KCC-8-2-2013

Kane County

CHRONICLE FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013 | 50 CENTS | KCCHRONICLE.COM

HUMBLE HOMEBODY COUGARS’ ALMORA MIGHT BE FUTURE STAR, BUT DOESN’T ACT THE PART. PAGE 16 Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Albert Almora (right), outfielder for the Kane County Cougars, eats dinner with teammates Rock Shoulders (far left) and Reggie Golden at the home of Sam and Warren Drewes in St. Charles.

IN NEWS

IN NEWS

TESTIMONY IN D-303 MERGER CASE ENDS

FAMILY DECISION Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, says she will not seek a fourth term because her husband opted to retire. Page 4

Vol. 24, Issue 148

Page 9 Since 1881.

Where to find it Classified: 31-35 Comics: 28-29 Puzzles: 30

HIGH

Obituaries: 9 Opinion: 12 Sports: 15-20

LOW

78 63 Complete forecast on 5

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| GETTING STARTED

2

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

IN FOCUS A weekly feature by Sandy Bressner, photo editor at the Kane County Chronicle

Accuracy is important to the Kane County Chronicle, and we want to correct mistakes promptly. Please call errors to our attention by phone, 630-845-5355; email, editorial@kcchronicle.com.

DID YOU WIN? Illinois Lottery Pick 3 Midday: 7-9-3 Pick 3 Evening: 5-5-6 Pick 4 Midday: 5-3-7-0 Pick 4 Evening: 2-7-0-0 Lucky Day Lotto Midday: 7-17-25-33-35 Lucky Day Lotto Evening: 2-3-16-26-35 Lotto: 9-13-24-31-36-44 (8) Lotto jackpot: $4.45 million Mega Millions Est. jackpot: $13 million

L

ast week, the much anticipated Muon g-2 magnet, a 50-foot-wide monstrosity, finally arrived on the campus of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia.

As I arrived for the event, members of the media were

briefed in a conference room at Wilson Hall and given orange safety vests.

We then left on a bus to follow the magnet as it approached Wilson Hall to be welcomed by throngs of visitors stretching their necks over the crowd to

see the equipment – with a police escort – arrive.

The magnet already had traveled by barge, and then by truck, thousands of miles from Long Island, N.Y. As the magnet made its way slowly down the main road

at Fermi, a few of the other photographers and I hurried through the crowd to take the elevator up to the 15th floor of Wilson Hall to watch the truck’s arrival.

It was a great view.

– Sandy Bressner

First 2013 case of H3N2v flu identified in Illinois KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE editorial@kcchronicle.com A Boone County child has become the first person in Illinois this year to have a confirmed case of the H3N2v virus, which is a strain of the swine flu, according to a news release issued Thursday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

According to the release, H3N2v is a form of influenza A, which first was detected in swine in 2011. The first human cases were reported last year, including four in Illinois.

The case was a Boone County youth, displaying what were described as mild symptoms, according to the release.

“The H3N2v is relatively new, but the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and our federal partners are monitoring this situation closely.”

Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck Illinois Department of Public Health’s director The child had contact with swine while helping an exhibitor at the DuPage County Fair, which took place in July.

According to the release,

the severity of illnesses associated with the virus are similar to illnesses associated with seasonal flu infections.

“The H3N2v is relatively new, but the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and our federal partners are monitoring this situation closely,” said Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, the Illinois Department of Public Health’s director. “We want you to enjoy your time at the state or county fair, so one thing to do to stay healthy is to wash your hands frequently, especially if you are around swine.”

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Tips

to avoid the flu include avoiding eating while visiting animals and avoiding close contact with animals, especially swine.

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Powerball Wednesday’s drawing Numbers: 8-24-39-49-59 Powerball: 5 Est. jackpot: $290 million

8CHECK OUT OUR BLOGS Visit KCChronicle.com and view a selection of blogs that are available, or go directly to www.kcchronicle. com/blogs.

• Tales from the Motherhood is a blog written

by Batavia mom Jennifer DuBose.

CONTACT US

FACE TIME WITH VINNY GRADO

Where did you grow up? Emerson, N.J. We moved here in 1996.

Pets? A lab mix named Bella.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Dimebag Darrell First job? Detailing cars. Everything led to cars, cars, cars.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a cop. I ended up being an auto painter.

A movie you’d recommend? “Goon” Do you play an instrument? Drums. I’m in a band, Lugubrious. It’s deathcore, death metal.

Favorite charity? Anything for taking care of animals.

What game show would you be on? “Family Feud” Favorite local restaurant? The Beef Shack in St. Charles What is an interesting factoid about yourself? I met Mitch Lucker from Suicide Silence.

and

Kane County Chronicle staffers pick the best of what to do in your free time

Farewell party for Townsend set in St. Charles

Potter birthday party Tuesday at Elburn Library

WHAT: A farewell reception for City Administrator Brian Townsend is set. All are welcome.

Cake and refreshments will be served.

WHEN: 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 21 WHERE: Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 2 E. Main St., St. Charles

WHAT: The Town and Country Public Library will celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday with a party. Everyone is welcome. Activities include birthday cake and singing at 12:30 p.m., story time with “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” at 3 and 5 p.m., Quidditch on the lawn, sorting ceremony, divination classes, potions classes, and search for the Escaped Magical Creatures at 2 and 4 p.m.

WHEN: noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday WHERE: 320 E. North St., Elburn INFO: Call 630-365-2244.

National Night Out event in Campton Hills WHAT: The seventh annual National Night Out in the village of Campton Hills will be held. The event promotes community spirit and a police-community partnership, and more than 30 local organizations and businesses will provide safety, health and community education. Hands-on and interactive activities for children and families will be provided. Free snacks and healthy food samples will also be available.

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday WHERE: School Street between Route 64 and LaFox Road in Campton Hills INFO: Call 630-584-5700.

Antique Tool Show at Garfield Farm WHAT: The Early American Industries Association and the Mid-West Tools Collectors Association will host its 21st annual Antique Tool Show and Sale. More than 30 collectors are expected to have their tools on display and for sale, and the public is invited to bring a tool they cannot identify to show to collectors, according to a news release from

the museum. Cost is $6 for adults and $2 for children younger than 12; light refreshments will be available.

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday WHERE: Garfield Farm Museum, 5 miles west of Geneva off Route 38 on Garfield Road INFO: Call 630-584-8485, email info@garfieldfarm.org or visit www.garfieldfarm.org.

Violinist at free Baker Memorial Concert WHAT: Violinist Andy Masters is set to perform as part of Baker Memorial United Methodist Church’s free Friday Noontime Summer Concerts program. The concert coincides with the church’s weekly farmers market next to the church from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays.

WHEN: noon to 12:30 p.m. today WHERE: Fourth Avenue and East Main Street in St. Charles INFO: Contact the church office at 630-584-6680.

TODAY’S WEB POLL

YESTERDAY’S WEB POLL RESULTS

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• Friday, August 2, 2013

Out About

All rights reserved. Copyright 2013 The Kane County Chronicle.

Published since 1881

3

GETTING STARTED | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

St. Charles resident Vinny Grado, 28, was at his father’s garage sale in Geneva when he answered 11 questions for the Kane County Chronicle’s Brenda Schory.

The Kane County Chronicle and KCChronicle.com are a division of Shaw Media, 333 N. Randall Road, Suite 2, St. Charles, IL 60174.

8LOCAL BRIEFS

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| LOCAL NEWS

4

Shaw Media file photo

State Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, announced Wednesday at her annual Summer Soiree event that she will not seek re-election. Her current term expires in 2015.

Rep. Hatcher says she will not seek re-election

By JONATHAN BILYK jbilyk@shawmedia.com YORKVILLE – The woman who has represented central Kane County in the Illinois General Assembly for years has announced she will not seek another term in office.

State Rep. Kay Hatcher, R-Yorkville, told supporters Wednesday at her annual Summer Soiree event that she intends to step aside from the Illinois House of Representatives when her current term expires in 2015.

She also announced the news in an emailed newsletter.

On Thursday, Hatcher said she decided to leave the General Assembly after her husband opted to retire.

“This was a family decision,” Hatcher said. “I said, ‘I am not going to be 70 years old and working when my husband is not.’ ” Hatcher has served in the state House since 2009 in the 50th House District, which covers northern Kendall County and central Kane County, including Sugar Grove, Blackberry and Campton townships.

Hatcher was re-elected in 2010 and 2012.

In the next year and a half,

Hatcher said she intends to “raise the roof” in Springfield, tackling issues such as public worker pensions and Medicaid.

However, she said her primary target in coming days will be working to defeat a progressive income tax, which she said would “strangle folks in this district.”

Local elected leaders, including Kane County Board members Drew Frasz, R-Elburn, and Melisa Taylor, R-Sugar Grove, among others, credited Hatcher with good work as a state representative.

“She’ll be sorely missed,” said Sugar Grove Village President Sean Michels. “Whoever replaces her will have big shoes to fill.”

Hatcher’s departure opens the door to challengers who might wish to claim her seat in the heavily Republican district.

Kane County Republican Party Chairman Barb Wojnicki said she believes up to six candidates could step into the 2014 GOP primary race.

Kendall County Republican Party Chairman Scott Gryder said he also has heard some names rumored.

To this point, however, he said only Kendall County Board member Matt Prochaska has vocally expressed interest in the race to him.

In Kane County, Taylor and Michels said Thursday they are considering entering the race.

“I’m not ruling it out, but I’m not ruling it 100 percent in,” said Taylor, noting such a decision would be “life-changing.”

Michels said he only learned of Hatcher’s pending departure on Thursday morning, and had yet to discuss a possible run with his family.

Frasz said Thursday he was not interested in running for the seat, as serving as a Republican in Sprinfield would be too “frustrating” and the election cycle “grueling.”

Elburn Village Trustee and one-time congressional candidate Ethan Hastert has told the Kane County Chronicle in recent weeks he would not run, despite assertions to the contrary circulated on social media.

However, Hastert did not respond to questions on the matter Thursday after Hatcher’s announcement.

STC Park District plans boxing boot camp

Gallery to feature Yellow House Artists

ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles Park District has planned a free boxing boot camp trial from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Ave., St. Charles.

It is a noncontact, high-intensity boxing skills class.

All fitness levels, ages 14 and older, are welcome. Bring a water bottle and a towel.

Registration is required.

For information, visit www. stcparks.org.

ST. CHARLES – Artwork by members of Yellow House Artists, created exclusively with oil pastels and oil sticks, will be the next exhibit in the Kavanagh Gallery at Fine Line Creative Arts Center, which takes place from Sept. 13 through Oct. 5.

The opening reception will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept.

13. Fine Line Arts Center is at 37W570 Bolcum Road in St. Charles. For information, visit www.fineline.org.

The Yellow House Artists group is dedicated to promoting the use of oil pastels in creating art. This show will feature original paintings by 28 participating artists from throughout the suburbs.

Walking group will meet Wednesdays ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles Park District has planned the Happy Hoofers Walking Group, which will meet from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Wednesdays, from Sept. 4 to 25, at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, 3795 Campton Hills Road, St. Charles.

Hikes are about one hour long on moderate terrain.

Participants should wear appropriate shoes and dress for the weather. It is for those ages 18 and older. Advance registration is required for this free program. For information, visit www.stcnature.org.

Auction, plant sale scheduled Aug. 11 Hostas and other shade plants will be the main attraction at the Northern Illinois Hosta Society Auction and Plant Sale on Aug. 11 at the Community House, 415 W. Eighth St., Hinsdale. All plant lovers are invited to come, bid and buy plants.

A wide variety of hostas, both classic and new to the market, will be auctioned, along with several other plant varieties. More hostas will be available in a separate sale, some of them for as little as $5 per plant. The auction begins at 1 p.m., but potential buyers should come early to preview.Refreshments will be available. For information, email mrekoske@comcast.net or call 847-634-1928.

Short-term parking spaces in municipal lot ST. CHARLES – Nine parking spots in the North Municipal Parking Lot in St. Charles have been temporarily designated as short-term parking spaces.

This is to accommodate downtown visitors while exterior maintenance to the Municipal Building is underway. The spaces are available for 90-minute parking from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, except on holidays.

The North Municipal Parking Lot is north of the Municipal Building at 2 E. Main St. in St. Charles.

N. Aurora seeks upscale flea market vendors NORTH AURORA – The village of North Aurora is seeking upscale flea market vendors for the second annual French Market. The one-day event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, indoors at the Mooseheart Fieldhouse.

Mooseheart is at the northwest corner of Route 31 and Mooseheart Road, just south of Batavia.

Visit www.northauroradays. com for an application, or contact Sharon Harwick at 630-269-3071 for details.

– Kane County Chronicle

Seven-Day Forecast

Shown are noon postions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.

78 63

Bill Bellis

MON

TUE

Mostly sunny and a little cooler

Partly sunny with isolated t-storms

Partly sunny, warmer and more humid

76 55

77 64

80 65

SAT

Mostly cloudy; Partly sunny and pleasant a few showers/ storms

Chief Meteorologist

SUN

77 57

Tri-Cities Almanac

WED

THU

Partly sunny with Partly sunny isolated t-storms and cooler; a.m. showers

74 54

78 63

Harvard

80/59 McHenry Statistics through 4 p.m. yesterday Belvidere 80/63 Temperatures Waukegan 80/62 76/62 High/low ....................................... 78°/55° Normal high ......................................... 83° Rockford Crystal Lake Deerfield Record high .............................. 97° (2006) Algonquin 80/63 78/63 79/65 80/62 Normal low .......................................... 64° Hampshire Record low ............................... 48° (1990) Schaumburg 80/62 Elgin 80/65 Peak wind ........................... NW at 15 mph 80/63 DeKalb Precipitation 78/63 Tri-Cities Chicago 24 hours through 4 p.m. yest. ........... Trace 78/63 80/66 Month to date ................................... 0.00” Normal month to date ....................... 0.13” Oak Park Year to date .................................... 24.55” 80/67 Aurora Normal year to date ........................ 21.65” Dixon 82/62

UV Index

The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

82/63

Sandwich 82/63

Orland Park 81/66

10 a.m.

Noon

2 p.m.

4 p.m.

0-2 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 6-7 High; 8-10 Very High; 11+ Extreme

Air Quality

Reading as of Thursday

City Arlington Hts Aurora Deerfield Des Plaines Elgin Gary Hammond Janesville

Today Hi Lo W 80 65 c 82 63 c 79 65 pc 80 66 c 80 63 c 79 66 t 81 69 t 80 61 c

Saturday Hi Lo W 75 59 pc 79 54 pc 74 59 pc 75 59 pc 75 56 pc 77 56 pc 82 58 t 76 54 pc

City Kankakee Kenosha La Salle Morris Munster Naperville Tinley Park Waukegan

Today Hi Lo W 82 67 t 75 61 pc 82 66 t 82 65 t 79 66 t 80 64 t 80 65 t 76 62 pc

Saturday Hi Lo W 78 55 t 74 53 pc 79 57 pc 79 55 pc 77 58 pc 78 56 pc 77 58 pc 73 55 pc

Fox River Stages 0-50 Good; 51-100 Moderate; 101-150 Unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151-200 Unhealthy; 201-300 Very Unhealthy; 301-500 Hazardous Source: Illinois EPA

Pollen Count Data as of Thursday

Fld: flood stage. Prs: stage in feet at 7 a.m Thursday. Chg: change in previous 24 hours.

Station Fld Prs Chg Station Fld Prs Chg Montgomery........... 13..... 11.44..... +0.05 Algonquin................. 3....... 1.68....... none New Munster, WI .... 19....... 6.53..... +0.05 Burlington, WI ........ 11....... 6.82..... +0.01 Princeton .............. 9.5....... 4.45...... -0.04 Dayton ................... 12....... 6.01..... +0.03 Waukesha ................ 6....... 2.99...... -0.03 McHenry .................. 4....... 1.13...... -0.13

Sun and Moon

Source: National Allergy Bureau

Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

Today 5:48 a.m.

8:10 p.m.

2:08 a.m.

5:09 p.m.

Saturday 5:49 a.m.

8:09 p.m.

2:58 a.m.

5:52 p.m.

New

First

Full

Last

Today Hi Lo W 71 58 pc 88 71 pc 87 66 s 78 55 t 84 57 s 83 67 t 88 68 pc 80 66 c 82 67 pc 102 77 s 90 63 t 82 67 t 88 75 pc 98 76 pc 80 68 pc 86 73 r 101 82 s 76 62 pc

Saturday Hi Lo W 66 57 r 91 74 pc 85 64 t 79 59 t 88 59 pc 82 66 pc 89 69 pc 76 60 pc 84 66 t 102 78 pc 89 61 t 78 64 c 88 75 pc 95 76 s 84 62 t 89 70 t 100 83 s 78 64 pc

Today City Hi Lo W Louisville 86 71 pc Miami 89 78 t Milwaukee 76 63 pc Minneapolis 80 59 pc Nashville 88 68 pc New Orleans 92 77 pc New York City 84 68 pc Oklahoma City 100 77 pc Omaha 86 69 t Orlando 92 74 t Philadelphia 86 67 s Phoenix 105 86 t Pittsburgh 78 63 pc St. Louis 88 74 r Salt Lake City 92 65 s San Francisco 67 53 pc Seattle 69 56 c Washington, DC 86 70 s

Saturday Hi Lo W 89 70 t 90 79 pc 73 56 pc 79 60 pc 93 72 t 91 77 t 82 68 t 100 74 pc 84 67 t 92 75 pc 85 68 t 104 86 pc 76 61 r 87 70 t 94 68 pc 67 54 pc 76 56 pc 86 69 t

Saturday Hi Lo W 96 77 s 114 82 s 91 77 t 95 66 s 59 45 pc 98 75 s 72 49 t 86 65 s 62 40 s 77 58 sh 95 66 s 91 77 pc

City Mexico City Moscow Nassau New Delhi Paris Rio de Janeiro Rome Seoul Singapore Sydney Tokyo Toronto

Today Hi Lo W 77 53 t 72 55 c 89 79 t 93 79 pc 93 66 s 85 69 s 94 69 s 88 77 sh 87 77 t 71 47 pc 83 71 sh 72 59 pc

Saturday Hi Lo W 72 54 t 74 60 pc 88 79 pc 93 79 pc 80 57 pc 86 70 s 94 71 s 88 77 pc 87 77 t 68 47 pc 85 74 pc 75 57 pc

World Weather City Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Buenos Aires Cairo Calgary Jerusalem Johannesburg London Madrid Manila

Today Hi Lo W 92 76 s 111 83 s 86 74 t 92 70 s 55 43 pc 99 76 s 68 48 pc 87 68 s 61 39 s 80 62 pc 97 66 s 86 75 t

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

Aug 6

Aug 14

Aug 20

Aug 28

Forecasts and graphics, except WFLD forecasts, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2013

• Friday, August 2, 2013

Regional Weather

City Anchorage Atlanta Baltimore Billings Boise Boston Charlotte Chicago Cincinnati Dallas Denver Des Moines Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Las Vegas Los Angeles

5

WEATHER | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

TODAY

National Weather

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| LOCAL NEWS

6

Dancer earns trip to Bolshoi Brazil

Elderday Center to hold annual mum sale BATAVIA – Elderday Center will have its eighth annual mum sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 to 7 at Bethany Ministry Center, 328 W. Wilson St., Batavia, where Elderday Center is located.

Mums will be available for $10 each in a variety of colors. They can be reserved ahead of time by calling 630-761-9750. Free delivery is available for purchases of 10 or more. Elderday Center provides programming for senior citizens and support for caregivers.

By KARA SILVA ksilva@shawmedia.com GENEVA – A State Street Studios dancer has garnered the attention of one the world’s leading schools of ballet, earning herself a three-week internship in Brazil beginning Aug. 10.

Eleven-year-old Emma Sidari of St. Charles will be the first American to study at the Bolshoi Theatre School in Joinville, Brazil, as part of a “social project” aimed at building a bridge between dancers from Bolshoi Brazil and the U.S. “Bolshoi is the best in the world,” said Linda Cunningham, State Street Dance Studio founder and artistic director.

“And we are the first school making the bridge.”

Bolshoi Brazil, a 13-year-old branch of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia, has 12 studios and trains students from all over South America.

In anticipation of Sidari’s upcoming trip, Russian-born Pavel Kazarian, the general director of Bolshoi Brazil, stopped by State Street Studio on July 31 on the second day of his inaugural trip to the U.S. Cunningham said she was humbled by Kazarian’s visit to State Street Studio.

“This is pretty enormous that Pavel is here in the Fox Valley area,” she said. “People are going to be talking about this for a while.”

On his visit, Kazarian observed Sidari, as well as other dancers, and will accompany the young dancer to Brazil. “[Sidari] is a good girl. ... I think it is a good experience for Brazil and for the U.S.,” Kazarian said. “The project is very important for opening the minds of dancers. It’s important for Bolshoi Brazil to exchange cultures. Having students from the U.S., it’s a very good cultural experience.”

Naperville resident Eurika Porto, a “scout” and “cultivator of great dancers” according to Cunningham, helped coordinate Sidari’s internship and will join Kazarian and Sidari on the trip as well.

“I always thought of Linda [Cunningham] as a visionary with such talent. ... So, I thought of [State Street Dance

8LOCAL BRIEFS

Two area colleges get state grants

Kara Silva – ksilva@shawmedia.com

State Street Dance Studio dancer Emma Sidari, 11, of St. Charles will study for three weeks at the Bolshoi Theatre School in Brazil on Aug. 10. BOTTOM LEFT: General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre School in Brazil Pavel Kazarian (second from left) visits with State Street Dance Studio founder and artistic director Linda Cunningham (left), Emma Sidari (second from right) and Eurika Porto on July 31 at State Street Dance Studio in Geneva. BOTTOM RIGHT: Sidari dances at the studio.

“[Sidari] is a good girl. ...

I think it is a good experience for Brazil and for the U.S.” Pavel Kazarian General director, Bolshoi Theatre School, Brazil Studio] as the first connection with Bolshoi,” Porto said, adding that Bolshoi prides itself on finding young talent in obscure and unassuming places.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a big

company or a big school, it matters who you can find.”

Cunningham concurred.

“There are deserving kids everywhere, and that was exciting to see that Bolshoi would look at these kids,” she said.

Sidari, who has been dancing for eight years in various forms, such as ballet, contemporary, modern and jazz, hopes to become a professional dancer, and said that although she is nervous and excited for the opportunity, the internship is a step in the right direction.

“I just feel honored to be the first American,” Sidari said, adding that she is looking forward to “becoming a more mature dancer,” meeting new people and making new contacts.

In the future, Porto and Cunningham will continue to team up to select other State Street dancers to follow in Sidari’s footsteps, but for now, Cunningham said she is proud of Sidari.

“I have had my eyes on [Sidari] for years,” Cunningham said. “Someday you’re going to see her with the big boys.”

Two area colleges received state grants totaling $2.3 million to help fund infrastructure improvements as part of Gov. Pat Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program.

Judson University in Elgin received $743,885 and Aurora University in Aurora received $1,583,215. The funds are part of $90 million set aside this fiscal year through the program that will not only improve higher education institutions, but also create thousands of construction jobs, according to a news release.

So far through the program, private universities have received $200 million to address their capital needs.

House Walk seeks volunteers BATAVIA – Volunteers are needed for Batavia MainStreet’s House Walk, which is set for Sept. 29.

Volunteer positions include docents, greeters and home tour guides. The event will feature five homes and a portion of the original Batavia City Hall. Call Batavia MainStreet at 630-761-3528 to learn more.

All volunteers will be able to purchase tickets to the walk at the discounted $10 rate.

– Kane County Chronicle

8LOCAL BRIEFS

Cantigny will host annual ‘French Connection Day’ WHEATON – Cantigny Park will host its annual “French Connection Day” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 11, at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton.

The free-admission festival debuted in 2008.

The French theme commemorates an important chapter in the life of Robert R. McCormick, Cantigny’s benefactor.

In 1918, at age 37, McCormick commanded an artillery unit in the Battle of Cantigny in France as a member of the U.S. Army’s First Division.

Repairs at Bliss, Denny roads to begin Monday SUGAR GROVE – Nicor Gas and Northern Pipeline repairs will take place at Bliss Road and Denny Road, south of the bridge over Interstate 88. The work will begin Aug. 5 and is expected to last about two weeks.

The project will involve alternating single-lane closures and traffic control, with flaggers on site.

Drivers should anticipate increased travel times while the work is being performed.

For information, visit www. co.kane.il.us/dot/trafficalerts.

Wet Nose helps raise money for local agency GENEVA – Wet Nose, 1510 Commons Drive, Geneva, will donate 20 percent of pretax purchases Saturday to Homes for Endangered and Lost Pets, to help the agency raise money to cover the cost of the dogs and cats its volunteers foster.

To participate, visit Wet Nose and bring a copy of the fundraising flier from the HELP website, www.helpinganimals. org or show it on a mobile device at the time of purchase; or shop online at www.wetnose. com using the promo code HELP203.

Wet Nose will then donate 20 percent of the pretax purchase price to HELP. Wet Nose specializes in carrying natural foods and treats for dogs and cats, including natural raw food, treats and chews like elk antlers.

It also sells collars and leashes and other pet accessories.

For information, email Erin at emdeinert@att.net.

– Kane County Chronicle

Gov. Pat Quinn signs medical marijuana bill

By BRENDA SCHORY bschory@shawmedia.com Now that Gov. Quinn has signed House Bill 1 – the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act – those with debilitating medical conditions will be able to have marijuana dispensed to them legally.

Illinois is the 21st state to approve the legal use of medical marijuana. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2014, and is a four-year pilot program.

The law specifies 35 medical conditions for eligibility, including muscular dystrophy, cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s and traumatic brain injury.

Among the restrictions are that the prescribing physician and the patient must have an established relationship.

Minors and people with felony drug convictions or

psychiatric conditions do not qualify, according to the law.

In the past several months, Quinn has heard from veterans, cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses about supporting medical marijuana.

“As Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future’,” Quinn said in a statement. “Over the years, I’ve been moved by the brave patients and veterans who are fighting terrible illnesses. They need and deserve pain relief.”

The new law will provide relief and help eligible patients ease their suffering, while making sure Illinois has the nation’s strictest safeguards to prevent abuse, Quinn said.

The new law enacts re-

strictions on the cultivation centers to ensure professional licensing, 24-hour surveillance and inventory control.

Twenty-two cultivation centers will be allowed, one for each State Police District.

Each must comply with local zoning laws, and be located at least 2,500 feet from day care centers and schools.

And unlike other states, Illinois’ law will not allow patients or their caregivers to cultivate their own marijuana.

Eligible patients may purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis every 14 days. There will be no more than 60 licensed dispensaries, which must comply with strict rules established by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

In addition, the new law also bans campaign contributions from operators of cultivation centers and dispensaries.

TRAVEL TRYOUTS Wasco Baseball is the recognized premier youth baseball organization serving all communities in the Fox Valley area.

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Wasco 14U teams move on to area high schools, Batavia, Burlington, Geneva, Kaneland, Marmion, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, and more.

For questions, contact travel@wascobaseball.com

• Friday, August 2, 2013

Cmdr. Matthew M. Mihelcic of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Illinois has announced the kickoff of this year’s VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary “Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition.” Sixth- through eighth-graders have the opportunity to compete in the VFW’s annual essay competition and win thousands of dollars. Students begin by competing at the local post level.

Post winners advance to district level.

Eighteen district winners compete in the state competition.

The state winners compete for $46,000 in awards at the national level, and the national champion wins $5,000.

Each year, around 125,000 students participate nationwide.

Students are invited to write a 300- to 400-word essay on a patriotic theme.

The theme for 2013-14 is “What Patriotism Means to Me.” The deadline for student entries is Nov. 1.

Interested students and teachers should contact the nearest Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, or email vfwil@ vfwil.org for information.

Entry forms and contest rules may be downloaded at www. vfw.org/Community/Patriot-s-Pen.

Attractions and activities will include a French Open Air Market presented by Bensidoun, French music by “Traveler’s Dream,” wine tasting and French food at Le Jardin restaurant.

Parking is $5 a vehicle. For information, visit www.cantigny. org.

LOCAL NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

‘Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition’ kicks off

7

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013*

| LOCAL NEWS

8

8LOCAL BRIEFS CASA Kane County will meet in Batavia, Elgin BATAVIA – CASA Kane County, a nonprofit organization that trains volunteers as court appointed special advocates for abused and neglected children, is holding special recruitment meetings for men interested in volunteering, including one from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Pal Joey’s, 31 N. River St., Batavia.

Another is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St., Elgin.

To RSVP, email Deb McQuaid at debm@casakanecounty.org or call 630-444-3110.

Gibby’s to host wine tasting, arts exhibition GENEVA – Gibby’s Wine Bar & Market is putting on its 14th “Bacchus Greets the Arts” wine tasting and local artists exhibition from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 16 at 1772 S. Randall Road, Geneva.

Gibby’s has a full-time gallery in its space which rotates monthly art exhibits and supports local artists by providing gallery space.

Ten to 15 local artists will show their diverse talent at once, with artwork and prints for sale and portfolios for show.

Gibby’s takes no commission for sales, and there is no fee for the artists to exhibit.

Gibby’s offers this event twice a year to support local artists by offering its venue for marketing purposes. The event includes a wine tasting and cheese pairing and live music.

There is no cost to attend the event, and there is a $5 fee for the wine tasting. Information is available at www.gibbys-wine. com/programs.htm.

Artists interested in participating in this event should call Gibby’s at 630-208-6420 or email info@gibbys-wine.com.

Pre-talk dinner set at Fermilab BATAVIA – Chez Leon will be opening on a special night and time to allow patrons attending the lecture titled “Connectomics: Mapping the Brain” to take advantage of a pre-talk dinner at Fermilab. Reservations are

required and limited to the first 40 responders.

The cost for the dinner is $30.

RSVP to Chez Leon directly by calling 630-840-3524. The dinner will be before the lecture.

The lecture begins at 8 p.m.

Aug. 9 at Ramsey Auditorium, located in Wilson Hall at Fermilab. The main entrance is via Pine Street at Kirk Road in Batavia.

Program part of ‘Learn From the Experts’ series ST. CHARLES – A nature program is set for 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, 3795 Campton Hills Road, St. Charles.

“The Sound of Night Music” nature program is part of the “Learn From the Experts” series.

These programs are taught by experts in their respected fields and offer in-depth information and learning opportunities about local ecology.

His award-winning program series is cosponsored by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, the St. Charles Park District, and the Geneva Park District.

After a brief listen-and-learn session, participants will take a walk and take note as katydids and crickets croon their tunes and meet their mates. Instructors are nature programs managers Valerie Blaine of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and Pam Otto of the St. Charles Park District. Bring a flashlight.

The program is for ages 16 and up. Registration is $15 per person. Register by phone at 847741-8350 or email programs@ kaneforest.com.

Taoist Tai Chi Society offers open house ST. CHARLES – The Taoist Tai Chi Society is offering an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday on the lower level at the Charlestowne Mall, which is at 3800 E. Main St., St. Charles.

Registration is not required.

For information, visit www.

Midwest.usa.taoist.org/classes/foxvalley, call 630-443-3489 or send email to stcharles.il@ taoist.org.

– Kane County Chronicle

9

ST. CHARLES

By ASHLEY SLOBODA asloboda@shawmedia.com GENEVA – Testimony about the legality of a St. Charles school plan ended Thursday with nearly three hours of testimony from Superintendent Don Schlomann.

Both sides have until Aug. 12 to submit a written report to Judge David Akemann detailing what they think the decision should be. It is unknown when the judge will rule on the matter, which is about the now-implemented plan to make Richmond and Davis elementary schools 3-5

and K-2 schools, respectively.

The plaintiffs – parents who filed a lawsuit soon after the St. Charles School District 303 Board approved the school plan in March 2011 – are calling for the schools to return to their status quo.

Don Schlomann Schlomann testified Thursday that would be “extremely difficult” in terms of logistics, such as staffing, and for the students, who have formed new friend-

ships and received such educational opportunities as foreign language instruction.

The first day of school is Aug. 21 for students and Aug. 19 for teachers, he said.

Called as a witness by the district’s attorney, Schlomann on Thursday went into detail about why the Richmond-Davis plan addressed a facilities issue.

Davis had design flaws, wasn’t handicap accessible and was crowded to the point that physical education was held in the lunch room, and some classes were in trailers, Schlomann said. Physically,

Richmond was a better facility and was underused, he said.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Timothy Dwyer, has asserted the district circumvented No Child Left Behind regulations.

He argued the plan forced Davis students to attend a failing school, Richmond.

Richmond had repeatedly failed academic benchmarks before the reconfiguration.

After the merger, its adequate yearly progress status changed, eliminating the requirement for it to offer choice, or to let students attend a school meeting AYP.

Festival of Horse and Drum to kick off Aug. 17 ST. CHARLES – An event, The Festival of the Horse and Drum, will be Aug. 17 and 18 at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, with some events at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles.

The event includes the Grand Tournament of St. Charles, an international jousting and games tournament and the Equus Film Festival. The event is sponsored by Equus Concepts LLC and the Horseman’s Council of Illinois. This event will include the Native American Indian Association of Illinois, who will present traditional Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow and Drum.

A fiesta of Spanish, Portuguese and Mexican horses and riders will appear.

The film festival will be at the Arcada. For information, visit www.FestivalOfTheHorseAndDrum.com or call 630-2723077.

Junior League to host Readers on the Run 5K MOOSEHEART – The Junior League of Kane and DuPage Counties Inc. is hosting its third annual Readers on the Run 5K and Kids Fun Run fundraiser Sept. 28, at Mooseheart Child

City and School, which is near Batavia.

Proceeds support JLKD’s literacy and school readiness programs, which benefit local at-risk children. Mooseheart is on Route 31, north of Interstate 88. The 5K is a USATF-certified course.

Baby joggers and walkers are allowed. The 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. The Kids Fun Run kicks off at 9:15 a.m. and is approximately a half-mile.

Runners are encouraged to bring a book for the book drive.

Donated books will be given to community partners in the western suburbs, supporting literacy programs.

Registration is open through Sept. 21 at www.jlkd.org. Race fees are $30 for adults, $25 for ages 11 to 15, $10 for ages 5 to 10 and free for children 4 and younger.

Registration will be available from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. on the day of the event for an additional $5 fee. For sponsorship opportunities, contact run@ jlkd.org.

Main entrance to forest preserve shifting ST. CHARLES – The main entrance to LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve is moving just a bit west. The move is part of a scheduled construction project to add a parking lot near the Durant House Museum and Pioneer Sholes School, as well as improve access to the facilities within the St. Charles preserve.

Construction will take place Aug. 5 to Aug. 23. Preserve users may experience periodic road closures during that time. The west entrance of the preserve at 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles, (by Creek Bend Nature Center) will remain open during construction and will become the new main entrance for the preserve. Creek Bend Nature Center will remain open. Portions of preserve roads north of Dean Street will be intermittently closed during the construction project. Impacted roads will have signage indicating possible closures and dates construction work will take place. Where possible, temporary road detours

will be created. Although the roads will generally be open, preserve users might experience occasional, temporary closures to accommodate equipment movement and safety concerns.

For information, call 630-2325980.

Group seeking volunteers Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley needs volunteers to help teach English to more than 30 adults who are waiting to learn. A four-session tutor training workshop will be offered from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays – Aug. 13, 15, 20 and 22 – at the St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. 6th Ave., St. Charles.

Volunteers do not need to know a second language or have a teaching background.

Volunteer tutors teach for one hour each week at a time and public location that is convenient.

To register for the August workshop or for a future workshops, visit www.lvfv.org or call Peg Coker at 630-584-4428.

– Kane County Chronicle

8FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Corwith Hamill: A memorial service will be at 2 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 5, at The Little Home Church by the Wayside in Wayne.

Alfred C. “Red” LeFeber: Memorial services will be at noon Saturday, Aug. 3, at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Cincinnati with full military honors.

Susan M. (nee Brazill) Tegeler: Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5, at First Baptist Church of Geneva, east campus, 2425 Keslinger Road, Geneva, where she will lie in state from 10 a.m. until the service.

Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Geneva.

Obituary deadline The deadline for obituary notices is 4 p.m. Obituaries can be emailed to obits@kcchronicle.com.

For more information, contact news editor Al Lagattolla at alagattolla@ shawmedia.com.

• Friday, August 2, 2013

8LOCAL BRIEFS

Schlomann argued that point, saying that, yes, the students attended the building named Richmond, but it wasn’t the same school as before because of the changes.

Initially, the plan called for both schools to be named Davis, but the community objected, he said.

Referring to demographic information from Richmond and Davis, Schlomann also said that pooling the two student bodies wouldn’t have artificially improved lower test scores at Richmond.

“Mathematically,” he said, “it doesn’t work.”

LOCAL NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Testimony ends in schools merger case

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| LOCAL NEWS

10

SUGAR GROVE

Frustration builds over roof repairs Residents ask for warranty, but district officials say document can’t be found

By AL LAGATTOLLA alagattolla@shawmedia.com SUGAR GROVE – As work continues on roof repairs at Kaneland John Shields Elementary School in Sugar Grove, two residents have asked the District 302 board for details about the warranty issued for the roof, which was installed in 1997.

District officials say the warranty document cannot be found. And with the estimated total cost of the project listed at $479,420, residents Jerry Elliott and Dan Nagle say the lack of a warranty will cost taxpayers a significant sum.

And they want to be sure it doesn’t happen again with the current project.

“It’s just another indication of the school board not running a business as a business … and there is no conse-

quence to that,” Elliott said.

He said the board needs to make certain that the work being done now is protected by a warranty.

Elliott and Nagle were at Monday night’s school board meeting at Kaneland Harter Middle School. During the meeting, the board heard an update on Jeff Schuler t h e r o o f a t John Shields, a school located at 85 S. Main St. in Sugar Grove. The roof was the same type that was installed at Kaneland John Stewart Elementary in Elburn, and with the same company. But there was a difference in the types of materials included at each site – treated lumber was used at Shields – and the materials used at Shields led

to the extensive repairs being necessary.

Superintendent Jeff Schuler said the district is “extremely frustrated” about the situation with the warranty.

He said his understanding is a 20-year warranty was issued, but that it cannot be located.

Cheryl Krauspe, the school board’s president, said via email that a warranty “clearly does not exist.”

“Why a warranty was not delivered to the school district at the time is a question that unfortunately we may not have an answer to, as both the administrators and construction manager are no longer with their respective companies,” Krauspe wrote.

She said the board and administration “are taking every available step to investigate the question and seek a remedy from the parties we believe

Center, which is on Routes 31 and 56, North Aurora.

Advance registration is required. Judging begins at 1 p.m., and the parade heads for North Island Park starting at 2 p.m.

All pets must be in leashes or in cages to participate.

For information, call 630-8966664. The event is part of North Aurora Days.

4 to 11.

The menu includes grilled pork chops, chicken, salads, corn, tea, coffee and cash bar. Lions Park has indoor seating, a playground and a sports area available. The Western townships include Hampshire, Rutland, Burlington, Plato, Virgil, Kaneville, Blackberry, Big Rock and Sugar Grove.

For tickets or information, contact Dennis Ryan at wkcro@ yahoo.com or visit www.westernkanegop.com.

should have been responsible for delivering that warranty.”

Schuler said the warranty “certainly would have covered a portion” of the repairs.

On the current project, he said, the district will have a 20-year “water tightness” warranty.

Krauspe pointed out that there have been many significant building projects in the district, including a new middle school, an auditorium, additions at Kaneland High School and a storage facility at the middle school. To prevent such an incident from happening again, she said, the board will continue to seek and receive reports throughout the construction process.

“The board has taken an active role in ensuring that quality work is done,” she said.

“The board has had many, many meetings and spent

countless hours over the last nine years with architects and construction managers. That approach will not change.”

Also at issue is the timing of the roof project. It might extend into the school year, which begins Aug. 21. Board member Tony Valente said that would be unacceptable.

“I’m disappointed that it may impact the students’ learning at Shields,” Valente said at the meeting, adding that construction taking place during a school day is “incredibly distracting.”

Julie-Ann Fuchs, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, said officials were “going to do everything we can” to have the project completed on time “to meet Tony’s deadline, to meet our deadline.”

“It’s the kids’ deadline,” Valente said.

8LOCAL BRIEFS Animal clinic to hold celebration Sunday NORTH AURORA – The Fox Valley Animal Welfare League Clinic will have a celebration for its 500th surgery with a pet picture event, set from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at 11 John St., North Aurora.

The event is set during North Aurora Days. The minimum donation is $5, and there will be free refreshments. Also, the FVAWL will be collecting jewelry (any type) for the event and accepts jewelry donations throughout the year to help support clinic services.

To donate jewelry or for information regarding the event, send email to kaye@fvawl.org or call 630-559-4305.

North Aurora Days presents pet parade NORTH AURORA – The 31st annual North Aurora Pet Parade is set for Sunday at the North Aurora Friendship and Activities

GOP candidates to stop

by BBQ fundraiser ELBURN – Three Illinois GOP gubernatorial candidates – Dan Rutherford, Bruce Rauner and Kirk Dillard – will be among those in attendance at the Western Kane County Republican Organization’s annual BBQ fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Lions Park, 500 S. Filmore St., Elburn. All are welcome.

Speakers will be Dan Proft and Joe Walsh.

Local officials also are expected to attend. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children ages

Genealogical society will meet in Elgin ELGIN – The Elgin Genealogical Society will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the first-floor meeting room of the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. After a short business meeting, Becky Higgins will present the program “Working with Evidentia.”

For information, visit www. elginroots.com.

– Kane County Chronicle

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NORTH AURORA

By ERIC SCHELKOPF eschelkopf@shawmedia.com NORTH AURORA – North Aurora residents are invited to meet their neighbors and local law enforcement agencies as part of Tuesday’s National Night Out event.

“It’s a good way to meet the residents,” North Aurora Police Crime Prevention Officer Robyn Stecklein said. “It’s nice to have positive interactions. It’s also a reminder for residents to get out and meet their neighbors. I’ve always

National Night Out, an annual event started in 1984, is designed to heighten crime-prevention awareness and generate support for local anti-crime programs. The night also is an effort to promote cooperation and unity between law-enforcement departments and the communities they serve.

That first year, 2.5 million Americans took part across 400 communities in 23 states.

National Night Out now involves more than 37 million people.

and younger are scheduled for 5 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12; tryouts for swimmers ages 11 and 12 go from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13; and tryouts for swimmers 13 and older go from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 14.

All tryouts are free and will be at the Norris Rec Center, 1050 Dunham Road, St. Charles.

Swimmers need to bring a swim suit, goggles, a cap if needed and a towel.

Families are asked to show up to tryouts 10 minutes before start times to fill out paperwork.

Swimmers must be able to swim all four competitive strokes and must be able to swim 25 yards of freestyle or backstroke without stopping.

For information, call the St. Charles Swim Team office at 630-377-1720 or email swim@ stcswim.com.

over St. Charles that will feature visual art galleries/studios, music, literature (spoken word performances, storytelling, etc.), dance, live theater and arts programming. For information, visit www.stcharlesartscouncil.org.

8LOCAL BRIEFS Burlington Fall Fest begins Sept. 8 BURLINGTON – The Burlington Fall Fest is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. Sept. 8 with all sorts of activities, live music and a car show at Burlington Park, 401 Park St., Burlington.

A parade will be at noon, and The Fantastic Mr. Steve Show will perform a children’s show at 2:30 p.m. The Three Links Car Show costs $10 for pre-entry and $12 the day of the event ($1 off with a nonperishable canned good).

For information about the car show, call 815-251-4211. A craft show will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those interested in being a craft show or flea market vendor can call 847-683-2349 for assistance.

The festival will also include food vendors, a beer tent, hay rides, water ball, face painting, a mini petting zoo and raffles.

STC swim team to hold tryouts for new season ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles swim team will host tryouts for competitive and noncompetitive teams for the 2013-14 short course season, which begins Sept. 9.

Tryouts for swimmers ages 10

Council, park district team up for arts event ST. CHARLES – The St Charles Arts Council, in partnership with the St. Charles Park District, is organizing an All-City, All-Arts Event – Charlie’s Center for the Arts.

The Charlie’s event will run from Sept. 12 to 15. It will encompass multiple venues all

Construction slated for completion in November Roadway construction involving a road closure on a portion of Burlington Road, from Dittman Road to Route 47, has begun and is expected to be completed by the end of November, weather permitting.

Anticipated work includes removal and replacement of an existing box culvert, which will require a full road closure of Burlington Road for approximately 60 days. Traffic will be directed around the road closure using a posted detour route, utilizing Dittman Road, Plato Road and Route 47. Motorists are advised to follow the posted detour route and should expect increased travel times during construction.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Brad Hunold at 630262-6177. For all Kane County traffic advisories, visit www. co.kane.il.us/dot/trafficalerts.

– Kane County Chronicle

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• Friday, August 2, 2013

felt that in a neighborhood where you know each other, you are more vested in the neighborhood.”

The North Aurora Police Department, along with firefighters and McGruff the Crime Dog, will visit neighborhood gatherings from 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday.

North Aurora residents hosting an event should register to ensure they receive a police visit. They can register by contacting Stecklein at 630906-8146 or emailing rstecklein@vil.north-aurora.il.us.

Great Location!

11

LOCAL NEWS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Residents to get together for National Night Out

Excellent Food!

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| OPINIONS

12

OPINIONS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A walk In the park To the Editor: On a recent weekend, we had out-of-town guests and took them to Pottawatomie Park and Mount St. Mary Park as we enjoyed the beautiful weather and St. Charles scenery. They loved the boat ride and were very impressed by the facilities, especially the historic pavilion.

Our stroll through the Sculpture in the Park exhibit was delightful, and they commented how fortunate we were to live in an area with such beautifully maintained parks that were so well used by the people of the area.

So, why not get out and take a walk in one of our beautiful parks today?

Mike and Nancy Hill St. Charles

Oh, how easy it is to be smug On the Kane County Chronicle’s “Sound Off” page July 13, hiding behind anonymity, someone complained, “On the Fourth of July, it was heartbreaking to hear people speaking in Spanish at Pottawatomie Park as the beautiful fireworks were on display.”

Oh, the delicious irony!

Sitting in a park named after the Potowatami tribe, he (or she) is disgusted that not all people speak the country’s tongue. Hello?! For the caller to expect Hispanics to speak only English because most Americans do, logic requires him to speak one of several Native-American languages, as the Indians were here first.

What an unexpected surprise when the following Saturday, three “Sound Off” contributors scolded the purist

linguist, the first “dismayed” at the original caller’s “intolerant and hateful” attitude.

A second suggested the bigot “get some cultural awareness” so that he’s “not superior to anyone else.” A third cited the country’s melting pot tradition, then asked rhetorically, “ ... would you have the same feelings if they were speaking French?”

Mais non! Surely the no-Spanish-tolerated-here ideologue would have shared a glass of Merlot while arguing Sartre with the Francophiles.

See how easily we stereotype? Our culture’s tsunami of images, sound bites and spin overwhelms statistics, logic and facts.

My delight over the community responding so quickly and forcefully to the intolerant caller faded, however,

RIVER TOWN CHRONICLES Rick Holinger when I read the next “Sound Off” diatribe. After griping about the demand for George Zimmerman to face a federal civil rights trial, the person wondered, “ ... why isn’t there the same outrage about illegal immigration? These people are invading our property.

They’re taking jobs ... and ruining our lives.”

Hmm. First, “outrage”? I don’t see outrage over Zimmerman’s not guilty verdict.

I see peaceful demonstrations and hear constructive dialogues, both public and private.

Second, “These people”?

Wow. Perhaps stereotyping

Editorial board Kathy Gresey

Al Lagattolla

Jay Schwab

Kate Schott

illegal immigrants as all the same – poor, violent and selfish – may be compared to Zimmerman’s profiling a lone male African-American teenager cowled in a hoodie as a threat to the neighborhood.

Third, “invading our property”? Really? I wonder how many 911 calls begin, “Help! Illegal immigrants are turning my two-story Colonial with attached three-car garage into the Alamo!”

Finally, “They’re taking our jobs”? Yes, it’s hard to watch throngs of American citizens waiting on the shoulder of baking blacktops for a rusty pickup to haul them to backbreaking itinerant jobs picking ripe produce.

“Oh, generation of the thoroughly smug,” Ezra Pound chides Ernest Hemingway in the biopic “Hemingway.” The

danger we face out here in the western ‘burbs is becoming too insular.

“I think it’s going to be important for all of us to do some soul-searching,” President Obama recently reflected.

“Am I judging people as much as I can based on not the color of their skin, but the content of their character?”

Or, he might have added, the sound of their words.

• Rick Holinger has lived in the Tri-Cities area since 1979. He teaches high school in Aurora, and his poetry, fiction, essays and book reviews have appeared in more than a hundred literary journals. He founded and facilitates the St. Charles Writers Group, and earned his Ph.D. in creative writing at UIC. Contact him at editorial@kcchronicle.com.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

First Amendment, U.S. Bill of Rights

13

FINAL WEEK ends Aug. 5th

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

Anniversary Sales Event!

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| LOCAL NEWS

14

GENEVA

Man charged with felony aggravated DUI

By BRENDA SCHORY bschory@shawmedia.com GENEVA – A Batavia man with a history of driving offenses was charged July 27 with felony aggravated driving under the influence, because his license was revoked for an earlier DUI conviction, records show.

Martin A. Ruelas, 28, of the 400 block of Raddant Road, Batavia, also was charged with misdemeanor DUI, driv-

ing with a revoked license, illegal transportation of alcohol and improper lane use.

The aggravated DUI charge carries a penalty of three to seven years in prison and a fine of up Martin A. to $25,000.

Ruelas The misdemeanor charges are punishable by up to a year in jail and fines of

Man accused of attacking his friend at police station

By BRENDA SCHORY bschory@shawmedia.com GENEVA – A homeless man who lives at a PADS shelter in Wheaton was charged with battery after he attacked the friend who came to pick him up at the Geneva Police Department, according to reports.

William J. Buell, 31, was charged July 21 with two counts of misdemeanor battery. The charge carries a punishment of up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

Buell initially posted $1,000, or 10 percent, of a $10,000 bond, but after a hearing it was reduced to personal recognizance. He is scheduled to

appear in court Sept. 3.

According to police and court records, Buell was waiting in the Geneva Police Department lobby for a friend to give him a ride home to the PADS site in Wheaton.

Buell fell asleep, and when a friend who was going to give him the ride woke him up, police said he grabbed her by the arms and threw her against the wall and choked her with his forearm.

An officer tried to enter the lobby from inside the police department, but Buell blocked the door.

Officers eventually were able to get into the lobby to come to the woman’s aid and to arrest Buell.

up to $25,000 each.

Ruelas was released after posting a $2,500 bond, 10 percent of his $25,000 bail. He is to appear in court Aug. 7.

According to police reports, an officer saw Ruelas’ 2012 black Toyota Camry make a wide turn from the 100 block of West State Street onto the 0-99 block of South Bennett Street/Route 25 shortly before 11:30 p.m.

The officer observed Ruelas driving between two

northbound lanes and almost hitting two vehicles traveling south on Bennett, causing them to come to complete stops in order to avoid a collision.

According to court and state records, Ruelas was charged with a DUI in North Aurora in 2005, pleaded guilty and got 12 months of supervision and alcohol treatment.

Ruelas again was charged with DUI in 2008 in Batavia, pleaded guilty, received 18

months of supervision and received alcohol treatment, 10 days in jail and 20 days on home monitoring.

In 2010, records show North Aurora police charged Ruelas with walking while drunk at 3:34 a.m. after they found him walking at East Butterfield Road at Pinecreek Drive.

Ruelas pleaded guilty, paid a $100 fine and received court supervision, according to court records.

8LOCAL BRIEFS Animal shelter to hold pet adoption special SOUTH ELGIN – Anderson Animal Shelter will present Dog Days of Summer Cat and Kitten Adoption Special, from Sunday to Aug. 31 at 1000 S. Route 31, South Elgin. All adoptable cats and kittens will be half off of the original adoption fee of $155, to qualified adopters.

Senior, special-needs and long-term cat adoption is always is $50.

For information, visit www. andersonanimalshelter.org or call 847-697-2880, ext. 28.

Community grants program kicks off The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation, the philanthropic

arm of Delta Dental of Illinois, is kicking off its annual community grants program to provide funding for programs and organizations that improve the oral health of children within the state.

The foundation will award grants of $1,000 to $10,000 to nonprofit organizations that provide oral health education and/or access to oral health resources to Illinois children.

The foundation will be distributing a total of $100,000 in grants. Criteria and an online application are available at http://deltadentalil.com/ ddilfoundation/what-we-do/ community-grants.

Applications must be submitted by Sept. 3. Illinois public charities that are classified as

exempt from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and public or governmental entities, such as public schools or health departments, are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Preschool program accepting registration BATAVIA – The Batavia Park District’s preschool program, New Horizons, is accepting registrations for the 2013-2014 school year, which begins Sept. 3.

Visit www.bataviaparks.org for information. To schedule a tour, contact Lori McDonald, preschool supervisor, at lorim@bataviaparks.org.

– Kane County Chronicle

8POLICE REPORTS Batavia • At least 15 gallons of gas valued at $58 were reported taken Monday, July 29, from Feece Oil Co., 1700 Hubbard Ave. • George R. Foster, 59, of the 800 block of Wingfoot Drive, North Aurora, was charged Saturday, July 27, with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane use, disobeying a traffic control device and making an improper turn at an intersection.

• Fireworks were reported confiscated Saturday, July 27, from the 600 block of Papermill Hill Drive.

• Three juvenile boys were taken into custody Friday, July 26, after being observed leaving Kohl’s, 251 N. Randall Road, without paying for clothing and a watch valued at $153. They were later released to their parents.

• Two landscaping backpack blowers valued at $600 were removed Thursday, July 25, from a Batavia Park District truck at the Batavia Skate Park, 411 S. River St. • Someone put a large amount of graffiti between Monday, July 15, and Thursday, July 25, on Randal Displays, 507 N. Raddant Road, causing more than $500 in damage.

• Calvin D. Trillet, 21, of the 1400 block of Clybourne Street, Batavia, and Kevin W. Trecker, 21, of the 100 block of East Klein Creek Court, Carol Stream, were charged Friday, July 26, with criminal trespass to a vehicle.

St. Charles • A $400 Samsung camera was stolen Tuesday, July 16, out of a Dodge vehicle in the 200 block of North Second Street in St. Charles, the owner reported to police Tuesday, July 30. The vehicle was reportedly locked, but the rear back window doesn’t have a lock.

• Eduardo Velasco, 22, of the 1900 block of Howe Lane, St. Charles, was charged Saturday, July 27, with public drunkenness.

• Michelle C. Johnson, 25, of the 0-100 block of Laurel Court, South Elgin, was charged Friday, July 26, with driving under the influence of alcohol and improper lane use.

• Mary C. Bean, 65, of the 35W300 block of Sunset View, St. Charles, was charged Thursday, July 25, with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane use and leaving the scene of an accident after an accident at North Fifth Avenue and Country Club Drive in St. Charles.

• Kimberly Ann Prince, 26, of the 7N100 block of Pakan Drive, St. Charles, was charged Thursday, July 18, with driving with a suspended license and driving without insurance after an accident in the 500 block of South Randall Road in St. Charles.

• Alejandro Anicacio, 27, of the 0-100 block of Margaret’s Lane, Aurora, was charged Tuesday, July 30, with public drunkenness.

• Antonio Viveros, 39, of the 100 block of North 15th Street, St. Charles, was charged Tuesday, July 30, with public urination, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

After ielding scholarship offers this week from VCU and Xavier, Geneva’s KJ Santos is headed to Puerto Rico to play some international basketball. PAGE 18

PATH TO BIG LEAGUES STARTED AS A CHILD FOR COUGARS’ ALMORA. PAGE 16 Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Albert Almora (right) plays video games with teammate Reggie Golden as pitcher Nathan Dorris looks on during some down time at the home of Sam and Warren Drewes in St. Charles.

• Friday, August 2, 2013

TAKING CENTER STAGE

15

SPORTS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

SPORTS

AN EVENTFUL WEEK

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| COVER STORY

16

KANE COUNTY COUGARS

Almora seizes center stage Cougars center fielder has prepared for stardom since boyhood

By KEVIN DRULEY kdruley@shawmedia.com

A

lbert Almora thinks he last saw a movie on some distant Cougars off day. He can’t recall the venue, date or title, and his hesitance is rare.

Baseball people so often speak about the Cubs’ prized outfield prospect in certainties. He hits, runs, defends and throws so artfully now, so to fathom what he’ll do in the majors merely becomes a matter of closing one’s eyes and waiting.

Unless you’re Almora, of course.

The 19-year-old ostensibly began preparing for stardom in his Huggies, cultivating a singular mindset that quickly formed a work ethic and identity he’s not about to abandon – entertainment industry be darned.

“The closest people in my life are just because of baseball, you know,” Almora said. “I try to have a small circle of people you can trust, and most of it is because of baseball. I have some lifetime friends, but most of them are from baseball.”

Should “Because Of Baseball: The Albert Almora Story” ever go into production, the formative scenes profiling the Cubs’ sixth overall draft pick in 2012 wouldn’t require much of a budget to shoot:

EXT. BACKYARD, DAYTIME ALBERT ALMORA surveys the backyard of his family’s suburban Miami home, having exited the house after finishing his homework.

CUT TO: A slow pan of the area shows a batting cage, agility course, pull-up bar and cardio machine. Then appears the most daunting obstacle of all, a climbing rope dangling 50 feet from the top of a tree. Almora completes each exercise over and over.

Almora’s parents, Albert Sr. and Ana, both Cuban defectors, started with a more humble set-up. Albert Sr., a catcher and outfielder who

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Albert Almora, a first-round draft pick for the Cubs and an outfielder for their Class A affiliate Kane County Cougars, talks to fans before a game at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva. played for an adult team before he refused to continue his conscripted military service, does not speak English, but that mattered little when they drove around south Florida with their 3½-year-old son.

Almora routinely spotted older children playing at nearby diamonds.

That, along with his father’s influence, was enough to lure him to baseball. His dad started with grounders at a nearby park, but Almora soon demanded fly balls.

The Almoras visited their son earlier this season, and Albert Sr. found no fault with the facilities at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. He isn’t completely phasing himself out, however.

The family already installed the batting cage at Almora’s new home, located on a 5.25-acre property in West Kendall, Fla. His parents and Ana’s son from a previous marriage also live there, taking care of upkeep by day and listening to Internet broadcasts of Cougars games by night.

“My husband gets giggly and he gets teary-eyed because believe me,

we worked very hard to help Albert get to where he’s at. Very hard,” Ana Almora said. “We stopped living our lives to help him. We had no vacations. No nothing. Everything was baseball.”

EXT. DUGOUT, DAYTIME ALBERT ALMORA, age 14, keeps a sullen, determined glance as he grabs a bat and helmet and heads for the ondeck circle. His teammates – all older and some in experimental facial hair stages – shake their heads and grin.

Luis Lumpuy batted .475 with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs in 2008, his senior season at Mater Academy in Hialeah Gardens, Fla. Mater’s cleanup batter hit one spot behind Almora, then an eighth-grader at the charter middle school.

How’s that for lineup protection?

Almora joined the varsity full-time in seventh grade after splitting games between middle school and high school the year before.

See ALMORA, page 17

Albert Almora stats .324 batting average .466 slugging percentage .839 on base plus slugging percentage .373 on base percentage 77 hits 17 doubles 4 triples 22 RBIs 38 runs 17 walks PAST 10 GAMES (ENTERING THURSDAY) July 21 – 3 for 5, 1 3B, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB July 22 – 0 for 4, 1 BB July 24 – 1 for 4, 1 2B July 25 – 4 for 5, 2 2B, 1 BB, 1 R July 26 – 1 for 4, 1 2B Saturday – 1 for 3, 1 BB Sunday – 2 for 5, 1 R Monday – 0 for 4 Tuesday – 1 for 3, 1 BB Wednesday – 0 for 3, 1 BB ACCOMPLISHMENTS Named Midwest League Player of the Week on May 27; Named USA Baseball’s 2011 Athlete of the Year

• ALMORA Continued from page 16

ALBERT ALMORA, now 19, plops down in a leather recliner and prepares for a video game session with Cougars teammates at the home of his host family. It’s time to unwind after a weekday matinee game.

Warren Drewes and his wife, Sam, live on Route 31

along the Fox River. Somehow, motorists seem to look away from the waterfront when they pass the couple’s St. Charles home at certain times of day.

“I don’t have a Mercedes myself, and so I’m only hoping that people think it’s my car,” Warren Drewes said.

It’s not. The vehicle belongs to Almora, who received a $3.9 million signing bonus after agreeing to terms with the Cubs in July 2012.

Such lavish accoutrements soured the Drewses on housing a first-round pick when they first became a Cougars host family in 1992. Concerned over potential “ego issues” and living comfort – in those days, the Drewes’ pair of now-grown daughters also lived there – the family welcomed the players the club assigned, most of whom were lesser-known.

Until Almora, arguably the biggest name was former Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster, then a Florida Marlins farmhand who Texas drafted in the third round in 1995.

Out of town when Almora joined the Cougars on May 22, Drewes, a retired banker, returned home to a gaudier driveway but few other bells or whistles. When Almora’s parents visited Geneva shortly thereafter, Drewes found himself talking to them more about their son’s penchant for fishing and wonderful interactions with Drewes’ grandchildren than anything else.

“They don’t need me to tell them that their son is a good ballplayer. They know that and hear that all the time,” Drewes said. “What I wanted to tell them, and I hope stays with them, is their son is a quality individual. One that every parent would hope that their child might be.”

His housemates – Floridian first basemen Rock Shoulders and Dan Vogelbach, and reliever Nathan Dorris – are far less reserved, but all describe a loyal, attentive Almora around the Drewes residence.

In his so-called second home, the Cougars’ clubhouse, Almora is no less revered, although not sacred. Before a recent game, teammates ribbed Almora about an early July bout with hemorrhoids that forced him to leave a game against Quad Cities.

Almora’s response: a smile.

“I think he’s way beyond his years in baseball and in the mind,” reliever Stephen Perakslis said.

EXT. PARKING LOT, NIGHT ALBERT ALMORA, showered and dressed after starting in center field for the Cougars, emerges from the home clubhouse at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark to greet his parents, who are in town from Florida.

Almora began reaping the rewards of a focused childhood early.

“We always treated him

INT. HALLWAY, DAYTIME ALBERT ALMORA pauses and exhales while sitting on a trunk outside the Cougars’ clubhouse. He’s just been asked to name his favorite movie.

He sighs, not because there are too many titles to choose from, but because he really can’t say. He calls himself “more of an actor guy,” and mentions Mark Wahlberg, Nicolas Cage and Jim Carrey.

The Cougars distributed Albert Almora travel mugs to the first 1,500 fans at Thursday’s game. The promotion’s muse may need one soon.

*

INT. DEN, DAYTIME

Sandy Bressner – sbressner@shawmedia.com

Albert Almora snacks in the clubhouse before a recent game at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

Almora arrives at the park each day uncertain about when he’ll make the next move up the Cubs’ organizational ladder. Advanced-A Daytona (Fla.) sure would be closer to home. Through Wednesday, he was batting a team-best .324 in 58 games despite hitting just .274 since the All-Star break.

“I can’t control it,” Almora said. “I can just control what I can do, you know. Keep playing hard and leave it up to them.”

“Them” refers to Cubs executives, people Gooriz dreamed of knowing even before they met with Almora and his parents on the heels of the 2012 draft. Handicapping the fan bases of the teams who held picks before the Cubs – Houston, Minnesota, Seattle, Baltimore and Kansas City – Gooriz figured the north side of Chicago would be the ultimate destination for the south Floridian.

“This kid playing in a stadium that appreciates baseball, and when they see what he can do on that field?

They’re going to love him,” Gooriz said. “That kind of became my drive, was telling him you don’t want to go to Minnesota, you don’t want to go to Baltimore, you want to go to Chicago, man. He’s a gamer, and people would just love him.”

Almora doesn’t doubt the entourage that will follow if his development goes according to plan. He and a collection of other highly-touted minor league talent, including Javier Baez and Jorge Soler, realize they’re slowly but surely being branded as the future of the Cubs.

Still, Almora won’t stop until that’s a certainty, until he shows up at Wrigley Field to wear a uniform, not to take batting practice or visit with players, as he has since he was drafted.

By many counts, at least two offseasons remain before Cubs fans can reasonably imagine Almora in that movie.

“I know when he gets back to Miami, his dad will be sitting with a tee, a bucket, a bat and a sandwich,” Gooriz said.

Because of baseball, that sounds about right.

• Friday, August 2, 2013

Then-Lions coach Eddie Gooriz, now a Mater administrator, first encountered Almora before he played a game.

Peeved the JV coach already was trying to lure his sparkling sixth-grader, Mater’s middle school coach reportedly told Almora he risked being kicked out of school if he accepted the promotion. The situation eventually was rectified – the middle school coach’s blanket denial notwithstanding – but not before a savvy Almora initially told Gooriz he could not yet play for the high school program.

“Just the way he shook my hand, it was like talking to a little man,” Gooriz said. “He looked me right in the face.

‘Yes, sir.’ ‘No, sir.’ What you’d think would scare any other kid, here’s a young man who’s thanking me without me even knowing what was going on.”

To be sure, Almora knows nothing if not courtesy. After a recent game, Cougars manager Mark Johnson told him he’d already made enough public appearances when other teammates were slow to volunteer.

Almora softly responded that he had a car and no other mid-morning agenda before coming to the ballpark. He treats other optional duties – including translating for Spanish-speaking teammates, a hobby he picked up while playing with the Team USA age group program – with a similar shrug.

“That’s just the way I am, the way I am as a person,” Almora said. “Anything I can do to help, especially guys that don’t know the language or anything, that’s what I’m here for, you know.”

like a person, you know. Like a grown person,” Ana Almora said. “Even though he had everything he ever wanted, he didn’t know he was getting everything he ever wanted.

We taught him in life, he has to work for everything he wants.”

Almora graduated Mater with a 4.3 grade-point average after a senior season in which he batted .603 with six home runs and 34 RBIs in 25 games.

For the latter part of his academic career, his mother, a former beauty salon owner, worked in the school registrar’s office, wanting to be close to her son.

The University of Miami offered Almora a scholarship when he was 15, and the family’s emphasis on academics never waned. As part of Almora’s contract, his mother said, the Cubs will pay for Almora’s college education if he enrolled within two years of the end of his career.

Gooriz and Mater administator Jose “Tiger” Nunez – a former longtime athletic director and family friend who called Almora’s work ethic “beyond comprehension” – often reiterated his mother’s pro-education message.

“They knew how big baseball was in my life, but the first thing they told me was, ‘Listen, if you’re not good in school, the chances of you playing ball or the chances of you even being able to go to school [in college] are going to be slim’ ” Almora said. “So I took it to heart. And I’ve always been a good student, so it was easy for me to stay in school and be good at it.”

COVER STORY | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Cougars’ young star ‘way beyond his years’

17

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| SPORTS

18

WHAT TO WATCH

GENEVA BOYS BASKETBALL

Pro baseball L.A. Dodgers at Cubs, 3:05 p.m., WGN St. Louis at Cincinnati or Arizona at Boston, 6:05 p.m., MLB White Sox at Detroit, 6:08 p.m., CSN Golf Women’s British Open Championship, second round, 8 a.m., ESPN2 PGA Tour-WGC, Bridgestone Invitational, second round, 1 p.m., TGC PGA Tour, Reno-Tahoe Open, second round, 6 p.m., TGC Tennis ATP World Tour, Citi Open quarterfinals, 3 and 6 p.m., ESPN WTA, Southern California Open, quarterfinals, 10 p.m., ESPN2 Pro football CFL, Hamilton at Edmonton, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Santos to cap eventful week with trip

KEEP UP ONLINE Want the latest from the area’s prep sports scene?

Follow our coverage online on Twitter at twitter.com/ KaneCountyPreps, become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/kanecountypreps, or head to KCChronicle.com/preps.

Cougars’ upcoming schedule Today vs. Wisconsin, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday at Clinton, 6 p.m.

Sunday vs. Clinton, 2 p.m.

Monday at Clinton, 7 p.m.

Tuesday at Clinton Wednesday vs. Burlington, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday vs. Burlington, 6:30 p.m.

Friday vs. Burlington, 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 10 vs. Cedar Rapids, 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 11 vs. Cedar Rapids, 1 p.m.

Aug. 12 vs. Cedar Rapids, 6:30 p.m.

ing that at all.”

The next day, Wednesday, more positive reinforcement of Santos’ play during the July AAU period arrived in the form of a scholarship offer from Xavier.

X a v i er recently moved from the Atlantic 10 Conference – which VCU remains part of – to KJ Santos the reconfigured Big East Conference. The Big East also includes DePaul, which previously offered Santos a scholarship, as did Illinois-Chicago and Fairfield.

Santos, 16, was impressive while playing national tournaments last month with the Illinois Stars AAU program.

The lanky sniper was called up to Geneva’s varsity

By JAY SCHWAB jschwab@shawmedia.com KJ Santos didn’t have much time to savor a spectacular 24 hours in his college basketball recruitment.

The Geneva junior had bags to pack.

Santos is set to depart for Puerto Rico today to compete in international games with Puerto Rico’s 17U junior national team, just a couple days after the 6-foot-7 wing collected attention-grabbing scholarship offers on consecutive days.

On Tuesday, Santos heard from one of the most wellknown coaches in college basketball, VCU’s Shaka Smart.

Smart offered Santos a scholarship to play for the Rams.

“It was so mind-blowing,” Santos said. “I was so excited to speak to him. I was like really nervous. I wasn’t expect-

late last season after spending much of the winter with the sophomores.

His father, Joe Santos, said his son’s seemingly rapid ascent actually has been a long time in the making.

Sprouting to 6-7 with the skill set to play the 1, 2 and 3 spots certainly helped, and Joe Santos said his son also has refined his shooting release over the years.

“When he jumps and then he has that high point of release, I don’t see too many people blocking that shot, man,” said Joe Santos, who played basketball professionally in his native Puerto Rico in the 1980s. “It’s just a smooth shot. It’s something because he made the change early enough that, as he now has grown into a young man, his mechanics are sound.”

Santos’ older sisters, Ashley and Sidney, played for

Puerto Rico’s women’s program in the FIBA Americas U18 Championships in summer 2010. Ashley Santos now plays collegiately at Marquette, while Sidney, a Geneva senior, is focusing on her own college recruitment this summer.

Santos is making his first trip to Puerto Rico and will be with the team for 17 days, during which Puerto Rico will compete against countries such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and others in the region.

If Santos plays well this summer, competing with Puerto Rico’s 17U team next year in the World Championships in France could be a possibility.

“I like their style,” Santos said of basketball in Puerto Rico. “They like to run and push the ball, and I like that style of play.”

8SPORTS SHORT Sixth-inning rally carries Cougars past Rattlers GENEVA – Scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Kane County Cougars reached their third consecutive victory as they toppled the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 6-2, on Thursday.

Wisconsin (44-60, 15-24) grabbed the early lead by picking up a run in the top of the second. Parker Berberet hit a double into left-center field to start the second against Tayler

Scott. Berberet scored on a base hit by Max Walla.

Wisconsin added a run in the third when Lance Roenicke was hit by a pitch and later scored on a wild pitch.

Oliver Zapata hit a solo home run to begin the bottom of the third, pulling the Cougars (4361, 13-25) to within one.

Jorge Lopez (5-7) kept the Timber Rattlers on top while only giving up one hit through the first five innings. Lopez let it get away in the bottom of the

sixth as Jose Dore hit a lead-off homer to even the score at 2.

Gioskar Amaya followed with a single and came home on a base hit by Albert Almora to put the Cougars on top.

Almora streaked home from first base on a double to the left-field corner off the bat of Dan Vogelbach. After Jeimer Candelario’s single, Rock Shoulders doubled home a pair

to top off a five-run rally and give the Cougars a 6-2 cushion.

Andrew McKirahan (1-0) worked two scoreles innings out of the Cougars’ bullpen in relief of Scott. Armando Rivero recorded the final six outs.

The Cougars look to finish a four-game sweep against the Timber Rattlers at 6:30 p.m.tonight at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

– Kane County Chronicle

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Travel Tryouts will held on Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th at the East Side Sports Complex off of Kirk Road.

9 a.m. - 14U • 10:30 am-13 U • 12:00 pm-12U, 1:30 pm-11U • 3:00 pm - 10U • 4:00 pm - 9U 13U and 14U teams will be feeder programs to St. Charles East and St. Charles North High Schools. The training of these players will be under the direction of varsity coaches of both St. Charles East, Len Asquini and St. Charles North, Todd Gehnke. Teams will be coached by non-parent paid coaches.

All St. Charles teams will play A Level Competition.

Players should attend both days of tryouts.

Questions? Call 630-202-2443

19

FROM THE TEE / BY KEVIN DRULEY

Flores teaching golf again after fighting cardiac amyloidosis

By KEVIN DRULEY kdruley@shawmedia.com

A closer look at the local golf scene

R

CHIP-INS Time to square off Here’s a look at Saturday’s Round of 16 tee times for the championship flight match-play tournament portion of the St. Charles Men’s Tournament. The event’s second weekend gets underway with B-flight matches beginning at 7 a.m at Pottawatomie Golf Course. Winners advance to Sunday’s quarterfinals.

Matt Daly, who fired a qualifying-round 74 this past weekend, is the top seed as defending champion. Chris Jones is seeded second after winning a three-hole playoff with Sean Lenchner. Both men carded qualifying 72s.

11:30 a.m.: Matt Daly vs. Eliot Kaufman 11:30 a.m.: Chris Jones vs. Joe Tigan 11:37 a.m.: Garrett Patten vs. Jon Woods 11:37 a.m.: Richard Geier vs. Nick Maze 11:45 a.m.: Brian Charles vs. Mike Heithoff 11:45 a.m.: Sean Lenchner vs. Jim Funk 11:52 a.m.: David Lanciotti vs. Anthony Damico 11:52 a.m.: Chris Thomas vs. Rick Pechous

Out in the open

Photo provided

Longtime Batavia golf pro Rich Flores, a cancer survivor, has returned to giving lessons at Mill Creek in Geneva. who he is,” said Mill Creek director of golf Steve Feddern, a longtime friend. “No question.”

Still the uncertain timetable behind his recovery led some former students to find other coaches, which Flores understood.

“It’s no big deal to me,” he said, “as long as they get help.”

Flores gave lessons on a more limited basis last summer and is building his stamina to golf more often.

The St. Charles High alumnus said he felt “pretty good” after playing nine holes with a friend Wednesday morning.

Considering where he was not long ago, Flores will take it.

• Kevin Druley is a sportswriter for the Kane County Chronicle. He can be reached at 630-845-5347 or kdruley@shawmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @kevindruley.

“The doctors just said to take it easy and know I could not do what I used to do, which is OK. That’s what I’m doing, and I’m at peace with that.”

Rich Flores, Longtime Mill Creek golf pro on goling after ighting cardiac amyloidosis

St. Charles East alumnus Jenny Niemiec shaved seven strokes from her opening-round score at the Illinois Women’s Open to make the 34-player cut at Romeoville’s Mistwood Golf Club.

Her even-par 72 Thursday put Niemiec at 7-over 151, tied for 22nd place. The Northern Illinois junior enters today’s final round eight shots behind leader Samantha Postillion.

Kaneland product Hayley Guyton, an Illinois State junior, missed the cut by one stroke after shooting separate 77s. Guyton has remained busy this summer, staying close in Mid-American Junior Golf Tour events at Purdue and Illinois State, among her other tournaments.

“This summer, it’s been good,” Guyton said this week. “I’ve seen a lot of really good things coming out of my practicing.

It’s been frustrating with losing a couple playoffs, so I’m right there, but there’s definitely work to be done with practicing under pressure.”

– Kevin Druley, kdruley@shawmedia.com

• Friday, August 2, 2013

ich Flores revived his golf-teaching career after fighting cardiac amyloidosis, a cancerous heart condition that still causes hot spells and shortness of breath.

Doctors told the Batavia man his heart would work at 42 percent of capacity after the cancer entered remission. Flores still isn’t sure what that ratio really means, but the chance to give lessons again is what he really counts on.

Flores sees about 20 players a week at his longtime home base, Geneva’s Mill Creek Golf Club. That total was 60 to 80 before he became sick two years ago.

“The doctors just said to take it easy and know I could not do what I used to, which is OK,” Flores said.

“That’s what I’m doing, and I’m at peace with that.”

Flores’ lessons last 30 to 45 minutes, his normal duration, and range from 10 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. four days a week. Flores, 56, usually takes off Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.

Chemotherapy treatments – which he’ll require once a month for the rest of his life – are Mondays.

Flores also visits a cardiologist and stem cell doctor once every six months.

These days, that agenda merely comes as something he rattles off to friends or students checking in on how he’s doing. There’s certainly enough of those.

It’s been two summers since Tom Ryan, brother of Flores’ wife, Judy, organized a benefit golf outing at Pheasant Run in St. Charles, but Flores often hearkens back to those memories.

“It was amazing. I still can’t get over all the support and players we had,” he said. “I still just kind of think about it and say, ‘Wow, what a blessing.’ Some great family and some friends and a lot of support.”

While Flores welcomes adult players, his focus remains steeped in the junior scene.

“Everybody in junior golf knows

PN HIGH

SPORTS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

BACK ON THE COURSE

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| SPORTS

20

Bears offense will be better this year VIEWS Hub Arkush

HubArkush.com is online BOURBONNAIS – Perhaps the Bears defense will be stout again this year, or maybe it slips a bit. Either way, last year’s 10 wins, which usually are good enough for a playoff spot, were mainly the result of great defense, a remarkable bit of good fortune and a few more cupcakes on the schedule than usual.

To match that total this year, the offense flat out has to do more.

The assumption from the moment coach Marc Trestman arrived has been that offensive wizardry is in his back pocket, or minimally that it’s in the bag. But reading and hearing about it, and actually having the club “self-actualize” it are two different things. It seems to me it’s time for a few specifics.

Clearly, quarterback Jay Cutler carries a great deal of the responsibility during the Bears offense’s makeover.

Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer said of his new pupil, “Jay has really done a nice job of digesting this system, and he’s done a nice job of leading the team’s digesting of the system.”

Cutler seems to like the new system and his new

Check it out, bookmark it and make it your homepage for Bears coverage going forward. Shaw Media’s Bears coverage has reached a new level and we hope you enjoy it. We’ll be on top of every minute of training camp and the upcoming season on your new 24/7 home for Bears football, led by one of the most trusted names in both Bears and pro football coverage.

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Running back Michael Bush runs during the second day of practice Saturday at training camp in Bourbonnais. teachers.

“These are very smart guys, the system is very quarterback-friendly and they want to make it as easy on us as they can and they’re fun to work with,” he said.

I’m glad these guys are having fun, but where will we see the improvement?

Trestman is recognized as an offensive savant, and the system will be different and better. But he also has made very clear, “We’ll be very vanilla in the preseason, and the starters will all see the same limited action we’re used to.”

The coach isn’t counting

on the system being the change; he’s challenging his quarterback first.

In his post-practice comments, Trestman described Cutler’s play and improvement enthusiastically, saying, “He’s practicing very efficiently, throwing the ball away and checking it down a lot.”

To some, it might have been a throwaway sound byte. But in reality, it was the description of Jay Cutler, West Coast QB vs. Cutler the gunslinger.

It is impossible to fully explain in one column the West Coast scheme Trestman

is believed to favor, but the cliffs notes go something like this: Use the pass to establish the run, short timing routes, lots of screens and flares to the running backs, and checkdown fast when the deep route isn’t there early.

Add to that: Keep the chains moving, no sacks and no turnovers. A short gain beats a throwaway and a throwaway always will beat a giveaway. Death by a thousand paper cuts still is death.

It will be nice if Cutler can become more accurate and more consistent, but first he must be more efficient. Trestman’s goal appears to be to change Cutler’s mindset more than his mechanics.

Kromer’s first statement of the preseason was, “Our main goal right now is ball security, pre-snap adjustments and learning the system.”

Once Cutler is ready, he will lead this team. But don’t be surprised if running back

Matt Forte is the offensive MVP. Every great West Coast offense has had a special running back who is part runner and part receiver, and Kromer is every bit as excited about Forte as he is Cutler.

“You can’t appreciate him until you work with him every day,” Kromer said.

“Coming out of college, we wanted him really badly in New Orleans. He’s big, he’s strong and he’s very fast.”

For this offense to get better, the system and Trestman clearly will matter, but only if the old dogs like Cutler and Forte can learn the new tricks this coaching staff is trying to teach them. The ability is there and it’s up to the players, not the system, to make it work.

• Hub Arkush covers the Bears for Shaw Media and HubArkush. com. Write to him at harkush@shawmedia.com.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOTBALL NOTES

Huskies disappointed to be left out of rankings

By ANTHONY ZILIS editorial@kcchronicle.com CHICAGO – Jimmie Ward thought the Northern Illinois football team deserved to be ranked in the preseason USA Today Coaches’ Poll on Wednesday, but he wasn’t exactly shocked when he was told the Huskies didn’t make the Top 25.

After all, the Huskies weren’t ranked until Week 13 of the 2013 season, so they’re used to having to claw their way up the polls.

“We’ve had to work for everything we’ve gotten,” Ward

said. “It wasn’t a surprise since we lost the Orange Bowl game, but all we’ve got to do is keep working, take it one day at a time and hopefully we do have a good season and they do have us ranked during the season.”

The Huskies weren’t even close to squeaking into the Top 25 – their 19 votes put them 13 spots out of a ranking.

Coach Rod Carey said he voted for his team on his ballot, but he wouldn’t say where he ranked them.

“It would have been really nice to have been ranked, coming out of the season that we had,” Carey said. “But it’s

not where you start, it’s where you end. We ended the year last year [ranked] and that was a big accomplishment. Now that will be our goal again this year.”

Daniels on the mend: NIU will be without its top running back when practice starts next week, and the timetable for his return remains a mystery.

Akeem Daniels will be back from a foot injury “as soon as he can,” Carey said, after offseason surgery.

In the meantime, Carey said Giorgio Bowers and Keith Harris Jr., will fill in.

“Akeem Daniels is going to

be back with us, but right now he’s a little laid up with a little injury that’s been nagging on him,” Carey said. “We’ve had a chance to get in there and fix it a little bit and the doctors do a great job at NIU. So he’s on the mend, and he’ll be ready to go sooner rather than later.”

Loos back: After breaking his tibia against Toledo late in the season last year, left tackle Tyler Loos, who sat out spring practice, is back and ready to play.

“He’s back, he’s been cleared and we’re working him back into it,” Carey said.

“He wasn’t with us all spring,

obviously, because he was healing. Now he’s ready to go.

So we’re expecting big things from him.”

Loos will be a welcome addition to a line that was humbled throughout the Huskies’ Orange Bowl loss. Carey said that experience is a motivating factor heading into the season.

“I think they put a chip on their shoulder, and rightly so,” Carey said. “I don’t think I’m speaking out of school when I say this: … they got pushed around in that bowl, and they put a chip on their shoulder and they’re trying to do something about that.”

NEIGHBORS Book lovers rejoice over ‘Under the Dome’ Neighbors is news by readers, for readers, about readers. Have news to share? Send it to neighbors@kcchronicle.com.

Kane County Chronicle • Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 • Page 21 • KCChronicle.com

Summer?

In the current weather situation, low temperatures, rainy days, etc., and with the start of the school year now approaching rapidly, shouldn’t we punctuate the seasons? Give summer the question mark, a colorful and mild autumn an exclamation mark, and, perhaps, a dollar sign for winter and a comma for spring to indicate that we never know when it ends.

Among the casualties of the season so far, my garden is kaput. Roses are scrambling for cover and tomatoes are frozen in time with blossoms that went “all in” and were undone by a full house of rabbits and cool breezes.

There are alternatives for all of us who are crop busted, If you move quickly, the farmers market at the Baker United Methodist Church will have the usual Friday fare available. The handsome guy with the distinctive apron is Rob Murphy, local Man of Cheese, musician and market manager.

(Tell him “Joan sent me.”)

A drive westward to Norton’s Farm

JOAN KNOWS Joan Arteberry Stand will be another choice. On any day you might find me supplementing the vegetable garden and the forlorn flowers. If patriarch Dexter Norton is around, see if his almanac has any explanation for the lousy weather. Watch for the wink, which will tell you that he might be pulling your leg.

My refuge from the weather, and all other distracting issues, has been reading.

The public library was my favorite place to be, a destination after nearby piano lessons at Mrs. Eva Hunt Lacy’s house or a day in Helen Munhall’s home room, across the road from the original Haines. Raise your hand if you, too, were greeted with the enthusiasm of Louise Keuck, Lois Miller and Pauline Hall.

May Jordan was gracious to share her library space at STCHS (Thompson building, second floor) with what was euphimistally called study hall, the precursor to Facebook.

These ladies are mentioned as part of the linkage that made reading so fulfilling – a real person who would validate the process by saying something like, “I read this too,” or did you like the story?” Better yet might be a thought-provoking question.

The adult version, if not a book club, might be the perfect mix, such as Town House Books.

Books, plus food, plus lively conversation. Right on, David Hunt!

Here’s a case in point. After weeks of disclaiming any interest, I finally watched “Under the Dome.”

When I learned that the series had been renewed, implying many more episodes before the end of the story is revealed, I underwent the one minute transaction to download Stephen King’s novel to my Kindle ... I started to read it, discovered that the two ver-

sions are quite different, the book was more fulfilling, and it was soon 3 a.m.

Now what? Anybody out there want to talk about it?

I have tried to be the voice that joins in the reading-a-book process for my grandchildren.

Mazy loves to read and uses her books and iPad to fill the empty hours at Richmond Intermediate.

The nearly 4-year-old Leia and Olivia currently use their books as WMD’s. The mass destruction is particularly effective when using the flat surface of a story book to bop one’s sister on the head.

The ambiguous phrase “cut that out” usually results in a time out and the book is relocated to a high shelf.

Book ’em, Danno.

• Joan Arteberry is a longtime resident of St. Charles. Her columns are featured in the Kane County Chronicle’s Neighbors section every other Friday. Write to her at editorial@ kcchronicle.com.

American Legion awards $25K in scholarships to area students KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE neighbors@kcchronicle.com ST. CHARLES – St. Charles American Legion Post 342 selected five students to receive academic scholarships totaling $25,000.

The recipients are Bradley Bushing, Joan Educate, Abigail Gaffney, Kylie Hicks and Robert Paul.

Bushing, of Glenbard Township High School, will be attending California Polytechnic State University, majoring in computer engineering. His Grandfather, Dean Bushing, served in the Army Air Corps. during World War II. Educate, of Geneva High School, will be pursuing a career in film and television production, screen

writing and producing at New York University. Her grandfather, Joe Educate, served in the U.S. Air Force.

Gaffney, of St. Charles East High School, is seeking a career in nursing at Elgin Community College.

Both of Abigail’s grandfathers were Post 342 commanders.

Hicks, of South Elgin High School, will be attending Benedictine College, majoring in psychology and communications. Her great-uncle, Col. Jake Wyatt served, in the U.S. Army and is an active 342 member and officer.

Paul, of St. Charles North High School, intends to earn a degree in computer engineering at the university of Illinois – Champaign. His father served in the U.S. Army reserves.

Provided photo

St. Charles American Legion Post 342 selected five students to receive academic scholarships totaling $25,000.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| NEIGHBORS

22

Christian Action group breaks ground

Local teen earns Girl Scouts’ highest award for leadership, community service KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE

KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE neighbors@kcchronicle.com ST. CHARLES – Fox Valley Christian Action (formerly Riverwoods Christian Center) recently broke ground for its sixth new cabin in order to increase its capacity to serve more youth from local under-resourced communities.

T h e m i n i s t r y ’ s c a mpus is located on 85 acres along the Fox River in St. Charles.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley and the Tyndale House Foundation each donated $10,000, which helped to make the groundbreaking possible.

Local business partners Torry Granrath’s Custom Concrete, Ditch Witch Midwest and Mendel Plumbing & Heating are also contributors to the new cabin.

Much of the construction labor will be done by skilled volunteers who help to significantly reduce

8NEIGHBORS BRIEFS Library to host finale party ELBURN – Town and Country Public Library has planned its annual summer reading grand finale party from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the library, 320 E. North St., Elburn. It marks the culmination of the library’s “Have Book, Will Travel” summer reading program.

Among the food will be hot dogs, chips and cookies to be served under a tent. There will be balloon sculptures, music from Jutta and the Hi-Dukes and the Reamtet, as well as comedy magic from Dave Marcus. For information, visit ww.elburn.lib.il.us.

the cost of construction.

Fox Valley Christian Action partners with local churches, foundations, service organizations and businesses to serve youth and families in under-resourced communities of the Fox River Valley.

According to a news release, in 1977, Fox Valley Christian Action began its ministry to the under-resourced communities of the Fox River Valley by engaging the youth in positive programs through camping.

Today, Fox Valley Christian Action provides a variety of programs for at-risk youth through Riverwoods Family Campus.

Fox Valley Christian Action is a non-denominational Christian ministry, which serves families regardless of religious commitment.

To learn more about Fox Valley Christian Action, visit www.FVChristianAction.org.

neighbors@kcchronicle.com Nearly 80 local high school students recently earned Girl Scouts of the USA’s most prestigious national honor for girls, the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana honored their accomplishments during a special ceremony in June at the Hilton Rosemont Hotel.

Michelle Mann, 18, of St. Charles, a member of Girl Scout Troop 51396, received her Girl Scout Gold Award after completing a series of re-

quirements, including the implementation of a significant community service project.

The goal of Mann’s project was to promote greater cultural and environmental awareness in teens and young adults in the St. Charles area.

“The St. Charles area has always been a very homogenous place where other cultures, particularly ones that are less common, are not accepted,” Mann said in a news release. “In order to decrease this sort of intolerance I made a documentary that highlighted portions of my trip to Indonesia.”

The project, titled “Project

8NEIGHBORS BRIEF

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Animal clinic to have celebration for 500th surgery NORTH AURORA – The Fox Valley Animal Welfare League Clinic will have a celebration for its 500th surgery with a pet picture event, set from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, at 11 John St., North Aurora. The minimum donation is $5, and there will be free refreshments. Also, the league will be collecting jewelry (any type) for the event and accepts jewelry donations throughout the year to help support clinic services. To donate jewelry or for information regarding the event, call 630-559-4305.

Festival Of The Horse & Drum 1-Day Admission for 2 Adults and 2 Children

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Computer classes offered ST. CHARLES – The Salvation Army, 1710 S. Seventh Ave., St. Charles, will offer free computer classes beginning the week of Sept. 16. Registration is required.

For information, call Cathy Winters at 630-377-2769, ext. 210.

U&I,” “reached out to teens in the area to increase their sense of global understanding” Mann said.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout age 14 through 18 can earn.

The Gold Award recognizes the work of Girl Scouts who demonstrate leadership, culminating in 65 hours or more, dedicated toward their service project.

Girls complete a minimum of 40 hours in a leadership role before embarking on the final project.

For more information, visit www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org.

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Kane County Chronicle • Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 • Page 23 • KCChronicle.com

Nissan Armada an impressive sight Nissan’s Armada is something else.

It may not acquire the renown of the defeat of the Spanish Armada by a fleet of Englishmen in 1588, but the fullsize sport utility vehicle is an impressive sight in 2013.

It is huge, almost mammoth in size for a vehicle designed for family use. This four-wheel-drive SUV seats eight adults in three rows and does so comfortably. Leg room in the third row is equivalent to that of the first row in many sedans.

Comfort is expected as the electronic double wishbone suspension system front and rear also includes self-leveling technology for the rear components.

The size extends to head and shoulder room, dashboard, seating surfaces, 20-inch wheels, P275 tires, running boards and, lest one forget, the 5.7-liter, 317-horsepower, dual overhead cam V8 engine, which is capable of towing a 9,000-pound trailer.

The towing capacity is dictated by several factors, including whether the Armada is two- or four-wheel drive and has the proper towing package. The tested $56,180 Platinum model of the Armada did have the proper package. Armadas are priced from $36,890 but all of them (SV, SL, Platinum) share the same engine mated to a five-speed shiftable transmission with a tow and haul mode, plus a two-speed transfer case.

Since economy is not part of the Armada package, there is a 28-gallon fuel tank onboard. During a test week with the Platinum model, regular gasoline fuel usage averaged 14.4 miles per gallon, which is close to the 14 mpg promised in combined city and country driving by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA’s official figures are 18 to 19 mpg highway and 12 to 14 city.

If economy is not a virtue for a vehicle weighing in excess of 5,000 pounds, other factors are. The expansive roominess in three rows means the Armada can provide lots of comfort to a family of five on an extended trip north, south, east or west. Standard equipment on the tested Armada included a rear seat entertainment system (screens embedded on the opposite side of the front seat headrests, wireless headphones). Besides a third row flattened for storage, more cargo space is provided by overhead aluminum roof rails and cross bars. The rails with a chrome finish have metal tiedowns integrated into them. Under the carpeted

Provided photo

Nissan’s 2013 powerplant in the Armada sport utility vehicle is a 5.7-liter, 317-horsepower V8 gasoline engine mated to a five-speed shiftable automatic transmission. There is a two-speed transfer case.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Jerry Kuyper floor is a small storage area, too. The fullsize spare wheel/tire is stored outside and underneath the cargo areas. The split and fold third row flattens and is raised by power via interior side controls.

Standard on the Platinum model is a navigation system with 7-inch color screen and USB connectivity, an 11-speaker Bose sound system for AM-FM-satellite radio, CD and MP3 players, Bluetooth, and audio streaming via Bluetooth. Wood, metal and leather trim is standard.

Power windows are express up and down in front and the quarter glass windows in the rear, which flip out, also are powered. Other power features include heated exterior mirrors, heated and cooled front seats and tilt and slide moon-

roof. The third row operates up and down by power, and the rear liftgate opens and closes by pressing a control on the key fob or by lightly pulling on the liftgate handle. There is a memory setting for driver’s seat, sideview mirrors and the pedals. The steering wheel is heated.

Air conditioning controls are in front and the rear. The middle row also has heated seats. Ten cupholders are in addition to four bottle holders.

Airbags are in front, sides and overhead. Other safety mechanicals include traction and stability controls, four-wheel antilock braking system and a display for individual tire pressure.

Warranty coverage is three years or 36,000 miles and five years or 60,000 miles on the powertrain.

To date, the Nissan Armada has not conquered all the hearts and minds of large SUV buyers in the United States as sales in 2012 totaled 18,072 and through the first six months of 2013 the total was 7,381.

Comparable vehicles from other manufacturers posted their share of sales. Toyota’s Sequoia numbers were 13,151 and 6,693, respectively. The General Motors GMC’s Yukon XL numbers were 23,427 and 14,704, respectively. Chevrolet’s Suburban numbers were 48,116 and 21,663, while at Ford, the Expedition did 38,062 and 17,741, respectively.

Armada totals compare more favorably with Cadillac’s Escalade numbers of 12,615 in 2012 and 5,677 through June of 2013, as well as the Lexus GX which posted sales of 11,039 in 2012 and 4,415 through June. The QX56, a stablemate from Nissan’s Infiniti luxury division, posted numbers of 15,310 and 5,967, respectively. Cadillac and Lexus represent the luxury divisions of General Motors and Toyota.

Although officially not a product of a luxury division, the Platinum model of the Armada qualifies as a luxury SUV. For information, visit www. nissanusa.com.

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

24

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

26

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS Lamar Hunt (1932-2006), sports executive; Peter O’Toole (1932), actor; Wes Craven (1939), filmmaker; Mary-Louise Parker (1964), actress; Kevin Smith (1970), filmmaker; Sam Worthington (1976), actor.

– United Feature Syndicate

HOROSCOPE

By BERNICE BEDE OSOL Newspaper Enterprise Association TODAY – There is a strong possibility you will cultivate and develop several new interests in the year ahead. A few could even turn out to be exciting endeavors, since you’re likely to be extremely progressive in areas where you’ve always been traditional.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) – Some of you single Leos might be in for a pleasant surprise when you discover you have a secret admirer. Oddly, it could be someone you always thought didn’t like you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) – Favorable financial trends are indicated for you during this present cycle, especially if it involves a second source of income. Invest most of your overflow if possible.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) – Partnership arrangements represent one of your primary comfort zones, and what is happening today will fit the bill. You’ll have the chance to form some solid social and commercial alliances.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) – Major achievements are possible if you utilize your talents and industriousness. There is a strong chance you’ll rack up an impressive financial or work-related score.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) – This is one of those great days when it pays to be bold. If there’s someone to whom you’re attracted, let him or her know how you feel. The response should please you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) – Persistence in pursuing important objectives is one of your most admirable assets, and chances are it’ll be the main reason for your success today. Follow your inclinations.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) – Look for new ways to express your artistic and creative abilities. You could come up with something extremely worthwhile that will provide a deep sense of achievement.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) – If you believe you’re involved in something that could enhance your material security, stick to it until you get the desired results. Don’t listen to the naysayers.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) – Both your work associates and your friends will delegate the leadership role to you, regardless of what you’re doing. Make sure you keep a cool head and a strong hand.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) – Your perceptions concerning financial affairs could be especially acute today, so don’t underestimate your hunches when it comes to money matters.

Keep your risk reasonable, and you’ll come out ahead.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) – If things have been a bit slow for you in the romance department lately, don’t despair. You won’t find a better day to get out, circulate and meet new people.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) – The possibilities of fulfilling one of your secret ambitions look to be pretty good. It’s times like this that you should be acting on your ambition, not procrastinating.

More Content Now photo

Denzel Washington (left) and Mark Wahlberg star in the film “2 Guns.”

Crime flick ‘2 Guns’ is a misfire

By DANA BARBUTO More Content Now The title of the crime flick “2 Guns” is misleading. I thought it referred to Mark Wahlberg’s biceps, which, disappointingly, never make an appearance. Neither do the actor’s famously sculpted abs. Boo-hoo.

Wahlberg, nonetheless, is armed, and maybe a little dangerous in a movie that pairs him with two-time Oscar-winner Denzel Washington.

As rogue agents working an undercover drug operation, the two studs arm “2 Guns” with double-barreled blasts of charisma, chemistry and million-dollar smiles. It’s the story that misfires.

Working with a script by Blake Masters that’s culled from a graphic novel, director Baltasar Kormkur (“Contraband”) delivers a film that’s either full-blown fun or an out-andout bore.

When Washington and Wahlberg

share the screen, there’s rapid-fire banter and palpable chemistry. When the script forces them apart, the film stops dead in its tracks.

The plot – a ho-hum, return-stolen-drug-money story – is a mess. It’s populated with too many villains, a rote romance and predictable twists and setups, that you can see coming 10 frames ahead.

That includes the inevitable reveal when Wahlberg’s Stig and Washington’s Bobby discover they are both undercover operatives sent to take down Mexican drug lord Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos, made up to look like a Hispanic Albert Einstein).

That effort leads them to rob a bank of $43 million, which puts another lawman (Bill Paxton) on their tails.

Piling on the twists and turns doesn’t make “2 Guns” any more interesting.

It creates confusion.

For his part, Paxton is deliciously sinister, bordering on camp. The rest of the supporting players, including

James Marsden as a naval intelligence commander and Paula Patton as the token girl, add nothing but good looks.

No fault of their own, because the script just isn’t there.

But it’s on par for August, which is generally considered a prime month for dumping bad movies. Ditto for January, which regrettably brought us Wahlberg’s “Broken City.”

Like that misfire, and “Contraband” a year before it, “2 Guns” proves to be a generic Wahlberg action flick, which Washington (“Safe House,” “Unstoppable”) is no stranger to, either.

There are lots of explosions, gunfire and wisecracks. Lucky for us, “2 Guns” isn’t deadly. It barely leaves a scratch.

• “2 Guns” is rated R for violence throughout, language and brief nudity. The cast includes Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington. Grade: C+

DEAR ABBY Jeanne Phillips near water, and children who have lost their lives because the person watching them became momentarily distracted. I agree the best way to protect against tragedies like this is unremitting vigilance.

Dear Abby: I have a brotherin-law whom I love dearly who lives out of state and stays in our guest room frequently. When he comes, we spend the first 45 minutes rearranging the guest room furniture because he likes the bed to face west. Currently, it faces north, as do the nightstands and the dresser.

Am I being nasty to want our furniture arranged the way we’re comfortable? Or must I allow him to rearrange it the way he wants it? – Good Hostess In California Dear Hostess: A good hostess tries to accommodate the needs of her guests; however, if the furniture in your house has been moved, your brother-in-law

should put it back the way it was before he leaves.

Dear Abby: Do you or your readers think it’s acceptable for a father to ask his 21-year-old college student son whether he and his girlfriend of one year are sexually active? This is his first girlfriend.

I am his mother, and I say it’s none of our business. My husband says it’s a reasonable question; he just wants to give him fatherly advice – like “be careful.” – Mom In Colorado Dear Mom: Would you still say it’s none of your business if your son made his first girlfriend pregnant? I would, however, caution your husband to be more tactful about how he approaches the subject because a blunt question like the one he’s contemplating could be offputting. If he has birth control information he wants to impart, a better way to approach it would be to raise the subject without putting his son on the spot.

• Write Dear Abby at www. dearabby.com.

Depression and hypothyroidism link unclear Dear Doctor K: For years I took antidepressants, but they didn’t really help my depression. Then a new doctor diagnosed me with hypothyroidism. Once I started taking thyroid medication, the depression lifted. What’s the connection?

Dear Reader: Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland, is one cause of depression.

Depression is a condition caused by chemical changes in the brain.

Surely life experiences can affect those chemical changes, making them worse or better. But at its root, depression involves brain chemistry.

The chemistry of the brain is also influenced by the chemistry of the blood, since blood circulates throughout the brain. The thyroid gland, a small, butterfly-shaped structure that sits low in the neck, secretes hormones that regulate the body’s energy. In this way, the thyroid indirectly affects everything from muscles, bones and skin, to the digestive tract, heart and brain.

The thyroid, in turn, is regulated by the pituitary gland.

This pea-sized gland hangs down from the bottom part of the brain. When blood levels

ASK DOCTOR K Anthony L. Komaroff of thyroid hormones fall, the pituitary gland sends signals to the thyroid, telling it to get to work. In response, the thyroid produces two hormones, T3 and T4. If you have hypothyroidism, however, your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. Blood levels of T3 and T4 remain low.

When thyroid hormone levels are low, organs and internal systems slow down, creating a wide range of symptoms. Many of these symptoms – depressed mood, fatigue, weight gain, reduced sexual desire and trouble concentrating – are also symptoms of depression. Not surprisingly, hypothyroidism is often misdiagnosed as depression. Here’s an example: My wife and I are friends with a couple who about 20 years ago started to have marital troubles.

She was moody. Her husband thought she was depressed, and her doctor agreed. They separated.

One winter evening she

slipped on the ice and broke her ankle. In the emergency room, the orthopedic surgeon took one look at her and asked, “Has your doctor ever said you have an underactive thyroid?” He did the test, confirmed his suspicions, and she got the treatment she needed. The couple reunited a few months later.

Other symptoms are more typical of either depression or hypothyroidism and can help tell the two conditions apart. (I’ve put a table listing symptoms of each condition, along with symptoms the two conditions share, on my website, AskDoctorK.com.)

Hypothyroidism can be confirmed or ruled out with a blood test. As in your case, depression usually subsides once you start taking this medication.

Researchers aren’t entirely sure why there is a link between hypothyroidism and depression.

In fact, doctors sometimes add thyroid medications to antidepressant treatment to improve mood.

•Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Visit www.AskDoctorK. com to send questions and get additional information.

Dr. Wallace: I’m in summer school, and during lunch break I was in the restroom and heard two girls talking about their boyfriends and “Roofies.” I’ve heard the names of a lot of drugs, but “Roofies” is a new one.

Is there such a drug with that name? Is it possible that it means something else? – Nameless, Phoenix, Ariz.

Dear Nameless: “Roofies” is the street name for Rohypnol, which is related to the sedative Valium, but it is 10 times more potent.

The drug is illegal in the United States and Canada, but it can be purchased with a prescription in Mexico and various South American countries.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Rohypnol is a highly addictive and extremely dangerous drug. You may have heard of Rohypnol if you knew it by its other street name: the “date-rape drug.”

Females have become sexually vulnerable when “Roofies” have been added to their drinks without their knowledge.

Dr. Wallace: I’m 17 and have been dating Jose, who is 18, for about two months. We only go out together once a week. That’s because he spends the rest of his spare time with his sports-crazy buddies.

I told him we should go out at least twice a week, but he doesn’t like that idea. I had stopped seeing my girlfriends so I could spend more time with him, but now he says, “Spend more time with your girlfriends.”

I don’t want to spend all my time with my girlfriends. I want to spend more time with him. What can I do to make this happen? –

’TWEEN 12 & 20 Robert Wallace Tina, Bakersfield, Calif.

Dear Tina: You heard his message loud and clear. He enjoys seeing you, but not at the expense of spending time with his buddies.

If you want to stay with him, you’ll have to be patient – that’s all there is to it.

Enjoy the time you do spend with him, and don’t forsake your girlfriends. If you push too hard to be with him more often, you could wind up not being with him at all. If you relax about this, my guess is that you’ll get your wish. Suddenly one day he’ll realize he wants to spend more time with you than with his buddies.

Dr. Wallace: I know that people should wash their hands numerous times to help avoid contracting a cold or the flu. How many times a day should teens wash their faces to help eliminate blackheads caused by oily skin?

– Brenda, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Dear Brenda: Most dermatologists suggest washing one’s face twice daily with a mild soap and lukewarm water.

This will keep your skin looking fresh and clean, but it will not eliminate blackheads or pimples.

Blackheads on the face are not caused by specks of dirt embedded in the skin. They are caused by clogged pores that become dark when exposed to the air. When blackheads become inflamed, they turn into pimples. Blackheads can be removed easily by a dermatologist.

• Email Dr. Robert Wallace at rwallace@ galesburg.net.

27

• Friday, August 2, 2013

Dear Abby: I have been a lifeguard for more than 30 years, and I continually see adults putting children in harm’s way.

As you take your family to your favorite swimming hole this summer, please be careful.

If your child isn’t a competent swimmer, NEVER allow him or her to go beyond arm’s reach.

Never exceed the ratio of two nonswimmers to one adult. If possible, stay where the child can touch the bottom.

If your children can swim and you allow them to go into the pool without you – ALWAYS WATCH THEM! Yes, lifeguards are observing the swimmers – but no one on this planet will watch your child with the same vigilance that you will.

ACTIVELY WATCH. It can take as few as 10 to 20 seconds for a person to get into trouble and slip without a sound beneath the surface. – Lifeguard John In Auburn, Wash.

Dear Lifeguard John: Your message is important and timely. Every year we read about families basking in the sun

The street name is ‘date-rape drug’

ADVICE | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Fun at the beach can turn tragic quickly

Arlo & Janis

Garfield

Big Nate

Get Fuzzy is on vacation. Please enjoy this strip from Aug. 12, 2011.

Crankshaft

The Pajama Diaries

Stone Soup

Pearls Before Swine

Dilbert

Rose Is Rose

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| COMICS

28

Beetle Bailey

29

Blondie

$

4.99

Watch Battery & Installation

Limit 2. Reg. Price - $7.99. Some makes, models or styles may be excluded. Expires 8 7.31.13. NP023

CFL Light Bulb (60w equivalent)

w/ any purchase

The Born Loser Limit 1. Free offer valid while supplies last.

See store for details. Expires 8 7.31.13. NPFREECFL

$

25.00

Savings - $10 by Rebate & $ 15 Instantly w/ core trade in

Car/Truck Batteries

Limit 2. Save $10 by Mail-In-Rebate.

See store for details. Expires 8 7.31.13. NP034

$

5.00

The Argyle Sweater

Off Cell/Smart Phone Batteries

Real Life Adventures Limit 2. Some exclusions may apply.

Not valid with any other offers. Expires 8 7.31.13. NP002

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For additional savings visit batteriesplus.com

• Friday, August 2, 2013

FREE

COMICS | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com

Batteries & light bulbs for home & business

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

BRIDGE by Phillip Alder

Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

| PUZZLES

30

Is the sacrifice profitable or not?

CELEBRITY CIPHER

Aime Cesaire, a poet, author and politician from Martinique, said, “Reason, I sacrifice you to the evening breeze.” Bridge players must try never to sacrifice reason.

But there can be a good reason to sacrifice – you may suffer a smaller loss.

In today’s deal, how would East have done in four hearts and what should happen in four spades doubled?

West did not want to pass over one spade, but her hand was not strong enough for two diamonds or suitable, in her partnership, for three diamonds. So she passed.

However, when East reopened with a takeout double, West correctly jumped to three diamonds. East then wondered about five and six diamonds, but sensibly went for the 10-trick heart game.

If that had been passed out, East would probably have lost one spade and one heart to come home with an overtrick for plus 650.

When South bid an undisciplined four spades, West happily doubled. She led the diamond ace and cashed the diamond king. What should she have done next?

Where were East’s points for his strong bidding? He had to have good clubs. So West should have shifted to that suit, which would have resulted in down four, plus 800. But West actually led the diamond jack at trick three.

South ruffed, drew trumps (discarding two hearts from the board), and ducked a heart to East. Endplayed, he could take only two hearts and two clubs for down three, plus 500.

So the sacrifice gained, but it was a close-run thing.

Friday August 2, 2013

“Dense Blazing Star” Photo By: Dave

Upload your photos on My Photos – Kane County’s community photo post!

Photos on My Photos are eligible to appear in print in Kane County Chronicle Classified.

Go to KCChronicle.com/myphotos

LOST CAT: On Sat. May 4th by Beith Rd & Meredith Rd in Maple Park by a cornfield.

AUTO TRUCK TECHNICIAN ASC Certified.

Apply at: Duke & Lee's Service, 609 S. Batavia Ave, Geneva.

DRIVER

CDL DELIVERY DRIVER CDL Class B with air brake endorsement required. Overnight hours Sunday through Friday.

Salaried position.

Call 847-464-5458 for more details on application process.

Drivers

ATTENTION DRIVERS! $1000 SIGN ON BONUS (For current Licensed and Permitted Drivers.)

$500 SIGN ON BONUS (For Brand New Drivers.) *Some restrictions apply.

We are new in your area and need you to join our team!!

Call or come by the office for more information today!

Driver

Orange Tabby with 4 white paws, white chest, 10 yrs. old. Neutered.

Large Reward! 630-709-5471

Meal Delivery Drivers

PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES

needed for seniors.

Mon-Fri part time.

Must use own vehicle.

Hourly rate + mileage reimbursement.

Please contact Salvation Army Golden Diners at 630-232-6676

We are seeking motivated & upbeat personalities to fill entry level positions to work with local media companies by promoting innovative products in local residential communities.

Media Marketing Consultants Must be clean cut, self-motivated, have a great personality, have transportation, & have leadership skills. Flexible schedules, Weekly pay, PART-TIME HOURS FULL-TIME PAY, Sales experience a plus but will train the right person.

Team Managers - Must be clean cut, organized, strong leadership skills, be a motivator as well as self-motivated, great personality, reliable transportation, and basic computer skills (Microsoft Word and Excel). PART-TIME HOURS FULL-TIME PAY & 2 years sales experience required.

Start Immediately Call Jason for an interview today!

(219) 256-1728 or (773) 245-NEWS (6397) Or send resume to newssourcesdelivered@gmail.com

Buying? Selling?

Renting? Hiring?

To place an ad, call 877-264-2527 Kane County Chronicle Classified

Sat ONLY 8/3 8am

6N359 Oakwood Dr

Rt 64, Anderson Rd South to Cheval de Selle

367 Colonial Circle

Friday August 2nd 8-3

Tools, Books, Clothing, Golf, Garden & Household Items.

Fox River Estates

FRI & SAT, AUG 2 & 3 8AM - 3PM

656 SYLVAN PLACE Fri, Aug 2 nd 8am-5pm Sat, Aug 3rd 8am-4pm

Couch, 6x6 shed in box, kids crafts, golf bag, duffles, toys, Xmas trees, household & MUCH MORE!

Antiques: Sleigh, Wicker Pram, Linens, 78s, Frames.

Mid-Century: Furniture, Lamps, & LPs. '69 Schwinn Tandem. Knit, Needlepoint, Crafts, Holiday, RR Books, LGB Track. House Full.

ELBURN

41W021 RT. 38 EVERYTHING PRICED TO SELL!

Send your Classified Advertising 24/7 to: Email: classified@ shawsuburban.com Fax: 815-477-8898 or online at: www.KCChronicle.com

BATAVIA MOVING SALE

1110 Wintergreen Terrace

Sat, Aug 3 only

for 5 hours only! 8am – 1pm Can't take it all with me so time to purge! Good quality stuff for sale. Storage, cabinets, shelves, wet/dry vac, cd player, high top table n chairs, camping gear, xmas decor, movie screen, show tent, patio set, and much more.

GENEVA

Fri & Sat Aug 2-3 8am-4pm Bedroom/Wicker Furniture, Piano, Microwave, TVs, Home Décor & SO MUCH MORE!

GENEVA 2245 Clover Lane GREAT BUYS Fri Aug 2 & Sat Aug 3, 8am to 2pm Spinning wheel, drum wool carder, Aerogarden, records & CDs, quilts, art, desk, ping pong table, plant stands, tool cabinet, books and much more.

GENEVA

DEKALB

10 years worth of items from size 4t - 1x of clothes for men's, women's, boys, girls, housewares, shoes, toys, furniture, appliances, pool table, car/truck items, welder, sports equipment, some baby items, sewing items, bikes, many many more.

Must come see!!!

Buying? Selling?

Renting? Hiring?

To place an ad, call 877-264-2527

FRI & SAT 8-3 Mill Creek Sub. 0N324 & 0N320 DOOLEY DR. Furniture, foosball table & MANY MISC ITEMS!!

DON'T NEED IT? SELL IT FAST! Kane County Chronicle Classified Call 877-264-2527 or KCChronicle.com

LINCOLN HIGHWAY BUY-WAY

The Lincoln Highway Buy-Way is back, Thursday, August 8 to Saturday August 10!

Town-wide sales will be in Fulton and Ashton! The DeKalb Area Women's Center will have flea market items! Rochelle businesses will have great sales! Stop for lunch at the Methodist Church in Morrison! Sales in Illinois are part of a five-state event.

11 Bridgeport Ln

17801 S. FIRST ST HUGE FAMILY GARAGE SALE Thursday - Saturday 7 am - 7 pm

A little bit of everything Household, framed art work, jewelry, knick knacks etc.

NEW HAND-MADE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS, WINE BOTTLE STOPPERS & MORE.

(½ Price after 12pm on Sat)

FRI, SAT, & SUN AUG. 2, 3, & 4 9AM - 3PM

Fox Valley molder seeks full time Quality Inspector for 12-hour night shifts. Must have measurement and visual inspection experience. En- Caregiver Avail. w/ great references Looking for a live in caregiver glish plus Spanish a plus. Hourly position, I have 10 yrs exp., & pay depends on experience. Please speak fluent Polish, English is broreply: Maureen602@aol.com. ken, but can effectively communicate, great cook, 331-454-0579

North Aurora – Part Time Call 630-897-5959

BATAVIA

Geneva

4N646 Citation Ln

Estate Sale

BATAVIA

1325 Garden Ct

Elburn Friday & Saturday 8am-3pm

Beds, bookshelves, dining room hutch, desk, books, collectibles.

Media Marketing Consultants Needed!!

Team Managers Needed!!

1800 W Hawthorne Dr. West Chicago, Il 60185 630-386-4800 www.illinois-central.com

DOG KENNEL WORKER / FRONT DESK

Lost Saturday, July 27th on bike path in Geneva near Markland Home & Mill Creek. REWARD. 630-698-0970

ST CHARLES

Questions about your subscription?

We'd love to help.

Call 800-589-9363

JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS STUFF VEHICLES REAL ESTATE SERVICES Kane County Chronicle Classified and online at:

KCChronicle.com

Fri 8/2 8am-5pm Sat 8/3 9am-3pm 6N057 Weber Dr. Furniture, Ethan Allen oak bed, wooden desk, bookshelves, home décor, kitchen items, microwave, craft supplies, bedding...

ST. CHARLES

For locations and details, visit: illinoislincolnhighway association.org

FRI, SAT, SUN AUG 2, 3, 4 8AM - 2PM

North Aurora HUGE GARAGE SALE

4th Ave & Chestnut

COME EARLY HAMPSHIRE MOTHER OF ALL DOWNSIZING SALES Huge Variety! WORTH THE DRIVE! Thurs Aug 1st 10am-4pm Fri Aug 2nd & Sat, Aug 3rd 11am-7pm 47W840 Lenschow Rd (2nd house West of French Rd., between Rt. 72 & Burlington Rd) Massive amounts of toddler toys, Books/including Recipe, Tapes, DVDs, Jewelry, Bedding, Gift items, Tvs, Car Stereo, Amp & Speakers, Pants Suits for Women, Toddler Beds, Play Pen , File Cabinets, Office Supplies, Reptile stuff, Frames, John Deere mulching, 7.5 Christmas Tree, Oriental Rug, Kitchen Items, Pictures, Home & Lawn Decor, Pool Access., Trundle Bed.

St. Charles

Thurs. 8/1 & Fri. 8/2 7am-5pm

23 SILVER TRAIL Clothes: ALL SIZES, sewing machine, furniture, antique cedar chest, books, & lots more!!

North Aurora The Village of North Aurora will be holding its annual community garage sale Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

Most sales will be 8am - 4pm.

Maps with participating addresses are available at the Village Hall, the Messenger Library, Past and Present Shoppes, Woodmans, or online at www.northauroradays.com.

ST CHARLES

Toro snowblower, electrical outlets, switches, boxes & plates, Instep Bike Trailer, sit/stand stroller, glider with ottoman, boys bikes, kids clothes, sizes 0-8, toys, kids table and 4 chairs, LOTS of books & MORE!!

Advertise here for a successful garage sale!

Call 815-455-4800

Dryer. Maytag. Gas. White.

Great condition. $299.

630-973-3528 FREEZER - Chest freezer GE 5.0 cu ft. Like new! $100. 630-334-3432 Microwave – Smaller model w/little use. Good for dorm or office $35. 630-513-7599

Dresser ~ Antique

Cherry with mirror, $250.

Antique Oak Commode, $150.

815-899-2145 Call aft 3:30pm WINDSOR CHAIRS - 4 $35 for all, firm 847-515-8012

Aug 2 & 3, 8am-4pm

1420 S 4th St King bed and LOTS of beautiful furniture and home decor!

TI-83 PLUS Graphing Calculator w/guide book. In great, working condition. $40 - Cash only - pick up only in Geneva -send email to amkks@ymail.com

Find. Buy. Sell.

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Page 32 • Friday, August 2, 2013 Weight machine with accessories NORDITRACK complete. Excellent condition $125. 630-513-6673

2 Tent Canopy's: Red, White & Blue, 10 X 10, Stakes, poles & ropes included. Made by Rubbermaid. Older but in great condition. $10 ea. 630-443-6082

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, $1900 Runs Good, Auto, 6-cyl, pwr windows, locks, white, 181,945 miles, call/text 815-997-9045

BED ~ NASCAR

Grease gun: Lincoln Brand, 12V. Power Luber w/case - like new $75. 630-513-7599 8am-8pm

1999 Chevy Trailblazer

GREAT condition, Little Tikes Step 2.

Holds a TWIN size mattress.

Great for Boys or Girls who love Race cars or NASCAR. Can email or text pictures to you, $175.

630-484-5174

MAGAZINES~FREE

Fine Woodworking and Fine Home Building Magazines, Multiple Years.

Captains Chairs (4) 815-385-5145 Dark wood w/black vinyl upholstery

Loaded. 107,000 miles.

Asking $3,100. Call Kay anytime at 815-756-7672

BATAVIA

TOPPER for Dakota pick-up.

6' 8" bed. Full length side and sturdy, good cond, $125/obo. MOTOWASHER II - Cordless Windows. Great topper to work out of.

Black. $75. 815-758-7990 630-232-1982 rotating car wash wand & brushes.

In box. $35 STC 630-377-0735 Chairs -1 Black Cloth and 1 Cream Retired Electrician selling Cloth with aluminum tubing. $25 some material, tools and ea. Great for kids or college room. some personal items.

630-673-4522 Call Art: 630-879-8517 China Cabinet w/China & Crystal.

Royalton China, Golden Elegance. $300/all. 331-248-0399

A-1 AUTO

Coffee Table – Glass with Black Leather legs. Exc. Cond. $75.

630-673-4522 Couch - Black Leather with chrome RETURN MY HEART legs. Exc. Cond. $400.

You: Blue eyes, black sedan. Tall, 630-673-4522 grey, handsome. Geneva Mobil Sat. 7/27. Call 630-457-8457

DINING ROOM SET Solid Oak Dining Table with six chairs - China Cabinet with glass shelves, - EXCELLENT condition High quality. $1,300 OBO 630-542-3383 CINDY File Cabinet – 4 Drawer, Good Condition - 52”H x 15”W x 25”D $35. 847-608-8259 10am-6pm FOLDING TABLE, folds in half Extends up to 12' long, 30” wide.

Moves on rollers. $75 each, have 2. 847-515-8012

Flute: Gemeinhardt Brand Flute w/Leather Case. Purchased at $625, Asking $250. Perfect for school age musician 10am-8pm -847-608-5438 Harmonica – Sousa Band, CTone, New – still in box -$20 aft. 12pm 630-584-5679

Hot Tub – Outside Use, Cal Spa, Aqua Blue, Octagon Shape, Tub Only – Good For Reset in Deck, Cash & Carry $200 630-513-1858

POWER RECLINER – Best Brand w/ hand remote. Purchased at Classic Oaks. Almost New – Like New. Brown toned. $250 OBO. 847-659-1852

Will BUY UR USED CAR, TRUCK, SUV,

MOST CASH WILL BEAT ANY QUOTE GIVEN!! $400 - $2000 “don't wait.... call 2day”!! * 815-575-5153 *

Lawn Tractor: Deere LT133.

10yrs old, used 5yrs. $400; New CANDY FAIRY COSTUME! battery $50; Trimming Mower $25 From CHASING FIREFLIES Wishcraft Collection. Whole Costume, 630-263-8229 after 4pm earrings, headband, shoes, sucker Mower – Craftsman – Mulcher etc. Only worn twice! SIZE 6. We 6.75 Hp. - 21”, Vari-speed, Rear won 2 costume contests in this Drive, Tuned – 1 Pull Start costume. 630-484-5174 can email $95 630-232-0183 am only pictures. $100 Firm. Costume OVER PALM TREE 6 foot live palm tree $225 new. Dry cleaned & ready to and pot. Great for patio or pool $80 go, for Halloween or Dress up!

630-484-5174 630-513-6673 SPREADER - Trailer type. Pull behind tractor. For fertilizer, salt, etc.

Like new. $45 STC 630-377-0735

I BUY CARS, TRUCKS, VANS & SUVs 1990 & Newer Will beat anyone's price by $300.

Will pay extra for Honda, Toyota & Nissan

SWOOPER - Hard surface dual brush sweeper. New in box. $45 STC 630-377-0735

815-814-1964 or

Chain Saw. McCullough Eager Beaver. 16” $75 630-879-8517 Compressor 2HP 20 GAL. 125 P.S.I. MAX. Oil type cast iron cylinder, good condition. $175 630-513-7599 8am-8pm

815-814-1224 !!!!!!!!!!!

or story idea?

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2012 Honda Rebel 550 mi. New. 70 mpg. $3600 FIRM. 630-251-1957

Buying? Selling?

Renting? Hiring?

To place an ad, call 877-264-2527

4 Lakewood Cirlce Wildwood Springs Sub TH on the Lake. 2BR, 2.5BA

Burlington Small Lower 1BR

$345,000

Stove, refrigerator, a/c, no pets. $625/mo + utilities + security.

847-341-0332

630-377-1271

CRYSTAL LAKE Porch overlooks Crystal Lake, may have boat. Newly remodeled. Excellent location, good schools, No pets. $1,395/mo. 630-655-2888 Cell 630-899-8899

ELEGANT 1 BR CONDO Beautiful 900 sq foot 1 bedroom/1 bathroom. Large balcony overlooks courtyard. Washer / dryer in unit.

Located in a secured building, includes parking space in heated underground garage. $1100/month.

Call or email Kelly 630-272-9878 or kellyt11@sbcglobal.net.

Geneva. 2BR, 1 car garage, all appls. Residential neighborhood. Walk to downtown. $995/mo. 630-650-0000

PEPPER VALLEY APARTMENTS 2 BDRM ~ 2 BATH $1,020 - $1,030 2 BDRM ~ 2 BATH $1,046 - $1,056

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION OF REAL ESTATE Case No. 2012 CH 902

On September 12, 2013 certain Fireplace, heat, gas, water incl. real estate commonly known as A/C, D/W, disposal, microwave, 2.61 Acres at Rt. 38 and Randall blinds, patios, clubhouse, pool.

Garages available, small pets OK. Rd., St. Charles, IL 60174 will be sold at public auction as is to the 630-232-7226 highest and best bidder for cash:

SOUTH ELGIN ~ LARGE 2BR

S. E. Schools, A/C, W/D, no pets.

Garage, $900 + utilities.

630-841-0590

Contact: Jeffrey S. Burns, Crowley Barrett & Karaba, Ltd., 20 S. Clark Street, Suite 2310, Chicago, St. Charles - Newly Renovated Illinois 60603, (312) 726-2468 Studio $450,1BR $650, 2BR $850 for further information about this NO PETS! a630-841-0590 property, including inspection availability. st

ST. CHARLES 1 MO FREE!

Lrg 1BR $769, Lrg 2BR from Formal Notice of this Judicial $829/mo. Incl heat, water, cooking gas, Appliances & laundry. Sale of Real Estate will be found in the Legal Notices section of this 630-584-1685 newspaper with the above case number.

PINGREE GROVE TOWNHOME FOR RENT 3BR, 2BA, 2 CAR, FIN BSMT DIST 300, 1ST MO + DEPOSIT CALL 847-366-7164

(Published in the Kane County Chronicle, August 2, 9 & 16, 2013.)

Aurora: Batavia schools, beautiful roomy 4BR, 2.5BA, 2 car gar., neutral decor & many upgrades, lrg master BR w/walk in closet $2195/mo. 630-660-5427

THE PRIVATE SORORITY Near St. Charles Library Quality, private living for employed women, teacher, nurse, divorcee. $400 incl. utils. 815-784-4137

2008 FORD ESCAPE

Red Metallic, 4 Cylinder, A/C, AM/FM CD Radio, Auto TM, 4 New Michelin Generators (2). All Power 1000W & Coleman 2500W. $175/both. Tires and Front Disc Brakes.

630-879-8517 Excellent Condition, $9,900.

Have a news tip 630-661-7125 Aft 5PM

AUG 3 & 4 1PM-5PM

630-879-8300

Large, Sunny 2BR,1BA, 1st floor Apt in Duplex

!!!!!!!!!!!

Golf Clubs Complete set of Irons $10; Large Headed Driver - $10 630-584-4795 Hitting cage net, excellent condition $300 48ft by 12ft, Cart for Lawn Tractor: Rubbermaid 630-365-5888 Brand 10 cu ft. Good Condition, $80. 630-513-7599 8am-8pm TREADMILL. ifit spacesaver treadmill. Great condition. $150.

LAWN MOWER - TORO 630-513-6673 22”, self propelled, electric start.

Mulcher, $225. 630-232-1982

1 BR starting at $860-$870 2 BR starting at $1010 3 BR TH starting at $1280

ST. CHARLES

ST. CHARLES Off/Ware Space 1,568sf - 19,000sf.

Docks/Drive-Ins Aggressive Move-In Package 630-355-8094 www.mustangconstruction.com

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS Union National Bank, a national banking association, Plaintiff, v.

Sondra Wyte-Maro, an individual; Chicago Title Land Trust Company as Trustee under Trust Agreement 1111574 dated December 18, 2002; Brady-Wyte Furniture Co., Ltd., an Illinois corporation; Un-

Kane County Chronicle / kcchronicle.com rpor known Owners; and Non-Record UTES, 03 SECONDS EAST ALONG Claimants, SAID SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE 507.84 FEET TO A POINT OF A Defendants.

CURVATURE, THENCE ON THE ARC OF A CURVE TO THE RIGHT HAVCase No. 12 CH 902 ING A RADIUS OF 3448.02 FEET, NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S CHORD BEARING NORTH 89 DEFORECLOSURE SALE GREES, 54 MINUTES, 58 SECNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ONDS EAST, 342.87 FEET FOR A in pursuance of a judgment hereto- POINT OF BEGINNING, THENCE fore entered by the said court in the SOUTH 00 DEGREES, 13 MINabove entitled cause, Patrick B. UTES, 06 SECONDS EAST, 373.92 Perez, Sheriff of Kane County, Illi- FEET, THENCE NORTH 88 DEnois will on Tuesday, the 12th day GREES, 26 MJNUTES, 35 SECEAST, 291.38 of September, A.D. 2013, at the ONDS hour of 9:00 A.M., in Room JC100 FEET,·THENCE NORTH 09 DEof the Kane County Judicial Center, GREES, 09 MINUTES, 18 SEC37W755 IL. Rt. 38, St. Charles, IL, ONDS EAST, 336.08 FEET TO SAID sell at public auction to the highest SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF and best bidder for cash and all STATE ROUTE 38, THENCE WESTsingular, the following described ERLY ALONG SAID SOUTH RIGHTpremises and real estate in said OF-WAY LINE, ON THE ARC OF A judgment mentioned, situated in CURVE TO THE LEFT HAVING A RAKane County and State of Illinois, DIUS OF 3448.02 FEET 347.99 or so much thereof as shall be suffi- FEET SAID ARC HAVING A DELTA cient to satisfy said judgment to wit: ANGLE OF OS DEGREES, 46 MINUTES, 57 SECONDS TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, IN THE CITY OF ST. Legal Description: THAT PART OF THE SOUTHEAST CHARLES, KANE COUNTY, ILLIQUARTER OF SECTION 32, TOWN- NOIS. SHIP 40 NORTH, RANGE 8 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDI- PIN: 09-32-400-031 AN DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, COMMENCING AT THE SOUTH- Common Address: 2.61 Acres at WEST CORNER OF THE SOUTH- Rt. 38 and Randall Rd., St. EAST QUARTER OF SECTION 32, Charles, IL 60174 SAID CORNER ALSO BEING THE SOUTHWST CORNER OF A TRACT Together with all buildings and OF LAND CONVEYED TO FIRSTAR improvements thereon, and the tenBANK OF GENEVA, SUCCESSOR ements, hereditaments and appurTRUSTEE TO THE FIRST NATIONAL tenances thereunto belonging.

BANK OF GENEVA, AS TRUST NO. 2640 AS RECORDED IN DOCU- This property is commonly MENT NO. 1884216, THENCE known as 2.61 Acres at Rt. 38 and NORTH 00 DEGREES, 13 MIN- Randall Rd., St. Charles, IL 60174 UTES, 06 SECONDS WEST ALONG and contains vacant land. Terms THE WEST LINE OF SAID SOUTH- of Sale: This real estate is being EAST QUARTER OF SAID SECTION sold in an "As Is Condition" for OF SAID FIRSTSTAR TRUST LAND cash or certified funds and the suc1068.42 FEET TO THE NORTH- cessful bidder is required to deposit WEST CORNER OF SAID FIRSTAR 10% of the bid amount at the time TRUST LAND, THENCE CONTINU- of the sale with the Kane County ING NORTH 00 DEGREES, 13 MIN- Sheriff and the balance to be paid UETS, 06 SECONDS WEST ALONG by 9:00 a.m. the following day afSAID WEST LINE 993.28 FEET TO ter the sale. The subject property is THE SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE offered for sale without any repreOF ILLINOIS ROUTE 38 (F.A. sentation or warranty as to quality ROUTE 7) AS RECORDED IN DOC- or quantity or title or recourse to UMENT NO. 1032211; THENCE Plaintiff.

NORTH 87 DEGREES, 04 MIN-

For information regarding this real estate, interested parties may contact: Jeffrey S. Burns, Crowley Barrett & Karaba, Ltd., 20 S. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, (312) 917-3724.

Dated: August 1, 2013 Jeffrey S. Burns (No. 17950) Attorney for Plaintiff Crowley Barrett & Karaba, Ltd. 20 South Clark Street, Suite 2310 Chicago, Illinois 60603 312.726.2468 (Published in the Kane County Chronicle, August 2, 9 & 16, 2013.)

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: JOHN A. PASCHAL Address: 39W259 Silver Glen Road, St. Charles, IL 60175 Date and Place of Death: May 28, 2013, St. Charles, IL Case No. 13 P 373 PUBLICATION NOTICE INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION TO CREDITORS, CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES 1. Notice is hereby given of the death of John A. Paschal who died on May 28, 2013, a resident of St. Charles, Illinois.

2. The Representative for the estate is: Jane P. Burns, W 298N6971 Ridgeview Lane, Hartland WI 53029 and Paul E. Paschal 424 Elian Ct., Maple Park, IL 60151.

3. The Attorney for the estate is: John J. Hoscheit of Hoscheit, McGuirk, McCracken & Cuscaden, P.C., 1001 E. Main Street, Suite G, St. Charles, Illinois 60174.

4. Claims against the estate may be filed on or before January 19, 2014. Claims against the estate may be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, P.O. Box 112, Gene-

CLASSIFIED

Kane County Chronicle / kcchronicle.com va, IL 60134-112, with the Representative or both. Any claim not filed within that period is barred.

Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the Representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

5. On July 11, 2013, an Order Admitting the Will to Probate was entered.

6. Within forty-two (42) days after the effective date of the original Order Admitting the Will to Probate, you may file a petition with the Court to require proof of the validity of the Will by testimony or witnesses to the Will in open Court, or other evidence, as provided in Article VI 5/6-21 (755 ILCS 5/6/21).

7. Within six (6) months after the effective date of the original Order Admit-ting the Will to Probate, you may file a petition with the Court to contest the validity of the Will as provided under Article VIII 5/8-1 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/8-1).

( 1) 8. The estate will be administered without Court supervision unless an interested party terminates independent supervision administration by filing a petition to terminate under Article XXVIII 5/28-4 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-4). /s/Jane P. Burns & Paul E. Paschal (Published in the Kane County Chronicle, July 19, 26 & August 2, 2013.)

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PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice is hereby given that due to conflicting schedules, the Batavia Police Pension Board has changed its regular 08/21/13 meeting to 08/28/13 beginning at 8 a.m. This meeting will be held in the Batavia Police Dept. Conference Room located on the 2nd floor of th Batavi Go Ce

the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia IL 60510.

August /s/ John A. Cunningham Kane County Clerk

(Published in the Kane County (Published in the Kane County Chronicle August 2, 2013) Chronicle, August 2, 9 & 16, 2013.)

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSUMED NAME PUBLICATION NOTICE

ASSUMED NAME PUBLICATION NOTICE

Public Notice is hereby given that on August 1, 2013 a certificate was filed in the office of the County Clerk of Kane County, Illinois, setting forth the names and addresses of all persons owning, conducting and transacting the business known as THE WHOLESOME HOMESTEAD located at 6S578 Dauberman Road, Big Rock, IL 60511.

Dated: August 1, 2013.

Friday, August 2, 2013 • Page 33

ly /s/ John A. Cunningham Need Legal Help? FREE REFERRAL Kane County Clerk Call 877-270-3855 Courtesy of the (Published in the Kane County Illinois State Bar Association at Chronicle, August 2, 9 & 16, www.IllinoisLawyerFinder.com 2013.)

SERVE TO LEARN. Earn money for college, train for a career, receive excellent pay and benefits.

Serve in the National Guard.

Call 1-800-GO-GUARD or visit nationalguard.com *** THE BOAT DOCK *** We Buy & Consign Used Boats! Springfield, Having a Birthday, Illinois 217-793-7300 Anniversary, Graduation www.theboatdock.com or Event Coming Up? *** THE BOAT DOCK ***

Public Notice is hereby given that on July 31, 2013 a certificate was filed in the office of the County Clerk of Kane County, Illinois, set- Colman's RV We buy/consign ting forth the names and addresses used Campers & RV's! 217-787of all persons owning, conducting 8653 www.colmansrv.com and transacting the business GORDON TRUCKING CDL-A Drivers known as WINDMILL CITY SPINNERS & MORE DECOR located at Needed! Up to $4,000 SIGN ON BONUS! Starting Pay Up to .

13 S Batavia Ave, Batavia, IL 46cpm. Full Benefits, Excellent 60510.

Hometime, No East Coast.

Call 7 days/wk! TeamGTI.com Dated: July 31, 2013.

888-653-3304

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Kane County Chronicle Classified 877-264-2527

Page 34 • Friday, August 2, 2013

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AT YOUR R SERVICE Visit the Local Business Directory online at KCChronicle.com/localbusiness Call to advertise 877-264-2527

PERFORMANCE CONSTR. Concrete Specialists Driveways, Sidewalks, Patios, Foundations.

Excavation, Room Add. Stamped Concrete Licensed & Insured FREE ESTIMATES

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Taber Builders, Inc. Complete Concrete Services Foundations -Driveways -Patios

Sidewalks-Stoops-Additions Stamped & Dyed Designs

In print daily Online 24/7

Mike's Home Improvement Time to Call a Professional?

• Remodeling & Repairs • For All Your Home Needs

REFERENCES AVAILABLE Free Estimates!

Reasonable Rates!

630-723-4254

Foundation and Crack Repair

Residential & Commercial fully insured 630-761-1634 www.taberbuilders.com

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Having a Birthday, Anniversary, Graduation or Event Coming Up?

Over 1,000 Built 28 Years Experience ! Custom Decks, Porches, Front Porches, Pergolas ! Wheelchair Ramps ! Swimming Pools ! Power Washing & Staining ! Stairs/Teardowns

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815-393-3514

KCChronicle.com /MyPhotos

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Friday, August 2, 2013 • Page 35

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Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com • Friday, August 2, 2013

36

Vestuto Real Estate Corp.

(630) 377-2336

Saint Charles, IL 60175

www.vestuto.com Over 36 years of experience Call us and talk to a real person...

Old fashioned personalized service.

Scan Here to Find Out About Our Advantages

Residential Commercial Multi Family Vacant Land

SUPERIOR SERVICE. LOWER COMMISSIONS. MORE EXPERIENCE.

BUILDER’S MODEL

8000 SQ. FT. STRIP CENTER

VACANT LOTS

INDUSTRIAL BUILDING

JUST LISTED! Immaculate former builders model with tons of upgrades. 2900 sq. ft. of living space.

Tray ceilings/Crown moldings/ 1st&2nd floor masters/finished Bsmt./heated garage/custom paver patio/2 story living room/2nd Fl. loft/fireplace/upgraded trim work an molding. All appliances stay. This one has it all MUST SEE THE INSIDE, VERY ELEGANT. Asking Price $314,900

Great strip center west of St. Charles with a fantastic return on investment. Strip center faces LaFox Road and is located in a high traffic area.

Center is in retail complex that is the only commercial/retail area in the area. 3 unit building, Owner will sell with Master Lease.

1.33 to 2.11 acre lots in prestigious Sunset Views subdivision. Great location: Close to town yet far enough away to enjoy the peaceful country setting.

Offered at $1,750,000

Starting at $59,900

Great 9120 sq. ft. building featuring 3 units. Owner has plans where you can put up an additional 10 thousand sq. on this 2.26 acre site. This steel building is in great condition with a fenced in area for outside storage, to bring in additional income. 4 overhead doors with plenty of parking. Also 2700 sq. ft. for lease with 1 month free rent!

Listed at $724,900

OWNER FINANCING

NEW LISTING

RESTAURANT

NEW LISTING

OWNER FINANCING AVAILABLE. Fantastic retail location in the Campton Crossings center just west of St. Charles. 2 unit building features 1 1600 sq. ft. unit and 1 2400 sq. ft. unit. Great rental history and income producer. Good cap rate at current rental rates.

Beautiful exterior building with good location that fronts on busy Route 64. High visibility location.

REDUCED TO $859,900

Great single family home, presently used as a 2 unit. Many new features including second floor almost totally redone. You can walk to town, shopping, Fox River bike trails, etc. from this in town property. Great curb appeal and value for the money.

Restaurant located on out lot. Location right off busy Route 38 in St. Charles. 3,991 sq. ft. restaurant, 33,683 sq. land. Seating for 150 with large surrounding parking lot. This is a tremendous opportunity and a great value for building and land. Turn-key operation with existing kitchen equipment and restaurant furniture included. High cpd count on Route 38.

Offered at $669,900

Great neighborhood for this well kept 4 unit building with 3 car garage. Large wooded lot.

All units in good condition. This building has a gross income of over $38,000 a year.

Offered at $259,900

Offered at $239,900

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING!

REDUCED - OWNERS ANXIOUS

MAIN STREET COMMERCIAL LOTS

PURSUANT TO SHORT SALE. 4 Bedroom 2.5 bath in Neucort Lakes. Kitchen features large eating area with ceramic tile, and spacious family room with fireplace. Upstairs features a sitting room, full hall bath, huge master bedroom and large master bath. Basement is studded out and ready to be finished. Needs some TLC, but a great opportunity!

Offered at $149,900

Super car wash only 9 years old in great growing area.This car wash features 5 bays, vaccuum systems, water reclaim system, onboard dryers, office, much much more. All newer equipment.

Half acre commercial lot adjacent to car wash can be purchased for $69,900. Owner is anxious to sell.

Offered at $485,000

Great neighborhood. House needs some work, comes with a separate 50x123 ft. buildable lot that can be sold off, or put up a garage. Has separate parcel number. Property has privacy backing up to Good Templer Park. Small kitchen but nice 10x10 eating area off kitchen.Two fireplaces.

Offered at $159,900

MAKE AN OFFER! 15 commercial lots zoned B3 located on busy Route 64 one block west of Randall Road. Close to Geneva Commons and near downtown St. Charles. Can be bought as a package or individual lots. Site is across the street from the post office. 1+ to 3+ acre lots.

New Great Prices!

Lots start at $225,000!

For the buyer friendly service ... for the seller quick results