VPR050924

An outstanding artist

Play at the plate

Graduation day at Willowbrook

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-

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

From April 30 to May 2, the artistic talents of Willowbrook High School students were on display during the school’s annual Student Art Show/Spring Art Exhibition. More than 300 pieces of student artwork were featured, with categories showcased including: drawing, painting, mixed media, photography, digital art, sculpture/jewelry, ceramics/pottery, graphic design, cartooning and animation. The students who were recognized during the event’s May 1 reception included senior William Vince Vega, who was honored as the Willowbrook Art Department’s Outstanding Senior of

InsIde:

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 Year for the current 2023-24 school year. Vega is pictured at the reception with several pieces of his artwork, including (upper left) his photography of the April 8 solar eclipse. Vega and his mother traveled to Indianapolis to be in the eclipse’s path of totality—the area where a full eclipse can be viewed and experienced. His piece of eclipse photos received a first-place ribbon at last week’s event. A Villa Park resident, Vega will attend the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he will study architecture.

Arbor Day in Villa Park

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.

Memorial Day in Villa Park

Village Trustee Cheryl Tucker, Villa Park Village President Albert Bulthuis, Villa Park Village Trustee (and Village President-Elect) Nick Cuzzone and Leslie Allison-Seei—chair of the Villa Park Community Pride Commission. Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday of each April. The National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Villa Park with Tree City USA designation for 36 straight years. To receive that recognition, a community must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance.

The post’s 2020 Memorial Day event was canceled because of the

This year’s observance included a reading of the names of the

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

He was 94 years old. Bergh was the post’s last surviving World War II veteran.

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.

COVID-19 pandemic.

Post

veteran of the U.S. Navy, Bergh died in October 2020.

CHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa Park Review

CHRIS FOX PHOTO Villa Park Review

Enjoy the silence while it lasts: Cicadas are coming

If you haven’t heard the buzz, you will soon. Billions of periodical cicadas are coming, and University of Illinois Extension is sharing information to help track their moves before emergence.

“Historically speaking, 2024 is a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois,” says Ken Johnson, Extension horticulture educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott counties.

Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time. Although exact times and locations will be varied, there will be cicadas.

“The simultaneous emergence of these broods is the first time since 1803, and it will not happen again until 2245,” says Johnson.

“It’s an exciting time for those who enjoy insects and natural phenomena.”

Although cicadas do not pose a threat to humans or pets, they will be heard. It may get loud depending on the geographic location and the number of cicadas around.

According to the National Institutes of Health, calls of male cicadas can reach over 90 decibels, which is as loud as a lawnmower, motorcycle, or tractor.

Where are the cicadas now?

Many people ask and wonder where the cicadas are before these billions arrive. The broods are underground, feeding and preparing to emerge when the conditions are right. What are they waiting on? Soil temperatures. Consistent soil temperature

is one vital component to kicking off the massive emergence.

As of mid-April, Johnson reports that periodical cicadas have begun digging holes in the soil in Jacksonville, located in central Illinois. While miles away in North and South Carolina, there are current reports of cicadas beginning to emerge.

“Periodical cicadas will begin digging holes to the surface a few weeks before they emerge from the ground,” says Johnson. “They’ll wait underground until soil temperatures, 7 to 8 inches deep, reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point, they’ll emerge and molt into adults.”

Are you looking to track the cicada soil conditions near you? University of Illinois State Water Survey at the Prairie

Research Institute’s Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring Program, WARM, has a soil temperature tool that is searchable by location and available by creating a free account. The tool tracks temperatures typically used for farming, gardening, and now Cicada Watch 2024.

For more on cicadas and what to expect when they emerge throughout Illinois in May and June, visit extension.illinois.edu/ insects/cicadas. Download Extension’s Cicada Broods infosheet, which is available at go.illinois.edu/Cicadas24.

Source/writer: Ken Johnson, horticulture educator, Illinois Extension

Writer/editor: Jenna Braasch, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension

Update on the status of the ‘puffball’ mushroom Bill to create new state symbol just got a step closer to reality

By Jane Charmelo LOMBARDIAN STAFF REPORTER

As of press time last week, the House was supposed to review SB 3514 regarding a proposal to make the “puffball” mushroom (Calvatia gigantea) a state symbol (see “Out and About” for May 2), after the bill passed in the Senate on April 10. Erin Hemmer, one of the upper elementary teachers at Prairie School

of DuPage—where the idea originated—on May 3 updated the Lombardian on the bill’s progress.

“I testified [last week] in Springfield in front of the House State Government Committee … first with Rep. Mussman,” she said, adding, “It passed unanimously.”

“It has already been scheduled for its second reading [May 3] in the House at 10 a.m.,” she continued.

“After that, the next step is the third reading. Assuming it continues to pass, it will head to the governor to be signed into law,” the teacher outlined.

Also, state Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-42nd District), weighed in on the efforts of the local students, saying, “Over the years, the State of Illinois has established a long list of official symbols—from our state

flower, the violet, to our state fossil, the Tully Monster. These symbols help to showcase the many things that make our state so beautiful and unique.

“By declaring the giant puffball as our official state mushroom, we’re giving people an opportunity to learn more about the incredible biodiversity in our state.”

“I want to congratulate the stu-

dents of the Prairie School of DuPage for their hard work in learning about the legislative process and for advocating so strongly and successfully for this new state symbol.

I know this hands-on lesson in civics will stay with them throughout their lives,” she added. As for the future of the bill, “We are continuing to stay engaged,” Hemmer said. “It is very exciting.”

Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated Complaint brought by Democratic official likely to be decided this summer

By Andrew Adams and Hannah Meisel CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign.

The State Board of Elections on April 29 convened a hearing on the matter, launched in a complaint by a top official with the state’s Democratic Party in the waning days of

the 2022 campaign cycle. The complaint alleges Proft’s independent expenditure committee—the “People Who Play By The Rules PAC”—coordinated with Bailey, violating both state and federal law.

If the board finds that the two organizations did illegally coordinate, Proft’s organization and Bailey’s campaign could be on the hook for millions of dollars in fines.

During the April 29 hearing, David Fox, an attorney for Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Ben Hardin, who lodged the complaint, painted a picture of illegal campaign

coordination via a secret meeting, use of campaign footage in advertisements and Bailey’s appearances on Proft’s AM radio show.

“Mr. Bailey directly told Mr. Proft what message he wanted to get out. And Mr. Proft’s PAC then released multiple ads on that message,” Fox said. “A straightforward request and response. It happened in public but that makes no difference.”

Proft, who still co-hosts his “Chicago’s Morning Answer” morning drive-time radio show despite his relocation to Naples, Fla., made the trip back to Chicago for the hearing.

During the April 29 show, Proft confirmed to co-host Amy Jacobson that the hearing happened to fall on his

birthday, and that he’d be celebrating “in Illinois State Board of Elections prison.”

“I don’t care. You know, you just have to deal with this specious lawfare from fraudsters like Marc Elias representing fraudsters like Jelly Belly Pritzker,” Proft said, referring to Democratic attorney Marc Elias, whose firm employs the DPI attorneys handling the case, and using a derogatory nickname for Pritzker.

During the hearing, Hardin’s lawyers described a meeting between Proft and Bailey that took place the day after Bailey won the Illinois Republican primary in June 2022. On that day, Bailey traveled to a Chicago-area country club where he, his

campaign manager Jose Durbin, and Proft met in a backroom to discuss the campaign.

At that meeting, Proft told Bailey that Republican megadonor Richard Uihlein had agreed to provide $20 million to Bailey’s campaign—and allegedly slid an envelope over to Bailey containing a check to that effect—if Proft was given control over it.

Questioned about the meeting on April 29, Bailey confirmed that it became heated as Proft made clear his disagreements with Durbin’s managing of Bailey’s campaign up to that point.

“Mr. Proft, in your own words, called Mr. Durbin an ‘effing moron’—is that right?” DPI attorney Marilyn Robb asked Bailey, who confirmed with a “yes.” Proft said April 29 he disagreed with the “general messaging and message discipline with respect to the primary campaign.”

If Proft wasn’t given control, Uihlein would instead direct those millions to Proft’s PAC, according to testimony during the April 29 hearing. According to state campaign finance records, Uihlein gave $42 million to the PAC, which in turn spent nearly $36 million during the second half of 2022.

In addition to that meeting, Hardin’s lawyers argued that Bailey’s appearances on Proft’s talk show were a way to coordinate messaging.

Pre-trial release denied for Crest Hill

man accused of murder in Woodridge

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Woodridge Acting Chief of Police Tom Stefanson announced last week that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the state’s motion to deny pretrial release for a Crest Hill man accused of murdering Ed Lewis in Woodridge last month.

Gevon Anderson

Gevon Anderson, 22, appeared in court on May 1, and was charged with one count of firstdegree murder.

On April 23, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Woodridge police officers responded to a call in the area of the 2000 block of Country Club Drive regarding a male who had been shot. Upon their arrival, officers found the victim, later identified as Ed Lewis, lying on the ground, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Lewis was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Authorities recovered three 9mm shell casings at the scene. Through the course of their investigation, which included speaking with multiple witnesses and reviewing surveillance video, authorities identified Anderson as a suspect.

It is alleged that Anderson and Lewis were together on Country Club Drive when Anderson

shot Lewis multiple times. It is further alleged that after shooting Lewis, Anderson fled the scene in a black Nissan sedan.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. the next morning, officers with the MERIT Task Force, the Woodridge Police Department and the Romeoville Police Department executed a search warrant at Anderson’s home, where they recovered multiple firearms including two 9mm 3D printed “ghost guns,” one of which was loaded. Anderson was taken into custody at that time.

A DNA analysis conducted by the Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory on the spent shell casings recovered at the scene stated that “this analysis provides Very Strong Support for the proposition that Gevon Anderson is a contributor to the DNA profile.”

“First and foremost, I offer my sincere condolences to Ed’s family and friends and wish them strength as they navigate their lives with just the memory of Ed to see them through,” Berlin stated. “I thank the Woodridge Police Department for their work in identifying the defendant in this case. When a horrible crime occurs, as in this case, we are all very fortunate to have the DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team, or MERIT, at our disposal. The experience and expertise of MERIT members is second to none. Their efforts in this case are as an

outstanding example of their dedication to public safety in DuPage County. I thank DuPage MERIT Major Crimes, DuPage MERIT SWAT, DuPage MERIT Forensic Investigations, the Romeoville Police Department, the Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and collaborative efforts that allowed us to file charges against Mr. Anderson. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Louisa Nuckolls and Anthony Raimondi, for their work in securing charges against this defendant.”

“The men and women of the Woodridge Police Department offer our condolences to the family and friends of Ed Lewis on their loss,” Stefanson said. This is yet another example of a young life lost to senseless gun violence. I acknowledge the dedicated hard work of Woodridge Detectives and Tactical Officers as well as the Investigative Aide. I also acknowledge and thank members of MERIT Major Crimes, Forensic Investigations and Digital Forensics as well as State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team for their work in bringing the man allegedly responsible for this murder to justice.”

Anderson’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 21, for arraignment in front of Judge Mia McPherson.

Award-winning artist

The Willowbrook High School students who were recognized during last week’s reception for the school’s annual Student Art Show/Spring Art Exhibition included junior Nina Young, who received the Best of Show award for her 3-D effect painting. Young, who is a resident of Villa Park, is pictured with her unique piece at the May 1 reception for the art show/exhibition, which included more than 300 pieces. Those who attended the reception were able to look at Young’s award-winning piece through colored glasses. If they then looked at the painting with only one eye open, they would see certain images in the painting, but not others. If they kept the glasses on and looked at the painting with only their other eye open, their view of the painting would change.

Villa Park Police department announces distracted driving enforcement results during April

The Villa Park Police Department announced last week that it issued 71 citations for hands-free law violations and one arrest for a driver’s license violation, 28 citations for other traffic violations and one citation for a child safety seat violation during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month enforcement campaign.

“Driver distraction is a persistent issue in Villa Park that often has life-altering consequences,” said Villa Park Police Sgt. James Cihak. “Issuing a citation is a proven way to get motorists to pay attention or pay the price. Distracted Driving Awareness Month may be over, but we will continue our efforts to stop motorists from engaging in this deadly behavior.”

The Villa Park Police Department joined forces with the Illinois State Police, local law enforcement and highway safety partners for this enforcement effort.

The Illinois distracted driving campaign was funded with federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

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When you don’t cry as often anymore

Yesterday, I woke up and did my usual morning routine. Part of this includes a contemplative time when I attempt to align my thoughts and find my calm for the upcoming day.

It’s a nice moment and it was this morning as well, except I found myself crying.

I used to cry daily, many times each day: in the bathroom, at the supermarket, at the doctor’s office, in the parking lot, in the garage, in the car—pretty much everywhere.

But that doesn’t happen anymore. I remember and I mourn, but the tears no longer flow unexpectedly and unabashedly.

I’ve chocked that up to the waves and succession of grief. Or perhaps I’m just growing and moving toward living life to its fullest. (Whatever that may be.)

Until this morning. When I found myself inexplicably crying, or maybe it wasn’t so inexplicable at all. I’m still hurting; I probably always will be on some level.

It’s just that it’s not my daily routine anymore.

And in some ways, that hurts more than the tears ever could.

While I’m still saying goodbye to the big things, I’m no longer parting ways with the mundane. That’s been done. Sigh.

I think at first you cry so often because you are saying goodbye to so many things.

Every. Thing. (If we are being honest.)

Meals together. Sleeping together. Texting. Talking. Laughing. Bickering. Sharing silly moments. Sharing the most important moments. Planning for the future. Counting on the future. And then, it is gone. Every moment is a goodbye. And saying goodbye to the mundane hurts more than I could ever express. Because after the loss, after you understand, you realize life will never be mundane again because you couldn’t allow it to be. You’ve lost the ability to live mundane.

You know it all matters—every second of it.

Every smile. Every frown. Every

By JILL PERTLER Columnist

joke. Every story. Every hello. Every goodbye.

Every day. Every night. Every “goodnight.”

You’ll never take any of that for granted, and the tears did that for you. In that way, they were a gift—a salty, mascara-smearing gift. A cleansing, because they gave you clarity. Clarity of thought. Clarity of belief. Clarity of what you see in the mirror and what you see in the world that sits beyond the mirror.

It’s like life—before—was a blur. You thought the sky was blue, the stop sign was red, the sun was yellow and the light at the intersection was green, but now you know for sure.

None of it is for sure. None of it is set in stone.

It can all change in an instant. Or in a lifetime. Or maybe a little of both.

And at first you cry about that, and then later, you still cry, but not as much and you realize that as much as it hurt (and still hurts and always will hurt), it also happened to push you forward in stupid ways you never would have wanted, but here they are and you might as well embrace them because they are what you have.

Sometimes all you have.

Well, besides the tears. But you can’t even count on them anymore.

And on most days, that’s a positive thing.

It’s a good thing. Even a really good thing.

Most days.

But today, I cried. And that’s okay, too.

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

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Pretrial Success Act: A $15 million investment in our communities’ renaissance

By Bradley Bullock

Last September, Illinois embarked on a trailblazing journey toward justice by enacting the Pretrial Fairness Act, making it the first state in the nation to eliminate money bail.

The law’s smooth and successful implementation has ensured that more people are now able to return to their communities while awaiting trial. That means more people are maintaining employment, housing and connections with loved ones, which makes us all safer.

Illinois is now poised to take another bold step forward, with the Pretrial Success Act, introduced by state Sen. Elgie Sims and state Rep. Maurice West. This legislation builds upon the Pretrial Fairness Act by constructing a support system for people awaiting trial in the community, with a proposed $15 million investment designed to expand access to health and human services.

These resources will help increase court appearance rates by addressing practical barriers such as transportation and child care, and will also improve community safety by expanding access to case management, mental health care, and substance use treatment.

These services are not just crucial for individuals’ ability to engage in their defense, but are instrumental in addressing the root causes of harm and violence.

By focusing on underlying challenges that might have brought someone into contact with law enforcement, the Pretrial Success Act is poised to help minimize future legal system encounters, creating a more preventative rather than punitive

approach to justice.

Sims’ and West’s legislation will transform lives and communities. By prioritizing investment in our state’s most marginalized neighborhoods — those most affected by the injustices of the money bond system — the lawmakers aim to help rebuild communities.

At the heart of the Success Act is a commitment to empowering community-based organizations. While it’s important to acknowledge that the $15 million allocated by the act won’t fully address the need for services, it represents a significant step toward better resource accessibility within our communities.

This funding will empower case managers to tailor their support to meet individuals’ specific needs in their unique circumstances. A perfect example of such support is the Specialized Case Management program offered by Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), which is designed to guide individuals through challenging times by addressing their immediate needs and fostering a supportive partnership.

The Pretrial Success Act will facilitate organizations like TASC in extending this kind of personalized assistance to more Illinois residents, helping them navigate their lives positively while awaiting trial at home.

Historically, the money bond system extracted millions of dollars from Illinois’ most marginalized neighborhoods, amplifying cycles of poverty and instability. The Pretrial Success Act represents a significant shift. By funding services that address the root causes of harm and violence, the bill promises not only to reduce pretrial detention rates, but also to foster a holistic healing and strengthening of communities most

impacted by systemic inequities.

Providing individuals with the resources they need to address underlying challenges contributes to a safer, more stable environment for everyone. When people receive support for mental health issues or substance use, they are less likely to re-engage with the criminal justice system, thereby reducing the cycle of crime and incarceration.

For instance, programs like those offered by Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) have shown promising outcomes in reducing recidivism; participants in such programs were 44 percent less likely to return to prison within three years compared to similar individuals who did not receive these services.

The path toward safer communities and a fairer justice system is paved with support, not detention. Now is the moment for Illinois to lead once again by example. The Pretrial Success Act is our chance to financially invest in a healthy, safe, and more just society, to demonstrate that we are committed to the wellbeing of all our citizens, regardless of their circumstances.

This is a perfect opportunity to advance pretrial justice to ensure that our justice system is a source of support and not a barrier to progress.

Bradley Bullock is the director of adult criminal justice and treatment services at TASC. He oversees TASC’s statewide adult criminal justice services, from pre-arrest diversion through court and probation. In recovery from addiction since 1988, Bullock sits on many communitybased committees and is a strong advocate for individuals and families affected by justice involvement, substance use disorders, and mental health conditions.

Gee, when you see the ranking of Glenbard high schools, who comes in ahead of the others, and who comes in last out of the four? And that is a big gap—the two Glen Ellyn schools in the two digits and the last two in the three digits. So, those of you who voted in favor of the referendum, check to see where your, I mean our, tax dollars have been and will be spent. This is nothing new. There is a history as long as I have lived here of the two Glen Ellyn schools getting the best of the spoils. Don’t just take my word for it.

* * *

According to AARP, Illinois experienced just over 39,000 incidents of identity fraud in 2023, and just over 8,700 incidents of bank and lender issues. A while back, my bank’s debit card got hacked, along with a number of other people’s and all from the same source. We reported it and got new debit cards, so fine, but the bank only caught a few of mine of over 10 bogus charges and blocked those out, so I was on the hook for the rest until it got cleared up. Thankfully I didn’t experience an overdraft during that time. After a short time I called and asked about how this could have happened, not just to me but a mass amount of customers and all from one place, and what was being done to keep it from happening again. I was given the old “We are looking into it” spiel, and later, still could not get an answer as to how this could have slipped through their security and what was being done to prevent it from happening again. So, I caution everyone to keep checking your accounts, and AARP has some good advice online on how to prevent numerous types of frauds and scams.

* * * Lombard decided not to create a cease-fire resolution. Personally, I had no preference either way, but as a village statement says, they lis-

tened to all sides, and in the form of a compromise, said they would forward the sentiments to the proper legislators so they would know how Lombardians feel about the conflict. I think that was an appropriate solution. Just as the German citizens during World War II couldn’t speak out against the Nazis, I suspect Palestinian citizens cannot speak out against Hamas, which I think is really where the blame should be focused. The Palestinian citizens, just as with Israeli citizens, are caught up in the crossfire. There were, and are, casualties on both sides, and I have been surprised at how the scales have so far been tipped in favor of the Palestinians, as we are supposed to be strongly allied with Israel. Regardless of who is fighting whom, the bottom line is that there needs to be a truce so the innocent civilians can get the aid they need; food, clothing, shelter, etc.

* * *

I recently heard someone say “You don’t have to love Joe Biden, you just have to love your freedom”. This is so true. Trump openly says he will be a dictator—and not dictator for one day—and will take away rights of anyone who doesn’t agree with him! All minorities are in jeopardy. He wants to get rid of anyone who is not a natural citizen, like Eisenhower, who deported hundreds of people who were citizens because they just look different! Think about who you vote for and what they stand for.

* * *

Trying to become politically informed, I found the following article: “With all the crimes that are being committed against President Trump, we are actually finding out who is the most intelligent among us and who definitely is not. People I believe to be much smarter than I am, for my entire life, including family members, turned out to be pretty uninformed

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to say the least. I still love them, but I look at them differently now. The same is true of people who understand what’s going on but remain silent. They allow us to take all the heat. Of course, I wouldn’t tell them this but they’re a real disappointment.” Disappointed is not a word I would have chosen—ashamed is my choice. Ashamed of the lack of ethics and the willingness of so many of us to allow such hypocrisy to attempt to ruin one man’s life. Biden and many others who deserve the same scrutiny are not getting the same hateful treatment. I have researched all the media and the information is extremely contradictory. Our country has lost its sense of logic to the point of no return whoever gets elected. *

It’s a good thing, all these protests for Palestine and everything else. Probably the best thing all these protesters could do instead of just marching around and having a res-

olution would be to go over there and help. So if you really get serious about it, you should go over there and help people in the Palestinian area; that would be your way of making a difference. Thank you and may peace be with you.

So the Bears and White Sox want new stadiums? Here’s how they can go about getting them built. The McCaskey family and Jerry Reinsdorf are billionaires. I’m sure their credit is good. If they don’t have enough funds on hand to build their new stadiums, take out whatever loans are necessary and finance these stadiums yourselves. No taxpayer money for these stadiums, especially Reinsdorf. I’m a Sox fan. He should be putting money into improving his terrible team, not for a new stadium. If he threatens to move the team in order to get a new stadium, be my guest. Move the team, and good riddance!

Since the media like to make everything about race, I wanted to point out that the four officers who were murdered in Charlotte were white, and the man who gunned them down was a person of color with a rap sheet a mile long.

* * *

If you were to ask them, I bet 90 percent of the pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas students demonstrating at college campuses couldn’t explain to you why they are out demonstrating. But it’s all good. I’m sure mommy and daddy couldn’t be prouder forking out tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and fees to watch their little angels skip classes, march around, get in the faces of those who don’t support them, barricade themselves in buildings on college campuses and vandalize those buildings, put up the Palestinian flag and shout “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” These woke brats are so cute when they’re angry.

2024 Man, Woman of the Year announced

Pete Nolan and Patti Blazejak were recently named 2024 Man and Woman of the Year, respectively. Patti has lived in Lombard since 1995. Following her retirement as a school social worker, Patti joined the Lombard Garden Club in 2017, where she has been an integral part of many committees. As Lilacia Park Butterfly Committee chairman, her contributions earned the club the Garden Clubs of Illinois Planting for Pollinators 1st Place Award in June of 2020. In 2018, she joined the Lombard Junior Women’s Club and was presented with the Spark Award a year later, for her energy and positive attitude. Patti also is a member of the Lombard Service League where she was a part of the membership committee and Magdalene House visit. She has been elected vice president for the club next year. Pete Nolan of The Nolan Agency, an independently owned and operated insurance agency, was born and raised in Lombard. His father, John, won Man of the Year honors years ago, making Pete and John only the second father-son duo to win the award. Pete helped found the Lombard Lilac Time Annual Mutt Strutt 5K for charity, raising money for the Outreach House food pantry. He also helped to found and volunteered at the Lombard Ale Fest, raising money for the Glenbard East Booster Club. Pete has served for the past 12 years on the Lombard Park District Board including as president and was on the board during the construction of the Madison Meadow Athletic Complex. Additionally, Pete was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce for years and served one year as president. Nominates for the Man and Woman of the Year awards come from the public. The first Man of the Year was Joseph Krammer, named in 1952. The first Woman of the Year was Ardyce Horner, named in 1965. The Lombard Jaycees sponsored the program from 1952-2014, with past Jaycees presidents continuing from 2015-19. The Lombard Rotary Club took over sponsorship in 2020.

Coming events

Elmhurst University Film Festival May

10

The first Elmhurst University Film Festival, a celebration of films created by Elmhurst students, will debut on May 10. The festival will feature a screening of each nominated student film, and will be followed by an awards ceremony. The films that will be shown cover a range of genres, from comedy to horror; and different forms, from traditional shorts to music videos and animation. Each film is under 20 minutes long and will be considered for awards in such categories as Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Acting. The films will be judged by digital media faculty members Kristyn Jo Benedyk and John Klein, who also are veteran filmmakers and producers. The film festival begins at 7 p.m. in Schaible Science Center, Illinois Hall, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst, elmhurst.edu/campusmap. Admission is free and all are welcome. Tickets and more information are at eufilmclub.wixsite.com/eufilmfest.

Cantigny Spring Fest Saturday, May 18

Enjoy a curated marketplace inside the historic McCormick House; grand opening of the South Grove Beer Garden with musical guest Gleeson Irish Trio; annual bulb sale; “backstage” greenhouse tours; and Family Walk with garden gnome scavenger hunt. See details at Cantigny.org.

High School Exam Study Nights at Villa Park Library

The Villa Park Public Library will host High School Exam Study Nights on Tuesday, May 21, and Wednesday, May 22, with extended hours from 5 to 10 p.m. High school students are invited to study at the library with free Wi-Fi, snacks, and therapy dogs. A therapy dog will visit each night from 6 to 8 p.m. Snacks will be served at 8:15 p.m. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.vppl.info or call 630-834-1164.

SubmITTEd phOTO Rock Valley Publishing

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church installs new pastor

Rev. Young Chung was installed as the new pastor Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard last month. She brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the church and her ministry.

She earned her Master of Sacred Music from Luther Seminary in collaboration with St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.

During her studies, she had the privilege of learning from esteemed

educators such as Dr. Anton Armstrong (advanced choral conducting), Dr. John Ferguson (organ), and Dr. Paul Westermeyer (parish music).

She furthered her education with a Master of Divinity degree from

Luther Seminary in St. Paul. In addition to her academic achievements, Young completed her Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency at St. Louis University Hospital.

Her diverse background includes

serving congregations as a pastor in both Minnesota and South Dakota. Prior to her pastoral role, she contributed to Lutheran congregations as a music director, showcasing her passion for the intersection of faith and music.

Young’s ministry extends beyond the pulpit, encompassing a variety of creative endeavors. She finds joy in crafting special services, writing pieces that delve into the stories behind hymns, conducting choirs, writing scripts for drama, and organizing community events.

Her multifaceted talents have been recognized through a grant from the Lilly Endowment, administered by the Calvin Institute of Worship in Grand Rapids, Mich. This grant allowed Young to significantly enhance the worship experience for all age groups. Through innovative approaches, she invited worshippers into profound encounters with God, blending elements of theology, music, and art to create meaningful liturgical moments.

Noteworthy among her accomplishments is the establishment of a “Do-It-Yourself” Messiah with the Fox Valley Philharmonic Orchestra in Aurora. Additionally, she has curated diverse community events, including a Community Hymn Festival, Nativity Scene Walk, and a presentation on the Passion of the Christ.

Regardless of the event, Young follows a consistent philosophy, emphasizing four key elements: exploring people’s gifts, building webs of relationships, making Christ known, and making a positive impact on the community.

Her events have successfully brought together people of all ages, traditional and contemporary musicians, as well as local churches and their communities, fostering unity and a shared sense of purpose.

Montini Catholic celebrate Academic All-Stars at

annual awards banquet

Montini Catholic High School rolled out the red carpet on Thursday, May 2, to honor members from its Class of 2024 for their high school academic success. Each year, Montini invites seniors earning “Academic All-Star” status to a celebratory banquet in their honor. This year’s event was held at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge. A total of 47 seniors achieved the honor of being named a Montini Catholic Academic All-Star, which involves attaining a cumulative GPA of 3.95 or above after seven semesters—and/or being named an Illinois State Scholar. Congratulations to (top row, from left to right): Jasmin Baker Rohlehr, Elizabeth Beirne, Gabriel Bianco (Lombard; St. Pius X graduate), Quinn Boyer, Dominic Catalano (Lombard; Glenn Westlake graduate), Colleen Considine, Fabian Deleon and Anjay Dhir (Lombard; Glenn Westlake graduate). Second row: Anthony Dinkel, Mia Egan (Lombard; St. Scholastica graduate), Alyssa Epps, Mason Esquivel, Marin Ferris (St. Pius X graduate), Hugh Flannery, Frank Flores and Ruben Galvan (Lombard; Glenn Westlake graduate). Third row: Hailey Goetz (Lombard; St. Pius X graduate), Jasmine Gonzaga (Lombard; St. Pius X graduate), Ava Goree, Erin Grimsley, Kassandra Gutierrez, Ja’Niyah Hall, Samuel Hemmersmeier and Mariella Herrmann (Lombard; Sacred Heart graduate). Fourth row: Stephanie Hoeflich, MaryKate Lewan, Anthony Manganello, Victoria Matulevicius, Zander Montgomery (Lombard; Glenn Westlake graduate), Nicole Navas (St. Pius X graduate), Rory O’Connor and Lucy Pacelli. Fifth row: Sarah Paradis, Dhruvkumar Patel, Matthew Paulino (Lombard; Sacred Heart graduate), Tyler Pavlik, Daniel Petersen, Michael Pogorelec, Cecily Polanco and Michael Ranquist. Bottom row: Lucy Rizzi, Tanner Sebben, Trinity Smith, Cole Stumbaugh, Igor Vitale, Riley White and Thomas White III (Lombard; St. Joseph School graduate).

submitted photo Rock Valley Publishing Rev. Young Chung was installed as the new pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard on Sunday, April 21.

Obituaries

RICHARD A. CRABBE, 63

Richard A. Crabbe, age 63, of Lombard, formerly of Plainfield, passed away May 1, 2024, at his home.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.

FREDERICK H. CRISSEY, 84

Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. A Graveside service will be held on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 9:30 AM at Forest Hill Cemetery, Glen Ellyn.

In lieu of flowers memorials in Fred’s name to the Fox Valley Trolley Museum, 365 S. LaFox St., South Elgin, IL 60177, would be appreciated. Info: www.brustfuneralhome. com or 888-629-0094.

ed by the Army Reserves as a nurse and served her country in this capacity for ten years. She went to Camp McDonald for basic training and was stationed at Ft. Sheridan, IL. Her unit was on stand-by for the Gulf War but was never called up.

Janet was very proud of her service and was promoted to the rank of Captain.

Frederick H. Crissey, 84, of New Richmond, WI, passed away on December 24, 2023, peacefully with his daughter Stacy and son-inlaw, Chad, by his side at Regions Hospital, St Paul, MN. He was born on September 25, 1939, in Chicago, IL and grew up in Lombard, IL. Fred attended high school at Glenbard West in Glen Ellyn, furthering his studies at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA.

Fred dedicated 30 years of his life to a fulfilling career at Burlington Northern Railroad. His passion for trains extended beyond the workplace, as he enjoyed immersing himself in all things related to trains, along with indulging in his hobby of photography.

Fred is survived by his loving daughter, Stacy Knutson (Chad), and grandsons, Brett and Gavin. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Cotton and nephews Charlie Crissey, Ryan Crissey, and Cassidy Cotton. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Ola Crissey, his brother, Charles Crissey, and brother-in-law, CJ.

His memory will be cherished by all who knew him.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 3:30 PM until 6:00 PM with a Eulogy at 5:30 PM at Brust Funeral

THOMAS A. EMSLIE, 72

Thomas “Tom” A. Emslie, 72, of Lombard, died at 2:01 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2024, at his home after a brave battle with cancer.

Per his wishes, cremation rites were accorded. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Info:www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.

JANET ELISE ILTEN

Later in her career she received a Master’s Degree in Nursing from North Park College, Chicago, IL and continued studying for a Nurse Practitioner’s degree that she was unable to complete.

Janet was an inspiration to all who witnessed her battle with ovarian cancer. She took every setback in stride and exhausted every treatment available. She did not complain but endured the side effects of chemo and the ravages of the disease with grace and dignity. She was quite a warrior. At the time of her surgery, she signed up to participate in a study of ovarian cancer at the University of Iowa. She received great satisfaction in knowing she could help with research in fighting this terrible disease and maybe help others in the future.

hand, Rick’s generous acts of kindness touched everyone he knew. He is remembered as a wonderful and thoughtful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friendly neighbor to many. His love for his family and the Catholic Church guided his life.

Rick grew up in Cicero, IL, and attended St. Ignatius High School and Loyola University. He was a standout athlete, playing baseball, softball, and basketball throughout his life. He was also an avid golfer and tennis player, enjoying weekly rounds and matches with his many friends.

Janet Elise Ilten, daughter of James Bruce and Nadine Marie (nee Lindhorst) Ilten, was born January 13, 1963 at Grace New Haven Hospital, Connecticut. She was baptized on February 3, 1963 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newtown, CT by her father Rev. James B. Ilten. Her sponsors were Janet F. Lindhorst and Anne E. Shafer who both had a close loving relationship with Janet.

She attended Northwest Lutheran School, Grades 1-8, and was confirmed at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL. Her freshman and part of her sophomore year of high school were at Luther High North, and she graduated from Glenbard East High School, Lombard, IL in 1981. She attended Valparaiso University and received a B.S.N. in 1985.

After graduation, she was recruit-

Janet’s career was Nursing, but it was also her passion. She worked for Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago, Loyola University Hospital in Melrose Park, Lutheran General Hospital Travel Clinic, and DuPage Medical Group. For the last 15 years she worked as a nurse case manager for numerous insurance companies, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and most recently Meridian. She so enjoyed nursing, and especially patient education.

Janet’s enjoyment of travel started as a child camping across the U.S. with her family. As an adult, she was able to travel to Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Mexico with sister Julie. While Karla was studying in England, they were able to tour London, Canterbury and Scotland. The highlight of her travels was a trip to Israel to participate in an archeological dig in Caesarea. She also used her nursing skills on a mission trip to Honduras to work in a clinic.

Janet loved her family and enjoyed family vacations and holiday gatherings. When her nieces were born, she became a doting Auntie. She was known for spoiling her nieces and was a superb babysitter. As the nieces grew older, she became a confidant and friend.

Helen Plum Library manager receives Movers & Shakers Award

Library Journal (LJ) on May 1 announced recipients of the 2024 Movers & Shakers awards. Over the past 22 years, Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers awards have offered a compelling snapshot of what’s up and coming in the library world, as well as how it has changed.

The 2024 Movers & Shakers winners represent library ambassadors who are innovative, proactive, and support the vital work of libraries; they are imaginative and kind and brave in a world that very much needs those qualities and the results they produce.

Helen Plum Library’s Technology and Metadata Service Manager Alex Vancina has been recognized as an Innovator. When Vancina joined the Helen Plum Library administration in 2017, plans to build a new $30 million facility had been temporarily put on hold owing to issues with the property’s location. Vancina used this as an opportunity to initiate a total revamp of the library’s IT and technical services departments, merging them to form the Technology and Metadata Services Department—streamlining processes, reducing redundancies, and providing significant budget reductions. He collaborated with the Market-

ing Department to relaunch Helen Plum’s new website and migrated the online catalog to open-source Aspen Discovery. When the library secured new property and began building the facility in 2020, Vancina collaborated with the executive construction team, meeting weekly with architects and contractors to review progress until its completion in April 2023. He then led the IT team in overseeing the decommissioning of all technology at the old facility and the full tech installation in the new building. His expertise eliminated the need for HPL to hire an outside consulting firm, saving tens of thousands of

dollars.

“Alex is an original thinker and a master troubleshooter,” says Sue Wilsey, Helen Plum Library’s director of Strategic Marketing and Communications, adding that the cry “Call Alex!” can be heard nearly every day from staff or managers seeking help with the new library’s technology.

“My team and I get to solve problems,” said Vancina. “Even though I’m not always at a public service desk, I know the work that me and my team do improves the experience of every staff member and patron in the library, every day.”

In addition to his technology contributions, Vancina is also a community leader, serving as the board president at his hometown of New Lenox’s Public Library District. He also was elected as president of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) as part of a team who work on issues affecting the long-term future of the organization of approximately 1,300 member libraries.

When not wearing his library hat, Vancina volunteers with the Forest Preserve District of Will County, maintaining and restoring natural prairie and woodland areas.

All through her life, Janet was a faithful follower of Jesus. He was her strength and comfort during her battle, and her peace and hope for a future resurrection with Him.

Janet is survived by her sisters Julie Ilten, Kathleen (Jeff) Heller, Karla (Greg) Menze; and nieces Emma and Elizabeth Heller and Katherine and Caroline Menze. She is preceded in death by her parents Jim and Nadine Ilten.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 9:30 AM until the time of the Memorial Service at 10:30 AM at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, 215 S. Lincoln St., Lombard. Private inurnment will be at a later date in Cedar Memorial Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Memorials may be given to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 12221 Merit Drive, Suite 1950, Dallas, TX 75251 or St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, 215 S. Lincoln St., Lombard, IL 60148 and designated for mission trips.

Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or 888-629-0094.

RICHARD E. STOFFEL, 88

Richard E. Stoffel, age 88, of Lombard, IL, passed away on May 2, 2024. He was born September 17, 1935, in Chicago.

Quick to tell a joke or lend a

Rick was a United States Army veteran, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a St. Pius X Grade School volunteer basketball coach, and a long-time employee of Shell Oil. A 62-year resident of Lombard, Rick treasured the beautiful parks in the area and spent many happy hours sitting in the backyard with his beloved wife, Gail, identifying birdsong.

Rick is survived by his wife, Gail; his children, Jane (Martin) Gerold of Saint Charles, James (Laurie) Stoffel of Elgin, Mary (Tom Thilly) Stoffel of Lombard, Jennifer (Martin) Wallace of Naperville, Patricia (Joseph) Salchert of Elburn; his stepchildren, Susan Sims, Robert (Jayne Weston) Van Der Zalm, Laura (John) Dolan, and Julia Van Der Zalm; his sister, Ruth Vlna of Westchester; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother, Robert Stoffel, his sister, Eleanor Razim, and his stepson, Thomas Van Der Zalm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, May 9th, at 11:00 AM, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1025 E. Madison St., Lombard. Interment at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Hillside, to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Rick can be made to Catholic Charities, or to St. Pius X Church.

Michael a. Foley Photo Rock Valley Publishing Alex Vancina

Off to the prom

Willowbrook High School held its 2024 prom on Saturday evening at the Chicago Sports Museum. More than 520 students boarded buses at Willowbrook to head to the prom. One photo, taken shortly before the students departed for

Chicago, shows (left to right) juniors T.J. Radomski, Nicholas Williams and Daniel Javier. Another photo shows (left to right) seniors Elisa Chivilo and Elle Bruschuk.

Cantigny Spring Fest May 18: Offers garden-inspired activities, shopping, and live music

Cantigny plans a spring celebration with a full day of activities for all ages on Saturday, May 18. Tickets for Spring Fest are on sale now at Cantigny.org.

Event hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12, and free for ages 15 and under. Parking is $5 per car.

Spring Fest attractions include:

• McCormick House Marketplace.

The newly renovated historic home will host local artisans offering jewelry, pottery, artworks and more.

Police Reports

The Villa Park Police Department 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.

April 30

A complainant in the 1-100 block of N. Bierman was arguing with a suspect, who reportedly battered the complainant during the argument.

April 28

A 43-year-old Chicago woman and a 46-year-old Roselle woman were both charged with two counts

Treat yourself to a craft coffee and pastry bar on the South Porch, overlooking the McCormick Allée.

• Greenhouse tours. A special “backstage VIP pass” ($50) entitles the holder to a guided tour of the Cantigny greenhouse, drink ticket, and 25 Cantigny tulip bulbs to take home. The pass covers festival admission, too.

• Live Music in South Grove Beer Garden. Enjoy the Gleeson Irish Trio in Cantigny’s new-for-2024 beer

garden in the South Grove. Have a cold brew (try the Cantigny Kolsch from 93 Octane Brewery!) or visit the Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar. A delicious French-themed menu will be available along with traditional lunch favorites. Cantigny’s new Café inside the Visitors Center offers even more choices, including gourmet coffees, salads, and ice cream.

• Terrarium Bar. Craft your own botanical masterpiece at a station hosted by Leelee’s Garden. This is

a specialty experience requiring advance registration. The price of $40 includes festival admission. Terrarium Bar hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Bulb Sale. This popular annual event is now part of Spring Fest! Take home 25 Cantigny tulip bulbs for $10, while supplies last.

• Family Fun Walk and Gnome Scavenger Hunt. Take a stroll through the gardens and see what

you may find! Lawn games, a fun inflatable, plant crafts and live animals from The Grove will also keep the kids happy.

Cantigny is open every day except Tuesday and offers free admission on Wednesdays for those registering in advance.

Hours, parking fees, and a full calendar of upcoming events are posted at Cantigny.org.

of domestic battery in the 100 block of W. Roosevelt at 5:58 p.m.

April 27

A 17-year-old male juvenile of Villa Park was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 100 block of E. Park at 3:45 p.m.

A complainant at a store in the 900 block of S. Route 83 reported an unknown suspect removed multiple items from display shelves and left the store without paying.

April 26

Magdalena R. Kowalczyk, 39, of Glendale Heights, was charged with violation of an order of protection in the 100 block of N. Euclid on April 24. The suspect was arrested on the above date.

A 39-year-old Villa Park man was

charged with domestic battery in the 900 block of W. North at 12:24 a.m.

A complainant in the 300 block of N. Princeton was arguing with a subject, who reportedly battered the complainant.

A complainant at a store in the 600 block of N. Addison reported that an unknown suspect(s) removed multiple items from display shelves and left the store without paying.

A complainant in the 800 block of W. North reported a subject is harassing them via telephone.

April 25

Nicholas J. Gutierrez, 18, of Oak Lawn, was arrested and charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a motor vehicle on the above date for the alleged incident, which occurred April 20.

Village of Villa Park seeks input on naming new recreation center

Online survey is open through Sunday

The Village of Villa Park is asking residents for their input in choosing a name for the village’s new recreation center, which is currently under construction and scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

“Our goal is to find a name that captures the spirit and essence of our community,” noted a statement released by the village last week.

“Your input is crucial in determining the identity of the recreation center, so please take a moment to share your suggestions and thoughts on what the recreation center should be named. Let’s shape the future together!”

The online survey to seek input on naming the new recreation center will be open until the end of the day this Sunday, May 12. To participate in the survey, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VPRCname. The survey asks residents to select one name for the recreation center. There are six choices—Villa Park Recreation Center, Lions Park Recreation Center, Villa Park Recreation Center at Lions Park, The Greenway Recreational Center at Lions Park, Garden Village Family Fitness Center at Lions Park and Norma Berger Taylor Recreation Center. Residents can also specify another name.

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Village hosts ‘Lombard at Night’ photo contest during Lilac time

The Village of Lombard is hosting its annual photo contest during Lilac Time, with this year’s theme being “Lombard at Night.” The contest runs through Friday, May 31 and is open to Lombard residents and visitors.

All photographers, whether amateur or experienced, are encouraged to submit their photos capturing the beauty of Lombard after dark. Whether it’s the streets of downtown

Lombard or an evening baseball game at a local park, let your lens capture the charm of Lombard after sunset.

Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 31. To submit your entry, include the required release form and send your photograph digitally via email to communications@villageoflombard.org or deliver it on a USB drive to Village Hall at

255 E. Wilson Ave., Lombard.

The Community Relations Committee will judge photographs, and winners will be contacted via email and announced on the Village’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages on Friday, June 14.

The first-place winner will receive a gift card valued at $100, the second-place winner will receive a gift card valued at $50, and the

A day at the ‘fair’

Sunday, May 5, started out cloudy and cool but the weather cooperated when it gave way to sunshine and warmer temperatures as the annual Lilac Time Arts and Crafts Fair opened at 10 a.m. Craft fair vendors and businesses were lined up along St. Charles Road from Main Street to Elizabeth Street. Manning the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry booth was Anna Weselak, and Joe Bingaman was on hand to represent local business Soapy Roads of Lombard. The annual fair signals the start of Lombard’s Lilac Time festivities, which also includes the Lilac Parade on Sunday, May 19, that steps off from Main and Wilson at 1:30 p.m. Visit lombardlilactime.com for more information on Lilac Time events.

third-place winner will receive a gift card valued at $25.

The winning photographs will be displayed on the village website and social media platforms, and may also be used in future promotional materials.

For details and a complete list of rules, visit https://www.villageoflombard.org/ photocontest.

Receive a digital copy of your

There’s no waiting for your home delivery.

Your link to the weekly newspaper will be emailed to you every Thursday. The digital version of the newspaper can be read on a computer, laptop or tablet.

For an eSubscription, visit rockvalleyenews.com or call 627-7010.

JaNe Charmelo PhoTos Rock Valley Publishing

PUZZLE Page

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. It wakes you up

6. A place to sleep

9. Czech village

13. Appetizer

14. African country

15. Dark brown or black

16. Parent-teacher groups

17. Saturates

18. ESPN personality Kimes

19. Songs to a lover

21. Cavalry-sword

22. Begat

23. Patriotic women

24. Famed Princess

25. One who does not conform

28. Neither

29. Nigerian monetary unit

31. Body parts

33. Hit Dave Matthews Band

song

36. Depicts with pencil

38. Make into leather without tannin

39. Plants grow from them

41. Alias

44. Fingers do it

45. More dried-up

46. Clod

48. Senior officer

49. A way to listen to music

51. The bill in a restaurant

52. Historic center of Artois

region

54. Cyprinid fishes

56. Poisonous perennial plant

60. Scottish Loch

61. Heads

62. Extra seed-covering

63. Wings

64. Britpop band

65. Forearm bones

66. Small immature herring

67. Female sibling

68. Hymn

CLUES DOWN

1. Vipers

2. Not on time

3. Resembling a wing or wings

4. Tears down

5. Professional designation 6. Noise a sheep made 7. Type of lodge

8. Speak poorly of 9. Ties the knot again 10. Apron

11. Studied intensively

12. City in Finland

14. One who monitors

17. 18-year astronomical period 20. Trent Reznor’s band

Takes to the sea

Split pulses 25. Valentine’s Day color

Wyatt __

Type of rail

29. One from the Big Apple

Asteroids 32. Made more sugary

BAR BEETS BUTTER CAESAR CELERY CHEESE CROUTONS CRUNCHY DIET

DRESSING

GARNISH GREENS ICEBERG OLIVES ONIONS RADISHES REFRESHING ROMAINE SALAD SPINACH

TOMATOES TOPPING TOSSED

34. Change in skin pigment

35. Mild yellow Dutch cheese

37. Koran chapters

40. A place to relax

42. Young woman ready for society life

43. Female horses

47. Half of Milli Vanilli

49. Icelandic poems

50. Indiana town

52. Golden peas

53. Closes tightly

55. It’s mined in mountains

56. Cliff (Hawaii)

57. Ribosomal ribonucleic acid

58. Monetary unit

59. Primordial matter

61. TV station

65. Rise

Meet ‘Sensation’

The area’s largest lilac sale in Lombard, the Lilac Village, takes place this Thursday through Saturday, May 9-11, at Lombard’s historic Lilacia Park in downtown Lombard. You may choose from 16 different lilacs of varying sizes. Colors of the blooms range from deep violet, magenta and lilac to pink, blue and white. Proceeds support the Lombard Garden Club’s scholarship program, community beautification projects and educational outreach about the environment and gardening in our region. This week’s very popular feature is “Sensation” lilac (Syringa vulgaris) due to its distinctive large purple florets edged with white. It is an upright, deciduous shrub that grows 8-10’ high and 8-12’ wide. Blooming in mid-season the sweetly scented florets form large, pyramidal panicles making it especially showy. Sensation tolerates light shade, but the best flower production occurs in full sun. Originated by Eveleens Maarse in 1938, It is among the 16 types of lilacs available at the Lombard Garden Club Annual Lilac Sale. You may view color photos of the lilacs at www.lombardgardenclub.org. All sales are in-person.

State unveils report on racial disparities among homeless populations Lung Association gives mixed review

By Andrew Adams CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Tackling homelessness requires addressing racial injustice, according to a new report commissioned by the state’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.

The report found that Black people are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than white people. Remedying this disparity, according to the report, would require “long-term strategies that dismantle systemic barriers contributing to racial inequities in homelessness such as ending the mass incarceration of Black people.”

“When we think about the harms of racial segregation and red lining, we can draw a line to the realities of homelessness,” Christine Haley, the state’s chief homelessness officer, said in a news release.

The report, produced by the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago, forms the basis of a new “action plan” from the governor, whose “Home Illinois” plan aimed at ending homelessness launched in 2022.

In his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year 2025, Pritzker proposed $250 million for the state’s homelessness prevention initiatives, a $50 million increase over the current fiscal year.

The additional money would be used to provide housing assistance, legal aid and to initiate pilot programs aimed at addressing racial disparities within the homeless population.

The “unified, whole of government approach” is set to embed state officials responsible for helping homeless individuals in at least five state departments, including the Department of Corrections and the Department of Children and Family Services.

“Homelessness is not an issue of personal failing, but of historical discrimination and structural barriers that have driven inequality for Black families across the nation and of course right here in Illinois,” Pritzker said.

Illinois had about 9,000 people experiencing homelessness on a given night in 2022, according to the latest data from the National Alliance to

“ Homelessness is not an issue of personal failing, but of historical discrimination and structural barriers that have driven inequality for Black families across the nation and of course right here in Illinois.”

– Gov. JB Pritzker

End Homelessness. Rates of homelessness are highest in the Chicago area and around Springfield.

Homelessness in the state has fallen by 41 percent since 2007, according to NAEH data. Most homeless people in Illinois, about 79 percent, were in shelters or other temporary accommodations in 2022.

Air quality repor t

Illinois’ air quality received mixed grades from the American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report released this week.

While some counties in central and southern Illinois had low levels of pollution, areas in Chicagoland are some of the most polluted in the nation. The Chicago metropolitan area, according to the report, has the 17th highest level of ozone pollution of all cities in the nation.

Ozone is a product of vehicle exhaust and industrial pollution, and the pollutant can aggravate lung disease, increase the frequency of asthma attacks and make breathing difficult, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The Chicago area was also ranked the 22nd most polluted city for yearround particle pollution, which results from construction, industrial waste, car exhaust and other sources.

“In the 25 years that the American Lung Association has been doing our ‘State of the Air’ report, we have

of state’s air quality

seen incredible improvement in our nation’s air quality.” Kristina Hamilton, advocacy director at the ALA, said in a news release. “Unfortunately, more than 131 million people still live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution, and Chicago is listed as one of the worst places for ozone and particle pollution, which disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color.”

Downstate communities had generally cleaner air. While data on ozone pollution is only available for 23 Illinois counties, Adams, Effingham and Jo Daviess counties all received an “A” grade from the lung group for having zero days last year with high ozone pollution levels. For the 17 counties with data on particle pollution, seven received an

“A” grade, including DuPage and McHenry counties in Chicagoland. The Springfield area’s air quality worsened this year compared to last year, when Sangamon County was ranked among the cleanest in the nation. It fell to a “C” grade for ozone and “B” grade for particle pollution, based on the number of days with high levels of each pollutant in the air.

Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans

By Peter Hancock and Jerry Nowicki CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS

Immigrant rights advocates on April 26 continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status.

Noncitizen health care cost estimates have continued to decline since Pritzker capped enrollment redetermination process for the two programs. In March, a spokesperson said approximately 450 individuals are likely to be moved to Medicaid because they are legal permanent residents of at least five years; an estimated 5,200 individuals will be “closed” as of May 1 because they are no longer eligible; and approximately 6,000 individu -

Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid if not for their immigration status. They have been the source of controversy in the General Assembly, especially after the initial cost of the programs far outpaced the original estimates, forcing Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration to begin capping enrollment and instituting other cost-cutting measures last year.

But advocates for those programs unveiled a new report April 26 by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute that purports to show how the benefits of providing health coverage to the state’s immigrant population extend beyond those individuals to their families, communities and society at large.

“Ample research has shown that coverage improves labor force participation, which adds value to tax bases and reduces the need for financial assistance,” Samantha Sepulveda, one of the authors of the report, said at a gathering of program supporters April 26 in Chicago. “It increases early disease detection which reduces long-term medical costs. It relieves financial hardship which helps individuals and members of their household and also improves health outcomes.”

The report focuses on two programs that provide Medicaid-like health coverage to noncitizen adults— Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors , which began in 2020 and covers noncitizens age 65 and older; and Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults , which began in 2021 and now covers noncitizens age 42-64.

Although the programs offer health benefits similar to those provided under Medicaid, they do not qualify for federal cost sharing under Medicaid and, thus, are funded entirely with state resources.

The state has offered reduced-cost health care coverage to noncitizen children under 18 in its All Kids Program since 2006.

Key findings

The report argues that noncitizens are employed at a slightly higher rate than the adult population as a whole in Illinois, so providing that group with health coverage promotes a healthier and more productive labor force.

It also argues that medical coverage reduces financial strain and medical debt for a group that would otherwise be uninsured and that covering noncitizen adults results in improved developmental outcomes for their children.

In addition, it argues that insuring the noncitizen population results in many of the same econom -

ic benefits as increasing coverage rates among the rest of society. Recipients will be less likely to postpone needed care, according to the report, which in turn prevents unnecessary emergency room usage, the costs of which are either never recovered or spread to those with insurance. The report noted the programs also improve overall health outcomes by encouraging routine checkups and preventive care.

According to the state’s Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which oversees the programs, they cost $618 million combined in fiscal year 2023. Advocates from the Healthy Illinois campaign, which unveiled the report April 26, noted that accounts for just 0.6 percent of the state’s total budget, or about 1.2 percent of the state’s General Revenue Fund budget.

But as lawmakers sat down to approve the state’s budget last spring, Pritzker’s administration had projected the costs could rise to as high as $1.1 billion for fiscal year 2024. While advocates continued calls to expand the program to serve immigrants between the ages of 18 and 42, lawmakers ultimately gave the governor authority to limit enrollment and cap general revenue spending on the programs at $550 million.

Pritzker, meanwhile, has proposed $629 million in spending on the program in the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1, including a $440 million appropriation from the General Revenue Fund. An estimated $100 million would come from a federal emergency services match, with $50 million coming from drug rebate payments and $40 million from a state tax on Medicaid managed care organizations.

Pritzker ’s fiscal year 2025 funding plan drew praise from the Healthy Illinois campaign after the governor unveiled it in February. The coalition’s statement drew a more conciliatory tone than when it accused the governor of “aligning himself with anti-immigrant Republicans” for placing enrollment caps on the program months earlier.

“We recognize the real fiscal challenges facing the state, but urge both the General Assembly and the governor to pass a FY25 budget that fully funds the existing HBIA and HBIS programs as they currently exist in statute, with no caps and no co-pays,” Healthy Illinois Director Tovia Siegel said in a statement after the budget address.

Enrollment caps and cost trends

Pritzker’s enrollment caps for the HBIA program took effect on July 1, 2023, and the HBIS program was capped when it hit 16,500 enrollees weeks later.

Since then, enrollment in the programs has remained paused, and total enrollment has dropped from a high of about 69,300 in November 2023, to 66,430 as of the agency’s April 9 report.

In March, HFS also noted it would begin the standard Medicaid

als will lose coverage through the redetermination process.

Another roughly 6,300 individuals who have been legal permanent residents for less than five years will lose coverage and be referred to the Affordable Care Act Marketplace for alternative coverage.

The state also began transitioning enrollees from fee-for-service plans to Medicaid managed care, a system through which private insurers known as managed care organizations contract with the state to oversee routine and follow-up health care. An HFS update on program enrollment dated April 9 noted more than 45,500 enrollees had See HEALTH, Page 20

Worship Services

Worship at 9:45

Weekend Masses: Saturday: 4 PM (Vigil) Sunday: 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 AM and 6 PM

Daily Masses: Monday—Friday: 6:15 and 8:15 AM Saturday: 8:15 AM

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

Lent and Easter Services at 7 p.m.

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

“The Crucial Hours”

Second Lenten Service March 9, 2022

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

Ladies Bible Fellowship Mondays at 6:30 pm Saturday, May 25 Game Night at 4 pm

Third Lenten Service March 16, 2022

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

Everyone is Welcome! All services are live streamed. Watch on our website or on Facebook. sainttimothy.org

Fourth Lenten Service March 23, 2022

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

Fifth Lenten Service March 30, 2022 Rev. Tom Nicholson “They Bound Him” Resurrection, Aurora John 18:12

Sixth Lenten Service April 6, 2022

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

Confessions: Saturday: 3�3:45PM Sunday: 5�5:45 PM

Adoration:

Sports

Rams reel off three straight conference victories

Bolda fires complete games in one-run wins over South Elgin and Glenbard South

The Glenbard East softball team posted three straight Upstate Eight Conference wins last week to improve to 15-6 overall and 10-3 in conference play.

The Rams opened their successful week with a 20-2 home win over Streamwood on April 29. One day later, Glenbard East edged South Elgin 4-3 in Lombard. The Rams completed the week with a 5-4 victory at Glenbard South on May 2.

Glenbard East freshman Claire Bolda pitched complete games in last week’s wins over South Elgin and Glenbard East. Bolda allowed three runs, nine hits and no walks while striking out two batters over seven innings in her team’s April 30 victory over South Elgin.

Bolda delivered another winning seven-inning performance in the Rams’ victory at Glenbard South on May 2. She gave up four runs, seven hits and three walks while recording six strikeouts against the Raiders.

Junior Melissa Saldana went 1-for-2 and drove in two runs for the Rams in last week’s win over South Elgin. Glenbard East scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the third inning. Saldana’s two-run single in that inning gave the Rams a 4-2 lead.

Freshman Ally Amrhein went 4-for-4 and scored three runs for Glenbard East in the team’s May 2 victory at Glenbard South. Bolda went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Saldana went 2-for-4 and scored one run.

The Rams’ schedule this week includes conference games against Fenton, West Chicago and Bartlett.

Glenbard East’s softball team won three straight Upstate Eight Conference games last week. After beating Streamwood 20-2 in Lombard on April 29, the Rams posted a 4-3 home win over South Elgin on April 30. Glenbard East completed its productive week with a 5-4 victory at Glenbard South on May 2. Freshman Claire Bolda (No. 14 - above left) of the Rams is pictured while delivering a pitch during last week’s game against South Elgin. Bolda pitched seven-inning complete games in last week’s wins over South Elgin and Glenbard South. Another photo from last week’s battle against South Elgin shows junior third baseman Melissa Saldana (No. 7 - above right) throwing the ball to first base. Saldana hit a two-run single in the third inning to break a 2-2 tie and give the Rams a 4-2 lead over the Storm in the April 30 contest. After beating Glenbard South on May 2, Glenbard East moved to 15-6 overall and 10-3 in conference action.

Rams’ week includes two narrow losses to West Chicago Ahern pitches a shutout in conference win over East Aurora

The Glenbard East baseball team dropped a pair of one-run decisions to West Chicago in last week’s Upstate Eight Conference action. The Rams then posted a conference win over East Aurora on Friday before losing a nonconference game at Waubonsie Valley on Saturday. The Rams concluded the week with an overall record of 14-10-1 and a conference mark of 10-4.

Glenbard East began last week’s schedule with a 3-2 home loss to West Chicago on April 29. Two days later, the Rams lost 3-2 to the Wildcats in an eight-inning game in West Chicago.

The Rams traveled to South Elgin for a conference battle on May 2. The game was tied at 4-4 after 10 innings, when it was suspended due to darkness.

Glenbard East defeated East Aurora 7-0 in Lombard on Friday. The Rams lost 5-4 at Waubonsie Valley on Saturday.

Senior Trevor Rehnstrom pitched a complete game for Glenbard East in its home loss to West Chicago on April 29. Rehnstrom allowed one earned run, four hits and one walk in seven innings on the mound. He recorded 12 strikeouts.

Junior Konrad Toth pitched six strong

innings for the Rams in their May 1 contest at West Chicago. Toth allowed two earned runs, two hits and four walks while piling up 11 strikeouts.

Senior Chris Ludwig pitched four innings for Glenbard East in its May 2 game at South Elgin. He didn’t allow any earned runs and struck out four batters. Junior Brian Kud relieved Ludwig and allowed three hits and no earned runs over two innings.

The Storm scored two unearned runs in the first inning and added two more unearned runs in the sixth inning.

Sophomore Lucas Calderin relieved Kud on the mound and pitched four scoreless innings in the battle at South Elgin on May 2. Calderin struck out five batters. He did not give up any hits, and he didn’t issue any walks.

Junior Ryan Frano hit a two-run inside-thepark home run to give the Rams a 3-2 lead in the second inning of last week’s conference game against the Storm.

Senior Peter Ahern pitched a shutout for Glenbard East in Friday’s 7-0 win over East Aurora in Lombard. Ahern struck out 11 batters in seven innings on the mound. He allowed three hits and one walk.

Junior Devin Kraft went 2-for-4 and drove

in two runs for the Rams in Friday’s win over the Tomcats. Junior Aiden Towey went 2-for4 with one RBI. Junior Paulie Steiskal went 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

The Rams led Waubonsie Valley 4-1 in the middle of the fifth inning of Saturday’s nonconference game. The Warriors scored one run in the bottom of the fifth inning. They added two more runs in the sixth inning to tie the score. Waubonsie Valley scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Rams’ schedule this week includes a conference home game against South Elgin, a two-game conference series with Larkin and non-conference contests against Benet Academy and Naperville North.

Senior Peter Ahern (No. 9) of Glenbard East’s baseball team is pictured during Friday’s Upstate Eight Conference contest against East Aurora in Lombard. Ahern pitched a complete game to lead the Rams to a 7-0 victory over the visiting Tomcats. Ahern allowed three hits and one walk during seven innings. He recorded 11 strikeouts. Glenbard East improved its Upstate Eight conference record to 10-4 with Friday’s victory. Earlier in the week, the Rams lost a pair of one-run decisions in conference games against West Chicago. The Wildcats beat Glenbard East 3-2 in Lombard on April 29. Two days later, the Rams suffered a 3-2 loss to the Wildcats in West Chicago. Glenbard East finished its week with Saturday’s 5-4 non-conference loss at Waubonsie Valley. That loss sent the Rams’ overall season record to 14-10-1.

Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing

Chris Fox photo Rock Valley Publishing

Brandt and Flanagan head to state meet

for the third straight year

Rams’ standout duo wins sectional doubles title; tandem enters state doubles meet with a record of 45-2

The Glenbard East badminton team will send one doubles duo and one singles player to this week’s IHSA state meet at DeKalb High School.

The Rams’ decorated doubles tandem of seniors Ellie Brandt and Claire Flanagan will play in the state meet for the third straight year. Glenbard East senior Emily Puth will compete in the singles tournament at the state meet, which takes place this Friday and Saturday.

The state meet features 64 singles players and 64 doubles teams.

The Brandt-Flanagan duo and Puth earned trips to the state meet with their performances at the Naperville North Sectional on May 2. Brandt and Flanagan won three straight matches to win the doubles title at the sectional. Puth delivered a second-place finish in singles play at last week’s sectional. She won her first two matches of the event before losing to Naperville North freshman Kelly Hu in the singles final.

The top four singles players and the top four doubles teams at each of the state’s 16 sectionals qualified for the state meet.

Brandt and Flanagan did not lose a game during their three victories at the Naperville North Sectional. The

duo enters the state meet with a season record of 45-2.

Brandt and Flanagan also won a sectional doubles title at Naperville North last season. The two Rams proceeded to win their first three matches in the doubles portion of the 2023 state meet. The duo then lost in the quarterfinal round of the double-elimination state event. Brandt and Flanagan won one match in the consolation round before ending last year’s state meet with a loss.

Three Warriors qualify for state meet

Willowbrook’s badminton team will send one singles player and one doubles team to this week’s IHSA state meet. Those three Warriors earned their trips to this week’s state meet in DeKalb with their top-four finishes in last week’s Hinsdale Central Sectional.

Senior Lillian Caron of Willowbrook qualified for the state meet’s singles competition by placing third in singles play at the May 2 sectional in Hinsdale. The Warriors’ doubles duo of senior Jasmine Langston and junior Abigail Schnittker secured a state-meet berth with a third-place showing in the sectional’s doubles action.

Warriors earn a home victory

Broncos beat the Spartans

The Montini Catholic baseball team defeated St. Francis 3-1 on Saturday on the Spartans’ home field in Wheaton. Montini improved its overall season record to 18-8-1 with Saturday’s victory. Sophomore Blake Heyer (No. 12) of the Broncos pitched a complete game to lead his team to its win over the Spartans. Heyer allowed three hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts in seven innings on the mound. Montini scored one run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. St. Francis picked up one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to even the score at 1-1. The Broncos broke the tie with two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Senior Cash Campbell grounded into a fielder’s choice to drive in the run that gave Montini a 2-1 lead. Senior Anthony Manganello scored the Broncos’ third run of the day on a balk. Senior Quinn Boyer drove in Montini’s first run of the game with a first-inning double. The Broncos began last week’s action with an 8-3 loss at Fenwick on April 29. One day later, Montini defeated Leo 12-2 in a five-inning game in Lombard. The Broncos earned a 10-0 win at Leo on May 2. Campbell went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs in last week’s home win over Leo. Senior Dominic Catalano went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the same game. Montini junior Max Bell went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs in last week’s five-inning triumph over Leo in Chicago. The Broncos are scheduled to play four games this week, including this Saturday’s home contest against St. Patrick.

Willowbrook’s girls soccer team secured its first West Suburban Gold Conference victory of the season when it defeated Proviso East 2-1 in Villa Park on April 30. Junior Camryn Warnke (No. 19 - above left) scored a first-half goal to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Junior Liz Tretina (No. 13 - above middle) provided an assist on Warnke’s goal. Senior Emma Anderlik (No. 16 - above right) scored a second-half goal to extend Willowbrook’s lead to 2-0. The visiting Pirates scored their only goal of the match later in the second half. Willowbrook improved to

2-8-2 overall and 1-3 in conference play following its win over Proviso East. The Warriors dropped to 2-9-2 overall and 1-4 in conference action after losing a 3-1 decision at Leyden on May 2. Willowbrook completed its regular season with this week’s conference match against Addison Trail, along with a non-conference battle against Providence Catholic. The Warriors will open the IHSA Class 3A post-season by facing DeKalb in this Saturday’s regional quarterfinal in Villa Park.

Chris Fox photos Rock Valley Publishing

Chris Fox photo Rock Valley Publishing

Willowbrook shuts out Morton

Willowbrook’s softball team improved to 13-9 overall and 4-2 in the West Suburban Gold Conference following last week’s 3-0 home win over Morton in Villa Park. Sophomore Allie Coppersmith gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead in the May 1 contest when she bashed a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the third inning. Coppersmith is pictured (above) as she touches third base after her homer—her third of the season—and prepares to high-five Willowbrook head coach Nick Hildreth. The Warriors added one more run later in the third inning, when senior Karman Rowe singled and eventually scored on a single by junior Isabel Bates. Willowbrook sophomore Delaney Smrz bashed a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth inning to push her team’s lead to 3-0. It was Smrz’ first homer of the season. Rowe, who is pictured (right) while firing a pitch during the game, delivered a complete-game shutout in the circle. She allowed three hits and no walks while piling up 15 strikeouts in seven innings. Two days before beating Morton, Willowbrook suffered an 8-5 loss to Downers Grove South in a conference battle in Villa Park. The visiting Mustangs held an 8-2 lead at the end of the fourth inning. Coppersmith hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut Downers Grove South’s lead to 8-4. Sophomore Marli Smrz—Delaney’s twin sister—hit two solo homers in the contest. She hit her first home run of the day in the third inning and added another solo blast in the seventh inning. Rowe, who struck out 15 batters in the May 1 game against Morton, also recorded 15 strikeouts in the April 29 clash against Downers Grove South. Willowbrook’s schedule this week includes conference games against Addison Trail, Leyden and Hinsdale South, along with a non-conference game at Montini.

• Election

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447 N York Street

Bus: 630-832-0182

info@brianstolper.com www.brianstolper.com

(Continued from page 2)

“We’re denying people the truth. This is why your streets aren’t safe …” Bailey said in a June 29, 2022 interview on Proft’s show, hours before that backroom meeting. “We’ve got the message—it’s true. We’ve just got to get it out.”

Proft denied the radio appearance counted as coordination, pointing to the fact that crime was a hot topic throughout the 2022 election cycle and that he had other candidates for office and public officials on his show.

Democrats’ passage of the SAFE-T Act, which included certain police reforms and made Illinois the first state to fully abandon its cash bail system, became a unifying theme for Republicans to knock Democrats after its passage in early 2021 and through its full implementation last year.

Proft’s PAC also used footage taken from the Bailey campaign’s YouTube channel, something that Hardin’s lawyers also argued was only done to coordinate giving material to friendly PACs.

“That is explainable for no purpose other than a desire to help independent groups make ads,” Fox said.

Under Illinois election law, “independent expenditure committees”

like Proft’s PAC are barred from making expenditures “in connection, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of” public officials or candidates for office.

But Bailey’s lawyer said that the actual meaning of this prohibition is not clear.

“This would have been far more appropriate for the board to take up as a rule-making process and make a pronouncement so that PACs and candidates can govern their affairs more clearly based on a clearly delineated set of rules going forward rather than adjudicating somebody for violating rules before we determine what they are,” Jeffrey Meyer said April 29.

In January, a previous hearing officer from the state board of elections noted that it was “rather difficult to determine” what constitutes coordination under the law, given that neither state law nor administrative rules provide further guidance on the subject.

ISBE: Lack of case law

There is also a lack of case law, according to Illinois State Board of Elections spokesperson Matt Diet-

rich, who said that this is the first complaint in Illinois to allege coordination between an independent expenditure committee and a candidate.

Lawyers for Hardin as well as Proft and Bailey are expected to file additional legal briefs in the coming weeks. The Illinois State Board of Elections will decide the case this summer.

Proft has also faced criticisms and a 2016 Federal Election Commission complaint over his publishing and use of a network of free “newspapers” and corresponding websites to support conservative political candidates.

In 2018, Proft sued the Board of Elections and then-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in federal court in an unsuccessful attempt to ease restrictions on what activities could be coordinated between political groups and candidates.

In 2020, Proft shuttered his first independent expenditure PAC, called Liberty Principles PAC, with $39,000 unaccounted for, according to state finance records.

Uihlein had also donated heavily to that PAC, which Proft founded in 2012, to support conservative candidates.

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Helping to keep the shelves stocked

The Project Rise team has made multiple donations to The Outreach House in Lombard. The most recent donation was on April 15, when the team made a donation of 12 cases of formula and other baby products—obtaining all the donations for The Outreach House during the month of Ramadan. The Project Rise team also held a law enforcement appreciation luncheon at the Willowbrook Masjid, during which both Executive Director Catherine Lynott and board Chair Kris DeSmedt attended. In one photo are (above, left to right) Lynott and Project Rise team board of directors member Shazad Ali Carbaidwala.

• Health

from page 15)

been transferred to managed care while 17,879 remained in fee-forservice plans.

The state also negotiated with managed care organizations to allow—but not require—them to charge copays or co-insurance for certain services provided. CountyCare in Cook County, where most program participants are served, has chosen not to charge those fees.

As of April 9, HFS projects the program to cost $697 million in fiscal year 2024. Those estimates are based on the number of enrollees and their average monthly costs, and they can fluctuate each month based on retroactive claims adjustments, provider rate changes and program enrollment, among other factors.

While higher than what’s budgeted in general revenues, the esti -

“ Ample research has shown that coverage improves labor force participation, which adds value to tax bases and reduces the need for financial assistance.”

– Samantha Sepulveda

mates have decreased significantly since September, when the agency projected the programs would cost $831 million in the first report fol -

lowing the announcement of enrollment caps.

In February, an HFS spokesperson said state cost-saving measures—as well as revenue-generating measures such as taking advantage of a new federal claiming methodology for emergency services—will help bring costs in line with the allocated budget amount. Additionally, the state expects the per-month costs for patients to continue to decrease as enrollees receive more regular care.

“Taking together these changes, we anticipate our costs will be in line with our budget projections as we near the end of the fiscal year, keeping in mind that these are still relatively new programs where costs have not been as stable as in more established programs,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

(Published in the

Notice is hereby given that the Regular meetings of the Bensenville Community Public Library, previously called for Monday, May 27, 2024 and December 23rd, 2024, have been rescheduled. The meetings will be held on Monday, May 20th, 2024 and Monday, December 16th at 7:00 p.m., in the Board Room of the Bensenville Community Public Library, 200 S. Church Rd., Bensenville, IL 60106.

Mandi Zalewski

Board Secretary Bensenville Community Public Library

(Published in the Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent & Villa Park Review May 9, 2024) 455184

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

XEROGRAPHIC COPY PAPER May 9, 2024

The Board of Education, School District 45, DuPage County, 255 West Vermont Street, Villa Park, Illinois 60181, is accepting bids for:

XEROGRAPHIC COPY PAPER

until 10:00 A.M. (CST), Thursday, May 23, 2024, and invites you to bid. The bid opening will be on Thursday, May 23, 2024 starting at 10:00 A.M. (CST).

Contract documents are on file and may be examined at any time on/or after Thursday, May 9, 2024. Any questions or requests for clarifications concerning the bid documents or specifications must be submitted in writing no later than Thursday, May 16, 2024, and directed to:

School District 45, DuPage County

255 West Vermont Street Villa Park, Illinois 60181

Attention: Jeff Eagan or jeagan@d45.org

All bids shall be submitted to:

School District 45, DuPage County

255 West Vermont Street Villa Park, Illinois 60181

Attention: Jeff Eagan, Assistant Superintendent for Finance/CSBO Xerographic Copy Paper

Bid Opening Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. (CST)

No bids may be withdrawn for a period of 60 days after the bid opening date.

The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any immaterial variances or irregularities or reject any or all proposals when, in its opinion, such action will serve the best interest of the Board of Education, School District 45, DuPage County.

By authorization of the Board of Education: Jeff Eagan

Assistant Superintendent for Finance/CSBO

& The Lombardian May 9, 2024) 455092

NOTICE

CERTIFICATE NO. 79408 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on APRIL 9, 2024 wherein the business firm of CROWN CHICAGO, 606 GLENWOOD LANE, LOMBARD, IL 60148 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: Edmund Kavanaugh, 606 Glenwood Lane, Lombard, IL 60148. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 9TH day of APRIL, A.D. 2024.

Jean Kaczmarek

DuPage County Clerk

(Published in The Lombardian April 25, May 2 & 9, 2024) 454403

NOTICE

CERTIFICATE NO. 79409 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on APRIL 12, 2024 wherein the business firm of UNDER CONSTRUKT, 1828 CONCORD DR., GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL 60139 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: Andrew Kim, 1828 Concord Dr., Glendale Heights, IL 60139.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 12TH day of APRIL, A.D. 2024.

Jean Kaczmarek

DuPage County Clerk

(Published in The Lombardian April 25, May 2 & 9, 2024) 454576

NOTICE

CERTIFICATE NO. 79419 was filed in the office of the County Clerk of DuPage County on APRIL 25, 2024, wherein the business firm of D/HH SOCCER ACADEMY, 226 GLEN ELLYN ROAD, APT. 301, BLOOMINGDALE, IL 60108 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: Thomas Contreras, 226 Glen Ellyn Road, Apt. 301, Blooningdale, IL 60108.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal at my office in Wheaton, Illinois, this 25TH day of APRIL, A.D. 2024.

Jean Kaczmarek

DuPage County Clerk

(Published in The Lombardian May 2, 9 & 16, 2024)

Addison Independent, Bensenville Independent, Villa Park Review

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Rock Valley Publishing

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

By Jerry Nowicki CaPitOL NEWS iLLiNOiS

With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength last week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track.

April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income tax filings can often yield higher- or lower-than-expected returns, affecting the current budget just as lawmakers sit down to approve a spending plan for the year ahead.

But for fiscal year 2024, which ends June 30, revenues are generally on track with where Gov. JB Pritzker’s office predicted they would be in his February budget address. That means as budget negotiations enter the final stretch, any new state spending would largely rely on redistributing funds the governor proposed allocating elsewhere, rather than on new, unexpected revenues.

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which is the legislature’s fiscal forecasting agency, noted that April revenues finished $373 million ahead of last year’s output. But that’s partially due to the month having two more weekdays to process tax collections this year.

“While this is welcomed growth to State coffers, the overall increase seen this month is largely in line with the Commission’s latest forecast,” Revenue Manager Eric Noggle said in the commission’s monthly report. “In other words, there is no ‘April Surprise’ from final income tax payments contained in this month’s numbers that will significantly modify this year’s revenue outlook.”

COGFA’s current outlook anticipates the year to end with $52.6

billion in revenue. That’s about $2 billion more than what lawmakers projected when they passed the fiscal year 2024 budget last May, and $374 million more than Pritzker estimated in February’s budget address.

But that doesn’t mean lawmakers will have a sudden multi-billion-dollar revenue surplus to spend. Pritzker accounted for excess revenues in his budget proposal in February and planned for $1.2 billion in supplemental spending.

Noggle, however, noted there’s still room for the needle to move, but it doesn’t appear likely.

“While some adjustments (both positive and negative) to individual revenue lines is possible, these potential changes may not necessitate an official revision, as it appears, at this time, that the bottom-line revenue totals will not see a significant modification,” Noggle wrote in the report.

Pritzker, meanwhile, said on May 1 he was encouraged by the revenue performance.

“We’re always pleased, you know, to know that our revenues seem to be on track,” he said, lat-

er adding, “I feel pretty good about where we are.”

Pritzker also downplayed any concerns that the state’s fiscal landscape was worsening after several years of revenue growth

“People have made more of what I said in the State of the State (Address) than I think is appropriate,” he said. “You know, it’s a tight year. But this is not like, it’s not like we’re running a massive deficit and we need to panic about how we’re going to balance the budget.”

The governor’s office is projecting about $53 billion in revenue for the upcoming fiscal year 2025 when including several of Pritzker’s proposed tax law changes, such as increasing the tax that sportsbooks pay and extending a cap on corporate net operating losses that businesses can claim on taxes. Factoring in those changes, the estimate is right on par with COGFA’s latest projection.

Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn on May 24 this year, but they

have until May 31 to extend session without requiring a higher vote threshold to pass a budget in time for the July 1 start of the fiscal year.

Elections bill’s hurried passage Last week also saw the first major muscle flex from the majority party in the final month of session. Democrats introduced a major elections bill May 1 before clearing it through both chambers and sending it to the governor for his signature, all within 48 hours.

Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, introduced Senate Bill 2412 making several changes to state election laws—most notably including a measure to protect incumbents. That change bars political parties from appointing a candidate to a legislative general election race if no candidate ran for the seat in the primary election.

Pritzker on May 2 described the measure as “actually an ethics bill,” while Republicans accused Democrats of ethical failings for moving the measure with little time for sub-

stantive debate or public input. The governor signed the bill May 3. Republicans in both chambers voted “present” on the bill in protest, while a handful of Democrats voted against it or skipped voting altogether.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, noted at a news conference that the GOP has grown accustomed to legislation moving with little public notice— but it usually happens closer to the General Assembly’s end-of-May adjournment.

“But we don’t understand the sense of urgency right now, unless the goal—the end goal—is to stifle the democratic process through the changes on slating candidates,” she said.

The GOP contended the measure was specifically designed to block one candidate, former Edwardsville police chief Jay Keeven, from challenging Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, in November in the 112th House district.

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CUSTOM CONCRETE

Residential

Residential

Handyman

NEW LOCATION ~ 101 ANNIVERSARY

Friday, May 10th-Thursday, May 23rd

Factory and Warehouse Hours: Monday to Friday 7 am to 1 pm and by appointment

Dear Esteemed Clients

We are still in business after 101 years, We welcome you all to our grand re-opening as we moved into my nephew and Godson’s “State of the Art” furniture manufacturing factory at 2150 Madison Street, Bellwood. It’s good to be back in Bellwood! If you want thousands of items made they can certainly do it for you with extreme precision. If you need refinishing, repairs, or reupholstering we are still here to serve you! We also continue our amazing and highly recommended restoration of church pews in any of your places of worship. We have sold all of our carved wood upholstered living room sets and bedroom sets. However we still have our original complete dining room sets as well as living room coffee and end table sets at liquidation pricing along with our Capdimonte centerpieces and giftware. Our main goal is to liquidate the balance of our inventory and focus on refinishing, repairs, reupholstery and complete furniture restoration.

We truly hope to see you soon and say hello! All our best from the new expanded Montalbano family!

Best,

THE MONTALBANO FAMILY

P.S. We are located 3 blocks east of 25th Avenue and 2 blocks south of Washington Blvd. The entrance to the parking lot is by the large rock sign “Welcome to Bellwood”

MONTALBANO, INC.

2150 Madison Street

Bellwood, IL 60104 USA

Phone: (708) 409-5100

website: www.montalbanofurniture.com

e-mail: info@montalbanofurniture.com

• Furniture

• Refinishing

• Reupholstering

• Repairs

• Restored Antiques