Lilac Town News 2012-2013

At the Oct. 4 meeting, the trustees named board newcomer District 4 Trustee Peter Breen to serve as acting village president for half of the remaining time until the April 2013 election. Ware, the District 6 trustee, will become the acting village president on Jan. 17, 2013. Although trustees Giagnorio and Zachary Wilson both expressed intentions to run for village president in the spring, Wilson opted out in December. He announced he will once again seek the District 3 trustee seat. Former DuPage County Treasurer John Novak, a lifelong Lombardian, and former York Township Trustee Moon Khan filed their nominating petitions on Dec. 17. Currently, the two men are the only village president candidates to have turned in nominating packets for the upcoming election. However, Giagnorio confirmed that he will be turning in his petitions on Dec. 26. Around the village The Lombard Village Board voted unanimously not to to pay the shortfall on the Series 2005-A bonds for the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Hotel and Conference Center, which was due Jan. 1. As expected, Standard and Poor’s lowered the village’s credit rating to BBB, which Lombard Pride reported was still considered investment grade. With the lowered credit rating came higher interest rates. As reported in the Pride, it was estimated that the higher interest rates could cost the village an additional $7,800 annually for every $1 million borrowed. Lombard Village Manager David Hulseberg related, that with about $6 million spent on construction projects, this would cost the village another close to another $50,000 annually. In June, once again trustees voted not to appropriate what was anticipated to be about a $1.3 million shortfall. Joining more than a dozen DuPage County communities, Lombard residents voted for electric aggregation in March. More than 56 percent of those voting, or 3,555 Lombard residents, said yes to the question, which is expected to save Lombard residents 20 to 25 percent on a portion of their electric bills. In April, work began on the Great Western Trail bridges project near the intersection of Grace Street and St. Charles Road. The $4.4 million project was expected to be completed by the end of November. When November rolled around, the project remained incomplete with a new completion date set for spring. Without warning, a storm packing winds of over 100 mph slammed through the village on the afternoon of July 1 leaving downed trees, wires and branches in its wake. Newsclips Sacred Heart Parish celebrated its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1912, the parish had 54 families within the original 64-square mile parish territory. Today, the parish has over 1,800 registered families. Trustees and officials at the Helen M. Plum Memorial Library have, for the last few years, been examining many ways to best utilize space and upgrade the existing facility within the building’s “footprint.” In January, Bob Harris, library director, explained that the library was looking at a number of projects related to the downstairs/auditorium space. The main project involved gutting and remodeling the men’s and women’s bathrooms to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Two past Lombard residents, Attorney Ellen Martin (portrayed by Alison Costanzo) and Col. William Plum (played by Craig Dorsey) were on hand Feb. 23 for the ceremonial signing of the carriage house expansion funding agreement between the Village of Lombard, the Lombard Historical Commission and the Lombard Historical Society. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP, together with its affiliates KKR, in partnership with YTC Pacific, announced the closing of an investment in Yorktown Center in mid-April. Yorktown, which opened in 1968, was purchased for $196 million. It was KKR’s first real estate investment in the United States. TLC Camp, a week-long camp for children with cancer, began its 30th year of caring this year. The camp is sponsored by the Lombard Junior Woman’s Club. The Lombard Historical Society held a “Sweet” battle in July as re-enactors brought history to life as they engaged in a Civil War battle at Four Seasons park. The Lombard Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association “reached new heights” this year by helping 15 families, totaling 75 people. Lombard organizations came together once again to present Jinglebell Jubilee on Dec. 1. The event was sponsored by the Village of Lombard, the Lombard Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lombard Town Centre, the Helen M. Plum Memorial Library, the Lombard Park District, the Lombard Historical Society and the Maple Street Chapel. People in the news Pete Nolan was sworn in as president of the Lombard Chamber of Commerce at its annual installation dinner on Jan. 25. A longstanding Lombard tradition continued with the naming of the 2012 Lilac Court on March 11. Selected from a field of 26 contestants were Meredith Heim, Kelsey Kott, Jennie Mueller, Rachel Sterling and Kailey Vitale. On Saturday, May 5, Mueller, a Glenbard East senior, was named the 2012 Lilac Queen in Lilacia Park. Three Willowbrook High School graduates, members of The Fold, won the 2012 WGN Radio Cubs Song Contest with their song, “Let’s Go Cubbies.” Band members Matt Pittman and Mark Rhoads live in Lombard. Lombard Police Deputy Chief Pat Rollins graduated from the FBI National Academy program in March. It was not only a great learning experience for the police administrator, but also a lot of fun. He spent 10 weeks at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. On Sept. 30, Rollins made news around the world as he drove his squad car and delivered the world’s top golfer to the Ryder Cup for his tee time with only minutes to spare. Longtime Lombard resident Rita Schneider was honored as the Lombard Service League’s 2012 Woman of the Year in April. Schneider was recognized for her history of rolling up her sleeves, and giving her time and talents to local causes. Dan Whittington was named the 2011 Man of the Year by the Lombard Jaycees in late April. Whittington was recognized for his time and effort in supporting, promoting and organizing volunteers and businesses of Lombard Town Centre. When Craig Kueltzo, owner of Lombard HealthMart Pharmacy, was named grand marshal of the 2012 Lilac Parade at a board meeting in May, he said he pointed at Lombard Village President Bill Mueller, who he said had “conned” him into going to the village board meeting. Fifth generation Lombardian Roger Cole Marquardt, 75, was taken to his final resting place in Lombard Cemetery in a horse-drawn caisson on Saturday, May 19. Some of Marquardt’s accomplishments included serving as a Lombard police officer and deputy chief, a volunteer firefighter, and also serving as a lobbyist and a representative in the Illinois House of Representatives. Michelle Iwinski was chosen from a field of 10 applicants to become the new executive director of Lombard Town Centre in September. Glenbard East High School’s Class of 1962, the school’s first graduating class, held its 50th reunion in early October. The “Fabulous First” was recognized during the village board meeting the following week. Police beat Two robbers, one reportedly armed with a handgun, restrained a clerk at a Lombard tobacco store in late April and left with cash and cigarettes. One of the men was charged with armed robbery in late May. Although Lombard officers were not expected to be involved in the NATO summit in Chicago in May, they spent eight months planning for the event as it could have affected any community outside of Chicago. Lombard detectives arrested a Florida woman during a prostitution sting at a Lombard hotel in May. The sting was planned after the hotel asked for assistance from Lombard police. A vehicle, listed for sale on an Internet “list” ended up with the arrest of a Villa Park man on felony theft charges in late May. Following a monthlong investigation, Lombard detectives executed a search warrant at a Lombard home in early June and arrested three men on drug charges. An activated alarm call in the early morning hours of June 19 summoned police officers to a tobacco store on Roosevelt Road, where $25,000-$40,000 worth of cigarettes were taken. Lombard police, assisted by multiple officers from surrounding communities and two law enforcement helicopters, searched a north Lombard neighborhood during the early morning hours of July 10 when a subject reportedly bailed out of his vehicle after it crashed near St. Charles Road and Crescent Boulevard. The accident occurred following the pursuit of the vehicle, which reportedly had been involved in an attempted burglary in Wood Dale and a hit-and-run accident in Villa Park. The FBI arrested a Lombard businessman in early July alleging that he attempted to arrange for the murder of a plaintiff in a civil suit. Lombard detectives made fast work of solving a case in August that involved an alleged armed robbery at at Lombard park. In September, a Lombard man was charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a blind woman. That same week, a Lombard liquor store was robbed at gunpoint as customers stood waiting in the check-out line. In mid-October, Lombard police were investigating five burglaries which took place in a week’s time. While the majority of the burglaries occurred when no one was home, that was not the case on Oct. 12, when a subject kicked in the door of a home and encountered a resident. Two subjects were arrested a few weeks later. A currency exchange was robbed at gunpoint in early October as an employee was opening the business for the day. A Lombard man was arrested in late November after police received a call for a possible sexual assault. Once officers learned the incident involved a child, the case was turned over to the DuPage County Children’s Center. In December, police confirmed that the dead body of a fetus had been recovered from a dumpster at a shopping center. Fire service The fire department saw a number of changes in the front office this year after the retirement of Lombard Fire Chief Mike Torrence in January. Torrence, who had a 33-plus year career with the village, was named chief in October 2010, and left to take a job with the Bristol Kendall County Fire Department. Lombard Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Howell was appointed as interim chief as a formal search was conducted to fill the position of fire chief. On June 18, Lombard Battalion Chief Jeff Holst was named as the department’s interim fire chief. He resigned in July and Patrick Gericke became the interim fire chief. Lombard Fire Battalion Chief Paul DiRienzo, who had served as the department’s Emergency Medical Services coordinator, was named chief effective Sept. 6. He began his career as a paid-on-call firefighter in 1982. Lombard Fire Battalion Chief Ron Rakosnik, a 27-1/2-year department veteran, retired in June to become the fire chief in Villa Park. “It’s bittersweet but exciting,” Rakosnik said. Also saying goodbye was Lombard Fire Battalion Chief Chuck Ralis, who retired in July ending his 28-year career with the village. An early morning garage fire, which extended to the home, caused extensive damage to a ranch home in the 400 block of West Windsor in late May. Damage to the house, garage and contents was estimated at approximately $75,000. An early morning blaze left a Lombard woman dead and a Villa Park man in critical condition, causing $300,000 in damage to her home and the contents. A 23-year-old man was charged with felony murder, aggravated arson, felony arson and felony criminal damage after investigators determined that he allegedly set fire to a vehicle in the driveway of the residence. Lombard firefighters held their 12th annual Toy Parade on Dec. 8, as they collected toys and baby items along Main Street. A fire on Dec. 17, which was determined to have been caused by a candle, had firefighters changing a red light on each of the wreaths at both fire stations to a white light as part of the department’s annual Keep the Wreath Red program. The program promotes safety awareness and lights are changed if there is fire related to the holidays. District 88 holds public hearing on 2012 tax levy by Marilyn Fawell At its Dec. 17 meeting, the DuPage High School District 88 Board of Education held a public hearing on the 2012 tax levy. Bruce Martin, chief financial officer of the district, gave an update since the proposed tax levy was reviewed at the Oct. 29, and Nov. 12, meetings. Board members and those in the audience were given the opportunity to ask questions. Following the question-and-answer period, the public hearing on the proposed 2012 tax levy was closed. The board next honored two students as “88’s Best” for the month naming Dario Anthony Fuller from Addison Trail High School and Shelby Walling from Willowbrook High School as the honorees. Dan Krause, principal of Willowbrook, introduced Walling for this award due to “her unflagging persistence and dedication to achieving her goals.” Walling has also “taken rigorous coursework so that by senior year, she is now in all core classes.” Walling, is a member of the soccer team, as well as a member of the Willowbrook-Addison Trail conference championship swim team. Rachel Tacito, social studies and special education teacher said, “Shelby has impressed me from the first day that I met her. From day one, Shelby has shown a strong work ethic and commitment to education. She is always prepared, consistently participates, and performs well on unit projects. “ Tara Murphy, English teacher and swimming coach, adds, “Shelby is a hardworking woman of dedication who has matured over the last four years. She is kind and a great teammate, is a cheerleader for her teammates, and an asset to the team.” “Shelby is bright, funny shy, and always smiles, but the characteristic that stands out most is her work ethic,” said Brandon Collings, math and special education teacher. “She has made vast improvements in math throughout her years at Willowbrook and her successes exceeded all expectations and goals set for her. She is so deserving for ‘most improved.’” Walling has applied to Robert Morris and College of DuPage where she plans to study culinary arts with the hopes of opening her own restaurant someday. Adam Cibulka, principal of Addison Trail, introduced Fuller, who is being “recognized as 88’s Best for the month of December and who has shown tremendous academic growth during his four years of high school. Dario has transformed himself from a core student in double-block Algebra, to a senior who has taken 10 honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses and truly exemplifies Blazer pride. Dario is being recognized as the ATHS senior who has displayed highly improved performance over the past four years.” Fuller is planning on attending Monmouth College to study history and secondary education. The board next presented a resolution to adopt the 2012 Tax Levy. The final tax extension will not be known until next spring when the equalized assessed valuation (EAV) is determined. The proposed levy, will be subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law and it was recommended that the 2012 Tax Levy Resolution and associated documents be accepted as presented. The regular business board meeting will be held Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., in the district board room in Addison. Lombard employees celebrate 600 years of service with village Thirty-nine employees celebrated their milestone service anniversaries with the Village of Lombard in 2012. A total of 600 years of service among the 39 employees was celebrated. Those village employees who celebrated service anniversaries included Thomas Byrd, public works department, 35 years; and Paul DiRienzo, fire department, 30 years. The following employees celebrated 25 years with the village: Joseph Buscemi, public works department; Martin Coomes, Gregory Feely and Art Peters Jr., fire department; and Terri Frazier, Noreen Glennon, David Kundrot, John Lavery and Terry Olson, police department. Employees who have served for 20 years include: Angela Podesta, public works department; Sharon Myers, finance department; and John Malatia, police department. Reaching the 15-year mark were: Christopher Bohnert, Erik Lindgren and James Thinnes, public works department; Kathleen Burke and David Hulseberg, village manager’s office; and William Collins, Garrett Klunk, John Latronica, Kevin Tomaszewski, Patricia Turffs and Jeffrey Virene, police department. Employees with 10 years of service include John Karol, Thomas Opolony, public works department: and Raymond Byrne, police department. The five-year mark was made by employees Kevin Barbier, Michael Bergen, Frank Kalisik, and Paul Kuehnlenz, public works department; Pammela Cooper, Juan Placencia and Charles Riforgiate, fire department; Christine Walneck, finance department; Augustin Rodriguez, Vincente Roman and Lisa Tomlinson, police department. An employee/volunteer recognition dinner will be held on Jan. 25, 2013 to recognize the employees and volunteer committee members of the village boards, commissions and committees for their dedicated service to the village. Source: http://www.lombardian.org