MM_042017

Eyes on the road 

Village Board urges motorists to stay alert in honor 

of Distracted Driving Awareness Week, Page 3 

Fit as a bunny 

CrossFit Mokena hosts Easter egg huntworkout 

hybrid for children, Page 4 

For savvy sellers 

Sell Your Home 2017 Guide offers wealth of resources for 

those looking to put residences on the market, Inside 

mokena’s Award-Winning Hometown Newspaper mokenamessenger.com • April 20, 2017 • Vol. 10 No. 36 • $1 

A 

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Publication 

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Summit Hill Junior High’s solar panels shine a light on science, Page 5 

Summit Hill Junior High seventh-graders (left to right) Shayne Bonshire, Kailey McMahon and Geena DiBenedetto experiment with UV beads April 12 to learn about solar energy. 

The school installed solar panels over the summer and began working with them in the classroom this past week. Kirsten Onsgard/22nd Century Media 

Inset: Four 16-foot-by-16-foot solar panels top the south end of Summit Hill Junior High School. Photo submitted 

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2 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger calendar 

mokenamessenger.com 

In this week’s 

Messenger 

Pet of the Week.............14 

Standout Student...........17 

Editorial........................19 

Faith Briefs....................22 

Puzzles..........................32 

Classifieds................ 37-47 

Sports...................... 48-56 

The Mokena 

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real estate sales 

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THURSDAY 

Magic Class 

5-5:55 p.m. April 20, Community 

Center, 7540 W. Braemar 

Lane, Frankfort. Join 

the Frankfort Square Park 

District for a magic class for 

ages 5-12. Cost is $22. Registration 

required. For more 

information and registration, 

call (815) 469-3524. 

Tiger University 

6-7 p.m. April 20, Hickory 

Creek Middle School, 22150 

W. 116th Ave., Frankfort. 

Special education related service 

staff members will provide 

an overview of school 

based services and answer 

questions regarding why a 

child may be receiving outside 

medical based services 

but is not eligible for services 

within the school setting. 

These programs are free, but 

pre-registeration is requested. 

For more information, email 

jbajda@fsd157c.org. 

Home Safety Program 

6-8 p.m. April 20, Mokena 

Community Public Library, 

11327 195th St., Mokena. 

Join the Will County Emergency 

team for a fun and educational 

family program titled 

“Hunting Home Hazards 

and Safeguarding Your Valuables. 

For more information 

and registration, call (708) 

479-9663 or email tdomzal 

ski@mokena.lib.il.us. 

Planning Committee/Zoning 

Board of Appeals 

7 p.m. April 20, Mokena 

Village Hall, 11004 Carpenter 

St., Mokena. For more 

information, visit www.mo 

kena.org. 

Frankfort Square Park 

District Board Meeting 

7:30 p.m. April 20, 7540 

W. Braemar Lane, Frankfort. 

For more information and 

agendas visit www.fspd.org. 

Friday 

Theater Outing 

Deadline to register is Friday, 

April 21. The event will 

be held from 12:15-5:30 p.m. 

Sunday, May 21. The trip departs 

at 12:15 p.m. from the 

Founders Community Center, 

140 Oak St., Frankfort. Enjoy 

a buffet Brunch prior to the 

musical “Cabaret”. Champagne, 

coffee, tea and ice tea 

are included. Cost is $98 and 

includes mini-coach transportation, 

ticket and brunch. 


registration, visit www.mokenapark.com. 

Engineering for Kids (4-6) 

4:30-5:30 Fridays from 

April 21-May 26, KidsWork 

Children’s Museum, 11 S. 

White St., Frankfort. Explore 

and construct six different 

toys including spinners 

and whirligigs. For 

more information and registration, 

call (708) 250-5858 

or visit engineeringforkids. 

com/chicagoland. 

Engineering for Kids (7-12) 

6-7:30 Fridays from April 

21-May 26, KidsWork Children’s 

Museum, 11 S. White 

St., Frankfort. Design, create, 

test, and improve a variety of 

machines and mechanical systems. 

For more information 


250-5858 or visit engineer 

ingforkids.com/chicagoland. 

The Music Man, Jr. 

7 p.m. April 21, and 3 p.m. 

and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 

22, Mokena Junior High 

School, 19815 Kirkstone 

Way, Mokena. The Mokena 

Junior High School Musical 

Department will present it’s 

spring musical production of 

The Music Man, Jr. Tickets 

are $6. To purchase tickets, 

stop by the Junior High or 

call (708) 342-4870. 

SATURDAY 

Mokena Clean Up Day 

9 a.m.–1 p.m. April 22, 

Mokena Village Hall, 11004 

Carpenter St., Mokena. Volunteers 

will meet at 9 a.m. at 

Village Hall, and then head 

to various locations to work. 

Bring work gloves. Complimentary 

hot dog lunch and 

drinks will be provided after 

clean up. For more information, 

call (708) 479-3900 or 

visit www.mokena.org. 

Gardening for Pollinators 

1-2 p.m. April 22, Mokena 



Transform your garden into 

a home for butterflies, bees, 

and hummingbirds. Pre-register 

to receive a complimentary 

plant. For more information 

and registration, call 

(708) 479-9663 or tdomzal 


SUNDAY 

Rock Bands Summer Tour 

4-7 p.m. April 23, Jenny’s 

Southside Tap, 10160 191st 

St., Mokena. Join the All 

About Music’s youth rock 

bands, Organized Chaos and 

Mentally Purple. AAMCT’s 

Rock Rock Band will go on 

to perform at the Lions Firecracker 

Weekend, Oak Fest in 

Oak Forest, Taste of Orland, 

and Proud American Days in 

New Lenox. For more information, 

email allaboutmusic 

mokena@yahoo.com. 

Monday 

Can You Afford to Retire? 

6:30-7:15 p.m. April 24, 

Mokena Community Public 

Library, 11327 195th St., 

Mokena. In this 45 minute 

presentation, Greg Kurinec 

of Bentron Financial Group 

will help you evaluate your 

personal ability to retire. He 

will provide participants with 

a self-assessment, checklists, 

and the ten critical questions 

any retiree needs to answer. 

Registration suggested. For 

more information and registration, 

call (708) 479-9663 

or email tdomzalski@mo 

kena.lib.il.us. 

Village Board Meeting 

7 p.m. April 24, Mokena 

Village Hall, 11004 Carpenter 

St., Mokena. For more information, 

agendas and minutes 

visit www.mokena.org. 

TUESDAY 

Breast Cancer Awareness 

Game 

6:25 p.m. April 25, Lincoln- 

Way West High School, 21701 

S. Gougar Road, New Lenox. 

The Lincoln-Way East and 

Lincoln-Way West girls soccer 

teams will play each other in 

8th Annual Girls Soccer Night 

to Support Breast Cancer 

Awareness. Donated gift baskets 

will be raffled during the 

game. Come as early as 4:25 

p.m. to watch the JV game 

and take part in the raffle. Local 

area youth soccer teams 

will play during halftime of 

the varsity game. For more information, 

email hospodar2@ 

comcast.net. 

Wednesday 

Identity Theft and Scams 

6:30-7:30 p.m. April 26, 

Mokena Community Public 

Library, 11327 195th St., Mokena. 

A staff member from the 

Illinois State Comptroller’s 

office will present a workshop 

to address concerns about 

being a victim of identity 

theft. For more information 


479-9663 or email tdomzal 


UPCOMING 

AARP Driver Safety Program 

9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

Thursday, April 27 and 

Friday, April 28, Mokena 



Learn the effects of aging on 

driving and how to remain a 

safe driver. Participants must 

attend both classes. Cost is 

$15 for AARP members and 

$20 for non-members. The 

library will pay fee for the 

first 10 Mokena Public Library 

District residents who 

register. For more information 

and registration, call 

(708) 479-9663. Drivers 55 

years and older, check with 

your insurance company for 

driver’s safety discount. 

ONGOING 

Summertime Stride 5K 

8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 

Willowview Park, 11420 W. 

197th St., Mokena. 5K run 

and walk begins at 8:30 a.m. 

Kids Dash begins at approximately 

9:15 a.m. Register by 

Wednesday, May 3 for $20 

early bird registration and 

a guaranteed t-shirt. Day of 

registration cost is $25. Children 

ages 10 and younger 

can participate in the Kids 

Dash. Cost is $5 and does 

not include a shirt. For more 

information and registration, 

call (708) 390-2401 or visit 

www.mokenapark.com. 

Lincoln-Way Half Marathon 

7 a.m. Saturday, April 29. 

Breidert Green Park, corner 

of Kansas Street and White 

Street in Frankfort. For registration, 

visit www.lincoln 

wayhalfmarathon.com. 

Community Garage Sale 

Registration deadline is 4 

p.m. Friday, May 5. Sign up 

for this year’s communitywide 

garage sale to be held on 

May 18-21 and/or Aug 17-20. 

Call (708) 478-6182 from 8 

a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. 

American Legion meetings 

7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday 

of each month, Frankfort 

VFW, 22057 S. Pfeiffer Road, 

Frankfort. For more information, 

call (815) 469-3993. 

To submit an item to the 

printed calendar, contact 

Amanda Stoll at (708) 

326-9170 ext. 34, or email 

a.stoll@22ndcenturymedia. 

com. Deadline is noon 

Thursdays one week prior to 

publication.

mokenamessenger.com news 

the Mokena Messenger | April 20, 2017 | 3 

Mokena Village Board 

Motorists implored to 

avoid driving distracted 

Community invited 

to help on Mokena 

Clean Up Day 

Round It Up 

A brief recap of action and discussion at the April 10 

meeting of the Mokena Village Board 

YOUR SEARCH BEGINS AT 

• Find Your Dream Home 

• Search ALL Foreclosures & Short Sales 

• Find Out How Much Your Home Is Worth 

• Current Neighborhood Sales Data 

Jon DePaolis 

Freelance Reporter 

Two upcoming events 

were top of mind April 10 

at the Village of Mokena 

Board of Trustees meeting. 

For motorists: Keep your 

eyes on the road, as April 

24-28 is Distracted Driving 

Awareness Week. Mokena 

Police Chief Steven 

Vaccaro said distracted 

driving can entail texting, 

talking on a phone that is 

not hands-free, applying 

makeup, eating or any activity 

that takes away the 

driver’s attention from the 

road. 

He said police will use 

traffic stops during that 

week to educate drivers officers 

believe are driving 

distracted. 

“What the Mokena Police 

Department will do 

is target high-traffic areas 

and high-crash areas, 

and most importantly, our 

school zones,” he 

said. “We’ll ensure 

that our motoring 

public isn’t driving distracted, 

for the safety of our kids 

and our community.” 

Vaccaro said the week is 

meant to be more educational 

than anything else. 

“Rather than being punitive, 

citations will be discretionary 

by my officers,” 

Vaccaro said. “If they feel 

the need to just educate motorists, 

I’m happy with that 

— as long as we’re getting 

the word out that distracted 

driving can cause a serious 

injury or death.” 

• During the meeting, Mayor Frank Fleischer asked 

Village Clerk Patricia Patt to read a proclamation 

recognizing the 50th anniversary of Mr. Benny’s Steak 

and Lobster House. The owners opened their Mokena 

location, their second, in 2000. 

• As part of the consent agenda, trustees voted 6-0 

to approve a special event request from the Mokena 

Marley Clergy to conduct the annual Good Friday Cross 

Walk Procession on April 14. 

• Also part of the consent agenda, trustees approved 

an agreement with Melrose Pyrotechnics, Inc., of 

Kingsbury, Indiana, for fireworks on the Fourth of July. 

Vaccaro said Mokena 

has been fortunate in that 

distracted driving has not 

yielded the types of horror 

stories one might expect. 

But when he was an officer 

in another town, Vaccaro 

recalled a car collision that 

had one of its causes turn 

out to be distracted driving. 

It led to a death. 

“With the nicer weather, 

we got more kids outside 

playing and people on bicycles 

or walking in the 

neighborhoods,” he said. 

“If you take your eyes off 

the road for 2 seconds at 

35 [miles per hour], you’ve 

covered about 90 feet. 

“It’s very important that 

we don’t drive while distracted.” 

Distracted Driving 

Awareness Week is an initiative 

that is sponsored by 

the Illinois Association of 

Chiefs of Police, AAA and 

safetyserve.com. For more 

information about the campaign, 

visit www.iddaw. 

org. 

Also coming up is Mokena 

Clean Up Day, scheduled 

for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on 

Saturday, April 22, at Mokena 

Village Hall, 11004 

Carpenter St. 

“Bring some gloves,” 

Mokena Clerk Patricia Patt 

said during her Community 

Calendar portion of 

the meeting. “And students 

can get community service 

hours.” 

Trustee John Mazzorana 

encouraged residents to 

volunteer during his comments 

at the end of the 

meeting. 

“It’s usually a very nice 

village-wide event,” he 

said. “Hopefully, we can 

clean up the village.” 

Volunteers are to receive 

a free lunch of hot dogs, 

chips, soda pop and water. 

For more information, call 

(708) 479-3900 or visit 

www.mokena.org. 

Trustees approve pond 

water testing 

The board members also 

voted 6-0 to approve a pond 

treatment bid. 

Please see village, 6 

Delivery & Catering, just a call away 

$5.00 off 

Any Dinner or 

sandwich. order of 

$25 or more 

Carry out or dine in. No coupon needed. 

No other offers apply. 

Limited time offer 

TUES & WED ONLY 

$11 95 Large Cheese 

or Sausage Pizza 

Additional 1 topping extra. No substitutuons. 

2 maximum. Limit 1 coupon per order. No 

other offers apply. 

708.205.COBB(2622) 

CHEF JOE DISABATO SERVING GREAT FOOD SINCE 1974 

Dine in or carry out 

$26 95 

DAVID J COBB 

Phone: 815.485.5500 • david@davidjcobb.com 

Jumbo 18” thin 

crust pizza, one 

topping, 6 pc. chicken strips, 

plus fries & 2 liter of soda 

No other offers apply. Limit 1 coupon per 

order. Not valid in dining room. 

$3.00 off 

Jumbo, XL or 

Medium Pizza 

$20 95 

Pizza & Wings: 

Large 14” 1 topping 

pizza, 10 wings, 2 liter of pepsi 

No other offers apply. Limit 1 coupon per 

order. Not valid in dining room. 

Frankfort Square • 7717 St Francis Rd. 

815.464.6700 • villarosacatering.com 

Tues-Thur: 3pm-9:30pm • Sat & Sun 3-10:30pm • Closed Mondays

4 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger news 


Eggs-ercise for the little ones 

CrossFit Mokena’s Easter egg hunt combines candy, fitness 

Bella Garcia enjoys some time hanging from CrossFit 

Mokena’s rings. 

Children participating in CrossFit Mokena’s Easter egg hunt break for the eggs at its beginning Saturday, April 15. Some eggs 

contained candy, and others provided instructions to perform a physical activity. Photos by Julie McMann/22nd Century Media 

Owen Brennan (left) listens as his mother, Lindsay 

Brennan, reads her son’s egg instructions to him. 

Participant Ava Foster completes her Easter egg’s activity, which was to jump over a tire. 

Jake Marks (left) meets the Easter Bunny and completes his activity. His egg told him to 

give the Easter bunny a high five.



Solar panels show students ‘real world’ science 

Kirsten Onsgard, Editor 

Summit Hill Junior High 

seventh-grader Amanda Butryn 

dipped a thermometer 

into three beakers: one ice 

cold, one warm, one hot. She 

and her classmates watched 

the tiny UV beads inside, 

illuminated by an overhead 

projector. 

Like the real solar panels 

that now help power their 

school, the beads brightened 

under a goldilocks medium 

— a not-too-hot, not-toocold 

80 degrees — plus lots 

of light. 

The experiment in Roxanne 

Rodgers’ seventh-grade 

classroom last week was 

among the first of several 

ways Summit Hill students 

are learning about energy 

through the solar panels that 

were installed on the roof 

before the beginning of the 

school year. 

“Kids come into the classroom 

– especially math or 

science — and they’re always 

like, ‘Well, when are 

we going to use this? Why 

do I have to learn this?’” 

Rodgers said. “This a really 

interesting way to show 

them the real world.” 

The four 16-foot by 16- 

foot panels are thanks to a 

$7,000 grant from the Illinois 

Clean Energy Community 

Foundation awarded to 

the school about a year ago. 

New to teaching science 

last year, Rodgers was inspired 

after attending a 

teaching workshop through 

the National Energy Education 

Development Project 

and hearing about the possibilities 

of solar panels from 

fellow teachers. Rodgers 

wrote the application, and 


was one of 23 accepted to 

the grant program out of 50 

applicant schools. 

The panels were installed 

on the south, first-floor roof 

Social studies and science teacher Roxanne Rodgers discusses how temperature and sunlight affect solar panels. 

in July along with help from 

Earth, Wind and Solar Energy. 

With several sunny or 

dreary months of data to dig 

through, her students are 

now able to measure and 

graph how weather impacts 

the efficiency of the panels. 

So far, last August produced 

the most energy 

with 146,000 watt hours — 

enough to run a refrigerator 

for the month — and a drab 

December the least. Since 

the beginning of 2017, they 

have produced 205,151 watt 

hours, the equivalent of 

powering 1,315 light bulbs 

for one night. 

“It’s not going to produce 

enough energy to make our 

electricity bill go down — 

it’s only going to produce 

enough energy for a few 

lightbulbs,” Rodgers said. 

The lessons are a precursor 

to the eighth-grade curriculum, 

Rodgers said, when 

students discuss energy 

throughout the year, from 

atoms to debating nuclear 

energy. 

“It applies to their lives — 

everyone talks about solar, 

but I don’t think that they’ve 

ever really seen data from a 

solar panel,” eighth-grade 

science teacher Lori Szymanski 

said. “It gives them 

meaning, and it’s not just 

this far-away kind of energy 

in sunny places only.” 

Working with real equipment 

and hard numbers isn’t 

beyond her students, Szymanski 

said. 

“It’s not overwhelming 

and too difficult for kids,” 

Please see solar, 13 

Seventh-graders (left to right) Mackenzie O’Brien, Brigid Costello and Kylie Shaughnessy 

work with small solar panels in Roxanne Rodgers’ class. Photos By Kirsten Onsgard/22nd 

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village 

From Page 3 

On March 16, Public 

Works Director Louis Tiberi 

said the Village received 

three bids for the contract. 

All were determined to 

meet the qualifications and 

scope of the contract, so the 

lowest bidder was selected 

— Clarke Aquatic, of St. 

Charles — in the amount 

of $20,356. The next lowest 

bid was approximately 

$5,000 more. 

Tiberi said Clarke Aquatic 

performed similar work 

for the Village satisfactorily 

over the past eight years. 

“It consists of servicing 

some of the stormwater 

ponds throughout the village, 

and the services do 

include water quality monitoring 

to ensure a healthy 

aquatic environment,” 

Tiberi said. “Also, to go 

along with the water quality, 

[there] will be aquatic 

vegetation control.” 

Tiberi said the work has 

been done by a contractor 

for the past 18 years and 

includes 18 Village-owned 

ponds. 

“It does require the successful 

bidder to treat the 

ponds biweekly, between 

May and September, and 

to comply with all environmental 

and [Environmental 

Protection Agency] regulations,” 

Tiberi said. 

Board members comment on 

election 

During their comments 

at the end of the meeting, 

a few of the Village Board 

members talked about 

the April 4 Consolidated 

Election. Mayor Frank 

Fleischer and trustees 

George Metanias, Joseph 

Siwinski and Mazzorana 

all ran unopposed 

on their way to 

securing new terms, while 

Jillian Hersted ran unopposed 

to win her first term 

as clerk. 

Metanias congratulated 

those who were elected to 

public office. 

“Not a lot of people do 

this, so I give a lot of credit 

and congratulations to the 

people who do it,” he said. 

Siwinski also congratulated 

those who both won 

and lost elections. 

“[Congratulations] to everyone 

who is willing to go 

out there and try to make a 

difference for your community,” 

he said. “It means a 

lot, and thank you for your 

service.” 

Fleischer said he believes 

the fact that he and the 

trustees ran unopposed 

means the residents are 

happy with the jobs they 

are doing. 

“I hope this means that 

people are happy with the 

job we’re doing,” he said. 

“A lot has happened over 

the last four years in Mokena 

— a lot of good things 

and a lot of good development.” 

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Sun. 7 am to 7 pm 

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$ 

2 99 Lb. 

USDA CHOICE 

Walt’s “All Natural” 

Fresh Chicken 

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$ 

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Blueberries 

 

2/ $ 5 

 

 

 

Tomatoes 

99 ¢ Lb. 

From Our Deli Hut 

Walt’s Own 

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$ 

1 49 

Minute Maid 

 

 

 

59 Oz. 

 

Ice Cream 

56 Oz. 

2/ $ 6 

Centrella 

Macaroni 

& Cheese 

5.5 - 7.25 Oz. 

39 ¢ 

Dutch Farms 

Chicken 

Kievs 

Assorted Varieties 

5 Oz. 

89 ¢ 

Centrella 

 

Butter 

16 Oz. 

2/ $ 3 

International Delight 

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Creamer 

Selected Varieties 

16 Oz. 

3/ $ 5 

Krakus 

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8 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger NEWS 


Summit Hill School D161 Board of Education 

Officials review school lunch program’s future 

Megann Horstead 


The prospect of losing the 

opportunity for federal reimbursement 

loomed over 

the Summit Hill School 

District 161 Board of Education 

at its April 12 meeting, 

as officials weighed in 

on low student participation 

in the lunch program and 

actions the district should 

take moving forward. 

“The bottom line is the 

vision of our current lunch 

program [and] the vision of 

the National School Lunch 

Program [are] very different,” 

Superintendent Barb 

Rains said. 

The lunches provided at 

Summit Hill schools are 

prepared by Quest Food 

Management through an 

agreement formed with 

Union School District 81 

in Joliet. In November, the 

program was reviewed for 

compliance with National 

School Lunch Program requirements. 

That audit is 

performed once every three 

years. 

“The result of that was 

findings that were mostly 

easily correctable,” Director 

of Business and Transportation 

Doug Wiley said, 

noting that the reviewer 

raised some concerns that 

could not be addressed 

through corrective action 

through the administrative 

review. “We chose to run 

those through their complaint 

process. Really, the 

focus of those issues were 

why the participation in 

our program was low, even 

among the free and reduced.” 

Rains said the district had 

tried to cater the program to 

the entire population, but it 

didn’t work. Wiley said the 

district has many students 

who are eligible for free or 

reduced lunch but choose 

not to participate. To date, 

there are 210 students participating 

in the program. 

“The crux of this is the 

fact that we’re trying to 

provide lunch to the folks 

who need it, whereas the 

National School Lunch Program 

is more interested in 

providing school lunch to 

the entire population, which 

is not something we can accommodate,” 

Wiley said. 

The MINI’s are coming. 


Saturday, May13 th 

MINI of Orland Park 

Wiley said if the board 

does nothing to align the 

program to fit the spirit of 

the National School Lunch 

Program, the district could 

lose more than $20,000 in 

funding. 

The Illinois State Board 

of Education offered a 

number of suggestions to 

Summit Hill to gauge why 

participation is limited. 

This included efforts to offer 

families the added option 

to purchase lunch daily 

rather than one month at a 

time, open up test tastings, 

and conduct parent surveys 

both from the free and general 

lunch populations. 

Wiley said officials will 

need to determine if they 

wish to stay in the program. 

“The only part that would 

be changed if we left the 

program was we wouldn’t 

get the federal reimbursement 

for those lunches,” 

Wiley said. “We’d still get 

the direct certification list. 

People would still apply at 

the beginning of the year 

for free lunch if they’re interested.” 

The healthy food requirements 

would need to remain 

in place. 

Wiley said the district 

could choose to run a more 

robust lunch service, but 

that would require additional 

staffing they don’t 

currently have. 

Board President Rich 

Marron negated the idea, 

saying there are a number 

of variables at play. 

“We’re not going to stop 

going through Union, [with 

whom] we have the intergovernmental 

agreement,” 

Marron said. “We can’t 

manage this on our own, 

because the guidelines are 

too restrictive. You have to 

[have] a specialized kitchen 

to work within them. We 

can’t do this daily, because 

we’d have to hire a fulltime 

person, and we’d end 

up losing money. 

“The question is, really, 

if we do some taste testing 

and a survey, is that enough 

to make this go away?” 

Marron asked, noting that 

the reviewer could continue 

to have concerns. “Then, I 

think the answer is there for 

us.” 

Summit Hill officials 

came to a consensus that 

nothing is changing on the 

front end with the lunch 

program. The difference 

is that the district may not 

seek reimbursement. 

Budget items discussed 


also took a look at the district’s 

proposed budgets for 

technology and operations 

and maintenance. 

Wiley presented to the 

board a proposed technology 

budget, excluding salaries 

and benefits, accounting 

for nearly $700,000 in 

expenditures. Spending includes 

plans to employ 234 

student tablets, along with 

contractual services for access 

points. 

“That’s half of what was 

proposed,” Wiley said. 

“Once we have the budget 

fully compiled, we can determine 

if there’s room to 

include more tablets.” 

This year, Summit Hill 

purchased 729 tablets. 

“That leaves us roughly 

650 tablets short for the 

district,” Wiley said. 

Other items highlighted 

in the technology budget 

include three copy machines 

and two intercom 

system replacements. 

To get the tablets and access 

points ready for the 

2017-2018 academic year, 

district officials intend to 

take board action at the 

next regular meeting to ensure 

that work is performed 

during the summer. 

Summit Hill officials said 

they still have five years 

before they’ll start needing 

to budget for replacement 

tablets. 

As for the district’s operations 

and maintenance 

budget, school officials 

identified two main projects 

they’ve wrapped up, 

including roof improvements 

at Dr. Julian Rogus 

School and installation of 

a condenser unit at Hilda 

Walker. 

“They’re done, they’re 

on track to start [when] 

school gets out,” Wiley 

said. 

Other projects the district 

is considering include 

replacement of windows 

at Arbury Hills School and 

tiles at Indian Trail School. 

The board will consider 

the adoption of budgets 

for technology and operations 

and maintenance at 

its April 26 meeting. 


approve supplemental 

busing program 

The Summit Hill School 

Board authorized a supplemental 

busing plan for students 

who live within 1.5 

miles of their school and do 

not cross a hazardous road 

as defined and certified by 

the State. 

Those interested will be 

subject to a set of guidelines 

requiring registration and a 

fee of $250 per student per 

school year. The fee can be 

waived or altered for individuals 

who demonstrate 

hardship. 

“[We’re] not adding bus 

routes, because increased 

bus routes will lead to direct 

cost to the district that 

we then can’t recover,” 

Please see D161, 13

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Lady - A Women’s Expo to return for fourth year 

Publisher’s event 

to take place April 

29 at Tinley Park 

Convention Center 

Jon DePaolis 


A local favorite for the 

ladies is about to return to a 

nearby convention center. 

The fourth Lady – A 

Women’s Expo, presented 

by 22nd Century Media and 

Diamond Sponsor Planet 

Fitness, is scheduled for 9 

a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 

29, at the Tinley Park Convention 

Center, 18451 Convention 

Center Drive. 

The free event will feature 

live cooking and fitness demonstrations, 

approximately 

60 vendors, and gift bags to 

the first 500 attendees. 

“It’s a fun day out,” said 

Heather Warthen, chief 

events officer at 22nd Century 

Media. “We shifted the 

date this year, and it’s a little 

[earlier] with a couple of 

weeks before Mother’s Day. 

It’s an opportunity to kick 

off the spring season. 

“The best part about the 

whole thing is that it is free 

admission. We want people 

to come ready to shop and to 

learn some new things.” 

New to the event this year 

will be special guest Danni 

Allen, the Season 14 winner 

of “The Biggest Loser,” at 

10 a.m. 

“She is coming to speak, 

and she will be around all day 

to do some meet and greets,” 

Warthen said. “We’re very 

excited to have her to give us 

the ins and outs of what it is 

really like to be on that show 

and to have Jillian Michaels 

as your trainer.” 

Please see LADY, 11 

Lady – A Women’s Expo vendors 

• 22nd Century Media Nursing Department 

• Advocate Medical Group • Damsel In Defense 

• Alden Estates of Orland • Dan Mosca State Farm 

Park 

• Diva Me Bella 

• All Cindy’s Mixes • Epiphany Fashion 

• All That’s Home 

• Essential Body Wear 

• Aloette 

• EveFit 

• Arbonne 

• Family Friendly Medical 

• Barefoot *N* Bubbly Care 

• barkTHINS 

• Health Nutz Natural 

• Bath Planet 

Foods 

• Body Bliss Wellness • Honey and Lace 

Center 

• Ingalls Health System 

• BrookHill Coffee Mugs • Interiors by Diane 

• Camp Manitoqua & DeCero and Lifestyle 

Retreat Center 

Designs Floor to Ceiling 

• Celebrity Cruises • Isagenix 

• Chicago Henna 

• It Works! 

• Chicago Red Stars • Jason Snoreck Allstate 

• Chicago Sky 

• Jewelry by Judy 

• Children’s Museum of • Joliet Slammers 

Oak Lawn 

• Juice Plus 

• Chiro One 

• Juicy Luzy Sangria 

• College of DuPage • KRAVE Jerky 

• Kristina McMillin for 

India Hicks 

• LeafFilter Gutter 

Protection 

• LuLaRoe Kate & Les 

• Mary Kay Cosmetics 

• Natural Healing Centers 

• Noonday Collection 

• Nothing Bundt Cakes 

• Orangetheory Fitness 

Frankfort 

• Orland Park Crossing 

• Palos Health 

• Perfectly Posh 

• Physicians Immediate 

Care 

• Planet Fitness 

• Plexus Worldwide Inc. 

• Point Blank Range & 

Gun Shop 

• Power Home Remodeling 

• Prudential 

• Pure Romance 

• Reliv Nutritional 

Products 

• Renewal by Andersen 

• Rodan & Fields 

• Scentsy 

• SeneGence 

• Silk Avenue 

• Sinfully Delicious 

• SlimSmart Balloon 

• Surprise Parties 

• Tastefully Simple 

• The Leading Image 

• The Sheet Lady 

• The Traveling Vineyard 

• Vitality Health Systems 

• Weight Watchers 

• Window & Siding Planet 

Inc. 

• Window Works 

• Wyndham Vacation 

Ownership 

• Yoli 

• Young Living Essential 

Oils 

Readers’ second-favorite 22nd Century Media competition returns 

Vacation Photo 

Contest open now 

through Wednesday, 

May 3 

Bill Jones 

Managing Editor 

When it comes to publisher 

22nd Century Media’s 

annual contests, nothing can 

stop the powerhouse that is 

the Valentine’s Day Coloring 

Contest. It simply is too 

hard to compete with children 

coloring hearts for soldiers 

and veterans. 

But running a close (and 

respectable) second is the 

Vacation Photo Contest — 

the submission period for 

which is now open. 

As always, it all leads up 

to 22nd Century Media’s 

annual Summer Fun Guide, 

which is set to be published 

with The Mokena Messenger 

May 18 — all packed full of 

fun things to do this summer 

in Mokena and the surrounding 

communities. That 

is because tradition dictates 

we locate and publish the 

area’s best vacation photo on 

its cover. 

In recognition of this, our 

second-favorite contest, we 

want to see photos from 

your second-favorite vacation. 

(Yes, we realize this 

is ridiculous. Yes, we realize 

this is hard to quantify. 

Yes, we realize we have no 

real way of knowing. But ... 

) We want photos of those 

vacations that maybe were 

not the best you ever took 

but they were still a respectable 

amount of fun, time not 

completely wasted, things 

that made you grin, if not 

exactly ear to ear. 

Don’t get us wrong. We 

still want you to send to us 

your absolute best summer 

vacation photos, but we 

will be giving bonus points 

in judging for funny photos 

that depict so-so vacations, 

and so-so reactions to those 

vacations. 

Our deadline is noon 

Wednesday, May 3. 

As always, the grand 

prize-winning photo from 

our seven southwest suburban 

towns will appear on the 

cover of our Summer Fun 

Guide. The grand prize winner 

also is to receive a prize 

package, which you can read 

all about in the accompanying 

sidebar. 

Other entries also may appear 

in the May 18 edition of 

The Messenger. 

Photos must be submitted 

no later than the aforementioned 

deadline. To submit a 

Grand Prize Package 

• A gift certificate valued at $25 to Odyssey Fun World 19111 Oak Park Ave. in Tinley 

Park. 

• A gift certificate for two hours of bowling and shoe rentals for up to six people on a 

lane at Laraway Lanes Entertainment Center, 1009 W. Laraway Road in New Lenox. 

The certificate also includes one 12-inch pizza and one pitcher of pop. 

• A family four-pack valued at $200 in gaming to Dave and Busters, 49 Orland 

Square Drive in Orland Park. 

• Two passes for Emagine Entertainment’s Frankfort Theatre, 19965 S. LaGrange 

Road in Frankfort. 

• A gift certificate good for one session for up to four people (valued at $70) at 

BowDoc Archery, 18801 Wolf Road, Unit 4, in Mokena. 

• Gift card for Sizzles, 571 E. Division St. in Lockport (amount TBD). 

• A gift certificate for Chesdan’s Pizzeria & Grille, 15764 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen 

(amount TBD). 

photo, email bill@opprairie. 

com or mail/drop off to Bill 

Jones, 22nd Century Media, 

11516 W. 183rd St., 3SW, Orland 

Park, IL, 60467. Include 

your first and last name, address 

and a phone number 

at which we can reach you. 

Physical photographs will 

not be returned. All photos 

may be posted on the websites 

of all seven newspapers. 

Entries will be judged 

based on photo quality, 

originality, capturing the essence 

of vacation, emphasis 

on summer and ability to fit 

the theme. 

Residents of Orland Park, 

Tinley Park, Frankfort, Mokena, 

New Lenox, Homer 

Glen and Lockport are eligible 

to enter. 

For more details, visit MokenaMessenger.com, 

@MokenaMessenger 

or facebook. 

com/TheMokenaMessenger.



Mail call: Important letter from The Messenger to arrive 

Staff Report 

We know you get a lot of 

mail — whether it is information 

you requested or bills 

you’d prefer to ignore. Then, 

every Thursday, you receive 

your community newspaper, 

The Mokena Messenger, free 

of charge. 

This week, you’ll be getting 

a letter from Messenger 

Editor Tim Carroll that we 

want to be sure you open because 

the letter has a simple, 

but important purpose: We 

need your help to keep The 

Messenger free. 

Every three years, we ask 

residents to complete a simple 

task to allow us to send 

our newspaper for no charge. 

It’s that time again, and all 

you have to do is fill out a 

card requesting the newspaper, 

sign at the bottom, and 

send it back to us. That card 

will be arriving in the mail 

this week, along with the letter 

from our editor. 

Even if you returned your 

request card three years ago, 

we do still need you to send 

in a card to renew your request 

for the newspaper. It 

is a requirement of the U.S. 

Postal Service that our readers 

ask to receive the newspaper 

and renew that request 

every three years. 

If you’ve never sent in a 

card, we ask that you fill one 

out and send it in. 

If you did send a card 

in the past few weeks, we 

thank you, and you will not 

be receiving a letter. 

As a convenience, the card 

is also available digitally at 

MokenaMessenger.com, 

where you can fill it out and 

submit in just a few seconds. 

The request card is not a 

subscription form that requires 

payment information 

or anything beyond your 

name, address and signature. 

And we promise we will not 

share your information with 

outside parties. The information 

is required by the U.S. 

Postal Service to ensure The 

Messenger readers want to 

receive the free community 

newspapers. 

We need you and your 

neighbor’s signature to qualify 

for this important designation 

that allows us to continue 

to mail The Messenger 

free to the residents of and 

businesses in Mokena. 

The letter you will receive 

explains the project in more 

detail, and also includes a 

copy of the card so you can 

send it back right away. 

Should you happen to 

misplace the card, do not 

worry. The project is so important 

that we print a copy 

of the card in The Messenger 

each week. All you have to 

do is tear it out of the paper, 

fill it out and mail it back to 

us. This week, you’ll find it 

on Page 33. 

So, sign the card and send 

it back to us. And remind the 

neighbors! 

Summit Hill science students put skills to the test 

Submitted by Summit Hill School 

District 161 

Congratulations to the accomplished 


seventh- and eighth-grade students 

who qualified for the Illinois Junior 

Academy of Science State Science 

Fair. The following students excelled 

and received state qualifying 

outstanding awards for the IJAS Regional 

Paper Science Fair on March 

11 at Still Middle School in Aurora 

and/or IJAS Regional Project Science 

Fair on March 18 at Metea Valley 

School in Aurora. 

Over the past one to two years, 

these students have researched and 

developed their projects and the 

SHJH staff are very proud of their 

accomplishments. Good luck to everyone 

going to the state competition 

at Northern Illinois University 

in DeKalb, Illinois on May 5-6. 

Summit Hill Junior High seventh- and eighth-graders who qualified for the Illinois Junior Academy of Science 

State Science Fair pose for a photo: (top row left to right) Olivia Ernst, Elaine Foster, Luke Meacham, and Madeline 

Dickenscheidt; (middle row left to right) Sydney Smithgall, Charlie Squires, Ryan Lenart, Grace White and Morgan 

Frech; (bottom row left to right) Josie LaPapa, Allison O’Connor, George Flaris, Jillian Mills and Jenna Wols. 

Photo Submitted 

lady 

From Page 10 

This year’s expo also features 

an expanded — and separate 

— cooking demo stage. 

“We have a whole stage 

dedicated to cooking demos,” 

Warthen said. “It’s something 

we’ve typically done with one 

or two chefs, but this year we’re 

bringing in five. One of the 

chefs is planning to do a breakfast 

item, and we’ll have some 

quick and easy appetizers and 

salads.” 

The event also is to feature 

free fitness classes, with Planet 

Fitness leading the way with 

a cardio session from 9:30-10 

a.m. Then, from 10-10:30 a.m. 

— and again at 11:30 a.m.-noon 

— Natural Healing Center are 

scheduled to lead yoga classes. 

“People are welcome to 

come out and try something 

new — start their Saturday out 

being healthy,” Warthen said. 

For the third year, the expo 

will feature a fashion show 

styled by Jenny Applegate, 

of The Leading Image, with 

makeup by Diva Me Bella 

and sponsored by Orland Park 

Crossing shopping center. 

“It will be our third year 

for the spring fashion show,” 

Warthen said. “It’s an all-ages 

show, so we try to do some 

[fashion choices] for young and 

mature women. We try to get a 

smattering of all ages.” 

Cooking demo schedule 

• 9:15-9:45 a.m. Chef 

Lesley, personal chef 

• 9:45-10:15 a.m. Chef Tim 

Bucci, Joliet Junior College 

Culinary Arts 

• 10:15-10:45 a.m. 

Chef Tom Grotovsky, The 

Unforgettable Chef 

• 11:15-11:45 a.m. Chef 

Jose Torres, Italian Village 

• 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. 

Chef Jen Gavin, Edible 

Passport and former “Hell’s 

Kitchen” competitor 

There also will be a blood 

drive with LifeSource. 

Then, there are the vendors. 

Among the unique returning 

businesses, Warthen pointed to 

Silk Avenue, which will have 

a station set up at which people 

can pay to create their own silk 

scarves. 

“They use an ancient Turkish 

art form, ebru (or water 

marbling), and you can create 

a one-of-a-kind silk scarf,” 

Warthen said. “I don’t know of 

any other event where you can 

make your own silk scarf. That 

makes a great gift.” 

Additional sponsors for the 

expo are Celebrity Cruises, Chicago 

Sky, Chicago Red Stars, 

Ingalls Health System, Life- 

Source and SlimSmart Balloon. 

To register for the expo, visit 

www.22ndcenturymedia.com/ 

lady.



“ I feel like a 

new person… 

I like what I see 

when I look in 

the mirror. I can 

finally say 

I love myself.” 

– Mary Ann 

Patient of Dr. Gerald Cahill 

LOST 95 lbs. 

BEFORE 

Business Briefs 

Little Pastiche Art Studio to 

host remote radio broadcast 

Little Pastiche Art Studio 

is to host a Star 96.7 live remote 

radio broadcast from 

its studio on Wednesday, 

April 26, from 3-6 p.m. 

Located at 11110 Front St. 

in Mokena, Little Pastiche 

is to have radio host Scott 

Childers onsite. Childers 

Silver Key Award Winner 

Top 5% of Pekin Insurance Agents 

hosts a show on Star 96.7 

and also doubles as the radio 

station’s program director. 

The art studio encourages 

the community to listen in 

during the remote broadcast. 

Compiled by Editor Tim Carroll, 

tim@mokenamessenger. 

com. 

Beyond the expected. ® 

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To learn more, or to arrange an appointment 

with Dr. Cahill, call 708-422-5658. 

Gerald Cahill, MD, is a Midwest Bariatrics surgeon contracted with Specialty Physicians of Illinois, LLC, 

who chooses to practice at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. 

Congratulations! 

Richard Stringham, An Owner of Stringham 

Insurance Agency in Mokena, Illinois, has met the 

criteria of excellence, commitment, and dedication in 

the sale of Life Insurance to earn a Silver Key Award 

from Pekin Life . Insurance Company. 

To learn more about available coverages, call Richard at 708-479-2526, 

or visit our website at www.StringhamInsurance.com 

INSURANCE AGENCY, LTD. 

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AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • LIFE 

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708.326.9170 • 22ndCenturyMedia.com



Mokena Fire Protection District accredited for fourth time 

Submitted by the Center for 

Public Safety Excellence 

On March 22, the Commission 

on Fire Accreditation 

International granted 

accredited status to Mokena 

Fire Protection District. 

Representing the agency 

was Chief Howard Stephens 

and Adam Shefcik. This is 

the fourth time Mokena Fire 

Protection District has received 

accredited status. 

Mokena Fire Protection 

District serves a population 

of approximately 17,500 

people over a range of 12.5 

square miles. 

Mokena Fire Protection 

District has shown commitment 

and dedication to 

continually improving its 

service to the community 

by asking four questions in 

everything they do: What 

am I doing? Why am I doing 

it? How well am I doing it? 

How can I make it better? 

This process included 

bringing in a peer assessment 

team to verify and 

validate what the department 

is doing and what it said it 

would do and to make any 

recommendations. 

Accreditation is a voluntary 

process which assures 

the agency’s stakeholders and 

public they have objectives 

that meet the needs of their 

community, provides a detailed 

evaluation of services, 

identifies strengths and weaknesses, 

and provides an opportunity 

for communication 

of organizational priorities. 

It is not always easy to 

show others strengths and 

weaknesses, but by doing so, 

the department can grow and 

better serve their community. 

The Center for Public 

Safety Excellence would 

like to congratulate Mokena 

Fire Protection District on 

their new accredited status. 

For more information on 

agency accreditation, visit 

CPSE’s website at: www. 

cpse.org. 

Lincoln-Way phishing 

scam resurfaces 

Submitted by Lincoln-Way 

Community High School 

District 210 

District officials have 

been made aware of an 

email phishing scam that 

has resurfaced in the Lincoln-Way 

area. Individuals 

claiming to work for a custom 

T-shirt and spirit wear 

company (TD Sports) have 

sent emails to local Lincoln-Way 

area businesses 

claiming to have sponsorship 

opportunities available 

through T-shirt and product 

sales. The individuals sending 

these emails have no association 

with Lincoln-Way 

Community High School 

District 210, or with TD 

Sports, a North Carolinabased 

business. 

Residents and/or business 

owners who receive solicitation 

asking for a financial 

donation in exchange for 

sponsorship of Lincoln- 

Way spirit wear and/or accessories 

should not offer 

financial information or 

payment of any form. Any 

donations made to this individual 

will not benefit 

the students or operations 

of District 210. Additionally, 

any donation made will 

not result in a Lincoln-Way 

sponsorship of companies 

or individuals. 

Anyone in the Lincoln- 

Way area who has donated 

money to individuals claiming 

to be associated with 

TD Sports should file a report 

with their local police 

station. 

solar 

From Page 5 

she said. “Most of the students 

understood the solar 

energy and the energy concepts 

because it is everywhere.” 

For Rodgers, the solar panels 

are a way to bring classroom 

experiences into the 

real world. She said students 

have pointed out neighbors’ 

homes with solar panels, and 

have become more aware of 

how they reduce the need for 

other sources of electricity. 

“It’s fun, it’s interesting, 

it’s new,” said Butryn, who 

has solar panels on her own 

home. 

Along with classmate 

Geena DiBenedetto, Butryn 

tinkered with a tiny solar 

panel last week, powering a 

miniature fan under a lamp. 

A note card acted as a cloud, 

shading the light and causing 

the fan to sputter to a 

stop. Afterward, the class 

debriefed: More light means 

more energy. 

As the weather becomes 

warmer, Rodgers’ students 

will head outside to launch 

solar balloons filled with 

air but powered by the sun’s 

rays. It’s a unique, hands-on 

activity. But Rodgers hopes 

it will have a brighter impact. 

“It really just intrigues me 

that I could create some future 

engineers here, just because 

of putting something 

on our school,” she said. 


real-time data from Summit 

Hill’s solar panels, visit 

www.summithill.org/shjh_ 

home.htm and scroll to the 

bottom of the page. 

D161 

From Page 8 

Marron said. “This way, at 

least we’ll have the same 

cost; we just won’t be able 

to recover some of which 

we otherwise would be able 

to.” 

Bus stops will be established 

prior to the consideration 

of supplemental bus 

riders, at which point only 

the superintendent or a designee 

will have authority 

to add stops. Supplemental 

bus riders will be taken on 

a first come, first served basis. 

“There’s room to add a 

number of riders without 

having problems,” Marron 

said, noting that it will be 

possible for the district to 

absorb the costs. 

The program, as approved, 

goes into effect at 

the start of the 2017-2018 

academic year, and the measure 

will require reauthorization 

moving forward. 

Students record the results of their experiment, finding that warm, not hot, temperatures and maximum sunlight are best 

for solar panels. Kirsten Onsgard/22nd Century Media

14 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger community 


You’re Invited To Our Annual 

$ 

20 lb. tank 

11 .95 (gas grill size) 

$ 

16 .95 

30 lb. tank 

APRIL 21 st - 23 rd 

Fri 9am-5:30pm 

Sat 9am-4pm Sun 10am-3pm 

DAILY DRAWINGS AND GIVEAWAYS 

CELEBRATING OUR 

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but hearing loss can 

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• We’ll expose the truth about 

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• Leave your checkbook at home. No 

hearing aids will be sold at this 

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• We’ll clear up all the confusion 

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Tuesday, May 2 nd 

11:30am 

Ed & Joe’s Pizza 

17332 Oak Park Ave 

Tinley Park 

If you or a loved one are experiencing 

symptoms of hearing loss, then don’t 

miss this opportunity! 

Avalanche 

NAWS Illinois Humane Society 

9981 W. 190th Street 

Mokena, IL 60448 

Avalanche is a handsome, 2-year-old neutered male brown and white tabby. He is 

a big, friendly, talkative and gentle boy that likes attention. He likes to be held and 

petted and enjoys sitting in the window watching the outside world. To meet him, 

contact Wendy at (708) 478-5102 or wendy@nawsus.org. 

Want to see your pet featured as The Mokena Messenger’s Pet of the Week? Send your pet’s 

photo and a few sentences explaining why your pet is outstanding to Editor Tim Carroll at tim@ 

mokenamessenger.com or 11516 W. 183rd St., Office Condo 3, Suite SW, Orland Park, IL 60467. 

New Daily Lunch & Breakfast Specials 

Kids Eat Free! 

One child per adult. Kids menu only. 

With this coupon. Dine-in and carry-outs available. Not Valid with any other. 

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One Coupon per table..Offer expires 05/04/17 

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With this coupon. Dine-in and carry-outs available. Not Valid with any other. 

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Must R.S.V.P. • Limited Seating 

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19137 S. Wolf Rd. 

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Contact 

Lora Healy 

708.326.9170 ext. 31 

l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com 

Chicagoly magazine named 

among Chicago’s best publications 

Staff Report 

The first year for Chicagoly 

magazine was an awardwinning 

one. 

Chicagoly, a sister publication 

of The Mokena Messenger, 

both published by 

22nd Century Media, was 

named a finalist in four categories 

of the 40th annual 

Peter Lisagor Awards from 

the Chicago Headline Club. 

Chicagoly, a quarterly magazine, 

competes in the Non- 

Daily Newspaper, Magazine 

or Newspaper Magazine division. 

Winners are to be announced 

during a honorary 

banquet May 12 at the Union 

League Club of Chicago. 

Highlighting the nominations 

was a spot in the General 

Excellence in Print Journalism 

field, where Chicagoly 

will compete with Chicago 

magazine and Crain’s Chicago 

Business for best non-daily 

publication of 2016. 

Chicago magazine won 

the award in 2016 and 

Crain’s in 2015. 

Also earning nominations 

for Chicagoly were feature 

stories from three of the 

magazine’s four 2016 issues. 

Jamie Lynn Ferguson’s 

homage to artist and author 

Shel Silverstein (Summer 

2016) earned a nomination 

in the Best Feature category, 

while Zach Brooke’s 

breakdown of the mattressstore 

boom in Chicagoland 

(Spring 2016) is a finalist for 

Best Business Reporting. 

Also a finalist is “Plugged 

In: The Story of Internet Addiction,” 

by Lorraine Boissoneault 

(Fall 2016), which 

is up for Best Non-Deadline 

Reporting against a story 

from Sports Illustrated and 

another from Rolling Stone. 

“For such a fairly new publication 

like ours, just being 

nominated feels like we’ve already 

won,” said Vasilis Papadrosos, 

Chicagoly’s creative 

director. “I’m very honored 

we’re recognized among so 

many well-established publications. 

And it’s also great 

recognition for the hard work 

all of us put into this magazine 

every issue and motivation to 

keep producing quality work. 

“But — let’s be honest — 

Just the beginning 

In just six issues, Chicagoly has earned numerous recognitions 

From What Story/Issue 

American Society 

of Magazine 

Editors 

Chicago 

Headline Club: 

Peter Lisagor 

Awards finalist 

Readers’ Choice: 

Best Business and 

Technology Cover 

Non-Daily: General 

Excellence in Print 

Journalism 

Non-Daily: Best Feature 

Story 

Non-Daily: Best 

Business Reporting 

Non-Daily: Best Non- 

Deadline Reporting 

Non-Daily: Best Sports 

Story 

Fall 2016 

we want to win.” 

Chicagoly burst on the 

scene in late 2015, debuting 

with a winter issue. That 

one issue earned a Lisagor 

Award nomination for a Best 

Sports Story. The magazine, 

also known for its vibrant 

and creative covers, earned 

a Readers’ Choice Award for 

Best Business and Technology 

Cover (Fall 2016) from 

the American Society of 

Magazine Editors. 

Chicagoly has continued its 

dedication to well-researched, 

in-depth and colorful storytelling 

on subjects and people 

important to Chicagoans. 

Calling itself “The most compelling 

read in Chicagoland,” 

the magazine recently moved 

to a subscription model. 

Annual subscriptions are 

just $16, while two-year 

buys, which have been the 

most popular choice so far, 

can be made for only $24. 

To get a subscription or for 

more information, visit Chi 

cagolymag.com/subscribe 

or contact Publisher Joe 

Coughlin at (847) 272-4565 

or joe@chicagolymag.com. 

Spring, Fall and Winter 2016 

“Portrait of an Artist,” by Jamie Lynn 

Ferguson (Summer 2016) 

“Soft Landing,” by Zach Brooke 

(Spring 2016) 

“Plugged In: The Story of Internet 

Addiction,” By Lorraine Boissoneault 

(Fall 2016) 

“Back in the Bigs,” by Joe Coughlin 

(Winter 2015)

mokenamessenger.com school 


The mokena messenger’s 

Standout Student 

Sponsored by Marquette Bank 

When I’m hungry, I need food otherwise 

I’ll get “hangry.” 

Who do you look up to? 

I look up to my grandpa because he is always 

happy and has a great outlook on life. 

He is always at all my meets and is my biggest 

supporter. 

what sets us apart. There’s nothing better 

than feeling the energy at the assemblies or 

games once “Thunderstruck” is played. 

What’s your morning routine? 

My morning routine is composed of rushing 

around like a crazy person and always 

running late. 

Madison Smith, Lincoln-Way 

Central Senior 

Madison Smith was picked as this week’s Standout 

Student because of her academic performance. 

What do you like to do when not in school or 

studying? 

I love running on the track and cross country 

teams, hanging out with my friends and 

having family movie night. 

What are some of the most played songs on 

Photo submitted 

your Spotify? 

I’ve been listening to the Twenty One 

Pilots albums because I’m going to their 

concert with my friends, and I’m so excited 

about that! 

What’s something most people don’t know 

about you? 

Built For The Way You Live 

Who is your favorite teacher and why? 

Dr. Baran is my favorite teacher because he 

truly cares about his students and goes above 

and beyond helping anyone in any way. He is 

also so passionate in what he teaches and is 

able to make Physics fun and easy! 

What is your favorite class? 

Even though math is my favorite subject, I 

am really enjoying my AP Psychology class 

this year. It’s different than any other class 

I’ve ever taken, and I find it really interesting. 

My teacher, Mrs. Pehle, is hysterical and 

makes the class so much fun. 

What’s one thing that stands out about your 

school? 

I think our school spirit and traditions are 

4 Premier maintenance Free Communities 

If you could change one thing about school, 

what would it be? 

There’s really isn’t anything I would 

change about Central, but I love when they 

played music during the passing periods on 

Homecoming Week. If we could do that allyear 

long, that would be awesome. 

What’s your best memory from school? 

My best high school memories are with 

my team, including everything from jamming 

on the bus or nonstop laughter on runs. 

My high school experience wouldn’t be half 

of what it was without them. 

Standout Student is a weekly feature for The 

Mokena Messenger. Nominations come from 

Mokena area schools. 

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Police Reports 

Police: Former department store 

employee stole goods worth $1,000 

Cassidy R. Blokel, 21, of 

1311 W. Maple St. in New 

Lenox, was charged April 10 

with felony retail theft after 

she allegedly stole merchandise 

valued at $1,077 from a 

department store in the 11300 

block of Lincoln Highway, 

where she had been an employee. 

According to the 

police report, a witness told 

police Blokel had stolen the 

merchandise between March 

12 and April 8. 

April 6 

• Hailey Abigail Larson, 22, 

of 19508 S. 115th Ave. in Mokena, 

was charged with driving 

without a valid license, 

expired registration and operation 

of an uninsured motor 

vehicle after police reportedly 

observed her driving a black 

Toyota Solara with expired 

registration on 191st Street at 

Wolf Road. After initiating a 

traffic stop, police discovered 

that she did not have a valid 

driver’s license or insurance, 

according to the report. 

April 3 

• Kathleen G. Bieniek, 46, 

of 12341 Lajunta Court in 

MFPD responds to 

March calls of service 

Submitted by Mokena Fire 

Protection District 

The Mokena Fire Protection 

District responded to a 

total of 210 calls of service for 

the month of March, including 

the following: 

• Emergency medical services: 

104 

• Auto accident response: 18 

• Request for citizen assist: 23 

• Carbon monoxide alarm: 2 

Mokena, was charged with 

DUI-alcohol, failure to reduce 

speed to avoid a collision, 

failure to yield at a stop sign 

and causing a collision that 

resulted in property damage 

after she allegedly collided at 

Tahoe Lane and Teluride Lane 

with a green Nissan Sentra 

while driving a gray Toyota 

Venza. When police arrived, 

they discovered Bieniek in 

the Toyota and noted the odor 

of alcohol, according to the 

report. Police also reportedly 

observed she had “bloodshot 

and glassy eyes.” Bieniek reportedly 

refused field sobriety 

testing. While searching her 

vehicle, police discovered an 

open can of malt liquor on the 

floor of the passenger seat, 

according to the report. Once 

in police custody, Bieniek reportedly 

refused to submit a 

breath sample for testing. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Mokena 

Messenger’s police reports come 

from the Mokena Police Department. 

Anyone listed in these 

reports is considered to be innocent 

of all charges until proven 

guilty in a court of law. 

• Commercial fire alarm: 14 

• Dive/water incident response: 

1 

• Fire investigation: 1 

• Gas leak: 2 

• Mutual aid response: 18 

• Residential fire response: 2 

• Commercial trouble alarm: 

25 

For more information on the 

Mokena Fire Protection District, 

visit www.mokenafire.org. 

FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT 

Weather spotter training, health and 

safety expo set for April 26 

Again this year, area residents will 

have the opportunity to learn about 

emergency preparedness, safety, 

health and nutrition, as well as become 

a certified severe weather spotter 

for the National Weather Service. 

The eighth annual Health and Safety 

Expo will be held from 5-7 p.m. 

Wednesday, April 26, at the Performing 

Arts Center at Lincoln-Way West 

High School, followed by the NWS 

training at 7 p.m. 

Dan Martin, Safe Community Coordinator 

for the Village of New Lenox, 

said the expo and weather training 

are great opportunities for people to 

stay informed and learn about severe 

weather. 

“It’s not a question of if; it’s when 

we will be struck by severe weather,” 

Martin said. 

For that reason, he said it is important 

for people to know what to do in 

emergency situations. 

Becoming a weather spotter for the 

NWS is an extra step he said people 

can do to help keep themselves, their 

families and their communities safe 

when severe weather happens, because 

spotters are able to provide 

real-time information for the weather 

service. 

Martin said even with the advanced 

technology used by the NWS to track 

storms, they also rely on spotters on 

the ground to provide up-to-date information. 

Reporting by Amanda Stoll, Assistant 

Editor. For more, visit NewLenoxPatriot. 

com. 

FROM THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE 

Man allegedly slams, spits at and 

grapples with off-duty officers 

outside Gizmos 

A Chicago man who allegedly got 

into altercations with a manager and 

then police at an Orland Park family 

entertainment spot this past week was 

charged with two felonies and two 

misdemeanors. 

Carlos D. Kehl, 33, of 1038 W. 

104th St., was charged with two counts 

aggravated battery to police officer, a 

Class 2 felony; one count disorderly 

conduct, a Class A misdemeanor; and 

one count of assault, a Class A misdemeanor; 

according to a press release 

issued the morning of April 11 by the 

Orland Park Police Department. 

Orland Park police responded at 

2:15 p.m. April 8 to Gizmos Fun Factory, 

66 Orland Square Drive, for a reported 

disturbance between Kehl and 

security. 

Kehl allegedly began yelling and 

swearing in a crowded area near other 

adults and children in the lobby. A 

manager asked him to stop, and Kehl 

“aggressively” confronted the manager 

and began to swear at him, police 

said. 

Two off-duty officers hired as site 

security reportedly were summoned 

to the scene. They asked Kehl to leave 

Gizmo’s, and he refused — berating, 

swearing, threatening and spitting at 

the officers, police said. 

Kehl eventually walked out of the 

business and into the parking lot, followed 

by the officers, who remained 

on the sidewalk, police said. Kehl allegedly 

walked back toward the officers, 

spit in an officer’s face and used 

a body slam to take him to the ground. 

The other officer intervened and 

was subsequently put in a headlock by 

Kehl, with the first officer still on the 

ground, police said. 

Reporting by Bill Jones, Editor. For 

more, visit OPPrairie.com. 

FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION 

Siblings launch new fitness app 

Matt and Julie Knippen never 

thought their professional worlds 

would combine, but the tech-minded 

brother and kinesiology-major sister 

launched a new app for iPhone users. 

“Running alone sucks,” Julie said. 

“That’s our basic idea.” 

That idea also happens to be the 

motto behind the sibling’s new app, 

CHARGE Running, which launched 

April 3 via the Apple store. 

Matt and Julie are Tinley Park natives 

and graduates of Andrew High 

School. 

Matt, 27, is the CEO and founder 

of CHARGE. He works behind the 

scenes to make sure the app runs 

smoothly for its users. Twenty-fiveyear-old 

Julie, on the other hand, is 

in charge of the company’s marketing 

and public relations needs. She, 

along with longtime friend Rory Garman, 

also from Tinley Park, act as 

CHARGE’s trainers. 

In a competitive market of fitness 

apps, Matt and Julie knew they 

had to set their app apart from others. 

CHARGE allows users to join 

in on live runs with live feedback 

from a trainer, solving the problem 

of not having a running partner. Users 

can sign up for various class times 

throughout the day, and during the run 

the app sends data back to the trainer 

in real time. Runs range in length 

from 25-50 minutes. 

Reporting by Brittany Kapa, Assistant 

Editor. For more, visit TinleyJunction. 

com. 

FROM THE LOCKPORT LEGEND 

Blue Jeans Ball to benefit new 

playground for Lockport school 

The Goodings Grove Parent Teacher 

Organization is inviting Homer 

Glen and Lockport residents to dust 

off their boots and don their best denim 

while benefiting area youth. 

The group will host its inaugural 

Blue Jeans Ball, a rustic, country-casual 

event from 6-11 p.m. May 13, at 

Zachary’s Red Barn, 16849 S. Cedar 

Road in Homer Glen. Proceeds from 

the adults-only event will go toward 

building a playground at the school. 

The current Goodings Grove playground 

was installed more than 20 

years ago. The structure features rust 

spots, as well as chipped and peeling 

coating. While it is not dangerous for 

the children to play, Goodings Grove 

PTO member Jenny Reichardt said 

her group is trying to be proactive. 

“It needs to be replaced before it becomes 

a safety hazard,” she said. “If 

you walk to the playground and you 

see the playground and you imagine 

your kids playing on the playground, 

anyone would want to change that.” 

The site has received much wear 

and tear, PTO member Kerrie Heeney 

said. With no playground in the 

surrounding subdivisions and with 

Goodings Grove’s baseball fields in 

use over the summer, local children 

flock there to play after school. 

“This is the playground the kids ride 

their bikes to,” Heeney said. “So, why 

not have a great playground? They’re 

going to use it all summer; let’s give 

them something great.” 

Reporting by Erin Redmond, Assistant 

Editor. For more, visit LockportLegend. 

com.

mokenamessenger.com sound off 


Social snapshot 

Top Web Stories 

From MokenaMessenger.com as of 

Monday, April 17 

From the editor 

On maximizing fun for musical participants 

1. 10 Questions with Reis Parkinson, Lincoln- 

Way East girls water polo 

2. Annual Titan Trot 5K benefits St. Mary 

educators 

3. Matt’s Old Mokena: Braun stood apart as 

Mokena’s blacksmith 

4. Central girls water polo edges out 9-7 win 

against former East teammates 

5. Photos: Helping the howlers - MIS 

assembly features check presentation 

Become a member: mokenamessenger.com/plus 

“Thank you to everyone that participated 

and volunteered at this year’s Titan Trot! It 

was an amazing day! #trot4rteachers” 

St. Mary Catholic School Mokena shared 

this post on its Facebook page April 11 

Like The Mokena Messenger: facebook.com/ 


“Senior class presidents Jason White and 

Sebastian Esparza are proud to present the 

2017 class gift.” 

@LWCentralKnight posted this photo to 

its Twitter page April 12 

Follow The Mokena Messenger: @mokenamessenger 

Tim Carroll 

tim@mokenamessenger.com 

This coming week 

is going to be a big 

one for the students 

involved with spring musicals. 

There is Mokena Junior 

High School’s “The Music 

Man Jr.” (Page 25), and 

there is also Lincoln-Way 

East’s “Oklahoma!” (Page 

24). 

I have a bit of advice 

for the students involved 

in these productions, but 

please note that it may not 

be perfect for everyone. 

While I enjoy the hell out 

of performing, I also dread 

messing up, which made 

me very self-conscious 

and probably prevented 

me from performing at my 

peak. So, for any of those 

who might be in a similar 

boat, here’s my advice. 

Smile. That is it. It’s not 

world-changing advice at 

all, but smile. 

One of the many things 

these students have going 

for them is that these are 

musicals, and most people 

in musicals are happy, so 

they can smile and remain 

in character at the same 

time. 

These are two musicals 

with which I have limited 

familiarity. I know that I 

have seen them both — 

perhaps without the “Jr.” 

addition for “The Music 

Man” — but when I saw 

them, I was pretty young. 

However, I know they are 

both chances for the performing 

students to shine. 

But if the students are 

anything like me, they may 

have a little trouble getting 

out of their own head and 

into the headspace of the 

character they are playing. 

Smiling works so well 

in this instance, because 

the characters in a musical 

are generally happy. 

Simply by smiling, forced 

though it may be at first, 

the performer should begin 

to relax, and it also should 

help the character establish 

himself or herself. 

This is the simplest 

possible advice, if we are 

being honest about it. Too 

simple to work, one may 

think. But I know what I’m 

talking about. 

That’s right. You probably 

didn’t know it, but you 

are reading words written 

by a guy who once was, 

like, the fifth male lead 

in “Grease.” Yep, you’re 

getting advice from a fella 

who once had a chorus role 

in “You’re a Good Man, 

Charlie Brown” (pretty 

sure my character’s name 

was Shermie). Uh-huh, 

this is one tough hombre 

who was Mr. Tumnus 

in “The Lion, the Witch 

and the Wardrobe.” Plus, 

I was once a duck in a 

production for really little 

children. 

The rest of my roles 

are too long to list (they 

are not), but you get the 

picture. And if you did not 

get the picture, the point 

is that I am a big shot who 

knows a thing or two about 

acting in musicals. 

Fine, I am willing to 

admit that my performance 

credits are a little 

underwhelming, but I still 

stand behind the advice to 

smile. The advice, while 

its surface may seem too 

simple to be effective, is 

not underwhelming. 

Every parent should tell 

his or her child to have fun 

in the performance, and 

I absolutely agree. I just 

hope that smiling will help 

the performers have even 

more fun. 

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 Mokena Messenger 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 Mokena Messenger reserves the right to edit letters. 

Letters become property of The Mokena Messenger. Letters that are 

published do not reflect the thoughts and views of The Mokena Messenger. 

Letters can be mailed to: The Mokena Messenger, 11516 West 

183rd Street, Unit SW Office Condo #3, Orland Park, Illinois, 60467. 

Fax letters to (708) 326-9179 or e-mail to tim@mokenamessenger. 

com. 

www.mokenamessenger.com. 

Attention Builders: 

Advertise with 

22nd Century Media 

Reach 92,000+ Southwest Suburban homes. 

® 

Contact 

Lora Healy 

708.326.9170 ext. 31 

l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com

20 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger mokena 


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OPPORTUNITY 

Top Global Team 

UPCO MING EVENTS 

Invite YOUR friends, RSVP and mark your calendar! 

April 25 • 5:30 p.m. 

Dementia Conversations Lecture 

Discuss memory changes, learn how to reduce stress 

related to doctor’s visits and the importance of legal & financial planning. 

You don’t often think of senior living options until you’re in need. 

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May 6 • 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Preventative Measures for Early Detection 

Lifeline Screening Clarendale is partnering with Ingalls Hospital for this public service event. 

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May 20 • 10 a.m. 

Monthly Memory Support Group 

Protect, Engage & Learn 

Call 815-701-9063 today to schedule a visit or to RSVP for an event! 

Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care 

em info@ClarendaleOfMokena.com 

web ClarendaleOfMokena.com 

21536 South Wolf Road | Mokena, Illinois 60448 

4/17

‘Oh, what a beautiful 

day’ Lincoln-Way East to perform 

‘Oklahoma’ , Page 24 

Steak and potatoes Tinley Park’s The Primal Cut 

focuses on the classics with upscale dinner service, Page 27 

the mokena messenger | April 20, 2017 | mokenamessenger.com 

Music is the only way combat that trouble in Mokena 

Junior High’s production of ‘The Music Man,’ Page 25 

Mokena Junior High School students Justin Eckert (left) and Joey Berardelli rehearse for the 

upcoming production of “The Music Man Jr.” Eckert plays the part of Professor Harold Hill, and 

Berardelli plays the part of Marian Paroo. Amanda Stoll/22nd Century Media

22 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger faith 


Robin’s Nest 

Your greatest moment, your best decision 

Robin Melvin 

Contributing Columnist 

The calendar shows the 

Easter season is over. 

We contemplated and 

celebrated Jesus’ death and 

resurrection, those great and 

powerful moments that split 

history. 

But for us who believe, 

Easter isn’t a passing 

holiday. It’s an everyday 

experience. Each morning, 

we can wake to the resurrection 

power of a new life, 

redeemed by Christ. 

The absolute greatest 

moment in my life is when 

I made what 19th century 

minister Oswald Chambers 

called a “complete and effective 

decision about sin.” 

It happened when I knelt at 

a dark-stained pine bench in 

a little Arkansas church. 

Pastor Mike knelt on the 

other side and leaned over 

to talk to me. The piano 

clanged “Just as I Am” and 

drowned out most of his 

words. I cried and nodded. 

“Yes, I believe Jesus died 

for my sin. Yes, I want Him 

to be Lord of my life.” 

That’s when Christ’s resurrection 

power took hold 

and I stepped from death to 

life. 

Though I didn’t completely 

understand what happened 

to me, I was at peace. 

After my first sweet taste of 

freedom, I was determined 

to die to everything holding 

me back from my Godgiven 

identity. I was sick of 

sin. There was a lot to learn, 

but I was done letting it 

steer my mind and my life. 

I’d made that “complete 

and effective decision about 

sin.” Chambers calls this 

“co-crucifixion.” 

In Romans 6:5-7 Paul 

urges us, “Since we have 

been united with him in his 

death, we will also be raised 

to life as he was. We know 

that our old sinful selves 

were crucified with Christ 

so that sin might lose its 

power in our lives. We are 

no longer slaves to sin. For 

when we died with Christ 

we were set free from the 

power of sin.” 

It’s nailed to the cross. It 

has no power over us unless 

we give it. 

I walked out of that 

little church forgiven and 

free. The sun was brighter 

because I didn’t look at 

the ground anymore. Jesus 

removed my guilt and lifted 

my head. My past sin was 

nailed dead, and my daily 

sin He’d teach me to strip, 

piece by ugly piece. 

Chamber explained that 

when we decide to kill sin 

in us, it’s the greatest moment 

of our lives. We’re not 

called to simply restrain it, 

suppress it, or counteract it; 

we crucify it. Mentally and 

spiritually, we may know 

it’s the right thing to do. But 

we must actually make the 

decision. No one else can do 

it for us. 

What if you let Jesus’ 

death and resurrection split 

your story? As the old you 

dies to unhealthy thinking 

and bad attitudes and wrong 

actions, the new you lives 

to find and become who you 

were created to be, whole 

and free. Trust me, my 

friend. It’s the best decision 

you’ll ever make. 

Let’s unite with Christ in 

his death and resurrection 

and celebrate new, abundant 

life. 

The thoughts and opinions 

expressed in this column are 

those of the author. They do 

not necessarily represent the 

thoughts of 22nd Century 

Media or its staff. 

In Memoriam 

Gregory T. Hobbs 

Gregory T. Hobbs, 73, of Frankfort, 

died April 11. He was formerly 

a junior high English teacher at St. 

Mary Catholic School in Mokena, 

which is where he met his wife. He 

also was a founding, current and 

two-time president of the Lincoln- 

Way Foundation Board of Excellence. 

He is survived by his wife, 

Karyl; children, Julianne (Jayson) 

Polad, Brett (Tania) Hobbs and Andrea 

(Michael) Judge; grandchildren, 

Maxton, Luke, Jake, Sawyer, 

Paisley, Thomas and Samantha; 

siblings, Ronald Hobbs, Martin 

(Marjory) Hobbs, Lawrence (Denise) 

Hobbs, Leo (Gail) Hobbs and 

Donald (Teresa) Hobbs; and many 

nieces and nephews. Visitation was 

held at Kurtz Memorial Chapel. A 

funeral Mass was held at St. Mary 

Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, 

donations to the Lincoln-Way Foundation 

Board of Excellence, www. 

lw210.org, would be appreciated. 

Faith Briefs 

St. John’s United Church of Christ (11100 Second 

St., Mokena) 

Blood Drive 

8:30 a.m.-noon Sunday, April 

30. Blood drive with the Heartland 

Blood Centers will be held 

in the Christian Community Center 

next to the church. To sign up, 

call (708) 479-5123 or visit www. 

heartlandbc.org. 

Traditional Service 

8 a.m. traditional mass, 9:45 

a.m. contemporary & traditional 

music in a service of praise and 

reverence. Supervised childcare 

available. For more information, 

call (708) 479-5123. 

Garden Club 

8 a.m. Tuesdays. For more information, 

call (708) 479-5123. 

Cards for a Cause 

7 p.m. the second Monday of 

each month. Bring your tape, scissors 

and colored pencils — if you 

have them — and plan for a creative 

evening with lots of fun. 

and fellowship while making baby 

quilts for infants baptized at St. 

John’s and lap quilts for shut-ins. 

Mokena United Methodist Church (10901 LaPorte 

Road, Mokena) 

Service and Sunday School 

10:15 a.m. Sundays. Church 

service and Sunday school will be 

held. For more information, call 

(708) 479-1110. 

Bible Study 

7 p.m. Tuesdays 

Breakfast 

9 a.m. every third Saturday of 

the month 

Walking Club 

7 p.m. Mondays 

Weight Watchers Wednesday 

Weigh-ins take place at 6:30 

p.m., while the meeting is at 7 p.m. 

Junior High Youth Group 

6-7:30 p.m. Fridays. For more 

information, email marleycommu 

nitychurch@gmail.com. 

Church Service 

10 a.m. Sundays. Childcare is 

provided 

Sunday School 

9-10 a.m. 

Men’s Group 

6 p.m. Sunday nights in the 

church basement. All men are welcome. 

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (10731 W. 

La Porte Road, Mokena) 

Contemporary Worship 

5 p.m. Saturday 

Worship 

9 a.m. Sunday 

God’s Kids Club 

10:15 a.m. Sundays. This club is 

open to those between the ages of 

4-17. 

Mokena Baptist Church (9960 W. 187th St., 

Mokena) 

Faith That Stands 

5 p.m. every Sunday. Join the 

service which takes a closer look 

at the book of First Corinthians. 

For more information, call (312) 

350-2279. 

Ladies Bible Study 

7 p.m. every Thursday. Meetings 

take place at The Talking Shirt 

Boutique, 19805 S. LaGrange 

Road in Mokena. For more information, 

call (312) 350-2279. 

Men’s Bible Study 

The men’s bible study is held 

quarterly at Cracker Barrel, 18531 

N. Creek Drive in Tinley Park. The 

meetings are held at 9 a.m., and 

men will enjoy studying the Bible 

over breakfast. 

Discipleship 

10:15-10:45 a.m. Sundays. The 

pastor or church leaders are available 

to meet with patrons to talk 

about discipleship. This meeting 

is for those interested in getting 

questions answered and starting a 

Do you have someone’s life you’d like 

Marley Community Church (12625 W. 187th St., 

Mokena) 

to honor? Email Editor Tim Carroll 

Senior High Youth Group 

at tim@mokenamessenger.com with 

Bundles of Love 

7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. For 

information about a loved one who was 

7 p.m. the second and fourth more information, email marley Adult Bible Study 

a part of the Mokena community. Monday of each month. Enjoy fun communitychurch@gmail.com. 10:15 a.m. Sunday 

Please see FAITH, 26



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24 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger life & Arts 


Lincoln-Way East breathes new life into classic musical 

Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor 

Fresh, young and energetic 

are not words director 

Gina Vitucci said most people 

usually use to describe 

“Oklahoma!” 

The 1943 Broadway musical 

has been done time 

and time again by adults, 

but Vitucci said she thinks 

it’s a perfect show for high 

school students. 

“I love ‘Oklahoma!’ with 

young people because it really 

is about teenagers,” she 

said. 

Although the show will 

be just the second one Vitucci 

has directed, she has a 

lifelong passion for theater 

and the experience to back 

it up. 

“I love it. It’s my social 

life. It’s also my passion. 

It’s also my craft that I’m 

always trying to perfect,” 

Vitucci said. 

“Oklahoma!” is often 

considered one of the classic 

musicals. Written by 

Rodgers and Hammerstein, 

the plot features a love story 

between characters Curly 

McLain and Laurey Williams. 

The part of Curly in 

East’s production is played 

by senior Collin Kavanaugh, 

who has been involved 

with the musical productions 

at East since his freshman 

year. 

“Musical theater just 

combines two of my passions, 

singing and acting,” 

Kavanaugh said. “Being 

able to be up there on stage 

for two and a half hours and 

put on a show for an audience 

is really a cool experience.” 

Kavanaugh has also been 

involved in many other 

musical productions with 

Curtain Call Theatre, now 

in Mokena, including “Oliver,” 

“The Sound of Music” 

and “Joseph and the Amazing 

Technicolor Dreamcoat.” 

“It’s made this experience 

meaningful to them. And, I think 

they’re taking a lot of pride in it.” 

Gina Vitucci - Director of “Oklahoma!” on the 

ensemble cast digging into each character’s history 

Senior Lindsey Doody, 

who transferred to East 

from North this year, plays 

Laurey Williams, and was 

involved in other high 

school shows at North before 

coming to East. 

“It’s really fun to play really 

different people and try 

to tap into a different part of 

yourself,” Doody said. 

She said it’s also fun to 

see other students acting 

onstage as something completely 

different from their 

normal personalities and 

watching some students 

come out of their shell. 

In addition to “Oklahoma!” 

being a great way for 

students to learn about the 

origins of musical theater, 

Vitucci said it was a great 

show that gets a lot of students 

involved. 

The show incorporates 

students from both North 

and East, so she said they 

wanted to pick a show 

where a lot of students 

could be onstage. 

“I think the amount of 

people up onstage kind of 

gives it more of a real-life 

[feel]” Kavanaugh said. 

“For example, we’re at a 

party scene, and you don’t 

usually have like four people 

— the main characters 

— at a party. There’s obviously 

going to be tons of 

people.” 

While all of the students 

onstage may not have character 

names in the script or 

speaking roles, Vitucci said 

it was important to her that 

the students dig into the 

meaning of the show. 

“I think they’ve enjoyed 

learning about these people,” 

Vitucci said. “You 

have to learn a little bit 

about history and learning 

what kind of people these 

are, what they’ve been 

through, really digging into 

the meaning of the show 

and not just treating like a 

beautiful concert with some 

lovely singing and dancing. 

But who are these characters?” 

To help the students in the 

ensemble cast get into the 

show, she said she had each 

of them create a character 

with a name and backstory. 

“I think they liked that, 

and I think it’s made this 

experience meaningful to 

them,” Vitucci said. “And I 

think they’re taking a lot of 

pride in it.” 

Freshman Anmarie 

D’Ortenzio, who is playing 

the part of Aunt Eller in the 

show, said she thinks the 

ensemble cast is a great way 

for students who don’t have 

as much free time to still be 

onstage. 

“I think that gives an opportunity 

for kids to explore 

theater, which is great,” 

D’Ortenzio said. 

D’Ortenzio said she enjoys 

theater because it gives 

her a way to express herself 

while hanging out with her 

friends. 

“All my best friends are 

in theater, and it’s so fun,” 

D’Ortenzio said. 

Sam Ruby, who is playing 

the part of peddler Ali 

Hakim, said he enjoys the 

characters in the musical, as 

Seniors Collin Kavanaugh (left, as Curly) and Lindsey Doody (Laurey) rehearse 

“Oklahoma!” April 11 at Lincoln-Way East High School. 

Photos by Amanda Stoll/22nd Century Media 

“Oklahoma!” 

Lincoln-Way East Fine 

Arts Center 

201 Colorado Ave, 

Frankfort 

Show times: 7 p.m. 

Thursday, April 20 

7 p.m. Friday, April 21 

7 p.m. Saturday, April 22 

3 p.m. Sunday, April 23 

Cost: $10 

Tickets: www.lwemusic. 

org 

well as the music itself. 

“There are just little fun 

things to work with in the 

musical, like different kinds 

of props and the different 

sets and the different things 

you can do behind the scenes 

of the actual plot that’s taking 

place,” the Lincoln-Way 

East sophomore said. 

Senior Kelli Arseneau, 

who is playing the role of 

Ado Annie, said the show 

doesn’t have any flashy sets, 

The cast sings during a rehearsal for Lincoln-Way East’s 

spring musical, “Oklahoma!” The group will perform at 7 

p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday. 

so it’s all about the acting 

and performance on stage. 

“It’s always fun to see the 

show from where it starts to 

where it grows to and just to 

be able to share that production 

with everyone,” Arseneau 

said. 

The students will perform 

“Oklahoma!” at 7 p.m. on 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 

as well as a matinee 

show at 3 p.m. on Sunday. 

“I am so excited for people 

to see it,” D’Ortenzio 

said. “I think everyone is 

going to feel that energy 

and just energetic vibe out 

in the audience; they’re going 

to realize ‘Wow, this is 

great.’”

mokenamessenger.com life & arts 


Young actors bring ‘The Music Man Jr.’ to Mokena Jr. High 

Amanda Stoll 

Assistant Editor 

Now in its second season, 

the Mokena Junior High 

School spring musical has 

grown from 45 cast and crew 

members to 60. 

This year, the group is to 

perform “The Music Man 

Jr.” under the direction of 

district music teacher Karen 

Bussean, who directs the 

bands at the junior high and 

middle schools and teaches 

general music at the elementary 

school. 

“My hope is that they get 

a love for musical theater, 

expand their horizons a little 

bit,” Bussean said. “It’s really 

just another way to express 

yourself, another art form.” 

Bussean, who started 

working at the district five 

years ago, said she wanted 

to give the students as many 

opportunities to explore art 

and music as possible, and 

the theater group is another 

way for her to do that. 

Playing the part of Professor 

Harold Hill is seventhgrader 

Justin Eckert. Hill 

comes to town to sell band 

instruments and uniforms, 

with the intention of skipping 

town afterward. 

The part of Marian Paroo, 

the town librarian and piano 

teacher, is played by eighthgrader 

Joey Berardelli. 

Both Eckert and Berardelli 

said their favorite scene in 

the show is the piano lesson 

scene, but the most challenging 

scene for the two lead 

characters is the final scene, 

in which they sing “Till 

There Was You” together. 

“I like to sing. I like to 

act a lot,” said Eckert, who 

added he enjoys being a part 

of the theater group at the 

school and has made a lot of 

friends through it. 

Berardelli said she enjoys 

the rush of being onstage. 

“When you’re singing 

[and] when you’re acting, 

you can kind of be someone 

Mokena Junior High students (left to right) Ryan Berardelli, Danielle Santoro, Grace Fitzpatrick , Savannah Novotny, Maddy 

Overstreet and Kalli Jasper rehearse for Mokena Junior High School’s upcoming production of “The Music Man Jr.” The 

students will perform the musical Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22. Photos by Amanda Stoll/22nd Century Media 

‘The Music Man Jr.’ 

Where: Mokena Junior 

High School, 19815 

Kirkstone Way, Mokena 

Tickets: At the door or in 

the main office 

Cost: $6 

When: 7 p.m. Friday, 

April 21 

3 p.m. and 7 p.m. 

Saturday, April 22 

else and forget other things 

for a while,” Berardelli said. 

She said she enjoys the 

energy of the show and is 

looking forward to continuing 

her involvement with theater 

next year at Lincoln-Way 

Central. 

Not only are the students 

gaining experience singing, 

dancing and acting onstage, 

Bussean said there are also 

a number of students who 

are not necessarily involved 

in the music department but 

have been working as part of 

the cast for the shows. 

With help from parent 

volunteers, the students are 

learning about set building, 

lights, sound, and props, 

and they will be running 

the whole show themselves. 

Bussean said the students 

have also been involved with 

building and painting the set 

for the show. 

“They created this. This 

is about them,” she said. “I 

could have had parents come 

in and do it, but I think the 

kids would have missed out.” 

Bussean’s husband, Tim, 

is a set designer who worked 

for 20 years as a technical 

theater teacher at area high 

schools and has been helping 

with the set design and 

teaching the students how 

to use power tools, measure 

and build the sets. 

“I would have no idea what 

to do,” Karen Bussean said. 

“I’m very thankful to have 

his expertise in that area.” 

This year, she said they 

are to have a rotating set onstage 

— an impressive feat 

on it’s own. 

“These kids will go into 

high school with some 

knowledge,” said Karen 

Bussean, who added she 

hoped they will continue 

their involvement with theater 

into high school. 

Karen Bussean said the 

Mokena Educational Foundation 

and the PTA have 

been very generous and supportive 

of the musical, as 

well as Whitmore Ace Hardware, 

Schillings Lumber and 

Jean Lachat Photography. 

“The Music Man Jr.” features 

many of the same favorite 

songs from the original 

musical, like “Gary, Indiana,” 

“Piano Lesson,” “Seventy- 

Six Trombones” and “Shipoopi,” 

but with a shortened 

overall show length designed 

for younger performers. 

Joey Berardelli (far left), who plays Marian Paroo, and other cast members rehearse for the 

upcoming production of “The Music Man Jr.” at Mokena Junior High School.

26 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger life & arts 


READ IT AND 

REAP 

FAITH 

From Page 22 

journey of faith. 

Sunday Services 

11 a.m. and 5 p.m. For 

more information, call (312) 

350-2279. 

Sunday School 

10:15 a.m. Sundays. Mokena 

Baptist offers Sunday 

School classes for all ages. 


(312) 350-2279. 

mation, call (708) 479- 1736 

or (708) 479- 7322. 

Church Service 

5 p.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m, 

9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6: 

p.m. Sundays 

Adoration 

Wednesdays following 

8:00 a.m. Mass in the Chapel 

until 6:45 p.m. 

Holy Rosary 

7:30 a.m. daily; 7 p.m. 

Tuesday evenings 

Road, Mokena) 

Narcotics Anonymous 

7-9 p.m. Mondays. All 

those struggling or who have 

struggled with a narcotics 

addiction are welcome. All 

meetings are confidential. 


(708) 479-0300. 

Spanish Church 

12:30 p.m. every Sunday 

Worship Service 

10 a.m. every Sunday. All 

are welcome. 

St. Mary’s Catholic Church (19515 115th 

Ave., Mokena) 

Polka Mass 

1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 

30. A Catholic Liturgy in Polka 

Beat followed by a Spring 

Fellowship Ethnic Luncheon 

at 2:45 p.m. in the lower level 

of the church. Cost is $25 for 

adults and $10 for children 

12 years and younger. Tickets 

will be sold after Mass on 

Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, 

April 23. For more infor- 

Parker Road Bible Church (18512 Parker 

Road, Mokena) 

Worship Service 

10:30 a.m. Sundays. Be 

sure to arrive early for our 

Sunday Worship Service to 

enjoy a hot, complimentary 

cup of coffee every week at 

the church. Following the 

Christian Education Hour 

(9:15 - 10:15 a.m.), all beverages 

can be found just outside 

the sanctuary. 

Grace Fellowship Church (11049 LaPorte 

Women’s Bible Study 

8:45-9:45 a.m. every Sunday 

and 2-3 p.m. every Tuesday 

Have something for Faith 

Briefs? Contact Assistant 

Editor Amanda Stoll at 


or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 34. 

Deadline is noon Thursday one 

week prior to publication. 

Experience the benefits of: 

• Unlimited digital access to 100+ stories a week 

• Breaking News alerts sent directly to you 

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Subscribe to The Mokena Messenger’s digital 

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MokenaMessenger.com/Digital 

The web product of THE MOKENA MESSENGER 

How Do Dinosaurs Enjoy Their Summer? 

By Coming to a Din-o-Mite Camp at 

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mokenamessenger.com dining out 


The Dish 

Primal Cut Steakhouse realizes the vision of its co-owners 

Mix of classics, 

diversification key 

for new upscale 

Tinley eatery 

Thomas Czaja 

Contributing Editor 

Approximately six years 

ago, a chef entered a steakhouse 

in Chicago, where he 

met another chef working as 

a dining room captain. 

Little did Paul Spass know 

when he sat down and became 

a regular customer of 

Mark Dewar’s that evening 

that the two would become 

friends and ultimately business 

partners, one day opening 

their own restaurant together. 

The dream of restaurant 

ownership for Spass became 

a reality when he and Dewar 

held the soft opening for The 

Primal Cut Steakhouse in 

Tinley Park in late March. 

“I saw the ‘for rent’ sign 

in the window and decided 

to give it a shot and roll the 

dice,” said Spass, who has a 

background as a pastry chef. 

Since then, the steakhouse 

has gradually come together 

and opened for its full range 

of hours, offering locals a 

chance to come in and try 

the menu designed by Dewar, 

the executive chef there 

with 32 years of experience. 

For Dewar — who along 

with Spass is a graduate of 

Johnson & Wales University 

with a culinary degree — a 

call from his one-time customer 

this past September 

was the initial tipping point 

toward agreeing to the venture. 

“Believe it or not, I was 

raised two blocks away 

[from the restaurant],” 

Dewar said. “So, it’s kind 

of like a coming home-type 

thing. ... We sat down and 

talked, and the numbers we 

crunched seemed correct. 

So, we figured, let’s give it 

a whirl.” 

A point of emphasis for 

Spass was bringing an upscale 

establishment to Tinley 

and the surrounding southwest 

suburban communities. 

“I think the neighborhood 

and area really deserved it,” 

Spass said. “There’s just no 

place like this unless you go 

downtown or to Oak Brook.” 

To that end, Spass had a 

vision of how he wanted the 

interior of the restaurant to 

look. He did not hire a designer 

to lay everything out; 

rather, he figured it out himself 

using a blend of ideas 

from what he had seen over 

the years at different restaurants. 

“We tried to create a 

downtown feel here in Tinley 

Park, with the rose brick, 

the stone, the barn wood,” he 

said. 

When it comes to the 

menus, Dewar said he kept 

things straightforward, with 

nothing flashy, since “meat 

is the primary focus” of a 

steakhouse. 

A lunch highlight is The 

Primal Cut Burger ($14), 

which features stacked 

burger patties weighing in 

at three-quarters of a pound, 

each topped with American, 

Gruyère and blue chees, 

finished with a mound of 

coleslaw on top, served with 

French fries. 

“The end result is a leaning 

tower of goodness,” 

Dewar said. 

The executive chef added 

another focus with his food 

program was to add the highest 

quality products available. 

He did not want The 

Primal Cut’s meats sitting on 

a semi-truck from California 

to the Midwest. So, he sources 

“pretty much everything” 

on the menu from within 30 

miles of the restaurant. 

The results show, with 

“the proof in the pudding,” 

he said. 

“We’re not here to, per se, 

reinvent the wheel, because 

the wheel is not broken,” 

Dewar said. 

While the lunch menu was 

designed with both accessibility 

and efficiency in mind, at 

the same time adhering to the 

principle of a kitchen where 

everything is prepared fresh in 

the moment, the dinner menu 

maintains classic offerings, 

including filet mignon ($29 

for petite, $39 for king), New 

York strip ($25 for petite, $38 

for king) and rib-eye ($28 for 

petite, $50 for king). 

In addition, The Primal 

Cut Steakhouse prides itself 

on diversifying these dishes 

through its dry-aged offerings, 

which concentrates and 

saturates the natural flavor 

while tenderizing the texture 

of each meat. 

The signature dry-aged 

prime bone-in rib-eye ($54 

for 28 ounces) and signature 

dry-aged prime bone-in New 

York strip ($48 for 16 ounces) 

are the end results of that 

effort. And they stand out, 

according to the proprietors. 

“No one in the area really 

has a dry-aged program like 

this,” Dewar said. 

Those preferring not to 

go the steak route can find 

alternatives like the chicken 

Marsala ($22), matched 

with smashed red bliss potato, 

or the shellfish cioppino 

($29) — a dish with 

mussels, shrimp, tuna salmon 

and cod, combined and 

simmered in a fennel-laced 

plum tomato broth. 

Of course, no menu is 

complete without dessert. 

Spass has expertise in that 

realm, and the pickings at 

The Primal Cut in that regard 

are numerous. 

Currently, crème brulee 

($6), New York cheesecake 

($7) and Key lime pie ($7) 

are some of the listed items, 

The petite filet mignon ($29) — accompanied by choice of baked potato or hand-cut 

fries, along with a house salad or cup of Primal Cut beef vegetable soup — is one of the 

signature dinner entrees at The Primal Cut Steakhouse in Tinley Park. Photos by Thomas 

Czaja/22nd Century Media 

The Primal Cut 

Steakhouse 

17344 Oak Park Ave. in 

Tinley Park 

Hours 

• 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 

Sunday-Thursday 

• 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday 

and Saturday 

For more information ... 

Web: www. 

primalcutsteakhouse. 

com 

Phone: (708) 407-8150 

with a chocolate mousse cake 

— which will be made with a 

very fine Swiss chocolate, according 

to Spass — planned 

for the menu, as well. 

“All our desserts are made 

in house, fresh,” Spass said. 

“The dessert menu will 

change depending on the 

day.” 

So far, feedback has been 

positive, with diners happy 

the building was revamped 

with a formal atmosphere, 

The jumbo Alaskan red king crab legs (market price) is 

served with drawn butter. 

Spass said. 

“I think the response has 

been very good, and we’re 

very excited about it,” he 

said. 

As the business continues 

to grow, one main component 

the owners look to add 

“hopefully in the short future” 

is a rooftop patio to the 

corner of the building. 

Ultimately, it all goes back 

to Spass’ message of providing 

a downtown experience 

out in the suburbs at an affordable 

rate. 

“We just really want to target 

the market we went after 

and provide quality service, 

quality food and a beautiful 

environment for the patrons,” 

Spass said.



Save BIG with Lincoln-Way Realty 

Call us at 708.479.6355 

to set up a listing appointment 

Joseph siwinski 

Managing Broker & Owner 

19430 S. Wolf Rd. Mokena, IL 

www.lincolnwayrealty.com 

jsiwinski@lincolnwayrealty.com 

Buying • Selling • ReSidential • CommeRCial 

new 

new 

new 

new 

new 

new 

Mokena 

• Offered at $649,900 

• 6 Bedrooms, 3.1 Baths 

20344 Old Castle Dr. 

• Amazing Ranch Home! 

• Finished Walkout Basement! 

Mokena 



19910 Foxborough Dr. 

• Absolutely Stunning Home! 


Mokena 


• 5 Bedrooms, 3 Baths 

11423 193rd St. 

• Over Half Acre Lot! 

• Filled with Updates! 

Mokena 



18932 Meadow Creek Dr. 

• Impeccably Maintained! 

• Gorgeous Updates! 

Frankfort 

11135 Venezia Dr. 

$2,500 

Mokena 



20957 Mayfair Ct. 

• Custom home in Old Castle! 

• Heated 6 Car Garage! 

Tinley Park 



8819 Fairfield Ln. 

• Immaculate 3 Step Ranch! 

• Beautiful Pond Views! 

new 

new 

Frankfort 





22240 Pembrook Dr. 

• Pristine 3100 sq ft Home! 

• Serene & Private Backyard! 

price change 

• Upgraded & Impressive! 

• 3 Car Garage & Corner Lot! 

* 

Flat listing Fee 

Payable at Closing 

*Cooperative Commission and other restrictions may apply. Listing Fee is applicable on primary residence only. 

Frankfort 



New Lenox 


• Immaculate Ranch! 

985 N. Butternut Cir. 

• Impressive Custom Home! 

• Gorgeous Wooded Lot! 

price change 

704 Ridgefield Rd. 

• Numerous Updates! 

• Close to Park & Trail! 

price change 

price change 

price change 

$425,000 $669,900 

$229,000 

Manhattan 


• 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath 

400 Lee St. 

• Immaculate Ranch Home! 

• Filled with Updates! 

Frankfort 



21372 Georgetown Rd. 

• Beautiful Custom Home! 

• Over 3500 square feet! 

Flossmoor 



1705 Butterfield Rd. 

• Completely Updated! 

• Beautiful Wooded Lot! 

Monee 


• Custom Ranch Home! 

25317 S. Tuscany Dr. East 

• Finished Basement! 

• Beautiful Scenic Location! 

Orland Park 


• Captivating 2 Story Home! 

10842 Eleanor Ln. 

• Walkout Basement! 

• Upgraded & Pristine! 

New Lenox 


• Completely Updated! 

330 Old Hickory Rd. 

• Impeccably maintained! 

• Wonderful Location 

$245,000 

$459,000 

$685,000 $370,800 

$449,000 

$789,000 

Bridgeview 


• Well Maintained Home! 

7831 W. 80th St. 

• Convenient Location! 

• Several Updates! 

Homer Glen 



17814 Crystal Lake Dr. 

• Over 3400 Square Feet! 

• Beautiful 1 Acre Lot! 

Homer Glen 17935 S. Foxhound Ln. 


• Custom & Immaculate! 



Mokena 


• Highly energy efficient! 

18809 Meadow Creek Dr. 


• Over 3400 square feet! 

Mokena 


• Custom Home w/Pond View! 

19409 Boulder Ridge Dr. 


• Numerous Upgrades! 

Mokena 


• Stunning custom home! 

19757 Durham Ct. 


• Prime Foxborough Location!



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22 nd Century Media & Planet Fitness Presents 

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 

9 AM – 1 PM 

TINLEY PARK CONVENTION CENTER 

18451 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE, TINLEY PARK 

FREE ADMISSION | FREE PARKING 

VENDORS INCLUDE: 

22nd Century Media 

Advocate Medical Group 

Alden Estates of Orland Park 

All Cindy’s Mixes 

All That’s Home 

Aloette 

Arbonneri 

ARI 

Barefoot *N* Bubbly 

barkTHINS 

Bath Planet 

Body Bliss Wellness Center 

BrookHill Coffee Mugs 

Camp Manitoqua & Retreat Center 

Celebrity Cruises 

Chicago Henna 

Chicago Red Stars 

Chicago Sky 

Children’s Museum of Oak Lawn 

Chiro One 

College of DuPage Nursing Department 

CWB Distributors 

Damsel In Defense 

Dan Mosca State Farm 

Diva Me Bella 

Epiphany Fashion 

Essential Body Wear 

Family Friendly Medical Care 

HealthAdvocates HomeCare 

Health Nutz Natural Foods 

Honey and Lace 

Ingalls Health System 

Interiors by Diane DeCero and 

Lifestyle Designs Floor to Ceiling 

Isagenix 

It Works! 

Jason Snoreck Allstate 

Jewelry by Judy 

Joliet Slammers 

Juice Plus 

Juicy Luzy Sangria 

KRAVE Jerky 

Kristina McMillin for India Hicks 

LeafFilter Gutter Protection 

LuLaRoe Kate & Les 

Mary Kay Cosmetics 

Natural Healing Centers 

Noonday Collection 

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

Orangetheory Fitness 

Orland Park Crossing 

Palos Health 

Perfectly Posh 

Physicians Immediate Care 

Planet Fitness 

Plexus Worldwide, Inc. 

Point Blank Range & Gun Shop 

Power Home Remodeling 

Prudential 

Pure Romance 

Reliv Nutritional Products 

Renewal by Andersen 

Rodan & Fields 

Scentsy 

SeneGence 

Silk Avenue 

Sinfully Delicious 

SlimSmart Balloon 

Surprise Parties 

Tastefully Simple 

The Leading Image 

The Sheet Lady 

The Traveling Vineyard 

Vitality Health Systems 

Weight Watchers 

Window & Siding Planet, Inc. 

Window Works 

Wyndham Vacation Ownership 

Yoli 

Young Living Essential Oils 

Shop more than 70 vendors! 

• MEET DANNI ALLEN, WINNER OF 

"The Biggest Loser" Season 14 

• SPRING FASHION SHOW PRESENTED BY: 

The Leading Image, Diva Me Bella 

and Orland Park Crossing 

• Cooking Demo Stage 

• Free Group Fitness Classes (Cardio, Yoga) 

• Donate Blood Through LifeSource's Blood Drive 

• Free Gift Bag to the First 500 Attendees! 

for more information visit, www.22ndcenturymedia.com/lady



JESSICA JAKUBOWSKI 

HAS JOINED CRIS REALTY 

CRIS Realty welcomes Lincoln-Way top producing agent, Jessica 

Jakubowski, to our new downtown Frankfort Location. 

A resident of Lincoln-Way, Jessica is an experienced sales professional 

with local market expertise and a passion for providing her clients 

with exceptional service. A proven top producer, leading her office 

in sales volume consecutively in 2015 

& 2016 Jessica credits her success to 

her commitment to putting her clients’ 

interests ahead of her own. With a B.A. 

from Rutgers University, and certifications 

in relocation and negotiation 

Jessica has the skills needed to navigate 

today's complex market. 

CONGRATULATIONS JESSICA! 

CRIS REALTY WELCOMES YOU! 

Jessica Jakubowski • Broker Associate • Direct 312.810.6722 

53 Old Frankfort Way | Frankfort, IL crisrealty.net

32 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger 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. Leave it as it is 

5. Flat-bottomed boat 

9. Atty group 

12. Stockpile 

14. Dickens’s ___ Heep 

16. Berate 

17. Wrongdoing 

18. Jonas Salk’s vaccine 

19. Be indisposed 

20. Frankfort’s ____ 

Garden Party 

22. There’s only one in 

Maine 

24. Anatomical pockets 

26. Catalina for example 

27. Deck marker, 

maybe 

32. Fencing sticks 

33. Legal summons 

34. League members 

36. Emit lava 

37. Below, in text 

38. “Guilty,” e.g. 

42. Pig homes 

43. Burns and Allen, 

e.g. 

44. Inclined 

48. Frankfort Country 

Club 

50. Skin cream 

51. Sound boomerang 

52. Central American 

citizen 

55. Flee from jail 

60. Flight board abbreviation 

61. About 

63. Cement 

64. Catcher 

65. Athletes often have 

trouble with them 

66. Like a shoe 

67. Have being 

68. 50 yard ___ 

69. Famous fiddler 

Down 

1. Sullivan had a really 

big one 

2. Aaron Spelling’s 

daughter 

3. Acquire by labor 

4. Stallion motion 

5. Eat dinner 

6. Indexes 

7. Greasy 

8. Sing the blues 

9. Fit for farming 

10. One who receives a 

bond 

11. Shoelace tips 

13. Elegant in appearance 

15. Sacred places 

21. Cheer 

23. Nile biter 

25. Kitty treat 

27. Fox competitor 

28. Heidi’s milieu 

29. Regret bitterly 

30. Dawn’s moisture 

31. 3.26 light-years 

35. Barker or Kettle 

37. Computer people 

38. Superhero punch 

sound 

39. Island chain 

40. And so forth 

41. Pump 

42. Impinged 

43. Drooping eyelid, 

medically 

44. Goddess of wisdom 

45. Whistle blower 

46. Inherent 

47. Showed the way 

49. ``___ walks in 

beauty’’ 

53. Drink garnish 

54. Surface 

56. “Time’s a-wastin’!” 

57. Possessing the knowhow 

58. Something comparable 

59. Taro 

62. Tree type 

MOKENA 

The Alley Grill and Tap 

House 

(18700 S. Old LaGrange 

Road, Mokena; (708) 478- 

3610) 

■9 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Karaoke 

Fox’s Restaurant and Pub 

(11247 W. 187th St., Mokena; 

(708) 478-8888) 

■6 ■ p.m. Thursdays, 

Fridays and Saturdays: 

Performance by Jerry 

Eadie 

Jenny’s Southside Tap 

(10160 191st St., Mokena; 

(708) 479-6873) 

■6 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Acoustic 

Avenue, Psychic 

night - second Tuesday 

every month. 

■9 ■ p.m. Thursdays: 

Karaoke 

■Fridays ■ and Saturdays: 

Live bands 

NEW LENOX 

Little Joe’s Restaurant 

(1300 N. Cedar Road, 

New Lenox; (815) 463- 

1099) 

■5-8 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: 

Piano Styles by Joe 

ORLAND PARK 

Girl in the Park 

(11265 W. 159th St., 

Orland Park, IL; (708) 

226-0042) 

■7 ■ p.m. Mondays: Trivia 

■5:30 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: 

Live Music 

■8 ■ p.m. Fridays and Saturdays: 

Live Music 

The Brass Tap 

(14225 95th Ave. Suite 

400, Orland Park; (708) 

226-1827) 

■8 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Trivia. 

Prizes awarded 


Live music 

Fox’s Restaurant and Pub 

(9655 W. 143rd St., 

Orland Park; (708) 349- 

2111) 

■6 ■ p.m. Tuesdays, 

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 

Live entertainment 


Live entertainment 

and face painter 

To place an event 

in The Scene, email 

b.kapa@22ndcenturymedia. 

com. 

answers 

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



Would you like To 

conTinue receiving 

your free copy of 

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Then fill ouT This form and 

send iT back To us! 

We love our readers, and we’d love to continue providing you with the 

news and information that’s most important to you, but we need your 

help! To meet U.S. Postal regulations and ensure we get your news to 

you quickly and consistently, we’re asking all residents to fill out the form 

to the right and send it back to us using one of the methods below: 

mail 

Circulation Manager 

11516 West 183rd Street 

Unit Sw Office Condo #3 

Orland Park IL 60467 

fax 

ATTN: Circulation Manager 

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online 

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or 

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34 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger 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.


the Mokena Messenger | April 20, 2017 | 35

36 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger real estate 


The Mokena Messenger’s 

Sponsored content 

of the 

WEEK 

March 17 

• 10349 Kevin Court, 

Mokena, 60448-7955 

- First Midwest Bank 

Trustee to Peter C. 

Hamstra, Erin C. Hamstra, 

$262,500 

• 18825 Marjorie 

Parkway, Mokena, 60448- 

8479 - Eugene A. Satrun 

to Michael Filippini, Dena 

Filippini, $269,000 

• 19454 Kylemore Lane, 

Mokena, 60448-8003 

- Deborah L. Novack to 

Anthony J. Noto, $285,000 

The Going Rate is provided by 

Record Information Services, 

Inc. For more information, 

visit www.public-record.com 

or call (630) 557-1000. 

Entertaining in this home 

is so much fun. 

What: Impeccable twostory 

home in the Crystal 

Creek Subdivision 

Where: 18805 Chestnut 

Court, Mokena 

Amenities: The 

professionally landscaped 

exterior boasts a threecar 

garage, concrete 

driveway, large patio and 

storage shed. Step inside 

to the 3,700-squarefoot 

interior, which has 

been freshly painted and 

includes custom cabinetry, 

new carpet, refinished 

hardwood floors, six panel 

doors and custom window 

treatments. The main floor 

offers a two-story foyer, 

living room with bayed 

sitting area, formal dining 

room, family room with 

brick fireplace and a wellappointed 

kitchen with 

tons of custom cabinets, 

tile backsplash, an 

island with breakfast bar, 

dinette, butler pantry and 

stainless steel appliances. 

Also, on the main floor, 

there is a bedroom, full 

bathroom and a laundry 

room. The second floor 

has two full bathrooms 

and four bedrooms, all 

with walk-in closets and 

including a master suite 

with tray ceiling, huge 

closet, dual-sink vanity, 

jacuzzi tub and separate 

shower. The 1,500-squarefoot 

basement has been 

beautifully finished with 

a decorative ceiling, 

recessed lighting, crown 

molding, a recreation 

room, custom bar, 

exercise room and a full 

bathroom. The recreation 

room includes a surround 

sound system, built-in 

cabinetry and a wet bar. 

It has a super location, 

within walking distance 

to the subdivision’s park, 

playground and trail, with 

convenient access to 

Interstate 80, the Metra 

station and more. 

Asking Price: $469,900 

Listing Agent: Joseph 

Siwinski, of Lincoln-Way 

Realty. To schedule a 

viewing or get more 

information, call (708) 

479-6355 or email 

jsiwinski@lincolnwayrealty. 

com. 

Want to know how to become 

Home of the Week? Contact 

Tricia at (708) 326-9170 ext. 

47.

mokenamessenger.com Classifieds 


CLASSIFIEDS 

Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive 

Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise 

Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It | DEADLINE - Friday at 3pm 

1003 Help Wanted 

Automotive 

Real Estate 

Help 

Wanted 

$52 

4 lines/ 

7 papers Help Wanted 

$50 

7 lines/ 

7 papers Merchandise 

1003 Help 

Wanted 

$13 

per line 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

$30 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

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! 

1023 Caregiver 

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 

Thank you Our Lady of 

Mt. Carmel for prayers 

answered. CP 

Automotive 

1061 Autos Wanted 

Outdoor work: F/T 

year-round & seasonal 

Employment 

Potential for paid winters 

off. Benefits incl. health, 

dental, IRA. Clean driving 

record a MUST. Starting 

rate: $14/hr. Time and 1/2 

over 40 hrs. Apply 

in-person 7320 Duvan Dr, 

Tinley Park M-F 8a-4p or 

email resume to 

callus@lawntechltd.com 

Tinley Park Full-Time Office 

Staff. Functions include 

phone reception, customer 

service and computer usage. 

For more information or to be 

considered for the position, 

email your resume to 

mf160140@gmail.com 

Dairy Queen looking for 

crew members & potential 

mgmt. FT/Seasonal. Apply 

in-store. 14460 S. 

LaGrange Rd, Orland Park 

Lockport, IL. Several 

openings for an AC/DC 

Electric Motor Mechanic. 

The ideal candidate will have 

experience breaking down, 

troubleshooting, repairing & 

building electric motors. 

Mon-Fri, 7 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. w/ 

occasional OT. Pay starts at 

$10/hr and increases based on 

skill level. Email 

michael.glenn5@gmail.com. 

Immediate openings 

for house cleaners in 

SW suburbs. 

P/T wkdays. No 

evenings/weekends. 

815.464.1988 

F/T Lawn Maintenance 

Foreman & Laborers 

Lawn Technician 

Spray License Helpful 

Driver’s License Req. 

Frankfort (815)277-2092 

Para Espanol (708)941-9254 

Call Jess Nemec to learn more 

about recruitment advertising 

in your local newspaper. 

(708) 326-9170 ext. 46 

j.nemec@22ndcenturymedia.com 

Hiring Desk Clerk (2nd 

& 3rd shift) & 

Housekeeping (Morning) 

Needed at Super 8 Motel 

Apply within: 

9485 W. 191st St, Mokena 

No Phone Calls 

Looking to hire entry level 

construction laborer. No 

exp necessary. Will train. 

Lazy people need not 

inquire. 

Call 815.412. 4705. 

P/T, evenings Customer 

Service Desk. 

815.469.1844 ext 206 

ymellske@hallmarksports 

club1.com 

Life Insurance Case Mgr. 

FT/PT-Oak Forest 

Office & computer exp req 

Call M-F: 708.687.0142 

Bartender & Doorman. 

Will train. Must be over 21. 

Frankfort.708.612.5040 

1005 Employment 

Wanted 

Need help with your TV, 

computer or mobile device? 

Call J-Tech for local support 

that comes to you. 

Competitive pricing. 

Available evenings & 

weekends. (708) 770-3475 

JTechlocal@gmail.com 

HIRE LOCALLY 

Reach over 83% of prospective 

employees in your area! 

CALL TODAY 708-326-9170 


Advertise your 

RENTAL PROPERTY 

in the newspaper 

people turn tofirst 

CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 


Garage 

Sale 

1052 Garage Sale 

Francis Field 

Indoor & Outdoor 

Garage Sale 

801 E. Francis Road 

New Lenox. IL. April 29, 

2017: 8am-1pm. Call 

Becky for more information: 

(815) 485-5927 

1057 Estate Sale 

Tinley Park 7000 W. 167th St 

4/22-4/23 &4/29-4/30 9-3pm 

Tools, antiques, furniture, 

housewares & more. Cash 

only! 

1058 Moving Sale 

Orland Park 15632 Glenlake 

Dr. in Summerglen subdiv 

LAST CALL! 4/20-4/22 9-1p 

Furniture, kitchen, patio set, 

dining room, oak office desk, 

grandfather clock & 

Too Much to List! 

Call (708)218-6865

38 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger Classifieds 


CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

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DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

Automotive 

$52 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

LOCAL 

REALTOR 

DIRECTORY 

Help Wanted 

per line $13 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Rental 

1225 Apartments for Rent 

Oak Forest Terrace 

Real Estate 

$50 

7 lines/ 

7 papers 

Merchandise 

$30 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

708-479-2448 

15815 Terrace, Oak Forest 

Spacious 1 & 2 Bdrms. 

Serene setting & Beautiful 

Grounds. Tennis, Pool, 

Walking Trails. Near metra. 

708-687-1818 

oakterrapts@att.net 

Senior Apartment 

Rental 

Rent plus 2 meals, utilities 

(no phone or internet), weekly 

housekeeping/activities. 

$2,257/mo. w/$2,000 deposit. 

Call Cara 708-335-1600 

Business Directory 

HOME FINANCING AVAILABLE 

2003 Appliance Repair 

Don’t just list your 

Sell It! 

real estate property... 


Contact Classified Department 

to Advertise in this Directory 

See the Classified 

Section for more info, or call 708.326.9170 

22ndCenturyMedia.com 

(708) 

326.9170 

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 

Place a garage sale ad & reach 

over 96,000 homes across 

the southwest suburbs! 

FOR $42 YOU’LL GET 

ASINGLE FAMILY AD 

4 LINES in 7 PAPERS 

CALL THE CLASSIFIED 

DEPARTMENT: 708.326.9170 

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CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 

$50 7 7 papers 

lines/ 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 

per line 7 papers 

Merchandise 


lines/ 

2004 Asphalt Paving/Seal Coating 

2006 Basement Waterproofing 

2011 Brick/Chimney Experts 

D&J 

B-3 Asphalt Inc. 

43 years Experience 

Family Owned 

Residential Commercial 

Resurfacing Concrete & 

Old Asphalt 

Driveways 

Repairs Sealcoating 

Patching Excavation 

Free Estimates 

708 691 8640 

Owner Supervised 

Insured Bonded 

2010 Brick Pavers 

2011 Brick/Chimney Experts 

2017 Cleaning Services 

 

 

 

Sell It! 


See the Classified Section for more info, or call 

 

HIRE LOCALLY 



Advertise 

your 

RENTAL 

PROPERTY 

in the 

newspaper 

people turn 

to first 

CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 


CALL TODAY FOR 

RATES & INFORMATION 

708-326-9170 

www.22ndcenturymedia.com



CLASSIFIEDS 



2018 Concrete Raising 

A All American 

Concrete Lifting 

Concrete Sinking? 

We Raise & Level 

Stoops Sidewalks 

Driveways Patios 

Garage Floors Steps 

& More! 

All Work Guaranteed 

FREE ESTIMATES 

Ask About Special 

Discounts! 

(708)361-0166 

2025 Concrete Work 

Place a garage sale ad & reach 

over 96,000 homes across 

the southwest suburbs! 

FOR $42 YOU’LL GET 

ASINGLE FAMILY AD 

4 LINES in 7 PAPERS 

CALL THE CLASSIFIED 

DEPARTMENT: 708.326.9170 

With the Purchase 

of a Garage Sale Ad! 


Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

Automotive 

Real Estate 

$52 

4 lines/ 


$50 

7 lines/ 


2025 Concrete Work 

$13 

per line 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

$30 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

2025 Concrete 

Work 

2032 Decking 

Sturdy 

Deck & Fence 

Repair, Rebuild or 

Replace 

Make It Safe - Make it Sturdy 

708 479 9035 

2070 Electrical 

EXPERIENCED 

ELECTRICIAN 

R E A S O N A B L E 

D E P E N D A B L E 

SMALL JOBS 

CALL ANYTIME 

(708) 478-8269 

2075 Fencing 

Frank J’s Concrete 

Stoops 

Curbs 

Colored & Stamped 

Patios 

Driveways 

Walks 

Garage Floors 

Over 30 Years Experience! 

708 663 9584 

Tinley Park Company 

2110 Gutter 

Cleaning 

2032 Decking 

K&M 

Services 

Concrete 

 

 

 

 

 

Specializing in... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


RENTAL PROPERTY 


people turn to first 

CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 

www.22ndcenturymedia.com



2090 Flooring 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

Automotive 

Real Estate 

$52 

4 lines/ 


$50 

7 lines/ 


$13 

per line 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

$30 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

2130 Heating/Cooling 

2130 Heating/Cooling 

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 

CALL MIKE AT 708-790-3416 

2132 Home Improvement 

Residential/Commercial 

“Design/Build Professionals" 

CARRARAREPAIRSERVICE 

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 

Visit Our Showroom Location at 1223 N Convent St. Bourbonnais



CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

Automotive 

Real Estate 

$52 

4 lines/ 


$50 

7 lines/ 


$13 

per line 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

$30 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

2140 Landscaping 

2132 Home Improvement 2132 Home Improvement 

2135 Insulation 

2140 Landscaping



2140 Landscaping 

Ideal 

Landscaping 

Complete 

Landscaping 

Sodding, Seeding, Trees 

Shrubs, Pavers, Retaining 

Walls, Firewood 

Since 1973 

708 235 8917 

815 210 2882 

2145 Lawn Maintenance 

2147 Masonry Work 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 


lines/ 

2150 Paint & Decorating 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


Merchandise 


lines/ 


MARTY’S 

PAINTING 

Interior / Exterior 

Fast, Neat Painting 

Drywall 

Wallpaper Removal 

Staining 


20% Off with this ad 

708-606-3926 

Don’t just list 

your real estate 

property... 

Sell It! 


See the Classified Section for 

more info, or call 708.326.9170 

22ndCenturyMedia.com



CLASSIFIEDS 



Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


2170 Plumbing 

2180 Remodeling 

Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Real Estate 


lines/ 

Merchandise 


lines/ 


Neat, Clean, Professional 

Work At ACompetitive Price 

Specializing in all 

Interior/Exterior Painting 

• Drywall/PlasterRepair 

• Wallpaper Removal 

• Deck/Fence Staining 

• PowerWashing 


Senior Discounts 

Forquality & service you 

can trust, call us today! 

MORTGAGE 

ALERT! 

2200 Roofing 

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LOCALLY. 

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Your 

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in the 

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708-326-9170 

for a FREE 

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and Quote! 

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 

Automotive 

$52 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Help Wanted 

per line $13 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 

$50 

7 lines/ 

7 papers 

Merchandise 

$30 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

2200 Roofing



CLASSIFIEDS 



Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


2255 Tree Service 

2294 Window 

Cleaning 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


2200 Roofing 

Real Estate 


lines/ 

Merchandise 


lines/ 

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 

2276 Tuckpointing/Masonry 

Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


2489 Merchandise Wanted 

Metal Wanted 

Scrap Metal, Garden 

Tractors, 

Snowmobiles, 

Appliances, Etc. 

ANYTHING METAL! 

Call 815-210-8819 

Free pickup! 

Real Estate 


lines/ 

Merchandise 


lines/ 

Merchandise 

Directory 

Buy 

It! 

SELL 

It! 

FIND 

It! 

in the 

CLASSIFIEDS 

CALL 

708.326.9170 

2490 Misc. Merchandise 

3 Bicycles For Sale! 

2 Men’s Bikes: 27 inch 21 

speed $75 each. 1 Lady’s 

Bike: 24 inch 3 speed $50. 

Call (708)301-4548 

HIRE LOCALLY 



CALL TODAY 708-326-9170 


2220 Siding 


RENTAL 

PROPERTY 


people turn 

to first 

CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 


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708.326.9170 

Professional 

Directory 

2390 Computer Services/Repair 

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FIND It! 

SELL It! 

in the CLASSIFIEDS 

708.326.9170



2701 Property for 

Sale 

2703 Legal 

Notices 

2703 Legal 

Notices 

SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ES- 

TATE of 11138 1st Street, Mokena, 

IL 60448 (Residential). Onthe 

11th day of May, 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: Wells Fargo 

Bank, N.A. Plaintiff V. Jaime L. 

McInerney a/k/a Jaime Lee McInerney; 

et. al. Defendant. 

Case No. 16CH 1689 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. No 

judicial 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 in and 

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 acon- 

dominium, 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 acourt order for its distribution 

or, in the absence of an order, 

until the surplus is forfeited to 

the State. 

For Information Please Contact: 

Codilis & Associates, P.C. 

15W030 N. Frontage Road Suite 

100 

Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527 

P: 630-794-5300 

F: 630-794-9090 

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. 


RENTAL 

PROPERTY 


people turn 

to first 

CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 


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 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

Jaime L.McInerney a/k/a Jaime 

Lee McInerney; et. al. 

Defendant. 

No. 16 CH 1689 

NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE 

Public notice ishereby given that 

pursuant to ajudgment entered in 

the above cause on the 30th day of 

November, 2016, MIKE KELLEY, 

Sheriff of Will County, Illinois, 

will on Thursday, the 11th day of 

May, 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: 

THE SOUTH 100 FEET OF THE 

EAST 55 FEET OF BLOCK 10 IN 

DENNY'S FIRST ADDITION TO 

MOKENA, ACCORDING TO 

THE PLAT THEREOF RE- 

CORDED JANUARY 12, 1854, 

IN MAP BOOK 29, PAGE 509 

AND 510, AS DOCUMENT NO. 

17546, IN WILL COUNTY, ILLI- 

NOIS. 

Commonly known as: 

11138 1st Street, Mokena, IL 

60448 

Description of Improvements: 

Residential 

P.I.N.: 

19-09-08-305-020-0000 

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) 

at the time of sale and the balance 

within twenty-four (24) hours. No 

judicial 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 in and 

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 acon- 

dominium, 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: 

Codilis & Associates, P.C. 

15W030 N. Frontage Road Suite 

100 

Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527 

P: 630-794-5300 

F: 630-794-9090 

Plaintiff's Attorney 

MIKE KELLEY 

Sheriff of Will County 

2900 

Merchandise 

Under $100 

1” metal mini blinds, beige 

color, clean, excellent condition 

76”Wx 45”L $35. 

815.469.6554 

4shadow boxes, Asian symbols 

“harmony, love, happiness, 

tranquility.” Antique copper 

$10 each. 708.460.7185 

5 empty propane tanks. Good 

for an exchange for arefill for 

grill or heaters $5 each. 

630.639.0638 

Doughboy’s collector calender 

from Danbury Mint asking 

$80. 815.464.6176 

Evolution in pool ladder 54” 

heavy duty $25. Fit bit flex, 12 

colorful bands $10. Watch, 7 

colorful bands $10. 

708.494.1913 

Evolution in pool ladder 54”, 

heavy duty $25. Fit Bit flex, 12 

colorful bands $10. Watch, 7 

colorful bands $10. 

708.494.1913 

Golf balls, pre-driven: 25 Pro 

V’s $1 each. Bag of 100 Titleist 

$25. Bag of 100 Nike 

$25. Bag of 100 Callaway $25. 

Call Tom: 708.597.2972 

John Deere rider 42” w/ bagger. 

Runs great, cracked 

mower deck $100. Cash Only. 

815.609.0060 

Madame Alexander Collector 

Dolls: Story Land, Wizard of 

Oz. 7.5-8” tall. Dorothy, 

Glenda, Wicked Witch, Scarecrow, 

Tinman, Lion. Pristine 

condition with boxes and tages 

$100 for all. Will separate. 

708.602.4689 

Prom dresses, size 2-4 $99. 

Will text or email pictures. 

708.715.0887 

$10.00 

All papers 

5 Lines 

Add a graphic or photo for $2 

choose from: 

22nd Century Media Mother’s Day Wishes 

11516 W. 183rd St. Suite #3 Unit SW 

Orland Park, IL 60467 

Ad Copy Here (please print): 

Example 

 

Mom, 

You’re the best! 

You do so much for us! 

We love you with all our hearts! 

Love, theFamily 

Pre-Paid Mother’s Day Wish Ad $10.00 All Papers 

Name: 

Address 

City/State/Zip 

Phone 

Payment Method(paid ads only) Check enclosed Money Order Credit Card 

Credit Card Orders Only 

Credit Card # 

Signature 

Publishes: Thursday, May 11, 2017 

Deadline: Friday, May 5, 2017 at 5:00 pm 

To place your ad: 708-326-9170 

or cut this form out and mail or fax it back to us at: 

® 

WISHES 

*AllAds must be pre-paid 

Choose Graphic or Photo: $2.00 

Fax: 

708-326-9179 

Exp Date 

Photo 

of Mom 

Photo 

of Mom 

Circle One:

48 | April 20, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger SPORTS 


Athlete of the Week 

10 Questions 

with Ololade Ayoola 

Ololade Ayoola is a senior 

on the Lincoln-Way East 

girls track and field team. 

You’ve been on varsity 

since freshman year. 

What is it like as a 

senior now? 

I feel like senior year 

should feel natural for me. 

But a lot of things are different 

this year; I kind of feel 

like a freshman, almost. The 

way practice is run now is 

different, and I’m doing a 

lot of different events — and 

also the same events. It’s interesting, 

it’s different. 

But the year flew by; it’s 

crazy. 

How have things 

changed? 

The workouts are a little 

different. We do a lot of 

strength training and longer 

workouts. It’s definitely preparing 

us for outdoor. 

You’ve been to state all 

three years. What have 

you learned from those 

experiences? 

Those two days — the prelims 

and finals — are your 

days to shine. You put it all 

out there. You’ve been training 

for months, so you know 

what you’re capable of. You 

just have to execute that day. 

It’s kind of calming, 

knowing that I’ve been there 

before, so I know what I 

need to do that day. 

How have you improved 

over the years? 

Running the 400 meter, 

it’s really a mental race as 

well as physical. Over the 

years, I think I’ve gained a 

lot of mental toughness on 

what I’m capable of doing, 

and just pushing myself. Although 

it hurts, I can push 

through the pain and reach 

my goals. 

How’s the season been 

going so far? 

Indoor season went well. 

A lot of our seniors graduated 

last year. There’s opportunities 

for freshman and 

people who are new to the 

team to contribute. 

Everybody’s just been improving 

each week. It’s really 

just working toward our goals 

for outdoors. Each week has 

been better, and we’ve improved 

our marks. There’s 

Photo submitted 

been individual growth as 

well as team growth. 

Have you stepped up 

into a leadership role? 

During practice, I know 

a lot of the underclassmen 

are watching me. I try to 

show them the ropes and 

do my best in practice, as 

well in the meets to make 

sure they’re doing what they 

[need to do], and I’m doing 

what I [need to do]. 

What is key to your 

success this year? 

State’s the same every 

year. I just have to focus on 

me and what I’m trying to 

achieve, personally. If I keep 

a good mindset and I’m focused 

on my goals for state, 

then I’ll be fine. 

As a team unit, there’s a 

lot of different events this 

year we’ll do well at state. 

So, it’s just making sure everyone 

is putting in their best 

effort at practice, as well as 

at all the meets, so we can all 

reach our goal for state. 

What’s your personal 

goal? 

I’m planning on doing the 

high jump and the 400 meter 

at state, hopefully. I obviously 

want to PR and shoot 

for the goals. 

What has kept you in 

track and field since 

sixth grade? 

When I started running 

track, I was like, “Wow, this 

is such an awesome sport, 

there’s so many events, and 

so many different things you 

can try.” 

When I got to high school, 

it became more serious, and 

it was a lot more difficult. I 

realized I really had a love 

for the sport, and there’s 

something about it. I guess 

it’s the idea of always pushing 

yourself each meet to be 

better that stuck to me — that 

constant improvement, trying 

to PR, move forward and 

progress. That pushed me to 

keep doing track, because I 

always like to be better and 

do better. 

What are your plans for 

after high school? 

I committed to the University 

of Illinois Urbana- 

Champaign. I’m going to be 

running track there. 

It was a really good academic 

and athletic balance 

for me. I knew a lot of the 

girls on the track team, and 

the coaches were really 

genuine. I want to go into 

engineering, and they have 

an amazing engineering program. 

So, it was the right fit. 

As of right now, I think 

I want to go into chemical 

engineering. I’ve just had an 

increasing love for chemistry. 

My teacher, Mrs. [April] 

Richter, she really encourages 

engineering as a career 

choice. 

Interview by Contributing Editor 

Kirsten Onsgard. 

This Week In... 

Knights Varsity 

Athletics 

Badminton 

■April ■ 20 - host Bradley- 

Bourbonnais, 4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 22 - at Hindsale South 

Invitational, 8:30 a.m. 

■April ■ 26 - host SouthWest 

Suburban Conference 

Tournament, TBA 

Baseball 

■April ■ 20 - host Andrew, 4:30 

p.m. 

■April ■ 21 - host Lincoln-Way 

East, 7 p.m. 

■April ■ 22 - at Romeoville, 11 

a.m. 


West, 4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 26 - at Lincoln-Way 

West, 4:30 p.m. 

Softball 

■April ■ 20 - host Thornridge, 

4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 21 - host Lemont, 4:30 

p.m. 

■April ■ 22 - host Tinley Park, 

11 a.m. 

■April ■ 24 - at Thornton, 4:30 

p.m. 

■April ■ 26 - at Joliet Catholic, 

4:30 p.m. 

Girls soccer 

■April ■ 20 - at Naperville 

North Tournament, 5 p.m. 


North Tournament, 5 p.m. 


North Tournament, 10 a.m. 

■April ■ 25 - at Thornwood, 

6:15 p.m. 

Boys tennis 

■April ■ 20 - at Bradley- 

Bourbonnais, 4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 22 - at Plainfield North 

Quad, 9 a.m. 

■April ■ 25 - host Thornwood, 

4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 26 - at Stagg, 4:30 

p.m. 

Girls track and field 

■April ■ 21 - at Lockport 

Invitational, 4:30 p.m. 

Boys track and field 

■April ■ 21 - at Red Grange 

Invitational, 4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 25 - host Bolingbrook/ 

Thornton, 4:30 p.m. 

Boys volleyball 

■April ■ 20 - at Lockport, 5:30 

p.m. 

■April ■ 21 - at Brother Rice 

Smack Attack, 5 p.m. 

■April ■ 22 - at Brother Rice 

Smack Attack, 9 a.m. 

■April ■ 25 - host Sandburg, 

5:30 p.m. 

Boys water polo 


West, 5 p.m. 


Bourbonnais, 5 p.m. 

Girls water polo 


West, 5 p.m. 


North Invitational, 9 a.m. 

■April ■ 25 - host Bradley- 

Bourbonnais, 5 p.m. 

Griffins Varsity 

Athletics 

Badminton 

■April ■ 20 - host Andrew, 4:30 

p.m. 

■April ■ 21 - host Joliet Central, 

4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 26 - at SouthWest 

Suburban Conference 

Tournament, 4:30 p.m. 

Baseball 

■April ■ 20 - host Homewood- 

Flossmoor, 4:30 p.m. 


Central, 7 p.m. 

■April ■ 22 - at Lemont, 10 

a.m. 


4:30 p.m. 

Girls soccer 


West, 6:15 p.m. 

Girls softball 


4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 24 - host Plainfield 

South, 4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 25 - host Stagg, 4:30 

p.m. 

■April ■ 26 - at Minooka, 4:30 

p.m. 

Boys tennis 

■April ■ 20 - at Thornwood, 

4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 22 - at Oswego Quad, 

8:30 a.m. 


West, 4:30 p.m. 

■April ■ 25 - at Downers Grove 

South, 6 p.m. 

Boys track and field 

■April ■ 21 - at Tinley Park 

Invite, 4:45 p.m. 


Bourbonnais/Thornwood 

SWSC Tri, 4:30 p.m. 

Girls track and field 

■April ■ 22 - at Glenbard West, 

9:30 a.m.

mokenamessenger.com SPORTS 


Girls Water Polo 

Central edges East in win over former teammates 

Jeff Vorva 


The closing of Lincoln- 

Way North last June and 

its impact on athletes and 

coaches is old news. 

Most sports have settled 

in, and athletes have gotten 

used to the displacements 

and switches. 

But there was one spring 

sport in which athletes and 

coaches felt a little funny 

when they played each 

other. The water polo community 

is still getting used 

to the changes, as evidenced 

in Lincoln-Way Central’s 

home 9-7 victory over Lincoln-Way 

East on April 11 

in a battle for the SouthWest 

Suburban Conference lead. 

East now has a bunch 

of former North players 

on the squad. Central now 

has a group of former East 

players on its team. And 

the coaches? Former North 

coach Kendra Will is now at 

East, while her former assistants, 

Pam Dettman and Pat 

Shaughnessy, are head and 

assistant coaches, respectively, 

at Central. All three 

led North to a state appearance 

in 2016, and the three 

were back on different sides 

of the pool for this battle. 

“It was weird at first,” said 

Nicole McCabe, a former 

East standout who had five 

goals, including the goal with 

3:17 left that broke a 7-7 tie 

game. “It was fun. We were 

cracking a lot of jokes.” 

“Some of the girls on East 

were my best friends,” teammate 

Caroline Heathcock 

added. “It was definitely 

tough to play them, especially 

when you know their 

skill sets. I played with them 

last year, and I played with 

them in the club season. We 

knew it was going to be pretty 

evenly matched.” 

After that game, the 

Knights had an 8-0 record 

in the SouthWest Suburban 

Conference, while Sandburg 

was in second with a 7-1 

mark, and East was 7-2. The 

two teams battle again May 

5 at East. 

The sectional sites were 

recently released by the Illinois 

High School Association, 

and both teams, along 

with Lincoln-Way West, 

Sandburg and six other 

teams, will battle it out in the 

Lincoln-Way Central Sectional 

in May. Since 2012, 

Central, East and North have 

qualified for state. 

In the April 11 battle, Central 

led 4-1 midway through 

the second period, and East 

scored five straight goals to 

take a 6-4 lead with 4:13 left 

in the third. Central scored 

a pair of goals from Megan 

Cales and McCabe in the final 

2:29 to knot the game up 

heading into the fourth. 

McCabe scored first in 

the fourth, and East’s Paige 

Lincoln-Way Central goalie Claire Connors gets ready for a pass after making a save April 

11 during a game against Lincoln-Way East in New Lenox. Jeff Vorva/22nd Century Media 

Ruffner answered. McCabe 

scored what turned out to be 

the winning goal with 3:17 

left, and Nicole Howe added 

an insurance goal with 52 

seconds left. 

Also scoring the Central 

were Heathcock and Erin 

Muellerschoen. 

Meghan Fischer and 

Ruffner each had two goals 

for East. Jordan Bruni, Reis 

Parkinson and Katelyn 

Meagher each scored for the 

Griffins. 

Central goalies Claire 

Connors and Erin Kay and 

East goalie Kaylie Pollard 

made big stops throughout 

the game. 

“A lot of shots were taken 

from the outside, and I focused 

on that and tried to position 

myself,” Connors said. 

Baseball 

LWC doubleheader sweep 

features perfecto 

John Van Gennep, a junior 

pitcher for the Knights, threw 

a perfect five-inning game 

April 12 in the second game 

of a doubleheader against 

Thornwood. He finished the 

game with zero hits allowed, 

zero walks and 12 strikeouts. 

Softball 

Plainfield Central 4, Lincoln- 

Way East 3 

Allison Jaquith finished 

the game 2-for-3 in the Griffins’ 

loss April 12 at Plainfield 

Central. 

Marist 7, Lincoln-Way East 3 

high school highlights 

The rest of the week in high school sports 

Christine Malito went 

2-for-3 and drove in all three 

RBI in the Griffins’ first loss 

of the season April 11. Alex 

Storako went 2-for-4 at the 

plate and struck out six opposing 

batters. 

Lincoln-Way Central 8, 

Homewood-Flossmoor 1 

Marina Esparza smacked 

a three-run home run to lead 

the offensive output for the 

Knights against the Vikings 

April 11. Ashley Platek was 

right there with Esparza, hitting 

a two-run homer. On the 

pitching side, Amanda Weyh 

completed the game and 

gave up only one run. 

Girls soccer 


Homewood-Flossmoor 0 

Madi Jenig scored her 

first goal of the season in the 

Knights’ win over the Vikings 

April 11. Shannon Klemm 

assisted. Peyton Vecchiet recorded 

her seventh shutout, 

which was the eighth of the 

season for Central overall. 

Girls water polo 

Lincoln-Way East 16, 

Stagg 7 

Reis Parkinson scored 

three goals in a strong offensive 

performance for 

the Griffins April 10. Paige 

Ruffner, Jess Wolf, Sarah 

Jackson and Claire Fries 

all scored two goals. Emily 

Bonebrake, Emily Costella, 

Meghan Fisher and Abby 

Al-Muddaris scored a goal 

apiece. Paige Spacek had 

five saves, and Kaylie Pollard 

had four saves in goal. 

Boys tennis 

Lincoln-Way East 7, Joliet 

Catholic 0 

Ryan Mitchell, Declan 

Merbeth and Will Evans, all 

singles players for the Griffins, 

led the way in East’s 

win over Joliet Catholic 

April 12. The victory was 

the Griffins’ sixth consecutive 

dual meet win. 

Lincoln-Way East 7, 

Sandburg 0 

Ryan Mitchell led the 

way for the Griffins on the 

singles side April 11, and the 

first doubles combination of 

Matt Zuccato and Weston 

Dell set the tone for the doubles 

teams. 


Brother Rice 2, Lincoln-Way 

East 1 

Jake Snyder had 30 assists 

over the course of the threeset 

match April 11 for the 

Griffins, who won the first 

game 25-23 before falling 

25-12 and 25-14 in the next 

two games. 


Richards 0 

Eric Phalen recorded two 

aces and 14 digs to stuff the 

stat sheet for the Knights 

April 11. Not far behind was 

Matt Von Holst, who had 

one ace and five kills in Central’s 

25-20 and 25-16 wins 

over the Bulldogs. 

Lincoln-Way Central 2, Joliet 

Catholic 0 

Mason Davis led the way 

for Central with 11 kills 

and two blocks April 10 

against Joliet Catholic. The 

Knights won Game 1 25-21 

and Game 2 25-18. Willy 

Kickert kicked in four kills 

and three blocks, and Jack 

Yurkanin added two aces, 10 

kills and two blocks. 

Badminton 

Lincoln-Way West 8, Lincoln- 

Way East 7 

Savanna Watson and Veda 

Prestamer won in three 

games in doubles competition 

April 11. Prestamer also 

won in three games in her 

singles match. Ana Huter 

picked up a three-game point 

at No. 9 singles. 

High School Highlights is compiled 

by Editor Tim Carroll, 

tim@mokenamessenger.com.



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Griffins top Celtics in close straight sets 

Providence coach 

Klaver makes return 

to alma mater 

Randy Whalen 


After not winning a match 

in nearly two weeks, both 

the Lincoln-Way East and 

Providence boys volleyball 

teams were looking to get 

the winning feeling back. 

Plus, Providence coach 

Kyle Klaver was making his 

first head coaching appearance 

in his high school gym. 

But in the end, it was East 

that broke a two-match losing 

streak and extended the 

Celtics’ setback streak to 

four with a 25-19, 25-20 victory 

in a local team tussle 

on Thursday, April 13, in 

Frankfort. 

Ian Piet led the Griffins 

(11-4) with 12 kills, a slew 

of which came down the 

stretch to help clinch the 

match. Junior right side hitter 

Jack Patterson (10 kills) 

paced Providence (5-12). 

“We needed a win for a 

moral boost,” said Piet, a 

junior outside hitter. “We always 

look at the other team 

like they’re the state champ, 

and we like to play good 

competition.” 

While the Celtics’ record 

is down this season, they 

have had high-caliber teams 

in the past, finishing fourth 

in the state in 2008. Klaver 

was an outside hitter for the 

Griffins and helped them to 

a fourth-place finish in 2007, 

his senior season. 

“It was my first time back 

here as a [head] coach, and it 

felt great,” Klaver said of his 

return to the gym he played 

in a decade ago. “There are a 

lot of special memories here. 

East is a great program, and 

that’s why we wanted to 

play them. We wanted to get 

on their schedule, and when 

an opportunity opened, we 

jumped at it.” 

Klaver is in his third season 

as Celtics head coach. 

His squad only started two 

seniors, and one of them, 

setter Tyler Korhorn, is in 

his first season as a starter. 

“He never set on the varsity 

level before this season,” 

Klaver said of Korhorn, who 

had 19 assists against East. 

“He ran a really efficient offense. 

Plus, our libero [Alexander 

Zawacki, who had 12 

digs] is a freshman. We’re 

young, and it’s a process, but 

we [taking] a step forward.” 

After dropping the opener, 

Providence had five leads in 

Set 2. But they were all by a 

point, and the score was tied 

at every point through 7-7. 

Then, junior middle hitter 

Mike Herlihy (8 kills) had 

two kills, as East jumped out 

to an 11-8 advantage. 

Ahead 12-11, Piet had a 

kill, and junior middle hitter 

Caden Wise put down a 

block to help the Griffins to 

a 15-11 lead. Trailing 19-15, 

senior outside hitter Nick 

Noonan knocked a kill in a 

3-0 run that closed Providence 

within 19-18. 

There would be no tie 

for the Celtics, however, as 

senior outside hitter Jason 

Szara smacked a kill and Piet 

pounded another for a 21-18 

lead. A long serve closed the 

Celtics back within 2-points, 

but a return into the net gave 

the serve back to East. Piet 

produced another kill and 

then was able to redirect a 

ball at the net for another 

one and a 24-19 lead. 

A net violation let Providence 

hang round for another 

point, but Piet pinged the 

match-winning kill to give 

the Griffins their first victory 

since the second day of the 

Wheaton-Warrenville South 

Tiger Classic on April 1. 

“We came out of a timeout 

[at 19-18], and coach [Fiore] 

Providence Catholic High School volleyball player Domenic 

Kimak goes up to block a hit by Lincoln-Way East’s Mike 

Herlihy April 13 during the Griffins’ win over the Celtics. 

Julie McMann/22nd Century Media 

said to be aggressive,” Piet 

said of his play down the 

stretch. “I just took advantage 

of the opportunity. 

“It’s a fun little rivalry 

playing Providence. In my 

second year of playing club 

ball, when I was 13, I was 

coached by coach Klaver, so 

that was neat to play them. 

We just have to keep working 

hard to get better.” 

Patterson had two kills and a 

block in the early going of the 

opener to help Providence to 

a 3-2 lead. But Piet produced 

a pair of kills, and senior setter 

Jake Snyder (17 assists, 2 

kills, 3 blocks) served an ace, 

as the Griffins gathered four 

straight points to take the lead 

for good at 6-3. 

During that stretch, however, 

East junior middle hitter 

Luis Zavala twisted his left 

ankle. He was taken out and 

didn’t return. He likely was 

going to sit out East’s match 

the next night against Wheaton-Warrensville 

South at 

Lewis University, but hoped 

to be back this week. 

Leading 8-7, the Griffins 

went on a 9-2 blitz for a 17-9 

lead. Sophomore defensive 

specialist Danny Pacini 

(9 digs) had an ace in that 

stretch. The Celtics chipped 

away and closed back within 

20-17, as sophomore middle 

hitter Ike Papes (4 kills) 

pounded a kill and Noonan 

negotiated a block. But Herlihy 

and Snyder each had a 

pair of kills, and Providence 

committed a net violation on 

set point to end the opener. 

East coach Kris Fiore, 

who coached the Griffins to 

the state title in 2014, was 

glad to get Providence on the 

schedule. 

“They’re a competitive 

program that is just down 

the street,” he said of the 

Celtics. “They were playing 

some great defense. But 

for us, we’re still a work in 

progress. We had a new lineup 

[against Providence], and 

we’re still tweaking to get 

the right group. 

“We graduated four starters 

from last year, and 

have had a brutal stretch of 

matches. It doesn’t get any 

easier. We just have to focus 

on playing better defense 

and putting down our shots 

on offense.” 

The day before, April 

12, the Celtics traveled to 

Loyola and lost 25-19, 25- 

22. On Tuesday, April 11, 

East hosted only its second 

home match of the season. 

Despite 30 assists from 

Snyder, the Griffins fell to 

Brother Rice by scores of 

25-23, 12-25, 14-25.

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Boys Water Polo 

Knights give valiant effort in one-goal loss to Porters 

Frank Gogola 


Lockport junior Jake 

Sweis wasn’t fazed when 

he found himself as the 

only Porter on the offensive 

end during a fast break. Instead 

of stalling and waiting 

for teammates to swim 

in, he worked his way past 

two Lincoln-Way Central 

defenders, attacked the net 

from the right side and fired 

a shot for a goal. 

“I’ve been trying to work 

on scoring on multiple defenders,” 

Sweis said. “It’s 

one of the best feelings when 

you actually pull that off.” 

Sweis’ goal gave the Porters 

a 9-8 lead and put them 

up for good, as they used a 

big third quarter to beat Lincoln-Way 

Central 12-11 on 

Thursday, April 13, in Lockport. 

The Knights staged a 

fourth-quarter comeback but 

came up one goal short for 

the second time this season 

against the Porters. 

“Another close game, but 

I’m not going to complain, 

because we needed a game 

like this,” Central coach Jacob 

Bernard said. “A win 

would have been perfect, but 

the fact that we kept it close 

and we kept it intense, that’s 

what we really needed, since 

we’ve been in a slump.” 

The Porters (9-6-1, 6-3) 

outscored Central 7-2 in the 

third quarter while shooting 

in the deep end. They turned 

a 6-4 halftime deficit into 

an 11-8 advantage heading 

into the fourth. Sweis scored 

three of his game-high six 

goals in the third. 

Better releases by players, 

more accurate passes 

and steals in the third quarter 

led to fast-break goals 

– two by Sweis and one by 

junior Matt Zalesko. Junior 

Giovanni Onesto and Zalesko 

scored one goal each 

off a rebound. Sweis added 

one while Lockport played 

a man up. Onesto scored 

on an empty net, as Central 

senior goalie Jacob Culver 

was beat to the ball after 

coming out of the net for a 

steal attempt. 

“The third quarter was 

huge,” Lockport coach Joe 

Lewandowski said. “That 

changed the outcome of the 

game. The biggest thing was 

we couldn’t find our tempo 

early. In the third, we caught 

five or six counterattacks 

where either we got the set 

in or got some fast breakaways.” 

“It was a chaotic mess,” 

Bernard said. “With everyone 

moving around nonstop, 

it’s easy to buckle and lose 

a guy.” 

Coming off a 13-1 loss 

to Lincoln-Way East, the 

Knights (7-6, 3-6) were determined 

to have a better 

showing. They built a 6-4 

halftime lead and outscored 

Lockport 3-1 in the fourth 

quarter, but they suffered a 

defeat similar to the teams’ 

March 20 meeting, which 

Lockport won 13-12. 

“It hurts, but we played 

really well,” Central senior 

Mason Maze said. “This was 

the best we’ve played in a 

loss. We really clicked as a 

team. The mistakes are decreasing 

every game.” 

Juniors Adam Ceh and 

Ryan Burke kept the Knights 

in the game with a goal 

each in a 1:46 span midway 

through the fourth quarter. 

Burke’s goal pulled Central 

within 12-11 with 3:09 to 

play. 

Ceh had a chance to tie 

the game moments later but 

floated a shot off the crossbar. 

Maze missed a shot 

wide right one possession 

after a jump ball went Lockport’s 

way. Central committed 

two turnovers, and Lockport 

passed the ball around 

on its final two possessions 

to run the clock. 

“This is a tough team,” 

Sweis said. “I’m really happy 

with the way we played 

today.” 

Maze and senior Dylan 

Sterling paced the Knights 

with three goals apiece. Ceh 

and Burke had two goals 

each. Junior Ben Bethke 

added one. 

Zalesko scored three 

goals for Lockport. Onesto 

added two. Sophomore Tyler 

Thompson had one. The 

Porters scored on their lone 

penalty shot and on just two 

of seven man-up opportunities. 

“If we score on our manups, 

the game is not even 

close,” Lewandowski said. 

“We didn’t, and that’s something 

we have to work on.” 

Lincoln-Way Central’s Dylan Sterling starts the transition offense Thursday, April 13, 

during an away game against Lockport. Photos by James Sanchez/22nd Century Media 



Saturday, May13 th 

MINI of Orland Park 

Mason Maze gears up for a shot.



baseball 

From Page 54 

“We’re preaching the aggressiveness,” 

Nowicki said. 

It worked in the sixth, as 

Cam Post’s run extended the 

Knights’ lead to 6-3. 

Cam Post (2-for-3 with a 

double, 2 stolen bases and 

3 runs scored) was the leading 

offensive threat for the 

Knights. After a strikeout to 

lead off the game, he reached 

base in each of his subsequent 

three plate appearances, 

including a double in the 

third and an RBI single up 

the middle in the fourth. 

Dylan Post, Cam Post’s 

younger brother, had the 

first hit of the day for the 

Knights, a double over the 

right fielder’s head in the 

bottom of the second. Dylan 

Post scored on a Joe Dermody 

RBI a pitch later, but 

Cam Post said his brother’s 

double added an extra incentive 

for his next at-bat. 

“It did give me some pressure,” 

Cam Post said. 

Nowicki said the relationship 

is about each brother 

pushing the other. 

“Cam is the teacher, and 

his brother is learning from 

him,” Nowicki said. “... 

They’re very much working 

together to get better.” 

Junior second baseman 

Brandon Bennitt came up 

with a triple into the rightcenter 

field gap in the third 

and later scored on a wild 

pitch, and shortstop Jake 

Blount scored in the fourth 

after a single and three consecutive 

walks sent him to 

the plate. 

The Knights’ win was 

their fourth straight, following 

a 1-2 start to the season. 

At the heart of the Knights’ 

resurgence has been their 

pitching. 

“I’m really happy with 

where we’re at,” Nowicki 

said. “Guys are buying in, 

and you can feel the confidence 

kind of coming to 

guys; they’re playing the 

game aggressively. So, 

we’re on the right track.”



Knights minimize Vikings’ offense with pitching, defense 

Tim Carroll, Editor 

walks, and one of them came 

around to score in the second 

Old adages are often clever, 

but they are not always to 

after a balk sent him to second 

and a stolen base-passed 

be accepted as truth. 

ball combination allowed 

There is, however, generally 

at least a kernel of accura- 

him to reach the plate. 

Still, Davis (4 innings, 5 

cy in them. For instance, the 

strikeouts, 2 hits and 3 runs) 

truth in the adage about good 

minimized the damage from 

pitching beating good hitting 

was on full display April 11 

the free passes. 

in Lincoln-Way Central’s 

Davis had a bit of trouble 

victory over Homewoodin 

the fourth inning, during 

Flossmoor. Not in every atbat, 

but more often than not. two hits of the game. 

which he gave up his only 

The Knights (5-2) defeated 

the Vikings (5-4) 6-3 Salley led off the fourth in- 

Vikings center fielder Kyle 

in a matchup of SouthWest ning with a swinging-bunt infield 

single, and that brought 

Suburban Conference competitors. 

cleanup hitter Zaid Walker 

Lefty Knights starter Nate Soccer to the • Lacrosse plate. Walker • Baseball worked 

Davis was on from the beginning. 

He kept Homewood- Futsal bomb • to Batting straightaway Cages center. 

Softball the • count Basketball full before • Volleyball hitting a 

Flossmoor without a hit for The hits seemed not to 

the first three innings of faze Davis at all, though. He 

play, though he allowed four struck Full Concessions 

out the next three bat- 

SPEED, AGILITY, QUICKNESS AND STRENGTH TRAINING 

ters he faced. 

“[Davis] got touched up 

for a home run, [but Walker] 

is an unbelievable hitter, so 

I was really impressed with 

our pitchers today,” Central 

head coach Mitch Nowicki 

said after the game. 

Also pitching for the 

Knights was Devin Smith (3 

inning pitched, 6 strikeouts, 

no hits and no runs allowed), 

came into the game in the 

fifth. He allowed just one 

baserunner on an intentional 

walk, which was sandwiched 

between two strikeouts. 

“Both guys were very 

prepared to pitch,” Nowicki 

said. 

The rest of the game was 

not as pretty as the pitching 

was. An errant Davis pickoff 

attempt in the first allowed 

Salley two bases, and 

a throwing error by catcher 

Dylan Post allowed a runner 

to advance in the third, but 

none of the mistakes — with 

the exception of the passed 

ball in the second — led to a 

Vikings run scoring. 

“It was like both ends of 

baseball,” Nowicki said. 

“[There were] some really 

good plays made, some really 

good offensive at-bats. 

Then, there was a lot of ugly. 

We were able to make a couple 

more plays than they did 

in those kind of chaotic situations, 

where guys were taking 

extra bases [and] there 

were plays at the plate.” 

The Knights created chaotic 

situations by being aggressive 

on the basepaths. 

In the bottom of the sixth, 

Central senior left fielder 

Cam Post reached base on a 

Lincoln-Way Central catcher Dylan Post tags out 

Homewood-Flossmoor’s Tylon Ross at home to prevent a 

run April 11 during a game between the two teams in New 

Lenox. Julie McMann/22nd Century Media 

leadoff walk and moved to 

second on a wild pitch. He 

then attempted to steal third, 

and the ball got away from 

H-F catcher Jacob Schroeder. 

Cam Post rounded third and 

attempted to score, reaching 

the plate just ahead of the 

pitcher’s tag. 

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fastbreak 

Softball 

Knights’ five-run fifth inning leads to comeback win 

Jeff Vorva 


22nd Century Media File 

Photo 

1st-and-3 

Making a splash 

1. Nicole McCabe 

(above) 

Lincoln-Way Central’s 

leading scorer had 

five goals against her 

old school, Lincoln- 

Way East, including 

one to break a 7-7 tie 

with three minutes 

remaining to help 

lead the Knights to 

victory. 

2. Megan Cales 

Cales combined with 

McCabe to make 

sure that the Knights 

were in a position to 

get the win over East. 

Cales scored with 2 

minutes and 29 seconds 

left in the third 

to begin the Knights’ 

comeback. 

3. Goalies 

The Knights combo 

of Claire Connors and 

Erin Kay and East 

goalie Kaylie Pollard 

did their part to keep 

their teams within 

striking distance. 

After having seven games 

canceled due to the weather 

early in the season, Lincoln- 

Way Central’s softball team 

finally had a string of three 

games in three days, and the 

bats were in a groove. 

The Knights are hoping 

to become one of the state’s 

elite teams. They outscored 

three opponents by a combined 

score of 30-4 from 

April 11-13, including a 

7-3 victory over Andrew in 

a Thursday, April 13 night 

game. That SouthWest Suburban 

Conference Red game 

was originally set for Good 

Friday at Andrew, but officials 

had problems finding 

umpires, so a Thursday night 

contest in New Lenox was 

the alternate solution. 

Andrew came into the 

game with a 5-5 mark but had 

some steam, scoring a combined 

19 runs in a pair of previous 

wins over Homewood- 

Flossmoor and Bolingbrook. 

As a matter of fact, The 

T-Bolts were sitting pretty 

with a 3-2 lead heading into 

the bottom of the fifth, but 

the Knights scored five runs 

in the fifth, including three 

from a 200-foot home run 

from junior third baseman 

Kamryn Murphy that barely 

cleared the left-field fence. 

“I didn’t think it was going 

to go over,” she said 

while raking the third-base 

line minutes after the game. 

“The coaches said if the first 

Lincoln-Way Central’s Colleen Barrett lays down a bunt Thursday, April 13, during a home night game against Andrew. 

Jeff Vorva/22nd Century Media 

pitch is there, swing as hard 

as I can, and I listened. It 

was probably the most intense 

home run I’ve hit.” 

“She will be the first to 

tell you that she hasn’t been 

hitting the ball the way she 

wants to this year,” Knights 

coach Jeff Tarala said. “She 

has hit a lot of balls hard, but 

at someone. I call softball a 

game of injustices. You can 

hit the ball hard 500 times 

and make 500 outs. 

“But we saw a little peek 

at what she could do with 

that home run.” 

The Knights improved to 

8-2 overall and 2-0 in the 

conference with the win. 

“We’ve been doing really 

well as a team because it’s 

a new team,” said Murphy, 

who transferred from Lincoln-Way 

East. “We’ve either 

been on or off, but we’re 

doing pretty well so far.” 

Andrew coach Matt Fish 

is hoping to put together a 

run similar to Central’s. 

“We knew the top half of 

our schedule was going to 

be tough,” Fish said. “We 

played Lockport twice and 

Marist, and we’ve been right 

there. It’s an inning or a play 

here or play there, and we 

knew that going into the season 

we were going to have 

to be fundamentally sound. 

If you give a good team an 

opportunity, they will take 

advantage. 

“Eventually those wins 

will come.” 

Maggie Bailey, Hannah 

Mayo and Alyssa Mac- 

Trinder drove in runs for the 

T-Bolts. 

The game also featured an 

intense second-inning dual 

between Andrew hurler Josie 

Magnabosco and Knights 

leadoff hitter Gabriella Gedville. 

Gedville fouled off numerous 

pitches before taking 

Magnabosco’s 17th pitch in 

the at-bat up the middle to 

drive in a run to put her team 

up 2-0. 

The next time the two faced 

each other was with the bases 

loaded in the fourth, and 

Gedville lined out to Magnabosco 

on the first pitch. 

Sophomore Amanda 

Weyh picked up the win in 

relief for Knights starting 

pitcher Marina Esparza, who 

gave up three unearned runs 

in 3 2/3 innings. 

“Marina showed character 

– it could have been a lot 

worse, it could have been six 

runs,” Tarala said. “Amanda 

has been lights out for us all 

year. She shut the door. It’s 

a nice luxury two have two 

pitchers like this.’” 

Listen Up 

“Some of the girls on East were my best friends. It was 

definitely tough to play them, especially when you know 

their skill sets.” 

Caroline Heathcock – Lincoln-Way Central water polo player, on playing 

against Lincoln-Way East and her former teammates 

TUNE IN 

Boys Volleyball 

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 

• The Knights will have a stiff test hosting 

Sandburg, a team that made it to the 

state playoffs last season. 

Index 

49 – High School Highlights 

48 – Athlete of the Week 

FASTBREAK is compiled by Editor Tim Carroll, tim@moke 

namessenger.com.

mokena’s Hometown Newspaper | www.mokenamessenger.com | April 20, 2017 

Feverish 

fifth Knights tally 

five runs in fifth inning 

to take down SWSC foe 

Andrew, Page 55 

Familiar 

faces Central girls 

water polo plays former 

teammates at East in 

battle for conference 

lead, Page 49 

Knights hurlers keep 

Vikings potent lineup at 

bay in win, Page 54 

Lincoln-Way Central starting pitcher Nate Davis throws a pitch April 12 during a game 

against Homewood-Flossmoor in New Lenox. Julie McMann/22nd Century Media 

34 th Annual FREE 

SATURDAY, MAY 6 • 9 AM – 1 PM

MM_042017

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