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394 390 396 445 396917

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021 THURSDAY, MAY 6,2022 2021 THURSDAY, MARCH 3, THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021 THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021

Cullerton resigns Senate seat, reportedly plans to plead guilty to federal charges Former labor committee chair was charged with being paid by unions without doing work

By Peter Hancock

Illinois politics. That investigation jury that was included in Culler- well as illegally obtaining health dered the case to proceed.

Cullerton’s seat will be filled by also led to indictments of former ton’s court filing at the time. care through the union’s health inState Sen. Tom appointment from the Democratic Sen. Martin Sandoval, now deCullerton was charged with 39 surance plan.

Cullerton, D-Vilceased, former Sen. Terry Link and counts of embezzlement—one for Judge Gettleman denied the mo- party organization in the 23rd Senla Park, resigned former Rep. Luis Arroyo, all Dem- each paycheck he received—as tion to dismiss the charges and or- ate district. his seat Wednesocrats. day, Feb. 23, and It also led to indictments of sevwill reportedly eral officials at utility giant Complead guilty this monwealth Edison for allegedly month to fedtrying to bribe former longtime eral corruption House Speaker Michael Madigan, Tom Cullerton charges.

D-Chicago, in exchange for passCullerton, 52, a ing favorable legislation for the former chairman of the Senate La- company. bor Committee, was first elected to Although Madigan himself was the Senate in 2012 and was seated not charged and denied any wrongin 2013. In August 2019, he was doing, that controversy, among othindicted on multiple charges of em- ers, led to him being ousted from bezzlement for allegedly receiving the speaker’s position by Demopay and benefits from Teamsters crats in the General Assembly and, Joint Council 25 while doing little in 2021, his resignation from the or no work for the union.

House.

Cullerton had denied any wrongIn October 2021, Cullerton’s doing and was originally scheduled attorney filed a motion to dismiss to go on trial in 2020, but that was most of the charges. In that motion, postponed due to the COVID-19 he explained that Cullerton had pandemic. His most recent trial been a member of the Internationdate was scheduled for April 18. al Brotherhood of Teamsters and On Feb. 23, though, the Chica- worked as a truck driver for Hostgo Sun-Times reported that Culler- ess Brands until that company filed ton’s attorney, Daniel Collins, had for bankruptcy in 2012, the same requested a change of plea hearing year he was elected to the Senate. and Cullerton submitted his resig“Cullerton had been elected nation to the Senate. to the state Senate, but like most U.S. District Judge Robert Get- members of the state legislature, tleman scheduled that plea hearing he needed a second job—one with for March 8. some flexibility, especially since “Tom Cullerton served his con- he would be in Springfield during stituents in the 23rd Senate District legislative sessions,” his attorney for nearly a decade. I look forward explained. to welcoming and working with a In March 2013, John Coli, the new senator from the district,” Sen- former president of Teamsters Joint CHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa Park Review Freshman of the Willowbrook ate President DonLindsey Harmon,Rugg D-Oak Council 25 who softball has also team been is in-pictured while at- lowbrook rebounded from Friday’s loss to post an 11-2 win in Saturday’s game at tempting score a run during Friday’s game at Downers Grove Park, said in atostatement. dicted, hired Cullerton and told himSouth. Rugg tried Hinsdale Central. The Warriors bashed three home runs in the second inning of SatCHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa ParkSilver Review West Suburban to score from second in base on a by sophomore Katelyn Cox in the top of urday’s non-conference battle against the Red Devils of the Cullerton’s indictment 2019 “tosingle complete his political responsiConference.

Senior Knudtson, freshman Isabella Dugo and that sophomore the second inning, the game was tiedcelebrated at 2-2.

Downers Grove catcher Willowbrook Highwhen School’s Class of 2021 its commencement two ceremony that beganAnnemarie at 9 a.m. The others participated in the ceremony started grew out of a sprawling investigabilities and to attend picket lines South’swith Kayleigh the home Dennison (No. 5) is pictured in the tagged Rugg out atJohn home plate for the third outevents,” of theon inning.

Themorning.

Mustangs ceremonies in the school’s main gymnasium Sunday Thewent en- at 11 a.m. Dennison The photoprovided shows members of runs. the Willowbrook Senior Choir performing tionseparate

by U.S. Attorney Lausand other union according background of the above photo. more aboutsee thePage Warriors, onoffice to defeat the Warriors 7-3in in to thea statement West Suburban contest. Wiltire class over 470 students.

About half made ofGold those students attended the during the day’s first service.

ForFor more photos, 4. see page 14. ch’s intoincludes public corruption Coli to Conference a grand CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Graduation day Play at the plate at Willowbrook

Arbor Day in Villa Park

Police Reports. ..........6 Reports...........8 ..........8 Police .........6 Reports Legal Notices ......... 15 Viewpoint ................6 Viewpoint. .................6 ...............7 Viewpoint

14 Sports.................... ....................11 16 Puzzles ������������������ Sports 17 Classifieds..............13 Classifieds..........17-18 Classifieds..............14 Classifieds..............16 PRSRT STD PRSRTSTD STD PRSRT PRSRT STD US POSTAGE POSTAGE USUSUSPOSTAGE POSTAGE PAID PAID PAID PAID ROCK VALLEY ROCKVALLEY VALLEY ROCK ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHING LLC PUBLISHINGLLC LLC PUBLISHING PUBLISHING LLC

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CHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa Park Review SUBMITTED PHOTO Villa Park 390271 Review

Memorial Day in Villa Park KATE KATE DRURY DRURY

The Village of Villa Park observed Arbor Day with a tree planting on Friday, April 30. Pictured (left to right) at the tree planting at the village’s Franklin Park, located at 218 N. Third Ave., are: Villa Park Village your local agent 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 CHRIS FOX FILE PHOTO Villa Park Review Village Trustee Cheryl Tucker, Villa Village President Albert Bulthuis, Villa Park Village Trustee (and Contact me for athePark Tom Cullerton resigned from Illinois State Senate last week.

Cullerton, aPark VillaCommunity Park Democrat, Village President-Elect) Nick Cuzzone and Leslie Allison-Seei—chair of the Villa Pride 630-514-9961 represented 23rd District in Springfield. resigned on Wednesday, Feb. 23.service Cullerton has reportedly Villa complementary Park the Veterans of Foreign Warson (VFW) Post 2801 of held itsApril.

Memorial Day onDay Monday mornCommission.

Arbor Day is observed theHe last Friday each The National Arbor Foundation 630-514-9961 agreed to plead guilty toMemorial federal corruption charges.

In 2019, Cullerton was indicted on nearly 40recognifederal ing Cortesi Veterans Park.

Post Commander Jim Blankshain is pictured bowing his head as kdrury@atproperties.com hasatrecognized Villaanalysis Park with Tree City USA designation for 36 straight years.

To receive that market charges of embezzlement for allegedly receiving pay and from Teamsters Council 25 of while Willowbrook High School students Hendrickson andbenefits Anna Seelbach soundaJoint taps at the end the kdrury@atproperties.com tion, a community must have a tree Lily board or department, a tree-care ordinance, comprehensive comofThe home!! doing little oryour nopost’s work.

Cullerton elected to the Park Village Board in 2005.

He spent four years ceremony.

2020 Memorial Day event wasVilla canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This munity forestry program and an was Arbor Day observance. as a village trusteeincluded before being elected Villanames Park Village President in 2009. Near end of his term year’s observance a reading of the of the Post 2801 members whothe have recently died. as village president, Cullerton elected to the“Sid” Illinois Statewho Senate.

Thisasfile shows Cullerton, That list included World War help!

IIwas veteran Charles Bergh, served thephoto master of ceremonies I would during his first term as a to state senator, in his Parkyears. office A onveteran Ardmore Cullerton, who was of the post’s annual Memorial Day service forVilla several of Avenue. the U.S. Navy, Bergh died in first elected to He thewas Illinois State old.

Senate in 2012, waspost’s up forlast re-election this year.

October 2020.

94 years Bergh was the surviving World War II veteran.

LOW INVENTORY!

Federal judge sets trial date for State Sen. Tom Cullerton--Page 4

2 • Thursday, March. 3, 2022 - Rock Valley Publishing

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Governor lifts Illinois indoor mask mandate

“

Illinois remains a standout in the Midwest for its vaccination rates. Illinois is home to the highest percentage of residents who have received a COVID-19 vaccine as well as the

As individuals, I encourage everyone to make the best choices going forward to protect your health, along with that of your family and community – and most importantly to treat each other with kindness and compassion.”

highest percentage of vaccinated and fully vaccinated 5–17-year-olds.

Vaccines continue to be readily available at pharmacies across the state, many local health departments,

doctor offices, federally qualified health centers, and other locations.

To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines. gov.

– Gov. JB Pritzker

plement their own masking requirements. Schools are urged to continue following state and federal guidance to help keep students and staff safe in the classroom. The Governor will review the results of lifting the indoor mask mandate before making any announcement regarding the school mask mandate.

In the last four months of 2021— following the reinstatement of the state’s mask mandate last August 30—Illinois had fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations per capita and fewer COVID-19 deaths per capita than the entire Great Lakes region. In the same period, Illinois out-tested the entire Midwest on a per capita basis, providing residents with significantly better access to testing than any of its neighbors. Even with a much greater testing capacity, Illinois saw fewer reported COVID-19 cases per capita during this time than neighbors such as Iowa and Missouri.

412811

Due to the continued decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations (down 50 percent), and increase in available ICU beds (up 24 percent), Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on Friday, Feb .25, that the state’s indoor mask requirement would end on Monday, Feb. 28, at 12:01 a.m.

More than eight million people in Illinois are fully vaccinated with an average of approximately 16,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered each day, including more than 4,600 first doses daily.

“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve taken action to save lives and keep our economy open – and I’m proud that Illinoisans have done the hard work that has our made our state a leader in the Midwest,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Today, our hospitals are much better positioned to handle emergencies and more than half of all eligible adults have been boosted; this is the progress we needed to make to remove our state indoor masking requirements.

“As individuals, I encourage everyone to make the best choices going forward to protect your health, along with that of your family and community – and most importantly to treat each other with kindness and compassion.”

Masks will still be required where federally mandated (including on public transit), health care facilities, congregate settings, long term care facilities, and daycare settings.

Additionally, private businesses and municipalities may choose to im-

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4VP • Thursday, March. 3, 2022 - Rock Valley Publishing

Concert to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Villa Park reView Your Hometown Newspaper

Local celebrity Matt Kissane is part of lineup

240 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL. 60126

Tickets for the 2022 Spring Concert for Jimmy Zito, “Rockin’ the House for St. Jude,” benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, are now on sale.

The annual event will also be supporting the Chicago Friars Club.

This year’s lineup includes The Chicago Hitmen with Nick Psyhogios, Phil Feo, John Erst, Jack Skalon, Carlo Isabelli, Natalie Lande, John Truncali, Doug Sylvester, Ken Modaff, Chuck Sloka, Roger Reupert and Dez Desormeaux.

Performances by Diva Montell, Stefanie Lemmon-Brinegar, Tony Ocean, The Jersey Girls, Jack D’Amico, Vito Zatto, John Anthony, Leah

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.

Display Advertising: 630.834-8355 Classified Advertising: 630.834-8244 News: 630.834-8244 General Information: 630.834-8244

Oduro-Kwarten, Traci and Mike Bruccoleri, Regina Karma, Lee Stevens, Jackson Snelling, LuLu and Lombard and Villa Park’s own, Matt Kissane.

Hosting the event will be Ron Onesti and Nick and Phyllis Psyhogios.

There will be handouts to the audience and a guitar auction, this year featuring “The Cornerstones of Rock Guitar” which is autographed by all members of that show, including Ides of March, The Buckinghams, Cryin Shames, Shadows of Knight and others.

For tickets visit www.arcadalive. com.

E-mail: Advertising Department: ads1@rvpublishing.com News Department: CFox@rvpublishing.com Classified Department: Classifieds@rvpublishing.com

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Matt Kissane was recently given a huge shout-out from fellow entertainer and talk show host Tony Ocean during an interview he was conducting with Tom Farley. The Facebook Live show called “Ocean’s Pit,” which airs weekdays at noon, was in the process of concluding an in-depth interview with Farley when out of the blue Ocean, aka Moe Carrara, announced that his good friend Matt Kissane does an incredible Chris Farley impression. Even more, he added, Kissane co-starred with Tom and Chris’ other brother’s John and Kevin in the A&E Biography “Chris Farley Anything For A Laugh!”

“I was totally blown away,” said Kissane. “It was so nice of Tom and Tony to mention me.” Matt Kissane and Tony Ocean will appear together in May at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles as part of The Concert for Jimmy Zito, “Rockin The House for Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.”

DuPage County presents $10.6 million to DuPage Foundation

Administration: Chris Fox News Coordinator Debra Hamilton Advertising Director Pete Cruger Publisher

Advertising: Brenda Garcia Marguerite Micken

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.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Klamecki honored as 88’s Best for January

Reprints: 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.

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

Office Hours:

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Willowbrook High School senior Rachael Klamecki of Villa Park was named her school’s recipient of the 88’s Best award for the month of January. Klamecki was recognized during the District 88 Board of Education’s Jan. 24 meeting. She is pictured (right) recently with Willowbrook Principal Dan Krause. The 88’s Best honor recognizes students for their achievements in and out of the classroom. Klamecki is an accomplished student who has participated in a multitude of extracurricular activities at Willowbrook. She has been named to the school’s Distinction Honor Roll in each semester of her time at Willowbrook.

Klamecki is an inductee of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society, the Math Honor Society, the World Language Honor Society and Willowbrook’s social studies honor society—Civitas. She has also been named an Illinois State Scholar. Klamecki is a member of Willowbrook’s math team, as well as its Science Olympiad and Scholastic Bowl teams. She’s also a member of Willowbrook’s Environmental Club, Key Club and Blue Crew. Additionally, Klamecki is a standout member of Willowbrook’s girls soccer team, serving as a team captain and earning recognition on the West Suburban Gold Conference’s All-Conference Team. Klamecki has served as a leader in the school’s New Beginnings program, a program in which upper-class students mentor freshmen and assist them in adjusting to high school. She’s also served as an ambassador to assist students who transfer to Willowbrook. After she graduates from Willowbrook, Klamecki plans to study software or mechanical engineering. She ultimately hopes to create or join a business that helps improve the quality of life in third-world countries.

DuPage County presented a check for $10.6 million to DuPage Foundation this morning to mark the launch of a strategic grantmaking partnership known as the DuPage Community Transformation Partnership (Partnership).

Over the next five years, the Partnership will implement a $10 million grant program to support social service not-for-profit organizations helping DuPage County residents most severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will focus on providing assistance for food insecurity, housing instability, mental health, and substance abuse.

In January, the County Board voted to execute an agreement to allocate $10.6 million to DuPage Foundation in federal funds received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the grant program.

The Foundation received $600,000

to administer the program and disburse the ARPA funds on behalf of the county.

“Together, the County Board, DuPage Foundation and our non-profit organizations will make a positive, lasting difference to those workers and families in DuPage County who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis. This partnership fosters a sustainable, whole-community approach to supporting those in need,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to provide transformative change for our community, and our staff and Board of Trustees are thrilled to commence our partnership with the county,” said DuPage Foundation Presiden and CEO Dave McGowan.

Guidelines will be developed over the next few months and an announcement regarding the application process will be made this spring.

Villa Park Library events Editor’s note: Unless otherwise indicated, information on each of the following events and programs can be found by visiting the library’s website at vppl.info or by calling 630-834-1164.

Ongoing programs Harry Potter Book Night takehome kits now available Everyone can celebrate all things Harry Potter with the Villa Park Public Library’s Harry Potter Book Night take-home kits. These kits will have fun activities and crafts to go along with this year’s theme: Magical Journeys. Registration with a

valid email address is required. Info: visit the library’s website at vppl.info or call 630-834-1164.

Library hosting community storytimes The Villa Park Public Library will hold Rhythm & Rhyme Community Storytimes on the following Mondays: March 21 and April 18, all from 11:30 a.m. until noon. This drop-in program will be held offsite at the Oakbrook Terrace Park District Heritage Center, located at 1S325 Ardmore Ave., in Oakbrook Terrace.

Registration is not needed, but masks are required for all attendees.

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, March. 3, 2022 • 5VP

Warriors’ season ends with a loss to York Dukes edge Willowbrook 53-45 in post-season opener; Warriors finish with a 20-10 record

STAFF REPORTS

The Willowbrook boys basketball team’s 2021-22 season ended with last week’s 53-45 loss to York in an IHSA Class 4A game at the Glenbard West Regional.

The Warriors led the Dukes 27-22 at halftime in the post-season opener on Feb. 23. York outscored Willowbrook 14-3 in the third quarter to take a 36-30 lead. The Dukes maintained the lead throughout the fourth quarter.

Junior Joey Tumilty drained a 3-point shot with about 4:30 left in the third quarter to provide Willowbrook’s only points of that period.

Tumilty’s score gave the Warriors a 30-26 lead. York then delivered a 10-0 run to end the quarter.

Willowbrook completed the season with an overall record of 20-10.

The Warriors’ record stood at 5-8 on New Year’s Day. Willowbrook proceeded to win 15 of 17 games to close the season. The Warriors’ only losses of 2022 were an 82-74 West Suburban Gold Conference loss at Proviso East on Jan. 21, along with last week’s loss to York.

Willowbrook and Proviso East shared the 2021-22 West Suburban Gold Conference title. Both teams posted conference records of 10-2.

The Warriors avenged their Jan. 21 loss at Proviso East with a 79-77 victory over the Pirates on Feb. 12 in Villa Park.

York’s season ended with a 64-26 loss to Glenbard West in Friday’s regional final. The powerhouse Glenbard West team advanced to this week’s Bartlett Sectional. Two wins in Bartlett would propel the Hilltoppers to a super-sectional game at Northern Illinois University. The winner of the super-sectional in DeKalb will advance to the IHSA state semifinals in Champaign.

Senior Marquel Saleek scored a team-leading 22 points for the Warriors in their loss to York. Saleek made four of 12 attempts from behind the 3-point line. One of his 3-point baskets cut York’s lead to 4240 with about 3:40 left in the game.

Saleek’s next 3-point basket reduced the Dukes’ lead to 49-43 with about 34 seconds to play.

Junior Noah Campbell provided 10 points for Willowbrook. Ju-

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Willowbrook’s boys basketball team opened the IHSA post-season with last week’s 53-45 loss to York in a semifinal game at the Class 4A Glenbard West Regional. The Warriors finished the season with an overall record of 20-10. Willowbrook held a 27-22 halftime lead, but the Dukes outscored the Warriors 14-3 in the third quarter to take a 36-30 lead with eight minutes to play in the Feb. 23 contest.

York’s season ended with a loss to Glenbard West in Friday’s regional final in Glen Ellyn. Senior Marquel Saleek (above left - No. 3) scored 22 points for Willowbrook in last week’s post-season battle against York. Junior Noah Campbell (above right - No. 25) added 10 points. Junior Joey Tumilty (right - No. 20) provided the Warriors’ only points of the third quarter with a 3-point basket that gave the Warriors a 30-26 advantage. York went on a 10-0 run to end the quarter.

Willowbrook won 15 of its last 17 games of the season. The team’s record stood at 5-8 on New Year’s Day. The Warriors claimed a share of the 2021-22 West Suburban Gold Conference title with Proviso East. Both teams posted conference records of 10-2.

nior Isaac Sobieszczyk scored three points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

The Warriors made 17 of 62 attempts from the field in the regional

semifinal against York. Willowbrook sank eight of 35 shots from 3-point range and converted three of four free-throw attempts.

Willowbrook/AT boys swimmers compete at Leyden Sectional Squad earns a fifth-place finish in the team standings

STAFF REPORT

The Willowbrook/Addison Trail boys swim team completed its season at the IHSA Leyden Sectional on Feb. 19. The combined squad of Warriors and Blazers swam to a fifth-place finish in the team standings of the 10-team event.

The Willowbrook/Addison Trail swimmers who earned top-10 finishes in individual events included junior Alexander Dean, who finished eighth in the 500-yard freestyle, which he completed in 5 minutes, 30.99 seconds. Dean provided another eighth-place effort in the 200-yard freestyle, which he finished in 2:00.25.

Sophomore Michael Sampey placed eighth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:18.19). Sophomore Jason Hasler swam to a 10th-place finish in the same

event, which he completed in 2:19.67.

Sampey added a ninth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.62).

Senior Michal Niemirski delivered an eighth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle, which he completed in 51.26 seconds. Niemirski swam the 50-yard freestyle in a ninth-place time of 23.26 seconds.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Sampey, senior Gerald Legaspi, Hasler and Dean earned a fifth-place finish (1:40.11). The 400-yard freestyle relay foursome of Niemirski, sophomore James Burns, Legaspi and Dean turned in another fifth-place effort with its time of 3:39.98.

Burns, Sampey, Hasler and Niemirski earned a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. The four swimmers finished the race in 1:52.10.

6 • Thursday, March. 3, 2022 - Rock Valley Publishing

Police Reports

Feb. 20 Joseph T. Allamian, 57, of St. Charles, was charged with battery in the 400 block of S. Grace at 7:15 p.m.

Feb. 19 Anthony Simon, 21, of Addison, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in the 700

block of N. Highview at 9:46 p.m.

A 23-year-old Addison woman was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 1-100 block of N. Church at 4:29 a.m.

in the 1-100 block of W. Vermont at 4:43 p.m. A complainant reported that an unknown suspect removed a catalytic converter from a vehicle that was parked in a driveway.

Feb. 16 Danira M. Torres, 18, of Chicago, was charged with possession of cannabis in a vehicle near Church and Ruga at 11:19 p.m.

Feb. 17 A complainant at a hotel in the 1-100 block of W. Roosevelt reported at 4:35 p.m. that a subject was causing a disturbance. The subject was issued a no-trespass notice.

Villa Park A complainant in the 300 block of Feb. 19 N. Mission reported at 5:54 p.m. that Police said Glenn D. Terry, 65, of an unknown suspect removed a fireHines, was arrested on a failure to arm from their home. appear warrant out of the Villa Park Police Department at 12:47 a.m.

Feb. 15 A 39-year-old Villa Park man was Police said Sandra M. Pazur, 47, of charged with two counts of domestic Addison, was arrested on a failure to battery in the 200 block of S. Monte- appear warrant out of DuPage County rey at 1:02 a.m. near N. Yale and W. St. Charles at 5:32 Retail theft was reported at a food p.m. store in the 1-100 block of E. St. Charles at 3:43 p.m. A complainant Feb. 14 reported that an unknown suspect Burglary was reported at a mobile removed multiple items from display phone store in the 200 block of W. shelves and attempted to leave the North at 1:46 a.m. A complainant restore without paying for the items. ported that an unknown suspect(s) A complainant in the 1000 block of entered the store, removed items from N. Villa reported at 6:50 p.m. that a display shelves and vandalized the insuspect battered them while entering terior of the store. a locker room.

A 24-year-old Chicago woman was charged with two counts of domestic Feb. 18 battery at a hotel in the 1-100 block of Theft of vehicle parts was reported W. Roosevelt at 3:36 a.m.

A complainant in the 1600 block of S. Michigan reported at 4:50 p.m. that a subject is sending harassing text messages.

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Feb. 13 A complainant in the 1-100 block of N. Michigan reported at 7:31 p.m. that a subject is sending threatening text messages.

Feb. 9 Burglary was reported at a fitness center in the 200 block of W. Roosevelt

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at 6:59 p.m. A complainant reported in a physical altercation. This case is that an unknown suspect broke the under investigation. BEPC2200156. lock on their locker and stole money.

Feb. 21, 7:01 a.m. in the 800 block of E. Grand Ave., a complainant reFraud ported his catalytic converter was According to information provided found to be missing from his vehilast week by the Villa Park Police De- cle. This case is under investigation. partment, police reported two incidents BEPC2200148. of residents being a victim of fraud.

Feb. 21, 10:33 p.m. in the 100 block of George Street, a comBensenville plainant reported the front plate to The Bensenville Police Depart- his vehicle was found to be missment recently reported the follow- ing. This case is under investigation. ing arrests and citations. Persons BEPC2200149. who are charged with domestic Feb. 21, 11:41 p.m. near Foster battery are not named in order to Avenue and N. Route 83, Pierre protect the victim’s privacy. Read- Moore, 42, of Chicago, was arresters are reminded that an arrest does ed for driving while license was not constitute a conviction, and that suspended, transportation or possessuspects are considered innocent un- sion of open alcohol by the driver, less proven guilty in a court of law. no insurance and a traffic violation.

Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not BEPC2200150. named.

Feb. 18, 6:50 a.m. in the 100 block Feb. 23, 1:03 p.m. in the 100 block of N. Mason St., Adrian Resto, 22, of S. York Road, a complainant re- was arrested for failure to appear ported her bank account was put on warrant. BEPC2200145. a hold status due to fraudulent activFeb. 18, 12:51 p.m. in the 300 ity. This case is under investigation. block of W. Hillside Dr., a 21-yearBEPC2200158. old Bensenville woman was arrested Feb. 23, 4:37 p.m. in the 300 block for domestic battery. BEPC2200146. of S. York Road, a complainant reFeb. 17, 12:36 p.m. in the 100 ported a catalytic converter from a block of E. Washington St., an unbusiness-owned vehicle was found known suspect posing as an employto be missing. This case is under in- ing attempted to change one of the vestigation. BEPC2200159. employee’s banking account number Feb. 22, 2:08 p.m. in the 400 block for direct deposit. This case is under of E. Pine Ave., a complainant re- investigation. BEPC2200141. ported her spouse took her firearms Feb. 17, 9:06 p.m. in the 600 without authorization. This is case is block of N. Route 83, a complainant under investigation. BEPC2200154. reported he left his phone in the reFeb. 22, 2:41 p.m. in the 100 stroom and when he returned it was block of W. Irving Park Road, a found to be missing. This case is uncomplainant reported a dispute with der investigation. BEPC2200143. an unknown suspect and guided the unknown suspect out the front door. Mazzochi to host This case is under investigation.

BEPC220015. discussion on Feb. 22, 11:42 p.m. in 900 block of W. Irving Park Road, a com- transportation plainant reported two suspects were

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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 Feb. 21 Jonathan Esposito, 30, of Melrose Park, was charged with DUI in the 100 block of N. Rohlwing at 10:36 p.m.

Peter J. Motisi, 39, of Rolling Meadows, was charged with DUI near Fairbank and Republic at 9:26 p.m.

Brandon M. Parks, 21, of Addison, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon at 2 a.m.

State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) is hosting a forum on public funding of road construction.

The online webinar will take place via zoom on Thursday, March 3 from 6-7 p.m.

Rep. Mazzochi will host Mike Sturino, president and CEO of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, and a representative from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). They will discuss motor fuel taxes, funding, and the contract procurement process. IDOT will address issues of road construction, maintenance, and how future IDOT construction projects affect travel for district residents.

“This is an event to learn how your tax dollars pay for new construction and the maintenance of existing infrastructure,” Mazzochi said. “It’s an event to get answers to questions like, ‘when are they going to fix those potholes all over Route 83?”

Interested participants can register for the zoom at RepMazzochi.com or watch via Facebook live at her page, Facebook.com/RepDeanneMazzochi.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach out to Rep. Mazzochi’s legislative office at (630) 8528633 or email mazzochi@ilhousegop. org.

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, March. 3, 2022 • 7

Rock Valley Publishing

Viewpoint

March 3, 2022 • 7

Draining Lake Michigan with a spoon

By Jim Nowlan Illinois is known across the land for political corruption.

I always get a hearty, knowing chuckle when I tell Rotary Club luncheons that I have worked for three unindicted Illinois governors. (True: Ogilvie, Thompson, Edgar. The other four across that era were all measured for striped suits: Kerner, Walker, Ryan, Blagojevich.)

Recently, the attorney for a Chicago alderman found guilty of political corruption (one of 37 since 1972, and counting) cynically argued against jail time for his client. He scoffed that any possible deterrent effect would be “no more effective than draining Lake Michigan with a spoon.” Ouch.

This unfortunate—for Illinois— phrase will enter the lexicon of Illinois politics alongside the famous harrumph by a Chicago ward boss to a young innocent jobseeker, who came into his office alone and unsponsored: “We don’t want nobody nobody sent.”

Political corruption in Illinois has a hallowed tradition, you might say, and it is bipartisan.

In 1913, after a long trial in the United States Senate, the solons expelled their Illinois Republican colleague William Lorimer. The Blonde Boss of Chicago and his co-conspirators had bribed 40 Democratic state legislators with $2,500 each (when the new Model T cost $750) to join with Republicans to elect him to the Senate in 1909. The scandal spurred the direct election of senators.

In the 1920s, GOP Gov. Len Small of Kankakee was tried twice for embezzling millions from the state. He was acquitted at his first, criminal trial; two months later, eight of the jurors had received really good state jobs! In a later civil trial, Small was forced to pay the state $650,000 to repay funds embezzled when he was state treasurer. Small leaned on state patronage workers to cover the payment.

But since then, most of the corruption has emanated from Cook County and Chicago, dominated by the Democratic Party.

Four confidants of defrocked Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) are set to go on trial in Chicago in September, which will tee up corruption as a major issue in the November election.

One of the candidates for governor has already declared that if elected he would eliminate corruption in our state. Fat chance. Corruption is baked into our culture.

That doesn’t mean we are all corrupt, but that too many of us would indeed take advantage of government if presented with the opportunity.

For example, when I was teaching American politics at the University of Illinois in Urbana in the early 2000s, I asked each class of juniors and seniors, many headed for law school, about the following: Your brother has been charged with a serious DUI, but your brother’s lawyer said he could get him off—if brother slipped the attorney $1,000 in cash, beyond his fee. Would you recommend to your brother that he “go for it,” or reject the idea?

In every one of five or six different courses, two-thirds of all the students, in their anonymous responses, said: “Go for it.” In one class I was astounded that 14 of the 17 students agreed. When I asked why they would recommend going for it, one student offered a typical response, with others nodding: Brother is in a tough spot—and that’s the way it’s done in Illinois. My brother would be the fool for not taking advantage of the offer.

After a while, I gave up looking for an honest class.

It’s a slippery slope, as they say, from a DUI to successfully bribing a judge to set free a mob assassin so he could kill again, and again. This actually happened in the 1970s, when much of the Cook County Court system was controlled, or at least heavily influenced, by The Outfit.

Corruption hurts Illinois. In 2011, I surveyed local economic development officials across Illinois. One of my questions was about ethics. Does the state’s reputation for corruption have any impact on your recruiting of business from outside the state? Three quarters of the 70 respondents said perceptions of Illinois as corrupt had either a negative or a highly negative impact on their efforts to recruit business to come to Illinois.

One said: Illinois is known for “pay to play.” Another observed: In Illinois, political clout is believed to help.

No governor can transform a political culture of corruption in his or her term. But the chief

See DRAINING, Page 10

Slices of life

Grief tutorial 2.0, Part 2

“In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin Ben was a smart guy, but I’d like to add one item to his list: grief.

Death is nearly, almost always accompanied by grief; it is a third certainty in our world.

Last week I wrote advice for those grieving. Today the advice is for those helping another through a loss.

When you love someone who is grieving: Please don’t avoid me. Don’t walk in the other direction when we both find ourselves on aisle five at the super store. If you see me, I see you too and I also see you hurriedly turning your cart to walk in the other direction.

I know interacting with me can be scary because I am a reminder of what may very likely be you some day; it will be nearly all of us one day, because to love is to put oneself on the pathway to grief—and that thought is frightening. But to deny or avoid love is one of the only things I can think of that’s sadder than grief.

There are some things I wish you wouldn’t say. One of these is “I’m glad you seem to be doing so well.”

I bet that one surprises you.

I know you mean this as a compliment and I know you truly want me to do well, but please know I’ve mastered the art of the pleasant face and basic conversation. Gone are the days of my bursting into a cascade of tears at the grocery store,

By

JILL PERTLER Columnist

but that doesn’t mean I’m not crying the whole way home. Don’t ever assume you know how I’m feeling, because (and I’m saying this with all the love I can muster) you can’t know. I hope you never know.

Instead of assumptions, say something like, “I’ve been thinking about you and hope you are doing well.” Or, “It’s good to see you. You look great.” You can even substitute the word “young” or “skinny” for great. (Grief doesn’t negate humor.)

If you don’t know what to say, that’s OK. Silence can be golden; it often is.

Say my husband’s name. Those of us grieving long to hear our loved one’s name said out loud. We like to hear memories and fun anecdotes about the silly things they used to do. We like to remember the good times, and know you do, too.

For the grieving, everything is now measured by before and after.

Someone brings up a memory from 2018 and I think, “Yes, that was two years before.” My granddaughter will turn 4 this year and I think, “Yes, that will be two years after.”

Someone posts their wedding anniversary on social media and I think, “That should have been us.”

No date is just a date anymore; it’s

a date that happened pre or post. I don’t believe this line of thinking will ever end, but I’m not sure.

Grief has taught me not to be sure of anything.

Understand that many holidays and anniversaries are difficult for us in The Club. New Year’s Eve when you are supposed to kiss someone at midnight—hard. A birthday when you wake up alone in your bed— empty. Valentine’s Day when you realize no one will send you flowers or buy you a cheesy Valentine’s card at the last minute—dreaded.

Grief never ends. But neither does life. If I am still here, I may be grieving, but I am also living—and not necessarily in that order. Include me in activities. I may choose not to participate, but keep inviting me. It helps me to know I’m not forgotten or invisible. The invitation itself feels very welcome and very alive, and who knows, I just may be ready to step out and be the life of the party at some point.

Most of all, be yourself and be honest. You may see me as a person smothered by grief, and I may see myself that way as well, but honesty can help break through barriers. It can help take the focus away from death and shed the light back on life. Truly I think that’s all any of us wants.

Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. She invites readers to follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.

8 • Thursday, March. 3, 2022 - Rock Valley Publishing

Dr. Kelly Talks Straight

About Sciatica 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.

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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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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 SynowiecMoroney 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 antiseizure 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

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, March. 3, 2022 • 9

mentorship and business resources.

Finalists will pitch live to a panel of judges and a livestreamed audience on April 13 at COD. The top three contestants will receive a sixmonth membership to Innovation DuPage, as well as a cash prize (1st place is $5,000, 2nd place is $4,000 and 3rd place is $3,000).

To apply, complete the written portion and submit a video by March 6. For details, and to apply, go to https://tinyurl.com/2ryy7zkv.

D88 stakeholders invited to complete Illinois 5Essentials Survey Through March 11, District 88 parents/ guardians are invited to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This research-based survey helps identify strengths and areas for improvement in a school’s learning environment and provides stakeholders with a voice in improving their schools.

The survey provides a comprehensive picture of a school’s organizational culture in an individualized report measuring five “essentials” critical for school success. Those are: • Effective Leaders • Collaborative Teachers • Involved Families • Supportive Environment • Ambitious Instruction District 88 truly values receiving feedback and encourages parents/guardians to participate in the survey. The goal is to gather a

variety of input to ensure we continue to accomplish our mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement.

District 88 is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive environment for all students, staff and community members, and that focus aligns with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)’s new Equity Journey Continuum, an informational tool is meant to help districts view data through the lens of equity and identify gaps in student achievement, opportunities and supports.

Parent/guardian participation on the 5Essentials Survey will be part of the criteria used to determine District 88’s placement along the equity continuum.

To complete the survey in English or in Spanish, scan the QR code above, or go to https://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois.

An online reporting system and mobile app created specifically for the residents of Elmhurst to improve communication with the City.

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Search “Elmhurst Connect” in the app store to download the app for free, or go to Elmhurst.org/elmhurstconnect.

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Addison Trail and Willowbrook students are invited to share their business ideas with a panel of expert judges through the BIG IDEA Pitch Contest, co-produced by College of DuPage (COD) and Innovation DuPage (ID).

Students who have ideas for innovative products and services that solve real problems to satisfy the needs of growing markets are encouraged to participate in the event. Successful applicants will introduce scalable concepts that can be accelerated by connecting to key

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D88 students invited to BIG IDEA Pitch Contest at COD

10 • Thursday, March. 3, 2022 - Rock Valley Publishing

County announces grants available for flood control projects including stormwater management,” said DuPage County Stormwater Management Committee Chairman Jim Zay. “At the County, we’re taking advantage of these funds to not only construct County projects, but to also assist in funding local projects that align with our mission.”

Open to municipal governments, DuPage County’s grant will award funding to shovel-ready projects that demonstrate flood protection and resilience measures. The County will provide a 50/50 cost-share of up to

$500,000 per awarded project. The grant encourages projects that offer strong multi-jurisdictional and multi-purpose benefits.

“One of the goals of this funding is to build stronger communities in the face of adversity, specifically flooding,” added Zay. “We’re looking for projects that benefit local communities during times of hardship and beyond.”

In total, DuPage County was allotted $178 million through federal ARPA funding, which is being used

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executive can use his bully pulpit to declare a very public war on corruption; set a high bar for conduct by his administration. The governor can also seek elimination of ludicrous, self-serving statutes such as the one that requires the “independent” legislative inspector general to first get approval of lawmakers before he can investigate a complaint against one of their fellow legislators.

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gram and disburse the ARPA funds on behalf of the County.

“Together, the County Board, DuPage Foundation and our non-profit organizations will make a positive, lasting difference to those workers and families in DuPage County who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin. “This partnership fosters a sustainable, whole-community approach to supporting those in need.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity to provide transformative change for our community, and our staff and Board of Trustees are thrilled to commence our partnership with the County,” said DuPage Foundation President & CEO Dave McGowan.

Guidelines will be developed over the next few months and an announcement regarding the application process will be made in spring, 2022.

(Continued from page 7

Anytime Fitness

Finally, we can all stop taking advantage of government, simply because “that’s the way it’s done in Illinois,” and exhort our children to follow our lead. That’s how cultures change.

Jim Nowlan is the lead author of Illinois Politics (University of Illinois Press, 2010) and Fixing Illinois (U. of I. Press, 2014). He is a former chair of the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission.

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grant webpage, which includes guidance on how to apply, project prioritization and scoring.

The application deadline is 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 21. To learn more, visit www.dupageco.org/swm/arpagrant/.

County, DuPage Foundation launch strategic partnership DuPage County presented a check for $10.6 million to DuPage Foundation to mark the launch of a strategic grantmaking partnership known as the DuPage Community Transformation Partnership (Partnership).

Over the next five years, the Partnership will implement a $10 million grant program to support social service not-for-profit organizations helping DuPage County residents most severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will focus on providing assistance for food insecurity, housing instability, mental health and substance abuse.

In January, the County Board voted to execute an agreement to allocate $10.6 million to DuPage Foundation in federal funds received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the grant program.

The Foundation received $600,000 to administer the pro-

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DuPage County’s Stormwater Management Department is accepting grant proposals from municipalities for flood control and water quality projects countywide. The selected projects will be partially funded using an allocation of DuPage County’s American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the federal government.

“Unlike previous federal programs in response to the pandemic, ARPA allows for funding of stressors common across all forms of government,

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, March. 3, 2022 • 11

ABDOMINAL ACUTE ANEMIA BLADDER BLOOD CREATININE DIALYSIS DISEASE DONOR EXCHANGE EXCRETION FAILURE FILTRATION GLOMERULI HEALTH IDIOPATHIC INFLAMMATION KIDNEY MEMBRANE NEPHROLOGY RENAL URINARY URINATION

SUDOKU

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

Puzzle answers on page 13

CLUES ACROSS 1. Neckwear 7. Fish parts 13. Cooking 14. Quality 16. Rural delivery 17. Popular superhero 19. Partner to Pa 20. Shivering fits 22. Wrath 23. Linguistics pioneer 25. Large integers 26. A way to prepare food 28. Group of badgers 29. Peyton’s little brother 30. Rock out 31. Danish krone 33. Take from with force 34. Baroque musical instrument 36. Zodiac sign 38. Hebrew alphabet letter 40. Independent member of a clone 41. Type of garment 43. Satisfy 44. One point south of due east 45. A way to wipe out 47. Moved quickly on foot 48. Bar bill 51. An idiot 53. Performed with the voice silent 55. Body fluids 56. Rhythmic patterns 58. “__ my i’s” 59. Type of wrap 60. It shows who you are 61. Carousel 64. Type of college degree 65. Molding 67. Closes again 69. Verses 70. Surface CLUES DOWN 1. Short, thick stick 2. Rhode Island 3. Animals of the horse family

4. Very important persons 5. Folk singer Di Franco 6. Boredom 7. Long speech 8. Footballer Newton 9. Expression of sorrow or pity 10. Linear accelerator 11. One quintillion bytes 12. Smallest interval in Western music 13. Box 15. Cheese dish 18. Make a mistake 21. Done by all people or things 24. Circumference 26. Chum 27. Electrocardiogram 30. Sandwich chain Jimmy __ 32. Showed old movie 35. Important event on Wall St.

37. Where wrestlers work 38. Free from contamination 39. Eastern Canada coastal region 42. Slang for gun 43. High schoolers’ test 46. Fathers 47. Call it a career 49. Productive 50. Musical groups 52. Yellowish-brown 54. Lowest point of a ridge 55. Beloved late sportscaster Craig 57. Fill up 59. Cardinal number that’s the sum of 5 and 1 62. Frost 63. Jewel 66. Atomic #45 68. Top lawyer

12VP • Thursday, March. 3, 2022 - Rock Valley Publishing

This is Villa Park calling. It sure would be nice to see more Villa Park residents turn out at the village meetings to challenge this new rec center.

We got $10 million in grant money and it looks like our elected officials will probably double that amount or more before they’re done. It’s about time some of us start showing up.

Thank you. *** A few weeks ago, I got a flyer from state Sen. Tom Cullerton trumpeting the 300 new laws from Springfield that he had his hand in legislating. I wonder how many of those laws separated the taxpayer from more of his or her hardearned money, and saddled Cullerton’s constituency with more burdensome rules and regulations? My guess is all of the above! Does he really think this is something we wanted to hear? How tone-deaf is this man? And now I hear he has resigned and will reportedly plan to plead guilty to federal embezzlement charges. Behind that smiling face and fancy suit and tie is what appears to be just another corrupt Illinois politician! *** Bill Gates says the chances of catching a severe infection from COVID-19 are dramatically lower, but he believes another pandemic is likely. I know Gates is filthy rich, but I didn’t realize he’s an epidemiologist, a COVID prophet and an authority on COVID all rolled into one. Gates sounds a lot like the great Dr. Fraud-ci to me. *** I heard that Biden’s climate change mouthpiece John Kerry warned Russia not to lose sight of the bigger need to combat climate change before Putin invaded Ukraine. Wow, that turned out to be a real deterrent! Putin and the president of China have to be beside themselves laughing at Kerry and these regressive leftists and how feckless this nation has become. By the way, did you climate change alarmists know Russia has agreements with both China and India to supply them with millions of tons of coal? Now you do. *** Can you believe it? Our former, disgraced, twice impeached president is complimenting Russian President Putin for invading Ukraine! He says the invasion would not have happened if he were still president; of course, not because the former president was selling out our country to the Russians and then they would just take Ukraine.

This man continues to be such a traitor. *** The teacher at Willowbrook who was placed on administrative leave sent a message to his teachers’ council in which he said, among other

sarcastic remarks, “The problem is, badly raised students will probably be unmasked tomorrow.” If I were a Willowbrook parent, I would be outraged, no matter my opinion on masks.

He even took it to social media. This is not only a person of authority in the classroom, but in a leadership position as both chair of the English department and (now resigned) president of the teachers council. Entitled to an opinion? Yes, but the comment was an affront to parents—who pay his salary, by the way—with whom he apparently disagrees. Another example of an apparent liberal’s so-called “tolerance” of others’ opinions—or should I say intolerance—except if it doesn’t align with his. *** Biden’s anti-energy policies (killing the Keystone XL pipeline, pausing oil and gas leasing on federal lands) haven’t just jacked up energy prices for the American consumer. His policies have funneled more money to other countries, including countries that don’t particularly like us. Biden’s push against our nation’s energy production might be his biggest mistake. *** Did you see the recent poll showing Biden has a positive approval rating in only four of our nation’s 50 states? I thought Biden received more votes than anyone in U.S. history. A little more than a year later, he’s under water in heavily Democratic states like Illinois, California and New York. I don’t know how accurate this poll is, but I’m pretty sure there were no mailin responses. *** In one way, the invasion of Ukraine is a great opportunity to distract from President Biden’s poor leadership.

At the same time, it actually puts his poor leadership in the spotlight: Gas was going up before the invasion, and is certain to climb higher with the sanctions he has proposed. So we will now suffer more at the pump, and elsewhere, even more, and the president even acknowledged that! But the worst is: I would bet when Putin saw how Biden handled the Afghanistan withdrawal, he figured the president would be a pushover. And to think people bought it when Biden campaigned on his experience with foreign policy.

Like many, I was not a fan of Trump and his mean tweets, but Putin—who reportedly has been planning this invasion for a long time—knew Trump would react swiftly and severely. Putin was just biding his time. And this is coming from an independent thinker, not Fox News, so don’t even go there. *** There are a lot of kids from our

area attending the University of Iowa, which is just over 200 miles away.

There are no COVID vaccine mandates, and there haven’t been any mask requirements in classes during the 2021-22 school year. In other words, it’s been a pretty normal year. Despite some zealots’ predictions, students haven’t been dropping left and right from COVID. You would think some Illinois residents and legislators would take notice. *** The Russian invasion of Ukraine reminds me of the game Risk, which sometimes has unpredictable outcomes, and also of Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939. That outcome was a world war. Now is the time for our president to take the reins and help convince our world allies to rally together and put a stop to mad-man Putin. We are not the world’s police and we need the strength in numbers. Even Russians are risking their own safety by protesting the invasion. Prayers go to Ukraine. *** I hope Democrat voters are proud of themselves. What’s the Democrat platform these days? It seems like it’s in favor of open borders, being soft on crime, stifling American energy production, high inflation, forced masking of kids and blaming others. Let’s not forget mass mail-in voting, ballot harvesting and abandoning election integrity.

*** So the former president not only reportedly took unauthorized documents when he left the White House, he allegedly took secret and other classified documents. I had a secret clearance and know this is punishable by prison time. I can only wish that he sees the inside of a prison cell. *** This is in regard to the callers who were complaining about schools being closed. Yes, there wasn’t the snow that they thought. My problem is, each caller’s complaint was that they had to figure out what to do with their children.

So, it wasn’t the fact that their children were missing school or missing out on an education; their complaint was that their tax-funded day care was taken away from them. This is the issue these days. If you have children, you should be willing to take care of them and have something in place for an emergency. Thank you. *** Can you imagine the media coverage if one of Trump’s family members had shady ties to Ukraine? Imagine if one of Trump’s sons had been paid $1 million per year by a Ukrainian energy company, like Hunter Biden. I think we all know what would happen.

There would be nonstop media coverage. But with Biden’s son, nothing.

The mainstream media is a joke. *** Our area schools are encouraging

All-Conference Warriors

students to be respectful of everyone.

That’s great. Hopefully they’ll encourage teachers to do the same. Did you read that email from the Willowbrook teacher and president of the District 88 Teachers Council? It sure didn’t seem like he was respectful and tolerant of a certain group of people—those who wouldn’t be wearing masks to school.

I wonder how many of his fellow teachers feel the same way. *** Hello. I just picked up my new license plate sticker and I can’t help but notice that someone at the state thought it would be a good idea to take the month that the sticker expires off the sticker as well as the license plate number off the sticker—making this 10 times easier for people to commit theft and fraud. Why is it that the politicians in this state love criminals so much that they want to make their job so much easier? It’s ridiculous. Thank you. *** I noticed Vice President Giggles was in Europe to try to secure the Ukrainian border. You might remember she’s the point person who’s supposedly working on immigration at our southern border. Well, Ukraine was invaded, and the U.S. Border Patrol reported more than 1.6 million encounters with migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border during fiscal year 2021. That’s all worked out splendidly.

JOE PEARSON PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Four members of the Willowbrook girls basketball team were named to the West Suburban Conference’s All-Conference Team for the 2021-22 season. Pictured left to right are: sophomore Elle Bruschuk (No. 33), senior Sophie Sullivan (No. 1), sophomore Calli Kenny (No. 15) and freshman Hannah Kenny (No. 10). The four Warriors are pictured during the crossover game between the conference’s Gold and Silver division champions at Addison Trail on Feb. 9. Willowbrook won the Gold title with a perfect 12-0 record, delivering two wins against each of its six opponents in the Gold Division (Addison Trail, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale South, Leyden, Morton and Proviso East).

Lyons Township claimed the Silver title with a 12-0 mark. Lyons Township beat Willowbrook 61-48 in the recent crossover game. The Warriors finished the season with a 49-46 loss to St. Charles East in an IHSA Class 4A regional final in Villa Park on Feb. 17. Willowbrook completed the season with an overall record of 22-6.

Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, March. 3, 2022 • 13

PUZZLE 1

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Rock Valley Publishing - Thursday, March. 3, 2022 • 15

a cultural gem of

the western suburbs

J.S. Bach

St. John’s Passion Saturday, March 12, 7:00 p.m.

Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church 149 W. Brush Hill Road, Elmhurst With the Apollo Chorus of Chicago Erik Gustafson, tenor Hannah De Priest, soprano Ryan Belongie, Countertenor Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor Evan Bravos, bass

Tickets available at elmhurstsymphony.org click on the “Tickets and Events” tab Check the “Visit Us” tab for detailed information on attendance, ticketing, and safety.

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16 • Thursday, March. 3, 2022 - Rock Valley Publishing

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