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Rare Healy portrait comes home to Elmhurst

Historically significant painting recovered, restored; Heritage Foundation celebrates 15 years

Usually, history museums acquire objects that are meaningful to their mission and collections from items handed down through generations or donations from community resources. Occasionally, curators come across a diamond in the rough, a find that is both rare and significant to history. This is one of those stories.

Elmhurst History Museum’s curator of collections Daniel Lund got the feeling that something exciting was about to unfold when he randomly checked his work e-mail on a weekend afternoon in 2020. He received a note from a patron who shared a link to an auction item that might interest the museum: a paint-

ing of Jennie “Jane” Byrd Bryan, the wife of Thomas Barbour Bryan, a distinguished figure in Chicago and Elmhurst history. The Bryans were early Elmhurst residents who built one of the town’s gracious estates and Bryan was a widely respected community leader, businessman, and international statesman, best known for his leadership role in bringing the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition to Chicago.

The historical significance caught the curator’s attention immediately, but the larger story was not so much the subject of the portrait but the art-

See HEALY, Page 5

Former Lizzadro Museum

building to be demolished

Now owned by Park District, building deemed too costly to bring to code

Wilder Park’s open green space will grow following the approval to demolish the former Lizzadro Museum building later this summer.

The Elmhurst Park Board approved the project at its Monday, April 10 meeting. The building is located at the southeast corner of the park and has been vacant since 2019. Removing the building will decrease the District’s utility costs and open up the area to potential future uses.

Elmhurst Heritage Foundation celebrates 15 years

The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts opened in Wilder Park in 1962. The building was built specifically to house the museum’s unique collections of gemstones, rocks and minerals. The museum moved to a larger facility in Oak Brook in 2019. Under the terms of the agreement between the Lizzadro Family Foundation and the Park District, the Wilder

See MUSEUM, Page 5

Pictured here at the 15th anniversary celebration of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation held Thursday, April 20 at Wilder Mansion are (front row, from left): former Elmhurst Heritage Foundation Board member Tom Klein, City treasurer Dan Curran, City manager Jim Grabowski, Elmhurst History Museum executive director Dave Oberg, DuPage County Board member and Elmhurst Heritage Foundation Board member Yeena Yoo, 2nd Ward Alderman-elect Karen Petroski-Sienko, 7th Ward Alderman Mike Brennan, former Elmhurst History Museum executive director Brian Bergheger. (back row from left): former Mayor Thomas D. Marcucci, Mayor Scott Levin, 7th Ward Alderman-elect Rex Irby. “The elected officials, city staff and individuals pictured have been dedicated to supporting the efforts of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation in its mission to help the Elmhurst History Museum serve the community through expanded programs, exhibits and initiatives at the museum and the Churchville One-Room Schoolhouse,” Oberg said. The event included the inaugural unveiling of a fully-recovered and restored painting by George Peter Alexander (G.P.A.) Healy of Jennie “Jane” Byrd Bryan, the wife of Thomas Barbour Bryan.

DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

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UCCA to present 6th annual ‘Taste of the Town: Dining for a Cause’

United Community Concerns Association (UCCA) will host the 6th annual, Taste of the Town: Dining for a Cause, an Elmhurst food and drink sampling, on Thursday, May 18 from 6-10 p.m. at Wilder Mansion.

“We’re so excited to be back at Wilder Mansion doing an in-person event after a three-year absence due to COVID,” said Shari Haug, UCCA president.

The evening will showcase food, wine, and beer tastings from 15 Elmhurst businesses while guests enjoy live music.

What it’s all about

Proceeds from Taste of the Town: Dining for a Cause will benefit UCCA, an all-volunteer, not-forprofit organization that fights hunger by providing food, referrals, and services to Elmhurst District 205’s most

financially disadvantaged children and their families. Each day in Elmhurst schools, 14.38% of children qualify for the free/reduced lunch program from District 205. These children facing food scarcity issues often lag behind their peers in terms of cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Last year UCCA provided more than $191,177 in food and grocery store gift certificates to

almost 280 families and 84 senior citizens.

Tickets are $75 per person in advance or $80 at the door. Visit ucca-elmhurst.org to purchase tickets online or send payment to UCCA, P.O. Box 324, Elmhurst, IL 60126.

Participating restaurants

Bottle Theory

Cuvee

Dak Dak Korean Wings

Firewater BBQ

Fitz’s Pub

Francesca’s Amici

Gambino’s Deli

Gia Mia

Kilwins Elmhurst

Lezza Spumoni & Desserts

Pilot Pete’s Coffee & Treats

Primos Locos

Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria

Tannins Wine Bar & Boutique

Victory Meat & Seafood

Pasquale Moreci of Roberto’s Ristorante and UCCA member Gigi Peters discuss plans for the UCCA’s upcoming benefit “Taste of the Town: Dining for a Cause,” scheduled for Thursday, May 18 from 6-10 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at ucca-elmhurst.org.

Dan Roesch, Dave Roesch, Jr. and Paul Koch of Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

The elmhursT IndependenT

Your Hometown Newspaper

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240 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL. 60126

Main Phone 630.834-8244 Fax 630.834-0900

Visit us at: TheElmhurstIndependent.com

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

Display Advertising: 630.834-8355

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News Coordinator

Debra Hamilton

Advertising Director

Pete Cruger

Publisher

Advertising:

Brenda Garcia

Subscriptions:

The Elmhurst Independent is mailed at no charge by request to residents in the 60126 zip code area. Out-of-area mail subscriptions are $29.95 yearly. Single copies are also available at more than 80 newsstand locations in Elmhurst. For home delivery information call 630.834-8244.

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Content appearing in the Elmhurst Independent may not be reprinted without permission of the publisher or editor. Requests should be directed to Independent@rvpublishing.com or 630.834-8244.

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THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT

240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 11am-3pm

Library showcases resources at the Makery

Check-out and return items for craft projects, kitchen helpers, games, more

By Dee Longfellow FOR

THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT

On Saturday, April 22, the Elmhurst Public Library hosted a Celebrations Showcase to exhibit all the things available to residents that can help with party-planning, celebrating a special event and ways to save money. The focus of the event was to display items available for check-out at the Makery, machines and devices people can borrow simply with a library card.

The Makery at Elmhurst Public Library is a do-it-yourself makerspace for hands-on experiential learning, located in the basement.

There are several types of printers available for use at the library or for check-out to use in the home. There is a Sublimation printer, a Cricut (pronounced like cricket) and a Silhouette printer, all of which have specific uses that allow crafters to print large posters, banners, and much more. Also available in the Makery are sewing machines, an embroidery tool (not available for check-out), an Epilog Laser Engraver, a button-making machine, a bottle cutter, a projector and other electronic equipment. For example, a digital camera, a camcorder, different types of microphones, a music keyboard, and a ring light with a tall “selfie-tower” to set it on are all items you will find in the Makery.

Learn how to make your own 3-D cookie cutters, print your own stickers, even print your own “Pin the Tail on…” the Donkey, the Unicorn, or whatever you wish.

For the kitchen, all kinds of tools, supplies and small electric items can be checked out and used at home, such as an air fryer, a cookie press

and stamps, a crepe maker, fondue pot, ice cream and frozen yogurt maker, waffle iron and more. One of the best things is the number of various pans that can be checked out and returned. If your child’s hero is Spongebob or Mickey Mouse or whomever, the Makery has pans shaped like that character that you can check-out, make the cake and return later.

Because whatever your child likes at any given time, it will change in a matter of months, so why have that one pan sitting around, taking up cabinet space for years to come? The Makery allows you to borrow one and bring it back.

If you long for the days when people played games in groups, actually talking to one another, or if you remember a time when games weren’t

centered around a screen and a joystick or a phone and your thumbs, the Makery has board games for your family to check out and enjoy, such as Balderdash, Party Charades, even Pickleball, as well as jigsaw puzzles, which you can make yourself with a favorite family photo. Everything that is available at The Makery can be found at the library’s web site at epl.org/TheMakery.

The items on display here were at the Elmhurst Public Library’s Celebrations Showcase on Saturday, April 22. The candleholder (left of hat), the engraved coasters made of branch “slices” were made in the Makery, with Epilog Laser Engraver, as was the “pretzel rod and reel” with the fish

DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTOS Elmhurst Independent

The frames for these two little twins were made by using the Epilog Laser Engraver, one of the items available at the Makery, located in the basement of the Elmhurst Public Library. It was on display at the library’s Celebrations Showcase on Saturday, April 22.

Jez, the education librarian at the Elmhurst Public Library, displays a ring lamp and a tall “selfie-tower” it sits upon. It also has a remote control.

attached.

(Continued from front page)

ist who painted it: George Peter Alexander (G.P.A.) Healy.

Healy, Thomas Barbour Bryan become friends

Healy was one of the most prolific and popular portrait artists of his time, and he lived in Elmhurst (known then as Cottage Hill) during the Civil War years under the patronage of the Bryan family. Healy is best known for his portraits of several U.S. Presidents as well as other politicians and celebrities in America and Europe. After a successful career in France in service to King Louis-Phillipe, Healy moved to Chicago in 1855 where he befriended Thomas Barbour Bryan and his family. Healy set up his studio and home in the Bryan’s original house known as Hill Cottage Tavern, one of the oldest residences in Elmhurst that still stands to this day. It was Bryan who made the connection for one of Healy’s most famous commissions: the last known portrait of President Abraham Lincoln without a beard (National Gallery of Art).

After learning more about the artist and the painting, Lund was certain that the portrait needed to be saved from obscurity and that it belonged in the Elmhurst History Museum’s collection. Unfortunately, there were two major obstacles in the way. First, the painting was in terrible condition

with visible tears and damage from years of improper care, and Lund wasn’t sure it could be salvaged. Secondly, the painting was costly, and funds would need to be raised to procure it.

A journey of restoration

The museum was not deterred, and a three-year journey began with the purchase of the painting through the support of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation and donations for the restoration from Elmhurst residents Peggy and Michael LoCicero and Julie and Patrick Sheehan. Art experts were consulted to determine an appropriate restoration plan, and the painting was painstakingly repaired and brought back to its original luster by Parma Conservation in Chicago. Additionally, a custom frame was created by MCM Fine Framing to match the era and importance of the painting.

“The confluence of events and resources that helped us to bring the Healy painting home to Elmhurst is a long story with a happy ending,” said Lund. “The addition of this painting to our collection provides a tangible connection to the story of 19thcentury American cultural heritage and local history. Now that it is restored and in its proper place in the museum, the painting will serve as a living link between past and present to edu-

(Continued from front page)

Park building became the property of the Park District at that time.

In 2018, Dewberry Architects assessed the building for the Park District. At the time, they estimated it would cost $1.2 million to bring the building up to code.

That same year, the Park District approached local non-profit and community groups to determine if any might be interested in submitting a proposal for use of the site. No viable proposals were submitted and the Park District made the decision to

cate future generations. I am proud to have been a part of this experience, and that the museum could play a role in saving this important piece of history. And I am certainly glad that I checked my email that day.”

Coming home to Glos Mansion; lecture

scheduled for April 30

The restored painting of Jane Byrd Bryan was unveiled and presented at the 15th anniversary celebration of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation held Thursday, April 20 at Wilder Mansion and will soon be on display in the museum’s core exhibit, “By All Accounts: The Story of Elmhurst,” accompanied by a short documentary and historical information.

To officially welcome the portrait to the Elmhurst History Museum, Lund and his fellow staff member, curator of collections Sarah Cox, will co-present a lecture about the artist and the significance of the painting to Elmhurst history on Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m. The program is free to members and $5 for non-members, and reservations are requested at elmhursthistory.org (in the Programs section). Starting on Friday, April 28, the public may view the painting during regular visitation hours in the second-floor gallery.

To find out more about G.P.A. Healy and Thomas Barbour Bryan,

demolish the building, given the cost to restore it.

The project is expected to begin in early August. The area will also be restored, including fill and grading. Visit epd.org for the latest updates on this and other Park District projects.

visit the History Highlights section at elmhursthistory.org/387/History-Highlights. For the latest informa-

Obituary

Francis “Frank” Revello, 81 Francis “Frank” Revello, of Elmhurst, passed away on April 18, 2023, at the age of 81. Beloved husband of the late Doris G. Revello (nee Baggett) for 52 years; loving father of Shelley (Rick) Hale, Donna Lynn Revello, Rocco (Donna Marie) Revello, and the late Daniel J. Revello (1990); cherished grandfather of Candace Revello, Sara (Hector) Ocampo & Jessica Van Dyck and Christina & Francesca Revello; adored great grandfather of Lilah &

tion on the museum’s exhibits and programs, visit elmhursthistory.org or call 630-833-1457.

Julian Ocampo; fond brother of Mary Ann (the late John) Levick, the late William (Sharon) Revello, the late Joseph Revello, John (Sue) Revello, and Rocky (Kathy) Revello; special uncle of many nieces & nephews and friends. A Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, April 25 at Visitation Catholic Church, 779 S. York St. Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Francis’ name to the Gary Sinise Foundation, P.O. Box 40726, Nashville, TN 37204 or visit GarySiniseFoundation.org/donate.

Arrangements in care of Elmhurst Community Funeral Home – The Ahlgrim Chapel. For info, (630) 8343515 or www.ElmhurstFH.com.

Nearly $330,000 raised for University during Giving Day 2023

Hundreds of Elmhurst University alumni, friends and members of the campus community recently celebrated Giving Day 2023 by raising nearly $330,000 for a range of programs and initiatives benefiting students. Proceeds from the 24-hour #JayItForward fundraiser on Thursday, March 30 exceeded the day’s $300,000 goal, with gifts coming from 340 unique donors who made more than 370 contributions. The philanthropic gifts support several of the elements that define a student’s Elmhurst experience, including:

• The Annual Fund, which supports student scholarships, operational and program costs, and other University needs with unrestricted, immediate-use dollars.

• The Health Sciences Initiative Fund, which will facilitate the con-

struction of a new health sciences building that will bring together Elmhurst’s nursing, public health, occupational therapy and communication sciences and disorders programs, and will create greater opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

• Improvements to Langhorst Field and other athletic and recreational facilities on campus, to provide an enhanced experience for thousands of students, coaches, spectators and community members.

• What’s Your Bluejay Passion?, which supports University programs of the donor’s choosing.

Giving Day also kicked off the University’s student philanthropy campaign, which will continue through Commencement Day on Saturday, May 20.

Providing the atmosphere

DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

The Bill Riddle Trio performed at Wilder Mansion for the 15th anniversary celebration of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, hosted by the Elmhurst History Museum. At the event, a fully-restored historic painting of Jennie “Jane” Byrd Bryan, the wife of Thomas Barbour Bryan was unveiled by the well-known artist G.P.A. Healy, who was good friends with Thomas Bryan.

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.

Assault, battery

April 14

Michael A. McCambridge, 66, of Elmhurst, was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer and aggravated battery to emergency medical services personnel in the 200 block of N. Willow at 9:51 p.m. Police said that subsequent to a call for a death threat to dispatchers and police, reporting officers found McCambridge to be heavily intoxicated. Medics arrived on scene, and as he was being placed in the ambulance, McCambridge battered the officer and the paramedic, according to police.

A victim at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital told police at 11 p.m. that she was sexually assaulted in Milwaukee, Wis. The Milwaukee Police Department was notified and took over the investigation.

Criminal damage, criminal trespass to property

April 16-April 19

A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) used some type of heat source and damaged two of the vehicles parked in the driveway in the 400 block of W. Alexander sometime between the above dates.

April 15

Geena Quiles, 30, of Elmhurst, was charged with criminal trespassing at Elm Creek Drive at 1:06 p.m. According to police, a victim related her roommate entered her locked bedroom and damaged several items.

Domestic battery, disorderly conduct, domestic incident, disturbance

April 22

Richard A. Wilbert Jr., 19, of Elmhurst, was charged with reckless conduct in the 500 block of N. Howard at 8:22 p.m. Police said a reporting officer received a complaint, relating that Wilbert had discharged a firearm in the backyard of his residence. The suspect admitted to discharging the firearm towards a cemetery during an interview at the station, according to police.

April 15

A 27-year-old Elmhurst woman was charged with domestic battery in the 100 block of W. Virginia at 7:54 p.m. Police said a reporting officer met with the victim who reported he was battered by the suspect. The reporting officer found the suspect to allegedly be highly intoxicated.

Possession of cannabis in a vehicle

According to information provided last week by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported four incidents of possession of cannabis by either the driver of a vehicle or a passenger: Xavier Toledo, 21, of Chicago, in the 200 block of S. Grace at 8:41 p.m. April 14; Megan Krull, 21, of Elmhurst, in the

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600 block of E. St. Charles at 10:20 p.m. April 17; Ronald Reid, 56, of Addison, near Route 83 and St. Charles at 4:09 p.m. April 19; and Amelia C. Smith, 34, of Oakbrook Terrace, near Roosevelt and Butterfield at 11:31 p.m. April 19.

DUI, DUI-drugs, transportation of open alcohol, possession of open alcohol, consumption of alcohol by a minor

April 16

Thomas Swanson, 28, of Orland Park, was charged with DUI, driving in the wrong lane, improper lane usage and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near North and Route 83 at 2:32 a.m.

April 15

Edgar Roasles, 31, of Stickney, was charged with DUI, improper lane usage and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Lake at 4:07 a.m.

Harassment, threats

April 13

A victim in the 900 block of S. Hillside told police he is being harassed by his ex-girlfriend through electronic means. The suspect was advised to have no further contact with the victim.

Identity theft, fraud, forgery

According to information provided by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported six incidents of identity theft or fraud.

Possession of a controlled substance

April 18

David Rodriguez, 40, of Woodstock, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia in the 500 block of S. York at 4:27 p.m.

Suspicious incident

April 15

Police said Officers responded to the parking lot behind a restaurant in the 600 block of W. North at 10:31 p.m. for a gathering of modified cars. Parked cars overflowed into neighborhood streets and other business parking lots. Officers assisted the property manager in ending the event and dispersing the cars.

Theft or burglary /retail theft/forgery/deceptive practice/obstruction/ robbery

April 18

A victim in the 100 block of S. Prospect reported at 2:25 p.m. that he received a check from a future employer to buy supplies for his job. The victim related, after cashing the check, that he began receiving text messages requesting him to send the company back a portion of the funds. The victim realized this was a scam and did not send any money. An investigation is pending.

April 17

A complainant at a business in the 600 block of N. Larch told police at 3:55 p.m. that a semi tractor and an attached utility trailer were stolen from the business parking lot by an unknown suspect.

March 6-April 17

A complainant reports an unknown person(s) attempted to wash and cash checks he dropped off in the mailbox. The attempted transaction was unsuccessful.

April 16

Police said that subsequent to assisting the Addison Police Department for the recovery of a stolen vehicle, it was discovered that storage units had been burglarized at a storage facility in the 200 block of W. Lake. Items stolen from the storage units were recovered from the vehicle.

April 15

A victim in the 100 block of N. York reported at 12:10 p.m. that an unknown suspect removed five of their aluminum chairs for outdoor dining. The chairs were not locked.

April 13

William J. Friel, 35, of Elmhurst, was charged with theft at a restaurant in the 900 block of S. York at 2:22 p.m. Police said a complainant related that Friel left the restaurant without paying for food.

Retail theft

April 15

Africa A. McKinney, 28, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft, burglary and unlawful possession of cannabis at a store in the 900 block of S. York at 5:51 p.m. Police said that subsequent to a call for a retail theft, a complainant related the suspect took several bottles of alcohol and exited the store without paying. A reporting officer located the suspect’s vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Police said McKinney admitted to stealing alcohol

April 14

A complainant at a store in the 100 block of E. Schiller told police at 6:01 p.m. that an unknown suspect(s) took several items from the store and attempted to exit without paying. An investigation is pending. The suspect is described as an Hispanic male.

April 13

A complainant at a store in the 100 block of E. Schiller told police at 4:37 p.m. that an unknown suspect(s) took several items from the store and exited without paying. An investigation is pending. The suspect is described as being either a white or Hispanic male between the ages of 25 and 45 years old.

Warrant arrest

April 15

Police said Kyle Raymond Jordan, 31 of Villa Park, was found to have an active warrant out of Lee County near North and Ferndale at 9:26 p.m.

Elmhurst Public Library programs

Friday, April 28 from 2-4 p.m. Friday Features: A Man Called Otto

Enjoy an afternoon at the movies. Find each week’s featured film at elmlib.org/Friday. No registration required.

Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Canasta

Join us for a friendly game of Canasta every week. Prior experience is required. Live in-person. No registration required.

Monday, May 1 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Scrabble

Play a friendly game of Scrabble. All skill levels welcome. Live in-person. No registration required.

Tuesday, May 2 from 1-3 p.m.

Bridge and Pinochle Club

Enjoy an afternoon of card games every week. Prior experience is required. Live in-person. No registration required.

Tuesday, May 2 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Staying Mentally Fit

Join us for fun mental enrichment including games, puzzles, and other activities that boost memory, reasoning, and other cognitive abilities. Live in-person. Registration required.

Wednesday, May 3 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

American Mah Jongg: Open Play

Gather every Wednesday for American Mah Jongg, a game of skill, strategy, calculation, and a certain amount of chance. Live in-person. No registration required.

Wednesday, May 3 from 7-8 p.m.

The History of Simon & Garfunkel

Music historian Gary Wenstrup traces the arc of Simon & Garfunkel’s career. Hybrid event. Registration required.

Thursday, May 4 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Medicare 101

Learn what Medicare covers, what it doesn’t, and your potential out-of-pocket expenses, including Supplement and Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Coverage, and cost-saving strategies. Live in-person. Registration required.

Friday, May 5 from 2-4 p.m. Friday Features: The Namesake

Enjoy an afternoon at the movies. Find each week’s featured film at elmlib.org/Friday. No registration required.

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

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Chicago mayor-elect hails Illinois as ‘vanguard for progressive policy’ in speech to lawmakers

By Jerry Nowicki and Andrew Adams CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson said last week his goal was to unify the state while calling Illinois a “vanguard for progressive policy all over this country” in an address to a joint session of the General Assembly.

Johnson, a former middle school teacher and one-time staffer for Senate President Don Harmon, said he came to Springfield to “establish a productive, collaborative and energetic partnership to invest in the people of Chicago and the engine of this economy here in Illinois.”

Some of Johnson’s agenda for the city, such as increasing the city’s real estate transfer tax on properties exceeding $1 million, would require action from the General Assembly. In his speech to lawmakers, he also

supported a “revised school funding formula,” with unspecified changes that would “help ensure there is a nurse and a social worker in every single school in Chicago.”

“I stand ready to continue to make those strong investments and to deliver on the promise of fully funded neighborhood schools,” he said. “Public education at the expense of the state, after all, is a Negro idea.”

One major ask for state funding was an increase to the Local Government Distributive Fund, a share of the state’s income tax that is directed to local municipalities across Illinois. It was originally earmarked for 10 percent of those revenues to go to municipalities in 1969, but that number has decreased over the years to 6.16 percent of personal income tax collections and 6.85 percent of corporate income taxes.

Mayors from across the state were in Springfield April 18 to request that funding be increased to 10 percent once again over the next four fiscal years. That would cost about $250 million for each percentage point the rate is increased.

“By increasing funding, this body can help provide Chicago and cities and towns across the state with the resources that are needed to build from the ground up,” Johnson said. “And when we build a better, stronger, safer Chicago we are building a better, stronger safer Illinois.”

He praised recent state budgets that included hundreds of millions of dollars aimed at addressing gun violence with youth intervention programs, and increasing spending on public schools, domestic violence prevention and trauma recovery centers.

Johnson’s speech aimed to weave

‘Master Gardener’ Help Desk reopens in DuPage County

Spring marks the annual reopening of University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Help Desks around the state. Each growing season, trained volunteers field questions on trees, shrubs, lawns, flowers, vegetables and other plant-related topics from residents and community members.

Popular topics this time of year may include weather, lawn care, spring blooms and starting vegetable seeds indoors. Master Gardeners can also advise what tools and tasks are needed for flourishing gardens and yards throughout the growing season, such as pruning, dividing,

disease control and prevention, and more.

DuPage, Kane and Kendall County residents can contact the local Master Gardener volunteers via phone, email, or stop by during Help Desk hours.

DuPage County hours and contact information:

Contact volunteers 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents may call 630-955-1123, visit 1100 E. Warrenville Road, Suite 170, Naperville 60563, or email uiemg-dupage@illinois.edu.

About Master Gardeners

Across DuPage, Kane and Kend-

Protect two roofs under one

a staunchly liberal agenda with a conciliatory tone.

“For years, they’ve told us that this is a zero-sum game, that if something’s good for Chicago, well, that means we’re taking something away from Peoria,” Johnson said. “They tell us that the challenges that we face in the city of Chicago and families like mine, on the West Side of Chicago, aren’t the same challenges shared by families from Rockford to Carbondale from East St. Louis to Champaign, and everywhere in between.”

It’s an approach that didn’t land with House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, of Savanna.

“House Republicans were open to hearing the mayor-elect’s vision for Chicago, but what we heard was a partisan political speech unheard of in our legislative chamber,” she said in a statement. “Where Mayor Johnson says he wants to collaborate on job growth, support law enforcement, and increase education

funding, Republicans will be good partners. However, we won’t stand for rhetoric that divides our state, burdens Illinois families, or support bailouts for ineffective programming.”

The strongest pushback from Republicans came regarding the mayor-elect’s stance on public safety. His recent election win over a more conservative candidate, Paul Vallas, was an electoral mandate for his response to crime in the city, he said.

“Public safety is a prerequisite to the prosperity of Chicago,” he said. “And the voters have sent a clear message that they want to get smart, not just tough on crime. We have a mandate to make bold, necessary investments that address the root causes of violence.”

His plan includes adding 200 detectives in the city and expanding mental health services for police officers, who are asked to do too much, he said.

all counties in 2022, Master Gardeners answered more than 1,000 help requests and logged 16,889 hours through service projects in our communities.

According to the Independent Sector’s value of volunteer time, that equates to $523,052. In addition, Master Gardener projects donated more than a ton of fresh produce to local food access sites.

For more information, visit go.illinois.edu/ExtensionDKK.

VISION HEALTH AFTER 40

Like the rest of our bodies, our eyes and vision decline as we age. Even when a person has had healthy eyes and good eyesight their whole life, after age 40, most people start to see some changes in their vision. Needing additional light to see clearly, reduced night vision, and the need for corrective lenses to see in focus are all normal signs of aging eyes. Symptoms such as chronic dry eyes, seeing floaters or blurry spots, and blurry close-up vision also increase with age, but they may be the sign of a more serious eye condition. If you are over age 40, have your eyes examined once a year to check your vision and screen for eye conditions. Constant investment in the latest technology makes eye exams easier and more accurate for everyone from toddlers to seniors, usually without the inconvenience of dilation. Experience, commitment to technology and a genuine concern for patient welfare enable all of our doctors and our highly qualified staff to work together as a team to consistently deliver quality, affordable eye care. When you need to schedule an eye exam, please contact SKOWRON EYE CARE. At Skowron Eye Care, our mission is your vision.

P.S. Most eye conditions and diseases cause declining eyesight, but symptoms may not be noticeable in the earlier stages. A professional eye exam can detect conditions and diseases before the onset of symptoms.

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:

You won’t get

Viewpoint

Slices of life

Growing crystals

Don’t ask me why I do what I do, but lately I’ve been growing crystals. Not the meth kind. I know, that’s a terribly bad joke. My crystals are purely legal and grown in a heat-safe glass jar in my kitchen.

I feel like a kid in 8th grade science class.

It’s all part of a larger, geodemaking project that I’m involved in. The fake crystals will be part of the fake geodes. It sounds much less attractive than it is in real/fake life. Sort of like the housewives of wherever but without the drama, false eyelashes and botox.

If you aren’t confused by now— good for you. I know I am.

One of the best things about growing crystals is the simplicity of the process. It takes two ingredients: water, and something that will crystalize. You can use sugar, salt or my ingredient of choice: borax, which is actually a type of salt - just not the kind we sprinkle on our food.

The borax is dissolved in hot water until the water is saturated and no more borax will dissolve. At this point if you’d like to color your crystals you can add alcohol ink.

I make my own alcohol ink (because why wouldn’t I?) out of rubbing alcohol and the ink saturated portion of a permanent marker. Again—two ingredients. Could these processes be any simpler?

Add your color to the saturated solution in a heat-safe glass container. Now, as in 8th grade, we add something dangling in the liquid to serve as a base for the crystal formation. I tie a small object to a thread, hang it into the water mixture, secure it to a wooden dowel and cover with a towel to preserve the heat.

And then I wait. With borax, I’ll have crystals in less than 24 hours.

It’s almost magic.

It is, unless the crystals don’t form as hoped. Sometimes they don’t form

By JILL PERTLER Columnist

at all. Sometimes that happens.

But here’s the best part. Even if the crystals fail, you can try again. You can reheat your water, add more borax if needed, melt any ill-shaped crystals that may have formed and look for something even better in the morning.

I see this as a metaphor for life.

Perhaps we are all like crystals: forming and growing based on our surroundings and the things and people who most closely touch us. We grow, bit by beautiful bit, with each piece of our crystal adding to our magnificent and light-reflecting selves.

But what if things don’t go exactly as planned? What if our life crystals aren’t even close to what we wanted or expected?

What if life isn’t what we wanted or expected?

I’d like to propose a thought: Life may not be what we expected, but it is what we make of it. It is what we perceive of it.

We can remold our crystals at any point. We can redo, rebuild, reinvent and change the organization of our crystals to the very core.

We have the power to make life more stunning that it ever was before.

If you are growing in your own space right now, keep it up. Keep growing. Keep building.

Let’s stun the pants off of life. Let’s allow it.

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

Letter to the editor

Protect the First Amendment rights of our children, reader urges

A small but vocal group is trying to restrict the book “American Street,” by Ibi Zoboi, from York High School classrooms. By the time this letter prints, these efforts may have already been successful. Elmhurst must stand up for the First Amendment rights of our children. School Library Journal, a source of reliable recommendations and unbiased critical reviews, recommends American Street for Grades 9 and

up. “A breathtaking story about contemporary America that will serve as a mirror to some and a window for others, and it will stay with anyone who reads it.”

Books are First Amendment protected free speech, unless they are obscene. To be obscene, the book as a whole would have to be patently offensive, appeal to the prurient

See LETTER, Page 18

By Ollie Idowu

What defines a community? Safe housing, reliable transportation, educational opportunities, healthy food access, quality health care? At the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, we believe it is all those things, and much more, starting with whole-person, accessible health care.

Community health centers across Illinois, from our largest cities to our most rural areas, witness each of the challenges experienced by their patients every day. We have known it for years, but the pandemic put an important spotlight on a glaring truth: In our underserved communities, high-quality, affordable health care is sorely needed—now more than ever.

This spring, we are taking action at the Illinois State Capitol. In the recent run of strong state revenues, Illinois leaders have repeatedly and generously invested in core health care services and social service programs; and community health centers have been grateful to be a priority. We are now urging the Illinois legislature to make continued investments in community health centers through two important initiatives.

First, we have focused on

behavioral health care, which is the combination of mental health services and substance use treatment. Behavioral health services are a priority at every health center. Yet, despite recent advancements, nearly 10 million Illinoisans live in a shortage area for this critical care.

Senate Bill 1816 and House Bill 3049, sponsored by Sen. Ann Gillespie and Rep. Theresa Mah, expand the list of providers whose services can be reimbursed to include graduate-level, subclinical behavioral health professionals practicing under licensed clinicians. This legislation would allow health centers across Illinois to hire 175 new providers, serve an estimated 72,000 new patients, and offer new, much-needed services.

Second, community health centers are drastically underfunded despite a federal law from decades ago calling for specified funding to meet shortfalls in Medicaid because at the time when that system was created, Medicaid covered roughly 70 percent of the cost of providing patient care. Today, despite that specified funding system, our Medicaid reimbursement covers about only 60 percent of our costs. More must be done to shore up reimbursement for care at community health centers— the largest network of primary care providers in underserved communities.

Our rate increase legislation is

centers

Senate Bill 1888 and House Bill 2298, sponsored by Sen. Robert Peters and Rep. Anna Moeller. By passing this legislation, community health centers could serve an additional 180,000 patients each year, hire nearly 250 more providers, and increase substance use treatment, dental services, transportation, vision care, and more with an infusion of $100 million—$50 million of which would be covered by federal cost sharing.

To drive the point home further, community health centers in our neighboring states receive reimbursement rates that are roughly 80 percent higher than Illinois’ rates. That means for every $100 our centers receive in reimbursement, health centers in these states receive roughly $180. And in behavioral health care, our rate is often only one-third the amount of some of our neighbors—hindering our ability to meet the demand for care.

If we learned anything during the pandemic, it is that we are all healthier when our neighbors are healthier

Together, these two reasonable measures will enable more people to get the care they need to live well and better equip our communities to thrive.

Ollie Idowu is president and CEO of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association in Springfield.

State can, should do more to invest in community health

DuPAGE DESTINATIONS

Your Dining & Entertainment Guide to the Western Suburbs

Can’t-miss events throughout DuPage County

Editor’s note: Our next DuPage Destinations section will be published Thursday, May 11. If you have information on an event in DuPage County taking place after May 11 that you would like us to consider listing here, please email that information to: news1@rvpublishing.com.

Ongoing North Suburban Carvers meetings

The North Suburban Carvers meet on the first and third Mondays of each month at the Wood Dale Public Library from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Anyone interested in carving, power carving, wood burning or special finishing techniques is welcome. North Suburban Carvers is a non-profit organization that promotes carving in the Chicago area. For more information, visit: northsurburbancarvers.com.org/calendar.aspx

Registration for Forest Preserve summer camps open for

DuPage residents

The Forest Preserve District’s popular lineup of summer camps will return for the summer of 2023 Registration is now open for DuPage County residents and for nonresidents starting March 1. Kids entering first through eighth grades can connect to nature with more than a dozen camps, many focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math. Most camps are five days, Monday through Friday and run from 9 a.m. to noon or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Halfday camps are $150 for DuPage residents and $175 for nonresidents, and full-day camps are $250 for DuPage residents and $290 for nonresidents. For more information, visit: dupageforest.org or call 630-933-7200.

Now through April 30

Illinois State Bowling Tournament, Addison

Recurring weekly on Saturday, Sunday at the Stardust Bowl, 37 E. Lorraine Ave., test your skills against other bowlers. The USBC Open will be coming to Stardust Bowl at the end of March and will be held on weekends throughout the entire month of April. For more information, visit: https://illinoisstateusbc.org/ tournaments/.

Now through June 4

“Grease” at Drury Lane Theater, Oakbrook Terrace

Recurring weekly on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at Drury Lane Theater, 100 Drury Lane, relive those “Summer Nights” with Danny and Sandy as they rediscover their summer fling romance. Grease became the soundtrack of a generation and one of the world’s most popular musicals. For tickets, information and show times, visit: https://drurylanetheatre.com/grease.

Friday, April 28

Pajama Party, DuPage Children’s Museum, Naperville

From 5-8 p.m. at the museum, 301 N. Wash-

ington, put on your favorite PJs and join us for an evening of comfort and creativity. Explore the museum’s exhibits and a variety of popup activities. Then wind down with bedtime stories. Have your stuffed “friend” or blanket tag along for the fun. Special activities from 5-7:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise. For more information and admission prices, visit: https:// dupagechildrens.org/family-fun/pajama-party.

Saturday, April 29

Bockfest, Roselle

From noon-11 p.m. at Pollyanna Brewing, 245 E. Main St., join the Roselle Sister City Association German Committee and Pollyanna Brewing Company for Bockfest 2023. This Roselle Centennial event will include a Roselle Bockfest Parade and an all-day Bockfest event at Pollyanna with beer, German food, a Wurst King and Queen Contest, and live music. The parade kicks off at noon at Kemmerling Park ends at Pollyanna Brewing. Admission: Free. For more information, visit: www.facebook. com/events/504798921605087.

Touch a Truck, Wheaton

From 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in downtown Wheaton, Liberty Drive will be closed between Wheaton Avenue and Main Street to make way for trucks, construction vehicles, emergency vehicles, and more! Join us for this free, family-friendly event. Get up close, climb, honk, and touch these cool vehicles from right behind the wheel. www.downtownwheaton.com/ touch-a-truck.

Umbrella Sky opening party, Elmhurst

From 4-7 p.m. at Elmhurst City Centre, 147 N. York St., witness something extraordinary—hundreds of colorful umbrellas hanging in the sky! The City of Elmhurst Public Arts Commission and Elmhurst City Centre have partnered to bring you Umbrella Sky Elmhurst. The Umbrella Sky Project, created by Impact. Plan in 2012, began in Águeda, Portugal with a dream to bring color and fantasy to cities across the world. Make sure your phone is charged when you visit because Vogue France has called Umbrella Sky “the most Instagrammable spot!” Elmhurst’s display will include three unique installations with more than 750 umbrellas filling the sky with color. Admission: Free. For more information, visit: https:// elmhurstcitycentre.com/index.php/upcoming_ events.html?view=cause&id=173-umb~sky~party.

April 29-May 6

2023 Founders Day, Downers Grove Recurring daily, The Downers Grove Historical Society, in partnership with the Downers Grove Museum, has planned a week’s worth of entertainment and family-friendly educational events during this year’s Founders Day celebrations. This week-long event is a chance to celebrate Downers Grove’s rich history. For more information, go to: file:///C:/Users/Mike/

Desktop/2023-Founder-Day-Event-Poster-fnl. pdf.

April 30 through Sept. 30

Muddy Warhol Art Exhibit, Westmont Recurring daily t the Westmont Centre, 1 S. Cass Ave., the Westmont Special Events Corporation (WSEC) NFP has created the Muddy Warhol Art Contest & Exhibit to cross promote a new Andy Warhol Exhibit at the College of DuPage, which will debut this spring, as well as highlight the Muddy Waters Blues Exhibit in Westmont. The contest and exhibit will encourage artists to create and submit Warhol-inspired art featuring the image of blues music legend Muddy Waters. Waters lived in Westmont from 1973 until he passed in 1983. Westmont Special Events has created a blues exhibit and annual Muddy Waters Blues Tribute music event to honor the American music icon. For more information, visit: https://westmont.illinois.gov/ CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1748&fbclid=IwAR-

3MoCxv0KpmIu64FAtmYhMwTjagx47XRwCWzQ9NuKvRHcRTcJqjJHMpmsM.

Tuesdays, May 9 and May 23

Joe Naper’s Discovery Play, Naperville From 10:30 a.m.-noon at the Naper Settlement Outdoor History Museum, 523 S. Webster St., children ages 3-5 and their adults are invited to each session, which engages curious pre-school aged children through social engagement and learning. Naper Settlement’s learning experiences team will guide children and their caregivers through fun activities and explorations. Pre-registration is required to attend; this is not a drop-off program. Admission: $15 per child; $12 per adult. Free for Naper Settlement members and/or an adult resident of Naperville. For more information, visit: https://napersettlement.org/Calendar. aspx?EID=3442&month=4&year=2023&day=25&calType=0.

See EVENTS, Page 11

When games were games

Elmhurst Public Library education librarian Jez shows a number of games available for check-out at the library in the Makery. If you’re tired of games you play on a

Events

Thursday, May 5

(Continued from page 9)

Cinco de Mayo color crawl, West Chicago

Presented by the West Chicago Park District, 201 W. National St., starting at 6 p.m., celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a fun walk or run through Reed-Keppler Park. We’ll shower you along the 2-mile route with vibrant color made from safe, foodgrade, biodegradable cornstarch. By the time you cross the finish line, you’ll be a brilliant color palette of hues. Price: $25. For more information, visit: https://webtrac.we-goparks.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc.

Saturday, May 6

Country in the Park, Downers Grove

Starting at noon and presented by the Downers Grove Park District, 831 Maple Ave., pend a spring day at Country in the Park—part of the annual Downers Grove Founders Day celebration sponsored by The Grove Foundation. Families will visit with farm animals, play 1850s pioneer-era games and more. This event is free. For more information, visit: www. dgparks.org/calendar/events/country-in-the-park-7134029865.

Go Fly a Kite, Wheaton

From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. presented by the Wheaton Park District, 1855 Manchester Road, this kite-flying celebration of spring includes grand launch, kite sales, vendor expo, demonstrations, contests, food truck. Free admission. For more informa-

tion, visit: https://wheatonparkdistrict.com/.

Food Truck Festival, Naperville

From 11 a.m.-7 p.m. presented by Brew Avenue Events at the Naper Settlement outdoor history museum, 523 S. Webster St., the 2023 Naperville Food Truck Festival is returning. Featuring over 25 of the area’s best food trucks, live entertainment, Cinco de Mayo beer garden, and a vendor village featuring a face-painter, mega bubble artist, balloon artist, and a kid’s tattoo artist. This is a family friendly event with food and entertainment for kids, plus everyone can enjoy the expansive Naper Settlement historical grounds. Eat for a great cause! A portion of the proceeds from the #NFTF will benefit Community Access Naperville and their mission to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work in, contribute to, and enjoy their community. Prices: $5 general admission; $15 early eater. For more information, visit: www.facebook. com/events/543906354461876.

Saturday, May 13

Cosley Conservation Day, Wheaton

From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Avel, enjoy a day with local conservation organizations, participating in activities, and visiting with the animals. Admission: free. For more information, visit: https://cosleyzoo.org/.

screen, these are available to take home with your Elmhurst library card.

DEE LONGFELLOW PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

Cake pans you can return

Perhaps the best thing about the Makery is checking out a fancy pan to bake a cake of your children’s favorite cartoon character and then returning it to the library. Because face it, your child will be on to something else long before the next birthday.

Author Kelly Jensen to visit library April 27

Kelly Jensen is a writer for the popular website Book Riot, podcast host of “Hey YA!,” and editor of anthologies, including “(Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health.”

On Thursday, April 27 from 7-8 p.m. at the Elmhurst Public Library,

Jensen will discuss her writing and creative processes, then lead a discussion on mental health, complete with healthy coping mechanisms, breathing exercises, and mindfulness tips.

Registration required. Registration: elmlib.org/events.

6:30pm

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent Kelly Jensen

Community calendar

Pick of the Week: EHM presents ‘D.P.A. Healy: Prodigious Painter of Cottage Hill’

On Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m., the Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., will present “D.P.A. Healy: Prodigious Painter of Cottage Hill.” Enjoy a special lecture by museum staff in the “By All Accounts” exhibit gallery that sheds light on one of the museum’s newest acquisitions: a portrait of Jane Byrd Bryan by renowned 19th-century painter G.P.A. Healy. Curator of exhibits Sarah Cox will explain the history of portrait painting and the early years of Healy’s career, while curator of collections Dan Lund will detail the significance of the painting to the history of Elmhurst. Admission: $5, free to members. Reservations required at elmhursthistory.org.

Thursday, April 27

Friday, April 28

Saturday, April 29

On Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., the Elmhurst Children’s Theatre will perform Spamalot, School Edition, a comedy based on the classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Tickets available for pre-sale at ticketpeak.com/ectshows and at the door. Info: ectshows.com.

Saturday, April 29

Beginning at 1 p.m., the West Suburban Lapidary Club will meet at Lizzadro Museum. For those interested in the lapidary arts, learn more at a WSLC meetings. There is a club meeting at 1 p.m. then a 60-minute

program beginning at 2 p.m. Teens to adults welcome. Regular museum admission. Register at lizzadromuseum.org.

Sunday, April 30

At 3 p.m., Music@Bethel presents 15-year-old pianist Zarin Mehta as one of its “Rising Star Concerts” to introduce an up-and-coming musical talent. Bethel United Church of Christ is located at 315 E. St. Charles Rd. and has ample parking. Tickets are $20 per person available at Eventbrite or at the door. Students attend free. For more information, call 630-279-4040.

Monday, May 1

Beginning at 7 p.m., Elmhurst

University presents the inaugural Lessons and Carols, an interfaith candlelight gathering in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel on the campus of Elmhurst University. It will feature music, song and text from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith traditions. Free and open to the public.

Friday, May 5

Opening night of the Greenman Theatre Troupe’s production of the comedy, “Love and Tear Gas.” Performances will be Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. from May 5 – May 21. Visit greenmantheatre.org or call 630-4642646 for tickets and information.

Saturday, May 6 Sunday, May 7

The 26th annual Art in Wilder Park takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Meet many artisans offering jewelry, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints, plus food, family activities. Also enjoy the public art installation “Superheroes in Wilder Park,” which opens May 6.

Saturday, May 6

At 7 p.m., the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and the Elmhurst Choral Union present Beethoven 9 at the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Rd. The concert will feature Beethoven’s awe-inspiring masterpiece, Symphony No.

9, and a violin concerto performed by Elinor Detmer, this year’s Stanger Young Artist Competition winner. Tickets are $35, reduced tickets available for seniors and students. Visit ElmhurstSymphony.org/event/ beethoven-9 for tickets and information.

Sunday, May 7

All single mothers and their children are invited to attend SHE, the Single Mothers Support Group, beginning at 12:15 p.m. at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Rd. Enjoy fellowship, sharing and caring for each other. Complimentary lunch and free childcare (ages birth-12) are available for all who attend. Please RSVP at elmhurstcrc.org/she to enter a $50 gift card drawing.

Saturday, May 13

• From 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the First Congregational Church, 235 S. Kenilworth, will be holding its annual Green Garden Fair. Master Gardeners on hand for questions, purchase other seedlings, local raw honey, birdseed ornaments, free heirloom bean seeds. Info: elmhurstucc.org/

• From 1-5 p.m., the Elmhurst History Museum will host a free Cultural Crossroads Celebration on the lawn as a ‘Last Hurrah’ for the Immigration exhibit that has been on display for the last several months. Residents are welcome to join the

fun and see the exhibit before it departs on Sunday, May 14. Free and open to the public. Info: elmhursthistory.org.

Thursday, May 18

From 6-10 p.m. United Community Concerns Association (UCCA) will hold “Taste of the Town: Dining for a Cause,” an Elmhurst food and drink sampling, at Wilder Mansion. The evening will showcase food, wine, and beer tastings from 15 Elmhurst businesses and live music. Tickets are $75 in advance and $80 at the door. Advance tickets can be See CALENDAR, Page 18

LEGAL NOTICES

Request of:

Alphonse Mark Pontarelli

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Alphonse Mark Pontarelli to the new name of: Mark Alphonse Pontarelli.

The court date will be held on June 12, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., at 505 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187, DuPage County, in Courtroom #2007 /s/Alphonse Mark Pontarelli

Alphonse Mark Pontarelli

(Published in The Elmhurst Independent April 20 & 27 and May 4, 2023)

Legal Notice

436207

On Monday, May 8, 2023, a virtual meeting conducted by DuPage High School District 88 will take place via Zoom at 6:30 pm. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the District’s plan for providing special education services to students with identified disabilities who attend parentally placed private/parochial schools and home schools located within the District’s boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year.

If you are a parent/guardian of a homeschooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of DuPage High School District 88, you are encouraged to attend.

If you have further questions pertaining to this meeting and or are interested in attending, please complete the survey via this link: https://forms.gle/CNBhwccqXWGhky8dA (Published in the Elmhurst Independent, Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review April 27 & May 4, 2023)

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through the post office.

For your free digital eSubscription, sign up at rockvalleyenews.com. There will be no solicitation, no phone calls, just complete weekly local news compliments of advertisers.

A free copy of the Elmhurst Independent print version can also be picked up at more than 80 newsstand locations in Elmhurst every Thursday. Print copies are also available by free mail home delivery in Elmhurst. For free home delivery within Elmhurst, visit rockvalleydigital.com.

NOTICE

CERTIFICATE NO. 79059 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on APRIL 18, 2023, wherein the business firm of BENJAMIN L. BAKOS DBA POCKET BURN USA LOCATED AT 428 E ATEWATER AVENUE, 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) BENJAMIN L BAKOS, HOME ADDRESS 428 E ATWATER AVENUE, ELMHURST, IL 60126.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 18TH day of APRIL, A.D. 2023.

JEAN KACZMAREK Jean Kaczmarek DuPage County Clerk (OFFICIAL SEAL)

(Published in The Elmhurst Independent April 27, May 4 & 11, 2023) 436527

EMPLOYMENT

Addison Police Department Accepting Applications for Entry-Level/Lateral Police Officer

All applicants must meet the following minimum requirements established by the Village of Addison:

• U.S. citizenship;

• No felony convictions;

• Valid state-issued driver’s license;

• Minimum of 20 years of age and UNDER 35 years of age by the application deadline date (May 22, 2023), unless otherwise exempt by state statute. All applicants that are 20 years of age must turn 21 years of age by the time of Official Certification as a Police Officer by the Illinois Training and Standards Board. This certification usually takes place during the last week of the Police Academy Training;

• Possess an Associates Degree -OR- the equivalent of at least 60 credit hours at an accredited college, university or junior college (official transcripts will be required at the background investigation stage);

• No tattoos will be permitted unless they are covered by the appropriate uniform. This includes but is not limited to: hands, neck, and face;

• The application is free to all applicants.

Lateral Transfer Candidates: An applicant with less than 5 years of experience who is a police officer in good standing with the law enforcement agency he/she is employed with and certified by the State certification board is eligible to be placed on a lateral transfer eligibility list.

• Lateral transfer candidates NOT required to the P.O.W.E.R. test;

• Lateral transfer candidates are NOT required to take the written exam;

• Lateral transfer candidates ARE REQUIRED to participate in the oral interview process.

In order to be eligible for the Lateral Transfer Eligibility List, you must meet these requirements:

• Status as a sworn municipal, Illinois State Trooper or County Sheriff’s Deputy not to exceed 5 years of experience; AND

• In good standing in the police department in which the person serves or was a previously sworn Village of Addison Police Officer who left/ separated from the Village of Addison Police Department in good standing and has been gone/separated from the Village of Addison Police Department for no more than one (1) year; AND

• Possesses substantially equivalent skills and abilities as a Village of Addison Police Officer who has completed the probationary period; AND

• Possesses an Associates Degree -OR- sixty (60) semester hours of credit from an institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education; AND

• Has taken and passed such examinations as the Commission deems necessary to determine fitness for duty as a police officer.

Submission of Application

Applications MUST be submitted online by Monday, May 22, 2023 at 4:00 PM (CST)

Faxed, e-mailed, mailed, or dropped off applications will NOT be accepted. Applications submitted after the deadline will NOT be accepted. Only one application per person, per testing cycle will be accepted.

To apply for this position or obtain additional information, please visit the following website: http://www.applytoserve.com

The Village of Addison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

436417

Industrial Engineer: Complete work-in-process routers, incl. material req. & processing req. Confer w/management on production progress. Create & update projects to track & ensure shop floor production. Manage production schedules & coord. serv. to maximize productivity. Comm. w/management suggested improvements to production workflow. Analyze shop floor work time data to reduce shop task hours. Release projects to production & customers. Prep. docs. & reports to customer release (Quality Data Book). Update the internal databases (sage 100) w/info. re: tech. issues & useful discussions w/ the team & customers. Assist in engineering projects w/an emphasis on docs. monitoring, & testing of new standard ope. procedures. Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, plus 12 mo. of exp. as an Industrial Engineer – M-F- 8-4:30PM, Job loc. Elmhurst, Illinois – Send resume to: Blac Inc – Attn: Judy Oshita (President) – Email: judy.oshita@blacinc.com

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Puzzle page

ACUTE

ADVOCATE

ALTERNATIVE

ANAPLASMOSIS

ANTIBIOTIC ANTIBODIES

ARTHRITIS

BACTERIUM

BITE

BLACKLEGGED

DIAGNOSES

ERYTHEMA

MIGRANS

EXPOSURE

GRASSES

ILLNESS

INFECTED

JOINTS

NERVOUS SYSTEM

PETS

REPELLENT

SYMPTOMS

TICK

TREATMENT

WOODS

SUDOKU

Fun by the Numbers

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

CLUES ACROSS

1. It’s all over the beach

5. A cirque

8. Corpuscle count (abbr.)

11. Influential report author

13. Satisfaction

14. Recurring only at long intervals

15. Islamic calendar month

16. Neither

17. Gelatinous substance

18. American electronic music producer

20. Old computer system

21. Professional organization

22. Malaria mosquitoes

25. Not composed of matter

30. It’s in the ocean

31. Peyton’s little brother

32. French commune

33. Eyelashes

38. Equal (prefix)

41. Quality of little or no rain

43. One who beheads

45. Sung to

48. Influential punk artist

49. Amount of time

50. Polio vaccine developer

55. Abba __, Israeli politician

56. Job

57. Flat-bottomed sailboat

59. Japanese wooden clog

60. Folk singer DiFranco

61. FL city

62. Naturally occurring solid

63. Language of indigenous Asian people

64. Dark brown

CLUES DOWN

1. Soviet Socialist Republic

2. Zoroastrian concept of holy fire

3. Venomous snake genus

4. Uninteresting

5. Straightforwardness

6. Expression of wild excitement

7. Arrange in order

8. East Indian cereal grass

9. Hillsides

10. Bird beak covering

12. Baseball stat

14. Edge of a surfboard

19. Wrapping accessory

23. Express approval

24. Deduce

25. Similar

26. Born of

27. Automobile

28. Obliged to repay

29. Live in

34. Influential journalist Tarbell

35. Set aflame

36. OJ trial judge

37. Scottish town

39. African nation

40. Egg-shaped wind instrument

41. Mimic

42. Frees

44. In slow tempo

45. Sword

46. Related on the mother’s side

47. Mars crater

48. Plant of the lily family

51. Suitable in the circumstances

52. Hillside

53. Metrical foot

54. Amazon river tributary

58. Adult male human Answers

Timothy Christian baseball team wins four of five Foy strong on mound in wins against IC Catholic Prep and Chicago Christian

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

The Timothy Christian baseball team has turned its fortunes around in a hurry. The Trojans won four games in a recent five-game stretch to move to 6-12 overall and 3-3 in Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division play. Recent action included a 4-3 conference win over crosstown foe IC Catholic Prep, a 5-1 non-conference loss to former conference entrant Glenbard South, a 10-0 win over future confer-

ence cohort Marian Central Catholic, an 11-7 non-conference win against Lisle and a 4-2 conference win over Chicago Christian.

In the wins against ICCP and Chicago Christian, Myles Foy was the winning pitcher in both games. He went 6 2/3 innings and struck out nine against IC Catholic Prep and then fanned five in six innings against Chicago Christian. Offensive highlights included Casey Folkerts going 3-for-5 with a double against Lisle and Chris-

tian Vanderveen going 2-for-2 with three RBI against Marian Central.

Through late last week, Folkerts was leading the team with 19 hits and a .333 batting average. Kyle Steiner was leading the team in RBI with six and stolen bases with three. “We have gotten better at hitting lately and driving the ball more,” Timothy coach Frank Romano said. “We can continue to get better at the plate with runners in scoring position. Right now, we are looking at too many pitches

in the zone that we should be doing damage on.”

Foy sported a team-best 2.65 ERA through late last week in 26 1/3 innings of work (also a team high). “Myles has been huge on the mound for us this year and has become a guy I can count on to pitch deep into games,” Romano said. Folkerts and Steiner also have been consistent keys. “Casey has been consistent at the plate all year and he is just starting to get hot,” the coach

said. “I expect him to continue being a staple in our lineup. Kyle can cover 70 percent of the outfield by himself out in center field. He is amazing at tracking down any flyball. He also has been very clutch for us down the stretch getting big RBI.”

Timothy had games scheduled earlier this week against St. Edward (conference series, two games) before facing Elmwood Park (today) and Aurora Christian in a doubleheader Saturday.

York girls soccer team defeats Glenbard West and South Elgin Dukes off to 2-0 start in West Suburban Silver play

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

The York girls soccer team continued its hot start with two recent wins against Glenbard West and South Elgin. The two wins moved the Dukes to 7-0-1 overall and the West victory put the Dukes at 2-0 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division play.

In a 1-0 win over Glenbard West, Finley Ewald had the game’s only goal off an assist from Maggie

Quinn. In a 2-0 non-conference win over South Elgin, Allison Sheehan and Ewald each had a goal, while Ava Hansmann had an assist. Through eight games, Ewald was leading the Dukes in scoring with nine goals and two assists. Hannah Meyers had three goals and six assists, while Michaela Quinn had three goals and three assists. Goalie Daly Wangler had five shutouts in those first eight games and York has

IC Catholic Prep girls soccer team off to 4-1 start Knights’ defense stellar thus far

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

The IC Catholic Prep girls soccer team is off to a strong start this spring. The Knights were 4-1 through late last week, which included a 2-0 mark in Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division play.

IC Catholic Prep defeated Oak Park Fenwick 3-0 in non-conference action at the beginning of the season and recently defeated crosstown foe Timothy Christian 1-0 in penalty kicks in a conference matchup. The Trojans’ recent game against Rosary was halted by bad weather with Timothy up 1-0.

“The chemistry in this group and the respect for each other is pretty awesome,” IC Catholic Prep coach Antonio Godinez said. “There is a lot of desire in this group to do well. Last year, we lost in the supersectionals and lost in the last 10 minutes. The girls are hungry. They work well with each other. It’s a tight-knit group. They are so determined.”

Godinez said the Knights have taken a step forward of late in terms of playing together as a team. The coach added ICCP is hard at work with finishing opportunities, and it continues to build team chemistry, he noted. Godinez cited recent strong play from captains Ashley Zwolinski, a senior defender, Avery Berschel, a junior defender, and Maura Grogan, a sophomore midfielder.

The Knights also have received a big boost from freshman goalie Evelyn Flores. “Evelyn has helped elevate us,” Godinez said. “Our game against Timothy went to penalty kicks and she made two big saves, and we won 1-0 on PKs. When she has been in goal, she hasn’t allowed a goal. She’s doing really well for us.”

ICCP has games scheduled this week at home against Ridgewood and Bishop McNamara (Thursday) before heading to the adidas Tournament of Champions over the weekend.

shut out opponents in six of the first eight contests.

“This group continues to find a way to score goals,” York coach Stevan Dobric said. “One of the biggest positives this season is our ability to score from any part of the attacking third. We have found ways to score from the run of play and off set pieces. Finding the back of the net has led us to able to keep pressure on teams to respond.”

York

Dobric said Sheehan has been solid in the midfield “setting the tempo of the game and motivating others,” he said. Dobric also had high praise for Ewald and Tatum Mailander. “Finley continues to find different ways to score,” he said. “Tatum has been extremely effective in breaking up play and setting up attacks to move forward.”

Dobric said the team is not resting on its 7-0-1 laurels. “As a team, we will

continue to work on situations that will challenge us to keep getting better as we enter the back half of our schedule,” he said. “This group has really grown into a family. Everyone wants to see the success of each other and celebrates our achievements together.”

York was scheduled to play Hinsdale Central earlier this week in a WSC Silver game before returning to Naperville tournament action against St. Viator and Oswego East.

boys tennis team wins Maine South invitational Arnieri, Maxiener take No. 1 doubles title

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

The York boys tennis team has enjoyed recent successes on the team and individual levels. Coach Courtney Bison’s squad was 8-4-3 overall and 2-1 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division play through late last week. York defeated Downers Grove North and Proviso West and lost to Lyons Township in conference action.

The Dukes also won the Maine South invitational. Anthony Arnieri and Brennen Maxiener won the No. 1 doubles title. Kieran Goldstein and

Jason DeMott won the No. 2 doubles title, while the No. 3 doubles team of Adam Fennell and Alex Flores also won the tournament title. Nate Yu took second at No. 1 singles, while Evan Chew took fourth at No. 2 singles.

At the Prospect invitational, Yu was a straight-set winner over Prospect’s David Mortoga at No. 1 singles, while Arnieri and Maxiener defeated Prospect in the third set super-tiebreaker at No. 1 doubles. The No. 3 doubles team of Fennell and Chew downed Prospect in straight sets. “Those were huge wins,” Bison

noted.

York also was fifth at the Hersey invitational. The Dukes lost to Hersey in the first round and then beat Glenbard West and Buffalo Grove to win the consolation bracket. “The team has been a huge positive force for each other,” Bison said. “They are showing mental toughness and stamina and supporting one another both on and off the court. I love how well the team has been working together both on and off the court. They work hard at practice and are receptive to feedback. They are growing after each match and continue to improve.”

Timothy Christian boys tennis team continues to dominate

Mathew excelling at No. 1 singles

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

It’s business as usual for the Timothy Christian boys tennis team. The Trojans were 13-2 overall and 1-1 in Metro Suburban Conference play through late last week. Timothy won quadrangular meets at Hinsdale South, at home and at Blue Island Eisenhower. Individually, Elliot Mathew was 11-4 through late last

week at No. 1 singles. Tommy Kunz and Hendrik DeVries were 12-2 at No. 1 doubles, while junior Andrew Asmus and freshman Elliot Tandy were 11-3 at No. 2 doubles. “We’re starting to play attack doubles and winning at the net,” Timothy Christian coach Keith Mills said.

Timothy lost to St. Francis in conference play after missing two players in the lineup due to an academic event. Mathew, Mills noted, has gone from No. 2 doubles last year to No. 1 singles this year, “and has proven he can play at that level,” he said. “His

strength is exploiting players’ weaknesses and forcing errors.”

Kunz and DeVries also have been success stories at the top of the doubles division. “Tommy and Hendrik have been solid at the top and complement each other with Hendrik the attacker and Tommy the consistent one,” Mills explained. “Both have strong serves and that adds pressure they put on opponents.”

Mills noted Timothy graduated eight seniors from a 2022 team that

Leslie headed to Le Moyne

(Continued from page 16)

Will play volleyball for Division II school

I feel like I would be so bored with out it because it has been such a big part of my life.”

By Mike Miazga

CORRESPONDENT

went 18-2. “We have not lost a beat since last season,” said Mills, whose team started 10-1 in the first two weeks of match play and with limited practice time due to rainy weather.”

Recent IC Catholic Prep graduate Bella Leslie wanted to head east for college.

memories from IC Catholic Prep’s coach Nancy Kerrigan’s program.

During one recent stretch, the Trojans went 6-0 with dual wins over Riverside-Brookfield, Lisle, and DePaul College Prep, plus winning their own quad at Berens Park in town. At the Timothy quad, the Trojans defeated Marian Catholic 4-0, Crystal Lake Central 4-1 and Fenwick 4-0, while losing only once. Mills said three match tiebreaker wins were keys to the Timothy quad success. The No. 1 doubles team of Kunz and DeVries and the No. 2 doubles team of Asmus and Tandy had identical 7-1 records at one point. Mathew scored a recent 6-0, 6-0 win over Fenwick.

Her landing spot ended up being at NCAA Division II Le Moyne College where the former Knights volleyball and soccer standout will continue her volleyball career at the Syracuse, New York school as a libero.

“All of the schools I was looking at were on the East Coast,” Leslie told the Independent last week. “I visited Le Moyne and really liked it. It reminded me of high school because it was a small school, and in a smaller school you will know a lot more faces than if I would have gone to a bigger school. The campus there is really pretty. It sits on a big hill and the scenery around it is great. Everything is pretty close together. They have very nice facilities. The volleyball program has good workout facilities and a nice locker room. I liked how modern it was.”

In a recent conference dual win over Riverside-Brookfield, Mathew was a 6-0, 6-1 winner at No. 1 singles. Ian Diamaano was a 6-3, 6-2 winner at No. 2 singles. DeVries and Kunz were 6-2, 6-1 winners at No. 1 doubles, while Asmus and Tandy were 6-2, 6-0 winners at No. 2 doubles. Austin Zeilstra and Nick Milnik were 6-3, 6-1 winners at No. 3 doubles, while David LaBarbera and Aiden Hoogstra were 6-1, 6-2 winners at No. 4 doubles and Theoren Veldman and Wyatt Matke were winners at No. 5 doubles.

“I probably enjoyed school volley ball more than club because I love my team and the coaching staff was very supportive on and off the court. It made it a really good en vironment to be in. Coach (Kerri gan) was great. I have known her for a while. When I was little, I did all the little kids camps, and her daughter was in my brother’s grade at IC.”

ty about IC Catholic Prep. “I will miss how close knit of a communi ty it was,” she said. “I knew every body at the school. It will be weird going on campus and not knowing all the faces. I’ll miss those close connections with the coaches and teachers. It will be weird for the first year or so.”

“The team looks better each match we play,” Mills said. The Trojans head to Champaign to play in the Chargers Doubles Invitational on May 6.

Leslie plans on studying nursing at Le Moyne. “They have a good nursing program,” she said. “As far as what kind of a nurse I want to be, I’m not quite sure yet.”

Leslie played volleyball and girls soccer at IC Catholic Prep all four years. She was a center-midfielder on the Knights soccer team.

Leslie’s volleyball journey started in the fifth grade, the first year she could play the sport at IC Grade School. She’s been playing club volleyball since seventh grade, most recently with the Chicago Elite group that practices out of Scores in Willow Springs and Montini High School in Lombard.

Timothy Christian girls soccer team defeats ACC

Trojans earn No. 1 seed in sub-sectional

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

“I’m really excited to be able to play volleyball in college,” she said. “It gives me something to do.

been overly exciting, though her club volleyball team has started practicing again. “We have been practicing two or three times a week,” she said. “We are going to be starting tournaments again. Be fore that I haven’t been doing any thing because senior soccer season and the club volleyball season were cancelled. We were supposed to go to a few club volleyball qualifiers in Grand Rapids and Louisville. This summer, we have some tournaments planned over the next few weekends. They are little tournaments with all of the local clubs. Nothing large and really local. Other than that, I have been trying to work out a lot and stay in shape. I’ve been running a lot, so I got into that. I try and run every day.”

Leslie said she is scheduled to report to Le Moyne in the Aug. 1215 timeframe, but noted preseason volleyball activities already have

intensity.”

Hamelinck noted Timothy is working on being more creative in its attack, “and staying connected by making faster decisions with the ball,” he said. “Also, injuries are starting to pile up, so as we start to look at the postseason, getting a full roster will be important to our success.”

until the next 7-10 days.” But if all systems are a go, Leslie can’t wait to take her skills as a libero to the next level with the Dolphins. “I feel like being a libero you have to be really quick and that is typically what I am good at. I have really good reaction time,” she said. “I like diving on the floor and saving balls. It’s a really good feeling when you make a save. The position fits my personality, too. You have to be the loudest one on the court. I have a loud personality. You have to be pretty loud if you want to be a libero. I think I match that description.”

(Continued from page 18)

They lost to West Chicago on think an own goal in the last five minutes. That was against the state champs in the sectional finals. That’s a hell of a season if you ask me.”

Stopka will teach Spanish at York. He taught Spanish and one math class at St. Pat’s. “My philosophy is I am more of a players’ coach,” he said. “I have been a big Liverpool soccer supporter ever since 2015 when Jurgen Klopp came over and he’s known as a players’ coach. He’s kind of my coaching idol. I want to related to the players and form bonds with them. am more light-hearted and smiling. I like to have fun and joke with the kids. The goal is understanding where each player can be successful and the provide the best way possible to convey the knowledge they need at the position they play. I am not big

The Timothy Christian girls soccer team’s recent 2-1 win over Aurora Central Catholic was important for two reasons. One, it was a Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division victory, and tow, ACC also is in Timothy’s sub-sectional for the upcoming state playoffs. It is the same subsectional that the Trojans recently earned the No. 1 seed in. “ACC was a big conference win, and they are in our sub-sectional,” Trojans coach Jon Hamelinck said. Angie Tornabene and Maddie Drye each had a goal in the victory over ACC. The Trojans were 7-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play through late last week.

huge rah-rah person. I’m a little bit more of an individual players’ coach. I will pull kids to the side at practice and games and teach them.”

Timothy closed out play in the Body Armour series with a 6-0 win over Urbana. “Urbana was a strong win,” Hamelinck said.

“After getting shut out for two games in that tournament last year and losing 4-0 to Wheaton Academy earlier in the day, it was good to break through offensively.”

ble and transparent and communicate with everybody.”

Through nine games, Drye was leading the team with 11 goals and six assists, while Hope Huizenga had eight goals and four assists and Tornabene had five goals and three assists.

Hamelinck has been thrilled with the play of the Timothy defense of late. That back line includes Chloe Leppink, Marta Veenstra, Amanda Schnurr and Victoria Nation. “Our back line has been solid in limiting high-quality scoring chances,” he said.

Hamelinck lauded the recent play of Schnurr and Huizenga, in particular. “Amanda has been playing well and in a new position this year,” he said.

“She has made some timely tackles, uses her speed well on the outside and is learning the right times to jump into the attack. Hope is a force in the middle and always brings great energy and

Stopka noted York has been doing conditioning drills and said the plan as of earlier last week was to start summer camp pending District 205 approval. “I have probably been able to meet 60 to 70 percent of the players so far,” he said. “If it does get approved that would be the start of our contact days with four days a week for three weeks straight. And even though the IHSA waived the blackout dates before the school year, we won’t take advantage of that. I’m pretty sure families have plans to do things before school starts. I’m the new guy and I’m not going to say you can’t go with your family. Go do it and enjoy it. This is a crazy and

Timothy has games scheduled this week with Chicago Latin School and Chicago Christian. In terms of the state playoffs, Timothy is the No. 1 seed in one sub-sectional of its own sectional. The Trojans will either head to Rosary or Chicago Hope Academy for regional play.

Montini received the No. 2 seed, followed by Aurora Central (3), Lisle (4), Rosary (5), Chicago Hope Academy (6), Chicago Phoenix Military Academy (7) and Westmont (8). “We are looking forward to seeing who we’ll be matched up against come early May,” Hamelinck said.

Of note, crosstown foe IC Catholic Prep will host separate regional and sectional events that feed into a different supersectional complex, meaning the earliest the two Elmhurst schools could meet in the playoffs is at the state finals at North Central in Naperville.

As far as the future, Stopka wants York competing at a high level on a consistent basis. “The short-term goal is to restock and build up the team,” he said. “A large portion of last year’s team was seniors, especially the starting 11. We have to make sure the now juniors are up to the speed of the varsity level and are ready to contribute. We want to keep that pipeline going with the younger groups of players. We want to make sure we are not only competitive, but that we are competing for regionals, sectionals and supersectionals. It starts for me with this junior class that is coming in. We want them ready to go and setting the standard for these other classes that come in so they can also contribute right off

U12 baseball action

The Timothy Christian boys tennis team was 13-2 overall through its first 15 dual matches. The Trojans won their own quadrangular as well as quads at Hinsdale South and Eisenhower. Elliot Mathew was 11-4 at No. 1 singles, while the No.1 doubles team of Tommy Kunz and Hendrik DeVries was 12-2, and the No. 2 doubles team of Andrew Asmus and Elliott Tandy was 11-3.

Anthony Bucolo fires a pitch during a recent U12 baseball game.

The York boys tennis team recently won the Maine South invitational team title. Anthony Arnieri and Brennen Maxiener won the No. 1 doubles title, while Kieran Goldstein and Jason DeMott won the No. 2 doubles title. Adam Fennell and Alex Flores were champions at No. 3 doubles.

Barr was the recipient of the 2019-2020 York Val Cothern junior female athlete of the year award. Barr went over the 1,000-career kill threshold last fall for the Dukes girls volleyball team and still has a season to add to that total.

CHRIS FOX PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

(Continued from page 8)

interest, and, most critically, lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Rest assured that “American Street” is not obscene. I encourage everyone in high school and beyond to read it to see for yourself.

On April 4, Elmhurst repudiated book banning and disrespect for teachers’ expertise at the voting booth. Teachers union-endorsed candidates beat pro-censorship Awake Illinois candidates by wide margins in the school board election. Now,

we must honor that mandate by protecting our children’s freedom to read books that expose them to others’ perspectives and help them understand the world around them.

“American Street” is no more shocking than the books I read as a high school freshman 30 years ago, but it is much more relatable. Even attending school in rural and suburban communities, we could not stay ignorant of drugs and violence against girls, topics “American Street” handles with depth and care.

We cannot shield our children from reality, but books help arm them with the awareness and skills they need to navigate the world. We owe our children art and joy, which “American Street” delivers in its depictions of Haitian culture and a Detroit family’s bonds.

Not everyone will like every book in the classroom. Parents can guide their own children in their reading choices, as well as request alternative assignments in class. But content-based objections that lead to

restrictions for all students hold the views of one person who disfavors the book above the views of others— and infringe upon everyone’s First Amendment right to read.

Often, book challenges are fueled by selective reading. Complaints based on passages read out of context ignore the literary value of the book as a whole and only support the importance of reading more, not less. Some book challenges are also

• Calendar

motivated by intolerance for diverse viewpoints and historical perspectives, though challengers are unwilling to state these motives.

Elmhurst must get educated about protecting the First Amendment. Check out the National Coalition Against Censorship, PEN America, and Unite Against Book Bans for more information.

Elizabeth Collins

(Continued from page 13)

purchased online at ucca-elmhurst. org or by mail at UCCA, PO Box 324, Elmhurst, 60126.

Saturday, May 20

The 30th annual Spring Road Pet Parade will take place, starting off from the Wild Meadows Trace Gazebo on Spring Road at the Prairie Path. Sign up at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. Parade begins. Awards for pet contests, vendors, food (cash only) and crafts. To register, go to springroad. com/our-events/. Free and open to the public.

To post a community event or club meeting, email the information to Independent@rvpublishing.com and put “Community Calendar” in the Subject line.

Elmhurst History Museum

On display now through Sunday, May 14, In Pursuit of Happiness: Immigrants in Our Communities is the current exhibit at the Elmhurst History Museum which explores the journeys of area immigrants and their descendants who have carved out a sense of cultural identity and belonging in this region.

Info: elmhursthistory.org or 630833-1457.

Elmhurst Art Museum

The Museum is still closed for renovations but the staff is preparing for Art in Wilder Park, which will feature an outdoor art installation, featuring the art and characters of Marvel Comics. In the future, Marvelocity; The Art of Alex Ross opens Saturday, June 3; the Elmhurst Art Guild’s Inspired by Warhol begins Saturday, June 11; and, Picasso: Fifty Years Later goes public, beginning Saturday, Sept. 9. Info: elmhurstartmuseum.org or 630-834-0202.

Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art

Now through Sunday, June 18, Inspiration Fabergé – Gemstone Carving is on exhibit featuring carvings of animals, figures and flowers found in Germany and Russia. The exhibit reflects the style of Fabergé design that dates back to the late 19th century gem cutting traditions that continue to this day. Regular museum admission and hours apply. Info: lizzadromuseum.org.

Meet local author Theresa Parilla Konieczny

Elmhurst resident turns personal experience into lessons in diversity

By Tessa Martyn

FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT

Theresa Konieczny nee Parilla, a senior director in HR Corporate for US Foods, is a long-time Elmhurst resident and first-time author. She grew up in an Italian family, seeing firsthand the challenges her grandparents faced trying to adapt to new and unfamiliar surroundings. It was a common thing for people after immigrating to the U.S. from the Province of L’Aquila in the Abruzzo Region of Italy.

Some of those challenges included being “accepted” within the country, finding a job and a place to live, understanding the English language and being understood by others. In addition, the family maintained the pride in their heritage and passed it along, sharing it with family and friends through clothing, food, and other traditions.

It was a different time back then and some of Konieczny’s family members felt like they had to change or conform to fit in with their environment. Eventually, they adapted to the new and unfamiliar by simply being themselves. They were confident and proud of who they were, where they came from, and what they believed in.

“This resonated throughout the family,” said Konieczny. “Be proud of who you are, be true to yourself,

and love your family, friends, and country.”

This experience led Konieczny to write down her thoughts on paper while in the fourth grade, resulting in a book called Shape Towns: Can Hexner Find His Home?

“I had an opportunity to enter into a book contest, and knew I, my family and friends had similar experiences,” she said. “Experience connects us.”

As she grew up, the story was put aside as her life grew busy -- career, marriage, taking care of her parents and children.

After having children, Hexner made a new appearance when she began to tell his story to her own children. That began a beloved bedtime ritual that helped not only uphold her family’s “no electronics” rule but also and more importantly, created joy, happiness and memories.

As the years went on, her husband and children, who are now adults, urged her to turn her story and illustrations into a children’s book for others to enjoy.

Forty years later, in November of 2022, Konieczny published her book with the Social Motion Publishing Company.

Social Motion Publishing, founded by Andrew Chapman in 2015, is a publishing company focused exclusively on social-impact books --

books that benefit causes, charities and non-profit organizations.

“Everyone wants to belong…and there are times in our lives where we do not feel that we ‘fit in’ and/or are comfortable with who we are/what we believe in. Shape Towns is here to say, ‘it is ok to feel the way I do,’ ‘I am proud of who I am,’ as well as to accept others for who they are -in essence, treat people the way you want to be treated.”

Shape Towns is a simple but insightful story about a hexagon named Hexner who is trying to find the place where he fits in, teaching readers of all ages the important message that happiness is found in diversity. It also teaches the value of being accepted and the accepting of others by recognizing and celebrating everyone’s individual “shape.”

“At 10 years old, I wanted to share a delightful story that all kids could relate to, not realizing I had written a story about inclusion and diversity. Now I realize it is a tale that will always resonate with an important lesson.”

Konieczny hopes that Shape Towns continues to spread happiness, build connections, and create memories for years to come.

You can find Shape Towns: Can Hexner Find His Home? on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com and through BookFinder.com.

Athlete of the Month Athlete of the Month

Kaleigh Sue Younglove

The Timothy Christian High School softball team is off to an incredible start. Junior Kaleigh Sue Younglove has been a tremendous leader both offensively and defensively. With a batting average of .550 contributing to the team wins, Younglove has proven to be a leader in the batting order. Defensively, the junior pitcher has struck out 28 batters in the 3 games she has been on the mound. Kaleigh Sue has been on the varsity softball team since her freshman year and has been an integral part of the starting lineup for all three years. As a junior captain this year, she is a leader both on and off the field; and her love of the game shows as she cheers her team on.

Recognized by

Theresa Parilla Konieczny

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

“100 Years of Serving Elmhurst and Chicagoland”

Dating back to 1923, the Roesch Family of Dealerships has served Elmhurst

Greater-Chicagoland with distinction and quality. First in downtown Elmhurst and now at 200 W. Grand Avenue, the Larry Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership has a well-deserved reputation for customer service and satisfaction.

Paul Roesch founded the business and in 1952 was joined by son, Larry. Larry Roesch would greatly expand the operation and in 1963, Roesch became the leading Chrysler Plymouth dealership in the United States! Jeep was added in 1997 and Dodge was added in 2005 by Larry’s son, Dan. Dan Roesch has created a large and modern facility for the Roesch family business today.

Dan Roesch and his nephew, Dave Roesch, Jr., along with life-long friend, Paul Koch, now offer Elmhurst and the surrounding area a car-buying experience unlike any other. They also operate Roesch Ford at 333 W. Grand Ave. to add to the mix.

Across the street at 313 W. Grand Ave., Larry Roesch Volkswagen is providing a quality experience for car-buyers and owners as well. Jeannine Roesch and her son, Eric Lee, continue the family tradition for excellence there.

Both Dan and Jeannine describe the family business as “ever-changing”, but they are excited that a fourth generation of the Roesch family is starting to take the reins. They both see challenges ahead with electric vehicles and chip supplies, but there will be cars in our future, so there will be dealerships too.

The Community Bank of Elmhurst has helped the Roesch Family over the years and we are proud of our strong and extensive ties. The Roesch Family businesses are important for our area and they have a powerful, community partnership. They invite you to enjoy your car-shopping and promise excellent and personal service...just like CBE

Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Service Staff, Ready to Serve Paul Koch, Dan Roesch, Cortney Roesch, Dave Roesch, Jr.

Eric Lee and Jeannine Roesch Jeannine Roesch and Eric Lee

We Know Elmhurst. We ARE Elmhurst.