MAY7- 8, 202 5 • vo l . 6 4 i ss u e 2 6
News from Plainfield • Joliet • Shorewood • Lockport • Crest Hill • Bolingbrook • Romeoville • Downers Grove • Westmont • Woodridge • Lisle • Niles • Morton Grove • Park Ridge & more
By randy whalen For the Bugle
The Timbers earns prestigious awards in U.S. News & World Report The Timbers of Shorewood has been recognized with the “Best Independent Living Award” in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Senior Living ratings, further solidifying its position as a leader in senior living in Joliet area. U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Senior Living ratings are based on consumer-satisfaction data derived from surveys of nearly 450,000 residents of senior-living communities and their family members. U.S. News evaluated more than 3,800 communities throughout the United States. In addition to the Best Senior Independent Living award, The Timbers has received high performing emblem awards in the following categories: • Senior Independent Living Management & Staff • Senior Independent Living Activities & Enrichment • Senior Independent Living Feels Like Home These accolades recognize communities that score in the top 25 percent for each category while maintaining a high overall score.
“We are incredibly proud to receive these prestigious awards from U.S. News & World Report,” said Kevin Young, executive director of The Timbers of Shorewood. “These
recognitions reflect the dedication of our team to create a warm, engaging, and supportive environment for our residents. We are particularly pleased to be recognized for our
management, staff, activities, and the feeling of home we strive to provide.” In addition to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Senior Liv-
ing Award, The Timbers was voted “Best Senior Care Community in Will County” by readers of the Herald-News for three years in a row.
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M AY 7- 8 , 2 0 2 5 | B u G L e N e W SPAP e R S. C o M | PAG e 3
Suburban Lotto winner claims $2M An Illinois Lottery player is basking in joy after recently taking home the top prize of $2 million on a brand new $20 scratch-off ticket, Mega Bucks. “It was a typical morning like any other – until it wasn’t,” explained the lucky winner, nicknamed ‘Classic Car Collector.’ “I was on my way to work and I stopped at a gas station to buy a cup of coffee. At the checkout, I decided to grab a scratch-off lottery ticket, too – a purple one lit up on the screen at the exact second I looked at it, so I said, ‘I’ll take that one.’” The $2 million winning scratchoff ticket was purchased at Lenny’s Gas N Wash, located at 1201 W. Jefferson Street in Shorewood. The winner scratched the ticket in his car and was initially in disbelief. “As more and more zeroes started to appear, and then the final $2,000,000, I just couldn’t believe it. I kept staring at the ticket, thinking, there’s no way… this can’t be real,” said the stunned winner. “I went back into the store and scanned the ticket just to be sure. Even with the machine flashing ‘WINNER,’ I still didn’t believe it. I must’ve been standing there
for a while because the clerk came over and asked if something was wrong, so I showed her the ticket – she put on her glasses, took one look, and
screamed!” Classic Car Collector laughed as he recalled, “That’s when it really started to sink in, and my first thought was,
‘I’ve got to get home and tell my wife!’ But when I did, she looked at me like I was nuts! I kept saying, ‘I just won two million dollars!’ and at one point I
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thought she was going to faint.” The lucky player won the top prize on a $20 Mega Bucks ticket, which only launched on April 1.
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M AY 7- 8 , 2 0 2 5 | B u G L e N e W SPAP e R S. C o M | PAG e 5
District 99 Board of education and teachers reach contract agreement On May 1, 2025, the Community High School District 99 Board of Education unanimously approved a five-year contract with the Downers Grove High School Education Association (DGEA), which is the collective bargaining unit for District 99’s certified staff. “Our teachers and administrators have been working closely together over the past several months, and finished ahead of our goal to have a renewed contract in place by the start of the next school year,” says District 99 Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele. “I believe the new contract signals to certified staff that we value and support them.” “The contract is a financially responsible one for the community, while at the same time allows us to remain competitive in attracting highly qualified teachers so that we can continue offering the highest quality education to our students,” says Board of Education President Don Renner.
“I’m proud of the process used to reach agreement on the contract. I think it is a direct reflection of the strong working relationship between our District Leadership Team and the DGEA.” The average overall cost to the district is aligned with district revenues, including salaries and benefits, in the teacher salary budget. Starting July 1, 2025, teachers will receive a 4.02% percent salary increase in the first year. Savings from retirement will help keep the net increase of the contract in line with the district’s expected budget with an addition of a matching retirement contribution option for our early career educators. The district anticipates over 50 teachers will retire over the next five years, and this benefit will help the district continue to recruit and retain teachers. “Over the past year, members of the administration representing the Board of Education and DGEA bargaining teams have worked
diligently to develop a comprehensive contractual agreement that honors the dedication, talent and passion of the teachers serving the District 99 community,” says DGEA President Josh Bodenheimer. “The DGEA appreciates the spirit of collaboration demonstrated by the administrative team and values the forwardthinking contractual benefits that thoughtfully address the needs, interests and aspirations of 21stcentury educators.” “I truly believe this agreement reflects a commitment not only to our collective association, but also to the approximately 425 individual members who bring it to life each day,” adds Bodenheimer, who is a teacher at North High. “This contract is a reflection of the DGEA’s and administration’s commitment to our shared value of putting students first and working collaboratively to solve problems,” says Christopher Esposito, lead DGEA negotiator and department chair at South
High. “The new contract is a fair agreement that demonstrates the importance our district leadership places on the certified staff members of District 99.” The contract between District 99 and the Downers Grove High School Education Association
includes more than 400 certified staff members at North High, South High and Transition 99, including teachers, department chairs , deans, counselors, social workers, psychologists and other licensed teaching staff in a variety of roles that support students.
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BuSiNeSS AND ReAL eSTATe
A guide to mortgage interest rates Buying a home is the most expensive purchase many people make in their lifetime. Some people do it only once, while others are in the market with greater frequency. In any instance when the home buying process involves securing a mortgage, buyers can benefit from knowing a thing or two about mortage interest rates. A mortgage interest rate can help buyers determine if a given home is affordable or beyond their budget. Rocket Mortgage says mortgage interest rates can have a major impact on long-term costs, so it is imperative to seek the lowest rates possible. However, an assortment of economic variables affect mortgage interest rates, and conditions unique to each buyer also can affect the rate they’re eligible to obtain. Understanding home loan rates can help potential buyers better navigate the complex process of buying a home. What is mortgage interest? When a person buys a home with a mortgage, he or she doesn’t just pay back the amount borrowed, which is called the principal. The loan also requires paying interest, which is essentially the cost of borrowing money. Mortgage interest is calculated as a percentage of the remaining principal, says Investopedia. How are mortgage rates set? Mortgage rates are not determined by a single variable. They are derived from a combination of factors that includes the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, economic conditions and a borrower’s personal financial situation. The Federal Reserve (in the United States) influences the overall rates by adjusting the federal
funds rate, or the rate at which banks lend to each other overnight. This not only impacts mortgage rates, but also additional interest rates, according to Fannie Mae. Lenders will ultimately decide on the specific rates to offer borrowers. How does a borrower’s financial situation affect mortgage rates? Lenders will conduct a thorough assessment of a potential borrower’s creditworthiness. They will look at, among other things, a borrower’s credit score and debtto-income ratio. A higher credit score typically results in a lower
interest rate. A lower DTI indicates a lower risk to the lender, also potentially resulting in a lower interest rate. Squaring away finances well in advance of applying for a mortgage can help home buyers secure lower interest rates that could save them considerable sums of money over the life of their mortgages. How do loan types affect mortgage interest? A home buyer will pay interest no matter the mortgage type, but there are options to select a fixed or adjustable interest rate, or even
interest-only mortgages. According to Bankrate, with a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate remains the same throughout the life of the loan, meaning the payment for principal and interest will remain consistent. Additional charges that are wrapped into mortgage payments could change, however. Property taxes and homeowners’ insurance charges could increase, for example. Fixed rates tend to be lower when the term of the mortgage is shorter. So borrowers can opt for a 20-year mortgage over a 30-year to save
some money on interest. An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) will see the interest rate change during the repayment period. It may start with a low introductory rate for the first several years of the loan, but then can go up or down depending on market indexes and benchmarks. Many lenders put a cap on how high the interest rate can go, however. Various factors determine mortgage interest rates for home buyers, including market conditions, credit standing, federal rates, the type of loan, and term length.
M ay 7- 8 , 2 0 2 5 | b u gl e n e wspap e rs. c o m | pag e 7 LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
TO: Simon Zarkin, Ideen Zarkin; Will County Clerk, Michael Zarkin, Debbie Goldstein; Occupant, 25326 Federal Cir, Plainfield, IL; Parties in occupancy and possession; any unknown owners and occupants. TAX DEED NO. 2025TX000064. FILED: April 2, 2025. TAKE NOTICE. County of Will. Date Premises Sold 12/5/2022. Certificate No. 21-00303. Sold for General Taxes of (year) 2021. Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality) and special assessment number N/A Warrant No. N/A Inst. No. N/A. THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES. Property located at. 25326 Federal Cir, Plainfield, Illinois. Legal Description or Property Index No. 06-03-08-303005-0000. This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on 9/30/2025. The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his or her assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem the property from subsequent forfeitures or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before 9/30/2025. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this county in the Will County Courthouse, 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432, on 10/16/2025 at 9:15 AM in room 904. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY. Redemption can be made at any time on or before 9/30/2025 by applying to the County Clerk of Will County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Joliet, Illinois. For further information contact the County Clerk. ADDRESS: 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432. TELEPHONE: (815) 740-4615. Pro Cap 8 FBO Firstrust Bank, Purchaser or Assignee. Dated: April 18, 2025. Published April 24, 2025, May 1, 2025, May 8, 2025
TO: Laura Flannagan; Will County Clerk, Andover at Carillon Homeowners’ Association, Inc. RA: Tressler Corporate SVCS, Inc., Carillon Adult Master Association RA: KSN Registered Agent, LLC, Michael Long, John Flannagan, Kelly M. Long, Christopher Long, Cynthia Gilman; Occupant, 20833 W. Peppertree Court, Plainfield, IL; Parties in occupancy and possession; any unknown owners and occupants. TAX DEED NO. 2025TX000077. FILED: April 2, 2025. TAKE NOTICE. County of Will. Date Premises Sold 12/5/2022. Certificate No. 21-00468. Sold for General Taxes of (year) 2021. Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality) and special assessment number N/A Warrant No. N/A Inst. No. N/A. THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES. Property located at. 20833 W. Peppertree Court, Plainfield, Illinois. Legal Description or Property Index No. 11-04-06-279-012-0000. This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on 9/30/2025. The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his or her assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem the property from subsequent forfeitures or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before 9/30/2025. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this county in the Will County Courthouse, 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432, on 10/16/2025 at 9:15 AM in room 904. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY. Redemption can be made at any time on or before 9/30/2025 by applying to the County Clerk of Will County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Joliet, Illinois. For further information contact the County Clerk. ADDRESS: 302 N Chicago St, Joliet, IL 60432. TELEPHONE: (815) 740-4615. Infinite Financial Investments, Purchaser or Assignee. Dated: April 18, 2025. Published April 24, 2025, May 1, 2025, May 8, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE TO: Jon Heatherwick; Will County Clerk, Occupant, Hampton Glen Condominium Association RA: Shifrin Legal, Inc., Hampton Glen Condominium Association c/o Tammy Griffin, and Denise Dobias; Occupant, 5122 New Haven Ct., Plainfield, IL; Parties in occupancy and possession; any unknown owners and occupants. TAX DEED NO. 2025TX000073. FILED: April 2, 2025. TAKE NOTICE. County of Will. Date Premises Sold 12/5/2022. Certificate No. 21-00830. Sold for General Taxes of (year) 2021. Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality) and special assessment number N/A Warrant No. N/A Inst. No. N/A. THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES. Property located at. 5122 New Haven Ct., Plainfield, Illinois. Legal Description or Property Index No. 05-06-04-205-146-1002. This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on 9/30/2025. The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his or her assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem the property from subsequent forfeitures or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before 9/30/2025. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this county in the Will County Courthouse, 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432, on 10/23/2025 at 9:00 AM in room 905. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY. Redemption can be made at any time on or before 9/30/2025 by applying to the County Clerk of Will County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in Joliet, Illinois. For further information contact the County Clerk. ADDRESS: 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60423. TELEPHONE: (815) 740-4615. Pro Cap 8 FBO Firstrust Bank, Purchaser or Assignee. Dated: April 18, 2025. Published April 24, 2025, May 1, 2025, May 8, 2025
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