La Grange Today

Neither referendum results nor public survey were a factor in judge's approval of Gordon Park sale

Ever since voters in a Nov. 2008 referendum approved a proposal by the Park District of La Grange to sell 2.82 acres of Gordon Park by a margin of 55 to 45 percent, district officials and their supporters have pointed to the referendum as "overwhelming" proof that the public backed the sale and the use the its proceeds to renovate the remaining 14 acres of Gordon Park.

But in the eyes of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Susan Fox Gillis, who last Friday approved the sale, the referendum was merely an expression of opinion not fact. Consequently, the referendum results were not allowed into evidence during the four-day trial. Gillis labeled them "irrelevant" and similarly disallowed resolutions passed by the La Grange village board of trustees and District 102 school board that also supported the sale and its perceived benefits.

Also, a public survey commissioned by the Park District earlier this year, and conducted by Public Research Group (PRG) of Naperville, never made it into evidence either.

The survey found that only 27 percent of the district's residents supported spending momey to renovate Gordon Park. Helping to finance the planned renovation of the ball fields and providing other recreational amenities was the primary reason cited in court by Park District Attorney Rob Bush for selling the 2.82 acres, which comprise the northwest panhandle of the park.

While Gillis was certainly aware of the referendum and the resolutions, it is uncertain whether she was familiar with the survey findings, detailed in a 60-page report prepared by PRG.

It was submitted to the court by Bush just a couple weeks ago, when the judge was out of town, so late in the process leading up to the trial that Bush failed to include one of the report's authors, David Emanuelson of PRG, on his witness list.

Consequently, and somewhat ironically, Bush's oversight allowed both Emanuelson's planned testimony and the survey report to be quashed by an objection from Tom Beyer, one of the attorneys for the La Grange Friends of the Park, a group of residents that opposed the parkland sale. Beyer persuaded Gillis to disallow both.

Beyer later explained his action, saying that while the findings in the report may have supported his group's contention that the sale was not in the puiblic interest, he could not risk having Emanuelsom take the stand without knowing in advance the entire scope of his planned testimony.

As a result, Gillis made her final determination in support of the Park District without having to formally consider the referendum and survey, the only two statistical, albeit contradicting, indicators of public support for the issue before her.

Read these related stories:

• Court approves sale of Gordon Park parcels
• Only 27 percent of residents support renovation of Gordon Park, according to Park District's own survey

'Chicago's Best' highlights La Grange in video

Ted Brunson of ChicagosBestTV.com recently spent a day in La Grange visiting some "spots" he subsequently highlighted in an online video posted May 16.

Watch the video below.

Those spots include:

• Lyons Township High School's Hall of Fame, where Brunson singled out the plaque honoring actor David Hasselhoff, who was graduated from LT in 1970.
• The restaurant Q BBQ, which Brunson hailed as "Best BBQ in the Burbs."
• My Grandpa's Store, a mecca of candy and treats that is swarmed daily by students from Ogden Ave Elementary School, located just across the street. Brunson honored the store for its "Best Old Town Feel." 
• Devries Grocery, "a true neighborhood store," where Brunson chomped on a free pretzel stick, a time-honored tradition among the market's regular customers.
• The La Grange Theatre. "We're talking about seeing a movie for an adult price of under six bucks," exclaimed Brunson.

ChicagosBestTV.com is owned by WGN-TV, a Tribune company.

La Grange police criticized for not using CodeRED to alert residents to manhunt for Oklahoma fugitives

A La Grange woman Monday night took to the podium at a meeting of the village board to criticize the police department for not participating April 6 in an effort to alert residents that two potentially armed and dangerous fugitives from Oklahoma were possibly at large in the community.

Karen Deane, who resides on the 100 block of Malden Ave, wanted to know why La Grange police did not use the CodeRED phone protocol to automatically place calls to residents village-wide to inform them of a manhunt that was underway in neighboring Western Springs, whose police at 2:30 that morning had discovered a stolen pickup truck used by the fugitives, apparently abandoned on the 1300 block of Hillgrove Ave.

"Those suspects could have easily walked over a few blocks to the La Grange border and knocked on any unsuspecting resident's door," Deane said.

Village President Elizabeth Asperger acknowledged that Western Springs police used CodeRED, a reverse 911 emergency phone system in which calls with a recorded message are simultaneously made to all local phone numbers. Local school officials also placed calls to parents after deciding to enforce a soft lockdown on campus activities while a multi-agency police task force after daylight combed Bemis Woods where a Cook County K-9 unit had followed a scent from the pickup truck.

As a La Grange parent at home with a pre-school child, Deane said she only learned of the manhunt later that day after seeing reports on television and local news websites.

Asperger defended the decision not to employ the CodeRED protocol in La Grange, explaining that Police Chief Michael Holub had reason to believe the fugitives had likely moved out of the area and were no longer a threat to public safety.

Indeed, Cory Mathew Wolf, 31, and Brittany Thompson, 24, were apprehended that night in Bristol, Wisconsin, by U.S. marshals who had pursued the couple on warrants from Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas on charges of attempted murder, burglary and theft. The fugitives allegedly tried to run over an Illinois state trooper April 6 at a rest stop along Interstate Highway 55 near Bloomington.

Three La Grange trustees&Tom Livingston, Mike Horvath and Mark Kuchler&generally were supportive of Asperger and Holub's decision, but also expressed sympathy for Deane's concerns and recommended a re-evaluation of the circumstances under which CodeRED is employed in the future.

Watch the video below to hear Deane's comments and the response from village officials.

Cops & Kids raise $2,600 for Cari Cook Family Fund

Countryside Interim Chief of Police Scott Novak presents Matt Cook, holding daughter Ellie, with a symbolic check for $2,600 as Mayor Robert Conrad looks on.

The family of Cari Lyn Cook, the young Countryside mother who was struck and killed last May while crossing 47th St with her two small children, received a check for $2,600 at tonight's meeting of the Countryside city council.

The money was raised at the 13th Annual Cops & Kids basketball tournament held February 18 at Gurrie Middle School in La Grange.

To learn more about the event, watch the video below. To learn more about the Cari Lyn Cook Family Fund, click here to visit the website.

Basketball game to benefit Cari Lyn Cook family fund

The Cari Lyn Cook Memorial Family Fund is the beneficiary of tonight's 13th Annual Cops and Kids Charity Basketball Game at the Gurrie Middle School gymnasium, 1001 Spring Ave., La Grange.

Police officers from the La Grange, Countryside, and Hodgkins police departments will compete against the school's basketball team.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the game begins at 6:30 p.m. A prize raffle will be held and snacks will be available.

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.

Cossitt School holds 2009 used clothing sale Saturday

This year's used clothing sale at Cossitt School will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, from 8 a.m. until noon.

The sale features fall and winter clothing in "gently used" condition for boys, girls and infants. Sports shoes, bicycles and baby equipment also will be offered for sale.

A half-priced yellow-tag sale runs from 11 a.m. until noon.

Only adults will be admitted before 10 a.m. Children will be allowed thereafter if accompanied by an adult.

Cash and personal checks (with ID) will be accepted as payment. Sorry, no credit or debit cards.

The school is located at 115 W Cossitt Ave, one block west of La Grange Rd. Click here for map and directions.

For more information, call (708) 352-1931.

Arbor Day 2009 ceremony at Seventh Ave School

Arbor Day in La Grange will be celebrated Friday, April 24, with a ceremony at the Seventh Ave Elementary School where students will plant a tree to mark the occasion. The event begins at 10 a.m.

La Grange trustees last week adopted a proclamation recognizing the role the village's "urban forest" plays in providing both aesthetic beauty and environmental benefits. 

Village president Elizabeth Asperger noted that La Grange has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for 26 consecutive years.

La Grange voting results for April 7, 2009 election

Updated at 10:09 p.m.

Below are the unofficial results of today's voting in contested races, as reported by the Cook County Election Department:

Park District of La Grange Commissioners
Four candidates seeking three seats; four-year term

Precincts counted: 16 of 16 (100%)

Candidates                           Votes        Percentage

Timothy J. Kelpsas            1,057            29.36%

Robert L. Ashby                      862            23.94%

Christopher Walsh                 862            23.94%

James W. Boo                           819            22.75%

 

SD Bd. of Education - La Grange 102
Four candidates seeking three seats; four-year term

Precincts counted 28 of 28 (100%)

Candidates                            Votes                        Percentage

Jennifer Comparoni            2,267                         31.26%

Mark Stenner                         1,941                          26.76%

Michael Guagenti                 1,851                          25.52%

Peter G. Daniels                     1,194                          16.46%

 

SD Bd. of Education La Grange Elementary 105
Five candidates seeking four seats; four-year term

Precincts counted: 14 of 14 (100%)

Candidates                                 Votes                         Percentage

Eileen Tucker                               784                              24.07%

Kristine R. Lonsway                  678                              20.82%

David R. Herndon                      632                               19.40%

Mark A. Smith                             600                               18.42%

Michael Warkentien                  563                               17.29%

HS Bd of Education Lyons Twp 204
Seven candidates seeking four seats; four-year term

Precincts counted: 74of 74 (100%)

Candidates                             Votes                             Percentage

Mark N. Pera                             3,788                             16.38%

George Dougherty                   3,707                            16.03%

William F. Purcell                    3,524                             15.24%

Todd M. Shapiro                      3,315                              14.34%

Raju N. Patel                              3,107                             13.44%

Allen D. Polich                          3,072                             13.29%

James A. Kohlstedt                 2,609                             11.28%