to be sitting on the Bensenville Park District float that took her along the parade route at Libertyfest along with numerous staff, administrators and volunteers. More photos on page 3.
ment agencies that can start using the funds July 1.
To fund the grants, the insurance industry provides $1 for every passenger vehicle it insures to the Secretary of State’s Office.
“These grants are a matter of public safety and provide our law enforcement agencies with the personnel, tools and tech resources they need to help safeguard residents from the rise of violent carjackings and car thefts,” Giannoulias said. “For many of us, our vehicle serves as a lifeline. We depend on it for work, running errands, shuttling our kids around to practices and camps and visiting loved ones.
“To have it stolen can have terrible consequences for families and upend
their lives. This taskforce plays a critical role by ensuring local, state, and federal law enforcement officers must work together to address these crimes.”
“To stop crime you have to solve crime—and to solve crime you have to have resources,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.
“This grant funding will allow the Illinois State Police to focus additional resources on catching those committing vehicle thefts, hijackings and other related violent crimes.”
“The Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force (ISATT) would like to thank Secretary Giannoulias for his unwavering support in the fight against vehicular hijacking, catalytic converter theft, and vehicle theft,”
said Illinois Secretary of State Police Lieutenant and Director of ISATT Adam Broshous. “His support has aided in the recovery of thousands of stolen vehicles and the prevented theft of untold thousands more. As vehicle crimes are often associated with violent crimes, these grants are making an impact on keeping our communities safer.”
The Expressway Safety Enforcement Group (ESEG) also received a grant for $676,978.
Law enforcement agencies can use the awards for salaries and benefits for personnel assigned to vehicle theft prevention units, vehicles, computers, vehicle tracking devices, GPS
Court grants state’s motion to detain pre-trial
Chicago teenager charged with Elmhurst armed robbery
Villa Park, Addison, Oakbrook Terrace police provide assistance
Bennie Gates
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean announced on Sunday that Judge Jeffrey MacKay granted the state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Chicago teenager accused of robbing a man at gunpoint outside an Elmhurst apartment complex.
Bennie Gates, 19, appeared in court on Sunday and was charged with one count of armed robbery with a firearm, a Class X felony.
On Friday, July 5, at approximately 7:09 a.m., Elmhurst officers on patrol in the area of Berkley Avenue and St. Charles Road were flagged down by an individual who told the officers he had just been robbed by a man with a gun. The suspect was later identified as Gates. Through the course of their investigation into the matter, officers learned that the victim had offered Gates a ride to Elmhurst for $40 after picking him up from the Greyhound bus station in Chicago.
It is alleged that when the victim dropped Gates off at the Elmhurst Terrace Apartments, Gates exited the vehicle, walked around to the driver’s side, pulled out a handgun from
his waist band and told the victim, “You didn’t know I had a gun did you?” It is alleged that he demanded his fare back from the victim and instructed the victim to get his suitcase from the trunk, which he did.
It is further alleged that Gates then left the area, walking east on Fellows Court. Several hours later, while surveilling an apartment where police believed Gates was inside, an Elmhurst detective observed an Uber arrive at the apartment and what appeared to be a female with long hair in a bomber jacket and a beanie allegedly exit the apartment and get in the Uber.
The detective followed the Uber and effected a traffic stop. Upon making contact with the passenger, the detective identified him as a male wearing a wig. It is alleged that the male, later identified as Gates, ran from the detective, crossing six lanes of traffic. Using a helicopter, K-9 officers and drones, authorities located and apprehended Gates hiding in a nearby detached garage.
“It is alleged that Mr. Gates robbed at gunpoint an innocent man who had just given him a ride back from Chicago,” Berlin said. “It is further alleged that once Mr. Gates became aware that law enforcement was looking for him, he attempted to flee the scene in an Uber while disguised as a woman. Thanks to the
vigilance and outstanding, heads-up work of the Elmhurst Police Department, Mr. Gates’ attempt to disguise himself as a woman did not fool anyone. Thankfully, the victim in this case was not injured.
“I thank the Chicago Police Department for helicopter air support, the Elmhurst Police Department for drone air support as well as the Bloomingdale Police Department, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and the West Chicago Police Department for K-9 support. I also thank
the Villa Park, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace and Addison Police Department for their assistance. The collaborative work of these law enforcement agencies sends the message that in DuPage County we will use every tool available to us to ensure public safety.”
“This arrest is a testament to the diligence of our police officers, who work tirelessly to protect the community,” McLean said. “The fact this individual remained in hiding for approximately ten hours while
detectives maintained watch over the search area demonstrates their unwavering commitment to safeguard Elmhurst from dangerous criminal activity. Thank you to the officers involved in this case for their vigilance and our partners in the community who notified police when they saw suspicious activity in their neighborhood.”
Gates’ next court appearance is scheduled July 29 for arraignment in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
First mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus in DuPage County
The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) has confirmed the first mosquito batches to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV) this year in DuPage County.
The first WNV-positive pools of mosquitoes were collected in Bartlett on June 18 and then in Wood Dale on June 27. Now that WNV-positive mosquitos have been identified for the first time this season, county health officials encourage residents to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites and the risk of contracting WNV.
This year, there have been no reported human cases of WNV in DuPage County to date. However, the identification of positive mosquito pools is associated with an increased risk of WNV in people.
To fight the bite this summer, practice the “4 Ds of Defense”:
• Drain: Drain those items that collect standing water around your home, yard, or business. Scrub and refill pet water dishes and birdbaths regularly.
• Defend: Use an insect repellent containing DEET when outdoors and reapply according to directions.
• Dress: Wear long pants, long sleeves, and closedtoe shoes to cover the skin when outside.
• Dusk to dawn: Wear EPA-registered insect repellent outdoors during these prime times for mosquito activity.
DCHD’s Personal Protection Index (PPI) provides residents with a real-time snapshot of WNV activity in the county, which ranges from zero to three, zero meaning there is no risk, and three announcing a high level of risk with multiple confirmed human cases of WNV.
DCHD recently announced the PPI is moving from risk level zero to risk level one—Drain and Defend. The Health Department monitors WNV activity by collecting and testing mosquitoes in traps located throughout the county. The PPI widget is updated by 3 p.m. each Wednesday throughout the WNV season.
Bensenville Park District at LibertyFest on 4th of July
• Grants
(Continued from front page)
be resold or recover vehicles fraudulently sold.
Grant funding has also been used to expand operations to address cargo theft, where vehicles such as semitrucks are stolen for their goods.
One task force recovered a stolen trailer containing medical supplies. The council’s prevention efforts
have more than halved annual theft rates since 1991 from more than 75,000 stolen vehicles to less than 30,000 in 2021. While crime rates have surged in recent years due to economic disruption caused by the pandemic, the rates are still nowhere near what they were when the council was created.
In 2022, the most recent vehicle theft data, there were 38,649 thefts statewide, an increase of more than 10,000 cases compared to the year prior. More than 22,000 of the thefts occurred in Chicago that year, where thefts doubled compared to 2021. From 2019 to 2022, the Council issued $24 million in grants and re-
covered $92 million worth of stolen vehicles, meaning the return on investment for stolen vehicle recovery is $4 for every $1 spent on grant funding.
The 11 members of the council are dedicated to finding the best strategies to prevent carjackings, vehicle theft and recyclable metal theft.
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Opinion
Slices of life Young on the inside
A very good friend shared a written message regarding thoughts on aging with me. It was about growing old, but not feeling like you are growing old. It gave me pause to ponder.
Your hair may be graying. Your skin thins and sags. Laugh lines (aka wrinkles) provide evidence of the happiness you’ve experienced. Medical issues may be more prevalent and demand more of your attention than in the past.
All around you, your body shows obvious signs of aging, but inside you’re still the same you— youthful and young.
Isn’t that the truth?
We all grow old, on the outside; but don’t we feel young on the inside?
I know I do.
Do we ever change from that young, energetic spirit that once embodied our bodies into the old, wrinkled self that our bathroom mirror now houses?
I know I don’t want to—or plan to.
Time changes our physical beings. But it doesn’t change all the rest: our character, our sense of humor, our wisdom, our knowledge, our sense of adventure, our free spirit, our sassiness, our love for life, our soul.
We are so much more than the skin on our bones. We are so much more than the cells that make up our bodies. We are so much more than wrinkles and gray hair, sagging jowls and sagging—well, I won’t go there.
Would’t it be cool if there were a mirror that could see us from the inside, as we see ourselves? As we truly feel? As we truly are?
Sigh. There are no magic mirrors.
Our eyes, and our mirrors, are constrained to the visual rules of Mother Earth’s three-or-so dimensions. It’s only when we leapfrog over these facts that we see things not as they physically are, but as they truly are.
All too often, that knowledge comes with the lessons of time. And by the time we learn this, youth has often been spent.
It’s at this point, you look in the mirror and realize the only one who sees who you really are— still—is you, and perhaps (if you are lucky) those who have watched the calendar turn, year after year, with you, alongside you.
Those who have known you
By JILL PERTLER Columnist
– inside and out – for decades. Since band class in junior high. Since sophomore year in high school. Since then, whenever that was, when youth was easy and undeniable and under-appreciated and so very there for the taking.
But then, like sands through the hourglass …
Youth fades. Along the way— through the days and months and years and decades—it gives way to time and time creates not only wrinkled skin but the cloak of invisibility. It comes upon us gradually—much like age is said to creep up on us.
In our culture, youth is shiny and bright and very visible. Aging is not. So as the calendar turns over each year and our age number increases by one, we become less youthful and a little less visible to those who merely see what is in front of them.
We don the cloak of invisibility. But perhaps invisibility isn’t so bad. Perhaps it is even under-rated. Perhaps it can be your secret. Our secret.
Because in the end, it doesn’t really matter what the mirror reflects back upon you. It doesn’t matter what other people see, or think they see when they meet you face to face.
Because you know. You. Know.
Age is a gift, and in such, this is written in truth. In some regards, increasing age brings with it decreasing visibility within the norms of this physical world. But that is okay.
It is more than okay.
The beauty of youth gives way to the beauty of age. And if you learn to see that, really see that, you are truly bestowed.
Growing old is inevitable. Becoming old is a choice.
What you see in the mirror is your decision—at any age.
And that, my friends, is truly magic.
Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.
After 9
months, state
data begins to detail new pretrial detention system
But
researchers say despite new 75-county data trove, it’s still too early to judge bail reform law
By Jerry Nowicki CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
Nine months after cash bail ended in Illinois, the state is taking its first steps in publishing the data that crafters of the bail reform law saw as essential to judging its effectiveness.
The data shows that judges in the 75 counties served by the Illinois Supreme Court’s Office of Statewide Pretrial Services had collectively issued failure-to-appear warrants in just 5 percent of more than 28,000 court dates as of Friday. Judges had approved about 63 percent of petitions to detain a defendant pretrial that were sent to them by prosecutors.
The OSPS, launched in 2021 to provide things like pretrial safety assessments and electronic monitoring for 75 of Illinois’ 102 counties, published the data in a new dashboard this week. It represents a key – but still early and incomplete – step in tracking Illinois’ progress as the first state to fully end cash bail through a wide-ranging criminal justice reform known as the SAFE-T Act.
Some state’s attorneys, sheriffs and other law enforcement organizations were staunchly and publicly opposed to the law when it passed – launching several lawsuits that ultimately delayed cash bail’s elimination by nine months. But retired Cook County Judge Cara
Smith, who now leads the OSPS, said she believes the data shows everyone is taking their responsibilities under the SAFE-T Act “very seriously.”
“I think judges and the other stakeholders—everyone, regardless of what their position might have been on the policy behind the SAFE-T Act—that everyone’s doing their job,” she told Capitol News Illinois.
For David Olson, co-director of the Loyola University of Chicago’s Center for Criminal Justice, or CCJ, the data demonstrates the complexities of tracking a reform as large as the SAFE-T Act in a state as geographically diverse as Illinois.
“Everyone wants to know: ‘How’s it going in Illinois?’” Olson said in an interview. “Well, which of the 102 Illinois(es) do you want to hear about? There’s 102 counties, and every one’s a little bit different.”
New pretrial detention system
The SAFE-T Act included a provision known as the Pretrial Fairness Act that ended the use of cash bail in Illinois, meaning a person cannot be jailed while awaiting trial simply because they can’t afford a dollar amount assigned by a judge. After litigation forced a delay in implementing the PFA, cash bail was officially eliminated on Sept. 18, 2023.
It created a replacement system in which prosecutors can petition judges to detain an individual based on the seriousness of the alleged crime and the defendant’s dangerousness or risk of fleeing prosecution. Before a judge can order detention, the state must prove “by clear and convincing evidence” that the defendant committed the crime, poses a specific threat to a person or the community and that no other pretrial conditions can mitigate the defendant’s risk.
The law also gives defendants a right to legal representation at their first court hearing, with the intention of making hearings more deliberative when an individual’s freedom is at stake as they await a full trial.
OSPS had completed more than 16,600 pretrial investigations since cash bail ended as of Friday, with just over 10,200 of them for defendants accused of a felony. As part of those investigations, the OSPS provides individual reports about a defendant to judges, public defenders and prosecutors prior to a first appearance in court.
The investigations usually include an interview with the defendant, a detailed criminal history, employment information and more.
The data showed that about 52 percent of cases that were subject to an
See DETENTION, Page 10
Casten statement on SCOTUS Trump immunity decision
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of the 6th Congressional District, which includes parts of Lombard, has released the following statement on the July 1 Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. United States:
“Today’s decision from the Supreme Court makes a mockery of our Constitutional promise of equal treatment under the rule of law. The court today protected the rights of the powerful at the expense of the powerless. They said affirmative-
ly that the President of the United States is above the law provided that they, in their infinite wisdom, determine the President’s actions to be ‘official’.
“Our founders designed a government with three co-equal branches to act as checks on one another. While they may not have contemplated a Court that would act so brazenly to seize power from the other branches, they did give the other branches the ability to check the Court’s excesses.
“Specifically, Article III Section 2 provides Congress with the authority to limit the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction. I have introduced H.R. 642, the Restoring Judicial Separation of Powers Act, to exercise that authority and bring this out-of-control Court to heel. The times call for us to exercise all of our legitimate power to protect our democracy from these reactionary justices. To that end, I call on the Congress to swiftly consider this legislation”
Hey Lombard. I know the last police dog retired. Are we getting a new police dog? Thank you.
Editor’s note: The following is a response from the Village of Lombard: “The Lombard Police Department currently has no plans to acquire a new K9 and is evaluating the future direction of its Police Canine program. However, through the mutual aid program, Lombard Police have access to K9 units from other law enforcement agencies. This collaboration ensures that the benefits of K9 services, such as search and rescue, drug detection and suspect apprehension, are continuously available to our community whenever necessary.”
Maybe I missed it, but did they have tours for all that new construction that they did over at the Village of Lombard Public Works in the garage and whatever all that stuff is? I must have missed it. Is that available so the taxpayers can see what’s going on over there?
Editor’s note: Your inquiry was forwarded to the Village of Lombard for a response, which is as follows: “The village of Lombard recently completed an expansion of the Fleet Facility, a project that has been in the planning stages for nearly 20 years. Several studies were conducted to determine the necessary scope and scale of the improvements.
“This expansion was necessary to properly maintain the village’s fleet of over 150 vehicles and equipment, including Fire and Public Works vehicles. Previously, these vehicles had to be serviced outdoors in all weather conditions due to space constraints.
“While public tours of the facility are not currently offered as it is a fully operational site, interested residents are invited to participate
in the Public Works Citizens Academy. This program, which runs annually from mid-April to mid-May, includes a tour of the Fleet Facility as part of its four-week sessions.
“For more information on how to join the Public Works Citizens Academy and get an inside look at Public Works operations, please visit the village website at www.villageoflombard.org/pwca or contact the Public Works Department at (630) 620-5740.”
* * *
I was struck by the last comment on a recent Speak Out about looking at Trump’s results and forgetting his personality. You are very naive or looking at the USA with tunnel vision. Can you say, at a minimum that he is not immoral and divisive? Is this the kind of country you have always lived in and want your grandkids to learn how to be? I don’t think he’s a good example of democracy and its original intent. God bless you and God Bless America.
* * *
I received the weekly “Village of Lombard Update” email from the village. A notice from the fire department about the dangers of injury from fireworks. Thank you. Why no notice from the police department that fireworks are illegal and you are subject to arrest for possession or use of fireworks? Why is that allowed?
* * *
Just as summer—and vacation time—rolls around, the gas tax goes up again. Only 2 cents a gallon, you say, but a few years ago it was closer to 19 cents a gallon, and we are the second highest of all state gas taxes, behind California. These local, county and state taxes just creep up on us, as do the prices everywhere. I just paid 40 cents more for a head of lettuce that was half the size they used to be! Pay attention to the prices on things and compare to the weight; it’s called “shrinkflation,” and
How Speak Out works
• Speak Out is a forum in which readers can express their opinion anonymously concerning local, state, national and international topics. Each call is limited to 200 words whether the caller calls 630-629TALK or emails their opinion to speakout@rvpublishing.com.
• The views expressed by callers are their own.
• All calls are checked by four editors. If a consensus of editors believes a particular call is deemed to be in poor taste, erroneous, inaccurate, libelous, doesn’t make sense, or if claims stated in a call cannot be verified, the call will not be published.
• With regard to calls of a political nature, it is not possible to have an equal balance of calls with liberal and conservative viewpoints during any given week. The editors of Speak Out don’t have control of who calls in, what their political leanings happen to be, and the topic(s) they want to discuss.
• If you have further questions about Speak Out, email: news1@ rvpublishing.com.
these food companies think we won’t notice? Even at one fast food place, I only get eight chicken fries instead of nine in the combo. Not knowing that, I told the cashier I was missing one, only to be told they only serve eight now! Sneaky. We need to pay attention and speak up or the companies will keep treating us like lemmings. And, those in the state and county who vote to raise taxes (Democrats) will never get my vote.
* * *
Northwest Lombard calling. We sure had our own fireworks show here on July 4, some just colorful and not too loud, but others seemed to shake my bones. I was grateful these celebrations stopped by midnight or so. I was told that the police wouldn’t be able to handle all the complaints, but where I live, they could have made a small fortune writing tickets within a few-block radius. As fun as it is to watch, it is still illegal, not to mention I live near a lot of trees and houses close together, so I was just praying that something didn’t catch on fire. And for those who don’t care about pets and veterans with all the noise, the other thing medical experts warned about was the pollution from fireworks. There was a very observable haze over my block that lasted a long time, so maybe consider how fireworks affect people with breathing problems.
* * *
To those of you who foolishly believe liberal media outlets, wake up! Do you think these media propagandists actually thought that Biden was sharp and in control until they watched the debate? No. They knew he was feeble and confused. They were lying to you. A week before the debate, outlets like the Associated Press and CBS
News were pushing stories about socalled “misleading” videos that made Biden look bad. They were lying to you then. Now that millions of people have watched the latest debate, they can’t keep pushing the lie that Biden is in charge.
* * *
Biden went into seclusion for a week to prepare for that debate performance? What a joke. Biden and his handlers have done such a terrible job that Trump now looks reasonable. I assume Joe will exit the White House when his term ends. But will it take some police officers and/or troops to escort Dr. Jill from the scene?
* * *
To all my neighbors who felt the need to break the law and shoot off fireworks on July 4, thank you. Thank you for being rude, disrespectful, noisy, ignorant and thoughtless of others with your behavior. It’s a shame we have to put up with thoughtless neighbors who do this every single year. I, for one, am very tired of it. Maybe someday the police will go out and ticket every violator. In the meantime we have to put up with the obnoxious neighbors and their illegal activities.
* * *
The Democratic Party establishment has been manipulated so much by the far left and non-American influences. It is out of control. Why are we endorsing Biden for another term when he has to prepare 10 days for a 90-minute debate with the Republicans? America obviously is not making a good impression on other country dignitaries who want to take advantage of us. We need to be Americans first and say enough is enough.
* * *
Have you read the Constitution? Do
you know where our country comes from? Have you heard anything on George, Washington? Do you know we should celebrate our independence with fireworks and fanfare? If you haven’t, if you have a pet, you should prepare them for it. We celebrate the birth of our country on July 4th. We celebrate it with fireworks. If you don’t like it, please go somewhere else.
* * *
Hi, I’ve been a Democrat for 60 years, but after watching the debate, I’ve changed. Our wonderful country is going downhill real fast. We were all better off four years ago. Time to wake up, folks. God Bless America. Thanks. * * *
I watched the debate the other night. Folks, we’re in trouble.
* * *
I agree. He (Donald Trump) should step down and allow someone else to run for president: Who wants a convicted liar, felon, sexual assaulter for president?
* * *
The story I saw on the news about Biden and his wife visiting a waffle house after the debate was laughable. She talked to him like he was a 4-yearold. “Joe, you did such a great job! You answered every question. You knew all the facts.” Oh, please. The White House incompetent press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Biden’s willing accomplices in the media have tried to cover for Biden all along and it blew up in their faces during the debate. I lost count how many times top Democrats called for the 25th Amendment to be used to remove Trump. It’s interesting they are now silent when it’s clear to see one of their own isn’t fit to continue as president.
Letter to the editor Blood supplies ‘dangerously low’; donors needed
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations due to a dangerously low blood supply. Certain blood types have less than a day’s worth of availability, endangering the lives of local patients. Summer donations have plummeted to critical levels, with over 4,963 appointments missed in the past month alone.
All blood types are needed, with O-positive and O-negative being the most in demand. O-positive is the most common blood type, while O-negative blood is the universal type that can be safely received by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown.
“We know summer is a challenging time for blood donation, and we plan for it every year, but what we see today is dire,” said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical
Coming event
Summer
director at Versiti. “Patients’ lives are at risk. If you are healthy and able, we are pleading with you to donate blood this week.”
In addition to unfilled appointments and a rise in cancellations and no-shows, Versiti’s partner hospitals have required a significant volume of blood this past month to support organ transplant procedures and other traumas.
“The demand for blood simply does not match the number of donors coming through our doors,” added Waxman. “While we deeply appreciate our loyal donors who consistently show up, it’s important to recognize that about 3 percent of people who are eligible to donate blood actually do.
If it’s been a while since your last donation or you’re a first-time donor, we are excited to welcome you.”
What happens if blood is not available for patients?
• When the local blood inventory gets as low as it is now, it jeopardizes the health and safety of patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions. In some cases, hospitals are forced to postpone surgeries or delay critical treatments.
• Trauma victims from car accidents or shootings are at the highest risk, as their survival often depends on a healthy blood inventory. If these types of cases occur in the coming days, we might not have the blood needed to keep them alive.
• Patients undergoing organ transplants and battling cancer, and even mothers in labor, could face treatment delays or complications due to a limited blood supply.
Robert
Rosa Account Representative Versiti Blood Center of Illinois
passports for parks, forest preserves
State Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-Lombard) invites residents of District 42 to explore more of the district’s parks and forest preserves with her new District 42 Summer Parks Passport. Costa Howard and her staff will be handing out printed copies of the District 42 Sum-
mer Parks Passports at public events throughout the summer. The passport also is available on Costa Howard’s website, www.reptch42.com, for residents to download and print out at home.
Costa Howard encouraged passport users to share photos from their
park visits on social media, using the hashtag #RepTCH42Passport. To download the District 42 Summer Parks Passport, just click here. For more information, please contact Rep. Costa Howard’s district office at 630-812-9292 or email RepTCH42@gmail.com.
Demolition has begun
The Village of Lombard, which purchased the former Sid Harvey property at 641 N. Main St. in 2020, is demolishing the building to construct an above-ground, grass-bottom basin that will provide an additional 8.6-acre feet of stormwater storage, “in order to address street flooding and private property flooding,” according to Public Works Director Carl Goldsmith. The director said the stormwater detention will benefit roughly 111 acres bounded by North Avenue, Grace Street, Pleasant Lane and Ridge Avenue. The project also includes an agreement with the Lombard Park District to build three pickleball courts and a walking path around the basin.
Virtual presentation of ‘Rushing West: A history of the 1849 California Gold Rush’ to be held July 20
The Lombard Historical Society (LHS) will present “Rushing West: A History of the 1849 California Gold Rush” virtually at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 10. Dr. Benjamin Mountford of Australian Catholic University and Dr. Stephen Tuffnell of Oxford University will present on the historic importance of the 1849 California Gold Rush. For more information about this event, or the Lombard Historical Society, visit lombardhistory.org, email info@lombardhistory.org, or phone 630-629-1885. The siren call of gold in the hills of California sent tens of thousands rushing westward to make their fortunes, including Charles Peck, the son of local painter, Sheldon Peck. Dr. Benjamin Mountford of Australian Catholic University and Dr. Stephen Tuffnell of Oxford University together authored A Global History of Gold Rushes. In their virtual talk they will discuss the history and farreaching global impact of the 1849 California Gold rush. This program is presented in conjunction with the newest LHS exhibition highlighting Charles Peck’s experience moving westward which will be opening later this summer. Participants can register for the program at LombardHistory.org. The zoom link will be sent out one day before the presentation.
Lombard Brew Fest takes place July 20
Lombard Junior Women’s Club hosting event
The Lombard Junior Women’s Club will host the Lombard Brew Fest from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
The event will take place on Parkside Avenue between Lilacia Park and the Metra station.
The fest plans to feature a wide variety of special beers, ciders, and hard seltzers from the Chicagoland area, as well as around the Midwest. Many of the breweries participating are located within a 10-mile radius of Lombard.
Each ticket includes 20 3-ounce samples and a souvenir tasting glass. A VIP ticket is available which includes one hour of early access to the festival, a VIP Lounge, and a 16-ounce souvenir glass.
In addition to delicious brews from around the area, attendees will enjoy live music from The Socially Acceptable Band. Based in Chicago, this five-piece band plays both original music and popular cover songs. It’s not uncommon for a TSAB set to cover 6 decades and 10-plus genres in a single show.
Food trucks will also be on hand to serve up food throughout the afternoon. Rosemary & Jeans, Billy Brick’s Wood Fired Pizza, Yum Dum Truck, and Pariente Mix are just a few of the trucks that will be serving food to hungry guests.
A selection of yard games will be available in the picnic area for those hoping to stay active while indulg-
ing.
This event would not be possible without the support from sponsors, including BARREL Sponsors JT’s Porch & Eatery, Kelly Stetler|Compass Realty, Waste Management, Rebel Kitchen + Bar and the Village of Lombard. A full list of sponsors can be found on the village website. The Lombard Junior Women’s Club (LJWC) hosts fundraisers throughout the year to raise money to be donated back into the Lombard community and surrounding areas. Past fundraisers have included a Bunco Night, Egg My Yard, and their Cocktails & Candy Canes Pub Crawl.
Last year, the LJWC raised over $30,000 to support local nonprofits like the Outreach House, Reclaim 13, the Lombard Baseball League, the Lombard/Villa Park Food Pantry, and the Tri-Town YMCA, to name a few.
In addition to supporting other local non-profits, the LJWC sponsors the Lilac Princess Program and TLC Camp, a weeklong summer camp for children with cancer and a sibling. The Lombard Brew Fest will serve as the LJWC’s largest fundraiser this year. It hopes to surpass the $30,000 raised in 2023. Volunteers are still needed and tickets are on sale now. More information can be found online at www. lombardbrewfest.com.
submitted photo Rock Valley Publishing
A wide variety of special beers, ciders and hard seltzers from the Chicagoland area and the Midwest will be available for those participating in the Lombard Brew Fest from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, July 20. The event will be hosted by the Lombard Junior Women’s Club.
Dr. Benjamin Mountford
Dr. Stephen Tuffnell
Jane Charmelo photos Rock Valley Publishing
U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban, for now
One
justice says he hopes high court will hear the matter once lower
courts issue decisions
By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
The U.S. Supreme Court announced last week it will not immediately review Illinois’ assault weapons ban, leaving the law in place at least until challenges to the law have been fully heard in lower courts.
The announcement came just two days before the two-year anniversary of a mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park that left seven people dead and dozens more injured or traumatized.
That shooting served as the impetus for state lawmakers to pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which bans the sale and possession of a long list of semi-automatic rifles and handguns as well as various kinds of attachments and large-capacity magazines.
“I applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for allowing Illinois’ common-sense gun reform to continue,” state Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, the law’s chief sponsor in the House, said in a statement. “Every day that assault weapons and high capacity magazines are banned in Illinois represents fewer gun deaths and reduced gun violence.”
The court’s announcement came in a batch of orders issued July 2, one day after the court released the final opinions from its 2023-2024 session. Most of the orders dealt with petitions for cases to be heard when the court’s next session begins in October.
Usually, the court issues only a one-sentence order either granting or denying a petition to review a case, known as a writ of certiorari. Occasionally, though, one or more of the justices will attach a statement explaining their reason for the decision.
Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the court’s most conservative justices, issued such a statement, noting the court is often “wary” about taking up “interlocutory” appeals— that is, appeals of decisions made during the course of a proceeding, before a final verdict is reached.
“These cases arise from a preliminary injunction, and the Seventh Circuit stressed that its merits analysis was merely ‘a preliminary look at the subject,’” Thomas wrote, referring to a November decision by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
“But if the Seventh Circuit ultimately allows Illinois to ban America’s most common civilian rifle, we can – and should – review that decision once the cases reach a final judgement.”
State lawmakers passed the ban during a lame duck session in January 2023. Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law just hours after its final pas-
sage in the House, making Illinois the ninth state at that time, along with Washington, D.C., to enact such a ban. The state of Washington passed a similar law a few months later.
The legal challenges to Illinois’ law moved swiftly through federal courts, putting those cases in a position to be taken up by the Supreme Court ahead of challenges in some other states.
In April, a judge in the Southern District of Illinois granted a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of the law while it was being challenged, saying it would likely be found unconstitutional. But in separate cases in the Northern District of Illinois, two other judges came to the opposite conclusion and declined to grant injunctions.
Those cases were eventually consolidated in an appeal to the Seventh Circuit, which lifted the Southern District injunction and allowed the law to remain pending a final resolution.
But the movement in Illinois and other states to ban the types of weapons used in numerous mass shootings came around the same time the new conservative majority on the Supreme Court was developing new legal standards for judging gun control measures.
In 2008, the court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess ordinary types of weapons that are commonly used for lawful purposes. But it also noted there is a “historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons.”
Then in June 2022, less than two weeks before the Highland Park mass shooting, the court ruled in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen that to justify restrictions on someone’s right to keep and bear arms, the government must demonstrate the regulations
are “consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”
That opinion, written by Thomas, has been criticized as unworkable because of its reliance on practices that were in place at the time of the Constitution’s founding, long before the invention of many weapons in use today.
In his statement July 2, Thomas acknowledged that the court so far has provided little guidance about which weapons are protected by the Second Amendment and which ones are not. But he also accused the Seventh Circuit of being “nonsensical” in concluding that the weapons banned under the Illinois law were “militaristic” in nature and therefore not protected by the Second Amendment.
“The Seventh Circuit’s contrived ‘non-militaristic’ limitation on the Arms protected by the Second Amendment seems unmoored from both text and history,” he wrote.
Hannah Hill, executive director of the National Association for Gun Rights, a lead plaintiff in one of the Illinois cases and in cases in other states, said she was confident the bans will eventually be overturned.
“This is not a loss, it’s simply a procedural setback,” she said.
“And we have every confidence that the Supreme Court is going to strike down an assault weapons ban, as soon as the right vehicle gets brought to them.”
But Yolanda Androzzo, executive director of One Aim Illinois, a leading gun control advocacy group, said in a separate interview that the battle is far from over.
“The decision indicates that the battle over this legislation will continue in lower courts,” she said.
“One Aim Illinois remains committed to supporting this legislation and will continue to advocate for its upholding in district courts.”
A spokesman for Pritzker, mean-
while, defended the law, saying in a statement that it makes Illinois a safer place.
“Despite those who value weapons of war more than the safety of their constituents, this law remains in effect and will continue to protect Illinoisans from the constant fear of being gunned down in a place of worship, at a parade, or on a street corner,” spokesperson Alex Gough said.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement his office would continue to defend the law’s consti-
tutionality when the cases are returned to lower courts.
“Assault weapons were designed for military use, and Illinois residents can be assured the Protect Illinois Communities Act will help prevent these weapons of war from being used to cause devastation in our schools, places of worship and recreation spaces,” he said. “The law is an important part of what must be a multifaceted approach to addressing gun violence, and I am pleased it remains in effect in Illinois.”
Carol Stream man charged in shooting following road rage altercation
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Carol Stream Chief of Police Don Cummings have announced that Judge Susan Alvarado has granted the state’s motion to detain pre-trial a Carol Stream man accused of shooting another man following a road rage altercation.
Carlos Sanchez, 26, appeared in First Appearance Court and is charged with one count of aggravated battery—discharge of a firearm (Class X felony) and one count of misdemeanor endangering the health or life of a child.
On Thursday, June 27 at approximately 8:15 p.m., Carol Stream patrol units responded to Lowes Home Improvement, located in the 400 block of W. Army Trail Road, for a report of a person with a gun and a male on the ground.
Police Reports
Area Police Departments recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons who are charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the victim’s privacy. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not named.
Addison
June 25
Kevin Escobar Caviedes, 29, of La Grange, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia near Lake and Route 83 at 9:33 p.m.
Adam R. Grow, 33, of Addison, was charged with resisting/obstructing a police officer at 5:25 p.m.
June 24
Timothy J. Henson, 40, of Hanover Park, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia near Lake and Lincoln at 7:25 p.m.
Andre Jones Junior, 26, of Hillside, was charged with aggravated DUI/great bodily harm, failure to reduce speed and two counts of DUI at 3:50 p.m.
Roselyn Mancilla Garcia, 19, Jocellyn J. Manzilla, 24, And Damian Manzilla, 22, all of Addsion, were charged with battery.
Jose Enrique Martinez, 27, of Itasca, was charged with illegal possession/transportation of liquor, no insurance and two counts of DUI in the 700 block of Winthorp at 6:06 a.m.
John B. Mulhall, 32, of Northbrook, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of cannabis in a vehicle by the driver, and no seat belt for a child near Lake and Lincoln at 7:23 p.m.
Erick Ramirez Nino, 30, of Villa Park, was charged with improper lane usage, no insurance and two
Upon their arrival, officers located a male on the ground suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his leg.
The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital for medical attention and is in stable condition.
Following an investigation into the shooting, it is alleged that Sanchez and the victim got into a road rage incident near Army Trail Road and Kuhn Road.
It is alleged that when the victim entered the Lowes parking lot, Sanchez followed him. It is further alleged that both individuals exited their car and following a verbal and physical altercation, Sanchez pulled out a gun and shot the victim in his leg.
It is alleged that on at least two occasions Sanchez told the victim, “I’m going to shoot you.” It is alleged that following the shooting Sanchez fled the scene. It is further alleged that Sanchez’s 6-year-old son was in the car with him at the time. Carol Stream police took Sanchez into custody a short time later from his home without incident.
“It is alleged that following a road rage incident, Carlos Sanchez followed his victim into a parking lot and after a brief verbal and physical altercation, pulled out a gun and shot his victim in the leg,” Berlin said. “This complete disregard for public safety will not be tolerated. I urge anyone who may find themself involved in a road rage incident to take a deep breath and do not let your emotions get the best of you. Road rage incidents can escalate quickly and lead to violence, as alleged in this case.
Thankfully, the victim in this case does not appear to have sustained life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover. I also find it particularly disturbing that Sanchez’s 6-year-old son was allegedly with him the entire time to witness not only a road rage altercation but also this alleged shooting.”
Sanchez’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 20 in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
Leading nonprofits join Albertsons Foundation to tackle summer hunger
The Albertsons Companies Foundation on June 12 announced the launch of a new collective effort focused on addressing childhood hunger this summer.
By bringing together a coalition of leading nonprofit organizations, the first-of-its-kind initiative aims to drive awareness and boost participation in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children Program (Summer EBT), also known as SUN Bucks.
“Childhood hunger is a complex problem that requires partners from across the food system to come together and collaborate,” said Christy Duncan Anderson, president and executive director of Albertsons Companies Foundation. “Through the collective knowledge, expertise and extensive network of prominent nonprofits and the Albertsons Companies Foundation, we aim to connect with a greater number of families than we could individually.”
For the millions of kids who rely on free or reduced-priced meals at school, summer can mean a lack of access to nutritious food. To help combat this, the USDA has launched Summer EBT, a new program available in 37 states, all five U.S. territories, and two tribes. The program will provide grocery benefits to low-income families with school-aged children during the summer months when school is out. Eligible families in participating states will receive $120 per eligible school-aged child to purchase groceries.
counts of DUI near Addison and North at 1:14 a.m.
June 23
Alejandro Galvez, 21, of Addison, was charged with DUI, stop/yield sign violation and no insurance in the 500 block of E. Lake at 2:57 a.m.
Kevin Giannosa, 32, of Addison, was charged with DUI and improper lane usage in the 200 block of E. Normandy at 12:45 a.m.
June 22
Leodegario J. Aguilera, 20, of Hanover Park, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/ vehicle and improper lane usage near Lake and Swift at 12:19 a.m.
June 21
Johnatan Landeta, 42, of Hollywood, Fla., was charged with endangering the life of a child, child restraint violation and two counts of DUI near Mill and Natelie at 12:19 a.m.
Sanjay R. Patel, 43, of Addison, was charged with two counts of DUI at 6:05 p.m.
Bensenville
July 2
At 11:27 a.m. in the 500 block of E. Pine Ave., a complainant reported an unknown suspect used a fraudulent check to withdraw $100 from the business.
July 1
At 1:24 a.m. in the 300 block of W. Irving Park Road., Alyssa N. Luciw, 22, of Wood Dale, was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident to police authorities by driver and resisting or obstructing a police officer during the incident.
June 30
At 10:50 p.m. near W. Irving Park Road, and N. Franzen St., Ruben C. Sanchez Beltran, 33, of Addison,
was arrested for no valid driver’s license, failure to appear warrant out of DuPage County and other traffic violations.
June 29
At 12:59 a.m. near E. Irving Park Road, and N. York Road, Marco Antonio Salas-Torres, 37, of Nor-ridge, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
At 9:04 p.m. in the 200 block of Rose Street, Antonio Carmona-Rincon, 44, of Bensenville, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol and another traffic violation.
June 28
At 9:44 p.m. in the 1000 block of Entry Drive, Edy Cifuentes-Garcia, 26, of Elmhurst, was arrested on three local ordinance violations: resisting/obstructing officers, battery and intoxication in public.
At 11:18 p.m. in the 400 block of Supreme Drive, a complainant reported four of his tires were punctured while he was working by unknown suspect. This incident is under investigation.
At 4:39 p.m. in the 300 block of S. Walnut St., a complainant reported a former tenant gained access to his driver’s license and created a fictitious one. This incident is under investigation.
June 27
At 6:06 p.m. in the 1000 block of N. Route 83, a complainant reported an unknown suspect that dam-aged the windshield to their freightliner while they were inside of a gas station.
At11:44 p.m. near N. Route 83 and W. Hillside Drive, a Bensenville officer conduct-ed a traffic stop which resulted in the driver receiving citations for the following: invalid temporary visitor’s driver’s license, speeding and possession of cannabis by driver.
“We have advocated for the creation of a summer EBT program like SUN Bucks for more than a decade and we are thrilled that this program will be available to families facing food insecurity this summer,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Working alongside people facing hunger and partners like Albertsons Companies Foundation, we will make a real impact on summer hunger and lay the groundwork for more states to participate next year.”
The Albertsons Companies Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors program together with an Advisory Group of leading players across the food system will work together to ensure as many families as possible benefit from the program in this critical first year.
The Advisory Group is comprised of representatives from Feeding America®, Food Research & Action Center, Gift Card Bank, Hunger Free America, mRelief, No Kid Hungry, Partnership for a Healthier America, and WhyHunger. This group reaches more than 200 foodbanks, 500 school districts and community organizations, and over 1500 partner organizations across the country.
“Summer is the hungriest time of the year for the millions of children who rely on school meals, and the rising costs of groceries means families are feeling the pinch even more,” added Anne Filipic, CEO of Share Our Strength, the organization behind the No Kid Hungry campaign. “We believe that by joining Albertsons Companies Foundation and their partners, together we can get one step closer to ensuring every single child in America has the food they need to grow up healthy and strong.”
Through a surround-sound approach designed to reach parents and caregivers online and in their communities, the initiative aims to ensure families have access to the information they need to learn how they can benefit from this new program.
In addition, the coalition launched a new website, SummerEBT.org, which gives families a simple, fast way to check if they are eligible and connect to their state sign-up site. For families that live in states that are not participating, the site directs them to other food resources, such as the USDA Summer Meals program, and enables them write to their elected representatives encouraging their state’s participation next summer.
Villa Park teenager arrested for sexual exploitation of a minor
Police in Hendersonville, Tennessee, recently initiated an investigation of Matthew Moklak, 19, from Villa Park, for sexual exploitation of a minor.
The investigation led to the arrest of Moklak at his Villa Park home on June 20.
According to the Hendersonville Police Department, the charges against Moklak include 20 counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of solicitation of a minor, and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child.
The U.S. Marshals Service executed the arrest warrants at Moklak’s residence in Villa Park, with the assistance of the Villa Park Police Department. According to a June 26 statement issued by police in Hendersonville, Moklak was being extradited to Sumner County, Tennessee.
Police ask anyone with information on this case to call the Hendersonville Police Department at 615-822-1111 or the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-594-4113. Tips may also be submitted using the P3 Tips Mobile Application.
Carlos Sanchez
Illinois switching to ACT exams for state assessments
High school students to start new exams in spring 2025
By Peter Hancock Capitol News illiNois
When Illinois high school students sit down to take their annual state assessments next year, they will take a different exam than in recent years.
The Illinois State Board of Education recently announced that starting next spring, it will use the ACT exam rather than the SAT.
Both are standardized tests that measure students’ proficiency in core subjects such as English language arts and math. Both are also commonly used for college admissions—although many colleges and universities have stopped requiring them—as well as scholarship applications.
Illinois, however, also uses them as part of the battery of tests schools
Coming events
Versiti/Knights blood drive July 13
The Fr. Boecker Council 6090/ Christ the King Council 10027 Knights will host a Versiti blood drive Saturday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 114 S. Elizabeth St., Lombard. Appointments are appreciated but walkins are welcome. All attempting donors will be entered for a chance to win a grill/accessories. Visit www. versiti.org/IL or call 800-7TO-GIVE to schedule an appointment.
‘Voyage en France’ festival at Cantigny
Next up in Cantigny’s fun-packed summer is Voyage en France, Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Later that day, Rendezvous en France, beginning at 7 p.m. for ages 21+, will extend the celebration deep into the night. Tickets for Voyage en France are on sale at Cantigny.org. Adults are $15 per person, ages 15 and under free. Parking is included in the ticket price. Cantigny is open only to ticket holders on July 20. Park gates open at 10 am.
Genealogy club meets July 22
Genealogy Club | Helen Plum Library will meet July 22 at 7 p.m. Suz Bates presents “Using Genealogy Newsletters for Research.” PERSI and AGBI are two finding aids for location information in newsletters from history centers’ and genealogical societies. Learn how to access these newsletters that include civil
Obituary
ANNETTE HOYT, 87
Annette Hoyt, nee Scala, age 87, resident of Lombard for 64 years.
Funeral Services Tuesday, July 16, 9:30 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church 114 S. Elizabeth St., Lombard. Interment to follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Arrangements by Brust Funeral Home. Info: www.brustfuneralhome. com or 888-629-0094.
administer each year to meet federal mandates under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Results of those tests are reported each year on the Illinois Report Card and are used to hold schools and districts accountable for meeting basic academic standards.
Illinois started using the SAT with Essay as the state assessment for 11th grade students in spring 2017. Two years later, it began using the PSAT 8/9 exam for 9th grade students and the PSAT 10 for high school sophomores.
At the time, according to ISBE, incorporating a college entrance exam into the state’s annual assessment program was considered a bonus because it gave nearly all graduating high school students a reportable score, paid for by the state, which they could then use for college and scholarship applications.
In recent years, though, many colleges and universities stopped requir-
records, family bible pages, tombstones, and more. This program will be in-person and held in the Plum Meeting Rooms (1st floor). Registration required. Visit www.helenplum. org/event/using-genealogy-newsletters-research-56870 to register.
Shredding event in Glendale Heights July 20
State Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton will be partnering with state Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock and the Glendale Heights Police Department for a free Shred Day Event on Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Glendale Heights Civic Center located at 300 E. Fullerton Ave., in Glendale Heights. The event will proceed until noon or whenever the shred truck is full. There is a limit of two boxes of documents per car. Examples of documents with personally identifiable
ing either the SAT or ACT as part of their application and admission processes.
In 2021, Illinois lawmakers passed the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act requiring all public universities and community colleges to adopt a “test-optional” policy for admissions, meaning students could voluntarily choose whether to include them in their application package. But ISBE continued using the tests as part of its federally mandated statewide assessments.
The upcoming switch to the ACT exam came about through ISBE’s routine procurement process. The agency’s contract with the College Board, the nonprofit corporation that operates the SAT, was set to expire on June 30, prompting the agency to open a new bidding process.
The state board agreed to open the bidding process and solicit sealed proposals from testing companies at its regular monthly meeting in Sep-
information that should be safely discarded include bank statements, outdated medical records, tax returns, utility bills, junk mail, credit card applications and receipts. Residents with questions can reach out to Glowiak Hilton’s office at 630-7853177.
Chamber Pop Up Lunch July 12
Pop-Up Lunch – Friday, July 12. Lombard Chamber community, please consider join us for our monthly Pop-Up Lunch at Culver’s for a delicious ButterBurger or maybe their tasty cod dinner. Say “hi” and support member David Koch for some good food, good conversations and pay your own tab convenience.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location - 1155 S. Main St., Lombard. Visit lombardchamber.com to register.
tember 2023. The decision to award a six-year, $53 million contract to ACT was finalized in May.
According to an FAQ document that ISBE has circulated, one of the advantages of switching exams is the ACT includes a science component, whereas the SAT only covered the core subjects of reading, writing and math. That means 11th grade students will no longer have to take a separate Illinois Science Assessment, thereby
‘Saucy
reducing overall testing time. The change also means that students who still want to take the SAT or the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test will have to do so on their own, in addition to the statewide ACT accountability exam.
Local schools and districts will have the option of choosing whether to administer those tests during the school day, but the state will not pay for students to take those tests.
Tales of Little Orphan Annie Pub Crawl’ to be held July 18
The Lombard Historical Society (LHS) is offering another “Saucy Tales of Little Orphan Annie Pub Crawl” that will visit four Lombard establishments between 6 and 10 p.m. Thursday, July 18.
Participants will need tickets in advance and should arrive at the Carriage House at 23 W. Maple St. in Lombard by 5:30 so that groups can leave at 5:45 p.m. Leaders of the tours will not wait for late arrivals.
This is a walking tour with the longest distance between two places being 6/10 of a mile. Free parking is available at the Carriage House. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Bars will serve complementary appetizers, but participants will purchase their own drinks.
Participants must be over age 21. Tickets and more information are available on the website: Lombardhistory.org. For more information about the Lombard Historical Society, visit lombardhistory.org, email
info@lombardhistory.org, or phone 630-629-1885.
Have fun, meet a few new friends, have a drink and snack and see how good you are at remembering all that Lombard history you may have learned over the years. Individuals may compete individually or choose to form a group of up to four people, to combine wits to answer the trivia questions.
Points will be given for each right answer and the three winning groups, or individuals, will win a prize. There will be a special prize awarded at the end of the night for the best Annie themed costume.
The bars include O’Neil’s Pub, Shannon’s, and Rebel Kitchen. All groups will end at Rebel Kitchen where points will be tallied, and the winners will be announced.
All winners will receive a prize in addition to free tickets to the Lombard Historical Society 2023 Food Truck Social on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 4-9 pm.
OSPS pretrial investigation contained at least one offense considered “detainable” under the SAFE-T Act. As of June 28, prosecutors had petitioned the court to detain the defendant in 62 percent of those cases.
The fact that judges approved 63 percent of those petitions, Smith said, was evidence the system was working.
“If we would have seen 99 percent of detention petitions are granted, that would have been a red flag,” Smith said.
Smith also stressed that the statewide data only tells part of the story—county- and circuit-level data is just as important. The various circuit courts within OSPS’ jurisdiction had
detention petition approval rates ranging from 48 percent to 84 percent as of Friday, though Smith pointed out percentages can be misleading, especially in smaller counties with low case volumes.
Four large counties that are not part of the OSPS—Cook, DuPage, Kane and McHenry—report some level of
pretrial detention data individually. Detention petitions as of June 28 were granted at a 38 percent rate in Kane County, 41 percent in DuPage and 40 percent in McHenry Cook County, which has the highest volume of cases of any jurisdiction by far, broke down its data further, reporting that detention was granted for 61 percent of 93 petitions filed for misdemeanor cases as of June 8, 41 percent of 1,485 domestic violence cases, and 70 percent of 2,641 felony cases.
derstanding how certain counties are handling pretrial detention in addition to examining broader trends, Olson said, it further demonstrates the disparities across jurisdictions.
The detainability data specifically applies to individuals who have been subject to an OSPS investigation—and not those whom an officer has simply cited and released.
Worship Services Directory
St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church
547 N. Main St., Lombard, IL 60148 630-627-2435
Sunday Worship at 10:15 am
Lent and Easter Services at 7 p.m.
Sunday School & Bible Study 9 am
“The Crucial Hours”
Wednesday Service at 7 pm
Second Lenten Service March 9, 2022
‘We didn’t see any sort of knee jerk’
Judges as of June 28 had issued failure-to-appear warrants in only 5 percent of 28,416 court dates in the 75 OSPS counties since cash bail was eliminated. But Olson, whose CCJ has been studying pretrial detention since before the SAFE-T Act’s passage, cautioned that those numbers could increase, as failure-to-appear warrants are most accurately accounted for once a case has concluded.
“The (failure to appear) rates will likely increase as more of these cases have more time to have hearings missed,” Olson said.
Olson pointed to one example of how the numbers can be skewed in any individual county based on its practices. He said Loyola CCJ researchers were told by officials in southern Illinois’ Williamson County that all arrestees are held in jail at least overnight prior to appearing before a judge. As a result, the OSPS conducted investigations on all of those individuals, even if their offense was low-level. Thus, only 36 percent of individuals subject to an investigation in that county were detainable, per the dashboard.
In neighboring Franklin County, meanwhile, Olson said officials reported they jail only those individuals they believe are detainable, resulting in 59 percent of investigated cases containing a detainable offense.
Adult Bible Study after Wednesday Service
Rev. David Ernest “Satan Has Asked to Sift All of You” Jerusalem Lutheran, Morton Grove Matthew 27:15-26
Saturday, July 27 Game Night at 4 pm
Everyone is Welcome!
Third Lenten Service March 16, 2022
Rev. Paul Spaude “What to Remember When Your are St. Matthews, Niles Seized with Remorse” Matthew 27:3-4
All services are live streamed. Watch on our website or on Facebook. sainttimothy.org
Fourth Lenten Service March 23, 2022
However, both Smith and Olson also noted the number is likely driven downward by the SAFE-T Act’s instruction to judges not to rely on such warrants as a first remedy for a non-appearance.
“And really, the reason for that is a lot of defendants previously who had warrants issued just, basically, they forgot about court,” Olson said.
There’s also a lot of county-to-county variance on the percentage of detention petitions granted, Olson added.
“And it really illustrates what we suspect is going to happen, and that’s there’s going to be a lot of variation from circuit to circuit and county to county, just based on local practices, priorities, discretion that’s given to prosecutors and who they seek to detain,” he said.
‘So has it increased crime?’
Rev. Jonathan Bergemann “I Will Keep the Passover” Good Shepherd, Downers Grove Matthew 26:18
Fifth Lenten Service March 30, 2022
Rev. Tom Nicholson “They Bound Him” Resurrection, Aurora John 18:12
Sixth Lenten Service April 6, 2022
Rev. Phil Schupmann “The Semblance of Legality” Resurrection, Aurora Luke 22:66
Maundy Thursday Communion 7 p.m., April 14 Good Friday Tenebrae 7 p.m., April 15
Other means of assuring a defendant’s appearance in court, Smith said, include simply sending text message reminders.
“We send about 200 court date text message reminders a day,” she said. “So that has been shown—just like it is when we get a haircut or have a doctor’s appointment—to be an effective way of keeping important appointments at the forefront of people’s minds.”
While both Smith and Olson said the dashboard is just an early step in the data-gathering process, Olson added there’s a lot more information to be gathered in the coming years before the end of cash bail can be fully evaluated.
“I think that the biggest question people are going to want to know is, ‘So has this increased crime?’” he said.
“That’s still too early to know.”
5 p.m. Sundays 8:30 and 11 a.m.
Sunrise 6:30 a.m., April 17
Hour between services at 9:45 a.m.
Breakfast 8 a.m., April 17 Easter Festival 10:15 a.m., April 17
-6700 www.visitationparish.org
Weekend Masses: Saturday: 4 PM (Vigil) Sunday: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 AM and 6 PM
Daily Masses: Monday—Friday: 6:15 and 8:15 AM Saturday: 8:15 AM
Confessions: Saturday: 3-3:45PM
Adoration:
Another major function of the OSPS is to oversee electronic monitoring of individuals subject to home confinement in its 75 counties from a centralized location in Springfield. The OSPS now absorbs the cost of electronic monitoring – which, in many counties, was previously passed on to defendants.
Smith said OSPS has plans to add electronic monitoring data to a future version of its dashboard, and she added the agency has enrolled about 1,100 people in electronic monitoring.
“I was very afraid of an explosion in the use of electronic monitoring after Sept. 18,” Smith said. “We have not seen that. The program has steadily grown, but it’s grown sort of organically … we didn’t see any sort of knee jerk.”
Olson echoed that point, noting that the OSPS made electronic monitoring—and pretrial services in general—available in counties where it was never previously an option. But some counties may be reluctant to order electronic monitoring even though it is free to them, he said, because they’d have to expend potentially sparse personnel resources to enforce it.
‘A lot of variation’ While the OSPS data is useful in un-
Olson added that it’s important to differentiate between longstanding cyclical crime increases—such as more crime occurring in warmer weather—and actual effects of the policy.
He also advised against extrapolating judgments about the system from any single instance of an individual being released from custody and going on to reoffend—because that also happened under cash bail.
“It’s still too early to say empirically, but there will likely be plenty of folks that talk about it anecdotally,” he said of cash bail’s effectiveness.
Olson’s CCJ also noted the law has had its intended effect of adding scrutiny to decisions affecting an individual’s liberty.
Bail hearings generally lasted about 4-6 minutes in four counties observed by the CCJ prior to Pretrial Fairness Act, according to a March CCJ report. After it passed, observed pretrial hearings averaged about 4-7 minutes – except in cases when detention was requested. Those hearings had median lengths of 10-30 minutes, with some lasting nearly an hour.
“That’s actually one of the positive things that we’ve we found is everybody in the courtroom, including the defendant, knows exactly why the judge is reaching the decision,” he said.
Montini
Catholic’s 2024 St.
John Baptist
De La Salle Award recipients recognized
Montini Catholic in Lombard congratulates this year’s St. John Baptist De La Salle Award recipients from its Class of 2024. The awards were announced during Montini’s recent Founder’s Day ceremony. The awards are presented each year to senior students who have demonstrated a spirit of service and dedication to the students, faculty and staff of Montini Catholic. The following gradu -
ates received this year’s awards. Front row, left to right: Riley White, Rory O’Connor, Jaylen Howery, Ella Herrmann (Lombard), Skye Houston, Zander Montgomery (Lombard) and Sam Hemmersmeier. Back row: Trinity Smith, Isabella Gatto, Ruben Galvan (Lombard), Hugh Flannery, Marin Ferris, Colleen Considine and Dominic Catalano (Lombard).
Pritzker signs bill creating new Department of Early Childhood
New agency to bring multiple programs under one roof
By Peter Hancock Capitol News illiNois
Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation June 25 creating a new cabinet-level state agency dedicated to early childhood education and development.
The new Department of Early Childhood, which will become operational in July 2026, will take over programs currently housed across three state agencies, including funding for preschool programs, child care centers and the licensing of day care centers.
Speaking at a bill signing ceremony at a preschool in Chicago, Pritzker said the streamlined agency should make it easier for new parents to access critical services for their children.
“It’s hard enough juggling all the responsibilities that fall on the shoulders of parents,” he said. “And on top of that, they shouldn’t have to navigate a complex bureaucracy to get the care that they and their children deserve.”
Pritzker first unveiled his plan for a consolidated agency last fall, just as lawmakers were beginning their annual fall veto session, when he issued an executive order establishing an Office of Early Childhood within the governor’s office.
That order directed the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, and
the Illinois State Board of Education to begin working on a transition plan to move the administration of their early childhood programs into a new agency.
The formal bid to establish the new agency was part of Pritzker’s budget proposal to the General Assembly in February, along with a second year of increased funding for those programs under Pritzker’s Smart Start initiative.
Under the plan, the new agency will take over the Early Childhood Block Grant program from the State Board of Education, which funds the Preschool for All and Prevention Initiative programs; the Child Care Assistance Program, Home Visiting programs, and Early Intervention Services currently housed in the Department of Human Services; and licensing of day care facilities, which is currently managed by the Department of Children and Family Services.
The legislation authorizing the new agency, Senate Bill 1, passed unanimously in the Senate in April, and last month passed with bipartisan support in the House, 93-18.
“The foundation of a child’s success and well-being is built starting the moment they are born,” Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, the lead Senate sponsor of the bill, said in a state-
ment. “As a state, it is our duty to provide the necessary support and resources to build such stability. The creation of this unique agency will break ground on our transition to a whole, trauma-informed approach to meeting children’s diverse needs.”
Much of the debate over the bill in the legislature focused on the cost of launching a new state agency. Lawmakers appropriated $14 million in the upcoming fiscal year for initial startup costs, which include such things as hiring executive staff and opening new office space.
But administration officials were reluctant to provide estimates of how much the new agency would cost annually once it’s fully operational, and whether those administrative costs would outweigh what the state is spending currently.
Responding to questions from reporters, Pritzker again declined to offer specific cost estimates but suggested consolidating the programs into a single agency could result in efficiencies and cost savings. But he did chide “people who want to complain” about how new state agencies will “cost ... taxpayers.”
“I really don’t think it will,” Pritzker said. “I think there’s real efficiency and taking programs that are desperately located in different departments and bringing them all together.”
submitted photo Rock Valley Publishing
GAME PAGE
Sudoku
Fun by the Numbers
Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
To survive the summer heat, choose plants built for the sizzle
Summer can be a scorcher, but by selecting the right plants, a landscape can still look sultry all summer long.
Both trialed and native plants can tolerate the heat. Trial plants are evaluated throughout the season for heat tolerance and can be planted in the ground or containers.
Growers can learn what worked well and what didn’t based on the previous season through the research of others. Native plants are known to tolerate the heat of Illinois summers. Changes to the seasons as the years go by also influence what can potentially be grown in Illinois, as recently seen with last year’s USDA hardiness zone map update and shift in zones.
Factors impacting plant selection
Some plants may start out spectacular, but fade and whither under the intense heat, so be cautious in site and plant pairing selection. A good resource to check out when selecting plants is the American Horticultural
Guidelines
Society Heat Zone Map. Plants that have similar watering needs will be easier to manage. Irrigation needs will vary as the amount of rainfall fluctuates.
Mulching plants is also an option to conserve moisture, especially when the soil is dry. Mulch must be kept away from the crowns of woody plants. Apply mulch in a 2-inch layer.
Location can influence the temperature in the garden. Areas near hardscapes, such as driveways, are generally warmer, and wind also adds to the dryness of a site. If a location needs alterations, consider adding shade structures to help modify the conditions and assist with plant growth.
Finally, take time to research the requirements and culture of all the plants chosen to grow.
Cultivars to beat the heat this summer
• Verbena “Superbena” Sparkling Amethyst Improved: is an improvement in the number of blooms pres-
ent in summer compared to previous cultivars that tended to melt with the heat.
• Zinnia “Double Zahara Fire” performs best in full sun and thrives in the summer heat.
• Vincas Titan series is outstanding in hot and dry conditions.
• Ornamental onions or the Allium spp. vary in bloom times and height, but the Persian alliums can be showstoppers in the summer with their large heads.
• Arkansas Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) has star-shaped blooms in the summer and an excellent fall color that is well adapted to summer heat and humidity.
• Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii; N. racemosa) is durable in the heat once established and is drought tolerant.
• Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is best planted in the spring once the soils are warm.
• Salvia “May Night” thrives in hot, sunny locations. Plants may rebloom with some encouragement with watering during dry periods.
for writing, submitting a letter to the editor
Rock Valley Publishing encourages our readers to reach out to the community by writing a letter to the editor.
Letters are limited to 400 words. If a letter exceeds 400 words, it will be sent back to the author to reduce the length of the letter. Authors must include their first and last name, the city or village in which they reside, and a phone number and email address where they can be reached in case of questions.
Send letters to: news1@rvpublishing.com
Letter-writers will be limited to one letter per month except for locally elected officials, or individuals specifically associated with local village governments or entities such as school districts, park districts or library districts.
No letters directed to a third party will be accepted for publication.
We reserve the right to edit a letter for reasons of clarity, space restrictions and libel
• Little Blue Stem (Schizachyrium scoparium) “The Blues” is one of the most offered cultivars of this prairie grass that combines well with other plants suited for dry conditions.
• “Autumn Fire” and “Autumn Joy” sedum are wonderful bloomers in the summer that prefer full sun and will survive in partial shade.
• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) “Fireworks” Goldenrod is a flowering plant with yellow blooms that does best with regular moisture.
Andrew Holsinger is a horticulture educator with Illinois Extension, serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin and Montgomery counties. Gardeners Corner is a quarterly newsletter from gardening experts around the state. Each issue highlights best practices that will make your houseplants, landscape, or garden shine in any season. Join the Gardener’s Corner email list at go.illinois.edu/GCsubscribe for direct access to timely tips.
For more information on plants that beat the heat, connect with a local University of Illinois Extension county office at go.illinois.edu/ExtensionOffice.
Meet Diane Kilcommons, Center Director of Huntington of Elmhurst
Huntington Learning Center helps every student become the best academic version of him/ herself. Diane Kilcommons has a master’s degree in education and has taught for 40 years, including home educating her four children. Diane and her husband, Mark, have owned Huntington Learning Center for the past fourteen years. Huntington Learning Center helps children improve their foundational skills in reading, writing, spelling, math, study skills, and phonics. They also help students prepare for college with their individualized ACT/SAT programs. Higher test scores mean more opportunities.
Many students have not become efficient learners due to the challenges they have experienced in their educational journeys. Huntington Learning Center helps every student become the best academic version of him/herself. When our students master skills, the direct result is higher confidence and motivation for learning.
LOSS HUNTINGTON ADVANTAGE!
Besides managing a learning center, Diane was very active in raising her children. Her oldest daughter, Lauren, has a master’s degree from Loyola and is a school psychologist in the Denver public school system. Her second daughter, Julia has a master’s degree in nursing from DePaul and is a nurse practitioner in the western suburbs. Diane‘s youngest, twin sons, Patrick and John were able to benefit greatly by attending Huntington Learning Center themselves. Pat and John graduated from Dartmouth College and are gainfully employed on the West Coast.
Our Huntington Advantage program is tailored to your student’s needs and designed to build their
and motivation. No two programs are alike, but every program is intended to give students an edge—the Huntington Advantage goes beyond the basics to get your student ready
From left to right: Patrick, Lauren, Mark, Diane, Julia, Dan, and John Kilcommons.
FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED BUSINESSES
Honored To Be Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year for 2023
At Alan Energy Services Air Conditioning and Heating Company, we do things differently. As a family owned and operated third generation business, we devote more time and attention to each customer and every job. Alan Energy Services on Spring Road in Elmhurst is headed by Eric Weech. Through his leadership, we place a high value on the relationships we have with our customers, and we pride ourselves on customizing different options to fit each person’s unique needs so they can enjoy optimum comfort.
When Eric is not working, he and his wife Tammy enjoy their kids and grandkids, often hosting gatherings in their backyard. They are grandparents to 6 grandkids and you can often see them partaking in Spring Road events. In addition, Eric loves dogs and prefers rescuing his pets from local animal rescue organizations. In 2022, Eric rescued Hope, his black Labrador retriever, but he would say that Hope rescued him by bringing so much love and joy to his family. Furthermore, for the past 12 years, Eric and Tammy have hosted three baseball players from the Schaumburg Boomers minor league baseball team and attend 99% of the home games to cheer them on to victory.
Eric firmly believes it is important to be involved in the community you serve. He is a member of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and the President of the Spring Road Business Association (SRBA). As a member of the SRBA, Eric is a big supporter of all the events on Spring Road. Eric and Tammy organize Winter Fest, participate in the St. Patrick’s Parade, volunteer at the Pet Parade and sponsor the concerts in the park, ”Music at the Gazebo” series on Spring Road.
As we celebrate 75 years of helping homeowners, we are here for anyone in Elmhurst and the surrounding areas that are looking for higher quality service, meticulous craftsmanship, top-of-the- line HVAC and air quality systems with exceptional value. It’s common for us to enjoy 30+ year relationships with clients. The key to Eric’s success for the past 42 years is his business philosophy: Do what you say when you say you’re going to do it. Always offer a fair value to your clients. And if a hiccup happens along the way--just handle it for the client. Eric instills these same values into the company’s employees. No gimmicks, just great service and fair pricing you can count on!
•
G.M. SMITH & SON REALTORS was the 1st real estate office to open in Villa Park, established in 1920. We are a family owned business with the experience, knowledge and dedication needed to provide you the results you want when buying and selling real estate. We are in our 4th generation and continue to provide the same honest and professional service that we have since 1920. If you are looking to make a move call the real estate office with 104 years of experience.!
Advisors with Edward Jones
As Edward Jones advisors, we believe it’s important for us to understand the goals you’re working to achieve. We partner with you and work together to help with planning for retirement, life insurance and annuities, college savings, estate planning or preparing for the unexpected. We can closely monitor your progress to help you stay on track and respond to life changes or unforeseen changes along the way. Throughout your financial journey we’re dedicated to providing you with hands on, customized client service.
Mark Miceli is a graduate of Elmhurst University and Keller Graduate School of Management. Mark and his wife Linette have been married for 37 years and reside in Villa Park. He has 3 adult boys, 2 grandchildren and one on the way. He is passionate about providing the best service possible for his clients in financial planning.
Matthew Miceli joined his father in the business in 2022 after over 10 years in Healthcare Management. He is married and the father of two young children. Matt is dedicated in helping young families plan now to protect their future, as well as those in or near retirement manage their wealth and income needs.
Both Mark and Matt are avid golfers and serious hockey enthusiasts.
Feel free to stop by and meet Mark or Matthew Miceli in their Elmhurst office at: 112A S. York Rd., Elmhurst, IL 60126 Office: 630-530-2422
S. Villa Ave.
Not valid with any other offer. Expires 8/31/2024
Patrick and Jennifer Wagner continue the legacy of
K&T Colors in Elmhurst
K&T Colors has a long Elmhurst history. It came to Elmhurst as “Art’s Colors”, a second location of a paint and wallpaper store. When Kay and Ted took over the ownership, K&T Colors was born and custom picture framing and art supplies were added. That store was located at York St. and Butterfield for 25 years. Maryann Gorski and her parents Ed and Loretta Kalina bought K&T Colors in 1986 and relocated it to the current location, 568 S. York Street. As picture framing and the selection of art materials increased, they made a decision to concentrate only on Custom Framing and Artist Supplies.
In 2010, K&T doubled the size of the store and acquired a totally updated new look. They expanded to offer many selections of frame choices for any prints, canvas paintings or pictures large and small. These services are still available for their customers today.
In June 2019, Jennifer and Patrick Wagner bought K&T Colors from Maryann and Loretta. Jen and Pat are both lifelong residents of Elmhurst. Where they have raised their four daughters and continue to watch their family grow with the addition of 2 Grandchildren. They are very excited about keeping K&T just as it is and continue K&T’s legacy of safekeeping memories.
Lezza is celebrating 9 years in Elmhurst and 119 years in Chicagoland. It all started with a very special spumoni created and lovingly produced by Lezza Spumoni & Dessert, Inc. The origin of this spumoni is Naples, Italy and the recipe came to Chicago’s West Side with Salvatore Lezza in 1905. The recipe has been in the family for over a century.
Salvatore handed down the secret of genuine spumoni to his son Victor. Today, third and fourth generations of the Lezza family--the founder’s grandson Edward, and great grandson Louis -- successfully run the company with that same old world flair. Now, over 100 years and 4 generations later, one thing that has stayed the same is the love and quality that has been put into all of their products from the very beginning.
The secret of spumoni wasn’t the only masterpiece passed down through the generations. Hundreds of recipes have been preserved and perfected keeping the Lezza tradition alive and flourishing. Quality is the key characteristic of Lezza Spumoni & Desserts and it’s fully visible in every product they create. See for yourself.
The Lezza family is proud to be a part of the Elmhurst community and providing their fine Italian desserts, Gelato and Italian ice. Be sure to stop by after hours for a scoop of your favorite Italian ice.
Two Brothers from Italy Ristorante & Pizzeria
In the heart of downtown Elmhurst, Two Brothers from Italy Ristorante & Pizzeria continues to carry on the rich tradition of Italian cuisine since it opened its doors. In 1976, Angelo Battaglia and his wife, Rosalia, purchased an Elmhurst storefront to start their restaurant. Serving up authentic Italian dishes and pizza that is beyond praise, this little “ma and pa” restaurant became a quick neighborhood favorite and has since quadrupled in size. Now in its 48th year of business, the family restaurant is run by Angelo’s daughter, Joanne and her husband, Sam. “We still are using those favorite recipes from 48 years ago,” Joanne states.
Visit Two Brothers for a relaxing meal. Start off with a glass of wine or one of our signature cocktails, and you’ll quickly forget about a rough workday. Next, enjoy our food! We make classic Italian appetizers such as Bruschetta and Fried Calamari and our entrees can be cooked in the styles Parmigiana, Piccata, and Marsala. We also have seafood and sandwiches. For pasta lovers, select from 1 of 10 pasta noodle options and a variety of different sauces.
Craving some delicious pizza? Make it a family pizza night out at Two Brothers. Choose from thin crust, pan pizza, or stuffed pizza with 29 different topping options to satisfy everyone’s cravings. Everything is homemade.
Carry out, Delivery & Catering Available 630-833-0414 or 630-833-0415
Celebrating a beloved cartoon heroine: Little Orphan Annie
Whether you remember her for her indomitable spirit, moral compass, or fiery red curls, Little Orphan Annie remains an important icon in American culture 100 years after the character’s debut in the namesake comic strip.
Affectionately dubbed the “Annie-Versary,” the Lombard Historical Society (LHS), in partnership with the Village of Lombard and the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB), are excited to announce the newly opened exhibition
“Leapin’ Lizards: A Hundred Years of Little Orphan Annie” and a series of events that runs through Dec. 23.
The Little Orphan Annie comic strip first appeared in syndication in The New York Daily News on Aug. 5, 1924. Of the more than 40 comic strips running at the time, Little Orphan Annie became the fourth to feature a female in a prominent role.
Defying gender stereotypes, Annie quickly became a beloved and unexpected heroine, known for her many adventures solving crimes alongside her dog Sandy—often persevering through dangerous situations. By the 1930s, Little Orphan Annie was one of the most popular strips in syndication.
“Purely as a character, there is a lot to admire and love,” said Lombard Historical Society (LHS) Executive Director Alison Costanzo. “That is the mere tipping point for Annie’s relevance and why we created ‘Annie’-Versary. There is much to recognize historically and throughout popular entertainment. We hope to showcase the broad reach of Annie throughout the decades.”
Gray was masterful at using Annie to embed his own conservative, political viewpoints, making Little Orphan Annie the first nationally syndicated comic with a political perspective. 1930 brought about another first when Little Orphan Annie became the first comic strip to be adapted for radio and first to be aired coast to coast.
Written for children and drawing in six million young listeners, Little Orphan Annie became the biggest and most profitable children’s program of its time.
Gray illustrated the comic strip until his death in 1968, after which it was continued by other cartoonists until its final installment on Sunday, June 13, 2010. The success of the comic strip spawned two film adaptations in the 1930s, a 1977 Broadway musical, a 1982 film adaptation of the Broadway musical, a 1999 made-for-television adaptation, and the 2014 film “Annie” produced by Jay-Z and Will Smith.
“Harold Gray resided in Lombard when he first created this iconic character,” said Costanzo. “On behalf of everyone who embraced Annie in print and on radio, and then later on the musical stage and big screen, it is our honor to welcome you to Lombard to celebrate Gray’s masterful
“ That is the mere tipping point for Annie’s relevance and why we created ‘Annie’Versary. There is much to recognize historically and throughout popular entertainment. We hope to showcase the broad reach of Annie throughout the decades.”
– Alison Costanzo, Lombard Historical Society Executive Director
storytelling and the inspirational, wily ways of Little Orphan Annie.”
The “Annie”-Versary celebration comes several months after the close of “Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross”—the 2023 blockbuster exhibition highlighting the renowned comic book illustrator, which was also hosted in DuPage County at the Elmhurst Art Museum.
“What a fitting following in 2024 to be honoring Harold Gray, another legendary illustrator and storyteller,” said DCVB Executive Director Beth Marchetti. “The past several years, DuPage County has welcomed visitors from across the United States and in some cases the world, bringing people together over a shared love of history, artistic expression, and culture. We are pleased to partner with LHS to deliver another meaningful exhibition for engagement and enjoyment.”
• “Leapin Lizards! A Hundred Years of Little Orphan Annie” is funded in Part by the Village of Lombard Local Tourism Grant and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (check the website for holiday hours).
The Carriage House is located at 23 W. Maple St., Lombard.
The collection includes original artworks and artifacts from the Lombard Historical Collection and items on loan from Northwestern University Special Collection, Purdue University Archives & Special Collections and, Boston University Library.
The museum and exhibition are free; suggested $5 donation at time of admission.
• A week-long “Annie”-Versary Birthday Party Celebration presented by LHS, funded in part by the Village of Lombard Local Tourism Grant will be held Tuesday, July 30, through Saturday, Aug. 3.
Visit lombardhistory.org for complete details including time and tickets.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing
Little Orphan Annie and her creator, Harold Gray, will be in the spotlight during the summer, fall and early winter months in Lombard, at the Lombard Historical Society’s Carriage House, 23 W. Maple St.
Sports
Waves close out regular season with a win
Lombard moves to 4-3 with its home victory over Roselle; Waves will wrap up their season with two White Division meets
The Lombard Waves completed their 2024 DuPage Swim and Dive Conference regular season with Saturday’s 358-279 victory over the Roselle Racers at Paradise Bay Water Park.
The Waves finished their regular season with a 4-3 record.
Lombard’s Emily Olsen won three individual events during Saturday’s meet against Roselle. Swimming in the 11-12 girls division, she won the 50-yard freestyle, which she completed in 34.57 seconds. She also won the 100-yard individual medley, which she finished in 1 minute, 28.96 seconds, and the 50-yard backstroke (39.34).
The Waves’ two-time individual champions during Saturday’s meet included:
Lombard’s 9-10 girls foursome of Molly Gierman, Betsy Balgemann, Hannah Rogers and Avery Dryden won a pair of relay races during Saturday’s home meet. The four Waves won the 200-yard medley relay (3:10.05) and the 200yard freestyle relay (2:41.43).
The Lombard Waves closed out their 2024 regular season with Saturday’s home meet against the Roselle Racers. Lombard defeated the Racers 358-279 at Paradise Bay Water Park. The Waves who won multiple individual events during the meet included Kelsey Plis, who delivered a pair of first-place finishes in the 11-12 girls division. She is pictured (above left) during her win in the 50-yard butterfly. Adam Hollis also provided the Waves with two individual wins on Saturday. Competing in his final home meet as a Wave, he earned his victories in the 15-18 boys level. He’s pictured (above right) during his win in the 50-yard butterfly. Lombard’s Ariel Hoda (not pictured), who also swam in her final home meet as a Wave on Saturday, won two individual races in the 15-18 girls division. Lombard’s Hannah Rogers, who swims in the 9-10 girls level, earned one individual win and swam on two winning relay teams on Saturday. She is pictured (below left) during her individual victory in the 50-yard backstroke. One more photo (below right) from the Waves’ meet against Roselle shows Evan McNulty of Lombard during his first-place swim in the 9-10 boys level’s 50-yard breaststroke.
The 9-10 boys foursome of Tommy Allen, Javier Garavito, Evan McNulty and Alex Dola won two relay events for the Waves on Saturday.
The foursome won the 200-yard medley relay (3:13.54) and the 200-yard freestyle relay (2:57.53).
Lombard’s 13-14 boys foursome of Samuel Gibson-Werstler, Aalee Khan, Marco Garavito and Omotayo Solola won a pair of relay races on Saturday.
The four Waves won the 200yard medley relay (2:34.89) and the
200-yard freestyle relay (2:13.93). The Waves’ other winning relay teams on Saturday included: 8-and-under girls: Lucy Blevins, Camille Medinger, Natalie Rogers and Parker Bergman (100-yard medley relay; 1:56.97); Natalie Rogers, Amaris Ali, Reina Bell and Parker Bergman (100-yard freestyle relay; 1:46.00)
13-14 girls: Peyton Petrine, Rachel Timken, Cate Ford and Grace Zeithammel (200-yard freestyle relay; 2:22.41)
15-18 boys: Mason McKenna, Adriano Bifero, Adam Hollis and Samuel Ebihara (200-yard medley relay; 1:54.82); Adriano Bifero, Abdurraham Khan, Thomas
11-12 girls: Valencia Garavito, Riley Petrine, Emily Olsen and Kelsey Plis (200-yard medley relay; 2:45.45); Emily Olsen, Riley Petrine, Molly Milano and Kelsey Plis (200-yard freestyle relay; 2:27.51)
Leslein and Benjamin Bates (200yard freestyle relay; 1:48.43) Some Lombard swimmers will complete the 2024 season by competing in the DuPage Swim and Dive Conference’s White Division ‘B’ Meet in Bartlett this Saturday, July 13.
Other Waves will conclude the season by swimming in the White Division ‘A’ Meet in Woodridge on July 20. The conference’s White Division includes four teams: Lombard, Bartlett, Itasca and Woodridge.
Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing
Waves salute their eight ‘senior’ swimmers
The Lombard Waves recognized their eight “senior” swimmers during Saturday’s meet against the Roselle Racers at Paradise Bay Water Park.
Saturday’s event marked the final meet of the regular season—and the final home meet for the Waves’ eight senior swimmers—who all graduated from high school this year.
Lombard’s 2024 senior swimmers are: Jack Biancalana, Sam Ebihara, Ariel Hoda, Adam Hollis, Zoe Kraft, Max Seelbach, Lillian Vish and Maddie Wells.
Hoda, Kraft, Seelbach and Vish are all members of Willowbrook High School’s Class of 2024. Ebihara and Wells are 2024 graduates of Glenbard East High School. Biancalana and Hollis graduated from Glenbard South High School in May.
Biancalana, who spent two years with the Waves, will attend the University of Missouri, where he will study mechanical engineering and math.
Ebihara swam with the Waves for 12 years. He will attend Michigan State University, where he plans to study marketing and international business, as well as German.
Hoda, who was with the Waves for two years, will attend the University of Notre Dame, where she plans
to study neuroscience and behavior.
Hollis spent three years with the Waves. He will attend Carthage College in Kenosha, where he will study computer science. He will also be a member of the Firebirds’ men’s swimming team.
Kraft, who swam with the Waves for eight years, will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She plans to major in psychology.
Seelbach, who was with the Waves for three years, will attend Iowa State University, where he plans to major in marketing.
Vish was a member of the Waves for 10 years. She will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she will major in chemistry.
Wells, who swam with the Waves for 13 years, will attend Loyola University Chicago. She plans to major in entrepreneurship and environmental studies.
Some members of the Waves will complete the 2024 DuPage Swim and Dive Conference season by competing in the conference’s White Division ‘B’ Meet in Bartlett this Saturday, July 13. Other Lombard swimmers will finish the season at the White Division ‘A’ Meet in Woodridge on July 20.
The Lombard Waves finished their 2024 DuPage Swim and Dive Conference regular season with Saturday’s meet against Roselle at Paradise Bay Water Park. The meet marked the final home competition for the Waves’ eight “senior” swimmers. Pictured left to right during the meet are: Ariel Hoda, Zoe Kraft, Lillian Vish, Maddie Wells, Jack Biancalana, Sam Ebihara, Max Seelbach and Adam Hollis. Hoda, Kraft, Vish and Seelbach are members of Willowbrook High School’s Class of 2024. Ebihara and Wells are 2024 graduates of Glenbard East High School. Biancalana and Hollis graduated from Glenbard South High School in May.
Parade participants
The participants in Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2801’s Independence Day Parade included the Willowbrook High School dance team. The members of the team are pictured on Summit Avenue, near the end of the parade route. The Willowbrook dance team will hold its annual summer pom/dance camp during the week of July 22-26. The five-session camp at the school, which is for
girls ages 5-13, will meet daily from 9 to 11 a.m. The fee is $100 per participant. Registration for the upcoming camp is available online. To register online, visit https://dupage88.revtrak.net/rw-wbhs-athletics. In-person registration will be offered before the camp’s opening session on July 22.
CHRIS FOX PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing
The Lombard Waves’ dive team competed in its first home meet of the season last week. The Waves faced Bartlett and Bloomingdale in a July 2 meet at Paradise Bay Water Park. Lombard’s Elena Lee won the first-place ribbon in the 13-14 girls level during the meet. She is pictured during a dive off the 3-meter board. Paige McEneely and Emily Goosman of the Waves finished third and fourth, respectively, in the meet’s 10-and-under girls level. Lombard’s James Logan placed fourth in the 10-and-under boys division. Matthew Goosman and Luke Bolotin of the Waves finished second and third, respectively, in the 11-12 boys level. Charlie Bolotin of Lombard placed third in the 13-14 boys level. This year marks the return of the Waves’ dive program, which had not competed since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Lombard’s dive team will finish its 2024 DuPage Swim and Dive Conference season at the upcoming conference meet in Bloomingdale on July 16.
LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE
CERTIFICATE NO. 79459 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on JUNE 20, 2024 wherein the business firm of QUE CHIMBA GTO, 9 N. IOWA AVENUE, ADDISON, IL 60101 was registered; that the true or real name or names of the person or persons owning the business, with their respective post office address(es), is/are as follows: Maria D. Rodriguez, 9 N. Iowa Avenue, Addison, IL 60101.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 20TH day of JUNE, A.D. 2024.
Jean Kaczmarek
DuPage County Clerk
(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review June 27, July 4 & 11, 2024) 457730
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That at 9:00am on July 11th 2024 a sale will be held at 60 E Hill St Villa Park IL 60181 to sell the following articles to enforce a Mechanics Lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois against such articles for the labor/ towing services, skill, or material expanded upon a storage furnished for such article at
the requested of the following designated person, unless such articles are redeemed with in thirty days of the receipt of the notice. Owner Deaunte Lester 52 W 99TH St Chicago IL 60628 and Lienholder Navy Federal Credit Union PO Box 25109 Lehigh Valley PA 18002 Lien amount $4015.00 For further information regarding this sale you may contact Laura Huntsha 630/880/8387. (Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review June 27, July 4 & 11, 2024) 457648
MECHANIC’S LIEN NOTICE
This notice is to enforce a Mechanic’s Lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 45/1 et seq, and 90/1 et seq., against: White Jr. Silvester, Ally Financial for the following vehicle, 2012 Dodge Ram VIN number 1C6RD7LT0CS161684, for the amount owed of $8,430.80. A sale will be held at Windy Auto Sales, 865 Fairway Dr., Bensenville, IL 60106 after June 27, 2024, unless redeemed by owner within 30 days of the date of the first publication of this notice.
(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review June 27, July 4 & 11, 2024) 457578
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CLASSIFIED IN-COLUMN ADS cannot be credited or refunded after the ad has been placed. Ads canceled before deadline will be removed from the paper as a service to our customers, but no credit or refund will be issued to your account.
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Burial Needs
7 CEMETERY PLOTS Willing to sell as a group or individually. Located at Roselawn Memory Gardens 3045 WI-67, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. This is a private sale. Contact Randy, the seller at randy@slpublishers.com.
NOTICE
CERTIFICATE NO. 79454 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on JUNE 11, 2024, wherein the business firm of GLEAM & GLOW SOLUTIONS,1258 FORDHAM DRIVE APT 304, GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL 60139 was registered; that the true or real name or names of the person or persons owning the business, with their respective post office address(es), is/ are as follows:
Minjbolor Tumur, 1258 Fordham Drive Apt 304, Glendale Heights, IL 60139. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 11TH day of JUNE, A.D. 2024.
Jean Kaczmarek
DuPage County Clerk
(Published in The Lombardian June 27, July 4 & 11, 2024) 457462
NOTICE
CERTIFICATE NO. 79471 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on JUNE 27, 2024 wherein the business firm of SAVVY S.C., 226 GLEN ELLYN ROAD APT. 301, BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108 was registered; that the true or real name or names of the person or persons owning the business, with their respective post office address(es), is/are as follows:
Thomas J. Contreras, 226 Glen Ellyn Road Apt. 301, Bloomingdale, IL 60108. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 27TH day of JUNE, A.D. 2024.
Jean Kaczmarek
DuPage County Clerk
(Published in The Lombardian July 4, 11 & 18, 2024) 458084
NOTICE
CERTIFICATE NO. 79465 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on JUNE 25, 2024 wherein the business firm of SCOOP OF GLEN ELLYN, 323 MARION AVE., GLEN ELLYN, IL 60137 was registered; that the true or real name or names of the person or persons owning the business, with their respective post office address(es), is/ are as follows: Anthony Holter, 323 Marion Ave., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 25TH day of JUNE, A.D. 2024.
Jean Kaczmarek
DuPage County Clerk (Published in The Lombardian July 11, 18 & 25, 2024) 458215
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
DUPAGE COUNTY, WHEATON, ILLINOIS
IN RE Kimberly Fonville Petitioner, VS.
Michael A Shotwell, Respondent.
LEGAL NOTICES
DOMESTIC RELATIONS PUBLICATION
The requisite affidavit of publication having been file: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO YOU
Michael A Shotwell, Respondent in the above entitled suit that said suit has been commenced in the Circuit Court of DuPage County, Domestic Relations Division, 505 N County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187 by the said petitioner against you for DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE and for other relief; that summons was duly issued out of the said Court against you as provided by law, and that the said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless Michael A Shotwell, the said above named respondent file your answer to said Complaint or otherwise make your appearance therein, on or before AUGUST 10, 2024 JUDGMENT FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE may be entered against you at any time after that day and Judgment entered in accordance with the prayer of said petition. E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/service-providers.htm to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http:// www.illinoiscourts.gov/FAQ/gethelp.asp.
Dated 7/2/2024
Candice Adams Clerk of the Circuit Court 8085-944365
(Published in The Lombardian July 11, 18 & 25, 2024) 458217
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DU PAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (ADULT NAME CHANGE)
CURRENT LEGAL NAME: MEHRDAD ABBASSIAN ARDESTANI
Case Number: 2024MR000370
My current name is: MEHRDAD ABBASSIAN ARDESTANI. I wish my name to be changed to: MEHRDAD ABBASSIAN. The court date for the Request I filed is scheduled on: AUGUST 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL, DuPage County, in Courtroom #2005.
/s/ Mehrdad Abbassian
Dated: 6/13/2024
Candice Adams Clerk of the Circuit Court 8085-943716
(Published in The Lombardian June 27, July 4 & 11, 2024) 457411
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DU PAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (ADULT NAME CHANGE)
CURRENT LEGAL NAME: VICTORIA ABBASSIAN ARDESTANI
Case Number: 2024MR000370
My current name is: VICTORIA ABBASSIAN ARDESTANI. I wish my name to be changed to: VICTORIA ABBASSIAN. The court date for the Request I filed is scheduled on: AUGUST 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL, DuPage County, in Courtroom #2005.
/s/ Victoria Abbassian
Dated: 6/13/2024
Candice Adams Clerk of the Circuit Court 8085-943717
(Published in The Lombardian June 27, July 4 & 11, 2024) 457417
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DU PAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE
Request of: Jacquelyn Paige Peters Case Number 2024MR000401
There will be a court date on my Request to change from Jacquelyn Paige Peters to the new name Jacquelyn Cagney Peters. The court date will be held: September 17, 2024 at 9:00 a.m at 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL in Courtroom 2007.
/s/ Jacquelyn Paige Peters
Dated July 1, 2024
Candice Adams Clerk of the Circuit Court 8085-944342
(Published in The Lombardian July 11, 18 & 25, 2024) 458257
