La Grange Today

Park District names 51 witnesses it may call upon for testimony in support of Gordon Park land sale

At least 51 witnesses may be called upon by the Park District of La Grange to provide testimony in an upcoming Cook County Circuit Court hearing in support of its petition to sell 2.82 acres of Gordon Park to developer Atlantic Realty Partners, according to a document filed this week with the court.

In addition to the five members of the Park District board of commissioners, Executive Director Dean Bissias, Treasurer Steve Paczolt and four employees, the witnesses named in the document include:

• Richard D. Aaronson, president, Atlantic Realty Partners.
• Brad Belcaster, broker/advisor, Belcaster Realty; Jeffrey Braun, president/landscape architect, Cody/Braun & Associates, Willowbrook; Thomas A. Heuer, engineer, Heuer & Associates, Westchester; Patricia L. McGarr*, real estate appraiser, Integra Realty Resources, Chicago; Brian L. Paupore*, real estate analyst, Integra Realty Resources; Dean Rousso, Prime Property Partners; and Tod Stanton, president/landscape architect, Design Perspectives Inc, Naperville.
• Shawn Gunst and Don Robertson, American Youth Soccer Organization; Thomas Cushing and Jim Farnan, La Grange Little League.
• Peter M. Murphy*, president, Illinois Association of Park Districts; Michael Selep*, interim CEO, Illinois Parks & Recreation Dept.
• La Grange Village President Elizabeth Asperger; Village Trustees Mike Horvath, Mark Kuchler, Mark Langan and Tom Livingston; Village Manager Robert Pilipiszyn; Community Development Director Patrick Benjamin; Assistant Community Development Director Angela Mesaros; Finance Director Lou Cipparrone; Police Chief Michael Holub; Administrative Police Sergeant Tom Cimbalista; and Fire Chief David Fleege*.
• David May, board president, Elementary School District 102.
• Michael Lapidus*, former president, La Grange Business Association; Bob Ware*, executive director, West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
• La Grange residents Dave Bier, Kate Brogan, Jack Gleason, Mark & Jennifer Ostrowski, David Shannon, Shawn Temple, Jeff Valenzuela, James & Julie Workman; and former resident Ralph Gutekunst, who now lives in La Grange Park.

The individuals whose names are followed by an asterisk (*) also are identified by the Park District as "expert witnesses" in their particular fields. Witnesses recognized by the court as experts may include opinions in their testimony where appropriate, whereas other witnesses may only speak to the factual nature of any evidence presented.

The Park District reserved the right to add additional witnesses at a later date.

Judge Susan Fox Gillis has not yet set a date for the presentation of testimony, but the next status hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19.

View a PDF of the Park District document containing additional information about each witness and the subject about which he or she is likely to testify.

Village president's remarks: Jan. 25 board meeting

In her opening remarks at Monday night's regular meeting of the village board of trustees, La Grange President Liz Asperger:

• Welcomed Webelos Scout Pack 39 from Ogden Ave School, who attended the meeting to earn merit badges for citizenship.
• Announced that the board identified several short and long-term initiatives at the strategic planning session it held Jan. 8-9. Staff is now developing an operations plan that will be presented at a workshop likely to be held within four to six weeks.
• Reported the death last week of long-time La Grange resident and paid-on-call firefighter Ken Straube.
• Announced that West Suburban magazine would feature La Grange in its March-April edition.
• Played a video segment from ABC7 Chicago's Hungry Hound food reporter, Steve Dolinsky, that featured three new restaurants in downtown La Grange.

Click here for link to Hungry Hound video.

Funeral set for Jacob Curby, former LTHS wrestler

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 28, for Jacob Christopher Curby, 25, a 2002 graduate and former wrestling standout at Lyons Township High School, who was found dead Friday at his home in Boise, Idaho.

A funeral mass is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Cletus Parish, 600 W 55th St, La Grange. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W 55th St, Countryside.

Curby was discovered not breathing on his sofa at home, according to a statement issued by USA Wrestling, which is considered the national governing body of the sport. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. No medical information about the incident is currently available.

Curby was ranked No. 3 on the Greco-Roman National Team and has twice been a national team member, according to the statement. He returned a few days ago from competing in Russia.

Curby rose to national and international prominence in Greco-Roman wrestling while competing for the U.S. Olympic Education Program at Northern Michigan University.

His top achievement on the national level was placing second at the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials. He was fourth at the U.S. Nationals the last three seasons, and placed third at the 2008 Pan American Championships, according to the statement.

As a sophomore wrestler at LT, Curby qualified for the state tournament in 2000, where he won in the Greco-Roman category at 145 pounds, according to a March 2007 story in the Suburban Life newspaper.

Later in 2002, Curby was diagnosed with leukemia. But following aggressive chemotherapy, he appeared to have beaten the disease.

“Wrestling is his life and he was totally engaged in it,” said his father Dave Curby in the statement from USA Wrestling. “He is a kid with many friends. He overcame so much in his life, with epilepsy and having cancer when he was in high school. It is a shock. We are always so proud of him in all aspects of his life. He only got great things from being involved with USA Wrestling at this level.”

The family requests that memorial contributions be made in memory of Jacob Curby to USA Wrestling, 6155 Lehman Dr, Colorado Springs CO 80918; or Pediatric Oncology Research, Loyola Medical Center Development Dept., 2160 First Ave, Maywood IL 60153.

Rob Metzger resigns from LG Park District board

Rob Metzger has resigned from the Park District of La Grange board of commissioners, according to a letter from him read aloud by President Tim Kelpsas at a park board meeting Monday night.

Rob Metzger at a park board workshop for Gordon Park held in May of last year

Metzger, a former park board president who has been a commissioner since 2002, cited professional and family demands as his reasons for leaving the board.

"This job requires a lot of dedication and perseverance," Metzger wrote in his letter dated Jan. 21. "I simply do not have the required bandwidth to be a productive member of the board."

Metzger has frequently missed board meetings in recent years due to the travel requirements of his job. He was absent again Monday night.

In his letter, Metzger said his resignation will become effective once the board has chosen someone to serve out the remainder of his current term, which expires in April of next year.

While expressing pride that the board had accomplished "a lot" during his tenure on the board, Metzger, he singled out only his greatest disappointment: Gordon Park.

"While I am proud of what we accomplished, I am equally disappointed that we have been unsuccessful in completing the redesign of Gordon Park, which I believe is the greatest need that the District has."

Gordon Park's redevelopment has been stymied for more than two years as legal action taken by various residents has prevented the District from selling 2.82 acres of the park to developer Atlantic Realty Partners for inclusion in its planned redevelopment of the former Rich Port YMCA parcel.

Park officials were counting on the proceeds from that sale—some $4.5 million in cash and another million dollars or more worth of landfill and landscaping—to build new ballfields and other recreational amenities on the park's remaining 14.5 acres.

"I am hopeful that my replacement can pick up where I left off and continue the efforts that will be required to see this milestone through to its proper conclusion," Metzger wrote.

Kelpsas said Monday that Metzger "added a great amount of voice and momentum to this board and has given it great direction. It’s sad to see him go."

Metzger joined the park board in 2002 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy. He was then elected to the board in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. He also served as its President from 2004 until stepping down from that post last year,

TV's Hungry Hound features 3 La Grange restaurants

Three downtown La Grange restaurants were featured Friday night in a video report by ABC7's Hungry Hound reporter Steve Dolinsky.

The Hound and his camera-crew visited Kama Indian Bistro, Q BBQ and Prasino's.

Click here to watch the video.

Free movie offers new spin on living the good life

UPDATE - 10/25: Sunday night's screening was attended by more than 100 people, some 20 of whom met afterwards for discussion in Palmer's biergarten. Missed the show? A DVD of the film is available for checkout at the La Grange library.

Ever wonder what it would be like to reduce your carbon footprint to nothing; to adopt a lifestyle that has zero negative impact on the environment that supports us? Then make plans to join similarly minded folks this Sunday night (Jan. 24)  for a screening of No Impact Man, a film about one New York City resident and his family who spent an entire year without, well, just about every convenience one associates with modern-day life.

The show starts at 7 p.m. at the La Grange Theatre and is hosted by Go Green La Grange, the Voluntary Simplicity Group of the La Grange Public Library and the La Grange Area League of Women Voters. Admission is free.

Go Green is a group of volunteers who live in and around La Grange, and who tout the benefits of sustainable living. Check out their website, gogreenlagrange.org.

Lest you think a movie about living without television, automobiles, elevators, fast food, cosmetics and squeezably soft toilet paper has got to be a downer, take note that the Los Angeles Times calls No Impact Man" both compelling and extremely funny."

Who knows? You may even be inspired to make a few changes of your own.

Latest effort to reach settlement in Gordon Park lawsuit fails; judge proceeds with plans for hearing

An eleventh-hour effort by developer Atlantic Realty Partners (ARP) to forge a settlement in the legal battle over the proposed sale of land from Gordon Park apparently was unsuccessful, attorneys for the Park District of La Grange and La Grange Friends of the Park told Cook County Circuit Court Judge Susan Fox Gillis Thursday.

A disappointed Judge Gillis consequently instructed the attorneys to prepare for a formal hearing to decide whether or not the Park District can sell 2.82 acres of land to ARP. The developer would include the parkland in a redevelopment of the former Rich Port YMCA property, assuming ARP can reach an agreement with YMCA officials on a purchase price for the parcel.

Park Friends attorney Tom Beyer told Gillis that ARP President Richard Aaronson had told him a settlement appeared within reach following a new round of talks between the developer and at least one member of the Park District board of commissioners.

Beyer said he had spoken with Aaronson several times during the past week and a half and that Aaronson said that park officials had indicated they might agree to postpone for at least five years any future attempt to sell the larger of the two parcels of parkland in dispute.

Beyer said Aaronson also told him park officials said they likely would support a similar moratorium on a land swap with the village that would allow an extension of Shawmut Ave, which the Park Friends oppose.

The Park Friends have been seeking a ten-year moratorium on any future park land sale, and are adamantly opposed to any extension of Shawmut Ave.  

But Beyer's account was refuted flatly by Rob Bush, the Park District's general counsel, who told the judge that no such deal was forthcoming.

Bush said a telephone conversation he had with Aaronson earlier on Thursday was their first contact in weeks. 

Reached by phone on Friday, Aaronson said he did not have time to comment on the matter.

Bush said the Park District was willing to postpone any future attempt to sell the northern parcel only during the period ARP's development was under construction, a duration he estimated as no more than three yearss.

As to the fate of the Shawmut Ave extension, Bush told the judge that was in the hands of the village as the vacated roadway had been swapped early last year for a parcel owned by the village that adjoins Gordon Park along Locust Ave.

Beyer countered that the land swap had a reverter clause which took effect Dec. 31 because construction on Y redevelopment had not begun by that date. Consequently, the Park District was once again the legal owner of vacated Shawmut Ave and could therefore decide its fate, Beyer said.

"They [park officials] have control over [road]," Beyer said to Gillis. "What they are saying is they don't want to settle and want an excuse for not settling."

Bush said park officials approached the settlement talks in earnest.  "They have spent $100,000 trying to settle this case," he said.

Beyer noted that Aaronson has stated that the road extension is not needed now that ARP has significantly reduced the size and scope of the project it planned to build, known as La Grange Place.

Beyer suggested that the money ARP would save by not having to build the roadway, which he estimated at $1 million, could be used to increase the money ARP would pay the YMCA for its parcel.

YMCA officials in early December announced that they had canceled their plans to sell the Rich Port parcel to ARP because the developer had proposed a reduction in the purchase price that was substantially below what they said was needed in order to purchase land elsewhere on which to build a new facility.

Beyer said YMCA officials told him they would still consider a sale to ARP if the developer could improve its offer.

Bush acknowledged the reverter clause but said the Park District board had voted at its regular meeting Dec. 17 to extend the deadline on the land swap. He said the village board of trustees also planned to take action to extend the deadline.

Village Manager Bob Pilipiszyn in a conversation two weeks ago with this reporter confirmed that the village board would consider an extension of the land swap deadline, as early as its regular meeting scheduled for Jan. 25.

At a planning session the board held last weekend, Pilipiszyn proposed that trustees consider committing to the land swap even if ARP's project is abandoned, citing that the Shawmut Ave extension was a vital component in any future redevelopment of both the YMCA property and Gordon Park.

Library chiefs will address Citizens Council Weds

La Grange Public Library Director Jeannie Dilger-Hill and Library Board President Becky Spratford will address the La Grange Citizens Council tomorrow (Jan. 13) evening at 7:30 in the Village Hall auditorium.

The public is welcome to attend this opportunity to learn about the library's mission and operation, and ask questions. No reservations are necessary.

West Sub Chamber hosts breakfast forum Tuesday of Republican candidates for Illinois governor

Six of the seven republican candidates for Illinois governor will appear Tuesday at a public breakfast forum in Countryside sponsored by the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce.

The six hopefuls include Adam Andrzejewski, a Hinsdale businessman; State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington; State Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale; Andy McKenna, former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party; Dan Proft, a political consultant and radio commentator; and Bob Schillerstrom, DuPage County Board Chairman.

The forum will occur from 7:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. at the William Tell Holiday Inn, 6201 Joliet Rd, Countryside.

The forum will be moderated by Thom Serafin, president of Serafin & Associates Inc, a public affairs and communications firm located in Chicago. Serafin also is a member of the Chamber’s board of directors.

Tickets to the forum are $20 per person, include a continental breakfast and must be purchased no later than today, Monday, Jan. 11. For registration and additonal information, contact the Chamber at 708-387-7550.

Biannual village planning session this weekend

The La Grange village board of trustees this weekend will hold its biannual planning session to develop goals and objectives.

The two-day workshop will be held in the Dixon Education Center at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. Saturday's session will begin at 8 p.m.

The center was chosen as a meeting site in order to provide an informal setting for open dialogue among board members. The last planning session, held in Nov. 2007, took place at the La Grange Country Club.

The sessions will provide no opportunity for public input, but anyone may attend as an observer in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.