the daily

New hours for Halloween Walk & door-to-door treating, both scheduled for this Saturday

The annual Halloween Walk in downtown La Grange has a new starting time—10:30 a.m. this Saturday, Oct. 31.

Children are invited to don their costumes and visit a variety of merchants to receive free treats until 12:30 p.m.

A map of the suggested route can be found on the website of the La Grange Business Association, sponsor of the Halloween Walk.

Afterwards, the kids might as well keep their costumes on as trick or treating door to door throughout the neighborhoods occurs from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. this year.

The new hours were decided upon by village officials based on feedback from residents.

Pilipiszyn explains the workings of village government in response to invitation from LG Citizens Council

Village Manager Bob Pilipiszyn last week addressed the La Grange Citizens Council at its monthly meeting with a talk on the workings of village government.

Pilipiszyn is the first of several local government officials the council plans to host in coming months.

The response of village officials this summer to citizen concerns about a proposed downtown pawnshop and issues arising from a number of recent  instances where village trustees have approved zoning variances counter to the recommendations of the zoning board of approval were among the examples Pilipiszyn cited in explaining how the village manager and staff work closely with the village board to address the concerns of residents and business owners.

Pilipiszyn also offered some examples of how the economic downturn has impacted the village's finances, but not to the point of alarm.

Click here to view video segments of Pilipiszyn's entire presentation, along with his response to questions and comments from members of the council.

Another burglary suspect caught on tip from resident

UPDATED Tues., Sept. 29: Police today identified Dennis Tabor, 17, of 1007 S La Grange Rd as the man arrested at 10:17 a.m. Monday while trying to break into a locked vehicle with a crowbar on the 100 block of S Ashland Ave. Tabor was arraigned today at the Bridgeview courthouse on one count of attempted burglary.

Police Lt. Vic Arnold said the suspect apparently sought to steal a global positioning system (GPS) device inside the vehicle. Arnold said he does not believe Tabor is connected to any of the several night-time burglaries that have occurred in recent weeks. A 19-year-old Chicago man arrested in the pre-dawn hours of Sept 20 subsequently was charged with five counts of burglary related to some of those incidents.

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La Grange police today arrested a man who was attempting to break into a vehicle in a residential area, Village President Elizabeth Asperger announced at tonight's regular session of the village board of trustees.

Police Lt. Vic Arnold, who was in attendance at tonight's meeting, confirmed the arrest but did not provide the identity of the suspect or the location of the incident. Arnold said details of the arrest would be available to reporters Tuesday.

Today's arrest was the second in past eight days involving burglary, Asperger said. Anthony Harris, 19, of Chicago was arrested in the early hours of Sept. 20 and subsequently charged with five counts of burglary involving three homes and two vehicles.

In both arrests, police responded to calls from residents who reported seeing suspicious persons in their neighborhoods, Asperger said.

Chicago man charged in five village burglaries

A 19-year-old Chicago man was arraigned at the Bridgeview courthouse today on five counts of burglary that La Grange police say are connected with a recent string of home and car break-ins in the village.

Anthony Harris was arrested at 4:20 a.m. by La Grange officers who responded to a phone call from a resident who reported seeing two suspicious people in the 100 block of Maple Ave. Harris was apprehended near the intersection of 6th and Goodman Aves following a short foot chase, police said. The second suspect escaped.

Police also recovered several items they said were stolen from three residences and two automobiles in the vicinity where Harris was captured. Harris was in possession of some of the items and others were found hidden in bushes nearby. The items recovered include a purse, cellphone and MP3 player.

La Grange police were assisted in their search by a K9 unit from Darien and officers from Brookfield and Western Springs.

Police said they were able to connect the items with the burglaries of two homes on the 0-100 and 300 blocks of South Catherine Avenue and with one home and two vehicles on the 300 block of S 7th Ave.

Police said three of the burglaries occurred early Sunday morning, and two happened in July.

In every instance, the homes and vehicles were unlocked, police said.

Police said the stolen items usually were hidden by Harris, who relied upon an accomplice to arrive later by car to pick him up along with the stolen property.

While police are investigating Harris' possible involvement several other burglaries that occurred in recent weeks in the neighborhoods east of La Grange Rd, they do not believe he is responsible for all of them.

Electrical fire damages N Catherine Ave residence

The La Grange fire department responded Sunday afternoon to a fire that broke out on the third floor of the house at 130 N Catherine Ave, Fire Chief Dave Fleege said today.

An initial investigation determined that the fire likely was caused by a short in some electrical wiring inside a third-floor bedroom closet, Fleege said.

Image from Google Maps street view ©2009 Google

The home's occupants were safely evacuated, but the building was deemed uninhabitable do in part to smoke and water damage and because electrical power had to be shut off until repairs can be made, he said. Fire damage was contained to the bedroom where the fire started.

Total damage to the structure and contents was estimated at $50,000, Fleege said.

The department was alerted to the fire at 5:10 p.m. by the occupants, who were in the first-floor kitchen preparing dinner when a smoke alarm on the second-floor sounded.

In addition to La Grange fire units, 13 neighboring departments also were called to the scene. The fire was under control by 5:30 p.m. and struck out at 5:48 p.m., Fleege said.

The house is owned by Michael & Elizabeth Maziarka, according to records provided online by the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

No suspects yet as police investigate burglary rash

La Grange Police are continuing their investigation into a string of recent home invasions and burglaries in the village, but have no suspects at this time, Police Chief Michael Holub said today.

A shoe print and fingerprints were obtained by investigators at a couple of the homes. They are currently being processed but likely will not be of much help until one or more suspects have been identified, Holub said.

He believes any suspect is likely to be a resident or someone familiar with the neighborhood. "This does not appear to be the work of some organized ring from outside the community," Holub said.

Most of the incidents occurred in the neighborhood just east of the central business district where six homes along the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of 7th and 8th Aves were burglarized in a single night, July 27. Two nearby homes on the 200 block of 6th Ave also were burglarized on July 18.

Items reported missing by homeowners in those cases included cash, jewelry and small electronic devices. Several of the homeowners were at home asleep during the break-ins. Some told police they heard noises and one resident reported seeing a shadowy figure, but no one had direct contact with the perpetrators.

Recent burglaries reported in other village neighborhoods include one July 27 on the 1000 of S Brainard Ave, one July 28 on the 200 block of Sawyer Ave, and another July 30 in the 100 block of S Spring Ave.

Village officials July 28 issued an advisory describing actions residents can take to safeguard their homes and deter criminals.

Basement fire overnight forces evacuation of home on W Elm Ave; damage estimated at $40,000

The La Grange Fire Department responded at 1:32 this morning to a house fire at at 615 W. Elm Avenue, according to a press release issued by the department.

Four residents of the home were asleep at the time, and were alerted to the fire by smoke alarms. All were safely evacuated. A family cat also was removed from the home, given oxygen for a period of time, and survived.

When firefighters arrived, smoke could be seen coming from three floors of the home, said fire officials. Upon entering the home, heavy smoke conditions were evident throughout the single-family structure. The origin of the fire was found in the northeast portion of the basement area.

In addition to the La Grange fire units, 14 neighboring departments responded to the scene and two departments covered the La Grange Fire Station.

The fire was struck out at 2:25 a.m. Fire companies remained on the scene until 5:04 a.m.

Structural damage was limited to a portion of the basement area, but the home suffered smoke damage throughout and was determined to be uninhabitable. Damage to structure and contents is estimated at $40,000.

Six homes burglarized early Monday, police say

La Grange police are investigating the burglary of six homes that occurred early Monday morning, according to a press release issued by the department.

The homes are located in the 200 and 300 blocks of 7^th Ave, and in the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of 8^th Ave.

The burglaries occurred between midnight and 3 a.m. In most cases, cash was taken, while in one incident jewelry and a credit card were reported missing, said police investigator Robert Wardlaw.

Residents were home during some of the burglaries. One resident reported seeing a shadowed figure who could not be identified, said Wardlaw. Others reported hearing noises during the time of the burglaries.

In all cases but one, entry to the homes was through either an unlocked door or window.

Police also are trying to determine if the incidents are related to two similar burglaries reported July 18 by residents in the 200 block of 6^th Ave. In those cases, entry was made through a window. Jewelry and electronic items were stolen.

Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to call the La Grange Police tip line at (708) 579-0688.

Dump unlimited house items on Spring Clean Up Day

Here's your chance to safely dump that worn-out recliner in the rec room or the forever-stained carpet beneath it.

The Village of La Grange next week will hold its "Spring Clean Up Day" (two actually, but make sure to note the one that applies to your address), a once-a-year opportunity for residents to discard an unlimited amount of household items that are too bulky to fit in a standard curbside trash receptacle.

Pick-ups are scheduled for Monday, April 6, for households north of 47th St, and Thursday, April 9, for households south of 47th St. These dates coincide with the regular waste collection schedule. If you miss your scheduled opportunity, sorry, "Spring Clean Up Day" pick-ups cannot be rescheduled.

Residents are required to affix three Allied Waste stickers in total to the waste set out for collection.

Certain items will not be picked up. These include yard waste, lumber, ammunition, and radioactive materials. For a more complete list, read this memo from the village.

Township seminars to focus on assessment appeals

The Cook County Board of Review will conduct two assessment appeal seminars for Lyons Township residents.

The first seminar will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2009 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The second seminar will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m.

Both seminars will be conducted at the Lyons Township Hall, 6404 Joliet Rd., Countryside.