Niles 9-17-15

By Mark Gregory Momentum is a big thing in any sport.

There is no one who has more momentum in NASCAR than Matt Kenseth and the No. 20 Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing.

Kenseth, last season’s winner at Chicagoland Speedway, won the final race of the regular season at Richmond heading into the Chase for the Sprint Cup which begins Sunday in the MyAFibRisk.com 400 in Joliet.

2A

Busch in Chase contention despite broken leg

By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

At the beginning of the season, it appeared as if NASCAR would not have one of its most polarizing and talented drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

That was because Kyle Busch suffered a broken right leg and broken left foot in a crash during the Xfinity race the Saturday before the season-opening Daytona 500.

Busch would miss 11 races and per NASCAR rules for the Chase, would need to be in the top 30 in points with at least one win to secure a spot in the Chase.

Officially, Bush placed 25th in the overall points standings.

He clinched a spot in the Chase by guaranteeing himself a top30 spot in the points standings with a seventh-place finish at the Southern 500 at Darlington two weeks ago and with four wins under his belt, he is tied for the most of any driver with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth.

Busch is the second seed in the restructured Chase points system.

“It certainly was a rollercoaster season, probably more for my

team and guys and everybody that started the season in Daytona, switching seats out, having other drivers in my car,” Busch said.

“Can’t say enough about the team and the effort (crew chief) Adam Stevens, everyone that continued to focus and work hard, wait for the star quarterback to come back.

Once I did come back, they were all ready, ready to perform. Felt like we did a really good job of that. Maybe the first month was a little rough. After that, once we got through Sonoma, it was on. We had a really good stretch and still continue to run strong each week.

(I am) real proud of everybody on this Toyota Camry. It Makes our job easier week in and week out to have fast race cars. Now it’s to focus and put your head down to the dirt and make sure that you get all you can get when you go through these next 10.”

Busch finished second to Matt Kenseth in the final race of the season at Richmond, giving him nine top 10 finishes, six in the top five, in only 15 races this season.

“It was an unbelievable beginning and a pretty believable middle part of the season and how we ran.

PHOTO courtesy of Jonathan Ferrey/Nascar media

Kyle Busch has four wins on the year even after missing several races due to a broken leg.

That’s just how we’re supposed to be and how this 18 M&M’s Camry is supposed to be every week.

Again tonight Joe Gibbs Racing had a really good showing,” Busch said. “(I am) just proud of Adam Stevens and all my guys. They never gave up. They fought hard, they worked really good together and a first

year team so I’m really proud of all of that. It’s come together real well and it’s just a matter now of being able to put our heads down and get the job done. We definitely have equipment capable of doing it. It might be a race between all four (Joe) Gibbs (Racing) cars come Homestead but I’m sure Joe

(Gibbs) will love that.”

All four JGR teams made the Chase, with Kenseth seeded third behind Busch, Carl Edwards is eighth and Denny Hamlin is 11th.

With Bush having fought so hard to get back in the Chase, he knows

see busch | page 8

Nascar Notebook: Fan events and more

By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

For the race fans, there are two special events going on Thursday, Sept. 17, the day before the racing begins. Both events are free to the public.

In Joliet, the annual Race Fan Rally will be held from 4-10 pm in downtown Joliet and feature live music entertainment, vendors, beer tents, NASCAR driver appearances, a 50/50 raffle, race, show and classic cars on display and is concluded with a firework display.

Headlining the entertainment will be Hairbanger’s Ball.

Fans can also have their photo taken with the NASCAR SPRINT CUP in the rotunda of the Rialto Square Theatre.

For those wanting a shot to see the 16 Sprint Cup drivers that qualified for the Chase, there is the NASCAR Chase Fest sponsored by Toyota.

The fest will feature all 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series challengers

and have live concerts by country cover band the Suburban Cowboys and Grammy-nominated band, 3 Doors Down. Chase Fest will also take place Sept. 17 from 2-9 p.m. on Weed Street between Fremont and Kingsbury streets.

NASCAR Chase Fest will feature appearances and autograph sessions from all 16 drivers competing in the Challenger Round, as well as a number of recognizable NASCAR personalities. Fans in attendance will be treated to food from renowned Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, beverages from Coors Light (with proper ID), attractions such as the Toyota Ferris Wheel and NASCAR on NBC Sports Bumper Cars, activations from event sponsor Sprint including an appearance by Miss Sprint Cup “The days leading into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup have become a signature moment in our sport,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “With the support of Toyota, Sprint

and Chicagoland Speedway, we expect to deliver an engaging fan experience that builds anticipation for the most competitive stretch of our season.”

Also, NBC Sports Network personalities Krista Voda, Kyle Petty, Marty Snider and Rutledge Wood will interview all 16 Challengers for the network’s live broadcast of NASCAR America.

“NASCAR fans in Chicago and around the world have come to expect big things from the kickoff of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in Chicago and this year is no exception,” said Scott Paddock, President of Chicagoland Speedway. “NASCAR Chase Fest is a dynamic event that segues nicely into the weekend where the celebration will continue at Chicagoland Speedway.”

GONE COUNTRY As a part of the prerace celebration, Paris, Illinois native Brett Eldredge will perform a concert Sunday, Sept. 20.

The CMA New Artist of the Year

released his new single “Lose My Mind” earlier this summer.

His debut album, Bring You Back, yielded the No. 1 hits “Don’t Ya,” “Beat of the Music,” and “Mean to Me.” The 29-year-old Eldredge was a student at Elmhurst College before moving to Nashville to chase his dreams.

“Over the past several years we’ve had an opportunity to host some of the premier performers within the country music industry, and we’re looking forward to Brett Eldredge continuing that tradition,” said Scott Paddock, president of Chicagoland Speedway. “Including an artist of Brett’s caliber as part of our weekend festivities is an exciting addition for our track, NASCAR and particularly our fans, and the fact that he’s from our own backyard makes it even more special as we kick off the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.”

ICONS LEAD THE WAY Chicagoland

Speedway

announced 39-time Grand Slam tennis champion, Billie Jean King, and 14-time basketball All-Star, Jerry West, will serve as Grand Marshals for the MyAFibRisk.com.

As part of AFib Awareness Month this September, Janssen, the official cardiovascular partner of NASCAR®, has teamed up with these two sports icons—Billie Jean King and Jerry West—to talk about a heart condition they share in common with millions of Americans.

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is an irregular heartbeat that puts them at a one in three chance of having a stroke.

Since diagnosis, West and King have been working with their doctors to start and stay on a treatment plan to help prevent a stroke due to AFib. Now they have teamed up to encourage people with AFib to understand their risk for stroke, which can change over time. Everyone living with AFib can quickly and easily calculate their personal stroke risk at www.

MyAFibRisk.com.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 VOL. 59 ISSUE 50 Inside This Issue

SpeCIAl SeCTIoN

SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH spotlight on Health offers tips on how to improve your health everyday

inside

NEWS robert Wilkening

Speakers at Sept. 11 ceremony say monument mourns victims, celebrates heroes

Park Ridge City Council reads resolution honoring the late alderman

see page 2

NEWS

By Igor Studenkov | BUGLE STAFF

smash The Box

o

Creative Studio and Wonder Ground to open Sept. 19 at Niles Public Library

see page 3

PHOTO By igOr sTudenKOv | Bugle sTaff

roosevelt elementary school chorus sings ‘god Bless america’ during the conclusion of the sept. 11 unveiling of the 9/11 memorial in front of Park ridge city Hall.

FORUM Thinking about Health Generic drug costs are on the rise

see page 5

BUSINESS

n a chilly, rainy morning, a large crowd gathered friday near Park ridge city Hall for the unveiling of a memorial to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The unveiling has been a long time coming. Originally announced in 2011, the memorial was to incorporate a steel beam retrieved from the World Trade center site. after the original plans were deemed too elaborate, the designers went back to the drawing board, creating a simpler design that was ultimately used four years later.

SEE ‘MeMoRIAl’ ON PAGE 3

Police contract

Park Ridge approves new union contract for police

see page 11

SPORTS dons go 3-0

Notre Dame defeats Benet 29-14

see page 7

PHOTO By igOr sTudenKOv | Bugle sTaff

The honor guard stands at attention just after the 9/11 memorial is unveiled.

Thursday, Septem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Park Ridge City Council honors late alderman

Resolution praises Wilkening as thoughtful man who carefully studied local issues

By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

Family and friends of late Third Ward Ald. Robert Wilkening gathered in the Park Ridge City Council chambers Sept. 8 to pay tribute to their former colleague.

Wilkening died from an undisclosed illness Aug. 4, less than three months into his first term.

His death marks the second time this year that the city of Park Ridge is mourning one of its city council members. In March, Mayor Dave Schmidt died suddenly from an undisclosed illness.

The resolution praised Wilkening as a thoughtful man who carefully studied the issues facing Park Ridge and always thinking of ways to improve the city.

Sixth Ward Ald. Marc Mazzuca, who was Wilkening’s next door neighbor, remembered him as a kind and generous man who encouraged him to go into politics.

Wilkening’s widow, Gail, thanked the emergency services personnel and her neighbors for their kindness and support.

Wilkening was a founder and president of Wilkening & Company Management Consultants.

Before being elected alderman, he served two four-year terms on the Park Ridge-Niles District 64 Board of Education, where he served as chairman of the finance and personnel committees and participated in three teacher-union contract negotiations.

As an alderman, he served as the city council liaison for the Park Ridge Planning and Zoning Commission and the O’Hare Airport Commission.

The city council was originally scheduled to read the resolution honoring Wilkening for his service during the Aug. 17 meeting.

However, Acting Mayor Marty Maloney rescheduled because the Sept. 8 meeting was more convenient for Wilkening’s family.

Wilkening’s friends and family filled almost a third of the city council chamber’s sitting area, as Maloney read the resolution honoring the late alderman.

“On Aug. 4, the city learned of [Wilkening’s] passing and mourned

Photo by Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

Park Ridge Acting Mayor Marty Maloney reads a resolution honoring late Third Ward Ald. Robert Wilkening, while wife Gail Wilkening, daughterin-law Katie Leweling, son Michael Wilkening and daughter Katherine Wilkening listen on. the loss of a wonderful elected official, one who strategically thought of how to improve the city, was never hesitant to ask questions, and was eager and energetic, bringing fresh perspective to the council in a short time. For the period that Alderman Wilkening served as an elected official, he will be remembered for the fine qualities in which he demonstrated as a remarkable public servant.”

The resolution offered “heartfelt sympathy” for Wilkening’s family and thanked them for encouraging him to run for public office and supporting him once he won.

According to Second Ward Ald. Nicholas Milissis, all aldermen originally planned to say something to honor Wilkening, but they decided that since Mazzuca knew him best, he would be best suited to talk about him.

The Sixth Ward alderman recalled how when he and his sister were children, Robert and Gail Wilkening would let them wait for the school bus in their house. When Mazzuca first decided to run for office, the couple supported him.

“They couldn’t have been more helpful and encouraging, and they showed me I could make a

difference with this type of work,” Mazzuca said, his voice cracking with emotion.

When Wilkening thought about running for office, Mazzuca said he tried to return the favor.

He also praised Wilkening for wanting to see change while understanding that change can take time and being willing to keep working for it.

Wilkening’s passing, Mazzuca said, was a loss of another “bright star” of Park Ridge.

“We [will] keep working, and I believe Bob would expect nothing less,” he said. “Rest in peace, my friend. And thank you.”

Mahoney then invited Gail Wilkening, the late alderman’s children, Michael and Katherine Wilkening, and Michael Wilkening’s wife, Katie Leweling, to come up to the podium, where he handed them the physical copy of the resolution.

Gail Wilkening made a brief speech, thanking the city council, members of the Park Ridge police and fire departments, and all of the friends and neighbors that offered kindness and support to her and her family.

“Thank you all,” she said. “It’s the wonderful people, and a wonderful place to live.”

T h ur sday, Septem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

3

library news > niles

New library spaces offer hands-on fun for kids, adults Library is planning to mark opening with Smash the Box, a weekend-long open house

By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

Niles residents will soon be able to edit videos, make music, sew clothes and create objects using 3D printers – all in the comfort of their local library.

On Sept. 19-20, the library will

memorial | from page 1 During the ceremony, speaker after speaker emphasized that the memorial would be a place to mourn all those who perished during the attacks and celebrate the spirit of heroism demonstrated by emergency service workers and ordinary citizens alike. And while the weather wasn’t necessarily agreeable, the unveiling went without a hitch.

Originally, the memorial was supposed to be located at a Park Ridge Fire Department station located on the corner of Devon and Cumberland avenues. The original design called for a white wall to wrap around the site, with the beam serving as a centerpiece.

The memorial was to be lit at night. As the Bugle reported at the time, the construction costs were estimated to be $320,000. But the city council expressed concerns about its cost, ultimately deciding to approve something less elaborate.

The memorial unveiled was simpler in design – a small, circular plaza with a beam mounted onto the column placed in the middle of a rectangular base. The inscription under the beam was equally straightforward.

“To all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. We will never forget. Dedicated on September 11, 2015.”

While the site was prepared weeks in advance, the beam itself wasn’t installed until a few days before the ceremony. On the morning of the unveiling, a large American flag was draped over the beam.

The ceremony started at 8 a.m.

Robert Campbell, a reverend at First United Methodist Church, welcomed everyone to the ceremony, and the Roosevelt Elementary School Chorus sang

more information On Sept. 19-20, the library will officially open the new Creative Studio – a new creative project space located on the lower level.

It will also open Wonder Ground – a science, technology and arts themed activity space for younger kids. Both spaces were built entirely using the funds obtained through a $70,000 state grant.

officially open the new Creative Studio – a new creative project space located on the lower level.

It will also open Wonder Ground – a science, technology and arts themed activity space for younger kids. Both spaces were built entirely using the funds obtained through a $70,000 state grant.

The library is planning to mark

the opening with the Smash the Box, a weekend-long open house.

On Sept. 19, residents will have a chance to try out Creative Studio

the National Anthem.

Father James Wallace of Mary Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church gave the opening prayer. He prayed for peace and all those who work to make the world a more peaceful place.

“May this memorial be a sign of [God’s] peace and love,” he said.

“Amen.”

Perry Fisher of First Church of Christ Scientist read from Psalm 46, the Song of Sons of Korah – a passage that emphasizes God’s presence with the faithful, no matter what calamities befall the world around them.

Park Ridge City Manager Shawn Hamilton thanked all the volunteers, city employees and other individuals who made the memorial a reality. He also thanked everyone who came to the unveiling, acknowledging elected officials and members of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars who were in attendance. He expressed hope that the memorial would be a place of reflection.

Acting Mayor Marty Maloney said that he hoped that the memorial would be an eternal reminder of heroism and selfless sacrifice shown by first responders and civilians during the attacks.

“We can all recall the images of first responders rushing into World Trade Center as everybody else was rushing out,” he said. “I’m proud to be in a community that appreciates those principles.”

Speaking in his capacity as the chairman for Park Ridge Public Safety Committee, Second Ward Ald. Nick Milissis echoed the mayor’s comments.

“Today, we put on display a piece of one of our nation’s darkest hours,” he said. “But, I hope that it will be the reminder of the triumph of human spirit.”

Milissis cited first responders,

average people and members of the clergy of all faiths who gave comfort in the days and weeks following the attacks.

He praised men and women who were inspired to join the military and emergency services, acknowledging those who fell in the line of duty and those who are still putting their lives on the line.

“This steel beam should serve as a reminder of all that,” he said.

“Those are the values we hold near and dear in Park Ridge.”

Friar Johnpaul Cafiero, an Illinois State Police chaplain, recalled how, on Sept 11, 2001, he saw the first plane hit the first tower. His father worked in the other tower, but his relief turned to horror as the second plane hit the floor his father worked on.

Cafiero would later learn that his father wasn’t in the office – but his cousin perished while trying to help a woman escape the collapsing first tower.

“We must make a pledge that we never forget those who give their lives every day to make us, safer, to make the world a better place,” he said. “May God bless them all.”

Lisa Page, who served as a crisis manager at United Airlines during the attacks, said she hoped that the memorial would be a reminder of the toll of the attacks, as well as the way Americans came together to respond to it.

“America was knocked on its knees, and it got up stronger,” she said.

Two students from area schools offered their own perspectives.

Gwen Maramba, a seventh grader at Mary Seat of Wisdom Catholic School, said that she was born in 2003, so she never experienced the life before the attacks. But with her father serving in the military, she still feels the impact.

“We’re here because of the

equipment and see demonstrations of what it can do. And Sept. 20, scientist and entertainer Steve Belliveau will host a special program for elementary school kids at Wonder Ground.

The new spaces have been in the works since the beginning of the year.

Sasha Vasilic, the library’s public relations and marketing supervisor, told the Bugle that they are part of the library’s effort to become more of a community resource.

The library sees Wonder Ground in particular as a resource for area schools.

“I did a poll and [East Maine] District 63 didn’t have any space similar to [Wonder Ground], so the library is helping to fill that void,” said Vasilic. “If they need anything extra, they will be able to use our services.”

The Creative Studio is primarily geared toward teenagers and

sacrifices made for our nation under God, with liberty and justice for all,” said Maramba.

“God bless America.”

Austin Derrick, a student at Maine South, was three years old when the attacks happened. At the time, his family was living in Berlin, Germany. While he was too young to fully grasp what happened, he saw armed security at a school for American children and he understood that everyone was worried. In retrospect, he said, he could only imagine how much worse things were in United States.

“I’m very grateful for all the freedoms I have,” said Derrick.

“May we never forget the heroes on the plane, the first responders and all those who perished.”

The Park Ridge Police and Fire Honor Guard then unveiled the memorial, carefully folding the flag after removing it. Maloney read the text of the plaque, and Park Ridge firemen rang a bell – a ceremonial gesture to honor their colleagues that perished during the attacks.

Father Peter Gnoinski of St. Paul of the Cross Church then led the crowd in a moment of silence.

The ceremony was concluded with Roosevelt Chorus singing “God Bless America” and Fr. Chris Kerkeres of St. George Greek Orthodox Church saying the closing prayer.

“Help us cherish the freedoms we all enjoy and inspire us to stand as a nation in the midst of every and any adversity,” he prayed.

see library | page 4

www.cookcountycrimestoppers.org • 800.535.stop Thursday, Septem ber 17, 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 Dorothy A. Scaduto, 37, 8600 block of Golf Road, Niles, was arrested at 11:40 a.m. Sept. 5 in the 8500 block of Golf for retail theft.

1

2

Eneida Cruz-Salgado, 51, 300 block of Inland Drive, Wheeling, was arrested at 6:07 p.m.

Sept. 5 in the Golf Mill Shopping Center for retail theft.

Aidan P. Ogorman, 40, 5300 block of Latroke, Chicago, was arrested at 12:35 a.m Sept. 5 in the 7300 block of Milwaukee for suspended driver’s license.

3

Razvan Timar, 23, 9300 block of Osceola, Morton Grove, was arrested at 1:03 p.m. Sept. 6 in the Golf Mill Shopping Center for retail theft.

4

Garry P. Young, 35, 7500 block of North Winchester, Chicago, was arrested at 5:44 p.m. Sept. 7 in the 5600 block of Touhy for theft from person.

5

Park Ridge library | from page 3 adults. It is located on the library’s lower level, in the space formerly used for computer training classes.

The studio is made up of two rooms. Creative Studio A is a space for audio-visual projects. It includes Mac computers with video, sound and image editing software, including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro and GarageBand.

Studio A also includes video and

Jose Figueroa, 35, 3200 block of Cicero, Chicago, was arrested at 6:15 p.m. Aug. 31 at Courtland and Higgins for four counts of retail theft and obstructing identity.

6

1 2 4

Tatiana M. Lukac, 18, 7900 block of North Nordica, Niles, was arrested at 11:14 p.m. Sept. 3 in the 200 block of South Vine for no valid driver’s license, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, failure to give information and no valid insurance.

7

11

13

9

12 10

Anthony I. Colone, 18, 4600 block of North Sayre, Harwood Heights, was arrested at 4:09 p.m.

Sept. 3 in the 1900 block of South Cumberland for retail theft.

8

3

8

Anita A. Pac, 37, 2400 block of

10 North 76th Avenue, Elmwood

Jaime Carrillo-Martinez, 26, 1800 block of South Central, Cicero, was arrested at 9:54 a.m.

Sept. 5 at Dempster and Potter for driving while license suspended.

11

audio recording equipment, a green screen and a musical keyboard. Finally, the studio has equipment that will allow patrons to convert videotapes, audiotapes, vinyl records and DVDs into digital files.

Creative Studio B, on the other hand, is more crafting oriented. It includes a 3D printer, a laser cutter, a silhouette-cutting machine for creating complex patterns and sewing machines.

5

7

Lee R. Seward Jr., 50, 9100 block of West Elmwood Drive, Niles, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Sept.

3 in the 1700 block of West Dempster for battery.

9

Park, was arrested at 12:41 a.m.

Sept. 5 in the 900 block of North Prospect Avenue for driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transportation or possession of alcoholic liquor, and failure to signal when required.

15

14

Josue A. Benitez-Munoz, 26, 2700 block of North Austin, Chicago, was arrested at 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 5 at Northwest Highway and Tyrell for no valid driver’s license and unlawful use of cell phone.

12

Morton Grove Patrons would also be able to check out some equipment, including GoPro video cameras, Roku 3 streaming video players and Roku streaming sticks.

“With GoPro cameras, [patrons] will be able to check out and record while on vacation, or record something for science projects,” said Vasilic.

Earlier this year, the library launched a program that allowed patrons to check out wireless Internet hotspots. Vasilic explained that it proved successful enough to encourage the library to let patrons borrow other devices.

The Wonder Ground will be located inside the library’s KidSpace area, and it’s geared toward students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Unlike the other two

6

Alejandro Vergara, 32, Chicago, was arrested Sept.

7 at Lyons and Menard for no valid driver’s license.

13

Andres Ortiz, 23, Chicago, was arrested Sept. 9 at Dempster and Central for a warrant and driving on revoked license.

15

Arturo Salazar, 25, Niles, was

14 arrested Sept. 8 at Dempster

and Birch for DUI and no valid driver’s license.

spaces, it is meant to be more of a lab, a place to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

“Every month, there will be a different focus on some aspect of STEAM,” explained Vasilic. “Kids will do activities and projects around whatever the focus is.”

The focus for October, for example, is going to be the human body.

Unlike most Niles library programs and facilities, Creative Studio and Wonder Ground are strictly limited to Niles residents and students that attend schools within the village. Residents will be able to reserve spaces in Creative Studios on a first-come, firstserve basis. During the Smash Box weekend, patrons will have

plenty of opportunities to put that technology to the test. There will be GoPro camera demonstrations at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., a music video making workshop at 1 p.m and a “Create Your own newscast” workshop at 11:30 a.m.

Vasilic told the Bugle that even though Creative Studio and Wonder Ground haven’t open yet, the staff was already getting questions about the new spaces.

On Sept. 20, Belliveau will host a “Getting Excited About Science” show in the library’s main meeting room. The program starts at 2 p.m., and parents will be able to pick up free tickets starting at 1:30 p.m.

“Some patrons have already been asking questions about the programs, so the feedback has been very excited,” he said.

Send us your feedback at nweditor@buglenewspapers.com

T h ur sday, Septem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

5

Thinking about health > Opinion

EDITORIAL

Consumers are fed up with skyrocketing drug costs

ASSISTANT EDITOR

ANDREA EARNEST aearnest@buglenewspapers.com

815.436.2431 ext.118

ADVERTISING

PRODUCTION

LAURA KATAUSKAS • MARK GREGORY • IGOR STUDENKOV

SALES REPRESENTATIVES Phil Besler

pbesler@buglenewspapers.com 815.436.2431 ext. 107

Joliet, Crest Hill Lockport, Romeoville Dena Conn

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

Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, Westmont, Woodridge & Lisle 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.

Pat Ryan

pryan@enterprisepublications.com 815.436.2431 ext. 106

Plainfield, Shorewood

Maureen Vitacco mvitacco@buglenewspapers.com 815.436.2431 ext. 108

Niles, Morton Grove, Des Plaines & Park Ridge

Late this summer the Food and Drug Administration approved two new drugs for lowering cholesterol. Repatha and Praluent are aimed at patients with very high cholesterol levels who haven’t been helped by commonly used statins or other therapies. The new drugs’ debut was thinking marked by the usual about health hype touting the with Trudy Lieberman wonders of the latest pharmaceuticals.

“I can tell you there is a lot of hope on the part of our patients,” said Dr. Seth Martin, associate director of the lipid clinic at Johns Hopkins. “There is such a high need for these medications.”

This new drug launch, though, was different from others I’ve seen. This time there was serious concern from insurers, state Medicaid programs and others about the price tag for both drugs, which are expected to cost between $14,000 and $15,000 per year.

Patients take an injection of the drug every two weeks at a price of around $560 for each shot. Multiply that by the millions who will take the drug, and that’s a good chunk of change by any standard.

“The approval of Repatha is another example of a breakthrough medication with too high a price tag,” says John Rother, who heads the National Coalition on Health Care and its Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing.

This spurred on no doubt by the rising prices for generic drugs and the increasingly common practice among insurers of shifting the cost of expensive specialty drugs (those for complex, chronic and costly conditions) to patients themselves by requiring them to pay high deductibles and high coinsurance. Coinsurance

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.

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.

SEPTEMBER 17

Movies in the Underground: The Maze Runner. 4 p.m. at Niles Public Library District, 6960 W. Oakton St., Niles.

It’s Throwback Thursday! Revisit popular high school movies from the not-toodistant past. Pizza will be served during “intermission.”

SEPTEMBER 19

Morton Grove Farmers Market.

for specialty drugs can mean paying between 30 and 50 percent of a drug’s price out of pocket.

No wonder consumers are asking, “What’s going on here?”

The latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll offered some surprising findings.

Seventy-two percent of Americans think drug costs are unreasonable.

About the same percentage said drug companies put profits before people.

While about three-quarters of those questioned said paying for their medicines was easy, one quarter did not, especially those with low incomes and those who use a lot of drugs.

The poll findings are significant considering that historically Americans have been in love with new drugs and medical devices and have been willing to pay almost any price for them.

That love affair may be cooling as the cost implications of Sovaldi, the $84,000 drug to treat hepatitis C, and the ever-increasing price of medicines to treat common diseases like diabetes begin to sink in.

This summer the California Association of Health Plans estimated that even though hepatitis C drugs are very effective, to treat just 10 percent of the 175,000 patients who have coverage from insurance programs run by the state---such as Medicaid and the state employees plan---would cost California $1 to $2 billion for one year.

The cost for treating diabetes is zooming up too. In its latest drug trend report Express Scripts, the pharmacy benefit manager, found that for the fourth year in a row spending on all diabetes drugs was higher per person per year than it was for any other class of traditional drugs. The reason: Some people take three or four different diabetes medications, and more people are taking them.

What’s the solution? While the answer up until now has been “let the market

8 a.m. to noon at 6210 Dempster St. Enjoy delicious fresh produce, baked goods and more and show support to your local community. Oct. 17 will feature the last day of the Farmers Market and include a Halloween Costume Contest. Special hours for the last market are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Park Ridge Farmers Market. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prairie Avenue, between Main Street and Garden. Rain or shine,

prevail,” the Kaiser poll discovered that large numbers of Americans both Democrats and Republicans favored greater transparency in how drug makers set their prices.

A handful of states are calling for drug makers to disclose the costs of manufacturing and developing their pharmaceuticals for drugs that cost more than $10,000 for a course of treatment. Some states are trying to limit what consumers pay by capping the amount insurers can charge them for co-insurance and co-payments, flat dollar amounts. The drug industry opposes these efforts.

Perhaps the more important question is whether these state initiatives will make drugs cheaper. Many experts including Rother don’t think so.

“The underlying cause is the incredibly steep prices that are unsustainable regardless of how we handle the insurance,” he says. “The problem is not who pays but that drugs cost too much.”

The Kaiser poll found that more than 80 percent of Americans want the government to negotiate prices of drugs for Medicare, something the law forbids thanks to lobbying pressure from pharmaceutical companies.

Negotiations are precisely what drug makers fear.

But if more drugs with $84,000 price tags show up, something has to give.

Will the public make high drug prices a campaign issue?

What are your experiences with high drug prices? Write to Trudy at trudy. lieberman@gmail.com.

The Rural Health News Service is funded by a grant from The Commonwealth Fund and is distributed through the Nebraska Press Assn. Foundation, Colorado Press Assn., South Dakota Newspaper Assn., Hoosier (IN) State Press Assn. Foundation, Illinois Press Foundation, Wyoming Press Assn. and California Newspaper Publishers Assn.

Foundation.

this market is host to a great selection of fruits, vegetables and other food products available every week. Kids events and music are scheduled every week. Fore more info, go to www.parkridgefarmersmarket. com.

25th Annual Fall Arts & Crafts Adventure. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hodges Park, 101 S. Courtland, across from City

see calendar | page 15

FoR WHEN you WaNT To TaKE 5 minutes FoR youRSElF Thursday, sepTem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Aries

mARch 21 TO APRIL 20

Rev up your creative side and let it run free in the week ahead. You could be brimming with imaginative ideas and able to put them into action. Take the time to reflect on the best ways to achieve peace and tranquility.

gemini

m AY 2 2 T O j U n E 2 1

Ideas that pop up now may lead you to opportunities as the week unfolds. Prepare presentations or speak to others who can help your career. Commitments made now are likely to run smoothly over the long term.

leo

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

Romantic notions and confidence in magic potions might fill your head in the week ahead. You may be inspired by someone or something and think the sky is the limit. It’s a wise idea, however, to rely on common sense.

Across 1 OnE IS FEATUREd In ThE 1962 VEnTURES InSTRUmEnTAL “ThE 2,000 POUnd BEE” 11 BASS OUTPUT 15 hE PLAYEd ThE BAndIT cALVERA In “ThE mAgnIFIcEnT SEVEn” 16 __ mAAR, mISTRESS OF PIcASSO 17 QUALIFIEd FOR 18 “ThE EnEmY BELOW” SETTIng, BRIEFLY 19 ZAP 20 KId’S cRY 21 OVERPOWER WITh nOISE 23 AIRLInE cREATEd

BY An AcT OF PARLIAmEnT 25 TAKE AWAY 26 “ThE LOVE mAchInE” AUThOR 29 PLAcE TO STRETch 30 In ABEYAncE 31 “mIchAEL” cOScREEnWRITER EPhROn 32 EXPEcTEd 33 TIE 34 “hOT hOUSE” gRAmmY-WInnIng PIAnIST 35 PhILAdELPhIA TOURIST ATTRAcTIOn 36 djIA PART: ABBR. 37 mASSEnET OPERA 38 hERAKLIOn’S ISLAnd 39 chImnEY REPAIR jOB 41 14-dOWn, FOR OnE 42 SOmE PROPERTY SAFEgUARdS 43 “ALIcE In WOndERLAnd” BIRd 44 ThEY mAY BE

FROZEn OR LIQUId 45 IdEAL FIgURE 46 SchOOL WITh ThE mAScOT BIg AL 50 QUILL PARTS 51 FOOd chAIn gROUP 54 gREEK LETTERS 55 gOURmAndS 56 ERATO’S InSTRUmEnT 57 SOUTh SIdE

Down 1 2 3 4

SEnSE RAdIUS nEIghBOR UnPOPULAR SPOTS LITERALLY, “TWIcEBAKEd” 5 ROd 6 “TRAcEY TAKES On” AUThOR 7 InTESTInAL 8 cRY OF AchIEVEmEnT 9 ROUTInE 10 BOTSWAnA nEIghBOR, FORmERLY 11 SOmE OcTOBER cAmPAIgnS 12 FARE REdUcTIOn OPTIOn 13 SAndUSKY LOcALE

14 KEYS hOLdER In A RUBEnS PORTRAIT 22 SIngER jAmES 24 PERSOn 25 STRIKES OUT 26 POWER SOURcE 27 BROWn, E.g.

28 BUSInESS WhERE LInES ARE ShORT? 29 EQUIP AnEW 31 PAIn RELIEF PILL BRAnd 34 gREEnSIdE STROKE 35 1983 STYX hIT ThAT BEgInS In jAPAnESE 37 FLAngEd FASTEnER 38 ROgUE 40 EXISTIng: LAT. 41 FRAncS And BEAnS? 43 WIngER OF “BLAcK WIdOW” 45 cRETAcEOUS gIAnT 47 STRETch 48 SEAS OVERSEAS 49 PART OF PdA: ABBR. 52 cERTAIn ThREShOLd 53 BREWERY SIghT

librA

SEPTEmBER 24 TO OcTOBER 23

Words that reflect honesty and sincerity are in the air. This could be a very good time to ask for advice or guidance. Maintain a positive frame of mind and something of value might fall into your lap this week.

sAgittArius

nOVEmBER 23 TO dEcEmBER 22

Leave your cave and experiment with something new.

Put worries and cares aside and break free of chains that hold you back. You sizzle in social situations, as well as group activities in the week ahead.

AquArius

jAnUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 19

Use your noggin to iron out the details of agreements and creative ideas. In the week ahead, you’ll benefit by adopting an unbiased logical approach to problems. Work hard to add pennies to your long-term holdings.

Sudoku

tAurus

A P R I L 2 1 T O m AY 2 1

Welcome a change of pace. Even the most solidly planted horse needs to get off the merry-go-round at some point. Relationships may take a turn in a fresh direction this week. Use your partner as a sounding board.

cAncer

j U n E 2 2 T O j U LY 2 2

Do a reality check. You may be caught up in an unrealistic approach to financial affairs and possessions as the week begins. Focus on making your workplace and your work as perfect as possible.

virgo

AUgUST 22 TO SEPTEmBER 23

Hook up with friends and loved ones in the week to come. You may sparkle with an extra bit of glamour. You might be the center of someone’s amorous attention, but don’t make promises or commitments too soon.

scorpio

OcTOBER 24 TO nOVEmBER 22

Networking in the week ahead could pay off by fattening your piggy bank. Brainstorm in tandem with a partner who can serve as a shrewd sounding board. A discussion may show the holes in your thinking.

cApricorn

dEcEmBER 23 TO jAnUARY 20

Adapt to new directions without getting off track. There may be situations that call for a sprint to the finish line this week. Yet you can remain open to changes in plan without losing your momentum or equilibrium.

pisces

FEBRUARY 20 TO mARch 20

Pay attention to your intuitions and act on your sympathies in the week ahead. A pat on the shoulder or a kind word at the right time might not be acknowledged immediately but bring rewards in the near future.

Jumble

Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 2015

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

Jumbles:

• QUEUE • SIXTY • BAUBLE • POORLY

Answer:

WhAT ThE WEALThY mATROn’S cAT EnjOYEd -ThE “LAP” OF LUXURY

Thursday, September 17, 2015

page 7

>> INSIDE: BMW championship returns to chicagoland page 9

football

dons roll past benet Notre Dame moves to 3-0

By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

There is only one Tim Simon on the Notre Dame football team, but for Benet it looked as if he had clones as No. 10 was all over the field Friday night in the Dons’ 29-14 East Suburban Catholic Conference win.

Simon accounted for 18 of Notre Dame’s points in the game, as he caught a touchdown pass, kicked three field goals on the night from 39, 20 and 23-yards and recorded a pair of extra points.

As a cornerback, Simon was also in on several tackles and coverages for the Dons’ defense.

“He is a super talented kid,” said Notre Dame coach Mike Hennessey.

“He is one of the top students in the school, he is the best baseball player in the school. He has the ‘it’ factor and he knows how to put it on display out here and he does it with cool and confidence.”

Simon and quarterback Tyler Tsagalis hooked up seven times on

the night for 138 yards.

“Benet had undersized corners out there and if you are going to put an undersized corner on him, I am going there every time,” Tsagalis said.

After a pair of early turnovers, Benet opened the scoring when quarterback Jack Sznajder hit Karl Schmidt from 14 yards out.

However, 48 seconds later, Tsagalis and Simon connected on a 65-yard pitch and catch to tie the score. Notre Dame would go into the break ahead 17-7 after a 2-yard TD run by Jimmy Topping with 5 minutes, 20 seconds left in the second quarter and a Simon field goal.

“We started off pretty slow and had a few three and outs but our defense held them. Then when they scored, it put pressure on the offense because we didn’t want to get down too early,” Tsagalis said.

A 20-yard field goal from Simon on the Dons’ (3-0, 1-0 ESCC) opening drive of the second half

see dons | page 10

photo by Mark Gregory

Jimmy Topping had a pair of touchdown runs in Notre Dame’s 29-14 win over Benet Friday.

8

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

Thursday, Septem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

nascar | from page 1A The win was Kenseth’s fourth of the season and third in the last six races.

“It was great to get the win.

Richmond, when I came to JGR, was one of their best tracks. In the last couple years, it’s been one of our worst as a group. You want to win every week. I’ll tell you, if you could do this every week, you would,” Kenseth said after the win. “So it’s not like you can do anything extra or anything necessarily better. I will say it feels really good. It’s good for all of our confidence, probably especially mine.”

Not only did Kenseth finish with momentum, the entire Gibbs team did, as teammate Kyle Busch finished second, Denny Hamlin sixth and Carl Edwards 11th.

Hamlin will race the rest of the season with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He tore the ACL the Tuesday before Richmond in a pick-up basketball game.

“I feel like as a company right now, all four cars are really strong,” Kenseth said. “I felt like we were really strong in the Chase in 2013.

We ended up getting beat, but we were pretty strong, won a couple races, led a lot of laps. Jimmie beat us. We were really good. I feel like as a company right now, we’re stronger than we were in ‘13.

We had a lot of different things happen, where all four of us now have been able to win races and we’re all in the Chase. I feel like all four teams are really competitive.

I think we were one through four at one point tonight. I feel like as a company, we’re stronger this year.”

All four made the Chase and will be competing for the title, the second for JGR since NASCAR went to the Chase format and the first while driving Toyota.

Kenseth is currently tied atop the Chase standings with six-time champion Jimmie Johnson and Busch.

Although they are tied as the points reset, Johnson is technically the No. 1 seed, followed by Bush and Kenseth. All three have 2012

busch | from page 2a the last thing he can afford is to make a mistake and be eliminated early.

“I think the mindset is just the same as what we’ve been doing.

Keep going, keep hitting it hard and don’t screw up,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing is just try not to make

PHOTo courtesy of Matt Sullivan/Nascar Media

(Back row L-R) Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, Ryan Newman, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, Paul Menard, driver of the #27 Libman/Menards Chevrolet, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 3M Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, (front row L-R) Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Cessna Chevrolet, Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation Chevrolet, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Visser Precision Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Crispy/American Heritage Chocolate Toyota, Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-hour Energy Toyota, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, pose for a photo after making the Chase for the Sprint Cup after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 12, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. points.

Points for all 16 Chase drivers are reset to 2000 with three bonus points being awarded for each win during the regular season. There are 10 races in the Chase with the four drivers with the lowest point totals being eliminated after three races, four more after the sixth and four more after the ninth.

The four drivers left standing at Homestead race for a winnertake-all race, with the driver finishing the highest of the four being awarded the Sprint Cup Championship.

Last season’s winner Kevin Harvick is fifth and is ready to defend his title.

“I feel like as a team we have

been there, done that,” he said.

“We’ve been in Phoenix and Homestead pressure situations and succeeded in both of those situations. I think when you look at the group there’s not a lot of them that have done that, and you’ve just got to keep pressure on them, and I think as you go into Chicago, you just know that you’re not going to make any friends and you don’t have to worry about it.

You have to worry about what you have to do to advance to get to the next round every three weeks, and whatever the scorecard looks like or whatever you have to do is what you have to do. It’s not about making more friends.

“It’s a whole different mindset

as you go into Chicago, and it’s kind of take no prisoners. I don’t like you and I know they don’t like me, so you race like that on every lap, and we’re going to go after it.”

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is sixth in the standings, while Kurt Busch, Edwards, Brad Keslowski and Martin Truex, Jr. round out the top 10.

Jeff Gordon made the Chase in his final season as a driver, as he announced in January that he will retire after this season.

Joining long-time Chase competitors will be first timers Jamie McMurray and Paul Menard.

Menard held onto the final spot in the field when Aric Almirola, who finished fourth in the race, failed

to take the checkered flag.

“Everything resets now, so Chicago has been a pretty good track for us,” Menard said. “I feel good about our intermediate track program. Man, we had a fast car tonight, it just burned the left-front tire off after 30, 40 laps and we started going backwards.

Try to figure out what happened there, but Chicago is a whole new animal, and it’s a track I really enjoy.”

McMurray’s finished in the series standings is 11th, in 2004.

That was the first year of the Chase, when only 10 drivers competed for the title and McMurray was the highest finishing non-Chase driver at the end of the year.

any mistakes. That’s the biggest thing about this Chase but with the given opportunity that you have now with win and you’re in or win and you transfer through you can make a mistake and come back but you better be good when you do come back.”

Busch is looking forward to

kicking off the Chase Sunday in Joliet at the MyAFibRisk.com 400.

“I think when you have good races and good cars and stuff like that it makes your job a heck of a lot easier going to the race track to be able to be competitive and to continue to strive and to push and to get those wins and have

good finishes. Last year I’d say that our cars and stuff – our equipment we were just struggling. We were just off and we were just kind of missing something and with the realignment of the crew chiefs and bringing on Carl (Edwards) this year and having that opportunity to have four cars I think just

elevated our program and gave us everything that we needed in order to have a strong showing and we’ve proven that the last two, three months.

“I think this year’s Chase is going to be a bit better than what last year’s Chase was. I think it’s going to be for an entertaining Chase.”

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

T h ur sday, sepTem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

9

golf

FEATURING

Emily Hise

minOOKa vOlleyBall

What do you use Twitter for?

I use it to keep in touch with my friends and stay updated with volleyball pages.

Who do you like to follow on Twitter?

I like following all my friends and club volleyball pages.

How often are you on Twitter? once or twice a day. I don’t really tweet much.

I’ll go a week without tweeting.

PHOTO By scOTT TaylOr

NOTRE DAME @NDDONS “congrats to the Varsity cross country Team. They won the Immaculate conception college Prep meet! matt contreras ‘16 came in 1st place!”

Zach Johnson won the last BmW championship contested at conway farms in 2013.

BMW Championship returns to Lake Forest

BY SCOTT TAYLOR SpoRTS eDIToR

staylor@enterprisepublications.com @Taylor_Sports

The BMW Championship returns to the Chicagoland area this week as it continues its every other year rotation.

For the second time, it will be hosted by Conway Farms in Lake Forest. The drama was at a premium for the 2013 event at Conway Farms.

In round two, Jim Furyk matched a PGA Tour record by firing a 59 after a birdie on his final

hole. However, it wasn’t enough as Zach Johnson went on to win the tournament.

Since the inception of the Fed Ex Cup playoffs in 2007, the BMW Championship has been the third

See BMW | page 10

kASEY kAHNE @kASEY kAHNE “Getting ready for @chicagolndSpdwy quick stop by @ Greatclips” PLAINFIRLD SWIMMING @ PLFDSWIMMING “100 free relay champions! @polishswimmer1@ angiechartrand @briiannaclaiire & c. kolb ” DANNY ECkER @DANNYECkER “bill murray will play in the bmW championship pro-am on Sept. 16 & will be inducted into the caddie Hall of Fame...which is nice.”

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

10 dons | from page 7 gave Notre Dame the 20-17 lead.

Field goal kickers are not an automatic in high school football and having one helps the Dons get points on the board.

“When we can get in field goal range and convert, it really helps us,” Simon said. “When we can get a field goal it puts more pressure on the defense to stop us the next drive and then the next. Eventually, we can take advantage of that as an offense.”

Benet did not go away. The Redwings (2-1, 0-1) answered with

bmw | from page 9 of four playoff tournaments. With the new split season schedule, it is the next to last event for the 201415 season on tour as next week’s Tour Championship wraps up the season.

This year has been the year of the young guns. With Tiger Woods struggling all year, there has still been plenty of impressive performances, many of which

Thursday, Septem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com a 9-yard TD scamper from Marty Dosen to pull within 20-14.

However, just as they did earlier, the Dons bounced back with a score of their own as Topping took an inside handoff 73 yards to for the score.

“When we run the ball, we are deadly as an offense because we have the weapons on the outside,” Tsagalis said. “When we can get a run game going, we are golden.”

Simon would add another field goal and Michael Valdez would ice the game in the closing seconds with an interception. He had a pair

of picks on the night to go with a fumble recovery.

Topping rushed for 130 yards on 20 carries to pace the Notre Dame ground attack, while Tsagalis was 15-for-27 passing for 213 yards and the score to Simon.

Dosen led Benet with 20 carries for 68 yards, while Schmidt grabbed three passes for 65 yards.

“We expected a good, tough game and that’s what we got,” Hennessey said. “We sputtered a little early, but we connected on a big play and we were able to get some juice off of that.

Our defense played a helluva game and got some stops and I was happy with the offense. In the second half, we were able to turn the chains and inch closer to putting the game away, but it wasn’t really never out of reach, it was always in question. That’s what you expect from an East Suburban game.”

Getting that first win in the ESCC is big for the Dons.

“Getting that first win is big,” Simon said. “It sets the standard for us. Teams are going to respect us more.”

turned in by players under the age of 30.

In fact, the top three players heading into the BMW are all under that age. Jason Day is No. 1 in the Fed Ex Cup and on the opening playoff event after winning the PGA Championship in Wisconsin.

Jordan Spieth, who won the first two majors and finished in the top five at all four major events, sits at

No. 2, despite not making the cut at either playoff event.

Rickie Fowler, fresh off his Labor Day win at the Deutsche Bank Championship, sits at No. 3.

Henrik Stenson, the 2013 Fed Ex Cup champion, who has a pair of runner-up finishes in the playoffs, and Bubba Watson, round out the top five.

The top 70 players in the Fed Ex Cup qualified for the BMW

Championship.

Last year’s BMW Championship and Fed Ex Cup winner, Billy Horschel, needs to make a run as he sits 67th.

The top 30 after this week will advance to the Tour Championship.

Other big names such as Sergio Garcia (54th) and Phil Michelson (61st) also need to make strong showings, as does Hunter Mahan

VOLLEYBALL Maine East lost to Addison Trail 23-25, 25-20, 20-25. Niki Ahlstrand had six kills, 11 blocks and five aces to lead the Demons. Kelli Lindberg added eight kills, while Maggie Chwieralski and Miranda Duro had 10 and seven digs, respectively.

GOLF Maine West beat Maine East 179-218. Kevin Beneda (48), Ryan Sands (54), Rober Kanczuga (56) and John Basnik (60) scored for the Demons.

(52nd), who is the lone player to compete in every Fed Ex Cup event.

Top names like Zach Johnson (7th), Dustin Johnson (8th), Jim Furyk (9th), Justin Rose (13th), Rory McIlroy (17th) and Matt Kuchar (20th) appear to be in good shape to advance.

The tournament opens play Thursday and concludes Sunday.

There is no cut in the tournament.

News about local businesses in your community T h ur sday, Septem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

City council signs police union contract Officer Jeff Koller also honored for saving heroinoverdose victim

By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

The Park Ridge City Council voted 4-1 last week to approve a new union contract for Park Ridge police officers.

Sixth Ward Ald. Marc Mazzuca cast the sole ‘no’ vote. Second Ward Ald. Nicholas Milissis arrived at the meeting late, after the vote was cast.

The contract is retroactive, taking effect on May 1, 2014 and running until April 30, 2018. It calls for salary increases over all four years of the contract, with 2 percent increase during the first year and second year and 1.5 percent increase during the third and fourth year. The officers would pay a greater shore of their health insurance premiums. While they currently pay 10 percent, their share will increase to 13 percent starting fiscal year 2016.

The new contract doesn’t affect police sergeants, who are currently in the process of negotiating their own, separate contract with the city.

Mazzuca said that he voted against the proposal because he felt that salary increases were too high and the savings from the change in insurance premium payment split were illusionary.

He also said that the contract didn’t include changes he was in favor of, including merit-based salary increases and random

Photo by Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

Officer Jeff Keller poses with his wife and son, flanked by Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski, left, and Acting Mayor Marty Maloney, right. drug testing for all officers. The contract that was approved only allows drug testing under limited circumstances.

Fifth Ward Alderman Daniel Knight said he agreed with Mazzuca on merit-based raises, but he was willing to sign the contract as it was and return to the issue during the negotiations for the next contract.

Life-saving effort The Park Ridge City Council gave a Life Saving Recognition award to Park Ridge Police Department officer Jeff Koller for saving the life of resident who suffered a heroin overdose.

According to Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski, by the time Koller arrived on the scene, the victim was unresponsive for 10 minutes. The officer administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

The victim ultimately recovered – something that Kaminski said may not have been possible if Koller wasn’t there.

“Without any doubt, [Koller]

went into action – how heroic is that?” said Kaminski The chief said that the incident was an example of the great things that officers in Park Ridge Police Department and elsewhere – something that he said gets overshadowed by news of police misconduct.

“Always think about that when an officer walks down the street,”

he said.

A number of Koller’s fellow police officers, as well as his family and friends, were on hand to watch him get the award. As Kaminski finished his speech, the audience erupted in applause.

Acting Mayor Marty Maloney and Kaminski presented the plaque to Koller, who went up to receive it with his wife and son.

11

12

T h u r s d ay, S e pte mb e r 1 7, 2 0 1 5 | ni le s b ug le .co m Business & Private Party Classified Ads: $16 per week, 20 words or less. Weddings, Births & Engagements: Black & White - $25, Color - $35. Obituaries: $35.

Upcoming events for Seniors in the community T h ur sday, Septem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

13

jill on money

The generous, and stingy, sides of Social Security There have been several efforts to repeal the WEP and GPO

By Jill Schlesinger Guest Commentary “So being married to that jerk is finally paying off,” said Sandy, after I explained how she could collect the equivalent of one-half of her ex-husband’s Social Security retirement benefits.

Luckily for those who had to endure the pain of divorce, you only need to have been married 10 years to access Social Security benefits on your ex-spouse’s work record. In addition, both spouses need to be at least 62 years old and the claimant must be unmarried.

If you wait until full retirement age, your benefit as a divorced spouse will equal one-half of your ex-spouse’s full retirement amount - as long as that amount exceeds the benefit you would be entitled to based on your own work record.

If you claim early, your amount will be reduced, and if you continue to work while receiving benefits, the retirement benefit earnings limit

still applies.

If you remarry and that later marriage ends (whether by death, divorce or annulment), you can then collect on the first ex-spouse’s record. For those who are not on great terms with the ex, don’t fret: You need not contact your him or her to inquire about if he or she has begun to receive that magical monthly check.

The rule is that if your ex-spouse has not applied for retirement benefits but can qualify for them, you can receive benefits on his or her record, provided that you have been divorced for at least two years.

Here’s another interesting feature for divorced couples: You can claim survivor benefits if your ex-spouse dies, even if he or she remarried, provided that your marriage lasted 10 years or more. If you remarry after you reach age 60 (age 50 if disabled), the second marriage will not affect your eligibility for survivor’s benefits. Benefits paid to you as a surviving divorced spouse

who meets the age or disability requirement as a widow or widower won’t affect the benefit rates for other survivors getting benefits on the worker’s record.

The ex-spouse feature of Social Security is the more generous side of the system. The less charitable side can be tough for some municipal workers. These folks may encounter the Windfall Elimination Provision, which affects how the government calculates Social Security retirement benefits. If you work for an employer that does not withhold Social Security taxes from your pay, such as a government agency or an employer in another country, any pension you get from that work may reduce your Social Security retirement benefits - the maximum WEP impact for 2015 is $413 per month.

If an individual who is subject to the WEP dies and has one or more survivors entitled to a benefit, Social Security will re-compute the benefit, which will eliminate the WEP and provide a higher benefit to the survivors.

The WEP does not apply if you have 30 or more years of “substantial earnings” that were subject to Social Security tax. If you have fewer than 30 years, you may get a partial break. Use Social Security’s WEP Online Calculator or download the Detailed Calculator.

There is a similar provision for those who receive a pension from a government job in which they did not pay Social Security taxes, called the Government Pension Offset, or GPO. The GPO will reduce the amount of Social Security benefits by two-thirds of the amount of the worker’s government pension.

Social Security will decrease a spouse’s or a surviving spouse’s benefits as well, which can sometimes reduce the spouse’s benefit to zero. Some individuals are exempt from the offset; check the Social Security’s “Government Pension Offset” factsheet.

Primarily because of the spousal impact, there have been several efforts to repeal the WEP and GPO, but political analysts give such efforts little chance of success.

Contact Jill Schlesinger, senior business analyst for CBS News, at askjill@JillonMoney.com. (c) 2015 JILL SCHLESINGER DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC

TWITTER: readers, send us a #selfie of you reading @buglenewspapers & you could be featured in an upcoming issue!

14 CAleNDAR | from page 5 Hall. exhibitors located on grass along sidewalks, which wind around and through the park. located in busy upscale Park ridge in the uptown shopping/business district.

WondergroUnd “ah-ha” toUr. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the niles Public library district, 6960 W. Oakton st., niles. grades K-4 are

Thursday, sepTem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com welcome to join us for a quick tour and activity in the Wonderground. stay tuned for sTeam programming announcements. sMashboX Weekend. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the niles Public library district, 6960 W. Oakton st., niles. use your imagination to make with a sewing machine, vinyl cutter, laser cutter and 3d printer. create a podcast, music video or newscast

in our creative studio. Join us for ongoing activities throughout the day.

11 a.m. -4 p.m.-Where in the World is glummy? get your picture taken with glummy in different countries around the world. 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. create your own newscast. 12-12:30 p.m. -goPro demonstration. 1-2 p.m.

-lipsynch idol, make a music video for your favorite songs. 2:30-3:30 p.m. -Podcast Talk show, be our guest on a talk show. We will interview you about a topic you choose. 3:30-4 p.m.

-goPro demonstration 34th annUal variety shoW: “hollyWood.” dinner at 4 p.m., show at 6 p.m. all are invited to the annual senior center variety show! come support this talented cast and crew! show and meal is $17 member/$19 guest, show only is $10. Please purchase tickets in advance. contact the centennial activity center at 847-692-3597 for more information.

SEPTEMBER 20

getting eXCited aboUt sCienCe. 2-3 p.m. at the niles Public library district, 6960 W. Oakton st., niles. To celebrate the grand opening of the Wonder ground, scientist steve Belliveau returns with a surprisefilled program especially geared toward elementary schoolers! Tickets will be available at the Kidspace desk beginning at 1:30.

34th annUal variety shoW: “hollyWood.” Brunch at 11 a.m., show at 1 p.m. all are invited to the annual senior center variety show! come support this talented cast and crew! show and meal is $17 member/$19 guest, show only is $10. Please purchase tickets in advance. contact the centennial activity center at 847-692-3597 for more information.

FETSCH forrest J. fetsch, 95, a Korean War army veteran and beloved husband of the late lillian g., nee gasior, and the late Helen, nee Huebner; loving father of cherylann (late ralph) myers; dear grandfather of andrew and matthew myers; and cherished brother of the late delores fetsch.

He was lying in state at Our lady of ransom

SEPTEMBER 21

yoga For kids. 4:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m. at the niles library. Join us the third monday of each month to learn yoga poses and breathing techniques and feel relaxed and energized afterward. no experience needed.

Please bring a large bath towel with you and wear comfortable clothes. caregivers need to stay in the room with children through grade 2. ages 4 and up. hoMeWork helP. 6:30-8 p.m. at the niles library. The niles Public library is hosting area high school students to offer a little homework help monday nights. enthusiastic teens will be available to help your K-5 students work on their weekly homework assignments. introto iPadaPPs. 1-3 p.m. What are apps anyways? This class teaches students general use of contacts, calendar, clock, maps, notes and certain settings. Become familiar with the standard applications that came with your device. fee is $40 member/$45 guest. Please register in advance. contact the centennial activity center at 847-692-3597 for more information.

SEPTEMBER 22

90-seCond neWbery. 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the niles library. adapt your favorite newbery award winner into a short film for the annual 90-second newbery festival. This workshop will meet six times over the course of the fall as we choose a book, write the script, create costumes and props, rehearse, shoot and edit. stylish yoga Mat bag. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. How do you carry your yoga mat to class? in a tote bag? under your arm? Wouldn’t you like to have a gorgeous washable yoga mat bag made by you? Join us to make your own bag to carry your yoga mat to

church, 8300 n. greeenwood ave., niles, aug. 27 from 9 a.m. until time of mass at 10 a.m. interment at st. adalbert cemetery. in lieu of flowers, donations to the Wounded Warriors Project appreciated. funeral arrangements by skaja Terrace funeral Home. for funeral information, call 847-966-7302 or visit www.skajafuneralhomes. com.

class. all supplies are included. fee is $22 member/$25 guest. This class is open to adults 18 and over. Please register in advance. contact the centennial activity center at 847692-3597 for more information. sizzling salsa danCing. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hot stuff coming your way! Have fun while learning to salsa dance! no experience necessary, and no partner needed. This workshop will take you through the basics steps of hot latin salsa dancing! fee is $18 member/$20 guest. register in advance. call 847-692-3597 for more information.

JUst aMeriCan – style rUMba danCing. 7:45-8:45 p.m. The rumba is a popular dance spanning over 400 years! it begins with a basic box step and add cuban and latin flairs that make the steps vary depending on where you dance it! Beginners are welcome. come learn, relearn or show off your fancy steps! fee is $18 member/$20 guest.

Please register in advance. contact the centennial activity center at 847-692-3597 for more information.

SEPTEMBER 23

College essay Writing WorkshoP. 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the niles library. got college admission essays to write? representatives from isac will provide tips to make yours stand out from the crowd. Bring in a hard copy of your essay for feedback and personalized assistance.

SEPTEMBER 24

World langUage storytiMe: Polish. 7-8 p.m. at the niles library. ms. Bernadetta and friends are here to share stories and songs in Polish (with a bit of english). followed by a craft and a snack. This storytime is for ages 3 and up together with a parent or caregiver.

SEPTEMBER 26

Morton grove FarMers Market. 8 a.m. to noon at 6210 dempster st. enjoy delicious fresh produce, baked goods and more and show support to your local community. Oct. 17 will feature the last day of the farmers market and include a Halloween costume contest. special hours for the last market are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Park ridge FarMers Market.

7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prairie avenue, between main street and garden. rain or shine, this market is host to a great selection of fruits, vegetables and other food products available every week. Kids events and music are scheduled every week. fore more info, go to www.parkridgefarmersmarket. com.

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

T h ur sday, Septem ber 17, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Centuries-old feast celebrates first year in Niles Sicilian heritage, religious tradition on display during Feast of Maria SS. Lauretana

15

Photo By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

Members of the Society of Maria SS. Lauretana carry a cart containing the Maria SS. Lauretana icon along Church Street - a tradition meant to let the people worship the sacred image of the Virgin Mary.

Photo By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

As the Flight of the Angels concludes, festivalgoers head to grab some Italian food.

By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

This year, the Feast of Maria SS. Lauretana moved from its longtime home in Berwyn to Niles – and the organizers couldn’t be more pleased.

The feast traces its roots to a centuries-old event in Altavilla Milicia, an Italian municipality in Sicily. The Catholic feast honors the Virgin Mary, with the worship centered around the Maria SS. Lauretana icon. When Sicilian immigrants moved to Chicago, they brought the celebration with them – and it has been an annual event ever since.

The feast was held Sept. 4-7 on Church Street between Greenwood and Cumberland avenues, and it included a carnival, musical performances and food from several Italian restaurants from Chicago and its suburbs.

The most important part of the festival – the worship of Maria SS. Lauretana – took place Sept 6.

Members of the Society of Maria SS. Lauretana carried the icon and the sanctuary that held it along Church Street. However, the centerpiece of the event was the traditional “Flight of the Angels.”

As the cart reached the end of the street, two young girls were “flown” above the sanctuary on wires – a tradition that evoked Annunciation, a Biblical event when Archangel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus.

When Italians started migrating to Chicago in the late 19th century, Italy’s unification was still a recent

Photo By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

Michaella Jenette flies up to the altar during the Flight of the Angels. event. The new arrivals tended to settle in neighborhoods based on regions. Immigrants from the Sicilian region settled in the city’s near north side, by the factories that lined the Chicago River. The neighborhood became known as Little Sicily.

According to the Society of Maria SS. Lauretana, the neighborhood’s first Feast of Maria SS. Lauretana was held on Sept. 23, 1990. With the original icon still in the sanctuary in Altavilla Milicia, the society used a replica image donated by Guiseppe Muscarello.

After World War II, the neighborhood’s population changed as older homes were cleared to make way for Francis Cabrini Rowhouses public housing development.

The Italian-American population eventually left the area for neighborhoods farther away and the suburbs. Little Sicily became known as Cabrini-Green, and the feast left the neighborhood, eventually moving to the city of Berwyn.

Joseph Camarda, president of

the Society of Maria SS. Lauretana, said the society moved the feast to Niles because many former Little Sicily residents and their families moved to the area, and because the location had more room.

The icon is normally kept in a chapel at 5854 W. Lawrence Ave., in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood. But during the feast, it was moved inside a tent located on the south end of event grounds.

Visitors had the opportunity to stop by and worship. The society also put up a smaller tent nearby that contained photos, newspaper clippings and other artifacts dealing with its history.

The Italian American War Veterans organization, which had a tent at the feast for a long time, was on hand to introduce itself to the Niles area and potentially recruit volunteers.

“It’s very nice, very centrally located, very multi-cultural,” said Diana Fecarotta, Commander of Post 1. “And everyone has been very, very nice.” “[It’s] the best,” added Tony Langone, member of Post 1.

“Couldn’t be in a better place.”

Procession of angels A number of people who attended brought chairs, setting up along Church Street hours ahead of the Sunday procession.

The procession was scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., it took a while for it to get going. It wasn’t until another half an hour before the society members started moving the icon and the altar onto the cart.

Actually mounting it on the cart took another 20 minutes, as society members carefully made sure that it was fully secured.

The society members carried the cart on their shoulders. Before they started walking, they allowed anyone who wished to approach the icon to do so. Most people kissed the icon frame and bowed, and virtually all of them had their pictures taken while on top of the cart.

The cart stopped a few more times along Church Street to give more people the same opportunity.

Traditionally, the girls who played

angels during the Flight of the Angels use ropes stretched between balconies. For the Niles feast, the society set up scaffolding.

Maria Voight, Camarda’s granddaughter, and Michaella Jennette, Camarda’s grand-niece, served as the angels.

While the flight wound up running almost half an hour behind schedule, the audience waited patiently. They watched, transfixed, phones and cameras on hand, as Voight and Jennette moved above the altar, singing without missing a beat.

As the flight concluded, Camarda said the feast is going to stay in Niles for the foreseeable future.

“I know, with your cooperation and your support, we’ll be here for a long time, in this beautiful village of Niles,” he said.

Camarda added that he was very happy with how this year’s feast turned out.

“I’m very happy, and our members are very happy,” he said. “This reminds me, for the first time in a long time, of the old neighborhood.”

Page 16 | Th u rsd ay, S e p t e mb e r 1 7, 2 0 1 5 | n ilesbugle. c om

3A

Gordon to compete in Chase for final time

By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

While the 16 top drivers in NASCAR will begin their quest for the 2015 Sprint Cup, one driver will begin the final stretch of his legendary career.

On Jan. 22, Jeff Gordon announced that this would be his final season the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Gordon has driven the No. 24 his whole career, beginning in November 1992.

Gordon, however, will still be competing for his fifth championship as he qualified 13th for the Chase.

“It’s nice to be in the Chase and take that relief and take that breath and now go reset and see what we can do over the next 10,” he said after his 13th place finish at Richmond.

“There was a lot of pressure in this final season to make that Chase, so I’m glad we got that done.”

Gordon is a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning in 1995, ‘97, ’98 and 2001. He is third

all time with 92 career Cup victories.

All four were in pre-Chase formats.

Gordon holds the NASCAR record with nine road course victories and has won a NASCAR-record 12 restrictor plate races.

Throughout his career, he has won at every track on the Sprint Cup circuit with the exception of Kentucky Speedway.

Gordon’s lone win at Chicagoland Speedway came in July, 2006.

Next season, Gordon will be replaced in the No. 24 Chevrolet by 2014 Xfinity Cup champion Chase Elliot. Elliot, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliot, won the Xfinity summer race at Chicagoland Speedway last season.

Chicagoland Speedway will be doing different things all weekend to honor Gordon, including painting a No. 24 in the infield grass, as well as having a banner for fans to write notes, which will be presented to Gordon at the end of the weekend.

RACE FOR A RIDE While the race in Joliet opens the final stretch in Gordon’s career,

it marks a different stretch for drivers Clint Bowyer and David Ragan.

“It’s a tough time for everybody involved and it is unfortunate,” Bowyer said after the announcement. “This is a business decision to move forward. I need to start actively pursuing my career and that is what I am doing.”

While he is racing for a seat in a car next season, Bowyer is also racing for a title as he earned a spot in the Chase with a top 15 finish at Richmond.

“To go through the year we’ve had, I mean, a lot of ups and downs here, a lot of downs, and then through the summer months we shook things up and really catapulted the organization to get going and getting our self back in the swing of things in this championship hunt and the Chase talk,” Bowyer said after his 14th place finish. “We did this, now we’re in the Chase, pressure is off, go cat go. Let’s go out and have some fun.”

PHOTO courtesy of Jonathan Daniel/NASCAR media

Jeff Gordon celebrates his 2006 victory at Chicagoland Speedway.

4A