VPR033023

InsIde:

SUBMITTED

Play at the plate

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CHRIS FOX

KATE DRURY

Memorial Day in Villa Park

Villa Park Review Junior catcher Dylan Jenkins

630-514-9961

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 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.

kdrury@atproperties.com

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

of the Willowbrook baseball team is pictured while tagging a Bartlett baserunner at home plate during last week’s game in Villa Park. The runner, who tried to score from third base on a fly out to left field in the top of the fifth inning, was called safe at home. Bartlett’s run on the play cut Willowbrook’s lead to 3-2. The Warriors scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Willowbrook defeated Bartlett 5-2 in the March 22 contest, which was shortened to five innings because of darkness and rain. The Warriors improved their record to 1-1 with the win. Willowbrook opened its season with a 9-6 loss at Glenbrook South on March 21. The Warriors traveled to Tennessee earlier this week. They are scheduled to play a couple of games in Murfreesboro—near Nashville—before returning from their spring break trip. Willowbrook will open its West Suburban Gold Conference season with a game at Downers Grove South on April 3.

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.

CHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa Park Review

PHOTO

(left)

ACA opens ‘Boop-Oop-a-Doop’ exhibition

Artist Williams presents ‘Visual Voice of African American Diaspora’

Addison Center for the Arts is proud to present an exhibition by artist Charles Williams Jr., titled BoopOop-a-Doop: A Visual Voice of the African American Diaspora. The exhibition will run from March 29 to April 29, with a public artist reception on Saturday, April 1, from 6 to 8 pm at the ACA Gallery located at 213 N. Lombard Road, Addison.

Charles Williams Jr. is a self-taught artist from Woodridge, who has been painting for over ten years. He is an award-winning member of the Naperville Art League and the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild. He’s influenced by ab-

stract, urban, pop, modern, contemporary, and street art. He uses vibrant colors infused with geometric shapes and abstract line work that represents “the energy of life.” He incorporates a variety of mixed media like acrylic, pen, marker, oil pastel, chalk pastel, glitter, coffee beans, molding paste, among others to effectively manifest his elaborate imagination and artistic vision.

Charles has a profound belief that “art is an intrinsic expression of your soul and the medium you choose to express who you are. Your feelings are a God-given gift to be shared with

the world.” Charles seeks to inspire and bring joy, peace, awareness, and love to the world through his art. This exhibition, Boop-Oop-aDoop, is Williams’ homage to African descendants’ culture, history, fashion, resources, and overall beauty and style. Williams’ main muse and source of inspiration is none other than the popular iconic character Betty Boop. By deftly weaving abstraction and figuration with sharp brush strokes, Williams explores the aesthetic of pop art, and incorporates other popular culture cartoon figures such as SpongeBob and the Pink Panther to convey a mes-

Artis Senior Living offers WOW hotline

Artis Senior Living, a leading developer-owner-operator of Memory Care and Assisted Living residences with 27 communities operating in 11 states, has launched their Words of Wisdom (WOW) Hotline. Callers can listen to inspiring, thoughtful, and funny messages by Artis residents organized into five categories: General, Marriage, Becoming a New Parent, Retirement & Becoming an Empty Nester, and Dad Jokes.

The WOW Hotline is: 484-2180251

“We are committed to developing creative ideas and programs to help residents explore purposeful and engaging lives at our communities,” said Mary Underwood, vice president of Memory Care Services. “We have amazing residents who are constantly having meaningful discussions and sharing a wealth of knowledge with each other. So, we thought, ‘How can we share this knowledge and engage with others outside of our communities?’ A hotline was an easy and fun way to make this idea a

reality for our residents.”

The current voices of encouragement on the hotline are just the beginning. Artis has plans to add more resident messages from its 27 communities.

“The residents have really gotten behind this and have already developed different categories of insights to add to the hotline,” added Underwood. “They genuinely want to make a difference, create smiles, and make a positive impact on as many people as possible.”

Former local resident to perform with Triton Troupers

Former Elmhurst resident Kevin Adair (left) and his 16-year-old son Lucas will be performing juggling, gymnastics, stunts and more with the Triton Troupers for their 50th Anniversary Shows on Thursday, March 30, Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1. The show begins at 7 p.m. each evening plus there is a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday. (The Saturday afternoon performance will be interpreted for the hearing-impaired.)

The event takes place in the Collins Center Gym on the campus of Triton College, 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, near the intersection of North and Fifth Ave. The father and son entertainers will join dozens of other local entertainers from the western suburbs and throughout Chicagoland. They will be present tricks and stunts on the trampoline, the teeterboard, juggling, rolling globes, climbing pole, double stunts, Crazy-Bike, stacking chairs and stilt-walking. Shows are $6 per person, payable with cash only at the door. Seating opens one hour before the performance. Info: tritontrouperscircus.com

sage of black beauty, brilliance, resilience, love, and hope for the future.

“We are delighted to host Charles Williams Jr.’s first solo show,” said Julie Mars, director of communications at Addison Center for the Arts.

“He adds a joyous African American perspective to the pop art movement pioneered by Andy Warhol and oth-

ers. We are excited to offer Williams’ work as an introduction to the cultural happenings surrounding Warhol 2023 at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art this year.”

For more information about the exhibition or the ACA, visit addisoncenterforthearts.org or call 630-4584500.

TIM BRAUN PHOTO The Independent

Villa Park reView

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The Villa Park Review is published every Thursday by Rock Valley Publishing, LLC, 240 N. West Avenue, Elmhurst, IL. 60126.

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Villa Park Village Trustee candidate profiles

Editor’s note: Four candidates (vote for three) are running in the April 4 election to serve a four-year term on the Villa Park Village Board.

Here are the candidate profiles, listed in alphabetical order. The Villa Park Review will not be endorsing candidates in this race, or any other race in the April 4 election.

Carine “Cari” Alfano Office sought: Villa Park Village Trustee

Family: Husband Vito Alfano and our 9-year-old son.

How long have you lived in Villa Park? Since April of 2014.

Social media addresses: Alfano4villapark.com

Facebook: Carine “Cari” Alfano for Villa Park Trustee: https:// www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= 100089950762770

Occupation: Educator

Education: I attended West Leyden High School in Northlake, then North Central College in Naperville, where I graduated with a degree in English and Music, and a minor in Education. I then earned my Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. As a lifelong learner, I have also taken additional coursework in education, leadership, and literature.

Community or civic involvement: I currently serve as a commissioner on the Villa Park F.U.N. commission that focuses on creating opportunities for neighbors to come together throughout the community to celebrate and nurture the strong sense of community that my family and I have experienced since moving to Villa Park. I am civically engaged and have spoken at board meetings to address various topics and attend meetings and coffee with the board even if I don’t have a comment to make. When I can’t be physically present, I am tuning into the live stream of the meetings to keep up with the conversation and get a good sense of the pulse of our community and the direction of the various topics on the agenda.

Awards received (either professional or community related): Before I was asked to join the F.U.N. commission, and before I even knew of the F.U.N. commission, the commission reached out to my family and me, letting us know that we were being recognized for special service to the Village of Villa Park with a Community Spirit Award in January of 2022. On a Saturday night at the beginning of the holiday season in 2021, our Villa Park community fell victim to senseless vandalism of our traditional holiday trees on the Prairie Path. Many of the trees were pushed to the ground with many of the stakes holding the trees bent, destroying the ornaments that had been put up by families during the Thanksgiving weekend. Lights were cut, and some trees were thrown on top of buildings and the picnic shelter by the Historical Society. It was a sad sight for many of our neighbors in the community- especially for those who had just decorated their memo-

rial trees honoring loved ones in their families that had passed. On our way to church that morning, my son was pretty distraught over the destruction of the trees in our community. We discussed how he thought we could fix the problem. As a family, we decided the easiest and best way to fix this problem, which in perspective was a simpler problem to solve for our community, was for us to get the tools necessary to upright the trees as best as we could. My husband, my son, and I spent a few hours tying the trees back into place, stringing the lights back as best as we could, and salvaging the signs and ornaments scattered on the ground to help our Prairie Path decorations stand tall and fix what the vandals tried hard to destroy. We worked as long as we could in the cold and were able to fix all of the destroyed trees that we found from Villa Avenue to Ardmore before heading back home.

Previous elected offices held (if any): None

Why are you running to serve on the village board?

Civic engagement has been a priority for me much of my adult life. I believe local government should be a reflection of the population of the village. As an educator, mom, and resident, I want to do my part to help Villa Park thrive. I value transparency in local government that involves not only what decisions are being made, but also providing clarity on why and how the decisions are being made by our local government. I will work to create a more transparent board that helps residents understand the “why” as well as the “what.”

What do you see as a major challenge, or challenges, facing the village, and what do you think needs to be done to meet that challenge, or challenges?

Villa Park’s pressing issues involve the planned and proposed developments. Two large projects are in development. The village continues to see developer interest and village-owned property may be sold to promote community and economic growth. These projects have the potential to invigorate areas of our community that could use an economic boost and could help to expand our tax base and provide some tax relief to residents. The board should ensure due diligence in any future land sales of public property and should invest time into planning rather than jumping at any opportunity that is presented to the village.

What should voters know about you?

I would provide a strong sense of service and dedication to the community. I am prepared, fair, ethical, can plan ahead, and understand service to others. As a teacher, I am a servant-leader and understand the importance of the balance between leadership and serving others. I am a critical thinker and carefully spend time weighing an issue from multiple perspectives by getting input from stakeholders. I ask questions for clarification in order to make an informed decision. I have courage to make difficult decisions and possess a strong resolve to do what is right for Villa Park.

Jorge Cordova Office sought: Villa Park Village Trustee Family: My wife and I have three children in D45, and two dogs.

How long have you lived in Villa Park? We’ve lived in Villa Park going on 13 years.

Social media addresses: Facebook.com/JorgeForVP; www.votejorge.com

Occupation: Senior Vice President of Paid Media at a Global Integrated Communication Agency;

In my professional life, I have found a great match in Zeno Group, where we share a commitment to values such as diversity, equity, and inclusion where I work as the Senior Vice President of Paid Media. I sit with some of the largest brands in the world working on their digital marketing strategies and staying relevant in a fast-paced digital world. At Zeno Group, we foster a culture that values difference and promotes fairness, which we extend to our clients through our work.

Education: College of DuPage Community or civic involvement: For the last 8 years, I’ve been a part of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, with the last three years serving as the Chairperson of that Commission. In 2015, we worked diligently on a Master Plan for P&R, which involved numerous hours with consultants, architects, and many community and staff stakeholders to map out the longterm success of the department.

In the time that I’ve been a part of this commission, we have completed projects including but not limited to the renovation of Cortesi Veterans Memorial Park, renovation of the old Train Depot, created new garden plots at Westmore Park, construction of the new shelter at the Museum, renovation of High Ridge Road baseball field and North Terrace Park, and most recently the reconstruction of Lufkin Park and the ongoing support of new Community Recreation Center. I’d like to think that the most improvements in the last 8 years here in Villa Park has come from the Parks and Recreation Department.

Recently, I assisted aspiring Democratic candidates who plan to run for office in Villa Park and its neighboring areas. I collaborated with ActBlue’s legal team to meticulously examine all relevant regulations, and I am pleased to announce that we have received the green light to feature the list of candidates running for office in Villa Park. I have also developed a playbook aimed at helping aspiring candidates navigate the challenges that come with ballot access. My goal is to share this playbook with those who may benefit from it and to help alleviate any barriers or friction points that may arise during the process.

Previous elected offices held (if any): None

Why are you running to serve on the village board?

Currently, we are undertaking a few significant projects. Firstly, the reconstruction of Lufkin Park has

been underway, and I have had the honor of leading several rounds of community input at the Community Rec Building. Additionally, we have a major undertaking with the Community Recreation Center at Lions Park, where I chaired the community input meetings held at Village Hall. My unwavering dedication to enhancing our parks and recreational facilities would be further amplified as a trustee, as it would grant me more significant input at the highest levels of decision making.

What do you see as a major challenge, or challenges, facing the village, and what do you think needs to be done to meet that challenge, or challenges?

Knowledge of Village matters –Through the last few months of trying to be a candidate, I’ve met numerous people that do not know that there are big projects and decisions being made in their communities. These projects that don’t go to referendum are typically generated in silence.

Lack of representation – our voting rate hovers at around 10 percent per voting cycle. My worry has always been that most residents don’t have a voice. If 3k-ish people are making leadership decisions, it’s not enough. I’d like to see more people vote, voice their opinions, and have an impact on the direction of Villa Park.

What should voters know about you?

I listen. I’m in the community. I believe I bring a uniquely qualified perspective to the Village Trustee position. I bring a mix of ongoing community service, Parks and Recreation experience, professional skills, and the ability to engage in meaningful moments. I’ve been an advocate for the community throughout my time in Villa Park, I’d like to bring this sense of community to more people. I believe that breaking down barriers to having access to advocate for our community is the utmost important portion of what I’ll bring. I’m a problem solver at my core, I’ll bring that passion to the board, and most importantly, I’ll listen. I’ll continue to deliver to our community just as I have the last eight years. My goal is to work towards a more holistic and inclusive community where everyone can thrive.

Sheri Lyn Jevitz

Office sought:

Villa Park Village Trustee

Editor’s note: Jevitz did not provide a response to the Villa Park Review’s questions. She did send her campaign mailer. The information on that mailer notes that she is the mother of three grown children, and married to Dr. John Jevitz. Jevitz mentions in her mailer that she is a licensed real estate broker, and a property manager for over 25 years.

On the front of her mailer, Jevitz mentioned public safety, referring to fully funding law enforcement, hiring and training the best police and

Warriors split first two games of the season

One day after losing at Glenbrook South, Willowbrook beats Bartlett; Warriors are playing in Tennessee this week

STAFF REPORT

The Willowbrook baseball team began its 2023 season with a pair of games last week. The Warriors opened their season with a 9-6 loss at Glenbrook South in Glenview on March 21. One day later, Willowbrook defeated Bartlett 5-2 in Villa Park.

Weather permitting, the Warriors opened this week with a game against Glenbard South at Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field in Carol Stream. The Warriors will then hit the road during their spring break week, traveling to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Willowbrook is playing a couple of games in Murfreesboro, which is near Nashville, before returning home. The Warriors will start their West Suburban Gold Conference season with a game at Downers Grove South on April 3.

Willowbrook’s 9-6 loss to Glenbrook South last week was shortened to five innings because of darkness. The Warriors’ 5-2 victory

• Profiles

over Bartlett on the following day was also called after five innings due to a combination of darkness and rain.

The Warriors led Glenbrook South 6-2 in the middle of the fourth inning, but the Titans scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 9-6 lead.

Willowbrook connected for only two hits in last week’s season opener against the Titans. Senior Eddie Munson of the Warriors provided a two-run single in the top of the third inning. Willowbrook sophomore Vinny Ippolito contributed a run-scoring single later in the third inning. The Warriors scored four runs in the third inning to take a 5-2 lead. Willowbrook added one more run in the top of the fourth inning.

Senior Alex Chaltin pitched the first three innings for the Warriors in their home win over Bartlett on March 22. Chaltin gave up one hit and no earned runs. He recorded six strikeouts and issued three walks.

(Continued from page 4)

fire personnel, and equipping them with the proper equipment to keep families safe.

The front of Jevitz’s mailer also referred to economic development; she referred to encouraging development, reducing the tax burden on residents while building a tax base for schools, and enticing businesses that create new revenue streams while keeping residents shopping in Villa Park.

Kevin Patrick

Office sought: Villa Park Village Trustee

Family: Wife April; three kids— Benjamin (12), Max (10) and Grant (7).

How long have you lived in Villa Park? 27 years

Social media addresses: https:// linktr.ee/kevin_patrick

Occupation: Self-employed

Education: BA Urban Studies–Elmhurst University

Community or civic involvement: Villa Park Village Trustee (2019-current). Liaison to the Villa Park Cable Commission. Illinois

Master Naturalist.

Awards received (either professional or community related): Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal.

Previous elected offices held (if any): Villa Park Village Trustee (2019-current)

Why are you running to serve on the village board?

I am running for re-election to serve as a Village Trustee because I am deeply committed to improving our community. I believe that by working together, we can make

The visiting Hawks scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Bartlett scored another unearned run in the top of the fifth inning.

Willowbrook senior Colin Slivka pitched the final two innings of last week’s home opener against the

Hawks. Slivka allowed two hits and one walk. He struck out two batters.

Chaltin went 2-for-2 and scored a pair of runs in the Warriors’ win over the Hawks. Slivka went 1-for-3 and drove in two runs. His first-inning single brought in two runs to give Willowbrook a 2-1 lead.

Ippolito went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs batted in. He walked with the bases loaded to bring in a run in the third inning. Ippolito singled in the fifth inning to drive in another run. Ippolito scored on an error later in the fifth inning to account for the game’s final run.

Warriors open 2023 season with two narrow home losses

Willowbrook drops three-game decisions to Glenbard East and Glenbard South

STAFF REPORT

The Willowbrook boys volleyball team opened its 2023 season with a pair of home losses last week. The Warriors lost a three-game battle to Glenbard East on March 21. Two days later, Glenbard South defeated Willowbrook in another three-game contest.

14 win.

Willowbrook won the first game of its March 23 match against Glenbard South. The Raiders won the next two games to pick up a 19-25, 25-19, 2517 win.

positive changes that will benefit all residents. As a board member, I will work tirelessly to ensure that our village is a safe, welcoming, and prosperous place to live. I will listen to the concerns of the constituents and use my experience and expertise to address them effectively. With your support, I am confident that we can create a brighter future for our village.

What do you see as a major challenge, or challenges, facing the village, and what do you think needs to be done to meet that challenge, or challenges?

One major challenge facing our village is the looming pension crisis. However, I see this as an opportunity to prioritize fiscal responsibility and innovative solutions. By partnering with our community stakeholders and implementing proactive measures, such as improving revenue streams, we can ensure the long-term financial stability of our village. I remain committed to working collaboratively with the Village Board to address this challenge and ensure a prosperous future for our community.

What should voters know about you?

As a current Village Trustee in Villa Park, I am fully committed to serving our community with integrity, transparency and accountability. My track record showcases my ability to work collaboratively with other trustees and community members to address complex issues with innovative solutions. My priority is to maintain our community’s high standard of living by promoting economic growth and enhancing public safety. As a lifelong resident of Villa Park, I am deeply invested in our community’s future and am enthusiastic about continuing to serve as your Trustee to ensure a bright and prosperous future for everyone.

The Warriors lost the first game of their March 21 match against Glenbard East. Willowbrook rallied to win the second game, but the Rams raced out to a 9-0 lead in the third game and eventually earned a 25-15, 22-25, 25-

Senior Patrick Dasbach provided six kills for Willowbrook in last week’s season-opening loss to Glenbard East in Villa Park. Senior Jake Vandergrift and sophomore Dean Romano bashed four kills each. Junior Andrew Ciesinski supplied two kills.

Junior Carter Ferguson handed out 13 assists for the Warriors in the match

against the Rams. Senior Sean Maciejewski delivered 10 assists. Freshman Jonnie Gosmire made five digs. Dasbach also connected for six kills in last week’s match against Glenbard South. Ciesinski and Romano pounded four kills each. Vandergrift tallied three kills against the visiting Raiders. Ferguson piled up 16 assists, while Gosmire contributed 10 digs.

The Warriors will continue their season at next week’s Warren Invitational at Warren High School in Gurnee.

Villa Park Police Department urges motorists to ‘Drop it and Drive’

Law enforcement to step up efforts targeting distracted drivers in April

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Villa Park Police Department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies to step up enforcement efforts across the state during the next month. Motorists can expect to see increased patrols and traffic enforcement safety zones

throughout April.

“Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle crashes on our roads today,” said Villa Park Police Sgt. James Cihak.

“During Distracted Driving Aware ness Month, law enforcement will boost enforcement efforts, stopping anyone who is texting and driving. Remember, if you have a phone in one hand, you can expect a ticket in

the other.”

In Illinois, using your phone in anything other than hands-free mode is not only dangerous, it’s illegal. Remember the slogan: “Drop

The increased patrols that will take place during the state’s distracted driving campaign in April are funded with federal traffic safety

To know more, read public notices in today’s newspaper or go to

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

March 19

A 40-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 600 block of N. Highview at 11:54 p.m.

A 42-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 900 block of E. Crockett at 5:21 a.m.

A 35-year-old man and 37-yearold man, both of Addison, were charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 500 block of W. Natalie at 3:30 a.m.

March 18

Felix Crispin Mendez, 51 of Addison, was charged with violation of an order of protection in the 500 block of N. Macie at 10:23 p.m.

Police said Vincent W. Zapata, 29, of Addison, was issued a warrant in the 300 block of Dale at 2:57 p.m.

March 17

A 43-year-old Addison woman was charged with two counts of domestic battery at 4:21 p.m.

March 15

Police said David Andres Jimenez, 36, of Addison, was issued a warrant near Fullerton and Church at 10:05 p.m.

Police said Alexis Ocana Duran, 21, of Elgin, was issued a warrant

near Lake and Rohlwing.

Matthew N. Wieczorek, 43, of Westmont, was charged with aiding, abetting, possessing, and selling a stolen vehicle at 4:11 a.m.

Villa Park

March 18

Shahbaz A. Chaydhry, 26, of Villa Park, was charged with retail theft/ possessing displayed merchandise/ criminal trespass to land after receiving notice that entry is forbidden at a store in the 900 block of S. Route 83 at 4:57 p.m.

A 38-year-old Villa Park man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 600 block of N. Ardmore at 5:54 a.m.

A complainant at a business in the 200 block of W. North reported at 8:05 p.m. that unknown suspects removed several pieces of clothing and left without paying.

March 16

A complainant at a hotel in the 1-100 block of W. Roosevelt reported at 3:21 p.m. that an unknown suspect damaged their vehicle while it was parked in the parking lot.

March 15

A complainant in the 1-100 block of E. Highland reported at 12:16 p.m. that an unknown suspect used an unknown object to break the passenger side window of a vehicle parked in the parking lot. The suspect also damaged the vehicle’s steering panel.

March 13

Police said Scott Edwards, 33, of Carol Stream, was arrested on two original complaint and warrants out of the Carol Stream and Glendale Heights police departments at a hotel in the 1-100 block of W. Roosevelt at 11:34 p.m.

Police said Arlette Zapata, 31, of Bloomingdale, was arrested a failure to appear warrant out of DuPage County near E. St. Charles and S. Villa at 10:42 p.m.

A complainant at a business in the 700 block of N. Princeton reported at 3:38 p.m. that an unknown suspect used a screwdriver to break the passenger front window of two vehicles parked in the parking lot and removed several tools.

A complainant in the 300 block of S. Yale reported at 6:58 p.m. that

an unknown suspect was harassing them via snapchat.

March 12

Kenard T. Jarrett, 29, of Chicago, was charged with two counts of burglary/identity theft exceeding $300 at a fitness center in the 300 block of W. North. The alleged incident was reported on Jan. 29 and the arrest was made on the above date.

Police said Andrei Lupu, 24, of Des Plaines, was arrested on an original complaint and warrant out of the

Glenview Police Department in the 200 block of W. North at 8:07 a.m.

A complainant near S. Ardmore and E. Highland reported at 3:23 p.m. that an unknown suspect removed multiple political signs from residential locations.

Fraud, identity theft

According to information provided last week by the Villa Park Police Department, police reported eight incidents of residents being a victim of fraud or identity theft.

Inspiring young musician wins ‘23 Niebuhr ‘Service to Society’ contest

Event livestreamed to allow international students to participate

Aidan Pelletier, who found innovative ways to share the gift of music with his church and its youngest members, is the first-place winner of the 2023 Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition.

During the awards ceremony held earlier this month, Pelletier, a senior at Grayslake Central High School in Grayslake, was awarded a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to attend Elmhurst University.

The second-place winner is Elizabeth Vazquez, a senior at Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy in Forest Park, who was awarded a $10,000 renewable scholarship to attend Elmhurst University.

This year, a record 214 students entered the Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition, which celebrates students with a passion for service to their communities and the world. The participants come from across the Midwest and as far west as Colorado; and globally, from Mexico, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan.

It was the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that the annual competition and awards ceremony were held in person, although the event was also livestreamed so that out-of-state and international students could participate.

Winners of the virtual group service project include: Angelina Calvillo, from Chicago; Nathan Devitt, Bloomingdale; Emily Fanella, Elk Grove Village; Stephanie Figueroa, Darien; Gabrielle Fisher, Round Lake Beach; and Sofija Galanto, Skokie.

Each member received a $3,000 Niebuhr Service to Society Group Award. All students who entered the competition and attended the scholarship event received a $1,000 Niebuhr Grant, which can be added to previously awarded merit scholarships and/or grants.

The Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition is named for theologians Reinhold and H. Richard Niebuhr, two of Elmhurst University’s most esteemed alumni. The Niebuhrs’ commitment to scholarship, service and social justice informs the University’s mission, as well as its efforts to seek students motivated to transform their communities.

Pelletier 1st in Niebuhr event

Aidan Pelletier (left) accepts a certificate from Elmhurst University President Troy VanAken as the first-place winner of the 2023 Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition. He was awarded a fouryear, full-tuition scholarship to attend the University. Aidan is a senior at Grayslake High School.

Hillside resident takes 2nd place

SUBMITTED PHOTOS The Independent

Christine Grenier (left) from the Elmhurst University Office of Admissions congratulates Elizabeth Vazquez, the second-place winner of the 2023 Niebuhr Service to Society Scholarship Competition. Elizabeth was awarded a $10,000 renewable scholarship to attend Elmhurst University. A resident of Hillside, Elizabeth is a senior at Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy in Forest Park.

Ladisch Douglass passes bill to protect long-term care facility residents

A bill introduced by state Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass, D-Elmhurst, to protect residents of long-term care facilities and prevent the exploitation of seniors and people with disabilities passed out of the Illinois House of Representatives.

“As a practicing attorney and now as a state representative, one of my top priorities is to protect vulnerable members of our community and improve their quality of life,” she said. “This bill provides common sense solutions to potentially life-threatening problems, improving the safety of long-term care facilities and preventing financial exploitation.”

To prevent the financial exploitation of Illinois’ most vulnerable, House Bill 2100 provides that exploitation of a senior or person with a disability, as outlined in statute, is guilty of a Class 1 felony if the elderly person is 70 years of age or older and the value of the property is $15,000 or more. The bill also changes language in the statute concerning abuse or criminal neglect of longterm care facility residents so that more people, rather than only seniors and people with disabilities, are covered under the law. These efforts not only improve the safety of longterm care facility residents, but also deters bad actors from exploiting seniors and people with disabilities.

The bill has the backing of several law enforcement groups, including the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, and the DuPage County State’s Attorney.

“The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on existing issues in long-term care facilities, and this bill seeks to right some of those wrongs,” Ladisch Douglass said. “I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and help protect seniors, people with disabilities, and residents of long-term care facilities in Illinois.”

The bill passed out of the House with no opposition and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Slices of life

Shoot on net

My husband and I raised our kids in the land of hockey. This column is not about hockey.

I realize hockey isn’t a thing or perhaps not as popular in some (warmer) climates, but for many years, for us, hockey was a large part of life. If nothing else, it got us through the cold winters.

Between our three boys, we spent two decades with the sport.

Despite my years of watching the Zamboni resurface the ice, shivering in the arena stands, sampling hot cocoa from all over the state, lacing up little kid’s skates and cheering like only a mom can (sometimes with cowbells), it took me a long time to learn even a little about the sport. I relived my rookie season year after year.

Blue lines, red lines, forechecking and backchecking? It was all French Canadian to me.

My husband was not a rookie. He knew the sport inside and out. But he had a way of whittling

By JILL PERTLER Slices of Life

that down to the basic facts. One of his favorite pieces of hockey advice was pretty simple: Good. Things. Happen. When. You. Shoot. On. Net. He spat the words out just like that. As though each word was its own sentence.

He said it almost every game. It was like a mantra: Good things happen when you shoot on net. His message? Take the shot. The puck won’t go into the net if you don’t shoot it in that general direction. And nothing, absolutely nothing, will happen if you don’t shoot at all.

Sometimes, in life, we have the

opportunity to shoot for the net, but we hesitate. We are afraid. We pause.

We might even be distracted, unaware that the net is right in front of us. We may not even realize we are holding a stick or a bat or a ball. We may not even be aware of the net.

But it is there. It is in front of us. Perhaps for eons. Perhaps for just a fleeting moment.

This moment has a name: opportunity.

Life is filled with it—with them: opportunities. If we seize the moment. If we see the net. If we shoot.

We. Just. Might. Score.

Maybe not, but maybe so. But here’s one fact that is 100 percent true:

If we don’t take the shot, it ain’t going to happen.

My husband was a wise man. He continues teaching me even today. I’m thankful for that.

I heard his words over and over

throughout the years. Maybe my ears were too frozen to hear them. Or, maybe I simply wasn’t aware of them, much like we may not be aware of our own proverbial net. Or realize that we are on a breakaway, racing toward it at full speed, on recently sharpened skates with a stick in our gloved hands guiding the puck across the ice right in front of us.

I am aware now. I remember his words and I am cognizant of their wisdom. I will heed his advice to the best of my ability. Life is short. I’m going for the hat trick. I encourage you to do the same. Whether you go top shelf or for the five hole, take the shot. Shoot on net. Good things will happen.

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.

UCC president to discuss threat of Christian Nationalism

John Dorhauer comes to University April 11

The Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer is an author, theologian and the ninth general minister and president of the United Church of Christ.

On Tuesday, April 11, he will give the lecture “Christian Nationalism: A Threat to Both Democracy and Christianity,” part of the Religious Literacy Project at Elmhurst University. During his talk, he will explore the challenge of faithfulness in the face of Christian nationalism, and the need for religious leaders and people of faith to openly discuss and confront it.

Dorhauer’s lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel on the campus of Elmhurst University. The event is free but reservations are encouraged, at elmhurst.edu/cultural.

“When we’re talking about the preservation of democracy, the upholding of human rights, we can’t be silent,” Dorhauer said during a recent webinar on the November 2022 midterm elections hosted by the ecumenical Christian organization Faithful America. “I would strongly encourage clergy, especially, not to use the pulpit to promote a political ideology, but to talk openly about Christian nationalism.”

Dorhauer is the author of Beyond Resistance: The Institutional Church Meets the Postmodern World (2015). He is the former conference minister of the Southwest Conference of the UCC and former associate conference minister in the Missouri Mid-South Conference. He also has served local churches in rural Missouri.

Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger to deliver University’s annual Schade Lecture

A former six-term GOP Congressman from Illinois, Adam Kinzinger witnessed firsthand the deeply entrenched political divide that he believes is threatening American democracy as never before.

After leaving office earlier this year and joining CNN as a senior commentator, Kinzinger is essentially without a political home, yet still a believer in the political system — and a way forward.

On Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m., he will explore these ideas in conversation with POLITICO reporter Shia Kapos during the 2023 Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law at Elmhurst University. His message is entitled “Where Do We Go From Here? A Conversation with Adam Kinzinger.” It will be held in Hammerschmidt Chapel on the campus of Elmhurst University. For Kinzinger, service to country has been a guiding force throughout his life and career, first as a McLean County (Ill.) Board mem -

ber and U.S. Air Force pilot who served three tours in Iraq, and later as a lawmaker in the halls of Congress. From 2011-22, Kinzinger served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Illinois’ 11th and 16th Congressional districts.

At POLITICO, Kapos is a government and politics reporter, and also writes the popular Illinois Playbook. Her work focuses on the intersection of politics, power and personalities. Kapos previously wrote the Taking Names column, a personality-driven feature in the

training for adults over

Chicago Sun-Times and before that at Crain’s Chicago Business. She also is the former political editor of the Salt Lake Tribune in Utah.

Admission is $15 for the general public and free for Elmhurst University students, faculty, staff and alumni. Tickets are available by visiting elmhurst.edu/cultural. For more information, email marketing@elmhurst.edu.

The Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law is part of Elmhurst University’s Spring 2023 Cultural Season speaker series.

As the University celebrates its most ambitious fundraising campaign in institutional history, this academic year’s Cultural Season theme— The Legacy We Leave: Doing Well, Doing Good, Investing in the Future —highlights philanthropic impact and building a culture of generosity and hope.

Arrangements for the appearance of Adam Kinzinger were made through UTA Speakers, New York, N.Y.

Pritzker touts higher education plan, joins call for pharmacies to state abortion pill plans

Governor advises pharmacies against ‘capitulating’ to ‘threats’ by Republican AGs

By Nika Schoonover

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

On his latest marketing tour to sell his state budget plan, Gov. JB Pritzker visited a community college in Normal recently to highlight his proposed investments in higher education.

“With an additional $100 million directed to the (Monetary Award Program) grant program, a student can pair our state support with a federal Pell grant and pay for college with no loans and debt required,” Pritzker said at the news conference at Heartland Community College.

The increase would bring total MAP funding to $701 million, a 75 percent increase since the governor took office. According to his office , the proposed investment would allow most community college students and 40 percent of public university students at or below median income levels to have their tuition covered through the combined grants.

The governor added that every student this year who applied and was eligible for a MAP grant received one.

“When I first took office, going to college in Illinois seemed less affordable than ever before. Prior administrations had cut funding for higher education so badly that

out-of-state tuition looked better to Illinois families,” Pritzker said.

“And that’s a fundamental failure of state government and it’s a trend we’ve been reversing for the last four years.”

The plan would also provide additional funding for community college programs, including $8.3 million for dual credit and noncredit workforce grant programs, $11 million for development of technology-focused workforce training programs, and $750,000 to expand English language services.

“Illinois has the third largest community college system in the entire nation,” Pritzker said.

“We’re home to 48 community colleges and all across the state they open doors to higher wages, new careers, better jobs.”

The governor will spend the coming days promoting the plan across the state, similar to a tour he made in recent weeks to highlight his “Smart Start” plan for early childhood education. He’s also promoted investments aimed at addressing the state’s teacher shortage.

Medication abor tion access

Pritzker also announced that he joined 14 other governors in calling for major pharmacies to clarify how they will protect access to

medication abortion such as mifepristone.

The move comes after a recent announcement by Walgreens that it would stop distributing the medication in 21 states where Republican attorneys general threatened action against the company.

“I’ve spoken with Walgreens executives and expressed my deep disappointment at their announced policy, and I’ve urged them to rethink this decision that will severely limit access to essential health care for thousands of women,” Pritzker said in a statement. “I’m calling on all major pharmacies to resist the political grandstanding of certain state attorneys general and preserve this right wherever reproductive choice is still allowed— which will always be the case in Illinois while I am governor.”

The coalition of 14 Democratic governors sent a letter to executives at CVS, Walmart, Rite-Aid, Safeway, Health Mart, Kroger, Costco and Target.

“The other major pharmacy companies have not announced what they’re doing and it’s clear to me that they’re capitulating to the threat by 21 attorney’s general around the nation,” Pritzker said at the news conference. “That’s not acceptable and they need to answer what are they going to do.”

Adam KinzingerShia Kapos

Puzzle page

BEACH

BEVERAGES

BREAK

CELEBRATE

COLLEGE

CONTEST

CROWDS

ESCAPE

FRIENDS

MUSIC

NOISY

OCEAN

PARTY

REFRESHMENTS

REVELRY

SEMESTER

SOUTH

SPRING

SUNSHINE

SWIMSUIT

TRAFFIC

TRAVEL

VACATION

WARM

SUDOKU

Fun by the Numbers

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

CLUES ACROSS

1. Millisecond

5. Narcotic drug

11. Accident

14. Formal submissions

15. Popular 70s rock band

18. Discourage from doing

19. More socially elite

21. Arid

23. A way to look

24. Heroes

28. A surfer rides it

29. Potato state

30. Insect repellent

32. Cool!

33. Have already done

35. Collegiate women’s fraternity

36. To the __ degree

39. Gasteyer and de Armas are two

41. Blood type

42. Looked over

44. Language of Cameroon and Chad

46. Species of armadillo

47. Touch softly

49. Part of your upper body

52. Large, stocky lizards

56. Lack of social or ethical standards

58. Congressman

60. Unofficial force

62. As a result of this utterance

63. A main branch of Islam

CLUES DOWN

1. Woman (French)

2. Province of Pakistan

3. This (Spanish)

4. Transportation device

5. Greater in importance or priority

6. The human foot

7. Within

8. Consumed

9. Respectful Malaysian term

10. Therefore

12. Ceased to exist

13. Type of macaroni

16. English composer

17. Wooded tract

20. Tall, slender-leaved plant

22. 36 inches

25. Take too much (abbr.)

26. Allow

27. Individually

29. Journalist Tarbell

31. Bar bill

34. Hong Kong food stall:__ pai

dong

36. Not messy

37. Species that includes reedmace

38. Former MLB catcher Ed

40. Northern U.S. state

43. Wilt

45. Commercial

48. Bolivian river

50. Nursemaid

51. A car needs four

53. Guns (slang)

54. American state

55. Clusters of fern fronds

57. Body part

58. A person’s brother or sister

59. Breed of sheep native to Sweden

61. Of I

Please join us for worship!

Sundays: 9am Adult Education and Sunday School 10am Traditional Divine Service

60126 630/834-1411 www.RedeemerLCMS.com

Facebook: RedeemerofElmhurst • Youtube: RedeemerLCMS.com

Worship Services Directory

130 W. Butterfield Road Elmhurst, IL 630-279-4775

Maundy Thursday Communion Service April 6, Noon

Good Friday Tenebrae Service April 7, 7:30 p.m.

Gather with us for

Visitation Roman Catholic Church

779 S. York Street ~ Elmhurst, Illinois visitationparish.org — 630834-6700

The Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday

Thursday, April 6th ~ Holy Thursday ~

Morning Prayer at 8:15am

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00 pm.

Solemn adoration of the Eucharist in church until Midnight

Friday, April 7th ~ Good Friday ~

Morning Prayer at 8:15am

Afternoon Service of the Passion with Communion at 3pm.

Stations and Veneration of the Cross at 7pm.

Saturday, April 8th ~ Holy Saturday ~

Morning Prayer at 8:15am

Blessing of Easter Food at Noon.

Easter Vigil – The Mass of the Resurrection at 7pm

Sunday, April 9th ~ Easter Sunday ~ Masses celebrated at 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 am.

Lent

St.

Timothy Evangelical

Lutheran Church 547 N. Main St., Lombard, IL 60148 630-627-2435

and

Easter

Services

Sunday Worship at 10:15 am Sunday School & Bible Study 9am

at 7 p.m.

“The Crucial Hours”

Second Lenten Service March 9, 2022

Rev. David Ernest “Satan Has Asked to Sift All of You” Jerusalem Lutheran, Morton Grove Matthew 27:15-26

Lent and Easter Services

Third Lenten Service March 16, 2022

at 7 pm

Rev. Paul Spaude “What to Remember When Your are St. Matthews, Niles Seized with Remorse” Matthew 27:3-4

“His Final Steps”

Sixth Lenten Service March 29, 2023

Rev. Tom Nicholson “Led to His Enemies” Resurrection, Aurora Luke 20:9-19

Fourth Lenten Service March 23, 2022

Rev. Jonathan Bergemann “I Will Keep the Passover” Good Shepherd, Downers Grove Matthew 26:18

✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝ ✝

Fifth Lenten Service March 30, 2022

Rev. Tom Nicholson “They Bound Him” Resurrection, Aurora John 18:12

Maundy Thursday Communion 7:00 pm, April 6

Good Friday Tenebrae 7:00 pm, April 7

Sixth Lenten Service April 6, 2022

Easter Sunrise 6:30 am, April 9

Rev. Phil Schupmann “The Semblance of Legality” Resurrection, Aurora Luke 22:66

Easter Breakfast 8:00 am, April 9

Easter Festival 10:15 am, April 9

Maundy Thursday Communion 7 p.m., April 14

Everyone is Welcome!

Good Friday Tenebrae 7 p.m., April 15

All services are live streamed.

Easter Sunrise 6:30 a.m., April 17

“You can watch them on our website or on Facebook.” SaintTimothy.org

Easter Breakfast 8 a.m., April 17

Easter Festival 10:15 a.m., April 17

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Villa Park Public Library Board of Trustees candidate profiles

Editor’s note: Four candidates (vote for three) are running in the April 4 election to serve a four-year term on the Villa Park Public Library Board of Trustees.

Here are the candidate profiles, listed in alphabetical order. The Villa Park Review will not be endorsing candidates in this race, or any other race in the April 4 election.

Deborah Canale

Office sought:

Villa Park Public Library Trustee

Family: Husband Dan Canale; Son Anthony Canale; and Daughter Allison Canale.

Occupation: Currently a Permanent Building Substitute Teacher for D45. I have taken on several longterm permanent substitute and summer school teaching positions over the past five years only within D45. Previously I worked for a small financial consulting firm for over 20 years as an investment consultant advising non-profit organizations and wealthy institutional investors.

Social media addresses:

Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/deborahweix.canale

Instagram: https://www.instagram. com/debcanalex4/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin. com/in/deborahcanale/

Education: Received my Bachelors of Science in Finance from DePaul University; Earned my Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™

(CRPC™) and

Financial Paraplanner

Qualified Professional™ (FPQP ® ) through the College For Financial Planning.

Community or civic involvement: Previously, I worked on the Vote Yes Villa Park Library Fundraising and Marketing/Communication Committee in 2016. I am a current member of the Friends of the Library and Park Advocates of Villa Park. I have two children that keep me busy volunteering my time with Girl Scouts of America, Villa Park Warriors Football and Cheer teams and on various school committees within D45 at Westmore and Jackson.

Previous elected offices held (if any): I was appointed as Trustee for the Library Board in January of 2020 and then was re-elected in the general election that April. I continue to serve on the Finance Committee while most recently accepting the Co-Chair position for the Strategic Planning Committee of the Library.

Why do you want to serve as a Villa Park Public Library trustee?

In short, it is my way of making a contribution to my community. I want to continue to serve with the current board of trustees, the Library staff, and most importantly the community to create our next Strategic Plan and continue funding our Capital Replacement Plan. I believe the Library and its patrons are essential to the health and well-being of Villa Park. We were given a gift in building a new library and have established a solid foundation. I think it’s imperative we do everything we can to maintain it as well as continue to grow and accommodate the needs and requests of our ever-changing community for many

years to come.

What do you see as a major challenge, or challenges, facing the library, and what do you think needs to be done to meet that challenge, or challenges?

Libraries are continuously evolving organizations. A continuous challenge facing the library is that we remain a viable resource for the community in providing equal access to information to all patrons. We remain viable to the community by addressing past, current and future challenges through our Strategic Plan, funding our Capital Replacement Plan, as well as being prudent and diligent with the finances and policies of the Library. Detailed information about all of this can be located on the Library’s website at www.vppl.info or you can always ask a question through the live chat option.

At some Chicago area public libraries, as well as at libraries across the country, there have been efforts by groups to have books taken off the shelves that these groups deem to be obscene, pornographic or promote an LGBTQ theme. What is your position on this?

I support our Materials Selection Policy 610 which can be found on the Library’s website at https://www. vppl.info/library-info/library-policies-plans/ under plans and policies. This particular policy refers to the Library’s collection and selection of materials and is regularly reviewed at least biennially. Also it is important to note that the library’s collection is intended to be representative rather than comprehensive, relying for depth of coverage on other libraries to which it has access through interlibrary loan.

Jennifer Hovanec

Office sought: Villa Park Public Library Trustee

Occupation: Executive Director of the La Grange Public Library

Education: BA

Secondary Education/English Language and Literature, Benedictine University, Master of Library and Information Science, focus on Public Library Management, Dominican University

Community or civic involvement: Member of Villa Park Library Board of Trustees 2020-present Previous elected offices held (if any): Member of Villa Park Library Board of Trustees, 2020-present

Why do you want to serve as a Villa Park Public Library trustee?

I want to continue my commitment to serve as a Trustee for Villa Park Public Library because I believe in the institution so deeply. Being able to use my professional acumen to make the community I choose to live in a better place means a great deal to me. I want to volunteer my time to be helpful to my neighbors and to live a life that stays connected to serving the greater good.

What do you see as a major challenge, or challenges, facing the library, and what do you think needs to be done to meet that challenge, or challenges?

Libraries are facing challenges far beyond funding and space. Libraries

are purveyors of access to information, and the information climate is changing frequently. As Trustees, it is our job to support the staff in their professional mission to educate, inform and entertain. Trustees need to understand that their job is to support the people working in libraries. Staff, particularly those at the Villa Park Public Library, are trained professionals who do their best to meet every patron at their own pace.

At some Chicago area public libraries, as well as at libraries across the country, there have been efforts by groups to have books taken off the shelves that these groups deem to be obscene, pornographic or promote an LGBTQ theme. What is your position on this?

The library’s job is to provide access to information. Libraries promote and are built upon choice. As trustees, it is our job to uphold the ALA Trustee Code of Ethics that clearly states that we must remain committed to supporting staff in their decisions. Libraries support the freedom to read, and libraries do not act in loco parentis. What someone takes off the shelf is that person’s choice, and their choice alone. Each individual sets their limits and is responsible for maintaining them, and making their own, educated choices. No one, not trustees or other patrons, get to decide what someone chooses to read or view from a library shelves.

John Mark McCleary

Office sought:

Villa Park Public Library Trustee

Occupation: Present member of the Villa Park Public Library Board of Trustees; Retired teacher

Education: MS Biology–NIU; MS ED–Temple University

Previous elected offices held (if any): Present member of Villa Park Library Board of Trustees

Why do you want to serve as a Villa Park Public Library trustee?

I want to continue serving my community.

What do you see as a major challenge, or challenges, facing the library, and what do you think needs to be done to meet that challenge, or challenges?

No major challenges.

At some Chicago area public libraries, as well as at libraries across the country, there have been efforts by groups to have books taken off the shelves that these groups deem to be obscene, pornographic or promote an LGBTQ theme. What is your position on this?

I found the following [quote] in the Internet and it represents my feelings on the question.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with a parent deciding a certain book is not right for (his or) her child. There is a colossal problem with a parent deciding that, therefore, no child should be allowed to read that book.”—Jodi Picoult

Matthew Sherlock (no photo provided) Office sought: Villa Park Public Library Trustee

Family: I have my sister Shannon Sherlock, my mother Diane Sherlock, and my father Brian Sherlock.

Occupation: I work at the Addison Public Library as a Materials Management Clerk.

Social media addresses: My personal campaign website: https://matthewsherlockforvillaparkpubliclibrarytrustee.com/

Education: General Associate Degree at College of DuPage and a Bachelors of European History from the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Community or civic involvement: I am currently volunteering at the Villa Park public library as part of the College of DuPage Library Technical Assistant Certification program.

Awards received (either professional or community related): I graduated Cum Laude at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

Previous elected offices held (if any): N/A

Why do you want to serve as a Villa Park Public Library trustee?

I want to serve my community and expand my horizons.

What do you see as a major challenge, or challenges, facing the library, and what do you think needs

to be done to meet that challenge, or challenges?

I think that we need to diversify our collection, in genre, materials, and authorship. For nearly two centuries, literature has been dominated by a handful of viewpoints and institutions. We have made significant progress, but we can do better.

At some Chicago area public libraries, as well as at libraries across the country, there have been efforts by groups to have books taken off the shelves that these groups deem to be obscene, pornographic or promote an LGBTQ theme. What is your position on this?

I think that obstructing access to any book is absurd. LGBTQ people are people like anyone else and they should be able to see themselves in fiction or be able to find the information they need to learn who they are. Trying to take away their voices, make them conform to norms they don’t fit in, to force them back into the shadows is despicable. I will not be bullied into making our libraries into places where only certain voices are heard. Where only people who think one way are welcome. I will never let that happen.

Speak Out to resume next week

Editor’s note: Due to village board and library board candidate profiles being published in this week’s Villa Park Review, as well as space limitations, Speak Out will not be published this week. Speak Out will resume in next week’s issue.

Trinity Christian Nursery School open house this Saturday

Trinity Christian Nursery School is hosting an open house for the 2023/2024 school year from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 1 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 S. Ardmore Ave.

The school offers classes for 2-year-olds though pre-kin-dergarten and focuses on helping children learn and grow.

Registration forms will be available or email: regis-trarTCNS@gmail.com

Willowbrook Music Boosters to hold Trivia Night event on April 15

The Willowbrook Music Boosters Club will hold its annual Trivia Night at the school on Saturday, April 15. The event will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Check-in will begin at 6 p.m.

The registration and payment deadline for this year’s Trivia Night is Wednesday, April 12.

All Willowbrook students, parents/guardians, alumni, staff, community members and friends are invited to participate. Teams should consist of eight to 10 players. The entry fee is $100 per team. Proceeds will go toward scholarships, grants and other music department needs.

The evening will also feature raffles and prizes, including a prize for the team with the best theme.

To register, and for full event details, visit https://tinyurl.com/WBTriviaNight2023.

Gutters

Landscaping/ Lawn/Garden

Tree Service

PAUL BUNYON & SONS TREE SERVICE

T & M TREE SERVICE

Never Known to Fail

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed mother of the Son of God.

Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother.

Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth! I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to answer me in this necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3x). Holy Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3xs). Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands (3x). Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads so that I can attain my goal, you who gave me divine gift to forgive and forget all evil against me, and that in all instances in my life you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things as you confirm once again that I never want to be separated from you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine.

The person must say this prayer 3 consecutive days, after 3 days the request will be granted. This prayer must be published after the favor is granted. A.S.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

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cept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.

House panel debates ranked choice voting

Opinions vary about benefits, cost and complexity of multichoice ballots

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Illinois lawmakers are debating whether the state should join a growing list of jurisdictions in the United States that allow voters to pick more than one candidate for an office, ranking them in order of preference rather than choosing just one.

Ranked choice voting, or as it’s sometimes called, “instant runoff voting,” actually has a long history in U.S. elections at the municipal level. But it has become more widely adopted in modern times, including in several states and dozens of municipalities.

“This is a better voting model to ensure all voices and choices are reflected in the election results,” Amber McReynolds, an elections expert and former elections director for the city and county of Denver, Colorado, told a House committee Wednesday. “It prioritizes and expands voter

LEGAL NOTICE

In The Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit DuPage County, Illinois ESTATE OF Robert Paul Neumann, DECEASED.

CASE NO. 2022PR000604.

Notice is given of the death of the above-named decedent. Letters of office were issued to Kathleen Elies, of 3872 Maple Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062, as Independent Administrator, whose attorney of record is Chris J. Aiello, P.C., of 322 S ARDMORE AVE, VILLA PARK, IL 60181; DuPage County attorney No.: 21072; phone No.: 630-833-1122.

Notice is given to Carol Janik, who is an heir of the decedent whose name or address was not stated in the petition for Letters of Administration, that an order was entered on date of letters, granting Letters of Administration of the estate.

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under section 5/28-4 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, par. 5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the DuPage Circuit Court Clerk, 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois, or with the representative, or both, on or before June 07, 2021, or, if mailing or delivery of a notice from the representative is required by section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered by the claimant to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/service-providers.htm

to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www. illinoiscourts.gov/FAQ/gethelp.asp

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review March 30, April 6 & 13, 2023) 435216

choice, it puts voters first, and it improves the voting experience for all.”

The proposals facing Illinois lawmakers are subject to change as they move through the legislative process.

In a general ranked choice voting system, voters mark candidates in the order of their preference in races with three or more candidates. The voter can rank as many candidates as they choose. In a five-person race, for example, a voter might rank one candidate first, another second and leave the sections of the other three candidates blank.

In the first round of counting, ballots are counted as they are now, with everyone’s vote going to their first choice.

If no one has achieved a majority, the person with the fewest votes is eliminated and their voters’ ballots are recounted with their votes going to their highest ranked candidate that is still in the race.

This continues until a candidate earns a majority of votes counted in a given round of tabulation. This may not mean a majority of all people who voted in the election, since a ballot isn’t counted after all of their listed choices are eliminated.

According to the group FairVote, which advocates for ranked choice voting, there are 64 jurisdictions that allow that method of elections, including the states of Maine and Alaska, as well as two counties and 60 cities.

Colorado enacted a law in 2021 that allows municipalities to opt in to ranked choice voting in local elections. And Democratic parties in five states—Alaska, Kansas, Hawaii, Nevada and Wyoming—used it, wholly or partially, in their 2020 presidential primaries. There are currently three bills pending in the General Assembly that would allow ranked choice voting in one form or another.

House Bill 2716, by Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness, would implement the system for elections for the General Assembly, governor and other statewide constitutional officers.

House Bill 2807, by Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, would establish ranked choice voting in presidential primaries in Illinois. And House Bill 3749, by Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, would allow municipalities to use ranked choice voting if the municipality’s chief election authority submits a written statement saying they have the ability to conduct such an election.

Impact on elections

Supporters of ranked choice voting argue that it has several advantages over “plurality voting,” in which the person with the most votes after one round of counting wins regardless of whether that person has a majority.

One, they say, is that it reduces the number of “wasted” votes—that is,

votes cast for candidates who drop out of the race after it’s too late to remove their name from the ballot. McReynolds said that is particularly true in presidential primaries in which a large field of candidates is winnowed down to just a few after the first few states cast ballots.

“In 2016, more than 2 million voters actually took the effort to vote for a candidate on the Republican side (after they had dropped out of the race). Their vote was lost,” she said. “In 2020, around 3 million to 4 million of Democrats—that’s the estimated (number)—had that same issue happen because lots of dropouts start happening after Super Tuesday in those periods of time.”

Under ranked choice voting, she said, even if a voter’s first choice is no longer in the race, their second or third choice could still count in subsequent rounds of counting.

Some advocates also say it can reduce the overall cost of certain elections by eliminating the need for runoffs, like the one coming up April 4 in the Chicago mayoral race.

“There are estimates that runoff elections cost the city between $25 and $35 million each time,” Buckner said. “And so this, if for no other reason, for financial reasons, being able to give us winners of both aldermanic and mayoral elections on the initial election date and to save some of those dollars and resources from the city and municipality.”

But Boone County Clerk Julie

Bliss, speaking on behalf of the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders, said there would be significant up-front costs for local officials to buy the voting machines and software needed for ranked choice voting, as well as the cost of printing and mailing what would be much larger ballots.

“Expense and funding absolutely is going to be a question that all the local election authorities are going to have for you,” she told the committee. “… The initial cost of implementing something like this is going to be higher.”

Brian Pryor, deputy director of election operations at the Illinois State Board of Elections, said there are currently no voting systems in Illinois that could implement ranked choice voting immediately.

“Some systems are capable of conducting ranked choice voting but they require additional components or software, which would need to be certified for use in Illinois,” he said. “There are currently 16 jurisdictions that have no capability of implementing ranked choice voting. These jurisdictions would need to procure new equipment.”

The committee discussion of the three bills was “subject matter” only, meaning they did not come for a vote. They have been re-referred to the House Rules Committee, meaning they may face an uphill battle to be passed into law in the current General Assembly.

Illinois SNAP-Ed conference brings awareness to hunger and food insecurity

One in 12 people in Illinois struggles with food insecurity daily, according to Feeding America. When families are hungry, making a healthy food choice is not always the easy choice.

To increase healthier outcomes for communities, SNAP Education at University of Illinois Extension and the Chicago Partnership for Health Promotion will host three regional Illinois Hunger and Health Conferences to facilitate partnerships among local, public, and regional organizations working together to address food insecurity and its impact on health.

All food pantry staff and volunteers are welcome to attend along with other organizations interested in addressing food insecurity in their communities.

“We are looking forward to building on the successes of last year’s conferences and continue to connect with our partners from across

Answers

the state,” says Louise Hyneman, Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed educator, and conference co-organizer. “The conferences will provide an opportunity to share ideas and resources impacting community health through food pantries while building a network of support.”

Participants may register for the in-person conference held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 5. The cost is $10 per person and includes a noon meal. Fee waivers are available. Check-in details will be provided during registration.

May 5 at Salvation Army, Springfield, Ill.: Register at go.illinois.edu/HHCcentral. Registration closes April 27.

Information on the Chicago conference will be announced on a later date.

Participants will select two breakout sessions to attend during the workshop. Topics include a panel with grant funders and awardees

for attendees to learn about how to successfully apply for grant, a panel with statewide and regional partners to discuss innovative ways food pantries can increase healthy donations, Trauma Informed Care at Food Pantries and the opportunity to learn from a food pantry that has successfully Implemented Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP). Attendees will also learn about SNAP-Ed resources, food pantry set up, and the Find Food IL community food map.

The conference will conclude with a keynote speaker and award presentations for Illinois food pantry champions in these categories: Exceptional Food Pantry Manager, Healthy Pantry Innovations, Outstanding Health Equity Leader, and Volunteer of the Year.

Organizations are encouraged to submit award nominations by the time registration closes for the conference the nominee will attend:

https://go.illinois.edu/NominateHHC23

For questions or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact organizer Louise Hyneman at: lhyneman@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.

The Illinois Hunger and Health Conference is sponsored by University of Illinois Extension and the Chicago Partnership for Health Promotion with funds from USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Source: Louise Hyneman, SNAPEd Educator, University of Illinois Extension

Writer: Kayla Swaar, SNAP-Ed Educator, University of Illinois Extension

Flexx Personal Training & Nutrition

MOVING BENSENVILLE FORWARD

Early Voting March 20th - April 3rd at 345 E. Green St. Bensenville ote Tues, April 4th

Longtime Bensenville Resident

Active Member of Bensenville Neighborhood Watch Program

Zion Lutheran Church Ladies Aide and Member, Church Fellowship

Past Treasurer for Bensenville Community Foundation 2017- 2018

Volunteer Distributing Toys for the Village’s Annual Toy Drive

Contributed to the Success of Car Seat Giveaway Events

Campaign Office: 114 Green St. Bensenville | 224.661.0897

Longtime Bensenville Resident

Member, DuPage Mayor’s and Manager’s Caucus Legislative Committee

Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Elmhurst University

Assistant Vice President of Loan Operations for Millenium Bank

Volunteer for Toy Drive Distribution, Coffee with the Village President, Music in the Park and Holiday Magic

Advocate for the Bensenville Senior Community

50 Year Wood Dale/Bensenville Resident

Longtime Senior Luncheon Attendee

Volunteer at Bensenville Food Distribution Events During the Pandemic

Volunteer for Music in the Park, Liberty Fest, and Holiday Magic

Rosa, Nick, and Marie are passionate, independent leaders who put the best interests of Bensenville residents first. They will continue to protect taxpayers, preserve senior services, fight for government tranparency, and keep our neighborhoods safe.

Frank DeSimone, Village President

ROSA CARMONA Village Trustee NICHOLAS PANICOLA JR. Village Trustee

MARIE T. FREY Village Trustee