Niles 7-14-16 by Bugle, Sentinel & Enterprise Newspapers

July 14, 2016 vol. 60 issue 41

Maine West mourns ‘legendary’ girls basketball coach

see page 10

News Zoning Denied

Park Ridge zoning board loses last word on appeal denials see page 3

News Bike Paths

Task force to help map Park Ridge’s bike plan

see page 3

Forum Brexit Breakdown World wonders how U.K’s withdrawal will pan out

see page 5

sports Green is Money

Female multisport athletes of the year are announced

see page 7

Business Working for Work

Oakton VP brings Hands on approach to workforce development see page 11

Community Project Playbill

Niles Library program gives voice to area teens

see page 15

Photo By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

Purple ribbons are hung outside Park Ridge City Hall in memory of Kate Babich, who died suddenly June 27 while attending summer cheerleading camp.

Featured Sports

remembering coach kipp

Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

Park Ridge City Council joins community in remembering 7-year-old resident By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

When the Park Ridge City Council met July 5, city hall and much of the town were awash with purple. Purple ribbons were tied around the columns at city hall, trees at nearby Prospect Park and seemingly every light pole throughput the area. Two ribbons hung between the pillars of the entrance to the Park Ridge Library. The gesture was a tribute to Kate Babich – a 7-year-old Park Ridge girl who died suddenly June 27 during a summer cheerleading camp that was being held at Maine South High School. Neighbors rallied around the family, and the idea of wrapping the entire city in “a purple hug” soon took off across Park Ridge. The July 5 meeting marked the first city council meeting since the tragedy. First Ward Ald. John Moran said he lives only six houses away from the Babich family and that he was heartened by the community’s response. Second Ward Ald. Nicholas Milissis, who chairs the Park Ridge Public Safety Committee of the Whole, praised emergency responders for doing everything they could to help the young girl. Babich was a second grade student at Field Elementary School who attended Maine South’s cheerleading summer camp for second through fifth graders. According to a statement from Maine Township High School 207, the girl suddenly became ill on the morning of June 27 around 11 a.m. The city shut down traffic along Dee Road to expedite an ambulance that rushed the girl to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:59 p.m. According to District 207, the

camp was scheduled to run until July 1, but school officials decided to cancel the remainder of the camp. Both District 207 and Park RidgeNiles District 64, which includes Field Elementary, offered crisis counselors to parents, students and staff. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office hasn’t determined the cause of Babich’s death as of July 8. Acting Mayor Marty Maloney said aldermen didn’t address the situation during the June 27 committee of the whole meeting because they wanted to wait until more information was available. During the July 5 meeting, he asked Moran to speak about what happened. “[Kate Babich] was a resident of the First Ward,” the alderman said. “I knew her family. They lived about six houses away. This was a tragedy, but the response from the community, the collective ‘purple hug,’ has been amazing.” Moran said the response made him proud to be from Park Ridge, and he hopes that the city would never have to do something like this again. Milissis thanked the police officers and paramedics who tried to help Babich, singling out officer Bob Evans and Sgt. Kirk Ashleman, who helped the paramedics on the scene. Evans stayed with the young girl as she was rushed to the hospital, while Ashleman had what Milissis described as the “heavy and emotional task” of driving her family to the hospital. “Tragically, our people’s efforts were not able to save Kate’s life, but I wanted everyone to know that public safety staff did everything in their power to do so,” the alderman said. “Unfortunately, the result was what it was, but, as Ald. Moran said, as a community, I think we all share in [the family’s] pain.”

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Babich

Photo Courtesy of Advocate Children’s Hospital

Purple ribbon hung outside Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge in memory of Kate Babich.

Photo By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

Ribbons outside library commemorate a 7-year-old Park Ridge girl who died suddenly while attending summer cheerleading camp.

INSTAGRAM: Readers, attending a game in your area? Take a photo and tag @buglenewspapers for a chance to be featured!

Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

Zoning board loses last Task force to help word on appeal denials map bike plan New rules also affect commission’s authority to approve site plans By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

The Park Ridge City Council voted unanimously to approve a zoning ordinance that gave it the final word over both approvals and denials of zoning variance requests. The zoning board will still vote on whether to approve or deny the request. But before the July 5 vote, when it denied the request, the vote was final, while the city council had the final word over whether the approval takes effect. Under the new rules, the city must vote to approve the denials, and it can overturn the denial by a supermajority (two-thirds) vote. The new rules also affect the Planning and Zoning Commission’s authority to approve site plans. Under the previous rules, if it denies the plan, the decision is final. The new rules

allow the applicant to appeal to the city council, which will be able to either approve, deny or approve it with conditions. Finally, the new rules make a similar change to the way especial use applications are handled. Before the July 5 vote, it worked similar to the way variance requests were handled – the city council had the final say on whether they are approved, but the commission’s denial was final. Now, the city council must either confirm or overturn the denial, and the denial must be overturned by a supermajority vote. As previously reported by the Bugle, the change was originally requested by the city attorney’s office.

During an April 28 Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on the issue, city attorney Adam Simon said that the change was designed to make the city law consistent with state law, which states that both approvals and denials must come from a single legislative body. The change would also protect the city if there’s a legal action against it. As previously reported by the Bugle, zoning commissioners have previously expressed concerns that the changes would make the process more political. According to Third Ward Ald. Richard Van Roeyen, supermajority requirement was put in to address that. The city council approved the changes after two readings during the June 20 and July 5 meetings. It got a chance to exercise the new authority only a few minutes after the final vote, when it considered two zoning variance applications for the residential development at 1200 Elm Street. The vote mirrored the zoning board’s recommendations, with aldermen voting 4-2 to approve the variances, and voting unanimously to uphold the denial of the request to build a 10-foot fence along the North Delphia Avenue side of the development.

Mayor looking for 8-10 people By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

Park Ridge is looking for residents who would be willing to sit on a task force that will help develop a citywide bike plan. During the July 5 city council meeting, Acting Mayor Marty

Maloney told aldermen that he is looking for 8-10 people for the task force, to which Fourth Ward Ald. Roger Shubert has agreed to serve as liaison. Interested residents can download an application on the city’s website, www.parkridge. us/documents/default. aspx?pg=2. Applications must completed and submitted to the city July 25. The mayor’s advisory board will review the applications, and Maloney will make the final decision on who is ultimately selected.

village news >> niles

Green infrastructure project receives funding Funding partner to help finance Oak Park bioswale, permeable pavement parking area The village of Niles announced that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is a funding partner for the upcoming construction of the Oak Park bioswale and permeable pavement parking area. The district agreed to provide partial funding for the project through its Green Infrastructure

Initiative, according to the village. The Oak Park project will achieve stormwater runoff reduction and water quality improvements through the use of green infrastructure. Village officials said the Oak Park project builds on previous green infrastructure improvements, such as the Community Rain Garden and Neva Avenue bioswale.

www.cookcountycrimestoppers.org • 800.535.stop Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

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

Niles Gilberto Caro, 29, 2800 block of Long Avenue, Chicago, was arrested at 10:24 a.m. June 27 in the 7500 block of Caldwell for suspended license.

David Crespo, 51, 3700 block of North Sawyer, Chicago, was arrested at 8:33 a.m. July 1 in the 5900 block of Howard for battery.

Alberto Velazquez, 22, 3700 block of Delaney Drive, Joliet, was arrested at 4:40 a.m. June 25 at Dempster and Potter for DUI and obstructing peace officer.

Park Ridge Timothy L. Moore, 29, 3918 W. Lexington, Chicago, was arrested at 11:51 a.m. June 29 in the 1700 block of Dempster for criminal trespassing.

was arrested at 9:04 a.m. June 30 in the 600 block of Courtland for battery. Courtney C. Scott Jr., 19, 1729 Leland Ave., Evanston, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. July 3 at Touhy and Dee for suspended or revoked driver’s license, operation of uninsured motor vehicle and no rear registration plate light.

9 12 11

Morton Grove Luis A. Rodriguez, 34, 3300 block of North Oak Park, Chicago, was arrested June 30 in the 7800 block of Lehigh for DUI.

78 1

Alex A. Zamora, 33, 5200 block of West Montrose, Chicago, was arrested June 30 in the 7800 block of Lehigh for a warrant.

6 5

Robert B. Punzalan, 38, 9000 block of Mansfield, was arrested June 30 at Davis and Mansfield for criminal trespassing.

Timothy J. Mackin, 36, block of Washington, Glenview, was arrested July 2 in the 9600 block of Harlem for DUI.

10 200

Dennis P. Zaremba, 18, 8800 block of O’Neill, Burr Ridge, was arrested July 2 in the 6100

Thomas P. Calkins, 19, 604 Courtland Ave., Park Ridge,

block of Dempster for a warrant.

Juan Gomez, 33, 9300 block of Bay Colony, Des Plaines,

was arrested July 4 at Dempster and Fernald for DUI.

Marin G. Estrada, 53, 8000 block of Keating, Skokie, was arrested July 5 at Waukegan and Church for no driver’s license.

Send us your feedback at nweditor@buglenewspapers.com

Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

guest column >> Jill on money

editorial

World wonders how bad Brexit hangover will be assistant editor

aNdREa EaRNESt aearnest@buglenewspapers.com

Biggest issue is how trade would be handled between the EU and the rest of the world

815.436.2431 ext.118

By Jill Schlesinger Tribune Content Agency

advertising

production

LauRa KatauSKaS • MaRK GREGORy • IGOR StudENKOv

sales representatives Pat ryan

pryan@enterprisepublications.com 815.436.2431 ext. 106

Plainfield, Shorewood sheri lhotak

slhotak@buglenewspapers.com 815.436.2431 ext. 107

Joliet, Crest Hill Lockport, Romeoville 4

enterprise newspapers, inc. 23856 Andrew Road #104 Plainfield, IL 60585 Phone: (815) 436-2431 Fax: (815) 436-2592 MON - FRI: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

dena Conn

dconn@buglenewspapers.com 815-436-2431 ext. 121

Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, Westmont, Woodridge, Lisle, Niles, Morton Grove, Des Plaines & Park Ridge

advertising deadlines. Space and copy deadlines for display and classified ads is at noon the Friday before date of insertion. Email classifieds@buglenewspapers.com | Legals, obituaries and happy ads are due at noon Friday. Email announcements@buglenewspapers.com. Email Legals@buglenewspapers.com editorial deadlines. Calendar & News: 3 p.m. Monday, three weeks before date of publication. sweditor@buglenewspapers.com

facebook.com/thebuglenewspapers twitter.com/buglenewspapers instagram.com/buglenewspapers EdItOR’S NOtE: the opinions expressed in guest columns, editorial cartoons and letters to the editor belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the the Bugle or its staff.

After British voters shocked the world by choosing to withdraw the U.K. from the European Union, the big question became: What happens next? As has been widely reported, the “leave” win means that the British government must invoke Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which outlines the legal process by which a state can withdraw from the EU. But when will that happen? Prime Minister David Cameron announced that he would step down in October and suggested that the next prime minister should initiate the Article 50 process. Once it does, the withdrawal negotiations would begin. At a minimum, it would take two years, but that time frame could be extended by unanimous agreement among the remaining 27 member nations. During the process, the U.K. would obey EU treaties and laws, but not take part in any decision-making. The biggest issue is how trade would be handled between the EU and the rest of the world. There are three exit options, based on current models. The first is total exit, under which the U.K. leaves the EU and does not continue to benefit

By Jill Schlesinger Tribune Content Agency from any part of the single market. Then there is the Norwegian model, whereby the U.K. would leave the EU but join the European Economic Area. Finally, there is the Swiss model, which would mean the U.K. leaves the EU and does not join the EEA but enters various bilateral agreements with the EU to obtain access to the market in specific sectors, rather than the market as a whole. Leaders of the Leave movement did not advocate a specific exit ramp during the campaign, so it is unclear which model they will follow. Their choice will impact U.S. companies that have a large presence in the U.K., especially in the financial services sector, which has relied on U.K. membership in the EU to manage legal, compliance and infrastructure issues. At the end of the first post-Brexit trading day, the damage was not too bad, considering the magnitude of the news. Global stock markets were down, U.S. and German government bond prices jumped and yields fell. Gold added 4.6 percent. Investors are worried about the impact of the Brexit on the European

economy and likely understand that a protracted and nasty divorce could push the U.K. and the EU into a recession. If that were to occur, it could slow down global and U.S. growth. Over the past eight years, global central banks have been able to soothe markets with interest rate cuts (sometimes going negative) and unconventional tools like bond buying (“quantitative easing”). This time around, though, the central bank toolbox may come under pressure. Global interest rates are already close to zero, and bond buying may not do the trick if the Brexit shock causes individuals and businesses to shut down and do nothing for a while. Some economists and traders are concerned that because the world was not prepared for Brexit, there could be a domino effect, whereby other nations will choose to leave the EU (aka, Frexit, Italeave, Czexit). Even a coordinated central bank intervention could not fight off the power that a fraying EU might create throughout the world. Very few traders, economists or bankers thought that BREXIT would occur; as a result, they are still in a bit of shock. The short, intermediate and long-term implications of Brexit are simply unknowable at this point. Like the weather in London, it looks we will be forced to live with lots of clouds, occasional storms and, hopefully, an occasional ray of sunshine. Contact jill Schlesinger, senior business analyst for CBS News, at askjill@jillonmoney. com.

letter to the editor

Important ordinance getting no exposure Ordinance allows the division of a village lot into smaller parcels to allow the adding of additional dwellings Despite Morton Grove Village Hall professing to be open and informative, they are about to pass a significant development ordinance that can affect

all of the residents. This ordinance allows the division of a village lot into smaller parcels to allow the adding of additional dwellings. This open blanket ordinance would allow the village to do this anywhere in town, maybe next door to you. There has already been a “first read” that was passed unanimously (no surprise). A second read is scheduled for the board meeting July 13 that would allow the ordinance to be voted on and passed. All this with no announcements in the Morton Grove publications, open reach out meetings

or online news. Also, what is the big hurry to pass this? Seems like the real benefactors of this are the developers, who would like to squeeze more homes into the village changing the open space suburban environment we now all enjoy. I suggest residents contact the mayor to express their displeasure with this potentially damaging new policy and also attend the board meeting and speak out during the initial time allotted to resident comments. Sherwin Dubren, Morton grove

for When you Want to take 5 minutes for yourSelf Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

Aries

mARch 21 TO ApRIl 20

Inhale inspiration and fresh ideas, but exhale an urge to break off and go off on your own. Consider ideas that inspire you to attempt bigger and better things in the week ahead without going off on a tangent.

gemini

m Ay 2 2 T O J U N E 2 1

Intelligence has impact. Your ideas and words can incite a heated discussion or comfortable conversation as this week unfolds. Social situations might cause you some confusion when you are pulled two ways.

leo

J U ly 2 3 T O A U G U s T 2 1

Get ahead of the game. Your preference may be to hide away in a peaceful nook and meditate. Pay attention to a nagging inner voice that tells you a job must be completed. This week you can get a jump on the competition.

Across 1 D.c. spORTs GROUp 5 hIT ThE ROOF 15 schOOl AcRONym 16 DATING TERm UsUAlly ABBREvIATED 17 msNBc ANchOR WAGNER 18 spEcIAlTy BROkERs 19 hEAD 20 ThE WhIFFENpOOFs OF A cAppEllA FAmE 21 FINEly cONTOURED 22 ONly FAIR 24 shERRy TypE 26 sWAp mAGAzINEs 27 OUTBAck ORDER 28 NO-BRAINER? 29 GIFTs FOR AFIcIONADOs 33 vIp OF ThE UsAF 34 chEss GRANDmAsTER spAssky 35 spAN. TITlE 36 JOINT sUppORT 39 DIsAsTROUs 41 cOmE (FROm) 42 ThEy’RE AssEmBlED AT BARs 43 plAyER IN EIGhT sUpER BOWls 46 hERBAl BEvERAGE 47 ThEN, IN RENNEs 48 BORING, mAyBE 49 pUNch lINE, sAy 50 lIkE sOmE sIRENs 53 kyRGyzsTAN BORDER RANGE 54 “BlOck-hEADs” cO-sTAR, 1938 55 TEmpORARy plAcE TO s 56 pROJEcT plANNING DATUm 57 cRImp-hAIRED

cRITTERs

Down 1 BIT OF clEvERNEss 2 ADmITTED 3 “EvERy BREATh yOU TAkE” BAND 4 pAck lEADER? 5 IT’s NOT A cOmplEx NUmBER 6 hAppy WAy TO WAlk 7 TEmpORARy plAcEs TO sTAy 8 cITy sERvED By BEN-GURION AIRpORT 9 AUThOR lEshAN 10 hUsky FOllOWER 11 ThEy’RE FIllED AND FOlDED 12 lIkE sOmE BRIck WAlls 13 JOIN 14 TOUch-AND-GO 20 DAkOTA DU sUD, E.G. 23 __ cANAls 24 “ANGRy” ADvERsARy IN ENID BlyTON’s “FARAWAy TREE” sERIEs 25 DOGFIsh hEAD

pRODUcTs 27 pREssURE 29 sOUND OFF 30 pAssING lEGIslATION? 31 BUsINEss IDENTIFIER 32 ThEy GO WITh chIps 34 vIvAcITy 37 hOOp, FOR ONE 38 TAkE OFFENsE 39 vENOm sOURcE 40 FlyING FIG. 42 UNATTAchED 43 l.A.-BAsED BREWERy 44 pRINcE vAlIANT’s BRIDE 45 “pATh __”: 2002 lBJ BIOpIc 46 “WOmAN WITh A pARAsOl” pAINTER 48 pRE-EURO cURRENcy 51 mONOpOly TOkEN ThAT REplAcED ThE IRON 52 cABINET DEpT. cREATED UNDER lBJ 53 ONE ON ThE lINks

librA

sEpTEmBER 24 TO OcTOBER 23

You may find that your popularity drops like a rock when you focus on business instead of pleasure. Think things through before you make major purchases in the week ahead. You may be susceptible to the hard sell.

sAgittArius

NOvEmBER 23 TO DEcEmBER 22

There’s no need to be seen as a moody loner. Those you care about are uncomfortable doing some things all on their own. Be a good sport this week and join someone on a trip to the store or to the movies.

AquArius

JANUARy 21 TO FEBRUARy 19

Make money management work for your profit. Pick up a magazine or buy a book. A conversation with a casual friend could elicit brilliant ideas and methods to spin your copper pennies into gold this week

Sudoku

tAurus

A p R I l 2 1 T O m Ay 2 1

Watch where you put your feet, for the toes you step on may not be your own. You’ll feel sociable in the week ahead but someone could be too focused on making a profit. Be mindful of the feelings of others.

cAncer

J U N E 2 2 T O J U ly 2 2

Place business and pleasure at opposite ends of the spectrum in the week to come. Attempts to gain the upper hand in business through social maneuvering could backfire. Focus your energy on creative outlets.

virgo

AUGUsT 22 TO sEpTEmBER 23

You could sit around and look pretty or take steps to be beautiful. Head off to the gym for a workout or ask a friend to join you in a bike ride. Fresh air and exercise can revitalize your relationships in the week ahead.

scorpio

OcTOBER 24 TO NOvEmBER 22

Whistle while you work your magic this week. You intuitively know what will please other people and they hang on your every word. Brainstorming sessions could lead to major improvements and brilliant solutions.

cApricorn

DEcEmBER 23 TO JANUARy 20

Nothing fuels inspiration and insights like the anticipation of a change. You may be anxious to leave your rut as this week unfolds but could find that the grass is not much greener on the other side of the fence.

pisces

FEBRUARy 20 TO mARch 20

A candle’s own light is not diminished if it lights another candle. Unleash your creativity and share good ideas and news with others in the week ahead. Be wary of bad habits that may rub family members the wrong way.

Jumble

Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 2016

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

Jumbles:

• FAUNA • BRIBE • NOGGIN • ADROIT

Answer:

WhEN ThE shOWER DAmpENED ThE cORONATION, IT BEcAmE A -- “REIGN”

Thursday, July 14, 2016

page 7

>> INSIDE: dejoria paving own way in nhra page 8

athlete of the year

Jaida Green repeats as Female Athlete of the Year; Eckhart tabbed top Niles athlete By Scott Taylor sports editor

staylor@enterprisepublications.com @Taylor_Sports

Many wondered what Downers Grove North star athlete Jaida Green would do for an encore her senior year. The Penn State-bound basketball player and 2015 Voyager Media Female Multisport Athlete of the Year had one more basketball season to showcase her talent and was competing in the high jump for the second year. All she did was improve upon her previous year in both sports, averaging 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and won a state high jump title. For her accomplishments, Green is the repeat winner of the Voyager Media Female Multisport Athlete of the Year. In basketball, not only did Green showcase herself on offense or on the boards, she was a dominant defensive player as well with her length. She finished the year with 54 steals and 63 blocks, a rare feat to be dominant in both defensive statistics. She then proved her athletic prowess by high jumping her way to a state title, jumping 5-feet, 7-inches, after placing third last year with a jump of 5-6. It is only the second year she came out for track and field.

Some may say there are many similarities between the two sports, but the technicality of the high jump makes it quite different. Her success in the sport will only help her when playing for Penn State in the fall. “I think the high jump is so different from basketball,” Green said. “In basketball, you are just refining your skills. In high jump, I really knew nothing so it was fun to come out and learn a new sport. Being able to calm your nerves in the high jump can help me transfer it to basketball, too.” The rest of the top multisport athletes, by zone, are:

BROOKLYN BACHMANN, JOLIET/SHOREWOOD Minooka junior was a rare three-sport athlete and excelled in all three of them. In the spring, she was a state qualifier in the pole vault, clearing 10-feet in the Friday preliminaries. In the winter, Bachmann was the floor leader of the Indians from the point guard position and led the team in scoring at 15.5 points per game. She also shot 73 percent from the foul and had 83 assists. “Brooklyn’s ability to score in so many ways makes her such a

see aoy | page 9

file photo

Riley Eckhart of Maine South was an all-area basketball selection and competed in track and field.

8 nhra

TWITTER: For up -to-the-minute coverage of upcoming local sport events going on in your area, follow @VoyagerSport

Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

DeJoria paving her own path in NHRA By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

When race fans watched female drivers like Courtney and Brittany Force scream down the pavement at Joliet’s Route 66 Raceway at the NHRA Nationals, there is no surprise that the two are in the sport, because after all, they are the daughters of John Force, an NHRA legend and they just joined the family business. The plan for Alexis DeJoria was also to join the family business – her father is John Paul DeJoria – the billionaire co-founder of Paul Mitchell and majority owner of Patron Spirits – but at age 16 DeJoria found a passion to drive. “I worked for the family business right out of high school for four years and that was the initial plan,” she said. “But when I was 16 I went to a drag race for the first time – the Winternationals in Pomona – and I just fell in love with the cars and it was something that was just in the back of my mind that someday I have something I really want to do. I have no family that has raced, so for me to do something like this is completely out of left field. I had no experience whatsoever except for the hot rods we raced

around when I was a teenager in high school and I think that was where the love of motorsports and American hot rods came into play. “After four years, I was so obsessed with the sport and I really wanted to give it a try. I went to Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and got licensed and found an old, used Super Gas Corvette bracket car that was for sale and basically used all my savings to buy that car and start a little team. It was basically just me and a family friend that could drive a big rig and kind of work on a car. I just threw myself into the mix and tried to make it happen and move up through the ranks and now I am exactly where I wanted to be. I welcome the challenge. These cars are intense. You are never just taking a ride. You are always in control of that car.” While many may assume the road was easy for DeJoria and that her father simply wrote a check and got her into a car – that couldn’t be further from the truth. DeJoria started at the bottom and worked her way into the driver she is today. “My dad didn’t come from a successful family as far as

see dejoria | page 9

PHOTO by Gary Nastase

Alexis DeJoria currently sits in 10th in the NHRA points standings.

INSTAGRAM: Readers, attending a game in your area? Take a photo and tag @buglenewspapers for a chance to be featured! Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com dejoria | from page 8 finances go. My grandparents came over on a boat – one from Italy and one from Greece when they were like 12 and 13 – so they had to work really, really hard just to put food on the table and clothes on their backs,” she said. “My dad came from very hard means and he had to work his butt off and that is the kind of strong work ethic that he instilled in all of his children. This is what my passion is. My father’s passions are his companies that he has built from the ground up.” As she was working her way through the ranks, DeJoria said that she never considered being female to be an obstacle for her to reach her dreams. “It was not like I wanted to be a football player,” she said. “These cars don’t know male from female – it is not like basketball or baseball where you have to separate the two. In these cars, it is everybody’s game out here. At the time I started, there were a few females racing in the pro ranks that I followed very closely and so when I came in it wasn’t a shock. It was more like ‘here’s another one, let’s see what she can do.’ But, the pressure is on. You do feel more pressure than if a guy is starting out in the league because you have more eyes on you.”

aoy | from page 7 dangerous offensive weapon,” Minooka basketball coach Ray Liberatore said after her allarea selection. “We have won 60 games the past three seasons with Brooklyn as our starting point guard and her quickness makes her attractive to college basketball coaches.” In the fall, Bachmann was the setter on the Indians’ volleyball squad where she posted 848 assists, an average of 9.7 assists per game. She also tallied 165 digs, 22 kills and 10 service aces.

RILEY ECKHART, NILES Maine South senior and Voyager Media All-Star Game selection competed this year in basketball and track. On the hardwood she was an all-area selection, averaging 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists per game for the Hawks, leading the team in scoring and steals. “Throughout her four years in our program, no one worked harder on her game than Riley Eckhart,” Maine South coach

Of all the motorsports circuits, the NHRA has by far the most female drivers and several of them are among the sport’s elite drivers. “NASCAR and IndyCar didn’t have someone like Shirley Muldowney,” DeJoria said. “They didn’t have a female that came in and did really well and won championships. If NASCAR had a girl like that, you would see a lot more than Danica Patrick driving those. IndyCar has had a few females and that is probably next in line – but it is all about the women that paved the way before us. And now, about 40 percent of the Junior Dragster League is female, so that is our future.” DeJoria took advantage of the doors that were opened for her by the likes of Muldowney and she rose through the NHRA ranks and in 2011 she joined the Kalitta Motorsports team as their fourth member and second Funny Car driver. In 2014, her third season in a Funny Car, DeJoria became the first woman ever to make a sub-four second run, posting a 3.997-second ET at the same NHRA Winternationals in Pomona where she saw her first race. At the next race, DeJoria earned her first Funny Car win and then

grabbed her second category win in Las Vegas later that year. Her third career win came in September of 2014 at the 60th U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Last season, DeJoria did not earn a win, but did end up in the top 10 in the points standing and grabbed her first win this season in Las Vegas in April. “Our car is a lot better this year, we have new chassis this year and they are more consistent and we are able to apply power where we need it and it has been working out really well for us,” she said. “There have been some changes performance wise to the funny car class in general – headers, injectors, fuel systems, changes in how we run the clutch, just a number of things that have added more horsepower and more thrust. We are all running record numbers. Every time we go to a track this year, we are breaking the track record for sure and sometimes the world records are being broken as well and everyone is resetting their own records. It has been incredible thus far this year and we are only about half way done, so there is a lot more to do.” That second win will have to wait at least a couple more weeks, as she was eliminated by Robert Hight in the second round of Sunday’s finals in Joliet.

Mark Smith said. “Her tireless efforts helped her become one of the premier shooters in the area and certainly the best threepoint shooter in our program. Her consistent performances meant a great deal to our team as everyone knew exactly what they were going to get from Riley on a daily basis.” She also competed in the throwing events for the track and field team, finishing in fourth place in both events at the CSL South meet.

turnaround from a 10-win season to an 18-win season and making a regional final. In games where teams keyed on her as well she would be the first to share the ball and often have five assists in those games.” In track, Onua advanced to the finals of the triple jump in ninth place with a distance of 37-9. Her distance was passed in an opponent’s final jump, leaving her one place out of the medal stand in 10th.

LOTA ONUA, PLAINFIELD The junior from Plainfield East was a third team all-area basketball selection, averaging 11.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and had 84 steals. “I could count on her every game to give maximum effort and score in double digits and get close to double digit rebounds, despite teams keying on her,” East basketball coach Anthony Wazonis said. “Not only did she lead the team in scoring and rebounding, but also had our most steals (by 22). Helped lead a

SKYE OSBORNE, VALLEY VIEW Basketball and softball standout from Romeoville, the senior was a staple in both sports all four years as a Spartan. This season, she was named to the Voyager Media All-Area softball team, as she posted a .436 batting average to go with four home runs, eight doubles, five triples and 22 RBI. On the basketball court, she was the Spartans’ court leader and averaged 5.76 points per game to go along with 2.55 assists and 1.95 assists per contest.

TWITTER: For up -to-the-minute coverage of upcoming local sport events going on in your area, follow @VoyagerSport

Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

basketball

Maine West mourns ‘legendary’ girls basketball coach Derril Kipp is 5th winningest coach in Illinois with 788-316 career record By Bugle Staff Accomplished Maine West girls basketball coach Derril Kipp died Monday, sending the community into mourning for a coach who began roaming the sidelines at the northwest suburban high school in 1981. Kipp had a career record of 788-316, making him the fifth winningest girls basketball coach in Illinois. He led Maine West to a state championship in 1988, when the team went undefeated with a 35-0 record. Under Kipp, the Warriors also finished second in 1993, third in 1987 and 1992, and fourth in 1985. He coached the Warriors to 65 straight wins from 1987 to 1989 – a record that has yet to be broken. Kipp had 21 seasons with nine or fewer losses and helped nearly 80 athletes earn college basketball scholarships. “Derril Kipp is a legendary coach,” Maine West Athletic Director Jarett Kirshner said in a statement. “His influence on the sport of girls basketball stretched

across the nation. He was a Warrior and touched the lives of many. He was a giver.” Despite being ill, Kipp coached a Special Olympics basketball clinic at West as a way of giving back to the sport and the community, according to Maine West’s athletic director. “That is who he was,” Kirshner said. “He loved Maine West and cared about each and every player. Derril Kipp was a pioneer. His leagues changed the culture of girls basketball in the area and the state.” The retired driver’s education teacher will be remembered throughout the school. Maine West principal Audrey Haugan said Kipp’s influence spanned decades and reached thousands of students, athletes and colleagues. “In the classroom and on the court, students learned both academic and life lessons,” Haugan said. “The impact of this loss is widespread, and his status both in and out of the sport will be

Photos Courtesy of Maine Township High School District 207

remembered for a lifetime. Maine West has been fortunate to have the legendary Kipp on our team for so many years.” A celebration for Kipp’s life was held July 9 at Maine West’s Spectator Gymnasium, 1755 S. Wolf Road in Des Plaines.

Photos Courtesy of Maine Township High School District 207

News about local businesses in your community

Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

come to order

community

Organize your purse, New Oakton VP brings hands on wallet and briefcase approach to workforce development

Make the things you carry with you every day more organized and easy to find

It’s hard to believe, but we’re halfway through the year – how are your New Year’s resolutions coming along? Was one of them to lose weight? It may not quite be what you had in mind, but if you’re trying to shed a few pounds, one quick and easy way to do that is to clean out the purse, wallet, briefcase and/or tote bag you’ve been lugging around. Besides lightening your load, it will make the things you carry with you every day more organized and easy to find. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the process: Empty it out Dump the contents of your purse, wallet, bag or briefcase into a shoebox or other container so nothing gets lost. Toss the trash Toss the obvious items: used or tattered tissues, old makeup, mysterious scraps of paper, gum or mints that are coated with lint, ATM receipts that are so old you can no longer read them, etc. Sort the rest Divide items between those you need to carry all the time (keys, sunglasses, cell phone, pen, notepad, etc.) and those that are questionable – although any one item may not take up much space or add much weight, collectively these items can have a big impact: Makeup Maybe you can just carry your lipstick, and keep the rest of your touch-up items at work so you don’t have to schlep them back and forth from home each day. Loose change Unless you’re saving it for a serendipitous encounter with a slot machine, put the loose change that’s accumulated at the bottom of your purse or bag into your wallet or pants pocket where you can use it, or into a jar at home if you want to save it. Checkbook If you only write checks occasionally, maybe you can carry just a check or two in your wallet. Coupons

Colette Hands sets sights on boosting student opportunities in community come to order By Sue Becker

Clean out expired coupons, and consider whether you need to carry the others with you – maybe you can keep store coupons in your car’s glove compartment and grocery coupons at home. Receipts Clean out receipts once a week at a minimum. Unless you’re about to return something and need the receipt, you don’t need to have them with you. Establish a place where you can collect them and find them when you need them. Organize what’s left Rather than just tossing everything back in your purse or bag, try to compartmentalize or containerize it – this will make it easier to find things, and also make it easier to move items from one purse to another. Clean it out regularly Empty out loose change, receipts and random bits of paper every day, if possible, or once a week at a minimum. Sue Becker is a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization who helps individuals and businesses discover the simplicity, harmony, and freedom of being organized and productive. She also speaks to companies and organizations about how to get organized and make the most of their time. Sue can be reached at www.PilesToSmiles.com or 630-3737400.

After handling interim duties for about a year, Colette Hands officially took over as Oakton Community College’s associate vice president of continuing education, training and workforce development. With more than 20 years of experience in the fields of workforce development, higher education and human resources, Hands will oversee the school’s adult and continuing education programs, as well as adult basic education, english as a second language, non-credit career and certificate programs, and continuing education for licensed health professionals. “Oakton provides personal and professional educational opportunities in a variety of

Colette Hands

formats and locations for all learners,” Hands said. “This role brings together my passion for lifelong learning, facilitating professional development and serving our communities, and I’m excited about continuing to serve the college in this capacity.” Hands serves as a

commissioner for the village of Skokie Economic Development Commission, on the board of directors for the Des Plaines and Evanston chambers of commerce, and as the college’s primary contact to businesses, municipalities, governmental, community and health-related agencies, and professional associations. A licensed professional counselor, Hands also serves as adjunct faculty for the community counseling and counseling psychology programs at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Hands holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and a master’s in community counseling from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, as well as bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of WisconsinMadison.

deadline for classifieds: friday at noon Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

Business & Private Party Classified Ads: $16 per week, 20 words or less. Weddings, Births & Engagements: Black & White - $25, Color - $35. Obituaries: $35.

Phone: 815.436.2431 web: buglenewspapers.com/classifieds email: classifieds@buglenewspapers.com

Upcoming events for Seniors in the community Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

Dave Says

community >> seniors

It’s for everyone Norwood Timely Talk Financial plan touches on car health works for a larger families

Dear Dave, My husband and I have seven kids. What parts of your program work best for large families? Karen Dear Karen, My entire plan works for a large family. Larger families just have more expenses. What does change — and you already knew this — is that it can be a larger financial burden. This isn’t criticism; it’s just a mathematical fact. When you kick things into overdrive like you folks have done, two things have happened. One, you’ve extended the time that you’re going to be supporting the kids financially. Two, you’ve got a lot of baby birds to feed and clothe. Unless you have an astronomical income, it slows down the process of hitting financial goals like getting out of debt, because you’ve got a drain on the math side of things. It’s a wonderful drain; it’s a glorious drain; but mathematically speaking where the money is concerned, it’s still a drain. You really don’t have any choice but to do a budget. Having seven kids doesn’t give you an excuse to live out of control or mean that living out of control without a plan is the definition of success. You’ve got to set more emergency categories aside in your budget. You’ve got to budget heavier for food, medical, transportation and things like that, because you’ve got more things pulling at you — and your money! —Dave

Commonsense calculation Dear Dave, I make $80,000 a year, and I was

dave says By Dave Ramsey

wondering if there’s an easy way to determine how much money a person would need to live comfortably after retirement. John Dear John, A commonsense rule of thumb, if you’ve got your money invested in good growth stock mutual funds, is to pull from those funds at a rate that is lower than which they are growing. Otherwise, you’ll destroy them, right? I tell folks if they want to pull off six percent to eight percent — I’m comfortable doing eight percent — then you’ve got to decide exactly how much you want to live on and what that means for your nest egg. If you want to live on $80,000 a year, it means you have to have a $1 million nest egg. If you want to live on $40,000 a year, then you need a half-million dollar nest egg for what we’re talking about here. To get into that a little bit further, I would advise going to Chris Hogan’s website. He’s got a tool on there that takes just a few minutes, and it will give you exact numbers on what you need to do. It’sChrisHogan360.com, and the tool is called the R:IQ — your Retire Inspired Quotient. You can walk through it, and in just a few minutes you’ll know exactly what’s going on and what needs to happen!

Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 11 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations and digital outlets. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.

‘Getting the Most Out of Your Car’ set for July 20 at Norwood Crossing

How long will your car be drivable? Much depends on the care you give it and your maintenance regimen. Steve Ek, owner of Ek Automotive in Edison Park, will attempt to answer that question and many more in his Timely Talk, “Getting the Most Out of Your Car.” The event will be held at 2 p.m. July 20 at Norwood Crossing, 6016-20 N. Nina Ave., near the Norwood Park Metra station. Many car owners often hear noises, squeaks and sense that

something needs attention. The speaker will discuss how to recognize potential problems, the importance of properly maintaining your vehicle and preparing it for different driving seasons. Additional topics include the basics of understanding auto

repair and service, as well as knowing the right questions to ask your mechanic. A question and answer session, raffle and light refreshments will follow the talk. To RSVP for the event, call 773- 577-5323 or email info@ norwoodcrossing.org.

TWITTER: Readers, Send us a #selfie of you reading @Buglenewspapers & you could be featured in an upcoming issue!

Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

JULY 14 -16

Taste of Park Ridge. At the corner of Prospect and Summit avenues. Music, bands, free family fun zone and food vendors. For more information, visit www. tasteofparkridge.com.

July 15-17

Big Greek Food Fest of Niles. Takes place at Holy Taxiarhai and St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, 7373 Caldwell Ave. Authentic Greek food, Greek pastries, kids activities, face painting and live music. For more information, visit www. biggreekfoodfestofniles.org.

JULY 16

Jersey Day Public Skate. 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Oakton Ice Arena, 2800 Oakton St., Park Ridge. Wear your favorite Chicago sports team jersey and receive $1 off admission. For more information, visit www. parkridgeparkdistrict.com. Fermilab Presents: Mr Freeze Science In Action. 2 to 3 p.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Fermilabs’ expert at freezing things (cryogenics) is bringing a big chill to the Library in the middle of July. Stop by and enjoy this show full of extremely cool science for the whole family to enjoy. For more information, visit www.mgpl.org.

JULY 17

Sundae Funday. 12 to 12:30 p.m. at Prospect Park, 733 N. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge. July 17 is National Ice Cream Day. Stop by for a sweet treat on a hot day. For more information, visit www. parkridgeparkdistrict.com. The Eastland Disaster: An Unparalleled Tragedy. 2 p.m. at Niles Library, 6960 Oakton. Ted Wachholz, Director of the Eastland Disaster Historical Society, presents a slide-lecture with contemporaneous film footage of the Saturday morning, July 24, 1915, tragedy when 844 lives were lost in the Chicago River. Two granddaughters of the survivor Bobbie Aanstad will also speak.

Concert: WWII Radio Hour. 2 to 3 p.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Join for this World War II delight that reenacts a 1940s radio hour and features Andrew Sisters-style tunes, choreography, comedy sketches, and a touching tribute to Veterans of the United States Armed Forces. For more information, visit www. mgpl.org.

JULY 18

Video Game Makerspace: Backyard Baseball. 6 to 7 p.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Bring your creativity to this video game-themed program for children in Grades 3-6. Create art, toys, and games to complement the video game of the month. For more information, visit www.mgpl. org.

JULY 19

Creative Cartooning. 2-3 p.m. at Niles Public Library, 6960 Oakton. Here’s a chance for you to meet professional cartoonist Mark Anderson, who will help you explore and craft your own creations. Pokémon Fest. 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Bring your deck and play the Pokémon Trading Card Game, catch up on your trades, and even get some free cards. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit www.mgpl.org.

JULY 20

Pond Dippers. 6 to 7 p.m. at Wildwood Nature Center, 529 Forestview Ave., Park Ridge. Have fun as a family discovering what lurks beneath the surface of the pond. For more information, visit www.parkridgeparkdistrict.com. Beginner / Intermediate Email Marketing. 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Resources, key aspects of setting up professional email marketing campaign, and tips on making a great newsletter will be discussed. To register or for more information, visit www.mgpl. org or call 847-965-4220.

INSTAGRAM: Readers, attending a game in your area? Take a photo and tag @buglenewspapers for a chance to be featured!

Thursday, July 14, 2016 | ni lesbug le.com

Niles Library’s Project Playbill marks 10th year Teens’ voices come through with program’s new format By Igor Studenkov bugle staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

For the past 10 years, local teens have gathered at the Niles Public Library every summer to write a script and turn it into a play, complete with props that ranged from simple to elaborate. After two weeks of rehearsals, the teens hold a free performance that is open to the community. This year marked a few tweaks in the format. Instead of putting on a full-fledged play, this year’s participants held a stage reading. And instead of creating a play completely from scratch, they created a series of three short plays based on popular fairy tales. The change in format came about because teen librarian Donna Block, who founded the Project Playbill program, was on maternity leave. Seeing an opportunity to experiment with the format, the library invited Hannah Verdon, who ran “readers’ theatre” programs in several area libraries, to fill in for Block. The development and rehearsal period was cut down to two weeks, so teens wouldn’t have had time to develop a completely original idea. In the end, the participants said they liked the new format, and that they were open to doing something along those lines next time around. The teens involved in the play described Block as the heart and soul of the program. But when she had a baby, her ability to run Project Playbill became limited. Around that same time, the library was considering tweaking the format. Verdon recently graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. For the past three years, she ran a readers’ theater program at Hinsdale Public Library, among others. As she explained in the introduction to this year’s performance, the key to this approach is to have the actors focus on acting out the play through their voices, without relying on props and physical acting. Verdon told the Bugle that, as far as she knew, someone at the Niles Public Library heard about what she

did through a “librarian grapevine.” The library wanted to see if her approach would work with Project Playbill. “I was happy to come in and complement the new format,” Verdon said. She said it didn’t hurt that she liked it almost as soon as she set foot inside. “Niles Public Library is fantastic,” Verdon said. “Everyone has just been so welcoming, and Niles Public Library is such a beautiful space. I actually wound up spending more time then necessary.” She added that she was impressed with the teens who participated, explaining that she was inspired by their talent and their willingness to work with the format change and the truncated development period. “It all happened super, super fast, but they were all game,” Verdon said. The teens met three days a week, working June 27-July 8. The final performance took place July 9 at 11:30 a.m. A total of nine student actors – some long-time participants, some new to the program – performed three plays that followed the general structure of three source fairy tales, as well as some added elements. Their first play, “Tordy and Hareson,” was based on Aesop’s fable “Tortoise and the Hare.” In the Project Playbill adaptation, the performers made the tortoise a more passive figure and the hare was transformed into a bully toward everyone, not just the tortoise. “The Princess and the Frog,” based on the Brother Grimm’s “The Frog Prince,” gave the spoiled princess two sisters. One of the sisters broke the fourth wall by commenting on the plot and the play’s three narrators, who were modeled after the psychological concepts of Id, Ego and Superego. The adaptation also turned the fairy tale’s king into a parody of presidential candidate Donald Trump. The final short play, “The Princess and the Pea,” was based on the eponymous Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, and featured appearances by Disney princesses. Kevin Willems, who has been involved with Project Playbill for the past six years, said the program has developed several running gags over the year. One of those “bits” – characters with narcolepsy – made it into this year’s production. This was the last year for Willems

and his friend, Dave Gellman, who has been with the project for five years. The two graduated from high school in 2016. After the performance ended, the two actors gave a farewell speech, thanking Block for all she did over the years, Verdon for giving the performers new material to work with, and all of their fellow actors, past and present. “Both of us have been in Playbill for a while and we’ve met some great people along the way,” Willems said. He told the Bugle that his favorite experience at Project Playbill was a play they created two years ago. Based on “Doctor Who” – a long-running British television series about a time-traveling alien – the play saw “the Doctor” help William Shakespeare rediscover his inspiration and, in doing so, prevent a dystopian Google-run future from becoming a reality.

“It was probably the best year for Playbill, because everyone was so resonant with each other and writing was much more fun,” Willems added. Gellman said he couldn’t think of any one experience in particular, saying that he enjoyed all of the shows over the past four years. Lisa Kosenik has been part of Project Playbill for two years. The first play she took part in featured a fighting tournament where characters from various works of fiction faced off against each other. “Harry Potter” character Severus Snape and Marvel Comics antihero Deadpool served as announcers. Kosenik said she enjoyed the play, especially the part where she played Bella Swan – a main character from the “Twilight” book series. “We had Shakespeare vs. Bella,” she said. “I really strongly disliked ‘Twilight,’ so I’d do anything to get in on it.”

Kosenik added that she enjoyed the sheer absurdity of some of the match-ups in the play, citing a fight between “Hunger Games” character Katniss Everdeen and Gaston from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Verdon told the Bugle that she wasn’t sure what the library was planning for Project Playbill next year, but she hoped that Readers’ Theater would continue in some form. “I think there were a lot of positive responses about this technique,” she said. “I think they want it to continue, either in Project Playbill or another program in the library.” Willems said that, while it was different, he enjoyed the experience. “Even if Project Playbill goes back to the old ways of doing things, I hope the Readers’ Theater will be a different program,” he added.

Page 16 | Th u rsd ay, J u ly 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 | n i l e s bugle. c om