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Juveniles lead Villa Park officers on high-speed chase

Later charged with possession of stolen vehicle

DuPage County State’s Attorney

Robert Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police Mike Rivas announced that two Aurora juveniles, one of which was allegedly armed, have been accused of leading police on a highspeed chase in a stolen car.

Both juveniles appeared recently at a detention where Judge Demetrios Panoushis ordered that they be detained until at least their next court appearance. One of the juveniles, a 17-year-old male, is charged with one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle Class 2 (C-2) felony, one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer (C-4 felony) and two counts of misdemeanor reckless driving. The other juvenile, a 15-year-old male, is charged with three counts of unlawful use of a weapon (C-4 felony) and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass to a vehicle.

On Tuesday, March 21 at approximately 9:55 a.m., a Villa Park police officer located a car that was reported stolen out of Naperville the previous day traveling eastbound on Roosevelt Road. The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted to pull over the vehicle, a Honda CRV.

It is alleged that instead of pulling over, the Honda fled from the officer at times reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. It is alleged that the pursuit continued along I-88 and I-290

Easter Events!

where the driver exited the expressway on 25th Avenue. It is further alleged that the pursuit ended when the CRV came to a dead end on Derby Lane in Westchester, at which time the juveniles fled on foot.

The juveniles were located in a barber shop approximately one-quarter mile away and taken into custody. Through the course of the arrest, officers located a loaded Polymer 80 9mm handgun without a serial number, underneath a pile of wood along the route the juveniles allegedly ran when they fled.

It is alleged that one of the juveniles was previously in possession of the handgun and attempted to hide it from authorities when he fled.

“We have seen time and again that subjects allegedly in possession of a stolen vehicle will be in possession of a weapon to be used to commit more violent crime in our communities.” Chief Rivas said. “Based on this repetitive behavior, and relationship between stolen vehicles and additional violent crimes committed, the Villa Park Police Department will use every resource at our disposal to go after subjects in stolen vehicles.

“A stolen vehicle, fleeing from police at a high rate of speed, places everyone in danger in their path. We urge everyone to stop and pull to the right for emergency lights and siren for everyone’s safety. We commend our police officer for his vigilance and bravery in pursuing the stolen vehicle in this case.”

The juveniles’ next court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, March 30, in front of Judge Panoushis.

Bison Olympians place 2nd at state

Superintendent Ongtengco gave a huge Bison Shout-Out to Fenton’s Basketball Olympians for winning 2nd place at the state Championship on Friday, March 10. Their state-bound send-off held on March 9 was standing room only. “The team has definitely captured the hearts of Fenton High School as well as the Bensenville and Wood communities,” Ongtengco said. “This is proof that hard work and buying into your team goal can pay off big time. Congratulations!”

Park District launches ‘Wazzup Bville!’ newsletter

The Bensenville Park District has partnered with Rock Valley Publishing to produce a bi-monthly newsletter to be distributed via mail to those living within park district boundaries in addition to insertion in the Bensenville Independent. The newsletter is entitled “Wazzup Bville!” and provides news and information about park district programs, events and activities.

“We are excited to provide this ser-

vice to our residents,” said Park District executive director Joe Vallez. “It will be one of the cornerstones of our communications to engage those in the community we serve with detailed information about our programming.”

The newsletter will be published in February-March, April-May, June-July, August-September, October-November and December-January. It replaces the previous quarterly newsletter, “Access Bensenville,” which

focused on park district accessibility news. Accessibility content from the park district and its community partners—Bensenville School District 2, Fenton High School District 100 and NEDSRA—will be contained within its own section in the new newsletter format.

An electronic version of “Wazzup Bville!” will also be posted to the Bensenville Park District’s website at BvilleParks.org/Wazzup.

ACA opens ‘Boop-Oop-a-Doop’ exhibition

Artist Williams presents ‘Visual Voice of African American Diaspora’

Addison Center for the Arts is proud to present an exhibition by artist Charles Williams Jr., titled BoopOop-a-Doop: A Visual Voice of the African American Diaspora. The exhibition will run from March 29 to April 29, with a public artist reception on Saturday, April 1, from 6 to 8 pm at the ACA Gallery located at 213 N. Lombard Road, Addison.

Charles Williams Jr. is a self-taught artist from Woodridge, who has been painting for over ten years. He is an award-winning member of the Naperville Art League and the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild. He’s influenced by ab-

stract, urban, pop, modern, contemporary, and street art. He uses vibrant colors infused with geometric shapes and abstract line work that represents “the energy of life.” He incorporates a variety of mixed media like acrylic, pen, marker, oil pastel, chalk pastel, glitter, coffee beans, molding paste, among others to effectively manifest his elaborate imagination and artistic vision.

Charles has a profound belief that “art is an intrinsic expression of your soul and the medium you choose to express who you are. Your feelings are a God-given gift to be shared with

the world.” Charles seeks to inspire and bring joy, peace, awareness, and love to the world through his art. This exhibition, Boop-Oop-aDoop, is Williams’ homage to African descendants’ culture, history, fashion, resources, and overall beauty and style. Williams’ main muse and source of inspiration is none other than the popular iconic character Betty Boop. By deftly weaving abstraction and figuration with sharp brush strokes, Williams explores the aesthetic of pop art, and incorporates other popular culture cartoon figures such as SpongeBob and the Pink Panther to convey a mes-

Artis Senior Living offers WOW hotline

Artis Senior Living, a leading developer-owner-operator of Memory Care and Assisted Living residences with 27 communities operating in 11 states, has launched their Words of Wisdom (WOW) Hotline. Callers can listen to inspiring, thoughtful, and funny messages by Artis residents organized into five categories: General, Marriage, Becoming a New Parent, Retirement & Becoming an Empty Nester, and Dad Jokes.

The WOW Hotline is: 484-2180251

“We are committed to developing creative ideas and programs to help residents explore purposeful and engaging lives at our communities,” said Mary Underwood, vice president of Memory Care Services. “We have amazing residents who are constantly having meaningful discussions and sharing a wealth of knowledge with each other. So, we thought, ‘How can we share this knowledge and engage with others outside of our communities?’ A hotline was an easy and fun way to make this idea a

reality for our residents.”

The current voices of encouragement on the hotline are just the beginning. Artis has plans to add more resident messages from its 27 communities.

“The residents have really gotten behind this and have already developed different categories of insights to add to the hotline,” added Underwood. “They genuinely want to make a difference, create smiles, and make a positive impact on as many people as possible.”

Former local resident to perform with Triton Troupers

Former Elmhurst resident Kevin Adair (left) and his 16-year-old son Lucas will be performing juggling, gymnastics, stunts and more with the Triton Troupers for their 50th Anniversary Shows on Thursday, March 30, Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1. The show begins at 7 p.m. each evening plus there is a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday. (The Saturday afternoon performance will be interpreted for the hearing-impaired.)

The event takes place in the Collins Center Gym on the campus of Triton College, 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, near the intersection of North and Fifth Ave. The father and son entertainers will join dozens of other local entertainers from the western suburbs and throughout Chicagoland. They will be present tricks and stunts on the trampoline, the teeterboard, juggling, rolling globes, climbing pole, double stunts, Crazy-Bike, stacking chairs and stilt-walking. Shows are $6 per person, payable with cash only at the door. Seating opens one hour before the performance. Info: tritontrouperscircus.com

sage of black beauty, brilliance, resilience, love, and hope for the future.

“We are delighted to host Charles Williams Jr.’s first solo show,” said Julie Mars, director of communications at Addison Center for the Arts.

“He adds a joyous African American perspective to the pop art movement pioneered by Andy Warhol and oth-

ers. We are excited to offer Williams’ work as an introduction to the cultural happenings surrounding Warhol 2023 at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art this year.”

For more information about the exhibition or the ACA, visit addisoncenterforthearts.org or call 630-4584500.

TIM BRAUN PHOTO The Independent

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Wood St. Fitness to offer free class to veterans

‘Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies’ offers Zumba Gold, drum fitness

Wood Street Fitness, in conjunction with Healthy Minds-Healthy Bodies (HMHB), is offering veterans free access to its Zumba Gold/ Drum Fitness seated class beginning Tuesday, April 4.

Access to the class, which takes place on Tuesdays from 12-12:45 p.m., is available free for veterans in-person or via Zoom April 4-18. Wood Street Fitness is located inside the Bensenville Park District’s Deer Grove Leisure Center.

“The seated Zumba Gold/Drum Fitness class is perfect for those dancing enthusiasts who need modifications, those with limited mobility or those just starting to exercise after a long period of inactivity,”

Police reports

The Bensenville 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.

March 22, 12:09 p.m., near Route 83 and 3rd Avenue, George T. Walker, 30, of Gary, Ind., was arrested for a failure to appear warrant out of Will County. BEPC2300254

March 22, 1:20 p.m. in the 1-100 block of S. Addison St., a complainant reported an unknown suspect removed his catalytic converter from his car. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300255

March 22, 5:40 a.m. in the 1100 block of N. Ellis St., a complainant reported catalytic converter thefts on three of their box trucks. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300253

March 21, 10:26 a.m., Jose F. Cisneros Pacheco, 25, of Northlake, was arrested by the Melrose Park Police Department and turned over to the Bensenville Police Department on an original Bensenville warrant. BEPC2200643

March 21, 3:56 p.m. in the 300 block of E. Green St., a complainant reported battery by a known suspect. BEPC2300251

March 18, 2:06 a.m. near Green Valley Street and Kevyn Lane, a complainant reported criminal damage to property. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300245

March 18, 12:59 p.m. in the 200 block of S. Mason St., a complainant reported battery by an unknown suspect who left the scene. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300247

March 17, 7:39 p.m. in the 100 block Bridget Court, a 32-year-old Bensenville man was arrested for domestic battery. BEPC2300243

March 16, 4:52 p.m. in the 600 block of York Road, a burglary was reported at this address. Officers responded and this case is under investigation. BEPC2300239

said fitness supervisor Silvia Acevedo, who is also the HMHB-certified instructor for the class. “This mixed class is a fun way to exercise your body and mind with coordinated moves.”

Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies is a trademarked program of AllenForce—implemented by licensed fitness centers like Wood St. Fitness

throughout the country—that is offered free of charge to qualified veterans. Each facility and fitness professional complete specific training on veteran culture, PTSD, MST, injuries and illness specific to veterans and adaptive equipment.

The program provides veterans with two one-year memberships (veteran and chosen “PT partner”),

promoting healthy fitness habits and a positive outlet for stress relief, and up to 15 personal training sessions with a qualified Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies professional. Monthly networking opportunities provide mentoring, peer support, connections with other veteran organizations and adapted sport experiences.

Park district plans trip to ‘School of Rock’

On Wednesday, April 26, the Bensenville Park District is sponsoring a trip to Aurora’s historic Paramount Theatre to see four-time Tony award-nominee “School of Rock.” From the genius mind of Andrew Lloyd Webber comes a rousing, feel-good and inspirational story of kids at a prestigious prep school. Wannabe rocker Dewey Finn has

just been kicked out of his band, he can’t pay rent and his life is falling apart. When he scams his way into a teaching job meant for his roommate, Finn turns a class of straight-A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. Finn’s love of music and rock soon inspires the kids to pursue what they love. Based on the hit

movie starring Jack Black, “School of Rock” inspires, entertains and flat-out rocks.

The fee for the trip is $70, $65 for those living in district. Transportation is included, and lunch will be served prior to the show. Register by Monday, April 17 at the Deer Grove Leisure Center, 1000 W. Wood Street.

Polish Klub tours Chicago Museum

To celebrate Kazimierz Pulaski Day, Fenton’s Polish Klub traveled to Chicago and toured the Polish Museum of America, which was established in 1935 and is one of the oldest and largest ethnic museums in the United States. It contains more than 100,000 books as well as paintings and sculptures dating from between 1901 to 1947. Many were on display at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. The class is pictured here in front of a restaurant in the area they visited.

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Obituary

JEANETTE MAY

HAMILTON, 88

Jeanette May Hamilton, nee Treskett, age 88, of St. Petersburg, Fla., beloved wife of the late Fred Hamilton, loving mother of Debra Hamilton and Michelle (Dave) Stevens; proud grandmother of Michael Towarnicki and Marc (Theresa) Hamilton.

Visitation will be held Monday, April 3, from 4-8 p.m., with a prayer

from the Pastor at 7:30 p.m., at Adolf Funeral Home, 7000 S. Madison St., Willowbrook, IL 60527. 630325-2300.

Interment will

be held Tuesday, April 4, at 11:30 a.m. at Ridgeway Cemetery, 9900 N. Milwaukee Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60016.

Support

SUBMITTED PHOTO Bensenville Independent

AT boys volleyball team hosts event for NAMI

On Friday, April 14, the Addison Trail Boys Volleyball Team will host a “Volley for NAMI” event, and all Addison Trail students, staff, parents/guardians, alumni and friends are invited to attend. The games will feature a faculty match at 4:30 p.m. and an alumni match at 5:30 p.m. to raise funds for NAMI DuPage, whose mission is to provide support, advocacy and education to improve the quality of life of individuals with mental illnesses and their families. The organization is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

There also will be concessions, cotton candy, raffle baskets and more. Donations will be accepted at the door for entry. For more information about NAMI DuPage, go to namidupage.org.

House passes bill prohibiting book bans

Libraries would be disqualified from state grants

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

The Illinois House passed a bill last week that would prohibit libraries from banning books or other material because of partisan or doctrinal pressure, prompting strong opposition from Republicans who called it an assault on local control.

House Bill 2789 is an initiative of Democratic Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office oversees the Illinois State Library and administers several grant programs for public and school libraries as well as adult literacy programs throughout the state.

The bill would require that as a condition of qualifying for those grants in the future, libraries or library systems would have to adopt a written policy prohibiting the practice of banning books. Alternatively, they could adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which includes a statement that “(m)aterials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”

The bill came in response to a wave of high-profile controversies throughout the country, including at least one in Illinois. School districts and public libraries have come under pressure to remove certain material from their collections, often material dealing with issues involving race, sexuality and gender identity.

“Banning books is the sort of behavior that was once, for good reason, associated with the worst, most repressive and repugnant authoritarian regimes of the mid-20th century and before,” the bill’s lead sponsor Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, said during debate on the House floor. “The fact that this is even up for discussion in America in the 21st century is disgusting. And yet, just last year in my district, that discussion was spurred on by a few radical parents and the Proud Boys hate group over a book called ‘ Gender Queer .’ ”

That book is a memoir by Maia

Thirty staff members honored with Addison Trail’s Golden Apple

Every school year, Addison Trail students have the opportunity to recognize a teacher or a staff member for going above and beyond and making a difference in their life through the school’s Golden Apple program.

Addison Trail’s Golden Apple is given to teachers and staff members who have made a positive impact on students inside the classroom and beyond. On March 20, 30 staff members were honored. This award is one way pupils can give back to staff members for all they do. It also is a reminder to staff their hard work and continuous effort matter each and every day.

Addison Trail Golden Apple recipients and the student(s) who nominated them include:

Nicoletta Bellavia, nominated by freshman Sydney Mattinson

English teacher Stephen Bruns, by junior Soha Siddiqui

Emma Santillan

Special education teacher Freddy

Crone, by senior Brian Bahena

Reading English Learner (EL) teacher Maria DiNovo, by sophomore Rene Chagoya

Science teacher Carolyn Erwin, by junior Amina Quadri

Science English Learner (EL) teacher Laura Garcia, by freshman

Darrell Setyadi

Science English Learner (EL) teacher Shannon Garcia, by freshman Mattea Giralamo

Alexia Gomez, by junior Valentino Smith and senior Leonardo Diaz Gomez

Tammy Gomez, by senior Kerri Carr

Social studies English Learner (EL) teacher Antonio Gonzalez, by senior Lindsey Pham

Art teacher Tim Hockensmith, by Jessica Ficarra

navite, by senior Daisy Puebla

Business education teacher Joe Mahoney, by seniors Omar Ibarra and Eva De La Rosa

Family and consumer sciences teacher Lija Marzec, by senior Cassandra Villegas

World language teacher Kathleen McColaugh, by senior Tareq Perez-Shehade

Choir Director Jeff Nellessen, by freshman Savannah Flowers

Social studies teacher Mark Olson, by sophomore Katelyn Ford

Special education teacher Vicki Ream, by Perez

Physical education, health and driver education department head Rob Schader, by senior Maria Zapata

English teacher Claire Shoup, by Cerberus Gonzalez

Math teacher Philip Stewart, by sophomore Francis Hester and junior Giselle Hernandez

Kobabe about a nonbinary person grappling with issues of gender identity and sexuality as a teenager and young adult. According to the New York Times , it has been pulled from library shelves in dozens of school districts around the country.

One of the school districts that came under pressure to remove the book was Community High School District 99, in Downers Grove, in Stava-Murray’s district. According to a June 2022 Chicago Sun-Times story, the pressure was generated by a group of conservative parents and members of the Proud Boys, but students in the district pushed back and the board eventually voted unanimously to keep the book on the shelves.

“Students led a community-supported effort in my district to keep the book in the library,” Stava-Murray said. “But kids shouldn’t have to be the heroes… Nobody is forcing you or your children to check out or purchase or read these books. If they are not consistent with your personal beliefs, don’t read them.”

PEN American, in a report on book bans around the country, identified five enforced bans in the state between July 2021 and June 2022, including three bans of Gender Queer.

Some Republicans, however, argued that public libraries are governed by locally elected boards, and that those boards should have the authority to decide how best to serve their communities.

“I find this a complete assault on local control,” said Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills. “… These people volunteer as nonpartisan elected local officials, and for the state to tell a local library board, ‘listen to the professionals; follow the professionals’—I don’t understand why we have local elections anymore if a bill like this passes.”

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said that he used to serve on his local library board and when

Vision teacher Wendy Brusich, by sophomore Francesca Gurgone

World language teacher Laura Calo, by juniors James Cahill Jr. and David Lazzara

Family and consumer sciences teacher Bridget Colleran, by senior

Theatre Tech Assistant Alex Holod, by junior Josephine Ficarra

Business education teacher Jeffrey Laschinski, by senior Kate Padilla

Raya and junior Zachary Morris

Cory Little, by junior Aniyah Walker

Social studies teacher Laura Mag-

Orchestra Director Alex Stombres, by senior Verenise Morales-Saavedra

Math English Learner (EL) teacher Ashley Vaca, by senior Mia Dravilas

Science teacher Dena Zarou, by freshman Xavier Young.

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

Sponsor earlier reported spread of misinformation, threats of violence

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill last week that would allow businesses, universities and other building owners to designate multi-occupancy all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so.

The bill passed on a vote of 6040, the bare minimum number of “yes” votes needed for passage in the 118-member House, after the presiding officer held the roll open for several seconds waiting for the 60th vote to be recorded.

State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, who sponsored the bill, said the language of House Bill 1286 is identical to an earlier bill that passed 63-43 in the House in 2021 but was never taken up in the Senate.

Illinois law already allows for single-occupancy bathrooms to be designated for all genders, but Stuart’s bill would allow an all-gender designation for bathrooms that accommodate two or more people.

The bill sets out standards that all-gender bathrooms would have to meet, such as “inclusive signage” that does not indicate any specific

gender; stall dividers with functioning locks controlled by the user; and partitions for each urinal, if urinals are present.

In addition, if such bathrooms are part of a newly constructed building or a building undergoing major renovation, they would have to comply with requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the Illinois Accessibility Code. Each toilet stall would have to include a small trash receptacle, and it would have to have at least one vending machine for menstruation supplies and one baby diaper changing station.

The bill also provides that any multi-occupancy restroom could be converted to an all-gender restroom. But if another single-gender multi-occupancy restroom is located adjacent to or near the all-gender restroom, both would have to be designated as all-gender facilities.

The bill passed out of the House Human Services Committee on Feb. 22 on a 6-3 vote after only brief discussion. But just a few days later, Stuart said she was forced to cancel a planned constituent coffee event in Collinsville, “due to violent

threats and malicious information being spread by special interest groups about bathroom privacy and safety legislation.”

“Yeah, there was some, I think, deliberately incendiary information being touted, real falsities about what was in the bill that was leading to, you know, frankly, threats and things that I didn’t want to expose my staff and the public to,” Stuart said during an interview. “So we chose to cancel a public event.”

She said when the 2021 bill passed, there was more debate about it on the floor of the House than there was last week, but she did not receive the kinds of personal attacks and threats over it that she received this year.

“I think it’s just the general mood,” she said. “Unfortunately, we’ve gotten to kind of a real ugly place in our politics where people stoke division and fear and hate for political gain. And they’re not ashamed to lie in the process.”

She stressed that the bill does not mandate that any bathroom be designated for all genders, but only allows building owners to do so if they choose.

Area police departments recently reported the following arrests and citations. 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. Persons charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the privacy of victims. Juveniles age 17 or younger are not named.

Addison

March 19

A 40-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 600 block of N. Highview at 11:54 p.m.

A 42-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 900 block of E. Crockett at 5:21 a.m.

A 35-year-old man and 37-yearold man, both of Addison, were charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 500 block of W. Natalie at 3:30 a.m.

March 18

Felix Crispin Mendez, 51 of Addison, was charged with violation of an order of protection in the 500 block of N. Macie at 10:23 p.m.

Police said Vincent W. Zapata, 29, of Addison, was issued a warrant in the 300 block of Dale at 2:57 p.m.

March 17

A 43-year-old Addison woman was charged with two counts of domestic battery at 4:21 p.m.

March 15

Police said David Andres Jimenez, 36, of Addison, was issued a warrant near Fullerton and Church at 10:05 p.m.

Police said Alexis Ocana Duran, 21, of Elgin, was issued a warrant

near Lake and Rohlwing.

Matthew N. Wieczorek, 43, of Westmont, was charged with aiding, abetting, possessing, and selling a stolen vehicle at 4:11 a.m.

Villa Park

March 18

Shahbaz A. Chaydhry, 26, of Villa Park, was charged with retail theft/ possessing displayed merchandise/ criminal trespass to land after receiving notice that entry is forbidden at a store in the 900 block of S. Route 83 at 4:57 p.m.

A 38-year-old Villa Park man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 600 block of N. Ardmore at 5:54 a.m.

A complainant at a business in the 200 block of W. North reported at 8:05 p.m. that unknown suspects removed several pieces of clothing and left without paying.

March 16

A complainant at a hotel in the 1-100 block of W. Roosevelt reported at 3:21 p.m. that an unknown suspect damaged their vehicle while it was parked in the parking lot.

March 15

A complainant in the 1-100 block of E. Highland reported at 12:16 p.m. that an unknown suspect used an unknown object to break the passenger side window of a vehicle parked in the parking lot. The suspect also damaged the vehicle’s steering panel.

March 13

Police said Scott Edwards, 33, of Carol Stream, was arrested on two original complaint and warrants out of the Carol Stream and Glendale Heights police departments at a hotel in the 1-100 block of W. Roosevelt at 11:34 p.m.

Police said Arlette Zapata, 31, of Bloomingdale, was arrested a failure to appear warrant out of DuPage County near E. St. Charles and S. Villa at 10:42 p.m.

A complainant at a business in the 700 block of N. Princeton reported at 3:38 p.m. that an unknown suspect used a screwdriver to break the passenger front window of two vehicles parked in the parking lot and removed several tools.

A complainant in the 300 block of S. Yale reported at 6:58 p.m. that

an unknown suspect was harassing them via snapchat.

March 12

Kenard T. Jarrett, 29, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of burglary/identity theft exceeding $300 at a fitness center in the 300 block of W. North. The alleged incident was reported on Jan. 29 and the arrest was made on the above date.

Police said Andrei Lupu, 24, of Des Plaines, was arrested on an original complaint and warrant out of the

Glenview Police Department in the 200 block of W. North at 8:07 a.m.

A complainant near S. Ardmore and E. Highland reported at 3:23 p.m. that an unknown suspect removed multiple political signs from residential locations.

Fraud, identity theft

According to information provided last week by the Villa Park Police Department, police reported eight incidents of residents being a victim of fraud or identity theft.

Inspiring young musician wins ‘23 Niebuhr ‘Service to Society’ contest

Event livestreamed to allow international students to participate

Aidan Pelletier, who found innovative ways to share the gift of music with his church and its youngest members, is the first-place winner of the 2023 Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition.

During the awards ceremony held earlier this month, Pelletier, a senior at Grayslake Central High School in Grayslake, was awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to attend Elmhurst University.

The second-place winner is Elizabeth Vazquez, a senior at Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy in Forest Park, who was awarded a $10,000 renewable scholarship to attend Elmhurst University.

This year, a record 214 students entered the Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition, which celebrates students with a passion for service to their communities and the world. The participants come from across the Midwest and as far west as Colorado; and globally, from Mexico, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan.

It was the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that the annual competition and awards ceremony were held in person, although the event was also livestreamed so that out-of-state and international students could participate.

Winners of the virtual group service project include: Angelina Calvillo, from Chicago; Nathan Devitt, Bloomingdale; Emily Fanella, Elk Grove Village; Stephanie Figueroa, Darien; Gabrielle Fisher, Round Lake Beach; and Sofija Galanto, Skokie.

Each member received a $3,000 Niebuhr Service to Society Group Award. All students who entered the competition and attended the scholarship event received a $1,000 Niebuhr Grant, which can be added to previously awarded merit scholarships and/or grants.

The Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition is named for theologians Reinhold and H. Richard Niebuhr, two of Elmhurst University’s most esteemed alumni. The Niebuhrs’ commitment to scholarship, service and social justice informs the University’s mission, as well as its efforts to seek students motivated to transform their communities.

Pelletier 1st in Niebuhr event

Aidan Pelletier (left) accepts a certificate from Elmhurst University President Troy VanAken as the first-place winner of the 2023 Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition. He was awarded a fouryear, full-tuition scholarship to attend the University. Aidan is a senior at Grayslake High School.

Hillside resident takes 2nd place

SUBMITTED PHOTOS The Independent

Christine Grenier (left) from the Elmhurst University Office of Admissions congratulates Elizabeth Vazquez, the second-place winner of the 2023 Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition. Elizabeth was awarded a $10,000 renewable scholarship to attend Elmhurst University. A resident of Hillside, Elizabeth is a senior at Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy in Forest Park.

Ladisch Douglass passes bill to protect long-term care facility residents

A bill introduced by state Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass, D-Elmhurst, to protect residents of long-term care facilities and prevent the exploitation of seniors and people with disabilities passed out of the Illinois House of Representatives.

“As a practicing attorney and now as a state representative, one of my top priorities is to protect vulnerable members of our community and improve their quality of life,” she said. “This bill provides common sense solutions to potentially life-threatening problems, improving the safety of long-term care facilities and preventing financial exploitation.”

To prevent the financial exploitation of Illinois’ most vulnerable, House Bill 2100 provides that exploitation of a senior or person with a disability, as outlined in statute, is guilty of a Class 1 felony if the elderly person is 70 years of age or older and the value of the property is $15,000 or more. The bill also changes language in the statute concerning abuse or criminal neglect of longterm care facility residents so that more people, rather than only seniors and people with disabilities, are covered under the law. These efforts not only improve the safety of longterm care facility residents, but also deters bad actors from exploiting seniors and people with disabilities.

The bill has the backing of several law enforcement groups, including the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, and the DuPage County State’s Attorney.

“The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on existing issues in long-term care facilities, and this bill seeks to right some of those wrongs,” Ladisch Douglass said. “I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and help protect seniors, people with disabilities, and residents of long-term care facilities in Illinois.”

The bill passed out of the House with no opposition and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Slices of life

Shoot on net

My husband and I raised our kids in the land of hockey. This column is not about hockey.

I realize hockey isn’t a thing or perhaps not as popular in some (warmer) climates, but for many years, for us, hockey was a large part of life. If nothing else, it got us through the cold winters.

Between our three boys, we spent two decades with the sport.

Despite my years of watching the Zamboni resurface the ice, shivering in the arena stands, sampling hot cocoa from all over the state, lacing up little kid’s skates and cheering like only a mom can (sometimes with cowbells), it took me a long time to learn even a little about the sport. I relived my rookie season year after year.

Blue lines, red lines, forechecking and backchecking? It was all French Canadian to me.

My husband was not a rookie. He knew the sport inside and out. But he had a way of whittling

By JILL PERTLER Slices of Life

that down to the basic facts. One of his favorite pieces of hockey advice was pretty simple: Good. Things. Happen. When. You. Shoot. On. Net. He spat the words out just like that. As though each word was its own sentence.

He said it almost every game. It was like a mantra: Good things happen when you shoot on net. His message? Take the shot. The puck won’t go into the net if you don’t shoot it in that general direction. And nothing, absolutely nothing, will happen if you don’t shoot at all.

Sometimes, in life, we have the

opportunity to shoot for the net, but we hesitate. We are afraid. We pause.

We might even be distracted, unaware that the net is right in front of us. We may not even realize we are holding a stick or a bat or a ball. We may not even be aware of the net.

But it is there. It is in front of us. Perhaps for eons. Perhaps for just a fleeting moment.

This moment has a name: opportunity.

Life is filled with it—with them: opportunities. If we seize the moment. If we see the net. If we shoot.

We. Just. Might. Score.

Maybe not, but maybe so. But here’s one fact that is 100 percent true:

If we don’t take the shot, it ain’t going to happen.

My husband was a wise man. He continues teaching me even today. I’m thankful for that.

I heard his words over and over

throughout the years. Maybe my ears were too frozen to hear them. Or, maybe I simply wasn’t aware of them, much like we may not be aware of our own proverbial net. Or realize that we are on a breakaway, racing toward it at full speed, on recently sharpened skates with a stick in our gloved hands guiding the puck across the ice right in front of us.

I am aware now. I remember his words and I am cognizant of their wisdom. I will heed his advice to the best of my ability. Life is short. I’m going for the hat trick. I encourage you to do the same. Whether you go top shelf or for the five hole, take the shot. Shoot on net. Good things will happen.

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.

UCC president to discuss threat of Christian Nationalism

John Dorhauer comes to University April 11

The Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer is an author, theologian and the ninth general minister and president of the United Church of Christ.

On Tuesday, April 11, he will give the lecture “Christian Nationalism: A Threat to Both Democracy and Christianity,” part of the Religious Literacy Project at Elmhurst University. During his talk, he will explore the challenge of faithfulness in the face of Christian nationalism, and the need for religious leaders and people of faith to openly discuss and confront it.

Dorhauer’s lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel on the campus of Elmhurst University. The event is free but reservations are encouraged, at elmhurst.edu/cultural.

“When we’re talking about the preservation of democracy, the upholding of human rights, we can’t be silent,” Dorhauer said during a recent webinar on the November 2022 midterm elections hosted by the ecumenical Christian organization Faithful America. “I would strongly encourage clergy, especially, not to use the pulpit to promote a political ideology, but to talk openly about Christian nationalism.”

Dorhauer is the author of Beyond Resistance: The Institutional Church Meets the Postmodern World (2015). He is the former conference minister of the Southwest Conference of the UCC and former associate conference minister in the Missouri Mid-South Conference. He also has served local churches in rural Missouri.

Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger to deliver University’s annual Schade Lecture

A former six-term GOP Congressman from Illinois, Adam Kinzinger witnessed firsthand the deeply entrenched political divide that he believes is threatening American democracy as never before.

After leaving office earlier this year and joining CNN as a senior commentator, Kinzinger is essentially without a political home, yet still a believer in the political system — and a way forward.

On Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m., he will explore these ideas in conversation with POLITICO reporter Shia Kapos during the 2023 Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law at Elmhurst University. His message is entitled “Where Do We Go From Here? A Conversation with Adam Kinzinger.” It will be held in Hammerschmidt Chapel on the campus of Elmhurst University. For Kinzinger, service to country has been a guiding force throughout his life and career, first as a McLean County (Ill.) Board mem -

ber and U.S. Air Force pilot who served three tours in Iraq, and later as a lawmaker in the halls of Congress. From 2011-22, Kinzinger served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Illinois’ 11th and 16th Congressional districts.

At POLITICO, Kapos is a government and politics reporter, and also writes the popular Illinois Playbook. Her work focuses on the intersection of politics, power and personalities. Kapos previously wrote the Taking Names column, a personality-driven feature in the

training for adults over

Chicago Sun-Times and before that at Crain’s Chicago Business. She also is the former political editor of the Salt Lake Tribune in Utah.

Admission is $15 for the general public and free for Elmhurst University students, faculty, staff and alumni. Tickets are available by visiting elmhurst.edu/cultural. For more information, email marketing@elmhurst.edu.

The Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law is part of Elmhurst University’s Spring 2023 Cultural Season speaker series.

As the University celebrates its most ambitious fundraising campaign in institutional history, this academic year’s Cultural Season theme— The Legacy We Leave: Doing Well, Doing Good, Investing in the Future —highlights philanthropic impact and building a culture of generosity and hope.

Arrangements for the appearance of Adam Kinzinger were made through UTA Speakers, New York, N.Y.

Pritzker touts higher education plan, joins call for pharmacies to state abortion pill plans

Governor advises pharmacies against ‘capitulating’ to ‘threats’ by Republican AGs

By Nika Schoonover

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

On his latest marketing tour to sell his state budget plan, Gov. JB Pritzker visited a community college in Normal recently to highlight his proposed investments in higher education.

“With an additional $100 million directed to the (Monetary Award Program) grant program, a student can pair our state support with a federal Pell grant and pay for college with no loans and debt required,” Pritzker said at the news conference at Heartland Community College.

The increase would bring total MAP funding to $701 million, a 75 percent increase since the governor took office. According to his office , the proposed investment would allow most community college students and 40 percent of public university students at or below median income levels to have their tuition covered through the combined grants.

The governor added that every student this year who applied and was eligible for a MAP grant received one.

“When I first took office, going to college in Illinois seemed less affordable than ever before. Prior administrations had cut funding for higher education so badly that

out-of-state tuition looked better to Illinois families,” Pritzker said.

“And that’s a fundamental failure of state government and it’s a trend we’ve been reversing for the last four years.”

The plan would also provide additional funding for community college programs, including $8.3 million for dual credit and noncredit workforce grant programs, $11 million for development of technology-focused workforce training programs, and $750,000 to expand English language services.

“Illinois has the third largest community college system in the entire nation,” Pritzker said.

“We’re home to 48 community colleges and all across the state they open doors to higher wages, new careers, better jobs.”

The governor will spend the coming days promoting the plan across the state, similar to a tour he made in recent weeks to highlight his “Smart Start” plan for early childhood education. He’s also promoted investments aimed at addressing the state’s teacher shortage.

Medication abor tion access

Pritzker also announced that he joined 14 other governors in calling for major pharmacies to clarify how they will protect access to

medication abortion such as mifepristone.

The move comes after a recent announcement by Walgreens that it would stop distributing the medication in 21 states where Republican attorneys general threatened action against the company.

“I’ve spoken with Walgreens executives and expressed my deep disappointment at their announced policy, and I’ve urged them to rethink this decision that will severely limit access to essential health care for thousands of women,” Pritzker said in a statement. “I’m calling on all major pharmacies to resist the political grandstanding of certain state attorneys general and preserve this right wherever reproductive choice is still allowed— which will always be the case in Illinois while I am governor.”

The coalition of 14 Democratic governors sent a letter to executives at CVS, Walmart, Rite-Aid, Safeway, Health Mart, Kroger, Costco and Target.

“The other major pharmacy companies have not announced what they’re doing and it’s clear to me that they’re capitulating to the threat by 21 attorney’s general around the nation,” Pritzker said at the news conference. “That’s not acceptable and they need to answer what are they going to do.”

Adam KinzingerShia Kapos

Puzzle page

BEACH

BEVERAGES

BREAK

CELEBRATE

COLLEGE

CONTEST

CROWDS

ESCAPE

FRIENDS

MUSIC

NOISY

OCEAN

PARTY

REFRESHMENTS

REVELRY

SEMESTER

SOUTH

SPRING

SUNSHINE

SWIMSUIT

TRAFFIC

TRAVEL

VACATION

WARM

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!

CLUES ACROSS

1. Millisecond

5. Narcotic drug

11. Accident

14. Formal submissions

15. Popular 70s rock band

18. Discourage from doing

19. More socially elite

21. Arid

23. A way to look

24. Heroes

28. A surfer rides it

29. Potato state

30. Insect repellent

32. Cool!

33. Have already done

35. Collegiate women’s fraternity

36. To the __ degree

39. Gasteyer and de Armas are two

41. Blood type

42. Looked over

44. Language of Cameroon and Chad

46. Species of armadillo

47. Touch softly

49. Part of your upper body

52. Large, stocky lizards

56. Lack of social or ethical standards

58. Congressman

60. Unofficial force

62. As a result of this utterance

63. A main branch of Islam

CLUES DOWN

1. Woman (French)

2. Province of Pakistan

3. This (Spanish)

4. Transportation device

5. Greater in importance or priority

6. The human foot

7. Within

8. Consumed

9. Respectful Malaysian term

10. Therefore

12. Ceased to exist

13. Type of macaroni

16. English composer

17. Wooded tract

20. Tall, slender-leaved plant

22. 36 inches

25. Take too much (abbr.)

26. Allow

27. Individually

29. Journalist Tarbell

31. Bar bill

34. Hong Kong food stall:__ pai

dong

36. Not messy

37. Species that includes reedmace

38. Former MLB catcher Ed

40. Northern U.S. state

43. Wilt

45. Commercial

48. Bolivian river

50. Nursemaid

51. A car needs four

53. Guns (slang)

54. American state

55. Clusters of fern fronds

57. Body part

58. A person’s brother or sister

59. Breed of sheep native to Sweden

61. Of I

Please join us for worship!

Sundays: 9am Adult Education and Sunday School 10am Traditional Divine Service

60126 630/834-1411 www.RedeemerLCMS.com

Facebook: RedeemerofElmhurst • Youtube: RedeemerLCMS.com

Worship Services Directory

130 W. Butterfield Road Elmhurst, IL 630-279-4775

Maundy Thursday Communion Service April 6, Noon

Good Friday Tenebrae Service April 7, 7:30 p.m.

Gather with us for

Visitation Roman Catholic Church

779 S. York Street ~ Elmhurst, Illinois visitationparish.org — 630834-6700

The Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday

Thursday, April 6th ~ Holy Thursday ~

Morning Prayer at 8:15am

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 pm.

Solemn adoration of the Eucharist in church until Midnight

Friday, April 7th ~ Good Friday ~

Morning Prayer at 8:15am

Afternoon Service of the Passion with Communion at 3pm.

Stations and Veneration of the Cross at 7pm.

Saturday, April 8th ~ Holy Saturday ~

Morning Prayer at 8:15am

Blessing of Easter Food at Noon.

Easter Vigil – The Mass of the Resurrection at 7pm

Sunday, April 9th ~ Easter Sunday ~ Masses celebrated at 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 am.

Lent

St.

Timothy Evangelical

Lutheran Church 547 N. Main St., Lombard, IL 60148 630-627-2435

and

Easter

Services

Sunday Worship at 10:15 am Sunday School & Bible Study 9am

at 7 p.m.

“The Crucial Hours”

Second Lenten Service March 9, 2022

Rev. David Ernest “Satan Has Asked to Sift All of You” Jerusalem Lutheran, Morton Grove Matthew 27:15-26

Lent and Easter Services

Third Lenten Service March 16, 2022

at 7 pm

Rev. Paul Spaude “What to Remember When Your are St. Matthews, Niles Seized with Remorse” Matthew 27:3-4

“His Final Steps”

Sixth Lenten Service March 29, 2023

Rev. Tom Nicholson “Led to His Enemies” Resurrection, Aurora Luke 20:9-19

Fourth Lenten Service March 23, 2022

Rev. Jonathan Bergemann “I Will Keep the Passover” Good Shepherd, Downers Grove Matthew 26:18

✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝

Fifth Lenten Service March 30, 2022

Rev. Tom Nicholson “They Bound Him” Resurrection, Aurora John 18:12

Maundy Thursday Communion 7:00 pm, April 6

Good Friday Tenebrae 7:00 pm, April 7

Sixth Lenten Service April 6, 2022

Easter Sunrise 6:30 am, April 9

Rev. Phil Schupmann “The Semblance of Legality” Resurrection, Aurora Luke 22:66

Easter Breakfast 8:00 am, April 9

Easter Festival 10:15 am, April 9

Maundy Thursday Communion 7 p.m., April 14

Everyone is Welcome!

Good Friday Tenebrae 7 p.m., April 15

All services are live streamed.

Easter Sunrise 6:30 a.m., April 17

“You can watch them on our website or on Facebook.” SaintTimothy.org

Easter Breakfast 8 a.m., April 17

Easter Festival 10:15 a.m., April 17

434551

ICGS 3rd graders create live Wax Museum

Last week, ICGS 3rd graders were asked to choose a famous person and conduct research to learn about that person and write a five-paragraph essay on the person’s life. The students then created a “Wax Museum,” where each one displayed a poster

board graphic about their famous person. Students dressed as their character and recited a short speech.

Parents and special guests were invited to come learn all about the famous people in the “Wax Museum” exhibit. The 3rd graders really got

King of the wild frontier

into character and held themselves completely still until the guests “pressed the button” that made the “wax figure” come to life and recite their individual story. It was a little bit Madame Tussauds and a little bit Disney World!

Babe Ruth comes to life

At left, “Babe Ruth” stands very still in his role as a figure at the Wax Museum in his ICGS 3rd grade class. After “coming to life,” students gave a short report about their famous person.

Her Majesty

Parents and special guests tour the ‘Wax Museum’ created by the 3rd graders at ICGS. Each student dressed as a famous person and stood very still until a guest “pushed the button” to bring them to life. They each recited a brief story of what they learned about their individual. Here, a woman speaks with “Queen Elizabeth” in her crown, while in the background, “Jeffrey Bezos” (in skullcap!) and “Sally Ride” (in space helmet) also greet guests.

Famous people at the Wax Museum

At the ICGS 3rd graders Wax Museum tour held recently, parents and special guests could learn about Jane Goodall, who worked with gorillas, and Neil Armstrong, an astronaut who was the first person to walk on the moon.

• Book bans

(Continued from page 5)

his own children visit the library, they are accompanied by a parent. But he said that is not necessarily the case when they are at school using the school library.

“I am not for banning books at all,” he said. “I am for age-appropriate materials. And so, if a parent wants their kid to have those age-appropriate materials, they can certainly get them for them. I don’t think that a librarian is the end-all, be-all decision maker in the state of Illinois on what books should be given to a child.”

Stava-Murray, however, rejected those arguments, saying the bill would only add another condition onto the rules to qualify for grants

administered by the secretary of state. Last year, the office awarded more than 1,600 grants totaling more than $62 million, including a $4,300 grant to Downers Grove Community High School District 99.

“In terms of the argument about local control, I find that disgusting. Local Control has long been a dog whistle for allowing statewide or nationwide racist or bigoted policies to persist,” she said, eliciting loud boos from the Republican side of the aisle. “Today, I just strongly urge my colleagues to do the right thing and make sure that access to books is not infringed upon in our state.”

The bill passed the House 69-39

with all of the no votes coming from Republicans. Three Democrats and one Republican were recorded as present but not voting. The bill next goes to the Senate for consideration. “Public and school libraries are facing unprecedented censorship of books and resources, not just in Illinois but throughout the nation,” Giannoulias said in a statement after the vote. “This important first-in-thenation legislation combats book banning and upholds freedom of speech, which America has always stood for.

I applaud the Illinois House of Representatives for passing this important measure and encourage the State Senate to do the same.”

This student decided to research and tell the story of Daniel Boone for his part in the ICGS 3rd graders Wax Museum project.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Elmhurst Independent

Gutters

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Tree Service

PAUL BUNYON & SONS TREE SERVICE

T & M TREE SERVICE

Never Known to Fail

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed mother of the Son of God.

Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother.

Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth! I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to answer me in this necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x). Holy Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3xs). Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3x). Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can attain my goal, you who gave me divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me, and that in all instances in my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine.

The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days, after 3 days the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. A.S.

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 1-900669-9777. The toll-free tele phone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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cept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.

House panel debates ranked choice voting

Opinions vary about benefits, cost and complexity of multichoice ballots

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Illinois lawmakers are debating whether the state should join a growing list of jurisdictions in the United States that allow voters to pick more than one candidate for an office, ranking them in order of preference rather than choosing just one.

Ranked choice voting, or as it’s sometimes called, “instant runoff voting,” actually has a long history in U.S. elections at the municipal level. But it has become more widely adopted in modern times, including in several states and dozens of municipalities.

“This is a better voting model to ensure all voices and choices are reflected in the election results,” Amber McReynolds, an elections expert and former elections director for the city and county of Denver, Colorado, told a House committee Wednesday. “It prioritizes and expands voter

LEGAL NOTICE

In The Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit DuPage County, Illinois ESTATE OF Robert Paul Neumann, DECEASED.

CASE NO. 2022PR000604.

Notice is given of the death of the above-named decedent. Letters of office were issued to Kathleen Elies, of 3872 Maple Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062, as Independent Administrator, whose attorney of record is Chris J. Aiello, P.C., of 322 S ARDMORE AVE, VILLA PARK, IL 60181; DuPage County attorney No.: 21072; phone No.: 630-833-1122.

Notice is given to Carol Janik, who is an heir of the decedent whose name or address was not stated in the petition for Letters of Administration, that an order was entered on date of letters, granting Letters of Administration of the estate.

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under section 5/28-4 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, par. 5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the DuPage Circuit Court Clerk, 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois, or with the representative, or both, on or before June 07, 2021, or, if mailing or delivery of a notice from the representative is required by section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered by the claimant to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/service-providers.htm

to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www. illinoiscourts.gov/FAQ/gethelp.asp

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review March 30, April 6 & 13, 2023) 435216

choice, it puts voters first, and it improves the voting experience for all.”

The proposals facing Illinois lawmakers are subject to change as they move through the legislative process.

In a general ranked choice voting system, voters mark candidates in the order of their preference in races with three or more candidates. The voter can rank as many candidates as they choose. In a five-person race, for example, a voter might rank one candidate first, another second and leave the sections of the other three candidates blank.

In the first round of counting, ballots are counted as they are now, with everyone’s vote going to their first choice.

If no one has achieved a majority, the person with the fewest votes is eliminated and their voters’ ballots are recounted with their votes going to their highest ranked candidate that is still in the race.

This continues until a candidate earns a majority of votes counted in a given round of tabulation. This may not mean a majority of all people who voted in the election, since a ballot isn’t counted after all of their listed choices are eliminated.

According to the group FairVote, which advocates for ranked choice voting, there are 64 jurisdictions that allow that method of elections, including the states of Maine and Alaska, as well as two counties and 60 cities.

Colorado enacted a law in 2021 that allows municipalities to opt in to ranked choice voting in local elections. And Democratic parties in five states—Alaska, Kansas, Hawaii, Nevada and Wyoming—used it, wholly or partially, in their 2020 presidential primaries. There are currently three bills pending in the General Assembly that would allow ranked choice voting in one form or another.

House Bill 2716, by Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness, would implement the system for elections for the General Assembly, governor and other statewide constitutional officers.

House Bill 2807, by Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, would establish ranked choice voting in presidential primaries in Illinois. And House Bill 3749, by Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, would allow municipalities to use ranked choice voting if the municipality’s chief election authority submits a written statement saying they have the ability to conduct such an election.

Impact on elections

Supporters of ranked choice voting argue that it has several advantages over “plurality voting,” in which the person with the most votes after one round of counting wins regardless of whether that person has a majority.

One, they say, is that it reduces the number of “wasted” votes—that is,

votes cast for candidates who drop out of the race after it’s too late to remove their name from the ballot. McReynolds said that is particularly true in presidential primaries in which a large field of candidates is winnowed down to just a few after the first few states cast ballots.

“In 2016, more than 2 million voters actually took the effort to vote for a candidate on the Republican side (after they had dropped out of the race). Their vote was lost,” she said. “In 2020, around 3 million to 4 million of Democrats—that’s the estimated (number)—had that same issue happen because lots of dropouts start happening after Super Tuesday in those periods of time.”

Under ranked choice voting, she said, even if a voter’s first choice is no longer in the race, their second or third choice could still count in subsequent rounds of counting.

Some advocates also say it can reduce the overall cost of certain elections by eliminating the need for runoffs, like the one coming up April 4 in the Chicago mayoral race.

“There are estimates that runoff elections cost the city between $25 and $35 million each time,” Buckner said. “And so this, if for no other reason, for financial reasons, being able to give us winners of both aldermanic and mayoral elections on the initial election date and to save some of those dollars and resources from the city and municipality.”

But Boone County Clerk Julie

Bliss, speaking on behalf of the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders, said there would be significant up-front costs for local officials to buy the voting machines and software needed for ranked choice voting, as well as the cost of printing and mailing what would be much larger ballots.

“Expense and funding absolutely is going to be a question that all the local election authorities are going to have for you,” she told the committee. “… The initial cost of implementing something like this is going to be higher.”

Brian Pryor, deputy director of election operations at the Illinois State Board of Elections, said there are currently no voting systems in Illinois that could implement ranked choice voting immediately.

“Some systems are capable of conducting ranked choice voting but they require additional components or software, which would need to be certified for use in Illinois,” he said. “There are currently 16 jurisdictions that have no capability of implementing ranked choice voting. These jurisdictions would need to procure new equipment.”

The committee discussion of the three bills was “subject matter” only, meaning they did not come for a vote. They have been re-referred to the House Rules Committee, meaning they may face an uphill battle to be passed into law in the current General Assembly.

Illinois SNAP-Ed conference brings awareness to hunger and food insecurity

One in 12 people in Illinois struggles with food insecurity daily, according to Feeding America. When families are hungry, making a healthy food choice is not always the easy choice.

To increase healthier outcomes for communities, SNAP Education at University of Illinois Extension and the Chicago Partnership for Health Promotion will host three regional Illinois Hunger and Health Conferences to facilitate partnerships among local, public, and regional organizations working together to address food insecurity and its impact on health.

All food pantry staff and volunteers are welcome to attend along with other organizations interested in addressing food insecurity in their communities.

“We are looking forward to building on the successes of last year’s conferences and continue to connect with our partners from across

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the state,” says Louise Hyneman, Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed educator, and conference co-organizer. “The conferences will provide an opportunity to share ideas and resources impacting community health through food pantries while building a network of support.”

Participants may register for the in-person conference held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 5. The cost is $10 per person and includes a noon meal. Fee waivers are available. Check-in details will be provided during registration.

May 5 at Salvation Army, Springfield, Ill.: Register at go.illinois.edu/HHCcentral. Registration closes April 27.

Information on the Chicago conference will be announced on a later date.

Participants will select two breakout sessions to attend during the workshop. Topics include a panel with grant funders and awardees

for attendees to learn about how to successfully apply for grant, a panel with statewide and regional partners to discuss innovative ways food pantries can increase healthy donations, Trauma Informed Care at Food Pantries and the opportunity to learn from a food pantry that has successfully Implemented Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP). Attendees will also learn about SNAP-Ed resources, food pantry set up, and the Find Food IL community food map.

The conference will conclude with a keynote speaker and award presentations for Illinois food pantry champions in these categories: Exceptional Food Pantry Manager, Healthy Pantry Innovations, Outstanding Health Equity Leader, and Volunteer of the Year.

Organizations are encouraged to submit award nominations by the time registration closes for the conference the nominee will attend:

https://go.illinois.edu/NominateHHC23

For questions or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact organizer Louise Hyneman at: lhyneman@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.

The Illinois Hunger and Health Conference is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension and the Chicago Partnership for Health Promotion with funds from USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Source: Louise Hyneman, SNAPEd Educator, University of Illinois Extension

Writer: Kayla Swaar, SNAP-Ed Educator, University of Illinois Extension

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