DuPage County Board members have backed plans for a funeral home and crematorium to be built along Route 83 near Bensenville despite objections from village officials The facility proposed by Mokshdham Cremation Inc. would specialize in Hindu services but would be open to all faiths The nonprofit also would offer low-cost cremation services Bensenville officials objected to the proposal a vacant church sits on the 4.78-acre property at 5N047 Route 83 “The village can appreciate the need for this type of facility Bensenville’s director of community and economic development told county board members before their vote Tuesday “We just don’t think this particular site is a good fit.” He noted school and park officials also have objected to the project But a funeral home and crematorium are allowed as a conditional use County board members voted 16-2 in favor of the project “While I’ve always tried to listen and continue to my constituents you’ve got to weigh that against the rights of the property owners to do what they can with their property,” said county board member Sam Tornatore who also heads the board’s development committee He noted county board members have reviewed other proposals for the property and rejected those plans He added the developer is addressing stormwater and wetland concerns in a way that leaves the property “in better shape than it was before.” the proposal was approved by the county’s zoning board of appeals and development committee Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter supporting the project The facility will be able to accommodate 200 to 300 people for services The crematorium also will be built in a way to prevent the emission of any smoke or odor from the facility Patel said he expects construction to start in the coming months and hopes the facility will open sometime in 2026 2025 at 11:26 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bensenville Village President Frank DeSimone will not get a $119,000 pay raise because voters decided to keep the town's form of government IL – Two-thirds of Bensenville voters on Tuesday rejected a referendum that would have set in motion a $119,000 raise for Village President Frank DeSimone 1,151 voters supported keeping the managerial form of government Opponents of the raise cheered the election result will not be used to provide a financial windfall to Frank DeSimone," resident Chris McCullough said in an email to Patch "We expect our hard-earned tax dollars to be respected and wisely utilized with a professional and knowledgeable village manager as a part of our municipal leadership team." DeSimone described the election as "somewhat bittersweet for me." "I thank you for reelecting me to another term as your Village President I am disappointed that we couldn't get the support to change the form of government I have learned some valuable lessons from this election." DeSimone said he would never take residents' votes for granted "All of the negative information which came out against me it was disappointing to see that people will go as low as possible to throw mud at me," he said "I understand it is accepted in today’s world of politics the Village is prospering and will continue to prosper The Board and I have great plans for the next 4 years and we will continue to make Bensenville stronger." No one opposed DeSimone or the trustees up for election Shortly after the candidate filing period in November, the Village Board voted to fire Village Manager Evan Summers after eight years of service the board decided to put a referendum on Tuesday's ballot on whether to keep the managerial form of government At the same meeting, trustees voted to increase the village president's salary to $157,000 if voters did away with the current form of government All of these votes were unanimous and without discussion The decisions angered residents They accused the board of waiting until after the filing period to take the controversial actions which is set to rise to $149,000 this year In a story last month, Patch revealed that at least 14 companies that did business with Bensenville in 2023 contributed to DeSimone's campaign account DeSimone said the companies voluntarily contributed to his campaign All the contributions complied with the law and are listed on the state Board of Elections website Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. firefighters and paramedics responded about 5:32 p.m 2025 to a report of a fire in a detached garage with multiple vehicles involved at 631 South York Road in Bensenville The first unit on arrival reported a detached garage with a 10-vehicle carport and heavy fire showing on one side of the carport Two carports were located at the rear of an apartment complex parking lot at the fire scene Local 2968 Gold Shift Firefighters in Bensenville and numerous surrounding fire agencies responded to the in-town structure fire crews were met with heavy fire conditions from a fully-involved carport with cars inside Multiple handlines were deployed and all fire attack companies kept the fire in check and kept the fire from extending any further Significant fire was still showing at 5:45 p.m A person observing a neighboring property on George Street to the south reported embers were falling in the property An Elmhurst fire engine was assigned to protect that property The fire was reported knocked by about 6:10 p.m and Franklin Park provided mutual aid at the fire scene Public works crews were also assigned to salt the roads where ice was forming due to water from fire engines 5:51PM WIND S 9MPH TEMP 21°F WIND CHILL 11°F 6:51PM WIND S 10MPH TEMP 21°F WIND CHILL 11°F 7:51PM WIND S 13 G21MPH TEMP 21.9°F WIND CHILL 11°F Fire at MOD Pizza in Naperville Contained to Oven and Surrounding Materials; No Injuries Man Dies Overnight After His Jeep Cherokee Crushed on Driver’s Side by Speeding Driver “Someday soon we’ll stop to ponder what on earth’s this spell we’re under.” so don’t waste it living someone else’s life Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.” 2025 at 1:39 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}At least 14 Bensenville contractors have donated to Village President Frank DeSimone's campaign since last July DeSimone faces no opponent in the April 1 election IL – Bensenville Village President Frank DeSimone who faces no opponent in the April 1 election has received donations from more than a dozen firms that do business with the village Patch found at least 14 contractors that gave a total of nearly $14,000 in political contributions to DeSimone's campaign since last July Combined, the vendors made nearly $1.7 million from the village in 2023, according to the Bensenville treasurer's report In response to a Patch inquiry, DeSimone said the companies voluntarily contributed to his campaign. All the contributions complied with the law and are listed on the state Board of Elections website who has criticized DeSimone at Village Board meetings accused the president of taking donations from village vendors "These contributions create a conflict of interest and are highly unethical," McCullough said in a Facebook post on a local page "Is the purpose of this money to intimidate potential candidates from running against him?" DeSimone appeared to respond on his campaign page calling McCullough "a self-proclaimed community watchdog" and a "keyboard coward that is dividing this town." DeSimone accused McCullough of attempting to "slander my name." "The people and businesses who donate to the fundraiser not only do it to have a good time (Golf Outing and Dinner) but they believe in me and the direction the village is headed," DeSimone said in the Facebook post "Your attempts to link it to wrongdoing is a joke and honestly makes you sound desperate or maybe even jealous." who retired as a Schiller Park detective last year said his critic labeled him "corrupt." Patch asked DeSimone to show where that allegation was made but he did not respond to that part of the inquiry "I am not going to allow it and will seek legal action if necessary (stay tuned)." DeSimone said he had no problem with people who post public records "It is unfortunate when some go beyond this and make innuendos or accusations that wrongdoing is taking place," the village president said I have no hesitation to set the record straight and hold those that make unfounded claims legally responsible." DeSimone reported $120,760 in his campaign accounts That's far higher than leaders in other towns Elmhurst Mayor Scott Levin's campaign had $32,374 Late last year, the Bensenville Village Board set in motion a far higher salary for the village president to $157,000 The raise is conditioned on the voters doing away with the managerial form of government in the April 1 election Not long before the Village Board's referendum decision, it voted to fire Manager Evan Summers after eight years The decision on the potential salary hike for the village president occurred after the candidate filing period ended Bensenville voters will be asked to decide if the village should change its form of government and have the village president take on a full-time role with a higher salary A vote on the ballot measure came just one week after Bensenville trustees terminated the village manager without an explanation During a special meeting on Wednesday night village trustees unanimously approved a resolution to put a binding question on the April 1 ballot that will ask whether Bensenville should keep its managerial form of government They also voted to raise the pay for whoever is the village president if voters reject the managerial form of government Current village President Frank DeSimone is running unopposed He did not respond Thursday to requests for comment No trustees spoke or asked questions before the vote voters approved having the managerial form of government Bensenville will revert to a president-trustee form of government where the elected village president runs the town full-time as the executive and administrator The board also approved an amendment to an ordinance that would increase the pay for the village president if that happens DeSimone is set to receive a salary of $33,000 in 2025 If Bensenville scraps its managerial form of government the village president will be paid $135,000 a year the village president would become eligible to receive medical and dental insurance through the village if the village president decides not to take the insurance coverage the village president would receive an annual stipend of $15,000 Resident Chris McCullough addressed the board before the vote “Does not a single one of you have a moral compass that knows these actions are wrong for our residents?” McCullough said He asked the trustees to explain their votes “Don’t you think we as residents deserve to know that?” he said DeSimone said village officials had discussed the proposed change for over eight years there are some in the community trying to spread disinformation,” he said who had worked as village manager for eight years DeSimone gave no reason for the dismissal during the Nov “We are grateful for his service to the village and its residents,” he said at the end of the meeting “We wish him nothing but the best in his next endeavor.” Summers has said he was fired without cause The board appointed Police Chief Daniel Schulze as interim village manager BENSENVILLE, IL – Some Bensenville residents were upset that the village last week quickly approved a $135,000 salary for the village president if the voters change the local form of government next year But it turns out Village President Frank DeSimone could end up getting even more than that When the Village Board enacted the pay hike for the president it also approved raising the liquor control commissioner's pay to $22,000 If voters do away with the managerial form of government in the April 1 election DeSimone could see his pay rise to $157,000 This is far more than what most mayors and village presidents make plus $300 for being the liquor control commissioner That $300 salary would be 1.3 percent of DeSimone's commissioner pay Elmhurst's population is 2½ times more than Bensenville's Bensenville officials say that with the higher pay DeSimone would become a full-time president Patch has called Bensenville Village Hall three times asking who the liquor control commissioner was Patch emailed Williamsen about whether he was the liquor control commissioner So Patch filed a public records request seeking a document showing the identity of the commissioner mayors and village presidents are the commissioners although they can deputize others for the role It is unclear whether DeSimone or Williamsen does the bulk of the work on liquor control issues Patch left a message for comment with both men Thursday DeSimone and incumbent trustees face no opposition in the April election They unanimously enacted the pay increases after the candidate filing period ended the trustees unanimously voted to fire Village Manager Evan Summers after eight years Summers publicly praised the village president and trustees DeSimone recently retired as a Schiller Park detective 2024 at 2:51 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bensenville Village President Frank DeSimone gets a $72,192 annual pension from his 25 years of service to the Schiller Park Police Department also started receiving a pension after retiring from a nearby police department in August Village President Frank DeSimone would see his pay rise to $157,000 Patch obtained DeSimone's pension records from the Schiller Park Police Department where he retired as a detective after 25 years which is nearly 40 percent less than his final salary of $115,523 contributed $186,084 to the pension system If voters go along, DeSimone's pay as village president could be far higher than what most of his counterparts receive. Patch wrote about the situation in a story earlier this month The Village Board's plan to raise DeSimone's pay was kept secret from the public until after the candidate filing period ended in November. Without explanation, the board also fired Village Manager Evan Summers after eight years the board voted to put the referendum on the ballot about the managerial form of government "There are some in our community trying to spread misinformation," DeSimone said at the meeting "They are claiming that the village board and my decision to ask residents to decide if the managerial form of government should be retained was a great secret Any claim to the contrary is just plain untrue and being made to serve political self-interest." resident Chris McCullough requested documents showing that the change of government has been a topic in village government DeSimone and other village incumbents are running unopposed IL – The Bensenville Village Board voted unanimously Tuesday to fire the village manager and name an interim replacement During a seven-minute meeting, the board gave no reason to end Evan Summers' employment after eight years The board voted unanimously to name Police Chief Dan Schulze to serve as the interim manager He is expected to be in that role for several months Village President Frank DeSimone said at the meeting The board's agenda included voting on a severance agreement with Summers It is unclear whether the village is still negotiating a deal with Summers which would likely include confidentiality and nondisparagement clauses the Village Board has made the decision to part ways with the village manager "We are grateful for his service to the village and its residents We wish him nothing but the best in his next endeavor." Patch obtained the memo from DeSimone that notified Summers about his leave and that the board would vote on his firing the following week It noted a provision in Summers' contract that allowed the board to fire him with or without cause but asked Summers to promptly return all village records and property in his possession relations between Summers and the board seemed good the manager noted the board's incumbents were unopposed in the April 1 election "We look forward to another four years with you the clerk and the three trustees (running)," Summers said "I think it's evidence that the voters think the village is on the right track and in good hands." resident Chris McCullough questioned ousting Summers He said he disagreed with many of Summers' actions but said they were done at the board's direction The village president and the board seemed to have an overwhelmingly positive relationship with Mr Summers was also given a raise every year by you." He also suggested the now-retired DeSimone wanted to get more control over village government and a full-time salary Village officials did not respond to McCullough's statement Summers and DeSimone have not returned Patch's messages for comment DeSimone retired as a detective from the Schiller Park Police Department in the summer but his name remains an option on the department's phone answering system 2024 at 11:22 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Bensenville Village Board voted unanimously Monday to give a big pay hike to the mayor if a referendum to change the form of government passes next year (Village of Bensenville/via video)BENSENVILLE IL – With members silent about their reasoning the Bensenville Village Board on Wednesday unanimously voted to increase the mayor's salary to $135,000 That decision is contingent on voters deciding to do away with the managerial form of government in the April 1 election an issue that trustees voted to put on the ballot The decisions come about a week after the board fired the village manager the mayor's pay would be roughly equivalent to the mayor of Rockford a city that is eight times larger than Bensenville Mayor Frank DeSimone, who is running unopposed in the election, defended the village from critics He contended the manager makes decisions without significant input from the board "If the residents of the village decide not to retain the managerial form of government the village president will assume greater administrative authority including overseeing the day-to-day operations of the village," DeSimone said He said the village welcomed honest and respectful debate But he accused some residents of spreading misinformation on social media The mayor also said it has not been a "great secret" that the village was considering changing the form of government Under Wednesday's approved mayoral salary ordinance the mayor would also get medical and dental insurance if the referendum passes Four residents spoke during the following public comments Three of them said they generally approved of the elected officials' performance over the years Two asked for the trustees to speak about their views on the issues at hand Resident Chris McCullough wasn't among the supporters before the board voted on the manager's firing he correctly predicted the village would put the form of government on the ballot and increase the mayor's salary McCullough said residents shouldn't be "pawns in your abuse of power and self-serving activities." "Does not a single one of you have a moral compass that knows these actions are wrong for our residents?" he said said village officials have done "some amazing things" over the years But he questioned what research had been done before the issues were put on the board's agenda They're there because we deserve answers." "Anything done in darkness takes on a bad optic and puts a bad taste in our mouths." Resident Michael Jaffe praised the work of the mayor and board But he said the latest issues have been handled way too quickly have you discussed how this will benefit our village like hiring another professionally trained expert like Mr "I mean this is a multimillion-dollar operation." An unidentified man who called himself a board supporter said the village has not provided enough information to the public on the latest issues "I'm disappointed the way this has taken place," he said they kept their lips sealed and voted without a discussion All the village incumbents are unopposed in the April election The candidate filing period ended more than two weeks ago All the recent decisions took place after that 2025 at 1:09 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Two residents spoke out against Bensenville officials for supporting a big raise for Village President Frank DeSimone IL – A Bensenville police chaplain criticized the village president and trustees at a meeting this week another resident said she was running as a write-in candidate for village president expressing her outrage over the village's recent actions In December, the Village Board fired Manager Evan Summers after eight years without giving the public an explanation Then trustees set in motion a far higher salary for the village president to $157,000 These actions occurred after the candidate filing period ended in November President Frank DeSimone and trustee candidates are running unopposed Before the pay raise happened, the Rev. James Nylander of Bensenville's Grace Lutheran Church said he read a Patch story previewing the proposal I reached out to a village trustee to ask if the information was accurate," Nylander I received a text message from Village President DeSimone who informed me he got a phone call from the trustee and so DeSimone offered to answer my questions." Nylander said he later got a private meeting with DeSimone but he contended the village president gave no real answers Nylander suggested the trustees were under the president's control After the meeting in which the board approved the pay raise the trustees walked in a straight line out of the room to a locked room across the hall "Village President DeSimone was behind the line with his hand on the last (trustee's) shoulder ensuring that no one stopped to talk to us I now know why the Board of Trustees didn't contact me or talk to me," Nylander said the board cannot hold an unannounced meeting about public business Patch left emailed messages for comment with DeSimone and trustees Rose Carmona Bensenville resident Susan Foster asked why the trustees approved such a big pay increase and a referendum to change the form of government without any public debate She also called into question the board's timing after the candidate filing deadline 4 meeting that the village would present a plan on the proposed change to a mayor-trustee form of government from the existing form we're looking at a potential change in the form of government which could result in an exorbitant pay raise for the president," Foster said The idea was presented after the deadline for candidate filing and it must start with the leadership of Bensenville." Foster is running as a write-in candidate for village president; she filed with the DuPage County clerk which includes $22,000 as liquor control commissioner would be far higher than his counterparts in other towns Neighboring Elmhurst's mayor makes $8,400 a year plus $300 for being the liquor commissioner Elmhurst's population is 2½ times larger than Bensenville's DeSimone retired as a Schiller Park detective His Schiller Park pension amounts to $72,192 a year That is 40 percent less than his final salary of $115,523 2024 at 1:04 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Under a proposed ordinance Bensenville Mayor Frank DeSimone's pay would rise to $135,000 This change is contingent upon local voters' passage of a referendum ending the current form of government IL – Bensenville's mayor may see his salary jump to $135,000 A week after firing the village manager the Village Board plans to vote on two measures that could set in motion the higher salary for the mayor as well as health and dental insurance the board is expected to vote on whether to let voters in the April 1 election decide on doing away with the current managerial form of government Under an ordinance before the board Wednesday Mayor Frank DeSimone would get the pay raise and benefits if the voters decide to do away with the form of government DeSimone's salary would be $150,000 if he did not get benefits His pay would increase to $33,000 if the referendum does not pass who retired as a Schiller Park detective over the summer did not immediately return a message for comment Tuesday DeSimone now makes $26,000 as mayor, according to a Daily Herald survey of towns earlier this year which is set to rise to $149,000 next year the Bensenville Village Board voted unanimously to fire Manager Evan Summers after eight years The dismissal took place a week after the filing period for candidates in the April 1 election ended relations between Summers and the board appeared fine the clerk and the three trustees (running)," Summers said at a board meeting at the time resident Chris McCullough predicted during public comments what would happen next "Are you about to change our form of government so that you can position yourself as a full-time mayor with a full-time salary and under the guise of saving the taxpayers' money?" he said "This will enable you to accept a much higher salary to do work that you were not elected to do and you're not qualified to do for the sake of your own self-service at our expense." DeSimone and the trustees did not respond to McCullough's comments during the meeting 2025 at 4:59 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A forum is planned for 6 p.m March 12 at the Bensenville Park District office director of advocacy for the Washington-based International City/County Management Association IL – A group of Bensenville residents say they have asked the village president to take questions from the public about an April 1 referendum to change the local form of government But they said they have received no answer from Frank DeSimone Late last year, the Village Board set in motion a far higher salary for the village president to $157,000 which wants to keep the current form of government March 12 at the Bensenville Park District office at 1000 W The group pushes for the council-manager form of government resident Janell Taraszka emailed DeSimone asking for a town hall you would provide an invaluable opportunity for open dialogue allowing you to hear directly from the people," Taraszka said "I strongly believe that such a forum would foster trust and a sense of collective involvement in the decision-making process It would also offer you the chance to clarify any points of confusion and help guide the community through the specifics of the referendum." Not long before the Village Board's referendum decision, it voted to fire Manager Evan Summers after eight years without giving the public an explanation DeSimone has not answered Patch's requests for comment since last year A fire engulfed a detached garage in the 600 block of South York Road in Bensenville on Friday, according to published reports and a social media post from the Bensenville Professional Firefighters Local 2968 According to ABC 7 An investigation into the cause of the fire It’s fun for the whole family when the Bensenville Park District’s annual Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza returns to Varble Park and the Deer Grove Leisure Center on Saturday with other age groups commencing at 10:20 (ages 5-8) and 10:40 a.m Thousands of candy-filled eggs will be scattered across the park Don’t forget to bring a bag or container to hold them all be sure to bring the whole family into the DGLC for fun and games All are invited to take photos with the Easter Bunny from 10:30 a.m Photos will be posted the following week on the park district website Parking will be available at the DGLC, 1000 W. Wood St. in Bensenville and the Bensenville Water Park, 1100 W. Wood St. For more information, call 630-766-7015 or visit BvilleParks.org A holiday train stop in Bensenville came with all the bells and whistles: lights music and a show of support for a community food pantry and people attending the festivities would drop off items to help stock the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry the village learned the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train would not visit Bensenville on a national tour we'll raise that money.’ We have a strong Bensenville community We are ‘Bensenville Strong,’” Village President Frank DeSimone said the village worked to keep the tradition of helping the pantry right on track the village will present a check for the pantry at its Christmas tree lighting celebration on Sunday “I want to just tell everybody how proud I am of the community that I know that they will step up at any time we need it,” he said Boxes also were set up at village hall, the police station and around town to collect nonperishable items. DeSimone appeared in a social media campaign encouraging people to rally behind the pantry. Monetary donations can be made through the Bensenville Community Foundation and specifically designated for the pantry “We’re extremely thankful to the village president and the village board and their staff for keeping us in their hearts and minds,” said Rick Kambic president of the food pantry’s board of directors CPKC is making a donation to the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry the volunteer-based food pantry has served 5,521 individuals at least one time including individuals who visited multiple times Some 37% of households are new and did not use the pantry last year “We have plenty of people who have come because they're in between jobs and then once they got their job … they ended up volunteering with us,” Kambic said the pantry has been looking at the possibility of a new or second location “We regularly receive generous donations from grocers and other food distributors for items that are in high demand but low supply and that does tend to happen around the holidays and beginning of the year,” Kambic said the railroad has contributed $60,000 dollars to the Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry including donations made during the pandemic when the Holiday Train did not operate in 2020 and 2021 CPKC receives numerous requests from hundreds of communities across our network for the Holiday Train The route and stops change from year to year to accommodate as many locations as possible and we donate to hundreds of community food banks,” the statement read “This year we are stopping at more than 160 communities across the North American network including two stops in the Chicago suburbs.” is scheduled to stop in Franklin Park on Nov 26 in support of the Leyden Community Food Pantry DeSimone said the train’s arrival in Bensenville was a unique experience “The word ‘disappointment’ is probably a light word to use that it's not coming to our town We'll pivot … we'll always make it better and do what's right for the community.” IL – The Bensenville Village Board on Tuesday may oust its village manager The board is set to vote on a severance deal with Village Manager Evan Summers at a special meeting Trustees are expected to appoint Police Chief Dan Schulze to serve as the interim manager village spokesman Anthony Sumner said in a brief interview Tuesday afternoon He said he could not provide any other information It was unclear when exactly Summers was put on leave Near the end of a Village Board meeting a week ago Summers reported that the board's incumbents were unopposed in the April 1 election the clerk and the three trustees," Summers said Village officials could not be reached for immediate comment Summers was the assistant city administrator in Berwyn for four years He graduated with a bachelor's degree in public administration from Indiana University in 2007 and a master's degree in business administration from Purdue in 2011 The Bensenville Village Board has dismissed Evan Summers as the village manager the board voted 5-0 to terminate its employment agreement with Summers who has worked for the village for eight years It was also supposed to approve a separation agreement but removed that item from its agenda Village President Frank DeSimone gave no reason for the dismissal “We are grateful for his service to the village and its residents We wish him nothing but the best in his next endeavor,” DeSimone said at the end of Tuesday’s meeting Summers said on Wednesday he was fired without cause but he did not want to discuss details because he is working out the terms of a severance agreement with the village He suggested the move was part of a plan by DeSimone to become a full-time mayor with a higher salary DeSimone is running unopposed for reelection in April 2024 at 9:41 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Bensenville Village Board plans to vote Tuesday on letting voters weigh in on setting a 1 percent grocery tax IL – Bensenville voters may be asked next year whether the village should impose a 1 percent sales tax on groceries the Village Board plans to vote on whether to put the question on the April 1 ballot the legislature ended the 1 percent statewide grocery tax as of Jan But it gave towns the power to enact a local 1 percent tax without a binding referendum That's because the money from the tax has gone to towns the board is also slated to vote on asking voters in April whether the village should continue charging a fee to license domestic pets These measures are in addition to the binding referendum on whether voters want to keep the village's managerial form of government If a majority of voters decide to do away with the form of government, Village President Frank DeSimone would see his pay rise to $157,000 his pay is far above that of most mayors and village presidents The board's decision to increase DeSimone's pay occurred after the candidate filing period ended for village president and trustees Bensenville voters strongly rejected a proposed 1% grocery tax in the April 1 election said they would only impose a grocery tax if approved by voters through an advisory question on the April 1 ballot The village asked voters about creating its own grocery tax after the state tax ends in January 2026. This tax would have made food such as packaged goods, fruits and vegetables cost more, but not things already taxed higher such as alcohol While leaders in about 50 towns in Illinois so far have decided to impose their own 1% grocery tax starting in 2026 when Bensenville voters were given a choice they clearly didn’t want a tax on their need to eat The law ending the statewide grocery tax allows any community to keep it without the need to ask voters for permission Illinois grocery shoppers saved $360 million in one year while the grocery tax was suspended as an inflation hedge or more than $115 in food for a family of four residents can potentially go one town over and save money on groceries This was previously only possible for Illinoisans near border states Municipalities have until October to tell the state whether they’re implementing a local grocery tax in 2026 local leaders should be careful before passing this very unpopular tax 2025 at 12:46 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)ADDISON IL – A third suspect has been arrested in Sunday's carjacking at the Marcus Cinema in Addison faces felony charges of carjacking with a gun and armed robbery with a gun a 17-year-old Bensenville boy and a 16-year-old Willowbrook boy All three are set to be jailed until their next hearing a man got out of his 2014 white Infiniti and walked around the car to open the door for a woman according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors mask-wearing suspects got out of a gray Dodge Challenger parked a few spaces away They ordered the man to give up his keys and everything in his pockets and one of them pointed a gun at the woman The suspects left in the Infiniti and Dodge officers found the Infiniti driving east on Lake Street near Villa Avenue but the driver did not stop and officers ended the pursuit on Interstate 290 Addison officers found the Dodge traveling west on Interstate 290 near Austin Boulevard The Dodge's driver exited the expressway at 17th Avenue and continued with Elmhurst and Addison officers following Officers tried to box in the Dodge at Roosevelt Avenue and Harlem Avenue in Oak Park but the driver struck an unmarked squad car and then fled Officers then successfully boxed in the Dodge near Interstate 290 and First Avenue and arrested the two juveniles The Infiniti was found in Maywood minutes later officers found a Glock handgun that had a switch to make it fully automatic and a defaced serial number They also discovered a Glock 23 .40-caliber handgun with an extended magazine loaded with 23 bullets and one in the chamber and a Smith & Wesson M&P 40 9mm handgun 2024 at 6:58 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Carlos Rivera was ordered to stay in the DuPage County Jail until his trial (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)BENSENVILLE IL – A man who pointed a gun at someone else at a gas station led officers on a chase starting in Bensenville late Friday night DuPage County prosecutors said in a news release a Bensenville officer tried to stop Rivera's car near Irving Park and York roads He ran red lights at Irving Park Road's intersections with York He jumped a curb and drove into oncoming traffic near Cumberland and Bryn Mawr avenues in Chicago The pursuit ended when Rivera turned into an alley He was found shortly after in a Chicago backyard Rivera was accused of throwing an airsoft gun out the window while he was headed east on Interstate 90 Rivera was charged with felony counts of aggravated fleeing and aggravated driving with a suspended license and multiple misdemeanors including reckless driving and aggravated assault 2025 at 2:29 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Darnitia Conner pleaded not guilty to felony charges in connection with an incident at a community-based home in Bensenville IL – A Glendale Heights woman was arrested in an incident at a community-based home in Bensenville that resulted in an older woman's suffering burns according to a news release from Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office The office alleged Conner was a caregiver at the Ray Graham Association home in Bensenville in June when she failed to test the water temperature before placing a resident in a hot shower the hot water caused second-degree burns to a majority of the woman's lower body Conner is accused of trying to conceal the incident failing to notify staff and medical personnel of the severity of the injuries Residents of Ray Graham homes may have disabilities or healthcare needs that require 24-hour support from trained staff Conner was charged with three counts of abuse of a long-term care facility resident two counts of neglect of a long-term care facility resident and one count of reckless conduct The DuPage County Sheriff's Office helped with the investigation 2025 at 7:28 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}In 2022 the DuPage County Forest Preserve District sold the Fischer Farm property to the Bensenville Park District The attorney general found the DuPage district's board illegally closed its meetings about the sale IL – The attorney general found last week that the board for the DuPage County Forest Preserve District repeatedly violated state law before it sold land in Bensenville more than two years ago In summer 2022, the forest preserve sold the Fischer Farm property on Old Grand Avenue to the Bensenville Park District watchdog Edgar Pal filed a complaint with the attorney general that the board violated the Open Meetings Act by holding five closed sessions on selling the land The law allows the board to close the doors for the limited purpose of setting the price of the real estate But it is barred from keeping secret the debate over whether to sell it The attorney general requested the elected board release the closed-session recordings to the public In its decision the attorney general cited its ruling in 2023 that the Lyons Township High School board violated state law by holding closed sessions on selling 70 acres the board was planning to sell the Willow Springs land which is next to houses and an elementary school even though the village's zoning prohibited industrial uses During the meetings, school officials said they were keeping secret the discussions because they expected a backlash from the public the agency's lawyer said the board wanted to place conditions on the land sale such as a requirement to preserve the property But the attorney general said those conditions were not intertwined with setting the price Board members agreed on a $100,000 price early in the discussions and that number did not change as members debated terms said her agency is reviewing the attorney general's nonbinding opinion "We fully intend to comply with the office’s request in accordance with applicable laws," she said According to the Bensenville Park District, Fischer Farm is believed to be one of the oldest remaining homesteads in the county The Fischer family established their home around the year 1836 Throughout the area, Pal has prevailed in open government battles with public bodies. In Elmhurst, his successes include the city council, the school board and the park board Bensenville Fire Protection District firefighters responded about 12:53 p.m 2024 to a report of a house fire in the block of 1300 Medinah Street in Bensenville Police and firefighters on arrival discovered smoke showing from a two-story single-family home The fire was immediately upgraded to a working fire response indicated everyone was evacuated from the house Crews made an aggressive interior attack and stopped the fire At least one victim was assessed by paramedics The bulk of the fire was reported “out” by 1:25 p.m. and firefighters then were working on hot spots After thunderstorms Sunday night there were numerous problems related to power lines from tree branches The cause of the house fire on Medinah Street was either unknown or not disclosed initially Air temperature in direct sunlight was in the 90s According to the National Weather Service station at O’Hare International Airport at 12:51 p.m the air temperature was 86°F with a Heat Index of 92°F Relative Humidity was 61% “Despite 90°+ temps and high humidity Thanks to our auto/mutual aid companies for your response and assistance on scene.” — Bensenville Professional Firefighters Local 2968 Two Hurt in Crash at Arlington Heights Rd and Euclid Ave Arlington Heights Office sought: Bensenville Elementary District 2 board (Vote for 3) Is there a particular issue that motivates you As a candidate for the Bensenville School District 2 board I bring 15 years of diverse educational experience Some of main reasons for running are to: help enhance educational outcomes help strengthen literacy and numeracy programs foster collaborative leadership with educators What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring the curriculum I believe the role of the school board in setting and monitoring the curriculum is to review and approve instructional frameworks and resources that meet and exceed the state’s requirements to ensure rigorous instruction for every student in District 2 Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board I believe that the district should strive to ensure that all teachers are implementing the most effective instructional strategies with a vertically aligned curriculum to achieve exemplary results How do you view your role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies: provide leadership even if unpopular give a voice to constituents — even ones with whom you disagree I believe that a board member's role is to prioritize student learning We need to ensure that there is community dialogue to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard and that our decisions are made and guided by current educational research Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage school district policy Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions for your school board and community members to enhance student success based on educational policy This means that I believe in open communication decisions to determine policy need to be grounded on research and what is best for student success It is hard to argue against students meeting and exceeding academic expectations while demonstrating the values of the school and community What is your assessment of the school district's diversity and equity efforts Do you support the continuation or enhancement of such programs I believe what makes our district great is our diversity ranging from diverse socioeconomic status families to multigenerational families from all backgrounds Every student deserves an opportunity to be challenged we need to analyze our data to determine which programs work best for our students What makes you the best candidate for the job What’s one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet but I do believe in collective efficacy in our schools Our students need to believe that we believe in them no matter their backgrounds We need to demand the highest of expectations of our students while implementing the most effective strategies and structures so they can meet and exceed those expectations Vehicle stickers are set to become a thing of the past for residents of Bensenville Village President Frank DeSimone has announced plans to discontinue vehicle sticker fees collected from residents in light of higher-than-expected revenue generated from a municipal gas tax The village implemented the 3-cent-per-gallon tax at the start of January with an initial revenue projection of $200,000 for the year We’re going to have more money off of this gas tax than we anticipated,” Village Manager Evan Summers told trustees this week the village has collected approximately $380,000 from the gas tax Officials now project that total revenue by year-end is expected to reach around $835,000 “This figure significantly surpasses our original budget and suggests that our initial estimate was overly conservative due to the lack of prior year collection history,” Summers wrote in a memo to the village board DeSimone directed Summers to draft an ordinance to eliminate residential vehicle stickers Officials anticipate formally adopting the ordinance at the Sept passenger vehicle stickers cost $32 per vehicle per year “The village board is committed to operating with the utmost integrity and fiscal responsibility while finding new ways to help put money back into the pockets of our residents,” said DeSimone in a statement in part “We know how far a few dollars can go for our residents.” The majority of the new gas tax revenue comes from out-of-town visitors and over-the-road truckers filling up on the way to and from O’Hare International Airport along with other regional transportation hubs the village instituted the tax to generate additional revenue “aimed primarily at infrastructure improvements and other critical projects to enhance the quality of life for our residents.” Mark Kiel's neighborhood is just east of Route 83 near Bensenville and the outskirts of O'Hare International Airport It’s a community where neighbors wave to each other “The people that want to stay have a lot to fight for,” Kiel said He and other residents of Oakdale Woods are opposing a developer’s attempts to buy homes in the unincorporated area They’ve put up yellow yard signs against the “Transwestern Industrial Buyout.” “I know some people want to stay for their kids Some people want to stay because it's close to work … I'm at a time in my life where I'd like to stay here as long as I can,” said Marie Starsiak Transwestern has no information to share at this time other homes near O’Hare have been demolished to clear the way for industrial redevelopment Oakdale Woods residents say the neighborhood has roughly 90 houses Among those who live there are seven women — 59 to 80 years old — who reside in a Ray Graham Association home They all have intellectual or cognitive disabilities given their age and their level of disability I fear that this would be a very difficult move for them put their health and happiness at great jeopardy which we don’t want to do,” said Kim Zoeller president and CEO of the nonprofit organization The home is staffed around the clock and specially customized for the women and their mobility needs a very costly and very disruptive pursuit on our end to try to replicate what we have in Bensenville,” she said the quality of life for the women that really enjoy living together and thought that they were going to be in their forever home.” About three years ago, dozens of homes in the incorporated Bensenville neighborhood of Mohawk Terrace were flattened to make way for industrial space “We continue to see developers looking for any patch of land to try to put more warehouses or even take down existing warehouses to build more modern Class A properties,” Bensenville Village Manager Evan Summers said What makes the area so attractive to developers This is a logistics hub here,” Summers said “And as more and more commerce moves online So it's warehousing for goods and moving those with trailers to their endpoint destinations.” Oakdale Woods residents say they received letters with offers for their homes in June According to a copy sent to the Daily Herald the initial budget for the land is $30 per square foot The Transwestern spokesperson did not respond to a request to confirm the number Residents came to the village with a copy of the letters that they received We didn’t know that those letters” were going to go out we’re not going to get involved in negotiations with the homeowners The Oakdale Woods neighborhood is a quiet neighborhood,” Summers said and so those homeowners can make the decisions that’s right for their families.” Most of the lots in Oakdale Woods are about a half acre He said he was offered just over $600,000 in June and then there's some people that literally will die in their home and are fine doing that I have absolutely no desire to move,” Weinbrenner said Opponents acknowledge some people want to sell and … it really changes the equation as far as how you're going to sell your house why you're going to sell your house,” Starsiak said The subdivision is part of Elmhurst Unit District 205 the people who have small businesses here.” “I see the unincorporated areas around these towns and in DuPage County as kind of a middle ground We're an economic middle ground,” she said Starsiak wouldn’t call Oakdale Woods bucolic “Until they decide to not pursue us anymore,” Weinbrenner said Drivers can stretch out on York Road in Bensenville with lanes reopening next week the road will revert to two lanes in each direction on Monday Traffic has been constricted to one lane in each direction between Devon Avenue and Supreme Drive since September Workers in 2025 will be improving York’s northbound lanes is rebuilding the corridor between Devon and Gateway roads in conjunction with construction of the I-490/Route 390 interchange The York Road project also includes drainage improvements and a multiuse path on the west side of the street The I-490/Route 390 interchange will cost $534 million It includes extending Route 390 east to O’Hare International Airport and building I-490 a new toll road on the west side of the airport connecting to I-90 in Des Plaines and I-294 in Franklin Park While the tollway is paying to improve York within the interchange DuPage County is funding work to the north and south For more information on the project, go to illinoistollway.com/york-road-reconstruction-project A fundraising gala was held recently hosted by Moksh Dham at Manav Seva Sanatan Hindu Temple in Bensenville and an amount of $22,000 was raised at the event according to organizers One of the highlights of the event was the staging of a play “Parnelani Puchhadi Vanki” an uproarious three-act comedy that filled the venue with laughter and applause was to raise awareness about its ongoing initiatives and its commitment to preserving culture and continued community support to ensure Moksh Dham’s mission thrives The donation drive was led by Ramesh Punater and their heartfelt appeals encouraged attendees to contribute generously ensuring that Moksh Dham continues to expand its services and reach more people in need Special recognition was given to the national level promoter Raju Shah and his team Organizers believe that the Moksh Dham project is poised to succeed and that it is more than just a place of worship—it is a sanctuary of peace the institution is committed to social welfare and strengthening the moral fabric of society With a mission to uphold the values of Sanatan Dharma every initiative undertaken by Moksh Dham stands as a testament to the core principles—compassion and unwavering dedication to the greater good Parikh Worldwide Media is the largest Indian-American publishing group in the United States The group publishes five periodicals – “News India Times,” a national weekly newspaper; “Desi Talk in New York,” a weekly newspaper serving the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut region; and “Desi Talk in Chicago,” a weekly newspaper serving the Greater Chicago area and the Midwestern states; and “The Indian American,” a national online quarterly feature magazine The combined circulation and readership of these publications make the media group the most influential in the ethnic Indian market A third person has been charged in connection with a carjacking Dec of the 500 block of West Main Street in Bensenville is charged with armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm Judge Anne Therieau Hayes denied pretrial release for Delgado Jan citing concerns about his access to guns and the random nature of the victims are accused of approaching a man and woman as they were getting out of their vehicle in the Marcus Cinema parking lot One of the three pointed a gun at the woman who had begun taking video of the attack on her phone on an exit ramp at I-290 and First Avenue near Maywood Authorities said they found three handguns one with a switch to make it fully automatic and another with an extended magazine loaded with 23 bullets where Judge Chantelle Porter ordered they be detained until their next court appearance Court records indicate Delgado is also awaiting trial on a 2023 case where he was charged with aggravated battery to a person 60 or older and aggravated battery in a public place He is accused of beating a 68-year-old man who was trying to break up a fight Nov in The Hideaway Cafe and Lounge in Bensenville A Chicago man who admitted to driving drunk and causing a crash that killed a Lombard woman has been sentenced to six months in jail DuPage County Judge Mia McPherson ruled last week pleaded guilty in February to one count of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol ‒ causing death Prosecutors dropped a charge of reckless homicide as part of his plea agreement Authorities say Salkic was driving a vehicle that ran a red light at York and Irving Park roads in Bensenville about 3:35 a.m Salkic’s blood alcohol content was .194 — more than twice the legal threshold for driving — about 2⅟₂ hours after the crash Salkic will have to wear a transdermal alcohol monitor for one year He also must perform 480 hours of community service with an organization that helps families affected by drunken driving