Elm Leaves

Skating upon a star

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:17:51 -0500

The Franklin Park Ice Arena, located at 9711 Waveland Ave, hosted its 38th annual ice show last weekend. The show “Skate Upon a Star,” featured a Disney theme and included performances set to music from Disney movies and TV shows. There were over 18 different groups of skaters including a new number called Glow Sk8, where lights were turned off and the skaters actually glow in the dark. More than 120 participants in the show were practicing for weeks. …

East Leyden graduates 410

Fri, 25 May 2012 22:38:38 -0500

Nancy Zuniga says her most memorable teacher during her four years at East Leyden High School was English teacher Sojna Kosanovic. “She was so warm and understanding,” Zuniga said. “She sat down and worked hard until (we) understood the subject.” Zuniga particularly remembers one lesson. “Her grandparents were in the Holocaust,” Zuniga said. “She shared some very personal stories about that. I’d never heard such personal stories like that (from a teacher).” Zuniga was among 410 East Leyden High School member of the Class of 2012. Dressed in blue robes on May 23, the graduates received diplomas at the Akoo …

1.5 million people to use Midway, O’Hare this holiday weekend

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:24:01 -0500

About 1.5 million people are expected to pass through Chicago’s two airports this Memorial Day weekend, city aviation officials say.

Norridge has one of first cases of 2012 West Nile reported in Chicago area

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:04:00 -0500

The West Nile virus has been detected in birds and mosquitoes in the Chicago area for the first time this year, the state announced Tuesday. State workers collected a dead crow May 16 and mosquitoes May 17 from Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Lemont, Lisle, Norridge, Westmont and Woodridge that tested positive for the West Nile virus, according to a release from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Last year, 19 Illinois counties reported the virus in birds, mosquitoes or humans, the release said. Thirty-four Illinois residents contracted the virus last year and three died. “Although it is a little earlier in …

Franklin Park girl pursues Miss Teen dream in dad’s memory

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:18:00 -0500

Starting when Marilynn Morelli was 9, her father, Craig, used to take her to modeling agencies and see if he could get her signed up. The Franklin Park girl thought it would be fun. “You get to walk in front of all the people and wear pretty clothes,” said Marilynn, now 16, who attends East Leyden High School. Craig Morelli, called “Tree” due to his 6-foot-8 height, worked as a tile contractor and belonged to a motorcycle club. But he had some experience in front of the camera too. He had appeared in several movies as an extra. “He always …

Valedictorian: One book closes, another opens

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:18:00 -0500

Andrea LaGreca and has had ranked first place since her freshman year. That’s why she is Elmwood Park High School’s valedictorian this year. “Principal Jennings came into my class and announced to everyone I was valedictorian,” LaGreca explains. “Everyone was really excited for me.” LaGreca’s résumé is nothing short of impressive. She is class president, vice president of National Honors Society, president of Student Council, and a member of Snowball and DECA. She also played varsity tennis and softball. Besides a full load of activities, LaGreca was also enrolled in several AP courses. “This year, I was in 3 Advanced …

Salutatorian’s biggest influence: band

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:18:00 -0500

Elmwood Park High School’s salutatorian, Kim Hagen, will miss one thing about high school: band. “Band at Elmwood Park High School has influenced everything I’ve done, and it has influenced my life,” said the graduating senior who played flute during the commencement event May 18. Besides band, Hagen was involved in several activities such as key club, thesbian society and math club. She is vice president of the student council and a Snowball club leader. “This year, I was enrolled in three AP classes, such as calculus, literature and physics,” Hagen said. “I’ve only gotten one “B” my entire high …

Study says Chicago traffic congestion actually got better

Tue, 22 May 2012 17:50:34 -0500

Drivers in the Chicago area were stuck in traffic an average of 36 hours in 2011, 12 fewer than the 48 wasted in traffic in 2010, according to INRIX, a company that studies traffic patterns.

Parents keep fallen Marine’s wish: open a bar

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:34:30 -0500

Nickolas Daniels told his parents that if he didn’t make it back, he wanted them to open a bar. It was Daniels’ dream when he retired from serving his country as a U.S. Marine. Daniels, a lance corporal who grew up in Elmwood Park, died in combat Nov. 5 2011, in Afghanistan. He was 25. Now, his parents, Debi and Greg, are honoring his request. They bought the bar formerly known as Eileen’s at 2104 N. Harlem Ave, and will rename it On the Rocks. Inside, a picture of their son in uniform sits on the top shelf behind the …

Commuter lots nearly empty on Monday

Thu, 24 May 2012 03:55:24 -0500

On a normal Monday, the Metra commuter lot in downtown Franklin Park is full with perhaps a latecomer or two driving in circles and hoping for a miracle. Not so on this Monday morning. With the NATO summit in Chicago, many commuters opted to stay home. At least half the parking spots in Franklin Park were empty. “A lot of people are getting the day off or something,” speculated Al Huczek, a reserve officer with the Franklin Park Police Department who was collecting parking fees. “This seems like a weekend,” said Kim A (who declined to give her last name), …

Rally-goers endorse ‘Robin Hood tax’

Thu, 24 May 2012 05:07:41 -0500

NATO protesters this week invoked a legend with hopes of effecting economic parity. Calling it the Robin Hood tax, marchers at the National Nurses United rally in downtown Chicago on Friday want the federal government to enact a tax on the transfer of financial instruments like stocks, bonds and commodities. Bill Barclay, an Oak Park economist who worked for 22 years trading stocks and commodities in Chicago, knows a thing or two about the concept of taxing financial transactions. At Friday’s rally, he said it’s past time for a tax to help pay for efforts to recover from the recession …

Elmwood Park High School graduates celebrated for Tiger pride

Thu, 24 May 2012 03:42:25 -0500

Elmwood Park High School parents, teachers and teary graduates filled the gym, excited to congratulate the class of 2012, all 233 of them, during the 56th annual graduation on May 18. Everyone commented on this year’ dedicated, enthusiastic group of students, who are filled with Tiger pride. “This class has been one of the best classes Elmwood Park has ever seen,” said special education teacher John Heinen. “They were very dedicated to their school and were dedicated to both sports and athletics.” “It was a joy to get to know each and every one of them,” said Special Education teacher …

Voterama in Congress, week ending May 18, 2012

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:02:01 -0500

House Violence Against Women Act: Voting 222 for and 205 against, the House on May 16 approved a Republican bill (HR 4970) to renew the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) through fiscal 2016 on a budget of $680 million annually. The bill was disputed mainly because it omits provisions in a bi-partisan Senate-passed bill to expand protections for battered women who are illegal immigrants, Native American women who are assaulted on reservations by non-Indians and gays, lesbians and transsexuals. A conference committee will reconcile the competing House and Senate bills. Since it was enacted in 1994, the VAWA has funneled …

BGA president: Tax dollars go down drain

Thu, 24 May 2012 03:41:40 -0500

Andy Shaw says governments need to be watched in the suburbs, not just Chicago. “I think some of the worst practices are in the suburbs and collar counties because no one is watching,” Shaw said. Shaw is the president of the Better Government Association. He spoke Tuesday during a meeting, partially sponsored by the Franklin Park/Schiller Park Chamber of Commerce, in Rosemont. Much of Shaw’s talk was a pitch for attendees to join the BGA. The non-profit investigates allegations of waste, fraud and corruption in city, county, suburban and state governments. As such, the BGA has plenty of options for …

‘Specialist’ disrupts NATO rally

Thu, 24 May 2012 05:07:52 -0500

His posture suggested a soldier in a war zone. As he prepared to board a Green Line train in Oak Park to go down to the National Nurses United G8 protest at Daley Plaza Friday morning, he stood out from the other Oak Park natives and Missouri Occupy members. He wore his short blond hair in a mohawk, a black sleeveless shirt, black calf-length pants, and bands on each wrist. He seemed driven. Not unfriendly but guarded. Tightly wound. Several hours later, videos captured him scaling the bridge tower at Michigan and Wacker and tearing off a NATO banner. The …

Two charged in River Forest robbery

Thu, 24 May 2012 05:07:04 -0500

A Chicago man and woman have been charged with aggravated robbery of a River Forest 7-Eleven convenience store. At 1:20 a.m. May 17, police responded to the 7-Eleven store at Division and Harlem regarding an armed robbery that was in progress. Kirby Wise, 38 of the 5700 block of W. North Ave. in Chicago, and Stephany Powell, 51, of the 1700 block of N. Mason in Chicago, were arrested outside the store as they allegedly tried to escape in a car they’d left parked in the alley behind the store. “During the investigation it was learned that Wise was unarmed …