The Doings Weekly

Solemn ceremonies set for Memorial Day in Hinsdale

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:25:09 -0500

HINSDALE — Hinsdale will commemorate Memorial Day with a procession, music and services at the Memorial Building, and Bronswood and Fullersburg cemeteries. Originally called Decoration Day because people decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers and flags, the holiday honors those who died in military service. The Memorial Day parade in downtown Hinsdale draws the most participants, but Joseph Craig, past commander and adjutant of American Legion Post 250, refers to the walk through town strictly as a procession and not a parade, to convey the solemn purpose of the event. “We are honoring the war dead,” Craig …

County officials seek new approach in the fight against mosquitos

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:17:30 -0500

One DuPage County township will soon be a test case in the fight against mosquitos. The Mosquito Abatement Task Force has agreed on several priorities in its effort to both combat the West Nile virus that claimed five lives last year, and also streamline and coordinate anti-mosquito efforts at the county level. “The first step is that the task force wants a unified approach,” Linda Kurzawa, president of the DuPage County Board of Health, said. The other priorities agreed upon were that the Board of Health will reach out to DuPage Forest Preserve District and DuPage Mayors and Managers to …

The Sound will showcase young musicians at Indian Prairie Library

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:24:49 -0500

DARIEN — It’s not often a library invites teenagers to make noise. But when that noise comes in the form of music and the event is a music festival, the louder, the better. Musicians ages 12 to 19 are invited to apply for participation in the Indian Prairie Public Library’s June 28 event, The Sound. The Sound, the brainchild of the library’s Teen Advisory Board, will feature groups, bands, solos and duets in a performance at 6 p.m. June 28 at Borse Park in Willowbrook. “Our Teen Advisory Board has been hoping to do an event like this for some …

Gower students take summer school online

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:26:23 -0500

WILLOWBROOK— Steven Nawas isn’t about to let himself become a statistic. “Kids forget 70 percent of what they learned in school over the summer,” the Gower West third-grader said. He is one of at least 77 Gower District 62 students who will keep their classroom skills sharp by taking part in virtual summer school over summer break. Unlike regular summer school, Gower’s virtual program, now in its third year, allows students to keep up with and even improve their skills between June and August. Assistant Superintendent Rebecca Laratta said families are free to set aside as much or as little …

Burr Ridge run to fight childhood obesity

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:01 -0500

BURR RIDGE — Those who take part in the Run the Ridge 5K June 1 won’t only help themselves get into shape. Proceeds from the ninth annual run through Burr Ridge will benefit ProActive Kids, a Wheaton-based childhood obesity intervention program. “Childhood obesity is an issue in so many families,” said Suzanne Gray, president of Right Fit Sport Fitness Wellness in Willowbrook, host of the annual 5K. Each year Gray’s organization chooses a family-friendly charity to benefit from the Burr Ridge run. ProActive Kids offers an eight-week program to help children 8 to 14 lose weight and get healthy. The …

Kesman and Paulsen return to Hinsdale Central as interim principals

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:54:01 -0500

HINSDALE — Two retired principals are returning to Hinsdale Central High School as interim leaders. The Hinsdale High School District 86 Board approved hiring Tom Paulsen and Frank Kesman as interim principals for next school year. Principal Michael McGrory announced last month he has accepted a position as a high school principal in Iowa, his home state. A national search for a permanent replacement for McGrory will start in the fall, Superintendent Nicholas Wahl said. Kesman and Paulsen previously shared the principal duties at Central in the 2009-10 school year after Kevin Pobst stepped down as principal, and before McGrory …

Burr Ridge crime briefs for May 21.

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:56:27 -0500

The following incidents were listed among the official reports of the Burr Ridge Police Department. BURGLARY Purses and a laptop computer were taken from a car parked at Five Seasons Sports Club sometime before 6:30 p.m. May 19. A window was broken to enter the car. IDENTITY THEFT A resident of the first block of Oak Creek Drive reported May 15 there were several unauthorized charges to a bank account. A resident of the 700 block of Gregory Road told police May 18 that a credit card was opened in her name without authorization. THEFT Jewelry, a purse and iPods …

Burr Ridge police blotter for May 21.

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:56:27 -0500

The following incidents were listed among the official reports of the Burr Ridge Police Department. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that determination. ALCOHOL Jesus De-Dios, 18, 1416 Scoville, Berwyn, was charged at 3:50 a.m. May 19 with driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of a fraudulent identification card after a traffic stop on Interstate 55 near LaGrange Road. De-Dios also was ticketed for failing to signal and speeding.~. …

No fix in sight for dispute with Lyons Township school treasurer’s office

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:21:31 -0500

LA GRANGE — A dispute between two school boards over financial control continues to fester. A legislative solution still isn’t in sight, state Rep. Jim Durkin reported May 20 to the Lyons Township High School Board in its effort to separate from the Lyons Township School Treasurer’s Office. Durkin, who made a special trip from Springfield to update the board, said his bill is stalled in the Illinois Senate after passing the House unanimously April 9. “If we’re not able to get it done in this session, we’ll return in the veto session or after the first of the year,” …

Donors drop off tons of technology items at Lyons Township High School

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:50:42 -0500

WESTERN SPRINGS — Business was brisk May 18 for the recycling fair at Lyons Township High School. The event, sponsored by the high school and the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, featured recycling collections for electronics, bicycles, eyeglasses, school supplies and clothing and fabrics. “It was really busy,” said Katherine Leibforth, business education coordinator for the chamber. “People were lining up by 8 a.m. for our opening at 9 a.m. and we were absolutely packed and busy the entire time until noon. It went great.” Volunteers estimated about 1,000 people lined up in cars to drop off items, …

Hinsdale District 86 votes to rebid summer construction projects

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:52:06 -0500

HINSDALE — The Hinsdale High School District 86 Board voted Monday to cancel contracts for summer construction projects. The decision could result in cancelation fees of $17,000 to the construction firm Gilbane Inc. and $12,000 to their contractors. The board voted 4-3 to cancel the contracts for all but the safety ladders and railings for rooftop equipment at Hinsdale South. Newly elected Victor Casini, Ed Corcoran and Claudia Manley were joined by board member Richard Skoda in voting to cancel the contracts the board approved in April. The vote to rebid the projects was not as close, as the members …

3 Brookfield Zoo dolphins expecting

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:48:20 -0500

Chicago Zoological Society officials say three Brookfield Zoo bottlenose dolphins are pregnant. Officials say Allie, 26, Tapeko, 31, and Spree, 10, are due to give birth this summer and fall.

Hinsdale Central alumnus ordained

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:59:17 -0500

Hinsdale Central alumnus John Lovitsch was ordained a priest Saturday at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet. He anticipated the sacrament the day before. “I enter as a deacon and I leave as a priest,” Lovitsch said. The difference, he explains, is a priest’s soul is “configured at ordination to the person of Jesus Christ. That’s what enables him to do what he does,” which simply means, Lovitsch said, he “has to get out of the way and let Christ do his work.” Lovitsch is excited about his assignment to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Naperville, …

Winning candidates spent more than $15,000 in Hinsdale District 86

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:38:04 -0500

HINSDALE —The Friends for District 86 campaign fund spent more than $15,000 to defeat the incumbents on the Hinsdale High School District 86 Board. Ed Corcoran, Victor Casini and Claudia Manley won three of the four seats up for election April 9. Kay Gallo of Clarendon Hills was the sole incumbent who successfully ran for re-election. Corcoran and Casini, an attorney with LKQ Corp., a company that sells vehicle parts, contributed to their own campaigns, with $3,000 from Casini and $3,001 from Corcoran as of March 31. Corcoran, a self-employed investor, also loaned the campaign $4,200, according to documents filed …

Six Scouts in Burr Ridge troop reach milestone together

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:56:06 -0500

BURR RIDGE — In its 50-year history, Troop 56 of Burr Ridge has seen 96 of its members reach the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. Six of those high-ranking members reached the milestone together in a rare court of honor May 19. “It’s a pretty big deal for six boys from one troop to attain Eagle and have Court of Honor together,” said Jane Cvengros, mother of Daniel Cvengros, one of the six to be honored at Lord of Life Church in Darien. Cvengros, of Burr Ridge, participated in the ceremony with Zachary Kolar of Burr Ridge, Alexander Mitchell of …

Celebration of service in Burr Ridge

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:10:53 -0500

BURR RIDGE — Clear skies greeted guests at Burr Ridge’s annual Armed Forces Day celebration on May 18, Those clear skies provided ideal conditions for the military flyover that started the ceremony, held to honor all men and women who have served the country. The crowd enjoyed music by the West Suburban Conference Band, a keynote address by retired Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, and the awarding of the village’s first Patriot Award. The award went to Jack Lund of Western Springs for his dedication as a volunteer at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. Mayor Mickey Straub served as master of …