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Calendar events Upcoming events in your area see page 4
sp orts
Final stanza Benet wins volleyball title, beats Marist in run
see page 5
bu sI Ness
Dave Says Dave Ramsey’s Column see page 4
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News
your commuNIt y. your News. thursday, November 21, 2019 | bugleNewspapers.com
park rIdge
Park Ridge encourages giving in 2019 Citywide Food Drive monetary donations will be contributed to the park ridge police department emergency fund The City of Park Ridge has kicked-off the annual citywide, non-perishable food drive. Collection containers will be placed at various locations throughout the City; please see the
full list below. Collection will continue until Friday, December 13. If you prefer to make a monetary donation, checks made payable to the City of Park Ridge – Holiday Food Drive will also be accepted. Please send your donation to: City of Park Ridge - Holiday Food Drive , 505 Butler Place Park Ridge, IL 60068-4182. Monetary donations will be contributed to the Park Ridge Po-
lice Department Emergency Fund, which provides food certificates from local grocers to individuals in need. Your participation in this community-wide program will help to re-stock the shelves at the Maine Township Food Pantry and help those truly in need! Questions? Please contact Brigid Madden at bmadden@parkridge. us or 847-318-6721.
more INfo
collection locations: city hall and park ridge library public library. all district 64 schools and the district office. maine south and maine east high schools. maine park, centennial fitness center and centennial activity center.
park rIdge
Police Organize City-Wide Toys for Tots Collection Efforts
Park Ridge City Hall, 505 Butler Place Park Ridge Fire Station #36, 1000 N. Greenwood Ave. Park Ridge Fire Station #35, 901 W. Devon Ave., Park Ridge Police Department, 200 S. Vine Ave. Park Ridge Library, 20 S Prospect.
mortoN grove
holIday 2019
2019 Annual Holiday Food Drive monetary donations are also accepted at the mg fire department #4 location
anyone interested in donating new, unwrapped items can donate through dec. 11 The Park Ridge Police Department is once again coordinating city-wide efforts to assist the United States Marine Corps Reserve in their annual Toys for Tots campaign. Toys for Tots distributes toys, games, and educational items to thousands of underprivileged children and teens throughout the Chicago metropolitan area every holiday season. Anyone interested in donating new, unwrapped items can drop them at the following locations through December 11, 2019:
ffc, orangetheory fitness, pure barre and charter fitness. beer on the wall, harp and fiddle and mark room for truman. park ridge chamber of commerce. ace hardware. sebastian co. real estate. chase bank - uptown, bmo harris bank, liberty bank and village bank & trust.
several local communities seek donations for food, toy drives this holiday season NIles towNshIp
Niles Township Food Pantry hopes to continue holiday success, giving thanks to community donations, as many as 2,000 families receive holiday food over two days in November, as many as 500 to 600 households receive toys for children in december By the time the holiday season is over, Niles Township Food Pantry Manager Tony Araque and his team will have helped put a smile on the faces of many Niles Township families. That “team” is far-encompassing and includes dedicated employees, compassionate volunteers, generous donors and elected officials. They make the Food Pantry’s annual food drive in November and its toy and food drive the following
month a valuable resource for families — an important way for those in need to enjoy their end-of-theyear holidays. Then again, the Food Pantry is a treasured resource for so many Township families in need all year long. “The Food Pantry means a lot because public aid is cutting down stamps and I have a four-member family,” said Dionne Adams during a recent Pantry visit. “I mean $16 (from public aid) is not feeding four people. When I come to the Food Pantry and can get my food, I can feed us for the month.” Adams’ comments reflect the way many families have come to rely on the Pantry at vulnerable times in their lives.
see ‘gIvINg’ page 3
The Firefighter’s Association of Morton Grove will be collecting non-perishable and unexpired food, purchasing children’s gifts and supplying one large meal item to local families in need this holiday season. Food donation barrels will be available for collection through December 13 at the following locations:
MG Fire Department #4, 6250 Lincoln. Village Hall, 6101 Capulina. MG Civic Center, 6140 Dempster. Moose Lodge, 6419 Chestnut. MG Park District, 6834 Dempster. Monetary donations are also accepted at the MG Fire Department #4 location. Make checks payable to the Firefighter’s Association of Morton Grove. Help those less fortunate this holiday season. Questions call (847)-4705226.
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thursday, November 21, 2019 | bugleNewspapers.com
school News >> dIstrIct 64
Kiwanis Seek Donations for Holiday Food Drive there are about 180 families in need throughout park ridge-Niles school district 64 this year The Park Ridge Kiwanis Club is again working with Park RidgeNiles School District 64 to provide holiday food baskets to families in need. There are about 180 families in need throughout District 64 this year. The goal is to present a gift card for at least $100 to as many of those families as possible. “It’s not always so obvious, but there are many needy families within our school district community who will struggle to afford a special holiday meal this year,” said District 64 Superintendent Eric Olson. “No child should go without, especially during the holidays. We are grateful to anyone contributing to this very worthwhile program.” Families are selected based on the Fee Waiver Policy / Evaluation
‘gIvINg’ from page 2 Many of those families will receive Thanksgiving meals with all of the trimmings this month during the Pantry’s first of the two holiday drives. Tickets for Food Pantry meals are being handed out by the Pantry as of November. “Folks who have to seriously stretch their dollars every year probably would not be able to have a nice meal like they do without donations,” Araque said. Thanks to community donations, as many as 2,000 families receive holiday food over two days in November, as many as 500 to 600 households receive toys for children in December. The Township accepts donations of turkeys and other food and items, but monetary donations provide even more bang for the buck, Araque said. “We accept any and all donations — canned goods geared toward the holidays, pies and stuff, blankets and things like that,” he said. “Yes, we would like turkeys, but we can buy them much cheaper than anybody else could.” In fact, for the consumer cost of one turkey, Araque said, the Pantry can buy about four turkeys. The Thanksgiving meals will be dis-
more INfo the fundraiser will not include a dining event as in years past. Instead, the group is relying on all donations either through its website: www.kiwanispr.org, or directly to: kiwanis holiday food basket fundraiser, c/o frank kaminski, 200 s. vine, park ridge, Il 60068.
used by District 64. Using the federal guidelines for low-income, families are eligible if they have an annual income of $27,729 for a family of three or $39,221 for a family of five. The fundraiser will not include
a dining event as in years past. Instead, the group is relying on all donations - either through its website: www.kiwanisPR.org, or directly to: Kiwanis Holiday Food Basket Fundraiser, c/o Frank Kaminski, 200 S. Vine, Park Ridge, IL 60068. The number of families served will depend on the funds collected. If there are additional funds, the amount presented to each family could increase. The gift card for Mariano’s grocery store will have restrictions on what can be purchased; additionally, Mariano’s will provide a coupon for a ham and pie as part of the basket. The Kiwanis Foundation of Park Ridge is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code so contributions may be tax deductible. The campaign will end on Monday, December 9 and Holiday Food Baskets will be distributed the week of December 16.
tributed Nov. 25 and 26, the first day being devoted to families with children. The December drive allows children up to age 17 from families in need to receive a nice new game or toy for the holidays. It also includes two distribution dates — Dec. 18 and 19 this year. During the first day, donated toys organized by gender and age fill racks inside the Food Pantry. Parents are encouraged to bring along their children who get to choose among a few toys that volunteers pull from the shelves. Niles Township is holding a new event to boost the toy drive this year. Teamed with Niles Township High School District 219, the Township will hold Pack-the-Bus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Target, 6150 W. Touhy Ave., Niles. Shoppers can buy a new toy or game for children and teens and drop it off in the big bus outside the store. All toys are accepted but of special request are LEGO games; Plush blankets; sports equipment; cosmetic sets; art supplies and Barbie dolls. Food Pantry Volunteer Sana Ansari knows first-hand just how important the Pantry’s holiday drive can be to families. She remembers her family receiving a turkey during a year her
father lost his job. “You really learn to appreciate people more — especially during the holidays,” she said. “When you’re going through tough times, you really see how giving people can be.” *** The Township’s two holiday drives are able to help so many people because its Food Pantry is already helping so many people throughout the year. The numbers tell that story. About 30 volunteers, including students with intellectual disabilities, work regularly at the Pantry as a key part of the team. Some 1,500 pounds of food are distributed every month to 6,000 people. On a recent early Friday morning, a coolish autumn day that left fallen leaves scattered across the Township grounds, the scene in and around the pantry brimmed with activity. The unloading of the large green and yellow Greater Chicago Food Depository truck required concerted effort by staff and volunteers; everything needed to be taken from the truck, and food needed to be readied for distribution to clients in the adjoining room a short time later. Carts packed with new food were wheeled across the Pantry warehouse floor, eggs stacked on shelves, cold
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News brIefs >> des plaINes
holiday tree Lighting Friday, December 6th festivities start at 4 p.m. with the tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Join the city of Des Plaines for the City of Des Plaines Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Metropolitan Square on Friday, December 6th. Festivities start at 4 p.m. with the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Hand-decorated holiday trees, live entertainment, and special guests Anna, Elsa, and Olaf will be sure to put a smile on your face. Of course, Santa Claus and his elves will be at the event - adding your special holiday wishes to his list. The Mitten Tree will be ready for your donations of new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves and
food taken to refrigerators and freezers. Araque said food delivery day is among the most hectic times of the week, but a hard-working and united team seemed to be handling the commotion just fine. Katherine Nichols, a long-time food pantry volunteer from Michigan, recently moved to the area to be closer to family. She said she heard many good things about the Niles Township Food Pantry and wasted little time in reaching out. She now volunteers every week, often with her daughter. “Tony and the people here run this so well,” she said while stacking eggs onto a cart on this busy Friday. “I’ve always felt it was worthwhile to give back, it’s a good use of my time, and this is a great opportunity to do that.” You don’t have to look far to see just what such commitment — shared by many in the Niles Township Food Pantry world — means to the clients who shop there up to two times a month not including the holiday drives. “It’s really helped me and my family,” said Joanne Berg, a single mother with two children living at home. “It’s meant the difference between making it or not.” Berg formerly worked in echocardiographs, but she dislocated her shoulder in a car accident and had to
more INfo the mitten tree will be ready for your donations of new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves and the des plaines self-help closet & food pantry will be accepting nonperishable food donations
the Des Plaines Self-Help Closet & Food Pantry will be accepting nonperishable food donations.go to desplaines.org.
go on disability. She now drives for Lyft when she can, she said, but it’s a challenge. “This has been a temporary godsend,” she said after shopping on this Friday. Benjamin Frazier of Skokie is also a client of the Food Pantry due to significant health challenges. Having lived in several areas, he said he only wished other pantries lived up to Niles Township’s high standards. “People who are residing in this area really need this…they depend on it including me,” he said. “I’m living off a fixed income at this point due to my health. I have congestive heart failure and working has been a problem.” Compounding the problem is that employers have not wanted to carry the liability once they have discovered his condition, he said. The Food Pantry has made a monumental difference in his life. “This place has been like a true relief and a blessing as far as my economic situation goes,” Frazier said. “I couldn’t say a bad thing about this place at all. It’s clean. The workers are hospitable. It’s just all kudos here.” Araque said the Food Pantry team works together toward the same important goal of helping people at difficult times in their lives.
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caleNdar
upcomINg eveNts IN your area thursday, November 21, 2019 | bugleNewspapers.com
NOV 1-DEC 6 SKOKIE letters from saNta. Skokie Park District. Surprise your child with a letter written by Santa. Due to Santa s extremely busy schedule, participants are encouraged to sign up early. Registrations forms are available at any Skokie Park District facility and online at www.skokieparks.org beginning November 1, 2019. Letters will be on Friday, December 13, 2019 to ensure delivery by Christmas Eve, December 24, 2019. Registration deadline is Friday, December 6, 2019. NOVEMBER 27 WOODRIDGE escape room: save the turkey. 10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. at the Woodridge Public Library. This Thanksgiving turkey will be toast(ed) unless your team can save him before the timer goes off. Work together as a team to find clues and solve puzzles that will save the turkey in time. NOVEMBER 29 JOLIET lIght up the holIdays festIval & parade. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Joliet City Center Partnership 116 N Chicago St #101, Joliet, IL. Light Up the Holidays Festival and Parade is held on the Friday following Thanksgiving each year. Activities begin downtown as early as 10:00 a.m., and include the Fantastic Fun Fair in the Joliet Area Historical Museum s auditorium, as well as activities in the Joliet Public Library, Jitters Coffeehouse, Chicken-n-Spice, Chevere Latin Cafe, JJC City Center Campus and more. The Rialto Square Theatre s annual holiday festivities add to the holiday spirit in Downtown Joliet. Christmas Tree Lighting begins at 5:15 p.m. in Van Buren Plaza followed by the Light Up The Holidays Parade at 5:30 p.m. NOVEMBER 30 CREST HILL fourth aNNual crest hIll wINter festIval. 4-7 p.m. at 1610 Plainfield Road, Crest Hill, IL 60403. Crest Hill s 4th Annual Winter Festival will be held at the City Hall parking lot. This year s live entertainment will be local Crest Hill band, The Jib Brothers Band. As always, there will be horse and hayrack rides, live reindeer, pony rides, and local businesses on hand to ring in the holiday season. Santa Claus has confirmed he will make an appearance as well. The mayor will be doing an annual lighting ceremony with very special guests, so you won t want to miss this year s event. NOTE: Parking will be available at El Guero, Chase Bank, and the South Weber Plaza. Knapp Road will be closed from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. NOVEMBER 30 WESTMONT rotary club ugly sweater 5k. 9 a.m. 12 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall. Join family and friends for the Ugly Sweater 5k through the streets of Westmont. The race will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Burlington Ave. Participants registered before November 18 will be guaranteed a race shirt; pre-registration can be done online at westmontrotaryclub.org or by paper forms which will be at the Community Center. Race Day registration will be held from 8:00-8:45 a.m. on November 30. Medals will be presented to our first three finishers and awards will be presented in all other age categories. Awards and refreshments will be provided at the completion of the race. All fitness levels are welcome to participate.
guest columN >> dave says
don’t use emotion to rationalize an upgrade dear dave, My husband will be finishing physician assistant school in December, just a few days before our first baby is due. We’ve got about $70,000 in student loan debt, and we’re trying to get everything
paid off. Both our cell phones are pretty old, and I’d like to get a new one that costs $350 so we can have really good pictures of the baby. My job is the only income we have right now, and I’m making $45,000 before taxes. Is this a silly thing to do in our situation?
JAMIE DEAR JAMIE, This is an important question. It’s not important because $350 is a big deal in the grand scheme of things, it’s impor-
tant because you’re making a judgment call as to what you’re focusing on and what you value. If you’re focusing on your husband finishing school, so his income goes up and you’re trying to get out of debt, that fine. I love it when people are willing to work their tails off to have better lives. But if that’s your focus, and at the same time you’re trying to rationalize buying something you don’t really need, that’s a bad thing. You don’t need a new cell
phone for a camera, especially if the camera is the only reason you’re buying it. You can find decent digital cameras everywhere these days for $50 or less. I understand the joy that goes along with having a child. I have three kids, and we were absolutely ecstatic each and every time one was born. And, of course, we wanted good photos of them all. But right now, I think you’re trying to rationalize a phone upgrade based on the emotion of a new baby. As an exercise of
your value system, that’s a tendency you need to break. This is a test, Jamie. What you’re talking about here is a luxury, not a necessity. Rationalization is one of the prime causes of overspending. Please understand, I’m not picking on you and I don’t mean to be harsh. We’ve all flunked this test at times. But this is an important moment where your judgment and values are concerned. It’s your call, but you really don’t need to blow $350 on a new phone right now.
thursday, November 21, 2019 | bugleNewspapers.com
page 5
BASKETBALL SOCCER CROSS COUNTRY FOOTBALL SOCCER TENNIS BASEBALL SOFTBALL VOLLEYBALL TRACK & FIELD SWIMMING CHEERLEADING DANCE bowlINg volleyball
returN to
glory
after placing third a season ago, benet academy claims the class 4a state volleyball championship by mark gregory editorial director
@Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com Last season, as Benet Academy placed third in the state in Class 4A, then-junior Colleen McGuire was not on the floor at Redbird Arena. After playing on the lower levels her first two seasons at Benet, McGuire decided not to play last season in order to focus on training for her future in beach volleyball, which she will play next season at the University of California-Davis. This year, she decided to return to the Redwings and the move paid off for both her and the team. McGuire was an impact player for Benet Academy all season, and recorded two of the most important kills in school history. On Friday night, she finished off rival Marist to send the Redwings to the state championship match against Wheaton Warrenville South and on Saturday, she got the final point in the 25-12, 25-16 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South to earn Benet the state title. “This is my last point of indoor ever for me and to have that is an unbelievable opportunity that was given to me and I am happy I had it,” she said. “(After I hit it) I was waiting for the dogpile and it feels really, really good to be part of that.” McGuire joined Kyla Kenney, Ann Marie Remmes and Rachel Muisenga with four kills on the night, while Sophie Gregus led the
team with eight. “The feeling is indescribable. To have all the hard work pay off and the fact that I can do this for my teammates. When I graduate, I will remember this moment and hopefully leave a legacy for Benet volleyball. You can’t really top this,” Gregus said. “Our bond is so strong and we trust each other so much.” It was the fourth state championship in program history and tied the Benet standard with a 41-1 record on the season. “They really turned it on. I didn’t think we had another level and then since sectional started, only one team even got to 20. You talk about a level of focus - they were in it,” said Benet coach Brad Baker. “It is hard. You have to stay healthy and you have to have the talent, then you have to have all the positions and they you have to actually like each other and want to get along for a season and play for each other. We don’t take it for granted, this team is really special. “We are not scheduling cupcakes – when you get 40 wins at this school, you earned it.” In fact, three of Benet’s conference opponents also earned medals at state as Marist placed third in Class 4A and Joliet Catholic Academy was second in 3A. The championship was the third Benet title in a week, as the boys soccer team and girls cross country team also earned state titles. “I have a lot of friends that just
see ‘glory ’ page 6
photo by mark gregory
benet academy setter rachel muisenga helped the redwings defeat marist and wheaton warrenville south en route to the Ihsa class 4a state championship.
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6 sports
Thursday, November 21, 2019 | buglenewspapers.com
photo by mark gregory
Sophie Gregus posted eight kills in Benet’s win over Wheaton Warrenville South in the state title match. ‘glory ’ from page 5 won state championships in soccer or cross country and they told me it was our turn and we have pride in the school,” Gregus said. That pride in the school was what drove senior Hattie Monson. The University of Notre Damebound libero has won championships all over the world, but her resume was still lacking one for her school. “This is the best feeling ever. This is a whole different feeling because I am doing it for my school and my community and that is awesome to have all these fans that I am really close to all of them – they are my best friends,” she said. “All of us have worked so hard to get to this point right here and I can’t wait to see the future of Benet because I think they will take it as far as we did and win it again.” The Redwings got to the final by defeating Marist, who came in ranked 10th in the nation — two spots ahead of Benet. Coming into the IHSA Class 4A state volleyball semifinals, Benet
Academy had only one loss on its resume, a 25-13, 25-21 loss at Marist in the final regular season match of the season. That same Marist program had defeated the Redwings in the 2018 semifinals and went on to win its second-straight title. The Redwings used a dominant first set and a come-from-behind second to defeat the RedHawks 25-13, 25-23. “These girls prepared for this moment, the results were just a reflection of that,” Baker said after the semifinal win. “We have been going over this match over and over again and we have had some real strict practices on what we need to do to win this match. It is one thing to prepare and know and it is another thing to do. “They beat us up down there and we took a whooping. We talked about being a winner or a loser – losers are going to hide from it and winners are going to come back and put the work in. It is hard in situations when you adults, but we are asking kids after they take a whooping to look them in the face
not that long ago. That is a great skill – not just in volleyball, but in life.” Benet did split with Marist during the regular season, as the Redwings earned a three-set win in the Wheaton Warrenville South tournament earlier in the season, but that did not even the score for the Benet players that were part of the only Benet team to advance to the state finals and not play in a championship match. “Last year, working all year to get to state and losing, it has been with us since the beginning of the season,” said Gregus. “The seniors wanted to make a new legacy and we have been saying all year that that is our year. Having that in the back of our minds the whole year has motivated us to work harder every single day.” Gregus led Benet with eight kills. Muisenga paced the Redwings with 22 assists, as well as six blocks (one solo). “Coming in as underdogs after losing in that match, it made us focused and we were ready for it,” she said.
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