Reporter 8 20 15

District 218 bosses have a lot on their plate hashing over issues about free breakfasts and lunches.

See Dermot Connolly’s coverage on page 3.

R E P O R T E R REPORTER

THE THE THE 2 SECTIONS 16 PAGES

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

Volume LVI No. 22

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Goodbye, Lexington House

Hickory Hills banquet hall THE makes its exit THE Saturday but leaves plenty of 2 SECTIONS memories behind 22 PAGES 2 SECTIONS

…but mayors 22 area PAGES were happy to win Volume XLVII No. it in a charity soft-50 ball game against Volume XLVII No. 50 fire and police chiefs on Sunday.

See sports

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

Memories, memories and more memories came flooding back toRidge, Serving Chicago Mike Herman, lighting the corners of his mind, as he recalled the way it was at the Lexington House for the past 44 years.

Open since 1968, the Lexington House will close its doors for the final time as it hosts two events on Saturday. The property has been sold to DriveTime Car Sales Company, LLC and it will be used as a used car showroom.

Many people have memories of the place, but Herman may have more than anyone.

This is a place that Barack Obama threw a party long before he became president and Ray Charles performed. Members of the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears held a fashion show there.

Former governor Jim Thompson’s helocopter touched down in the parking lot right next to the hall.

And Herman was there to see it all.

Thursday, March 1, 2007 Thursday, March 1, 2007

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Mike Herman, who worked 44 years at the Lexinton House in Hickory Hills, will be there Saturday for the final two events at the inconic banquet hall. Left, celebrities such at Barack Obama, Ray Charles, Rod Blagojevich and have made appearances at the Lexington House.

(Continued on page 10)

Seven-year ‘war’ over thanks to OL church …and it was paraded around the area last week, including a trip to Oak Lawn.

See Page 4.

Vorva was nosing around some past Reporter newspapers and found a story we did on a young wrestler named C.M. Punk (page 3) while Hanania punks on reward cards (page 6).

Submitted Photo

A big group of people at the Trinity Evangelical Covenant Church in Oak Lawn helped reunite Emmanuel Ajide and his family. Ajide and his wife, Olayemi, are in the middle of the photo with red headwear on. The church’s pastor, Jim Sandberg, is in front, relaxing on the floor.

By Claudia Parker Correspondent

Police News........................2 Our Neighborhood.............4 Sudoku.............................4 Commentary.....................6 Death Notices....................7 Crossword.........................7 School.........................8 Consumer......................9

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At first, pursuing the American dream was a nightmare for former Nigerian immigrant Emmanuel Ajide.

He said it was like being “in a war.”

He won the Green Card Lottery at the expense of being separated from his family.

For seven long years.

But the story has a happy and tearful ending as the Trinity Evangelical Covenant Church at 9230 S. Pulaski in Oak Lawn, rallied to help Ajide reunite with his family after being separated from them for all that time.

Since 1956

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didn’t know I’d have to fight for it like I was in a war.”

Ajide said when he entered the lottery in Nigeria, his paperwork reflected a single status.

“When you’re selected, it’s a long process. By the time I was approved to come to America, I had married my fiancé, Olayemi, and had a daughter named Ayomide, whom was only six month’s old.”

What does one do in this situation?

Ajide chose to keep quiet about his family status.

“I thought it would be an easier process for my family to come to America once I got here. I was wrong.” Ajide said, “The strain of being apart nearly broke us.”

There was a war raging alright, most of the time, over the phone.

“Olayemi didn’t understand,’’ Ajide said. “She felt abandoned.

Every day on the phone she cried, some days from sadness and others out of anger. She cussed me out-a lot!”

Due to the expense, Ajide said he could only visit his family once a year, staying only two or three weeks each time, which he said made the separation even more agonizing. During one of those trips back, Olayemi conceived their second child, a son named, Olawale.

“I didn’t meet my son until he was 14 months old.” Ajide said, “When we met, he looked at me

like, ‘Who is this man?’”

The church sat across the street from Ajide’s apartment.

“I’m slow about getting around to things. I lived there three years before I visited.” Ajide said, “Pastor Jim became like a father to me. He helped me cope with what I was going through. My marriage gained strength again when I met him. He helped me to recognize my wife as my partner and told me if I stayed committed to our partnership, we’d make it through any situation.”

Sandberg and his wife, Charlene, have been married 39 years.

“I wasn’t trying to give Emman(Continued on page 7)

Let Mike and his staff Change Your Mind about Car buYing.

LARGEST INVENTORY

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Rev. James R. Sandberg, known by his congregation as Pastor Jim said: “I promised Emmanuel I would help him. Our entire congregation pulled funds together to answer the call.”

That was a good call. It rang to the tune of $3,400 and change to help him reunite with his family.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa program, also known as the Green Card Lottery is administered annually. It’s meant to diversify the immigrant population in the United States by selecting applicants, mostly from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

“I wanted the opportunity to live a better life,” Ajide said. “I

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2

The Reporter Thursday, August 20, 2015

POLICE & COMMUNITY NEWS

Take it to the bank OL bank robbed hours before resident earns award for thwarting an earlier robbery

By Dermot Connolly Staff Reporter A few hours after a man escaped after robbing a TCF bank in Oak Lawn on Aug. 11, village resident Mazen Maali received a police department commendation for ensuring that a suspect in a June 30 robbery at a local Chase bank wasn’t so lucky.

In the Aug. 11 incident, the FBI is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of a man who robbed the TCF Bank branch at 9801 S. Cicero Ave. about 4:40 p.m. Witnesses told police and FBI investigators that a black male wearing bandages on his face and a white hard hat walked in and presented a demand note to a teller.

he took to help solve the June 30 robbery of the Chase Bank branch at 5705 W. 95th St., which occurred around 2:30 p.m. In that case, the suspect later identified as Chad Emmerson, entered the bank about 2:30 p.m., told a teller he had a weapon, and fled with an undisclosed amount of money. He did not actually display a weapon, police said.

Murray said Maali realized what was happening as he entered the bank, and followed suspect’s white Hyundai in his own car long enough to take photos of the license plate. He then returned to the bank and turned over the information to authorities, who were able to track Emmerson down. Murray said Emmerson was a suspect in other area bank robberies as well.

“If I see something I don’t like, I do something about it,” said Maali, after Murray presented him with the framed commendation.

“Going after a possibly armed suspect is not something we encourage,” cautioned Murray. “We recommend calling 911 and letting us handle it. But we just wanted to show in this small way that we do appreciate the efforts that Mr. Maali went to in order to catch this bank robber,” said the police chief, as the audience and Village Board gave him a standing ovation.

The suspect is said to have fled the scene in a white Hyundai.

More information about the Aug. 11 robbery may be obtained on the FBI-maintained website www.bandittrackerchicago.com.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident may contact the FBI at 312-421-6700.

The note claimed the man, who fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, had a weapon but one was not displayed, police said. No one was injured, and the investigation was turned over to the FBI. The suspect was described as a black male with a medium complexion, approximately 6 ft. tall and 190 pounds. Witnesses said he had a white bandage on his right cheek and a Band-Aid on his left jaw. With the white hard hat, he was wearing a black zipup sweatshirt, black T-shirt and dark pants.

Less than three hours after that robbery, at the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting, Police Chief Michael Murray presented Maali with a commendation thanking him for the actions

Photo by Dermot Connolly

Oak Lawn Police Chief Michael Murray presents Mazen Maali with a framed commendation on Aug. 11 in appreciation for his help in capturing a suspect in a June 30 robbery of the Chase bank branch at 5705 W. 95th St.

THE

REPORTER

Chicago Ridge / Evergreen Park / Hickory Hills Oak Lawn / Palos Hills / Worth Publisher Amy Richards Editor Jeff Vorva Sports Editor Ken Karrson Graphic Design/Layout Kari Nelson

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Tommie Moore, 27, of the 7400 block of South Rockwell Avenue, Chicago, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, both felonies, after patrol officers questioned him as he sat in the back seat of a car in the 11000 block of South Parkside Avenue at 9:15 p.m. Aug. 14. Police said he was found in possession of seven small bags of heroin.

Roberto Rodriguez, 50, of Leonard Street in Elgin, was charged with driving without a license and expired registration following a traffic stop at 11 a.m. Aug. 15 in the 9400 block of South Harlem Avenue. He Jose H. Orellana, 57, of the 4800 block of West Barry Avenue, Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license and expired license plates when he was stopped at 12:35 p.m. Aug. 15 in the 10300 block of South Harlem Avenue.

Olivia Betancourt, 23, of the 14800 block of South Lawndale Avenue, Midlothian, was charged with retail theft at Kohl’s store at Chicago Ridge Mall at 5:58 p.m. Aug. 15. Security officers detained her after she allegedly concealed clothing worth $120 and left the store.

Jeffery A. Spacek, 49, of the 10600 block of South Harlem Avenue, Palos Hills, was charged with driving on a suspended license and no insurance after being stopped at 1:33 a.m. Aug. 17 at 110th Street and Oxford Avenue.

Anthony Marzullo, 36, of Chicago, was charged with theft following the burglary of an apartment above Kosary Funeral Home, in the 9800 block of South Kedzie Ave., at 4:29 p.m. June Submitted photo A surveillance photos of sus- 26. Police said he took jewelry pect in Aug. 11 robbery at TCF worth $4,785 and a $500 vacuum.

Bank 9801 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Gladstone Valentine, 55, of Lawn.

Calumet Park, was charged with felony retail theft when he was stopped at 12:06 p.m. July 31 at Menards, 9100 S. Western Ave. Police said he took two tools worth a total of $219.98.

Entered as periodical mail at the Post OfficeatWorth,Illinois,undertheActofMarch3,1879.

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Jack A. Pradaun, 56, of the 10300 block of South McVicker Avenue, Chicago Ridge, was charged with domestic battery and possession of cannabis following an incident at his home at 8:01 p.m. Aug. 6. Police said he battered another family member at his home address.

Rodrigo Villanueva, 23, was arrested on a theft charge at his home in the 3300 block of West 92nd Street at 4:04 p.m.

Aug. 6 after an acquaintance told police he had charged him $90 in exchange for a promise to get him a job without having to take a drug test.

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Lesly Ratcliff Jr., 54, of Chicago, was charged with felony retail theft for allegedly taking three electronics items worth a total of $400 from Meijer, 9200 S. Western Ave., at 11:30 a.m.

Aug. 2. Police said he had a previous conviction record for, so the charge was increased to a felony.

Andre Potts, 49, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft for allegedly taking five items of food and alcohol from Meijer grocery store at 4:27 p.m. Aug. 2. Police said the items were valued at $117.98, but the charge was upgraded to a felony due to previous convictions.

Demetrius Fisher, 45, of Chicago, was charged with felony

retail theft for allegedly taking 16 items from CVS, 3201 W. 95th St., at 7:17 p.m. Aug. 2. Police said the merchandise was valued at $101.94. The charge was upgraded to a felony due to previous convictions.

Home Depot, 4060 W. 95th St., without paying for a cart full of merchandise at 1:42 p.m. Aug. 11. Police said Bradshaw was seen filling the cart with 22 assorted items, amounting to $122 in value.

Hickory Hills

Danielle S. Armstead, 39, of the 200 block of East 120th Place, Chicago, was arrested on an outstanding Chicago warrant for unlawful use of weapon when she was stopped at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 11 in the 6600 block of West 95th Street. Police said the warrant had been issued in the name of one of her many aliases. Armstead was identified by a tattoo.

Eugene N. Arnold III, 37, of the 400 block of West Harrison Street, Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license and improper use of registration when he was stopped at 11:19 p.m. Aug. 14 at 87th Street and Oakwood Drive. The car had Michigan plates but police could find no record of the Michigan registration plate on file. Arnold was also cited for driving without headlights.

Ramadan Lika, 22, of the 10400 block of 82nd Court, Palos Hills, was issued a village ordinance violation when he was found in possession of a small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia when the car he was a passenger in was stopped at 6:52 p.m.

Aug. 12, in the 8600 block of 86th Avenue. The driver of the vehicle, Neki Bala, 21, of the 5600 block of South 74th Avenue, Summit, was issued a ticket for speeding.

Alexander B. Crossley, 21, of the 200 block of Chappell Avenue, Calumet City, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and aggravated speeding, when he was stopped at 3:38 p.m. Aug. 12 in the 8600 block of 85th Court. Police said he was driving 31 miles over the speed limit, and 19 Ritalin pills were found in the car. A marijuana grinder and smoking pipe were also found, police said.

Oak Lawn Jay J. Yates, 40, of the 10600 block of South Mason Avenue, Oak Lawn, was charged with driving without a license and arrested on an outstanding warrant from Worth when he was stopped at 8:57 p.m. July 24 in the 5600 block of West 102nd Street. He was also cited for driving a car without a rear registration light.

Police said the warrant was for failure to appear in court on another traffic offense.

Cameron M. Land, 20, of the 9100 block of South Bennett Avenue, Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license, suspended registration, and possession of 11 grams of cannabis when he was stopped at 12:10 a.m. Aug. 11 at Pulaski Road and 111th Street. Police said 14 small bags of marijuana were found in his underwear, and another small bag was in the center console of the car. His passenger, Hadiatou Diaby, 21, of the 5500 block of South Everett Avenue in Chicago, was issued a village ordinance violation for possession of 2 grams of cannabis that he was carrying.

Lauren C. Ciszewski, 28, of the 10800 block of West Gateway Drive, Frankfort, was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident and driving without insurance after she allegedly hit a parked car in the Red Lobster parking lot at 9500 Southwest Highway about 6 p.m. Aug. 9. She was pulled over shortly afterward in the parking lot of Walgreens, 4740 W. 95th St. Juan Herrera, 43, of Nacogdoches, Texas, was charged with driving on an expired license and following too closely following a two-car collision at 9:50 p.m. Aug. 4 in the 4700 block of West 95th Street. No injuries were reported.

Maurice Bradshaw, 62, of the 14500 block of South University Avenue, Dolton, was charged with retail theft after allegedly leaving

Palos Hills man faces weapons, battery charges Faustino Rodriguez, 19, of Palos Hills, faces felony weapons possession and battery charges after allegedly trying to dispose of a gun about 4 a.m. Aug. 15, at the El Gallo restaurant, 10146 S. Roberts Road, Palos Hills.

Palos Hills police said they were called to the scene for a disturbance, and witnesses told them Rodriguez appeared intoxicated and may have a gun. He was arrested when police checked the garbage he was seen throwing something into, and found a 9mm handgun.

Officers said they determined Rodriguez did not have an FOID card or a concealed carry license.

He admitted being in possession

of the weapon, but told police it was only loaded with blanks.

Police found that the chamber was loaded with one blank 9mm round.

“I’m happy that we were able to quickly respond to the scene and take control before something more tragic happened,” said Police Chief Paul J. Madigan.

In addition to the weapons offense, Rodriguez was charged with battery after police said he complained of chest pain and then spit in the face of a North Palos paramedic who was taking him to Palos Community Hospital.

He was also cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol.

--Reporter News

Sean Michael Athy, 26, of Country Square Road, Palos Heights, was charged with domestic-related disorderly conduct after allegedly throwing rocks at an ex-girlfriend’s house in the 9200 block of South Raymond Avenue to get her attention at 12:16 a.m.

Aug. 12. Police found his car outside the residence, and reached him at his house.

Michael Davis, 57, of the 2600 block of West 83rd Place, Chicago, was charged with aggravated assault after allegedly threatening a 43-year-old man with a machete at a home in the 9100 block of South Mulligan Avenue at 11:35 a.m. Aug. 9. The victim said he had rented a room to Davis for the past week, and Davis threatened him with the machete, 20-inch, following an argument.

Palos Hills A man reported being a victim of identity theft on Aug. 14. He told police someone evidently stole his Social Security card and used it to open a Comcast account, because he received a bill for $958.29 even though he does not have such an account.

A victim of alleged fraud told police on Aug. 12 that someone from Ft. Worth, Texas, who contacted him regarding a car he was selling for $800 on Craigslist. com sent him a check for $1,950 to cover the purchase price and moving expenses. He said he only learned the check was fraudulent after depositing it in his bank, and paying a man to bring the vehicle to Texas.

A man told police that a female driver hit him in the face after he pulled into the Shell gas station, 10300 S. Harlem Ave., at noon on Aug. 14 to call police.

He said the woman seemed to deliberately drive ahead of him, and then slow down to cause a collision. The alleged victim said that when he pulled into the parking lot to call police, a male passenger got out of the woman’s car wielding a baseball bat. The woman punched him in the face before leaving the scene with the man.

Worth Sergio D. Serna, 21, of the 10600 block of South Oak Tree Drive, faces multiple charges following a hit-and-run accident in the 6900 block of West 107th Street at 2:18 a.m. Aug. 2. Police said Serna was apprehended at his home, after his heavily damaged car was found crashed into a trailer. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, failing to give notification of an accident, improper lane usage, no insurance, driving with defective brakes, and leaving a vehicle unattended.

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Thursday, August 20, 2015 The Reporter

3

Reporter newspaper was on the C.M. Punk bandwagon way back when Whilst I was researching through the old Reporter newspapers from 1998, something caught my eye on page 5 in the April 9 edition.

It was a picture of a pro wrestler with a skull on his t-short leaping from the top rope, ready to do some skullduggery on an opponent’s skull.

Although I am not as big of a pro wrestling fan as I used to be, I wondered who this high flyer was and I read the caption that he was none other than Phil Brooks.

Most know him by his ring name: C.M. Punk.

Punk has gone on to huge things in the World Wrestling Entertainment in recent years. His ability to throw his body around and top microphone skills made him a heel and then an antihero crowd favorite. He held the WWE title for 434 days, which makes him the longest-reigning champeen in the modern era. That reign ended Jan. 27, 2013.

A few times, however, he ticked off the big bosses by deviating from scripted storylines to get into some of the real warts of the inner workings of the WWE. But he was getting such heat from the audiences that owner Vince McMahon and his people had to suck it up. Finally, the two parted ways in 2014 and Punk is now trying to make it as an ultimate fighter.

But way back in ’98, Punk, who hails from Lockport, was

IMPRESSIONS By Jeff Vorva

a featured star in the Lunatic Wrestling Federation and picked up the biggest break of his career when he and the LWF were featured in the Reporter. He was 21 at the time and the LWF got started in a dude named Larry Satkus’s back yard in Mokena.

After Satkus. C.M. Punk and a few other goofs watched a payper-view event, Satkus had an idea that only the rarest of great minds could come up with.

“I said ‘hey, let’s go in the back yard and beat the crap out of each other,’ ’’ he said. “We were jumping around like a bunch of jerks.’’

And so, that’s where it started for Mr. Punk.

The LWF started to grow and they were attracting a couple of hundred people to their shows.

Punk talked about his love for the sport.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s the ultimate stage,” he said. “A lot of kids play baseball, stickball or soccer. They grew up watching that and they want to emulate

it. I grew up watching wrestling.

It’s a love of the sport, the theater and the stage it provides.’’

Even back in the old days, he would take chair shots to the head. On one night, one of the Obnoxious Frat Boys snuck up behind him and BAM! “It’s like playing a game of chicken,” Punk said. “You know it’s coming, your body wants to react. You’ve really got to work at overcoming that. It’s really getting over that natural reflex.’’

Punk went on to become a huge star. The rest of the LWF? Well…

The group still has a Twitter account and it appears it hasn’t hosted matches in a while but one of the founding fathers of the group wrote a book about the organization.

There was one report that in September, 1998, Punk closed the LWF because his brother allegedly embezzled thousands of dollars so the inner workings of the group was not without its drama.

While people are predicting and celebrating the demise of newspapers, I steadfastly maintain there is a great need for them. I know of some places where Internet archives have been wiped out and the only place you could still read certain stories is the hard copy of the newspaper.

We provide an important service to society. Where else are you going to find out C.M. Punk got hit start jumping around with a bunch of jerks?

File photo by Richard Dramato

C.M. Punk appears in the Reporter getting ready to finish the Frog Splash move on his opponent in a Lunatic Wrestling Federation bout in 1998.

Horrifying reason for having skydiving flight called off Editor's note: DesPlanes Valley News Reporter Alison Moran was at the Gary Airport on Saturday at the invitation of the Army to fly with the Golden Knights parachute team when Sgt. Corey Hood was involved in a mid-air collision that would take his life.

Here is her story:

By Alison Moran Correspondent "Tell her the jump's not gonna happen."

I heard the voice of the pilot navigating the Army's Golden Knights parachute team over the walkie-talkie at the Gary Jet Center on Saturday.

Just an hour or so before, the Golden Knight's precision skydiving team had taken off from the same airstrip, to dazzle and entertain an estimated 1 million people gathered at Chicago's lakefront for the 57th annual Air & Water Show.

I had been scheduled to fly with the prestigious Golden Knights' Black Demonstration Division,

and interview the parachutists, who annually make more than 27,000 jumps with a team of 427 national champions. Many were from the Midwest, and I was eager to find out what motivated them to do such dangerous work on behalf of their nation.

"These guys are like my brothers," said Sgt. First Class Shelby Bixler, of Michigan, one of the few female parachutists in the Golden Knights, in an interview prior to Saturday's jump. "We back each other up, support each other. We know it's dangerous, but important work."

"Skydiving is a dangerous sport," Donna Dixon, the parachute team public affairs officer, told me by email. "But the team goes through extensive training to be prepared for malfunctions."

And now, the jump’s “not gonna happen.”

"Why?" I asked.

"The reporter would like an explanation," repeated Colleen Goldstein into the walkie-talkie, who was communicating with the pilot as part of the Air & Water

Corey Hood Show team.

A pause.

"No reason," he said.

A few minutes later, as the situation unfolded, we were in the midst of a tragedy. We learned all jumps were cancelled that day, as

the team implemented a safety stand down.

I learned one of the Army jumpers, who was a decorated, respected veteran, had collided in mid-air with a member of the Navy's parachute team, the

Leap Frogs, while performing a maneuver.

The Leap Frog, identified as Tim Holland, had broken one of his legs but managed to still land on North Avenue Beach, but the Golden Knight was undergoing brain surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Dixon told me the entire Black Demonstration Division visited him at the hospital. The commander and team leader, she said, stayed at the hospital to support the soldier's family.

Overnight, things appeared promising. According to Dixon, he remained stable through the night but was still in critical condition. And we learned his name: Sgt. First Class Corey Hood, 32.

The native of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a 14-year Army veteran and had served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But Hood's condition worsened. On Sunday, just after 7 p.m., Dixon sent word of Sgt. Hood's passing. Survivors include his wife, Lyndsay.

"Our focus right now is on

supporting Corey's family and grieving for our teammate." said Lt. Col. Matthew Weinrich, team commander, in a statement. "As soldiers, there are risks every day in what we do, but you do everything you can to minimize those risks and it is extremely hard when that is not enough.

"The Knights are a very close knit team and the military skydiving community is equally close; we will support Corey's family and each other during this difficult time."

In the aftermath, counseling is being offered to the Golden Knights, and an investigation into the accident is ongoing. The safety stand down may impact the team's performance schedule.

The Golden Knights are an important connection between the Army and the American people," said Mark S. Davis, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing. "Corey's loss is a loss for the Army team and every single person he has touched and inspired wherever and whenever he jumped."

Food fight -- D 218 officials argue the merits of free breakfasts and lunches

By Dermot Connolly Staff Reporter

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Hickory Hills officials are trying to get this property on 78th Court condemned.

Hickory Hills bosses looking to condemn problem property

By Sharon L. Filkins Correspondent Hickory Hills officials want a house that has caused headaches for one resident to be torn down.

Mayor Mike Howley said after Thursday’s city council meeting that he is looking into having house on the abandoned property on 78th Court condemned.

The issue was brought up July 23 when resident Joe Piccioli said people were breaking into that house and he felt it made the neighborhood unsafe. He called it the “ghetto of Hickory Hills’’ Howley said that the city’s building department is working to have it condemned. “There is no way that house could ever be brought up to code and we will get our city attorney involved as needed.”

Also, an unsightly furnace which had been left on the lawn of a home near Piccioli’s residence has been removed. Howley thanked the city’s ordinance enforcement officer, Ingrid McNeff, for the removal.

The city also contacted the owner of an empty lot at 78th Court and the lot has been mowed regularly since being contacted.

Also, the police department now has a constant patrol watch on the property immediately north of Piccioli’s house, which means it is checked during every shift.

In other news..

• Village Attorney, Vince Cainkar received approval on a Resolution acknowledging the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Village Engineer, Mike Spolar, received approval for a payment of $325,663.70 to Gallagher Asphalt for the 2015 city-wide street resurfacing project.

• Alderman Brian Waight received approval for three business license applications: • Planet Fitness, 9652 So. Roberts Road; Amanda Myers, Precision Dance Project, offering dance instruction and dance wear shop at 8717 W. 95th Street and William Fabino for Minuteman Press/Fabino & Graphics at 8330 W. 95th St. • Sharon Marciano, filling in for City Clerk D. Catizone who was ill, announced that 40 residents have requested free rain barrels in the recently announced Metropolitan Water Retention District program.

Community School District 218 notified parents and guardians on its website this week that all students in the district will be entitled to free breakfast and lunch this school year, but school board member Robert Stokas expressed his displeasure about the move at Monday's board meeting.

“The message says ‘We are pleased to inform you…’ But I am not pleased at all,” said Stokas, who asked that the issue be put on the agenda for the September meeting. “There is no such thing as a free lunch. It is a federal program, but somebody is paying for it,” he added, questioning why the decision was made without a vote by the board.

District 218 serves Richards, Shepard and Eisenhower High Schools.

The letter on the website says that “District 218 schools will be implementing a new option available to schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for School Year 2015-2016. Schools that participate in the CEP are able to provide healthy breakfasts and lunches each day at no charge for all students enrolled in that CEP school during the 2015-2016 school year.''

Stokas, who was elected to the board in April, said he recalled

objecting to the idea when a presentation was made on it a few months ago. “I want to voice my continued disapproval of this,” he said. “I don’t think it is the government’s role to provide free meals to everyone,” said Stokas.

“We are here to educate students.

And I am not alone in this. I have talked to a lot of people (who feel the same way).”

District Business Manager Joe Daley said that in order to qualify for free meals for all students, 40 percent of students districtwide needed to qualify according to household income limits. He said the suggestion was put forward in April or May about possibly applying for the program. Now, all students are entitled to a free “plated meal” that follows nutritional guidelines, and any extras or different items may be purchased on an “ala carte” basis. Paying for the plated meal, for those who would want to, is not an option “If students can’t afford it, that is one thing. But I don’t think there is any reason this district needs to provide two free meals a day to every student,” said Stokas.

Board member Johnny Harris noted that the previous system for providing free meals to those who qualified “was a very loosely managed program,” in which no more than three percent of applications could be questioned about meeting qualifying income levels.”

Stokas Vice President Randy Heuser, who led the meeting due to the absence of President Thomas Kosowski, then asked for further discussion of the matter to be halted until it is formally put on the agenda for the next board meeting, set for 7 p.m. Sept.

21, at the District Administrative Center, 10701 S. Kilpatrick Ave., Oak Lawn.

Several board members questioned whether the free meals will even be popular among students who would rather bring their own lunches.

“Maybe we can review this program when we get a little further into the year,” suggested board member Carol Kats.

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The Reporter Thursday, August 20, 2015

Our Neighborhood This Cup was runneth all over the area

By Jeff Vorva Staff Reporter Oak Lawn’s Marlene Gapski said it never gets old.

For the third since 2010, her son, Mike, brought home the ultimate Blackhawks bauble from their championship seasons to her home on Thursday and hundreds of people gawked and had pictures taken with it.

Mike, the team’s trainer, had the Cup for a day and, like he did in past, he shared with as much of the south suburbs as he humanly could. In the morning, hundreds, including OL Mayor Sandra Bury gathered at Marlene’s house, which she calls “the Hockey House” and took in the aura of an iconic inanimate object.

“I love this,” she said. “I’ve been a fan since I was 12 and watching Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita and I love them all. It doesn’t surprise me that so many people are here, they all love the Blackhawks, too. I don’t even know half the people here.’’

But for close to an hour, folks had fun until it was time for the Cup to move on to bigger crowds.

The Cup appeared in front of thousands in the late morning at Marist High School, thousands at Standard Bank Park in Crestwood in the afternoon and a bunch of more people in the evening hours at 115 Bourbon Street. Many people who were in the presence of the silver prize forked over at least 10 bucks in which the money went to Special Olympics and other charities.

Marlene Gapski said she never believed that one of the most recognizable trophies in the world would be sitting in her front yard three times.

“When my son was called to be the trainer, I was ecstatic,” Marlene said. “When [former Hawks executive] Pulford called him, he thought it was a joke. When he realized it wasn’t, he was thrilled to death.’’

Here are a few photos from the event:

The man of the hour – Blackhawks trainer Mike Gapski brought the Stanley Cup to the south suburbs for the third time in six seasons on Thursday. (above).

Oak Lawn’s Marlene Gapski has had the Cup in her yard three times and said she loved the team back in the Bobby Hull days.

Jack Michael Yunker of Oak Lawn makes the Stanley Cup his home for a few minutes as the trophy spent some time at the home of Marlene Gapski, the mother of Blackhawks trainer Mike Gapski.

Photos by Jeff Vorva

Photo by Lauren Vorva

Long lines at Marist on Thursday meant the Stanley Cup was in town.

SUDOKU

Submitted photo

The Shepard Band performed at Standard Bank Park during the appearance of the Cup with Hawk highlights in the background.

RETRO

By Mark Andrews

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

Compiled by Jeff Vorva

News and events from our archives.

Every vote counts 50 years ago

From the Aug. 19, 1965 issue The story: Confusion and shouting prevailed at a Hickory Hills board meeting regarding a recount vote. In the previous April election, James Rooney beat James Karpowicz 1,0621,061 for a trustee seat and Karposicz charged fraud.

The quote: “School bells are ringing.” – The headline to the Reporter’s fifth back-to-school special section.

Fun fact: Spikey, a monkey owned by a family in Worth, figured to be the star of the Worth Days Pet Parade.

Edgar has a ball in Palos Hills 25 years ago

(Solution on page 9)

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History of the World

From the Aug. 23, 1990 issue The story: Jim Edgar (shown throwing a ball) visited Greek Fest in Palos Hills and was running for governor against Neil Hartigan, who showed up at a cocktail party at the Oak Lawn Holiday Inn. The quote: Orchestral music has always been underrated. It can be an ultimate experience in music,’’ – Palos Park’s Mark Bailey, who was named general manager of the Southwest Symphony Orchestra.

Fun fact: Evergreen Park hosted a concert by an old-fashioned Austrian band called the Jolly Gang Band.

No word if the umpires were blind, too From the Aug. 18, 2005 issue The story: The Chicago Comets, a baseball team made up of blind players, was scheduled to appear in Hickory Hills and the Lions club was scheduled to host free eye screenings during the game.

The quote: “Do you know something I don’t?” – former Hickory Hills Mayor Roy “Jack’’ Faddis after finding out the city community center library was named in his honor. He remarked that an honor like that usually goes to dead people.

Fun fact: Betty Francis (pictured), a 74-year-old who played professional baseball when she was 17, was featured in the paper. The players back in ’17 were paid $25 per week and $3 for meals.

Aug. 20: ON THIS DATE in 1940, during World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said of the Royal Air Force, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

Aug. 21: ON THIS DATE in 1831, former slave Nat Turner led a violent insurrection in Virginia. He was executed later. In 1991, a hard-liners’ coup against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev collapsed in the face of a popular uprising led by Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin.

Aug. 22: ON THIS DATE in 565, St. Columba reported seeing a monster in Scotland’s Loch Ness. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea.

Aug. 23: ON THIS DATE in 1927, Italian-born anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in Boston for the murders of two men during a 1920 robbery.

Aug. 24: ON THIS DATE in A.D. 79, long-dormant Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in volcanic ash. An estimated 20,000 people died. In 1814, British forces invaded Washington during the War of 1812, setting fire to the Capitol and the White House.

Aug. 25: ON THIS DATE in 1609, Galileo demonstrated his first telescope to lawmakers in Venice. In 1944, Paris was liberated from Nazi occupation in World War II. Aug. 26: ON THIS DATE in 55 B.C., Roman forces under Julius Caesar invaded Britain.

Answer to last week’s question: This week in 1939, Erich Warsitz of Germany flew the first jetpropelled aircraft, a Heinkel He-178.

This week’s question: When Germany invaded Poland in 1939 to trigger World War II, what European nation had the continent’s largest army?

(Mark Andrews can be reached via e-mail at mlandrews@embarqmail. com.)

Thursday, August 20, 2015 The Reporter

5

EP Plaza is now an SSA and demolition is around the corner

The carnival is just a part of the fun of Worth Days, which opens today, Thursday.

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Worth Days ready to roll

By Dermot Connolly Staff Reporter Worth Days, billed as “a festival of family fun for the Friendly Village,” began 68 years ago with a parade down 111th Street.

While it has grown into a popular area festival with all the usual attractions, the parade is still a focus, helping it retain that smalltown feel.

“This has always been a very community-oriented event,” said Colleen McElroy, curator of the Worth Historical Museum and coordinator of the parade and the many volunteers who help out at the event being held from today, Thursday, to Sunday adjacent to the Terrace Center at 11500 S. Beloit Ave. “We want residents to feel like it is a place where they can get together and celebrate their town.”

McElroy noted that that until

this year, when the Park District took over, the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Post 991 handled the parade it founded in 1947 to honor veterans and first responders, such as police and firefighters. They will still a big part of the “America the Beautiful” parade, which kicks off at noon on Sunday. Local businesses now participate, with about 55 entries scheduled for this year, she said.

“The Park District is very well prepared. We’ve been working on this since the last one ended,” said McElroy.

The hours of operation will be 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday (carnival only); 6 p.m. to midnight, Friday; noon to midnight, Saturday; and 3 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, when a fireworks display will cap it off.

“The bands performing will include a little bit of everything,” said McElroy. Performers include the Neverly Brothers, playing hits

from the 50s and 60s, as well as “rockabilly” music by Red and the Howlin’ Wolves, and rock and pop music by the English band, the Prissillas.

Final Say, a popular local band will headline on Saturday, and Headbangers Ball will finish off the fest on Sunday.

Mega-passes for the carnival, featuring 18 rides, are also now available from the Park District for $50 for unlimited rides for the four days, or $25 for daily passes.

“We have a lot more food vendors than we did last year,” she said..

Admission to Worth Days is $3 for residents and $5 for nonresidents. Seniors, children up to 16, and active service military personnel are admitted free.

More information is available www.worthparkdistrict.org and on the Facebook page for Worth Days.

By Sharon L. Filkins Correspondent It is official.

The former Evergreen Plaza property, located at 95th Street and Western Avenue, is now a designated Special Service Area (SSA), No. 2 in Evergreen Park.

The board Monday unanimously approved an ordinance establishing the Special Services Area which will allow for the demolition of various structures on the property.

The construction of site improvements including grading, water service, sanitary sewer service, storm sewer service, and storm water retention to service the SSA, engineering services, architectural services; and other services necessary to prepare a site for the construction of a new commercial shopping center.

Also approved was an ordinance providing for bonds to

be issued in an amount not to exceed $12 million, for the Special Service Area No. 2. Because Evergreen Park is a home rule unit it has the power to borrow money and to issue general obligation bonds for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the cost of the Plaza project.

“And the good news about the Special Services Area being established is that it will not cost the residents of Evergreen Park one penny,” said Mayor James Sexton.

Other business...

• Approval was granted to the Sisters of Mercy for proposed construction at Mercy Circle, located at 3659 South 99th Street.

Kate Duncan, attorney for the Sisters of Mercy and Steve Knight, director of property, presented plans calling for the demolition of the old convent wing,

located behind the two-year-old Sisters of Mercy complex.

According to Duncan, the proposal also calls for some changes to the façade of the newer building as well as some new landscaping.

• Sexton announced that the Village has received a $100,000 grant from the Community Development Block Grant program.

Sexton said the funds will be used to replace sewer linings in the village.

• Early in the board meeting, it was standing room only in the council chambers as awards were being presented for the annual 4th of July Parade held in the village.

Laura Shallow, representative of the Standard Bank in Evergreen Park, presented awards to 16 participants in the parade.

This year marked the 47th anniversary of the annual parade.

Homes around Midway will get sound insulation

By Dermot Connolly Staff reporter Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-3rd) recently announced that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded another $10 million grant for sound insulation in homes around Midway Airport. Midway will also receive an additional $210,000 to purchase new equipment.

“While Midway has certainly provided economic benefits to surrounding communities and the entire region, I know firsthand that issues such as airplane noise are a downside. That is why I am happy to help bring more federal funding for soundproofing area homes,” said Lipinski, who grew up on 59th Street, very close to the airport. He is

now the senior member from the state on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and serves on the Aviation Subcommittee.

“I will continue to strive to make Midway better for the people that live and work around it, as well as the millions of passengers that it serves annually.

My office is always open to input regarding matters involving the airport,” said the congressman, following a recent meeting with the new Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans and Managing Deputy Commissioner of Chicago Midway International Airport Erin O'Donnell.

In response to an increased number of Midway noise com-

plaints, which have been blamed on new flight patterns instituted by the FAA, two new sound monitors have been placed in communities around the airport.

One is now located in Burbank, on the grounds of Reavis High School, and another is located northeast of the airport, near 40th Street and Albany Avenue.

Last September, a separate $10 million grant was announced for noise mitigation measures around Midway. That grant provided sound insulation for 364 homes.

The Midway Airport Noise Compatibility Commission is currently overseeing an ongoing soundproofing project for as many as 1,600 homes experiencing noise levels above 65 decibels.

Some city officials looking for Stoney Creek devlopment to pay off huge dividends

By Dermot Connolly Staff Reporter Now that Oak Lawn has sold the first phase of the Stony Creek Promenade development, most village officials are looking optimistically toward the financial benefits that the multi-phase project will bring in when it is fully completed.

Oak Lawn Special Counsel Matt Welch discussed the Aug. 7 sale of Phase 1, as well as the projected financial benefits that the Stony Creek Promenade TIF zone will mean to village coffers upon completion when he spoke at the Aug. 11 village board meeting.

Welch noted that $6,643,517, the final sale price the village received for the completed 14.5 acre first phase of the redevelopment project at 111th and Cicero Avenue was slightly more than the village expected when the sale to the Multi-Employer Property Trust was agreed upon last year.

The projected price had been $6,607,964, but Welch said the slightly higher price was due to higher than expected rental income from tenants on the site, which includes Mariano’s grocery store, Coopers Hawk restaurant, and several other businesses Welch said most of the money the village received for the sale will go toward paying down the $24,572,788 loan from Fifth Third Bank that the village borrowed to fund the redevelopment of the

TIF zone established in 2006. A portion of it, $957,676, will be allocated to the water and sewer fund, which was used to install drainage and other infrastructure on the property.

Trustee Bob Streit (3rd) was the only trustee to vote against approving the sale agreement, in 2014 and again this week, contending that the sale price was too low considering the nearly $25 million loan owed by the village. But Welch pointed out that with the first phase complete, work is continuing on the rest of the Stony Creek property, which includes three more parcels to be developed and sold in the next few years. These include the vacant area on the west side of the property, referred to as Phase 2, as well as the former Edgar Funeral Home site on the north side of the property at 109th and Cicero, as well as a third piece referred to as the “bank pad” where a bank was to be built.

According to village documents, revenue generated by the sale of those properties is expected to bring the loan debt down to roughly $12 million. If all the sales and property tax revenue generated in the district went toward paying down the loan, village estimates predict it could be paid off several years before the 23-year life of the TIF zone runs out in 15 years.

Oak Lawn Finance Director Brian Hanigan said at the meeting that while final figures are not available, Phase 1 is expected to generate $1.3 million in sales and property tax revenue this year.

In the coming years, annual sales and property taxes for the entire site are estimated to be $2 million, according to village data.

“If the debt is paid off before the TIF expires, it will be up to the board to decide whether to close out the TIF and divide the remaining funds among the taxing bodies,” said Welch.

“So once the TIF is retired, all that revenue generated for the village can go toward things like streets and pensions,” Desmond noted. Both he and Trustee Mike Carberry (6th) stressed the value of the Stony Creek development to the village, agreeing that the sale of Phase 1 was a good deal for Oak Lawn.

“It sounds to me like it is a very successful TIF,” commented Trustee Terry Vorderer (4th) after Welch’s presentation.

“I don’t think that it can be denied that (Phase 1) has become an anchor of the community,” said Welch, who praised past and present officials who withstood criticism and a lawsuit from Kmart, a former tenant, to obtain the property without using eminent domain.

Although Streit didn’t comment during the meeting, he stands by his recently voiced contention that the village “got the short end of the stick” in the real estate transaction. “What can I say that I have not already said,” he noted afterward, explaining why didn’t comment further during the meeting. “Fifteen years is a long time (to generate the revenue to pay off the debt). And that is optimistic. None of us will be here, on the board anyway,” he said.

Mayor won’t be big-boxed in the Downtown Triangle

Orland Park’s top official takes aim at critics after Village Board finally approves $67 million University of Chicago medical center project

By Jeff Vorva Reporter Editor Orland Park Trustee Kathleen Fenton calls it a “monumental facility.’’

Director of Development Services Karie Friling predicts it will bring the village $30 million over the next 25 years.

Trustee James Dodge requested that everyone in the board room applaud the decision and led by example as he started clapping his own hands.

Yes, there were giddy times for the Village Board Monday, minutes after the board approved an ordinance putting the finishing touches on plans to build the $67 million University of Chicago Medicine center at 143rd Street and La Grange Road – a process that had taken two years to complete.

It is another huge chess piece in the 20-years-in-the-making Triangle project to improve the downtown area. Between the medical center, the Ninety7Fifty on the Park luxury apartments complex, Metra commuter train station and other ventures, Friling estimates the Triangle area has spawned $180 million worth of projects.

While officials orally clicked their heels in joy, Mayor Dan McLaughlin said he was happy and can’t wait to see the first shovel hit the dirt.

But the mayor had a stern message for critics who don’t think the village is getting enough out of the project to develop the Tri-

angle within La Grange Road, 143rd Street and the Metra tracks along Southwest Highway into a Downtown Orland Park at the village’s northern gateway.

“I will occasionally run into somebody locally who will make a comment like ‘well, the Triangle must not be very successful because you are not filling the place up,’ ’’ McLaughlin said. “I don’t think people get the idea that we can sell that property in a New York minute.

“We turn down people all the time. They want to bring in big box stores or strip malls. We are holding strong in our vision and these guys [the University of Chicago] fit our vision. Thank God we didn’t sell the corner for a big box or a strip center.’’

Orland Park officials deemed the downtown property to be prime and they are fussy about what goes there.

“The medical center will have a parking deck,” Frilling said. “And that parking deck is not going to look like a parking deck.’’ It is to be built on the base of the Triangle, between Ninety7Fifty and the U of C medical center, McLaughlin has said.

Even the luxury apartments complex has a somewhat fancier visage now that the elegant-looking Cafe’ au Parc restaurant/coffee shop/wine bar moved in and held a grand opening Aug. 1. It faces north, looking toward Crescent Park, a recent concert venue.

Slowly, but surely, Orland Park’s Triangle project contin-

ues to take shape.

McLaughlin had a vision two decades ago of ratcheting up a downtown area that he deemed to be substandard, he said, and it’s taken a lot of years to build a new train station, the Ninety7Fifty luxury apartments and to finalize a deal with the medical center, which could be complete in the final quarter of 2016.

With the medical center/restaurant/parking lot and parking garage area, which will be located on the corner of 143rd

Street and La Grange Road, in place, McLaughlin believes other projects could speed up in the coming years.

While McLaughlin wouldn’t talk specifics, officials have been privately mulling bringing in topshelf entertainment venues.

“We’ve had discussions with potential other ideas and potential other users but it was dependent on stuff like additional parking,” the mayor said after Monday’s meeting. “So working out a parking garage arrange-

ment with the University of Chicago allows us to follow through on other discussions.

“The train station and its infrastructure was the first step, Nintey7Fifty was the next step to bring in more traffic and this will be huge to kick start a couple of other things in the area. We’re hearing from restaurants, people who need office space and entertainment venues. There is a lot of potential. But there might be something soon now that this is done.”

The medical center facility is scheduled to be 120,000-square feet, four stories and with a restaurant on the first floor.

The development is expected to include a pharmacy and a 500-space parking structure.

The proposed mixed-use build-

VOTED

ing is expected to employ more than 100 people and create more than 200 construction jobs. The project would also bring $61 million in private investment and 22,400 annual visits (from patients and others) to Orland Park's downtown.

The medical center is expected to provide radiation oncology and orthopedics. It may include gastroenterology, cardiology, pediatrics and women's health services, as well as surgical consulting, according to a fact sheet provided to the press. There would also be full diagnostic imaging capability onsite for MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and mammography.

“It’s nice to finally see it coming,” Dodge said. “And it’s fate that we found the perfect corner for it.”

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The Reporter

Thursday, August 20, 2015

COMMENTARY THE

REPORTER

An Independent Newspaper Amy Richards Publisher

Jeff Vorva Editor

Published Weekly Founded March, 16, 1960

Another View

What should we do with this fallen hero?

By Hermene D. Hartman N’Digo Newspaper

What do you do with a fallen hero? Do you toss him out as trash? Do you give him the benefit of the doubt? Do you forget about him? Do you beat him up while he’s down? Do you remember his good deeds and forget his bad? Do you stand still?

These are questions we face regarding Bill Cosby, who has been accepted as “America’s Father” for decades and upheld as a paragon of virtue during that time.

That’s what makes Cosby’s fall from grace so astounding, because he was at the peak of the moral mountaintop and we accepted all his chiding about the proper way to raise families and conduct ourselves – especially the Black community – because, after all, Father Knows Best. But obviously, in Cosby’s case, what you see is not what you get.

New York Magazine’s July cover story features the personal stories of 35 of the 46 women who have come forth accusing Cosby of sexual assault and rape, with most of the incidents occurring after Cosby had allegedly drugged them. The women appear on the cover of the magazine in individual seats, with one seat left open, signifying that there may be others who received the alleged Cosby treatment.

Their stories are all pretty similar, with Cosby allegedly drugging the ladies and having his way with them in some form or fashion – that is, he did something sexual with them, and they may not have been fully conscious of their actions at the time – in acts that certainly did not seem to be consensual, since the drugged victims were in no condition to really consent to anything.

These women in their collective did not come forward at the time of their incidents with Cosby for fear that no one would believe them and that their truth might be harmful to them.

This is a common sentiment among women who have been rape victims, especially when rich, famous, and powerful men have been the perpetrators.

Cosby obviously lead a double life from the time he first gained celebrity, even before his “I Spy” days. On one hand, he was the man we saw on TV and America grew to love. He raised the bar, presenting a new image of the middle-class Black American family – a wholesome picture.

He was funny, witty and gave us family stories that all could relate to. He became quite wealthy and donated significant dollars to Black institutions like Spellman. He became an art collector, recognizing the talent of Black artists, and was a strong supporter of the Black culture community.

He supported Black causes. He did it right. He didn’t forget his roots, his community, his people. He began to address the social ills of Black America and went on tour to say straighten up to a generation that he thought was not on par. He was even funny in his preachiness.

But then there was this other side that was not so funny. I am sure that being on top of the world like Cosby was with his Dr. Huxtable weekly TV show – around the period when most of these incidents are alleged to have happened – he could have had, sexually and consensually, almost any woman who orbited his sphere.

He probably did not have to drug anybody to have sex, and yet he did. What kind of man is this? One of the women who came forth said she was a long-time associate of Cosby’s whom she trusted implicitly and that he had never remotely tried anything with her. But one day, he gave her pills and when she came to, she was naked in bed with a friend of Cosby’s next to her, with Cosby in the room. Realizing what happened, she said she screamed, “Do you like eff-ing dead people?” before she left.

Cosby allegedly took advantage of women. He supposedly worked his casting couch on false pretense. It was said he solicited the pretty ones from the modeling agencies and the Playboy clubs. They came in all shapes, colors and styles. They were models, writers, actresses and the like.

They may have wanted a shot at show biz and Cosby was willing to mentor, or they liked being in the limelight, or they may have wanted something he had to offer and it’s possible they may have been more than willing to barter sex to get what they wanted from him.

But no matter what their reason for being around him or willingness or eagerness even to have sex with him, it’s quite another thing to wake up from a drug stupor with obvious signs that you have been unconsciously molested. No one deserves that, no matter what their intentions might have been. That’s a crime.

What kind of man seeks drugged women for his sexual pleasure anyway? She cannot respond or responds slowly. She does not remember or has vague memory. Is this really pleasurable?

One of the most unnerving aspects of the New York magazine story is the women share their tales, is the number of them remembering the look on Cosby’s face at the time of the alleged sexual encounters. It seems that his Dr. Jekyll side came out.

I didn’t want to believe the Cosby mishap, but when you see all these accusers on the cover of a magazine and hear their similar stories, the denying is over.

I keep waiting for someone to explain, but no one can explain.

And he has been ordered to give another deposition on October 9, related to a lawsuit filed by a California woman who claims Cosby molested her in 1974 when she was 15.

This is the legacy that now comes with Mr. Bill Cosby. What do you do when a hero has fallen?

Letters to the Editor Ray is right about summer Dear Editor: Just a short note to thank you for the gift of columnist Ray Hanania’s words and thoughts regarding summer vacation days, families, and the start of school.

I am a teacher in Palos Heights and agree with what he wrote.

I've had this same discussion with parents and colleagues and

it makes me very sad that our children are either now back in school or will be within the week.

Summertime is such a valuable season when you're growing up.

Thank you again, Ray, for writing those words which are so important. Each summer is a gift to a child and to a family to create happy memories.

Dawn Bronson Palos Heights

The Reporter Newspaper encourages letters to the editor.

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 telephone number for verification, but that information will not be published and will remain otherwise confidential. Mail letters to the editor to The Reporter, 12247 S. Harlem Ave., Palos Heights, IL 60463 or e-mail us at thereporter@comcast.net

It’s great to have a rewards card, unless you are expecting a reward My mom gave me my first credit card and it popped up in my wallet around 1975. I had just been honorably discharged from active duty during the Vietnam War and I was driving from Chicago to Peoria to report in for my monthly service in the Illinois Air National Guard.

Driving back to Chicago, I stopped and tried to use it at a Peotone gas station.

But it didn’t work.

Back in the 1970s, you could talk to a gas station owner, or almost anyone, and there was trust. The owner let me put $5 of gasoline in my car to get me back to Chicago on the promise I would mail him a check for $5 in repayment, which I did do that same night.

I’m not sure how that would work today. There’s so little trust in our society any more -- and, for good reason.

We’ve been duped into believing that in order to get something, we have to do

something first. It’s called the rewards card.

I have dozens of rewards cards, from grocery stores, bookstores, gas stations, Lowes, Macy’s and more. The first one I ever got was from Jewel, back in the 1980s, so I could cash a check and get a cheaper price on food items. That one really seemed to work, which is probably why they ended it a few years ago.

You see, I don’t think the purpose of a rewards card is to really give you a reward. The purpose of the rewards card is to make you think you are getting a reward when you don’t.

I tested all my rewards cards this past week, and most gave me no rewards at all.

I have spent a fortune at Lowes buying flowers, rocks and supplies for my yard, garden and home and I have never gotten a reward from them at all.

I was at Speedway the other day, fumbling to find the card which is not a large credit card

size but a “key-chain” size about a half inch wide and one inch long. It falls out of my wallet all the time. But, I give it to them each time I buy something, and I spend a lot there for gasoline ($80 to fill up the tank twice each week) and two diet cokes almost every day.

Do you think I ever get a reward for doing all that? About once in a blue moon, they give me a paper receipt that says I can get a Diet Coke bottle the next time I stop there.

Of course, I never can find the piece of paper when I do stop and while the computer can remember my rewards card number, it can’t seem to remember my rewards.

Non-existent.

I go to Pete’s Market all the time. I love its deli. I just hate its rewards card.

Every time I purchase something, they want my rewards card.

It’s a small one, too, and it always falls on the ground. In

The Grapevine By Ray Hanania

the past few months I’ve spent a fortune there but I’ve never gotten one reward. (I did get one free White Chocolate Latte free after buying nine before, though).

And don’t get me started about the airlines. Rewarded with miles that you can exchange for free tickets. It’s never happened to me once.

Jewel did one thing right when it eliminated their rewards card. I wish the rest of them would reward me by getting rid of them, too.

So far, rewards cards have been very unrewarding.

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

Inside The First Amendment

A free press in ‘time of war’ is not really the enemy

By Gene Policinski Journalism is neither criminal activity nor the action of an enemy, at home during domestic violence or overseas in a time of war.

Still, charges have been brought in Ferguson, Mo., against two journalists a year after they were detained in a McDonald’s restaurant by police in the first days of violence during protests over the police shooting and death of Michael Brown.

And a new, 1,176-page Department of Defense “Law of War” manual distributed in June opens the door for U.S. military commanders — and, ominously, for repressive regimes around the world — to deem reporters who operate outside of official channels and who resist censorship as “unprivileged belligerents,” military-speak for spies and saboteurs.

Reporters doing their jobs may be inconvenient or irritating, or witnesses on behalf of the public to activity that is later challenged as illegal, unwise or just plain embarrassing.

None of that ought to be subject to official sanction, arrest or worse.

And to connect that Orwellian “unprivileged belligerents” turn-of-phrase with journalists just buys into the kind of despotic thought process that has a Washington Post reporter facing a secret trial in Tehran, accused of espionage and distributing propaganda against the Islamic Republic for simply doing what journalists do: Gather news and fairly report the facts.

Let’s clear out the easy criticisms: The issue is not actions that clearly interfere with lawful police activity, inflame tense situations to create a sensational atmosphere, that directly or intentionally place bystander, police, or American military lives at risk or aid an enemy nation.

Civil authorities and military commanders ought not to have a right — or think they have a right, based on fuzzy guidance from above or by virtue of trained bluster and bravado — to ignore, override or punish journalists in the performance of their legitimate, constitutional “watchdog” role protected in the U.S. by the First Amendment.

A year ago in Ferguson, in one of the first nights following the police shooting and death of Brown, reporters for The Huffington Post and The Washington Post were working in a McDonald’s restaurant. Just in the last few days, the pair was charged with trespassing and with interfering with a police officer’s performance of his duties. Police say the journalists didn’t leave the restaurant fast enough.

About two dozen journalists have been arrested while reporting on the continuing Ferguson protests. Officials recently settled at least one lawsuit brought by a reporter who was arrested, agreeing to pay $8,500 and dropping three charges. At the same time, similar charges against another reporter were dropped.

Editors at the The Huffington Post and The Washington Post have criticized police conduct in the arrests of their staffers. Washington Post executive editor Marty Baron said the decision to pursue charges “represents contemptible overreaching by prosecutors who seem to have no regard for the role of journalists seeking to cover a major story and following normal practice.”

Police and prosecutor conduct around events in Ferguson also seems part of the artful pattern that persists in police actions nationwide, around not just civil disorders but also protests at political conventions or economic summits, of “arrest now, clean it up later” — often with an accompanying financial settlement at cost to taxpayers.

The new U.S. military manual represents a less direct — but just as misplaced — threat to journalists doing their jobs. A New York Times editorial on Aug. 10 also said it would make journalists’ work “more dangerous, cumbersome, and subject to censorship.”

The manual says that U.S. armed forces may withhold protection, censor reports and even deem journalists as “unprivileged belligerents” — which it elsewhere defines as including “spies and saboteurs,” with fewer legal rights in war zones than the armed opposition forces. Driving home a point, the manual says that “reporting on military operations can be very similar to collecting

intelligence or even spying.”

The Times’ editorial notes that “to cover recent wars, including the civil war in Libya in 2011 and the war in Syria, reporters had to sneak across borders, at great personal risk, to gather information.” The editorial also properly says, “Authoritarian leaders around the world could point to it to show that their despotic treatment of journalists — including Americans — is broadly in line with the standards set by the United States government.”

The 1,176-page manual’s introduction says it “reflects many years of labor and expertise, on the part of civilian and military lawyers from every Military Service. It reflects the experience of this Department in applying the law of war in actual military operations, and it will help us remember the hard-learned lessons from the past.”

I would add that the manual also ignores the very “hard-learned lessons from the past” — from the world wars to Vietnam to the Gulf wars — that more news reported independently bolsters the public’s understanding and support for the U.S. military, not the reverse.

More than two decades ago, in explaining the Defense Department’s rationale then for journalists to “embed” with active U.S. combat units, officials got it right: “We need to tell the factual story — good or bad — before others seed the media with disinformation and distortion.”

The “fog of war” — or the confusing circumstances surrounding civil disorder — may well make confrontations inevitable between authorities and a news media charged with closely and critically observing and reporting on them.

But that’s no reason for poor judgments, or for policies set in the light of day and calmer times, which encourage or institutionalize a disregard for the needed presence of independent journalists and a free press.

Gene Policinski is chief operating officer of the Newseum Institute and senior vice president of the Institute’s First Amendment Center. He can be reached at gpolicinski@ newseum.org.

Thursday, August 20, 2015 The Reporter

Market meets Heights author Sue Busen and interior designer Mary Beth Zwolfer

7

Aracely’s Tamales makes WGN TV ‘Chicago’s Best’ The Palos Heights Farmers Market has fantastic vendors and food products. The locally grown produce tastes delicious, and is highly nutritious.

In addition to the fruits and vegetables, we have many other food items for sale, including breads, croissants, bakery, pies and noodles, cheeses, eggs, butter, olive oils and vinegars, jams and local honey, beef, pork, bacon, sausages and chicken, salsas, pasta sauces and Italian peppers, toffee, three different varieties of ready to eat tamales, pizza and pizza products, ready to bake pizza, pesto, and organic and vegan frozen vegetable patties and wraps, soups, desserts and peppers.

One of our vendors, Aracely’s Tamales, has been selected to be featured on the Sunday, August 23 edition of WGN “Chicago’s Best.” Make sure to tune in at 10 a.m. and see for yourself just how great his tamales are!

The Aug. 26 market will feature two local businesses at the Community Tents; MBZ Interiors Inc. and author Sue Busen.

Mary Beth Zwolfer is the owner of MBZ Interiors Inc., an interior decorator and home colour stylist based in Palos Heights. She is also

the author of the blog www.mbzinteriors.com.

MBZ Interiors offers full service decorating for homes and offices, including in-home consultation, space planning (professional floor plans), designing and sourcing of products to complete a room design. MBZ Interiors also provides an affordable service called E-Design. With their EDesign service, clients share photos and room dimensions and all work is completed via email.

MBZ Interiors charges one flat fee per room in E-Design which enables everyone the luxury of having their very own interior decorator. Mary Beth has decorated many homes right here in Palos Heights and homes as far as Oak Brook.

She has decorated a pediatric dentist's office in Palos Heights and St. Mary's School in Riverside.

She is currently busy decorating the public spaces for The Shoppes of Palos Place, which is located in the old Ben Franklin variety store building.

Anyone wishing to contact Mary Beth at MBZ Interiors may call 299-2157.

Sue Busen is a transformational coach, speaker, and an award-winning International author. She is the founder of GetSet™ Tapping, Tap into

Church

(Continued from page 1)

uel marriage advice,” Sandberg said. “I just counseled to his need.”

Ajide left Nigeria in June 2008, his family arrived in the United States in June.

To support himself and his family while here in the states, he worked as a certified nursing assistant while he completed a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. He is now a case manager for a nursing home.

“The first time I arrived home from work to my family, the kids pounced on me,” said Ajide. He teared up. “My son screamed, ‘My Daddy! My Daddy!’ They truly are my happiness and my joy.”

Olayemi said the time away from her husband was especially difficult on the kids.

“It was hard explaining to the kids why their dad was away. But now, we’re all happy. There are no words to describe what it feels like to lay down and see my husband beside me.”

Olayemi’s sentiments were equally pleasing toward the Oak Lawn church.

“We are forever grateful to Pastor Jim and this church for Submitted photo the love they’ve shown us,” she Emmanuel Ajide and his son, Olawale have been reunited after said. “Not even in Africa have we experienced this kind of love.” efforts from an Oak Lawn church made it possible.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

1 5 10 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 24 26 28 29 31 32 36 37 39 41 42 44 45 49 52 53

Across Tie with a cord Acute anxiety Miss from Madrid: Abbr.

Texter’s “That being said ...”

Get on the phone, say Lustful look *Miracle Mets center fielder “If all __ fails ...’’

Weed whacker Friskies eater “Your choice” Skip over in pronunciation *Creator of Daffy and Bugs Nevada gambling city __ for the course Variety show Dressing component Nav. rank *”Songs About Me” country singer Dashboard meas.

Unsettled detail Island near Venezuela Mexican mama bear Official records *He voiced Buzz Lightyear in “Toy Story” European toast Come by

54 Fraternal club member 56 CCV x X 57 Roughly 58 *Three-time Super Bowlwinning Cowboys quarterback 61 Dumbfound 62 Wished (for) 63 Odometer unit 64 Pajama parts 65 Line in a ledger 66 Fret Down 1 Pester 2 Peter of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (1969) 3 Chinese noodle dish 4 Unit of resistance 5 Bay __: Oakland’s locale 6 Tidy 7 Joke 8 Bad thing to make in public 9 Bad thing to get at work 10 Record protector 11 Takes over for 12 Trial in simulated conditions 13 “You __ My Sunshine” 18 Skating surface (Answers on page 9)

23 Large game fish 25 Way in 26 High-level betrayal 27 “You betcha!”

29 __ de gallo: salsa fresca 30 Chevy hatchback 33 [I don’t remember the words] 34 Laudatory poems 35 Swedish furniture giant 37 Good sign from Ebert 38 Fargo’s state: Abbr.

39 Yoga class rental 40 Before 43 They’re waved by conductors 46 Say “I do,” say 47 Husk-wrapped Mexican dish, and when divided in three parts, a hint to the answers to starred clues 48 Never seen before 50 Supple 51 Scandal-plagued energy giant 52 Enjoy the slopes 54 Watcher 55 Title for Godiva 57 East, to Ernst 59 Make a choice 60 Metric distances: Abbr.

Supplied photo

Felipe and Laura Rincon and Florence Smith work at Aracely’s Tamales’ booth at the farmers market. The eatery is scheduled to be featured on WGN’s “Chicago’s Best” this Sunday.

Balance and My Pet Healer. She worked as an environmental biologist and research scientist before her own health challenges led her to natural health and energy therapies. Sue will be available to discuss ways to identify and release physical and emotional stressors, detoxify your environment, and improve the quality of the foods you eat. She is an advocate of health freedom, environmental awareness, and is a non-GMO activist. Sue will have books available for purchase and will also sign them for you.

Make sure to stop at the City Tent. LINK cards are accepted at the Palos Heights Farmers Market. Stop by the City Tent to start the process.

Pick up this week’s “Recipe of the Week”, along

with previous summertime recipes. In addition, all previous recipes can be found at WellbeingMD. com or at palosheights.org. Make sure to pick up or have endorsed your Frequent Shopper Card at the City Tent. Ten endorsements of your card enter you into a year-end market raffle, to be held at noon on Oct. 14. Every time you bring a can of fruit, vegetables, or protein to be donated to the local food pantries, you receive double credit on your card.

Additional information about the Palos Heights Farmers Market can be found at palosheights. org, by calling 361-1800, join us on Facebook, or email farmersmarket@palosheights.org.

-- Palos Heights Farmers Market

Death Notices David Bovie David Joseph Bovie, 89, an Evergreen Park resident, died Aug. 9 at ManorCare Health Center in Palos Heights.

Services were Aug. 13 at Kosary Funeral Home in Evergreen Park.

Mr. Bovie, a World War II veteran, was a retired electrician and maintenance supervisor at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park.

Survivors include his wife, Carole (nee Vitale); children, Catherine Paluch, David James Bovie, Elizabeth Hardel and Andrew Muransky; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Michael Lullo Michael A. Lullo, 86, of Evergreen Park, died Aug. 4 at Little Company of Mary Hospital.

Services were Aug. 8 from Kosary Funeral Home to St. John Fisher Church. Interment was at St. Mary Cemetery.

Mr. Lullo was a retired truckdriver.

Survivors include his wife, Gavina “Gloria” Lullo; son, Michael Lullo; daughters, Ann Marie Stefaniak and Cathy Martin; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and brother, George (Margo) Lullo.

Stylianos Papanikolaou The Rev. Byron Stylianos Papanikolaou, 81, longtime pastor of S.S. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Hills, died Aug. 11 at Palos Community Hospital.

Survivors include his wife, Presbytera Cynthia Papanikolaou (nee Kassos); daughter, Sultana (late George Thomas) Tsokolas; sons, Evans and Aristotle (Constantia) Papanikolaou; five grandchildren; brother, Nick (Niki) Papanikolaou; and many nieces and nephews.

Born in Daseleon, Greece, he came to the United States in 1952. He studied at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., graduating as valedictorian. After being ordained on Oct. 2, 1960, Father Byron, as he was known, was appointed to the parish of S.S. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago and Palos Hills, where he served for 55 years.

Services were Aug. 14 at S.S. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 11025 S. Roberts Road, Palos Hills. Archbishop Demetrios of America presided over the services, accompanied

by His Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, and Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos. Interment followed at Bethania Cemetery.

Hills Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Robert Stoots Robert E. Stoots Sr., 74, of Worth, died Tuesday at his home.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) at Schmaedeke Funeral Home, 10701 S. Harlem Ave., Worth. Interment will be at Beverly Cemetery.

Mr. Stoots, a native of Brownsville, Tenn., was self-employed, running a concrete business.

Survivors include his wife, Ann Stoots; son, Robert (Voula) Stoots Jr.; and daughter, Dawn (Dan) Wendling; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Evergreen Park’s ‘Racing Florist’ dies

By Dermot Connolly Staff Reporter Known as “Louie Tiger, the Racing Florist,” a nickname he chose for himself, longtime Evergreen Park resident Louis A. Panico died July 30 at ManorCare Health Care Center in Palos Heights. He was 88.

Mr. Panico, a Navy veteran, lived in Evergreen Park for close to 70 years, according to his wife, Susan Panico (nee Costello). They were married for 49 years. She said his “Louie Tiger” nickname dates back to his days as a championship stock car racer in the 1950s and 60s. When he was working in his family’s Louie Panico & Sons Florist shop in Evergreen Park, he added the “Louie Tiger, the Racing Florist” moniker to his delivery truck.

“He was a prankster. He was a kidder. He had a great sense of humor,” said his wife.

When “Louie Tiger” wasn’t racing, either on the track or to deliver floral arrangements, Mr. Panico was a part-time Evergreen Park police officer for 25 years.

He worked full-time as a diesel mechanic for the Illinois State Toll-

way Authority, based in Alsip. In addition to all that, at one time he also was the president of American Legion Post 231 in Chicago, the youngest to ever hold that position.

Susan Panico said her husband did most of his racing before the couple met, at Raceway Park, a quarter-mile stock car track that operated from 1938 to 2000 at 130th Street and Ashland Avenue, on the border of Blue Island and Calumet Park. “He won 15 trophies—including eight championships in nine years,” she said, explaining that he led the Panico Race Team as well as racing individually.

“We have albums and albums of photos from his driving days,” said Susan. “Each of the grandchildren got one of the trophies.”

In addition to his wife, survivors include his daughters, Kimberly (Dwight) Leonard and Linda Panico; sons, Louis (Melissa) and Frank (Tracy) Panico; nine grandchildren; brother, Frank Panico; and many nieces and nephews.

Services for Mr. Panico were held Aug. 3 from Kosary Funeral Home to St. Bernadette Church. Interment was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF AUDIT REPORT OF HICKORY HILLS PARK DISTRICT Hickory Hills Park District hereby provides public notice that an audit of funds for the period May 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015 has been made

by Knutte & Associates, P. C. and that a report of such audit dated July 13, 2015 has been filed with the County Clerk of Cook County, in accordance with 30 ILCS 15/0.01 et seq. The audit is available for public inspection at the Cynthia Neal Center, 8047 W. 91st Place, Hickory Hills, IL 60457 during regular business hours of 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday except for holidays.

Funeral Directory Palos-Gaidas FUNERAL HOME

708-974-4410 FUNERAL HOME David Gaidas, Jr. Director

11028 Southwest Highway Palos Hills, IL 60465

“THE NEXT GENERATION TO CARE FOR YOU”

Owned and Operated by the Mintle Family

10701 S. Harlem Ave. Worth, IL 708.448.6000 “Your Neighborhood Funeral Home”

Printed on Recycled Paper Please Recycle Your Reporter

8

The Reporter Thursday, August 20, 2015

SCHOOLS / COMMUNITY NEWS

Worth Girl Scout earns highest award More than 50 local high school students recently earned Girl Scouts of the USA’s most prestigious national honor for girls, the Girl Scout Gold Award. Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana honored their accomplishments during a special ceremony on June 6 at the Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook.

Samantha Vestal of Worth, a member of Girl Scout Troop 20181, received her Girl Scout Gold Award after completing a complex series of requirements, including the implementation of a significant community service project.

Vestal, 18, earned her Gold Award by raising awareness about fostering animals. In addition to fostering an animal, Vestal started a fostering group at her school.

“My project focused on the help of animals who did not have a permanent home and needed a place to learn social interactions,” said Vestal. "I wanted to show people the positive effects

of fostering an animal."

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout ages 14-18 may earn. The leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment required to complete the process set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship. Girls complete seven steps to earn the Gold Award, including the completion of a significant service project.

The project fulfills a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global), creates change and is sustaining. The Gold Award recognizes the work of Girl Scouts who demonstrate leadership culminating in 80 hours or more, dedicated towards their service project. Girls complete a minimum of 40 hours in a leadership role before embarking on the final project.

Girls have earned Girl Scouts of the USA’s highest awards since 1916, just four years after the organization’s founding in 1912.

These awards include the Golden

Eagle of Merit, Golden Eaglet, Curved Bar, First Class and the current Girl Scout Gold Award which was introduced in 1980.

As awareness of the Girl Scout Gold Award continues to grow, so does its prestige. An increasing number of colleges are offering financial incentives to those who earn Girl Scout Gold Awards and admissions counselors view it as a sign of an individual girl’s ability to lead.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana impacts the lives of more than 61,100 girls and 21,000 adult members in 245 communities in six Illinois counties (Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Lake, and Will) and four Indiana counties (Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter). Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

For more information, visit www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org or call 1-855-ILOVEGS (456-8347).

--Girl Scouts

LEGAL NOTICE

These Cubs win, too

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

Winning Cub Scouts at the Arrowhead District Chicago Area Council's 39th Annual Fishing Derby held Aug. 16 at Lake Tampier included second-place winner in the Wolf division Alec Merkle, 8, of Oak Lawn (left) and Michael Lombardo, 9, of Burbank. Winners were chosen by totaling the measurement of all the live fish each scout caught.

QUICKEN LOANS, INC Plaintiff, -v.THE ESTATE OF PAMELA M. BOKHOLDT

BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM P. BUTCHER, KEVIN CRUMRINE, EVERGREEN HEALTHCARE CENTER, LLC, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF PAMELA M. BOKHOLDT Defendants

Bulletin Board

14 CH 14378 9024 CENTRAL AVENUE Oak Lawn, IL 60453

GOVERNOR’S STATE UNIVERSITY Secretary of State services coming to Governor’s State University The Secretary of State’s Mobile Service Unit will be at Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Hall of Governors.

Services available at the mobile service unit include driver’s license and State ID renewal, replacement, and corrections; vehicle sticker sales; passenger and b-truck license plates; vehicle title and registration; parking placards for persons with disabilities; and organ/tissue donor information.

In addition, vision tests and the written driver’s license exam can be taken. No driving tests will be given.

The services provided are available to all qualified Illinois residents. State law allows driver’s license renewal up to one year in advance. Proper identification is required for new and duplicate driver’s licenses and state ID cards. Acceptable forms of payment include personal checks, cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit and debit cards.

For more information, visit cyberdriveillinois.com.

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 23, 2015, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 3, 2015, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive - 24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: LOTS 33 AND 34 IN CENTRAL AVENUE AND 91ST AVENUE AND 91ST STREET SUBDIVISION, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST 1/4 OF THE SOUTH 1/2 OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 5, TOWNSHIP 37 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Commonly known as 9024 CENTRAL AVENUE, Oak Lawn, IL 60453 Property Index No. 24-05-232-025-0000 & 24-05232-026-0000.

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $115,031.42.

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.

Photo by Dermot Connolly

Going solo

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Last year, Mother McAuley’s Erin Cunnea performed the “Star Spangled Banner” with a group before the second Battle of the Burbs in Crestwood. This year, the Loyolabound singer sang it by herself Sunday at Standard Bank Park in the annual game between the mayors and police/ fire chiefs. For more on the game, see sports.

Campus Leaders UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON Patricia Boland of Evergreen Park and John Hojek of Oak Lawn were among the students who made the spring dean's list at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

LAKE FOREST COLLEGE Kelly Mehalek of Oak Lawn graduated from Lake Forest College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Spanish.

Mehalek is a member of Phi Sigma Iota.

Mehalek was among more than 350 students to graduate from Lake Forest College at Ravinia Festival Park.

ST. NORBERT Erin Melaniphy of Oak Lawn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and George Malliaras of Palos Hills was awarded a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisc.

REAVIS HIGH SCHOOL Reavis High School seeking artists, crafters for fall show Artists and crafters are invited to sell their works at the fifth annual fall arts and crafts fair scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Reavis High School, 6034 W. 77th St., Burbank.

The application deadline for artists and crafters is Wednesday, Sept. 9. For more information and a crafter application, send an email to theresashepherd@msn.com.

Admission to the event is a non-perishable food item or a minimum $1 donation to a local food pantry.The event also features raffles and food concessions.

One of the more popular events in the area, it typically features as many as 200 artists and crafters, and draws more than a thousand people, browsing and buying.The event is hosted by the school’s Drama Club, along with its Drama Mamas and Papas auxiliary.

ST. XAVIER UNIVERSITY Golf classic scores St. Xavier University $100,000 plus for student scholarships St. Xavier University raised more than $100,000 at its 19th annual golf classic at Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park. More than 150 golfers enjoyed a day on the green, with all proceeds supporting SXU student scholarships.

In addition to playing an 18-hole round of golf, participants were treated to breakfast, lunch and dinner, which was emceed by local comedian and rising star Pat McGann.

SXU students sold tickets throughout the day for exclusive raffle prizes, and guests were able bid for a Blackhawks package that went for over $2,600 during a live auction. Many other raffle prizes were featured, including electronics, overnight trip packages and golf gear.

STAGG HIGH SCHOOL Artists and crafters being sought by Stagg High School Music Boosters A. A. Stagg High School Music Boosters organization is accepting applications from crafters and artists for the Art for the Season show set for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14 and 15. The high school is located at he intersection of 111th Street and Roberts Road, Palos Hills.

The cost is $95 per an 80 square foot booth space for the two day run of the show. For more information, or to receive an application, call 974-7520, or 361-8298, or visit staggbands.org.

The show is well-received, well-attended, and well-organized. This will be the 24th show at Stagg run by the same two ladies.

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 C1403866.

Are heroes born?

Or are they made?

Inside every child is a hidden strength, an unknown ability, a hero waiting to be

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.

discovered. In afterschool programs, kids get involved in all

POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 263-0003 Attorney File No. C14-03866 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 14 CH 14378 TJSC#: 35-11202

and reach further than they ever imagined. Because in the

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.

kinds of activities – scholastic, athletic and creative. Activities that help them realize they have the potential to do better

end, that’s what makes a hero. Let us know you want afterschool programs in your area. Call 1-800-USA-LEARN.

School is in session www.afterschoolalliance.org

Submitted photo

Libby Correll does a little recruitment pitch for speech team at the activities fair while a student signs up to participate during the first day of school on Monday.

Thursday, August 20, 2015 The Reporter

CONSUMER

9

Book it – funeral home Inflation and your retirement opens at old library site income strategy Comings & Goings By Bob Bong A new funeral home has opened in the former Tinley Park Public Library building at 7051 W. 171st St. "We received our occupancy permit last week," said Phil Maher, co-owner of the new Maher Funeral Home.

Maher said the funeral home is a family affair with his business partner and brother John Maher providing elder care and other legal services for their clients, his sister Julia Maher Dombrowski handling public relations and an uncle Robert Maher taking care of community outreach for the business.

Phil Maher has been in the funeral business for 24 years and spent many of those years learning from his late mentor Andrew J. McGann Sr., who operated a funeral home in Chicago's Mount Greenwood community.

"I started with him when I was 19 years old," said Maher.

Maher said he struck out on his own more than a year ago and spent a lot of that time looking for the right location for his own funeral home.

"We found the library in January and spent the last several months remodeling the building," he said. "We liked the space that was available and the location and the fact it had parking for more than 100 cars."

The building has two 14,000-square-foot levels and the funeral home is on the main floor.

It was built in 1973 and served as the Tinley library until it moved into a new location in 2004.

"We're waiting to see about the lower level," Maher said. "We're not sure if it will be used for offices or storage."

As for the main level, Maher said they kept the library's large windows in the front because of the view they offered. They also did extensive landscaping work to the site.

"We have too large parlors that can be combined into one massive parlor, if needed," he said.

"Each parlor has its own coffee room and each parlor has its own outdoor seating area. I wanted to make sure they were separate, to be more accommodating for the families."

Maher said village officials were very happy to have the family buy the building.

"It had been vacant for many years," he said. "Even the neighbors are thrilled to finally have the building open again."

Maher said the community was invited to check out the new building at its open house from 3-8 p.m. today, Thursday.

For more information, call 708781-9212 or visit the funeral home website at www.maherfuneralservices.com.

Amazon to open warehouse in Joliet Amazon.com has announced plans to build a 500,000-squarefoot fulfillment center in Joliet, which the company said would create 1,000 full-time jobs when it opens.

The warehouse would be the

Submitted photo

A funeral home is now on the site of the old Tinley Park library. company’s first in Illinois. Amazon hopes to have it ready in time for the Christmas shopping season.

The company said it was attracted by Joliet's proximity to the Chicago market and the availability of labor in an area that has become a major intermodal distribution hub for many national retailers.

“We are excited to create 1,000 great full-time jobs in Illinois with competitive wages and comprehensive benefits starting on Day One,” Mike Roth, Amazon’s vice president of North America operations, said in a release. “We are grateful for the support of local and state leadership in helping to bring Amazon to Illinois and we look forward to being an active member of the community.”

Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said he was happy with Amazon’s decision to make Joliet the home of its first Illinois fulfillment center.

Amazon employees at the center will process smaller items, such as books, electronics and consumer goods. The jobs are expected to pay from $13 to $15 an hour.

TreadFit opens in Beverly A new fitness center that combines a treadmill workout with strength training opened Aug. 10, in Chicago's Beverly community.

TreadFit offers classes six days a week at 10326 S. Western Ave., said its owner Jennifer Harkins in a news release.

Harkins said TreadFit was geared toward all fitness levels including walkers, joggers and hardcore runners.

Treadfit’s classes run 50 minutes and are taught by a certified trainer. Attendees receive a heartrate monitor at the start of each workout, so they can track heart rate zones and calculate accurate calorie burn, ensuring a workout with maximum results. Workouts are estimated to burn between 400-800 calories per class.

Classes start at $15 and are open to anyone 16 and older.

“These days, people’s schedules are so busy with work and activities, and Treadfit makes it easier to get in a great workout with incredible results," said Harkins.

"The days of just walking and running on a treadmill are over."

For information, visit www. treadfitbeverly.com.

Refinery woes to drive up prices Problems at BP's Whiting, Ind., refinery are likely to drive up retail gasoline prices from 15 to 30 cents per gallon for motorists in the Midwest and Great Lakes area, is the dire prediction from gasbuddy.com.

The website that tracks gasoline

prices and the oil business said in an email release last week that BP's refinery unexpectedly experienced issues with its largest crude distillation unit, capable of refining over half (210,000bpd) of the total refinery's oil capacity (410,000bpd).

Almost immediately, market gasoline prices shot up on the concerns of reduced gasoline supply from the BP refinery, the seventh largest in the country and the largest in the Midwest.

Great Lakes Credit Union merges with Bell West Great Lakes Credit Union has announced it has merged with Bell West Community Credit Union.

The Bell West branch will remain open as GLCU at its current location at 9930 Southwest Highway in Oak Lawn.

“I am thrilled that Bell West members will be joining our GLCU family and continue to enjoy the benefits of a credit union as our two organizations merge,” says Vikki Kaiser, president/CEO of Great Lakes Credit Union. “We are also pleased to be able to provide them with an array of new financial products and services.”

Along with other GLCU locations, the Oak Lawn branch is open to the public and GLCU encourages consumers to stop-in and take advantage of the variety of financial products and services they offer.

Kaiser adds, “One of GLCU’s main goals is to exceed our members’ expectations by providing outstanding, personalized service and we look forward to providing that personalized service through our professional, dedicated and courteous staff."

GLCU has more than 65,000 members and is over $693 million in assets. The Bannockburn-based credit union has branches in Antioch, Bolingbrook, Country Club Hills, Gurnee, Naperville, North Chicago, Oak Lawn, Round Lake Beach, Waukegan, Willow Springs, and Zion.

Justice approves business licenses Justice trustees recently approved business licenses for: MoMobile, a cell phone store at 8304 S. 88th Avenue, Classico Jewelry LTD, a home and online jewelry business at 8501 S. 79th Court, and B&D Investments dba Justice Party Hall, 8507 S. 88th Avenue.

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

You can also catch up on Comings & Goings in other parts of the Southland at www.southlandbusinessnews.com and www. southlandsavvy.blogspot.com

Palos Township has new signup site for Access to Care health system Palos Township is a new intake site for Access to Care, a charitable program delivers primary health care to the medically indigent of suburban Cook County.

Access to Care is designed for uninsured and underinsured residents of suburban Cook County.

The program partners with local doctors to provide primary care services to patients in their local neighborhoods. Access to Care can be used as a supplement to high deductible insurance plans.

Access to Care provides the

opportunity for suburbanites to see a local primary care doctor in the physician’s private office for a $5 fee. Other services include: prescription medication for $15 (generic), $30 (preferred-brand name), or $40 (non-preferred brand name) and basic lab and x-ray services for $5. Patients develop a relationship with their Access to Care doctor and report increased peace of mind. To determine eligibility, call 531-0680.

Interested individuals must call the township office at 598-

CROSSWORD Answers

SUDOKU Solution

4418 to make an appointment to complete the application. The township is located at 10802 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills.

In order to apply for Access to Care, an individual must provide proof of address and proof of income. Eligibility guidelines are 1) live in suburban Cook County and 2) family income below 300 percen of the federal poverty level. The individual must have no health insurance, or a per- person deductible of $500 or more and be ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare. However, if an individual is financially unable to afford Part B of Medicare, Access to Care will serve him/her.

This program serves people who fall in the gap between eligibility for public insurance programs and those individuals who are privately insured.

The program serves people with high-deductible insurance plans as these people still cannot afford to see a doctor. Many part-time employees, students, unemployed, low wage earners and individuals not offered health insurance by their employer are eligible for Access to Care.

-- Access to Care

You might not think much about inflation. After all, it’s been quite low for the past several years. Still, you may want to take it into account when you’re planning your retirement income strategy.

Of course, no one can really predict the future course of inflation.

But it’s a pretty safe bet it won’t disappear altogether — and even a mild inflation rate, over time, can strongly erode your purchasing power. Consider this: If you were to purchase an item today for $100, that same item, in 25 years, would cost you $209, assuming an annual inflation rate of 3 percent. That’s a pretty big difference.

During your working years, you can hope that your income will at least rise enough to match inflation. But what about when you retire? How can you minimize the impact of inflation on your retirement income?

One thing you can certainly do is include an inflation assumption in your calculations of how much annual income you’ll need.

The number you choose as an inflation factor could possibly be based on recent inflation levels, but you might want to err on the conservative side and use a slightly higher figure. Since you may be retired for two or three decades, you might have to periodically adjust the inflation factor to correspond to the actual inflation rate.

Another important step is maintaining an investment portfolio that can potentially provide returns well above the inflation rate. Historically, stocks have been the only investment category — as opposed to investments such as Treasury bills and

long-term government bonds — whose returns have significantly outpaced inflation. So you may want to consider owning an appropriate percentage of stocks and stock-based investments in your portfolio, even during your retirement years.

Now, you might be concerned at the mention of the words “stocks” and “retirement years” in the same sentence. After all, stocks will fluctuate in value, sometimes dramatically, and even though you may be retired for a long time, you won’t want to wait for years to “bounce back” from a bad year in the market. But not all investments move in the same direction at the same time; spreading your dollars among a range of asset classes — large stocks, small and mid-cap stocks, bonds, , certificates of deposit (CDs), foreign investments and so on — may help you reduce the impact of volatility on your portfolio.

And you don’t even have to rely solely on stocks to help combat inflation. You could also consider Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS. When you purchase a TIPS, your principal increases with inflation and decreases with deflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Your TIPS pay interest twice a year, at a fixed rate; this rate is applied to the adjusted principal, so your interest payments will rise with inflation and fall with deflation. When your TIPS matures, you will receive adjusted principal or original principal, whichever is greater.

As is the case with other bonds, though, you could choose to sell your TIPS before it matures.* Work with your financial advisor to help decide what moves are

right for you to help protect your retirement income from inflation.

It may be a “hidden” threat, but you don’t want to ignore it. * Yield to maturity cannot be predetermined, due to uncertain future inflation adjustments.

If TIPS are sold prior to maturity, you may receive less than your initial investment amount.

If bonds are not held in a tax-advantaged account, investors will be required to pay federal taxes on the accredited value annually, although they will not receive any principal payment until maturity.

When the inflation rate is high and the principal value is rising significantly, the taxes paid on TIPS may exceed interest income received. Therefore, TIPS may not be suitable for investors who depend on their investments for living expenses.

Edward Jones, it employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your estate-planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Scott Johnson, CFP, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, 8146 W. 111th St., Palos Hills, 974-1965. Edward Jones does not provide legal advice. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial advisor.

Area Property Tran$fer$ Following are the property transfers in the area, according to the latest report, as received from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office. The Reporter Newspaper does not attempt to correct errors made by that office.

Chicago Ridge Oliver Ryan to Lech Carla J, 10298 Southwest Hwy, Unit #11D, $99,000; Laurencell Patrice Lorraine Tr to Hogan Jack C, 11001 Major Ave, $180,000; Intercounty Judicial Sales Corp to 1016A LLC, 10428 S Ridgeland Ave, Unit #104285, $17,000.

Evergreen Park Luzzo Robert D to Majoch Lawrence, 9758 S Harding Ave, $312,000; Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Mack Ind II LLC, 2615 W 97th Pl, $40,500; Betcher Robert to Williams Andrea M, 3101 W 95th St, $240,000; Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Miller Nekita A, 8901 S Francisco Ave, $231,000; Vanevery Adam to Carleton Timothy B, 9316 S Homan Ave, $153,000; Jian Mary P Touroun to Clarkin Patrick, 9837 S Turner Ave, $180,000; Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Lordo Jacob Anthony, 9132 S St. Louis Ave, $150,000; Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr to Tassone Joseph, 9719 S Central Park Ave, $220,000.

Church Corner Pilgrim Faith Church to bless backpacks, children

Pilgrim Faith United Church of Christ, 9411 S. 51st Ave., Oak Lawn, will bless backpacks of all children and teachers during the 9:30 a.m. worship service Sunday, Aug. 30. All children and teachers from the community are invited to bring their backpack or book bag that day to receive a blessing and special tag for their pack.

The church is handicapped accessible.

10 9

11 12 1

2 3

Let us know you want afterschool programs in your area.

Call 1-800-USA-LEARN.

Hickory Hills Firkins Ruth A to Alawad Mohammed, 7800 W 95th St, Unit #91583A, $112,000; Gunia Edward Tr to Mchugh Timothy, 9411 78th Ave, $125,000; Trust Co II Tr to Moczarny Krzysztof, 9032 W 93rd St, $190,000.

Oak Lawn Wussow Sharon Adm to Robles Carlos, 5321 Stoney Creek Dr, $215,000; Synergy Prop Holdings LLC to Manaligod Nemo, 9720 Pulaski Rd, Unit #9720207, $33,000; Bonovich Joyce J to Butnariu Daniel, 10221 52nd Ave, $140,000; Matariyeh Mohmoud to Bruesch Brian, 4827 109th St, Unit #7203, $67,000; Linder Ave Rlty Grp LLC Santa Maria Series to EPM Prop LLC, 10601 S Kolmar Ave, $230,000; Marquette Bk Tr to Maldonado Jesus Garcia, 9328 69th Ct, $192,500; Seem David A to Favela Martin, 9650 Austin Ave, $105,000; Gwizdala Kelly to Vann Charles E, 4014 93rd Pl, Unit #4014B, $67,000; Gorek Clara to Takruri Allam, 10210 Washington Ave, Unit #G14, $37,000; Judicial Sales Corp to Cedar Equity LLC, 10108 Buell Ct, $98,000; Fannie Mae to Stone Cap Investments LLC, 4009 93rd Pl, Unit #40093E, $43,000; Anderson Andrew to Jaimes Vanessa, 9905 Massasoit Ave,

$310,000; Stangel Theresa to Galvan Anne, 9613 Kedvale Ave, Unit #102, $71,500; Vanco Raymond D to Zuniga Ofelia, 5156 W 90th St, $148,000; Cole Cynthia to Cole Daniel, 5605 102nd St, $100,000; Cuthbert Nancy A Tr to Rivera Moises, 9808 Massasoit Ave, $180,000; Dorman Mary D Tr to Cucio Joseph, 10428 51st Ct, $203,000; Donnelly Andrea M Tr to Moore Carmen G, 10132 Cook Ave, $208,000; Gareiss John P to Troutman Daniel B, 10816 Laramie Ave, $214,000.

Palos Hills Presz Elizabeth to Presz Christopher, 11009 Stoney Creek Dr, Unit #11C, $135,000; First Midwest Bk Tr to Lewis Jacob E, 10028 Wood Ln, $207,000; Barajas Laura to Haven Mgmt & Consult LLC, 10236 S 81st Ave, $60,000; Daszynski Krystyna to Razanauskas Rytis, 5 Cinnamon Creek Dr, Unit #53S, $136,000; Midland Fed S&L Assn Tr to Ali Equab, 7503 W 105th St, $85,000.

Worth Delaney Steven K to Capra Christina M, 7410 W 115th St, $90,000; Newcastle West LLC to Harrison Timothy J, 7346 W 114th Pl, $130,500; Punzo Hugo to Dalis Abdalbaset, 6931 W Crandall Ave, $212,000.

10

The Reporter Thursday, August 20, 2015

The

Back Page

WHATIZIT? We had a little decision to make.

Last week’s photo was of an apparatus that you use to clean golf spikes, hence the clue of something you use when you turn 18.

Others guessed shoe and boot cleaners so the nerdy WHATIZIT Board of Directors walked to a local bar to hammer out what to do with those guessers.

After getting hammered themselves, they staggered back to the office and a group of girls smiled at them. They were so elated at the attention, they decided to generously let the shoe/boot guessers in the paper too. By the way, the girls weren’t smiling at them, they were laughing at them because every Board of Director had his barn door open.

So we broke the winners up into two divisions -- the spike division and the shoe division.

Steve Rosenbaum of Oak Lawn wins the green jacket for being first among the spikes with the correct answer.

Others who finished under par were Chicago Ridge’s Donna Andrasco, Craig Breier, Joe and Marilyn Blackwell and Chris and Rick Towner, Oak Lawn’s Mike Sutko, Dolores Graziadei, Betty Schadt and Matt Vari, Palos Heights’ Crystine Busch and Lorraine Deckinga, Worth’s E.J. Oahueke, Evergreen Park’s Jan Merchantz, Vince Vizza, Henrietta Mysliwiec and Debbie and Jon Gruver, Hickory Hills’ Ken Osborne, Cap’n Morgan from Palos Hills and the Friday Night Ladies

Photo by Jeff Vorva

and One Gentleman Poker Club and Golf Cart Thrill Riders From Oak Lawn, Oak Forest, Orland Park and New Lenox.

Oak Lawn’s Chris O’Grady was the first correct guesser in the shoe division.

Those who also showed a lot of sole were Oak Lawn’s Bob and Jane Foley, Palos Park’s Robert Brendel, Chicago Ridge’s Dan and Kathy Higgins and Patty Vandenberg, Evergreen Park’s Rich Rahn, Worth’s Theresa and George Rebersky, Mike and Russ Martin, Gene Sikora, Carol and Jerry Janicki and Celeste Cameron, Hickory Hills’ Griffin and Jack Faddis and Palos Heights’ Jim Cap and Mary Sheeren, There was one incorrect answer of a grill cleaner.

Last week we said a guy by the name Dan Martin was a winner. Dan-g it, it was actually Russ Martin.

This week’s clue is that it something your mother might wear.

Send those guesses to thereporter@comcast.net with WHATIZIT in the subject line by Monday night. Don’t forget your name and hometown.

GMO-no! People should know what they are eating I don’t know how many Americans realize it, but states will no longer have the right to require food companies to inform consumers as to whether the food they are eating is genetically modified.

HR 1599 skated through Congress as "The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act," on July 23. It is everything but safe and limits the powers of individual states as to requesting food labeling. States will not be allowed to protect the public as far as food labeling is concerned. Actually, 26 countries have banned genetically modified (GMO) foods. That should tell you something about what other countries feel regarding the safety of its food supplies.

While the US politicians are standing firm and doubling down on insisting we accept GMO food, yet another country, Bermuda, just banned Round Up herbicide that is essential to production of GM crops. The Lancet Oncology, a medical journal, determined the main ingredient in Monsanto’s RoundUp pesticide is "probably carcinogenic to humans.' They cited a World Health Organization study. That was just in June.

Dr. Don Huber, toxicology expert from Purdue University has intensively studied the background and data on GMO foods and has plenty to say about what GMO foods are doing to our health. First of all, he says Round-Up Ready crops are showered numerous times with glyphosates (Round Up). Round Up is an herbicide and pesticide. Glyphosates were originally patented as mineral chelators. They immo-

Mixing it up for good health

By Dee Woods

bilize minerals and render them useless in the body and in plants, according to Huber Additionally, Dr. Huber states glyphosates were found in humans in blood and urine. The answer by the FDA double the amount that is considered safe.

If Monsanto Corporation wants to produce GMO food, it’s fine, but those of us who wish to avoid GMO’s should be able to know whether a product is genetically modified; just as we have the right to know how much sugar or gluten is in a food product. We have a right to know what we ingest is what we want to ingest.

HR 1599 even allows the labeling of "natural" on foods that are genetically modified. The more appropriate acronym given by opponents of GMO foods is the DARK Act. (Deny Americans the Right to Know).

Polling across the nation has shown that 94 percent of Americans would like to have the right to know if they are eating GMO foods.

The problem here is that over $29 million dollars appeared to make legisla-

tors see it the way Monsanto and other biotech companies see it. It seems in 2009, President Obama appointed Monsanto’s Vice-President and lobbyist, as Deputy Commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I guess you might call that a conflict of interest. The FDA has allowed nothing more than a revolving door between pharmaceutical company executives and the federal government agency. Do you suppose that might have an effect on the decision making of the FDA? I sure do. "The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act,'' makes certain your state doesn’t allow you that privilege.

Recently, several scientists accused Merck of falsifying data for remaining silent on the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine.

It happens. Money is always involved. Appointing a Monsanto executive to the FDA is unconscionable by any president or elected officials, and it has been a problem for many years. Who are they representing--certainly not consumers. As always, it about money and contributions.

What we can do is contact various companies ourselves requesting they continue to label GMO products or ask them to stop using genetically modified foods. You can also call your Senators and ask them not to vote for the fake safety bill known as "The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act." Dee Woods column runs every first and third week. She can be reached at deewoods10@icloud.com.

Community Briefs ORLAND PARK Seniors can learn ballroom dancing through Orland Township Orland Township is offering a ballroom dance class to seniors classes beginning in late August and running through the middle of November Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Orland Township, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park.

Participants will learn how to Cha Cha, Waltz, Tango and more.

Registration is open for both residents and non-residents, with a registration fee of $40 per student for residents and $50 per student for non-residents. Registration for the fall session is now open. For more information, or to register, call 403-4222.

PALOS TOWNSHIP Palos Township offering health screenings Palos Township, 10802 S. Roberts Road, Palos Hills, is offering health services in the form of various screening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

A vitamin D screening will cost $25, thyroid screening, $15, and a healthy heart screening, $60.

For more information, and to reserve a spot, call 598-2441.

Lexington House (Continued from page 1)

Herman, 61, started working at the iconic banquet facility in Hickory Hills during his junior year of high school, helping out his Dad, John, who worked there part-time doing maintenance and often serving as a Maitre d and bartender.

“My dad was good friends with the owner, Jack McGann and worked here a lot in addition to being a firefighter. I learned a lot from him.”

Of the 44 years he has been there, he has spent 35 of them as the chief bartender for the many large events held there. However, bartending didn’t sit well with him in the beginning. Working alongside his dad one day during a fashion show with more than 500 women attending, he was trying to keep up with the waitresses returning with trays full of ten or so glasses to be refilled.

“The orders were all blended drinks, apricot stone sours, pink ladies, etc., I threw my hands up finally and said, that’s it, I’m done, I can’t do this,” he said.

He took a brief break from the bartending aspect of the job, but after a year or so, he took it up again and has been at it ever since.

Many events at the Lexington were annual affairs, often with 500 to 600 people attending.

And when the parties got swanky, Herman was more than happy to put on a tie.

“People may not have always remembered my name each year, but they remembered me as the ‘bartender with the Three Stooges tie’ because I always wore it when I was working the bar,’’ Herman said. “I would tell them I wore it because the owners said I had to dress up for the party.”

After a few years, the tie became a little ragged and one of the owners came out and said, ”It’s time for a new tie, here’s a few bucks, go out and buy a new one.”

Herman said he has been through a number of the black and white ties over the years. He still has one very crisp, clean tie for the last events planned at the Lexington. He said he has been offered money for the Stooges tie, but it is not for sale.

Herman said working at the Lexington has always been exciting with the parade of big names that have come through the doors.

“When Barack Obama was running for the Senate, he held a meeting here,’ said Herman. He added that every Illinois governor since the 1970s has been to the facility.

Herman said one of his biggest thrills was when Thompson was there for the ribbon-cutting of the southbound exit on the

I-294 Tollway, which is just down the street from the Lexington.

Thompson’s helicopter landed in the parking lot of the banquet hall. While it was sitting there waiting for the governor, the pilot asked Herman if he wanted to sit in the governors seat in the cockpit.

“I said sure, so I climbed up and sat there in the cockpit. I thought it was pretty cool.” Herman said.

Governor Rod Blagojevich also visited in 2005, the year the White Sox won the World Series.

“I may not have made the best impression on him,” said Herman who said he is a dyed-inthe-wool White Sox fan. He said Blagojevich, who was known as a staunch Cubs fan, strolled into the kitchen and Herman greeted him with “Go Cubs!”

“I don’t think it set well with him” Herman said, laughing.

Other well-known visitors have included both Mayor Daleys and Cardinals Joseph Bernadin and Francis George.

Herman said his favorite sports celebrities who showed up were the Chicago Bears, after they won the Super Bowl in 1985. “They came to a lot of special events and they were just great guys.

I remember Gary Fencik and Michael Singletary being here a number of times.”

Big name entertainers also have a place in his memories.

Ray Charles, Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, all appeared at the Lexington.

Also a local popular group, Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows performed there.

“The night they were here, in the 80’s, it was a very, very cold night in January and 800 people came out to see them in spite of the weather.” Herman said.

For many years, New Year’s Eve saw parties of 1,000 people being held at the Lexington. “It would be pretty wild,” said Herman. “It would be so crowded we would have people seated at small tables in the balcony area.”

Other large parties with more than 500 guests were held annually at the facility for more than 20 years, including the Polish Prince Charming Ball and the Hispanic Rodeo Club.

Hundreds of weddings, anniversaries retirement parties, baby showers, high school proms, and company parties have been held at the Lexington House. Herman said, couples who have held their wedding receptions there, often return for their children’s wedding receptions. He himself was married there as was his sister, his step-daughter and many of his friends.

Herman said the big draws of the Lexington House were its convenient location, the fact that it

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The Lexington House in Hickory Hills will close its doors this Saturday. had one ballroom, so there would be no overflow from other parties, and it had a huge dance floor.

But, times change, the economy changed, companies no longer hold large holiday parties and many people choose to hold house parties on New Year’s Eve instead of going out. Herman said things began declining in the late 90’s.

There was a time when the Lexington could not book a party without a minimum of 400 people.

Then it dropped to 300, then 200, he said.

Since word has spread that the Lexington House is closing, people have been stopping by just to take a last look around or to show their grandchildren where their own wedding or senior prom

was held, Herman said.

“It has been a good run and I am going to miss the people I got to know through the years and the people I have worked with,” he said. On a personal note, he added that he wanted to thank the McGann family, founders of the Lexington House, for all they have done for him and his family through the years.

Asked what his future plans were, he laughed and said, “If anyone is looking for a mature, experienced, loyal bartender, I’m available.” He said he can be contacted through the Beverly Woods Restaurant in Beverly, which is also owned by the McGann family.

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The Regional News • The Reporter

SPORTS

Ken Karrson, Sports Editor • sports@regionalpublishing.com

Thursday, 2015 Thursday,August March 20, 5, 2015

Southwest • Section 2, Page 1

MORAINE ATHLETICS WRAP

Cyclones give unto others crew, along with additional volunteers that totaled a group of 118 in all, filled 177 boxes, which is 38,232 meals that could feed 105 children for a year. One box holds 216 meals.

“I was very proud of our students who went above and beyond in this volunteer group project,” Moraine athletic director Bill Finn said. “They worked hard, had fun and were classy representatives of our great college in helping prepare a tremendous amount of food for starving children across the world.”

Athletics secretary Mary Nagel had previously volunteered with the organization and thought it would be a good team-building activity for incoming freshmen to get to know each other while having fun. And so far the feedback has been positive.

“We never did anything like this before so it was a nice change,” sophomore tennis player Agnieszka Szudy said. “It was enjoyable. I really liked it.”

“I thought the experience was very beneficial,” women’s soccer coach Al Palar said. “The girls were having so much fun, I don’t think they even realized the good deed they were doing.”

Freshman basketball player Joe Ruzevich was glad to be a part of the activity.

“As athletes, we’re blessed with a lot of opportunities that many people don’t have,” he said.

“It’s great to give back to those less fortunate. I really liked it.”

Submitted photo

Some Moraine Valley College student-athletes pack food that will be sent to hungry children around the world.

The Cyclones volunteered their time Aug. 10 in Aurora.

By Maura Vizza While Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” blared through the speakers of a warehouse in Aurora, roughly 90 Moraine Valley College student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff members sang along and sweated while filling and sealing bags of food.

The bags were then boxed for shipment to hungry children around the world. The work was part of the Cyclones’ volunteer project at Feed My Starving Children.

Freshman athletes represented the lion’s share of Moraine participants, but some sophomores also took part for a couple hours on Aug. 10. Everyone worked at different tables with packages earmarked for countries such as Burkina Faso, the Philippines, Ghana and Haiti.

Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization that sends hand-packed meals specially formulated for malnourished children to nearly 70 countries in need. The organization considers packing one box per person a good day; Moraine’s

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Palar’s Cyclones traveled to Madison, Wis., last Friday for an exhibition match against Madison College. Moraine dominated in its first outing of 2015 as it rolled to a 5-0 victory.

Marbella Rodriguez recorded a hat trick to pace Moraine while Xitlaly Mandujano and Alex Abed added solo tallies. Dalila Alcala assisted on Mandujano’s marker and netminders Kaylyn Egyarto and Kortnie Hanold shared the shutout.

“I am very happy with the result, the effort and most importantly the team’s performance,” Palar said. “There could have been many excuses made, but they were all up to the challenge and got the job done. We will build on this as we prepare for

Joliet Junior College [in the regular-season opener].”

The Cyclones are coming off a 10-8 season and top-four finish in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region IV in 2014. Palar is now the head coach after being an assistant for the men’s squad the past three years.

“I’m not sure what their competition looks like yet, but we’re going for it,” Palar said. “It’s definitely a change from men’s to women’s, but it’s the same concepts. The guys are more tactical while the women use pressure and force more errors.”

Palar played professional soccer in Poland and coached boys’ and girls’ teams for Inter FC out of Palos Hills. He still plays for the Amateur Schwaben AC out of Buffalo Grove. Palar brings not only his coaching style, but a confidence that his team can go far this season.

“I’ve been excited to get started,” he said. “We have good returners and every recruit will have an impact. They’ve been good at practice and come together.

“Everyone is 100 percent at it [and] there’s no slacking off. We want to get to nationals — we’re geared toward that. They all want to do something big, and we have the group to do it.”

Returning players include Maggie Hacker (Sandburg), an All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference selection as a freshman and the Cyclones’ second-leading scorer a year ago, and Hanold, an all-conference and all-region choice in 2014. Alexis Delgado also garnered all-region recognition last fall.

Other returnees are Liliana Cabrera, Kristina Cypser (Shepard), Cecia Esquivel, Alejandra Hernandez and Mandujano. Key losses were leading scorer Alyssa Braun (Shepard), now at Roosevelt University, and goaltender Diana Lozano (Richards).

The crop of newcomers includes Rodriguez, who played for Palar in club soccer, Abed (Stagg), Alcala, Francis Corona, Egyarto (Sandburg), Ewelina Kmin, Diana Lang (Marist), Karina Lopez, Victoria Paczkowska, Lauren Regan (Mother McAuley), Sintia Salas, Jazmin Sanchez and Paulina Stafira (Stagg).

(Continued on page 2)

Yes … yes … yes Mayors get revenge over chiefs in third Special Olympics softball game

By Jeff Vorva Reporter Editor “Yes … yes … yes.”

Those were the words used several times during 9-year-old Special Olympian Jack Klawitter’s

speech Sunday at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood.

Klawitter, a Frankfort resident, is the youngest global messenger for Special Olympics, and the kid had hundreds of spectators captivated before the third Battle of the ‘Burbs

Photo by Jeff Vorva

Special Olympian Jack Klawitter throws out one of the ceremonial first pitches in Sunday’s Battle of the ‘Burbs at Standard Bank Stadium. Proceeds from the event benefited Special Olympics.

softball game. He gave a 10-minute speech about how Special Olympics has helped his life and those of others, and every once in a while he would throw in a “yes … yes … yes’’ for good measure.

Klawitter’s neck was full of medals that he won as he threw out one of the ceremonial first pitches.

Minutes later, the main event took place, and for the first time in the short history of the competiPhoto by Jeff Vorva tion south suburban mayors could finally say “yes … yes … yes.” Palos Hills Mayor Jerry Bennett avoids a forceout and scores a run as he gets to the plate a second before MerThe mayors, known as the Big rionette Park Fire Chief Leonard Edling in the Big Hitters’ 13-10 victory over Gunsmoke.

Hitters, beat a team of fire and police chiefs, known as Gun- all for fun, but we absolutely love smoke, 13-10 in the five-inning winning.’’

Orland Park Mayor Dan affair whose proceeds benefited Special Olympics. In the past two McLaughlin was on base several games, the chiefs had outscored the times and made some diving stops mayors 45-20 by winning 26-12 at third base.

“It was good [and] I love the in 2013 and 19-8 last year.

When the mayors scored three new field,” he said, referring to the runs in the top of the first inning artificial turf installed at Standard on a day in which the temperatures Bank for the 2015 campaign. “It’s touched 90 degrees, things looked a lot nicer [surface] to play on. We good. Then Palos Hills Mayor Jerry gave it the old college try and this Bennett took the mound and used time it worked out.’’

Other Big Hitters from the area tricky hesitation pitches that didn’t fool the chiefs, who hammered were Palos Heights Mayor Bob Straz, Oak Lawn Mayor Sanhim for six runs.

“Yeah, I thought, ‘Here we go dra Bury, Oak Lawn Clerk Jane Quinlan, Worth Clerk Bonnie Price again,’” Bennett said.

But the Big Hitters kept living and Chicago Ridge Attorney Burt up to their name as they scored Odelson.

The Big Hitters picked up some six times in the third inning and four in the fourth. The defense ringers this year as they were joined came through as well, holding by a few former athletes-turnedGunsmoke to four runs in the state senators.

Napoleon Harris of the third final four frames.

Photo by Jeff Vorva State Senator Napoleon Harris gives Harvey Mayor Eric Kellog a little “We had better defense and bet(Continued on page 2) airplane spin during the Big Hitters’ 13-10 win over Gunsmoke on Sunday. ter hitting,” Bennett said. “This is

2 Section 2

Thursday, August 20, 2015

The Regional News - The Reporter

Community Sports News FALL BALL REGISTRATION FOR OAK LAWN BASEBALL

Oak Lawn Baseball is conducting online registration for its fall baseball and softball leagues, which begin after Labor Day and run through mid-October.

Baseball will be played at the Shetland (ages 5-6), Pinto (6-7), Mustang (8-9) and Bronco (10-11) levels while softball will feature 8U, 10U and 12U divisions. Games are scheduled for the weekends weather permitting.

Team jerseys will be provided, but players must supply their own hats, pants and socks. Registration and payment will be accepted online, but two in-person payment dates will also be held. Visit www. oaklawnbaseball.com for details.

For any questions, baseball players should contact boyspresident@ oaklawnbaseball.com and softball players should contact girlspresident@oaklawnbaseball.com.

SOUTHSIDE SHOOTERS TRYOUTS IN AUGUST

The Southside Shooters will conduct tryouts and hold an organizational meeting on Monday, Aug. 31, at Moraine Valley College’s “G” building gymnasium.

The tryouts are open to youngsters in grades 4-8 and will run as follows: grades 4 and 5 from 6-7 p.m.; grades 6 and 7 from 7-8; and grade 8 from 8-9. For more information, contact Bill Finn at coachfinn34@yahoo.com.

DE LA SALLE LOOKING FOR BASEBALL COACH

De La Salle Institute in Chicago is looking to fill a head-coaching vacancy with its varsity baseball team. Teaching positions are available for the 2015-16 school year.

Interested candidates should contact athletic director Tom White at (312) 842-7355, ext. 118 or white.@dls.org.

ST. LAURENCE SEEKING FOOTBALL COACHES

St. Laurence is seeking two assistant football coaches for the 2015 season.

Offensive coordinators are being sought for both the sophomore and freshman teams. The latter candidate should have a specific ability to coach quarterbacks and both must have a flexible schedule that will allow for attendance at summer practices as well as those conducted during the school year.

Previous high school coaching experience or the equivalent is preferred and candidates must hold a valid Illinois teaching certificate or be ASEP certified. Qualified individuals should send a letter of interest and resume to varsity coach Harold Blackmon at hblackmon@stlaurence.com.

BEARS NON-CONTACT CAMPS COMING THIS SUMMER

Chicago Bears youth football camps for ages 6-14 will return to 26 Illinois locations this summer.

Former Bears players Rashied Davis, Jason McKie, Jim Morrissey, Mickey Pruitt and Kris Haines are among those expected to visit the camps, which will offer non-contact instruction. Led by professional, USA Football-certified coaches, kids learn to run, throw, catch, defend and compete the Bears’ way.

A comprehensive skills camp is designed for newcomers while the accelerated skills camp is for experienced players between the ages of 9 and 14. The cost is $259 for a five-day camp.

To register or for more information, visit www.BearsCamps.com or call (312) 226-7776.

Moraine

(Continued from page 1)

“The expectations before the season are high, and with practice it’s looking realistic,” Palar said.” I think we’re in position to compete. I’m confident we’re stronger than last year.”

The match to watch is a Sept.

16 meeting with conference rival and powerhouse Waubonsee College in Palos Hills.

“I’m looking forward to that match,” Palar said. “I’ll be nervous the whole morning but in a good way. I wish every game was like that because that’s how you learn — through tough matches.”

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

One word describes the 2015 Cyclones: youthful.

Only two runners have a year on their spikes, but the new kids could be impactful before all is said and done. Braulio Castellanos and Ryan Dovgin will be relied upon heavily to lead the way, especially in the early going while the rookies gain an understanding of how to compete at the collegiate level and an 8K distance.

“They are up to the task [because] Braulio and Ryan have been through the wars,” said Moraine coach Mark Horstmeyer, who’s entering his 16th season.

“They know what to expect, and we will need for them to impart that knowledge both through word and deed.”

Ten newcomers will join Castellanos and Dovgin.

“They are experienced high school runners who know how to compete and win, and that’s the important thing no matter the distance or level of competition,” Horstmeyer said. “We are confident that as long as they stay healthy and continue to push the way they have been so far, they will become experienced collegiate runners sooner [rather] than later.

“The talent certainly is there.

Now we have to get them to gain confidence in themselves [and realize] they are very capable of excelling.”

The new group consists of Alec Altman (Sandburg), Mike Bradley, Vicente Carbajal, Juan Castillos, Kevin Dusek (Shepard), Andrew Miller (Shepard), Jeremy Morgan, Tomas Villa, Ronaldo Wallace and Rej Bedini.

“What we like so far is that they are already working together, and they will need to continue doing so in order for all of them to rise to the next level,” Horstmeyer said.

“We think they have the commitment and heart to do so.

“We have challenged them to end the drought — it’s been way

Submitted photo

About 90 Moraine Valley College student-athletes took part in the Feed My Starving Children volunteer effort on Aug. 10.

too many years since the men’s team last claimed titles — and make their mark on the program.

It will be a lot of fun to see them go for it. They have the potential and work ethic to be really good [and] we’re excited for them.”

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

The 2015 Cyclones return the core of last year’s ISCC and Region IV championship team, so the pressure is on to do something no other Moraine cross country squad has ever accomplished: successfully defend its titles. The current group is up for the challenge but will need assistance from a talented group of freshmen to get it done.

There is one huge loss, however, as NJCAA All-American Aileen Gorman (Marist) is gone after completing two stellar years as a Cyclone.

“She will be missed both from a talent and leadership standpoint,” Horstmeyer said. “She set the bar high eith her work ethic, determination and competitiveness.”

But Horstmeyer is confident the void can be filled. Three of the four returning runners —Abby Correa, Crystal Flores and Jackie Navarrete (Shepard) — earned both all-conference and all-region honors a year ago. Along with the departed Gorman and sophomore Amy Miller (Shepard), the trio helped Moraine place 24th at the NJCAA race.

“They know what they have to accomplish in their training to bring home the championship trophies once again,” Horstmeyer said. ‘They know they cannot rest on their laurels and expect to have the same results.

“The wonderful thing about them is that they want to get better, and they know they have to work hard to do so. We will need to rely on their leadership to help bring our younger runners along.”

Those youngsters include Stephanie Majewski, Yuliana Olivares, Weronika Staszel, Gabby Plewa

and Hannah Funk (Sandburg).

While new to the college ranks, they are cross country veterans who come from top-notch high school programs, so they know what it takes to be competitive.

“They have shown a strong work ethic, a determined attitude and a dedication to their sport,” Horstmeyer said.

A lot of work lies ahead for the Cyclones in their preparation to successfully defend their crowns, but in the early going the coaching staff liked what they saw.

“We are tremendously fortunate to have such an outstanding group of young women who are beginning to blend in well,” Horstmeyer said. ‘There are a lot challenges awaiting them, but those challenges also present opportunities — an opportunity to believe in what they are capable of achieving and an opportunity to accomplish something very, very special. They will be an exciting group to watch grow and succeed.”

VOLLEYBALL

The Cyclones don’t want to be No. 2 again.

Following a 2014 season that saw a new coach and largely new team win 20 times, finish second in both the ISCC and Region IV, Moraine is ready to go further.

A strong group of veterans will lead the way.

Libero Carolyn Yerkes (Marist) was an NJCAA All-America nominee and named to the allregion and all-conference teams last season after ranking 11th in NJCAA Division II in digs per set (6.03 average). She was the Cyclones’ MVP. “Yerkes is the true definition of a leader,” second-year coach Mark Johnston said. “She works harder than anyone out there all while keeping a smile on her face.”

Also back is Carly Trinley, another all-region and all-conference pick who moved around last season and played multiple positions.

This year, she is leading the offensive charge as Moraine’s setter.

Softball

(Continued from page 1)

district showed up for the game a little late but made a big impact. His pregame ritual was lifting Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg and giving him a little airplane spin.

Harris played football at Thornton High School, Northwestern University and with Minnesota, Kansas City and Oakland in the NFL. He appeared in Super Bowl XXXVI. Michael Hastings, a former Andrew football player who also played at West Point, added some muscle to the lineup. Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, one of the tallest legislators in Illinois at 6-foot-8, was another large presence for the Big Hitters.

Area players for Gunsmoke inPhoto by Jeff Vorva cluded Orland Park Police Chief Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin makes a diving stop and throws to Tim McCarthy and Oak Lawn second base during the mayors’ 13-10 win over the police and fire chiefs in the third Battle of the ‘Burbs.

Police Chief Michael Murray.

“With her athleticism and IQ of the game, Carly will be one of the top setters in the conference,” Johnston said.

Sophomore Amanda Host also was filled multiple roles for the Cyclones in 2014 — by season’s end she had successfully manned four different positions, including setter. Allison Nash was chosen as the Most Improved Player last year and looks to pick up right where she left off. With a strong vertical jump, Nash will see an increase in her kill and block totals while spending a majority of her time on the right side.

Kate Patnett rounds out the returnees. She put in long hours during the offseason to come back quicker and faster and looked stronger than ever in the preseason. Patnett was one of Moraine’s best blockers last year and posted one of its highest hitting percentages.

Johnston made big gains in the offseason with several impressive recruits and additions. Newcomer Kaitlyn “Kam” Myles (Queen of Peace) will be the other middle hitter.

“Her strong offensive presence in the middle is exactly what the team needs,” Johnston said. “She is strong and her potential has a very high ceiling.”

Outside hitter Carly Nowacyzk will be one of the Cyclones’ main offensive weapons. While hitting great shots in the front row is her forte, Nowacyzk is just as strong with her back-row hitting. Her fundamentals will make her a force with which to reckon.

Kortney Chase will be another hitter as well as a main passer in serve-receive. Her quickness and great touch on the ball will be extremely valuable, and Johnston also likes her “positive attitude on and off the court. [She] will definitely be a leader of this team in the next year.”

The Cyclones kick off their campaign with a home opener against region foe Triton College on Aug. 25, 6 p.m.

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A little of this and little of that

Sometimes it’s difficult to choose a single topic for discussion. This is one of those times.

So here are some random thoughts about a few different subjects.

• Are the Cubs for real?

Well, it depends on the circumstances. Are they as bad as they looked in striking out 18 times against the White Sox on Sunday or when Cole Hamels no-hit them a few weeks ago? Their record indicates they’re obviously not.

But what about that record and, more importantly, the 15-wins-in-16-games streak the Sox broke in the finale of the City Series? Are the Cubs truly that good? Again, no.

While the streak included an impressive four-game sweep of 2014 World Series winner San Francisco, it also featured the North Siders running roughshod over hapless Milwaukee seven times. The Brewers as currently constituted might have a difficult time winning a series against the Windy City Thunderbolts.

However, even longtime Cubs detractors must credit the team for finally acting wisely. For far too many years the Cubs treated their farm system like a clearinghouse — as soon as a new face entered he was sent away, often in exchange for a past-his-prime player with falling-star quality, the kind who might put behinds in the seats but would also make sure the Cubs were left well behind the contenders.

The Cubs’ 2015 kids are all right, and so far manager Joe Maddon has pushed the correct buttons more often than not.

Of course, remember the lift Dusty Baker’s arrival gave the Cubs in 2003 and 2004? It didn’t last, so Cubs fans are advised to proceed cautiously with their optimism.

The biggest thing the Cubs have going for them, though, is Maddon’s face — specifically his snow-white goatee. If you recall, several years ago in this same space a certain columnist noted how each of Chicago’s most recent championship clubs was guided by a head coach or manager who wore a mustache, something Baker and his successor Lou Piniella both failed to do.

At that time, I suggested some possible candidates to become the Cubs’ next manager. Maddon must have seen that column and decided to act once he came to Chicago; in fact, he’s taking no chances by growing hair on his chin as well as above his upper lip.

So to anyone intent on keeping the Cubs’ 107-year championship dry spell intact, don’t fret about how to handle Anthony Rizzo, Jake Arrietta or any other player. Just hold Joe Maddon down, give him a close shave and watch all hope disappear along with the whiskers.

• The Bear necessities.

New Bears coach John Fox is clean-shaven, so there’s no need to include the words “Super Bowl” in any conversation about the team. But because of that, Fox’s decision to get all Bill Belichick with reporters last week struck a particularly sour note.

You see, Belichick has won enough titles to have earned some rights in the let’s-be-a-jerk department, rights he is more than happy to act on. Fox has been to the Super Bowl a couple times, but once there he channeled his inner Bud Grant and left the scene empty-handed.

The point is that Fox’s first thing to win is some respect back for a franchise that is 30 years removed from its last championship. But that’s hard to do when neither he nor new general manager Ryan Pace was upfront about receiver Kevin White’s injury, which is likely to sideline the first-round draft choice for all of the 2015 season.

When pressed by reporters as to why both he and the organization were deliberately vague about White’s physical condition until late last week, Fox got a bit huffy and informed the media people that the Bears had operated within the parameters set forth by the NFL. They revealed only what they had to, nothing more.

When asked by one beat writer why the secrecy was deemed necessary, Fox bristled and said it was the reporter’s job to find out the reason.

Are you kidding me? One preseason game into his Chicago coaching tenure and Fox has already grown sensitive? How the heck will he respond in the midst of a losing streak when fans are criticizing everything Fox and his coaches are doing?

Time to put on your big-boy pants, John.

• Tiger, your time is up Memo to those who write about professional golf: Tiger Woods is no longer legitimate story material.

When Woods missed the cut for the PGA Championship, it marked the third major tournament in a row that he had done so. And since his world ranking is now below golf’s version of the infamous Mendoza Line and he’ll turn 40 at the end of the year, Woods shouldn’t be expected to contend for titles.

So unless he suddenly manages to be in the hunt for one or some new trollop comes forward to dish on him, Woods isn’t even old news; he’s no news. Let’s focus on the sport’s young guns, which include Jordan Speith, whose 54-under-par cumulative score for the four majors bettered by one stroke Woods’ record for a single calendar year.

Speith may not wind up doing everything that Woods once did on the course, but chances are good he won’t duplicate Woods’ off-the-course shenanigans either. And for that, everyone not employed by TMZ or the National Enquirer will be most grateful.

• Kane may be disabled Patrick Kane seems eager to follow Tiger Woods’ recipe for career sabotaging While nothing has yet to be proved, the Blackhawks star is alleged to have been involved in a sexual assault.

Kane has already skated onto thin ice in a couple of other instances; this latest allegation was enough to convince a game manufacturer to remove his image from the front of its latest product. Screw-ups like this seem to happen almost daily to professional athletes, and all the money in the world can’t repair a damaged reputation.

But that doesn’t mean the jocks will stop doing their worst to disprove that theory.

BARTOSH

Hey you experts!

We are looking for football forecasters

This is your chance to kick the crown off of Jeff Vorva’s head.

In 2014, Vorva was the Football Forecast king with a 68-18 regular-season mark. He capped the second year of selections by also setting the playoff pace with a glossy 44-6 record of accuracy.

The third season of Football Forecast, which will follow weekly 10 local high schools and St. Xavier University, kicks off Aug. 27. Among the contests being played that weekend will be Brother Rice versus Brother Rice (Mich.) and Mt. Carmel versus Marist.

Any readers interested in joining our roster of pigskin prognosticators should email us at the reporter@comcast.net by Friday with your name, town, phone number and a jpeg photo of yourself.