The Doings La Grange

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 …

Northlake lawyer, Western Springs resident seeks judicial post

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:48:27 -0600

Terry Gallagher, Democratic candidate for judge in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County, has been endorsed by all seven township committeemen in the subcircuit, Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, and Cook County Sheriff’s Police FOP Lodge 4. He has been found “Qualified” by the Illinois State Bar Association Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations and Chicago Bar Association, and “Recommended” by the Decalogue Society of Lawyers and the Women’s Bar Association. The judicial seat he is running for is the Riley vacancy in the subcircuit. Gallagher was born in Chicago in 1958,went to a Catholic grade school in Rogers Park, …

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.

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.

Block scheduling considered for Park Junior High in LaGrange Park

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:46:00 -0600

A new block schedule is being considered for Park Junior High School in LaGrange Park. A board member said it would be the school’s fourth scheduled change in as many years.

Hundreds of new La Grange phone numbers added in successful CodeRED test

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:06:00 -0600

A test run of the villagewide emergency calling system in La Grange successfully reached thousands of registered households and businesses Feb. 6, and it prompted hundreds more numbers to be added. Police Chief Michael Holub said notifying residents before the test prompted about 700 additional phone numbers to be entered into the system. Once duplicates were eliminated, about 500 new numbers were added. “We did identify a lot of dead lines,” Holub said. “It cleaned up the data base for non-functioning numbers, which were taking up system resources.” Holub said the village doesn’t see or control the data base, which …

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.

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.

Quarters For the Quilt launched in La Grange

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:45:05 -0600

Plans are under way to showcase a tucked-away treasure at the La Grange Public Library commemorating the village’s centennial in 1979. To mark the 100th anniversary, a dedicated committee researched and hand-stitched a quilt featuring 14 historic homes and the library, Village Hall, a clock tower, Lyons Township High School and the First Congregational Church of La Grange. The cream-colored historical gem was seen and touched by many visitors over the years while hanging in the library until the old building at 10 W. Cossitt Ave. closed in 2005. The new structure opened on the same site in 2006. “It’s …

La Grange barbecue owner denies his smoke forced boutique closing

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:09:51 -0600

The owner of Q BBQ in La Grange denies that smoke from his restaurant forced the closing next door of Urban Sole, due to odors pervading clothing and accessories. Michael LaPidus said it’s unfortunate the matter has become a public issue, because he attempted to work with Honor Lorenzini and Mary Kral, who own the boutique at 72 S. La Grange Road. “We have gone above and beyond in putting in a $6,000 exhaust system that gets the smoke up into the air faster, and it’s just unfortunate that they’re closing,” LaPidus said. “It’s unfortunate they’re going out of business, …

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.

Businesses opening and closing in La Grange

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:59:40 -0600

Despite efforts of two years to resolve the situation, smoke and the pungent smell of barbecue is forcing Urban Sole in La Grange to close its doors after seven years selling shoes, purses and women’s clothing. “We did OK with the recession by consolidating to one store to survive,” said Honor Lorenzini, who owns the boutique at 72 S. La Grange Road with Mary Kral. “But this situation was too much. We’ve tried, and we’re very sad.” The partners closed a second store in Hinsdale in 2008. About a year later, Michael LaPidus closed his Roly Poly sandwich shop next …

Hope Chest resale shop offers Valentine’s sale

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00:26 -0600

La Grange area shoppers can share the love at a special Valentine’s Day sale at the Hope Chest resale shop with proceeds benefitting a shelter for women and children. The not-for-profit shop at 717 W. Hillgrove Ave. is offering half off nearly all items of gently used women’s clothing and accessories Feb. 9 through 11. The store, which benefits the Constance Morris House shelter, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. “We carry handbags, accessories, belts, jeans, slacks and all kinds of women’s and children’s clothing” said Kimberly …

LaGrange Park takes suggestions on parks

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00:05 -0600

The Park District of LaGrange Park continued laying out a vision and accepting feedback on the future of the village’s parks during a meeting Monday at the Plymouth Place retirement community. “It’s been a positive experience. People are open-minded and understand that this is the idea stage,” said Executive Director Roy Cripe of the planning process. About 15 residents attended to offer feedback. In addition to taking in further suggestions on plans for Memorial Park along La Grange Road and Beach-Oak Park to the east, park district officials outlined potential changes at four other parks. Existing positive features and potential …

Police say gangs present but not active in our towns

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:07:49 -0600

La Grange, Western Springs and LaGrange Park police acknowledge the presence of gangs since 2008, but say activity is minimal. Residents should be aware of the potential, but not alarmed. “I would say there’s a modest presence in La Grange. I haven’t seen turf wars or a crime wave,” said La Grange Police Chief Michael Holub. “We did have a big drug sweep in 2004 or 2005 that might have been related to gang activity, but there’s been nothing like that since then rearing its ugly head.” Since 2008, La Grange reported 20 gang members who have lived or now …