Niles 10-29-15 by Bugle, Sentinel & Enterprise Newspapers

October 29, 2015 vol. 60 issue 4

Remember to set clocks back 1 hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1

Community Halloween

Trick-or-treating hours and other events for the area

see page 2

News Water Supply

Park Ridge will not join Evanston water negotiations

see page 3

Bad weather didn’t rain on the Niles Halloween parade. The annual event is organized by the Niles Park District for area children and their families. See the full story on page 2

Library Retirement Options

Photo By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

‘Magic Matt’ entertains kids during the Niles Park District Halloween party.

Niles library considers retirement alternatives

see page 3

Community Civic Orchestra

The Summit of Uptown hosts Civic Orchestra

see page 14

sports Playoff-Bound

Hawks, Dons ready for postseason home games

see page 7

Photo By Igor Studenkov | Bugle Staff

Parents and children march in the 2015 Niles Halloween Parade.

Thursday, October 29, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

cover story

Halloween Parade offers fun Despite threat of rain, residents celebrate By Igor Studenkov for the bugle

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

The bad weather didn’t rain on the Niles Halloween parade – though it still affected the Halloween party that took place afterwards. The annual event is organized by the Niles Park District for area children and their families. This year, it took place Oct 24, starting at Oak Park, traveling east on Main Street, turning south on Ottawa Avenue and stopping in front of Grennan Heights park field house. After the parade, kids could stay for a Halloween party, which featured snacks, face painting, outdoor games, a pumpkin patch, a hay ride and a magic show. Kids could also sit inside a fire truck and get their pictures taken. According to Niles Park District Executive Director Joe LoVerde, the parade has been around for at least 20 years. To the best of his knowledge, it was started by Laurie Strzelecki when she served as the park district’s event coordinator.

“She started a lot of those functions, and we just continued them, making a few changes here and there,” LoVerde said, adding that he has always enjoyed the event. “It’s always fun. It’s always a good time to see families together.” The parade was open to any child who came to Oak Park wearing a costume. The park district provided a tractor with a cart full of hay for kids who were either too young to walk long distances or chose not to walk for other reasons. Niles Park District commissioners rode at the lead of the parade in golf carts. The Niles Police Department provided an escort, while the Niles Fire Department truck followed the parade at the rear. At several points, children and their families joined the parade mid-route. At Grennan Heights, the Niles Park District organized a Halloween party. Unlike the parade, the party wasn’t free. The registration fee was $10 for Niles residents and $12 for non-residents. The threat of rain loomed constantly over the event. It rained in the run-up to the parade, stopping a few minutes before it was scheduled to start. The weather stayed calm during the parade, but as the party got underway, it returned.

Park district employees moved outdoor activities inside, and hay rides were cancelled. The pumpkin patch proved to be more complicated. Even after the rain stopped, staff decided that it would be better to move the pumpkins inside. Initially, children would have been allowed to decorate the pumpkins with stickers, but with them wet, most kids wound up simply taking the pumpkins home. Parents said that they enjoyed both the parade and the party. “I think it’s great,” said Zosielyn Aguilar. “I think it’s a great idea. We’re definitely coming back next year. It’s great to see other kids in costumes. There’s plenty of entertainment for other kids, as well.” Collen Singh, whose children took part in the parade last year, said she liked it this time around, too.  “I like this event because it’s very organized and there are a lot of activities,” she said. Julie Genualdi, the president of the Niles Park District Board of Commissioners, said she took part in the parade with her children before she was elected commissioner. “It gets better every year,” she said. “I think it’s something that residents look forward to every year. It’s a great family event.”

community

Trick-or-treat times set Towns plan additional Halloween activities

The trick-or-treat time for Niles is 2 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. The Golf Mill Shopping Center will also be hosting a Halloween Bash from noon to 4 p.m. Children ages 12 and younger will be able to trick- or-treat in the shopping center’s stores, and there will be arts and crafts and a costume contest in the Center Court area. Additionally, the Niles Public Library will host a special Spooky Saturday storytelling session for kids in grades 1-4 from noon to 1 p.m. In Morton Grove, the trick-ortreating hours are 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Morton Grove Public Library will be running a Halloween-themed Do It Yourself crafts session Oct. 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is required. In Park Ridge, the trick-or-

Trick-or-treat times Niles: 2 to 8 p.m. Morton Grove: 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Park Ridge: 3 to 8 p.m.

treating time is 3 to 8 p.m. Kids who are wearing costumes will be able to stop by the Park Ridge Public Library at any time during its regular hours to get a “special Halloween surprise.” Maine Park’s Leisure Center will play host to a Halloween Family Magic Show 7 to 8:30 p.m. for families with kids ages 2 and up. The Park Ridge Farmers Market will close its 2015 season with a Halloween party, which will take place from 9 a.m. to noon.

T h ursday, October 29, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

News > In Depth

Park Ridge back to square one on water supply changes Negotiations off the table due to Niles, Morton Grove alternative By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

The Park Ridge City Council decided last week not to join Niles and Morton Grove in their negotiations with Evanston for an alternative water supply. During the Oct. 12 committee of the whole meeting, the aldermen decided to hold a special committee meeting Oct. 19, where it was thought they would vote to join the negotiations. The meeting would’ve been held at 6:55 p.m., right before the regular city council meeting.

As the Bugle reported at the time, aldermen felt that this would give Park Ridge better insight into what the deal would entail and give them an opportunity to raise city-specific concerns. However, that special meeting was pulled from the schedule Friday, Oct. 16. During the next week’s regular meeting, the officials revealed that Park Ridge received a letter from a consultant that has been advising Niles and Morton Grove on the water supply switch. The letter indicated that the two villages were considering an “alternative [water] delivery method” that, if implemented, wouldn’t be able to supply water to Park Ridge. As the result, the city council decided to hold off joining any negotiations until more details become available. Acting Mayor Marty Maloney and several aldermen added that they

weren’t sure they were comfortable negotiating with Niles and Morton Grove.

“When you’re involved in a project that big, you have to trust the people you get in bed with. And right now, I don’t trust Niles and Morton Grove.” - Marty Maloney Acting Mayor, Park Ridge Due to concerns that Chicago water rates were growing increasingly expensive, all three towns had been looking at an alternative water supplier for several years. While the village boards in Niles and Morton Grove agreed to negotiate with Evanston, Park Ridge hesitated due to concerns about costs and whether or not the

savings would justify the expense of constructing brand-new pipes and other infrastructure required to bring water into the city. Niles and Morton Grove hired consulting firm WRB LLC to conduct a feasibility study on the alternative water supply and determine if the switch would save the villages money. Bill Balling, the firm’s managing director, previously told the village of Niles Board of Trustees that having Park Ridge on board would lower the costs for all three villages by splitting the expenses between three parties, rather than two. During the Oct. 19 meeting, Park Ridge City Manager Shawn Hamilton told the council that, after the Oct. 13 vote, he immediately contacted Niles and Morton Grove. He said he received an email from Balling two days later that indicated there had been a change in plans.

“In the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation and courtesy, the team has asked me to advise you that in the last few weeks, the team has become aware of another alternative for delivery of a water supply to both Morton Grove and Niles that may be attractive in terms of reducing or offsetting some of the very significant capital costs that are associated with a project of this type,” the letter stated. “At this time, we are pursuing further information about, and analysis of, this new alternative delivery method. Based on what we know now, there are questions about whether the delivery capacity that could be achieved under this new delivery system would be sufficient to meet Park Ridge’s water demand levels in addition to those of Morton Grove and Niles.” When Hamilton asked Balling

see water | page 11

library news > niles

Library explores employee retirement alternatives By Igor Studenkov Bugle Staff

nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

The Niles Public Library Board of Trustees plans to spend the next several months discussing whether to keep the current employee retirement benefits or switch to a new plan. The first discussion took place during the Oct. 21 meeting. George Pantazis, a retirement plan specialist at the International City Management Association Retirement Corporation, gave an overview of current benefits and answered questions from trustees and some members of the public. The ICMARC handles the library’s current retirement plan. According to Board President Linda Ryan, trustees would continue to discuss retirement options at its regularly scheduled meetings, with the board making the final decision some time after the end of 2015. If the board votes to switch retirement plans, the change would not take effect until July 1, 2016, the start of the next fiscal year. For the past few years, the board has had several discussions about whether to keep the current plan

or switch to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, a public pension fund for municipal government employees. On Sept. 16, the library announced that the board would begin looking at alternatives to the current retirement options. A statement at the time said the board would look at several different options, which would include pension-style funds and defined contribution retirement plans. During the Oct. 21 meeting, Ryan said the board is starting a process to improve library employees’ retirement benefits. “The board’s intention is to evaluate library retirement offerings so they’re no longer at the bottom,” she said in reference to the retirement plans of nearby libraries. As Pantazis explained during the meeting, the library currently has a 475 retirement plan – a municipal retirement plan similar to 401K. There are two key differences. First, employees can withdraw money from the retirement accounts the moment they leave the library, rather than wait until

see library | page 15

Photo by Igor Studenkov

Retirement plan specialist George Pantazis, right, discusses the Niles library’s current employee retirement plan.

www.cookcountycrimestoppers.org • 800.535.stop Thursday, October 29, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

police

Homeless man charged with armed robberies in Morton Grove, Glenview By bugle staff nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

Morton Grove police arrested a homeless man who is a suspect in multiple armed robberies, including one on Thursday evening at the Palace Cantonese Restaurant in Morton Grove. The offender was last seen running southbound from the scene after displaying a handgun and taking an undetermined amount of money from the cash

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

register. A short time later, a subject was seen by an officer on perimeter patrol climbing a fence nearby and detained without incident. Andrew Sibben, 41, was identified by the victim and taken into custody. Police said a search of the nearby area by officers and investigators produced a pellet-type pistol, the stolen money and clothing items belonging to the subject. During this investigation, it was determined that Sibben had

committed an armed robbery in Glenview earlier in the evening and attempted a robbery last weekend in Glenview. Morton Grove and Glenview investigators obtained a video and written confession from Sibben and multiple felony charges were approved. He is charged with two counts of armed robbery, Class-X felonies, and one count of attempted robbery. A court date has not been assigned at this time.

for fraudulent license, forgery and resisting a peace officer.

Chicago for harassment of witness and three counts of violation of order of protection.

Giovanni M. Reyes, 21, 8100 block of Wisner, Niles, was arrested at 3:24 p.m. Oct. 20 at Madison and Cumberland for suspended license.

Park Ridge

Mindaugas Dilinskis, 25, 8813 Dee Road Apt. GS, Des Plaines, was arrested at 8:48 a.m. Oct. 21 at Dempster and Potter for no valid driver’s license, no insurance and avoiding traffic control device.

Khrystyna Sadova, 26, was arrested at 4:02 p.m. Oct. 17 at Golf Mill Shopping Center for retail theft.

Nicole Neri, 80, 3327 W. Elm Apt. B, McHenry, was arrested at 6:05 a.m. Oct. 20 in the 200 block of South Vine for home repair fraud.

Sukhbaatar Byambaa, 43, 2100 Valencia, Northbrook, was arrested at 12:13 p.m. Oct. 21 in the 200 block of South Vine for battery.

Nicholas A. Goebel, 29, 8200 block of Golf, Niles, was arrested at 3:18 p.m. Oct. 18 in the 8200 block of Golf for criminal trespassing.

Nicole Jones, 44, 1922 S. Ashland, Park Ridge, was arrested at 7:25 a.m. Oct. 20 in the 200 block of South Vine for domestic battery.

Kristi Vipada Phunsing, 54, N. Kimball, Chicago, was arrested at 2:21 p.m. Oct. 21 in the 200 block of South Vine for foreign warrant.

Deshae Z. Crumbly, 1 NW 33rd Terrace, Lauderhill, Florida, was arrested at 10:23 a.m. Oct. 19 in the 5600 block of Touhy

Admir Sivac, 26, 1341 N. Western, Chicago, was arrested at 2:34 p.m. Oct. 20 in the 2400 block of West Belmont in

Martha E. Gutierrez, 22, 1201 Geneva Lane, Lake Zurich, was arrested at 4 p.m. in the 200 block of South vine for theft and

police

Niles man killed while crossing Golf Road Police closed Golf Road from Dee Road to Western Avenue By bugle staff nweditor@buglenewspapers.com @NilesILNews

An 84-year-old Niles man was struck and killed by a vehicle in the 8900 block of Golf Road early Friday morning. Niles police said Richard

Stern was walking north across Golf Road, when he was struck by a Dodge Durango traveling westbound in the center lane. The driver of the vehicle, a 56-year-old Evanston man, stayed at the scene and is cooperating in the accident investigation, according to police. As of Friday afternoon, no charges or citations had been issued. Police closed Golf Road from Dee Road to Western Avenue during the investigation, which received assistance from the Major Crash Assistance Team.

2 1 8 4

59 10 6

10 3822

a foreign warrant for suspended driver’s license.

Morton Grove No arrests reported.

Send us your feedback at nweditor@buglenewspapers.com

T h ursday, October 29, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Staff Opinion

Fighting domestic violence is everyone’s responsibility October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month but domestic violence knows no boundaries By jonathan samples

EDITORIAL

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jsamples@buglenewspapers.com @BugleNewspapers

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ANDREA EARNEST aearnest@buglenewspapers.com

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“She became a victim of domestic violence; a thing she taught us all about.” Those words came from Shaye Soto, a 2015 graduate of Plainfield North High School and former student of Susan Triplett-Cunningham, who was tragically murdered Oct. 20 in what police have called a “domestic-related homicide.” Soto spoke during a candlelight vigil held at the school in memory of her former teacher. And while the details of her teacher’s death are not yet official, the incident underscores a sobering truth: domestic violence is closer to all of us than we’d like to admit and its victims are often discouraged from seeking help. Police suspect that Cunningham’s husband fatally stabbed his wife before walking into traffic and taking his own life. This tragedy is all too real for the friends and family of the victim, yet its timing and impact provide an opportunity for all people to reflect on a problem that is all too common throughout our society. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The month is a time when people across the country unite to remember and empower victims, while raising awareness of the effects domestic violence has on

families across the country. Officially, the month is centered around three themes: mourning those who have died, celebrating those who have survived and connecting those who are working to end domestic violence. “During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we reaffirm our dedication to forging an America where no one suffers the hurt and hardship that domestic violence causes -- and we recommit to doing everything in our power to uphold the basic human right to be free from violence and abuse,” President Obama said Sept. 30 in a proclamation commemorating National Domestic Violence Awareness. In 1994, congress passed the Violence Against Women Act, symbolizing that dedication and bringing to light the pervasiveness of domestic violence in America. The act also set aside funds for the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women and allowed for civil redress in cases that go unprosecuted. But sadly, the act has neither eradicated domestic violence from our culture nor convinced some that it is a serious problem -- as demonstrated by the political fight to reauthorize the VAWA in 2013 because of its inclusion of American Indians, illegal immigrants and homosexuals. Domestic violence and abuse affect all types of people and comes in many forms: verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual and physical. According to

statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes, and 1 in 5 women have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their life. Men are also the victims of domestic violence, with 1 in 4 suffering physical violence and 1 in 7 suffering severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Additionally, 72 percent of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner and 94 percent of those victims are female. Despite these tragic statistics, our society has chosen to turn its head and ignore this troubling and inconvenient truth. We do this by still praising athletes who have been convicted of rape or spousal abuse or by choosing to forget their crimes, as long as they continue to perform at a high level. We do this by ignoring signs of abuse at work or in other public settings, telling ourselves that it’s a “personal” matter and failing to listen to victim’s cries for help. We do this by perpetuating a culture of patriarchy that teaches suppression and subjugation of qualities deemed “feminine,” soliciting from some a violent reaction when the realities of the 21st century clash with social “norms” that have been reinforced from a young age. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month but domestic violence knows no boundaries. I choose to confront this ever-present problem by being aware of its existence. Will you?

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Niles, Morton Grove, Des Plaines & Park Ridge

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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.

OCTOBER 29

Halloween Happening. 2:30 p.m. at the Niles Public Library, 6960 W. Oakton St. Make spooktacular treats before you watch the horror flick, “The Ring,” from 4-6 p.m. For grades 7-12. Make a Cat Teepee. 3-5 p.m. at the Niles Public Library, 6960 W. Oakton St. Learn sewing basics by making a cat teepee for your feline friend on National Cat Day. Niles Library cardholders only. ‘Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein’ Screening. 7:30 at the historic Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, 5 S. Prospect Ave. There will be a special introduction prepared by Chris

Costello, Lou Costello’s daughter. The event will offer a screening of the 1934 Popeye cartoon “Shiver Me Timbers!” and a costume contest for all kids 12 and under (with some “Universal-themed” prizes). Admission is $8/$6 seniors 60+ (advance tickets online or at the box office) or $10/$7 on the day of the show.

OCTOBER 31

Park Ridge Farmers Market. 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 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. For more information, go to www. parkridgefarmersmarket.com.

NOVEMBER 1

Testimony and Tikkun Olam: The Movement to End GenderRelated Violence. 2 to 4 p.m. at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. Anne K. Ream, the founder of The Voices and Faces Project, and author of “Lived Through This: Listening to the Stories of Sexual Violence Survivors” focuses on six extraordinary women and men from across the globe who are using their own stories to challenge legal and social responses to gender-based violence. A response panel will follow the lecture that includes: Dr. Danny M. Cohen, author and

see calendar | page 14

FoR wHeN you wANT To TAKe 5 minutes FoR youRSelF Thursday, OcTOber 29, 2015 | ni lesbug le.cOm

Aries

MARCH 21 TO ApRIl 20

During the week ahead you might find relationships as exciting as they are exasperating. Some people may find your ideas a bit outrageous, or you may find them somewhat unpredictable.

gemini

M AY 2 2 T O j U N E 2 1

He who hesitates is probably unpredictable. You may be undecided about someone or something. As the week unfolds you may be glad you waited because additional facts may emerge.

leo

j U lY 2 3 T O A U g U s T 2 1

The results can be inconsistent and unpredictable if you mix business and pleasure. In the upcoming week you should be careful to not let emotional issues cloud your business outlook.

Across 1 HElp fOR HOlMEs 5 All HANds ON dECK 9 BABY fOOd, UsUAllY 14 “CAN YOU gIvE ME A __?” 15 BAss’ REd TRIANglE, E.g. 16 dOvE RIvAl 17 fRATERNAl MEETINg plACE 19 sENsE & spRAY AIR fREsHENER MAKER 20 “HERE ARE THE fACTs,” BRIEflY 21 gARdEN OUTCAsT 22 dARK sUIT 23 CENTRAl CHURCH AREA 25 pACIfIC NORTHWEsT CApITAl 27 “THE CAsK Of AMONTIllAdO” WRITER 31 REdUCEd IN NUMBER 32 TRACK TIpsTERs 33 TRAIN COs. 35 YANKEE NICKNAME sINCE 2004 36 AspARAgUs, MOsTlY 37 NEMEsIs 38 ENE OR WsW 39 sET sTRAIgHT 40 gOlfER pAlMER, TO fANs 41 WHERE TO REAd CANdIdATE ENdORsEMENTs 44 MUCH Of THE TIME 45 KITCHEN AddON? 46 YEMENIs’ NEIgHBORs 49 “__ BEEN THINKINg ...” 50 NAsA THUMBs-Up 53 ACME’s OppOsITE 54 pERIpHERY ... ANd, lITERAllY, THE pERIpHERY

Of 17-, 27- ANd 41-ACROss 57 MOsT ClUBs IN A pRO’s BAg 58 sCOTT TUROW MEMOIR 59 vUlCAN MINd __: spOCK’s sKIll 60 pRINCIplE 61 sUpERsTORM REspONsE ORg. 62 fUNCTIONs

Down 1 “CUTTHROAT KITCHEN” COMpETITOR 2 EAsTER BlOOM 3 CRITICAl COMMENT 4 AlIENs, BRIEflY 5 pROspEROUs, AfTER “IN” 6 TOOK THE BUs 7 fABERgé CREATION 8 REAsON fOR HANd-WRINgINg 9 slOppY fARM dIgs 10 TANNINg BOOTH lIgHT, fOR sHORT 11 fREEWAY, E.g. 12 EARTH, TO HANs 13 WINdOWs TO THE sOUl, sO THEY sAY 18 “REAdINg RAINBOW” HOsT

BURTON 22 MATTREss sUppORTs 24 MATUREd 25 lIqUEUR IN A fIzz 26 BARNARd gRAd 27 lIKE 27-ACROss’ WORK 28 ClOTHEs 29 fRUITY dRINKs 30 BERT’s BUddY 31 flEETINg fAsHION 34 “gET IT?” 36 sCHEdUlE OpENINgs 37 sAssY TYKE 39 INITIAllY 40 MORE fITTINg 42 sAlT AddITIvE 43 lOW pARKINg gARAgE flOOR 46 BAd MOOd 47 BERN’s RIvER 48 NOOdlE BAR ORdER 49 lIsT COMpONENT 51 gAWK AT 52 ClAssIC sNEAKERs 54 “THAT KNOCKEd THE WINd OUT Of ME!” 55 sORBONNE ONE 56 AUssIE RUNNER

librA

sEpTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 23

Your week ahead may be focused upon your job or your coworkers. Settle your differences as soon as possible to maintain the peace. A brief upset might result in a better understanding.

sAgittArius

NOvEMBER 23 TO dECEMBER 22

When the ducks aren’t lined up in a row the feathers could fly. Focus on planning ahead at the end of the week. Until then remain gallant, generous and completely openminded.

AquArius

jANUARY 21 TO fEBRUARY 19

Avoid spending money on a popular craze in the week to come. If you are caught up in a financial situation, at least obtain some feedback from an independent source before acting.

Sudoku

tAurus

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

All good things come to those who wait. In your case, wait until next weekend to make crucial decisions. In the meantime you can focus your attention on being forgiving and kind.

cAncer

j U N E 2 2 T O j U lY 2 2

You can’t cancel the cameraman once the film is rolling. You may be enlightened or inspired by someone’s sincere, but impulsive, reactions to your words or actions in the coming week.

virgo

AUgUsT 22 TO sEpTEMBER 23

Keep a steady hand on the rudder. A key relationship could be temporarily upside down this week. Someone prefers to play the field when the other hopes for a long term commitment.

scorpio

OCTOBER 24 TO NOvEMBER 22

Dust off your coping skills. You may need to play the part of a hard-headed financial adviser so that joint funds are not misused. You are sensitive to nuances in the week ahead.

cApricorn

dECEMBER 23 TO jANUARY 20

Forgive and forget. Things may not go quite as expected during the week ahead but you will still be delighted by the kindness of strangers. There may be an advantage to sudden changes and upsets.

pisces

fEBRUARY 20 TO MARCH 20

Your love life might become breaking news in the week ahead. Partners may be indecisive or possibly changeable. Or, it might be you who has fleeting moments of uncertainty.

Jumble

Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 2015

PreviouS Puzzle’S anSwerS

Jumbles:

• MOUNT • TACKY • HITHER • IRONIC

Answer:

WHAT sHE WENT THROUgH ON HER sUCCEssfUl dIET -- THICK ANd THIN

Thursday, October 29, 2015

page 7

>> INSIDE: Maine South tennis duo finishes top 8 in state page 9

football

hawks, dons

set for playoffs Maine South and Notre Dame open postseason at home By Mark Gregory sports reporter

mark@buglenewspapers.com @Hear_The_Beard

CLASS 8A In the state’s largest class, the IHSA has gone away from the geographic pairings and are a true 1-32 seeded bracket this season. There are three undefeated teams in 8A, led by No. 1 overall seed Loyola. Second seed Huntley and No. 3 Edwardsville are the other 9-0 teams. Records aside, No. 8 HomewoodFlossmoor still remains the team to beat in Class 8A. A loss on a field goal at the end of regulation dropped the state’s top-ranked team to 8-1. The Vikings would get a chance to prove they are still the best in a potential quarterfinal tilt with Loyola.

NOTRE DAME Record: 8-1 Consecutive appearances: 1 Week 1: No. 23 Marist at No. 10 Notre Dame – 7pm, Friday, Oct. 30 It is not often a team gets a chance to avenge a loss in IHSA football, let alone avenging your only loss of the year, but that is what Notre Dame has the chance to do. The Dons’ only loss of the season was a 49-42 shootout loss to Marist (5-4) in week 4 of the regular season. It was the lone blemish for Notre Dame, who claimed a share of the East

Suburban Catholic Conference for the first time since 1981. While going to the straight 1-32 bracket will eliminate a lot more of conference opponents meeting in the first week of the playoffs, this is one that should be a good one for the fans. The teams pose a couple of high-powered offenses as Notre Dame averages 36.7 points per game and Marist tallies 38.7. The Don defense, however, allowed only 19.0 points per game, allowing only Marist to better the 35-point mark this season. Notre Dame is led by quarterback Tyler Tsagalis, running back Jimmy Topping and do-it-all athlete Tim Simon. Quarterback Brendan Skalitzky paces the Marist offense.

BOLINGBROOK Record: 5-4 Consecutive appearances: 24 Week 1: No. 8 Bolingbrook at No. 6 Naperville Central – 7pm Friday, Oct. 30 Outlook: The Raiders needed that field goal to not only defeat H-F, but to get into the playoffs for the 24th time, the second longest streak in Class 8A. The Bolingbrook defense is the key of its team, paced by Ohio State recruit Tuf Borland. The Raider offense, which opened the season with only one returning starter, has made strides throughout the season.

see playoffs | page 10

photo by mark gregory

Tyler Tsagalis looks to lead Notre Dame past Marist Friday night.

Page 8 | Th u rsd ay, O c tob e r 2 9, 2 0 1 5 | n i l esbugle. c om

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roundup

Maine South tennis duo repeat as top 8 in state

By Scott Taylor sports editor

staylor@enterprisepublications.com @Taylor_Sports

Expectations were high for Kamila Czosnyka and Marti Wind after the duo finished in the top eight of state last year. The Maine South duo performed well at state again this year with another top eight finish. They opened play with four wins. They beat Champaign Centennial 6-0, 6-1, Libertyville 6-3, 6-3, Oak Park-River Forest 6-2, 6-1 and Barrington 1-6, 7-6, 6-4. They finished Friday with a 7-5, 6-1 loss to Hinsdale Central. They came back to beat Guilford 8-2 before losing to New Trier 8-4. Leigh Friedman advanced to the fifth consolation round before falling out of the tournament. She opened with a 6-2, 6-2 win over

Katerina Antonishina of Grant and then beat Hallie Leblebijian of Lane 1-6, 6-2, 6-2. Friedman then lost to Asuka Kawai of Palatine, but bounced back with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Kathryn Sullivan of Sycamore. She finished with a 6-0, 6-2 loss to Haleigh Porter of HomewoodFlossmoor. Teammate Jennifer Ptak also had a strong showing at state, going 4-2 and advancing to the fifth consolation round. She opened with a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Niles West’s Eliza Kirov. Then came four straight wins. She beat Mara Lebo of Mt. Zion 6-1, 6-3, Hannah Owens of Waubonsie Valley 6-0, 6-2, Jessica Chen of Neuqua Valley 6-3, 7-6 and Hannah Davis 7-6, 6-1. She closed out the meet with a 6-0, 6-2 loss to Sophia Haleas of Hinsdale Central. •Kirov went 2-2 at the state meet. She opened with the

win over Ptak before falling to Callaghan Adams of Edwardsville, 6-3, 6-0. She came back to beat Chloe McIsaac of Belleville East 6-3, 6-2 before bowing out with a 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 loss to Jessie Mitchell of Payton.

CROSS COUNTRY The Maine South boys team took second place at the Niles West Regional with 51 points. New Trier won with 34. Scoring for the Hawks were Ralph Patejunas (15:35, 4th), Brian Sodaro (15:41, 6th), Brian Shanahan (15:47, 7th), Zach Fishman (16:18, 15th) and Brandon Christopher (16:30, 19th). Niles West finished fifth and advanced to the sectional round. Eric Scott (16:38, 24th), Frankie Santa (16:47, 25th), Sebastian Villegas (16:58, 31st), Atul Krishna (17:11, 41st) and Marco Alanis (17:26, 44th) scored. Notre Dame also advanced as

a team after placing sixth. Matt Contreras (16:18, 14th), Braulio Alvarez (16:57, 29th), Jeremy Ermilio (17:05, 36th), Aidan Breenan (17:40, 50th) and Travis Martin (17:46, 51st) scored. Torrain Haughton of Maine East qualified individually after placing eighth with a time of 15:47. In Class 1A, Northride Prep won the Luther North Regional title going away with 31 points. Peter Conroy won the individual title with a time of 16:29. Sebastian Fuentes-Branas (16:46, 3rd), Drew Litkowiak (17:36, 6th), John Madigan (18:15, 9th) and Joe Barisas (18:26, 12th) also scored. •On the girls side, Maine South placed second in the Niles West Regional. Madeline Dingle (18:39, 12th), Kathleen Glockner (18:49, 14th), Olivia Niziolek (18:50, 15th), Casey Bomrad (18:50, 16th) and Maura Lally (19:02, 18th) scored.

Niles West also qualified for sectionals behind scoring from Nicole Camburn (18:37, 11th), Diana Panoutsos (19:58, 27th), Merima Mackic (20:00, 28th), Kathleen Park (20:43, 33rd) and Danielle Karn (20:52, 38th). Maine East had a trio of individual qualifiers in Kayla Gregario (20:49, 36th), Kajal Modi (21:12, 40th) and Hannah Floord (21:28, 45th).

VOLLEYBALL Maine East beat Niles North 25-20, 25-14. Niki Ahlstrand had seven kills, while Maddie McTague added six. Miranda Duro totaled 16 digs, Maggie Chwieralski had 11 digs and five kills, Kim Sergey had 13 assists and Gloria Majka added eight assists.

SOCCER Maine South was upset by Niles North 4-3 in penalty kicks in the Niles North Regional final.

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

Thursday, OcTOber 29, 2015 | ni lesbug le.cOm Playoffs | from page 7 The opening round matchup puts two of only seven teams in the bracket that have won state titles against each other as the Raiders travel to Naperville Central. The Redhawks come in 8-1 on the season and also have a potent defense, allowing only 10.4 points per game this season while winning the DuPage Valley Conference title outright for the first time in 14 years. Central is led by quarterback Conor Joyce.

plaInfIeld South

featurIng

Jarod Petrovic

PlaInfIeld CentRal SOCCeR what do you use twitter for? I use twitter to get the word out on stuff and try to be funny a little bit. I use it a lot to find out events in our school.

How often do you tweet? It used to be really bad. I used to tweet like 100 times a day. now I am down to 10. I’m on when I’m at home and done with my homework. I used to be on it too much.

who do you like to Follow? I think I tweet some How many followers do pretty good stuff. I think you have? I’m my favorite person. Over 700.

Record: 5-4 Consecutive appearances: 1 Week 1: No. 26 Plainfield South at No. 8 Barrington Outlook: The Cougars overcame two non conference losses to make the playoffs. After a slow start offensively, they have performed better in the second half of the season. However, the defense, after dominating several weeks of the year, has allowed four scores in two of the past three weeks. The defense needs to find its midseason form and force a few turnovers, while the offense needs to stay clear of turnovers and maintain possession of the ball to keep the defense from tiring as South looks for its first win in the playoffs since 2010. Meanwhile, Barrington has lit up the scoreboard this year, scoring 357 points. However, it is willing to give up points as well, allowing 203. The Broncos have allowed double digit points in all but one game this year. The offense has scored at least 24 points in every game, including

40 or more points six times. It will be a contrasting game between the two teams to determine who will move on. The winner will face the winner of Marist (5-4) and Notre Dame (8-1).

ClaSS 7a In a class that has rivaled, if not passed Class 8A at times over the years, Class 7A again features some of the state’s elite programs with the likes of Mt. Carmel, Maine South and Lincoln-Way East. This season, it is Glenbard West at the top of the bracket. The Hitters posted their fourth undefeated regular season in the past five seasons. With Mt. Carmel (No. 16 seed) and Lincoln-Way East (No. 14) coming in at 7-2, the bracket could go a lot of directions and will be entertaining.

MAINe soUth/ plaInfIeld north Records: Maine South 7-2, Plainfield North 6-3 Consecutive playoff appearances: Maine South 24, Plainfield North 2 Week 1: No. 22 Plainfield North at No. 11 Maine South – 7pm Friday, Oct. 30 Outlook: Maine South has battled back in a lot of games this season, but have pulled away for the wins, earning yet another Central Suburban League South title this year with a 5-0 league mark. Plainfield North had a chance to claim a share of its first-ever Southwest Prairie Conference title after handing Oswego its first

SPC loss in years, however, a loss to Minooka in week 9 thwarted that. The Hawks have an experience group led by quarterback Brian Collis, a three-year varsity starter, while Fotis Kokosioulis gets the bulk of the work on the ground. It is the experience from Collis and coach Dave Inserra, who has been to six state title games, winning three, that makes Maine South believe it can win any game. The Hawks pose a total playoff record of 57-25, while at 0-4, the Tigers have yet to win a post season contest. Plainfield North took down Oswego’s conference win streak and now will face a team that has a 75-game conference win streak in their conference, the CSL South. The Tigers hope dual-threat quarterback DJ Ekowa is healthy after getting injured late in the first half of their game Friday, although he did return for the second half. North appeared to be hitting its stride with four straight wins, but fell in the season finale to Minooka, 16-14. The defense has been solid all year as in their losses they’ve allowed a total of 39 points and only have up 20 or more points three times all year, all wins. They will need to be on their A-game if they want to come away with their first playoff win in program history. The winner will face the winner of Schaumburg (5-4) and Normal (8-1), the team that knocked the Tigers out of the playoffs last year. In a quadrant that sees No. 3 Libertyville as the highest seed, the winner of this game could play spoiler.

News about local businesses in your community T h ursday, October 29, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

Niles library > News

Library Board to consider tax levy Because the library’s fiscal year runs from June to July of next year, while tax levies are based on calendar year, the library staff only knew what it would get for the first half of the fiscal year when proposing the 2016 budget. That budget was approved during the Aug. 19 meeting. Pritz explained the budget was calculated with an assumption that the tax levy would remain the same for both halves. However, in his presentation, Pritz said that there were several factors that may require the board to raise the 2015 tax levy. First, the library expenditures tend to grow at the rate of 2.7 percent. The establishment of the Gross Point/Touhy Tax Increment Financing district, which Pritz said

includes about 5.7 percent of the properties subject to Niles library tax levy, would cut into the library’s revenue for the next 23 years. Pritz estimated that the library would lose about $367,000 a year. Prtiz also said that on the recommendationfromtheauditors, the library has been spending down its Special Revenue funds. The new services such as Creative Studio and Wonderground, as well as potential new multi-year strategic plan, could add to the expenses. Normally, the library’s tax levy is capped at 5 percent or the Consumer Price Index – whichever is smaller on that particular year. However, the fact that the library decreased the tax levy in 2013 and 2014 triggers a provision in state law that would allow the library to set the cap at whichever tax levy was the highest over the past three

years. Pritz said that this means that the actual tax cap is $7,150,238, which is $1,000,592 higher than it would have been under ordinary circumstances. The 2013 and 2014 tax levies were $6.2 million and $6.1 million, respectively. Pritz then presented several possible scenarios for tax levy changes. If the board decreases the levy by $500,000 (which represents less than a half of the total tax levy decrease between 2012 and 2014), the library would have a deficit by 2016. If the levy is kept at 2014 levels, the deficit wouldn’t happen until 2017 fiscal year. If the library increases the levy by $300,000 (which is slightly higher than the 2014 tax cut), the deficit won’t be an issue until 2019. If the library increases the levy all the way up to cap, the deficit would be avoided entirely for the next six fiscal years. Trustee Carolyn Drblik said she

“It looks, unfortunately, like another example of surprising information [about the Evanston water supply negotiations] that seems to surface every month for the past four months,” he said. First Ward Ald. John Moran asked if it would be possible for Park Ridge to look for an alternative water supply on its own. Wayne Zingsheim, the city’s director of public works, said it would be cost-prohibitive.

However, Ald. Marc Mazzuca, Sixth Ward, noted that the letter’s language didn’t specifically rule Park Ridge out. “If they found another option, they may include us, they may not include us,” he said. “From what we can tell [from the letter], it’s not set in stone.” Maloney said he interpreted the letter differently. Ultimately, he said it came down to trust. “When you’re involved in a

project that big, you have to trust the people you get in bed with,” he said. “And right now, I don’t trust Niles and Morton Grove.” If the two villages decide that alternative water delivery method wouldn’t work, Maloney said he wasn’t sure he want to work with them. “I don’t feel like they’re being up front with us, and I’m going to have a hard time moving forward,” he added.

Vote to be moved to Nov. 15 meeting The Niles Public Library Board of Trustees is expected to hold a special meeting on Nov. 5 to discuss whether to set the tax levy. Under the state law, the library must decide on its tax levy by December. While the board originally intended to discuss the levy during the Oct. 21 meeting and vote on whether to approve it during the Nov. 15 meeting, disagreements emerged over whether to increase the levy, decrease it or keep it the same as last year. The trustees ultimately decided to continue discussion at the special meeting. During the Oct. 21 meeting, Niles Library Business Manager Greg Pritz gave a presentation outlining the board’s options.

water | from page 3 to elaborate, the consultant said he wasn’t at liberty to discuss the details of the alternative option. However, Niles Village Manager Steve Vinezeano and Morton Grove Village Administrator Ralph Czerwinski issued a joint statement Oct. 22 detailing the new option. “Within the past month, we became aware of another potential alternative for the delivery of water to our villages that would use existing infrastructure within Evanston and Skokie in order to reduce the construction costs,” the statement read. They added that the water would be “wheeled” in but did not provide additional information. According to the statement, the Morton Grove and Niles village boards will vote on whether to study this alternative during their regular meetings, which are scheduled for Oct. 26 and Oct. 27, respectively. Hamilton said he contacted Maloney as soon as he received the letter. After some discussion with Ald. Roger Shubert, Fourth Ward, they decided to cancel the special meeting. The city manager said that while he didn’t recommend any course of action beyond keeping an eye on the situation, he was uncomfortable that Niles and Morton Grove never mentioned the alternative option, despite looking into it for the past few weeks. Shubert said he shared Hamilton’s concerns.

wasn’t happy with any scenarios. “I would like to know if there’s a way to decrease spending,” she said. “[Then] we wouldn’t have to worry about increasing the levy.” Trustee Patti Rozanski said she wasn’t necessarily opposed to raising the tax levy, but she thought raising it up to the cap might be too much. “I don’t see a reason for going to $1 million,” she said. “Why should we raise taxes that much?” Trustee Karen Dimond said that she wanted to use the higher-thannormal gap as an opportunity to build up the budget while there was still an opportunity. “Next year, we’d be too late,” she said.

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community

Summit hosts Park Ridge Civic Orchestra preview Pianist Matt Haider also provided musical highlights of season It was standing room only at The Summit of Uptown Oct. 22, as Park Ridge Civic Orchestra Music Director Victor Muenzer previewed the orchestra’s 22nd season. He played sample recordings of selections that the PRCO will be performing. These included

movie themes such as “2001: A Space Odyssey” and others to the delight of more than 50 attendees. In addition, pianist Matt Haider provided musical highlights of the season, which will include “A Holiday Celebration with the Irving Sisters” on Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; “Rachel Barton Pine: Beethoven & Mahler” on Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.; and the “1812 Overture” on March 16 at 7:30 p.m. Most of Summit’s programs and activities are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.summitofuptown.com or call 847-825-1161.

calendar | from page 5

Beierwaltes Barbara C. Beierwaltes, nee Lang, age 79. Beloved wife of the late Andrew F. Beierwaltes Jr.; loving mother of Mark (Mauricio), Andrew (Maggie), David (Sandie), Mary (John) Metoyer, Thomas (Cheryl), Cathy (Jon) Johnson and Greg (Karen); dearest grandmother of Julie, Drew, Kristen, Jonathon, Ashley, Haley, Evan, Marissa, Nicole, Michael, Makenna and Kailyn; fond sister of Frances (Herman) Eckstein, Annie (Jim) Hoffmann, the late Sr. Thomas Marie Lang, the late Andrew (Marie) Lang and the late Michael Lang; devoted daughter of the late Michael and the late Katharina Lang; and dear aunt and great aunt of many. Barbara was a member and past president of St. John Brebeuf Catholic Women’s Club, Scout Leader for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, Minister of Care at the Church and was very active fundraiser for many church functions. Funeral service was Oct. 20 at 10:45 a.m. from Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, to St. John Brebeuf Church for 11:30 a.m. Mass. Interment at Maryhill Cemetery. Visitation was Oct. 19 from 3 to 9 p.m. Memorials to the Little Sisters of the Poor – 80 W. Northwest Highway, Palatine IL 60067 – or to St. John Brebeuf School, 8301 N. Harlem Ave., Niles, will be appreciated. For funeral information, call 847-966-7302 or visit www. skajafuneralhomes.com.

assistant professor of instruction at the Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy; Dr. Gayla Ruffer, founding director of The Buffett Institute for Global Studies at Northwestern University; and Leslie Thomas, founder of Art Works for Change. Entry is free with Museum admission.

NOVEMBER 4

Cut electric costs presentation. 7 to 8 p.m. at the Morton Grove library, 6140 Lincoln

Koppe Paul John Koppe, age 96, longtime resident of Niles. Beloved husband of the late Lorene, nee Samelson; loving father of Robert (Barbara) Koppe, William Koppe, James (Patricia) Koppe and Gary Sandberg; cherished grandfather of seven and great grandfather of 17; dear brother of the late Ada, William and Edward; fond brother-in-law of Meredith Koppe and Maxine Hathaway; and fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Visitation was Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. until time of service at 11:30 a.m. at the Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles. Interment: Ridgewood Cemetery. Paul was an electric engineer for many years at the Zenith Corp. and a longtime member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. For more information, call 847-966-7302.

Submitted Photo

PRCO Board President Pam Benitez, Summit Executive Director Irene Sawka, PRCO Executive Director Deborah Oberschelp and Music Director Victor Muenzer gather around pianist Matt Haider.

Ave. Experts from the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) will hold a free presentation to help electric and natural gas customers in Morton Grove cut their costs by potentially hundreds of dollars a year.

NOVEMBER 6

Knights of Niles Chess Club. 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Niles library. Drop in Fridays to learn the exciting game of chess. Mr. Chris is available to work with novices and experienced players alike.

NOVEMBER 7

Flight Nite. 7 to 9 p.m. at the Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove. $25 Advanced tickets, $30 at the door. Support the library while you sip samples and learn about craft beer and cider at this unique after-hours even. A beer expert will guide you through a delicious and informative tasting experience and answer all your beer-related questions. Don’t miss this fun opportunity to mix, mingle and try a new brew at the library.

NOVEMBER 7-8

Annual Holiday Bazaar. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. Start your holiday shopping at this world market extravaganza! Over 20 vendors will participate and raffle prizes including fine dining, beauty and homewares will be available. All proceeds benefit Illinois Holocaust Museum. Free to the public.

NOVEMBER 13

Jigglejam Featuring Jodi Koplin! 10-10:45 a.m. at Niles library. We’re bringing in some live

music for this month’s Bibliobop! Join us for an all ages show and dance party. Bring your dancing shoes and get ready for an exciting hour of wiggly fun with this Old Town School of Folk Music Star. For families with babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kids.

NOVEMBER 15

Performance of “My Mother’s Voice.” 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. Against the backdrop of Kristallnacht events, storyteller Judy Sima shares her mother’s amazing escape from Germany and her new life in America. Participation-based activities allow the audience to bring their childhood memories to life. Recommended for children ages 8-12. Free with Museum admission. Commemorating the Korean War. 2-4 p.m. at Niles library. Veterans of the conflict recall their experiences and contributions to the founding of today’s vital nation of South Korea. This event is co-sponsored with the Korean Keumsil Cultural Society and is presented in conjunction with the ongoing “Remembering the Korean War” Exhibition.

NOVEMBER 16

Yoga for Kids. 4:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m. at 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. For ages 4 and up.

T h ursday, October 29, 2015 | ni lesbug le.com

School Briefs

Mayor DiMaria visits Melzer Elementary District 64 Parent University

Submitted Photo

Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria holds a Melzer Magic T-shirt that was presented to him by the school’s student council.

Mayor helped out with morning announcements, visited classrooms Morton Grove Mayor Dan DiMaria stopped by East Maine School District 63’s Melzer Elementary School Oct. 22.

library | from page 3 they reach the age of 59.5. The second difference is unique to the Niles library’s retirement plan. The library puts 7.5 percent of employees’ pay into their retirement accounts. Employees have a right to ask the library to just give them that money, which they can then use however they want. They also have a right to ask the library to deposit a portion of the 7.5 percent into the account and give the rest to them. Pantazis said the library contribution was established by the board many years ago, but he wasn’t sure about the details. He said the current board could remove the contribution or change the percentage. According to Pantazis, 50 people are currently enrolled in the library’s retirement plan, but only 28 of them are active employees. Niles Library Business Manager Greg Pritz said a total of 44 current library employees are eligible. According to a Sept. 16 press release, the library said about two-thirds of enrolled employees choose to have the money deposited into their retirement accounts – the rest take the 7.5 percent as salary. Trustee Carolyn Drblik, who

The Mayor helped out with morning announcements, visited classrooms, read “Not Norman: A Goldfish Story” to students.

previously expressed opposition to switching to the IMRF, said she was opposed to switching to any pension plan. “I know everybody has it, but it has devastated a lot of [library] districts,” she said. Several Niles residents who attended the meeting also expressed opposition. “I don’t believe the pension program would be a good program for the people of Niles,” said Bob Zalesny. “[Pensions] are failing left and right and they’re raising taxes.” He added that he wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to improving retirement benefits, so long as the 475 retirement plan remained in place. Resident Dennis Martin said he’s worried about possible long-term consequences of the change. “It looks OK now, but what is it going to look down the road,” he asked. Myrna Zalesny, wife of Bob Zalesny, echoed her husband’s comments, adding that she was concerned that a switch to a pension plan would open the door for double dipping, where retired employees go to work in the private sector while still receiving pensions. “It’s not right, it’s not ethical and not moral anymore,” she said.

Teachers and students use assessments and technology tools in real-time to guide their learning. Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 will explore those tools at the “Climb to Mastery: Understanding Formative Assessment” Parent University program, set for Nov. 10 at the Roosevelt School Learning Resource Center, 1001 S. Fairview, Park Ridge. The program will teach parents about formative assessment, the method by which teachers and students assess learning in real time to guide instruction. The program will offer parents a “hands on” experience to demonstrate several formative assessment strategies and technology tools that teachers and

students utilize to gauge learning and understanding. Formative assessment, including feedback and individual student goal-setting, is one of the “high impact” instructional strategies that have a significant impact on student learning. It is a hallmark of a rigorous education and directly related to one of the objectives within District 64’s new 2020 Vision Strategic Plan.

District 64 Instructional Technology coaches Linda Diekman (Roosevelt) and Allison Sobotka (Franklin) will facilitate the evening, which is free and open to parents and all adult members of the community. Learn more about the 2015-16 series and download materials from past events on the Parent University webpage, www.d64. org.

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