RESIDENTS CALL FOR 47TH CHANGES FOLLOWING MAY 19 PEDESTRIAN DEATH

Within days of what many local residents say was the avoidable death of his wife and the mother of their two young children along the high-speed 47th Street corridor in La Grange more than two weeks ago, Matthew Cook took to the streets and sidewalks of the village seeking support for some kind of change to the unmarked state road to improve safety for pedestrians.

And with petitions in hand containing the signatures of more than 250 area residents and counting, he boldly stood before a standing-room-only crowd of nearly 200 people packed into the gymnasium of Seventh Avenue School on the night of June 2, almost tearing up, to call for the kind of change that will assure everyone such a tragedy will not occur again.

"Something has to be done to prevent this from happening to anyone else ever again," said Cook after about 40 residents presented a wide variety of input at the three-hour Village Board planning meeting held in response to the accident at 47th and 8th Avenue that claimed the life of 30-year-old Countryside mom Cari Cook exactly 14 days earlier.

Joining friends and family who also testified wearing purple ribbons on their chest as a reminder of Cari and what he said was her favorite color, Matthew Cook described the petition effort and changes it will call for when he submits it to the village and state officials later this month.

"There are 250 people I represent tonight ... and at the top of the (petition) list is to reduce speed on 47th," he said, adding there are simply not enough breaks in the road to slow down traffic, as is the case on streets bordering Waiola Park to the west. "We need to somehow slow down traffic (to avoid) everyone having to dart across traffic to get to the other side."

He said people can talk to their friends and neighbors to slow down and drive more carefully, but noted most people just do not listen.

Increasing police presence -- beyond the four squads per shift Police Chief Michael Holub said the village is limited to in addition to part-timers and auxiliary officers -- is the "best way" to solve speeding problems, Cook said.

That, he said, is in addition to aligning sidewalks with curb cuts on both sides of 47th and painting crosswalks at every intersection along the stretch, including where his wife was hit as she attempted to lift the stroller carrying her 2-year-old daughter up onto a raised curb and through some parkway to access the nearby sidewalk.

It is just one of many so-called "mismatched" intersections separating the north and south sides of 47th, in which neither side streets or their corresponding sidewalks line up. In some cases, the roads and walkways are a good 30 to 50 feet apart from each other.

For resident Angela Geraci, 747 S. 10th Ave., sidewalk alignments and sidewalks in the south end neighborhoods her hot button issues.

"I ask the village to now fix all the remaining sidewalks on the south end (from) 10th all the way down," she said -- but she added the woeful lack of sidewalks at all in some parts of the area also is a major problem.

"You say 11 years ago most residents didn't want sidewalks, but I don't accept that excuse for not having sidewalks now. Between 49th and 50th alone, there are 15 kids and children are forced to walk on the street every day ... This area is another accident waiting to happen."

Another idea Cook raised, which Mayor Liz Asperger said was a novel approach to tackling the issue was the suggestion of a "pedestrian stoplight" at hazardous intersections activated at the press of a button. She said another man's approach, of installing removable rubberized speed risers, instead of permanent speed bumps, was a fresh idea worthy of consideration.

When one woman from the 600 block of 10th Avenue hollered for a show of hands supporting the pedestrian red light concept, some 90 percent of those seated raised their hands and applauded.

Cook also suggested La Grange take a cue from Chicago and consider the installation of speed bumps -- not on 47th where they'd have to get state approval -- but on every side street approaching 47th where there is a high level of pedestrians, so as to warn motorists of a dangerous crossing ahead.

"Somehow slow down that traffic," he implored the village. "Maybe making that kind of change would be easier than (making changes immediately) on 47th Street."

Other suggestions ranged from installing a four-way traffic signals at the state and county-controlled intersection of 47th and East Avenue where La Grange's western edge meets the southwest corner of Brookfield and the northwest corner of McCook.

A resident of Blackstone Avenue at 47th complained about the speed of village snow plows driving down 47th in the winter and the year-round dilemma of errant motorists jumping curbs and ending up on sidewalks and in people's yards -- prompting another person to suggest a 2-foot fence barrier between the street and sidewalk once sidewalks are re-aligned.

However, some residents expressed reservations of reducing speed and/or the number of lanes down 47th.

Chris Morris, who lives south of 47th on 8th, said he was "concerned" about the proposal to reduce east-west lanes from two to one in each direction.

"It is very difficult to access 47th Street ... in between the speedy traffic and a lot of traffic," he said. "The only real stop ... is the light at 47th and La Grange Road. You're just going to have longer trains of cars. But can you create natural traffic breaks?"

One Countryside resident said a much larger regional issue directly tied to increased traffic on such thoroughfares as East Avenue, 55th and 47th streets and La Grange Road over the past 12 years has been the closure of Joliet Road between McCook and Lyons -- which was shut down because it was crumbling into the Vulcan quarry and has been in litigation for years.

Joe Pardo, a resident at 47th and 10th Avenue for the past 44 years, said police provide "zero" presence along the stretch where the latest accident occurred.

Wally Lewandowski of the 400 block of South 9th said one idea he believes would be effective in reducing the number of speeders and potential car vs. pedestrian accidents would be to place an undercover officer at existing crosswalks ticketing drivers who fail to stop.

One resident called for installation of speed cameras along 47th, while another suggested the village temporarily employ a couple traffic officers just to target that area until the problems significantly drop. Yet another resident suggested placing empty squad cars at key side streets to fool drivers into driving slower and more cautiously.

No tickets or charges have been issued to date in the May 19 late morning crash, which left the Cook's 4-month-old son Carson with a broken leg and a daughter in the stroller and the family dog unharmed.

Another passing motorist, struck by the alleged offending driver as she attempted to avoid striking Cook in the roadway, has told The La Grange Doings he helped save the boy's life after he fell out of a baby carrier and onto the street.

At the meeting, Holub informed residents the investigation being conducted into the fatal accident by the Illinois State Police and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office was "still pending" and that detectives are avoiding all speculation.

"It's still an active case and this is going to be an objective and thorough investigation," he said, referring to 47th Street, especially in the area west of the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad tracks at East to La Grange Road "an enforcement nightmare" in which irresponsible drivers use side streets to avoid lights, speed detection and trains.

A related issue involves drivers cited for speeding who are sent to Cook County Circuit Court
and who frequently have their tickets dismissed unless they were going more than 10 or 12 mph over the posted 35 mph limit. That issue has been resolved in part by issuing municipal tickets in which motorists pay fines and avoid having traffic violations on their permanent records.

But even though Village Manager Robert Pilipiszyn made it clear the village has again petitioned the Illinois Department of Transportation -- which has jurisdiction over the road from Harlem Avenue west to Hinsdale -- to reduce the speed limit to 30 mph and for a jurisdictional transfer of the stretch through La Grange along with a redesign of the roadway to one lane in each direction and a center turn lane from the current four lane/no turn lane configurement, speed and local control is not the only issue.

In fact, residents in attendance loudly applauded suggestions by Matthew Cook and others to make some immediate changes to 47th and almost every misaligned side street that crosses from one side to the other -- alterations many said could be done over the next couple weeks just like when La Grange put in a crosswalk at 47th and 9th Avenue a few years ago without state approval.

That revelation, which Asperger admitted was done because La Grange disagreed with statistics presented by IDOT against a proposed speed reduction, caused some residents to jump to the conclusion the village could just go ahead and enact any changes they choose without retribution.

But, said Asperger, with State Reps. Jim Durkin (R) of Western Springs and Michael Zalewski (D) of Chicago in attendance at the meeting and agreeing to cooperate in lobbying IDOT officials to address the problems raised by the village and residents, she would rather seek cooperation and sound well-researched solutions without forcing the issue this time around.

Although Pilipiszyn said IDOT indicated it would consider the speed reduction, a jurisdictional transfer would be much more costly because the state would first have to improve the street with the redesign in mind -- a "working" figure Asperger said was estimated a few years ago to be about $4 million.

The intersection of 47th and East, he said, is also in line for future improvements including traffic lights and an underpass or overpass funded largely by the federal CREATE program that could be many years from reality.

Still, legislators in attendance voiced support for improving that part of the village.

"Your views have been heard," said Zalewski, who listened to about half of the testimony before heading to another meeting. "I think IDOT should have been here to heat every single word. I'll find my own special way of communicating what they should have heard."

Later, near the conclusion of the workshop attended by five of the six trustees, Durkin -- who lives steps away from another misaligned intersection of 47th at Grand Avenue -- said he witnesses accidents there every other week and empathized with the La Grange residents.

"It was a planning disaster ... when they did that," he said. "If it comes to the question of a jurisdictional transfer, I will listen to the (pros and cons and) I will be reasonable. IDOT is almost 'programmed' to say no, but they will not get away with it this time. If we have to be heavy handed with IDOT, so be it. It's personal to me and extremely personal to everybody in this room."

Ninth Avenue resident Jan Kinsley couldn't agree more.

"We need to take strong measures at this point," she said, saying many parents won't let their children cross 47th to go to the library, the Park District recreation center on East Avenue or even the South Campus of Lyons Township High School.

After the meeting, trustees Mike Horvath and Jim Palermo agreed they saw no reason why aligning the sidewalk access on both sides of 47th cannot be done immediately. Improving traffic and safety issues was one of Horvath's main campaign issues when he ran for trustee, he said.

Trustee Bill Holder took a more cautious approach, but said while in theory curb cuts and signs are "quick and easy" things the village could do, they may not be the ultimate answer to improve safety. He said the intersection of 47th and East "frightens (him) to death" so much that he won't even let his 16-year-old daughter who just earned her license drive through there.

"I think the turnout was important; it showed that people care," he added. "It showed this issue is a real one, not just for one neighborhood, but to a broad cross-section of representatives (in all parts of town). All of this takes cooperation."

Asperger, saying she was "delighted" so many residents decided to spend an evening to dissect the issue and come up with some well thought-out solutions, stressed there would be no final decision that night and no way of setting a timeline or next meeting date on the topic. But she did add the village has $250,000 budgeted for that area in 2010 and has committed $20,000 for a planning study this year.

"It's unfortunate, but so much of this is ... in careless driving behavior," she said. "Where there are stop signs, people just roll through. There are some horrendous driving behaviors ... (but) we will do as much as we can as quickly as we can."

SPECIAL MEETING TARGETS 47TH ST. SAFETY FOLLOWING MAY 19 FATALITY

A special meeting of the La Grange Village Board has been set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 at Seventh Avenue School, 701 S. Seventh Ave., to discuss safety concerns along a busy stretch of 47th Street where a 30-year-old Countryside mother of two lost her life May 19.

Village Manager Robert Pilipiszyn has already made it clear the village not only wants the state to reduce the speed limit to 30 from 35 mph on 47th between Willow Springs Road and East/Eberly Avenue -- the fatality occurred in the eastbound curb lane at Eighth Avenue in broad daylight -- but wants the roadway turned over to village jurisdiction so it can be converted into a softer, 3-lane roadway with one lane in each direction and a center turn lane.

However, residents in the neighborhoods on both sides of 47th, including a group who held an impromptu memorial for the woman last week, have been urging the village to give them an opportunity to speak on that and related safety issues.

So, instead of holding such a forum during a regular Monday night board meeting where general village business is discussed and voted upon, it was decided to hold a special, non-voting neighborhood workshop meeting just to share and receive input on the topic.

State lawmakers, who are in the position of convincing the Illinois Department of Transportation to act on the matters at hand, have been invited to the meeting.

No tickets or charges were ever issued in the accident, which remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Cook County State's Attorneys Office.

DOWNTOWN STREETS TO BE REDONE

Central business district streets will soon be resurfaced, so a meeting has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 27 in the Village Hall auditorium, 53 S. La Grange Road.

The summer resurfacing project will include Burlington Avenue from Kensington Avenue to La Grange Road, Calendar Avenue from Ashland Avenue to La Grange Road, Harris Avenue from Ashland Avenue to La Grange Road to Sixth Avenue and Ashland Avenue from Burlington Avenue to Harris Avenue, according to Public Works Director Ryan Gillingham.

The Village is in the process of developing the plans and specifications for the project and will be explaining the details of the work at the meeting. Public input from the business and shopping/dining community also will be encouraged.

All residents, business and property owners living on or adjacent to the streets included in the project area are urged to attend.

Village staff and the engineering consultant will be there to discuss details pertaining to the work scope, project schedule and answer questions.

The project mainly consists of resurfacing the existing roadway surface by grinding off a layer of asphalt and replacing it with a new surface.

Intermittent improvements to some drainage structures, sidewalks and other infrastructure components also will be made.

The project is scheduled to begin in mid-July and be completed by the end of August.

At certain points in the construction process, parking will be limited, and the village will work with the contractor as much as possible to minimize any inconveniences.

Further information is available by calling Gillingham or Assistant Director Mike Bojovic at (708) 579-2328.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: SENIOR CENTER CHANGES IDENTITY

Some things may change, but they often stay the same.

Directors of the former Southwest Suburban Center (The Senior Center) in La Grange broke bread with friends and supporters yesterday (Monday. May 11) to unveil the 28-year-old organization's new moniker: Aging Care Connections.

So don't jump to using the acronym like they did before (SWSCA). Cause it sounds like it reads: ACC.

Many people still remember when the Summit-based Desplaines Valley Community Center changed its name to the current, well-known Pillars -- a habit the newly named agency hopes will also catch on quickly, like wildfire.

Aging Care Conections still remains at its convenient and somewhat accessible location at 111 W. Harris Ave. in downtown La Grange.

In the last couple of years, the Senior Center leaders had quietly contemplated relocating inside a yet-to-be-buuilt Township of Lyons senior citizen affordable housing apartment building next to Town Hall on Joliet Road, but that never came to pass.

The name, said Development & Community Relations Director Niki Chibucos, "more closely aligns with its mission to enrich the quality of life of older adults and their families through a range of programs and services that enhance their well-being and independence."

The need for a new name emerged after a strategic plan completed in 2005 called for the transitioning of programs related to recreation to other sites in Aging Care Connections' 22- community service area.

Because of the duplication of offerings and the goal to attain cost-effective operation, it was decided Aging Care Connections should focus on delivering services and programs related to its particular strengths.

According to Chibucos, those strengths include: the respect and credibility of its professional staff; its core competencies in information and referral, assessments and case management; its strong understanding of services to the elderly and the network providers; and its reputation, history and location in the center of the communities it serves.

With the assistance of a Taproot Foundation service grant to develop key messages and branding strategy, the process leading to the selection of an appropriate name began.

They stated after lengthy interviews with the community, constituents, staff, board members and funders, the outcome of the grant was the identification of the organization’s key branding attribute as the expert information and community resource on aging.

The organization’s expert, professional staff enables Aging Care Connections to offer clients the promise to connect them to comprehensive and expert information, resources and program options to enhance their well-being and independence.

A directional tag line, “Leaders in Information. Your Connection to Care.” was developed.

A second Taproot Foundation service grant focused on naming and visual identity was awarded and the process to select a name began.

The goal, they said, was to create a simple, memorable name reflecting the key messages and branding developed in the earlier grant.

Aging Care Connections emerged as the most appropriate name to convey the resource and direct service components in the comprehensive range of benefits offered by the organization.

A logo was designed along with the tag line “Your source for senior care.”

Aging Care Connections’ inaugural annual report for the 2007-2008 year was also debuted on May 11.

A third Taproot Foundation service grant produced the report -- which highlights the organization’s commitment to serving older adults through social services and programs ensuring their independence and safety in the community.

Aging Care Connections is a non-profit organization connection to expert information, programs and services enabling older adults to remain independent and their families to make the best, most informed decisions regarding needed care in their lives.

Serving Lyons, Riverside and south Proviso townships, Aging Care Connections’ programs and services are made possible by community support and donations, and, in part, by the Illinois Department on Aging, AgeOptions, Community Memorial Foundation and local United Ways.

The organization investigates elder abuse in 10 other communities in Leyden and Norwood Park townships.

For further information, call (708) 354-1323 or visit http://www.agingcareconnections.org/.

LTHS CANDIDATES FACE OFF AT FORUM

Five of seven candidates for four 4-year seats on the Lyons Township District 204 High School Board provided about 60 voters assembled in the newly redesigned South campus performing arts center by the La Grange Area League of Women Voters March 30 the chance to hear what they are all about.

Those running for reelection include incumbent School Board President Mark Pera, Vice President James Kohlstedt and members Allen Polich and William Purcell, former board member Todd Shapiro and newcomers George Dougherty and Raju Patel.

(At the conclusion of this story, we present some basic information about candidates running for the District 102 School Board and names of candidates seeking office in Districts 105 and 107. RESULTS of all local municipal, school and Park District races will appear Tuesday night)

Intriguing new ideas were raised during the 90-minute forum by newcomers Patel and Dougherty. But the incumbents touted their ability to build new facilities while keeping finances in check during tough economic times and working closely with feeder districts.

The latter theme, however, became a sticking point between Dougherty -- who criticized the 10-year span of time it took for the feeder districts to form a much-needed data sharing consortium with LT just now starting up -- and Kohlstedt vociferously defending the program's long, thought-out creation.

Dougherty, an attorney and 10-year La Grange resident, while praising incumbents for the district's "good financial condition," said if wasn't for the support of board members Heather Alderman and Purcell -- whom he has endorsed -- the consortium may still be in the making.

"We lost a generation of students if we waited 10 years (to form the consortium)," he said. "That should have been a no-brainer for everybody ... this is one (conceptual discussion) that should have went faster."

But in response -- oddly enough, when both were asked about later start times -- Kohlstedt said it took time for LT to convince six separate but associated ever-changing elementary district boards and administrations to attain unified agreement.

"It is not possible in two years or four years," he said of the idea Pera said was first proposed a decade ago. "If this data consortium is the start of a partnership, it was brought about as a partnership. If it's going to now form, it's going to form now as a partnership."

Pera later said the consortium took 10 years of "hard work and cooperation" to get moving, yet will help raise student performance in the long run.

He also said there was a fundamental misunderstanding about the consortium, in that it was not created to share test scores but to focus on every elementary teacher and classroom to determine "what is wrong and what isn't" in hopes of fixing it.

On the subject of students starting school at a later time, Dougherty said he would "listen to input" on the idea, but Kohlstedt said while he does not believe "in reinventing the wheel," it would have to first be addressed with teacher and staff labor unions.

Pera added that doing so could affect athletic practice and event start times and may only spur the negative effect of allowing students to stay up and sleep later.

Patel, who sits on the board of an inner-city parochial school in Chicago that serves a largely low-income, African-American community, said he would focus on improving test scores and the work of under-performing students.

Dougherty, who advocated making LT "a more student-centered institution," stressed "not enough time or attention" is focused on the "middle" group of students who can fall more quickly and easily and whose low test scores can "bring down the whole class."

Patel suggested the district "needs to do a better job" with children from one-parent households and minority and immigrant students whom in the past 10 years have more than doubled to 10 percent of the student body.

"We are not addressing changes in our student body mix," he said, adding he would also like to improve graduation rates. "We need to reach out to (those populations) differently."

Kohlstedt, admitting LT faces some critical cultural issues, praised the current board for establishing an alternative school option for troubled students and appointing liaisons with both the African-American and Hispanic communities.

"I do not believe we are in a tense (or unsafe) environment" and what is most important is connecting with students and their families, he said, adding it is customary for some Hispanic boys to quit school and go to work at 16. "This board is working very hard to work closer with our minorities and their needs."

Dougherty later agreed that while such liaison relationships are vital, they should be handled by a much larger group of advisors, not just one liaison.

Shapiro, who served the board until 2007, said the more LT encourages all children to get involved in extra-curricular clubs and sports, the more they will feel connected.

When asked what qualities they believed LT graduates should leave with, Patel said a good set of character morals, educational skills to seek gainful employment and/or exceed college entrance requirements and basic financial skills such as budgeting and saving.

Dougherty added critical thinking to the mix, suggesting too much focus may be placed on achieving great test scores.

Many of the candidates agreed with the use of class rankings and the intrinsic value of homework.

Kohlstedt said it teaches "discipline for life" and Shapiro responded "absolutely, but within reason."

Pera said "something is lost" when meetings are taped or aired live on cable television and agreed with Kohlstedt people "play" to cameras -- but communication has improved with better and more frequent website updates and features.

"LT has done a lot to make information available to the community, Kolstedt said.

Shapiro said website data is now so accurate, parents know their child's grades before they do.

Patel, who favors airing meetings on cable, said he'd like to improve relations even more with feeder districts, in part by assigning board members to be liaisons to each district and using technology to seek a broader input perhaps through website surveys.

Dougherty also embraced Pera's ideas for more town meetings, but said the board needs to a better job of "reaching out" to all of the communities it serves

In the area of finances, Kohlstedt stressed proposed tax increment financing districts in the district's nine communities can be flexible and said school boards should be proactive in negotiating better agreements -- by example LT's recent ability to lobby for "a much shorter period" for what could have been a typical 23-year TIF district in McCook.

Pera said the board has always been able to protect the district in such talks and noted some of the districts will soon expire and produce additional new tax revenue to 204.

Patel agreed the district's projected $800,000 deficit could be erased in this year's budget through new TIF revenues and federal per-student aid, but said he was "concerned" with bonds coming due in two years and the need to refinance and seek better interest rates.

Patel, who has spent 23 years in banking, said District 204 needs a balanced board representing various backgrounds and feels he can bring a fresh perspective.

One example he cited is his desire to be creative by checking out the favored tax benefits of considering the use of solar power to generate energy in the schools.

Shapiro, a chief financial officer for the Illinois CPA Society who said he served on the board in the late 1990s when times were also tough financially, said he has helped do curriculum reviews, add a pool, fieldhouse and an improved theatre but wants to help the board face a new crossroads as it faces a minor deficit and takes on a new superintendent this summer for the first time in 17 years.

Polich had a representative read his opening statement at the forum, although Purcell, who is also on the ballot but was absent, did not.

An 8-year board veteran and a 4-year member of the LT Community Council, the spokesman said his focus is to "take LT to a higher level of excellence."

The former 13-year educator, administrator and coach stated he has "no hidden agenda" and was proud to be with a board that made significant improvements without new taxes.

Dougherty said his negotiating skills would be an asset to next year's teacher contract talks and vows to not only provide new focus, leadership and perspectives but spend money wisely.

An advocate of better communication with staff, parents and the community, he is supported by incumbent Village Board trustees Michael Horvath and James Palermo.

Pera, a 27-year Western Springs resident and Cook County prosecutor who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the 5th district congressional seat last year, called himself a proven consensus builder.

Kohlstedt, a lawyer and father of four LT graduates, said he's glad to have been part of such a successful district.

"You as a community have every right to be proud of this high school," he said in closing. "This board is a consensus-based board, not a politically divided board."


SCHOOL DISTRICT 102: 4 FOR 3 SEATSSchool District 102, which serves students in parts of La Grange and La Grange Park, has four candidates seeking election to three 4-year seats.

They include Delegate Assembly endorsed incumbents Jennifer Comparoni and Michael Guagenti and newcomer Mark Stenner, as well as non-endorsed independent Peter Daniels.

Although we did not individually interview each one, and nor did we attend the same public forum that night due to a conflicting schedule, we did manage to collect some of the candidates' campaign materials being distributed to the community.

Comparoni, a first-term member and 10-year La Grange resident, wants to provide the best education possible, ensure sound fiscal management to protect taxpayers' investment and increase the district's accountability to the communities it serves.

She says the current board has initiated an ambitious agenda to evaluate and strengthen its education program, operated within fiscal means and carefully managed its resources, taken its role as resident representatives seriously, with accountability and believes the next four years will be critical.

Many of the board's initiatives are in early stages and require further development, she stated, and it must continue to seek creative solutions to get more utilization from existing space, be poised for the transition of a new superintendent and administrative team and provide financial stewardship through the economic downturn without going to referendum,

She holds an masters of business administration from the Harvard Business School and has a background in management consulting.

Guagenti, co-founder of a boutique investment banking firm, has stated his goals include providing direction to the district while optimizing resources to stretch academic and social capabilities of every child.

Also a 10-year La Grange resident, he is in his frist term as well and currently serves as the
board's vice president.

Stenner, a 14-year La Grange Park resident and a liability insurance manager, believes a high-quality curriculum is paramount to a successful district and wants to pursue continuous involvement in a financially prudent manner and championing clear communications with all constituent groups.

Daniels, an attorney and a member of the district's Finance Advisory Council, believes the district financial status to be "precarious" and says if spending continues to increase, revenue cannot remain static or decrease -- and suggests the board be conservative and focus on basics.

He also believes the board needs to do a comprehensive review of all its general, supplemental and special education programs, of which he has experience in and would bring a unique perspective to the board to deal with.


SCHOOL DISTRICTS 105, 107

Elementary School District 105, which serves students in La Grange, will see a contest between five candidates for four, 4-year seats including Mark Smith, Kristine Lonsway, Michael Warkentien, Eileen Tucker and David Herndon.


The School Board in Pleasant Dale District 107 has four 4-year seats on the ballot being sought by seven candidates. They include Mark Mirabile, Leandra Sedlack, Patti Essig, Gina Scaletta-Nelson, Karen O'Halloran, Michael Rak and Lauri Valentin.

LG WOMAN BECOMES GOPs 2009 LINCOLN 'FELLOW'

Katie Justak of La Grange grew up in politics, learning at a young age the importance of party loyalty.

That's one reason why she was selected as one of only 10 Republican women to participate in the 2009 Illinois Lincoln Excellence in Public Service Series -- a monthly fellowship meeting in several cities across the state and in Washington, D.C., designed to teach everything there is to know about GOP political campaigns.

"I think this fellowship is a rare opportunity to get more exposure to the different tiers of government and the different aspects of public service ... and I'm looking forward to what's ahead," said the 33-year-old Justak in a recent interview. "It's a great opportunity to network and meet people from all facets of politics."

The series of workshops began in January in Chicago, where they learned the "nuts and bolts" of the program and met people of varied political experience who have graduated from the series, from former Gov. George Ryan's leiutenant governor, Corinne Wood to Village Trustee Pam Fenner in the far western suburb of Carol Stream.

Each month features keyote speakers and written couse work and in January the guest was Andy McKenna, chairman of the Illinbois Republican Party.

The next meeting was a two-day stint focusing on public speaking at the end of February.

This month, the group travels to Springfield.

The nearly 2-year village resident and wife of Mel Justak, a wills and estates attorney, was the qualifications co-chairman of this election season's nonpartisan Citizens' Council of La Grange.

She was introduced to politics at a young age by her father, Ray Narbone, who for years was active in the Republican Party of far south suburban New Lenox, where she grew up.

A longtime party chairman, her Dad was a tax collector in the early 1980s and got her involved in various political campaigns before his retirement from politics nearly 20 years ago.

"I then remained active in campaigns through high school and college," she said, adding she was a big fan of former president Ronald Reagan. "I've always been interested in politics and I have always followed it."

She said when she looks back on when she devloped an interest in politics, it was in the Reagan years.

After college, she worked public relations jobs -- starting off in consumer marketing and later switching to healthcare, with a couple of well-known PR fims in Chicago, before accepting a position with the American Academy of Periodontology, as a liaison between the academy, dental students and educators.

"It was a unique opportunity and I enjoyed being in that role," she recalled, noting that in the ensuing years she began to raise a family and moved from the city to La Grange.

Justak said she applied for entry into the series in October after finding out about it from fellow New Lenox native, State Rep. Renee Kosel, R-81st District, whose campaigns she has worked on in the past and who served as her participating sponsor.

She said despite all of the hype over Democrat President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress, "now is a good time to be a Republican and to be involved ... no matter what your political affiliation."

She said she believes there is "a lot of talent" in the GOP in the way of future party leaders and that this past election started a new momentum among the party loyal, especially with the election of Michael Steele as the new embattled chairman of the Republican National Committee.

"The party," she said, "is looking for some new direction."

Justak says she has gotten to know people from both parties and has focused most on communications.

"What it comes down to is just wanting to participate in the community in a different way," she said. "My interest comes down to wanting to make a positive difference at the local level, which (in La Grange municipal contests) is nonpartisan."

She said the Citizens' Cuncil is just one way to get involved and a real opportunity at that.

"Were all concerned citizens looking out for the greater interests of the community," she said, adding she "probably will be involved" in the pre-election distribution of voter brochures touting the mostly uncontested campaigns of Council-recommended candidates running in village, park district and library races on Tuesday, April 7.

She said as a result of her participation in the Lincoln Series, she will be looking to get more involved and really determine where exactly she would like to focus her efforts in the future.

Ironically, Justak found herself immersed what in recent weeks has become a spirited political dispute involving opposing factions of the Republican Organization of Lyons Township (ROLT).

A registered Republican who just moved here 20 months ago, she was part of a handful of party members who were barred from voting for a slate of candidates at a party caucus meeting held earlier this month at the Robert Coulter American Legion Post in La Grange.

She, as well as others, were prohibited because they hadn't been current on party dues.

At the head of the line was La Grange businessman Michael LaPidus and his friend, fellow downtown businessman Steve Palmer, along with former State Rep. Eileen Lyons and others.

LaPidus, who unsuccessfully ran for township GOP committeeman against Cook County

Commissioner Tony Peraica in 2004 and who plans to run for the seat against Peraica again in 2010, turned his dispute into a legal challenge and won.

He not only has filed complaints with the Cook County States Attorney's Office, the Illinois Attorney General and the Illinois State Board of Elections accusing the Peraica-led party of "pay to play" politics, but led a petition objection that caused the GOP to replace its slate slate of township candidates -- despite the fact a coalition ticket was in the works between the Republicans and Democrats for weeks.

Justak said she supported LaPidus in his crusade to get the caucus vote declared illegal.

"I tried (to get in to vote) when I got there, but I was unable to join because I didn't pay dues, that's what I understand," she said, contending she and others should have been allowed to vote. "All Republicans should have had the ability to vote or been (admitted) as part of the caucus."

Opponents of Laidus called the challenge an exercise in futility that only resulted in a huge waste of money -- but LaPidus and his supporters it revealed the kind of exclusionary tactiocs Peraica uses to carry out his job.

BREAKING STORY: 'PAY-TO-PLAY' IN LG?

A downtown La Grange business owner and unsuccessful candidate for Lyons Township Republican committeeman in 2006 is accusing his onetime opponent, Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica of Riverside, of the same brand of illegal "pay-to-play" politics allegedly practiced by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

But in this case, says Roly Poly Sandwiches owner Michael LaPidus, -- an outspoken political activist and downtown business leader -- the Repulican Party of which he is a part is acting as though it is above the law, by illegally requiring that the party loyal pony up annual membership fees before they are allowed to cast their votes at party meetings.

LaPidus, who plans on seeking the GOP committeemanship again next winter, presumably against Peraica, has been busy trying to recruit his own candidates to run for open township seats instead of letting Peraica co-opt with Democratic Township Committeeman Steven Landek of Bridgeview by forcing upon the party a move to form a so-called "unity ticket" in which members of both parties will avoid an April contest by hooking up on the same uncontested slate.

Hours after the governor gaveled in the "new" state Senate in Springfield and ushered in newly elected president John Cullerton of Chicago and minority leader -- former La Grange trustee Christine Radogno -- the reform-minded Peraica was at the Robert Coulter American Legion Post in La Grange chairing a quadrennial party caucus, which LaPidus said was a sham and should be negated by state law enforcement or election authorities.

Shortly after arriving at the Jan. 13 meeting with Palmer Place co-owner Steve Palmer and another man, GOP caucus spokesman and Town Board incumbent attorney Tom Garrette
said LaPidus was denied entry into the voting portion of the meeting by a judge at the door because his "credentials didn't check out," as his party dues were delinquent and he was "not a member in good standing" at the time.

Peraica was unavailable for comment the day after, but his aides referred calls to Garrette.

LaPidus, whom Garrette said had been calling party members of late to run against the township slate or slates as the case may be, appeared to show up just to "raise a stink" about the slating and push his second committeeman candidacy in the February 2010 party primary.

"They were just there to make trouble," said Garrette, an attorney from Justice who formerly worked for Peraica and who serves as a monthly administrative adjudication hearing officer in Justice.

But LaPidus, admitting he was not current on the $25 membership fee considered one criteria for being in good standing with the party, said he lawfully called police when he and his colleagues were "locked out" of the meeting -- which prompted him to file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's office and the state Board of Elections.

"That's a poll tax and (is) a criteria you have to meet before you're allowed to vote," he said after the meeting that ended with a unanimous slating of an April 2009 general election ticket headed by businessman Bill Baker of Hinsdale. "We were supposed to be in that room ... That's pay-to-play, and with everything going on right now with Blagojevich, it's unbelievable he did this. He has a total disregard for any rules or democracy."

LaPidus, who said he filed the complaints along with his chronology of events and the police report from that night, is seeking a reversal of the slating vote to "expose" Peraica's alleged unethical behavior.

Regardless of the legal opinion for which he still has received no reply, he said Jan. 15 he also intends on pursuing legal action -- not just to prove his point but on behalf of party members being "illegally" cheated out of participating in party matters because they don't pay up.

Furthermore, he said he was "amazed" that he watched La Grange attorney Tim Sprague, who sits on the Town Board and was endorsed for re-election with Garrette that night along with a host of other political newcomers, allegedly lock the doors in front of him.

"How dare them taint the Republican party," LaPidus said.

Sprague and Garrette are the only two Republicans on the incumbent Town Board led by supervisor Pat Rogers until he was elected judge last fall and were part of a similar unity ticket in 2005 which now-Supervisor Russell Hartigan said he would like to see Peraica and Landek create again.

Landek also has not returned calls to his offices since a day after his caucus slating, not just because the unity ticket is not together yet -- presumably -- but because he rarely returns media telephone calls.

Over at the Democratic caucus at Toyota Park in Bridgeview -- where Landek is mayor -- the caucus doors were never locked and party members did not have to prove they paid up, but just that they were registered voters who voted in the last primary -- even though Landek has instituted a nominal membership fee since he first won the position a decade ago.

Garrette defended Peraica's directive for members to lock the post doors and contended that's how the GOP caucuses are always held.

It was a move, said an admittedly tardy Justice village president Kris Wasowicz, that also left Willow Springs Mayor Alan Nowaczyk and former State Rep. Eileen Lyons of Western Springs in the cold for being late.

(Wasowicz didn't complain, even though his village contracts with Garrette for the handling of certain ordinance violation tickets, but if he had voted he would have been forced to support the candidacy of highway commissioner hopeful John Small of Justice, chairman of the village party the mayor ran on two years ago whose faction he is now running against.)

Garrette said Lyons claimed she came to the post hall prior to the 6:15 p.m. published caucus start time, and maintained "nobody was locked out" who was prompt.

And while both parties have until Monday, Jan. 26 to create a unity ticket -- a goal clearly not known or embraced by all rank-and-file party members -- they still unanimously voted in full slates this week. To form such a ticket, party loyalists will have to accept the replacement of some slated candidates for more qualified and/or compromise candidates.

Others put on the Republican ticket, besides Baker, Garrette and Sprague included Dawn Arayjo of Summit for clerk, Roy Hodson of Justice for assessor and Steve Krueger of Willow Springs for collector, as well as Jean Stack of the La Grange Highlands and Shirley Polaski of Countryside for trustee.

Hartigan, of Western Springs, was chosen by fellow Democrats to run with incumbent Clerk Maryjo Noonan of Western Springs, Assessor Barbara Weyrick of Indian Head Park, Highway Commissioner Landek and Collector Edward King of La Grange, along with trustee hopefuls William Mundy of Summit, Mark Anderson of Lyons, Jerry Strazzante of Willow Springs and incumbent Mary Van Allen of Justice.

Garrette said it is most likely trustee candidates will be traded between parties if a unity ticket is formed, which both he and Hartigan said was in the hands of the committeemen. But it could not be confirmed which are the so-called "swing" candidates.

The first day of the weeklong filing deadline period is Tuesday, Jan. 20 -- which affects races in all Illinois townships, cities and villages, school, park, library, fire and special township police protection, mosquito abatement, sanitary and other special taxing districts.

La Grange will not likely see contests in any of its three governing bodies, except perhaps the Park District, while neighboring Brookfield will see a two-faction race.