Students at IC Catholic Prep were inducted into the National Honor Society on Nov. 7.
Dukes advance to Class 8A state championship game
York held off Naperville Central in the Class 8A state semifinals on Saturday and will advance to this weekend’s Class 8A championship football game—the first time in school history that a York football team has secured a berth in the state title game. The Dukes will face Loyola this Saturday night at 7:00 at Illinois State University. See story on page 13.
District 205 Board meeting summary
By Chris Fox
ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held a regular meeting on Nov. 19 at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St.
All seven board members attended the meeting.
The meeting’s spotlight and recognitions segment featured a presentation from Susan Kondrat, the principal of Madison Early Child -
hood Education Center. Kondrat spoke about the Peer Buddies program, which began during the current school year. In the program, students from Edison Elementary School are buddies with pre-kindergarten children at Madison Early Childhood Center. In addition to reading with their pre-kindergarten buddies, the Edison students participate in activities and games with them. Kondrat said the program
offers benefits for participating students from both schools.
The spotlight and recognitions segment of the Nov. 19 meeting also included a presentation about math instruction at Field Elementary School. That presentation showed video clips of Field students analyzing and solving math problems.
See BOARD, Page 15
Honor someone special with a Love Light
EMHF fundraiser an annual tradition
By Jane Charmelo FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
If you want to honor someone special this holiday season who has touched your life in some way, or give the gift of a memory to someone else, consider making a donation to the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation’s (EMH) Love Lights program.
Each year since 2011, the foundation has offered the community a chance to remember a deceased friend or loved one, and/or honor someone in their life who has made an impact or has been special in some way.
This year, the Love Lights fundraiser is about to get under way with the lighting of the Central Garden at Elmhurst Hospital, 155 E. Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst, on Sunday, Dec. 1.
According to the foundation’s development manager Blair Williams, the tradition began in 2011, after someone on the foundation team saw a similar program elsewhere, and brought the idea back to the foundation members.
“We changed the program to the ‘Elmhurst way,’” she continued, meaning, “to put our own [Elmhurst] touch on the program.”
“We developed it and put a special touch on it for the Elmhurst Community,” Williams added.
Each year, individuals can make a donation to honor a special person or persons, in one of two ways. This year, for a $25 donation, donors can honor that person with a “Love Light.”
“Each light symbolically commemorates a special person who has touched a life, or a loved one who has passed away,” an Endeavor Health release explains.
For a $35 donation, donors will
“ Each light symbolically commemorates a special person who has touched a life, or a loved one who has passed away.”
– Endeavor Health
also receive a commemorative Love Lights ornament, according to the foundation.
The foundation will also feature the names of the honorees from donations received through Dec. 16 in the Dec. 26 issue of the Elmhurst Independent
“People continue to do this annually,” the manager related. “Many people do it year after year.”
“It’s just a special experience,” she added, saying that people “think it’s a very special thing,” in addition to supporting the efforts of the foundation.
That ornament can become a keepsake or a gift, Williams posed, adding, “It’s a unique way to honor someone … It could become an annual tradition.”
“It’s very open; what it means to the person,” she said.
In addition to the donations, individual ornaments are available for $10.
For more information, to purchase a Love Light or to make a donation, visit www.eehealth.org/ love-lights or call 331-221-0388.
About the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation
The nonprofit foundation supports Elmhurst Hospital and its programs.
The following are some of the accomplishments highlighted on the foundation’s website:
• $376,000 raised at the annual
Autumn Affair Gala to support our nursing program, helping to fund new tools and equipment to keep our nurses safe, as well as provide critical education and training so they can continue to deliver care at the highest level.
• $300,000 toward the repurposing of office space to create a new, 8-bed Surgical Observation Unit for the seamless recovery of our growing number of surgery patients.
• $113,000 in community donations to provide over 18,000 meals
to employees and caregivers at Elmhurst Hospital and our ambulatory sites during the pandemic.
• $51,180 for IV Ultrasound vein imaging, allowing for quick and safe IV access for the patient.
• $37,825 to underwrite the Diabetes Jumpstart Your Health program.
• $24,000 in scholarships for our teen volunteers who are planning to pursue a degree in the health care field.
• $14,700 for our Surgical Oncology and Breast Care screening pro -
grams to improve the quality of life in recovery through rehabilitation.
• $4,000 for continued enhancement of our Rooftop Healing Garden.
Other foundation fundraisers include the Autumn Affair, Chef Fest, Reindeer Route Housewalk, the Hope. Lives Here Cancer Campaign.
For more information on the Elmhurst Memorial Foundation, visit www.eehealth.org/ways-to-give/ emh-foundation or call 331-2214483.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
The annual Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Love Lights fundraiser kicks off Dec. 1 with a lighting of the Central Garden, 155 E. Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst. Donations are $25 to dedicate a Love Light and $35 for a commemorative ornament. Ornaments can also be purchased for $10.
Get your kids healthy teeth & gums
Our Comfort Care Dentistry makes going to the dentist an unexpected pleasure.
We’ve been changing people’s ideas about dentistry for a long time.
No Black Fillings! Tooth colored fillings that look pleasing.
Gentle dental care for adults and children.
Convenient location and appointment times.
No shot laser fillings available. New technology allows for smaller, faster fillings without discomfort.
Knowledgeable staff using the latest technology.
Listen to music while you have your teeth fixed.
Whitening, implants, and smile makeovers.
Your Hometown Newspaper
Locally owned and operated
240 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL. 60126
Main Phone 630.834-8244
Fax 630.834-0900
Visit us at: TheElmhurstIndependent.com
The Elmhurst Independent USPS#022-607 is published every Thursday by Rock Valley Publishing, LLC, 240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126. Periodical Postage Paid at Elmhurst, IL.
The Elmhurst Independent print version is mailed to residents in the 60126 zip code with a paid donation. See inside this issue for an order form. Out-of-area mail subscriptions are $45.00 yearly. Single copies are also available at more than 80 newsstand locations in Elmhurst. For home delivery information call 630.834-8244.
Reprints:
Content appearing in the Elmhurst Independent may not be reprinted without permission of the publisher or editor. Requests should be directed to Independent@rvpublishing.com or 630.834-8244.
Postmaster: Please send address changes to:
THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 11am-3pm
The Elmhurst Citizens Police Academy’s
newest alumni
The 33rd session of the Elmhurst Citizens Police Academy ended with last week’s graduation. The latest Citizens Police Academy allowed 16 students to spend 12 weeks learning more about the Elmhurst Police Department and how it provides public safety in Elmhurst. Students interacted with several of the department’s officers and learned about dusting for fingerprints, traffic stops, crisis negotiations, and more. Sergeants Waldenmeyer and Kefaloukos served as this session’s class coordinators.
Elmhurst City Council meeting summary
By Chris Fox ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
The Elmhurst City Council held a regular meeting on Nov. 18. Ten council members attended the meeting at City Hall. Four members—Brian Cahill, Marti Deuter, Rex Irby and Tina Park—were absent.
The fourth-grade Girl Scout Troop 56194 from Hawthorne Elementary School led the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting.
Mayor Scott Levin noted after the Pledge of Allegiance that the council held an executive session before the meeting.
He said there was a discussion during the executive session about setting a price for the sale of real estate, but that particular parcel of real estate that was discussed was not the city-owned area at East Elmhurst Avenue and East Second Street, between East Third Street and Schiller Street.
Speakers urge the city to preserve “Green Space” between Third and Schiller
Three people spoke during the meeting’s public forum. They all spoke about the city-owned land at Elmhurst and Second, between Third and Schiller, referred to as the “Green Space.” According to the city, that area of land was “deeded to the City by Memorial Hospital of DuPage County [i.e. Elmhurst Memorial Hospital] in 1975, with a 50-year covenant.”
All three speakers urged the
city council to preserve the “Green Space” area between Schiller and Third.
Board members voted unanimously to approve the recommendation of the City Council’s Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services (FCAAS) Committee to set the city’s 2024 tax levy in the amount of about $20.8 million. That amount represents a 3.6 percent increase in the city’s 2023 tax levy. Board members also approved the FCAAS Committee’s recommendation to abate all current debt service obligations for the city’s outstanding general obligation (GO) bonds, which total about $7.5 million.
The FCAAS Committee noted that the City Council has traditionally abated all the debt service for GO bonds. When those bonds are abated, the expense of those bonds is not passed on to taxpayers in that levy year.
According to the FCAAS Committee, an owner of a home valued at $471,000 in 2021 paid $728 in taxes to the city for the 2021 levy. The owner of that same home paid $721 for the 2022 levy and $715 for the 2023 levy. The proposed 2024 property tax levy would increase this homeowner’s property taxes by $30 from the previous year.
Video lists numerous problems with Elmhurst’s police facility
The Nov. 18 meeting featured a video showing what Levin described as some of the deficiencies
and challenges that the Elmhurst Police Department faces regarding its current police station.
The video, which is available on ElmhurstTV’s YouTube channel, features Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean, who describes a litany of problems with the station. McLean stated in the video that the station’s air conditioning system failed in 2016, and that the city has rented a chiller for the police station building since 2017.
In the video, the chief related that there was a “catastrophic” plumbing failure in the police station in 2019, when a sprinkler pipe in the second floor burst and flooded the entire station, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
The video, which mentioned that Elmhurst’s current police facility was designed in the 1980s, stated that the building is outdated and doesn’t include enough space to store modern equipment, such as drones and body cameras. Additionally, the department lacks space to accommodate female officers in the building’s women’s locker room.
According to the video, the department also requires safety and security upgrades in the rear of the building, where employees enter and exit the facility, and where subjects in custody enter the booking room.
The department’s cells reportedly also need an upgrade.
The video stated that the police station in Elmhurst has an obsolete
shooting range, and that Elmhurst’s officers have to travel to St. Charles to utilize a shooting range.
Other problems with the station, according to the video, include a lack of space in the evidence and property room, an outdated front desk, a lack of interior and exterior cameras, as well as overall space constraints. The facility is also not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
After the video played, Levin said the city is in its initial effort to start advising and educating the public about the police department’s deficiencies. Levin added that police recruits are hard to come by. He said he recently toured Downers Grove’s new police facility. The mayor said that police officers would be more likely to choose a community with a modern facility.
Grabowski notes that trash collection will be delayed one day during Thanksgiving week
At the end of the meeting, City Manager James Grabowski stated that garbage collection would be delayed one day during Thanksgiving week. He also said that the final free leaf collection of the season would take place Dec. 4-6, and that the Explore Elmhurst Holly Trolley will run from noon to midnight each Saturday from Nov. 30 through Dec. 28.
The Elmhurst City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Dec. 2.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
viewpoiNt
Slices of life Thanksgiving has its ups and downs
Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude, but it’s also so much more, not the least of which is food.
Oh my goodness, is there food! It is the start of the food season, also known as the holidays, where eating is akin to breathing and a variety of homemade cookies somehow become a staple in everyone’s pantry.
“Here, enjoy another spritz tree!”
Thanksgiving used to be the start of the whole holiday season, but we all know that date has been moved up significantly. I’m not one to argue against early celebrations. I think every day should be one. But starting the holidays on July 5 seems a bit like overkill.
Let’s at least give back-to-school and Halloween their due process, shall we?
I digress.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It is honestly one of my favorite holidays, but it does have its upsides and downsides.
An upside: Gratitude. We all need more of it in our lives. Having a day dedicated to simply being thankful is genius.
A downside: You’ve got to eat the huge meal around noon because that’s how Aunt Florence has always done it, and who wants to challenge tradition?
An upside: A traditional green bean casserole. Stuffing. Sweet potatoes. Mashed potatoes and gravy. All without counting calories.
A downside: Turkey contains tryptophan and that makes you sleepy after a big meal
The upside: An afternoon nap never felt so good.
An upside: Thanksgiving day itself is punctuated by football games—or Hallmark movies, depending on the makeup of your household. Either are good because they put you in the mood for holiday festivities.
A downside: You often have to spend the day with extended family and sometimes not everyone enjoys or likes their passive aggressive great-aunt Gertrude or flatulent uncle Frank.
An upside: Dessert. You’re too full but you eat it anyway.
A downside: Dessert. You’re too full but you eat it anyway.
An upside: Black Friday provides bargain opportunities galore!
By JILL PERTLER Columnist
A downside: Black Friday takes you away from family—the likes of great-aunt Gertrude, uncle Frank and aunt Florence—and puts your focus on the latest greatest Amazon deals (which none of us really needs anyway).
An upside: Leftovers! It’s a week when you feast on turkey on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. By Sunday you’re out of green beans, but there’s still stuffing. (Does that stuff self-replicate in the fridge?)
A downside: There is no downside to leftovers, unless you count the cranberry sauce, which might last until next July if you can’t find a good and creative use for it.
An upside: Thanksgiving is about spending time with people you love eating homemade comfort food.
A downside: The day only comes around once a year.
Thanksgiving originated in 1621 as a way to give thanks for blessings, which included a successful harvest. President Lincoln declared it a national holiday in 1863 to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November. Why he chose Thursday, I’m not sure. But it does give us one more upside. Thanksgiving becomes the one holiday that falls on a Thursday and is followed each year by three consecutive Sundays. Or at least it feels that way.
Am I the only one?
Enjoy. Practice gratitude. Have that extra piece of pie. Gobble, gobble.
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.
Bipartisan solution needed to protect kids online
By Taunya Madden
There are a lot of moms like me who had kids at a young age and then after an extended gap had more kids later in life.
Raising my two older kids in the early 2000s had its fair share of difficulties, but there is no question raising my two younger kids in the current digital age presents some unprecedented challenges.
As much as I would like to be able to monitor everything my kids see and do online, the truth is I can’t be there 24 hours a day; seven days per week. It is impossible. I trust my kids, but I don’t share that same trust of the online community.
We need Congress to act to help parents take on the challenges of the digital age, but whatever action is taken must be done in a responsible manner.
One bill still under consideration in Congress is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). While the
push to add new protections for kids online is a movement that many, including me, proudly stand behind, several debilitating flaws in the bill’s construction were overlooked.
One central concern with KOSA is its “duty of care” provision.
The duty of care calls on social platforms to regulate content considered “harmful to minors.”
Yet rather than provide further details to explain its vague criteria, it leaves the authority to the platforms themselves and the FTC, which can take legal action against companies that refuse to take down content they consider “harmful.”
As platforms seek to avoid these legal battles, they are likely to take any content that could be deemed harmful by KOSA’s enforcers, which essentially puts regulators in charge of what kinds of content my kids see.
Moreover, the FTC is not the only regulator that stands to gain tremendous authority to restrict content online through KOSA. In its current state, the legislation also empowers state attorneys general to wield it in coordination with
state law to take action against platforms hosting content from individuals and organizations with whom they disagree.
The last thing we need in the effort to protect kids is to have political bias interjected in the rules governing kids’ ability to access online content. Access to the Internet is part of everyday life for kids. Kids need access to the Internet to do even basic things like getting their school assignments. Too often, well-intentioned laws end up doing more harm than good because our leaders in Congress want to do something even if that something might not actually solve the problem.
I hope that Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski and her colleagues will take the time to get KOSA right. Doing something for the sake of doing something is not a real solution. We must protect kids online and prioritize their safety, but we must also ensure KOSA cannot be used as a political weapon.
Taunya Madden is an emergency room nurse at Memorial Hospital in Springfield.
Police beat
The Elmhurst Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the privacy of victims. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that subjects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17 or younger are not named.
Battery
Nov. 18
Police said that subsequent to a report of a disturbance in the 100 block of W. Diversey at 6:43 p.m., a complainant stated the suspect was seen battering the victims. The reporting officer made contact with the suspect, who denied hitting anyone. No injuries were observed and no charges were filed against the suspect.
Criminal damage, criminal trespassing
Nov. 17
A complainant in the 200 block of N. Walnut told police that the suspect recently moved out of the complainant’s home. On the above date, the suspect returned to the residence but was not allowed inside. As the suspect left the property, he damaged the gate and the mailbox.
Nov. 15
A complainant at a store in the 100 block of E. Butterfield reported that an unknown suspect became agitated, striking and breaking a display.
A complainant near Lorraine and West reported he stopped his vehicle at the intersection at 8:46 p.m., and when he proceeded southbound, a man walking two dogs walked into the intersection and yelled something at him as he passed. Seconds later, his rear window shattered. The area was searched with no results.
A complainant in the 700 block of S. Cambridge reported at 11:09 p.m. hearing a loud bang while waiting inside her vehicle, and later discovered that her back windshield had shattered. She was unsure of how it happened.
A 23-year-old Elmhurst man was charged with domestic battery subsequent to a verbal argument in the 800 block of S. Kearsage at 5:07 p.m.
Identity theft, fraud
According to information provided by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported seven incidents of identity theft or fraud.
Harassment, threats
Nov. 19
A victim in the 700 block of N. Eastland reported receiving threatening text messages from an unknown number.
Nov. 18
A victim in the 400 block of S. Washington reported receiving threatening messages from a suspect.
Nov. 14
A victim in the 800 block of N. York reported that he has been contacted by various unknown phone numbers.
DUI, consumption of alcohol by a minor, illegal possession of alcohol
Nov. 18
Pricilla Pinto, 29, of Chicago, was charged with improper lane usage and possession of open alcohol by a driver subsequent to a traffic stop near Butterfield and Route 83 at 3:41 a.m.
Nov. 16
Feliciano Espino, 35, of Aurora, was charged with DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper window tinting and driving the wrong way on a divided highway near Route 83 and St. Charles at 4:18 a.m.
Possession of cannabis in
a vehicle
According to information provided by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported two incidents of possession of cannabis by either the driver of a vehicle or a passenger: Kayla White, 21, of Aurora, near North and Berteau at 8:19 p.m.; and Jonathan Butler, 34, of Westchester, near York and Diversey at 5:02 p.m. Nov. 19.
Suspicious incident
Nov. 20
An officer responded to Elmhurst Hospital for a suspect who was admitted to the hospital and found to be in possession of plastic baggies suspected of containing a controlled substance.
Nicholas W. Fugate, 42, of Carol Stream, was charged with felony retail theft, two counts of burglary, two counts of retail theft, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance at a store int the 100 block of E. Schiller at 8:25 a.m.
Nov. 18
Nicholas Joseph Roberto, 34, of Palos Park, was charged with burglary and two counts of retail theft, while Eric M. Shaw, 49, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft and burglary at a pharmacy in the 100 block of N. Robert T. Palmer at 12:20 p.m.
Nov. 16-Nov. 18
A victim at a business in the 100 block of N. Addison reports an unknown suspect(s) attempted to force open the front door, causing damage to the glass.
Nov. 16-Nov. 17
A complainant in the 300 block of N Route
83 that he parked his vehicle in a hotel parking lot, but found the vehicle was missing the next morning.
Nov. 4-Nov. 16
Police said an unknown suspect(s) broke into the victim’s home. The rear door of the residence was damaged and the window had been shattered. A piece of jewelry was reported to be missing.
Nov. 14
Police said that subsequent to a traffic stop near I-290 and St. Charles, two suspects were found to be in possession of a controlled substance and numerous bottles of alcohol that were suspected to have been stolen. Candis Y. Stewart, 45, of Chicago, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, retail theft and resisting a police officer. Donald Swope, 54, and Charlie Rogers James, 57, both of Chicago, were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to wear a seat belt.
A complainant in the 700 block of S. Euclid told police that she was alerted by her alarm company that her back door was broken. The residence was checked by officers and no items were found to be missing or disturbed. It did not appear that entry was made into the home.
Sept. 10-Nov. 14
A complainant at a business in the 400 block of N. York related while reviewing video security footage on Sept. 10, a suspect was observed stealing merchandise.
Nov. 11
A victim in the 800 block of N. York told police at 3:24 p.m. that an unknown suspect stole a package delivered to his residence.
Sept. 26
A victim at a store in the 600 block of N. York told police he provided his credit card information to two unknown suspects collecting donations. He later discovered multiple fraudulent charges.
Two teens charged with armed robbery at park
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Woodridge Chief of Police Tom Stefanson have announced that two individuals, an Oswego teen and a 16-year-old male from Woodridge, have been accused of stealing several items at gunpoint at a Woodridge park after arranging to purchase the items from the victim over Snapchat.
Jordan Jones, 18, appeared in First Appearance Court and was charged with one count of armed robbery, a Class X felony and one count of misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.
Following his appearance, Judge Joshua Dieden granted the state’s motion to detain Jones pre-trial.
Judge Demetrios Panoushis ordered that the 16-year-old juvenile be detained until at least his next court appearance. The juvenile is charged with one count of armed robbery, a Class X felony and one count of aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony.
On Nov. 17 at approximately 5:14 p.m., Woodridge police officers responded to Castaldo Park, located at 3024 71st Street, Woodridge, for a report of a subject having a gun pulled on a man. Upon their arrival, officers spoke with the victim who advised that two men allegedly stole Apple AirPods and two hoodie sweatshirts from him at gunpoint.
Through the course of their investigation, officers learned that the victim had arranged over Snapchat to meet the juvenile at the park to sell him the items for $495. It is alleged that once at the park, Jones and the ju -
venile approached the victim and pulled out a firearm, later determined to be a BB gun, and put it in the ribcage of the victim. It is further alleged that the defendants then took the AirPods and the two hoodies and fled. A short time later, officers located the suspects in a GMC SUV on Kildeer Court where the vehicle allegedly disobeyed a stop sign while turning onto southbound Janes Avenue with its headlights turned off. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. It is alleged that during the traffic stop, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Jones, drove away at a high rate of speed on Janes Avenue.
The officer lost sight of the vehicle at 71st Street and Janes Avenue. At approximately 8:35 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of 63rd Street and Cass Avenue in Westmont after receiving information that the GMC allegedly involved in the armed robbery was currently on a tow truck. Officers arrived at the scene and took custody of the vehicle and a single occupant, later identified as Jones. Through their continued efforts, officers identified the juvenile suspect as a sixteen-year-old male. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle during which officers found three BB guns. The juvenile turned himself in to authorities on Nov. 18.
Jones’ next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 16 for arraignment in front of Judge Daniel Guerin. The juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 5 in front of Judge Panoushis.
Judge orders detention for student accused of bringing loaded gun to Hinsdale South High School
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Darien Chief of Police Greg Thomas have announced that a 16-year-old male Hinsdale South High School student from Willowbrook has been accused of bringing a loaded gun to school.
The juvenile appeared at a detention hearing where Judge Chantelle Porter ordered that he be detained until at least his next court appearance. He has been charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in public—school (Class 3 felony) and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm—under 18 (Class 4 felony).
On Nov, 21, authorities at Hinsdale South received information that a student had allegedly brought a loaded firearm, later identified as a 9mm Taurus GX-4 handgun, to the
school. Through the course of their investigation, the juvenile was located later that day at the school and taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Darien Police Department for questioning.
“There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for a 16-year-old boy to be in possession of a loaded firearm, particularly at a school, as alleged in this case,” Berlin said.
“My office takes any sign of potential violence involving a school very seriously. We are fully committed to the safety of our students, staff and school visitors and anyone suspected of the type of behavior alleged in this case will be thoroughly investigated and charged accordingly.”
The juvenile’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 2 in front of Judge Porter.
CDC, DuPage County Health Department: Use antibiotics only when necessary
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week was held Nov. 18-24, and DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Woman charged with hate crime
DuPage County State’s Attorney
Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Chief of Police Michael DeVries have announced that a Darien woman has been charged with a hate crime following an incident at a Downers Grove Panera Bread.
Alexandra Szustakiewicz, 64, appeared in First Appearance Court and was charged with two counts of hate crime (Class 4 felony) and one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. In court, the state asked for conditions of pre-trial release including no contact with the victims and no entry to the Panera Bread where the incident allegedly occurred, which Judge Joshua Dieden granted.
“ Every
member of society, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or any other individual characteristic, deserves to be treated with respect and civility.”
– Robert Berlin, DuPage County State’s Attorney
On Nov. 16, Downers Grove police responded to a call of a disturbance at the Panera Bread located in the 7000 block of Lemont Road.
Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that on Nov. 16 at approximately 11:58 a.m., Szustakiewicz was at the Panera Bread when she confronted and yelled expletives at a man regarding a sweat shirt he was wearing with the word Palestine written on it.
It is further alleged that Szustakiewicz attempted to hit a cell phone out of the hands of a woman who was with the man when the woman began videotaping the incident.
According to the complaint filed against Szustakiewicz, she allegedly “committed a hate crime by reason of perceived national origin” of the two victims. Officers took Szustakiewicz into custody the following day without incident.
“Every member of society, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or any other individual characteristic, deserves to be treated with respect and civility,” Berlin said. “This type of behavior and the accompanying prejudice have no place in a civilized society and my office stands ready to file the appropriate charges in such cases.”
Szustakiewicz’s next court appearance is scheduled Dec. 16 for arraignment in front of Judge Mia McPherson.
in advising patients and their families to use antibiotics only when necessary to reduce antibiotic resistance, help stop the spread of superbugs, and protect individuals from side effects of antibiotics.
This year’s theme for U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week was “Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance Takes All of Us.” CDC uses the One Health approach to fight antimicrobial resistance, which recognizes the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals, plants, and their shared environment.
During U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week and beyond, CDC and partners promote Be Antibiotics Aware, an educational effort to raise awareness about the impor-
tance of safe antibiotic use. The Be Antibiotics Aware initiative educates the public about when antibiotics are needed, when they are not, how to take antibiotics appropriately, and potential side effects of antibiotics.
DCHD and CDC encourage everyone to:
• Know the facts about antibiotics. Antibiotics can save lives when a patient needs them. Antibiotics do not treat viruses, like those that cause colds, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or COVID-19. Antibiotics are only needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria such as strep throat, whooping cough (pertussis), and urinary tract infection (UTI). When antibiotics aren’t needed,
they won’t help you, and the side effects could still cause harm and lead to resistance.
• Ask your healthcare provider about the most appropriate treatment for you or your loved ones’ illness. o If antibiotics are not needed, ask about the best way to feel better while your body fights off the virus. Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed if they are needed.
• Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about your antibiotic or develop any side effects, especially severe diarrhea.
• Do your best to stay healthy and keep others healthy by cleaning your hands by washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60 percent alcohol, covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, staying home when sick, seeking medical care if your symptoms persist/worsen, and getting recommended vaccines, such as the flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
Antibiotics aren’t always the answer. Everyone can help improve antibiotic use. Improving the way we take antibiotics helps keep us healthy now, helps fight antimicrobial resistance, and ensures that these life-saving antibiotics will be available for future generations. Patients, families, and healthcare professionals are encouraged to use the educational resources and learn more about Be Antibiotics Aware by visiting: https://www.cdc.gov/ antibiotic-use/.
Court grants state’s motion to detain second West Chicago teen charged with two counts of first degree murder
DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury have announced that Judge Joshua Dieden has granted the state’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a West Chicago teen accused in the shooting death of two individuals on Nov. 9.
Ivan Ramirez, 18, appeared in First Appearance Court and was charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempt armed robbery with a firearm (Class 1 felony).
On Nov. 12, Ramirez’s codefendant Xavier Arevalo, 17, who is charged as an adult, appeared in First Appearance Court where
he was ordered detained pre-trial. Arevalo is facing identical charges.
On Nov. 9 at approximately 6:14 p.m., West Chicago police officers responded to a call of a disturbance in the 700 block of W. Forest Avenue. Upon their arrival, officers observed a green Honda Civic with the driver’s side door ajar. Upon inspection of the Honda, officers found two deceased individuals, later identified as Alejandro Rios and Antonio Delgado in the car. Both men suffered apparent gunshots to their faces and chests.
Officers also found two loaded firearms and several boxes of THC cartridges within the vehicle. Following an investigation into the
shootings, it is alleged that Arevalo and Ramirez arranged to meet Rios and Delgado to purchase more than $1,000 worth of THC cartridges.
It is alleged that the victims arrived at the W. Forest Avenue location in the Honda and that Arevalo and Ramirez approached the car. It is further alleged that Arevalo entered the front passenger’s seat of the Honda and Ramirez entered the rear driver’s side seat of the car. It is alleged that Ramirez told the victims, who were both armed, that this was a robbery.
It is further alleged that Ramirez fired his weapon and that Arevalo shot Rios in the head and chest and shot Delgado in the chest multiple
times. It is alleged that after the shootings, Arevalo and Ramirez fled the scene on foot. A short time later, officers received information regarding a gunshot victim at a local hospital, later determined to be Ramirez. Officers arrived at the hospital where they took Arevalo into custody without incident. Ramirez was released from the hospital several days later and taken into custody.
Ramirez’s next court date is scheduled for Dec. 16 for arraignment while Arevalo’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 9 for arraignment. Both defendants’ cases will be heard in front of Judge Brian Telander.
Real estate/BusiNess
York Township honors Dee Longfellow
On Nov. 13, York Township Supervisor John W. Valle and the York Township Board of Trustees presented Dee Longfellow with a resolution honoring her for over 20 years of service working with Rock Valley Publishing, which publishes the Elmhurst Independent. In the resolution, Longfellow was recognized for her commitment to reporting the news fairly and accurately to her readers. Supervisor Valle said, “The board and I express our deepest appreciation and profound gratitude for Dee Longfellow’s 20 plus years of public-spirited service to our community. We extend our best wishes for her continued good health, good fortune, happiness and love of her family and friends. Have a wonderful retirement; you deserve it!” Pictured left to right are: Trustee Erica Whipple, Trustee Rae Rupp Srch, Trustee Jeffrey Mussatto, Longfellow, Valle, Clerk Anthony Cuzzone and Trustee Anthony Pacilli.
Community calendar
Thursday, Nov. 28
Holiday flower show at the Wilder Park Conservatory. Starting Nov. 28 and running through Jan. 12, step into the holidays during Wilder Park Conservatory’s Holiday Flower Show. The conservatory is located at 225 S. Prospect Ave. Free. Hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. through December and 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. beginning in January. For more information, call 630-993-8900.
Friday, Nov. 29
ECPA Winter Carolers. Plan your neighborhood party with hot cocoa and a visit from Santa, delight your dinner guests, or cuddle your kiddos at the front door for an experience they’ll always remember. The winter carolers are back and ready to share the sounds of the season with you. Under the direction of Becky Marianetti, York High School drama director and choir director, and ECPA board member, the ECPA Winter Carolers will be spreading holiday cheer this December for one night only, Sunday, Dec. 8, from 5.8 p.m. The winter carolers are insanely talented, wildly popular, and will sell out. Be sure to mark your calendar to secure your visit. Sales go live at 8 a.m. Nov. 29. The ECPA Winter Carolers song selections for 2024
include: Angels We Have Heard on High, The Christmas Song, Rudolph, Silent Night, The Dreidel Song and Masters in This Hall. You’ll be able to indicate your selection of two carol selections when you sign up to secure your visit. Please note that an exact arrival time cannot be guaranteed. Once all visits are sold, we will share with you an estimated time of arrival. For more information, call 24-283-7889 or email: ecpa.jenn@gmail.com.
Nov. 30 through Jan. 3
Penguin scavenger hunt. Presented by the Elmhurst City Centre and recurring daily, there are 100 plush penguins hidden in City Centre Merchant Windows this holiday season. Come explore the heart of downtown Elmhurst, find the penguins and see what City Centre is all about—great shopping, delicious dining and top notch, hometown service. Player cards available at all participating merchants and online at elmhurstcitycentre.com. For more information, call 630-993-1600 or email: info@ elmhurstcitycentre.com
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Memory care support group. On the first Wednesday of each month
from 10:30-11:30 a.m., a support group for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia will be held at Epiphany Church,, 314 W. Vallette. Connect with us for care and understanding. There is no cost. For more information, call 630-8321788 or email: AdultChristianCareElmhurst.org.
Thursday, Dec. 5
Tree lighting at Wilder Park. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the park, 175 S. Prospect, join the Elmhurst Park District as it kicks off the holiday season. We’ll count down to the lighting of the community trees surrounding the park and enjoy holiday festivities. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and say hello to reindeer. There also will be holiday carnival games and holiday performances. Sponsored by Kelly Stetler Real Estate. Free.
Friday, Dec. 6
Festival of Lessons and Carols. Presented by Elmhurst University at Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, the annual Elmhurst University Festival of Lessons and Carols draws together the campus and community to welcome a joyful and spiritual
Awardwinning sculptor
season. Held since 1961, the festival consists of nine Scriptural readings that tell the story of the birth of the Messiah. The university will offer two services, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Doors will open half an hour before each start time. For those who are unable to attend in person, the 7 p.m. service will be livestreamed at elmhurst.edu/bluejaytv. The event is free and all are welcome. For more information, email marketing@elmhurst.edu.
Saturday, Dec. 7
Santa’s Workshop at Wilder Mansion. From noon-3 p.m. at the mansion, located at 211 S. Prospect Ave., join Elmhurst Park District for Santa’s Workshop—a special place just for children where they can purchase inexpensive holiday gifts for those they love. Items are kid-priced and kid-friendly. No registration required; items are available to purchase.
Elmhurst History Museum Info: elmhursthistory.org.
Elmhurst Art Museum Info: 630-834-0202 or visit elmhurstartmuseum.org.
Sculptor Ted Strandt received the Best of Theme honor with his sculpture “Sleep” at the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild’s fall member exhibit. Strandt is a third-generation sculptor from a line of Danish stone cutters dating back to the late 1700s. Over 50 artists entered the exhibit, which will be on display until Saturday, Nov. 30, during regular hours at the Elmhurst Art Museum (150 S. Cottage Hill Avenue). The exhibit is free and open to the public. Other award winners at the exhibit included Awards of Excellence to Ken Reif (“Perpetually Surprised Barn”), Donna Castellanos (“Give a Dog a Bone”) and John Duffy (“The Good, The Bad and The Dead”), and Honorable Mention recognition to Fletcher Hayes (“Hopefully I’m Evolving”), Debra Vaccaro (“Queen Catrina”) and Diana Gondek (“Maria”).
We want to print your news! Is your church hosting a special event? Community Calendar listings are free! Send details to
SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
Can’t miss events in and around DuPage County
Starting at 5 p.m. the Village of Addison’s annual Christmas tree lighting will take place at 1 Friendship Plaza. The actual tree-lighting will take place at 8 p.m. From 5-9 p.m., there will be train rides in the Village Green, a Living Nativity at St. Paul Lutheran Church. hot chocolate by the Kiwanis Club, popcorn from the Knights of Columbus, an Historical Museum open house and food available from Barbara’s Polish Deli. Visits with Santa will be available from 5-7 p.m. For more information, visit: http://www.ithappensinaddison.com/event_details/christmas_tree_lighting_367.
Thursday, Dec. 5
Tree lighting at Wilder Park Elmhurst
From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the park, 175 S. Prospect, join the Elmhurst Park District as it kicks off the holiday season. We’ll count down to the lighting of the community trees surrounding
the park and enjoy holiday festivities. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and say hello to reindeer. There also will be holiday carnival games and holiday performances. Sponsored by Kelly Stetler Real Estate. Free.
Pictures with Santa Paws
Villa Park
From 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the The Depot Cortesi Veterans Memorial Park, capture a picture-perfect moment with Santa Paws. Bring your furry friend for a festive photo opportunity for $10. Each pet will have the chance to meet Santa and snap a photo together. Plus, Santa has a special treat for all the pets on the nice list! Photos will be emailed by Dec. 8. Don’t forget to sign up for a time slot when you register. Pre-registration is required by Dec. 1. For more information, visit: www.invillapark.com/161/Community-Events.
Saturday, Dec. 7
Jingle Bell Jubilee
Lombard
Held annually at Lilacia Park, the tree-lighting
ceremony takes place at 5:30 p.m. Various holiday events connected with Jingle Bell Jubilee will take place leading up to the tree-lighting ceremony near Lilacia Park at the Helen Plum Library (from 2-6 p.m.), Brust Funeral Home (2:337 p.m.), Lombard Historical Society (3-8 p.m.), Calvary Church (4-6:30 p.m.), the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce (4-8 p.m.), First Church of Lombard United Church of Christ (4:30-8 p.m.) and Lombard Bible Church (6-8 p.m.). For more information, visit: https://villageoflombard. org/168/Jingle-Bell-Jubilee.
Santa’s Workshop at Wilder Mansion
Elmhurst
From noon-3 p.m. at the mansion, located at 211 S. Prospect Ave., join Elmhurst Park District for Santa’s Workshop—a special place just for children where they can purchase inexpensive holiday gifts for those they love. Items are kidpriced and kid-friendly. No registration required; items are available to purchase.
Joyful Traditions • Villa Park
From 4-7 p.m. at the Ruggard Gazebo, 10 W. Park Blvd.,
Kick off the holiday season with extra cheer at this FREE family event, co-hosted with the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy photos with Santa, Mickey Mouse, the Grinch, and more. Ride the trolley around our festive decorations, grab some delicious food from local food trucks, visit the petting zoo, and take a pony ride. The trolley will run from 4-7 p.m. with stops at the Library for shopping at St. Nick’s Mart. The petting zoo and pony rides will also be available during this time, along with photo opportunities with Santa, Mickey, and the Grinch. Enjoy festive performances by choir carolers and more! To sponsor, adopt a tree, and more details, visit: https://villaparkchamber.org.
Tree lighting ceremony
Wood Dale
From 2-5 p.m. the City of Wood Dale will hold its annual tree-lighting ceremony at City Hall. Fireworks, seasonal treats and holiday crafts will be featured, along with a visit from Santa. For more information, visit: www.wooddale.com/ Home/Components/Calendar/Event/6630/20
Candy Cane Lake Market
Lombard
From 4-8 p.m. on South Park Avenue in downtown Lombard, join the Lombard Chamber of Commerce for the family friendly inaugural Candy Cane Lane Holiday Market. Vendors will be offering holiday theme items, a live Nutcracker show, Christmas music and characters to name just a few attractions. For more information, visit: https://business.lombardchamber.com/events.
Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8
Polar Express Storytime Train Ride Addison
The Addison Park District is hosting a Polar
Express Storytime Train Ride from 8:12 a.m.1:12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 and 11:12 a.m. to 3:12 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 at the Itasca Metra Station. Fee is $22 for residents, $32 for nonresidents. A storyteller will be on the train to narrate this story while children and their parents enjoy chocolate milk, cookies and a snow ball fight on the way back from the North Pole. When we reach the North Pole, we will find Santa Claus and take lots of family photos. A parent or guardian must accompany all children. Children age 9 months or younger do not need to be registered. For more information, call 630-233-7275 or visit: https:// addisonparks.org/mc-events/polar-express-storytime-train-8.
Friday, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20
Christmas parade
Addison
Starting at 6 p.m. both days, the parade begins with Santa winding his way through Addison neighborhoods on a fire engine. The parade starts at the Addison Police Department, and ends at Wooddale and Lake. For more information, visit: http://www.ithappensinaddison.com/event_details/christmas_parade_373.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Toy Parade
Lombard
The Lombard Fire Department is hosting its 23rd annual Toy Drive through Dec. 13. The drive will end with a Toy Parade. The Fire Department will depart Fire Station 45 (50 E. St. Charles Road) at 10:15 a.m. and will proceed south on Main Street to Glenbard East High School. Residents may line up along southbound Main Street to donate gifts, up to Glenbard East High School. Donations will then be brought to Yorktown Shopping Center for sorting. Residents are invited to participate and help spread holiday cheer by donating new, unwrapped toys and baby supplies to help local families in need. For more information, visit: https://villageoflombard. org/426/Fire-Department-Toy-Drive-Parade.
Visit from Santa Villa Park
From 10 a.m.-noon, tell Santa what you want for Christmas when he visits you in person. Santa will be on a busy schedule and will only be able to stay for a few minutes—just long enough to hear your wish list and pose for a quick picture. Each registered child will receive a special gift. Santa visits are available only to Villa Park residents. To register, visit: https://secure.rec1.com/ IL/villa-park-il/catalog.
Christmas bazaar and bake sale
Bensenville
From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 865 S. Church Road, Zion Ladies Aid will be hosting the Christmas bazaar and bake sale, featuring home made crafts and vendors, ornaments, towels, ceramics and more. Proceeds benefit Zion-Concord Lutheran School. For more information, call 630-766-1039.
Festivals of Lessons and Carols to be held at Elmhurst University on Dec. 6
The annual Elmhurst University Festival of Lessons and Carols draws together the campus and community to welcome a joyful and spiritual season.
This year’s celebration of the tradition will take place on Friday, Dec. 6, in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, 190 S. Prospect Ave.
The University will offer two Lessons and Carols services, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., to accommodate the popularity of the event. Doors will open 30 minutes before each start time. For those who are unable to attend in person, the 7 p.m. service will be live-streamed at elmhurst.edu/bluejaytv.
The event is free and all are welcome.
Obituaries
DOROTHY C. McANARNEY, 105
Dorothy C. McAnarney, age 105, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2024. There really was a Dorothy from Kansas.
Dorothy Cleo Bellman was born in Hammond, Kansas in 1919 and raised in Paola, Kansas where she read every children’s book in her small hometown library before age 10. Dorothy graduated from high school at the age of 16, and getting a teaching certificate shortly thereafter, she became the teacher at a one-room schoolhouse in nearby Drexel, Missouri.
Later marrying her high school sweetheart and musician, Joe McAnarney, Dorothy and Joe traveled the Midwest with big bands in the 1940’s. When the big band arrived in Chicago in 1952, Dorothy and Joe settled in Elmhurst. Dorothy became a teacher at Lindop Elementary School in Broadview, teaching there until 1982.
Retirement brought many activities through her church, The First United Methodist Church of Elmhurst, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Elmhurst Public Library. Utilizing the library’s Outreach Program, Dorothy led many reading groups at her retirement home in Elmhurst.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Vincent McAnarney, and is survived by her son, Joseph Edward McAnarney, his wife Linda, grandson Colby McAnarney, granddaughters Kristia Adrian and Megan Pfeiffer, and six great grandchildren.
To support the Youth Services at her small hometown library, a program called “Dorothy’s Mulberry Tree” has been established at the Paola Free Library, and donations to that program are welcomed. You can read about Dorothy and the mulberry tree at “About Us” on the library’s website.
Interment will be private.
Arrangements in care of Elmhurst
The Festival of Lessons and Carols is an Elmhurst University tradition that bridges the season of Advent and Christmastide. Held since 1961, the Festival consists of nine Scriptural readings that tell the story of the birth of the Messiah. The Elmhurst University choirs will perform time-honored songs to accompany each reading and set the holiday mood. Public lectures, concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances and other diverse cultural programming at Elmhurst University support community engagement and lifelong learning, and prepare students to thrive as adaptive leaders.
For more information, email the university’s marketing department at marketing@elmhurst.edu.
Community Funeral Home – THE AHLGRIM CHAPEL, www.ElmhurstFH.com or (630) 834-3515.
VIOLET C. BARTELS, 96
Violet C. Bartels, age 96, of Wood Dale and a former longtime resident of Marengo, Illinois, passed away November 20, 2024.
Violet’s passions were as colorful as her personality. She was an avid reader, a skilled quilter, seamstress, and crocheter, and she relished in a game of cards and a good party. Above all, she reveled in the love of her family, embracing her roles as mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and amazing mother-in-law.
After the loss of her beloved husband, Harvey, Violet transitioned from her role as a farmer’s wife to a beloved figure at the local grade school. Her dedication to the children and staff was evident in the many roles she embraced, leaving a legacy of nurturing and support that continued into her retirement.
Violet was the beloved wife of the late Harvey H. Bartels (1988); loving mother of Ken (Marge) Bartels, the late Jeanette (the late Harold) Fredrickson, and the late Ronald Bartels; cherished grandmother of Amy Hatfield, Eric Fredrickson, Brittany (Phil) Dorjath, and Jacob (Annice) Meding; great-grandmother of Abby Hatfield, Cole Hatfield, Charlie Dorjath, and Eli Dorjath; sister of Carol (Robert) Greve; and aunt to many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Visitation and Memorial Service were held on Monday, November 25, 2024 at Elmhurst Community Funeral Home – THE AHLGRIM CHAPEL, 567 S. Spring Road, Elmhurst. Interment will be private.
For information – 630-834-3515 or www.ElmhurstFH.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Violet’s name may be made to Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Network, www.elmhurstwalkin.org/.
Thursday, Nov. 28 at 9:00
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: Available in Our Lady Mother of the Eucharist Chapel 24/7
State-funded electric vehicle chargers open in Joliet, thousands more to come
By Andrew Adams CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
With nearly half a million dollars of state funding, a new electric vehicle charging station opened in Joliet on Monday. It is the first of hundreds of charging stations set to be
installed over the next 18 months as part of a state-funded grant program.
That growth in chargers is important as Illinois aims to rapidly transition toward having more electric vehicle drivers. There are about 120,000 EVs on Illinois roads, while
the state’s goal is to have 1 million on the road by 2030.
So far, over $25 million in state infrastructure funding has been awarded to gas stations, hotels, governments and other organizations to fund new EV charging. Another
funding round of up to $44 million is in the process of being awarded now, with more grants expected in the future.
This round of funding would add about 2,000 new ports—the electric equivalent of gas pumps. That would represent a roughly 47 percent increase in the number of charging ports around the state, according to data from the U.S. Department of En-
ergy. Gov. JB Pritzker said that there will be a charging station “along every highway, every 50 miles.”
The Joliet chargers, built by Veterans Energy Team in partnership with the Joliet Park District, are the first chargers to open after being funded by as part of the state’s Rebuild Illinois capital funding and authorized by the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
Distributing
Thanksgiving meals
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the York Township Food Pantry distributed over 100 meals to clients in need for the holiday season. Registered clients received a box with all the fixings and a turkey to complete their Thanksgiving feast. Montini Catholic High School students and staff helped with the distribution. Township Supervisor John W. Valle said, “Thank you to Campus Minister Mike Blanchette and the Montini students for their helpful hands and hard work. We are grateful to have such supportive partners assisting us alleviate hunger in York Township.”
Athlete of the Month Athlete of the Month
Miles Van Prooyen
Our athlete of the month is Sophomore Miles Van Prooyen. He is a two-year varsity golfer who stepped into the top spot for the Trojans in 2024. After posting a season average of 43.1 in 2023, he significantly improved, lowering his average to 38.7 this year.
During the regular season, Miles was the medalist in 8 matches, with his lowest round being a 1-under 34 against Latin. He finished the season with All-Conference Honors, placing 5th in the season-long All-Conference Team race.
While competing for an individual state champion title this past weekend, Miles finished with an even-par 72 and earned 4th place overall at the 2024 1A IHSA State Finals. Congratulations Miles!
Recognized by
Sport S
York football team headed to Class 8A state championship game
Dukes will face Loyola Academy Saturday night at Illinois State University
By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT
The York football team has made plenty of history the last three seasons, but none bigger than what went down in Naperville last weekend.
The Dukes defeated host Naperville Central 20-15 in one of Saturday’s Class 8A state semifinal to advance to the state-championship game for the first time in program history. This was York’s third appearance in the state semifinals in a row.
York (11-2) will face familiar playoff foe Loyola Academy (112) out of Wilmette for the Class 8A state championship this Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Hancock Stadium on the grounds of Illinois State University in Normal. Loyola beat York in the 2022 and 2023 Class 8A state semifinals. York is the No. 14 seed in the 32-team Class 8A bracket, while Loyola, which beat top-seeded Lincoln-Way East 27-24 in the other Class 8A semifinal, is the No. 12 seed.
Against Naperville Central, York quarterback Bruno Massel scored on a 10-yard run to put York up 7-0 in the first quarter. Naperville Central tied it on a 42-yard run later in
the quarter and took a 10-7 lead into halftime after converting a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter. Jimmy Conners’ 10-yard run in the third quarter put York up 14-10. Central countered with a 38-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-13 in the fourth before Massel scored on a 1-yard run to give York a 20-13 lead. Naperville Central was awarded a safety on the game’s final play when Massel took a fourth-down snap from York’s 43yard line and ran backwards, into the end zone, then out of the back of the end zone, to burn off the last 10 seconds.
“In the end, it was a tight, back and forth football game,” York coach Don Gelsomino said. “We made one or two more plays than they did. It was close. We didn’t make too many mistakes, and they made a couple more. We made a play or two. That’s what these types of games come down to.”
York’s defense allowed one touchdown in the game and limited Naperville Central to 220 total yards. “We were happy with how we played on defense,” Gelsomino said. “We had a lot of pressure on their quarterback. Our base front did a nice job in the
York football week 14 preview
York
(11-2) vs. Loyola Academy (11-2)
What: Class 8A state football championship game
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Hancock Stadium, Illinois State University in Normal Seeds: York is the No. 14 seed in the 32-team Class 8A bracket; Loyola is the No. 12 seed.
Outlook: York is in the state title game for the first time in program history after losing in the semifinal round to this same Loyola Academy program in 2022 and 2023. “Loyola will be a tough matchup,” York coach Don Gelsomino said. “They are many people who think they upset Lincoln-Way East (No. 1 seed, 27-24 last week). I don’t know about Loyola winning being an update. They are there again, have battle through some things, lost a couple games and have dealt with injuries. They are cooking at the right time and so are we. It should be a good one.” Loyola won the 2022 and 2023 Class 8A titles. The Ramblers’ losses this year came to East St. Louis (34-7) in Week 1 at Illinois State University and to Wheaton St. Francis (35-21). East St. Louis plays for the Class 6A state title Saturday. The two teams share a common opponent in Glenbard West. Loyola beat West 42-7 in Week 2, while York beat West 24-14. Two of Loyola’s four playoff wins have been decided by four points or less (Chicago Marist 24-20 and Lincoln-Way East 27-24). York’s defense has allowed 7, 17, 15 and 15 points in the four playoff games and has only surrendered 20 or more points in four of its 13 games this season.
Tickets: $15 at the Hancock Stadium gate.
TV: In the Chicago area, WCIU Channel 26 (“The U”). Check your provider for exact channel location.
run game (108 rushing yards allowed) and we limited the big plays. They did have a couple of them, but overall, we played really well on defense.”
Tyler Hayes was cited for strong play on the defensive line. “Tyler had a huge game,” Gelsomino said. Conners, Joe Reiff and Evan Gaughan also starred on defense. “Jimmy, Joe and Evan had monster games,” Gelsomino noted. Eddie Sica also starred in the defensive backfield for the Dukes. “He might not jump off the stat sheet, but Eddie had a tough assignment and did an awesome job for us,” Gelsomino said. “He had a pass breakup, an interception and only allowed one or two catches. He played really well.” Gaughan finished with 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one hurry. Reiff had eight tackles and three hurries. Hayes had seven tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup. Conners had six tackles, as did Drew Richardson. Aidan Link had two pass breakups, while Angelo Matire had one hurry.
As a team, York had six pass breakups and five quarterback hurries on defense. York ran for 168 yards and passed for 172. Massel completed 11 of 16 passes for 172 yards (long pass of 51 yards) and ran 19 times for 128 yards and two scored. Conners ran 16 times for 41 yards and one touchdown. “We were able to make some big plays on offense,” Gelsomino said. “Bruno had some gains with his legs and had a decent day through the air. He scrambled and made some plays and had some deep throws. He kept plays alive with his legs and moved the ball and moved the sticks for us. He did a great job.”
Henry Duda had one catch for 51 yards, while Finton Helm had five catches for 47 yards. Hayden Alexander had one catch for 34 yards, while Simon Kodosky had three catches for 29 yards and Conners had one catch for 11 yards.
York won on the road for the second time in the postseason. “It was a great atmosphere there,” Gelsomino
said. “Winning on the road is tough, but we have played pretty well on the road, really since I have been at York. It’s never easy. The kids stayed focus and stayed together and kept on course. We were down at halftime again, but we have a team that believes and stays focused and they got the job done.”
York is now 34-5 over the last three seasons and 42-7 in making four consecutive playoff appearances starting in 2021. “I don’t know if this has fully sunk in for me yet,” Gelsomino said. “It’s crazy. We have put in a lot of hard work, but a lot of it has been watching these kids develop since they were freshmen and believe this is something we could get accomplished. When they started as freshmen, they hadn’t been to the playoffs in 10 years, and now with this senior class, look what they did. It’s incredible. When they started here there were no guarantees they would make the playoffs and now they are going to the state championship game.”
Buikema, Wise earn all-state honors for Timothy Christian boys soccer
By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT
The postseason awards were abundant for the Timothy Christian boys soccer team. Seniors Peter Buikema and Owen Wise were named all-state, while senior Ben Schroeder earned an all-sectional accolade. Senior Trevor Munk was named all-sectional honorable mention, while senior Timo Kacian was the recipient of an all-sectional sportsmanship award. Senior Hyan Sachs earned an all-sectional academic honor. Buikema was named the Chicagoland Christian Conference goalkeeper of the year, while Wise was named all-CCC, along with Schroeder, senior Tim Nulty and senior Cooper Rainone.
Timothy also was one of only three finalists for the state team sportsmanship award. The Trojans finished the 2024 season 14-5-4 overall and won the Chicagoland Christian Conference title with a 6-0 record.
In the playoffs, Timothy opened Class 2A regional play with a 7-0 win over Nazareth Academy. Nulty had three goals, while Wise had two goals and two assists. Junior Aidan Contant had a goal and an assist. Senior Phillip
Wojcuik had a goal, while sophomore Zach Baker had two assists. Rainone had one assist. Buikema made three saves, while senior Matthew Gritters made two saves in a combined shutout effort.
The Trojans then lost 1-0 in penalty kicks to Benet Academy in a Class 2A regional title game. After playing to a 0-0 tie, Benet won the penalty kick phase 5-3. Wise led the team in scoring with 21 goals and 10 assists. Nulty had 12 goals and seven assists, while Schroeder had eight goals and three assists. Rainon had three goals and seven assists. Buikema made 91 saves, allowed only 13 goals and recorded 14 shutouts between the pipes.
“This was a very special group that did a lot of things the right way,” Timothy coach Joel Zielke said. Timothy finished the second half of the season with a 9-1-2 record. “I was really pleased with how we improved throughout the season and played some high-level soccer against the top programs in the state,” Zielke said.
Timothy defeated Class 2A state-champion Belleville Althoff Catholic 1-0 and also defeated Class 3A third-place finisher Hinsdale Cen-
tral 3-0. “We saw some good possession-oriented soccer where we dominated stretches of games and created a lot of scoring opportunities,” Zielke said. Timothy scored 72 goals and allowed only 18 this season. “We were a very tough group to score on,” Zielke said.
Zielke tipped his cap to the seniors on the team. “This group of seniors were big contributors for the program over the last four years and will be hard to replace,” he said. “They led in the right way with their work ethic, preparation and the way they performed on the field. They taught our group what it means to be a family and set the standard of excellence we are always striving for. We are extremely proud of all of their accomplishments.
Timothy returns six players and four starters—Schroeder, junior defender Wes Hueber, junior forward Matthew Buikema, Contant and sophomore defender Charles Rieger. Timothy’s lower-level programs went a combined 21-4-1 this season. “We also have had a lot of success with our lower-level programs,” Zielke said. “I expect our group to be ready to compete again at a high level next season.”
TESC teams win fall titles
Several Team Elmhurst Soccer Club (TESC) teams won championships during the fall season. The club’s special recognition league champions included: the 2017 Boys Select Silver team (7-1 record), the 2017 Boys Select Green team (6-2 record), the 2016 Boys Select Silver team (8-0 record), the 2016 Boys Select Green team (8-0 record), the 2015 Boys Select 1 team (7-1 record), the 2015 Boys Premier Black team (7-1 record), the 2012 Girls Select team (7-0-1 record) and the 2015 Girls Select team (6-1-1 record). Additionally, three other TESC teams (2015 Boys Select 2, 2015 Boys Premier Green and 2013 Boys Select 2) earned second-place finishes in their respective levels.
2017 Boys Select Silver team
2017 Boys Select Green team
2016 Boys Select Silver team
2016 Boys Select Green team
2015 Boys Select 1 team
2015 Girls Select team
2012 Girls Select team
Board honors York’s girls tennis team for its fourth-place finish at the state meet
IC Catholic Prep graduate Leslie headed to Le Moyne
Will play volleyball for Division II school
By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT
Recent IC Catholic Prep graduate Bella Leslie wanted to head east for college.
Her landing spot ended up being at NCAA Division II Le Moyne College where the former Knights volleyball and soccer standout will continue her volleyball career at the Syracuse, New York school as a libero.
The board recognized the members of the York High School girls tennis team who competed at the recent 2024 IHSA Class 2A state meet. York earned a fourth-place finish in the team standings of the state meet, which took place from Oct. 24-26. That fourth-place finish marked the best state-meet finish for the Dukes in the history of their girls tennis program. The previous best finish was a sixth-place showing that York achieved twice—in 2012 and 2022. Senior Lizzie Isyanov earned a second-place finish in the state meet’s singles tournament. With her runner-up effort, Isyanov achieved the York program’s all-time best finish in singles at the IHSA girls state meet. York’s duo of sisters Josie Coan and CJ Coan teamed up to win three matches in the state meet’s doubles draw and advance to the quarterfinal round.
I feel like I would be so bored without it because it has been such a big part of my life.”
(Josie is a senior; CJ is a sophomore) earned a total of six points for the Dukes with their three doubles wins at the state meet. New Trier won the Class 2A state meet’s team title with 35 points. Stevenson (20) placed second, while Hinsdale Central (19) earned third. York landed in fourth place with its 18-point total, while Plainfield North and Wheaton Warrenville South tied for fifth with 14 points each.
Leslie said she has plenty of memories from IC Catholic Prep’s coach Nancy Kerrigan’s program.
Board thanks the district’s PSRP employees
Chavez speaks during public participation segment
Three people spoke during the meeting’s public participation segment. One of those speakers was Tom Chavez, who has spoken at several previous meetings. Chavez mentioned that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released its most recent School Report Cards at the end of October. Chavez said that District 205’s recent School Report Card showed some good news and some bad news regarding student achievement.
Isyanov’s five victories at the state meet accounted for 12 of York’s points at the state meet. The Coan sisters
The spotlight and recognition segment of the board meeting also noted that Nov. 20 was PSRP (Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel) Day in the state. Board president Athena Arvanitis thanked the district’s PSRP employees for their significant contributions to the district.
Whelton gives presentation about 2024 tax levy
“All of the schools I was looking at were on the East Coast,” Leslie told the Independent last week. “I visited Le Moyne and really liked it. It reminded me of high school because it was a small school, and in a smaller school you will know a lot more faces than if I would have gone to a bigger school. The campus there is really pretty. It sits on a big hill and the scenery around it is great. Everything is pretty close together. They have very nice facilities. The volleyball program has good workout facilities and a nice locker room. I liked how modern it was.”
“I loved playing there,” she said. “I probably enjoyed school volleyball more than club because I love my team and the coaching staff was very supportive on and off the court. It made it a really good environment to be in. Coach (Kerrigan) was great. I have known her for a while. When I was little, I did all the little kids camps, and her daughter was in my brother’s grade at IC.”
Nov. 15 was School Board Members Day in Illinois. District 205 Superintendent Keisha Campbell spoke near the end of the Nov. 19 meeting’s spotlight and recognitions segment. She thanked the district’s seven board members for their volunteer service.
Leslie said she will miss plenty about IC Catholic Prep. “I will miss how close knit of a community it was,” she said. “I knew everybody at the school. It will be weird going on campus and not knowing all the faces. I’ll miss those close connections with the coaches and teachers. It will be weird for the first year or so.”
“ I’m really excited to be able to play volleyball in college. It gives me something to do. I feel like I would be so bored without it because it has been such a big part of my life.”
– Bella Leslie
The meeting’s reports and presentations segment included a presentation from Chris Whelton, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations. Whelton spoke about the district’s estimated 2024 tax levy. He said there will be a public hearing about the levy during the board’s upcoming Dec. 17 meeting. The board will vote to approve the levy during that meeting.
Whelton noted that taxes from the
York boys cross country team reflects
on banner season
2024 levy are collected in 2025; there will be two collections in 2025; one in June and one in September. He also mentioned that the tax cap limits the levy amount to the lesser of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 5 percent. Earlier this year, the CPI for the period from December 2022 to December 2023 was announced at 3.4 percent. Whelton stated that the amount of recent new construction in the district was unknown. He said that amount was critical, because it is exempt from the tax cap. Whelton said that the levy is only a request, and that the extension is what the county ends up putting on tax bills. Because the amount of recent new construction in the district is unknown, the district levies more than it anticipates it will receive.
According to the district, the total property taxes extended for 2023 were just over $151 million. The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2024 are nearly $158.5 million, which represents an increase of 4.92 percent
from the previous year.
During the board’s meeting on Sept. 24, Whelton gave a presentation about the district’s budget for the 2024-25 school year. According to that budget. The district anticipates revenues of about $164.9 million, and expenditures of about $177.1 million, during its 2024-25 fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2025. The district ended its 2023-24 fiscal year with an operating fund balance of about $58 million. At the end of its 2024-25 fiscal year, the district’s operating fund balance will be about $45.7 million.
Ribbon cutting on Dec. 2 to celebrate Churchville’s new auditorium
Whelton noted near the end of the meeting that there will be a ribbon cutting at Churchville Middle School at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, to celebrate the school’s new auditorium
The board’s next regular meeting will take place on Dec. 17.
Drop off cooking oil at post-Thanksgiving collection in
Villa Park on Nov. 30
Dukes improve from 24th in state to fifth this year
By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT
Leslie plans on studying nursing at Le Moyne. “They have a good nursing program,” she said. “As far as what kind of a nurse I want to be, I’m not quite sure yet.”
The York boys cross country team put a big bow on a successful season by finishing fifth at the recent Class 3A state finals meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria. York was two years removed from missing qualifying as a team for a state for the first time since John F. Kennedy was president of the United States.
Leslie played volleyball and girls soccer at IC Catholic Prep all four years. She was a center-midfielder on the Knights soccer team.
Leslie’s volleyball journey started in the fifth grade, the first year she could play the sport at IC Grade School. She’s been playing club volleyball since seventh grade, most recently with the Chicago Elite group that practices out of Scores in Willow Springs and Montini High School in Lombard.
“I’m really excited to be able to play volleyball in college,” she said. “It gives me something to do.
• Stopka
In a note to program alumni, Dukes coach Charlie Kern provided some insight into all that went on during the Detweiller race that brought the program back to frontand-center status among the state’s elite. Kern noted the team left Elmhurst with the possibility of finishing in the top three and earning a state trophy. “This thought was on everyone’s mind and created an excited buzz for the week leading up to the state championship,” he said. “Practices were spirited and a high-quality effort in our Monday mile time trial demonstrated we were ready.”
They lost to West Chicago on think an own goal in the last five minutes. That was against the state champs in the sectional finals. That’s a hell of a season if you ask me.”
After the first mile, York stood in 16th place. “While this may have looked bleak, I smiled,” Kern wrote. “Oftentimes in the chaos created by a competition with 228 people, there can be the tendency to get caught up in the moment and forget the race plan. Our plan was to cover the first mile between 4:47 and 4:57. They were together, hit their first time target and were in a great position to now hunt down the field.”
Leslie said pandemic life hasn’t been overly exciting, though her club volleyball team has started practicing again. “We have been practicing two or three times a week,” she said. “We are going to be starting tournaments again. Before that I haven’t been doing anything because senior soccer season and the club volleyball season were cancelled. We were supposed to go to a few club volleyball qualifiers in Grand Rapids and Louisville. This summer, we have some tournaments planned over the next few weekends. They are little tournaments with all of the local clubs. Nothing large and really local. Other than that, I have been trying to work out a lot and stay in shape. I’ve been running a lot, so I got into that. I try and run every day.”
the focus for York switches from a distance runner to a sprinter. “The final 300 has been a program focus since Mr. (Joe) Newton (the late legendary York boys cross country coach) took over the program in 1960,” he noted. “Over the years, every Yorkie has heard a coach yell, ‘300!’ The final 300 meters would require the boys to make the change from swift runner to powerful sprinter.”
As a collective seven runners, York was able to pass 86 other runners and moved the team toward fifth place, Kern noted. “The conversion was seamless and the final opportunity to change the team score was realized by each runner,” Kern added.
Leslie said she is scheduled to report to Le Moyne in the Aug. 1215 timeframe, but noted preseason volleyball activities already have
(Continued from page 18)
been cancelled due to the pandemic. “I will probably leave Aug. 10-11 because it’s a far drive,” she said. “We had Zoom call with the team recently and they said they should have an answer about our season in the next 7-10 days. They talked about three scenarios and what could happen like if we start the season and someone gets sick and we have to stop and go. That’s one of the reasons why they are looking at moving the season to the spring. Right now the plan is to have a season, but we won’t know until the next 7-10 days.”
third place. “So close, yet so far from where they started their journey two years ago,” Kern said. In 2022, York finished 11th at the sectional and did not qualify for state. A year later, York qualified for state and finished in 24th place with a total team time of 78:07.
Are you planning on deep-frying your turkey in oil this Thanksgiving? What will you do with the cooking oil after Thanksgiving? Did you know that fat, oil and grease can clog the pipes in your home and in our wastewater system?
Dispose of your cooking oil responsibly by dropping it off at the special cooking oil collection at the Salt Creek Sanitary District parking lot, 201 S. Route 83, Villa Park, on Saturday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to noon.
huge rah-rah person. I’m a little bit more of an individual players’ coach. I will pull kids to the side at practice and games and teach them.”
This fall, the Dukes won the Lake Park sectional with a team time of 76:30 and qualified for state. They went on to run a total team time of 75:10 in Peoria, average 15:02 per scoring member and log that fifthplace finish.
The cooking oil that is collected will be converted into bio-diesel. All cooking oil must be dropped off in a sealed container. Containers will not be returned. Only vegetable-based oil will be collected and no bacon grease or other animal fats will be accepted. This event is sponsored by the Salt Creek Sanitary District in partnership with the Villa Park Environmental Concerns Commission, and SCARCE (School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education).
For more information, contact Bob Wagner at 630-484-8856.
York moved up to ninth place at the two-mile mark. “At the two-mile checkpoint, the boys were right on and in position to get back to the finish line and try to get hold of one of the three trophies,” Kern said.
Kern explained the 300-meterfrom-the-finish-line mark is where
Stopka will teach Spanish at York. He taught Spanish and one math class at St. Pat’s. “My philosophy is I am more of a players’ coach,” he said. “I have been a big Liverpool soccer supporter ever since 2015 when Jurgen Klopp came over and he’s known as a players’ coach. He’s kind of my coaching idol. I want to related to the players and form bonds with them. am more light-hearted and smiling. I like to have fun and joke with the kids. The goal is understanding where each player can be successful and the provide the best way possible to convey the knowledge they need at the position they play. I am not big
Sam Kehoe led the way, passing 37 runners in the last mile. Michael Gurgone passed 28, while Patrick McGrail passed 16. Carter Olsen passed 15 and Max Zangan passed nine. “We ask athletes to finish on empty,” Kern said. “As we walked back to the tent, it was clear that everyone had given their best. Over the years, I have often thought we should just get on the bus and go home after the race, knowing that we had done our best and the actual score is not needed to know we did well. However, we live in a world where we are judged by our place in relation to others. I watched and listened to the boys tell their heroic tales and it pained me to know they would be dissatisfied with the final outcome. It was not until after 5-10 minutes in the tent did we finally share the scored. The boys were disappointed and had believed they did what was necessary to finish third, but other teams had something to say about that.”
Stopka noted York has been doing conditioning drills and said the plan as of earlier last week was to start summer camp pending District 205 approval. “I have probably been able to meet 60 to 70 percent of the players so far,” he said. “If it does get approved that would be the start of our contact days with four days a week for three weeks straight. And even though the IHSA waived the blackout dates before the school year, we won’t take advantage of that. I’m pretty sure families have plans to do things before school starts. I’m the new guy and I’m not going to say you can’t go with your family. Go do it and enjoy it. This is a crazy and
York finished
But if all systems are a go, Leslie can’t wait to take her skills as a libero to the next level with the Dolphins. “I feel like being a libero you have to be really quick and that is typically what I am good at. I have really good reaction time,” she said. “I like diving on the floor and saving balls. It’s a really good feeling when you make a save. The position fits my personality, too. You have to be the loudest one on the court. I have a loud personality. You have to be pretty loud if you want to be a libero. I think I match that description.”
“I am grateful for the work the entire team put in this summer and fall,” Kern said. “Each athlete worked on self-improvement and dared to push themselves and their teammates. They reflected on who they are and who they want to be. They made improvements and experienced setbacks. Yet through it all, they grew closer to the best versions of themselves. It was an honor to be part of it.”
ble and transparent and communicate with everybody.”
As far as the future, Stopka wants York competing at a high level on a consistent basis. “The short-term goal is to restock and build up the team,” he said. “A large portion of last year’s team was seniors, especially the starting 11. We have to make sure the now juniors are up to the speed of the varsity level and are ready to contribute. We want to keep that pipeline going with the younger groups of players. We want to make sure we are not only competitive, but that we are competing for regionals, sectionals and supersectionals. It starts for me with this junior class that is coming in. We want them ready to go and setting the standard for these other classes that come in so they can also contribute right off
Kern also took a moment to applaud the efforts of the York girls cross country team that took second in the state in a race that featured a thrilling team race. “As we walked up to our starting box to begin our warm up, we could see the Lady Dukes were in the thick of the most closely contested state meet in history,” Kern said. “Just prior to beginning the warmup, we saw the first three teams were separated by only two points and the top five were separated by 18 points. The Dukes finished second by one point to Barrington. In the past five years, the girl program has finished first three times and second twice. What an amazing accomplishment.” proudly presents
YORK HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE WEEK YORK FOOTBALL TEAM
Elmhurst Public Library programs
Friday, Nov. 29
2-4 p.m.
Friday Features:
“The Darkest Hour”
Enjoy an afternoon at the movies. Find each week’s featured film at elmlib.org/Friday. No registration required.
Saturday, Nov. 30
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Canasta: Open Play
Join us for a friendly game of Canasta every week. Prior experience is required.
Live in-person. No registration required.
Monday, Dec. 2 - 10 a.m.-noon
Scrabble
Play a friendly game of Scrabble. All skill levels welcome.
Live in-person. No registration required.
Monday, Dec. 2 - 7-8 p.m.
The Ultimate Presentation for Cubs Nation
Martin Gitlin, author of The Ultimate Chicago Cubs Time Machine
Book and former sports journalist, takes us through Chicago Cubs history from Albert Spalding to Ernie Banks to the 2016 championship win and beyond. Enjoy videos and photographs of their greatest players, teams, and moments, plus play a little Cubs trivia. Live in-person and on Zoom with a virtual presenter. Registration required.
Tuesday, Dec. 3
1-3 p.m.
Bridge and Pinochle
Enjoy an afternoon of card games
Guest reader
Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean was a guest reader last week at Kensington School, 425 Spring Road. Preschoolers listened to the chief read the story of Hugo Hippo and all of his new safety lessons. After the story, Chief McLean made the children “Junior Police Officers” after they took the oath to always be safe and look both ways before crossing the street.
every week. Prior experience is required.
Live in-person. No registration required.
Wednesday, Dec. 4
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
American mahjong: open play
Gather every Wednesday for American mahjong, a game of skill, strategy, calculation, and a certain amount of chance.
Live in-person. No registration required.
Thursday, Dec. 5 - 10-11:30 a.m.
Analog to Digital Conversion
Get to know equipment that will convert your cassettes, records, and VHS tapes into a digital format.
Registration with an Elmhurst Public Library card required.
Thursday, Dec. 5 1-2 p.m.
Ask the Great Lakes ADA Center
Understand your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and what you can expect in terms of accessibility in public spaces.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ZONING AND PLANNING
COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CASE NUMBER 24 ZBA 11
Request for Variation
Notice is hereby given that the Elmhurst Zoning and Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., in the Elmhurst City Hall, 209 N. York Street, Elmhurst, Illinois. The purpose of this hearing is to consider a request by Louise and John Derning, property owners, for a corner side yard setback Variation at the property commonly known as 436 W. Elm Park Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois for the purpose of constructing a covered porch.
Following is a legal description of the subject property:
LOT 19 IN FIRST ADDITION TO ROY H. BERRY COMPANY’S COLLEGE VIEW TERRACE, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THAT PART OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION TWO, TOWNSHIP THIRTY-NINE NORTH, RANGE ELEVEN EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, LYING NORTHEASTERLY OF THE RIGHT OF WAY OF THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL REAILROAD, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED DECEMBER 15, 1924 AS DOCUMENT 186166, IN THE RECORDER’S OFFICE OF DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
PIN: 06-02-319-012
The common street address is 436 W. Elm Park Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois. The subject property is located within the R2 – Single Family Residence District.
If you have any questions regarding this case, please contact the Community Development Department at 630-530-3121.
Any person who has a disability requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in this meeting, should contact Emily Palm, ADA Compliance Officer, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., City of Elmhurst, 209 N. York Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126, call 630-530-3770 or email HR@elmhurst.org within a reasonable time before the meeting. Please provide as much notice as possible for sign language interpreting requests.
Eileen Franz, City Planner
(Published in The Elmhurst Independent Nov. 28, 2024)
464914
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ZONING AND PLANNING
COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CASE NUMBER 24 ZBA 10
Request for Variations
Notice is hereby given that the Elmhurst Zoning and Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., in the Elmhurst City Hall, 209 N. York Street, Elmhurst, Illinois. The purpose of this hearing is to consider a request by Romeo Bakievski, property owner, for Variations from minimum lot area at the properties commonly known as 524 N. West Avenue Vacant Lot and 526 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois for the purpose of re-subdividing two existing lots.
Legal descriptions of the subject properties:
PARCEL 1: LOTS 1 AND 2 IN BLOCK 2 IN THE FIRST ADDITION TO ELMHURST GARDENS, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN THE EAST HALF OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 40 NORTH, RANGE 11, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED SEPTEMBER 12, 1924 AS DOCUMENT NO. 182393, IN DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
PIN: 03-34-222-043 (COMMONLY KNOWN AS 526 N. WEST AVENUE)
PARCEL 2: LOT 3 AND THE NORTH 8.80 FEET OF LOT 4 IN BLOCK 2 IN THE FIRST ADDITION TO ELMHURST GARDENS, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN THE EAST HALF OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 40 NORTH, RANGE 11, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED SEPTEMBER 12, 1924 AS DOCUMENT NO. 182393, IN DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
PIN: 03-34-222-057 (COMMONLY KNOWN AS 524 N. WEST AVENUE VACANT LOT)
The common street addresses are 524 N. West Avenue Vacant Lot and 526 N. West Avenue in Elmhurst, Illinois. The subject properties are located within the R2 – Single Family Residence District.
If you have any questions regarding this case, please contact the Community Development Department at 630-530-3121.
Any person who has a disability requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in this meeting, should contact Emily Palm, ADA Compliance Officer, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., City of Elmhurst, 209 N. York Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126, call 630-530-3770 or email HR@elmhurst.org within a reasonable time before the meeting. Please provide as much notice as possible for sign language interpreting requests.
Eileen Franz, City Planner
(Published in The Elmhurst Independent Nov. 28, 2024)
464913
LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CASE NUMBER 24 ZBA 09
Request for Variation
Notice is hereby given that the Elmhurst Zoning and Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., in the Elmhurst City Hall, 209 N. York Street, Elmhurst, Illinois. The purpose of this hearing is to consider a request by Andrew Berryhill, Archadeck of Chicagoland, on behalf of Frank Allemana, property owner, for a rear yard setback Variation at the property commonly known as 434 E. Atwater Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois for the purpose of constructing a deck within the rear yard setback.
Following is a legal description of the subject property:
LOT 279 AND THAT PART OF LOT 280, LYING NORTH OF A LINE DRAWN FROM THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 280 TO A POINT IN THE EAST LINE OF LOT 280, 6 FEET SOUTHERLY OF THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF LOT 280, IN BRYNHAVEN UNIT NUMBER 3, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF
PART OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 1 AND THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 12, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 11 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED NOVEMBER 10, 1954 AS DOCUMENT 736664 AND CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION RECORDED SEPTEMBER 11, 1956 AS DOCUMENT 815453, IN DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
PIN: 06-01-411-005
The common street address is 434 E. Atwater Avenue, Elmhurst, Illinois. The subject property is located within the R1 – Single Family Residence District.
If you have any questions regarding this case, please contact the Community Development Department at 630-530-3121.
Any person who has a disability requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in this meeting, should contact Emily Palm, ADA Compliance Officer, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., City of Elmhurst, 209 N. York Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126, call 630-530-3770 or email HR@elmhurst.org within a reasonable time before the meeting. Please provide as much notice
as possible for sign language interpreting requests.
Eileen Franz, City Planner (Published in The Elmhurst Independent Nov. 28, 2024) 464915
NOTICE
CERTIFICATE NO. 79554 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on NOVEMBER 14, 2024, wherein the business firm of GILMARTIN LAW GROUP LOCATED AT 437 S. HAWTHORNE AVE., ELMHURST, IL 60126 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: NAME OF PERSON(S) DAVID J. GILMARTIN, HOME ADDRESS 437 S. HAWTHORNE AVE., ELMHURST, IL 60126.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 14TH day of NOVEMBER, A.D. 2024.
JEAN KACZMAREK Jean Kaczmarek DuPage County Clerk (OFFICIAL SEAL)
(Published in The Elmhurst Independent Nov. 21, 28, Dec. 5, 2024) 464615
NOTICE TO OUR READERS
1. To receive the Elmhurst Independent mailed print version for one year, make a donation in any amount. IF YOU THINK THE INDEPENDENT IS WORTH 50¢ an issue, it would be $26.00; 75¢ an issue - $39.00 or $1 an issue - $52.00. You won’t get a tote bag, T-shirt, coffee mug or CD of Lawrence Welk’s Greatest Hits. But you will get the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped to support your favorite newspaper.
2. Pick up a free copy of the Elmhurst Independent print version at any one of more than 80 newsstand locations in Elmhurst every Thursday
3. Sign up for a free weekly eSubscription that can be read on a computer, laptop or tablet. Your link will be emailed to you every week. Sign up at today at: RockValleyEnews.com
Please sign me up for weekly mail home delivery of the Elmhurst Independent print version for one year. Enclosed is my donation. Readers that have made a donation in the last year will continue to receive the Elmhurst Independent by mail at no charge for up to 12 months.
Business & Service
CUSTOM CONCRETE
CUSTOM CONCRETE
Residential driveways, patios, walkways.
HANDYMAN BILL
Handyman
Specializing in general maintenance and repair both inside and out.
Stamped and colored concrete. Call Greg 630-469-6898 388922
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.
DISCLAIMER NOTICE This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.
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.
