 Volcanic cloud that can disrupt flights 6 1997-2006 U.N. leader 7 Disobedient way to go 8 Mummy’s resting place 9 Yakima-to-Spokane dir.

10 Low point 11 Guacamole ingredients 12 Goes back a scene or two 13 Bob of “Football Night in America” 18 Words before a kiss 19 Sacha Baron Cohen alter ego 24 Shown the office door 25 Stun gun brand 27 Bk. after Amos 28 Daughter of Darth 31 Bit of online courtship 32 Ibsen’s “Peer __” 33 Young newt 34 Inventory: Abbr.

35 Tapered beer glasses 36 Big name in jeans 37 One of Las Islas Baleares 39 Fish tail?

40 Yemen coastal city 42 Made a point 43 One with affectations 44 Carol opener 46 Acquire a winter coat?

47 Omega’s opposite 48 Move effortlessly 49 Cribside chorus 52 Pocket watch, to a hypnotist 53 Luau dance 55 Ambulance letters 56 Edinburgh bonnet

Answers on Page 9

Holy Week services offered at Pilgrim Faith Church

Holy Week services will continue through Easter at the Pilgrim Faith United Church of Church, 9411 S. 51st Ave., Oak Lawn.

A Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service at Pilgrim Faith will be held at 7 p.m. today (April 13). The enactment of the last days of Jesus’ life will end in silence with all lights and candles. All are invited to share Holy Communion.

On Good Friday, April 14, Pilgrim Faith will offer a series of interactive stations for meditation and prayer. The public is invited to come at any time from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 5:30 to 8 p.m. Participants will move at their own pace through a number of stations at which they may reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and death through scripture, prayer, art, lighting candles, receiving communion and other activities.

Pilgrim Faith’s Easter worship will be at 9:30 a.m. on April 16, beginning with children decorating the cross with flowers.

Easter breakfast at 10:30 a.m. is open to all with freewill donations supporting the senior high mission trip. An Easter egg hunt for the children will be held after the breakfast.

Skate with Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny will be on hand not only to greet families, but will be on the ice as well from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 15 at the Oak Lawn Ice Arena, 9320 S. Kenton Ave. The special open skate will include music provided by the DJ at the Oak Lawn Ice Arena. Admission is $7 and the skate rental is $3. More information can be obtained by calling (708) 857-5173.

Golf scramble at Stony Creek

The four-person golf scramble will be held on Saturday, April 15 at the Stony Creek Golf Course, 5850 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn.

Golfers can register for the event, which begins with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The tournament is open to all golfers who just want to have fun. The registration fee is $45 per player and includes green fee, range

balls, lunch and prizes. More information can be obtained by calling (708) 857-2433.

Penny social will be held at Johnson-Phelps Post

The annual penny social will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 23 at the JohnsonPhelps VFW Auxiliary 5220, 9514 S. 52nd Ave., Oak Lawn.

The event is for residents who enjoy garage sales, yards sales and flea markets. Nickeldime and quarter tables will be part of the festivities. A raffle table will be part of the Event. Guests will be provided with free piece of cake with their lunch purchase.

Trivia Night will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church

Trivia Night will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 9701 S. Brandt Ave., Oak Lawn. The entry fee is $5 per person. Food will be available for purchase and will include hot dogs, snacks, beer, wine, pop and water. More information can be obtained by calling the church office, (708) 422-0193.

Accepting garden flower sale orders at Trinity Preschool

A pre-order garden flower sale is being sponsored by the Trinity Lutheran Preschool, 9701 S. Brandt Ave., Oak Lawn.

Advance orders can be made for bedding plants, hanging baskets, geraniums, patio flowers and many more. Residents can stop by or call the church, (708) 422-0193, or visit the church website at www.trinityol.com.

Orders need to be placed by Wednesday, April 19. The flowers will arrive fresh from Michigan nursery on Friday, May 5 and can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vacation Bible School to be held at Oak Lawn Bible School

The annual Vacation Bible School will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, July 17 through July 21, at the Oak Lawn Bible Church, 9435 S. 54th Ave. The program is open for children entering preschool (ages 3 to 4) through fifth grade.

This year’s program is entitled “Galactic Starveyors: Discovering the God of the Universe.” Children do not need to be members of the church to attend.

The program is free. For more information call (708) 857-9800 or visit www. oaklawnbible.org. To register online, go to oaklawnbible.org/events.

Volleyball for Charity at Oak Lawn Park District

The Oak Lawn Park District, in cooperation with the Special Recreation Athletic Support Association (SRASA), will host the 37th Annual Volleyball for Charity Co-Rec Volleyball Tournament on Saturday, April 22.

The tournament will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tournament locations include the Oak Lawn Community Pavilion, 9401 S. Oak Park Ave.; Mother McAuley High School, 3737 W. 99th St., Chicago; and Frontier Park, 9807 S. Sayre Ave., Chicago Ridge.

Volleyball for Charity began 36 years ago by the Clark Family as a fundraising effort benefiting organizations that support individuals with special needs and their families.

This year’s proceeds will benefit Park Lawn and SRASA. Adults ages 18 and up are encouraged to register a team today. Registration for the tournament is $350 and includes eight tournament T-shirts. A $450 registration option is also available and includes eight tournament T-shirts and eight after party tickets to 115 Bourbon Street. Registration and donation opportunities are available online, www.volleyballforcharity.org, or at any park district facility. The registration deadline is Saturday, April 16.

The after party will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park. Tickets are available at the door for $35 each. A ticket includes four hours of open bar, door prizes, a buffet dinner, DJ and more. Premium raffles will be available for an additional cost.

For more information, call (708) 857-2420 or email volleyballforcharity@olparks.com.

Residents can visit the website at www.volleyballforcharity.org

Earth Day Faire to be held at Wolfe Wildlife

Residents can celebrate Earth Day and

Arbor Day with the Oak Lawn Park District and Village of Oak Lawn at the 10th Annual Earth Day Faire from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at the Wolfe Wildlife Refuge Center, 10900 S. Laramie Ave., Oak Lawn.

This year’s theme is Citizen Science projects. Residents will participate in a variety of family-fun activities including Jim Nesci’s Cold Blooded Creatures, Big Run Wolfe Ranch, tree climbing, kids crafts, scavenger hunt, education on green living, gardening and composting and a milkweed plant sale. Admission is free.

Raffles and other giveaways will be part of the festivities.

The scavenger hunt will take place after Jim Nesci’s Cold Blooded Creatures show.

Participants will have an opportunity to win a prize.

Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. For more information, contact Dolly Foster at (708) 857-2201.

Oak Lawn Community Garden seeks volunteers

The Oak Lawn Community Garden is currently accepting registrations for the 2017 season. This is a cooperative project between the Oak Lawn Park District, School District 123, and the Village of Oak Lawn.

The garden is located at the corner of 104th and Cook Avenue.

Participants can grow their own produce or sign up to be a pantry garden volunteer to grow produce for local food pantries.

In the 2016 season, the Oak Lawn Garden Community Garden donated 350 pounds of produce to local charities. The 2017 goal is to double that donation.

Allotments to rent are limited in availability. More information can be found at www. olparks.com or by emailing Dolly Foster, Oak Lawn Park District Horticulturist, at dfoster@olparks.com.

Oak Lawn Park District to host trip to Tulip Festival

The Oak Lawn Park District will sponsor a trip to see the Tulip Festival in Holland, Mich., on Tuesday, May 10.

Guests will tour the Veldheer Tulip Garden.

Residents will have an opportunity to watch the carving of wooden shoes at the Wooden Shoe Factory, and take a stroll through Windmill Island and their shops.

Departure is at 7 a.m. from the Oak View Center, 4625 W. 110th St., Oak Lawn. The scheduled return is at 8 p.m. The fee is $110 for residents and $120 for non-residents.

Lunch will not be provided. However, dinner will be included at the Queen’s Inn. More information can be obtained by calling (708) 857-2200.

PALOS HILLS Health Expo will be held at Rec Department

The City of Palos Hills Community Resource and Recreation Department will be hosting a Health Expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 at the Palos Hills Community Center, 8455 W. 103rd St. The Expo is sponsored by the Senior News.

Free health screenings and door prize drawings will also be held. Exhibitors include government programs, home care, fitness, dental care, chiropractic care, rehabilitation services, RTA and veteran services.

The Benefits of Stretching by Nova Care Rehabilitation free seminar will be held at 10:30 a.m. For more information or to become a vendor, call Sandy DeMoor, (708) 430-4500.

Palos Township residents can fil property assessment appeal applications

Residents of Palos Township can file a property assessment appeal applications through Wednesday, May 3 at the township office, 10802 S. Roberts Road, Palos Hills.

The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information can be obtained by calling (708) 598-4418.

Appeal Applications must be received by the Cook County Assessor no later than May 3. Palos Township will assist residents with applications until Tuesday, May 2, allowing the last day, Wednesday, May 3 for delivery.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

CONSUMER NEWS

COMINGS & GOINGS

Demolition of Landmark begins

hhgregg going out of business

Indianapolis-based consumer electronics retailer hhgregg is going out of business and has started liquidation sales at all of its locations, including Orland Park and Ford City Mall.

The company had filed for bankruptcy protection in March and closed 88 stores and three distribution centers. It decided to close after being unable to find a buyer for the chain of 220 stores in 19 states.

LEGALsold NOTICE Founded in 1955, the retailer major

LEGAL NOTICE

Demolition began last week on The Landmark banquet hall in Bedford Park.

appliances like washers and TVs, as well as computers and home theater systems.

The company has 14 stores in the Chicago area including Orland Park Place Mall, Ford City Mall, Joliet, North Riverside and two in northwest Indiana.

Payless ShoeSource to close two south suburban stores

Payless ShoeSource last week announced the stores it will close as part of its recent bankruptcy filing. The retailer will close 400 stores, including 13 in Illinois. Local stores to close include one at Lakeview Plaza in Orland Park, one in Stonebrook Plaza in Merrionette Park, and one at the Scottsdale Shopping Center in Chicago.

Noodles & Company closes Evergreen store

Colorado-based Noodles & Company announced last week that it would close 16 restaurants including six in Illinois.

The Evergreen Park location was one of the six in Illinois to close and the only one in the south suburbs.

The chain had announced in February that it would close 55 underperforming restaurants but did release a list of affected stores at the time.

McDonald’s leaves Ford City

McDonald’s has pulled out of Ford City Mall in Chicago as the Southwest Side shopping center undergoes a major face-

Aurelio’s in Mokena has a new look

Aurelio’s of Mokena is unveiling its new look this week with a grand opening on Wednesday, April 12.

The pizzeria has new flooring, new ceiling, new backs of booths, a new face on the bar and a new paint job.

Grand opening specials include $2 pizzas from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 5-8 p.m. there will be beer specials, Spin the Wheel with Pizza Man, Dine in Drawings for every group at every table, raffle prizes.

Businesses flock to Schererville

The business community in Schererville in northwest Indiana has gotten more crowded with the recent openings of America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses and Talbots Co. at the Shops on Main shopping center, and the opening last week of a Nordstrom Rack store at 185 U.S. 41.

The Nordstrom Rack store is only the second in Indiana and the second in the south suburbs. Another location is in Orland Park.

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

LEGAL NOTICE

SXU Job Fair to offer support and advice to local veterans

LEGAL NOTICE

Don’t get swayed by these investment ‘myths’

tation, there will be a networking session in which veterans will meet with employers to discuss career opportunities.

Numerous employers will be in attendance.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to register online to reserve a nametag and other relevant materials.

For more information, contact Cruz at (773) 298-3144 or email lcruz@sxu.edu; or Gricelda Gonzalez at (773) 298-3502 or email ggonzalez@sxu.edu.

future results.” These ver time, you will run into words are certainly various sugtrue; just because an gestions for investinvestment has had ing successfully. Yet a good run recently, upon closer inspecit doesn’t mean its success will continue tion, many of these indefinitely. You need ideas turn out to be to evaluate each invest“myths,” which could Scott cause you trouble ment on its own merits if you treat them as Johnson and on how well it solid advice. Here are fits into your overall five of these myths, portfolio. along with some reasons for • International investing ignoring them: is too risky. In today’s global • You can find the next economy, it may be more “big thing.” All of us probrisky not to invest some of your portfolio internationally. ably wish we could have U.S. stocks represent less than “gotten in on the ground half of global stock market floor” of Apple or Microsoft capitalization – so by stopor some other tremendously profitable company. And who ping at our borders, you are knows? There may indeed be depriving yourself of a world a similar other business out of opportunities. It’s true that there, waiting to take off. But foreign investments carry it’s almost impossible for any- some special risks relating one to identify these potential to currency fluctuations and political and economic events, “blockbusters.” There’s really no shortcut to investment suc- but you can help contain this risk by confining your internacess – you need the patience and discipline to invest for tional holdings to a relatively the long term, and you need small percentage of your portto build a portfolio that’s apfolio. A financial professional propriate for your goals and can suggest the best ways for risk tolerance. you to add a global element to your investments.

• Investors should always • You need a lot of money seek to “buy low and sell to make a lot of money. Of high.” This is actually good course, it doesn’t hurt to have advice – or it would be, if a sizable amount of money were possible to consistently to invest right away. But the follow it. But how can you world is full of people who know when the market is “high enough” to sell or “low started investing with small sums and ended up havenough” to buy? You can’t – ing enough money to enjoy and neither can anyone else. the retirement lifestyle they Trying to time the market had envisioned. If you’re just rarely works. A more appropriate strategy is to invest beginning to invest, put in as much as you can afford each regularly and to diversify month; as your income goes your holdings among stocks, up, increase your investments. bonds, government securities As an investor, time is your and other vehicles, based on greatest ally. your goals and risk tolerSticking to a consistent inance. Diversification can help vestment strategy can help you protect you against market write your own investment downturns that primarily tale – and you can leave the affect just one asset class. myths to the storybooks.

Keep in mind, though, that diversification can’t guarantee Scott Johnson, CFP, is a profits or protect against all financial advisor with Edward losses.

Jones, 8146 W. 111th St., Palos • It’s always smart to Hills, (708) 974-1965. Edward buy investments that have Jones does not provide legal performed well recently. You advice. This article was writmay have read, in investment ten by Edward Jones for use prospectuses, that “past perby your local Edward Jones formance is no guarantee of financial advisor.

AREA PROPERTY TRANSFERS

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

Staff photo

lift project.

Mall management said, “We were sad to see McDonald’s go, corporate has decided to make the majority of their restaurants drive-through facilities.”

“Bridges to Employment,” an inaugural job fair for local veterans, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 at the Shannon Center at St. Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd St., Chicago The event will begin with a panel discussion featuring employers who will advise veterans on how to translate their military skills and experiences in which they can market themselves for civilian careers. Following the presen-

LEGAL NOTICE

9

O

D

emolition began last week on the former Landmark banquet hall at 6800 S. Archer Road in Bedford Park.

The longtime home of Marlene’s Catering closed in December 2014 after being for sale for some time and had been listed on one business website as going for $850,000.

The property is slated to become a Speedway gas station and convenience store.

No construction timetable was given.

Bob The building was origia Chicago & Joliet Bong nally Electric Railway car barn for an interurban rail line that stretched from Chicago’s Southwest Side to Joliet with stops in Bedford Park, Summit, Argo and Willow Springs.

The railway built Dellwood Park as an amusement park in Lockport in 1905 to increase ridership on the southern end of the line. The park cost $300,000 and included a carousel, boat rides, picnic areas, a rollercoaster and harness racing track. The amusement park attractions burned down in the 1930s.

The rail line was hit hard by the Great Depression and eventually shut down in 1933.

In the 1950s, the building became known as Club Elgin, a dime-a-dance hall. Its last use was by a beer distributor before becoming The Landmark in 1970.

The Reporter

Following are the property transfers Filip, 9601 Karlov Ave, Unit #9601NW101, $48,000; in the area, according to LEGAL the latest NOTICE report, as received from the Cook Inproland Corp to Sigala Gabriel County Recorder of Deeds Office. Lopez, 8733 Sproat Ave, $175,000; The Reporter Newspaper does not Johnson Romualda G to B Sacamano attempt to correct errors made by LLC, 4005 106th St, $162,500; that office.

Standard B&T Co Trust to Hartigan Katherine A, 4240 111th St, $170,000; Chicago Ridge Smolen Krzysztof to Flores Oscar, Aguilar Jose L to 10210 Ridgeland LLC, 10210 S Ridgeland Ave, 6258 W 109th St, $204,000; $1,800,000; Theo Inv LLC to Taylor Iesha C, 7009 Rohan Mary C Tr to Vann Roshanda, W 100th St, Unit #302, $70,000; 10048 Pulaski Rd, Unit #1K, $92,000; Rodgers Janeen N to Doleh Rame, 9830 S Nashville Ave, Unit #98202, Van Leuven George L Tr to Demaj Maciej, 9609 Austin Ave, Unit $88,000; #13036, $71,000; Teresi Joseph to Ramirez Angelica, Visser Thomas W to Brown Yolanda, 10948 Moody Ave, $140,000; 9704 Central Ave, $192,000; U S Bk to Hamayel Abdel Baset, 10298 Southwest Hwy, Unit #13B, Chicago Trust Co Tr to Garrett Etter, 5840 104th St, Unit #401, $86,000; $54,000; Emlund John D to Stoch Thomas U S Bk to Linder Ave Rlty Grp LLC, A, 10304 Ridgeland Ave, Unit #107, 4021 106th St, $141,000; Mueller Shayna to Gonzalez Anabel, $32,000.

9721 S Keeler Ave, Unit #7306, Evergreen Park $70,500; Pienta Daniel J to Almond Monica, Severance Scott A to Severance 9236 S Sacramento Ave, $181,500; Ryan S, 9143 51st St, $158,000; Deutsche Bk Natl Trust Co to Federal Home Loan Mtg Corp to Whiskey Millworks Inc, 2717 W 89th Martello John R Jr, 9259 S Ridgeland Ave, $165,000; St, $55,000; Trunk Todd to Williams Tiffany D, Kurszak Alojzy Tr to Mazurek Mayfield LLC, 10401 S Mayfield 8833 S California Ave, $182,500; LEGAL NOTICE Athie Charles H to Hudon Karen M, Ave, $510,000; Shane Richard to Ramahi Jafez, 8910 10201 S Utica Ave, $169,000.

LEGAL NOTICE Central Ave, $65,000; Hickory Hills Taxpert Equity Holdings IDA LLC to Rusk Richard to Gawlak Eneasz S, Odonnell Sean P, 5512 Oak Center Dr, $312,000; 8111 W 92nd Pl, $160,000; Skafar Scott S to Ayres Thomas, Morsi Adam to Turaboev Nosir, 9740 9430 Greenbriar Rd, Unit #2H, Pulaski Rd, Unit #9740301, $58,000; $107,000; Bank New York Mellon to Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Kowalkowski Wieslawa, 9240 S Bienias Bartlomie J, 9414 S 83rd Mcvicker Ave, $121,000; Ave, $200,000.

Standard B&T Co Tr to Velazquez Victor, 5008 Harnew Rd, $248,000; Oak Lawn Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Epstein David A Adm to Variciuc Hinton Corine, 4032 W 99th St,

SUDOKU

Answers

CROSSWORD

Answers

$70,000; Loomis Walter J Tr to Gomez Edaena, 4840 98th St, $175,000; Kwasny Lynn M to Chialdikas George A, 9551 S Ridgeland Ave, Unit #3E, $99,000; U S Bk to Hawkins Perez Marcia, 10002 Pulaski Rd, Unit #108, $37,500; Mcgreal Kevin F to Tuleja Ronald Jr, 10841 Lamon Ave, $217,000; Aglinskas Peter R to Staniszewski Michal, 10424 Central Ave, Unit #A3, $73,000; Kelly Michael P Tr to Zajack Michael R, 4929 106th St, $235,000; Pocius Michael A to Lejeune Amy, 9031 Central Ave, $113,000; Miller Mark R to Topolska Anna, 9725 Normandy Ave, $162,000; Fannie Mae to Rangel Gabriel, 9701 S Kolmar Ave, $195,000.

Palos Hills Utz Charles A Tr to Utz Lily J Tr, 10600 Brooklodge Ln, Unit #1B, $105,000;

Elvir Luis to Aguilar Miguel, 9188 South Rd, Unit #9188C, $132,500; Rollo Jean M Tr to Malysa Stanley, 10845 S 84th Ave, Unit #1C, $137,500; Pivotal Inv Inc to Montoya Amilcar, 10343 S 84th Ave, $260,000; Borchers Peter D to Shareef Basil J, 11012 Theresa Cir, Unit #2D, $155,000; Piha Maxine M Tr to Zuteja Merjeme, 10144 S 86th Ave, $200,000; Standard B&T Co Tr to Garmon Christina, 10222 S 80th Ct, $215,000.

Worth Mcaleenan Kelli to Hack Robert B, 6858 W 115th St, $158,000; Kimeck Donna M to Houmaldi Ahmed El, 7408 W 111th St, Unit #303, $61,000; Bayview Loan Servicing LLC to Stama Janusz, 7420 W 114th St, $110,000; Engstrom Don to Stefanisim Daniel G, 6525 W 112th Pl, $125,000.

Mortgage Rates Around the Area First Midwest Bank (as of April 10) 30-year fi ed

RATES 4.125

APR 4.160

POINTS 0

15-year fi ed

3.375

3.340

0

30-year fi ed Jumbo

4.125

4.170

0

United Trust Bank (as of April 10) 30-year fi ed

RATES 4.060

APR 4.081

POINTS 0

15-year fi ed

3.375

3.411

0

10-year fi ed

3.250

3.303

0

Prospect Federal (as of April 10) 30-year fi ed

RATES 4.250

APR 4.296

POINTS .25

20-year fi ed

4.000

4.062

.25

15-year fi ed

3.500

3.562

.25

All rates subject to change daily. Equal opportunity lenders.

10 The Reporter

Thursday, April 13, 2017

LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

CHICAGO RIDGE

EVERGREEN PARK

The Lego Club will meet at 11 a.m. Saturdays through May 20 at the Chicago Ridge Library, 10400 S. Oxford Ave. Library staff members will supply Legos and kids will supply the imagination. Children from kindergarten through eighth grade can build Legos. More information can be obtained by calling the library, (708) 423-7753, or visit the website at www.chicagoridgelibrary.org.

A session will be held on keeping an organized kitchen beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20 at the Evergreen Park Library, 9400 S. Troy Ave. M. Colleen Klimczak will teach patrons how to organize the space, explore menu planning and become a savvy shopper. Learn to make the kitchen for you and your family. Registration is requested from the library website at evergreenparklibrary.org or call (708) 422-.8522.

Lego Club will meet Saturdays

Babies will hear stories, songs

Babies and toddlers up to 2 years old and their caregivers will listen to stories and hear songs from 10 to 10:30 a.m. every Thursday at the Chicago Ridge Library. The program will begin today and will begin today (Thursday, April 6) and continue until May 18. More information can be obtained by calling (708) 423-7753 or visit the website at www.chicagoridgelibrary.org.

Teens can take part in Water Bottle Challenge

Water bottle challenge for teens in grades six to 12 will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 18 at the Chicago Ridge Library.

Teens can use a water bottle to compete in the new Bottle Flip Challenge Game. More information can be obtained by calling (708) 423-7753 or visit www.chicagoridgelibrary.org

Mad Libs Party

A Mad Libs Party will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 4 at the Chicago Ridge Library. Kids in the first through eighth grade can take part in a variety of different games ranging from creating a self-portrait blindfolded, or getting tangled up in Twister.

In addition, participants will play the traditional Mad Libs word game.

More information can be obtained by calling (708) 423-7753 or visit the website at www.chicagoridgelibrary.org.

Battle of the Books

The 15th annual Battle of the Books will include students from Finley Junior High, Our Lady of the Ridge, Ridge Central and Ridge Lawn schools from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 at the Chicago Ridge Library.

The students have been reading books from the Rebecca Caudill and Bluestem nominee award list throughout the school year. The students will compete to answer questions from this year’s 40 books.

This program is sponsored in part by the Friends of the Chicago Ridge Public Library.

More information can be obtained by calling (708) 423-7753 or visit the website at www. chicagoridgelibrary.org.

Organize your kitchen

Make teacup bird’s nest

Patrons can learn how to make a teacup bird’s nest hanging using a real cup at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20 at the Evergreen Park Library. Using a real cup, residents will arrange some greenery, flowers and of course, a tiny bird to nest within this cozy home. All materials included for a $5 fee.

Registration is requested from the library website at evergreenparklibrary.org or call (708) 422-8522.

OAK LAWN Film group to view ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ at library

Cineversary, the Oak Lawn Public Library’s monthly film discussion group open to anyone age 17 and older, will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the 1952 classic musical “Singin’ in the Rain” with a screening and discussion of the movie from 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 15 at the Oak Lawn Public Library’s downstairs theater. For more information, call (708) 422-4990 or visit tinyurl. com/cineversary.

Kids can work on puzzles and hunt for clues

Kids ages 10 to 14 can work together to solve puzzles and find clues in a scavenger hunt-like format from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. today (Thursday, April 13) at the Oak Lawn Library, 9427 S. Raymond Ave. More information about this and other youth programs can be obtained by calling (708) 422-4990 or visit www.olpl.org.

Volunteers to work in the Friends Bookstore

The Friends of the Oak Lawn Library is accepting applications for bookstore volunteers, which consists of sorting book donations and stocking the store at the Oak Lawn Library. One four-hour shift per week is required. Volunteer forms are available at the Customer Services Desk on the first floor of the library. For more information, call Carole Onwiler at (708) 422-8646.

‘Voices in the Wind: Remembering the 1967 Tornado’

SCHOOL NEWS

In recognition of the devastating tornado that struck Oak Lawn and the surrounding communities, Local History presents a new exhibit titled, “Voices in the Wind: Remembering the 1967 Tornado” that will open Friday, April 21 at the Oak Lawn Library.

The exhibit will feature over 100 images, archival footage of the aftermath and recollections from witnesses.

The 50th Anniversary Opening Reception and Exhibit Preview will be held at 6 p.m.

Friday, April 21 at the library. Refreshments will be served. Register online at www.olpl. org or visit the Adult Services Desk. Registration will also be offered by calling (708) 422-4990.

PALOS HILLS

Learn about brunch recipes

A variety of brunch ideas with Chef Maddox will be offered at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 17 at the Green Hills Library, 8611 W. 103rd St., Palos Hills. Samples will be provided.

The event is for adults only. Register online at greenhillslibrary.org.

Kids are introduced to science

The Science Lab with Miss Emily is being held for children at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 at the Green Hills Library. Children of all ages are welcome, but kids under age 6 must be accompanied by a caregiver. Register online at greenhillslibrary.org.

Painting crafts for kids at Green Hills Library

Children ages 5 and up can learn to make ceramic teapot flower plants during a session at 5:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. at the Green Hills Library. Participants should dress accordingly as this program could get messy. Registration is limited to 34 per session. The two sessions are being held due to high demand. Register online at greenhillslibrary.org.

WORTH

Program about 100th anniversary of U.S. entry into Word War I

A program entitled “World War I: A World Gone Mad” will be presented at 7 p.m. Monday, April 17 in the meeting room of the Worth Library, 6917 W. 111th St. Historian Jim Gibbons will highlight the significant events that thrust the U.S. into World War I. April 6, 2017 was the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into the war.

More information can be obtained by calling (708) 448-2855.

Submitted photo

Blood drive at Chicago Christian

A blood drive for the Heartland Blood Centers was recently sponsored at Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights. Several staff members and students donated blood during the event. Junior Mitch Sachs is pictured above donating blood.

Glen Oaks students have Skype session with a paleontologist Students at Glen Oaks School in Hickory Hills put in a lot time preparing questions to ask a paleontologist through Skype about dinosaurs and fossils.

“How big are dinosaurs?” asked one second-grader.

“When were the first dinosaur fossils found?” asked a fifthgrader.

Stephanie, the paleontologist from Illinois who now lives and works in Snowmass Village, Colo., was quick with the answers.

“Dinosaurs were as small as chickens and grew as large as 24 feet tall,’” she said. “The first fossils actually found and described by scientists date back to 1824.”

The exchange took place via Skype between the paleontologist and students in grades second through fifth inside the school’s media center. The exchange was coordinated by Christine Pulgar.

Stephanie told the students that most fossils come to the surface through soil erosion, although some fossils have been uncovered 40 feet below the ground.

She offered one really interesting piece of information when she said

that not all dinosaurs are extinct.

“Birds are dinosaurs,” she said.

She said one way of differentiating between a fossil and a rock is that a fossil takes the shape of a bone or a plant. Color, shape and texture also help differentiate the two.

Stephanie told the students that while she has found bones from T-Rex and triceratops dinosaurs, she specializes in the study of mammal fossils. She added that finding “complete fossil skeletons” is nearly impossible.

Most of the fossils she has found were discovered during digs in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Stephanie said dinosaurs lived on every continent of the world.

She told the students that she knew she wanted to be a paleontologist from the time she was 8 years old. She worked hard in school, especially in the areas of math and science, and volunteered through high school at the Field Museum in Chicago.

She studies geology in college and received a master’s degree in paleontology.

Submitted photo

Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle school students Corrin Smith (left) and Anna Enderle received state recognition for their Reflections contest entries.

Oak Lawn-Hometown students are recognized for ‘Reflections’ Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School students Corrin Smith and Anna Enderle received state recognition through the PTSA Reflections contest.

After entering the contest last year, Smith used her passion for dance to choreograph a contest entry for this year and received an honorable mention in the Dance Choreography category.

“I enjoyed expressing myself so much through the competition last year that I wanted to give it another shot. It is so nice to be recognized,” she said.

Enderle, a sixth-grade student, also received an honorable mention in Literature. Enderle wrote an autobiography about her life so far and is no stranger to the contest.

“I have been entering the Reflections contest since third grade,” Enderle said. “I am really proud of myself this year. I didn’t know I was such a good writer.”

This year’s Reflections theme was “What is Your Story?” Students in District 123 could share their story through multiple art forms including dance, poem, and literature.

STUDENTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Oak Lawn resident earns degree from WGU

A local student has received a degree from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City during a commencement ceremony held recently at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando. Rene Delgado, an Oak Lawn resident, received his bachelor of science degree in information technology.

Oak Lawn residents named to dean’s list at Boston University

Two local students have been named to the dean’s list at Boston University for the fall semester. Earning dean’s list honors at Boston University were Oak Lawn residents Elizabeth Annerino and Roxanne Seginga.

Oak Lawn student is named to Quincy University dean’s list

A local student has been selected to the dean’s list for the fall 2016 semester at Quincy University in Quincy, Ill. Oak Lawn resident Bridget Regan was selected to the dean’s list at Quincy University.

Palos Hills student named to dean’s list at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

A local student was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2016 semester at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Sophomore Alexis Nicole Lyons, a resident of Palos Hills, earned dean’s list honors.

Lyons is a science undergrad.

SPORTS The Regional News • The Reporter

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

Thursday,March April 5, 13,2015 2017 Thursday,

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

Tremendous trio in hoops, wrestling

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Josh Niego cuts down a net after a regional title. Niego said he and his teammates felt cut down after preseason slights and that motivated the team to a great season and helped inspire Niego to Regional/Reporter Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Queen of Peace’s Kara Shimko earned Regional/Reporter Girls Basketball Player of the Year honors for a second straight season.

GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Josh Niego • Brother Rice

By Jason Maholy Correspondent

Brother Rice’s Josh Niego embraces the role of the underdog.

The Crusaders’ senior forward took it as a challenge when his squad was absent from Chicago-area news outlets’ preseason boys basketball rankings.

“I always read what the so-called ‘expert’ reporters say, and this year there were a lot of them doubting us, saying we were too small, whatever,” he said. “I used those as a reminder just

to prove people wrong.”

Niego and his teammates did just that, as Rice went 25-6 while winning the East Suburban crown and the program’s first regional title since 2008.

Oh, and the three-year starter averaged 18 points and six rebounds while earning Catholic League Player of the Year honors.

For his personal accomplishments and for helping lead the Crusaders to their finest season in nearly a decade, Niego has been named The Regional/ Reporter’s Boys Basketball Player of

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR:

By Jason Maholy Correspondent

Patrick Brucki remembers it vividly. He can see it, smell it, feel the sense of panic.

The Sandburg grappler is in the state wrestling tournament for the fourth consecutive season, vying for the state title that had narrowly eluded him the previous two seasons. Then, in an instant, he’s in the worst place a wrestler can be — on his back. With his season on the brink of being over and his dream of a championship moments from being quashed, he desperately kicks his legs in an attempt to right himself...

Then he’s wide awake.

Cold.

the Year.

He was also miffed to be left off a preseason list of elite CCL players, not because he seeks personal accolades, but because he knew the impact he could have on his team.

“They named like 12 guys (on the list) and I wasn’t on there,” he recalled.

“I had that hanging up in my locker the whole year. And it turned out I was Catholic League Player of the Year, so it was really satisfying to get that.”

See NIEGO, Page 3

Patrick Brucki • Sandburg

Sweating.

Brucki experienced that nightmare more than once during his senior season — which did, in fact, end with him standing atop the podium as the Class 3A champion at 195 pounds. He was the lone area champion and earned the Regional/Reporter Wrestler of the Year honor.

“I truly did become obsessed about winning a state title,” Brucki said roughly one month after his title run in Champaign. “I was so close multiple times, and that eats at you, it takes sleep away. You wake up in the middle of the night because you had a dream.”

Photo by Jeff Vorva Brucki finished third in state in 2015 and Patrick Brucki, state champion in his senior season, is the Regional/

See BRUCKI, Page 2 Reporter Wrestler of the Year.

Kara Shimko • Queen of Peace

By Frank Gogola Correspondent

Kara Shimko, Queen of Peace senior basketball player, sensed something was up when she stopped by her dad’s office on Jan. 24.

Based on the demeanor within the office, she guessed the news out of the recent coaches’ meeting was that Peace would be closing at the end of the year.

George Shimko, the athletic director and girls basketball coach, told her to focus her energy on that night’s game against Joliet Catholic Academy.

Shortly after she helped lead Peace to a 58-22 victory, a mass e-mail confirmed the school’s impending closure.

The Pride went 5-3 after the announcement, but the team still set multiple records to close the school’s history book. Shimko set numerous individual school records with her strong, balanced play, which helped her earn the Reporter/Regional Girls Basketball Player of the Year award for the second straight season.

“Playing the last few weeks was emotional, especially since it’s senior year and you’re not going to be able to come back and walk through the gym and remember all those good memories,” she said. “It’s hard, but it’s something we had to go through. It was definitely an unforgettable season

and unforgettable memories that we’ve created together.”

Shimko, who had her number 14 retired during an emotional senior night, paced the team with 16.6 points per game and was second in total assists (120) and steals (107). She was third on the team with 4.9 rebounds per game despite standing at just 5-foot-4.

She helped lead Peace to its best record (28-4) in the school’s 55-year history. With all five starters returning, the Pride won its second consecutive regional title, marking the program’s first back-to-back regional titles since 1994.

“Once they announced (the closure), I saw in Kara even more passion to finish as strong as we possibly could to leave a mark at Queen of Peace,” George said.

Shimko broke the Queen of Peace career scoring record of 1,214 points set by Shelby Elstner in 1994. Shimko scored 1,407 points in just three seasons at Peace after playing her freshman year at Plainfield North. She broke her own school record for 3-pointers made (92) and free-throw shooting (91 percent), both of which she originally set in 2016.

Shimko will continue playing basketball at Cardinal Stritch, an NAIA school in Milwaukee so she will still play close on occasion when her team visits St. Xavier University and Trinity Christian College.

Plenty of other hoop stars and wrestlers made their mark

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

The three athletes who were honored as the top area wrestler and basketball players — Sandburg’s Patrick Brucki, Brother Rice’s Josh Niego and Queen of Peace’s Kara Shimko — enjoyed outstanding seasons in 2016-17.

But they were not alone.

Many other area players had strong seasons, and the Regional/Reporter is listing those who made all-conference teams in basketball and qualified for the Illinois High School Association state wrestling tournament:

Boys Basketball In the South Suburban Red Conference, champion Evergreen Park had three players on the allconference squad: Mike Drynan, Kyree Hannah and Christian Cotton.

Richards had Jaylan Catledge and Arrin Westbrook make the squad. Oak Lawn was represented

by Rashad Johnson and Adem Osmani. Shepard’s Chris Harrison and Marquel Porter also were selected.

In the Chicago Catholic League, Josh Niego, Mike Shepski and Jack O’Connor of Brother Rice were named along with St. Laurence’s Zion Fortune and Justin Wierzgac.

In the SouthWest Suburban Conference Blue, Stagg’s John Contant and Tom Kazanecki were selected to the all-conference team along with Sandburg’s Jake Pygon.

In the East Suburban Catholic Conference, Maurice Commander, Morgan Taylor and Justin Brown were named to the team while Commander was named player of the year.

In the Metro Suburban, Malik Parker was named player of the year for the second straight season while Jack Ellison, Jeff Mayberry and Josh Decker

also made the all-conference team. Frank Johnson was named honorable mention.

Girls Basketball In the South Suburban Red, Evergreen Park’s Kacey Gardner, DeAnna Stewart and Samariah Jones-Tinsley made the all-conference squad along with Oak Lawn’s Danielle Quigley and Madelyn McGrath, Richards’ Hallie Idowu and Shepard’s Cassidy McCarthy.

In the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference, Mother McAuley’s Tara O’Malley, Grace Hynes and Vanessa Gavin were all conference along with Queen of Peace’s Kara Shimko, Jovanna Martinucci, Ashley Lynch and Shannon Wilbourne.

In the East Suburban Catholic Conference, Marist’s ESCC Claire Austin, Ally Corcoran and Julia Ruzevich made the team and Ruzevich was named conference MVP. In the Southwest Suburban Conference Blue,

Sandburg’s Kennedy Sabutis and Stagg’s Nicole Vacha made the team.

In the Metro Suburban, Chicago Christian’s Janay Turner and Lexi VanRyn were honored.

Wrestling

Sandburg’s Pat Nolan (120 pounds), Patrick Brucki (195), Cole Bateman (220) and Malik Scates (285) qualified for state in Class 3A. Also qualifying were Stagg’s Domenec Zaccone (113) and Noah Price (132) and Marist’s Jacob Dado (120) and Diata Drayton (220) In Class 2A, Brother Rice’s Hassan Johnson (120), Angel Granado (126), Rahman Johnson (145), Dominick Murphy (152), Paul Gilva (160), Jake Hutchinson (170), Scott Sierzega (220) and Myles Ruffin (285) made it to state along with Richards’ Basil Muhammad (113) and Anthony Quinn (195).

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2

Section 2 Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Regional News - The Reporter

CHICAGO FIRE ANALYSIS

Nearby Odyssey CC offers some ‘amazing spirituality’

Dax giving it max effort for aggressive Fire

O

By Alison Moran Correspondent

While Bastian Schweinsteiger and Nemanja Nikolic are the high-profile star newcomers on the Fire, don’t forget about Dax. In six matches, Dax McCarty has worked his way into being the heart and soul of a team that is off to a 2-1-2 start, including Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Major League Soccer East Division leader Columbus in front of an announced crowd of 16,434 at Toyota Park.

The team appears more aggressive this year, and a key to this newfound aggression is the acquisition of set-up man McCarty during the offseason.

On April 1, the former New York Red Bull passed to forward Luis Selignac in the 93rd minute to neutralize the Montreal Impact and earn the Fire a point.

On Saturday, wearing the captain’s armband due to the suspension of Brazilian midfielder Juninho, McCarty footed the through ball to forward Nikolic, who left-footed it past Columbus goalkeeper Zack Steffen in the 22nd minute for the game’s only goal.

McCarty found a consigliere in hot new German commodity Schweinsteiger, who nearly doubled the Fire’s lead midway through the second half. Fire midfielder Drew Conner won a free kick 20 yards away from the goal at the top of the box, and Schweinsteiger sent a curling shot to the upper-right corner. Steffen dove and parried the shot away. “(We were) very, very satisfied with Dax’s performance,” said Fire Head Coach Veljko Paunovic. “I think every time and every game he’s feeling more comfortable and getting in that role that we wanted and expected from him to be the leader on and off the field. We knew that it was going to take some time but he’s getting to that level we saw him playing at Red Bulls and the level required to play on the national team.”

Saturday’s game also marked McCarty’s 250th start in the MLS. He was not completely satisfied with the win.

“In the second half, they (Columbus) were a little more aggressive,” he said. “The thing that I think was the most frustrating about

dyssey Country Club in Tinley Park opened in 1991 and had been out of the limelight since the Illinois Women’s Open, which it had hosted in its first few years, was moved to Mistwood in Romeoville by tournament founder Phil Kosin.

Now Odyssey, which has always been a public course, has found a niche that might be unique in American golf.

The Halikias family, which built the course, created a charity foundation and gave it the golf course. Odyssey now hosts veterans and special-needs groups and individuals at greatly reduced rates, along with the general public at regular prices.

The family still owns the clubhouse, which has the usual array of weddings, lunches and dinners.

“We have a whole new mission, a whole new heart,” said Lisa Halikias, the executive director of Odyssey Charities. “We asked ourselves, what can we do that’s different?

“We would always be donating to local causes, but five years ago we took the golf course and donated it to charity. All the money the golf course earns goes back into the charity.”

The family is heavily involved in the charity. Aristotle Halikias is president, and two family members are directors. Odyssey Charities is approved as a 501(c)3 charity by the IRS, and is the first, and perhaps only, such course foundation.

“My family and I wanted to do something with our golf course to enrich the lives of others,” Aristotle Halikias said on the foundation’s website (www.odysseygolffoundation.org). “Veterans have done so much to protect our peace and tranquility. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. We wanted to give something back to these unsung heroes. We hope the golf course can bring them some peace and tranquility.”

The original mission was to cater only to veterans, but recently special-needs people have been taken under Odyssey’s wing.

“Right now, that’s mostly free lessons, but we’re trying to be a qualifying site for the Special Olympics as well, and want to work with the CDGA Foundation,” Lisa Halikias said.

The veterans groups who have played in the course-organized tournaments have had an impact in return, she said.

“They’re together as brothers,” she said. “The spirituality is amazing. If the whole world treated each other like they do, the world would be in a better place.”

For head pro Ed Staffan, a Vietnam veteran who has been at Odyssey from the start, there’s been little difference in day-to-day operations, but one change is significant.

“Yesterday I sent out an e-mail at 9 a.m. for a veterans tournament, and this afternoon I already have 70 people signed up,” Staffan said. “They all fill up to 144 people. They’re of all ages, from 22 to 82.

“We have a couple of guys in their 90s who were complaining because they were competing in the 80-and-up age group against guys 12 years younger,” Staffan added, chuckling. “I said, ‘As soon as you comprise more than two percent of the field, you get your own category.’ ” The entry fee is only $15, including breakfast, lunch and prizes.

There’s also a nine-hole Veterans Golf League on Tuesdays, and free clinics for veterans on Wednesday mornings.

TIM CRONIN The Locker Room

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Dax McCarty (left, battling a Montreal Impact player on April 1) had a huge pair of assists in the Fire’s last two games.

NEW ENGLAND AT CHICAGO FIRE When: 4 p.m., Saturday Where: Toyota Park, Bridgeview Fire’s record: 2-1-2 New England’s record: 2-2-1 Noteworthy: The Revolution defense held Houston’s Erik “Cubo” Torres scoreless for the first time this season in a 2-0 win Saturday. After this game, the Fire won’t be back at Toyota Park until May 13.

this game is the fact that we didn’t reward ourselves with a second goal. The chances were there, in possession, in build-up, also on the counter-attack. When you don’t kill off teams they tend to come back and bite you at the end of the game.

“But we were very good defensively. It was a gutsy performance, I’d say.”

The two teams opened the season with a 1-1 tie March 4 at MAPFRE Stadium. Since then, the Crew grabbed nine more points to lead the East.

Fire fans witnessed the Bridgeview version of a miracle as the Fire neutralized Crew top scorer Justin Meram and displayed an aggression unseen in recent seasons. They also showed an ability to change up the game plan when the going got tough in the second half. In the first half, the Fire won the possession battle with 53 percent.

In the second half, the Crew did get aggressive, limiting the Fire to possession just 35 percent of the time and stopping two goals in the space of four minutes midway through, at the 76th and 81st minute. Paunovic switched to a 4-2-3-1 setup and moved Schweinsteiger higher. That gave the Fire the opportunity to keep possession.

“We were capable of managing the game and being dangerous also and creating opportunities and almost score the second goal, which was the plan in the second half,” Paunovic said. “So I’m very happy with three points and now looking forward to our next game.”

That next game, at 4 p.m. Saturday against the New England Revolution, will complete a three-game homestand.

CHICAGO RED STARS SEASON PREVIEW

The Bucket

Red Stars coach hoping for right mix in 2017

By Alison Moran

CHICAGO RED STARS AT HOUSTON DASH

Correspondent

In the 10th season for the Chicago Red Stars, coach Rory Dames is looking for improvement from a team that had its ups and downs in 2016. He’s relying on young players mixed with some of the best players in the world.

Christen Press, defender Julie Johnston, and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher are back to lead a team that finished 9-5-6 last year — third in the National Women’s Soccer League. The team lost in the playoff semifinals, 2-1, on the road to Washington.

Dames, however, praised the leadership of the team, especially Press.

“Christen far exceeded my expectations of what I thought she could grow into in the role (of leadership),” Dames said at the end of the season. “She found her way and Julie found her way with the group. I think we have some really good players who grew to be leaders outside of the field, and that’s been huge for us.”

Press scored 25 goals in 37 matches in her first three years with the team.

Press, who captains the team, Johnston, who will now go by the last name of Ertz after a recent marriage, and Naeher are leading several returning players, including veteran midfielders Danielle Colaprico, co-captain Vanessa DiBernardo, forward Sofia Huerta, and midfielder Alyssa Mautz.

Huerta and forward Stephanie McCaffrey.

They are expected to combine on the attack with Press in 2017, as they did in the latter half of the 2016 season. Additionally, defenders Arin Gilliland and Casey Short are expected to comprise one of the best

When: 1 p.m., Saturday Where: BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston Red Stars’ record: Season debut Houston’s record: Season debut Noteworthy: Two-time reigning FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Carli Lloyd is back for the Dash. She scored five goals and added three assists in seven games with the team last year and scored 17 goals and had 11 assists for the national team in 21 games.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Christen Press (right) will try to continue to have an impact on the Chicago Red Stars this season.

outside back duos in the league this year.

That makes expectations high for the 2017 season. The Red Stars opened the preseason with a trio of matches at the Thorns Spring Invitational in Portland.

Without the team’s three leaders, the Red Stars lost narrowly to the Portland Thorns, 1-0 in the first preseason match, but with Press and Naeher back for game two, they rebounded against the Houston Dash with a 2-1 win thanks in part to rookie Summer Green’s slot to Press, who sent it to the right of the goaltender. Press also scored the Red Stars’ first goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 41st minute. The Red Stars had a scoreless tie against the U.S. U23 team and beat Notre Dame, 3-1, to finish 2-1-1.

New players to watch

Two players hoping to make the 20-player

roster this month are drawing favorable attention. Morgan Proffitt, the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NWSL draft and a graduate of Marquette University, is a tactician on defense and provides needed strength in midfield.

Green was drafted 30th overall to the Seattle Reign after earning 25 goals and 23 assists in 82 matches for the University of North Carolina. The Red Stars acquired the rights to Green in December as she was rehabbing from ACL surgery.

She’s already made an impact, with one assist in the preseason.

The Red Stars open the season on the road at Houston on Saturday. Their home opener is against FC Kansas City on Saturday, April 22 at Toyota Park.

Lifetime Television Network will carry many of the NWSL matches this season, including the Red Stars at the Portland Thorns on April 29, and live at Toyota Park against the Houston Dash on May 6.

• Cog Hill, with a Palos Park address since the village annexed it last year, has delayed the opening of Dubsdread, the fierce fourth course on the property, until April 22. A renovation project featuring the installation of Augusta National-style sand should be completed by then. In the course of the season, one hole at a time, a handful of fairway bunkers on several holes are being grassed over.

Whether that takes any teeth out of Chicagoland’s most testing public course is yet to be seen.

• The Stony Creek Spring Scramble is Saturday at the Oak Lawn course. Entry fee is $45, and includes lunch and range balls. Call 708-857-2433 to enter or for more details.

• Seniors, mark down May 10 for the Senior Spring Scramble at Silver Lake in Orland Park. Entry fee of $80 per player includes dinner, entry in the hole-in-one contest and on-course refreshments. Players and teams will be assigned to flights based on total age of each group. For more info, call Silver Lake at 708-349-6940, ext. 4.

• Palos Hills native Tony Frandria, who got his start in golf working behind the counter at the Palos Hills municipal layout, is the new superintendent at Canal Shores in Evanston following a long stint at posh Glen View Club in the tiny north suburb of Golf.

Have golf news? E-mail us illinoisgolfer@earthlink.net with the details. Tim Cronin’s golf columns will be running every second Thursday through August.

FOCUS ON AREA COLLEGES

St. Xavier recruit Oliver sends out good vibes

By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor

Supplied photo

SXU football recruit Tahj Oliver made national news when he took a special-needs student, Evelyn Arajuo, to the Oswego East High School prom.

He hasn’t even graduated high school yet or taken one college exam or played one snap on the football field, but St. Xavier University recruit Tahj Oliver is already bringing a positive vibe to the school.

Oliver, a senior at Oswego East High School, made national news when he was the subject of a vibe.com article for taking specialneeds student Evelyn Arajuo to prom. He even sang the Adele song “Someone Like You” to his date.

His high school football coach, Zac Sadek, told Vibe that Oliver’s “infectious smile and personality immediately won over his teammates.’’

Oliver’s mother, Tacinia, bragged to Vibe that her son “gets you encouraged and gets you on fire, regardless of the situation. He is an example to others on how to handle yourself.’’

“What a great way to kick off the prom season with my bestie,” Oliver tweeted to the world. “I’m humbled and glad to say I was her date and had a great time.’’

Photo courtesy of Odyssey Charities

Veterans roll out at an outing at Odyssey Country Club.

Oliver was a linebacker at Oswego East and is also a pretty good basketball player as he scored a career-high 32 points in a February win over Plainfield East.

Softball: Catcher Brittany Plummer cracked three home runs in a 13-7 victory over St. Ambrose in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Cougars lost the opener, 6-2.

Men’s volleyball: The Cougars finished 8-17 after dropping a three-set game to top seed Robert Morris in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference semifinals. Sean Barry and former Stagg standout Thomas Matonis were named to the all-conference second team.

Trinity Christian College

Men’s golf: The Trolls took first at the fourteam Governors State University Invitational at Lincoln Oaks in Crete. TCC’s Alek Svabek and Steven Massey each shot 148 for two rounds and finished tied for first.

Women’s track: Jessica Wiersma (100 meters) and Ashley Jourdan (1500) qualified for the National Christian College Athletic Association nationals at the Benedictine NCAA Challenge.

Brucki

Continued from Page 1 second in 2016, both times at 182 pounds.

He entered his senior season with the mentality that there was only one satisfactory outcome.

“You eat, sleep and breathe it — I’ve witnessed the truth in those three areas,” he said.

“My brain is so in tune, even when I’m sleeping I start panicking. I’m dreaming of being in the state tournament, actually experiencing it in my dream. I get caught on my back or something.”

The Princeton-bound wrestler dominated the competition during a season in which he finished 44-1.

“I enjoyed the season,” he said. “I was much more relaxed, even at the end. As much as I was wound up about it I was truly excited about getting that title, and I really wanted to take in as much as I could, enjoy who I was there with and the people following me throughout that journey, and I think I did that.

“It feels so good. I’m pretty hard to satisfy... and I just feel good about the season. I prepared my body, my mind. There is no one more deserving of that title than me, and I am just proud of myself for going out there and getting it, finally.”

The Regional News - The Reporter

Thursday, April 13, 2017 Section 2

3

Orland Park’s Hodul has college down to a science O

rland Park’s John Hodul’s volleyball career at Lewis University is almost over, and it’s been an unusual journey.

The Flyers host Lindenwood in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association quarterfinals Saturday and probably have to win the whole tournament to get into the NCAA Division I/II Tournament. A second-place finish means the Flyers cross their fingers for an automatic bid, and that’s no given this year.

Hodul, a 6-foot-9 Sandburg alum, heads into the weekend playing 98 sets as a middle hitter and racked up 107 kills JEFF VORVA and a team-tying best .406 hitpercentage to go with 92 Making the ting blocks.

Extra Point The first three years he was with the team, Hodul was an afterthought of the afterthoughts as he headed into this season, playing just 21 sets.

Most players with that low amount of playing time would quit or transfer rather than wait around all these years for a payoff that may or may not come.

But Hodul admits that while standing (volleyball players usually don’t sit) with the bench players all these years hasn’t been a ton of fun, he realizes he could have worked a little harder at the sport.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Sandburg graduate John Hodul barely played his first three seasons at Lewis University but is one of the top hitters on the volleyball team this year.

“If I spent more time in the gym and less time in the lab, I probably would have played more,’’ he said.

See, this guy put his schoolwork ahead of athletics at a school with a high-level volleyball team.

He is a science major and put a lot of time and effort in the laboratory at the Romeoville school helping to come up with new ideas for dyes, fragrances and paints, possibly saving paint industries billions of dollars in the process.

So he is moving on to Purdue to study some more chemistry and share the same workspace with brilliant minds and Nobel Peace Prize winners. And it’s all paid for via scholarship.

FOCUS ON HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Niego

Continued from Page 1 More satisfying was being part of the team that brought the Crusaders back to prominence.

The season’s pinnacle was beating Homewood-Flossmoor in the Class 4A Regional title game, a contest in which Niego scored 27 points, including 15 in the decisive fourth quarter of a 57-50 victory.

Throughout his years at Rice, Niego said he never cared about personal glory — only that the Crusaders were on top when the final horn sounded.

“I just wanted to give everything I have; all I wanted was wins,” he said. “I didn’t care if I scored 30 points, I didn’t care

Regional/Reporter Girls Players of the Year 1994: Anne McDonald (McAuley) 1995: Anne McDonald (McAuley) 1996: Ann Mullins (Sandburg) 1997: Katie Schumacher (McAuley) 1998: Sarah Kustok (Sandburg) 1999: Sarah Kustok (Sandburg) 2000: Sarah Kustok (Sandburg) 2001: Emily Heikes (Stagg) 2002: Tina Hill (Richards) 2003: Heather King (Stagg) 2004: Heather King (Stagg) 2005: Erin Cattell (Sandburg) 2006: Maureen Downs (Marist) 2007: Kelsey James (Marist) 2008: Maureen Mulchrone (McAuley) 2009: Haley Stercic (Marist) 2010: Jessica Contant (Stagg) 2011: None named 2012: None named 2013: JaTuan Rouse (Marist) 2014: LaTondra Brooks (Oak Lawn) 2015: Brianna Markusic (Oak Lawn) 2016: Kara Shimko (Queen of Peace) 2017: Kara Shimko (Queen of Peace)

There has been too much good column material the last few weeks, so my preseason baseball picks keep getting moved back. So before the season comes to an end, here they are: I am hesitant to pick a team to win two World Series in a row, but last year I thought the Cubs’ year was going to be 2017 and I am sticking with it. They will beat the Houston Astros in the World Series just like the White Sox did in 2005.

In the American League, I pick Boston to win the East, with Baltimore as a wild card. Detroit wins the Central, with Cleveland as a wild card.

And Houston wins the West.

In the National League, the Cubs win the Central with St. Louis gobbling up a wild-card slot.

The East goes to the Mets and the West goes to the Giants, with the Dodgers snagging the other wild card.

Houston beats Cleveland to win the American League championship, while the Cubs and Giants battle it out for the NL title. The Cubs advance and win it all.

Sandburg coach Jim Caliendo has more than 500 water polo victories at the school and more than 730 career wins.

Correspondent

Sports Editor

Evergreen Park native Ellen Yopchick was hired as the first girls volleyball coach in school history.

Yopchick joins the Burbank school after nine seasons at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she worked her way up to assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. While at UIC, Yopchick received the “Thirty Under 30” Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, given to rising young coaches across all levels of collegiate volleyball. She also serves as the assistant club director and coaching coordinator for City Lions, a satellite club of 1st Alliance Volleyball Club.

“My family and I are overwhelmed with excitement to join the St. Laurence community and be-

Longtime golf writer Tim Cronin’s debut column is running on page 2, and we will be using the column through August.

Cronin is a guy who has written books, and started up magazines and websites on the subject

My baseball picks

By Randy Whalen

By Jeff Vorva

St. Laurence hires girls VB coach

Golf column debuts

of golf. The Worth resident is the entrepreneur of Illinois Golfer, whose motto is “The indispensable source for golfer in Illinois.” So, with golf heating up around here (including Cog Hill now annexed to Palos Park) we hope the man will be an indispensable source for readers in our area.

For those with golf news, please flood his email box: illinoisgolfer@earthlink.net

As journey nears end, Caliendo hits Sandburg victory milestone

Shepard relay team competes in prestigious California invitational Shepard’s 4x1600 relay team took its talents to California and finished 23rd out of 27 teams in the seeded race at the Arcadia Invitational on Friday.

The Astros team, comprised of Kevin Callahan, Caleb Washington, Brian Hauser and Paul Milkus, ran the race in 18 minutes, 32.59 seconds at Arcadia High School in Arcadia, Calif. Madera South (Calif.) won in 17:51.25.

Distance coach Joe Lerner was happy his team qualified for the meet.

“It’s considered one of the most prestigious high school meets in the country and it has a number of future Olympians go there to compete,” he said.

“It is an extremely hard meet to qualify for, but our men hit the qualifying standard (18:30) with an 18:05. They have been training together for this for the past four years and earned this amazing experience.’’

The 22-year-old said he might be in school until he is 30, learning and learning and learning some more.

His love for science started early.

“When I was a little kid, my house was near a corn and soybean field,” he said. “Every year, I would see the farmer come through with a bunch of chemicals. He was spraying pesticides and herbicides. I always wondered what was in those chemicals. My father (Paul) worked with chemicals and would come home from work and we would talk about them. That’s when I knew science was a field I wanted to get into.’’

His early athletic career was baseball-heavy until his arm began wearing out. He said he was considering playing tennis at Sandburg, but volleyball coaches loved his size and coaxed him to come out.

“I was the last kid picked,” he said.

But his game developed and he is now a strong contributor to one of the top programs in the nation.

“I would have never believed when I was 13 years old that I would be playing against a team the caliber of Penn State or Ohio State,” Hodul said. “I have a great appreciation for all of this.’’

Supplied photo

Shepard’s 4x1600 relay team of (from left) Kevin Callahan, Paul Milkus, Brian Hauser and Caleb Washington, competed at the Arcadia Invitational Friday in California.

gin a new era of girls volleyball,” said Yopchick.

“From the moment I stepped on campus I knew that St. Laurence High School is a truly special place with a rich tradition of achievement in the classroom, in the community and in competition.’’

In addition to her coaching career at UIC, Yopchick served as the graduate assistant volleyball coach at Marshall University, where she helped the team to the 2007 Conference USA Championship. As a player at DePaul University, she was a three-time team captain and was the team’s Most Outstanding Player her senior season. Yopchick also played at Mother McAuley High School, where she was a key part of the 2000 IHSA state championship team.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Ellen to the St. Laurence family as our first-ever girls volleyball coach,” said St. Laurence Athletic Director Tim Chandler. “She adds instant credibility to our program with her playing and coaching background. The entire committee was impressed with her vision for the program throughout the interview process.’’

Current fifth- through seventh-grade girls can meet Yopchick at a free volleyball clinic on from 6 to 8:30 p.m. May 5. For any questions about the clinic, contact Director of Admissions Joe Spano at jspano@stlaurence.com.

if I scored two points, as long as Brother Rice won at the end of the day. I just wanted to go out and be remembered as the team that brought Brother Rice back.”

Niego will continue his basketball career at Lewis University and will play on the same court on which his father (Charlie Niego), three uncles (Tom, Joe and Mark Niego) and three aunts (Mary McNamara, Terry Pozdel and the late Nancy Collins) played.

Regional/Reporter Boys Players of the Year 1987: Ray Thompson (Argo) and Delano Brazil (Brother Rice) 1988: Raymond Thompson (Argo) 1989: Dave Rettker (Sandburg) and Cleveland Anderson (Richards) 1990: Steve Payne (Shepard) and Dave Rettker (Sandburg) 1991: Steve Payne (Shepard) 1992: Gene Nolan (Marist) 1993: Jim Sexton (Brother Rice) 1994: Jim Sexton (Brother Rice) 1995: John Economus (Shepard) 1996: Chad Harris (Chicago Christian) 1997: Wayne Plowman (Marist) 1998: Demetrius McDaniel (Richards) 1999: Joe Scott (Stagg) 2000: Dwayne Wade (Richards) 2001: Cory Cummens (Sandburg) 2002: Rick Harrigan (Brother Rice) 2003: Dan Hackstock (Oak Lawn) 2004: Dave Telander (Brother Rice) 2005: Ross Stuursma (Chicago Christian) 2006: Cordelro Yelder (Richards) 2007: Jeff Miller (Stagg) 2008: Joel Kamp (Chicago Christian) 2009: Nick Valla (Marist) 2010: Nick Valla (Marist) 2011: Darius Draper (Stagg) 2012: Michael Kamp (Chicago Christian) 2013: Alex Majewski (Brother Rice) 2014: Max Strus (Stagg) 2015: Jaylan Catledge (Richards) 2016: Jaylan Catledge (Richards) and Malik Parker (Chicago Christian) 2017: Josh Niego (Brother Rice)

Nearly a quarter of a century ago, Jim Caliendo’s coaching journey took him to Sandburg after he had established himself as an elite swimming and water polo mentor at St. Laurence and Fenwick.

Now in his 24th and final season as boys water polo coach at the school, Caliendo reached a destination last week. That was victory No. 500 at Sandburg, which came in a 13-5 win over Stagg on April 4 in a SouthWest Suburban Conference morning matchup in Palos Hills. It was his 733rd overall win.

“It’s a good feeling, it’s a milestone,” Caliendo said of reaching 500. “But it (the number) doesn’t mean a whole lot except for my personal satisfaction. What it says is a lot about Sandburg. We’re a tough team to play. We don’t always win, but we’re always a tough team to play. Even if we lose, the kids play to the end, can walk with their head held high and always respect their opponent.”

Caliendo was head boys water polo coach at St. Laurence for seven seasons, winning a state title there. He followed that up with a seven-year stint at Fenwick, where he coached the Friars to a trio of state titles.

He landed the job at Sandburg in the 1990s and helped the Eagles program to take off.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

After water polo was a club sport for years, the Illinois High School Association established it an official sport for both boys and girls in 2001-02. That’s something that Caliendo, who in his 38 seasons as coach is second all-time to former Fenwick coach Dave Perry (783) in career wins, is proud of.

“This is a product of all of the pioneers that fought to keep it going in the ‘80s,” Caliendo said of the sport. “Then they fought to get it as an IHSA program. Now there’s over 100 boys teams and nearly that many on the girls side. It took a lot of work on a lot of people’s parts and it’s getting very competitive. There’s a lot of parity now and a lot of summer programs.

“It just keeps going up and up to new levels and I’m really proud of where we are going.”

In the win over Stagg, junior

Joey Jenkot led the Eagles (6-1, 5-1) with four goals, and seniors Marty Blake and Ben Mars added three apiece. Sandburg defeated Lincoln-Way West 12-6 the next day to go to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the conference as Caliendo extended his record for the Eagles to 501-186 and overall to 733-263. Stagg (9-6, 1-5) which received four goals from sophomore Robert Dobrowolski against the Eagles, lost 16-12 to Andrew the next day.

Caliendo’s late wife, Jane, was at the forefront of his thoughts after his milestone.

“Jane is always on my mind,” he said of the longtime teacher and coach at Sandburg, who passed away in October of 2014 after a bout with cancer. “Every time I walk out on the deck I think of her. I thought of her (against Stagg), and it was a good moment.”

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4

Section 2 Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Regional News - The Reporter

Images from the Brother Rice/Marist rivalry game

Umpires and coaches confer before the April 4 Brother Rice/Marist game. Umpires arrived late to the contest, which started 20 minutes late and was won by host Brother Rice, 4-0.

Brother Rice’s Danny Doligale slides into home plate after a wild pitch, and Marist pitcher Colin Pfotenhauer gets tangled up with him after the tag. It was the first run in a 4-0 Brother Rice home victory on April 4.

Shane Gorman, a lefty pitcher from Brother Rice, fired six shutout innings against neighborhood rival Marist on April 4.

Marist pitcher Colin Pfotenhauer deals against Brother Rice.

Brother Rice players brought back some bags from their North Carolina trip, as the Crusaders were the first Midwest team to participate in the National High School Invitational.

Brother Rice shortstop Ryan King (left) tags out Marist’s Jason Hodges at second while Crusaders second baseman Patrick Hayes (right) reacts.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

The Regional News - The Reporter

448-6161

For Sale

For Sale

For Sale

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR ARGENT SECURITIES INC., ASSET BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-W4 Plaintiff, -v.NANCY DIAZ, PONCIANO ALVARADO, ARGENT MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 15 CH 05896 9135 S. 87TH AVE 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 June 21, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 25, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 9135 S. 87TH AVE, Hickory Hills, IL 60457 Property Index No. 23-02-312-004-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $345,061.30.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in \�AS IS\� condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

For information, contact Plaintiff’s attorney: POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 263-0003 Please refer to file number C1412785.

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.

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.

I718841

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR DEUTSCHE ALT-A SECURITIES, INC. MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-1, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES Plaintiff, -v.MANAL KANAAN, MALIK KANAAN, LORENZ APPLIANCE, INC., STATE OF ILLINOIS, PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, L.L.C., DISCOVER BANK, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 15 CH 002926 8841 W. 100TH PLACE PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 17, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 5, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 8841 W. 100TH PLACE, PALOS HILLS, IL 60465 Property Index No. 23-10-401-079-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in \�AS IS\� condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

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

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

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-15-02450 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 15 CH 002926 TJSC#: 37-3054 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.

I718828

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.CATHERINE WHITNEY, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. Defendants 11 CH 37102 10751 SOUTH LACROSSE AVENUE 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 July 22, 2015, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 27, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 10751 SOUTH LACROSSE AVENUE, Oak Lawn, IL 60453 Property Index No. 24-16-403-018-0000; 24-16-403-019-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $143,045.66.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in AS IS condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

If this property is a condominium unit, 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 605/18.5(g-1), you are hereby notified that the 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. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact the sales department, ANSELMO LINDBERG OLIVER 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 F13100115.

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.

ANSELMO LINDBERG OLIVER LLC 1771 W. Diehl Road, Suite 120 NAPERVILLE, IL 60563 (630) 453-6960 E-Mail: foreclosurenotice@fal-illinois.com Attorney File No. F13100115 Attorney ARDC No. 3126232 Attorney Code. 58852 Case Number: 11 CH 37102 TJSC#: 37-2743 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, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC; Plaintiff, vs.

TADEUSZ SOKOL; JOANNA SOKOL; THE RIVERA IN PALOS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION; MONIKA SOKOL; SLAWOMIR SOKOL; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF TADEUSZ SOKOL, IF ANY; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF MONIKA SOKOL, IF ANY; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF SLAWOMIR SOKOL, IF ANY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 16 CH 11860 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, May 3, 2017 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 23-23-101-059-0000.

Commonly known as 21 Cour Madelein, Palos Hills, IL 60465.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call the Sales Clerk at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group, 33 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 360-9455 WA16-0606.

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I718101

5

Thursday, April 13, 2017 Section 2

For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON; Plaintiff, vs.

MARK J. HOLDA, ET AL; Defendants, REPUBLIC BANK OF CHICAGO; Counter-Plaintiff, vs.

MARK J. HOLDA AKA MARK HOLDA AKA MARK J. HOLDA; LYDIA MICHELLE HOLDA FKA LYDIA ROJAS AKA LYDIA MICHELLE HOLDA; HOLDA ENTERPRISES, INC.; FIRST MIDWEST BANK, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO PALOS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 13, 2000 AND KNOWN AS TRUST NUMBER 1-5000; LOMA VISTA NURSERY; CHRYSLER FINANCIAL SERVICES AMERICAS LLC DBA CHRYSLER FINANCIAL FKA DAIMLERCHRYSLER FINANCIAL SERVICES AMERICA, LLC; STATE OF ILLINOIS; CAPITAL ONE BANK, (USA), N.A., CITY OF PALOS HEIGHTS; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY; UNKNOWN BENEFICIARIES OF TRUST AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 13, 2000 AND KNOWN AS TRUST NUMBER 1-5000; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Counter-Defendants 12 CH 8082 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 Monday, May 8, 2017, at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 24-31-107-010-0000.

Commonly known as 6833 West 127st Street, Palos Heights, IL 60463.

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. THE SALE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO GENERAL TAXES, SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND TO A PRIOR RECORDED FIRST MORTGAGE. For information call Mr. Brandon R. Freud at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Ruff, Freud, Breems and Nelson, Ltd., 200 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (312) 263-3890.

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I718700

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

Ditech Financial LLC Plaintiff, vs.

Roberto Dominguez; Person Place Condominium Association; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants Defendants, Case # 13CH27638 Sheriff’s # 170040 F13100690SVTSPT GTS Pursuant to a Judgment made and entered by said Court in the above entitled cause, Thomas J. Dart, Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, will on May 10th, 2017, at 1pm in room LL06 of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction the following described premises and real estate mentioned in said Judgment: Common Address: 10117 South Cicero Avenue Unit 305 and G 12, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453 P.I.N: 24-10-320-039-1039; 24-10-320-039-1052 Improvements: This property consists of a Residential Condominium, individually owned, less than 7 units, single development.

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

Sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments.

Premise will NOT be open for inspection.

Firm Information: Plaintiff’s Attorney ANSELMO, LINDBERG OLIVER LLC Anthony Porto 1771 W. Diehl Rd., Suite 120 Naperville, IL 60566-7228 foreclosurenotice@fal-illinois.com 866-402-8661 fax 630-428-4620 For bidding instructions, visit www.fal-illinois.com This is an attempt to collect a debt pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.JOHN R. MANTHEY, SANDRA L. MANTHEY Defendants 13 CH 27266 8937 Fairway Dr. Orland Park, IL 60462 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 8, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 17, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 8937 Fairway Dr., Orland Park, IL 60462 Property Index No. 27-10-213-004-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $209,564.12.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in \�AS IS\� condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

I717715

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Plaintiff, -v.MICHAEL LOISI A/K/A MICHAEL A. LOISI, LISA A. FRANCIS-LOISI Defendants 16 CH 6984 11984 SOUTH PINECREEK 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 September 23, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 5, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 11984 SOUTH PINECREEK DRIVE, Orland Park, IL 60467 Property Index No. 27-07-308-012-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $252,436.18.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in \�AS IS\� condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

For information, contact The sales clerk, SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL 60015, (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm. Please refer to file number 16-078528.

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.

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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NEW as of 7/7/11 For Sale

5 ACRES RT. 45 IN PEOTONE 600 ft. frontage x 400 ft. deep 40 ft. x 60 ft. pole barn CALL 815-450-0004

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

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Plaintiff, vs.

The Briarcliff Apartments Condominiums Association; JPMorgan Chase Bank; N.A.; Unknown Heirs and Legatees of Michael A. Fuchsgruber aka Michael Fuchsgruber; Thomas Michael Fuchsgruber aka Thomas M. Fuchsgruber aka Thomas Fuchsgruber aka Tom Fuchsgruber; Kevin R. Fuchsgruber; Kimberly Ann Wankel aka Kimberly A. Wankel aka Kimberly Wankel aka Kimberly A. Fuchsgruber; Jeffrey A. Fuchsgruber aka Jeffrey Fuchsgruber; Gerald Nordgren Special Representative; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants Defendants, Case # 16CH7853 Sheriff’s # 170065 F16030157 WELLS 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 May 8th, 2017, at 1pm in room LL06 of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction the following described premises and real estate mentioned in said Judgment:.

Common Address: 7000 West 110th Street Unit 4, Worth,Illinois 60482 P.I.N: 24-18-307-081-1004 Improvements: This property consists of Residential Condo 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.

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

Sale shall be subject to general taxes, special assessments.

Premise will NOT be open for inspection.

Firm Information: Plaintiff’s Attorney ANSELMO, LINDBERG OLIVER LLC Anthony Porto 1771 W. DIEHL., Ste 120 Naperville, IL 60566-7228 foreclosurenotice@fal-illinois.com 866-402-8661 fax 630-428-4620 For bidding instructions, visit www.fal-illinois.com This is an attempt to collect a debt pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

HAVE A HOUSE FOR SALE? Call to place your ad today!

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Section 2 Thursday, April 13, 2017

448-6161

The Regional News - The Reporter

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

OUT & ABOUT

The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, April 13, 2017

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS

Supplied photo

A student works the loom in weaving class.

O&A MOVIE REVIEW

‘Going in Style’ rises somewhat above tired story on aging, youth

A woodcarver displays his work.

can challenge current ways of life.

Participants are requested to read The Center, 12700 Southwest up to page 48 for the first class.

Highway, Palos Park, is offer- The book is available through ing several events in the days Amazon and other booksellers. ahead. For more information, or Registration is requested. Each to register for a program, call class fee is $7.

• “Men’s POV” starts at 7 p.m.

(708) 361-3650.

• “Knitting 101...and Beyond” Tuesday April 18. Tom Kramer runs for six Mondays beginning will be the discussion leader for April 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the book “Sacred Fire” by Ronald or six Fridays beginning April Rolheiser.

• A weaving class begins on 21, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Instructor Georgann Ring will teach Wednesday April 19, from 9:30 beginning knitters to use the knit to 11:30 a.m. and runs for six and purl stitches, to cast on and weeks for experienced weaversbind off. They will learn simple -three weeks for beginning weavincreases and decreases, and to ers. Instructor Georgann Ring will read a pattern while completing help new weavers learn the basics their first project, a washcloth; the while making a sampler of difsecond project will be chosen by ferent patterns, then design and the student from a suggested col- complete a project of their choice lection. Ring will help those with such as a scarf, placemat or table experience choose their projects runner. Beginning weavers choose and learn more advanced knitting a three-week course starting either skills. Class fee is $100. Begin- April 19 or May 10. Each threening students should bring a ball week course costs $50. Returning of Sugar n’ Cream yarn; knitters weavers will study and weave need a pair of 10-inch, U.S. size a project in the pattern of their 8 (5 mm) needles. Students pur- choice. The six-week class fee chase their own yarn for advanced is $100.

• “Mommy & Me Art: Recycled projects.

• “Luncheon: “Hummingbirds, Flower Garden Scenes” is set Orioles, and Grosbeaks, Oh for 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, My!” runs from noon to 2 p.m. April 19. Instructor Karen SiTuesday April 18. Wild Birds Un- gnore will help students recycle limited owner Mel Tracy invites and re-purpose materials such as the public to experience spring cereal boxes, food cartons, egg migration in their backyards and cartons, lids and more to create throughout the Palos region and flower-garden scenes. The class to be ready for the jewels of the is designed for mothers or grandavian world as they make their mothers with children ages 3-6, way from South and Central but the instructor is open to family America. He will discuss what members of all ages attending. types of feeders and foods help Workshop fee is $10 per person.

• A woodcarving class runs on attract these birds and get them to continue to visit throughout the six Thursday mornings beginning summer. Cost is $22, and reserva- April 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. Instructions must be made in advance. tor Keith Miller will help students • “Spirituality 101: If God Is learn and practice the tools and Love: Rediscovering Grace in techniques of woodcarving usan Ungracious World” runs on ing a variety of types of wood.

Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. or Participants will create animals, Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. objects and faces. New students beginning April 18 and 20. The will make 3-6 projects such as a meetings revolve around a book of bird, a shoe, an egret and miniathe same name by Quaker pastors ture people. Experienced students Philip Gulley and James Mulhol- may design their own projects. land, who explore the power of Class fee is $100. Wood and bench love and acceptance and how it knives are available for purchase

The Center sets event slate

Supplied photo

in class (approximately $25 for wood and bench knives).

• “Diffuser Jewelry for Essential Oils” is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 21. Instructor Liz Credio will help students create a ring and bracelet that can hold a few drops of favorite essential oil. Projects include a wire-wrapped ring and a bracelet using lava stone, tiger eye, green stripped agate and Swarovski crystal rondelles. Workshop fee is $17 plus a $13 materials fee.

Bridge Teen Center provides free events

The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 S. 71st Ct., Orland Park, is offering several free events for teens in seventh through 12th grade in the week ahead. For more information on activities, call (708) 532-0500.

• “Upcycled Kitty Planters” runs from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18. Students will give a used, plastic, two-liter bottle a new purpose by turning it into a painted flowerpot.

• “Do More with Less Time with Sylvan Learning Center” is set for 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19. Students will learn how to manage a large workload by prioritizing tasks and keeping track of how they use their time.

• “DIY Creative Letters” is scheduled for 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 20. Students will design a monogram or spell out an inspirational word with hand-crafted letters.

• “Top Nail Colors for Spring (girls only)” will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, Students will learn how they can freshen up their manicure with some fun spring colors.

• “Prom After Party and DJ/Giant Game Night” will start at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 21 and run to midnight. Students are invited to game night featuring music by DJ Zaitrix. Free food samples will be provided by Meijer. This is a “high school after hours” night.

OMARR’S WEEKLY ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST

By Jeraldine Saunders ARIES (March 21-April 19): Stand on a podium, open the windows or drive with the top down in the week to come. You will relish attention and are willing to try something new. Don’t act too quickly when a financial matter is on the table.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Think before you act. When you think black someone else thinks white. Push aside the desire to act on your instincts as your judgment might be off base early in the week. Focus on sensitivity and loving relationships.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Speed up the assembly line and increase productivity. You will be at the top of your game this week and can expand your workload with ease. Don’t hesitate to make a snap judgment as your instincts are finely tuned.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put forth the extra effort to make a good impression. Showing more precision with your work will gain the notice and admiration of superiors. Stay focused, as the

Southwest • Section 2, Page 7

people you meet this week could become lasting friends.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): This is a week to play show and tell.

Show someone how utterly attractive you are in social situations and tell someone all about your deeds of daring. You shine when you can show off examples of original thinking.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your visionary logic might be a hit with friends. You may turn someone on to technological techniques that are of value. Amorous activities flourish under current celestial skies, but falter later in the week.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Lick the bowl. When good things get cooked up by your loved ones you should enjoy them to the fullest. Your financial decision making might be out of kilter in the week ahead so avoid initiating new investments.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Rely on revelations. Learn about something that is new, different or contrary to usual routines in the week ahead to create better working conditions. Don’t be provoked by others as a dustup

will blow over quickly.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Circle your wagons.

The need for security may be a deciding factor when dealing with family issues in the week ahead.

Make it your mission to remain free and autonomous whenever it is humanly possible.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Change your mind and you will see that things can change for the better. Think outside the box and focus on fascinating facts.

You are at your best with one-onone discussions during the first half of the week.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You may be looking for a definitive black or white answer when the truth lies in a gray area.

Be cautious about making major decisions in the week ahead. A fresh insight could help you make more money.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Grab a towel as you may be showered with affection. A very significant someone may especially affectionate and tender in the week ahead. If you meet someone new however don’t step outside the bounds of propriety

Michael Caine, Alan Arkin and Morgan Freeman are mad as hell at their bank, and they’re not going to take it anymore.

When three retirees have their pensions frozen and the system won’t help them out, they take the law into their own hands and set out to rob the people who have been robbing them for years.

“Going in Style,” directed by Zach Braff, is the latest in what I like to call the We-Still-Got-It genre: movies in which the elders of Hollywood demonstrate that they’re not only still alive, but full of life.

While not an entirely dismissible genre altogether, I generally find entries to be condescending towards audiences, filled with easy jokes about smartphoneobsessed grandkids, how the younger generations are doing everything wrong and formulaic plots wherein the elders must get off the couch, roll up their sleeves and do things the old fashioned way.

Going in Style doesn’t exactly break this formula, though I’m happy to report it does jettison the cheap jokes about how out of touch the generations are with one another. But, it doesn’t exactly replace them with anything either.

Considering that the movie was written by Theodore Melfi, it’s a shame there isn’t more going on here. I am a fan of Melfi’s recent independent gem “St. Vincent” (2014, directed by Melfi) – a smart and charming film about aging with well-rounded characters. Here, reworking a script from a 1979 Martin Brest film, the characters have little to no identities other than the financial problems that plague them.

Caine, unfortunately, is given almost nothing to do. His emotional connection to his daughter and granddaughter, for whom he provides financial stability, is so non-existent it’s a wonder why he, and not Freeman or Arkin, is the main character.

Freeman is given the most emotional work. He’s got a bad kidney and needs the money for access to

BRIAN LAUGHRAN better healthcare. This is far from the most challenging work Freeman has ever done, but he performs his role with gusto.

Arkin is the only one here given room to play.

His character – a death-obsessed saxophone instructor – possess every laugh-out-loud moment. He is the master of the withering witticism. Although, following “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006, directed by Jonathan Drayton and Valerie Faris), “Argo” (2012, directed by Ben Affleck) and some less interesting movies, the notion of Arkin playing a sarcastic pessimist is hardly novel.

Arkin even gets to have a love interest, played delightfully by Ann-Margret. We’re even treated to an all-too-brief duet by the two. A part of me wishes the movie would forget Caine, Freeman and the robbery and simply focus on this subplot.

There are seeds of a good movie at work: great performers, a promising writer and a concept that could lead to real social criticism with laughs involved, yet none sprout.

The film is forgettable, but it’s not bad. It’s simply one of those films that you might enjoy more if you don’t pay $13.42 to see it. Rent it.

RATING: C Brian Laughran’s movie reviews will appear the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

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

STARTING THIS WEEK:

“LION’’: Recently nominated for six Oscars including best picture, this affecting, fact-inspired drama follows the journey of Saroo, who — as a youngster (played

by Sunny Pawar) — is separated from his family in India, then is taken in and raised by an Australian couple (Oscar nominee Nicole Kidman and David Wenham). Still haunted by his heritage a quartercentury later (and portrayed at that point by Dev Patel, also Academy Award-nominated), he uses the

then-nascent Google Earth to find his biological family. Rooney Mara also appears in the moving tale as the central character’s girlfriend.

DVD extras: deleted scenes; photo gallery; music video. **** (PG13: AS) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “HIDDEN FIGURES’’: A recent Oscar nominee for best picture, this engrossing, inspiring and true drama revolves around female mathematicians who assisted NASA with the space program.

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer (nominated for an Academy Award of her own for the film) and singer-actress Janelle Monae play the women in question, whose roles in the solo flight of astronaut John Glenn had impacts on several levels, encompassing gender as well as profession. The movie also earned an Oscar bid for best

adapted screenplay. Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons (``The Big Bang Theory’’), Aldis Hodge and ``Moonlight’’ Oscar winner Mahershala Ali also star.

DVD extras: two ``making-of’’ documentaries; audio commentary by Henson and director and co-screenwriter Theodore Melfi; deleted scenes; photo gallery. *** (PG: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “TONI ERDMANN’’: An Oscar nominee this year for best foreign language film — and the winner in that category at the Film Independent Spirit Awards — writer-producer-director Maren Ade’s German-Austrian comedydrama concerns an unconventional man’s (Peter Simonischek) efforts to reconnect with his estranged businesswoman daughter (Sandra Continued on page 8

VARIETY

‘Midsomer Murders’ celebrates 20 years of quirky crimes and global appeal

By Leo Barraclough Whodunnit series “Midsomer Murders,” Britain’s biggest drama export, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. How has it maintained its passionate global fan base?

On the first day of filming of the 20th season, lead actor Neil Dudgeon, who plays police detective John Barnaby, sits on the banks of the Thames River pondering the enduring appeal of Bentley Productions’ murder mystery, whose latest season has been sold by All3Media Intl. to more than 170 territories.

One aspect of the show— set in a bucolic English county comprised of picturesque villages — that sets it apart from the crime genre crowd is that it is “quirky and off-center,” he says, and laced with hefty doses of “eccentricity and humor.”

Dudgeon, who is in his seventh season after taking over from original star John Nettles, adds that the view of the English as “genteel, reserved and well-mannered” within the context of the idyllic countryside works as a counterpoint to the deceit and wrongdoing uncovered by the detectives.

“It’s like you are in the woods and you find some beautiful log and turn it over and all the woodlice, spiders and beetles come running out from underneath,” he says.

One distinctive feature of the show is the exotic nature of the murders. Dudgeon’s favorite is where a man is found dead in the woods: He has been tied to a tree, his naked body smeared with truffle oil ... and eaten alive by wild boar.

Jonathan Fisher, who recently took over as the show’s exec producer, has more bizarre deaths lined up, including one where a man’s head is encased in chocolate to become a grotesque Easter Egg. Like Dudgeon, Fisher likes the juxtaposition of the “chocolatebox view of rural English life” and its “dark, often gothic, bloodsplattered” underbelly. He adds: “It’s pure escapism, and given everything that is happening in the world that is a real source of joy for our fans.”

Occasionally, there is also a “hint of the supernatural,” although come the denouement the killer’s motives must be shown to be “as emotionally truthful as possible,” Fisher says. “Everything, ultimately, has to be explained in the real world, but we can get quite spooky.”

The show is based on a series of novels by Caroline Graham, and it was former producer Betty Willingale, a consultant on the show now, who first spotted their TV adaptation potential. When the project was pitched to British broadcaster ITV, it was she who pushed for Nettles to be cast as detective Tom Barnaby, who was replaced in sea-

son 13 by his cousin. The series has found U.S. fans through PBS, Acorn TV and Netflix.

“As a central character he’s rather ‘still,’” Willingale says.

“It isn’t a role that goes deep into investigative techniques or forensic analysis ... but he does present this very British approach to the role. And that approach is to look largely unperturbed and just carry on.”

Another of the show’s strengths is the plethora of well-known guest actors, such as Simon Callow and Susan Hampshire. Fisher says: “We are allowed to have quite flamboyant theatrical figures and in doing so we are able to attract a stellar cast pretty much every week.”

In his notes to the writers he often eggs them on to “push the idiosyncrasies of the guests as far as possible,” he says.

Casting director Louise Cross, who has been with the show from the start, says: “We tend to have strong characters on the page, unlike a lot of modern television, so we pluck from the world of theater actors quite often in order to get a varied performance and a strong sense of character.

“Often these days TV requires a low-key naturalistic performance, but in the world of ‘Midsomer’ actors have a bit more of an opportunity to play and have fun with their roles, and I think that’s what attracts them to the show. They get to act, to give a performance.”

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

OUT & ABOUT

The Regional News • The Reporter

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Southwest • Section 2, Page 8

WOLFGANG PUCK’S KITCHEN

Impress Passover guests with a fresh take on a Jewish classic

By Wolfgang Puck “Why is this night different from all other nights?”

That’s the age-old question at the heart of the Passover Seder, the ritual meal held on the first night of the holiday (which falls on April 10 this year) that remembers the exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in ancient Egypt.

At Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills, we’ll be holding our own Seder for the 33rd consecutive year, welcoming guests at a special meal featuring my culinary team’s interpretations of all the traditional foods.

One of those interpretations in particular raises another question that my chefs and I have heard for every one of those events: “Why is this gefilte fish different from all other gefilte fishes?” I’m happy to answer that question, and provide you with the recipe.

First, let me explain what the dish actually is. “Gefilte” is a Yiddish word that means “stuffed,” and here it refers to a stuffinglike mixture of finely chopped fish mixed with egg, onion, seasonings and a fine meal of matzo, the cracker-like unleavened bread served at Passover in observance of the fact that the Jewish people fled Egypt so quickly they had no time for their bread dough to rise.

Most people experience gefilte fish straight out of a jar, a product that all too often receives reactions typified by turned up noses or even rude comments about a flavor some find either too fishy or too bland and a texture sometimes described as dense or rubbery. But when I first learned about it and tasted it many years ago, I immediately thought that I could make something better myself. I also realized that gefilte fish really wasn’t very different from something I’d learned to make in the French restaurants where I’d trained. That’s fish quenelles, delicate egg-shaped dumplings of fish bound with breadcrumbs and egg and then poached in water or fish stock.

So I began experimenting, and came up with a version of gefilte fish that combined Jewish tradition with classic French technique. I separated the eggs and then beat

the whites, folding them into the fish mixture for extra lightness.

I included chopped onion that I first sauteed in extra-virgin olive oil, bringing a hint of mellowness to its sharp bite; and I added chopped fresh herbs for a taste of springtime.

Finally, I took the name “gefilte” much more literally than it usually is, wrapping portions of the fish mixture into individual blanched cabbage leaves, and then gently oven-poaching the individual packages in fish stock. The result is a surprisingly bright-tasting dish that your Seder guests will find delightful. But you don’t even need to throw a Seder to serve it.

CABBAGE-WRAPPED PASSOVER GEFILTE FISH Serves 12 • 1 head green cabbage • 1/2 cup (125 mL) matzo meal • 1 quart (1 L) goodquality canned fish stock • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced • 2 pounds mild white fish fillets such as pike, carp, or whitefish, cut into chunks • 3 large cage-free eggs, separated • 1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped Italian parsley • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves • 2 to 3 teaspoons kosher salt • 1/2 tablespoon freshly ground white pepper • Cayenne pepper, to taste • 1 medium organic carrot, peeled and cut into thin julienne strips • 1 medium organic leek, white part only, halved lengthwise, thoroughly rinsed, and cut into thin julienne strips • Bottled grated horseradish in vinegar, with or without beet juice, for serving Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C).

VIDEOVIEW BY JAY BOBBIN Continued from page 7 Huller). To do so, he ultimately adopts an alter ego as a life coach ... and though she recognizes him through the disguise immediately, she decides to play along with his charade, realizing he might have some benefit to her personal and professional lives. DVD extras: audio commentary by Simonischek, Huller and producer Janine Jackowski; AFI Fest panel. *** (R: AS, N, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “VEEP: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON’’: Selina Meyer’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) political future hangs in the balance, with the presidential election undecided as this round of the acclaimed, Emmy-winning HBO comedy series begins. She and her aides do all they can to ensure another term for her, but as often is the case, Selina proves to be her own worst enemy on several counts. Brad Hall, Louis-Dreyfus’ husband, directed one of the episodes; guest stars include Hugh Laurie, John Slattery (“Mad Men’’), Peter MacNicol, Patton Oswalt and Martin Mull.

DVD extras: audio commentary by cast and crew members; deleted scenes. *** (Not rated: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray) “MARS: SEASON ONE’’: The recent National Geographic series combines drama and documentary elements to project the first manned mission to the Red Planet. Things don’t go as planned during the six astronauts’ landing, since they ultimately touch down miles away from the intended location, forcing them and the scientists watching them from Earth to make adjustments that will let the mission succeed. Ben Cotton (“Stargate Atlantis’’) plays the leader of the international team that makes the journey, with Olivier Martinez (“Unfaithful’’) as the corporate chief behind the expedition.

Comments by people connected to the issues that inform the dramatic

sequences, including Elon Musk and Neil deGrasse Tyson, are interspersed throughout the program.

Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are among the executive producers. *** (Not rated) “FRONTLINE: DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA’’: As a new administration was about to enter the White House in January, this two-part episode of the PBS series examined events of the preceding eight years that may have fostered the results of the 2016 election. The opening half focuses on President Barack Obama’s promises of change and unity in the United States, and how those played out during his two terms against the actual racial and social climate in the country. The conclusion focuses on splits within the Republican Party as Donald Trump and other candidates vied for its nomination. *** (Not rated: P)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully add the head of cabbage and blanch for 5 minutes; then, carefully lift it out, leaving the water in the pot, and transfer to a basin filled with cold water. When cool enough to handle, remove the whole leaves and cut away the tough core. As you peel off the outer leaves, you may have to return the head to the boiling water to soften the inner leaves. Lay the leaves out to dry on a clean kitchen towel.

Put the matzo meal in a small bowl. Cover with 1 cup (250 mL) of the fish stock and leave to soak.

In a small skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until tender but not yet browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

In a wooden bowl or on a chopping board, chop the fish finely with a curved chopper or a large knife. Add the soaked matzo meal, the cooled onion, 3 egg yolks, parsley, tarragon, 2 teaspoons salt, white pepper and cayenne to taste; continue chopping until thoroughly combined.

In a clean medium bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form firm but not yet stiff peaks. Stir a little into the fish mixture; then, quickly but gently fold in the remaining whites. To test for flavor, bring a little fish stock to a simmer, add a

Dreamstime.com

Top your cabbage-wrapped gefilte fish with julienned carrots and leeks.

small ball of the fish mixture, and cook for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings, adding a little more salt or cayenne as you like.

Heat the remaining stock and spoon a little into an 11-by-17-inch baking pan. Divide the fish mixture into 12 portions, about 4 ounces (125 g) each, enclosing each in an oblong shape inside 1 or 2 cabbage leaves, wrapping the leaves around

the filling like a package, folding the bottom, then the 2 sides, and then the top over the fish; as the leaves get smaller, you will have to use 2 to wrap a portion. As each package is formed, place it in the prepared baking pan, seam-side down. Pour the remaining stock over the packages and top with the julienned carrot and leek.

Cover the pan with foil and bake

for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, leave the fish packages to cool in the stock, and then transfer the packages and stock to an airtight container and refrigerate until serving time.

To serve, place one package on each of 12 plates, garnishing with some julienned carrots and leeks.

Pass horseradish for guests to add to their plates to taste.

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COMING SOON:

“THE FOUNDER’’ (April 18): Michael Keaton plays Ray Kroc, who turned two siblings’ restaurant concept into the iconic franchise McDonald’s. (PG-13: P) “SLEEPLESS’’ (April 18): A Las Vegas police detective (Jamie Foxx) faces numerous challenges in one night as he tries to rescue his kidnapped son. (R: AS, P, V) “SPLIT’’ (April 18): A man (James McAvoy) with multiple personalities kidnaps several girls in writer-director M. Night Shyamalan’s melodrama. (PG-13: AS, P, V) “UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS’’ (April 25): Selene (Kate Beckinsale) tries to navigate between Lycans and vampires, and also to protect her daughter. (R: AS, P, GV) FAMILY VIEWING GUIDE KEY: AS, adult situations; N, nudity; P, profanity; V, violence; GV, particularly graphic violence.

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