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NED • Press Publications/Northeast DuPage Friday, February 1, 2013
NEWS
Education Notes DEAN’S LISTS
■ Elmhurst College, fall term ADDISON Cassandra Barca, Mary Butler, Jeanette Campbell, Christopher Cella, Mariella Corral, Elisabeth DeNigris, Evelyn Lelis, Joseph Lomma, Kimberly Martin, Taylor Medeiros, Alysia Olvera, Ricky Pantoja, Francisco Silva and Angela Streza BENSENVILLE Christopher Balke, Michael Besch, Nicki Campos, Jordan Cannon-Bobholz, Anna Chaidez, Jamie Glomp, Sabrena Manherz, Kimberly Overby, Jonathan Ryle and Steven Van Dorn ELMHURST Juliette Ambrogi, Catherine Case, Meghan Creed, Amber Csech, Frank Dattilo, Jacqueline Dvoracek, Robert Fisher, Jennifer Giannetto, Vanessa Godoy, Meagan Goelz, Ana Gonzalez, Trisha Goss, Melinda Hernandez, Megan Holmes, Molly Holmes, Lauren Hunka, Patrick Hurley, Isabel Juvan, Joanna Kruczek, Amanda Kuchenbecker, Joanna Kuznicka-Beltran, Victoria Lewis, Ma. Aurora Maranan, Alexander Matkovic, Ramona Meadors, Amanda Montes, Iris Mullai, Brooke Nanni, Kathleen Parker, Maggie Perez, Michelle Pier, Douglas Reynertson, Michael Size, Simona Strugariu, Annie Werly, Lauren Wulf and Margaret Zieke LOMBARD Amina Ahmad, Jason Alsobrook, Catherine Ausland, Fithawit Berhe, Nathan Brown, Samantha Cerqua, Katherine Ciesla, Diane Collins, Nicole Connet, Ashley Cullitan, Rahaf Damra, Joseph Dirr, Ryan Donohue, Elizabeth Ferhati, Ashley Frazier, Jacquelyn Gibson, Nadia Labadi, Kathryn Ladd, Erinn Leach, David McWilliams, Suzette Merkendorfer, Benjamin Meza, Mariola Rak, Natalie Rocque, Sarah Scholz, Elizabeth Tabian-Sosin and Sarah Zayas OAKBROOK TERRACE Margaret Kari VILLA PARK Marina Anderson, Beverly Bartos, Johanna Bone, Azina Chaudhry, Joseph Degnan, David Green, Carolyn Hartmann, Sarah Heaney, Hillary Hecht, Khateeb Hussain, Gloria Kari, Martha Klein, Thomas Menzer, Kara Mueller, Amy Napientek, Michael Napientek, Darinka Pasic, Maryam Rehman, Kirsten Rempala, Candace Renaud, David Renaud, Neil Roxas, Sundus Shaikh, Richard Spataro, Jeffrey Timmerman, Megan Vicelli and Andrew Wilhoit WOOD DALE Rebecca Aichele, Julia Chojnacki, Olga Jaroszewicz, Denise Santucci, Gina Trotto, Kathy Wabiszczewicz and Sarah Wesley
■ Millikin University, fall semester BENSENVILLE Kiara Landin LOMBARD Brittany Cardott and Kimberly Cooper
■ Lewis University, fall semester ADDISON George Chiampas, Erin Domaracki, Mackenzie Kummer and Kyle Kummer BENSENVILLE Anthony Impastato, Patrick Laho and Jennifer Lynaugh
We want your education news. Send student achievements to education@mysuburbanlife.com.
ELMHURST Jeffrey Grainge, Audrey Heiberger, Sydni Lawler, Marko Maksimovic, Kendra Mills, Emiliana Mladic, Kelsey Schmitt and Matthew Wiese LOMBARD Mark Bean, Dakota Cave, Emily Costenaro, Dominick DeLegge, Melanie Gillies, Ashley Killian, Nicole Krage, Theresa Marten, Miranda Matysik, Zachary Pepinty, Andrea Petruniak and Danielle Warner OAKBROOK TERRACE Tiffany Peters VILLA PARK Benjamin Chantos, Dominic Hartigan and Tyler Klaassen WOOD DALE Rachel Tau, Mateusz Wlos and Mahdi Zenati
■ Iowa State University, fall semester ELMHURST Jeremy Jarczyk LOMBARD Jeremy Curtiss and Mckinley Geiger ■ Drake University, fall semester ELMHURST Eleanor Brown and Carly Hamilton
HONOR ROLLS ■ St. Joseph High School, second quarter A HONOR ROLL BENSENVILLE Sophomore Kyla Clark ELMHURST Senior Cassie Hauschild and juniors Julius Becton and Brianna Frost LOMBARD Junior Taylor Hibbler OAKBROOK TERRACE Junior Andre Myrick ■ Nazareth Academy, first semester A HONOR ROLL ADDISON Juliana Raimondi ELMHURST Lindsay Zasadzinski B HONOR ROLL ADDISON Joseph Fontano ELMHURST Gianna Lapiana, Amy Richards and Stephanie Tapia
Fitch downgrades Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare’s bond rating By ED MCMENAMIN emcmenamin@shawmedia.com
ELMHURST — Fitch downgraded Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare’s credit rating from “BBB+” to “BBB” Tuesday, saying the hospital’s 2012 financial results were significantly below Fitch’s expectations. The bond rating company said softerthan-expected inpatient volumes, coupled with expenses related to the new facility has squeezed the hospital’s profits. EMH has about $495 million in bond debt. The hospital released a statement in response acknowledging that patient volumes were lower than anticipated, July in particular, but said that inpatient and outpatient volumes have picked up significantly in recent months, and the health system continues to see growth in spite of the fact that volumes throughout the market are flat or declining. “We will continue to manage through what is a very challenging healthcare environment,” said EMH Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer James Doyle in a prepared statement. Fitch’s report did say it expects the hospital to realize the benefits of its new facility and improve its financial performance over the near term. This week’s downgrade follows a similar
LETTERS Continued from Page 9 in your community, and join me in making the pledge to serve.
State Rep. Deb Conroy, D-46th District, Elmhurst
Cowards must be called what they truly are To the Editor: Instead of the macho names we give these individuals, such as “killer” or “gunman” or “drive-by-shooter,” when we label these criminal individuals — starting today — let’s refer to them as “fraidy-cat cowards”! From this day forward, instead of letting them beat their chest with any manly macho fearful label, let’s neuter them. Call them what they are when they kill innocent, unarmed children. Take away any word that suggests we respect or fear or even that we group them with criminals of the past. They are fraidy-cat cowards who hide in
downgrade last year, when EMH rating was lowered from “A-” to “BBB+.” Other area hospitals have maintained “A-” or better ratings, including Alexian Brothers Health System, rated “A-"; Good Samaritan, rated at “AA"; and Hinsdale Hospital, “AA". Fitch said EMH’s inpatient volumes have been “relatively flat over the past four years, which has had an impact on operating profitability as management projected a 6 percent increase in volumes with the move to the new facility,” according to Fitch’s report. Fitch added that new efficiencies created by the new facility allowed EMH to cut 80 full-time equivalent employees in December and January of last fiscal year, which will result in an annual decrease in expenses of $4.8 million. “Also, despite a decline in inpatient volumes, surgical and emergency room volumes are up for November 2012 compared to the same period the prior year,” the report said. “Physician visit volumes are also up almost 6 percent as of November 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.” EMH announced last week that it signed a non-binding letter of intent to merge with Edward Hospital. The merger is not official until after due diligence by both parties and regulatory approval. Fitch said it will assess the impact of the merger when it is completed.
speeding cars. They are fraidy-cat cowards when they show up at schools where nobody else has a gun. They are fraidy-cat cowards even when they shoot at other gang members, often missing and killing a child or an innocent adult. Never again let them brag to their friends about their killings. These sissys need to be “fixed” by our words when we describe them, and then let whatever friends they might have point at them, laugh at them and call them what they are: Fraidy cat cowards. We are tired of imitators and copycats who try to gain the same fear and respect from us that words like “killer,” “gunman” and “shooter” suggest. Spread the word. Insist broadcast and print media use their new full name: fraidycat coward. And maybe the copycats will think twice about being written about and remembered for what they really are: Not fearful gunmen, murderers, killers, shooters — but cowards.
Jim Dahle, Elmhurst