CITIZEN SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY 6-26-2019

Citizen Week of June 26, 2019

| Vol. 2 | No. 46 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

The Village of Matteson recently celebrated the grand opening of Totally Posh, a party venue and day spa designed specifically for young girls. Photo Credit: The Village of Matteson

PARTY BOUTIQUE AND SPA FOR YOUNG GIRLS OPENS IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS

Totally Posh is a party boutique that recently celebrated its grand opening in the Village of Matteson. The new business is located on 3705 216th St. and offers a new destination for young girls to host their birthday parties, celebrations, and have spa days. SEE PAGE 2

POLITISCOPE Privacy concerns don’t stop people from putting their DNA on the internet to help solve crimes PAGE 2

NEWS

NEWS

2019 HBCU Competitiveness Scholars Announced PAGE 4

New Road Trip Report Shows Rising Gas Prices, Work Schedules Cramp Car Travel PAGE 4

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NEWS

Former Village of Posen President Guilty of Embezzlement PAGE 4

2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of June 26, 2019

COMMUNITY

Party Boutique And Spa For Young Girls Opens In The South Suburbs Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Totally Posh is a party boutique that recently celebrated its grand opening in the Village of Matteson. The new business is located on 3705 216th St. and offers a new destination for young girls to host their birthday parties, celebrations, and have spa days.

Totally Posh works to provide girls with a unique party experience and to provide them with a chance to be pampered. Totally Posh hopes to be able to provide fun and engaging party experiences that allow girls to feel special while they celebrate and make memories with friends and family.

“Little girls can expect Totally Posh to be an upscale party venue where they can have their

birthday, receive day spa services, or shop in our boutique that is designed specifically for girls,” said Shawnie Washington, owner of Totally Posh.

Aside from being a great place for your ladies to celebrate with their families, the creation of Totally Posh was a family effort in itself.

“My inspiration for this was my daughter, she is seven years old and she loves everything glam. She was the inspiration behind the design, the decor, and the party packages,” said Washington. “My husband was very instrumental in doing the construction and design and my dad was also very instrumental in making the runway stage and the glam pedicure stations and then my mom was an investor so I really had a true team.”

Totally Posh specializes in spa birthday parties and day spa services and the Totally Posh team also hosts team building workshops and a Summer Posh Glam Camp, according to the Totally Posh website.

“One of our unique features is our Celebration Action Station. We have a lipgloss station where girls can create their own lipgloss. We have a sugar scrub sundae station where girls can create their own sugar scrub. And we also have several stations for manicures, pedicures, facials, and makeup,” said Washington.

Every detail of the party boutique has been designed with young women in mind and the services are suitable for young kids all the way to teenagers.

“The age range that we work with are about four to 16. Girls that are four to 15 years old

can book a spa party or day spa services and girls that are 16 can rent the venue for a sweet 16, a prom sendoff, or a graduation party,” said Washington.

This is just one of the many recent new businesses to pop up in the Village of Matteson and the Mayor, Sheila Chalmers-Currin, said that she is looking forward to seeing the business grow.

“From the Village of Matteson and all our residents, we welcome [Totally Posh] to our community and to our family. We plan on being good partners and continuing to make sure this business grows and that we can grow with you,” said Chalmers-Currin.

To learn more about Totally Posh and to book a spa party, visit www.totallyposhparties. com.

POLITISCOPE

Privacy concerns don’t stop people from putting their DNA on the internet to help solve crimes could be key to cracking a case.”

Moore works with Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company that builds the family tree of DNA found at a crime scene to help police identify suspects.

“People ask us all the time, how can I get my DNA to a place where you guys can solve cases?” Parabon CEO Steve Armentrout told me.

BY SARAH ESTHER LAGESON

Americans are embracing the use of DNA databases to solve crimes.

Over the past year, DNA submitted to ancestry websites have helped police in the United States identify the killers in several unsolved crimes, including the Golden State Killer case – a longtime subject of internet sleuthing.

The practice has raised some concerns about police access to the genetic profiles of millions of Americans, with some privacy advocates demanding that courts prohibit this investigative tactic.

But those offered the chance to participate actively in the drama of criminal justice often find privacy to be of little concern, my research shows.

People love a good cold case California police used the genealogy website GEDmatch to check DNA from dozens of murders and rapes committed by the Golden State Killer from 1976 to 1986, leading to the arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo in April 2018.

DNA submissions to GEDmatch – a public source of user-submitted DNA profiles created to help genealogy hobbyists investigate their family trees – have steadily increased since, founder Curtis Rogers told me.

About a thousand new profiles are uploaded to GEDmatch every day, Rogers says. The site contains

Sarah Esther Lageson

over 1.2 million user-submitted DNA kits.

All users who opt in to its public portal are alerted that their DNA information may be searched by law enforcement agencies investigating a crime or seeking to identify a deceased person.

In Rogers’ experience, that possibility excites, rather than concerns, many customers. He routinely receives emails from people who want to post their DNA profile to GEDmatch “so they can assist in catching criminals, including those who might be family members, so that any unsolved cases can be solved, and families involved can get closure.”

CeCe Moore – perhaps the best known scientist in the burgeoning field of genetic genealogy – sees similar sentiments on the popular Facebook page where she posts updates on recently solved cases.

“They want to be part of solving this,” she told me, “They are web sleuths – and perhaps their DNA

The ethics of public DNA Home DNA kits are only the latest technology to dramatically increase public participation in monitoring, preventing and even solving crimes.

Websites like NextDoor have taken the neighborhood watch concept – when neighbors work together to prevent crime – online.

The app Citizen alerts civilians about 911 calls to crimes underway in their vicinity and allows them to upload video of the incident. And over 700,000 people frequent the cold case discussions on Reddit, an online message board.

Amateur sleuths may jump at the chance of their DNA helping to catch a killer, but there are good reasons to pause and take stock of the ethical concerns raised by this practice.

By the end of 2018, 26 million people had taken an at-home ancestry test with 23andMe, Ancestry. com or similar sites, the MIT Technology Review found.

But you’re not just uploading your own DNA when you put it on one of these sites. You’re uploading www.thechicagocitizen.com

the DNA of relatives, both close and distant.

That exposes many millions of people who have never taken a DNA test to possible police identification, raising tricky due process questions.

As more people are swept into genetic databases without their explicit consent, more sensitive personal information will effectively become public. Some day, these genetic profiles could be used by employers or insurance companies to assess the health of individuals, leading to discrimination and stigmatization.

‘I want him caught’ Making one’s DNA available to law enforcement agencies can also create problems of a more intimate nature: Namely, if a suspect is caught because of your DNA, that person is technically part of your biological family. You may become responsible for putting your own relative in jail.

The genetic genealogist Cece Moore finds that doesn’t deter people.

“They want murderers and rapists and serial killers off the street,” she says of the people who talk to her about contributing their DNA to GEDMatch or similar sites. “These people are willing to make sacrifices for that to happen.”

The logic she often hears, Moore says, is: “If my second cousin is a serial killer, I want him caught. I want people to pay for these crimes even if its someone I am close to or I love.”

Research confirms these observations. A study published in the academic journal PLOS Biology in October 2018 found that 79% of 1,578 survey respondents – some of whom had themselves done a home DNA test with 23andMe or other genetic testing site – support police searches of websites like GEDmatch.

Respondents were most supportive of investigations for violent crimes, crimes against children, or missing persons, leading the authors to observe that “perceived invasions of privacy appear to be tolerable when the purpose is to catch violent or particularly depraved offenders.”

The continued success of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases will likely reinforce this public support.

Parabon recently announced that its services have solved over “1,000 years of cold cases in nine months.”

This information, provided by the company, cannot be independently verified.

Meanwhile, popular television shows like 20/20 and Dr. Phil have begun to explore genetic genealogy, inspiring an even wider audience to see their own DNA as the potential missing link in an unsolved crime.

With this public support, and barring strict regulation that limits the use of DNA databases to solve crimes, consumer genealogy sites will likely play an ever greater law enforcement role.

Sarah Esther Lageson is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Rutgers University.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of June 26, 2019

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NEWS

New Road Trip Report Shows Rising Gas Prices, Work Schedules Cramp Car Travel

BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

Nearly half of American drivers surveyed say that rising gas prices are stopping them from heading out on a road trip this summer, according to results of a motorist study released by CarInsurance.com, a one-stop destination for expert advice on car insurance.

Soon, the school year will be in the rear-view mirror, and families across the nation will hit the road for a good old-fashioned summer road trip.

To kick off the season, CarInsurance. com surveyed 1,000 drivers to find out how they feel when behind the wheel, what their family road trip experiences are like, what they do to cope with traffic and what types of mishaps they’ve had due to poor road conditions.

CarInsurance.com found that 44 percent of people said that gas prices

are preventing them from taking the family on a road trip.

That’s an increase from 36 percent last year.

Another reason drivers may skip a summer road trip is that they can’t take time off from work.

Nearly one-third of respondents pointed to not being able to take off time, according to a news release.

The research also revealed that the vast majority of people enjoy family road trips, despite some respondents mentioning that a family member had a meltdown before the adventure was underway.

More than 90 percent say they’ve taken a family road trip over the past five years.

Only 17 percent of respondents claim to prefer air travel over road trips.

Most of those who favor the road say those trips are just more enjoyable than heading to an airport. While on the road, 44 percent of drivers sur-

Soon, the school year will be in the rear-view mirror, and families across the nation will hit the road for a good old-fashioned summer road trip. Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA

veyed say they feel contentment when driving. A mere 10 percent feel either stressed or “rage-y.”

However, one noted headache associated with road trips is traffic.

Approximately 11 percent called people who they weren’t particularly close to because they were bored.

The survey found that poor road conditions also caused 20 percent of drivers to have a one-car accident, 19 percent report getting into an accident with another car.

Just one accident can raise your

yearly car insurance rate by 32 percent, or $450 a year, on average, according to CarInsurance.com’s rate data analysis.

Whether you’ve experienced an accident or not, you can save on car insurance by comparing rates, according to Penny Gusner, CarInsurance. com consumer analyst.

“You can always save money by comparison shopping, as pricing varies significantly among insurers for the same coverage,” Gusner said.

“But you should definitely shop

2019 HBCU Competitiveness Scholars Announced Darrell Garth Garth Darrell President / Publisher President / Publisher Janice Garth Darrell Garth Garth Janice Sales Manager/ General President / Publisher Sales Manager/ General Manager Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/ General CST Weekly, published weekly on on CST Weekly, published weekly Manager Wednesdays and distributed in the Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of of Bloom, Bloom, (publishing (publishing 52 52 Township CST Weekly, published weekly on issues annually).

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Send press pressEditorial: releases, news news tips, tips, Send Send press releases, releases, news tips, calendar listing etc. etc. to: to: calendar calendar listing listing etc. to: editorial@cstweekly.com editorial@cstweekly.com editorial@cstweekly.com

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The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Initiative) recently announced the names of 44 students from 34 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) selected as 2019 HBCU Competitiveness Scholars – the Initiative’s highest student recognition.

Competitiveness Scholars are recognized for the 20192020 academic school year. Throughout this period, the Initiative will facilitate engagement activities, as well as

provide information and resources that scholars can take advantage of or disseminate to fellow students. Scholars are encouraged to fully take advantage of the opportunities provided, engage with one another and showcase their individual and collective talents across the HBCU spectrum.

Competitiveness Scholars will receive their recognition at the HBCU week conference during the Initiative’s Excellence in Innovation and Competitiveness Awards luncheon ceremony on Sept. 9.

Bats Lead In U.S. Rabies Risk Bats are responsible for roughly 7 in 10 rabies deaths among people who are infected with the rabies virus in the United States, possibly because people may not know of the risk bats pose, according to the Vital Signs report released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The large percentage of deaths tied to bats is particularly striking since bats account for just a third of the 5,000 rabid animals reported each year in the U.S. Rabid dogs that people encounter while traveling overseas are the sec-

ond-leading cause of rabies cases in Americans.

The U.S. averages 1-3 human cases of rabies a year now, down from 30-50 cases per year in the 1940s. This decrease is largely due to routine pet vaccination and availability of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which combines rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin to prevent infection after exposure to the virus. Each year, about 55,000 people in the U.S. seek PEP after a potential rabies exposure. Rabies is nearly always fatal if people don’t get rabies PEP before symptoms start.

U.S. Department of Labor Compliance Evaluation Results In Federal Contractor Paying $50,000 In Back Wages After a routine compliance evaluation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Consolidated Diesel Inc. – a federal contractor and subsidiary of Cummins Inc. – has agreed to pay $50,000 in back wages for

alleged pay discrimination against African-American managers at the diesel engine manufacturing facility in Whitakers, North Carolina.

OFCCP alleged that – since at least 2013 – the company paid 11 African-American managers less than white managers in similar roles.

“Federal contractors and subcontractors must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws,” said OFCCP Southeast Regional Director Samuel Maiden. Although the company did not admit liability, it will take steps to ensure its pay practices meet the legal requirements.

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around after an accident. Your current company may assess risk differently than others, so it may no longer be the most affordable,” she said.

Gusner added: “Our rate analysis of six major insurers shows drivers can save an average of $1,000 by comparing car insurance quotes after an accident.”

To view the full report and methodology visit, https://www. carinsurance.com/Articles/2019-family-road-trip-report

Former Village of Posen President Guilty of Embezzlement The former president of the village of Posen pleaded guilty in federal court recently to charges he embezzled money from the south suburb and spent it at casinos.

Donald W. SChupek, 79, of Posen, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement. The conviction carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, plus mandatory restitution.

U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman set sentencing for Sept. 12, 2019, at 10:30 a.m.

The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry Kinney.

According to his plea agreement, Schupek, while serving as Posen president, directed the village bookkeeper to issue checks on the village’s checking account made payable to Schupek. From June 2014 to August 2016, Schupek directed the issuance of nine checks, totaling $27,000, the plea agreement states. At the time, Schupek did not inform the village treasurer nor the village board that he had issued these checks to himself.

Schupek admitted in the plea agreement that he converted the funds to his own use, including gambling expenses at two casinos in Joliet.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of June 26, 2019

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