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THE REGIONAL NEWS Named best small weekly in Illinois five times by the Illinois Press Association
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Serving Palos, Orland and Worth townships and neighboring communities
76th Year, NO. 49 • 2 Sections
PALOS HEIGHTS
$9M tax levy adopted; has police pension protection By Anthony Caciopo Regional News Editor
The Palos Heights City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to adopt an ordinance providing for a tax levy of more than $9 million for calendar year 2017. The levy, an increase of approximately $1.4 million over last year,
according to Janice Colvin, the City’s finance director, is used toward the city’s 2017 budget, which is $11.7 million and balanced. The difference between the levy and the budget comes from a variety of other revenue sources. The vote on the levy was followed immediately by another unanimous vote for a resolution
to provide protection, in effect, against any potential reduction by Cook County in the levies for police pensions and general government. Those two levies total $3,848,471 of the $9,050,364. “There are several different categories that we’re allowed to levy for,” explained City Administrator
Dan Nisovic after the meeting. “Each section of the levy applies to a section of government that we operate.” The levy ordinance document details eight City-related categories and five library-related categories. On the City side, the levies include corporate (general government), police pension fund, playground
and recreation system, social security, the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), among others. By voting for a resolution “proportionately reducing all levies except corporate and police pension” (as stated in the meeting agenda) the Council wants those two levies untouched. “If the county is going to reduce
the amount they send us—it’s not abnormal that they do—what we’re saying is ‘Take from all those other categories except those two,’” said Nisavic. “With the police pension fund,” he said, “we have a commitment by state statute to reach a 90 percent See PALOS HEIGHTS, Page 2
ORLAND PARK
Board agrees baseball fields need renovations Football programs would have to be moved elsewhere By Dermot Connolly Staff Writer
Photo by Kelly White
The Stagg High School Madrigal Singers delighted the crowd with classic holiday songs during “Christmastime in Palos” at the Palos Heights Library.
Palos residents ring in the holiday season By Kelly White Correspondent
The holiday spirit shone brightly last weekend in the Palos communities with outdoor and indoor celebrations marking the coming of Christmas. The Village of Palos Park kicked off the festive weekend on Friday evening with its annual Village Tree Lighting and Holiday Market which took place at the Palos Park Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St. In attendance were the Zagata sisters, Anastazja, 8, and Juliana, 5, who live in the village.
“I love Christmas decorations,” Anastazja said. “They’re so pretty, especially the lights on the tree.” The family-friendly outdoor event was geared toward ringing in the holiday season with neighbors, family and friends. It featured food and craft vendors, as well holiday singing. Santa Claus arrived to greet children and, with Mayor John Mahoney, illuminated the village’s 15-ft. tree. “This is really a lot of fun for everyone,” Mikayla Hartunian, 13, of Palos Park, said. “I love our community events like the tree lighting,” said Mahoney. “These events help give Palos Park the small-town feel that See SEASON, Page 2
‘Genuine’ football coaching legend dies
Former Richards coach Korhonen leaves tons of memories By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor
Freshman Tony Sheehan was walking the halls of Richards High School in the early fall of 1992. Coming toward him was Gary Korhonen, the Bulldogs football coach, who was a big name and larger-than-life figure after winning Illinois High School Association state championships in 1988 and 1989.
“I was a pimple-faced freshman and here comes the legendary Gary Korhonen,’’ Sheehan said. “I wanted to put my head down and not say anything. But I said ‘hi coach.’ He said ‘Hey Tony, how are you doing? You had a good game the other day.’ I was a lowly freshman. How did he know who I was? “But that’s the type of person he was. He knew everyone in the program. He knew what you were doing. He knew what you weren’t doing. He knew when people graduated. He had a memory like no other.’’ And the memories that he Photo by Bob McParland created for thousands of students Richards coaching legend Gary Korhonen, right, congratulates basketball and athletes have been pouring coach John Chappetto after the Bulldogs won the IHSA Class 4A state championship in 2008. Korhonen, who won two state championships as
See LEGEND, Page 2 the school’s football coach, died Saturday at age 77.
A proposed renovation of baseball fields at the John Humphrey Complex brought a standing-room only crowd to the Orland Park Village Board’s Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on Monday. “John Humphrey Complex has been in need of repair for some time. In 2017, the board agreed to that the infields and outfields needed to be regraded and redone. (Last spring), we said we would try to budget some mon-
ey, and that has been one of the considerations during the 2018 budgeting process,” explained Village Manager Joe La Margo. Usually, few if any residents attend the 6 p.m. committee meetings preceding the 7 p.m. Village Board meetings on the first and third Monday of every month, but that was not the case at this week’s meeting. It is at these committee meetings where the details of most actions taken by the full Village Board are first hashed out. This time, Mayor Keith Pekau also attended the meeting, the first one chaired by Trustee Dan Calandriello. The mayor recently reshuffled committee leadership See ORLAND PARK, Page 2
Dist. 230 set to hike tax levy 2.5% By Dermot Connolly Staff Writer
The District 230 School Board, at its monthly meeting last Thursday, approved a tentative tax levy for 2017 that represents 2.5 percent more than was extended last year. District 230, which includes Andrew, Sandburg and Stagg high schools, has had a balanced budget for the past 14 years. It depends on local taxes for nearly 90 percent of the revenue, and in five of the past six years, the district has not requested any increase in the levy extended in the previous year. But this year, the proposed tax levy is $111,857,958, up from $109,129,576 for 2016. Board President Rick Nogal noted that the increase is just slightly over the 2.3 percent in the Consumer Price Index. According to the information provided by the district, the proposed budget includes an increase of nearly $4 million for education purposes, about $250,000 more for special education, and a slight increase in transportation costs, up
from $4,980,656 to $5 million. But spending has stayed the same or gone down in the other areas. Also, due to expiring bond purchases, the tax rate going toward debt spending will be decreased with this levy. Superintendent Dr. James Gay also pointed out at the meeting held at Sandburg High School that a property tax freeze under consideration in Springfield could cost the district as much as $9.5 million in revenue to the district. “We would never get that back,” he said. The possibility of having a tax freeze for at least two years is one of the main reasons cited for increasing the levy this year. “The tax freeze would have such a dramatic effect because there is anticipated inflation (1.8 to 2.2 percent) and we have new property being built in our district. This has contributed to the ability for the district to keep up with inflation and have a growing source of income from property taxes,” explained John Lavelle, assistant superintendent See DIST. 230, Page 2
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2 Thursday, December 7, 2017
The Regional News
Palos Heights
Orland Park
Continued from Page 1
funding level by a certain date.” The reason for voting on a 2017 levy less than a month before 2017 expires was explained by Finance Committee Chairperson Ald. Alan Fulkerson, Ward 3, who introduced the motions at the meeting. “Ald. (Don) Bylut just raised a point that bears comment,” Fulkerson said as he was delivering his report. “This is for 2017 because since the Depression county taxes in this state are one year behind. We are levying taxes for 2017, payable in 2018,” he said. In other business, the Council voted to authorize the director of Public Works to prepare specifications and go out for bid on a new water truck; to accept the proposal and enter into a contract with Metropolitan Pump Co. for a computer operating system and software at all pump stations “at a cost not to exceed $84,215”; and to accept the proposal and enter into a contract with Utility Service Co. for the pod removal and hatch installation on the Misty Meadows water tower in the amount of $22,334. Tuesday’s meeting was the second time the City Council met back at City Hall following a complete remodeling of the meeting room. The work included a floor-toceiling demolition and remodeling, featuring all new electric and lighting; new technology provisions for Palos Heights TV Channel 4; a new dais and furniture for all City Council officials; new podium; new carpeting; new ceiling; new energy-efficient windows; new window treatments and new
Continued from Page 1
positions, naming Calandriello to take over from Trustee Patricia Gira, who remains on the committee, along with Trustee Mike Carroll. LaMargo said the 2018 budget includes $600,000 for the improvements at the 20-acre park at 14825 S. West Ave. The funding was made possible by the sale this year of the Ninety7Fifty Apartments development, as well as a budgeting change to allow home rule sales tax revenue to be used for operating expenses. The complex includes four main baseball diamonds, and several smaller ones, as well as several football fields currently used by the Orland Park Pioneers for practice and games. Gira said that in her discussions earlier in the year Photos by Anthony Caciopo with the local organizations that use The Palos Heights City Council is back at home base in a freshly remodeled meeting room featuring a long list them for practice and games, she of upgrades including strikingly styled ceiling. Not all council members and city officials are visible in this view. was told that some of the baseball fields are in such bad condition flooring/carpeting. that they are unplayable. In addition, the orientation within La Margo said the renovation the room has been shifted one-quarplans being considered included ter turn clockwise, with the mayor’s turning that section of the John back now at the windows on the Humphrey Complex into basenorth wall. ball and softball complex. But Frontier Construction of Wilthat would mean that the football lowbrook was the low bidder and fields that are located around them the City has paid $232,293 to date. would no longer be used. By most recollections, it has been Completely renovating the basemore than 30 years since the room ball fields would require moving had received any substantial upthe football programs elsewhere, grades. and Schussler Park, at 14609 Poplar “I’m pleased,” said Mayor Bob Road, has been suggested as an Straz. “We had been using boralternative. Village officials said rowed chairs. There was tape on the move would be permanent, the carpet. But this isn’t a room or at least until Centennial Park for us, it’s a reflection of the whole renovations are done, which is not Ald. Alan Fulkerson addresses the City Council and the public Tuesday community. This is first-class and expected for five years or more. it’s for a first-class community.” regarding the 2017 tax levy. John Stefanos, the president of the Pioneers organization, said
Legend
Continued from Page 1 out after the news of his death Saturday at age 77 from congestive heart failure. Korhonen coached at Richards from 1972 to 2017 and is sixth on the Illinois High School Association list for all-time wins with 315. After retiring as a head coach, he joined his son Kris as assistants at Eisenhower High School and the past two seasons, he and Kris coached at Shepard. Dominic Passolano, who resigned as Shepard’s coach in November, had Gary on the sidelines in 2016 and this past season, Gary worked behind the scenes breaking down film and working on scouting reports. But on Korhonen’s final year on the sidelines, there didn’t appear to be any generation gaps. “He is a very genuine person,” Passolano said. “He was genuine with everyone involved whether it was with the coaches or players. You can’t say enough about the guy in that regard. He might have been a guy who coached in the 70s but he was able to relate with the coaches and the kids and families involved with Shepard football. “He could relate to a kid who was 14 years old or 16 or 17 because of how genuine he was.’’ Even the Richards baseball program had a little of Korhonen’s fingerprints on it in an indirect way. In the spring, when Bulldogs baseball coach Brian Wujcik won his 500th game, he credited Korhonen for his inspiration. “One of the blessings that I’ve had is to have an opportunity to work in the same building as Gary Korhonen,” Wujcik said. “He was Photos by Kelly White a coach here for (35) years so I got Clockwise from top left: Claire Brannigan, 3, of Palos Heights, tells Santa what she would like for Christmas on Saturday morning at the Palos Heights a chance to witness the longevity, Public Library’s 13th annual Christmastime in Palos. Olivia Houston, 4, of Palos Heights, enjoys looking at the Christmas decorations at the second annual the stability and the dedication to Palos Heights Kris Kringle Market. Palos Park sisters Anastazja Zagata, 8 (left) and Juliana, 5, point out their favorite Christmas ornaments to each other at the Palos Park Village Tree Lighting and Holiday Market which took place at the Palos Park Recreation Center on Friday night. Molly Hillebrand, 4, of Palos Heights, colors a Christmas craft along with her brother, Brendan, 6, at the Palos Heights Library. Santa Claus arrived to greet children and light the Palos Park Christmas tree.
Season
Continued from Page 1 you don’t seem to have in larger communities. I love to catch up with neighbors I have not seen since summertime for one reason or another.” Mahoney noted there was also a gathering of many community groups, including the Palos Park Woman’s Club, Palos Fine Arts, The Center on Southwest Hwy., McCord Gallery & Cultural Center, as well as the participation of Hackneys, Francesca’s and other local businesses. The Palos Heights Public Library was brimming with holiday cheer on Saturday with a day full of family-themed activities at its 13th annual “Christmastime in Palos.” The event was sponsored by Midwest Bank and coordinated by Friends of the Palos Heights Library. “The entire day is packed with a lot of fun with something for attendees of all ages to enjoy,” said Laura Nieland, Palos Heights Public Library Youth and Teen Services librarian. The events began as soon as
the library opened its doors with actress Martina Mathisen performing in period dress as Maria Moore, youngest child of famed poet Clement Clarke Moore. She discussed the true story behind his acclaimed poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” more commonly known as “’Twas the Night before Christmas,” as well as the origins of many of the oldest and most beloved Christmas traditions. The Stagg High School Madrigal Singers delighted the crowd with classic holiday songs and a family sing-a-long was led by Palos Heights Mayor Bob Straz. For kids, the fun continued with a magic show and Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt. Santa and Mrs. Claus posed for family photos. A Christmas-themed storytime, face painting and ornament-making activities also took place during the day. “I told Santa that I want a Princess Belle Enchanted Castle and a Barbie Castle for Christmas,” Claire Brannigan, 3, of Palos Heights, proudly said. Adults were able to soak up the holiday spirit with a sale featuring Christmas-related books and videos. Six beautiful holiday wreaths
put together by library staff were raffled. Also on Saturday, the city’s second annual Kris Kringle Market, featuring 15 local area vendors offering food, holiday crafts and more was held at the Municipal Parking Lot, in the center of the popular downtown shopping and dining district at 12217 S. Harlem Ave. “This is an exciting time of year for us,” Mayor Straz said. “We are looking forward to getting more people into our downtown area, where we’ve added and are continuing to add more restaurants and shops. We want people to be able to visit and see Palos Heights as more of a destination location.” And with vendors showcasing their goods, customers did see just that, including Courtney Jatho of Palos Heights. “I love mostly everything about this market,” Jatho, 13, said. “There is just so much stuff all in one location.” “There is a nice variety of beautiful things and very creative vendors,” Lois Duran, of Palos Heights, agreed. One of the vendors she pointed out as her favorite was Quality
Dist. 230
Monday that moving that organization would be unacceptable, noting that the Pioneers flag football and cheerleading squads in addition to several levels of youth football use the fields. He said the facilities available could not accommodate them all. “You will do irreparable harm to our football program,” said Stefanos, pointing out that hundreds of youths would be affected. He and Mark Mikesell, athletic director of the Pioneers, said Schussler Park facilities could not accommodate the Pioneers program. They said talk of moving the program has already affected enrollment. Representatives of the Orland Knights and Orland Youth Association also spoke about their displeasure with the plans to renovate John Humphrey, which would affect their programs to some degree. Carroll agreed that parking and traffic congestion would also be a problem at Schussler. “The plan was to make Schussler playable. We’re trying to find solutions to a difficult problem,” said Pekau, whose father was a founding member of the Pioneer program. Gira pointed out that everyone agrees that the renovation of John Humphrey is needed, and some relocation will be needed whenever that is done. “How can we renovate them if no one is willing to move. Are you going to hold us hostage?” asked Gira, angering some in the crowd. The committee did not plan to make any decisions on Monday, and none were. At Calandriello’s suggestion, the issue will next be taken up for consideration by the full village board at its next meeting on Dec. 18. a program. That was a big inspiration. I tried to emulate his program and run the baseball program the same way.’’ Oh, and that “pimple-faced freshman” played for the Bulldogs varsity in 1994 and 1995 and in 2008, Sheehan was named Korhonen’s successor after the veteran coach retired. Sheehan said he learned a lot of life lessons from his parents as well as the coach. “He taught us a lot about life,” Sheehan said. “He taught us about responsibility, teamwork, accountability of being there every day and on time. It’s something that the generation today might take for granted. You go to work every day. You don’t get paid unless you go to work. “You shake hands. You look people in the eye. He taught us all of those little things. He told us that these are the little things that count in life. He was a great man and took a lot of pride in what he did.’’ Sheehan was also on Korhonen’s staff for two years before taking over the Bulldogs program in 2008. “I was lucky enough to play for him and coach for him,” Sheehan said. “He was a great man. He went way out of his way to help all of his kids. “There were a lot of kids who didn’t have dads and a lot of these guys looked up to him as a dad. And he cherished that role. He took a lot of responsibility. Being a coach and a teacher was very important to him and we were all lucky to play for him.’’ Korhonen is survived by his wife, Eileen and children Kris (Andrea) Korhonen, Kelly Korhonen and Katey (Bob) Perkaus. Visitation was scheduled to be held Tuesday at Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church in Orland Park.
finances since all the funds are collected and distributed locally,” Continued from Page 1 said Lavelle. Plus Photo Design Center, loBoard member Terry Serratore, cated on 12240 S. Harlem Ave. for business services. chairman of the Building and He said the $9.5 million figFrom the shop, Judi Weber had a Finance Committee, said that no booth set up at the Kris Kringle ure is calculated by comparing a community members at the last Market, showcasing personalized frozen extension to an extension committee meeting had any comthat is allowed to grow based on photo items. plaints about the tax levy. “I love the Kris Kringle Market projected inflation and new propThe board is scheduled to vote because I get to meet so many erty. Because every dollar lost on and adopt the tax levy at the is lost the following year, along people and network,” Weber said. next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Public Santa sightings in Palos with the newly lost money, the Thursday, Dec. 21, at Sandburg amount compounds. Heights and Palos Park may be “If the freeze was put in place High School, 13300 S. LaGrange over, but there are still holiday Road. It must be filed with the activities in store. Check out the and because the formula starts county clerk by Dec. 26. with the prior year’s extension, if Palos Heights Library at www. No action was taken at the and when the property tax freeze palosheightslibrary.org and the meeting regarding the controverwere lifted, we would continue to Palos Park Library at www.pafeel the impact of the initial loss. sial suspension earlier this year of losparklibrary.org for any fun ac- In other words, the $9.5 million Stagg cheerleading coach Bridget tivities that are still coming up would continue to be lost each Guzior for allegedly sending a dion their respective calendars. In year going forward since it would rect text message to a student, fact, if we can fit ‘em in—and we never be a part of our extension which is against District polialways do our best for our local and would not be calculated into cy. She has alleged that Stagg libraries—we’ll spotlight a portion the formula,” said Lavelle. Athletic Director Terry Treasure of their schedules elsewhere in this The property tax freeze has not sexually harassed her. However, edition of The Regional. been approved by the state Legis- during public comment, one parent And don’t forget the Palos lature, but it is expected to be re- asked the board why Guzior was Heights Winter Farmers Market, visited in the spring session. Gov. suspended and Treasure has not an opportunity to purchase a va- Bruce Rauner has been pushing been. A member of the Stagg staff riety of items that can be given for the property tax freeze since also spoke in support of Treasure. as holiday gifts. The market will he was elected. The board did not respond to be held next on Dec. 16 from 8 It has not passed but it is ex- either comment, but Nogal said a a.m. to noon in the Orchard Room pected to be revisited in the spring decision in the case is expected at the Palos Heights Rec Center, session. “(A property tax freeze) to be made on or before the next 6601 S. Ridgeland Ave. really has no bearing on the state’s meeting.
The Regional News
Thursday, December 7, 2017
3
Local legislators meet, listen to residents over breakfast By Dermot Connolly Staff Writer
The showroom at Earth, a newly opened mineral art gallery at 12227 S. Harlem Ave.
Photos by Anthony Caciopo
Left: Johnny Krutzler and one of his many pieces of art on display—and for sale—at Earth, a brand-new mineral art gallery. The fish is called “Riser.” Right: Colton Swiderek displays a lazy-Susan he made of stone and minerals, art that he describes as useful and functional.
New gallery in Palos Heights, Earth, features exotic mineral art By Anthony Caciopo Regional News Editor
Pink abalone. Arizona turquoise. Tourmaline. Madagascar quartz. Colorado amazonite. Green kyanite. All substances not likely to be found in Palos Heights, except at a brand-new gallery in town. Earth, a “mineral art” showroom, opened last week at 12227 S. Harlem Ave. and, without a doubt, there’s certainly nothing else like it in Palos Heights and quite possibly the entire Midwest according to its owner Brett Swiderek. “Everything comes from the earth,” said Swiderek as he prepared for an official grand opening and ribbon-cutting. “It’s all natural minerals.” Mineral art in rich colors, some in familiar shapes and others potentially startling in appearance, adorn the walls, shelves and floor displays at the 1,100 sq.-ft. gallery, a newly constructed space in the Noral Jewelers building. The gallery and the jewelry store share an entrance, designed to encourage customer flow between the businesses. “Every person who comes through the doors for jewelry now will have a reason to go next door,” said Swiderek, who also owns Noral. “If they buy something, great, but if they don’t buy something we feel like they’ll tell 12 people.” Wearable art, functional art and art strictly for display, all made entirely or partially with any number of minerals, are available for sale at Earth. “We sold some pretty high-end pieces just by scattering them around the jewelry store,” said Swiderek, whose father, Norm, founded the business in 1958, “so we’re really excited about the gallery.” Swiderek said “We’re at a point where we’ve built enough inventory to open this gallery. The corporate awards (trophy) business, which completely occupied that side of the building, we do mostly online now.”
The trophy business was consolidated toward the rear of the building, leaving space for the gallery up front. Its presence is easily visible on Harlem Avenue thanks to bold signage proclaiming “Earth” and showroom windows that practically beg for a look inside. “It’s beautiful,” said Jean Cornelison as she and her husband, Brian, toured the gallery on opening night. “We were buying a watch and heard about the gallery,” said Brian, who used to purchase trophies at the shop in the 1980s for his radio-controlled model aircraft club. “We come here for the jewelry because we like to stay in the community.” The Cornelisons, of Palos Park, slowly moved about the gallery, gazing at almost every piece on display, often with the company of one of the artists who were on hand for the grand opening. Brian is interested in silver-smithing and lapidary, the craft of engraving, cutting and/or polishing stones and gems. “This is like something you’d find out West,” said Jean. Johnny Krutzler, who has multiple pieces for sale at Earth, has been a gold prospector for 45 years and tried his hand at art only 15 years ago. “I purchased a buffalo skull,” he said. “That was my beginning. I covered that buffalo skull in turquoise and different gemstones, took it to a show, my first show, and it sold like that,” he said, with emphasis. “I thought ‘a-ha.’” Krutzler said all the work he does mimics nature and he posed for a photo with a piece called Riser, and Indonesian wood carving of a fish he covered with a veritable rainbow of colored stones. Some of his work features collaboration with his wife, Meg. And the price tag of Riser, that piece of impressive art? Suffice to say for purposes of this story that it’s in the “Inquire” range. “We have all different price points,” said Swiderek. “We’re selling everything from a dollar
POLICE BLOTTER: ORLAND PARK Charge three with DUI Orland Park police charged Stephen T. Miles, 42, of Oak Forest, with DUI, speeding and improper lane usage after they curbed his pickup truck in the 7400 block of West 143rd Street at 12:19 a.m. Nov. 12. His vehicle was spotted traveling at 62 mph, 22 mph over the posted limit, according to the police report. The pickup truck was towed and impounded, and Miles is scheduled to appear in court in Bridgeview on Wednesday. Tinley Park resident Victoria G. Risley, 47, was charged with DUI and improper lane usage after police stopped her car near 159th Street and 78th Avenue at 1:50 a.m. Nov. 15. The vehicle was towed and impounded, and Risley was given a Bridgeview court date of Jan. 2. Peotone resident Eric K. Maltese, 30, was charged with DUI, speeding, improper lane usage and disobeying a traffic light after police curbed his car in the 9600 block of West 159th Street at 2:02 a.m. Nov. 15. Police estimated that his
vehicle was traveling at 58 mph, 18 mph over the posted limit. The car was towed and impounded, and Maltese is set to appear in court in Bridgeview on Dec. 28.
Police say man drove while impaired Orland Park resident Roman R. Duran, 21, was charged with DUI/ drugs after police stopped his car near 143rd Street and John Humphrey Drive at 12:58 a.m. Nov. 11. Police said that Duran’s driving was impaired by a combination of alcohol and a prescription-strength muscle relaxant they declined to name. The vehicle was towed and impounded, and Duran is expected to appear in court in Bridgeview on Jan. 2.
University Park women allegedly stole cosmetics Police charged Gwendolyn I. Brown, 27, and Amaretta K. Hudson, 21, both of University Park, with retail theft after they allegedly stole assorted cosmetics from the JC Penney in Orland Square Mall at 7:24 p.m. Nov. 3. Brown stole
to $30,000.” Among the highest-end art available at Earth are pieces of steel inlaid with large, hand-set, backlit and partially see-though stone, designed to be hung on walls. The look is remarkable. Swiderek’s son, Colton, is one of four artists (along with Krutzler) whose work is currently on display at Earth. The younger Swiderek worked for about a year in a shop in the desert owned by an artist named Zee, who Swiderek said invented the technique of inlaying stone into steel frames. “I was lucky enough to learn it,” he said. Swiderek said that currently he’s been enjoying creating useable art. “Mainly I’ve been doing lazy Susans,” he said. “I like to make things that people can use every day and enjoy. I’m also making things that everybody can enjoy, pieces for $50, $100 and up,” he said. His lazy Susans, which are most definitely not toward the lower end of his price range, are polished, heavy and impressive in their beauty and one-of-a-kind appearance. The elder Swiderek, Brett, owner of the jewelry store and Earth, lives in Tucson where he has operated another Noral Jewelers since 2008. There’s a small mineral art gallery in that store. He’s a self-described “bit of a rock-hound” who moved to Tucson specifically to be close to what he described as the biggest and oldest gem show in the world. “We love Palos Heights and Palos Heights has been very good to Noral Jewelers,” Swiderek said. “We’re reinvesting now in Palos Heights. We’re going to be here a long, long time. We love the people, we love the city. It’s like a giant family to us.” Earth is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The gallery can be reached by calling (708) 361-0700.
Local legislators and citizens met over breakfast last Thursday to discuss the 2018 gubernatorial election and the ongoing economic difficulties resulting from a twoyear absence of a state budget. The 12th Annual Breakfast with Your Legislators was held at St. Xavier University with state senators Bill Cunningham (D-18th) and Mike Hastings (D-19th), state Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th), Cook County Board Commissioner John Daley (D-11th) and Chicago Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th). They participated in a panel discussion moderated by former state Senator Ed Maloney. The officeholders responded to questions submitted by community members invited to the breakfast. One of the first issues touched upon was the unpopular sweetened beverage tax, which ended last Thursday after the Cook County Board voted to repeal it less than one year after it was implemented. “In my time in state and county government, I have seen many taxes before but I’ve never seen a tax that met so much opposition. That is why I reacted to it,” said Daley, who was the first Democrat on the county board to speak in favor of repealing it. “We did pass a balanced budget without it. But we had to lay off 300 people, and take 1,000 vacancies out of the system,” said Daley. “We tried to work with the unions. If they had agreed to furlough days, they would not be laid off,” said Daley. He noted that no cuts were made in the law enforcement area, including police and Cook County Jail staff. When asked about the state budget situation, all three state legislators agreed that the 2018 budget cycle will be difficult, but not as bad as this past year, when the state Legislature passed a budget after two years without one. “With the election coming up, Gov, Rauner will want to be out campaigning and not in the Legislature. But I don’t make any predictions on this governor because he is just a little erratic these days,”
Photo by Dermot Connolly
State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18th) listens as state Sen. Mike Hastings (D-19th) makes a point during the Breakfast with Your Legislators forum held last Thursday at St. Xavier University in Chicago.
said Hastings. Hastings said he has seen former governors Jim Edgar and Pat Quinn in the state Legislature over the past year more often than Rauner. “And they don’t even work there,” he said. “We still have a $15 billion hole in our budget because of the two years without a budget. It will take us a long time to dig out of. But we essentially refinanced the debt, and we cut spending,” said Burke. “We’re also cleaning up the unfunded pension liabilities. We’re going to be making very difficult choices about what needed to be funded and what we can afford,” said Burke. She said that having a state budget has provided the funding for the Monetary Award Program, known as MAP grants, which has helped college students and the institutions that depend on them. “We actually increased MAP grant funding to $410 million this year. That is a substantial amount of money.” Burke said that although all the MAP grant funding due to students was paid this year, “all the hesitation was very stressful” for students and college administrators alike. Hastings noted that enrollment at Governors State University, which was struggling, has quadrupled now that the financial situation has stabilized with the state budget. But other universities such as Southern Illinois University and Northern Illinois University that had declining enrollment even before the crisis
are still having problems. “Part of the problem is that the population is declining in southern Illinois,” said Burke. “Except for New Jersey, we are the second-biggest exporter of college students in the country. And many of those students don’t come back here when they graduate.” When Hastings was asked about plans for the Tinley Park Mental Health Center, which the state closed in 2012, he predicted that “the property will be repurposed for business and entertainment uses. “The site has been appraised for $4 million but $14 million in environmental mitigation is needed,” he noted. The legislators also criticized Rauner for focusing on anti-union issues, and trying to turn Illinois into a “right-to-work” state. “I’ve worked with other governors, and you can have a social agenda. But your main job as governor is to pass a balanced budget,” said Daley. After the meeting, Cunningham said he has endorsed state Sen. Daniel Biss (D-9th) in the gubernatorial primary on March 20. “He is a colleague and a friend,” said Cunningham. “He has a difficult road ahead, but I see a path forward for him,” he added, acknowledging the uphill battle against people such as billionaire JB Pritzker and Chris Kennedy. “Illinois voters’ first inclination is not to go for a billionaire without any government experience,” said Cunningham.
Supplied photo
Errant driver no match for martial arts building
A car crashed into a brick support pillar at 1:30 a.m. last Sunday at T-USA Martial Arts, 12041 S. Harlem Ave. after striking a street sign, reported Palos Heights police. The driver, Mary E. Groark, was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was uninjured during the collision, police said. Officers on the scene determined that Groark was impaired and she was taken into custody for driving under the influence of alcohol, according to official reports. In addition, police said Groark was charged with improper lane usage and driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than .08. She was processed accordingly and was released on bond, according to police. The damage to the building was inspected and it was determined the facility was safe for occupancy.
POLICE BLOTTER: PALOS HEIGHTS Drug possession
Tara R. Lannom, 19, of Steger, was charged with possession of a controlled substance following a traffic stop at 8:26 p.m. Friday, in the 12400 block of South Harlem Avenue. Police said an unspecified quantity of cocaine was found in the car, as well as a metal “grinder” with marijuana residue on it. She $166 in merchandise, and Hudson was held for a bond hearing on stole $117 worth, according to the Saturday. police report. They are due at a Theft hearing at the Orland Park Civic William Sledge, 25, of Dolton, Center on Tuesday. was charged with theft after he Calls police for aid, then allegedly took an unattended cellbusted on warrant rap phone that had been left plugged in An employee of I Fix and Repair, and charging in a hallway during a in Orland Square Mall, was arrested school event at Chicago Christian on a warrant charge on Nov. 11 High School, 12001 S. Oak Park after he summoned police to the Ave., at 6:45 p.m. Nov. 17. He is store to address an unrelated matter. due in court on Jan. 11. Purses and bags were reported Nadir A. Adilov, 28, of Chicago Ridge, was taken into custody af- stolen out of three vehicles that ter police reportedly learned that were parked at Lake Katherine, he was wanted on a warrant for in the 7400 block of West Colallegedly driving on a suspended lege Drive, between 12:45 and license. Adilov had summoned 1:50 p.m. Saturday. Police said police because several customers windows on the three vehicles returned to his shop, wondering had been smashed out. if one of them had left $300 cash Suspended license behind. Adilov agreed to review Sacquella M. Johnson, 28, of security-camera footage with the customers, but said he wanted Chicago, was charged with driving police present, as a precaution. with a suspended license following The footage showed no evidence a traffic stop at 12:45 p.m. Friday, that the customer left money in in the 13100 block of South 71st the store, police said. The police Avenue. Police said she was also report did not indicate a court date cited for speeding and driving for Adilov. without insurance. She is due in
court on Dec. 27.
Outstanding warrant Brian M. Parente, 31, of Palos Heights, was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Oak Lawn when police responded to a report
of a suspicious person in the 7700 block of Forest Hill Lane, where he lives, at 1:40 p.m. Sunday. Police said the warrant was for failure to appear in court on another charge. He is due in court on Jan. 18.
4 Thursday, December 7, 2017
Few details from Pritzker on trusts Last year, billionaire Democrat JB Pritzker derided Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for not releasing detailed income tax filings. “The question is who his investors are, and whether there are any in China or Russia that are affecting his personal income,” Pritzker said of Trump, adding that the future president was “obfuscating in order to avoid being discovered as a liar.” And then last week, Pritzker released only the first two pages of his income tax returns going back three years. Pritzker told reporters for weeks that he hadn’t released the returns sooner because the task was so “complex.” Um, two pages ain’t “complex.” Pritzker’s real income appears to come from various private trust funds. He disclosed last week that his trusts paid $25 million in state taxes and $129 million in federal taxes between 2014 and 2016. Pritzker’s personal income taxes were a tiny fraction of that amount. During the same time period, he revealed that he paid only $636,000 in state income taxes and $7.7 million in federal income taxes on his personal income. He refused to divulge the tax returns for those trusts (which really would be “complex”) because, his campaign claimed, other members of his extended family also benefit from those trusts. OK, fine. But how about divulging the names of his trusts? Tracking down these trusts is a difficult business because they’re shrouded in such secrecy. Names would help. When a politician refuses to divulge something, particularly after criticizing others for not doing so, you’ve gotta wonder what that person is hiding. The Pritzker family all but invented off-shore trusts. “No family in the U.S. can copy the Pritzkers in using offshore entities to gain tax advantages,” claimed Forbes Magazine back in 2003. But, try as I might, I couldn’t convince Pritzker’s campaign to release the names of his trust funds. So, in an attempt to pry Pritzker’s information loose, I reached out to Chris Kennedy’s gubernatorial campaign and asked if they would release the names of the trust funds Kennedy benefits from. They did. Here’s the list: Robert F. Kennedy 1959 Trust; The Christopher G. Kennedy 1987 Trust; The Sheila B. Kennedy 2011 Trust; the Christopher G. Kennedy 2001 Trusts for Children; Trusts U/W George Skakel and Ann Skakel; Trusts U/W Robert F. Kennedy; The Scudder Trust; Christopher G. Kennedy 1997 Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust [street address deleted by me]; Melrose Avenue Resident Trust I and Trust II and [street address deleted by me] Island Avenue Residence Trust I and Trust II. George Skakel was Kennedy’s maternal grandfather. He was from Chicago and founded the fabulously successful Great Lakes Carbon Corporation. “U/W” is an acronym for “under the will of” and means it was created as part of somebody’s last will and testament. The Scudder Trust appears to invest in renewable energy and environmental stuff. That Island Avenue trust is for a 14-room summer house in Hyannis Port, Mass. called Brambletyde, which was recently described by Curbed.com as a “stately waterfront mansion” with “magnificent views of Nantucket Sound and just one neighbor.” President John F. Kennedy and his family stayed in the mansion during the summer of 1963. The Zillow website pegs the worth of the four-bedroom, 6.5 bathroom, 3,379 square foot house at $6.3 million. Taxes are $66K per year. Ah, the rich. But Kennedy’s a pauper when compared to Pritzker. As mentioned above, Pritzker’s paternal grandfather was a pioneer in using trusts to avoid taxation. A.N. Pritzker “took the family fortune from $250,000 in the 1920s to an estimated $2 billion at his death in 1986,” according to Forbes. But when he died in 1986, his heirs told the IRS that A.N.’s net worth was a mere $25,000. The feds didn’t buy it, and the Pritzker family ended up paying the government $9.5 million plus interest nine years later, Forbes reported. JB Pritzker’s sister Penny, who served as President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Commerce, is mentioned in the so-called “Paradise Papers,” a massive ongoing research project into the uber-wealthy and mega-corporations conducted by journalists all over the world. Ms. Pritzker transferred shares from two Bermuda companies to a company owned by trusts that benefit her children after she was confirmed for the cabinet post. Her family’s myriad offshore trusts were a big issue during her confirmation hearing. Alas, Kennedy’s decision to reveal his trust funds’ names did not move the Pritzker campaign one iota closer to disclosing the names of Pritzker’s trusts. This ain’t over. Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
OPINION
The Regional News
RICH MILLER
The bullying of Sharon Brannigan Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan made some mildly offensive comments on her personal Facebook page way back in January, 2015 about “Middle Easterners” that were less about racism and more about the fears many Americans share. It took two and one-half years for Brannigan’s critics, mostly Muslim activists, to accuse her of “anti-Muslim” racism. The timing looks suspicious to me. Something else is going on that the protesters are not addressing. Brannigan is Republican. Palos Township is Republican. The Township leadership has openly defied the tax policies of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, a do-nothing former Democratic Machine alderman from the Chicago’s South Side. Preckwinkle, and several Democratic officials, have provided support, both financially and politically, to some of the anti-Brannigan protesters. Preckwinkle had reason to target Brannigan. She hoped Brannigan’s comments would stymie the opponents of her oppressive one-cent-per-ounce soda pop and sweetened beverage tax. In fact, it was the combined support of the Palos Township Republican Organization, including Brannigan and others, who were the foundation of the campaign led by Cook County Board member Sean Morrison that blocked the Preckwinkle tax. It’s something I will write more about soon. Morrison, also the Palos Township Republican Committeeman, thwarted Preckwinkle at every turn. Morrison is responsible for leading the non-partisan Republican and Democratic movement that ultimately repealed the soda pop tax imposed by Preckwinkle in July. Ironically, the protesters began targeting
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Brannigan at the same time, in July. It is true. Muslims in America, and Christian Arabs like myself who most Americans “think” are Muslim — I’m Orthodox Christian from a Bethlehem family raised and confirmed Lutheran — do face racism and bigotry. But none of Brannigan’s comments came even close to the intensity of the racist hate that faces Muslims in this country. Brannigan was legitimately concerned about this country’s failed immigration system, one that Democrats like Preckwinkle and Congressman Luis Gutierrez have exploited for their own personal benefit. If the immigration problem were ever resolved, many of these do-nothing elected officials would have nothing to “champion.” They really don’t want the immigration problem resolved. Preckwinkle knows Brannigan, and she immediately bullied Brannigan to step down from her volunteer position on the County’s Commission on Women’s Issues. And the word “bullied” is very appropriate in this controversy. Since July, protesters have crowded meetings of the Palos Township Board screaming, yelling and making threats, demanding that Preckwinkle’s foe, Brannigan, resign. Videos of the meetings showing protesters yelling and screaming are disturbing. I know some of the protesters and most are
READERS WRITE Palos Library ‘friends’ offer thanks for Christmastime celebration
Dear Editor, The 13th annual “Christmastime in Palos” celebration on Saturday, Dec. 2, was an outstanding success. The event, sponsored by First Midwest Bank, and coordinated by the Friends of the Palos Heights Library, offered holiday entertainment, special activities for children and beautiful singing by the Stagg High School madrigal singers. A wide variety of special Christmas cookies was especially appreciated by the attendees. These goodies were provided by Breadsmith, Chicagoland Ham, Diane’s Place, Doughs Guys Bakery, Entenmann’s Owned and operated by Southwest Regional Publishing Co. Bakery, Harvest Room Restaurant, Jewel Mark Hornung, Chief Operating Officer Food Stores, Mariano’s, Orland Park Bakery, Trader Joes, Walgreens, Walt’s Food The Business Side The News Side Center and Zettlmeier Bakerei. Donna Brown, Sales Director Anthony Caciopo, Editor We greatly appreciate the generosity of Monica Cotter, Finance Director Dermot Connolly, Reporter these local merchants and hope that our atDebbie Perrewe, Classified Manager Jeff Vorva, Sports Editor Mike Russell, Production Director Lauren Ziemann, Art Director tendees will also express their thanks when Bonnie Hesik, Pre-press Manager Chuck Ingwersen, Designer shopping locally. Friends of the Palos Heights Library Southwest Regional Publishing Marge Damm 12243 S. Harlem Ave. Palos Heights, IL 60463 Phone: (708) 448-4000 Fax: (708) 448-4012 Website: www.theregionalnews.com email: TheRegional@comcast.net Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
RAY HANANIA
good people. And they are being pushed by extremists who hope to disrupt the Township which spends most of its time providing badly needed services to seniors and homeowners. Despite the disruptive conduct of the protesters, Brannigan and the board have politely allowed each and every protester to speak, even allowing them to take over the meeting. Brannigan issued a very strongly worded and sincere apology to the Muslim and Arab community in September. The protesters called it “too little, too late.” The truth is, it was her third apology that they rejected. She had apologized back in July, too. Many of the protesters don’t care about racism. They don’t care about the Township’s seniors. They don’t care about good government. But they do care about politics and avenging Preckwinkle for the shaming she received from Palos Township officials who led the fight to defend the rights of Cook County taxpayers. Muslims and Arabs in this area continue to face discrimination, including the adoption of a state law recently that punishes them if they criticize Israel’s abuses of Muslims and Christians in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. That’s an issue they should be fighting. But you won’t see any of them in Gov. Rauner’s offices, at Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s offices or even Preckwinkle’s offices. They might not get those precious government grants and support they are used to. Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist and former Chicago City Hall reporter. Email him at rghanania@gmail. com.
Evidence that politics do trump morality in 2017 America Dear Editor, I’m writing regarding Ray Hanania’s column in the Nov. 30, 2017 edition of The Regional News titled “The politics of predatory sexual harassment.” Watching Mr. Hanania try to turn the Roy Moore story into an attack on Nancy Pelosi and Democrats is quite the sight, like watching an octopus play Twister. He claims that, in Democratic eyes, sexual assault is “only a problem when the perpetrators are Republicans.” Really, Ray? I recall many Dems condemning Harvey Weinstein from the moment that story broke. And by the time your Regional column was published, Nancy Pelosi had called for John Conyers to resign. Ray argues that “we shouldn’t make one issue more or less significant than
the other.” I guess Al Franken improperly touching adult women, in public, in one case in front of her husband, is the very same thing as a 32-year-old male allegedly attempting to undress and have sex with a 14-year-old whom he had sneak out of her house. Al Franken’s behavior is a huge disappointment, but no, Ray, it is not the same thing. Not even close. Ray resurrects Bill Clinton stories (if the Clintons never existed the Republicans would have to invent them) and mentions the “disturbing case of Juanita Broaddrick.” I wish he were just a trifle disturbed by Roy Moore. Apparently not, leading his description of the Roy Moore case with “Moore has denied allegations” and putting the alleged “sexual contact” in quotation marks. Why weren’t the allegations investigated years ago? Perhaps because the girl(s) was/were afraid of him. Perhaps, as one of his accusers reported, because he told her ”You’re just a child, I’m the district attorney. If you tell anyone about this no one will ever believe you.” Ray writes “Pelosi claims Franken took responsibility.” Actually, Ray, it’s not just a Pelosi claim. Franken did that very thing. He took responsibility and apologized. Unlike Roy Moore who continues to deny, deny, deny and call it a ‘liberal plot,’ much like Donald Trump when confronted with multiple charges of sexual assault in 2016. Even Mitch McConnell (Mitch McConnell!) said he believed the women accusing Roy Moore, though he has slithered away from his previous statements since Roy Moore appears to have regained his lead in the polls. It’s evidence that politics do trump morality in 2017 America. Jan Pietrzak Palos Heights, IL
Trump not only president to limit immigration from specific countries Dear Editor, Dean Koldenhoven, in his November 30,
2017 letter briefly describes an unpleasant but true account of how Europeans, who emigrated from Europe to the United States, ultimately forced Native American Indians onto segregated reservations depriving them of their agriculture, hunting grounds and displacing entire societies. This is our disgraceful legacy from earlier immigrants and their descendants. It is also a commentary on what can happen to a nation (Native American Tribes) when it does not have an immigration policy. The United States has had an immigration service since 1891. He then describes how the court system struck down a Trump administration law on constitutional grounds which was intended to prevent immigration from certain countries. This is true. But Mr. Koldenhoven fails to mention that other presidents in the past prevented immigration from specific countries. Seems like it was only unconstitutional for the Trump administration. If not, why is it the case that President Trump’s law was reversed and other administrations laws preventing immigration from specific countries were never reversed on constitutional grounds? Mr. Koldenhoven uses an argument by analogy to compare President Reagan’s call to tear down the Berlin Wall to a call to tear down the wall on the southern border of the United States. The analogy does not hold up. The Berlin Wall was built to prevent people from leaving the communist sector of Berlin. The wall (to be constructed) on our southern border is not intended to prevent people from leaving the U.S., it is intended to control the flow of people coming into the U.S. That is quite a difference. It can be considered consistent with an immigration policy. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Koldenhoven after he made the correct call years ago, as mayor of Palos Heights, when Muslims tried to buy a church in town. Let’s hope he gets it right again. Frank Beresh Palos Heights
BUSINESS
The Regional News
FINANCIAL FOCUS
Thursday, December 7, 2017
5
Can you afford to retire early? Some people dream of retiring early. Are you one of them? If so, you’ll need to plan ahead — because a successful early retirement can’t be achieved through last-minute moves. So, if you’re determined to retire early, consider taking the following steps: • Pick a date. Early retirement means different things to different people. But it’s important to pick an exact age, whether it is 60, 62, 64, or whatever, so you can build an appropriate retirement income strategy. • Think about your retirement lifestyle. You may know that you want to retire early — but have you thought about what you want to do with your newfound time? Will you simply stay close to home and pursue your hobbies? Do you dream of spending two months each winter on a tropical island? Or are you thinking of opening your own small business or doing some consulting? Different retirement lifestyles can have vastly different price tags. Once you’ve envisioned your future, you can develop a saving and investment plan to help you get there. • Boost contributions to your retirement plans. If you want to retire early, you may well need to accelerate your contributions to your retirement accounts, such as your IRA and your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan. You may need to cut back in other areas of your life to maximize the amounts you put into your retirement plans, but this sacrifice may be worth it to you. • Invest for growth. Your investment strategy essentially should be based on three key factors: your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. When you change any one of these variables, it will affect the others. So, if you shorten your time horizon by retiring early, you may well need to reconsider your risk tolerance. Specifically, you may need to accept
Matthew Van Howe Edward Jones
a somewhat higher level of investment risk so you can invest for greater growth potential. • Keep a lid on your debt load. It’s easier said than done, but try to manage your debt load as tightly as possible. The lower your monthly debt payments, the more you can contribute to your retirement plans. Life is unpredictable. Even if you take all the steps described above, you may still fall short of your goal of retiring early. While this may be somewhat disappointing, you might find that adding just a few more years of work can be beneficial to building resources for your chosen retirement lifestyle. For one thing, you can continue contributing to your IRA and your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan. Plus, if you’re still working, you may be able to afford delaying your Social Security payments until you’re closer to your “normal” retirement age, which, as defined by the Social Security Administration, likely will be 66 or 67. The longer you put off taking these benefits, the bigger your monthly checks, although they will max out once you reach 70. And even if you are not able to retire early, some of the moves you took to reach that goal — such as contributing as much as you could afford to your IRA and 401(k), controlling your debts, and so on — may pay off for you during your retirement — whenever it begins.
Supplied photo
Orland Park Lieutenant Dave Piper (from left), Orland Park Fire Chief Mike Schofield, Orland Park Lieutenant Mark Duke, Field Maintenance Supervisor Aaron Holden and Supervisor Tom Harrell from Illinois American Water.
Orland Park FPD earns grant
The Orland Park Fire Protection District will be purchasing a Suction Assisted Laryngoscopy Airway Decontamination simulator to complement their training center thanks to a grant from Illinois American Water. Fire Chief Michael Schofield thanked IAW during the check presentation. This article was written by Edward Jones for “On behalf of the Orland Fire use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Protection District Board of Trustees, staff and the firefighters of the district, we would like to express our gratitude to Illinois American Water for their generous grant program and for awarding grant funding to our Fire District.
“This grant will be used to purchase a Suction Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination Manikin which will allow personnel to provide simulation to practice airway and lifesaving techniques in a non-hazardous and repeatable environment,” Schofield said. “Effective suctioning can make quite a difference to the resuscitated patient and clears the view for executing the intubation. It removes materials that otherwise might enter the lower airway, which can cause pneumonia, slowing recovery or resulting in death,” Schofield added.
The IAW 2017 Firefighter Grant Program provides financial assistance to fire and emergency organizations serving communities in its service areas. This year approximately $75,000 will be awarded to 78 Illinois fire departments. Since the program was created in 2010 over 425 grants totaling over $417,000 has been awarded. Illinois American Water’s Firefighter Grant Program awards grants to provide personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training materials and classroom programs.
COMINGS & GOINGS
Buona Beef opens in Oak Lawn
Supplied photo
Edwards Reality Company Vice President/Principal Ramzi Hassan (from left), Parkway Bank and Trust Company Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager Lynn Cialdella presented Orland Township Food Pantry Coordinator Robin Kassis, Orland Township Food Pantry Volunteer John Rudniski and Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady with a check for $4800 on Nov. 28 from all the sponsors from the 2017 Spirit of America Car Show and Drive-In fall family fun event. The donation will go towards assisting the Food Pantry for its annual holiday program.
Orland Twp. Food Pantry gets donation The Orland Township Food Pantry received a donation of $4,800 Nov. 28 from the Spirit of America Car Show and Drive-In sponsors. The Orland Township Food Pantry provides assistance to more than 300 local families per month and it relies heavily on donations from local businesses and others in the community. Edwards Reality Vice President/ Principal Ramzi Hassan and Parkway Bank and Trust Company Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager Lynn Cialdella presented Orland Township Supervisor Paul
O’Grady, Orland Township Food Pantry Coordinator Robin Kassis and Orland Township Food Pantry Volunteer John Rudniski with the donation. The donation will go towards assisting the Food Pantry as the annual holiday program is in full swing. The Spirit of America Car Show and Drive-In, held on Sept. 16 at Orland Park Crossing, has always been vital to supporting the Food Pantry’s mission. The Spirit of American Car Show and Drive-In sponsors include, Midas-Bratcher Enterprises,
AREA PROPERTY TRANSFERS Following are the property transfers in the area, according to the latest report, as received from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office. The Regional News does not attempt to correct errors made by that office. Orland Park Troemel Norman Lee Tr to Keljevic Antonije, 14311 Crystal Tree Dr, $261,000.00; Salvador Michael J to Antone Larry S, 16905 Yearling Crossing, $471,000.00; Hamlin Grp Inc to Kimowski Marek, 7505 Tiffany Dr, Unit #3C, $90,000.00; Newsom Ruth M to Morales Nancy, 9023 Pebble Beach Ln, $290,000.00; Simone Christopher M to Kasper Kelly, 14550 Beech St, $255,000.00; Borling Donald G Tr to Buchbach Hans, 15323 Sunset Ridge Dr, $250,000.00; Derbas Joseph D to Magana Eloy, 7707 W 157th St, $153,000.00; Van Hecke Mary C to Kurelic Dominic, 8514 Hollywood Dr, $282,000.00; Atkian Dick D Tr to Robinson David, 14724 Maple Ave, $345,000.00; Delfavero Marc Tr to Hussein
Shadi A, 15220 Bayberry Ct, $340,000.00; Haton Donald G to Engstrom Bruce Edwin, 13508 86th Ave, $277,000.00; Nocera Eileen A Tr to Rutili Lauren K, 16904 Steeplechase Pky, $470,000.00; Evanish Frank D Tr to Hoffman Reinhard H Trust, 17535 Pamela Ln, Unit #61, $265,500.00; Bertacchi Jason to Tenuta Christina, 15726 Chesterfield Ln, $176,000.00; Martha Enterprises Inc to Gilbeau Clifford N, 11249 167th St, $452,500.00; Beechen & Dill Homes Inc to Zeznanski Danny, 15200 West Ave, $500,000.00; Jesuthasan Debra Louise to Ferozpurwala Alfiya, 10831 Oakland Dr, $375,000.00; Judicial Sales Corp to Jafar Tariq, 9024 W 140th St, Unit MANY, $675,000.00. Palos Heights Gorman Timothy to Jarzabek Agnes, 6107 W 127th St, $172,000.00; Dunford Laurence J Tr to Peters Clinton D Jr, 7719 Arquilla Dr, Unit #7719, $350,000.00; Egan Joseph P Iii Tr to Georgelos Spiro P, 12043 S 71st Ave, $252,000.00.
Orland Park Crossing, Parkway Bank and Trust, Edwards Realty Company, Bettenhausen Automotive, Orland Park Bank Trust, Stone Wheel, Inc., Marquette Bank, Factory Motor Parts, Everest Management Group, Krug Construction LLC, Import Exchange Inc., Dave and Buster’s, Brannigan Chiropractic Center, House of Music, Southland TV, Walt’s Food Centers, Home Depot – Orland Park, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay and Sparkles Entertainment, Inc. For more information, call (708) 403-4222.
Buona Beef opened its latest location yesterday, Dec. 6, in Oak Lawn. An invitation-only lunch and ribbon cutting took place the previous day. The 21st location for the Berwyn-based chain is at 6235 W. 95th St. The company purchased three homes to make room for the 4,000-square-foot restaurant. The project cost an estimated $4 million. The Oak Lawn location is the third Buona Beef restaurant to open in the Chicago area this year and is only the third in the Southland, including one that opened in Frankfort in July. Five more Buona restaurants are planned for 2018, including one in an outlot at the Meijer Foods plaza in Flossmoor. The Oak Lawn restaurant offers dine-in, carry out and delivery services, along with catering. Store hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Starbucks moves into new digs in Frankfort
Starbucks has opened in its new home in the former Burger King restaurant in the Frankfort Town Center shopping center. The coffee shop moved on Friday across the parking lot into the former restaurant at 20811 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort. The new location has more seating and features a drive-through lane. Hours will be the same, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 5:30 Palos Park a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Kawalko Lester to SgouThe Burger King closed in Febridis John, 12620 Wisteria Ct, ruary, 2016. $403,000.00; Barts David J to Weagant Rob- Checkers makes return ert Archibald, 23 Commons Dr, Tampa-based Checkers Drive$236,500.00; Ins, which abandoned the ChiChicago Title Land Trust Co cago marketplace years ago, has Tr to Sink Peter, 20 Commons returned with more than 20 stores and has plans for up to 80 more Dr, $248,000.00.
Mortgage Rates Around the Area First Midwest Bank (as of December 4) 30-year fixed 15-year fixed 30-year fixed Jumbo
RATES APR POINTS 4.000 4.045 0 3.500 3.555 0 3.865 3.920 0
30-year fixed 15-year fixed 10-year fixed
RATES APR POINTS 3.990 3.959 0 3.625 3.614 0 3.625 3.631 0
30-year fixed 20-year fixed 15-year fixed
RATES APR POINTS 3.875 3.988 0 3.625 3.781 0 3.125 3.323 0
30-year fixed 20-year fixed 15-year fixed
RATES APR POINTS 4.00 4.1039 0 3.750 3.8600 0 3.375 3.5163 0
United Trust Bank (as of December 4)
Prospect Savings Bank (as of December 5)
BOB BONG locations. The latest location opened last month at 107 E. 95th St. in Chicago’s Roseland community, that was preceded by one in October at 11915 S. Pulaski Road in Alsip. Other South Side locations include Bedford Park, Dixmoor and Chicago’s Garfield Ridge community. “There’s lot of room to grow,” said Bruce Kim, director of franchise development for Checkers and Rally’s. “We have 21 stores now with six in the pipeline. There’s room for 80 more.” Most of them will wind up in the suburbs. “Our growth is not so much for Chicago as for the suburbs,” Kim said. “Our franchisees mostly want the suburbs.” Kim said Checkers left Chicago several years ago when internal turmoil caused 40 stores, most of them franchise operations, to close. “Six years ago, we came back with 10 corporate stores,” he said. “The majority of new stores opening are owned by franchisees. Chicago is a great market.” Checkers has been around for 30 years, Kim said. The company has 859 Checkers and Rally’s combined nationwide with modest expansion plans. But customers will find only Checkers in Illinois. Fans of Rally’s will have to venture into northwest Indiana for that brand.
Popeyes opens this week in Summit A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
is scheduled to open today at 11 a.m. at 5708 S. Harlem Ave. in southwest suburban Summit. The eatery is owned by franchisee Haneef Kassam, who did not respond to an email request for information. An email to Popeyes corporate offices for information also was not answered. In July, the Summit Village Board approved a Class 7c tax incentive for the restaurant. Mayor Sergio Rodriguez said the tax incentive promotes new construction in the village by reducing property taxes for the first five years. “It gives them a tax break so they can come in. It’s for new construction,” Rodriguez said. “At the end, we get more tax revenue for the village.” Construction began in June after an apartment building at the site was demolished.
Chuck E. Cheese quits Oak Lawn The troubled Chuck E. Cheese arcade pulled out of its longtime home in Oak Lawn last week fulfilling a promise the corporation made a year ago that it would leave town after a series of altercations between patrons and brawls. The arcade opened as a Showbiz Pizza in 1978 in the shopping center at 95th Street and Pulaski Road in Oak Lawn. The company said it would likely relocate the arcade, but no new location has been announced. A neighboring Kmart store closed last month and the retail center is now essentially empty. If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.
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6 Thursday, December 7, 2017
The Regional News
DEATH NOTICES Alice L. Doogan Alice L. Doogan, nee Nicolai, age 98, beloved wife of the late Melvin H. Doogan—former mayor of Orland Park from 1965 to 1985. Loving mother of Melvin (Roxanne) Doogan, Sallie (Bob) Shepard, Joan (Dave) Heinemann and the late Carol Englebrecht, Kathy (Vic) Sharp and baby Robert Doogan. Cherished grandmother of 16. Dearest great-grandmother of 28 and great-great-grandmother of eight. Fond sister of the late Eldon (late Claire) Nicolai. Dear aunt of many nieces and nephews. Visitation Saturday,
Gwyneath Birch
Gwyneath C. Birch (nee Marks), 88, a Palos Heights resident, died Monday. Mrs. Birch was employed for many years in the health care industry. She was a longtime member of the Daughters of American Revolution and Daughters of the American Colonists. Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Jeka; sons, Wayne, Robert and Richard; sister, Sylvia
December 9, 2017, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon with a Funeral Service to follow at 12:00 Noon at Colonial Chapel, 15525 S. 73rd Ave. (155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem) Orland Park, IL. Interment Orland Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials to Calvary Church, 16100 S. 104th Ave., Orland Park, IL 60467 or The Center, 12700 Southwest Hwy., Palos Park, IL 60464 are appreciated. Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel. com 708-532-5400
Grant; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Visitation is from 3 to 9 p.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 7) at the Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home, 11028 Southwest Highway, Palos Hills. Services are at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 8 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Garden South Cemetery.
Richard R. ‘Rick’ Schultz
Orland Park resident Richard
R. “Rick” Schultz, 63, died Nov. 28 at Palos Community Hospital. Mr. Schultz worked as a custodian for 19 years at the Orland Park Christian Reformed Church. He is survived by his wife, Karen A.; daughters, Alicia and Jessica; son, Nicholas; brothers, Gene and Russell; a granddaughter and many nieces and nephews. Services were Saturday at Colonial Chapel in Orland Park. Interment was private.
The Presbyterian Church, 13401 S. Wolf Road, Orland Park, is hosting several Christmas services throughout December and a holiday concert. For more information, call (708) 448-8142. The third Sunday of Advent worship service will be held at
10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. The Music Ministry will present its annual Choir Cantata. Celebration Ringers will also be performing at this worship service. Jonathan Beyer, Tammy Coil and Amanda Crider will perform at the holiday concert at PCOP at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21. The program includes selections of classical, musical theater and holiday repertory. Beyer is a graduate of Carl Sandburg High
School. Tickets are $20 and available in the church office. The fourth Sunday of Advent worship service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 24. The celebration singers will perform at this worship service. The traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight worship service will be held at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 24. The Celebration Singers will perform at this service.
PICK OF THE LITTER
Treating cancer in pets in the future
Dear B., Yes, we do. Mirtazapine is a tetracyclic antidepressant used in humans, but it has primarily been used in veterinary medicine for anti-vomiting and appetite stimulation in cats. In well-done, masked, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trials, Mirtazapine increased body weight, improved appetite scores
Answers
Puzzle on Page 7
HEALTH BEAT All Palos Park police officers will be trained on how to safely interact with people experiencing a mental health or addiction related crisis, Palos Park Mayor John Mahoney and Police Commissioner Dan Polk recently announced. The opportunity came through a funding grant from the Palos Park Police Foundation. “A 911 call dealing with a mental health issue can have results leaving both the officer and our community members vulnerable to tragedy,” Mahoney said. “As a community, we must ensure people with mental illness get the treatment and support they need.” Polk added, “By equipping our officers with the tools to properly recognize mental health challenges
Orland Township seniors head to Chicago
DVM • Prairie StateVet.com
Dear Dr. Fleming, I took my cat into my vet in Chicago for follow-up care. Sidney has long-term poor kidney function and now his appetite is down and he is losing weight. My vet, Dr. Barb, put Sidney on Mirtazapine and I’m supposed to give him a pill every other day. It seems to be helping. I didn’t want to say anything to Dr. Barb in her office but I am on that same medication for depression. It’s working for Sidney but do other vets use this medication like this? B.N., Evergreen Park
A crew finishes the installation of an LED messaging sign Monday afternoon outside the Palos Heights Recreation Center, 6601 W. 127th Street. Connections have been made; the sign was lit Monday evening and Rec Center staff will operate the display wirelessly. The sign is being donated by the Palos Heights Woman’s Club and a dedication date is expected to be announced shortly.
Orland Township is hosting monthly immunization clinics from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at the township building, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave. Free vaccines are available to
Orland Township children 18 and younger who are uninsured, underinsured (insurance does not cover vaccines), insured by Medicaid Title 19 or are Native American (American Indian, Alaskan Native). Non - residential children who meet the eligibility guidelines are welcome. For children residing outside of the township’s boundaries, a $30 administration fee per vaccine will be charged (does not apply to those with Medicaid/All Kids Title 21). An up-to-date U.S. shot record is mandatory to receive any vaccine and children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Proof of residency required. For more information and other health services provided by Orland Township, call the office at (708) 403-4222.
Ravinia Ave, Orland Park. For more information, call (708) 403-4222. Tour-goers will stop at Millennium Park, where the city’s Christmas tree, a 62-foot Norway spruce has been selected to be Chicago’s official Christmas tree. The group will also take in the zoo lights in Lincoln Park. If the mild temperatures contin-
ue, there will be an evening stroll that includes the John Hancock Tree, Daley Plaza, and other luminous displays. Last year’s trip included seniors wearing Santa hats, scarves and Christmas sweaters. 180 seniors gathered on six trolleys to travel along the Magnificent Mile, down State Street and past Macy’s windows and other festive attractions.
while serving our community and each other gets to the heart of what we do, serve a greater good.” Mental health first aid training for police officers will teach officers how to safely de-escalate a mental health crisis, recognize signs of mental health challenges and who to call for support, officials said. By early 2018 Palos Park Police hope to have 100 percent of their sworn officers trained in mental health first aid.
Orland Township offering immunization clinics
SENIOR NOTES
JOHN FLEMING Dear Readers, I’d like to be able to come back in 25 years and see what progress has been made in treating cancer in pets. I was reading today about an experimental vaccine for bone cancer in dogs. Most often, when we diagnose bone cancer (which typically occurs in one of the legs), a dog lives about six months, with or without amputation of the limb. At least with amputation the final six months are pretty good, painfree months. With amputation plus chemotherapy we get about 14 months. Now, as reported in a recent study out of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, the median survival time can approach 32 months when you treat with amputation, chemotherapy and this new vaccine. This is amazing! Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. is hoping to receive a conditional license for a freeze-dried version of the vaccine by year’s end from the government.
New sign at Rec Center ready to have its say
Palos Park police officers to train in mental health first aid
HOUSES OF WORSHIP Presbyterian Church of Orland Park celebrating Christmas season
Photo by Anthony Caciopo
Orland Township seniors are getting an early start on the Holidays by heading “north” Friday, Dec. 8 to see downtown Chicago’s light displays and decorations. The Chicago Trolley Holiday Lights Tour is set to depart at 4:30 p.m. from Orland Township, 14807 S.
Meet Joy, Andy and Emma. Emma is 12 years old and a really nice cat.
and reduced vomiting in cats with CKD (chronic kidney disease). Clinical studies are lacking in dogs. Also, an antihistamine, Cyproheptadine, which inhibits serotonin receptors in the hypothalamus, leads to appetite stimulation in cats. Again, there is minimal evidence for this effect in dogs. You have a good vet in Chicago.
Pet cloning
I have not developed a personal opinion on pet cloning; however, for those who want to pursue cloning their pet, the technology now exists. Cloning animals has been around awhile. Remember when Dolly, a domestic sheep, became the first mammal to be cloned successfully? It took place at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Dolly was born in 1996. The first cloned puppy (Snuppy, an Afghan hound) was born more than a decade ago in South Korea. The cost in 2005 was $100.000. Once available only in Asia, dog and cat cloning is now available in the United States. Texas-based Viagen, originally a livestock cloning business, began cloning pets in 2015 and remains the only company in the U.S. to do so. They
Sudoku
Puzzle on Page 7
are now approaching 100 cloned puppies and kittens. The genetic preservation fee is $1,600, which I think is very reasonable. This fee will be applied to the actual cloning fee if the owner decides to go ahead someday. The fee for dog cloning is $50,000 and $25,000 for cat cloning. The arrangement calls for 50 percent down and the remaining 50 percent paid when the puppy or kitten can go home at eight weeks of age. I know there are clients in our practice who will do this. I wish I had genetic preservation done on Ebie before he got cancer because I think I might actually consider it. The greatest happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved — loved for ourselves, or rather, in spite of ourselves. —Victor Hugo
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The Regional News
Thursday, December 7, 2017
7
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Photos by Anthony Caciopo
A celebration of Illinois 200 years in the making Palos Heights was among many communities throughout Illinois to mark the start of the state’s year-long bicentennial celebration by hoisting a commemorative flag Monday. Illinois became the 21st state on Dec. 3, 1818 and a statewide multimedia campaign during 2018 will “celebrate Illinois’ influence on the world through music, art and architecture, sports, agriculture, literature, commerce, history, technology, innovation and transportation,” according to Illinois200.com. Palos Heights Mayor Bob Straz (right) read a brief proclamation and then watched, with other attendees at the event (not all shown), as the flag was raised outside City Hall, 7601 W. College Drive.
Across 1 Think tank nuggets 6 Party freebies 10 Hurricane response org. 14 Confusion 15 Shakespearean villain 16 Ink color, to Shakespeare 17 Flower symbolizing freshness 18 Turkish money 19 Barnes & Noble reader 20 Sandwich initials 21 “Let’s say we’re even” 24 Some corporate jets 26 Internet hookups? 27 “Oh my goodness!” 29 Like much barley soup 31 Marriott competitor 32 Tuneful 34 Line on a restaurant receipt 37 Slice of pie 39 Car starter: Abbr. 40 Bitcoin, e.g. 42 UFO crew, supposedly 43 “Golly!” 46 Like some garage floors 47 Raise aloft 48 “How do you like them __?!” 50 Baltimore athlete 53 What undercover cops may wear 54 It’s all in your mind 57 Fido’s foot 60 Proactiv+ target 61 Eins, zwei, __ 62 Suspected perp’s story 64 Downpour that can hurt 65 Has a snack 66 Rolled to hold fries, as paper 67 Does impressions of 68 Bug repellent ingredient 69 Rapidity Down 1 Website with movie trivia 2 Use a rotary phone 3 Off-ramps 4 Vienna’s land: Abbr.
5 Surveillance device 6 Window shelves 7 Cry miserably 8 Prefix with culture 9 Chin growths 10 Green Monster ballpark 11 WWII German torpedo craft 12 Bullwinkle, for one 13 Egyptian crosses 22 __ rug: small carpet 23 Magazine revenue source 25 Actor Dane of “Grey’s Anatomy” 27 Lowdown 28 Exude 29 Intolerant sort 30 Years on end 33 Tractor trailers 34 Sudden downturns, and a literal hint to this puzzle’s circles 35 Dot on the blue part of a map
36 Sci. class 38 Deadly African virus 41 Handle it as well as one can 44 Produced, as crops 45 Reagan’s first secretary of state 47 Monopoly buys 49 Lead the flock 50 City name famously used by Peyton Manning when calling signals 51 Summarize 52 Navel type 53 Slacks measure 55 “Dies __”: hymn 56 Ration (out) 58 Provide a fake 62-Across for, e.g. 59 Like EEE shoes 63 Mauna __ (Answers on page 6)
SUDOKU The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.
(Answers on page 6)
Photo by Anthony Caciopo
Museum marks Orland Park’s 125th anniversary
SCHOOL NOTES Century Gives spreads holiday cheer
Sarah Konzen (left), curator of the Orland Park History Museum, discusses historic relics from the community Century Gives, a philanthropic organization with Larry and Nancy Urbanski, who were visiting the museum’s exhibit “Life of an Orlander,” marking the 125th anniversary of Orland Park. The exhibit will run through March, 2018 featuring photographs, farm equipment, comprised of Century Junior High School staff, everyday tools, letters and clothing from days gone by. The museum is located at 14415 Beacon Ave. and is open is sponsoring the Century Giving Tree, which has become an annual tradition at Century. The Giving from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, except holidays. The exhibit is free.
Shepard, Jewel-Osco partner on food drive The Jerry Lemon Needy Family Food Drive at Shepard High School depends on support from students, staff members and the community. Once again this year, the Jewel-Osco in Palos Heights provided an assist. After Shepard students and staff loaded a mini-bus with food at school, they stopped at Jewel. Employees brought out carts of turkey dinners, 50 of them, funded with donations from shoppers. Jewel donated more dinners to Operation Blessing. The contribution extends the reach of the food drive. Shepard students and teachers delivered food to families unable to pick up at school. Other families came to Shepard to pick up boxes of donated food. The Jerry Lemon Needy Family Food Drive, named for a former Shepard teacher, has operated just prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter since the early 1980s. In the years that followed, the food drive evolved. After
Tree provides holiday gifts for families in need within the Orland community. Century Gives, founded in 2013, is comprised of Century staff members who volunteer their time and talents to help those in need. Past events held by Century Gives throughout the school year have included bingo sing-alongs at Alden Estates, winter coat drives and volunteering at the Orland Food Pantry. Additionally, Century Gives has provided contributions to the Teen Bridge Center, Autism Speaks, St. Baldrick’s Organization, Shady Oaks Camp and other community charities. Those who would like to partner with Century Gives, call Dr. Brian Horn, Century Junior High School principal, at (708) 364-3500.
Pop Culture Classroom comes to schools in need Eric Kallenborn teaches English at Shepard High School. He founded a nonprofit organization, Pop Culture Classroom, which purchases sets of books and lends them to schools in need.
Supplied photo
Shepard High School student Grace Culver passes a turkey dinner to a classmate outside of the Jewel Food Store in Palos Heights.
Lemon retired, Shepard teacher Glenn Simms managed the food drive for 20 years before retiring.
The Barnes and Noble Orland Park store hosted a fundraiser for Pop Culture Classroom on Dec. 3, but those who still would like to donate to the organization can still use the book fair identification number, 12221198, online until Friday, Dec. 8. The proceeds will be going to support Pop Culture Classroom’s lending libraries. The lending libraries are class sets of socially conscious graphic novels that the organization has created lesson guides to and will lend to schools in need.
Marist to host parent empowerment workshop Marist High School’s Guidance Department will host its second parent empowerment workshop at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 in the school’s RedHawk Theater, 4200 W. 115th St., Chicago. Attendees should enter at the main office at the west end of the campus. Pre-registration at marist. net is appreciated but not required. The event is free and open to the public. Marist social worker Cathaleen Novak and guidance counselor Holly Cox will present “The Path to Responsibility: How to Foster Leadership Skills, Accountability, and Role Modeling in Your Teen.” This event is the second in a series of quarterly workshops revolving around parenting resilient teens. For more information, call (773) 881-5300.
Marist High School to host holiday concerts
Today, Jim Benes, Esther Roth, Kris LaRocco and Erin McLean Marist High School, 4200 W. handle the organization. 115th St., will hold two concerts to ring in the holiday season. For more information, call (773) 881-5300. The school’s chorus will celebrate the Christmas spirit with a assisting the coordination of the performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, school’s very first Day Of Service Dec. 7 in the school’s RedHawk within the Orland community that Theater. The group will present a will take place next March. In variety of holiday classics. addition, he was named this year Admission is free. Attendees to represent the Illinois Directors should enter at the main office of Student Activities at the IHSA entrance at the west end of campus. Marist’s band will hold its anlevel. nual Christmas concerts at 7 p.m. Gardner’s nomination will now Saturday, Dec. 9 and at 3 p.m. Sunadvance to the State level. “We day, Dec. 10 in the main gym. The are proud of Greg and all that he group will perform pieces ranging has accomplished,” stated Baker, from the operatic “O Fortuna” to “and agree wholeheartedly with jazz to a mix of Christmas stanSouth Cook IPA’s statement that dards. Tickets for the Christmas he ‘is a paragon of excellence in concert are $5 and will be sold our profession.’” at the main gym doors.
Sandburg’s assistant principal earns regional honors Sandburg High School’s Greg Gardner has been selected as Assistant Principal of the Year for the South Cook Region of the Illinois Principals Association. In her nomination of Gardner for this recognition, Principal Deborah Baker Greg Gardner noted that “Greg Gardner has cultivated and amplified a strong belief in student leadership and has created and promoted opportunities that give students voice in making decisions
that contribute to the ongoing successes that Carl Sandburg High School enjoys.” Gardner, Baker noted, is in his fourth year as assistant principal. He “has played an integral role in strengthening connections between and among the school and the community and has helped implement new traditions at Sandburg including the opening of the year Sandburgfest, Frosh First Day Spirit Training, and Hot Chocolate With Baldy Fridays in December,” to name a few. Gardner serves as Sandburg’s liaison to the Orland Park Chamber of Commerce and is currently
Photo by Joe Boyle
WHATIZIT? The clue for this week’s Whatizit photo (above) is: Mustang pride. Send your responses with your name and hometown by noon Monday to thereporter@comcast.net. Several readers knew last week’s photo quiz. Former Hickory Hills Ald. Tom McAvoy even questioned his sanity if he got this quiz wrong. Well, the former 3rd Ward alderman can relax. It is indeed the Hickory Hills City Hall, 8652 W. 95th St., where the alderman worked for many years. Besides city council meetings that are usually held on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, residents can also receive information about activities that are going on in in the city. Other readers who answered correctly were Steve Rosenbaum, of Oak Lawn; Rich Rahn, of Evergreen Park; Ron Wagenhofer, of Palos Park; and Mike Boyle, of Palos Heights.
8 Thursday, December 7, 2017
The Regional News
Holiday Activities Calendar Presented here from last week’s calendar are some great holiday activities still to come in the Palos and Orland communities:
PALOS HEIGHTS Palos Heights Public Library Holiday Storytime Enjoy holiday stories, songs and crafts at this storytime for ages 2 and up. Date: Friday, Dec. 15 Time: 10–11 a.m. Location: 12501 S. 71st Ave.
Palos Heights Recreation Center Winter Farmers Market Date: Saturday, Dec. 16 Time: 8 a.m. – noon Location: 6601 W. 127th St.
PALOS PARK Palos Park Public Library Family Holiday Cookie Decorating Decorate sugar cookies with a holiday theme. Date: Saturday, Dec. 9 Time: 1–2 p.m. Location: 12330 Forest Glen Blvd.
Palos Park Metra Station Breakfast with Santa Santa Claus and his elves are making a stop in Palos Park from the North Pole. Children will feel the holiday excitement when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by train. Experience the excitement with
a variety of crafts, activities and the opportunity to tell Santa your Christmas wishes. Bring a camera for photos. Date: Saturday, Dec. 9 Time: 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Location: 123rd & 82nd Ave.
ORLAND PARK Orland Park Civic Center Orland Park Theatre Troupe Presents Holiday Show, “The Family Fruitcake” Attendees of all ages are welcome to come out and enjoy the two-hour show that tells the story of Laurie McKinnon, a mom determined to give her family a normal Christmas, despite her oldest son being away in military service. Date: Friday, Dec. 8 – Sunday, Dec. 10 Time: Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. Location: 14750 Ravinia Ave.
Orland Park Public Library Healthy Eating for the Holidays The holidays are an exciting time of year. But between the parties, stress and baked goods, it’s also a time when people tend to gain weight. Wellness coach Tom Kens will share his 10 secrets to preventing holiday weight gain and help you to make healthier choices during this busy time of year and beyond. Date: Thursday, Dec. 7 Time: 7 p.m.– 8:30 p.m. Location: 14921 S. Ravinia Ave.
Centennial Park Skate with Santa Bring the family out to ice skate with Santa. Date: Sunday, Dec. 10 Time: noon Location: 15600 West Ave., Orland Park
Photo by Anthony Caciopo
Visit Palos Hts. Winter Farmers Market Dec. 16
Camille Krecioch (center), owner of Camille’s Confections at 12216 S. Harlem Ave., and her assistant, Sally Jones, chat with a visitor recently at the Palos Heights Winter Farmers Market, which will be held next from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 16 at the Rec Center, 6601 W. 127th Street. Krecioch makes all her toffee by hand and her products, like so many other items that will be available at the Dec. 16 market, make for great holiday gifts, said market management. Fresh produce will also be available.
Orland Park History Museum Christmas in Orland Holiday Craft Event This holiday event features complimentary refreshments and a station to make your own ornament and Christmas cards. Guests can also create a holiday painting by registering for a watercolor class taught by local artist Mark LaCien. Date: Saturday, Dec. 9 Time: noon – 3 p.m. Location: The Orland Park History Museum, 14415 Beacon Ave.
Tickets still available for PHWC Christmas Walk
It is not too late to buy tickets for the Palos Heights Woman’s Club annual Christmas Walk. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Mona Lisa, 12330 S. Harlem Ave. or by calling Rose at (708) 9456254. The event will begin with boutique shopping at 8:30 a.m., which will be available until 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Palos Country Club, 13100 Southwest Highway, Orland Park. A full, hot breakfast will be served from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Two raffles will be held. One is the popular Win-Win, in which everyone wins a gift. The other is the club’s elegant raffle baskets. Homemade cookies are for sale, also. At noon, four local homes decorated for the holidays will be open for viewing. There is a two-story home in Westgate Valley, two Palos homes, and a
Supplied photo
Unseasonably mild weather disguises the holiday season in a photo of this local home, one of four houses with festive interior decorations on Saturday’s Christmas Walk, an annual event of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club.
large split-level in Palos Park on the tour. This event is the club’s main Ways and Means project.
LIBRARY NOTES Palos Heights Public Library to host painting class Several activities for the week ahead have been announced at the Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. 71st Ave. For more information or to register for a program, call (708) 448-1473. • Smart Art will be created at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade will learn to use a variety of media to create a winter tree finger painting. • The Lunch Bunch Book Discussion will focus on “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” by Trevor Noah at noon Monday, Dec. 11. Copies are available at the Circulation Desk. New member are always welcome. • Chess will be played by beginners age 6 and older at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. Teen volunteers will challenge the younger players so the younger kids can improve their game.
Palos Park Public Library to host holiday movie marathon Several programs are coming up next month at the Palos Park Public Library, 12330 S. Forest Glen. Registration is required for most events. For details, call the library at (708) 448-1530. • The film “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” will be shown at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. “The world’s top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice,” according to a publicity blurb. “They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.” • The library will host its third annual holiday movie marathon
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 in the Community Room. The movies that will be shown include It’s a Wonderful Life from 9 to 11:10 a.m., How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 11:15 to 11:41 a.m., The Muppet Christmas Carol from 11:45 a.m. to 1:10 p.m., A Charlie Brown Christmas from 1:15 to 1:40 p.m., Home Alone 1:40 to 3:25 p.m. and The Santa Clause from 3:25 to 5 p.m. Movie-goers will receive hot cocoa and popcorn for free.
Orland Park Public Library to present a cabaret Several events are coming up at the Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave. For more information or to register for this or any other program, call (708) 428-5100. • Once Upon a Time Family Storytime will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Children of all ages can drop in for stories, music and finger-plays to build pre-reading skills. They will also sing songs and dance. • Cabaret will host the Mike Knauf Trio Featuring Robyn Vitson at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. The trio will present Caroling of the Bells, a program of Christmas and holiday music to help ring in the season. This concert will include vocal and instrumental versions of many well-known carols, as well as some renditions of holiday music. • The Library’s Showcase will feature the Carl Sandburg Chamber Singers at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The students of Carl Sandburg High School’s Chamber Singers bring their musical talents to Orland Park Public Library with this holiday performance in the library lobby. The group is a select ensemble of singers specializing in music specifically for small vocal ensembles.
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SPORTS The Regional News • The Reporter
Ken Karrson, Sports Editor • sports@regionalpublishing.com Jeff Vorva, Sports Editor • sports@regionalpublishing.com
Southwest Section Southwest • Section•2, Page 1 2, Page 1
Thursday, December 2017 Thursday, March 5,7,2015
REGIONAL/REPORTER HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
A couple of record smashers
Photos by Jeff Vorva
Photos by Jeff Vorva
Tori Clinton put up video game-like rushing numbers for St. Laurence and has been named the Regional/ Reporter Football Player of the Year.
As a setter, Marist’s Molly Murrihy had one of the best assist totals in state history but she also had 132 blocks and 130 kills and was named the Regional/Reporter Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
TORI CLINTON • St. Laurence
MOLLY MURRIHY • Marist
Football Player of the Year
Volleyball Player of the Year
By Jason Maholy • Correspondent
By Jason Maholy • Correspondent
T
ori Clinton entered his senior season in 2017 prepared to finally take the reins as St. Laurence’s lead ball-carrier. The blazing-fast running back bided his time during the 2016 season as the understudy to one of the greatest running backs in St. Laurence history in Fayezon Smart. When the time came to seize the moment, Clinton didn’t disappoint. He routinely put up video gametype statistics, averaging 236 scrimmage yards per game while running himself into the Viking record books. Clinton twice set the Vikings’ single-game rushing record — first with 385 yards against Bishop McNamara in Week 3, then smashing his own record with a 416-yard, fivetouchdown performance against Quincy in the first round of the Illinois High School Association Class 6A playoffs. He finished the year with 2,577 rushing yards, obliterating the mark of 2,046 yards Smart set in 2015, and ran for 27 touchdowns. He supplemented those statistics with 254 yards and two touchdowns receiving. For his record-setting season that may stand as the greatest ever by a St. Laurence running back for years, and for helping the Vikings advance to
at least the IHSA playoff quarterfinals for a third straight season, Clinton is The Regional/Reporter Football Player of the Year. Clinton possesses the type of vision and ability to anticipate that separates the best running backs from all the other guys. He can see a hole opening before it opens, whether he is running the ball or watching from the sideline. “When I’m extremely locked in, it’s like everything is in slow motion,” he said. And as the fastest player on the field the majority of the time, when Clinton hit a hole with a little daylight beyond it, he frequently couldn’t be caught. In his performance against Quincy he ran for touchdowns of 73, 80 and 97 yards. A week later, in a second-round match-up against Hinsdale South, he rushed for 369 yards and scored on runs of 62, 73 and 74 yards. Clinton, who plans to play football and run track in college, is an exceptional athlete and a student of his craft, both on and off the field. “I’ll watch my films from past games and think, ‘Hey, this is mistake I did that week, I can’t do it again this week, and take that into the game,” he said. “But as a running back, I just run. I don’t make it any more difficult than it really has to be.”
M
olly Murrihy came into her senior season determined to raise her level of play and go out with a bang. This bang could not have been any bigger, as the Marist setter put up huge numbers while cementing her place among the top setters in state history and helping the RedHawks to the program’s first Illinois High School Association state title. “It was a surreal experience, definitely something my teammates and I were working at for four years, and it’s pretty much a dream come true,” she said of the run to the Class 4A crown. For her setting and all-around play, Murrihy has been named the Regional/Reporter Girls Volleyball Player of the Year. The Palos Heights resident recorded an astounding 1,132 assists, which is a school record. Heading into this season, the IHSA record book had Sarah Kwasigroch of Sandburg No. 1 with 1,204 assists in 2001 and Marist’s Ashley Holder at No. 2 with 1,118 in 2011. Murrihy also pounded down 130 kills in 2017, but perhaps even more impressive were her 132 blocks. That’s like a leadoff hitter slugging 50 home runs.
Setters don’t typically lead their teams in blocks as they are usually like quarterbacks in football setting up the plays. But the Memphis recruit enjoys playing in the front row and demoralizing the opposition. “If you can shut down the hitters then they can’t hit the ball over the net and get a point,” she said matter-of-factly. “I considered it one of my main jobs to help the defense, and I wanted to make it hard for the other team. I put a lot of responsibility on myself in that aspect of my game, to really showcase what I could do in the front row.” From offseason club ball to getting together with her teammates for 5 a.m. workouts, Murrihy put in the work required to get the most out of her abilities. She knew the RedHawks had a special team, and she approached the campaign with a sense of urgency. “I really think a big part of that is I wanted to become more confident in myself so my hitters would be more confident in me,” she said. “We knew this season was not going to be an easy thing to take, and it was like we either need to step up or sit down, and obviously we all stepped up.”
Others were great on the gridiron and colossal on the court By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor
St. Laurence’s Tori Clinton and Marist’s Molly Murrihy were deemed the top football and volleyball players, respectively, in the Regional/Reporter area but several other standouts performed this season. Here’s a look at the all-conference selections in each sport:
Football
South Suburban Red: Sebastian Castro of Richards was named Player of the Year and joined teammates Kevin Gardner, Marty Cosgrove, Niles Gall, Curtis Hale, David Tobin, A’Maree Beard, Jalen
Lee, Christin Wright, Danny Jackson, Kendell Summers and Eldridge Dockery on the all-conference team. Shepard’s Seth Taylor, Nieko Carter, Nick McLawhorn, Declan Quinlan, DaJawn Avant, Chris Harrison, Marquel Porter, Kevin Graham and Jon Daniels made the SSC team. Oak Lawn was represented by Dan Lillard, Karmeron McNicholas and Nick Puente while Evergreen Park was represented by David Torres, Robert Hicks and Cooper Nolan. SouthWest Suburban Conference: Sandburg’s Alex Hirschfield, Jaime Marines, Moe Jumah, Alex Lunak and Nicholas Orlando and Ricky Kwak made the first
team, while Nicky Shelton, Jacob Martinez, Eddie Schullo, Gabe Carney, Mike Stevens, Colin Dominski, Hazma Ismial and Farsi Ismail made honorable mention. Special mention went to Tyler Villa, Joe Boyce, John Murphy, Andrew Schaub, Anthony Hansler, Josh Heavrin and Moe Abuzir. Stagg’s players are Tyler Winkelman, Prentise Powell, Andrew Rukujzo, Greg Hoard, Tommy Doyle and Mike Jennings. Chicago Catholic League: In the Blue, Brother Rice’s Nick Marozas, John Richardson, Myles Ruffin and Keegan Jones made the all-conference team. In the White division, St. Laurence’s Tori Clinton, Jerry Carey, Brendan Cavanaugh, Matthew Hamer, Sean Lange,
Adam Andrews, Ryan Harrison and Donte Bronson made the team. Clinton was a Lawless Award winner. East Suburban Catholic Conference: Marist, which was unbeaten in the East Suburban Catholic Conference for the second straight year, had an army of players make the team. George Fanelli, Tommy Green, Deionte Hall, Ty Ivy, Charlie Laurencell, Michel Lawlor, Mike Markett, Gavin McCabe, Danny Meehan, Billy Skalitzky, Elijah Teague and Jadon Thompson were selected. Metro Suburban Red: Chicago Christian’s Jonathan Griffin was named Offensive Player of the Year and joined Matt McCarthy, Henry Light, Jake
Swiney and Nate Wigboldy on the allconference team.
Volleyball
South Suburban Red: Shepard’s Sarah Kiwan was named Player of the Year while Leah Bylut, Autumn Morehouse and Meghan Rohe made the team and Grace Culver was special mention. Richards had five players — Sarah Murczek, Abbi Fletcher, Lauren Birmingham, Julia Elsouso and Aleksa Curta were named to the all-conference team while Lindsey Dryier was named special mention. See OTHERS, Page 4
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Section 2 Thursday, December 7, 2017
The Regional News - The Reporter
AREA SPORTS REPORT
Shepard and Stagg football coaches step down
pounds last season, is off to a 6-0 start this year including a championship at the Dave Anderson Invitational Saturday at Stagg. Zaccone was named the invite’s MVP for the second consecutive season. He beat Warren’s Joel Vandervere, 5-2, to win the 126-pound class at the tournament. Stagg finished third and had runnerup finishes from, Ahmad Suleiman (160), Peter Radev (170) and Anthony Skalski (220). Shepard had Casey Roberts (132) and Tristan Tarver (145) place second.
By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor
Two area schools are seeking football coaches after their coaches recently resigned. Shepard’s Dominic Passolano and Stagg’s Mike Fahey each resigned in November. Passolano said he was looking for another challenge. “I wanted to leave the program in a better spot than where is was in 2009,” he said. “We did that with 145 kids this year, no varsity players ineligible, qualifying for the players and going 8-1 (during the regular season). They will be good next year and I will be cheering our kids and our coaches.’’ Passolano had a career 48-42 mark with the Astros with seven appearance in Stagg’s Mike Fahey stepped down as Stagg’s the playoffs in nine seasons. That’s the football coach last week. best stretch of playoff qualifying success since Don Webster coached the Astros and Fahey have not been able to score to six straight postseason appearances winning records. Fahey is the only coach in that span to have four-win seasons in from 1989-1994. Fahey was hoping this would be the 2013 (his first year) and 2017. first season since 2005 that the Chargers would qualify for the playoffs and Jacobs 13th at post a winning record. But close losses Nike Nationals to Moline (28-27) and Sandburg (35-21 Sandburg senior Dylan Jacobs finished after it was tied 21-21 early in the fourth 13th in the NXN Nike Cross Country quarter) helped dash those dreams. Since National Meet Saturday at Glendoveer Tim McAlpin’s team went 9-2 in 2005, Golf Course in Portland, Oregon. McAlpin, Brian Bulgio, Mark Kleinpeter He ran the 5,000-meter course in 15
College signings Photos by Jeff Vorva
Shepard football coach Dominic Passolano resigned after leading the Astros to one of their most successful runs in school history.
minutes, 30.4 seconds. Last year, he finished 19th. Jacobs has one more national race before his high school cross country career concludes. He competes in the Foot Locker Nationals Saturday at Morley Field at Balboa Park in San Diego.
Zaccone wins title at Anderson Invite
Stagg wrestler Domenic Zaccone, who finished second in the state at 113
Sandburg-Stagg coop gymnast Maddy Roe signed a letter of intent to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Roe has five top-10 state finishes including seventh all-around and seventh on the balance beam in her junior season. Brother Rice pitcher Ryan Palmblad announced his commitment to Central Michigan University.
For openers…
Richards officials announced that the Bulldogs and Lincoln-Way Central will open the 2018 and 2019 football campaigns with games against each other. Central finished 10-2 in 2017 and made it to the Class 7A quarterfinals.
FOCUS ON AREA COLLEGE SPORTS
St. Xavier volleyball team goes home a winner
By Jeff Vorva
Bridget Kraskowski gets ready to pound down a kill during the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa.
Sports Editor
Many national college tournaments are single or double elimination and teams go back home feeling lousy if they are knocked out right away. The NAIA Women’s Volleyball National Tournament has pool play and, while St. Xavier University didn’t make it to the finals, the Cougars were able to come back to Chicago with a good taste in their mouths after beating Marian (Indiana) 25-23, 25-20, 26-24 after suffering earlier losses to Westmont (in four sets) and Midland (three sets) in Sioux City, Iowa. “That match signified that we are in the right spot…being 1-2 is still a big thing here,” Cougars coach Bob Heersema said of the final win. “There were 32 teams that were really, really good and we were one of them.’’ Rory Manion had 10 kills for the Cougars (36-6) while Bridget Kraskowski and Alex Lambros each had nine and Kate Botrager and Courtney Joyce each had seven. Women’s basketball: The Cougars jumped up to No. 1 in the nation in the latest NAIA rankings and immediately got down to Roosevelt University trailing 37-34 at halftime on Nov. 29. But they were able to recover in the second half and pulled off a 67-57 victory at the Shannon Center. Cheryl Fanter had 22 points and Maddie Welter added 21. Brittany Collins had 11
Photo by Chris Gbur/ SXU Athletics
points, 18 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Last year’s NAIA Player of the Year, Kara Krolicki, had one of her worst shooting games (1-for-8 from the floor) but still had 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
Moraine Valley
Women’s basketball: The Cyclones, ranked 14th in the most recent National Junior College Athletic Association polls, beat Triton, 90-72 on Thursday as Ashley
Hunter had 23 points, seven assists and three steals. Jade Warner had 13 points and seven assists. Men’s basketball: The Cylones lost to sixth-ranked Triton, 85-70 on Thursday. DeShawn Wilson had 25 points and five assists for Moraine.
Trinity Christian College
Women’s volleyball: Senior Danelle Oeverman won the 2017 Susan R.
Hellings Award for National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Women’s Volleyball. She was presented with the award (for athletic, academic, leadership and Christian value accomplishments) on Nov. 30 in Kissimmee, Fla. The 5-foot-10 hitter from Byron Center, Michigan, was an all-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference team member for four years and was the league’s Freshman of the Year in 2014.
FOCUS ON THE CHICAGO FIRE
Niko named to MLS Best XI team By Jeff Vorva Sports Editor
Chicago Fire forward Nemanja Nikolic continued to receive offseason accolades as he was named to the MLS Best XI team. The team was selected by MLS players, technical staffs and media members. He earned the MLS Golden Boot with 24 goals, which is also a team record. This is the third country in which Nikolic has led his respective league in goal scoring. The Hungarian international player led the league with six multi-goal games, including a hat trick against the Philadelphia Union on Oct. 15, to lead the Fire back into the postseason for the first time since 2012. Five of his goals were gamewinners, and he picked up four assists, including the assist on Luis Solignac’s game-winning goal on June 17 against the New England
Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Nikolic finished second in voting for the 2017 Newcomer of the Year award and is one of five finalists for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award, which was scheduled to be announced earlier this week. East Division champ Toronto led the MLS with three selections – defender Justin Morrow, midfielder Victor Vazquez and forward Sebastian Giovinco.
Roster roulette
The Fire Soccer Club exercised the contract options on 11 players on Nov. 28. The Fire exercised 2018 contract options on Arturo Alvarez, David Arshakyan, Jorge Bava, Brandt Bronico, Jonathan Campbell, Stefan Cleveland, Drew Conner, Daniel Johnson,Dax McCarty, Matt Polster and Brandon Vincent. The club declined contract options
on seven players: Joey Calistri, Matej Dekovic, Patrick Doody, Collin Fernandez, John Goossens, Michael Harrington and Richard Sanchez. Harrington is eligible for MLS Free Agency, while Doody and Sanchez are eligible to participate in the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Calistri, Dekovic, Fernandez and Goossens are eligible for the MLS Waiver Draft. Nine players are guaranteed for next season, including David Accam, Jorge Corrales, Michael de Leeuw, Christian Dean, Johan Kappelhof, Matt Lampson, Djordje Mihailovic, Nikolic and Luis Solignac. Lampson triggered a performance clause of games played during the 2017 season, guaranteeing him for next year. The Fire declined to purchase the option on the loan for Juninho, while Joao Meira and Bastian Schweinsteiger are out of contract. The club is continuing negotiations with Sanchez and Schweinsteiger.
Photo by Jeff Vorva
The Chicago Fire’s Nemanja Nikolic is on the MLS Best XI team.
Mallo’s coursework on both levels is top-notch Supplied photo
By Jeff Vorva
on the USCAA Cross Country AllAcademic Team.
Former Richards student-athlete Jason Mallo is pretty good on the cross country course and his coursework is going well, too. Mallo was named First-team All-American after finishing sixth place in the United State Collegiate Athletic Association Cross Country Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Racing for Florida College, Mallo finished in 27 minutes, five seconds. The sophomore also earned a spot
Eagle vs. Eagle
Sports Editor
W
ith only a few shopping day left until Christmas, it makes sense to shop locally for outdoor-related presents and stocking stuffers. As opposed to catalog, Big Box or internet shopping, buying locally helps the economy in the form of employment and return of sales taxes to your local municipality. Supporting your local sporting OUTDOORS goods stores just WITH may help keep JIM KIRBY the vital, muchneeded small shops in business. How nice it is to talk face-to-face with a knowledgeable salesperson, as opposed to an over- the-phone order taker who may be halfway around the world and may not know the difference between a Mepps Spinner and a duck call. Local sporting goods dealers can help you make the right selections and probably offer an exchange policy. When in doubt, a gift certificate redeemable locally is always appreciated. Describing the type of outdoor activity the potential gift recipient engages in enables the knowledgeable salesperson to make appropriate suggestions. The money spent on sales taxes often offsets the ridiculously high shipping and handling charges incurred in catalog and online shopping. Shopping locally also eliminates the worry about out-of-stock backorders, late deliveries, lost or broken packages and the cost and inconvenience of returning merchandise. It may even bring back the spirit of old fashioned Christmas shopping. To help you find a place to shop for outdoor-related gifts locally, the following is a partial list of places to shop, most of which I have had the pleasure of doing business with: Angler’s Outlet: 16300 S Cicero Ave. Oak Forest, 708-331-5711, has a great selection of tackle and live bait. Store representatives occasionally are fishing report contributors to this column. All Seasons Marine and Service: 15335 S. Cicero Ave. Oak Forest, 708-535-7445 provides everything for the boating enthusiast including boats, motors and accessories. Bridgeview Sports Inc.: 7410 S. Harlem Ave., in Bridgeview, 708552-5419, is a bait and tackle shop also selling guns and ammo with an indoor gun range. Calumet Marine: 635 Burnham Ave. in Calumet City, 708-862-2407 has boats, motors, accessories and service since 1957.” Eagle Sports: 5900 W. 159th St, Oak Forest, 708-535-3000, has guns, shooting accessories and indoor shooting range. Fishing Connection: 7997 W. 159th St. Tinley Park, 708-5321476, in addition to fishing tackle and accessories for all species, Greg Katello is the go-to-guy for fly fishing tips and equipment. Freddie Bear Sports: 17250 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park. 708532-4133, has hunting, fishing and archery equipment, clothing, guns and ammo. Water Werks: 18600 S Cicero Ave., Country Club Hills, 708-7988238, features boat motors accessories and service. This list may be handy to keep for reference throughout the year, and let me be the first to wish you a politically incorrect: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Remembering Pearl Harbor
THE NEXT LEVEL
Former Richards runner Jason Mallo took sixth place in the USCAA Cross Country Nationals in Virginia Beach.
Shop locally for that special outdoors person
Lewis University hosted the NCAA Division II Regionals Thursday through Saturday and in the first round, the top-seeded Flyers beat eighth-seeded Michigan Tech in four sets. The battle featured former Sandburg High School teammates in action. Lewis sophomore Caroline Stefanon had seven blocks for the Flyers
Today, Dec. 7, is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. It is time to reflect on “The day that will live in infamy,” is what then-President Franklin Roosevelt called it. The sneak attack destroyed many naval ships, including the Arizona. About 3,000 lives were lost, mostly military personnel. As we pause to remember those 3,000 souls, let’s reflect on 12-7-41, the day we lost 3,000 innocent men, women and children!
Outdoor Calendar
while Michigan Tech freshman Anna Jonynas was busy collecting eight digs for her squad.
Dec. 8-10: Muzzleloader deer season. Dec. 12: Late winter and ChronicWasting Disease deer permits available over-the-counter.
DeJarld named all-ACC
Think about it
Former Mother McAuley standout Ryann DeJarld became the first women’s volleyball player in Notre Dame history to be named first team all-Atlantic Coast Conference. DeJarld, a libero, broke the school record with 731 digs, which was fourth in the nation. She entered the postseason averaging 6.14 digs per set and on offense, she had 41 aces.
“One hundred years ago, everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today, everyone has cars and only the rich have horses.” — Dan Dauw, MidWest Outdoors Jim Kirby’s column runs every first and third Thursday of the month. E-mail him at Kirbyoutdoors@ sbcglobal.net
The Regional News - The Reporter
Thursday, December 7, 2017 Section 2
3
AREA HOOPS AT A GLANCE Sami Ismail and his Sandburg teammates have a rivalry game hosting Stagg at 6 p.m. on Friday. Photo by Jeff Vorva
BOYS
W-L STREAK NEXT
Brother Rice Chicago Christian Evergreen Park Marist Oak Lawn Richards Sandburg Shepard St. Laurence Stagg
4-1 2-4 2-4 4-0 4-1 3-2 5-1 3-2 5-0 3-2
W2 L4 L1 W4 W1 W1 W3 W3 W5 W1
vs. Kenwood at Mt. Carmel, Sat. at Guerin Prep, Fri. at T.F. South, Fri. at Carmel, Fri.; hosts Johnson Prep, Mon.; hosts Mount Carmel; Tues.; hosts Tinley Park, Wed. at T.F. North, Fri. at Hillcrest, Fri. hosts Stagg, Fri.; at St. Ignatius, Sat. hosts Tinley Park, Fri.; hosts Chicago Quest, Mon. at DePaul Prep, Fri.; hosts Rich East, Wed. at Sandburg, Fri.; at Lemont, Tues.
* Records through Sunday, Dec. 3; compiled by Randy Whalen
GIRLS
W-L STREAK NEXT
Chicago Christian Evergreen Park Marist Mother McAuley Oak Lawn Richards Sandburg Shepard St. Laurence Stagg
1-5 8-2 7-1 7-0 4-2 5-1 3-3 0-5 3-4 5-1
L5 W2 W4 W7 W2 W1 L3 L5 L3 W3
at Guerin Prep, Tues. at Tinley Park, Fri. Phillips at Whitney Young, Sat. Lighthouse Prep [Ind.] at Whitney Young, Sat.; Wheaton North at Lake Zurich, Tues. hosts Lemont, Fri.; hosts TBA in Lady Spartan Holiday Tournament, Sat.; Mon.; Wed. at T.F. South, Thurs.; hosts T.F. North, Tues. hosts Stagg, Thurs.; Joliet W. at Oak Lawn, Sat.; T.F. South at Oak Lawn, Mon.; Lockport at OL, Wed. hosts Oak Forest, Thurs. hosts Regina Dominican, Thurs.; at Bishop McNamara, Tues. at Sandburg, Thurs.
* Records through Sunday, Dec. 3; compiled by Randy Whalen
FOCUS ON BOYS BASKETBALL
Wild night of hoops in reconfigured CCL By John Romando and Jeff Vorva
Southwest Regional Publishing There are some changes to the structure of Chicago Catholic League basketball this season and the new format started up on Friday night. But no matter the format, thrills and wild games seem to be the constant in the CCL. St. Laurence and Brother Rice were in the middle of some noteworthy crossover games on Friday night as St. Laurence beat St. Joseph for the first time since 1977 with an 84-81 victory in Burbank while Brother Rice beat Bishop McNamara for the 27th straight time with an 82-51 triumph in Kankakee. Battling through two brutal cramps that kept him out of the game for two different periods of time, St. Laurence guard Isaiah Harvey scored 34 points, including the game-winning threepointer with 3.6 seconds left in the game. “We talked all week how in order to beat this team it would take toughness and making free throws,’’ first-year Vikings coach Jim Sexton said. “To beat a storied program and ranked opponent like that at this stage of our program is unbelievable.” Harvey, a native of the Virgin Islands, came up huge in the game as the Vikings improved to 6-0 while St. Joseph fell to 5-1. “He’s the heart and soul of this
program,” Sexton said. “He is the engine that makes it go. I told him from the beginning of the year when he has great energy, we are great. When he doesn’t, we struggle. He has lived up to it, bringing great energy every game this year.” Brother Rice improved to 4-1 with the win over Bishop McNamara as Josh Boulanger led the Crusaders with 16 points. Bishop McNamara and Wheaton St. Francis are leaving the league next season and the Crusaders enjoyed a 27-game winning streak against McNamara. “The last two years, I feel like we should have lost to them – they were really good and we were lucky to beat them,’’ Brother Rice coach Bobby Frasor said. “We obviously didn’t want to lose the final time we play them.’’ The league is now broken up into a nine-team Blue Division and a nine-team White division based on success rate. Teams will play eight division games and three crossovers. The postseason tournament was eliminated. “The kids liked the tournament and as coaches, we should have thought about that,” Frasor said. “There are some logistical things – the Class 1A schools had some trouble with it (due to the start of the state playoffs). “But I like the alignment of putting the top schools together because I remember playing in the Catholic League and it was
Photos by Jeff Vorva
Isaiah Harvey (left) and Lance Jackson, shown in a game against Oak Lawn earlier in the season, helped St. Laurence beat St. Joseph for the first time since 1977 on Friday.
Brother Rice’s Nick Bowes (left) and Marquise Kennedy put the defensive clamps on Bishop McNamara on Friday night in Kankakee. Brother Rice won its 27th straight game against the Irish.
too much,’’ he said. “I like this (format) from the standpoint of we play everybody in our division. Crossover has to be this way because some teams will cross over against good teams and weak teams, but this is the best we can do at this point.” Sexton’s team is in the White Division and his troops are hoping for another change next year. “We prefer to be in the top division, but I know it gets reorganized every year, and we are hoping to get enough wins this year to be in that top division next year, no matter how they cut it,’’ he said.
to take a heck of a great shot to upstage what sophomore Sami Osmani did on Saturday. The Oak Lawn guard buried a 3-point basket from half court at the buzzer to give the Spartans a 53-50 victory over Chicago Christian in a non-conference game in Oak Lawn. The Spartans won four of their first five games of the season. Chicago Christian fell to 2-4 and it was the Knights’ third straight heartbreaking loss of the season. They dropped an overtime decision to Andrew in the third-place game of the District 218 Thanksgiving Tournament followed by a 60-57 road loss to Timothy Christian on Friday and the Oak Lawn setback on Saturday.
a who’s who every night. You tore, who is in his 49th season and can’t point at the schedule and is the only coach to win more than MCAULEY OPENS SEASON 7-0 say ‘that’s a win.’ That’s how it’s 1,000 games in the Illinois High going to be in the Blue. Fenwick School Association, has seen his is the top dog, but anyone can share of changes over the decades. Shot of the year (so far) “I was never in favor of the win a game on any given night.’’ The boys basketball season is tournament, I thought it was just in its infant stages, but it’s going St. Joseph coach Gene PingaCatholic Conference/Girls Catholic By Jeff Vorva Athletic Conference Showdown at Sports Editor Nazareth Academy. The process was frustrating a The 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons were learning experiences for few years ago. “It was hard in the beginning freshmen and sophomore Mother McAuley girls basketball play- taking tough losses,” Hynes said. ers such as Tara O’Malley, Kelly “But everything we have done is Gallagher, Vanessa Gavin, Grace worth it.’’ Clanton is insisting the team Hynes, Janelle McBeth and Hanplays a more open game on ofnah Swiatek. They went 11-18 and 17-14 on fense and an aggressive game on varsity in those two seasons, and defense. “It’s a rush,” O’Malley said. last year as sophomores and juniors “Getting up on a player and playing they piled up a 22-9 mark. This year, as juniors and seniors, really hard and seeing that your they put the Might back in Mighty teammates might get a steal and Macs as they won their first seven get a score. It’s a rush and it makes games of the season by an average you want to keep going and going.’’ The competition will get ramped of 27 points per game. “We’ve been playing with little up with games later this month at babies and now we’re able to let Marist (Dec. 14), at Montini (Dec. them loose and play up the floor,” 21) and at the Montini Christmas McAuley coach Ashley Clanton Tournament (Dec. 27-30). Clanton said she gets a kick said. After destroying five teams out of seeing film of her players Made in USA by an average of 33 points per when they were two and three game en route to the Buffalo years younger. Veteran Owned “They look so much smaller,” Gove High School Classic, the Macs returned home for a 61-47 Clanton said. “You don’t realize victory over Lincoln-Way Central you were playing with such young • Now Featuring Shimano Reels on Thursday (after getting off to kids. You look at the film and they Bought • Sold • Traded • Seasonal Live Bait a 19-2 lead) and 59-46 over Car- don’t look near what they look Fathead Minnows, Roaches, mel Sunday in the East Suburban like now. It’s kind of fun to see.’’
Macs are babies no more
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Mother McAuley’s Vanessa Gavin (left) looks for an open teammate against LincolnWay Central on Thursday.
January 2018 Grand Opening of 9-Lane, Indoor Rifle & Gun Range
H
73rd Pl. 74th St. 74th Pl.
75th St.
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Section 2 Thursday, December 7, 2017
The Regional News - The Reporter
The final game at Queen of Peace in late January was sad (left photo), but things were a lot happier at the historic first girls basketball game at St. Laurence on Nov. 28 (right photo).
Smile! We’ve come full circle with Queen of Peace/St. Laurence
M
any sports outcomes are judged by wins and losses. This one, however, is judged by tears and smiles. When Queen of Peace officials shocked the south suburbs in January by announcing the school was closing, the basketball team was going through one of its best seasons in school hisThe team JEFF VORVA tory. was hit hard Making the by the news, Extra Point and during its final home game ever against Kennedy, I took a photo of underclassmen on the bench during a Senior Night speech. The players were crying and looking as miserable as you could look. I still feel bad every time I see The first girls basketball team in St. Laurence history lines up for the national anthem. it. Well, 11 months later, we have come full circle. Neighboring St. Laurence opened its doors to girls for the first time and many players on coach George Shimko’s final team at Queen of Peace are now on his first team at St. Laurence. They switched from green and white to black and gold. They went from being the Pride to proudly being the Vikings. After playing a handful of games at a Thanksgiving tournament in Beecher, the Vikings played their first home game in their new gym on Nov. 28. And then came the full-circle moment. It didn’t come on the scoreboard as the team dropped a 48-41 decision to DePaul Prep in front of a few hundred fans. It came before the opening tipoff. It actually came a few seconds after the national anthem and a few seconds before the starters St. Laurence’s Erin Foley (right) hounds DePaul Prep guard Kailee Carro in the first girls were announced. varsity basketball game in the Vikings gym in Burbank. With Alan Parsons Project music in the background (a la’ the Chicago Bulls) and public address announcer Pat Griffin yelling at the crowd to go crazy, the players on the bench were smiling and yukking it up. Yep — full circle. “It doesn’t matter if we won or lost — we were together,” senior Erin Foley said. “All during school, I pictured myself at Peace and it was weird coming here after school and this being our home gym. The fans were really welcoming and I thought it was a really good turnout.” Foley scored 12 points and had four rebounds and two assists in the home debut. Ashley Murphy had 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Ashley Kevin added eight points and four rebounds. Kevin said she appreciates the “support and love” from those who helped her and her teammates make this unexpected transformation. A year ago, no one saw this coming. “It’s definitely crazy,” she said. “If you asked me a year ago what I would be doing senior year, I would not have expected this.’’
Others
Continued from Page 1 Oak Lawn was represented by Alli Yacko, Amanda Bulow and Taylor Bulow while Hannah Martinkus was a special mention. Evergreen Park’s Megan Livingston and Alondra Gonzalez made the team and Maddie Cosgrove and Mallory Burke were special mentions. SouthWest Suburban Blue: Stagg’s Maddie Duffner and Nikki Marsh plus Sandburg’s Maureen Imrie, Erica Staunton, Abbie Stefanon made the squad. Girls Catholic Athletic Conference: Mother McAuley’s Charley
Niego was named the Red’s Player of the Year and joined Amanda Horn, Nora Burke, Nancy Kane, Alena Pedroza and Lexi Warfield on the allconference team. In the White division, Colleen Schmit made it for St. Laurence. East Suburban Catholic Conference: Grace Green, Cameron Hannah, Maggie Meyer, Molly Murrihy and Savannah Thompson of Marist’s Illinois High School Association Class 4A state championship squad made the all-conference team. Metro Suburban: Danie Tyson, Jordan Dryfhout and Brooke Veldman of Chicago Christian made the team.
St. Laurence fans created a sign — and a new nickname — for St. Laurence’s girls basketball team.
St. Laurence coach George Shimko, who was the coach when Queen of Peace closed, high-fives his players before the DePaul Prep game. A fan section that included members of the St. Laurence boys basketball program jeered when DePaul Prep players shot free throws.
Photos by Jeff Vorva
PAST FOOTBALL STANDOUTS A look at the Football Player of the Year winners since the Reporter and Regional merged in 1986: 1986: Jay White (Stagg), senior 1987: Ken Courtright (Sandburg), senior 1988: Efrem Haymore (Richards), senior and Dave Myers (Stagg), senior 1989: Dave Jensen (Shepard), senior and David Demumbrum (Reavis), senior 1990: Tyrone Washington (Shepard), senior 1991: Joe Schissler (Brother Rice), senior 1992: Jim Wroblewski (Sandburg), senior 1993: Allen Ross (Shepard) Sr. 1994: Kenny Carrington (Richards), senior and Mike Tracy (Evergreen Park), senior 1995: Zak Kustok (Sandburg), junior 1996: William Andrews (Richards), senior 1997: Bruce Corcoran (Sandburg), junior 1998: Joe Martinez (St. Laurence), senior and Joe Toner (Shepard), senior 1999: Tom Marsan (Evergreen Park), senior
2000: Mark Hamstra (Chicago Christian), senior 2001: Jon Cleveland (Shepard), senior 2002: Sean Lewis (Richards), junior 2003: Dan Nicholson (Brother Rice), senior 2004: Dion Foster (Richards), senior 2005: Mark Williams (Richards), senior 2006: Alex Haan (Chicago Christian), junior 2007: Alex Haan (Chicago Christian), senior and Tommie Thomas (Richards), senior 2008: Josh Hodur (St. Laurence), senior 2009: Jon Ryan (Richards), senior 2010-2102: None named 2013: Nic Weishar (Marist), senior 2014: Hasan Muhammad-Rogers (Richards), senior 2015: Brendan Skalitzky (Marist), senior 2016: Ricky Smalling (Brother Rice), senior 2017: Tori Clinton (St. Laurence), senior
The Regional News - The Reporter
448-6161
Thursday, December 7, 2017 Section 2
448-4000
Houses For Sale
Houses For Sale
Houses For Sale
Houses For Sale
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.JULIE SHEA A/K/A JULIE A. SHEA, HERITAGE II CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION PHASE II, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 16 CH 016479 8842 W.140TH STREET UNIT 3B ORLAND PARK, IL 60462 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 29, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 2, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 8842 W.140TH STREET UNIT 3B, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462 Property Index No. 27-03-400-051-1010. The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS� condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-14-07888. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-14-07888 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 016479 TJSC#: 37-9212 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3067246
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION Plaintiff, -v.DANIEL J. KIRK, MICHELLE L. KIRK Defendants 17 CH 653 7860 SYCAMORE DRIVE Orland Park, IL 60462 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 2, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 3, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 7860 SYCAMORE DRIVE, Orland Park, IL 60462 Property Index No. 27-13-103-018-0000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $318,019.01. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS� condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact The sales clerk, SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL 60015, (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm. Please refer to file number 17-081967. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn, IL 60015 (847) 291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 17-081967 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 17 CH 653 TJSC#: 37-9134 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3067350
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION Plaintiff, -v.WERNER STEENVOORDEN, AMANDA A. STEENVOORDEN, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA, HSBC FINANCE CORPORATION, CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A., DISCOVER BANK, UNIFUND CCR PARTNERS, MIDLAND FUNDING LLC Defendants 16 CH 006553 14350 BROOK AVENUE ORLAND PARK, IL 60462 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 5, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 4, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 14350 BROOK AVENUE, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462 Property Index No. 27-09-203-026-0000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS� condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-16-05568. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-16-05568 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 006553 TJSC#: 37-10541 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3069462
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR HARBORVIEW MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST MORTGAGE LOAN PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-14 Plaintiff, -v.HUDA ALTAHER A/K/A HUDA ABUASI Defendants 16 CH 002516 10548 GREAT EGRET DRIVE ORLAND PARK, IL 60467 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 17, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 19, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 10548 GREAT EGRET DRIVE, ORLAND PARK, IL 60467 Property Index No. 27-29-219-007-0000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS� condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-15-14405. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-15-14405 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 002516 TJSC#: 37-9705 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3069761
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Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, vs. JOAN KLEIN AKA JOAN L. KLEIN AKA JOAN MADERAK AKA JOAN STYLER AKA JOAN L. STYLER; RBS CITIZENS, N.A. SBM TO CHARTER ONE BANK, N.A.; THE RIVIERA IN PALOS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants, 17 CH 8929 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 23-23-201-114-0000. Commonly known as 18 Cour La Salle, Palos Hills, Illinois 60465. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a townhouse residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Anselmo Lindberg & Associates, LLC, 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563-1890. (630) 453-6960. For Bidding instructions visit www.alolawgroup.com 24 hours prior to sale. F17060175 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3068741
Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK NA; Plaintiff, vs. DAVID MANNING; JUDY MANNING; FIFTH THIRD BANK FKA FIFTH THIRD BANK (WESTERN MICHIGAN) UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS; Defendants, FIFTH THIRD BANK AN OHIO BANKING CORPORATION; Cross-Plaintiff(s), vs. JUDY MANNING; DAVID MANNING; Cross-Defendant(s), 17 CH 4356 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause, Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Thursday, January 4, 2018, at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 27-09-406-023. Commonly known as 14901 AVENIDA DEL ESTE, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 3571125. Ref. No. 17-00714 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3068715
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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK NA; Plaintiff, vs. ALICE GIALAMAS; GEORGE G. GIALAMAS; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; ALL FLOOD & FIRE; Defendants, 16 CH 13124 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Friday, January 12, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 27-18-416-006-0000. Commonly known as 15800 South 114th Court, Orland Park, IL 60467. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 17-030627 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3069401
The Reporter Subscribe or renew today! Call 448-4000 or 448-6161 PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All Real Estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination.� Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1 (800) 669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is: 1 (800) 927-9275.
5
For Sale
5 ACRES RT. 45 IN PEOTONE 600 ft. frontage x 400 ft. deep 40 ft. x 60 ft. pole barn CALL 815-450-0004
Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC DBA CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY; Plaintiff, vs. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; PALOS LANDINGS TOWNHOUSE ASSOCIATION; CURTIS WARNER AKA CURT WARNER AKA W. CURTIS WARNER; CYNTHIA CROWELL AKA CYNTHIA WARNER; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF WILLIAM WARNER AKA WILLIAM D. WARNER, DECEASED; THOMAS QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF WILLIAM WARNER AKA WILLIAM D. WARNER; Defendants, 17 CH 5048 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 23-24-300-213-0000. Commonly known as 14 West Bay Road, Palos Heights, IL 60463. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 2205611. 17-010391 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3068750
Houses For Sale IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION MIDLAND STATES BANK; Plaintiff, vs. ZORAIDA GARCIA AKA ZURAIDA GARCIA; ROLAND GARCIA; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 16 CH 9712 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 27-13-109-001-0000. Commonly known as 7758 Sycamore Drive, Orland Park, Illinois 60462. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Anselmo Lindberg & Associates, LLC, 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563-1890. (630) 453-6960. For Bidding instructions visit www.alolawgroup.com 24 hours prior to sale. F16060208 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3068735
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Your Guide to Arts and Events in the Southwest Suburbs and Beyond
OUT & ABOUT
The Regional News • The Reporter
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Southwest • Section 2, Page 7
BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS
VIDEOVIEW BY JAY BOBBIN
The Center will make pilgrimage to manger
NOTICE: Ratings for each film begin with a ‘star’ rating — one star meaning ‘poor,’ four meaning ‘excellent’ — followed by the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and then by a family-viewing guide, the key for which appears below.
The Center, 12700 Southwest Highway, Palos Park, has announced a slate of activities for the days ahead. For more information or to register for a program, call (708) 361-3650. • Christmas Teas In The Log Cabin Art Center will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 8-10 and Wednesday through Sunday, Dec. 13-17. The Log Cabin hostesses invite participants to enjoy a cup of Christmas tea and a plate of Christmas cookies, cakes and sandwiches. A heartwarming story will be shared by the fire and each guest will have an opportunity to make Christmas potpourri so that they can take home a bit of the Log Cabin’s holiday ambience. Advance tickets are required, and the cost $33. • Pilgrimage to the Manger will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday Dec. 9. Pilgrims will gather in the Lodge to don Judean headgear in order to follow Mary and Joseph on their pilgrimage to the manger. Participants are asked to dress for cold weather for the walk across the bridge to the Children’s Farm. There, shepherds with their sheep and the Magi on horseback will be on hand as Rev. Chris Hopkins will lead the group in scripture and carols. All are welcome to experience the miracle of that first Christmas. There is no fee, but a freewill donation is appreciated. • Bob Cratchit Candlelight Dinner is scheduled from 5:15 to 9 p.m. Sunday Dec. 10. In the tradition of Charles Dickens’ “Christmas Carol,” The Center will serve a turkey and plum pudding dinner, just as Tiny Tim’s family did in merry old England. Both before and after dinner, storyteller/drama teacher Greg Weiss will read from Dickens’ classic tale of the Christmas spirits visiting Scrooge. The tradition of reading “A Christmas Carol” at The Center dates back to the 1930s and in the 1980s dinner was added. Dinner tickets are $40 per person and are limited in number. Reservations are required. Early reservations are encouraged. • The Stories of Christmas will be told from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays Dec. 12 and 19 or 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays Dec. 14 and 21. These sessions will discuss the magi, the shepherds, the Gospel writers, their communities and the reasons the stories are told as they are. Each class costs $8 and registration is appreciated. • A Beatrix Potter Christmas Party will be celebrated from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 12. Art Center director Heather Young and art instructors Robin Neumann, Lois Lauer, Marge Boyd, and April Schabes are planning an introduction to the world of Beatrix Potter, complete with a reading of some of her books. They’ll end the party with some Beatrix Potter-inspired Christmas crafts, including making Peter Rabbit tea bags with chamomile from the farm garden. Luncheons cost $22 and advance reservations are necessary.
Bridge Teen Center to host gingerbread competition
The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 S. 71st Ct., Orland Park, offers several free events for teens in seventh through 12th grade. For more information, call (708) 532-0500. These are free events
STARTING THIS WEEK:
Supplied photo
Christmas tea is a popular event at The Center.
Greg Weiss reads from “A Christmas Carol” before and after a traditional Christmas dinner.
for youths in seventh through 12th grade. • The White Elephant Holiday Market will be open for business for seventh to 12th graders 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. Shoppers are guaranteed to be able to stroll through a winter wonderland during the White Elephant Holiday Market. Designed to provide hilarious and weird gifts, ugly Christmas sweaters, holiday decorations and more traditional items. All White Elephant items and ugly Christmas sweaters in the holiday market will be priced from 50 cents to $10. All items have been donated by the community through The Bridge Thrift Store and proceeds will benefit the free programs and events at The Bridge Teen Center. Cash only, no checks or cards will be accepted. Participants can also make Christmas cards or gift tags in the Art Studio. Small cupcakes will be available to snack on. • Gingerbread House Competition with CarMax is scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. Students and volunteers from CarMax will be broken down into teams of 4-6 people. Each team will be given a load of “building material” and a time limit in which to create their unique, thematic gingerbread house. • Express Your Passions Through Writing will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, Students will learn how to convey their thoughts to an audience in an effective way. They will learn how to share their passions through writing. • High School students are invited to the Drop-In: Study Lounge with a Grilled Cheese Station from 2 to 6 p.m. Thurs-
day, Dec. 14 Students are invited to make The Bridge their study spot this finals week. There will be a grilled cheese station, helpful tutors, whiteboards and study supplies available. • Christmas Karaoke and Ugliest Christmas Sweater Contest is on tap from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. Students are invited to participate in an ugly sweater contest and sing their favorite Christmas songs on stage. Corner Bakery will provide free food samples.
Movie, TV holiday classics featured in concert
Guest conductor Francesco Milioto makes his third appearance with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra for the Holiday Pops Movie Music Spectacular matinee concert at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 in the Ozinga Chapel at Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Dr., Palos Heights. Student tickets are $10. Adult tickets start at $25 if ordered in advance. Additional fees may apply. For more information or tickets, call (708) 481-7774 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The box office at Ozinga Chapel will open at 2 p.m. Dec. 16. Santa Claus will also visit and take pictures with guests in the Grand Lobby from 2 to 3 p.m. before the concert. Complimentary coffee, lemonade and cookies will be served at intermission. Patrons can look forward to a program that features a mix of musical excerpts from TV and film classics including Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, The Grinch, A Charlie Brown Christmas,
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McCord’s Holiday Shoppe features local artists
McCord Gallery & Cultural Center’s Holiday Shoppe is open through Friday, Dec. 22. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. There will be silk scarves, quilted purses, jewelry, picture frames, fused glass dishes and many more crafts available in the newly renovated space. Local artists created the items on display and for sale.
Submitted photo
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Frozen, and more. The Grande Prairie Singers, under the direction of Jo Rodenburg, along with the Grande Prairie Children’s Choir and Spectrum Youth Singers, under the direction of Oksana Rodak, also return to share the stage with the orchestra. In addition, the December 16 concert features two soloists, bassbaritone Alan Higgs and mezzosoprano Kira Dills-Dessura. Higgs is the 2016-2017 Sullivan Foundations Award Winner and more recently, a semifinalist in the 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. He is currently the resident bass-baritone for the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Higgs has a master’s degree in voice performance from Florida State University. Dills-Dessura is a recently graduated young artist of the Chicago Opera Theater. She has participated in COT productions of Lysander (cover), Ensemble in The Fairy Queen, and Isolde of the White Hands (Le Vin Herbé). Dills-Dessura holds a Master of Music degree from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.
“DESPICABLE ME 3’’: Happily domesticated now, Gru and his wife Lucy (voices by Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig) are tossed out of the Anti-Villain League after they’re outsmarted by an enemy aptly named Bratt (who has the voice of Trey Parker, of “South Park’’ fame) in this entertaining second sequel to the animated comedy hit. As they try to redeem themselves, the couple crosses paths with Gru’s twin brother Dru (also with Carell’s voice) and the two brothers’ mother (voice by Julie Andrews). A sign that Gru has gone somewhat soft is his relationship with the youngsters that he now calls his own — and Lucy tries to — plus the Minions, who still are here despite having had their own movie. Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan and Jenny Slate also are heard. DVD extras: “making-of’’ documentaries; deleted scene; Pharrell Williams music video; sing-along; “Minion Moments’’; “The Secret Life of Kyle’’ mini-movie. *** (PG: AS) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “AMERICAN ASSASSIN’’: Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz — who made television’s acclaimed ``thirtysomething’’ and “Once and Again’’ — were among the screenwriters on this action tale about a personally haunted man (Dylan O’Brien, “The Maze Runner’’) who’s given a chance to join an elite counterterrorism team headed by a Cold War veteran (Michael Keaton, achieving much by adding his sly wit to a somewhat predictable role). The new operative’s first mission is to help track down missing plutonium before it can reach intended buyers in Iran. Sanaa Lathan, Taylor Kitsch and television “Poirot’’ David Suchet also star. DVD extra: Q&A session with O’Brien and Kitsch. *** (R: AS, N, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand) “TWIN PEAKS: A LIMITED EVENT SERIES’’: After false starts and behind-the-scenes drama that saw series co-creator David Lynch drop out of the project for a while, this Showtime revival of the famously quirky cult-classic show finally arrived this year, with Lynch directing all 18 episodes. Also billed collectively as “The Third Season,’’ the stories restore Kyle MacLachlan to the role of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper. To give too many details would be an injustice — as if we could do that with complete accuracy, thanks to the ever-challenging plot — so we’ll just leave it that many of the other original stars also return, from Madchen Amick, James Marshall, Dana Ashbrook and Sherilyn Fenn to David Duchovny, Peggy Lipton, Richard Beymer and “Log Lady’’
Catherine E. Coulson (who passed after filming her work here, as did Miguel Ferrer). Laura Dern, Richard Chamberlain and Ashley Judd also appear. DVD extra: “makingof’’ documentary. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray) “THE SIMPSONS: THE EIGHTEENTH SEASON’’: The recurring character Fat Tony (voiced by Joe Mantegna and featured in the first tale here) gets his day as the subject on the cover of this latest home-video release from the long-running, animated Fox sitcom. It’s likely a relief for fans to see this come to the market, since for a while, it appeared that no more of the series would be issued on home video. Kiefer Sutherland, Natalie Portman, Eric Idle, Betty White, Dr. Phil McGraw, Ludacris, composer Stephen Sondheim, filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich and writers Gore Vidal and Tom Wolfe also are among the guest voices in these stories, which originally aired in 2006-07 and encompassed the show’s 400th episode. *** (Not rated: AS) “FARGO: YEAR THREE’’: The offbeat FX series inspired by the Oscar-winning 1966 Coenbrothers movie rebooted itself again for this season, bringing another actor whose series-television involvement is rare — Ewan McGregor — to dual roles as brothers, one of whom plans to steal from the other, with very unexpected consequences. The would-be thief is a probation officer whose scheme involves the parolee he’s romantically involved with (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Carrie Coon (“The Leftovers’’), David Thewlis, Michael Stuhlbarg, Scoot McNairy, Shea Whigham and Mary McDonnell (“Major Crimes’’) also are in the ensemble cast. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V)
COMING SOON:
“DETROIT’’ (Dec. 12): Director Kathryn Bigelow’s drama follows a security guard’s (John Boyega) experiences in the violent wake of a police raid. (R: AS, P, V) “GAME OF THRONES: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON’’ (Dec. 12): Jon Snow and Cersei Lannister (Kit Harington, Lena Headey) both face challenges as leaders as the hugely popular HBO series continues. (Not rated: AS, N, V) “HOME AGAIN’’ (Dec. 12): A woman’s (Reese Witherspoon) surprising new romance is threatened by the return of her estranged husband (Michael Sheen). (PG-13: AS, P) “KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE’’ (Dec. 12): Members of an American spy organization step in to assist Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and his British colleagues against enemies. (R: AS, P, V) FAMILY-VIEWING GUIDE KEY: AS, adult situations; N, nudity; P, profanity; V, violence; GV, particularly graphic violence.
Your Guide to Arts and Events in the Southwest Suburbs and Beyond
OUT & ABOUT
The Regional News • The Reporter
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Southwest • Section 2, Page 8
WOLFGANG PUCK’S KITCHEN
Holiday cookies combine two favorites in one By Wolfgang Puck
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Tickets are on sale for the Village of Orland Park Theatre Troupe’s winter show, “The Family Fruitcake” Dec. 8-10 at the Orland Park Civic Center. The 20-member cast includes (bottom row from left) Naomi Turk (Orland Park), Carli Mendoza (Mokena), Saoirse Redmond (Orland Park) and (top row from left) Etienne Fellmann (Orland Park), Hannah Belair (Orland Hills), Ryan Valecek (New Lenox) and (top row) Michelle Belair (Orland Hills).
‘The Family Fruitcake’ coming to Orland Park The Orland Park Theatre Troupe will present their holiday show, “The Family Fruitcake” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8 and Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and students and $10 for children age 12 and younger. Reserved-seating tickets are available in-person only through the village’s Recreation Administration Office, 14600 S. Ravina Ave. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The two-hour show tells the story of Laurie McKinnon, a mom determined to give her family a normal Christmas, despite her oldest son being away serving in the military. She rushes about making sure everything is ready for the impending arrival of the extended family, although her husband and teenage daughter are unconvinced of the need to impress everyone.
Meanwhile, youngest daughter arrives downstairs in full camouflage makeup. Her mother is less than enthused. Visitors soon trickle in and comedy ensues. “The Family Fruitcake” is directed by Frann Carnivele along with Mary Tuminello, assistant director. The show is written by Rebecca Frohling. The Orland Park cast includes Annie Burns, Sarah Callis, Krystle Cousins, Etienne Fellmann, Amy Henrichs, Samantha Manning, Declan Mulvey, Saoirse Redmond, Bryan Riess, Makayla Spatz, Naomi Turk, Marc and Will Vajarsky. Other cast members include Orland Hills residents Hannah and Michelle Belair, Brett Gustafson from Midlothian, Suzanne Hamilton from Homer Glen, Carli Mendoza from Mokena, Zoe Touloupakis of Palos Park and Ryan Valecek of New Lenox. For more information, call (708) 403-7275.
OMARR’S WEEKLY
ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST
By Jeraldine Saunders ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the coming week you are likely to be filled with warm feelings toward others. You may inadvertently step on some toes while seeking companionship. Heightened ambition could desensitize you to the word “no.” TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Guard against financial losses. The Full Moon may light up areas where you are spending money on numerous unnecessary fees, but it will add up. As this week unfolds find way to insure your financial security. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The Full Moon in your sign may make you more aware of relationship issues as this week unfolds. You may look on the dark side and be pessimistic when you should be sympathetic. Hold off on key decisions. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Tune your consciousness to the problems of the world. Solve environmental issues that are within reach; turn off a light or use a recycling bin. It may be difficult to attain your business goals in the early part of the week. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Today’s Full Moon may reveal how much you rely upon the opinions of others. As the week unfolds you may realize there is more to life than duty and ambition. Your focus may shift to creative activities or homegrown pleasures. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Be proud of what you have, without coveting what others may have. New friendships and acquaintances could create some discomfort in the week ahead if you spend too much time comparing possessions.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You may try to mix business and pleasure in the upcoming week, but in some cases it may be like mixing oil and water. You may have the impulse to bring new acquaintances into your home or into your confidence. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): This may be a great week to meet new friends or develop contacts who broaden your knowledge. You may feel compelled to pinch your pennies in the first half of the week when you should avoid making new investments. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): During the first half of the week you might not succeed no matter how much you try. Later in the week focus on making your surroundings a place of peace and contentment. Invite trusted friends to visit. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Steer a straight course no matter how tempting it is to take a detour. You maybe irked by companions who change their minds about business decisions at an awkward moment. Avoid arguments in the week ahead. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You may sometimes feel lost in a forest without a breadcrumb trail. Remember that the scariest fairy tales have a happy ending. Maintain a positive attitude and problems will resolve themselves during the week ahead. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Open the windows and let in fresh air and sunshine. Avoid dark, gloomy places and people during the week to come. You may be challenged to deal with those who encourage you to dip into savings or change your investments.
All my life, I’ve loved sweet pastries of every kind; especially cookies. So with plenty of holiday parties ahead, I feel like I’m in pastry heaven. There’s the promise of wonderful cookies everywhere I turn. I learned as a boy that you can never start making holiday cookies too soon. Around late November, my mother and grandmother were already preparing them to have ready for guests who came visiting, as well as to wrap up in airtight tins as homemade gifts. The following recipe for chocolate-chunk oatmeal cookies traces its origins to the early days of my restaurant Spago in the 1980s. I think it was widely popular for the perfect way it combined two popular varieties into one robust, rich-tasting, satisfyingly chewy treat. And, happily, the cookies are surprisingly easy to make. Good results depend mostly on paying attention to a few small details. First, be sure to pick up a package of rolled oats labeled “quick-cooking,” which means they have been crushed into flat flake-like shapes and partially steamed, then dried. That ensures they’ll turn tender in the relatively brief baking time. I also like to buy good-quality bittersweet chocolate in whole bar form, rather than using chocolate chips. I very carefully cut up the chocolate myself on a cutting board into uneven small chunks, using a sharp knife. The variety of shapes adds to the homemade quality and makes every bite a small surprise. Nuts are another important element, and I prefer to use slightly sweeter pecans instead of the usual walnuts you find in both oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies. I also take care to toast the pecans before baking, so they’ll have a fuller flavor and crispier texture. Though each step is very particular, the dough is still very easy to mix, shape and bake. And one more feature suits this recipe even better to the holidays. You can mix the dough in advance, shape it into individual balls, place them on trays, cover well with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to one week before baking; or, the dough balls can be frozen for up to two months, to be thawed in
the refrigerator for several hours before baking. That means, with a little advance planning, you can have cookies ready to bake and serve hot from the oven when guests drop by. My mother and grandmother would have approved! CHOCOLATE-CHUNK OATMEAL COOKIES Makes about 5 1/2 dozen • About 5 ounces (150 g) shelled pecan halves or pieces • 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 8 ounces (250 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into small pieces • 1 cup (250 mL) firmly packed dark brown sugar • 1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • 1 pound (500 g) bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped to the size of large chocolate chips • 2 cups (500 mL) quickcooking rolled oats Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Spread the pecans on a baking tray and toast them in the oven until fragrant and slightly darkened in color, 10 to 12 minutes, turning them halfway through. Set aside to cool, then coarsely chop them by hand or by pulsing briefly in a food processor. In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In the large bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle or beaters (or in a large mixing bowl using a hand-held electric mixer), soften the butter at medium speed. Add the brown and granulated sugars, and continue beating; once they’re fully incorporated, increase the speed to high and continue beating until the mixture looks fluffy, stopping as needed to scrape down the sides of the bowl and under the beaters with a rubber spatula. Reduce the speed to medium
Dreamstime.com
This cookie recipe combines two popular varieties into one rich-tasting, satisfyingly chewy treat.
and, one at a time, add the eggs and then the vanilla, stopping as needed to scrape down the bowl and beaters. Reduce the speed to low and gradually pour in the flour mixture, stopping as soon as it is incorporated. Add the chocolate, oats, and pecans to the bowl. Stir with a sturdy wooden spoon until fully incorporated. Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Fold the wrap around the dough and refrigerate until firm, 2 to 3 hours. Position the rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Line 1 or 2 baking trays with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it into mounds about the size of an unshelled walnut, weighing about 1
ounce (30g) each, rolling each mound into an even ball between the palms of your clean hands. Arrange the balls on the prepared baking trays about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Bake in the preheated oven until slightly firm to the touch, 13 to 15 minutes, reversing the trays back to front about halfway through for even baking. Transfer the trays to racks to cool. After a few minutes, remove the trays from the racks. Use a wide metal spatula to remove the cookies from the trays, transferring them back to the racks to cool completely. (If reusing a baking tray, allow a few minutes for it to cool slightly before placing a new batch of dough balls on it.) Store the cookies in an airtight container at cool room temperature and serve within three days.