Niles 03-06-14

NEWS Niles introduces new village website

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SPORTS Dons building for strong future PAGE 11

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PHOTO BY ALEX V. HERNANDEZ/STAFF REPORTER

The sign above ‘Betty’s Bistro’ in Morton Grove’s Lonore Plaza advertising video gambling.

MARCH 6, 2014

Vol. 58 No. 22

Morton Grove

Village passes water agreement with Cook County Director of Public Works said village needs to replace 1,215 feet of water mains

By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter

BY ALEX V. HERNANDEZ sTaff reporTer mayor andrew przybylo said he wants to put restrictions on video gambling to keep niles from becoming a “hillbilly heaven.” his comment was made to the video gaming task force in regards to limiting the signs advertising gambling in the village to a small, official plaque with the village seal that businesses could put in their window.

“We will restrict the signage,” said Przybylo.

“It gives credibility to the whole notion of video gaming and it takes out the ‘schlock’ element.”

He said the idea came to him after a woman at the most recent trustee meeting said she worried advertising for video gambling would lead to the village looking like a “hillbilly heaven.”

He gave an example of the sign above “Betty’s Bistro” in Morton Grove’s Lonore Plaza as an example of the signage he wants Niles to avoid.

>> see gambling | page 6

mayor andreW przybylo

Morton Grove passed an agreement with Cook County on Feb. 24 to replace two water mains running through Miami Woods.

Director of Public Works Andy DeMonte said the village has been in dire need of replacing 1,215 feet of two water mains running through the county’s Forest Preserve District property and under the North Branch of the Chicago River. These two water mains, one 12 inches and the other 20 inches in diameter, provide drinking water and feeds fire hydrants for the entire east side of Morton Grove.

Under the agreement, the village will pay Cook County $79,408 for the removal >> see Water | page 8

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THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014

News local

Fatal crash in Park Ridge Senior citizen found injured in Bank of America parking lot

By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter

Park Ridge police are investigating a fatal crash in a Bank of America parking lot.

In a release, the department said officers responded to a 911 call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle around 4:50 p.m. on Feb. 21.

When they arrived they saw a senior citizen, who would later be identified as George J. Gessner, lying on the ground in the parking lot near the entrance of the bank at 425 W. Devon Ave. The victim had a visible head wound and was transported by the city’s fire department to Resurrection Hospital, police said.

Meanwhile police spoke with the driver of the vehicle that allegedly struck Gessner and began their preliminary investigation.

On Feb. 22 the Cook County

We do it on any fatality. It doesn’t matter what kind of crash, our Major Crash Unit goes out to document it.”

- Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen

Medical Examiner’s Office said that Gessner, 85, of Chicago, died at 3:39 p.m. from injuries he sustained after being struck by the vehicle.

The department’s Major Crash Unit (MCU) investigative team is reviewing the incident.

“We do it on any fatality,” said Deputy Police Chief Lou Jogmen.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of crash, our Major Crash Unit goes out to document it.”

Jogmen also said that since the medical examiner ruled the death accidental, no criminal charges were being pursued.

“There could be civil action,” said Jogmen. However he said that at this time, he didn’t know if anyone was pursuing a lawsuit.

News transportation

PHOTO COURTESY AARON GAVANT

“Fire department hopefully getting him down now,” tweeted Aaron Gavant around 9:15 a.m.

Metra line stopped after man starts running on top of train Trains on the line were stopped in the Rodgers Park neighborhood around 7:45 a.m.

By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter

The Metra Union Pacific North line was stopped Monday morning because of a man on top of a train.

Trains on the line were stopped in the Rodgers Park neighborhood around 7:45 a.m. and began moving again around 8:28 a.m. “’Passengers, this train is delayed because there is an

individual running from train car to train car, on top of the train,’ -Metra conductor,” said Christopher Manley,a passenger on the train, on Twitter at 8:01 a.m.

By 9:22 a.m. police and fire personnel had gotten the man off the train in the 7000 block of Ravenswood Ave., Chicago.

“Trains #315 and #316 were stopped for about a half hour while fire officials and police were trying to get the man

down from on top of train #315,” said Metra spokesman Tom Miller. “They did eventually get him down and he was taken to Illinois Masonic for evaluation.”

When trains on the line were moving again they were operating 15 to 30 minutes behind schedule.

“We don’t know exactly what he was doing on the Metra train,” said Officer Jose Estrada, spokesman for Chicago Police News Affairs.

Estrada also said he could not yet confirm reports that the man had jumped from the top of an outbound train onto an inbound train.

THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014

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Police Blotter

THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014

The following items were compiled from the official reports of the Morton Grove, Niles, and Park Ridge Police Departments. Appearing in the police blotter does not constitute a finding of guilt, only a court of law can make that determination.

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Susan Turkowski, 56, of the 3100 block of Olcott, Chicago, was arrested Feb. 23 in the 7200 block of Dempster for retail theft.

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Ginille G. Arakawa, 24, of the 1500 block of W. Fargo, Chicago, was arrested Feb. 23 in the 6800 block of Caldwell for no valid license.

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Nina D. Bakhtina, 51, of the 9300 block of Oleander, Morton Grove, was arrested Feb. 23 at Golf Mill Center for failure to give aid and info and leaving the scene of an accident with damage.

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Joy Marc T. Querol, 29, of the 820 block of McIntosh Ct, Prospect Heights, was arrested Feb. 22 at Golf Mill Center for retail theft and possession of a controlled substance.

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Alexander C. Bevell, 21, of the 9100 block of Elmwood, Niles, was arrested Feb. 24 in the 9000 block of Golf for retail theft.

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Victorino Gomez-Gomez, 26, of the 8600 block of N. Milwaukee, Niles, was arrested Feb. 25 in the 8700 block of Milwaukee for no valid license.

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Salatiel Torres-Bandera, 28, was arrested Feb. 25 in the 6700 block of Milwaukee for no valid license.

Park Ridge

disorderly conduct.

improper turn.

Christina Allegrini, 46, of the 200 block of N. Dee Rd., Park Ridge, was arrested Feb. 17 in the 200 block of S. Vine for DUI, B.A.C. over .08, B.A.C. 0.16 or more and failure to yield.

Said Murrieta-Espinoza, 29, of the 8000 block of N. Milwaukee, Niles, was arrested at the intersection of Oakton and Forestview for no valid driver’s license and improper lane usage.

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A 15-year old from Park Ridge was arrested Feb. 15 in the 1100 block of S. Dee for possession of alcohol by a minor.

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Pinski, 26, of the 12 Heather 8300 block of Brickstone Dr., Frankfort, was arrested Feb. 20 in the 7500 block ofW.Higgins, Chicago, for leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failure to give information, no valid insurance, failure to yield or stop at intersection and

Zamilan Saruulnar, 20, of the 400 block of Union Ave., Oshkosh (WI), was arrested Feb. 17 in the 200 block of S. Vine for DUI, B.A.C. over .08, improper parking on road and improper lane usage.

Brian Bondie, 52, of the 6800 block of N. Northwest Hwy., Chicago, was arrested Feb. 17 in the 0-100 block of S. Prospect for resisting arrest and

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Cruz, 37, of the 14 Leticia 800 block of E. Prairie, Des Plaines, was arrested Feb. 23 on Ballard and Greenwood for no valid driver’s license and disobeyed traffic control device.

Hantak, 20, of the 15 Jordan 2000 block of Westridge Blvd., Bartlett, was arrested Feb. 23 in the 200 block of S. Vine for DUI, improper lane usage and improper parking on the roadway.

Morton Grove Joaqin Palamar, 42, of Waukegan was arrested Feb. 23 on Dempster and Callie for no valid driver’s license.

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Aiden,47,of Morton 17 Rodney Grove was arrested Feb. 13 at the intersection of Dempster and Oketo for suspended driver’s license.

Jose Roja, 21, of Chicago was arrested Feb. 13 in the 7600 block of Dempster for no valid driver’s license and possession of cannabis.

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Joseph Amabile, 47, of Chicago was arrested Feb.

24 in the 7200 block of Dempster for retail theft.

Salomon Torres, 44, of Chicago was arrested Feb. 21 at the intersection of Dempster and Marmora for no valid driver’s license.

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Rodney Lane, 42, of Evanston was arrested Feb. 25 on Austin and Beckwith for suspended driver’s license.

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Anthony Pitman, 31, of Chicago was arrested Feb. 24 at the intersection of Dempster and Major for suspended driver’s license.

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Isac Frelihman, 58, of Park Ridge was arrested Feb. 22 in the 6100 block of Beckwith for DUI.

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Calendar MARCH 6 Before Midnight (2013). 2 p.m. Niles Public Library, 6960 W Oakton St, Niles. We meet Celine and Jesse nine years after their last rendezvous. Almost two decades have passed since their first encounter on a train bound for Vienna, and we now find them in their early forties in Greece. Before the clock strikes midnight, we will again become part of their story.

R.

MARCH 7 Beatles Nights. 7 p.m. Park Ridge Community Church, 100 S. Courtland Avenue, Park Ridge.

Listen to your favorite Beatles tunes performed live on stage by talented local musicians.Tickets are available at Park Ridge Community Church during business hours Monday through Friday or Allegro Music, 800 W. Devon Avenue. Tickets are $10 in advance, $5 for students and $15 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Youth Ministry Fund at Park Ridge Community Church which supports youth mission trips, activities,and community outreach programs. For more information, see the PRCC youth group web site at www.prccyouth.org.

MARCH 8 MCC Full Time School 25th Anniversary Dinner. 6:30 p.m. White Eagle Banquet Hall, 6839 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles.

Islamic School in Morton Grove, MCC Full Time School is excited to celebrate its 25th anniversary at the upcoming MCCFTS Annual Benefit Dinner. MCCFTS has grown by leaps and bounds over the course of these years having opened its doors with a mere 25 students in early childhood to

2nd grade back in 1989 to now, today in 2014, boasting upwards of nearly 500 students in grades preschool through 8th. Given an extensive waiting list including nearly 100 students seeking a seat in various grades, MCCFTS purchased a second facility, the site of the former Sharp Corner School, 9301 Gross Point Rd., in Skokie, IL, earlier this year in January.

MCCFTS plans to open the doors of its second facility beginning the start of next school year in September 2014. The flagship facility in Morton Grove will continue to provide education to middle school students while the new facility in Skokie will service students in early childhood and elementary grades. MCCFTS also has plans to open a daycare facility at the new building. For additional information or photographs, please contact Jill Alali, MCCFTS Marketing Team Lead, at 847-4708801 or at jill_alali@yahoo.com.

MARCH 9 Get Health Coverage. 1 p.m.

Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove. Illinois Health Marketplace navigators will be available for confidential, individual consultation. Financial help may be available to make coverage more affordable for you and your family. You’ll need: verification of income (pay stubs, income tax return) and a form of identification (driver’s license, Social Security card, student visa) to complete the online registration.

The full enrollment period for the Marketplace lasts six months and runs through March 31. For further information, Marketplace navigators can be reached at 773-262-6622 ext. 267. Additional enrollment sessions will be held

at MGPL: March 11: 10a.m.-2p.m. and March 21: 1p.m.-5 p.m.

Morton Grove Public Library / 6140 Lincoln Ave / 847-965-4220 / www.mgpl.org

MARCH 10 Pages Book Discussion: “Cinder.” 7 p.m. Barnes & Noble, 5405 W Touhy Ave, Skokie. Join us for a book discussion of Cinder by Marissa Meyer. As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story.

Meet us at the Barnes & Noble at 5405 Touhy Ave. in Skokie to chat about fresh, popular YA reads.

Can’t make it this month? We always have something interesting coming up, so check the book discussion page on www.mgpl. org or call 847-929-5101.

MARCH 11 Captain Phillips (2013). 7 p.m. Park Ridge Public Library, 20 S Prospect Ave, Park Ridge. The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk (PG-13).

MARCH 12 LitLounge: “Notes From No Man’s Land” with author Eula Biss. 7 p.m. The Curragh, 8266 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. Come to the book discussion of Notes From No Man’s Land by Eula Biss--a collection of lyrical essays exploring the complex legacy of race in America. The author, Eula Biss, will be joining us for the

THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014 discussion. Morton Grove Public Library and the Skokie Public Library come together for this social book group that meets at The Curragh, an the Irish pub, at 8266 Lincoln Ave. in Skokie. Can’t make it this month?We always have something interesting coming up, so check the book discussion page on www.mgpl.org or call 847-9295101.

MARCH 13 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). Pickwick Theater, 5 S. ProspectAve,Park Ridge.Admission is $5 for everyone at or before 6 p.m. and for children under 12 and senior citizens 65 and older.

After 6 p.m., general admission is seven dollars. Admission is $7 ($5 for seniors). All shows start at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www. parkridgeclassicfilm.com.

APRIL 24 Scarface (1939), with guest Christina Rice, author of Ann Dvorak. Pickwick Theater, 5 S. ProspectAve,Park Ridge.Admission is $5 for everyone at or before 6 p.m. and for children under 12 and senior citizens 65 and older.

After 6 p.m., general admission is seven dollars. Admission is $7 ($5 for seniors). All shows start at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www. parkridgeclassicfilm.com.

MAY 1 In Old Chicago (1937) & Jesse James (1939), with special guests, Tyrone Power family. Pickwick Theater, 5 S. ProspectAve,Park Ridge.Admission is $5 for everyone at or before 6 p.m. and for children under 12 and senior citizens 65 and older.

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After 6 p.m., general admission is seven dollars. Admission is $7 ($5 for seniors). All shows start at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www. parkridgeclassicfilm.com.

JUNE 19 Gone With The Wind (1939).

Pickwick Theater, 5 S. Prospect Ave, Park Ridge.Admission is $5 for everyone at or before 6 p.m. and for children under 12 and senior citizens 65 and older. After 6 p.m., general admission is seven dollars.

Admission is $7 ($5 for seniors).All shows start at 7:30 p.m.Doors open at 7 p.m.For more information,visit www.parkridgeclassicfilm.com.

ONGOING Pet photos with Santa. Daily, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Golf Mill Center.

Santa welcomes four-legged creatures too! Bring the family pet for photos with Santa on Monday evenings throughout the season. It makes a purrfect holiday greeting card.

Live Jazz Jam at Chambers.

Every Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Chambers Seafood Grill & Chop House, 6881 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles. Come join us for dinner and live jazz. John Bany is one of Chicago’s best and most interesting bass players. His bass playing, in addition to his unique vocal style, has delighted audiences everywhere. He is a, veteran bass player, John has played at a number of festivals including: the original Big Horn (Ivanhoe, Illinois), the Chicago Jazz Festival (9 appearances), the MidAmerican Jazz Festival (St. Louis, Missouri), Elkhart Jazz Festival (13 appearances) and the Atlanta World Music Fest.

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THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014

News

niles

New website part of plan to modernize village Niles officially launched its new website during a Feb. 25 trustee meeting

By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter

Village officials contracted Civic Plus,a web development company based out of Manhattan, Kan., to handle the redesign. Civic Plus specializes in local government website design, development, content management, and e-government tools. They’ve constructed over 1,300 municipal websites across the nation.

“We came in under budget; we’re very pleased about that,” said Ross Klicker, the village’s economic development director.

The village had budgeted $70,000 for the redesign, and Klicker said the contract with Civic Plus was for just under $64,000.

>> Gambling, from page 1 Przybylo created the task force last October to look into the economic viability of bringing video gambling to Niles. After two days of public hearings to get feedback on the issue, the task force voted in favor of reversing the village’s ban on video gambling at the beginning of February.

The goal of the task force’s meeting the morning of Feb. 27 was to finalize their conditions on video gambling before their recommendations are sent to the board of trustees for review.

During the meeting, Niles Finance Director Scott Neukirch, a non-voting member of the task force, said the village must reevaluate the estimated annual revenue gambling could bring.

“It’s safe to say that the estimate that we gave of $337,000 at the last meeting is going to be a bit too high,” said Neukirch.

He said that number was calculated when it was thought the village would seek to issue 30 video gambling licenses to businesses, with each having a maximum of five machines on premises. Neukirch said he wasn’t sure what impact the task force’s recommended conditions would have on revenue yet.

“It’s a simple case of economics,” said Jim Callero, chair of the task force. “Any mayor, any trustee,

The new website has specific pages for the Senior Center, the Fitness Center, the Teen Center and Niles Police via a streamlined interface.

It also features a brand new E-Pay system that allows residents to pay their water bill online.Additionally searchable calendars will now allow residents to easily find village events and announcements.

Klicker also said the new website allows residents to submit concerns to the village and use it like a community sounding board for issues they want addressed.

He also said the new “How Do I …” section will provid answers to frequently asked questions and be updated as needed to provide the latest information to residents.

anybody that would vote against this the people of Niles shouldn’t re-elect.”

The task force’s recommendations include a minimum licensing fee of $500 per video gambling machine, that gaming establishments would not be allowed more than 250 feet from one another and that video surveillance of businesses featuring gambling be accessible

by Niles police.

To qualify businesses would need to have a “full-pouring” 4 a.m. liquor license that’s been in “good standing” with the village for at least 18 months.

Businesses that have less than 60 percent of their revenue come from liquor sales must put their gaming machines in a room separate from their general bar area but that is visible to managers of the business.

If a business gets more than 60 percent of their revenue from liquor sales, they can have machines in the general bar area as long as no one under 21-years old is allowed into business.

These recommendations would be in addition to the state’s law that allows $2 per-bet limits and $500 maximum payouts for each machine. Each business that qualifies for video gambling can have a maximum of five machines on its premises and must be licensed establishments where“on-premise”consumption

“There are many actual modules that we can put onto on each page,” said Klicker. “So we can change information rapidly and update information instantaneously. And the integration with social media will let us get information out there that much faster.”

Residents can sign up for

notifications from the village that include police and weather emergencies, job postings, calendar events, trustee meetings and agendas and other items.

The website can still be found at vniles.com, and the village’s social media accounts can be found on Facebook at facebook.

com/villageofniles and on Twitter at @VNilesIL. After Klicker finished his presentation Mayor Andrew Przybylo said the new website was just the first step in a new initiative to modernize Niles.

Last month officials began searching for a lobbyist to help Niles find grant money and advocate on the village’s behalf in state and federal legislature. The village also previously approved a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a company to help with the village’s branding and logo design.

In related news the village was granted a rating of 6 from FEMA Community Rating System. The new rating allows the village residents to qualify for a 20 percent discount on flood insurance.

Additionally the higher rating will help the village qualify for grants in the future.

of alcohol is allowed (e.g., bars and restaurants), and in truck stops and fraternal/veterans organizations.

During the public comments at the village’s trustee meeting on Feb. 25, many residents said they were against video gambling.

They said it would cheapen the village’s image and remind

say we don’t want gaming. I’m hearing it,”said Przybylo.However, he added that the village could make video gambling work as long as it was adopted with “a lot of restrictions.”

To this end, he volunteered a few amendments to the task force’s recommendations, like including facial recognition software for those that want to opt out of video gambling.

He also asked the task force to consider capping the total number of gaming licenses in the village at 25.

Furthermore, he asked that two of the 25 licenses be designated as “special consideration” to allow businesses that have been in Niles for the past five years that are in a “transfer business mode” and in good standing to circumvent the 18-month requirement when applying for a gaming licenses.

Eventually Callero wanted to know what the mayor was trying to accomplish with his proposals.

“What are we attempting to do here today?” said Callero.

Przybylo said the board is attempting to sell a video gaming ordinance.

“But whatever this task force comes up with is going to go in front of you and the trustees,” said Callero. “There’s nothing that says you have to vote on it the way we presented it. You

can tweak it any which way you want.”

Przybylo said his goal was to take the task force’s recommendations, and his proposed amendments to it, and poll village residents before it goes to the trustees.

Przybylo said residents who are the most vocal about village issues like medical cannabis and video gambling have “a certain excitability.” He said he wanted to reach residents that are mostly indifferent to village issues and get their feedback.

The mayor then said that over the past six months every person that sat at his restaurant told him they were for gambling as long as it brought some money into the village.

“You just don’t hear from those people,”said Przybylo.To that end, he said that he was going to have the village’s Communications Coordinator Hayley Garard put together a ballot to be mailed out to residents in the coming days.

“That’s how we’re going to verify [the task force’s] good work,” said Przybylo. “And give muscle or teeth to the village board when it does come to vote.”

Eventually the voting members of the task force agreed to Przybylo’s proposals and voted to amend their recommendations to the trustees to include them.

PHOTO BY ALEX V. HERNANDEZ/STAFF REPORTER

Ross Klicker, the village’s economic development director, presenting the new website to the public Feb. 25.

I respect the people of Niles and I’m hearing a lot of them say we don’t want gaming. I’m hearing it,” said Przybylo. However, he added that the village could make video gambling work as long as it was adopted with “a lot of restrictions.” people of the village’s history as ground zero for illegal slot machines in the 1950’s.

Przybylo, a part owner of White Eagle Banquets and Restaurant in Niles, was very vocal during the task force’s most recent meeting.

He said he had no intention of bringing video gambling to his establishment before saying his goal was to bring video gambling to Niles in order to not lose business and revenue to other places offering it.

“I respect the people of Niles and I’m hearing a lot of them

ForuM Post your thoughts!

You’re invited to use the Forum page of The Bugle to express your opinions about matters that affect our community.

THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014

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illustrated opinions

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GUest colUMn

Speaking up against the R-Word Daniel Smrokowski Guest Columnist

The word “retard(ed),” or the “r-word” as I call it, is a word that is really hurtful for all of us with special needs and our families and friends.

Just like many of my fellow Special Olympics athletes, I don’t really like to drive. Yes, there are some who do drive (and I used to about six years ago), but many of us take public transportation.

A couple years ago, I was taking the train home from college. On this particular evening commute, the train was packed, and I couldn’t find a seat. So, I had to stand (and hold on to the train) amid the crowd of other commuters. As I usually do, I put my earbuds in and pretended like I was listening to a podcast, when all of a sudden, one of the conductors was in the doorway of the train talking with some of the other commuters. I heard the train conductor use the r-word multiple times during this train ride. It was hard for me to say anything because it just hurt too much to hear him use the word.

After I got home safe and sound,I wrote a letter to the train company and later talked with one of the workers at the rail ticket counter in my hometown.The train company had eventually emailed me back and apologized.

I haven’t heard anything from this train conductor since, but I hope and pray he learned a lesson about how the r-word hurts all of us with special needs.

Fast forward a couple years to

web connect engage in the discussion online about the ‘r-Word’

#sCPChat @endtheWord Facebook.com/ endtheWord specialChronicles .com/endtheWord present day--Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at 7:04p.m. I was riding the train back home with a friend who I met via another friend.

As we were talking, I looked around to see a man and a woman talking somewhat loudly.These two people had appeared to be drunk.

As the 7 o’clock hour struck, I got up from my seat and made my way to the vestibule of the train.

When I was waiting for the train to pull into my stop, these two same commuters had used the r-word to refer to the town that we were getting off at.

I didn’t say anything because it was too hard, too hurtful. Another reason why I may not have said anything is because maybe it wasn’t a good moment to say anything.

This brings up an interesting point: When is a good time to say something? Should you speak up against the r-word each time some says the word even if they appear to be “drunk?”

What are your thoughts? Let me know, like how all the young kids are communicating these days, with the hashtag: #SCPChat

What’s the r-word? Why this campaign important? Where to go to take the pledge to end the r-word and to find out more information?

Help us to surpass 500,000 online pledges by the 2014 Spread the Word to End the Word. awareness day.

The web address is simple: R-Word.org. Of course, if you are one of tons of the people who are active on the Facebook, you can “Like” and find out more updates by visiting their page at: Facebook.com/EndtheWord. For those of you who prefer updates that are 140 characters or less, then a simple “Follow” of the @ EndtheWord Twitter page will be the thing to do. And, like all the young kids are doin’ these days, you can join in the conversation with the hashtag: #RWord - on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google Plus, Vine, etc.

When is the 2014 Spread the Word to End the Word date?

Don’t worry, because r-word campaign Co-Founder Tim Shriver Jr., breaks the news for us on the Special Chronicles podcast Episode #100, recorded live (to tape) on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014. Additional reporting

by Breanna Bogucki, of Cary, Ill., and Georgia Hunter, of Oak Park, Ill.If you’d like more Coverage about the R-Word Campaign, Visit: SpecialChronicles.com/ EndTheWord Daniel Smrokowski is an Athlete & Global Messenger with Special Olympics Illinois, Founder of Special Chronicles Nonprofit New Media Company.

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THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014

News

transportation

Teams compete for Indiana, Illinois portion of Illiana IFA, INDOT representatives will meet with the short-listed teams in the next few weeks Four developer teams will compete to design, build, finance, operate and maintain Indiana’s portion of the Illiana Corridor and I-65 expansion in Lake County,according to a press release issued Feb. 28 by the Illiana Corridor Commission.

Three of the four have equity members and lead contractors also chosen to compete for the Illinois portion of the project.

The Illiana Corridor is a proposed 47-mile highway extending from Interstate 55 in Wilmington, through Will County to Interstate 65 in Indiana on the east.

The Indiana Finance Authority

and Indiana Department of Transportation selected the finalists from six teams that responded to a recent Request for Qualifications. IFA and INDOT representatives will meet with the short-listed teams in the next few weeks to solicit ideas and discuss the procurement process in greater detail.

Illinois and Indiana plan to begin construction on the estimated $1.3 billion Illiana in late spring/early summer of 2015, with completion in 2018.

The four short-listed teams are listed below in alphabetical order. The Request for

MORE INFORMATION ... iLLiaNa CorriDor four illinois teams short-listed:

four indiana teams short-listed:

Equity Members: Cintra Infraestructuras, S.A.

Equity Members: ACS Infrastructure Development, Inc. and Fengate Capital Management Ltd.

Lead Contractor: Ferrovial Agroman US Corp and White Construction, Inc. Equity Members: ACS Infrastructure Development, Inc., and Fengate Capital Management, Ltd. Lead Contractor: Dragados USA, Inc., F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielson & Associates, LLC, and William Charles Construction Company, LLC

Qualifications and additional information is at www.in.gov/ ifa/2763.htm.

For its portion of the Illiana Corridor, according to the release, Indiana plans to leverage the state’s credit rating to secure

Lead Contractor: A joint venture of Dragados USA, Inc., F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates, LLC, and William Charles Construction Company, LLC Lead Engineering Firm: Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Operations & Maintenance: Illiana Corridor Transportation Group. This group also was chosen

by Illinois officials.

low-cost private financing. This payment structure makes rising construction costs and the risk of operations and maintenance the responsibility of the winning private-sector team. If the road does not meet performance >> Water from page 1 of 33 trees where the pipes will be installed and a one-time fee of $67,731.82. Additionally the county would be able to pull up to 1 million gallons of water a year through the new pipes.

Trustees Shel Marcus and John Thill both voiced concerns over the terms of the agreement with the county. With Thill going so far as to say he felt Cook County took advantage of the village.

Mayor Dan DiMaria said that the overriding factor for moving forward with the agreement was the safety of the village. He added that the county would most likely not need to use the full 1 million gallons a year.

DeMonte agreed, saying that currently he knows of no plans for the county to pull the full 1 million gallons annually. He said when the county does begin to pull water, it would probably be for something small like a bathroom, not a water park.

standards for quality, schedule and maintenance, the recurring, inflation-adjusted payments to the private team are reduced according to the contract.

Procurement of the Illinois portion is being handled separately by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

IDOT announced on Jan. 18 that four teams will be permitted to bid on the Illinois portion of the Illiana. Illinois and Indiana are working together to coordinate technical requirements, tolling policy,the federal environmental approval process, and construction schedules for the two-state project.

For more information about the project, visit www.

IllianaCorridor.org/P3.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS cook county Water agreement

1,215 feet director of public Works andy demonte said the village has been in dire need of replacing 1,215 feet of two water mains running through the county’s forest preserve district property and under the north branch of the chicago river.

$79,408

under the agreement, the village will pay cook county $79,408 for the removal of 33 trees where the pipes will be installed and a one-time fee of $67,731.82.

Regardless of what the county decides to use the water for, DeMonte said the village would install a meter to monitor how much was being pulled.

Take 5 Crossword Puzzle

Across 1 Babbling waterway 6 Pillow covers 11 Healthful facility 14 Nocturnal primate with a ringed tail 15 Squiggle in “pi-ata” 16 Make a mistake 17 *1972 hit with the line “The day the music died” 19 Feel sick 20 Sharp turn 21 Auction cry 22 “I’m innocent!”

24 Pennsylvanie, par exemple 26 *County fair prize 29 Receding tide 31 On edge 32 Sambuca flavoring 35 Place for a polar bear 37 Street shaders 40 *Home-based business 43 __ II razor 44 Tells in a bad way 45 Biblical beasts

Down 46 Blue gem, for short 48 “I __ you one” 49 *Beef-braisedwith-tomatoes dish 53 Jones with a locker 57 Cagney’s TV partner 58 Spring bloomer 60 Go head-tohead 61 Prefix for the birds 62 Green Bay Packer fans ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues 66 Pince-__ glasses 67 Prefix meaning “sun” 68 Krupp Works city 69 Afternoon ora 70 Bagel flavoring 71 “Star Wars” surname?

1 Burn brightly 2 Send a money order, say 3 Alpha’s opposite 4 “__ Man in Havana”: Graham Greene novel 5 Barbra’s “A Star Is Born” co-star 6 Delay on purpose 7 Many an Indian, religiously 8 The Eiger, e.g.

9 Start of the 16th century 10 Greeted and seated 11 Vehicle safety devices 12 First-class 13 Former senator Specter 18 __ salad 23 Excessively preoccupied 25 Precedent setter 27 Boarding school jackets 28 Bassoon vibrator 30 “But I don’t wanna __ pirate!”: “Seinfeld” 32 Do some film

work 33 Partner of neither 34 Highlight in print, in a way 35 Banquet 36 Put a match to 38 G.I. grub 39 Part of TBS: Abbr.

41 Pinot __ 42 Detroit labor org.

47 Film with a classic shower scene 48 Sooner State migrant 49 Bias 50 Have second thoughts 51 Five-letter song refrain 52 Felonious fire 54 Salt’s “Halt!”

55 Audio counterpart 56 Like “Will you marry me?” questionwise 59 Storage building 63 Clucker 64 Yale alum 65 Suffix with Brooklyn

THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014

Horoscopes Actions speak louder than words. You may put too much emphasis on appearances and charm this week, when it’s what you actually do that concerns people the most. Performing a kind act for someone will get you further than meaningless sweet-talk.

Don’t pick favorites.

To satisfactorily strike a compromise in the week ahead, you must find a solution that benefits everyone equally. Beware of those who may try to buddy up to you just to get a bigger slice of the pie.

Don’t jump to conclusions.

When a situation may have those around you ready to take immediate action this week, it may be wiser to adopt a wait-and-see approach. Don’t allow uncertainty and fear to spur a poor decision.

There are two sides to every story. Don’t accept someone’s viewpoint as gospel simply because that was the one you heard first. Make sure you have all the facts at your disposal before reaching any conclusions in the week ahead.

Accentuate the positive. Make an effort to focus on the good things going on in your life during the coming week. Being optimistic will make you more appealing to others and soon you’ll find the dice rolling in your favor.

There’s no shame in taking a short-cut. You shouldn’t wear yourself out in the upcoming week when you can achieve your goals with minimal effort. Use free time to socialize and share ideas with those around you.

Enjoy tea for two. While you may not be ready to declare someone your soul mate, you can spend a pleasant afternoon in the week ahead with a person you’re proud to call a friend. Don’t plead poverty when it comes time to pay the tab.

Good friends don’t cost a thing. With that in mind, you’d be well served by spending the day with your inner circle of close pals rather than going on a shopping spree.

The best way to spend money this week is to not spend it at all.

Make sure that the only toes you’re standing on are your own.

You may be able to accomplish your goals with ease, but in doing so you may infringe upon someone else’s territory. Think things over before taking action in the week ahead.

Change your perspective. You may be too close to a matter to see things objectively, so it may be in your best interest to get some distance so you can look at the situation from a different angle. Ignore unfounded suspicions this week.

The only thing to fear is fear itself. In the week ahead, you may find that your doubts are the only thing holding back your progress. Be careful that those with whom you’ve placed your trust are truly dependable.

Ignoring a problem won’t make it go away. In fact, the longer you leave a situation to fester on its own, the worse it will get. In the week ahead, take immediate action to set things right before they get out of hand.

Sudoku

Jumble

Tribune Content Agency 2014

Previous puzzle’s answers

Previous puzzle’s answers

Previous puzzle’s answers

Jumbles: • GRIME • HAVOC • DAHLIA • HELIUM

Answer:

What the lottery winner did when he bought the penthouse -- LIVED “HIGH”

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Bugle Kids

INSIDE: Maine East not a pushover anymore, page 12; Hawks’ Padron ends swim career with state medal, page 13

nilesbugle.com

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Notre Dame returning deep lineup next season

By Mike Sandrolini Sports Reporter

The luck of the draw wasn’t so fortunate for Notre Dame’s wrestling team, which drew none other than Oak ParkRiver Forest in last week’s 16team Class 3A team sectional tournament.

The Huskies, ranked No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in Illinois, downed the Dons, 40-27 on Feb. 25, and with the victory, advanced to the team state tourney in Bloomington. OPRF emerged as the state champion, notching a 31-22 triumph over Marist in the title match on Saturday.

State runner-up Marist, ranked second in the state and 13th nationally, is a club that Notre Dame defeated in a dual meet earlier in the season.

Highlights for Notre Dame versus OPRF included a 3-1 victory at 132 pounds from Jake Barzowski, and a win for Dino Gutierrez, who defeated state qualifier Savonne Bennette 4-0 at 138.

“Those guys are the real deal,” Notre Dame coach Augie Genovesi said of the Huskies, who produced four champions and 10 medal winners at the state individual meet held Feb. 20-22 in Champaign. “They’re loaded for bear.”

Genovesi added that he would like to see the IHSA go to a postseason seeding format for the team tournament, similar to what is used for football, basketball and baseball.

“Wrestling is a (team) draw that they do in December,” he said.“If they wanted to do it right, they wouldn’t do it (drawings) until after the regionals.”

The Dons finished 25-6 in dual meets during 2013-14.

“We only got blown out of one

Mike Sandrolini/Bugle Staff

Robert Hill and Notre Dame fell to the eventual state champions, Oak Park-River Forest, in the IHSA dual team sectional.

(dual) match this year,” Genovesi said.“We were competitive with everybody we wrestled.”

Notre Dame is losing some top-flight seniors to graduation, including Michael Mulcrone at 220, Robert Hill at 195 and Chris Makowski at 152. Mulcrone and Hill finished fifth at sectionals and racked up 40-win seasons.

However, the Dons boast 10 returning starters for the 201415 campaign. They’ll be led by three-time state qualifier Jimmy Gallardo at 113; junior 160-pounder Marco Orlandi, who advanced downstate for the first time; and sophomore Jake Barzowski, who wrestled between 132 and 126. All three

won 40-or-more matches this season.

In regard to the individual state tourney, Genovesi suggested that the IHSA should consider moving the tourney out of Champaign and splitting it up—perhaps holding the Class 2A and 3A tournament in the Chicago area while having

the 1A tourney at another venue.

That way, he said, those who qualify would be guaranteed at least two matches.

He used Gallardo’s circumstances as an example.

Gallardo was defeated in his first-round match, but the >> see DEEP | page 14

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Sports

Maine East not a pushover anymore

By Mike Sandrolini Sports Reporter

Mike Sandrolini/Bugle Staff

Maine East coach Karol Hanusiak and the Demons celebrated a conference championship earlier this year.

Taking into account the frequency in which the Maine East girls basketball team rewrote school record books throughout the 2013-14 season, it seemed only fitting that coach Karol Hanusiak’ s squad should have been playing at its own sectional during the last week of February.

New Trier foiled that dream with a 55-21 win over the Demons in the regional championship game held Feb. 21. What the Demons accomplished prior to that defeat, however, is worth highlighting once more before the calendar officially turns to spring.

The Demons (20-7) became the first girls basketball team in school history to win a conference championship by virtue of its victory against Maine West on Valentine’s Day. (Maine West, ironically, did advance to the Maine East Sectional.) What made the victory even sweeter is that it marked the first time in 33 years Maine East had knocked off its District 207 rival.

What’s more, Maine East’s 20-victory season also was a first for the girls basketball program.

Hanusiak is going to miss the seniors on this team—four-year varsity players Maria Protic and Jazlene Gonzalez, and Elanta Slowek and Shaylee Sloan, each of whom were three-year varsity performers. And there’s Alyssa Matej, who provided the Demons with major minutes off the bench.

But she says she’ll miss them not solely because of what they achieved on the court this winter.

“They believed in themselves, Maine East and me,” she said.“I’m going to miss the kids as people.

We had such great personalities (on the team) and we know each other so well. I’m happy to be able to coach them. I thanked them after the (New Trier) game for what they for four years at this school.”

Maine East’s record-setting campaign didn’t happen overnight. Hanusiak took over the program six years ago when the Demons were struggling, but she set out to change that even though losses continued >> see EAST | page 14

Sports

Mike Sandrolini/Bugle Staff

Makai Deneve-Arnam competed at the state meet for Maine South.

Hawks’ Padron ends swim career with state medal

By Mike Sandrolini Sports Reporter

Marco Padron sought out his coach, Don Kura, for a pep talk in the days leading up to last week’s boys state swimming meet at Evanston High School.

The Maine South coach chose instead to use numbers as motivating fodder for Padron, a state qualifier for the second straight year in the 50-yard freestyle.

“I said, ‘You just basically have to swim as fast as you did at the sectional meet because that’s probably going to be right in the neighborhood (of qualifying for Saturday’s championship round).’ ” Kura told him.

And Kura was spot on.

Padron, who entered last Friday’s prelims with a seeding time of 21.62 seconds, bettered that time by nearly one-tenth of a second, winning his preliminary heat in 21.51. That clocking was good enough for ninth place after the preliminary round. It got him a berth in the 50 free consolation championship, and with it, a state medal. He placed 12th overall on Saturday in

21.78.

“I was really nervous but I was looking at the (other) times throughout (the day),” Padron said. “When my coach told me that I made the cut, I almost started crying.”

It was a fitting way to wrap up his high school career, Kura said.

“I think it’s a great accomplishment for him,”he said.

“He went in and he did what he had to do so I’m really happy for him. It’s a great way to end your senior year swimming.”

Prior to state, Padron said “I was beyond nervous.”

“I was thinking about this nonstop for the last few days,” he said.

“I cannot explain how happy I am. Everything has built up to this, and I put almost everything I had into that race and it was completely worth it.”

Teammate and classmate Makai Deneve-Arnam qualified in the 50 free, as well, but didn’t advance out of the preliminaries.

Padron and Deneve-Arnam also were part of the Hawks’ state-qualifying 200 and 400 relay teams, along with juniors Philip Wachowski and Jonathan Ramoska. The 200 relay squad

was unfortunately disqualified, as were two other teams in its heat last Friday. The 400 relay also fell short of qualifying for Saturday’s championships.

“I told them (the 200 relay) to just go for it,” Kura said. “I knew what the time was going to be (to qualify for the championship races): it was going to be about 1:26.5, 1:26.6 and that’s what it was.

“For us to go that fast, we had to be a little bit more aggressive.

As it turns out, we wouldn’t have been good enough to get there anyway, so no harm, no foul.They went for it and I’m just happy that they kind of let it all go.”

Senior Andrew Grabowski, a two-time state qualifier, missed the cut in the diving competition, placing 27th with 157.30 points.

All told, Kura was happy with how the season went and with the number of state qualifiers who represented Maine South.

“We haven’t had two qualifiers, Mark and Makai individually, and then we had Andrew as a diver, so all in all it was a really good season for us,” he said. >> see HAWKS | page 15

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>> DEEP, FROM PAGE 11 opponent that beat him lost in the next round. Thus, Gallardo was eliminated without getting another match.

“The kids are losing two full days of school,” Genovesi said.

“They should be guaranteed two matches just like at sectionals instead of one and done.”

Among the other top

Sports returnees are freshman Andy Poniatowski, with 31 victories at 106; freshman Josh Barzowski, who wrestled most of the year at 126 and won 24 matches before his brother, Josh, dropped down to 126; Gutierrez, a sophomore

>> EAST, FROM PAGE 12 to mount. The Demons went a combined 22-84 in Hanusiak’s first four years, and registered just two CSL North victories over her first three seasons.

“When I came in, I was done with having teams circle us on the schedule as ‘Maine Easy,’ walking into gyms and being laughed at,” she said.“It took that long to have these kids not only believe it but do the work in the summer and fall and just have that drive and determination.”

In some cases, it took Hanusiak a while—try as she might—just to get a player to open up to her.

“Jazlene,in practice,she wouldn’t talk to me her freshman year … I don’t know what it was,” Hanusiak recalls with a laugh.“I was on the phone with her mom (asking her), ‘How do I communicate with your daughter?’ Now we can spend just hours and hours talking and talking. It’s just this special connection I have with her. It goes beyond basketball what I’m going to miss. It’s a pretty special bond.”

The bond between the team and the school throughout the year was special, too. Fans packed the Maine East field house to see the Demons beat Maine West.And when they went up to New Trier to take on the Trevians for the regional crown, two busloads of fans made the trek with them.

“We had one of the buses filled up by mid-morning so we got another one,” said Athletic Director Steve Schanz. “As a former girls basketball coach as well, I appreciate all that they

who won 33 bouts; sophomore Tyler Tsagalis (170), who was 15-4 before suffering a seasonending injury; junior Brian Bland, who won 32 matches at 195; and heavyweight Frank Pavlak, a junior who went 15-4

after returning from a football injury in January.

“We’re going to be pretty good,”Genovesi said.“I think next year we’ll be more consistent because we’ll be older.”

did and how they represented themselves, the team and the district. They really brought the school together.”

“It was just so neat walking in the halls as school,” Hanusiak said.

“Students would come up to you and say, ‘Good luck tonight’ and ‘nice win.’ The buzz in the school was really cool. The last time I remember feeling that was (with) the soccer team.”

Hanusiak is referring to the 2011 Demons’ boys soccer team, which went 16-8-1, won a regional crown and made it to the sectional title game before bowing out. Soccer coach Vic DiPrizio was among the faculty and students at Maine East cheering the girls basketball team on this year.

“They had a great year,” said DiPrizio, the director of student personnel services at Maine East. “I’m very proud of her (Hanusiak) and very happy for her and the girls. I know Karol is a great motivator of kids like we all try to be as coaches. It was a lift provided to the whole school to get everybody behind you and everybody excited. It shows what hard work and dedication can do.”

DiPrizio’s teams have been Maine East’s most successful in recent years, posting winning records in seven of the past eight seasons, including the 2008 club that also made it to sectionals and sported a 17-5-3 mark. Both sectional-qualifying teams lost to New Trier—the same school that put an end to the girls’ basketball season.

“I guess we share that we

have the same nemesis,” DiPrizio quipped.

Schanz knew about the derogatory “Maine Easy” label that foes pinned on the school when he first took over as AD last summer.

But he believes the athletic program is starting to turn things around, given the girls basketball team’s showing—as well as having a competitive wrestling team and a boys basketball team that on Feb. 7 upended Highland Park, which challenged for the CSL North title and has over 20 victories.

“They’re starting to realize that you can’t overlook Maine East; you just can’t,” Schanz said.

“Winning the conference in girls basketball and (the boys) beating the first place team in basketball (Highland Park). As a competitor and a former coach, I loved it when teams overlooked us.”

He pointed out that the number of students taking part in sports has increased during the 2013-14 school year—noting, in particular, girls basketball. Around 40 girls tried out for the freshman team this season, so Schanz had to form a Freshman B team and get a coach.

“There’s a lot of good things going on at Maine East,” Schanz said. “We’ve had great numbers this year. We’ve been trying to publicize every success like crazy.

Our followers are increasing on Twitter. We’re trying to advertise sports (at Maine East) and how much fun it can be. I’m pretty sure there won’t be as big of a gap between conference championships in the future.”

mike@buglenewspapers.com

mike@buglenewspapers.com

Sports >> HAWKS, FROM PAGE 13 Niles West junior diver Jeremy Sands of accumulated a score of 251.65 points, but his total left him in 16th place, just shy of the championship round. Sophomore Cameron Lee competed in three events for athletes with disabilities on Saturday. In the 200 freestyle, he registered a winning time of 2:29.06. Lee also tied for first in the 100 freestyle (1:06.08) and tied for second in the 50 freestyle (39.47)

BOYS BASKETBALL Maine South broke open a 10-all first-quarter tie with CSL North representative Deerfield in its CSL crossover championship matchup Feb. 25 by outscoring the Warriors 34-19 over the next two periods and winning, 62-48.

It’s the second CSL crossover title in as many years for the

Hawks (22-6), who rang up a perfect 10-0 record in the CSL South this season.

Caleb deMarigny, back after a bout with mono that kept him out of action for several weeks, tallied 20 points, including six three-pointers—five during the first half. George Sargeant netted 19 of his 23 points in the second half.

The victory also made Tony Lavorato Jr. the all-time winningest coach in Maine South boys basketball history with 195 career victories.

Notre Dame (12-15) defeated Lincoln Park in a non-conference game, 64-50, on Senior Night Feb. 25. Ammar Becar dropped in 21 points and had 12 rebounds.

Niles West beat CSL crossover opponent Glenbrook North, 6053, on Feb. 25 for its seventh victory of the season. Evan Hines tallied 22 points and Romeo Magliore 17 in the win for the

Wolves (7-17).

ALL-CSL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM Three members of the school record-setting Maine East girls basketball team—all seniors— were recently named to the 2013-14 all-Central Suburban League squad. Guards Jazlene Gonzalez and Elanta Slowek, and forward Shaylee Sloan, made the team from the New Trier regional finalist Demons’ squad.

Maine South, also a regional finalist, had two representatives on the team:senior forward Hailey Schoneman and Nina Anderson.

Senior Alex Galanopoulos from Niles West was named to the squad, as well. Brittany Collins of Maine West was tabbed the CSL North Player of the Year, and Jeannie Boehm of New Trier received similar honors in the CSL South. mike@buglenewspapers.com

THE BUGLE MARCH 6, 2014

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buglenewspapers.com/basketball

Joliet Catholic holds off Bishop Mac for sectional crown

By Mark Gregory Sports Reporter

The Joliet Catholic Academy girls basketball players and coaches knew all about Khadaizha Sanders and Bishop McNamara and knew despite winning twice this season, the Irish were not going to lie down in the finals of the Lincoln-Way West Sectional Thursday.

A year ago, it was Bishop Mac that upset the Angels in the opening round of the Peotone Sectional after JCA had won both regular-season match-ups.

This year, the Angels came ready to play, using a huge first eight minutes and withstood a second-half Irish flurry to win 78-70 and advance to the Lewis University Supersectional, which took place March 3.

Michigan State-bound senior Jasmine Lumpkin scored 17 points in the first quarter without missing a shot to pace the Angels to a 32-14 lead at the end of one.

“I was focused and I just really came to play,” Lumpkin said. “My teammates believed in me and they were getting me the ball and I wasn’t going to shy away from it, I was going to attack the basket. I am a senior and I have to play like every game is my last.”

Sanders scored 22 of her gamehigh 35 points in the second half as Bishop Mac cut the lead to single digits.

As the Irish defense focused its efforts on Lumpkin and sophomore Nicole Ekhomu, senior Christine Ekhomu stepped up and scored all 13 of her points in the second half.

“They really put an emphasis on shutting down the middle so I couldn’t get the pass to Jasmine and if I went left, they were trying to shut down Nicki so I couldn’t get the pass to her,” Christine said. “So, I figured if I attacked the middle it would open it back up.”

Lumpkin finished the game with a team-best 27 points, while Nicole Ekhomu added 22 points.

With the win, Christine helped the Angels become the first girls basketball program to reach a supersectional since St. Francis Academy and Joliet Catholic merged in 1990.

As St. Francis Academy, the Angels fell 52-44 to East Aurora in 1983-84. The following year, the two met again and the Angels defeated East Aurora 62-59 to advance to the state quarterfinals. A 65-58 loss that year to Richwoods stopped that run in the final eight, the best finish ever for an Angel team.

“It feels good to be a part of making history,” Christine said.

“JCA has been around for a long time and they have had some great players like the Quigley sisters and it feels good to stay I am a part of that, but we are trying to get further.”

A win Monday at Lewis would make this year’s team the firstever to advance to the state Final Four.

Only two Joliet teams have ever reached the IHSA girls final four, as Joliet West won the firstever girls state title in 1977-78 and Joliet East was third in 197980.

A game earlier, JCA used the hot early shooting of sophomore Nicole Ekhomu and a 7-0 run to open the second half to take a 78-67 win at Lincoln-Way West over Morgan Park.

“Coach told us at halftime that the first three minutes of the half was going to be the game,” Nicole said.

The teams battled back and forth all first half and JCA found itself trailing at the end of the first quarter and were trailing in the closing seconds of the first half before a Christina Ekhomu three-pointer put the Angels up one at the break.

As one of the starting seniors, Christina said she was not going to let the team lose in the sectional opener again.

“We are taking it one game at a time and when we got to this game, I looked at Jazz (fellow senior Jasmine Lumpkin) and

Mark Gregory/Bugle Staff

Nicole Ekhomu scored 22 points in JCA’s 78-70 win over Bichop Mac to win the Lincoln-Way West Sectional title.

said, ‘this is where we fell last year,’ “ Christina Ekhomu said.

“At halftime, I told her, this is our last go-around, so let’s go get it. It

feels really good to get past this hump.”

The Angels were paced by 26 points from Nicole Ekhomu, 23

from Lumpkin and 14 from Ty Battle.

Follow Mark @Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com

dave says

Business & Real Estate

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Check cashing for the ‘unbanked’ family Check cashing businesses not nearly as abusive as payday lenders Dear Dave, I know you hate payday loan companies. Do you feel the same way about checkcashing companies?

Brian Dear Brian, Check-cashing companies are not a good deal, but they’re nowhere near as bad as payday lenders. All check-cashing businesses do is charge a fee to cash a check.

Honestly, it’s kind of silly to me that places like this can make money when all you have to do is walk into a bank and open an account. But there’s a percentage of our population that people in financial circles call “unbanked.” This means they avoid banks for whatever reason, but in the process they leave themselves susceptible to bad deals like this.

So I don’t feel the same

obituaries Priscilla Samorez Priscilla “Pam” Samorez, nee Krosnicki, age 77, of Niles, loving mother of Suzanne (the late Vincent Sr.) Viverito; cherished grandmother of Andrew; longtime loving companion of Harry Ashner; dear sister of Anne (Wigo) Juergensen; and fond aunt and friend of many. Visitation was Friday Feb. 28 from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave.. Niles.

Funeral is Saturday March 15 at 10:15 a.m. to St. John Brebeuf Church Mass 11 a.m. Interment St Adalbert Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society appreciated. For more information, call 847966-7302 or visit www. skajafuneralhomes.com.

way about checkcashing companies as I do about payday lenders. It’s still not a financially smart move to pay a storefront operation a fee just to cash a check, but these businesses aren’t nearly as abusive as payday lenders.

—Dave

Letting kids make money mistakes Dear Dave, My 6-year old son has saved up $400. He said he wants to buy a motorcycle with it someday, but he recently changed his mind and wants to buy a computer tablet. Is it okay for him to change his mind like this, and how should I handle things?

Christina

Dear Christina, I’m not really concerned whether it’s a motorcycle or a tablet, especially if he’s saved his own money. I think the big thing we’re looking for in all this is a teachable moment.

Certainly regret is a concern, especially with a kid so young.

But the reality is that neither the decision nor the possible regret afterward will ruin his life. If you talk to him and try to advise him beforehand, and he gets upset later because he feels like he made the wrong choice, it gives you the opportunity to step in and gently say, “I’m sorry you think you made a bad choice, but that’s why I wanted you to really think about it first.

You had a chance to listen to mom’s wisdom and didn’t. I’m sorry you feel sad now, but I want you to remember it and learn something from this bad decision.” It’s a process of controlled pain and natural consequences.

One of my daughters did something similar years ago when we went to an amusement

Check-cashing companies are not a good deal, but they’re nowhere near as bad as payday lenders. All checkcashing businesses do is charge a fee to cash a check. park. All the kids had a set amount of money for the day, and we warned them not to spend it too soon. She turned around and blew all her money on carnival games, then she spent the rest of the day whining while her brother and sister rode the rides and had lots of fun.We didn’t give her any more money, but a controlled amount of pain taught her some valuable lessons that day. She learned to listen to her mom and dad, she learned that carnival games are a rip-off, and she learned to control herself a little bit and think things through.

Allowing kids the emotional dignity of making some decisions for themselves is vitally important.You just have to make sure this liberty is supervised and comes with parental

warnings and protections. Just because they saved the money doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want. It still has to be used in a way that you, as a parent, are comfortable with and deem appropriate.

There will be some natural tension in the process, but it’s a great way to teach kids about money, decision making, maturity and life choices!

—Dave *Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He’s authored four New York Times bestselling books: Financial Peace, More Than Enough, The Total Money Makeover and EntreLeadership. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 6 million listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations. Follow Ramsey on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.

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Senior Style

Niles Senior Center For a detailed description of programs & activities or to ask about membership or registration requirements, please check the Naturally Active Program Guides or call the Niles Senior Center at 5888420.

Information about the Niles Senior Center can be found on the Village of Niles Website at www.vniles.com. Click on “Departments” (upper left), and then Click on “Senior” You can now see what’s new at the Senior Center.

Advanced registration is required for programs.

For a detailed description of programs & activities or to ask about membership or registration requirements, call the Niles Senior Center at 847588-8420 Individuals must be a registered member of the Niles Senior Center to receive the member price. Non members are invited to participate in programs at the non-member price. For more information about membership and programs, contact the Senior Center.

Issues in the News • 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays This dynamic, refreshing class is led by long time leader of this

program, Arlene Golub. This group is filled with folks from all walks of life, retired or not, who want to keep abreast of a broad spectrum of what is occurring locally and worldwide. Issues for discussion are brought up by class participants, and everyone’s opinion is valued.

Please call the NSC at 847-5888420 for more information.

Got the dot? It may save your life Assist first responders with the information they need.

Become part of the Illinois Dot Program. The Illinois Dot Program is a statewide initiative designed to provide vital medical information on vehicle drivers and passengers.

Information contained on the medical card can assist first responders in the “Golden Hour” immediately following a serious crash. This can very well mean the difference between life and death. For more information, please contact the Niles Senior Center (847 588-8420).

Hooked on Fishing Kick-off Join us at Maine Township for a great afternoon discussing the new fishing season.

Refreshments served, raffles and more! New participants are welcome. After the meeting you can register for the outings. This meeting will be held at Maine Township, 1700 Ballard Road, Park Ridge. Friday, March 7, 2:00pm-3:00pm. FREE CASH Ring of Fire The Music of Johnny Cash at Theatre at the Center, Munster, Indiana. From the iconic songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including I Walk the Line, A Boy Named Sue, and Folsom Prison Blues.

This multi-talented cast paints a musical portrait of The Man in Black that promises to be a footstompin’, crowd-pleasin’ salute to a uniquely American legend! Enjoy lunch at Theatre

at the Center featuring cream of chicken rice soup, choice of baked cod or grilled lemon chicken, classic mashed potatoes, broccoli spears, and apple pie. Wednesday, March 12, 10:45am-6:00pm. $65M/$70NM. St. Joes/St. Pat’s Luncheon Celebration Sponsored by the NSC Men’s Club.This year’s menu will feature an Irish fare along with the Mike Knauf band. There will be raffles and a great time will be had by all!

Saturday, March 15, 11:45am2:00pm. $16M/$21NM Men’s Club Meeting It’s a SHOOT OUT! After the meeting enjoy games and prizes.

Lunch is Italian Beef, chips, and dessert. Monday, March 17, 10:30am-2:00pm, $5M/$7.50NM Dinner & Movie: Captain Phillips Starring Tom Hanks.Tuesday, March 18, Dinner 5:00pm/ movie 5:15pm. Hot dog, chips & dessert $2M/$3NM Tai Chi Demo Instructor: Renee Gatsis, Arthritis Institute certified.

Friday, March 28, 10:15-10:45am, FREE Registration required.

Golfers Needed The Niles Senior Center is looking for men and women for the upcoming golf season!

Contact Jaymi at (847)588-8420 for more info! Men’s Golf kickoff meeting – Thursday, April 10 10:30am. Women’s Golf kick-off meeting – Thursday, April 24 10:30am Annual Rummage Sale If you are interested in reserving a table to sell the many treasures in your home that you no longer use, please call Jaymi at 847-588-8420 as soon as possible. A $5.00 donation per table is required at time of reservation. All donations will go to the Niles Food Pantry. Space is limited! Table reservations are on a first come, first serve basis.

Rummage Sale will be Saturday, April 26 from 9:00am-1:00pm

Park Ridge Senior Center Senior Center Memberships Senior Center membership begins at age 55. Our quarterly new and prospective member meetings will you give information on the many activities, programs,

events and services offered.

Membership dues are: Single: $46 Resident, $65 NonResident Couple: $70 Resident, $99 Non-Resident Over 90 Single: $23 Resident, $32.50 Non-Resident Over 90 Couple: $35 Resident, $49.50 Non-Resident Enjoy these Senior Center Membership benefits: Priority registration and special rates for Active Adult programs, events & trips; A drop-in social center open 7 days a week; Free members-only unique monthly programming and activities; A variety of free clubs for many interests and hobbies; Monthly Newsletter delivered to your home; and Volunteer Opportunities.

Enjoy these facility amenities as a Senior Center Member: Large meeting hall; Classrooms; Full service kitchen; Stage with sound system; Ceramic room and kiln; 2 large screen TVs; Game tables; 4 ping pong tables; Variety of solitary and group activities for member use; Members art displays; Free Lending Library; and Free Medical Lending Closet (limited quantities) For more information, call 847692-3597.

Bridge If bridge is of interest there are several opportunities to enjoy the game. Groups meet on Friday mornings, Sunday afternoons, and Couple’s Bridge meets the first Thursday of the month. Call the Center at 847692-3597 for more information or to be put in touch with one of the group moderators.

Senior Center Clubs Men’s Club: 1st & 2nd Tuesday of the month. Join us as we plan fun and exciting events, as well as make a difference in our community.

Book Worms: 1st Thursday of the month, 1 p.m. Love to read? Join us every month for a discussion pertaining to a variety of books . One per month .

Camera Club:4thTuesday of the month, 10 a.m. Join our camera club as they provide instruction and interesting slideshows on a >> see seniors | page 23

Senior Style >> seniors, from page 22 variety of different topics .

Money Matters with Chris Valentine: 1st & 3rd Monday of the Month, 10 a.m. Chris Valentine from Edward Jones presents a program of financial tips and answers your questions Opera Arts Club with Leo Rizzetto. 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, Noon. Do you have a love for opera and/or musicals?

Leo Rizzetto, opera aficionado, presents a variety of majestic operas and toe tapping musicals.

Computer Club: 1st Wednesday of the month, 1:30 p.m. Need a computer refresher course or just help learning the computer? Join Richard Brandt as he leads the group . Come with questions.

Handicrafters: every Friday, 10 a.m. Do you knit, crochet, sew, quilt, cross-stitch, or embroider?

We make items for the Annual Holiday Bazaar and the V .A . Hospitals . We provide the supplies for these events, or you can work on your own project .

Beginners are welcome!

Ongoing activities Following are number of ongoing activities at the Center: • Woodcarvers meet Thursdays at 9 a.m.…a free activity: • Gamers, 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Fridays play dominos, hand and foot, scrabble for rummikube … also free.

• Ceramics students meet

9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays and Tuesdays and work on projects of your choice. There is a charge of $7 per class.

• Pinochle players meet the second Monday,Third Thursday and every Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.

• Table tennis players start play at 1 p.m.Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All abilities are welcome for this free activity.

• Have you ever thought of tap dancing? This is a fun way of exercising. The class is at 12:30 p.m.Tuesdays.The fee is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Irish Sweepstakes Monday, March 31, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Ages 55 & Up $16 members, $18 non-members.

It’s a “Day at the Races” at the Park Ridge Park District Senior Center. Watch actual filmed horse races and place your bets to win great prizes. Lunch is catered.

Just Lunch April 4, 12:30 p.m. Ages 55 & Up. $7 members , $9 nonmembers.

Looking for good company and a delicious meal? Look no further! Join us monthly for a warm meal prepared by All on the Road Catering at the Senior Center . Stay afterwards for good company and a game or two of cards . SC

Still Misbehavin’ at the Moulin Bleu and Fish Fry April 10 5 to 8 p.m. Ages 55 & Up. $21 members and $24 for non-members.

Still Acting Up! is excited to perform “Still Misbehavin’ at the Moulin Bleu” for the Park Ridge Park District Senior Center .

The fabulous Club Moulin Bleu is closing, and its stars are back for one last night to relive their glory days of song and dance .

This gala performance finds our favorite Skokie seniors up to their old tricks – as well as a few new ones . Don’s Dock is catering our fish fry including french fries, hush puppies, and coleslaw .This is an event you won’t want to miss!

Roberta Miles April 21, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Ages 55 & Up. $17 members, $19 non-members.

Long-time Chicago favorite Roberta Miles brings her unique interpretation of jazz standards and romantic ballads in her newest release entitled Body and Soul . A regular at famous jazz haunts in Chicagoland, Roberta Miles is known for her “smooth cool jazz .” Lunch is catered .

Annual Fashion Show May 2 12:30 to 3 p,m. Ages 55 & Up. $45 members, $50 non-

obituaries Berenice C. Firszt Berenice C. Firszt, nee Trendota, age 93, Went to the loving arms of Our Lord on Feb. 21, 2014. Beloved wife of the late Leo, dearest mother of Carol (Dan) Dargis, David (Mary Bedke), Brian (Stacy), the late Gary and the late Mary Ann, loving grandmother of Keith (Susan) Dargis, Pamela (Mike) Fitzgerald, Neil (Ewa) Firszt, Bronson and Jeremy Firszt, Jill (Ryan) Watson, and the late Dustin Firszt, loving great grandmother of Brittany, Danielle, Jacqueline, Rachel, Jacob and Emma.

Berenice enjoyed family card parties, parish carnivals, arts and crafts, bazaars, casinos, bingo, and the lottery, but more than anything she had a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Visitation was held Monday, Feb 24 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles. Funeral was Tuesday Feb. 25 at 9:15 a.m. to Our Lady of Ransom for 10 a.m. Mass. Interment was in Maryhill Cemetery. For more information, call 847-966-7302 or visit www.skajafuneralhomes.com.

Antonio F. Ripoli Antonio F. Ripoli, age 93, of Niles, beloved husband of Ida, nee Palermo, loving father of Michael (Kim) Ripoli, cherished grandfather of Antonio, Michael and Katrina, fond uncle of Rosetta (Ken) Butterly, Pasquale, Dominick (Marina) Cuconato.Visitation was Thursday, Feb. 20 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles. Funeral was Friday Feb. 21 at 9:15 a.m. to St. John Brebeuf Church 10 a.m. Mass. Entombment All Saints Mausoleum. Antonio was an employee of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad for 30 years. For more information, call 847-966-7302 or visit www.skajafuneralhomes.com.

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members.

It’s spring and time to check out this year’s latest fashions!

Join your friends from the Park Ridge Park District Senior Center for an afternoon including lunch, fashion and a raffle .The Senior Center’s Annual Fashion Show will be held at Fountain Blue in Des Plaines, and features fashions modeled by members of the Senior Center.

Just Lunch May 9, 12:30 p.m. Ages 55 & Up. $7 members , $9 nonmembers.

Looking for good company and a delicious meal? Look no further! Join us monthly for a warm meal prepared by All on the Road Catering at the Senior Center . Stay afterwards for good company and a game or two of cards . SC

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Choraliers, Uketones & Tappers May 19 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Ages 55 & Up. $15 members, $17 non-members.

Join our very own Senior Center Choraliers,Tappers and Uketones during their annual spring performance . Lunch is catered by Inglenook.

Senior Center Open House & Tea May 29 9 a.m. to noon. Ages 55 & Up. FREE. This complimentary event is a show and tell of the activities and programs that the Park Ridge Park District Senior Center offers . Stop in to meet instructors and program participants to get first- hand testimonies of the activities offered .Tea begins at 11:00am .

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