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D88 students visit Germany

These are 10 of the 17 students and three staff members who traveled to Germany during June as part of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) student exchange While there, students stayed with hosts families and attended school at Helmholtzschule in Frankfurt to learn about the German education system. See story inside.

ComEd, Mayors Caucus award grants to advance EV adoption, public safety initiatives

Addison Fire Department among 21 recipients of funding

To accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and other clean energy technologies and to support local public safety initiatives ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus

InsIde:

(MMC) announced the 21 winners of the 2023 Powering Safe Communities grant program. The grants, totaling $169,500, will help support a variety of projects in communities

across northern Illinois.

“ComEd is proud to work with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to support community-led plans to promote the adoption of EVs and other clean energy technologies that will enhance air quality throughout the region,” said Louie Binswanger, senior vice president of government, regulatory and external affairs at ComEd. “With the clean energy transition underway in Illinois, ComEd’s partnership with cities and towns is critical to ensuring all residents have an opportunity to unlock the benefits of clean energy and the jobs and economic opportunity that come with it.”

The 2023 Powering Safe Communities awards mark the ninth year of the program, which has awarded

178 grants totaling $1.8 million to communities across northern Illinois since its launch in 2015. To support the growth of EVs, recent years have placed an increased focus on critical infrastructure like EV chargers; in fact, seven of the 21 grants awarded this year will support transportation electrification.

“The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is thrilled to once again partner with ComEd to provide funding that helps create safe communities while simultaneously preparing our region with the infrastructure necessary for an electrified future,” said Neil James, Executive Director at Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. “We are proud to help our local governments achieve their sustainability, safety and infra-

structure goals.”

Among the 21 ComEd Powering Safe Communities grant recipients for 2023 is the Addison Fire Department, which received a grant to replace outdated ventilation fans with newer models to eliminate the department’s dependence on fossil fuels and enhance firefighter safety.

This annual funding to support clean transportation and community safety builds on ComEd’s efforts to accelerate equitable EV adoption for the region. In addition to the Powering Safe Communities Program, ComEd has a variety of other funding and educational resources available to individuals and communities

See CAUCUS, Page 3

SUBMITTED PHOTO Addison Independent

The need for speed

The Intelligentsia Cup cycling series visited downtown Lombard for last week’s Lombard Cycling Classic. The July 25 event included a full day of races on a course with a start/finish line on St. Charles Road at Park Avenue. Cyclists traveled east on St. Charles, south on Main Street, west on Michael McGuire Drive and north on Elizabeth Street before turning east onto St. Charles. Each

Bond set for woman accused of bringing loaded gun into DuPage County Courthouse

DuPage County State’s Attorney

Robert Berlin and DuPage County

Sheriff James Mendrick have announced that a Cook County woman has been charged with bringing a loaded weapon into the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton.

Suheir Barham, 47, of Oak Lawn, appeared at a bond hearing, where Judge Joshua Dieden set bond at $100,000 with 10 percent to apply.

Barham is charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon in a courthouse (Class 3 felony) and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (Class 4 felony).

Barham has posted the necessary 10 percent, or $10,000, and was released from custody.

On July 27, at approximately 9:01 a.m., Barham placed her backpack on the conveyor belt metal detector and then proceeded through the security checkpoint at the DuPage County Courthouse. It is alleged that when Barham’s backpack went through the metal detector, a Sheriff’s Deputy observed a firearm in the backpack.

It is further alleged that a deputy retrieved a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm handgun with one bullet in the chamber from Barham’s backpack. Deputies took Barham into custody at this time.

“I commend the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office for their headsup work on this case,” Berlin said. “Every day, the DuPage County Government Complex, which includes the County Courthouse, receives thousands of visitors. These

Suheir Barham

individuals have every right to feel safe while conducting their business with the county.

“Additionally, DuPage County employees should not have to worry about their safety while at work. While at the county complex, we all rely on the sheriff’s office for our safety and I have every confidence in Sheriff Mendrick and his team that while here we can concentrate on our business and not worry about our personal safety,”

“If you attempt to bring a loaded gun, or weapon of any kind, into the DuPage County Courthouse, our deputies will arrest you on the spot and you will quickly find yourself facing serious charges,” Mendrick said.

Barham’s next court appearance is Aug. 21, for arraignment in front of Judge Michael Reidy.

of the day’s races featured several laps of racing around the course. The above photos show action from the 75-minute women’s pro race (right) and the final event of the day—the 75-minute men’s pro race (left). A family fun ride that took place before the men’s pro race gave riders of all ages a chance to pedal three laps around the course.

DuPage County clerk receives 2023 Innovator Award

Clerk’s office reduces voter disenfranchisement of mail ballots

DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek recently received the 2023 Innovator Award for Elections by the International Association of Government Officials (IGO).

The Innovator Award is presented to individuals in the elections, recorders, clerks and treasurers division in honor of their unique achievements and best practices in their respective fields.

DuPage’s entry was the creation of a mail voting signature comparison procedure allowing teams of election

judges to view multiple voter signatures on file instead of just one. After completing three years and six elections, there has been a notable decrease in signature challenges for mail ballots. For instance, the 2020 Primary Election saw a challenge percentage of 2.628 percent while the 2022 Primary saw a challenge percentage of 0.582 percent—a decrease of just over 77 percent.

Kaczmarek said, “Correcting challenged ballots is a time-consuming

and costly process for election staff. However, our top concern is the voters themselves. Once a ballot has been mailed, no one wants to go through additional steps to fix it. Ballot signatures which are not resolved in time remain uncounted. I’m proud that DuPage County is once again leading the way to reduce voter disenfranchisement.”

In 2022, DuPage County became the first and only county in Illinois to

submitted photo Rock Valley Publishing DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek receives the IGO 2023 Innovator Award for Elections. Left to right, Stephanie Groenewold, mail voting manager; Jean Kaczmarek, DuPage County Clerk; and Jessica Stachniak, voter registration manager.

Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing

D88 students travel to Germany for exchange program

From June 9 to 30, 17 District 88 students and three staff members traveled to Germany as part of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) – Student Exchange, which provides information about cultural, social and political life in Germany through encouraging intercultural dialogue and enabling

Rock ‘N Wheels presents ‘Strung Out,’ ‘Superfly’

The Village of Addison continues its 12th season of Rock ‘N Wheels every Thursday through the summer, from 6 to 10 p.m. on the Village Green.

Rock ‘N Wheels includes live music, food and beverages from Addison restaurants, attractions available for children, and more.

On Thursday, Aug. 3, Rock ‘N Wheels welcomes Strung Out to the stage at 8 p.m. Opening up the night will be Superfly Symphony at 6:30. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from Addison’s very own: Muggs ‘n Manor, Tacos Puebla, Dunkley’s, Barbara’s Polish Deli, Flavor Frenzy, Lou Malnati’s and Nuova Italia.

Additionally, the Addison Historical Museum will host an open house from 6 - 8 p.m., with reenactor Rebecca Tulloch presenting “Abigail Adams.” The Craft & Vintage Fair will also be going on in front of the museum buildings.

The Addison Township Foundation & Food Pantry continues its food drive at every Rock ‘N Wheels event. The following is a list of accepted donations: cereal, oatmeal, any canned food, canned fruits, and canned vegetables, any type of pasta, white rice, brown rice, sugar, coffee, tea, olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, any type of dried fruit, baking products, flour, peanut butter, jelly, instant mashed potatoes, crackers, ramen noodles, macaroni & cheese, SPAM, any seasoning packets (tacos, chili, fajita), meal packet helpers, salt, pepper, nuts, granola bars, hygiene products, diapers (size 3,4,5), baby soap, baby shampoo, baby lotion, baby wipes, Depends underwear for men (small and medium), Depends underwear for women (small and medium), laundry detergent, dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, Kleenex, napkins, Clorox wipes, Zip-Loc baggies, Band-Aids. Bring your donations to the blue Village of Addison tent at any Rock ‘N Wheels event through the rest of the summer.

Parking is available at Friendship Plaza, as well as at Indian Trail High School, located at 222 N John F Kennedy Dr. For more details and the complete season schedule, visit ItHappensInAddison.com.

cultural involvement.

During their travels, students stayed with host families and attended school at Helmholtzschule in Frankfurt to learn about the German education system. They presented to English classes about American history, schools/colleges, food, music culture and famous landmarks. They also visited Berlin for four days and went sightseeing, which included participating in bicycle tours and hikes to view the area.

As part of the exchange program, District 88 welcomed and hosted 22 students and two staff members from Helmholtzschule this past October. More about that visit can be found at dupage88.net/site/ page/15242

One of District 88’s greatest strengths is the rich diversity among its students and staff. The district has about 50 languages and more than 30 countries represented among its families, and almost half of the nearly 4,000 students in the

district speak a language other than English at home. The district continuously provides opportunities such as the GAPP for students to experience other cultures. Whether it’s traveling to Europe or hosting guests from abroad, those interactions teach students life lessons and help them develop a global mindset. District 88 looks forward to the next Germany trip in 2025! For more information about the GAPP, go Goethe.de/ins/us/en/spr/eng/ gap.html or google.com/dupage88.

Man found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse of 13-year-old girl Berlin praises young victim for speaking up

DuPage County State’s Attorney

Robert Berlin has announced that a jury has found James Nead, 30, formerly of Naperville, guilty of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl he met on the internet.

The jury returned their verdict last week following a three-day-long trial and approximately three hours of deliberations. In all, the jury found Nead guilty of three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (Class 2 felony), one count of solicitation to meet a child (Class 4 felony) and one count of traveling to meet a child (Class 3 felony).

The trial was in front of Judge Brian Telander. On June 23, 2020, a $150,000 arrest warrant was issued for

Nead. He was taken into custody on June 29, 2020, and appeared in bond court where bond was set at $150,000 with 10 percent to apply in accordance with the previously issued arrest warrant. He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time.

In June 2019, the victim, a 13-yearold girl received a message on Snapchat from an account belonging to Nead. Nead and the victim exchanged photographs through Snapchat, and several days later, Nead convinced the girl to meet with him by threatening to release the photographs she had sent to him if she did not meet him.

On June 28, the victim met Nead at a strip mall near her house and got into his car. While in his car, Nead sexually abused the victim. After abusing the girl, Nead dropped her off at the strip mall where they met.

Later that day, the victim blocked

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Nead from her Snapchat account. Nead again contacted the victim through another account he created and again threatened the victim with releasing the photographs if she did not meet him again. The victim’s father contacted authorities later that day.

“It is my hope that this very disturbing case will serve as a reminder to parents to monitor their children’s internet usage and be aware of whom their children are communicating with on social media,” Berlin said. “I commend the young victim in this case for bringing this matter to the attention of adults and for her strength and courage in confronting the man who sexually abused her.”

Nead’s next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 31, for post-trial motions. He faces a penalty of up to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Woman charged with leading police on high-speed chase

DuPage County

State’s Attorney

Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis have announced that bond was set for a woman accused of leading police on a high-speed chase after two individuals in her vehicle had allegedly stolen merchandise from an Oak Brook store.

Chrischauna Smith, 22, of Peoria, appeared in bond court where Judge George Ford set bond at $100,000. Smith is charged with one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, a Class 4 felony.

On July 21 at approximately 5:02 p.m., while on routine patrol at the Shops of Oak Brook, an officer with the Oak Brook Police Department reportedly observed two individuals wearing hoodies and surgical masks, enter a car that was reverse parked in the parking lot approximately 100 yards from the entrance of the Nordstrom Rack store on 22nd Street. It is alleged that once the individuals, later identified as Jajuan Jarmon, 18, of Chicago, and a juve-nile, entered the car, the car quickly left the area. The offi-

cer followed the vehicle onto eastbound 22nd Street at which time the vehicle, later determined to be driven by Smith, allegedly made an illegal U-turn against a red light and sped away from the officer.

The officer activated his emergency lights and sirens and began pursuit of the vehicle. It is alleged that Smith continued to flee the officer ultimately reaching speeds in excess of 115 mph. It is alleged that Smith entered I-294 with the officer in pursuit.

The officer lost sight of the vehicle near Mannheim Road. A short time later, officers with the Oak Brook Police Department were driving on the shoulder of I-290 in stopped traffic when they observed the vehicle in the right lane. It is alleged that Smith’s vehicle cut off the officers and struck a squad car, causing both vehicles to go off the road. Smith and Jarmon were taken into cus-tody at this time.

The juvenile fled on foot but was taken into custody after a brief pursuit. Following an investigation, it is alleged that Jarmon and the juvenile entered the Nordstrom Rack with empty

bags in their possession. It is further alleged that the pair placed about $378 worth of fragrances in the bags and then left the store without paying for the merchandise.

Jarmon is charged with one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor (Class 1 felony), one count of burglary (Class 2 felony) and one count of retail theft (Class 3 felony). His bond was set at $30,000.

The juvenile is charged with one count of retail theft (Class 3 felony) and one count of burglary (Class 2 felony). He appeared at a detention hearing July 23 where Judge Ford ordered he be released to the custody of his parents on GPS monitoring.

“This alleged fleeing and eluding is very concerning as it allegedly occurred in a very busy shopping district dur-ing rush hour,” Berlin said. “Once again, I fear we are pressing our luck and it is only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed. Thankfully, no one was injured in this incident.

“I also thank the Elmhurst and Hillside police departments and the Illinois State Police for their assistance.”

Both Smith’s and Jarmon’s next court appearance is scheduled Monday, Aug. 14 for arraignment in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.

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James Nead

Chrischauna Smith Jajuan Jarmon

Losing a limb

I’ve heard of grief compared to losing a limb, and think that’s quite accurate.

After a tremendous loss, you are never really the same again. You are still you. You still exist. You are still the same person with the same name, the same mannerisms and habits as before, but you are not who you used to be.

And, like an amputee, the lost arm or leg will always be there—even if just in thought. It never leaves, even though it is no longer physically a part of you. You will always be lacking it, because it was a part of you for so long. It was meant to always be a part of you.

The lost limb is there (or more aptly isn’t there) every second of every day. You forget, sometimes, that it is missing, until you go to do something that you always used to do - took for granted doing - and it isn’t there and you are brought back to reality again.

“Oh, that’s right. It’s gone. He’s gone. I have to find a new way to do this because life is different now.”

Even though you are still you, the lost part of you becomes a part of you. You will always be an amputee. A widow. A widower.

You have a new, invisible companion that you are intimately aware of, but that no one else can sense.

The rest of the world tries to understand your new normal. They want to because they want to help, or at least be kind. But understanding is nearly impossible, because you can’t live it until you live it.

It’s like your life as you knew it ended and a new one began when your spouse left this world. I suppose many reading this will think I’m being dramatic, but it’s almost like the world has changed, or maybe, better put, it’s you that’s changed. Your soul has changed, or perhaps you are just more aware of what your soul has always been.

Either way, you and the world no longer mesh like you once did. The old you worked in one way and the new you sees the world with completely different eyes.

With a new clarity.

The people you knew before are still themselves, living in the world that used to suit you, except it doesn’t anymore. Therein lies the rub.

The lost limb has changed everything for you. Forever.

At first this may seem like a bad thing, because it is. But with time, you learn that you have the ability to learn to do things a new way. Approach them in a new way. See them in a new way. And you learn you can accomplish things you never thought you could do within your present circumstances.

You have to learn to live in your new world because you want to and you have to - I’m not sure which is more important, the want or the have.

By Jill Pertler Columnist

I’m not sure which drives the train, so to speak. Probably both.

When my husband first left this physical world, I vowed not to be a widow. I vowed not to let it define me. But I was wrong. It does. You can’t pretend you didn’t lose your husband, just like you can’t pretend you didn’t lose a leg or an arm. There is no pretending—at least not to anyone but yourself.

And that never works.

Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.

COVID unemployment surge led to $5.2 billion in overpaid benefits in Illinois, including fraud

By Hannah Meisel Capitol News illiNois

Illinois overpaid unemployment benefits to the tune of $5.2 billion during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with much of it paid to fraudulent claimants, according to a comprehensive new audit.

Included in that sum was $6 million paid to 481 dead people and $40.5 million in unemployment checks written to incarcerated individuals. And, the audit warned, those numbers could be a significant undercount.

The audit, published last week by the state’s auditor general, hearkens back to the chaotic early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Illinois Department of Employment Security phone lines and the agency’s website couldn’t handle the sudden spike of individuals trying to file for unemployment benefits. To respond to the unprecedented demand, state officials scrambled to contract with outside entities to both increase staff and stand up a new federally funded program for people traditionally ineligible for unemployment insurance.

But it was this rush that created weaknesses that fraudsters and identity thieves would go on to exploit, the audit noted.

“Timely payment of benefits and preventing fraud are competing concepts,” the audit said. “Preventing fraud, especially in new programs with evolving guidance and guidelines, likely would require additional

processing time and a possible delay in benefit distribution to claimants. Conversely, paying claims quickly, especially when certain crossmatches and controls were suspended, increased IDES’ risk of making improper payments.”

Before COVID hit, IDES crossmatched active unemployment insurance claimants against five other databases to verify eligibility for benefits.

Those included state prison and county jail registries, the Social Security Administration and the State and National Directory of New Hires. However, the crossmatching process takes time and “constricted the processing system severely,” the audit said.

So in March 2020, IDES temporarily suspended some of that crossmatching in favor of getting benefits out the door more quickly.

“This allowed IDES to better handle the increase in claims processing traffic; however, this left the unemployment programs more susceptible to fraud,” the audit said.

The audit noted that Illinois failed to follow federal recommendations issued in May 2020 to prevent some of the fraud. It wasn’t until September 2021 that IDES implemented the use of a multi-state crossmatching tool called the Integrity Data Hub, according to the audit.

Illinois is far from alone in its experience of massive unemployment fraud, though it’s difficult to compare the extent of the fraud among states

due to a lack of comprehensive federal data.

At an unrelated news conference in southern Illinois on July 27, Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledged the findings of the audit, but pointed to other large states that saw even bigger COVIDera unemployment fraud, like $20 billion in California and $8 billion in New York.

“I think we all would say that we would have preferred if we didn’t see that kind of fraud,” Pritzker said. “But remember, the moment that this happened in, it was a global emergency. We were trying to get money out the door to people who had lost their jobs because, frankly, people were getting sick and dying. We wanted to make sure they could survive so we could have jobs for them at the end of the pandemic.”

Republicans, who have been beating the drum on pandemic-era unemployment fraud for the better part of three years, took the opportunity to renew their criticism of Pritzker’s administration.

“The people who were supposed to serve as stewards of their resources completely failed [Illinoisans], and their ineptitude served to embolden and help criminals to abuse the system and steal benefits,” state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said in a statement. “I have constituents who were lawfully entitled to benefits that they never received, and then now they have to read about billions that

are missing.”

PUA uniquely vulnerable

The majority of overpayments stemmed from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which was set up federally to support people who are traditionally ineligible for unemployment benefits, like freelance or “gig” workers.

While overpayments in “regular” unemployment insurance accounted for a little over $2 billion, overpayments in the PUA program amounted to $3.2 billion, according to the audit.

“Considering gross benefits associated with regular UI claims were 2.5 times higher than gross benefits associated with PUA claims, it shows the magnitude of fraud experienced in the PUA program,” the audit said.

Identity theft accounted for nearly $511 million—roughly a quarter—of the $2 billion in overpayments within Illinois’ regular unemployment benefits system. In contrast, identity theft accounted for the majority of overpayments in the PUA system; $2.3 billion in PUA benefits were paid out in this manner.

The remainder of overpayments are due to what the audit narrowly defines as “fraud”—overpayments resulting from unemployment recipients filing knowingly false information—and “non-fraud,” which is the result of genuine mistakes. IDES has taken

I waited to visit the new Helen Plum Library until last week, and it’s fantastic. The old building could not be changed to have all these services, much more space and light, and better parking. It puts Lombard right up there with the newer libraries in surrounding towns, and vastly improves the Main Street corridor leading to downtown. Kudos to the former library board that put this together. They got it right.

Lufkin Park (in Villa Park) is being reinvented. It’s going to be beautiful with all new green spaces. With all the new features, let’s have a contest to rename this park. Thank you.

Doesn’t the Village of Villa Park have an ordinance about tall grass? Have you seen Jackson Middle School and the job they did of planting a new lawn? The weeds are almost 20 inches high.

Your inquiry was submitted to Villa Park officials for a response, which is as follows: “The area in question along the sidewalk on the south side of Jackson Street near Jackson Middle School was mowed several weeks ago. This area is currently under construction as part of a village stormwater project intended to alleviate flooding issues in the area.

“The project included the planting of new grass in areas that were disturbed by construction, but when grass was first planted earlier this year, the region was still experiencing extremely dry weather and the grass did not establish as well as hoped. With the extensive rain over the past few weeks, a significant amount of plant growth followed, but the village deferred mowing for a time after the rainfall to give the new grass a better

chance of re-establishing.

After allowing a reasonable amount of time, the village directed the contractor to move forward with the previously mentioned mowing.” JAC * * *

Hey, I’m calling about the crossword puzzle in Thursday, July 27. It’s extremely small. I’m sure some of your readers are seniors or people who have problems with their vision. So, could you please print the puzzles in a bigger font that’s very readable? It would be very much appreciated. Thank you very much. Bye. * * *

A Fox News report states that in Illinois there was an overpayment of $5.2 billion and “Of the $5.2 billion, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) overpaid by about $2 billion for regular unemployment insurance and by $3.2 billion for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) put in place following the outbreak of COVID.” The Daily Herald, via a Capitol News story, reports that the audit shows that as much as $2 billion in federal money was fraudulently spent on unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Of course, the IDES blames the federal government for a “hastily constructed” program put together by the Trump administration. However, the audit found that the IDES “failed to maintain accurate and complete pandemic unemployment assistance claimant data,” among other failures. Republicans are calling for hearings into the matter. How can we trust our state government to handle its finances when this kind of massive lack of oversight and resulting fraud happened right under their noses?

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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is

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educating children at a cost of about $29,000 per student, but a vast majority of kids in CPS schools cannot read at grade level. That’s embarrassing and depressing. What is CPS doing about this? Where is all that money going? Also, when some of our area schools pat themselves on the back, they claim how well they are doing by comparing their schools to CPS schools. Doing better than CPS schools is a pretty low hurdle to clear. From: wirepoints.org/how-many-grades-behind-are-chicago-public-schools-students-wirepoints.

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I heard Sen. Dick Durbin tested positive for COVID-19 and I hope he makes a full recovery with no lingering or long-term effects. But I have to point out this is the third time he has contracted the virus within a year despite having been fully vaccinated and double boosted. It makes me question the effectiveness of these COVID vaccines.

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It’s embarrassing to admit being a member of the Democratic Party these days. We need to turn things around. Buying votes by paying off student loans is ridiculous. Letting illegal people flood across our southern border with the hope of getting them to vote for us is another ploy. Let’s show America we are true patriotic Americans.

Coming events

AM Connect Aug. 4 Friday, Aug. 4, 7:30 a.m., Fairfield Inn, 645 W. North Ave., Lombard Are you, or someone you know, thinking of selling your business? Would you like to know for planning your future? Come visit with us and listen to our guest speaker Larry Swanson, CPA CFC Realtor with Transworld Business Advisors of Downers Grove. Visit lombardchamber.com to register.

Versiti Blood Drive at Plum Library Aug. 8

The Helen Plum Library, 411 S. Main St., Lombard, is hosting a Versiti Blood Center Blood Drive Aug. 8 from 2:30-7 p.m. in the Plum meeting rooms. Donate for a chance to win $1,200 in e-gift cards for a new TV, computer or new home entertainment device. Call or text Camille at 847305-9998 to make an appointment.

According to the powers that be in Washington, you can be anything you want to be—a male or a female, a black or a white, whatever. What crazy times we’re in. Maybe my cat wants to be a dog. Maybe I can make him bark.

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The state of Illinois paid out $5.2 billion of fraudulent unemployment claims during the first 18 months of the pandemic. Will anybody be held accountable for this? I personally feel that this is a lot of money to waste in a state that would be broke if not for the federal government money saving Illinois from disaster. These are our tax dollars, at the federal and state level, being wasted.

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Many Americans have become complacent by letting China take over our manufacturing and products. Can you imagine if we had to go into a war? We would probably have to depend on them for bullets and electronics. Years ago, made in China just meant something made cheaper. But now almost everything we use is made in China.

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I remember when the mail was delivered twice a day in Chicago (until 1950). The cost of a letter was 3 cents back then. I live on South Highland (in Lombard) and now I’m lucky to get the mail before 6 p.m. If I mailed a package from the

Yorktown Shopping Center across the street to Downers Grove, it goes from the Lombard Post Office to Carol Stream to the south suburbs and then to Downers Grove. It takes at least three days to get delivered when I could walk it there in 15 minutes. That’s progress. * * *

Remember the mass shooting during the Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook? It’s now August, but no charges or arrests have been made yet. Nothing in the news about it, either. Hmm.

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I got a laugh out of seeing a Speak Out comment last week about how Al Gore was right about climate change 20 years ago. You mean how right Gore was when he said at a climate conference in 2009 that there was a 75 percent chance the entire north polar ice cap would likely be gone by 2016? According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Arctic ice minimum extent, or ice coverage during the warmest month of the year, is declining at 12.6 percent per decade. That’s just one example of how far-fetched and inaccurate Al Gore’s predictions have been, and he’s not the only one. I think the main reason temperatures are rising around the globe is because Al Gore and climate change alarmists like him keep spewing their hot air into the atmosphere.

Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.

LHS Garden Tea Party Aug. 12

The Lombard Historical Society (LHS) is hosting a Garden Tea Party on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 2:30 pm to 4 p.m. at the William J. Mueller Gazebo at 23 W. Maple St., Lombard. Enjoy summery refreshments, Victorian inspired games and crafts, and live violin music at this traditional Victorian occasion. This event is best suited for adults and ages 12 and up. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Tickets are required and available on the website: LombardHistory.org. For more information about this event, or the Lombard Historical Society, please visit lombardhistory.org, email info@ lombardhistory.org, or phone 630629-1885.

• COVID (Continued from page 4)

steps to stop or claw back these sorts of overpayments, though there are hardship waivers available.

But recovery of that money is only possible because those overpayments were sent to the true claimants of unemployment insurance, the audit notes. Illinois is out of luck on the $2.8 billion in overpayments IDES paid out to those using stolen identities.

“Overpayments due to identity theft are not considered recoverable because they cannot be collected from the real owner of the identity/Social Security number,” the audit said.

IDES generally agreed with the recommendations of the audit, but agency spokesperson Rebecca Cisco also directed some of the blame to former

President Donald Trump’s administration.

“The audit continues to underscore the challenge brought on when the previous federal administration required each state to implement a poorly designed and brand-new unemployment insurance program on their own in record time with continuously changing federal guidance,” Cisco said in an email. “This is a crucial distinction from the state’s regular unemployment insurance program because the state’s system is designed and integrated with vital crossmatching and identity-proofing capabilities.”

Illinois contracted with management consultant Deloitte to build the technology to stand up its PUA program, as

Faith UMC garage sale tables available

Faith United Methodist Church in Lombard is having an outdoor garage and bake sale on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the church. If you would like to rent a table for $30, you can sell your items and keep the money. Call Jean Jackson, our outreach coordinator, at 630877-6011.

Helen Plum Library events

Movie Mania: “DC League of Super-Pets” (PG) Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 1 p.m. Drop-in movie for families with children of all ages. Catch the movie matinee and stay until the end for a chance to win fabulous prizes. Planning a Cold-Hardy Fall Garden Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. Join Carrie from Green Garden See COMING EVENTS, Page 6

IDES didn’t have the capacity to build out the program from its existing infrastructure. Deloitte’s “uFACTS” system debuted in May 2020—two months into the pandemic—but it would be another two months until that system even began interacting with IDES’ “regular” unemployment insurance system, according to the audit.

That was a problem because PUA applicants were supposed to have first been denied traditional unemployment benefits; the siloing of the two systems meant that uFACTS didn’t check with IDES to verify that an applicant had already filed a claim for regular unemployment insurance.

The PUA program officially ended Sept. 4, 2021.

Guide focuses on ‘managing forests for bats’

Experts collaborate to educate, help support bat population

Joy O’Keefe loves bats: She researches and studies their “roosting and foraging” habitats, behavior, why some are endangered and best practices for conserving their population.

That is why the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign assistant professor, with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, has collaborated with a group of other experts to write a guide called “Managing Forests for Bats in Illinois.”

The guide was written in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and with fellow authors Christopher Evans, forestry Extension and research specialist; Johhny Baakliny, University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences; and Matthew Mangan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

When asked how she got interested in bats, O’Keefe responded, “I was introduced to it while working for a power company.”

She recalled how, in order to get federal funding, the company had to do a survey of the surrounding vegetation and wildlife in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

“It was just fascinating,” the assistant professor recalled, adding that at one time, “I wanted to go to school to

Publishing

Myotis lucifugus (photo by Josh Young), better known as the little brown bat, is under threat of contracting white nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease, which can lead to starvation and death during hibernation, according to Joy O’Keefe, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who said bats are beneficial because of the insects they eat. She and other bat experts have co-authored a guide called “Managing Forests for Bats in Illinois,” which she hopes will offer landowners and residents a way to assist in keeping bat populations thriving—as development threatens their “roosting and foraging” habitats. O’Keefe said little brown bats can be found here in DuPage County.

study large carnivores!”

She is also a wildlife Extension specialist with the University of Illinois Extension, and is the director of the Midwest Bat Hub of the North American Bat Monitoring Project.

“We actually do some monitoring

in DuPage County,” O’Keefe related, adding that because some bats are endangered, “We have to be concerned about the bat [population].”

“We set out these detectors,” she described, “like little cameras,” that record ultrasonic sounds to help identify bats and their activity.

The data is then downloaded and can identify bats “at least to genus,” O’Keefe explained, “[which] gives us an idea of the diversity of bats in your area,” such as little brown bats, Eastern red bats and big brown bats.

The detectors are set up in “any forest or natural area where they find a place to roost and to forage,” she noted; habitats in which there is vegetation that supports the diversity and abundance of insects bats like to eat—especially beetles, moths and

• Coming events

flies.

She said loss of habitat, disease, climate change and other factors are causing some bats to be endangered.

For instance, loss of trees and vegetation that insects eat has contributed to the endangerment of some bats, O’Keefe said.

And when it comes to developers trying to maintain green space in their housing and other projects, “We waste a lot of space with parking areas.”

The green spaces need enough room “to support roosting and foraging,” she emphasized; “at least an acre if not multiple acres that can be spread out.”

A disease called white nose syndrome, caused by a fungus, has decimated some bat populations, the

(Continued from page 5)

Mama as she shares all you need to know to keep your garden growing even after the first frost. Registration is required. Visit helenplum.org or call 630-627-0316 to register.

Adulting 101: Bullet Journaling Thursday, Aug. 10, at 5 p.m. For students in grades 9-12. Join us as we kick off a brand-new Adulting 101 series in which teens learn practical skills and life hacks for success. Get organized and learn the basics of bullet journaling, including sample layouts and possible uses. Presented by Jez Layman. Registration is required. Visit helenplum.org or call 630627-0316 to register.

Villa Park Library events

Medicare 101: Come to the Villa Park Public Library on Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. to get up to speed on what Medicare covers, what it doesn’t, and your potential out-ofpocket expenses. Presented by Robin Dawson of Medicare Solutions Network. Registration is required. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.

assistant professor mentioned, and it is thought that the bats contract the disease while hibernating in caves or mines.

She noted that in Illinois, the disease showed up in bats in 2011.

“That’s why we’re excited to see the little brown bats,” added O’Keefe, referring to some of the data collected through the detectors. Which is why she and the other bat experts have put together the guide, so landowners and residents can assist the bats by either offering places to roost during the day and forage by night, or serving as a “stopover” on their way to and from other habitats—say from one forest preserve to another.

Bats need both trees in which to roost and vegetation from which to find food “to complete their habitat,” she reiterated, pointing out that while bat boxes might sound like a good way to help bats in our area, they won’t be very effective without the environmental habitats the bats require.

She would rather see landowners “doing things that shore up the natural habitats that exist there.”

People “may not be aware that they have habitats for bats,” O’Keefe said, so she—and the guide—aim to educate “as we make plans for thinking about what bats need,” such as planting trees and herbaceous vegetation, and removing destructive or invasive vegetation such as honeysuckle.

Even though the Endangered Species Act is 50 years old, “We’re just making inroads with some of these species” that were on the list, she proclaimed.

However, O’Keefe concluded optimistically, “We are chipping away at gaining more knowledge about these endangered bats.”

“Managing Forests for Bats in Illinois” is free, and can be found at go.illinois.edu/ForestryforBats.

vppl.info or call 630-834-1164.

Outdoor movie: Wednesday, Aug. 9, bring a blanket or chairs along to enjoy an outdoor movie on the big screen at Cortesi Park, 318 E. Kenilworth Ave., Villa Park. August’s movie is “Minions: The Rise of Gru” (PG, 110 min.) Showtime is 8:30 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by the Villa Park Public Library, the Friends of the Villa Park Library, and the Villa Park Parks and Recreation Department.

Events at Barbara’s Bookstore, Yorktown

Open Mic for Poetry and Storytelling Aug. 4, 6-8 p.m. Bring up to 5 poems, or up to 5 minutes of a story to share. If time allows, there will be a second round. No novel excerpts at this Open Mic. Come early so you can sign up!

Free Back to School event Aug. 13, 2 p.m. Make fun crafts and prepare for Back to School with Cub Scout Pack 62 at Barbara’s Bookstore! Plus, get a Back to School sticker.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOY O’KEEFE Rock Valley

Riding the course

Bicyclists and spectators flocked to downtown Lombard for last week’s Lombard Cycling Classic. The first race of the July 25 event began at 10:20 a.m. The final race of the day—the 75-minute men’s pro race—started at 6:45 p.m. Shortly before the start of the men’s pro race, riders of all ages and abilities were able to ride three laps around the course during a family fun ride. The photos show some of the cyclists who took part in the family fun ride.

Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing

ORDINANCE NO. 1021-23

ESTABLISHING MEETING DATES

BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District, DuPage and Cook County, State of Illinois;

That the regular meeting of said Board of Trustees shall be held on the fourth Monday of each month at the hour of seven o’clock p.m. in the library building located at 200 South Church Road, in the Village of Bensenville, DuPage County, Illinois.

FURTHER that this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its enactment as provided by law.

ENACTED by the President and Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District, DuPage County, Illinois this 24th day of July, 2023.

APPROVED:

Linda Weiss

Linda Weiss, President

shall be published in The Bensenville Independent on August 3rd 2023, after the date of enactment in the form provided by law.

FURTHER, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its enactment as provided by law.

ENACTED this 24th day of July, 2023.

APPROVED:

Linda Weiss

Linda Weiss, President

Police reports

GIVEN that a public hearing on said tentative budget will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the 18th day of September, 2023, at the District Office, 255 West Vermont Street, Villa Park, Illinois, in this School District.

After the Board of Education takes final action to approve the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, the budget will be posted on the School District 45, DuPage County, Internet website at www.d45.org.

ATTEST:

MANDI ZALEWSKI

Mandi Zalewski, Secretary State of Illinois ) SS County of DuPage )

CERTIFICATION OF AUTHENTICITY

I, Mandi Zalewski, hereby certify that I am the duly qualified and acting Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District, DuPage, Illinois and as such I am the custodian and keeper of the records and files of said Library District.

I do further certify that the attached is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance adopted on the 24th day of July, 2023, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District. I further certify that the Ordinance will be published within the August 3rd edition of the Bensenville Independent.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed by official signature and the corporate seal of the Bensenville Community Public Library District, DuPage County, Illinois, this July 24th, 2023.

Mandi Zalewski

Mandi Zalewski, Secretary Bensenville Community Public Library District

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review Aug. 3, 2023)

441660

ORDINANCE NO. 1020-23

DETERMINING TO LEVY AN ADDITIONAL TAX OF .02% FOR THE 2023 TAX YEAR

WHEREAS, the Illinois Public Library District Act, specifically Section 16/35-5 thereof, authorizes the Board of Trustees to levy a special tax in addition to the annual public library district tax for the purchase of sites and buildings, for construction and equipment of buildings, for the rental of buildings required for library purposes, and for maintenance, repairs and alterations of library buildings and equipment, and

WHEREAS, the amount of said special tax as set forth in said Section 16-35-5 is .02% of the value of all of the taxable property in the District as equalized or assessed by the Department of Local Government Affairs; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees deems it advisable and necessary to levy said special tax for the 2023 tax year for the purposes hereinbefore set forth; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has determined to levy said special tax;

ATTEST:

Mandi Zalewski

Mandi Zalewski, Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice is hereby given that, by Ordinance enacted on the 24th day of July, 2023 the Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District determined by ordinance to levy an additional tax of .02% of the value of all the taxable property in the District determined by ordinance to levy an additional tax of .02% of the value of all the taxable property in the District, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Local Government Affairs, for the purpose of sites and buildings, for construction and equipment of buildings, for the rental of buildings required for library purposes, and for maintenance, repairs and alterations of library buildings and equipment, said tax levy to be effective for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024 from taxes to be collected for 2023. The text of said Ordinance is set forth below.

The question of the enactment of said Ordinance shall be submitted to the electors of the District if a petition is filed with the District signed by at least 940 voters asking that the question of levying such a .02% tax be submitted to the electors of the District. Said petition must be filed within 30 days after publication of this notice. The next date on which a prospective referendum could be held is March 19th, 2024.

Mandi Zalewski

Mandi Zalewski, Secretary

Bensenville Community Public Library District

State of Illinois ) SS

Counties of DuPage )

CERTIFICATION OF AUTHENTICITY

I, Mandi Zalewski, hereby certify that I am the duly qualified and acting Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District, DuPage, Illinois and as such I am the custodian and keeper of the records and files of said Library District.

I do further certify that the attached is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance adopted on the 24th day of July, 2023, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District. I further certify that the Ordinance will be published within the Bensenville Independent on August 3rd, 2023.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed by official signature and the corporate seal of the Bensenville Community Public Library District, DuPage County, Illinois, this 24th day of July, 2023.

Mandi Zalewski

Mandi Zalewski, Secretary

Bensenville Community Public Library District (Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review Aug. 3, 2023) 441661

Dated this 3rd day of August, 2023 Board of Education School District 45, DuPage County DuPage County, Illinois

Al Legutki, Secretary (Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent, Villa Park Review & the Lombardian Aug. 3, 2023) 441664

NOTICE

CERTIFICATE NO. 79163 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on JULY 27, 2023 wherein the business firm of SPOTLESS CLEANING SERVICE, 18W277 BUCKINGHAM LANE, VILLA PARK, IL 60181 was registered; that the true or real name or names of the person or persons owning the business, with their respective post office address(es), is/ are as follows:

Claudia Zarate, 18W277 Buckingham Lane, Villa Park, IL 60181.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 27TH day of JULY, A.D. 2023.

Jean Kaczmarek DuPage County Clerk

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review Aug. 3, 10 & 17, 2023) 441665

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given by the Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District, Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois, that the Tentative Budget and Appropriation for said Library District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024, is on file at the Library, 200 South Church Road, Bensenville, IL for a period of thirty day public inspection, beginning on August 1, 2023 and that a public hearing on said Budget and Appropriation will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 25th, 2023 at the aforementioned building.

Mandy Zalewski Secretary, Board of Trustees

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review Aug. 3, 2023) 441662

NOTICE

CERTIFICATE NO. 79161 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on JULY 25, 2023, wherein the business firm of BEEBO’S PRINTABLES, 9 EAST PARK BLVD. APT #1, VILLA PARK, IL 60181 was registered; that the true or real name or names of the person or persons owning the business, with their respective post office address(es), is/are as follows:

Barbara Dawson, 9 East Park Blvd., Apt. #1, Villa Park, IL 60181.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 25TH day of JULY, A.D. 2023.

Jean Kaczmarek

DuPage County Clerk

The Addison police department recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons who are charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the victim’s privacy. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not named.

Addison

July 25

A 24-year-old Addison woman was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 400 block of S. Cherry Hill at 8:35 p.m.

July 24

Juan Gutierrez-Rivas, 61, of Addison, was charged with violation of an order of protection in the 300 block of E. Fullerton at 11:07 a.m.

July 23

Marino Cortes-Rosales, 24, of Addison, was charged with possession of a controlled substance in the 1-100 block of N. Lincoln at 3:47 a.m.

Nelson J. Cubas-Aguilar, 27, of Lombard, was charged with aiding, abetting, possessing and selling of a stolen vehicle.

Juan M. Galan, 43, of Addison, was charged with violation of an order of protection in the 600 block of Meadows at 3:30 p.m.

Brenda M. Salazar, 43, of Addison, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm/invalid FOID card in the 1-100 block of N. Lincoln at 3:47 a.m.

Bajdeep Singh, 26, of Mundelein, was charged with two counts of DUI, failure to reduce speed and disregarding a traffic control device near Army Trail and Swift at 4:58 a.m.

July 22 Kulwant Singh, 65, of Hanover Park, was charged with two counts of DUI and improper lane usage near Lake and Medinah at 12:38 a.m.

July 21

A 29-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 500 block of W. Porter at 2:38 a.m.

July 20

A 28-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery and interference with reporting of domestic violence in the 1100 block of Taft in Wheaton.

Entrepreneurs invited to pitch to Walmart

On Tuesday, July 18, Walmart began accepting applications for its tenth annual Open Call event, inviting small business owners and entrepreneurs everywhere to apply for the opportunity to pitch their products to be sold on Walmart or Sam’s Club shelves or on Walmart.com. Applications are open until Friday, Aug. 18.

Open Call is at the heart of Walmart’s 10-year, $350 billion commitment to strengthening U.S. manufacturing by sourcing products that are made, grown or assembled in the U.S., and it was instrumental to Walmart achieving its previous $250 billion commitment. Open Call will take place on Oct. 24 and 25 this year, during Manufacturing Month 2023.

sell their products on its shelves or online–reach new customers, enabling them to grow. Through Open Call, Walmart has helped thousands of small and medium businesses thrive, with many expanding their U.S. manufacturing footprints and creating new manufacturing jobs in the communities they call home.

In fact, over the course of Walmart’s 10-year commitment to U.S. manufacturing, Open Call will have provided more than 9,000 opportunities for small and medium businesses to grow with Walmart.

Entrepreneurs who walk away with a golden ticket aren’t the only ones who enjoy Open Call opportunities. All Open Call finalists will have access to mentoring sessions with Walmart leaders and special guests, where they can gain valuable business insights and resources.

Plus, each finalist will have a oneon-one pitch meeting with Walmart and/or Sam’s Club merchants.

‘Walmart Made Local’ on trailer tour

NOW

THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED AND DETERMINED by the Board of Trustees of the Bensenville Community Public Library District that for the purpose of sites and buildings, for the construction and equipment of buildings, for the rental of buildings required for library purposes, and for the maintenance, repairs, and alterations of library buildings and equipment, a special tax of .02% of the value of all taxable property in the District, as equalized and assessed, shall be levied from taxes to be collected for 2023.

FURTHER, a copy of this Ordinance

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of School District 45, DuPage County, Villa Park, Illinois, that a tentative legal budget for said School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 (Fiscal Year 2023-2024), will be on file and conveniently available for public inspection in the Administration Center at 255 West Vermont Street, Villa Park, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the 9th day of August, 2023, and ending on the 18th day of September, 2023.

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review Aug. 3, 10 & 17, 2023) 441797

This year’s application period is a special one as Walmart approaches a decade of providing Open Call opportunities. Open Call began back in 2014, when Walmart first opened its doors to more than 500 businesses with dreams of selling their U.S.-made products to millions of Walmart customers. Since then, Open Call has provided more and more opportunities, with more than 1,100 small and medium businesses participating last year–making Open Call 2022 Walmart’s biggest one yet. Today, Open Call is the largest sourcing event for Walmart and Sam’s Club.

Open Call presents a good opportunity for small and medium businesses to grow their businesses. Entrepreneurs who earn a “golden ticket”–signifying a deal for Walmart to

To discover new Open Call entrepreneurs, Walmart is taking its U.S. manufacturing initiative on the road with the first-ever “Walmart: Made Local” trailer tour. The tour kicked off on July 10 in Frederick, Md., with additional stops in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Chicago. Entrepreneurs who visit the trailer can record a video to apply for Open Call 2023 and meet local Walmart suppliers who earned deals at previous Open Calls.

DuPage County Animal Services breaks ground on expansion

DuPage County officials broke ground last week on the first expansion of the DuPage County Animal Services facility in its 45-year history.

The county will construct the expansion on the southern side of the existing building to help alleviate overcrowding in the shelter, create more animal treatment space and better serve the staff, volunteers and visitors to the facility.

The expansion will include more than 4,300 square feet of renovations, nearly 11,500 square feet of added enclosed spaces, and a 2,200 square-foot covered patio for outdoor training or events.

“This state-of-the-art shelter will provide a modern, stress-reducing, and healthy home. We will provide the best possible care for all animals, while providing space for our staff to do more for pets and the communi-

ty,” said County Board Chair Deborah Conroy.

The project will cost nearly $11 million and will not utilize any General Fund tax dollars for its completion.

The project was made possible by private donors, including one anonymous benefactor who contributed $4.5 million and $1.5 million raised by Animal Services’ nonprofit partner, DuPage Animal Friends.

“This facility will become a reality thanks to impressive fundraising efforts. The community played a vital role in making this happen, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped get this project underway,” said Brian Krajewski, Chairman of the County’s Animal Services Committee.

The DuPage County Animal Services building was built in 1977 and has not been expanded in that time-

frame.

DuPage Animal Friends is undergoing a capital campaign to raise funds to offset the amount of reserve funds DuPage County Animal Services will need to spend to complete the expansion.

To learn more about the expansion or the capital campaign, please visit https://www.dupagecounty.gov/government/departments/animal_services/capital_campaign.php.

FALL BASEBALL - and

SOFTBALL REGISTRATIONS

-

Elmhurst Youth Baseball & EYB Cougars Softball House League registration is NOW OPEN! Register NOW to be a part of the fastest growing baseball & softball program in the Western Suburbs!

The Fall Baseball and Softball Leagues are a non-competitive league focused on training and player development. It is a 5 or 6 week program scheduled to start in September and conclude in October with all practices and games taking place on the weekends.

Games are scheduled for each Saturday with practice prior to each game. If there is a rain-out then the game/practice may be rescheduled for Sunday.

Elmhurst Youth Baseball is open to boys and girls ages 4 to 19.

The EYB Cougars softball program is open to girls ages 4 to 14.

Fall ball allows for players to begin practicing and playing in divisions that they may qualify for in the following Spring season or to continue their development in the divisions they currently compete.

REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL BALL SEASON IS OPEN!

Register at eybaseball.org

DuPage County officials are shown here breaking ground last week on the first expansion of the DuPage County Animal Services facility in its 45-year-history.

AFSCME ratifies new 4-year contract with the state

Agreement provides 4 percent pay raise this year; nearly 18 percent over 4 years

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Gov. JB Pritzker and the state’s largest public employee union announced last week that they have agreed on a new contract that will

provide a nearly 18 percent pay raise over four years, including a 4 percent raise this year.

The contract also expands parental leave to 12 weeks and calls for new joint efforts to improve work -

place safety.

A spokesperson for the governor’s office said in an email that the contract is projected to cost an additional $204 million in the first year and $625 million over four

Annual ‘Thin Mint Sprint’ Sept. 16

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (GSNI) will host its 19th annual Thin Mint Sprint fundraising 5K fun run/ walk on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in partnership with the Fox River Grove Memorial Library Running Club. The race route will begin and end at Lions Park in Fox River Grove and take participants through scenic streets and neighborhoods along the Fox River for a timed run, ending with a postrace party.

Registration is $40 per person

from Aug. 1–Sept. 15; and $45 per person on race day, Sept. 16. Registration fee includes Thin Mint Sprint T-shirt, chipped-timing bib, medal, fun patch, box of official Girl Scout Thin Mints® Cookies and extra swag items. Race packet pick-up will be available the week of Sept. 3. Register online at www.girlscoutsni.org/ tms.

All funds raised through the 19th annual Thin Mint Sprint will support GSNI’s financial assistance programs ensuring increased access for

more local Girl Scout memberships, activities, and leadership experiences.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois serves 16 counties including parts or all of Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago.

To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscoutsni.org or call 844-GSNI-4-ME (844-4764463).

In Print and Online Every Thursday

The Lombardian, Villa Park Review, Addison Independent & Bensenville Independent

Your hometown newspaper is now available in both print and online versions. The printed newspaper is delivered by the post office every Thursday for only $45 for a full year. A digital eSubscription will also be available for only $35 per year and can be read on a computer, laptop, or tablet. The eSubscription is a PDF copy of the print version that will be available online every Thursday. A link to the online newspaper will be emailed to you every week.

To order an online eSubscription or print home delivery by mail, please call 630.834-8244 or mail the coupon below.

___ Yes. Please send the print version of the newspaper by mail at the special rate of $45 for a full year. ___ Yes. Please send me an eSubscription with a weekly email link for only $35 per year. Enclosed is my check for $35.

years.

Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, which represents about 35,000 state employees, voted in local union meetings over the last two weeks to ratify the contract, which negotiators had tentatively agreed to on July 1.

The announcement came on the same day Pritzker, leaders of the Democratic National Committee, and Chicago labor leaders announced they had reached a “labor peace agreement” covering the 2024 Democratic National Convention to ensure there will be no labor disruptions during that event.

“Illinois is a pro-worker state— and when it comes to workers’ rights, my administration is committed to ensuring that every Illinoisan has access to good-paying opportunities,” Pritzker said in a joint statement with AFSCME Council 31 announcing the state contract.

“This contract represents a partnership that won’t just expand our pool of state employees—it will strengthen our state’s workforce

and provide opportunity for employees and their families.”

AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said the contract “helps to address the toll that inflation has taken on state employee incomes and keeps health care affordable.”

The joint statement said the agreement contains other provisions intended to streamline the filling of vacancies and to help recruit, hire and retain workers.

That includes new contract language “to reflect the state’s transition to an electronic hiring process,” forming a joint labor-management committee that will meet to identify roadblocks to hiring, establishing a pilot program for recruitment bonuses for positions with high vacancy rates, and ensuring employees who are on parental leave can still bid on vacancies during their leave.

Negotiations over a new contract were taking place at the same time state lawmakers were negotiating a $50.4 billion budget package for fiscal year 2024, which began July 1.

Check

DuPage forest district earns recognition for use of green power District joins EPA’s Green Power Partnership

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has announced it has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership, a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of conventional electricity.

According to its most recent calculations, the Forest Preserve District uses more than 3.7 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is enough to meet 105 percent of the organization’s electricity use. It accomplishes this by buying renewable energy credits, which it uses to purchase 100 percent wind-generated energy to offset its conventional energy use.

\According to the U.S. EPA, the Forest Preserve District’s green-power use is equivalent to the electricity use of 400 average American homes annually.

The Forest Preserve District also offsets its traditional energy consumption by using solar technology at several locations.

• 603.2 kW solar photovoltaic rooftop under construction at the new net-zero-designed visitor center and rehabilitation clinic at Willowbrook Wildlife Center and a 72.2 kW solar photovoltaic rooftop on the center’s species recovery building.

• 262.2 kW solar photovoltaic rooftop on the District’s fleet building at Blackwell Forest Preserve.

• 41 kW solar photovoltaic rooftop at The Preserve at Oak Meadows, which powers the course’s electric

golf cart fleet.

• 18.8 kW solar photovoltaic rooftop on the Danada Farm barn at Danada Equestrian Center.

The district has a variety of other environmentally friendly initiatives in place as well.

• Solar thermal hot water systems at the Forest Preserve District’s headquarters (Danada) and facilities management building (Blackwell) and the restrooms at Hidden Lake, Springbrook Prairie, and Spring Creek Reservoir forest preserves.

• Renewable energy from gas collected at the former landfill at Greene Valley Forest Preserve.

• An alternative-fuel and electric vehicle fleet, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 213.3 tons.

By moving the needle in the green power market, the Forest Preserve District and other Green Power partners are helping to reduce the negative health impacts of air emissions, including those related to ozone, fine particles, acid rain, and regional haze.

“We’re thrilled to accept this EPA recognition,” said Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard.

“We take great pride in being at the forefront of embracing green energy technology and hope that this most recent partnership helps send the message that green power is not only economically viable but also readily accessible.”

In addition, the Forest Preserve District’s land management prac-

tices result in carbon sequestration equivalent to its operations plus an additional 50 DuPage households. Its ecosystem restoration efforts increase climate resiliency and biodiversity, reduce stormwater runoff, clean air and water, and preserve scenic viewsheds.

The Forest Preserve District’s green energy efforts have been supported in part by donations to its 501(c)(3) partner Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. The Friends is currently raising funds to help offset the cost of the new net-zero-designed building at Willowbrook, and donors may always choose to direct their gifts to future green energy projects at dupageforest.org/friends.

The U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that helps increase green power use among U.S. organizations. It advances the market for green power and the development of green resources as a way to reduce air pollution and other environmental impacts associated with electricity use.

In 2021, the partnership had more than 700 partners voluntarily using more than 85 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include Fortune 500 companies; smalland medium-sized businesses; local, state, and federal governments; and colleges and universities. Additional information is available on the EPA’s website at epa.gov/ greenpower.

Puzzle page

67. Brooklyn hoopster 68. Seasonsings 69. Movable barriers 70. Attempt

CLUES DOWN

1. Occur as a result of 2. Spiritual essences

3. Representative

4. Entering

5. Nobel Prize-winning physicist

6. Midway between northeast and east

7. Consumed

8. Tablelands

9. Kids’ craft accessory

10. Not known

11. Sound directed through two or more speakers

12. A major division of geological time

13. Wild ox

19. Shock treatment

21. Turner and Lasso are two

24. Genus of flowering plants

25. Relating to ductless glands

26. Stock certificate

A-FRAME BILLY CAN BLAZE CAMPER CAMPFIRE CAMPGROUND CANOPY CARABINER COWBOY CAMPING DAYPACK DOME FLY GROUND COVER GUYLINES HIKE KINDLING PAD

SUDOKU

Fun by the Numbers

Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Victorian Garden Tea Party at Mueller Gazebo Aug. 12

The Lombard Historical Society (LHS) invites you to a Victorian Garden Tea Party on Saturday, Aug. 12 from 2:30 pm to 4 p.m. at the William J. Mueller Gazebo at 23 W. Maple St. in Lombard.

Enjoy summery refreshments, Victorian inspired games and crafts and live violin music at this traditional Victorian occasion. This event is best suited for adults and ages 12 and up.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Tickets are required and available on the website: LombardHistory.org. For more information about this event, or the Lombard Historical Society, visit lombardhistory.org, email info@ lombardhistory.org, or phone 630629-1885.

The Lombard Historical Society is opening the doors wide to welcome our neighbors to a garden party. Experience the lovely garden,

enjoy traditional tea party refreshments and bask in the atmosphere with beautiful live classical violin music by Colleen Kuraszek.

Sample Victorian-inspired finger-food and traditional tea party delicacies. Beverages include iced tea, lemonade and wine. Try your hand at making Victorian paper fan crafts or take a swing at the Victorian sport of croquet. The Victorian Cottage will be open for self-guided tours, and Kuraszek will entertain everyone with her sublime violin performance.

Saunter over and meet some new friends. Call a girlfriend you haven’t seen in a while, a new neighbor, or your granddaughter, and join us at the Victorian Cottage.

Come dressed in your garden party best. Don’t forget your sun hat. There will also be a raffle for a gift basket with items from the Lilac Emporium Gift shop.

Archery open house Aug. 5

Visitors are invited to try their hand at archery during a free open house on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.

Participants will learn about archery equipment and get the chance to try some basic skills under the guidance of a certified instructor. Visitors will also be able to talk to representatives from local archery groups and check out the range, which features three different sections for beginner,

Guidelines for writing, submitting a letter to the editor

Rock Valley Publishing encourages our readers to reach out to the community by writing a letter to the editor.

Letters are limited to 400 words; if a letter exceeds 400 words, it will be sent back to the author to reduce the length of the letter. Authors must include their first and last name, the city or village in which they reside, and a phone number where they can be reached in case of questions. E-mail letters to:

• Clerk

(Continued from page 2) implement “Vote Anywhere,” allowing voters to cast their ballots at any polling place on Election Day.

Election managers Stephanie Groenewold, mail voting, and Jessica Stachniak, voter registration, developed this signature comparison project at the DuPage County Clerk’s

news1@rvpublishing.com. Letter-writers will be limited to one letter per month except for locally elected officials, or individuals specifically associated with local village governments or entities such as school districts, park districts or library districts.

No letters directed to a third party will be accepted for publication.

We reserve the right to edit a letter for reasons of clarity, space restrictions and libel

office when mail ballots increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

That year, CARES Act funding allowed the Clerk’s office to purchase special equipment making this project possible, including a mail sorter which took more clear pictures of

voter signatures for historic reference, as well as large monitors for teams of election judges to view multiple signatures.

“This is another example of why funding elections well makes a difference,” Kaczmarek added.

advanced, and interactive practice.

All ages are welcome at the open house, but adults must accompany children under 18. Equipment is provided. Normally, archers need to bring their own gear and possess a forest preserve district permit to use the range. Registration is not required, but participants are encouraged to complete a waiver in advance to avoid a line at the event. For more details, visitors can call Visitor Services at 630-933-7248.

newspaper can be read on a computer, laptop or tablet.

For an eSubscription, visit rockvalleyenews.com or call 627-7010.

The Lombard Waves closed out their 2023 season by swimming at the DuPage Swim and Dive Conference’s White Division ‘A’ Meet on July 22 in Itasca. Lombard finished third in the team standings of the four-team meet. The Waves will return to the White Division next year. Bloomingdale, which placed fourth in the meet, will move to the Red Division next year. Bartlett, which won this year’s Red Division title, will compete in the White Division in 2024. Lombard’s Alyssa Bylsma (above) won two individual events in the 13-14 girls level at the White Division ‘A’ Meet. She also swam to second-place finishes in the 100-yard individual medley and the 50-yard breaststroke. Marco Garavito (top right) of the Waves won the 11-12 boys level’s 100-yard individual medley, while Lombard’s Ben Wagner (right) won the 50yard backstroke in the 13-14 boys division.

Waves close out their season at the White Division ‘A’ Meet

Lombard’s Alyssa Bylsma wins two individual titles and earns two second-place finishes in the 13-14 girls division

The Lombard Waves finished their 2023 season by battling three other teams at the DuPage Swim and Dive Conference’s White Division ‘A’ Meet in Itasca on July 22.

Itasca won the event’s team title with its score of 1,046. Woodridge finished second with its score of 759, while Lombard claimed third with 530 team points. Bloomingdale landed in fourth place with 511 points. Lombard will remain in the White Division next year. Bloomingdale will move to the conference’s Red Division in 2024. Bartlett, which

won this year’s Red Division title, will swim in the White Division next year.

Alyssa Bylsma of the Waves won two individual events at the White Division ‘A’ Meet in Itasca. Competing in the 13-14 girls level, she won the 50-yard freestyle, which she completed in 26.42 seconds. Later in the meet, she won the 50-yard butterfly, which she finished in 29.15 seconds. In addition to winning two individual titles at the July 22 meet, Bylsma earned second-place finishes in the 100-yard individual medley

(with her finishing time of 1 minute, 6.52 seconds) and the 50-yard breaststroke (33.72 seconds).

Marco Garavito of Lombard swam to a victory in the 11-12 boys level’s 100-yard individual medley (1:21.42) during the White Division ‘A’ Meet.

He also earned a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle (31.47).

Ben Wagner of the Waves delivered a first-place effort during the July 22 meet’s 50-yard backstroke.

Swimming in the 13-14 boys division, he completed the race in a win-

ning time of 30.29 seconds.

Mason McKenna of the Waves finished second in the meet’s 50-yard freestyle (24.86) in the 13-14 boys level. Lombard’s Allie Walden delivered a second-place performance in the 11-12 girls division’s 50-yard butterfly (33.10).

The Waves’ 13-14 boys foursome of Ben Wagner, Benjamin Bates, Lucas Hernandez and Mason McKenna swam to a victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:44.56) at the White Division ‘A’ Meet.

Lombard’s 11-12 girls quartet of

Peyton Petrine, Allie Walden, Kelsey Plis and Mia Milano turned in a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay (2:40.61). Later in the meet, the Waves’ 11-12 girls foursome of Emma Pollak, Mia Milano, Peyton Petrine and Allie Walden placed second in the 200-yard freestyle relay (2:19.26).

While some Waves completed the season at the White Division ‘A’ Meet on July 22, other Lombard swimmers ended the season at the White Division ‘B’ Meet at Paradise Bay Water Park on July 15.

Chris Fox File photos Rock Valley Publishing

Mariners wrap up their season at the Red Division ‘A’ Meet

Lydia Aldana and Elin Stempel win three individual events each in the 9-10 girls level; the two Mariners also contribute to a pair of relay victories

The Villa Park Mariners finished their 2023 season by competing at the DuPage Swim and Dive Conference’s Red Division ‘A’ Meet in Bartlett on July 22.

The Mariners placed fourth in the event’s team competition. Bartlett won the team title with its total tally of 816.5 points. Roselle finished in second place with 780.5 points, while Butterfield claimed third with 678 points. Villa Park wound up with 570 points.

The Mariners will compete in the conference’s Blue Division next season. Bartlett will move to the conference’s White Division.

Villa Park swimmers won 13 individual races and four relay races during the Red Division ‘A’ Meet in Bartlett. The Mariners earned all of those victories in girls’ competitions.

Lydia Aldana of the Mariners won three individual titles in the 9-10 girls level of the July 22 meet. She delivered her first of those individual wins in the 50-yard freestyle, which she finished in 34.52 seconds. She added victories in the 100-yard freestyle, which she finished in 1 minute, 18.21 seconds, and the 50-yard breaststroke, which she completed in 46.08 seconds.

Villa Park’s Elin Stempel also won three individual titles in the 9-10 girls level of the Red Division ‘A’ Meet. She swam to her three victories in the 100-yard individual medley (which she finished in 1 minute, 26.22 seconds), the 50-yard butterfly (37.50) and the 50-yard backstroke (38.37).

Phoebe Aldana provided the Mariners with two wins in the 11-12 girls level of the July 22 meet in Bartlett.

The Villa Park Mariners completed their 2023 season by swimming at the DuPage Swim and Dive Conference’s Red Division ‘A’ Meet in Bartlett on July 22. Villa Park’s Lydia Aldana raced to three individual victories in the meet’s 9-10 girls level. She is pictured (above left) during her first-place effort in the 50-yard breaststroke. Elin Stempel of the Mariners also won three individual titles in the 9-10 girls division of the meet. She is pictured (above right) during her victory in the 50-yard butterfly. Villa Park’s Naomi Aldana swam to a pair of victories in the 13-14 girls level of the meet. She is shown (at right) during her win in the 50-yard butterfly. The Mariners finished fourth in the team standings of the four-team meet. Villa Park will compete in the conference’s Blue Division next year.

She earned her victories in the 100yard individual medley (1:15.47) and the 50-yard breaststroke (37.26).

Villa Park’s Naomi Aldana swam to two wins at the season-ending meet in Bartlett. Competing in the 13-14 girls level, she turned in firstplace finishes in the 100-yard individual medley (1:11.68) and the 50yard butterfly (29.96).

Leighton Stempel of the Mariners claimed two individual wins in the 8-and-under girls division of the July 22 competition in Bartlett. She

delivered her victories in the 50-yard freestyle (43.45) and the 25-yard breaststroke (23.74).

Villa Park’s Maddie Lynch won one race in the 8-and-under girls level of the Red Division ‘A’ Meet. She swam to a first-place finish in the 25yard freestyle (21.75).

The Mariners’ 8-and-under girls foursome of Kennedy Grobe, Maddie Lynch, Leighton Stempel and Penelope Kuhl won a pair of relay events at the recent meet in Bartlett. The four Villa Park swimmers won

Learning from the Warriors

Willowbrook High School’s varsity dance team conducted a five-day camp for children (ages 4-13) last week. Each of the five morning sessions took place in the school’s field house. The camp featured some special theme days, including Disney Day, Beach Day and Tie Dye Day. The campers finished the camp by performing for family and friends at the end of Friday’s session. Members of the Willowbrook varsity dance team (above) also gave a brief performance on Friday.

the 100-yard medley relay (1:40.27) and the 100-yard freestyle relay (1:25.89).

Villa Park’s quartet of Ary Carrola, Lydia Aldana, Ruth Aldana and Elin Stempel also won two relay titles at the Red Division ‘A’ Meet. The four girls won the 200-yard medley relay

(2:42.13) and the 200-yard freestyle relay (2:25.97).

While some Mariners finished the season at the Red Division ‘A’ Meet in Bartlett, other Villa Park swimmers concluded the season at the combined Red and Blue Division ‘B’ Meet in Carol Stream on July 15.

Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing

Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing

Painting

Painting

Announcements

CLASSIFIED IN-COLUMN ADS cannot be credited or refunded after the ad has been placed. Ads canceled before deadline will be removed from the paper as a service to our customers, but no credit or refund will be issued to your account.

DISCLAIMER NOTICE This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.

Burial Needs

7 CEMETERY PLOTS Willing to sell as a group or individually. Located at Roselawn Memory Gardens 3045 WI-67, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. This is a private sale. Contact Randy, the seller at randy@slpublishers.com.

Lombard

FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (FUMC) OUTDOOR G.S., 815 S. Finley Rd., Saturday, 8/5, 9am-3pm. H’hold items, clothes, shoes, jewelry, books, toys, lawn chairs, games, etc. CASH ONLY. Refreshments available for purchase.

Windows

APARTMENT FOR RENT

Other For Rent

Faith United Methodist Church (FUMC) Lombard is Renting Tables for Community Outdoor Garage Sale, Saturday, August 5, 2023

Cost per table is $30. Hours of operation will be 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Location of sale will be at 815 South Finley Rd., Lombard 60148. First come, first serve table location on the very spacious lawn. All items must be removed at the end of the sale. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Interested sellers contact Jean at 630-877-6011 for further details.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familiar/ status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-900-669-9777. The toll-free tele phone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-9279275.

Motorcycles

Neighborhood celebration marks official opening of new Cromwell Trail at Danada

Last month, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County joined local officials and community members to celebrate the official opening of a new 0.4-mile multipurpose limestone trail at Danada Forest Preserve in Wheaton.

The segment, which connects Cromwell Drive at Butterfield Road to the Danada-Herrick Lake Regional Trail, provides a safer and more convenient connection between regional forest preserve trails and Wheaton’s bicycle network.

The ceremony took place at Forest Preserve District headquarters at Danada and included Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard, District 2 Commissioner Tina Tyson-Dunne, District 3 Commissioner Linda Painter, District 4 Commissioner Jeff Gahris, District 5 Commissioner Barbara O’Meara, and District 6 Commissioner Al Murphy.

Also attending were state Sen. Laura Ellman; preserve neighbors from the Stonehedge Community Homeowners Association, whose support for the project helped the district secure $200,000 from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Recreational Trails Program; and other invited guests and trail enthusiasts.

Hebreard noted that the project is the result of years of collaboration with Forest Preserve District partners and expressed his enthusiasm for the new amenity.

“We hope that the time spent on all the district trails and in the forest preserves helps you nurture connections with nature and with one another today and for years to come,” he told the crowd.

Commissioner Gahris explained how the trail provides access to a chain of 3,700 acres of open space that includes Danada, Herrick Lake , Warrenville Grove , St. James Farm , and Blackwell forest preserves.

“Walking, hiking, biking, and absorbing nature’s sights and sounds are all beneficial to our individual health and well-being. Making it easier for people to choose walking and biking by providing and maintaining trails can help more of us realize those well-being benefits,” he said.

SHOP Local FOR SUMMER

SUbmittED PhOtO Rock Valley Publishing

Forest Preserve District President Daniel Hebreard leads a walk from the Forest Preserve District headquarters to the new Cromwell Trail segment.

SUNDAYS

Come Play

PRIVATE GAMING ROOM

HDAILY DINE IN ONLY SPECIALS H

50¢ Boneless Wings LIMIT 12 (with side purchase)

$5 Sausage & Peppers ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$9 Pasta Marinara (add $2 for Vodka, Meat, Carbonara or Alfredo)

$10 Bacon Wrapped Pickle Spears

$10 Vegan Pasta Marinara

$4 Mimosa - $6 Tito’s Bloody Mary

$4.50 Miller Lite or $6 Import 22 oz. Drafts

$17 Bottles of Woodbridge House Wine

TUESDAYS

$2 Beef/Pulled Pork Taco

$3 Chicken - Fish - Pork Belly - Steak

$4 Vegan Tacos - Impossible Meat - Chicken - Pork

$4 Cilantro Lime Rice or Seasoned Black Beans

$10 BACON Nachos

$4 Modelo Draft

$6 Don Julio Margaritas

$7 Don Julio Frozen Margaritas

$20 Any Mexican Beer Buckets

WEDNESDAYS

FREE Bar Bingo/Kids eat free

10 and Under - Ask server for more details

$5 Gourmet Cheeseburger (with side purchase)

$10 BACON Wrapped Mushrooms

$8 Impossible Burger (with side purchase)

$5 U Call Its $8 and Under Wine/Liquor ONLY

THURSDAYS

$5 Pulled Pork ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$10 BACON Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks

$8 Vegan Chicken Parmesan ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$4 Drafts $8 and Under

Half Price Bottles of Wine $25 or More

1/2 Off any $20 or More Bourbon, Scotch or Whiskey

FRIDAYS

$5 Pepper & Egg ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$15 Fish & Chips (1/2 Pound Alaskan White Fish)

$10 Bacon Stuffed Avocado

$8 Vegan Burrito (with side purchase)

$5 Stella Draft

$5 Crown or Titos

$25 High Noon Buckets

SATURDAYS/UFC

$5 1/2 Lb BLT ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$10 BACON Croquettes

$8 Vegan Buffalo Chicken ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$5 Sam Seasonal Draft

$5 Proper Twelve Shot

$5 Absolut or Jameson

$22 Modelo Buckets

CLOSED - MONDAYS

99¢ Chicken Tenders ~ SLIDERS ~

$2 Grilled Chicken - Meatball - Pulled Pork

$3 Burger - Fish - Pork Belly

$4 Vegan Chicken or Impossible Slider

$5 Italian Beef ‘Wich

$8 Medium Cheese Pizza - $3 Full Toppings

$12 XL Cheese Pizza - $4 Full Toppings

$4 Well Gin, Rum, Tequila, Vodka & Whiskey

$4 House Wine (Woodbridge)

$5 Blue Moon Drafts

$15 Domestic Buckets - $20 Import Buckets

$8 Jefferson Old Fashioned

$5 Jefferson 1.25 oz. Pour