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Independent

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Architects present plan for Metra station

Based on public input, future includes more waiting space, other amenities

By Dee Longfellow

FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT

At the Elmhurst City Council meeting held Monday, July 19, the company CDM Smith offered a presentation about the plans for Elmhurst’s new Metra station.

“We’ve been working on this project for the past five years,” said Chris Martell, principal with CDM Smith. “At this time, we are seeking approval of a preferred alternative.”

Martell offered a brief history of the Metra building that it was built in the late 1960s and was updated in the 1980s, but not since.

The Elmhurst station is the fourth busiest stop on the Metra system. At this time, Martell reported that, as of 2018, there are 2,540 weekday boardings at the Elmhurst station,

but that number is expected to rise to more than 3,200 by 2038. The building currently has accessibility code issues and is now even beyond the needs required by Metra regarding safety issues.

“We completed the Phase One Engineering and analysis,” Martell said. “We had workshops with the public, had a public survey, found out the amenities residents want and the challenges they see in their train station.”

Coming improvements

Among the improvements expected are accessibility ramps through the underpass, improved parking, warming shelters, a PACE bus dropoff location and expanded service for bicycle riders. In the building layout, Martell said the new plans include nicer waiting areas, accessible restrooms and vendor space. People feel strongly about having a 24-hour waiting area throughout the duration of Metra service, so people can wait indoors. Outdoor areas are to be en-

Police: Shots fired at 3rd and Willow

Seeking any home surveillance videos available

On Sunday, July 25, at 11:39 p.m., Elmhurst Police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Third St. and Willow.

Upon the arrival of police, officers discovered several shell casings in the 200 block of Willow and on Illinois street. A witness reported seeing a gray SUV in the area around the same time of the incident. Police

were unable to locate any damage following the report.

Police are asking residents in the area to review any home video for vehicles or suspicious activity in the area of Third and Willow and Third and Illinois on Sunday night. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Elmhurst Police at 630530-3050.

hanced as well.

The next step is Phase Two—Advancing the Design. This step will bring forward bid documents so work can begin. Martell introduced his colleague Sarah Sutherland, the senior architect with CDM Smith.

Sutherland spoke about the overall scope of the project and the proposed site plan. She showed a series of slides representing similar sites in other cities and how they related to the public comments gathered by CDM Smith.

The public’s preferences

Sutherland discussed preferences in lighting, both inside and out, and the public’s interest to keep it consisSee STATION, Page 3

The orange effort

This group of volunteers from the organization Moms Demand Action-Elmhurst got together on Monday, June 28 to attach orange ribbons to the trees through town to raise awareness of gun violence and to honor the life of Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago high school student, who was shot and killed in a Chicago park in 2013.

(Continued from front page)

tent with surroundings and the rest of downtown in order to blend in. The public also seeks energy efficiency and possible solar options.

Landscaping and plaza space was presented, as the majority of residents seem to prefer native plantings and prairie-style flowers, while keeping the area durable and easy maintained.

There was a suggestion of involving local garden clubs or environmental organizations.

There was a great deal of support for ample bicycle parking, preferably covered parking with security lock-ups.

In general, the public likes the look and feel of civic buildings in town, such as the Elmhurst Public Library, the Elmhurst History Museum, the Elmhurst Art Museum and the Wilder Park Conservatory. People said they were the most “Elmhurst-like” in style and offered the best representation of Elmhurst and its community pride.

Spaces to improve in size

Sutherland presented a Summer of Spaces, which showed that the current inbound station was 2,000 GSF with a waiting area of 1,000 square feet and 30 seats.

The proposed station will have 3,000 GSF, with a 1,300 squarefoot waiting area with 50 seats and a 24-hour waiting area of 250 square feet with four seats.

The outbound station is currently 250 square feet and will be expanded to 450 square feet with 10 seats. There is currently one warming shelter that is 100 square feet.

The plan is for two warming shelters that are 500 square feet each.

By comparison, the existing station total waiting area has 1,350 square feet, but the new plan will have 3,000 square feet of total waiting space.

The decision about this plan will be discussed at a future meeting of the Elmhurst City Council.

No longer needed

As nice as some Elmhurst businesses might be, sometimes they simply outgrow their usefulness. An example is the Strauschild Harness Shop, pictured here in 1912, which went the way of the horse-and-buggy, when people no longer rode horses or drove carriages. Strauschild’s was located at 140 S. York Road.

ELMHURST HISTORY MUSEUM PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

elmhursT IndependenT

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Obituaries

Lois M. Mueller, 93 Lois M. Mueller, nee Sherman, of Bartlett, formerly of Elmhurst, passed away recently at the age of 93. Beloved wife of Herbert. Loving mother of Denise (Doug) Erzinger, Debra (Dave) Potts, David (LeeAnn) Mueller and the late Sharon (Ron) Moraco. Dear grandmother of eight, great-grandmother of four and greatgreat-grandmother of one. Grandmother of the late Jordyn Mueller. Dear sister of the late Genevieve (Walter) Guenther, Gloria (William) Michael and Kenneth (Esther) Sherman. Aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Services were held Thursday July 22, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 142 E. 3rd Street, Elmhurst. Interment Elm Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements by Pedersen Ryberg Funeral Home. Info: 630-834-1133.

Tracey Ann Ward, 49

Tracey Ann Ward, nee Mulvey, passed away after a short illness at the age of 49. Tracey was a graduate of York High School and she attended Marquette University before her position in the office for Plumbers Union Local 130. Tracey was the beloved mother of Donald J. “Donny” Ward; cherished daughter of Donald J. and Frances M. (nee Hennig) Mulvey; dear sister of Carolyn (John) Lubke and Don Mulvey, Jr. Tracey was a loving mother who loved watching Donny play baseball from his time in Tee-Ball all the way through high school. She will be missed deeply by all who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105. Funeral services and Interment Private. For information call 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com

Ruth Starshak Martin, 93 Ruth Starshak Martin, a 64-year resident of Elmhurst, passed away recently at the age of 93. A lifelong devoted volunteer, Ruth held leadership positions with countless charities and organizations throughout her life. For her alma-mater, Mount Mary University (’50), she served on the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, was an advisor on the National Alumnae Board, along with numerous committees. Ruth held many positions at her parish of 64 years, Immaculate Conception, including chair of the Parish Services Committee, the Advisory Council, the Coordinating Committee and the Council of Catholic Women. She also co-chaired the Vietnamese Resettlement Committee at IC. Ruth was a founding member of the People for Elmhurst Parks (PEP) Foundation, chairman of the Elmhurst Park District Citizens Advisory Commission, coordinator of the Park District’s Volunteer Services, facilitating the planting of hundreds of trees for Earth Day 1990. A few of the other organizations included Elmhurst Walk-In Ministry Network,

United Community Concerns, The United Way (Director-At-Large), the Girl Scouts and was chair and discussion leader for Junior Great Books. Until just last year, Ruth was a Regional Award Judge for the Catholic Extension Society’s Lumen Christi Awards, a project that gave her great joy. Ruth held a wide variety of work positions, from NBC Television securing props for live television shows, to Elmhurst College’s adult education Center for Special Programs, the Office of Volunteer Services for Elmhurst Park District, Illinois Bell service rep and Marshall Field’s salesclerk, among others.

Ruth was the beloved wife of the late Edgar H. Martin; loving mother of Patty (Dee Schmidgall) Martin; dear sister of Sue (the late John) Klemmer, Joe (Mary Clare) Starshak and the late Thomas (the late Barb) and the late Albert (Mary) Starshak and the late Mary Kay (the late Hugh), fond aunt and great-aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 30 at 9 a.m. until time of prayers

10:30 a.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, Elmhurst. Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. MASKS REQUIRED AT VISITATION AND MASS due to private family health situation. NO EXCEPTIONS. Interment St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery, Lemont. The Mass will be livestreamed at the funeral home website. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 North Ridge, Chicago, 60660; or Mount Mary University, 2900 North Menomonee River Pkwy, Milwaukee, Wisc., 532224597. For funeral information please call 630-832-0018 or visit www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com

Gertrude M. Ewert, 93

Gertrude M. Ewert, longtime resident of Elmhurst, passed away July 22, 2021 in Naperville at the age of 93. She was born Sept. 26, 1927 in Chicago to Emil and Marie (nee Mielke) Donisch.

Gertrude is survived by her chil-

dren Kathy (Jim Sears) Ewert, Carolyn (John) Slone, and Richard (Vanessa Bordner) Ewert; her grandchildren Courtney Ewert, Brian Slone, Tiffany Slone and Erik Bordner; her seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Rudolph A. Ewert; her parents; and by her brothers Herb (Bernetta) Donisch, Kurt (Dorothy) Donisch, and Alfred (Bernice) Donisch.

Gertrude worked at the Illinois Bell Telephone Company in the 1940s and Long Chevrolet of Elmhurst in the ‘60s.

Visitation will take place Saturday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Pedersen Ryberg Funeral Home, 435 N. York St., Elmhurst. Funeral service at 12 noon followed by burial at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Bensenville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Springs at Monarch Landing Memory Care, 2308 Illinois Route 59, Naperville, Ill., 60563. Arrangements provided by Pedersen Ryberg Funeral Home.

City honors Grabowski for 10 years

PETE CRUGER PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

Jim Grabowski and his wife Kristin are pictured here at a reception held at the Community Bank of Elmhurst to celebrate his 10 years of being the City Manager of Elmhurst. There have only been three City Managers to serve the City of Elmhurst and the average tenure is 29 years. Grabowski jokingly announced his retirement notice for the year 2041.

Former resident Nick Celozzi returns to film movie

Praises experience working at Elmhurst University

FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT

Perhaps you know his father better than you know him. Nick Celozzi Jr. is the son of Nick Celozzi of the Celozzi-Ettleson car dealership best known for the slogan, “Where you always save more money.”

Nick Jr. did not follow his father into the car business, but rather found his calling to be in Los Angeles as an actor, and later, as a writer and producer.

His successes have been ongoing and have led him to a path back to Elmhurst to produce a movie on the campus of Elmhurst University, which will star veteran actor Anthony Michael Hall.

Living in L.A., Celozzi has now been married for 20 years and has two children.

“I always say if you keep your eyes open and you follow a path, opportunity opens up,” he told the Elmhurst Independent in an exclusive interview. “I started writing and that made things come together a lot quicker for me. That’s where I found success. I have written or produced a total of 26 movies.”

The upcoming movie, The Class, was written by Celozzi and is being filmed right now on location at Elmhurst University. The movie is a coming-of-age story set at a school, but Celozzi assures it is not a remake of The Breakfast Club, another teen saga also starring Anthony Michael Hall, which was produced by John Hughes.

“I wanted the film to take place at a school,” he said. “I didn’t want a studio; I wanted to have real young people, I wanted them to feel fluid. I wanted real classrooms, real hallways, real lockers.

“I always loved youth coming-ofage films. The thing about it is, we all pass down the same idiosyncrasies, we all go through adolescence. Today it’s more intense; we didn’t have social media when I was growing up and now it’s a whole new set of rules.”

While assuring the movie is not a remake, Celozzi admits he always liked how John Hughes shows allow movie-goers to experience the issues of the day.

“There are a lot of parallels to John Hughes’ movies,” he said. “I like something that has a ‘window of passage’ and this movie does. It all takes

place in the same day, and students are going through all these issues.”

More about the movie

In The Class, the students are not in detention, as those in The Breakfast Club were, but rather are there because they missed a test and have to take a make-up exam.

“They all have these obstacles to go through because the makeup exam is something they all have to do together, to call on their own experiences,” Celozzi said. “I was watching my own children and their friends when they were in the house and they are repeating and going through a lot of the same things we did, but in a different way. They are trying to mitigate fears, there’s some paranoia, they also have a culture of ‘don’t tell the parents.’ That was going on in our day, but we weren’t surrounded by this cloud of social media. Kids as young as 12 and 13 are aware enough of day-to-day issues about what’s going on the world today. They are seeing everything in their own time. They are being opinion-taught; that is, they are forming opinions based on opinions.”

Eventually in the movie, Celozzi said, the students start knocking down barriers and begin to learn things from each other. Eventually— as different as they were when they walked in, all with their pre-conceived notions—they realize they are all actually very much the same.

What makes Celozzi proud

When the Independent asked Celozzi what he is most proud of, he asked if that meant in the movies or in life in general. How about both?!

“What I’m most proud of in my life are my two children,” he said. “In the film, I’m just happy to see how the actors come together to bring forth the vision. When you talk to a group of actors and you look at everybody and see that they’re nodding, they’re ‘getting it,’ getting those people to move forward and grow with their art, grow with their character. It’s not always easy, but the actors are so open. I always enjoy when I get something out of an actor that I didn’t expect.”

What’s next on the horizon for Nick Celozzi

Celozzi is working on another

Man charged with threatening

DuPage Circuit Court Clerk

Tells employee he’ll ‘shoot the clerk in the head’

On Friday, July 23, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that bond had been set for a Chicago man charged with making a threatening phone call to the office of Candice Adams, Clerk of the DuPage County Circuit Court. Bernard Williams, 42, of Chicago, appeared before Judge Maureen Dunsing who set bond at $1 million with 10% to apply. Williams has been charged with one count of Threatening a Pub-

movie called The Legitimate Wise Guy, based on a true story of an Oak Park gangster by the name of Anthony Spilotro.

“It’s similar to ‘A Bronx Tale,’” he said. “It’s the real story behind the movie ‘Casino’—this was the sub-story, it’s the point of view of a young kid.

“It’s also more about Anthony Spilotro back in the day when [gang-

sters] moved around like movie stars, people knew who they were, it was a different world, a different culture. The movie reflects the culture of its time.”

How does it feel to be back in the good-ole home town?

“I can’t believe downtown Elmhurst!” Celozzi said. “I was driving around and I can’t believe how much it has built up, all the restaurants and

so forth. It’s really looking good.”

Celozzi ended by saying how much he has enjoyed working at Elmhurst University and how supportive the school has been.

“I’m very happy to be here,” he said. “I’m very excited about this movie and that it’s being shot right here in Elmhurst. I can’t say enough about how great it is to work with Elmhurst University.”

It is alleged that on Thursday, July 22, at approximately 3 p.m., Williams called the office of the DuPage County Clerk of the Circuit Court and, while speaking to a representative, threatened to “come to the office and shoot everyone that works

See CLERK, Page 8

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EYB captures 10U District title

The Elmhurst Youth Baseball (EYB) 10U Little League team captured the District 10 Championship on Thursday, July 15 in River Forest. The boys went 3-0 in Districts, outscoring their opponents 35-3. The boys from Elmhurst move on to sectionals July 23-25th. Congrats to Patrick Boeh, Luke Bottari, Xander Escarpita,

Liam Campbell, Nick Elliott, Reid Gabuzda, Everett Katsoolias, Dominic Landas, Caleb Leynes, Joey Pointon, Dominic Ramos, Avett Tahlier, Tyler Tatman and Tanner Telford. Coaches – Edwin Ramos, Joe Boeh and Jason Telford.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

Police beat

he 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.

Criminal damage, criminal trespass

July 19

A victim in the 400 block of Highview told police at 4:36 p.m. that he is having ongoing issues with juveniles ringing his doorbell, banging on his windows, breaking his window screens and damaging his flower beds and landscaping lights.

July 16

A reporting officer met with the complainant in the 100 block of N. Addison who reported that an unknown suspect(s) slashed the tires of two bikes which belonged to his son and his son’s friend. The bicycles were secured to a railing located on the southeast side of the Addison Avenue parking garage.

July 14-July 16

A complainant in the 200 block of Illinois told police that an unknown suspect(s) forced entry to a condemned residence through a rear porch window Nothing was taken and the residence is scheduled to be torn down.

July 15

John J. Miulli, 33 (no town listed), was charged with criminal trespass to property in the 100 block of N. Maple at 5:24 p.m. Police said a reporting officer met with a complainant who reported that Miulli, who does not reside at the residence, was refusing to leave.

Domestic battery, domestic incident, disorderly conduct, disturbance

July 19

A 26-year-old Elmhurst man was charged with violation of a domestic violence bail bond in the 600 block of Crockett at 6:11 p.m. A victim told police that the suspect has been at the residence causing problems which is in violation of the bail bond order from a previous domestic violence incident.

July 18

Jose A. Martinez, 50, of Chicago, was charged with fighting in public near Route 83 and North at 10:32 p.m. Police said that subsequent to a traffic crash/disturbance, the driver of a vehicle exited his vehicle and approached Martinez, a passenger in the other vehicle. Martinez allegedly pushed the driver

A victim in the 900 block of S. Hillcrest told police at 2:27 p.m. that a suspect grabbed her shoulders and pushed her into a wall. The victim had redness and bruising to her shoulder area. The suspect was placed under arrest and resisted officers. The suspect was transported to the police station. Charges are pending.

July 17

A 49-year-old Elmhurst woman was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 400 block of N. West at 3:59 p.m. Police said a reporting officer met with the victim who reported the suspect battered him causing injury to his back and leg.

CALL 800-222-TIPS

DUI, DUI-drugs, illegal transportation of alcohol, illegal possession of alcohol

July 22

Maryan n Nomell i ni, 59, of S treamwood , was cha rg ed with DU I near Route 83 and St Charles a t 2:25 a.m

Ju ly 2 1

Pol i ce said t h at subsequent t o a r eport o f severa l subjects drink i ng in public, polic e found t h at a ll h ad i ndeed consumed alc ohol i n pub l ic Va n essa C r uz-Bahena, 21 o f Glendale He i ghts, and Gomez-Maza r iegos , 21, of Be n sen v ille, were cite d f o r possessio n of alco h ol i n pub l ic. Alan Ga r c i a-Perez, 19 , of Be n sen v ille, and a juven i le were ci t ed f o r co n sum p tion o f alcohol by a m inor and po ssessio n o f alcoho l in public. P olice said Yuran Est u a r do Lopez - Carri l lo, 19, of Bense nvi l le, was found t o have a valid warrant ou t of t he Du P age Coun t y Sheri ff ’s Office. H e also was cha rge d with atte m pt obstructin g identi fi ca t ion, consumption o f a l cohol b y a min o r an d possession of open alc o hol i n publ i c

Ju ly 1 8

I van Garcia, 3 9, o f Elmhurs t , was c h a rge d wi t h DU I , speeding and i m proper lane usag e su b sequent t o a tr affic stop nea r North an d Cl i n t on at 12:21 a m

Ju ly 1 7

Agus t i n Ariza-Galvan, 20, of Addison , was cha rged with DU I , illegal t r anspo r ta t io n of alcoh o l, n o valid d r ive r ’s license, impro per lane usage, consumption o f alcoho l by a mi n or a n d no i nsurance subsequent to a si ngle ve h icle c r ash near Route 8 3 and Lake a t 3:22 p m

Possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance

Ju ly 2 0 Gu i ller m o Meraz, 18, of Chicago, wa s cha rged w i th dr i v i ng while license s u spen ded , unlawful possession o f cannabis b y dri ve r, imp r o p e r sto p ping on the roadwa y, i mproper use of registration and no insu r anc e su b sequent t o a well - be i ng c h eck of a drive r as l eep at t he wheel in t he 600 b lock of W.

Nor t h a t 5 : 13 p.m .

Ju ly 1 8

Pol i ce sa i d of fi cers responded to the 70 0 block o f N. Yo r k at 5 : 08 p .m. for t h e r epo r t of i nt o xicated subjects who were d r inkin g an d s m oking cannab i s in t h e alle y. Juveni l e

suspect #1 ran f r om the scene and was s u bsequen t ly app r ehended. Juvenile suspect # 1 was taken i nto custody and was transpor t e d to the po l ice station. Juveni l e suspect #2 wa s cited for possession of drug parapherna l i a and was r elease d o n scene. Juveni l e sus p ec t #3 was ci t ed for p o ssession of cannabis an d was released on scene. Juvenile suspec t # 1 was release d withou t cha rges a n d wi l l be r eferred t o Du P age Coun t y Juven i le P robat i o n .

Ju ly 1 5

Jermaine J. Rod r iguez, 22, of Blue I s l and , was issued citations f or unlawful p o ssessi o n of cannabis b y t h e driver and s p eeding su bsequen t to a t raffic stop near Route 83 an d L ake at 3:40 p.m

Benne t t O. Romaine, 28, of Mou n t Pro spect, was iss u ed a c i ta t ion for unlawf u l p o ssession o f cannabis i n a vehicle subsequen t to a traf fi c stop in the 900 block of N. La r c h at 4 :3 8 p. m

Theft or burglary/identity theft/fraud/forgery/ deceptive practice/ obstruction/robbery

Ju ly 2 1

Thef t was r e p o r ted i n the 100 block o f Prospect at 8:49 a. m A v ictim to l d polic e that an u nknown suspect(s) t ook her bac kpack contai n in g an Apple i Phone, se v era l keys a n d o t he r miscellaneous i t ems f rom a park bench

Ju ly 2 0

Ide n t i ty theft was re p orted i n t he 9 0 0 block of S Swain at 1 0:25 a.m. A v i c t im to l d police that an u nknown suspect(s ) used hi s American Airlines Advantage miles to boo k a hotel sta y

Ju ly 1 9- Ju ly 2 0

Thef t was r epo r ted i n the 200 block of A ddison. Police said a reporting of fi ce r me t t h e

Top crime news

Driver of suspicious vehicle tries to entice juvenile into car

On July 16, suspicious circumstances were reported after an officer met with a complainant in the 400 block of N. Evergreen at 6:15 p.m. who reported that an unknown suspect driving a silver pickup truck pulled up next to his juvenile son and gestured him to approach the vehicle. The complainant’s son ran inside the residence and the unknown suspect left the area. The suspect is described as a male, unknown race, approximately 40-50 years old with a beard and mustache, wearing a navy blue-collared shirt. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the suspect.

Home burglary repor ted on E. Gladys

On July 20, residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of E. Gladys at 10:24 p.m. A victim told police that upon returning home, they found their front door was forced open. The bedrooms had been ransacked and a cabinet had been forced open.

Suspect who allegedly choked victim charged with battery

On July 21, police officers responded to the 600 block of W St. Charles at 10:03 p.m. for the report of a battery that had just occurred. The reporting officer met with the complainant who stated he was involved in a verbal altercation with an employee when an unknown suspect came up behind him and choked him. The reporting officer met with the business

victim who rep o rted a Honda brand gener ator and a De Walt b r and air compressor wer e taken from a fenced - in construction site

Ju ly 15 - Ju ly 2 0

Identity t hef t was reported at Elm Cree k D r i v e. A victim told p ol i ce that an unknow n suspect used he r pe r sonal info r mat i o n t o open several cred i t accounts an d ma d e fraudule n t pu r chases s o metimes between th e above dates

Ju ly 1 6

Identity thef t was r eported in the 40 0 block o f S. Mitc h ell at 3 :19 p.m. A victi m told police that an unknown s u spect ( s ) r emoved funds from her ban k account

Ju ly 1 5

Deceptive p r actice was repo r ted i n t he 6 0 0 block o f N. Yo r k at 3:56 p.m. P olice sai d a reporting officer met with a c o m p laina n t who reported an em p loyee was the v i ctim o f a qu i ck-change scam. The c o mplainant sta ted t he unknown suspect con f used t h e cashie r while asking fo r change for a $100 bi l l. Th e suspec t is described as a wh i te male, appr o ximately 50 years o l d, wea r i n g a r ed basebal l ha t , glasses, su rg ical m ask, and spoke wit h mumbled speech. This case is pending inve stigation

Identity thef t was r eported in the 90 0 block of S. P rospect at 5 : 58 p m. A victi m told police that she p r o v ide d her Social S ecu r ity number on a web link claim i ng to b e from t he I l linois Department o f Tr ans p ort ation

Warrant arrest

July 21

Police said that subsequent to a report of suspicious person, Herman Lawrence Nitz, 57, of Villa Park, was found to have a valid warrant out of the Illinois Department of Corrections near St. Charles and Route 83 at 7:25 p.m.

owner who stated several patrons attempted to remove the suspect after he became irate and refused to exit the business. The complainant was issued a no-trespass notice and released from the scene.

Police: Fight allegedly breaks out at Grand and Entry Dr.

On July 18, Daniel A. Zito, 33, of Bensenville, was charged with aggravated battery, battery due to physical contact, battery causing bodily harm and assault near Grand Ave, and Entry Dr at 9:11 p.m. Police said officers responded to the above location for the report of subjects physically fighting. According to police, the victim related that Zito approached the vehicle he was in, began yelling, reached into the vehicle, and tore the victim’s shirt while he was hitting and pulling the victim. The victim had swelling and abrasions on his forehead, police said.

Former employee claims to have gun, but none found

On July 17, police said a reporting officer met with a complainant in the 200 block of N. York at 3:42 p.m. who reported that a former employee entered the business and stated he had a gun. The suspect never displayed a gun and never threatened anyone.

Officers met with the suspect and found no weapons in his possession. The suspect was served with a no-trespass notice and released from the scene.

Elmhurst Community Programs for August

Programs air on COMCAST Channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 Programs may also be found at ElmhurstTV.com

City of Elmhurst #23

Elmhurst Summer of 2021 Event

Teaser:

Farmer’s Market, Block to Block Party, Music at the Gazebo and “To the Moon: Snoopy Soars with NASA”

Sundays at 6 p.m. (start Sunday, Aug. 1)

City of Elmhurst #22

Elmhurst Senior Citizens Commission Community Conversations:

“Your Visit to the DuPage County Forest Preserves”

Guest Speaker: Shannon Burns, Education Program Coordinator, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Host: Cathy Jordan

Thursdays at 5 p.m.

Elmhurst History Museum

Lost Landmarks & Veteran in Elm-

hurst

Tuesdays at 5 p.m.

Spirito! Singers

2021 Concert “Make Them Hear You”

Sundays at 7 p.m.

Elmhurst Our Kind of Town #1391

Elmhurst TV Archives Presentation

The Village Vocal Chords 2017 Annual Show “In Search of Harmony”

Saturdays at 7 p.m.

Elmhurst Our Kind of Town #1439

Elmhurst TV Archives Presentation

2018 Elmhurst Cycling Classic Highlights

Mondays at 5 p.m. (start Monday, Aug. 2)

Elmhurst Our Kind of Town #1404

Elmhurst TV Archives Presentation

ELMFEST! – Gone but Not Forgotten

Fridays at 5 p.m. (start Friday, Aug. 6)

Elmhurst Our Kind of Town #1310

Elmhurst TV Archives Presentation

Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra Presents

“Glories of French Music”

Music Director and Conductor: Stephen Alltop

Saturdays at 5 p.m. (start Saturday, Aug..7)

Elmhurst PSA loop

Various announcements from the City of Elmhurst Wednesdays at 5 p.m. City Council Meetings air Wednesdays at 12 noon and Thursdays 7 p.m. School District #205 Board meetings air on Thursdays 2 p.m. www.ElmhurstTV.com

Elmhurst American Legion hosting country music events

Update on plans for 2nd Nashville Songwriter’ event

Thanks in part to City of Elmhurst Explore Elmhurst Grant Program funding support, Elmhurst American Legion THB Post 187 will partner with the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) to co-host a trio of country music-themed events—highlighted by the Second Annual Nashville Songwriter Fundraiser on October 16—all staged inside the Legion’s Normandy Banquet Room.

The Nashville Songwriter event will feature the return of country singer/songwriter Jason Sever, a native Texan who has worked the past 20 years in Music City U.S.A, as a headlining solo artist, studio musician and ensemble performer, along with two fellow performers. Tickets are $85 and include alcoholic beverages, pop and snacks. Tickets will be sold online via our Chamber’s website at elmhurstchamber.org, starting as early as August.

For the Nashville event, $3K Sponsors will receive a full-page display ad in the concert program, website and social media exposure, and a reserved table of 10, while $1K Sponsors will receive a halfpage ad, website and social media exposure and a reserved half-table for five. Blue, Red and White Supporters levels are available for $500, $250 and $100, respectively.

In addition, Freebyrd (freebyrdrocks.com), a local tribute band with Elmhurst ties, and Whiskey Creek (whiskeycreekjams.com) will perform 7 p.m. concerts on Saturday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 28, respectively. The presenting sponsor of Freebyrd is ECCI member Community Bank of Elmhurst, whose headquarters is located immediately west of Post 187.

While staged in the Normandy Room, the venue will allow concertgoers access to the adjacent indoor bar and an outdoor gathering area.

At both summer concerts, a tax-deductible $10 cover charged at the door will benefit the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP’s Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial Fund, while the Legion will profit from all food and beverage sales.

• Clerk

(Continued from page 5)

there.” It is alleged that Williams also threatened to “shoot the clerk in the head.” This morning at approximately 10 a.m., Williams was located in a courtroom within the courthouse and taken into custody without incident. He was found to be unarmed.

“My office takes any threat or even the perception of a threat against a public employee or elected official extremely seriously,” Berlin said. “For our government to function properly, it is imperative that elected officials as well as their staff be allowed to serve free from harassment, without concern for their personal safety.”

While probationable, a Class 3 Felony is punishable by up to five years in the Illinois Department of

Corrections. Williams’ next court appearance is scheduled for arraignment on Thursday, July 29.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt.

“ My office takes any threat or even the perception of a threat against a public employee or elected official extremely seriously.”

– Robert Berlin

Viewpoint

Mazzochi: Give the public tools to fight corrupt red light cameras

After a legislative session that once again stonewalled universal red light camera reform, State Representative Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) filed a new round of legislation to give members of the public the right to challenge red light cameras tainted by corruption.

“For years, Democratic legislators have told the public that they favor red light camera reform, but in private, they work behind the scenes to kill reform legislation because their local governments are addicted to the revenue,” Mazzochi explained. Mazzochi has repeatedly called on the Pritzker administration, including the Illinois Department of Transportation, to remove the red light cameras that are associated with federal public corruption indictments, including the one at Route 83 and 22nd street in Oakbrook Terrace.

According to prosecutors, former State Senator Martin Sandoval took $250,000 in bribes, including $70,000 in connection to his support for Safespeed, the operators of dozens of suburban red light cameras, including the one in Oakbrook Terrace.

According to Mazzochi, IDOT refuses to do anything more to end the Route 83/22nd Street camera in her district—which local officials have accused of leading to more traffic accidents, not less—because of the ongoing federal investigation. In recent months, yet another public official, a former Worth Township Supervisor, pled guilty to a scheme to bribe an Oak Lawn trustee on behalf of the politically connected Safespeed, State law currently limits the

defenses drivers can raise to red light cameras, making them practically impossible to challenge. Mazzochi’s latest legislation, House Bill 4102, will explicitly allow members of the public given red light camera citations the right to challenge the tickets in court if the cameras in question are “associated with civil or criminal corruption charges.”

Mazzochi reiterated that “when the placement of a red light camera has nothing to do with safety, but involve a cynical revenue grab inextricably linked to public corruption, individuals should have the right to protest them in court, and judges should be empowered to reject these tickets.” Municipalities around the state have reportedly collected over $1 billion from red light cameras between 2008 and 2018.

Rep. Mazzochi continued, “red light camera systems are emblematic of Illinois government. They’re riddled with corruption, and shine a light on slow bureaucratic processes, and a General Assembly that refuses to act. In the meantime, camera operators and city officials are lining their pockets on the backs of our residents.”

Mazzochi finished by saying, “Illinois government should be interested in rooting out red light cameras as a major source of public corruption. It’s time for Democratic legislators and their leadership to choose: are they on the side of the people or corrupt public officials?

A vote on HB4102 will make that choice clear.”

(Editor’s note: This was received from the office of State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi.)

Letter to the editor Fire District #1 appreciates Mazzochi

As President of Bensenville Fire District Number One, (B.F.D.#1), I want to take this opportunity to personally thank State Representative Deanne Mazzochi for the efforts on her part to preserve the integrity of B.F.D.#1.

Your B.F.D.#1 trustees will continue to all that is legally possible to prevent Bensenville Fire District

Slices of life

Some days require more than one reboot

Some days are not quite like any others. Yesterday was one of those days.

It started at 5:34 a.m. — early, like all of my favorite days do (not). I awoke with the birds and had a happy thought:

It’s Tuesday. I have a deadline to send two columns to newspapers today and I wrote three columns last night. Yay for me, the over-achiever! Working ahead. You can do it, Jill!

I yawned, rubbed my eyes and puttered downstairs to grab a cup of coffee and my laptop.

It wasn’t in its usual spot (the laptop, not the coffee).

Maybe I’d brought it upstairs before bed. I trudged up the steps, my legs still heavy with sleep. I scanned the bedroom, looking on the table where I typically set my computer. No go. The table was empty. Maybe I wasn’t seeing things. I headed back downstairs.

My activity must have woken one of my sons because he followed me down the steps.

“I can’t find my laptop,” I told him.

By JILL PERTLER Columnist

in November. The content was more valuable than a Visa card; in a word — priceless.

I wanted to cry. (OK, maybe I did just a little.)

It was beyond dumb of me to not have a backup, I know. Ugh. But no amount of ughs will bring back 20,000 words of journal entries. Double ugh just the same.

Google’s advice? Let the laptop air out for 48 hours (duh). Wait. And hope.

I did all three.

In the meantime, however, I needed a column. Just one. I no longer had the luxury of three. I had to find a Plan B to get me through the week.

computer.

The mouse wouldn’t work.

I switched out the batteries, but no go. Apparently my mouse had died. What are the chances?

I headed to the store for a new mouse.

I got back and got my power cords aligned. My new mouse scurried and navigated just like a mouse is supposed to do. I was back on track.

Then my keyboard went offline. (I am not making this up.)

I tried rebooting my computer. Three times.

After a fair amount of sweat, pleading and prayer, my mouse was finally talking with the computer and the keyboard was talking with both.

I found a column and sent it to editors. My work was complete.

The day started earlier than I wanted. It included more challenges and unexpected situations than I wanted. Some might even call it a bad day.

Number Two, (B.F.D.#2) from taking your District over. Remember we asked you your opinion and you overwhelmingly voted to stay independent.

Your Board will support, defend, and advance your will and desire. Thank you.

Paul Guerino President of B.F.D#1

“Oh,” he said. “We put it over here,” as he pointed to the dining room table. “Some water got spilled on it last night.”

At first I didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. My laptop had an unfortunate run-in with water. Laptops and water don’t mix. Water always wins.

The laptop contained my columns, but it also contained all my journal entries since my husband passed away

Did I mention I am moving? Half of my belongings were still at the “old” house; the other half were at the cabin at the lake. My other computer, and only secondary source of my writing work, was at the latter — 2.5 hours away. I didn’t have any other option.

I headed toward the car and headed it toward the lake. I figured as a lastditch effort, I could send a previously published column to buy me some time until the next week.

I got to the cabin and booted up the

But in the end, it turned out OK. I met my deadline. Editors were satisfied. I lived to write another week.

On the plus side, I got some extra time at the lake, and an idea for a column.

Maybe the day wasn’t so bad after all.

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.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Nature expedition

7. Take the energy from 10. Bungled

12. Young salmon

13. Botanical gardens

14. Source of chocolate

15. Country singer LeAnn

16. Yokel

17. Unit of energy

18. Plant of the lily family

19. Tusked wild pig

21. Form of “to be”

22. Formerly 27. Letter of the Greek alphabet

28. Former First Lady 33. News organization 34. Shining brightly and intermittently 36. Brew 37. Teams’ best pitchers 38. Edible fruit 39. Pitching stat

__ or bust 41. Baby product manufacturer

Democratic leaders seek to dismiss redistricting lawsuits

Virtual hearing set for week after U.S. Census data is officially released

By Jerry Nowicki CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Lawyers for Illinois’ Democratic legislative leaders recently filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from Republicans and a Mexican American advocacy group regarding newly drawn legislative maps, calling the challenge “purely speculative” until full U.S. Census data is released.

line set by the Illinois Constitution after which the process is handed to an eight-person commission made up of four members from each party.

If that group fails to approve maps by Aug. 10, a ninth member, who could come from either party, would be randomly chosen and added to the commission to give one party a single-vote advantage.

51. Oft-repeated slogan

CLUES DOWN

1. Nuclear undersea weapon

2. Helps the skin

3. Evergreen coniferous trees

4. Relieve of employment

5. A way to drench

6. Journalist Tarbell

7. __ and Venzetti

11. Japanese art form

12. Baseball great Satchel

14. Winged angelic beings

17. One point south of due east

18. Group of islands in Polynesia

20. A place to play: __ center

23. Masses of gray matter in the brain

24. Belgian city (alt. sp.)

25. Millilitre

26. Beloved Will Ferrell film

29. Railway above ground

30. Satisfaction

31. Aggregate of molecules

32. Type of barometer

35.

The motion, filed July 16, was an expected move following a Wednesday, July 14, status hearing for two consolidated lawsuits filed by Republican legislative leaders Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, and Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, as well as the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or MALDEF.

Both suits name the Illinois State Board of Elections and its individual members as well as Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon as defendants.

The lawsuits focus on whether American Community Survey data, rather than full census data, is a permissible source for drawing legislative district lines.

This year, the supermajority Democrats in the General Assembly passed new redistricting maps by the end of the regular session in May and Gov. JB Pritzker signed them into law on June 4.

But full census data wasn’t available at the time and still won’t be released until Aug. 16, so lawmakers used data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and other private sources to draw the maps.

MALDEF and the Republican leaders argued in their court documents that the use of American Community Survey data represents an incomplete count and therefore violates the “one person, one vote” principle under the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Answers on page 22

Every 10 years after the census, the Illinois General Assembly has the first crack at redrawing the lines of Illinois’ 59 Senate and 118 House districts, and they face a June 30 dead-

The Republican leaders have asked the court to either force Welch and Harmon to appoint a bipartisan commission to oversee redistricting, or appoint a special party to draw the maps themselves. At last week’s status hearing, lawyers for the Democratic leaders argued that would be an extreme remedy in which federal judges are intervening in matters of state law.

MALDEF requested a judge block the new maps from taking effect in any future elections.

But lawyers for the Democratic leaders—which include Michael Kasper, a longtime Democratic redistricting operative and ally to former House Speaker Michael Madigan— argued in the dismissal motion “there is no way to measure the validity of Plaintiffs’ equal protection allegations until the Census Bureau issues the 2020 census data.”

The lawyers for the Democratic leaders focused on the state constitution in other aspects of their motion to dismiss as well, arguing, “Nothing in the U.S. Constitution or Illinois’ Constitution or statutes mandates only the use of final census numbers in redistricting.”

“Plaintiffs do not suggest that the General Assembly should have used a different data set—plaintiffs only suggest that the General Assembly, led by defendants Welch and Harmon, should have done nothing and simply ignored the directives of the state constitution,” the lawyers wrote. “The federal constitution does not require such inaction on the part of state officials.”

Welch and Harmon’s lawyers also argued that the claims against them lack standing because the plaintiffs make no specific claims that the districts in which they reside are negatively impacted by the use of ACS data.

“They have not alleged—nor can they allege—that their personal voting strength is diluted by the current redistricting plan,” they wrote in the court document.

HOPE Taskforce announces grant recipients

Last week, the DuPage County Heroin/Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Taskforce announced the award of grants totaling $125,000 to expand its capabilities in the fight against the opioid crisis in the County.

The grant awardees and a brief description of each project are below:

• Hope for Healing- $32,000. The grant will support a harm reduction mobile outreach unit to provide outreach and engagement to individuals in need of support.

• Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital- $25,000. The funding will allow further development of their support to patients struggling with substance and opioid use disorders.

• NAMI DuPage - $31,000. The funds will provide a twice per month support group and offer peer counseling services to clients with a dual diagnosis.

• Haymarket Center - $37,000.

The funds will support providing a recovery coach to work with the DuPage County Correctional Facil-

ity to engage recently released and soon-to-be-released inmates in an evidence-based recovery coaching model.

“Combating the opioid epidemic is as critical as ever, and it requires the dedication and ingenuity that local, community-based partners bring to the fight,” said Greg Hart, DuPage County Board member and HOPE Taskforce Co-chair. “That’s why the Taskforce is comprehensively addressing the needs of those struggling with addiction within DuPage County and recommending effective and actionable policies, initiatives, and programs.”

The proposals serve DuPage County residents and align with two priority aspects of the HOPE Taskforce Framework: increase overdose response and provide integrated mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery.

“One program at a time, we hope to address the needs of the community by providing sustainable, impactful resources for those struggling with substance use disorder

IRS criminal division warns taxpayers about child tax credit scams

The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division is warning taxpayers about Child Tax Credit-related scams, which criminals may use to steal money and personal information.

While millions of American families started receiving the advance Child Tax Credit payments last week, criminals were already looking for innovative tactics to take advantage of unwitting victims. Taxpayers should be on the lookout for a variety of phone, e-mail, text message and social media scams targeting families eligible for the credit. Any communication offering assistance to sign up for the Child Tax Credit or to speed up the monthly payments is likely a scam. When receiving unsolicited calls or messages, taxpayers should not provide personal information, click on links, or open attachments as this may lead to money loss, tax-related fraud, and identity theft.

“As the country continues to grapple with the financial fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers and criminals continue to evolve their efforts to steal the assistance the government provides, from those that need it the most,” said Acting Special Agent In Charge, Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Be aware of those that try to steal the tax credit that you are entitled to, and if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is,”

in DuPage County,” said Dr. Lanny Wilson, DuPage County Board of Health Vice President and HOPE

Taskforce Co-chair. The grant funding is made possible by the DuPage County Board,

which has agreed to provide $100,000 annually to support the work of the HOPE Taskforce.

Although scammers constantly come up with new schemes to try and catch taxpayers off-guard, there are simple ways to identify if it is truly the IRS reaching out.

• The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers via e-mail, text messages, or social media channels to request personal or financial information, even information related to the Child Tax Credit.

• The IRS does not leave pre-recorded, urgent, or threatening messages. Aggressive calls warning taxpayers about a lawsuit or arrest are fake.

• The IRS will not call taxpayers asking them to provide or verify financial information so they can obtain the monthly Child Tax Credit payments.

• The IRS will not ask for payment via a gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.

If you are eligible for advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, the IRS will use information from your 2020 or 2019 tax return to automatically enroll you for advance payments. Taxpayers do not have to take any additional action. Taxpayers who are not required to file a tax return or who have not provided the IRS their information, may visit IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021 to provide basic information for the Child Tax Credit.

To report suspicious IRS-related phishing and online scams, visit IRS.gov.

Everything on your Wishlist!

Beautifully maintained custom home on oversized lot with amazing inground pool accented by two separate patio spaces, built-in Weber grill, diving board, surrounded by professionally landscaped & fully fenced backyard. The home features 4 large bedrooms, 2.2 baths, spacious island Kitchen with breakfast area overlooking the expansive back yard. First floor family room features fireplace, a wet bar, and powder room. The basement has a 2nd wet bar, rec room, laundry room, utility room, and still plenty of room for storage. The house is much larger than it appears and is a great Family home! $809,900

Move-in Ready!

Located on a quiet street in South Elmhurst, this 3000+ SF home offers plenty of space to raise a family. The 1st floor has a formal LR as well as a cozy FR w/ a brick fireplace. The updated kitchen w/ custom cabinetry has plenty of countertop & storage space as well as a built-in desk. It opens to a huge eat-in area w/ trayed ceilings & a multitude of windows providing natural light & easy sightlines to the yard. W/ a full bath & adjacent, spacious bedroom that can serve as a 1st floor master or in-law suite & a large coat closet that can be converted to a 1st floor laundry, buyers can tailor the home to their needs. Upstairs are 3 large bedrooms & 2 full baths including a master bath w/ jetted tub. The finished basement has a huge open space for kids to play & plenty of storage. Outside is a large, partly covered deck so you can look out at your yard, hot tub, & 2-car garage rain or shine. A newer roof, furnace, AC, & H2O heater make this a great buy for anyone looking to live in a lovely neighborhood w/ award-winning schools $587,500

Brynhaven Ranch!

This charming 4 bedroom / 3 bathroom home is not to be missed! Ideally located on a quiet

Lincoln Luxury New Construction

Wise Investment Builders

Proposed Modern Farmhouse by one of Elmhurst’s most reputable builders – Wise Investment Builders. Set on an oversized 64’ wide lot on one of Lincoln school’s best streets. Over 5,300 sf of finished living space with 3 car heated garage. Open and airy 1st floor with 2-story foyer, 10 ft ceilings, hardwood floors throughout, private 1st floor study or in-law suite, custom kitchen with large island & prep sink, high end SS appliance package, breakfast nook & family room open to backyard, walk-in pantry + butler pantry with wine fridge, mudroom, and full bath. 4 large upstairs bedrooms with hardwood floors, volume cei lings, laundry, and super luxurious primary suite with spa bath & large walk-in closet. Fully finished lower level with garden window, media room, 5th bedroom, full bath, wet bar, and storage. Smart home wired for all of today’s technology - alarm, whole home backup generator, Ring, internet, and surround sound. $1,599,900

DOUBLELOT

2021 Renovation!

Stunning renovation in this 5 Bed, 4 Bath Home w/ a Walk to Town/Train/K-8 School Location! All

4,000 square feet has been meticulously renovated to all the 2021

Center of Town

Being

171 foot frontage provides room to expand or enjoy plenty of outdoor space. This home has over 3100 feet of living space, featuring spacious rooms, eat-in kitchen with fireplace, granite counter tops, and brand new stainless steel appliances. Separate dining room, upper level bonus room, all new baths and all refinished hardwood floors.

$575,000

Walk

Originally built as builder’s own home, this home spares no detail or upgrade. Four finished floors with nearly 6,000sf of finished living space, exquisite millwork, 2-story foyer, open floor plan, coffered ceilings, chef’s kitchen with elevated seating island, beautiful hardwood flooring, walk-in food pantry, 1st floor office and 3 car heated garage. Upstairs offers a huge master suite with luxurious master spa bath with steam shower and custom-built walk-in changing room, 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, laundry, and a finished 3rd level with skylights (playroom, golf simulator, yoga study).

$999,800

Pritzker talks plans for Unemployment Trust Fund, pandemic response

Governor kicked off second-term campaign with media tour last week

By Jerry Nowicki CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Gov. JB Pritzker isn’t considering using federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to pay down a multi-billion-dollar Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund deficit, and he’s watching the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization numbers closely.

Those were two of the topics discussed during a 10-minute interview with Capitol News Illinois last week as part of a two-day media tour held by Pritzker after his July 19 announcement that he was seeking reelection in 2022.

The reason Pritzker won’t consider using federal ARPA funds on the $4.2 billion Trust Fund deficit, he said, is because he did not believe it to be a permissible use of the funding, and he is hopeful that the federal government will provide aid or rule changes to accommodate the 17 states that have outstanding federal borrowing balances in their trust funds amounting to $54 billion cumulatively.

“You can’t actually use ARPA funds according to the rules of ARPA. You can’t repay any debt that’s already owed to the federal government,” Pritzker said during the interview, citing the state’s initial plan to repay pandemic related Municipal Liquidity Facility funding with the ARPA funds—a use later ruled impermissible.

Interim U.S. Treasury rules for ARPA funding and the plans of dozens of other states, however, contradict the governor’s statement on the use of ARPA funds to repay the Unemployment Trust Fund deficit. The Associated Press reported on May 27 that “at least 29 states already have transferred or proposed to use a total of more than $12 billion of federal coronavirus aid for their unemployment trust funds.”

Per the interim final rule, published May 17 in the Federal Register, “recipients may make deposits into the state account of the Unemployment Trust Fund … up to the level needed to restore the pre-pandemic balances of such account as of January 27, 2020, or to pay back advances received under Title XII of the Social Security Act.”

“States facing a sharp increase in Unemployment Insurance claims during the pandemic may have drawn down positive Unemployment Trust Fund balances and, after exhausting the balance, required advances to fund continuing obligations to claimants,” the Treasury guidance reads. “Because both of these impacts were driven directly by the need for assistance to unemployed workers during the pandemic, replenishing Unemployment Trust Funds up to the pre-pandemic level responds to the pandemic’s negative economic impacts on un -

employed workers.”

During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Pritzker said, he spoke to President Joe Biden and Illinois’ congressional leaders to seek further federal assistance for the Trust Fund. He expounded on what changes might be possible.

“Some of this has to do with whether or not there could be legislation that’s passed. And some of this is really changes in the rules that could be made,” he said. “Certainly, if we could extend the due date of the Trust Fund deficit to the federal government, that might be of assistance to us. So we’re looking at everything that’s available to us, because you know, all of us have the same goal, right, which is to get that deficit down without it being a burden to businesses or to workers.”

Business groups last week called on Pritzker to reinstate more stringent work search requirements for Illinoisans who are on unemployment, to end a $300 federal monthly payment to unemployed individuals earlier than its September end date, and to infuse the Trust Fund with federal ARPA dollars.

Each state has an Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund account maintained by the U.S. Treasury but funded by the state’s businesses through insurance premiums collected via payroll taxes. The rates at which businesses pay into Illinois’ fund are determined by a complex statutory formula.

The business community has warned that without a solution to the Trust Fund deficit, premium rates on employers could rise by the hundreds of millions, while unemployment benefits could decrease in the hundreds of millions come January.

While use of the ARPA funding would have to be approved by law -

the main focus for monitoring disease spread should be intensive care bed and hospital bed usage. But he has not set a concrete metric for those numbers that would trigger another round of mitigations.

Those numbers were increasing statewide as of Wednesday night, although they were still far off pandemic highs. There were 119 ICU beds and 628 hospital beds in use by COVID-19 patients as of Wednesday. The state’s 3 percent case positivity rate was a high since May 7, five times its June 27 rate of 0.6 percent. The 1,993 new cases reported Thursday were a high

since May 5.

“What I can tell you is getting people vaccinated is the most important thing we can do right now, encouraging people to wear masks when they’re indoors in crowded areas, encouraging children who are under 12 to wear masks when they go to school, ask parents to have them wear masks when they go to school,” Pritzker said. “But unvaccinated people make up 99% of all the deaths that are occurring in the state of Illinois.”

Still, the governor said he wasn’t considering vaccine passport requirements at this time.

makers, Pritzker’s administration and former governors have generally been heavily involved in the negotiating process on unemployment issues.

But Pritzker said he is hopeful federal action might come through before that time period. Earlier this month, Illinois’ U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, said he expects Congress to begin debating the next steps on unemployment as the current federal boost to benefits ends in September.

“The question is, where will we be based upon the support that we may get from the federal government and the reduction of the number of people who are on unemployment? So we’ll have to see where that ends up,” Pritzker said.

Expanded child care

For his part, Pritzker said he has expanded child care availability in an effort to encourage a return to the workforce and alleviate stresses on the system.

“The biggest thing that’s keeping many people from getting back to work is the fact that they have to handle child care. Sometimes it’s senior care. People who stepped out of their jobs because they needed to take care of somebody at home,” he said. “And so we’ve expanded massively the availability of child care, particularly for those up to $60,000 in earnings. … We now have available to people $1 a month child care, that’s for people who are at the poverty level and up to 250 percent of poverty level, people being able to pay only 7 percent of their earnings. So that’s a significant move forward to help people get back to work.”

Monitoring COVID-19

As for the pandemic, Pritzker said his medical advisers tell him

“ Certainly, if we could extend the due date of the Trust Fund deficit to the federal government, that might be of assistance to us. So we’re looking at everything that’s available to us, because you know, all of us have the same goal, right, which is to get that deficit down without it being a burden to businesses or to workers.”

– Gov. JB Pritzker

Family living

Training the next generation

Benedictine students learn nutrition skills at Park Place

For years, graduate students from Benedictine University’s Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program have had a chance to practice their studies as precept interns at Park Place of Elmhurst, under the expertise of George Carrasquilla, Director of Dining Services.

George himself holds a degree in nutrition and dietetics from University of Illinois Medical Center. At the time of his schooling, George planned to work as a sports nutritionist for athletes, but after graduation, jobs in that field were difficult to find. In the meantime, he began working in management for dining services in healthcare.

“I was surprised to find I really enjoyed the management side of things,” George said. “It was just a good fit for me.”

During his time in the dining industry, he formed a relationship with Benedictine University. Their graduate school students in nutrition and dietetics needed field experience.

From time-to-time, George took on students to mentor through their preceptorship program.

“One of the challenges in getting a master’s degree in nutrition is getting the right experience,” George said. “It’s important that you get that

clinical experience in different areas, but it can be difficult to find people that will take the time to work with students.”

U of I Health and wellness research study seeks participants

A research team from the University of Illinois is looking for participants for the WITS Wellness Research Study.

Any person 50 years and older who has not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is eligible.

Participants can receive up to $60 for their participation in the study.

The study will include 12 weekly health and wellness sessions at various locations across the state. The sessions will be fun, with interactive discussions and pen and paper activities on topics such as healthy eating, managing stress, improving sleep, and more.

“This is a great opportunity to attend fun and engaging health sessions while helping Extension test and shape future programming,” said Chelsey Byers, Family Life educator, University of Illinois Extension.

When George came to work at Park Place of Elmhurst in 2013, he contacted Benedictine University to see if their students wanted the unique chance to study at the continuing care senior community.

“I know how hard it is to find an internship,” George said, “and to learn here at Park Place, where you can work with such diverse nutritional needs—that’s really great real-world experience.”

Soon, students from the Masters of Arts program in nutrition worked under George at Park Place, learning valuable dietary skills.

“Park Place has a pretty rich history of mentoring,” George said. “Students of all ages have been a big part of our residents’ lives. The preceptorship program fits into our mission and our culture.”

Park Place usually hosts two or three students a year in this program. Students commit to four days a week for five weeks, and they have an opportunity to learn nutrition for many different dietary needs. Many of the skills students learn are essential for the health of people who have special needs.

All students all required to do an in-service training with a study guide. George gives them their top-

ics, and once they are finished with the project, George reviews and edits the training. Once it is ready, he schedules a day for the students to conduct the in-service for dining staff and other healthcare professionals at Park Place.

For example, most recently, a precept developed an in-service regarding different levels and methods for thickening the consistency of food products for residents in the Health & Wellness Center who have swallowing challenges.

Other skills students learn are less technical. “It’s really important that students learn how to work with people. For some people, that comes naturally. But for others, it’s a skill that takes extra effort,” George said. “All

our students spend time with our residents, and in my opinion, that’s a vital part of this education. When you get to know people, it also helps you have compassion for serving them in the best way possible. It’s not just a name on a chart. It’s a unique person who has unique needs and deserves to be treated with dignity and care.”

Throughout his career, George has worked with Benedictine students for 20 years. He’s developed his own training materials and looks forward to each opportunity to share his experience and knowledge with students who want to train at Park Place.

“I know I won’t be here forever,” George said. “But seeing the students I’ve worked with, I’m sure the next generation will be in good hands.”

Elmhurst Public Library programs - July 30 - Aug. 6

Friday, July 30 from 7-8 p.m. Schitt’s Creek Trivia

Test your knowledge and compete for prizes online. For the best experience, use a laptop to access the YouTube Live presentation while using a smartphone to submit your answers.

to email your results from the database. Learn how to use features including mapping, heat maps, charts, and graphs. Discover how to use and interpret the data, especially when you are dealing with thousands of results and need to make sense of it all.

Live on Zoom: Register at elmlib.org/athome.

Participants will take part in either a fall 2021 session or a spring 2022 session. Findings from the study will be used to improve future program offerings from University of Illinois Extension. This is a collaborative study between the campuses of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

People can participate in any of the following locations: Champaign, Franklin Park, Mattoon, Murphysboro, St. Joseph, Sterling, Tuscola or Westchester.

If you wish to participate in the study, visit go.illinois.edu/ witswellness. If an accommodation is needed to participate in the program, contact Extension at 773-233-2900. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow enough time to meet access needs.

Source: Molly Hofer, Family Life educator, University of Illinois Extension.

Live on YouTube. Register to receive the information to join. Links will be emailed to registrants the week of the event.

Live on YouTube: Register at elmlib.org/athome.

Saturday, July 31 from 9:30 – 10 a.m. Saturday Stories

Enjoy stories, music, and movement, exactly right for families to share together.

Live on Zoom. Register at elmlib.org/athome.

Monday, Aug. 2 from 10-11 a.m. Amazon Shopping Basics

Get started shopping online by creating an account and safely navigating this online shopping giant. Live on Zoom. Register at elmlib.org/athome.

Monday, Aug. 2 from 6:30-8 p.m. Data Axle Reference Solutions for Your Small Business – Part 2

Dive deeper into Data Axle Reference Solution (formerly ReferenceUSA) to grow your small business. Discover the data presented in each module and how to conduct combined research between module. Discover higher-level search techniques and how you can use them for your business and research projects. Learn how to extract results into spreadsheets, pdfs and how

Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Staying Mentally Fit

Join us for fun mental enrichment. Programs will vary each month and may include games, puzzles, and other activities that boost memory, reasoning, and other cognitive abilities.

Live on Zoom: Register at elmlib.org/athome.

Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 7-8 p.m.

Genealogy Club: Dig Into Your Research

Join other genealogy enthusiasts for a virtual meeting. Bring your questions and share your knowledge. Staff is available to talk about online Library genealogy resources.

Live on Zoom: Register at elmlib.org/athome.

Thursday, Aug. 5 from 7-9 p.m.

Social Issues Learning Group

Meet with other community members to discuss issues of social justice, both locally and nationally. Learn more about issues of race, gender, education, poverty, and other topics by reading books and articles, listening to podcasts, or watching films, then discussing together in a respectful manner.

Live on Zoom: Register at elmlib.org/athome.

Info: (630) 279-8696 • elmlib.org/athome

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent George Carrasquilla, Director of Dining Services, works with Benedictine University’s Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics program to give students an opportunity to learn about nutrition in a real setting at Park Place of Elmhurst.

“ Park Place has a pretty rich history of mentoring. Students of all ages have been a big part of our residents’ lives. The preceptorship program fits into our mission and our culture.”

– George Carrasquilla, Director of Dining Services

Redick awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Jack Redick, a 2017 York High School graduate, is one of 21 male spring student-athletes in the nation to be awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The scholarships are given to the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes who excel athletically and academically over the course of their undergraduate careers and will be moving on to a graduate degree program.

Redick played defensive midfielder for The College of Wooster lacrosse team for four seasons. He was selected team captain in his

final campaign, scooped up 41 groundballs, caused 17 turnovers, collected seven assists and one goal

Jack Redick

for the Fighting Scots. Additionally, he was a three-time Academic All-Conference selection as a North Coast Athletic Conference Honor Roll member.

“Jack provided tremendous leadership for our team,” said Coach P.J. Kavanagh. “He led by example through his efforts on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”

The former York Duke is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and graduated summa cum laude

from The College of Wooster with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Redick’s distinguished research involvement is headlined by a summer internship with the renowned Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship Program at Stanford University where he performed research for the United States Department of Energy, studying the bioinorganic properties of B12 using X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

He will continue his education this fall at The Ohio State University College of Medicine where he will begin work on his Doctor of Medicine.

“Playing college lacrosse and getting to go to medical school is a dream come true,” said Redick. “Being nominated by my school and selected by the NCAA for this honor means a lot to me and the scholarship will help me achieve my goal of becoming a doctor.”

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defensive midfielder for four seasons. Redick was one of only 21 male student-athletes in the country to receive a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

game at The College of Wooster, where he

Jack Redick

PHOTOS Elmhurst Independent Elmhurst resident

makes a move at a recent lacrosse

played

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Clarendale of Addison an upscale Respected Senior Living Community is seeking server who is looking for a rewarding experience working with older adults. Successful candidates should possess experience working in a fine dining restaurant, country club, hotel or similar venue. Strong interpersonal and hospitality skills required.

1. Minimum completion of sophomore year in high school required

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3. Experience in working with seniors preferred Clarendale of Addison is also looking for a part time driver. Driver is responsible for transporting residents to grocery store, church on Sunday, monthly outing, extended trips as scheduled.

Exp. not necessary, will train PT or FT Monday-Friday in Lombard Creative Montessori Learning Center

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All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familiar/ status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1-900669-9777. The toll-free tele phone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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Sport S

Elmhurst resident Keating named girls lacrosse All-American Will continue her career at Northwestern this fall

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

What she terms a “random decision” turned out to be one heck of a hobby pivot for lifelong Elmhurst resident Karly Keating.

Three years ago, Keating, who recently graduated from Benet Academy in Lisle, decided to take up the sport of lacrosse.

“I had done basketball and was running cross country and track most of my life,” she said. “This opportunity popped up in high school and I took advantage of it and ran with it. I knew if I didn’t like it I could go back and focus on cross country and track.”

To say the least, Keating ended up liking it, so much so that she recently was named the winner of the Illinois Jackie Pitts Award and was one of 13 players in Illinois named an All-American by USA Lacrosse.

The USA Lacrosse-sanctioned Pitts Award recognizes high school seniors who go above and beyond in service to their team, school and community. USA Lacrosse noted those athletes, who truly honor the game of lacrosse, are invested in the development of the game in their town and are exemplary teammates.

In addition, the sanctioning body added, they must be outstanding students with high academic achievement and serve as role models within their school community.

Keating, captain of a Benet team that finished fourth in the state this past season, is humbled by the news

of winning the Pitts Award.

“I found out (last Monday),” she said. “It’s very cool. I’m the first person from Benet to win it. Our season was uncertain only a few months ago. We were able to do so well and that’s very special. I’m thankful for my coaches and my teammates. Benet was a great place. I went to Visitation (in Elmhurst) in grade school and never really knew what lacrosse was until I got to Benet. I was on a cross country team at Benet that won a state title (2019 team) and that was awesome experience. Benet was a great school for me. They have great sports and a great community.”

Keating will continue her academic and lacrosse careers at Northwestern University this fall.

“I like that lacrosse is really fastpaced and physical,” she said. “I am really aggressive and I like the physicality and speed of the sport. You can transition all you have learned from other sports and combine that into lacrosse. There is a lot of running involved, and that’s good because I run a lot.”

However, Keating’s initial foray into high school lacrosse had its bumps in the road.

“It has been a pretty long process,” she said. “I was cut from the varsity my first year, so I joined a club and my love grew for the sport. Everything from there I have worked very hard for. I have learned so much.”

Keating, who plays midfield-defense, said not letting the disappointment of that initial failure derail her

development was key. “I was really sad when I got cut,” she said. “I joined Tru Lacrosse (one of the top lacrosse clubs) and that was a lot of fun. I definitely learned a lot from the coaches there and from the great players there. It was a great experience.”

The journey from neophyte player just a few years ago to playing at a Division I university is not lost on Keating.

“At the beginning of my freshman year, I wanted to run in college, but that went away pretty fast,” she said. “No, I never thought this would be possible. I first started becoming interested in playing in college at the beginning of my sophomore year, so I started working a lot harder and I believed then that I could do it.”

Keating, who compiled a 3.8 grade-point average at Benet, is thrilled that she gets to call Northwestern her home. She plans on studying economics with a possible business minor. “They like athletes there and they run a really good program,” she said. “At the beginning, I didn’t think I would be able to go to a place like that. I thought it was kind of out of my league. I was surprised when the coach called me. I love the players and coaches there. I’m really excited to get going. The people there are very nice and the coaches are great at developing players. I’m excited that I will be with people who love lacrosse just like I do and are ready to learn lacrosse every day. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

York’s Canfield earns coach of the year honors

At the helm of Dukes team that finished third in the state this spring

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

Under the direction of coach Don Canfield for the last decade-plus, the York boys lacrosse program has made consistent progress, reaching its apex this season by finishing third in the state.

Canfield’s have not gone unnoticed. He recently was named coach of the year by the Illinois Boys Lacrosse Coaches Association.

“It was special,” he said. “I think more than anything an award like that represents more than one person. I had nominated my assistant coach for assistant coach of the year honors. He did a phenomenal job. I’m the face of the program, but that award is more like a program of the year award. This was a total team effort this year. The recognition is not just me, but everybody involved

with York lacrosse past, present and future.”

Canfield nominated first-year assistant coach Jack Strahm for the association’s assistant coach of the year honor. Strahm played at Wittenburg University in Springfield, Ohio.

“He was outstanding with his energy, knowledge and relationship-building with the kids,” Canfield explained.

Canfield just completed his 13th year as York’s boys lacrosse head coach.

“This year was special because it was a great group of kids,” he said.

“We had kids from all four classes contributing. We had an outstanding senior group. We had outstanding leaders and captains. It was also special because we didn’t know if we would even have a season. We started practicing in the fall and in the preseason with the way COVID

was going up, until the end of the season we had no expectation that there would even be a postseason. For them to continue to show up and work toward a goal together and be rewarded with the playoffs and then get far along in the playoffs and be rewarded with a third-place finish was very cool to be a part of.”

Canfield said the program has come quite a long way since its nascent days. “This was another big step forward for us,” he said. “Thirteen years ago we were a newer program. The West Suburban Conference was already established. We had to overcome that and had to start winning locally. We were able to win conference five or six years ago (for the first time) and that started getting us there, but we still hadn’t made a mark at the state level in postseason play. We have come a long way from

very humble beginnings from just sort of being a club sport to being fully recognized by the school and then the IHSA. I attribute all that to the kids and what they have been able to do and what they have left behind. We have been fortunate to have great players and great young men come through here and help develop our program. Each year everybody leaves their mark more so than the previous group. It’s been great to see over the last 13 years.”

Canfield added plenty of behind-the-scenes work has gone into building the program to where it is today. “The parents, the school and the administration have been great,” he noted. “Another group that has been big for us is Elmhurst Youth Lacrosse and what they have done. When we started, some kids had never played before. At the fresh-

man level we were teaching them the rules of the game and how to hold the stick. Now, because of the youth program, players are coming here very talented. A couple years ago we had freshmen starting on varsity and becoming all-conference players. The parents and the community have been super-supportive of us since the beginning. We were a parent-run club in the beginning and a little of that still lives on. Our parents want to be involved and want to see it do well. They do a great job supporting the team any way they can.”

Canfield doesn’t have any plans to slow the momentum down. “The future is absolutely bright,” he said. “We have an extremely talented senior group and we are also pretty young,” he said. “We have a ton of

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent Karly Keating

EYB fall part-time baseball tryouts this Sunday

York’s Hausoul named boys water polo All-American

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

In an attempt to further develop players looking for more baseball, Elmhurst Youth Baseball is extending the opportunity for non-full-time travel players to participate in EYB’s fall 2021 Sunday league.

Players part of the Extreme, Explosion, Cougars, Electric or any other travel teams are excluded in order to allow other EYB participants to further develop their baseball knowledge and skills.

Any player selected to participate in the Sunday program is required to be registered in EYB fall 2021 standard baseball programs.

Tryouts for this program will be held Sunday, Aug. 1 at 12 p.m. at Berens Park Field No. 1. Please register for the proper program based on your child’s age as of Sept. 1, 2021.

For more information, visit www. eybaseball.org.

York’s Hausoul named Water Polo All-American

Recent York graduate Andrew Hausoul was named to the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association boys water polo All-American fourth team.

Hausoul becomes the first York boys water polo player to earn All-American honors.

Hansmann headed to Evansville

York senior-to-be baseball player

Max Hansmann recently announced he has committed to continue his academic and baseball careers at Division I University of Evansville (Indiana).

28-27 this past season.

Evansville lost to Illinois State in the opening round of the MVC tournament.

Hansmann plays for the Illinois Premier travel team

IC Catholic Prep athletes earn all-state honors

A quartet of IC Catholic Prep athletes earned recent all-state recognition.

For girls volleyball, Sophie Hurt was named to the 39th Champaign News-Gazette all-state girls volleyball second-team, while teammate Jess Sobon earned all-state honorable-mention accolades.

For softball, senior Anna Maciejewski and freshman Analisa Raffaelli were named to the 2021 Illinois Coaches Association Class 2A allstate third team.

Canfield

(Continued from page 19)

The Purple Aces play in the Missouri Valley Conference and went juniors and a couple freshmen and sophomores who will be playing for us again. With the youth program in town here, guys are starting to play younger and younger and more and more talent is coming through Elmhurst. It’s fun to see.”

York finished the 2021 season with a 20-2 mark and won the West Suburban Conference title with an 8-0 mark. York downed Wheaton Academy 7-6 in the state third-place game.

Josh Temple (senior, defense), Charlie Toreja (senior, midfield) and Ryder Matson (junior, attack) were named to the all-WSC first team, while Conor Selfridge (junior, goalie), EJ Espinosa (junior, defense), Troy Walker (junior, longstick midfield), Boyd Puckett (senior, defensive mid), Chase McNeill (senior, midfield), Lance McCann (sophomore, midfield) and Ryan Woolfe (senior, attack) were named to the all-WSC second team, while Everett Snyder (junior, defense) and Drew Kircher (junior, attack) were named to the all-conference honorable-mention team.

8U All-Stars win 3rd tourney in a row

The 8U Elmhurst Youth Baseball All-Stars recently won its 3rd tournament in a row. The team went 6-0 beating a tough Wheaton Briarcliffe team to win the championship in the Roselle Renegades Summer Tournament. Pictured with their hardware are (bottom row, from left): Rocco Urso, Michael Hare, Andrew Boeh, Sammy Elliott; (middle row): Jack Steinecker, AJ Fleming, Parker Gabuzda, Henry Kalkowski, Dominic Magnelli; (top row): Coach Kalkowski, Coach Fleming, Coach Steinecker, Coach Magnelli. Not pictured: Brady White, Grant Rodriguez, Tyler Langenstrass.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

Media literacy requirement, animal products ban among latest 53 bills signed by Pritzker

Governor has signed 97 of more than 600 bills passed this year

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Public high schools in Illinois will soon be required to teach students how to access and evaluate various kinds of news and social media they see online and elsewhere as part of their regular curriculum.

That was among the 53 bills that Gov. JB Pritzker signed on Friday, July 9, bringing the total number of bills signed from the current General Assembly so far this year to 97.

House Bill 234 provides that starting in the 2022-2023 school year, all public high schools will provide a unit of instruction on media literacy that will include instruction on how to access information and evaluate the trustworthiness of its source; analyzing and evaluating media messages; creating media messages; assessing how media messages trigger emotions and behavior; and social responsibility.

The State Board of Education is tasked with preparing and distributing instructional resources and making professional learning opportunities available for educators.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, and Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago. It passed both chambers largely along party lines: 68-44 in the House, and 4215 in the Senate.

Another new law makes it illegal to import into Illinois, with the intent of selling, any body parts or products made from a long list of endangered and exotic species.

Illinois, like many states, has long banned

the importation of ivory and rhinoceros horns. Under House Bill 395, the list of animals whose parts or products are banned from being imported is expanded to include cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, great apes, hippopotami, jaguars, leopards, lions, monk seals, narwhals, pangolins, rays or sharks, rhinos, sea turtles, tigers, walruses, whales or any other species listed in the Convention on International Trade or listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Martin Moylan, D-Des Plaines, and Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora. It passed the House, 113-1, and the Senate, 57-0.

Illinois residents applying for admission to public colleges and universities in the state will no longer be required to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application starting in January 2022.

House Bill 226, known as the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, requires all public higher education institutions to adopt a “test optional” policy for admissions, meaning they may not require students to submit standardized test scores, but may allow students to do so if they choose.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, and Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Cahokia Heights. It passed the House, 109-8, and the Senate, 45-9.

Student athletes in both public and nonpublic schools are now allowed to alter their athletic or team uniforms for purposes of modesty, in

accordance with their religion, cultural values or modesty preferences.

House Bill 120, which was sponsored by Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, and Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, provides that modifications can include such things as hijabs, undershirts or leggings. Any modifications, however, may not interfere with the student’s movement or pose a safety hazard to the student or other athletes or players. There are also limits on how headgear can be modified.

Students who choose to modify their uniforms are responsible for all of the additional costs, unless the school chooses to cover the cost.

Drivers passing through school zones will have to slow down a little earlier on school days under another bill Pritzker signed into law.

House Bill 343, by Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, and Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, provides that special speed limits around schools will begin at 6:30 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. The new law takes effect immediately.

The bill passed both chambers unanimously.

High school seniors who are in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services can be assured that they will have appli-

Springfield news

cations for student financial aid filled out by the time they are ready to apply to college.

Senate Bill 63, by Sen. Robert Peters and Rep. Curtis Tarver, both Chicago Democrats, requires that, beginning in 2022, DCFS will ensure that every youth in care in Illinois who is entering their final year of high school, will complete a Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid or an application for state financial aid no later than Nov. 1 of their final year.

The bill passed both chambers unanimously. Children operating lemonade stands will no longer need to worry about first getting a permit.

Senate Bill 119, by Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, and Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, provides that neither the Department of Public Health nor any local health department or public health district may regulate the sale of lemonade, nonalcoholic drinks or mixed beverages by a person under the age of 16.

The new law has been dubbed “Hayli’s Law,” after a 12-year-old girl whose lemonade stand in Kankakee was shut down by local officials, according to an article on the Illinois Senate Democrats website.

The bill passed both chambers unanimously.

Cullerton celebrates signing of historic Asian American curriculum law

State Senator Tom Cullerton (D- Villa Park) commends Gov. JB Pritzker for signing the Teaching Equitable Asian American History Act, which will require public schools to highlight the contributions of Asian Americans and their culture throughout history.

“By passing the TEAACH Act, Illinois is acknowledging the importance of inclusion in our schools,” said Cullerton, who attended the bill-signing ceremony at Niles West High School in Skokie. “Students should see themselves reflected in their school curriculums, and that is exactly what this legislation will do for our Asian American students.”

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes and attacks on Asian Americans rose across the country, prompting advocacy groups and organizers to develop and champion this legislation over the past year.

There are more than 100,000 Asian American K-12 students in Illinois, and the new law will allow these students and their peers to gain a better understanding of the contributions and cultures of the Asian American community in the United States.

“I am proud to have supported this landmark law,” said Cullerton, who was a co-sponsor of the measure. “By teaching the children in our state a more inclusive history, we will inspire a more

equitable and open-minded future.”

The law, Public Act 102-0044, will go into effect during the 2022-23 school year.

Glowiak Hilton law ensures quality mental health resources for students

After passing the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support, a new law sponsored by State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) will improve student access to mental health education and resources by allowing partnerships between state agencies.

“As our schools recover from numerous pandemic-related challenges, our state must prioritize our students’ well-being,” Glowiak Hilton said. “To ensure children are receiving the best mental health services at school, this proposal allows two key state agencies to work together to improve prevention and treatment resources.”

An initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education, Glowiak Hilton’s law allows board officials to collaborate with the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) to give students access to a wider range of mental health resources at school.

In 2003, Illinois passed the Children’s Mental Health Act to create the ICMHP. The agency advocates for children and their mental health by promoting and ensuring access to services.

FEMA SUPPORTS FAMILIES WHO LOSTA LOVED ONETO COVID-19

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering qualified families assistance with funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020, due to the death of a loved one from COVID-19.

VISIT FEMA FOR FULL DETAILS

Visit the FEMA website for complete information about eligibility requirements, documentation you will be required to provide as part of your application, and how to start the application process.

WWW.FEMA.GOV/DISASTERS/CORONAVIRUS/ ECONOMIC/FUNERAL-ASSISTANCE