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Homer Glen’s Award-Winning Hometown Newspaper homerhorizon.com • February 9, 2017 • Vol. 12 No. 2 • $1 

A 

® 

Publication 

,LLC 

Giving the 

green light 

District 205 

approves updated 

East Campus 

renovation plans, 

Page 5 

In the 

running 

Candidates for Homer 

Township primary fill 

out questionnaires, 

Page 6 

Development 

discussion 

Plan for industrial 

park goes in 

front of Lockport City 

Council for first time, 

Page 9 

Ice climber recounts tales, lessons learned 

from adrenaline-filled hobby, Page 3 

Homer Glen 

resident Dave 

Everson (left) 

exerts himself 

while ice 

climbing with 

friend Tom 

Grow in Wildcat 

Canyon at 

Starved Rock. 

Inset: Dave 

Everson said 

he has focused 

on ice climbing 

more than 

anything else for 

the past decade. 

Photos submitted 

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2 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon calendar 

homerhorizon.com 

In this week’s 

Horizon 

Standout Student...........11 

Sound Off.....................13 

Pastor Column...............16 

Faith Briefs....................16 

Puzzles..........................25 

Classifieds................ 27-36 

Sports...................... 37-40 

The Homer 

Horizon 

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Sherry Ranieri, x21 

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real estate sales 

Tricia Weber, x47 

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business directory Sales 

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Legal Notices 

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Friday 

Used Book Sale 

8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 10- 

13, Homer Township Public 

Library, 14320 W. 151st St., 

Homer Glen. The semi-annual 

Used Book Sale. Book sale 

items include paperback and 

hardcover books, cookbooks, 

children’s books, DVDs and 

more. Visit www.homerli 

brary.org for more information. 

Monday 

SAT Exam Prep Workshop 

7-8 p.m. Feb. 13, Homer 

Township Public Library, 

14320 W. 151st St., Homer 

Glen. Learn valuable content 

and strategies for the 

SAT, along with how to 

develop a study plan that 

works for you. This workshop 

is for teen students. 

Registration required. Contact 

Heather Colby at (708) 

301-7908 or teens@homerlibrary.org 

for more information. 

Tuesday 

100+ Women Who Care of 

Will County Meeting 

5:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 14, 

Embers Tap House, 933 S. 

State St., Lockport. The quarterly 

meeting of a group of local 

women who are interested 

in supporting our communities 

by contributing to local 

charities together as a group. 

Members nominate charities. 

Three are chosen at random, 

and after a brief presentation, 

the members vote on 

which charity to support. For 

more information, contact 

Maribeth@100wwc-will.org. 

Bingo Night For Teens 

7-8 p.m. Feb. 14, Homer 


14320 W. 151st St., Homer 

Glen. Prizes include gift 

cards, candy, mystery prizes 

and more. For teens in 

grades 6-12. Registration 

required. Contact Heather 

Colby (708) 301-7908 or 

teens@homerlibrary.org for 

more information. 

Wednesday 

Pyrography Demonstration 

7 p.m. Feb. 15, Homer 


14320 W. 151st St., Homer 

Glen. Gail Diedrichson 

teaches the art of pyrography, 

which is essentially 

woodturning with modern 

tools. She uses hard woods, 

which have a wonderful 

scent when burned and different 

types of tips to create 

fine lines and details. She 

will demonstrate and bring 

samples of her work. For 


Adult Services at askalibrarian@homerlibrary.org 

or 

(708) 301-7908. 

Upcoming 

Citzens For The Taxpayer 

Candidate Meet and Greet 

5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 

16, Cross of Glory Church, 

14719 W. 163rd Street, Homer 

Glen. A free event, which 

includes pizza and refreshments. 

Raffle tickets will also 

be sold. This is an opportunity 

for all residents of Homer 

Township to meet candidates 

for the Homer Township 

Board prior to the Feb. 28 

Consolidated Republican 

Primary. For more information, 

contact citizensforthet 

axpayer@gmail.com or call 

(708) 414-6115. 

4 Homer Township Candidate 

Fundraiser 

5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 

16, Veterans of Foreign Wars 

Post 5788, 1026 E. 9th St., 

Lockport. The Homer Township 

candidates for the Feb. 

28 Consolidated Republican 

Primary will host a party 

fundraiser in honor of Abraham 

Lincoln’s birthday. The 

event will feature a performance 

by Ukulele Moonshiners, 

as well as snacks and 

a cash bar. Pre-sale tickets 

are $35 or $40 at the door. 

For more information, visit 

www.4homertownship.com. 

LTHS Choir Performance 

7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 

Ozinga Chapel Auditorium, 

66601 W. College Drive, 

Palos Heights. The Lockport 

Township High School 

choir will perform in Trinity 

Christian College’s 2017 

WorldView series. The event 

is free. Visit www.trnty.edu/ 

worldview for more information. 

HGJWC Bingo Fundraiser 

5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 

18, Lockport Moose Lodge 

1557, 118 E. 10th St., Lockport. 

The Homer Glen Junior 

Woman’s Club is hosting its 

third annual Take a Chance 

for Change Bingo Fundraiser, 

which includes bingo, 

split the pot and raffles. Food 

will be available for purchase. 

Must be 18 or older to 

play. Tickets cost $25 in advance 

and can purchased at 

www.homerglenjuniors. 

org or by contacting 

Jody at (708) 301-9397. 

Fifth Annual Wild Fest 

10 a.m-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 

19, Lockport Township High 

School East Campus, 1333 E. 

7th St., Lockport. The Lockport 

Township High School 

Foundation presents the fifth 

annual Wild Fest, featuring 

wild animals such as wolves, 

pythons, porcupines, falcons 

and more. Proceeds benefi 

student scholarships and animal 

rescue programs. Admission 

is $8 for adults, $5 for 

children 12 and under and 

high school and college students 

with valid school ID. 

Venturing Crew 63 Chili 

Cook-off Fundraiser 

4-8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, 

Veterans of Foreign Wars 

Post 5788, 1026 E. 9th St., 

Lockport. Bring your best 

chili recipe and see if it wins. 

Entry fee is $15, and the winner 

takes half of all the enteries. 

Attendees can vote for 

their favorite chili; votes cost 

$1 per vote. Chili will be on 

sale for $3 per bowl. Entry 

fees are due by Feb. 11. Contact 

Chris at ckcarberry@ 

ameritech.net for more information. 

Sunday Music Series 

6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, 

Homer Township Public Library, 

14320 W. 151st St., 

Homer Glen. The House of 

Music Performers presents 

an hour-long “Music for 

Romantics” event. It is for 

all ages and is a free family 

event. No registration 

required. For more information, 

contact Adult Services at 

askalibrarian@homerlibrary. 

org or call (708) 301-7908. 

Coffee, Donuts and a Movie 

10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 

24, Homer Township Public 

Library, 14320 W. 151st 

St., Homer Glen. Indulge on 

some coffee and donuts while 

watching “The Light Between 

Oceans.” No registration 

required. For more information, 

contact Adult Services 

askalibrarian@homerlibrary. 

org or call (708) 301-7908. 

Armchair Travelers: France 

2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, 

Homer Township Public Library, 

14320 W. 151st St., 

Homer Glen. Inspect the 

grand historical cathedrals, 

museums, and cultural palaces 

of Paris and the magisterial 

country estates in the scenic 

Loire Valley. The group 

will also explore the French 

influence around the world. 

Presented by Bill Helmuth. 

For more information, 

contact Adult Services at 

askalibrarian@homerlibrary.org 

or call (708) 301- 

7908. 

Casino Night 

6:30-11 p.m. Saturday, 

Feb. 25, American Legion 

John Olson Post 18, 15052 

Archer Ave., Lockport. 

The event costs $30 per 

person and includes appetizers, 

desserts, cash bar, 

silent auction and $25 in 

gaming money for Black 

Jack, Roulette and Craps. 

Proceeds benefit D92 students. 

For more information, 

contact Anmarie Miller 

at anmariemiller123@ 

gmail.com or Trish Tabor at 

tabortrish@gmail.com. 

Little Learners Preschool 

Open House 

5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 

Feb. 28, William E. Young 

School, 16240 S. Cedar 

Road, Homer Glen. Tour 

the Little Learners’ wing 

and see if Homer 33C’s prekindergarten 

program is right 

for you and your family. Call 

708-226-7649 for more information. 

Ongoing 

Countdown To Spring — 

Rainy Boots & Slickers 

Debbie Luscombe - State 

Farm Insurance, 15742 S. 

Bell Road, Homer Glen. 

Donations of gently used or 

new rain coats, boots and 

umbrellas to help the women 

children of local shelters. For 


debbie@debbieonbell.com 

or call (708) 301-1512. 

Early Voting 

Feb. 14-24, Homer Township, 

14350 W. 151st St., 

Homer Glen. Any registered 

Homer Township voter can 

cast a Republican ballot at the 

Township office Feb. 14-24 

or at the Will County Clerk’s 

office Jan. 19-Feb. 27, the 

only other early voting site 

for the Feb. 28 Consolidated 

Republican Primary. For 

more information, visit www. 

thewillcountyclerk.com. 

Have an item for calendar? 

Deadline is noon Thursdays 

one week prior to publication. 

To submit an item to the 

calendar, contact Assistant 

Editor Erin Redmond at 

e.redmond@22ndcenturymedia. 

com or call (708) 326-9170 

ext. 15.

homerhorizon.com news 

the Homer Horizon | February 9, 2017 | 3 

Local climber, adventurer reminisces about ice climbing, more 

Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor 

A summit attempt on 

Mount Shuksan in Washington 

turned into a living 

nightmare, complete with 

avalanches; vertical walls 

of slippery, loose rock; dangerously 

exposed traverses 

across slick ice; and a false 

peak — something Dave 

Everson calls a “climber’s 

mirage.” 

Everson, a Homer Glen 

resident, said sometimes the 

trips that do not go quite as 

planned are the most memorable. 

With so many things that 

could go wrong, it is hard for 

many people to imagine why 

someone would take those 

risks, he said. 

“You’ve got someone 

dealing with altitude sickness; 

you’re wondering in 

a whiteout if you’re even in 

the right part of the mountain 

coming down,” Everson said. 

“But [there is] the joy of having 

that successful summit, 

and even more so just getting 

back down safely.” 

It is a sport that is both 

physically and mentally 

challenging, but that is what 

Everson said makes it so rewarding. 

Humble beginnings 

While hiking on a glacier 

in Alaska, Dave’s brother, 

Mark, fell into a crevasse, 

or a large crack in a glacier. 

Some are so large they 

could swallow something 

the size of a school bus, 

and it would never be seen 

again. 

After pulling himself out 

of the crevasse with an ice 

axe and a rope, he dragged 

his injured body to a road 

miles away, where someone 

found him and took him to a 

hospital in Anchorage. 

While he survived with just 

three broken fingers, three 

broken ribs, a sprained ankle, 

frostbite and hypothermia, 

the trauma to his head caused 

complete memory loss. 

Mark estimates he was unconscious 

for 45 minutes, but 

it took three weeks before his 

memory came flooding back 

to him at a hospital in Seattle. 

“The whole experience 

scared him so bad he called 

me up and said, ‘Hey, let’s 

take a mountaineering course 

together so that never ever 

happens again,’” Everson 

said. 

Soon after, the two of them 

took an alpine mountaineering 

course with the American 

Alpine Institute on Mount 

Baker, a glaciated stratovolcano 

located north of Seattle 

near the Canadian border. 

At that point in time, Everson 

had already been rappelling 

and rock climbing 

for quite a few years at both 

Governor Dodge and Devil’s 

Lake State Parks in Wisconsin, 

but it was not until about 

20 years ago that his interest 

in mountaineering turned his 

sights on ice climbing. 

Everson said that oftentimes, 

when he and his 

climbing partner would be 

out traversing a glacier on a 

mountain, they would “bump 

into a vertical wall” and he 

would wish they could go up 

it instead of traveling miles to 

go around it. 

While mountaineering and 

ice climbing can go hand-inhand, 

they do not have to, 

and many mountaineers are 

content to travel by means of 

hiking and scrambling across 

ice and rock. 

He said many times, they 

would summit one peak, only 

to see another and want to 

climb it, too. 

The big stuff 

About a year after the 

mountaineering course on 

Mount Baker, Everson and 

his brother set out to summit 

Mount Rainier. With 

an elevation of 14,411 feet, 

Homer Glen resident Dave Everson practices ice climbing 

on friend and climbing partner Joel Taylor’s wall that was 

built in Taylor’s backyard in Monee. Photo submitted 

it is the fourth-tallest peak 

in the lower 48 states, but 

considered one of the most 

dangerous climbs due to its 

unpredictable weather patterns 

and dangerous conditions, 

including avalanches 

and crevasses. 

After spending most of 

their climb battling their 

way through a brutal storm, 

Everson said they hiked up 

through the clouds into sunshine. 

“You see scenery that the 

average human never sees,” 

he said. 

Besides Mount Baker and 

Mount Rainier, other major 

peaks he’s tackled include 

Glacier Peak, Forbidden 

Peak, Mount Hood and 

Mount Shasta — most of 

which are well-known major 

volcanoes on the West Coast. 

Everson said he has done 

quite a few lesser-known 

peaks, as well, some of which 

he said might even be a more 

challenging mix of rock and 

ice climbing. 

The next trip he is preparing 

for is a summit of the 

Grand Teton but on the lesser-traveled 

Black Ice Couloir 

route which will take him 

1,600 feet up the north face 

of the mountain. 

He and his climbing partner 

will spend their first day 

traversing exposed rock and 

ice before even getting to the 

base of the route, and will be 

sleeping with their harnesses 

on, strapped to a ledge before 

attempting a potential 18- 

hour climb. 

Midwest ice 

Everson said he has focused 

more on ice climbing 

than anything else the last 

10 years, much of which has 

been done in the Midwest. 

While the conditions in the 

southwest suburbs might not 

always be ideal for ice climbing, 

Everson said he and his 

friend Joel Taylor take every 

opportunity they can to get 

out and climb. 

They keep an eye on the 

weather forecasts and take 

trips up to Michigan — or 

wherever the ice is calling. 

Everson started ice climbing 

20 years ago on a frozen 

waterfall in Wildcat Canyon 

in Starved Rock State Park in 

Oglesby. 

Since then, he has discovered 

a whole new world of 

ice in Munising, Michigan, 

where the Michigan Ice 

Climbing Festival is held every 

year. 

Michigan’s coastline is 

famous for its waterfalls, 

and in the winter, they 

freeze solid, making the 

area a kind of ice climber’s 

playground. 

Everson said some years 

the lake freezes so entirely 

that they can hike across the 

ice to Grand Island where 

they are greeted with walls of 

ice 110 feet tall and one mile 

wide. 

Four years ago, Everson 

said was a particularly warm 

winter with limited options 

for ice climbing, so he took 

to the computer to try to find 

something — anything — to 

climb. 

That is how he met his now 

friend and ice climbing partner 

Taylor. 

Taylor, at the time, was using 

a silo as a base and freezing 

the side of it with a hose 

to create a vertical wall of ice 

for practicing on. 

He recently started freezing 

a portable climbing 

wall — like the kind found 

at many summer festivals 

— and teaching people to 

ice climb in his backyard in 

Monee. 

In a process he calls “ice 

farming,” Taylor uses a hose 

to spread water onto the face 

of the climbing wall, allowing 

it to spread off and flow 

from top to bottom. 

“We’re not the first ones to 

do it, but the first ones around 

here,” said Taylor, who said 

he would like to someday 

try freezing an entire side of 

a cliff. 

Taylor said the main reaction 

he gets from people when 

he tells them about ice climbing 

is “that’s so dangerous.” 

But really, he said, people 

do things all the time that 

could risk their health — 

things like driving, walking, 

smoking and drinking. 

“There’s risk involved, but 

it’s managed risk,” said Taylor, 

who noted they use safety 

equipment like ropes, harnesses, 

helmets and eye protection 

for just that reason. 

He said many times people 

change their view of ice 

climbing after giving it a try 

on the wall and seeing how it 

really works. 

Everson said he loves helping 

teach when Taylor has 

larger groups or scouts come 

out, and has helped him teach 

basic kayaking and rock 

climbing during the warmer 

months, as well. 

“It’s just as rewarding because 

you have a lot of people 

who are just very unsure, even 

have their doubts, and when 

you really drill them on technique 

and show them the right 

was to do it, in good form … 

and then see them succeed, 

that’s pretty cool,” Everson 

said. “They walk out with 

such a grin on their face.” 

Everson said he is hoping 

it will get cold enough again 

this month to get the wall up 

and running, because with 

the recent warm weather, the 

wall does not have any ice on 

it. 

The colder it gets, the faster 

Taylor said he can freeze the 

wall, but unless temperatures 

drop and stay in the mid-20s 

Please see climber, 4

4 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon news 


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consistently, he said they may 

have to wait until next year to 

freeze the wall back up. 

He said they got one to two 

weeks of ice in earlier in the 

winter but have not been able 

to freeze it since. 

While the frozen rock wall 

keeps them occupied and 

provides a great place to train 

for their ice climbing trips, 

Everson said he and Taylor 

still take off as often as they 

can to tackle the real thing. 

Conquering the fear 

Everson said the fear of 

heights is something many 

people struggle with — himself 

included. 

“That’s why I trust my 

partner with my life and 

learned every knot,” he said. 

Taylor said it is about having 

a partner like Everson 

who is reliable and has the 

belay skills to “back you up.” 

Many times, Everson said, 

it helps to focus on the task at 

hand and climbing technique 

rather than how far away the 

ground is. 

He said those are some 

of the ways he helps people 

when he is teaching, as well 

as some of the techniques he 

uses for himself. 

“It’s not as intimidating as 

you would think, and with a 

good, qualified teacher that’s 

got a background in it, you 

could probably do better than 

what you would perceive,” 

Everson said. “It’s not as 

scary; it’s not as difficult 

when you’ve got someone 

who can teach you about the 

technique and right form and 

how to save energy.” 

Learning and practicing 

on the wall in Monee is one 

thing, but climbing outdoors 

on a frozen piece of water is 

many times very different. 

While climbers have the 

ability to set up a top rope 

system in some places, that is 

not always the case. 

Top rope systems are common 

in rock climbing gyms 

and have a system set up with 

the rope stretching from the 

ground to the top anchors and 

back down again. 

Outdoors, Everson said 

many times they have to bring 

the rope up with them, which 

involves using ice screws to 

anchor themselves in periodically 

as they move up a route. 

Although they are there 

to provide protection in the 

event the climber was to fall, 

Everson said, “the rule of ice 

climbing is don’t fall, don’t 

trust an ice screw.” 

He added another aspect 

he enjoys about his outdoor 

hobbies is the people he 

meets through them. 

“You’re with other likeminded 

people that are just 

absolutely passionate about 

the outdoors and pushing 

themselves physically,” he 

said. “All we do is talk about, 

‘OK, where are we going 

next? What are we doing? 

When can we do this again?” 

For more information 

about ice climbing in Monee, 

visit www.playwildil.com. 

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Lockport Township High School D205 Board of Education 

Bid for East Campus project passed at special meeting 

Erin Redmond, Assistant Editor 

The Lockport Township 

High School District 205 

Board of Education unanimously 

carried a motion to 

approve the lowest bid by 

Tower Contracting LLC for 

the East Campus renovation 

project during a Jan. 30 special 

meeting. 

Tower Contracting LLC 

bid the project for $9.077 

million, which Superintendent 

Todd Wernet said was 

$300,000 below the next 

lowest bidder. 

The project includes nine 

new classrooms, four new 

science labs and renovations 

to the family and consumer 

science area, auto 

shop, technology learning 

center, metals lab and 

changing the current community 

room to a Porters 

archive room and media 

center, as previously reported 

by The Horizon. The 

project originally included 

a multipurpose room addition 

to the field house, but 

since bids came in higher 

than anticipated — ranging 

between $11.5 million 

and $11.8 million — it was 

axed to bring down costs. 

“Any time you bid a project, 

you don’t know where 

it’s going to come in,” Wernet 

said. “The previous projects 

we’ve had have come 

in under bid. That’s why we 

had the project separated as 

we did, so we could be confident 

that we could get as 

much as possible within our 

budget. 

“Even though we are disappointed 

about the multipurpose 

room, it is a project 

that will remain viable in 

the next couple years to be 

revisited.” 

Having never used 

Tower Contracting LLC 

for a project before, the 

board was acting off a 

recommendation from its 

architect, DLA Architects. 

Firm owner Eric Sickbert 

admitted his company 

had never worked with 

Tower Contracting LLC, 

either, but that it did its 

“due diligence” to heavily 

vet the bidder, a process 

that included checking 

references and speaking 

with previous project 

partners before submitting 

its recommendation. 

“We knew and understand 

the weight of the recommendation 

that we’re 

bringing to our board,” 

Sickbert said. “We want to 

be sure that we’re recommending 

the right person, 

the right company. We did 

a lot of investigative work. 

[Architect for the project] 

Peter [Pontarelli] worked 

many hours on setting up 

interviews with the individuals 

they have on reference, 

but even individuals 

that they did not have on 

reference and also we invited 

[Tower Contracting 

LLC] and spoke to them 

face to face.” 

An issue that did arise 

during the investigation of 

Tower Contracting LLC was 

that it was found to not have 

paid prevailing wage on a 

past project. Any contractor 

that works on a project 

for the district is required 

to pay prevailing wage in 

accordance with the Illinois 

Prevailing Wage Act. Sickbert 

said his firm did question 

the contractor on this 

and its response, according 

to Sickbert, was that it was 

“an error on their part; not 

intentional.” 

But not all were satisfied 

with that answer. 

Lockport resident Scott 

McFedries said he attended 

the meeting expecting more 

discussion on the topic and 

even thought the board 

would consider the next 

lowest bidder given Tower 

Contracting LLC’s history. 

“When they said absolutely 

nothing about it, I 

was just shocked,” said 

McFedries, a research 

analyst for the Laborers’ 

District Council Labor- 

Management Cooperation 

Committee. “I already have 

issues with [the use of] my 

taxes dollars because of the 

prevailing wage. ... I don’t 

know how that’s a mistake. 

It’s just convenient. 

“I work for the laborers, I 

work for the union. I know 

that Tower uses 99 percent 

union people, but I don’t 

like the fact that they’ve 

cheated men out of wages 

for the men I represent ... 

I don’t want my tax dollars 

being spent hiring a contractor 

that cheats.” 

Despite the concern, Wernet 

said he and the board are 

confident in DLA’s recommendation, 

given their 20- 

plus year history with the 

firm. That, combined with the 

$300,000 difference in bids, 

the superintendent said, led 

to the board feeling it could 

finally move forward with 

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the project that has been a 

year in the making. 

Preparations for the project 

begin in March, and it 

has a completion date of 

mid-October of this year. 

“It’s exciting,” D205 

Board of Education President 

John Lukasik said. “I 

almost wish I was a student 

that would be entering 

the district in the very near 

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6 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon Election 2017 


Candidates state their views ahead of primary 

Thomas Czaja, Editor 

Later this month, the Feb. 28 Consolidated 

Republican Primary race will take place 

for the Homer Township Board. 

For the primary, current members of the 

Homer Township Board seeking reelection 

will include Supervisor Pam Meyers, Clerk 

Linsey Sowa, Township Assessor Karen 

Szynkowski, Highway Commissioner Mike 

De Vivo and Trustees Tom Fijan, Ed Kalas 

and John Kruczek. 

Vicki Bozen, the other current trustee on 

the Homer Township Board, will challenge 

Meyers for supervisor in the primary. Others 

running in the February contest include 

Cindy Kedzierski for clerk, Bob LePretre 

for road district commissioner and George 

Offord, Ann Crane, Amber Morrison, Debra 

Poczatko and Brent Porfilio for trustee. 

Szynkowski is running unopposed in the 

primary for assessor, while no candidates 

filed to run for the role of tax collector in 

that contest. 

Candidate questionnaires were sent 

to the candidates, who were given 

equal opportunity to fill them out for 

publication. 

Their responses appear in alphabetical 

order by seat. This issue features questionnaires 

for supervisor, clerk and road district 

commissioner candidates. Trustee candidate 

questionnaires will appear in the Thursday, 

Feb. 16 issue. Since Szynkowski is running 

unopposed in the primary, she will not have 

a questionnaire at this time. 

Winners of the primary will advance to 

the April 4 Consolidated Election. 

As per 22nd Century Media’s editorial policy, 

we do not endorse candidates. The deadline for 

any letters to the editor pertaining to the local 

elections will be Friday, Feb. 10 for publication 

in our Thursday, Feb. 16 issue. No editorial 

primary coverage of any kind will be published 

in the Thursday, Feb. 23 issue. 

*denotes incumbent 

Homer Township Board Supervisor (2 for 1 four-year seat) 

Name: Vicki Bozen 

Elected position being sought: Homer Township Supervisor 

Age: 48 

Occupation: Retail Manager 

Political Experience: Homer Township Trustee, 2009-present; 

Republican Precinct Committeeman 2010; D92 Athletic 

Board Uniform Director, 2016-present; St. Jerome Croatian 

School Board, assistant to board 2015-2016 and currently secretary 

2016-present 

Bozen 

Why are you running? 

I am running to address many of the issues faced with Homer Township 

with a fresh perspective. During the last two terms of service as trustee of 

Homer Township Board, I consistently spoke up on many issues that affect 

my constituents. In this new role, I feel my experience gained over the years 

will provide me with a clear direction and the focus that is needed for the 

community to move it forward. It is my goal to make sure that the new slate 

of trustees work together as an effective team so there is better vision and 

measureable outcomes. I look forward to your support on Feb. 28, 2017. 

What do you see as the Top 3 issues in Homer Township, and how do you 

plan to address them in this role? 

Homer Township needs to rethink its budgeting process and look for better 

efficiencies. This can be accomplished by starting with a zero-based budget to 

identify where spending is necessary and where it can be adjusted. This process 

will force us to justify each line item, allowing us to carefully plan where 

to spend your tax dollars. Raising property taxes should be a late resort to any 

governmental spending, since most families in today’s economy are already 

on a very thin budget. One way to run Homer Township effectively is to make 

sure every dollar is spent wisely. 

We need to seriously consider all options and be flexible in our decisionmaking. 

I have sat on the Homer Township Board and attended numerous 

meetings where the needs and concerns of the citizens have fallen on deaf 

ears. The citizens of Homer Township should be able to voice their opinions 

and expect the board to take their requests profesionally. Those who are 

elected to any position should be there to serve the people. 

As a Township, we need to modernize our technology to provide a better 

service to our community. In today’s age, information is used all the time 

to make our decisions and to help in that process. An updated website that 

contains valuable information is necessary. I would like to see posted online 

the current budget as well as weekly updates as to the status of current projects. 

All of this will lead to a well-equipped and better-informed community. 

Name: Pam Meyers* 

Elected position being sought: 

Homer Township Supervisor 

Age: 60 

Occupation: Township Supervisor 

serving full-time 

Political Experience: Homer Township 

Trustee 

Meyers 


It’s been rewarding working with the citizens of 

our community. I’ve kept my promises and have 

more to accomplish. If elected, my opponents intend 

to perform the duties of Township supervisor 

on a part-time basis while keeping their other 

full-time jobs. Previous attempts by part-time supervisors 

have failed miserably. My opponents are 

unaware because they’ve been uninvolved. I’m 

concerned their lack of commitment, knowledge 

and responsible judgement will result in increased 

spending, more taxes and decreased services. The 

Township currently employs a small staff without 

managers. Its supervisor is responsible for the management 

of all Township properties (31 rental units, 

two sports complexes and multiple parks, equipment 

and buildings); supervision of employees and 

their benefits; legal and risk management; administering 

all financial affairs; emergency and weatherrelated 

after hour situations; duties of treasurer and 

chairman of the board; being responsive to our citizens 

and much more. I work every day at the office, 

attend evening and weekend meetings and must be 

available 24/7 for repair, maintenance, vandalism, 

complaint, alarm and emergency calls. It’s a labor 

of love serving my community, especially knowing 

that my dedication helps keep taxes more affordable 

for our senior citizens and those who struggle 

financially. 

What do you see as the Top 3 issues in Homer 

Township, and how do you plan to address them in 

this role? 

1. Maintaining a balance between holding the 

line on taxes and meeting the demands for increased 

services. Under my leadership, we have 

expanded services and made significant property 

and infrastructure improvements while reducing 

Township real estate taxes, upgrading its credit 

ratings, retiring debt and abating taxes. I will 

continue these objectives by maintaining active 

management practices, pursuing alternate revenue 

sources, promoting commercial growth and fostering 

intergovernmental agreements and organizational 

collaborations. 

2. Debunking the misrepresentations of Township 

elimination. Homer Township and Homer Glen citizens 

would experience increased taxes and loss of 

services without any benefits if this were a legally 

viable option. Township residents in Homer Glen or 

unincorporated Homer Township are already without 

tax or service duplications. They enjoy the benefits 

of consolidation through multiple intergovernmental 

agreements, such as the Township Road District 

continuing to maintain Village roadways as it did 

prior to incorporation. These type of agreements 

make it possible for the Village to refrain from levying 

a real estate tax. Wage and financial comparisons 

reveal that the Township already provides services at 

a cost lower than Homer Glen would be capable of 

sustaining. It is unreasonable to accept that another 

entity would be able to provide equivalent Township 

services without further taxing residents. I will work 

to continue ongoing intergovernmental agreements 

and to facilitate more opportunities for residents to 

explore the differences in services provided by their 

tax dollars. 

3. Shortage of affordable public transportation, especially 

for senior and disabled citizens. Although the 

Township participates financially in an intergovernmental 

arrangement with PACE to offer limited public 

transportation services, it is not meeting the needs 

of our residents. This presents a problem for citizens 

requiring medical attention, supplies or work opportunities. 

I have been investigating several options that 

may be supported by our officials and budgets. I will 

continue working to expand transportation opportunities 

in Homer Township. More information will be 

available soon.

homerhorizon.com Election 2017 


Homer Township Board Clerk (2 for 1 four-year seat) 

Name: Cindy Kedzierski 

Elected position being sought: 

Homer Township Clerk 

Age: 42 

Occupation: Self-employed pediatric 

dietitian nutrition consultant 

Political Experience: Lockport 

Soccer (formerly AYSO 717) Uniform 

Coordinator, 2015-present 

Kedzierski 


I have been a resident of Homer Township 

for 17 years, and I enjoy being involved 

in this great community. I have been involved 

in the community primarily through my childrens’ 

sports (coaching with Homer Soccer, 

Lockport AYSO, District 92 Atheltic Association 

and Homer Stallions Cheerleading). 

Running for Homer Township clerk is another 

way I can contribute to positive change 

and show my children that you can make a 

difference. 

What do you see as the Top 3 issues in Homer 

Township, and how do you plan to address them? 

I would like to see Homer Township’s budget 

reviewed to ensure money is being spent 

appropriately and for the best use of the residents. 

I want the taxpayers to have a voice in 

how money is being spent and have easy access 

to the Township’s budget. I support improving 

efficiency and ensuring there are programs 

available in the community. If elected as Homer 

Township clerk, I will take a supportive role as 

part of the team. 

Name: Linsey Sowa* 

Elected position being 

sought: Homer Township 

Clerk 

Age: 34 

Occupation: Full-Time 

Township Clerk 

Political Experience: Sowa 

Elected Township Trustee, 

2009; appointed In 2012 to fill a vacancy 

in the position of Township Clerk. In 

2013, elected Homer Township Clerk 


I love serving my community, and I 

feel a responsibility to ensure that a 

trustworthy and experienced official is 

filling the role of the clerk. For decades, 

Homer Township Boards have established 

its Clerk’s Office to be comprised 

of one full-time elected official without 

a deputy clerk, manager or a staffed 

department. The responsibility for this 

position requires knowledge and respect 

for the laws of government, elections 

and record management of all departments. 

I take personally the responsibility to 

produce accurate minutes of meetings 

and ensure open and fair elections in 

Homer Township. I believe as clerk, it is 

my duty to keep the needs of the Township 

above any personal or political benefits. 

My strongest assets include my lifelong 

residency in Homer Township, my 

educational background and the knowledge 

I have gained as an elected official 

serving since 2009. I have a BA in 

Political Science from the University 

of Iowa and have completed master’s 

coursework in American Government 

and Public Law at Northern Illinois University. 

Knowledge from my schooling 

and my experience in office has helped 

me to become intimately familiar with 

the laws which are unique to governing 

Townships. 

What do you see as the Top 3 issues in 

Homer Township, and how do you plan 

to address them in this role? 

From the perspective of the Town 

clerk, I would say the three largest issues 

for my office are the following: 

Making voting services open and accessible 

to all members of our community. 

Maintaining quality, accessible and 

well-preserved public records using 

technology. 

Meeting the modern day challenges 

of Township government with limited 

financial resources. 

1. As the lifestyle of our residents often 

includes long work days or irregular 

shifts, and many social and familyrelated 

commitments, it is important 

to extend services like voting beyond 

the traditional 9 a.m.-4 p.m. schedule. 

Since 2012, I have extended early voting 

hours to evening and weekends and 

will continue to adjust my office schedule 

to add additional hours when possible 

to the early voting schedule. By 

adjusting my personal schedule, I have 

been able to offer these additional services 

to the voters at no extra cost to the 

taxpayers. 

2. Townships are hundreds of years in 

age. Updating and maintaining records 

from these times and keeping pace with 

modern technology is a struggle many 

local communities, including ours, 

have to face. Updating recordkeeping 

systems is a work in progress for 

Homer Township, and revitalizing 

old records into new formats that 

allow for the preservation of these 

historical documents is imperative to 

the community. I have strong office 

and professional skills and am willing 

to continue to aid the Township in 

preserving this part of our history. 

3. All of this modernization can be 

expensive, but it is a goal of mine to 

continue a policy of fiscal responsibility 

in order to keep Township taxes at 

low rates. Tax money belongs to the 

taxpayers, and it should be used for their 

behalf in a responsible and conservative 

manner. Our current group of elected 

officials is proud to have been able to 

reduce taxes while improving facilities, 

parks, roads and sponsoring events 

for our community without borrowing 

funds. 

Homer Township road district commissioner (2 for 1 four-year seat) 

Name: Mike De Vivo* 

Elected position being sought: Road District 

Commissioner 

Age: 68 

Occupation: Current Road Commissioner, 

a full-time position 

Political Experience: Member/Manager 

De Vivo 

of the Committee to Incorporate Homer 

Glen, 2000-2001; Chairman of the Homer Glen Zoning 

and Ordinance Committee, 2001-2005; Member of the 

Homer Glen Comprehensive Plan Committee, 2001-2003; 

Current Homer Township Road District Commissioner, 

2005-present 

Why am I running? 

Your Homer Township Road District is, by any means 

of measure, the largest in Illinois. Although there are 

Townships with more residents, no Township Road District 

SERVES more than the 30,000 residents we serve, 

and no Township Road District maintains more than the 

144 miles of roads we are responsible for. Due to the magnitude 

of the community we serve and the many intergovernmental 

relationships we now must sustain, the position 

of road commissioner in Homer Township has developed 

into one similar to a “director of public works”. 

When elected 12 years ago, my goal was to establish 

a department that could meet the growing demands of 

the community. In order for this to occur, the genre of 

the department’s leadership and staff and the relationship 

with the community it serves had to evolve. As a result of 

those changes and the demands of the position, I can say 

with great confidence, “The Office of the Road District 

Commissioner is NOT an entry-level position.” It can 

also be said that the rigorous demands of the position 

does not afford an “on-the-job training” timeframe for 

anyone seeking the office. Therefore, it is imperative 

that the voters elect someone who is qualified to fill 

the position. I am asking for your vote to continue 

providing the community the level of service that I have 

established and you have grown to expect from your 

Road District. 

Name: Bob LePretre 

Elected position being sought: Road District 

Commissioner 

Age: 60 

Occupation: Homer Township Road District 

Road Crew 

Political Experience: N/A 

LePretre 


I have lived in Homer Glen for 30 years and have 

worked for the Township’s Road District for the past 

five years. Through these past five years, I have seen 

how our Road District works from the inside and 

think that I can use my experience and hard-working 

attitude to better serve our residents. It is for this reason 

that I have decided to run for Homer Township Road 

Commissioner. 

To read the full questionnaires of the road distircit commisioner 

candidates, visit HomerHorizon.com.

8 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon homer glen 


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Lockport City Council 

Officials discuss plan for controversial 

industrial park with residents, Prologis 

Homer Township, 

District 92 weigh in 

on concept plan 

Max Lapthorne 

Contributing Editor 

Residents once again 

packed the third-floor board 

room at Lockport’s Central 

Square building Feb. 1 as 

the City Council discussed 

the controversial proposed 

Prologis industrial park during 

its Committee of the 

Whole meeting. 

Residents aired their 

displeasures about the 

proposed 1.97 millionsquare-foot 

development 

at two previous Planning 

and Zoning Commission 

meetings, but this was the 

first time the concept plan 

was officially brought in 

front of the City Council. 

First Ward Alderman Kris 

Capadona was absent from 

the meeting. 

The proposed business 

park would be located 

between Interstate 355 

and Archer Avenue, 

consisting of five industrial/ 

warehouse buildings. 

The land surrounding the 

proposed park is Lockport 

and Homer Township and 

a mostly residential area 

including the Creekside 

Estates, Lockport Heights, 

Deer Path Run, Forest Point 

and Hawthorne Preserves 

neighborhoods, in addition 

to Big Run Wolf Ranch, as 

previously reported by The 

Horizon. 

Mayor Steve Streit 

opened up discussion of 

the topic by highlighting 

the growth of Will County 

and pointing out that the 

southwest suburbs is the 

largest inland seaport in 

North America, making 

the area attractive for these 

types of developments. He 

went on to say that while 

the council does not have 

legal grounds to deny the 

building of the park, he 

hopes to work along with 

the community to find 

solutions and help mitigate 

its impact. 

“This isn’t about destroying 

Lockport, it’s actually 

about preserving Lockport 

in a time of unprecedented 

growth,” Streit said. “...We 

can’t just say no to someone 

who has entitled zoning.” 

Jim McGill presented the 

concept plan on behalf of 

Prologis, touching on some 

of the changes made to the 

plan in an attempt to appease 

the community and 

the Planning and Zoning 

Commission. 

“We still want to move 

forward with the industrial 

project, but we spent a 

significant amount of time 

making sure we were doing 

things we thought were 

minimizing some of the impact 

on the residents,” Mc- 

Gill said. 

One of the changes Prologis 

made based on a suggestion 

from the Planning and 

Zoning Commission was 

to eliminate the berming 

between building one and 

Interstate 355, so the building 

could be moved further 

from the adjacent homes 

west of the building. The 

change doubled the distance 

between the homes and the 

building and allowed for 

more berming, McGill said. 

Various other changes such 

as berm heights and transitional 

yard sizes were also 

presented. 

The 20 citizens who 

spoke during public comment 

touched on a variety of 

concerns, but the overarching 

topic they kept coming 

back to was safety. One of 

the main concerns relating 

to safety was truckers getting 

lost in the surrounding 

neighborhoods and endangering 

children. 

“This is the wrong place 

to put this development, 

[and] nobody wants it,” 

Creekside Estates resident 

Scott Hockenberry said. 

Concerns about the increased 

truck traffic also 

related to travel times in 

the area, specifically school 

buses. Mike Messina, 

Creekside Estates resident 

and president of the Will 

County School District 92 

Board of Education, spoke 

about some concerns the 

district has as it relates to 

bus stops in the area. He said 

the district has 15 bus routes 

that go past the proposed 

Archer Avenue entrance to 

the development, and the 

increased traffic could lead 

to increased travel times for 

the busses. 

“It’s not just safety; safety 

is our major concern, but 

we try to get these kids on 

and off the bus in a reasonable 

amount of time, so we 

don’t [have] kids on the bus 

for an hour and a half, an 

hour, 45 minutes,” Messina 

said. 

The other primary safety 

concern expressed by the 

residents dealt with the diesel 

smoke from the trucks. 

John Basile, owner of Big 

Run Wolf Ranch, spoke 

about the smoke’s potential 

impact on his animals, 

while biochemist John Walliser 

dove in depth into the 

smoke’s potential effect on 

the surrounding neighborhoods, 

discussing a new 

area of scientific study 

called epigenetics that allows 

scientists to pinpoint 

the cause of heart disease, 

cancer and other afflictions 

by looking at genes. 

“If Prologis builds a facility 

like this so close to residences, 

every person, every 

family — at least 600 homes 

— not just them, but their 

children will have changes 

in their DNA because of the 

exposure,” Walliser said. 

Following public comment, 

City Council members 

peppered McGill with 

questions in an attempt to 

address some of the concerns 

both they and the 

citizens have. The intersection 

at Archer Avenue was 

one of the main points of 

conversation, as the Council 

members went back and 

forth with McGill discussing 

ways to avoid traffic 

back up. No specific parameters 

were set, as the Illinois 

Department of Transportation 

will have to be 

involved, since the road is 

under its jurisdiction. 

The council did not vote 

on the concept plan but is 

set to do so at its Wednesday, 

Feb. 15 meeting. 

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Abigail Varkalis, Homer Jr. High 

eighth-grader 

Abigail Varkalis was chosen as Standout Student 

for her academic excellence. 

What is one essential you must have when 

studying and why? 

One essential that I must have when studying 

is silence. The television can’t be on or 

the radio. I just can’t think when they are on! 

What do you like to do when not in school or 

studying? 

When I am not in school or studying, I always 

spend time with my family or perform 

for singing and acting. 

What is your dream job? 

My dream job is majoring in the performing 

arts as a singer and actress. 

What are some of the most played songs on 

your iPod? 

Some of my most-played songs on my 

iPod are “That’s My Kind Of Night” by Luke 

Bryan, “Dirt Road Diary” by Luke Bryan and 

“America’s Sweetheart” by Elle King. 

What is one thing people do not know about 

you? 

One thing most people don’t know about 

me is that I was one of the main characters 

in a movie. 

Whom do you look up to and why? 

I look up to both my mom and dad because 

they are both so inspiring in their own ways. 

My mom always says, “Good thoughts. 

Good words. Good deeds.” 

What do you keep under your bed? 

I have a desk under my bed and a couple 

boxes with my special possessions. I have a 

loft bed, so that is why those big things are 

under there! 

Who is your favorite teacher and why? 

My teachers are all so awesome and kind 

that I can’t pick one! 

Photo Submitted 

What is your favorite class and why? 

My favorite class is probably reading because 

I love plot structure, reading stories 

and vocabulary. 

What is one thing that stands out about 

your school? 

One thing that stands out about my school 

is that we have awesome sports teams and 

excellent extracurricular activities! Also, the 

chorus and band are amazing! 

What extracurricular(s) do you wish your 

school had? 

The extracurricular activities I wish my 

school had is a lacrosse team and a badminton 

team! 

What is your morning routine? 

My morning routine consists of saying 

“good morning” to my family, playing with 

my dog, Stella, and of course doing all the 

basic stuff like brushing my teeth. 

If you could change one thing about school, 

what would it be? 

If I could change one thing about school, 

it would be to go outside and learn out there 

because I love being outdoors. 

What is your favorite thing to eat in the 

cafeteria? 

My favorite thing to eat in the cafeteria 

would be pizza dippers because I love cheese! 

What is your best memory from school? 

One of my best memories from school was 

when my teacher stuck stickers all over me 

because I got a really good grade on my math 

test. I struggled with math, and I still do. 

Standout Student is a weekly feature for The 

Homer Horizon. Nominations come from Homer 

Glen area schools. 

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12 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon news 


FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT 

New Lenox resident 

chronicles living with, 

beating MS through book 

Kellie Alderton knew 

there was a problem, but she 

thought it was with her eyes. 

Alderton, now of New 

Lenox, had played softball 

for 10 years at that point in 

her life — 1988 — and she 

was good. But during her 

high school tryouts, things 

started to go downhill fast. 

“I went to go catch a ball 

and got hit in the face,” she 

remembered. “I went to 

catch another, and it went 

way over my head. I thought 

to myself, ‘What is going 

on?’ My body just wasn’t 

working right.” 

The surprising tryout performance 

led her to consult 

an optometrist, because she 

also was having trouble 

reading the chalkboard at 

school and would get bouts 

of dizziness while walking 

in the hallways. 

The doctor suggested she 

see a pediatric neurologist. 

Once there, Alderton was 

given what she now knows 

as a standard test for determining 

multiple sclerosis. 

Then, she was taken to get 

an MRI. 

“We saw that I had 20 lesions 

in my brain, and I had 

optic neuritis, which was 

the problem with my eyes,” 

Alderton recalled. “They diagnosed 

me with relapsing, 

remitting MS.” 

Now, nearly 30 years after 

her diagnosis, Alderton 

has written a book about 

her inspiring journey toward 

“beating” MS. 

“What I’ve really found is 

that a lot of people who have 

MS, when they first get the 

diagnosis, they think it is a 

death sentence,” Alderton 

said. “Secondly, they trust 

their doctors blindly. They 

will not investigate alternatives. 

I want them to just 

know that they have options 

and choices.” 

Reporting by Jon DePaolis, 

Freelance Reporter. For more, 

visit NewLenoxPatriot.com. 

FROM THE MOKENA MESSENGER 

Family Martial Arts offers 

new defense, exercise 

hybrid 

A new self-defense class 

at Family Martial Arts in 

Mokena is for anyone who is 

willing to learn. 

Designed for black belts 

and first-timers alike, instructors 

hope to improve 

participants’ quality of life, 

both inside and out of the 

gym. 

“We like to teach life 

skills, or the tenets of taekwondo 

— things like respect 

and discipline, which 

are embodiments of martial 

arts but can also be applied 

to your life,” said FMA Program 

Director Krista Danielewicz. 

Adult women and men 

gathered Jan. 22 for the second 

class of Defencercise, 

a hybrid exercise and selfdefense 

class. 

“I try to give everyone different 

options based on their 

age and activity level to keep 

everyone involved” FMA 

instructor Mike Cooke said. 

“You don’t need to know 

anything or have any prior 

experience to come in and 

learn.” 

After initial warm-ups, 

Cooke showed them basic 

defense positions that 

could be used in perilous 

situations, like if an assailant 

came close to attack from 

behind. 

Anne Marie Manos, of 

Mokena, is a first-degree 

black belt that has been training 

at FMA for four years. 

“Anyone can do it,” she 

said. “You just have to have 

the will and desire to do it.” 

Reporting by Ryan Esguerra, 

Freelance Reporter. For more, 

visit MokenaMessenger.com. 

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Contact Sherry Ranieri! 

Sherry Ranieri 

YES 

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valued clients! 

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s.ranieri@22ndcenturymedia.com • 708.326.9170 ext.21 

FROM THE FRANKFORT STATION 

East grad offers pro bono 

legal help to immigrants 

The fearful calls to attorney 

Natalie Tepeli are more 

frequent now. 

The Frankfort native and 

2008 Lincoln-Way East 

graduate offers what she 

knows to her clients, most 

of whom are immigrating or 

seeking asylum from Middle 

Eastern countries. Cases are 

delayed, background checks 

have increased, everything is 

more scrutinized. 

After President Donald 

Trump’s executive order 

on immigration was implemented, 

Tepeli was among 

thousands of attorneys who 

offered pro bono legal work 

to incoming nationals at 

airports across the country. 

The executive order bars 

residents from seven Middle 

Eastern countries from entering 

the United States for 

90 days and halts the refugee 

program for 120 days. It has 

since been challenged and 

paused by a federal judge. 

For Tepeli, who now lives 

in Chicago, it is an issue that 

hits home. 

Her father is an Armenian 

immigrant who came 

to the U.S. from Turkey, and 

her mother’s family is from 

Ukraine. While studying at 

Loyola University, she volunteered 

at immigration organizations, 

later clerking at 

an immigration firm during 

law school. 

Offering her expertise at 

O’Hare International Airport 

Jan. 28, the day after the ban 

was enacted, was a matter of 

duty. 

“As an immigration attorney, 

I have a responsibility 

to help people, to serve 

justice,” she said. “All of 

these people are arriving and 

they’re afraid. They didn’t 

know what was going to 

happen to them. 

“I felt a responsibility to 

go there, to help them.” 

She watched as an Iranian 

teenager broke down waiting 

for his parents. A Syrian 

woman was sent back. 

“You’re preventing reunification 

of families,” she 

said. “It’s heartbreaking.” 

Reporting by Kirsten Onsgard, 

Editor. For more, visit Frank 

fortStation.com. 

FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION 

Tinley Park couple opens 

new candy venture in 

Frankfort 

Five years ago, Maria 

Zientara started making 

vintage candy apples. 

Then, Maria, along with 

the help of her husband, 

Randy, began to sell what 

became their signature caramel-coated 

treats at area 

farmers’ markets. 

On Feb. 1, the Tinley Park 

couple shared with family 

and friends their next venture. 

The couple welcomed 

them to their shop, Short & 

Sweet Tasty Treats, located 

at 9975 W. Lincoln Highway 

in Frankfort. 

Five days later, Maria 

and Randy held a soft opening 

to the public. Coffee 

and homemade sweet treats 

— which happen to the be 

Maria’s two favorite things 

— are the main items on the 

menu. 

“We have to make what 

the customer wants,” Maria 

said. “Who cares what 

we like? We started to add 

[items]. People would make 

a suggestion, and I would 

take that suggestion, make 

something and see how it 

would go.” 

Although Maria is not a 

formally trained pastry chef, 

her love of learning has created 

some tasty results. 

Reporting by Brittany Kapa, 

Assistant Editor. For more, visit 

TinleyJunction.com. 

FROM THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE 

Chicago man allegedly 

carried out multiple home 

burglaries, one in Orland 

A Chicago man who carried 

out and attempted multiple 

residential burglaries 

in at least four towns, including 

Orland Park, was 

arrested while in the midst 

of burglarizing a home in 

Berwyn Jan. 31, according 

to a press release issued 

Feb. 1 by the Orland Park 

Police Department. 

Cory Durr, 35, of 3125 

S. Green St., reportedly was 

charged by Orland Park police 

with one count of residential 

burglary, a Class 1 

felony. He also was charged 

similarly by police in Berwyn, 

Wilmette and Burbank, 

according to Orland 

Park police. 

At 12:13 p.m. Jan. 24, 

Orland Park police reportedly 

responded to a burglary 

in progress in the 

7800 block of 157th Street. 

The homeowner, who was 

upstairs at the time, heard 

the doorbell ringing and a 

loud knocking at the door, 

according to the press release. 

When she went to 

answer the door, she heard 

the front door being pried 

open. 

The homeowner reportedly 

grabbed her phone 

and fled through the garage. 

Durr then fled in a 

white Nissan Maxima, police 

said. 

When Orland Park police 

alerted other jurisdictions to 

the burglary, they discovered 

the vehicle was used 

in several other recent burglaries 

in the Chicago area, 

police said. 

Orland Park’s investigations 

reportedly led to a 

vehicle at Durr’s address. 

With several other suburban 

police departments, Orland 

Park police identified the 

driver, and then conducted 

surveillance on both the 

driver and vehicle, leading 

to his arrest, according to 

the press release. 

The investigation continues 

into Durr’s involvement 

in other residential burglaries 

throughout the Chicago 

area, according to Orland 

Park police. 

Reporting by Bill Jones, Editor. 

For more, visit OPPrairie.com.

homerhorizon.com sound off 


Social snapshot 

Top stories 

From HomerHorizon.com from Friday, Feb. 3 

1. Homer man raises funds for late wife’s 

condition 

2. Lockport Township High School D205 Board 

of Education: Lowest bids for East Campus 

renovation project to be reviewed 

3. Girls Basketball: Lockport shines under bright 

lights at United Center 

4. Photo Op: Red dragonfly 

5. Pilates studio a year old 

Become a Horizon Plus member: homerhorizon.com/plus 

From the Assistant Editor 

Witnessing love from, in the community 

Erin Redmond 


What’s not to love 

about February? 

I won’t lie, I get 

a little irked by the fact the 

hearts and chocolates make 

their way onto the shelves 

earlier and earlier each year. I 

literally saw Valentine’s Day 

items out before Christmas 

this year. Are you kidding? 

But, when February rolls 

around, warm and fuzzy 

feelings come over me. I 

can’t help but love all the 

love in the air. 

This year, I’ve had even 

more to smile about. 

As part of the 22nd 

Century Media team, I have 

the pleasure of viewing the 

submissions from our annual 

Valentine’s Day Coloring 

Contest that came flooding in. 

We gave children ages 3-12 

a blank heart to fill however 

their little hearts desired. 

After winners are picked, we 

take the submissions and send 

them to soldiers. The idea of 

showing our men and women 

in the military just how much 

they are loved is just such a 

cool thing to do. 

There’s a lot to love in 

this issue, actually. 

We have a story on Page 

19 of this issue of the recent 

Prom Dress Resale at Lockport 

Township High School, 

which helps prom-goers buy 

gently loved prom dresses for 

a fraction of the price. I wish 

we had something like this 

when I was going to prom. 

I was enchanted by all the 

beautiful dresses, so much 

that I was seriously thinking 

of a reason to buy one. 

But this event wasn’t 

solely about sparkles and 

tulle. It was run by The 

Lockport Township High 

School District 205 Foundation, 

and 25 percent of all 

sales goes back to the foundation, 

which funds college 

scholarships. It’s a chain 

reaction of awesomeness. 

There is also a story on 

Page 18 on The Vegan Cafe, 

which churns out delicious 

delicacies with limited ingredients. 

I’ve always been a 

carnivore, and I wasn’t sure 

I’d be all about that vegan 

life, but it was love at first 

bite. 

The owner, Homer 

Glen resident Marguerite 

Baltages-Ruminski, is an 

incredible woman with quite 

the story to tell — and she’s 

sweeter than the restaurant’s 

almond butter pie. 

Baltages-Ruminski’s really 

pours her heart into her 

work at The Vegan Cafe, but 

she doesn’t collect a paycheck. 

Nope, anything that 

is left over from paying employees 

and expenses goes 

straight to charity, mostly 

those which help the homeless 

and animal rescues. Talk 

about paying it forward. 

I’ve only been with The 

Horizon for a little while, 

but I have already met some 

incredible, generous and 

inspiring people. There’s no 

shortage of them here. 

And if this column made 

you think of someone you 

know in Homer Glen who 

has a story to tell, let us know. 

We would love to meet them. 

Voting Open February 2-28 

Vote: www.22ndcenturymedia.com/swchoice 

“For 10 minutes, everyone at Schilling 

School stopped what they were doing 

and picked up a book for Freeze and 

Read Day.” 

Homer Community Consolidated 

School District 33C from Feb. 1. 

Like The Homer Horizon: facebook.com/homerhorizon 

“Excited to join families from OP 

Class of 2017 registering our 

eighth-grade students for classes 

at @LockportHS205 this morning. 

#PorterPride” 

@WillCounty92 from Jan. 28. 

Follow The Homer Horizon: @homerhorizon 

Sound Off Policy 

Editorials and columns are the 

opinions of the author. Pieces 

from 22nd Century Media are 

the thoughts of the company 

as a whole. The Homer Horizon 

encourages readers to write letters 

to Sound Off. All letters must be 

signed, and names and hometowns 

will be published. We also ask that 

writers include their address and 

phone number for verification, 

not publication. Letters should be 

limited to 400 words. The Homer 

Horizon reserves the right to edit 

letters. Letters become property of 

The Homer Horizon. Letters that 

are published do not reflect the 

thoughts and views of The Homer 

Horizon. Letters can be mailed 

to: The Homer Horizon, 11516 

West 183rd Street, Unit SW 

Office Condo #3, Orland Park, 

Illinois, 60467. Fax letters to (708) 

326-9179 or e-mail to tom@ 

homerhorizon.com. 

www.homerhorizon.com. 

We want to know your favorite local businesses! 

Tell us your favorites in categories such as: 

Beauty ★ Health ★ Dining ★ Education ★ Fitness & Recreation 

Pets Services ★ Shopping ★ Vehicles 

Honor your favorite local businesses by voting for them in the Southwest Choice Awards 

presented by 22nd Century Media. 

Look for the ballot in the center of this newspaper or vote online at 

www.22ndcenturymedia.com/swchoice starting Feb. 2. 

Complete at least 50 categories and be eligible for 22nd Century 

Media’s Southwest Choice Awards prize—one three-night trip for two 

(2) adults to Riu Caribe in Cancun, Mexico, courtesy of Apple Vacations. 

THE FRANKFORT STATION 

THE LOCKPORT LEGEND THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT THE HOMER HORIZON 

THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE THE TINLEY JUNCTION THE MOKENA MESSENGER

14 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon Homer glen 


16054 Golfview Dr, Lockport 

MLS 09389369... Townhouse w/ golf course view! 

2 bdrm, 2 bath end unit overlooking pond. Liv rm w/ 

vaulted ceilings, skylight, FP. Spacious master. 2 car 

garage. 

$1,600 Terri Theodore 630-863-0479 

1927 S State St, Lockport 

MLS 08827708... Topo available, possible multi-unit 

property, potential commercial - currently zoned residential. 

Walk to train station or downtown Lockport. 

$34,500 Renee Saban 815-838-7030 


MLS 09060469... Great lot for your downtown 

business or home. Beautiful downtown Lockport 

location. 

$99,999 Renee Saban 815-838-7030 

13826 Stonebridge Woods Xing Dr, Homer Glen 

MLS 09332566... Stonebridge Woods of Homer 

Glen. 1/3+ Acre lot with gentle slope would allow 

for a possible look-out or forced walk out basement. 

$122,900 Greg Mucha 708-301-4700 

301 Connor Ave, Lockport 

MLS 09393288... Beautiful 3 bdrm home. Finished 

basement. Lots of potential, good for investors. 

Lockport schools. 

$156,900 Coral Ortega 815-744-1000 

16518 W 145th Pl, Lockport 

MLS 09487555... 3 bdrm ranch! Great taxes, many 

upgrades, 30x30 garage, new flooring, newer furnace 

and air, SS appliances, granite counters, patio, 

landscaped yard. 

$160,500 Faith Schiltz 630-553-9000 

1020 Milne Dr, Lockport 

MLS 09478327... 4 bdrm, 3 bath ranch in Milne- 

Kelvin Grove school district. Open flr pln, liv/din rms, 

KT for entertaining. Amazing master ste to deck. 

Bsmt fam rm. 

$219,900 Margie Apgar 708-301-4700 

715 Macgregor Rd, Lockport 

MLS 09483273... Spectacular 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath. 

Many updates. Vaulted ceilings. Liv/din rms. Updated 

KT w/ built-in desk, great master. Full bsmt w/ fam 

rm. Great yard! 

$264,900 Sue Dufault 815-838-7030 

1620 Olive Rd, Homewood 

MLS 09397184... Spacious and Charming Vintage 4 

bdrm, 4 bath home. Huge living and dining rm. Sun 

rm, deck. Oversized east-in KT. 

$269,000 Kim Tumas 708-363-2073 


MLS 09346300... Great brick commercial/ warehouse 

building in downtown Lockport. 6272 SF 

ablove grade, 960 SF bsmt. 

$279,000 Sue Dufault 815-838-7030 

14350 S East Glen Dr, Homer Glen 

MLS 09380281... Spacious 3 bdrm, 3 bath tri-level 

on quiet street. Eat-in KT w/ SS appliances. LL fam 

rm. Huge laundry. Large patio. Many updates in last 

10 yrs. 

$284,900 Greg Mucha 708-301-4700 

16724 Karen Springs Dr, Lockport 

MLS 09479478... Open concept 3 bdrm, 2 bath 

ranch. Hrdwood flrs, liv/din rms, large KT w/ pantry, 

fam rm w/ FP, large master, partial bsmt w/ rec rm. 

Fenced yard. 

$289,900 Sue Dufault 815-838-7030 

14302 S Oak Trl, Homer Glen 

MLS 09368656... Well-kept 4 bdrm 2.5 bath home 

on semi-wooded lot w/ above grnd pool & deck. Nice 

flr plan, large rooms. Many updates in last 10 yrs. 

$289,900 Pete Ciaccio 708-710-0936 

131-133 E 9th St, Lockport 

MLS 09405631... Almost 3300 Sq Ft, all brick, 3 unit 

office building in the heart of Downtown Lockport. 

Corner Building in a very high traffic area. 

$295,000 Jonathan Darin 708-473-5241 

524 Amy Ct, Lockport 

MLS 09390120... Gorgeous 4 bdrm, 2.5 ba home. KT 

w/ SS appliances. Fam rm w/ FP. Finished bsmt w/ 

built-in shelving, storage and utility rm. 

$314,900 Rosaura B. Alfaro 773-517-2671 

16925 Swift Arrow Dr, Lockport 

MLS 09352535... 3-step, 3 bdrm, 3.5 ba ranch in 

Long Bow Section of Broken Arrow. Laminate flrs 

on main level. Huge flowing liv rm, KT & fam rm w/ 

crown molding. 

$319,000 Kenneth Pytlewski 815-485-3401 

604 E 9th St, Lockport 

MLS 09393037... Lockport Food Pantry is moving. 

Building is now available.1976 SF of main level + 

bsmt. Main level has vaulted ceilings, tons of windows! 

$319,900 Sue Dufault 815-838-7030 

17147 W 145th St, Lockport 

MLS 09217264... Amazing wooded property! Main 

home has 4 bdrms, 2 FPs, 2 baths, hardwood floors, 

screen rm, fin bsmt. Additional home on property. 2 

garages! 

$324,900 Laura Oremus 815-690-5520 

13112 W Creekside Dr, Homer Glen 

MLS 09353551... 4 bdrm, 3 bath quad-level. Many 

updates! Eat-in KT, fam rm w/ FP, large deck, wooded 

lot. L-shaped recreation rms in finished look-out 

bsmt. 

$324,900 Margie Apgar 708-301-4700 

14447 S Provencal Dr, Homer Glen 17757 W Quail Ridge Dr, Lockport 15025 Ashton Ln, Lockport 

MLS 09404641... 3 bdrm, 3 bath ranch w/ fin walkout 

bsmt. 1st flr laundry. Formal liv/din rms. Huge w/ huge fenced yard. 3 car heated garage. Cherry Cedar Ridge subdivision. Eat-in KT w/ hardwood flrs 

MLS 09470622... 4 bdrm, 3.5 bath, 2 story on pond MLS 09368387... Great 4 bdrm, 3.5 bath home in 

master. Eat-in KT w/ brkfst bar. Deck overlooks wood flrs, KT w/ brkfst bar, fin walk-out bsmt w. and SS appliances. Large bdrms. Heated garage. 

wooded area. 

theater rm. 

$329,000 Catherine Fehrenbacher 708-460-4700 $342,000 Laura Oremus 815-690-5520 $344,900 Daniel Borst 815-838-7030 

15050 Wingate Dr, Homer Glen 

MLS 09312483... 5 bdrm, 3.5 ba Ashford model 

home. Spacious flr plan. Large master. Fam rm w/ 

FP. Walkout bsmt w/ KT, bdrm and full bath can be 

related living setup. 

$359,000 Pete Ciaccio 708-710-0936 

12528 W Hampshire Ln, Homer Glen 

MLS 09408386... 4 bdrm, 3.1 bath home w/ fin 

bsmt. Hardwood flrs on 1st flr, combined liv/fam rm, 

separate din rm, aat-in KT w/ huge pantry. 2 tiered 

deck. 

$359,000 Allyson Fernandes 815-838-7030 

12827 W Pheasant Ct, Homer Glen 

MLS 09140350... Custom built Chalet on wooded 

lot.4 bdrms, with 4 bdrms, 3 full and 2 1/2 baths. 

$428,999 Renee Saban 815-838-7030 

17937 S Mitchell Ln, Lockport 

MLS 09473018... Better than new! 5 bdrm, 3.5 bath 

home on prime lot backing nature preserve and park. 

Perfect for entertaining. Gourmet KT, fam rm w/ FP. 

Must see! 

$438,750 Sue Dufault 815-838-7030 

17136 S Parker Rd, Homer Glen 

MLS 09245736... Amazing 7 bdrm, 5 ba home on 

1.3 acre wooded lot. 2 master bdrms w/ balconies, 2 

tiered deck. Motivated Seller. 

$450,000 Diane Decicco 708-301-4700 

15790 S Bell Rd, Homer Glen 151 St Hillary Ln, Homer Glen 

15925 W 159th St, Lockport 

MLS 09193730... To be built! Proposed 6,720 sq. MLS 09210805... Hidden Creek Estates in Homer MLS 09482788... Prime corner lot in Will County. 

ft. office building in already developed office park. Glen. Vacant land for residential development. 18 3.42 acre parcel is currently zoned A-1 Agricultural 

2 new buildings of 4. Up to 4 office condo's per acres, 13 residential lots of 1.0 to 1.5 acre size lots and is improved with a brick ranch being sold as-is. 

building. 

on average. 

$950,000 Pete Ciaccio 708-710-0936 $1,549,000 Pete Ciaccio 708-710-0936 $2,900,000 Sheri McAdams 815-838-7030 

cbhonig-bell.com 

LOCAL SALES OFFICES 

1165 E. 9 th St., Lockport 

815-838-7030 

14851 Founders Crossing (Bell Rd), Homer Glen 

708-301-4700

the homer horizon | February 9, 2017 | homerhorizon.com 

Back to basics 

Vegan Cafe’s simple, organic 

recipes key to Homer 

owner’s success, Page 18 

Getting the 

scoop This week’s Dish 

find out what sets El Balcon 

apart in the landscape of 

Mexican cuisine, Page 22 

No worries for cast, as Lockport-Homer Youth Theater production of ‘The Lion 

King Jr.’ goes off without a hitch, Page 17 

Lockport-Homer Youth Theater actors (left to right) Mickey Albrecht (Pumbaa), Aidan Callahan (Simba) and Halie Bala (Timon) sing Jan. 28 during the production of Disney’s 

“The Lion King Jr.” at Lockport Township High School’s East Campus. Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media

16 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon faith 


Pastor column 

Called by God to welcome all people 

Pastor Dana O’Brien 

Cross of Glory Lutheran Church 

When someone 

walks into the 

worship space at 

Cross of Glory, the congregation 

I serve, the first thing 

one sees over the door is our 

welcome statement: 

We recognize the importance 

of worshiping with a 

diverse group of people of 

any color, age, creed, ethnicity, 

physical and mental 

abilities, addictions, legal 

record, economic status, 

station in life, life circumstances, 

marital/family status, 

heterosexuals, lesbian, 

gay, bisexual, transgender 

people, their partners and 

their families. We welcome 

all into full participation 

in the church life, ministry 

of the congregation, 

sacraments and rites of the 

church. We are all one in 

God’s eyes, and everyone 

has a place in the family of 

God. It is with love and in 

celebration that we affirm 

this position. 

“There is no longer Jew 

nor Greek, there is no longer 

slave nor free, there is 

no longer male and female; 

for all of you are one in 

Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 

3:28) 

It’s also on our website 

and in our bulletins, and 

it’s something we believe 

helps define who God has 

called us to be. So two 

Sundays ago, I started a 

sermon series on what it 

means to be welcoming. 

I did that not knowing 

it would occur against a 

backdrop of our country’s 

actions, just days earlier, to 

suspend the acceptance of 

refugees and visitors from 

Syria and six other Muslim-majority 

countries. 

By now, many religious 

leaders, including my own 

ELCA Bishop Eaton, have 

expressed their opposition 

to our country’s position. 

Many see the suspension 

of our refugee program as 

directly contradicting Jesus’ 

command to welcome the 

stranger (Matthew 25:35). 

And of course, the irony 

of this is not lost on me. 

Not even five moths ago, 

I learned firsthand the importance 

of welcoming the 

stranger. I was that stranger 

when I moved to this 

community, not knowing 

anyone here. Indeed, my 

first article for this paper 

was based on this verse in 

Matthew, as I thanked you 

all for making me feel so 

welcome. 

As people of God, we are 

called to extend the same 

welcome to others that God 

first extended to us. While 

I do see the importance of 

keeping our country safe, 

I have a real hard time 

seeing how our country’s 

exclusion of vulnerable 

refuges will improve that 

safety in any meaningful 

way. More importantly, this 

action is so very inconsistent 

with God’s call to live 

as welcoming followers 

of Jesus in this world. I go 

back to my congregation’s 

welcome statement, “We 

are all one in God’s eyes, 

and everyone has a place in 

the family of God.” 

As God’s people, we are 

called to live lives of grace 

and mercy, and welcome. 

We are called to see Jesus 

in each other. Bishop Eaton 

reminds us, “Our Lord not 

only commanded us to 

welcome the stranger, Jesus 

made it clear that when we 

welcome the stranger into 

our homes and our hearts – 

we welcome him.” (You can 

read Bishop Eaton’s entire 

message at www.elca.org/ 

News-and-Events/7873) 

The opinions of this column are 

that of the writer. They do not 

necessarily reflect those of The 

Homer Horizon. 

In Memoriam 

John W. Currier 

John W. Currier, CPA, 57, longtime 

Homer Glen resident formerly of Detroit, 

Michigan, died Jan. 24. He is survived 

by his wife, Denise (nee Radtke); 

his son, Garrett Currier; and his siblings, 

Margaret (Daniel) O’Connell, Daniel 

(Diane) Currier and Mary (Michael) Pidgeon. 

Proprietor of John W. Currier & 

Co., LTD in Frankfort and Evans Scholar 

graduate of University of Michigan Class 

of 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. 

In 1992, he received his Master 

of Science in Taxation from Walsh 

College. He was the 2012 chairman and 

active member of Chicago’s Southland 

Chamber of Commerce, treasurer and active 

member of the Frankfort Chamber of 

Commerce, former president and active 

member of the Chicago South Chapter 

of the Illinois CPA Society, member of 

the American Institute of Certified Public 

Accountants, associate partner in the 

Lincoln-Way High School Foundation 

and the past treasurer of the Greater Chicago 

Homeless Organization. Services 

were held Feb. 3. 

faith briefs 

Have someone’s life you’d like to honor? 

Email e.redmond@22ndcenturymedia.com 

with information about a loved one who was 

a part of the Homer Glen community. 

St. Bernard Parish 

(13030 W. 143rd St., Homer Glen) 

Blood Drive 

3-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20. 

Walk-ins are welcome. To schedule 

an appointment, sign-up after 

Mass or contact Barbara Muszanski 

at (708) 227-4383. 

Weekday Worship 

9:30 a.m. weekdays. Communion 

Service on Thursdays. 

Weekend Worship 

4:30 p.m. Saturdays. 8:30 a.m., 

10 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. every Sunday. 

Community Choir Practice 

7:30-9 p.m. Thursdays. Parish 

members ages 16 and older may 

join the choir. The choir needs 

vocalists and instrumentalists. 

For more information contact 

the music director, Dennis Sobczak. 

Christian Life Church 

(15609 W. 159th St., Homer Glen) 

Sunday Service 

10 a.m. 

Thursday Service 

7:30 p.m. 

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 

(15625 S. Bell Road, Homer Glen) 

Sunday Services 

8:15 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. 

Divine Liturgy; 10 a.m. Sunday 

School. For more information, call 

(708) 645-0652. 

Cross of Glory Lutheran Church 

(14719 W. 163rd St., Homer Glen) 

Youth Programs 

All youth programs will start 

back up in February, including the 

teen program, Holy Communion 

class and confirmation class for 

junior high. 

Dinner with Friends 

6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 

Chili’s, 14025 S. Bell Road, Homer 

Glen. 

Worship Service 

9:30 a.m. Sundays. Parishioners 

may use the nursery for their 

children up to age 3 during services. 

There is a Kids Klub for 

children in grades 4-5 during the 

service. 

Christ Community Church 

(13400 Bell Road, Lemont) 

Sunday Worship 

9:30 a.m. Sundays. Worship is 

casual. 

Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish 

(16043 S. Bell Road, Homer Glen) 

Daily Mass 

8 a.m. Monday-Saturday 

Weekend Mass 

5 p.m. Saturday 

8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. Sunday 

8 a.m. every first Friday of the 

month 

Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church 

(14610 S. Will Cook Road, Homer Glen) 


8:15 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. 

Divine Liturgy; 10 a.m. Sunday 

School. For more information, call 

(708) 645-0652. 

Adult Bible Study 

9-9:45 a.m., first and third Sundays 

of the month 

Parkview Christian Church - Homer Glen 

(14367 W. 159th St., Homer Glen) 

Senior Connections 

10:45 a.m.-1 p.m.. Orland Park 

Campus, 11110 Orland Pkwy., Orland 

Park. Second Friday of the 

month, chili lunch and program. 

The cost is $10 and Pastor Chaz 

will speak. To RSVP, call (708) 

478-7477 ext. 272 or email merryo@att.net. 


9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. 

First United Methodist Church of Lockport 

(1000 S. Washington St., Lockport) 

Souper Soup Supper 

4-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 in 

Yeoman Hall. A variety of soups 

will be offered, along with crackers, 

rolls, dessert, and beverages. 

The cost is $7 for adults, $3.50 

for children (3-12), under age 3 

are free. Carry-outs available. 

The church is handicapped accessible. 

Have something for Faith 

Briefs? Contact Assistant 

Editor Erin Redmond at 

e.redmond@22ndcenturymedia. 

com or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 15. 

Information is due by noon Thursday 

one week prior to publication.

homerhorizon.com life & aRTS 


Youth theater performs ‘The Lion King Jr.’ at LTHS 

Ryan Esguerra 

Freelance Reporter 

It did not take long for the 

sold-out crowd that packed 


School’s East Campus auditorium 

Jan. 28 to notice 

that the Lockport-Homer 

Youth Theater’s presentation 

of “The Lion King Jr.” was 

much more than your average 

youth theatre production. 

“I know when people think 

youth theatre, they think stick 

hats and paper masks, but we 

do try to offer them an experience 

that they wouldn’t get 

otherwise,” Angela Adolf, executive 

director of the Lockport-Homer 

Youth Theater 

said. “We want to pull some 

of these things off to make it 

seem like you are at a show in 

downtown Chicago.” 

Guided by an opening 

verse from Nick Pugh, who 

played Rafiki, the opening 

curtain of “The Lion King 

Jr.” introduced the crowd to 

more than 100 performers 

ages 5-15 while they sang 

and danced to the classic tune 

“The Circle of Life.” 

“We did not try to mimic 

the movie,” Adolf said. “We 

did a little bit of character development 

with the kids, but 

I think that the iconic characters 

“The Lion King” has 

made it easy for the kids to 

want to be like the characters 

they remember from when 

they were younger.” 

During the “Circle of 

Life,” Claire Roling — wearing 

a life-sized giraffe costume 

and stilts — emerged 

from backstage to join her 

cast members in the singing; 

drawing a collective gasp of 

excitement and awe from the 

crowd. From that point on, 

the tone was set. 

“I told her, when you walk 

out you are going to hear and 

feel the excitement of the 

audience,” Adolf said. “The 

beauty of performing arts 

Sam Connors (Scar) performs along with a group of actors playing hyenas Jan. 28 during 

the Lockport-Homer Youth Theater’s production of “The Lion King Jr.” at Lockport 

Township High School’s East Campus. Photos by Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media 

goes beyond just the actors, it 

is the scenery, the lighting and 

design and the sound mix.” 

On top of the professionallevel 

stage production that 

featured authentic character 

costumes and stage scenery, 

the 90-minute performance 

featured “Lion King” classic 

songs such as “Be Prepared,” 

“Hakuna Matata,” and “Can 

You Feel the Love Tonight.” 

Performances by a starstudded 

cast were headlined 

by Pugh; Sam Connors, who 

played Scar; Aiden Callahan, 

who played older Simba; and 

Graham Carlson, who played 

younger Simba. 

“It is a lot of pressure to 

perform in front of 850 people, 

and that is no small task 

for a 12-year-old Rafiki and 

a 14-year-old Simba,” Adolf 

said. “It was amazing that 

they were able to keep their 

cool and perform at a high 

level.” 

The eighth-grader Callahan, 

who is in his first year 

of theater performing, said 

other than the brief stress of 

performing in front of his 

family and friends, he loved 

the show and appreciated the 

opportunity to work with his 

castmates. 

“This show has been extraordinary,” 

Callahan said. 

“We just kept getting better 

and giving it our all each and 

every show. 

“[The cast] are all just 

amazing; they are beyond 

what I could expect from 

anyone, and they are so talented. 

I am honored to work 

with them.” 

The cast performed three 

times over the course of the 

weekend in front of sold out 

crowds that totaled nearly 

2,000 people by the final curtain. 

Adolf said she credits a 

lot of the success to the way 

her cast — both young and 

old — worked together. 

“It’s a nice balance,” Adolf 

said of the mix of younger 

and older actors. “I love that 

the little ones have something 

to learn each show and that 

they learn a little bit more 

each time they perform. Our 

older cast members act as 

role models for them.” 

The show closed with the 

main character Simba taking 

back the pride lands. The cast 

assembled at the front of the 

stage to a standing ovation 

with noticeable looks of pride 

and accomplishment. 

“I always get a chill at the 

very end when they are bowing 

because of how happy 

they look being rewarded for 

all of their hard work,” Adolf 

said. 

Adolf continued on to say 

the main goal of Lockport- 

Homer Youth Theater is to 

continue educating kids in 

theater arts and using performances 

like “The Lion King 

Jr.” to unlock their creative 

potential. 

“Our main goal is to try to 

educate the kids in the fine 

arts and give them an opportunity 

they otherwise wouldn’t 

have,” Adolf said. “We want 

to be all-inclusive to as many 

kids as the program will allow. 

Everyone has a talent, no 

matter what it may be, and we 

want to give them an opportunity 

to do whatever they are 

passionate about.” 

Ryan Adolf (right) performs as Mufasa alongside Sam 

Connors (Scar). 

Nick Pugh (Rafiki) gestures during the show. 

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18 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon dining out 


Vegan Cafe owner perseveres to run restaurant 

Homer resident 

continues to find 

purpose with food 


About 10 years ago, Marguerite 

Baltages-Ruminski 

was staring death in the face. 

Her corporate job, she told 

her husband, was going to kill 

her emotionally, spiritually or 

physically. She knew she had 

to get out. So, she traded her 

cubicle for kitchenware and 

started her own catering business, 

Healthy Sins. 

Fast forward five years to 

the night the Homer Glen 

resident and her husband 

dropped into the Vegan Cafe, 

928 S. State St., Lockport, for 

dinner. As she was dining on 

the surprisingly scrumptious 

cuisine, a light bulb went off 

in Baltages-Ruminski’s head. 

She found out the cafe offered 

classes and decided to take a 

few as a way to expand her catering 

business. But when she 

found out the cafe was volunteer-based, 

it was game over. 

“I love to volunteer; I started 

volunteering so much that 

[then owner] Laurie Sloan 

approached me and said, ‘Do 

you want to buy it?,’ Marguerite 

Baltages-Ruminski 

said. “I looked at her and said, 

‘Are you nuts?’ ... Next thing 

I knew, I was signing the [paperwork].” 

A new era 

Baltages-Ruminski loved 

the cafe so much when she 

bought it that she did not 

want to change much — but 

she had to put her spin on it. 

The artwork on the walls and 

some of the traditional recipes 

remain the same, but she 

has introduced items like the 

The Salisbury “steak” ($17.95) is made of walnuts, 

mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and onions with a cascading 

mushroom gravy on top. The lunch special ($13), seen 

here, also comes with a garden salad and brownie bites. 

Erin Redmond/22nd Century Media 

Salisbury “steak” ($17.95; 

$13 lunch special), which 

is made of walnuts, mushrooms, 

pumpkin seeds and 

onions and topped with a 

creamy — yet cream-less — 

mushroom gravy. 

The creamy Alfredo pasta 

dish ($14.95 for small, $19,95 

for large) is hands down Baltages-Ruminski’s 

favorite, 

however. The pasta consists 

of spiral cut zucchini noodles 

and the sauce is simply cashews, 

lemon juice, olive 

oil, garlic, herbs and traditional 

yeast, which gives it the 

cheesy flavor. It’s all topped 

Vegan Cafe 

928 S. State Street in 

Lockport 

Hours 

• 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 

Monday-Thursday 

• 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday- 

Saturday 

• Sunday: closed, 

available for private 

parties 

For more information... 

Web: www.rawvegancafe. 

org 

Phone: (815) 838-4626 

with marinated mushrooms. 

“This is the healthiest you 

will eat anywhere, any time,” 

Baltages-Ruminski said. 

On a mission 

Baltages-Ruminski’s interest 

in healthy foods did not 

happen by accident, and her 

mission is twofold — get 

healthier and give back. 

She was diagnosed with 

multiple sclerosis nearly 20 

years ago, and when her doctor 

told her that her numbers 

were “off the charts,” she 

knew it was time for a change. 

The Vegan Cafe was a nonprofit 

when she bought it and 

while she tried to uphold its 

status, Baltages-Ruminski 

said she is doing “the next 

best thing.” All volunteers are 

now paid employees, but she 

does not collect a salary. Instead, 

everything goes back to 

charities such as MorningStar 

Mission and TLC Animal 

Shelter. 

“Honestly, that’s why I do 

it,” Baltages-Ruminski said. 

“I got to a point in my life 

where I’m like ‘let’s have 

some fun’ — and it is. I love 

this ... I wake up in the morning 

with a purpose.” 

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homerhorizon.com life & arts 


Prom Dress Resale grows at LTHS 


Once a week is weak. 

Prom dress shopping was 

an eye-opening experience 

for Kim Brehm. 

While she was elated when 

her daughter, Brittany, found 

the perfect dress for her special 

night, the price tag nearly 

sent her into shock. And that 

is when she had an idea. 

As the director of The 


School District 205 Foundation, 

Kim came up with the 

idea to help ease the burden 

of dress shopping for high 

schoolers and their parents in 

a way that could also benefit 

the foundation. 

Now in its sixth year, the 

Prom Dress Resale continues 

to grow. Last year, the foundation 

collected more than 

700 dresses, selling about 

half of them for a total of 

around $8,000. And of that, 

25 percent from each sale 

goes back to the foundation, 

which is used for scholarships 

for LTHS students. 

While the group has always 

run two days of dress 

collection, it added an extra 

day of sales this year to give 

shoppers more time to find 

their perfect prom dress. 

“It’s a lot of work and a 

lot of dresses, but it benefits 

the scholarships and it helps 

people go to prom who might 

Donna Weis (left), a teacher at Lockport Township High 

School, sets prices for the 12 dresses she dropped off with 

Sydnee Palade during the Prom Dress Resale drop-off Jan. 

25 at LTHS’s East Campus. Erin Redmond/22nd Century Media 

not have been able to afford 

it...,” said Brittany, who helps 

her mother organize the annual 

event. “People give 

some really nice dresses, the 

same dresses that come from 

Peaches and the other dress 

shops that have only been 

worn once — or not at all.” 

The event is run by foundation 

members and student 

volunteers, who earn service 

hours for their time spent 

sorting and pricing dresses, 

as well as building the racks 

to hold them. Many of them, 

like junior Ally Fischer, return 

year after year to help 

out — and to scope out the 

dresses. 

“The first time I volunteered 

was for my eighthgrade 

social,” Fischer said. 

“I wanted to find a dress, so I 

figured the best way to scope 

it out was to volunteer. I ended 

up getting my dress here, 

so that was nice.” 

Dresses start as low as $20 

for shorter styles and can sell 

as high as $300. The prices 

are set by seller, unless the 

dress is donated outright. 

With prom just around the 

corner, student volunteers 

like Fischer have already 

started shopping. 

“There’s a lot of dresses 

that I’m going to try on,” she 

said. “I look forward to this 

because I really love dresses.” 

You don’t have to wait until the paper 

arrives for your news. 

Attention Builders: 

Advertise with 

22nd Century Media 

Reach 92,000+ Southwest Suburban homes. 

Join today to get all the news from your newspaper 

as it happens—online anytime, anywhere. 

Visit HomerHorizon.com/Plus 

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Contact 

Lora Healy 

708.326.9170 ext. 31 

l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com 

Brought to you by THE HOMER HORIZON


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22 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon dining out 


The Dish 

El Balcon adopts rebellious Durango cuisine, attitude 

Owners introduce 

new dishes, put own 

twists on classics 


Rebellious spirits are born 

and bred in Durango, Mexico. 

From the very first Mexican 

president, Guadalupe 

Victoria, to revolutionary 

Francisco “Pancho” Villa to 

restaurant owners Claudia 

Morales and her son Diego, 

they have fought against social 

conformity in their own 

ways. 

The latter duo opened El 

Balcon, 11247 W. 143rd St. 

in Orland Park, this past November 

with a plan to defy 

the popular conception of 

Mexican food. Their menu 

features items that have left 

those most fluent in Mexican 

cuisine seeking a tasty translation. 

The Morales family has 

owned a restaurant by the 

same name in Bolingbrook 

for 13 years but decided 

it was time to broaden the 

reach of their culinary “revolución.” 

“We include some not very 

common or popular foods,” 

Claudia said. “In Mexico, 

they are popular, but not in 

the area. So, a lot of people 

ask us, ‘What is this?’” 

“We do our own salsas, our 

own chips, enchiladas — we do 

everything. We don’t use [anything] 

that comes from outside. We do 

everything fresh right here” 

Claudia Morales — Owner of El Balcon in Orland 

Park 

El Balcon 

11247 W. 143rd St. in 

Orland Park 

Hours 

• 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 

Monday-Saturday 

• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday 

For more information ... 

Phone: (708) 226-5666 

Web: www. 

elbalconorlandpark.com 

Hard to say, easy to eat 

One of the tongue-twisting 

menu items featured at 

El Balcon is the huarache 

(Wah RAH chay). It is like 

a Mexican version of a personal 

pizza — but better. 

The huaraches’ ($6.50) 

elongated, open-faced tortilla 

features a layer of beans 

upon which your choice 

of meat — steak, chicken, 

marinated pork or Mexican 

sausage — rests comfortably. 

Lettuce and cheese are 

sprinkled over the meat, and 

the whole thing is topped 

with tomato slices. 

Not a carnivore? The meat 

can be swapped out for poblano 

pepper strips with 

cheese. It is also served sin 

carne, or “plain.” 

Anyone who has ever 

stepped foot inside a Chipotle 

restaurant has undoubtedly 

heard of barbacoa, but 

the fast food chain’s variety 

is a far cry from how El 

Balcon does it. While most 

places use shredded beef for 

this dish, at the Orland Park 

spot it is made with steamed 

lamb. The barbacoa can be 

found nestled in the restaurant’s 

hefty tacos ($2.59 

each), wrapped in a corn tortilla 

and paired with either 

lettuce and tomato, or Mexican 

style with onions and 

cilantro. On the weekends, 

El Balcon also sells its barbacoa 

by the pound ($11.99) 

or half-pound ($5.99). 

“A customer told me the 

other day that we were the 

only ones in the area who 

sold [lamb barbacoa],” 

Claudia said. “I didn’t know 

about that.” 

And while they try to incorporate 

foods from all 

over Mexico, the Morales 

family features some distinct 

Durango-area dishes. Hailing 

from an area known for 

its peppers, the chiles rellenos 

($9.99) — stuffed poblano 

peppers — was a must for 

their menu. The dinner plate 

is served with rice, beans, 

lettuce and tomato. 

The enchiladas dinner 

plate ($8.99) is another Durango 

delight, especially 

when served rojas-style, 

which means it is smothered 

in red sauce. It also is available 

with a milder verdes 

version, also known as green 

sauce. 

New twist on an old 

favorite 

Mexican food connoisseurs 

know and love the 

quesadilla, but Claudia will 

bet pesos to pozole they 

have not had it like this. El 

Balcon features the classic 

quesadilla fixins’ — steak, 

chicken, pork and Mexican 

sausage — as well as some 

not as familiar to locals. 

For diners feeling adventurous, 

they offer ones with 

The barbacoa taco ($2.59) at El Balcon is a popular favorite, especially given that it is made 

from lamb, not beef. Photos by Erin Redmond/22nd Century Media 

El Balcon offers quesadillas ($5.50) in a wide array of options, ranging from the classic 

asada, or skirt steak, seen here to more adventurous options like the chicharrón, which is 

fried pork skin. 

Flor de Calabaza (pumpkin 

flower), cuitlacoche (corn 

mushrooms) and chicharrón, 

which is fried pork skin. All 

the quesadillas ($5.50) are 

served with lettuce and sour 

cream. 

Every item on the menu 

has been revolutionized by 

the Morales family, right 

down to the guacamole and 

chips ($4.99). It is by far one 

of the young restaurant’s 

most popular dishes, and 

Claudia said that is for good 

reason. 

“We have a home-style 

in our food,” she said. “We 

do our own salsas, our own 

chips, enchiladas — we do 

everything. We don’t use 

[anything] that comes from 

outside. We do everything 

fresh right here, which 

sometimes takes longer than 

usual. I think [people can 

taste] a difference.”

homerhorizon.com local living 


Build and Move into Your New Home from the low $200s 

With Lincoln-Way Schools at Prairie Trails in Manhattan 

Distinctive Home Builders provides homeowners the 

highest quality home on the market 

Distinctive Home Builders 

continues to add high quality 

homes to the Manhattan 

landscape at Prairie Trails; its 

latest new home community, 

located within the highly-regarded 

Lincoln-Way School 

District. Many families are 

happy to call Prairie Trails 

home and are pleased that 

Distinctive is able to deliver a 

new home with zero punch list 

items in 90 days. Before closing, 

each home undergoes an 

industry-leading checklist that 

ensures each home measures 

up to the firm’s high quality 

standards. 

“Actually our last average 

was 81 working days from excavation 

to receiving a home 

occupancy permit - without 

sacrificing quality,” said Bryan 

Nooner, president of Distinctive 

Home Builders. “Everyone 

at the company works 

extremely hard to continually 

achieve this delivery goal for 

our homeowners. Our three 

decades building homes provides 

this efficient construction 

system. Many of our 

skilled craftsmen have been 

working with our company for 

Recently closed Prairie Trails Arbor Model 

over 20 years. We also take 

pride on having excellent communicators 

throughout our 

organization. This translates 

into a positive buying and 

building experience for our 

homeowners and one of the 

highest referral rates in the industry 

for Distinctive.” 

In all, buyers can select 

from 13 ranch, split-level and 

six two-story single-family 

home styles; each offering 

three to eight different exterior 

elevations. The three- to 

four-bedroom homes feature 

two to two-and-one-half 

baths, two- to three-car garages 

and a family room, all in 

approximately 1,600 to over 

3,000 square feet of living 

space. Basements are included 

in most models as well. Distinctive 

also encourages customization 

to make your new 

home truly personalized to 

suit your lifestyle. 

Oversize home sites; brick 

exteriors on all four sides of 

the first floor; custom maple 

cabinets; ceramic tile or hardwood 

floors in the kitchen, 

baths and foyer; genuine wood 

trim and doors; granite countertops 

and concrete driveways 

can all be yours at Prairie 

Trails. All home sites at Prairie 

Trails can accommodate a 

three-car garage; a very important 

amenity to the Manhattan 

homebuyer, according 

to Nooner. 

“When we opened Prairie 

Trails we wanted to provide 

the best new home value for 

the dollar and we feel with 

offering Premium Standard 

Features that we do just that. 

So why wait? This is truly the 

best time to build your dream 

home!” 

Distinctive offers custom 

maple kitchen cabinets featuring 

solid wood construction 

(no particle board), have solid 

wood drawers with dove tail 

joints, which is very rare in the 

marketplace. “When you buy 

a new home from Distinctive, 

you truly are receiving custom 

made cabinets in every home 

we sell no matter what the 

price range,” noted Nooner. 

Nooner added that all 

homes are highly energy efficient. 

Every home built will 

have upgraded wall and ceiling 

insulation values with 

Recently closed Prairie Trails Arbor Model 

energy efficient windows and 

high efficiency furnaces. Before 

homeowners move into 

their new home, Distinctive 

Home Builders conducts a 

blower door test that pressurizes 

the home to ensure that 

each home passes a set of very 

stringent Energy Efficiency 

guidelines. 

Typically a wide variety of 

homes are available to tour 

that include ranch and twostory 

homes. 

Distinctive is also offering 

a brand new home, the 

Stonegrove, a 3,000 square 

foot open concept home with a 

split foyer entry, formal living 

and dining rooms, a two-story 

great room, four bedrooms 

and an upstairs laundry room. 

Distinctive also offers Appbased 

technology allowing its 

homeowners to be updated 

on the progress of their new 

home 24 hours a day, seven 

days a week at the touch of a 

button. 

Prairie Trails is also a beautiful 

place to live featuring a 

20-acre lake on site, as well 

as direct access to the 22-mile 

Wauponsee Glacial Prairie 

Path that borders the community 

and meanders through 

many neighboring communities 

and links to many other 

popular trails. The Manhattan 

Metra station is also nearby. 

Besides Prairie Trails, Distinctive 

Home Builders has 

built hundreds of homes 

throughout Manhattan in the 

Butternut Ridge and Leighlinbridge 

developments, as well 

as thousands in the Will and 

south Cook county areas over 

the past 30 years. 

Visit the on-site sales information 

center for unadvertised 

specials and view the numerous 

styles of homes being 

offered and the available lots. 

Call (708) 737-9142 for more 

information or visit us online 

at www.distinctivehomebuilders.com. 

The Prairie Trails 

new home information center 

is located three miles south 

of Laraway Rd. on Rt. 52. The 

address is 16233 Pinto Lane, 

Manhattan, IL, 60422. Open 

Daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Closed Wednesday and Thursday 

and always available by 

appointment. Specials, prices, 

specifications, standard features, 

model offerings, build 

times and lot availability are 

subject to change without notice. 

Please contact a Distinctive 

representative for current 

pricing and complete details.

24 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon local living 


Outstanding new home values in Peotone can be yours At Westgate Manor 

Distinctive Home Builders is building new homes from the low $200s 

When it comes to a preferred location, 

Peotone is a steadily growing 

suburb with a strong infrastructure 

and an irresistible small-town charm 

with a bright future—which is why Distinctive 

Home Builders chose the Will 

County village for its newest community 

of 38 single-family homes: Westgate 

Manor. 

“Peotone is a family-friendly village 

just south of Chicago and is one 

of the best kept secrets among new 

home seekers,” said Bryan Nooner, 

President of Distinctive Home Builders. 

“We expect to attract home shoppers 

from northwest Indiana and the 

south suburban Chicago marketplace. 

We will likely also see buyers from the 

Kankakee area because the Peotone 

school district is so desirable.” 

Several factors attracted Distinctive 

Home Builders to this hometown atmosphere 

community, not the least of 

which was its convenient location between 

Interstate 57 and Illinois Route 

50 and easy access to I-80. Commuters 

will enjoy several nearby train stations 

and a mere 35-minute drive to 

Chicago. 

“It’s a vibrant, growing community 

that benefits from ease of access to job 

centers in the west and southwest suburbs 

with impressive commercial and 

industrial growth that has followed the 

residential boom here,” said Nooner. 

“Affordable land prices in Peotone, 

combined with lower construction 

costs add up to savings when compared 

to a similarly-equipped home in 

the area,” added Nooner. 

Westgate Manor brick and frame 

homes offer (features vary per model) 

The Fahan II, a split level 3-4BR luxury townhome at Brookside Meadows. 

2-Story Great Room Prairie Model 

three to four bedrooms, two to threeand- 

a-half baths, full basement, 

formal dining room, vaulted, tray or 

nine-foot first-floor ceilings, a large 

kitchen with custom maple cabinets, 

family room or great room, and concrete 

driveways. Depending on the 

home selected, other standard amenities 

can include a living room, den, 

dinette, a tray or vaulted ceiling in 

the master bedroom, and dual-zoned 

heating and air conditioning. 

Distinctive Home Builders offers a 

wide variety of styles and selections— 

buyers can choose among 12 different 

designs—each available in three to 

eight different elevations at Westgate 

Manor, including two-story and ranch 

homes. Square footages span 1,600 to 

2,500 for ranches and 1,800 to 3,000 

for two-story homes. 

“Most home shoppers feel there 

must be a trade off from getting what 

you need and what you want in a new 

home. With our new premium inclusions 

we have closed that gap significantly 

by including additional features 

that our buyers told us were most important 

to them,” said Nooner, who 

added that “now is the best time to buy, 

because you can still take advantage of 

preconstruction prices that range from 

the low $200s which makes this a terrific 

New home value.” 

Other premium standard features 

included at Westgate Manor are brick 

front exteriors on the first floor, free 

basements in most models, ceramic 

tile or hardwood floors in the kitchen, 

baths and foyer; and custom maple 

cabinets. Distinctive kitchen cabinets 

feature solid wood construction (no 

particle board), have solid wood drawers 

with dove tail joints, which is very 

rare in the marketplace. 

“When you build a new home with 

Distinctive, you truly are receiving a 

hand crafted home with custom made 

cabinets no matter what the price 

range,” noted Nooner. This year, Distinctive 

Home Builders is celebrating 

30 years building thousands of homes 

throughout the Will and south Cook 

county areas. 

Distinctive Home Builders, an industry 

leading innovator, offers the 

fastest build times (90 working days) 

with a “Zero Punch list” closing policy. 

Prior to closing, each home undergoes 

an industry leading 100-point checklist 

to insure the home measures up to 

our high quality standards. 

Single-family 2-3BR townhome - The Lennan II, at Brookside Meadows. 

Exterior Prairie Model 

Customers stay connected to the 

progress of their home from start to 

finish through Distinctive’s unique construction 

portal. “Our customers simply 

download our Distinctive HomeBuilders 

app and they are in touch with their 

new home 24/7 from anywhere in the 

world. The app allows our customers 

to see the progress of their home and 

access their documents at any time,” 

Nooner explained. “Our customers really 

appreciate the integration of social 

media sites directly in our app allowing 

them to easily share photos and updates 

of their new home with family and 

friends,” he concluded. 

As a semi-custom builder, Distinctive 

Home Builders can modify any of 

its standard designs to cater to a customer’s 

tastes, which means that moving 

walls, adding extra windows or even 

extending the garage are all possible. 

Nooner added that “All our homes 

are highly energy efficient and will be 

built to the new National Energy Code 

guidelines. Every home we build has 

upgraded wall and ceiling insulation 

values with energy efficient windows 

and high efficiency furnaces. Before our 

customers take possession of their new 

home, we perform a blower door test to 

insure that each home passes a set of 

very stringent guidelines which insures 

that our homes are tight and energy efficient. 

Owning a more energy efficient 

means lower gas and electric bills for our 

customers each month.” 

Peotone was established in 1856 and 

offers tree-lined streets and a charming 

downtown area complete with diners, 

pizza parlors, cafes and pubs. In season 

there is a Farmer’s Market in front 

of the American Legion. Also the community 

has a popular Fall Fest in front 

of the famous Peotone Windmill; once 

a thriving flour mill that put Peotone on 

the map in the late 1800s. A Christmas 

in the Village Festival is another annual 

community event that concludes with a 

Lighted Parade at night. Peotone now 

has an estimated population of just over 

4,000. Metra rail service is nearby providing 

commuters easy access to downtown 

Chicago. 

Westgate Manor is conveniently located 

within walking distance of the 

esteemed Peotone High School. The 

Westgate Manor new home offsite Sales 

and Information Center is located in 

Manhattan three miles south of Laraway 

Rd. on Rt. 52. at 16233 Pinto Lane, 

Manhattan, IL, 60422. Hours are daily 

from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed 

Wednesday and Thursday and they are 

always available by appointment. 

Specials, prices, specifications, standard 

features, model offerings, build 

times and lot availability are subject to 

change without notice. Please contact 

a Distinctive representative for current 

pricing and complete details. For more 

information, call (708) 479-7700 or 

(708) 737-9142 or visit www.distinctivehomebuilders.com.

homerhorizon.com puzzles 


crosstown CROSSWORD & Sudoku 

The crosstowns: Frankfort, Homer Glen, Lockport, Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, Tinley Park 

Crossword by Myles Mellor and Cindy LaFleur 

Across 

1. Catch 

5. MIRV’s cousin 

9. Dough 

14. It may follow something 

15. Drive off 

16. Event presenter 

17. Opposed to, in 

dialect 

18. Cut, as a log 

19. Portly plus 

20. Sandburg senior 

drum major, Sydney 

_____ 

22. All’s partner 

23. “Yikes!” 

24. Wriggler 

25. He bugs you 

29. Historic building 

34. Gazed amorously 

35. Gangster’s blade 

36. Jeans brand 

37. Defeat decisively 

38. Exciting 

39. Synthetic thread 

40. Pitcher’s asset 

41. Rest 

42. Sudden attack 

43. Famous aria from 

‘Carmen’ 

46. She has a degree 

47. Help 

48. “Long, long time 

___” 

49. Supple 

52. Sandburg school 

sports performers 

58. Work __ 

59. Agave plant 

60. Exaggerated press 

61. Picture 

62. Housing payment 

63. One of the Great 

Lakes 

64. Carpets 

65. Simon who wrote 

“The Death of Napoleon” 

66. Make fun of 

Down 

1. Approximate 

2. Pond scum organism 

3. The upper Thames 

River 

4. Added something 

5. Insurance underwriter 

6. Blackboard need 

7. New Year’s Day game 

8. Like old recordings 

9. Cried like a Siamese 

10. Mummify 

11. Super server 

12. Branch headquarters? 

13. Eyes 

21. Rustic pipe 

24. A deadly sin 

25. Religious scroll 

26. Ancient Greek marketplace 

27. Vertical 

28. Lassie, e.g. 

29. ___ apso (dog) 

30. Sidekick 

31. Warning sound 

32. Played again 

33. Nairobi is its capital 

35. Affix a brand to 

38. Pay attention to 

39. Pronoun 

42. Sheet of ice 

44. Expressing amazement 

verbally 

45. Reunion attendees 

46. Shoelace tips 

48. Intense suffering 

49. Slightly lower 

50. Longing 

51. Former ABC sitcom 

52. Lady’s man 

53. On the safe side 

54. The others 

55. Newbie 

56. Monumental 

57. Request 

How to play Sudoku 

Each sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that 

has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 

squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and 

box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. 

LEVEL: Medium 

Sudoku by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan 

answers 

HOMER GLEN 

Mullets Sports Bar and 

Restaurant 

(14903 S. Bell Road, Homer 

Glen; (708) 645-7000) 

7 p.m. Wednesdays: Trivia 

LOCKPORT 

The Outpost Pub & Grill 

(14929 Archer Ave., 

Lockport; (815) 836-8893) 

■8 ■ p.m. Tuesdays and 

Thursdays: Live DJ and 

Karaoke 

Strike N Spare II 

(811 Northern Drive, 

Lockport; (708) 301-1477) 

■9:30 ■ p.m.-12:30 a.m. 

Mondays: Quartermania 

■Fridays: ■ Live bands 

ORLAND PARK 

Fox’s Restaurant and Pub 

(9655 W. 143rd St., Orland 

Park; (708) 349-2111) 

■6 ■ p.m. Tuesdays, 

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 

Live entertainment 

■7 ■ p.m. Fridays and Saturdays: 

Live entertainment 

and face painter 

TINLEY PARK 

Bailey’s Bar & Grill 

(17731 Oak Park Ave., 

Tinley Park; (708) 429- 

7955) 

■9 ■ p.m. Wednesdays: 

Karaoke 

■7 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Trivia 

■10 ■ p.m. Fridays: DJ 

Dance Party 

■9:30 ■ p.m. Saturdays: 

Live Music 

FRANKFORT 

Pete Mitchell’s Bar & Grill 

(21000 Frankfort Square 

Road, Frankfort; (815) 

464-8100) 

■6-8 ■ p.m. Wednesdays: 

Free N’ Fun Bar Game. 

MOKENA 

The Alley Grill and Tap 

House 

(18700 S. Old LaGrange 

Road, Mokena; (708) 478- 

3610) 

■9 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Karaoke 

NEW LENOX 

Little Joe’s Restaurant 

(1300 N. Cedar Road, New 

Lenox; (815) 463-1099) 

■5-8 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Piano 

Styles by Joe 

To place an event 

in The Scene, email 

b.kapa@22ndcenturymedia. 

com.

26 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon real estate 


$16 FOR 4 ISSUES 

The Homer Horizon’s 

of the 

WEEK 

The original owners 

decided to move to a 

warmer climate, so their 

home is now available. 

What: A spacious two-story 

that is loaded with updates 

and upgrades. 

Where: 14428 Golden 

Oak, Homer Glen 

Chicagolymag.com/subscribe 

Read award-winning writing on Chicago’s biggest 

issues and people in business, politics, and culture. 

Subscribe today and get 20% off the cover price of 

four issues for yourself or a friend, or both. 

Amenities: The owners are 

selling their remodeled 

and spacious home 

nestled in the popular 

Old Oak subdivision with 

scenic bike and walking 

paths. This home offers 

a family room with cozy 

fireplace; a formal dining 

room with crown molding; 

a spacious kitchen with 

granite counters, all 

appliances and newly 

refaced cabinets; a 

formal living room 

with crown molding; 

gleaming hardwood floors 

throughout most of the 

home; a luxury master 

suite with newly remodeled 

master bath boasting an 

oversized shower, soaking 

tub and maple vanity 

with quartz top; second 

and third bedrooms with 

walk-in closets; all newly 

remodeled baths; a full, 

partially finished basement 

with recreation room; 

a fenced, parklike yard 

with concrete patio; and 

an extra wide driveway. 

Newer facets of the home 

include the fence in 2016, 

the furance in 2013, the 

air conditioning in 2011, 

the water heater in 2013, 

baths in 2014, kitchen 

in 2014, doors in 2011, 

windows, wood flooring, 

six-panel doors in 2010, 

40-year roof with gutter 

guards in 2007 and 

extra insulation. All large 

ticket items have been 

completed. 

Listing Price: $349,900 

Listing Agent: For more 

information, call Kim Wirtz, 

Century 21 Affiliated, at 

(708) 516-3050 or www. 

kimwirtz.com. 

Want to know how to become 

Home of the Week? Contact 

Tricia at (708) 326-9170 

ext. 47. 

A 22 nd Century Media publication 

ChicagolyMag.com 

Dec. 20 

• 14130 Sheffield Drive 

404, Homer Glen, 60491- 

7878 Standard Bank & 

Trust Trustee to Sheila M. 

Kundys, $236,400 

• 14160 Sheffield 

Drive 102, Homer Glen, 

604918050 Standard 

Bank & Trust Trustee 

to Charlotte Bruno, 

$212,900 

• 14336 S. Hillcrest 

Road, Homer Glen, 

604919324 Gregory 

Brynda to Thomas Durso, 

Beth Durso, $269,000 

Dec. 21 

• 13057 Spring Court, 

Homer Glen, 604918702 

Mark E. Kirby to Charles 

Sanders, $305,000 

The Going Rate is provided 

by Record Information Services, 

Inc. For more information, 

visit www.public-record. 

com or call (630) 557-1000.

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company that serves the Southwest suburbs. We are proudly A+ 

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We treat every service call like it’s our own home - because we 

know how much yours means to you. No matter what time of day, 

you can count on Service 1 for a free estimate - just one of our 

many other everyday promotions. 

How to Reach Us 

 

www.service1heating.com 

Find more great services like this by 

turning to our Business and 

Professional Directories 

Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - Friday at 3pm 

Seeking P/T Shop Worker 

Tinley Park Manufacturing 

Co. seeks responsible, 

detail-oriented individual 

to perform production and 

shipping functions. Duties 

incl. shipping, loading/ 

unloading trucks, 

warehouse duties & 

running production eqmt. 

Forklift cert. & exp. with 

UPS shipping software are 

pluses. MUST be reliable, 

self-starter, excellent 

reading/writing/math. 

Competitive wage. Email 

resume and/or letter to: 

cstratton@aerorubber.com 

AERO Rubber Co., Inc. 

8100 West 185th Street 

Tinley Park, IL 60487 

Outdoor work: F/T 

year-round Employment 

Potential for paid winters 

off. Benefits incl. health, 

dental, IRA. Clean driving 

record a MUST. 

Apply in-person 7320 

Duvan Dr, Tinley Park 

M-R 10a-1p or email 

resume to 

callus@lawntechltd.com 

START A JOB THAT 

YOU’LL LOVE! 

BECOME A BUS DRIVER 

WITH AMERICAN 

SCHOOL BUS. 

708.349.1866 

Help 

Wanted 

1003 Help Wanted 

1007 Education & Training 

CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

Sox Outlet-P/T Days 

Computer Register 

Conducive to college student. 

Employee receives 15% 

discount. Never work past 9 

pm. Closed Thanksgiving, 

Christmas, Easter Sunday, 4th 

of July. Apply within. No 

phone calls please. 

6220 W. 159th St, Oak Forest 

P/T Office Secretary 

$13/hr flexible schedule. 

No exp necessary. 

Candidate must have 

excellent customer service. 

Email resume to 

callus@lawntechltd.com 

or walk-in M-R 10a-1p 

7320 Duvan Dr. 

Tinley Park, IL 

LAWN TECHNICIAN 

Professional company 

located in Frankfort 

looking for reliable 

individual to apply dry 

fertilizer. Experience a 

plus, but not necessary. 

For interview call: 

(708)479-4600 

Looking for an 

experienced insurance 

phone solicitor. Please call 

Cal. 708.460.9470 

St. Joseph Convent in 

Lemont looking for P/T 

CNA. Call Nurse Manager 

Krestina 708.912.7510 

1003 Help 

Wanted 

Part-time Telephone Work 

calling from home for 

AMVETS. Ideal for 

homemakers and retirees. 

Must be reliable and have 

morning &evening hours 

available for calling. 

If interested, 

Call 708 429 6477 

M-F, 10am - 1pm Only! 

Hiring Desk Clerk (2nd 

& 3rd shift) & 

Housekeeping (Morning) 

Needed at Super 8 Motel 

Apply within: 

9485 W. 191st St, Mokena 

No Phone Calls 

P/T Acctg Clerk (15-20 

hrs/wk in Homer Glen). 

Payables, Billing & Special 

Projects. Must be detailed, 

organized and have STRONG 

Excel skills. Min 1 yr exp. 

Send resumes to 

hr@lifespiceingredients.com 

No phone calls please. 

Homer Glen, P/T Office 

Help. Mon-Fri, 30 hrs/wk. 

Skills required: accounting, 

computer & strong customer 

service. $12 an hour. Send 

resume to: 

apm-resume@comcast.net 

P/T Positions Available. 

Group Exercise Instructor, 

Swim Instructor, Massage 

Therapist. Please view our 

employment section at 

OPHFC.com to apply. 

Exp. Legal Assistant 

FT/PT. Mokena criminal & 

divorce firm. Send resume 

& letter to: 

jaytobrien@gmail.com 

Advertise 

your 

RENTAL 

PROPERTY 

in the 

newspaper 

people turn 

to first CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 

www.22ndcenturymedia.com

28 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon Classifieds 


CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It | DEADLINE - Friday at 3pm 

1022 Caregiver 

Needed 

Caregiver needed for day 

and a half per week in 

Olympia Fields area. Light 

cooking & housekeeping. 

Please call: 630.400.1069 

1023 Caregiver 

Caregiver available. 20 yrs 

exp. Great references. Quality 

caring. Excellent cook. 

Driver’s license & own car. 

Live-in or come & go. Call 

Jose 773.559.4603 

Heaven Sent Caregivers 

Professional caregiving 

service. 24 hr or hourly 

services. Licensed & 

bonded. Try the best! 

708.638.0641 

Caregiver Services 

Provided by 

Margaret’s Agency Inc. 

State Licensed & Bonded 

since 1998. Providing 

quality care for elderly. 

Live-in/ Come & go. 

708.403.8707 

1037 Prayer / 

Novena 

Oh, Holy StJude, Apostle & 

Martyr, great in virtue and rich 

in miracle, near kinsman of Jesus 

Christ, faithful intercessor 

of all who invoke your special 

patronage in time ofneed. To 

you Ihave recourse from the 

depth of my heart and humbly 

beg to whom God has given 

such great power to come to 

my assistance. Help me in my 

present and urgent petition, In 

return, I promise to make your 

name known and cause you to 

be invoked. Say three Our Fathers, 

three Hail Marys and 

glories for nine consecutive 

days. Publications must be 

promised. St. Jude pray for us 

all who invoke your aid. 

Amen. This Novena has never 

been known tofail, Ihave had 

requests granted. D.B. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus Thank 

You for Favors Granted. C.B. 

Gracious Virgin Mary Thank 

You for Favors Granted. C.B. 

CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

1061 Autos Wanted 

Automotive 

1061 Autos 

Wanted 

WANTED! 

WE NEED 

RUNNING 

CARS, TRUCKS 

& VANS 

Running Or Not 

Top Dollar Paid !!! 

Free Pick-Up 

Locally Located 

708 205 8241 

Real Estate 

1090 House for 

Sale 

Tinley Park 

2006 all brick custom 

ranch, 3 huge BR’s, 2.5Ba, 

high toilets & vanities, 

beautiful kitchen 42 inch 

cabinets with apantry, fully 

finished sound proof basement, 

huge storage areas, 

super big 2.5 car garage, 80 

x 235 picturesque lot, with 

sprinkler system &swimming 

pool. Reasonable 

taxes. Don’t miss this one. 

$355,000 

708-466-2380 

1094 Offices for 

Sale 

Office Condo for sale in 

Tinley Park 

Price reduced for aquick 

sale! 1003 Sq. Ft. New 

Roof and HVAC. Unit has 

4sinks and akitchen area 

lg. windows. $41,000. 

Call Tom 708 280-8820 

Rental 

1221 Houses for 

Rent 

Orland Park 

House for Rent 

Newly decorated, 4BR, 

1.5Ba, walk in closets, no 

pets. Tenant pays all utilities, 

1year lease, $280.00 aweek 

(6 week security deposit) 

Avail. immediately 

708-620-9703 

1225 Apartments 

for Rent 

New Lenox 

2BR, 2nd floor, freshly 

painted, new flooring, no pets, 

one month security deposit. 

Available now. Senior citizen 

discount. Call 708-829-6294 

Oak Forest Terrace 

15815 Terrace, Oak Forest 

Spacious 1 & 2 Bdrms. 

Serene setting & Beautiful 

Grounds. Tennis, Pool, 

Walking Trails. Near metra. 

708-687-1818 

oakterrapts@att.net 

Tinley Park 

Clean, modern, 2BR, 

$860/month plus security 

& credit check. Heated, 

laundry, A/C, no pets. 

630-207-5994 

708-479-2448 

...to place your Classified Ad! 

CALL 

708.326.9170 

1310 Offices for 

Rent 

Office Spaces For Rent 

328 E. Lincoln Highway 

3 Office Suites Available 

Immediately! 

500 Sq Ft -2nd Floor 

$550/mo 

900 Sq ft-Private entrance 

& frplc. $825/mo 

1000 Sq Ft -2nd Floor. 

Private Entrance & frplc 

$950/mo 

All Utilities included. 

Perfect for small business!! 

National Advantage RE 

815-485-0304 

Business Directory 

2003 Appliance 

Repair 

QUALITY 

APPLIANCE 

REPAIR, Inc. 

• Air Conditioning • Furnaces 

Refrigeration • Dishwashers 

Stoves & Ovens • Microwaves 

Garbage Disposals 

Washers&Dryers 

Family Owned &Operatedsince 1986 

Someone you can TRUST 

All work GUARANTEED 

BEST price in town! 

708-712-1392 

HIRE 

LOCALLY 

Reach over 

83% of 

prospective 

employees in 

your area! 

CALL TODAY FOR RATES 

&INFORMATION 

708-326-9170 


homerhorizon.com Classifieds 


LOCAL REALTOR 

DIRECTORY 

REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS 

CLOSINGS ANDALL REAL ESTATE NEEDS 

THOUSANDSOFTRANSACTIONSCLOSED 

•RECOGNIZEDASAN 

INDUSTRY LEADER FOR 

OUREXPERIENCE AND 

PROFESSIONALISM 

SELLING: $200 Flat Fee* 

BUYING: $500 Flat Fee* 

*Must mention Ad 

•FEATURED INCHICAGO 

REALTOR MAGAZINE 

•SELECTED BYCHICAGO 

AGENTMAGAZINE ASA 

"WHO'S WHO" IN 

CHICAGO REALESTATE 

OFFICESINORLANDPARK & CHICAGO 

WWW.DUFFINDORELAW.COM• 312.566.0911 

708.966.0692 

Attorneys At Law 

www.duffindorelaw.com 

DUFFIN &DORE 

Home financing 

provided by: 

MichaelErwin 

 

 

Sell It! 

With a Classified Ad 

See the Classified Section for more info, or call



CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 


CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

2006 Basement Waterproofing 

2011 Brick/Chimney Experts 2025 Concrete Work 

2011 Brick/Chimney Experts 

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES 

Turn to the classifieds section 

 

 

2017 Cleaning Services 

Barb’s Cleaning 

Service 

We clean your home the 

way YOU want it 

cleaned! Good 

Quality, Professional, 

Reliable, and 

Experienced. 

Please call for 

estimate. 

708-663-1789 

2025 Concrete Work 

EXPERIENCED 

ELECTRICIAN 

R E A S O N A B L E 

5th Cleaning is Free Estimates 

FREE! Valid only one time & Bonded 

2075 Fencing 

2060 Drywall 2070 Electrical 

D E P E N D A B L E 

SMALL JOBS 

CALL ANYTIME 

FANTASTIK POLISH 

(708) 478-8269 

CLEANING SERVICE 

If you’re tired of housework 

Please call us! 

(708)599-5016 


CALL 

708.326.9170 

DRIVE CAR BUYERS 

TO YOUR DOOR WITH 

A CLASSIFIED AUTO AD 

CALL US TODAY at 708.326.9170 

TR Fence & Deck 

Licensed-Bonded-Insured 

FREE ESTIMATES 

 

 

20 Yrs experience 

(708)243-0198(cell)



2080 Firewood 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

2096 Furniture Upholstering 

2120 Handyman 

Ideal 

Firewood 

Seasoned Mixed 

Hardwoods 

$115.00 per FC 

Free Stacking & 

Delivery 

708 235 8917 

815 210 2882 

See the Classified 

Section for more info, 

or call 708.326.9170 

22ndCenturyMedia.com 

2090 Flooring 

Don’t just 

list your 

real estate 

property... 

Sell It! 

With a Classified Ad 

2120 Handyman 

HANDYMAN SERVICE —WHATEVER YOU NEED 

"OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE" 

Windows, Doors, Decks Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, Plumbing Interior and 

Exterior Painting Wall Paper Removal Professional Work At Competitive Prices 

BEECHY’S 

Handyman Service 

Custom Painting 

Drywall & Plaster Repair 

Carpentry Work 

Trim & General 

Tile & Laminated Flooring 

Light Plumbing & Electrical 

Remodeling, Kitchen & Bath 

Install StormWindows/Doors 

Clean Gutters 

Wash Siding & Windows 

Call Vern for Free Estimate! 

708 714 7549 

815 838 4347 

CALL MIKE AT 708-790-3416 

Advertise 

your 

RENTAL 

PROPERTY 

in the 

newspaper 

people turn 



2130 Heating/Cooling 

HIRE 

LOCALLY 

Reach over 

83% of 

prospective 

employees in 

your area! 

CALL TODAY FOR RATES 

&INFORMATION 

708-326-9170 


CARRARAREPAIRSERVICE



CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

2132 Home Improvement 

2130 Heating/Cooling 2132 Home Improvement 

Residential/Commercial 

“Design/Build Professionals" 

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling · Room Additions · Finished Basements · Decks/Pergolas 

· Screen Rooms/ 3 Season Rooms · Front Porches/Porticos · Commercial BuildOuts 

- We provide Design, Product, and Installation - 

Free Consultation: 

Showroom: 

Member 

HomerChamber 

of Commerce 

2135 Insulation 

Visit Our Showroom Location at 1223 N Convent St. Bourbonnais



CLASSIFIEDS 



2150 Paint & Decorating 

Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 


2150 Paint & Decorating 

CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

2170 Plumbing 

Neat, Clean, Professional 

Work At ACompetitive Price 

Specializing in all 

Interior/Exterior Painting 

• Drywall/PlasterRepair 

• Wallpaper Removal 

• Deck/Fence Staining 

• PowerWashing 

Free Estimates 

Senior Discounts 

Forquality & service you 

can trust, call us today! 

MARTY’S 

PAINTING 

Interior / Exterior 

Fast, Neat Painting 

Drywall 

Wallpaper Removal 

Staining 

Free Estimates 

20% Off with this ad 

708-606-3926 

2170 Plumbing 

Tim’s Interior & 

Exterior Painting 

Neat, Clean, Professional 

work at competitive price! 

708-429-0481 

630-886-4835 


CALL 

708.326.9170 

KASCH PLUMBING Inc. 

• Waterheaters 

•SumpPumps 

• Faucets 

Lisense #055-043148 

Complete Plumbing Service 

• WaterLeaks 

• RPZ Testing 

• Ejector Pumps 

•Disposals 

• Toilets 

815.603.6085



CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

2200 Roofing 

CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

2220 Siding 

TR SIDING 

Licensed-Bonded-Insured 

FREE ESTIMATES 

 

 

20 Yrs experience 

(708)243-0198(cell) 

2255 Tree Service 

Merchandise 

Directory 

2489 

Merchandise 

Wanted 

Metal Wanted 

Scrap Metal, Garden 

Tractors, 

Snowmobiles, 

Appliances, Etc. 

ANYTHING METAL! 

Call 815-210-8819 

Free pickup! 

2490 Misc. 

Merchandise 

2294 Window 

Cleaning 

P.K.WINDOW 

CLEANING CO. 

Window Cleaning 

Gutter Cleaning 

Power Washing 

Office Cleaning 

call and get $40.00 off 

708 974-8044 

www.pkwindowcleaning.com 

Queen Size 

Bedroom Set For Sale 

Oak wood, headboard & 

frame, 2 night stands, 

dresser with large mirror, 

great condition must sell. 

$150.00 OBO 

708-403-2525 

Advertise 

your 

RENTAL 

PROPERTY 

in the 

newspaper 

people turn 





CLASSIFIEDS 



2701 Property for 

Sale 

Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 


2701 Property for 

Sale 

CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

2703 Legal 

Notices 

2900 Merchandise 

Under $100 

Laura B. Voogt, CPA 

 

708-668-4200 

www.apex3cpa.com 

 

TAX PREPARATION 

Set up your 

appointment 

online or give 

us a call. 

 

 

 

Kusay Tax Service 

Accounting /Payroll /Financial Planning 

Call for an Appointment Today! Drop-Off Returns Welcome. 

708-645-1188 

“What do you say?...you say KUSAY!” 

Serving The Southwest Suburbs since 1947 

15939 S. Bell Rd. Homer Glen 

(Behind the Bonfire Restaurant) 

SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ES- 

TATE of 13655 W. Dublin Dr., 

Homer Glen, IL 60491 (Residential). 

Onthe 16th day of February, 

2017 to be held at 12:00 noon, 

at the Will County Courthouse Annex, 

57 N. Ottawa Street, Room 

201, Joliet, IL 60432, under Case 

Title: QUICKEN LOANS INC., 

Plaintiff V. CLIFFORD C. 

LINDHORN A/K/A CLIFFORD 

LINDHORN; Defendant. 

Case No. 16 CH 1399 in the Circuit 

Court of the Twelfth Judicial 

Circuit, Will County, Illinois. 

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) 

at the time of sale and the balance 

within twenty-four (24) hours; 

plus, for residential real estate, a 

statutory judicial sale fee calculated 

at the rate of $1 for each 

$1,000 or fraction thereof of the 

amount paid bythe purchaser to 

the person conducting the sale, not 

to exceed $300, for deposit into the 

Abandoned Residential Property 

Municipality Relief Fund. Nojudicial 

sale fee shall be paid by the 

mortgagee acquiring the residential 

real estate pursuant to its credit bid 

at the sale or by any mortgagee, 

judgment creditor, or other lienor 

acquiring the residential real estate 

whose rights inand to the residential 

real estate arose prior to the 

sale. All payments shall be made in 

cash or certified funds payable to 

the Sheriff of Will County. 

In the event the property is a condominium, 

in accordance with 735 

ILCS 5/15-1507(c)(1)(H-1) and 

(H-2), 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 

765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1), you are 

hereby notified that the purchaser 

of the unit, other than amortgagee, 

shall pay the assessments and legal 

fees required by subdivisions 

(g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9and 

the assessments required bysubsection 

(g-1) of Section 18.5 of the 

Illinois Condominium Property 

Act. 

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 

(J) ifthere is asurplus following 

application of the proceeds of sale, 

then the plaintiff shall send written 

notice pursuant to 735 ILCS 

5/15-1512(d) to all parties to the 

proceeding advising them of the 

amount ofthe surplus and that the 

surplus will beheld until aparty 

obtains a court order for its distribution 

or, in the absence of an order, 

until the surplus is forfeited to 

the State. 

For Information Please Contact: 

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG AND 

ASSOCIATES 

230 W. MONROE, SUITE 1125, 

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606 

P: 312 541-9710 

F: 312 541-9711 

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR 

DEBT COLLECTION PRAC- 

TICES ACT YOU ARE AD- 

VISED THAT THIS LAW FIRM 

IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT 

COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO 

COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY 

INFORMATION OBTAINED 

WILL BE USED FOR THAT- 

PURPOSE. 

2703 Legal 

Notices 

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR 

DEBT COLLECTION PRAC- 

TICES ACT YOU ARE AD- 

VISED THAT THIS LAW FIRM 

IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT 

COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO 

COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY 

INFORMATION OBTAINED 

WILL BE USED FOR THAT 

PURPOSE. 

STATE OF ILLINOIS ) 

) SS. 

COUNTY OF WILL ) 

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF 

THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIR- 

CUIT 

WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS 

QUICKEN LOANS INC., 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

CLIFFORD C. LINDHORN 

A/K/A CLIFFORD LINDHORN; 

Defendant. 

No. 16 CH 1399 

NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE 

Public notice ishereby given that 

pursuant to ajudgment entered in 

the above cause on the 14th day of 

November, 2016, MIKE KEL- 

LEY, Sheriff of Will County, Illinois, 

will on Thursday, the 16th 

day of February, 2017 ,commencing 

at 12:00 o'clock noon, at 

the Will County Courthouse Annex, 

57 N. Ottawa Street, Room 

201, Joliet, IL 60432, sell at public 

auction to the highest and best bidder 

orbidders the following-described 

real estate: 

LOT 23 IN ERIN HILLS, A 

SUBDIVISION OF PART OF 

THE NORTH HALF OF THE 

NORTHEAST QUARTER OF 

SECTION 3, TOWNSHIP 30 

NORTH, RANGE 11 EAST OF 

THE THIRD PRINCIPAL ME- 

RIDIAN, ACCORDING TO 

THE PLAT THEREOF RE- 

CORDED IN THE OFFICE OF 

THE RECORDER OFDEEDS 

AS DOCUMENT NO. 

R75-10382, AND SUBSE- 

QUENTLY CORRECTED, ALL 

IN WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 

Commonly known as: 

13655 W. Dublin Dr., Homer 

Glen, IL 60491 

Description of Improvements: 

Residential 

P.I.N.: 

16-05-03-202-008-0000 

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) 

at the time of sale and the balance 

within twenty-four (24) hours; 

plus, for residential real estate, a 

statutory judicial sale fee calculated 

at the rate of $1 for each 

$1,000 or fraction thereof of the 

amount paid bythe purchaser to 

the person conducting the sale, not 

to exceed $300, for deposit into the 

Abandoned Residential Property 

Municipality Relief Fund. Nojudicial 

sale fee shall be paid by the 

mortgagee acquiring the residential 

real estate pursuant to its credit bid 

at the sale or by any mortgagee, 

judgment creditor, or other lienor 

acquiring the residential real estate 

whose rights inand to the residential 

real estate arose prior to the 

sale. All payments shall be made in 

cash or certified funds payable to 

the Sheriff of Will County. 

In the event the property is a condominium, 

in accordance with 735 

ILCS 5/15-1507(c)(1)(H-1) and 

(H-2), 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 

765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1), you are 

hereby notified that the purchaser 

of the unit, other than amortgagee, 

shall pay the assessments and legal 

fees required by subdivisions 

(g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9and 

the assessments required bysubsection 

(g-1) of Section 18.5 of the 

Illinois Condominium Property 

Act. 

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 

(J) ifthere is asurplus following 

application of the proceeds of sale, 

then the plaintiff shall send written 

notice pursuant to 735 ILCS 

5/15-1512(d) to all parties to the 

proceeding advising them of the 

amount ofthe surplus and that the 

surplus will beheld until aparty 

obtains a court order for its distribution 

or, in the absence of an order, 

until the surplus is forfeited to 

the State. 

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE 

CONTACT: 

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG AND 

ASSOCIATES 

230 W. MONROE, SUITE 1125, 

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606 

P: 312 541-9710 

F: 312 541-9711 

MIKE KELLEY 

Plaintiff's Attorney 

Sheriff of Will County 

2900 Merchandise 

Under $100 

2piece luggage onwheels, like 

new $30 firm. 708.873.1245 

2piece luggage onwheels, like 

new $30 firm. 708.873.1245 

20 ft extension ladder $80. 

708.873.1245 

Aldo nicoline black rhinestone 

shoes, only worn once $30 sz 7 

or 36B 708.873.1245 

Body by Jake crunch machine 

$25. Alpine flex-stepper $25. 

Pro form teadmill $50. Call 

Chris 815.791.7675 

Brand new 15” donut tire & jax 

assembly for Hyundai Elantra. 

Car shole bolt pattern onrim. 

Call 708.404.9722 

Chilton’s Auto Repair manual 

1993-1997 hardcover $15. 

708.466.9907 

Construction scaffolding 5x5 

stored inside. Good condition 

$25. 815.592.9474 

Cuisinart grind & brew, never 

used, new in box, 12 cup automatic 

coffee maker $25. 

708.349.1636 

Dyson vaccum cleaner DC 40 

$70. 312.560.8096 

Frankfort area. Kenmore white, 

electrical dryer. Works Fine 

$50. 815.469.1638 

FREE: Lowrey Theater organ, 

double keyboard, full foot pedals. 

Must remove by person. 

708.301.0925 

Green Bay down parka and 

“throw back colors” jacket 

$50. End table with 4pcglass 

inserts on top $25. Hand knit 

sweaters $25. 708.448.8920 

HD USA snow shovel for car 

$15, new USA bent handle 18” 

snow shovel $20. Men’s rubber 

totes sz 9, $9. 6pc wire brush 

set $6. Dimmer switch for any 

lamp $12. 708.460.8308 

Homedics massage programmable 

chair cushion $40. 

708.466.9907 

Long navy winter coat, 100% 

wool size 14. Worn once. Excellent 

condition $25. 

708.444.8535 

Makita Grinder $20. Skill jigsaw 

$20. Ryobi buffer $20. 

708.873.1245 

Mrs. Santa Claus in rocking 

chair, excellent condition $10. 

708.873.1245 

New deluxe 5piece barbecue 

tool set, stainless steel, solid 

oak wood handle $45. 

708.466.9907 

New Toshiba DVD recorder 

with 1080 p upconversion, 

model DR430 in box, $100 

new, $50 cash. Lockport 

815.588.1214



CLASSIFIEDS 



Valentine’s Day 

Love Lines 

Tell your sweetheart how much 

you love them with a Love Line! 

$ 

10 00 Five (5) 

Lines 

Add a graphic from $ 2 00 

Choose from 

Deadline: 

Friday, February 10th 

To place your ad call 

example 

Gayle 

You Make Me Smile! 

You Are My One & Only! 

Love, Jeff 

Publishes: 

Thursday, February 16th 

Or Cut out this form and send to : 

Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 


CUSTOMER 

APPRECIATION 

Month 

FREE FREE FREE 

CLASSIFIED MERCHANDISE ADS!!! 

In this tough economy, we'll give you a free 

merchandise ad totaling $100 or less. 

· Write your FREE ad in 30 words or less. 

· One free ad per week. 

· Same ad may not be submitted more than 3 times. 

· The total selling price of your ad must not exceed $100. 

· Ads will be published on a space available basis. 

· Free Ads are Not Guaranteed to Run! 

GUARANTEE Your Merchandise Ad To Run! 

Ad Copy Here (please print): 

$30 for 7 Papers 

Free Merchandise Ad - All Seven Papers 

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homerhorizon.com sports 


Athlete of the Week 

10 Questions 

with Matt Medina 

Matt Medina is a senior at 


School. 

How did you start 

playing basketball? 

I started with one of my 

teammates, Matt Smietanski. 

He kind of got me into 

it. He just supported me the 

whole way through it. I started 

in seventh grade. 

What do you like about 

it? 

It’s a physical sport. I just 

like to be physical in the post 

with other guys. 

Local youth hoops teams 

duke it out for championship 

Submitted by Will County 

School District 92 

The District 92 Basketball 

Tournament 5th Grade 

Girls division recently took 

place at Ludwig School in 

Lockport. 

high school highlights 

The rest of the week in high school sports 

Boys swimming and diving 

SWSC Blue Championships 

Wrigley Fields took first 

place (395.75) in the diving 

portion of the SouthWest 

Suburban Conference Blue 

Finals Friday, Feb. 3 and 

Saturday, Feb. 4, at Sandburg. 

The Porters finished 

fourth as a team with 160 

points. Josh Lantow won the 

50 freestyle (21.74) and the 

100 freestyle (47.02). 

GIRLS BOWLING 

Lockport 3,731, Minooka 2,957 

The Taft Vikings defeated 

the D92 Fire in a hard-fought, 

back-and-forth championship 

game Jan. 22. The two teams 

have a long and friendly rivalry, 

and members of both 

teams gathered for a photo 

following the game. 

Marrissa Ramirez led the 

Porters with 712 pins on Senior 

Night Jan. 31 at Strike 

and Spare II . Monica Colon 

racked up 677, while Dana 

Ackerson had 655. Paige Reiter 

and Grace Karraker were 

neck-and-neck with 587 and 

577 pins, respectively. 

This Week In... 

Lockport Township 

High School Varsity 

Athletics 

Boys Basketball 

■Feb. ■ 10 at Sandburg, 

6:30 p.m. 

Boys Track and Field 

■Feb. ■ 11 host Lockport 

Quad, 10 a.m. 

Do you have any 

pregame rituals? 

I usually have my teammates 

smack me on the chest 

and smack me on the back a 

lot and just listen to music. 

What is your favorite 

memory from playing 

with the Porters? 

One of my favorite memories 

was playing with all the 

guys from last year. It was 

a special group of guys that 

I’ll never forget. 

Erin Redmond/ 


school, what do you do 

for fun? 

I’m usually either going 

kayaking, fishing or lifting. 

If you could meet any 

celebrity, who would 

you meet? 

I would really like to meet 

Chris Sale because I also 

play baseball. He’s a lefty, 

and I’m a lefty, too. He’s 

someone I really look up to. 

ABOVE: The daughters of the coaches for Taft and D92, 

Hannah Speechley (left) and Melody Alleman, show off the 

trophies the teams earned at the tournament. 

LEFT: Girls fifth-grade basketball players (front row, left to 

right) Kylee Schurig, Reagan Dierberger, Emily McGraw, 

Claire Crosby, Hannah Speechley, Lindsey Kajmowicz, 

Maia Allen, Alyssa Connell, (back row, left to right) Melody 

Alleman, Mia Chudoba and Alaina Peetz pose for a group 

photo Jan. 22 after the championship game of the District 

92 Basketball Tournament. Photos submitted 

Do you have a role 

model? 

I look up to my dad [Steve] 

because he just works super 

hard. 

If you could have any 

superpower, what 

would it be? 

It would be super strength. 

When you are not 

playing basketball or at 

What is the one thing 

you could not live 

without? 

Food, especially steak and 

double-baked potatoes. 

What are your plans for 

after graduation? 

I plan on becoming a firefighter. 

Interview by Assistant Editor 

Erin Redmond 

wrestling 

From Page 38 

said. “Some people thought 

Providence could keep it 

close with us. That’s what 

really motivated us. Every 

day in practice we were like, 

‘They can’t touch us.’” 

Providence advanced eight 

wrestlers to sectionals and 

had a pair of champions in 

juniors Cole Smith (152) and 

Logan Anderson (220). 

Anderson (28-7), a Frankfort 

resident, was seeded 

third but won all three of his 

matches by pin. He pinned 

second-seeded Keith Alvarez, 

of Oswego, in 2:50 in 

the semifinals and needed 

just 37 seconds to pin topseeded 

Salah in the title bout. 

Lindsey and Juan Bazaldua 

(145) earned runner-up 

finishes and the Celtics had 

four third-place finishers. 

At 113, New Lenox resident 

Brock Pfeifer was 

pinned in the semifinals by 

Molton but bounced back to 

win his next two matches to 

finish third. 

Pfeifer (20-12), a freshman, 

pinned Bolingbrook’s 

John McDermott in 1:48 in 

the third-place match. 

Tinley Park resident 

Dominick Ambrose (36- 

8) took third at 138. After 

falling 9-3 to Brandon Ramos 

in the semifinals, he 

rallied for two wins, edging 

Bolingbrook’s Xevion 

Rolle 6-4 in the third-place 

match. 

“I messed up in the semifinals 

and put myself in a bad 

situation,” Ambrose said. “I 

just came back, refocused and 

got my job done. I actually had 

to run off a couple pounds in 

the morning because I was a 

little heavy. I’m not usually 

like that. I’m just excited to 

make it through to next week.” 

Josh Ramos (132) and 

Trevor Swier (170) also took 

third for the Celtics.

38 | February 9, 2017 | The Homer Horizon sports 


Porters steamroll way to regional title at home 

Steve Millar 


Lockport coach Josh Oster 

said his team “didn’t wrestle 

perfect” Saturday, Feb. 4. 

That is a scary thought 

for any team hoping to take 

down the Porters in the postseason. 

The Class 3A Lockport 

Regional was arguably the 

toughest in the state, but the 

hosts dominated it. The Porters 

had eight champions and 

scored 275.5 points, a whopping 

98.5 more than runnerup 

Providence. 

“We knew a day like this 

was possible,” Oster said. 

“There are no holes on this 

team. We wrestled well.” 

The win advanced the Porters, 

ranked No. 1 in the state 

by Illinois Matmen, to the 

dual team sectionals, where 

they will take on Edwardsville 

Feb. 21 at a site to be 

announced. 

Lockport will also send 

13 wrestlers to the Saturday, 

Feb. 11 Normal Community 

individual sectional. 

Sophomore Matt Ramos 

(39-4) came up with the first 

huge win at the home regional 

for the Porters. Ramos, 

ranked No. 6 at 106 pounds, 

upset No. 3 Jake Lindsey, of 

Providence, 3-2 in the title 

match. 

“[Lindsey] is a great wrestler, 

and I’ve been really 

looking forward to wrestling 

him,” Ramos said. “My team 

motivated me the most because 

they told me I could 

do it. If it wasn’t for them, I 

probably wouldn’t have been 

that aggressive.” 

Matt’s brother, Brandon, 

won the title at 138, upsetting 

Plainfield North’s Luke Smiley 

4-3 in the championship 

bout. Brandon improved to 

34-5. 

The Fernandes brothers, 

Lockport’s Payton Fernandes (left) tangles with 

Providence’s Josh Lambert, who is from Homer Glen, 

Saturday, Feb. 4, during a quarterfinal match at the Class 

3A Lockport Regional at LTHS’s East Campus. Adam 

Jomant/22nd Century Media 

Baylor and Payton, also won 

titles. While Baylor (33-8) 

cruised to the title at 138, 

Payton (38-5) earned some 

redemption on his way to the 

182-pound title. 

Payton was seeded fourth 

in his bracket but pinned his 

way to the championship. He 

pinned top-seeded Tim Donahue, 

of Plainfield North, 

in 2:23 in the semifinals then 

pinned Neuqua Valley’s A.J. 

Lighthall in 1:12 in the finals. 

Lighthall had pinned Payton 

earlier in the year. 

“I was sick when I wrestled 

him last time,” Payton said. “I 

wanted to get some revenge. I 

just cranked him as hard as I 

could, and he went over.” 

Anthony Molton (113), 

Abdullah Assaf (132), Trevell 

Timmons (160) and Ronald 

Tucker (285) were all the 

top seed at their respective 

weight class, and all delivered 

with championships. 

Molton (36-7) produced 

two pins before topping 

Neuqua Valley’s Anand Shah 

16-4 in the finals. 

Assaf (21-2) also had two 

pins then topped Oswego’s 

Gannon Hughes 6-4 in one 

of the day’s most competitive 

title bouts. 

“I don’t want to sound 

cocky about it, but a lot of 

matches these past couple 

months, I’ve been able to 

open up and just do whatever 

I wanted to do,” Assaf 

said. “I liked how [Hughes] 

wrestled me the whole time. 

He didn’t back down. It 

was a great match, and that 

just makes me better. I’ll be 

more prepared when I’m in 

a big sectional match or a 

close match somewhere.” 

Timmons (33-4) won his 

first two matches by pin and 

beat Oswego’s Dan Majewski 

by technical fall in the 

championship match. 

Tucker (23-2) pinned a pair 

of opponents and won by forfeit 

in the finals. 

James Pierandozzi (120), 

Nicholas Dado (170) and 

Yousif Salah (220) earned 

runner-up finishes for the Porters, 

while Brendan Ramsey 

(126) and Zach Reese (152) 

finished third. 

All five advanced to sectionals. 

“We wanted to come 

out and show that no one’s 

touching us this year,” Assaf 

Please see wrestling, 37 

Cheerleading 

Porters place in Top 10 at state championship 

Randy Whalen 


When the husband and 

wife team of Jayson and Julianne 

Polad took over as 

cheerleading coaches at Lincoln-Way 

East, they wanted 

to build a program based on 

love. 

In the process, they built 

one that wins state championships. 

After not qualifying for 

state last season, the Griffins 

made a return to the Illinois 

High School Association 

Competitive Cheerleading 

State Finals last weekend. 

There, they captured first 

place for their third state title 

in four years in the large 

school division by nearly two 

full points over runner up 

Joliet West, which was last 

year’s state champion. 

East scored a 94.46 on Saturday, 

Feb. 4, which was the 

final day of the state cheerleading 

competition at U.S. 

Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. 

That is the fifth-largest 

score ever on the final day 

of competition in the 12-year 

history of the event being 

an IHSA sport. The Griffins 

hold the record for best score 

with a 97.06 when they won 

their first state title in 2014. 

Joliet West (92.71) was 

second. Sandburg (90.71) 

brought home its sixth-ever 

state trophy with a third place 

finish. Providence (90.13) 

The Lockport cheerleading team competes Saturday, 

Feb. 4, during the state finals at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in 

Bloomington. Clark Brooks/PhotoNews Media 

was just behind in fourth, 

Neuqua Valley (89.33) was 

fifth and Lockport Township 

(87.00) was sixth as the 

Southland ruled with five 

teams in the Top 6. Lake 

Zurich (85.91), St. Charles 

East (82.63), Edwardsville 

(81.91) and Prospect (79.56) 

rounded out the Top 10 in the 

large school division. 

Lockport, which has seven 

top three finishes, including 

two state titles, entered hoping 

to bring home another 

trophy. But a fall did not help 

its score. 

“Minus one stunt fall, everything 

was better than [the 

preliminary] day,” Lockport 

coach Jenny Krumlinde said. 

“We only have three minutes 

to go out and prove ourselves. 

But I’m really proud 

of the way we stayed with it 

and tried to make up for it.” 

Senior Izzy Piazza agreed 

with her coach. 

“We had one mistake; 

other than that, it was one of 

our best performances of the 

season,” she said. “We had 

a great season. We just have 

a good area of high school 

sports.” 

Piazza was a four-year 

varsity performer. She and 

her teammates made a lot of 

memories in that time. 

“I’ll remember being state 

runner-up my sophomore 

year,” she said. “This year, 

we were [SouthWest Suburban 

Blue] conference champions. 

That’s the first time in 

over a decade that we’ve won 

it.” 

The Porters were fourth 

(88.67) after the first day. 

Krumlinde, who guided the 

team to a second-place finish 

in her first season as head 

coach in 2014-2015, knows 

the competition is not easy. 

“It’s crazy how everyone 

in the area is so good, and 

we’re all competitive with 

each other,” she said. “I’m 

proud of the team, and we’ll 

be back.”

homerhorizon.com sports 


fastbreak 

Girls bowling 

Historic performance gives Porters regional win 

Adam Jomant/22nd Century 

Media 

1st and 3 

Porters wrestling 

demonstrates skill 

level at regional 

1. Advancing by a wide 

margin 

The Lockport wrestling 

team was firing on all 

cylinders Saturday, 

Feb. 4, at the Class 

3A Lockport Regional 

at the school’s East 

Campus. The team 

had eight champions 

and scored 275.5 

points, which was 

98.5 more than the 

runner-up Celtics. 

2. Staying No. 1 

The Porters came into 

the regional ranked 

No.1 in the state 

by Illinois Matmen. 

Lockport will maintain 

that ranking as it now 

waits for the rest of 

the postseason to 

take place. 

3. Also advancing 

In addition, the 

Porters had three 

wrestlers come 

in second at the 

regional, with 

another two coming 

in third. As a result, 

all five advanced to 

sectionals. 

Frank Gogola 


The Lockport girls bowling 

team continues to find 

new ways to amaze coach Art 

Cwudzinski. 

The Porters rolled a Top 3 

team score in program history 

to capture the Plainfield 

South Regional crown by 

nearly 600 pins Saturday, 

Feb. 4, at Town and Country 

Lanes in Joliet. The performance 

that earned them their 

fourth consecutive regional 

championship could have 

been even more dominant if 

not for their Top 2 bowlers 

sitting out the final game. 

“When I think they’ve 

reached their limit, they raise 

LISTEN UP 

“We knew a day like this was possible. 

There are no holes on this team. We 

wrestled well.” 

Josh Oster — Porters wrestling coach, after his team’s dominant 

performance at the Class 3A Lockport Regional 

their play to another notch, 

even if it’s just by one pin,” 

Cwudzinski said. “Honestly, 

I don’t know how high their 

ceiling is.” 

The Porters’ score of 6,381 

pins was the third-best sixgame 

score in program history. 

It was 65 pins better 

than their 6,316 to win the 

SouthWest Suburban Conference 

Jan. 21. 

The score could potentially 

have been even higher 

if not for Cwudzinski resting 

senior Dana Ackerson and 

junior Bailey Delrose in the 

sixth game. Lockport had 

four of the Top 6 individual 

scores after five games before 

substitutes Kaelin Miller and 

Tune In 

Erin Kleffman replaced Ackerson 

and Delrose. 

Senior Monica Colon 

paced the Porters with a 

1,329 for second place. She 

was 44 pins behind champion 

Hannah Jaros from Yorkville. 

Senior Marissa Ramirez was 

right behind with a 1,324 

that put her in third. Colon 

bowled a team-high 277 

in the second game, while 

Ramirez rolled a 257, the 

team’s second-highest game, 

to open the competition. 

“I was feeling it in the 

first game, toward the end,” 

Ramirez said. “It was the best 

ball I had thrown in a while. It 

was amazing, because when 

one of us clicks and bowls a 

strike, it’s just contagious.” 

Girls Bowling 

Leading on the lanes — Saturday, Feb. 11, at Orland 

Bowl 

• The Lockport girls bowling team heads to the 

Andrew Sectional with plenty of confidence after a 

convincing showing in the regional. 

Delrose and Ackerson both 

tied for 25th place with 1,070 

pins despite bowling in only 

five of six games. Delrose 

had a game-high 243, while 

Ackerson rolled a 223 for her 

best game of the day. 

Senior Paige Reiter bowled 

a 623 in the morning session, 

only to have senior Grace 

Karraker replace her and roll 

a 651 in the afternoon session. 

That is why Cwudzinski calls 

his team the “Super Six” – because 

no matter which six are 

out there, all they do is win. 

Miller and Kleffman 

bowled a 179 and 135, respectively, 

in the sixth game. 

The Porters’ 849 in the 

sixth game was their lowest 

score of the day, but they still 

Index 

37 - Athlete of the Week 

37 - This Week In 

finished 645 points ahead of 

second-place Oswego East. 

Their lowest score in their 

first five games was a 1,052. 

They rolled five of the eight 

1,000-pin games in their regional, 

including a 1,082 in 

the first game. 

“I knew they were clicking 

in the first game,” 

Cwudzinski said. “They 

were ready. Their form was 

great, and they were consistently 

striking the pocket. 

They keep the pressure on 

opposing teams. They feed 

off of each other’s energy. 

Just so few open frames. 

In the fifth game [a 1,155], 

they had one open frame the 

entire game, and that came 

on a split.” 

Basketball 

LTHS boys, girls hoops programs join for Porters vs. Cancer 

Randy Whalen 


There was a great turnout 

for a great cause last week as 

the Lockport Township boys 

and girls basketball programs 

hosted the 5th Annual Porters 

vs. Cancer Night Friday, Feb. 

3, at LTHS’s East Campus. 

Playing in front of the largest 

home crowd of the season, 

it was a split decision on 

the court in a pair of South- 

West Suburban Conference 

Blue Division games. The 

resurgent LTHS girls team 

rolled over Stagg 51-29, and 

the boys team put up a battle 

against the top-ranked team 

in the state. That was the 

Bolingbrook Raiders, who 

prevailed by a score of 55-49. 

But off the court, the winner 

was a special cause. In 

conjunction with the Lockport 

St. Baldrick’s Foundation 

fundraising drive, the 

two teams partnered with 

the student government and 

the sports marketing class 

to create an event filled with 

prizes, fun events and donations. 

All the proceeds from the 

evening went straight to the 

fundraising effort. Many in 

the crowd wore pink T-shirts 

that read “Porters vs. Cancer 

Night.” 

“It was awesome,” Lockport 

boys coach Brett Hespell 

said of the event and the turnout. 

“I’m proud of our players 

and the leadership they take in 

this. It was the biggest crowd 

we’ve had [this season] and 

just great the number of pink 

shirts people bought.” 

Lockport girls coach Dan 

Kelly agreed and was very 

happy that his team was a 

part of the event for the second 

straight season. 

“The whole school, the 

whole community comes together,” 

Kelly said. “It’s really 

good. The kids get excited 

about giving back to the cure 

and the community.” 

As a team, the Lockport 

girls basketball squad is back 

this season. With the victory, 

the Lockport girls (16-11, 

4-5) matched the record of 

the 2010-2011 team, which 

was the last one with a winning 

season until this year. 

Meanwhile, while the result 

said the Porters boys 

basketball team lost its fifth 

straight game, they hung 

right in with the No. 1-ranked 

team in the state. But as it has 

all season, Bolingbrook (21- 

0, 6-0) found a way to win. 

Zachary Pytlewski, a junior 

forward who has come 

off the bench to give good 

minutes in recent games, 

enjoyed playing against the 

Raiders and enjoyed being 

part of the Porters vs. Cancer 

event. 

“We came out and played 

our best against them,” Pytlewski 

said of Bolingbrook. 

“They’re a tough team, but 

we just had to trust in each 

other. 

“[Porters vs. Cancer] was 

awesome for the community. 

It was nice to see the community 

come out, and that gave 

us a lot of energy.” 

FASTBREAK is compiled by Editor Thomas Czaja, tom@ 

homerhorizon.com.

homer glen’s Hometown Newspaper | www.homerhorizon.com | February 9, 2017 

Porters tally eight champions in lopsided regional victory at Lockport, Page 38 

four-peat 

Lockport girls bowling captures fourth 

consecutive regional title, Page 39 

one of the best 

LTHS cheer team earns Top 10 finish at 

state finals, Page 38 

Lockport’s Anthony Molton (right) pins Plainfield Central’s 

Timmy Casillas en route to an individual and team title 

Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Class 3A Lockport Regional at 

LTHS’s East Campus. Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media 

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