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1 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

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2 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Did you know that dental-related ailments are responsible for the loss of more than 50 million school hours each year? That’s right. Thousands of children miss school every year because of some dentalrelated ailment. Fortunately, many of these ailments can be prevented through good oral care.

This National Children’s Dental Health Month, make your child’s smile a priority. Take them to the dentist regularly and teach them to care for their teeth properly.

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The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 3

IC Catholic Prep wrestlers Renteria, Calcagno and Mims win Class 1A state titles York wrestlers also compete at state; Boys basketball regionals this week

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

See WRESTLERS, Page 26

DAN CHAMNESS PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

Immaculate Conception senior Nick Renteria throws his opponent Yorkville Christian senior Isaac Bourge in the title match at the Illinois High School Association Class 1A Finals, which were held at the State Farm Center on the campus of University of Illinois in Champaign/ Urbana. Renteria won the state championship at 120 pounds, beating Bourge 9-4. Renteria finished his senior year with a 28-1 mark.

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The recent string of success for the IC Catholic Prep wrestling team continued in a big way this past weekend.

The Knights’ Nick Renteria, Michael Calcagno and Jadon Mims won Class 1A state titles at the State Farm Center (formerly Assembly Hall) on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

Renteria, a senior, defeated Yorkville Christian senior Isaac Bourge 9-4 to win the state title.

Renteria finished the season 28-1.

Renteria won four matches in the state tournament. Calcagno, a sophomore, won the 182-pound state title with a 9-0 major decision over Tolono Unity senior Grant Albaugh.

Calcagno finished the year with a 21-1 mark and also won four matches at state. Mims, a senior, downed Nazareth Academy freshman Gabe Kaminski 5-4 to win the 220-pound title. Mims ended with a 26-3 record thanks to his 4-0 run in Champaign.

In the span of one weekend, IC Catholic Prep doubled the number of state individual wrestling champions it has produced in program history.

Joey Bianchini won Class 1A state titles in 2017 and 2018. David Vargas won a title in 2018, while Victor Vargas won a title in 2017.

IC Catholic Prep senior Isaiah Gonzalez finished second at 285 pounds. Gonzalez lost via fall in 4:55 to Rock Island Alleman’s Charles Jagusah, who finished the year 410. Gonzalez ended up 30-2 on the season. Gonzalez went 3-1 in Champaign. Sophomore Joseph Gliatta finished sixth at 145 pounds. He lost 4-2 to Dakota senior Tyler Simmer in the fifth-place match. Gliatta went 3-3 at state. Andrew Alvarado tied for eighth place at 113 pounds.

Also competing in the Class 1A state meet for the Knights were Brandon Navarro at 170 pounds, Omar Samayoa at 132 pounds and Bryson Spaulding at 126 pounds. Navarro

4 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

The elmhursT IndependenT Your Hometown Newspaper Locally owned and operated 240 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL. 60126 Main Phone 630.834-8244 Fax 630.834-0900 Visit us at: TheElmhurstIndependent.com

ICC celebrates two outstanding ICGS alums On Friday, Feb. 4 at Immaculate Conception Church, two Immaculate Conception Grade School alumni were awarded the 2022 NCEA Distinguished Graduate Award.

This award is given by the National Catholic Educational Association to a graduate who has contributed greatly to American society and the

Catholic Church.

Susan Koch, a lifetime member of Immaculate Conception Parish and graduate of both IC Grade School (1967) and IC High School (1971) and Dr. Alexander Javois (ICGS Class of 1976) were presented with this honor at Mass to culminate Catholic Schools Week.

The Elmhurst Independent USPS#022-607 is published every Thursday by Rock Valley Publishing, LLC, 240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126.

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Accompanied by two of her brothers, Susan Koch addressed the congregation who attended the service at which she was honored as an outstanding ICGS alum.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Elmhurst Independent

Pictured here flanking Fr. Tom Paul are Mrs. Susan Koch and Dr. Alexander Javois, who were named outstanding alumni of Immaculate Conception Grade School and were honored at a recent worship service.

Obituaries

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Sharon Ann Pike, 61 Sharon Ann Pike, of Middletown, Ind., passed away Feb. 14, 2022 at the age of 61. She was born July 23, 1960 in Elmhurst to the late Donald and Luella (Haskin) Marron. Sharon was a 1978 graduate of Willowbrook High School, Villa Park. She married Daniel T. Pike on Sept. 24, 1980 and began her career as a parent liaison for DuPage Easter Seals for more than 30 years, retiring in July 2021. Sharon was very involved with her parent groups at Loyola Regional Hospital, the DuPage Interagency Council on Early Education and was also a consultant for the State of Illinois on early intervention and education. She was a member of First Church of Lombard.

Sharon is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Daniel T. Pike; children, Stephanie A. McAllister (Rob), Megan E. McAnany (Mark), Allison M. Pike and Jack T. Pike; grandchildren, Abigail McAllister, Audrey McAllister and Blake McAllister; sisters, Maureen Hoger (Ronald) and Elaine Minniti (John); and brothers, Donald Marron, Bruce Marron (Cathy). A sister, Katie Wherley, preceded her in death.

Final care and arrangements are Dr. Alexander Javois spoke briefly after he was awarded the honor entrusted to Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel. Info: www. of outstanding alum of Immaculate Conception Grade School.

shirleybrothers.com.

Steven W. Bussa, 61 Services Saturday Steven W. Bussa passed away Feb. 13, 2022 at the age of 61. He was born March 1, 1960 in Elmhurst to the late Wayne and Dolores Bussa. Steve is survived by his wife of 33 years, Corinne; children, Josh (Kellie), Alex and Amy; grandchildren Hank and Hannah; sister, Kathy (Carl) Spath and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and great friends.

Steve was owner of Bussa Decorating for 30 years. He was a lifelong Cubs fan and Bud man, and Blackhawks fan. He was an avid skier and golfer. He was a past board member for Villa Park Youth Baseball and Softball and loved coaching kids. Above all, he cherished time with his family.

A visitation will be held from 3 – 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25 at Elmhurst Community Funeral Home – The Ahlgrim Chapel, 567 S. Spring Road, Elmhurst.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Visitation Catholic Church, 779 S. York Street, Elmhurst.

Info: 630-834-3515 or www.elmhurstfh.com.

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 5

Appellate court declines to rule on mask mandates; Pritzker to appeal to high court Administration requests ‘expedited review’ of court decision on school mask mandates CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

with people infected by COVID-19 be excluded from school buildings and events for a period of time.

Those emergency rules were issued in response to a series of Pritzker’s executive orders.

However, while the administration was appealing that decision to the 4th District, the emergency rules that IDPH had issued in September expired, and on Feb. 14, the legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted not to extend them, citing concerns about the restraining order and the pending appeal.

“We’re currently in a situation where the TRO says this rule is not enforceable,” Rep. Michael Halpin, D-Rock Island, a JCAR member, said in voting for the motion to suspend the rule. “It’s possible, if not probable, that this might change on appeal, but as we now sit here, for that reason, I’ll vote yes.”

The 4th District panel, however, cited the JCAR action as its reason for not ruling in the appeal, saying the underlying rules covered by the restraining order were no longer in place.

“Because the emergency rules voided by the TRO are no longer in effect, a controversy regarding the application of those rules no longer exists. Thus, the matter is moot,” the court wrote.

The opinion was written by Justice John W. Turner. Justice Thomas M. Harris concurred in the opinion while Justice Lisa Holder White concurred in part, but said the issues concerning Pritzker’s executive orders were not moot and the court should have ruled on them.

“As it stands, the majority’s decision leaves open the question of whether the circuit court properly enjoined the enforcement of the executive orders,” Holder White wrote.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration said Feb. 18 it will ask the Illinois Supreme Court for an “expedited review” of an appellate court’s decision not to rule on a lower court order that invalidated COVID-19 mitigation measures for roughly 170 school districts that were parties in a set of consolidated lawsuits.

Late at night on Feb. 17, the 4th District Court of Appeals said it would not review the temporary restraining order issued Feb. 4 by a Sangamon County judge, calling the issue “moot” because the emergency rules issued earlier by the Illinois Department of Public Health have expired and a legislative panel in charge of reviewing such rules had declined to extend them.

But the court also said individual school districts remain free to adopt their own mitigation policies, independent of any executive orders or state emergency rules.

“The administration is working with the attorney general to request an expedited review of this decision from the Supreme Court,” Pritzker’s press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh said in a statement Feb. 18. “In the meantime, the governor urges everyone to continue following the doctors’ advice to wear masks so students can remain safely learning in classrooms, and is encouraged that the court made it clear that school districts can continue to keep their own mitigations in place.”

Attorney General Kwame Raoul also issued a statement saying he too was disappointed by the decision.

“The appellate court’s failure to address the important legal issues in question has added to the confusion resulting from the circuit court’s decision prioritizing a relatively small group of plaintiffs who refuse to acknowledge science or Impact on other districts the need for public health measures It was unclear Feb. 18 exactly to protect vulnerable Illinois resi- what, if any, state-issued mitigadents,” Raoul said. tion mandates remain in place for schools in Illinois.

Timeline of cases The 4th District court’s opinion On Feb. 4, Sangamon County indicated that the Sangamon CounCircuit Judge Raylene Grischow ty restraining order also applied to issued a temporary restraining or- the governor’s executive orders. der blocking the enforcement of But both Pritzker and Raoul have mask and vaccine mandates and said they believe the executive orthe exclusion from school of peo- ders remain in place. ple deemed close contacts with “While the Appellate Court’s COVID-19 patients without giving ruling does not affect the enforcethose students and employees due ability of the governor’s executive process. orders, the decision does fundaThat order applied to the rough- mentally misapply important prinly 170 school districts who were ciples of Illinois law related to the named in the consolidated law- issuance of temporary restraining suits. There are 852 public school orders, such as the order issued by districts in Illinois, plus numerous the trial court,” Raoul said in his private school systems covered by statement Feb. 18. the rules.

Meanwhile, the court’s opinion The cases were filed in various also said individual districts that counties in September after the Il- are not parties in the underlying linois Department of Public Health lawsuit still have authority to adopt issued emergency rules mandat- their own mitigation policies, ining that masks be worn in school dependent of the governor’s execsettings, that unvaccinated school utive orders or state agency emerstaff would have to submit to reg- gency rules. ular testing, and that students and “We note the language of the staff deemed to be “close contacts” TRO in no way restrains school

districts from acting independently from the executive orders or the IDPH in creating provisions addressing COVID-19,” the court said. “Thus, it does not appear the school districts are temporarily restrained from acting by the court’s TRO.” Many of those districts, however, have negotiated the details of their mitigation plans with local teachers unions, and the Illinois Federation of Teachers said Feb. 18 that they

should continue abiding by those agreements.

“We continue to insist that school districts statewide abide by existing collective bargaining agreements that are in place to promote health and safety in schools and to follow our laws around safe schools and workplaces,” IFT president Dan Montgomery said in a statement.

“As cases continue to decline, discussions about removing these mitigations must be based on good

public health decisions. Medical science tells us that vaccinations, masking, and proper ventilation have been the best ways to maintain health in schools.”

Mask policies elsewhere The appellate court’s decision comes the Pritzker administration is preparing to roll back the statewide indoor mask mandate on Feb.

See MASK, Page 9

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By Peter Hancock

6 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

Police beat

The Elmhurst Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations.

Persons charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the privacy of victims. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that subjects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not named.

Amir Skenderi, 25, of Des Plaines, was charged with possession of cannabis in a vehicle and no seat belt subsequent to a traffic stop near North and West at 6:18 p.m.

Feb. 14 Theft was reported in the 800 block of N. York at 5:59 p.m. A victim reported that an unknown suspect(s) stole a trailer from the lot.

The trailer contained various car parts and a golf cart.

Criminal damage, criminal trespass Feb. 10 Danijela Halsey, 28, of Carol Stream, was charged with criminal damage to property at Elmhurst Hospital at 8:36 p.m. A victim told police that the suspects keyed the trunk and door of her vehicle.

Domestic battery, domestic incident, disorderly conduct, disturbance Feb. 15 A victim in the 500 block of Berkley told police at 4:20 p.m. that an unknown suspect(s) followed the victim home and took several photos of the victim’s house and car. The suspect approached the victim, threatened him and poked him in the chest.

DUI, DUI-drugs, transportation of open alcohol, possession of open alcohol, consumption of alcohol by a minor Feb. 17 Seamus Henneberry, 24, of Lagrange Park, was charged with DUI drugs, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a hypodermic syringe, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and no insurance in the 400 block of W. Commonwealth at 6:21 a.m. Police said the suspect was found to be in possession of cocaine.

Hector Vasquez, 45, of Lombard, was charged with DUI, battery, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and no insurance in the 900 block of S. Riverside at 11:15 p.m.

Feb. 15 Matthew Misavage, 38, of Berkeley, was charged with DUI, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failure to give aid in an accident, following too closely, driving too fast for conditions and no insurance in the 100 block of E. Cayuga at 8:08 p.m. Police said Misavage fled on foot subsequent to a vehicle accident but was located a short distance away and was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

Feb. 13 Dayna Jensen, 33, of Glendale Heights, was charged with DUI, improper lane usage and no insurance in the 400 block of W. Alexander at 10:24 p.m.

Maurice Knighten, 48, of Chicago, was charged with DUI, improper lane usage, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm without a FOID and three counts of improper lane usage, while Lacheon Simmons, 49, of Addison, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon subsequent to a traffic

CALL 800-222-TIPS stop near West and North at 1:44 a.m.

Connor A. McNally, 20, of Addison, was charged with DUI, consumption of alcohol by a minor, improper lane usage, disobeying a traffic control signal and driving the wrong way on a one-way street near York and North at 9:20 a.m.

Feb. 12 Martha Bandera, 62, of Chicago, was charged with DUI, no insurance, illegal lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and illegal transportation of alcohol subsequent to a traffic crash near North and Evergreen at 6:08 p.m.

Charles Bodach, 19, of Elmhurst, was charged with with DUI, no insurance, illegal standing where prohibited and use of a fraudulent identification near First and Haven at 4:02 a.m.

Feb. 11 Taquilla Kirby, 37, of Chicago, was charged with DUI, no valid license, possession of open alcohol, disobeying a traffic control device and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Palmer at 11:19 p.m.

Harassment, threats Jan. 31 A complainant in the 900 block of Virginia reported at 1:44 p.m. that a suspect had continuously attempted to contact her regarding money that was owed. The complainant requested the matter documented because she is concerned for her safety.

Possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a controlled substance Feb. 16 Bryan D. Chavez, 24, of Addison, was charged with driving while license suspended, possession of cannabis by a driver, expired registration and no insurance. Emily M. Naj, 22, of Addison, was cited for possession of cannabis by a passenger and no seat belt subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Grand at 5:12 p.m.

Feb. 15 Daniel E. Kupreisis, 31, of Joliet, was charged with unlawful possession of controlled substance and possession of stolen property at a store in the 600 block of N. York at 5:03 p.m. Police said Kupreisis left the store without the merchandise and was apprehended. A shopping bag containing over-the-counter medication was found in the backseat of his vehicle, according to police. Police said he was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and also had a warrant out of Will County.

Feb. 13 Gregory Carter, 27, of Berwyn, was charged with driving while license suspended, possession of cannabis by a driver and no insurance in the 500 block of W. North at 10:43 p.m.

Feb. 12 Manuel A. Carrillo, 29, of Melrose Park, was issued citations for unlawful possession of cannabis in a vehicle and no seat belt subsequent to a traffic stop near St. Charles and Route 83 at 7:28 p.m.

Ricardo Thompson, 43, of Chicago, was issued citations for possession of cannabis by a driver and speeding subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Wrightwood at 1:01 a.m.

Feb. 11 Gabriel Ambris, 18, of Arlington Heights, was cited for possession of cannabis by a driver, improper lane usage and disobeying a traffic control device, while Timothy L. Armstrong, 19, of Arlington Heights, was cited for possession of cannabis by a passenger subsequent to a traffic stop in the 300 block of S. York at 4:18 p.m.

Suspicious circumstances Feb. 13 Police said a reporting officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that was suspected to be involved in the theft of catalytic converters near York and Roosevelt at 4:12 a.m. The vehicle fled, but moments later was found unoccupied in a ditch nearby. While checking the area for suspects, a firearm was recovered. This case is pending investigation.

Theft or burglary/identity theft/fraud/forgery/ deceptive practice/ obstruction/robbery Feb. 15 Theft was reported in the 400 block of S. Fairfield at 6:30 p.m. A reporting officer met with the victim who reported he purchased an Apple iPhone 13 which was shipped to his residence. When he opened the package there was no phone inside.

Deceptive practice was reported in the 900 block of Riverside at 10:07 p.m. A reporting officer met with the victim who reported she spoke to a suspect via telephone whom she believed to be a customer service representative.

The unknown suspect requested the victim purchase gift cards for hotel cancellation fees. The victim later realized the phone call was a scam and immediately reported the fraud to her bank.

Forgery was reported in the 500 block of Sunnyside at 4:55 p.m. A victim was notified by her bank that two checks had been cashed for large denominations. The victim still had both checks in her possession and reported the fraudulent activity to her bank. The victim was also notified by Xfinity that an unknown suspect(s) had attempted to forward the phone line from her home phone to another phone number.

Feb. 12 Identity theft was reported at Elm Creek

Drive at 2:54 p.m. A victim reported he unwittingly gave his account information to an unknown suspect who was posing as a CitiBank employee. The unknown suspect gained access to the victim’s account and withdrew funds.

Feb. 2-Feb. 11 Forgery was reported in the 100 block of E. Brush Hill. A complainant related she sent a check to one of the company’s suppliers. Days later, she learned the recipient’s name and dollar amount had been changed.

Feb. 10 Theft was reported in the 700 block of N. Kenworth at 12:42 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown delivery driver stopped at her address but did not deliver her package. The incident was recorded on video surveillance.

An investigation is pending.

Attempted commercial burglary was reported at a technical services company in the 700 block of N. Oaklawn at 10:40 a.m. A victim reports two of their shipping containers were damaged after someone attempted to cut the locks open. Security footage shows a total of five suspects walking around the storage yard with bolt cutters after exiting an unknown dark extended cab pickup. Entry was not gained and the suspects left south on Oaklawn.

Jan. 31-Feb. 9 Identity theft was reported in the 900 block of S. Mitchell. A victim related that an unknown suspect(s) used his personal information to open a Home Depot credit card in her name sometime between the above dates.

Feb. 7 Theft was reported in the 100 block of S. Prospect at 11:21 p.m. A victim relates that unknown suspect(s) stole her Apple Series 6 Watch from her backpack while left unattended. The watch was entered into LEADS as stolen.

Jan. 28 Identity theft was reported in the 200 block of N. Willow at 12:04 p.m. A victim told police that he received notice that an unknown offender(s) attempted to open an account with Wells Fargo in his name.

Jan. 20 Theft was reported in the 400 block of E. Parkview at 4:42 p.m. A victim reports she contacted a rug cleaning company to clean two area rugs. Two male suspects came to her house, identified themselves as employees, and removed the two rugs. After two weeks, the victim contacted the business and learned she had been fooled into giving her rugs to thieves who were posing as employees.

Theft of catalytic converters

According to information provided last week by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported four incidents of catalytic converters being removed and stolen from vehicles in the following locations: the 100 block of W. Industrial; the 600 block of W. Grand; the 100 block of E. Brush Hill; and the 100 block of W. Grand.

Unemployment benefits identity theft

According to information provided last week by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported one incident of identity theft with the intention of using a victim’s personal information to fraudulently apply for unemployment benefits through the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

See POLICE, Page 7

Bond set at $1 million for Warrenville woman accused of murder DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Warrenville Chief of Police Raymond Turano have announced that bond has been set for a Warrenville wom- Deanna Coakley an charged with the murder of her daughter’s father, 31-year-old Joseph Strock.

Deanna Coakley, 27, appeared at a bond hearing in front of Judge Daniel Guerin who set bond at $1 million with 10 percent to apply. Coakley has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.

On Feb. 13 at approximately 6:51 p.m., Warrenville police officers responded to a call at Coakley’s residence for a report of a woman screaming. Upon their arrival, police said officers found Coakley on top of a male, later identified as Strock, near the front of the residence directly in front of the door. Strock was bleeding from the neck and a large pool of blood was under his body.

Strock was transported to a local hospital for a laceration to the right side of his neck and was pronounced deceased. Following an investigation by the Warrenville Police Department, it is alleged that at some point in the evening, a verbal altercation between Coakley and Strock turned physical at which time Coakley stabbed Strock in the neck with a

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 7

Secretary of state recognized for web-based system

kitchen knife.

It is alleged that following the stabbing, Strock exited the apartment Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White was recently the appointment-designated facilities. New appointment and collapsed on the ground outhonored with the Region 3 Customer Convenience slots are made available each morning at ilsos.gov. The side the front door where authorities Award from the American Association of Motor Vehicle system also addresses complexities such as allowing found him.

Administrators (AAMVA) for his office’s web-based seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities and expectant “Nationwide, domestic violence appointment system at select Driver Services facilities. mothers to walk in without appointments. remains a silent epidemic that un“My office is committed to providing Illinoisans Currently, 16 Chicagoland Driver Services facilities fortunately occurs predominantly with the best customer service, and this award is proof are requiring appointments while 13 larger central behind closed doors,” Berlin said. “If that our efforts have been recognized throughout and downstate Illinois facilities are being added over left unchecked however, the consethe Midwest,” said White. “I thank AAMVA for this the next two months. A list of these facilities can quences can be deadly, as is alleged prestigious award. During the pandemic, we have be found at ilsos.gov. The secretary of state is also in this case. I urge anyone who finds continued to serve the public, including face-topartnering with the Chicago Lighthouse to provide themselves in an abusive relationship face transactions, in a safe and responsible manner. an appointment hotline, which the public may call at to seek help from any of a multitude Throughout this time, we also greatly expanded online 844-817-4649. The Chicago Lighthouse’s call centers of social service programs available services in a diversified effort to address the heavy offer career opportunities for people who are blind, throughout the country that offer ascustomer demand at facilities caused by the ongoing visually impaired, disabled, veterans and economically sistance and guidance to people in pandemic.” disadvantaged. an abusive relationship. I offer my The AAMVA Customer Convenience Award In addition to the appointment system, White’s office sincerest condolences to the family recognized White’s office for implementing the standcontinues expanding remote renewal for driver’s license and friends of Joseph Strock on their alone web-based appointment system designed to and ID card holders. During the fall and through the loss. I thank the Warrenville Police address heavy customer demand caused by the ongoing end of 2021, the office is mailing letters to eligible Department and DuPage County COVID-19 pandemic. AAMVA cited the online customers with expired driver’s licenses and ID cards MERIT for their work on this very appointment system’s ease of use for customers to requiring them to renew online, by phone or by mail. sad case.” schedule an appointment.

White estimates that this will eliminate the need for “I am extremely pleased that Under the appointment system, customers may visit approximately 1 million people to visit a facility. through the hard work and profesilsos.gov to schedule an appointment same day and up In addition, the U.S. Department of Homeland sionalism of the Warrenville Police to 10 days in advance for behind-the-wheel road tests, Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to Department, DuPage County MERREAL IDs, standard driver’s licenses and ID cards at May 3, 2023.

IT and the DuPage County Coroner’s Office, we were able to bring a successful resolution to this tragic incident,” Turano said. “I also commend State’s Attorney Bob Berlin (Continued from page 6) and his office for their legal guidance a warrant out of the DuPage Coun- license suspended and no seat belt. throughout the entire investigation.” Warrant arrest ty Sherriff’s Office. He also was Coakley’s next court appearance is Feb. 14 charged with improper window tint, Feb. 10 scheduled March 10 for arraignment Police said that subsequent to a possession of cannabis by a driver Police said officers responded to in front of Judge Guerin. complaint of a suspicious vehicle and driving while license suspend- the 100 block of N. Bonnie Brae at in the 400 block of W. Butterfield at ed.

8:48 p.m. for a report of a domestic 10 a.m., Ruth Kirkland-Abbott, 42, dispute. It was discovered that the of Glendale Heights, was found to Feb. 12 Man charged with concealing loaded gun victim had a valid warrant out of have two warrants out of the DuPPolice said Toriean Wilson, 27, of Cook County. in baby’s crib/possession of illegal drugs age County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim was processed on the Addison, had a warrant out of the Police said that subsequent to a DuPage County Sheriff’s Office sub- warrant and released on bond. Due Weapon allegedly had extended magazine traffic stop near Roosevelt and Vil- sequent to a traffic stop near North to conflicting statements and no la at 10:49 p.m., Jonathan Mitchell, and Route 83 at 10:25 p.m. Wilson signs of injury, no other arrests were and one bullet in chamber DuPage County tended magazine of 30 rounds and 32, of Lynwood, was found to have also was charged with driving while made.

State’s Attorney one bullet in the chamber underRobert B. Berlin neath the mattress in Terry’s baby’s announced that crib. It is further alleged that located bond has been set in a closet in the baby’s room were for a Woodridge items of clothing containing packman accused of aged heroin/fentanyl (approximatepossessing more ly 20 grams) and cocaine (approxithan 55 grams of mately 37 grams). illegal narcotics Tenzell Terry It is further alleged that in a secand illegally possessing a loaded ond bedroom, officers found a sechandgun. ond magazine with five rounds inTenzell Terry, 22, appeared at a side and two additional empty magbond hearing where Judge Robert azines along with $1,064 in cash.

Kleeman set bond at $350,000 with Terry was taken into custody at this 10 percent to apply. Terry has been time. charged with one count of armed vi“The very idea that someone olence (Class X felony), two counts would hide a loaded weapon with of possession with intent to deliv- one bullet in the chamber and an er a controlled substance (Class X extended magazine under a mattress felony) two counts of possession where his baby slept, as is alleged of a controlled substance (Class 1 in this case, is just beyond belief,” felony) and one count of unlawful Berlin said. “Additionally, the illepossession of a weapon by a felon gal narcotics allegedly found in the (Class 3 felony). baby’s room are further evidence of On Feb. 8 at approximately 5:30 Mr. Terry’s complete disregard for a.m., as part of their ongoing inves- the safety of a one-year-old baby. I tigations into the sale of illegal nar- commend the Illinois State Police, cotics in DuPage County, officers the DuPage County Metropolitan with the Woodridge Police Depart- Enforcement Group and the Woment executed a search warrant at odridge Police Department for their Terry’s residence. work on this case and for their conOccupants of the residence in- tinued efforts in keeping illegal narcluded Terry, another individual cotics out of our communities.” and Terry’s one-year-old baby. It Terry’s next court appearance is is alleged that while performing scheduled for March 7 in front of their duties, officers found a loaded Judge Brian Telander for arraignGlock 9mm handgun with an ex- ment.

• Police

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8 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

The Elmhurst Independent

Viewpoint

Feb. 24, 2022 • 8

Legislature bears some blame for disarray in social services

By Jim Nowlan This past month, a Cook County judge held the director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in contempt of court, an unprecedented action.

In this latest instance, two DCFS youngsters languished in mental health facilities months after they were ready to be discharged.

What’s new? DCFS has been under a federal court order to do better for the 21,000 young in its care—for 30 years! This is a reflection of the uneven, often poor, job Illinois has done in providing and delivering services to the four million Illinois residents (out of 12.8 million) who receive health and social services from the state.

As a former Illinois House member whose service predates the four decades of the House Speaker Mike Madigan era, I have recommendations for reform of both our people services and the Legislature.

The state of Illinois spends more than 4 of every 10 dollars of its operating budget on health and social services, while we spend just 2 in 10 of our state dollars on educating our kids, from preschool through our colleges and universities. Obviously, getting things right in providing services to people, which will never be easy, is a big deal.

Yet, according to research that Tom Johnson and I did for our book Fixing Illinois (University of Illinois Press, 2014), problems with the state’s delivery of social services go much deeper and broader than DCFS. A few examples: · Agencies and divisions operate within “silos,” unable to share information digitally about clients, whose problems they often share. As one bureaucrat put it: Interagency cooperation is an unnatural act among unwilling partners. · Perverse incentives. As a mom lamented recently to a nonprofit agency director: “I want out of welfare, but I’m trapped in the system.” That is, if she takes a job on offer, she will immediately, before she can get her life back together, lose health care and other services for her children. So, she opts for what she thinks best for her kids and stays on welfare.

· We strand people in the system too long. DCFS keeps children in foster care longer than any state in the nation. · The wrong people are in charge.

Governors come and go, and often enter office with little knowledge of state government. By the time they develop some understanding, the guvs and their agency directors are out the door.

As a result, social services are largely directed by the powerful public employee unions, plus the interest groups that represent hospitals, doctors, nursing homes and other interests. Their leaders are, maybe understandably, often more concerned about their members than about the mostly powerless people they are supposed to serve.

So, who is to represent the poorly educated single mother who made bad decisions early in life? Or the veteran in a state nursing home, or any of the 4 million of us who receive state social services?

My friends say it’s the governor’s job, but governors are transient. The DCFS failures have been with us for 30 years, and six governors have been unable to fix the problems.

I say the responsibility ultimately falls to the Illinois General Assembly, with its fundamental responsibility to oversee the executive branch. Parliamentary systems such as in the United Kingdom do not even have an elected executive branch. Walter Bagehot, 19th Century English political economist and founder of the Economist news magazine, observed: “The job of a minister (always a member of their Parliament, that is, legislature) is not to run his ministry (department), but to see that it runs well.” That is the challenge for our General Assembly.

Our legislature has, however, become fragmented and woefully inept at handling big-picture problems. The Illinois House has 47 committees(!) for a body of 118 members. Each can deal only with a little piece our sprawling state bureaucracy.

This ridiculous number of committees has been created because: 1.) each chair and minority party spokesman receive a $10,000 bump to his or her pay for heading a committee; almost every House member is a “committee leader,” and 2.) the fragmentation increases the power of the legislative leaders.

See SERVICES, Page 9

Slices of life

Grief tutorial 2.0 — Part 1

About a month after I lost my husband, I put together a tutorial of sorts for what to do (and not to do) when someone you love is grieving.

It’s been over a year since and then and in that time I’ve gained myriad knowledge about the grief process.

(Yeah me!)

Losing is a part of loving and loving is a part of life so I think this is knowledge we all can use, whether we are helping someone through grief, we are grieving ourselves or both.

This information was too much for one column, so I’ve put together advice for those who are grieving (this column) and those who love someone who is walking the walk (next week’s message).

When you are grieving: It’s tempting to compare your situation to that of someone else’s.

Don’t.

The death of a child, a spouse, a friend, a sibling, a parent or anyone you love or have loved—they are all devastating. You can’t measure or compare devastating. Each experience is unique. Don’t equate your grief with someone else’s, especially if theirs is newer than yours. Give them the moment.

As much as you want it to end, it never will. I remember on day two vowing I wouldn’t be defined by widowhood. I now realize

eternal and more beautiful than I ever knew before grief.

Grief may leave you alone, but By alone comes with certain unique JILL possibilities. When you share PERTLER your world with another person Columnist it is wonderful, but it also means sharing your world. Grief leaves you free to not share. This means that might be impossible. Much pursuing you. It is realizing it’s like other significant roles in life, OK to have your own bucket list you can’t pretend widowhood because the “our” bucket list may away. The event doesn’t have to not longer exist. Take this for what completely define you, but much it is and bucket your way away. like the significant gain of a Give yourself grace. You are marriage or birth of a child, it will walking a walk that you never change you and will forever affect planned nor would have chosen. you. You simply can’t deny it.

You were forced to pivot midAfter a deep loss, every day step and keep breathing the whole starts out hard because it often while—that is nothing short of Olympic. Give yourself a medal for comes with the realization of the life you are now living; Sometimes participation; make it a gold one at the aloneness is nearly too much to that.

No one chooses grief, or loss; bear. But every day is also a new it descends upon us and claims a day with opportunities to take a permanent spot in our lives. Grief step (even a small step) forward. isn’t something you get past or get If you falter and stand still or go over. It is something you learn to backward, give yourself grace. live with—in tandem. It remains in There’s always tomorrow. your life, but whether it rules you The people we loved are not or you rule it is in your power. gone or lost. They are close, Claim your power. especially if we acknowledge and Jill Pertler is an award-winning believe in their closeness. They want us to acknowledge and believe syndicated columnist, published in their closeness. Love never dies; playwright and author. She invites human bodies die, but love remains readers to follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook. intact. It continues to grow. It is

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 9

Mazzochi: Pritzker’s mask mandate chaos ‘utterly predictable,’ ‘entirely avoidable’ After nearly two years of exhausted students, parents and school boards working through the chaos caused by Gov. JB Pritzker’s ever-changing mask mandates, State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) confirmed that finally, some members of the legislature have brought them to a halt, at least for

now.

Gov. Pritzker’s last mask mandate emergency rule expired on Sunday, Feb. 13, shortly after a court order issued in a civil suit characterizing his school masking rules as void and unenforceable. In response, Governor Pritzker had the Illinois Department of Public Health file yet

Jesse White urges online license plate sticker renewal Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is reminding customers with license plate stickers expiring at the end of the month that they can renew online at ilsos.gov, print their receipt and keep that receipt in their vehicle to comply with Illinois law.

“This is a consumer friendly initiative that encourages online transactions with my office,” said White. “Many customers visit our Driver Services facilities to buy their stickers the week before they are set to expire. I am reminding the public that they can make the same transaction online, and use their receipt as proof of up-todate registration and compliance.”

Motorists are allowed to drive without an up-to-date vehicle renewal sticker on their license plate as long as they have the receipt from the secretary of state showing that they bought the sticker before expiration. The receipt is valid for up to 30 days from the expiration of the previous registration sticker’s date.

Last year, 209,844 customers purchased license plate renewal stickers during the last seven days in February. Of this total, 87,520 purchased their license plate sticker online.

White initiated Public Act 98-1103, which took effect Jan. 1, 2015, to further encourage online transactions.

another emergency rule on Monday, Feb. 14, to reinstate the rule notwithstanding the court order striking it down.

However, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a bipartisan legislative committee, finally had enough. On Tuesday, Feb. 15, it issued a bipartisan vote to suspend the Governor’s latest school mask rule from going into effect.

In response, Gov. Pritzker begrudgingly stated his willingness to work with the General Assembly, school districts, parents, communities and all stakeholders going forward. Mazzochi called that “too

• Services

little too late.

“It was utterly predictable that his approach of ruling by Executive Order, bypassing the legislative process, ignoring the specific needs of parents and school boards, and denying due process would be polarizing and demoralizing,” she said.

“Had he respected the legislative, school board, and individual due processes, much of the chaos our schools, parents and students have endured these last two years would have been entirely avoidable.”

The end result of the Governor’s misstep is that now no school mask mandate rules are in effect at the

state level. Mazzochi explained that even if the appeals court were to lift the lower court’s restraining order against the prior rule, Governor Pritzker cannot reinstate it after the legislative committee’s suspension.

“Whatever your position is on masks, the appropriate way to decide these issues was at the local level; or through the legislative process,” Mazzochi noted. “It is time to end the Governor’s practices of making new law through Executive Order, and get back to a more normal, balanced approach to governance.”

(This was received from the office of State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi.)

(Continued from page 8)

I have some thoughts. First, reorganize the Illinois General Assembly. Forty-seven House committees is nutty. The fragmentation assures that nothing comprehensive and significant will be accomplished.

Instead, for example, create a permanent Blue-Ribbon Commission on Social Services, a panel of legislators plus outside

expert members (interest group leaders ineligible to serve). The commission would meet throughout each year and become students of the big picture issues. (In the 1980s, speaker Mike Madigan eliminated all the permanent legislativepublic commissions, as part of his concentration of power in the speaker’s office.)

I know many good, smart people

• Mask

(Continued from page 5) 28. Pritzker announced that plan on abide by the House’s own masking Feb. 9 but said he intended to keep the rule. mandate in place for schools.

State Sen. Donald DeWitte, R-St. Meanwhile, the issue of mask man- Charles, a member of JCAR, issued a dates has become more contentious statement saying there should be more in the General Assembly where, on legislative involvement in crafting Thursday, House Democrats voted pandemic mitigation policies. to remove nine Republican lawmak“This appellate court decision is a ers from the chamber for refusing to clear indication that Gov. Pritzker’s

within both the Illinois bureaucracy and state legislature. Unfortunately, neither is organized to function effectively.

Jim Nowlan is a former Illinois legislator, state agency director, an aide to three governors, chair of the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission, a professor and a community newspaper publisher.

unilateral decision-making relative to COVID-19 must end,” he said. “We are well beyond the point when the Governor should respect the authority and processes of the two other coequal branches of government. Rather than one-man-rule, the three branches should be working together to create clarity, not chaos.”

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10 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

Illinois Democrats vote to remove 9 maskless Republicans from House chamber Drama over House’s self-imposed COVID-19 mitigations once again delays start of session

By Grace Kinnicutt CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

The Illinois House voted to remove nine Republican members from the House floor Feb. 17 for their refusal to comply with face covering requirements, delaying the start of the legislative session for the third straight day.

In a 66-39 vote, Democrats voted to remove Reps. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, David Welter, R-Morris, David Friess, R-Red Bud, Chris Miller, R-Oakland, and Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport.

While most of those lawmakers chose to participate remotely after that action, one, McCombie, remained on the floor, unmasked, with-

out incident for the remainder of the Feb. 17 session.

The removed GOP members were accompanied by most of their caucus upon exiting the floor, and they went to a private caucus meeting for about an hour before mask-compliant members returned.

The motion for the GOP removal came from Rep. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago.

“If you choose not to wear your mask, do that outside of the chamber,” Collins said. “But while we’re in here, I ask that you respect the chamber’s rules, wear your masks, and get the work done.”

Passed at the beginning of the pandemic, House rules require all members to wear a mask unless they are eating, drinking or speaking into the microphone.

“We’re not sitting over here and

telling you to take off your masks.

We’re merely asking you to respect us as we respect you,” Niemerg said.

The unmasked members speaking on the floor criticized what they called Democratic hypocrisy, citing the fact that Democratic members are frequently seen out in public at fundraising events without masks.

House minority leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, called on Democrats and Republicans to act with “civility” after receiving a letter from House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch about a week ago regarding the chamber’s need to “be more civil and work more collaboratively together.”

Durkin noted that while the removal of members is within the House rules, it is a “very serious sanction,” and does not help the situation.

“It does not put me in a frame of

mind that there is still a place for civility where we can actually have an honest discourse between both sides of the aisle,” Durkin said.

Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, noted that the main frustration among Republicans the past few days is there have been two votes to remove Republican members from the chamber, but the body has not yet taken a vote to impose COVID-19 mitigations beyond what has been put forth in executive orders from the governor.

“I find it pretty unfortunate that this is the second vote we’re having to remove members of the body and we haven’t taken one vote or held one hearing on the governor’s mitigations,” Batinick said during floor debate. “You guys have chosen to abdicate your duty to provide oversight. Live with it.”

Rep. Steve Reick, R-Woodstock, said the House should make its own rules regardless of influence from the governor’s office.

McCombie, who remained in the chamber, said when she was close to others, she asked if they would be more comfortable if she wore a mask. But the floor mandate was too far-reaching.

“Mind your own business, mitigate your own risk,” McCombie said.

Rep. Seth Lewis, R-Bartlett, a freshman lawmaker, said he joined the rest of the GOP caucus in leaving the floor when his colleagues were asked to leave.

“I believe in masks, so wearing one is not a problem,” he said in an interview after the vote. “But at the same time, to kick out members of the caucus, we’re part of the Republican team.”

IDOC makes plan to close units at Vandalia, Pontiac prisons Maintenance costs, fewer inmates precipitate reductions

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

The Illinois Department of Corrections is making plans to downsize—plans that a major public employee union claims have not been shared with its members.

With inmate population dwindling to 28,000 and mounting maintenance bills on prison buildings at correctional centers across the state, DOC developed a plan which may include significant downsizing at the Vandalia and Pontiac correctional centers.

“These facilities are referenced

due to current operational needs,” IDOC chief of staff Camille Lindsay said in an email when asked about a draft plan obtained by Capitol News Illinois.

Under the proposed plan, Pontiac would close the medium security unit and go from 1,740 beds to 642 beds. Pontiac currently houses 1,144 inmates, including a unit that houses seriously mentally ill individuals.

Vandalia Correctional Center currently has a capacity of 1,001 and would be reduced to 401 inmates under the plan.

Both facilities face maintenance costs, including $3.8 million at Pontiac. The reduction of beds at Vandalia will save the state $12 million, according to plan estimates.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh said the plan is still preliminary.

“The document is a draft plan that was put together for discussion within the agency and in order to start discussions with stakeholders.

It was not presented to the governor’s office for final approval because it is a draft that is expected to 413054

By Beth Hundsdorfer

be updated after more discussions,” Abudayyeh said. “The Department is always interested in considering new ideas to better serve their population and this draft plan is an attempt to spur discussion about ways to improve services.”

The preliminary plan noted that hiring continues to be a challenge at IDOC and staff overtime hours for are “extremely high, especially at Pontiac.”

IDOC plans to adjust staffing to account for closures.

“No one will be laid off or a transferred as a result,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay said in an email the department has not started moving people in order to reduce the populations in these facilities.

That claim was disputed by a representative from AFSCME Council 31—the union that represents IDOC officers.

“The department began moving offenders out of Pontiac last week with no advance notice to the union, the employees or the individuals who were moved,” said Anders Lindall, public affairs director for AFSCME Council 31.

Lindall noted that the union subsequently received notice of IDOC’s intent to reduce populations at Vandalia and Pontiac with a target date of March 16 for the first phase with additional unit closures to be completed by the summer.

Lindall said the union began to hear rumors about possible changes at Pontiac and met with IDOC officials on Feb. 9, during which IDOC denied that possible changes may be forthcoming.

“On Wednesday (Feb. 9) seven buses arrived at the facility and began to empty out the medium security units. Only on Friday (Feb. 11) did they inform us of their plan to close the MSU that they earlier denied,” Lindall said.

In response to questions, Lind-

say wrote in an email that “the department has not started moving people in order to reduce the populations in these facilities.”

“This is an unacceptable breach of trust from IDOC management and not the basis of productive labor relations,” Lindall said. “Especially given the history of closure threats at both Pontiac and Vandalia, these new changes introduce uncertainty and instability that hurt employee morale and the lack of truthfulness in presenting them make union members question whether they can rely on management’s commitments.”

In a letter to Pritzker and IDOC Director Rob Jeffreys, Reps.

Thomas Bennett, R-Pontiac, Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, Paul Jacobs, R-Pomona, Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, and Sens.

Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, and Terri Bryant, R- Murphysboro, asked about the transfers from Pontiac and Vandalia. “(T)here is significant concern in these communities about the future of those facilities,” the letter stated. “As both of these correctional centers serve as some of the largest employers in their respective regions, any changes to staffing or inmate population levels would have a major impact on the economic health of those areas.”

Vandalia Mayor Ricky Gottman said Feb. 16 that he had been in contact with some of the legislators to let them know he was concerned about reductions in inmate populations or staff.

“This is an important employer in the area. And that makes it in an important part of our economy for Vandalia, for Fayette County and surrounding areas,” Gottman said.

“These are good and high-paying jobs and it would be devastating to lose them.”

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 11

Community calendar Welcome to Elmhurst Independent Community Calendar. Please remember to be safe at live events by wearing masks, using hand sanitizer and maintaining social distance.

If your club or organization is gathering during this time, live OR virtually, send the information to Independent@rvpublishing.com and put “Community Calendar” in the Subject line. The Calendar also appears at theindependentnewspapers.com.

Friday, Feb. 25 Saturday, Feb. 26 Sunday, Feb. 27 The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Beasley’s MONK’estra and the Elmhurst University Jazz Band will be among the featured artists at the 55th Annual Elmhurst University Jazz Festival, which audiences can attend in person or remotely this year. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit elmhurst.edu/ jazzfestival.

Saturday, Feb. 26 At 7:30 p.m., Uli Widmaier will present a 60-minute Zoom lecture on the music that will be performed at the recital on Saturday, March 5 at

7:30 p.m. at Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard. (See below.)

Monday, Feb. 28 This is the deadline to place an order for organic vegetable and herb seedlings through First Congregational UCC for pick up at the Green Garden Fair on May 7. To place an order, call 630-832-2580, visit elmhurstucc@sbcglobal.net, or find the church on facebook.

Saturday, March 5 • At 12 noon, the Elmhurst St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns to step off on Spring Road at Wilson Street. The 25th annual parade has been on hold for two years, thanks to COVID-19, but will return this year, as will the Elmhurst Armpit Orchestra.

• At 7:30 p.m., there will be a concert recital presented by professional musician and Elmhurst resident Uli Widmaier. The concert will be held at Congregation Etz Chaim, 1710 So. Highland Ave. in Lombard. It will also be available virtually via live stream. Free, but contributions

Saturday, March 12 At 7 p.m. at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Rd., the Elmhurst Symphony will perform Bach’s St. John Passion along with the Apollo Chorus of Chicago. Dr. Ted Hatmaker lecture at 5:45 p.m. The church has accessible parking. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets are $35/adults, $32/seniors, $12/students (must be at least 12). Tickets: 630-941-0202 or

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Elmhurst History Museum Ongoing programs: • The Elmhurst History Museum hosts an online pre-recorded lecture called From Prairie to Tree Town: Tales of Old Elmhurst presented by Museum Executive Director Dave Oberg. For access: visit elmhursthistory.org/320/Programs for the link to the pre-recorded program. Available through Tuesday, March 1.

• By All Accounts: The Story of Elmhurst Experience local history through an award-winning exhibit about how the City of Elmhurst grew and developed over the years, including a history of the Glos Mansion and family.

Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst Info: elmhursthistory.org or call 630-833-1457.

‘People of the Prairie’ now open at EHM The Elmhurst History Museum at 120 E. Park Ave. in downtown Elmhurst, will use an archaeological lens to gain a deeper understanding of the vibrant Native cultures and communities of the earliest inhabitants in their latest exhibit, People of the Prairie: 12,000 Years in DuPage County. The exhibit remains on display through June 5. Info: www.elmhursthistory.org.

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March 28-April 1 The Elmhurst History Museum presents Spring Break Activities for Families: Families are invited to participate in different programs including a free Meet an Archaeologist! drop-in day, an off-site workshop at St. James Farm called From Atlatl to Archery: Ancient Hunting Technologies ($5 per person), and a free Three Sisters Make-and-Take activity where participants will learn to grow

corn, squash and bean plants together following native traditions.

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Thursday, Feb. 24 At 7 p.m., the League of Women Voters-Elmhurst will host a program via Zoom on Banned Books, featuring experts from the Elmhurst library. RSVP to president.lwvelmhurst@gmail.com and a link will be emailed on the date. Note: Not an Elmhurst Library sponsored event.

appreciated to The People’s Music elmhurstsymphony.org.

School. Masks required. For tickets, visit events.idonate.com/uli.

Sunday, March 13 At 4 p.m. Music at Bethel UnitSunday, March 6 ed Church of Christ presents “The At 12 noon, the Elmhurst History Magic of Mendelssohn,” featuring Museum is hosting a free Gallery Bethel’s artistic director and pianist Talk with the Curator of Exhibits, Jeffrey Panko, flutist Jennie Brown, Dan Bartlett, will lead participants and cellist Paula Kosower, performthrough highlights of the “People of ing two beloved piano trios by Felix the Prairie: 12,000 Years in DuPage Mendelssohn. Bethel is located at County” exhibit.

315 East St. Charles Rd. Tickets are $20 available by calling 630-279Wednesday, March 9 4040, or at the door. Students are At 7 p.m., columnist and author free.

George Will will deliver “The Political Argument Today,” this year’s Ru- Monday, March 17 dolf G. Schade Lecture on History, The Chicago Accordion Club Ethics and Law in Hammerschmidt meets on the third Monday of evChapel on the campus of Elmhurst ery month from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at University. Admission is $15 for the the Elmhurst American Legion, 310 general public and free for Univer- W. Butterfield Rd. Visitors are welsity students, faculty, staff, alumni. come. Every meeting fee includes Tickets available at elmhurst.edu/ professional musical entertainment cultural. Info: email marketing@el- and pizza. Admission is $12 for mhurst.edu. members and $15 for non-members.

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12 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

Elmhurst University launches new scholarship for transfer students Elmhurst University has launched a scholarship program to reward all transfer students who obtain their associate degree from a community college before transferring to Elmhurst.

The $1,000 per year Associate Degree Award celebrates the academic success of community college students who complete their associate degree and also recognizes the partnerships built between Elmhurst and area community colleges that lead to a seamless transfer process.

The first Associate Degree Awards already are being granted to transfer students who will attend Elmhurst University this fall.

“This scholarship is a reflection of Elmhurst’s commitment to removing barriers for community college students who transfer,” said Joianne L. Smith, president of Oakton Community College.

“This scholarship also acknowledges the value of the associate degree, and recognizes that accomplishment for students who complete

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Elmhurst’s Locally Owned and Operated Hometown Newspaper

their degree prior to transferring.”

On average, 75 to 80 percent of Elmhurst’s incoming transfer class each year come from community colleges, and Elmhurst recruits students from all of northern Illinois’ approximately 18 community colleges.

A longtime member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Transfer Honor Roll, the University offers students generous financial aid packages and innovative admission options to facilitate a smooth trans-

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fer process.

“We greatly value the contributions that transfer students make on our campus, and we’re proud of the partnerships and programs we’ve established to create a streamlined, affordable path here,” said Universi-

ty President Troy D. VanAken. “We hope the Associate Degree Award will be one more way to enable even more students to achieve their goals and dreams.”

For more information, visit elmhurst.edu/transfer.

Library announces upcoming author visits Book lovers have three opportunities to hear authors speak about their books and their writing this spring, according to the Elmhurst Public Library.

Madeline Miller, known for her award-winning book Song of Achilles and the bestselling novel, Circe, discusses her processes for writing and research, and her interest in adapting classic texts into modern novels. Ms. Miller appears virtually on Thursday, March 3. Presented with area libraries.

Jenny Lawson, also known as “The Bloggess,” brings her sharp wit

and candor as she shares her struggle with mental illness. Lawson discusses her most recent bestseller, Broken (in the Best Possible Way) virtually on Wednesday, March 30. Presented with area libraries.

Kiley Reid, Man Booker Prize nominee and New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age, speaks about her critically-acclaimed novel that shines a bright light on the subtle, yet deeply impactful aspects of race and privilege in America.

Q&A to follow. Presented with Elmhurst University on Thursday, April 7 at Hammerschmidt Chapel.

Elmhurst Public Library programs Friday, Feb. 25 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Chair Yoga [In-person] Join a certified yoga instructor for a series of simple movements to strengthen and stretch your whole body while comfortably seated in a chair. No prior yoga experience required.

In-person event. Registration required. elmlib.org/events.

Friday, Feb. 25 from 2-4 p.m.

Friday Features: Here Today [In-person] Enjoy an afternoon at the movies.

No registration required. Find each week’s featured film at elmlib.org/friday.

Receive a free eSubscription of your hometown newspaper

Tuesday, March 1 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Staying Mentally Fit [In-person] Join us for fun mental enrichment. Programs will vary from month to month and may include games, puzzles, and other activities that boost memory, reasoning, and other cognitive abilities.

In-person event. Registration required. elmlib.org/events.

For a free weekly eSubscription emailed to any Elmhurst resident or business, sign up at: rockvalleyenews.com

Wednesday, March 2 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

American Mah Jongg: Open Play [In-person] Gather every Wednesday for American Mah Jongg, a game of skill, strategy, calculation, and a certain amount of chance and luck.

In-person event. No registration required.

Tuesday, March 1 from 7-8 p.m.

Severe Weather Preparedness [Hybrid] Illinois experiences extreme weather year-round including wind storms, tornadoes, and devastating snow and ice storms. Professor Paul Sirvatka discusses the nature and climatology of these threats and advises how to best prepare to keep your family safe. Then, learn about the science behind recent significant weather events.

Hybrid event. Registration required. elmlib.org/events.

Thursday, March 3 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Intro to Excel [In-person] Get introduced to Microsoft Excel, a powerful spreadsheet application that can organize and analyze data.

In-person event. Registration required. elmlib.org/author.

For a free print subscription delivered to any Elmhurst residence or business, sign up at: rockvalleydigital.com

Thursday, March 3 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Author Visit: Madeline Miller [Hybrid] Join us for an evening with Madeline Miller, award-winning author of Song of Achilles and the New York Times bestselling novel, Circe. Miller will discuss her processes for writing and research and her interest in adapting classic texts into modern novels. Presented with area libraries.

Hybrid event; Ms. Miller appears virtually. Registration required. elmlib. org/author.

The Elmhurst Independent Your Locally Owned and Operated Hometown Newspaper 397008

Published by

Rock Valley Publishing 240 N. West Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126 Phone: 630.834.8244

Friday, March 4 from 2-4 p.m.

Friday Features: Peter Rabbit 2 [In-person] Enjoy an afternoon at the movies.

No registration required. Find each week’s featured film at elmlib.org/friday.

For information about any of the above programs, call (630) 279-8696 or visit elmlib.org/events

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 13

The Elmhurst Independent

Real Estate/Business Frances Decker joins CBE Board of Directors Frances “Franny” Decker of Elmhurst was recently elected to the Board of Directors at the Community Bank of Elmhurst. Decker, an Elmhurst native, graduated from York High School and the University of Illinois. She currently is in the Human Resources department at Gonnella Baking Company in Schaumburg. She has held positions with the Illinois Opportunity Project and Decker Consulting Services. Earlier Frances Decker in her career she served as a Staff Associate with the Committee on International Relations in the U. S. House of Representatives. Locally, Decker is a Commissioner on the City of Elmhurst’s Economic Development Commission and on the PTA Fundraising Committee for Hawthorne Elementary School.

“Franny Decker is an impressive woman with an outstanding professional background and deep Elmhurst roots. She knows our CBE community and we are delighted to have her join our CBE Board,” said Rich Reichert, president and CEO of CBE. “She joins us as we approach our 30th anniversary in Elmhurst and will add new insights and knowledge to our already distinguished Board.”

Decker was elected on Friday, Feb. 18, and joins George F. Hammersmith, Jr., Chairman, Rich Reichert, president and CEO, Ken Bartels, Josh Bretl, Dr. Lawrence Carroll, Martha Hammersmith-Delgado and Maryann Gorski as Board members.

Feb. 24, 2022 •13

Choose DuPage releases economic indicators report

By Dee Longfellow

FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT

filed, but in March the number went to 29,794 and in April to 36,813.

The number of claims fell off over the next few months with 18,009 in May, 11,093 in June, 7,793 in July, 5,450 in August and 5,542 in September. The numbers began to spike again toward the end of the year and into 2021. Claims reached 15,615 in October, 16,533 in November and 33,862 in December. Then in 2021, there were 28,284 in January, 19,312 in February, and 13,093 in March, then leveled off more or less through the remainder of the year as follows: 3,528 in April, 5,449 in May, 7,637 in June, 4,532 in July, 4,203 in August, 1,849 in September, 1,474 in October, 2,168 in November, 3,043 in December.

workforce. Together these companies represent 607,056 jobs across a variety of industries. Total employment in 2021 was 607,056; the labor force size was 512,380. Top industry sectors are 1) health care and social assistance, 2) professional, scientific and technical services, 3) retail trade, and 4) manufacturing.

At the end of 2021, there were 71,524 job opportunities posted in DuPage County. Compared to the same time last year, this represents an increase of 30.44%. Top job openings by occupation were 1) retail sales, 2) stockers and order fillers, 3) registered nurses, 4) customer service representatives.

The economic development alliance known has Choose DuPage has recently issued its economic indicators report for 2021.

Beginning with unemployment, in Quarter 4, the unemployment rate in DuPage County dropped from 5.3% in the previous quarter to 3%. This is the lowest unemployment rate in northern Illinois. The rate for the state of Illinois is 4.3% and 3.7% for the entire United States.

Counties neighboring DuPage had the following rates of unemployment: Cook 5.0%, Lake 4.0%, Kane 4.4%, Kendall 3.3%, and Will 4.1%.

Unemployment insurance claims Office, industrial, retail were relatively flat through most vacancies of 2019, making a small uptick at The office vacancy rate dropped to the end of the year after COVID-19 Jobs and the workforce surfaced. In the year 2020, claims DuPage County is home to near- 16.3% at the end of Q4, down from skyrocketed in March and April. In ly 90,000 businesses that are taking See REPORT, Page 22 February of 2020, 1,823 claims were advantage of skilled and educated

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14 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

Lincoln School Masterpiece

Set in the sought-after Lincoln School district. Chef’s kitchen with top-of-the line SS appliances/warming drawer/pot filler/ice maker, granite island, eating area, walk-in pantry, mudroom, formal dining and living rooms, 1st floor office, 2 powder $1,299,900

Lincoln School Masterpiece Set in the sought-after Lincoln School district. Chef’s kitchen with top-of-the line SS appliances/warming drawer/pot filler/ice maker, granite island, eating area, walk-in pantry, mudroom, formal dining and living rooms, 1st floor office, 2 powder rooms, and family room with stone fireplace and custom built-ins. 4 large beds up, primary suite with fireplace, dual walk-in closets, spa bath with steam shower, and 2nd floor laundry. Finished walkout basement with separate entrance offers a unique home office set up with additional phone lines, power and internet service that is turn-key for today’s new work from home environment.

Whole home backup generator, central vacuum system, complete home security with cameras covering entire exterior, professionally landscaped grounds with timed LED exterior lighting, paver brick driveway, patios, & walkways, irrigation, new vinyl fence, separately zoned sound inside and out, and heated 3 car attached garage with epoxy floors. $1,299,900

Beautiful Modern Craftsman

This new construction home has 5 BR/4.5 Bathrooms/5,053 sqft of utmost thought & attention to detail. Nestled in a location that is walking distance to Elementary Schools, the Spacious grounds of Beren’s Park - offering ball fields, batting $1,099,000

Beautiful Modern Craftsman This new construction home has 5 BR/4.5 Bathrooms/5,053 sqft of utmost thought & attention to detail. Nestled in a location that is walking distance to Elementary Schools, the Spacious grounds of Beren’s Park - offering ball fields, batting cages, tennis courts, spray park, a miniature golf course & more! Modern & rustic design elements include ALL Hardwood Floors, Sliding Barn Doors, Exposed Beams and Gorgeous Tile work, complete SMART home. Outdoor features: gorgeous brick patio, TV/Entertainment/Living Space wi/ Built in Fire Pit, wood storage & a Mini replica Shed w/ full Electrical plus tons of green space for kids/ pets! $1,099,000 Rare College View Rental

Rare College View Rental

Charming Tudor Home. Great opportunity to live in the center of town. Walking distance to town, train, and all downtown Elmhurst amenities. 4 good sized bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms upstairs. Hardwood floors throughout. 2 car

411130

$3,000/mo FOR RENT

Charming Tudor Home.

Great opportunity to live in the center of town.

Walking distance to town, train, and all downtown Elmhurst amenities. 4 good sized bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms upstairs. Hardwood floors throughout. 2 car detached garage. $3,000/mo

Retail / Office For Lease

Retail / Office For Lease

Prime office or retail storefront available in the Spring Road Business District. Great exposure for your business with high visibility. Set near the IL Prairie Path in a vibrant business district with many well established businesses. 1,600 SF of

Spring Road Business District

CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE: http://PrairiePathRealtors.com/

Prime office or retail storefront available in the Spring Road Business District.

Great exposure for your business with high visibility. Set near the IL Prairie Path in a vibrant business district with many well established businesses.

1,600 SF of “vanilla box” shell space with 2 bathrooms, 2 private parking spots + street parking in front and large municipal lot in rear for clients/ customers. Water included in rent, tenant pays for all other utilities.

Available immediately. $2,667/mo base rent + gas + electric.

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 15

Royal York Condo

Royal York Condo

Great opportunity to own a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom Royal York condo in Elmhurst! First floor garden unit with patio off sliding glass door in living room. Excellent location near Oak Brook Shopping/Restaurants, Elmhurst Hospital and great $132,500 FIRST OFFERING!

Great opportunity to own a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom Royal York condo in Elmhurst! First floor garden unit with patio off sliding glass door in living room. Excellent location near Oak Brook Shopping/Restaurants, Elmhurst Hospital and great expressway access.

Maintenance free living with well run homeowners association. Assessment includes: heat, air conditioning, water, gas, scavenger, parking, pool, and community room. Nearby assigned parking space. This building is 100% owner occupied. $132,500

Move-In Ready!

Move-In Ready!

Don’t miss this one of a kind 2 bed / 2 bath luxury condo loaded with fantastic features! This great open floor plan has an abundance of natural light, over 1500 sq ft, volume ceilings, hardwood floors & separate laundry. New kitchen $299,900

Medical Office Building

Medical Office Building

Medical professional building in the east/west corridor within one mile of the Elmhurst-Edwards campus. 11,775 sf of turnkey orthopedic space available fall 2021, space features generous reception & waiting room, private offices, exams

Within$3,500,000 1 Mile From Elmhurst-Edwards

Medical professional building in the east/west corridor within one mile of the Elmhurst-Edwards campus. 11,775 sf of turnkey orthopedic space available fall 2021, space features - generous reception & waiting room, private offices, exams rooms, onsite X-ray and MRI, ADA compliant entry, hallways, & doors, private and public restrooms, onsite billing office, record storage, IT rooms, state of the art security and surveillance technology, conference rooms, kitchen and break room space for staff, with entire building on backup generator. Adjacent 5,766 sf of Physical Therapy space is available Jan 2022 for a possibility of 17,541 total sf $3,500,000

Center of Town

Center of Town

Being built by a well respected, long-time Elmhurst builder working alongside an interior designer set to help pick out all of your finishes & fixtures. Offering over 4,800 sf of finished living space with its fully finished basement - exercise room, 1,350,000

For Sale or Lease

For Sale or Lease

Free standing building located just north of North Avenue, walking distance to downtown Elmhurst. 3,625 square feet perfect for daycare, medical/dental, sales, accounting, or legal. Fully wet sprinklered, 4 handicapped bathrooms, full

FOR SALE OR LEASE

Free standing building located just north of North Avenue, walking distance to downtown Elmhurst. 3,625 square feet perfect for daycare, medical/dental, sales, accounting, or legal. Fully wet sprinklered, 4 handicapped bathrooms, full kitchen, and 7 perimeter private offices, large 16 car private parking lot $799,900 or $16 per sf on lease. Call Mickey (630) 494-0178

Don’t miss this one of a kind 2 bed / 2 bath luxury condo loaded with fantastic features! This great open floor plan has an abundance of natural light, over 1500 sq ft, volume ceilings, hardwood floors & separate laundry. New kitchen with white shaker cabinets and quartz counters. Massive living/dining space with custom built-ins and gas burning fireplace. Oversized primary suite retreat with gas burning fireplace, walk-in closet and jetted bath. Large second bedroom or office space and updated 2nd full bath. Coveted secure parking space just steps to your private entrance.

Great rooftop deck with endless view of the Lake. $299,900

Being built by a well respected, long-time Elmhurst builder working alongside an interior designer set to help pick out all of your finishes & fixtures. Offering over 4,800 sf of finished living space with its fully finished basement - exercise room, rec room, custom bar and wine room!

Gracious 10 ft first floor ceilings welcome you to this impressive home with HWF’s & extensive trim & ceiling detail throughout, 5 beds, 4.5 baths, a 2.5 car garage, custom kitchen w/ huge island, high-end SS appliances (Wolf & Sub-Zero) & eating area open to family rm w/ fireplace, master suite w/ spa bath, designer plumbing/lighting fixtures, surround sound + more! .

1,350,000

Build Your Dream Home!

Build Your Dream Home!

Incredible opportunity to build the home of your dreams on this 1/3-acre property in south Elmhurst. One of Elmhurst’s best kept secrets with lower taxes while still offering coveted SD205 education. Well developed area with many surrounding

Incredible opportunity to build the home of your dreams on this 1/3-acre property in south Elmhurst. One of Elmhurst’s best kept secrets with lower taxes while still offering coveted SD205 education. Well developed area with many surrounding new/newer homes.

Close to Butterfield Park and Oak Brook shopping mall and restaurants.

Quiet location with great highway access to anywhere in Chicagoland. $299,900

$299,900

Wise Investment Builders

Work with this fresh new plan or build to suit. Covered outdoor space off family room and kitchen eating area, very open, 1st floor study, 2.5 car heated garage, 4 large beds up with luxurious master suite with dual WIC’s and spa bath, and $1,375,000

411131

Wise Investment Builders Work with this fresh new plan or build to suit. Covered outdoor space off family room and kitchen eating area, very open, 1st floor study, 2.5 car heated garage, 4 large beds up with luxurious master suite with dual WIC’s and spa bath, and finished basement with guest suite with full bath, rec room, wet bar and flex room. Walk to new Lincoln school, the IL Prairie Path, Pioneer & Ben Allison Parks, and the hip Spring Road Business District. Rare opportunity to work with this quality of a builder from Day 1 and make it your own! $1,375,000

16 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

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The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 17

Bill seeks pay raise for tipped workers Sponsor says it is a step out of poverty for millions of working families

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

A bill in the Illinois House would do away with the sub-minimum wage paid to waitresses, bartenders and other tipped service workers.

Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, introduced House Bill 5139 last month. If the bill becomes law, workers who supplement their wages with tips will receive the state’s minimum wage starting on Jan. 1, 2025, in addition to their tips.

Its passage may be a tall order, however, as the Illinois Restaurant Association successfully lobbied when lawmakers overhauled the minimum wage schedule in 2019 to allow businesses to continue to pay less than minimum wage to employees who earn tips.

Lilly’s bill has currently not received a full committee assignment and has no cosponsors.

In 2019, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation into law providing a path to increase Illinois’ minimum wage rate to $15 per hour and $9 for tipped workers by 2025.

Servers and bartenders who receive tips are currently subject to a $7.20 an hour minimum wage.

At a bill signing for that 2019 law, Sam Toia, president of the Restaurant Association, appeared alongside Pritzker and praised the law for maintaining the credit which allows employers to pay tipped workers 60 percent of the minimum wage if tips make up the other 40 percent.

The IRA did not respond to a request for comment as of this publication.

But Lilly, in a recent news conference, noted that Valentine’s Day is the highest grossing day of the year for restaurants, making the announcement of the effort to eliminate the sub-minimum wage in Illinois poetic.

“This work comes from the

heart,” Lilly said. “This is the beginning of addressing poverty for each and every worker across the state of Illinois.”

“Two years ago, we raised the minimum wage, but we left tip workers out,” Lilly said. “This is a way to address that.”

Since 2020, more than a million workers have left the hospitality industry nationwide. In Illinois, about 90,000 workers have left the industry since 2020, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The bureau reported that a record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November, but the quit rate in the hospitality and leisure industry was 6.4 percent – more than double the average of all the combined industries.

The virtual news conference was hosted by the organization One Fair Wage, based in New York.

Attendees said the hot job market led many in the hospitality industry to find higher paying jobs in other sectors.

The added challenges for restaurant workers included enforcing COVID-19 mandates, as well as exposing themselves to the virus by those who refused to comply with mitigation efforts. Also, sexual harassment is often tolerated because waitresses and bartenders depend on tips to supplement their hourly income.

In 2019, women made up 51 percent of workforce in the hospitality industry.

Tabina Gibson, of Chicago, worked in the hospitality industry for 20 years. Gibson, who attended the news conference with Lilly, is the mother of five and grandmother to two.

When the pandemic hit and she was laid off, she said she found she made too little in wages to collect unemployment. She used a grant and started a small business with

Edward Jones Co. celebrates Centennial anniversary

Financial services firm Edward Jones announced the celebration of its Centennial, marking a century of transformative growth and the positive impact it has made for its clients, colleagues, communities and society. This year and beyond, Edward Jones’ more than 50,000 colleagues will join in activities that celebrate this monumental milestone and set the stage for the continued growth of firm’s impact in the next 100 years.

Throughout 2022, Edward Jones will celebrate its Centennial across the communities it serves with virtual and in-person events, connections to philanthropic and community efforts, and much more.

During the Centennial celebration, the firm will initiate volunteer activities to achieve impact in the areas of partnering for lasting financial strength, promoting healthier futures and advancing inclusive growth. It will also expand on its efforts to foster economic inclusion in the communities it serves, actively collaborating with organizations to make meaningful progress that enables every community to thrive.

To learn more, visit centennial.EdwardJones.com.

her daughter selling lip gloss and other personal care items.

Gibson isn’t alone. In March 2020, one in four people in Illinois who lost their jobs was in the restaurant industry, but two-thirds of restaurant workers reported they couldn’t access unemployment benefits because their subminimum wage was too low to qualify for

benefits.

Victor Love owns Josephine’s Southern Cooking in Chicago. He said he has challenges. His restaurant survived the pandemic and the violence that occurs in the neighborhood.

Despite the challenges, Love said he supports higher wages for his employees.

One of his employees has worked for his restaurant for 30 years, Love noted. That kind of loyalty, Love said, provides stability.

“Give and it shall be given back to you,” he said.

Love’s daughter, Grace, is a waitress at her father’s restaurant.

She currently gets paid $9 an hour plus tips.

Eva Sanchez, REALTOR® To buy or sell a house call EVA today

Call or Text: (630) 561�8742

A licensed REALTOR® for over 25 years

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www.SeeYourHouseRightHere.com Email: SeeYourHouse@outlook.com

130 West Park Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126 408189

By Beth Hundsdorfer

18 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

Serving Addison, Bensenville, Elmhurst, Lombard & Villa Park

Classifieds

Call Classifieds at Painting

Part Time Help Wanted

HELP WANTED

CARL WUNSCHEL BLDRS. 369531

• Interlocking Flooring •Kitchen/Bathroom Remodeling • Tile Installation & Painting - Guaranteed Workmanship For a fair quote & prompt service call 630-220-8138(cell) or 630-627-7844

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Concrete

Residential driveways, patios, walkways.

Stamped and colored concrete.

Call Greg 630-469-6898

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CUSTOM CONCRETE

Electrical

Firewood

FIND YOUR NEXT JOB IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

Tree Service

CALL Elmhurst (630) 834-8244 or Lombard (630) 627-7010 TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD!

T & M TREE SERVICE

Heating and AC

Wanted

HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT

SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT 411647

$120 a core delivered Call Jim 630-461-2280

Gutters

708-785-2619

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Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators • Ranges • Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded ~ 25 yrs experience

Landscaping/ Lawn/Garden Available Services • Commercial & Residential Affordable Weekly Mowing • Aeration Spring & Fall clean up • Power Raking Fertilizing and/or Seeding • Sidewalk edging Black dirt/Mulch/Stone • Driveway Bush trimming sealcoating Call for Free Estimate • Villa Park

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CURT’S HANDYMAN SERVICE No job too small

PRESCHOOL & DAYCARE ASSISTANT Exp. not necessary, will train PT or FT Monday-Friday in Lombard

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Respond by phone or e-mail: creativemontessori1@gmail.com

Skilled Trades Lombard area Steel Rule Rotary and Flat Die manufacturing (corrugated box & displays) looking for experienced Steel Rule Die maker. Full time or part time positions available. Entry level positions also available. Other position available laser operator. Delivery driver also needed, must have valid drivers license and insurance.

Marv 630.629.9211 413178

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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.

FIND YOUR NEXT HOME IN THE CLASSIFIEDS!

• Tree Removal • Tree Trimming • Bush Removal • Stump Grinding • Free wood chips • Free Estimates • Insured Call Todd

630-303-4641

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I BUY OLD TOYS

American Flyer, Lionel trains, Barbie and other dolls; G.I. Joe, Tonka, Matchbox, Hot Wheels cars & more! Plus any other antiques and collectibles. Call:

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REAL ESTATE

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630-832-9530

Part-time sales / marketing rep for group of weekly newspapers and websites in DuPage County. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. 20 hours per week. Work from home. Sales/Marketing experience helpful, but not necessary.

Reliable car needed.

Please email resume to: Pete@rvpublishing.com The Independent Newspapers 240 N. West Ave., Elmhurst

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Announcements

Help Wanted

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630-495-8077

FOR SALE

EMPLOYMENT

Handyman

Building Repair/ Remodeling

In-Print and Onlne at www.Lombardian.info

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Lombard Office (630) 627-7010

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Elmhurst Office (630) 834-8244

In-Print and Onlne at www.TheIndependentNewspapers.com

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 1-800-927-9275.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

379666

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 19

Local ophthalmology practice offers SMILE procedure provider of advanced vision correction and visual health.”

This revolutionary procedure developed by ZEISS utilizes the VisuMax® femtosecond laser which Kovach Eye Institute acquired in December 2021. With this new treatment option, Kovach Eye Institute is now offering patients access to the most advanced refractive laser vision correction technology available.

SMILE is a safe and proven method of vision correction with more than four million procedures done worldwide. With SMILE, there is no flap, therefore there are no flap complications. Unlike LASIK, the SMILE procedure is bladeless, flapless, and effortless.

The benefits of SMILE include: • Minimally Invasive Procedure Your surgeon only needs to make a small, precise opening 4mm to 6mm to correct your vision.

• Quick and Proven - SMILE takes only a few minutes from start to finish and people worldwide have experienced clearer vision thanks to

LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CASE NUMBER 22 ZBA 05 Request for Variations Notice is hereby given that the Elmhurst Zoning and Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., in the Elmhurst City Hall, 209 N. York Street, Elmhurst, Illinois. The purpose of this hearing is to consider a request by Marco and Meghan Gusella for front yard and corner side yard setback Variations at the property commonly known as 305 E. May Street, Elmhurst, Illinois for the purpose of constructing a second story addition and an unenclosed covered front porch.

Following is a legal description of the subject property: THAT PART OF LOT 2 IN BLOCK 1 OF GOSS, JUDD & SHERMAN’S CRESCENT PARK SUBDIVISION, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE SOUTHERLY LINE OF SAID LOT 2, THAT IS 111.0 FEET NORTH EASTERLY OF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 1 IN SAID BLOCK 1 AND RUNNING THENCE NORTH TO A POINT IN THE NORTH LINE OF SAID LOT 2 THAT IS 105.4 FEET EAST OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 1; THENCE EAST ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF LOT 2, A DISTANCE OF 147.3 FEET MORE OR LESS TO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID LOT 2; THENCE SOUTH ALONG THE EAST LINE OF SAID LOT 2, A DISTANCE OF 46.3 FEET TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAID LOT 2;THENCE SOUTH WESTERLY ALONG THE SOUTHERLY LINE OF SAID LOT 2, TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING, IN THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 12, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 11, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED JUNE 8, 1926 AS DOCUMENT 215085, IN DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. PIN: 06-12-203-023 The common street address is 305 E. May Street, Elmhurst, Illinois. The subject property is located within the R1 – Single Family Residence.

If you have any questions regarding this case, please contact the Community Development Department at 630-530-3121.

NOTE: Any person who has a disability requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in this meeting, should contact Emily Wagner, ADA Compliance Officer,

Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., City of Elmhurst, 209 N. York Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126, or call 630-530-8095 TDD, within a reasonable time before the meeting. Requests for a qualified interpreter require five (5) working days’ advance notice.

Eileen Franz, City Planner (Published in The Elmhurst Independent Feb. 24, 2022) 413173 NOTICE CERTIFICATE NO. 78554 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on FEBRUARY 9, 2022, wherein the business firm of EPOCH LOCATED AT 111 W. 3RD STREET, ELMHURST, IL 60126 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: NAME OF PERSON(S) VIVIAN MABRY, HOME ADDRESS 111 W. 3RD STREET, ELMHURST, IL 60126.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 9TH day of FEBRUARY, A.D. 2022.

JEAN KACZMAREK Jean Kaczmarek DuPage County Clerk (OFFICIAL SEAL) (Published in The Elmhurst Independent Feb. 17, 24 & March 3, 2022) 412780 NOTICE CERTIFICATE NO. 78525 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on JANUARY 20, 2022, wherein the business firm of JIM GARY LOCATED AT 841 N. YORK STREET #208, ELMHURST, IL 60126 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: NAME OF PERSON(S) JAMES G. BJORNSON, HOME ADDRESS 841 N. YORK STREET #208, ELMHURST, IL 60126.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 20TH day of JANUARY, A.D. 2022.

JEAN KACZMAREK Jean Kaczmarek DuPage County Clerk (OFFICIAL SEAL) (Published in The Elmhurst Independent Feb. 10, 17 & 24, 2022) 412278

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to those readers who have sent a donation to help underwrite The Elmhurst Independent. For those of you who haven’t done so in the past year, but enjoy this newspaper and would like to help us pay for its operation, please send a donation in any amount to:

Independent Elmhurst

240 N. West Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126

IF YOU THINK THE INDEPENDENT IS WORTH 50¢ an issue, it would be $26.00; 75¢ an issue - $39.00 or $1 an issue - $52.00 You won’t need to wear a mask. You won’t have to stand six feet away. You won’t need to get a shot or even a booster. You can do it in your COVID-comfy clothing without leaving the house. What you’ll get in return is the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped to support your favorite local newspaper.

For delivery within Elmhurst __ Please keep my paper coming:

Name______________________________ Address____________________________ Phone______________________________

20 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

ALBUM BAND CAKE CATER CENTERPIECES CEREMONY DANCING DATE DISK JOCKEY GOWN GUESTS HAPPY INVITATION LICENSE MARRIED MUSIC OFFICIANT PHOTOGRAPHER RECEPTION RESPONSE RINGS TUXEDO VOWS WEDDING

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!

Puzzle answers on page 22

CLUES ACROSS 1. Constrictors 5. Abounding in rocks 11. Speed 14. German city 15. Lacking sympathy 18. Visionaries 19. Wastes away 21. One precursor to the EU 23. Nursemaid 24. Unconsciousnesses 28. Baby’s word for father 29. Equal to 64 US pints (abbr.)

30. Senses of self-importance 32. Midway between south and southwest 33. When you hope to get there 35. Electronic data processing 36. Passports and drivers’ licences are two 39. Fishes 41. Air Force 42. Personal computers 44. Ecological community 46. Wings 47. Halfway 49. Cool, calm and collected 52. Jewelled headdress 56. Musical composition 58. __ Falls 60. Repeating remarks 62. Periods in one’s life 63. Hyphen CLUES DOWN 1. __ Humbug!

2. Devices that alert pilots (abbr.)

3. Grocer 4. One point east of southeast 5. Subjects to hostility 6. Work unit 7. Atomic #56 8. British thermal unit 9. “Elusive Butterfly” singer

10. Fastened over animal’s neck 12. Device 13. Rechargeable power source 16. Ancient sage 17. Consist of two elements 20. “Pygmalion” writer 22. “The Centennial State” (abbr.)

25. Of I 26. Get older 27. Brotherhoods 29. Buzzing insect 31. Sunscreen rating 34. Brew 36. Leader 37. Indigo bush

38. Burn with a hot liquid 40. Junior’s dad 43. Horse mackerels genus 45. Morning 48. Unit of linear measurement (abbr.)

50. Double curve 51. Small, twisted bunch 53. Developed 54. Mars crater 55. Humanistic discipline 57. Word element meaning ear 58. Last or greatest in an indefinitely large series 59. Wood residue 61. It cools your home

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 21

The Elmhurst Independent

Sports Feb. 24, 2022• 21

York girls bowling team finishes fifth in the state Svehla places third individually; Miklyukh competes at state gymnastics; York boys swimmers headed to state

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

The York girls bowling team’s banner season concluded with a topfive state finish. The Dukes finished fifth in the state at the recent IHSA girls bowling state finals held at The Cherry Bowl near Rockford. York finished with a total pinfall of 11,203 and averaged a 186.7 per game. The Dukes were 16 pins out of fourth place.

On the individual front, York’s Kat Svehla finished third in the state with a total series of 2,587. She averaged an impressive 215.6 per game.

In the final day of competition, York had 2,809 and 2,702 series. York had high games of 983, 963, 961 and 953.

Svehla led the way with a 646 and 605 series. She had high games of 246, 241 and 226. JJ Bolden had a 604 series and a 536 series with high

York girls bowler JJ Bolden (with her individual sectional championship) took 33rd at the recent IHSA girls state bowling finals near Rockford. Bolden helped York finish fifth in the state as a team. Teammate Kat Svehla took third in the state individually.

games of 242, 214 and 202. Madeline Mountcastle had series of 580 and 530 with high games of 217 and 202. Kara Jensen had series of 526 and 530. She had high games of 209 and 201. Michaela Tully had a 501 series after the lunch break, which included a high game of 209. Senior Emily Carrasco also competed during the final day of action.

York started the state finals tournament in third place with a 5,692 series and a 189.7 game average. Svehla bowled an excellent 1,336 series, which included high games of 287 (in her sixth and final game), 267 and 220. Bolden was at 1,187 with high games of 247, 207 and 200. Mountcstle was at 1,122 with high games of 215 and 212. Jensen finished with a 1,075 series and high games of 198 and 192. Carrasco had a high game of 208 on the first day, while Tully had a high game of 180.

Overall, after Svehla’s third-place finish, Bolden finished 33rd individually, while Mountcastle tied for 52nd and Jensen was 66th.

York girls gymnastics The York girls gymnastics team was represented by senior Martha Miklyukh at the recent IHSA state finals meet at Palatine High School.

Miklyukh finished tied for 23rd in the uneven parallel bars competition.

She had scores of 9.00 and 9.10 and finished with a score of 9.05.

York boys swimming The York boys swimming team took second place at the recent Leyden sectional. York had 274 points and finished behind sectional-champion Oak Park-River Forest, which won with 310 points.

York qualified its 200 free relay team for the state meet. The team of junior Jeremy Harrington, junior Charlie McKenna, sophomore Nick Maiers and senior Connor Groya finished second with a time of 1:27.15.

The state cut was 1:27.37.

York’s 400 relay also is heading to state after the quartet of Maiers, sophomore Martin Polomsky, junior Jeremy Harrington and senior Connor Groya took third and went under the state cut with a 3:11.83 effort.

The state marker was 3:12.86.

Groya won the 50 freestyle sectional title with a time of 20.92 and is headed to state. He also won the 100 with a time of 45.08 and will compete at state in that event as well. For comparison’s sake, Groya’s 20.92 in the 50 was under the 21.76 state standard, while his 45.08 was well below

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

The York girls bowling team, shown holding their sectional championship, recently finished fifth at the IHSA state finals meet held near Rockford. Senior Kat Svehla took third individually and broke the 1,300-pin barrier on the first day of competition. She bowled a 287 in her sixth and final game during that opening day effort.

the 47.71 state cut.

Harrington is headed to state in the 500 after taking third with a time of 4:40.69. Harrington’s 4:40.69 was easily under the 4:44.11 cut.

In the diving competition, junior Joseph Qualiter won the sectional title and qualified for state with a 405.65 point total. Senior Owen David finished second with a 402.50

total and is on the watch list for a potential at-large state diving bid.

The state finals meet takes place Friday and Saturday at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

22 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, July 16, 2020 • 19

sports

IC Catholic Prep girls basketball team wins regional title Loras College signee Wagner scores 28 points in championship

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

The IC Catholic Prep girls basketball team has grown up in a hurry this season. The youthful Knights, who have three sophomores in the starting lineup, continued that upward trajectory recently by winning their own Class 2A IC Catholic Prep regional championship.

The Knights were 68-20 winners over Chicago Dyett in the regional title game on their home floor. Claire Wagner had 28 points in the win.

“We came out with confidence and focus,” said Wagner. “We had energy and we all wanted to win. We were

excited. Coach (Todd Fisher) said we did a great job of talking on offense and defense and playing as a team.

It means a lot to win because we are a young team. It’s awesome for the younger sophomore and freshmen players to see and have this opportunity. We’re blessed to win and have this opportunity.”

Allie Geiger is one of those sophomore starters for Fisher’s squad.

“We worked very well together,” she said. “We were fast with our transitions and with our 3/4 press we were able to make a lot of steals as a team.

For us, this is an important milestone to get to our end goal, which is to get

to state. And it was awesome that we did it at home.”

The Knights have now won 10 of their last 11 games and were 23-8 overall after the win over Dyett. “I like how we are a really young team overall,” Geiger said. “We start three sophomores. It’s fun to work with these girls and it’s fun to see us come together as a team.” Wagner added, “We are all close and we are all friends. I like how well we play together.”

IC Catholic Prep heads to the Class 2A Timothy Christian sectional where it was scheduled to play Joliet Catholic earlier this week in one

sectional semifinal game. Chicago Noble/Butler and Timothy Christian squared off in the other sectional semifinal. The two winners will play for the sectional title at Timothy for a shot to advance to the Class 2A Morton College supersectional next week where a berth in the state semifinals will be on the line. “I want to go far,” Wagner said. “I think we can go far.”

Earlier, the Knights were 59-16 winners over Chicago Cristo Rey Jesuit in the regional semifinals.

Wagner had 21 points to lead the way, while sophomore Kelsey McDonough and Geiger each scored 11 points.

Additionally, Wagner, who announced last week she will continue her basketball career at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and McDonough advanced to the sectional round of the Class 2A state 3-point shooting contest. They will shoot at Timothy Christian this week.

IC Catholic Prep closed out the regular season with a 60-44 non-conference win over Chicago De La Salle. Wagner scored 28 points, while Geiger was right there with her with 24 points. The Knights’ other non-conference postseason tuneup game against Midlothian Bremen was canceled.

Timothy Christian girls basketball team wins regional Juniors Roland and Drye help power Trojans to sectional at home this week

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

It was a double play for the Timothy Christian girls basketball team last week. Not only did the Trojans win a Class 2A regional title, but because of that they get to play at home this week in the Class 2A Timothy Christian sectional.

Timothy scored a 32-27 win over Chicago Phillips to win the Class 2A Chicago North Lawndale College Prep regional in Chicago. The Trojans advanced to their own sectional where they played Chicago Noble/Butler earlier this week in the sectional semifinals. If Timothy wins that game against Noble/Butler it will play for the sectional title against either IC Catholic Prep or Joliet Catholic. The winner moves on to next week’s Morton College supersectional in Cicero where a berth in the state semifinals on the Anthony Bucoloisfires a line. pitch Timothy is the No. 3 seed in its game.

sub-sectional, while Noble-Butler is the No. 1 seed. IC Catholic Prep is the No. 1 seed in its sub-sectional, while Joliet Catholic is the No. 3 seed in its sub-sectional, meaning both semifinals earlier this week pitted top seeds against No. 3 seeds.

Timothy led Phillips 10-5 after the first quarter, but only 14-13 at halftime. An 11-4 third quarter run gave the Trojans some breathing room.

Phillips outscored Timothy 10-7 in the fourth quarter.

Junior Grace Roland led the Trojans with 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting. Junior Maddie Drye added nine points, which included two 3-pointers. No other players scored in the game. Roland sank 7 of 9 freethrow attempts. Roland added eight CHRIS FOX PHOTO ElmhurstMili Independent rebounds, while junior Martens had six rebounds and Drye pulled in five rebounds. Roland also blocked three shots. during a recent U12 baseball Timothy advanced to the region-

U12 baseball action

Player of the week sponsored by

Community Bank

al championship after a 59-27 win over University of Chicago Laboratory School in the regional semifinals. Timothy led 27-9 after the first quarter and 37-15 at halftime. The Trojans outscored University 16-5 in the third quarter. Roland led Timothy with 28 points and shot 11-for-18 from the field. Freshman Sami Drye added nine points, while her sister Maddie added seven points. Sami Drye made three 3-pointers in the game on five attempts. Roland hit 5

• Report

of 7 free throws in the game and also pulled in eight rebounds. Maddie Drye had five rebounds and a teamhigh eight assists. Martens had five steals, while Maddie Drye had three steals. The two wins pushed Timothy to 14-15 overall.

The Trojans closed out the regular season with a 46-32 Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division loss to Rosary. Rosary led 9-5 after the first quarter and 21-12 at halftime.

Maddie Drye led the Trojans with 14

(Continued from page 13)

16.5% in the previous quarter. At this time last year, the office vacancy rate was 15%. Class-A office vacancy remained at 23.2% in Q4. At this time last year, Class-A office vacancy was 20.6%.

Leasing activity and sublet availability indicates what is happening short term in the market. Leasing activity, based on the number of deals closed, increased by 88% in Q4 compared to Q3. In total, there were 145 lease deals completed, compared to 77 last quarter and 136 at this time last year.

The sublease availability, or the amount of sublease space on the market, decreased in Q4 by 9.5% com-

pared to Q3. This is a 7% increase compared to the same time last year.

The industrial vacancy rate dropped to 3.2% in Q4, compared to 3.5% in Q3. At this time last year, the rate was 5.3% In Q4, there were 98 industrial/ flex lease deals. Industrial vacancy is at a historic low for the county and asking rents are continuing to rise to their highest levels. Currently, there is a 3.4 million square feet of industrial space under construction in DuPage.

The overall retail vacancy rate in Q4 rose to 7.8%, compared to 7.6% in the previous quarter. Last year, the rate in DuPage County was 7.5%.

The cost of living index estimates the relative price levels for consumer

Answers

Member FDIC

PUZZLE 1 LENDER

www.communityelmhurst.com (630)782-1234 proudly presents proudly presents

100380

of Elmhurst

YORK HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE WEEK YORK HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE WEEK YORK GIRLS BOWLING TEAM GIGI BARR The YorkYORK girls bowling capped off a spectacGIRLS team VOLLEYBALL ular season by finishing fifth at the recent IHSA state Barr was the recipient of the 2019-2020 York Val Cothern finals meet near Rockford. Individually, York’s Kat junior female athlete of the year award. Barr went over the Svehla finished third in the state, while JJ Bolden 1,000-career kill threshold last fall for the Dukes girls volleywas 33rd. ball team and still has a season to add to that total.

points, while Roland had 13 points.

Maddie Drye made four 3-pointers in the game. Roland had 10 rebounds and blocked two shots. Tegan Gunn had two blocked shots as well.

Maddie Drye advanced out of the North Lawndale Charter regional in the state 3-point shooting contest.

She will compete this week at home in the sectional portion of the competition where berths in the state finals portion of the contest will be on the line.

PUZZLE 2

goods and services. The cost of living in DuPage County is 26.2% higher than the U.S. average and 17.1% higher than the State average. In Q4, the average annual salary rose to $70,710 compared in $69,987 in Q3.

At this time last year, the average annual salary was $66,481.

This information was drawn from the 2021 annual report from the Choose DuPage economic development alliance. Sources include the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, JobsEQ, CoStar, IDES, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. For a full copy of the report, visit choosedupage.com.

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 23

ICGS students in the Science Lab ICGS 7th and 8th grade science students have been busy performing experiments in the ICGS Science Lab. The 8th Grade class completed a lab where students differentiated between covalent and ionic bonds. They learned by using substances such as salt,

sugar, baking soda and cornstarch.

The 7th grade classes have begun working on science experiments for the upcoming ICGS Science Fair and learned how to properly use a microscope to look at cells.

Above: In the ICGS Science Lab, this student floats paperclips on the top of the water in a glass.

Left: These ICGS students use wires, a battery and a glass of water to conduct enough elecSUBMITTED PHOTOS Elmhurst Independent tricity to light up the little bulb These ICGS students hold a ball of aluminum foil over a candle to attached to the wood. conduct an experiment in the Science Lab.

Above: In the ICGS Science Lab, this student appears to be delighted at whatever she has discovered in the lens of her microscope.

Right: This student uses a microscope in the ICGS Science Lab to study onion cells and check cells up close.

24 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

Remembering a dear friend

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Elmhurst Independent

Several years ago, this tree was planted near Sandburg Middle School in honor of long-time teacher Trilby Porter (back row, second from right). Spearheaded by her friend Geri Kucera, the Independent presents these photos of Trilby’s tree in honor of her recent passing at the age of 83.

Pictured are (back row, from left): Nola Vandarakis, Sally Hoffman, Tsue Ostermann (kneeling), TrilParker Kucera checks out the plaque in front of the tree dedicated

by Porter, Wanda Butera; (front row): Geri Kucera, Jan Teed and Nancy Choice. Thank you to Geri to beloved long-time teacher Trilby Porter, who passed away on Jan. Kucera who provided the photos.

12 at the age of 83.

Sweet memories

March 19th

7:00 PM- 10:00 PM Elmhurst Hall 119 N. York Rd

Come for hors d'oeuvers, open bar, music, dancing, and raffles! Enjoy opportunities to win prizes!

iccatholicprep.org

(630) 530-3460

Sponsorship opportunities are available!

412997

To purchase tickets, please visit https://iccatholicprep.org/knight-of-jewels-2022/

412590

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 • 25

PRIVATE GAMING ROOM BAR HOURS Monday Closed Tues-Thurs 12PM-11PM Fri 12PM-12AM Sat 11AM-12AM Sun 11AM-10PM

Sebastianshouse.com

801 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard (630) 376-6947 8900 Fairview Ave., Brookfield

KITCHEN HOURS Monday Closed Tues-Thurs 12PM-9PM Fri 12PM-10PM Sat 11AM-10PM Sun 11AM-9PM

H Daily Specials ~ DINE IN ONLY H TUESDAY

FRIDAY

$9 Pepper & Egg with a Side $10 Fish Fry $5 Stella Draft $5 Tito’s, Jack or Jameson $18 White Claw Buckets

$2 Beef Tacos / Pork Tacos $8 Bacon Nachos $5 Margaritas $4 Modelo Drafts $15 Buckets any Mexican Beer

SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY

$9 1/2 lb. BLT with a Side $8 Bacon Croquettes $5 Sam Seasonal Draft $5 Ketel One, Proper Twelve $20 Modelo Buckets

Kids Eat FREE FREE Bar Bingo (win up to $10,000) $9 Gourmet Cheese Burger with a Side $5 U Call It ($8 and under, liquor only) $6 Martini Menu

THURSDAY

$9 Pulled Pork with a Side $8 Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks $4 Drafts (most drafts) 1/2 Price Wine Bottles ($25 bottle or more)

SUNDAY

50¢ Boneless Wings $7 Pasta Marinara $9 Sausage & Peppers with a Side $5 Bloodys 1/2 OFF Bourbon, Scotch and Whiskey ($20 or more) $12 Miller Lite 64 oz. Pitcher $15 Import 64 oz. Pitchers

H Everyday Carryout Special H XL Pizza Family Pack $35 1 XL 2 Topping Pizza 1/2 Tray Pasta Marinara 1/2 Tray Salad

36 Drafts HHH 350 Bourbons, Scotches & Whiskeys

Medium Pizza Pack $25 1 Medium 2 Topping Pizza 1 Dinner Pasta Marinara 1 Dinner Salad

Pasta Pack $25 1/2 Tray Pasta Marinara 1/2 Tray Salad 18 Boneless Wings

$

5 OFF $ 25

DINE IN ONLY (Not valid on daily or happy hour specials)

Good only at Sebastian’s Ale & Whiskey House 801 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard

26 • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 - The Elmhurst Independent

Montini Catholic offers summer camp opportunities Registration now open for athletics, fine arts

Montini Catholic is proud to announce opportunities for grade school sports, fine arts and academic enthusiasts to develop skills, gain confidence and discover their passions while making 2022 an unforgettable summer! Bronco Athletic, Fine Arts and Academic Summer Camps are now available for registration.

Camp descriptions within a visual ‘guidebook’ and registration information can be accessed online at: www.montini.org/SummerCamp22.

Montini Catholic Athletic Camps Baseball (Boys) – Grades 4-8 July 11-14 (M-TH) 10-11:30 a.m. • $75 Basketball (Girls) – Grades 4-8 Skills: June 13-16 (M-TH) 9-10:30 a.m. • $75 Fundamentals: June 20-23 (M-TH) 9-10:30

• Wrestlers

a.m. • $75 Basketball (Boys) – Grades 5-8 Skills: June 13-17 (M-F) 10 a.m. -1 p.m. • $90 Offensive: June 27-July 1 (M-F) 10-11:30 a.m. • $60 Broncettes (Dance) – Grades 2-9 July 19-21 (T-W) 9 a.m. -12 p.m. & 5-8 p.m. (Th) • $85 Cheerleading – Grades 4-8 July12-14 (T-Th) 12-2 p.m. • $75 Cross Country (Girls) – Grades 5-8 June 28-July 29 (T-TH-F) 8-10:30 a.m. • $50 Cross Country (Boys) – Grades 5-8 June 28-July 29 (T-TH-F) 8-10:30 a.m. • $50 Football (Boys) – Grades 5-8 5-8 Youth Skills: July 11-14 (M-TH) 1-3 p.m. • $75 7-8 Big Man: July 7 (TH) 1-3 p.m. • $25 Golf (Coed) – Grades 4-8 July 18-21 (M-TH) 1:30-3 p.m. • $80 Lacrosse (Girls) – Grades 4-8 Fundamentals June 27-29 (M-W) 12:30-2

p.m. • $50 Soccer (Coed) – Grades 4-8 Camp 1 June 13-16 (M-TH) 12:30-2 p.m.

• $75 Softball (Girls) – Grades 1-8 Grades 5-8: July 12-14 (T-TH) 9:30-11 a.m. • $65 Grades 1-4: July 13-14 (W-TH) 11:30 a.m.

-1 p.m. • $45 Speed & Agility (Coed) – Grades 5-8 Basics July 12, 14, 19, 21 (T-TH) 8-9:30 a.m. • $40 Volleyball (Girls) – Grades 3-8 Skills #1 June 13-15 (M-W) 1-3 p.m. • $60 Skills #2 July 26 and 27 (T-W) 1-3 p.m. • $40 Volleyball (Boys) – Grades 5-8 Skills July 11 -15 (M-F) 8:30-10 a.m. • $50 Wrestling (Boys) – Grades 3-8 Youth Skills July 25 -27 (M-W) 5-6:30 p.m. • $60 Small Fry Introduction to Sports – Coed Ages 4-7 (Coed) – Ages 4-7 June 6-10 (M-F) 8:30-10 a.m. • $25

Parent, guardian or babysitter required to stay on site during this camp.

Montini Catholic Academic/Fine Arts Band – Grades 6-8 July 11-15 (M-F) 9-11 a.m. • $50 Bricks for Kids® – Ages 6-9 Lego City Engineering & Architects: June 27 - July 1 (M-F) 9 a.m. -12 p.m. • $180 JEDI Engineering: July 11-15 (M-F) 9 a.m.

-12 p.m. • $180 Mining and Crafting Adventures: Aug. 8-12 (M-F) 9 a.m. -12 p.m. • $180 Exploratory Spanish – Grades 2-4 June 27- July 1 (M-F) 10 a.m. -12 p.m. • $120 Extreme Science – Grades 5-8 June 20-24 (M-F) 9-11 a.m. • $145 LEGO® Robotics – Grades 5-8 June 13-16 (M-TH) 1-3:30 p.m. • $125 Theater – Grades 6-8 June 6-10 (M-F) 9 a.m. -12 p.m. • $150

(Continued from page 3)

lost both his state matches. Samayoa lost his first match, won his second and then lost his third. Spaulding also lost his opener, came back to win his first wrestleback match and then lost his next bout.

The fun isn’t done for the Knights. IC Catholic Prep turned its attention to Wednesday’s Class 1A dual-team sectional at St. Laurence High School in Burbank. The Knights, who won a team regional title, faced St. Laurence in the semifinals, while Chicago Phoenix Military Academy and Yorkville Christian squared off in the other semifinal. The two winners met immediately after for a chance to advance to

the dual-team state finals meet in Blooming- won his first wrestleback match 10-1 (major ton. decision) before dropping a 3-0 match. Junior Sean Van Sleet lost his opener and then lost his York wrestling first wrestleback match 11-9.

Three York wrestlers competed in the Class 3A state wrestling meet in Champaign-Urbana York boys basketball this past weekend.

The York boys basketball team dropped a Junior Sean Berger opened things in the recent 50-46 West Suburban Conference SilClass 3A 120-pound bracket with a 13-7 win ver Division game to Hinsdale Central. Drew and then lost 10-8 in the quarterfinals.

Kircher and Alex Sherman each had 14 points Berger then won his first wrestleback match for the Dukes, who opened Class 4A postseaby fall in 4:30 before losing 5-3. Zach Parisi, a son play earlier this week against neighbor sophomore who won a sectional title the week- Willowbrook. If York defeated Willowbrook end before, lost his opening match 7-1 and then Wednesday at Glenbard West it more than

The Moreci Family Invites You to Experience

likely will face the state’s top-ranked team and regional hosts for the regional title Friday at 7 p.m. at Glenbard West.

Timothy Christian boys basketball The Timothy Christian boys basketball team hosts a Class 2A regional this week. The Trojans, the No. 4 sub-sectional seed, faced No. 5 seed Lisle Wednesday.

If the Trojans won that game they will face either No. 1 Northridge Prep or No. 9 Westmont Friday at home for the regional title at 7 p.m.

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