Our Deepest Sympathy Goes Out To Stone Park Mayor Ben Mazzulla!!!

The Chicago Sun Times reports that an off-duty Stone Park police corporal -- and the brother of Stone Park Mayor Ben Mazzulla -- was killed Wednesday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a sport-utility vehicle in west suburban Melrose Park.

Ivano Mazzulla, 33, was killed in a crash involving a motorcycle and an SUV at the 2000 block of North Mannheim Road, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 2:52 p.m.

The crash happened less than a mile from Mazzulla's Stone Park residence.

Melrose Park police confirmed a Wednesday afternoon crash near Armitage Avenue and North Mannheim Road, but refused to release further information.

Stone Park police Deputy Chief Louis Fatta said Mazzulla was off-duty at the time of the crash, and a witness said Mazzulla was driving the motorcycle.

Mazzulla was hired as a part-time officer in April 2001. He became a full-time officer in 2003 and eventually became a corporal, Fatta said.

Mazzulla was also a shift supervisor and a truck enforcement officer involved in community policing, Fatta said. During his career, he earned several commendations for meritorious service, according to a Stone Park police release.

Mazzulla -- the brother of Stone Park Mayor Ben Mazzulla -- is survived by his wife and three children, Fatta said.

An autopsy is scheduled for later Thursday, the medical examiner's office said.

Hugh Muir Turns 99!!!

The Proviso Herald did a feature recently on Hugh Muir, the founder of the Maywood Chamber of Commerce. Click this link to read more:
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/maywood/news/860036,ma-chamber-032608-s1.article

What Has Happened To The Village of Eternal Light???

Maywood was once known as the Village of Eternal Light. What has happened to this once beautiful and magnificent community? What has Henderson Yarbrough done in three years since becoming Mayor in April 2005?

Kyle Hastings May Be Out As Mayor In Orland Hills!!!

Sources tell the Insider that Kyle Hastings, the Mayor of Orland Hills, and one of the Proviso Administrators on the way out the door, may also be seeing his last days as Mayor. Sources tell the Insider that Hastings is always embroiled in some major controversy down in the south suburb. Hastings, who also serves as liquor commissioner, was sued after he awarded a late night liquor license to the Fire & Ice Bar. Shortly after, an off duty cop got drunk and killed someone in a DUI. Hastings also allowed members of his board of trustees to use tax payer paid credit cards. Now, Mr. Hastings will be facing a serious challenge for his seat in April 2009.

Is it time to toss Kyle Hastings out as a Mayor as well?

SHAKEUP AT PTHS 209!!!

The Insider has learned that there was a big shake up at Proviso High School District 209. The shake up was reportedly announced at the March 17, 2008 Board of Education meeting. Sources tell the Insider that the Board of Education has cleaned house. Out are Superintendent Bob Libka, Director of Auxillary Programs Kyle Hastings, Director of Compliance Margo Umans, Lawyers Qwerrey & Harrow, and numerous other staff members. The Board approved conducting a Superintendent search by a vote of 6 to 1. Board member Bob Cox of Forest Park was reportedly the lone no vote.

Click this link to read more from the Proviso Herald: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/maywood/news/848571,ma-nolibka-031808-s1.article

What's going on at Proviso? What caused the shakeup? Will others follow? Is the District trimming at the top and leading by example?

Where is TIF Excess Money Going???

The Insider has learned that Maywood and other surrounding communities are sitting on millions of excess dollars that can be used to support our financially strapped schools. According to sources, Maywood is sitting on $11 million in excess TIF revenues alone. However, the Village refuses to comply with state law and call meetings to discuss the TIF money, and they refuse to return the excess to the Cook County Assessor's office so the money can be redistributed to schools, parks and other taxing bodies within the district.

Why are Maywood village officials ruining our schools?

Regional Superintendent Charles Flowers Sued Again???

The Insider has learned that the Cook County Regional Superintendent of Schools will be sued again. Sources say that Flowers is being accused of wrongfully terminating Jeremy Bloom from his position in the Regional Superintendent's office alleging that cuts were necessitated for budget reasons. However, shortly after Bloom was fired for budget reasons, Flowers hired all of his political cronies at whopping salaries including Harry Reynolds, Predonna Roberts, Willie Mack, Nichelle Rivers and Arbdella "Della" Patterson. Bloom has hired the law firm of Segal and Segal, and plans on pursuing all legal recourse available to him.

Has Flowers destroyed the Regional Superintendent's office? Is it time to call for impeachment?

Peraica's Son Jailed!!!

The Insider has learned that Tony Peraica's son was given 30 days in jail for DUI. According to the Chicago Sun-Times,the son of Cook County State's Attorney candidate Tony Peraica was sentenced to 30 days in the Cook County Jail Thursday morning, after his conviction on a DUI charge. Marko Peraica, 27, has a lengthy history of arrests for burglary, curfew violations and other charges. Since his arrest on this DUI charge, he has tested positive for cocaine and marijuana, officials said. A supervisor in the State's Attorney's traffic division told the Sun-Times on Wednesday that Marko Peraica's sentencing hearing would not take place as scheduled on Thursday morning. But it did and he was immediately taken into custody. Tony Peraica, a Republican who faces Democrat Anita Alvarez in the November election, issued a press release a few hours later, calling the saga "every parent's worst nightmare." Marko Peraica is a musician who specializes in club and industrial music. Like his father was in the 1970s, Marko Peraica is a DJ at various downtown clubs.

Residency Investigations Working At Proviso High Schools!!!

The Insider has learned that Proviso High School District 209 dropped 235 students in the past year after a hired outside investigations firm provided information that those students did not live in the district.

Because of that success, District 209 officials are finalizing contract negotiations to continue working with National Investigations Inc.

National Investigations identified the 235 non-resident students between March 2007 and Feb. 29, 2008.

Proviso West had 144 students dropped, while 85 were dropped at Proviso East, and six were dropped from Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy. Among its three schools, District 209's enrollment is approximately 5,000 students.

The dropping of non-resident students can save the district thousands of dollars in per pupil expenses. District officials can also seek repayment of tuition from all of those students who violated residency requirements.

Yarbrough Looking To Oust Serpico In Melrose Park???

Sources are telling the Insider that 7th District State Representative and Proviso Township Democratic Committeeman Karen Yarbrough is not tired of taking ass whoopins yet. Sources say Yarbrough is a key supporter of Jesse Martinez, the former Stone Park Trustee and current Proviso Township Trustee, who plans on running for mayor of Melrose Park against the popular incumbent. Yarbrough has reportedly teamed up with Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, former SD209 Board member Mike Manzo, and Martinez to run a slate of candidates in April 2009. Serpico is already well funded, but plans to collect more funds for the campaign at a big fundraiser on March 11, 2008 at the Carlisle.

What do you think of this race? What would another defeat mean for Karen Yarbrough?

West Suburban Journal Reports Ed Smith To Be Investigated...

According to a recent news report in the popular West Suburban Journal, West Side Alderman Ed Smith is about to be investigated. Nicole Trottie wrote:

(CHICAGO) – The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) has appealed to the State Board of Elections (SBE) to investigate the campaign committees of alderman Ed Smith, according to a press release from the political watch dog group.

The campaign fundraising committees supporting the re-election of Smith appear to have violated state campaign finance laws through a series of inaccurate and incomplete contribution and expenditure reports filed with the SBE.

“There is evidence that these two committees have failed to file complete and accurate reports of contributions and expenditures since at least 2005,” Cynthia Canary, ICPR Director said Monday.

“Because Illinois law has few restrictions on campaign fundraising, it is imperative that action be taken by the state board charged with enforcing public disclosure of campaign financing.” “Defenders of the state’s scandal-ridden political financing system argue that public disclosure of campaign contributors and expenditures is all that is needed to protect state government from undue influence by special interests, but a public disclosure system without enforcement, like the
one in Illinois, is an invitation to corruption,” Canary said. “At a minimum, let’s have full disclosure, strong enforcement and stiff penalties against those who willfully violate the laws.”

The complaint against the Committee for Smith, which funds his re-election campaigns for alderman and for Democratic Party committeeman from the 28th Ward, includes the following findings:

Smith was engaged in a 2007 re-election campaign with an opponent who reported more than $12,000 in expenditures and more than $5,000 in in-kind donations. However, Smith’s committee reported it did not receive any contributions and did not make any expenditures between July 1,2006 and Dec. 31, 2007.

On several occasions from 2005 through 2007, other political committees disclosed the transfer of a total of more than $20,000 to Smith’s committee, but Smith’s committee did not disclose receiving those funds. Other committees also reported receiving checks from the Smith campaign, but Smith’s committee did not disclose those expenditures.

Some of the reports filed with the SBE by the Smith committee signified sloppy accounting and disregard for meaningful campaign disclosure, according to ICPR. For example, one of the Smith committee’s reports showed $19,500 in receipts and no expenditures for the last six months of 2004. More than six months later, the committee submitted an amended document reporting an additional $42,700 in contributions received and more than $18,000 in expenditures.

Smith ran uneventfully against Cook County Recorder Eugene “Gene” Moore in the Feb. 5
Primary. Controversy surfaced around Smith’s campaign when Journal – News first reported, Jan.
17, Smith’s campaign use of public resources for political activities. Smith’s campaign base setup in the office building of state representative Karen Yarbrough (Maywood) and Congressman Danny Davis.

The office, located at 2301-2305 Roosevelt Rd. in Broadview, is owned by the Village of Broadview and provided rent free for several years to Yarbrough and Davis by Republican Broadview Mayor Henry Vicenik, according to information received by Journal – News under the Freedom of Information Act.

Yarbrough, who unseated Moore as Proviso Township Democratic Committee-man in November 2006, was Smith’s campaign co-chair in the primary election.

Maywood Village Manager, Jason Ervin is on record as Smith’s campaign committee treasure. Ervin also serves as Yarbrough’s committee treasurer.

Stone Park Appoints New Trustee...

Stone Park Mayor Beniamino Mazzulla appointed Laura Cassidy-Jaquez, 36, to the position Jan. 8 with the full consent of the board. She replaces former trustee Jesse Martinez, who resigned from the position in September.

"She brings a lot of diversity to the board," Mazzulla said. "She's bilingual and that's a plus."

He said she has also volunteered for different village events. "She's been involved in all aspects of the village," he said.

Cassidy-Jaquez joined the village's Special Events committee in 2001 and in 2003 she chaired the village's Planning and Zoning Board, helping to write the village's new zoning ordinance. In 2004 she was appointed to village's Fire and Police Commission.

"She's worn every hat there is," said Stone Park Trustee Loretta Teets. "She has shown her commitment to Stone Park."

"She's a very hard worker and it's nice to have another female on the board," she said. "It was a 'win-win' all the way around. She was the obvious choice to step up to the plate because of what she has done."

She has been a resident of Stone Park since 1983, works for a telecommunications company and has two teenage children.

Cassidy-Jaquez said her new position as a Village Board member is just a minor change from what she'd done before.

"It's just a step up from what I'm used to," she said. "It's nice to see the other side of the podium."

She said as a trustee she'd like to work to bring more businesses to the village. "I'd like to see more businesses and different businesses develop along Mannheim Road," she said.

Cassidy-Jaquez, whose term expires in April 2009, has already said she plans to run for election.

Forest Park Cops Arrest and Taser A Chicago Cop!!!

The Insider has learned that a Chicago Police Officer who allegedly elbowed a Forest Park officer in the face, attacked a sergeant, spat blood at a paramedic and hit a paramedic in the neck was arrested for aggravated battery over the weekend. The incident allegedly took place at Slainte in the 7500 Block of West Madison. The Chicago Police officer has been suspended from his job.

Is WalMart and Home Depot Headed To Bellwood???

Sources have told the Insider that Bellwood officials are claiming they are close to a deal that will bring WalMart and Home Depot to a site that has been cleared at 25th and Madison in Bellwood. Sources say the stores should be up and running within 2 years and would likely generate $4 million dollars a year in sales tax revenue. WalMart officials confirm there has been talks, but deny there is a deal. Home Depot officials deny that they have even had talks.

Will this deal happen? How will this impact the WalMart in Forest Park or the Home Depot in Broadview? Is this pre-election year rhetoric?

Are Handicap Parking Placards Being Illegally Used In Proviso Township???

The Insider has learned from a recent email to provisoinsider@hotmail.com that many people are abusing handicapped parking placards in Proviso Township. Sources tell the Insider that visitors and staffers at Proviso Township High Schools are frequently spotted using the placards. During a random check on Monday, February 25, 2008, Forest Park police reportedly ticketed former Proviso employee Arbdella "Della" Patterson for falsely using a handicapped placard. Forest Park Police also reportedly ticketed a high ranking union official for the same offense. Sources say teachers at Proviso East and Proviso West have been known to do the same thing, but a new crackdown may embarass these abusers.

What do you think of the abusive use of handicapped parking placards?