MK_031419

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mokena’s Award-Winning Hometown Newspaper mokenamessenger.com • March 14, 2019 • Vol. 11 No. 31 • $1
A
Publication
,LLC
Election season
The Messenger covers
Mokena park district, fire
protection candidates,
Pages 4-5, 8
The Bandyk
daughters
pose with their
father at the
family’s home
in Mokena. T.J.
Kremer III/22nd
Century Media
Honored
athletes LW Central
site of Special Olympic
games, Page 6
Mokena father
ends streak
of 21-straight
years of daddydaughter
dances, Page 3
Suspect
arrested in
robbery case
Mokena PD charge
University Park man, Page
10
Village
Clerk
Melissa Martini
VILLAGE
TRUSTEES
Joseph Siwinski
George Metanias
Debbie Engler
Jim Richmond
Joseph E. Budzyn
Jillian Hersted
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
We would like to thank the residents of
Mokena for your continued trust and support.
Your Friends of Mokena Elected officials.
PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF MOKENA

2 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger calendar
mokenamessenger.com
In this week’s
Messenger
Police Reports................10
Editorial........................13
Faith Briefs....................16
Puzzles..........................22
The Scene......................22
Classifieds................ 26-33
The Mokena
Messenger
ph: 708.326.9170 fx: 708.326.9179
Editor
TJ Kremer III, x29
tj@mokenamessenger.com
assistant editor
Megan Schuller, x34
m.schuller@22ndcm.com
Sales director
Lora Healy, x31
l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com
real estate sales
Tricia Kobylarczyk, x47
t.weber@22ndcenturymedia.com
classifieds/Legal Notices
Jeff Schouten, x51
j.schouten@22ndcenturymedia.com
PUBLISHER
Joe Coughlin 847.272.4565, x16
j.coughlin@22ndcenturymedia.com
Managing Editor
Bill Jones, x20
bill@opprairie.com
president
Andrew Nicks
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EDITORIAL DESIGN DIRECTOR
Nancy Burgan, x30
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Published by
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Megan Schuller
m.schuller@22ndcm.com
FRIDAY
12th Annual Swing Knight
Music Fundraiser
5:30-10:30 p.m. March
15. Odessey Country Club,
19110 Ridgeland Ave, Tinley
Park. Students from
Lincoln-Way Central jazz
band, strings and choral will
preform. A silent auction,
raffle baskets and split the
pot will be running all night.
Tickets $40 per ticket, $75
per couple or $350 for a
table of 10. This is a 21 and
over event with a cash bar.
For more information contact
Sherrill Lange at teachlange@gmail.com.
SATURDAY
ArtWorks 2019
10 a.m.- 3 p.m. March
16. Lincoln-Way East High
School, 201 Colorado Ave,
Frankfort. Students from
32 area schools, including
all three Lincoln-Way high
schools, will exhibit their
musical and visual art talents
at ArtWorks 2019,
Stress Less Workshop
Noon-1 p.m. March 16.
Mokena Public Library District.
11327 W. 195th St.,
Mokena. Attend Chiro One
Wellness Centers’ stress
workshop to gauge your
stress level and determine
how you can better manage
the effects stress has on your
body, mind and spirit.
Banna Irish Duo
1-2 p.m. March 16. Mokena
Community Public
Library District, 11327 W.
195th St., Mokena. A performance
by Mary Barrett
and Paul Wood blendd their
voices with guitar and electronic
background accompaniment.
Daddy Daughter Ball
Saturday, March 16. The
Oaks Recreation & Fitness
Center, 10847 W. LaPorte
Road, Mokena. Times vary
by age group. For more
information, call Mokena
Park District at (708) 390-
2401 or visit mokenapark.
com to register.
WEDNESDAY
Perfect Perennials for Small
Gardens
6:30-8:30 p.m. March
20. Grow plants that are
tough as they are beautiful.
Kathleen Obirek, landscape
designer and educator, will
teach you how to plant herbaceous
plants for survival.
Please call to register at
(708)479-9663 to register.
UPCOMING
D210 Board of Education
Meeting
7 p.m. Thursday, March
21 Lincoln-Way Central
High School, 1801 E. Lincoln
Highway, New Lenox.
Meetings are held on the
third Thursday of every
month at the Knights of the
Roundtable at LWC.
Economic Development
Commission Meeting
7:30 a.m. Thursday,
March 21. Village
Hall, 11004 Carpenter
Street, Mokena.
Adult Book Discussion
7-8:30 p.m. Thursday,
March 21. Mokena Public
Library District. 11327 W.
195th St., Mokena.
Woodcock Walk
6:30-8 p.m. Friday,
March 22. Hickory Creek
Preserve, 10537 W La
Porte Rd, Mokena. Spend
the first part of the evening
discovering more about this
bird, then hike to watch the
courtship flight of the male.
The hike is approximately
one mile on both paved and
natural surface trails over
uneven terrain. Be sure to
dress for the weather.
NAWS Fundraiser
6 p.m. Saturday, March
23, Gaaelic Park, 6119 W.
147th St., Oak Forest. Partake
in a 1940s murder mystery.
Cost is $60 per person.
Jazz from Planet Flippo
Quartet
1-2 p.m. Monday, March
25. Mokena Community
Public Library District,
11327 W. 195th St., Mokena.
Spend an afternoon
of hearing original compositions
and arrangements
from Jazz From Planet
Flippo. This quartet will
play contemporary classics
by the Beatles, Joni Mitchell,
David Bowie, Sting and
others.
Village Board of Trustees
Meeting
7 p.m. Monday, March
25. Village Hall, 11004 Carpenter
Street, Mokena.
Shrek Jr. The Musical
7 p.m. Friday, March
29, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday,
March 30 and 2 p.m. Sunday,
March 31. Noonan
Academy 19131 Henry
Drive, Mokena. Tickets
$10 adult, $8 child through
Diane Simon at simonfamily1995@gmail.com
National Wheelchair
Basketball Association
Championship Tournaments
March 29-31. The Lincoln-Way
Special Recreation
Association will
host two separate National
Wheelchair Basketball Association
championship
tournaments. For more information
on times and locations
visit www.lwsra.org
or call (815) 320-3500.
Morning Bird Hike
8-10 a.m. Sunday, April
7. Hickory Creek Preserve,
10537 W La Porte Rd, Mokena.
Spring migration is
the best time to see the widest
variety of birds. Meet at
the Shagbark Grove Shelter.
ONGOING
Kindergarten Registration
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Ongoing.
District Administrative
Center, 20100 South Spruce
Drive in Frankfort. Summit
Hill School District’s 2019-
20 kindergarten registration
drive continues. Parents
may access documents at
www.studentregistration.
org.
LIST IT YOURSELF
Reach out to thousands of daily
users by submitting your event at
MokenaMessenger.com/calendar
For just print*, email all information to
m.schuller@22ndcm.com
*Deadline for print is 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to publication.
Critter Class
5:30–6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays,
March 5–26. Program
Center, 10925 La Porte
Road, Mokena. This 4-week
class is an introduction to
some of the world’s most
misunderstood creatures.
Each class features live animals
from Crosstown Exotics.
For more information,
call the Mokena Park District
at (708) 390-2401.
Mokena Fire Protection CPR
Class
6 —9:30 p.m. Ongoing.
Mokena Fire Station
1, 19853 S. Wolf Rd,
Moknea. The Mokena Fire
Protection District offers
monthly CPR classes for
the public. Students are instructed
in adult, child and
infant CPR and AED. The
cost of the class is $35 for
Community CPR and $40
Healthcare CPR. Register
for specific dates at www.
mokenafire.org.
Frankfort Area Democrats
7 p.m. third Tuesday
of each month. Anyone
is welcome to attend. For
more information, call
Larry Gilman at (815)
277-9877.
Frankfort Township
Republicans
7 p.m. fourth Tuesday
of each month, Old Frankfort
Township Building,
11008 W. Lincoln Highway,
Frankfort. For more
information, call (815)
469-4996.
Mokena Area Historical
Society
8:30 a.m. Saturdays, Village
Hall, 11004 Carpenter
St., Mokena. Mokena Area
Historical Society meetings
are held on the second
Saturday of each month.

mokenamessenger.com news
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 3
Dancing dad takes final bow after 21 years
T.J. Kremer III, Editor
Fred Astaire, Gregory
Hines and Madonna: People
who spent decades
dancing for the amusement
and to the delight of audiences
everywhere.
Now, another name can
be added to that list: David
Bandyk, who hung up his
dancing shoes on Feb. 9 for
the last time, marking an
end to an impressive streak
of 21 consecutive years
of daddy-daughter dances
at St. Mary Elementary
School in Mokena.
Yes, that’s right. Twenty-one
years straight of
dressing up, getting flowers
and marching onto the
dance floor, often with
multiple daughters on his
dance card.
David and his wife, Kelly,
have 10 children, seven
of whom are girls — Lauren,
Kylee, Clayre, Cascidy,
Magdie, Mckenna and
Abai — who range in age
from 26 to 14.
The youngest child,
Abai, is finishing her
eighth-grade year at St.
Mary this year.
St. Mary traditionally
holds its daddy-daughter
dance the week leading
up to Valentine’s Day, so
there was always that extra
element to make the dances
special.
It all started in 1998 for
the Bandyk family when
the oldest daughter, Lauren,
was in kindergarten.
Lauren said she remembers
those dances as special
days spent getting her
outfits, receiving a corsage
from her father, and spending
the evening with him
and her classmates.
“Mom always took us
shopping beforehand to
find an outfit,” Lauren said.
“... We always took pictures
here and then we’d
go to the dance, and I’d
have fun with my friends
and meet up with my dad
for a dance and then go hit
up the punch bowl. It was
always a fun time.”
And what does David
remember from that first
dace that would turn out,
unbeknownst to him, to
be the start of the 21-year
streak?
“I would have to say the
excitement of going there
and not knowing what I
was getting myself in to,
basically — not knowing
everything that was about
the father daughter dance,”
David said. “I just kind of
rolled into it and it was a
fun experience, as Lauren
said. I not only got
to take Lauren to the first
father daughter dance but
got to meet new friends
there, as well: fathers and
meet some of the girls that
Lauren got to meet going
through kindergarten, introduce
me and to this day
[she’s] still friends with a
lot of them. It just kind of
grew from there.”
The day of the dance
usually was an all day
event, with all the shopping
and dressing up, and
sometimes the daughters
would even get their nails
done.
For the daughters — and
sons — who were waiting
on the sidelines at home
for their time to spend the
evening with their dad,
Kelly would make it a
movie and pizza night, or
some other way to have
their own party back home
while whichever daughters
that particular year were
out dancing with Dad.
But, as the years went
on, more and more of the
daughters were getting
Members of the Bandyk family gather in the kitchen to look through 21 years of old daddy daughter dance photos.
photos by T.J. Kremer III/22nd Century media
old enough to join in on
the dance, meaning David
usually had his dance card
— and arms and legs —
full of adoring daughters
to attend to.
It started when the second-oldest,
Kylee, got her
chance to join her older
sister at the dance.
“It was a fun time to
hang out with my sister,
my best friend and my
dad,” Kylee said.
And it wasn’t long before
the whole daddydaughter
dance craze
picked up enough steam
and really started rolling
with the rest of the siblings.
“Even though it was just
Lauren and Kylee at first,
everybody started wanting
to go,” David said.
Up next were the twin
The seven Bandyk daughters — (clockwise from top middle) Kylee, Clayre, Mckenna,
Abai, Magdie, Cascidy and Lauren — surround their father, David, at home.
girls, Cascidy and Clayre,
who had spent a few years
waiting for their chance,
always staying behind
with Mom for the pizza
and movie night.
“We always wanted to
go,” Cascidy said. “So
Please see dance, 5

4 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger election 2019
mokenamessenger.com
Mokena Community Park District Board of Commissioners (5 for 4 four-year seats)
Name:
Dennis Bagdon
Age: 57
Party: N/A
Town of
residence:
Mokena
Occupation: Senior Sales
Executive, RLI/CBIC
Surety
Prior elected political
experience: 15 years as
Mokena Community Park
District Commissioner.
Why am you running
for Mokena Community
Park District Board of
Commissioners?
I want to continue to be
part of the momentum we
promised in the last election
of honesty, integrity,
fiscal responsibility and
transparency. The current
board has kept that promise
and works well together
achieving these goals.
The park district and the
Board of Commissioners,
with the help of several
focus groups comprised
of residents, as well as a
survey that went out to
the district, have just completed
a Comprehensive
Master Plan. I am dedicated
to working with the
current board in achieving
the goals that have been set
forth in this plan.
What makes you the best
candidate for this position?
I have had the honor of
serving the Mokena Park
District Board for the past
15 years. With my past experience
with the park district,
I bring the knowledge
of the growth of the district
to the current commissioners,
as well as to any new
board members.
The park district is very
fortunate that they have a
director and a wonderful,
dedicated staff who run the
day-to-day operation of the
district. The Board of Commissioners’
function is policy
and procedure. Having
the knowledge of how the
operation works enhances
the efficiency in which
the district runs on a dayto-day
basis. The board is
there to give the staff the
support and tools needed to
achieve their goals.
What are the Top 3 issues
you see facing the Board
of Commissioners, and
what would you do to
solve them?
One of the reasons we do
a Comprehensive Master
Plan every five years is to
give us a guide or blueprint
of what the residents think
we need to improve, what
things we are not providing
that they would like to
see the district provide, or
enhance or improve what
we currently have. It’s all
a delicate balance because
we also have to be fiscally
responsible. We need to
continue to find creative
ways to fund projects, such
Please see Bagdon, 5
Name: Michael Gandy
Age: 61
Party: N/A
Town of residence: Mokena
Occupation: Midwest Regional
Manager for VFC
Prior elected political experience:
N/A
Why are you running for Mokena
Community Park District Board of
Commissioners?
I want to be a part of the momentum of
this park board, to move forward with
honesty, integrity, fiscal responsibility
toward our community.
I have been a part of this community
for the past 18 years and want to keep
growing in the same direction that the
park board has been working on in the
last two years.
I want to make sure we keep the transparency,
communication and direction
of Mokena at being the best village to
live in, now and in the future.
What makes you the best candidate
for this position?
I have sat on the board for MBSA for
eight years, and also coached 14 years
in our community.
In that time, we have worked with the
park board and have got to know the
challenges of what it takes to work together
for everyone to win.
I have worked with the Burros football
team, and have helped with boys
basketball for the last 15 years with the
park board.
I have sat on the board for Alsip
Chamber of Commerce, also on the
board of the Calumet Area Industrial
Commission.
I know what it is like to hear all side
of the planning procedure and to work
with everyone to come to agreeable
conclusion.
What are the Top 3 issues you see facing
the Board of Commissioners?
The Issues that any park board has is
keep the communication line open to
the community.
Also making sure that you are making
the right fiscal responsibilities to the
people of the village.
And most of all, building on the future
— not just the problems on hand
today — to make sure that you are leaving
your position as park board better
than what it was before you were elected
to that position.
Name: David M.
Finan
Age: 69
Party: Independent
Town of Residence:
Unincorporated
Mokena
Occupation: Retired buyer/purchasing
manager
Prior elected political experience:
Former Merrionette Park
Trustee (2 four-year terms)
Why are you running for Mokena
Community Park District
Board of Commissioners?
My wife and I have had very
limited use of the park district
facilities. We both use the indoor
walking track at the Oaks Recreation
and Fitness Center, but
although we both could benefit
from using the fitness center, we
felt that even the senior membership
rate was too high. With
the additional revenue coming
in from youth basketball leagues
that are utilizing the new Oaks
building, there may be an opportunity
to lower Oaks membership
fees and increase some of
the free programs. I would like
to be an advocate for programs
for seniors.
What makes you the best candidate
for this position?
I have over 40 years of purchasing
experience. I have a
record of saving millions of
dollars by selecting quality
suppliers and negotiating high
performance agreements. As a
commissioner, I would make
sure all of the park district contracts
with suppliers would have
the best value for the district
and would include all aspects
of possible costs, eliminating
any surprises. I have experience
in six-sigma, lean/continuous
improvement and project management,
which can be a benefit
for the district. As a former Fire
Deputy Chief and Trustee, I understand
government workings
and procedures.
I believe the current board and
Executive Director Mike Selep
have done a very good job of
moving the park district ahead
by authorizing and approving
the 2019-2023 Comprehensive
Master Plan for better community
participation and enhanced
revenue opportunities.
I would like to continue the
progress to help make the Mokena
Community Park District
the best it can be.
What are the Top 3 issues you
see facing the Board of Commissioners,
and what would
you do to solve them?
Implement the five-year Master
Plan, and addressing survey
and public meeting issues.
Key issues are: Refresh dated
parks and facilities; develop
the remainder of Yunker Park;
investigate ways to reduce fees
and provide free activities to
improve participation; increase
senior activities; investigate the
possibility of building or sharing
a pool/water park; and improve
communication with the community.
This master plan is very detailed,
suggesting a number of
activities to improve the park
district and prioritized key outcomes
in each areas of the district:
Parks and Facilities, Recreation,
and Administration. As
a commissioner, I would suggest
that theses priorities be reviewed
and possibly adjusted and then
create project management
teams in order to implement the
suggested improvements.
One of the reasons the master
plan was created for the district
was to help qualify for grant
money to complete the suggested
projects. Normally, it is wise
to hire a person or company to
identify and help to apply for
these grants. As a commissioner,
I would like to work with this
individual or company to complete
these applications. I would
also explore possible corporate
partnerships as a source of additional
revenue.
Any business or organization,
even government organizations,
can benefit from continuous improvement
projects. As a commissioner,
I would suggest that
each of the three core functional
areas of the district — Parks and
Facilities, Recreation, and Administration
— conduct a Continuous
Improvement project in
each quarter of the year.

mokenamessenger.com election 2019
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 5
Name: Steven
Jacobson
Age: 45
Party: N/A
Town of
Residence:
Mokena
Occupation: C.O.O. of
Chicago Investment Advisory
Group in Mokena
Prior elected political experience:
N/A
Why are you running
for Mokena Community
Park District Board of
Commissioners?
My wife and I moved to
Mokena eight years ago to
raise our family. The five
of us have taken advantage
of the many programs and
facilities the park district
has to offer. This is a way
for me to give back to the
park district and to serve
our community.
What makes you the
best candidate for this
bagdon
From Page 4
as through partnerships,
sponsors and continue applying
for state-funded
grants. Having the updated
Comprehensive Master
position?
As a parent of two boys
and a girl, I bring my experience
within this community,
visiting park areas,
and being involved in recreation
programs and see
them in operation. I have
the ability to work for the
good of the entire community
and not for the interests
of one special interest
group. I am a good listener
and work well with others.
I am currently a board
member of the Mokena
Community Park District
Foundation and was a part
of the Delphi Committee
for the 2019-2023 Comprehensive
Master Plan.
What are the Top 3 issues
you see facing the
Board of Commissioners,
and what would you
do to solve them?
The use and continued
development of Yunker
Park seems to be a big
Plan allows us to apply to
these grants.
As far as the top issues
facing park district, it
comes down to providing
the best amenities, parks
and programing for the
least amount of money.
topic for the community.
There is a wide range of
opinions and thoughts for
the farm. The operations
and management will
need to keep an open line
of communication with
the community, offering
public forums and workshops
to gather input.
The current operations
and management of the
park district has done a
wonderful job over the
past few years restoring
integrity and fiscal responsibility.
We will need
to continue this positive
momentum with an emphasis
on communication
and transparency.
The park district has
a number of community
partnerships for recreation.
We need to continue
building and strengthening
these relationships,
creating new programs
and events for all age
groups.
Our goal is to be committed
to enhancing lives
through the power of
recreation by providing
exceptional parks, facilities,
programs, events and
services for all to explore
and enjoy.
Name: Timothy J. Ozinga
Age: 32
Party: Independent
Town of residence: Mokena
Occupation: Co-owner
and Executive Vice President
of Ozinga Bros., Inc.
Prior elected political experience:
N/A
Why are you running for Mokena
Community Park District Board of
Commissioners?
Being members in the community
for the past eight years, our family has
enjoyed participating in and volunteering
for numerous park district activities
and events over the years.
Living and raising our family down
the street from Main Park and Yunker
Farm, it’s been truly exciting to witness
the park district’s growth and development
firsthand. I would be proud
to contribute to that growth and work
to maintain all the recreational areas
throughout the district.
Serving on the park’s Board of Commissioners
would be an honor.
What makes you the best candidate
for this position?
As a husband and father, business
owner, and active community member,
I am committed to Mokena for the
long-term. Raising our four daughters,
operating our family’s business in the
village, and serving the community in
various ways has been a privilege as
my family and I live, work, and play in
this community.
I look forward to listening, learning,
and helping to advise the park district
from my experience as a business leader,
and provide oversight to make sure
the district is being responsible with
our investments, and has the long-term
interest of all the residents at heart.
I am currently serving on the Board
of Directors for Ozinga, our fourthgeneration
family business, and have
experience serving on other boards, as
well. I graduated from Trinity Christian
College with a bachelor’s in business
and political science and from
Northwestern’s Kellogg School of
Management with my master’s in business
administration.
What are the Top 3 issues you see
facing the Board of Commissioners,
and what would you do to solve
them?
With the community of Mokena continuing
to grow, it is important that the
Board of Commissioners continues to
listen and advocate on behalf of the
residents’ changing needs, ensure our
resources are being utilized wisely, and
provide oversight and guidance to the
parks and recreation team.
I intend to be a disciplined and courageous
advocate of the residents to
ensure our park district continues to be
one that serves the needs of the community
and is something we can continue
to be proud of for many years to
come.
dance
From Page 3
[Mom] would have to
distract us and my dad
would leave us crying with
Mom.”
St. Mary would arrange
the dances so that each
class, from kindergarten to
eighth grade, had its own
time on the dance floor
with the dads.
“I think the most memorable
moment was when
us three got to do our first
dance together in kindergarten,”
Clayre said. “So,
we were the first ones to
go in kindergarten. It was
just cool to just dance with
our dad alone for one song.
So, I feel like that was the
most memorable moment
each year.”
Up next was Magdie.
She remembers tagging
along with her older sisters
and having that feeling of
anticipation of finally getting
to leave the house on
that special night.
“I always wanted to be
like my older sisters; whatever
they did, I wanted to
do,” Magdie said.
For those keeping score
at home, that meant that
David now had five of his
daughters with him at the
same dance.
Eventually, Lauren did
graduate eighth grade and
move on to Providence
Catholic High School.
Now Kelly had someone
to help coordinate the dayof-the-dance
activities.
The penultimate daughter,
Mckenna, had a secret
trick to getting special attention
when it was her turn
to join four of her sisters.
“At the end, they would
call for all families to
come dance,” Mckenna
said “So, all five, six of us
would all go by Dad and
dance together.”
“Mckenna got Dad’s arm
spot because she was the
youngest,” Cascidy said.
“Yeah, I was the lightest,”
Mckenna said.
Finally, the youngest
daughter, Abai, had her final
daddy-daughter dance
on Feb. 9. And, as a special
swan song to their
father, the girls decided
they would send him off
by having all the daughters
crash the annual daddydaughter
dance together.
“We all got ready. All
the other sisters got to wear
black,” Abai said. “My dad
wanted me to wear black,
but I got to wear white.”
“She got to pop,” the
other sisters chimed in.
That final evening was
spent with all the Bandyk
daughters serenading their
father with a modified version
of “My Guy”: “My
Dad.”
“Seeing my dad’s face
and how happy he was and
shaking hands like he was
a celebrity with his whole
squad of girls behind him,
it was really awesome that
everyone put in the effort,
not only to get ready, but
to make sure it was a special
night to be there for
my dad,” Lauren said.
And David had a special
message for his daughters,
too.
“The father daughter
dance has been a sweet
and meaningful way to
share a special evening
with our amazing daughters,”
David read from a
prepared note. “We are so
blessed to have wonderful
kids who want to spend
time with their mom and
dad. The Valentine’s Day
will continue as a family
tradition for years to come.
“So, that’s what the father
daughter dance means
to me over the last 21 years
of getting everybody together,
prepping, dancing,
chowing.”

Lincoln-Way Central
student Ashley Fuessel,
of Mokena, participated
in several events.
“My favorite event is
hockey,” Fuessel said.
“I’m with my friends.
The games are nice and
make me happy.”
A moment of silence
was held as a bell was
rang for former senior at
LWE and Special Olym-
6 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger news
mokenamessenger.com
Lincoln-Way celebrates athletes in Special Games
Megan Schuller
Assistant Editor
Lincoln-Way Central
continued on the 18-yearstrong
tradition of the
Special Olympic Games
on Thursday, March 7.
The Lincoln-Way mascots
lead their teams to
the stands as each team
shouted its school’s initials
back and forth, each
time louder than the next.
“The Special Games
is a friendly competition
between the peer physical
education classes of all
the local high schools,”
Director of Special Services
at Lincoln-Way
Community High School
District 210 Mary Harrison
said. “Each school
chooses a theme for their
team and competes in
several different athletic
categories.”
The Special Games
were established in 2002
to provide athletes with
special needs an opportunity
to compete against
others.
Frankfort Resident and
Lincoln-Way East parent
Sherry Klepetka cheered
loudly for her son, Tommy.
“This is a great event,”
Klepetka said. “Tommy
gets excited for the
games every year. He is
real proud of himself and
his friends for competing.
It’s a feel-good day.”
The games’ humble
beginning started with
six high schools and 150
athletes. Now, the games
have transformed into a
day-long pep-rally, and
competition involving 11
high schools and more
than 400 athletes.
Lincoln-Way Central
Student and Adaptive
P.E. Leader Sarah Walton,
said that she likes to
see the schools supporting
their adaptive P.E.
classes.
“There is an overwhelming
amount of support
from the community
for this joyful event,” she
said.
Sarah’s mother, Leslie,
came out to support the
students that her daughter
has been working with.
“It’s wonderful to see
how all the local area
schools come together for
this to support wonderful
athletes,” Leslie said. “It
makes such a big difference
in the community.”
During the opening
ceremony the athletes
marched in to a drum line
cadence, holding their respective
school’s flag and
wearing their respective
school’s themed costume
for the event. Lincoln-
Way Central students carried
the torch.
Each Lincoln-Way
school chose a unique
theme for its team. East
chose a theme from the
Disney movie “Coco,”
donning sombreros and
maracas. Central’s theme
was “World Travelers,”
so students dressed in
Hawaiian shirts, sailor
hats and painted their
noses white to look like
sunscreen. And, finally,
West went with a “Warriors”
theme, dressing in
green and black camouflage
for the event.
Please see celebrate, 8
Richie Fischer represents Lincoln-Way Central during a relay race at the 18th annual Special Olympic Games
Thursday, March 7, at Lincoln-Way Central. Photos by Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media
Mike Costello represents Lincoln-Way East playing hockey.

mokenamessenger.com school
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 7
the Mokena messenger’s
Standout Student
Sponsored by Marquette Bank
Matthew Schmitt,
Mokena Junior
High eighth-grader
What do you like to do
when not in school or
studying?
I enjoy watching Netflix
and playing Wii
Sports. I also used to love
plying baseball, but then
I fractured my shoulder
and couldn’t play anymore.
What’s your dream job?
To be a neurosurgeon
because I am very interested
in anatomy.
What’s one thing people
don’t know about you?
I have a phobia of touching/looking
at coins. I hate
to be around them and
can’t do anything near
coins.
Whom do you look up to
and why?
I look up to my parents
because they have a strong
work ethic and always try
their hardest.
Photo submitted
What extracurricular(s) do
you wish your school had?
One where we would
travel to nursing homes
and talk with them and
play bingo with the people
there.
If you could change one
thing about your school
what would it be?
I would change the
classes. I think there
should be more classes and
the kids should have a say
in their classes. This way
you are interested in the
classes you take.
What’s your favorite thing
to eat in the cafeteria?
Fruit snacks.
What’s your best memory
from school?
Coming in second place
in the Geography Bee.
Standout Student is a weekly
feature for The Mokena
Messenger. Nominations
come from Mokena-area
schools.
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8 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger election 2019
mokenamessenger.com
LEGAL NOTICE
Mokena Fire Protection District (2 for 1 six-year seat)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at the Consolidated Election to be held
on Tuesday, the 2 nd day of April, 2019, the following proposition will be submitted
to the voters of Mokena School District Number 159, Will County, Illinois:
Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation
Law for Mokena School District Number 159, Will County, Illinois,
be increased by an additional amount equal to .30% above the
limiting rate for school purposes for levy year 2017 and be equal to
2.7967% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property
therein for levy year 2019?
(1) The approximate amount of taxes extendable at the most
recently extended limiting rate is $14,355,842 and the
approximate amount of taxes extendable if the proposition is
approved is $16,080,820.
(2) For the 2019 levy year the approximate amount of the
additional tax extendable against property containing a singlefamily
residence and having a fair market value at the time of
the referendum of $100,000 is estimated to be $100.
(3) If the proposition is approved, the aggregate extension for
2019 will be determined by the limiting rate set forth in the
proposition, rather than the otherwise applicable limiting rate
calculated under the provisions of the Property Tax
Extension Limitation Law (commonly known as the Property
Tax Cap Law).
The polls at said election will be open from 6:00 o’clock a.m. and
continued open until 7:00 o’clock p.m. of that day.
Dated this 5 th day of March, 2019.
LAUREN STALEY FERRY
WILL COUNTY CLERK
Name: Joseph Schuringa
Age: 52
Party: N/A
Town of Residence:
Mokena
Occupation: Retired
firefighter/paramedic
Prior elected political experience:
None
Why are you running for Mokena
Fire Protection District Board of
Commissioners?
I am running for Trustee of the
Mokena Fire Protection District
Board of Commissioners. I have
lived in Mokena for nearly 20 years.
I have raised three children, who
have gone through the Mokena
school system. Volunteering has always
been a part of my life, wanting
to give back to the community.
I have coached several different
sports, as well as always helping
out where needed. I am deeply invested
in this community and its future.
I believe my work experience
coupled with my commitment will
make me an asset to the Mokena
Fire Protection District and those it
protects.
What makes you the best candidate
for this position?
I believe I would be a valuable
asset to the Mokena Fire Protection
District. I have been a union
firefighter/paramedic for a neighboring
town for 20 years. Through
these years I held various offices
that qualify me for this position. I
have been vice president and secretary
for my union local. I have
been involved in the labor negotiation
process for firefighters
contracts several times. I attended
legislative conferences in Washington,
D.C. where I met with representatives
to promote firefighter
safety, and to increase funding for
fire departments and their equipment.
I am also deeply involved
with the AFFI Honor Guard,
which plays a role in laying to rest
fallen firefighters, a duty which I
do with honor and respect. This
experience, coupled with my commitment
to Mokena, would make
me the best candidate for the position
of Trustee of the Mokena Fire
Protection Board.
What are the Top 3 issues you see
facing the Board of Commissioners,
and what would you do to
solve them?
Every organization has issues,
whether it be financial, personnel
or political. After speaking
to several firefighters of Mokena,
it appears their firefighters and
Board of Trustees work together
well. Mokena fire district is an
ISO Class 1, which means they
are ranked as a top-tier district
for emergency communications,
public safety and fire department
operations. This is a classification
that shows the hard work the
district and the trustees have put
in toward protecting its citizens.
Without being a current member
of the Board of Trustees, it is hard
to verbalize their exact issues at
this time; however, I look forward
to hard work and working alongside
the current trustees and the
fire district to tackle and solve any
problems that may arise.
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Name: Dennis
Burkhardt
Age: 66
Party: N/A
Town of
Residence:
Mokena
Occupation: Retired
Prior elected political experience:
None
Why are you running for
Mokena Fire Protection
District Board of Commissioners?
As a former volunteer
fireman, I have a great
deal of pride in my hometown.
The safety and preparedness
and education
of our fireman and residents
will always be a top
priority.
What makes you the best
candidate for this position?
I am a lifelong resident
of Mokena with past and
present knowledge of the
fire district. I believe I,
along with the board of
trustees, will first and foremost
have the best interest
of Mokena in my decisions.
What are the Top 3 issues
you see facing the Board
of Commissioners, and
what would you do to
solve them?
I believe maintaining
our equipment, continued
education and safety measures
throughout the fire
department are a top priority.
Call today for rates
& information
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22ndcenturymedia.com
Broker - Management Team
“10”
celebrate
From Page 6
pics athlete Ben Reznick,
who died in October.
Chicago Wolves,
Blackhawks, Bears,
White Sox and Joliet
Slammer mascots all
made a special appearance
and competed
against the school mascots
in the “unofficial”
first event of the games:
bouncing to the finish
line on an exercise ball.
Athletes were then broken
up across the gym
and field house to compete
and were recognized
at the end of the event
during closing ceremonies.

mokenamessenger.com mokena
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 9
An event for
the entire family!
100 Booths
Local businesses showcasing their products &services.
Saturday, March 16
10am to 2pm
Lincoln-Way East HS, Field House
Come learn about local businesses and
what they can do for you!
FREE admission!
FREE goody bags!
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WIN $500 &gift baskets!
Brought to you by:
Partnered with:
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Free Kids’ Area including:
•Workshops hosted by KidsWork Children’s Museum
and Home Depot
•Artistic Face Painting
•Children’s vision and hearing screenings, hosted by
Frankfort Lions Club
•MRMoonwalks bounce house
•Ivy League’s Mobile STEM Mobile Learning Lab with
hands-on science activities
Performances/Demonstrations including:
•The Music Connection
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•Castle Yoga of Frankfort
•Youth String Orchestra
•Family Martial Arts
•School of Rock
Heartland Blood Centers Blood Mobile

®
10 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger NEWS
mokenamessenger.com
Police Reports
Arrest made in robbery, home invasion case
Jason Markies Long,
19, of 1133 Abbott Lane
in University Park, was
charged March 4 with
robbery, residential burglary,
aggravated battery
and theft more than $500
in connection with the
robbery at a residence in
the 19700 block of Scarth
Lane. As of press time,
two more suspects —
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Aveion M. Cason, 18, of
1039 Blackhawk Drive
in University Park; and
Xavier Williams, 19, of
522 Landau Road in University
Park — remain at
large.
According to police reports,
officers responded
to a call of a robbery in
progress Feb. 24. While
in route, officers were advised
subjects were fighting
in a driveway and a
silver Infinity with black
tinted windows and two to
three occupants inside had
fled the scene.
Upon arrival, officers
spoke with a man, who
told the officers that he
was making a gym shoe
purchase in the kitchen
of his home with Long.
The man reportedly paid
Long $190 for the shoes,
at which point Cason and
Williams asked the man
if he had any shoes for
sale. The man retrieved
nine pairs of shoes, worth
a total of $3,610, from
his bedroom and returned
to the kitchen. The man
stated that Long was no
longer in the kitchen, and
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22ndcenturymedia.com
that Cason and Williams
then took the shoes from
him and attempted to
leave the residence. The
man attempted to stop the
pair, but was beaten and
thrown to the ground before
all three suspects fled
in Long’s vehicle.
The man was able to
grab a shoe that one of
the suspects was wearing
and recovered a cell phone
dropped during the fight
by Williams.
He was also able to
identify Long and Cason
from social media posts
made by them reportedly
showing them with the
recently stolen items. The
man reported this to the
police, who were further
able to identify the suspects
from more social
media posts and verifying
the identities through a
Crete-Monee High School
official.
Warrants were issued
for all three suspects on
March 1. University Park
police apprehended Long
March 4 and turned him
over to Mokena police.
Cason and Williams remain
at large and are
wanted on charges of robbery,
residential burglary,
aggravated battery and
theft more than $500.
Feb. 27
• Clifford T. Ramsey, 24,
of 11651 S. Elizabeth St. in
Chicago was charged with
driving on a suspended/revoked
driver’s license.
According to police reports,
an officer on patrol
in the area of West
191st Street and South
LaGrange Road observed
a green Ford Expedition
without a front license
plate. The officer initiated
a traffic stop and a
check of Ramsey’s driver’s
license came back as
suspended. He was then
placed under arrest.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The
Mokena Messenger’s police
reports come from the
Mokena Police Department.
Anyone listed in these reports
is considered to be innocent
of all charges until proven
guilty in a court of law.
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the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 11
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12 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger news
mokenamessenger.com
FROM THE FRANKFORT STATION
Frankfort seniors navigate rules
of the road
Navigating the renewal process
and tests at the driver’s license
exam station can be overwhelming
for seniors who have
to take the exam every four
years, but the Illinois Secretary
of State’s Driver Services Department
is trying to make these
services more accessible.
More than 50 elderly Frankfort
residents packed into a
classroom at the Founders Community
Center on March 6 to
become familiar with updated
driving laws and what to expect
during test-taking at the station.
“It never hurts to review,”
said attendee Barb Kossuth, of
Frankfort.
Residents were able to partake
in a “Rules of the Road” class
provided by the Illinois Secretary
of State’s Office for a refresher
on State laws, before taking their
written and driving exam.
“It’s a great opportunity for
seniors to brush up on their
rules of the road before a test,”
said attendee Nallie Morgan, of
Frankfort. “It’s just a wonderful
opportunity for the residents of
Frankfort.”
Attendee Larry Heim, of
Frankfort, said the accessibility
of these types of workshops and
services can help seniors maintain
their independence.
“I took this course to be refreshed
on new rules of the
road,” Heim said. “This course
is really nice, especially since
it’s free for the seniors.”
Reporting by Megan Schuller,
Assistant Editor, For more, visit
FrankfortStation.com.
FROM THE NEW LENOX PATRIOT
Celtics hockey scores in triple
OT to keep season alive, goalie
saves 64 shots
It took nearly 75 minutes
of triple-overtime hockey, but
when the ice spray finally settled
on their state quarterfinal game,
Providence Catholic owned a
major upset win over Glenbrook
North.
Providence’s Colin Ries
scored on a Tom Davis feed to
give Providence a 2-1 overtime
win, and Ries had a quick explanation
for how his Celtics beat a
Spartans team that had outscored
his side 14-2 in three regular season
meetings this year.
“It’s all heart,” Ries said.
“That’s all it is.”
There was no heartbeat larger
than the one inside Providence
freshman goalie Luke Brzezinski
on March 6 in Bensenville.
Brzezinski made 64 saves in
the win and kept his poise in the
face of a barrage of Glenbrook
North shots.
“He has played well and he’s
going to have a nice career here,”
Providence coach Nick Iaciancio
said. “He got his nerves out of
the way and today, he just settled
in and he played. And the kids
did a really nice job supporting
him.”
Ries applauded the day’s work
put in by Brzezinski.
“He stood on his head,” Ries
said. “The only reason we were
in that game was because of
him.”
Glenbrook North coach Evan
Poulakidas was left singing the
same old song after his boys applied
solid offensive pressure
but only managed one goal in
the loss.
“The sad part is that they had
every ingredient to win a state
championship — great defense,
great goaltending, and we had
good offense but we just couldn’t
score.”
Reporting by Gary Larsen,
Freelance Reporter. For more, visit
NewLenoxPatriot.com.
FROM THE HOMER HORIZON
Former LTHS soccer standout
switches sports
When Vinny Smithwick started
school at Lewis University
in the fall of 2015, he was there
to study elementary and special
education as well as play soccer.
Four years later, he not only
changed his major but also his
sport. Smithwick is now majoring
in business administration
and has developed into quite the
player in the world of club volleyball.
“I played soccer in the first
semester of my freshman year,”
Smithwick said. “I went there to
play soccer, but I just struggled
with it. For some various reasons,
it didn’t work out.”
Soccer worked out for him
at Lockport Township High
School, as he played the sport all
four years and was on the varsity
team for three. As a senior
in the fall of 2014, he recorded
15 goals and 11 assists in being
named to the SouthWest Suburban
All-Conference Team and
also was named team MVP. He
scored 44 goals throughout his
career and helped push the Porters
to 17 wins and a regional
title as a senior.
But he also was a member of
the varsity volleyball team as
an outside and right-side hitter
for two seasons at Lockport.
So, when soccer did not work
out, volleyball did. Although
he is not a member of the actual
volleyball team, which plays a
Division I schedule, it is still a
competitive environment. The
Lewis University men’s club
volleyball team is currently
ranked No. 1 in the nation in
Division II, according to the
National Collegiate Volleyball
Federation.
Reporting by Randy Whalen,
Freelance Reporter. For more, visit
HomerHorizon.com.
FROM THE TINLEY JUNCTION
Orland Park resident goes above
and beyond for Together We
Cope in Tinley
Started in 1982 by an Oak Forest
woman who turned her garage
into a source of clothing and
other necessities for south suburban
families in need, Together
We Cope has a proud legacy of
volunteerism dating back to earliest
days.
The Tinley Park nonprofit leverages
a small staff and 200-
some unpaid helpers to run a
food pantry, resale shop and
various aid programs that touch
thousands of area residents every
month.
Among them is 81-year-old
Jerry Saletta, an Orland Park resident
who was recently named
the organization’s 2018 Volunteer
of the Year. Saletta started
volunteering with TWC about
three years ago, when his daughter
worked there.
Learning of the recognition
felt “really good,” Saletta said,
but accolades are not what motivate
his work.
“It’s always the people you’re
working with that makes it enjoyable,”
he said, referring to
TWC staff, volunteers and those
who turn to the group in times of
need. “I think we make an impact
on a lot of lives.”
Saletta — who has lived in
Orland for about two decades —
volunteers at the nonprofit every
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday, mainly focusing
on the pantry, the group’s biggest
operation.
Saletta, a retiree who worked
as an electrical engineering professor
at the Illinois Institute of
Technology for more than five
decades, is to be recognized for
his efforts at an April luncheon,
where he will officially receive
the organization’s annual Reimer
Award.
“I’ve been blessed with good
health,” he said. “As long as I
can do it, I’ll keep going.”
Reporting by Will O’Brien,
Freelance Reporter. For more, visit
TinleyJunction.com.
FROM THE ORLAND PARK PRAIRIE
Orland Park Village Board votes
to revert mayor to part-time
role in 2021
When the April 2021 election
rolls around, prospective mayoral
candidates for the Village of
Orland Park will be campaigning
for a part-time position.
The Orland Park Village Board
voted 6-0 March 4 to repeal an
ordinance from 2016 that expanded
the role of the mayor to
become a full-time position with
an intended focus on economic
development. The vote to repeal
the full-time position also included
the rollback of the annual
salary from the current $150,000
back to the $40,000 it was prior
to the April 2017 election.
Trustee Michael Carroll was
absent.
The item, which was placed
on the Mayor’s Report section
of the agenda, was motioned by
Trustee Patricia Gira and seconded
by Trustee James Dodge.
In spring 2018, the same motion
was put on an agenda but failed
to get off the floor.
Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau
said, “I will just state the
same thing I’ve said numerous
times in the past: I think the position
should go back to part-time,
and that the salary should roll
back, because we did not change
the form of government that we
have and that would be appropriate
with a full-time mayor. My
position hasn’t changed on that.
Do I think it has benefitted from
me being here full-time? Yeah, I
think it’s benefitted with some of
the stuff we’ve had, like the mall
issues and things like that. But
do I think it’s necessary? No.”
Reporting by Jon DePaolis,
Freelance Reporter. For more, visit
OPPrairie.com.
FROM THE LOCKPORT LEGEND
Band forged at Homer Jr. High to
perform in hometown
From the Homer Jr. High
School talent show to performing
gigs across town, three local
musicians have spent the last 13
years finding their sound.
Having met at Homer Jr. High,
Homer Glen natives Andrew
Okrzesik and Carl Horne, and
Lockport native John Fornino
now make up the band called
Logical Confusion. The three are
set to perform at Pelican Harry’s
in Homer Glen on Friday, March
15.
Long before they were being
booked for performances and
creating CDs, they were middleschoolers
with growing talent
and a shared interest in music.
“I’ve been friends with Carl
Please see NFYN, 13

mokenamessenger.com sound off
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 13
Social snapshot
Top Web Stories
From MokenaMessenger.com as of Monday,
March 11
1. Behind the pastry: Paczki Day
2. Fishing For Finds: Mokena Marley
Frankfort FISH closes resale shop
3. Pot for opioid prescription program
comes to Mokena
4. Matt’s Old Mokena: Mystery of the
bank robbery that wasn’t
5. Arrest made in robbery, home invasion
case
Become a member: mokenamessenger.com/plus
“Congratulations to Reclaim Fitness of
Mokena! We’re happy to have you in Mokena
and to have you as a member of our
chamber! #chambermember”
Mokena Chamber of Commerce posted
this to its Facebook page Feb. 21.
Like The Mokena Messenger: facebook.com/
mokenamessenger.com
“This morning we hosted our annual
Seniors’ Breakfast with the Superintendent!
Thank you to our senior citizens for your
continued support of Lincoln-Way! Special
thanks to our AFJROTC and all three choirs
for an amazing morning!”
@LWD210 posted this to its Twitter account
Friday, March 8.
Follow The Mokena Messenger: @mokenamessenger
From the Editor
On the value of non-competitiveness
TJ Kremer iii
tj@mokenamessenger.com
There was some discussion
this week
about where to
place the Special Olympics
story. (If you missed
it, it’s on Page 7.)
Our weekly routine in
the Southwest branch at
22nd Century Media is
to have staff meetings on
Tuesdays. During those
meetings, the editors from
the seven local papers get
together to share story
ideas for the upcoming
week. It’s often the case
— especially with the
Lincoln-Way-area papers
in Mokena, Frankfort and
New Lenox — that some
stories will overlap and
be shared among different
towns. This is when we
decide as a team where
those stories best fit.
I happened to be absent
from the meeting for our
nfyn
From Page 12
March 14 issue. Not on
purpose. I don’t make a
habit of missing these meetings,
but I had an interview
to conduct at our regular
meeting time and didn’t
make it back in time.
And, so, I did not get a
vote on where the Special
Olympics story would be
placed. Had I been given
a vote, I would have voted
for the Sports section.
My thinking at the time
was: Well, this is a story
about athletes who are
participating in their respective
games and sports,
so why wouldn’t we place
it in Sports?!
My thinking has since
changed.
Those are still athletes
and their games we reported
on, but the real story
isn’t who won or who lost.
No, the real story is
how people of all different
levels of abilities can
come together, participate
in a shared passion for
something and walk away
at the end knowing that
everyone who was there
came out a winner.
And anytime a group of
people can get together in
this increasingly polarized
world in which we live
and come out feeling good
since sixth grade, when
we were in the percussion
section together in band at
school,” Fornino said.
Fornino said he took a
liking to Horne, whose
music interests are rooted
in styles from the 1950s
and 1960s, because “he
can really play and was
into music a lot.”
It was during the summer
between their seventh-
and eighth-grade
years at Homer Jr. High
that the three connected
and began playing music
together. Each of them
contribute vocals to the
band. Fornino plays the
drums, Horne plays the
guitar, and Okrzesik
plays the bass and keyboard.
After watching a band
perform at the school’s
talent show when they
were in seventh grade,
they knew they were
about themselves, well,
if that isn’t news, then I
guess I don’t know what
is. (And, consequently, I
should get a refund on my
nearly $100K education.)
Sure, there was a bit of
friendly rivalry going on
at Lincoln-Way Central
during the games; each
school wanted to do
the best at representing
the spirit of the games,
after all. But there was no
animosity, no vitriol, no
mean-spiritedness of the
kind we see far too often,
whether it be in sporting
events, politics or even
Thanksgiving dinner with
the family, which often
combines those caustic
elements with some booze
for a real hoot of a time in
many households.
No, what happened
during the Special Games
is what should happen
whenever there are events
and situations where some
individual or group has
the opportunity to show
others what doing one’s
best is all about: grace and
humbleness, whether it
be from the “winning” or
“losing” side.
I think sometimes we
can get so caught up in
a moment that we can
good enough to give
it a go the following
year. They performed at
the 2006 school talent
show.
“We knew we could do
it,” Horne said, adding
that the students and, “especially
the parents were
impressed, because they
recognized the songs we
were playing.”
Reporting by Alex Ivanisevic,
Assistant Editor. For more,
visit LockportLegend.com.
lose sight of what it is
any particular moment is
about. And most of those
moments — sporting,
political or dinning —
usually have the same end
goal: the betterment of all
who participate.
Of course there are different
means to achieving
that end depending on
the particular arena, but
regardless of how we get
to that end, the important
thing is that we get there
together.
And, if we should be
on the “winning” side,
perhaps we could show
a little more humbleness
in our victory. And, if we
should end up on the “losing”
side, then perhaps
that little bit of grace
helps take the sting out.
When all is said and
done, we are ultimately on
the same team.
Sound Off Policy
Editorials and columns are the
opinions of the author. Pieces
from 22nd Century Media are
the thoughts of the company as
a whole. The Mokena Messenger
encourages readers to write
letters to Sound Off. All letters
must be signed, and names and
hometowns will be published.
We also ask that writers include
their address and phone number
for verification, not publication.
Letters should be limited to 400
words. The Mokena Messenger
reserves the right to edit letters.
Letters become property of The
Mokena Messenger. Letters that
are published do not reflect
the thoughts and views of The
Mokena Messenger. Letters
can be mailed to: The Mokena
Messenger, 11516 West 183rd
Street, Unit SW Office Condo
#3, Orland Park, Illinois, 60467.
Fax letters to (708) 326-9179 or
e-mail to tj@mok
namessenger.com.
www.mokenamessenger.com.

14 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger mokena
mokenamessenger.com
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Salad upgrade
Dressing gets a bacon
overhaul, Page 20
Moo-ving on to new things
Creamery in Mokena, Frankfort, Orland Hills mixes up
its offerings as it heads toward spring, Page 21
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | mokenamessenger.com
LW D210 names
Performing Arts Center
after longtime director,
Page 17
Charles R. Stark receives a standing ovation as he makes his way to the podium to deliver his speech during the dedication of the Performing Arts Center named
for him Saturday, March 9. Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media

16 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger faith
mokenamessenger.com
Faith Briefs
St. Mary’s Catholic Church (19515
115th Ave., Mokena)
Parish Mission
7 p.m. March 18-20
Father Paul De Soza, MC
will present at Saint Mary
Mokena’s three-day parish
mission in the main
church. Topics will include
how to live one’s Catholic
faith daily and how to recognize
God’s presence in
everyday life. Confessions
will be offered on Monday,
March 18, and Mass will
be celebrated on Wednesday,
March 20.
Young at Heart Senior Club
1 p.m. the first and
third Wednesday of the
month. Join the senior
club for activities and
outings Sept.-June. For
more information, call
(708) 699-5018.
St. John’s United Church of Christ
(11100 Second St., Mokena)
Bundles of Love
7 p.m. the second and
fourth Tuesday of each
month. Enjoy fun and
fellowship while making
baby quilts for infants
baptized at St. John’s
and lap quilts for shutins.
Mokena United Methodist Church
(10901 LaPorte Road, Mokena)
Community Prayer
Gathering
2:30 p.m. every 4th Sunday.
Marley Community Church (12625 W.
187th St., Mokena)
Senior High Youth Group
7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
For more information,
email marleycommunitychurch@gmail.
com.
Junior High Youth Group
6-7:30 p.m. Fridays.
For more information,
email marleycommunitychurch@gmail.com.
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
(10731 W. La Porte Road, Mokena)
Adult Bible Study
10:15 a.m. Sundays in
Sept.-May.
Mokena Baptist Church (9960 W. 187th
St., Mokena)
FUNERAL SERVICES DIRECTORY
Kim O’Neil Golob
Kelli Hartseil Mores
Kelly Furlong Foresman, Secretary
Advertise your
Contact the
It waseasyto
decide on cremation.
Now, what aboutthe
rest of thedecisions?
Colonial Chapel
Funeral Home
Private, On-site Crematory
15525 S. 73rd Ave.
(155th/Wheeler Dr. &Harlem)
Orland Park, Illinois
Family owned for 40 Years
colonialchapel.com
708-532-5400
The Cremation Experts.
funeral services.
708.326.9170
Sunday Services
11 a.m. and 5 p.m. For
more information, call
(312) 350-2279.
Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Sundays.
Mokena Baptist offers
Sunday School classes
for all ages. For more information,
call (312) 350-
2279.
Grace Fellowship Church (11049
LaPorte Road, Mokena)
Narcotics Anonymous
7-9 p.m. Mondays. All
those struggling or who
have struggled with a narcotics
addiction are welcome.
All meetings are
confidential. For more information,
call (708) 479-
0300.
Spanish Church
12:30 p.m. Sundays.
Worship Service
In Memoriam
10 a.m. Sundays. All are
welcome.
Women’s Bible Study
8:45-9:45 a.m. Sundays
and 2-3 p.m. Tuesdays.
Victory Baptist Church (13550 US Route
6, Mokena)
Sunday School
9:30 a.m. Sundays.
Morning Worship
10:45 a.m. Sundays.
Evening Worship
6 p.m. Sundays.
Weekday Worship
7 p.m. Wednesdays.
Have something for Faith
Briefs? Contact Editor
TJ Kremer III at Tj@
mokenamessenger.com
or call (708) 326-9170
ext. 29. Deadline is noon
Thursday one week prior to
publication.
John Charles
Janulis
J o h n
Charles Janulis, (Ret) U.S.
Navy, 78, of Tryon, North
Carolina, died March 1.
He and his sister, Ione,
were born in Mokena, to
John and Lorraine. He attended
Sandburg High
School and was a retired
Navy chief.
He served on the destroyer
U.S.S. Furse and
the aircraft carrier U.S.S.
Wasp, and had been stationed
at NAVCOMSTA in
Asmara, Ethiopia and Naples,
Italy, as well as other
duty stations.
He was an avid fisherman,
created wonderful
woodwork, huge Duke fan
and loved his White Sox
(and Cubbies, too).
He and his wife of 60
years, Dani, are the parents
of Katie (Dan) Villani,
Kellie (Roy) Hibbard
and John (Lucia); grandparents
to Joey, Charlie
and Molly Villani, Marie
and Roy Hibbard, Bobby
and Natalie Janulis; greatgrandparents
to Rosemary
Capri Cartner and Olivia
Rae Hibbard; brother-inlaw
to Ray O’ Brien and
Margot (Bill) Holcomb;
and uncle to many nieces
and nephews.
A private service was to
be held. Memorials may
be made in John’s name to
the Foothills Humane Society,
P.O. Box 126, Tryon,
North Carolina, 28782.
Do you have someone’s life
you’d like to honor? Email
Editor T.J. Kremer III at tj@
mokenamessenger.com with
information about a loved
one who was a part of the
Mokena community.

mokenamessenger.com life & arts
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 17
Lincoln-Way dedicates arts center to longtime director
Charles R. Stark
Center for Performing
Arts officially opens
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
For more than four decades,
Charles R. Stark
helped shape the Lincoln-
Way Community High
School District 210 music
program as an institution
of beauty and excellence.
Along with directing
choirs, chairing the music
department and founding
Madrigal Singers, he also
led the A Capella Choir on
several concert tours of
Europe, served as the district’s
auditorium director,
formed the Lincoln-Way
Area Chorale and much,
much more.
The Charles R. Stark
Center for the Performing
Arts at Lincoln-Way
Central High School was
named in his honor and on
Saturday, March 9, and a
celebratory concert was
held to mark the venue’s
dedication.
Susan Albor, a Mokena
resident and alto singer,
has been a member of
LWAC since Stark helped
found it in 1995. She said
she believes that Stark is
the perfect person to be
honored with a namesake
theater.
“There could be nobody
else that they could name
this auditorium after besides
Chuck,” Albor said.
“All of this is due to him
— his inspiration and his
drive to keep the arts in
the area. It’s great to have
some place to sing. I’m
not a great singer, but you
don’t have to be as long as
you enjoy it. That’s what
this whole choir is about:
enjoying singing together.”
Frankfort resident Donald
Law, a self-proclaimed
“L-WACko” has been a
member of the chorale for
18 years.
“The first thing I did
when we moved to Frankfort
in [2004] was go after
Chuck Stark to join
the Lincoln-Way Area
Chorale,” Law said while
listening in awe of the
Lincoln-Way Symphony
Orchestra ensemble performing
in the lobby .
The Chorale, now under
the direction of Elise
L. Greene, was among the
Dedication Concert performers
singing “All My
Trials” and “Last Words
of David” during its portion
of the program. The
group also joined Lincoln-Way
Choral alumni
and the Lincoln-Way Central
Madrigals later in the
show.
Lincoln-Way Central
Chorus Director Michael
Bultman — who directed
the Madrigals in renditions
of “Sing We and
Chant It” and “Over Hill,
Over Dale” — said he is
grateful to have a top-tier
performance space in the
newly named Charles R.
Stark Center for the Performing
Arts.
“It’s a beautiful space
and we’re lucky to have
it,” Bultman said. “We’re
especially lucky to have
an orchestra pit — a lot of
high school auditoriums
don’t have that — and a
full theatrical fly system,
sound system and lighting
system. It’s basically a
professional theater.”
Along with family
members, friends and former
students, many of
Stark’s District 210 colleagues
were in attendance
at the dedication
and concert. Former science
teacher Marvin Orr,
who worked alongside
Stark during the school
year as well as in the
summers when they both
worked maintenance, reflected
on some of Stark’s
many accomplishments.
“He started so many
things that are still around
today and he organized
them,” Orr said. “I think
back to when we did musicals
in the little auditorium
down there and they
did ‘Carousel.’ It was so
amazing that they could
do all that on that little
stage. It was just terrific.”
The dedication concert
featured a number of solo
and duet performances
from Lincoln-Way alumni
who have accomplished
careers in the arts. Marie
Michuda, Anmarie
D’Ortenzio, Sally Murphy,
Jeff Mattsey and Michael
Flanigan.
Prior to the concert, D
210 Board of Education
Vice President Joseph
Kosteck began the program
by welcoming everyone
to the venue and
listing some of Stark’s
many accomplishments.
Lincoln-Way Central
Principal Steve Provis
also spoke of the impact
Stark has had on the music
program before welcoming
Stark to share a
few words.
Gratitude and appreciation
toward the power
of music and the joy
of life were the cornerstones
of Stark’s address.
He thanked his family,
friends, colleagues, members
of the administration
and the “many great
students” he taught over
his tenure. He spoke with
candor about his health
Music lovers head into the Charles R. Stark Center for the Performing Arts for the
Dedication Concert Saturday, March 9. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
An ensemble from the Lincoln-Way Symphony Orchestra performs in the lobby
before the Charles R. Stark Center for the Performing Arts Dedication Concert.
and how much happiness
the dedication has given
him, his wife Peggy, and
their extended family.
Stark’s sense of humor
accented many moments
of the speech, especially
his blunt conclusion.
“I’m done,” he said
with a smile. “Thank you
to everyone.”
Attendees rose in an
ovation of appreciation
for Stark and the beautiful
music he has nurtured for
past, present and future
generations of the Lincoln-Way
community.

18 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger mokena
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the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 19
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20 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger life & arts
mokenamessenger.com
Thank you!
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Contributing Columnist
Who says lettuce
salads are boring?
Not when
bacon is involved.
I admit this dressing
doesn’t look spectacular
because it does turn out a
little bit chunky, but the
taste sure is amazing and
worth it.
It reminds me of a BLT
in a bowl. It also doubles
as a great veggie or chip
dip, or even a sandwich
spread. Mmm, I bet it
would be super tasty on a
BLT or a burger, or even
drizzled over a simple
Creamy Bacon Dressing
Adapted from www.kalynskitchen.com
Ingredients
• 6 slices very crisp bacon*
• ½ cup mayo**
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¾ teaspoon sea salt
• Black pepper to taste
Directions
Place bacon slices on sided cookie
sheet lined with foil or parchment
paper. Bake at 400 for 15-17 minutes
or until bacon is crisp (no need to turn
pieces). Blot well on paper towels and
crumble.
In food processor or blender, or using
an immersion blender, combine all
ingredients, including cooked bacon.
Blend to desired consistency.
Creamy bacon dressing adds some crunch and flavor
to salads. Beth Krooswyk/22nd Century Media
plate of sliced tomatoes.
I found this recipe on a
great website called Kalyn’s
Kitchen when I was
looking to make a different
type of salad for a family
gathering. Everyone loved
it, and it uses basic and
“clean” ingredients, so now
it’s in our regular recipe
rotation (I like alliteration).
The recipe below is for
a big salad for a crowd,
but if you need a smaller
amount, feel free to cut
the recipe in half.
Top salad greens with desired amount
of dressing and serve.
Salad ingredient suggestions include
spinach, arugula, romaine, or your
favorite salad greens, tomatoes,
mushrooms, boiled eggs, sweet
peppers, black olives, sunflower
seeds, feta.
Store covered in the fridge and stir
before using.
*Note: Avoid additives by using
nitrate-free bacon. Aldi’s “Never Any”
brand is our favorite, containing only
pork, water, sea salt, evaporated cane
sugar and celery powder. Trader Joe’s
nitrate-free version is good, too.
**Note: Avoid additives also in the
mayo by reading the ingredient
list, not just the front label. We use
Trader Joe’s Real Mayonnaise, which
contains oil, whole eggs, apple cider
vinegar, egg yolks, water, salt, spices
and lemon juice concentrate. What’s
in your mayo?

mokenamessenger.com dining out
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 21
The Dish
More than just a Creamery
Mokena, Frankfort,
Orland Hills locations
try new things
Megan Schuller, Assistant Editor
The sunshine is coming out,
the temperatures are slowly rising
and the ice cream machines
are firing up at Jillian Hersted’s
Mokena and Frankfort Creamery
locations. That means one thing:
springtime is around the corner.
The Creamery has been around
since 1981 and has had several
different owners. Hersted’s family
has owned those locations —
along with Orland Hills — since
2015. The one thing that Creamery
has been known for all these
years is its commitment to consistency
and quality.
“We keep many things the
same, because that’s what people
love about the Creamery, but
we also want to keep it fresh and
new, too,” Hersted said.
Through February and March,
the Creamery has been running
daily a name game on Facebook,
choosing different first names to
receive a free small cone each
day. The also play up the days of
the week in special such as Milkshake
Monday, Turtle Tuesday,
Weenie Wednesday, Sloppy Joe
Thursday, Beefy Friday, Coffee
Saturday and Sundae Sundays.
Hersted’s locations — separate
from those in Homer Glen,
Manhattan and New Lenox —
have rolled out new menu items,
such as edible cookie dough and
the Candyland sundae, to step up
their sweet tooth game.
The Candyland sundae ($3.99
small, $4.99 large) creates a colorful,
swirly hue as the cotton
candy flavored sprinkles and
“blue goo” melts into the ice
cream. It is topped with whipped
cream, gummy bears and a cherry.
“It was a huge success,” Hersted
said of the Candyland sundae.
“We like to try new things.
Some things stick and others
don’t. This stuck.”
The most recent addition
to the menu was a bigger size
blaster ($10.49), which is handmixed
ice cream with candy in a
32-ounce cow-print cup.
“It’s just like the blaster everyone
knows and loves, except
it’s a quart of it,” Hersted said.
“Instead of going to the grocery
store, you can swing by the
Creamery, custom make whatever
you want and put it in your
freezer.”
Hersted said that while some
customers seem to enjoy the
newer items, others just love
sticking with the classic Creamery
items.
“Our cones ($2.29 small) are
our best seller, next to the blasters
with the candy mixed in,” she
said.
Another hometown favorite is
the Original Rainbow Cone ice
cream ($4.39 small) and Original
Rainbow Cone cakes ($27.99 for
a 6-inch), which the Creamery
employees have been licensed
and trained to make.
During the winter off-season,
only the Mokena location
stays open of the three, though
the Frankfort location recently
opened for the season. During
the off-season, Hersted said that
their best seller is the Rainbow
cake.
“A lot of times, people think
we are just an ice cream store,”
long-time General Manager
Robyn Curbis said. “There are
a lot of things we sell, like our
sloppy Joes or Italian beef, that
you wouldn’t expect from an ice
cream place.”
While the Creamery has many
ice cream choices, the food menu
continues to grow, as well.
“There is something for everyone,”
Curbis said.
The beef sandwich ($6.59
regular price, $5 on Fridays) is a
favorite of many of the customers
Hersted said. The fresh beef
Creamery
• 459 W. Nebraska St. in
Frankfort, (815) 469-2107
• 19100 Wolf Road in
Mokena, (708) 479-5706
• 9320 171st St. in Orland
Hills, (708) 873-1297
Hours
• 11 a.m.-9 p.m. in the
winter
• 11 a.m.-10 p.m. in the
summer
For more information ...
www.mycreamery.com
is layered between two slices of
garlic bread, and topped with
peppers and cheese of choice.
Their jumbo Chicago-style hot
dog ($3.79 regular, $1.79 on
Wednesdays) combines a mustard
relish with cucumber, tomato,
onion, sport peppers and
celery salt.
“I love the jumbo hot dogs,
but the Italian beef is a true hidden
gem here that few realize is
Creamery co-owner Jillian Hersted holds up cookie dough and a
Reese’s Blaster quart ($10.49).
available,” Hersted said. “I think
the Italian beef is our best food
item.”
Curbis said that the Creamery
was a tradition that began
in Frankfort and has been going
strong since in several locations.
“We are similar to something
like Dairy Queen, but as a family-owned
business we have more
of a comfortable family feel,”
Curbis said.
Hersted is a Lincoln-Way Central
graduate and said she tries to
give back to the local community
by bringing in local talent
for events, performances or for
things like designing their new
logo. The Creamery is to host an
Easter egg hunt on April 14 at
the Mokena Location, and plans
to have local musicians perform
acoustic sets on the patios of
both locations in June.
Hersted said that the thing
she hopes her customers enjoy
the most is the lasting memories
they make at the Creamery locations.
“The thing people will really
remember is not just the ice
cream; it is their good memories
they’ve had here together,” Hersted
said.
The garlic bread Italian beef topped with hot peppers ($6.59 regular price, $5 on Fridays) and the
jumbo Chicago-style hot dog ($3.79 regular price, $1.79 on Wednesdays) are little-known gems at the
Creamery locations in Frankfort, Mokena and Orland Hills. Photos by Nuria Mathog/22nd Century Media

22 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger puzzles
mokenamessenger.com
crosstown CROSSWORD & Sudoku The crosstowns: Frankfort, Homer Glen, Lockport, Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, Tinley Park
Crossword by Myles Mellor and Cindy LaFleur
Across
1. Quick weight loss
option, informally
5. Mongrel
9. Cooking measure
14. Potpourri
15. Decorative case
16. Prefix with violet
or conservative
17. Farm division
18. Jethro ___ 60s
rock band
19. Estimator
20. Noisy and violent
weather phenomenon
23. Scottish island
24. Coca-Cola rival
27. Din
31. Sight from Long
Island
32. Golf tour
34. Fasten anew
35. Name of Homer
Glen’s football team
38. Like much wine
and cheese
39. ___ chi (martial
art)
40. Winter sports gear
41. Airport waiting
area
44. Michelangelo
masterpiece
45. Berlioz’s “Les
nuits d’___”
46. Fate
47. “Hollywoodland”
star, Robin
48. Wickerwork
branch
50. Modern Maturity
grp.
52. Mayor of Homer
Glen
58. Flower support
61. Biblical preposition
62. Not working
63. Rapids transit
64. Casa de Salsa list
65. Teutonic turndown
66. Pay tribute to
67. Crushing blow
68. Sticky substances
Down
1. Aspiring atty.’s
exam
2. Why you scratch
3. Lima’s locale
4. “Zoolander” star
5. Shooting star
6. Road reversal
7. Oklahoma city
8. Lean
9. Dream-like
10. Carpentry tool
11. Giant of old
12. It’s found in
banks
13. Good golf score
21. Singer Celine
22. German automaker
25. Not tacit
26. Enkindle
27. Jalopy
28. Smooth, musically
29. Summits
30. Mid-calf skirt
31. Stated
33. Analyze
35. Doctor’s order
36. Soak up the sun
37. “Beauty ___ the
eye …”
42. More silky
43. Bullfight bull
44. Kind of platter
47. Audition
49. Ice house
50. Vice pres. Spiro
51. Insurance giant
53. Jamaican exports
54. Prince William,
someday
55. Thought, prefix
56. Commercial
awards
57. Egg producers
58. Coll., e.g.
59. Lao-tzu principle
60. Raggedy doll
MOKENA
The Alley Grill and Tap
House
(18700 S. Old LaGrange
Road, Mokena; (708)
478-3610)
■9 ■ p.m. Tuesdays:
Karaoke
Fox’s Restaurant and Pub
(11247 W. 187th St.,
Mokena; (708) 478-
8888)
■6 ■ p.m. Thursdays,
Fridays and Saturdays:
Performance by Jerry
Eadie
NEW LENOX
Little Joe’s Restaurant
(1300 N. Cedar Road,
New Lenox; (815) 463-
1099)
■5-8 ■ p.m. Tuesdays:
Piano Styles by Joe
HOMER GLEN
Front Row
(14903 S. Bell Road,
Homer Glen; (708) 645-
7000)
■7 ■ p.m. Wednesdays:
Trivia
FRANKFORT
Pete Mitchell’s Bar & Grill
(21000 Frankfort
Square Road, Frankfort;
(815) 464-8100)
■6-8 ■ p.m. Wednesdays:
Free N’ Fun Bar Game.
Free to play.
LOCKPORT
Port Noir
(900 S. State St., Lockport;
(815) 834-9463)
■4-7 ■ p.m. Monday-
Friday: Happy Hour
Strike N Spare II
(811 Northern Drive,
Lockport; (708) 301-
1477)
■9:30 ■ p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Mondays: Quartermania
ORLAND PARK
Traverso’s Restaurant
(15601 S. Harlem Ave.,
Orland Park; (708) 532-
2220)
■8 ■ p.m. Wednesdays
and Saturdays: Karaoke
To place an event in The
Scene, email a.ivanisevic@
22ndcenturymedia.com.
answers
How to play Sudoku
Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that
has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of
3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle each row, column
and box must contain each of the numbers
1 to 9.
LEVEL: Medium
Crossword by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan

mokenamessenger.com local living
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 23
Distinctive Home Builders Presents Quality Built Affordable Homes
At Cedar Creek in Joliet
Why Pay Rent? New homes with the shortest build times on the market from the low $200’s
Distinctive Home Builders
began pre-construction sales
recently at Cedar Creek in
Joliet. Homeowners there will
enjoy a low-priced quality
built home and low Joliet
taxes from one of the area’s
leading home builders. Cedar
Creek is located on Millsdale
Road, one half mile west of
Rt. 53 and south of Laraway
Road. Until on-site models
are completed this summer,
interested persons are invited
to visit Distinctive Homes
Sales and Information Center
in Manhattan on Rt. 52 for
details and to tour homes.
“Handcrafted semi-custom
homes are unheard of in the
area in this price range,” said
Bryan Nooner, president of
Frankfort-based Distinctive
Home Builders. “These
homes provide a great value
and in many cases will be
less than paying rent. This
opens up home ownership
opportunities to those who
were locked out of the
market previously. Although
construction is underway,
pre-construction savings are
still available.”
Affordable, conveniently
located ranch and two-story
homes feature floor plans
ranging from 1,500 to 3,000
square feet in size with two
to four bedrooms and brick,
frame and stone exteriors.
Prices start from the low
$200’s and some home sites
back up to Cedar Creek Park.
“These homes appeal to
two markets: Empty nesters
that are downsizing with our
ranches and an outstanding
value for first time
homebuyers and families
wanting the most space for
their money,” added Nooner.
Cedar Creek school children
attend Elwood School District
203 for K – 8 and high school
age children attend Joliet
Township Central High
within District 204, which
was recently named the
College Board’s Advanced
Placement District of the
Year. Saint Joseph Academy
is also nearby.
“We have closed the gap of
getting what you want and
getting what you need in a
new home significantly by
including additional features
that our buyers told us were
most important to them,”
said Nooner. “Now is the
best time to buy, because you
can still take advantage of
preconstruction prices that
range from the low $200s
which makes this a terrific
new home value.”
Bryan Nooner, president of
Distinctive Home Builders,
has built thousands of singlefamily
homes throughout the
south and southwest suburbs
over the past 30 years and
is dedicated to giving their
customers the best home
buying experience.
Distinctive works to achieve
a home delivery goal of 90
days with zero punch list items
for its homeowners. Before
closing, each home undergoes
an industry-leading checklist
that ensures each home
measures up to the firm’s high
quality standards. Distinctive
performs numerous quality
control checks throughout
the building process and
adheres to a nearly 1,500
point formal checklist that
project managers certify.
“Having measurable and
identifiable standards that
our craftsmen are expected
to maintain is critical to
upholding high quality
standards and ensures
delivering a Zero Defect
Home to our homeowners,”
said Nooner.
During the construction
process, there are prescheduled
times for site
visitations at landmark
stages of construction.
Communication is a key
aspect to maintaining an
overall positive experience
during the construction
process. Therefore, all
Distinctive customers have
the Project Manager’s e-mail
address and cell phone
number, as well as, access to
the secure online customer
portal where pictures and logs
show the continued progress
on their home. Customers
have access to the online
portal through the Distinctive
Homebuilders App that can
be easily downloaded to any
smartphone or tablet.
“Our customers simply
download our Distinctive
Home Builders app and they
are in touch with their new
home 24/7 from anywhere
in the world. The app allows
our customers to see the
progress of their home and
access all their documents at
any time” Nooner explained.
“Our customers really
appreciate the integration of
social media sites within the
app allowing them to easily
share photos and updates of
their new home with family
and friends,” he concluded.
Nooner added that all homes
are highly energy efficient.
Every home built will have
upgraded wall and ceiling
insulation values with energy
efficient windows and high
efficiency furnaces. Before
homeowners move into their
new home, Distinctive Home
Builders conducts a blower
door test that pressurizes the
home to ensure that each
home passes a set of very
stringent Energy Efficiency
guidelines.
Cedar Creek is served by
major thoroughfares such
as IL Rte. 53, I-55 and I-80.
Locational amenities for
Cedar Creek homeowners are
two large hospital complexes:
Silver Cross Hospital and
Presence Saint Joseph Medical
Center; College education
nearby including Lewis
University, the University
of St. Francis and Joliet
Junior College. Numerous
restaurants and attractions
such as the Chicagoland
Speedway, the Joliet Splash
Station and the Haunted
Trails Family Entertainment
Center, to name a few. Visit
the Memorial Walkway
at the Abraham Lincoln
National Cemetery in Elwood
comprised of 982 acres
honoring our veterans.
Contact the on-site sales
information center for
unadvertised specials and
the available lots. Call
Lynne at (708) 737-9142
or 708 479-7700 for more
information or visit http://
distinctivehomebuilders.com/.
Until on-site models are built,
the new home information
center is located three miles
south of Laraway Rd. on Rt.
52. The address is 24458 S.
Rt. 52, Manhattan, IL. 60422.
Open Daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00
p.m. Closed Wednesday and
Thursday and always available
by appointment. Specials,
prices, specifications, standard
features, model offerings,
build times and lot availability
are subject to change without
notice. Please contact a
Distinctive representative for
current pricing and complete
details. Prices and features
subject to change at any time.

24 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger local living
mokenamessenger.com
Distinctive Home Builders Introduces New Craftsman Homes
In Manhattan and Peotone – From the mid-$200’s
New designs are a result of buyer feedback
Two refreshing designs mark
the beginning of a new series
of Craftsman-style homes
available from Distinctive Home
Builders at its latest new home
communities: Prairie Trails;
located in Manhattan within the
highly-regarded Lincoln-Way
School District and at WestGate
Manor in Peotone within
the desirable Peotone School
District.
“Craftsman homes were
introduced in the early 1900s
in California with designs
based on a simpler, functional
aesthetic using a higher level
of craftsmanship and natural
materials. These homes were a
departure from homes that were
mass produced from that era,
“according to Bryan Nooner,
president of Distinctive Home
Builders.
“The Craftsman design has
made a comeback today for
many of the same reasons it
started over a century ago. Our
customers want to live in a home
that gets away from the “mass
produced” look and live in a
home that has more character. As
a result of our daily interaction
with our homeowners and their
input, we are excited to introduce
these two homes, with additional
designs in the works.”
Nooner, who meets with
each homeowner prior to
construction, has been working
on these plans for a while and felt
that the timing was ideal for the
debut. “Customers were asking
for something different and
simple with less monotony and
higher architectural standards.”
The result was the Craftsman
ranch and the Prairie twostory,
now available at Prairie
Trails and WestGate Manor.
The Craftsman ranch features
an open floor plan with Great
Room, three bedrooms, two
baths and a two-car (optional
three-car) garage. The Prairie
features a two-story foyer and
Great Room, three bedrooms
and one and one-half baths, a
convenient Flex Room space
on the main level and a two-car
(optional three-car) garage. The
Craftsman architectural elements
on both homes include brick and
stone exteriors with cedar shake
accent siding, low-pitched gabled
bracket roofs, front porches with
tapered columns and stone piers,
partially paned windows, and a
standard panel front entry door.
Distinctive Home Builders
offers a Craftsman-style trim
package offering trim without
ornate profiles and routers. The
trim features simplicity in design
with rectangles, straight lines and
layered look trims over doors for
example. The front entry door
will have the standard Craftsman
panel style door. Distinctive has
also created a Craftsman color
palate to assist buyers in making
coordinated choices for the
interior of their new Craftsman
home. Colors, cabinet styles and
flooring choices blend seamlessly
with the Craftsman trim package
and are available in gray tones
package and earth tones.
Distinctive offers custom maple
kitchen cabinets featuring solid
wood construction (no particle
board), have solid wood drawers
with dove tail joints, which is
very rare in the marketplace.
“When you buy a new home
from Distinctive, you truly are
receiving custom made cabinets
in every home we sell no matter
what the price range,” noted
Nooner.
Distinctive Home Builders
works to achieve a delivery goal
of 90 days with zero punch list
items for its homeowners. “Our
three decades building homes
provides an efficient construction
system,” said Nooner. “Many of
our skilled craftsmen have been
working with our company
for over 20 years. We also
take pride on having excellent
communicators throughout our
organization. This translates into
a positive buying and building
experience for our homeowners
and one of the highest referral
rates in the industry.”
Nooner added that all homes
are highly energy efficient. Every
home built will have upgraded
wall and ceiling insulation
values with energy efficient
windows and high efficiency
furnaces. Before homeowners
move into their new home,
Distinctive Home Builders
conducts a blower door test that
pressurizes the home to ensure
that each home passes a set of
very stringent Energy Efficiency
guidelines.
With the addition of these two
new designs, there are now 15
ranch, split-level and six twostory
single-family home styles to
choose from each offering from
three to eight different exterior
elevations at both communities.
The three- to four-bedroom
homes feature one and one-half
to two-and-one-half baths, twoto
three-car garages and a family
room, all in approximately 1,600
to over 3,000 square feet of living
space. Basements are included in
most models as well. Distinctive
also encourages customization
to make your new home truly
personalized to suit your lifestyle.
Oversize home sites; brick
exteriors on all four sides of the
first floor; custom maple cabinets;
ceramic tile or hardwood
floors in the kitchen, baths and
foyer; genuine wood trim and
doors and concrete driveways
can all be yours at Prairie
Trails and WestGate Manor.
Most all home sites at Prairie
Trails and WestGate Manor
can accommodate a three-car
garage; a very important amenity
to the Manhattan homebuyer,
said Nooner.
“When we opened Prairie
Trails and WestGate Manor we
wanted to provide the best new
home value for the dollar and
we feel with offering Premium
Standard Features that we do
just that. So why wait? This is
truly the best time to build your
dream home!”
Prairie Trails is also a beautiful
place to live and raise a family
featuring a 20-acre lake on site,
as well as direct access to the 22-
mile Wauponsee Glacial Prairie
Path that borders the community
and meanders through many
neighboring communities and
links to many other popular
trails. The Manhattan Metra
station is less than a mile away.
Besides Prairie Trails,
Distinctive Home Builders
has built homes throughout
Manhattan in the Butternut
Ridge and Leighlinbridge
developments, as well as in the
Will and south Cook county
areas over the past 30 years.
Distinctive Home Builders
chose the Will County village
of Peotone for its newest
community of 38 single-family
homes at WestGate Manor
within walking distance of the
esteemed Peotone High School.
Its convenient location between
Interstate 57 and Illinois Route
50 provide easy access to I-80
and commuters enjoy several
nearby train stations and a
35-minute drive to Chicago.
Visit the on-site sales
information center for
unadvertised specials and view
the numerous styles of homes
being offered and the available
lots. Call Lynne Rinck at (708)
737-9142 or (708) 479-7700 for
more information or visit www.
distinctivehomebuilders.com.
The Prairie Trails and WestGate
Manor new home information
center is located three miles
south of Laraway Rd. on Rt.
52. The address is 24458 S.
Rt. 52, Manhattan, IL. 60422.
Open Daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00
p.m. Closed Wednesday and
Thursday and always available
by appointment.
Specials, prices, specifications,
standard features, model
offerings, build times and lot
availability are subject to change
without notice. Please contact
a Distinctive representative for
current pricing and complete
details.

mokenamessenger.com real estate
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 25
The Mokena Messenger’s
Sponsored content
of the
WEEK
What an incredible home on .5-acre wooded
lot in prestigious Tall Grass Preserves.
Known for its beautifully winding roads,
gorgeous custom homes and oversized
lushly landscaped lots.
Where: 20958 Tall Grass Drive, in Mokena
What: One-of-a-kind, sprawling, custom
home in fabulous Tall Grass Preserve with
more than 6,200-square-feet of finished
living space.
Feb. 8
• 19516 116th Ave. D,
Mokena, 60448-1826
- Joseph Scheinpflug
to Suzanna J. Lyttle,
$120,000
Feb. 14
• 12421 Alpine Ridge
Drive, Mokena, 60448-
7536 - Chicago Trust Co
Na Trustee to Paul B.
Runia, Alissa M. Runia,
$407,781
• 19452 Stonehenge
Drive, Mokena, 60448-
7886 - Mary Poulos to
Paul A. Cordero, Kristin
N. Cordero, $332,500
• 19833 Mokena St.,
Mokena, 60448-1628
- Katherine E. Wilson
to Benjamin J. Gilbert,
$180,000
Feb. 15
• 19415 Waterford
Lane, Mokena, 60448-
8380 - Michael Menias
to Peter J. Carolan,
$305,000
Feb. 19
• 12263 W Warren
Drive, Mokena, 60448-
9218 - Paul Griffin
to Jason W. Vaccaro,
$250,000
Feb. 20
• 10709 Revere Circle,
Mokena, 60448-2467 -
Chicago Title Land Trust
Co Tr to Fred Lovingfoss,
Janet Lovingfoss,
$313,000
Feb. 21
• 11342 Wild Berry
Lane, Mokena, 60448-
1371 - Carla Veesart
Trustee to Linda Stoval,
$184,500
Feb. 22
• 19517 116th Ave. C,
Mokena, 60448-1844
- Patrick J. Fitzgerald
to Tyler J. Kaiser,
$113,000
The Going Rate is provided
by Record Information
Services, Inc. For more
information, visit www.
public-record.com or call
(630) 557-1000
Amenities: Enter through the 8-foot front
door into the foyer with cathedral ceiling
and regal chandelier. Fabulous great room
features an elevated ceiling, soaring stone
fireplace, and beautiful palladium windows
overlooking the picture-perfect yard and
trees. Well-designed kitchen includes tons
of cherry cabinetry, silestone counters,
unique island and inviting eating area with
incredible view. Lovely formal dining room
with hardwood flooring and crown molding.
French door entry into the main level study.
Much desired spacious main level master
bedroom with crown molding and master
bath suite that includes heated floor, raised
double sink vanity, whirlpool, separate shower and walk-in closet. Three, large
second-level bedrooms; one with its own bath, and the other share a Jack and Jill
bath. Full finished walkout basement includes family room, rec area, media room,
office, full bath and tons of storage. Separate main level laundry room and drop
zone/mud room. Side load three-car garage with heated floor and
walk-up attic. Amazing .5-acre yard with sprinkler system and huge
deck that overlooks the patio and fire pit. Five-panel doors. Skylights.
Three Furnaces. Includes a more than 100-gallon water
heater, generator and security system. There is even an
artificial turf putting green with four holes and two chipping
mats.
Asking Price: $549,000
Listing Agent: James
Murphy, (815) 464-
1110 murphygroup@
sbcglobal.net, www.
murphyrealestategroup.
com
Listing Brokerage:
Murphy Real Estate
Group
To list a home as Home of the Week, contact t.weber@22ndcenturymedia.com.

26 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger classifieds
mokenamessenger.com
1003 Help Wanted
Legal Notice Representative
22nd Century Media LLC - Orland Park, IL
22nd Century Media has a Legal and Public Notice
Representative position open for it’s Southwest Suburban Team. The
position would be responsible for the placement, coordination, and
publishing of legal and public notices in 22nd Century Media's 15
publications. Notices will come from civic bodies, businesses, and
private parties. Candidates should be comfortable and familiar with being
on the phone and computer while also working with various clients as
well as being able to process the appropriate paperwork. This position
offers a base salary along with a comprehensive benefits package.
What you are responsible for:
• Entering all legal and public notices in the appropriate
newspaper for the correct run dates
• Processing affidavits that the notices were published
and sending them to the client.
• Developing and maintaining client relationships
• Working closely with clients to meet their public and legal notice needs
• Working with the inside sales team in the Classified Department
• Copywriting content for ads with clients to develop the right message
• Keeping track of legal notices and their weekly revenue targets
Qualifications: Must have a strong work ethic and ability to work
independently as well as with a team. A desire to learn not only the legal
notice process but also gain experience in media and working with an
inside sales team. Excellent communication skills, time-management,
comfort with selling over the phone, face to face as well as e-mail, and
interpersonal skills required.
Email Resume to: careers@22ndcenturymedia.com
No phone calls, please. EOE
Now Hiring for 2019 work
season: Year-round &
Seasonal Employment.
Potential for paid winters off.
Benefits incl. health, dental,
IRA. Good driving rec a must.
Time and a half over 40 hrs.
$15/hr starting pay.
Call 708-514-0323 or
708-514-0324
for info and appointment
7320 Duvan Dr
Tinley Park, IL
Hiring Desk Clerk
(must be flexible w/ shifts)
& Housekeeping
(Morning) Needed at
Super 8 Motel
Apply within:
9485 W. 191st St, Mokena
No Phone Calls
P/T Associate for Travel
Agency in Orland Park.
Exp. and open
availability required.
Approx. 16-24 hrs/weekly.
Send resume to:
travel@goodbuytravel.com
Lawn Care Service
Looking for responsible,
motivated with driver’s
license. Pay based on exp.
708.226.9322
Experienced Painter needed
Please call Don at
Don’s Restoration Painting
708-220-1022
Help
Wanted
SCHOOL BUS
DRIVERS WANTED
Safe, caring drivers needed in
Homer 33C School District
Starting at $17.42/hr
FULL BENEFITS
Regular, favorable hours
Opportunity for overtime
Call (708) 226-7625 or
visit homerschools.org
open "Employment" tab
Custodians
Full-Time & Substitute
Positions Available
Kirby School District 140 -
Tinley Park, IL
Shift: 3:00pm-11:30pm
$10.60/hour
Apply online:
ksd140.org/employment
Hiring Part-Time CDL
Delivery Driver,
Greenhouse Assistant and
Seasonal Laborers.
Send resume to:
gardencenter@jimmelka.com
Melka Landscaping in
Mokena, IL
Concrete Laborer with a
CDL Class A License
Email info to
gfrazier@frazierconcrete.com
or call 708.687.9066
DRIVE CAR BUYERS
TO YOUR DOOR WITH
A CLASSIFIED AUTO AD
CALL US TODAY at 708.326.9170
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive
Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise
1019 Business
Opportunities
20 Week Program to grow
existing start up company in
distribution industry. Person
will be rquired to work and
learn every aspect of the
business. Must be self-motivated
& able to lift 70 lbs,
operate delivery truck & be
willing to sell. After
completion of program, there
will be evaluation for
advancement and sone form of
ownership. Serious inquiries
only. 708-945-9150
1023 Caregiver
Caregiver Services
Provided by
Margaret’s Agency Inc.
State Licensed & Bonded
since 1998. Providing quality
care for elderly.
Live-in/ Come & go.
708.403.8707
Heaven Sent Caregivers
Professional caregiving
service. 24 hr or hourly
services; shower or bath
visits. Licensed & bonded.
Try the best! 708.638.0641
1027 Arts and Craft Fairs
English Cream
Golden Retriever puppies
Taking deposits
Ready March 27th
$850
AKC Registered
219.614.5346
1039 Pets for Sale
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Automotive
$52
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7 papers
1061 Autos Wanted
WANTED!
WE NEED CARS, TRUCKS & VANS
Running Or Not from Old to New!
Top Dollar Paid - Free Pick-Up
Locally Located
(708)205-8241
RealEstate
1090 House for
Sale
14906 Poplar Rd.
Orland Park
Elegant Orland Home For
Sale by Owner. 3BR, 3Ba
split level, family room
w/fireplace & wet bar.
Freshly painted, new carpet.
Walk toschools &shopping.
$299,900. 708-256-2617
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It!
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It!
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It!
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Help Wanted
per line $13
4 lines/
7 papers
Real Estate
$50
7 lines/
7 papers
Automotive
Rental
Merchandise
$30
4 lines/
7 papers
1225 Apartments
for Rent
Oak Forest Terrace
15815 Terrace, Oak Forest
Spacious 1 & 2 Bdrms.
Serene setting & Beautiful
Grounds. Tennis, Pool,
Walking Trails. Near metra.
708-687-1818
oakterrapts@att.net
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RENTAL
PROPERTY
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the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 27
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive
Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise
Sell It 708.326.9170
Fax It 708.326.9179
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DEADLINE -
Friday at 3pm
Automotive
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4 lines/
7 papers
Help Wanted
per line $13
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7 papers
Real Estate
$50
7 lines/
7 papers
Merchandise
$30
4 lines/
7 papers
LOCAL
REALTOR
DIRECTORY
READYTO SELL YOUR
REAL ESTATE?
CALL
Mike McCatty
& ASSOCIATES
mccattyrealestate.com
708-945-2121
Illinois Indiana Florida
ONE BILLION IN LOCALLY
CLOSED SALES SINCE 1999
CENTURY 21 AFFILIATED
Kim Wirtz
realtor
kim@kimwirtz.com
kimwirtz.com
708.516.3050
Rates As
Low As3 %
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your
RENTAL
PROPERTY
in the
newspaper
people turn
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to Advertise in this Directory
Chicagoland’s #1 Century 21 Agent
(708)
326.9170
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28 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger classifieds
mokenamessenger.com
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive
Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise
2003 Appliance Repair
QUALITY
APPLIANCE
REPAIR, Inc.
• Air Conditioning • Furnaces
Refrigeration • Dishwashers
Stoves & Ovens • Microwaves
Garbage Disposals
Washers&Dryers
Family Owned &Operatedsince 1986
Someone you can TRUST
All work GUARANTEED
BEST price in town!
708-712-1392
Business Directory
Place a garage sale ad & reach
over 96,000 homes across
the southwest suburbs!
FOR $42 YOU’LL GET
ASINGLE FAMILY AD
4 LINES in 7 PAPERS
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DEPARTMENT: 708.326.9170
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2006 Basement Waterproofing
Sell It 708.326.9170
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2017 Cleaning Services
2025 Concrete Work
Automotive
$52
4 lines/
7 papers
Help Wanted
per line $13
4 lines/
7 papers
2025 Concrete
Work
Drywall
*Hanging *Taping
*New Homes
*Additions
*Remodeling
Call Greg At:
(815)485-3782
Real Estate
$50
7 lines/
7 papers
2060 Drywall
2070 Electrical
Merchandise
$30
4 lines/
7 papers
2032 Decking
Sturdy
Deck & Fence
Repair, Rebuild or
Replace
Make It Safe - Make it Sturdy
708 479 9035
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Drywall Taping
& Repair
Professionally Done
Call Ed
815-710-0350
2011 Brick/Chimney Experts
2075 Fencing
EXPERIENCED
ELECTRICIAN
R E A S O N A B L E
D E P E N D A B L E
SMALL JOBS
CALL ANYTIME
(708) 478-8269
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the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 29
2090 Flooring
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive
Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise
Sell It 708.326.9170
Fax It 708.326.9179
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DEADLINE -
Friday at 3pm
Automotive
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4 lines/
7 papers
Help Wanted
per line $13
4 lines/
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Real Estate
$50
7 lines/
7 papers
Merchandise
$30
4 lines/
7 papers
2130 Heating/Cooling
2132 Home Improvement
2120 Handyman
2132 Home Improvement
HANDYMAN SERVICE —WHATEVER YOU NEED
"OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE"
Windows, Doors, Decks Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling, Plumbing Interior and
Exterior Painting Wall Paper Removal Professional Work At Competitive Prices
CALL MIKE AT 708-790-3416
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RENTAL
PROPERTY
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708.326.9170

30 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger classifieds
mokenamessenger.com
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive
Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise
Sell It 708.326.9170
Fax It 708.326.9179
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DEADLINE -
Friday at 3pm
Automotive
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4 lines/
7 papers
Help Wanted
per line $13
4 lines/
7 papers
Real Estate
$50
7 lines/
7 papers
Merchandise
$30
4 lines/
7 papers
2150 Paint & Decorating
2135 Insulation
2145 Lawn Maintenance
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over 96,000 homes across
the southwest suburbs!
2140 Landscaping
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2150 Paint & Decorating
2145 Lawn Maintenance
MARTY’S
PAINTING
Interior / Exterior
Fast, Neat Painting
Drywall
Wallpaper Removal
Staining
Free Estimates
20% Off with this ad
708-606-3926
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See
Your
Business
in the
Classifieds?
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over 96,000 homes across
the southwest suburbs!
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ASINGLE FAMILY AD
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708-326-9170
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Sample Ad
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Neat, Clean, Professional
Work At ACompetitive Price
Specializing in all
Interior/Exterior Painting
• Drywall/PlasterRepair
• Wallpaper Removal
• Deck/Fence Staining
• PowerWashing
Free Estimates
Senior Discounts
Forquality & service you
can trust, call us today!
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mokenamessenger.com classifieds
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 31
2170 Plumbing
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive
Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise
Automotive
$52 4 lines/
7 papers
Help Wanted
$13 4 lines/
per line 7 papers
2200 Roofing
Sell It 708.326.9170 | Fax It 708.326.9179
Charge It | DEADLINE - Friday at 3pm
Real Estate
$50 7 7 papers
lines/
Merchandise
$30 7 4 papers
lines/
2200 Roofing
2220 Siding
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RENTAL
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2255 Tree Service
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the southwest suburbs!
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4 LINES in 7 PAPERS
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DEPARTMENT: 708.326.9170
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2294 Window Cleaning
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over 96,000 homes across
the southwest suburbs!
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708.326.9170
P.K.WINDOW
CLEANING CO.
Window Cleaning
Gutter Cleaning
Power Washing
Office Cleaning
call and get $40.00 off
708 974-8044
www.pkwindowcleaning.co4
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It!
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32 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger classifieds
mokenamessenger.com
CLASSIFIEDS
Help Wanted · Garage Sales · Automotive
Real Estate · Rentals · Merchandise
2390 Computer Services/Repair
2440 Travel Biz
Life’s A Trip Travel presents Diamond Tours
Lancaster, PA Show Trip & The Dutch Colony Bus Trip
w/ many tours and many meals included
Price $639 per person
May 13th - 18th
Call 815.838.4895
Bus will leave from Lockport
2489 Merchandise Wanted
Metal Wanted
Scrap Metal, Garden
Tractors,
Snowmobiles,
Appliances, Etc.
ANYTHING METAL!
Call 815-210-8819
Free pickup!
Buy
It!
SELL
It!
Professional
Directory
Merchandise
Directory
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It!
in the
CLASSIFIEDS
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708.326.9170
Calling all
Sell It 708.326.9170
Fax It 708.326.9179
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DEADLINE -
Friday at 3pm
Automotive
$52
4 lines/
7 papers
Help Wanted
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7 lines/
7 papers
Merchandise
$30
4 lines/
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2702 Public
Notices
Certificate No. 32726 was filed in
the office of the County Clerk of
Will County on February 28, 2019
wherein the business firm of Precision
Home Improvements located
at 10505 English Bay, Mokena, IL
60448 was registered; that the true
or real name of the person owning
the business, with their respective
post office address is as follows:
Jake Peters
10505 English Bay
Mokena, IL 60448
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand and Official
Seal at my office in Joliet; Illinois,
this 28th day of February, 2019
Lauren Staley Ferry
Will County Clerk
2900 Merchandise
Under $100
16 x16x48 (in.) reptile tank,
screened top and thermometer,
heavy glass $100.
815.258.7763
2Bag Boy golf carts $20 each.
1 golf bag $15. Golf clubs $2 -
$5 each. Mokena 815.462.3933
2 prom dresses -1blue Kimberly
Bond $100, 1 pink corsett
back $75. Will send pics.
708.715.0887
2 wing chairs, rose colored
$100 OBO. 708.785.0987
4kitchen island stools, excellent
condition. Will send pics
$75. 708.715.0887
4pc. oak entertainment center,
good condition $100. Mokena
708.205.3989
5beer steins $3 each. 5lamp
time clocks $3 each. 3piece
brass fireplace set $3. 41”pipe
threading dies rigid brand $4.
Call 708.614.8148
5pc. Aiwa compact disc stereo
cassette system: receiver, subwoofer,
two side speakers, center
speaker $100. 708.403.0947
5 pc. entertainment center,
solid oak, smoked glass doors,
fully lighted, lots ofstorage for
CDs and tapes, etc. Excellent
condition $90. 708.532.4044
Aprilaire Space-Gard air purifier
plus new 4” air filter $75.
815.469.6554
Bookcase, light oak, 4ft. x4ft.
Excellent condition $35. Avon
Easter chip/dip dish, collectible,
boxed $25. 708.645.4245
Bookcases (4) w/ storage, 71”
Hx30” Wx12” D. $25 each.
708.966.4250
Car care kit $15. Auto solar
pan $12. RC Airplane set
fighter kit $30. Metal folding
chairs $6. Oscilloscope $37.
708.737.9739
China -service for 12 plus extra
pieces and custom covers to
prevent breakage, white w/ soft
pattern $100. 708.429.5296
2900 Merchandise
Under $100
Complete lampost, black
metal, new in box from Lowe’s
$50. 630.542.8207
Computer desk/cabinet with
adjustable chair $50. Craftsman
4” jointer $50.
708.308.6835
Craftsman screwdrivers and
misc. screwdrivers $20. Craftsman
wrenches and misc.
wrenches $30. Craftsman sockets,
misc. sizes $20.
708.873.1245
Craftsman tool and tap set,
new, 58 pcs. $100.
708.448.9597 - Ask for Lou
Crystal punch bowl set $20.
Spider-Man poster on vinyl
50” x 96” $20. New brass
Schlage door and deadbolt $30.
708.341.2904
Entertainment center, solid
oak, glass doors, drawers and
shelves for storage. Excellent
condition $40. 708.715.0887
Girls 21” Schwinn bike w/
hand brakes, like brand new
$30. Barbie dolls in box
$10-$15. Disney radio/alarm
clock $10. 630.390.9071
Good Knight weighted blanket
15 lbs, 60” x 80”. Poly-pellets,
washable. New $80.
815.838.9432
Graco crib/Toddler bed. Dark
brown, used once $75. Sealy
crib mattress $35. Will separate
if needed. Washer, good
condition $50 OBO.
708.262.7002 or 779.279.2260
Kermit the Frog 1983
push-button phone. Good condition
$40. Plastic car ramps,
used once $30. 815.201.1540
Mens 36 in. RBK hockey
goalie pads, used one year,
good condition $75. Vaughan
catch glove $10. Tusk Eddy
goalie mask $10. 708.479.8336
New deluxe 5 pc. barbecue tool
set, stainless steel w/ solid oak
wood handles $45. Antique
vintage GENEVA ILL #8
black flat cast iron, nice condition
$20. 708.466.9907
New dog trolley 50’ pulley and
cable $25. New ceiling fan
$65. Metal frame basket planters
$10. 708.224.8003
New white 5 foot solid surface
vanity top w/ 4inch on center
sink that can be trimmed to fit
smaller vanity $65.
815.592.9474
Oak bi-fold doors, great condition.
Hardware and tracks included,
various sizes $50 per
set. Steve 815.735.5063
Pickup truck cap for 8 foot
bed, brown fiberglass, slider
cab window, garage kept $75.
708.267.4611

mokenamessenger.com classifieds
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 33
FREE FREE FREE
CLASSIFIED MERCHANDISE ADS!!!
In this tough economy, we'll give you a free
merchandise ad totaling $100 or less.
· Write your FREE ad in 30 words or less.
· One free ad per week.
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34 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
This Week In...
Lincoln-Way Co-op
Athletics
Boys Lacrosse
■March ■ 18 - hosts Oak
Park-River Forest, 7:30 p.m.
■March ■ 20 - hosts
Minooka, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse
■March ■ 19 - hosts Benet
Academy, 7:30 p.m.
■March ■ 20 - hosts Metea
Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Knights Varsity
Athletics
Boys Water Polo
■March ■ 14 - hosts Bremen,
5 p.m.
■March ■ 16 - at Hinsdale
South Invitational, 9 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - hosts
Sandburg, 5 p.m.
Girls Water Polo
■March ■ 14 - at Bremen, 6
p.m.
■March ■ 15 - at Naperville
North Invite, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 16 - at Naperville
North Invite, 9 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - at Sandburg,
5 p.m.
Boys Track and Field
■March ■ 15 - at SWSC
Indoor Invite (at Lockport),
4:30 p.m.
Girls Track and Field
■March ■ 16 - at SWSC
Indoor Invite (at Lockport),
10 a.m.
Boys Volleyball
■March ■ 20 - hosts
Minooka, 5:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer
■March ■ 14 - hosts Windy
City Classic, TBA
■March ■ 16 - hosts Windy
City Classic, 10 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - at Windy City
Classic TBA
■March ■ 21 - hosts Marist,
6:15 p.m.
Baseball
■March ■ 14 - at Plainfield
Central, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 15 - hosts Marist,
4:30 p.m.
Softball
■March ■ 16 - hosts
Naperville North, 10 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - hosts
Providence, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 20 - at Tinley Park,
4:30 p.m.
Badminton
■March ■ 14 - hosts fourteam
round robin, 4:30 p.m.
■March ■ 16 - at Addison
Trail Invite, 9 a.m.
■March ■ 19 - hosts Lincoln-
Way East, 4:30 p.m.
Reach more than 87,900 homes and businesses!
Publishes:
2019 GUIDE
THURSDAY,
APRIL 11, 2019
Space reservation deadline:
Wed, March 27
Ad approval deadline:
Tues, April 2
22ndcenturymedia.com
Call 708.326.9170 to reserve your Ad today!
visit us online at www.mokenamessenger.com
Athlete of the Week
10 Questions
with Joan Buch
Joan Buch is a senior exchange student
from Gelida, Spain on the Lincoln-Way
Central boys basketball team
How’d you get started in
basketball?
I started when I was 9 years old. I decided
to start playing because one day I
saw on the news about LeBron James.
He’s why I play basketball. My whole
life I played soccer because in Spain it’s
the popular sport. So, I saw LeBron and I
started playing basketball.
What’s your favorite memory of
the sport?
When I was in Spain, my team went to
the finals. We almost beat the best team,
but we came in second place. Also, the
Senior Night from Lincoln-Way Central.
If you could switch places with
anyone for a day, who would it be
and why?
Dwyane Wade because he’s one of
LeBron’s best friends. So, the relationship
and how they play basketball together and
how the people admire the way they play
is amazing. I also admire Dwyane Wade.
What’s the biggest difference
between American and European
basketball?
It’s a huge difference. When I came here
the defense was crazy. It is still basketball,
but there are some rules that are different.
We don’t have 1-on-1 and the players can
call timeout. We have 44 seconds for possession
of the ball… It is more fast here
[in the U.S.]
What are you currently binge
watching?
I usually watch more NBA games.
When I was in Spain, I would wake up at
4 a.m. to see the games, and now I can just
stay up until 7 p.m. and watch the NBA
games. So, yeah, I’m just watching NBA
games every day.
22nd Century Media file photo
Who would you choose for a dream
3-on-3 team?
LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
If you could have dinner with
anyone, then who would it be and
why?
Barack Obama. When I was in Spain,
all of the people loved him when he was
president. I think he’s cool.
What would be the first thing
you’d buy if you won the lottery?
A huge house for my family, everything
that they want. I have everything because
of them, so I will give everything to them.
Do you have any superstitions or
rituals before a game?
I have a wristband on my arm, and before
the games I put it inside my sock. It’s
important to me. It’s from my best friend in
Spain. Another ritual I have is I don’t put
on my playing T-shirt before the game. I
warm up without my T-shirt and then 30
seconds before the game starts I put it on.
What advice do you have for
younger players?
Work every day, every single day. You
have to train your mind and be ready for
the season, for everything that’s coming
in the season. And always be happy and
enjoy the game.
Interview conducted by T.J. Kremer III, Editor

mokenamessenger.com OPPrairie.com sports
the Orland mokena Park messenger Prairie | March 14, 2019 | 35
Team 22: Boys BaskeTBall
At the end of every boys basketball season, 22nd Century Media scours through stories, stat
sheets and reporters’ notebooks to compile its Team 22 All-Star lineup. The team features
student-athletes from Lincoln-Way Central, LW East, LW West, Providence Catholic, Andrew,
Tinley Park, Lockport Township and Sandburg high schools.
Compiled by 22nd Century Media staff
First team
second team
F: Jake mazrimas, senior,
Provi
12.4 points per game, 5.7
rebounds per game, 1 assist
per game.
F: Zach mattix, senior, andrew
9.2 points per game, 4
rebounds per game, 2.3 assists
per game.
F: adam taylor, senior, Provi
13.7 points per game, 3.7 rebounds
per game, 1.1 assists per game. Taylor
was key to the Celtics having a bit of a
playoff run this season.
G: mario Lawrence, senior, tinley
14.3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds
per game, 5.6 assists per game, 3.9
steals per game. Committed to Silver
Lake College, he was part of a Titans
one-two punch.
F: tommy Halatek, senior, Lockport
10.8 point per game, 7 rebounds per
game. He forced teams to focus their
defenses on him all season long and
is looking to pursue basketball in
college.
G: Kevin agwomoh, senior, sandburg
11.9 points per game, 4.4 rebounds
per game, 63 3-pointers. He led
Eagles scorers, was second only to his
brother Marvin in rebounds and posed
a long-range threat.
G: christian Hooker, senior, tinley
16.1 points per game, 3.2 rebounds
per game, 2 assists per game, 2.1
steals per game. Twice the team
captain and once the team MVP, he
was dangerous from downtown.
Honorable mentions:
F: Sean McLaughlin, junior, LW
East; Luke Pell, junior, Provi.
G: Julian Barr, senior, LW East;
Jacob Karli, senior, Lockport;
Matt Hatzopoulos, senior,
Lockport; Nathan Clendenning,
senior, LW West; Marvin
Agwomoh, senior, Sandburg;
Jhei-R Jones, sophomore, LW
East; Nick Tingley, sophomore,
LW Central; Jolo Amoranto,
sophomore, Andrew; Blake
Sartin, senior, Lockport; Joe
Alfirevich, junior, Provi; Matt
DiNardi, senior, Provi.
G: micah schnyders, junior, LW
West
14.3 points per game, 4
rebounds per game, 58
3-pointers.
G: sean curran, sophomore,
LW central
12.1 points per game, 4.4
assists per game, 3.6 rebounds
per game.
G: atharva atreya, junior,
sandburg
11.4 points per game, 3.1
assists per game, 65 3-pointers.

36 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
Boys Water Polo
Griffins start season with win over St. Rita
RANDY WHALEN
Freelance Reporter
Adam Hudson is an excellent
physics student. He
can score a few goals in
water polo, too.
Hudson, a senior, is
one of only three returners
from last season’s
Lincoln-Way East boys
water polo team, which
qualified for the State Finals
for the third straight
year.
But Hudson and the
Griffins showed in their
first game last weekend
that they shouldn’t be
counted out for another
trip to state this season.
Hudson scored seven goals
as East opened the season
with a 10-6 victory over
St. Rita on Friday, March
8, in Frankfort.
It was a nice initial win
for the Griffins (1-0) over
a St. Rita team (2-1) that
scored 35 goals in its first
two games. East had to
work on defense as it had
eight ejections, leading to
many man-up opportunities
for St. Rita.
“I’d like to have less than
eight ejections,” East coach
Ryan Lodes said. “But our
guys did a great job talking
and adjusting out there. We
were able to help out on the
man-up defense.”
And on offense Hudson
was able to take his physics
expertise and put it to
use. Or was it actually
chemistry?
“It was really exhausting
out there and we just have
to get in to shape,” Hudson
said. “But team chemistry
is a huge thing. We have
to build that up again and
we will. Our defense was
really good. If we can keep
our ejections down it will
be even better.”
With the score tied 2-2
after one quarter, Hudson
scored two straight goals
to give the Griffins the
lead for good. The second
of those was a no-look,
backhanded rebound from
the left side that went in
for a 4-2 lead with 2:40 left
in the first half.
“You just have to make
sure it doesn’t sail over the
net,” Hudson said of making
the no-look backhand
shot.
Junior Ben O’Connell
ripped away a rebound and
fired it in for another Griffin
goal in the final minute.
St. Rita came back to score
with 24 seconds left in the
half to cut the lead to 5-3.
In the third quarter, Hudson
added another backhanded
goal to increase
the lead to three. But back
came the Mustangs as
freshman Homero Olivares
put a tally in the upper
left corner. Then junior
goalie Sebastian Chaidez
fired in a fluke goal from
the other side of the pool
to narrow the score to 6-5.
But, with the momentum
seeming to turn, Hudson
had another goal just 12
seconds later to restore the
East advantage to 7-5 after
three. Senior Bryce Wyma
(2 goals) sandwiched a
pair of scores around a final
one by Hudson to open
the fourth quarter and
make the score 10-5.
St. Rita, which won its
first two games 23-7 over
Brother Rice and 12-7
over Andrew, is coached
by former Andrew boys
water polo coach, Sigfredo
Cruz. Juniors Christopher
Jimenez, Mauricio Reyes-
Binfa, and Daniel Burns (2
goals) added goals for the
Mustangs, who never led
in the game.
Junior Patrick Rossetto,
senior Noah Schor, and
Hudson are the three returning
starters from last
year’s Griffins team, which
qualified for state for the
third straight season. Senior
goalkeeper Max Gilmore
is in his first season as
the starter in net for East.
“Max did some good
things in his first [varsity]
game,” Lodes said. “And
we did a nice job helping
with him.
“Adam [Hudson] is a
workhorse. He worked all
last season to get better.
He’s a bright kid and I had
him in physics class when
he was a junior. He always
wanted to know the practical
application of physics,
too.”
So does Hudson use
physics applications in his
water polo game?
“One time a few years
ago, [then sophomore
coach Nick] Shaub saw
that I had my elbow in the
water on a shot and asked
me, ‘Isn’t it easier to shoot
when your elbow isn’t in
the water?’” Hudson said
of his former lower-level
coach, who is now in his
first season as head coach
at Lincoln-Way West.
“Now that always sticks
with me.”
The night before, Thursday,
March 8, Hudson won
the All Lincoln-Way Welding
Competition. He plans
to go into the construction
field and hopes to continue
to play water polo while
studying that in college.
In the meantime, he and
the Griffins are looking to
construct another excellent
season.
This Thursday-Saturday
March 14-16, East will be
playing at the Fenwick Invite
- Dan Lynch Classic.
After being off for 10 days,
the following week brings
a couple of key SouthWest
Suburban Conference
games, starting with a 9
a.m. matchup on March 26
at Sandburg, and then a 5
p.m. game the next day at
Lincoln-Way Central.
2019
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Lincoln-Way East’s Adam Hudson (left) fires a shot past St. Rita’s Homero Olivares
during a match Friday, March 8. Hudson scored seven goals in the 10-6 win.
Julie McMann/22nd Century Media

mokenamessenger.com mokena
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 37
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38 | March 14, 2019 | the mokena messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
Cales, Clark combine for eight goals in season-opening win
Central aims for
sectional title with
many returning
starters back
RANDY WHALEN
Freelance Reporter
When the Lincoln-
Way Central girl’s water
polo team was eliminated
from the postseason in the
sectional semifinals last
spring, coach Pam Dettman
looked forward to this
year.
“This was a rebuilding
year for us as we only had
two seniors,” Dettman said
after a 10-4 loss to eventual
sectional champion Lincoln-Way
East on May 11,
2018. “I’m very proud of
them. They’re hungry and
still want more. After the
[East] game they all said
they can’t wait to come
back next year.”
Well, next year is here.
Armed with a bevy of
returners and a new goalkeeper,
the Knights are
looking to return to the
form that allowed them to
go to the State Finals four
times in a six-year span
between 2012-17.
Central took its first step
toward that and got off to
a good start this season by
breaking away in the second
half, leading to a 10-7
victory over St. Charles
North in a nonconference
clash on Thursday, March
7 in New Lenox.
“We have all but two
people back,” said Dettman,
whose team graduated
three-year goalkeeper
Claire Connors and
Caroline Heathcock from
last year’s team. “Obviously
we hope to take our
[Southwest Suburban]
conference and sectional
titles back. But ultimately
we want to see the girls
grow and improve. The
team will improve in the
process.
“I’m definitely happy.
This was a good way to
start the season, with a
nice victory.”
It was the fourth straight
season that the Knights
(1-0) opened the season
against St. Charles
North (1-1), which defeated
Schaumburg 14-6
on March 4 in its season
opener. Last year Central
won a wild game by the
score of 9-8 in overtime.
This time around the
score was tied 3-3 at halftime
and it looked like
the game was headed
for another down-to-thewire
finish. But Central
had other ideas and after
regrouping at halftime,
came out and scored six
straight goals to open the
third quarter and take control.
Senior Megan Cales, a
four-year varsity player
who finished with a gamehigh
five goals, had four
of them in the run. She
tallied into the upper right
corner 37 seconds into
the quarter to start the
spurt. Junior Sierra Maze
and senior Maddie Clark
(3 goals) followed with
scores and then Cales
completed the run with a
trio of goals, the last one
at the 1:45 mark of the
quarter for an 8-3 Knights
lead.
“[In the second half] we
all went into fight mode
and each girl contributed,”
Cales said. “They
all stepped up and that allowed
me to be open.
“It’s always fun to face
[St. Charles North]. Last
year was a really fun game
and it’s a great game to see
Lincoln-Way Central’s Sierra Maze (right) blankets a St. Charles North’s Anna Devries
at the point during the Knights’ season opener Thursday, March 7.
Photos by James Sanchez/22nd Century Media
Jackie McGuire fires a shot.
where we are at as a team.
We have a lot of good underclassmen
and I’m excited
to see them play.”
The North Stars tallied
a pair of goals by seniors
Jules Engesser (2 goals)
and Megan Hamilton in
the last 49 seconds of the
third quarter to draw within
9-5. St, Charles North
sandwiched a pair of goals
by senior Kayleigh Lewis
around one by Clark in the
fourth quarter to account
for the final score.
“On defense, we isolated
them and forced them to
make mistakes,” Dettman
said of her teams secondhalf
strategy. “We knew if
we focused on defense our
offense would come. Their
goalie is great, but we put
it together on offense and
found the open girls.”
The teams traded goals
in the first half. Senior
Olivia Traxler had a pair
of first-quarter tallies for
St, Charles North and in
the middle of that, Clark
scored for the Knights.
Cales tied the game at 2-2
early in the second quarter
but Engesser put the North
Stars back ahead 3-2 before
a goal on the right
side by sophomore Mady
Athos knotted the game
again at 3-3 with 2:48 left
in the half. That stood up
as the halftime score.
While the Knights got it
in gear in the second half,
they also had a masterful
performance by goalkeeper
Bekkah Schimick. In
her first varsity game, the
junior showed no nerves
and came up with nine
saves.
“I practice really hard
and our defense was spot
on, that really helped me,”
Schmick said. “...I think
we can be very good when
we want to be. When we
go to state we will show
that we’re good. We’re
just going to have to fight
for it.”
Schimick, who won the
SWSC Red diving competition
and got fifth place
at the sectional this past
fall, has a great reason that
she’s a goalie.
“I don’t like to swim,”
Schimick said. “When I
was a freshman I didn’t
even know what water
polo was. My friends
wanted me to try it but
being a diver, I don’t like
to swim. So I tried it and
played goalie because I
don’t have to swim too
much.”
If she finished the season
not swimming at Stevenson
High School — site
of the State Finals — in
mid-May she, then and the
Knights would be happy.
This week the Knights
hosted Riverside-Brookfield
on Tuesday, March
12 and then have a home
match with the Bremen
Co-op team on Thursday,
March 14. This weekend,
Friday, March 14 and Saturday,
March 16, Central
is at the Naperville North
Invitational.

mokenamessenger.com sports
the mokena messenger | March 14, 2019 | 39
fastbreak
Boys Volleyball
LW East looks to bring another title home
James Sanchez/22nd Century
Media
1st and 3
Water polo
1. Lincoln-Way Central
(Above)
The Knights girls
started the season
with a win, 10-7
over St. Charles
North. They were
led by senior Megan
Cales with a gamehigh
five goals.
2. Lincoln-Way East
The Griffins boys
team also started
out in the win
column, with a 10-6
win over St. Rita.
The Griffins boys
are looking for a
fourth-straight State
Finals appearance.
3. Knights boys, JV
The Knights girls
JV team won the
Warrior Warm Up
for the third straight
year, while the boys
varsity team split its
first two matchups:
a 16-13 win against
Shepard on March
5, and a 20-7 loss
to St. Charles North
on March 7.
LISTEN UP
RANDY WHALEN, Freelance Reporter
There are not many programs
that could lose 10 players from
a State Champion team the year
before and believe they can still
compete for another one.
But there are not many programs
like the Lincoln-Way East
boys volleyball team.
The Griffins expect to be right
there again at the end of the season.
“Last year’s senior class was
arguably the best class in Lincoln-
Way East volleyball history,” said
East coach Kris Fiore, who was
named Boys’ High School Coach
of the Year by Volleyball Magazine
last year. “We graduated 10
seniors, seven of whom played
‘starters minutes.’ Six of those
kids are now playing college volleyball.
The cupboard, however, is
not bare as we return three starters
from our squad last year.
“Many of our kid’s roles will be
changing from their club teams,
and I believe it will take us some
time to get up to speed. There’s
going to be some ups and downs
to start, and that’s only natural
with new kids in the lineup. By
May, though, I believe that we will
be a different team. Wil McPhillips
might be the most exciting offensive
player in the state this year
and a player of the year candidate.
We expect him to touch somewhere
between 11 ½ and 12 feet.”
McPhillips leads the returners.
Last season he was a middle hitter
but filled in at some different
spots. Now the two-year starter,
who was named an All-American
as a member of Ultimate 18-Gold
Club Team and is committed to
Ball State, will be looked at as an
“I think we can be very good when we want to be. When we go to
state we will show that we’re good. We’re just going to have to show
it.”
Bekkah Schimick — Lincoln-Way Central girls water polo goalkeeper
Lincoln-Way East seniors (left to right) Danny Pacini, Tommy Daum,
Brent O’Donnell, Ikswank Mahajan and Wil McPhillips take turns
digging during volleyball practice. Nuria Mathog/22nd Century Media
outside hitter.
“We have a lot of guys and being
an outside hitter will allow me
to take more swings,” McPhillips
said. “We have some guys back
and some juniors that will fill the
other spots. But absolutely it is
definitely our goal to be back there
[at state].”
Another goal, which the 6-foot
4-inch McPhillips mentioned, is
to win the SouthWest Suburban
Conference title once again. Last
season, the Griffins were conference
champions for the eighth
straight year. In fact, East has won
36 straight matches in what Fiore
called “arguably the best volleyball
conference in the state,” and
Tune In
70 out of the last 71 matches.
A key player to winning another
SWSC title will be three-year
starter Danny Pacini at libero. The
5-foot 10-inch Ultimate 18-Gold
player has committed to Dominican
University.
“We lost a lot of key players but
we also have a lot of good players
back,” Pacini said. “The most exciting
part of playing libero is because
a kill is all set up because of
you. Especially this year because
Wil is moving to outside hitter. So
there will be more pressure to take
charge out there.”
Pacini will be getting his digs
back to fellow senior Brent
O’Donnell. The 5-foot 10-inch
Softball
10 a.m. March 16 - host Naperville North
• The Knights kick off their season with a home
opener against Naperville North.
O’Donnell and Ultimate 18-Black
member is a two-year starter at
setter.
“A lot of us play on the same
club team,” Pacini said. “But our
coaches here [at East] bring everything
together. We’re just coming
together and I think we’re going
to be pretty good once gameday
comes. It’s all been building. We
have a lot of our hitters back We
just have to play as a team and
have each other’s backs.”
Junior Trevor Lewis, a 6-foot
2-inch junior opposite side hitter
who started half of 2018 and
plays for UNO 18 Elite, will also
bring back experience. The top
newcomers include 6-foot 4-inch
senior outside hitter Ike Mahajan,
who plays for Ultimate 18 Gold,
along with juniors Casey Goss
(6-foot 2-inch opposite hitter)
and John Glennon (6-foot 4-inch
middle hitter), who both play for
Ultimate 17 Gold.
Last year the Griffins went 39-3
and won the State Championship
for the second time in five years
with a thrilling 20-25, 25-21, 25-
22 victory over Neuqua Valley
The year before that they finished
34-8 and lost to Glenbard West 25-
21, 20-25, 25-16 in the title match.
East opens the season with a
5:30 p.m. game Tuesday, March
19, at Minooka. On Thursday,
March 21, the Griffins are at Glenbard
West for a rematch of the
2017 State Championship pairing.
Then March 28-30 brings a trip to
the Wheaton Warrenville South
Tiger Classic. That is followed
by a single match April 1 against
Wheaton-Warrensville South on
Neil Carey Arena at Lewis University.
Index
34- Athlete of the Week
34 - This Week In...
FASTBREAK is compiled by Editor T.J.
Kremer III, tj@mokenamessenger.com.

mokena’s Hometown Newspaper | March 14, 2019
Set on repeat LW East
boys volleyball looks for backto-back
championships, Page 39
Straight ballin’
22CM announces all-area Team
22: Boys Basketball, Page 35
Four-year varsity member for the Knights
Megan Cales looks for an opening
Thursday, March 7, during Lincoln-
Way Central’s season opener against
St. Charles North in New Lenox. James
Sanchez/22nd Century Media
Knights girls water polo starts season with win, Page 38