2
THE BUGLE/SENTINEL AUGUST 6, 2014
News
will county
USMC veteran presented with a big thank-you gift Lemuel “James” Dahan honored for service
By JEANNe MILSAP for the sentinel
sweditor@buglenewspapers.com @ShorewoodNews
Lemuel “James” Dahan said it was an emotional time for him when Operation Welcome You Home brought a procession of American Legion Riders, a fire truck, police car and other wellwishers to his Shorewood home Saturday morning to present him with a gift for his service to the country. “It’s really nice to see so many friends and veterans out here,” he said to the group gathered in front >> mayor, from page 1 believes it will more than likely increase. No one has a crystal ball. For the past two years, our rate with “First Energy” was a very low $0.0483/kwh. As you can see, we are going to realize a significant increase on our bills.The increase will happen whether we remain in or out of the aggregation program. ComEd was recently allowed a transmission rate increase of 35 percent, which we all saw on last month’s bill. In two months, we will also see the new production rate kick in, seeing perhaps another 17 percent rise in the >> crossroads, from page 1
It’s a weekend full of events such as the Beautiful Baby competition and the Babe’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. There are carnival rides, a craft fair and a beer garden where popular bands play nightly. The Shorewood Chamber of Commerce sponsors it all. The weather was beautiful Saturday afternoon, so the midway was packed. Little kids rushed from one ride to the next, dragging their parents behind them. Friends greeted each other, stopping to compare tans, passing around new babies to be admired and catching up on each other’s summers. At the Ferris wheel, Joanne Tischina of Romeoville and daughters Isabella, 9, and Sophia, 5, waited their turn. Isabella said she liked the bumper cars best. “It’s fun bumping things, she said.Sophia had fun on the Dragon Wagon, a small roller coaster. But she was shy and didn’t want to talk
of his home.“I thank you all.” “We’re here to thank you today, James, for your service,” OWYH founder Donna Morsovillo replied. MorsovillopresentedDahanwith a new John Deere riding mower and snowblower attachment, purchased with funds raised through the organization’s annual 5K runs. Dahan and his wife Erin just moved into the home – their first house – and Morsovillo said she knew a mower was something the family needed. Dahan joined the United States Marine Corps in 2002. It was while he was serving in infantry and recon in Iraq in 2004 that he was severely wounded. He continued to serve in the corps in administration for his company
after he was injured. Even when Dahan returned home, he served his country by volunteering with several veterans’ groups, such as the local VFW and American Legion chapters and Wounded Warriors. He also founded the Student Veterans of America chapter at Benedictine University when he was a student there, and he currently works as a volunteer director of communications and development with AllenForce, a not-for-profit organization that brings veterans, families and communities together to ease the transition between military and civilian life.
bottom line of our bills. The major cause is the lack of production caused by the shutdown of many coal-fired plants due to more stringent environmental regulations from Washington. Plants closing, replacement supply not on line, and much higher demand are the main factors causing the prices to skyrocket. Hopefully as more generators -- i.e. wind, solar and natural gas -- come on line, the prices will decline. For now, we believe we have found the best price we can get in the market place for our residents. Be alert for a letter from the
village that will allow you to opt out of the aggregation program. If you take no action, you will remain in the program and will realize the “Homefield” rate. If you opt out, by sending the letter back in, you will automatically be converted to the ComEd rate or any other supplier you have chosen. Be very careful about people soliciting for different suppliers. Make certain if you want to opt out of their program there is not a significant penalty for doing so. I will keep you advised as to any significant changes that will affect us. Mayor Rick Chapman
about it. So big sister spilled the beans. “She was screaming like a crazy person!” Isabella said. At the teacups ride, Amanda Valentino of Channahon watched Evan Orozco,3,her son,and Danielle Meyer, 6, her daughter, whirl round and round, and snapped some photos with her cell phone. When the ride was over, the kids were smiling. “Did you guys like that?You went way up in the air!”Valentino asked. The kids had earned their treats that day by being very good. “They let me work on my landscaping, so I told them I would take them to the festival,”Valentino said. They had something to celebrate, too: That very day, Danielle had mastered the art of riding her bike without training wheels. So they headed off to the funhouse, the kids’favorite place.Outside the beer tent, Diane Lambert, a Shorewood Chamber of Commerce Board
Member, was keeping an eye on the festivities as Strung Out did their sound check. The band was set to perform at 5 p.m., and some people were already grabbing seats, Lambert said. “We are expecting double the crowd tonight that we had last night,” Lambert added. Arra, the headline act, is a popular draw, and the lead singer would soon be leaving the area to perform with the band Kansas, a nationally known act, she said. Not far from the stage, three friends sat together: Nancy Spaniak, of Homewood, Gloria Sismelich of Orland Park, and Robin James of Lansing, all spouses of different members of Strung Out. Spaniak had plenty of fun facts about the band. They’re all older guys, she said – the youngest is 48.“And every one of those guys is married to his original wife!” she said. That made everybody laugh, and the band launched into a fine version of The Guess Who’s “No Time.”
>> see thank you | page 3
PHOTO BY JEANNE MILLSAP
A representative of Shorewood Home and Auto gave James Dahan a quick lesson on how to operate his new mower.
will county
Babich recovering from pacemaker surgery Babich, 76, said he had just returned from vacation in Door County, Wisconsin
Babich said all his vitals and heart turned out to be fine, but his heart rate dropped too low. So doctors put in the pacemaker to keep his heart rate at the By nick reiher proper level, he said. Babich had managing editor been hospitalized before with an nreiher@buglenewspapers.com irregular heartbeat. @JolietILNews “I don’t want that ever Will County Board to happen again,”he said, Member Joe Babich is adding he has a follow recovering at his Joliet up appointment with home following July 25 his cardiologist Monday. surgery at Presence St. “Hopefully, I can be Joseph Medical Center back to work Tuesday,” to put in a pacemaker. he said. Aside from Babich, 76, said he Joe Babich the barbershop, that had just returned from Will County Board also means a couple a long vacation in Door Member of county committee County, Wisconsin, meetings Tuesday and and had one of the busiest days Wednesday morning. ever at his popular Six Corners Babich was first elected barbershop where he recently to the board in 1982 and for celebrated 45 years in business. most of those years, served in “I was going to get some the minority on a Republicantowels, and I feel my head start dominated County Board. But spinning,” said Babich.“I reached a remap of the board districts for (his brother) Bob’s desk, and resulted in the Democrats having I just fell.They said I hit my head, a majority on the County Board but I don’t remember that.” for the first time in more than 30 Babich said he started to regain years. The former commander at consciousness after he hit the Cantigny VFW Post 367 yearned floor. Bob Babich and a customer for a County Board commission. helped him into a chair and called He got two: Babich was named 911. Paramedics carried him up chair of the board’s Public Health the short steps to street level and & Safety Committee;and was able then put him on a gurney and to negotiate splitting the county into the ambulance. Forest Preserve president duties “Two of my customers took with Don Gould of Shorewood. me to the hospital,” Babich said. Babich served as president for “It was like a big party.” 2012-13, followed by Gould.