MM_070617

mokena’s Award-Winning Hometown Newspaper mokenamessenger.com • July 6, 2017 • Vol. 10 No. 47 • $1 

A 

® 

Publication 

,LLC 

Revenue review 

Projected 2018 budget has 

Village of Mokena’s revenue 

looking up, Page 4 

Food truck 

frenzy Will County 

Forest Preserve District’s 

Food Truck Fridays to grace 

area all month, Page 7 

Knicknacks and 

tchotchkes Mokena 

Community Park District’s 

outdoor flea market brings 

out the goods, Page 12 

LW Central grad, future student raise funds for diabetes research with lemonade stand, Page 3 

Lincoln-Way Central graduate Elaine Pettit (right) pours lemonade for Steve Pioppo and his son, Ryan, June 21 outside her home on Columbia Drive. Pettit and her brother, John, ran a 

lemonade stand to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. James Sanchez/22nd Century Media 

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2 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger calendar 

mokenamessenger.com 

In this week’s 

Messenger 

Police Reports................. 8 

Pet of the Week.............10 

Editorial........................13 

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

Puzzles..........................22 

Classifieds................ 24-34 

The Mokena 

Messenger 

ph: 708.326.9170 fx: 708.326.9179 

Editor 

Tim Carroll, x29 

tim@mokenamessenger.com 

assistant editor 

Amanda Stoll, x34 

a.stoll@22ndcenturymedia.com 

Sales director 

Lora Healy, x31 

l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com 

real estate sales 

Tricia Weber, x47 

t.weber@22ndcenturymedia.com 

Classified Sales 

Kellie Tschopp, x23 

k.tschopp@malibusurfsidenews.com 

Recruitment Advertising 

Jess Nemec, x46 

j.nemec@22ndcenturymedia.com 

Legal Notices 

Jeff Schouten, x51 

j.schouten@22ndcenturymedia.com 

PUBLISHER 

Joe Coughlin 847.272.4565, x16 

j.coughlin@22ndcenturymedia.com 

Managing Editor 

Bill Jones, x20 

bill@opprairie.com 

president 

Andrew Nicks 

a.nicks@22ndcenturymedia.com 

EDITORIAL DESIGN DIRECTOR 

Nancy Burgan, x30 

n.burgan@22ndcenturymedia.com 

22 nd Century Media 

11516 West 183rd Street 

Unit SW Office Condo #3 

Orland Park, IL 60467 

www.MokenaMessenger.com 

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The Mokena Messenger (USPS #025404) is 

published weekly by 22nd Century Media, LLC, 

328 E Lincoln Hwy New Lenox, IL 60451. 

Periodical postage paid at New Lenox, IL 

and additional mailing offices. 

POSTMASTER: Send changes to: 

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Published by 

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Amanda Stoll 


THURSDAY 

ACT Practice Test 

9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. July 6, 

Mokena Community Public 

Library District, 11327 W. 

195th St., Mokena. The library 

is hosting a free ACT 

practice test for participants 

in grades 9-12 sponsored by 

Huntington Learning Center 

in Mokena. Space is limited 

to 30 participants, and registration 

is required. For more 

information and registration, 

call (708) 479-9663. 

Game Day 

2-3 p.m. July 6, Mokena 

Community Public Library 

District, 11327 W. 195th St., 

Mokena. Join the library for 

a game day for participants 

in grades 4-8. For more information, 

call (708) 479- 

9663. 

Minecraft Tournament 

3-4 p.m. July 6, Mokena 



Mokena. Join the library for 

a Minecraft tournament for 

participants in grades 9-12. 

For more information, call 

(708) 479-9663. 

Music in the Moonlight 

6:30-9 p.m. July 6 and 

Thursday, Aug. 3, 10537 W. 

La Porte Road, Mokena. The 

Forest Preserve District of 

Will County is kicking summer 

into high gear in June 

with this new program that 

will get people bopping to 

the music. The July 6 performance 

will feature Billy 

Croft & the 5 Alarm for an 

American pride-themed 

night. Concert goers are 

encouraged to bring lawn 

chairs or blankets, snacks 

and bug repellent. Registration 

is not required. For more 

information, visit www.re 

connectwithnature.org. 

Friday 

Intro to Yoga 

10-11 a.m. July 7, Mokena 



Mokena. Join Marti Anne 

for this class that is designed 

especially for first-time yoga 

students. Learn a series of 

gentle poses, postures and 

positions while calming the 

body and mind. Participants 

are encouraged to bring a 

yoga mat, but there will also 

be mats provided for class. 

Registration required. For 

more information and registration, 

call (708) 479-9663 

or email tdomzalski@mo 

kena.lib.il.us. 

Veterans’ Appreciation Picnic 

11 a.m.-1 p.m. July 7, Veterans 

Memorial Park, 19101 

Halsted Street, Glenwood. 

Local veterans and a guest 

are invited to join State Rep. 

DeLuca for bingo, hot dogs 

and soft drinks. Veterans 

will have the opportunity 

to visit with Representative 

DeLuca and other officials 

including those from 

the Frankfort Township. 

Space is limited. For more 

information or to RSVP, call 

(708) 754-7900. 

SUNDAY 

Concerts in the Park 

7 p.m. July 9, location to 

be announced, Mokena. The 

July 9 concert will feature 

The StingRays who will get 

the crowd dancing and singing 

to songs from Rockabilly, 

tons of 1960s to the 

‘70s. Terraced lawn seating 

is available at the Band Shell 

or bring lawn chairs or blankets. 

In case of inclement 

weather, visit the Mokena 

Park District’s Facebook 

page for updated event location. 

For more information 

about these free events, 

call (708) 390-2401 or visit 

www.mokenapark.com. 

Monday 

Summer Horse Camp 

9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Monday- 

Thursday, July 10-13, July 24- 

27 and July 31-Aug. 3, Nova 

Quarter Horses, 0129 187th 

St., Mokena. Learning to 

ride a horse can be a wonderful 

experience and a lifelong 

passion. Three sessions are 

available for the 2017 Summer 

Horse Camp, and the July 

24-27 camp is reserved for 

advanced Nova riders only. 

Cost for the July 10-13 and 

July 31-Aug. 3 camps is $325 

per camper and includes a T- 

shirt. Advanced week, July 

24-27, registration is $350 per 

camper and includes a T-shirt. 

Fore more information and 

registration, call (708) 479- 

3696 or email novaquarter 

horses1@yahoo.com. 

CPR Classes 

6-9 p.m. Mondays, July 

10 and July 24, Mokena Fire 

Station #1, 19853 S. Wolf 

Road, Mokena. The Mokena 

Fire Protection District offers 

monthly CPR classes 

for the public. The cost covers 

books, materials and instructor 

fees. Students are 

instructed in adult, child and 

infant CPR and AED. Cost 

is $35 for community members 

and $40 for health care 

providers. Register online at 

www.mokenafire.org or in 

person at Fire Station #1. 

Village Board Meeting 

7 p.m. July 10, Mokena 

Village Hall, 11004 Carpenter 

St., Mokena. For more 

information, meeting agendas 

and minutes visit www. 

mokena.org. 

Wednesday 

Campfire Story Time 

10-10:45 a.m. July 12, 

Mokena Community Public 

Library District, 11327 W. 

195th St., Mokena. Join the 

library for story time for participants 

in Pre-K through 

third grade. For more information, 

call (708) 479-9663. 

UPCOMING 

Junior Golf Tournament 

1 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 

Square Links Golf Course, 

7861 W. St. Francis Road, 

Frankfort. Join the Frankfort 

Square Park District for 

a junior golf tournament. 

This event is for participants 

ages 12-17. Registration is 

required. For more information 

and registration, call 

(815) 469-3524. 

Parent/Child Golf 

Tournament 

6 p.m. Friday, July 14, 

Square Links Golf Course, 

7861 W. St. Francis Road, 

Frankfort. Join the Frankfort 

Square Park District for 

a parent and child scramble 

golf tournament. Registration 

required. For registration 

and more information, 

call (815) 469-3524. Rain 

date is Friday, July 21. 

Festa Italiana 

11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, 

July 16, Front Street and Wolf 

Road, Mokena. Celebrate 

Italian culture at the fourth 

annual Festa Italiana event in 

Mokena. This all-day family 

event begins with a procession 

from Mokena Intermediate 

School to the Festa Italiana 

event on Front Street. Enjoy 

Italian food, live music from 

local entertainers and plenty 

of games. Tickets are $10 and 

include admission and a raffle 

entry. For more information, 

visit www.mokenafestaitali 

ana.com. 

Get Moving Get Fit 

5:30-6:15 p.m. Mondays, 

July 17 and 24 Comprehensive 

Cancer Center at Silver 

Cross Hospital, 1850 Silver 

Cross Blvd., New Lenox. 

The Cancer Support Center 

and University of Chicago 

Medicine Comprehensive 

Cancer Center at Silver Cross 

Hospital collaborate to meet 

the needs of cancer survivors 

and their families by providing 

a new wellness program, 

offered at no charge. Registration 

is required by calling 

(708) 478-3529. 

Community Concerts 

7 p.m. Tuesday, July 18 

and Tuesday, August 8, Island 

Prairie Bandshell, 7540 

W. Braemar Lane, Frankfort. 

The Frankfort Square 

Park District will be hosting 

free concerts throughout the 

summer. Performances include 

Mason Rivers on July 

18 and Shindig on Aug. 8. If 

case of inclement weather, 

call (815) 469-8067 after 

5:30 p.m. for final location. 

For more information about 

the summer concerts, call 

(815) 469-3524. 

ONGOING 

Mokena 159 Registration 

Registration fees are now 

available via Skyward Family 

Access for current returning 

students for the 2017-18 

school year. Payment of registration 

and transportation 

fees are due, if applicable, 

by Aug. 1. For new students, 

visit www.mokena159.org 

under the Parent cube. On 

the right hand sidebar, select 

“Registration” and “All 

Documents” to find the New 

Student Registration Form. 


(708) 342-4900. 

Mobile Workforce Center 

1:30-3:30 p.m. Fridays 

in July, Mokena Community 

Public Library District, 

11327 W. 195th St., Mokena. 

The Mobile Workforce 

Center travels to communities 

throughout Will County 

assisting residents who are 

looking for a job. Services 

include access to computers 

for online job search, assistance 

to create or revise 

a resume, a job board with 

listings from Will County 

businesses and trained staff 

to assist. 

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 | July 6, 2017 | 3 

LWC family honors dad with lemonade stand for diabetes research 

Kyle LaHucik, Editorial Intern 

A Lincoln-Way Central 

graduate and a future student 

raised more than $170 

for the American Diabetes 

Association through a lemonade 

stand June 21, which 

was a fitting time for them. 

Only a few days after Father’s 

Day, Elaine and John 

Pettit were raising money 

for a cause that hits close to 

home: Their father passed 

away from diabetes four 

years ago, at the age of 45. 

Their mother, Dawn, recalls 

thinking about what her 

children were going through 

at this time of the year. 

“[The lemonade stand] 

was touching because, in 

fact, just a couple days before 

I was wondering what it 

was like for them to be seeing 

Father’s Day ads,” Dawn 

said. 

Their mother’s worry 

evaporated, though, as the 

event carried on. Elaine and 

John both said they felt more 

comfortable by the end of 

the event. 

“It made it easier to share, 

I guess,” Elaine said. 

For each customer who 

walked up to their stand, 

which was located outside 

their house on a street corner, 

Elaine and John handed 

them a pamphlet they had 

created on their own. They 

researched diabetes statistics 

to include in it. On the 

back cover, they wrote “In 

memory of John,” the name 

of their father, who had diabetes 

since he was 14 years 

old. They also included the 

American Diabetes Association’s 

mission statement 

and other basic information. 

“[Diabetes] is a pretty serious 

issue in our country, 

and I feel like there is a lot of 

focus on cancer, and cancer 

runs in our family, too, but 

I feel like diabetes doesn’t 

Drink for Diabetes 

Research 

Elaine and John Pettit 

handed out pamphlets to 

customers. Inside were 

statistics that they found 

through the American 

Diabetes Association: 

• “As of 2012, 29.1 

million or 9.3 percent of 

Americans suffer from 

diabetes.” 

• “1.4 million Americans 

are diagnosed each 

year.” 

• “Diabetes is the 7th 

leading cause of death 

in the United States.” 

get that kind of recognition,” 

Elaine said. 

Elaine, a Central grad who 

is entering her junior year 

of college, said she wrote a 

research paper on depression 

and any correlations it may 

have with different kinds of 

diabetes for her psychology 

class. Though she doesn’t 

study a subject related to 

diabetes or the health field, 

she said she still tries to keep 

informed about the issue. 

“I still try to learn more 

about it and incorporate it 

[into other things],” Elaine 

said. “To me, it’s important 

that there’s funding to keep 

trying to find a cure or some 

sort of better antidote or 

something. 

“I know we’re not the 

only ones who have seen it 

or gone through it.” 

Elaine and John felt their 

efforts “brought the community 

together, slightly.” 

“I was able to get my 

friends [and their families] 

to come over and support 

it,” said John, who will be 

a freshman at Lincoln-Way 

Central in the fall. “They did 

donate a lot. I was grateful 

for their donations.” 

The fundraiser lasted a 

Lincoln-Way Central grad Elaine Pettit holds up a sign June 21 to attract cars to the lemonade stand she and her brother, 

John (right), started to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. Photos by James Sanchez/22nd Century Media 

Elaine Pettit gives Alex Findlay (right) a cup of lemonade. 

little more than four hours, 

and they plan to carry out 

two more by summer’s end. 

The number of people who 

showed up and the amount 

of money raised were positives, 

Elaine and John said. 

“It was a lot more than I 

had even like dreamed of in 

a way,” Elaine said of the 

amount of money they raised. 

“It felt like a good accomplishment, 

and it made me 

excited to do it again because 

of how many people seemed 

enthusiastic about it.” 

One of the customers 

who stood out to Elaine and 

Elaine and John also created handmade pamphlets 

detailing the importance of donating toward research. 

John was a woman who was 

wearing a shirt related to 

diabetes. Elaine recalled her 

asking for a cup so she could 

pour all of her spare change 

into it. 

Another customer also 

had a connection to diabetes. 

“I think our very last customer 

was our neighbor –- 

we had never met him before. 

He talked about how 

his father had diabetes,” 

Elaine said. “It meant a lot 

to him that we were out 

there.”

4 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger news 


Village of Mokena Board of Trustees 

Increased revenue projected in 2018 budget 

Jon DePaolis 

Freelance Reporter 

In the revenue department 

for the Village of Mokena, 

things are looking up. 

The Village of Mokena 

Board of Trustees approved 

its fiscal year 2018 budget 

June 26 in a 5-0 vote. 

Trustees Debbie Engler 

and Jim Richmond were 

absent, and Mayor Frank 

Fleischer cast ballots in all 

votes during the meeting. 

The total fiscal year 2018 

budget calls for revenues of 

approximately $25.47 million 

(an increase in revenue 

of about $1.7 million from 

fiscal year 2017, or about 

7.16 percent) and expenditures 

of approximately 

$24.75 million (an increase 

of $287,693 from fiscal year 

2017, or about 1.18 percent). 

The overall status of Mokena 

— factoring in the 

2018 budget — calls for a 

beginning balance of about 

$45.41 million and an ending 

balance of $46.13 million. 

During his presentation of 

the budget, Village Administrator 

John Tomasoski said 

one of the things staff tries 

to remember during the budget 

process is the question 

“What is our purpose?” 

“At the end of it, we always 

remember it is to provide 

our core services and be 

there for our customers,” he 

said. 

In the general fund, the 

2018 budget calls for revenues 

of about $10.15 million 

and expenditures of $10.05 

million. With a starting balance 

of $3.29 million in the 

general fund, staff anticipates 

ending the fiscal year 

2018 cycle with a balance of 

$3.4 million. 

In the capital improvement 

fund, the 2018 budget 

calls for $2.67 million in 

revenues and $2.47 million 

in expenditures. The beginning 

balance in that fund is 

projected at $7.69 million, 

and is expected to end the 

fiscal year at $7.89 million. 

In the water and sewer 

fund, the budget estimates 

revenues of $6.89 million 

and expenditures of $6.99 

million. The fund is expected 

to start the fiscal year with a 

balance of $1.92 million and 

end the fiscal year with a balance 

of $1.83 million. 

In differentiating between 

the Village and the State, 

Round it up 

A brief recap of action and discussion at the June 26 

meeting of the Village of Mokena Board of Trustees 

• Board members voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution that would 

increase the wages of non-represented Village employees by 

2.5 percent. 

• Board members also voted 5-0 to approve a special use 

permit to Tom Morack to construct an outdoor storage yard at 

the business located at 9200 W. 191st St. Per the conditions 

of the agreement, Morack is to build an 8-foot masonry 

screening wall and add landscaping to the site. 

• The Village Board members also voted 5-0 to appoint 

Police Chief Steve Vaccaro as one of the Village’s freedom of 

information officers. 

Tomasoski mentioned that 

Mokena has a bond rating 

of AA+ from Standard and 

Poor’s, which is the second 

highest municipal rating issued. 

He also said local sales 

tax is at an all-time high, and 

the general fund is in the 

best shape it’s ever been. 

“We should maintain a 

strong cash positon and resist 

the urge to spend money 

because it is available,” he 

said. “Utilization of available 

cash should be well 

thought, serve established 

objectives and not create any 

long-term obligations.” 

After the presentation, 

Fleischer thanked staff and 

the board for their work in 

creating the budget. 

“Tonight, you see the culmination 

of a lot of work — 

a lot of work by the staff and 

the board,” Fleischer said. 

“There was a lot arguing this 

year, a lot of discussion and 

a lot of differences of opinions. 

It’s not all just cut and 

dry. 

“[Here], I think you’ve 

seen a very good example 

of what happens when the 

board and staff work together 

to bring to the residents 

what they deserve — a good, 

balanced budget with a surplus.” 

For more, visit MokenaMessenger.com. 

Plan to join us! 

Ingalls Open Golf Outing 

Monday, August 7, 2017 

Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, IL 

Schedule for Day 

• 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Registration 

• 11:00 a.m. Continuous Lunch 

• 11:30 a.m. Shotgun Start 

• 5:00 p.m. Presentation & Awards Reception 

EACH PARTICIPANT’S ENTRY FEE INCLUDES: 

▼ Green fee and cart 

▼ Complimentary gift 

▼ BBQ lunch 

▼ Food and drink on course 

▼ Cocktails & heavy hors d’oeuvres 

▼ Chance to win numerous awards 

▼ The good feeling of helping a great cause 

A change in venue this year for the annual Ingalls Open 

Golf outing, invites you to play at Olympia Fields Country 

Club, site of this year's Women's PGA Championship! 

Both the South and North courses are available for play. 

A portion of all proceeds support our world class Irwin 

Retina Center that treats retina disease and restores sight 

to those suffering from macular degeneration. 

Register by June 30 to receive Early Bird Discount. 

North Course: 

Championship 

South Course: 

Ingalls 

Open Golf 

Outing 

Benefitting: 

Irwin 

Retina 

Center 

Individual $600 • Foursome $2,400 Until June 30th 

Individual $650 • Foursome $2,600 After June 30th 

Individual $500 • Foursome $2,000 Until June 30th 

Individual $550 • Foursome $2,200 After June 30th 

Register by calling 708.915.6153 or online at Ingalls.org/foundation

mokenamessenger.com mokena 


SOUTH HOLLAND HOMEWOOD TINLEY PARK FRANKFORT CRETE DYER BEECHER 

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Sun. 7 am to 7 pm 

View Our Ad & Current Values 

at www.waltsfoods.com 

Washington 

 

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$ 

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Fresh 

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Assorted 

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2/ $ 4 

Walt’s 

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Chicken 

 

 

Value Pack 

88 ¢ Lb. 

No 

Hormones 

Added 

Walt’s Premium 

“All Natural” 

85% Lean Fresh 

Ground 

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Value Pack 

$ 

2 99 Lb. 

Ground 

 

many times 

daily. 

 

Baby 

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99 ¢ 

Fresh Express 

Salad Blends 

 

 

 

 

 

2/ $ 5 

From Our Country Bakery 

99 30.65 Oz. 

$ 

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Walt’s 

 

Hinckley Springs 

Vienna Bread 

Water 

 

24 Pk. .5 Ltr. Btls. 

5/ $ 0 4/ $ 0 

 

Wake Up Roast 

 

Prince 

Minute Maid 

Pure Squeezed 

Orange Juice 

59 Oz. 

2/ $ 6 

 

 

Selected Varieties 

9 Oz. 

Original Style 

Pizza 

 

2/ $ 6 

Pasta 


 

Land O’ Lakes 

American Cheese 


$ 

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From Our eli Hut 

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48 Oz. 


 

 

Boneless 

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LU 

5345



Mokena Community Park District Board of Commissioners 

Split votes mark construction change orders 

Tim Carroll, Editor 

Conversation over construction 

change requests 

submitted to the Mokena 

Community Park District 

Board of Commissioners was 

sometimes contentious. 

In a series of split votes 

during the regularly scheduled 

June 27 meeting, 

though, commissioners voted 

to approve five change requests 

on construction at The 

Oaks Recreation & Fitness 

Center and Yunker Farm, 

which totaled $32,055.13. A 

sixth change order did not 

gain board approval. 

Among the orders were 

requests for $2,182.16 to 

replace a damaged underground 

electrical feed for 

parking lot lights; a combined 

$14,457.30 to install 

plastic and enclose the lobby 

area in The Oaks expansion 

and board up all the doors; 

$2,958.84 to fix a plumbing 

error at the new splash pad; 

$9,682.47 to move excess 

soil; and $5,733.20 to patch 

asphalt for a new curb. 

Vice President John Olivieri 

asked why Henry Bros. 

Co., the construction manager 

on the project, did not foresee 

that enclosing the lobby 

and boarding up the doors 

would be necessary when 

they submitted their bid. 

“The original schedule was 

they weren’t going to be in 

winter conditions, so they 

didn’t need to enclose it,” 

said Scott Piper, vice president 

of SPM Architects, Inc. 

Park district Executive 

Director Mike Selep said 

discussion of enclosing the 

lobby occurred early on, and 

Piper said the invoicing was 

late. 

In another request, the barrel 

fill at the splash pad was 

installed on a different water 

line than the rest of the implements, 

Piper said. Secretary 

Dennis Bagdon asked where 

the project manager was, and 

Olivieri voiced his displeasure. 

“Stan [Jagielski, Henry 

Bros.’ senior vice president 

of project management] told 

us [at the June 13 Park Board 

workshop] all they do is coordinate,” 

Olivieri said. “Apparently, 

they didn’t coordinate 

this.” 

Piper said they did coordinate 

it and got the barrel installed, 

but they “didn’t get it 

installed for free.” 

Board President Lana 

Graser said she was pleased 

that the construction was 

nearing its end, and she said 

she hoped to put it in the park 

district’s past. 

“I’m disheartened by some 

of the many, many reasons 

why we are spending more 

than I feel we should of our 

taxpayers’ money, but I don’t 

want to dwell on that now,” 

Graser said. “I just want to 

move on and get these approved 

and get done with this 

and get everybody out of our 

hair and move on and get our 

programs going.” 

Votes to pay for the repair 

of the electrical feed and 

move the excess soil were approved 

by 7-0 margins; votes 

to pay for the installation of 

plastic and board doors during 

the winter months were 

approved by 5-1 votes, with 

BUYING OR SELLING? 

CALL CHRISTINE KACZMARSKI 

LINCOLN - WAY RESIDENTIAL & COMMERICAL SPECIALIST FOR OVER 26 YEARS 

Bagdon abstaining and Olivieri 

voting against the measures; 

commissioners voted 

to approve payment for asphalt 

paving by a 5-0 vote, 

with Bagdon and Olivieri abstaining; 

and payment for the 

extra water line at the splash 

pad did not pass by a margin 

of 3-2, with Commissioners 

Jeff Apel and Bagdon voting 

against the measure and Olivieri 

and Commissioner Kevin 

Brogan abstaining. In order 

to pass, the measure would 

have had to earn a minimum 

of four positive votes. 

Apel, Bagdon and Olivieri 

declined to comment on why 

they abstained or entered 

negative votes. 

“I’ve been advised by 

[park district attorney John 

O’Driscoll] to not comment 

on votes,” Olivieri said after 

815.474.1450 

chriskaczmarski@yahoo.com 

the meeting. 

Brogan said the water 

line error should have been 

caught. 

“Any common-sense person 

should’ve known that 

you’ve got to run a piece 

of pipe to a water feature,” 

Brogan said, though he said 

it was likely to be approved 

at a later date, after the board 

gets clarification on who was 

at fault for the error. 

Selep said after the meeting 

that he will take a look at 

the water line expense with 

the construction manager to 

see if it can be absorbed by 

minimizing another portion 

of the project. He said that 

may be difficult, because 

most of the rest of construction 

is complete, and he said 

Please see mcpd, 7 

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WC Forest Preserve District attracts patrons through food trucks 

Food Truck Fridays in 

area through July 

James Sanchez 

Contributing Editor 

mcpd 

From Page 6 

it may need to be presented 

again to the board. 

Welcome back? 

Keith Wallace, executive 

director of the Lincolnway 

Special Recreation Association, 

presented to the Park 

Board on the happenings with 

the LWSRA, saying that programing 

is in great demand. 

“We have more participants 

than ever,” Wallace 

said. “... The old saying is, ‘If 

you build it, they will come,’ 

and we are busting out of the 

seams.” 

In addition to giving an 

update on the LWSRA, Wallace 

sought the Park Board’s 

approval in welcoming back 

the Frankfort Square Park 

District into the LWSRA in 

approximately a year. Wallace 

said Frankfort Square 

was a founding member of 

It was a tough sell for Ben 

Hecke to attract food trucks 

to participate in the Will 

County Forest Preserve District’s 

inaugural Food Truck 

Friday events. 

“We were an unknown 

commodity to them,” he said. 

But after a strong reception 

spending all of June in Naperville, 

which brought in an average 

of more than 500 people 

for only one food truck, it 

caused the need for more food 

trucks onsite at future events. 

Then, the tables turned. They 

started to listen. Now, trucks 

as far as Evanston and Chicago 

have latched on. 

It was originally planned 

to have one food truck every 

Friday in the program, which 

will now move to the Hickory 

Creek Barrens Nature 

Preserve for the rest of July. 

Hecke expected between 

100 to 150 people to come 

out to the events, but with its 

growing popularity, he added 

three more mobile eateries 

– Brother George’s BBQ, 

Ofrenda and Cupcakes For 

Courage – for its New Lenox 

debut on Friday, July 7 from 

4:30-7 p.m. 

Hecke, who is the Will 

County Forest Preserve District’s 

Community Partnership 

and Outreach Coordinator, 

expects possibly a bigger 

turnout in New Lenox. After 

working his Naperville event 

on June 23, he attended the 

Village’s monthly food truck 

event, Fridays After Five, 

and witnessed the droves of 

people who came to the Village 

Commons. 

“These trucks have cult-like 

followings,” he said. “You’d 

think it’s like The Beatles 

traveling through. So the response 

that this community 

the LWSRA, and assuming 

things go according to plan, 

they will be coming back. 

Wallace noted that there 

were more park districts who 

had to approve the agreement, 

and he said the Frankfort 

Square Park District has 

to fulfill its agreements with 

the South Suburban Special 

Recreation Association before 

it would be allowed to 

return to the LWSRA. 

Former LWSRA Executive 

Director and current Park 

Board President Lana Graser 

introduced the motion to reinclude 

Frankfort Square Park 

District. The measure to allow 

Frankfort Square Park District 

to rejoin passed by a unanimous 

vote. 

Making a splash 

During Superintendent of 

Recreation Mary Beth Windberg’s 

staff report, she presented 

on how the Mokena 

Community Park District’s 

Food Truck Fridays 

Where: Hickory Creek Barrens Nature Preserve, 20733 

S. Schoolhouse Road 

When: 4:30-7 p.m. every Friday in July 

Food truck schedule 

July 7 – Brother George’s BBQ, Ofrenda, Cupcakes For 

Courage 

July 14 – La Cocinita, Ugly Truckin Sandwiches 

July 21 – Rogue Curbside Kitchen, Roaming Hog, 

Cupcakes for Courage 

July 28 – Best Truckin BBQ, Ofrenda 

splash pad stacks up with 

other park districts’. 

“A lot of people seem to 

think our splash pad is very 

small compared to other 

splash pads, and they’re concerned 

that we’re charging 

when all the other area splash 

pads are free,” Windberg 

said. 

She showed slides of other 

splash pads in the area, and 

she said the park districts 

within 15 miles of Mokena 

also charge. She noted that 

many of the free splash pads 

had fewer water features and/ 

or did not have attendants on 

duty. She said splash pads 

that do charge have comparable 

prices to Mokena’s, and 

to her knowledge Mokena 

was the only park district 

with a splash pad that offered 

a family pass for the year. 

“What I wanted to mention 

about these free ones is 

someone commented that 

they would prefer to go there, 

has for food trucks is amazing, 

and we really want to just 

continue to capitalize on that.” 

In addition to the area’s 

fandom of food trucks, the 

host site is the largest preserve 

in the county because 

of its different access points. 

Hickory Creek Barrens is 

also alongside Route 30, 

which could attract even 

more passerby guests. 

The events have far exceeded 

the forest preserve 

district’s expectations. While 

most of its programs are 

aimed towards its core audience, 

Hecke said Food Truck 

Fridays was created to get 

the nontraditional patrons out 

to the trails. After its stay in 

New Lenox, the event will 

spend August in Plainfield at 

Lake Renwick Preserve. 

“The food truck will bring 

them to the preserve, and the 

natural beauty of our sites 

and locations will be the 

hook to get them to continue 

to come back and check out 

the other events from our district,” 

Hecke said. 

During each two-and-a-half 

hour event, forest preserve 

where it’s free, than pay $1 

at ours,” Windberg said. “I 

don’t get that, because you’re 

spending probably $8-$10 in 

gas.” 

Commissioners said they 

had been getting questions on 

the splash pad and thanked 

Windberg. 

Pictured is an aerial shot from the Will County Forest 

Preserve District’s Food Truck Friday event in Naperville 

in June. Food Truck Fridays will be in the area throughout 

July. Photo Submitted 

staff will be available with 

information and kits for children 

to use, which includes 

binoculars, field guides. sidewalk 

chalk and reusable bags 

children could draw on and 

take home. For the adults, it is 

a bring-your-own-beer event, 

and there will also be a bags 

sets available. 

St. Spyridon’s Greek Festival 

100 year! 

Celebrating our 

12307 S. Ridgeland, Palos Heights 

“This is a chance for families 

to come out and have 

a picnic out at a beautiful 

site,” Hecke said. “What better 

chance for somebody to 

come out and enjoy nature 

then to come out to the food 

truck [at the Barrens] at the 

same price of going out to eat 

with your family.” 

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Police Reports 

Police: Thief stole groceries, 

more from department store 

Robert Goryl, 34, of 1772 

Heather Glen Drive in New 

Lenox, was charged June 24 

with retail theft after he allegedly 

stole ten items valued at 

a total of $46.78 from a department 

store in the 11300 

block of Lincoln Highway. 

According to the police report, 

a loss prevention officer 

employed by the store observed 

Goryl fail to scan the 

10 items while utilizing the 

self-checkout line. According 

to the report, Goryl exited 

beyond the last point of purchase 

without paying for eggs 

valued at $.99, 2 percent milk 

valued at $2, Greek yogurt 

valued at $2, Oreo cookies 

valued at $2.50, four tortillas 

valued at $1.59, potato chips 

valued at $1.99, a 31-ounce 

ketchup bottle valued at 

$2.99, antiperspirant valued 

at $3.59, baby formula powder 

valued at $25.94 and hand 

soap valued at $3.19. 

June 25 

• Several items were reportedly 

stolen from a Chevrolet 

four-door vehicle in 

the 11300 block of LaPorte 

Road at some point between 

11 p.m. June 24 and 10 a.m. 

June 25. According to the 

police report, the vehicle 

had been left unlocked, and 

a black purse with a blackand-white-patterned 

strap 

that had been on the passenger 

seat was removed from 

the vehicle. Among the items 

within the purse were the alleged 

victim’s wallet, driver’s 

license, credit card, social security 

card and $10 in cash. 

June 24 

• A mailbox was reportedly 

stolen from a yard in the 

19400 block of 116th Avenue 

during the night of June 

23 or morning of June 24. 

According to the report, the 

mailbox was white and had 

black numbers on it. Police 

also noted that there was a report 

of a downed stop sign in 

the same block earlier in the 

morning of June 24. 

• A black male subject reportedly 

stole six cartons of menthol 

cigarettes from a convenience 

store in the 19100 

block of La Grange Road. 

According to the report, an 

employee verified the numbers 

on the credit card and 

asked for identification on the 

card. The subject reportedly 

left the store with the cigarettes, 

saying he would return 

with ID, but he did not come 

back. The subject reportedly 

left the payment credit card 

with the employee. 

June 23 

• Police reportedly responded 

to a call for service in the 

10400 block of Camden Court 

regarding damage to a black 

Ford Escape’s windshield. 

According to the report, the alleged 

victim told police he exited 

his home the morning of 

June 23 to discover damage to 

the vehicle’s front windshield. 

The damage was small, round 

and “hammer-sized,” according 

to the report, and it was 

located in the lower driver’s 

side are of the windshield. 

June 22 

• Police were dispatched in 

reference to a theft of an Apple 

iPhone 6 valued at $500. 

According to the report, the 

alleged victim placed his cellphone 

on a shelf at the Mokena 

Meijer, 11305 W. Lincoln 

Highway, between 4-5 p.m. 

When he returned to retrieve 

the phone, he reportedly discovered 

that it was missing. 

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. 

FROM THE FRANKFORT STATION 

Powerlifter qualifies for 

national competition 

It is late this past May, 

and Frankfort resident John 

Brolley, 55, has found an 

area to himself. 

Around him, other competitors 

ranging in age from 

their late teens to their 70s, 

are stretching or talking. 

Brolley is there, but he also 

is somewhere else — somewhere 

deep in his head, going 

over and over again what 

he is about to do. 

He sees the weight on either 

end of the bar. He sees 

himself popping up from off 

the ground, and the deadlift 

executed perfectly. He sees 

this time after time, visualizing 

success. 

He has three lifts. His goal 

is simple, a motto he picked 

up from an old coach and 

adapted to fit his new passion: 

lift for fun and personal bests. 

Brolley accomplished 

both May 28, competing 

at the Amateur American 

Powerlifting Federation’s 

national meet — winning 

his age group (55-59) and 

qualifying for the September 

AAPF world championships 

in Lisle. 

Reporting by Jon DePaolis, 

Freelance Reporter. For more, 

visit FrankfortStation.com. 

FROM THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE 

Village-hosted e-recycling 

event benefits VetTech 

Hundreds of Orland Park 

residents recycled old or 

unused electronics June 24 

during a Village-sponsored 

event at public works facility. 

Organizers estimated that 

approximately 600 cars visited 

the drive-thru recycling 

lanes during the event. The 

event benefited VetTech — a 

Lansing-based organization 

that supports and trains veterans 

for IT careers. 

At the event, residents 

recycled any electronics, 

excluding large appliances. 

This meant residents could 

drop off televisions, computers, 

small kitchen appliances, 

stereos, lamps, batteries, 

cellphones and other items. 

“TVs were the big one, 

because that is the hardest 

thing to recycle,” said Trustee 

Michael Carroll, who as 

the Public Works Committee 

chairman helped organize 

the event. 

When Carroll started researching 

Village history, 

he found that an e-recycling 

event had not been held in 

more than five years. 

“I know the Township 

does one, and that is usually 

very busy when they do 

theirs,” he said. 

Reporting by Jon DePaolis, 


visit OPPrairie.com. 

FROM THE LOCKPORT LEGEND 

Lockport’s new teen 

librarian brings change 

Justin Williams’ literary 

love story began in middle 

school. 

One fateful day, Williams’ 

then-classmate — and current 

best friend — brought 

in a shoebox full of paperback 

books with wizards, 

knights and halflings gracing 

their covers, catching his 

attention. In pages of those 

books, Williams discovered 

a thirst for reading — one he 

hopes to pass on in his role 

as teen librarian at the White 

Oak Library District’s Lockport 

Branch. 

“One thing I want to push in 

this position is the importance 

of reading and reading anything 

you can get your hands 

on,” said Williams, who graduated 

from the University of 

Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

in May with a master’s degree 

in library information science. 

“I discovered that a lot 

of teens, when they come into 

the library, they come for the 

programs and for the community 

and pretty much anything 

other than the books on the 

shelves. 

“What I really want to do 

in the next couple months is 

develop programs that will 

really show the teens this 

idea without feeling like a 

teacher, without being an 

adult saying, ‘You should 

read.’ I want to find ways 

to get creative and to show 

them this without being that 

overarching figure telling 

them to do something.” 

Reporting by Erin Redmond, 

Assistant Editor. For more, visit 

LockportLegend.com. 

FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION 

Tinley Park Bulldogs, SSSRA 

pair up for exhibition game 

This date was circled on 

some calendars. On others, it 

was highlighted or starred. 

The game on this particular 

day was no ordinary game. It 

was the sixth annual softball 

contest featuring the Tinley 

Park Bulldogs 18U, a travel 

softball team, and the South 

Suburban Special Recreation 

Association Stingrays, a team 

for adults with special needs. 

“More important than our 

playoffs, our tournaments, 

this is the day we all look 

forward to every year,” Bulldogs 

18U manager Don Wetzel 

said. 

The unified contest June 

27 divided the Bulldogs and 

Stingrays in half and mixed 

the two squads into black and 

blue teams for the slow-pitch, 

exhibition softball game. 

While there was some 

good-natured trash-talking, 

big hits and defensive gems, 

the game felt laid-back. 

“It’s not like a typical game 

where everything is so serious 

and you want to win,” 

said Marleh Wodka, who 

took off of work to play in the 

game for the Bulldogs for the 

sixth year in a row. 

The Bulldogs and Stingrays 

played alongside each 

other in the field, with one 

player from each of the 

teams at every position, except 

pitcher and catcher. It 

gave the Bulldogs players a 

chance to talk with the Stingrays 

about their day, their 

hobbies and more during the 

game. 

Reporting by Frank Gogola, 


visit www.TinleyJunction.com. 

FROM THE HOMER HORIZON 

Need to safely store small 

belongings leads to business 

for college student 

They are scenarios in 

which just about everyone 

has found themselves at one 

point or another. 

Participating in a sport 

and wanting to empty out 

pockets to move more freely. 

Boarding a roller coaster 

with multiple loops and having 

that worry of belongings 

toppling away. Traveling and 

worrying about pickpockets. 

The common denominator 

in each instance is a desire to 

securely fasten small items 

to keep them safe. 

Kat Samardzija, a Homer 

Glen native, is entering her 

junior year at Grand Valley 

State University on a tennis 

scholarship. 

One day early last year, 

she went with some teammates 

to the university’s 

recreation center after tennis 

practice to work out. They 

quickly encountered the 

problem of what to do with 

their stuff. 

“We have all this extra 

stuff,” Samardzija said. “It’s 

inconvenient.” 

That was when the idea 

for her now-growing company, 

Locker Lifestyle, was 

born. To solve the issue of 

where to keep those small 

items, Samardzija first came 

up with the wrist locker. 

Beyond the wrist locker, 

several similar products 

have since been developed 

or are patent pending. All of 

the products can hold cash, 

cards, keys, an ID, Chap- 

Stick and more. 

Reporting by Thomas Czaja, 

Editor. For more, visit Homer- 

Horizon.com.



Providing support for cancer 

patients, survivors, families 

Planned expansion 

to help center serve 

more patients 

Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor 

A cancer diagnosis is a 

scary thing, but at the Cancer 

Support Center they remind 

people that it isn’t the end. 

“When you’re in a battle, 

literally it could be the battle 

of your life, you want to have 

weapons, right?” said Sue 

Armato, executive director at 

The Cancer Support Center. 

“You want to be empowered 

to fight that, and that’s a lot of 

what we do is we give people 

the power back to fight.” 

The Cancer Support Center, 

which has locations in 

Mokena and Homewood, 

has seen a 40- to 50-percent 

increase in need for their services 

in the last few years, 

according to Armato, but the 

services they provide for cancer 

patients, survivors and 

family members are not the 

medical kind. 

Aside from the usual chemotherapy, 

radiation and 

surgeries that people diagnosed 

with cancer require, 

Armato said more and more 

research is being done about 

the physical and mental benefits 

of exercise, nutrition and 

therapy. 

“We provide that wraparound, 

maybe call it like a 

hug of support for that mental 

and physical piece of suffering, 

and we help alleviate 

that,” Armato said. 

No matter the prognosis, 

staff and volunteers at The 

Cancer Support Center try 

to help people live a fuller 

life, learn how to live in the 

moment, have a healthier attitude 

and do little things to 

empower themselves and 

their loved ones. 

Services provided by the 

Debbie Moravec, Program Navigator at the Cancer Support 

Center in Mokena, sits in the dual purpose reception area 

and library at the center, which is located at 19657 South La 

Grange Road. Amanda Stoll/22nd Century Media 

nonprofit group include 

counseling, nutrition consultations, 

wig fittings, massage 

therapy, exercise classes and 

cooking demonstrations. 

“This place turned me into 

a nutrition nut. If you come 

into my house, you’re not 

getting anything but healthy 

food,” said Leslie Susralski, 

an Orland Park resident who 

started going to The Cancer 

Support Center seven years 

ago when her husband, Ed, 

was diagnosed with prostate 

cancer. 

She said the two radically 

changed their diets after the 

diagnosis, and for her it started 

with a class on juicing. 

“They give you the tools to 

live your best life,” she said. 

Beside cooking and nutritional 

programs offered — 

which she now helps teach 

with Nutrition and Wellness 

Coordinator Chris Rosandich 

at the Homewood location — 

Susralski said she has learned 

a lot about managing stress 

and anxiety, which she said 

was a struggle for her after 

her husband’s diagnosis. 

“Then I realized there’s 

lots of things you can do to 

help yourself,” she said. 

Armato echoed those sentiments, 

saying many times 

people are prescribed antidepressants 

when they are 

diagnosed but never receive 

professional counseling or 

learn how to cope with what 

they are going through. 

Renovations and expansions 

at both locations will 

allow the centers to provide 

more programming, Armato 

said, and a lot of the funding 

has come from Great Lakes 

Charitable Foundation. The 

foundation gave the group a 

grant that funded a large portion 

of the down payment for 

the new Mokena location. 

The current space in Mokena 

is about 1,800 square 

feet, and their new space just 

next door will have 4,200 

square feet. The space will 

have to be renovated, however, 

which Armato said will 

make up a majority of the expenses 

in Mokena. 

“I have cancer, but I’m not 

cancer” is a common saying 

at the center and among participants 

like the Susralskis, 

who just celebrated their 48th 

wedding anniversary — one 

doctors never thought they’d 

see. 

Though many people 

might see the Susralskis’ situation 

as despairing, she said 

she often tells people, “Don’t 

be sorry for us; we’re living 

our lives.” 

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The Main Park attraction 

Outdoor flea market 

draws crowds to 

Mokena park 

Megann Horstead 


After the cancellation of 

the outdoor flea market in 

May due to forecasts of rain 

and poor ground conditions, 

the Mokena Community 

Park District drew crowds 

to the event held June 25. 

“I think there’s a good 

variety of different vendors 

here that not everyone’s 

selling antiques and everyone’s 

selling baby clothes,” 

said Rebecca Phetteplace, 

recreation supervisor of 

special events for Mokena 

Community Park District. 

“There’s something for everyone. 

There’s new things, 

there’s old things, things 

that kids will like, things 

that adults will like.” 

A number of people 

dropped in to explore the 

various offerings from vendors 

this time around. 

“We usually get a pretty 

good crowd,” Phetteplace 

said. “We usually fill up 

our vendor spots. [There’s] 

sometimes a waitlist for it, 

and that’s over 150 spots.” 

Rich Rosen, of Mokena, 

Three sister (left to right) Brianna, Charlotte and Veronica 

Reynolds shop at vendor Tom Miller’s table. 

ran a booth full of collectibles 

that he was hoping to 

sell. 

“I get more people who 

look at [the coins and sports 

cards] than anything else 

I’ve got,” he said. “There 

are more people collecting 

coins and sports cards than, 

say, Beanie Babies.” 

From the collectibles he 

mentioned to rare forms of 

currency, he collected the 

items he brought over many 

years. 

“There’s a paper quarter 

from 1864,” he said. “That’s 

the oldest paper money I 

have.” 

Rosen said he did not 

Cathy Wikert (left) and her friend Keri Johnson check out Ken Keebler’s items from 

Daddy’s Garage during the Mokena Community Park District’s outdoor flea market June 25 

at Main Park. Photos by Julie McMann/22nd Century Media 

Nancy and Dave Boughton and their pup, Miss Minnie, show off their merchandise during 

the flea market. 

bring out his best coin, 

though. 

“My best coin I have is a 

silver dollar that’s [worth] 

$25,000,” he said. 

The reason he decided to 

set up a booth at the outdoor 

flea market is simple, Rosen 

said. 

“I’m retired, I’m 71,” he 

said. “To me, this is fun. It 

gets me out of the house.” 

Liz Emmick, of New 

Lenox, said she was enjoying 

the outdoor flea market. 

She said she didn’t know 

what to expect when she 

dropped in. 

“[I heard about it] through 

a friend,” she said. 

The booths had a nice 

variety of older and newer 

items, Emmick said and she 

said she did not necessarily 

come in search of anything 

in particular. 

“[I’m] just kind of looking 

for something to do over 

the weekend,” she said. 

The outdoor flea market 

has a way of drawing people 

in, Phetteplace said. 

“A lot of it is the same 

people keep coming back,” 

she said. “I know people get 

down about it being rained 

out. It’s unfortunate, but a 

lot of the same people keep 

coming back to the flea 

market.” 

“We got a lot of new people 

this year, too, so it’s a 

good mix,” she added. 

Phetteplace credited the 

event’s ability to bring in 

new people to good promotion. 

“I think a lot of it is word 

of mouth,” she said. “A lot 

of people seem to bring 

their friends with them to 

come sell.” 

The outdoor flea market 

does a wonderful job of 

bringing the community together, 

Phetteplace said. 

“It’s something that’s 

not going to the mall, it’s 

something where you get 

to be outdoors and still doing 

something that everyone 

could enjoy easily,” she 

said. “There’s [also] space 

for kids to play here if their 

parents are shopping.” 

The next outdoor flea 

market of the summer season 

is to be held July 23.

® 

mokenamessenger.com sound off 


Social snapshot 

Top Web Stories 

From MokenaMessenger.com as of 

Monday, July 3 

1. Softball star at both LWE, LWC earns 

scholarship at Lindenwood 

2. New East baseball coach looks to create 

‘championship-caliber’ program 

3. Passion, prospects drive LW East archer 

4. Festa Italiana to bring music, family fun, 

food to Mokena 

5. Epic Academy students visit Mokena 

personal trainer for career day 

Become a member: mokenamessenger.com/plus 

“Mr Matt and his chicken chat!!” 

The Mokena Community Public Library 

District shared this photo on its Facebook 

page Thursday, June 29 

Like The Mokena Messenger: facebook.com/ 


“TODAY is Mokena Community Night at 

Joliet Slammers! $10 tickets still available. ” 

@MokenaChamber posted this message 

to its Twitter page Thursday, June 29 

Follow The Mokena Messenger: @mokenamessenger 

From the assistant editor 

Take advantage of free summer events 

Amanda Stoll 


Summer is a great time 

for music festivals, 

vacations and trips 

to the city, but there are a 

lot of other, less expensive 

activities, as well. 

I am sure I am not the 

only one around here who is 

on a budget, because, let’s 

be honest, who is not? So, 

I am always on the lookout 

for free or relatively inexpensive 

ideas of things to do 

during the week and on the 

weekends. 

My favorite option, as 

many people can probably 

guess, is going to a park or 

using one of the many trails 

in the area. I love visiting 

state parks like Starved 

Rock, and I love taking the 

kayak out when I have a 

free afternoon. 

Most of those kind of 

outdoor activities are free 

or at least cost-efficient, 

even if you have a small 

herd coming along for the 

day. 

They are also great opportunities 

for children 

— and us adults — to get 

away from the TV screens 

and reconnect with nature, 

another thing I love. 

Two upcoming events that 

caught my eye are Music in 

the Moonlight at Hickory 

Creek Preserve and Intro to 

Yoga at the library. 

Concerts in the parks are 

popular with people of all 

ages, and it is a great way 

to enjoy some music and 

some nature while relaxing 

in a camp chair or on a 

blanket under the stars. The 

Music in the Moonlight 

event fits the bill perfectly 

for my free, summertime, 

outdoor event requirement. 

It starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 

July 6, at the Hickory 

Creek Preserve-La Porte 

Road Access, 10537 W. La 

Porte Road, Mokena. 

Billy Croft & the 5 Alarm 

will be performing at the 

American pride-themed 

night, and the Forest 

Preserve District of Will 

County will be having 

another such event on Aug. 

3 with a performance by 

Chicago Kingsnakes for 

a Blues Brothers themednight. 

For more information, 

visit www.reconnectwithnature.org. 

And do not forget your 

bugspray, because I am sure 

those little buggers will be 

out that evening. 

Something else I personally 

really enjoy is yoga. 

I actually just signed up 

for a yoga teacher training 

course, so I am all hyped up 

on yoga. I do realize I just 

said yoga three times (four 

now!) in one paragraph. I 

apologize. 

But really, I think it is a 

great way for people to stay 

active and increase their 

mobility — and yoga really 

can be accessible to just 

about anyone. 

In the past few years, 

yoga has been adopted by 

fitness enthusiasts, and 

power yoga is extremely 

popular. Because fastmoving 

flow sequences 

and hot, sweaty yoga are at 

the forefront of many yoga 

practices, I think people 

sometimes forget that there 

is gentle yoga, too. 

Intro to Yoga, which is 

being offered at 10 a.m. on 

Friday, July 7, at the public 

library, is a great opportunity 

for people to experience 

yoga and the benefits 

of controlled breathing and 

meditation. To register for 

the class, call (708) 479- 

9663 or email tdomzalski@ 

mokena.lib.il.us. 

And if you’ve never tried 

yoga and are nervous about 

it, this is the perfect way to 

get introduced to the ancient 

practice. 

I’m always keeping my 

eye out for events in and 

around town, and take 

submissions for Calendar 

weekly. So, if you know of 

any other upcoming events 

in the area, feel free to 

email me the information at 

a.stoll@22ndcenturymedia. 

com. 

Don’t let your 

advertising cool 

down this summer. 

BE SMART. ADVERTISE IN 

CONTACT 

The Mokena Messenger 

LORA HEALY 

708.326.9170 ext. 31 l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com 

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.

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the mokena messenger | July 6, 2017 | mokenamessenger.com 

They’ve got it 

Inaugural Mokena’s Got 

Talent competition makes 

Round 2 debut at Jenny’s 

Southside Tap, Page 19 

Celebrating a 

tradition 

Francesca’s Restaurants 

mark 25 years with 

throwback menu, prices 

across franchise, Page 21 

Web series created, produced by Mokena natives to hit the Internet, Page 17 

“Like Them” actors (left to right) Glen Everitte, who plays an alien, and Jeff Bratz, who plays Alan, discuss the web series’ script with creator, writer, director and Mokena native Brent 

Kappel during filming in 2015. Photos Submitted INSET: Featured is a promotional poster for “Like Them,” which premieres on YouTube and likethemseries.com Thursday, July 6.

16 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger faith 


Faith Briefs 

St. John’s United Church of Christ (11100 

Second St., Mokena) 

Vacation Bible School 

6-8:15 p.m. Sunday, July 

23-Wednesday, July 26. Join 

St. John’s for “Passport to 

PERU: Discovering God’s 

Good Gifts.” Cost is $15 

per child or $40 for a family 

with three or more children. 

For more information 

and registration, visit www. 

stjohnsmokena.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. 


(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. 

Bundles of Love 

7 p.m. the second and 

fourth Monday of each 

month. Enjoy 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. 

FUNERAL SERVICES DIRECTORY 

Kim O’Neil Golob 

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Kelly Furlong Foresman, Secretary 

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rest of the decisions? 

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Private, On-site Crematory 

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(155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem) 

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708-532-5400 

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ADVERTISE 

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FUNERAL 

SERVICES. 

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. 

Marley Community Church (12625 W. 

187th St., Mokena) 

Contact Jessica Nemec 

@708.326.9170 ex.46 


Senior High Youth Group 

7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. 

For more information, email 

marleycommunitychurch@ 

gmail.com. 

Junior High Youth Group 

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

more information, email 

marleycommunitychurch@ 

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. 

Adult Bible Study 

10:15 a.m. Sunday 

Mokena Baptist Church (9960 W. 187th 

St., Mokena) 

Summer at the Steeple 

11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays 

in July. This year’s 

theme is “Gone Camping.” 

Activities at this event include 

games, crafts, food, 

and a Bible lesson. There is 

no cost for this event. For 

more information and registration, 

visit summerat 

thesteeple.com. 

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. 

St. Mary’s Catholic Church (19515 115th 

Ave., Mokena) 

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 

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 

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. 

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.

mokenamessenger.com life & arts 


Big-dreaming Mokena natives to release web series 

Tim Carroll, Editor 

Brent Kappel and Doug 

Herzog’s paths diverged 

slightly after they graduated 

from Lincoln-Way East in 

2009, with Kappel going to 

Columbia College Chicago 

to study film and video, and 

Herzog heading off to Carthage 

College in Kenosha, 

Wisconsin, to study marketing 

and entrepreneurship. 

But as their paths diverged, 

the Mokena natives, 

who spent time as children 

creating short videos, kept 

in touch and remained interested 

in entertainment, 

and their separate fields of 

study proved valuable in 

creating their production 

company, Happy Kamper 

Pictures. Now, with their 

science fiction series, “Like 

Them,” set to hit the web 

Thursday, July 6, they are 

on their way in the entertainment 

industry. 

Kappel and Herzog met 

at Mokena Junior High 

School, and they began their 

filmmaking as recreation, 

remaking popular films like 

“Friday the 13th,” “Halloween” 

and “The Godfather.” 

“We were super into killing,” 

Herzog said of those 

remakes, which were shot 

on a camcorder. “We really 

liked the slasher stuff. So, 

we had a lot of fun with that 

growing up.” 

For Kappel, entertainment 

was in his blood. 

“I’ve had some family 

in Chicago, actually, that 

worked on kind of the olderschool 

movies around the 

area,” he said. “It’s kind of a 

family thing.” 

And while at Lincoln-Way 

East, Kappel was involved 

with Griffin TV, the high 

school’s television club, led 

by Dan Galligan. 

“[Galligan was] an inspirational 

person throughout 

being in the club with him,” 

Kappel said. “I had a lot of 

other good teachers, but I 

think he was probably the 

most influential in the film 

aspect.” 

Professionally, Herzog 

and Kappel’s partnership 

bloomed in 2013, when 

Kappel wrote a featurelength 

script called “The 

Sandmen” for Screamfest 

Horror Film Festival in Los 

Angeles. 

“It’s kind of a bigger-budget 

thing, but I brought it to 

Doug so he could read it,” 

Kappel said. 

Herzog thought the script 

was excellent, and it got very 

positive reviews at the festival, 

but he and Kappel were 

not sure they could pursue it 

right away. 

“[We] discussed the script 

of ‘The Sandmen’ and kind 

of realized it was out of our 

means at that exact time,” 

Kappel said. 

But online content was 

within their means, and they 

recognized that streaming 

content was “the way of the 

future.” 

“So, we wrote this script, 

‘Like Them,’ the series that 

we shot and are ready to 

put out, with that kind of in 

mind,” Kappel said. “[It’s] a 

smaller budget, something 

that we could work with but 

also be able to kind of present 

in this new way, where 

it’s basically a feature film, 

but it’s broken up into eight 

episodes that we’re releasing 

as a series. Each episode 

does have a beginning, 

middle and end, but it’s an 

overarching story, kind of 

like most binging series you 

would find on Netflix.” 

“The Internet is an amazing 

tool,” Herzog said. “... 

For something like this, people 

are going to be engaged 

in a good story. They’re going 

to be able to be a fan of 

a good story. This series is ... 

not comparable in terms of 

People involved with “Like Them” (left to right) director 

and writer Brent Kappel; key grip and gaffer Marlon 

Royal Reid; video effects supervisor, actor and producer 

Dwight Carter; executive producer Doug Herzog; costume 

designer Alexandra Serna; and wardrobe assistant Natalie 

Belozerova pose for a photo during production. 

production quality to ‘The 

Walking Dead.’ However, 

the storyline and kind of 

the tone of the series itself 

is similar to ‘The Walking 

Dead.’ And moving to more 

of an online platform, people 

have their TVs in their pockets, 

so everyone’s on the go. 

Whether you have an hour 

to kill or 10 minutes to kill, 

you can squeeze in an episode 

or our entire series in 

that time.” 

Kappel said the web series 

format also allowed the production 

to use Screen Actors 

Guild actors because of a 

SAG New Media clause. 

“[The clause] allows 

them to work on low-budget 

things if it is for streaming 

and for the Internet,” 

Kappel said. “If we would 

have shot a feature film, we 

would have had to have gone 

through just regular SAG, 

and that’s a whole other set 

of rules and stipulations and 

things. 

“Because of that, we’re 

able to work with actors for 

reduced rates and times.” 

Herzog, a producer on 

“Like Them,” said he invested 

most of the money, and 

he also traveled to California 

to help with the filming process 

and assist Kappel, who 

served as the director of the 

series. 

“We had other help, too,” 

Herzog said. “We had a cast 

and crew of 30 people that 

took their time to come out 

and give us a hand.” 

Production began in August 

2015, and shooting 

wrapped in October 2015. 

Kappel said it took 23 days 

of filming to complete. Postproduction 

took a little longer, 

but Kappel said he was 

pleased to have it ready for 

release July 6. 

The series, which takes 

place following an alien 

invasion during which the 

invaders turn off all technology, 

is a bit of paradox, given 

that it is being distributed 

over the Internet. 

“I think it’s hilarious,” 

Herzog said. “I think it’s 

great. This is part of the 

reason I wanted to make it, 

because when I was reading 

the script for it, I thought this 

is gold, this is great. There’s 

kind of a hidden meaning 

“Like Them” actor (left to right) Jeff Bratz and Mokena 

natives Brent Kappel, the series’ director and writer, and 

Doug Herzog, executive producer, set up for a shot while 

filming the web series in 2015. Photos Submitted 

‘Like Them’ 

Premieres Thursday, July 6 

For more information ... 

Web: likethemseries.com 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/ 

UCNxmHHiGfw6YKA9bouBwNyA 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LikeThemSeries 

Twitter: twitter.com/LikeThemSeries 

here that I hope a lot of the 

viewers will pick up, and 

that is, what happens when 

your phone turns off and you 

can’t turn it back on? What 

happens when you’re forced 

to go outside? It might not 

be pretty.” 

Since filming concluded, 

Herzog has gone to work 

utilizing his marketing background 

to make the web series 

as much of a success as 

possible. He said the trailer 

had garnered the series some 

attention. 

“We have over 30,000 

views on the trailer,” he said 

June 28. “In terms of our 

social media posts, people 

seem to be engaging well 

with it.” 

He also said the series, so 

far, seems to be reaching its 

target audience. 

“We notice [the people 

who like our posts] seem 

like they’re sci-fi fans.” 

Moving forward, Kappel 

and Herzog are not shy 

about their big plans. 

“Our plans for the future 

are to get ‘Sandmen’ made,” 

Herzog said. “Now, we have 

this series, we have something 

that we can show people, 

‘This is what we can do 

with this budget. Now, we 

would like [a larger] budget 

to make this movie.” 

That does not mean that 

Season 2 of “Like Them” is 

off the table. Herzog said if 

fan interest is there and the 

audience wants more, “we 

will make them more.” 

Regardless of what they 

make next, the connection 

forged in Mokena and at 

Lincoln-Way East is promising 

to help them make their 

way in entertainment.

18 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger life & arts 


A solemn march 

St. Mary Catholic Church embarks on second-annual Corpus Christi 

procession 

Father Dindo Billote (kneeling), pastor of St. Mary parish, burns incense. 

St. Mary Mokena’s second-annual Corpus Christi procession commences June 18 along 

195th Street. photos Submitted 

BETTENHAUSEN PARK 

16640 76TH AVE 

TINLEY PARK 

JULY 10TH 2017 

JULY 11TH - MAKE UP DATE 

5:45 CHECK IN / STRETCH 

6-8PM TRYOUT 

WWW.TINLEYPARKBOBCATS.ORG/?CAT=3 

2018 TRYOUTS 

13U BLACK 

TINLEY PARK BOBCATS BASEBALL 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: 

Winter Training @ local facilities 

High school mentor program 

Agility training specific to baseball 

Access to former professionals for instruction 

Home/road uniform 

In-season practice 

Approx. 6 tournaments 

1 destination tourney TBD 

Multiple fundraising opportunities 

MUST TEXT PRE-REGISTER @ 708.548.8919 

(PROVIDE NAME, DOB, CURRENT PROGRAM) 

Mary Pacek tosses flower 

petals during the procession. 

The procession ran to the old St. Mary Church on Wolf 

Road. 

St. Mary 

parishioners 

gather to 

pray outside 

during the 

procession, 

which is 

part of an 

initiative to 

reintroduce 

traditional 

practices to 

members.

mokenamessenger.com life & arts 


AAMCT hosts inaugural Mokena’s Got Talent competition 

15 contestants 

perform at Jenny’s 

Southside Tap 

Amanda Del Buono 


Four years ago, Brendan 

Boss, 12, of New Lenox, 

built his first PVC pipe instrument. 

Inspired by the 

Blue Man Group, Brendan 

has since learned a variety of 

songs and aspires to become 

a member himself. 

Painted in blue, Brendan 

showed his skills performing 

the Blue Man Group’s 

song “Time to Start” in 

Round 2 of All About Music 

and Children’s Theater’s 

inaugural Mokena’s Got Talent 

competition, which took 

place June 25 at Jenny’s 

Southside Tap, located at 

10160 W. 191st Street. 

“I like to perform. I just 

wanted to be onstage,” Brendan 

said. 

Brendan, as well as Caroline 

Boss, Ginny Frank, 

May Frank, Gavin O’Keefe 

and Abby Sanford, who all 

competed in the Junior Division, 

will perform in the 

final round of the competition. 

In the Senior Division, 

Aliyah Pechtold, Jillian Rice 

and Shannon Weiss also are 

moving on to the finals. 

“Everyone did so great. 

We are so proud of everyone 

that participated,” said Todd 

Beebe, who owns AAMCT 

with his wife, Connie Beebe. 

“It takes a lot to get up in 

front of a crowd and do that, 

and they all handled it like 

pros.” 

The finalists will perform 

in Round 3 of the contest at 

All About Musicpalooza as 

a part of the Mokena Lions 

Club Firecracker Weekend 

Friday, July 14. 

“We’d like to encourage 

everyone to come out to 

show their support for all of 

these super-talented performers,” 

Todd said. “There will 

be lots of other performances 

and music going on that evening, 

too. Our youth rock 

bands will be playing, and 

our Momentum Vocal Troupe 

will be singing, as well.” 

A three-part competition, 

for Round 1 those interested 

submitted entries from 

which Todd and Connie 

Beebe selected the Top 15 

performers, who progressed 

to Round 2. 

“This is the first time 

we’re doing this. It’s something 

we’ve always wanted 

to do,” Todd Beebe said. 

Audience members were 

asked to bring food items to 

donate to the Frankfort Township 

Food Pantry and Together 

We Cope in Tinley Park 

in order to receive a voting 

slip. Finalists from Round 2 

were determined by a combination 

of audience votes and 

scoring by two judges: Michael 

Wolniakowski, director 

at Mokena’s Saint John’s 

United Church of Christ and 

an accomplished composer, 

and Alison Huntley, a music 

teacher and former AAMCT 

student. 

For many who participated, 

performers at heart, the 

event was another opportunity 

to take the stage. Tenyear-old 

Mackenzie Valecek 

has been dancing the majority 

of her life and performed 

her first solo dance to “I 

Brendan Boss performs his Blue Man Group-inspired 

routine during Round 2 of All About Music & Children’s 

Theatre’s Mokena’s Got Talent competition June 25 at 

Jenny’s Southside Tap. Photos by Mark Korosa/22nd 

Century Media 

Ten-year-old Mackenzie Valecek performs her first solo 

dance during the competition. 

2017 

Am” by Awolnation June 25. 

“I just love dancing,” she 

said. “… When I dance, I 

feel like I’m really happy.” 

Seeing one of her three 

children who attend classes 

at AAMCT, Michele Valecek, 

Mackenzie’s mother 

and a New Lenox resident, 

said that she is always impressed 

by the performances. 

“I just love that it builds 

their sense of confidence 

and they get a sense of 

pride,” Michele Valecek 

said. “… Her doing a dance 

by herself, it’s her first solo 

ever, her sense of pride is 

amazing.” 

Attention Builders: 

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Reach 92,000+ Southwest Suburban homes. 

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Publishing 

August 10th 

Reserve you ad space by 

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[PART 2] 

Reach more than 

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Call your local sales director at 

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20 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger life & arts 


Celebrating 125 Years 

Downtown Tinley Block Party 

Sunday, July 16 

Noon - 7:00 p.m. 

Along Oak Park Avenue 

MUSIC PERFORMANCES 

Noon - 3:00 p.m. 

Midnight 

Gina Glocksen Band 

4:00 - 7:00 p.m. 

Blooze Brothers 

Bella Cain 

Subway Central 

Noon The Long Lost 

2:00 p.m. Teen Battle of the Bands 

4:30 p.m. Tinley Park Community Band 

6:00 p.m. The Real Gone 

KidZone Activities 

Featuring interactive 

music & dance ALL DAY 

FREE Trolley Rides 

Starting 11:30 a.m. from 

80th Avenue Train Station 

Rides & Inflatables | Classic Car Show 

Bean Bag Tournament 

For more information, visit DowntownTinley.com 

LOOKING 

FOR YOUR 

HAPPY 

PLACE? 

Empowering youth with 

Camp Reset Program 

Mokena nativefounded 

organization works 

to help students 

Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor 

This summer, camp is not 

all fun and games, though 

there will be some of that, 

too. 

Instead, foreverU, founded 

by Mokena native Ryan 

Hesslau, is hosting a summer 

camp that focuses on 

issues teens face every day. 

The Camp Reset Program, 

which will be held July 17- 

20, consists of facilitated 

discussions about tough topics 

and inspirational stories 

by camp leaders. The deadline 

to sign up for the camp 

is Friday, July 7. 

“The purpose of the camp 

is to really be a resource for 

students who struggle with 

these things,” Hesslau said. 

Those struggles could include 

bullying, anxiety, depression 

or eating disorders. 

Hesslau said there are three 

main themes to the weekend: 

the camper, the camper’s story, 

the camper’s impact. 

By understanding who 

they are and that they are 

each unique, he said foreverU 

hopes to help students 

think about their talents, 

goals and dreams, and not 

only where they’ve been, but 

where they want to go with 

their lives. He said he hopes 

the camp can help encourage 

students to be courageous 

and adventurous in pursuing 

their goals and dreams. 

“We really believe this 

might be the ultimate reset 

experience for students,” 

Hesslau said. 

In addition to the speakers, 

the students will be encouraged 

to have discussions 

with their peers about the 

topics. Hesslau said campers 

will also have plenty of time 

for what many high schoolers 

like to do most on their 

summer breaks: relax. 

Hesslau said the foreverU 

organization, which he 

founded while he was a student 

at Lincoln-Way East as 

an anti-bullying organization, 

has changed a lot in the 

last year and has started to 

make progress in their mission 

to reduce student suffering. 

“We’re really excited 

about the fact that we’re truly 

helping people,” he said. 

Hesslau is going into his 

senior year at Trinity Christian 

College in Palos Heights 

— where the camp will be 

held — and has begun offering 

internship opportunities 

with the nonprofit group. 

He said the group is also 

currently looking for students, 

parents and mental 

health professionals to join 

their events committee, impact 

advisory board and student 

advisory board. Information 

about each of those 

groups can be found on for 

everumovement.com. 

Their newfound momentum 

and rebranding efforts 

have brought them closer to 

their mission, and Hesslau 

said their reach into the community 

is growing, as well. 

He said he hopes the organization 

can be a resource 

for those looking for help, as 

well as for those who know 

someone in need, which is 

why the group added a “Get 

Help” section of its site devoted 

to resources for teens 

and a contact form for people 

to fill out. 

“No matter what this 

world throws at us, we are 

and forever will be overcomers,” 

Hesslau said. 

Mike MCCatty 

AND ASSOCIATES 

708.945.2121 

mccattyrealestate.com 

WE CAN 

HELP. 

talent 

From Page 19 

Lockport resident Nicole 

Sanford felt similarly about 

seeing her daughter, Abby, 

11, perform “Something’s 

Got a Hold on Me,” by 

Christina Aguilera. 

“It’s really a powerful 

song, and she really packs 

a punch for an 11-year-old,” 

Nicole Sanford said. “… 

There’s a mix of emotions. 

My heart beats so fast every 

time she’s up there, but 

I know she’s got it when she 

brings her sass.” 

Abby said that singing is 

something she cannot live 

without, and she wants to 

share her gift with others. 

Parents were not the only 

ones present to support the 

contestants. Often described 

as a family, AAMCT students 

came to support one 

another, as well. Orland Park 

resident Katie Sullivan, 13, a 

theater and piano student at 

AAMCT, came to see her 

friends perform. 

“I wanted to support all of 

my friends at All About Music,” 

she said. “I love seeing 

all of the talent.” 

The contestants also were 

supportive of one another, 

Todd said. AAMCT hopes 

to build an annual event with 

Mokena’s Got Talent, he 

added. 

“It’s something we hope to 

continue doing every year,” 

Todd said. “The response 

and turnout have been awesome. 

It’s something people 

are interested in.”

mokenamessenger.com dining out 


The Dish 

Francesca’s Vicinato joins franchise in celebrating 25 years 

Throwback nights 

offer original Mia 

Francesca menu, 

throwback prices 

Bill Jones, Managing Editor 

When Mia Francesca first 

opened in 1992 on Clark 

Street in Chicago’s Lakeview 

neighborhood, it did not take 

reservations and reportedly 

saw lines down the street as 

word of mouth spread. 

Its recent 25th anniversary 

celebration, featuring the 

original menu and throwback 

prices, had a similar buzz 

about it, according to regional 

manager Joe Christiano, 

who said customers came out 

in droves to join the party. 

That’s when Francesca’s 

decided to expand the festivities, 

much like the franchise 

itself expanded to 33 locations 

over the past two-anda-half 

decades. 

“After 25 years, we have 

all these restaurants,” Christiano 

said of the logic. “Let’s 

just do it across the board.” 

The party came to Palos 

Park June 26, when for one 

night only Francesca’s Vicinato 

featured the original Mia 

Francesca menu and prices, 

including the likes of Linguine 

all’ Arlecchino, with shrimp, 

scallops and clams, and the 

Vitello Sassi with baby artichokes 

and wild mushrooms. 

Christiano said each of the 

Francesca’s restaurants have 

their own vibes and culinary 

experiences, but a constantly 

evolving menu is a hallmark 

of the franchise. 

“We want to be innovative 

and stay up with the times,” 

he said. 

That said, Francesca’s Vicinato 

has long featured a few 

of the original menu’s old 

recipes — among them is the 

Pollo Arrosto alla Romana, 

a roasted half-chicken with 

Francesca’s Vicinato 

12960 S. LaGrange 

Road in Palos Park 

Lunch Hours 

• 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Dinner Hours 

• 3-9 p.m. Monday- 

Tuesday 

• 3-10 p.m. Wednesday- 

Thursday 

• 3-10:30 p.m. Friday- 

Saturday 

• 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday 

For more information ... 

Web: www.miafrancesca. 

com 

Phone: (708) 671-1600 

garlic, shallots, rosemary, 

lemon and olive oil, served 

with roasted potatoes — and 

for good reason. 

“It never comes off the 

menu,” Christiano said. “It’s 

one of those staples.” 

Another staple is the Insalata 

alla Francesca. The 

appropriately dubbed house 

salad features Romaine, endive 

and radicchio, with blue 

cheese, fresh vegetables, 

lemon and balsamic. It was 

flanked on the one-night-only 

menu by the Insalata di Rucola 

and the Insalata Cavoletti 

di Bruxelles. Christiano said 

they all serve as great examples 

of how Francesca’s both 

adheres to and breaks from 

Tuscan traditions. 

“We got rid of the bean 

salads … and really got creative,” 

he said. 

The restaurant also has 

made a name for itself in Palos 

Park since its opening in July 

2003 with dishes like the Carpaccio 

con Asparagi, which 

features thinly sliced raw sirloin 

with asparagus, capers, 

tomatoes, mushrooms, lemon, 

olive oil and shaved Grana 

Padano, as Christiano said it 

is difficult to find carpaccio 

anywhere else in the area. Its 

Burrata con Pomodorini — 

The Insalata alla Francesca — which effectively serves as 

Francesca’s Vicinato’s house salad —features Romaine, 

endive and radicchio, with blue cheese, fresh vegetables, 

lemon and balsamic. 

featuring burrata, heirloom 

tomatoes, basil and aged balsamic 

— is another customer 

favorite. The olive oil blend is 

made in house, too, complementing 

the bread and cheese 

on every table. 

And for dessert, it is hard 

to avoid the sloppy sundae, 

featuring scoops of vanilla 

gelato, topped with chocolate 

sauce, caramel sauce, 

biscotti, whipped cream and 

berries. As the story goes, the 

dessert was conceived one 

night years ago when a customer 

insisted on a sundae 

the restaurant did not have. 

A pressured chef crafted an 

obnoxiously large mess of a 

sundae, as much to cater to 

as make a point to the customer. 

The point backfired/ 

became legend when the customer 

loved it, and other diners 

could not help but notice 

it and inquire about it. Even 

though it was not technically 

on the menu, the restaurant 

kept getting orders for it, and 

so it stuck around, Christiano 

said. It also became part of 

Francesca’s willingness to 

create custom dishes based 

on customer requests. 

“If we have the ingredients 

in house, we’ll be able 

to make whatever that person 

wants,” Christiano said. 

And that really is the cherry 

on top of what has made 

the Francesca’s franchise a 

success. 

“The food and, of course, 

the service,” Christiano said 

of its prolonged success. 

“Those are the things that define 

us.” 

The Sloppy Sundae at Francesca’s Vicinato was featured 

during the celebration of the franchise’s 25th anniversary. 

Its legend is that of spur-of-the-moment creation turned 

secret menu item turned customer favorite. 

Photos by Bill Jones/22nd Century Media 

Francesca’s Vicinato’s Burrata con Pomodorini features 

the soft cheese alongside heirloom tomatoes and basil, 

topped with aged balsamic.

22 | July 6, 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. Symbol: Sn 

4. One who puts 

you in your place 

9. Incorrect 

14. Lennon’s love 

15. __ cum laude 

16. Lots 

17. New Lenox 

mayor, Timothy 

19. Frolics 

20. __ bit (slightly) 

21. Stravinsky or 

Sikorsky 

23. Step on it 

27. Hollered 

32. Exasperated 

exclamations 

33. Hammock’s 

attachment 

34. Funds 

35. Table game 

item 

36. Skating rink 

37. Loose, linguistically 

39. Look into again, 

as a cold case 

42. NYSE banner 

events 

43. Pause 

44. Characterize 

47. Overdue 

48. “On the Beach” 

actress, Gardner 

51. Nutrition author 

Davis 

52. Catches 

54. Former Kardashian 

spouse, 

Lamar 

56. Vases 

57. Resided 

61. Haunted house 

in Lockport 

65. Discompose 

66. Sound 

67. Fish catcher 

68. Eva of “CSI: 

Miami” 

69. Film award 

70. Six-pointers, for 

short 

Down 

1. West Indies isle 

2. To some extent 

3. As much 

4. Operate 

5. Charge prefix 

6. Voice thoughtful consideration 

7. Sent with a click 

8. Phoned 

9. Rabbit’s residence 

10. Fraternity letter 

11. Original manufacturer’s 

equipment, abbr. 

12. Snooze 

13. Route finder and tracker 

18. It’s a plus in a bank acct. 

22. “___ Como Va” (1971 

Santana hit) 

24. Famous historic British 

school near Windsor 

25. Party pooper 

26. Stronghold 

28. Amino acid in the brain 

29. Hendrix song, “Bold as 

___” 

30. Obi-Wan actor 

31. High-speed Internet inits. 

35. Sherlock Holmes portrayer 

Rathbone 

37. Broke the limit 

38. Bound 

39. Chestnut horse 

40. CPR pros 

41. Black cat or dark cloud 

42. Actress Lupino 

43. Twain, at birth 

45. Dress 

46. Guitarist Nugent 

48. Complete 

49. Blew off steam 

50. Desirable qualities 

53. Summer mo. 

55. ‘Birthplace of Aviation’ 

57. Mavericks’ city, on scoreboards 

58. Ring org. 

59. Listen here 

60. Baton Rouge campus 

62. Corporation type 

63. Green area 

64. Magellan or Bering (Abbr.) 

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. Thurs: 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 

LOCKPORT 

The Outpost Pub & Grill 

(14929 Archer Ave., 

Lockport; (815) 836- 

8893) 

■8 ■ p.m. Tuesdays and 

Thursdays: Live DJ and 

Karaoke 

Strike N Spare II 

(811 Northern Drive, 

Lockport; (708) 301- 

1477) 

■7-10 ■ p.m. Fridays and 

Saturdays: Cosmic Bowl 

HOMER GLEN 

Mullets Sports Bar and 

Restaurant 

(14903 S. Bell Road, 

Homer Glen; (708) 645- 

7000) 

■7 ■ p.m. Wednesdays: 

Trivia 

FRANKFORT 

Pete Mitchell’s Bar & Grill 

(21000 Frankfort Square 

Road, Frankfort; (815) 

464-8100) 

■6-8 ■ p.m. Wednesdays: 

Free N’ Fun Bar Game. 

Free to play. 

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

mokenamessenger.com real estate 


The Mokena Messenger’s 

Sponsored content 

of the 

WEEK 

May 1 

• 9947 Balsam Court, 

Mokena, 60448-8952 

- Raul Arce to Daniel P. 

Barton, Erin A. Barton, 

$377,000 

May 2 

• 19738 Mokena St., 

Mokena, 60448-1646 

- Matthew T. Craig to 

Richard B. Dykstra, Emily 

N. Dykstra, $257,500 

May 3 

• 18908 Wolf Road, 

Mokena, 60448-9445 - 

Jacob John Neubauer to 

Sarah Cotey, Alexander 

Estes, $175,000 

June 8 

• 10247 Aileen Ave., 

Mokena, 60448- 

3332 - Laura B. 

Cypress to Brendan A. 

Talty, Kimberley Talty, 

$335,000 

• 11433 Swinford Lane, 

Mokena, 60448-9242 - 

Stlaske Trust to Kari A. 

Livesey, Rick A. Livesey, 

$370,000 

• 18805 Chestnut Court, 

Mokena, 60448-9502 - 

Mark J. Altobella to James 

R. Turano, Sarah N. 

Turano, $459,500 

June 9 

• 10113 Cambridge 

Court, Mokena, 60448- 

7924 - Jimmy Ly to 

Michelle M. Pearson, 

$177,500 

• 12736 Berkshire Drive, 

Mokena, 60448-1671 - 

Brett James Bassett to 

Kristopher A. Capadona, 

Sarah M. Capadona, 

$500,000 

• 13448 185th St., 

Mokena, 60448-9522 

- John D. Lewis to Reid 

C. Specht II, Shannon 

George, $305,000 

The Going Rate is provided by 

Record Information Services, 

Inc. For more information, 

visit www.public-record.com 

or call (630) 557-1000. 

What: A six-bedroom, twoand-a-half 

bath home 

Where: 12057 Heinecke 

Drive, Mokena 

Amenities: This 

beautiful home features 

extravagant vaulted 

ceilings, hardwood floors 

and a floor-to-ceiling brick 

fireplace. The spacious 

kitchen includes granite 

counters and recessed 

lighting throughout. 

Elegant French doors 

lead to the fifth bedroom 

on the main floor. The 

second level features a 

luxurious master suit, 

and there are hardwood 

floors in the hallway and 

in two of the bedrooms. 

The magnificent fencedin 

backyard includes 

professional landscaping, 

a sprinkler system, a 

pergola and a hot tub. 

Additionally, there is a 

huge, partially finished 

basement with a bedroom. 

Asking Price: $409,000 

Listing Agent: Adam 

Kiwior, of Baird & Warner. 

To schedule a viewing or 

get more information, call 

(708) 691-1584 or email 

adam.kiwior@bairdwarner. 

com. 

Want to know how to become 

Home of the Week? Contact Tricia 

at (708) 326-9170 ext. 47.

24 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger classifieds 


CLASSIFIEDS 

Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive 

Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise 

Help 

Wanted 

1003 Help Wanted 

Village Seeks Assistant Planner 

This is an entry level full-time professional position that 

performs urban planning and zoning work. Work requires 

the application of well-developed written and analytical 

skills in urban design, land use, zoning, economic 

development and other subjects related to planning. 

Position is responsible for providing GIS support to 

Village departments. Work includes providing 

administrative support to the Director of Planning & 

Zoning. Work is performed under deadlines and requires 

attendance at public meetings and hearings, which are 

predominantly held during evening hours. 

Required qualifications: GIS proficiency and a Bachelor’s 

degree with major course work in Public Administration, 

Urban Planning or a related field. Two years of municipal 

experience desired. Salary is $51,250 with excellent 

benefits. 

Mail or Email cover letter, resume and completed 

application (download at www.homerglenil.org) by 

Wednesday, July 26, 2017 to Village of Homer Glen, Attn: 

Heather Kokodynsky, 14240 W. 151st Street, Homer Glen, 

IL 60491 or hkokodynsky@homerglenil.org More 

information available at www.homerglenil.org. 

Warehouse Lead 

Orland Warehouse Lead will ensure customer satisfation 

through prompt, accuate & careful handling of product 

from the recieving through shipping process. Needs to be 

customer-oriented, responsible, well organized and 

dependable. Duties include, but are not limited to: open & 

close warehouse; investigate Inventory Nils; manage 

merchandise preparation; supervise warehouse dock; put 

away receiving. Hours are Mon-Fri, 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., 

plus provide coverage for absences & vacations. Must be 

able to work all special sales events. Warehouse & 

customer service experience, leadership, some supervisory 

experience and proficiency with computers & data entry 

exp required. Some inventory experience a plus. Must be 

able to work flexible schedule. Apply online at 

www.darvin.com 

Fax: (708) 460-4142 

Email resume to humanresources@darvin.com or in 

person at: DARVIN FURNITURE 

15400 S. LaGrange Rd. 

Orland Park, IL 60462 

F/T, P/T AND COLLEGE HELP NEEDED 

RESIDENTIAL CLEANING PROS NEEDED! 

START IMMEDIATELY! Up to $13/hr plus tips and 

bonuses. APPLY NOW! 

15868 WOLF RD, ORLAND PARK 

708.873.9044 - MaidPro.com 

customer_service_chisw@maidpro.com 

Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

Automotive 

Real Estate 

1003 Help 

Wanted 

F/T Sales Coordinator 

Base salary + commission 

Send resume to: 

info@ttsgranite.com 

Evening & Saturday hours. 

P/T, 2 locations: 82nd Ave 

& 143rd St. and 159th & 

Wolf Rd. Must apply in 

person @ Norman’s 

Cleaners, 17702 Oak 

Park Ave., Tinley Park. 

F/T Mig welder wanted. 

Medical & life insurance 

avail. 401(k) plan. Paid 

holidays. Salary TBD. 

Contact Karen: 

815.464.9715 (222) 

$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 

Furniture restoration 

looking for P/T/ F/T help. 

If interested, call: 

708.479.2662 

Hardwood Floor Installers 

& Finishers needed. Must be 

dependable, experienced and 

have transportation. Pay based 

on exp. Email resume or 

summary of qualifications to 

info@hardwoodfloors 

bymanny.com 

NEED A JOB? WE PAY 

YOU TO TRAIN! 

AMERICAN SCHOOL 

BUS: 708.349.1866 

P/T Associate for Travel 

Agency in Orland Park. 

Exp. and open availability 

required. Approx. 16-24 

hrs/weekly. Send 

resume to: 

travel@goodbuytravel.com 

SOX OUTLET now hiring! 

Assist customer w/ work 

clothes & boots, be able to lift 

up to 50 lbs, restock 

merchandise. Never work past 

9 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, 

Christmas, Easter Sunday, 4th 

of July. Apply within. No 

phone calls please. 

6220 W. 159th St, Oak Forest 

Sox Outlet-Computer 

Register Help Daytime 

hours. Closed Thanksgiving, 

Christmas, Easter Sunday, 4th 

of July. Apply within. 

No phone calls please. 

6220 W. 159th St, Oak Forest 

Place a garage sale ad & reach 

over 96,000 homes across 

the southwest suburbs! 

FOR $42 YOU’LL GET 

A SINGLE FAMILY AD 

4 LINES in 7 PAPERS 

CALL THE CLASSIFIED 

DEPARTMENT: 708.326.9170 

With the Purchase 

of a Garage Sale Ad! 


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 

1014 Real Estate 

Woodhaven Lake's 

Sec. 8 lot 97 

Park Model double loft 

Fully furnished 

Full deck and shed 

Due’s paid for the year 

Arlene Musial 

815-462-3116 

1021 Lost & 

Found 

Lost Samsung Galaxy S5, 

black with Otter case. Lost 

6/28 between 7am-9am in 

Victoria Crossing Sub in 

Lockport. 

(815)564-1988 

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 

Heaven Sent Caregivers 

Professional caregiving 

service. 24 hr or hourly 

services; shower or bath 

visits. Licensed & bonded. 

Try the best! 708.638.0641 

Buy 

It! 

SELL 

It! 

FIND 

It! 

in the 

CLASSIFIEDS 

CALL 

708.326.9170 

1025 Situations 

Wanted 

I do senior help, cleaning, 

shopping, meals, & 

doctor’s appointments. Call 

Mary Ann 815 325 2514. 

Too many things to do and 

not enough time? I can 

help. Errands, grocery 

shopping, pet sitting, drive 

seniors to appointments or 

help around the house in 

the Lockport/Homer area: 

815.214.0744 

1037 Prayer / 

Novena 

Dear Mary Mother of God, 

thank you for prayers 

answered. Thank you to St. 

Jude for prayers answered. 

Tom 

Oh most Beautiful Flower of 

Mt Carmel, Fruitful vine, 

splendor of heaven, blessed 

mother of the Son of God, Immaculate 

Virgin, Assist me in 

this my neccessity, oh star of 

the sea help me . Oh holy 

Mary, Mother ofGod, Queen 

of Heaven and Earth, I humbly 

beeseach you from the bottom 

of my heart tosuccor me in my 

necessity (make request) there 

are none that can withstand 

your power, oh show me herein 

you are my mother, oh Mary 

conceived without sin, pray for 

us who have recourse tothee 

(3x). Holy Mary, Iplace this 

cause in your hands (3x). Say 

this prayer for three consecutive 

days, you must publish it 

and itwill be granted to you. 

JJP 

St. Joseph, St. Anthony, and 

the Blessed Virgin Mary for 

favors granted. C.B. 

Garage 

Sale 

1052 Garage Sale 

Burbank , 8548 S. Lockwood, 

7/6-7/8, 8-3p. Automotive 

tools, hand tools, Rigid plumbing 

tools, fishing tackle, hshld 

items, furn. Everything must 

go.

mokenamessenger.com classifieds 


1052 Garage Sale 

Lockport 913 MacGregor 

7/6-9, 8-5pm. Tools, Lionel 

Trains, Clothes, Nascar Diecast 

Cars, Plumbing & Electric 

Supplies, Cubs, Sox, Bears & 

Blackhawks items & More! 

Orland Park 16625 Stuart 

Ave. 7/7, 9-2; 7/8, 9-1. Furn, 

cleaning supplies, misc. Alittle 

bit of everything! 

RAIN DATE 

GUARANTEE 

If it rains on the day of 

your Garage Sale, call us and 

we will run your ad FREE the 

following week!!! 

...to place your Classified Ad! 

CALL 

708.326.9170 

1053 Multi Family 

Sale 

Lockport, 16563 W. 163rd St. 

7/6-7/9, 9-3p. Childrens books, 

CDs, DVDs, lamps, glassware, 

clothing, golf bag, many misc. 

Mokena, Old Castle Town 

Homes Multi Family Garage 

Sales, Rt. 30 & Ridgemore, 

11522 Primrose Ln, 7/7 -7/8, 

9-3pm. Something for everyone. 

Many new items. 

New Lenox 12306 Cashlenan 

Ln. Chessington Grove East 

Sub. 7/6-8, 8-2. Everything 

must go! Don’t miss this sale! 

1057 Estate Sale 

Frankfort , 7742 W. North 

Ave. July 7-8, 9-4p. Furniture, 

tools, some jewelry, &much 

more! 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 

Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It 

DEADLINE - 

Friday at 3pm 

Automotive 

$52 

4 lines/ 


$50 

7 lines/ 


$13 

per line 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

$30 

4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 

LOCAL 

REALTOR 

DIRECTORY 

Automotive 

1061 Autos Wanted 

DRIVE CAR BUYERS 

TO YOUR DOORWITH A CLASSIFIED AUTO AD 

Call Us Today 708.326.9170 

Contact Classified Department 

to Advertise in this Directory 

708.326.9170

26 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger classifieds 


1065 Motorcycles 

2006 Harley Wide Glide, 

2,900 mi. Fuel inj. Exc. 

cond. $6,900. Call 

815.485.2831 

HIRE LOCALLY 

Reach over 83% of prospective 

employees in your area! 

CALL TODAY 708-326-9170 

1068 RV Trailers 

2012 TT Starcraft Camper 

(AR-One 18FB) $6,500 or 

best offer. Added extras: 4 

ceiling fans, marine battery, 

extra-long mattress, stabilizer 

jacks. Camper in A1 

condition, has been twice 

yearly serviced. If interested 

call (815)838-8245 

for appointments. 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 

Charge It | DEADLINE - Friday at 3pm 

Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 

$50 7 7 papers 

lines/ 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 

per line 7 papers 

Merchandise 


lines/ 

Business Directory 

2004 Asphalt Paving/Seal Coating 

Rental 

1225 Apartments 

for Rent 

New Lenox 

2BR, 1Ba, nopets, 1year 

lease, credit check, 

$875/month, plus $980 security 

deposit. 

815-693-3407 

1226 Townhouses 

for Rent 

New Lenox 

2-3BR, 2Ba, finished bsment, 

all appls, private patio, 

garage, Close to metra, I-80/ 

I-355 & schools. 

$1,675/month 

815-272-5081 

2003 Appliance Repair 

QUALITY 

APPLIANCE 

REPAIR, Inc. 

• Air Conditioning • Furnaces 

Refrigeration • Dishwashers 

Stoves & Ovens • Microwaves 

Garbage Disposals 

Washers&Dryers 

Family Owned &Operatedsince 1986 

Someone you can TRUST 

All work GUARANTEED 

BEST price in town! 

708-712-1392 












2006 Basement Waterproofing 

1311 Office/Retail 

Space for Rent 

2004 Asphalt Paving/Seal Coating 


CALL 

708.326.9170 

Frankfort 

1,000 sq. ft. signalized corner, 

7950 Lincoln Highway, no 

common area maintenance or 

real estate taxes (landlord 

pays), 2 months free rent, 

minimum 1year lease. Ample 

parking. 312-622-6300 

1322 Industrial Property for Rent 

2007 Black Dirt/Top Soil 

HIRE LOCALLY 



CALL TODAY FOR 

RATES & INFORMATION 

708-326-9170 


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 

Sawyer 

Dirt 

Pulverized Black Dirt 

Rough Black Dirt 

Driveway Gravel Available 

Bobcat Services Available 

For Delivery Pricing 

Call: 

815-485-2490 

www.sawyerdirt.com 

...to place your 

Classified Ad! 

708.326.9170

mokenamessenger.com classifieds 


CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


2011 Brick/Chimney Experts 

ALL MASONRY REPAIRS & NEW CONSTRUCTION 

NO JOB 

TOO 

SMALL 

LICENSED |BONDED |INSURED 

FREE ESTIMATES 

WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE 

• CHIMNEYREPAIRS 

• TUCK POINTING 

• FIREPLACES 

• CULTURED STONE 

• CAULKING 

• BRICK CLEANING 

• WATER SEALING 

BEFORE 

• GLASS BLOCK WINDOWS 

• FLUE-CAPINSTALLATIONS 

• MAILBOXES 

• ALL BRICK REPAIRS 

• PRE-FAB FIREPLACE PANEL INSTALLATIONS 

Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 


lines/ 

A+ 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


Merchandise 


lines/ 

AFTER 

815-651-7531 • 708-357-4755 

ASWRESTORATION.COM 

2017 Cleaning Services 

Barb’s Cleaning 

Service 

We clean your home the 

way YOU want it 

cleaned! Good 

Quality, Professional, 

Reliable, and 

Experienced. 

Please call for 

estimate. 

708-663-1789 

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 

Two Experienced 

Polish Ladies, Mother 

& Daughter, Will 

Clean Your House! 

Please Call: 

(773)988-0625 

2025 Concrete 

Work 

SAMMSON 

CONCRETE 

Experts at All Concrete Flat Work 

Color & Stamped Concrete 

Licensed, Bonded & Insured 

815-469-1603 

708-259-5155 CELL 

Driveways • Patios • Shed Pads 

Garage Floors • Sidewalks 

Super Service Award Winners 

ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED 

www.sammsonconcrete.com 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 


lines/ 

2025 Concrete Work 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


Merchandise 


lines/ 

Frank J’s Concrete 

Stoops 

Curbs 

Colored & Stamped 

Patios 

Driveways 

Walks 

Garage Floors 

Over 30 Years Experience! 

708 663 9584 

Tinley Park Company

28 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger Classifieds 


CLASSIFIEDS 



Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


2090 Flooring 

2130 Heating/Cooling 

Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Real Estate 


lines/ 

Merchandise 


lines/ 

2032 Decking 

Sturdy 

Deck & Fence 

Repair, Rebuild or 

Replace 

Make It Safe - Make it Sturdy 

708 479 9035 

Drywall 

*Hanging *Taping 

*New Homes 

*Additions 

*Remodeling 

Call Greg At: 

(815)485-3782 


CALL 

708.326.9170 

Buy 

It! 

2060 Drywall 

SELL 

It! 

2070 Electrical 

FIND 

It! 

in the 

CLASSIFIEDS 

CALL 

708.326.9170 



708.326.9170 

2120 Handyman 





ASINGLE FAMILY AD 







2132 Home Improvement 

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 

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 

Advertise your 

RENTAL PROPERTY 

in the newspaper 

people turn tofirst 

CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 


CARRARAREPAIRSERVICE

mokenamessenger.com Classifieds 


CLASSIFIEDS 



Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


2135 Insulation 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Real Estate 


lines/ 

Merchandise 


lines/ 

Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Real Estate 


lines/ 

Merchandise 


lines/ 

2132 Home Improvement 

2140 Landscaping 

Residential/Commercial 

“Design/Build Professionals" 

2140 Landscaping 

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 

2145 Lawn Maintenance 

Visit Our Showroom Location at 1223 N Convent St. Bourbonnais 





ASINGLE FAMILY AD 








CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 


HIRE LOCALLY 



Ideal 

Landscaping 

Complete 

Landscaping 

Sodding, Seeding, Trees 

Shrubs, Pavers, Retaining 

Walls, Firewood 

Since 1973 

708 235 8917 

815 210 2882 

CALL TODAY FOR 

RATES & INFORMATION 

708-326-9170 


Want to 

See 

Your 

Business 

in the 

Classifieds? 




Call 

708-326-9170 

for a FREE 

Sample Ad 

and Quote!



2150 Paint & Decorating 

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 

2150 Paint & Decorating 

2170 Plumbing 

2170 Plumbing 

2200 Roofing 

MARTY’S 

PAINTING 

Interior / Exterior 

Fast, Neat Painting 

Drywall 

Wallpaper Removal 

Staining 

Free Estimates 

20% Off with this ad 

708-606-3926 

Buy 

It! 

KASCH PLUMBING Inc. 

• Waterheaters 

•SumpPumps 

• Faucets 

SELL 

It! 

Lisense #055-043148 

Complete Plumbing Service 

• WaterLeaks 

• RPZ Testing 

• Ejector Pumps 

•Disposals 

• Toilets 

815.603.6085 

FIND 

It! 

in the 

CLASSIFIEDS 

CALL 

708.326.9170



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



2200 Roofing 2276 Tuckpointing/Masonry 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 


lines/ 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


Merchandise 


lines/ 

Professional 

Directory 

2390 Computer Services/Repair 

2294 Window Cleaning 

2408 Health and Wellness 

2220 Siding 2255 Tree Service 

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 

Buy 

It! 

SELL 

It! 

FIND 

It! 

in the 

CLASSIFIEDS 

CALL 

708.326.9170 

Low Cost Blood Test 

CBC $10 CMP $18 LIPID $15 TSH $20... AND MORE! 

Special on Wellness Blood Test with Doctor visit in Groupon 

Deals $49.00 

www.BloodTestInChicago.com 

Unilabinc. Oak Park 

Phone: 708.848.1556 

2474 Appliances 

Merchandise 

Directory 

2489 Merchandise 

Wanted 





CALL US TODAY: 708.326.9170 


2296 Window Fashions 

Blinds & 

Shades 

Repair 

I Do Windows & 

Interiors 

Call Pat 

815 355 1112 

815 485 1112 

o f f i c e 

I Do House Calls 

Too! 












Kenmore Elite front load 

washer & dryer w/ pedestal 

bases. Excellent Condition! 

$850.00 or best offer 

708-256-7153 



708.326.9170 

Metal Wanted 

Scrap Metal, Garden 

Tractors, 

Snowmobiles, 

Appliances, Etc. 

ANYTHING METAL! 

Call 815-210-8819 

Free pickup!



2701 Property for 

Sale 

SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ES- 

TATE of 19408 TRAMORE 

LANE, MOKENA, IL, IL 60448 

(2 UNIT WITH ATTACHED 2 

CAR GARAGE.). On the 13th day 

of July, 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: U.S. BANK TRUST, 

N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 

MASTER PARTICIPATION 

TRUST Plaintiff V. AMANDA 

CAPPI A/K/A AMANDA 

MANIS; MICHAEL R CAPPI 

A/K/A MICHAEL CAPPI; SEC- 

RETARY OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT; TA- 

RAHILLS TOWNHOMES ASSO- 

CIATION, NFP.; THE UNITED 

STATES OF AMERICA Defendant. 

Case No. 15CH 0171 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. Judgment amount is 

$301,879.57 plus interest, cost and 

post judgment advances, if any. 

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: 

PIERCE AND ASSOCIATES 

1 N. Dearborn Suite 1300 

Chicago, Illinois 60602 

P: 312-346-9088 

F: 

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR 

2701 Property for 

Sale 

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. 

2702 Public 

Notices 

NOTICE OF FILING A 

REQUEST FOR NAME 

CHANGE 

There will be acourt hearing on 

my request to change my name 

from: Sarah Nicole Speechley to 

the new name of: Sarah Nicole Symoniak 

Case No: 17MR1646 

Filed on June 15, 2017 

The court hearing will beheld on 

August 15, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at 57 

N. Ottawa St. Joliet Will in Courtroom 

#A236 

/s/Sarah Speechley 

Sarah Speechley 

2703 Legal 

Notices 

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR 

DEBT COLLECTION PRAC- 

TICES ACT YOU ARE AD- 

VISED THAT THIS LAW FIRM 

IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT 

COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO 

COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY 

INFORMATION OBTAINED 

WILL BE USED FOR THAT 

PURPOSE. 

STATE OF ILLINOIS ) 

) SS. 

COUNTY OF WILL ) 

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF 

THE TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIR- 

CUIT 

WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS 

U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS 

TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER 

PARTICIPATION TRUST 

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

AMANDA CAPPI A/K/A 

AMANDA MANIS; MICHAEL R 

CAPPI A/K/A MICHAEL CAPPI; 

SECRETARY OF HOUSING 

AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; 

TARAHILLS TOWNHOMES AS- 

SOCIATION, NFP.; THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

Defendant. 

No. 15 CH 0171 

NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE 

Public notice ishereby given that 

pursuant to ajudgment entered in 

the above cause on the 29th day of 

November, 2016, MIKE KELLEY, 

Sheriff of Will County, Illinois, 

will on Thursday, the 13th day of 

July, 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 SOUTHWESTERLY 30.85 

2703 Legal 

Notices 

FEET OF THE NORTHWEST- 

ERLY 77.53 FEET OF LOT 143 

IN THE FINAL PLAT OF TARA 

HILLS SUBDIVISION PHASE 

NUMBER 3, BEING A SUBDIVI- 

SION OF PART OFTHE EAST 

1/2 OFSECTION 10, TOWNSHIP 

35 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF 

THE THIRD PRINCIPAL ME- 

RIDIAN, ACCORDING TOTHE 

PLAT THEREOF RECORDED 

MARCH 25, 1999 AS DOCU- 

MENT NUMBER 1999-38918 

AND CERTIFICATE OF COR- 

RECTION RECORDED NOVEM- 

BER 12, 1999 AS DOCUMENT 

NUMBER 1999-139636 IN WILL 

COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 

Commonly known as: 

19408 TRAMORE LANE, MOK- 

ENA, IL, IL 60448 

Description of Improvements: 

2 UNIT WITH ATTACHED 2 

CAR GARAGE. 

P.I.N.: 

19-09-10-201-115-0000 

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. Judgment amount is 

$301,879.57 plus interest, cost and 

post judgment advances, if any. 

In the event the property is a condominium, 

in accordance with 735 

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

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

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

hereby notified that the purchaser 

of the unit, other than amortgagee, 

shall pay the assessments and legal 

fees required by subdivisions 

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

the assessments required bysubsection 

(g-1) of Section 18.5 of the 

Illinois Condominium Property 

Act. 

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 

(J) ifthere is asurplus following 

application of the proceeds of sale, 

then the plaintiff shall send written 

notice pursuant to 735 ILCS 

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

proceeding advising them of the 

amount ofthe surplus and that the 

surplus will beheld until aparty 

obtains a court order for its distribution 

or, in the absence of an order, 

until the surplus is forfeited to 

the State. 

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE 

CONTACT: 

PIERCE AND ASSOCIATES 

1 N. Dearborn Suite 1300 

Chicago, Illinois 60602 

P: 312-346-9088 

F: 

Plaintiff's Attorney 

MIKE KELLEY 

Sheriff of Will County 

2703 Legal 

Notices 

Mokena Community Park 

District Public Notice 

The Board of Commissioners of 

the Mokena Community Park District, 

Will County, Illinois has 

passed an Ordinance establishing 

prevailing wage rates for construction 

tobethe same as those in Will 

County as determined by the Illinois 

Department of Labor, and 

anyone wishing to inspect the Ordinance 

may do so at the Mokena 

Community Park District Administrative 

Center, 10925 LaPorte 

Road, Mokena, Illinois, on normal 

business days between 9:00 a.m. 

and 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. 

2900 Merchandise 

Under $100 

13 pc hobby knife set $10. 

New black tool box $12. 6pc 

wire wheel set $6. 12” ratchet 

bar clamp $8. 50 ft new air 

hose $16. New scissors $4. 

708.460.8308 

20 ft. aluminum ladder $45. 2 

seat swing w/ top $35. Paid 

$100. 815.838.0239 

20 ft. aluminum ladder, good 

condition. Must sell fast $50. 

708.873.1245 

24 ft round solar cover, clear, 

heavy duty. Used 1Summer 

$50. 708.494.1913 

26” TV Panasonic (not flat) 

$100 obo. 708.478.5338 

4antique dining room chairs 

$100. 815.485.6008 

50” Toshiba HDTV projection 

TV $60 obo. 815.806.9650 

Assorted gas cans: 5 gal $5. 2.5 

gal $2.50, 1 gal $1. Sump 

pump 2” outlet $50. 

815.524.4205 

Beer sign, collector Lowenbrau 

special &dark beer (vintage) 

fast sale $50 or best offer. 

708.873.1245 

Black bronco boots size 11, 

like new $15. 708.873.1245 

Car stuff: new soft fabric small 

car cover $29. 1997 Ford Products 

Saves catalogs $5 ea. Blue 

coral upholstery cleaner $4 ea. 

708.460.8308 

Casio keyboard, 61 key, with 

stand, bench seat, cover, user’s 

guide, ACadaptor, VGcondition. 

Also uses 6Dbatteries 

(not incl) $100/BO. Tinley 

Park 815.806.9349 

Construction scaffolding 5x5, 

stored inside, good condition 

$75. 815.592.9474 

Fibersource HN 250 ml feeding 

tube food. Cost $1.10 each. 

Selling for .50 each. 7cartons 

of 24. Call 708.754.4443 

CLASSIFIEDS 



Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179 


Automotive 

$52 4 lines/ 

7 papers 

Real Estate 


lines/ 

BUY IT! 

Help Wanted 

$13 4 lines/ 


Merchandise 


lines/ 

SELL IT! 

FIND IT! 

- IN THE - 

CLASSIFIEDS 

708.326.9170

34 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger mokena 


HOSTED BY THE JOLIET SLAMMERS 

Downtown Joliet along Chicago Street 

Starts at 6:30 pm, featuring 2017 All-Stars! 

Mistwood Golf Club 

$100 per golfer, $360 per foursome 

In conjunction with Illinois Hops on 66 Beerfest— 

Featuring over 20 breweries and live entertainment! 

$10 Home Run Derby Tickets 

$50 Home Run Derby AND Beer Fest Tickets 

Slammers Stadium I Game at 7:05 pm 

$9 Lawn Tickets, $13 Reserved Seats 

OUR LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW OF THE YEAR!

mokenamessenger.com sports 


Athlete of the Month 

Orland Park member of Celtics 

girls soccer team wins June title 

Bill Jones, Managing Editor 

Athlete of the Week 

10 Questions 

with Alex Storako 

Caitlin Shanahan, a recent Providence Catholic graduate 

from Orland Park who played central defender for the 

girls soccer team, won the June Athlete of the Month 

competition for publisher 22nd Century Media’s Southwest 

Chicago branch. 22nd Century Media File Photo 

They say defense wins 

championships. 

And Orland Park’s Caitlin 

Shanahan recently proved 

that adage true in 22nd Century 

Media Southwest Chicago’s 

June Athlete of the 

Month competition. The 

recent Providence Catholic 

graduate, who served as a 

central defender for the Celtics’ 

girls soccer team, earned 

the most votes to take the title. 

The Athlete of the Month 

competition pits featured 

Athlete of the Week selections 

from our south suburban 

newspapers against one 

another in an online voting 

contest. 

The next contest is to begin 

Monday, July 10. 

To vote, visit MokenaMessenger.com, 

hover over the 

“Sports” menu tab and click 

“Athlete of the Month.” Readers 

can vote once per session 

per valid email address. Voting 

ends at 5 p.m. July 25. 

All athletes featured in 

the June Athlete of the Week 

sports interviews are automatically 

entered into the contest. 

Winning like Washington 

Nationals win Mokena Baseball/Softball Association’s Mustang 

division 

The Mokena Nationals pose for a photo after coach Jason McCabe led them to win the 

Mokena Baseball/Softball Association’s Mustang division June 26. photo Submitted 

Alex Storako was a junior 

pitcher last season on the 

Lincoln-Way East softball 

team. The team recently 

finished second in state. 

What were some of 

your goals going into 

this season? 

Some of my goals personally 

were to just have a 

successful year and come together 

as a team because we 

had all come from different 

schools. 

What played into your 

success this year? 

Determination, personally; 

just to have fun this year 

and improve in anything I 

can, and just work hard. As 

a team, we wanted to have 

fun together and get to know 

a lot of the girls. We talked 

about synergy a lot. Coach 

really emphasized that, and 

I think we really followed 

through with that. 

What was your biggest 

success? 

Coming together as a 

team. A lot of the postseason, 

we really came together. We 

had great success together, 

and I think that’s what make 

us unstoppable. 

How did you grow as a 

player this season? 

I improved most with my 

spin, my control and my accuracy 

with pitching. I really 

stepped up with hitting, as 

well. 

What did you learn from 

your 

I really learned to have 

each other’s back. We really 

depended on each other on 

this team, and I think that really 

helped us. 

When did you start 

playing softball? 

I started playing softball 

when I was 6, but I started 

playing travel ball when I 

was 9. My dad really got me 

into it. He was a baseball 

coach. 

I only started pitching 

when I was 12. I really liked 

to have control of the game 

and being able to put myself 

in every situation. 

What are you doing in 

the off-season? 

In the off-season, I really 

like to work out, get myself 

stronger, improve for the 

season. I do extra practices 

and everything. 

I [also] play with a travel 

team. 

What was your favorite 

Geoff Stellfox/22nd Century Media 

moment at East this 

year? 

We had a lot of pasta parties. 

I thought it was always 

fun when we would play 

Catch Phrase. We all really 

got into the game. It was fun 

to compete against one another 

in a game that didn’t 

involve softball. 

It was fun to hang out with 

each other because we’re all 

really good friends off the 

field. 

Who do you look up to? 

I look up to my mom and 

my dad. I look up to my dad 

a lot because he got me into 

the game, and he always 

taught me to work hard and 

that I should follow my 

dreams. 

What inspires you? 

Just to get better everyday, 

and just to be improving, focusing 

on goals and reaching 

them. 

Interview by Contributing Editor 

Kirsten Onsgard.

36 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger sports 


A bright wrestling future on the horizon 

Youth wrestler makes 

name for himself by 

capturing Trinity Award 

RANDY WHALEN 


Oftentimes, people will instruct 

others to remember the name of 

someone with bright future. 

Well, when talking about Mokena 

resident Seth Mendoza, one 

is justified in saying, “Remember 

that name.” 

That is because Seth has already 

done more in his first 10 years than 

many have in a lifetime. An outstanding 

wrestler and runner, Seth 

was named the 10U Wrestler of the 

Year by the World of Wrestling Organization. 

With good reason. 

At age 10, Seth has won the 

prestigious Trinity Award. This 

means that he has won the three 

biggest national wrestling tournaments 

in one season. Seth won the 

Tulsa kickoffs, Tulsa Nationals, 

and in April ended his season by 

capturing the Reno Worlds in the 

68-pound division. Each of these 

tournaments hosts approximately 

3,000 of the best wrestlers in the 

country. 

For good measure, he also 

won the state championship in 

the 11-12-year-old division as a 

10-year-old by registering a technical 

fall of 15-0 in the second period 

over a defending state champion. 

Seth, who recently turned 11 and 

completed his fourth-grade year at 

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic 

School in Orland Hills, ended 

his wrestling season with a record 

of 81-0. 

His parents, Kelly Mendoza, 

a teacher at Sandburg, and Mike 

Mendoza, now retired from the 

Marine Corps, met at Rich South 

High School and both graduated in 

1997. They let Seth be himself to 

discover his love of wrestling. 

“My husband was a wrestler in 

high school, and Seth tried it at age 

5,” Kelly Mendoza said. “But he 

didn’t take to it. But he started it 

again at age 6 or 7 and started winning. 

He works extremely hard.” 

Mike Mendoza saw the transformation 

as his son picked up on the 

sport of wrestling. 

“I was in Iraq when Seth was 5 

years old, and I thought he would 

enjoy wrestling,” Mike said. “But 

he tried it, started crying and wanted 

to go home. Then, at age 6 he 

went back, and by age 7 he considered 

himself a wrestler. 

“He was a baseball player but 

thought they goofed around too 

much. But wrestling is an individual 

sport, and it’s on the individual 

to put the time in. That suits him.” 

For Seth, the transformation 

started at 6 and has carried on 

since. 

“I went to little kids’ state, took 

third and really liked it,” Seth said. 

“That’s carried on until now.” 

That now has carried on to winning 

the Trinity Award. 

“I was really happy,” Seth said of 

winning that award. “It felt really 

good, especially to win the third one 

[in Reno]. It’s pretty hard to accomplish 

that, so it’s pretty cool.” 

A nice side benefit to all his accomplishments 

has been what goes 

along with it: the travel. 

“It’s really fun,” Seth said. “I’ve 

enjoyed the tournaments, and afterward 

we’ve gone sightseeing and 

everything. I’ve enjoyed seeing 

things like the Liberty Bell.” 

His dad has been one of his 

coaches and sees the maturity in 

his son at the young age. 

“He picks it up right away,” Mike 

said. “Mentally, he asks questions 

and makes sure he can learn. He 

doesn’t talk like a 10-year-old. He 

always keeps everything humble. 

He just says, ‘Thank you,’ and carries 

on.” 

Seth not only carries on in wrestling, 

he has followed in his dad’s 

footsteps and also runs cross country 

and track. He was slated to do a 

triathlon in Chicago this month. As 

far as wresting goes, he trains with 

The Contenders, of Orland Park, 

and with Region Wrestling Academy 

in Indiana. The season will 

start back up in the fall, and he will 

be working out at the clubs three 

times per week instead of once a 

week in the offseason. 

“I’m a better wrestler, but I run a 

lot,” Seth said. “I enjoy both.” 

Mokena resident and accomplished youth wrestler Seth Mendoza poses with one of the many trophies 

he won last season. The Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School student won the Trinity Award — a 

combination of the Tulsa kickoffs, Tulsa Nationals and the Reno Worlds — earlier this year. Photo Submitted 

While he excels at both sports, 

wrestling looks to be the big one 

for Seth in the future. It may be a 

few years away, but a high school 

is going to have one of the nation’s 

top wrestlers enroll in the fall of 

2021. 

“I haven’t thought of it yet,” Seth 

said of high school and where he 

will go. 

When he does, there will be a lot 

of people interested.



Can’t rain on their parade 

Joliet Slammers game rained out, but Mokena Chamber of Commerce still has fun on Mokena Community Night 

The Mokena Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July Parade Committee poses for a photo 

during the chamber’s Business After Hours event June 28 at Slammers Stadium in Joliet. 

Photos by Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media 

Attendees gather at the beginning of the Business After Hours. 

Jason Maholy 


One of these years, Mother 

Nature will cooperate, 

and Mokena Night at Silver 

Cross Field will proceed as 

planned. 

One year after 100-degree 

temperatures followed by 

severe storms kept people 

away from the Joliet ballpark, 

a downpour and the 

threat of inclement weather 

washed out what was intended 

to be a celebration of 

Mokena at a Joliet Slammers 

Frontier League baseball 

game Thursday, June 29. 

The Mokena Chamber of 

Commerce’s second-annual 

Mokena Night was slated to 

feature a performance by All 

About Music & Children’s 

Theatre’s “Momentum” 

singers and a ceremonial 

first pitch thrown out by Mokena 

resident and longtime 

Fourth of July Parade Committee 

Chairwoman Cindy 

Gamboa. The chamber had 

sold about 100 tickets to the 

game, and through its partnership 

with the Joliet Slammers, 

the chamber would 

have received half of the 

cost of each $10 ticket. 

The evening began with 

the chamber holding its 

Business After Hours event 

in the Silver Cross Field 

Hall of Fame Room. As the 

evening’s featured guests 

prepared for their moment 

on the field, a downpour and 

the threat of storms passing 

through the area for another 

two hours prompted the 

Slammers to postpone the 

game versus the Schaumburg 

Boomers. 

Chamber President Troy 

Griffiths said the event was 

intended to get Mokena residents 

and community groups 

together for a night of baseball. 

Griffiths was among the 

night’s featured guests, as he 

had been tabbed to sing the 

“Take Me Out to the Ballgame” 

during the seventhinning 

stretch. 

“Last year didn’t really 

know what to expect, but 

after partnering with [the 

Slammers] and building 

upon that, we wanted to 

invite other groups to participate 

with us,” Griffiths 

said. “Hopefully we’ll keep 

this partnership going in 

the future and grow it each 

year.” 

Griffiths said the Parade 

Committee and All About 

Music would have the opportunity 

to perform their 

pregame duties at a future 

contest, but the date for Mokena’s 

return to Silver Cross 

Field had not been determined 

by Monday, July 3. 

All About Music had been 

invited to perform because it 

is a Chamber member, and 

the children “have better 

voices than we do,” Griffiths 

said. 

Mokena resident Ava Briscoe 

was one of eight girls 

in “Momentum,” a singing 

troupe that was scheduled 

to sing “The Shoop Shoop 

Song” and “Boogie Woogie 

Bugle Boy,” in addition to 

“The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

Ava, 12, has been a 

student at All About Music 

for six years, but as she sat 

in the Hall of Fame Room 

awaiting the call to the field, 

she acknowledged having 

butterflies. 

“I’m a little nervous,” she 

said. “I’ve never performed 

in front of a lot of people before.” 

Feeling decidedly less 

nervous was Gamboa, who 

got the call to throw out the 

first pitch because she is celebrating 

her 20th year heading 

the Parade Committee. 

Gamboa wore a bright red, 

collared Parade Committee 

shirt and a sparkling tiara. 

“I’ve been planning the 

parade for 20 years; I’ve 

got to look like a rock star,” 

Gamboa said of why she was 

a wearing a tiara. 

She said the crown is just 

one of several she owns, and 

she wears them for activities 

as mundane as cleaning the 

house. 

Gamboa was excited 

when Griffiths asked her if 

she would like to have the 

honor of throwing out the 

first pitch, she said. 

“I was like, ‘I’ve got 

this,’” she said. “It will be 

good, it will be a fun thing to 

do and, clearly, I’m not shy. 

I didn’t know it was on my 

bucket list, but then once I 

heard of it I was like, that’s a 

cool bucket list thing.” 

Chamber Executive Director 

Melissa Fedora expressed 

her appreciation 

to the Slammers for being 

willing to accommodate 

the Chamber’s requests to 

showcase members of the 

Mokena community. 

“That’s what’s so cool, is 

to be able to incorporate the 

community into the community 

night,” Fedora said. 

“And they’re so accommodating 

about different things 

we can do and different ways 

we can get the community 

involved. It’s really neat to 

be able to highlight people.” 

Chamber officials (left to right) Leticia Martino, Melissa Fedora and Ed Kasza mingle. 

Visit us online at mokenamessenger.com

38 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger sports 


Central returners, additions wrap up summer league 

Knights to return 

several starters 

Frank Gogola 


Lincoln-Way Central and 

Lincoln-Way East have 

different holes to fill this 

upcoming season, as the 

Knights have to replace 

their guards and the Griffins 

need to revamp their frontcourt. 

The district rivals closed 

their summer evaluation, 

as Central fell to East 57- 

49 during the final day of 

South Suburban Summer 

League competition on 

Thursday, June 29, in New 

Lenox. 

Central used the summer 

league to begin to find a new 

lineup after the graduation 

of guards Aaron Michalak 

and Bryan Ross. Michalak 

made the Team 22 second 

team, averaging 13.7 points, 

4 rebounds and 3 assists per 

game. Ross was a Team 22 

honorable mention. 

Senior Chris Robinson, 

a Team 22 honorable mention, 

is expected to take the 

reins in the backcourt after 

earning one of three guard 

spots during last season. 

He had six points, four rebounds 

and a steal against 

East, as he continues his development 

as the main ball 

handler. 

“I feel I can be more aggressive 

at times,” Robinson 

said. “With [Michalak 

and Ross], I could rely on 

them. We’ve still got guys 

where I don’t have to bring 

the ball up every time. Now, 

just try to control the pace, 

control the tempo. Get to 

the basket more and create 

for my teammates.” 

Central also returns starting 

senior forwards Andrew 

Hancock, a Team 22 honorable 

mention, and Jake 

Blount. Both primarily 

baseball players, they didn’t 

play against East. 

The Knights’ big addition 

is senior forward E.J. 

Charles, an East transfer 

last school year who has 

returned to the hardwood 

after last playing as a freshman. 

Against East, he had 

10 points between layups, 

free throws and 3-pointers. 

He added 10 rebounds and 

two blocks. 

“He’s going to make a 

huge difference for us,” 

Central coach Bob Curran 

said. “He handles the ball. 

He’s a good shooter. He can 

get to the basket. What I 

like the most is he’s going 

to be by far our best defender. 

We’ve struggled having 

that one guy who can stop 

other teams’ best player. 

He’s putting a smile on our 

face right now.” 

The Griffins, on the other 

hand, have to replace graduated 

forwards Dorian Aluyi 

and Max Shafer. Aluyi was 

named to the Team 22 first 

team, averaging 14 points 

and 4 rebounds per game. 

Shafer was a Team 22 honorable 

mention. 

For East coach Rich Kolimas, 

standout replacements 

have been sophomore Sean 

McLaughlin, who had four 

points and four rebounds 

against Central, and junior 

Alex Witkowski, who had 

four rebounds. Nate Seputis, 

a 6-foot-9 post player who 

didn’t play against Central, 

has potential. All three 

would be first-year varsity 

players. 

“Max and Dorian provided 

great stability, great 

defense, screening, so that’s 

what we’ve been looking 

for in our younger guys,” 

Kolimas said. “We’re trying 

to get some continuity with 

some of the younger players 

and get them some experience. 

What we’re also looking 

for in the summer is individual 

development. 

“Sean McLaughlin is 

a big guy and has played 

well for us. Junior Alex 

Witkowski is a kid who has 

really come on. He’s utilized 

this summer to take 

advantage of some guys 

not being at camp and has 

really grown and matured. 

He’s willing to do all those 

little things for us, like set 

screens and rebound the 

ball.” 

East already knows what 

it has on the perimeter and 

is expecting guard play to 

be its strong suit with returning 

seniors Sam Shafer, 

Zach Parduhn and Joey 

Buggemi. Shafer made the 

Team 22 first team, and 

Parduhn and Buggemi were 

honorable mentions. 

Against Central, Parduhn 

scored a team-high 18 points 

with three rebounds and 

three steals. Buggemi added 

13 points and six rebounds. 

Shafer did not play, as he 

was out being recruited by 

Division I schools, Kolimas 

said. 

Junior guard Julian Barr 

added 11 points and is expected 

to be one of the first 

players off the bench with a 

loaded guard position. 

“He can really score,” 

Parduhn said. “When he 

heats up, he can score as 

good as anyone on our team. 

Coming off the bench, if 

we can get some scoring 

from him it’s a huge boost 

for us.” 

In the summer league finale, 

the Griffins closed the 

game on a 12-4 run after a tie 

game with 7:10 to play. Barr 

scored a basket, and Parduhn 

converted a four-point play 

to put East up 51-45 with 

5:01 left. McLaughlin and 

Parduhn scored baskets on 

back-to-back possessions to 

put East ahead 55-45 with 

3:50 to play. 

Central’s Joel Veihl looks to take a shot Thursday, June 29, while East’s Alex Witkowski 

defends. Photos by Bob Klein/22nd Century Media 

Luke Handley drives to the basket. 

East held Central scoreless 

for 4:25 during the 10-0 

run. Charles’ rebound and 

fast break layup to pull the 

Knights within 55-47 with 

2:45 left was their first basket 

since guard Luke Handley 

(team-high 16 points) 

converted a technical free 

throw to tie the game 45-45 

with 7:10 remaining. 

The Knights had trailed 

45-31 with 14:30 to play before 

they went on a 14-0 run. 

The comeback largely came 

with the Griffins’ starters on 

the bench. During the 14-0 

run, Handley scored seven 

points, Charles had five 

points, and Nathan Purcell 

added two points.



fastbreak 

Baseball 

Provi returners, newcomers battle for positions in summer exhibitions 

22nd Century Media File Photo 

1st-and-3 

Looking ahead to LW 

hoops 

1. Chris Robinson 

The guard will have 

big shoes to fill. After 

cracking the rotation 

as a Top-3 guard for 

the Knights last year, 

he will be the main 

ball handler for Central 

in 2017-2018. 

2. E.J. Charles 

The senior forward 

could be a force 

down low for the 

Knights. In the summer 

league game 

Thursday, June 29, 

he tallied a doubledouble 

with 10 

points, 10 rebounds 

and two blocks 

against East, despite 

not playing since his 

freshman year. 

3. Three-headed monster 

Lincoln-Way East big 

men Sean McLaughlin, 

Alex Witkowski 

and Nate Seputis will 

have the difficult task 

of filling the shoes of 

forwards Dorian Aluyi 

and Max Shafer. 

Frank Gogola 


Inexperience one year can 

lead to experience the next 

year. That’s exactly what 

Providence Catholic coach 

Mark Smith has in his baseball 

team for the spring of 

2018. 

The Celtics will return 

players with starting varsity 

experience at seven of eight 

fielding positions, excluding 

pitcher, after not having one 

such player coming into this 

past season. 

With the known experience, 

Smith’s focus during 

the offseason is to see those 

returners continue to develop 

and to begin building a 

depth chart. His evaluations 

continued during Providence’s 

4-3 and 6-2 losses to 

Brother Rice on June 26 in 

Chicago. 

“The fun part is trying to 

find out,” Smith said. “We 

have a pretty good idea of 

who our starting guys will 

be. The returning guys will 

deserve the opportunity to 

lose their job come next 

spring. These other guys are 

battling for some spot starts, 

depth chart, being the backup 

to start next spring.” 

Returning players with 

starting experience are senior 

Dakota Kotowski at first 

base, senior shortstop Ryan 

Kaup, senior third baseman 

Logan Anderson, who went 

to Summit Hill Junior High 

School, senior outfielder 

Steven Meyer, junior pitcher 

Ryan Kaup, who batted .502 with one home run, 14 RBI, 24 runs and seven stolen bases, 

will return for Providence baseball next spring. 22nd Century Media File Photo 

Bryce Barnett, senior Dylan 

Gorski and junior outfielder 

Alex Helmin. Senior Nick 

Jones will return at catcher 

after an injury forced him to 

miss the final six weeks of 

the season. 

“The summer is about 

watching them develop and 

seeing how much better they 

can get,” Smith said. “If we 

can get our pitchers who 

were out this spring back 

healthy, and with what we’ve 

got adding to the mound this 

year, we’re excited for the 

spring.” 

The positions open for 

competition are second base 

and outfield. Gorski and junior 

Josh Mrozek will compete 

for the starting second 

base position after splitting 

time there last year with 

Barnett. Whoever does not 

win the starting position will 

likely move to the vacated 

outfield spot left by Gaosh 

Williams, Smith said. 

“Definitely trying to play 

second this year,” said Gorski, 

who singled and scored 

in the 4-3 loss. “I played 

there all of my sophomore 

year. Last year I played second 

or third depending on 

injuries. It’s a different dynamic 

(moving left at third 

base and right at second 

base.) Defensively more 

than anything I want to get 

better.” 

Senior Zach Landy, who 

doubled and scored in the 

first game, is attempting 

to earn the available starting 

spot in the outfield. He 

pitched in relief last year 

since there was a crowded 

outfield, but that desire to 

play every day is still there. 

“Zach Landy has been a 

nice surprise so far,” Smith 

said. “He was an outfielder 

in the lower levels and wants 

to try to come back. Next 

year is a new year. I told him 

show me what you can do at 

any spot you want. Very impressed 

so far.” 

The graduation of designated 

hitter Matt Swanson 

leaves an opening that Smith 

could see being filled by T.J. 

Galligani, who was on junior 

varsity this past spring. Galligani 

reach base in all four 

plate appearance against 

Brother Rice, drove in one 

run and scored once. 

Galligani is also expected 

to pitch next season, although 

whether it is as a 

starter or reliever is not 

known. Smith said starting 

could depend upon Galligani 

developing a changeup to go 

along with his fastball and 

curveball. 

“I like to start with my 

fastball, but I’m more comfortable 

with my curve than 

anything because I can locate 

it the best,” Galligani 

said. “Changeup I’m still 

working on. Sometimes it’s 

wild, sometimes it’s spot on. 

It’s pretty much a guessing 

game with the changeup. 

“The biggest adjustment 

for me is just staying calm 

on the mound against varsity 

players. I’m starting to get 

used to it.” 

The same nine players will 

not start every day, so Smith is 

putting together a preliminary 

depth chart. Should an injury 

arise, like it did with Jones 

this past season, players with 

some on-field time will be 

ready to step into action. 

“The idea is to get ever 

player in, in the summer,” 

Smith said. “I want to get 

some questions answered 

on each kid to see their 

strengths, weaknesses, so 

I can give them an idea of 

where they stand, what I 

want them to work on and 

what I need them to do in the 

offseason.” 

Listen Up 

“[I’m going to try to] get to the basket more and 

create for my teammates.” 

Chris Robinson – Lincoln-Way Central guard, on what he 

will try to do differently as the main ball handler for the 

Knights this year 

TUNE IN 

Baseball 

Thursday, July 6 

• Providence will square off against Andrew in summer 

league play. The two teams met for the regional 

championship back in May, which the Celtics won. 

Index 

35 – Athlete of the Month 

35 – Athlete of the Week 

FASTBREAK is compiled by Editor Tim Carroll, tim@mokenamessenger.com

mokena’s Hometown Newspaper | www.mokenamessenger.com | July 6, 2017 

Gearing Up for next 

year Provi baseball returns numerous 

varsity members, aims to improve in 

summer league, Page 39 

fun without sun 

Mokena Chamber of Commerce hosts 

Mokena Community Night at rainy 

Joliet Slammers stadium, Page 37 

Summer league basketball offers preview of Knights, Griffins 

to fill holes left by graduated stars, Page 38 

Lincoln-Way Central returning starter Chris Robinson drives baseline Thursday, June 29, during the final day of South Suburban Summer League play in New Lenox. Bob Klein/22nd Century Media

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