Proviso West Plays Morton For Tournament Championship!!!

Proviso West High School Panthers will play the Morton Mustangs in the Championship game of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. Both teams are surprising stories this year. Game starts at 8pm. It promises to be fun.

Proviso West Holiday Tournament Begins

PTHS District 209 Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch and the Board of Education invites everyone out to the Proviso West Holiday Basketball Tournament which begins Friday, December 26, 2008. Games will be played December 26, 27, 29 and 30. Catch some good high school basketball where basketball is best. Local favorites Proviso West, Proviso East and St. Joseph are in the tournament as well as state contenders Whitney Young and Zion Benton. It promises to be fun.

Happy Holidays To Everyone In Proviso Township!!!

Happy Holidays to everyone in Proviso Township.

Sun Times Names Notable Proviso West Alumni...

The Chicago Sun-Times has named a number of individuals as notable alumni of Proviso West High School. On page 50 of the December 24, 2008 edition, among those listed were:

1. Flozell Adams, Offensive Lineman with the Dallas Cowboys
2. Ray McElroy, Former NFL player with the Bears, Colts and Lions,
3. Famous Hulbert, current varsity football coach at PW High School,
4. Joseph Spagnolo, former Director of PW Holiday Tournament; and
5. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, current President of the PTHS Board of Education.

Kudos to all of the notable PW alumni.

Rev. Dwayne Black Has Died...

The Rev. Dwayne Black from Freedom Baptist Church has died. Black died early December 23, 2008 from a bout of intestinal cancer.

Maywood Settles Grocery Store Lawsuit For $490,000

The Village of Maywood has settled a lawsuit with the Springbrook Grocery chain for reneging on a contract to develop the old Rite Way Grocery store at 5th Avenue and Washington. The suit cost the village $490,000, and they still don't have a grocery store.

Forest Park Pays $350,000 to settle lawsuit!!!

The Village of Forest Park has settled it's lawsuit with former Forest Park police sargeant Dan Harder for $350,000.

Theresa Kelly Travels On Taxpayer Dime!!!

Sources report that Proviso SD209 Board member Theresa L. Kelly is circulating petitions for Township Supervisor. Say it aint so. Theresa Kelly wants to be the head of the Township. Ohhhh nooooo!!!! She wants to spend the township's tax money and hurt our seniors. As a school board member, Kelly has used our money to fly all over the country. Look at where she has been at our expense:

1. Orlando, Florida, November 7, 2006-November 12, 2006 $1,114.29
2. Chicago, Illinois, April 8, 2006-April 11, 2006 $1,023.56
3. Detroit, Michigan, November 15, 2005-November 20, 2005 $1,199.25
4. San Diego, California, April 16th-19th, 2005 $1,540.66
5. Dallas, Texas, November 16th-21st, 2004 $1,205.00
6. Reno, Nevada, November 18th023rd, 2003 $1,500.00
7. San Francisco, CA, April 9th-13th, 2003 $2,106.55
8. Springfield, IL, March 22, 2003 $822.36
9. Chicago, Il, November 22-24th, 2002 $1,000.00
10. Atlanta, GA, November 12th-17th, 2002 $1,310.00
11. Seattle, Washington, October 2nd-6th, 2002 $994.00
12. New York, NY, June 20th-24th, 2002 $1,270.00
13. Washington, D.C., May 14th-16th, 2002 $1,000.00
14. New Orleans, LA, April 5th-9th, 2002 $1,000.00
15. Los Angeles, CA, November 13th-18th, 2001 $2,311.47
16. San Diego, CA, May 24th-27th, 2001 $1,461.44
17. Philadelphia, PA, November 14th-19th, 2000 $1,261.00
18. Jackson, MS, November 2, 2000 $1,500.00
19. Chicago, Illinois, May 14, 1999 $1,000.00

Total: $24,619.58

2007 and 2008 trips are not yet listed. Stay tuned.

SD209 Board Member Theresa Kelly Goes On Junket And Recommends Company For Hire!!!

Proviso SD209 Board Member Theresa L. Kelly was recently flown on an all expenses paid junket to Arizona by ENI School Consultants. Since returning from the trip, Kelly has been an advocate for hiring the company as a consultant in Proviso. At the December 15, 2008 board meeting, ENI consultants were on the agenda for hire for over $500,000. Kelly voted in favor of hiring the company, but the motion failed. Kelly is the same SD209 Board member who has used tax payer money to fly to over 30 different cities across the country. To date, taxpayers have spent over $30,000 for Kelly to fly across the country.

Rock Of Ages Baptist Church Continues To Make Improvements In Maywood!!!

The Rock of Ages Baptist Church, under the leadership of their Pastor Marvin E. Wiley, continues to make tremendous improvement in the Village of Maywood. Wiley recently announced plans to build a Senior Housing Complex between 11th and 13th Avenues on Madison Street, directly across the street from the church. A development such as this will help an aging community maintain some of its older residents. Seniors are also helpful to a communities tax base. Kudos to the Rock of Ages Baptist Church and its pastor!!!

Village Administrator In Forest Park Resigns!!!

The Village Administrator in Forest Park, Mike Sturino, has resigned his $125,000 year position to become a lobbyist for the Illinois Road and Transportaion Association. Sturino will reportedly leave the post in mid January. Sturino's departure is a big loss for the Village of Forest Park. Under his day to day handling of the Village, Sturino has overseen numerous changes in the Village. He's also been a dependable ally for Mayor Calderone. You'll be missed Mike!!!

Maywoodian Replaced By Oak Parker!!!

The Village of Maywood has tapped an Oak Parker to be head of economic development. The former assistant village planner in Oak Park is Maywood's new director of community development.

Lori Sommers, who started Dec. 1, has responsibilities that include overseeing the code enforcement, housing, economic development, grant administration, land acquisition and zoning issues. Sommers replaced a born and raised Maywoodian.

Stone Park To Host Holiday Parade and Toy Give Away...

Stone Park's annual Christmas celebration will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, December 13, 2008 with a visit from Santa, chocolate-marshmallow treats and mugs of hot chocolate from 1:30-3:30 at John Paul Park, Division Street and 44th Avenue.

At 4 p.m., participants will begin lining up for the parade that begins at 5 p.m. and makes its way through every street in the village.

The village also will be distributing bags of candy and toys.

Call (708) 345-5550 for more information.

Bellwood SD88 To Help Feed the Needy For Holidays!!!

Bellwood School District is sponsoring its 1st Annual Festival of Lights on
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at Wilson Elementary. In these trying times, the District is experiencing several homeless and needy families within the school district. During the festival of lights, food baskets will be given away to these families to help them through the holidays. Kudos District 88!

Memorial Park Spartans Playing In National Championship Game!!!

The Memorial Park Spartans Pee Wee team is playing the National Championship Game in Orlando, Florida on Friday, December 12, 2008. The Spartans won 26-0 on Tuesday to earn their way to the Championship. Kudos to our small ones from Bellwood.

Governor Should Resign; State Should Call For Special Election!!!

Illinois Governor Rod Blagoyevich has brought shame on our State; and although innocent until proven guilty, there is no way the Governor can govern effectively. He should step down now, and the state should call for special elections. The power to appoint a U.S. Senator should never be placed in the hands of one person. Rod Must Go!

West Suburban Mayors and Other Elected Officials Support Danny K. Davis For Senate!

Congressman Danny K. Davis, Mayor Frank Pasquale, Bellwood, Mayor Joseph T. Tamburino, Hillside, Illinois and other proviso Mayors and Village Presidents and community residents and elected officials will gather on Monday, December 8, 2008 at 11:15am at the Best Western Hotel. The West Suburban Officials plan to emphatically endorse Danny Davis for Senate.

Supporters of Congressman Davis say that he is uniquely qualified to hold the position. Davis worked as a postal clerk, taught in the Chicago Public Schools, worked as a community organizer, Executive Director of the Greater Lawndale Conservation Commission, worked as a Community Health Planner, worked in Health Clinics and ultimately became the President of the National Association of Community Health Centers, an organization of great distinction.


Congressman Davis has been an elected official for 29 years beginning as Alderman where he served for eleven years in the Chicago City Council becoming Chairman of the Health Substance Abuse and Zoning Committees and was President Pro-Temp of the Chicago City Council.

He was a member of the Cook County Board for 6 years and has been a member of Congress for the past twelve years where he currently serves as Chairman of the Sub-Committee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia.

Davis said, “In every legislative body in which I have served, I have sponsored and passed meaningful public policy initiatives. I am a coalition builder and work well with all communities.”

Congratulations Memorial Park Spartans!!! Now, Let's Help Them...

The Memorial Park Spartans Pee Wee' are making history! They are a Division 2 football Team made up of 29 players ages 9, 10 and 11 with a lot of heart and 8 coaches with a lot of drive.

This team has persevered winning at the neighborhood level all this season. They advanced thru their Division and captured the Illinois State Conference Championship, Semi Finals Title, Sub Regional Title and now hold title of MidAmerican Regional Champions after competing with teams from Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.

The Spartans have never achieved this before! These children have earned a chance of a lifetime persevering from Neighborhood to the Nationals!

At this point they are advancing to the National Championship Level which takes place in Orlando Florida, the week of December 7th thru the 13th 2008. They have just 80 minutes of Football (2 games) left before they will become the Pop Warner National Champions!

BUT NOW, THEY NEED YOUR HELP. Without the ability to cover the cost of travel and lodging to this Championship, they could miss this once in a lifetime opportunity! Without money, they will not be able to attend the National Conference thus forfeiting their earned dream of a lifetime. Please help our Team travel.

Please help us send our team to Florida to compete. In the Spirit of helping others, please consider granting a gift for this Championship. Of course, we will appreciate any gift that you can make as our goal is $30,000.00. All donations are appreciated and if not given in person, make checks payable to: Wiley, Vaughan-Davis, Gardley c/o Memorial Park Spartans



Submit what you can to:

Hythaniel Marks
708-516-0125 cell
Pop Warner Little Scholars Inc.
23-1582287, Federal Group Tax Exemption # is 9183

T. Gardley
Po Box 765
Hillside, Illinois 60162

Thank you in advance on behalf the Mighty Spartans!

Bellwood Breaks Ground On New Train Station!!!

The Village of Bellwood, led by Mayor Frank Pasquale and the Village Board, recently broke ground for a new Metra train station on 25th Avenue. The new train station will be the centerpeice of a major development in the area. Kudos to the Village of Bellwood.

Hillside Gives Money Back To Residents!!!

The Landfill in the Village of Hillside is closed due to the work of the Village President Joe Tamburino and the Village Board. Now, residents call all receive up to $438.00 in checks from the closure.

Applications for residents to apply for landfill "host" fee reimbursement checks will be in Hillside residents' mailboxes this week.

Homeowners who fill out the application can send in or drop off the completed application at Hillside Municipal Complex, 425 Hillside Ave. Residents who meet the requirements will receive $438.

Hillside Village Administrator Russell Wajda said the applications have been sent out and the sooner people return the completed applications the better. He said he hopes to get as many checks cut as possible before the Dec. 23, but checks will be disbursed monthly. Applications will be accepted until Nov. 30, 2009.

Proviso School Board Approves District Busing Program To Boost Attendance!!!

Proviso Board President Emanuel "Chris" Welch and the Proviso School Board recently approved a $3.6 million dollar contract with First Student Bus Company to create the first ever district run busing program. The goal of the busing program is to boost attendance by getting kids to school. According to Board President Welch, "PACE has just not serviced us properly."

Proviso East students will be the first to receive free bus transportation to and from school through Proviso High School District 209.

Bus routes and stops are being worked out, but school bus service is scheduled to start Jan. 20, 2009 for Proviso East students. The plan sets Feb. 17, 2009 as the start date for Proviso West bus service.

Service was announced at the Nov. 17 School Board meeting. Trustees approved a transportation contract with First Student for $3.76 million per year for two years. Security cameras for each bus were included in the contract.

The district pursued bus service for nearly all its students after receiving approval July 9 from the Illinois Department of Transportation to classify certain areas around the school district as safety hazards.

That qualified the district for state transportation reimbursement for busing students who live within a 1 1/2-mile radius of the school. Without the safety-hazard waiver, there is no reimbursement of transportation expenses for students within that distance.

The state will cover about 80 percent of the transportation costs, said District 209 Finance and Operations Assistant Superintendent Nikita Johnson. The district is responsible for the remaining costs, which will not be billed to parents, Johnson said.

School officials expect 95 percent of the approximately 5,000 students in the district will be eligible for free transportation, said Proviso East Assistant Principal Dan Johnson, who has been working on the transportation issue.

Prior to the waiver, about 70 percent of students from Proviso West and 45 percent from East were eligible for free transportation, Johnson said.

Bus service was offered a year ago for 400 to 500 Proviso West students who secured seats on eight buses on a first-come, first-served sign-up basis. There was no bus service for Proviso East students.

No bus service is scheduled at this time for the approximately 600 students attending Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy in Forest Park.

"It would be more difficult to start a bus service for those students in the midst of start up for East and West," said TaQuoya Kennedy, spokesperson for District 209. "Logistically, we cannot coordinate that at this time. But it is something that we hope to look at in the future."

There is hope among district administrators that bus service for Proviso East and West will help attendance and reduce truancy.

"This is an effort to improve the quality of life for our students, to ensure that they get to school safely and on time, and ultimately improve (the district's) truancy rates," Nikita Johnson said.

"With district-wide transportation, we eliminate some of the hazards or obstacles that may keep students from getting to school and getting the education they need."