Community is such an integral piece of the Little League® program and it plays a pivotal role in bringing kids and families together all around the world each year serves as the home to two local leagues sharing both a border and a goal – to get more youth athletes onto a Little League field while enhancing the La Grange community La Grange (Ill.) National Little League chartered its first baseball team and today not only offers but has seen growth in its softball program as well as its Challenger Division more than 70 years after it first chartered the league has 63 teams registered across their divisions of play and a boundary population of 16,773 as of January 2025 you will also find La Grange Park (Ill.) Little League which chartered its first baseball team in 1953 the league has 48 teams registered between baseball and softball and currently has a boundary population of 13,466 Little League sat down with both La Grange National Little League’s President and La Grange Park Little League’s President a series of content created to help other leagues learn from each other’s success stories along with how each of the leagues brings these ideas to life in their communities:   Little League is designed to be a vehicle to advance your community as a whole and seeing smiles on the kids’ faces is great but getting families from the community together in one central area to enjoy the summer and make memories is what Little League is about Amplifying the community value is the selling point for players and their families to stay with the program.“   “One of the things I am proud of that both our leagues do well is the branding of the program we are ‘Just a Kid from LGP’ on social media and by word of mouth… With our league sponsors in the community the biggest thing I struggled with was the fact that it felt like we were just asking people for money I wanted to bring them more into the community of the league we have ‘nights with sponsors.’ Throughout the season a special night would be dedicated to that sponsor so we can show them support the same way they have shown us support which we especially saw during the COVID-19 pandemic because by financially supporting the Little League program we can then become strong and help the businesses out when they need it with sports seasons now defining our seasons here in Chicago People are getting information and schedules out to families way further in advance for every sport whether it’s baseball we now send out our schedule for the following year on Labor Day but it gives fair warning to families and people in the community of when we intend to play baseball and softball This helps us to retain players because they know what’s coming and can plan around when they need to be on the diamond.”   “We have worked hard to bring those who played Little League back into the program Rather than bringing in third–party groups to umpire games we now are bringing in alumni through a program called ‘JUMP,’ Junior Umpires in Minors Program siblings of current Little Leaguers come back to the fields to train and work as umpires where athletes who went through the Little League program and now play for their high school varsity baseball or softball team come back and coach the players.” I have found that having more female coaches and volunteers involved has done wonders in growing our softball program We have drawn a lot more female athletes to our program who stay season after season because they are able to see leaders and learn from leaders who are women Sometimes softball can be a scary sport to play so having women be that source of comfort for the players as they develop their skills is huge and has done wonders for the numbers in our program.”  we have made it a goal to identify La Grange Park Little League as not just a baseball program We know what we have for baseball and the unique experience we can provide they currently play games at another league’s field while we put funds into the renovations the excitement can carry onto our fields that the softball players can call their own.”   “Community is the key to building the entire ship If you are going to start a league or try to build your already chartered league then you need to look around your community or families who don’t have league-aged kids – there are people in your community who are good people and are willing to help If you can get them all on board and explain to them the goals of your league which is to get together and support each other as these kids grow and get older then you have accomplished the most important piece to help your league grow.”  “Let’s say I get picked up and dropped in an area where travel baseball and softball are dominating Your league has to mean something in your community Kids from six years old to whatever the league’s highest level of play need people who care about them If they teach them at the same time how to throw a ball or hit a ball I think both of our league’s brandings create that environment I think about wonderful people and a community that supports each other I’m not sure how we sell that to programs that are struggling without them having those resources To learn more about the Little League® program, and find a league in your community, visit PlayLittleLeague.org 2024 at 9:48 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A house at 514 N in La Grange Park was damaged in a fire Saturday afternoon IL – A dog died in a fire that damaged a La Grange Park house Saturday Firefighters responded to the fire about 3:30 p.m according to a fire department news release The fire was coming out the windows of the back of the 2½-story Firefighters said they tried to revive the animal The fire department said the fire appears to have started in the kitchen According to a GoFundMe page "They are struggling to comprehend the extent of their loss as their home is uninhabitable and they will need to rebuild their lives from scratch," said the page created by friends Lauren Enright and Susan Goldby "We are reaching out to our amazing community to help get them back on their feet will make a significant difference in helping them." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. IL – A fire in a dryer damaged a house Friday night in a La Grange Park neighborhood Firefighters could see flames coming out the front door from the basement at 339 N according to a news release from the La Grange Park Fire Department The department quickly put out the fire with an extinguisher and a hose with the damage contained to the laundry and mechanical room The occupants and their pets got out before firefighters arrived A female was taken to the La Grange hospital Firefighters were at the house for an hour and a half The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation Damage to the house was estimated at $20,000 along with another $10,000 to the home's contents 2024 at 3:59 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Community Park District of La Grange plans to build a gymnasium next to its recreation center The district thought it had the money for the gym but later said costs have quickly escalated IL – The La Grange Park Village Board last week voted down the local park board's request for money to help pay for a recreation center expansion a top official from the Community Park District of La Grange Park said its financial position has improved trustees voted 4-2 against giving any money for the recreation center expansion Jamie Zaura and Michael Sheehan opposed the request while Joe Caputo and Karen Koncel favored it The park district had asked the village to chip in $2.8 million for the project the village staff recommended the board consider $243,000 That was the proposal the board turned down "We would love to see a redeveloped recreation center but I just don't think the village has the funds to contribute to the effort at this time," Trustee Stewart said In April 2023, 51 percent of voters approved the park district going $10.7 million into debt for the expanded recreation center at 1501 Barnsdale Road During the summer, the park district said the project's estimated cost had risen to $14 million, from $10 million It proposed the village contribute money from a tax increment financing district the district said "our improved financial position" would let the district issue $10.7 million in bonds with a structure that would pay for the project up to $12.8 million "Even more exciting is the fact that this can be done with a tax impact to our residents that is LESS than estimated in April of 2023," the district said the debt would cost the owner of a $500,000 home $21 per month which is $7 lower than the pre-referendum estimate said changes in the tax-exempt bond market mean investors are willing to pay more than face value for the bond issuance That will generate more money for the project "The project is still projected at $14 million but the park district will use additional capital outlays and will continue to seek alternative revenue to make up any additional funding gap," Cannaday said The district said it has been open with residents discussing its needs and the results of the referendum But the district acknowledged it faced hurdles "The Community Park District knows of the misinformation that has been disseminated by private residents with a history of using personal attacks and half-truths to achieve the results they desire despite not being in the majority," the district said then killing two dogs in the Chicago suburbs was killed by police Wednesday close to nationally known racist Nicholas Fuentes' house in Berwyn On X, Fuentes, who is from La Grange Park, alleged the man drove 2½ hours to his house where he parked and then attempted to enter his house in the front and back for 10 minutes until police arrived He posted footage of the man who he said was the suspect He said the information he posted was for the media who he accused of "attempting to sweep up the assassination attempt against me." Berwyn officers responded to a report of a man with a gun in the 1800 block of Home Avenue He then headed back to the 1800 block of Home Avenue Berwyn police said the man was wanted in the triple homicide in Mahomet police did not indicate the man's motive or mention Fuentes Fuentes, a 2016 Lyons Township High School graduate, was the student body president. He has since acknowledged his racism 2024 at 4:21 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}La Grange Park police said four similar house burglaries have occurred over the last couple of months IL – Four similar house burglaries have occurred over the last couple of months in La Grange Park suspects entered through the back of the house with three involving forced entry by breaking a rear door's glass They targeted homes that appeared unoccupied at dusk The latest was reported as occurring between 9 a.m The same pattern has been seen throughout the western suburbs according to a La Grange Park news release The police department encourages residents to report suspicious cars and people, activate residential alarms, make their homes appear occupied, ensure adequate outside lighting and use the local vacation watch program But the district said it needs millions more because costs have gone up so much At a Village Board meeting late last month park district officials requested the village to chip in $2.9 million for the project Village officials said they wanted to help but that they didn't have that kind of money The park district plans a gymnasium with a stage and elevated walking track The gym would be next to the district's recreation center at 1501 Barnsdale Road The upgrades would also include an elevator the project was estimated to cost $10 million "The cost of this project is increasing about 4 percent every month right now," Jessica Cannaday The district is proposing to get the village's money through a tax increment district property taxes generated from growth in a TIF's tax base are diverted for the district's benefit Village Trustee Jermaine Stewart said a gym would help the community but he said the tax district's money is already obligated The money is set to be spent on streetscape improvements the "green alley" project and proposed parking solutions "As far as all the stuff we have promised the public I just don't know how feasible this is at this time," Stewart said "I really don't know a way forward at this time." Village officials said $1.3 million of the park district's $2.8 million request would be eligible for reimbursement from the tax district Cannaday said $1.3 million would still bring the original project scope back into feasibility Cannaday told the Village Board the project would bring a significant benefit economically to the town – $700,000 in jobs a year It would also recoup a part of the $500,000 that residents are spending at gyms and related services outside of La Grange Park Village President Jim Discipio said he wanted the project to happen Whether we can generate something for the park district "I'm sure the board will agree to something Officials agreed to have the village attorney available for the discussion at the next meeting (The village later said that the discussion is set for Sept 2025 at 7:08 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Chevrolet Corvette ended up crumpled in a crash earlier this month in the 800 block of La Grange Road IL – A crash earlier this month in La Grange resulted in serious injuries a 26-year-old Countryside man was speeding north in the 800 block of La Grange Road when he lost control and struck the rear wheels of a UPS semi-truck The truck's rear wheels went over the Chevrolet Corvette's front end The truck clipped a tree alongside the road The occupants of the Corvette suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries with the fire department extricating the driver Police reported that the driver was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood and the passenger to the La Grange hospital Fire department paramedics saw seven people The driver was cited on charges of improper lane usage damage to village property and driving an uninsured car BERWYN, IL – Nicholas Fuentes, the nationally known admitted racist from La Grange Park, has been arrested on a battery charge in connection with pepper-spraying a woman at his door last month who now lives in the 1800 block of Home Avenue in Berwyn was processed by Berwyn police the day before Thanksgiving Berwyn resident Marla Rose was upset about Fuentes' recent social media post after the presidential election that stated told officers she learned that Fuentes lived in Berwyn so she went by his house to take a video of it A passerby encouraged her to ring the doorbell Fuentes opened the door and immediately pepper-sprayed Rose and pushed her with both hands causing her to fall backward down the stairs Fuentes grabbed the woman's phone and went inside his house before coming back out She later got her phone back from the police Fuentes told officers he posted a political joke online he said he had been getting online death threats and people showing up at his door unannounced who was Lyons Township High School's student body president before graduating in 2016 who said his client would go to the Berwyn police station the next day to be processed Cervantes could not be reached for comment After the incident, Rose posted video of it online "Don’t show up at somebody’s front door looking to cause problems." In November 2022, Fuentes dined with Trump and the rapper Kanye West at the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida Fuentes said he wouldn't endorse Trump this time around He seemed to object to the idea that Trump's running mate JD Vance's wife After the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, Fuentes said on his podcast The only thing that Trump wasn't awesome for was being antisemitic While Fuentes complained to the police about death threats he has called for or relished the death of others In fall 2023, Fuentes fantasized about having African Americans killed During the Christmas season that year, Fuentes pushed for the death penalty for non-Christians Fuentes aired his podcast from his parents' home in La Grange Park 2024 at 7:10 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Dollar Tree has been ordered closed while the store fixes the damage from a car crash IL – The Dollar Tree store in La Grange Park has been ordered closed for the time being after a car crashed into it The vehicle recently hit the store's second exit Village Manager Julia Cedillo said in an email to Patch the store must have two ways for people to exit the store must fix the damage permanently or repair the problem temporarily until the work gets done Dollar Tree must stabilize the exterior wall and the area above the exit door "A second egress has to be re-established – so either the temporary fix has to include an exit door or some other exit must be identified and approved per the code," the manager said "The folks involved are trying to figure that out at this time." owns thousands of stores across the country The company's public relations department did not return a message for comment Tuesday This post-Art Deco style emphasizes simple geometric massing and stripped-down so let’s step inside these five properties that are currently for sale What makes Joern-built residences stand out from the pack is that they were designed in a variety of architectural styles and are renowned for their high-quality construction in the use of concrete and steel with rounded corners and geometric patterns is one of 150 homes that Joerne created in this suburb four-bedroom residence has undergone some interior updates (just look at that kitchen!) and the powder room with vintage glass tiles The blonde brick exterior features curving metal rails along with square-shaped and glass block windows Less than a block from Lake Shore Drive In Chicago’s Gold Coast stands a striking condo building that blends International Style and Art Moderne with its corner windows, glass blocks, and streamlined stucco facade. Thanks to architectural historian Max Chavez for providing the history of the building’s remodeling: In 1938 would alter the early 20th-century structure (no architect was specified) into what was the new modern style of that time period three-bathroom duplex penthouse offers an open and reasonable HOA fees for the area at $562 more affordable option compared to our first listing three-bedroom residence is located on a corner lot near the state border with Chicago just across Wolf Lake — which is within walking distance from this home and features numerous walking and biking trails with the exception of the stone fireplace and linoleum flooring in the vintage basement sleek brick and stone exterior with flat roof showcases all the characteristics of the Streamline Moderne style It’s no surprise this 1940s home looks so good because the original owner was a brick mason.  If any lakefront building exemplifies the Art Moderne style, it is the Marine Drive Apartments in Chicago’s Uptown designed by architects and developers Oman & Lilienthal in 1939 “six staggered blocks of multicolored stripes of brick and corner windows are arranged to take advantage of lake views and maximize ventilation” for the building’s 200-plus units the structure features a private central courtyard that includes an Art Moderne fountain made of glass blocks The monthly HOA fees are high at $1,182 but cover 24-hour security (including a doorman) As I mentioned last week the Scarsdale neighborhood in Arlington Heights is filled with charming historic single-family homes many of which were built between the mid-1920s and 1930s showcasing all the hallmarks of the Art Moderne style (including a flat roof is back on the market after a contingency fell through two-bathroom home has significant potential I really like the family room addition with its vaulted wood ceiling But the best part is that the property is within walking distance of the suburb’s downtown Sign up for our Home & Real Estate newsletter We hope you enjoy our newsletters.To subscribe to the print edition of Chicago magazine, go to chicagomag.com/subscribe Chicago magazine newsletters have you covered 2025 at 5:06 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A fatal crash occurred about 2 p.m Friday at Willow Springs Road and 47th Street IL – A crash involving seven cars left one person dead and at least five with injuries Friday afternoon in La Grange WGN reported Saturday that a second person died in the crash citing the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office Police said the La Grange Fire Department and several nearby agencies helped care for the drivers and passengers The identities of those involved are being withheld pending notifications to families Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has relevant information is asked to call La Grange police at 708-579-2333 2025 at 9:40 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)INDIAN HEAD PARK IL – At the January 2025 Village Board meeting Detective Corporal Kissane of the Indian Head Park Police Department was honored for his hard work and dedication in solving a violent crime that occurred in August 2024 when a victim was robbed and shot after responding to a Facebook Marketplace advertisement The offenders fled the scene but were quickly stopped by LaGrange Park Police officers Detective Corporal John Kissane proactively continued the investigation gathering key evidence and working with witnesses to identify one of the suspects leading to the approval of felony charges for armed robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm "Public safety is one of our top priorities in Indian Head Park and this case is an example of how collaboration and hard work make a real difference," said Village President Amy Jo Wittenberg Chief Matthew Walsh stated at the Board meeting "Detective Corporal Kissane’s dedication and thorough investigation along with the quick response and assistance from the LaGrange Park Police Department carrying serious penalties under Illinois law with minimum sentences of six years and up to 30 years per charge Our Department will continue to do everything to protect the public and hold those looking to harm them accountable for their actions I would also like to thank the Cook County State's Attorney for their teamwork and commitment to justice.” Members of the public are encouraged to conduct merchandise transactions at the IHP Police Department where a secure and monitored environment is provided for such activities IL — A man who was last seen in La Grange — and who recently suffered a concussion and may need medical attention — has been missing since earlier this week who also goes by the nickname "ATRAIN," was last seen on March 31 on Brainerd Avenue in LaGrange blue jeans and dark gym shoes and white over-the-ear headphones weights 200 pounds and has a Jack in the Box tattoo on his chest Police say he recently suffered a concussion and may need medical care Anyone who knows where Vecchio is should contact La Grange police 2024 at 11:22 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The house at 15 Hayes Ave IL – A fire destroyed a house early Halloween morning in a La Grange neighborhood A couple, Hayley Prena and Ivan Galvan, lived in the three-story house with Ivan's parents, Elva and Benito, siblings and many pets, according to a GoFundMe page and pounded on the door to alert the family of the danger they were in," Jenni Prena wrote the entire family was thankfully safely outside as the fire department extinguished the fire this event has left everyone and their fur babies split up as they find temporary living arrangements." Almost everything was lost to fire or water damage from the ceilings caving in on every floor kindly opened their home to my daughter 8 years ago when she moved in with Ivan," Jenni Prena said "This is a family that has shown kindness and love to everyone to providing a home when loved ones have been displaced." She said she was seeking donations to help them rebuild their lives and cover any losses of income from missing work IL – Two men were arrested Saturday in an altercation in the 1100 block of Homestead Road in La Grange Park both 34-year-olds living in the 1100 block of Homestead Road were charged with aggravated battery to a senior citizen Dzingeleski also faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon while Grube was charged with aggravated battery with great bodily harm La Grange Park police and Cook County prosecutors worked to secure the charges against the duo The suspects were taken to Cook County Court on Monday ExpandAn aerial photo commemorates the 125th anniversary of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park Students form the numerals on the main football field (Photo provided by Nazareth Academy archives) Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park is celebrating its 125th anniversary a milestone of resilience born of a women’s religious congregation founded in the French town of Le Puy in 1650 that defied hardship political strife and guillotines in its quest to serve the “dear neighbor.” a request came from Missouri’s bishop of St Louis for members of the Sisters of the Congregation of St That first foray into the United States would lead to a small group of sisters arriving in the La Grange Park area some 63 years later in 1899 and starting a school the following year at first teaching only 14 students in a remodeled six-bedroom house at 120 N They soon embarked on construction of the building that would be the first of several academic homes for the school led by Foundress Mother Alexine Gosselin the school enrolled both resident and day students Joseph help work on a new building for Nazareth Academy in 1949-50 “It has been so much fun really digging into the early history of Nazareth and really coming to an understanding of the incredible … work hardships and challenges of the original founders,” said Therese Uphues Hawkins a member of Nazareth’s Class of 1979 and principal since 2018 “Most of my career was spent in the classroom teaching history [at Nazareth] The story goes that the sisters had 3 cents in their pocket when they arrived in town but enrollment fluctuations prompted the bold action to go coed in 1977 Nazareth board of trustees member Dan Chopp remembers the year well “I was one of about 15 boys that went into a previously all-girls school,” Chopp said 15-year-old person going to an all-girls [school] with a few other boys [we were] trailblazers kind of changing what had been a traditional girls Catholic school for so many years “We joked about [no] problem getting a date,” Chopp said we weren’t able to have a football team – not enough boys Our basketball team would practice against the girls' teams.” mentioned in the 1980 comments of an anonymous student included in the Nazareth website’s anniversary timeline: but any alum (and here’s one) worth her salt fondly remembers four-point collar uniform blouses rolled skirts and the haze of forbidden hairspray in the washrooms at three o’clock more likely because) of the rules and regulations the education was first-rate and proved a solid foundation for a college experience but the philosophy and level of education are still high survived and appears as strong as ever as it receives congratulations in the year of its 80th birthday.” drawing from about 55 communities and more than 100 grade schools previously principal for 18 years and a member of Nazareth’s Class of 1982 Her first position at the school was to serve for six years as campus minister and religion teacher Both her mom and daughter are Nazareth graduates with all three of her daughters graduating as a teacher and now as a school leader is that what we do here at Nazareth and what we’ve done for 125 years is to empower young people to be the very best version of themselves and to go out and give back to a world that is so much in need of peace The Roman Catholic college-preparatory high school names its four pillars as scholarship Students volunteer more than 15,000 hours each year to service partners and nonprofit organizations “And that service component is woven into every year of a child’s experience here at Nazareth,” Hawkins said “We want our students to engage in direct service with people and to create relationships with the people they are serving We think that is where our students gain the most Living out our mission of unity is all about social justice all about making sure we are aware of people living on the margins people who have obstacles in their lives that we may not have.” staffed and managed every detail of the student experience Nazareth Academy became its own corporation independent of the Congregation of St which now sponsors and supports the school while functioning as its spiritual center “I am so proud of the education I received from the Sisters of St Joseph and the lay faculty that were here at the time,” Tracy said I left with a great deal of confidence going off to college … Going to work at Nazareth was like coming home students and their instructor are busy in a science lab This year marks the 125th anniversary of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park “Every school has a lens through which they educate … That lens is rooted in who founded your school “These women are amazing and dynamic and have a world vision of very proactive and forward thinking who were in leadership at the time – fast-forward Many of them are still actively involved on our board or meeting with our students One sister remains on the staff – Sister Terry Middendorf – having served Nazareth for more than 50 years “She was my math teacher in the 1970s,” Hawkins said “Sister Terry has served in her role as academic dean for many years … We are very lucky to still have a sister who is with us every day,” Hawkins said Students this school year mark the 125th anniversary of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park a sentiment echoed by senior Annie Trayser “I have absolutely loved Nazareth all four years,” said Trayser “I grew up going to sports games and Nazareth events My parents knew when they moved to the area that they’d send us all to Nazareth I appreciate a lot about how the teachers build relationships with the students [and] always are willing to give us extra help as well as change their [style] of teaching to help individual students.” discovered a love of sports at Nazareth and has been part of cross country and soccer teams in addition to school clubs an aerial shot was taken of students on the main football field forming the numeral 125 “We get to show off our school and how close we all truly are,” Trayser said Chopp’s two children were prepared well for college who overlapped his years attending the school Nazareth Academy Principal Therese Hawkins (left) and President Deborah Tracy are both graduates of the La Grange Park college-preparatory high school celebrating its 125th anniversary they made Nazareth their career,” Chopp said “[It] is really a tribute to them and what the school has become.” He relishes the longstanding friendships formed at Nazareth … Seven guys went to watch the Nazareth state championship [football] game a few weeks ago.” For those curious about the Roadrunners team name Hawkins said it dates to her student days at the school when there used to be non-connected academic buildings “We literally would have to run across the road to get to our other classes,” Hawkins said While continual improvements have kept the campus up-to-date and the school has become a powerhouse in boys and girls sports as well as in programs such as music and theater Joseph credo of unity underpins the mission to work toward a world of hope and peace that all may be one the NazBash and auction took place in February There will be a gala June 6 at the La Grange Country Club, with a weekend of events including an alumni reunion. For details, visit nazarethacademy.com The anniversary gala will honor both the school and the Sisters of the Congregation of St Renee TomellCovering the arts and entertainment scene in northern Illinois, with a focus on the Fox River Valley. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network 2025 at 3:18 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Carla Carter is one of four candidates for three seats on the La Grange Village Board IL – Carla Carter is one of four candidates for three seats on the La Grange Village Board Here are her responses to the Patch questionnaire: Does anyone in your family work in politics or government Carter is a retired Firefighter/Paramedic who worked for the Orland Fire Protection District Previous or current elected or appointed office: I am a member of the La Grange Business Association so I’ve had my finger on the pulse of La Grange for quite some time The single most pressing issue facing the village is _______ How can we bring revitalization and diversification to La Grange’s business districts is the biggest issue the Village faces we have more than one – four actually) are the backbone of our community We need to take measures to attract new and exciting businesses (like a wine bar or piano bar) for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy our town our surrounding communities are taking steps to amend their regulations to bring diverse businesses to their communities while surrounding downtowns are flourishing after dark Strong business districts provide energy for a dynamic community We also must do a better job of managing all of our business districts Revitalization of the district between 47th and 55th street would add so much value to our community the west end of town with the new slated development needs our attention What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post I am a creative thinker and problem solver The issues the Village is facing are not new but we need new ideas on how to solve them and the Board has been slow to even consider change This is problematic when our neighboring communities are taking steps to progress and attract businesses that would be great additions to our community We need new ideas and a new set of eyes to solvethese problems What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job having received multiple awards for my legal work I have also owned my own law firm for over 17 years so I have considerable experience regarding business Please visit my website (www.carlaforlagrange.com) to read more about my experience Are the village government's taxes too high Many residents question the value of services we are getting for the taxes we pay could work to bring more balance to this issue and allow the Village to offer more services to its residents What is your view of the village's maintenance of its infrastructure The Village’s maintenance of its infrastructure is generally good but I see room for improvement the ongoing flooding issues have still not been resolved so sewer and water infrastructure should always be on the table for discussion Our streets and sidewalks need improved maintenance as well we did a better job of keeping the sidewalks cleaned and the potholes repaired What is your assessment of the police department's performance Our police and fire departments do a tremendous job of serving our community As the wife of a retired firefighter/paramedic I have great respect and admiration for those that keep us safe We should support them and all they do for us The number of traffic tickets has plunged over the years in La Grange Our police need to be empowered to issue more citations especially as it relates to semi-truck traffic on La Grange Road the tickets are not the sole gauge of effectiveness in policing I appreciate the targeted enforcement events the LGPD has conducted near schools and hope to see more in the future What type of buildings should be allowed in downtown La Grange There is no one size fits all answer to this question transparency and community engagement are non-negotiable Our Board needs to listen to residents when considering building plans I live on the west end of the town and many residents felt unheard and ignored when voicing their concerns about the large I think the current board missed an opportunity to work with the community to find a solution that worked for everyone How do you rate La Grange's handling of stormwater problems There has been significant progress on this issue in great part due to DryUp La Grange and Glenn Thompson bringing political pressure on Village leadership One area that I would like to work with Glenn and the Village on improving is communication We need more communication from the Village on what is being done and what programs are available to assist residents in need it has been a long time since we received an update on the court case against quarry owners Hanson Aggregates (now Heidelberg Materials) Should the village allow video gambling or recreational marijuana sales in town Both issues should be addressed in community forums with input from residents While I am not in favor of gambling or marijuana sales I would need to hear from residents about what they want before a future vote on these issues Should the village president and trustees take political contributions from village contractors or those with zoning or other matters before the board The Village President and Trustees should never take contributions from contractors or people with matters before the Village Any activity that creates even the appearance of impropriety should be avoided The public needs to trust their officials to always put their interest first and the public cannot do that if there is any appearance of impropriety Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office I intend to serve the entire term of office if elected and we intend to make La Grange our home for many years to come What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions I believe in transparency and will always have an open door We need input from all sources and should respect everyone’s opinion there is an overarching theme that they are not being heard I entered this race to bring new and exciting opportunities to our community This requires creative thinking and listening I want to encourage all residents to consider voting early this year 2025 election falls squarely in the middle of spring break for our schools 2025 at 4:33 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A potentially armed person was found after a search Thursday afternoon in La Grange IL – Officers on Thursday found a person who they said was potentially armed and suffering from a mental health-related episode police responded to the 100 block of West Burlington Avenue to look for the person The police department said it requested several nearby schools to go on lockdown during the search The person was found and did not cause problems Surrounding police departments helped with the search ExpandLa Grange Park Public Library Executive Director Gabe Oppenheim stands near an expanded children’s department that was part of the library's $5.1 million renovation A grand reopening party is planned for Saturday The word “hush” probably won’t be said at the La Grange Park Public Library on Saturday. Instead you can bet on hearing laughter, music and other sounds associated with the grand reopening of the library, 555 N. La Grange Road, after a $5.1 million renovation that finished on time and on budget. The library had a soft reopening May 6. Making sure all was running smoothly, the grand reopening was set for Aug. 3, Executive Director Gabe Oppenheim said. Oppenheim, 47, of Oak Park grew up in La Grange Park. He has worked at the library for 27 years and was named executive director earlier this year after having served as interim director. He is pleased with the renovation, which has resulted in plenty of changes from new windows facing La Grange Road to a room dedicated to teens. “First of all, the space is beautiful,” Oppenheim said. “Patrons are almost uniformly delighted. We have a lot of changes that benefit the community. Study rooms we added in the adult department are super popular. We have three dedicated rooms now.” Other warmly received additions are a teen lounge and an expanded children’s department, he said. This was the first renovation of the library since 2005. It may not sound too exciting, but for the first time the library has restrooms on the first floor. Leopardo Companies was in charge of construction. Those who haven’t visited the renovated library may not recognize some parts. One big change longtime patrons will notice is a large opening in the second floor has been closed to provide additional floor space upstairs. “It will help prevent noise from traveling throughout the building,” Oppenheim said. Asked if his wish list was fulfilled, Oppenheim smiled. “There certainly were some minor alterations to plans for budgetary reasons, but all the major things we wanted to accomplish we did accomplish,” he said. “We’re still waiting for some new furniture to come in.” Saturday’s grand reopening has a full agenda after a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. “There will be events throughout the day.,” Oppenheim said. There will be a scavenger hunt, a display of local artwork by residents, library history exhibits, story time, crafts, a poetry workshop for teens and some gaming. The parking lot party from 5 to 8 p.m. includes sampling Shh, a pilsner beer brewed specifically for the library by Hop District on 31st Street in La Grange Park. “We’re trying to play on the library thing even though we’re not a quiet library,” Oppenheim said. “They brewed a special brew just for us.” Pizza, pulled pork sliders and other snacks will be available along with frozen custard from Andy’s, which is a neighbor of the library. “I’m very jazzed,” Oppenheim said of the event, noting that libraries have evolved through the years. “The conventional wisdom about libraries is that we’re all about books,” Oppenheim said. “That is still true. But I think over the years we’ve become more and more a community space, a place for people to hang out, study or do work.” The library offers about 30 laptops for adults to use. “That’s a change we made in 2010,” he said. The makerspace is for making crafts, he said. A teen lounge on the second floor has proved quite popular, he said. The afternoon of July 26 found two girls there busy making bracelets. “I like it. It’s very fun,” Grace Tangorra, 12, of La Grange Park said of the lounge. “I love it. It’s my first time here. They have things to do,” said Hope Voegtle, 12, of Westchester. Glancing around the second floor, Oppenheim said that while there is a bit less space for books in the library, “we haven’t significantly reduced the size.” Count La Grange Park resident Pat Collado among the pleased patrons. As she and two granddaughters were leaving the library, Collado said she’s at the library often with her grandchildren. “There’s a variety of choices for kids,” Collado said. The library opened at its location in 1989. 2025 at 3:58 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}William Schaub was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving grooming He is a teacher at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville IL – A teacher from La Grange was arrested Thursday on sexual abuse charges with police saying he had an inappropriate relationship with a student who lives in the 10 block of North Stone Avenue He is an English teacher at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville His credits include such films as "Executive Decision" (1996) "17 Again" (2009) and "The Setting Son" (1997) In 2011, Patch wrote about Schaub's arrival in La Grange and his acting career Schaub worked as a reading and creative writing teacher at S.E He was the associate director for Neuqua Valley's play Police said the incidents took place between November and March Authorities said they uncovered "inappropriate electronic messages" that Schaub exchanged with the student along with evidence of "inappropriate physical contact." Schaub was arrested Thursday during a traffic stop and was taken to the Will County Jail Neuqua Valley said Naperville police had informed the school of Schaub's arrest School officials became aware of the allegations on March 7 after receiving an anonymous tip about inappropriate behavior The school said it immediately launched an investigation placed Schaub on administrative leave and informed Naperville police Schaub started in the school district in 2013 after passing a background check 2024 at 9:26 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The money from a $13.9 million referendum would go toward capital projects a Park District of La Grange official said IL – Support for the referendum to increase the Park District of La Grange's property taxes took a big lead in Tuesday's election In August, three board members for the Park District of La Grange voted to put the issue on the ballot the district could go into debt by $13.9 million for nearly 25 years The tax increase is expected to cost the owner of a $500,000 house an extra $71 a year The park district said it sought the public's feedback on what improvements residents would like to see Here are the highlights of what the park district would like to do with the money: In an email to Patch in August, Jenny Bechtold, the district's executive director, said the new tax would go toward capital projects and would not cover day-to-day operational costs the self-acknowledged racist who grew up in La Grange Park recently confronted a woman at his house in Berwyn Fuentes angered many when he wrote on social media who was Lyons Township High School's student body president before he graduated in 2016 Doxxing means to give personal information such as phone numbers and addresses to the public Berwyn resident Marla Rose said a friend told her that Fuentes lived in her town Rose said she shot a two-minute video from the sidewalk in front of Fuentes' house "Is this where the douchebag lives?" Rose said she replied said the driver suggested Rose ring the doorbell and see what he had to say for himself Rose said she has a hard time resisting dares he immediately swung the door open like he was at damn Waco sprayed me with a burning liquid (Pepper spray Mace?) and pushed me down the stairs onto his sidewalk," Rose said "I rolled into a protective position because I was anticipating kicks or stomps Rose said she had a video, which she was holding onto for evidence. Fuentes can be heard in the video In a statement, Fuentes told the Chicago Sun-Times The newspaper reported that the police retrieved Rose's phone from Fuentes Patch filed a public records request with Berwyn police for the report on the incident the police extended the response time by five days In 2022, his mother, Lauren Fuentes, appeared to be a big fan of her son's racist ideology during an appearance on his podcast In another episode of his podcast, Fuentes said his father, Bill Fuentes, would not take his family to certain restaurants because he believed they were associated with African Americans Only his sister, Melissa Fuentes, appears to have no sympathy for Fuentes' views She also appears to back the LGBTQ community IL – A La Grange trustee on Monday encouraged the village to get its own Facebook page "Our neighboring towns do a very good job posting anything from meeting notices to water main breaks to police and fire," Trustee Beth Augustine said at a Village Board meeting it's where most people go for local information." The La Grange Police Department has a Facebook page, while the village shares a page with other area entities Area towns that maintain such pages include Western Springs, Burr Ridge, Darien and Elmhurst Augustine said La Grange could post meeting notices She said the village put out no notices of its Monday meeting on social media I think people would like to get more information and a place to go that they can rely on." Village President Mark Kuchler said the board would discuss communications as part of its budget meeting next month LA GRANGE, IL – Bonita Bowls launched recently in downtown La Grange The 1,100-square-foot shop officially opened March 3 at 114 W The new store joins four others – Elmhurst Another one is expected to open in Wheaton later this year "We’ve come such a long way since launching our first smoothie shop in November of 2021 and we’re fortunate to have experienced steady growth over the last four years," Kyle Kissane pineapple and agave blended in coconut milk A similar business, BOA Acai restaurant, is proposed along with a coworking business at 30 S La Grange trustees expressed concerns with the proposal so they sent the matter back to the Plan Commission said earlier this month he won't endorse Donald Trump this time around In November 2022, Fuentes, who was a student leader at Lyons Township High School before graduating in 2016, dined with Trump and the rapper Ye at the former president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida But he did not denounce the white nationalist's views Fuentes is apparently no longer a Trump supporter "I'm not a Republican and I don't care that much and I'm not going to turn out," Fuentes said on his livestream June 18, according to Newsweek Last winter, Fuentes called himself a "Trump cultist" and a member of the "paramilitary wing" of the Trump movement "I do not answer to the civilian government I'm the praetorian guard of Donald Trump," Fuentes said on his podcast "If Donald Trump ordered me to do an extrajudicial killing During the Christmas season, Fuentes pushed for the death penalty for non-Christians Last fall, Fuentes fantasized about having African Americans killed He is believed to have moved his studio to Berwyn At last check, Fuentes still votes in La Grange Park 2025 at 7:36 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Jonathan and Brianna Cowan attended this week's La Grange Village Board meeting They hope to open Wooden Paddle restaurant at 23 W (Village of La Grange/via video)LA GRANGE Jonathan and Brianna Cowan went on a date in La Grange "We walked around and fell in love with the town just a great place," Jonathan Cowan said during this week's Village Board meeting they are planning to open Wooden Paddle pizzeria and the Remi event venue at 23 W Their timeline is "soonish," which they define as early March the board approved liquor licenses for the businesses the couple opened Wooden Paddle in Orland Park They realized they needed a sit-down establishment they bought the Pillars Community Health building on Calendar Avenue Jonathan said they have catered more than 500 weddings over the years "We've been able to take notes along the way on what would be a great wedding venue," he said "We'll be able to seat 200 people with a dance floor." the village's community development director "It is really stressful doing this big of a project," he said "I think it's a great place to invest money in La Grange you really helped me out mentally a few times during this process One of the remaining issues is a final connection from ComEd He asked for the village's help to reach ComEd's engineers to make sure the restaurant is fully connected before opening Village President Mark Kuchler said the village would work with its ComEd contact to see what the holdup is Wooden Paddle has an active social media presence, with videos featuring the Cowans and others