NOVEMBER 5-6, 2025 • VOL. 65 ISSUE 2
INSIDE: Wolves cross
country teams take third at national meet See Page 3...
District expands by 500 acres for second largest acquisition in history See ‘FOREST’ Page 2
(Photo by Chad Merda/Will County Forest Preserve www.reconnectwithnature.org)
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LOCAL NEWS Continued From: Page 1, FOREST
After eyeing a large piece of property in eastern Will County since the 1970s, the Forest Preserve closed on the parcel this summer, making it the second largest property acquisition in the District’s history. The 495.27-acre parcel is north of Illinois 394, adjacent to Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve in Crete Township. A land purchase of this size is rare nowadays as more and more of Will County is developed. The property has been mostly undisturbed except for farming. It includes the origins of Plum Creek and moraines carved by glaciers thousands of years ago. Colleen Novander, director of planning and land preservation, said it will be rewarding to see the land restored and developed in future years so native species and Will County residents can benefit from it. “Regardless of its size, it’s just knowing that we’re protecting it into perpetuity,” she said. “That’s exciting and it’s for everyone.” The addition is now part of a 3,300-acre Plum Creek Greenway acquisition program that began in 1938 and is nearing completion. And it pushes the Goodenow Grove Preserve to from 891 acres to 1,386, making it the second largest
preserve in the District. Only Hickory Creek Preserve at 1,541 acres is larger. The Crete Township acquisition is part of a $50 million Capital Improvement Program the District launched last year to preserve as much open space in Will County as possible before more of it is lost to warehouses, strip malls and subdivisions. Of the $50 million, $25 million has been earmarked for land acquisition. The Forest Preserve’s goal is to protect 1,100 acres, and so far the District has acquired 747 acres. The Crete Township parcel cost $4.3 million. “We try to focus on areas that really enhance our existing holdings,” Novander said. The new land will buffer and protect the nature preserve, Plum Creek, the creek’s greenway, and the threatened and endangered species already known to exist there. The parcel also could be used to extend the Vincennes Trail on an old abandoned rail line corridor that runs through the new property. Now that the property has been acquired, Novander said a land use plan will be created by assessing the topography to map wetlands, possible access points and recreational potential. “That usually takes us about a year, and we’ll kick that off in the upcoming months,” she said. “Once we have that in place, then we will go further into it from a planning and real estate perspective and come up with a master plan.” The master plan will outline where trails, picnic shelters and connections to Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve will
be placed. Only the Forest Preserve’s 1991 Lake Renwick Preserve acquisition in Plainfield was larger at just over 500 acres. But to acquire a piece of land almost as big 34 years later is quite the achievement, said Dave Robson, the Forest Preserve’s natural resource management supervisor. He noted that the new parcel makes up around 2 percent of the District’s almost 24,000 acres. “So, in one fell swoop, we picked up 2% of all the property and acres we own across the county,” Robson said. “That does not happen every day. Not just for Will County. All the local conservation organizations and forest preserve districts. “Acquiring 500 acres in one fell swoop is once in a career,” he added. “It doesn’t happen. There are hundreds of preserves in northeastern Illinois that are smaller than 500 acres. People love them. We love them. And they’re great. They do all the wonderful things people want them to do. But they’re not 500 acres.” Now that the land has been acquired, hydrology will be assessed and baseline inventories will be performed so staff know where threatened and endangered species may be located on the property and what other species are present. “We really need to make sure we keep the best of what is here when we acquire it,” he said. “… We start with the highest quality chunks that are left and we work our way out to the property boundaries.”
LOCAL NEWS
NOVEMBER 5-6, 2025 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM | PAGE 3
Wolves cross country teams take third at national meet The meet was run in the unlikeliest of weather as it snowed heavy on Saturday morning as the Division III races were the first to go. In the men’s race, Nathan Ciarlette was the individual runner-up and Gavin Carlson placed 10th to lead the Wolves as both earned All-American status. “What a crazy day,” Wolves coach Jeff DeGraw said. “It started to snow as we were on the way to the race course and it never stopped. Being the first races had both advantages and disadvantages, but everyone had to run it. If you were a spectator you had no idea where the course was. You just had to find the lead vehicle and watch for the athletes behind. “We were always in position in the top three as a team throughout the race and I’m certainly happy with the overall result. Anytime you can come home with hardware (Top 3) it’s a plus. Two fresh-
men, Glen Earnest and Adrian Castillo, ran really well as they were our fourth and fifth runners and did a fantastic job.” The women were next up and with it still snowing, there wasn’t much difference in the race as the Wolves were between second and third place the entire race. Gabby Zid placed 8th and Allison Behounek was 10th to also receive All-American awards. “I thought the women ran great and it was their first podium finish since 2021,” DeGraw said. “Vivienne Forte and Ember Myers ran very well as our third and fourth runners. Gabby [Zid] was steady as she has been all season and Allison [Behounek] had an absolutely great season and that shows what doing your summer running and having confidence can do for you. “I would also like to thank our athletic director Gregg Braun and all the parents who braved the wet, snowy day for all of their support. It will be a meet that will be remembered for a long time.” The double podium finish was also the first for the Wolves since 2021.
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The Wolves’ cross country teams both placed third at the NJCAA Division III National meet this past Saturday in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
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BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE
How to determine how much house you need Potential home buyers typically have lists of requirements they would like to find in a new home. Although there are many features that are universally appreciated, certain elements may appeal to particular buyers more than others.
Number of rooms
For example, a swimming pool may be coveted by active families, but may not be as desirable to retirees looking for less upkeep.
While formal dining rooms once were de rigueur, they largely fell out of favor in recent years in lieu of open floor plans. The more rooms you need, the larger a home should be.
Size is consideration that merits significant attention. The mantra “bigger is better” is well known, but homes with significant square footage may not be ideal for all buyers. “How much home do I really need?” is an important question for buyers to ask themselves before they embark on their home-buying journeys. Here’s how buyers can identify how much house they need.
How many occupants will be living in the home? The first consideration in home size is the number of residents. Rocket Mortgage says a good rule of thumb is to give each person 600 square feet of space. So that means a family of four would ideally live in a home that is 2,400 square feet, while a couple may be fine in a 1,200 square foot home.
Generally speaking, the more rooms in a home, the larger the house. Potential buyers should identify rooms they feel are essential.
Potential life changes It’s important to consider life changes on the horizon, and buyers should decide if they want to move as a result of those changes or if they want to set down strong roots and stay in one home. For example, a starter home may be perfect for newlyweds, but the space may be too tight when kids come along. Also, those who anticipate caring for a parent in the future may want a home that will accommodate an extra resident in the years ahead.
Tiny house movement The trend to live in very small houses has gained popularity in recent years. Many people have chosen to live with less and
Many people use the terms real estate agent, real estate broker and Realtor® interchangeably. While these professionals handle many similar tasks, there are some notable distinctions between them.
downsize to diminutive homes.
outdoors.
Most “tiny” homes are less than 400 square feet and are not much bigger than some owner’s suites in larger homes. There are merits to small homes, and that includes a small environmental impact, less clutter, financial advantages, and other perks like spending more time
Housing budget Sometimes how much house a person needs comes down to how much he or she can afford. Small homes tend to be less expensive than large ones.
However, even small homes in urban areas or those close to the water or other attractive amenities could still cost quite a bit. Housing size is a personal preference that potential buyers must consider when they are shopping around.
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