The Doings Clarendon Hills

Young musicians serve up good music

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:30:42 -0600

Diners come to Francesca’s Bellezza in downtown La Grange expecting a delicious Italian meal. On Fridays, they can expect a treat that appeals to their musical tastes, as well. Each Friday night the restaurant at 75 S. La Grange Road turns a portion of its dining room into a performance area and welcomes young musicians as the evening’s entertainment. The new tradition began in November with music by harpist Natalia Ogurkiewicz. Ogurkiewicz, a junior at Lyons Township High School, entertained diners with a variety of tunes. “They really liked it,” Ogurkiewicz said. Ogurkiewicz said she was looking for a job …

Kirk moved to Chicago rehab center

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:06:02 -0600

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who suffered a stroke nearly three weeks ago, was transferred Friday to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Woman killed when Metra train hits car in La Grange

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:30:00 -0600

A Chicago woman died Friday night after a Metra train collided with her car at a crossing near the La Grange Stone Avenue station. No passengers were on the train at the time.

Bail lowered for Hinsdale-area man charged with abusing student

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:16:00 -0600

Sandburg High School teacher Steven Reynolds had sexual contact with a 17-year-old student in his Hinsdale-area home while his wife was out of town, prosecutors said Friday as Reynolds sought to lower his bail.

CHMS eighth-grader wins District 181 spelling bee

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:10:09 -0600

Paul Cumberland was in familiar territory when the championship of the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181 Spelling Bee came down to himself and Nick Speziale Feb. 9 at Clarendon Hills Middle School. The two students were down the same road about a week earlier during a CHMS competition to represent that school in the District 181 Spelling Bee. Nick, a sixth-grader, finished on top in the CHMS competition, but Paul, an eighth-grader, took first place this time. “I was thinking about, ‘what if it happens again?’” Paul said after winning. “I actually was less nervous this time. When you get …

Snow makes its way back to the area Friday

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:02 -0600

Feeling a chill in the air? Snow will be back as soon as Friday when lake effect snow could hit the city and Northwest Indiana with six inches.

Clarendon Hills saves money by refinancing debt

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:24:00 -0600

Clarendon Hills will save $217,000 over 13 years by refinancing about $2.4 million in outstanding debt, a move approved Feb. 6 by the Village Board. The debt being refinanced was issued in 2002 to purchase fire safety equipment and in 2005 to fund the construction of the new police station, said Peg Hartnett, finance director for Clarendon Hills. Hartnett said the 2002 debt and a portion of the 2005 debt were combined for the refinancing. The new debt certificates, which take effect Jan. 1, 2013, will mature in 2025 and will be paid through the village’s capital fund, as was …

Catholic cemeteries offer to bury 300 bodies stacked at morgue

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:28:02 -0600

The Archdiocese of Chicago is offering to pay for up to 300 burials for the bodies being held at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Service News

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:54:01 -0600

Volunteers honored in Springfield Three west suburban men were among 16 volunteers honored in Springfield Jan. 28 for donating hundreds of hours of service to the Illinois Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve agency. The U.S. Department of Defense established the agency in 1972 to promote understanding and support among employers of the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve. The agency responds to questions and provides information regarding programs supporting civilian employers and their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. Honored with the Gold Award for providing more than 500 hours of service in 2011 …

Police: Man faked own kidnapping to take $1,000 from family

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:35:39 -0600

A Willowbrook man who wanted to get money from his family staged his own kidnapping to demand $1,000 ransom, according to police who later arrested him.

Police say while gangs not a problem, they keep ears and eyes open

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:52:19 -0600

While local law enforcement officials said there is no evidence of gang activity in Hinsdale or Clarendon Hills, they continue to be proactive in keeping up with gang-related information from neighboring towns. “That’s the key, to stay proactive,” Hinsdale Police Chief Brad Bloom said. “By doing that, you’re likely to be able to head off any problems before they would happen.” The recently-released Chicago Crime Commission Gang Book has no information for Clarendon Hills, which the commission reports did not respond to its survey. But estimates that Hinsdale has 10 active gang members and one active gang, Original Crew. That …

Fuller’s may open shop in Clarendon Hills

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:53:26 -0600

Fuller’s, which has been operating an auto repair business in Hinsdale since 1946, is planning to open a similar facility in neighboring Clarendon Hills. The Clarendon Hills Village Board approved first consideration for a permit Monday that would allow for the new facility to open at 427 Ogden Ave., which is at the southwest corner of Ogden and Woodstock Avenues. A final decision on granting of the necessary special use permit is scheduled to be voted on Feb. 20. The permit already has been recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals/Plan Commission. The Ogden Avenue site, previously home to Dragos …

Clarendon Hills Village Board considers super majority for tax hikes

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:53:22 -0600

The Clarendon Hills Village Board is likely to adopt an ordinance at its Feb. 21 meeting that will require near-unanimous approval to increase property taxes if voters support a March 20 referendum seeking home rule. The board approved first consideration of the ordinance Monday, with plans to change some of the language in it before Feb. 21. “We want the ordinance to better reflect what our intent is,” Village President Tom Karaba said. “We want five out of six trustees voting in favor of any property tax increase in order for it to be adopted. We need to make the …

District 86 approves bond sale

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:52:34 -0600

The Hinsdale High School District 86 Board authorized the issuance of nearly $18 million in bonds Monday to pay for air conditioning at both Hinsdale Central and South high schools. After a lengthy debate over the attorney’s preparation of the resolution and the actual cost of the bonds to taxpayers, the board approved the measure 5-1. Board member Dianne Barrett abstained, while board member Richard Skoda voted no. Barrett had issues with finance attorneys Chapman and Cutler, who worked with George K. Baum & Co., and authored the resolution. “It’s like going to a real estate table with a buyer …

Sen. Kirk upgraded to ‘good’ condition, watched Super Bowl

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:20:34 -0600

Sen. Mark Kirk’s condition has been upgraded from “fair” to “good.” Doctors hope to be able to re-attach the 8-inch-by-4-inch section of his skull that had to be removed after he suffered a stroke two weeks ago. Then the Highland Park Republican can begin physical therapy. “Sen. Kirk is making good progress in his recovery,” said Richard Fessler, his neurosurgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “He is visiting with family and even watched the Super Bowl last night. He has been upgraded to good condition, and we anticipate he will be able to start the rehabilitation phase soon.” Fessler has said …

Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills eye savings due to lack of snow

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:43:39 -0600

Public works employees in both Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills have been keeping busy with work, despite a mild winter with relatively little snowfall to date. A year ago, a Feb. 1-2 blizzard that dumped about 20 inches of snow in the area resulted in about $7,000 in overtime for work done by Hinsdale Public Services employees and a total bill of more than $41,000 for all storm-related costs. Clarendon Hills’ bill for the blizzard was about $28,000, which included about $13,000 for overtime paid to Public Works employees. Neither Clarendon Hills nor Hinsdale have had to deal this winter with …