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Villa Park

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Christmas kick

Willowbrook High School’s dance team performed its Christmas kick routine during halftime of Friday night’s varsity boys basketball game. The members of Willowbrook’s dance program have performed their Christmas kick routine to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” annually for 20 years. Pictured (left to right) before Friday’s performance are: (front row) sophomore Ava Cappitelli, junior Michaela Meier, junior Katie Kramme, sophomore Nelly Irion, sophomore Sa-

Inside:

THURSDAY, DEC. 26, 2019

CHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa Park Review

Buying or Selling Your Home, call

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brina Corso, freshman Gianna Wiegel and junior Alexis Venegas; (back row) junior Natasha Daum, sophomore Olivia Ehrhardt, senior Gianna Irion, sophomore Coco Bernardi, senior Charlie Wozniak and junior Jessica McEllin. Willowbrook’s dance team competed at the 2019 IHSA competitive dance state meet in February. The team will try to earn a trip to the 2020 state meet when it performs at the Geneva Sectional in January.

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Police Reports...........5 Sports.....................19 Worship....................8 Classified................ 18

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2 • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 3

PROOF SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Bank earns BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics Pan American Bank & Trust has been selected as a recipient of the 2019 Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics in the category of 50 to 99 employees. Receiving a Torch Award from the BBB is an honor bestowed on select businesses that have excelled in marketplace excellence and integrity. Pictured are (from left): Michael White, Director; Benita Shah, vice president, director of office

from the

administration; Stella Gaytan, assistant vice president, office manager & business development officer; Nicholas S. Giuliano, Chairman; Frank C. Cerrone, president & CEO; Mary Schroeder, executive vice president, compliance officer; Wes Becton, director; and, Roberto Ramirez, director.

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4VP • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

The IndependenT Your Hometown Newspaper 240 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL. 60126

Village board approves sale of property, which could contain a cannabis dispensary If state awards license, Green Tide Ventures plans a dispensary on North Avenue site

Main Phone 630.834-8244 Fax 630.834-0900 The Independent is published every Thursday by Rock Valley Publishing, LLC, 240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126.

By Chris Fox VILLA PARK REVIEW STAFF REPORTER

The Villa Park Village Board held its final meeting of 2019 on Dec. 16.

At the end of the meeting, all seven board members voted to approve a resolution authorizing the contract for purchase and sale of the village-owned surplus property at 257277 E. North Ave., to Green Tide Ventures, LLC. Green Tide Ventures, which will pay $1.1 million for the property, intends to construct a cannabis dispensary at the site, which is located on the south side of North Avenue, west of Villa Avenue and east of Ellsworth

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Administration: Dee Longfellow News Coordinator Debra Hamilton Advertising Director Pete Cruger Publisher

Advertising: Brenda Garcia

Subscriptions: The Independent is mailed to the 60101, 60106 and 60181 zip code areas for $15.95 yearly. Out-of-area mail subscriptions are $29.95 yearly.

For home delivery information call 630.834-8244.

Reprints: Content appearing in the Independent may not be reprinted without permission of the publisher or editor.

Requests should be directed to Independent@rvpublishing.com or 630.834-8244.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: THE INDEPENDENT 240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126

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Drive merry, bright and sober this holiday season

With holiday festivities rapidly approaching, the Villa Park Police Department announced that it will participate in a national enforcement campaign to crack down on impaired and unbuckled drivers now through Jan. 2.

“While parties are an enjoyable part of the holiday season, we urge our community members to keep the merriment off the road,” said Sgt. James Cihak. “If your celebration will involve alcohol, please plan ahead for a sober ride home and remember to buckle up – it’s the best defense against an impaired driver.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 839 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver last December.

Throughout the 2018 Christmas and New Year’s holidays alone, there were 285 drunk-drivingrelated fatalities—more than any other time that year.

Keep these tips in mind to help ensure a safe and joyful holiday season: • Before you head to the party, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely.

• If available, use your community’s sober ride program.

• If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over and call 911.

• Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take their keys and help them get home safely.

• Always buckle up.

The Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is administered and funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Avenue.

If Green Tide Ventures is awarded a recreational cannabis license by the State of Illinois, it reportedly plans to construct a building between 10,000 to 20,000 square feet at the site. The dispensary would reportedly employ approximately 20 people.

According to information provided by the village, Green Tide Ventures estimates that the facility would generate annual revenues of $20 million.

Beginning Jan. 1, the sale, possession and use of recreational cannabis by adults 21 and older will be legal throughout Illinois, with various restrictions. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, signed earlier this year

by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, does not allow municipalities to prohibit private consumption of cannabis. Several factors concerning sales of cannabis, however, are within municipalities’ authority.

Board members voted 5-1 during the Oct. 28 meeting to allow for the sale of cannabis in commercial and light industrial districts—essential-

ly on North Avenue and Roosevelt Road.

According to state law, no two dispensaries may be located within 1,500 feet (a little more than a quarter of a mile) of each other. Village President Albert Bulthuis stated during the Dec. 16 meeting that there would probably be room for one more dispensary on North Avenue.

There could be room for one or two dispensaries on Roosevelt Road within the village, but the potential construction of dispensaries in neighboring Lombard and/or Oakbrook Terrace could limit the availability of sites in Villa Park.

By May 1, 2020, the state government will award licenses to 75 new dispensing locations in Illinois; 47 of those locations will be in the greater Chicagoland region, including Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, Kendall, Grundy, Lake and McHenry counties. Up to 500 licenses could be issued statewide by Jan. 1, 2022.

Bulthuis noted that if Green Tide Ventures did not receive a recreational cannabis license from the State of

Illinois, it would probably back out of the deal to purchase the property on North Avenue.

Villa Park Village Manager Rich Keehner noted during the meeting that the village still has the ability to market the property. If another buyer is located, Green Tide Ventures will have the first right to match the offer.

Keehner also said that the village is quite anxious to sell the site, put it on the property-tax rolls, and have it developed to provide a revenue stream to Villa Park.

Bulthuis said that the village bought the property a little more than a decade ago, just before the recession of 2008. Bulthuis said there was a building on the property. The village demolished the building with the hope to sell it, but no deals were ever reached.

Bulthuis added that if Green Tide Ventures receives a recreational cannabis license and plans to construct a dispensary on the North Avenue site, it would have to present its plans for the facility to the village’s planning and zoning commission.

Police contribute to food drive

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

The Villa Park Police Benevolent Association (VPPBA) assisted G.M. Smith & Son Realtors’ 2019 holiday food drive. Members of the Villa Park Police Department volunteered their time to collect donations outside of the Villa Park Jewel store on Saturday, Dec. 14. Shoppers donated over $1,000 in non-perishable food items, baby care items and gift cards. The donations were transported to G.M. Smith & Son Realtors’ office at 203 S. Villa Ave. They will be distributed to local food pantries. Pictured left to right during the Dec. 14 collection are: Sergeant Jim Cihak, Lieutenant Marc Bregman, Officer Kordell Kitching, Sergeant Todd Kubish and Officer Brandon Temesvary. Officer Kitching is the VPPBA’s current president.

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 5

Police Reports Area police departments recently reported the following arrests and citations. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Persons charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the privacy of victims.

Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not named.

Addison Dec. 16 Xavier J. Lopez, 21, of Addison, was charged with violation of an order of protection in the 800 block of College Blvd. at around 3:10 p.m.

Dec. 15 Alexis Mendoza, 22, of Lombard, was charged with DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage and no insurance subsequent to a crash near Rohlwing and Woodland at around 6:47 a.m.

A 25-year-old Chicago man was charged with domestic battery in the 1-100 block of N. Highview at around 1:13 a.m. Police said the suspect engaged in a physical altercation with a family member, and was escorted off the property by the police. He then returned to the residence and allegedly threw a punch

at the same victim, and they began Dec. 12 to struggle.

Theft was reported in the 1600 block of S. Michigan at around 12 Dec. 14 noon. Police said an unknown susAriel A. Rocha, 25, of Addison, pect took a package from the front was charged with unlawful posses- door of an apartment. The package sion of a controlled substance in the contained an Apple iPhone 11.

500 block of Stevens Drive at around A 44-year-old Villa Park woman 12:29 a.m. was charged with four counts of domestic battery in the 1-100 block of Dec. 13 W. Monroe at around 10:22 a.m.

A 26-year-old Addison man was charged with domestic battery in the Dec. 6-Dec. 12 700 block of E. Lake at around 7:40 Retail theft was reported at a lop.m. Police said the suspect struck a cal store. Police said an unknown victim across the face with an open suspect under-rang grocery items to hand. purchase while in the self-checkout A 57-year-old Addison man was sometime between 7:46 p.m. Dec. charged with domestic battery in the 6 and 9:24 a.m. Dec. 12 and left the 900 block of N. Rohlwing at around store without paying full market val11:53 p.m. Police said the suspect ue for the items. struck a victim on the face.

Dec. 11 Villa Park Latoya Johnson, 37, of Lombard, Dec. 13 was charged with retail theft at a local Santano Delgado, 34, of Elk store at around 10:34 p.m.

Grove Village, was charged with Criminal damage to property was illegal transportation of alcohol reported in the 300 block of N. Ardand two counts of DUI near Grand more at around 5:19 a.m. Police said an and York at around 11:30 p.m. unknown suspect threw an unknown Charles Jackson, 41, of Chica- object through the front window of a go, was charged with DUI and im- business and shattered the window. proper parking on a roadway near Washington and Yale at around Dec. 10 1:51 a.m.

Alan Clark, 39, of Elyria, Ohio,

was charged with disorderly conduct at Willowbrook High School at around 1:54 p.m.

A 34-year-old Villa Park woman was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 300 block of N. 2nd at around 10:19 p.m.

Retail theft was reported at a local store at around 5:25 p.m. Police said unknown suspects took video games from the display shelves and left the store without paying.

Dec. 9 Theft of mislaid property was reported at a local store at around 4:35 p.m. Police said an unknown suspect took a previous customer’s keys that were left unattended at self-checkout. The same suspect also removed items marked for sale and left the store without paying for the items.

Theft was reported at a local supermarket at around 5:35 p.m. Police said an unknown suspect took a purse that was left unattended in a shopping cart.

Dec. 8 Roman Osorio, 19, of Des Plaines, was charged with obstructing identification near St. Charles and Oakland at around 3:57 a.m.

Retail theft was reported at a local store at around 1:22 p.m. Police said

An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work. IDES maintains the state’s largest job search engine,

IllinoisJoblink.com (IJL), to help connect jobseekers to employers who are hiring, which recently showed 61,090 posted resumes with 94,206 jobs available.

Holiday wishes.

Stolper Insurance Agency Inc Brian D Stolper, President 447 N York Street Elmhurst, IL 60126 Business: 630-832-0182

Dec. 5 Retail theft was reported at a local store. Police said an unknown suspect took two Dyson® vacuums from the display shelf and left the store without paying for the items sometime between 1:07 and 1:22 p.m.

Orthodontic U P DAT E

Orthodontic U P DAT E

by Jeffrey T. Boland

THE BENEFITS OF SELF-LIGATING BRACES

Self-ligating braces may be a bit more thanT. traditional braces, byexpensive Jeffrey Boland butLicensed the advantages they provide make Orthodontic Specialist the extra cost worth it for many people.

Self-ligating braces do not require elastic bands to hold the archwire in place, using the bracket itself instead.

This shortens visits to the orthodontist and eliminates the discomfort the bands often cause. In fact, this can also reduce the friction and force required to move the teeth, making the overall process more comfortable. Rubber bands are also notorious for trapping food, which can lead to excess plaque buildup and bad breath. It has also been shown that selfligating braces have a shorter treatment time than traditional braces, often being removed up to six months sooner.

Self-ligating braces are easier to keep clean due to the lack of elastic, rubber, or metal ties, but taking time to brush and floss is still a necessary part of your daily routine. Abstaining from sugar, hard foods, food and drink that can stain teeth, and highly acidic food and drinks should also be avoided. Call our office to schedule an appointment. Available by appointment, we honor all kinds of insurance and charge zero interest on our financing. Straighter Smiles Are Our Specialty!

May the magic of the season bring you peace, love and joy.

Happy Holidays to an incredible community!

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P.S. Although self-ligating braces are available with clear brackets, a metal wire is still visible across the teeth, so they are not fully transparent.

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State Farm Bloomington, IL

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build a foundation for long-term job growth. From a new bipartisan capital bill to pension reform and a raise in the minimum wage, this administration is working towards its goal of fostering an environment for businesses and working people to thrive in.”

“During his first year in office, Governor Pritzker made addressing the needs of the state’s workforce and business community a top priority” said Erin Guthrie, acting director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “Thanks to the passage of a new capital plan and landmark legislation like an increased minimum wage, Illinois is back on the path to economic stability.”

Compared to a year ago, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 40,600 jobs with the largest gains in: Leisure and Hospitality (18,100), Educational and Health Services (14,700), and Government (11,400).

The industry sectors with the largest over-the-year declines were: Construction (-4,000), Professional and Business Services (2,300) and Information (1,400). Illinois nonfarm payrolls were up 0.7 percent over-the-year as compared to the nation’s 1.5 percent over-the-year gain in November.

The number of unemployed workers decreased from the prior month, 2.0 percent to 246,000, a new record low, and was down 10.8 percent over the same month for the prior year.

The labor force was down 0.1 percent over-the-month but up 0.4 percent over-the-year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.

Dec. 7 Retail theft was reported at a local store at around 6:33 p.m. Police said an unknown suspect took several bottles of cologne/perfume from the display shelf and left the store without paying.

Licensed Orthodontic Specialist

Illinois unemployment rate falls to new historical low in November The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced recently that the unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent, a new historical low, while nonfarm payrolls lost—17,200 jobs in November, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The October monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report from 1,900 to 8,300 jobs.

The state’s unemployment rate is 0.3 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for November 2019, which was 3.5 percent and down 0.1 percentage points from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was down 0.5 percentage points from a year ago when it was 4.3 percent.

Illinois payroll employment has shown variability since the beginning of the year, as have national payrolls.

Average payroll employment in Illinois during the September to November three-month period, which provides a more stable measure of payroll employment change, was about unchanged, down 100 jobs, compared to the August to October three-month period. The largest average gains were found in Government (+1,800), Educational and Health Services (1,700), and Leisure and Hospitality (1,200).

“With unemployment at a record low, this administration remains committed to strengthening Illinois’ economy and implementing policies that lift up working families,” said Deputy Gov. Dan Hynes. “Governor Pritzker has taken historic actions this year to

unknown suspects removed BB guns from a display and left the store with the items without paying for them.

6 • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

Researchers suggest more state funding for schools would help lower property taxes

By Peter Hancock

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

A pair of researchers are suggesting the best way to reduce property taxes in Illinois is for the state to take over a greater share of funding for public schools and consolidate some units of local government.

Frank Manzo, policy director at the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, and Robert Bruno, director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, argue in a new report that such a plan would not only hold down future property tax hikes, but it would actually help create jobs and stimulate the state’s economy.

“There have been previous commissions on this issue since the 1980s,” Manzo said in an interview.

“Four of them, in fact, and all four unanimously found that really meaningful property tax relief for homeowners would require more state funding for public education. And in three of the four task forces, local government consolidation was also directly or indirectly called for. But these are structural problems that have frankly only deepened since those reports.”

Illinois lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1932 earlier this year establish-

ing a bipartisan Property Tax Relief Task Force. It was part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s so-called “fair tax” package that also included a proposed constitutional amendment allowing the state to levy a multi-tiered “graduated” income tax in which people would pay higher rates on higher levels of income. Voters will decide on that amendment in the November 2020 elections.

Pritzker has said he wants part of the new revenue from a graduated tax—estimated at about $3 billion a year—to go toward local property tax relief by raising the current property tax credit that property owners can take on their income taxes.

But in their report, which they shared with Capitol News Illinois ahead of its public release, Manzo and Bruno argue that the state’s current property tax system and its school funding system are structurally flawed.

Specifically, they point to the fact that property taxes account for twothirds of school funding in Illinois while the state pays only about 27 percent, or about half the national average.

They also point to the state’s Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, or PTELL, which allows automatic

property tax increases each year, but also caps those increases at the rate of inflation or 5 percent, whichever is less, thus preventing many local governments, and especially school districts, from raising the revenue they need.

Their proposal is to raise the state’s contribution to public education by $5 billion over four years.

That would be in addition to the increased funding that comes through the state’s new Evidence Based Funding formula, which calls for an added $350 million for education funding each year.

The new money would be distributed proportionately to all 852 school districts, effectively covering their future increases under the PTELL law and enabling them to hold their property taxes flat for four years.

That plan could be paid for, they argue, through the proposed graduated income tax, a new tax on retirement income over $100,000 and savings that could be achieved by consolidating township governments.

“It is not only good for education, for children growing up and going to school in this state,” Bruno said.

“But it also happens to have the added benefit of taking the burden properly off of local property owners,

and shifting, modestly, some of that additional responsibility to the state, where it actually exists everywhere else in the country but in Illinois. So I think you can make an argument— and I think you can make a winning argument—that this is where the investment needs to be going.”

In their report, Manzo and Bruno note that Illinoisans pay the seventh-highest property tax rates in the country and that roughly two-thirds of all property taxes go to school districts.

Average Illinois homeowners pay 7.4 percent of their income on property taxes, compared to just 4.95 percent in income taxes.

They also argue that property taxes are regressive because lower-income homeowners have much more of their total personal wealth invested in their home than upper-income people. According to the report, a household earning $35,000 per year, for example, pays on average 10 percent of their taxable income in property taxes, compared to 7 percent for someone earning $75,000 a year, and just 1 percent for people with yearly incomes over $1 million.

Using economic modeling formulas, Manzo and Bruno estimate the net impact of increasing the state’s

investment in education and holding down school district property taxes would be to grow the Illinois economy by about $1.2 billion and adding up to 14,000 new jobs.

Consolidating townships, they suggest, would have a smaller impact, lowering property tax bills by 0.4 percent, adding $11 million to the economy and producing about 100 new jobs.

An alternative, they argue, was reflected this year in House Bill 320, which would have extended PTELL to all local governments, including home rule jurisdictions. It also would have unilaterally cut property tax levies by 10 percent below their 2018 level and then would have frozen property tax levies after that.

“Local governments would have been forced to slash spending on essential services by $3 billion annually,” Manzo and Bruno wrote in their report. “Although property tax relief would produce an economic stimulus, it would be completely offset by the cuts to long-term public investments—shrinking Illinois’ economy by $2 billion and 27,000 jobs.”

Manzo and Bruno said they do not yet know what will be in the task force’s final report, which is due to be released by Dec. 31.

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A Festive Finale and a Happy New Beginning! from our family to yours, best wishes all around!

We thank you for your friendship and support.

We have graciously served our community for 65 years and we are grateful for all of our clients since 1954. We wish all our clients a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year in 2020!!

DR GARY MAVES DR MARY FELT DR NICOLE DIGIACOMO DR ALLISON ROBERTS DR CHRIS OBRADOVICH DR NICOLLETTA CUTHBERT

Rock Valley Publishing

The Elmhurst Independent, Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent and Villa Park Review

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Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 7 364357

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Happy New Year from Lezza Bakery & Gelateria!

It was a pleasure serving you in 2019 and we’re really excited for 2020!

The weather outside may be frightful but it’s sure delightful at Lezza’s! And if you have no place to go... stop in and we’ll warm you with our fresh baked treats and hot coffee and cocoa.

We have a whole calendar planned for the New Year and January will be spectacular! Be sure to stop in early and often to see what’s NEW!

Thank You To All Our Loyal Customers!

May the New Year bring you prosperity in every way.

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8 • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

Pritzker signs pension consolidation bill into law

By Jerry Nowicki

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

A new law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker Dec. 18 will consolidate 649 downstate and suburban police and firefighter pension funds into just two.

Pritzker signed the measure, passed in the recent fall veto session, in Chicago and hailed it as an initiative 70 years in the making.

“Bipartisanship in this General Assembly has achieved what none of their predecessors have been able to do: consolidate the (nearly) 650 downstate and suburban pension funds to just two, amplifying their investment power and reducing the burden on property taxpayers,” Pritzker said in a news release. “Working together, we are helping hundreds of

cities in Illinois alleviate their spiraling property tax burdens, and just as importantly, we’re showing that Illinois can tackle its most intractable problems.”

The governor’s office said Senate Bill 1300, the legislation he signed Wednesday, will leverage “$15 billion in assets—$8.7 billion in the police fund and $6.3 (billion) in the fire fund—to increase investment returns and lower management costs.” It estimated the new law would create greater returns from $820 million to $2.5 billion over the next five years, and “billions more over the next 20 years.”

The bill passed with broad bipartisan support by tallies of 96-14 in the House and 42-12 in the Senate.

It was also supported by the As-

sociated Fire Fighters of Illinois, the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police and the Illinois Municipal League, a statewide organization that represents local communities throughout Illinois “Consolidating the assets of the … downstate public safety pension funds throughout Illinois will help provide stronger investment returns for active and retired public safety employees and reduce redundant administrative costs on Illinois’ taxpayers,” IML Executive Director Brad Cole said in a release. “This is a good first step forward on the complicated and comprehensive issue of pension reform.”

Despite bipartisan support, detractors, including several Republicans, opposed a provision that retroactively enhances benefits for so-called

“Tier 2” employees — those hired after Jan. 1, 2011, when the state implemented new retirement systems with substantially lower benefits.

Several pension experts, however, have said the provision was necessary because many of those positions are not covered by Social Security.

That’s allowed under federal law known as a “safe harbor” provision, but only if the benefits are at least as generous as what Social Security would pay.

The governor’s office said the new law “brings Tier 2 pensions into compliance to avoid future additional liabilities, which is estimated to cost $70 to $95 million while projected investment gains can generate an additional $820 million to $2.5 billion.”

Rep. Mark Batinick, a Plainfield

Republican who serves as minority spokesperson on the House Personnel and Pensions Committee, praised the passage of the bill in a news release.

“Our state’s broken pension system has been a heavy weight on the backs of Illinois taxpayers,” Batinick said. “With today’s bill signed into law I can proudly say that we are providing relief to our hardworking residents. This was a significant bipartisan reform effort that will make positive change. The work is not done on pensions, but today we can all celebrate this success.”

The bill was a recommendation of the Illinois Pension Consolidation Feasibility Task Force, which is a body Pritzker created early in February.

Worship Services Directory

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Call...Brenda at 630-834-4450 339603

Christian Congregation Church

St. Alexander Parish

300 S Cornell Avenue, Villa Park, IL 630-833-7730

Individual Confessions: Saturdays at 4:00pm and Los Domingos a las 5:30pm en Español

Celebrating 25 years in Wood Dale

Worship: Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Saturday Worship at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday Worship at 9 a.m.

We invite you to join us in Worship Services on Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

See our website for details on Traditional and Contemporary Services.

New Year’s Day Mass: 9:00am

We are a family friendly non-denominational Bible church with an outreach in your neighborhood!

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This is Villa Park. The impeachment of Trump was inevitable because of his own character and the personality that drives him to love dictators and seek foreign help in his 2020 campaign. Now that the House has found him worthy of removal, with the flaws that got him to this point, namely his complete lack of humility, complete lack of integrity, his self-absorption, and all his lies to the American people will keep him on his destructive path. He will not be stopped by this impeachment.

Instead he will be ramped up by the same cruelty and chaos he does so well. Extreme defiance is the Trump method. Whatever others find appalling in him he defends and then does some more. Thank you. *** I found it interesting how the Democrats and the left throughout this impeachment charade say they needed to impeach Trump because no one is above the law, and they stand with the Constitution and the Founding Fathers. This is the same bunch that wants to get rid of the Electoral College because they can’t accept that Trump won, gut the Second Amendment, overhaul and expand the Supreme Court, and grant amnesty and voting rights to millions of people who’ve broken immigration laws by being here illegally. The left saying they are standing with the Founding Fathers is the biggest crock of all. They usually have nothing but contempt for the Founding Fathers because they were white men, and many of them were slave owners. *** I really hope people realize that

Obituaries

Marga C. Nordman, 81 Marga C. Nordman, nee Wangerin, 81, of Lisle, formerly of Villa Park, at rest Dec. 18, 2019. Beloved wife of Ronald for 62 years.

Loving mother of Michael (Hazel), Mark (Diane), and Ronny (Fontaine) Nordman. Cherished grandmother of Lyntria, Marga, Victoria, Sarah, Matthew, Joshua, David, Nicholas, Alexander, and Bella. Great grandmother of Amaya, A.J., Emily, and Russell. Loving sister-in-law of Bea and Helen (Bud). Many loving nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.

Marga was a longtime and very active member of Trinity Lutheran

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 9VP

the news they are getting is one-sided and left-leaning. It is a shame you can no longer trust that there is unbiased reporting. Most media outlets have consolidated and are owned and operated by left-leaning ideologies. The problem is we have become a headline society that does no examination. Please wake up. *** Regarding the Dec. 12 Speak Out on Pamela Karlan’s impeachment testimony; I would ask if the author is concerned about the sham that is Donald Trump. He was a sham when he called John McCain a loser for getting shot down and spending five years in the Hanoi Hilton while he got five deferments; and then ridiculed the family of Army Capt. Humayun Kahn because he was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. He was a sham when he admitted to assaulting women; and then mocked a disabled reporter who spoke ill of him. He was a sham when his scam university settled out of court for $25 million to avoid being charged with fraud; and didn’t pay the $6 million he had pledged to veterans’ groups. He was a sham when he said that the violence prone neo-Nazis in Charlottesville were good people; said a rival’s wife was ugly; and took a sharpie to an NWS map to include Alabama in the path of a hurricane. He was a sham when he mocked a 16-year old for being on the cover of a magazine.

And you’re bothered by a joke about the difference between Barron and a baron? *** To the Speak Out responding to my Dec. 12 post; bully for you for

catching my wordplay on your Speak Out. Double kudos for noticing that I did not provide an honest rebuttal.

I’m guessing that you were too busy drinking from the nonsense flavored Kool-Aid of Fox News to notice that I agreed with everything you said by using your own words. And to the other Speak Out who argued that Obama was corrupt; I might want to ask, who was impeached? The Founding Fathers did a fantastic job of building in checks and balances to keep a con-man president in check.

Now if you’ll excuse me there’s a porn star I’m having an affair with I need to pay off with my campaign funds. *** Woke Democrat here. Yes, Southern Democrats did little to advance the cause of civil and voting rights after Reconstruction. This changed in the Truman administration, when Harry ordered the military integrated, starting the beginning of many civil rights and voting rights movements supported by the Democrats.

The Southern Democrats were so incensed by this, a group spearheaded by Sen. Strom Thurmond started a third party with Thurmond as their presidential candidate. They were called Dixiecrats. After winning 2.5 percent of the vote they had nowhere to go—except to the Republican Party. Their legacy lives on today, with the Republican Party championing voter suppression, gerrymandering

and redistricting. They even have their own Fake News cable network.

Like the Republicans of the 1950s who were looking for Communists everywhere, this bunch blames a phony “Deep State” working deep within the government to undermine their efforts. Oh, and regarding the last election where Trump lost the popular vote by just under 3 million to Hillary Clinton, just remember the Electoral College is the only place in the U.S. where a loser can win. It’s time for that to go. *** As a kid, I knew the story, but could never understand why the government of Superman’s home world would ignore the science and let the planet be destroyed. As a senior, I see the story being played out in the real world in real time. As a senior, I also see a reality TV star take the presidency, make countless false or misleading statements and slavishly serve the whims of a Russian dictator while the Grand Old Party—the party of Eisenhower and Lincoln—zealously defends him, because holding power is more important than Truth, Justice or the American Way. I don’t know what Superman would do, but I am leaving the party. *** People really should pay attention to what other countries have tried and failed at. There seems to be a large contingent looking at socialistic policies and these have failed every time

they were tried. There was a push for open borders and it has failed miserably in Germany and France. We don’t need this far left way of thinking as it has destroyed everything it has touched in the long run. *** Good afternoon. In response to my disillusioned Bears fan, I said eventually we might have a 1985 Bears team. But hey, wasn’t that a sweet win over the Cowboys? Never give up, never surrender. *** Here’s something to think about, Chicago sports fans. None of our five major sports teams—the Bears, the Cubs, the Hawks, the Bulls and the White Sox—made the playoffs this year. Here’s hoping 2020 is not a repeat of 2019 for our sports teams. *** Nancy Pelosi and many of the Democratic leftists in Congress should be nominated for Academy Awards by their leftist buddies in Hollywood for their performances.

So many expressed how sad and somber they were, voting to impeach with a heavy heart. I couldn’t stop laughing every time I saw these imposters on TV. Then Pelosi had to shut them up when they started cheering after the first article of impeachment was passed. They’re not fooling anybody. They’ve all been waiting to impeach Trump since the day he was inaugurated.

Church in Lombard. A Memorial Visitation and Service were held on Saturday Dec. 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard. For more information, call (630) 964-9392 or visit blake-lambfuneralhome.com.

Nancy C. Schielke, 85 Nancy C. Schielke, nee Thomas, of Lombard, formerly of Villa Park, passed away recently at the age of 85.

Beloved wife of the late LeRoy. Loving mother of Randy (Colleen) and Nancy Schielke. Cherished grandmother of Amber Schielke. Also survived by her beloved canine companion “Sox.” Funeral service was held Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Steuerle Funeral Home, 350 S. Ardmore Avenue, Villa Park. 10:30 a.m. Interment at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Addison. Info: 1-630-832-4161.

Inaugural Winterpalooza held

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Organizers of the Salt Creek School District 48’s Winterpalooza held on Saturday, Dec. 7, brought back some “old school” carnival games like target throwing, rubber ducks and miniature golf, as demonstrated here. See story on page 16.

10 • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

Rock Valley Publishing

Viewpoint

Dec. 26, 2019 • 10

Crossword Puzzle Answers

Slices of life

Good grief

Grief is not a law-abiding citizen.

It is a renegade, an ever-changing beast. Grief is a labyrinth. Expecting it to follow a straightforward path is like expecting water to run uphill. It just isn’t going to happen.

You experience it once, twice even four or five times and you are no more prepared to experience it again than you were when you were a grief virgin.

It’s always new. That’s the awful magic of grief – all magic aside, of course.

This is because no grief is the same. Not ever. Each time we grieve it is different and unique because our losses are different and unique.

And the person we are when this loss occurs is different and unique.

We are as ever changing as grief.

There is no more figuring it out than you can figure yourself out. Truth.

But there are those imposters who believe they know our grief. Don’t let them fool you. They don’t know.

Not really. Not at all. They lurk around the corner, posing as family or friend, telling us how we should experience our unique and personal grief. They are more common than you’d expect; I can’t believe they still exist. But they do.

They tell us to “get over it” or “it’s been long enough now” or “stop talking about it; it will only make you feel worse” or “I know exactly how you feel because I’ve been though the exact same thing.”

By

JILL PERTLER Contributer

All wrong.

Grief is personal. Your grief will never be the same as mine and vice versa. No one can tell you how you feel – much less how you should feel. No one can set a time limit on your grief. It is hurtful and insensitive to do so.

I know this because I am challenged in the grief arena.

I’ve been blessed to escape most grief (so far) but the stuff I’ve experienced has thrown me for a loop. I’m no good at grief. I’m sure most people think this same thought, but compared to other people I’m pretty sure I stink at grief.

I lost my mom nine years ago. I still have difficulty remembering the fun times with her. The laughter.

The love. Her smile. Instead I remember the Alzheimer’s and her asking, “Who are you?” when I entered her kitchen.

I don’t speak about this publicly.

It isn’t something people want to hear. It’s been nine years, after all.

Why can’t I get over it?

Grief takes courage to forge

through on your own terms. Grief takes courage period, while making you feel just about anything but courageous. Grief sucks.

But grief means we have loved and been loved. Grief means we have participated in life. Grief means the life we lived contained something substantial and something worth losing. Without loss and the grief it brings, life would lack meaning and value.

Nothing worth anything is gained without a considerable amount of energy and love. Grief comes from both.

Just about all of us will all grieve at some point. And this grief does have one universal truth: It means we have loved someone or something outside ourselves. It means we have let someone inside our inner circle to be a part of our lives and when they no longer occupy that space, when they are no longer on this earth, we are sad because at the moment they left this earth a piece of us left with them.

This is the emptiness called grief. But at the same time, it is the fullness called love.

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

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 11

Make tax season as merry as your holidays with year-end tax planning strategies

Capitalize on retirement planning Tax-deductible contributions to traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be made up until the April 15, 2020 filing deadline.

And for the 2019 tax year, the maximum 401(k) or 403(b) contribution is $19,000, and investors ages 50-and-older may contribute an additional $6,000. Roth IRA contributions shouldn’t be overlooked. While not tax deductible, future withdrawals are tax-free.

Consider medical expenses The threshold for medical expense deductions increased to 10 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2019 and could go up more in 2020. If your total medical spending will fall short of your 10-percent-of-AGI threshold for this year, consider whether you can accelerate

some expenses into this year or defer others to next year (another form of bunching) to have a better chance of taking a medical expense deduction.

Get ‘schooled’ on education tax breaks If you are a parent or grandparent, you can take the American Opportunity Tax Credit (worth up to $2,500 per student) for your students who are in their first four years of college or other post high-school education. Another education tax credit is the Lifetime Learning Credit of up to $2,000, which is not limited to undergraduates or full-time students.

Navigate the ‘kiddie tax’ Children’s unearned income over $2,200 is taxed at trust and estate tax rates, which may result in higher taxes than if the same income was taxed at individual tax rates. If your child is under age 19, or is a full-time student under age 24, and both your child and you meet certain qualifications, you can elect to report your child’s income on your tax return, which could reduce overall taxes depending on the level of reported income.

Avoid gift taxes For 2019, you can make a tax-deductible charitable contribution of up to $15,000 ($30,000 for married couples) without it being considered a taxable gift. That also includes paying someone’s school tuition or medical expenses, but payments must be made directly to the service provider to qualify.

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As the clock ticks down to the new year, time is running out for taking advantage of tax planning strategies, like these from the Illinois CPA Society, that may extend your holiday joy well into 2020.

Bunch your charitable contributions Accelerating your charitable contributions is known as a “bunching” strategy, where taxpayers combine two or more years’ worth of charitable contributions into one tax year to take advantage of a higher tax-deduction than what the standard deduction would offer. The following year, that taxpayer would take the standard deduction, receiving a larger tax break over a two-year cycle than taking the standard deduction each year.

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Addison Trail holds holiday concert

This holiday season, Addison Trail has gotten into the spirit with several festive events. On Dec. 4, the sounds of music filled the gym at Addison Trail during the school’s annual Holiday Benefit Concert, pictured here. The event featured more than 20 pieces performed by Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir,

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Treble Choir, Beginning Mixed Choir, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble. Alumni singers and instrumentalists also were invited to come on stage for a performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus. A portion of the proceeds raised during the concert ($1,000) will be donated to the Reynaga family to help cover medical costs.

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Elmhurst Symphony presents ‘Mozart Magic’ Enjoy an afternoon of glorious music when the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Stephen Alltop, continues its 2019-20 season with two opportunities to hear a concert of dazzling favorites, on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2:30 p.m. at Mayslake Peabody Estate and again on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m. at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church.

“Mozart Magic” features stellar instrumentalists from the Elmhurst

Symphony who will play Mozart’s Serenade in C minor, Divertimento in F major, Serenade in E-flat major, and the composer’s well-loved Ave verum corpus presented by the Symphony strings in a surround-sound performance. Also on the program is Igor Stravinsky’s Octet.

The concerts are underwritten in part with generous gifts from Tim and Carol Rounds (Mozart’s Serenades in C minor and E-flat major), Elaine Libovicz (Mozart’s Diverti-

mento and Stravinsky’s Octet), and an anonymous donor (Mozart’s Ave verum corpus) in honor of ESO Executive Director, Cynthia Bergquist Krainc.

Tours of the Mayslake mansion will be available for $5 per person from 1-2 p.m. before the concert on Jan. 11.

At the Jan. 26 concert at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, a bake sale to benefit the Youth Outreach programs of the ESO will be held

during intermission.

Mayslake Peabody Estate is located at 1717 W. 31st Street in Oak Brook. Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church is located at 149 W. Brush Hill Rd. in Elmhurst. Both venues have accessible parking and facilities; parking is free.

The concert experience at ECRC is enhanced by the informative and lively discussion, Behind the Music Stand, led by audience favorite Dr. Ted Hatmaker, which takes place at 1:45 p.m. prior to the concert.

Single concert tickets range from $12 to $32. Group and family rates are also available. Visit elmhurstsymphony.org or call the Box Office at 630-941-0202 for tickets and information.

The 59th season of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra is made possible in part by grants from the City of Elmhurst, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and 90.9FM WDCB, Chicago’s Home for Jazz.

Keep Your Family Warm & Comfortable This Winter SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Stephen Alltop, will perform on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2:30 p.m. at Mayslake Peabody Estate and again on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m., at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church. Here, they are pictured at Mayslake.

Explore ways to volunteer at Du Page Forest Preserve Open house, information session scheduled for Jan. 11, Jan. 30

Make a resolution to volunteer in 2020 by attending the DuPage Forest Preserve District’s Volunteer Open House on Saturday, Jan.11, and Volunteer Information Session on Thursday, Jan. 30, both at District headquarters at 3S5800 Naperville Road in Wheaton.

The Jan. 11 open house runs from 9 a.m. to noon and will showcase the Forest Preserve District’s 50 volunteer opportunities in 10 different volunteer programs. A PowerPoint presentation at 10 a.m. will highlight each program, but attendees can talk to current volunteers and staff members throughout the event. The one-hour information session on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. will feature a general overview of volunteer opportunities.

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Forest Preserve District volunteers introduce school groups and families to nature, bring history to life, and care for animals. They restore critical habitats and help visitors explore forest preserve trails and discover new outdoor activities such as archery, kayaking and geocaching.

Adults, junior volunteers and families can choose from weekly, monthly and one-time opportunities. Scout groups, church groups, corporations and community organizations can coordinate group workdays that bring members together through shared accomplishments.

For more details on volunteering with the Forest Preserve District, call Volunteer Services at 630-933-7233.

Transplant Life Illinois will be holding a Trivia night fundraiser at the Addison VFW Hall on Friday, Jan. 17 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Transplant Life Illinois is made up of transplant recipients, living donors and donor families and is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit which advocates for organ and tissue donation in Illinois. Funds raised at the event will help Transplant Life Illinois members participate in the Donate Life National Transplant Games of America to be held in New Jersey July 17-July 22, 2020. At the Games every two years, Transplant Life Illinois raises awareness for organ and tissue donation, honors the donors who selflessly made the de-

cision to give life, and demonstrates the transformative healing power of transplant.

Trivia will be provided by Chicago Trivia Guys and food by DiLeo’s of Elmhurst. Tickets are $35 per person and include food, non-alcoholic beverages, dessert and trivia. Cash bar and 50/50 raffles will also be available. Team sizes of up to eight are welcome and prizes will be awarded to the winning teams.

Come out and support a good cause and test your trivia knowledge against the 2016 and 2018 National Transplant Games Gold Medal trivia team members. For more information and to register, visit goteamillinois.org

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 15

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: ANCIENT HISTORY 19. *Between Stone Age and Bronze Age 21. Concentration equalizing process 23. *E in BCE 24. Youngster 25. *The Romans built one at Bath’s hot springs 28. Make like a cat 30. Mountain cover

35. Instinctive motive 37. “General Hospital,” e.g.

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40. Lose coat 41. Upside down frown 43. Original thought 44. Not odds 46. Distinctive elegance 47. Feeling great delight 48. Mr. Selfridge’s sphere of expertise 50. Green-eyed monster 52. *Early christogram Chi ____ 53. In the back 55. Granola grain 57. *Italian city, Mount Vesuvius’ victim 61. *Pharaoh’s resting place 65. Tear-jerker 66. *The ____ Peoples, attackers of ancient Egypt 68. *Infamous Athens’ legislator 69. Continental money 70. Lincoln lumber 71. Itsy-bitsy bits 72. Pre-Soviet Russian ruler 73. Opposite of WSW

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CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Student art display

Willowbrook students’ artwork recently filled Villa Park’s Funky Java Coffee House. Funky Java, located at 40 S. Villa Ave., has hosted a weeklong display featuring the school’s artists for 16 years. The artists who created work for this year’s display included senior Andrea Mendoza, who is shown above near her ceramic piece of a mermaid. Another photo (top right) shows junior Annika Schramek, who is standing near her computer-generated graphic design highlighting the city of Seattle. Also pictured are sophomore Misbah Kaludi (middle right) and senior Jaqueline Hernandez (bottom right).

Inaugural Winterpalooza held at Salt Creek District 48 Nostalgic event created by alums Four Salt Creek School District 48 alums fondly remember the Christmas Carnival each year when they were growing up in Salt Creek Schools. It was a time when the whole community came together and where they made lifelong friends.

Now in the present day, the four have re-created the favorite event for the current school community.

“We got to talking and reminiscing, and we just thought ‘let’s do it’ and let’s see if we can create those same memories for this generation,” said Tracy Schellhorn, who is both a teacher’s aide in the District and a current parent.

She and the three other alums planned Winterpalooza. It was held Saturday, Dec. 7 and featured carnival games, a holiday shop, free prize drawings, an auction and a pancake breakfast. Dozens of parents and staff volunteered and hundreds of alums, current District 48 families, community members and others attended the event.

“It was everything we had hoped it to be,” said Jessica Lindeen, who was one of the four alums who planned the event.

Lindeen graduated from Albright in 2003 and is now a teacher’s aide at Salt Creek Primary School preschool.

“It was amazing to see the District 48 community come together for such a great cause—our kids,” she added.

The two other alums are Laura Miller and Kate Beckwith. Kate works at Albright as an administrative assistant. Kate, Laura and Tracy are also all parents in the District.

In addition, they were aided by an army of volunteers—14 Willowbrook High School sophomores who ran the carnival games, 38 District staff members who made pancakes and volunteered to serve, and dozens of other teachers, staff, parents and community members.

The event raised more than $6,000 from the breakfast, raffle, auction and holiday shop.

Ongoing event Lions Park being prepared for ice skating

Villa Park∙ Parks and Recreation staff is preparing Lions Park, 320 E. Wildwood, for ice skating. The weather must cooperate with a minimum of a week of sub-freezing temperatures for the ice to be ready for skating. Skating will also be available at Jefferson Park, 341 N. Harvard; just east of Jefferson Pool. Jefferson Park’s ice rink is due to be ready for skating after Jan. 1. Please dress for the cold weather as there are no shelter facilities or restroom facilities. Note the flags flying at the ice rink: green flag flying indicates rink is open; red flag indicates a closed rink. The Parks and Recreation Department owns two sets of “Pond Goals” and one set of Mini-Mite goals available for weekend rental at $10 per set for a Friday pickup and Monday return. Rentals are done at the Iowa Community Center, 338 N. Iowa. You must leave a copy of your driver’s license or state ID to rent the goals. For more information and for ice readiness updates, call 630-8348970.

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 17

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18 • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

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

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Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 19

Rock Valley Publishing

Sports Dec. 26, 2019 • 19

Willowbrook girls basketball team records two conference wins

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

The Willowbrook girls basketball team racked up two West Suburban Gold Conference victories last week to improve its conference record to 5-1.

In a 69-10 devastation of Hinsdale South on Dec. 17, Willowbrook led 22-0 after the first quarter and 29-5 at halftime.

The Warriors outscored the Hornets 24-0 in the third quarter to increase the lead to 53-5.

Senior K’Aliyha Herron led the Warriors with 17 points. Junior Stephanie Dasbach added 15 points. Junior Lindsey King added nine points by making three shots from 3-point range in the fourth quarter. Juniors Olivia Sobieszczyk and Abbey Spada both scored seven points.

Herron had seven of the Warriors’ 22 steals in the home game against Hinsdale South.

The Warriors improved their conference record to 5-1 with Friday’s 5938 win at Morton.

Herron scored 19 points and made four steals. She shot 8-for-12 from the field.

Dasbach provided 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. She made eight of 10 field-goal attempts. Junior Annemarie Knudtson added seven points to go with six assists and three steals. Spada scored four points and handed out seven assists.

The Warriors dropped to 8-5 overall after Saturday’s 53-40 non-conference loss at Elk Grove. Willowbrook held a 14-13 lead after one quarter, but trailed 26-23 at halftime.

Elk Grove led the Warriors 38-30 after three quarters.

Dasbach finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. She made six of eight attempts from the field. Herron, who made six of 11 field-goal attempts, scored 14 points. She also contributed seven rebounds and three steals.

The Warriors are playing in this week’s 16team Bill Neibch Holiday Classic at Wheaton North High School.

Wrestling The Willowbrook wrestling team had a good showing at the Rex Whitlatch Invitational, which took place Friday and Saturday. Hinsdale Central hosted the invitational, which is regarded as one of the strongest tournaments in the state.

Eight of 11 Willowbrook wrestlers made it to the second day of competition.

Zach Seymore took fourth for the Warriors, while Elijah Brockie was fifth and Wyatt Borri ended in seventh place.

In earlier action, Willowbrook fared well at the Conant Invitational. John Peterson finished first, while Samantha Williams also finished first in the girls division of the tournament.

Other top Willowbrook finishers included Gabe Yu, Seymore, David Kapica and Borri each logging second-place finishes.

Brockie took third, while Vinny Suehiro and Nick Mabutas both finished fourth. David Arrowsmith took fifth.

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Senior K’Aliyha Herron (No. 15-above) and junior Stephanie Dasbach (No. 30-left) led Willowbrook’s girls basketball in scoring during last week’s three games. Herron and Dasbach scored 17 and 15 points, respectively, in last week’s 69-10 West Suburban Gold Conference win over Hinsdale South. The two Warriors are pictured during that victory. Herron scored 19 points in Friday’s 59-38 conference win at Morton. Dasbach added 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Warriors finished the week with Saturday’s 53-40 non-conference loss at Elk Grove. Dasbach scored 15 points, while Herron provided 14 points. Saturday’s loss sent the Warriors’ overall record to 8-5. Willowbrook finished the first half of the conference season with a 5-1 record. The Warriors are playing in this week’s holiday tournament at Wheaton North.

20 • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

Warriors fall to 4-5 after losses to Morton and York Mustangs and Dukes pull away with second-half surges

The Willowbrook boys basketball team lost a pair of home games in successive nights last week.

The Warriors dropped an 84-72 West Suburban Gold Conference decision to Morton on Friday. York defeated Willowbrook 70-58 in Saturday’s non-conference game.

The Warriors dropped to 4-5 overall after Saturday’s loss. Friday’s setback left Willowbrook with a conference record of 1-2.

Friday’s game was close until Morton unleashed a barrage of 3-point shots during the fourth quarter.

The visiting Mustangs led the Warriors 39-35 at halftime and 58-56 through three quarters. Morton sank six shots from 3-point range during the fourth period.

The Warriors led Morton 62-61 after senior Everett Stubblefield made a pair of free throws with 5:59 to play. Stubblefield made an acrobatic driving shot to tie the score at 64-64

with about five minutes remaining.

Morton drained a 3-point shot to take a 67-64 lead, but senior Deandre Holliday responded with a 3-pointer to tie the Mustangs at 67-67 with about 4:40 to play.

The Warriors took a 68-67 lead on a free throw by senior Brenton Jones at the 4:12 mark. Holliday sank a foul shot to tie the score at 69-69 with 3:49 left.

Morton then unleashed a 15-3 run to end the game. A 3-point shot and a driving layup gave the Mustangs a 74-69 edge with three minutes to play. Two more baskets from 3-point range boosted the lead to 80-69 with about 1:55 remaining.

Stubblefield led all scorers with 37 points. He made 14 shots from the field, including six from 3-point territory, and converted three of four free throws.

Holliday and sophomore Sean Paige both scored 11 points. Senior Sam Tumilty added eight points.

Saturday’s battle against York was tight at halftime, with the visiting Dukes holding a 30-26 lead. York outscored the Warriors 24-10 in the third quarter to build a 54-36 cushion.

“We competed almost the whole game,” said Willowbrook coach Chris Perkins after Saturday’s loss.

“In the start of the third quarter, we made some poor decisions. We’re having a bad two- or three-minute stretch in these games, and it’s kind

of getting away from us and putting too much pressure on us.”

Tumilty connected on six of 10 shots from 3-point range and scored a team-high 23 points for Willowbrook. Tumilty made three 3-point shots during the second quarter. He added one more long-range shot in the third quarter and sank two more during the fourth period.

Stubblefield provided 16 points against York. Jones and Holliday scored six and five points, respec-

tively.

The Warriors are playing in this week’s holiday tournament at Hinsdale Central. Perkins said his team will be striving for consistency against tough competition.

“It’s a long season; there are a lot of ebbs and flows,” said Perkins, whose team will play on its home court in an IHSA Class 4A regional in the upcoming post-season. “We’ve just got to continue to come to work every day and grind it out.”

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Seniors Everett Stubblefield (No. 3-left) and Sam Tumilty (No. 5-above) led the Willowbrook boys basketball team in scoring in last week’s pair of games. Stubblefield scored 37 points in Friday’s 84-72 West Suburban Gold Conference loss to Morton. Tumilty scored a team-leading 23 points in Saturday’s 70-58 non-conference loss to York. Both players are pictured during Friday’s contest. Stubblefield made six 3-point shots in Friday’s game, while Tumilty connected on six 3-point attempts on Saturday. The Warriors’ overall record stood at 4-5 after their loss to York. Friday’s loss to Morton sent Willowbrook’s conference record to 1-2. The Warriors are playing in this week’s holiday tournament at Hinsdale Central.

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 21

Young Fenton girls basketball team finding its way Bison down Elgin by 30 points in UEC clash

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

With youth on an athletic roster come ups and downs.

And that is holding true for the young Fenton girls basketball team thus far. But it’s something Fenton coach Dave Mello is using as a building block.

“We are really working to try and be more consistent,” he said. “Being a very young team, we know that there will be a lot of ups and downs. We will continue to work to make sure that our downs aren’t so low. We need to raise our floor.”

Fenton was 5-6 overall through its first 11 games and was 1-6 in its first seven games as a new entrant in the Upstate Eight Conference.

Recently, Fenton scored a 51-21 UEC win over Elgin, but then lost conference games to Glenbard East (69-42), Bartlett (73-50) and West Chicago (51-34).

Mello was encouraged by what he saw in the game against Bartlett.

“In our loss to Bartlett, which will win the Upstate Eight, it was the best shooting night we have had in our three seasons running our system,” he noted. “We shot 50 percent on 2-point shots and 36% on 3-point shots. Unfortunately, we turned the ball over way too many times and couldn’t get enough shot attempts to stay closer.”

Mello would like to see more

consistently, in particular, on the offensive end.

“Like our season as a whole, our offense has been very inconsistent,” he said. “Against the two best teams we have played in Glenbard South and Bartlett, we shot the ball really well. Those teams are just better than us at this point. Against some of the lesser teams on our schedule, we have really struggled with our shooting and turnovers.

We feel that the more game experience we get, the more consistent we will become.”

On defense, Mello has noted a bit of a leveling off in recent times.

“We aren’t getting nearly enough deflection, which help lead to the steals, which get our offense off and running,” he noted. “Also, we’re looking to really increase our

Addison Trail-Willowbrook boys swimming team defeats Morton Relays fare well at Rolling Meadows Invite

By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT

The Addison Trail-Willowbrook coop boys swimming team turned in a pair of strong outings recently.

AT-Willowbrook notched a West Suburban Conference Gold Division dual meet win against Morton on Dec. 13, and then had a pair of relays swim well at the relay-oriented Rolling Meadows Invitational at Elk Grove High School on Dec. 14.

“The guys looked good against Morton,” AT-Willowbrook coach Neil Wahlgren said. “We took down a lot of events there. And then we had a good, fun relay meet (Rolling Meadows) where we got to experience a lot of different things. We saw guys swim a bunch of different strokes and get a bunch of different times.”

Wahlgren, who noted the team has been battling illness recently, saw plenty he liked against Morton, starting with Addison Trail senior Marco Chaidez.

“Marco looked really good,” he said. “He did really well in the butterfly. With his freestyle, he’s looking like the strongest guy so far.”

Addison Trail freshman Connor Craddock also is progressing nicely, Wahlgren noted. “He’s looking really good with his sprint freestyle and backstroke.”

Willowbrook senior Aidan Nichols has been excelling in the breaststroke, while Addison Trail sophomore Michal Niemirski is another strong freestyle swimmer on Wahlgren’s lineup sheet.

“Those four guys (Chaidez, Craddock, Nichols and Niemirski) are the medley relay and they are doing really well with it,” said Wahlgren.

“I’m excited to see what happens with that relay throughout the season.”

Wahlgren also had high praise for Willowbrook junior Sean Pienkos, Addison Trail sophomore Matthew Burrow and Willowbrook junior Cole McGinnis.

“Sean is consistently strong for us,” Wahlgren said. “He’s a really good leader in practice. He and Marco are good leaders in practice and at meets. Matthew is another really good guy for us. He’s in more of a utility role in different events. Cole McGinnis is another guy we can put in many different spots and he goes in there and helps out the team.”

Wahlgren noted that sprinting continues to be a team strong-suit.

“That’s the thing that we did the best at in the relay meet,” he said.

At Rolling Meadows, the Warriors were fourth in the 100 sprint relay.

That group included Pienkos,

Niemirski, Nichols and Craddock.

The 400 medley relay team finished sixth with the usual grouping of Chaidez, Craddock, Nichols and Niemirski.

“That’s a college [format] event and the guys had a lot of fun,” said Wahlgren.

As the team heads to winter break, Wahlgren has seen plenty of positives.

“This is a fun group to work with,” he said. “The guys are out there supporting each other. It’s just a good group of guys to be around. They are a strong group of guys and like to be together.”

Addison Trail-Willowbrook returns to action Friday, Jan. 10, at Downers Grove South.

“We’ll get after it over the holiday break at practice,” Wahlgren said.

Sudoku Puzzle Answers

defensive rebounding.”

Mello lauded the recent work of sophomore Elizabeth Aguirre and senior Ashley Milano.

“Elizabeth has really started playing well on both ends of the court,” the coach said. “She has started knocking down 3-point shots and is all over the court on defense. Ashley also is everywhere on defense. She is a key component of our defense, and she always is making things happen. Offensively, she has rediscovered her 3-point shot recently and is back to scoring

like in the past two seasons.”

Fenton is playing in the Chicago Collins Academy tournament to close out this week.

“We have struggled more than anticipated in getting our offense to play at the pace we expect,” said Mello. “We know with our youth it would be a work in progress, but we really didn’t think we would struggle to put up numbers like the past two seasons. However, we are only a third of the way through the season and know this team will continue to improve every day.”

The Don of A New Day in Sports

DON FIGARELLI

Hey, Bears fans! The Bears should have never traded running back Jordan Howard; he was a 1,000-yard rusher for two years that started their problems. They should have thrown more short passes and screens to Tarik Cohen, their play-calling was suspect, and Trubisky should have rolled out and run more often. On the defensive side of the ball, they should have blitzed more often. Do you agree with me?

Win a T-shirt, answer these trivia questions: What is Dan Hampton’s nickname?

What college did Steve McMichael attend?

Call Don at 630-530-7061 if you have the answers.

Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Friday, January 10, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., in Suite 501 of the office of Hart, Southworth & Witsman located at One North Old State Capital Plaza, Springfield, Illinois 62701, a public hearing will be held before the Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority (the “Authority”), or his designee, regarding a plan of finance to issue one or more series of the Authority’s tax-exempt and/or taxable revenue bonds (the “Bonds”) in an aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $15,000,000. The proceeds of the Bonds will be loaned to Roosevelt University, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation (the “University”), to provide all or a portion of the funds necessary to (i) pay or reimburse the University for the costs of acquiring certain assets of Robert Morris University, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation (“RMU”); (ii) pay or reimburse the University for the costs of acquiring fixtures, furniture and equipment, making improvements to leased and/or owned facilities and relocating staff and programs; (iii) fund capitalized interest; and (iv) pay certain expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the Bonds (collectively, the “Financing Purposes”), all as permitted under the Illinois Finance Authority Act, 20 ILCS 3501/801-1 et seq., as supplemented and amended (the “Act”).

The educational facilities to be financed from the proceeds of the Bonds are or will be (i) owned and operated by the University; (ii) located on land owned by the University at or near 421-425 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; 430 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; 509 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois and 1400 North Roosevelt Boulevard, Schaumburg, Illinois; and (iii) located on land leased to RMU (which leases will be assigned to the University) at or near 1507 Waukegan Road, Waukegan, Illinois; 206 SW Adams Street, Peoria, Illinois; 2121 South Goebertt Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois; 12 South Center Street, Bensenville, Illinois; and 17130 Prime Boulevard, Lockport, Illinois.

The Bonds are special, limited obligations of the Authority, payable solely out of the revenues and other funds pledged and assigned for their payment in accordance with one or more loan agreements each between the University and the Authority and the indenture or indentures pursuant to which the Bonds are issued. The Bonds do not constitute a debt of the State of Illinois within the meaning of any provisions of the Constitution or statutes of the State of Illinois or a pledge of the faith and credit of the State of Illinois or grant to the owners thereof any right to have the General Assembly levy any taxes or appropriate any funds for the payment of the principal thereof or interest thereon.

The above notice of public hearing is required by Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. At the time and place set for the public hearing, residents, taxpayers and other interested persons will be given the opportunity to express their views for or against the financing and refinancing of the costs of the above-described facilities and the issuance of the Bonds. Written comments may also be submitted to the Executive Director of the Authority via email at publiccomments@il-fa. com or (i) at his office located at 160 North LaSalle Street, Suite S-1000, Chicago, Illinois 60601-3124 (overnight delivery), or (ii) at P.O. Box 641249, Chicago, Illinois 60664 (mail) until Wednesday, January 8, 2020.In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), if any person with a disability (as defined by the ADA) needs special accommodations to participate in the public hearing, he or she should contact the Authority at (312) 651-1300 not later than Thursday, January 9, 2020.

Dated: December 20, 2019. /s/ Christopher B. Meister Executive Director Illinois Finance Authority (Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review Dec. 26, 2019) 364458

22 • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

Ongoing events Villa Park

Indoor swim lessons available through Addison Park District Do you miss swimming outdoors?

Parks and Recreation offers indoor swim lessons in cooperation with the Addison Park District. Classes are available on Saturday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings for swimmers with all levels of swim experience and include parent/tot classes. Register with the Recreation Department; lessons are held at the Club Fitness Indoor Pool, 1776 W. Centennial Place in Addison. To see the full schedule of lessons and for fees visit invillapark.com or call 630834-8970.

VFW Friday Fish Fry From 5-7 p.m. every Friday evening, the Villa Park VFW Post #2801, 39 E. St. Charles Road, holds the best fish fry in town. All dinners come with a choice of a baked potato, fries or sidewinders mashed fries, homemade coleslaw, a slice of rye bread and dessert. All prices include tax and are subject to change.

Addison • Homework help at the Library Every Tuesday and Thursday starting Jan. 14 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the

Addison Public Library, get help in • Widows or Widowers any subject from teachers, librarians, (W.O.W.) meet each month and college volunteers. Info: addiWidows or Widowers (W.O.W.) sonlibrary.org or call 630-458-3338. of the Western Suburbs will meet on the third Thursday of each month at • Get your high school diploma the Knights of Columbus Hall, 537 The Addison Public Library is S. York Road, Elmhurst, starting at now offering adults the opportuni- 6:30 p.m. Admission: $5. Info: (630) ty to earn an accredited high school 620-4060 or wow.cfsites.org. diploma and career certificate online through a new program, Career On- • Active Adults Senior Club line High School (COHS). The liAdults, ages 55 or better, are inbrary is providing a limited number vited to Park District’s Active Adults of free scholarships to qualified adult Senior Club on Tuesdays from noonlearners who are looking to advance 2 p.m. at Community Rec Center, their careers, prepare for work- 120 E. Oak Street. For more informaforce entry, or continue their educa- tion, contact Teresa Grodsky at (630) tion. You must live in Addison and 233-7275, option #2. be 21 or older. Call 630-458-3334 or visit addisonlibrary.org • TOPS meetings held on Thursday evenings, • North Suburban Friday mornings Carvers Club meetings Remember TOPS? Take Off Pounds Meetings for the North Suburban Sensibly is still here helping and supCarvers Club are held the first and porting people to lose weight. Meetthird Mondays of each month at ings are held on Thursday evenings at the Deer Grove Nature Center (The the Addison Park District building at Bensenville Park District building), 120 E. Oak St. Weigh in from 6-6:30 1000 W. Wood St. from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and then meet from 6:30-7:15 p.m. Beginning and experienced p.m. Or there is a weigh-in Friday carvers share and learn sharpening mornings at 9:30 a.m. followed by skills, techniques and designs in a a meeting from 10-11 a.m. Info: for very informal but informative set- Thursday meetings, email Sandy ting. Visitors of all ages are welcome at sand.smithandcats@yahoo.com; to attend all meetings, or contact for Friday meetings, email Millie Paul Gratzke at 847-606-2660. at johnreiter@sbcglobal.net

ON STAGE

We make it easy to bank anywhere, anytime!

Make the Switch to West Suburban Bank. We offer the lastest in banking technology, with the personal service you can only get from a local community bank.

Open a checking account today and enjoy: WSB Xpress Extended Hours

THANK YOU LOMBARD!

Life is busy, that’s why our local WSB Xpress Tellers are available for you Monday-Friday from 6 am-7 pm, on Saturdays from 6 am-5 pm and even Sundays from 9 am-3 pm.

For the past 57 years the Schroeder family has been privileged to serve Lombard through our hardware store. The time has come for a new chapter and we three brothers are retiring upon the new year.

It has been an honor to do business within the community. Since 1962 you have been part of our lives. Every neighbor, project, village happening and weather event will forever hold a special place in our memories.

With hometown spirit we welcome the new owners of Lombard Ace Hardware!

Rest assured that you will still see the same friendly employees you have grown to trust, including Momma Kitty. Your local Ace Hardware continues to be available for all of your hardware goods and services.

Thank you Lombard for your years of patronage. From Schroeder’s Ace Hardware, we say a heartfelt goodbye.

Online Banking & Mobile Banking

Enjoy 24 hour banking with Online Banking & Mobile Banking. Check balances, view activity, transfer funds, even make deposits using your smartphone.**

Schedule An Appointment Online

Make the switch even easier by saving time and making an appointment online at a time and location that’s convenient for you.

SINCERELY, DON, DICK and GREG SCHROEDER Member

®

www.westsuburbanbank.com

FDIC

630-652-2000

364207

356111

Open a checking account with a minimun deposit of just $100. Subject to regular account opening procedures.**Mobile Deposit is available in the West Suburban Bank Mobile App, which is available for select mobile devices. Subject to eligibility and further review. Deposits are subject to verification and not available for immediate withdrawal. Deposit limits and other restrictions apply. Message and Data rates may apply.

364387

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • 23VP

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www.oxford.bank facebook.com/oxfordbank *$2,500 minimum opening balance and $2,500 minimum monthly balance to earn interest and avoid monthly service charge. 1.60% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) earned on entire balances $10,000 and over and guaranteed for 12 months from date of account opening. (0.15% APY on balances $2,500 - $9,999.99.) APYs effective 10/1/2019. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. New money only.

Member FDIC 364109

24VP • Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 - Rock Valley Publishing

153 Addison Street Elmhurst, Illinois (630) 617-9797

299 E. St. Charles Rd. Villa Park, Illinois (630) 832-3160

M - F 7:30-6, Sat. 8-3

M - F 7:30-6, Sat. 8-3

ASK ABOUT OUR TIRE SPECIALS

Expires 1/31/20

MOST CARS

FUEL INJECTION

Expires 1/31/20

59.95 $ 69.95 $

Expires 1/31/20

MOST CARS

89.95

$

Expires 1/31/20

FLUSH & FILL

We’ll flush your radiator and cooling system, check belts, hoses and water pump and re-fill system including 2 gallons of antifreeze/coolant

$

MOST CARS

69.95

MOST CARS

Add $3 for disposal fee Expires 1/31/20

BRAKE FLUID FLUSH Expires 1/31/20

89.95

$

COMPUTERIZED 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT Set caster, camber and toe to exact manufacturer’s specifications while

LUBE, OIL & FILTER

29.95

equipped). Special gaskets, filters extra if needed. Some cars/light trucks extra.

Limited Warranty 90 days or 4,000 miles, whichever first*

Add $3 for disposal fee

SYNTHETIC BLEND

$

TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE Replace fluid, pan gasket and filter (if

referencing and compensating or adjusting thrust line, depending on alignment type, part and additional services extra if needed.

MOST SUVS CUSTOM ALIGNMENT $ 68.95 MOST $ CARS 109.95 & TRUCKS 129.95

$

MOST CARS

Expires 1/31/20

We’ll lubricate most car’s chassis, drain the old and install up to 5 quarts of new oil and new oil filter. Add $3 for disposal of oil and filter. Expires 1/31/20 1

2

3

4

PREFERRED CUSTOMER

Buy 4 Synthetic Blend oil changes for $119.80 get the 5th FREE! Most Cars. We’ll lubricate most car’s chassis, drain the old and install up to 5 quarts of new oil and new oil filter. Add $3 for disposal of oil and filter. See location for details.

Punch-A-Deal

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69.95

$

DISC BRAKES

Front Disc brake service for single piston American cars.

Includes new disc pads, rotors resurfaced, wheel bearing repacked, new grease seals, fluid added as needed, system inspected and car road tested. *Rebuilt calipers & semi metallic pads extra.

ASE Certified • Domestic & Foreign

BATTERIES ON SALE NOW

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FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, SATISFACTION & CLEANLINESS

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364078