This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 2025 at 12:09 pm CDTExpandProfessor Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu race through a labyrinth of ancient clues and modern dangers in “The Da Vinci Code,” enjoying its Chicago regional premiere through June 1 at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace Author Dan Brown’s 2003 mystery-thriller “The Da Vinci Code” and the 2006 Tom Hanks-Ian McKellen film of the same name now have a stage counterpart at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace through June 1 I have seen the film and initially questioned how an action-packed drama would translate to live theater I shouldn’t have doubted the abilities of the Drury Lane team – with the use of a streamlined adaptation projections and a superbly talented cast of 10 it’s important to acknowledge that this is a work of fiction and the release of the book and subsequent film didn’t occur without controversy There were some religious denomination representatives who recommended boycotts because the plot involved an alleged cover-up by some in the Roman Catholic Church the plot still will be recognizable to those who read the novel or saw the movie but a bishop – played in the film by Alfred Molina – is not in the story Scenes involving that character apparently were deemed unnecessary by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel who wrote the adaptation; the result is a more straightforward timeline throughout the play A creative pre-play announcement in a British accent (the show takes place in France and the United Kingdom) advises audience members that they remain under surveillance through closed-circuit television “for your protection” and there is “no reason to be alarmed.” that idea of surveillance takes on a semblance of reality with many black-and-white video images projected on a stage-width screen (It initially fooled me into thinking it was live footage until I noticed the same individuals heading down the hallway to the restrooms more than once.) Ivy League professor of religious symbology Robert Langdon (Jeff Parker) is only partway into his Paris lecture on the evolution of symbols (a complete apple having a different meaning than the corporate logo of an apple with a bite out of it) when he’s summoned to the Louvre by police alongside a note the victim wrote in his own blood: a series of numbers followed by “O DRACONIAN DEVIL OH LAME SAINT.” (It’s not giving too much away to say that the letters end up being an anagram.) Because Sauniere was supposed to meet with Langdon for some unknown reason after the lecture the professor quickly finds out – thanks to cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Vaneh Assadourian) – that he’s not just being consulted on the case Langdon and Neveu must escape if they are to find and translate the clues left behind by Sauniere who Sophie says was her estranged grandfather Shane Kenyon and Janice O'Neill are part of the cast in “The Da Vinci Code,” enjoying its Chicago regional premiere through June 1 at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace When clues lead Langdon and Neveu to search for the “Holy Grail,” which may or may not be the kind of chalice sought in that classic Monty Python comedy film from 50 years ago avoid the killer (a monk named Silas played by Shane Kenyon) and increase their grail knowledge with help from an expert Langdon knows: Sir Leigh Teabing (Bradley Armacost) Leslie Ann Sheppard and the ensemble shine in “The Da Vinci Code,” enjoying its Chicago regional premiere through June 1 at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace Who is “The Teacher” directing Silas to commit multiple murders Will the quest involve numerous twists and turns but the answer to the third is a definite “Yes.” who made me believe in the reality of their characters I also would praise director Elizabeth Margolius co-video and projection designers Anthony Churchill and Mike Tutaj and lighting designer Lee Fiskness – they’ve all done marvelous work here supplementing the actors’ interpretations of the characters by helping the audience see the evidence they find as well as their thought processes as they solve puzzles and view surveillance footage if you’re interested in Indiana Jones-like adventures puzzles or just an intriguing mystery-thriller for adults that involves everything from Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” to Mary Magdalene to multiple murders to enigmatic messages and hidden secrets you’ll want to catch this Chicago regional premiere “The Da Vinci Code” is a novel idea that works wonders on stage • Paul Lockwood is a communications consultant at Health Care Service Corporation in Chicago as well as a local theater actor (Woodstock Opera House Grace Lutheran Church (Woodstock) and Toastmasters member former podcaster and past president of TownSquare Players He’s lived in Woodstock for more than 24 years • INFORMATION: 630-530-0111, drurylanetheatre.com A luxury home its owner calls a castle is for sale in Oak Brook It took masonry business owner Pawel “Paul” Iwanski more than two years to build the house The five-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bath house which is in the 3000 block of Lincoln Street features a master-bedroom suite that takes up about 2,500 square feet The listing says the house is 12,000 square feet room for a pool table and a Ping-Pong table The walls average more than 20 inches thick and there is 10-inch reinforced concrete between the floors “It’s a very unique property,” said Joseph Champagne of Coldwell Banker Realty Iwanski tried to sell it for more than $5 million in 2011 He advertised on a highway billboard that the castle needed a king he would use it as a bed-and-breakfast inn Iwanski created a corporation for the property in 2007 Champagne said he could not say why Iwanski is selling it now or if Iwanski ever lived in the house He did say that the inventory of homes at that price is “extremely low” and “even more so” in Oak Brook “Oak Brook has very few in that price point,” Champagne said Dorchester School District Two announced Oakbrook Middle School Principal Bentli Lewis (right) has been selected as a 2025 Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year She will be honored alongside three other educators at the 32nd annual Jostens Renaissance Global Conference June 28-30 in Chula Vista In a school known for its vibrant culture and academic excellence Oakbrook Middle School Principal Bentli Lewis has earned national recognition for her leadership and impact Dorchester School District Two announced that Lewis has been selected as a 2025 Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year The award recognizes educators who demonstrate exceptional performance and achievement in running their schools’ Jostens Renaissance programs academic excellence and character development “Jostens is honored to recognize Bentli Lewis as a Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year,” said Mike Wolf vice president of school culture and events “This award is designed to recognize the passion and dedication of educators who are a driving force in impacting students’ academic performance and character Bentli has certainly demonstrated that at Oakbrook and we are honored to celebrate her accomplishments at JRGC.” Lewis said she shares the award with the broader school community “I am deeply honored and humbled to be named a National Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year,” Lewis said “I am incredibly thankful to the many people who nominated me as well as the unwavering support of our district and Board of Trustees who continue to champion the initiatives that help us grow and strengthen our school “This recognition represents a shared vision of excellence and a deep commitment to building a positive school climate and culture — something that would not be possible without the dedication of the entire OMS staffulty team the enthusiasm and heart of our amazing students and the ongoing support of the Oakbrook community.” Lewis' colleagues praised her leadership in their nomination letters “Bentli is not just a leader – she is a force of nature a visionary who has breathed life into Oakbrook Middle School redefining its culture and climate in ways that were only once dreamed possible,” wrote Julia Solustri dedication and relentless commitment to fostering a positive school culture have transformed schools and empowered students and their families.” Director of Bands Marlin Ketter highlighted Lewis' approach to leadership Lewis exemplifies servant leadership by fostering a culture of appreciation and motivation among staff," Ketter said or simple yet meaningful interactions in the hallways she consistently reinforces a climate of positivity and belonging Her dedication to staff morale and student success makes Oakbrook Middle School a model of the Renaissance mission — creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.” helps schools nationwide build positive cultures where teachers thrive and students succeed a Minneapolis-based company founded in 1897 that provides yearbooks jewelry and other products celebrating academic and personal milestones For more information, visit www.jostensrenaissance.com or jostens.com Email: online@journalscene.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: An Oak Park man has been accused of fleeing Oak Brook police in a high-speed chase Pretrial release was denied on Wednesday for Bryant Allen He is charged with one felony count of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer and several misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including reckless driving and improper lane use According to a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office Oak Brook police were told Tuesday of a Dodge Charger and an Infiniti that supposedly had disobeyed a red light while driving east on Butterfield Road from 22nd Street Police found the vehicles near the eastbound ramp to Roosevelt Road and tried to stop them They say Allen was driving the Charger and that it accelerated Police turned off their lights and sirens but continued to follow it as did a Chicago Police Department helicopter Officers tried to stop it again at Harlem Avenue But Allen drove on the shoulder until hitting tire-deflating spikes deployed by Forest Park police Charles and an Oak Brook barn are among the historic places in Illinois considered most at risk by a preservation group Landmarks Illinois released its 2025 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list on Thursday The nonprofit organization’s list includes the Judge William D Charles and the Fordon Horse Barn in Oak Brook Other sites that made this year’s list include the W.A Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1903 JJ Walser House in Chicago “This year’s Most Endangered list is wide-ranging not only in the kinds of troubling threats these places face geographical locations and building types,” Bonnie McDonald Landmarks Illinois launched its Most Endangered program in 1995 to support advocacy and eventual preservation of the properties it annually lists is a Greek Revival built in 1844 by Judge William D the first president of the Kane County Bar Association plans to demolish the house to create space for a parking lot In October 2024, the church petitioned St. Charles’ Historic Preservation Commission for a certificate of appropriateness to tear down the house the commission has recommended denying the request The church has filed an appeal to the city’s Planning and Development Committee could be returned to active use as a residence or for retail space “The Judge Barry House is a rare ‘story house,’ reflecting nearly two centuries of Illinois and national history,” Steve Gibson the circa-1930 Fordon Horse Barn is in Saddle Brook Park within the Saddle Brook community bought the barn in 1941 to house his ponies the Saddle Brook Development Company deeded the barn and surrounding parkland to the Oak Brook Park District the park district sought to raze the structure by the end of April the demolition was delayed because of opposition from residents president of the Oak Brook Historical Society said the Fordon Barn “represents a window to the past … from a time when farms and pastoral settings were the norm.” she cited the impact of Oak Brook’s founder who made the Oak Brook Polo Club “the cornerstone of American polo culture.” “It is worth saving and preserving a place where American history happened,” Arts said The Illinois Department of Transportation had the authority to yank Oakbrook Terrace’s permit for red-light cameras near a popular mall Third District Appellate Court justices issued a ruling Friday finding the city flouted a requirement to provide IDOT with camera data reports “The city’s failure to provide all the mandated reports directly violates the terms of the permit that were intended to increase public safety,” the judgment states which affirmed a DuPage County judge’s ruling in 2023 also concludes IDOT “undoubtedly has the commensurate right to order removal of those systems when appropriate.” The city is disappointed that the appellate court “disregarded Illinois law the evidence and public safety,” city attorney Richard J Asked about an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court Ramello said the city takes its responsibility to protect the traveling public seriously “Safe travel on our roads and highways is of vital importance to the public The city council will promptly decide whether to appeal the court’s order,” he said The cameras went live in July 2017 to monitor southbound Route 83 and eastbound 22nd Street next to Oak Brook Center The surveillance generated 236,177 tickets until May 2022 The city deactivated the cameras in May 2023 Oakbrook Terrace was nearly two years late when it submitted its first evaluation report in July 2020 And the city did not provide a three-year evaluation report due in 2021 Ramello argued the city required IDOT traffic crash data to prepare those reports but the agency failed to provide the information in a timely manner the selection of locations and operation of cameras “is a local decision to be made by the municipalities where these important traffic law enforcement systems operate.” But appellate justices found the camera system here controlled a state right-of-way continued to exercise authority and control over the (camera system) after it was installed,” the ruling states “A permit is a privilege and does not grant any vested property rights.” Neighboring Oak Brook has long opposed the location of the cameras village phones rang off the hook with complaints “'I'm never shopping at your mall again!'” was the typical comment from drivers who assumed their tickets came from Oak Brook That's why there's not a property tax,” he said Manzo also noted the cameras were tied to corruption cases Former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci and state Sen Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty separately to receiving kickbacks related to the cameras in 2022 and 2020 “It's a good day for honest Illinois motorists,” Manzo said The Oakbrook Terrace police chief and deputy chief have been put on administrative leave after officers declared they have no confidence in their leadership Mayor Paul Esposito took the action Wednesday according to a police employee who read a statement to a reporter Friday Chief Casey Calvello started working for Oakbrook Terrace in 2013 he worked for the Oak Brook Police Department for 24 years Deputy Chief David Clark has been with the department since 2006 some officers presented the no-confidence vote to the city council One said that due to how Calvello and Clark manage the department employees are miserable and there is low morale Calvello and Clark were sued in 2024 by Officer Victoria Johnson sexual harassment/hostile work environment violation of the state Whistleblower Act and retaliatory discharge The lawsuit said after 10 years on the job she made a complaint about her supervising sergeant saying he had made sexual comments and sexually harassed her She also complained about the behavior of male officers saying some slept on duty in their police cars and would shut off GPS trackers so they could not be located Johnson said Calvello then told her if she continued to complain she would be subjected to discipline and retaliation the adult film actress who received money to stay silent about her involvement with President Donald Trump before he ran for president that Johnson was disciplined differently than male officers for similar infractions of policy and procedures It states the city fired her in February 2022 and that city officials opposed her request for unemployment payments by falsely stating she was receiving a pension A union arbitrator ruled she was unjustly fired and reinstated her in 2023 that the city then retaliated by making her re-attend a 14-week police training academy even though she was still a certified officer filed in DuPage County Circuit Court in May 2024 Calvello and Clark could not be reached for comment on Friday the department had the equivalent of 20 full-time officers according to the city’s annual financial report After more than a century as a gathering place for high society and the onetime epicenter of the sport of kings in America Club President James Drury and manager Danny O’Leary announced the decision Monday in a statement “After years of proudly hosting world-class polo matches and fostering a vibrant community of polo enthusiasts the Oak Brook Polo Club announces that it will be closing its doors under its current leadership,” the statement reads “This decision marks the end of an era for one of the most storied polo clubs in the United States.” The statement does not address what’s next for the property at 700 Oak Brook Road beyond indicating the leadership team is committed to working closely with Oak Brook officials “to continue to honor the Oak Brook Polo Club’s legacy and its history within the Village.” Oak Brook Village Manager Greg Summers said the club’s closing is “a loss to the village and its cultural legacy.” “Polo will always be a part of the legacy of Oak Brook and the village is committed to working with the Oak Brook Historical Society to preserve that legacy,” Village President Laurence Herman added The move comes after the club canceled its summer season in 2024 a training group for juniors and novices that operated in association with the parent club operated a summer 2024 season and will continue this summer in Bolingbrook O’Leary and Drury took over management of the club in 2016 effectively retired from the sport after competing atop his Argentine horse in an 8-7 victory over Great Britain on Cecil B Smith Field during the club’s 100th anniversary season in 2022 Maintaining the field and an annual $25,000 lease with the village of Oak Brook made operations costly So too were the expenses associated with setting up and tearing down the club’s grandstand and tents insurance and the publication of the annual Score Magazine Drury said annual expenses ranged from about $500,000 to $600,000 while the club took in about $300,000 to $400,000 “It was a net loss,” the Barrington Hills resident said But his retirement from the sport had a greater impact on the decision to end operations “I just felt that this is good time to go out I’ve been fortunate to survive after all these years,” said Drury noting he’d broken 15 ribs in his playing career O’Leary said ownership had reached out to the United States Polo Association “to gauge interest in helping continue,” and Drury had hoped players would keep the facility running Oak Brook Polo Club was founded in 1922 by Paul Butler whose family’s real estate holdings became the basis for the village in 1958 An epicenter of American polo following the 1954 relocation of the United States Polo Association and the U.S the club once offered 14 polo fields and stalls for some 400 horses took turns managing the club from 1967 to 1989 the club hosted Prince Charles for an exhibition match pitting his Wales team against the home team (The Butler family was friends with Queen Elizabeth II Drury noted.) The contest drew about 20,000 spectators While it may have hosted more famous players who has a personal and direct tie to the Butler family at the polo club who has a history and legacy of playing there Drury said he decided there was no reason to continue in the sport if he’s unable to participate “At some point it can’t go on forever,” he said The Summerville Family YMCA is again hosting its annual Healthy Kids Day a national YMCA initiative focused on improving the health and well-being of children and families This year’s event will take place at the Oakbrook Family Center from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday Healthy Kids Day encourages healthy habits active play and inspires a lifelong love of physical activity The event marks the unofficial kickoff to summer with a variety of fun and engaging activities for all ages face painting and a “Camp Corner.” There will also be giveaways and the first 100 children to sign up will receive a prize (KHQA) — A Camp Point family is sharing its rural roots to bring a handmade Christmas experience to the Tri-States Illinois opened Oakbrook Akers Christmas Trees in 2022 marking the realization of a dream for Amanda’s family For years Amanda had talked about how fun it would be to have a Christmas tree lot at the family’s picturesque cabin Now the cabin and the property surrounding it makes for a picturesque spot to pick out a Christmas tree and snap family pictures “One of my most favorite moments was when it snowed last year,” said Amanda Akers “We gathered in the cabin to watch football and I started making soup on the stove in the cabin We thought folks wouldn't come out to get a tree in the snow The kids were having snowball fights in between the rows of trees and the tree guys started building snowmen with them I ran over to the house for a bundles of stocking hats scarves and carrots for the kids to personalize their snowmen It was an absolutely beautiful day that I'll never forget The feel of the place is what seems to inspire the memories made every year “We hear one comment frequently,” said Amanda “It makes us melt when people say our place feels like walking into a Hallmark movie Akers says Oakbrook Akers has expanded to include a Pop-up Gift Shop inside the cabin select weekends during the tree season The charming Makers Market includes handmade Visitors also grab up handmade wreaths and other fresh arrangements The pop-up gift shop will be open this Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m This Makers market is special- a family affair highlighting the talents of both sides of Lee and Amanda’s family You 'll find him with his brother-in-law nephew and friends helping customers choose their trees Meanwhile Amanda’s sister Dee has her own small farm She sells her honey and honey fusions as well as canned garden good and seasonings and alpaca wool in the gift shop Amanda’s talents focus on the fresh evergreen arrangements including grave pillows Lee also crafts handmade charcuterie boards and cheese slicers made from wood that Amanda’s father aged for 50 years “We are an extremely close family on both sides often sharing celebrations together,” said Owner Amanda Akers “We were so blessed that each family member asked how they could contribute and truly wanted to be a part of it There is nothing more fun to spend time together at a Christmas tree farm.” It’s a dream that also takes time It's year-round planning on all of our parts,” said Amanda “We give feedback to each other to make the experience better for customers and we like to add new traditions every year This year we added letters to Santa and freshly popped kettle corn.” Wreaths & Gift Shop will be open this weekend Saturday and Sunday It’s located at 2450 County Road 2050 East The community has been amazingly supportive and I really can't put into words how this has impacted all of us here “The other comment I have seen in multiple places is that the people out here are what makes the place so special The way we are spread out among the customers and make their time here memorable and fun for the kiddos We want everyone to feel like they belong here and are part of our story.” The story of Oakbrook Akers began in 1973 when the Lashbrook Family (Amanda’s family) bought a bare lot that formerly served as a hog lot in Northern Adams County Amanda’s father and grandpa built the cabin in 1980 for a family BBQ's Amanda and her father decided to offer the cabin as an Airbnb in 2022 well after the Christmas tree season is over the cabin is shared with folks needing a place to stay or get away from the hustle and bustle of the world the BNB is on hold for the Christmas season “We feel so blessed to get to share this place with others during the most wonderful time of the year.” A DuPage County judge denied pretrial release Sunday for a Chicago man accused of trying to rob a man at gunpoint in an Oak Brook parking lot is charged with one count of attempted armed robbery in connection with the alleged holdup Thursday Prosecutors said Brassel arranged to meet the man Thursday evening so he could sell him a pair of Balenciaga shoes and a pair of Lavin shoes for $350 When the man had the cash for the purchase in his hand Brassel pulled out a black handgun — later determined to be a BB gun — and pointed it at him The man ran away and called 911 from a nearby store Brassel was located traveling southbound on I-90/94 near 52nd Street in Chicago at about 9:16 p.m and was taken into custody by Illinois State Police and Chicago police near and 63rd Street DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin recommended people take several precautions if meeting to make a sale arranged online: always meeting in a public place during daylight hours; telling someone where you are going and when you expect to return; and keeping your cellphone charged and nearby “This was a very serious incident that will not be tolerated in here in Oak Brook,” Oak Brook Deputy Police Chief Robert Christopherson said if you come to Oak Brook to commit a crime you will be arrested and charged to the fullest extent of the law.” Pre-trial release was denied for a Chicago man accused of leading police in a high-speed chase from Oak Brook to Countryside in a stolen car has been charged with one felony count of aggravated possession of a stolen motor one felony count of attempted aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle two felony counts of fleeing and eluding a police officer and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden Thursday granted the state’s motion to deny pre-trial release according to a press release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office an Oak Brook police officer received information about an allegedly stolen Toyota 4Runner being in the area of Route 83 the officer located the vehicle traveling northbound on Route 83 and followed it After the officer turned on his siren and lights the driver — later determined to be Mitchell — sped away at up to 75 mph Authorities say Mitchell took a U-turn near Riverside Drive and headed southbound on Route 83 weaving through traffic and onto the shoulder of the road to avoid stop sticks Officials said Mitchell stopped at a red light at 55th Street and Willow Springs Road But when police got out of their cars to stop him Mitchell drove off on 55th Street and hit an unmarked squad car Mitchell continued to drive away until pulling into a school parking lot in the 9600 block of 55th Street in Countryside where Mitchell got out of the Toyota and ran Police found him hiding in bushes around the corner of the school and took him into custody Mitchell’s next court date is scheduled for April 14 he faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison The village of Oak Brook recently announced the annual Taste of Oak Brook event is once again being held on July 3 including the iconic local 1980s pop band experience as well as Fearless: A Tribune to Taylor Swift “We can’t wait for Chicagoland to experience all of the things Taste of Oak Brook has to offer this year we welcome all of our neighbors to join us for a dazzling fireworks display and more,” said Village Manager Greg Summers “Those who have attended Taste of Oak Brook in the past know that we try to offer more each year “The village has expanded our VIP tents for large parties doubled the number of drones used in our display and brought in more food and beverage vendors — there is truly something for everyone!,” Summers said This year’s Taste of Oak Brook will be the village’s best annual event so far The annual event at the Sports Core Fields at 700 Oak Brook Road will feature several food vendors the fireworks show remains a crowd favorite for many locals which starts at dusk (around 9:30 p.m.) is nearly 25 minutes long Though fireworks may be a primary attraction for attendees the Taste of Oak Brook has made the 2025 event even better by expanding its private cabanas suites The cabanas suites include comfortable seating areas as well as complimentary beverage service (served from 5 to 10 p.m.) exclusive main-stage and fireworks viewing areas in addition to access to a private set of air-conditioned restroom trailers and complimentary VIP parking passes in a premier location The private cabanas are offered at $20,000 per cabana and are the perfect setting to celebrate Independence Day with colleagues Those interested in securing a Cabana can learn more via the Taste of Oak Brook sponsorship packet Taste of Oak Brook 2025 also will feature live music and welcome the nationally recognized 1980s nostalgia band Known for their high-energy and musical talents the Chicago-based band regularly sells-out venues across the country; but the Taste of Oak Brook is giving Chicago area the opportunity to see the beloved performers free of charge Additional performances throughout the evening include an electric set by DJ Speed The new offerings don’t start and stop with top tier entertainment and private cabanas as the event is also offering an expanded beer garden tent adjoining the mainstage as well as additional food and beverage from Bust Outs Just as in past years, the Taste of Oak Brook remains a free event for all attendees. Ample parking is available in VIP, Preferred and Value parking lots for a small fee. Parking is available for pre-sale on the event website, oak-brook.org/813/Taste-of-Oak-Brook-2025 as to allow attendees to enter the event as quickly as possible The Taste of Oak Brook is hosted at Village Sports Core Fields Sponsorship opportunities at all levels are still available and interested partners can learn more by emailing Connie Reid at creid@oakbrook.org or by calling (630) 368.5026 To learn more about the Taste of Oak Brook, sponsorship opportunities, or to reserve a private cabana, visit www.oak-brook.org/375/Taste-of-Oak-Brook ExpandHomes line Forestview Drive in Oakbrook Estates on Wednesday Developers are looking to expand the age-restricted Oakbrook Estates community by adding 67 units by Three Oaks and Sands roads in Crystal Lake More than 332 units are occupied at the manufactured housing park at 917 Crookedstick Court Developers are looking to expand the aged-restricted housing for people ages 55 and older on about 9.5 acres of undeveloped land at 4202 Three Oaks Road Developers and owners Ravinia Communities purchased the area in December 2021. “We believe we are providing safe, affordable, high-quality housing for seniors, a demographic that’s often underserved,” Ravinia Communities Principal Manager David Worth said. “We hope that this allows the city of Crystal Lake to continue to retain aging residents and provide additional housing options for them.” Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission voted to give a positive recommendation to City Council, who will vote on the proposal on Dec. 17. Ravinia Communities originally requested to build 69 units, but agreed to reserve at least two lots to create an expanded outdoor community area. Commissioner Natasha Teetsov suggested owners create an outdoor recreational space for people to gather and families to visit that includes covered areas and seating. “I think it would be important to add some kind of gathering outdoor amenities,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be particularly ornate or expansive, but just somewhere that people can bring their lunches and sit or sit on a bench when they’re walking their dog.” The manufactured homes typically sell in the $120,000 to $180,000 range with an additional site rent cost of $900 a month, Worth said. Residents also have the option to rent the homes for about $1,700 to $2,200 a month. Access roads to the new expansion will be through existing entrances on Sands Road and Ravinia Way. An entry point on Three Oaks Road will be for emergency access only, according to city documents The currently wooded and county land would need to be annexed into Crystal Lake and cleared for development. Some existing trees will remain to use as a buffer and about 684 trees may need to be replaced, but a survey to determine the exact number is still pending, according to city documents. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Archers compete in the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) state qualifying tournament at Oakbrook Middle School Archers shot at animal-shaped targets in the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) state qualifying tournament at Oakbrook Middle School The Department of Natural Resources emphasizes the importance of making ethical kill shots NASP holds archery tournament at Oakbrook Middle School hosted the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) qualifying tournament for the state competition “(The Department of Natural Resources) is pretty much in charge of NASP which is the National Archery in the Schools Program,” said physical education teacher Andrew Bishop “There are state qualifiers all over the state going on right now and the top 15 schools out of the entire state are going to qualify for the state championship for archery.” and Bishop emphasized to them the importance of making ethical kill shots “Archery is one of those sports where it doesn't matter It's just one of the things that all kids like First-year archer Neil Hughes said it is one of his favorite sports and he hoped to make it to the state competition “I think with the one practice round I have that should be enough time to get ready,” Hughes said “I think I will continue to compete in archery.” Bishop explained why he wants more children to compete “More kids need to get into archery,” Bishop said “It's just one of those things that is enjoyable and we all come from hunters and gatherers so it's just one of those things that I really am passionate about.” Results of the tournament will be posted to the NASP website 2025 at 4:30 pm CDTExpandEnjoy a private dinner event with Top Chef finalist and award-winning Chef Eric Adjepong as he presents his new cookbook March 18 at The Table of Crate at Oakbrook Center Enjoy a private dinner event with Top Chef finalist and award-winning Chef Eric Adjepong as he presents his new cookbook, “Ghana to the World,” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 at The Table of Crate at Oakbrook Center Table at Crate is located in Oakbrook Center with a tasting menu that tells the story of Adjepong’s Ghanaian heritage Guests will be immersed in new flavors and have the opportunity to taste the recipes that Adjepong developed for this book Adjepong will craft an intimate meal and explain his influences and inspirations from his West African heritage and his experience as a first generation Ghanaian American Tickets are $145 per person and includes the full meal Reservations can be made here Shaw Local News NetworkShaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois 2024 at 12:50 pm CSTExpandThe villainous Ursula and her puppeteer-driven tentacles enthrall in “Disney's The Little Mermaid," playing through Jan 12 at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” playing at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace has artistry throughout – holding audience members under a spell on both land and sea with beautiful performances and extraordinary puppetry The versatile cast helps tell Disney’s reimagined tale of Hans Christian Andersen with wit and modernity yet adheres to the classic elements of the story What we see onstage at Drury Lane is a studied explosion of design and color paired with scene transition efficiency that never lets the action slow down between the many numbers The scenic design and projections by Tijana Bjelajac and Anthony Churchill Superimposing a projection of the ship’s rigging onto the sail and sky with the clever movement of the sail and hull of the ship gives the audience a feel of the romance of a large sailing vessel right at the top of the show It’s as if you can feel the salt spray as Pilot (Matt Edmonds) and Prince Eric (Patrick Johnson) kick off the musical with great vocals and character King Triton and Sebastian come to life in "Disney's The Little Mermaid" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace Everyone knows the original tale and is familiar with how Disney has told it enchantingly through film and many productions What the Drury Lane cast has done is to bring a new creative take on many of the show’s elements the ensemble members are highly versatile and take on many duties and roles by swinging into a plethora of characters it was surprising to see that the cast was not twice the size Prince Eric (Patrick Johnson) and Ariel (Sarah Kay) enchant in "Disney's The Little Mermaid" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace through Jan has a sparkling presence and vocals that are performed as if her life depends on it And it does because of the diabolical sea witch Sawyer Smith plays Ursula with just the correct amount of playful evil along with several almost conspiratorial winks and nods at the audience And what would Ursula be without her gyrating tentacles played by two athletic actors in a stroke of design brilliance Sarah Kay stars as Ariel in "Disney's The Little Mermaid" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace the costume design by Ryan Park and Zhang Yu was a mash-up of courtesans saloon girls and a dash of Bob Mackie-style design and bling that resulted in an innovative look in creating mermaids and princesses with so many characters and an absolute explosion of fishes was one of the main stars of the show and reason alone to see this stunner a whole team from Chicago Puppet Studio under the leadership of Caitlin McLeod and Zachary Sun deserved their own curtain call It is hard to pick a favorite from the sea turtle to the electric eels Flotsam and Jetsam (Leah Morrow and Michael Hamman) and it was a great idea to save the main unleashing of the puppets until midway through Act I in the show-stopping number “Under the Sea.” The children in the audience certainly savored each of the scenes as they unfolded but almost everyone in the theater turned into a child and enjoyed the wonder of Scott Weinstein’s direction This is a perfect holiday show for any age in which to watch good prevail over evil and to witness how artistry can conjure a delightfully fresh reimagining of a well-known tale • Mary Beth Euker is a co-founder and director of Cricket Theatre Company in Lake Zurich and also directs throughout District 95 schools • COST: $74-$125 ($65 for ages 12 and younger) • INFORMATION: DruryLaneTheatre.com, 630-530-0111 Occupation: Assistant Village Administrator 911 Proviso Central Dispatch Center Director Is there a particular issue that motivates you what makes you the best candidate for the position The current dysfunction and division within the city council has caused the city to become stagnant and complacent while staff changes due to retirement and turnover have negatively impacted operations and resulted in the loss of valuable experience and institutional knowledge I am running for mayor to bring fresh leadership and proactive government to the city while having and enacting a shared vision to move our city forward Using the strategic and comprehensive plan as a guide and residents by working together on goals and projects I feel I am the best mayoral candidate due to my 20 years of experience in many different roles in municipal government (alderman director of technology & communications) all giving me vast experience finding creative solutions to deal with complex issues What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it employees of the city and visitors to our community is something that we must not take for granted and needs are something that evolve and only through communication and education with residents can the city stay on pace The recent MacArthur traffic safety issue was a major concern to residents and they let their voices be heard once given the opportunity Committees such as the MacArthur Traffic Focus Groups that the aldermen and I formed are examples of these groups of stakeholders working together to be successful The critically low police department staffing levels have never recovered from previous year’s budget cuts and lack of future planning The city’s large number of businesses (over 400) and 7 hotels are reasons we need a large police force even with a smaller residential population compared to nearby towns Coupled with daytime population of nearly 100,000 people it’s the reason why the city needs to continue adding officers Increased community policing and outreach programs youth and senior safety courses are some of the ways to utilize the extra manpower How would you describe the state of your community's finances What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed The city’s finances are something that should not be taken for granted and cutting needed staff or not filling vacancies should not be the reason to have surpluses The council has tried to increase fiscal oversight and awareness but inconsistent staffing in the finance department creates both instability and lost opportunities Having $15-19 million sitting in uninsured and non-interest-bearing accounts for over two years causing an estimated $1.5 million in lost interest is a tragic mistake that cannot be repeated Other recent notable financial initiatives that I helped spearhead and work with staff and companies to implement are a new auditing firm along with timely and informed financial reports will allow the council and staff to better control city finances and budgets and economic development should be the top priorities Spending on legal fees such as preventable lawsuits and staff issues need to be curtailed What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address what project(s) can be put on the back burner Two infrastructure projects that must be addressed are bringing water to the west part of the community for both commercial and residential and improving and upgrading the streambank path The water operations are already subsidized by transfers from other funds and specially assigned revenues within the city there is the opportunity for the city to have water operations self-funded which should be the goal of the enterprise water fund The streambank path refinishing project could be completed with grants and other collaborations with outside agencies or not for profits There are currently large grants available to upgrade walking paths with asphalt or permeable pavers that would allow for year-round use and aesthetic upgrade The path could use some beautification and more amenities or safety features which would be a great addition to the city the curb project could be revisited and redrawn with more safety and functionality added Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council My leadership style is collaborative and transparent focusing on open communication and fostering a sense of teamwork I believe in actively listening to diverse perspectives from both council members and the community to make well-informed decisions residents and council would share their views without fear of reprisal This was exercised with the recent MacArthur Traffic task forces and committees that were formed I aim to ensure that our collective goals are clear creating a strong foundation for effective actions and creative solutions that benefit the entire community I do not shy away from making decisive decisions and I take full accountability for the decisions I would build our decisions through consensus uniting the city council which is currently a challenge with our current administration I am pleased that nearly the entire city council (5 of 6 alderpersons) are supporting my candidacy What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet Intergovernmental collaborations and working with park districts state and other entities would be a big improvement over the current administration’s practice of isolation I would work with elected officials and surrounding entities giving us access to resources and funding and collaborating on regional issues that affect the city One simple change that would better the transportation options for seniors and the disabled in the city is partnering with the county’s Ride DuPage and Pace/Uber programs These would give more flexibility to resident’s giving them an on-demand option to go to the doctor community or vocational college or even just to visit a friend I would participate in the county’s Epi-Pen program which would train/equip our police officers with life-saving Epinephrine in case of an allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis which can be a result of a simple bee sting for a senior or food allergy for a child These are just some programs that we can better the quality of life as well as keep our residents safe A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County · March 12 Lakewood CARES is providing an academic-based response to schools highlighted in the Clover Park School District (CPSD) “#SuperSchoolShoutOut“articles in The Suburban Times This is data you will not find elsewhere in CPSD community relations pieces School Board meeting agendas or monthly “Inside Schools” The CPSD “beaming with pride” article covering Oakbrook Elementary School was featured in a Suburban Times article on 22 February 2025: The CPSD Oakbrook article is devoid of any actual academic-related information Can you tell by reading it how things are academically at Oakbrook How about any of the other CPSD schools in previous CPSD “community relations” puff pieces This is what is so unfair about these CPSD puff pieces CPSD treats academically successful and failing schools exactly alike when it comes to community relations rather than praising success and examining failure That’s what “equity” is all about: no winners I commend teacher Silvija Holmquist and fifth grader Anaiah Ward for their effort and interests they are but specific anecdotal examples of Oakbrook’s success which should have been addressed in a far broader context as well This Schooldigger.com graph displays Oakbrook’s academic rankings since 2016 to present:Oakbrook Elementary School Academic Ranking https://www.schooldigger.com/go/WA/schools/0141000265/school.aspx What makes Oakbrook’s academic ranking so striking are the series of significant “yo-yo” ups-and- downs over the last nine years (2020 not reported) 2016: 40.6 percentile2017: 50.9 percentile2018: 28.8 percentile2019: 42.7 percentile2021: 57.1 percentile2022: 29.3 percentile2023: 33.3 percentile2024: 37.7 percentile This phenomenon is somewhat unusual in CPSD where academic trends (typically downward) tend to be more gradual over time Oakbrook’s “yo-yo” academic ranking is mirrored by the OSPI “Students Meeting State Standards” metric over the same period I have researched Oakbrook’s student and teacher demographics (overwhelmingly white female teachers) and education and teacher/student ratios and found little variation over the same period that would explain this phenomenon there was an abnormally high rate of disciplinary issues with the percentage of students excluded in response to a behavioral violation between 2019 and 2024 as shown below: 2019: 3.4%2020: 6.9%2021: 0.96% (COVID?)2022: 10.6%2023: 3.6%2024: 1.6% Oakbrook’s highest discipline numbers are far higher than discipline numbers for other CPSD elementary schools regardless of their academic performance Typical CPSD elementary school discipline rates are below 2% or often less than 1% The lead up to COVID and post-COVID “bump” in Oakbrook’s discipline rate are unique to Oakbrook and not found in other CPSD elementary schools Perhaps the only conclusion that can be drawn from this academic ranking and disciplinary data is that Oakbrook went through a difficult unstable period administratively which affected teacher effectiveness and student learning in an unsettled school environment Did the CPSD School Board give an explanation given to parents of Oakbrook Elementary students Was the CPSD School Board even aware of the situation at Oakbrook Elementary https://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/ReportCard/ViewSchoolOrDistrict/102241 In 2024 Oakbrook was academically ranked at 37.7 percentile and has shown minor improvement since 2022 but it is still below average academically when compared statewide Oakbrook is at the bottom of the top eight CPSD elementary schools which have an average academic ranking of 53.3 percentile The bottom eight elementary schools have an average academic ranking of 12.6 percentile The average academic ranking for all CPSD elementary schools is 32.9 percentile The Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI) data shown below on the next two slides come from its “Report Card” website and go into further detail about Oakbrook’s academics and related factors: Oakbrook Elementary School academic performance “Students on Track for College-level Learning Without Needing Remedial Classes” is an OSPI confusing nonsense term especially at elementary and middle school level which replaced the previous easily understood and relevant “Students Meeting State Standards” In 2018/19 the percentage of Oakbrook students meeting State standards in ELA was (55.1%) math (51.1%) and science (48.4%) for an average of 51.5% In 2024 the average percentage of Oakbrook students meeting State standards was 45%: ELA (43.4%) math (37.3%) and science (54.2%).That gives you some idea of Oakbrook’s overall academic performance over the last five years through the midst of COVID and to the present which is better than the CPSD average attendance of 65.7% Oakbrook’s attendance is down significantly from its high pre-COVID average of 89.7% to a post-COVID average of 71.4% This may also be indicative of conditions that led to lower academic ranking and higher discipline rates Oakbrook’s teacher/student ratio is about one teacher to 13 students (1:13) which is below the CPSD average ratio of 1:15 and has not significantly changed since 2018/19 In 2019/20 Oakbrook’s expenditure per student was $15,383 By 2022/23 (latest figures) it had ballooned to $21,566 in just four years That’s an annual increase of about 8.8% and somewhat above CPSD per-student expenditure increases over that time period have among the highest average years of teaching experience (14.6) in CPSD Off-JBLM based elementary school teachers have an average of 12.6 years experience The Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI) data shown below on their “Report Card” website goes into further detail about Oakbrook’s Student Growth Percentile (SGP):Oakbrook’s Elementary School “Student Growth Percentile” (SGP) Oakbrook’s 2018/19 Student Growth Percentile (SGP) in ELA was 52 percentile and in math 41.0 percentile ELA was at 51 percentile and math at 41.5 percentile The State median SGP score is 50 percentile Oakbrook’s growth in ELA is average and in math below average over the last six years and has remained unchanged the OSPI SGP data for Oakbrook is not as detailed by race/ethnicity as that of other CPSD schools and is missing years 2019-2021 CPSD has a responsibility to periodically inform parents and tax payers about what’s really happening in schools academically and administratively instead of trying to propagandize with “puff pieces” That would be “transparency” rather than a “smoke screen” If you have a student who attends Oakbrook want to know what’s going on at that school and improve academic performance You deserve more in return for your hard-earned tax dollars Find out how your school is performing academically and what it is going to take to improve that performance School Board members are your elected representatives, not just rubber stamps for hired CPSD employees. Contact them and hold them accountable. Wondering who your CPSD Board representative is? Try contacting the Board’s President, Alyssa Anderson Pearson, via email at: apearson@cloverpark.k12.wa.us I’m sure she’ll welcome the opportunity to answer all your questions Lakewood CARES is a Community Service Organization. C = Citizens... Your Neighbors. A = Accountability... For Government Spending. R = Responsibility... For Government Actions. E = Education... Public Knowledge of Issues. S = Services... Serving the Public Need. Read past Lakewood CARES articles back to 2021 by clicking here DISCLAIMER: The above news, information, and opinions are the author’s own. If you have news, information or an opinion you’d like to share with 50,000+ monthly readers, click here to learn how FREE EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION: Join 50,000+ readers each month and get the latest news and information from Western Pierce County direct to your inbox, daily, free of charge. Sign up here COMMENT POLICY: If you care to comment on the above story/announcement, feel free. Review our comment policy and please The article contains subtle but concerning elements of hate particularly in how it frames discussions around race Here are the specific points where hateful rhetoric or prejudiced undertones appear: Targeting Teachers Based on Race and Gender > “I have researched Oakbrook’s student and teacher demographics (overwhelmingly white female teachers) and education and teacher/student ratios and found little variation over the same period that would explain this phenomenon.” This statement unnecessarily racializes and genderizes the discussion around academic performance It implies that the race and gender of teachers may be a factor in school struggles even though no evidence is provided to support such a claim This framing can fuel division and resentment by suggesting that the demographic makeup of teachers is somehow to blame Misrepresenting “Equity” to Undermine It > “That’s what ‘equity’ is all about: no winners This intentionally distorts the concept of equity portraying it as a system that suppresses success rather than one designed to ensure fair access to resources based on need The mocking tone suggests opposition to racial and socio-economic equity efforts which are often implemented to address systemic barriers for marginalized communities This rhetoric is commonly used in anti-equity discourse to delegitimize efforts aimed at reducing educational disparities Implying That CPSD is Engaged in Deception and Indoctrination > “CPSD has a responsibility to periodically inform parents and tax payers about what’s really happening in schools academically and administratively instead of trying to propagandize with ‘puff pieces’.” “That would be ‘transparency’ rather than a ‘smoke screen’.” The use of terms like “propaganda” and “smoke screen” implies intentional deceit and manipulation by school leaders This type of language fosters public distrust in educators and school officials a common tactic in attacks against public schools and diversity initiatives or aggressive actions against school staff Using Discipline Data to Suggest a Problem with Students The article emphasizes that Oakbrook had a higher-than-average discipline rate: > “Oakbrook’s highest discipline numbers are far higher than discipline numbers for other CPSD elementary schools regardless of their academic performance.” There is no attempt to contextualize why discipline numbers were higher (e.g. The focus on discipline rates without explanation can reinforce negative stereotypes about certain student populations discussions about high discipline rates have been weaponized against schools with higher Black reinforcing harmful narratives about student behavior While the article may present itself as a data-driven critique its language and framing subtly attack equity efforts It leans on dog whistles (coded language) that echo broader anti-equity Ascribing “hate” to someone you don’t even know with whom you disagree is in fact “hateful” Demonizing your opponent is not an effective way of presenting your position I am only interested in what the facts indicate about CPSD’s academic performance I am a taxpayer and expect value for my taxes When you have the facts you don’t need a “dog whistle” I will address each of the 4 points you have raised Research into Oakbrook Elementary School teacher and student demographics had nothing to do with “targeting” them The purpose was to establish a demographic baseline for both teachers and students over years to determine if there were any significant shifts which might be the cause of the “yo-yo” academic performance There was no such shift and thus probably did not contribute to this academic phenomenon CPSD demographics across the board have not appreciably changed since 2016 yet academics have plummeted Yet the common CPSD theme is that demographics are somehow responsible for the District’s academic failure Equity is about equal outcomes not equality of opportunity Indeed the CPSD “puff pieces” conceal both academic mediocrity and exceptionalism: no winners no losers; everyone is the same.” The same could be said of inflated graduation rates which conceal the true nature of academic mediocrity and exceptionalism among students and their schools One will be unprepared for life after graduation and the other overlooked in favor of superior students from superior schools CPSD has not been straight with the taxpaying public for some time now Take a look at the monthly newspaper it puts out or the “puff pieces” it publishes with nary a word about academic achievement CPSD’s failure to objectively cover academic performance while glowing anecdotal stories are promoted is a form of deception by omission and commission The public is lulled into complacency while their participation in solving real academic problems is missed Indeed there was no attempt to contextualize why discipline numbers were higher because CPSD never admitted there was a problem nor did they ever provide these statistics to the public Nor was there any attempt to ascribe the high discipline to any racial/ethnic group If you have problems with this then go to the CPSD School Board and ask for an explanation I eliminated what did not appear to be contributing factors to yo-yo academics and was left with the conclusion that there was a combination of administrative turmoil and an unstable disciplinary environment for students CPSD never addressed these issues; transparency would have The claim that “ascribing ‘hate’ to someone you don’t even know with whom you disagree is in fact ‘hateful’” misrepresents the argument it is countering Just because someone identifies a statement or stance as hateful does not mean they are being hateful themselves This oversimplifies the opposition’s argument and refutes a weaker version rather than the actual position Projection (Misuse of Psychological Concept): While “projection” is a recognized psychological defense mechanism where people attribute their own thoughts or feelings to others its use here is more rhetorical than scientific Just because someone calls out a statement as hateful does not necessarily mean they themselves are hateful or projecting False Dichotomy (Black-and-White Thinking): The argument presents equity as being about “equal outcomes” rather than “equality of opportunity,” ignoring the possibility that equity policies can focus on removing systemic barriers while still valuing individual merit This oversimplification excludes any middle ground or nuanced discussion The use of terms like “puff pieces,” “deception by omission and commission,” and “lulled into complacency” suggests bias and attempts to elicit emotional responses rather than focusing solely on factual analysis Begging the Question (Circular Reasoning): The argument assumes that “inflated graduation rates” conceal true academic mediocrity without first proving that graduation rates are inflated the conclusion that follows from it is also suspect “Demonizing your opponent is not an effective way of presenting your position.” the argument itself subtly demonizes CPSD by accusing it of deception and suppression of facts without direct evidence If accusing someone of hate without knowing them is problematic then assuming CPSD’s intent without clear evidence could also be problematic The phrase “dog whistle” implies that someone is using coded language to signal a controversial or discriminatory stance without openly stating it The claim that “when you have the facts you don’t need a dog whistle” is ironic because it subtly accuses the other party of using coded messaging which can be perceived as a form of indirect attack and 1 unintelligible letter grouping of gpt all of which What does this sentence mean in plain English factual DEI academic achievements within CPSD and specifically Oakbrook Elementary School since 2018 at the cost of near $1,000,000 in just salaries.” Thank you John for all your hard work and research to disclose facts about a failed school system I appreciate the candid information provided by CARES Instead of criticizing the article’s text The data that has been provided over the past year or so clearly reveals that CPSD is a school district that is failing It seems to me that your reply would make a greater contribution if you directed your concerns to the school district I find myself wondering whether you are interested in improving the school district or whether you have some other objective I thank you and Lakewood Cares for your consistent follow through and spot lighting of the fact that Clover Park’s educational system is failing I do not believe it is your obligation or responsibility to develop or provide solutions to the problem What needs to happen is the Clover Park School board and the public need to first realize and honestly admit there is a problem as the school system graduates students many of whom will be ill-prepared for life Once the above players are aware and focussed they are the ones who need to provide successful solutions who is famous for pointing out the concept You are doing an excellent job with the facts In the past CARES has offered numerous potential solutions to address CPSD’s systemic problems with no acknowledgement by either Board or Superintendent It’s hard to open up a dialogue with entities that refuse to respond or admit there are any problems Those in the best position to know the inner workings of CPSD are also in the best position to solve its problems but first they have to admit there are problems “Arbeeny attributes the district’s issues solely to the Superintendent and falsely connects them to DEI initiatives;” characteristic of CARES skillful “puff pieces.” Ms represent a native tide of social justice this nation has sought to redress since the contemporary boundary of American history was first crossed outlook and attitude toward an increasingly common acknowledgement of fact and implication in service of social justice and resilient democratic institutions is in question As arguments get suited up in ideological armor “A republic if you can keep it,” resonates DEI is not mentioned once in this CARES article Rather it is an obsession by a responder who senses a “hidden agenda” behind every questioning of CPSD academic performance Indeed the Board and Superintendent are responsible for success or failure of CPSD academically Voters have the ultimately responsibility for the Board who they vote for and the Superintendent it hires that responsibility comes with the understanding that the Board and Superintendent are transparent and the voters informed That is not the case and the reason behind CARES (“E” stands for education) articles DEI becomes a problem when it has no objectively defined effect on academic achievement despite considerable effort to indoctrinate staff Certainly there are other issues such as attendance and grades but these are symptomatic of problems unresolved and the emphasis on DEI versus academics is one of them we must provide students with the tools required to think for themselves Indeed just a few years ago educators suggested supplying students with calculators instead of performing rote memorization of basic mathematics facts Then students could master using a computer rather than their brains to perform calculations while teachers did something else more important Mentally tough stuff is like weight lifting for the brain and unfortunately our education system is producing a lot of “98 pound weaklings” It’s good to see engagement from the Lakewood “CARES” group in the conversation Many of you have been included in the public disclosure emails and continue to support Arbeeny’s statements AI is a powerful tool when used appropriately welcome to 2025 selectively presenting data and misrepresenting facts to fit a specific narrative is not responsible can you clarify how you delineated the data and the methods used to reach the conclusions you share on a weekly basis analyze them from a systemic perspective and draw logical conclusions from them I even provide source graphics and citations DEI is not a “sacred cow” although to many it has becomes something of a religion It is not immune from critique or challenge I have yet to see you provide any objective statistical data/facts to back up your assertions about the efficacy of DEI when it comes to academics This isn’t about CARES or its members: it’s about the academic failure of public education in Lakewood I had a friend living in Lakewood who gave it all up to move to Texas He just couldn’t take the Washington State liberal nonsense I have too much holding me here to realistically consider moving Besides I enjoy the mental/intellectual challenge of research and analysis (I worked for RAND Corp as a systems analyst) as it currently pertains to CPSD and Washington education If I went to a store and they shortchanged (or over charged) me I’d put up a fuss for just a few dollars How much more for mllions paid to a failing education system that impacts our children and community It’s people like you and the realization that there are many more out there that keep me going No…you didn’t answer the question I asked and the data is available for anyone Instead of searching AI for an explanation that fits your narrative why not try looking through the following website for factual data related to Oakbrook Elementary School Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI) and reflects data provided to it by Clover Park School District It’s what I cited in this CARES article https://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/ReportCard/ViewSchoolOrDistrict/102241 Either you don’t know that the data exists or refuse to admit it does It’s not about cherry picking data but rather a comprehensive look an many factors that can provide insights into its academic performance and the reasons behind it Where specifically is the data for DEI and the Clover Park School District you claim to have It does not exist on the OSPI website as you claim but the study to identify it’s outcomes Oh BTW you use AI more than you like to let on I have the emails between you and many of the people here complaining about AI 🤣 Gotta love public disclosure There may not be a specific “DEI Effectiveness” page on the OSPI website but the data to determine DEI effectiveness is staring you in the face on that website What it takes is research of the publicly available facts (we don’t know what CPSD keeps from the public) analyze them from a systemic perspective (AI doesn’t do that) and draw logical conclusions from the data (that takes work) Don’t expect OSPI (or AI) to do that for you DEI promises a lot but its performance is evidenced by CPSD academic performance I would love to see OSPI come up with a “DEI effectiveness” objective evaluation metric based upon the academic performance of districts and schools but I suspect OSPI never would because of the obvious conclusions: DEI doesn’t deliver You promised that you were finished commenting (comment above) and look at you Arbeeny’s letters may or may not be based on facts but until CPSD becomes transparent with the actual status of the educational system that proves him wrong need to be concerned about the failure of thrusting DEI on our young children and the failure of our educational system Thank you for your detailed analysis of our troubled local schools Two side notes: I despise anything written with AI grammar-and-spelling-error filled letter than anything from AI Lyons I nominate for understatement of the year: “While student performance nationwide is an area for growth…” Would any educator worth their salt allow their students to use AI as a substitute for original research How is it any different than plagiarism or pure intellectual laziness To be clear the AI was for fact checking….and it didn’t miss it said Arbeenys posts are full of dog whistles hate and bias and attempts to play on peoples emotions… the very same things myself and others have been saying since 2019 It still identified very clearly Arbeenys prejudice and attempt to mislead the public 🤷🏿‍♀️ May you get the blessings you deserve Please cite the AI sites you’re using as the basis for your accusations so we can all take a look specifically with some of Lyons assertions are left leaning and others like Google Genimi lean right Because it depends upon what original resources the AI platform gives priority If priority is given to internet sources then the tilt is more likely left leaning while if given to printed material (books There also appear to be inherent biases based upon the platform itself much like the legacy media AI does not generate original information but rather collects and collates available data rather than the validity of such data is what determines what shows up in AI AI cannot do deeper analysis or confirm veracity of collected data and has to depend on source’s author research and development As a result it can suffer from GIGO (garbage in-garbage out) AI will often mention in passing the opposing point of view without regard to the veracity of that supporting data AI will often make generalizations about a subject area and then apply it to a specific case without any real analysis the logical fallacies generally found in DEI criticism without any specific examples of such may be applied to a specific case without really differentiating as to whether they actually apply Lyon’s stated that she uses AI to “fact check” data Rather I’d suggest that AI is valuable for providing an outline for inquiry which can be used by the reader to conduct their own research The temptation is to us AI in place of original data collection analysis and conclusions: intellectual laziness It is much the same path that education has taken with replacing rote memory of math skills with a calculator and now mental exercise with hitting a button Here’s a fact check on the claims made in the passage: but their responses may reflect biases present in their training data and other AI developers attempt to mitigate bias ChatGPT and Gemini are trained on a mix of internet sources but their responses are shaped by moderation policies aimed at preventing misinformation Studies suggest that large language models (LLMs) can reflect biases present in their training data but no evidence supports a clear-cut left/right divide between ChatGPT and Gemini Claim 2: AI bias depends on whether it prioritizes internet sources (left-leaning) or printed material (right-leaning) Bias in AI does not come solely from the type of sources (internet vs books) but from the selection and weighting of those sources The internet contains a wide range of ideological perspectives from conservative think tanks to progressive outlets Printed books include works from both left- and right-leaning authors Claim 3: AI does not generate original information but collects and collates available data AI models like ChatGPT do not “think” or generate original ideas in the human sense They predict text based on patterns in the data they were trained on making connections between ideas that might not be immediately obvious Claim 4: AI cannot do deeper analysis or confirm the veracity of collected data AI does not independently verify facts but can cross-reference multiple sources to identify inconsistencies AI can analyze text for logical consistency but its accuracy depends on the quality of its sources garbage out” (GIGO) if trained on unreliable data Claim 5: AI will mention opposing viewpoints without verifying their validity AI models are designed to present balanced perspectives but they do not automatically verify the accuracy of each viewpoint Some AI responses are designed to acknowledge multiple perspectives rather than take a definitive stance AI does include disclaimers about potential bias but it does not blindly present all sides as equally valid Claim 6: AI generalizes and applies broad concepts without real analysis This depends on the complexity of the AI prompt and the model’s capabilities AI can provide high-level overviews and apply general concepts but it is also capable of nuanced analysis when asked for deeper exploration it is often due to the way the query was structured so Lyons is incorrect in using it for that purpose AI can assist in fact-checking by comparing claims against reputable sources AI does not conduct independent investigations so final verification should come from human researchers Claim 8: AI encourages intellectual laziness by replacing critical thinking it can contribute to intellectual laziness The comparison to calculators in education is misleading—calculators enable advanced mathematical problem-solving rather than replacing mathematical understanding While the passage contains some accurate points about AI limitations it makes overly broad generalizations and includes misleading assumptions about AI bias AI should be used as a tool for research and verification https://www.foxnews.com/us/illiterate-high-school-graduates-suing-school-districts-ivy-league-professor-warns-deeper-problem From the pages of today’s news: Technology isn’t the answer when it morphs from a tool into a crutch By the way: you still haven’t answered the original question behind this CARES article Copyright © 2025 · The Suburban Times · Log in · February 22 we showed our #CPSDPride by giving a #SuperSchoolShoutout to to Oakbrook Elementary School paraeducator Silvija Holmquist and fifth grader Anaiah Ward Holmquist became a paraeducator after volunteering at Oakbrook as a parent and substitute teaching She now works with students of all grade levels including her two children in fifth and second grade and other needs that arise throughout the day “We’re the support system for students and teachers,” Holmquist said “Teachers can’t give individual support to each student so we’re the catch-all that helps make sure everyone is supported and things run smoothly.” Oakbrook is unique because it is open concept Holmquist is a lifelong learner and enjoys collaborating with others to keep growing in her own role “Everyone has a role to help these kids thrive.” Anaiah has attended Oakbrook since kindergarten and loves being a helper at her school “I like to listen and follow directions,” she said “I try to lead by example and like to participate in things like being a lunchroom helper.” Anaiah is proud of the progress she has made academically this year and can’t wait to learn more and it helps me express my feelings,” she said “You can see how descriptive I am when I write Converting fractions to decimals and decimals to fractions is intense.” She’s inspired by cute characters like Hello Kitty she hopes to become an artist who creates her own unique characters Oakbrook Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lakewood serving students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the Clover Park School District The school has a diverse student population with fluctuating racial demographics in recent years Oakbrook Elementary’s academic performance has been mixed compared to district and state averages While the school’s proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math were higher than the Clover Park School District’s averages Oakbrook’s 5th-grade students performed better than the district and state in ELA and the school’s science proficiency rates were higher than both the district and state Oakbrook’s Hispanic students have performed relatively well ranking 191 out of 651 Washington elementary schools in ELA while the school’s multi-racial students have struggled Oakbrook Elementary’s academic performance is generally lower than that of Chambers Elementary and Sunset Primary in the University Place School District but higher than some other nearby schools in the Clover Park School District This variation in performance may be influenced by factors such as the school’s high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and fluctuations in per-student spending and student-teacher ratios https://www.schooldigger.com/go/WA/schools/0141000265/school.aspx 2025 at 5:15 am CTJaidera Rincon-Jaramillo was arrested on felony charges of burglary (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)Gregory Mendoza-Rivas (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)David Vivas-Esis (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)Jonamer Barrios-Moreno (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)OAK BROOK IL – Four men stole nearly $5,000 worth of sunglasses Monday at an Oak Brook store pulling an employee to the ground as they got away Two of the men were listed as having Chicago addresses All four were labeled as Venezuelan "illegal migrant offenders" in a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office Oak Brook officers received information about suspicious activity involving a silver Ford Fusion in the Oakbrook Center mall parking lot The four men then stole 13 pairs of sunglasses from Sunglass Hut the driver reached 93 mph on Butterfield Road and made his way to eastbound Interstate 290 The driver exited at Mannheim Road after officers successfully deployed tire-deflating devices The men then pulled over and were arrested They were identified as Jaidera Rincon-Jaramillo The four were arrested on felony charges of burglary Rincon-Jaramillo and Barrios-Moreno also face charges of felony aggravated fleeing and eluding Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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Four women and a juvenile face felony burglary and retail theft charges alleging they stole hundreds of dollars in merchandise from the Oak Brook Nordstrom Rack store Friday night of the 300 block of South Western Avenue in Chicago; D’Errika Thrasher 18 of the 300 block of South Oakley Boulevard in Chicago; and Alanah Booker of the 300 block of West Ogden Avenue in Naperville each appeared in court Sunday and were released pending court dates Jan Each is charged with one count of burglary and retail theft according to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office Johnson faces an additional charge of aggravated battery to a police officer alleging she punched a police officer in the chest and bit his arm while being arrested A 16-year-old female juvenile is charged with one count each of retail theft and burglary the defendants entered the store at 8:35 p.m took numerous items of clothing and fragrances valued at more than $300 in all and left without paying Oak Brook police arrested all four outside the business as we are now in the heart of the holiday season in DuPage County we will not tolerate any type of behavior that disrupts our businesses or threatens public safety,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said Sunday in an announcement of the charges the defendants are prohibited from entering the Oak Brook Nordstrom Rack store of the 1000 block of South 15th Avenue in Maywood was charged with one count of burglary and retail theft stemming from allegations she stole more than $715 in merchandise from the store earlier Friday evening She was released from custody pending a Jan 2025 at 3:34 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Cartara Johnson and aggravated fleeing and eluding an officer according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors IL – A woman who stole more than $300 worth of leggings from an Oak Brook store led officers on a high-speed chase over the weekend officers at Oakbrook Center mall saw Johnson who was driving a Hyundai Elantra with expired license plates She walked into the mall with an empty or nearly empty Lululemon branded bag she stole the leggings and put them in the bag She returned to the car with the same bag about 15 minutes later Officers activated their lights and followed Johnson onto Interstate 88 and swerved in and out of heavy traffic before officers ended the pursuit officers tracked the Hyundai to North Riverside Stickney police then found her car near Central Avenue and Interstate 55 after she crashed into construction equipment a woman currently on probation for retail theft helped herself to merchandise from the Lululemon store and simply walked out the door without paying," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release it is further alleged that she then led police on a dangerous 116-mph chase in the middle of the afternoon on a busy shopping day in an effort to avoid apprehension This type of blatant disregard for public safety and the rule of law will not be tolerated in DuPage County." A DuPage County judge ordered the woman jailed until her trial A Chicago woman remains in the DuPage County jail after authorities say she caused a crash in Oak Brook Wednesday while trying to evade police DuPage County Judge Maureen Riordan Thursday denied pretrial release for Kahdijah Terry Terry is charged with two felony counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer one felony count of criminal damage to property and multiple counts of misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including one count of driving with a suspended license Oak Brook police officers were alerted around 2:35 p.m Tuesday of a Black Audi Q5 that was believed to be involved in a robbery/retail theft in Countryside Officers found the car near Oak Brook Mall and an unmarked squad began to follow it As the Audi pulled out of the mall and began to drive westbound on 22nd Street it rolled backward and tapped the unmarked squad car and officers inside then activated the lights and sirens ignored the red light and turned onto 22nd Street and began driving 61 mph in a 40 mph zone Authorities say the Audi then attempted to make a right-hand turn from the leftmost lane to travel northbound on Route 83 Officers had to remove Terry from the Audi after she refused to exit where she allegedly caused about $7,000 in damage to a hospital bed The occupant of the Lexus was not seriously injured Terry will appear in DuPage County court again on Dec she also faces fleeing and attempted eluding charges in Cook County Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Chicago straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Chicago without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Chicago Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook is hosting an Easter Bunny Tea on Saturday a whimsical brunch event that will bring the spirit of Eastertime to life with a variety of springy teas and bites Along with a special appearance by the titular rabbit to help you hop into the celebratory vibe, attendees can enjoy festive brews (and bubbly for the adults) tasty treats (including  mini-donuts and fruit kebabs for the youngins) and a range of activities throughout the event, including Easter-themed crafts and entertainment Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestspotifyAbout us Contact us Time Out magazine Office sought: Oak Brook village board (Vote for 3) Previous offices held: Village trustee since 2021 What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it We have made great strides over the last four years We have hired a new chief from within the department which has taken us in a new direction We have adapted by introducing more technology driven solutions such as license plate reading cameras and drones We have reinstated our undercover task force and K9 units at the mall We have also installed the same cameras at all of our HOA developments When our newly elected trustees took control of the village board four years ago we have completely turned the finances around We were six months away from having a negative balance in our infrastructure fund The previous boards’ answer was to raise taxes We have curtailed spending and now have an all-time high balance in all of our funds What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address There is no one particular project that must be addressed We must continue to manage our finances prudently to keep Oak Brook’s business and residential districts infrastructure in excellent condition Fortunately we now have the funds to complete long overdue projects 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 local government Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board There is no way we could have achieved the outstanding results both financially and from an personnel position without the team effort of the village president Although we have spirited debates from time to time the common thread with all of these team members is a fiscal conservative bent and not engaging in reckless spending What makes you the best candidate for the job I believe my experience as a trial lawyer for over 20 years and a successful business owner and developer make me the best candidate for the job Many of the issues that the village board confronts are legal financial or construction/development related I am now running on a track record of success Now that our financial house is in order I would like to see our team focus more on the brand of Oak Brook I believe our next goal is to let the world know that Oak Brook is the premier location to live Two men are in custody after police say they stole a car then ran after being pulled over early Friday morning Oak Brook police responded to a delayed suspicious incident report from around 3 a.m the officers found a dark-colored Nissan Rogue with Indiana registration and a Hyundai Sonata with Illinois registration both of which later turned out to be stolen Police turned on their lights and pursued the two vehicles onto eastbound 22nd Street into Westchester at which point the two occupants in the Sonata got out of the car and ran They were taken into custody after a short chase with help from Westchester police officers The Sonata was determined to have been stolen from the 100 block of Sheffield Lane in Oak Brook while the Rogue had been stolen the night before in Hammond was charged with felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle felony possession of burglary tools and fleeing and eluding a police officer A 17-year-old juvenile from Chicago was charged with felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle and taken to the Kane County Juvenile Detention Center detectives learned that the offenders entered several vehicles and mailboxes in Oak Brook with the intention of taking items of value Chicago police later notified Oak Brook police that the two male occupants of the Nissan Rogue attempted an armed robbery in Chicago The two men tried to rob a Chicago sanitation service employee at gunpoint at about 5 a.m The second was taken to the hospital in critical condition Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.