VPR061523

Review

The winner’s share of Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2801’s current Queen of Hearts contest stands at over $12,000. The contest’s ticket drawing takes place each Friday at 8 p.m. The selected ticket contains a number representing a space on the board that hasn’t been revealed. If that space contains the Queen of Hearts, the ticket holder wins the grand prize. Ticket holders don’t have to be present at the drawing. A five-pack of contest tickets costs $5. Tickets are available at the post, which is open to the public, during the week and up until a few minutes before each Friday’s drawing. Pictured above, left to right after last week’s drawing are the post’s Bill Zucker, who sells tickets on Friday nights, post bartender Mary Agrusa and Michael Huston of the post’s command staff. Moments before the drawing on Friday, June 9, Huston spun the drum (top left) containing that week’s contest tickets. His son Jonny, who is a member of Willowbrook High School’s Class of 2023, selected one ticket from the drum. That number on that ticket—21—revealed the Jack of Diamonds on the contest board (left). There are now 16 covered spaces on that board. One of those spaces contains the Queen of Hearts.

Play at the plate

Graduation day at Willowbrook

The winner’s share of VFW Post 2801’s Queen of Hearts contest keeps growing Grand prize stands at over $12,000; weekly drawing takes place each Friday evening; Current contest continues until the Queen of Hearts is revealed

The tension is building at Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2801’s weekly Queen of Hearts drawing, which takes place

each Friday at 8 p.m.

Freshman Lindsey Rugg of the Willowbrook softball team is pictured while attempting to score a run during Friday’s game at Downers Grove South. Rugg tried to score from second base on a single by sophomore Katelyn Cox in the top of the second inning, when the game was tied at 2-2. Downers Grove South’s catcher tagged Rugg out at home plate for the third out of the inning. The Mustangs went on to defeat the Warriors 7-3 in the West Suburban Gold Conference contest. Wil-

The Queen of Hearts was not revealed at the drawing on Friday, June 9, which means that the grand prize

Willowbrook High School’s Class of 2021 celebrated its commencement with two separate ceremonies in the school’s main gymnasium on Sunday morning. The entire class includes over 470 students. About half of those students attended the

InsIde:

carries over to this week’s drawing on June 16. The winner’s share in the contest now stands at over $12,000, before taxes.

lowbrook rebounded from Friday’s loss to post an 11-2 win in Saturday’s game at Hinsdale Central. The Warriors bashed three home runs in the second inning of Saturday’s non-conference battle against the Red Devils of the West Suburban Silver Conference. Senior Annemarie Knudtson, freshman Isabella Dugo and sophomore Kayleigh Dennison provided the home runs. Dennison (No. 5) is pictured in the background of the above photo. For more about the Warriors, see page 14.

the drum during the recent drawing on May 26. There were about 900 tickets in the drum in the drawings of June 2 and June 9.

ceremony that began at 9 a.m. The others participated in the ceremony that started at 11 a.m. The photo shows members of the Willowbrook Senior Choir performing during the day’s first service. For more photos, see Page 4.

Arbor Day in Villa Park

The post, which is located at 39 E. St. Charles Road, is open to the public. A five-pack of tickets in the Queen of Hearts drawing costs $5. Contestants do not need to be present at the Friday-night drawing. Tickets are on sale at the post throughout the week, up until a few minutes before the ticket drawing.

The contest features a board of 54 spaces that represent a full deck of cards, including two jokers. Each card on the board is numbered and concealed. The ticket drum is cleared after each week’s drawing. There were over 1,200 tickets in

Each Friday, the contest tickets that were sold during the week are spun in the rotating drum, and one ticket is selected. That ticket includes a number representing one of the spaces in which the card has not yet been revealed. If the card on that space contains the Queen of Hearts, the owner of the selected ticket claims the winner’s share.

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 Commis sion, 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 recogni tion, a community must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive com munity forestry program and an Arbor Day observance.

Memorial Day in Villa Park

The drawing of Friday, June 9, revealed the Jack of Diamonds, meaning that the Queen of Hearts is still hiding in one of 16 covered spaces on the contest board.

drawn during last week’s contest didn’t win the grand prize, but she did win $25 for having her ticket selected. The two jokers on the board have already been revealed. When each joker was revealed, that week’s lucky ticket holder won $100. When a Queen that isn’t the Queen of Hearts is revealed, that week’s selected ticket is worth $50. The Queen of Spades and the Queen of Clubs have already been revealed. The Queen of Diamonds, like the Queen of Hearts, is still covered on the contest board. The grand prize that stands at over $12,000 and growing represents the winner’s share of the total prize pot. Post 2801 collects a share of the pot,

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.

The holder of the ticket that was

PHOTO Villa Park Review

CHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa Park Review

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Villa Park

Features works of comic superhero illustrator Alex Ross; includes outdoor installation

The Elmhurst Art Museum, located at 150 So. Cottage Hill in Wilder Park, just south of the award-winning Elmhurst Public Library, in the heart of the City, has opened its new summer blockbuster exhibition Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross, on display now through Sunday, Aug. 20. Appealing to families and fans alike, the dynamic and richly engaging Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross is a must-see this summer.

Upcoming programs

Throughout the run of the exhibit,

the museum will host family-friendly activities, workshops, and more to celebrate one of the most renowned artists in the field of comic books.

On Saturday, June 24 from 1-4 p.m., the Elmhurst Art Museum is hosting a Family Day program, Exploring Superheroes. The museum invites families to get creative through superhero-themed hands-on art activities inspired by the works in Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross. Visitors can explore their own personal superpowers, create custom power cuffs and masks, learn figure drawing with costumed

superheroes, and more. Advance registration is required, free with exhibit admission or membership. For a list of upcoming programs or to register, visit elmhurstartmuseum.org.

More about Alex Ross, Marvelocity

From his home in the Chicago area, Alex Ross has revitalized classic superheroes into works of fine art for more than 30 years, illustrating characters such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Storm from the X-Men, the Avengers, Black Panther,

Elmhurst University

Summer Band Concerts

and many more.

Born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Lubbock, Texas, Alex Ross made his artistic debut at three when, according to his mother, he grabbed a piece of paper and drew the contents of a television commercial he had seen moments before. By age 13, he was scripting and drawing original comic books. Ten years later, he was hired by Marvel Comics to illustrate Marvel’s central characters in the comic book event, Marvels (1994).

Ross’s work has celebrated the 60th anniversaries of Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, and Wonder Woman with fully-painted, tabloid-sized books, depicting each of these characters using their powers to inspire humanity as well as help them. Ross’s hugely successful comic book series Kingdom Come (1996) is considered to have ushered the close of the “Dark Age” of comic books, in which pessimism, violence, and gritty stories ruled, into the birth of the “Modern Age” of optimism and strong superheroes.

In addition to superhero projects, Ross created Uncle Sam, a 96-page story that took a hard look at the dark side of American history.

In recent years, Ross has applied his artistic skills to outside projects with comic book roots, including a limited-edition promotional poster for the Academy Awards. In 2015, Alex was chosen by Apple Corps LTD to be commissioned as the first artist in more than 30 years to paint the Fab Four. Ross is a multi-year winner of the Comic Buyer’s Guide Award for Favorite Painter.

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& June 28

7PM Gates of Knowledge Lawn (rain site - Hammerschmidt Chapel)

One of the must-see events of the summer, the EAM exhibition features more than 50 pieces of original artwork by Ross, including artwork from his retrospective book, Marvelocity

The exhibition explores how Ross developed into a renowned illustrator from his childhood drawings to preliminary sketches, sophisticated paintings, and three-dimensional head busts of characters across the Marvel Universe. Superheroes now appearing in Wilder Park

In tandem with the exhibition, the Elmhurst Art Museum commissioned the outdoor public art installation Superheroes in Wilder Park that will be on view in the adjacent Wilder Park now through Monday, July 31, with an accompanying audio guide accessible via QR code about the inspiration behind each of the sculptures.

The eight Superheroes in Wilder Park were created by four lead artists (Rafael Blanco, Studio Nez, Dave Pryor, and Charles Williams Jr.) and four youth groups led by the museum’s teaching artists. At multiple workshops the youth groups explored the history and evolution of superhero comics, character study, drawing and coloring techniques, and superhero character development with their final work painted on life-sized, stand-alone, wooden cutouts. The finished pieces were created by Robert Apolinar with Elmhurst University students, Esmeralda Bolivar with the Elmhurst Pride Collective, John Nester with Glenbard North High School students, and Gloria Rivera with B. Unity & F.O.C.U.O.S. members.

The Elmhurst Art Museum is open Wednesday and Thursday from 12 – 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Regular admission prices are $18 for adults (ages 18+), $15 for seniors, $10 for students, and $5 for children. For more information, please call 630-834-0202 or visit elmhurstartmuseum.org.

STEVEN M KOCH PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

31.

The Marvelocity exhibition stays through Sunday, Aug. 20.

Elmhurst Art Museum opens ‘Marvelocity’ exhibition

Elmhurst University cuts ribbon on E-celerator Innovation Center Recognizes students who took first in Big Idea pitch contest

Elmhurst University recently celebrated the spirit—and practice—of entrepreneurship by cutting the ribbon on the new E-celerator Innovation Space and applauding two students whose idea took first prize in the competitive Big Idea startup pitch contest held at College of DuPage.

Campus leaders gathered in May for the grand opening of the E-celerator, a dedicated physical space in the A.C. Buehler Library where students can meet and explore their entrepreneurial aspirations. A bright, airy room furnished with moveable tables and seating, the space is an important part of the university’s efforts to foster successful student entrepreneurship by providing them with the necessary knowledge, resources and mentorship.

“This is a great opportunity to celebrate the spirit of innovation that’s thriving here at Elmhurst, and we’re very proud to see that spirit finding a wonderful new home,” said Elmhurst University President Troy D. VanAken.

He thanked a number of groups and organizations for their support of entrepreneurship at the university, including:

• The PNC Foundation, which has awarded $30,000 annual grants to Elmhurst for the past four years;

• Innovation DuPage, a business incubator/ accelerator that has partnered with the University to help navigate the launch of the E-celerator and provide ideas for programming;

• The A.C. Buehler Library, which provided the space for the E-celerator;

• The Elmhurst U. Innovation Committee, which awarded a grant that helped to cover the renovation costs for the new space.

“Our long-term vision was to create and

champion an entrepreneurial spirit at Elmhurst University and its surrounding communities,” said Martin Gahbauer, executive director of the Weigand Center for Professional Excellence. “The funds allowed us to bring to life the vision we had for the space—it is now a dynamic and creative place that encourages inventiveness and innovation.”

Contest winners recognized

During the grand opening, one of the E-celerator’s most recent—and among its biggest—success stories also enjoyed some time in the spotlight. Patrick Yanahan, the E-celerator’s entrepreneur in residence, announced that rising seniors Miftha Syed, of Lombard, and Aaliya Khaja, of Addison, had beaten nearly 40 other applicants to win the $5,000 first prize at the Big Idea Pitch Contest, hosted by Innovation DuPage and College of DuPage.

Their winning pitch was for their app Instapark, which uses geolocation to help college and university commuters find open parking spots on campus and solves the universal problem of having to circle parking lots in search of a spot.

Their unique solution also demonstrated the ability to provide revenue-sharing advertising from local businesses to users of the app. In addition to the prize money, Syed and Khaja received a six-month membership to Innovation DuPage, and access to expert and mentoring resources to help them refine their idea.

“It’s such an exciting time for innovation and entrepreneurship at Elmhurst,” Yanahan said. “I couldn’t be prouder of our students and how they’re making the most of these new opportunities and resources.”

Elmhurst University Humanities program awarded prestigious federal grant Goal is to expand, enhance education partnership with Addison Trail, Willowbrook

An Elmhurst University program that encourages underserved and uncertain students to embrace the idea of attending college has been awarded a highly competitive National Endowment for the Humanities grant worth $59,400.

The federal grant for Elmhurst’s Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education Development project will enhance and expand an educational partnership that the University has had for the past few years with Addison Trail High School in Addison and Willowbrook High School in Villa Park.

“The goal of the program is to help students who might not see themselves as college-bound have a little more self-confidence and see themselves as capable of attending college,” said Erika McCombs, assistant professor in the Department of English and the project director. “They are good students but don’t consider themselves college-bound.”

Since 2020, Elmhurst U. has offered Addison Trail and Willowbrook high school students an opportunity to earn collegiate English composition and literature credits at Elmhurst while completing their high school degree requirements. Students take the college-level courses in their high schools, visit Elmhurst to observe first-year seminar courses and participate in an English 105 class, and work with Elmhurst faculty on their college applications.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant, which went into effect on

June 1, will allow the program to expand and to serve more students. Specifically, the grant will fund several new initiatives, including:

• A summer program for rising seniors. Beginning this summer, students will visit Elmhurst U. and experience college-level humanities studies.

• Field trips for underserved students. Many of the students at Addison Trail and Willowbrook lack the opportunity to participate in cultural events and activities, McCombs said. The grant will fund field trips to a play at a theater and to a museum.

• Professional development for high school educators. This part of the grant would provide 10 hours of professional development training to at least 35 high school humanities teachers to help them diversify the curriculum and better prepare their students for higher education.

Participation in the collegiate extension program, now in its third year, has tripled since the fall of 2020. In its first year, 23 students took part. This year, that number is 109.

McCombs wrote the NEH grant request with Amy Ferraro, chair of the English Department at Addison Trail; and Portia Ransom, chair of the English Department at Willowbrook. Ferraro and Ransom are project co-directors.

NEH grants are awarded to projects that promote lifelong learning and preserve history. Elmhurst was one of only 10 institutions in Illinois to receive funding.

EMMA FILIPSSON PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishingt

Attendees at the grand opening for the E-celerator Innovation Space include (from left) Martin Gahbauer, executive director of the Weigand Center for Professional Excellence; Entrepreneur in Residence Patrick Yanahan; student Jessica Pavliukovecas; and Elmhurst U. President Troy D. VanAken.

Villa Park reView

Your Hometown Newspaper

240 N. West Avenue Elmhurst, IL. 60126

Main Phone 630.834-8244 Fax 630.834-0900

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

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Advertising:

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The Villa Park Review is mailed to the 60181 zip code areas for $45.00 yearly. Out-of-area mail subscriptions are $50.00 yearly. For home delivery information call 630.834-8244.

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Content appearing in the Villa Park Review may not be reprinted without permission of the publisher or editor. Requests should be directed to Independent@rvpublishing.com or 630.834-8244.

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THE VILLA PARK REVIEW

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Office Hours: Monday-Friday 11am-3pm

Villa Park receives investment for recycling upgrades as

part of beverage industry’s Every Bottle Back initiative

Investments made possible by public/private partnership between American Beverage, Illinois Beverage Association, sustainability leaders and Villa Park

American Beverage, in partnership with The Recycling Partnership, has announced Villa Park has been selected to receive $97,500 from the beverage industry as part of its Every Bottle Back initiative to improve recycling rates.

The investment will help provide new, 65-gallon recycling carts free of charge to residents to increase the collection of valuable recyclables, including American Beverage’s 100 percent recyclable bottles and cans. The beverage industry funds are part of a total Every Bottle Back commitment of $780,000 to overhaul residential recycling, making it more efficient and effective for Villa Park residents.

This is the second Every Bottle Back investment announced in Illinois, with a previous investment made in LaSalle.

“American Beverage is excited to build upon the progress of Every Bottle Back in Illinois with this new investment in Villa Park,” said Kevin Keane, interim president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Ameri-

can Beverage. “Making investments to improve residential recycling will help us to collect more of our 100 percent recyclable bottles and cans so they can be remade as intended. This announcement is possible thanks to the commitment of leaders in Villa Park and we are grateful for their partnership.”

“The local companies of the Illinois Beverage Association believe that our bottles and cans can be kept out of nature by improving the way we recycle,” said Brad Harden, president of the Illinois Beverage Association. “New high-capacity recycling carts will allow Villa Park residents to recycle more materials, including our bottles and cans, so they can be remade into new products as intended.”

“The Village of Villa Park is looking forward to working with The Recycling Partnership and Lakeshore Recycling Service to improve our curbside recycling program,” said Matthew Harline, village manager of Villa Park. “Our current program lacks any uniformity and results in

trash and recycling getting into the wrong processing stream. The carts should increase participation and improve the amount of material actually being recycled that is intended for recycling.”

“The Recycling Partnership has been excited to work with Villa Park and are grateful to American Beverage’s Every Bottle Back initiative for their support,” said Mari Long, community program manager from The Recycling Partnership. “This project will allow residents to capture more recyclable materials at the curb, keeping it out of the environment, and getting it back into the circular economy.”

This investment will directly benefit nearly 22,000 Villa Park residents across 6,500 households. Over the next decade, the investment is expected to yield 8.6 million pounds of new recyclables, including 335,400 pounds of PET plastic, which is used to make America’s leading beverage companies’ 100 percent recyclable bottles, and 111,800 pounds of aluminum.

The Every Bottle Back investment in Villa Park is the latest in 31 initial projects the beverage industry has committed to funding under Every Bottle Back. To date, Every Bottle Back investments total more than $22 million in committed funding and are estimated to yield more than 726 million more pounds of PET over 10 years.

About the Every Bottle Back initiative

The Every Bottle Back initiative is an integrated and comprehensive initiative by The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo, alongside sustainability leaders Closed Loop Partners, The Recycling Partnership and World Wildlife Fund, designed to improve plastics circularity. These efforts support individual sustainability commitments undertaken by The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo. Learn more about Every Bottle Back at www.EveryBottleBack. org.

Village’s Summer Festival will take place on June 24

Kick-off to summer includes live music and several attractions for children

The Village of Villa Park’s Summer Festival is an annual gathering of people coming together to enjoy music, food, libations, entertainment, local vendors and each other. The one-day event serves as a kick-off to summer.

This year’s Summer Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, in the Ardmore Business District (Ardmore Avenue and Park Boulevard, near the Illinois Prairie Path).

The festival will feature eight musical performers at the Rugaard Gazebo, including: Combat Fusion (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), Katie Kostner (12:45

Montini Catholic congratulates 2023 recipient of Mary C. Guertler Memorial Scholarship

Montini Catholic High School in Lombard congratulates the 2023 recipient of the Mary C. Guertler Memorial Scholarship, freshman Andrew Schmith. The scholarship was established to honor the memory of Mary Guertler, who had three children and three grandchildren graduate from Montini Catholic. Her son, Steven Guertler of Villa Park (Class of 1979), established the scholarship in her name. “My mother was steadfast and selfless in her desire to provide each of her four children a Catholic education,” said Steven at Montini Catholic’s Founder’s Day ceremony last month. “No personal sacrifice was too great for her to achieve this vision. She went to work third shift as a Nursing Assistant at Elmhurst Hospital to ensure tuition was always covered. She specifically requested the PM shift so she was home for her children both before and after school. My mother loved Montini Catholic and was proud of the Lasallian educational experience that her children and grandchildren received.” Above is Schmith with Guertler at Montini’s Founder’s Day ceremony.

to 1:45 p.m.), Scottie Long (1:45 to 2:45 p.m.), Neal Rudnik (2:45 to 3:45 p.m.), Seven Soul (4:15 to 5:15 p.m.), The Cave Dwellers (5:45 to 7 p.m.), Dixon Bandits (7:30 to 9 p.m.) and Lake Effect (9:30 to 10:30 p.m.).

The attractions for kids at the upcoming Summer Festival will include a giant inflatable area (with a bounce house, 21-foot slide and more), a children’s magician, a balloon artist and a face painter. The festival’s attractions for kids will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festival will feature several local vendors, including local food vendors.

Memorial service for seven deceased Villa Park veterans to be held this Saturday

The public is invited to attend a memorial service to honor seven deceased Villa Park veterans. The service will take place this Saturday, June 17, at 1 p.m., at Steuerle Chapel Funeral Home, 350 S. Ardmore Ave.

The Villa Park veterans who will be recognized and honored during Saturday’s service include: Charles

• Contest

Doswell (World War I, died in 1977), Frank Bonfield (World War I, died in 1989), Stanley Ohlman (World War I, died in 1973), William Hruska (World War II, died in 1993), Stanley Moldenhauer (World War II, died in 1982), Edwin Forsberg (World War II, died in 1990) and Floyd Haynes (Korean War, died in 1982).

(Continued from front page)

while another share goes to reseed the pot in a new contest that will begin one week after the current contest ends.

One week after someone wins the current contest, the new contest will offer a winner’s share that will start at over $3,000.

Tickets are available at the post throughout the week. The Friday-night ticket drawing and reveal

takes place in the post’s downstairs bar—the VFW Post 2801 Bunker.

The post’s kitchen is open from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, fried shrimp, fried chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, Italian sausage and Polish sausage. Friday evenings also feature a draft beer special—Miller Lite at $2 per pint.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Bethel Church free piano concert to celebrate summer solstice

Bethel United Church of Christ in Elmhurst will offer “Word and Note” on Wednesday, June 21 at 7 p.m., a free concert honoring the summer solstice and featuring renowned pianist Jeffrey Panko. The program will be interspersed with secular poetry, read by Pastor Gretchen Sylvester.

Panko has received critical acclaim as both a soloist and in collaborative efforts with artists throughout the U.S. and Europe. A top prize winner in international competitions, Panko has been featured in performances at Carnegie Hall, Weill Hall, Lincoln Center, WQXR Radio (New York), is a frequent performer on WFMT Radio (Chicago) and has appeared

at the Symphony Center playing the music of Steven Sondheim for Mr. Sondheim himself.

The program will include works of Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schumann and Albeniz.

An artist faculty member of the New Music School piano faculty in Chicago, Panko has served as minister of music and as artistic director of the Music@Bethel Concert series since its 1999 inception.

Bethel United Church of Christ is located at 315 East St. Charles Road just west of Sandburg Middle School. The church is accessible and parking is free. For more informa

Pictured is renowned pianist Jeffrey Panko, who will perform in concert as part of a free summer solstice celebration at Bethel United Church of Christ on Wednesday, June 21 at 7 p.m. Panko is Bethel’s minister of music and has been artistic director of the Music@Bethel concert series since its 1999 inception.

sainttimothy.org

Police Reports

Area police departments recently reported the following arrests and citations.

Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Persons charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the privacy of victims. Juveniles age 17 or younger are not named.

Addison

June 6

Eric J. Whiten, 26, of Chicago, was charged with obstructing identification at 2:01 a.m.

June 4

Rubelio M. Garcia Pascual, 23, of Addison, was charged with DUI near Lake and JFK at 12:15 a.m.

Hector L. Ortiz, 27, of Glendale Heights, was charged with obstructing a police officer and criminal trespass to a building in the 1300 block of W. Lake at 1:41 p.m.

Police said Jose A. Roman Reyes, 37, of Glendale Heights, was issued a warrant near Army Trail and Central at 3:09 a.m.

A 23-year-old Addison man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 200 block of S. Evergreen.

June 3

Leonel A. Nolasco Valle, 26, of Bensenville, was charged with DUI, transportation of liquor by a driver and two counts of improper lane usage near Lake and Grand at 1:47 a.m.

June 1

Hector E. Martinez, 50, of Addison, was charged with battery in the 100 block of S. Addison at 3:45 p.m.

Villa Park

June 3

Jermaine D. Cooks, 37, of Madison, Wis., was charged with armed habitual criminal/felon possessing a weapon/firearm/ammo and resisting or obstructing a police officer in the 400 block of W. Division at 11:43 p.m.

June 2

Police said Thomas L. Ayers, 37, of Schiller Park, was arrested on an original complainant and warrant for an alleged incident that occurred March 14.

Trevor A. Cunningham, 28, of Berwyn, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon that was loaded/no FOID or FCCA card in the 1-1-100 block of W. Roosevelt at 11:23 p.m.

Elaine P. Santoyo, 50, of Villa Park, was charged with driving while license revoked for DUI— fourth to ninth offense—and no insurance in the 100 block of E. Kenilworth at 10:01 p.m.

Police said Eric Sutton, 58, of Lombard, was arrested on a failure to appear warrant out of Cook County near E. St. Charles and S. Pick at 1:17 p.m. Sutton also was

charged with driving while license revoked for DUI.

A 60-year-old Villa Park man was charged with domestic battery in the 100 block of E. Kenilworth at 10:01 p.m.

June 1

A 32-year-old Forest Park man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 600 block of W. Roy at 3:50 p.m.

A complainant near E. Plymouth and N. Hamilton reported at 8:41 p.m. that a subject’s dogs attacked them while they were walking on a sidewalk.

A complainant at a business in the 1-100 block of E. North reported that a suspect removed a vehicle from the parking lot. The vehicle was later located.

May 31

Kimberly C. Lowery, 52, of Wheaton, was charged with theft/ unauthorized control with intent not exceeding $500 at a store in the 100 block of W. Roosevelt for an alleged incident that occurred April 12.

A complainant at a music store in the 200 block of W. Roosevelt reported at 2:54 p.m. that an unknown suspect removed a guitar and left the store without paying.

May 30

Christopher G. Hanson, 43, of Lombard, was charged with DUI, leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, transportation or possession of open alcohol by a driver and no insurance in the 1-100 block of W. Roosevelt at 10:47 p.m.

A complainant in the 200 block of E. Monroe reported at 10:08 p.m. that an unknown suspect damaged a front window of a home with a BB gun.

May 29

A complainant in the 600 block of N. Bierman reported at 8:55 p.m. that an unknown suspect removed a white marble statue from the front yard of their home.

May 26

A complainant in the 300 block of N. Iowa reported at 6:54 p.m. that they were battered by a suspect.

Fraud, identity theft

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

Bensenville

The Bensenville Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons who are charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the victim’s privacy. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17-or-younger

are not named.

June 7, 2 a.m. in the 500 block of N. York Road, a complainant reported unknown suspects in their facility. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300471

June 7, 5:22 p.m. near Tower Lane and Mark Street, a complainant reported their trailer was stolen by an unknown suspect. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300474

June 7, 12:17 a.m. near Butterfield Road and Trans Am Place, Oak Brook, tactical officers assisted Oak Brook police on a homicide investigation. BEP23006416

June 6, 2:02 p.m. in the 1000 block of N. Ellis St., a complainant reported their Amazon package was never received that was supposedly delivered in May. This incident is under investigation. BEP23006396

June 5, 9:26 a.m. in the 700 block of County Line Road, a complainant reported 4 full propane tanks were stolen. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300469

June 5, 2:18 p.m. in the 100 block of S. York Road, a complainant reported an unknown suspect scraped a name on her vehicle. This case is under investigation. BEP23006356

June 4, 2:34 a.m. in the 100 block of Foley Street, a complainant reported an unknown suspect threw a rock through their living room window. This incident is under investigation. BEPC2300463

June 4, 1:55 PM, on the 500 block of E. Jefferson St., the complainant reported their car stolen by an unknown offender. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300464

June 4, 5:09 p.m. near E. Jefferson St. and S. Evergreen St., a Bensenville officer recovered a vehicle stolen out of Chicago.

BEPC2300465

June 4, 5:42 p.m. in the 100 block of S. Center St., a complainant reported their vehicle damaged. The front windshield smashed, and driver’s side tires slashed. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300466

June 3, 7:31 p.m. in the 100 block of Gerry Steven Court, a complainant reported being battered by unknown individuals. This case is under investigation. BEPC2300462

June 3, 11:36 p.m. near S. Route 83 and Sherwood Drive, Wood Dale, a Bensenville officer assisted a Wood Dale Police Department with the report of a car fire.

BEP23006287

June 3, 11:46 p.m. a Bensenville police officer assisted Wood Dale police with a domestic at a location in Wood Dale. BEP23006288

June 3, 2:51 p.m. in the 100 block of Henderson Street, a complainant reported their vehicle rear window damaged. This incident is under investigation. BEPC2300461

June 2, 10:47 a.m. near 3rd Avenue and Church Road, Elmhurst broadcast a license plate reader hit at Third and Church for a vehicle which allegedly committed a burglary to a vehicle. The vehicle was located at George and York but fled into Franklin Park where the officer lost sight of it. BEP23006199

New law limits venue for constitutional lawsuits to Sangamon, Cook counties

Pritzker signs bill backed by attorney general and passed with only Democratic support

By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

People who file lawsuits in state courts challenging the constitutionality of a state law, administrative rule or executive order will now have to file those cases in either Sangamon or Cook counties.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3062 last week, which applies only to cases brought against the state or any of its officers, employees or agents in which the plaintiff seeks to have a law, rule or action declared unconstitutional or they seek an injunction on the grounds of constitutionality. However, it also specifically exempts cases arising out of collective bargaining disputes.

It cleared the General Assembly with only Democratic support.

The bill came in response to a flurry of lawsuits filed in recent years in courthouses throughout the state challenging such things as Pritzker’s COVID-19 mitigation orders, a law that would end cash bail, and, most recently, the state’s ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines.

Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said those cases typically end up being consolidated, and most of them eventually end up before the Illinois Supreme Court, which sits in Springfield and Chicago.

But he also accused plaintiffs’ attorneys in recent cases of selectively choosing where they file their cases in order to improve their chances of finding judges who may be more sympathetic to their cause, a practice Harmon described as “forum shopping.”

“And what we have seen recently is similar cases being filed in scores of counties, causing the attorney general to have to defend the same action in multiple counties with forum shopping,” he said during floor debate on the bill. “This is a simple effort to make sure that all important, critical constitutional questions end up in the right venue.”

But Senate Republican Leader John Curran, of Downers Grove, accused Democrats of engaging in their own brand of venue shopping by restricting constitutional challenges to courts in Springfield and Chicago.

“Courts exist to serve the people, which is why they are located where people live,” he said in a statement after Pritzker announced the bill signing. “This legislation is clearly an attempt by the governor and the attorney general to send constitutional challenges to courts that they believe will be more favorable to the administration.”

Harmon argued that while Springfield is the state capital, Chicago is also a kind of second seat of

exist to serve the people, which is why they are located where people live. This legislation is clearly an attempt by the governor and the attorney general to send constitutional challenges to courts that they believe will be more favorable to the administration.”

state government.

“The statutes are actually replete with jurisdictional references to Cook and Sangamon as the two primary jurisdictions,” he said. “I think it’s the same reason that I have an office in Springfield and an office in Chicago; Leader Curran has an office in Springfield and an office in Chicago; the governor, the attorney general, all the constitutional officers have an office in Springfield and an office in Chicago. It is essentially an alternative place of government.”

Republicans, however, argued that it would inconvenience people who may be aggrieved by a state law or action but don’t live anywhere near Springfield or Chicago.

In the House, for example, state Rep. Patrick Windhorst, from the town of Metropolis on the banks of the Ohio River, noted that he lives closer to the state capital of Tennessee than he does to Springfield, and he is almost as close to Atlanta, Georgia, as he is to Chicago.

“So to say if this body passes an unconstitutional law, in order for me or another person in my community to contest that law, I’ve got to travel a great distance and bear that expense that comes with that, is not fair to the individuals in these communities,” he said during floor debate in the House.

The language of HB 3062 originated in the Senate and was inserted as a set of amendments into a House bill that originally dealt with landlord-tenant relations.

It passed the Senate on May 19 by a vote of 37-16. The House concurred with the amendments 69-35.

“Courts

–Sen. John Durran

Mariners begin home season with a victory

Villa Park improves to 1-1 with Saturday’s win over Glendale Heights

STAFF REPORT

The Villa Park Mariners began their 2023 DuPage Swim and Dive Conference season with a pair of meets last week. The Mariners opened their season with a June 7 meet at Woodridge. Villa Park then faced Glendale Heights in Saturday’s meet at Jefferson Pool.

The Woodridge Sea Lions outscored Villa Park 440-191 in last week’s season opener. The Mariners defeated the Glendale Heights Dolphins 360-208 in Saturday’s meet.

Villa Park is a member of the conference’s four-team Red Division this season. Bartlett, Butterfield and Roselle join the Mariners in the Red Division. The conference also features the White Division and the Blue Division. Bloomingdale, Itasca and Lombard join Woodridge in the White Division this year. Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park and Wood Dale/Addison form the Blue Division.

The Villa Park swimmers who won three individual races during Saturday’s meet against Glendale Heights included Maddie Lynch, who won three races in the 8-and-under girls level. She earned her victories in the 25-meter freestyle, which she completed in 22.25 seconds, the 25-meter butterfly (36.57 seconds) and the 25-meter breaststroke (28.51 seconds).

Elin Stempel of the Mariners delivered three individual wins in the 9-10 girls level during Saturday’s meet. She prevailed in the 50-meter freestyle (39.14 seconds), the 100-meter freestyle (1 minute, 29.63 seconds) and the 50-meter butterfly (44.83 seconds).

Villa Park’s Phoebe Aldana swam to three individual victories on Saturday. Competing in the 11-12 girls division, she posted first-place efforts in the 100-meter individual medley (1:31.48), the 50-meter butterfly (39.97) and the 50-meter breaststroke (47.04).

Naomi Aldana provided the Mariners with three individual wins in the 13-14 girls level on Saturday. She

produced her victories in the 50-meter freestyle (30.93), the 100-meter freestyle (1:07.93) and the 50-meter butterfly (33.27).

Villa Park swimmers who earned two individual victories on Saturday included: Ary Carrola (9-10 girls), who won the 100-meter individual medley (1:43.38) and the 50-meter breaststroke (57.62); Olivia Daly (13-14 girls), who swam to wins in the 100-meter individual medley (1:43.98) and the 50-meter breaststroke (49.79) and Annabelle Thompson (15-18 girls), who prevailed in the 100-meter individual medley (1:32.34) and the 50-meter backstroke (42.10).

The Mariners’ boys who earned two individual wins on Saturday included: Kyle King (8-and-under boys), who won the 25-meter butterfly (47.72) and the 25-meter breaststroke (38.71); Caleb Vaughan (9-10 boys), who claimed victories in the 100-meter freestyle (1:40.10) and the 50-meter backstroke (59.00); Ryan Mueller (11-12 boys), who won the 50-meter backstroke (58.04) and the 50-meter breaststroke (59.03) and Matthew Fitzgerald (15-18 boys) who turned in first-place swims in the 50-meter freestyle (31.50) and the 100-meter freestyle (1:10.50).

Villa Park’s other individual champions at Saturday’s meet against Glendale Heights included:

8-and-under girls: Leighton Stempel (50-meter freestyle; 48.65) and Nora Steverson (25-meter backstroke; 45.68);

9-10 girls: Lydia Aldana (50-meter backstroke; 48.44);

9-10 boys: Liam Grobe (50-meter freestyle; 55.80);

11-12 girls: Sophia Maffia (50-meter freestyle; 40.66);

13-14 girls: Lilly Buscher (50-meter backstroke; 44.40)

13-14 boys: Nolan Raczkowski (100-meter freestyle; 1:30.17); Jurgen Carrola (50-meter backstroke; 41.18) and Zeke Little (50-meter breaststroke; 49.25);

15-18 boys: Jack Brisbois (50-meter butterfly; 35.68) and Simon Lu-

edtke (50-meter breaststroke; 39.36).

Villa Park’s winning relay teams on Saturday included the 11-12 girls foursome of Colleen Pienkos, Phoebe Aldana, Belle Knudtson and Sophia Maffia, which won the 200-meter medley relay (3:21.43) and the 200-meter freestyle relay (2:49.56).

The Mariners’ 13-14 relay team of Maddy Barrett, Olivia Daly, Claire Brennan and Lilly Buscher also produced two victories on Saturday. The four Villa Park swimmers won the 200-meter medley relay (3:24.53) and the 200-meter freestyle relay (2:59.28).

Villa Park’s 15-18 boys foursome of Matthew Fitzgerald, Simon Luedtke, Jack Brisbois and Kyle Kolp also delivered two relay wins on Saturday.

The four Mariners completed the 200-meter medley relay in 2:29.20. They finished the 200-meter freestyle relay in 2:06.99.

The Mariners’ other victorious relay teams during Saturday’s meet included:

8-and-under girls: Penelope Kuhl, Maddie Lynch, Nora Steverson and Leighton Stempel (100-meter freestyle relay; 2:08.43);

9-10 girls: Ary Carrola, Lydia Aldana, Elin Stempel and Ariana Knudtson (200-meter medley relay; 3:18.15); Lydia Aldana, Ruth Aldana, Ary Carrola and Elin Stempel (200-meter freestyle relay; 2:49.34);

13-14 boys: Ryan King, Manny Brisbois, Zeke Little and Jurgen Carrola (200-meter freestyle relay; 2:46.61);

15-18 girls: Annabelle Thompson, Grace Roscoe, Naomi Aldana and Tabitha Smaczny (200-meter medley relay; 2:37.04); Grace Roscoe, Annabelle Thompson, Hannah Daly and Naomi Aldana (200-meter freestyle relay; 2:20.85).

The Mariners’ season continues with two meets this week. Villa Park traveled to Butterfield for a meet with the Bullfrogs on June 14. The Mariners will face the Bloomingdale Barracudas this Saturday at Jefferson Pool.

The Villa Park Mariners began their 2023 season with a meet at Woodridge on June 7. The Mariners lost to Woodridge, but they defeated Glendale Heights 360-208 in Saturday’s meet at Jefferson Pool. The Villa Park swimmers who won three individual races on Saturday included Maddie Lynch, who is pictured above during her victory in the 8-and-under girls level’s 25-meter breaststroke. Phoebe Aldana of the Mariners also delivered three individual wins on Saturday. She is pictured below during her first-place swim in the 50-meter breaststroke in the 11-12 girls level.

Swimming to victory

The Villa Park Mariners’ individual champions during Saturday’s home meet against Glendale Heights included Ryan Mueller, who won two races in the 11-12 boys level. He is pictured (above left) during his victory in the 50-meter breaststroke. Another

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

photo shows Ary Carrola, who provided the Mariners with two individual wins and swam on two victorious relay teams in the 9-10 girls division. She is pictured (above right) while helping a relay team to a win in the 200-meter freestyle relay.

Letter to the editor Resident asks others to support new author

A prayer from thousands of years old transcends into English meaning: “Do good for the sake of goodness and not for any reward.”

Shanaya Grant, pride of Elmhurst, epitomizes that phrase, as she spent her own money to research and compile these short real life inspirational stories and had them printed in these easy-to-read stories of one or two pages each. And to top it off, proceeds from the sale goes to pediatric cancer research.

A must read for all.

Shanaya grew up in Elmhurst. She attended Jackson Elementary and Bryan Middle Schools, graduating from York High School in 2013. She works for one of the Big Four accounting companies as a management consultant and currently lives in Chicago.

Approximately six years ago after watching the horror of a mass shooting event unfold on TV, Shanaya observed that the news media focused all their attention on the perpetrator of the crime. She realized we would come to know everything about this individual but absolutely nothing about the many people who had risked their lives to save others at this same horrific occurrence.

Shanaya resolved to write a book about ordinary people doing extraordinary things for mankind. She strongly believes the world is a beautiful place filled with good people.

To this end, she has spent countless hours researching, reaching out to these exceptional individuals, and writing their stories. Her emphasis is that we have choices on how we live our lives – a choice to count our

blessings, to find ways to bring happiness to others. We’re all capable of creating a positive impact on others in our daily lives – we just have to choose to do so.

This has been a passionate endeavor for Shanaya to show that there are more good people than bad in this world and to shed some light on the goodness of humankind in a world that increasingly seems to focus on the negative. All proceeds for the book will go to Shanaya’s favorite charity – St. Jude’s Hospital.

Let us encourage this young lady by buying all in print so a second edition is in the works.

If you cannot afford it let me know and we will order the first 35 copies.

Hosi Mehta

Slices of life

Turkey pine and other family favorites

One of the 1,107 things I love best about family is the little stories we create. The inside jokes.

The phrases only we understand, and the giggles we share because of them.

In my family we have quite a few. I bet you do as well. Cherish them. They represent memories.

They represent love.

When my husband and I were dating, for a time we lived across the country from one another. Every night, at the same time, we met together, to gaze at the same moon. I’d actually forgotten about this memory until I read about it in letters he’d written to me at that time. Now I look at the moon and think of him. Only him.

When our daughter started talking, the phrases just kept coming and coming. They only multiplied as the number in our family increased.

I’m not sure why, but grapes became bidgies. It was just how our daughter pronounced the word. We deemed it cute and it caught on. A family term. Likewise, green beans became gringo bingos. Broc-coli trees, circle peas and cau-liflowers all were part of dinnertime fodder.

Whenever she heard a sound

By JILL PERTLER COLUMNIST

that was unfamiliar, our daughter asked, “What’s that, beep beep?”

The phrase was quickly acclimated into our family vernacular.

Three boys came along after our first born daughter. With them came more Pertler fam-ily lingo. Thankfully, “I love you,” was a common phrase in our daily lives. When my kids re-sponded with “I love you, too.” I’d tell them, “I loved you first.” To which they replied, “I loved you second first.” Second first became akin to “I love you, too.”

One night we were all playing Scrabble and our youngest son tried to play the word, “huddleuppy.”

In between our laughter, we questioned his logic and he referred to his experience play-ing and watching football.

“You know, in between plays, everyone gets together and does a huddleuppy.”

This became such a legend in

our home that other words were born from it. For in-stance, when we watched TV on the couch, under a blanket at night it became a cuddle-uppy.

Somewhere along the line in family folklore, turkey lunchmeat sandwiches became tur-keypine. For years and years turkey lunchmeat was always turkeypine. Just recently, I asked the boys which one of them originally came up with the term and they all (as adults) thought that turkeypine was a legitimate term for lunchmeat.

And so it goes. I often, still, make them turkey-pine sandwiches. Made with love (and turkey) of course.

My daughter, the creator of bidgies, now has babies of her own. And with them has come new family traditions.

My granddaughter was born five years ago and her uncles embraced her immediately—with a nickname: chicken nugget.

They’d say, “You’re just a chicken nugget!”

She’d answer, “I’m not a chicken nugget! You’re a chicken nugget!”

It’s an exchange that’s exchanged freely between us all.

No one openly admits to be-ing a chicken nugget, but it’s a term of endearment we all recognize.

My husband and I went through a long-distance rela-tionship in our early days, and now I find myself in the same place with my grand babies. We don’t look to the moon—yet. That might be too late in the evening for them.

Instead, we visit via FaceTime and throw kisses—around the world—and catch them. I’ve gotten very good in my throwing and they’ve got-ten very accurate in their catching. It’s love going around the world.

Just like it went to the moon and back when my husband and I were dating.

Love knows no bounds—not distance, space or time.

The same can be said for family and traditions, experiences and history.

I’m lucky. I’ve experienced so much of all of the above. I hope you do, too. Kisses around the world and all.

Jill Pertler is an award-win-ning syndicated columnist, published playwright and au-thor. Don’t miss a slice; fol-low the Slices of Life page on Facebook.

2023

Meet Diane Kilcommons, Center Director of Huntington of Elmhurst

Huntington Learning Center helps every student become the best academic version of him/herself. Diane Kilcommons has a master’s degree in education and has taught for 40 years, including home educating her four children. Diane and her husband, Mark, have owned Huntington Learning Center for the past twelve years. Huntington Learning Center helps children improve their foundational skills in reading, writing, spelling, math, study skills, and phonics. They also help students prepare for college with their individualized ACT/SAT programs. Higher test scores mean more opportunities.

Many students have not become efficient learners due to the challenges they have experienced in their educational journeys. Huntington Learning Center helps every student become the best academic version of him/herself. When our students master skills, the direct result is higher confidence and motivation for learning.

Besides managing a learning center, Diane was very active in raising her children. Her oldest daughter, Lauren, has a master’s degree from Loyola and is a school psychologist in a suburban school district. Her second daughter, Julia has a master’s degree in nursing from DePaul and is a nurse practitioner in the western suburbs. Diane‘s youngest, twin sons, Patrick and John were able to benefit greatly by attending Huntington Learning Center themselves. Pat and John graduated from Dartmouth College and are gainfully employed on the West Coast.

Lauren is on the left, Diane is in the middle, and Julia is on the right.

Eva Sanchez, REALTOR®

With over 25 years in the industry, I am very well versed in the process of buying and selling a house and I am very experienced in the local market. Consistently ranked among the top REALTORS in the region, I have an e�ec�ve and e�cient o�ce team, innova�ve technology, and resources to take YOU to your next home!

An Elmhurst resident since 1996, I am a proud Elmhurst University alum and an ac�ve member of three of my favorite community organiza�ons: The Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce, The Elmhurst Lions Club and The Elmhurst Garden Club.

Get in the

Community Bank of Elmhurst ha created a “Business Zone” for all our customers at our 330 W. Butterfield Road location. The Zone features everything you need to work remotely in a comfortable and private space that can be your office away from your office! Even if you are working from home, the Business Zone can be a change of pace for you. If you need a place just for a day or so, the Business Zone can be a quick and convenient spot. If you need small, conference room space, we have that at our 133 N. York Street location and you can book it in advance by contacting us. Give the Business Zone a try, CBE “values our customers and community first”.

Pritzker set to consider signing more than 500 bills in the next three months

By Jerry Nowicki CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Illinois lawmakers passed 566 bills through both chambers of the General Assembly in the recently concluded legislative session—all but one of them in May.

It sets the table for an approximate three-month bill-signing season for Gov. JB Pritzker. That’s because the state’s constitution gives legislative leaders 30 days from a bill’s passage to send it to the governor, who then has 60 days to sign or veto it.

If the governor takes no action in that time frame, the bill would become law automatically. Historically, the legislature has sent bills to the governor in batches, allowing his staff ample time to review the proposals.

The following are some of the bills that Pritzker will consider signing in the coming months.

Noncitizen licenses: A measure backed by Democratic Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias would allow residents of Illinois to obtain a standard driver’s license, rather than the “temporary visitor driver’s license” that is currently allowed under law. An applicant would be required to show their U.S. immigration documentation or, if they don’t have that, a passport or consular card. They would also have to prove they have car insurance.

A standard license can be used as identification, whereas a TVDL cannot. Advocates said that has made tasks such as buying alcohol or picking up a prescription challenging for many TVDL holders. Under House Bill 3882, noncitizens would still be ineligible to receive a federal Real ID certified license.

According to the secretary of state’s office, more than 300,000 people currently have a TVDL.

Those would still be valid until their expiration date, but the state would not issue any new ones.

It passed the House 67-35 and the Senate 33-18.

Noncitizen law enforcement : House Bill 3751 provides that noncitizens can become law enforcement officers in Illinois if they’re authorized by federal law to work in the country or if action on their immigration status has been deferred under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals process.

Those individuals must meet all other state qualifications for being in law enforcement and must be authorized to possess a firearm under federal law.

The measure passed 37-20 in the Senate and 100-7 in the House.

License plate readers: Another measure backed by Giannoulias would prohibit any “user” of an automated license plate reader from

sharing data collected by the device with out-of-state law enforcement officers who are investigating activities related to abortion care or someone’s immigration status.

Prior to sharing any data, an ALPR user—which includes law-enforcement agencies and other entities if they share the data with law enforcement—would first need a written declaration that the law enforcement agency would not use the data contrary to the bill’s language. If no such declaration exists, the user would be prohibited from sharing the data.

House Bill 3326 passed 39-15 in the Senate and 69-34 in the House.

Native American repatriation: House Bill 3413 would streamline the process through which Illinois returns Native American remains and materials to their communities. In part, it would create a procedure in which the Illinois Department of Natural Resources would consult with affiliated tribal nations when returning remains.

The measure was spurred by reporting from ProPublica which showed the Illinois State Museum has the second-largest collection of unrepatriated Native American remains in the U.S. As of 2022, the state museum had only returned 2 percent of the 7,700 remains it reported to the U.S. government.

HB 3413 allows IDNR to establish burial sites for Native American human remains and other artifacts that are closed to the public and protected by the state.

Additionally, it creates a fund in the state treasury that would be paid into by violators of the act and subject to appropriation to cover costs including reinterment, repatriation, repair or restoration of human remains.

It passed both houses unanimously. One lawmaker voted “present” in the House.

Probation drug testing : Senate Bill 1886 would limit the circumstances under which a judge could order a person to refrain from cannabis and alcohol use and submit to testing while on probation. A judge could still mandate testing if the person is under 21 or was sentenced for an offense that included use of an “intoxicating compound.”

Testing could also still be required if the person is in problem-solving court or if the person has undergone a clinical assessment that includes alcohol or cannabis testing. Courts could also still require a person to abstain from cannabis and alcohol for 30 days between sentencing and the person’s participation in a clinical assessment.

The measure would also prohibit a court from banning cannabis use if it is prescribed by a medical pro-

fessional and from assessing fees for mandatory drug or alcohol testing if the person is indigent as defined in state law.

It passed 75-40 in the House and 31-18 in the Senate.

Child influencers: Senate Bill 1782 aims to protect “child influencers” who are under the age of 16 and featured in at least 30 percent of money-making internet videos, or vlogs, published by a family member in a 30-day period.

Vloggers who feature children under the age of 16 would be required to keep records of the children’s inclusion in vlogs, proof of age and other documents. If they don’t, the child would have a right to sue in civil court.

If the vlog reaches a platform’s money-making threshold or generates at least 10 cents per view, the vlogger would be required to put a percentage of earnings into a trust fund for the child that is equal to half of the percentage of content that features the child. Percentages differ if multiple children are featured.

It passed the House 98-17 and the Senate 57-0.

Hotel worker protections : House Bill 2220 would give hotel managers greater authority to remove disruptive visitors from their premises. That includes individuals who refuse to pay, threaten employees, violate laws or posted hotel rules, or use “verbally abusive language.”

The hotel industry pushed for the changes, which also state the removed guest must be refunded for unused portions of their stay. It also states the language can’t be used to evict long-term residents or if the area is under a severe weather warning. It also may not be used to discriminate against a guest based on characteristics protected under federal, state or local law.

Hotel managers would be allowed to refuse accommodation to anyone who destroys or threatens to destroy hotel property or who is on the premises for the purpose of providing alcohol to an underage person or possessing a controlled substance.

It passed 108-3 in the House and 51-2 in the Senate.

Full-day kindergarten : House Bill 2396 would require Illinois elementary and unit public school districts to offer full-day kindergarten by the 2027-2028 school year. After that time, offering half-day kindergarten would be optional. Some districts would be able to apply for a two-year waiver based on their level of state funding.

The measure would also create a task force to study the number of districts offering kindergarten, the number of students enrolled and

several other factors. The task force is to be named by October, with an interim report due to lawmakers by June 30, 2024, and a final report by Jan. 31, 2025.

It passed 52-1 in the Senate and 85-24 in the House.

New state flag commission: Senate Bill 1818—numbered for the year Illinois entered the union—would create a commission to consider new state flag designs and make recommendations to the General Assembly as to whether the current flag should be replaced.

Members would be appointed by the governor and legislative leaders of both parties, as well as the secretary of state, the state board of education and the state museum. They would be unpaid other than a per diem reimbursement.

The commission would set “guiding principles” for a new flag, raise awareness for the effort and create a submission process for new designs. By Sept. 1, 2024, they would select 10 of those designs, and by Dec. 3, 2024, they would report to lawmakers with their recommendations.

It passed 39-16 in the Senate and 72-40 in the House.

Teacher licensure: Senate Bill 1488 will temporarily suspend and create a task force to review one of the tests prospective teachers must pass to be licensed in Illinois. The test is known as the Teacher Performance Assessment, or “edTPA,” which would be suspended through Aug. 31, 2025, under the measure.

The edTPA is a perfor-

mance-based assessment that requires applicants to submit a portfolio including lesson plans and tests they’ve administered while student teaching, along with examples of student work and other material. The portfolios are scored by outside teachers and teacher educators. It has been a requirement in Illinois since 2015 but was temporarily stalled by Pritzker’s executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which expired May 11.

SB 1488 would also establish a task force to evaluate teacher performance assessment systems and make recommendations to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly by Aug. 1, 2024.

It passed the House 84-19 and the Senate 55-2.

School district cash reserves: Senate Bill 1994, which passed both chambers unanimously, would require school districts to report their annual cash reserves and average three-year operating expenditures to the state. When reserves exceed 2.5 times the average threeyear expenditures, the school district would be required to file a plan to the state board detailing how they plan to spend reserves down to 2.5 times their average expenditures or less.

Districts would not be required to spend reserves, but only to submit the plan detailing how they intend to do so over three years.

Editor’s note: Capitol News Illinois reporters Peter Hancock and Nika Schoonover contributed to this report.

The Republicans who call Speak Out are laughable and a disgrace. They belittle Biden who has improved employment, brought manufacturing back to the U.S., passed an infrastructure bill including jobs and improving highways, bridges, etc. He also defends and protects our democracy. You Republicans who call yourselves patriots support a delusional and dangerous ex-president who could not accept election results. He incited a riot on the national capital, trying to destroy our democracy and a peaceful transition of power. Individuals perished and hundreds were injured, Capitol property was destroyed. Trump and his followers are treasonous and democracy-destroying fake patriots. Let’s not forget what our forefathers fought and died for in World War II; over 400,000 killed fighting fascism and Nazism—the very ideologies Trump and DeSantis seem to support, as they have both said the insurrectionists convicted and sent to prison should be paroled. How un-American can you get? Thanks, Joe Biden, for protecting our democracy.

*

According to a May article on illinoispolicy.org: “Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker doubled the state’s gasoline tax in 2019 to 38 cents from 19 cents per gallon. He also built in automatic annual increases, but his election-year package of tax relief measures included a 6-month delay in the automatic hike. That means during 2023 motorists get two 3.1cent hikes, totaling 6.2 cents.” It also states: “The new 3.1 cent increase brings Illinois’ motor fuel tax to 45.4 cents per gallon, up from 42.3 cents on Jan. 1 and 39.2 cents a year ago.” Add to that DuPage County gas taxes that are sure to increase. Now we have the Saudis cutting as much as 1 million barrels of oil a day. I have already seen gas prices go up 20 cents a gallon overnight, just as prices were easing down by 20 cents a gallon, leaving a glimmer of hope. I mean, even eggs that were $4 a dozen and higher are now down to under $2. I would like a transparent lineby-line accounting of why our gas taxes are so high.

Right after we have one day to honor our nation’s war dead, we have an entire month dedicated to “pride.” I think the vast majority of people have no problem with how adults live their lives. But what’s with the constant pushing of pride to people, including children? In just a

few years it’s gotten to the point of intimidation, with companies feeling forced to fall in line. What are these companies afraid of?

* * *

So 11 people that were killed and 53 shot in Chicago over the Memorial Day weekend. The next weekend, 10 people were killed and 46 were shot. When is the last time you’ve heard AOC and her shills on The Squad, or any of the regressive leftist U.S. representatives from Chicago, express outrage over the killing and carnage that goes on every weekend in Chicago? I probably know why they have nothing to say. Because it’s not a mass shooting and doesn’t fit their narrative about banning assault weapons.

* * *

A recent Speak Out contributor stated that the Chicago Tribune is political propaganda for Democrats. Here’s some evidence to back that up. One day after Biden trips and falls at the Air Force Academy commencement, there is no mention of his stumble in the June 2 edition of the paper. Can you imagine if Trump, or any Republican president, had tripped and fallen at a military academy’s commencement? We all know the answer. There would definitely be a front-page photo, along with a story.

* * *

It sounds like Pritzker has fixed Chicago’s crime problem. He announced there would be yellow-vested peacekeepers on the city’s streets during the Memorial Day weekend. He said the state-funded peacekeepers “will help de-escalate and keep our neighborhoods safe.” I guess that’s why the holiday weekend was so peaceful in Chicago, with dozens shot and several people killed. As others have already asked, is Pritzker replacing his personal security officers with yellow-vested peacekeepers?

* * *

So what’s the big deal about all-gender bathrooms? I have them in my house; you do, too.

* * *

Chris Christie has about as much of a chance to win the GOP nomination for president as I do—none. But I have to say I like that he’s in the race because he’s a windbag just like Trump. I like what he called Trump: A lonely self-consumed mirror hog who finds someone else and something else to blame for whatever goes wrong. Hopefully, Christie and Trump will go after each other enough so that another candidate emerges and wins the nomination.

Bond set at $250,000 for man charged with leading police on 110 mph high-speed chase in stolen Jaguar

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis have announced that bond has been set for an Oswego man accused of leading police on a highspeed chase in a stolen vehicle.

Craig Singleton

Craig Singleton, 43, appeared at a bond hearing where Judge Brian Telander set bond at $250,000 with 10 percent to apply.

Singleton is charged with one count of aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle (Class 1 felony), two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer (Class 4

felony), one count of driving while license suspended or revoked fourthninth violation (Class 4 felony) and multiple misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses.

On May 29 at approximately 6:22 p.m., an officer with the Oak Brook Police Department located a 2019 Jaguar SUV that was reported stolen approximately two hours earlier, stopped near the intersection of Route 83 and 22nd Street. The officer approached the vehicle, later determined to be driven by Singleton, on foot and deployed a stop stick at which time the Jaguar allegedly fled westbound on 22nd Street.

The officer returned to his vehicle and began a pursuit. It is alleged that the officer continued to pursue the Jaguar, which had lost a tire, onto

I-88 westbound. It is further alleged that Singleton reached speeds of approximately 110 mph on I-88 before coming to a stop at I-88 and Winfield Road where he was taken into custody.

“Oak Brook is an amazing community to live, shop and dine and it’s also the wrong community to take a stroll through in a stolen vehicle,” Strockis said.

“I want to thank our officers for their pro-active efforts and quick thinking in deploying a stop stick anticipating that this vehicle would flee. I’d also like to thank the Lombard Police Department for their assistance.”

Singleton’s next court appearance is scheduled June 28 for status in front of Judge Telander.

Master Gardener Help Desk in DuPage County

Spring marks the annual reopening of University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Help Desks around the state.

Each growing season, trained volunteers field questions on trees, shrubs, lawns, flowers, vegetables and other plant-related topics from residents and community members.

Popular topics this time of year may include weather, lawn care, spring blooms and starting vegetable seeds indoors. However, Master Gardeners can advise on what needs to be done in gardens and yards throughout the growing sea-

son, including pruning, dividing, disease control and prevention, and much more.

DuPage, Kane and Kendall County residents can contact the local Master Gardener volunteers via phone, email, or by stopping in during Help Desk hours.

DuPage County hours and contact information:

Contact volunteers 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents may call 630-955-1123, visit 1100 E. Warrenville Road, Suite 170, Naperville 60563, or email uiemg-dupage@illinois.edu.

Across DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties in 2022, Master Gardeners answered more than 1,000 help requests and logged 16,889 hours through service projects in our communities. According to the Independent Sector’s value of volunteer time, that equates to $523,052.

In addition, Master Gardener projects donated more than a ton of fresh produce to local food access sites.

Learn more about your local Extension programs, visit go.illinois. edu/ExtensionDKK.

On the witness stand, ex-legislator finally acknowledges he wore wire for FBI

By Hannah Meisel CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Former state Sen. Terry Link, a nearly 24-year veteran of the Illinois Capitol, publicly acknowledged for the first time this week that he’d worn a wire to secretly record a fellow lawmaker in 2019.

Link, a Vernon Hills Democrat, has spent years denying news media reports that he was the legislator-turned-cooperating witness described in charging documents made public after the arrest of ex-state Rep. Luis Arroyo in October of 2019.

But in a federal courtroom last week, Link was forced to finally acknowledge the truth as he testified in the second of five major public corruption cases involving Illinois public officials scheduled for this year.

Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, is already 10 months into the roughly five years he was sentenced to serve in prison in part because of his attempt to bribe Link.

And Link himself is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to the tax evasion charge that led him to cooperate with the feds in the first place.

Link, who at one time was a reg-

ular poker buddy of future President Barack Obama when they both served in the Illinois Senate, is the star witness in the government’s bribery case against politically connected businessman James Weiss.

Weiss had sought Arroyo’s help to get the legislature to legalize socalled sweepstakes machines in Illinois. The devices are close cousins to the explicitly legal – and heavily regulated – video gaming terminals that have proliferated in Illinois for the last decade. But sweepstakes machines operate in a legal gray area and have neither been specifically outlawed nor regulated in Illinois.

Speaking slowly and with a tremor borne of a neurological condition that’s worsened in the nearly three years since he left office, Link was concise when Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine O’Neill asked him to explain his crime in his own words on Wednesday.

“Underreported my income tax,” Link said, adding that he did so “I wanna say (from) 2012 or 2013 to about 2016.”

O’Neill clarified that the tax evasion was related to improperly spending money from his campaign

account. Some of the money, Link said, went to help a longtime friend who had been in the throes of family and business problems. But not all of it.

“I used some of it for gambling,” Link admitted.

After Arroyo’s arrest in late October 2019, Link falsely denied reports that he was the unnamed cooperating witness described in his colleague’s charging documents.

The former lawmaker took the stand for about 90 minutes on Wednesday afternoon, during which government lawyers introduced the first of several recordings of phone calls and meetings Link facilitated at the FBI’s behest.

The most anticipated of the recordings will come when trial resumes Monday after an extended recess due to the presiding judge’s work-related travel. In those recordings, the jury will hear Link ask Arroyo, “What’s in it for me?” in regard to Arroyo’s recruitment of Link in his push to legalize sweepstakes machines. And they will hear Arroyo tell his colleague, “this is the jackpot,” when he made good on the bribe arrangement for Link.

Puzzle page

BASKET BEACH

BOARDWALK

BREEZY

BRIGHT

COASTAL

CRASHING

FOAM

LAUGHTER

MARINE

OCEAN

RELAXATION

RIPTIDE

SAIL

SANDCASTLE

SANDY

SEAWEED

SUNGLASSES

SURFING

SWIMMING

SWIMSUIT

TAN

UMBRELLA

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. In a place to sleep

5. Chemical compound (abbr.)

8. A way to fish

11. Classic Linklater film “__ and Confused”

13. Legume

14. Indonesian island

15. Smooth, creamy substance

16. Arctic

17. Wood sorrels

18. Defied

20. Cattle

21. Tableland

22. Honorably retired and retaining one’s title

25. Repossession

30. Danced

31. Adult males

32. A type of section

33. Type of Japanese animation

38. Satisfaction

41. Fit

43. “Ain’t No Sunshine” singer

45. Failure

47. Israeli city

49. French river

50. Cavalry-sword

55. Nocturnal S. American rodent

56. Liquefied natural gas

57. Afflicted

59. Electronic countercountermeasures

60. Popular HBO fantasy series (abbr.)

61. Spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation

62. Large body of water

63. __kosh, near Lake Winnebago

64. Impudence

CLUES DOWN

1. Payroll firm

2. Unit of transmission

3. Rockers Better Than __

4. Bambi is one

5. Highest parts of something

6. Correct behavior

7. Batty

8. Cyprinid fishes

9. Expression of sorrow or pity

10. Site of the famous Leaning

Tower

12. American rocker Snider

14. W. African language

19. Symbol to mark for removal

23. __ Squad

24. Resident

25. Federal savings bank

26. Paddle

27. Returned material authorization (abbr.)

28. One point south of due east

29. Winter melon

34. Last or greatest in an indefinitely large series

35. Anger

36. Central European river

37. First responders

39. Spanish noble

40. Persons with absence of skin pigment

41. Defunct airline

42. Small island (British)

44. The extent of something from beginning to end

45. Capital of Bangladesh

46. Dutch cheese

47. Imitates

48. A contest of speed

51. Swiss river

52. Prejudice

53. Actor Idris

54. UNLV’s are Runnin’

58. Criticize

Windows

This

lication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.

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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 1-900-669-9777. The toll-free tele phone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Pritzker puts final stamp on $50.4 billion state spending plan

By Andrew Adams and Jerry Nowicki

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Gov. JB Pritzker signed the state’s operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year last week, marking the first spending plan of his second term as governor.

The $50.4 billion spending plan anticipates about $50.6 billion in revenues for the fiscal year that begins July 1, making for a projected surplus of roughly $183 million, according to the governor’s office. That revenue estimate would be slightly below or roughly equal to what’s collected in tax revenues for the current year, depending on June’s final revenue collections.

The bill signing’s venue, typically chosen to highlight an important aspect of the budget, was the Belmont Cragin campus of Christopher House in Chicago, a charter school that mostly serves low-income Hispanic families.

The signing was attended by a who’s who of state Democrats, with the governor, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and various members of the legislature’s Democratic leadership and budget negotiation teams.

LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE

CERTIFICATE NO. 79094 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on MAY 16, 2023, wherein the business firm of KEY STEPS CHILDREN’S THERAPY, 53 E. PARK BLVD., VILLA PARK, IL 60181, was registered; that the true or real name or names of the person or persons owning the business, with their respective post office address(es), is/are as follows:

Rebecca Williams, 35 W. Jackson St., Villa Park, IL 60181.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 16TH day of MAY, A.D. 2023.

Jean Kaczmarek

DuPage County Clerk

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review June 1, 8 & 15, 2023) 438643

NOTICE

CERTIFICATE NO. 79112 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on JUNE 5, 2023 wherein the business firm of MARQUEZ JANITORIAL SERVICES, 441 W. PARK AVENUE, ADDISON, IL 60101, was registered; that the true or real name or names of the person or persons owning the business, with their respective post office address(es), is/are as follows:

Maria D DeCasas, 441 W. Park Avenue, Addison, IL 60101.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 5TH day of JUNE, A.D. 2023.

Jean Kaczmarek

DuPage County Clerk

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review June 15, 22 & 29, 2023) 439200

Several of them highlighted the budget’s investments in education.

“Birth-to-five services and kindergarten readiness are the foundation for the rest of our children’s educational experiences,” Pritzker said.

‘Smart Start Illinois’

The budget includes funding to launch Pritzker’s “Smart Start Illinois” early childhood education program. Earlier this year, he toured the state to promote the increased spending on pre-K and kindergarten, which includes $130 million to fund a new system of contracts for early childhood workers and upping state funding for early childhood block grants by $75 million. “Smart Start” also includes added funding for early intervention and home visiting programming.

The budget also increases state dollars going to the K-12 funding formula by $350 million—the amount called for annually in state law—and puts $45 million toward a three-year pilot program to fill teacher vacancies and provide scholarships to future teachers. It’s less than the $70 million for that program that Pritzker included in his February budget proposal.

Higher education, a long-time budget priority of Pritzker’s, will also see increased funding. These include a $100 million funding increase to the state’s Monetary Award Program, which provides need-based scholarships. It marks a 75 percent increase in funding for MAP grants since 2019. The budget also includes a $15 million increase to the AIM HIGH merit-based scholarship pro-

Answers

gram and a $3.8 million increase to the Minority Teacher Scholarship program.

Despite praising Republican involvement in budget negotiations throughout the legislative session, Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, criticized the overall budget in a statement while noting it included some common ground between the two parties.

“We negotiated in good faith, and as a result, there are some joint priorities in this budget, specifically to support the developmentally disabled and invest in education,” Curran said.

No Republican support

No Republicans in either chamber voted for the plan.

In the House, debate was more tense. Republican budget negotiator Norine Hammond, of Macomb, said the GOP was essentially cut out from the budget process by House Democrats. She had previously noted Republicans participated in more frequent budget talks with the governor’s staff.

“Another budget filled with broken promises, accounting gimmicks, and a lack of structural reforms to address the systemic outmigration of Illinois families,” House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said in a statement.

McCombie also contradicted Curran’s read of the budget and said that it “shortchanges” the direct service professionals, or DSPs, that serve disabled people in community settings.

A state-commissioned 2020 study

of the industry recommended increasing DSP wages to 150 percent of the state’s minimum wage, which is currently $13 per hour and is set to increase to $14 in January.

The budget includes provisions increasing DSP wage base rates by $2.50 per hour, to $19.50, beginning in January. That would still fall short of the $4 per hour needed to meet the study’s recommendation as of next year. Still, it marks a $1 increase beyond what Pritzker had proposed in February.

Home workers who assist the elderly are also slated to receive a rate increase of $24 million.

The budget also includes $75 million for the Department of Children and Family Services. Pritzker’s office said this is expected to pay for 192 staff positions, expanded training, facility improvements and scholarships to children in DCFS care.

Services aimed at preventing homelessness are set to receive an increase of $85 million through the Home Illinois program, a multi-agency initiative that will provide housing and services to homeless people.

The more than $350 million in funding includes $118 million for shelter and transitional housing services, $50 million for rapid rehousing services, $40 million in capital funds for permanent supportive housing units and $37 million in funds to build new shelter units.

While Republicans have been critical of the budget, the House’s lead budget negotiator, Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, said compromise was an essential part of the process.

“The budget is a reflection of our priorities,” she said. “It’s a reflection of everybody getting wins, but nobody got everything.”

Earlier last week, Pritzker noted the budget would exempt businesses from the first $5,000 in liability under the corporate franchise tax, up from $1,000. He called it a $50 million tax cut that addressed at least one Republican budget priority. Pritzker and leaders in the General Assembly negotiated a phaseout of that tax in his only bipartisan budget passed in 2019, but Democrats ultimately reversed that action in a future budget year.

Invest in Kids scholarship program allowed to expire

During debate last month, Republicans in both chambers were also sharply critical of the budget because it allowed for the expiration of the $75 million Invest in Kids scholarship program for private school students. The program initially passed as part of a bipartisan agreement in 2017 with support from the schoolchoice movement and Republican lawmakers.

When asked, Pritzker said the conversation around funding that program is “ongoing,” and “there’s

time still for that program to be considered,” potentially in the fall veto session, before its Jan. 1, 2024, expiration.

Democrats on Wednesday also alluded on several occasions to a two-year budget stalemate between Republican then-Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats in the legislature that lasted from July 2015 into August 2017. During that time, the state did not approve a full budget, causing havoc in education and the social services industry, both of which rely heavily on state funding.

“It’s no longer about how to keep the doors open and scrape by,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said of the budget process.

At the bill signing, Pritzker also addressed a state-funded health care program for noncitizens, which his administration at one time projected would cost over $1 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.

The program offers Medicaid-style benefits to noncitizens age 42 and older who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid if not for their legal residency status. It was launched in 2021 and expanded twice to its current size. Because the individuals enrolled in the program are not eligible for standard Medicaid, which is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, Illinois covers its entire cost.

A separate Medicaid-related bill, which Pritzker has not yet signed, will give him authority to rein in costs through the creation of administrative rules. His office has said options include limiting future enrollment, requiring copays from program participants, maximizing federal reimbursement and possibly moving participants to the Medicaid managed care system.

Pritzker noted that the program does not apply to asylum seekers, who are eligible for other federally funded benefits. He also said it is ultimately cheaper to provide preventative care to noncitizens rather than making them rely on emergency room visits to treat conditions that have gone undiagnosed and untreated due to a lack of health care benefits.

Pritzker’s February budget proposal accounted for about $220 million in costs for the program, and the final budget did not include a measure sought by the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus that would have expanded it to noncitizens aged 19 and over.

Those 18 years and younger are already covered under the Illinois AllKids program.

“We realized that if we could manage it properly, we could manage the program with the number of people that are in it now to about $550 million,” Pritzker said.

Under law, lawmakers do not need to accept the reduction, so the budget can take effect without issue.

PRIVATE GAMING ROOM

HDAILY DINE IN ONLY SPECIALS H

SUNDAYS

50¢ Boneless Wings LIMIT 12 (with side purchase)

$5 Sausage & Peppers ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$9 Pasta Marinara (add $2 for Vodka, Meat, Carbonara or Alfredo)

$10 Bacon Wrapped Pickle Spears

$10 Vegan Pasta Marinara

$4 Mimosa - $6 Tito’s Bloody Mary

$4.50 Miller Lite or $6 Import 22 oz. Drafts

$17 Bottles of Woodbridge House Wine

H H H

TUESDAYS

$2 Beef/Pulled Pork Taco

$3 Chicken - Fish - Pork Belly - Steak

$4 Vegan Tacos - Impossible Meat - Chicken - Pork

$4 Cilantro Lime Rice or Seasoned Black Beans

$10 BACON Nachos

$4 Modelo Draft

$6 Don Julio Margaritas

$7 Don Julio Frozen Margaritas

$20 Any Mexican Beer Buckets

Vegan Chili Bowl - $7

Vegan Chicken Nuggets - $12

Vegan Meatballs - $15

Vegan Sausage and Peppers - $15

Vegan Chicken Sliders - $15

WEDNESDAYS

FREE Bar Bingo/Kids eat free

10 and Under - Ask server for more details

$5 Gourmet Cheeseburger (with side purchase)

$10 BACON Wrapped Mushrooms

$8 Impossible Burger (with side purchase)

$5 U Call Its $8 and Under Wine/Liquor ONLY

H H H

THURSDAYS

$5 Pulled Pork ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$10 BACON Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks

$8 Vegan Chicken Parmesan ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$4 Drafts $8 and Under

Half Price Bottles of Wine $25 or More

1/2 Off any $20 or More Bourbon, Scotch or Whiskey

FRIDAYS

$5 Pepper & Egg ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$15 Fish & Chips (1/2 Pound Alaskan White Fish)

$10 Bacon Stuffed Avocado

$8 Vegan Burrito (with side purchase)

$5 Stella Draft

$5 Crown or Titos

$25 High Noon Buckets

H H H

SATURDAYS/UFC

$5 1/2 Lb BLT ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$10 BACON Croquettes

$8 Vegan Buffalo Chicken ‘Wich (with side purchase)

$5 Sam Seasonal Draft

$5 Proper Twelve Shot

$5 Absolut or Jameson

$22 Modelo Buckets

CLOSED - MONDAYS

Impossible Sliders - $16

Vegan Kabobs - $18

Vegan Southwest Quesadilla - $15

Impossible Burger - $17

Vegan Buffalo Chicken ‘Wich - $16

Vegan Chicken Parmesan ‘Wich - $18

36 Drafts HHH

350 Bourbons, Scotches & Whiskeys

Vegan Pasta - $14

Vegan Chicken Burrito - $18

Vegan Stuffed Peppers - $25

Vegan Sides - $5

10” Vegan Cheese Pizza - $13

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream - $5

3 Layer Vegan/Gluten Free Cake - $7

99¢ Chicken Tenders ~ SLIDERS ~

$2 Grilled Chicken - Meatball - Pulled Pork

$3 Burger - Fish - Pork Belly

$4 Vegan Chicken or Impossible Slider

$5 Italian Beef ‘Wich

$8 Medium Cheese Pizza - $3 Full Toppings

$12 XL Cheese Pizza - $4 Full Toppings

$4 Well Gin, Rum, Tequila, Vodka & Whiskey

$4 House Wine (Woodbridge)

$5 Blue Moon Drafts

$15 Domestic Buckets - $20 Import Buckets

$8 Jefferson Old Fashioned

$5 Jefferson 1.25 oz. Pour