Willowbrook High School’s theater department presents its winter play this week. The first of three performances of “Ripcord” takes place tonight, Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. The remaining two performances begin will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, and on Saturday, Feb. 4. “Ripcord” is a dark comedy written by Da -
vid
The Willowbrook High School theater department will present its winter play—“Ripcord”—this week
Freshman Lindsey Rugg of the Willowbrook softball team is pictured while attempting to score a run during Friday’s game at Downers Grove South. Rugg tried to score from second base on a single by sophomore Katelyn Cox in the top of the second inning, when the game was tied at 2-2. Downers Grove South’s catcher tagged Rugg out at home plate for the third out of the inning. The Mustangs went on to defeat the Warriors 7-3 in the West Suburban Gold Conference contest. Wil-
in the school’s Doris E. White Auditorium. The three performances will take place tonight, Friday and Saturday. Each performance will begin at
7 p.m.
Willowbrook High School’s Class of 2021 celebrated its commencement with two separate ceremonies in the school’s main gymnasium on Sunday morning. The entire class includes over 470 students. About half of those students attended the
A dark comedy written by David Lindsay-Abaire, “Ripcord” is rated PG-13 for strong language and mature themes.
lowbrook rebounded from Friday’s loss to post an 11-2 win in Saturday’s game at Hinsdale Central. The Warriors bashed three home runs in the second inning of Saturday’s non-conference battle against the Red Devils of the West Suburban Silver Conference. Senior Annemarie Knudtson, freshman Isabella Dugo and sophomore Kayleigh Dennison provided the home runs. Dennison (No. 5) is pictured in the background of the above photo. For more about the Warriors, see page 14.
has taken, she has no room for distraction.
ceremony that began at 9 a.m. The others participated in the ceremony that started at 11 a.m. The photo shows members of the Willowbrook Senior Choir performing during the day’s first service. For more photos, see Page 4.
claims never to get scared, she will get the bed by the window.
Tickets will be available to buy at the door and cost $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 to 17. Admission is free for children younger than 12 years old and for those with a District 88 student ID and a District 88 Senior Gold Card.
“Ripcord” tells the story of irritable and sarcastic Abby Binder (portrayed by senior Amelia Tortorici), who has kept a room to herself for four years at the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, through sheer force of her rude personality. Nursing disappointment at the direction her life
When bubbly, bright and unbearably cheerful Marilyn Dunne (played by senior Samantha Tantilla) is placed in her room, Abby tries her usual tricks, but fails to scare her annoying new roommate away. She gets no sympathy from Scotty (portrayed by junior Sean O’Brochta), the resident aide, who refuses to use any clout he might or might not have with management to remove Marilyn.
Marilyn has a devoted family— with a skydiving business—on her side, as well as the most dangerous thing of all: a genuine wish to see Abby happy. As this odd couple embarks upon increasingly emotionally and physically dangerous tricks in order to break each other, secrets are revealed, lives are jeopardized and peach cobbler is enjoyed.
Franklin Park, located at 218 N. Third Ave., are: Villa Park Village Trustee Christine Murphy, Justin Shlensky—chair of the Villa Park Environmental Concerns Commission, Margaret Schiefer—a member of the Villa Park Environmental Concerns Commission, Villa Park Village Trustee Cheryl Tucker, Villa Park Village President Albert Bulthuis, Villa Park Village Trustee (and Village President-Elect) Nick Cuzzone and Leslie Allison-Seei—chair of the Villa Park Community Pride Commission. Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday of each April. The National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Villa Park with Tree City USA designation for 36 straight years. To receive that recognition, a community must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance.
Exercising her taste for competition and her love of pranks, Marilyn makes a bet: if Abby can break her endless patience and make her angry, she will move out. But if she can successfully frighten Abby, who
630-514-9961
kdrury@atproperties.com
“At the heart of the play are the topics of forgiveness and working on yourself,” said O’Brochta. “I hope the audience members enjoy a laugh and leave thinking about the play’s main theme—that sometimes you have to pull the ripcord to slow down and enjoy life.”
Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2801 held its Memorial Day service on Monday morning at Cortesi Veterans Memorial Park. Post Commander Jim Blankshain is pictured bowing his head as Willowbrook High School students Lily Hendrickson and Anna Seelbach sound taps at the end of the ceremony. The post’s 2020 Memorial Day event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s observance included a reading of the names of the Post 2801 members who have recently died. That list included World War II veteran Charles “Sid” Bergh, who served as the master of ceremonies of the post’s annual Memorial Day service for several years. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Bergh died in October 2020. He was 94 years old. Bergh was the post’s last surviving World War II veteran.
Did you know that dental-related ailments are responsible for the loss of more than 50 million school hours each year? That’s right. Thousands of children miss school every year because of some dental-related ailment. Fortunately, many of these ailments can be prevented through good oral care.
This National Children’s Dental Health Month, make your child’s smile a priority. Take them to the dentist regularly and teach them to care for their teeth properly.
The DuPage Care Center is offering the community an opportunity to send Valentine wishes to Center residents.
The DuPage Care Center is also providing Valentine’s balloons to residents to spread cheer and warm
wishes. For $4.50 per balloon, community members can send a balloon to a Care Center resident. In the past, the public sent more than 800 heartshaped, helium balloons to line the Care Center’s corridors and rooms on Valentine’s Day. Volunteers and staff
delivered the balloons to more than 300 residents living at the Center, brightening their days, and bringing lots of smiles along the way. The balloons are recycled after being used.
“Every year, this fundraiser brings smiles to residents’ faces and helps to
Dig that old banjo out of the closet, that guitar from under the bed, that broken amp, unused pedals or anything else you no longer need or want. Then head on over to the Hide Away Cafe & Lounge on Sunday, Feb. 5 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Affordable instruments, amplifiers and musical accessories for the starting or professional musician will be offered for sale or trade at a players swap meet.
If you’re just curious about the value of grandpa’s old acoustic, bring it along. Price guides and appraisals will be available. There will be plenty of band mates and local shops displaying their wares as well. The event is free but please bring a donation of non-perishable food (no out-of-date or expired items please) or sealed personal hygiene items for the Bensenville Wood Dale Food Pantry. The pantry has been serving
the needy for more than 40 years and currently helps as many as 1,000 individuals monthly in the Bensenville, Elmhurst and Wood Dale areas. Visit bwdfp.org or call 630-766-9382 for more information on how you can volunteer or if you need assistance.
The Hide Away Cafe & Lounge is located at 207 W. Main Street in Bensenville.
Food and drinks will be available throughout the event.
Active Senior Expo, an event dedicated to inform, educate and entertain senior citizens will be held on Wednesday, March 15 at Lorena’s Banquets, 543 W. Lake Street in Addison. Show hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Active Senior Expo features hundreds of products and services designed specifically for seniors. Offerings include health care, retirement communities, assisted living, financial, insurance, legal, estate plan-
ning, home care, consumer products, government programs and more.
Special attractions include free seminars, free health screenings and door prize drawings. Live entertainment will be presented at 11:30 a.m.
No registration is required and regular admission to the event is $2. However, free admission coupons will be available widely and attendees can obtain a free admission coupon by visiting www.activeseniorexpo.net. Parking is free.
The presenting sponsor of Active Senior Expo is Chicagoland’s Senior News, “The Premier News Source for Active Adults Age 50 and Better.” Major sponsors are Advocate Health Advisors, Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, Addison Bank & Trust, Rock Valley Publishing, and Humana.
For more information, contact Silver Star Expositions at (630) 6206347. Fax: (630) 620-7996. E-Mail: activeseniorexpo@hotmail.com.
For over 60 years, The Co-Op Preschool, in partnership with our students’ families, has been helping children build the skills they need to become successful students and responsible community members. We are a non-profit play-based program that fosters a joy of learning and respectful interaction among peers while promoting a cooperative partnership between home and school. Together with our students’ families, we provide a nurturing, safe, and engaging preschool experience for all our children to grow and learn. The involvement parents have in their child’s school has a direct impact on a child’s academic success.
THE CO-OP PRESCHOOL admits students of any race, color, creed, sex, national or ethnic origin, or religion, to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, religion or sex, in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, any other policies of school administered programs, or rights, privileges, programs and activities.
For questions on enrollment please call: 630 629-2630 ext. 214 or email director@thecooppreschool.com
warm their hearts and lift their spirits,” said Greg Schwarze, chair of the Human Services Committee. “It’s a great tradition and we are excited about continuing it this year.”
Balloon donations will be accepted until Friday, Feb. 10 and may be ordered online at dpccfoundation. org. Balloons will be delivered on
Tuesday, Feb. 14. Funds from the sale of balloons will benefit the Resident Recreation Fund, which provides programs and activities to improve the quality of life of residents living at the Center. For more information, call (630) 784-4303 or email linda.gray@dupageco.org.
Your Hometown Newspaper
240 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL. 60126
Main Phone 630.834-8244 Fax 630.834-0900
The Villa Park Review is published every Thursday by Rock Valley Publishing, LLC, 240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126.
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Pete Cruger
Publisher
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Subscriptions:
The Villa Park Review is mailed to the 60181 zip code areas for $45.00 yearly. Out-of-area mail subscriptions are $50.00 yearly. For home delivery information call 630.834-8244.
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Content appearing in the Villa Park Review may not be reprinted without permission of the publisher or editor. Requests should be directed to Independent@rvpublishing.com or 630.834-8244.
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THE VILLA PARK REVIEW
240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 11am-3pm
Robert B. Berlin and Villa Park Chief of Police
Michael Rivas have announced that bond has been denied for a Cook County man accused of firing a machine gun multiple times into a residential neighborhood in Villa Park.
the area of Chatham and Plymouth for a call of shots fired. Upon their arrival, officers found numerous shell casings in the intersection of Chatham and Plymouth. Through the course of their investigation, officers developed Lyons as a suspect in the case.
containing eight rounds and approximately $7,000 in cash.
Curtis LyonsCurtis Lyons, 37, of Maywood, appeared at a bond hearing where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh granted the state’s motion to deny bond.
Lyons is charged with one count of armed habitual criminal, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm and two counts of unlawful use of weapon by a felon—machine gun. All charges are a Class X felony.
On Jan. 25 at approximately 8:47 p.m., officers with the Villa Park Police Department were dispatched to
It is alleged that Lyons had arranged to sell drugs to an acquaintance and that as Lyons approached the other individual, he opened fire more than thirty times with a Glock 19 mm that had been altered with a switch to allow it to fire as a fully automatic weapon. It is further alleged that Lyons fired more than 30 rounds, one of which struck a nearby home, before fleeing the scene.
Officers with the Villa Park Police Department were able to locate Lyons in a residence on Cornell where, after executing a search warrant, officers found a 9 mm Glock 19 with a fully automatic switch and a laser light, a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9 mm, a 50-round drum magazine
“It is alleged that Mr. Lyons put an entire neighborhood at risk when he fired more than 30 shots in a matter of seconds,” Berlin said. “This type of violent, criminal conduct, as alleged against Mr. Lyons, will not be tolerated in DuPage County and will be met with the full force and effect of the law. Thankfully, no innocent bystanders or anyone in the residence were injured as a result of this alleged behavior.
“I commend the Villa Park Police Department for their outstanding work in the quick identification and apprehension of Mr. Lyons as a suspect in this case. I also thank the numerous assisting agencies as well as DuPage County MERIT for their efforts.”
“As a community and as a society, we cannot accept acts of violence regardless of circumstances” Rivas said. “Habitual violent criminals will not abide by the laws set forth
in this state and federally. That is why when an act of violence occurs, the community and law enforcement must act swiftly and collaboratively to help bring all who will do harm to justice.
It was an incredible amount of great police work done by Villa Park officers, detectives and support staff to quickly identify and locate the alleged offender.
“I thank the assisting law enforcement agencies of Lombard, Addison, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and Oak Brook Terrace as well as MERIT METRO SWAT for their actions. We would lastly like to thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Assistant State’s Attorney Sara Henley for their invaluable assistance and counsel to help generate serious, and appropriate charges against the alleged offender.”
Lyons’ next court appearance is scheduled Feb. 23 for arraignment in front of Judge O’Hallaren Walsh.
Qualifies for 2024 Boston Marathon
By Susan HaibeckFOR THE VILLA PARK REVIEW
Runners run. Some runners run marathons. But four marathons in 11 weeks competitively?
That’s exactly what Villa Park resident Courtney Navarro (Bracker) did starting Sept. 25, 2022, in Berlin, Germany, then in London Oct 2, followed by the Chicago Marathon Oct. 9 and finishing in Sacramento, Calif., on Dec. 4, where she posted a qualifying time for the 2024 Boston Marathon.
The Berlin and London marathon dates were unusually close together due to pandemic rescheduling. So, after running in Berlin, the London Marathon was the next stop on Oct. 2. Navarro, 45, managed her marathon training within her active family
life including her supportive husband, John, and three school age boys: Nico 11, Nathan 9, and Nolan 7.
In her spare time, she works as a personal trainer and is an e-commerce wine business owner through Scout & Cellar.
Navarro started running for fun in college and then competitively with her first marathon at Chicago in 2006. Midwest races led to running nationally, including the Disney Goofy Challenge.
She continued to run as she was able to throughout her pregnancies, post-partum, and a few injuries that sidelined her for a bit.
In 2018, she started to consider the World Marathon Majors (WMM), a championship-style competition for marathon runners that started in 2006.
The WMM is a points-based competition founded on six major mar-
Arterial streets receive first priority; public works crews do not routinely salt secondary streets
The Villa Park Public Works Department is responsible for snow and ice control on all streets within the village’s corporate limits, except for North Avenue, Route 83 and Roosevelt Road, which are maintained by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
The public works department’s snow plowing operations start upon the accumulation of the first 2 inches of snow. No parking is permitted on the “snow route” streets after a snowfall of 2 inches or more until after the storm has ended and all of those streets have been completely cleared. Violators will be subject to ticketing and towing.
The following arterial or “snow route” streets are those that are cleared first by snow plowing crews.
Villa Park residents are advised to use these routes in preference to other local streets:
Sunset Drive (from Lincoln to Harvard), Pleasant Avenue (from Westwood to Westmore), Vermont Street (from Westmore to Villa), Plymouth Street (from Westmore to Villa), St. Charles Road (from Westmore to Route 83), School Street (from Addison to Ardmore), Highland Avenue (from Ardmore to Route 83), Washington Street (from Addison to Route 83), Madison Street (from Addison to Route 83), Jackson Street (from Addison to Summit), Westmore Avenue (from Terrace to North), Addison Road (from St. Charles to Sidney), Harvard Avenue
See SNOW, Page 12
athon races recognized as the most high-profile races on the calendar. This series is comprised of annual races in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Tokyo. However, all schedules were delayed due to pandemic unpredictability.
Once travel opened up nearly three years later, Navarro began to plan and train for Berlin 2022 and then realized London was within one week of Berlin.
Could she do it? Should she even consider it? Well, she had dear friends in London who were also planning to enter the race, so that sealed the deal.
Navarro attempted qualify for the Boston Marathon in Berlin, and her time was a mere seven seconds above the cutoff qualifying time.
The London Marathon was more of a fun run for Navarro, and then she headed home to regroup.
While Navarro had not originally
planned to run the Chicago Marathon the following weekend, the opportunity to run three World Majors in 15 days was too much to resist. So she did.
Despite this achievement, her goal to qualify for Boston still remained. Where would she go to accomplish this goal? After reviewing her choices, she chose the California International Marathon in Sacramento. There, she achieved her goal, qualifying for the Boston Marathon with a time of 3:47.26 (an 8-minute, 41-second pace per mile).
What does Navarro have to say about these past hectic few months?
“I never planned to run four marathons in such a short period of time, but the memories made with family and friends on this adventure will last forever,” she said. “Completing my goal of qualifying for Boston just made it all that much sweeter.”
The Willowbrook girls basketball team won two of four games last week. The Warriors finished the week with an overall season record of 13-13.
Senior Nina Nytko scored a teamhigh 14 points for the Warriors in Saturday’s 56-39 loss to Libertyville.
Junior Elle Bruschuk added nine points. Senior Sara Stout provided three points and a team-leading 13 rebounds.
Libertyville led the Warriors 16-4 after one quarter and 30-10 at halftime.
Willowbrook began the week with a 42-40 non-conference win at Fenwick on Jan. 23. The Warriors lost 56-30 at Maine South in a non-conference contest on Jan. 25. Willowbrook improved to 7-3 in West Suburban Gold Conference play with Friday’s 53-23 win at Morton. The
Warriors finished the week with Saturday’s 56-39 loss to Libertyville in a non-conference game in Villa Park.
The Warriors will finish their 2022-23 West Suburban Gold Conference schedule with this week’s games against Leyden and Down-
ers Grove South. After playing at Leyden on Jan. 31, the Warriors will meet Downers Grove South this Friday in Villa Park. Willowbrook will complete the week with this Saturday’s non-conference home game against Fremd.
Willowbrook’s girls basketball team played four games last week. The Warriors won two of those four games and finished the week with an overall season record of 13-13. One photo from Saturday’s loss to Libertyville shows Willowbrook junior Elle Bruschuk (No. 33 - above), who scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in the game. Another photo (left) shows senior Yazmin Setaram, who provided four points and four rebounds. The Warriors will finish their West Suburban Gold Conference season with this week’s games against Leyden and Downers Grove South. Willowbrook will close out the week with this Saturday’s non-conference home game against Fremd.
Willowbrook High School’s dance team performed at the IHSA competitive dance state meet on Friday in Bloomington. Competing in the 2A level, the Warriors finished 19th out of 30 teams in Friday’s preliminaries at the state meet and did not advance to Saturday’s finals. The 2A level’s top 12 teams from Friday’s preliminaries advanced to the finals. Willowbrook earned its state-meet berth by placing among the top six teams in its 13-team level at the Geneva Sectional on Jan. 21. Some of the Warriors are pictured during the team’s sectional performance. The members of Willowbrook’s state-qualifying team are: senior Gianna Wiegel, junior Tabitha Bernardi, junior Kira Gamble, junior Lena Wachholz, sophomore Gianna Giampaoli, sophomore Kelly Kramme, freshman Ava Jovanovich, freshman Maddy McEllin and freshman Cecilia Oddo. The team’s coaches are Emily Isaacson, Maddie Schulte and Claire Creighton. All three coaches are Willowbrook graduates who were members of the school’s dance team.
Willowbrook’s boys basketball team lost three straight games last week. The three losses sent the Warriors’ overall season record to 6-16. Willowbrook opened the week with a 67-52 non-conference loss at Hinsdale Central on Jan. 24. The Warriors lost 63-53 to Morton in Friday’s West Suburban Gold Conference game in Villa Park. Willowbrook finished its week with Saturday’s 62-59 non-conference loss at Deerfield. Senior Noah Campbell (No. 25 - above) of the Warriors is pictured during Friday’s home game against Morton. Campbell scored a team-leading 27 points in the contest. Campbell sank a free throw in the closing seconds of the game to notch the 1,000th point of his varsity career. Moments later, Campbell hit a 3-point shot at the buzzer to account for the game’s final points. Another photo from Friday shows Willowbrook senior Joey Tumilty (No. 1 - below). Tumilty scored a team-leading 19 points for the Warriors during last week’s loss at Hinsdale Central.
The Willowbrook boys basketball team suffered three straight losses last week. The Warriors dropped a 67-52 non-conference decision at Hinsdale Central on Jan. 24. Three days later, Willowbrook lost 63-53 to Morton in a West Suburban Gold Conference battle in Villa Park. The Warriors finished the week with Saturday’s 62-59 non-conference loss at Deerfield.
Willowbrook completed the week with an overall record of 6-16 and a conference mark of 1-6.
Senior Joey Tumilty scored a team-high 19 points for the Warriors in last week’s loss at Hinsdale Central. Tumilty made four shots from 3-point range during the game. Seniors Luke Davis and Isaac Sobieszczyk provided 12 points each.
Hinsdale Central led the Warriors 19-12 after one quarter and 34-22 at halftime. The Red Devils maintained a 54-41 advantage at the end of the
third quarter.
Willowbrook led Morton 15-12 after one quarter of Friday’s conferSee WARRIORS, Page 12
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
Editor’s note: There were no reports submitted by the Addison Police Department last week.
Villa Park
Jan. 21
Police said Nikhar Bhadani, 23, of Villa Park, was arrested on a failure to appear warrant out of Kankakee County at a hotel in the 1-100 block of W. Roosevelt at 12:01 a.m.
Retail theft was reported at a store in the 900 block of S. Route 83 at 8:55 p.m. A complainant reported that an unknown suspect removed multiple items from display shelves and left the store without paying.
A complainant in the 500 block of N. Ardmore reported at 3:31 a.m. that a subject was sending them unwanted messages via text.
Jan. 20
A complainant at a vehicle rental company reported at 2:20 p.m. that a subject has not returned the vehicle they rented out.
Jan. 18
Chasity C. Conley, 26, of Villa Park, was charged with battery— making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature at a store in the 1-100 block of E. North at 7:55 p.m.
A complainant in the 1-100 block
of N. Westmore reported at 10:15 a.m. that a suspect committed battery to them.
Theft was reported at an auto dealership in the 400 block of E. Roosevelt at 2:20 p.m. A complainant reported that an unknown suspect removed an entire roll of license plate stickers that were left in an unsecured drawer.
A complainant at a store in the 400 block of W. North reported at 12:58 p.m. that an unknown suspect entered their unsecured vehicle parked in the parking lot. The complainant believes nothing appears to be missing.
Jan. 17
Deborah C. Acuna Cabrera, 38, of Northlake, was charged with retail theft/switching a price tag not exceeding $300 at a store in the 1-100 block of E. North at 4:21 p.m.
Police said Carlos F. Miranda, 33, of Lombard, was arrested on a failure to appear warrant out of DuPage County Jail near W. Holly and N. Addison at 12:22 p.m.
A complainant at a store in the 900 block of S. Route 83 reported at 12:59 p.m. that a suspect battered them.
Burglary was reported at a restaurant in the 700 block of N. Addison at 3:49 p.m. A complainant reported that unknown suspects used an unknown object to shatter the northside door of the building. The suspects entered and pried open an ATM and removed money.
Jan. 16
Police said Deyon J. Erves, 54, of Melrose Park, was arrested on a failure to appear warrant out of Cook County near Roosevelt and S. Euclid at 7:31 p.m.
Retail theft was reported at a store
in the 900 block of S. Route 83 at 5:46 p.m. A complainant reported that suspects removed multiple items from display shelves and left the store without paying.
Theft was reported at a restaurant in the 300 block of E. St. Charles at 9:19 p.m. A complainant reported several unknown suspects removed table numbers and left.
Jan. 15
Police said Arturo Villafuerte, 49, of Villa Park, was arrested on a failure to appear warrant out of DuPage County near N. Addison and W. St. Charles at 4:24 p.m.
Two incidents of retail theft were reported at the same store in the 300 block of N. Ardmore—one at 9:52 a.m. and the other at 1:57 p.m. In the first incident, a complainant reported that a suspect removed cigars from the display shelf and left the store without paying. In the second incident, a complainant reported that the suspect, from earlier, came back and removed cigars from display shelf and left. Officers located the suspect and the merchandise was return. A citation was issued.
According to information provided last week by the Villa Park Police Department, police reported five incidents of residents being a victim of fraud or identity theft.
Bensenville
The Bensenville Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons who are charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the victim’s privacy. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not named.
Jan. 25, 10:01 a.m. in the 1000 block of Route 83, a victim stated that an unknown suspect made unauthorized transactions for fuel. The incident is under investigation.
BEPC2300086
Jan. 25, 12:23 p.m. in the 600 block of Country Club Drive, a victim states an unknown suspect stole
a business check and cashed it. The incident is under investigation.
BEPC2300087
Jan 24, 10:11 a.m. in the 800 block of Supreme Drive, a victim reports a catalytic converter removed from vehicle. The incident is under investigation. BEPC2300082
Jan 24, 10:48 p.m. near Church and Irving Park Road, Bensenville officers apprehended a vehicle for fleeing from an Elmhurst Police Department officer. The vehicle continued to try and elude Bensenville officers. Bensenville officers were able to stop the vehicle and apprehended Sebastian Galvez, 23, of Addison and Veronika Sypita, 20, of Addison. The individuals were charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding an officer, aggravated unlawful use of weapon and other traffic related charges. The two were transported to the station for processing, and then transferred to the DuPage County Jail. BEPC2300085
Jan. 21, 10:39 p.m. in the 1000 block of York Road, a business reports that unknown suspect shoplifted between nine and 12 bottles of vodka and fled the area. The incident is under investigation. BEPC2300075
Jan 20, 11:45 a.m. in the 1100 block of David Drive, a victim reports that their vehicle was just stolen out of the parking lot. The vehicle was entered into nationwide police database a stolen. The incident is under investigation. BEPC2300072
Jan. 21, 7:55 a.m. in the 100 block of Grand Avenue, a victim reports that an unknown suspect broke out the rear passenger window and damaged the steering wheel and ignition. The incident is under investigation.
BEPC2300073
Jan. 20, 10:22 a.m. in the 200 block of Devon, a business reports that unknown suspect cashed some company checks. The incident is under investigation. BEPC2300068
Jan. 20, 10:49 a.m. in the 100 block of Green Street, a business reports that unknown suspect cashed a company check and used a company credit card several times. The incident is under investigation.
BEPC2300069
Jan. 20, 4:52 p.m. in the 1-100 block of Irving Park Road, a busi-
ness reports that unknown suspect shoplifted various items and left. The incident is under investigation.
BEPC2300070
Jan. 19, 2:55 p.m. in the 900 block of Jefferson, a victim reports the theft of stainless steel pipes from the property. The incident is under investigation, BEPC2300064
Jan. 19, 7:21 p.m., Bensenville police officers assisted the Addison Police Department executing a warrant arrest in the 1050 block of Irving Park Road. BEPC2300065
Jan. 19, 10:43 p.m., a complainant reports losing his wallet in the 1050 block of Route 83 and fraudulent charges on his credit card.
BEPC2300066
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis have announced that bond was set for a South American man charged with breaking into an Oak Brook home late last week.
Anibal Miller-Valencia, 21, appeared at a bond hearing where Judge Joseph Bugos set bond at $1.5 million with 10 percent to apply.
Miller-Valencia has been charged with one count of home invasion (Class X felony) and one count of residential burglary (Class 1 felony). If convicted, he faces a penalty of between six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
On Jan. 13 at approximately 6:38 p.m., officers with the Oak Brook Police Department responded to a call of a home invasion on Luthin Road. Upon their arrival, officers spoke to a female juvenile who was home alone at the time of the incident. Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged Miller-Valencia and two unknown accomplices drove to a nearby forest preserve parking lot and parked their car.
It is alleged that the two unknown accomplices left the vehicle while Miller-Valencia waited behind. It is further alleged that at approximately 6:31 p.m., Miller-Valencia’s unknown accomplices then went to the home on Luthin Road, broke a rear glass door and entered the home. It is alleged while the accomplices were in the home, the juvenile hid behind a door and that after a short time, the two individuals fled into a nearby wooded area.
While investigating the incident, officers found Miller-Valencia in the forest preserve parking lot seated in the driver’s seat of the car with the car running. He was arrested and taken into custody at this time.
“I can’t imagine the terror this young victim must have felt when she heard glass breaking and unknown voices in her house while she was home alone,” Berlin said.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul
on Jan. 23 filed a petition asking an appellate court to vacate a temporary restraining order that was issued late in the afternoon Jan. 20, blocking enforcement of the state’s recently-passed assault weapons ban.
Raoul’s office filed the petition in the 5th District Appellate Court in southern Illinois, arguing that Effingham County Judge Joshua Morrison had abused his discretion and the plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed in their lawsuit, thus the restraining order was granted incorrectly.
Morrison’s order applies to only the 800-plus plaintiffs in the case filed by Tom DeVore, the unsuccess-
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced that bond has been set for a Chicago man accused of robbing a Naperville Portillo’s.
Solomon Marshall, 21, appeared at a bond hearing where Judge Joshua Dieden set bond at $100,000 with 10 percent to apply. Marshall has been charged with one count of aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony.
It is alleged that on July 20, 2022, at approximately 11:36 p.m., Marshall approached two female employees of Portillo’s on foot as they were working in the drive-through lane of the restaurant. It is alleged that Marshall kept one hand in his pocket implying that he had a firearm. It is further alleged that Marshall demanded money from the victims, ripped the company fanny packs containing approximately $680 from the victims and at one point patted down one of the victims to make sure she did not have any more money.
It is alleged that during the robbery, Marshall told the victims “Hurry up, I don’t want to have to do this.” It is further alleged following the robbery, Marshall fled the scene on foot. Through the course of their investigation into the matter, Naperville Police identified Marshall as a suspect in the crime. On Jan. 23, Marshall was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant out of Denver, Colo., and was charged with the Portillo’s robbery the following day.
“The allegations that this defendant robbed two girls while they were working the drive-through lane at a local restaurant are very disturbing,” Berlin said. “While Mr. Marshall may have not had a real gun with him, the paralyzing fear these girls experienced, believing Mr. Marshall to be armed, was real. Thankfully, neither of the victims was physically harmed.”
Marshall’s next court appearance is Feb. 21 for arraignment in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell.
ful 2022 GOP candidate for attorney general.
“Although disappointing, it is the initial result we’ve seen in many cases brought by plaintiffs whose goal is to advance ideology over public safety,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement shortly after the order was announced.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, issued similar statements within hours
of the judge’s decision.
“We passed the Protect Illinois Communities Act to get dangerous weapons off the street and create a safer state,” Harmon said in a statement. “This ruling will be appealed. We look forward to our day in court to zealously advocate for our neighbors who are weary of the gun violence epidemic.”
But the Illinois State Rifle Association, which has filed a separate challenge to the law in federal court,
applauded Morrison’s ruling, saying the ruling is “a clear indication” that Pritzker and lawmakers “rammed this law through improperly.”
In his ruling Jan. 20, Morrison sided with the plaintiffs’ argument that there were legitimate issues about whether the law violates their rights to due process and equal protection because it limits most people’s Second Amendment right to keep and bear certain firearms, while at the same time exempting some groups
of people from the law but not others. But Morrison also devoted much of the opinion to the procedural shortcuts lawmakers used to pass the bill—shortcuts routinely used in order to pass legislation quickly, especially when the General Assembly is facing statutory or constitutional deadlines.
In this case, the law’s underlying bill, House Bill 5471, passed through See BAN, Page 15
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres have announced that bond has been set for a Chicago man accused of illegally possessing a Dodge Durango and illegally possessing a loaded firearm.
Frank Whitefield, Jr., 20, appeared in bond court where Judge Joshua Dieden set bond at $250,000 with 10 percent to apply. Whitefield has been charged with one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony) one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (Class 4 felony) and one
count of possession of burglary tools (Class 4 felony).
On Tuesday, Jan. 24 at approximately 4:41 a.m., Naperville police responded to a call in the 1600 block of Westminster. Upon their arrival, officers learned that a Dodge Durango had been stolen from that location just prior to their arrival.
Through the course of their investigation, officers were able to locate the Durango at a gas station on Route 59 near I-88 in Naperville. As an officer approached the Durango at the gas station, it is alleged that
Whitefield and an unidentified individual exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
Following a brief foot pursuit, the officer took Whitefield into custody. It is alleged that when the officer took Whitefield into custody, he was in possession of a loaded .45 caliber Glock pistol with one round in the chamber, an extended magazine and a laser attachment, which the officer was able to take away from Whitefield.
Whitefield’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21 for arraignment in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.
Under a well lit canopyConveniently located on Lake Street / just west of Addison Road
Editor’s note: This op-ed was distributed by Capitol News Illinois on behalf of the News Literacy Project. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own.
By Alee Quick Americansare politically polarized, cynical about long-respected institutions and disappointed with elected leaders at the local, state and national levels. What’s driving these trends? I believe a sweeping lack of trust is a significant factor.
Trust is an essential element to strong personal, professional and societal relationships. Without it, relationships break down, often with unfortunate consequences. Research bears this out. The 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer found that nearly 6 in 10 respondents automatically distrust something until they encounter evidence of its credibility. And nearly two-thirds said we can no longer have constructive, civil discourse about important issues. The researchers noted, “when distrust is the default—we lack the ability to debate or collaborate.”
The public’s wariness is understandable, and misinformation is a major factor. In the 2020 Northwestern University Medill Trust in U.S. News Media study, 82 percent of those surveyed expressed concern about discerning factbased information from falsehoods. Three-quarters of respondents in the Edelman study worried about misinformation being used as a weapon.
News organizations and journalists are the focus of much cynicism. Trust in news fell in half the countries surveyed for the 2022 Reuters Institute Digital News Survey, with the U.S. at the bottom with just 26 percent of respondents trusting the news. And 46 percent of Edelman respondents found journalists credible, making them the least trusted of societal leaders in the report, barely ahead of government leaders, who gained the confidence of just 43 percent of respondents.
When trust waivers, so does democracy
Once trust is gone, it’s tough
to regain. But it’s critical that we all work to restore it. That’s because public trust and a news media industry that does its job well go hand in hand in protecting our democracy. That’s why my organization, the News Literacy Project (along with The E.W. Scripps Company), is focusing on trust in newsrooms and news coverage during our fourth annual National News Literacy Week (Jan. 23-27). News literacy is the ability to identify credible new sources so you know what information you can trust, share and act on.
The acceptance of facts is central to productive discourse and the functioning of our institutions. When we can’t agree on a common set of facts and credible sources, that cynicism cascades into distrust of institutions, decision-makers and governing bodies. The result is a weaker democracy.
Then there’s this: Distrust is simply bad for us. A 2021 study at the University of Bonn in Germany found that lack of trust in others is associated with chronic loneliness.
Restoring trust: It’s up to the press and the public Trust is a two-way street. To repair this credibility gap between the public and the press, both members of the media and news consumers must act.
News organizations must keep the public well-informed and cover the issues that communities care about most. Newsroom leaders need to clearly identify what is opinion, analysis, or straight news and explain how their newsroom decides what stories to cover and how to cover them.
Improving newsroom diversity is imperative to better reflect the community. While nobody is perfect, being transparent and fixing errors promptly and prominently goes a long way in maintaining credibility.
News consumers are the other half of the equation. We have responsibilities, too. Pay attention to what’s happening in your community. Subscribe to a local news outlet to ensure your town doesn’t become a “news desert.” Hold news organizations accountable. When they make a mistake or coverage falls short, call
I’ve always loved gardening. No, I’m going to take that a step further: I’ve always loved growing things. Growing things—as in flowers, vegetables, friendships, babies and kids, this column, faith, my marriage, knowledge, compassion, kindness and most importantly love. And more, of course. There is always more to grow.
I’ve learned many insider tips and tricks about growing things over the years. Today I realized I’m still learning.
I’m in a new climate and meeting new neighbors. That’s a scenario ripe for learning potential.
This morning I was talking with a neighbor. She has numerous plants in her yard that are common in this region, but completely new to me. I asked her about a couple—whether they liked sun or shade, water requirements, whether they were finicky or easy to grow, and so on.
“Oh, honey,” she said. “I just plant them. If they grow, they grow. If they don’t, they weren’t meant for my yard. They have to be happy to be here.”
I thought that was insightful and wise.
In my last house I had a large garden plot filled with shade. The owners before me planted roses. Rose plants thrive on sun and temperate winters. I had neither.
However, I did have am ample supply of small children at the time, which prevented me from treating my
By JILL PERTLER Columnist
roses with the TLC they needed to survive in my yard.
So they perished. At the time, I thought: Any plant can grow in the sun. It takes something special to grow in the shade.
I replaced the roses with hostas. Hostas are a common perennial in the cool, dark climates that favor them, but apparently, they aren’t as widespread as I thought. My autocorrect wants to change the word to “hostess,” so apparently, they haven’t even made their way into some dictionaries.
For those unfamiliar, hostas are sort of leafy northern versions of largeleaved tropical plants. They typically grow in a round mound, with leaves flowing outward. They can be as small as six inches in diameter or as large as 6 feet—and just as tall (or short).
Cultivars have come up with hundreds (and probably thousands) of named varieties. I believe I had close to 40 or 50 different strains in my backyard.
It took years to build, and was one of the hardest things for me to leave when I sold my house.
But, there were other gardens to grow.
I moved from a plot of ever-present shade and ever-present winter (or so it seemed) to ever-present sun and everpresent warmth. I’ve looked around and there isn’t a hosta to be found in my new environment.
Apparently growing hostas in my yard now would be akin to growing roses in my old plot. With that comes the realization: Not every plant likes the shade. It takes something special to grow in the sun.
Herein lies the wisdom of my new neighbor. Not everything can grow everywhere. Plants have to be happy in their environment. You can try forcing them, like the people who planted the roses at my old house, but it’s always going to be a battle against nature— against the order of things.
The same goes for people. Sometimes we find the right amount of shade and cool temperatures; other times we seek the sun. Both are good. Both can be good.
Bottom line, we all get to figure out where we grow best. When it’s time to put down roots and when it’s time to replant and regrow—sunshine or shade or maybe even a little of both.
I’m not sure where that will take me, but for now, right here seems right, but I’m still learning. I hope I never stop.
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.
On Jan. 27, the Addison Trail girls volleyball team was recognized as an Outstanding Sportsmanship Award recipient from the Zebras of Northern Illinois (ZONI), a group of Illinois High School Association (IHSA) volleyball officials. ZONI representatives pre-
It’s competition season, and Fenton’s cheerleader team is on fire. The team brought home yet another trophy after winning third place at the Marian Catholic Invite on Sunday, Jan. 22. The Lady Bison have been training hard and will put it all on the line at Sectionals on Saturday, Jan. 28.
sented the team with a banner during the school’s Pack the Place basketball games.
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Championship win
Are you suffering from back pain or sciatica? Then it’s likely your biggest problem is pain. But there’s another major problem: bad information.
To end sciatica misery you must have the right information. Pay close attention because local doctor Kelly Synowiec-Moroney DC is going to destroy sciatica myths and give you the facts.
MYTH: Sciatica will just “go away” with some rest.
FACT: If you are dealing with back pain, buttock pain or leg pain, then you must seek help from a doctor who is knowledgeable in sciatica immediately. Left untreated, sciatica can lead to permanent nerve damage - and lifelong pain.
MYTH: Pain is the only problem associated with sciatica.
FACT: In severe cases, sciatica can lead to the inability to control your bowels or bladder - leading to embarrassing situations.
MYTH: You must take pain medications to deal with sciatica.
FACT: Drugs like muscle relaxants, pain killers, narcotics, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications have serious potential side-effects and do not cure the root cause of sciatica.
MYTH: “I must have done something wrong to get sciatica.”
FACT: Physical work or simply sitting at a desk for long periods can lead to sciatica. Accidents and trauma can also be the culprits. Pregnancy can cause sciatica.
Sciatica can affect anyone - including super-fit celebrities like Tiger Woods, Sylvester Stallone, and British Olympic medallist Ian Wynne.
MYTH: Stop exercising and get several weeks of bed rest to overcome sciatica.
FACT: Staying active can help to relieve sciatic pain and prevent the pain getting worse. Staying inactive in bed could be the worst advice - based on a recent study in the Netherlands.
MYTH: Sciatica requires surgery.
FACT: NO! There’s been a huge breakthrough in the treatment of sciatica and lower back pain. It’s a new procedure called Non-Surgical ReConstructive Spinal Care. The excellent results from this treatment have been published in major medical journals. Success rates are up to 88%.
MYTH: “There’s nothing anyone can really do. I’m just stuck with this for the rest of my life.”
FACT: With the correct treatment from a healthcare professional who specialises in sciatica, you can find relief from the core cause - and the symptoms.
MYTH: Getting Sciatica properly diagnosed is expensive.
FACT: Not true. We are currently offering an initial consultation right here in Elmhurst for Just $43.
We have helped over 1,483 patients find relief from agonising back pain and sciatica. We are one of the first places to use Non-Surgical Re-
Constructive Spinal Care.
This procedure does not require a hospital stay. The focus is on finding - and correcting - the original cause of the back pain and sciatica.
According to Dr. Kelly, “We use a combination of ultra-advanced technology, not found elsewhere in the region, for precisely diagnosing the cause of your low back pain and sciatica. This means superior long-term results for most people.”
Because the treatment is non-surgical, safe, and easy, most patients report an almost immediately relief from their back pain.
Patient Jeff P. from Berwyn wrote, “My back pain was unbearable but the worst thing was the searing burning pain I felt in my buttock and leg... my wife insisted I see doctor Dr. Kelly. I’m 95% better in just a couple of weeks.”
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Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
CLUES ACROSS
1. Shed tears
5. Luxury jewelry designer
10. Goddess of wisdom
12. Convert into a particular form
14. Working-class people
16. It borders Canada (abbr.)
18. A princess can detect its presence
19. Red-brown sea bream
20. Defunct retail empire
22. Vase
23. Demeter’s equivalent
25. Monetary unit of the Maldives
26. French and Belgian river
27. Small amount
28. High schoolers’ test
30. Animal’s foot
31. Some is red
33. Per __: each
35. Swedish jazz pop duo
37. Plate for Eucharist
38. Train line
40. Russian pop duo
41. Stake
42. Plant by scattering
44. Female sibling
45. City of Angels hoopsters (abbr.)
48. Popular cookie brand
50. Group of Niger-Congo languages
52. A team’s best pitcher
53. Vomits
55. 19th letter of Greek alphabet
56. Men’s fashion accessory
57. Its capital is Pierre (abbr.)
58. Expensive cut of steak
63. Popular James Cameron film
65. A __: relating to knowledge gleaned from deduction
66. Kids’ snow toys
67. Flip side to yin
1. Global public health agency
2. Snake-like fish
3. Midway between northeast
and east
4. Dabbed
5. TV show
6. Folk singer DiFranco
7. Canadian flyers
8. Of the dowry
9. Commercial
10. The act of imitating
11. Equipment used to broadcast radio or TV signals
13. Lands of an emir
15. Swiss river
17. Island
18. Monetary unit of Afghanistan
21. One who surrenders under agreed conditions
23. Garfield is one
24. A baglike structure in a plant or animal
27. Small boats used in the Black Sea
29. Small savory Spanish dishes
32. Body part
34. Touch lightly
35. Popular grilled foods on a stick
36. __ Hess: oil company
39. Antelope with a reddish coat
40. Pharaoh of Lower Egypt
43. Pink Floyd’s Roger
44. Short and thick
46. Small, sac-like cavities
47. Performer __-Lo
49. Entrails of animal used as food
51. __ King Cole, musician
54. Where construction is done
59. Chap
60. Investment vehicle
61. Often mixed with tonic
62. Holiday beverage egg __
64. Against
Answers
I would like to share my Good Samaritan story with you from Jan. 20. I was in Villa Park going to a store in the 1-100 block of E. Park. I am a 76-yearold disabled woman who walks with a walker, but I do my best to be active. My friend had dropped me off by the store while she went to park her car. Usually, I am able to manage to get into a store, but this store had a step and the door was on an angle so it was awkward for me. While I was trying to figure out how to get into the store or wait for my friend, a white service or work truck stopped and a man got out and approached me, asking if he could help me. I thought maybe he was making a delivery, or certainly had a work-related reason to be there. I accepted his help and thanked him a few times but realize now that I should have thanked him even more. He held the door while I got in. When my friend came into the store, she had seen him helping me and said he just got back into his truck and drove away. We both think that he saw me struggling, stopped his truck and came to help me. What a good person! What a kind gesture!
Sheriff Mendrick has announced that starting now, he will decide which laws to enforce. How nice of him! You may or may not agree with the current situation, but what about when he decides not to enforce a law you may want enforced? He is so wrong, and needs to be removed from office. He was elected, and sworn in, to enforce all laws of this jurisdiction. The “Remove Mendrick” push is on! Please join in.
* * *
I heard an economist talking about egg prices. He said the sharp increase is partly due to bird flu, so while the demand is still there, the supply is down. Plus, the cost of feed has gone up, so that cost is being passed on to the consumer. So far, understandable. However, he then said that some chicken farmers are “padding” their costs when adding in the increased cost of feed, kind of hidden in the increases they are charging. He said there are also those who are hiking prices in “anticipation” of future costs, whether or not the increases happen. He said oil companies are known for that as well. So, when you think about paying $7 for a dozen
eggs, and I have seen it even higher, know that there is more to the story. * * *
If you order something online for yourself or someone else, you’ll probably be able to track your order and learn where exactly it is and when it will be delivered. If you vote in person, you get a little sticker that says “I voted.” Which process do you have more faith in?
* * *
I am listening to how the liberals spin the Joe Biden-has-hidden-classified-documents debacle. Nancy Pelosi, when interviewed by Chris Wallace about Trump’s stashing away documents, said how horrible and shameful it was, but when asked about Joe Biden, it was, “Well, it depends on the nature of the documents.” If Trump did indeed lie about the documents, that’s one thing. But if Biden forgot about them, that mental deficit is irreversible and just shows that he is not of sound mind.
* * *
Our far-left vice president is rightfully taking heat for part of a speech she recently gave that quoted the Declaration of Independence saying, “liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” However, she conveniently left out “life.” While I didn’t agree with overturning Roe v. Wade because I don’t want the government to have control over another person’s body, what about the life of the unborn, and its right to the pursuit of liberty and happiness? Here is a concept for “choice”: With the exception of rape and forcible incest, how about choosing not to get pregnant in the first place? And that includes men making a choice.
* * *
I think it is very important for all news media to publish Sheriff Mendrick’s statement on gun enforcement. Once again, the politicians and mainstream media want to craft the facts to their agenda. The problem is generally people are still gullible and believe these stories. How about making tougher penalties instead of taking away guns? Maybe bring back the death penalty.
* * *
Will more people admit that our country’s COVID-19 death statistics are bogus? There’s a difference in dying from COVID and dying with COVID. If COVID hadn’t arrived in 2020—an election year—I think things might have been different. I think it’s clear that Democrats and the media used COVID to get rid of Trump.
* * *
Import Chicago. Elect Chicago. Become Chicago. Thanks a lot, DuPage Democrats, for contributing to our area’s decline. Looking forward to more armed robberies, carjackings and catalytic converter thefts in the suburbs in 2023.
* * *
It is amazing to me how the media fawn over these politicians who have no clue what is in the U.S. Constitution. Worse yet, people voted for them. The charade of Sean Casten and other elected officials to chastise the DuPage County sheriff was a sad reflection on these elected officials. Grandstand without any knowledge of what you are saying, and the media paint you as a darling rather than a fool.
* * *
Hi neighbors. I sure did enjoy all your holiday decorations. Holidays are over; please consider putting them away so they are something “special” for the next season. Thanks!
* * *
Saturday morning (Jan. 21) I was watching the news on TV about the
teachers strike at UIC. Once you hear that it’s for the children, you know that all they want is more money. They came right out with it. They want more money. That’s fine. But whenever you hear a politician or a teacher say it’s for the children, all you know is they’re most likely lying. So don’t support them. That’s why the country is in what it’s in today. Thank you.
Uh-oh, Big Brother is after your gas stove. They are going to come and take it away. What’s next? Maybe your leaf blower? Well, if they took the leaf blowers away, that would be good. Those things are a pain in the ear. How do you think you get electricity for your electric stove and all the other electric items you have? They burn fossil fuel?
(Continued from page 5)
ence game in Villa Park. The Warriors led the Mustangs 28-24 at halftime. Willowbrook led Morton 37-27 midway through the third quarter, but the Mustangs closed the quarter with a 19-2 run to take a 46-39 lead with eight minutes to play.
Friday’s matchup between Willowbrook and Morton marked the third time the two teams have squared off this season. The Warriors opened their conference season with a 69-67 loss at Morton on Dec. 2. Willowbrook beat Morton 65-61 on the final day of the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic on Dec. 29.
Willowbrook senior Noah Campbell, who did not play in last week’s game at Hinsdale Central, poured in a team-leading 27 points in Friday’s loss to Morton.
Campbell made a free throw in the game’s closing seconds to reach the 1,000-point mark in his varsity career as a Warrior. Moments later, he drained a last-second 3-point shot at the buzzer to close the game with a varsity total of 1,003 points.
Campbell made five of eight attempts from 3-point range during Friday’s game.
Davis, who made three of seven shots from 3-point territory against
Morton, contributed 11 points and seven rebounds. Sobieszczyk supplied eight points and a team-leading 13 rebounds.
The Warriors lost a close battle to Deerfield in Saturday’s non-conference matchup. Neither team led by more than five points during the game. Willowbrook held a 16-15 lead after one quarter. The Warriors owned a 35-32 lead at halftime.
Deerfield outscored Willowbrook 16-9 in the third quarter to take a 4844 lead with eight minutes remaining. The Warriors held a one-point lead with one minute to play, but a late turnover by Willowbrook helped Deerfield gain the lead.
Sobieszczyk made nine of 13 attempts from the field and scored a team-high 20 points in Saturday’s loss. He also pulled down a team-leading 12 rebounds. Campbell, who made a pair of 3-point shots, added 18 points. Davis and Tumilty scored 10 and six points, respectively.
The Warriors’ season continues with this week’s conference games against Leyden and Downers Grove South, along with Saturday’s non-conference contest at Romeoville.
(Continued from page 4)
(from St. Charles to Jackson), Ardmore Avenue (from North to 13th), Summit Avenue (from Kenilworth to Harrison) and Villa Avenue (from North to Roosevelt).
SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing
Willowbrook High School held a state send-off celebration last week for seniors (left to right) Kalli Reeves-Kohoutek, Iliana Esparza and Amelia Tortorici, who were named as All-State Musicians by the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) earlier this school year. The three Willowbrook seniors performed during the Illinois Music Education Conference, which took place Jan. 25-28 in Peoria. Tortorici performed in the Honors Chorus (Alto II), while Esparza performed in the All-State Chorus (Tenor I). Reeves-Kohoutek applied for and was accepted to be part of the ILMEA All-State Future Music Educators Seminar, which is meant for students who plan to pursue a career in music education.
* * *
The DuPage County sheriff made public comments about enforcement of the recently passed Protect Illinois Communities Act, assault weapons ban. Because of that, the county board chairwoman wants to formally censure him. Leave politics out this. The criminals don’t care what laws are passed; they ignore all of them. These laws punish the citizens who follow the law. When the Illinois Supreme Court finds this act unconstitutional, will the chairwoman retract the censure and apologize?
The village does not routinely salt secondary streets, unless warranted due to icy conditions. Snow plowing of secondary streets will begin after the accumulation of 4 inches of snow, and mostly during normal business hours. Secondary stop intersections will be salted on an as-needed basis. The village urges motorists to use caution when navigating secondary streets.
All Villa Park residents are within two blocks of main arterial streets that will be plowed and salted for safe travel. When snow accumulation is predicted, keep garbage cans at least 4 feet back from the curb to eliminate or prevent garbage spills. In case of a major storm, when snowfall is predicted to exceed 8 inches, it may only be possible to keep a center lane open on secondary streets for emergency vehicles until the snowfall stops.
On-street parking is the major fac-
tor preventing effective snow removal. Therefore, the village is enlisting residents’ cooperation in planning ahead to remove their cars from the street when 2 inches or more of snowfall occurs. This is important to allow streets to be opened for residents and emergency vehicles as quickly as possible.
The village urges residents to drive slowly and use caution during snow events. Additionally, do not drive too close to or attempt to pass snow plows.
Residents are responsible for removing snow from their driveways and sidewalks. Snow removal from commercial parking lots and sidewalks are the responsibility of the owner. The village reminds residents and owners of parking lots to avoid shoveling, pushing or plowing snow onto public streets or public sidewalks.
Residents who have questions regarding the village’s procedures for snow and ice control can call the Villa Park Public Works Department at 630-834-8505.
The Willowbrook girls gymnastics team finished fourth in the team standings of Friday’s six-team West Suburban Gold Conference Meet at Leyden’s west campus in Northlake. The Warriors posted an overall team total of 127.775 at the conference meet.
The Downers Grove co-op team won the meet’s title with its total of 144.675. Leyden (135.675) placed second, while Hinsdale South (134.725) claimed third. Addison Trail (127.3) placed fifth. Morton (117.075) landed in sixth place.
Willowbrook sophomore Naomi
Campbell posted a fifth-place finish in the meet’s all-around standings with her total of 34.775. Campbell tied for fourth on the uneven bars with her score of 8.775. She delivered a seventh-place score of 9.2 on the vault, and placed eighth on the balance beam (8.65). She placed 15th in floor exercises (8.15).
Senior Sarah Ball provided the Warriors with a seventh-place finish on the balance beam (8.7). Ball placed eighth on the vault (9.1).
Senior Hanna Mitrick of Willowbrook tied for 14th in the meet’s allaround standings with her score of 31.225. Mitrick placed 14th on the
balance beam (7.8), 17th on the vault (8.45), tied for 18th on the uneven bars (7.225) and wound up 24th in floor exercises (7.75).
Willowbrook senior Molly Morris turned in a 17th-place score of 30.025 in the meet’s all-around competition.
Freshman Emily Hanson of the Warriors placed 18th in the all-around standings with her total of 29.025.
Addison Trail
Addison Trail senior Maddie Muccianti earned sixth-place honors in the conference meet’s allaround competition with her score of 34.125. Muccianti compiled that total after finishing eighth in floor
exercises (8.5), ninth on the balance beam (8.525), tying for ninth on the vault (9.0) and placing 12th on the uneven bars (8.1).
Junior Nicolette Franczak of the Blazers finished 10th in the meet’s all-around standings with her total of 32.3. Franczak placed 10th in floor exercises and 11th on the uneven bars, receiving scores of 8.3 in both events.
Sophomore Olivia DeBeau of Addison Trail placed 16th in the allaround standings with her total of 30.975. DeBeau finished ninth in floor exercises; her routine in that event received a score of 8.35.
Addison Trail freshman Gabby Trejo contributed a 14th-place score of 8.175 in floor exercises.
Junior Brooke Greaves of the Blazers finished 21st in the all-around competition with her score of 28.675. Greaves and freshman Mickey Fricano of the Blazers both tied for 18th on the vault with scores of 8.4.
Willowbrook competed in this week’s Glenbard West Regional, while Addison Trail battled in this week’s regional at Wheaton Warrenville South. The Warriors and Blazers both attempted to earn berths in the Lake Park Sectional, which takes place Feb. 6.
USA Cycling recently announced the 16 athletes headed to Hoogerheide, Netherlands to represent the United States at the 2023 UCI Cyclocross World Championships taking place Feb. 2-5.
Out of the 16 athletes, 14 are familiar faces to the DuPage Sports Commission and DuPage County, having competed right here only a few years ago.
In December 2021, 14,000 spectators witnessed the grit and glory
that is championship racing at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships at Cantigny Park.
These 14 athletes participated in this event, all finishing in the top six for their respective categories, several taking the top spots on the podium.
Below are details regarding the athletes, the categories they were chosen to compete in and their achievements while competing in DuPage County.
• Elite Men—Curtis White, finished second in the men’s elite in 2021
• Elite Women—Clara Honsinger, finished first in women’s elite in 2021 and Raylyn Nuss, finished second in 2021
• U23 Men—Andrew Strohmeyer, finished second in 2021
• U23 Women—Lizzy Gunsalus, finished third in 2021 and Madigan Munro, finished second in 2021)
• Junior Men—Magnus White,
finished 1st in 2021; Andrew (AJ) August, finished second in 2021; Ben Stokes, he finished fifth in 2021; Daniel English, he finished sixth in 2021
• Junior Women—Kaya Musgrave, finished third in 2021; Samantha Scott, finished fifth in 2021; Vida Lopez de San Roman, finished first in the Junior Women’s 15-16 race and has aged up into the Junior women’s 17-18 race for this year including the World Championships.
Declining his nomination to Team USA was Jack Spranger who finished fourth in Men’s Junior in 2021.
The 2021 event is an exciting example of the high-caliber endeavors taking place in DuPage County, which has welcomed athletes from around the United States, and in some cases the world, over the past several years.
DuPage County has even been a stop on the road to the Olympics.
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(Continued from page 7)
both chambers in its final form during the final two days of the legislature’s “lame duck” session earlier this month, with Pritzker signing the bill the night of Jan. 10. At noon the next day, Jan. 11, newly-elected lawmakers were sworn in and a new biennial session began, meaning the process would have had to start over after that point.
A House committee held multiple hearings on the bill in December, but at that time the draft language of the bill was contained in HB5855
The Illinois Constitution requires that bills be read by title into the record on three different days in each chamber, a process that would nor-
(Continued from page 6)
“Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home, but for this young victim, that sense of safety has now been shattered. The type of violent behavior alleged in this case also has a crippling effect on the entire community. Thanks to the quick response of the Oak Brook Police Department, one of the individuals suspected in this case is now in custody and if found guilty is facing a significant amount of time behind bars. I thank the Oak Brook Police Department for their outstanding work on this case as well as the multitude of other agencies that assisted.”
Miller-Valencia’s next court appearance is scheduled Monday, Feb. 6 for arraignment in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
PUZZLE 1
mally take at least five days to complete. But at the tail end of the lame duck session, lawmakers didn’t have that much time, so engaged in a commonly-used maneuver known as “gut and replace.”
That means the Senate took a bill that had already passed the House— in this case, one amending a portion of the state’s Insurance Code dealing with public adjusters—gutted it of all its content and replaced that content with the language of the assault weapons ban. Then they sent the “amended” bill back to the House for an up-or-down concurrence vote.
“This Court finds that the Defendants unequivocally and egregiously violated the Three Readings Rule
of the Illinois Constitution in order to circumvent the Constitutional requirements and avoid public discourse,” Morrison wrote.
Morrison also said he believes the legislation violates the Constitution’s requirement that bills be limited to only one subject, unless they deal with appropriations, codification, revision or rearrangement of laws. He said the assault weapon bill violates that provision because it contains provisions that also relate to human trafficking and drug trafficking.
The Illinois Supreme Court, however, has historically declined to strike down legislation based on either of those two arguments, ruling repeatedly that if the speaker of the
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them on it. Be civically engaged. Learn about the issues important to you and vote.
Most importantly, become more news-literate.
News literacy is key
What does it mean to be newsliterate? This nonpartisan approach to media literacy teaches people how to think about news and other information, not what to think. It provides an understanding and appreciation of the First Amendment and the role of a free press in a democracy, and it emphasizes a healthy skepticism—not cynicism— about the information we encounter.
There are easy ways to learn the skills you need to navigate the news
PUZZLE 2
more confidently, protect yourself— and your friends and family—from being misled, and push back against the kind of false and misleading information that eats away at the public’s trust in news. You can learn how to identify credible news sources, spot red flags that often accompany misinformation, and build other news literacy skills at NewsLiteracyWeek.org. Closing the credibility gap is crucial to the health of our democracy. Trust me on this.
Alee Quick is the civic marketing manager for the News Literacy Project. She lives in Carbondale and may be reached at aquick@newslit. org
CROSSWORD
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of Bensenville Elementary School District 2 in the County of DuPage, State of Illinois, that E-Learning Plan for said school district for the 2023-2026 school years will be available for public inspection between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the 2nd of February, 2023 at the Education Administration Center, 210 S. Church Road, Bensenville, IL, in this school district through February 15, 2023.
NOTICE IS FURTHER BEING GIVEN that a public hearing on said E-Learning Plan will be held at 7:00 p.m. daylight savings time, on the 15th day of February, 2023, at Educational Administration Center, 210 S. Church Road, Bensenville, IL, in this school district.
Dated this 2nd day of February 2023
Marisol Leyva, Secretary BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHOOL DISTRICT 2COUNTY OF DUPAGE, STATE OF ILLINOIS
Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review Feb. 2, 2023)
House and president of the Senate both certify that a bill was properly passed, the court would not second-guess that decision.
Morrison was just elected as a 4th Circuit judge in November. Prior to that, he had been the state’s attorney in Fayette County and was among a group of state’s attorneys who sued the state to challenge the constitu-
tionality of the sweeping criminal justice reform law passed in 2021 known as the SAFE-T Act. In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Morrison also wrote to Raoul to question the enforceability of Pritzker’s emergency orders at the time. DeVore later cited that letter as part of his 2022 campaign for attorney general.
State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) stood with his Senate Republican colleagues on Wednesday as they announced the filing of Senate Resolution 27, which calls on the Illinois Senate to reject any progressive income tax measure that is introduced in the 103rd General Assembly.
“The voters of Illinois already rejected this kind of tax structure,” said Senator Lewis. “In fact, in 2020 the Progressive Income Tax Constitutional Amendment failed in 101 of 102 counties. The Legislature should respect the will of the people and walk away from any plans to resurrect any form of a progressive income tax. I will be fighting against any bill that seeks a progressive tax
structure and am proud to co-sponsor SR 27.”
In 2020, the “Fair Tax” Amendment failed by more than 760,000 votes.
“Every day, Illinoisans are suffering the effects of record-high inflation,” added Senator Lewis. “People are really struggling. This is the worst possible time to come forward with a new tax scheme that is punitive toward residents and business owners.”
Senate Resolution 27 was read into the official Senate record on Wednesday. It now awaits to be assigned to a Senate committee.
(This was received from the office of State Senator Seth Lewis.)
State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock (D-Villa Park) is urging community members to reach out to her office with any bill ideas they may have for the new legislative session.
“Going forward into the 103rd General Assembly, I am committed to working alongside my community to pass meaningful legislation that will serve our district and state,” Blair-Sherlock said. “In order to do so, I must first hear about the issues that trouble our community.” “It is important that I listen to all members of our community, especially the most vulnerable, to gain an understanding of their insightful perspectives on issues they face that may be unbeknown to others.”
As the 2023 session is steadily approaching, community members
are welcome to submit suggestions of bill ideas and or any feedback to Blair-Sherlock’s constituent office by email at StateRep46@gmail.com or attend her monthly district meeting held on Zoom.
“As I begin my first term in office representing the 43rd district in Springfield, I plan on advancing the interest of our community, all while keeping in mind our shared values and objectives,” Blair-Sherlock said. “That is why I urge you to share any bill ideas you may have, no matter how small or big they may be. Please remember that your voices are what keep our democracy functioning.”
(This was received from the office of State Representative Diane Blair-Sherlock.)
SUNDAYS
50¢ Boneless Wings LIMIT 12 (with side purchase)
$5 Sausage & Peppers ‘Wich (with side purchase)
$9 Pasta Marinara (add $2 for Vodka, Meat, Carbonara or Alfredo)
$10 Bacon Wrapped Pickle Spears
$10 Vegan Pasta Marinara
$4 Mimosa - $6 Tito’s Bloody Mary
$4.50 Miller Lite or $6 Import 22 oz. Drafts
$17 Bottles of Woodbridge House Wine
H
TUESDAYS
$2 Beef/Pulled Pork Taco
$3 Chicken - Fish - Pork Belly - Steak
$4 Vegan Tacos - Impossible Meat - Chicken - Pork
$4 Cilantro Lime Rice or Seasoned Black Beans
$10 BACON Nachos
$4 Modelo Draft
$6 Don Julio Margaritas
$7 Don Julio Frozen Margaritas
$20 Any Mexican Beer Buckets
WEDNESDAYS
FREE Bar Bingo/Kids eat free
10 and Under - Ask server for more details
$5 Gourmet Cheeseburger (with side purchase)
$10 BACON Wrapped Mushrooms
$8 Impossible Burger (with side purchase)
$5 U Call Its $8 and Under Wine/Liquor ONLY
THURSDAYS
$5 Pulled Pork ‘Wich (with side purchase)
$10 BACON Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks
$8 Vegan Chicken Parmesan ‘Wich (with side purchase)
$4 Drafts $8 and Under
Half Price Bottles of Wine $25 or More
1/2 Off any $20 or More Bourbon, Scotch or Whiskey
Vegan Chili Bowl - $7
Vegan Chicken Nuggets - $12
Vegan Meatballs - $15
Vegan Sausage and Peppers - $15
Vegan Chicken Sliders - $15
Impossible Sliders - $16
Vegan Kabobs - $18
Vegan Southwest Quesadilla - $15
Impossible Burger - $17
Vegan Buffalo Chicken ‘Wich - $16
Vegan Chicken Parmesan ‘Wich - $18
Vegan Pasta - $14
99¢ Chicken Tenders ~ SLIDERS ~
Vegan Chicken Burrito - $18
Vegan Stuffed Peppers - $25
Vegan Sides - $5
10” Vegan Cheese Pizza - $13
Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream - $5
3 Layer Vegan/Gluten Free Cake - $7
$2 Grilled Chicken - Meatball - Pulled Pork
$3 Burger - Fish - Pork Belly
$4 Vegan Chicken or Impossible Slider
$5 Italian Beef ‘Wich
$8 Medium Cheese Pizza - $3 Full Toppings
$12 XL Cheese Pizza - $4 Full Toppings
$4 Well Gin, Rum, Tequila, Vodka & Whiskey
$4 House Wine (Woodbridge)
$5 Blue Moon Drafts
$15 Domestic Buckets - $20 Import Buckets
$8 Jefferson Old Fashioned
$5 Jefferson 1.25 oz. Pour
36 Drafts HHH
350 Bourbons, Scotches & Whiskeys
$5 Pepper & Egg ‘Wich (with side purchase)
$15 Fish & Chips (1/2 Pound Alaskan White Fish)
$10 Bacon Stuffed Avocado
$8 Vegan Burrito (with side purchase)
$5 Stella Draft
$5 Crown or Titos
$25 High Noon Buckets
H H H
$5 1/2 Lb BLT ‘Wich (with side purchase)
$10 BACON Croquettes
$8 Vegan Buffalo Chicken ‘Wich (with side purchase)
$5 Sam Seasonal Draft
$5 Proper Twelve Shot
$5 Absolut or Jameson
$22 Modelo Buckets
THE
H H H
STARTS AT 5PM!
100 oz. Miller Beer Towers - $21 H H H
Heart Shaped Taco Platter with 8 Tacos, Rice, Beans, Chips and Salsa - $30