Joliet 11-28-18

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HOW THE U. OF I WOUND UP IN CHAMPAIGN-URBANA #jolietbugle

JOLIETBUGLE.COM

SEE PAGE 4

EVENTS

Calendar Events Upcoming events in your area SEE PAGE 11

SPORTS

Kings of the Hill JCA wins Class 5A state football title SEE PAGE 6

BUSINESS Dave Says Getting ready for the Baby Steps

SEE PAGE 8

The city of Joliet kicked off the holiday season with its 21st annual Light Up the Holidays Parade. The all day event was presented by the University of St. Francis and held November 23. It featured events throughout the morning and afternoon and finished with a parade of lights down Chicago St. featuring Santa Claus in the final float.

FORUM SPOTLIGHT

ILLINOIS LEGACY

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

SCHOOLS >> JOLIET TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL

Students raise more than $13K for Pink Heals Joliet West, Central volleyball teams raise bulk of funds The Joliet Central High School gymnasium was painted pink during the JTHS Pink Heals volleyball game on October 18, 2018. Filled with students, athletes, families and supporters of the Pink Heals Chapter of Joliet, proceeds from the annual volleyball game of Joliet Central vs. Joliet West went to support women in the community battling cancer.

“For the JTHS girls swim team, what began as fundraiser for our team back in 2015 is now in its fourth year, and more successful than ever,” coach Danielle Maynard said. “Pink Heals is an organization near and dear to the heart of our program and we will continue to support and raise awareness for this organization for many years to come. “ “One of our swimmers is very involved with the organization and we have been so grateful for all that they do in our community,” said coach Nick Noenig.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Front row, from left, Autumn Thoms, Stephanie Ramirez, Kaitlin Facchina, Calli Cromwell, Trenton Olson, Julisa Gallegos Back row, from left, Margarita Reyes Torres, Guadalupe Medina, Hannah Rausch, Haley Bueschel, Lauryn Luangsomkham.

This year, more than $13,000 was raised in total donations for Pink Heals. JTHS Volleyball (Central and West) raised more than $12,500. The JTHS girls swim team raised and additional $500. JROTC collected loose change and donations, and wore pink shoulder cords on their dress days to high-

light the fundraiser.

“It’s great that our volleyball programs and community work so hard to help such a great organization like Pink Heals,” said West volleyball coach Al Mart.

Coach Pritz and her staff did an amazing job making the event so successful this year.”

Pink Heals Joliet Area Chapter is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that raises awareness and funds for families and non-profit entities that assists in those battling cancer within the cities they visit.

On Nov. 18, Pink Heals went to surprise Joliet Central High School

teacher Marie Ryan, who is currently fighting cancer. Led by the Lockport Fire Company 6 and Battalion Chief, there were so many people who visited Marie Ryan’s home to show their love and support, including her family, friends, and staff and students from Joliet Township High School.

COUNTY NEWS

County lauded for Financial Reporting for 17 consecutive years GOFA awarded Will County the Certificate of Achievement for 2017 CAFR The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded Will County with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting and it represents a significant accomplishment by Will County and its management.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Finance Director Karen Hennessy (left) and Senior Accountant Emily Perkins (right) proudly display the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for significant accomplishments in government accounting and financial reporting . The county has received this award for 17 consecutive years.

“I am very proud of our Finance Director Karen Hennessy and her staff for their commitment and diligence in overseeing the day to day financial operations of Will County government,” said County Executive Larry Walsh. “I am proud that each year Will County

is able to operate with a balanced budget while providing quality services for our residents.”

Will County submitted its 2017 CAFR which was then judged by an impartial panel based upon the high standards of the program which includes demon-

strating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure’ and clearly communicating its financial story.

This is the 17th year, the county has received this award.

“Will County consistently has maintained a AA+ bond rating which is directly related to

our strong financial management and stewardship of county funds,” Walsh said. “This favorable rating helps the county secure competitive bond rates to fund our large scale projects: the public safety complex, the county courthouse, and the new health department. I am proud Will County remains fiscally responsible.”

The county has received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting every year beginning with the statements for fiscal year 2001. Prior to moving the day to day accounting and the financial statement preparation up to the finance department in the County Executive’s office, the Auditor’s office was responsible for those functions and they received the award on behalf of the county.

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NEWS

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COUNTY NEWS

Rialto hosts Memorial Tribute, Tree Lighting Ceremony

Joliet Area Community Hospice celebrated its 13th annual Lights of Love ceremony celebrating the lives of those who have passed away

BY RYAN OSTRY Bugle Staff @RyanOstry_BR18 rostry@buglenewspapers.com

Last Wednesday at the Rialto Theatre in Joliet, the Lights of Love Memorial Tribute and Tree Lighting Ceremony took place honoring those who have lost love ones.

Hosted by the Joliet Area Community Hospice, hundreds of grieving family and friends came to celebrate their loved ones, honoring the wonderful lives they lived, while affecting those around them.

Families who wanted to participate in the ceremony bought or-

naments and tickets to the Rialto, with the phrase ‘Remember with Love’ on the symbolic ornament that was hung on the tree.

“It’s the beginning of the holiday season and people just want to remember their loved ones,” said Mary Ann Burns, Director of Bereavement services. “Tonight is the night where they get to remember them and talk about them and honor their lives.”

The ceremony concluded its 13th year remembering those who have been lost, with Burns also attributing this healing hand to the music therapists who play while the families walked on stage

hanging up their ornaments.

“There are tears, but there is laughter too because the most that’s the most important part of bereavement,” Burns said. “These people lived, and we get to honor them and rejoice in all of their names.”

After the ornament hanging was concluded, the poem ‘For That I Am Thankful” was recited, followed by a memorial video tribute and a musical tribute.

“For families facing their first holidays without their loved ones, it’s a great way to come together to be there for one another,” said Patrice Martin, Bereavement Manager. “Everyone is integrated and helping each other through this.”

One thing that has resonated with Burns is that she can relate to the families who participated in the ceremony, because she as well has experienced loss in her life.

“My husband died around four years ago and I have family members who also have come together to celebrate him tonight,” Burns said.

For local participant Robert Kirk, attending the ceremony meant he could celebrate the passing of his loved one, while still celebrating his loved ones that he has around him.

“My mother-in-law passed away just this past August, so it has been hard but we wanted to be here tonight especially with the holidays around the corner to celebrate a great person,” Kirk said.

“Reflection and closure are the two things we we’ve truly come here for, and anytime you lose a loved one you have to find a reason what you were truly thankful for with them and the people you still have in your life.”

SHOREWOOD-TROY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT

Shorewood-Troy Library to go fine free for children’s materials starting Dec. 3 The Shorewood-Troy Public Library District Board of Trustees has an early holiday gift for patrons this year. Beginning Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, all children’s material checked out from the STPLD Children’s Department can be returned fine free if overdue. This includes

books, DVDs, CDs, book kits and other items available exclusively through Children’s. Although the Shorewood-Troy Library is a member of the Pinnacle Consortium, it is the only library partner that is currently waiving all fines for its children’s materials. Accordingly, to take advantage of this Fine Free program, patrons must check out, renew and return items to Shorewood-Troy Library. The library is not able to waive fees accrued through check outs, renewals or returns to other Pinnacle libraries, nor can it waive the replacement

cost if the item is permanently lost.

“More and more often we were hearing parents tell children they could only check out one item per visit because they didn’t want to worry about overdue books and fines,” said Shalyn Rodriguez, Assistant Library Director and Head of Children’s. “However, one of our goals as a library is to increase early literacy by exposure to as many reading materials as possible. We want our families to feel good about checking out lots of books, not stressed about how much in fines they’ll owe ...”

For another participant, Joe Gonzalez, he also said that the ceremony was highly important to him because of impact his mother-in-law and father-in-law had in his life, while thanking them for raising a wonderful daughter.

“My mother-in-law and fatherin-law gave me unconditional love and accepted me in their

family, while raising a wonderful daughter and always making me like part of the family,” Gonzalez said. “It has really given us a chance to slow down in everyday life and honor them and remember who they were, while cherishing the moments we had to spend with them.”

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How the U. of I wound up in Champaign-Urbana

BY TOM KACICH OF THE (CHAMPAIGN) NEWSGAZETTE ChampaignUrbana owes its prominence to the University of Illinois, and the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign owes its existence to Clark Robinson Griggs. If it hadn’t been for Griggs — probably the greatest political operator in Champaign County’s history — the U of I or, as it was then known, the Illinois Industrial University, would have been located in Jacksonville, Lincoln, Bloomington or perhaps Chicago.

Yet, there is no Griggs Hall at the university, no statues of Griggs on campus.

Even in Urbana, where he served a year as mayor, there is only a four-block-long street that bears his name.

One can only guess why Griggs’ name has been forgotten by all but the history books. Perhaps the university is just a little ashamed of the man who could be called its father.

You see, Griggs was a bit of a scoundrel.

Much of the story of Griggs’ delightfully sly effort comes from an interview he gave to Allan Nevins (who later became known as the father of oral histories) shortly before his death.

Historians have disputed some details of Griggs’ story, but there seems little doubt that he was an operator who would fit well in today’s Statehouse.

Griggs was a Massachusetts native who came to Champaign County in 1859. He purchased land north of Philo on Yankee Ridge, a place so named because of all the New Englanders who settled there.

At the start of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Union Army and served as a sutler, a man who sold food and drink to soldiers.

After the war, Griggs was elected to the Illinois House. He had already served two terms in the Massachusetts Legislature and apparently had learned a lot there about political maneuvering.

Griggs went to Springfield a freshman lawmaker who didn’t act like one.

In a 1915 interview shortly before his death, Griggs told Nevins how he helped bring the university to a swampy, sparsely settled community.

It started with $40,000 appropriated by the supervisors of Champaign and Urbana townships and Griggs’ decision to travel most of the state (everywhere but Jacksonville, Lincoln and Bloomington), meet with other state representatives and build support for Champaign-Urbana.

In five weeks, he said, he interviewed 40 House members and gained pledges from 15 of them.

Next, he met with the governor and lieutenant governor and with the chairmen of the state Republican and Democratic parties. In those conversations he learned that the postwar Legislature would be occupied with a number of special interests.

Southern Illinois wanted a prison; Peoria and Springfield were fighting over which would be the state capital, and Chicago wanted to deepen the Chicago River and develop a system of parks and boulevards. Such knowledge would be important in future vote-trading.

When the Legislature went into session in January 1867, the Champaign County Committee moved into Springfield’s Leland Hotel, where for the next three months it held the principal reception room and a suite of parlors and bedrooms. The rooms were used to entertain legislators and their constituents with either drinks, light refreshments or sumptuous dinners of oysters or quail.

Lawmakers were supplied with cigars and theater tickets. Late in the session, Griggs arranged for a special train to take legislators to Champaign-Urbana.

None of the other communities seeking the university had a similar arrangement.

Inside the House Chambers, Griggs showed his skill by running for speaker.

For two days, the House was tied up in endless voting. On the night after the second day, an intermediary visited Griggs and asked what it would take to

get him to drop out of the race. Griggs wanted the chairmanship of the Committee on Agriculture and Mechanic Arts — the committee that would hear all the bills about locating the university — and the right to choose its members.

He got it, dropped out of the race for speaker and thus was able to control the legislation.

As the session progressed, advocates for the other communities, particularly Jacksonville, wondered why the university location legislation wasn’t being heard in the committee.

Griggs would explain that he had called the committee together but that he couldn’t get a quorum. Then he’d publically announce another committee meeting but privately tell its members not to show up.

This went on until late in the session when Griggs was convinced he had the votes. Finally, on Feb. 20, the legislation — which named Champaign as the site of the university — reached the floor.

An amendment was made to substitute Jacksonville for Champaign. It failed 61-20.

Another motion was made to substitute Normal. It failed 58-26.

A third motion was made to insert Lincoln for Champaign. It failed 60-21.

Then the legislation naming Champaign was put to a vote and was approved 67-10. The Senate followed suit Feb. 25.

Three days later, Gov. Richard Oglesby signed the legislation.

Opponents charged that Griggs had bought legislators with a “slush fund.”

Jonathan Turner, who had sought the university for Jacksonville, said the Legislature had exhibited “a degree of corruption, hypocrisy, drunkenness and debauchery unparalleled in the history of Illinois.”

The state wasn’t even 50 years old. A much greater history of corruption lay ahead.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

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FOOTBALL

NICK OF

TIME

JCA’s Nick Iannanatone carried the ball record 40 times for 318 yards to lead Hillmen to Class 5A title

BY MARK GREGORY Editorial Director @Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com

CHAMPAIGN — The last time Joliet Catholic and Montini met in the Illinois High School state championship game, it was the Hilltoppers’ No. 32 that ran all over the Broncos.

Saturday it was the same story, only with a different ending.

In 2011, the runner inside the jersey was Ty Isaac, who pounded out a state title game record 515 yards in JCA’s 70-45 loss to the Broncos on Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois.

This year, No. 32 in Hillmen brown and white was Nick Iannantone, who tallied 318 yards and three touchdowns on a Class 5A championship game record 40 carries that dominated Montini.

This time, however, JCA won the game 35-27, as the Hilltoppers increased their

40

CLASS 5A TITLE GAME CARRIES BY IANNANTONE

state-record state titles to 14.

Iannantone was only the third player in IHSA history to carry the football 40 or more times in a state championship game, joining El Paso’s Derek Hunsinger (Class 1A, 42 carries, 2002) and Althoff Catholic’s Hickey Thompson (Class 3A, 41 carries, 1990).

Iannantone’s performance came in front of Isaac, who was on the sidelines for the game.

“Ty was one of the greatest athletes to ever come through our school and to hear him tell me I am a good football player and that I remind him of him back in the day is pretty good to hear,” Iannantone said.

This wasn’t the first appearance for Isaac this season.

“Ty is a great kid and is waiting on his opportunity with the AAFL to start and he has been out at practice a bunch of times and he doesn’t do too much as SEE CHAMPS PAGE 7

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RECORD FOOTBALL TITLES WON

BY JCA

PHOTO BY MARK GREGORY

Nick Iannantone set a Class 5A title game record with 40 carries in Joliet Catholic Academy’s 35-27 win over Montini Saturday in Champaign.

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PHOTO BY MARK GREGORY

JCA defeated Montini fro its state-record 14th football championship.

CHAMPS FROM PAGE 5 far as fundamentals and that is awesome coming from Ty because he has a great personality and all these kids and grown up hearing about Ty. He is a legend to these kids and he doesn’t act that way – he jumped right in like he is a high school kid.”

The win was the first ever for JCA against Montini in the state playoffs.

“This win isn’t just for us and the coaches,” Iannantone said.

“It is for everyone that came before us that should have had one and didn’t. It is for the community and the alumni and all those guys that played in this game and finished on the other end and didn’t get it.”

Iannantone was asked to carry the load for JCA after running back Keenan Hailey went out with an injured ankle in the second quarter and was on crutches at halftime.

“When he went down, coach Jaws [ Jake Jaworski] told me to keep pounding, I kept my composure,” Iannantone said. “I was

getting tired, but I just gave it my all.”

Iannantone had 14 of his carries in the third quarter and 16 in total before Hailey shed the crutches came back in the game.

“He tapped me on the shoulder in the fourth quarter and said he was ready to go,” Jaworski said. “I looked for Dr. (Raymond) Meyer and he said he was ready, so we put him back in.”

Hailey was a bit of a decoy in the beginning, but then got back in the mix and with 3 minutes, 28 seconds remaining in the game, broke free for a 30-yard touchdown – the final score of the game.

“The trainers knew how much this game meant to me and they didn’t want to take it away from me. They said it was up to me,” Hailey said.

The touchdown run gave Hailey 98 yards for the game and 2,639 yards on the season, putting him ahead of Isaac’s 2011 mark of 2,629 for the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards in a season.

After Hailey’s score, his second of the game, Montini had one more chance to score and tie the game on a 2-point conversion, but the JCA defense held and ultimately ended the game on an Andrew Gorski interception as time expired.

“Wow, what a finish,” Jaworski said. “What an exciting game.

When you think about Joliet Catholic and Montini in the state championship, you think of something coming down right to the wire.

“I am extremely proud of these guys. They have been leaving it on the field for 14 weeks now and sometimes it didn’t always look like there was light at the end of the tunnel, but these guys believed and we got in the playoffs and confidence soared from there. We knew this class was pretty talented. We knew we had some pieces coming up and we had some guys up front. The coaches felt at the beginning of the year that if we could get into the playoffs, we could be right where we are right now.”

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BUSINESS + REAL ESTATE TA K E 5 M I N U T E S FOR YOURSELF!

NEWS ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES IN YOUR COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

DAVE SAYS

Getting ready for the Baby Steps DEAR DAVE, I like your plan, and I’m ready to get control of my finances. Should I catch up on past due bills before saving $1,000 for the beginner emergency fund you recommend in Baby Step 1?

SAMANTHA DEAR SAMANTHA, This is a great question, because it gives me a chance to walk you all the way through the Baby Steps plan.

Make sure your necessities are taken care of first. I’m talking about food, clothing, shelter, transportation and utilities. Then, get current on anything you owe or make payment arrangements for your past due bills. Once you have these things taken care of, it’s time to take your first Baby Step.

You’ve already mentioned getting $1,000 in the bank for a starter emergency fund. That’s Baby Step 1. After that, begin your debt snowball. That’s Baby Step 2, and here you’ll pay off all your debts from smallest to largest, except for your home. Attack the first balance on your list by paying as much as you can each month, while making minimum payments on your other debts. When you’ve paid off the first one, add what you were paying on it to the payment on your next debt and start attacking it. In Baby Step 3, you’ll save up and increase your emergency fund from $1,000 to a full three to six months of expenses. Trust me, you’ll be surprised how quickly you can save money when you’ve got all that debt out of the way!

Once you reach this point, it’s time to really start looking at the future. In Baby Step 4 you start investing 15 percent of your income for retirement. College funding for any little ones is next in Baby Step 5 and Baby Step 6 is a big one.

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COUNTY CALENDAR

NEWS

FROM THE SURROUNDING COUNTY AREA

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 | BUGLENEWSPAPERS.COM

U P CO M I N G E V E N TS I N YO U R A R E A

NOVEMBER 29 Kenny G: The Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour, 7:30 p.m. Rialto Square Theater, 102 N. Chicago Street,

Joliet 60432. In a recording career that spans almost three decades and 23 albums, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G has grafted elements of R&B, pop, and Latin to a jazz foundation solidifying his reputation as the premiere artist in contemporary jazz.

Since the early ‘80s, his combination of unparalleled instrumental chops and indelible melodies has resulted in sales of more than 75 million records worldwide (45 million in the U.S. alone) and more than a dozen climbs to the top of Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart.

November 30 Holly Days Winter Ball. From 6:30 to 11 p.m., join

the community for a wonderful dinner, dancing, live entertainment and a silent auction at the Annual Winter Ball. The Westmont Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau hosts this event and will be held at the Hilton Chicago/Oakbrook Hills Resort & Conference Center. Please contact the Wesmtont Chamber for additional information at 630.960.5553.

DECEMBER 1 Dive-In Movie Series at the Inwood Athletic Club Pool: The Polar Express. The first Saturday of each

month, we will be hosting a family-friendly movie night that you can enjoy while floating in the pool. Sign up for all four-movie nights and you’ll get to enjoy 4 movies for the price of 3. Each event goes from 4–6 p.m., all ages. $5R/$7N.

DECEMBER 1 TAGOL’s second annual kids holiday art show, 6-9 p.m. at Hosted by The Flower of Life Art Gallery, 1601 S. State Street, Lockport, Illinois 60441. The Artist Guild of Lockport is pleased to present TAGOL Kids – Holiday Art Show. Please join us on Saturday, December 1st, 2018 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, for our opening reception.

This Holiday/Winter themed show will be a feast for the eyes and fun for all. Most artwork is for sale. Come on out and support our future artists! The show runs through December 22nd. Please park in the lot behind the Art Gallery or at the Metra Station 1/2 block north of the gallery on State Street. For more information contact us at theartistguildoflockport@gmail.com or www.tagolshow.com.

DECEMBER 1 Friends of the Library Holiday Themed Book Sale.

10 a.m – 3:30 p.m. at the Crest Hill Branch of the White Oak Library, 20670 Len Kubinski Dr, Crest Hill, IL 60403.

DECEMBER 1 Tree Lighting Ceremony. At 6 p.m. kick off the holi-

day season with the lighting of the spruce tree, planted in 2016 at Lisle Village Hall and watch it grow each season. Caroling and music will follow in the Board Room performed by the Lisle Community Band. Enjoy cookies and hot chocolate in the Village Hall lobby served by volunteers from the Lisle Infant Welfare League.

DECEMBER 1 Christmas on the Frontier.

From 4 to 7 p.m. at 115 S. Linden Ave Westmont, IL. Holly on the mantels, pine-scents, lantern and candle-lit rooms will welcome in the Christmas season festivities at the Gregg House. Christmas on the frontier brought many challenges as families sought to maintain their holiday customs. Discover the simple traditions of ornaments made from lace, buttons, strings of apples, cherished homemade cloth gifts, molasses cookies and the story of St. Nicholas all celebrated on Christmas Eve. Learn about the early days of Illinois as we commemorate the Bicentennial of Illinois. You can even enjoy a long eared mule drawn wagon ride on December 15. Children can make a frontier style craft to take home.

DECEMBER 1 Once Upon a Christmas. The Museums at Lisle Sta-

tion Park. 3 until 8 p.m. Celebrate with the Lisle Park District and the Lisle Heritage Society at The Museums

at Lisle Station Park. Activities include brick -oven baking, holiday wagon rides, blacksmithing, model railroad trains, crafts, music and more. Santa will be at the Depot Museum following the parade until 8:00 p.m.

DECEMBER 2 Once Upon a Christmas. Ride a holiday wagon

from the Lisle Santa Train to The Museums at Lisle Station Park to celebrate the holidays with museum tours, blacksmithing, pie baking, crafts and a gift shop.

Join Stephanie Boesso and piano students of “Piano Frontiers Ensemble” from 1:30 – 2:30 as they perform holiday music and interactive sing -alongs. Meet Santa at the historic Lisle Depot and visit live reindeer.

DECEMBER 2 Friends of the Library Holiday Themed Book Sale.

1– 3:30 p.m. at the Crest Hill Branch of the White Oak Library, 20670 Len Kubinski Dr, Crest Hill, IL 60403.

DECEMBER 2 The Nutcracker, 2 p.m. Rialto Square Theater, 102 N.

Chicago Street, Joliet 60432. Von Heidecke’s Chicago Festival Ballet presents this holiday favorite fairytale ballet that is perfect for the entire family. The magical production features lavish costumes, exquisite sets, including a Christmas tree that grows before your eyes, and sensational choreography by ballet master, Kenneth von Heidecke. Journey through the land of whirling snowflakes and visit the kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. This is one holiday tradition you won’t want to miss.

DECEMBER 4 Meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Lockport. Join us from

6-7 p.m. during our Holiday Open House event as we have a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. We will be singing and dancing along with Santa. Bring your camera to take your family picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Registration begins November 1. Call Jane at (815) 5524265 or email jgardner@whiteoaklibrary.org.

DECEMBER 5 Crest Hill Library Holiday Open House 4-7 p.m in Meeting Rooms A/B. All ages are welcome to stop

by for a fun-filled evening of crafts for kids, teens and adults, hot cocoa and cookies, performance by a school choir, and a visit by the Jolly Old Elf himself — Santa!

(Bring your camera.)

DECEMBER 7 Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting Ceremony.

55 Phelps Ave. Romeoville, IL 60446. 6 to 9 p.m. Come see Santa arrive in a parade of lights to light the 30’ tree outside the Edward Hospital Athletic & Event Center.

Indoor activities include moon jumps, Santa photos, pasta meal, crafts and more! Admission is one canned good per person.

DECEMBER 6 through 9 Winter Wonderland Light Decorating Contest.

If you believe your outdoor holiday decorating skills deserve a little fanfare, this is your chance to get the recognition you deserve! The criteria that will be judged includes first impression, use of lights and decorations and overall presentation. The winner of each category will receive a great prize! Addresses of all entered homes will be included on the Holiday Decorating Contest map and on our website. Judging will take place between December 6 to 9. Be sure to have your holiday lights on from 5 to 10 p.m. each night. The deadline to register is December 2. This event is only available for Downers Grove residents. The 2017 winner is not eligible to win prizes.

DECEMBER 8 Merry & Bright: A Victorian Christmas.

Downers Grove Museum, 831 Maple Ave., Down-

ers Grove. Join us for a celebration of the season at this free family event! Learn about Victorian Christmas traditions, tour the holiday-decorated Victorian Blodgett house and listen to Victorian-era carolers. Stroll the park while warming up around a campfire and visit with Santa! Holiday snacks, and hot cocoa will be available for purchase.

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COMMUNITY >> LOCKPORT

Rep. Connor hosts local veterans Meeting to discuss veterans’ issues, new ideas State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, hosted local veterans for a monthly Veterans’ Legislative Advisory Committee meeting to discuss veterans’ issues, new ideas for legislation and updates from last week’s veto session.

“These meetings are great because they allow for an ongoing conversation on the needs of our veterans and what we as legislators can do to address those needs,” Connor said. “It’s important to hear their concerns firsthand, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have these discussions.”

Connor and attendees discussed legislation that came up during last week’s veto ses-

sion and bills that may be voted on next week. The group also shared ideas for new legislation to benefit veterans.

Connor hosts the monthly meetings with state Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, who started the advisory committee several months ago. Next month’s meeting will take place on Monday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Romeoville Village Hall.

“I encourage local veterans and their loved ones to attend our next meeting to share their concerns and ideas,” Connor said. “Keeping an open discussion on the issues that matter most to the veteran community is critical in creating and voting on legislation that can benefit them and address their needs.”

For more information on the next Veterans’ Legislative Advisory Committee, please contact Connor’s constituent service office at 815-372-0085 or RepConnor@gmail.com.

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