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2019 BALLOT INSIDE THIS ISSUE<br />

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN A<br />

$500 MASTERCARD GIFT CARD!<br />

Shutdown sandwich<br />

Mokena restaurant gives free meals to<br />

federal workers, Page 7<br />

Heart art<br />

22CM’s Valentine’s Day coloring contest<br />

open, Page 10<br />

A head start<br />

Those looking to get, stay fit in 2019 can begin<br />

with the latest Healthy Living Guide, Inside<br />

mokena’s Award-Winning Hometown Newspaper mokenamessenger.com • January 17, 2019 • Vol. 11 No. 23 • $1<br />

A<br />

®<br />

Publication<br />

,LLC<br />

Mokena Junior High’s annual GeoBee tests students’ globe skills, Page 5<br />

Students at Mokena Junior High make signs and cheer their friends and classmates on Friday, Jan. 11, at the school’s annual GeoBee. Rochelle McAuliffe/22nd Century Media


calendar<br />

2 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger mokenamessenger.com<br />

In this week’s<br />

Messenger<br />

Police Reports................. 9<br />

Pet of the Week.............10<br />

Editorial........................13<br />

Puzzles..........................22<br />

The Scene......................22<br />

Classifieds................ 24-32<br />

The Mokena<br />

Messenger<br />

ph: 708.326.9170 fx: 708.326.9179<br />

Editor<br />

TJ Kremer III, x29<br />

tj@mokenamessenger.com<br />

assistant editor<br />

Megan Schuller, x34<br />

m.schuller@22ndcm.com<br />

Sales director<br />

Lora Healy, x31<br />

l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

real estate sales<br />

Tricia Weber, x47<br />

t.weber@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

Classified Sales<br />

Kellie Tschopp, x23<br />

k.tschopp@malibusurfsidenews.com<br />

Legal Notices<br />

Jeff Schouten, x51<br />

j.schouten@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

PUBLISHER<br />

Joe Coughlin 847.272.4565, x16<br />

j.coughlin@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

Managing Editor<br />

Bill Jones, x20<br />

bill@opprairie.com<br />

president<br />

Andrew Nicks<br />

a.nicks@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

EDITORIAL DESIGN DIRECTOR<br />

Nancy Burgan, x30<br />

n.burgan@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

22 nd Century Media<br />

11516 West 183rd Street<br />

Unit SW Office Condo #3<br />

Orland Park, IL 60467<br />

www.MokenaMessenger.com<br />

Chemical- free printing on 30% recycled paper<br />

circulation inquiries<br />

circulation@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

The Mokena Messenger (USPS #025404) is<br />

published weekly by 22nd Century Media, LLC,<br />

328 E Lincoln Hwy New Lenox, IL 60451.<br />

Periodical postage paid at New Lenox, IL<br />

and additional mailing offices.<br />

POSTMASTER: Send changes to:<br />

The Mokena Messenger, 328 E Lincoln Hwy<br />

New Lenox, IL 60451<br />

Published by<br />

www.22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

Megan Schuller<br />

“m.schuller@22ndcm.com”<br />

THURSDAY<br />

Economic Development<br />

Commission Meeting<br />

7:30 a.m. Jan. 17 Village<br />

Hall, 11004 Carpenter St.,<br />

Mokena. Held on the third<br />

Thursday of each month.<br />

Lincoln-Way D210 Board of<br />

Education Meeting<br />

7 p.m. Jan. 17. Lincoln-<br />

Way Central Knights of<br />

the Roundtable Hall, 1801<br />

E. Lincoln Highway, New<br />

Lenox.<br />

Planning Commission and<br />

Zoning Board of Appeals<br />

7 p.m. Jan. 17. Village<br />

Hall, 11004 Carpenter St.,<br />

Mokena. Held on the third<br />

Thursday of each month.<br />

FRIDAY<br />

Story Hour<br />

10-11 a.m. Jan. 18. Mokena<br />

Public Library. Mokena<br />

Public Library, 11327 W.<br />

195th St., Mokena. No preregistration<br />

required.<br />

Mobile Workforce Center<br />

1:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 18.<br />

Mokena Public Library. Mokena<br />

Public Library, 11327<br />

W. 195th St., Mokena. The<br />

Mobile Workforce Center<br />

travels assists residents who<br />

are looking for a job.<br />

SATURDAY<br />

Healthy Living Expo<br />

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 19, Tinley<br />

Park Convention Center<br />

South Pavilion, 18451<br />

Convention Center Drive.<br />

Join more than 50 vendors<br />

in health and wellness at the<br />

third annual expo, which<br />

includes speaker sessions,<br />

cooking demos, a Vitalant<br />

Blood Drive and more. Free<br />

admission and free parking.<br />

For more information,<br />

call (708) 326-9170 ext. 16<br />

or visit 22ndCenturyMedia.<br />

com/healthy<br />

Randy Walker Country<br />

Western Show<br />

1-2 p.m. Jan. 19. Mokena<br />

Public Library. Mokena<br />

Public Library, 11327 W.<br />

195th St., Mokena.<br />

MONDAY<br />

Mokena Fire Protection CPR<br />

Class<br />

6 —9:30 p.m. Jan. 21. Mokena<br />

Fire Station 1, 19853 S.<br />

Wolf Rd, Moknea. The Mokena<br />

Fire Protection District<br />

offers monthly CPR classes<br />

for the public. Students are<br />

instructed in adult, child and<br />

infant CPR and AED. The<br />

cost of the class is $35 for<br />

Community CPR and $40<br />

Healthcare CPR. Register at<br />

www.mokenafire.org<br />

Village Board Work Session<br />

6 p.m. Jan. 21. Village<br />

Hall, 11004 Carpenter St.,<br />

Mokena.<br />

TUESDAY<br />

Trivia Night<br />

7-9 p.m. Jan. 22. Doc’s<br />

Smokehouse and Craft Beer,<br />

19081 Old Lagrange Road,<br />

Mokena. Join the Mokena<br />

Community Public Library<br />

and show off your knowledge.<br />

Ages 18 and older are<br />

welcome. To register, please<br />

call (708) 479-9663 or register<br />

at www.mokenalibrary.<br />

org.<br />

WEDNESDAY<br />

D161 Board of Education<br />

Meeting<br />

7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.<br />

23. Mary Drew Administration<br />

Center, 20100 S. Spruce<br />

Drive, Frankfort. For agenda<br />

and more info go to www.<br />

summithill.org<br />

UPCOMING<br />

Bingo Night for NAWS<br />

6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25<br />

Beggar’s Pizza, 650 W. Maple<br />

St. New Lenox. $25 per<br />

person includes pizza and 10<br />

Games of bingo.<br />

Friends of the Library Winter<br />

Book Sale<br />

Noon-5 p.m. Jan. 25-26.<br />

Mokena Public Library,<br />

11327 W. 195th St., Mokena.<br />

The Friends of the Library<br />

are hosting their first<br />

book sale of the year to support<br />

the Mokena Community<br />

Public Library District.<br />

The sale is held downstairs<br />

in the library’s community<br />

room. The members of the<br />

Friends of the Library are allowed<br />

early into the pre-sale<br />

on both Friday and Saturday.<br />

Noonan Elementary Academy<br />

Open House<br />

Noon-2 p.m. Sunday,<br />

Jan. 27, Noonan Elementary<br />

Academy, 19131 Henry<br />

Drive, Mokena. We invite<br />

you to attend Noonan Elementary<br />

Academy’s Open<br />

House to see what makes us<br />

the premier PreK - 8th independent<br />

private educational<br />

choice in Mokena. We are<br />

passionately Catholic and<br />

committed to excellence.<br />

Horsemanship Class<br />

1-3 p.m. Jan. 27. Nova<br />

Quarter Horses, Inc.,10129<br />

W. 187th St., Mokena. Learn<br />

barn basics, how to handle<br />

and groom a horse and how<br />

to tack and untack. The cost<br />

is $30 per person. Ages 6+.<br />

Beginners welcome.<br />

Village Board of Trustees<br />

Meeting<br />

7 p.m. Monday Jan. 28.<br />

Mokena Village Hall, 11004<br />

Carpenter St., Mokena. For<br />

more information, meeting<br />

agendas and minutes visit<br />

www.mokena.org.<br />

Volunteer Work Day<br />

8 a.m.-noon Jan. 29. Hickory<br />

Creek Preserve- Hickory<br />

Creek Junction. 21063<br />

Prestancia Drive, Mokena.<br />

Please dress for outdoor<br />

work and the weather. Wear<br />

long pants, closed-toe shoes,<br />

and work gloves. Registration<br />

is required by calling<br />

(815) 722-7364 or emailing<br />

rgauchat@fpdwc.org.<br />

Owl Prowl<br />

7-9 p.m. Feb. 2. Hickory<br />

Creek Preserve LaPorte<br />

Road Access, 10537 W. La-<br />

Porte Road, Mokena. Registration<br />

is required by Jan.<br />

31. Participants will hike<br />

1.5 miles with a naturalist<br />

to search for the resident<br />

raptors and to discover the<br />

natural history of the various<br />

Will County owls.<br />

Lincoln-Way Foundation<br />

25th Anniversary Dinner<br />

Gala<br />

6 p.m. Saturday Feb. 9,<br />

Odyssey Country Club,<br />

19110 Ridgeland Ave Suite<br />

A, Tinley Park. This event<br />

celebrates the 25th Anniversary<br />

with a dinner, gala, live<br />

entertainment and auctions.<br />

LIST IT YOURSELF<br />

Reach out to thousands of daily<br />

users by submitting your event at<br />

MokenaMessenger.com/calendar<br />

For just print*, email all information to<br />

m.schuller@22ndcm.com<br />

*Deadline for print is 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to publication.<br />

ONGOING<br />

GFWC Mokena Woman’s<br />

Club Scholarships<br />

The General Federation<br />

of Women’s Clubs Illinois<br />

is offering scholarships,<br />

through the GFWC Mokena<br />

Woman’s Club sponsorship,<br />

for students planning<br />

on enrolling in an Illinois<br />

college, university, trade or<br />

vocational school for the<br />

fall semester 2019. Applications<br />

must be postmarked by<br />

Feb. 15 and mailed to: Judy<br />

Rader, 132 11th St., Lincoln,<br />

IL 62656. Applications may<br />

be obtained on the Lincoln-<br />

Way High Schools website,<br />

Providence Catholic High<br />

School website, at the Mokena<br />

Public Library, and the<br />

Frankfort Public Library.<br />

There are also scholarships<br />

available to graduating Mokena<br />

high school students<br />

pursuing higher education.<br />

The completed application,<br />

along with an official<br />

transcript, a letter of career<br />

goals, and a letter of recommendation,<br />

must be postmarked<br />

by March 7, 2019 at:<br />

GFWC Mokena Woman’s<br />

Club, Scholarship Committee,<br />

P.O. Box 1008, Mokena,<br />

60448.<br />

3D Printer Class<br />

10-11 a.m. every third Saturday<br />

of the month, Mokena<br />

Community Public Library<br />

District, 11327 W. 195th<br />

St., Mokena. Visit the YA<br />

Computer Lab to create 3-D<br />

nameplates with our Makerbot<br />

2x 3-D Printer.


mokenamessenger.com news<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 3<br />

LW D210 admin: ‘District is on road to financial recovery’<br />

Annual State<br />

of the District<br />

highlights schools’<br />

achievements<br />

Megan Schuller<br />

Assistant Editor<br />

Lincoln-Way Community<br />

High School District 210<br />

held its second annual State<br />

of the District presentation<br />

on Thursday, Jan. 10, before<br />

a room of community members.<br />

“It’s no secret that Lincoln-Way<br />

has faced its share<br />

of challenges in the last several<br />

years,” Superintendent<br />

Scott Tingley said. “The<br />

financial condition of the<br />

district threatened to impact<br />

the opportunities provided to<br />

our students.”<br />

Assistant Superintendent<br />

of Business Brad Cauffman<br />

spoke to the state of the districts<br />

finances, saying that<br />

after several years of deficit<br />

spending the district is “on<br />

the road to financial recovery.”<br />

“By 2017 we were able<br />

to have our fist surplus in<br />

some time of $4.8 million,<br />

[of which] $2.9 million was<br />

from normal operations and<br />

$1.9 million was from land<br />

sales,” Cauffman said. “In<br />

fiscal year ’18 we were able<br />

to achieve a surplus of $7.6<br />

million. This year the board<br />

approved a balanced budget<br />

with a $47,000 surplus;<br />

however, within this budget<br />

there is $3.6 million dedicated<br />

to spending on one-time<br />

capital.”<br />

Another way the district<br />

measures its financial health<br />

is by measuring the operating<br />

fund balance compared<br />

to current operating expenditures.<br />

According to Cauffman,<br />

in FY16 the fund balance<br />

to expenditure balance<br />

was in the negative by 5.96<br />

percent. This prompted the<br />

Board of Education to set a<br />

goal to achieve a 33-percent<br />

operating fund balance to<br />

expenditure balance by “no<br />

later then 2026.”<br />

“By achieving this goal<br />

the district will increase its<br />

financial health, bond rating<br />

and eliminate the need<br />

for cash flow borrowing,”<br />

Cauffman said. “To achieve<br />

this goal, the Board of Education<br />

adopted an implementation<br />

plan that requires<br />

the district to run a 3-percent<br />

operating surplus each year.”<br />

Where the surplus is going<br />

In the coming years, the<br />

district also plans to invest<br />

into several capital projects<br />

that have been put off for<br />

several years.<br />

“The district has gone<br />

about eight years without<br />

addressing the capital needs<br />

both of roofing and repaving,”<br />

Tingley said. “As our<br />

finances have begun to stabilize,<br />

we have been able<br />

to begin to address these issues.<br />

We have a 10-year plan<br />

in place to continue to monitor<br />

and update our capital<br />

projects.”<br />

Recently completed capital<br />

projects include a roof<br />

restoration at Central and<br />

East. Additionally, pavement<br />

resurfacing, tennis court replacement<br />

and new bleachers<br />

have been completed at<br />

East.<br />

A few projects that take<br />

priority next are: new security<br />

cameras in all three high<br />

schools; pavement resurfacing<br />

and tennis court repair<br />

at Central; stadium turf replacement,<br />

and a door hardware<br />

and lock replacement<br />

on all classroom doors at<br />

Central and East.<br />

Tingley said that the door<br />

hardware and lock replacement<br />

would allow for teachers,<br />

in the event of an active<br />

shooter situation, to grab<br />

students in the hallway, pull<br />

them into a classroom or<br />

other room that is nearest to<br />

them and lock the door.<br />

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Superintendent Scott Tingley addresses<br />

the audience at the district’s second annual State of the District presentation Thursday,<br />

Jan. 10. District administrators lauded the area schools’ financial improvement and<br />

student academic success,among other achievements. Julie McMann/22nd Century Media<br />

Tingley said that in the<br />

interest of student safety<br />

the district has implemented<br />

new security procedures at<br />

Lincoln-Way Central, East<br />

and West.<br />

“Never did I think when<br />

I entered the profession<br />

of education 26 years ago<br />

that each and every morning<br />

would begin with the<br />

thought of that first priority<br />

being the safety and security<br />

— the physical security of<br />

our students and staff,” Tingley<br />

said. “Times have certainly<br />

changed. It used to be<br />

that schools were the safest<br />

place for students to be.”<br />

The district added security<br />

measures, such as programed<br />

access cards and buzzers at<br />

the entrances, monitored student<br />

entrances in the morning<br />

and afternoon, panic buttons<br />

in every classroom, a<br />

anonymous bullying reporting<br />

tool, and a five-scenario<br />

active shooter drill in cooperation<br />

with Will County<br />

Sheriffs’ deputies.<br />

The district is looking to<br />

also invest in technology and<br />

tablets in the coming years.<br />

The details are expected to<br />

be brought before the board<br />

in February, but D210 is<br />

could possibly purchase<br />

1,700 tablets and is pursing<br />

a goal of 1:1 student to tablet<br />

ratio down the road.<br />

Student success<br />

A continued drop in enrollment<br />

is expected in the<br />

coming years, but Tingley<br />

said enrollment will remain<br />

steady enough to remain a<br />

three-high-school district.<br />

“In the last eight years enrollment<br />

has dropped by 434<br />

students,” Tingley said. “We<br />

will see probably in the ballpark<br />

of another 100 student<br />

drop for this next year. ...We<br />

can function efficiently and<br />

effectively with three high<br />

schools and 6,000 students.”<br />

D210 also highlighted that<br />

the three high schools received<br />

“exemplary status,”<br />

which means each was in<br />

the Top 10 percent of high<br />

schools in Illinois according<br />

to a number of indicators,<br />

including no underperforming<br />

subgroups and a graduation<br />

rate of greater than 67<br />

percent.<br />

As far a student success<br />

and graduation rate, Director<br />

of Data, Assessment and Innovation<br />

Brian Murphy said<br />

that each of the district’s<br />

schools are above the state<br />

average of 85.4 percent.<br />

West was tops with a 98.3<br />

percent graduation rate, followed<br />

by Central at 97.5 and<br />

East at 97 percent, according<br />

to Illinois State Board<br />

of Education’s 2018 Illinois<br />

School Report Card data.<br />

Tingley also took a moment<br />

to recognize student<br />

extra-curricular achievement<br />

of the three high school football<br />

teams, which each made<br />

the Illinois High School<br />

Association playoffs, and<br />

the Lincoln-Way Marching<br />

Band, which preformed at<br />

the Rose Parade earlier this<br />

month.<br />

Tingley ended the presentation<br />

by noting that the<br />

current and future success of<br />

Lincoln-Way is a group effort,<br />

and that while he thinks<br />

the district is in a good place,<br />

there’s always room for improvement.<br />

“We’re not satisfied where<br />

we are, we will continue to<br />

work to get better,” Tingley<br />

said. “During these difficult<br />

financial times the focus<br />

continued to be on providing<br />

opportunities for our students.<br />

As our finances have<br />

stabilized we have been able<br />

to reinvest in capital; however,<br />

more importantly, we<br />

have been able to invest in<br />

technology and curriculum,<br />

which has led to improved<br />

instruction.”<br />

Tingley said the district<br />

will continue to keep the<br />

community updated on the<br />

district’s financial condition<br />

and testing results.<br />

“We will continue to update<br />

the community on<br />

financials and report on<br />

student achievement in standardized<br />

testing to see how<br />

we compare with other districts,”<br />

Tingley said. “It’s<br />

important for the community<br />

to see what their tax dollars<br />

are going to.”<br />

Bob Spychalski<br />

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4 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger mokena<br />

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dental services without having to leave the building<br />

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mokenamessenger.com news<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 5<br />

Mokena Jr. High GeoBee continues to highlight top minds<br />

Rochelle McAuliffe<br />

Freelance Reporter<br />

It might have been cold<br />

outside, but the competition<br />

at Mokena Junior High<br />

School was burning up on<br />

Friday, Jan. 11.<br />

That afternoon, the gym<br />

was packed as a battle of<br />

knowledge was waged between<br />

10 students, with<br />

each of them vying for the<br />

title of the National Geographic<br />

GeoBee champion<br />

of MJH. The school hosts<br />

a GeoBee annually, and the<br />

event has become a school<br />

favorite that gets the whole<br />

school excited about geography,<br />

with some students<br />

even decorating witty signs<br />

to cheer on their friends and<br />

classmates who are competing.<br />

Developed in 1988 to promote<br />

geographic knowledge<br />

among students, the National<br />

Geographic GeoBee<br />

has empowered millions of<br />

students to be curious and<br />

knowledgeable global citizens.<br />

The GeoBee came to<br />

MJH just a decade after that,<br />

and the academic competition<br />

has been running strong<br />

since.<br />

“It’s one of the most exciting<br />

things we do all year,”<br />

said MJH Principal Mike<br />

Rolinitis.<br />

“I love this competition<br />

because it is putting out kids<br />

out here for an academic<br />

reason. We have all types of<br />

sports for kids to compete<br />

in, but this is something<br />

for our students to show<br />

their academic prowess,”<br />

Rolinitis said. “I think the<br />

teachers at the time decided,<br />

‘Let’s do something<br />

fun for the kids who know<br />

where they’re at,’ and here<br />

we are.”<br />

The GeoBee includes<br />

three levels of competition:<br />

school, state and national.<br />

The school champion takes a<br />

proctored online test to qualify<br />

for the state GeoBee, and<br />

the top 100 ranked students<br />

in each state will represent<br />

their school at the state level<br />

GeoBee competition in late<br />

March. The winner of the<br />

state championship will then<br />

travel to National Geographic<br />

headquarters in Washington,<br />

D.C., where they will<br />

compete for the title, as well<br />

as a college scholarship, at<br />

the national championship.<br />

But before they can start<br />

dreaming of D.C., a winner<br />

must first be named at MJH.<br />

The journey began the Friday<br />

after Thanksgiving, as<br />

the entire school was administered<br />

a preliminary test to<br />

qualify. After calculating the<br />

results, the Top 10 finalists<br />

were named: seventh-graders<br />

Joey Babich, Uthman<br />

Boudijera, Addison Jensen,<br />

Joe McCloughan and Rosemary<br />

Wilson; along with<br />

eighth-graders Nick Brunner,<br />

Jake Fox, Jackson Moran,<br />

Kate Rogers and Matt<br />

Schmitt.<br />

During the final round,<br />

each competitor was asked<br />

questions individually, with<br />

elimination coming after<br />

two incorrect answers. After<br />

nearly a half-hour of challenging<br />

questions in the final<br />

round, the nine — Babich<br />

was absent — were down to<br />

two, with Jensen and Rogers<br />

left standing.<br />

The championship round<br />

consisted of three questions,<br />

with both competitors being<br />

asked the same question before<br />

being given 15 seconds<br />

to write their answer on a<br />

whiteboard. After the three<br />

questions, both competitors<br />

had missed just one question,<br />

forcing a tiebreaker<br />

round.<br />

During the tiebreaker<br />

round, it was a single elimination<br />

question, meaning the<br />

first contestant to correctly<br />

answer a question that the<br />

other missed became the<br />

school champion. Both incorrectly<br />

answered the first<br />

elimination question, but<br />

when it came to the second,<br />

an incorrect answer from<br />

Rogers handed Jensen the<br />

win.<br />

Jensen’s dad, Sean, was<br />

there to watch the competition,<br />

and was overcome<br />

with joy at his daughter’s<br />

win.<br />

“I’m so proud of her, I<br />

can’t even explain it,” Sean<br />

said. “I’m so excited to see<br />

that she is so happy doing<br />

this… It’s just something<br />

that makes my heart feel<br />

good.”<br />

Rogers, who had competed<br />

previously and placed<br />

third was proud of the progress<br />

she had made since last<br />

time.<br />

“It’s nice to see the improvement<br />

from before. It<br />

was a lot of fun to do again,”<br />

Rogers said.<br />

While geography is more<br />

than just a school subject for<br />

Addison, who used NatGeo<br />

app and studied globes to<br />

prepare, she still was surprised<br />

by her victory.<br />

“[Geography] is something<br />

I’m good at, but I’m<br />

still really surprised. I didn’t<br />

think I would win,” Addison<br />

said.<br />

OPEN HOUSE<br />

Sunday, January 27 • 10AM - 1PM<br />

ENTER TO WIN:<br />

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Daily religion class<br />

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Weekly all-school<br />

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Winner Addison Jensen smiles after answering the final question correctly in the sudden<br />

elimination championship round of Mokena Junior High’s annual GeoBee Friday, Jan. 11.<br />

Rochelle McAuliffe/22nd Century Media<br />

Working Together to Ensure<br />

Every Student EXCELS...<br />

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STJUDENEWLENOX<br />

WWW.STJUDES.ORG • CALL 815.485.2549 FOR INFORMATION


6 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger mokena<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

FREE<br />

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Young Living Independent Distributor


future.<br />

“It never really hit me,”<br />

Brashier said.<br />

But, when the crisis mani-<br />

mokenamessenger.com news<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 7<br />

Restaurant helps those affected by shutdown<br />

T.J. Kremer III, Editor<br />

While some might view<br />

the most recent government<br />

shutdown as simply<br />

dysfunctional politics as<br />

usual, the reality of the situation<br />

hit home for some<br />

800,000 federal employees<br />

who did not receive<br />

their paychecks Friday,<br />

Jan. 11.<br />

Owner of Doc’s Smokehouse,<br />

Brent Brashier —<br />

which has locations in Mokena;<br />

Dyer, Indiana; and<br />

Milwaukee, Wisconsin —<br />

was one of those who wasn’t<br />

really paying too much attention<br />

to the details behind<br />

the political bickering that<br />

has led to the longest federal<br />

government shutdown<br />

in history. That is, until one<br />

of his regular customers in<br />

Any federal employee can receive this lunch special — a<br />

pork sandwich, chips and a soft drink or iced tea — free<br />

of charge for as long as the federal government shutdown<br />

lasts. T.J. Kremer III/22nd Century Media<br />

the restaurant’s Dyer location<br />

revealed himself to be<br />

one of those 800,000 federal<br />

employees now going<br />

without pay for what many<br />

think will be the foreseeable<br />

Please see docs, 13<br />

Winter<br />

giddy-up<br />

Nova Quarter<br />

Horse’s annual<br />

Winter Horse Camp<br />

participants show<br />

off new skills<br />

Mia Beallis, 8, from Manhattan looks on near the trophies<br />

as riders at Nova Quarter Horse’s Winter Horse Camp<br />

compete Jan. 4. T.J. Kremer III/22nd Century Media<br />

Broker - Management Team<br />

“10”


8 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger mokena<br />

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mokenamessenger.com news<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 9<br />

Police Reports<br />

Axe-wielding man arrested<br />

Anthony L. Shrout, 31, of<br />

176 N. School St. in Braidwood,<br />

was charged Dec.<br />

26 with unlawful use of a<br />

weapon, possession of drug<br />

paraphernalia and illegal<br />

transportation of alcohol.<br />

According to police reports,<br />

an officer was dispatched<br />

to the 19200 block<br />

of Tramore Lane on a report<br />

of a person being followed<br />

by subjects in a red truck<br />

who had displayed a knife.<br />

While en route, dispatch<br />

advised the officer that two<br />

more calls were reported<br />

where callers said two men<br />

in a red truck were observed<br />

outside of the truck swinging<br />

axes. The officer searched<br />

the area, located a truck<br />

matching the description and<br />

initiated a traffic stop.<br />

The officer ordered the<br />

driver, Shrout, to step out<br />

of the vehicle and place his<br />

hands on the hood. A folding<br />

knife reportedly was found<br />

in Shrout’s front pocket,<br />

brass knuckles in his rear<br />

pocket, and two axes were<br />

located in the bed of the<br />

truck.<br />

While speaking with<br />

Shrout, the officer reportedly<br />

could detect the smell<br />

of alcohol on him. The officer<br />

observed a can of beer in<br />

plain sight in the truck’s center<br />

console, six more beers<br />

unopened in a storage area<br />

behind the driver and passenger<br />

seat, five empty cans<br />

of beer in a plastic bag, and<br />

a bottle of rum that was 1/3<br />

empty.<br />

The officer also located a<br />

wood and metal pipe, both<br />

with suspected cannabis residue<br />

on them; a grinder; and<br />

an empty container labeled<br />

“Grassroots Cannabis.” A<br />

third axe was discovered behind<br />

the passenger area.<br />

Shrout was then placed<br />

under arrest.<br />

Dec. 30<br />

• Michael A. Macis, 48, of<br />

11540 Jenyglenn Drive in<br />

Mokena, and Daniel L. Canniff,<br />

49, of 19935 Everett<br />

Lane in Mokena, were both<br />

charged with battery.<br />

According to police reports,<br />

an officer was dispatched<br />

to the 9700 block of West<br />

191st Street for a report of<br />

two subjects fighting, one<br />

of whom was hit in the head<br />

with a glass bottle.<br />

Upon arrival, the officer<br />

spoke with both men and<br />

witnesses at the scene. It<br />

was determined that the men<br />

were speaking at the bar<br />

when Macis punched Canniff<br />

in the face, and Canniff<br />

responded by hitting Macis<br />

in the head with a bottle.<br />

Both men were then placed<br />

under arrest.<br />

Dec. 31<br />

• Jasmine J. Silas, 26, of<br />

8547 S. Carpenter St. in<br />

Chicago, was charged with<br />

unlawful use of a weapon,<br />

driving with no valid driver’s<br />

license and improper<br />

lighting.<br />

According to police reports,<br />

an officer on patrol in the<br />

area of West 191st Street and<br />

South LaGrange Road observed<br />

Silas traveling southbound<br />

on LaGrange Road<br />

with one headlight out. The<br />

officer initiated a traffic stop,<br />

where Silas was able to provide<br />

insurance information<br />

but no driver’s license. A<br />

check of her driver’s license<br />

came back as no valid Illinois<br />

driver’s license.<br />

Silas was then placed under<br />

arrest. While searching her,<br />

the officer discovered a stun<br />

gun in her coat.<br />

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Mokena<br />

Messenger’s police reports<br />

come from the Mokena Police<br />

Department. Anyone listed in<br />

these reports is considered to<br />

be innocent of all charges until<br />

proven guilty in a court of law.<br />

Winter book sale dates announced<br />

Submitted by The Friends of<br />

the Mokena Library<br />

The Friends of the Mokena<br />

Library are pleased<br />

to announce that its winter<br />

book sale is scheduled to be<br />

held at the Mokena Community<br />

Public Library District,<br />

11327 W. 195th St., from<br />

noon-5 p.m. on Friday, Jan.<br />

25 and 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on<br />

Saturday, Jan. 26.<br />

Members of The Friends of<br />

the Mokena Library will be<br />

granted early entrance at 11<br />

a.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on<br />

Saturday for a preview sale.<br />

This event boasts a large<br />

number of items for sale<br />

featuring a particularly large<br />

volume of high-quality children’s<br />

books and many novels.<br />

Most books sell for $1,<br />

but others are priced even<br />

lower.<br />

The sale features all types<br />

of books, including audio<br />

books, and a large number of<br />

first edition hardcovers. Puzzles,<br />

games, DVDs and CDs<br />

will also be placed on sale.<br />

The Friends of the Mokena<br />

Library is a charitable organization<br />

that raises funds to<br />

benefit and support the Mokena<br />

library and its mission.<br />

For more information,<br />

call the Library at (708)<br />

479-9663 or check out the<br />

“Friends of Library” tile at<br />

mokenalibrary.org.<br />

VOTING<br />

OPEN<br />

Jan. 17–Feb. 10!<br />

Vote: 22ndCenturyMedia.com/swchoice<br />

Complete at least 50 categories and be<br />

eligible to win a $500 Mastercard gift card!<br />

Vote now for your favorite<br />

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22 ND CENTURY MEDIA<br />

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Please call 708.326.9170<br />

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Bank<br />

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Grocery Store<br />

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Look for the ballot in the center of this newspaper or vote<br />

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A 22 ND CENTURY MEDIA PUBLICATION<br />

Reach more than 89,000 homes and businesses<br />

in our coupon section !<br />

All ads will also appear digitally on each publication’s website.<br />

Appearing February 28<br />

Reserve your Ad by Jan. 31 • Approve your Ad by Feb. 7


10 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger community<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

Titan<br />

NAWS Illinois Humane<br />

Society 9981 W. 190th<br />

St. Mokena, 60448<br />

Titan is a handsome,<br />

2-year-old, male<br />

bluetick coonhound<br />

who is looking for a<br />

home. He is a gentle,<br />

friendly and lovable<br />

boy who has a sweet<br />

personality and gets along with everyone he meets.<br />

Please email Stacy at stacy@nawsus.org or call (708)<br />

478-5102 to setup an appointment with an adoption<br />

counselor to meet him.<br />

Want to see your pet featured as The Mokena Messenger’s Pet<br />

of the Week? Send your pet’s photo and a few sentences explaining<br />

why your pet is outstanding to Editor T.J. Kremer III at tj@<br />

mokenamessenger.com or 11516 W. 183rd St., Office Condo 3,<br />

Suite SW, Orland Park, IL 60467.<br />

Contests<br />

Spread the love in the annual Valentine’s Day Coloring Contest<br />

Forms available<br />

online now, with<br />

deadline coming<br />

Feb. 7<br />

Bill Jones, Managing Editor<br />

We [heart] you.<br />

As much as our editorial<br />

team hates to admit it, there<br />

are some things that simply<br />

are not conveyed quite as<br />

well by words.<br />

Photos purportedly convey<br />

1,000 of those words at<br />

once. Emojis give you the<br />

opportunity to convey your<br />

affection, share a secret message<br />

or declare something<br />

is a pile of poo in a single<br />

graphic. And if you really<br />

want to spread the love, you<br />

need some color.<br />

Sometimes, images just<br />

do it better.<br />

Case in point: 22nd Century<br />

Media’s Valentine’s<br />

Day Coloring Contest,<br />

which for years has been<br />

spreading the holiday’s<br />

love both near and far, with<br />

contest entries doubling as<br />

valentines for both active<br />

military and veterans over<br />

the years. Every year, we<br />

provide a blank heart and<br />

children get creative. A few<br />

lucky entrants win prizes,<br />

and even more get to see<br />

their work in print.<br />

The beloved (see what<br />

we did there?) tradition is<br />

back.<br />

The Mokena Messenger<br />

is asking children ages<br />

3-12 to get creative by<br />

downloading the form from<br />

the home page of Mokena<br />

Messenger.com to create just<br />

one outstanding valentine<br />

per entrant and send it our<br />

way.<br />

Entries must be mailed<br />

to or dropped off at 22nd<br />

Century Media Southwest<br />

Chicago c/o Editor<br />

T.J. Kremer III, 11516 W.<br />

183rd St., Unit SW Office<br />

Condo #3, Orland Park, IL,<br />

60467.<br />

The deadline to submit<br />

entries is 5 p.m. Thursday,<br />

Feb. 7. Publisher 22nd<br />

Century Media’s Southwest<br />

Chicago staff will review<br />

all entries and select<br />

winners in each of three<br />

age groups — ages 3-5, 6-8<br />

and 9-12. The winning entries<br />

are to be published in<br />

The Messenger’s Feb. 14<br />

edition (yes, we planned it<br />

that way), along with other<br />

favorites, at the editor’s<br />

discretion.<br />

For this year’s contest,<br />

we will be picking one winner<br />

in each age group from<br />

Mokena. Winners are to<br />

receive an open gym guest<br />

pass to The Oaks Recreation<br />

and Fitness Center,<br />

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Winners will be chosen<br />

based on creativity and<br />

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As in past years, 22nd<br />

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an area organization to help<br />

distribute the finished valentines<br />

— minus the entry<br />

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mokenamessenger.com mokena<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 11


12 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger news<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

FROM THE LOCKPORT LEGEND<br />

Lockport library prepares for busy<br />

year of events<br />

If there was ever a library cheerleader,<br />

White Oak Library District<br />

Lockport Branch Manager Pat Jarog<br />

would be it.<br />

Wearing a STEM T-shirt during<br />

a recent library event, Jarog expressed<br />

her excitement about the<br />

upcoming year at the library.<br />

“I can talk all day about what<br />

we have here,” Jarog said with a<br />

laugh. “Residents at the Lockport<br />

branch can look forward to another<br />

fabulous Comicopolis coming<br />

up on July 27 of this year. This is<br />

the fifth annual pop culture festival,<br />

which is our biggest event of<br />

the year.”<br />

Comicopolis, an all-day event, is<br />

created and produced by the White<br />

Oak Library District in partnership<br />

with Zombie Army Productions,<br />

Lockport Summer Art Series, and<br />

Amazing Fantasy Books & Comics.<br />

“We’re working very closely<br />

with the Lockport Summer Art<br />

series to bring more people into<br />

downtown Lockport,” Jarog said.<br />

“We bring in pop culture and comic<br />

vendors to the library. They talk<br />

to the visitors [about] what it’s like<br />

to be part of the whole comic industry.”<br />

For those who do not get into the<br />

pop culture festival, there is a wide<br />

variety of additional programs at<br />

the library, including a new addition<br />

this year.<br />

“New this year, we are starting<br />

an author tour,” Jarog said. “We’ve<br />

invited author’s to our libraries,<br />

which include Crest Hill, Romeoville<br />

and Lockport. We are having<br />

these author events every other<br />

month, starting on Feb. 22 at the<br />

Lockport Branch.”<br />

For more information about the<br />

library’s programs and to register<br />

online, visit www.whiteoaklibrary.<br />

org.<br />

Reporting by Mary Compton,<br />

Freelance Reporter. For more, visit<br />

LockportLegend.com.<br />

FROM THE FRANKFORT STATION<br />

Frankfort Square Park District<br />

keeps children active<br />

In groups of three or four, children<br />

tested their teamwork and coordination,<br />

lifting the skis beneath<br />

their feet by hoisting a rope tied to<br />

them and shifting their weight.<br />

“Left! Right! Left!” they shouted<br />

to each other as they picked up the<br />

skis and walked across the Mary<br />

Drew Elementary School gym on<br />

Jan. 3.<br />

“The Day Off Escapades: Ring<br />

in the New Year” program, a threeday<br />

program for children ages<br />

5-12, was one of several programs<br />

the Frankfort Square Park District<br />

held throughout winter break to<br />

keep children active.<br />

Cheyanne Hein, a Frankfort<br />

Square Park District site supervisor<br />

and facilitator, brought the group to<br />

field trips in the morning and spent<br />

the afternoons at Mary Drew Elementary<br />

doing team-building exercises<br />

and crafts.<br />

Morning field trips took them<br />

across the community to the Tinley<br />

Park Bow, Space Golf and Pump It<br />

Up.<br />

“The kids have so much fun<br />

with the field trips and structured<br />

games that encourage active play<br />

and working with the other kids,”<br />

Hein said. “I enjoy watching the<br />

kids interact. It’s a good feeling<br />

to know that over a few days you<br />

can see a change in them and know<br />

how much they enjoy being here<br />

because of you.”<br />

Once back from the field trips,<br />

the children played group games,<br />

such as relay races, silent ball,<br />

kickball, soccer, four square and<br />

other competitive games that require<br />

relying on others to achieve<br />

a common goal.<br />

Reporting by Megan Schuller,<br />

Assistant Editor. For more, visit<br />

FrankfortStation.com.<br />

FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT<br />

Women’s March set to take place<br />

in Village Commons Jan. 19<br />

Some local residents have taken<br />

it upon themselves to bring the<br />

Women’s March to their own backyard.<br />

A coalition of women from the<br />

Southwest Suburban Activists, Action<br />

for a Better Tomorrow, Arab<br />

American Family Services, Chicago<br />

Votes, Indivisible Illinois, Indivisible<br />

South Suburban Chicago<br />

and Moms Demand Action are to<br />

host a Women’s March at noon Saturday,<br />

Jan. 19, at the Village Commons<br />

in New Lenox.<br />

“The south suburbs [are] our<br />

home, it’s our backyard,” said<br />

Itedal Shalabi, co-founder and executive<br />

director of Arab American<br />

Family Services. “The unity and<br />

the inclusivity, the diversity and the<br />

leadership that has come together<br />

is what we want to showcase to all<br />

of our community members when<br />

they come out for the Women’s<br />

March.<br />

“When women come together<br />

and great allies come together, [it<br />

shows] this is our neighborhood,<br />

this is our suburbs. We want to<br />

show the diversity that’s within,<br />

but that we’re all working for the<br />

same thing.”<br />

The coalition landed on New<br />

Lenox as the site for their march<br />

as its where Emily Biegel, director<br />

with Southwest Suburban Activists,<br />

calls home. But there have<br />

been mixed reactions from the public<br />

about having the event in New<br />

Lenox.<br />

Still, Mayor Tim Baldermann<br />

said it is his duty to uphold the coalition’s<br />

First Amendment right to<br />

freedom to assemble.<br />

“It doesn’t matter who the group<br />

is, they have a right to do that,”<br />

Baldermann said. “Provided they<br />

follow all the rules with the permit<br />

process — which they are — we’re<br />

going to uphold that right.”<br />

Reporting by Erin Redmond,<br />

Freelance Reporter. For more, visit<br />

NewLenoxPatriot.com.<br />

FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION<br />

Improv troupe Graffiti on The<br />

Fourth Wall to host interactive<br />

comedy show<br />

Sarah Denton, a professional<br />

improviser with Graffiti on The<br />

Fourth Wall, an improvisation<br />

troupe, said that her favorite part<br />

about being in improv is being able<br />

to make people laugh.<br />

“I just love having the opportunity<br />

to be on stage and perform,<br />

because I’ve wanted to be a performer<br />

literally my whole life,” she<br />

said.<br />

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19,<br />

the Tinley Park-Park District is to<br />

host a comedy improv show at the<br />

Tinley Park Performing Arts Center.<br />

Community members will be<br />

able to see the professional comedy<br />

improv troupe Graffiti on The<br />

Fourth Wall from the My Covered<br />

Bridge production company for $9<br />

a person. There also will be a guest<br />

appearance from Christina Halleran.<br />

“We try to find some really<br />

unique ideas to kind of bring onto<br />

the stage,” Denton said, “We really<br />

value our uniqueness as a troupe,<br />

so we always are trying to look for<br />

something different, and just expect<br />

the unexpected.”<br />

This interactive show is called<br />

“Old Lang Signs,” a spin off of<br />

the Robert Burns song “Auld Lang<br />

Syne.” This title represents the use<br />

of parodies during improv shows,<br />

and this classic New Year’s song<br />

should be a topic of discussion during<br />

the performance.<br />

“We always try to make each<br />

show we do a little different, so<br />

anytime you come to a Graffiti on<br />

The Fourth Wall show you can always<br />

expect something new,” Denton<br />

said.<br />

The Tinley Park Performing<br />

Arts Center is located at 16801<br />

S. 80th Ave. Tickets are available<br />

online at www.tinleyparkdistrict.<br />

org.<br />

Reporting by Bella Zarlengo, Editorial<br />

Intern. For more, visit TinleyJunction.<br />

com.<br />

FROM THE HOMER HORIZON<br />

Homer native graduates from<br />

naval officers school, begins<br />

further education<br />

Austin Mastela comes from a<br />

military family.<br />

His father, grandfather and great<br />

uncle all spent time serving their<br />

country in the United States Navy.<br />

While getting his Master of Business<br />

Administration at Lewis University,<br />

he realized he wanted to<br />

follow in their footsteps.<br />

Mastela began in early September<br />

at the United States Navy’s<br />

Officers Candidate School in Newport,<br />

Rhode Island, where he graduated<br />

on Nov. 21. He became the<br />

only member of his class chosen<br />

to go into the Naval Supply Corps,<br />

which deals with areas like supply,<br />

logistics, combat support, readiness,<br />

contracting and fiscal matters<br />

for the Navy. He added this position<br />

will fit him best because of his<br />

degrees in marketing and business<br />

administration.<br />

Mastela came home to Homer<br />

Glen for the holidays after his<br />

graduation and was assigned temporary<br />

duty at the Naval Station<br />

Great Lakes off the coast of Lake<br />

Michigan until Jan. 11.<br />

On Jan. 13, Mastela went back to<br />

Rhode Island, where he will now<br />

attend six more months of school<br />

and wait until the third month,<br />

when he will be assigned a ship to<br />

work on.<br />

“I control everything going<br />

on and off that ship; I control the<br />

weapons, I control the food, I<br />

control everyone’s pay,” Mastela<br />

explained of what his job will be<br />

once assigned to a ship. ”So, anything<br />

going on and off the ship, it<br />

goes through me first.”<br />

Reporting by Bella Zarlengo, Editorial<br />

Intern. For more, visit HomerHorizon.<br />

com.<br />

FROM THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE<br />

Lego-lovers enjoy Robotics Camp<br />

at Orland Park Public Library<br />

A group of students grades 2-5<br />

started off the new year with a renewed<br />

resolve to explore the intersection<br />

of math, science and imagination<br />

during Orland Park Public<br />

Library’s Robo-Kids: Lego WeDo<br />

Robotics Camp.<br />

The new program — held as individual<br />

sessions on the afternoons<br />

of Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 — encouraged<br />

participants to build earthquake<br />

simulators and Lego buildings that<br />

could withstand occurrences high<br />

on the Richter scale. The Wednesday<br />

afternoon session found young<br />

designers working together in two<br />

teams to create architectural designs<br />

from scratch.<br />

Kara DeCarlo, Orland Park Public<br />

Library school liaison, explained<br />

how the Lego WeDo sets combine<br />

education, collaboration and fun to<br />

help kids learn the fundamentals of<br />

several STEM subjects.<br />

“The WeDos are really cool, because<br />

it shows you how to build<br />

Please see nfyn, 13


mokenamessenger.com sound off<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 13<br />

Social snapshot<br />

Top Web Stories<br />

From MokenaMessenger.com as of<br />

Monday, Jan. 14<br />

From the Editor<br />

On the value of a free lunch<br />

1. Lincoln-Way Marching Band ‘rose’ to<br />

occasion at parade in California<br />

2. The Dish: Frank’s Shrimp & Chicken’s<br />

latest catch: family dining<br />

3. Local business helps grant a teen’s wish<br />

4. 10 Questions with Danny O’Brien,<br />

Lincoln-Way Central boys swimming and<br />

diving team<br />

5. Police Reports: Teen caught shoplifting<br />

video games valued at more than $600<br />

Become a member: mokenamessenger.com/plus<br />

“Great time for Katie with Mokena Jr High<br />

Band. 8th grade going by way to fast.”<br />

Mary Cosgrove Michener posted this to her<br />

Facebook page Jan. 8.<br />

Like The Mokena Messenger: facebook.com/<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

“Congrats to the Girls Basketball team as<br />

they defeated Thornridge last night 49-24!!<br />

Regan LoConte led the Knights with 22<br />

points!!”<br />

@LWCKnights posted this to its Twitter<br />

account Friday, Jan. 11.<br />

Follow The Mokena Messenger: @mokenamessenger<br />

TJ Kremer iii<br />

tj@mokenamessenger.com<br />

There’s an unfortunate<br />

paradox that often<br />

accompanies news<br />

stories: In order to report on<br />

the good done by someone<br />

or someones or organizations<br />

of someones, there<br />

must first be something bad<br />

that happens.<br />

Such is the case this<br />

week.<br />

Doc’s Smokehouse in<br />

Mokena has proven that<br />

there is such a thing as a<br />

free lunch (you can find that<br />

story on Page 7); however,<br />

they were only able to prove<br />

this because of the partial<br />

federal government shutdown,<br />

which is at the time<br />

of this writing entering its<br />

24th day, the longest in U.S.<br />

history.<br />

nfyn<br />

From Page 12<br />

things step by step, the way<br />

you build a regular Lego set,<br />

and then it shows you practical<br />

applications of how you<br />

can program these things,”<br />

DeCarlo said. “The kids ...<br />

learn about engineering and<br />

building to withstand earthquakes.”<br />

Reporting by Laurie Fanelli,<br />

Freelance Reporter. For more,<br />

visit OPPrairie.com.<br />

People, regular citizens,<br />

all across our country are<br />

stepping up to help those<br />

who are currently not<br />

getting paid for the work<br />

they do for the federal<br />

government, either because<br />

they’re being forced to work<br />

without pay or because<br />

they’ve been laid off and<br />

are awaiting permission to<br />

return to work.<br />

This past Friday, Jan.<br />

11, some 800,000 federal<br />

employees went without<br />

their first paychecks in this<br />

partial shutdown. The hope<br />

is that things will get back<br />

to some sort of normalcy<br />

before the bills really start<br />

to pile up for those workers,<br />

but the reality is that<br />

with an impotent Congress<br />

and Agent Orange in the<br />

White House seemingly<br />

unwillingly to negotiate<br />

any sort of compromise to<br />

get American workers back<br />

to work, the hardships for<br />

those 800,000 people are far<br />

from over.<br />

To be clear: This complete<br />

debacle, this unabashed<br />

perversion of<br />

our democratic process is<br />

the fault of both political<br />

parties’ leadership. Both<br />

sides are allowing innocent,<br />

docs<br />

From Page 7<br />

honest workers to be held<br />

hostage to achieve their<br />

own political gains. And no<br />

matter how each side tries to<br />

spin it and point the finger at<br />

the other, each is ultimately<br />

responsible for representing<br />

us and, therefore, must<br />

share equally in the blame.<br />

Again, it is truly uplifting<br />

to read and see the stories of<br />

how regular folks are doing<br />

what they can to help other<br />

regular folks just trying to<br />

get by.<br />

And, again, it is equally<br />

depressing to know that<br />

none of that would be<br />

necessary were it not for the<br />

ineptitude we see so often<br />

from our federal government<br />

that the dysfunctional<br />

and absurd seem to be the<br />

new norms. It should not be<br />

this way.<br />

So, is there anything we<br />

can do about it except complain?<br />

Are we relegated to<br />

shouting our disdain to the<br />

trees for lack of any government<br />

audience that will not<br />

only listen but actually do<br />

something?<br />

The sad truth is I’m not<br />

so sure. Our representative<br />

form of government really<br />

only works when people<br />

representing all sides of an<br />

fested itself with a familiar<br />

face, Brashier decided<br />

to step up and do what he<br />

could.<br />

On Jan. 8, Doc’s began<br />

offering any federal<br />

employee affected by the<br />

shutdown a free lunch special<br />

of a pork sandwich,<br />

chips and a soft drink or<br />

iced tea. All they have to<br />

do is show a valid federal<br />

ID.<br />

“We’ve been really fortunate<br />

to have the support<br />

of the communities,<br />

and we wanted to take<br />

this opportunity to give<br />

something back,” Brashier<br />

said.<br />

Brashier said he plans<br />

to continue the free meal<br />

offer throughout the duration<br />

of the federal<br />

shutdown.<br />

Doc’s Smokehouse is<br />

located at 19081 Old Lagrange<br />

Road in Mokena.<br />

For more information, visit<br />

docsbbq.net, or call (708)<br />

995-5533.<br />

issue are willing to compromise,<br />

and it seems less and<br />

less likely for that to happen<br />

with each passing day.<br />

What I am sure of is<br />

that while the lawmakers<br />

across the country try<br />

to figure out the whole<br />

compromise notion, which<br />

seems to be completely<br />

alien to them, those federal<br />

workers should be allowed<br />

back to work and get paid<br />

for their efforts. An honest<br />

day’s work for an honest<br />

day’s pay is one of the<br />

foundations our labor force<br />

depends on and has worked<br />

to uphold for many, many<br />

decades.<br />

So, maybe we can only<br />

scream from the mountaintops.<br />

But, if that’s our only<br />

choice, then let’s scream so<br />

loud that those in Washington<br />

can hear us loud and<br />

clear.<br />

Sound Off Policy<br />

Editorials and columns are the<br />

opinions of the author. Pieces<br />

from 22nd Century Media are<br />

the thoughts of the company as<br />

a whole. The Mokena Messenger<br />

encourages readers to write letters<br />

to Sound Off. All letters must be<br />

signed, and names and hometowns<br />

will be published. We also ask that<br />

writers include their address and<br />

phone number for verification,<br />

not publication. Letters should be<br />

limited to 400 words. The Mokena<br />

Messenger reserves the right to edit<br />

letters. Letters become property<br />

of The Mokena Messenger. Letters<br />

that are published do not reflect<br />

the thoughts and views of The<br />

Mokena Messenger. Letters can be<br />

mailed to: The Mokena Messenger,<br />

11516 West 183rd Street, Unit<br />

SW Office Condo #3, Orland<br />

Park, Illinois, 60467. Fax letters to<br />

(708) 326-9179 or e-mail to tj@<br />

mokenamessenger.com.<br />

www.mokenamessenger.com.


14 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger mokena<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

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the mokena messenger | January 17, 2019 | mokenamessenger.com<br />

Mokena resident uses holistic methods for total ‘transformations,’ Page 17<br />

Treasure trove<br />

Mokena park district’s flea<br />

market draws bargain<br />

hunters, Page 18<br />

A world of<br />

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Tinley’s Runa Izakaya<br />

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16 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger faith<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

Faith Briefs<br />

St. Mary’s Catholic Church (19515 115th Ave.,<br />

Mokena)<br />

Church Service<br />

5 p.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m,<br />

9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.<br />

Sundays<br />

Young at Heart Senior Club<br />

1 p.m. the first and third<br />

Wednesday of the month. Join<br />

the senior club for activities and<br />

outings Sept.-June. For more information,<br />

call (708) 699-5018.<br />

Holy Rosary<br />

7:30 a.m. daily; 7 p.m.<br />

Tuesday evenings.<br />

FUNERAL SERVICES DIRECTORY<br />

Kim O’Neil Golob<br />

Kelli Hartseil Mores<br />

Kelly Furlong Foresman, Secretary<br />

It was easy to<br />

decide on cremation.<br />

Now, what about the<br />

rest of the decisions?<br />

Colonial Chapel<br />

Funeral Home<br />

Private, On-site Crematory<br />

15525 S. 73rd Ave.<br />

(155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem)<br />

Orland Park, Illinois<br />

Family owned for 40 Years<br />

colonialchapel.com<br />

708-532-5400<br />

The Cremation Experts.<br />

St. John’s United Church of Christ (11100 Second<br />

St., Mokena)<br />

Traditional Service<br />

8 a.m. traditional service,<br />

9:45 a.m. contemporary & traditional<br />

music in a service of<br />

praise and reverence. Supervised<br />

childcare available. For<br />

more information, call (708)<br />

479-5123.<br />

Bundles of Love<br />

7 p.m. the second and<br />

fourth Tuesday of each<br />

month. Enjoy fun and fellowship<br />

while making baby<br />

quilts for infants baptized at<br />

2017 WINNER<br />

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HOME"<br />

©2006 Copyrighted Material<br />

St. John’s and lap quilts for<br />

shut-ins.<br />

Mokena United Methodist Church (10901<br />

LaPorte Road, Mokena)<br />

Service and Sunday School<br />

10:15 a.m. Sundays. Church<br />

service and children’s Sunday<br />

School will be held. For more<br />

information, call (708) 479-<br />

1110.<br />

Marley Community Church (12625 W. 187th St.,<br />

Mokena)<br />

Church Service<br />

10 a.m. Sundays. Childcare<br />

is provided.<br />

Sunday School<br />

9-10 a.m. Sundays.<br />

Senior High Youth Group<br />

7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays.<br />

For more information, email<br />

marleycommunitychurch@<br />

gmail.com.<br />

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (10731 W.<br />

La Porte Road, Mokena)<br />

Worship<br />

9 a.m. Sundays.<br />

ADVERTISE<br />

YOUR<br />

FUNERAL<br />

SERVICES.<br />

Contact Classifieds at<br />

708.326.9170<br />

www.22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

Preschool Registration<br />

9:30 a.m. Feb. 11. Registration<br />

for the 2019-20<br />

school year will be open to<br />

the public. Please visit the<br />

Preschool Overview page at<br />

www.immanuelmokena.org<br />

for all of the details on registration,<br />

class offerings and<br />

tuition and fees.<br />

Mokena Baptist Church (9960 W. 187th St.,<br />

Mokena)<br />

Sunday Services<br />

11 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more<br />

information, call (312) 350-<br />

2279.<br />

Parker Road Bible Church (18512 Parker Road,<br />

Mokena)<br />

Worship Service<br />

10:30 a.m. Sundays. Be<br />

sure to arrive early for our<br />

Sunday Worship Service to<br />

enjoy a hot, complimentary<br />

cup of coffee every week at<br />

the church.<br />

Grace Fellowship Church (11049 LaPorte Road,<br />

Mokena)<br />

Spanish Church<br />

12:30 p.m. Sundays.<br />

In Memoriam<br />

David Leroy Pedigo<br />

David Leroy Pedigo, 82,<br />

late of Mokena, died Dec.<br />

31.<br />

He was preceded in death<br />

by his parents, Joseph Henry<br />

and Violet Viola (Chambers),<br />

and his beloved wife<br />

of 57 years, Marilyn Agnes<br />

(Miller). He is survived by<br />

his sons Terrance (Karen),<br />

Timothy (Diane) and Tod<br />

(Karen); and his grandchildren<br />

Kyle (McKenzie), Ada<br />

Violet, Quinn (Brittany),<br />

Linnea Ashley, Elise Jeanne.<br />

David James, Kristy Lyn,<br />

Joe William, Mark William,<br />

and Holly Lynn.<br />

In lieu of flowers donations<br />

to a no kill animal shelter<br />

of your choice to honor<br />

the love and companionship<br />

of an extended family member<br />

dog in need of a forever<br />

home is appreciated.<br />

Mary G. Ackley<br />

Mary G. Ackley (Keefe),<br />

Worship Service<br />

10 a.m. Sundays. All are<br />

welcome.<br />

Women’s Bible Study<br />

8:45-9:45 a.m. Sundays and<br />

2-3 p.m. Tuesdays.<br />

Victory Baptist Church (13550 US Route 6,<br />

Mokena)<br />

Sunday School<br />

9:30 a.m. Sundays.<br />

Morning Worship<br />

10:45 a.m. Sundays.<br />

Evening Worship<br />

6 p.m. Sundays.<br />

Weekday Worship<br />

7 p.m. Wednesdays.<br />

Have something for Faith Briefs?<br />

Contact Assistant Editor Megan<br />

Schuller at m.schuller@22ndcm.<br />

com or call (708) 326-9170 ext.<br />

34. Deadline is noon Thursday<br />

one week prior to publication.<br />

96, of Mokena, died Jan. 7.<br />

She was the beloved wife<br />

of the late Robert Ackley;<br />

loving mother of Barbara<br />

(late James) Koteles, Elizabeth,<br />

late James, Vincent<br />

(late Rebecca), Robert<br />

(Karin), William, Francis<br />

(Yvette), Mary (Andrew)<br />

Mack, Thomas (Terry) and<br />

Grace (Larry) Mack; proud<br />

grandmother of 22; greatgrandmother<br />

of eight; and<br />

dear sister of the late Jack,<br />

late Thomas, late Peggy, late<br />

Therese, Grace, Cecile, Betty<br />

and Eileen.<br />

In lieu of flowers, memorials<br />

to Misericordia Home,<br />

6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago,<br />

60660.<br />

Do you have someone’s life<br />

you’d like to honor? Email<br />

Editor T.J. Kremer III at tj@<br />

mokenamessenger.com with<br />

information about a loved one<br />

who was a part of the Mokena<br />

community.


mokenamessenger.com life & arts<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 17<br />

Transformation Station owner works to inspire lifestyle changes<br />

Megan Schuller, Assistant Editor<br />

(Left to right) Michael Lim Master, pain practitioner at Advanced Pain Rehab; Darin Steen, owner of Transformation Station and the nonprofit<br />

Transformation America; Dr. Ron Vaught, of Vaught Chiropractic; and John Tablerin, certified practitioner, pose for a photo Jan. 8 at Transformation<br />

station. The group has partnered to help the community live healthier lives through Steen’s nonprofit. Megan Schuller/22nd Century Media<br />

“What you say becomes your<br />

mind set. Your mind set becomes<br />

your actions, which then become<br />

your lifestyle.”<br />

This was a type of mantra that<br />

owner of Transformation Station<br />

Darin Steen said to me to challenge<br />

my mind set as he showed me different<br />

workouts to challenge my<br />

body. Working out is one of those<br />

things that I always avoided in<br />

fear of an injury after having had<br />

a spinal fusion at a young age. But,<br />

while covering this story at Transformation<br />

Station, I learned that<br />

the thing I avoided was actually<br />

what I needed the most.<br />

Steen recently started a nonprofit<br />

called Transformation America,<br />

which will donate his 12-week holistic<br />

training regimen to people<br />

who have big dreams but have an<br />

extensive physical challenge that<br />

is keeping them from accomplishing<br />

those dreams. Steen and his<br />

partners combine conventional and<br />

unconventional methods to work<br />

on the mind and body in tandem<br />

in both those with disabilities and<br />

those without. He uses diet, targeted<br />

exercises, breathing techniques,<br />

mind fullness, light therapy and<br />

scar release therapy as ways for the<br />

body to self heal.<br />

After doing speed walking<br />

strides on the treadmill to warm<br />

up, Steen had me do pushups off<br />

of a barbell as I focused on specific<br />

muscles and breathing deeply<br />

with every slow repetition that I<br />

did. Steen said that the slowness<br />

of each repetition is the key to the<br />

success of the program to “burn the<br />

fat by feeding the muscle.” I didn’t<br />

quite know what to expect from<br />

each exercise, but out of curiosity<br />

and for the sake of good journalism,<br />

I decided to give each one an<br />

honest effort try.<br />

“The therapy is a 12-week natural<br />

way to hit the reset button on<br />

the client’s mind set,” Steen said.<br />

“On the surface I am a trainer but<br />

it’s so much deeper than that. I help<br />

the client with their body and their<br />

mind.”<br />

Steen’s philosophy is that working<br />

out is not about lifting weights,<br />

it’s about doing and saying things<br />

that empower an individual to be<br />

successful. As part of this exercise,<br />

I filled out a goal sheet to read to<br />

myself every night as part of a motivational<br />

self-visualization.<br />

“We focus on a healthy lifestyle,<br />

one workout, one transformation at<br />

a time,” Steen said.<br />

Steen’s first recipient of the<br />

training course donated through his<br />

nonprofit is Mokena native Brian<br />

Swift, founder of non-profit Swift<br />

Outdoor Accessible Recreation.<br />

They met at Swift’s SOAR fundraiser<br />

last year and Swift is in his<br />

second month of the program.<br />

“We both wanted to inspire<br />

people to go to the next level,”<br />

Steen said. “Nonprofits can do a<br />

lot of good. We hope to get more<br />

involved with local businesses.<br />

We want to put a ripple effect out<br />

there.”<br />

Swift said that since he began<br />

training with Steen he lost 15<br />

pounds and feels more energetic<br />

after small but ultimately drastic<br />

lifestyle changes.<br />

“My injury is the biggest<br />

strength I’ve had,” Swift said about<br />

the challenge of being bound to a<br />

wheelchair for most of his life. “At<br />

age 56, I needed somebody like<br />

Darin to help push me [physically<br />

and mentally to get into shape]. I<br />

had to decide that this injury will<br />

be my source of power.”<br />

Steen created a partnership in alternative<br />

holistic medicine, which<br />

I also got to experience firsthand.<br />

One of Steen’s partners, Michael<br />

Lim, a pain practitioner at Advanced<br />

Pain Rehab in Crystal<br />

Lake, combines modern western<br />

medicine with ancient Chinese<br />

medicine to ease the physical and<br />

energy trauma caused by scars. He<br />

specializes in a scar release therapy<br />

using a device called the Dolphin,<br />

which works in a way similar to a<br />

tens unit. The Dolphin unit emits a<br />

noise, similar to that of it’s namesake,<br />

as it transfers current from<br />

one pen tip to the other through the<br />

body.<br />

Now, as a side note, I have had a<br />

2-foot-long scar on my back from<br />

my spinal fusion for more then half<br />

my life. As he worked up my scar<br />

along my spine I could feel the<br />

current getting stronger and pass<br />

through my body as a slight burning<br />

sensation. The immediate effects<br />

left me ache free, which is an<br />

unusual thing for me to say.<br />

“Beneath scars is stuck [stagnant]<br />

energy which causes pain.”<br />

Lim explained. “Western medicine<br />

deals with the problem like a mechanic,<br />

where Chinese medicine is<br />

more like a gardener. Scars cause<br />

a chain of events, but my job is to<br />

see the bigger picture and what underlying<br />

issues are caused from the<br />

scar.”<br />

Steen wants to do more training<br />

of medical and business professionals<br />

in the future. He wants his<br />

business to stay local and to raise<br />

the funds necessary to help people<br />

and to one day grow.<br />

The biggest takeaway I got from<br />

this experience is the importance<br />

of maintaining a positive sense of<br />

confidence for myself as I work toward<br />

the healthier lifestyle that is<br />

right for me. I never thought much<br />

about the interplay between things<br />

like diet, exercise and mindfulness<br />

in relation to how it affects my day<br />

to day life on a subconscious level.<br />

While I definitely “felt the burn,”<br />

as the saying goes, I also left Transformation<br />

Station without fear of<br />

exercise after having accomplished<br />

something as simple as pushups,<br />

which I haven’t done in years.


18 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger life & arts<br />

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While online shopping has<br />

made finding the right item at<br />

the best price easier than ever,<br />

the era of the flea market still<br />

marches on, even right here in<br />

Mokena.<br />

From jewelry to collectables,<br />

from makeup and<br />

clothing to toys, there was<br />

something for everyone at the<br />

Indoor Flea Market Sunday,<br />

Jan. 13. Hosted by The Mokena<br />

Community Park District<br />

at The Oaks Recreation Center,<br />

the long-running event offered<br />

local residents a chance<br />

to find some hidden treasure in<br />

a comfortable climate. More<br />

than 50 vendors pre-registered<br />

for the event, and an estimated<br />

200 people were in attendance.<br />

Rebecca Phetteplace, the<br />

recreation supervisor of special<br />

events, noted that while<br />

this year’s event was smaller<br />

than in years past, the checkin,<br />

set-up and flow of the event<br />

was much smoother.<br />

“I don’t know if it was because<br />

of more experienced<br />

vendors who had been here in<br />

years past, but everyone was<br />

ready to go. It made things<br />

easy,” Phetteplace said.<br />

Six-year-old Jessica Severns<br />

of Mokena was at the flea<br />

market with her grandmother<br />

for what was supposed to be a<br />

quick browse. But that browsing<br />

quickly turned into a shopping<br />

spree for the excited girl.<br />

Inside her new Minnie Mouse<br />

stroller were just some of the<br />

gems she had found, including<br />

two Minnie Mouse dolls, Lalaloopsy<br />

toys and even a back<br />

scratcher for her mom.<br />

“I’ve hit the jackpot,”<br />

Severns said with a giant grin<br />

on her face.<br />

Being able to make connections<br />

with the buyers at<br />

flea markets is something that<br />

many vendors enjoy most. For<br />

Jessica Severns, 6, of Mokena, says she “hit the jackpot”<br />

with her flea market finds, like this Minnie Mouse stroller,<br />

during Mokena Community Park District’s Indoor Flea<br />

Market at The Oaks Recreation Center Sunday, Jan. 13.<br />

Rochelle McAuliffe/22nd Century Media<br />

Ron Kosary, a vendor from<br />

Oak Forest who sells mostly<br />

online, flea markets offer an<br />

opportunity to engage with<br />

buyers to create a larger clientele.<br />

Kosary is known for<br />

selling jewelry and toys, but<br />

his hot sellers on that day were<br />

his games and vinyl records,<br />

which he sold out of.<br />

“I like to get out before the<br />

big flea markets start opening<br />

up. I come out to flea markets<br />

to socialize and talk to people<br />

who like the same thing. It’s<br />

just a different type of atmosphere,”<br />

Kosary said. “Plus,<br />

I have a good opportunity to<br />

get some good finds before the<br />

market opens.”<br />

Next to Kosary’s booth was<br />

Bob Wunderlich, a Frankfort<br />

resident who has been both<br />

a buyer and seller for more<br />

than five years. Wunderlich’s<br />

booth featured a variety of<br />

toys, including some boxed<br />

Star Wars collectables. While<br />

he admitted he does like the<br />

outdoor flea market more than<br />

being inside, Wunderlich is<br />

just grateful to connect with<br />

people who have similar interests,<br />

and even those that don’t.<br />

“I like dealing with and<br />

talking to people. I enjoy mixing<br />

with people,” said Wunderlich.<br />

“I see a lot of people<br />

who I know at these markets<br />

that are all here to do the same<br />

thing. They’re my friends and<br />

neighbors … It just shows the<br />

community we have.”<br />

The Mokena Community<br />

Park District will host its next<br />

flea market during the Farm<br />

and Barn Fest this summer.<br />

For more information, please<br />

visit the MCPD website at<br />

mokenapark.com.


mokenamessenger.com life & arts<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 19<br />

The Dish<br />

Runa Izakaya a one-stop spot for Asian cuisine<br />

Nuria Mathog<br />

Contributing Editor<br />

It is the classic lunchtime<br />

debate: sushi, pad thai or<br />

Chinese?<br />

At Runa Izakaya in Tinley<br />

Park, diners can have it all.<br />

Owner Mark Cheung, a<br />

longtime resident of Chicago’s<br />

Bridgeport neighborhood,<br />

prides himself on<br />

the restaurant’s diversity of<br />

Asian offerings. Among the<br />

items on Runa Izakaya’s expansive<br />

menu are Japanese<br />

nigiri — raw fish served on<br />

top of rice — and signature<br />

sushi rolls adapted to more<br />

American palates, as well as<br />

Thai noodle dishes and Chinese<br />

entrees, such as lo mein<br />

and Szechuan chicken.<br />

Cheung moved from<br />

Hong Kong to the United<br />

States when he was just 17<br />

years old and soon discovered<br />

a passion for cooking<br />

through his work in the restaurant<br />

industry. He started<br />

with his first gig as a waiter<br />

at a Chinese restaurant in<br />

Chicago. Runa Izakaya is his<br />

first restaurant, and Cheung<br />

said he appreciates being a<br />

part of the Tinley Park business<br />

community.<br />

“People here are nice,” he<br />

said. “People here [like] my<br />

food.”<br />

The word “izakaya” refers<br />

to a Japanese bar that provides<br />

both food and drinks,<br />

and Runa Izakaya holds true<br />

on both fronts, offering diners<br />

a selection of wine, sake<br />

and cocktails to pair with its<br />

dishes, such as the cosmopolitan<br />

($6.50), made with<br />

Absolut Citron, Cointreau,<br />

lime juice and cranberry<br />

juice.<br />

One of the most frequently-ordered<br />

dishes at Runa<br />

Izakaya is the tonkotsu ramen<br />

($10), which is a large<br />

serving of freshly made noodles,<br />

served in a chicken and<br />

Runa Izakaya<br />

7138 183rd St. in Tinley<br />

Park<br />

Hours<br />

• 11 a.m.-9 p.m.<br />

Monday-Thursday<br />

• 11 a.m.-10 p.m.<br />

Friday-Saturday<br />

• 12-9 p.m. Sunday<br />

For more information…<br />

Phone: (708) 342-1652<br />

Web: www.runaizakaya.<br />

com<br />

pork broth, along with pork<br />

slices, bean sprouts, seaweed,<br />

eggs, mushrooms and<br />

green onions. The restaurant<br />

offers several other varieties<br />

of ramen, as well, including<br />

beef jigoku ramen and seafood<br />

tonkotsu ramen.<br />

“The seafood one, we just<br />

change [out] the pork and<br />

put seafood in there: shrimp,<br />

baby scallops and calamari,”<br />

Cheung said. “The spicy<br />

one, the beef one, we put in<br />

spicy beef.”<br />

Sushi fans can choose<br />

from a variety of creatively-named<br />

rolls, including<br />

the Chicago Moonlight roll<br />

($11.99) a salmon and mango<br />

roll paired with shrimp,<br />

avocado and mango sauce,<br />

and the Tinley Park roll<br />

($12.99), made with crab,<br />

cucumber and avocado,<br />

topped with red snapper and<br />

unagi sauce, also known as<br />

eel sauce.<br />

The Fire Dragon roll<br />

($14.99) — a baked shrimp<br />

tempura roll topped with<br />

salmon, white tuna, red tobiko,<br />

onion, eel sauce and<br />

spicy mayo — is among<br />

the restaurant’s most popular<br />

dishes, Cheung said. As<br />

a baked roll, the dish offers<br />

a gateway into the world of<br />

sushi for diners uncomfortable<br />

with consuming raw<br />

fish.<br />

The tonkotsu ramen ($10) at Runa Izakaya in Tinley Park comes with a chicken and pork broth, fresh noodles, pork slices,<br />

bean sprouts, seaweed, eggs, mushrooms, and green onions. Photos by Megan Schuller/22nd Century Media<br />

Customers seeking a<br />

more traditional experience<br />

can opt for a bento box, a<br />

meal featuring a selection<br />

of Japanese foods served in<br />

compartments in a box. The<br />

chicken teriyaki bento box<br />

($9.99) comes with chicken<br />

stir fry with teriyaki sauce,<br />

rice, a California roll and<br />

chicken gyoza dumplings<br />

and sauce. The restaurant<br />

also offers three other bento<br />

box varieties: beef teriyaki,<br />

salmon teriyaki and vegetable<br />

tofu.<br />

Cheung hopes area diners<br />

will spring for lunch or dinner<br />

at Runa Izakaya the next<br />

time they are in the market<br />

for a delicious, affordable<br />

meal.<br />

“We’ve got very good<br />

quality and prices,” he said.<br />

The Fire Dragon roll ($14.99) features baked shrimp tempura wrapped with rice and seaweed,<br />

and topped with salmon, white tuna, red tobiko, onion, eel sauce and spicy mayo.


20 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger MOKENA<br />

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is required for ballot to count. Only one vote per person and email address (for online ballots). At least 50 categories must be filled in on the Entry Ballot in order to be eligible for one of the Prizes.<br />

Mail entries to: “Southwest Choice Awards ℅ 22nd Century Media, 11516 W. 183rd Place 3SW, Orland Park, IL 60467. Hand-delivered entries and online entries will be accepted. No photocopies<br />

or mechanical reproductions. The sweepstakes begins Jan. 17, 2019, and ends Feb. 10, 2019. Entries must be received by no later than 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. Sponsor is not responsible for<br />

lost, late, misdirected, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, stolen, or postage-due mail or otherwise undeliverable entries. The winner will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible entries<br />

received on or about Feb. 20, 2019. The winner will be notified by phone within 15 days of drawing. The prize will be awarded within 30 days after the winner has been notified and chosen. For a<br />

copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to “Southwest Choice Awards” ℅ 22nd Century Media, 11516 W. 183rd Place 3SW, Orland Park, IL 60467. All entries become<br />

the property of the Sponsor.<br />

CONDITIONS: Sponsor is not responsible for printing, production, typographical or other errors or omissions. Prize winner may be required to complete and return an affidavit of eligibility and<br />

liability/publicity release before receiving Prize. If affidavit and release are not returned within seven (7) days of the Prize drawing, or if the Prize winner is ineligible, the Prize may be forfeited and<br />

an alternate Prize winner may be randomly chosen from among all eligible entrants. Winner will be required to provide proof of insurance at the time of delivery.<br />

All taxes associated with the Prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. By entering, participants agree to be bound by the official rules (and the Sponsor’s interpretation thereof) and consent<br />

to the use of their name, photograph, and/or likeness for advertising/publicity without further consideration, except where prohibited by law. Sponsor may prohibit entrants from participating<br />

in the Sweepstakes and disqualify entries if they attempt to enter the Sweepstakes through means not described in the rules, attempt to disrupt the Sweepstakes or circumvent the rules, act<br />

Increase the value<br />

of your home this Spring<br />

18445ThompsonCourt<br />

Tinley Park,Illnois60477<br />

Familyowned &operatedsince 1959<br />

708.342.0900<br />

www.schaafwindow.com<br />

Vote Online Now<br />

22ndCenturyMedia.com/swchoice<br />

Please write in your favorite business in each category. A minimum of 10 categories<br />

is required for ballot to count. Only one vote per person and/or email address<br />

(for online ballots). At least 50 categories must be filled in to be eligible for 22nd<br />

Century Media’s Southwest Choice Awards presented by Celebrity Cruises<br />

prize - one $500 Mastercard gift card. Please see instructions and official rules below.<br />

Caterer ______________________________ Ribs _________________________________<br />

Chicken Wings ________________________ Seafood - Fast Food ____________________<br />

Chinese food _________________________ Seafood - Fine Dining __________________<br />

Date night spot _______________________ Sports Bar ____________________________<br />

Deli/Sub sandwiches __________________ Steakhouse ___________________________<br />

Family-owned restaurant ______________ Sushi Restaurant ______________________<br />

Fine Dining __________________________ Thai Restaurant _______________________<br />

Fried Chicken ________________________<br />

Greek Restaurant _____________________<br />

Gyros _______________________________<br />

Happy Hour __________________________<br />

Hibachi Grill __________________________<br />

Hot Dogs _____________________________<br />

Ice Cream ____________________________<br />

Irish pub _____________________________<br />

Italian Restaurant _____________________<br />

Juice/Smoothies ______________________<br />

Mexican Restaurant ____________________<br />

New Restaurant<br />

(Feb. 2018-present) ____________________<br />

Outdoor Dining _______________________<br />

Pizza ________________________________<br />

Pizza - Chicago-style ___________________<br />

Pizza - Most creative ___________________<br />

Pizza - Thick Crust _____________________<br />

Pizza - Thin crust ______________________<br />

Education<br />

Private K-8th<br />

Grade School _________________________<br />

Private High School ____________________<br />

Preschool ____________________________<br />

Fitness & Recreation<br />

Art Gallery or Studio ___________________<br />

Bowling Alley _________________________<br />

Casino ______________________________<br />

Country Club _________________________<br />

Dance Studio _________________________<br />

Driving Range ________________________<br />

Family Entertainment<br />

Center ______________________________<br />

Fitness Center/Gym ___________________<br />

Gaming Center _______________________<br />

Golf Course __________________________<br />

Gymnastics Center ____________________<br />

Hotel _______________________________<br />

Industry-leading professionals,<br />

ready to make your experience as<br />

rewarding as it is relaxing.<br />

20821 S. LaGrange Rd., Frankfort 60423 • 815-469-0660<br />

15194 S. LaGrange Rd., Orland Park 60462 • 708-364-0660<br />

1243 S. State St., Lemont 60439 • 630-243-0660<br />

2018<br />

WINNER<br />

Live Entertainment<br />

Venue _______________________________<br />

Movie Theater ________________________<br />

Music Lessons ________________________<br />

Wedding Venue _______________________<br />

Yoga ________________________________<br />

Health<br />

Assisted Living _______________________<br />

Chiropractor __________________________<br />

Dentist ______________________________<br />

Doctor _______________________________<br />

Emergency Room _____________________<br />

Hearing Clinic ________________________<br />

Home Health Care _____________________<br />

Hospital _____________________________<br />

OB/GYN ______________________________<br />

Orthodontist _________________________<br />

Orthopedic ___________________________<br />

Pediatrician __________________________<br />

Physical Therapy ______________________<br />

Place to have<br />

a Baby ______________________________<br />

Podiatrist ____________________________<br />

Senior Living _________________________<br />

Urgent Care __________________________<br />

Vision Center _________________________<br />

Weight Loss Center ____________________<br />

Pets<br />

Pet Boarding _________________________<br />

Pet Groomer __________________________<br />

Pet Shop _____________________________<br />

Pet Walker ___________________________<br />

Veterinarian __________________________<br />

in an unsportsmanlike manner or with an intent to annoy or harass any other entrant or Sponsor. Sponsor<br />

reserves the right to cancel or suspend the Sweepstakes should unauthorized human intervention or other<br />

causes beyond the control of the Sponsor corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper<br />

operation of the Sweepstakes. In the event Sponsor terminates Sweepstakes due to unauthorized human<br />

intervention or other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor, Sponsor shall award the Prize in a random<br />

drawing of all entrants to one eligible participant, based upon the rules of eligibility. All decisions are final.<br />

Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received. Possible entries are unlimited in number and<br />

only one prize will be awarded. A purchase will not improve chance of winning. Employees of participating<br />

companies and its properties, sponsors, vendors and their immediate families are not eligible to win.<br />

PRIZE: One $500 Mastercard Gift Card. Approximate retail value is $500.<br />

ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal U.S. residents of Illinois, 21 years of age or older on the day of entry. At least 50<br />

categories must be filled in on the Entry Ballot in order to eligible for the Prize. Only one entry per person.<br />

Employees of 22nd Century Media and its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies and promotional<br />

suppliers, as well as the immediate families of such employees, are not eligible. Void where prohibited or<br />

restricted by law.<br />

The forefront.<br />

Now available<br />

in the Southland.<br />

Real Estate<br />

Commercial Real<br />

Estate Agent _________________________<br />

Real Estate Attorney ___________________<br />

Real Estate Brokerage _________________<br />

Real Estate<br />

Mortgage Lender______________________<br />

Residential Real<br />

Estate Agent _________________________<br />

Real Estate Team _____________________<br />

Services<br />

Auto Repair __________________________<br />

Bank ________________________________<br />

Butcher _____________________________<br />

Car Wash ____________________________<br />

Carpet/Flooring ______________________<br />

Credit Union _________________________<br />

Day Care _____________________________<br />

Electrician ___________________________<br />

Financial Advisor _____________________<br />

Florist ______________________________<br />

Funeral Home ________________________<br />

Handyman Service ____________________<br />

Heating/Cooling ______________________<br />

Home Builder ________________________<br />

Home Improvement ___________________<br />

Insurance agent ______________________<br />

Interior Design _______________________<br />

Kitchen/Bath Remodeling ______________<br />

Landscaping _________________________<br />

Law Firm ____________________________<br />

Lawn Care ___________________________<br />

Oil Change ___________________________<br />

Pest Control _________________________<br />

Photographer ________________________<br />

Plumber _____________________________<br />

Pools/Spas ___________________________<br />

Roofing _____________________________<br />

Towing Company _____________________<br />

Travel Agency ________________________<br />

Windows/Doors ______________________<br />

Window Washing _____________________<br />

Shopping<br />

Antiques ____________________________<br />

Appliance Store ______________________<br />

Boutique ____________________________<br />

Consignment Shop ____________________<br />

Furniture Store _______________________<br />

Garden Center<br />

or Nursery ___________________________<br />

Grocery Store ________________________<br />

Health Food Store _____________________<br />

Jewelry Store ________________________<br />

Liquor Store __________________________<br />

Vehicles/Recreational Vehicles<br />

Auto Dealer - Domestic _________________<br />

Auto Dealer - Imports __________________<br />

Motorcycle Dealer _____________________<br />

RV Dealer ___________________________<br />

Entry ballot must be received by<br />

5 p.m. Feb. 10, 2019<br />

At least 10 categories must be completed for ballot to be counted. At<br />

least 50 categories must be completed to be eligible for prize.<br />

Name _______________________________________ Age ____<br />

Address _____________________________________________<br />

City __________________________State______Zip_____ ____<br />

Phone _________________E-mail ________________________<br />

Mail entries to:<br />

“Southwest Choice Awards” ℅ 22nd Century Media<br />

11516 W. 183rd Place 3SW Orland Park, IL 60467<br />

The BEST BURGER you will<br />

ever have.<br />

Come Try it For Yourself!<br />

16529 West 159th Street<br />

(in the Jewel plaza behind Starbuck’s)<br />

Lockport, IL<br />

VOTE<br />

Diamond’s Family<br />

Restaurant & Bar<br />

Member<br />

FDIC<br />

2018<br />

WINNER<br />

Wake up to a better<br />

way tobank!<br />

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Learn more:<br />

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STEAKS• CHOPS • PRIME RIB<br />

SEAFOOD • CHICKEN • RIBS<br />

VOTED BEST<br />

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2017 WINNER<br />

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FINE DINING<br />

VOTE FOR US<br />

Vin<br />

this years Southwest Choice Awards<br />

Local Retail Garden Center<br />

Full Service<br />

Landscape Department<br />

SERVING THE<br />

SOUTH SUBURBS<br />

SINCE 1922<br />

708.687.2331<br />

147th & Oak Park Ave.<br />

Oak Forest, IL 60452<br />

OPEN 7DAYS AWEEK<br />

17050 South Oak Park Ave. Tinley Park, IL60477<br />

tpkitchenandbath.com 708.429.6601<br />

2018<br />

WINNER<br />

JIM MELKA LANDSCAPING & GARDEN CENTER<br />

11606 179 TH ST. (708) 349-6989 ext. 3<br />

MOKENA jimmelkalandscaping.com<br />

Connect with us on social media:


22 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger puzzles<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

crosstown CROSSWORD & Sudoku<br />

The crosstowns: Frankfort, Homer Glen, Lockport, Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, Tinley Park<br />

Crossword by Myles Mellor and Cindy LaFleur<br />

Across<br />

1. Aerial defense weapon,<br />

for short<br />

4. Lincoln-Way East<br />

High School junior and<br />

standout student, ____<br />

McCreary<br />

8. Travel cost on some<br />

roads<br />

12. ___ Speedwagon,<br />

rock group<br />

13. City related<br />

15. “___ beaucoup”<br />

16. 1997 Will Smith film<br />

“___ in Black<br />

17. Queen’s place<br />

19. Scared<br />

21. Urban pollution<br />

22. Broadway brightener<br />

23. Prefix with phobia<br />

26. Indistinguishable<br />

32. Conger catcher<br />

35. One who’s “out”<br />

37. Thanksgiving dishes<br />

38. Warning sound<br />

41. Emerald look-alike<br />

43. Outburst<br />

44. Sews up<br />

46. Geological epoch<br />

47. Los ___, Calif.<br />

49. Lincoln-Way East<br />

alum who- went on to<br />

play basketball at Wesleyan<br />

College<br />

54. Consisting of two<br />

parts<br />

56. Assn. formed in 1949<br />

57. Mincemeat desserts<br />

60. Parting words<br />

62. Edits<br />

67. Baby food catcher<br />

68. Chuck or Halle<br />

69. Empty spaces<br />

70. Alcoholic beverage<br />

71. Paint can direction<br />

72. From one end to the<br />

other<br />

73. Fishing equipment<br />

Down<br />

1. Big name in fashion<br />

2. Bellyached<br />

3. Joe DiMaggio’s wife<br />

4. Car with a four-ring<br />

emblem<br />

5. Produced<br />

6. World Service provider<br />

7. Talks a blue streak<br />

8. Earl Gray<br />

9. 1970 Stanley Cup hero<br />

10. Screen type<br />

11. Fleur de ___<br />

14. Name, in Nice<br />

15. “Me and Bobby ___”<br />

song<br />

18. Hounds’ quarry<br />

20. Fashion’s Taylor<br />

24. Marshal under Napoleon<br />

25. Norwegian saint<br />

27. Summit<br />

28. ___ fixe (obsession)<br />

29. Data storage device<br />

30. Rhode Island-based<br />

auto insurance company<br />

31. Put on, as cargo<br />

33. Brit. recording giant<br />

34. Q followers<br />

36. Asian juice<br />

38. Engagement<br />

39. Record label<br />

40. ____ Admiral<br />

42. Detective in the pulps<br />

45. Old French coin<br />

48. Gummy<br />

50. Richard Bach novel<br />

51. Shades brand<br />

52. Paris’s Arc de Triomphe<br />

de l’___<br />

53. For sure<br />

55. Perjure<br />

58. Ltr. holder, abbr.<br />

59. “Begone!”<br />

60. Slander<br />

61. Biblical brother<br />

62. Air rifle ammo<br />

63. Rent out<br />

64. Spoon bender<br />

65. Blunder<br />

66. German “I”<br />

MOKENA<br />

The Alley Grill and Tap<br />

House<br />

(18700 S. Old LaGrange<br />

Road, Mokena; (708) 478-<br />

3610)<br />

■9 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Karaoke<br />

Fox’s Restaurant and Pub<br />

(11247 W. 187th St., Mokena;<br />

(708) 478-8888)<br />

■6 ■ p.m. Thursdays,<br />

Fridays and Saturdays:<br />

Performance by Jerry<br />

Eadie<br />

NEW LENOX<br />

Little Joe’s Restaurant<br />

(1300 N. Cedar Road,<br />

New Lenox; (815) 463-<br />

1099)<br />

■5-8 ■ p.m. Tuesdays:<br />

Piano Styles by Joe<br />

HOMER GLEN<br />

Front Row<br />

(14903 S. Bell Road,<br />

Homer Glen; (708) 645-<br />

7000)<br />

■7 ■ p.m. Wednesdays:<br />

Trivia<br />

FRANKFORT<br />

Pete Mitchell’s Bar & Grill<br />

(21000 Frankfort Square<br />

Road, Frankfort; (815)<br />

464-8100)<br />

■6-8 ■ p.m. Wednesdays:<br />

Free N’ Fun Bar Game.<br />

Free to play.<br />

LOCKPORT<br />

Port Noir<br />

(900 S. State St., Lockport;<br />

(815) 834-9463)<br />

■4-7 ■ p.m. Monday-Friday:<br />

Happy Hour<br />

■8-10 ■ p.m. Thursdays:<br />

Comedy Bingo<br />

■8-11 ■ p.m. Fridays and<br />

Saturdays: Live Band<br />

■7-11 ■ p.m. Sundays:<br />

Open Mic Night<br />

Strike N Spare II<br />

(811 Northern Drive,<br />

Lockport; (708) 301-<br />

1477)<br />

■9:30 ■ p.m.-12:30 a.m.<br />

Mondays: Quartermania<br />

■10 ■ p.m.-midnight Saturdays:<br />

Cosmic Bowl<br />

ORLAND PARK<br />

Traverso’s Restaurant<br />

(15601 S. Harlem Ave.,<br />

Orland Park; (708) 532-<br />

2220)<br />

■8 ■ p.m. Wednesdays and<br />

Saturdays: Karaoke<br />

To place an event<br />

in The Scene, email<br />

m.schuller@22ndcm.com.<br />

answers<br />

How to play Sudoku<br />

Each sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that<br />

has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3<br />

squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and<br />

box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9.<br />

LEVEL: Medium<br />

Sudoku by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan


mokenamessenger.com local living<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 23<br />

Introducing the Dunree II: Crana Homes’ Newest Luxury Townhome Design<br />

at Brookside Meadows<br />

Crana Homes, the acclaimed<br />

developer of hundreds of homes<br />

in the southwest suburbs has<br />

introduced another awardwinning<br />

luxury townhome<br />

design, the Dunree II, available<br />

now at Brookside Meadows in<br />

Tinley Park. The Dunree II<br />

joins the award-winning Lennan<br />

II and Fahan II in a secluded area<br />

of trees, lakes and open spaces.<br />

Prices range from the lower-$300s<br />

– including site – and with only a<br />

limited number of sites available<br />

buyers should act quickly.<br />

For 45 years Crana Homes<br />

commitment to complete<br />

customer satisfaction has<br />

been summed up as “Pride<br />

of Workmanship - Pride of<br />

Ownership.” This commitment<br />

to quality and satisfaction makes<br />

Brookside Meadows the ‘best<br />

of the best’. The proof is in<br />

the homes which are attractive,<br />

comfortable, well-built and<br />

energy-efficient. But, the entire<br />

community will soon be sold<br />

out so now is the time to make a<br />

commitment and select a home<br />

from one of the award-winning<br />

floorplans of the Dunree II, the<br />

Fahan II and the Lennan II.<br />

The new Dunree II is a<br />

generous three bedroom design<br />

with 3,194 square feet of total<br />

living space, including a large<br />

1,226 sq.’ basement. The master<br />

suite is on the first floor which<br />

features a walk-in shower and<br />

seat. The home has elegant<br />

nine foot tall first floor ceilings,<br />

two and a half baths, upgraded<br />

custom maple kitchen cabinets,<br />

granite countertops, upgraded<br />

light fixtures, and hardwood<br />

oak floors in the foyer, powder<br />

room, kitchen and living room.<br />

The Dunree II also includes<br />

deluxe landscaping and a two<br />

and a half car dry-walled garage<br />

with a cement driveway. Enjoy<br />

entertaining guests with a full<br />

walk out basement and a 12’ x<br />

12’ deck.<br />

The Fahan II has a grand<br />

two-story entrance foyer that<br />

leads to a split level floor plan<br />

with three bedrooms (fourth<br />

bedroom optional) and two and<br />

a half baths. First floor master<br />

bedroom with walk in closet and<br />

huge bathroom. It is a beautiful<br />

3,303 total square foot luxury<br />

townhome (including a 1,216<br />

sq.’ basement). A large open<br />

space kitchen with sleek granite<br />

countertops is surrounded by<br />

generous custom maple cabinets.<br />

The 1st floor master bedroom<br />

offers an optional coffered ceiling<br />

and the optional master bath<br />

includes a relaxing soaker tub.<br />

Overlooking the great room is an<br />

elegant loft. The home is accented<br />

by beautiful oak throughout,<br />

including doors, floors, railings<br />

and trim. A full lookout basement<br />

and a patio are also included in<br />

the Fahan II.<br />

The Lennan II is a comfortable<br />

two/three bedroom split level<br />

home and includes most of the<br />

features of the Fahan II except<br />

the huge master suite is on the<br />

upper level and the Lennan II<br />

features a dining/family room.<br />

It has 3,167 square feet of total<br />

space (including a 1,049 sq.’<br />

basement).<br />

All homes have underground<br />

utilities, deluxe landscaping<br />

and first floor laundry rooms.<br />

Buyers can select options like<br />

an impressive fireplace, walkout<br />

basement, coffered ceilings,<br />

skylights and a soaker tub in the<br />

master bath.<br />

Lake Michigan water, a<br />

sprinkler system and smoke<br />

detectors are provided. Brookside<br />

Meadows also has important costefficient,<br />

energy-saving features<br />

like a high-efficiency furnace and<br />

Lo-E glass installed throughout.<br />

Other ‘green’ features include an<br />

Energy Miser hot water heater,<br />

vented soffits, 1.75” insulated<br />

entrance doors, energy efficient<br />

appliances and Tuff-R insulated<br />

wall sheathing.<br />

Tucked away in a quiet section<br />

of Tinley Park, Brookside<br />

Meadows is close to everything:<br />

retail, dining, transportation<br />

routes, Metra rail station and<br />

airports. The school system<br />

is among the best in the state<br />

and Tinley Park, named “The<br />

Best Place In America to Raise<br />

a Family” by Bloomberg’s<br />

BusinessWeek, maintains 40<br />

parks and the Bettenhausen<br />

indoor recreational center.<br />

The Dunree II floorplan gives<br />

buyers a fresh set of new choices<br />

at Brookside Meadows – but<br />

only while they last! See the<br />

fully furnished and beautifully<br />

decorated models which are open<br />

Monday - Thursday 10:00am to<br />

4:00pm; Saturday and Sunday<br />

from noon to 4:00pm; and open<br />

Friday by appointment.<br />

To visit Brookside Meadows<br />

take I-80, exit La Grange Road<br />

south for just under two miles<br />

to La Porte Road and turn east<br />

for one-half mile. If mapping by<br />

way of a GPS, enter the address:<br />

19839 Mulroy Circle, Tinley<br />

Park, IL. Options, dimensions<br />

and specs can change so contact a<br />

Sales Associate at 708-479-5111<br />

for any updates and go online at<br />

www.cranahomes.com.<br />

DunreeII<br />

-1 st FloorMaster SuitewithWalk In Closet and LargeBathroom<br />

-3Bedrooms,Plus Loft<br />

-Full Walkout or LookoutBasement &Deck<br />

-Cost-Efficient, Energy-Saving Features<br />

-Chicago Water -Spacious OpenConcept Floorplan<br />

-Excellent School District<br />

Contactthe Sales Center fordetails at 708.479.5111 andvisitonline anytime at www.cranahomes.com<br />

Since 1970<br />

Decorated Models areOpen Mon-Thu 10am-4pm Sat/Sun Noon-4pm Friday byAppt.<br />

Exit I-80 at La Grange Road southfor just under twomiles to La PorteRoad andturn east for one-half mile to Brookside Meadows.<br />

OPPORTUNITY


24 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger classifieds<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

1003 Help Wanted<br />

Legal Notice Representative<br />

22nd Century Media LLC - Orland Park, IL<br />

22nd Century Media has a Legal and Public Notice<br />

Representative position open for it’s Southwest Suburban Team. The<br />

position would be responsible for the placement, coordination, and<br />

publishing of legal and public notices in 22nd Century Media's 15<br />

publications. Notices will come from civic bodies, businesses, and<br />

private parties. Candidates should be comfortable and familiar with being<br />

on the phone and computer while also working with various clients as<br />

well as being able to process the appropriate paperwork. This position<br />

offers a base salary along with a comprehensive benefits package.<br />

What you are responsible for:<br />

• Entering all legal and public notices in the appropriate<br />

newspaper for the correct run dates<br />

• Processing affidavits that the notices were published<br />

and sending them to the client.<br />

• Developing and maintaining client relationships<br />

• Working closely with clients to meet their public and legal notice needs<br />

• Working with the inside sales team in the Classified Department<br />

• Copywriting content for ads with clients to develop the right message<br />

• Keeping track of legal notices and their weekly revenue targets<br />

Qualifications: Must have a strong work ethic and ability to work<br />

independently as well as with a team. A desire to learn not only the legal<br />

notice process but also gain experience in media and working with an<br />

inside sales team. Excellent communication skills, time-management,<br />

comfort with selling over the phone, face to face as well as e-mail, and<br />

interpersonal skills required.<br />

Email Resume to: careers@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

No phone calls, please. EOE<br />

Village Seeks F/T Maintenance Worker<br />

The Village of Homer Glen is seeking a full-time maintenance<br />

worker to perform skilled and semi-skilled work in the care and<br />

maintenance of the Village's buildings, equipment and park<br />

properties. Applicants must have a H.S. diploma or GED, 2 yrs of<br />

experience performing maintenance work, knowledge of<br />

mechanical equipment used in maintenance of public facilities<br />

and possess a valid driver's license. Pay is $20/hr, with excellent<br />

benefit package. Selected candidates will be required to pass a<br />

criminal background check, medical physical and drug screen.<br />

A position description and application may be found on the<br />

Village's website www.homerglenil.org<br />

Completed applications can be e-mailed to Heather Kokodynsky<br />

at hkokodynsky@homerglenil.org or mailed to Village of Homer<br />

Glen, Attn: Heather Kokodynsky, 14240 W. 151st Street, Homer<br />

Glen, IL 60491. Applications are due by Friday, January 25.<br />

Fast paced Frankfort IL<br />

CPA Firm is looking for a<br />

P/T – F/T experienced<br />

Tax Preparer and a P/T<br />

Office Assistant for tax<br />

season. Flexible hours,<br />

some evenings required.<br />

Pay depends on<br />

level of experience.<br />

(Located just off of I-80<br />

and Harlem Ave)<br />

Fax Resume to:<br />

708-534-1017<br />

The City of Lockport is<br />

accepting applications for a<br />

full-time Wastewater<br />

Laborer. Please visit the<br />

City’s website for info &<br />

how to apply:<br />

www.cityoflockport.net<br />

Help<br />

Wanted<br />

As we continually grow,<br />

SW Suburban cleaning co.<br />

has openings for<br />

Cleaning Pros<br />

Exp. Preferred but Will<br />

Train. P/T Weekdays.<br />

No Evenings/Weekends<br />

815-464-1988<br />

Hiring Desk Clerk<br />

(must be flexible w/ shifts)<br />

& Housekeeping<br />

(Morning) Needed at<br />

Super 8 Motel<br />

Apply within:<br />

9485 W. 191st St, Mokena<br />

No Phone Calls<br />

DRIVE CAR BUYERS<br />

TO YOUR DOOR WITH<br />

A CLASSIFIED AUTO AD<br />

CALL US TODAY at 708.326.9170<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive<br />

Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise<br />

1003 Help<br />

Wanted<br />

INDUSTRIAL<br />

SALES ENGINEER<br />

SW Suburb of Chicago<br />

manufacturing company seeks<br />

a proactive, hard-working<br />

individual with at least 3-5<br />

years of experience in B2B<br />

Sales of industrial products<br />

(non-chemical).<br />

This inside, consultative sales<br />

position will focus on new and<br />

existing product sales development.<br />

This sales role targets<br />

users to discover if their<br />

current and future product<br />

needs match those of Aero's<br />

product features. Successful<br />

candidates should also have<br />

experience working with<br />

vendors to produce<br />

competitive quotes.<br />

Excellent salary and benefits<br />

package with annual<br />

performance bonus potential.<br />

Send resume to:<br />

bschatte@aerorubber.com<br />

AERO Rubber Company, Inc.<br />

SALES ASSISTANT<br />

Due to our rapid growth and<br />

expansion, Tinley Park<br />

industrial mfg. Sales office<br />

seeks exp'd, detail-oriented<br />

Sales Assistant for full-time<br />

position. A Sales Assistant at<br />

ARC does both sales<br />

secretarial & customer service<br />

functions. This is a very<br />

diversified position in our<br />

FAST-PACED office. The<br />

ideal candidate must be<br />

HIGHLY MOTIVATED and<br />

needs to possess strong<br />

organizational &<br />

communication skills.<br />

Excellent computer literacy<br />

needed, including MS Word &<br />

Excel. Industrial cust. service<br />

exp. req'd. Repeat customer &<br />

supplier contact. No<br />

telemarketing, no cold calling<br />

req'd. Competitive salary &<br />

benefit pkg incl. 401K.<br />

Send letter & resume to:<br />

cstratton@aerorubber.com<br />

Don’t just<br />

list your<br />

real estate<br />

property...<br />

Sell It!<br />

With a Classified Ad<br />

See the Classified Section for more info,<br />

or call 708.326.9170<br />

22ndCenturyMedia.com<br />

1004 Employment<br />

Opportunities<br />

1021 Lost &<br />

Found<br />

LOST: Car keys & house<br />

keys. All on one keychain.<br />

Lost between Woodbine Subdivision<br />

& Home Depot in<br />

Homer Glen onSunday 1/6.<br />

$50 CASH REWARD!<br />

708-638-0164<br />

1023 Caregiver<br />

Caregiver Services<br />

Provided by<br />

Margaret’s Agency Inc.<br />

State Licensed & Bonded<br />

since 1998. Providing quality<br />

care for elderly.<br />

Live-in/ Come & go.<br />

708.403.8707<br />

Heaven Sent Caregivers<br />

Professional caregiving<br />

service. 24 hr or hourly<br />

services; shower or bath<br />

visits. Licensed & bonded.<br />

Try the best! 708.638.0641<br />

Retired RN care for<br />

elderly and disabled in your<br />

home. Possible live-in.<br />

Excellent references<br />

815-614-8140<br />

1024 Senior<br />

Companion<br />

Senior Companion<br />

Do your loved ones need<br />

holiday shopping done,<br />

grocery shopping, to be<br />

taken to a doctor appt,<br />

errands run or just<br />

socialization? If so<br />

Call Betty (815)545-4935<br />

Sell It 708.326.9170<br />

Fax It 708.326.9179<br />

Charge It<br />

DEADLINE -<br />

Friday at 3pm<br />

Automotive<br />

$52<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

1061 Autos Wanted<br />

WANTED!<br />

WE NEED CARS, TRUCKS & VANS<br />

Running Or Not from Old to New!<br />

Top Dollar Paid - Free Pick-Up<br />

Locally Located<br />

(708)205-8241<br />

1074 Auto for<br />

Sale<br />

815-469-1999<br />

19121 85th Ct<br />

Mokena , IL 60448<br />

We Buy Cars<br />

ChicagoAutoNetwork.com<br />

2004 Nissan Xterra 4wd 110k<br />

$4900<br />

1996 Toyota Celica Convertible,<br />

new top $2,975<br />

2008 Ford Econoline 8 psngr<br />

van $8,975<br />

2004 Infiniti QX56 SUV<br />

$7,900<br />

2006 Toyota Highlander 4wd<br />

208k $4500<br />

2008 Honda Element 57k<br />

$14,900<br />

1998 Lincoln Continental 1<br />

owner 42k $7900<br />

2010 Subaru Legacy awd 111k<br />

$6900<br />

2004 Mercury grand marquis<br />

$3000<br />

1999 Chevy corvette 15k<br />

Miles black 1 owner $15,900<br />

2013 Tesla S60 ELECTRIC<br />

CAR 59k $37,900<br />

2006 Infiniti g35 coupe 28k<br />

Low Mi $12,900<br />

2016 Lexus GS350 Fsport awd<br />

$38,900<br />

2014 Lexus LS460 awd<br />

$29,900<br />

2015 Mercedes GLA45amg<br />

$29,900<br />

2007 GMC 2500 Diesel<br />

Pickup 118k $12,900<br />

1997 Chevy astro<br />

cargo/camper van only 17k<br />

mi $6975<br />

2008 Chevy 9 conversion van<br />

hi roof 43k $31,900<br />

2014 Dodge Charger police<br />

Help Wanted<br />

per line $13<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Real Estate<br />

$50<br />

7 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Automotive<br />

Merchandise<br />

$30<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

1074 Auto for<br />

Sale<br />

g g p<br />

pack 53k $11,900<br />

2014 Chevy express 15 psngr<br />

$14,900<br />

2003 Chevy 1500 cargo $5000<br />

2010 Chevy 2500 cargo<br />

$9,900<br />

2016 Ford Transit t350 ext 12<br />

psngr van 32k $21,900<br />

2018 Ford t350 hi roof 15<br />

psngr van $31,900<br />

2000 ep Cherokee 4wd 28k<br />

$14,900<br />

30 Passenger Cargo vans<br />

to choose from<br />

815-469-1999<br />

19121 85th Ct<br />

Mokena , IL 60448<br />

We Buy Cars<br />

ChicagoAutoNetwork.com<br />

Ford Pickup. F-150 46k Miles.<br />

Driven by senior, garage kept<br />

nightly. 214XLT Super Cab.<br />

Ruby red color, grey interior.<br />

Full ext. chrome inlc. wheels.<br />

Over $2k add ons incl: color<br />

matching fibreglass tunnel over<br />

bed. Interior 3/4 inch bed rug.<br />

Added chrome paint sealer, located<br />

in SW suburbs. $24,000<br />

815-485-6956<br />

2010 Honda Accord EX - 4dr,<br />

81,100 miles. Exc. condition,<br />

6-CD player, sun roof $7800<br />

Negotiable 708-560-6858<br />

...to place<br />

your<br />

Classified Ad!<br />

CALL<br />

708.326.9170


mokenamessenger.com classifieds<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 25<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive<br />

Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise<br />

Sell It 708.326.9170<br />

Fax It 708.326.9179<br />

Charge It<br />

DEADLINE -<br />

Friday at 3pm<br />

Automotive<br />

$52<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Help Wanted<br />

per line $13<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Real Estate<br />

$50<br />

7 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Merchandise<br />

$30<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

LOCAL<br />

REALTOR<br />

DIRECTORY<br />

READYTO SELL YOUR<br />

REAL ESTATE?<br />

CALL<br />

Mike McCatty<br />

& ASSOCIATES<br />

mccattyrealestate.com<br />

708-945-2121<br />

ONE BILLION IN LOCALLY<br />

CLOSED SALES SINCE 1999<br />

CENTURY 21 AFFILIATED<br />

Kim Wirtz<br />

realtor <br />

kim@kimwirtz.com<br />

kimwirtz.com<br />

708.516.3050<br />

Rates As<br />

Low As3 %<br />

Chicagoland’s #1 Century 21 Agent<br />

...to place your<br />

Classified Ad!<br />

Call<br />

Contact Classified Department<br />

to Advertise in this Directory<br />

(708)<br />

326.9170<br />

708.326.9170


26 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger real estate<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

The Mokena Messenger’s<br />

Sponsored content<br />

of the<br />

WEEK<br />

The sellers have loved this homes<br />

convenient location.<br />

What: Three-bedroom ranch home.<br />

Where: 10914 Stephen Court,<br />

Mokena, 60448<br />

Amenities: Ranch home set only<br />

minutes away from interstate<br />

access, the Metra station,<br />

downtown Mokena, Yunker Park<br />

and Main Park. The exterior<br />

features a two-and-a-half-car garage and a large fenced-in yard with deck. Step inside<br />

to the 1,300-square-foot interior that hosts a family room with hardwood flooring and<br />

brick fireplace, a large dinette, and a kitchen with all appliances. There is an updated<br />

full bathroom and three bedrooms, including the master with walk-in closet. The huge<br />

basement has a bonus room for additional living space, half bathroom and a laundry<br />

room. Enjoy low utility costs, award winning Lincoln-Way schools and a prime location.<br />

Listing Price: $229,900<br />

Listing Agent: Joseph<br />

Siwinski Managing Broker<br />

& Owner (708) 479-6355<br />

jsiwinski@lincolnwayrealty.<br />

com<br />

Listing Brokerage: Lincoln-<br />

Way Realty<br />

Want to know how to become Home of the Week? Contact Tricia at (708) 326-9170 ext. 47.<br />

Nov. 14<br />

• 19309 Wolf Road,<br />

Mokena, 60448-1148 -<br />

Robert Schultz to Ashley<br />

M. Wells, $255,000<br />

• 20335 Swinford Lane,<br />

Mokena, 60448-9240 -<br />

Steven Meyer to Shannon<br />

Jolgren, Matthew N.<br />

Jolgren, $360,000<br />

Nov. 15<br />

• 14008 U.S. Highway 6,<br />

Mokena, 60448-9567 -<br />

Fannie Mae to Alejandro<br />

Vargas, $120,000<br />

• 19444 Wolf Road 3,<br />

Mokena, 60448-1175<br />

- First Midwest Bank<br />

Trustee to Kayed M.<br />

Alkhdour, Rania A. Abdel<br />

Rahman, $153,000<br />

• 19509 116th Ave. D,<br />

Mokena, 60448-1840 -<br />

Bryan D. Decarlo to James<br />

E. Hennessy, Elizabeth A.<br />

Hennessy, $130,000<br />

• 19657 S. LaGrange<br />

Road, Mokena, 60448-<br />

9360 - Marquette Bank<br />

Trustee to Michael S.<br />

Romberg, $235,000<br />

The Going Rate is provided by<br />

Record Information Services,<br />

Inc. For more information,<br />

visit www.public-record.com<br />

or call (630) 557-1000


mokenamessenger.com classifieds<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 27<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive<br />

Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise<br />

Sell It 708.326.9170<br />

Fax It 708.326.9179<br />

Charge It<br />

DEADLINE -<br />

Friday at 3pm<br />

Automotive<br />

$52<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Help Wanted<br />

per line $13<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Real Estate<br />

$50<br />

7 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Merchandise<br />

$30<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

1315 Commercial<br />

Property For Rent<br />

2006 Basement Waterproofing<br />

2070 Electrical<br />

Rental<br />

1225 Apartments<br />

for Rent<br />

Oak Forest Terrace<br />

Double Commercial Bay<br />

for Rent in Mokena<br />

2,200 Sqft w/New 210 Sqft.<br />

Office & Bathroom 24 Hr<br />

Alarm & Security Syste.<br />

VOIP Phone & Internet<br />

Available. Clean, Secure &<br />

Close to I-80 $2,000 Per<br />

Month includes Utilities.<br />

708-514-2676<br />

2011 Brick/Chimney Experts<br />

EXPERIENCED<br />

ELECTRICIAN<br />

R E A S O N A B L E<br />

D E P E N D A B L E<br />

SMALL JOBS<br />

CALL ANYTIME<br />

(708) 478-8269<br />

15815 Terrace, Oak Forest<br />

Spacious 1 & 2 Bdrms.<br />

Serene setting & Beautiful<br />

Grounds. Tennis, Pool,<br />

Walking Trails. Near metra.<br />

708-687-1818<br />

oakterrapts@att.net<br />

Business Directory<br />

2003 Appliance<br />

Repair<br />

2080 Firewood<br />

QUALITY<br />

APPLIANCE<br />

REPAIR, Inc.<br />

1310 Offices for<br />

Rent<br />

The perfect downtown<br />

location!<br />

11225 Front St. Mokena, IL<br />

• Air Conditioning • Furnaces<br />

Refrigeration • Dishwashers<br />

Stoves & Ovens • Microwaves<br />

Garbage Disposals<br />

Washers&Dryers<br />

Family Owned &Operatedsince 1986<br />

Someone you can TRUST<br />

All work GUARANTEED<br />

BEST price in town!<br />

708-712-1392<br />

A+<br />

Newly rehabbed office spaces<br />

avail. Office spaces are flexible<br />

for any type of business.<br />

Includes lobby, private bathrooms,<br />

utilities and Comcast<br />

Internet/Wifi. Units ready to<br />

lease Available NOW.<br />

$299/mo total.<br />

Julie Carnes 708-906-3301<br />

Village Realty Inc.<br />

DRIVE CAR BUYERS<br />

TO YOUR DOOR WITH<br />

A CLASSIFIED AUTO AD<br />

708.326.9170<br />

<br />

<br />

Sell It!<br />

With a Classified Ad<br />

See the Classified Section for more info, or call


28 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger classifieds<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive<br />

Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise<br />

Sell It 708.326.9170<br />

Fax It 708.326.9179<br />

Charge It<br />

DEADLINE -<br />

Friday at 3pm<br />

Automotive<br />

$52<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Help Wanted<br />

per line $13<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Real Estate<br />

$50<br />

7 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Merchandise<br />

$30<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

2130 Heating/Cooling<br />

2080 Firewood<br />

2120 Handyman<br />

Ideal<br />

Firewood<br />

Seasoned Mixed<br />

Hardwoods<br />

$120.00 per FC<br />

Free Stacking &<br />

Delivery<br />

708 235 8917<br />

815 981 0127<br />

2132 Home Improvement<br />

...to place<br />

your<br />

Classified Ad!<br />

CALL<br />

708.326.9170<br />

2090 Flooring<br />

Hardwood Floors by MANNY<br />

Quality Hardwood Floors<br />

815-468-8016<br />

www.hardwoodfloorsbymanny.com<br />

FREE ESTIMATES<br />

INSTALLATION • REFINISHING • LAMINATE<br />

REPAIRS • INSURED • 1DAY RECOAT • CUSTOM STAIN<br />

MEDALLIONS • INLAYS • DUSTLESS SANDING<br />

HANDYMAN SERVICE —WHATEVER YOU NEED<br />

"OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE"<br />

Windows, Doors, Decks Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, Plumbing Interior and<br />

Exterior Painting Wall Paper Removal Professional Work At Competitive Prices<br />

CALL MIKE AT 708-790-3416<br />

2130 Heating/Cooling<br />

Buy<br />

It!<br />

SELL<br />

It!<br />

FIND<br />

It!<br />

in the<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

CALL<br />

708.326.9170<br />

2120 Handyman


mokenamessenger.com classifieds<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 29<br />

2132 Home Improvement<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive<br />

Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise<br />

Sell It 708.326.9170<br />

Fax It 708.326.9179<br />

Charge It<br />

DEADLINE -<br />

Friday at 3pm<br />

Automotive<br />

$52<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Help Wanted<br />

per line $13<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Real Estate<br />

$50<br />

7 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Merchandise<br />

$30<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

2150 Paint & Decorating<br />

2170 Plumbing<br />

2135 Insulation<br />

...to place<br />

your<br />

Classified Ad!<br />

CALL<br />

708.326.9170<br />

MARTY’S<br />

PAINTING<br />

Interior / Exterior<br />

Fast, Neat Painting<br />

Drywall<br />

Wallpaper Removal<br />

Staining<br />

Free Estimates<br />

20% Off with this ad<br />

708-606-3926<br />

Buy<br />

It!<br />

SELL<br />

It!<br />

FIND<br />

It!<br />

in the<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

CALL<br />

708.326.9170<br />

2170 Plumbing<br />

2150 Paint & Decorating


30 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger classifieds<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

CLASSIFIEDS<br />

Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive<br />

Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise<br />

Sell It 708.326.9170<br />

Fax It 708.326.9179<br />

Charge It<br />

DEADLINE -<br />

Friday at 3pm<br />

Automotive<br />

$52<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Help Wanted<br />

per line $13<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Real Estate<br />

$50<br />

7 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

Merchandise<br />

$30<br />

4 lines/<br />

7 papers<br />

2200 Roofing<br />

2294 Window<br />

Cleaning<br />

2296 Window<br />

Fashions<br />

P.K.WINDOW<br />

CLEANING CO.<br />

Window Cleaning<br />

Gutter Cleaning<br />

Power Washing<br />

Office Cleaning<br />

call and get $40.00 off<br />

708 974-8044<br />

www.pkwindowcleaning.com<br />

DRIVE CAR BUYERS<br />

TO YOUR DOOR WITH<br />

A CLASSIFIED AUTO AD<br />

CALL US TODAY at 708.326.9170<br />

Blinds &<br />

Shades<br />

Repair<br />

I Do Windows &<br />

Interiors<br />

Call Pat<br />

815 355 1112<br />

815 485 1112<br />

o f f i c e<br />

I Do House Calls<br />

Too!<br />

2390 Computer Services/Repair<br />

2489 Merchandise Wanted<br />

Metal Wanted<br />

Scrap Metal, Garden<br />

Tractors,<br />

Snowmobiles,<br />

Appliances, Etc.<br />

ANYTHING METAL!<br />

Call 815-210-8819<br />

Free pickup!<br />

Professional<br />

Directory<br />

Merchandise<br />

Directory<br />

WE BUY DRUMS<br />

Buying pre-1980 drum sets,<br />

snare drums, cymbals &<br />

hardware 708-401-7560<br />

...to place<br />

your<br />

Classified Ad!<br />

CALL<br />

708.326.9170<br />

Find your<br />

next great hire<br />

Call Jeff Schouten<br />

to learn more about recruitment<br />

advertising in your local newspaper.<br />

708.326.9170 ext. 51<br />

j.schouten@22ndcenturymedia.com<br />

right in your own<br />

neighborhood


mokenamessenger.com classifieds<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 31<br />

2701 Property for<br />

Sale<br />

2701 Property for<br />

Sale<br />

2701 Property for<br />

Sale<br />

2703 Legal<br />

Notices<br />

2703 Legal<br />

Notices<br />

2703 Legal<br />

Notices<br />

SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ESTATE<br />

of 21735 Kingston Way, MOKENA, IL<br />

60448 (SINGLE FAMILY). On the 7th<br />

day of February, 2019 to be held at<br />

12:00 noon, at the Will County Courthouse<br />

Annex, 57 N. Ottawa Street,<br />

Room 201, Joliet, IL 60432, under Case<br />

Title: Specialized Loan Servicing LLC<br />

Plaintiff V. UNKNOWN HEIRS<br />

AND/OR LEGATEES OF STEVEN R.<br />

ARMSTRONG, DECEASED; ADAM<br />

ARMSTRONG; JENNIFER ARM-<br />

STRONG, AS INDEPENDENT AD-<br />

MINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF<br />

STEVEN R. ARMSTRONG, DE-<br />

CEASED; UNKNOWN OWNERS<br />

AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS;<br />

UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS Defendant.<br />

Case No. 17CH 1818 in the Circuit<br />

Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit,<br />

Will County, Illinois.<br />

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) at the<br />

time of sale and the balance within<br />

twenty-four (24) hours. Nojudicial sale<br />

fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring<br />

the residential real estate pursuant<br />

to its credit bid at the sale or by any<br />

mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other<br />

lienor acquiring the residential real estate<br />

whose rights in and tothe residential<br />

real estate arose prior to the sale. All<br />

payments shall be made in cash or certified<br />

funds payable tothe Sheriff of Will<br />

County.<br />

In the event the property is acondomin-<br />

ium, in accordance with 735 ILCS<br />

5/15-1507(c)(1)(H-1) and (H-2), 765<br />

ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 765 ILCS<br />

605/18.5(g-1), you are hereby notified<br />

that the purchaser of the unit, other than<br />

amortgagee, shall pay the assessments<br />

and legal fees required by subdivisions<br />

(g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9and the assessments<br />

required by subsection (g-1)<br />

of Section 18.5 of the Illinois Condominium<br />

Property Act.<br />

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 (J)<br />

if there is asurplus following application<br />

ofthe proceeds of sale, then the<br />

plaintiff shall send written notice pursuant<br />

to 735 ILCS 5/15-1512(d) to all parties<br />

to the proceeding advising them of<br />

the amount ofthe surplus and that the<br />

surplus will beheld until aparty obtains<br />

acourt order for its distribution or, in<br />

the absence of an order, until the surplus<br />

is forfeited to the State.<br />

For Information Please Contact:<br />

SHAPIRO KREISMAN AND ASSO-<br />

CIATES, LLC.<br />

2121 Waukegan Rd, Suite 301<br />

Bannockburn, Illinois 60015<br />

P: 847-770-4348<br />

F: 847-291-3434<br />

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT<br />

COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT<br />

YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THIS<br />

LAW FIRM ISDEEMED TO BE A<br />

DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING<br />

TO COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY<br />

INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL<br />

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.<br />

SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ESTATE<br />

of 19805 Mokena Street, Mokena, IL<br />

60448 (Single Family Home). On the<br />

7th day of February, 2019 to be held at<br />

12:00 noon, at the Will County Courthouse<br />

Annex, 57 N. Ottawa Street,<br />

Room 201, Joliet, IL 60432, under Case<br />

Title: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N .A.<br />

Plaintiff V.:Barbara L. Weidner, NKA<br />

:Barbara L. Ellul; Springcastle Finance<br />

Funding Trust, through its Trustee Wilmington<br />

Trust, National Association;<br />

Unknown Owners and NonRecord<br />

Claimants Defendant.<br />

Case No. 18CH 0213 in the Circuit<br />

Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit,<br />

Will County, Illinois.<br />

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) at the<br />

time of sale and the balance within<br />

twenty-four (24) hours. Nojudicial sale<br />

fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring<br />

the residential real estate pursuant<br />

to its credit bid at the sale or by any<br />

mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other<br />

lienor acquiring the residential real estate<br />

whose rights in and tothe residential<br />

real estate arose prior to the sale. All<br />

payments shall be made in cash or certified<br />

funds payable tothe Sheriff of Will<br />

County.<br />

In the event the property is acondomin-<br />

ium, in accordance with 735 ILCS<br />

5/15-1507(c)(1)(H-1) and (H-2), 765<br />

ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 765 ILCS<br />

605/18.5(g-1), you are hereby notified<br />

that the purchaser of the unit, other than<br />

amortgagee, shall pay the assessments<br />

and legal fees required by subdivisions<br />

(g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9and the assessments<br />

required by subsection (g-1)<br />

of Section 18.5 of the Illinois Condominium<br />

Property Act.<br />

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 (J)<br />

if there is asurplus following application<br />

ofthe proceeds of sale, then the<br />

plaintiff shall send written notice pursuant<br />

to 735 ILCS 5/15-1512(d) to all parties<br />

to the proceeding advising them of<br />

the amount ofthe surplus and that the<br />

surplus will beheld until aparty obtains<br />

acourt order for its distribution or, in<br />

the absence of an order, until the surplus<br />

is forfeited to the State.<br />

For Information Please Contact:<br />

Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC<br />

One East Wacker Suite 1250<br />

Chicago, IL 60601<br />

P: 1-614-220-5611<br />

F:<br />

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT<br />

COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT<br />

YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THIS<br />

LAW FIRM ISDEEMED TO BE A<br />

DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING<br />

TO COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY<br />

INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL<br />

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.<br />

SHERIFF'S SALE OF REAL ESTATE<br />

of 19411 Kevin Ave., Mokena, IL<br />

60448 (Single Family Residence). On<br />

the 31st day ofJanuary, 2019 to be held<br />

at 12:00 noon, at the Will County Courthouse<br />

Annex, 57 N. Ottawa Street,<br />

Room 201, Joliet, IL 60432, under Case<br />

Title: Carrington Mortgage Services,<br />

LLC Plaintiff V. Brian J.Wheeler, Unknown<br />

Owners and Non-Record Claimants<br />

Defendant.<br />

Case No. 18CH 0370 in the Circuit<br />

Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit,<br />

Will County, Illinois.<br />

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) at the<br />

time of sale and the balance within<br />

twenty-four (24) hours. Nojudicial sale<br />

fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring<br />

the residential real estate pursuant<br />

to its credit bid at the sale or by any<br />

mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other<br />

lienor acquiring the residential real estate<br />

whose rights in and tothe residential<br />

real estate arose prior to the sale. All<br />

payments shall be made in cash or certified<br />

funds payable tothe Sheriff of Will<br />

County.<br />

In the event the property is acondomin-<br />

ium, in accordance with 735 ILCS<br />

5/15-1507(c)(1)(H-1) and (H-2), 765<br />

ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 765 ILCS<br />

605/18.5(g-1), you are hereby notified<br />

that the purchaser of the unit, other than<br />

amortgagee, shall pay the assessments<br />

and legal fees required by subdivisions<br />

(g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9and the assessments<br />

required by subsection (g-1)<br />

of Section 18.5 of the Illinois Condominium<br />

Property Act.<br />

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 (J)<br />

if there is asurplus following application<br />

ofthe proceeds of sale, then the<br />

plaintiff shall send written notice pursuant<br />

to 735 ILCS 5/15-1512(d) to all parties<br />

to the proceeding advising them of<br />

the amount ofthe surplus and that the<br />

surplus will beheld until aparty obtains<br />

acourt order for its distribution or, in<br />

the absence of an order, until the surplus<br />

is forfeited to the State.<br />

For Information Please Contact:<br />

Randall S. Miller & Associates<br />

120 N. LaSalle Suite 1140<br />

Chicago, IL 60602<br />

P: 1-312-239-3432<br />

F: 1-312-284-4820<br />

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT<br />

COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT<br />

YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THIS<br />

LAW FIRM ISDEEMED TO BE A<br />

DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING<br />

TO COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY<br />

INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL<br />

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.<br />

2702 Public<br />

Notices<br />

Certificate No. 32608 was filed in<br />

the office of the County Clerk of<br />

Will County on December 28,<br />

2018 wherein the business firm of<br />

All About That Design located at<br />

12425 Persimmon Court, Mokena,<br />

IL 60448 was registered; that the<br />

true or real name of the person<br />

owning the business, with their respective<br />

post office address isas<br />

follows:<br />

Toni M. Cygan<br />

12425 Persimmon Court, Mokena,<br />

IL 60448 708-638-8664<br />

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have<br />

hereunto set my hand and Official<br />

Seal at my office in Joliet; Illinois,<br />

this 28th day of December, 2018<br />

Lauren Staley Ferry<br />

Will County Clerk<br />

Certificate No. 32622 was filed in<br />

the office of the County Clerk of<br />

Will County on January 8, 2019<br />

wherein the business firm of<br />

Rush’s Steam Cleaning located at<br />

19658 Everett Lane, Mokena, IL<br />

60448 was registered; that the true<br />

or real name of the person owning<br />

the business, with their respective<br />

post office address is as follows:<br />

Jeffrey S. Rush<br />

19658 Everett Lane<br />

Mokena, IL 60448 708-478-3786<br />

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have<br />

hereunto set my hand and Official<br />

Seal at my office in Joliet; Illinois,<br />

this 8th day of January, 2019.<br />

Lauren Staley Ferry<br />

Will County Clerk<br />

2703 Legal<br />

Notices<br />

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT<br />

COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT<br />

YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THIS<br />

LAW FIRM ISDEEMED TO BE A<br />

DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING<br />

TO COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY<br />

INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL<br />

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.<br />

STATE OF ILLINOIS )<br />

) SS.<br />

COUNTY OF WILL )<br />

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OFTHE<br />

TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT<br />

WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS<br />

Specialized Loan Servicing LLC<br />

Plaintiff,<br />

vs.<br />

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR LEGA-<br />

TEES OF STEVEN R. ARMSTRONG,<br />

DECEASED; ADAM ARMSTRONG;<br />

JENNIFER ARMSTRONG, ASINDE-<br />

PENDENT ADMINISTRATOR OF<br />

THE ESTATE OFSTEVEN R.ARM-<br />

STRONG, DECEASED; UNKNOWN<br />

OWNERS AND NON-RECORD<br />

CLAIMANTS; UNKNOWN OCCU-<br />

PANTS<br />

Defendant. No. 17 CH 1818<br />

NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE<br />

Public notice ishereby given that pursuant<br />

toajudgment entered in the above<br />

cause on the 6th day of November,<br />

2018, MIKE KELLEY, Sheriff of Will<br />

County, Illinois, will on Thursday, the<br />

7th day of February, 2019 ,commencing<br />

at 12:00 o'clock noon, at the Will<br />

County Courthouse Annex, 57 N. Ottawa<br />

Street, Room 201, Joliet, IL 60432,<br />

sell at public auction tothe highest and<br />

best bidder orbidders the following-described<br />

real estate:<br />

LOT 57 IN MARILYN ESTATES<br />

UNIT NO. 2, BEING A SUBDIVISION<br />

OF PART OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE<br />

NORTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 30,<br />

TOWNSHIP 35 NORTH, RANGE 12,<br />

EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL<br />

MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE<br />

PLAT THEREOF RECORDED JANU-<br />

ARY 30, 1979 AS DOCUMENT<br />

R79-3379, AND CERTIFICATE OF<br />

CORRECTION RECORDED APRIL 2,<br />

1979 AS DOCUMENT R79-10534 IN<br />

WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS.<br />

Commonly known as: 21735 Kingston<br />

Way, MOKENA, IL 60448<br />

Description of Improvements:<br />

SINGLE FAMILY<br />

P.I.N.: 19-09-30-203-002-0000<br />

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) at the<br />

time of sale and the balance within<br />

twenty-four (24) hours. Nojudicial sale<br />

fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring<br />

the residential real estate pursuant<br />

to its credit bid at the sale or by any<br />

mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other<br />

lienor acquiring the residential real estate<br />

whose rights in and tothe residential<br />

real estate arose prior to the sale. All<br />

payments shall be made in cash or certified<br />

funds payable tothe Sheriff of Will<br />

County.<br />

In the event the property is acondomin-<br />

ium, in accordance with 735 ILCS<br />

5/15-1507(c)(1)(H-1) and (H-2), 765<br />

ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 765 ILCS<br />

605/18.5(g-1), you are hereby notified<br />

that the purchaser of the unit, other than<br />

amortgagee, shall pay the assessments<br />

and legal fees required by subdivisions<br />

(g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9and the assessments<br />

required by subsection (g-1)<br />

of Section 18.5 of the Illinois Condominium<br />

Property Act.<br />

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 (J)<br />

if there is asurplus following application<br />

ofthe proceeds of sale, then the<br />

plaintiff shall send written notice pursuant<br />

to 735 ILCS 5/15-1512(d) to all parties<br />

to the proceeding advising them of<br />

the amount ofthe surplus and that the<br />

surplus will beheld until aparty obtains<br />

acourt order for its distribution or, in<br />

the absence of an order, until the surplus<br />

is forfeited to the State.<br />

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CON-<br />

TACT:<br />

SHAPIRO KREISMAN AND ASSO-<br />

CIATES, LLC.<br />

2121 Waukegan Rd, Suite 301<br />

Bannockburn, Illinois 60015<br />

P: 847-770-4348<br />

F: 847-291-3434<br />

Plaintiff's Attorney<br />

MIKE KELLEY<br />

Sheriff of Will County<br />

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT<br />

COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT<br />

YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THIS<br />

LAW FIRM ISDEEMED TO BE A<br />

DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING<br />

TO COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY<br />

INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL<br />

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.<br />

STATE OF ILLINOIS )<br />

) SS.<br />

COUNTY OF WILL )<br />

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OFTHE<br />

TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT<br />

WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS<br />

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N .A.<br />

Plaintiff,<br />

vs.<br />

:Barbara L. Weidner, NKA :Barbara L.<br />

Ellul; Springcastle Finance Funding<br />

Trust, through its Trustee Wilmington<br />

Trust, National Association; Unknown<br />

Owners and NonRecord Claimants<br />

Defendant. No. 18 CH 0213<br />

NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE<br />

Public notice ishereby given that pursuant<br />

toajudgment entered in the above<br />

cause onthe 24th day of September,<br />

2018, MIKE KELLEY, Sheriff of Will<br />

County, Illinois, will on Thursday, the<br />

7th day of February, 2019 ,commencing<br />

at 12:00 o'clock noon, at the Will<br />

County Courthouse Annex, 57 N. Ottawa<br />

Street, Room 201, Joliet, IL 60432,<br />

sell at public auction tothe highest and<br />

best bidder orbidders the following-described<br />

real estate:<br />

Lot 7and the North 30 feet of Lot 8,in<br />

Block 2,inMineral Springs addition to<br />

Mokena, being asubdivision of certain<br />

Blocks in Denny's Third Addition to<br />

Mokena, in Will County, Illinois.<br />

Commonly known as: 19805 Mokena<br />

Street, Mokena, IL 60448<br />

Description of Improvements:<br />

Single Family Home<br />

P.I.N.: 19-09-08-323-007-0000<br />

Terms of Sale: ten percent (10%) at the<br />

time of sale and the balance within<br />

twenty-four (24) hours. No judicial sale<br />

fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring<br />

the residential real estate pursuant<br />

to its credit bid at the sale or by any<br />

mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other<br />

lienor acquiring the residential real estate<br />

whose rights inand to the residential<br />

real estate arose prior to the sale. All<br />

payments shall be made in cash or certified<br />

funds payable tothe Sheriff of Will<br />

County.<br />

In the event the property is acondomin-<br />

ium, in accordance with 735 ILCS<br />

5/15-1507(c)(1)(H-1) and (H-2), 765<br />

ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 765 ILCS<br />

605/18.5(g-1), you are hereby notified<br />

that the purchaser of the unit, other than<br />

amortgagee, shall pay the assessments<br />

and legal fees required by subdivisions<br />

(g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9and the assessments<br />

required by subsection (g-1)<br />

of Section 18.5 of the Illinois Condominium<br />

Property Act.<br />

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 (J)<br />

if there is asurplus following application<br />

ofthe proceeds of sale, then the<br />

plaintiff shall send written notice pursuant<br />

to 735 ILCS 5/15-1512(d) to all parties<br />

to the proceeding advising them of<br />

the amount ofthe surplus and that the<br />

surplus will beheld until aparty obtains<br />

acourt order for its distribution or, in<br />

the absence of an order, until the surplus<br />

is forfeited to the State.<br />

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CON-<br />

TACT:<br />

Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC<br />

One East Wacker Suite 1250<br />

Chicago, IL 60601<br />

P: 1-614-220-5611<br />

F:<br />

Plaintiff's Attorney<br />

MIKE KELLEY<br />

Sheriff of Will County<br />

PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT<br />

COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT<br />

YOU ARE ADVISED THAT THIS<br />

LAW FIRM ISDEEMED TO BE A<br />

DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING<br />

TO COLLECT ADEBT AND ANY<br />

INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL<br />

BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.<br />

STATE OF ILLINOIS )<br />

) SS.<br />

COUNTY OF WILL )<br />

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OFTHE<br />

TWELFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT<br />

WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS<br />

Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC<br />

Plaintiff,<br />

vs.<br />

Brian J. Wheeler, Unknown Owners and<br />

Non-Record Claimants<br />

Defendant. No. 18 CH 0370<br />

NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE<br />

Public notice ishereby given that pursuant<br />

toajudgment entered in the above<br />

cause on the 11th day of October, 2018,<br />

MIKE KELLEY, Sheriff of Will<br />

County, Illinois, will on Thursday, the<br />

31st day of January, 2019 ,commencing<br />

at 12:00 o'clock noon, at the Will<br />

County Courthouse Annex, 57 N. Ottawa<br />

Street, Room 201, Joliet, IL 60432,<br />

sell at public auction to the highest and<br />

best bidder orbidders the following-described<br />

real estate:<br />

Lot 6,in Emerald Subdivision, Unit No.<br />

5, ASubdivision of part of the West 1/2<br />

of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 9,<br />

Township 35 North, Range 12, East of<br />

the Third Principal Meridian, According<br />

to the Plat thereof Recorded July 6,<br />

1993 as Document No. R93-55020, in<br />

Will County, Illinois.<br />

Commonly known as: 19411 Kevin<br />

Ave., Mokena, IL 60448<br />

Description of Improvements:<br />

Single Family Residence<br />

P.I.N.: 19-09-09-107-045-0000<br />

Terms ofSale: ten percent (10%) at the<br />

time of sale and the balance within<br />

twenty-four (24) hours. No judicial sale<br />

fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring<br />

the residential real estate pursuant<br />

to its credit bid at the sale or by any<br />

mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other<br />

lienor acquiring the residential real estate<br />

whose rights inand to the residential<br />

real estate arose prior to the sale. All<br />

payments shall be made in cash or certified<br />

funds payable tothe Sheriff of Will<br />

County.<br />

In the event the property is acondomin-<br />

ium, in accordance with 735 ILCS<br />

5/15-1507(c)(1)(H-1) and (H-2), 765<br />

ILCS 605/9(g)(5), and 765 ILCS<br />

605/18.5(g-1), you are hereby notified<br />

that the purchaser of the unit, other than<br />

amortgagee, shall pay the assessments<br />

and legal fees required by subdivisions<br />

(g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9and the assessments<br />

required by subsection (g-1)<br />

of Section 18.5 of the Illinois Condominium<br />

Property Act.<br />

Pursuant to Local Court Rule 11.03 (J)<br />

if there is asurplus following application<br />

ofthe proceeds of sale, then the<br />

plaintiff shall send written notice pursuant<br />

to 735 ILCS 5/15-1512(d) to all parties<br />

to the proceeding advising them of<br />

the amount ofthe surplus and that the<br />

surplus will beheld until aparty obtains<br />

acourt order for its distribution or, in<br />

the absence of an order, until the surplus<br />

is forfeited to the State.<br />

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CON-<br />

TACT:<br />

Randall S. Miller & Associates<br />

120 N. LaSalle Suite 1140<br />

Chicago, IL 60602<br />

P: 1-312-239-3432<br />

F: 1-312-284-4820<br />

Plaintiff's Attorney<br />

MIKE KELLEY<br />

Sheriff of Will County<br />

2900 Merchandise<br />

Under $100<br />

2 chrome swivel barstools,<br />

black vinyl seat and backrest<br />

$40 for pair. Nordic Track limited<br />

ski machine w/ electronic<br />

readout, folds for storage, adjustable<br />

$60. 708.301.0249<br />

2000+ continuous computer<br />

paper -1part - 9.5”x 11” -<br />

white - clean edge perforation<br />

$10 cash. Lockport, IL.<br />

815.538.1214<br />

4beanies $5. Baseball promo<br />

cards $1.00. 708.465.4014


32 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger classifieds<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

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mokenamessenger.com sports<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 33<br />

Athlete of the Week<br />

10 Questions<br />

with Sydney Nekola<br />

Sydney Nekola is a senior<br />

shooting guard on the<br />

Lincoln-Way East girls<br />

basketball team<br />

How’d you get started<br />

in basketball?<br />

I started playing basketball<br />

because my older sister<br />

[Sam] played. She’s nine<br />

years older. I was really<br />

young — I want to say 4,<br />

maybe. I used to go to her<br />

camps and they would let me<br />

shot in the corner.<br />

Seasoned<br />

Firewood<br />

Headquarters<br />

at Melka Garden Center<br />

We offer seasoned<br />

Oak, Birch & Cherry!<br />

• Clean Burning<br />

• Perfect for indoor or<br />

outdoor use<br />

Do you have any rituals<br />

or superstitions before<br />

a game?<br />

I always wear pre-wrap<br />

[athletic tape] on my head<br />

because my sister did. She<br />

was a great player, so I do<br />

it.<br />

Photo Submitted<br />

CALL<br />

TODAY FOR<br />

PRICING<br />

What’s your favorite<br />

memory from<br />

basketball?<br />

When I played AAU we<br />

won State two years in a<br />

row in sixth and seventh<br />

grade.<br />

What would be the first<br />

thing you’d buy if you<br />

won the lottery?<br />

A boat for my grandparents’<br />

lakehouse. Probably a<br />

speed boat.<br />

What are your plans for<br />

college?<br />

My Top 2 right now are the<br />

Naval Academy and UCLA.<br />

I’m not sure yet [what I’d<br />

like to major in], but I’m<br />

leaning toward physics.<br />

What’s your favorite<br />

movie?<br />

“Grease.” It’s just a classic,<br />

I feel like.<br />

Including yourself, who<br />

else would you choose<br />

for a dream three-onthree<br />

team?<br />

My sister Sam and Steph<br />

Curry. … I wear Steph Curry<br />

shoes so I have to go with<br />

him.<br />

If you could have dinner<br />

with anyone living or<br />

dead, then who would it<br />

be and why?<br />

My great-grandpa because<br />

he was always my hero and<br />

that’s part of the reason why<br />

I want to go to the Naval<br />

Academy. … He served in<br />

World War II.<br />

What are your goals for<br />

the rest of the season?<br />

I hope to go to playoffs<br />

and hopefully win, and I’d<br />

like to go to state.<br />

What’s one thing you<br />

own that you couldn’t<br />

live without?<br />

A ring that my sister gave<br />

me. That’s a good luck thing.<br />

So before school, if I’m taking<br />

a test that day, I always<br />

make sure I have it on.<br />

Interview conducted by Editor<br />

T.J. Kremer III<br />

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34 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger sports<br />

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This Week In...<br />

Knights Varsity<br />

Athletics<br />

Boys Basketball<br />

■Jan. ■ 18 - hosts Thornridge,<br />

6 p.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 22 - at Hinsdale<br />

Central, 7:30 p.m.<br />

Girls Basketball<br />

■Jan. ■ 19 - at MLK<br />

Tournament in Dekalb, TBA<br />

■Jan. ■ 21 - at MLK<br />

Tournament in Dekalb, TBA<br />

■Jan. ■ 22 - hosts Bradley-<br />

Bourbonnais, 6 p.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 24 - at Andrew, 6 p.m.<br />

Wrestling<br />

■Jan. ■ 18 - at SWSC Meet (at<br />

Stagg), 5 p.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 19 - at SWSC Meet (at<br />

BASKETBALL<br />

From Page 35<br />

Stagg), 9 a.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 23 - hosts T.F. South<br />

(Senior Night), 5 p.m.<br />

Boys Bowling<br />

■Jan. ■ 19 - at IHSA Regionals<br />

(at Orland Bowl), TBA<br />

Girls Bowling<br />

■Jan. ■ 17 - at Stagg (at Palos<br />

Lanes), 4:30 p.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 19 - at SWSC Meet (at<br />

Strike and Spare), 9 a.m.<br />

Boys Swimming and<br />

Diving<br />

■Jan. ■ 17 - at Lincoln-Way<br />

West, 5 p.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 18 - at Lockport Invite,<br />

4 p.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 19 - at Lockport Invite,<br />

The senior forward rolled<br />

her ankle in the first 30 seconds<br />

of the Thornton game<br />

and has been out since with<br />

a Grade 3 sprain.<br />

Also contributing against<br />

Thornwood for the Knights<br />

were a pair of sophomores:<br />

forward Haley Stoklosa (15<br />

points, 10 rebounds) and<br />

guard Megan Hutchinson<br />

(5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists).<br />

Thornwood freshman<br />

guard Nayo Lear led her<br />

team with 20 points on her<br />

15th birthday. Included in<br />

that was 12 of the team’s 15<br />

points in the fourth quarter.<br />

She was also 5-for-6 from<br />

the line in the final 1:31 of<br />

the fourth quarter.<br />

The game started well<br />

for the Knights, who were<br />

up 14-9 after the first quarter.<br />

But they were outscored<br />

18-7 in the second quarter<br />

and trailed 27-21 at halftime.<br />

They still trailed 37-34 after<br />

three. It was Central’s fourth<br />

loss this season by 3-points<br />

or less.<br />

“It shows if we keep<br />

working we can hang with<br />

the best teams,” LoConte<br />

said of the narrow loss. “We<br />

just need to keep practicing<br />

hard, get some of our players<br />

healthy and back, and get<br />

some wins.”<br />

LoConte helped get the<br />

team the win against Thornridge.<br />

Stoklosa reaggravated<br />

a toe injury early in the game<br />

and had to sit out. She also<br />

hopes to be back this week.<br />

In the meantime, center Savannah<br />

Mitchell (10 points),<br />

along with fellow seniors<br />

Alyssa Popp (4 points, 6 rebounds)<br />

at guard and Mallory<br />

Robey (3 assists, 6<br />

rebounds) at forward, also<br />

contributed.<br />

Central started slowly,<br />

leading 7-5 after the first<br />

quarter. But extended the advantage<br />

to 22-9 at halftime.<br />

9 a.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 24 - hosts Bradley-<br />

Bourbonnais (Senior Night),<br />

5 p.m.<br />

Competitive Cheerleading<br />

■Jan. ■ 19 - at SWSC Meet (at<br />

LWW), 9 a.m.<br />

Competitive Dance<br />

■Jan. ■ 19 - at IHSA Sectional<br />

(at Normal Community West),<br />

TBA<br />

Lincoln-Way Co-op<br />

Athletics<br />

Girls Gymnastics<br />

■Jan. ■ 19 - at York Invite, 1<br />

p.m.<br />

■Jan. ■ 22 - at SWSC Meet (at<br />

Andrew), 5:30 p.m.<br />

Corryn Mejdrich dribbles baseline to avoid the Thornrige’s<br />

help defender. Julie McMann/22nd Century Media<br />

The Knights led 33-16 after<br />

three and cruised to the win.<br />

“It’s been a blessing and<br />

a curse,” Campanile said<br />

of losing the close games.<br />

“We’ve said that we’re close<br />

to these good teams but I’m<br />

tired of being in the game<br />

with them. I want to win<br />

one. Still, [against Thornwood]<br />

the girls played great.<br />

I couldn’t be more proud<br />

of how Regan played and<br />

how our group to come in<br />

[to South Holland] with our<br />

best player [Baumgartner]<br />

out and have control until<br />

the end.”


mokenamessenger.com sports<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 35<br />

Girls basketball<br />

LW Central dominant in bounceback win over Thornridge<br />

randy whalen<br />

Freelance Reporter<br />

The record for the Lincoln-Way<br />

Central girls basketball<br />

team is barely above<br />

the .500 mark.<br />

The Knights believe<br />

they are a better team than<br />

that.<br />

Coming off a nail-biting<br />

two-point loss to the top<br />

team in the conference, and<br />

perhaps the south suburbs,<br />

Central took out its frustrations<br />

with a 49-24 victory<br />

over Thornridge in a South-<br />

West Suburban Conference<br />

Red Division matchup on<br />

Thursday, Jan. 10, in New<br />

Lenox.<br />

With the win, the Knights<br />

(9-8, 3-2) moved back over<br />

the break-even point. Thornride<br />

(4-13, 0-4) remained<br />

winless in the conference.<br />

As she had in the previous<br />

two games, junior guard<br />

Regan LoConte led the<br />

way. This time it was with a<br />

game-high 22 points, including<br />

six 3-pointers. That gave<br />

her 77 points in her last three<br />

games.<br />

A week earlier, in a 56-<br />

46 win over host Thornton,<br />

LoConte scored a careerhigh<br />

32 points, including<br />

hitting seven shots from<br />

3-point land. Then, on Jan.<br />

8, she scored 23 points in a<br />

52-50 loss to Thornwood in<br />

a SWSC Red showdown in<br />

South Holland.<br />

Thornwood (17-1, 5-0)<br />

defeated Bradley-Bourbonnais<br />

73-63 on Thursday,<br />

Jan. 10 to remain undefeated<br />

in the conference. But the<br />

Thunderbirds, whose only<br />

loss was in the first week of<br />

January at the Sugar Bowl<br />

Classic in New Orleans, got<br />

all they could handle from<br />

Thornrige’s Amia Lee (left) tries to close out on Lincoln-Way Central guard Regan<br />

LoConte’s 3-point attempt Thursday, Jan. 10, during a SWSC Red matchup between the<br />

two teams in New Lenox. Julie McMann/22nd Century Media<br />

Central.<br />

“We played well,” LoConte<br />

said of the Thornwood<br />

game. “They just made their<br />

free throws at the end.”<br />

So did LoConte, as she<br />

was fouled on a 3-pointer<br />

and made all three free<br />

throws to put the Knights<br />

up 49-47 with just under a<br />

minute to play. She finished<br />

7-of-7 from the line. But<br />

Thornwood tied it and then<br />

Fantasia Baines (7 points, 6<br />

rebounds) hit a pair of free<br />

throws with 33 seconds remaining<br />

that put them up 51-<br />

49. The Knights answered<br />

with a free throw, but then<br />

Thornwood made a final one<br />

of their own in the waning<br />

seconds. Central did have an<br />

opportunity to tie or win, but<br />

couldn’t get off a good shot,<br />

and the upset bid fell just<br />

short.<br />

“We should have got that<br />

one,” Central coach Dave<br />

Campanile said. “That<br />

would have been a huge win.<br />

We were trading punches the<br />

whole time. We would run a<br />

lot of sets and we did a great<br />

job executing on them.”<br />

The effort was especially<br />

good since top scorer Abi<br />

Baumgartner didn’t play.<br />

Please see BASKETBALL, 34<br />

Boys bowling<br />

Knights back in sectionals, Warriors top Griffins for final spot<br />

RANDY WHALEN<br />

Freelance Reporter<br />

Michael Nork thought his<br />

teams season was over.<br />

Then came the best miscalculation<br />

in the history of<br />

the Lincoln-Way West boys<br />

bowling program.<br />

Nork, a senior and the anchor<br />

bowler for the Warriors,<br />

was told he needed to strike<br />

on his first two shots in the<br />

10th frame for West to have<br />

an opportunity to move on to<br />

this weekend’s Andrew Sectional<br />

as a team. He got the<br />

first strike, but after getting a<br />

nine on the next ball, he was<br />

dejected.<br />

Turned out the nine was<br />

exactly what he needed. The<br />

veteran bowler then picked<br />

up the spare and went back<br />

to console his teammates, as<br />

they thought they had fallen<br />

just short of a huge comeback.<br />

Instead, they had just<br />

completed it.<br />

“I thought I had to strike<br />

the first two,” Nork said.<br />

“So after the second shot, I<br />

thought we were eliminated.<br />

Then we weren’t. It was a<br />

roller coaster of emotions.<br />

But we want to take this<br />

momentum and ride it back<br />

down to state [the Warriors<br />

placed 11th last year].”<br />

As it turned out the final<br />

scoring by Nork polished<br />

off the Warriors best game<br />

of the day, a 1,067 and gave<br />

them a 6,053 total score.<br />

That put them three pins<br />

ahead of Lincoln-Way East<br />

(1,050) for the fourth and<br />

final advancing spot to this<br />

weeks sectional.<br />

Almost lost in the shuffle<br />

of the exciting duel between<br />

West and East for the last<br />

sectional qualifying spot,<br />

was the fact that Central<br />

placed third. By qualifying<br />

for the sectional the Knights,<br />

who placed third in the state<br />

last year, have an opportunity<br />

to once again advance to<br />

state and bring home another<br />

trophy.<br />

Led by individual champion,<br />

junior Lucas Pirc with<br />

a 1,408, Joliet West (6,636)<br />

easily was the team champion.<br />

Host Minooka (6,328)<br />

placed second, Lincoln-Way<br />

Central (6,201) was third,<br />

and West (6,053) edged East<br />

(6,050) for the final spot<br />

coming out of the Minooka<br />

Regional on Saturday, Jan.<br />

12 at Channahon Lanes in<br />

Channahon.<br />

The Top 4 teams advanced<br />

to the Andrew Sectional,<br />

which will be held this Saturday,<br />

Jan. 19, at Orland<br />

Bowl in Orland Park.<br />

“We knew coming in<br />

that it would be a battle between<br />

the three Lincoln-Way<br />

schools for two spots,” Central<br />

coach Coley O’Connell<br />

said. “That’s why we stressed<br />

that every pin counts. We<br />

bowled at least 1,000 every<br />

game (1,060 high and 1,008<br />

low). Our kids did a great<br />

job of not scoreboard watching<br />

and just going out and<br />

bowling their game. Anything<br />

can happen once you<br />

qualify because, at sectionals,<br />

everyone starts even.”<br />

A pair of Knights finished<br />

in the Top 10 on the day. They<br />

were Alex Nolan (1,331, 5th<br />

overall, high of 264 in Game<br />

No. 1) and fellow junior Alex<br />

Zaker (1,287, 9th overall,<br />

high of 237 in Game No. 4).<br />

Juniors Tommy Martini<br />

(1,230, high of 252 in Game<br />

No. 1) and Tyler Mirsch<br />

(1,213, high of 226 in Game<br />

No. 5) also bowled all six<br />

games for Central. Ryan Gamen<br />

(170) bowled the first<br />

game and fellow senior Brian<br />

Triezenberg (178) started<br />

the second game. Sophomore<br />

Jack McCabe (792,<br />

high of 245 in Game 4) completed<br />

the final four games<br />

for the Knights.<br />

For East, there were no<br />

breaks. Especially in the<br />

10th frame of the final game.<br />

There the first two Griffin<br />

bowlers finished with an<br />

open frame nine.<br />

Seniors DJ Armbrecht<br />

(1,281, 10th overall) and Josh<br />

Edgin (1,259, high of 246<br />

in Game No. 3) and junior<br />

Demitri Przybylinski (1,225,<br />

high of 231 in Game No. 6)<br />

all advanced for the Griffins<br />

as individuals to this weekends<br />

sectional. Ambrecht<br />

rolled the high game for the<br />

tourney as he had a 287 in the<br />

fourth game of the day.<br />

“I had the first 10 strikes,”<br />

Armbrecht said of his bid for<br />

300. “Then I was just off a<br />

bit and had a 5-7 split on my<br />

11th ball.”<br />

Juniors Anthony Bria<br />

(1,172, high of 237 in Game<br />

1) and Nick Signore (1,113,<br />

high of 212 in Game No. 2<br />

rounded out the Griffin lineup.


36 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger mokena<br />

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mokenamessenger.com sports<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 37<br />

Going Places<br />

ISU’s support following injury leads Brownrigg to commit to the Redbirds<br />

Sean Hastings<br />

Freelance Reporter<br />

As it turns out, Lincoln-<br />

Way Central senior crosscountry<br />

and track runner<br />

Mackenzie Brownrigg’s<br />

stress fracture in her leg was<br />

a blessing in disguise.<br />

She missed her entire senior<br />

cross-country season,<br />

yet she realized a lot during<br />

that time, including where<br />

she wanted to compete collegiately.<br />

“I was really able to see<br />

where I could actually be<br />

happy,” she said.<br />

And that place is Illinois<br />

State University, where she<br />

will run both cross-country<br />

and track next year.<br />

Brownrigg’s junior track<br />

season was not up to par<br />

with where she expected<br />

herself to be, and shortly after<br />

the season, she found out<br />

what had been ailing her was<br />

the stress fracture behind her<br />

tibia.<br />

Brownrigg started to get<br />

into contact with college<br />

coaches after her junior<br />

cross-country season and<br />

ISU was the first.<br />

And through the midst of<br />

her struggling junior track<br />

season and absent crosscountry<br />

season, ISU kept<br />

contact and confident that<br />

the injury was just a hurdle<br />

she had to get over.<br />

“I started lacking in my<br />

performance, but they always<br />

stayed positive with<br />

me and they always encouraged<br />

me,” Brownrigg said.<br />

“I was really open with them<br />

about what was going on.”<br />

She had a visit with ISU at<br />

the beginning of her senior<br />

year, with the stress fracture<br />

already revealed and unsure<br />

if she would be able to return<br />

for the end of the crosscountry<br />

season.<br />

“That was one of the<br />

things that drew me to<br />

them,” she said. “They were<br />

Pictured is Mackenzie Brownrigg during regionals in 2017 where she placed first. She committed earlier this fall to study<br />

and compete at Illinois State University. 22nd Century Media File Photo<br />

able to see past my injury<br />

and were able to not only<br />

see my as an athlete, but as<br />

a person and when I finally<br />

had a chance to go down for<br />

an official visit and meet<br />

the girls, I just fell in love<br />

with the atmosphere and the<br />

coaching and just the fact<br />

that they could see past my<br />

injury.”<br />

That is what separated ISU<br />

from the rest of the schools<br />

she was looking at. She said<br />

at the time of the injury, she<br />

had already narrowed her<br />

list down to five schools,<br />

and while the schools’ reactions<br />

to the injury went well,<br />

it just wasn’t the same as<br />

ISU’s.<br />

She said she could tell<br />

that even though the schools<br />

were supportive, they did<br />

not like the fact that she had<br />

an injury.<br />

And ISU could have done<br />

the exact same thing: be<br />

skeptical about bringing in<br />

an athlete who is coming off<br />

an injury.<br />

But Brownrigg and ISU<br />

made their commitment to<br />

each other official when she<br />

signed earlier in the fall after<br />

verbally committing just five<br />

days before.<br />

“It’s been a total relief and<br />

encouragement,” she said.<br />

“Just because track season<br />

junior year was super stressful<br />

with the pain I was feeling<br />

in my legs and knowing<br />

that the coaches were<br />

watching my performances<br />

and knowing that they were<br />

basing whether they wanted<br />

to keep talking to me with<br />

that.”<br />

She tried to make a push<br />

to make it back at the end<br />

of the season to help the<br />

Knights make a run to State,<br />

but after not running all<br />

year, it was almost impossible.<br />

It’s her intrinsic competitiveness<br />

that makes her<br />

special, head cross country<br />

coach Jack Young said.<br />

“Within the first few<br />

weeks of coaching her she<br />

didn’t want to just be good,<br />

she wanted to be the best,”<br />

Young said. “She wanted to<br />

win every workout and do<br />

everything she could to prepare<br />

for the races.”<br />

As just a sophomore, her<br />

first year at Central, after<br />

spending her freshman year<br />

in West Plains, Missouri, she<br />

was the only one on the team<br />

to qualify for State for crosscountry.<br />

No one from the<br />

track team made it that year.<br />

The Knights as a team;<br />

however, made it to state<br />

her junior year cross-country<br />

season.<br />

And as a first-year runner<br />

at Central, who was just trying<br />

to make her mark among<br />

her new teammates, Brownrigg<br />

found herself as the<br />

only one competing at State,<br />

but had all her teammates<br />

there cheering her on.<br />

She started the year always<br />

in the back of the pack<br />

and could not keep up with<br />

the runners who have already<br />

been at Central, she<br />

said.<br />

It was great for her, but<br />

she wanted the whole team<br />

there and her team junior<br />

year made it happen.<br />

It just was not the same<br />

being the only Knight in the<br />

pack of runners, which was<br />

her driving force to get the<br />

next year’s team to State.<br />

The look on her face, “all<br />

the satisfaction,” of having<br />

the team make it is one of<br />

Young’s greatest memories<br />

to date of coaching Brownrigg.<br />

That is what makes crosscountry<br />

and track so great<br />

for Brownrigg. It is how<br />

both sports can be so individualized,<br />

but how teamoriented<br />

they really are.<br />

So when Brownrigg could<br />

not join her Knights on the<br />

courses this season for crosscountry,<br />

she was always<br />

there for her teammates and<br />

they did the same.<br />

Her teammates “laid it<br />

all out on the line,” because<br />

they knew that is what she<br />

would do, Young said.<br />

Just as her teammates<br />

cheered her on when she was<br />

the lone runner at State, she<br />

returned the favor all season.<br />

She never missed a practice<br />

and was always doing<br />

certain workouts to try<br />

and get back with her team,<br />

Young said.<br />

It was certainly different<br />

for the Knights’ leader who<br />

went to State solo her sophomore<br />

year and then helped<br />

take them to State the following<br />

year. The question<br />

around the team became,<br />

“what are we going to do<br />

now?” Young said.<br />

“It was two sides. One<br />

side it kind of felt like the<br />

team there was always<br />

that thought she was coming<br />

back,” he added. “We<br />

didn’t know until late that<br />

she wasn’t coming back.<br />

We had a few setbacks. The<br />

team relied on her and she<br />

was a huge reason why we<br />

qualified for State her junior<br />

year.”<br />

The Knights’ season ended<br />

at sectionals this season<br />

with Merrigan Allen being<br />

the only state qualifier.<br />

Now with track coming<br />

up, Brownrigg has one last<br />

chance to represent her team<br />

at State one last time, and<br />

she is feeling really good<br />

about where she is at and<br />

what this season can bring.<br />

“I’m kind of nervous going<br />

into track season, but<br />

I’m super optimistic because<br />

of how my training is going<br />

now,” she said. “I’m fully<br />

healed and pretty much up<br />

to my regular regimen for<br />

training.”


38 | January 17, 2019 | The Mokena Messenger sports<br />

mokenamessenger.com<br />

LW co-op trending upward heading into postseason<br />

Team coming off<br />

wins at Erin Olmsted<br />

Invite, recent dual<br />

Chris Walker<br />

Freelance Reporter<br />

The Lincoln-Way co-op<br />

girls gymnastics team is<br />

heading toward the finish<br />

line of the 2018-19 season<br />

by delivering some of its<br />

best gymnastics.<br />

On Jan. 5, the team won<br />

the Erin Olmsted Invitational<br />

at Sandburg with a 137.7,<br />

edging runner-up Antioch/<br />

Lakes co-op’s 135.15 in<br />

what was a two-team battle<br />

as third place Oswego co-op<br />

was well off their pace with<br />

a 131.6.<br />

Then, three days later on<br />

Jan. 8, Lincoln-Way had its<br />

highest scoring meet in its<br />

final dual of the season, becoming<br />

just the 17th team in<br />

the state to eclipse the 140<br />

mark, earning a 140.45 to<br />

119.45 victory over Homewood-Flossmoor<br />

from the<br />

comfy environs of its home<br />

gym at Lincoln-Way East in<br />

Frankfort.<br />

Grace Kmak scored a 9.45<br />

on vault and a 9.2 on beam,<br />

Allie Reis had 9.4 on floor<br />

and Karonia Jarosz earned<br />

an 8.7 on bars to lead Lincoln-Way<br />

during the conference<br />

win over Homewood-<br />

Flossmoor.<br />

“I think that was a personal<br />

record [on floor ] for me,”<br />

Reis said. “And all my teammates<br />

did really well, and it<br />

was a bit tiring being back in<br />

school.”<br />

So many little things,<br />

as well big things, can go<br />

wrong during a floor routine.<br />

Reis is not allowing any of<br />

those things to happen.<br />

“If you’re not as great on<br />

one of your three tumbling<br />

passes then you just have to<br />

make sure to do as good on<br />

Allie Reis had the highest score in the floor exercise with a 9.2 during Lincoln-Way coop’s<br />

meet against Homewood-Flossmoor Jan. 8 in Frankfort. Photos by Julie McMann/22nd<br />

Century Media<br />

Lincoln-Way recognized the team’s four seniors (left to right) Abby Matone, Cat Miles,<br />

Hannah Nuzzo and Alyssa Harbeck during Senior Night.<br />

the next pass or you’ll mess<br />

up your entire routine,” Reis<br />

said. “When you’re having<br />

a bad day, you just have to<br />

push through. It’s more of a<br />

mental thing. We’ve all done<br />

our routines so many times<br />

and it’s a great feeling to<br />

perfect it, because your confident<br />

of it, don’t get tired of<br />

it and really enjoy doing it<br />

and showing it off.”<br />

Athletes also feed off each<br />

other’s success.<br />

“I find myself super excited<br />

when a teammate hits<br />

a routine,” Reis said. “It’s<br />

the same feeling as when it’s<br />

your turn. I love feeling that<br />

awesome energy. And we<br />

all have some pretty great<br />

skills. Now we’re just focusing<br />

on form and I think if we<br />

all hit our routines we can<br />

get a really good score.”<br />

Against H-F, Kmak added<br />

an 8.8 on floor, Jarosz also<br />

had a 9 on vault and on<br />

beam, as well as a 9.2 on<br />

floor, while Reis provided a<br />

9 on vault. Jenna Krystuniak<br />

had an 8.1 and Olivia Gonda<br />

an 8 on bars while Alyssa<br />

Harbeck netted an 8.8 on<br />

beam.<br />

“We’re doing pretty well<br />

right now,” Kmak said.<br />

“Now we’re just trying to<br />

get less falls and trying to<br />

clean up our form to get<br />

more tenths added to our<br />

scores.”<br />

At the Olmsted, the team<br />

was especially strong on<br />

vault and bars, earning the<br />

best team total on both<br />

events at the invite, while<br />

overcoming an impressive<br />

effort on the floor exercise<br />

from runner-up Antioch/<br />

Lakes co-op.<br />

Kmak won the all-around<br />

with a 36.125 while Jarosz<br />

was third with a 35.3.<br />

“We’re feeling a lot better<br />

now and really trying to<br />

work on our form,” Jarosz<br />

said. “It’s a lot better from<br />

where we were at the beginning<br />

so we’re pretty proud of<br />

ourselves. So we’re just continuing<br />

to work on the form,<br />

not really anything new, just<br />

perfecting what we have already.”<br />

Since it was the team’s<br />

first competition since the<br />

holidays, it could’ve been a<br />

rough one, but Lincoln-Way<br />

was sharp for the most part.<br />

“It was all right for our<br />

first meet of the new year,”<br />

Kmak said. “I was just trying<br />

to put my new skills on<br />

floor and see what I could<br />

do, and see what happened,<br />

and it turned out being pretty<br />

good for us.”<br />

Kmak was also the beam<br />

champion at the Olmsted<br />

with a 9.3. Her consistent<br />

performances on beam do<br />

not go unnoticed and if she<br />

keeps it up she’ll likely be<br />

one of the state’s elite performers<br />

on the aforementioned<br />

apparatus once the<br />

state meet arrives.<br />

“I’ve always been pretty<br />

good at beam,” she said.<br />

“It’s still not my favorite but<br />

I’ve somehow gotten pretty<br />

good at it. I’ve worked really<br />

hard on it to get to where I’m<br />

at and I’ve just been doing<br />

really well lately.”<br />

Only a sophomore,<br />

Kmak’s role has been a huge<br />

one again this season, especially<br />

since she’s provided a<br />

huge all-around score along<br />

with Jarosz. She’s really polished<br />

her beam routine while<br />

adding a back tuck.<br />

“It’s pretty much the same<br />

as last year,” she said. “I’ve<br />

added the one skill and fixed<br />

my form a little bit and tried<br />

to be consistent.”<br />

Last year, Lincoln-Way<br />

made it to state for the second<br />

straight season and relied<br />

heavily on senior leadership,<br />

but it also got some key<br />

scores from Kmak, Jarosz<br />

and Reis. Now those three<br />

are the veteran leaders on a<br />

roster that’s much younger,<br />

but has already made great<br />

strides this winter.<br />

“We’ve kind of talked<br />

about what can do and how<br />

to get our best score,” Jarosz<br />

said. “We know getting that<br />

form and keeping it is going<br />

to get us far.”<br />

Lincoln-Way will wrap<br />

up the regular season at the<br />

York Invite on Saturday, Jan.<br />

19. The conference meet is<br />

on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at Andrew.


mokenamessenger.com sports<br />

the Mokena Messenger | January 17, 2019 | 39<br />

fastbreak<br />

Competitive Dance<br />

Knights take third in SWSC Red competition<br />

Julie McMann/22nd Century<br />

Media<br />

1st-and-3<br />

LW Gymnastics<br />

(above)<br />

1. Raising the bar<br />

Lincoln-Way co-op<br />

gymnastics became<br />

just the 17th team<br />

in the state to record<br />

an overall score of<br />

140 or higher when<br />

it scored a 140.45-<br />

119.45 over Homewood-Flossmoor<br />

Jan.<br />

8.<br />

2. Nines are fine<br />

Grace Kmak (9.45<br />

on vault, 9.2 on<br />

beam), Allie Reis<br />

(9.4 on floor, 9 on<br />

vault) and Karonia<br />

Jarosz (9 on vault<br />

and beam, 9.2 on<br />

floor) led the charge<br />

against H-F.<br />

3. Wrapping it up<br />

Lincoln-Way will finish<br />

the regular season<br />

Saturday, Jan.<br />

19 before heading to<br />

a conference meet<br />

Tuesday, Jan. 22.<br />

Central aims for<br />

back-to-back state<br />

appearances at Jan.<br />

19 sectionals<br />

James Sanchez<br />

Contributing Editor<br />

Lincoln-Way Central’s<br />

switch in routines from hiphop<br />

to jazz two years ago is<br />

continuing to pay dividends.<br />

The genre switch helped<br />

punch the Knights’ ticket<br />

to state in 2018 after missing<br />

out the year before. And<br />

that momentum carried over<br />

into this season with another<br />

third-place finish at the<br />

SWSC Red meet Jan. 9 in<br />

Bolingbrook.<br />

Andrew placed first with a<br />

winning score of 95.7, runner-up<br />

Lincoln-Way West<br />

was close behind at 94.6,<br />

and Central was third with<br />

a 90.47 – an improvement<br />

from last year’s third-place<br />

score of 87.33. The Central<br />

JV team placed second.<br />

“We were really happy<br />

with our score, and we got<br />

some really good feedback…<br />

reaffirming that our choreography<br />

is where it needs to<br />

be, and everything that we’ve<br />

made changes to and everything<br />

we’ve been working on<br />

is headed into the right direction,”<br />

coach Alina Geary<br />

said. “Now it comes down<br />

to cleaning up our routine to<br />

make it the best it could be<br />

The Lincoln-Way Central varsity dance team placed third for the third straight year at the SWSC Red competition Jan. 9 in<br />

Bolingbrook. James Sanchez/22nd Century Media<br />

come sectionals.”<br />

The Knights’ used up as<br />

much space provided on the<br />

Bolingbrook High School<br />

basketball court for its routine,<br />

dancing to the song<br />

“Higher” by The Score. Now<br />

in its second year dancing<br />

jazz, along with numerous<br />

returners from last year’s<br />

state run, Geary said both<br />

the JV and varsity programs<br />

are a lot stronger.<br />

It’s to the point where<br />

Geary said the Knights have<br />

made a name for themselves<br />

in the state in that genre.<br />

“We worked all summer<br />

pretty much as a whole<br />

program and work on those<br />

core jazz skills and those big<br />

turn sequences,” she said.<br />

“I think we’ve really developed<br />

the skills in those girls<br />

that some of them never really<br />

knew before. Some of<br />

them don’t necessarily have<br />

dance experience in the studio<br />

before they come to us,<br />

so we really spend the summer<br />

just working on those<br />

technical elements that make<br />

jazz what it is, and it’s paying<br />

off.”<br />

The Knights competed<br />

at five events in the regular<br />

season and have come<br />

away with two third-place<br />

and two fourth-place finishes.<br />

Central will take on<br />

16 schools at the 3A Normal<br />

Community West Sectional<br />

on Saturday, Jan. 19. The<br />

Top 6 scores advance to the<br />

state meet on Jan. 25-26 at<br />

Grossinger Motors Arena in<br />

Bloomington.<br />

Last year, the Knights<br />

placed fourth at sectionals to<br />

make it down to Bloomington<br />

and finished 19th overall<br />

at state.<br />

Listen Up<br />

“We know getting that form and keeping it is going<br />

to get us far.”<br />

Karonia Jarosz – Lincoln-Way co-op gymnast on the team’s expectations<br />

to close out the season<br />

TUNE IN<br />

Wrestling<br />

5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23<br />

• Lincoln-Way Central hosts T.F. South on Senior<br />

Night<br />

Index<br />

34 – This Week In...<br />

35 – Athlete of the Week<br />

FASTBREAK is compiled by Editor T.J. Kremer III, tj@<br />

mokenamessenger.com.


mokena’s Hometown Newspaper | www.mokenamessenger.com | January 17, 2019<br />

From bane to<br />

blessing LW Central girls<br />

cross country star runner to<br />

ISU despite injury, Page 37<br />

Not giving up<br />

Knights girls basketball<br />

rebounds after tough loss,<br />

Page 35<br />

Grace Kmak<br />

finishes<br />

her beam<br />

routine Jan.<br />

8 during a<br />

meet between<br />

Lincoln-Way<br />

co-op and<br />

Homewood-<br />

Flossmoor<br />

in Frankfort.<br />

Julie<br />

McMann/22nd<br />

Century Media<br />

Aerial ‘Grace’<br />

Grace Kmak helps LW gymnastics post highest score of season, Page 38<br />

MORE WAYS TO<br />

CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY<br />

Palos Hospital + Palos Medical Group + Palos South Campus<br />

Palos Imaging &Diagnostics + Palos Home Care<br />

paloshealth.com/today

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