Niles 7-16-15

JULY 16, 2015 VOL. 59 ISSUE 41

Program seeks to provide at-risk children with new, gently used children’s books

see page 11

NEWS

Water Supply Park Ridge considers new water supplier see page 2

NEWS Niles Ethics Board Niles considers village clerk’s role on election board

see page 3

COMUNITY

New Coffee Shop

Park Ridge approves new coffee shop at Uptown Metra station see page 3

FORUM Thinking About Health Supreme Court ruling only one factor in health insurance decisions see page 5

SPORTS Champions Tour

Smith wins Encompass Chmapionship in Glenview

see page 7

FEATURE Seniors

Tips for grandparents helping to raise children

see page 15

Niles library program helps students find their inner writer

BY IGOR STUDENKOV | FOr THe BUGLe uring the month of July, the Niles Public Library is helping elementary school students become better writers, offering advice and providing a place for them to share their work in public.

The Writing is for Real program has been around in some form or another for the past six years. It is organized and taught by children’s librarian Clara Sheffer.

This year, the program runs for four weeks in July. The program meets once a week, with kids in third and fourth grade attending Thursday sessions and fifth and sixth graders meeting Wednesdays. During each session, participants do writing exercises, develop story ideas and write some of works of their own.

Story contInueS on Page 14

Featured News

SuMMer Book drIve

Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

city considers new water supplier Park Ridge weighs cost and feasibility of joining Niles, Morton Grove

By Igor Studenkov for thE buglE

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesIlNews

The Park Ridge City Council’s committee of the whole will look into whether the city should join Niles and Morton Grove in switching water suppliers from Chicago to Evanston at its July 13 meeting.

During last week’s council meeting, Park Ridge City Manager Shawn Hamilton said the city wouldn’t necessarily have to make a decision at the meeting. Instead, the committee will consider contributing funds to a study that would give an independent assessment of financial projections put forward by consulting firm WRB, LLC, as well as whether to fund a separate study to determine how the

pipeline will be routed between Niles and Park Ridge.

In June, Niles and Morton Grove village boards gave their respective village governments the go-ahead to begin negotiations with Evanston. While Park Ridge has been talking with two villages about potentially getting involved with the project, the city said it wasn’t quite as ready to commit to the negotiations.

At press time, the committee of the whole meeting had not yet occurred.

$375,000 a year on the three inhouse IT employees.

fIre dePartMent receIveS $200,000 grant

MunIcIPal It ServIceS outSourced The city council also unanimously approved a contract with Schaumburg-based Prescient Solutions to handle information technology services.

According to the city council memorandum, Park Ridge historically used three in-house employees and some outside consultants to handle IT services.

Due to what the document

PHOTO By IGOR STUDENKOv | FOR THE BUGLE

City officials join Paul Lisowski, emergency preparedness coordinator for the Park Ridge Fire Department, on the city council floor as he receives a grant for $200,000 from AmWins Group and the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. described as “attrition,” the city only had one IT employee as of February.

As a result, Hamilton and city staff decided to outsource IT

services.

The contract with Prescient Solutions will run for three years, costing Park Ridge $262,500 a year. By contrast, the city spent

AmWins Group and the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company teamed up to give the Park Ridge Fire Department a $200,000 grant.

Bill Ragsdale, a claims adjuster for Fireman’s Fund, said the company felt the city’s fire department deserved support in the face of budget cuts.

“We really thought it was important for us to support those individuals [in the fire department] and thank them for doing what they do,” he said at the Park Ridge City Council’s July 6 meeting.

Paul Lisowski, emergency preparedness coordinator for the department, said the money will be used to buy Rapid Intervention Team packs, as well as to bring back fire safety programs in public schools.

Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

village news > NILES

Ethics board to consider role of village clerk on election board Niles Inspector General gave report on conflict of interest complaint in June

By Igor Studenkov for the bugle

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

The Niles Ethics Board is expected to weigh in on whether the village clerk’s position on the Niles Elections Board poses a conflict of interest.

In April, Niles activist Joe Makula filed a complaint with the ethics board, arguing that a village clerk can’t be truly independent since he or she is appointed by the mayor. The complaint came a year after he filed a referendum to make the village clerk an elected position, which the elections board subsequently struck from the ballot.

Niles Inspector General Chris Cohen gave his report on the complaint in June, stating that it was outside the ethics board’s scope. The report showed that since the Illinois General Assembly wrote the law that created municipal election boards, it would be more

The municipal election boards are convened whenever someone challenges a municipal election candidate’s eligibility or the legitimacy of the referendum. Under the state law, each board is made up of the mayor, village clerk and the longest-serving trustee.

appropriate for Makula to make the ethics complaint to the state legislature.

Tony Gaudio, president of the Niles Ethics Board, told the Bugle that the board would consider issuing an advisory opinion on the matter during the next meeting. That meeting will take place July 14 at 5:30 p.m. (At press time, the meeting had not yet been held.)

The municipal election boards are convened whenever someone challenges a municipal election candidate’s eligibility or the legitimacy of the referendum.

Under the state law, each board is made up of the mayor, village clerk and the longest-serving trustee. As previously reported by the Bugle, the village clerk was an elected position in Niles until 1989, when it was changed to an appointed position by a village referendum. According to Cohen’s report, 54 percent of Niles voters supported the change.

Makula filed two petitions in July 2014 to place two referenda on the November 2014 ballot.

The first referendum would have made the village clerk an elected position. The second would strip away the Niles mayoral power to fill village trustee vacancies.

After Makula filed the petitions, Niles resident Frank J. Mareci filed objections to both. The election board ultimately ruled that some of his objections have merits, striking both referenda from the ballot. Makula appealed to the Cook County Circuit Court, and the trustee vacancy referendum

see ethics | page 4

3

News > pARK RIDGE

New coffee shop coming to Uptown Metra station City council approved one-year lease for B’s Sweet Bites

By Igor Studenkov for the bugle

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

For the first time since 2012, morning Metra commuters will be able to buy coffee and pastries at the Uptown Park Ridge train station.

The Park Ridge city council voted Monday to approve a oneyear lease for B’s Sweet Bites, a Des Plaines-based bakery and coffee shop, to operate a snack shop within the station’s concession space.

Under the terms of the lease, the shop will be open on weekdays between 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The lease also gives the owner an option to use the space on Saturdays and holidays, as well as during special events.

While the lease was originally supposed to be approved as part

of the consent agenda, Second Ward Ald. Nicholas Milissis moved to have it considered in a separate vote. He said he had no problem with B’s Sweet Bites but was concerned the city didn’t give other businesses enough of an opportunity to apply for the right to use the space.

“We changed our policy on bidding to get the best process for the city,” he said. “The more people compete for those things the better it is, and I don’t think we followed it.”

Milissis said the city should have advertised the concession space and gave it to whichever company offered the best proposal. And while he said he would happily buy from the Sweet Bites once the snack shop opens, he had to vote against it based on principle.

First Ward Ald. John Moran, on the other hand, said he was looking forward to the shop’s opening.

“We have a young woman who worked hard to build a business,”

see coffee | page 14

www.cookcountycrimestoppers.org • 800.535.stop Thursday, July 16, 2015 | 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 Apolo Ortega-Diaz, 24, 4600 block of North Harding, Chicago, was arrested at 1:37 a.m. July 6 in the 8000 block of Milwaukee for driving under the influence of alcohol and no valid driver’s license.

1

Alexander B. Murray, 37, 1600 block of East Algonquin, Des Plaines, was arrested at 12:50 p.m.

July 8 at the Golf Mill Center for retail theft.

2

Park Ridge Artur Tobolski, 49, 1500 block of North Parkside, Park Ridge, was arrested at 10:21 p.m. June 30 in the 1500 block of North Parkside for domestic battery.

3

Roberta Malloy, 57, 400 block of Cambridge, Des Plaines, was arrested at 8 p.m. July 1 at

4

Dee and Devon for unlawful use of electronic communication and no valid driver’s license.

2

Mohammad Saket, 48, 1100 block of North Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, was arrested at 10:57 a.m. July 4 in the 1100 block of North Northwest Highway for domestic battery.

5

3

Edward Olson, 52, 200 block of Stanley, Park Ridge, was arrested at 9:56 p.m. July 4 in the 200 block of Stanley for two counts of domestic battery.

6

9 5

1 7

Gina Tricoci, 23, 10400 block of Doris Court, Rosemont, was arrested at 5:57 p.m. July 7 in the 7500 block of Harlem Avenue for possession of controlled substance.

7

10

8

Kevin D. Moll, 32, 5400 block of West Rosedale, Chicago, was arrested at 1:28 a.m. July 5 in the 6800 block of Milwaukee for speeding, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of controlled substance.

8

Tom L. Fletcher, 24, 1000 block of Peterson Avenue, Park Ridge, was arrested at 2:05 a.m. July 4 at Milwaukee and Oriole for driving while license suspended.

4

6

9

Scott W. Rice, 25, 6100 block of North Olcott, Chicago, was arrested at 2:27 a.m. July 3 in the

10

ethics | from page 3 to be reinstated, ultimately passing it by 76.2 percent.

In April of this year, Makula filed a complaint with the ethics board, arguing that a Niles mayor is essentially able to control 2 of 3 votes on the election board.

“The clerk is dependent on the mayor if the clerk wishes to be reappointed. The clerks to vote on the Election Board could be influenced by the Mayor,” the complaint stated. “Even if he not necessarily uses that power, he could, but in both instances the public perception is that he has that power.

“Ethics law must be there to guarantee that our electoral system is fair and honest and is trusted by our voters now and in the future.”

Makula also argued that the ethics board should address the issue before state and federal courts can intervene, requiring the village to spend money on legal fees.

In his report, Cohen concluded that, because the General Assembly set the rules for municipal election boards,

5700 block of Touhy Avenue for DUI-alcohol.

Morton Grove No reports filed at press time.

neither the ethics board nor the village board had the power to make changes.

“The General Assembly could have limited service by village clerks to only those clerks who are elected,” the report stated. “It could have stated that if the clerk is appointed, some other official would serve in the clerk’s place, however, it did not choose to make this policy decision.

“The village of Niles, including its Ethics Board is without legal authority to act in a manner contrary to the General Assembly’s instructions in 10 ILCS 5/10-9 for how to constitute the Election Board,” Makula added in the report.

Additionally, the report stated that all of mayor’s appointments must be confirmed by the village board, and the village clerk answers to the village manager in his or her capacity as the village executive secretary.

It also said that based on previous legal precedent, a voter who files petitions can have a village clerk temporarily replaced with a member of the public appointed by the Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court

if a clerk testifies to the election board, or if the clerk submitted petitions to run for mayor or trustee at the time.

Gaudio told the Bugle that the ethics board discussed the report during its June meeting, but it decided to keep discussing it during the July meeting. He said that the board will discuss an ordinance that would be forwarded to the village board.

“The main issue with this kind of case is that there is no specific violation, rather the appearance of a potential conflict of interest,” said Gaudio. “This calls for an Advisory Opinion from the Ethics Board. Advisory opinions are only allowed from village administrators so we are trying to work with that problem by discussing a change to the ordinance. I have created a new ordinance, which I revealed at that meeting. We are going to discuss that also as we try to refine it. “ Niles Assistant Village Manager Hadley Skeffington-Vos said the village would hold off taking a stance on this matter until it sees what happens during the July meeting.

Send us your feedback at nweditor@buglenewspapers.com

Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

5

thinking about health

Supreme Court ruling is only one factor in health insurance decisions EDITORIAL

[Editors Note: The Rural Health News Service is funded by a grant from The Commonwealth Fund and is distributed through the Illinois Press Association, among others, to member papers.]

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At the end of its 2014-15 term the Supreme Court decided that the key component of the Affordable Care Act--the tax subsidies available to help thinking people buy health about health insurance---would with Trudy Lieberman continue in all states.

Justices addressed a challenge that the subsidies were legal only in the 17 states that ran their own shopping exchanges and not in the rest that chose to use the marketplaces operated by the federal government.

That’s good news for the more than 6 million Americans whose subsidies were in doubt. The government’s own statistics make clear that most of these people would not be able to buy coverage without the extra help.

The law was aimed at providing health insurance primarily for the poor and near poor, and the government’s numbers show that indeed people in those groups are buying policies on the exchanges and qualifying for subsidies.

This year 87 percent of ACA enrollees qualified for subsidies, which averaged $263 a person for the year in the states with federally-run exchanges. For many that sum substantially reduced their premiums. Losing the subsidies would have thrown these people back into the ranks of the uninsured.

Millions of those who bought the silver plans—a middle level of coverage—also qualified for additional help paying high deductibles, copays

and coinsurance (a percentage of a bill) that come with most health insurance policies these days. For those in that group the extra subsidies make insurance more affordable.

What about everyone else?

Lost in the cheering over the Supreme Court’s decision is the fact that only about 40 percent of Americans eligible for policies in the exchanges signed up in the first and second enrollment periods. That leaves about 18 million people who are eligible to sign up when open enrollment starts again on Nov. 1.

Among them no doubt are lots of families with middle incomes in the $40,000 to $80,000 range. Subsidies decline as family income rises so those with incomes near the top of the subsidy range actually receive very little help, and if they buy the better gold or platinum policies which cover more, they get no subsidy for any cost-sharing.

This may help explain why enrollees are concentrated among those with lower incomes. Experts are not sure whether overall growth in the ACA exchanges will simply be smaller than predicted—meaning more people will be uninsured--or whether it will just take longer to prod them to sign up.

Either way, it’s troubling.

“Obamacare will neither be politically or financially sustainable if it does not sign up enough people,” says health insurance consultant Robert Laszewski.

Whether the number of enrollees climbs higher in the next enrollment period will depend on whether families and individuals think they can squeeze an insurance premium into their

JULY 16

wedding complicates his new venture and his life.

monthly budgets. They will make that calculation whether or not they are eligible for subsidies.

The decision will depend on how expensive the premiums turn out to be, and while most of the states have yet to approve the final rates for 2016, an actuary for a major consulting firm told me, “there’s a tendency for higher rate increases than last year.”

Oregon just announced final rates, the first state to do so, and the news was not good with the state insurance commissioner approving double-digit increases. Health Republic Insurance, for instance, one of the Oregon co-ops, asked for a 37.8 percent average increase on its silver plans for a 40-year-old. The state’s other co-op got a 19.9 percent increase. (The ACA authorized co-ops in order to inject more competition into the market.) Insurers in other states are also are asking for double-digit increases.

What’s the reason? The actuary told me that medical costs, which drive a large chunk of the total premium, are up about one percentage point this year, and this increase appears to be greater than last year. He added some companies that had lower rates last year have higher ones this year. Companies with high rates in the past may opt for lower ones this year to grab new customers seeking cheaper premiums.

We won’t know for several months whether premiums will be affordable enough to attract some of those 18 million Americans who still haven’t signed up. But in the long run it will be the dollars and cents calculations about family budgets not the Supreme Court that will determine the future of the Affordable Care Act. Tell us how higher insurance premiums would affect your family’s budget? Write to Trudy at trudy.lieberman@gmail.com.

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 12 p.m. Friday.

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Movies in the Park–Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. 8 - 10 p.m. at the Main Park Leisure Center, 2701 W. Sibley St., Park Ridge. Come early for concessions and face painting.

This free event is for all ages. For more information, visit www.prparks.org.

Hot Ticket: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. 2 and 6:30 p.m. at the Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Hotel owner Sonny expands his business, but his upcoming

Making Music Down on the Farm. 2 p.m. at the Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Grades K-4.

Registration required: call 847-929-5102 or go to calendar.mgpl.org. Join us for this fun class all about farm animals.

Listen to a funny farm story, play farm BINGO, and make a musical instrument craft to serenade the animals down on the farm.

Facebook in 30 Minutes. 1:30-2

p.m. at the Niles library. If you have a Facebook account but need help adding photos or changing settings, join us for this information session. Seats limited to 12. Please register by calling 847-6631234 or online at www.nileslibrary.org/ calendar.

JULY 17-19

The Big Greek Food Fest of Niles.

Event takes place at Holy Taxiarhai and St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church, 7373 Caldwell Ave., Niles. The Big Greek

see calendar | page 11

For when you want to taKe 5 minutes For yourSeLF Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Aries

MARCH 21 TO ApRIl 20

Be guided by your inner voice. You may experience conflicts in your family, home and work life in the week ahead. If you get a chance, get away from the hustle and bustle to meditate.

gemini

M Ay 2 2 T O j U n E 2 1

Those who are overly idealistic are often disappointed.

As the week unfolds, you may be sensitive to nuance or over-sympathetic. Keep an eye on your possessions and bank account; an unexpected change could be beneficial.

leo

j U ly 2 3 T O A U g U S T 2 1

It’s complicated! You may have the urge to make major changes, but at the same time want everything to stay the same. As you pick and choose in the week ahead, remain loyal to existing commitments for the best results.

Across 1 nEUTRAl HUE 5 BOOk Of lEgEndS? 10 IRREvEREnT RAdIO HOST 14 BECOME pAInfUlly dRy 15 AIRBOAT AREA 16 nARROW MARgIn 17 HARdly nOTICEABlE AMOUnT 18 BlACk-EyEd pEAS dISH 20 lIkE SOME nETflIx MOvIES 22 WORE A BElITTlIng lOOk 23 nOTABlE gAp 26 MORE plEASAnT 27 pRETEnd nOTHIng’S gOIng On 31 EMpTy THE RECyClE BIn, E.g.

32 pETRI dISH gEl 33 CAST Off 37 InfORMAl pASS 38 “AlSO SpRACH ZARATHUSTRA” COMpOSER 41 MInER ISSUE 42 REUnIOn ATTEndEE 44 THIRd pIllAR Of ISlAM SUBjECT 45 SHORT STROkE 47 BRUnCH fARE 50 BygOnE dETROIT BREWERy 52 gAS lEAk WARnIngS 53 STARTS A REvOlUTIOn 55 COMpARABlE TO, WITH “WITH” 59 COUnTRy STAR WITH An UnCOUnTRylIkE nAME 62 WHAT “WIll kEEp US TOgETHER,” In A 1975 HIT 63 HAMBURg’S RIvER 64“TRAnSCEndEnTAl” lISZT pIECE 65 BlUnTEd BlAdE 66 dOWnHIll

COASTER 67 pITCHIng SCOUT’S dEvICE 68 lOWly WORkER

Down 1 BOUnCE BACk 2 UppERCUT TARgET 3 IT’S TEndER In jOHAnnESBURg 4 MARkET AdvAnCES 5 pICnIC AREA BARREl 6 __-fACE: dUplICITOUS BATMAn fOE 7 __ CAT 8 ROCk COnCERT gEAR 9 dREIdElS And pInWHEElS 10 AddS TO A COnvERSATIOn, AS A REMARk 11 “A vISIT fROM ST. nICHOlAS” pOET ClEMEnT ClARkE __ 12 SEAT fIndER 13 dElIgHT 19 fRAU’S REfUSAl 21 dRAWS BACk In fEAR 24 HAIRBRUSH TARgETS 25 gABlE/gARdnER

ClASSIC SET In AfRICA 27 ACTRESS OlIn 28 __ HygIEnE 29 pEARl HARBOR lOCAlE 30 lEd TO 34 nATIvE ARIZOnAnS 35 OBAMA ATTORnEy gEnERAl HOldER 36 BIT Of HAIl dAMAgE 39 SWISS lUxURy WATCHMAkER 40 STRICT 43 dESERvEd 46 SOURCE Of Tv REvEnUE 48 “CRIkEy!” 49 MIddAy TRyST 50 COMpETE In A BEE 51 34-dOWn, E.g.

53 lUAU STRIngS 54 ARg. MISS 56 RElIgIOUS lEAdER ASSOCIATEd WITH THE EndS Of THE fOUR lOngEST pUZZlE AnSWERS 57 STATE AS fACT 58 gREAT BARRIER __ 60 fUTURE BlOOM 61 ORAl HEAlTH ORg.

librA

SEpTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

Tides always turn. They may turn more quickly where your love life is concerned. People who pop into your life this week might pop right out again. Enjoy unique experiences, but don’t put your money on the line.

sAgittArius

nOvEMBER 23 TO dECEMBER 22

Put your best foot forward. This week, you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. Put financial negotiations or contracts on the back burner for a few days.

AquArius

jAnUARy 21 TO fEBRUARy 19

Be a hospitable host. Open the door and invite new places, faces and ideas into your life. Sound advice from a mentor or the wisdom of a friend could prevent you from making a major mistake in the week ahead.

Sudoku

tAurus

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

Stay in balance. Your personal outlook could go from one extreme to the other in the week ahead. Your mood may swing from confident to pessimistic to extravagant.

cAncer

j U n E 2 2 T O j U ly 2 2

When it’s good, it’s very good, and when it’s bad, it’s horrid. In the week ahead, your life will run most smoothly when you can demonstrate your trustworthiness and loyalty. Avoid competitions.

virgo

AUgUST 22 TO SEpTEMBER 23

Trade tradition for trustworthiness. The week ahead might offer opportunities to experiment with new ideas or unusual pleasures. When you’re with people you trust, you can let your hair down.

scorpio

OCTOBER 24 TO nOvEMBER 22

New romantic partners could turn out to have hang-ups. New friends, ideas and impulses are best considered ships passing in the night. Don’t let social matters or sudden impulses interfere with the work on your calendar this week.

cApricorn

dECEMBER 23 TO jAnUARy 20

Watch for signals and signs. In the week ahead, if things run smoothly, you’re on the right path. If you must jockey for position or forcefully make a point, you might prevail but it won’t be worth the turmoil.

pisces

fEBRUARy 20 TO MARCH 20

You’re in your element doing what you do best.

When called upon to do a good deed or lend a helping hand, you’ll shine in the upcoming week. Don’t create a new obligation, however, or expect something in return.

Jumble

Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 2015

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

Jumbles:

• MOUSE • CHESS • RECTOR • WAITER

Answer:

WHAT THE lUxURy lInERS nEEd TO SERvE THEIR pASSEngERS -- CRUISE CREWS

Thursday, July 16, 2015

page 7

>> INSIDE: deMarigny, anderson are top local athletes, page 8

golf

Smith wins in glenview Tournament’s future uncertain for 2016 season

By Scott Taylor sports editor

staylor@enterprisepublications.com @Taylor_Sports

Things were getting dicey at the turn for Jerry Smith at the Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, the weekend host for the Champions Tour.

Smith held a 3-shot lead entering the final round over Mike Goodes and held a five-shot lead over a host of others.

However, the five-shot lead was gone by the ninth hole as Bart Bryant and David Frost had drawn even with Smith as they each went 3-under par, while Smith had gone two-over par.

It was an up-and-down par save on the ninth hole that kept Smith tied for the lead and that gave him momentum on the back side.

He got back to 13-under with a birdie on the 11th and moved to 14-under with a birdie on the 14th.

Still, it was just a one-shot lead for Smith over Frost as Smith played his third shot on the par5 16th hole from a greenside bunker.

Smith calmly hit the bunker shot of his life, sinking the shot for a commanding three-shot lead, a lead he would maintain till the end, finishing at 16-under par, 200.

“Well, I was glad was on the uphill slope,” Smith said. “Bunker play’s not my forte but I’ve worked a lot on it and I did like what I saw when I walked up to it. I didn’t think it was a real difficult shot, so I

felt like I could make four. Making three was obviously a bonus and probably helped me to get to the house the last two holes.”

Frost finished in solo second with a 203 (-13), while Wes Short, Jr. was solo third (-12).

Smith’s two-round total of a 130 was an Encompass Championship record, as was his final total.

His only other lead in a PGA TOUR event was in April, 2005 when he led Bubba Watson by one stroke on the Web.com Tour at the Virginia Beach Open, where he finished tied for eighth.

LAST HURRAH? This year marked the third year of a three-year contract with the Encompass Championship and North Shore Country Club.

Encompass is not renewing its contract and North Shore is likely not hosting it next year.

“I didn’t come last year because I couldn’t physically play; otherwise I’d come every year,” Fred Couples said. “It’s a great, great spot and it’s on a beautiful course. I haven’t heard we’re going anywhere, so it would be nice if it stayed right here.”

“Well, this is my first time at the Encompass,” Jeff Maggert said.

“It’s been a great week so far and it’s kind of sad to see them going after this week. I know they’ve been a good sponsor here for a number of years. But this is an awesome golf course.”

Kenny Perry and Rocco Mediate will also miss playing at North Shore.

“Great city, great crowds,” Perry

said. “It’s devastating to us to just to lose a tournament and we just seem to have that -- and I can understand that, sponsorship’s tough, economy’s tough. We’re old and kind of moving out the window.

I can understand the membership here having to give up their golf course. You’ve got a short window of golf in Chicago, you’ve only got a few months to play. Then you give your golf course up to us for a week and then prior to it either getting prepared for it, so I’m sure the membership’s tired of us and I can understand that.”

“Wish we were coming back,” Rocco Mediate said. “One of my favorite courses we play. I wouldn’t think anyone else would say different. It’s just a good, oldschool, right-in-front-of-you, drive-it-straight golf course. And give Mr. Gary Chensoff, who’s a dear friend who’s a member here who owns Calusa Pines in Naples where I hang, he’s my partner so it’s a way special week. It’s really sad we’re leaving.”

There still may be hope for Chicago as a couple golf courses have placed a bid to keep a tournament here.

“I think Chicago’s a great city, it’s a great venue for us to be able to come and play. I love it, the city’s great,” Perry said. “I like going to great sports towns because, you know, you can go to the Cubs game, you can go watch any kind of sport at that time of year if it’s in the area and you’re in a big city, you can go do it. I hope they can somehow make it happen.” “(I) played a lot of Western

Photo by scott taylor

Jerry Smith won the Encompass Championship Sunday.

Opens here on the regular tour out at Cog Hill and always enjoyed coming here with my family,” Maggert said. “It seemed like it was always right around that Fourth of July week and so it was always a tournament my kids loved to come to. Spent a lot of tournaments here.”

“Chicago’s a great area,” Smith

said. “I’m not far from here growing up in Iowa, but I think Chicago should have a tournament. It’s just like Phoenix all the time. I always marvel how it’s very hard for us to get a sponsor out in one of the bigger cities in the country.

But, I really hope that they do and would love it come back and be their defending champion.”

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Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Athletes of the yeAR

Anderson, deMarigny top local athletes

By Scott taylor

featurIng

Josh Garner

Junior outFieLder, PLainFieLd north What type of social media do you like? i’m definitely more of a twitter person.

How many followers do you have? (doesn’t know) i couldn’t tell you.

What do you enjoy doing on Twitter? i like to follow my friends or people i know.

How much time per day do you spend on Twitter? i don’t go on it a ton; i go on some. i check it like twice a day.

You also use Instagram. What do you like about it? i like to see what people post and what they’re doing.

sPorts EdItor

staylor@enterprisepublications.com @taylor_sports

With more and more specialization in sports, the number of three sport athletes continues to dwindle.

The few who do play, however, normally find success in all three.

That was the case this past year as Plainfield Central’s Akwasi Aikins was among the top athletes on his team in all three sports.

It was his track and field performance though that pushed him over the top. After nine straight months of playing high school sports, Aikins finished off his high school career by placing fourth in the state in the triple jump with a distance of 46-feet, 5.25-inches.

On the football field, Aikins ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns on offense and was the leader of the defense, making 52 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, with 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

On the wrestling mat, Aikins just missed out on a state berth after advancing to sectional competition.

For all of his success in a variety of athletic competitions, Aikins is the 2015 Voyager Media Male Multisport Athlete of the Year.

Aikins narrowly beat out a host of fellow District 202 stellar athletes.

Jake Mayon and Cole Kotopka of Plainfield East were also successful three-sport athletes, while Daniel Jackson was successful in football and track. Central’s Kahmari Montgomery was a three-time state champion in track and also played football. Plainfield South’s Shane Ritter was all-area in both basketball and baseball.

Here are the rest of the top multisport athletes for their respective area:

dIMItrI akenten, BolIngBrook The senior forward burst on the scene this year in basketball being

known for doing the dirty work on the Raiders’ team that finished a school-best third in the state.

A starter, he averaged 8.3 points per game, grabbing 199 rebounds.

On the gridiron, the 6-foot, 4-inch Akenten was a weapon that helped the Bolingbrook offense stretch the field.

caleB deMarIgny, nIleS It will be strange, indeed, for the Maine South varsity basketball and baseball teams next winter and spring when they take to the court and the field without a familiar No. 10 in the lineup—the number deMarigny wore both as a three-year starting point guard and as a threeyear starting shortstop.

The All-CSL South guard left his mark on the school record books, holding the all-time career and single-season records for assists, as well as being the all-time leader in

sEE athlEtEs | page 9

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Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com athletes | from page 8 career three-pointers. deMarigny was steady with the glove at short, hit in the cleanup spot this spring for the Hawks and also was utilized by coach Bill Milano as a spot starting pitcher.

drake fellows, JOLIET A starter on the basketball and baseball team for Joliet Catholic Academy, Fellows brought his A-game to both sports.

On the diamond, the junior lost only one game all season, a nineinning loss to Lemont in the playoffs, to nine wins. He posted one save on the season, while having a .575 ERA, a .753 WHIP, 98 strikeouts and only 11 walks.

On the hardwood, Fellows was a force inside for the Hilltoppers, using his ability to bang inside as well as hit the mid-range jump shot to help the team this season.

It is the second-straight season Fellows has been the Joliet-area nominee.

kelvin jones, ROMEOVILLE The senior was a state qualifier in track and field, winning the Downers Grove South Sectional title in the discus with a throw of 169-07.

In football, Jones opened the season as the Spartans’ quarterback, but after a midseason injury moved

to fullback and linebacker to best help the team.

For the season he threw for 468 yards and five touchdowns. He rushed for 545 yards on 102 carries with six touchdowns and caught five passes for 37 yards. Defensively, he had 15 tackles, two for a loss.

EJ Phillips, DOWNERS Downers Grove North senior was a three-year player for the Trojans’ football team. He was a force on the defensive line, despite playing with a broken wrist and a torn labrum. He also was a Voyager Media All-Area selection.

On the wrestling mat, Phillips advanced to the state meet after placing second at both the regional and sectional levels.

Phillips is headed to Northern Michigan to continue his football career.

GIRLS Downers North’s Jaida Green is known for her basketball skills. She was a first team all-area selection this past year after averaging 17.4 points, 3.5 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game as a junior.

During the year she also verbally committed to Penn State University.

Her commitment led her to try out track, where she competed in the high jump.

After qualifying for state, Green set a personal record at the state meet, jumping 5-feet, 6-inches to place third in the state.

For her accomplishments in both sports, Jaida Green is the Voyager Media Female Multisport Athlete of the Year.

Green edged out Downers South’s Ava Poriler, who was the lone female to be named to two Voyager Media All-Area teams (basketball and soccer).

Here are the rest of the top multisport athletes for their respective area:

adrianna acosta, JOLIET The Joliet Catholic Academy senior averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 steals for the Angels on the season. She was the inside force for an Angels team that made a run at a sectional title.

On the soccer field, Acosta tallied eight goals and three assists on the season.

nina anderson, NILES The multi-talented Maine South product will be playing basketball collegiately later this fall at Illinois Wesleyan, where her father, Bill, played baseball. However, Anderson inherited Dad’s talent on the diamond, as well.

She graduated in May after a four-year varsity softball career with coach Emmy Paiser’s club. Anderson was the Hawks’ starting shortstop in 2014, and became their No. 1 starting pitcher this season—one in which the Hawks won 20 games. Anderson also delivered clutch hits; she closed out her varsity career with a multiplehit game that included three RBI. But her main sport is basketball.

The two-time all-conference guard was the Hawks’ go-to player, leading the team—which won a regional championship—in scoring, rebounding, steals and assists last winter.

skye osborne, ROMEOVILLE The Most Valuable Player on the Romeoville softball team, Osborne batted .289 with three doubles, three triples and five home runs on the season. She drove in 24 and scored

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15 runs.

On the basketball court, Osborne was an integral part of the Spartans’ team that showed vast improvement this season.

It was her second-straight AOY nomination.

michaela schlattman, PLAINFIELD A Plainfield Central senior, Schlattman was the top Plainfield athlete for the second straight season.

She led the Wildcats to a fourth straight softball regional title before falling in the sectional finals. En route to an all-area selection, Schlattman finished her season with a .439 average, scoring 44 runs and driving home 26 runs. She had six homers to go along with four triples, 13 doubles and 15 stolen bases.

She was also a starter for the Wildcat basketball team.

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

10

Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

column Photo by Mark Gregory

The 5th hole at Prairie Landing is the hardest hole on the course.

Water comes into play on each shot.

Hazards aplenty

Numerous pitfalls make Prairie Landing a difficult course There was a tough spot of Our most recent green that was blocked off golfing expedition took with a cone. us near the DuPage The second hole is also a Airport at Prairie Landing short one at 310 yards, but Golf Club. plays fairly tight and has The course is in a an elevated fairway with relatively open area, bunkers guarding drives which makes it windier just off the fairway. than your average course taylor’s take by scott taylor After a par-3, the fourth and with it a links-style hole is a 495-yard par five, course that can make it very difficult even on an average- which has water that sticks out into the fairway on the right on your wind day.

It features fast greens and a tough layup shot.

That is followed by the signature layout with several water hazards to go along with the fescue grass in hole and one of the hardest holes I have ever played, the par-4 fifth hole some places.

The slopes prove the difficulty at 350 yards. It takes a strong drive, as the tournament tees play 6,950 especially from the back tees, to yards with a 139 slope and the clear the creek that runs throughout championship tees play 6,572 yards the hole, on the left side. Even from with a 135 slope. We played from the blue tees you need a straight the blue tees, which were difficult drive and clear 180 yards in the air. enough, playing 6,092 yards with a You can aim for the right side of the fairway but that lengthens the hole 129 slope.

The course starts with a short and you approach shot has to carry (292 from blue), but not easy hole to the green over the creek. Even and a rare picturesque hole to start playing left and clearing the water a golf course. It plays over water on the tee shot still has a dangerous on the right side, but there is room approach shot as the creek comes to the left to bypass the water. The into play on the right.

The sixth hole was a bit green plays downhill over a ravine that you don’t see from the fairway. disappointing because the green

was a little beat up, but regardless is a three-putt possibility if you are on the wrong side of the green.

The seventh hole is a 525-yard par-5 that has a creek down the left side of the hole and the eighth hole has the creek down the right side.

The nine finishes with a 385-yard par-4 that has a lake to the right of the green.

The back nine starts with a 500yard straight par-5 with big a big fairway but bunkers that can get you in trouble. A short par-4 is next where a layup off the tee is needed with a hazard running through the fairway 100 yards out of the green.

There is also water on the right of the green, making this a true shotmaker’s hole.

At 195 yards from the blue tees and 218 from the tournament tees, the 12th hole is a most difficult par3, especially playing into the wind, which was the case when we played.

To make it harder, there is a forest on the left and the tee shot has to be carried over water.

The 13th is another par-5 and the third shot has to carry water again and it makes it very difficult to go for the green in two. That is followed by a second par-3 on the back side and

a breather of a hole, the par-4 15th.

The closing stretch features the longest par-4, a 185-yard par-3 and a 525-yard par-5, a daunting closing stretch. The par-5 has water to the left of the green and a bunker to the right. When the pin is in the front of the green and you land in the bunker, a long bunker shot can land you in the water.

Overall, this was a fun course to play. It is one of the more difficult courses you will see in the area and plays longer than advertised. The one problem with the course is the pace of play. They allow for 4.5 hour rounds, which means if you are a fast player, you will be waiting a lot, as we did. I’m still under the belief that rounds should take no longer than four hours.

Weekday rates are $67 before 3 p.m. and $47 after, while weekend rates begin at $84 before going down throughout the day. The prices are average with comparable courses in the area, making this a solid option to play, especially if you are looking for a challenge.

Overview Prairie Landing Location: West Chicago, Illinois best feature: Each hole has a unique layout, keeping the player off guard throughout the round quick tip: Hit the ball straight. Trouble looms all over the place off the fairway

News about local businesses in your community Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Community > Niles Township

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Niles, park districts partner on summer book drive Program seeks to provide at-risk children with new, gently used children’s books Reading is important for all children. But for families who lack the resources to purchase books, it can be difficult to provide the necessary tools to get young readers hooked on books.

Niles Township and park districts in Morton Grove, Niles, Skokie,

calendar | from page 5 Food Fest features authentic Greek food, Greek pastries, live music, kids corner, crafts, face painting, imported Greek wines, Greek taverna and more. Admission: $2, $1 for seniors, free before 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www. biggreekfoodfestofniles.org.

JULY 17

Cruisin’ Park Ridge. 6-9 p.m. in the Park Ridge Public Library parking lot on Prospect and Summit avenues. The free monthly shows feature classic cars, live music, a children’s car bounce house, vendors, food, drinks, and more.

For more information, visit www. parkridgechamber.org.

DIY Teen Craft: Custom T-Shirts. 2 p.m. at the Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. Registration required: call 847-929-5101 or go to calendar. mgpl.org. Make your own design and wear it with pride on your very own T-shirt. Teens must provide a plain T-shirt.

Associates Band. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Oak Park on Lee and Ottawa in Niles. The interactive Associates

Lincolnwood and Glenview are partnering with Bernie’s Book Bank and Glenview Youth Services to collect books for these at-risk children. Between July 13 and Aug. 3, these groups will try and collect 20,000 new and gently used children’s books, as part of the

Band, a Midwest premiere Motown and variety band plays for your entertainment.

Niles Police Department will also be offering free car safety seat inspections by a certified technician during the concert. Food will be available for a nominal fee. No dogs or alcoholic beverages allowed in park. Weather permitting. For more information, visit www.niles-parks.org.

Movie After Dark – Cars. 8:30 p.m. at Oak Park on Lee and Ottawa in Niles. Watch the movie “Cars” under the stars on the Niles Park District’s big screen. Food will be

Books for All Children initiative.

“The Books for All Children initiative is a great way to share books with children whose family may not have the financial resources to purchase them,” Marilyn Glazer, supervisor of Niles Township, said.

“We are truly impressed by the work Bernie’s Book Bank does to help at-risk children acquire a love for reading.”

Bernie’s Book Bank collects,

processes and distributes new and gently used children’s books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.

Collection bins are available at park district day camp sites; Glenview Youth Services, 3080 W. Lake Ave.; Niles Oasis Fun Center, 7877 Milwaukee Ave.; Skatium Ice Arena, 9300 Weber Park Place,

available for purchase. Free. For more information, visit www.nilesparks.org.

6140 Lincoln Ave. All ages.

The Flying Fool will amaze the whole family with his juggling, balancing, and gravity-defying feats. From unicycles to ladders, nothing is too ordinary to make extraordinary for the Flying Fool.

Campfire Sing-Along. 10 a.m. at the Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave. All ages. S’more fun than you can imagine! If you like campfires, singing and toasted marshmallows, this program is for you! Join Ms. Debbie for singing rounds, echo songs, silly songs and more campfire favorites.

JULY 18

Flying Fool. 2 p.m. at the Morton Grove Public Library,

Niles Library Garden Club: Plant Swap Garden Club Tea. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Divide and bring two to five extra plants from your garden to share. Dig them up before you come and keep the roots moist and wrapped. Also bring a box or bag to transport your plants.

Refreshments served.

Skokie; and the Niles Township Government office, 5255 Main St., Skokie.

For more information and a complete book drop site list, visit www.nilestownshipgov.com.

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cover story

Niles library program helps students find their inner writer Continued from Page 1 Sheffer said her primary goal is to get kids writing and sharing their work. She is always conscious of not pushing them too hard and taking the group dynamics into account.

Over the past six years, Sheffer continued to refine the program by trying new ideas and changing certain aspects of the program.

“Some kids come for a couple of years, so I don’t want to present the same things,” she said. “Also, teachers have been incorporating more writing forms in their teaching, and I don’t want do what’s already been done. “ Since the program started, Sheffer has become stricter about attendance to deter the children from skipping sessions. She also limited the number of students to ensure that she will be able to help everyone.

Each year, Sheffer focuses on a different aspect of storytelling.

Some of the topics she focused on included point of view, description and poetry. But this year, she took a slightly different approach.

On July 16, the library will host a storytelling program dealing with trickster characters in stories, and Sheffer decided to tie that theme in with Writing is for Real.

The Ins and Outs Last week, the library hosted the second session of the program.

Sheffer started the session by asking the seven participants to

coffee | from page 3 he said. “And, it’s a a one-year lease. If we don’t like it, we can do something different.”

After a discussion, Milissis cast the sole “no” vote against the lease.

Under the terms of the lease, B’s Sweet Bites will pay $200 a month in rent. If the total gross snack shop sales exceed $84,000, Sweet Bites will pay the city 5 percent of its earnings above that number.

“I hope we do share that 5 percent [of revenues].” Moran said.

The concession space is located

Photo By Igor Studenkov | For The Bugle

Participants in the Niles Public Library’s Writing is for Real program work on their writing during the second session of the month-long program.

share any writing they did at home since the previous session.

“If you’re going to be a writer, you want to practice writing,” she said.

“It’s sort of like riding a bike – the more you ride, the better you get.”

Next, Sheffer had the group brainstorm potential writing ideas, encouraging them to suggest words and concepts, no matter how odd they may seem. After the brainstorming session ended, she gave participants 15 minutes to write anything they liked. As they wrote, Sheffer walked around the room, observed their writing and offered advice.

Once the writing period was over, she invited the kids to read their work.

“It’s actually a really good way to listen to yourself listen to your

voice and develop your own voice,” Sheffer said.

Ultimately, all of the young writers demurred – though, some were willing to describe what they wrote about.

Before the session ended, Steffer instructed them to keep working on the works they started during the session. She made copies of their writing to review and return with comments and suggestions at the next session.

Afterword, Sheffer said participation in a given session varies depending on the group.

“The Wednesday group tends to share [stories] aloud, and the Thursday group has more difficulties with that,” she said. “It usually varies a lot, depending on the dynamics of the group, and I don’t have a lot of control over that.”

Steffer said her ultimate goal is to create a welcoming environment where kids can explore their writing talents.

“Mostly, I’m just trying to create an environment where they’re comfortable writing, and maybe even sharing their writing,” she said.

in the southeast corner of the station’s main waiting room.

According to the Metra website, the main waiting room is open between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. The area is closed the rest of the time, but passengers can use the smaller waiting room at the south end of the building.

The city has a right to sublease the spaces within the building.

According to the city council meeting documents, the concession space hasn’t been used since 2012.

B’s Sweet Bites has been operating in Des Plaines, at 1641

Oakton Place, since the beginning of last year. According to its official website, the shop offers a large selection of coffees and teas, as well as cakes, pies, doughnuts and other pastries.

Park Ridge City Manager Shawn Hamilton told the council that B’s Sweet Bites owner Bianca Valone was “the third or fourth” person to approach the city about operating a snack shop inside the station.

However, he added that she was the only person who kept pursuing it as the request made its way through the city government.

“If you’re going to be a writer, you want to practice writing. It’s sort of like riding a bike – the more you ride, the better you get.”

- Children’s Librarian Clara Sheffer

Send us your feedback at sweditor@buglenewspapers.com Thursday, July 16, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Tips for grandparents helping to raise children 4.9 million U.S. children raised solely by grandparents As retirement age approaches, many older adults envision themselves downsizing and moving to a quaint community to enjoy their golden years in as relaxing a fashion as possible. However, for a growing number of seniors, their retirement years are being spent helping to raise grandchildren.

United States Census data from 2010 indicates 4.9 million American children are being raised solely by their grandparents. Many grandparents provide part-time care when their older children have to move back home with their families, as roughly 13 million children are now living in homes with their grandparents.

Although being raised by grandparents may not be the ideal situation for all parties involved, such situations are a necessity for many families. Seniors who are once again thrown into the caregiver arena may need a crash course in childcare or a few pointers on parenting in the modern age.

the right equipment Children certainly require a lot of gear, more than grandparents likely usedwhenraisingtheirownchildren.

Certain safety requirements are in place to safeguard young children, and that often means investing in new cribs, car seats, high chairs and other items. Grandparents should resist the temptation to use old items in storage, as such items may no longer be safe and could put grandchildren at risk for injury.

important documents Grandparents should keep pertinent documents in one easily accessible place in their homes should an emergency arise.

These include birth certificates, immunization records, dental

records, school papers, citizenship papers, and proof of income.

Talk to an attorney Lawyers can help grandparents wade through legal arrangements, such as filing for custody, guardianship or adoption.

Options vary depending on where petitioners live, but lawyers can provide peace of mind.

financial assistance Grandparents caring for a child may be eligible for financial assistance.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a joint federal and state program that can provide need-based financial assistance. The AARP or GrandFamilies may be able to put grandparents in touch with financial advisors in their areas.

schools and daycare School-aged children will need to be enrolled in school. Grandparents should contact the department of education where they live to learn about local school systems.

Some grandparents can qualify for free or low-cost daycare, and such programs can be discussed with local Social Services offices.

emotional support Taking care of grandchildren is a full-time job. At times, grandparents may feel stressed. Having a strong support system can help seniors work through the peaks and valleys of this new and unexpected stage in life. Church- or community centerbased counseling services may be available.

Caring for grandchildren is a life-changing event. Although it can be fulfilling, it also requires a lot of energy and commitment.

But grandparents needn’t go it alone, as there are resources available to seniors caring for their grandchildren.

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