dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-29--Saluting notable local residents who died in 2020

We said goodbye to several notable suburban residents in 2020 .
They left indelible marks on their communities through impressive accomplishments and dedicated public service .
The list includes local officials and community , religious and business leaders .
Jan. 18 : Carol Stream 's namesake never actually lived in the village , but that was of little consequence to the town 's residents , who claimed her as one of their own -- and she delighted in her status as a legend in the village that bears her name .
Stream , who grew up in Wheaton , died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 77 .
Her father was the village 's founder , Jay Stream , the larger-than-life developer who built the town out of farmland , hand-picked its leaders and named the community after his daughter during her recovery from a tragic car accident .
In August 1957 , a 14-year-old Stream and her friends were driving near her family 's summer home in Twin Lakes , Wisconsin , when their car collided with another vehicle .
A 15-year-old boy died and Stream was left in a coma .
According to local mythology , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his new housing development after his daughter into her ear , miraculously rousing Carol from her coma and inspiring her recovery .
His daughter later said it was n't so dramatic .
Still , she enjoyed the rare honor usually reserved for early pioneers or landowners .
`` I get a kick out of thinking , 'Eat your heart out Elizabeth Taylor .
My name 's in bigger lights than yours ever was , ' '' Stream told the Daily Herald in 2006 .
Jan. 28 : He built his family 's nut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year had $ 876 million in sales , but it was his passion for musical instruments , particularly mechanical music machines , that helped shape his legacy .
He was 88 .
Sanfilippo 's Barrington Hills house grew to include additions to showcase his vast collection .
He and his wife , Marian , helped nonprofit groups raise millions of dollars through welcoming them to host their fundraisers at the estate .
His son , Jeffrey Sanfilippo , who succeeded him as CEO of John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc. in 2006 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vintage music machines to a family vacation to Knott 's Berry Farm in California in the mid-1970s .
Jasper Sanfilippo built an addition to display his collection of automated musical instruments , including music boxes , phonographs , coin-operated pianos and violin machines .
It grew to include dance organs and calliopes , and a world class theater organ .
He built an organ room and later a carousel building and helped local charities host banquets to raise money .
The couple established a family foundation in 2007 to help preserve the collection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 : The former longtime DuPage County prosecutor and judge is remembered for his work ethic , compassion and empathy for victims .
He brought a relentless focus , prosecuting some of the most heinous criminals in the county 's history .
Wolfe was part of the team that prosecuted convicted killer Brian Dugan for the 1983 abduction , rape and murder of Jeanine Nicarico , a 10-year-old from Naperville .
As criminal prosecutions chief , Wolfe worked 61 straight 12-hour days in 2006 on the case against convicted serial killer Paul Runge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
He died from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease .
He was 60 .
In 2008 , he received the Chicago Crime Commission 's first Mitchell A. Mars award , named after the federal prosecutor who took on organized crime in the Family Secrets mob trial .
He also served as a volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters .
May 4 : The Aurora carpenter single-handedly built thousands of crosses for shooting victims across the country .
Zanis died after battling cancer .
He was 69 .
His crosses would become a symbol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting .
Zanis would visit grief-stricken communities to put up crosses , Stars of David , crescent moons or generic wreaths in Newtown , Connecticut ; San Bernardino , California ; Orlando , Florida ; Las Vegas ; Parkland , Florida .
Of the nearly 3,000 crosses he built last year before retiring , one set bears the names of the five employees killed in a shooting at the Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora .
`` He was a man of action who simply wanted to honor the lives of others , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
Zanis began making crosses in 1996 to help him grieve the murder of his father-in-law , Ralph `` Bud '' Stadler .
May 12 : He was a staple in the collector car world , who with his brother turned a 20-acre farm property into the Volo Auto Museum .
In an indication of his place in the collectible automobiles market , Grams ' bidder number was 4 with the popular Mecum Auctions .
He died of a heart attack after battling cancer .
He was 77 .
Bill Grams and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on a nonoperating dairy farm northwest of routes 12 and 120 , and , as teenagers , they enjoyed renovating automobiles `` put out to pasture '' by area farmers , according to the museum website .
Their handiwork paid off when they sold a 1931 Chrysler CD-8 Roadster , which Greg Grams had restored , for $ 25,000 .
The brothers co-founded the Volo Auto Museum in 1960 .
It 's now a 35-acre family destination that includes various exhibits and a collection of 400 cars dating to the 1900s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ collectible vehicles .
May 16 : Universally beloved , always upbeat , a legend in suburban high school sports .
That summed up Frisk 's more than 50-year Daily Herald newspaper career .
He started working as a high school sophomore , was hired full time after his 1958 graduation from the University of Illinois , and quickly became a columnist and sports editor .
Even more important than his longevity was his legacy to emphasize positive writing to all his full- and part-time high school sports reporters .
The longtime Arlington Heights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June , died at the Hospice Center at the Lutheran Home a few months after refusing treatment for cancer .
He won many awards and honors , including Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame induction and Hall of Fame enshrinement from three local high schools .
Bob cherished the idea of impressionable teenagers , devoted parents and caring coaches coming together to make something positive and far bigger than a final score .
And they loved Bob for helping them realize what is truly important .
People felt better after reading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sidelines .
`` Be positive , he always said , because these kids will have a lifetime of dealing with negatives , '' says John Radtke , the Daily Herald 's current high school sports editor .
May 24 : The first park district director in Elk Grove Village history left behind a legacy of nationally acclaimed village projects that endure to this day for people of all ages .
Claes died of natural causes .
He was 96 .
`` I 've never seen someone with that kind of foresight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Claes was named the Elk Grove Park District 's first director in 1967 .
During his 29-year tenure , he oversaw development of several cornerstone projects , including Pirates ' Cove theme park , Rainbow Falls Waterpark , Fox Run Golf Links and Fountain Square Park .
He retired in 1995 .
The Jack A. Claes Pavilion , opened in 1994 , was one of his final projects and is named in his honor .
May 29 : A 65-year Wheeling resident and the village 's first female village president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cornerstone of the community .
Schultz , who died at age 90 , was elected a trustee in 1979 and village president in 1981 , serving in that position for 16 years .
During her tenure , Wheeling purchased Palwaukee Airport ( now called Chicago Executive Airport ) , created its first senior center , joined first-of-their-kind joint municipal organizations the Northwest Water Commission and the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County , and constructed a new and modernized Metra train station to help residents more easily commute between the suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights commission and a senior commission .
`` Sheila was the definition of what it means to be a public servant , dedicating decades of her life to many facets of community service , '' Village President Pat Horcher said in a statement .
June 2 : The fruits of her public service work can be seen throughout Lake County .
The Highland Park Democrat , who served on the Lake County Board from 1992 to 2008 , worked to help create the North Shore Health Center , a facility in Highland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department .
As a county forest preserve district board member , she was a strong advocate for the creation of the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy at the late statesman 's home near Mettawa .
She championed the development of the Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve near Deerfield in the 1990s .
Spielman , who died at age 92 , also served on the Lake County health board and the Stormwater Management Commission .
Her work earned her a Friends of the Chicago River Award and a Henry Horner Good Government Award .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual Humanitarian Award , which recognizes residents who serve the community through education , philanthropy , volunteerism or other means .
July 23 : Called one of the deans of the Northwest suburbs and Elk Grove Village 's elder statesman , Petri was elected as a village board trustee in 1979 and served 40 years before deciding in 2019 to not seek reelection to an 11th term .
Petri died at the age of 86 .
His village board tenure includes helping to bring $ 100 million in upgrades to the village 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the village 's Industrial/Commercial Revitalization Commission and chairman of the capital improvements committee .
He was instrumental in bringing cable television and a local community access channel to Elk Grove Village .
July 25 : The St. Charles man had his hands in many community endeavors in the Tri-Cities over nine decades .
Oie , who died at age 93 , received two prestigious awards for community service : the Barth Award from Tri-City Family Services and the Charlemagne Award from the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce .
The latter he shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survives him .
The city dedicated a sculpture to the couple in 2018 .
Oie retired as a marketing director for Valley Community Bank .
He was also an owner of Fox Valley Cleaners , a family business .
He served on the boards of Delnor Hospital and Delnor-Community Hospital for 30 years , and served with the St. Charles and Batavia MainStreet business organizations .
He was a founding member of the River Corridor Partnership that beautified the Fox River banks in St. Charles .
July 25 : Getting things done was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who died at age 72 , was elected as an Algonquin village trustee in 1993 , then appointed village president in 2002 after the death of his predecessor , Ted Spella .
He was elected to the post in 2005 .
Algonquin stressed quality development under Schmitt 's stewardship , and he helped the village attract millions of dollars in projects to benefit the community .
Schmitt was a proponent for the western Route 31 bypass that opened in 2014 .
More recently , he advocated for the Longmeadow Parkway , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River .
He oversaw the rapid development of the village 's Randall Road corridor , and a $ 30 million downtown streetscape project .
Aug. 26 : The former Palatine police chief brought innovation to the department and policing across the suburbs .
Bratcher , who died at age 86 , served for 25 years as chief until his retirement in 1999 .
He started the first local crime prevention unit in Illinois , led the creation of a multiagency major-crime task force and started the first DARE program in Illinois .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach , still one of the cornerstones of the department , and was a driving force behind requiring a four-year college degree for new officers , Palatine Police Chief Dave Daigle said .
Bratcher led the initial investigation into the 1993 murders at Brown 's Chicken and Pasta .
Aug. 28 : The longtime leader of Congregation B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Glenview is remembered as an eloquent orator and social justice leader who inspired scores of students to become rabbis .
Shapiro was a past president of the Glenbrook Clergy Fellowship and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- and who marched with other religious leaders alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma , Alabama , in 1965 .
Shapiro died after a six-year bout with Parkinson 's disease .
He was 85 .
Shapiro led B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Glenview from 1962 to 2000 and was rabbi emeritus thereafter , presiding over funerals until three years ago .
After his 2000 retirement , he and his wife , Hanna , moved to Northbrook .
BJBE has since relocated to Deerfield .
He was passionate about Israel , founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interfaith organization , and worked with the Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute , a Jewish children 's summer camp in Oconomowoc , Wisconsin .
Sept. 18 : Guiding Naperville through a pivotal time of rapid but strategic growth , Newman set the tone for its future development .
Newman , who died at 97 , leaves behind a legacy that blends progressive planning with historic preservation .
He retired in 1996 as the city 's economic development director , but also served as director of community development and zoning administration for the city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating the historic district and revising the city 's zoning ordinance , according to his obituary .
With roughly 27,000 residents at the start of his 20-year tenure , the city 's population grew to more than 110,100 by the time Newman retired , documents show .
He had a hand in the final design and siting of the municipal center along the Riverwalk , was involved in the North Central College expansion , and served on various city commissions .
Later , he volunteered at Naper Settlement to help archive the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always had his bags packed , one for him and one for his dog -- and when a tragedy occurred , they responded .
Martin , of Lake Barrington , and his wife , Dona , and their two comfort dogs , Luther and Ruthie , were at the scene of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 within 24 hours .
It was the first of many man-made and natural disasters Martin would rush to , leading a team of handlers and golden retrievers from Lutheran Church Charities to bring comfort to victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to complications from COVID-19 .
He was 68 .
Martin started as a volunteer , but after retiring from a corporate career , he was hired as deployment director of the charity 's K-9 Ministry .
What started locally with Golden retrievers has grown to include 130 comfort dogs in 27 states .
Lutheran Church Charities officials count 16 major K-9 Ministry crisis deployments Martin led , and hundreds of site visits and emergency responses .
Among them were mass shootings , including the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown , Connecticut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to have a permanent impact on the region , serving as attorney for the village and several surrounding communities and working to preserve the area 's rural character .
Braithwaite died from complications of COVID-19 .
He was 92 .
Recognized as on icon of municipal law for his 64-year legal career , Braithwaite also was known as a devoted family man and community servant .
He was instrumental in the formation of the village of South Barrington in 1959 .
`` He had an amazing amount of history with all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Village President Paula McCombie said .
Braithwaite also was known for civic involvement , serving on governing boards and providing free legal counsel for several groups .

Saluting notable local residents who died in 2020
Carol Stream founder Jay Stream, right, named the village after his daughter, Carol. Carol Stream, who grew up in neighboring Wheaton, enjoyed an honor usually reserved for early pioneers or landowners. Courtesy of the Village of Carol Stream
We said goodbye to several notable suburban residents in 2020. They left indelible marks on their communities through impressive accomplishments and dedicated public service. The list includes local officials and community, religious and business leaders.
Carol Stream
Jan. 18: Carol Stream's namesake never actually lived in the village, but that was of little consequence to the town's residents, who claimed her as one of their own -- and she delighted in her status as a legend in the village that bears her name.
Stream, who grew up in Wheaton, died near Paradise Valley, Arizona. She was 77.
Her father was the village's founder, Jay Stream, the larger-than-life developer who built the town out of farmland, hand-picked its leaders and named the community after his daughter during her recovery from a tragic car accident.
In August 1957, a 14-year-old Stream and her friends were driving near her family's summer home in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, when their car collided with another vehicle. A 15-year-old boy died and Stream was left in a coma.
According to local mythology, Jay Stream whispered his decision to name his new housing development after his daughter into her ear, miraculously rousing Carol from her coma and inspiring her recovery. His daughter later said it wasn't so dramatic.
Still, she enjoyed the rare honor usually reserved for early pioneers or landowners.
"I get a kick out of thinking, 'Eat your heart out Elizabeth Taylor. My name's in bigger lights than yours ever was,'" Stream told the Daily Herald in 2006.
Jasper Sanfilippo
Jasper Sanfilippo built his family's nut business into a publicly traded company that last year had $876 million in sales. However, it is his passion for musical instruments, and helping nonprofits raise millions of dollars that helped shape his legacy. - Courtesy of Sanfilippo family
Jan. 28: He built his family's nut business into a publicly traded company that last year had $876 million in sales, but it was his passion for musical instruments, particularly mechanical music machines, that helped shape his legacy. He was 88.
Sanfilippo's Barrington Hills house grew to include additions to showcase his vast collection. He and his wife, Marian, helped nonprofit groups raise millions of dollars through welcoming them to host their fundraisers at the estate.
His son, Jeffrey Sanfilippo, who succeeded him as CEO of John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc. in 2006, dates his father's interest in vintage music machines to a family vacation to Knott's Berry Farm in California in the mid-1970s.
Jasper Sanfilippo built an addition to display his collection of automated musical instruments, including music boxes, phonographs, coin-operated pianos and violin machines. It grew to include dance organs and calliopes, and a world class theater organ.
He built an organ room and later a carousel building and helped local charities host banquets to raise money.
The couple established a family foundation in 2007 to help preserve the collection and manage the charity events.
Michael Wolfe
The former longtime DuPage County prosecutor and judge Michael Wolfe is remembered for his work ethic, compassion and empathy for victims. - Daily Herald file Photo, 2008
Feb. 18: The former longtime DuPage County prosecutor and judge is remembered for his work ethic, compassion and empathy for victims.
He brought a relentless focus, prosecuting some of the most heinous criminals in the county's history. Wolfe was part of the team that prosecuted convicted killer Brian Dugan for the 1983 abduction, rape and murder of Jeanine Nicarico, a 10-year-old from Naperville. As criminal prosecutions chief, Wolfe worked 61 straight 12-hour days in 2006 on the case against convicted serial killer Paul Runge.
Wolfe retired from the bench in 2018.
He died from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He was 60.
In 2008, he received the Chicago Crime Commission's first Mitchell A. Mars award, named after the federal prosecutor who took on organized crime in the Family Secrets mob trial. He also served as a volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Greg Zanis
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer, 2019 Greg Zanis of Aurora replaces crosses with new crosses with victims names on them outside the site of a workplace shooting that killed five employees, wounded five police officers and another civilian, and ended with the shooter's death. Zanis built thousands of crosses for shooting victims across the country.
May 4: The Aurora carpenter single-handedly built thousands of crosses for shooting victims across the country.
Zanis died after battling cancer. He was 69.
His crosses would become a symbol of the national ritual after every mass shooting. Zanis would visit grief-stricken communities to put up crosses, Stars of David, crescent moons or generic wreaths in Newtown, Connecticut; San Bernardino, California; Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas; Parkland, Florida.
Of the nearly 3,000 crosses he built last year before retiring, one set bears the names of the five employees killed in a shooting at the Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora.
"He was a man of action who simply wanted to honor the lives of others," Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said in a statement.
Zanis began making crosses in 1996 to help him grieve the murder of his father-in-law, Ralph "Bud" Stadler.
Bill Grams
Bill Grams, who with his brother turned a 20-acre farm property into the renowned Volo Auto Museum. - Courtesy of Grams family
May 12: He was a staple in the collector car world, who with his brother turned a 20-acre farm property into the Volo Auto Museum.
In an indication of his place in the collectible automobiles market, Grams' bidder number was 4 with the popular Mecum Auctions.
He died of a heart attack after battling cancer. He was 77.
Bill Grams and his younger brother, Greg, grew up on a nonoperating dairy farm northwest of routes 12 and 120, and, as teenagers, they enjoyed renovating automobiles "put out to pasture" by area farmers, according to the museum website. Their handiwork paid off when they sold a 1931 Chrysler CD-8 Roadster, which Greg Grams had restored, for $25,000.
The brothers co-founded the Volo Auto Museum in 1960. It's now a 35-acre family destination that includes various exhibits and a collection of 400 cars dating to the 1900s. It also handles purchases and sales of collectible vehicles.
Bob Frisk
Former Daily Herald sports columnist Bob Frisk. - Daily Herald file Photo
May 16: Universally beloved, always upbeat, a legend in suburban high school sports. That summed up Frisk's more than 50-year Daily Herald newspaper career.
He started working as a high school sophomore, was hired full time after his 1958 graduation from the University of Illinois, and quickly became a columnist and sports editor. Even more important than his longevity was his legacy to emphasize positive writing to all his full- and part-time high school sports reporters.
The longtime Arlington Heights resident, who would have turned 84 in June, died at the Hospice Center at the Lutheran Home a few months after refusing treatment for cancer.
He won many awards and honors, including Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame induction and Hall of Fame enshrinement from three local high schools.
Bob cherished the idea of impressionable teenagers, devoted parents and caring coaches coming together to make something positive and far bigger than a final score. And they loved Bob for helping them realize what is truly important. People felt better after reading his columnist or chatting with him on the sidelines.
"Be positive, he always said, because these kids will have a lifetime of dealing with negatives," says John Radtke, the Daily Herald's current high school sports editor.
Jack Claes
Jack Claes, the visionary first director of the Elk Grove Park District, is credited with developing several of its cornerstone projects, including Pirates' Cove theme park. - Courtesy of Nancy Barrett
May 24: The first park district director in Elk Grove Village history left behind a legacy of nationally acclaimed village projects that endure to this day for people of all ages.
Claes died of natural causes. He was 96.
"I've never seen someone with that kind of foresight," Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson said.
Claes was named the Elk Grove Park District's first director in 1967. During his 29-year tenure, he oversaw development of several cornerstone projects, including Pirates' Cove theme park, Rainbow Falls Waterpark, Fox Run Golf Links and Fountain Square Park.
He retired in 1995. The Jack A. Claes Pavilion, opened in 1994, was one of his final projects and is named in his honor.
Sheila Schultz
Former Wheeling Village President Sheila Schultz, left, poses with her daughter Kathy Ryg during a 2006 family trip to Ireland. Schultz was elected as Wheeling's first female village president in 1981, a role she held for 16 years. - Courtesy of Kathy Ryg
May 29: A 65-year Wheeling resident and the village's first female village president, Schultz was considered by many to be a cornerstone of the community.
Schultz, who died at age 90, was elected a trustee in 1979 and village president in 1981, serving in that position for 16 years.
During her tenure, Wheeling purchased Palwaukee Airport (now called Chicago Executive Airport), created its first senior center, joined first-of-their-kind joint municipal organizations the Northwest Water Commission and the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, and constructed a new and modernized Metra train station to help residents more easily commute between the suburbs and Chicago. She helped form a human rights commission and a senior commission.
"Sheila was the definition of what it means to be a public servant, dedicating decades of her life to many facets of community service," Village President Pat Horcher said in a statement.
Carol Spielman
Former Lake County Board member Carol Spielman, a Highland Park Democrat, was honored for the work she did for the county and the support she gave other board members during her tenure, which stretched from 1992 to 2008. - Daily Herald file photo
June 2: The fruits of her public service work can be seen throughout Lake County.
The Highland Park Democrat, who served on the Lake County Board from 1992 to 2008, worked to help create the North Shore Health Center, a facility in Highland Park run by the county's health department. As a county forest preserve district board member, she was a strong advocate for the creation of the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy at the late statesman's home near Mettawa. She championed the development of the Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve near Deerfield in the 1990s.
Spielman, who died at age 92, also served on the Lake County health board and the Stormwater Management Commission. Her work earned her a Friends of the Chicago River Award and a Henry Horner Good Government Award.
In 2013, she received Highland Park's annual Humanitarian Award, which recognizes residents who serve the community through education, philanthropy, volunteerism or other means.
James 'Jim' Petri
Called one of the deans of the Northwest suburbs and Elk Grove Village's elder statesman, James "Jim" Paul Petri is remembered for his impact as the longest-serving elected official in village history. - Daily Herald file photo
July 23: Called one of the deans of the Northwest suburbs and Elk Grove Village's elder statesman, Petri was elected as a village board trustee in 1979 and served 40 years before deciding in 2019 to not seek reelection to an 11th term.
Petri died at the age of 86.
His village board tenure includes helping to bring $100 million in upgrades to the village's business park. He served as co-chairman of the village's Industrial/Commercial Revitalization Commission and chairman of the capital improvements committee. He was instrumental in bringing cable television and a local community access channel to Elk Grove Village.
Vernon 'Vern' Oie
Vernon "Vern" Oie of St. Charles had his hands in many endeavors in the Tri-Cities over the past nine decades. - Daily Herald file Photo
July 25: The St. Charles man had his hands in many community endeavors in the Tri-Cities over nine decades.
Oie, who died at age 93, received two prestigious awards for community service: the Barth Award from Tri-City Family Services and the Charlemagne Award from the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. The latter he shared with his wife, Sharon, who survives him.
The city dedicated a sculpture to the couple in 2018.
Oie retired as a marketing director for Valley Community Bank. He was also an owner of Fox Valley Cleaners, a family business.
He served on the boards of Delnor Hospital and Delnor-Community Hospital for 30 years, and served with the St. Charles and Batavia MainStreet business organizations. He was a founding member of the River Corridor Partnership that beautified the Fox River banks in St. Charles.
John Schmitt
Former Algonquin Village President John Schmitt asks Sen. Dick Durbin a question during a Durbin visit to Algonquin in 2004. - Daily Herald file photo
July 25: Getting things done was Schmitt's stock in trade.
Schmitt, who died at age 72, was elected as an Algonquin village trustee in 1993, then appointed village president in 2002 after the death of his predecessor, Ted Spella. He was elected to the post in 2005.
Algonquin stressed quality development under Schmitt's stewardship, and he helped the village attract millions of dollars in projects to benefit the community.
Schmitt was a proponent for the western Route 31 bypass that opened in 2014. More recently, he advocated for the Longmeadow Parkway, which will provide another bridge across the Fox River. He oversaw the rapid development of the village's Randall Road corridor, and a $30 million downtown streetscape project.
Jerry Bratcher
Former Palatine Police Chief Jerry Bratcher, right, served for 25 years in that role until his retirement in 1999. He came up with innovative ideas, like the neighborhood policing model that is still one of the department's cornerstones. - Daily Herald file photo
Aug. 26: The former Palatine police chief brought innovation to the department and policing across the suburbs.
Bratcher, who died at age 86, served for 25 years as chief until his retirement in 1999.
He started the first local crime prevention unit in Illinois, led the creation of a multiagency major-crime task force and started the first DARE program in Illinois.
In Palatine, he implemented the neighborhood-based policing approach, still one of the cornerstones of the department, and was a driving force behind requiring a four-year college degree for new officers, Palatine Police Chief Dave Daigle said.
Bratcher led the initial investigation into the 1993 murders at Brown's Chicken and Pasta.
Rabbi Mark S. Shapiro
Rabbi Mark S. Shapiro of Northbrook, longtime leader of Congregation B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Glenview, is remembered as an eloquent orator and social justice leader. - Courtesy of Arnold Hirsch
Aug. 28: The longtime leader of Congregation B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Glenview is remembered as an eloquent orator and social justice leader who inspired scores of students to become rabbis.
Shapiro was a past president of the Glenbrook Clergy Fellowship and the Rabbinical Fellowship of the Northwest suburbs -- and who marched with other religious leaders alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.
Shapiro died after a six-year bout with Parkinson's disease. He was 85.
Shapiro led B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Glenview from 1962 to 2000 and was rabbi emeritus thereafter, presiding over funerals until three years ago. After his 2000 retirement, he and his wife, Hanna, moved to Northbrook. BJBE has since relocated to Deerfield.
He was passionate about Israel, founded United Power for Justice in Action, an interfaith organization, and worked with the Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, a Jewish children's summer camp in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Walter Newman
Walter Newman is remembered as a Naperville leader who helped guide the community's growth and development for 20 years. - Courtesy of the Newman family
Sept. 18: Guiding Naperville through a pivotal time of rapid but strategic growth, Newman set the tone for its future development.
Newman, who died at 97, leaves behind a legacy that blends progressive planning with historic preservation.
He retired in 1996 as the city's economic development director, but also served as director of community development and zoning administration for the city, spearheading Naperville's first comprehensive plan, creating the historic district and revising the city's zoning ordinance, according to his obituary.
With roughly 27,000 residents at the start of his 20-year tenure, the city's population grew to more than 110,100 by the time Newman retired, documents show. He had a hand in the final design and siting of the municipal center along the Riverwalk, was involved in the North Central College expansion, and served on various city commissions. Later, he volunteered at Naper Settlement to help archive the city's history.
Rich Martin
Rich Martin and K-9 Luther were featured on "Good Morning America" with anchor Lara Spencer. - Courtesy of Lutheran Church Charities
Dec. 2: He always had his bags packed, one for him and one for his dog -- and when a tragedy occurred, they responded.
Martin, of Lake Barrington, and his wife, Dona, and their two comfort dogs, Luther and Ruthie, were at the scene of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 within 24 hours. It was the first of many man-made and natural disasters Martin would rush to, leading a team of handlers and golden retrievers from Lutheran Church Charities to bring comfort to victims and first responders. Martin died due to complications from COVID-19. He was 68.
Martin started as a volunteer, but after retiring from a corporate career, he was hired as deployment director of the charity's K-9 Ministry. What started locally with Golden retrievers has grown to include 130 comfort dogs in 27 states.
Lutheran Church Charities officials count 16 major K-9 Ministry crisis deployments Martin led, and hundreds of site visits and emergency responses. Among them were mass shootings, including the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut.
William 'Bill' Braithwaite
William "Bill" Braithwaite
Dec. 6: He would go on to have a permanent impact on the region, serving as attorney for the village and several surrounding communities and working to preserve the area's rural character. Braithwaite died from complications of COVID-19. He was 92.
Recognized as on icon of municipal law for his 64-year legal career, Braithwaite also was known as a devoted family man and community servant. He was instrumental in the formation of the village of South Barrington in 1959.
"He had an amazing amount of history with all of the Barrington villages," South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie said.
Braithwaite also was known for civic involvement, serving on governing boards and providing free legal counsel for several groups.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-29--Snow quickly blankets suburbs, then freezing rain creates ice danger

Snow quickly covered the suburbs Tuesday evening before freezing rain moved in to create ice danger on roads at night .
At least a couple of inches were seen in Northwest suburbs and reported in DuPage County and Fox Valley suburbs .
The snow is part of a winter storm that the National Weather Service had warned could bring up to 9 inches of snow in some suburbs up north as well as dangerous ice and winds overnight .
ABC 7 Chicago reported the following snow totals at 10:15 p.m. : The National Weather Service then warned of icy conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area as temperatures slowly rose .
ABC meteorologists said earlier snow would be moderate to heavy at times , falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches an hour , leading to rapidly deteriorating road conditions .
And the National Weather Service had expanded its winter storm warning to northern Cook County .
In the Northwest suburbs , the weather service warned of heavy mixed precipitation , with snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches , `` locally higher , '' and ice accumulations of up to one-tenth or two-tenths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 35 mph were also predicted .
`` Plan on slippery road conditions and periods of sharply reduced visibility early to mid evening , '' the weather service warning said .
It also warned `` some power outages are possible due to the combined effects of wet snow accumulation , some icing , and wind gusts . ''
Heavy , wet snow may be difficult to shovel , too , the service said .
In McHenry , Lake and Kane counties , the weather service warned of up to 9 inches of snow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ice covered roads and periods of sharply reduced visibility , especially late this afternoon into this evening , '' the service said .
DuPage and Will counties were expected to be moderately affected by the storm , which could turn to freezing rain overnight .
Warmer weather is expected to move into the area Wednesday morning , diminishing the threat of icy roads throughout the day .
At the Hinsdale Oasis along the Illinois Tollway , heavy snow prompted many truckers to pull over and wait out the storm , with visibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late afternoon , ABC 7 reported .
`` We have our full complement of crews out there preparing , doing last-minute checks of the snowplows , making sure they 're all ready to go , '' said Maria Castaneda , spokesperson for Illinois Department of Transportation .
`` We have over 125,000 tons of salt in reserve .
So we 're definitely ready to be out there right now . ''
`` This is probably the first major storm in a while , so even seasoned drivers who have been through many Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiarizing yourself , getting used to that braking distance , '' Castaneda added .
`` One of the main things that we always tell people is , you know , and especially in the height of a snowstorm , if you do n't need to be out there , then do n't . ''
Road crews in Barrington were quickly deployed Tuesday afternoon , salting and clearing the streets with an emphasis on the village 's main arteries , ABC 7 reported .
Barrington has about 12 trucks in its fleet .
Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were ready for this months ago .
`` Prior to winter even starting -- back in October , November -- we start checking all our machines , making sure everything is ready to be deployed , '' Lukowicz told ABC 7 .
`` Having this occur overnight allows us to hopefully get everything clean before they have to head out the next morning . ''

Snow, freezing rain creates icy conditions early Wednesday
Snow quickly covered the suburbs Tuesday evening before freezing rain moved in to create ice danger on roads overnight.
At least a couple of inches were seen in Northwest suburbs and reported in DuPage County and Fox Valley suburbs.
The snow is part of a winter storm that the National Weather Service had warned could bring up to 9 inches of snow in some suburbs up north as well as dangerous ice and winds overnight.
ABC 7 Chicago reported the following snow totals at 10:15 p.m.:
• Carol Stream, 4.5 inches
• Elburn, 4.2 inches
• Batavia, 3.6 inches
• Elk Grove Village, 3.0 inches
The National Weather Service then warned of icy conditions overnight resulting from freezing rain moving into the area as temperatures slowly rose.
ABC meteorologists said earlier snow would be moderate to heavy at times, falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches an hour, leading to rapidly deteriorating road conditions.
And the National Weather Service had expanded its winter storm warning to northern Cook County.
In the Northwest suburbs, the weather service warned of heavy mixed precipitation, with snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches, "locally higher," and ice accumulations of up to one-tenth or two-tenths of an inch.
Wind gusts of up to 35 mph were also predicted.
"Plan on slippery road conditions and periods of sharply reduced visibility early to mid evening," the weather service warning said. It also warned "some power outages are possible due to the combined effects of wet snow accumulation, some icing, and wind gusts."
Heavy, wet snow may be difficult to shovel, too, the service said.
In McHenry, Lake and Kane counties, the weather service warned of up to 9 inches of snow.
"Plan on snow or slush and ice covered roads and periods of sharply reduced visibility, especially late this afternoon into this evening," the service said.
DuPage and Will counties were expected to be moderately affected by the storm, which could turn to freezing rain overnight.
Warmer weather is expected to move into the area Wednesday morning, diminishing the threat of icy roads throughout the day.
At the Hinsdale Oasis along the Illinois Tollway, heavy snow prompted many truckers to pull over and wait out the storm, with visibility getting worse by the minute in the late afternoon, ABC 7 reported.
"We have our full complement of crews out there preparing, doing last-minute checks of the snowplows, making sure they're all ready to go," said Maria Castaneda, spokesperson for Illinois Department of Transportation. "We have over 125,000 tons of salt in reserve. So we're definitely ready to be out there right now."
"This is probably the first major storm in a while, so even seasoned drivers who have been through many Chicago storms, it's time to be familiarizing yourself, getting used to that braking distance," Castaneda added. "One of the main things that we always tell people is, you know, and especially in the height of a snowstorm, if you don't need to be out there, then don't."
Road crews in Barrington were quickly deployed Tuesday afternoon, salting and clearing the streets with an emphasis on the village's main arteries, ABC 7 reported. Barrington has about 12 trucks in its fleet.
Public Works Director Jeremie Lukowicz said their crews were ready for this months ago.
"Prior to winter even starting -- back in October, November -- we start checking all our machines, making sure everything is ready to be deployed," Lukowicz told ABC 7. "Having this occur overnight allows us to hopefully get everything clean before they have to head out the next morning."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-29--Business already popping for Popcorn Bar in downtown Barrington

Opening a popcorn store during a pandemic while juggling another business and raising three young children ?
Sure , said Ashley Ryan , who with her husband , Zach , and mother , Dawn Kramer , recently opened Popcorn Bar in downtown Barrington .
The Ryans live in Lakewood with their children -- two boys , ages 6 and 4 , and a girl , 3 -- and own a chiropractic business in Crystal Lake .
After their plan to open a popcorn store with another person fell through a couple of years ago , they decided it was time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Popcorn Bar in late November at 117 S. Hough St .
The store offers 40 flavors of popcorn , ranging from classics like the Chicago Mix of caramel and cheddar , to kid-friendly concoctions like Iron Man ( cherry candied popcorn with gold chocolate ) and Mermaid Munch ( frosted animal cookie flavor with Sixlets ) .
There are hot varieties , like Buffalo Wing , Jalapeño Ranch and Habanero Cheddar , and sweet ones , like Cinnamon Kettle , Cookies and Cream and Snickers .
Ryan and her mother , who share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from customers , hence the creation of Pizza popcorn .
The bestseller is Puppy Chow , melted chocolate and peanut butter poured over buttered popcorn with powdered sugar .
`` I have to make it practically every single day because we run out , '' Ryan said .
Like most popcorn stores , Popcorn Bar does n't use butter ; instead , the butter flavor comes from coconut oil , which has no trans fat , Ryan said .
Additionally , Popcorn Bar uses white coconut oil , instead of vegetable oil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I wanted to give people the healthiest option . ''
The business venture came together with the essential assistance of Kramer , who quit her job as director of nursing for an assisted living facility in Muskego , Wisconsin , and moved in with her daughter .
The Ryans divide their time so one of them is at home with their children while they keep their chiropractic business running .
Ashley Ryan said they picked the Barrington location after deciding against Crystal Lake , which already has a popcorn store downtown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have help , as in my mom , we started looking and downtown Barrington was a place that we thought would be great .
We 've loved Barrington for a long time , '' she said .
The 1,000-square-foot space on Hough Street was formerly home to Super G 's Cheesesteaks , which closed this summer .
Business in December has been very good , but opening during the COVID-19 pandemic `` is definitely a scary time , '' Ashley Ryan said .
`` But also it was the only time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt like it just got to a point like , 'It 's now or never . '
'' Kramer said she 's been happy to help and plans to move back to Wisconsin when things are up and running .
`` The people of Barrington are extremely welcoming , '' she said , adding the job is physical but a lot of fun .
`` It 's been wonderful . ''
The store is open Tuesday to Saturday .
Popcorn comes in different bag sizes , tins and gift boxes .
For more @ @ @ @ @ @

Business already popping for Popcorn Bar in downtown Barrington
A ribbon-cutting for Popcorn Bar at 117 S. Hough Street in Barrington was attended Dec. 8 by Suzanne Corr of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (from left); Village President Karen Darch; Martha Goodman Stack of Wells Fargo Advisors; Popcorn Bar co-owners Dawn Kramer, Ashley Ryan and Zach Ryan; Danielle Albright; and Scott Anderson, village manager. Courtesy of Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce
Opening a popcorn store during a pandemic while juggling another business and raising three young children?
Sure, said Ashley Ryan, who with her husband, Zach, and mother, Dawn Kramer, recently opened Popcorn Bar in downtown Barrington.
The Ryans live in Lakewood with their children -- two boys, ages 6 and 4, and a girl, 3 -- and own a chiropractic business in Crystal Lake. After their plan to open a popcorn store with another person fell through a couple of years ago, they decided it was time to take the plunge. They opened Popcorn Bar in late November at 117 S. Hough St.
The store offers 40 flavors of popcorn, ranging from classics like the Chicago Mix of caramel and cheddar, to kid-friendly concoctions like Iron Man (cherry candied popcorn with gold chocolate) and Mermaid Munch (frosted animal cookie flavor with Sixlets).
There are hot varieties, like Buffalo Wing, Jalapeño Ranch and Habanero Cheddar, and sweet ones, like Cinnamon Kettle, Cookies and Cream and Snickers. Ryan and her mother, who share popcorn-making duties, are open to suggestions from customers, hence the creation of Pizza popcorn.
The bestseller is Puppy Chow, melted chocolate and peanut butter poured over buttered popcorn with powdered sugar. "I have to make it practically every single day because we run out," Ryan said.
Like most popcorn stores, Popcorn Bar doesn't use butter; instead, the butter flavor comes from coconut oil, which has no trans fat, Ryan said. Additionally, Popcorn Bar uses white coconut oil, instead of vegetable oil, for white popcorn, she said. "I wanted to give people the healthiest option."
The business venture came together with the essential assistance of Kramer, who quit her job as director of nursing for an assisted living facility in Muskego, Wisconsin, and moved in with her daughter. The Ryans divide their time so one of them is at home with their children while they keep their chiropractic business running.
Ashley Ryan said they picked the Barrington location after deciding against Crystal Lake, which already has a popcorn store downtown.
"When found out I was going to have help, as in my mom, we started looking and downtown Barrington was a place that we thought would be great. We've loved Barrington for a long time," she said.
The 1,000-square-foot space on Hough Street was formerly home to Super G's Cheesesteaks, which closed this summer.
Business in December has been very good, but opening during the COVID-19 pandemic "is definitely a scary time," Ashley Ryan said. "But also it was the only time that worked for my family, so I felt like it just got to a point like, 'It's now or never.'"
Kramer said she's been happy to help and plans to move back to Wisconsin when things are up and running. "The people of Barrington are extremely welcoming," she said, adding the job is physical but a lot of fun. "It's been wonderful."
The store is open Tuesday to Saturday. Popcorn comes in different bag sizes, tins and gift boxes. For more information visit popcornbar.co or facebook.com/PopcornBarInc.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-29--How Good Shepherd treats breast cancer with just one dose of radiation

Treating patients with the least invasive methods and fewest visits to the hospital , particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic , is always best , medical professionals would agree .
That 's the philosophy of Dr. Barry Rosen , who 's been providing specialized early breast cancer treatment for nearly a decade with a team at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Lake Barrington .
Typically breast cancer patients go through several weeks of radiation .
Good Shepherd offers intraoperative radiation therapy , or IORT , which consists of a single dose of targeted radiation given during surgery .
The procedure includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done by Dr. Andrew Lee , and oncoplastic surgery , which restores the appearance of the breast , done by Dr. Stephen Madry .
The swift approach is what prompted Stephanie Gardiner , 50 , of Denver to travel to Illinois with her husband and 10-year-old son earlier this month .
The family stayed at a hotel in Schaumburg before and after her Dec. 15 surgery .
Gardiner said she 's been getting annual mammograms since age 40 , which is how a small tumor was detected in late September .
`` Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have , it 's pretty nerve-racking .
Your mind is racing , '' she said .
Her doctor would have prescribed typical radiation therapy , but Gardiner remembered a friend who 's been cancer-free since she went through an IORT clinical trial several years ago .
Gardiner asked her health insurance provider for approval for IORT but was denied .
She pressed for the criteria and was told only a specific IORT that uses X-rays ( some use electrons ) would be covered .
She was given the names of a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that offer oncoplastic surgery .
One was Rosen .
Breast radiation therapy comes with a host of side effects , from mild , common ones like a sunburn-type reaction to more severe ones like breast shrinkage , problems in breastfeeding and even some nerve damage .
All that can be avoided with IORT , Rosen said .
`` The most wonderful thing is that there are literally no side effects , '' he said .
A 12-year clinical trial on IORT published in August shows it is equivalent to traditional radiation for early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have very localized breast tumors with specific molecular features , Rosen said .
Rosen traveled to Germany and England to learn the technique before pitching it to Good Shepherd , which made the $ 500,000 investment in 2011 .
`` We thought this was a fantastic innovation for our patients -- not just from a convenience standpoint but from a precision standpoint , '' he said .
When the hospital started offering IORT in March 2012 , it was the first to do so in the Chicago suburbs .
Since then , Rosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients , with cancer recurrence rates of less than 2 % , he said .
IORT now is offered by a handful of providers in the greater Chicago area , most recently Cancer Treatment Centers of America , Rosen said .
The treatment is covered by Medicare and most insurance companies , although some require patients to jump through hurdles before approval , he said .
The team at Good Shepherd has worked to spread the word to patients and other doctors , Rosen said .
`` Breast cancer survival is very high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- we have to look at the outcome .
It 's about going beyond ' I do n't care how I look , ' '' Rosen said .
`` We should care about the patient experience . ''
Meanwhile , Gardiner , whose procedure went well , is back home in Denver where her local medical team will do follow-up care .
`` If you get mammograms and you detect it early , you have options , '' Gardiner said .
`` I am thrilled to have options and be able to choose @ @

How Good Shepherd treats breast cancer with just one dose of radiation
Stephanie Gardiner traveled from Colorado earlier this month to get specialized breast cancer treatment from Dr. Barry Rosen and a team at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Lake Barrington. Courtesy of Stephanie Gardiner and Advocate Health Care
Treating patients with the least invasive methods and fewest visits to the hospital, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, is always best, medical professionals would agree.
That's the philosophy of Dr. Barry Rosen, who's been providing specialized early breast cancer treatment for nearly a decade with a team at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital near Lake Barrington.
Typically breast cancer patients go through several weeks of radiation. Good Shepherd offers intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT, which consists of a single dose of targeted radiation given during surgery.
The procedure includes a lumpectomy done by Rosen, IORT done by Dr. Andrew Lee, and oncoplastic surgery, which restores the appearance of the breast, done by Dr. Stephen Madry.
The swift approach is what prompted Stephanie Gardiner, 50, of Denver to travel to Illinois with her husband and 10-year-old son earlier this month. The family stayed at a hotel in Schaumburg before and after her Dec. 15 surgery.
Gardiner said she's been getting annual mammograms since age 40, which is how a small tumor was detected in late September. "Before you find out what type of cancer you have, it's pretty nerve-racking. Your mind is racing," she said.
Her doctor would have prescribed typical radiation therapy, but Gardiner remembered a friend who's been cancer-free since she went through an IORT clinical trial several years ago.
Gardiner asked her health insurance provider for approval for IORT but was denied. She pressed for the criteria and was told only a specific IORT that uses X-rays (some use electrons) would be covered. She was given the names of a few doctors across the country, including two that offer oncoplastic surgery. One was Rosen.
Breast radiation therapy comes with a host of side effects, from mild, common ones like a sunburn-type reaction to more severe ones like breast shrinkage, problems in breastfeeding and even some nerve damage. All that can be avoided with IORT, Rosen said.
"The most wonderful thing is that there are literally no side effects," he said.
A 12-year clinical trial on IORT published in August shows it is equivalent to traditional radiation for early breast cancer patients. Eligible patients must have very localized breast tumors with specific molecular features, Rosen said.
Rosen traveled to Germany and England to learn the technique before pitching it to Good Shepherd, which made the $500,000 investment in 2011.
"We thought this was a fantastic innovation for our patients -- not just from a convenience standpoint but from a precision standpoint," he said.
When the hospital started offering IORT in March 2012, it was the first to do so in the Chicago suburbs. Since then, Rosen and his team have treated about 500 patients, with cancer recurrence rates of less than 2%, he said.
IORT now is offered by a handful of providers in the greater Chicago area, most recently Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Rosen said. The treatment is covered by Medicare and most insurance companies, although some require patients to jump through hurdles before approval, he said.
The team at Good Shepherd has worked to spread the word to patients and other doctors, Rosen said.
"Breast cancer survival is very high, but we have to look beyond -- we have to look at the outcome. It's about going beyond 'I don't care how I look,'" Rosen said. "We should care about the patient experience."
Meanwhile, Gardiner, whose procedure went well, is back home in Denver where her local medical team will do follow-up care.
"If you get mammograms and you detect it early, you have options," Gardiner said. "I am thrilled to have options and be able to choose."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-30--What did the Cubs get for Yu Darvish? Here's a look at the prospects.

After the Cubs went down quietly in the opening round of the playoffs against the Marlins , president of baseball operations Theo Epstein stepped down .
Starters Jon Lester , Tyler Chatwood and Jose Quintana became free agents , as did relief pitchers Jeremy Jeffress and Andrew Chafin , second baseman Jason Kipnis and outfielders Cameron Maybin and Billy Hamilton .
Outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr. were non-tendered and are also free agents .
Even Len Kasper bailed , leaving the Cubs ' TV booth to call White Sox games on radio .
Starter Yu Darvish and catcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Padres and USA Today 's Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday the Cubs are `` extensively shopping '' all-star catcher Willson Contreras .
Add it all up , and the Cubs are undoubtedly slashing payroll and behaving like a team that is launching a full-blown rebuild .
As for additions , San Diego is expected to send veteran starter Zach Davies to the Cubs , along with four prospects : shortstops Reginald Preciado and Yeison Santana and outfielders Ismael Mena and Owen Caissie .
Here 's what Baseball America has to say about the haul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' No .
15 top prospect , Preciado is 17 years old and was Panama 's top prospect in 2019 before signing with San Diego for $ 1.3 million .
He has yet to play a professional game .
`` Preciado grew an inch since signing and now stands 6-foot-5 with a skinny , projectable frame , '' Baseball America wrote .
`` He is n't overly twitchy , but he has a knack for being on time at the plate .
A switch-hitter , Preciado 's left-handed swing has a bit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a more compact stroke .
They 're different swings , but he 's shown the ability to drive the ball from both sides and has room to grow into power as he fills out .
`` Preciado is a fringe-average runner , but his advanced instincts and polished defensive skills allow him to handle shortstop for now .
His above-average arm strength should improve as he gets stronger . ''
Rated the Padres ' No .
17 prospect , Mena is 18 years old .
`` One of the most athletic players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed with the Padres for $ 2.2 million , the largest bonus the club awarded that year , '' Baseball America wrote .
`` His professional debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic , but he put on 7-10 pounds of good weight and stood out during instructional league .
`` Mena is a lean , sleek center fielder with plus-plus speed in the outfield and on the bases .
He 's a slashing hitter who sprays the ball around with a whippy swing from the left side , although he 's added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive the ball in the air . ''
Rated the Padres ' No .
18 prospect , Santana is 20 years old .
`` Santana is the lone prospect the Cubs acquired to have played a professional game , and what he 's shown so far has been promising , '' Baseball America wrote .
`` Signed for $ 300,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 , Santana quickly added strength and emerged as one of the top players in the Rookie-level Arizona League in his stateside debut in 2019 , finishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sixth in on-base percentage ( .429 ) .
`` Santana is an aggressive hitter who swings hard but has the hand-eye coordination and barrel awareness to make consistent contact .
He lines the ball to all fields , especially up the middle and the opposite way , and shows a keen eye for the strike zone . ''
Rated the Padres ' No .
20 prospect , Caissie is 18 years old .
`` Caissie starred as the top power hitter on Canada 's junior national team and generated buzz in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the batter 's eye at the Blue Jays ' spring training stadium , '' Baseball America wrote .
`` The Padres drafted him 45th overall in June and signed him for just over $ 1.2 million to forgo a Michigan commitment .
Caissie briefly played at the alternate training site after signing but was hit by a pitch on the right elbow early in instructional league and suffered a hairline fracture that kept him out most of the fall .
`` Caissie is a big left-handed hitter with plus raw power and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He posts some of the top exit velocities and longest home run distances in every environment he plays .
Caissie 's swing can get long and he is prone to striking out , but when he gets a fastball over the plate he crushes it . ''

What did the Cubs get for Yu Darvish? Here's a look at the prospects.
Starter Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini have reportedly been traded to the Padres -- the deal is still not official -- and USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday the Cubs are "extensively shopping" all-star catcher Willson Contreras. Associated Press
So many subtractions.
After the Cubs went down quietly in the opening round of the playoffs against the Marlins, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein stepped down.
Starters Jon Lester, Tyler Chatwood and Jose Quintana became free agents, as did relief pitchers Jeremy Jeffress and Andrew Chafin, second baseman Jason Kipnis and outfielders Cameron Maybin and Billy Hamilton.
Outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr. were non-tendered and are also free agents.
Even Len Kasper bailed, leaving the Cubs' TV booth to call White Sox games on radio.
Starter Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini have been traded to the Padres and USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday the Cubs are "extensively shopping" all-star catcher Willson Contreras.
Add it all up, and the Cubs are undoubtedly slashing payroll and behaving like a team that is launching a full-blown rebuild.
As for additions, San Diego is expected to send veteran starter Zach Davies to the Cubs, along with four prospects: shortstops Reginald Preciado and Yeison Santana and outfielders Ismael Mena and Owen Caissie.
Here's what Baseball America has to say about the haul of young players:
Reginald Preciado:
Rated the Padres' No. 15 top prospect, Preciado is 17 years old and was Panama's top prospect in 2019 before signing with San Diego for $1.3 million. He has yet to play a professional game.
"Preciado grew an inch since signing and now stands 6-foot-5 with a skinny, projectable frame," Baseball America wrote. "He isn't overly twitchy, but he has a knack for being on time at the plate. A switch-hitter, Preciado's left-handed swing has a bit of an elliptical path and his right-handed swing is a more compact stroke. They're different swings, but he's shown the ability to drive the ball from both sides and has room to grow into power as he fills out.
"Preciado is a fringe-average runner, but his advanced instincts and polished defensive skills allow him to handle shortstop for now. His above-average arm strength should improve as he gets stronger."
Ismael Mena
Rated the Padres' No. 17 prospect, Mena is 18 years old.
"One of the most athletic players in the 2019 international class, he signed with the Padres for $2.2 million, the largest bonus the club awarded that year," Baseball America wrote. "His professional debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he put on 7-10 pounds of good weight and stood out during instructional league.
"Mena is a lean, sleek center fielder with plus-plus speed in the outfield and on the bases. He's a slashing hitter who sprays the ball around with a whippy swing from the left side, although he's added strength and leverage and has started to drive the ball in the air."
Yeison Santana
Rated the Padres' No. 18 prospect, Santana is 20 years old.
"Santana is the lone prospect the Cubs acquired to have played a professional game, and what he's shown so far has been promising," Baseball America wrote. "Signed for $300,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2017, Santana quickly added strength and emerged as one of the top players in the Rookie-level Arizona League in his stateside debut in 2019, finishing fourth in batting average (.346) and sixth in on-base percentage (.429).
"Santana is an aggressive hitter who swings hard but has the hand-eye coordination and barrel awareness to make consistent contact. He lines the ball to all fields, especially up the middle and the opposite way, and shows a keen eye for the strike zone."
Owen Caissie
Rated the Padres' No. 20 prospect, Caissie is 18 years old.
"Caissie starred as the top power hitter on Canada's junior national team and generated buzz in the spring when he hit a home run off the batter's eye at the Blue Jays' spring training stadium," Baseball America wrote. "The Padres drafted him 45th overall in June and signed him for just over $1.2 million to forgo a Michigan commitment. Caissie briefly played at the alternate training site after signing but was hit by a pitch on the right elbow early in instructional league and suffered a hairline fracture that kept him out most of the fall.
"Caissie is a big left-handed hitter with plus raw power and room to add even more strength. He posts some of the top exit velocities and longest home run distances in every environment he plays. Caissie's swing can get long and he is prone to striking out, but when he gets a fastball over the plate he crushes it."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-30--Feder: Chicago media rose to meet the challenges of 2020

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in late February hundreds of print , broadcast and digital journalists sat shoulder to shoulder in a downtown hotel ballroom where they pondered the future of their profession .
For more than three hours participants in the Chicago Journalism Town Hall argued passionately about how local news should be funded and how newsrooms should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve if they are to remain viable .
By mid-March hypothetical questions of survival suddenly became frighteningly real , thanks to the specter of a coronavirus pandemic .
For the remainder of 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before .
Along with the misery and suffering brought on by the worst public health crisis in a century , journalists found themselves covering economic upheaval triggered by a prolonged lockdown , social unrest tied to a national reckoning on race and an incendiary presidential election like no other .
Chicago media professionals showed amazing ingenuity and dedication as they reinvented their business on the fly .
As bricks-and-mortar newsrooms turned into ghost towns , journalists found creative ways to do their jobs from remote locations .
Living rooms , dens , kitchens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lola , the beagle in the background of Cheryl Scott 's nightly weather forecasts on ABC 7 , gained a social media following of her own .
Get the full report , and more Chicago media news , at robertfeder.com .

Feder: Chicago media rose to meet the challenges of 2020
On a sunny Sunday afternoon in late February hundreds of print, broadcast and digital journalists sat shoulder to shoulder in a downtown hotel ballroom where they pondered the future of their profession.
For more than three hours participants in the Chicago Journalism Town Hall argued passionately about how local news should be funded and how newsrooms should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve if they are to remain viable.
By mid-March hypothetical questions of survival suddenly became frighteningly real, thanks to the specter of a coronavirus pandemic.
For the remainder of 2020, COVID-19 would challenge the media as never before. Along with the misery and suffering brought on by the worst public health crisis in a century, journalists found themselves covering economic upheaval triggered by a prolonged lockdown, social unrest tied to a national reckoning on race and an incendiary presidential election like no other.
Chicago media professionals showed amazing ingenuity and dedication as they reinvented their business on the fly.
As bricks-and-mortar newsrooms turned into ghost towns, journalists found creative ways to do their jobs from remote locations. Living rooms, dens, kitchens and bedrooms became makeshift studios for broadcasters. Lola, the beagle in the background of Cheryl Scott's nightly weather forecasts on ABC 7, gained a social media following of her own.
Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-29--COVID-19 cases per county, ZIP code as of Dec. 29

There have been 405,572 COVID-19 cases in the suburbs as of Tuesday .
That 's 42.7 % of the state 's total , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
There have been 6,819 deaths in the suburbs , which is 42.1 % of all COVID-19 deaths in Illinois .
Cook County • As of Tuesday , suburban Cook County had 186,040 cases and 3,567 deaths , according to the state .
In Chicago : 202,346 cases and 4,102 fatalities .
• Top suburb case counts as of Tuesday from Cook County 's health department and the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 171 deaths in Des Plaines , 4,676 cases and 49 deaths in Palatine , 4,368 cases and 98 deaths in Arlington Heights , 4,182 cases and 50 deaths in Schaumburg , 3,504 cases and 51 deaths in Streamwood , 3,400 cases and 36 deaths in Mount Prospect , 3,071 cases and 45 deaths in Hoffman Estates , 3,067 cases and 106 deaths in Wheeling , 2,947 cases and 82 deaths in Glenview , 2,127 cases and 94 deaths in Northbrook , 2,079 cases and 57 deaths in Elk Grove Village , 2,065 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cook County portion ) , 1,881 cases and 39 deaths in Rolling Meadows , 1,055 cases and 13 deaths in Prospect Heights , 807 cases and 29 deaths in Buffalo Grove ( Cook County portion ) .
DuPage County • As of Tuesday , DuPage County had 60,839 cases and 942 deaths , according to the state .
• Top counts as of Tuesday , according to the county : 4,995 cases and 99 deaths in Naperville ( DuPage County portion ) , 3,720 cases and 27 deaths in Addison , 3,274 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,185 cases and 41 deaths in Carol Stream , 3,116 cases and 42 deaths in Wheaton , 3,011 cases and 39 deaths in Lombard , 3,006 cases and 54 deaths in Elmhurst , 2,994 cases and 19 deaths in Glendale Heights , 2,350 cases and 17 deaths in Aurora ( DuPage County portion ) , 2,195 cases and 21 deaths in Glen Ellyn , 1,829 cases and 12 deaths in Villa Park , 1,794 cases and 26 deaths in Bensenville , and 1,515 cases and 15 deaths in Hanover Park ( DuPage County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases with 750 deaths as of Tuesday on the IDPH website .
The Lake County Health Department has slowed its daily reporting , blaming a data processing issue on the state .
The county is no longer reporting total case counts by municipality.Kane County • 40,869 cases with 556 deaths as of Tuesday on the IDPH website .
• Most recent top counts posted on the county website as of Monday : 12,384 in Aurora ( Kane County portion ) , 8,051 in Elgin ( Kane County portion ) , 3,921 in St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in South Elgin , 1,708 in Geneva , 1,509 in Batavia , 684 in Hampshire , 646 in Sugar Grove , 555 in Gilberts , 463 in Algonquin ( Kane County portion ) .
McHenry County • 18,794 cases and 202 deaths as of Tuesday , according to the IDPH website .
Will County • 51,466 cases and 712 deaths reported , according to the IDPH website Tuesday .

COVID-19 cases per county, ZIP code as of Dec. 29
Interactive mapSuburbs' portion
There have been 405,572 COVID-19 cases in the suburbs as of Tuesday. That's 42.7% of the state's total, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been 6,819 deaths in the suburbs, which is 42.1% of all COVID-19 deaths in Illinois.
Cook County• As of Tuesday, suburban Cook County had 186,040 cases and 3,567 deaths, according to the state. In Chicago: 202,346 cases and 4,102 fatalities. • Top suburb case counts as of Tuesday from Cook County's health department and the medical examiner's office: 6,753 cases and 171 deaths in Des Plaines, 4,676 cases and 49 deaths in Palatine, 4,368 cases and 98 deaths in Arlington Heights, 4,182 cases and 50 deaths in Schaumburg, 3,504 cases and 51 deaths in Streamwood, 3,400 cases and 36 deaths in Mount Prospect, 3,071 cases and 45 deaths in Hoffman Estates, 3,067 cases and 106 deaths in Wheeling, 2,947 cases and 82 deaths in Glenview, 2,127 cases and 94 deaths in Northbrook, 2,079 cases and 57 deaths in Elk Grove Village, 2,065 cases and 25 deaths in Hanover Park (Cook County portion), 1,881 cases and 39 deaths in Rolling Meadows, 1,055 cases and 13 deaths in Prospect Heights, 807 cases and 29 deaths in Buffalo Grove (Cook County portion). DuPage County
• As of Tuesday, DuPage County had 60,839 cases and 942 deaths, according to the state.
• Top counts as of Tuesday, according to the county: 4,995 cases and 99 deaths in Naperville (DuPage County portion), 3,720 cases and 27 deaths in Addison, 3,274 cases and 29 deaths in West Chicago, 3,185 cases and 41 deaths in Carol Stream, 3,116 cases and 42 deaths in Wheaton, 3,011 cases and 39 deaths in Lombard, 3,006 cases and 54 deaths in Elmhurst, 2,994 cases and 19 deaths in Glendale Heights, 2,350 cases and 17 deaths in Aurora (DuPage County portion), 2,195 cases and 21 deaths in Glen Ellyn, 1,829 cases and 12 deaths in Villa Park, 1,794 cases and 26 deaths in Bensenville, and 1,515 cases and 15 deaths in Hanover Park (DuPage County portion).
Lake County • 47,564 cases with 750 deaths as of Tuesday on the IDPH website. The Lake County Health Department has slowed its daily reporting, blaming a data processing issue on the state. The county is no longer reporting total case counts by municipality.Kane County • 40,869 cases with 556 deaths as of Tuesday on the IDPH website. • Most recent top counts posted on the county website as of Monday: 12,384 in Aurora (Kane County portion), 8,051 in Elgin (Kane County portion), 3,921 in St. Charles, 3,455 in Carpentersville, 1,969 in South Elgin, 1,708 in Geneva, 1,509 in Batavia, 684 in Hampshire, 646 in Sugar Grove, 555 in Gilberts, 463 in Algonquin (Kane County portion).
McHenry County• 18,794 cases and 202 deaths as of Tuesday, according to the IDPH website. Will County• 51,466 cases and 712 deaths reported, according to the IDPH website Tuesday.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-29--$100 for mom who quit job to care for son

Today 's recipient of a $ 100 bill through the Believe Project is Wilfred Hegg of Palatine .
Hegg wants @ @ @ @ @ a woman he knows .
Here is an excerpt of his story : '' ( @ @ @ @ @ have three children .
One child , who is just 3 years old , is @ @ @ @ @ past year has gone through cancer therapy and only recently returned home .
She had @ @ @ @ @ her son requires around the clock monitoring .
`` The family is struggling financially as @ @ @ @ @ they can get would be appreciated . ''
• The Believe Project is awarding $ @ @ @ @ @ different person with a great idea for how to use the money to do a @ @ @ @ @ .
If you 'd like the chance to help someone , submit your idea for @ @ @ @ @ fewer at events.dailyherald.com/believe/ .

$100 for mom who quit job to care for son
Today's recipient of a $100 bill through the Believe Project is Wilfred Hegg of Palatine.
Hegg wants to give the money to a woman he knows. Here is an excerpt of his story:
"(She) and her husband have three children. One child, who is just 3 years old, is severely handicapped and in the past year has gone through cancer therapy and only recently returned home. She had to quit her job because her son requires around the clock monitoring.
"The family is struggling financially as a result and any support they can get would be appreciated."
• The Believe Project is awarding $100 each day to a different person with a great idea for how to use the money to do a good deed for someone else. If you'd like the chance to help someone, submit your idea for consideration in 150 words or fewer at events.dailyherald.com/believe/.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-30--First snow of winter quickly turns to slush, and more is on the way

The first snow of winter that blanketed the suburbs Tuesday quickly became the first slush of winter Wednesday morning .
And we can expect the rest of the week to be slushy , too , according to National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Kluber .
Several bands of moderate to heavy snow moved through the region Tuesday afternoon and evening , dropping 1-2 '' of snow per hour , said Kluber , of the NWS office in Romeoville .
Accumulation varied , from 2.6 '' measured at O'Hare International Airport to 4.7 '' in Aurora to 5.5 '' in Wonder Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
And if your arms and back were achy after shoveling it , that 's understandable .
`` There was a lot of moisture in it , '' Kluber said , particularly when snow started changing to rain later Tuesday evening .
The slush will stick around , as temperatures dropped below freezing Wednesday afternoon .
Another weather system is due early Friday , starting with about an inch of snow followed by rain .
Because temperatures will still be below freezing , `` there 's a decent amount of icing potential @ @ @ @ @

More freezing rain, snow expected Friday morning
The first snow of winter that blanketed the suburbs Tuesday quickly became the first slush of winter Wednesday morning.
And we can expect the rest of the week to be slushy, too, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Kluber.
Another weather system is due early Friday, starting with about an inch of snow followed by rain.
Because temperatures will still be below freezing, "there's a decent amount of icing potential," Kluber said.
Several bands of moderate to heavy snow moved through the region Tuesday afternoon and evening, dropping 1-2 inches of snow per hour, Kluber said.
Accumulation varied, from 2.6" measured at O'Hare International Airport to 4.7" in Aurora to 5.5" in Wonder Lake, according to the NWS 24-hour snowfall report.
And if your arms and back were achy after shoveling it, that's understandable.
"There was a lot of moisture in it," Kluber said, particularly when snow started changing to rain later Tuesday evening.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-30--Despite less testing, new COVID-19 cases continue to rise

The 10 state-run COVID-19 testing sites averaged nearly 1,200 fewer tests a day over the past week compared to the week prior .
But new cases continue to rise despite the reduction of testing .
From Dec. 16-20 , an average 5,380 tests were administered each day at the state-run sites throughout the state .
Over the next week , those sites averaged 4,204 tests a day , even discounting Christmas when all testing locations were closed , according to Illinois Department of Public Health figures .
By Wednesday , the state was averaging just 69,992 test results a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past week .
A week earlier , the statewide seven-day average was 90,398 test results a day , 22 % more .
State health officials believe the holidays played a significant role in the decrease in testing .
Other health experts point to less public concern about being infected , since the likelihood has been reduced significantly over the past month .
Fewer people are being exposed to an infected person , decreasing the desire to be tested , they said .
While Wednesday 's statewide seven-day average case positivity rate of 7.6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 11 days , it 's almost half where it was in mid-November .
`` Things are heading the right way right now , '' said Dr. Allison Arwady , head of Chicago 's public health department .
However , Arwady warned that it could be weeks before the state sees potential effects from holiday gatherings .
She urged people to stay home for New Year 's celebrations .
The state saw more new cases of the virus Wednesday than it has in almost two weeks .
IDPH reported Wednesday 7,374 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 74,573 test results , a daily case positivity rate of 9.9 % .
For comparison , the state reported almost the same amount of new cases on Dec. 18 , but those were from a batch of 112,292 tests results , for a single-day case positivity rate of just 6.6 % .
The state also announced 178 more deaths from COVID-19 Wednesday .
That 's the most in a single day since Dec. 18 as well , according to IDPH records .
However , because of the recent holidays that preceded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed for an extended period .
It 's unclear how many of the deaths reported Wednesday were lagging from previous days .
With Wednesday 's new figures , the state 's death toll stands at 16,357 , with 955,380 Illinois residents infected since the outset of the pandemic .
IDPH officials also reported 4,244 patients were being treated for COVID-19 infections in the state 's hospitals Tuesday , a decline of nearly 70 from Monday .
Of those hospitalized , 882 are being treated in intensive-care units .
The state 's free testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights , at 2450 N. Farnsworth Road in Aurora , and 102 W. Water St. in Waukegan .
Most county health departments also operate large-scale , free testing facilities .
For a list of all types of testing sites throughout the suburbs and the rest of the state , visit dph.illinois.gov/testing .

Despite less testing, new COVID-19 cases continue to rise
The 10 state-run COVID-19 testing sites averaged nearly 1,200 fewer tests a day over the past week compared to the week prior.
But new cases continue to rise despite the reduction of testing.
From Dec. 16-20, an average 5,380 tests were administered each day at the state-run sites throughout the state. Over the next week, those sites averaged 4,204 tests a day, even discounting Christmas when all testing locations were closed, according to Illinois Department of Public Health figures.
By Wednesday, the state was averaging just 69,992 test results a day from all testing sites statewide over the past week. A week earlier, the statewide seven-day average was 90,398 test results a day, 22% more.
State health officials believe the holidays played a significant role in the decrease in testing. Other health experts point to less public concern about being infected, since the likelihood has been reduced significantly over the past month. Fewer people are being exposed to an infected person, decreasing the desire to be tested, they said.
While Wednesday's statewide seven-day average case positivity rate of 7.6% was higher than it's been in 11 days, it's almost half where it was in mid-November.
"Things are heading the right way right now," said Dr. Allison Arwady, head of Chicago's public health department.
However, Arwady warned that it could be weeks before the state sees potential effects from holiday gatherings. She urged people to stay home for New Year's celebrations.
The state saw more new cases of the virus Wednesday than it has in almost two weeks.
IDPH reported Wednesday 7,374 new cases of the respiratory disease from a batch of 74,573 test results, a daily case positivity rate of 9.9%. For comparison, the state reported almost the same amount of new cases on Dec. 18, but those were from a batch of 112,292 tests results, for a single-day case positivity rate of just 6.6%.
The state also announced 178 more deaths from COVID-19 Wednesday. That's the most in a single day since Dec. 18 as well, according to IDPH records.
However, because of the recent holidays that preceded the weekend, many county coroner offices were closed for an extended period. It's unclear how many of the deaths reported Wednesday were lagging from previous days.
With Wednesday's new figures, the state's death toll stands at 16,357, with 955,380 Illinois residents infected since the outset of the pandemic.
IDPH officials also reported 4,244 patients were being treated for COVID-19 infections in the state's hospitals Tuesday, a decline of nearly 70 from Monday. Of those hospitalized, 882 are being treated in intensive-care units.
The state's free testing sites are located in the suburbs at Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, at 2450 N. Farnsworth Road in Aurora, and 102 W. Water St. in Waukegan. Most county health departments also operate large-scale, free testing facilities. For a list of all types of testing sites throughout the suburbs and the rest of the state, visit dph.illinois.gov/testing.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-30--Geneva flavor company FONA, which just gave staff big bonuses, being sold to McCormick

Geneva-based FONA International , a flavorings company that recently bestowed big surprise bonuses on all its workers , is being sold to spice giant McCormick & Co. Inc. McCormick announced Wednesday morning it is paying $ 710 million in cash to buy 100 percent of the shares of FONA and some of FONA 's affiliates .
`` The Slawek family is very proud of the customers , the employee culture and the company we have built .
We are excited to see the next generation of FONA flourish as part of McCormick , '' Joseph Slawek , FONA 's founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in the news release from McCormick .
`` We are confident McCormick will further enable FONA 's forward momentum by continuing to make investments in growth initiatives , capabilities and people .
Fueled by the power of McCormick , FONA 's success will be accelerated .
FONA , in turn , will be a key driver in advancing McCormick 's global flavor leadership . ''
Slawek started FONA , formerly called Flavors of North America , in 1987 .
It moved to a new facility in Geneva in 2005 .
In November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it gave its 220 workers bonuses of $ 2,500 for every year of service .
Some longtime employees received more than $ 50,000 .
FONA creates and makes flavor products for the confection , grain , beverage and nutrition markets .
`` FONA 's portfolio is highly complementary to McCormick 's and will provide our customers with an even more comprehensive product offering to meet the growing demand for clean and flavorful eating , drinking and nutrition experiences , '' McCormick chairman , president and CEO Lawrence E. Kurzius said in the statement @

Geneva flavor company FONA, which just gave staff big bonuses, being sold to McCormick
Marysa Colarusso, left, Molly Zimmerman, Nancy Belteton, Jessica Lopez and Robin Prazak celebrate a bonus they received from FONA International. In November, the company gave employees $2,500 for every year of service. courtesy of Greenroom Creative
FONA International owners Joe and Mary Slawek have sold the Geneva-based flavorings company to McCormick. courtesy of Greenroom creative, November 2020
Geneva-based FONA International, a flavorings company that recently bestowed big surprise bonuses on all its workers, is being sold to spice giant McCormick & Co. Inc.
McCormick announced Wednesday morning it is paying $710 million in cash to buy 100 percent of the shares of FONA and some of FONA's affiliates.
"The Slawek family is very proud of the customers, the employee culture and the company we have built. We are excited to see the next generation of FONA flourish as part of McCormick," Joseph Slawek, FONA's founder, chairman and chief executive officer, said in the news release from McCormick. "We are confident McCormick will further enable FONA's forward momentum by continuing to make investments in growth initiatives, capabilities and people. Fueled by the power of McCormick, FONA's success will be accelerated. FONA, in turn, will be a key driver in advancing McCormick's global flavor leadership."
Slawek started FONA, formerly called Flavors of North America, in 1987. It moved to a new facility in Geneva in 2005.
In November, the company made the news when it gave its 220 workers bonuses of $2,500 for every year of service. Some longtime employees received more than $50,000.
FONA creates and makes flavor products for the confection, grain, beverage and nutrition markets.
"FONA's portfolio is highly complementary to McCormick's and will provide our customers with an even more comprehensive product offering to meet the growing demand for clean and flavorful eating, drinking and nutrition experiences," McCormick chairman, president and CEO Lawrence E. Kurzius said in the statement.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-30--Rozner: Toews' absence leaves massive hole for Blackhawks

One can easily imagine the conversation Jonathan Toews was having with those closest to him as they tried to convince him to step away from hockey for a few weeks or months .
It was probably similar to the time he played through a concussion for weeks in 2012 , before missing two months , refusing to give in to symptoms that would leave a normal person sitting alone quietly in a dark room , far from competing at hockey 's highest level .
And if these were n't serious health issues , they might even chuckle about how stubborn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the essence of Toews , the desire to compete , possessed by the need to give his all on every shift , regardless of the score , the calendar or the way some Blackhawks teammates might play .
He will skate 200 feet , he will block shots and he will always err on the side of caution , leaning defensively instead of cheating offensively .
Others can have the headlines .
Toews wants to win .
That has been Toews ' entire career , underappreciated and frequently underrated .
Crazy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stanley Cup champ is underrated .
We do n't live in a world where hard work is appreciated and good work is admired .
Effort is mocked while empty calories are celebrated , the epitome of flash over substance .
Headlines and clicks over deeds and staples , evil and cynicism ruling the day .
This is sports -- and life -- in 2020 .
Jonathan Toews is everything that 's right about sports and especially a game like hockey that requires as its chief tenet a team-first approach at all times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter punchline as he has gotten older and the players around him have gotten worse .
Fanatics move on quickly once they 've stripped all they can from the carcass .
Toews , however , is the definition of , `` You never know what you have until it 's gone , '' and his announced -- and indefinite -- departure Tuesday for medical reasons leaves a giant hole for a rebuilding team , on and off the ice .
`` I 've been experiencing symptoms that have left me feeling drained and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I can better understand my condition , '' Toews said in a statement .
`` Until I can get my health back to a place where I feel I can perform at an elite level and help my team , I will not be joining the Blackhawks for training camp .
I do not have a timetable for when I will rejoin the team . ''
This makes the task much more difficult for head coach Jeremy Colliton , as all coaches would prefer leadership and discipline come from inside the room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toews held players accountable and now with no chance for the playoffs , players who do n't check themselves could become selfish and build bad habits without Toews there to set the tone .
That leadership is invaluable , especially when Toews matches his effort to his words , a trait that is derided until he has a huge game , and then the narrative quickly shifts back to big-game Toews , the guy who loves the big stage .
The play he made in Game 4 of the playoff series-clinching win against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up Dominik Kubalik for the game-winner , is a play he makes so often that it 's rarely noticed anymore .
The puck battles and races won , especially in his own end , are just as crucial , but they do n't make highlight films .
His 7 points in 4 games against the Oilers got him some good press , but he has had many great games when his name was n't on the score sheet , and no media asked to speak to him after a game .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has respect in the room , '' said Brandon Saad after the Hawks ' 3-2 victory that eliminated the Oilers .
`` The biggest thing is you can talk the talk , but when you 're going out there and leading by example with his work ethic , everyone buys in . ''
Toews does n't care about garnering headlines .
He just wants to win .
He just wants to play hard .
He wants more ice time .
He wants to do his job .
Hopefully for his sake , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 , but until then perhaps his absence will be apparent to those who have stopped paying attention , who do n't appreciate that the 32-year-old , future Hall of Famer is still a massive contributor even if he is n't the player he was 10 years ago .
Understand it or do n't , but hockey is not a better game without him .

Rozner: Toews' absence leaves massive hole for Blackhawks
Jonathan Toews stepping away from hockey to sort out his health problems is bad news for Toews, the Blackhawks and hockey. Associated Press
One can easily imagine the conversation Jonathan Toews was having with those closest to him as they tried to convince him to step away from hockey for a few weeks or months.
It was probably similar to the time he played through a concussion for weeks in 2012, before missing two months, refusing to give in to symptoms that would leave a normal person sitting alone quietly in a dark room, far from competing at hockey's highest level.
And if these weren't serious health issues, they might even chuckle about how stubborn he is about his craft.
That is the essence of Toews, the desire to compete, possessed by the need to give his all on every shift, regardless of the score, the calendar or the way some Blackhawks teammates might play.
He will skate 200 feet, he will block shots and he will always err on the side of caution, leaning defensively instead of cheating offensively. Others can have the headlines. Toews wants to win.
That has been Toews' entire career, underappreciated and frequently underrated. Crazy, right? The captain of a three-time Stanley Cup champ is underrated.
But it's true.
We don't live in a world where hard work is appreciated and good work is admired. Effort is mocked while empty calories are celebrated, the epitome of flash over substance. Headlines and clicks over deeds and staples, evil and cynicism ruling the day.
This is sports -- and life -- in 2020.
Jonathan Toews is everything that's right about sports and especially a game like hockey that requires as its chief tenet a team-first approach at all times. For this, Toews has become a Twitter punchline as he has gotten older and the players around him have gotten worse.
Fanatics move on quickly once they've stripped all they can from the carcass.
Toews, however, is the definition of, "You never know what you have until it's gone," and his announced -- and indefinite -- departure Tuesday for medical reasons leaves a giant hole for a rebuilding team, on and off the ice.
"I've been experiencing symptoms that have left me feeling drained and lethargic. I am working with doctors so I can better understand my condition," Toews said in a statement. "Until I can get my health back to a place where I feel I can perform at an elite level and help my team, I will not be joining the Blackhawks for training camp. I do not have a timetable for when I will rejoin the team."
This makes the task much more difficult for head coach Jeremy Colliton, as all coaches would prefer leadership and discipline come from inside the room instead of from behind the bench.
Toews held players accountable and now with no chance for the playoffs, players who don't check themselves could become selfish and build bad habits without Toews there to set the tone.
That leadership is invaluable, especially when Toews matches his effort to his words, a trait that is derided until he has a huge game, and then the narrative quickly shifts back to big-game Toews, the guy who loves the big stage.
It's utter nonsense.
The play he made in Game 4 of the playoff series-clinching win against Edmonton, to steal a puck and set up Dominik Kubalik for the game-winner, is a play he makes so often that it's rarely noticed anymore. The puck battles and races won, especially in his own end, are just as crucial, but they don't make highlight films.
His 7 points in 4 games against the Oilers got him some good press, but he has had many great games when his name wasn't on the score sheet, and no media asked to speak to him after a game.
And that's fine with Toews.
"He has respect in the room," said Brandon Saad after the Hawks' 3-2 victory that eliminated the Oilers. "The biggest thing is you can talk the talk, but when you're going out there and leading by example with his work ethic, everyone buys in."
Toews doesn't care about garnering headlines. He just wants to win. He just wants to play hard. He wants more ice time. He wants to do his job.
Hopefully for his sake, he'll get that chance sometime in 2021, but until then perhaps his absence will be apparent to those who have stopped paying attention, who don't appreciate that the 32-year-old, future Hall of Famer is still a massive contributor even if he isn't the player he was 10 years ago.
Understand it or don't, but hockey is not a better game without him.