dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-11--White Sox's Rodon hoping for good health, improved results

He missed the first two months of the 2018 season recovering from shoulder surgery .
He missed the last four months of the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery .
Carlos Rodon knows what adversity looks like , and he really knows what it feels like .
That 's why the White Sox 's left-handed pitcher did n't have any major concerns about coming back this year and playing during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I never once thought about opting out , '' Rodon said .
If the season is able to move forward under the constant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be interesting to see where Rodon fits in the Sox 's expanded pitching staff .
The No .
3 overall pick in the 2014 draft following a stellar collegiate career at North Carolina State , Rodon was adamant about eventually reclaiming his spot in the White Sox 's rotation during spring training .
During the first week of summer camp , it is already clear starting pitchers and relievers are likely to be carrying equal weight , at least in the early stretch of the upcoming campaign .
`` This season 's pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schedule , '' Rodon said .
`` I think a lot of us are going to have to encompass different roles .
Plus , we have a surplus of arms that we 'll get to use and I think there are some creative ways we could go about using them .
`` I think all of us are pretty willing to step into any role we can to help this team win .
We have a chance just as much as anyone . ''
For Rodon , the short season hopefully offers him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sox into the playoffs for the first time since 2008 , but to make it through in good health after two major surgeries .
`` Obviously , having arm trouble as a pitcher is a pretty big issue , '' said Rodon , who is a career 29-31 with a 4.08 ERA and 519 strikeouts over 529 innings in 93 games ( 90 starts ) with the White Sox .
`` The best way to put it , I would say , is when there 's a little hesitation between pitches .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this one going to hurt when I throw it ? '
`` That 's not there anymore .
Being able to just pick up a ball and say , 'Hey , I do n't feel anything .
I can just throw the ball like a kid again . '
Durability 's a big part for pitchers or any player in this game , and luckily , hopefully , I 've found it again . ''
After back-to-back years of physical setbacks , Rodon was tentatively scheduled to open this season in the minor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and join the Sox after the all-star break .
The regular 162-game season never was able to launch , but Rodon stayed back in Arizona when play stopped and was able to stay on a throwing program .
`` I was fortunate enough to have this little layoff , '' the 6-foot-3 , 250-pounder said .
`` No one wants this pandemic to happen , but it gave me time to catch up .
I got to progress in Arizona pretty well .
`` Feeling healthy .
It 's been a little while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Building up the right way , I guess , having all this time to build up the proper way to be ready to pitch .
There 's a lot of things that go into Tommy John and the rehab , not that it 's hard , it 's just monotonous and it 's every day .
I put a lot of time into it this year , so I 'm looking for some good results . ''
Rodon threw 45 pitches at Guaranteed Rate Field the first time he took the mound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraging .
`` He looked really , really good , '' White Sox manager Rick Renteria said .
`` Life to his fastball , hitting his spots , he looked free and easy as I 've ever seen him .
I know he 's extremely happy about where he 's at .
We 're extremely happy about where he 's at .
`` I think he 's learned from all the experiences that he 's had .
We 're continuing to prepare and move forward and he 's a part of hopefully something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to make a decision and be able to incorporate him to the best of our ability in the way he can help us the most . ''
No matter the role , Rodon is going to be pitching with more of a purpose than most when the games begin .
`` I feel like there 's some stuff I need to prove , '' Rodon said .
`` The last few years have not gone the way I wanted them to , obviously .
It 's kind of unfortunate , injuries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like it will do a lot for guys .
`` Not just me , but other guys around the league , on this team , wherever , can prove themselves in those 60 games and I think it will do a lot . ''

White Sox's Rodon hoping for good health, improved results
Carlos Rodon is back with the White Sox after missing most of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery and much of 2018 due to shoulder surgery. Finally healthy, Rodon is looking for better results this year. AP File Photo/April 2019
He missed the first two months of the 2018 season recovering from shoulder surgery.
He missed the last four months of the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Carlos Rodon knows what adversity looks like, and he really knows what it feels like. That's why the White Sox's left-handed pitcher didn't have any major concerns about coming back this year and playing during the coronavirus pandemic.
"I never once thought about opting out," Rodon said.
If the season is able to move forward under the constant, looming presence of COVID-19, it will be interesting to see where Rodon fits in the Sox's expanded pitching staff.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft following a stellar collegiate career at North Carolina State, Rodon was adamant about eventually reclaiming his spot in the White Sox's rotation during spring training.
During the first week of summer camp, it is already clear starting pitchers and relievers are likely to be carrying equal weight, at least in the early stretch of the upcoming campaign.
"This season's pretty unique, obviously, with a 60-game schedule," Rodon said. "I think a lot of us are going to have to encompass different roles. Plus, we have a surplus of arms that we'll get to use and I think there are some creative ways we could go about using them.
"I think all of us are pretty willing to step into any role we can to help this team win. We have a chance just as much as anyone."
For Rodon, the short season hopefully offers him the chance to not only help push the Sox into the playoffs for the first time since 2008, but to make it through in good health after two major surgeries.
"Obviously, having arm trouble as a pitcher is a pretty big issue," said Rodon, who is a career 29-31 with a 4.08 ERA and 519 strikeouts over 529 innings in 93 games (90 starts) with the White Sox. "The best way to put it, I would say, is when there's a little hesitation between pitches. 'Is this going to hurt? Is this one going to hurt when I throw it?'
"That's not there anymore. Being able to just pick up a ball and say, 'Hey, I don't feel anything. I can just throw the ball like a kid again.' Durability's a big part for pitchers or any player in this game, and luckily, hopefully, I've found it again."
After back-to-back years of physical setbacks, Rodon was tentatively scheduled to open this season in the minor leagues, build his arm back up and join the Sox after the all-star break.
The regular 162-game season never was able to launch, but Rodon stayed back in Arizona when play stopped and was able to stay on a throwing program.
"I was fortunate enough to have this little layoff," the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder said. "No one wants this pandemic to happen, but it gave me time to catch up. I got to progress in Arizona pretty well.
"Feeling healthy. It's been a little while since my arm has felt this good. Building up the right way, I guess, having all this time to build up the proper way to be ready to pitch. There's a lot of things that go into Tommy John and the rehab, not that it's hard, it's just monotonous and it's every day. I put a lot of time into it this year, so I'm looking for some good results."
Rodon threw 45 pitches at Guaranteed Rate Field the first time he took the mound at summer camp. The results were encouraging.
"He looked really, really good," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "Life to his fastball, hitting his spots, he looked free and easy as I've ever seen him. I know he's extremely happy about where he's at. We're extremely happy about where he's at.
"I think he's learned from all the experiences that he's had. We're continuing to prepare and move forward and he's a part of hopefully something that is going to shine and allow us to make a decision and be able to incorporate him to the best of our ability in the way he can help us the most."
No matter the role, Rodon is going to be pitching with more of a purpose than most when the games begin.
"I feel like there's some stuff I need to prove," Rodon said. "The last few years have not gone the way I wanted them to, obviously. It's kind of unfortunate, injuries and underperforming. This 60-game season, I feel like it will do a lot for guys.
"Not just me, but other guys around the league, on this team, wherever, can prove themselves in those 60 games and I think it will do a lot."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-11--MATCHDAY: Gattuso faces AC Milan as opponent for first time

A look at what 's happening around European soccer on Sunday : Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso revisits his past when he faces AC Milan as an opponent for the first time .
Milan , of course , is the team with which Gattuso won two Serie As and two Champions Leagues as a player .
Milan was also the team that Gattuso coached from 2017 to 2019 before he left by mutual consent at the end of last season .
Both Napoli and Milan have performed well lately , with Napoli having won the Italian Cup and Milan coming off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other games , it 's : Genoa vs. Spal ; Cagliari vs. Lecce ; Fiorentina vs. Hellas Verona ; Parma vs. Bologna ; and Udinese vs. Sampdoria .
Leicester can move back into third place in the Premier League with a win at Bournemouth , which is looking increasingly likely to be relegated .
Chelsea 's loss at Sheffield United has given Leicester the opportunity to reclaim third spot with three matches remaining in the race for Champions League qualification .
Bournemouth is six points adrift of safety after Watford and West Ham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a north London derby with consequences for Europa League qualification .
One point separates the rivals who are realistically out of the running for the Champions League places .
Wolverhampton hosts Everton and second-to-last Aston Villa desperately needs to beat Crystal Palace at home if it is to stay up .
Julen Lopetegui 's Sevilla hosts a relegation-threatened Mallorca seeking a win to clinch Spain 's last Champions League berth for next season .
Sevilla is undefeated in 12 straight Spanish league games and is finishing the season strong with three wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without injured goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik , meaning Yassine Bounou will defend the net .
Athletic Bilbao and Valencia are trying to stay in the fight for a Europa League berth in their respective matches at Levante and relegation-threatened LeganÃ©s .
Eibar faces the already-relegated Espanyol trying not to slip into the drop zone .

MATCHDAY: Gattuso faces AC Milan as opponent for first time
A look at what's happening around European soccer on Sunday:
ITALY
Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso revisits his past when he faces AC Milan as an opponent for the first time. Milan, of course, is the team with which Gattuso won two Serie As and two Champions Leagues as a player. Milan was also the team that Gattuso coached from 2017 to 2019 before he left by mutual consent at the end of last season. Both Napoli and Milan have performed well lately, with Napoli having won the Italian Cup and Milan coming off a comeback win over Juventus. In other games, it's: Genoa vs. Spal; Cagliari vs. Lecce; Fiorentina vs. Hellas Verona; Parma vs. Bologna; and Udinese vs. Sampdoria.
ENGLAND
Leicester can move back into third place in the Premier League with a win at Bournemouth, which is looking increasingly likely to be relegated. Chelsea's loss at Sheffield United has given Leicester the opportunity to reclaim third spot with three matches remaining in the race for Champions League qualification. Bournemouth is six points adrift of safety after Watford and West Ham won on Saturday. Tottenham hosts Arsenal in a north London derby with consequences for Europa League qualification. One point separates the rivals who are realistically out of the running for the Champions League places. Wolverhampton hosts Everton and second-to-last Aston Villa desperately needs to beat Crystal Palace at home if it is to stay up.
SPAIN
Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla hosts a relegation-threatened Mallorca seeking a win to clinch Spain's last Champions League berth for next season. Sevilla is undefeated in 12 straight Spanish league games and is finishing the season strong with three wins in a row. It will be without injured goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, meaning Yassine Bounou will defend the net. Athletic Bilbao and Valencia are trying to stay in the fight for a Europa League berth in their respective matches at Levante and relegation-threatened Leganés. Eibar faces the already-relegated Espanyol trying not to slip into the drop zone.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Iran investigators blame shootdown of Ukranian flight on misaligned missile battery, no communicatio

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates -- Iran investigators blame shootdown of Ukranian flight on misaligned missile battery , no communication @ @ @

Iran investigators blame shootdown of Ukranian flight on misaligned missile battery, no communication with commanders
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Iran investigators blame shootdown of Ukranian flight on misaligned missile battery, no communication with commanders.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Pritzker urges use of face coverings as state reports 954 more COVID-19 cases

State health officials reported another 954 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday , as well as another 20 deaths from the virus .
The report ends a run of three consecutive days with case totals topping 1,000 , though it is typical for the figures to be lower on Sundays .
Among the deaths reported Sunday are 14 residents of Cook County , two from DuPage County and one from Will County .
In all , the state has now confirmed 153,916 COVID-19 cases since the outbreak began and 7,187 deaths .
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate stands at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last Sunday .
As of Saturday night , 1,342 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19 , 311 of them in intensive-care units and 127 on ventilators , officials said .
That 's 10 more ICU patients than reported Saturday .
After reporting the lowest death count in more than three months last Sunday , the state has seen a steady increase in daily cases , with the 1,317 reported Friday the most in more than a month .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker acknowledged the rising figures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We remain concerned that cases are rising and positivity rates are inching up , '' Pritzker wrote Sunday morning .
`` Now more than ever , we must rely on what the science is telling us .
Wearing a face covering is an effective tool in the fight against ( COVID-19 ) . ''
`` I know everyone wants to get back to normal , but we ca n't wish away the virus or pretend the pandemic is over .
It 's not , '' he later added .
`` We all have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More face coverings . ''

Pritzker urges use of face coverings as state reports 954 more COVID-19 cases
State health officials reported another 954 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, as well as another 20 deaths from the virus.
The report ends a run of three consecutive days with case totals topping 1,000, though it is typical for the figures to be lower on Sundays.
Among the deaths reported Sunday are 14 residents of Cook County, two from DuPage County and one from Will County.
In all, the state has now confirmed 153,916 COVID-19 cases since the outbreak began and 7,187 deaths.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate stands at 3%, up from 2.3% last Sunday.
As of Saturday night, 1,342 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19, 311 of them in intensive-care units and 127 on ventilators, officials said. That's 10 more ICU patients than reported Saturday.
After reporting the lowest death count in more than three months last Sunday, the state has seen a steady increase in daily cases, with the 1,317 reported Friday the most in more than a month.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker acknowledged the rising figures in a pair of tweets Sunday.
"We remain concerned that cases are rising and positivity rates are inching up," Pritzker wrote Sunday morning. "Now more than ever, we must rely on what the science is telling us. Wearing a face covering is an effective tool in the fight against (COVID-19)."
"I know everyone wants to get back to normal, but we can't wish away the virus or pretend the pandemic is over. It's not," he later added. "We all have to do our part. Less excuses. More face coverings."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Customers rally around Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove after flower theft

During his 25 years serving customers at the Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove , Pete Panayiotou has earned a reputation for giving back to the community by hosting and sponsoring numerous charity events .
Last week , the tables were turned as the community gave back to him -- making him whole and then some -- after a recent theft .
Panayiotou placed flowers and plants outside the restaurant , 788 S. Buffalo Grove Road , to welcome back customers after the state eased stay-at-home restrictions enacted to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
But in the early morning hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Security footage later revealed that at about 1:45 a.m. , a car pulled up to the popular dining spot and a woman wearing a long dress over a short-sleeved shirt got out , grabbed the flowers and drove off .
`` Who would get up at two o'clock in the morning ... to come out and steal $ 150 worth of flowers ? ''
an incredulous Panayiotou asked .
When video of the theft was shared on Facebook , the community response was overwhelming .
`` I could not believe it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine new bouquets of flowers way better than the ones I had before . ''
He also received at least $ 90 in cash , and one customer even started a GoFundMe online fundraiser to help Panayiotou .
So far it 's raised $ 329 .
`` It 's amazing , the support and the respect we picked up from this community , '' he said .
`` Something that was so horrible , it turned out to be so amazing . ''
One of those who brought flowers to the Continental was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sabath .
Sabath , who rents the Continental banquet room every year for a party with her Jewish motorcycle group , the Chaiway Riders , said she was shocked when she learned of theft .
`` It saddens me that someone felt that they could just go and take someone else 's property , '' she said .
`` Especially Pete , of all people .
He 's the most generous person you could ever meet .
Why would someone take something from him ? ''

Customers rally around Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove after flower theft
Security camera footage from the Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove shows a person stealing flower pots from the outdoor dining area. Courtesy of Pete Panayiotou
During his 25 years serving customers at the Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove, Pete Panayiotou has earned a reputation for giving back to the community by hosting and sponsoring numerous charity events.
Last week, the tables were turned as the community gave back to him -- making him whole and then some -- after a recent theft.
Panayiotou placed flowers and plants outside the restaurant, 788 S. Buffalo Grove Road, to welcome back customers after the state eased stay-at-home restrictions enacted to curb the spread of COVID-19.
But in the early morning hours of July 5, the flowers vanished. Security footage later revealed that at about 1:45 a.m., a car pulled up to the popular dining spot and a woman wearing a long dress over a short-sleeved shirt got out, grabbed the flowers and drove off.
"Who would get up at two o'clock in the morning ... to come out and steal $150 worth of flowers?" an incredulous Panayiotou asked.
When video of the theft was shared on Facebook, the community response was overwhelming.
"I could not believe it," Panayiotou said. "I got nine new bouquets of flowers way better than the ones I had before."
He also received at least $90 in cash, and one customer even started a GoFundMe online fundraiser to help Panayiotou. So far it's raised $329.
"It's amazing, the support and the respect we picked up from this community," he said. "Something that was so horrible, it turned out to be so amazing."
One of those who brought flowers to the Continental was Buffalo Grove resident and regular patron Mara Sabath.
Sabath, who rents the Continental banquet room every year for a party with her Jewish motorcycle group, the Chaiway Riders, said she was shocked when she learned of theft.
"It saddens me that someone felt that they could just go and take someone else's property," she said. "Especially Pete, of all people. He's the most generous person you could ever meet. Why would someone take something from him?"


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Residents rally outside station to show support for Buffalo Grove police

More than 80 people gathered outside the Buffalo Grove police station Sunday in a show of support for the village 's officers and the work they do .
Organized by members of the Russian-speaking community of Buffalo Grove , the event was intended to let officers know they 're appreciated , said resident Marta Gavrialov .
`` We feel they go through a struggle on a daily basis lately and we felt like we need to support them , '' said Gavrialov , co-founder of the Wheeling-based KRUG Community Circle , the cultural center for the Russian-speaking community in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that many in attendance came from former Soviet Union republics such as Ukraine , Lithuania , Latvia , Moldova and others .
`` We came here to make a better life for us and for our children , '' she said .
`` We are totally supportive of our law enforcement . ''
Buffalo Grove resident and psychiatrist Victor Nutenko said he believes it is important to speak up for police .
`` Everybody is talking about the silent majority .
We need to become the vocal majority , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there is a real danger in our country .
Some forces are talking about defunding police .
This is the most dangerous idea in this society .
Police protect us . ''
Several Buffalo Grove police officers were on hand .
Sgt .
Tony Goldstein described the show of support as heartwarming .
`` We welcome all of our community that comes together for positive causes to advance the mission of the organization and community spirit , '' he said .

Residents rally outside station to show support for Buffalo Grove police
More than 80 people gathered outside the Buffalo Grove police station Sunday in a show of support for the village's officers and the work they do.
Organized by members of the Russian-speaking community of Buffalo Grove, the event was intended to let officers know they're appreciated, said resident Marta Gavrialov.
"We feel they go through a struggle on a daily basis lately and we felt like we need to support them," said Gavrialov, co-founder of the Wheeling-based KRUG Community Circle, the cultural center for the Russian-speaking community in the Chicago area.
Fellow organizer Flora Top noted that many in attendance came from former Soviet Union republics such as Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova and others.
"We came here to make a better life for us and for our children," she said. "We are totally supportive of our law enforcement."
Buffalo Grove resident and psychiatrist Victor Nutenko said he believes it is important to speak up for police.
"Everybody is talking about the silent majority. We need to become the vocal majority," he said.
"We need to talk, because there is a real danger in our country. Some forces are talking about defunding police. This is the most dangerous idea in this society. Police protect us."
Several Buffalo Grove police officers were on hand. Sgt. Tony Goldstein described the show of support as heartwarming.
"We welcome all of our community that comes together for positive causes to advance the mission of the organization and community spirit," he said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Latino mom says educating community key to surviving COVID-19 pandemic

With Latinos being infected by COVID-19 at higher rates than any other racial or ethnic group , educating the community about how to live with the pandemic is key to surviving it , says Merced Alfaro of Round Lake .
A stay-at-home mother of three , Alfaro volunteers through St. Joseph Catholic Church in Round Lake to deliver meals and groceries weekly to the homebound , sick or elderly .
She also distributes personal protective equipment and counsels Latino community members about the importance of safeguarding their health .
She teaches adults and children how to practice proper social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's very difficult for me staying home doing nothing , '' Alfaro said .
`` There are many families in my community who need food , who need help . ''
Alfaro 's husband and three children work outside the home , like many Latinos working minimum-wage jobs or who are essential workers .
`` We are a poor community .
Our community is scared , but we need to go out to work ... they need to pay bills , '' Alfaro said .
`` We need to learn how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public transit needs a bold transformation to increase ridership and better address the needs of low-income residents and minority communities in the suburbs , says Mary Beth Canty , an Arlington Heights village trustee recently appointed to serve four years on the Regional Transportation Authority Board .
`` I hope to be a voice for those communities , '' said Canty , who is biracial .
`` We need to completely re-envision all of our ( rail ) crossings relative to our community members ( who ) are disabled , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 16-member board is responsible for financial oversight , funding , and regional transit planning .
Four of its members are selected by the suburban Cook County Board of Commissioners .
`` We need a lot more areas of service , '' said Canty , who added using mass transit to commute between the city and far Western suburbs and within the suburbs is `` challenging '' at best , often taking several hours .
Canty said the RTA should measure success by customer satisfaction rather than tickets sold , and upgrades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Chicago Transit Authority ( CTA ) routes must be made as a `` cohesive system . ''
Arlington Heights village leaders are considering hosting a series of virtual discussions this summer about being more inclusive and embracing diversity .
`` We 're actually hoping to hear from our community , '' said Canty , the only person of color on the village board .
`` How can we make sure that we actually are a community that welcomes and embraces diversity and inclusion ? ''
Canty , who serves as co-chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Arlington Heights , recently participated in a league panel discussion about the experience of being a minority in the suburbs .
`` I 'd like to see more diversity in hiring at the village level and the school level , '' said Canty , who serves as vice president of Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School parent-teacher association and on Arlington Heights District 25 's Cultural Awareness Committee .
Attracting more minority police officers is among the village 's goals , she added .
The Lake County Health Department is reporting an upward trend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young adults , many of whom attended social gatherings with friends in the past two weeks .
Since June 25 , cases reported among Lake County residents under age 30 have been rising , while remaining steady in the general population .
As of July 11 , 10,260 Lake County residents tested positive for the disease and 408 had died from it , health department data shows .
Statewide , Illinoisans in their 20s and 30s constitute about one-third of those infected with the virus , Illinois Department of Public Health data shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age groups are 2 % of the state 's total .
`` Youth are just as likely as adults to get and spread this virus , and your risk is higher if you and those you spend time with are not following social distancing , hand-washing , and masking guidelines , '' said Dr. Sana Ahmed , medical epidemiologist for the Lake County Health Department .
`` We ask that everyone continue to take these risks seriously and contact the health department if you think you have been exposed . ''
A state-run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Sunday and next Sunday , July 19 , at Lake Zurich High School in response to multiple cases of the virus identified among athletic camp participants or youth attending social gatherings .
The Lake County Health Department is working with Lake Zurich and Vernon Hills high schools .
Lake Zurich High has suspended all athletic camps and asked participants of poms , football and baseball camps to self-quarantine for 14 days ; an individual participating in athletic activities at Vernon Hills High tested positive last week .
Investigations and contact tracing are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are recommending that any Lake Zurich community members who may have been exposed , regardless of age , get tested , '' said the Lake County Health Department 's Ahmed .
The free testing is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Lake Zurich High School 's Performing Arts Center , 300 Church St .
Results will be provided by phone in 4 to 7 days .
If experiencing symptoms , call a health care provider or the health department 's Communicable Disease program at ( 847 ) 377-8130 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Share stories , news and happenings from the suburban mosaic with Madhu Krishnamurthy at mkrishnamurthy @ dailyherald.com .

Latino mom says educating community key to surviving COVID-19 pandemic
Merced Alfaro, a stay-at-home mother of three from Round Lake, volunteers through St. Joseph Catholic Church in Round Lake to deliver meals and groceries weekly to the homebound, sick or elderly. She also counsels Latino community members about the importance of safeguarding their health. Rick West | Staff Photographer
With Latinos being infected by COVID-19 at higher rates than any other racial or ethnic group, educating the community about how to live with the pandemic is key to surviving it, says Merced Alfaro of Round Lake.
A stay-at-home mother of three, Alfaro volunteers through St. Joseph Catholic Church in Round Lake to deliver meals and groceries weekly to the homebound, sick or elderly. She also distributes personal protective equipment and counsels Latino community members about the importance of safeguarding their health. She teaches adults and children how to practice proper social distancing, sanitizing hands and wearing masks.
"It's very difficult for me staying home doing nothing," Alfaro said. "There are many families in my community who need food, who need help."
Alfaro's husband and three children work outside the home, like many Latinos working minimum-wage jobs or who are essential workers.
"We are a poor community. Our community is scared, but we need to go out to work ... they need to pay bills," Alfaro said. "We need to learn how to live with this situation."
Transit upgrades:
Mary Beth Canty -
Public transit needs a bold transformation to increase ridership and better address the needs of low-income residents and minority communities in the suburbs, says Mary Beth Canty, an Arlington Heights village trustee recently appointed to serve four years on the Regional Transportation Authority Board.
"I hope to be a voice for those communities," said Canty, who is biracial. "We need to completely re-envision all of our (rail) crossings relative to our community members (who) are disabled," she said, expressing concern about accessibility and safety.
The 16-member board is responsible for financial oversight, funding, and regional transit planning. Four of its members are selected by the suburban Cook County Board of Commissioners.
"We need a lot more areas of service," said Canty, who added using mass transit to commute between the city and far Western suburbs and within the suburbs is "challenging" at best, often taking several hours.
Canty said the RTA should measure success by customer satisfaction rather than tickets sold, and upgrades to Pace Suburban Bus, Metra, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) routes must be made as a "cohesive system."
Race inclusion:
Arlington Heights village leaders are considering hosting a series of virtual discussions this summer about being more inclusive and embracing diversity.
"We're actually hoping to hear from our community," said Canty, the only person of color on the village board. "How can we make sure that we actually are a community that welcomes and embraces diversity and inclusion?"
Canty, who serves as co-chair of programming for the League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights, recently participated in a league panel discussion about the experience of being a minority in the suburbs.
"I'd like to see more diversity in hiring at the village level and the school level," said Canty, who serves as vice president of Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School parent-teacher association and on Arlington Heights District 25's Cultural Awareness Committee. Attracting more minority police officers is among the village's goals, she added.
COVID-19 infecting young:
The Lake County Health Department is reporting an upward trend in new COVID-19 cases among teenagers and young adults, many of whom attended social gatherings with friends in the past two weeks.
Since June 25, cases reported among Lake County residents under age 30 have been rising, while remaining steady in the general population. As of July 11, 10,260 Lake County residents tested positive for the disease and 408 had died from it, health department data shows.
Statewide, Illinoisans in their 20s and 30s constitute about one-third of those infected with the virus, Illinois Department of Public Health data shows. Deaths from the virus in those age groups are 2% of the state's total.
"Youth are just as likely as adults to get and spread this virus, and your risk is higher if you and those you spend time with are not following social distancing, hand-washing, and masking guidelines," said Dr. Sana Ahmed, medical epidemiologist for the Lake County Health Department. "We ask that everyone continue to take these risks seriously and contact the health department if you think you have been exposed."
Mobile testing site:
- Patrick Kunzer | Staff Photographer, 2018 Three athletic camps run by Lake Zurich High School had to be shut down because students tested positive for COVID-19. Free coronavirus testing is available today at the school.
A state-run mobile COVID-19 testing site will be stationed this Sunday and next Sunday, July 19, at Lake Zurich High School in response to multiple cases of the virus identified among athletic camp participants or youth attending social gatherings.
The Lake County Health Department is working with Lake Zurich and Vernon Hills high schools. Lake Zurich High has suspended all athletic camps and asked participants of poms, football and baseball camps to self-quarantine for 14 days; an individual participating in athletic activities at Vernon Hills High tested positive last week. Investigations and contact tracing are underway at both schools.
"We are recommending that any Lake Zurich community members who may have been exposed, regardless of age, get tested," said the Lake County Health Department's Ahmed.
The free testing is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of Lake Zurich High School's Performing Arts Center, 300 Church St. Results will be provided by phone in 4 to 7 days. If experiencing symptoms, call a health care provider or the health department's Communicable Disease program at (847) 377-8130. For additional testing sites, visit dph.illinois.gov/covid19.
• Share stories, news and happenings from the suburban mosaic with Madhu Krishnamurthy at mkrishnamurthy@dailyherald.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Stevenson addressing photos of Klan costume at party, official says

A Stevenson High School official said Sunday the school is aware of photos circulating on social media purportedly showing a current student dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume at a Halloween party .
However , school spokesman Jim Conrey said the photo appears to have been taken three of four years ago while the student was in seventh grade .
`` Quite frankly , Stevenson does not have legal authority to punish any of these students based on actions or statements they might have made while they were in junior high school , '' Conrey said , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved .
The two photos came to the attention of officials at the Lincolnshire school over the weekend , when they also were posted to the Instagram account `` Black at Stevenson High School '' and the Facebook page of SHS BLM ( Black Lives Matter ) .
One shows the student in the Klan outfit -- a white robe with a pointed white hood covering the face -- posing with nine others in costumes .
The second photo depicts the student in the Klan costume surrounded by six female students , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The unmasked students ' faces are covered with black bars in both photos .
`` The racism displayed in these pictures are a result of bigotry going unchecked at Stevenson and the culture of reckless and inhumane racial harassment , '' a Facebook post accompanying the photos states .
`` Our schools are responsible for educating our students why actions like this cause serious and traumatic harm .
Instead , they remain complicit . ''
Dora Guo , a 2019 Stevenson graduate who is active with the Facebook group , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community .
`` I think it 's more this idea that these kids felt comfortable , that nobody had taught them in the course of their ( schooling ) that what they were doing was wrong , it should n't be online , and that as a school Stevenson has therefore failed in its job in that regard , '' she said .
Conrey said the school is taking seriously complaints raised on the two social media pages about difficulties Black students face at Stevenson .
`` We are not sweeping this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be addressing this , but we are also trying to take care of the very important matter of trying to reopen our school as well , '' he said .
The school also has received reports that some of the students shown in the photos have been the target of hateful and obscene comments online .
`` Certainly , we would never condone what is in the photo , but at the same time I think we need to reinforce the message that fighting hate with more hate is n't the solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not the way to achieve reconciliation . ''
It is the second racially-tinged controversy involving Stevenson in recent weeks .
Last month , a Stevenson dean resigned after a video recording surfaced showing his confrontation with a Black student , sparking allegations of racism at the school .

Stevenson addressing photos of Klan costume at party, official says
Stevenson High School officials plan to speak with students shown in a photo circulating on social media over the weekend depicting a student wearing a Ku Klux Klan costume at a Halloween party several years ago. Daily Herald File Photo, 2018
A Stevenson High School official said Sunday the school is aware of photos circulating on social media purportedly showing a current student dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume at a Halloween party.
However, school spokesman Jim Conrey said the photo appears to have been taken three of four years ago while the student was in seventh grade.
"Quite frankly, Stevenson does not have legal authority to punish any of these students based on actions or statements they might have made while they were in junior high school," Conrey said, adding that officials nonetheless plan to contact the students involved.
The two photos came to the attention of officials at the Lincolnshire school over the weekend, when they also were posted to the Instagram account "Black at Stevenson High School" and the Facebook page of SHS BLM (Black Lives Matter).
One shows the student in the Klan outfit -- a white robe with a pointed white hood covering the face -- posing with nine others in costumes.
The second photo depicts the student in the Klan costume surrounded by six female students, two displaying what appear to be replica handguns. The unmasked students' faces are covered with black bars in both photos.
"The racism displayed in these pictures are a result of bigotry going unchecked at Stevenson and the culture of reckless and inhumane racial harassment," a Facebook post accompanying the photos states.
"Our schools are responsible for educating our students why actions like this cause serious and traumatic harm. Instead, they remain complicit."
Dora Guo, a 2019 Stevenson graduate who is active with the Facebook group, said the photos are indicative of wider problems in the community.
"I think it's more this idea that these kids felt comfortable, that nobody had taught them in the course of their (schooling) that what they were doing was wrong, it shouldn't be online, and that as a school Stevenson has therefore failed in its job in that regard," she said.
Conrey said the school is taking seriously complaints raised on the two social media pages about difficulties Black students face at Stevenson.
"We are not sweeping this under the rug. We are going to be addressing this, but we are also trying to take care of the very important matter of trying to reopen our school as well," he said.
The school also has received reports that some of the students shown in the photos have been the target of hateful and obscene comments online.
"Certainly, we would never condone what is in the photo, but at the same time I think we need to reinforce the message that fighting hate with more hate isn't the solution here," he said. "This is not the way to achieve reconciliation."
It is the second racially-tinged controversy involving Stevenson in recent weeks.
Last month, a Stevenson dean resigned after a video recording surfaced showing his confrontation with a Black student, sparking allegations of racism at the school.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--July 12 COVID-19 cases per county; search by ZIP code

Interactive mapSuburbs ' portion Since the outbreak began , there have been 78,079 cases in the suburbs as of Sunday , 51 % of the state 's total , according to the Illinois Department of Public Health .
There have been 3,665 deaths in the suburbs , representing 51 % of all deaths in Illinois .
Cook County • As of Sunday , suburban Cook County had 40,331 cases and 2,042 deaths , according to the state .
In Chicago : 56,226 cases and 2,683 fatalities .
• Top suburb counts from the county health department and medical examiner 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Des Plaines , 844 cases and 59 deaths in Wheeling , 757 cases and 19 deaths in Palatine , 701 cases and 22 deaths in Streamwood , 683 cases and 10 deaths in Mount Prospect , 641 cases and 19 deaths in Schaumburg , 611 cases and 34 deaths in Arlington Heights , 624 cases and 48 deaths in Glenview , 527 cases and 10 deaths in Hanover Park ( Cook County portion ) , 528 cases and 26 deaths in Hoffman Estates , 387 cases and 37 deaths in Elk Grove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Rolling Meadows , 368 cases and 40 deaths in Northbrook , 286 cases and 8 deaths in Prospect Heights , and 130 cases and 19 deaths in Buffalo Grove ( Cook County portion ) .
DuPage County • The county reported 9,721 cases and 481 deaths as of Sunday .
• Top counts : 857 cases and 9 deaths in Addison , 809 cases and 14 deaths in West Chicago , 702 cases and 11 deaths in Glendale Heights , 581 cases and 33 deaths in Naperville ( DuPage County portion ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bensenville , 553 cases and 29 deaths in Carol Stream , 446 cases and 24 deaths in Lombard , 402 cases and 35 deaths in Elmhurst , 373 cases and 11 deaths in Aurora ( DuPage County portion ) , 304 cases and 21 deaths in Wheaton , 274 cases and 3 deaths in Villa Park , 260 cases and 2 deaths in Hanover Park ( DuPage County portion ) , 192 cases and 3 deaths in Glen Ellyn .
Lake County • The county listed 10,260 cases and 408 deaths on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counts : 2,750 to 2,754 in Waukegan , 620 to 624 in Round Lake Beach , 395 to 399 in Mundelein , 320 to 324 in Gurnee , 250 to 254 in Round Lake , 200 to 204 in Buffalo Grove ( Lake County portion ) , 190 to 194 in Lake Zurich , 170 to 174 in Vernon Hills , 170 to 174 in Wauconda , 145 to 149 in Libertyville , 110 to 114 in Grayslake .
Kane County • The county confirmed 8,160 cases with 281 deaths on its website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in Aurora ( Kane County portion ) , 1,946 in Elgin ( Kane County portion ) , 775 in Carpentersville , 348 in St. Charles , 344 in South Elgin , 219 in North Aurora , 219 in Geneva , 152 in Batavia , and 55 in Algonquin ( Kane County portion ) .
McHenry County • 2,252 cases and 101 deaths , according to the health department Sunday .
• 7,278 cases and 326 deaths , as of Sunday .
• Cases per town include 459 in Naperville ( Will County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Will County portion ) .

July 12 COVID-19 cases per county; search by ZIP code
Interactive mapSuburbs' portion Since the outbreak began, there have been 78,079 cases in the suburbs as of Sunday, 51% of the state's total, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been 3,665 deaths in the suburbs, representing 51% of all deaths in Illinois.
Cook County• As of Sunday, suburban Cook County had 40,331 cases and 2,042 deaths, according to the state. In Chicago: 56,226 cases and 2,683 fatalities.
• Top suburb counts from the county health department and medical examiner's office: 1,823 cases and 101 deaths in Des Plaines, 844 cases and 59 deaths in Wheeling, 757 cases and 19 deaths in Palatine, 701 cases and 22 deaths in Streamwood, 683 cases and 10 deaths in Mount Prospect, 641 cases and 19 deaths in Schaumburg, 611 cases and 34 deaths in Arlington Heights, 624 cases and 48 deaths in Glenview, 527 cases and 10 deaths in Hanover Park (Cook County portion), 528 cases and 26 deaths in Hoffman Estates, 387 cases and 37 deaths in Elk Grove Village, 370 cases and 12 deaths in Rolling Meadows, 368 cases and 40 deaths in Northbrook, 286 cases and 8 deaths in Prospect Heights, and 130 cases and 19 deaths in Buffalo Grove (Cook County portion).
DuPage County• The county reported 9,721 cases and 481 deaths as of Sunday.
• Top counts: 857 cases and 9 deaths in Addison, 809 cases and 14 deaths in West Chicago, 702 cases and 11 deaths in Glendale Heights, 581 cases and 33 deaths in Naperville (DuPage County portion), 557 cases and 12 deaths in Bensenville, 553 cases and 29 deaths in Carol Stream, 446 cases and 24 deaths in Lombard, 402 cases and 35 deaths in Elmhurst, 373 cases and 11 deaths in Aurora (DuPage County portion), 304 cases and 21 deaths in Wheaton, 274 cases and 3 deaths in Villa Park, 260 cases and 2 deaths in Hanover Park (DuPage County portion), 192 cases and 3 deaths in Glen Ellyn.
Lake County • The county listed 10,260 cases and 408 deaths on its website as of Friday. • Top counts: 2,750 to 2,754 in Waukegan, 620 to 624 in Round Lake Beach, 395 to 399 in Mundelein, 320 to 324 in Gurnee, 250 to 254 in Round Lake, 200 to 204 in Buffalo Grove (Lake County portion), 190 to 194 in Lake Zurich, 170 to 174 in Vernon Hills, 170 to 174 in Wauconda, 145 to 149 in Libertyville, 110 to 114 in Grayslake.
Kane County• The county confirmed 8,160 cases with 281 deaths on its website Sunday.
• Top counts: 3,461 cases in Aurora (Kane County portion), 1,946 in Elgin (Kane County portion), 775 in Carpentersville, 348 in St. Charles, 344 in South Elgin, 219 in North Aurora, 219 in Geneva, 152 in Batavia, and 55 in Algonquin (Kane County portion).
McHenry County• 2,252 cases and 101 deaths, according to the health department Sunday.
Will County
• 7,278 cases and 326 deaths, as of Sunday.
• Cases per town include 459 in Naperville (Will County portion) and 82 in Aurora (Will County portion).


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--'It just warms my heart'; Warren graduates get long-awaited commencement ceremony

It was n't the commencement ceremony they envisioned when they first walked through the halls of Warren Township High School @ @ @ @ @ the class of 2020 got all the pomp and circumstance the COVID-19 pandemic would allow @ @ @ @ @ through the Almond Campus parking lot past cheering staff and faculty when walked across a @ @ @ @ @ they received their long-awaited diplomas .
Among the students taking part was Nelson Ross .
@ @ @ @ @ forth with my mom on whether to come , but she was able to convince @ @ @ @ @ milestone to graduate , '' he said .
Librarian Beryl Washington joined fellow staff members @ @ @ @ @ arrived .
`` I love this .
It just warms my heart , '' she @ @ @ @ @ counselor Cari McGahan said school staff put `` a lot of love '' into planning @ @ @ @ @ thought outside of the box and came up with something amazing , '' McGahan said @

'It just warms my heart'; Warren graduates get long-awaited commencement ceremony
It wasn't the commencement ceremony they envisioned when they first walked through the halls of Warren Township High School four years ago, but the class of 2020 got all the pomp and circumstance the COVID-19 pandemic would allow Sunday.
Graduating seniors paraded through the Almond Campus parking lot past cheering staff and faculty when walked across a large outdoor stage, where they received their long-awaited diplomas.
Among the students taking part was Nelson Ross.
"I went back and forth with my mom on whether to come, but she was able to convince me it's a big milestone to graduate," he said.
Librarian Beryl Washington joined fellow staff members greeting the graduates as they arrived.
"I love this. It just warms my heart," she said.
College and career counselor Cari McGahan said school staff put "a lot of love" into planning the ceremony.
"They thought outside of the box and came up with something amazing," McGahan said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Better late than never for Mundelein High graduates

Two months after the coronavirus robbed them of their big day , Mundelein High School 's Class of 2020 finally @ @ @ @ @ their accomplishments .
With faculty and staff cheering them on , graduates arrived at the @ @ @ @ @ vehicles Sunday then took to a makeshift stage one at a time to receive their @ @ @ @ @ with the school mascot .
`` It 's just so nice to see everyone , @ @ @ @ @ .
Among the staff members who came out for the ceremony was occupational therapist Julie @ @ @ @ @ it 's awesome that we can celebrate their accomplishments , '' she said .

Better late than never for Mundelein High graduates
Two months after the coronavirus robbed them of their big day, Mundelein High School's Class of 2020 finally got a public celebration of their accomplishments.
With faculty and staff cheering them on, graduates arrived at the school in a parade of vehicles Sunday then took to a makeshift stage one at a time to receive their diplomas and pose for photos with the school mascot.
"It's just so nice to see everyone," graduate Flavio Diaz said.
Among the staff members who came out for the ceremony was occupational therapist Julie Hupp.
"I think it's awesome that we can celebrate their accomplishments," she said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Fire guts Lake Zurich home, injures two firefighters

Lake Zurich fire officials continue to investigate the cause of an early morning blaze Sunday that severely damaged a home @ @ @ @ @ firefighters with minor injuries .
Firefighters called to the home in the 21000 block of @ @ @ @ @ arrived to find heavy smoke and fire pouring through the roof of the structure .
@ @ @ @ @ 's occupants had made it out , firefighters deployed multiple hose lines to extinguish the @ @ @ @ @ The home sustained heavy fire , smoke and water damage totaling about $ 300,000 , @ @ @ @ @ Fire Department .
The two firefighters who suffered injuries were treated and released , officials @ @ @ @ @ received assistance from 16 neighboring departments in battling the blaze .

Fire guts Lake Zurich home, injures two firefighters
Two Lake Zurich firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling a blaze early Sunday morning that caused significant damage to a home in the 21000 block of Highland Drive, officials said. Courtesy of Lake Zurich Fire Department
Lake Zurich fire officials continue to investigate the cause of an early morning blaze Sunday that severely damaged a home and left a pair of firefighters with minor injuries.
Firefighters called to the home in the 21000 block of Highland Drive at 1:43 a.m. arrived to find heavy smoke and fire pouring through the roof of the structure.
After confirming that the home's occupants had made it out, firefighters deployed multiple hose lines to extinguish the blaze, officials said.
The home sustained heavy fire, smoke and water damage totaling about $300,000, according to the Lake Zurich Fire Department.
The two firefighters who suffered injuries were treated and released, officials said.
Lake Zurich firefighters received assistance from 16 neighboring departments in battling the blaze.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--FBI looking for man who robbed Glen Ellyn bank

The FBI is looking for a man who robbed Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust , 357 Roosevelt Road , at @ @ @ @ @ The robber is described as a white man , about 50 years old , between @ @ @ @ @ 150 to 160 pounds .
He was wearing a reflective vest , beige hat and @ @ @ @ @ A call seeking further information was not immediately answered .

FBI looking for man who robbed Glen Ellyn bank
Security footage from Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust shows this man, who the FBI says robbed the bank Saturday morning. Courtesy of the FBI
Security footage from Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust shows this man, who the FBI says robbed the bank Saturday morning. Courtesy of the FBI
The FBI is looking for a man who robbed Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust, 357 Roosevelt Road, at about 11 a.m. Saturday.
The robber is described as a white man, about 50 years old, between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8, and 150 to 160 pounds. He was wearing a reflective vest, beige hat and red bandanna face covering.
A call seeking further information was not immediately answered.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Suburban Hero: Arlington Heights boy making much-needed personal protection equipment

Instead of spending his stay-at-home time during the pandemic playing video games or goofing off online with his friends , 12-year-old Vince Radlicz jumped to action by making personal protection equipment for health care workers .
Using two 3D printers , Vince created 341 headbands for face shields this spring as cases of COVID-19 climbed .
With assistance from his family , he then attached the bands to plastic cut from report covers purchased at office supply stores to complete the shields .
The equipment was delivered to hospitals , nursing homes and other health care facilities in the Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Vince said he was inspired by a desperate request for equipment from a neighbor who works as a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago .
`` We started printing right away that day , '' he said .
Vince shut down production in late May as the COVID-19 infection curve flattened in Illinois and the need for homemade gear dissipated .
But he 's getting started again now , fulfilling an order for 100 shields from the Mount Prospect-based Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization .
Staffers will use the shields with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand what 's being said , said Julie Jilek , the agency 's assistant superintendent .
Additionally , some students may not be able to wear fabric masks because of medical issues , she said .
`` We are thrilled to be able to partner with Vince Radlicz for this purpose and truly appreciate his efforts , '' Jilek said .
The son of Arlington Heights Memorial Public Library digital services adviser Donna Radlicz , Vince uses his 3D printer and one borrowed from the library to make the headbands .
He 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loops on health care workers ' masks and prevent painful rubbing .
The Arlington Heights library was among several suburban libraries that lent 3D printers to staff members seeking to make protective equipment during the pandemic .
Others included Lincolnshire 's Vernon Area Public Library , Elgin 's Gail Borden Public Library and the Naperville Public Library .
Donna Radlicz said she 's incredibly proud of her son .
`` He really wants to help people , '' she said .
Vince , an incoming seventh-grader at South Middle School , is modest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does most of the work , '' he said .
`` I 'm grateful that we have the supplies to help everyone . ''
• Do you know any Suburban Heroes ?
Share your story at heroes @ dailyherald.com .

Suburban Hero: Arlington Heights boy making much-needed personal protection equipment
A kitchen counter in Vince Radlicz's house has been converted into his workshop. This is where the 12-year-old from Arlington Heights makes face shields using 3D printers and other equipment. Courtesy of Donna Radlicz
Vince Radlicz of Arlington Heights uses a 3D printer earlier this year to make components for face shields. Courtesy of Donna Radlicz
Twelve-year-old Vince Radlicz of Arlington Heights has made hundreds of face shields using 3D printers and other equipment since the pandemic hit Illinois. Courtesy of Donna Radlicz
Instead of spending his stay-at-home time during the pandemic playing video games or goofing off online with his friends, 12-year-old Vince Radlicz jumped to action by making personal protection equipment for health care workers.
Using two 3D printers, Vince created 341 headbands for face shields this spring as cases of COVID-19 climbed. With assistance from his family, he then attached the bands to plastic cut from report covers purchased at office supply stores to complete the shields.
The equipment was delivered to hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities in the Chicago area and as far away as Hawaii.
Vince said he was inspired by a desperate request for equipment from a neighbor who works as a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago.
"We started printing right away that day," he said.
Vince shut down production in late May as the COVID-19 infection curve flattened in Illinois and the need for homemade gear dissipated.
But he's getting started again now, fulfilling an order for 100 shields from the Mount Prospect-based Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization.
Staffers will use the shields with students who need to see mouths to understand what's being said, said Julie Jilek, the agency's assistant superintendent. Additionally, some students may not be able to wear fabric masks because of medical issues, she said.
"We are thrilled to be able to partner with Vince Radlicz for this purpose and truly appreciate his efforts," Jilek said.
The son of Arlington Heights Memorial Public Library digital services adviser Donna Radlicz, Vince uses his 3D printer and one borrowed from the library to make the headbands. He's also printed hooks to support the ear loops on health care workers' masks and prevent painful rubbing.
The Arlington Heights library was among several suburban libraries that lent 3D printers to staff members seeking to make protective equipment during the pandemic.
Others included Lincolnshire's Vernon Area Public Library, Elgin's Gail Borden Public Library and the Naperville Public Library.
Donna Radlicz said she's incredibly proud of her son.
"He really wants to help people," she said.
Vince, an incoming seventh-grader at South Middle School, is modest about the undertaking.
"The printer does most of the work," he said. "I'm grateful that we have the supplies to help everyone."
• Do you know any Suburban Heroes? Share your story at heroes@dailyherald.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--A Carol Stream father's struggle to survive as COVID-19 sweeps through his family

The medical team also caring for his wife and son was running out of options to save his life .
While ventilators kept his closest loved ones alive , the machine was n't enough to help Chuck Drungelo , a 54-year-old father and loyal White Sox fan , survive a ferocious case of COVID-19 .
His doctors turned to a last-resort therapy : placing large tubes in his veins and connecting Drungelo to a heart-lung bypass machine .
His blood funneled from his body to an artificial lung that removed carbon dioxide and infused oxygen before the machine pumped it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last line of defense between life and death in some of these patients , '' said Dr. Jeffrey Huml , a critical care specialist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield .
The process known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , or ECMO , carries significant risks .
Doctors use it on the sickest coronavirus patients to give their lungs , inflamed and damaged by their infections , time to heal .
Globally , more than 1,800 coronavirus patients have been placed on ECMO , according to a registry by Extracorporeal Life Support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care institutions .
At Central DuPage Hospital , all four patients who have received ECMO support over the course of the pandemic are now out of the intensive care unit .
Drungelo 's lungs were stiff and his blood oxygen levels falling when doctors tried ECMO .
They went to extraordinary lengths to help him beat the virus , and in the process , kept a Carol Stream family -- all COVID-19 survivors -- intact .
COVID-19 spared no one in the household of four .
Drungelo 's mother-in-law , Barbara Elkins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital , followed by his son , Jordan , 25 , and then Drungelo himself , on April 20 .
His wife , Diane , a sign language interpreter at Park View Elementary School in Glen Ellyn , had to call an ambulance for herself .
`` That morning , I could barely move , '' she said .
`` I could barely get myself down the stairs . ''
As Diane Drungelo 's condition increasingly worsened , she had to put other relatives in charge of her son 's and husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only one in the family who did n't need a ventilator .
`` I 've always been the caretaker in the family , and it was probably one of the most difficult things I had ever been through , knowing that I could n't be there for them , '' she said .
Diane Drungelo , 53 , was laying in a hospital bed next to her husband 's room in the intensive care unit .
Their son was two doors down .
Both men in the family have asthma , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
But doctors considered the family patriarch the most critically ill patient at Central DuPage .
Chuck Drungelo had multiple organ systems failing at the same time , and his chances of surviving were slim .
`` His statistical mortality in the ICU at one point in time probably would have been in excess of 90 % , '' Huml said .
Putting Drungelo in the prone position , or turning him onto his stomach , also did n't help his oxygenation .
One of Huml 's colleagues suggested ECMO , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the global registry .
`` I said the data with ECMO in COVID patients is not really all that good , but we really had no choice , '' Huml said .
Unaware of the toll on his wife and son , Chuck Drungelo remained heavily sedated and required paralytic drugs to keep him still while ECMO diverted blood outside his body .
He also needed blood thinners to prevent clotting .
The process poses risks for bleeding , stroke and infection .
`` There was an immediate response in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we still needed time to allow his lungs to heal , '' Huml said .
`` And the best way to do that is to basically minimally ventilate the lungs and allow the technology to do all the work .
And so that allows the inflammation in the lungs to decrease , the fibrosis to not develop . ''
After Diane Drungelo had improved enough to have her breathing tube removed , she asked Huml to tell her husband of 26 years she sent her love .
`` 'Hey Chuck , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ya , ' '' Huml told him .
`` And I do n't know whether he heard me or not .
But I think that one of the things that kept this family going is that the father just kept saying over and over again in his mind , ' I have to survive for my son and my family . '
'' Katie Reimer , his ICU nurse , tried to be a positive presence .
A fellow Sox fan , Reimer told Drungelo he had to get out of the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together .
`` We were all rooting for him , '' she said .
`` That 's devastating .
The whole family ?
My God , it makes me cry now . ''
During video calls , his nurses showed his wife the complexities of the ECMO machine .
`` I was just so glad that Central DuPage had one because otherwise he would not be here , '' Diane Drungelo said .
`` There 's no doubt in my mind . ''
Chuck Drungelo does n't remember being so close to death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would leave the hospital alive for the sake of his son and his wife .
`` I did n't ask for myself .
I asked for them , '' Drungelo said , gathering his composure .
He spent 19 days on ECMO , then went to RML Specialty Hospital in Hinsdale , where he was weaned off the ventilator , and finally Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton for physical and occupational therapy .
He impressed his therapists with his progress , reaching his goal of moving on his own without the assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordeal , he finally left Marianjoy at the start of month .
Greeting him were the embraces of his wife and son and the cheers of his ICU nurses .
`` It was a wonderful shot in the arm , and it was vindication for all of our hard work , '' Huml said .
`` And it was vindication for the entire team to see this whole family survive . ''
Drungelo is feeling more and more like his normal self .
But it 's still too soon to return to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreman at a South Elgin plastics company .
So his family has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with expenses not covered by their health insurance .
`` I know I could n't handle eight and a half hours on my feet all day , so I 've got a ways to go , but I keep pushing , '' said Drungelo , who lost about 40 pounds .
His lingering symptoms illustrate how COVID-19 patients face an unclear path to recovery .
`` I know I have an elevated heart rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a side effect of COVID , '' Drungelo said .
He 's not sure how he contracted the virus .
He said he was the first person to develop it at his workplace , an essential business .
He suspects he may have picked it up when he was n't wearing a mask running errands at stores .
Illinois would n't order a mask requirement until May .
As the state recorded 1,195 new cases Saturday , Drungelo urged vigilance .
`` We owe it to each other , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this . ''

A Carol Stream father's struggle to survive as COVID-19 sweeps through his family
Julie Dahl, a physical therapist at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, helps COVID-19 survivor Chuck Drungelo with an exercise. Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine
"There's just so much to be grateful for," says Diane Drungelo, who, along with her, husband, Chuck, and their son Jordan, continue to recover from COVID-19. Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine
The medical team also caring for his wife and son was running out of options to save his life.
While ventilators kept his closest loved ones alive, the machine wasn't enough to help Chuck Drungelo, a 54-year-old father and loyal White Sox fan, survive a ferocious case of COVID-19.
His doctors turned to a last-resort therapy: placing large tubes in his veins and connecting Drungelo to a heart-lung bypass machine. His blood funneled from his body to an artificial lung that removed carbon dioxide and infused oxygen before the machine pumped it back.
"It's really a last line of defense between life and death in some of these patients," said Dr. Jeffrey Huml, a critical care specialist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.
The process known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, carries significant risks. Doctors use it on the sickest coronavirus patients to give their lungs, inflamed and damaged by their infections, time to heal.
Globally, more than 1,800 coronavirus patients have been placed on ECMO, according to a registry by Extracorporeal Life Support Organization, a nonprofit consortium of health care institutions.
At Central DuPage Hospital, all four patients who have received ECMO support over the course of the pandemic are now out of the intensive care unit.
Drungelo's lungs were stiff and his blood oxygen levels falling when doctors tried ECMO. They went to extraordinary lengths to help him beat the virus, and in the process, kept a Carol Stream family -- all COVID-19 survivors -- intact.
The family's toll
COVID-19 spared no one in the household of four.
Drungelo's mother-in-law, Barbara Elkins, was the first to end up in the hospital, followed by his son, Jordan, 25, and then Drungelo himself, on April 20.
His wife, Diane, a sign language interpreter at Park View Elementary School in Glen Ellyn, had to call an ambulance for herself.
"That morning, I could barely move," she said. "I could barely get myself down the stairs."
As Diane Drungelo's condition increasingly worsened, she had to put other relatives in charge of her son's and husband's care. Her 81-year-old mother was the only one in the family who didn't need a ventilator.
"I've always been the caretaker in the family, and it was probably one of the most difficult things I had ever been through, knowing that I couldn't be there for them," she said.
Diane Drungelo, 53, was laying in a hospital bed next to her husband's room in the intensive care unit. Their son was two doors down. Both men in the family have asthma, making them more vulnerable to severe complications from the virus.
Chuck Drungelo was at one point the sickest virus patient at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. - Courtesy of Raeann Shedd
But doctors considered the family patriarch the most critically ill patient at Central DuPage. Chuck Drungelo had multiple organ systems failing at the same time, and his chances of surviving were slim.
"His statistical mortality in the ICU at one point in time probably would have been in excess of 90%," Huml said.
Putting Drungelo in the prone position, or turning him onto his stomach, also didn't help his oxygenation.
One of Huml's colleagues suggested ECMO, a technology available at 264 U.S. hospitals, according to the global registry.
"I said the data with ECMO in COVID patients is not really all that good, but we really had no choice," Huml said.
Unaware of the toll on his wife and son, Chuck Drungelo remained heavily sedated and required paralytic drugs to keep him still while ECMO diverted blood outside his body. He also needed blood thinners to prevent clotting. The process poses risks for bleeding, stroke and infection.
"There was an immediate response in terms of his blood oxygen level, but we still needed time to allow his lungs to heal," Huml said. "And the best way to do that is to basically minimally ventilate the lungs and allow the technology to do all the work. And so that allows the inflammation in the lungs to decrease, the fibrosis to not develop."
After Diane Drungelo had improved enough to have her breathing tube removed, she asked Huml to tell her husband of 26 years she sent her love.
"'Hey Chuck, you know your wife says that she loves ya,'" Huml told him. "And I don't know whether he heard me or not. But I think that one of the things that kept this family going is that the father just kept saying over and over again in his mind, 'I have to survive for my son and my family.'"
Katie Reimer, his ICU nurse, tried to be a positive presence. A fellow Sox fan, Reimer told Drungelo he had to get out of the hospital so they could go to a game together.
"We were all rooting for him," she said. "That's devastating. The whole family? My God, it makes me cry now."
"It is the last-ditch effort to basically allow the lungs time to heal," Northwestern Medicine Dr. Jeffrey Huml says of ECMO machines. - Courtesy of Northwestern Medicine
During video calls, his nurses showed his wife the complexities of the ECMO machine.
"I was just so glad that Central DuPage had one because otherwise he would not be here," Diane Drungelo said. "There's no doubt in my mind."
'Keep pushing'
Chuck Drungelo doesn't remember being so close to death. But he does recall praying that he would leave the hospital alive for the sake of his son and his wife.
"I didn't ask for myself. I asked for them," Drungelo said, gathering his composure.
He spent 19 days on ECMO, then went to RML Specialty Hospital in Hinsdale, where he was weaned off the ventilator, and finally Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton for physical and occupational therapy.
He impressed his therapists with his progress, reaching his goal of moving on his own without the assistance of a walker.
"I'm stubborn. I'm a fighter," Drungelo said.
After a 72-day ordeal, he finally left Marianjoy at the start of month. Greeting him were the embraces of his wife and son and the cheers of his ICU nurses.
"It was a wonderful shot in the arm, and it was vindication for all of our hard work," Huml said. "And it was vindication for the entire team to see this whole family survive."
- Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer As he was discharged from Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital July 1, COVID-19 survivor Chuck Drungelo received an elbow bump from ICU nurse Katie Reimer. Both share a love for the White Sox.
Drungelo is feeling more and more like his normal self. But it's still too soon to return to work for a physically demanding job as a foreman at a South Elgin plastics company. So his family has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with expenses not covered by their health insurance.
"I know I couldn't handle eight and a half hours on my feet all day, so I've got a ways to go, but I keep pushing," said Drungelo, who lost about 40 pounds.
His lingering symptoms illustrate how COVID-19 patients face an unclear path to recovery.
"I know I have an elevated heart rate just even at rest, and that's a side effect of COVID," Drungelo said.
He's not sure how he contracted the virus. He said he was the first person to develop it at his workplace, an essential business. He suspects he may have picked it up when he wasn't wearing a mask running errands at stores. Illinois wouldn't order a mask requirement until May.
As the state recorded 1,195 new cases Saturday, Drungelo urged vigilance.
"We owe it to each other," he said. "We need to get past this."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Suburban congregations, private schools received millions in PPP loans

At least 187 churches , synagogues , faith-based private schools and other religious institutions in 60 suburbs received more than $ 166 million in forgivable loans from the federal government .
That 's according to a Daily Herald analysis of Paycheck Protection Program loan recipients released by the U.S. Small Business Administration last week .
The low-interest loans are forgivable if the recipients use at least 75 % of the funds to cover personnel costs for at least eight weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Combined , the 187 faith-based organizations in the North and West suburbs reported the loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Barrington-based megachurch Willow Creek received a loan of between $ 5 million and $ 10 million , according to the report .
That was the largest loan amount among the entities in the suburban analysis .
The loan allowed the church to retain 353 jobs and not lay off employees .
But church officials said furloughs of some of their staff are planned in the coming weeks .
The Willow Creek Association , recently renamed the Global Leadership Network , also received a loan of between $ 1 million and $ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was first ordered , we decided to continue paying our staff , regardless of their ability to carry out their normal or full work duties , '' Willow Creek leaders wrote in a statement this week .
`` This pandemic has lasted longer than anticipated , and so we sought ways to continue caring for our staff in a time when giving is understandably down . ''
Church spokeswoman Liz Schauer said the loan was used to pay for salaries at all levels of the church 's operations .
Harvest Bible Chapel based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisle , Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein , and Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois in Oakbrook Terrace each received a loan of between $ 2 million and $ 5 million .
Fifteen other religious entities received loans ranging between $ 1 million and $ 2 million , 66 received loans in the range of $ 350,000 to $ 1 million , and another 100 received $ 150,000 to $ 350,000 loans .
Congress made special dispensation to allow religious institutions to participate in the loan program , an action that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government at the federal level has never subsidized houses of worship to pay for the salaries of their clergy , which we believe the First Amendment clearly forbids , '' said Rob Boston , senior adviser at Americans United for Separation of Church and State .
`` With government funding comes government oversight ; distorting the relationship between religious institutions and government serves neither . ''
While employees of religious institutions are not exempt from paying taxes , the institutions do n't have to pay income taxes like for-profit businesses do .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , religious groups wo n't be affected financially like other corporate entities will .
The Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department Secretary Steve Mnuchin have reiterated that while the loans are tax-exempt even if they are forgiven , businesses ca n't write off payroll and related expenses covered by the loans , according to an analysis of Treasury Department rulings issued by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce .
`` This means some businesses may have higher taxable revenue in 2020 , '' according to the chamber report .
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act and PPP loan program were instrumental in the country staving off financial ruin .
`` In hindsight there are things we might do differently , '' he said , `` but we needed to make sure we were providing people linkage to their employers so they could keep their homes and help their families . ''
More than 27,000 businesses and organizations in Illinois received parts of the nearly $ 660 billion in PPP loans intended for employers with fewer than 500 workers , including the Daily Herald .
Millions of employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than $ 150,000 were not named in the SBA disclosure .
Though religious organizations have not previously been eligible for federal small business loans , the SBA specifically said they could receive PPP and could qualify locally in spite of affiliations with larger ministries .
Media reports indicate U.S. Roman Catholic churches accounted for between $ 1.4 billion and $ 3.5 billion in PPP loans nationwide .
Among schools , Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights , Marmion Academy in Aurora , Timothy Christian in Elmhurst , St. Francis High School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each received loans of between $ 1 million and $ 2 million , the SBA reported .
Judson officials said the university incurred significant costs to move students to remote learning after the outbreak and lost revenue from canceled mission trips and space rentals .
`` The PPP funding allowed us to keep all faculty and staff at full-time employment status , '' Judson spokeswoman Mary Dulabaum said .
Public schools in Illinois are receiving grant funding from the CARES Act that private schools are n't directly entitled to receive , though districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds with the private schools under the Equitable Services Act , Illinois State Board of Education officials said .
Local recipients of loans between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 include Elgin 's Northwest Bible Baptist Church , where during the initial outbreak of COVID-19 leaders refused to stop holding school and in-person services in defiance of a state public safety order .
Harvest Bible Chapel leaders announced they had received a $ 2.55 million loan .
The church has dealt with leadership and financial upheaval in the last year after its founding pastor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusations of fiscal mismanagement .
`` The majority of this loan should be forgiven , and any amount not forgiven is due for repayment over the next two years and incurs interest at a rate of only 1 % , '' church leaders wrote in a May 15 financial update to its flock .
`` True blessings from God . ''

Suburban congregations, private schools received millions in PPP loans
At least 187 churches, synagogues, faith-based private schools and other religious institutions in 60 suburbs received more than $166 million in forgivable loans from the federal government.
That's according to a Daily Herald analysis of Paycheck Protection Program loan recipients released by the U.S. Small Business Administration last week. The low-interest loans are forgivable if the recipients use at least 75% of the funds to cover personnel costs for at least eight weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Combined, the 187 faith-based organizations in the North and West suburbs reported the loans helped retain at least 12,400 employees.
South Barrington-based megachurch Willow Creek received a loan of between $5 million and $10 million, according to the report. That was the largest loan amount among the entities in the suburban analysis.
The loan allowed the church to retain 353 jobs and not lay off employees. But church officials said furloughs of some of their staff are planned in the coming weeks.
The Willow Creek Association, recently renamed the Global Leadership Network, also received a loan of between $1 million and $2 million.
"When the stay-at-home mandate was first ordered, we decided to continue paying our staff, regardless of their ability to carry out their normal or full work duties," Willow Creek leaders wrote in a statement this week. "This pandemic has lasted longer than anticipated, and so we sought ways to continue caring for our staff in a time when giving is understandably down."
Church spokeswoman Liz Schauer said the loan was used to pay for salaries at all levels of the church's operations.
Harvest Bible Chapel based in Rolling Meadows, Benet Academy in Lisle, Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, and Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois in Oakbrook Terrace each received a loan of between $2 million and $5 million.
Fifteen other religious entities received loans ranging between $1 million and $2 million, 66 received loans in the range of $350,000 to $1 million, and another 100 received $150,000 to $350,000 loans.
Congress made special dispensation to allow religious institutions to participate in the loan program, an action that concerned some groups.
"The American government at the federal level has never subsidized houses of worship to pay for the salaries of their clergy, which we believe the First Amendment clearly forbids," said Rob Boston, senior adviser at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "With government funding comes government oversight; distorting the relationship between religious institutions and government serves neither."
While employees of religious institutions are not exempt from paying taxes, the institutions don't have to pay income taxes like for-profit businesses do. That means, if the loans are forgiven, religious groups won't be affected financially like other corporate entities will.
The Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department Secretary Steve Mnuchin have reiterated that while the loans are tax-exempt even if they are forgiven, businesses can't write off payroll and related expenses covered by the loans, according to an analysis of Treasury Department rulings issued by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"This means some businesses may have higher taxable revenue in 2020," according to the chamber report.
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, a Deerfield Democrat, said the CARES Act and PPP loan program were instrumental in the country staving off financial ruin.
"In hindsight there are things we might do differently," he said, "but we needed to make sure we were providing people linkage to their employers so they could keep their homes and help their families."
More than 27,000 businesses and organizations in Illinois received parts of the nearly $660 billion in PPP loans intended for employers with fewer than 500 workers, including the Daily Herald. Millions of employers throughout the country that received loans of less than $150,000 were not named in the SBA disclosure.
Though religious organizations have not previously been eligible for federal small business loans, the SBA specifically said they could receive PPP and could qualify locally in spite of affiliations with larger ministries.
Media reports indicate U.S. Roman Catholic churches accounted for between $1.4 billion and $3.5 billion in PPP loans nationwide.
Among schools, Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Marmion Academy in Aurora, Timothy Christian in Elmhurst, St. Francis High School in Wheaton and Judson University in Elgin each received loans of between $1 million and $2 million, the SBA reported.
Judson officials said the university incurred significant costs to move students to remote learning after the outbreak and lost revenue from canceled mission trips and space rentals.
"The PPP funding allowed us to keep all faculty and staff at full-time employment status," Judson spokeswoman Mary Dulabaum said.
Public schools in Illinois are receiving grant funding from the CARES Act that private schools aren't directly entitled to receive, though districts may have to share some of those funds with the private schools under the Equitable Services Act, Illinois State Board of Education officials said.
Local recipients of loans between $150,000 and $350,000 include Elgin's Northwest Bible Baptist Church, where during the initial outbreak of COVID-19 leaders refused to stop holding school and in-person services in defiance of a state public safety order.
Harvest Bible Chapel leaders announced they had received a $2.55 million loan. The church has dealt with leadership and financial upheaval in the last year after its founding pastor, James MacDonald, was ousted following accusations of fiscal mismanagement.
"The majority of this loan should be forgiven, and any amount not forgiven is due for repayment over the next two years and incurs interest at a rate of only 1%," church leaders wrote in a May 15 financial update to its flock. "True blessings from God."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--How DuPage County wants to help its hotels, restaurants

A proposed marketing campaign could provide a boost to DuPage County 's hospitality industry following the sharp decline in travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
DuPage County Board members on Tuesday are expected to vote to set aside $ 1 million to establish a COVID-19 Tourism Promotion and Business Attraction Relief Fund .
If approved , the fund will be used to pay for advertising to spread the word about the reopening and safe operation of DuPage 's tourism sites , hotels , restaurants and other businesses .
Board member Tim Elliott , chairman of the county 's economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to try and kick-start the part of DuPage 's economy that 's been hardest hit by the pandemic .
`` If we can the make the case to get people back into our hotels , back into our restaurants , back into our facilities -- and if we can make them understand that they are being run in a matter that is as safe as can be under the circumstances -- this is a great economic development opportunity , '' the Glen Ellyn Republican said .
Money for the fund would come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act .
The federal dollars can be used to support local businesses that have had their operations interrupted because of the pandemic , county officials said .
Beth Marchetti , executive director of the DuPage County Convention & Visitors Bureau , says there are about 25 full-service hotels in DuPage .
`` We do n't want to see them blighted and closed , '' she said .
`` We need to try to get their occupancy and their revenues up a little bit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 million fund administered by Choose DuPage .
The group will work with the convention and visitors bureau and the DuPage County Health Department to create the marketing campaign .
As part of the campaign , officials will promote the safety protocols in place to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and keep the county safe , including capacity limits , sanitizing , masks and social distancing .
In addition , the campaign will promote opportunities that exist for shopping , dining , entertainment and recreation in the county .
Another goal will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global business location .
Board member Pete DiCianni said he supports the proposal because it helps DuPage 's hotels and restaurants .
`` They 're taking a beating right now ... with COVID , '' the Elmhurst Republican said .
`` We need to give them the ability and the marketing .
I would argue this is Economic Development 101 . ''

How DuPage County wants to help its hotels, restaurants
The DuPage County Board is considering a proposal to spend $1 million to assist hotels and other tourism-related businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Daily Herald File Photo, 2016
A proposed marketing campaign could provide a boost to DuPage County's hospitality industry following the sharp decline in travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
DuPage County Board members on Tuesday are expected to vote to set aside $1 million to establish a COVID-19 Tourism Promotion and Business Attraction Relief Fund. If approved, the fund will be used to pay for advertising to spread the word about the reopening and safe operation of DuPage's tourism sites, hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
Board member Tim Elliott, chairman of the county's economic development committee, said the plan is to try and kick-start the part of DuPage's economy that's been hardest hit by the pandemic.
"If we can the make the case to get people back into our hotels, back into our restaurants, back into our facilities -- and if we can make them understand that they are being run in a matter that is as safe as can be under the circumstances -- this is a great economic development opportunity," the Glen Ellyn Republican said.
Money for the fund would come from roughly $161 million the county received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
The federal dollars can be used to support local businesses that have had their operations interrupted because of the pandemic, county officials said.
Beth Marchetti, executive director of the DuPage County Convention & Visitors Bureau, says there are about 25 full-service hotels in DuPage.
"We don't want to see them blighted and closed," she said. "We need to try to get their occupancy and their revenues up a little bit."
The plan is to have the $1 million fund administered by Choose DuPage. The group will work with the convention and visitors bureau and the DuPage County Health Department to create the marketing campaign.
As part of the campaign, officials will promote the safety protocols in place to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and keep the county safe, including capacity limits, sanitizing, masks and social distancing.
In addition, the campaign will promote opportunities that exist for shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation in the county.
Another goal will be to establish DuPage as a premier global business location.
Board member Pete DiCianni said he supports the proposal because it helps DuPage's hotels and restaurants.
"They're taking a beating right now ... with COVID," the Elmhurst Republican said. "We need to give them the ability and the marketing. I would argue this is Economic Development 101."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-07-12--Former bank property could be repurposed by St. Charles developer

Through the eyes of local developer Curt Hurst , four key assets form a quadrant in the heart of downtown St. Charles with access to the city 's greatest feature : the Fox River .
There 's the historic Hotel Baker , the iconic municipal center , a cluster of city-owned properties along First Street that are being transformed into a large public gathering space .
And then there 's the former BMO Harris Bank property just southeast of the Main Street bridge that Hurst says has `` one of the best views in the city '' -- and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parcel at 1 E. Main St. is under contract to be purchased by Hurst , who runs Frontier Development LLC with his son , Conrad .
Though still in the early planning stages , he said , the father-son team intends to repurpose the vacant bank building , update the facade and create an outdoor plaza space similar to the public streetscape improvements taking place throughout the downtown .
`` What we 're wanting to do is mirror in a private effort what the city has accomplished across the street and across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We want to make sure we 're cohesive . ''
Upper-level residential units and a first-floor entertainment or restaurant venue could make up a mixed-use concept proposed for the building , he said , noting specifics have not yet been finalized .
The lower level , previously office space , will likely maintain a similar use .
Structurally , the building is expected to remain unchanged , he said , but there are `` lots of things we can do from a facade standpoint ... that will make it current and much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be completed by next summer .
Also under contract for purchase by Hurst are two nearby parking parcels , one of which makes up a larger lot serving Flagship on the Fox and Pollyanna Brewing Company .
Those businesses are housed in a Riverside Avenue building owned and refurbished by Frontier Development .
The second parking lot is a stand-alone property at Riverside and Illinois avenues , which has been privately owned by BMO Harris Bank for years , he said .
As a condition of the sale , a drive-through ATM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending city approval .
The rest of that property is expected to remain a parking lot -- a much-needed use in the area , Hurst said .
Curt and Conrad Hurst have been key players in recent efforts to revitalize parts of downtown St. Charles .
Last year , they purchased the iconic Arcada Theatre , as well as an adjacent building , and have been working with operator Ron Onesti to improve the entertainment experience for patrons .
Currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation , the 94-year-old theater is expected to reopen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as infrastructure upgrades , new bathrooms , a choice of eateries and a special VIP area .
That progress along the Main Street corridor could be strengthened by the revitalization of the BMO Harris property , said Russell Colby , assistant community and economic development director .
Though city officials have yet to see possible plans for the site , he said , they 're eager to see what it could become .
`` It 's an intriguing concept to have a reuse of that building , and it 's an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Colby said .
`` There 's certainly a lot of potential . ''

Former bank property could be repurposed by St. Charles developer
Through the eyes of local developer Curt Hurst, four key assets form a quadrant in the heart of downtown St. Charles with access to the city's greatest feature: the Fox River.
There's the historic Hotel Baker, the iconic municipal center, a cluster of city-owned properties along First Street that are being transformed into a large public gathering space.
And then there's the former BMO Harris Bank property just southeast of the Main Street bridge that Hurst says has "one of the best views in the city" -- and a whole lot of potential.
The riverfront parcel at 1 E. Main St. is under contract to be purchased by Hurst, who runs Frontier Development LLC with his son, Conrad. Though still in the early planning stages, he said, the father-son team intends to repurpose the vacant bank building, update the facade and create an outdoor plaza space similar to the public streetscape improvements taking place throughout the downtown.
"What we're wanting to do is mirror in a private effort what the city has accomplished across the street and across the river," Hurst said. "We want to make sure we're cohesive."
Upper-level residential units and a first-floor entertainment or restaurant venue could make up a mixed-use concept proposed for the building, he said, noting specifics have not yet been finalized. The lower level, previously office space, will likely maintain a similar use.
Structurally, the building is expected to remain unchanged, he said, but there are "lots of things we can do from a facade standpoint ... that will make it current and much more exciting."
Hurst hopes the project will be completed by next summer.
Also under contract for purchase by Hurst are two nearby parking parcels, one of which makes up a larger lot serving Flagship on the Fox and Pollyanna Brewing Company. Those businesses are housed in a Riverside Avenue building owned and refurbished by Frontier Development.
The second parking lot is a stand-alone property at Riverside and Illinois avenues, which has been privately owned by BMO Harris Bank for years, he said. As a condition of the sale, a drive-through ATM will be installed on the property, pending city approval.
The rest of that property is expected to remain a parking lot -- a much-needed use in the area, Hurst said.
Curt and Conrad Hurst have been key players in recent efforts to revitalize parts of downtown St. Charles.
Last year, they purchased the iconic Arcada Theatre, as well as an adjacent building, and have been working with operator Ron Onesti to improve the entertainment experience for patrons. Currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation, the 94-year-old theater is expected to reopen in the next few months with various amenities, such as infrastructure upgrades, new bathrooms, a choice of eateries and a special VIP area.
That progress along the Main Street corridor could be strengthened by the revitalization of the BMO Harris property, said Russell Colby, assistant community and economic development director. Though city officials have yet to see possible plans for the site, he said, they're eager to see what it could become.
"It's an intriguing concept to have a reuse of that building, and it's an important riverfront property in the downtown," Colby said. "There's certainly a lot of potential."