chicagotribune--2020-03-22--‘Our lives, it’s about playing basketball overseas’: For US athletes, the coronavirus brings travel

‘Our lives, it’s about playing basketball overseas’: For US athletes, the coronavirus brings travel — and financial — concerns as leagues shut down

“ I ’ m getting stir crazy , ” he said .
“ The team gave us workouts to do @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s nothing to keep you in shape , really .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ kill time : jumping jacks , pushups , dips from the bed and couch .
@ @ @ @ @ be interesting when we come back .
People like entertainment , but I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ be the product they ’ re hoping for in the first few games .
”

Michael “Juice” Thompson was in London with a garbage bag full of wet clothes, trying to get back to the United States.
His professional basketball team in France informed players March 15 that their season was suspended because of the global spread of coronavirus. American players, he was told, could head home if they wished.
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Thompson, a former Northwestern player, packed frantically, including his clothes from his washing machine that hadn’t fully made its way through the cycle.
A team staff member drove him to a train station so he could make his way to the airport. Thompson then flew to London before a daylong layover and a home leg to Chicago.
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“We had two hours to pack up everything and get out of here,” Thompson told the Tribune last week. “I’m in a hotel room, using a blow dryer to dry my clothes. I haven’t thought about the future. I just want to be home with my wife and kids. It’s get home and try to stay away from coronavirus.”
Former Northwestern player Michael Thompson, seen here in 2011, says he had about 2 hours to pack before departing for the U.S. because of the coronavirus. (Chris Chambers / Getty Images)
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for American players competing internationally.
Following the NBA’s steps, many international leagues have suspended play. Most NBA players simply returned to their homes, several self-quarantining after teammates tested positive.
For overseas players, there is so much more to consider.
Should they shelter in place or hop on the next flight home? Will those final paychecks make their way to their bank accounts? Could a potential end to the season also mean the end of a career?
Players in European or South American leagues often receive one-year contracts. A strong season can catch the eye of a more elite team and lead to a more lucrative contract. Other players still have NBA dreams.
Those goals can’t come to fruition without competition, making the suspension of play financially precarious. Some players even heard rumors that their teams could fold altogether if there’s an economic fallout from the pandemic.
“Honestly, I was trying to make a jump next season to move to Europe,” said Leron Black, a former Illinois forward playing in Brazil.
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Black said he had an offer to play in Europe last season but chose to stay in Brazil to play on a highly ranked South American team.
His team said last week that practices were suspended until March 30.
When Black spoke with the Tribune, he was looking online for a flight to Chicago to join his fiancee. His team practices in a large multisport facility with dozens of daily patrons, making him nervous about the chances of contracting COVID-19.
“We’re just praying and hoping that something good happens,” he said. “Our lives, it’s about playing basketball overseas. I’ve definitely had some strong thoughts on what’s going on and what could happen.”
Michael Finke, a former Illinois player competing in Estonia, was self-quarantining in his apartment with his girlfriend after an assistant coach tested positive. Finke was told his Russian VTB United League was suspended until April 10.
He said financial concerns weigh heavily.
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“It’s pretty likely if the whole season is canceled, we won’t get all our money,” Finke said. “My contract goes until early June. Getting the virus would be terrible, but at my age, I’m not too worried. My biggest thing is the money. If I came home, I could not have any income.”
Former Loyola star Ben Richardson, who played in the Czech Republic, said teams and players came to a mutual agreement about a lump-sum payment when their season ended early. His career is in limbo, he said.
“The negative effects this could have on the economy won’t help,” Richardson said. “I can’t go six months of an offseason without a paycheck. I’m a free agent. I’m not going to get a paycheck until another season starts. That’s something I have to think about. I’m hoping all these precautions will bring (the coronavirus) to an end.”
Ben Richardson, seen here playing for Loyola in the NCAA Tournament in 2018, is one of several American athletes who needed to rush back to the U.S. because of the coronavirus pandemic. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Some WNBA players who don’t make a lot of money supplement their income by playing on international teams during the offseason.
The new WNBA collective bargain agreement will improve the bottom line for many players, but plenty still earn the bulk of their income through contracts with foreign teams. Such has been the case for Candice Dupree, who was drafted by the Sky in 2006 and now plays for the Indiana Fever.
She has played in China, Russia, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
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“The money (overseas) definitely wasn’t what it was when I first started playing over there 14 years ago — some of the economies have taken some hits in different countries over there — but it’s still more than what we’re making in the WNBA,” Dupree said. “There are still a majority of players that go over there and play to make money.”
The WNBA has not yet changed its May 15 season opening. But this offseason already has been different for overseas players returning to the U.S.
President Donald Trump’s travel ban as a precaution to help slow the spread of the virus left some scrambling to get back to the States. The WNBA has an app that players working overseas use for security, and the league and union have sent players a steady stream of email updates about the coronavirus and travel restrictions.
“There was a lot of talk of them closing down that (Austria-Hungary) border,” Dupree said. “Me and the other American (WNBA player) that were over there, we were like, ‘OK, we’ve got get out here before they do that’ because we didn’t want to get stuck over in Europe.”
She said the outbreak hadn’t hit her region of Hungary, about an hour south of Vienna, but she was prepared when she left for Miami.
“I just loaded all my travel hand sanitizer,” she said. “I had, like, four masks with me. I had Clorox wipes in my bag.”
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For athletes remaining overseas and practicing social distancing, staying in peak physical shape might be impossible. Similar to in the U.S., many gyms in affected countries have closed. Players following lockdown guidelines can’t join teammates for pickup games or practices.
John Shurna, a former Northwestern player, said this will be the first time he hasn’t played basketball since he was a child. Playing for Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands for a Spanish league team, Shurna has been on a government-issued lockdown in his apartment with his wife.
“I’m getting stir crazy,” he said. “The team gave us workouts to do in our house, but it’s nothing to keep you in shape, really. It’s more something to do to kill time: jumping jacks, pushups, dips from the bed and couch. It’s going to be interesting when we come back. People like entertainment, but I don’t know if it will be the product they’re hoping for in the first few games.”
Malcolm Hill, a former Illinois player competing in Kazakhstan, said he’s going to start more carefully watching his diet. Black said workouts he recalls from his former Illinois athletic trainer are helpful, while Finke said working out at home requires a little bit of creativity.
“My fiancee has an app on her phone and we hook it up to the TV,” Finke said. “It has some conditioning workouts. I’m trying to do little things. It’s hard when you’re in a pretty small apartment and can’t run or lift.”
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There’s also a matter of simply passing the time.
Hill said he hates “not being productive” and has been shut in without a roommate, playing “Call of Duty” online against teammates and reading self-improvement books. Finke and his girlfriend were calculating how long their groceries would last and how much Uber Eats deliveries might cost.
Former Loyola guard Marques Townes enjoyed the local beaches in Murcia, Spain, before the nation’s lockdown. Now he passes time indoors, using apps to communicate with friends playing on other international teams.
“We’ll see what will happen,” Townes said. “If the league wants to start again, it’s good for us to finish that. But if they decide anything else, I’ll just ride it out.”
Returning to the U.S. brings a set of complications.
Like many WNBA players, Candice Dupree, seen here in 2014, plays in Europe during the league's offseason. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Dupree flew from Vienna to London, then took an hourlong taxi from Heathrow to Gatwick Airport. She learned she could fly only to New York’s JFK from there, so she took another hourlong cab back to Heathrow to change her flight to Miami.
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When she finally landed, she said she wanted to “burn all the clothes I was wearing, just gross. Just tired of being in them, just feeling grimy.”
Richardson called his experience leaving the Czech Republic for Kansas City, Mo., “chaotic.”
He practiced March 12, preparing for a game two days later. By the evening, it seemed unlikely his league would continue playing as public places began shuttering amid the government’s declaration of a state of emergency.
Worry set in as Richardson began hearing news of travel restrictions from several countries or anyone who had visited certain countries within 14 days before their U.S. trip. He was unclear as to whether U.S. citizens could return but learned he could as long as he flew into designated airports.
The Czech Republic closed its borders Monday, although it allowed some exceptions.
Richardson booked four flights — two were canceled and one went to waste — to ensure he could depart. He left Prague at 10:25 p.m. March 14 local time, flew to London, landed at O’Hare the next day and stayed overnight at a friend’s in the suburbs. He flew the next afternoon out of Midway and arrived in Kansas City at 4:30 p.m. to return to his parents’ suburban home in Overland Park, Kan.
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When Richardson landed in Chicago, he rewarded himself with a slice of Giordano’s deep-dish pizza.
“My first meal back here,” he said. “It was great.”
While it was a relief to step on U.S. soil, his travel brought new concerns.
“I’ve heard people coughing,” he said. “Am I going to breathe something in and take it where I’m going next? I’m going through big (airport) hubs. I’m going to lock myself up for a while now.”
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The coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the U.S. as well with more than 10,000 confirmed cases. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday a shelter-in-place order through at least April 7.
Thompson, who traveled with his bag of wet clothes, didn’t bring everything home with him. He left some workout clothes and sneakers in Spain.
Just in case.
“It’s a lot to process,” he said. “If we have to come back and play, we will. As Americans, some of us thought it was best to be home. If you do get sick, you’d rather be home.”
Tribune reporter Phil Thompson contributed.


chicagotribune--2020-03-22--2 shot, 1 fatally, overnight throughout Chicago after stay-at-home order takes place

Fiona Ma stood with her mother at the doorway of their house on South Benson Street as officers walked in @ @ @ @ @ the yellow tape .
The 20-year-old peeked outside , taking in a rare breath of @ @ @ @ @ of being cooped up inside .
Dozens of feet away , the officers ’ flashlights @ @ @ @ @ casings in front of a blue sedan parked on the west side of Benson .

At least two people were wounded, one of them fatally, within Chicago since a statewide shelter-in-place order was enacted.
In the first shooting, a man was killed on a street in the Bridgeport neighborhood on the South Side, and two people were in custody.
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About 12:50 a.m., police officers responded to a gunfire alert via ShotSpotter technology and found a 38-year-old outside unresponsive in the 3100 block of South Benson Street, according to Chicago police.
The man had gunshot wounds in his head, torso, hand and leg. He was taken to Stroger Hospital and pronounced dead, police said.
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Officers have not found witnesses to the shooting, but two people seen speeding from the scene in a vehicle were taken into questioning, police said.
Fiona Ma stood with her mother at the doorway of their house on South Benson Street as officers walked in front of them and under the yellow tape. The 20-year-old peeked outside, taking in a rare breath of fresh air after a week of being cooped up inside. Dozens of feet away, the officers’ flashlights revealed an array of shell casings in front of a blue sedan parked on the west side of Benson.
Ma said she heard at least six rapid gunshots before rushing to the window and seeing her neighbor running to the aid of a person outside. It dawned on her that someone was hurt.
“I feel bad,” Ma said. “It just doesn’t happen all that much in this neighborhood. ... But it happens all the time in Chicago, so it’s not that surprising to me.”
Her mother, Allison Ma, 46, said by the time she looked outside, police squad cars were already swarming the street. “It was really fast. Really fast. ... I’ve never seen that before.”
The shooting is the 9th District’s sixth homicide of the year, according to police data. Last year, one homicide was reported.
Chicago police investigate a shooting Sunday, March 21, 2020, in the 1300 block of West Hastings Street. (Alice Yin/Chicago Tribune)
Sunday morning also saw a shooting in the ABLA Homes public housing complex on the Near West Side.
About 4 a.m., a 30-year-old was shot multiple times in the chest and leg in the 1300 block of West Hastings Street. Patrol officers heard shots fired and found him in the courtyard, police said.
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The 30-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition, police said. Officers are reviewing closed circuit security camera footage in the area.
Shell casings were scattered on the sidewalk between a parking lot and the rowhouses on the south side of Hastings. A white van was parked near stationed squad cars inside the scene. On the north end, officers shined flashlights at the rocks and bushes against the black fence.
In other firearm-related incidents, a 25-year-old accidentally shot himself while fleeing officers during a traffic stop, police said.
He was a passenger in a vehicle that officers pulled over about 1:10 a.m. in the first block of South Homan Avenue. The 25-year-old got out and began running to the 3400 block of West Monroe Street while stuffing a handgun in his pocket, police said.
The gun went off and a bullet grazed his groin. The 25-year-old self-transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition, and police said he could be facing charges.
Starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, a statewide stay-at-home order went into effect, urging residents to stay home barring essential needs. Chicago police officers assigned to the patrol division had their days off canceled this weekend as the force prepared to navigate the new directive while stemming crimes, the Tribune has reported.
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The most recent burst of gun violence before the shelter-in-place order was enacted happened about 2:20 a.m. Saturday, nearly 24 hours before the Bridgeport homicide.
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-21--Introducing the 2019-20 Pioneer Press Boys Basketball All-Area Team

Key stats : Averaged 24.1 points , 10 rebounds , three assists and two steals with 11 games of 30 @ @ @ @ @ Fenwick ’ s single-season scoring mark , previously held by Corey Maggette .

Fenwick's Bryce Hopkins takes a shot against Payton during the Class 3A Fenwick Regional final on Friday, March 6, 2020. (Jeff Krage / Pioneer Press)
FIRST TEAM
Max Christie
School: Rolling Meadows.
Year: Junior.
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Position: Guard.
Accolades: Pioneer Press Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Mid-Suburban East Co-Player of the Year.
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Key stats: Averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Bryce Hopkins
School: Fenwick.
Year: Junior.
Position: Forward.
Accolades: Catholic League Player of the Year. Committed to Louisville.
Key stats: Averaged 24.1 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals with 11 games of 30 points or more. Broke Fenwick’s single-season scoring mark, previously held by Corey Maggette.
Louis Lesmond
School: Notre Dame.
Year: Junior.
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Position: Guard/forward.
Accolades: All-conference. MVP of Battle of the Bridge Thanksgiving Tounament and Wheeling Hardwood Classic.
Key stats: Averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Shot 44 percent from 3-point range.
Dom Martinelli
School: Glenbrook South.
Year: Senior.
Position: Forward.
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Accolades: All-conference.
Key stats: Averaged 26.0 points and 5.8 rebounds, with a career-high of 51 points. Ranks second in IHSA history for free throws made in a season.
Aquan Smart
School: Niles North.
Year: Senior.
Position: Guard.
Accolades: All-conference. Committed to Maryland.
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Key stats: Averaged 23.8 points, 6.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds.
SECOND TEAM
Kam Craft
School: Buffalo Grove.
Buffalo Grove's Kam Craft takes a shot against Fremd at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019. (Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press)
Year: Sophomore.
Position: Guard.
Accolades: Mid-Suburban East Co-Player of the Year.
Key stats: Averaged 23.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals. Set school record for most points in a season (753) and points in a game (46).
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Troy D’Amico
School: Notre Dame.
Year: Junior.
Position: Guard/forward.
Accolades: All-conference.
Key stats: Averaged 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Shot 40 percent from 3-point range.
Conor Enright
School: Mundelein.
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Year: Junior.
Position: Guard.
Accolades: North Suburban Conference Player of the Year. Committed to Drake.
Key stats: Averaged 14.5 points and six assists.
Connor Kochera
School: St. Viator.
Year: Senior.
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Position: Guard.
Accolades: All-conference. Committed to William & Mary.
Key stats: Averaged 24 points and six rebounds. Shot 44 percent from 3-point range.
Nate Shockey
School: York.
Year: Senior.
Position: Guard.
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Accolades: All-conference. Committed to North Dakota.
Key stats: Averaged 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
THIRD TEAM
Matthew Ambrose
School: Stevenson.
Year: Senior.
Position: Guard.
Accolades: All-conference. Committd to Indianapolis.
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Key stats: Averaged 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Isaiah Barnes
School: Oak Park-River Forest.
Year: Junior.
Position: Guard.
Accolades: All-conference.
Key stats: Averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
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Scottie Ebube
School: Mundelein.
Year: Junior.
Position: Center.
Accolades: All-conference.
Key stats: Averaged 14.7 points and 9.8 rebounds.
Bennett Kwiecinski
School: Loyola.
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Year: Senior.
Position: Forward.
Accolades: All-conference. Committed to Siena.
Key stats: Averaged 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, two blocks and two assists per game.
Blake Peters
School: Evanston.
Year: Junior.
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Position: Guard.
Accolades: All-conference. MVP at Centralia Holiday Tournament.
Key stats: Averaged 14 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.3 assists.
HONORABLE MENTION
Marko Anderson, Maine South, junior, forward; Jack Barszcz, Vernon Hills, senior, forward; Jalen Butler, Niles North, junior, guard/forward; John Carragher, New Trier, senior, guard; Nate Cole, Buffalo Grove, senior, forward; Kevin Czyzewski, Ridgewood, senior, forward; Julian Davila, Elmwood Park, junior, forward; Billy Durkin, Hinsdale South, senior, guard; Matt Enghauser, Loyola, senior, guard; Jaylin Gibson, Evanston, junior, guard; Josh Harris, Timothy Christian, junior, guard/forward; Ryan Isaacson, Hinsdale Central, senior, forward; Dan Kane, Northridge Prep, senior, guard; Jordan Kwiecinski, Loyola, senior, forward; Brandon Lieb, Deerfield, senior, center; Jack Malloy, Lake Forest, junior, guard; Grant Niego, Lyons, senior, guard; Val Oplchenski, Highland Park, senior, forward; Matt Owens, Timothy Christian, senior, guard; Tagen Pearson, Nazareth, senior, guard; Trey Pettigrew, Fenwick, sophomore, guard; Anthony Sayles, Notre Dame, junior, guard; Josh Smith, OPRF, junior, guard; Jackson Watson, Libertyville, senior, guard; Kimahri Wilson, Carmel, junior, guard; Damian Zivak, Barrington, junior, forward.


chicagotribune--2020-03-20--Is Nick Foles an upgrade for the Bears at QB over Mitch Trubisky? Check the numbers.

The Eagles lost in his first appearance after the 2013 season .
They won all three on their way to @ @ @ @ @ the 2017 season .
Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns and caught a @ @ @ @ @ the Eagles over the Patriots 41-33 and win Super Bowl LII MVP honors .
He @ @ @ @ @ postseason .

The Chicago Bears traded a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars for Nick Foles on Wednesday.
Foles joins Mitch Trubisky in the Bears quarterbacks room. While we wait to hear from general manager Ryan Pace about which player he expects to be the 2020 starter, here’s a look at the quarterbacks by the numbers.
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88: Pick the Eagles used to select Foles in the 2012 draft.
The third-round pick passed for 10,011 yards, 67 touchdowns and 33 interceptions over three seasons at Arizona (2009-11) after transferring from Michigan State. The Wildcats went to two bowl games during his time there.
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2: Pick the Bears used to select Trubisky.
He passed for 3,748 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions in his lone season as a starter at North Carolina. The Tar Heels went 8-5 that year and lost in the Sun Bowl to Stanford.
48: Games Foles has started over eight NFL seasons.
The most he started in a season was 11 in 2015 with the Rams, going 4-7. He started 10 with the Eagles in 2013, when he threw for a career-high 2,891 yards and 27 touchdowns with just two interceptions and went 8-2. He hasn’t started more than five regular-season games in a year since 2015.
Quarterback Nick Foles holds up the Lombardi Trophy after the Eagles defeated the Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/Getty Images)
41: Games Trubisky has started over three NFL seasons.
He missed three games over the last two seasons with shoulder injuries. He didn’t play the first four games of his rookie season as the Bears started the year with Mike Glennon at quarterback. Trubisky’s best season was 2018, when he went 11-3.
31: Age of Foles, whose birthday was in January.
25: Age of Trubisky, who will turn 26 in August.
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4-2: Foles’ record in postseason games.
The Eagles lost in his first appearance after the 2013 season. They won all three on their way to the Super Bowl championship after the 2017 season. Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass to help lift the Eagles over the Patriots 41-33 and win Super Bowl LII MVP honors. He went 1-1 in the 2018 postseason.
0-1: Trubisky’s record in postseason games.
The only Bears playoff appearance in Trubisky’s tenure — in the last nine years, in fact — came against the Foles-led Eagles after the 2018 season. The Eagles won 16-15 after Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt off the goal post and crossbar in the final seconds. Foles’ 2-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate on fourth down with 56 seconds to play put the Eagles ahead.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 19 The Bears introduce Mitch Trubisky after drafting him with the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NFL draft during a news conference at Halas Hall on April 28, 2017. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)
88.2: Foles’ career passer rating, including 84.6 in four starts with the Jaguars in 2019.
His rating during a five-start stint with the Eagles in 2018 was 96.0. His career best was 119.2 in 2013 with the Eagles. His rating in the playoffs is 98.8.
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85.8: Trubisky’s career passer rating, including 83.0 in 15 starts in 2019.
His career-best rating was 95.4 in 14 starts in 2018.
0: Jaguars wins in four games Foles started in 2019.
To be fair, he left one of those games in the first quarter with a broken collarbone. The other three came after he returned from injury. In the last, he was benched at halftime as the Jaguars returned to playing rookie Gardner Minshew.
8: Bears wins in games Trubisky started in 2019, though backup Chase Daniel played most of one after Trubisky suffered a left shoulder injury in the first quarter.
0.8: Touchdown passes per game for Foles in 2019. The Jaguars averaged 17.5 points in games he started.
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1.1: Touchdown passes per game for Trubisky in 2019. The Bears averaged 17.3 points in games he started.
61.9%: Foles’ career completion percentage.
He also has a 4.2% touchdown percentage and 2.1% interception percentage. He has averaged 7.0 yards per attempt and 205.2 yards per game in his career.
63.4%: Trubisky’s career completion percentage.
He also has a 3.8% touchdown percentage and 2.3% interception percentage. He has averaged 6.7 yards per attempt and 208.6 yards per game in his career.
390: Career rushing yards in 58 games for Foles, with an average of 3.0 yards per carry.
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He hasn’t rushed for more than 23 yards in a season since 2014. He has five rushing touchdowns.
862: Career rushing yards in 41 games for Trubisky, with an average of 5.5 yards per attempt.
He totaled a career-low 193 yards in 2019 after rushing for 421 in 2018. He has seven rushing touchdowns.


chicagotribune--2020-03-17--Chandler Hutchison was already looking at extended time away from the court before the NBA shutdown.

Chandler Hutchison was already looking at extended time away from the court before the NBA shutdown. So he turned to TikTok.

Bulls forward Chandler Hutchison was already looking at extended time away from the court after he aggravated the AC joint @ @ @ @ @ month , an injury that will require surgery scheduled for Tuesday .
So Hutchison found @ @ @ @ @ off his personality and keep him busy : He started making videos on TikTok .

During this unprecedented suspension of the NBA season due to the coronavirus pandemic, players around the league are searching for ways to pass time without basketball.
Some are watching their own highlights on YouTube. Others have started playing video games or hosting game nights.
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Bulls forward Chandler Hutchison was already looking at extended time away from the court after he aggravated the AC joint in his right shoulder last month, an injury that will require surgery scheduled for Tuesday. So Hutchison found an outlet to help show off his personality and keep him busy: He started making videos on TikTok.
Hutchison started his account, @cmohutchison, only a few weeks ago — before the NBA suspended its season and the rest of the sports world soon followed — and already has gained more than 97,500 followers after his third video went viral. As of Monday afternoon, the video had been played more than 14.5 million times with 2.3 million likes.
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“It’s cool because it’s a way to show a different side other than just the basketball,” Hutchison said last week. “It’s funny because I’ve gotten a lot of following through TikTok from people that probably don’t even know that I am a professional basketball player.”
To find inspiration, Hutchison turns to a variety of methods. He is constantly brainstorming new ideas and skits. If he comes across a sound he finds funny or weird, he’ll save it and think about how he could use it later.
In his room in the team hotel in New York, he hatched the idea for the video that took off with this caption: “You and your friend having a sleepover when it’s past your bedtime.”
“It’s funny because the one I put the least amount of energy in was the one that blows up,” Hutchison said. “It took me like five minutes to make.”
Hutchison has been the lone star in each of his videos so far. He initially had ideas to incorporate his teammates, although the pandemic will slow some of those ideas.
“He definitely puts some thought into them,” Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. said with a laugh. “But they be hitting.”
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Carter encouraged Hutchison to start making videos after Carter started his account first. Although he has some ideas, Carter has yet to make any videos of his own, saying he was waiting for the right time to post something.
Hutchison had been considering ways they could potentially collaborate in the future, perhaps with team mascot Benny the Bull, who has an even larger following on the app.
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Rookie guard Coby White also has lobbied to appear on Hutchison’s account.
“I’ve been asking: When we are we going to make a video?” White said. “But he be playing.”
“No,” Hutchison responded, shaking his head. “He be trying to sneak diss.”
“I want to hit them with the ...,“ White started before breaking into a dance move as the two laughed.
“It’s just something to mix it up and give a little different aspect besides the basketball side of everything,” Hutchison said. “Show some humor and my personality a little bit.”


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Ask Anna: On fallout from an affair and the perks of dating during the coronavirus outbreak

And call me old-fashioned , but this virus just might be a boon for our love lives .
Why ?
@ @ @ @ @ meet immediately forces people to actually get to know each other , to connect emotionally @ @ @ @ @ social distancing also prevents us from making potentially regrettable decisions based on lust , loneliness @ @ @ @ @ this time and learn as much as you can about your potential date , whether @ @ @ @ @ good match , and ask those bigger life questions that are usually too taboo to @ @ @ @ @ .

“Ask Anna” is a sex column. Because of the nature of the topic, some columns contain language some readers may find graphic.
Dear Anna,
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I fell in love with a co-worker. We are both married, and he was my best friend. It went on for 18 months. My husband found out and told my co-worker’s wife. She now wants a divorce. My husband wants to work it out. I’m sad, not because the affair is over, but because I lost my best friend. He blames me for everything. — Affair
Dear Affair,
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Oof. I’m sorry to hear about this fallout. And that you still probably have to see each other at work for the foreseeable future. I’m also sorry you lost a friend, though I do question how great of a friend he truly was, because anyone who blames one person for an 18-month relationship is, well, probably not someone who’s really in your corner. It takes two to tango, and all that.
Understandably, there are lots of hurt parties in this game, and he might simply need time and space before he can see things with a little more empathy and kindness. But then again, maybe not. In any case, try to limit your contact with him at work (and entirely outside of work) and focus on repairing your relationship with your husband. None of this is going to be easy or fast, but you probably knew that.
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Dear Anna,
I matched with a man on Bumble right as this pandemic was gearing up. Since we can’t go to bars or restaurants, should we meet up at all or stay put? How does one date in these perilous times? — Can’t Overestimate Virus In Dating
Dear COVID,
Good question. The recommendation from health officials is to avoid contact with most humans if you can help it. Bars and restaurants are indeed closed until March 30, but you can still order takeout if that’s an option you’d like to take advantage of.
The dating apps themselves are recommending that people choose staying safe over “having fun.” This can mean lots of texting and having virtual dates over the phone or video chats, which in some ways seem more preferable than your typical first date. No commute! Cheaper drinks! If you don’t like the person, just disconnect and blame your internet!
Some people are also cooking virtual dinners together, if you’d like to attempt small talk while julienne-ing carrots. (I do not.) Or if you’re lazy, Netflix offers a “watch together” feature, which lets viewers in two different places watch the same film or show together. This might also be a good litmus test for your compatibility. If your scintillating banter on “Love Is Blind” falls flat, it might not be true love. (But watching a show in which the love interests get engaged without meeting in person is extremely on point during this time!)
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And call me old-fashioned, but this virus just might be a boon for our love lives. Why? Because not being allowed to meet immediately forces people to actually get to know each other, to connect emotionally and not physically. Such social distancing also prevents us from making potentially regrettable decisions based on lust, loneliness and/or liquor. So take this time and learn as much as you can about your potential date, whether you’re indeed a good match, and ask those bigger life questions that are usually too taboo to ask on a first date.


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Chicago dancers cope by staying fit, staying connected and teaching classes via video. ‘What can I g

Chicago dancers cope by staying fit, staying connected and teaching classes via video. ‘What can I give?’

“ It was the middle of the night , and my phone started going crazy , ” said Marling Thursday @ @ @ @ @ the news , he was on a train to Berlin to try and catch an @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I couldn ’ t get anyone on the telephone at the airline that @ @ @ @ @ The website was jammed up , so I just went to the airport .
”

Terence Marling was in Germany when President Trump made his Oval Office address instituting a travel ban from Europe. Marling, a Chicago-based ballet and contemporary dance choreographer and teacher, had been abroad for a month working on a freelance project.
“It was the middle of the night, and my phone started going crazy,” said Marling Thursday. Within an hour of the news, he was on a train to Berlin to try and catch an earlier flight back to Chicago. “I couldn’t get anyone on the telephone at the airline that I was flying on. The website was jammed up, so I just went to the airport.”
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Marling flew to Stockholm before returning to Chicago on March 13, arriving amidst a flurry of cancellations and postponements by arts organizations. On March 12, Illinois Governor Pritzker instituted a mandate limiting public gatherings to fewer than 1,000 people to try and mitigate the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has deeply impacted the arts.
Last September, Marling had formed Common Conservatory, a post-secondary training program aimed at preparing dancers for professional careers as performers. Upon returning to the States, the CDC’s guidelines and city ordinances didn’t initially impact his program as deeply as they did larger arts organizations.
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Marling planned to take a week off. His studio space was still open so he reorganized Common Conservatory’s schedule so that dancers could continue working in smaller groups. He planned to livestream a ballet barre from the studio on Instagram live.
As guidelines for public gatherings became more stringent, the community center in Lincoln Park where he rehearses was forced to close. Marling has now cancelled all of Common’s classes and performances until further notice, and moved the ballet barre into his living room in Evanston. He livestreams from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. weekdays and in the afternoons homeschools his two young children during state-wide school closures.
“All dancers need to take care of their bodies every day," Marling said. “So it seemed like the simplest thing to put a barre out there.”
Dance choreographer and teacher Terry Marling outside of his Evanston home. Marling copes with shutdowns by teaching a live video dance training series from his home. (Heather Eidson / Chicago Tribune)
Ashwaty Chennat is one of two salaried employees at Mandala South Asian Performing Arts, where she is a bharatanatyam teacher, performer and choreographer.
“I feel grateful,” she said Thursday. “Our organization works to ensure that I and our director Pranita (Nayar) are safe.” However, Mandala hires a number of freelance teachers, performers and musicians for its programs. With all their upcoming events canceled, they won’t be able to fill those contracts.
“I’m feeling for my peers, who do incredible work and are stuck at home,” said Chennat. “We’re trying to keep ourselves safe and active. It’s a tough time.”
Chennat has been checking in with peers to stay motivated about practicing. “Dance is a group activity, and it’s very hard for me to be inspired to move without others,” she said. Chennat is also experimenting with keeping her children’s classes going via video conferencing from her home in Albany Park.
“I’m trying to turn my second-floor apartment with very creaky floors into a classroom,” she said. Chennat is adapting her classical Indian dance technique, which uses ankle bells and foot stamping against the floor, by stepping lightly to avoid upsetting her neighbors.
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Chennat was also due to begin a residency with jazz percussionist Alvin Cobb, Jr. in May, sponsored by Pivot Arts. It is yet unclear if Pivot Arts’ residencies and annual summer arts festival will go on as scheduled. “We plan on persisting,” she said. “I hope we can find a way to virtually create something. We’ll make it happen, regardless — I think.”
Danielle Gilmore, left, rehearses with other members of Mordine & Company Dance Theater at Indian Boundary Cultural Center in Chicago in 2019. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Danielle Gilmore, a modern dancer with Mordine and Company, REdance and Kelly Anderson Dance Theatre, earns the majority of her income teaching private yoga classes in corporate and residential settings. “Unlike working a gym, I had to make the decision to stop working completely on my own,” she said Thursday.
Gilmore set up a yoga mat in her Lincoln Park apartment and is creating YouTube videos for her clients to follow from home.
“I’ve gotten an overwhelming response,” she said. “There’s a ton of yoga videos out there, accessible to everyone, but they’ve appreciated that I took time to make a video on the stuff we’ve been working on.”
Gilmore is not monetizing her online classes at this point. She said her parents taught her to save up for emergencies, and Gilmore has an additional part-time job that is so far unaffected by the health crisis.
“I lost a job in the past, and feel like I’m prepared for situations like this,” she said. “This feels different, but I have already planned ahead. Some teachers are asking for donations for their classes, and I’m letting (my clients) know there’s other classes that they can pay for. For some teachers, this is all they have.”
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Up to 200 viewers a day have logged on to take Marling’s barres. While he publishes his Venmo information and is accepting donations, he’s not viewing the classes as a money-making venture. He is wary of asking dancers to contribute while they, too, are unemployed.
“I’m hoping there’s some government support,” he said. "Huge sectors of the economy are completely gone. I’m not the only person in this situation. What can I give that will make a difference to people? I know I can give a barre every day.”
But as time goes on, Marling says he’ll have to figure out a way to keep Common Conservatory afloat. “It’s a small enough business that I was running it on zero profit, but also zero debt. It was working. The whole environment of the dance world is in flux, and this is really going to have impact. When are people going to feel OK to gather in large numbers again?”
Lauren Warnecke is a freelance critic.
lauren.warnecke@gmail.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-22--Ask Amy: Pandemic raises behavioral questions

Dear Wondering : `` Social distancing '' might be the most effective way of halting the spread of the Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ by using the `` praying hands '' technique of pressing your own two hands together @ @ @ @ @ .
( I call this the `` Namaste-hello ) .
You can fold your hands @ @ @ @ @ way of signaling `` no touch , '' or greet your friend , saying , @ @ @ @ @ ? ''

Dear Amy: Several years ago, I collaborated on a project with an outside contractor. Although there is a large age difference between us, we hit it off right away and enjoy a friendship and communicate frequently.
We always try to get together when we are within an hour's driving distance, so we can catch up in person. There is nothing like sitting across from a friend and breaking bread together. We will be in the same city next month and are making plans to get together for dinner.
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In the past, greeting each other meant a big hug. In the age of COVID-19, what should we do now? A fist bump seems hardly adequate, but I certainly would not want to spread (or catch) the virus.
We also all have the need for human touch, and what is this going to do to us emotionally? I want to be smart -- not cavalier or hysterical.
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I have to think other people also have this question. What's a person to do?
— Wondering
Dear Wondering: "Social distancing" might be the most effective way of halting the spread of the Coronavirus. You can greet someone by using the "praying hands" technique of pressing your own two hands together and giving a little bow. (I call this the "Namaste-hello). You can fold your hands across your chest as a way of signaling "no touch," or greet your friend, saying, "How about an air-hug?"
Because you are dining together, you could also practice other germ-avoiding techniques such as not sharing food, drinks, or touching anything on the table that he has touched.
Dear Amy: Help! I live in an area with confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease. There have been deaths from the illness within miles of where I live.
My boyfriend is making jokes, saying it is being blown out of proportion. I know a lot of other people are joking about this, too.
Maybe I could be a little more tolerant of their comments if I didn't have cancer, in addition to two other autoimmune issues.
The boyfriend -- and other friends who are fully aware of my situation -- don't seem to be concerned with how his/their remarks make me feel even more frightened than I already am.
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I am already pretty much house-bound. There must be other people who feel the way I do?
— Nervous and Annoyed
Dear Nervous: I'm sure there are many, many other people who feel as you do -- certainly those with underlying illnesses or health conditions which render them more susceptible to serious illness -- or death -- from flu or the Coronavirus.
Sometimes people joke about issues that are actually frightening, as a way to whistle past the graveyard.
Sometimes people joke about frightening issues because they are insensitive gits.
My sense is that you have some people in your life who present their own kind of viral toxicity. I wish there was a way to inoculate you against exposure to them. You should guard your health and work hard to keep your stress and panic in check.
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Dear Amy: What do you say to a 50-ish woman who doesn't wash her hands after using the restroom?
I work in a large office building that houses around 20 professional businesses. There are common-area restrooms in the main hallways of the building. With regular flu going around and coronavirus ramping up, it seems like a no-brainer to wash one's hands.
Signs have been posted around the building about covering your cough and proper washing techniques, and this woman still leaves her stall and heads straight back to her office.
What's a tactful, polite way to say, "Wash your hands!"?
— Grossed Out
Ask Amy Daily No-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
Dear Grossed Out: The management company running the building should post signs on each bathroom mirror and on the inside doors of stalls, reminding people to wash their hands thoroughly. If any individual in any of the companies within this building gets this virus, it could have a large and lingering impact on a great many people.
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This worldwide viral outbreak has inspired many excellent and entertaining videos on proper handwashing technique. It also provides cover for you to ask, "Would you mind washing your hands before leaving the bathroom?"
In addition to washing your own hands thoroughly, you should also use a paper towel to turn the handle on the bathroom door before exiting.
My research has led me down a rabbit hole of information about the spread of "fecal matter" outside of the bathroom. It's not pretty.
Get the latest no-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning with our Ask Amy newsletter. Sign up here.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
Copyright 2019 by Amy Dickinson
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency


chicagotribune--2020-02-28--Harley-Davidson CEO to leave struggling motorcycle maker

Harley has been struggling with declining sales in the U.S. , its biggest market , as it tries to adapt @ @ @ @ @ while looking to expand markets overseas .

Harley Davidson President and CEO Matthew S. Levatich rides his motorcycle onto the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2017. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)
Milwaukee — Harley-Davidson CEO Matthew Levatich is leaving the struggling motorcycle maker.
The Milwaukee company announced Friday that Levatich will leave his post and seat on Harley's board of directors.
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Board member Jochen Zeitz will become acting president and CEO while a board search committee is formed and Harley hires an outside search firm to fill the job.
“The Board and Matt mutually agreed that now is the time for new leadership at Harley-Davidson,” Zeitz said in a prepared statement.
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Harley has been struggling with declining sales in the U.S., its biggest market, as it tries to adapt to an aging customer base while looking to expand markets overseas.
The announcement of the leadership change, made after the markets closed, pushed Harley’s shares up 5% in after-hours trading. They had fallen 2.3% with the broader markets during the trading day.
Harley’s closing share price Friday was down 18% for the year.
Harley reported a net profit of $423.6 million in 2019, but it made only $13.5 million in the fourth quarter.
The company said Levatich will stay on through March to assist with the transition.
Zeitz also was named board chairman, replacing Michael Cave, who becomes presiding director. He said the board is confident that its leadership experience and understanding of the company will bring an effective transition.


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Column: Let’s not forget about the Silent Generation, their voices are worth listening to

“ My father was out of a job for a time and we were very careful of every penny .
@ @ @ @ @ my parents could help pay for my college and I was on my own in @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I was not trumpeting causes until I was much , much older @ @ @ @ @ outlook makes me part of the Silent Generation , I was then .
However , @ @ @ @ @ I began to have the realization that I need not be so careful and had @ @ @ @ @ than silent .
”

Men wait in a soup line during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Members of the Silent Generation grew up during the Depression. (Chicago Tribune historical photo / Chicago Tribune)
Forget “talking ‘bout my generation”, as The Who sang. People in one generation often like talking about other generations.
Case in point: “OK, boomer.”
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I’m not a Baby Boomer. I’m a member of Generation X, a generation named for an underused consonant that implies something at best ill-defined and at worse overlooked.
While I‘ve always found it both annoying and comical that all the attention goes to the population-heavy Baby Boomers and Millennials, I find the phrase “OK, boomer” rather derisive. I can’t imagine saying, “OK, Greatest Generation” to an elder who stormed beaches or sewed up shrapnel wounds, just because they might not know what Instagram is.
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To me, the generation that gets the least amount of notice but is really worth listening to is the so-called Silent Generation. They have an even worse name than Gen X. While the measure of a generation is never universally agreed upon, most use the Silent Generation to connote those born roughly between 1923 and the early 1940s.
The name makes it sound like they don’t have a voice. They actually do have a voice. It’s just a thoughtful, insightful one that can speak to changes that shaped this country.
Let me introduce you to a few people of that generation, who are also residents of Plymouth Place in La Grange.
This is from Bill Whitney: “I have always objected to being lumped in a group called the Silent Generation. It seems like a put-down of a group of people who worked hard and did their part to keep your country and its families strong. Wars were fought, civil rights were gained and there was a sense of responsibility during these years. Not a bad record for the silent ones.”
Jan McDermed, another Plymouth Place resident, was born in 1931 in a small farming town hit hard by the Great Depression.
“My father was out of a job for a time and we were very careful of every penny. I was very grateful that my parents could help pay for my college and I was on my own in graduate school," McDermed said. "I was not trumpeting causes until I was much, much older. If that sort of outlook makes me part of the Silent Generation, I was then. However, when I was much older I began to have the realization that I need not be so careful and had strong obligation to be more than silent.”
Another perspective comes from Joyce Linn, who was among the first in her family to graduate high school.
“In our early adulthood, we seemed associated with much that was not silent — initiating much noise about Civil Rights, Equal Rights for Women, opposition to the Vietnam War, etc. I often describe my formative years as going into high school dancing to Glenn Miller and graduating with Elvis and Fats Domino,” Linn said.
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Linn also knows a thing or two about different perceptions of generations, as a mom of both a Boomer and a GenX-er and a child of yet another generation. She sees her group as less silent and more “sandwiched.”
“I think our parents were puzzled about how our children thought, creating some intergenerational stress, as longtime traditions changed with a rapidly-moving society and we were stuck in the middle working to understand the different worlds in which each was operating,” she muses. “I don’t think it was a major strain for our generation. But the comment I hear over and over within my generation illustrates the major change in traditions spanning our generations.”
I could listen to Bill, Jan and Joyce talk all day.
Instead of talking about your generation or talking smack about another, we might try talking to those from another era about their experiences. There’s a lot to learn.
Lynn Petrak is a freelance columnist.


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--UIC expects to hire former Illinois State and Michigan assistant Luke Yaklich as its men’s basketbal

UIC expects to hire former Illinois State and Michigan assistant Luke Yaklich as its men’s basketball coach, according to a report

Yaklich spent one season on Shaka Smart ’ s staff at Texas after two seasons in Michigan as an assistant @ @ @ @ @ was credited for revamping Michigan ’ s defense , and the Wolverines went 63-15 with @ @ @ @ @ NCAA Tournament championship game during his tenure .

UIC is set to hire Texas assistant Luke Yaklich as its next men’s basketball coach, Stadium reported Monday.
Yaklich, an Illinois State graduate and former assistant at his alma mater, would replace Steve McClain, who was fired March 13 after five seasons following this season’s loss in the Horizon League Tournament championship game.
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Yaklich spent one season on Shaka Smart’s staff at Texas after two seasons in Michigan as an assistant to John Beilein. Yaklich was credited for revamping Michigan’s defense, and the Wolverines went 63-15 with an appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament championship game during his tenure.
Yaklich was an assistant at Illinois State from 2013-17. Before that he was a high school coach for 14 years, teaching U.S. history and coaching at Joliet Township High School for six seasons.
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A native of LaSalle, Ill., Yaklich graduated from LaSalle-Peru Township in 1994.
McClain went 76-93 with the Flames with a 42-48 mark in conference play. UIC dealt with a host of injuries this season and finished 18-17 overall with a 10-8 Horizon League record.
The Flames haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2004.


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Watch live: Members of the coronavirus task force hold a press briefing

Watch live as members of the coronavirus task force provide an update on the coronavirus outbreak in a news briefing @ @ @ @ @ .
Get the latest updates here .

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chicagotribune--2020-03-23--With plenty about the 2020 season in limbo, the White Sox offer fans a place to ask questions and fi

With plenty about the 2020 season in limbo, the White Sox offer fans a place to ask questions and find answers

And for fans with tickets to postponed games , the site said : “ All updates will be announced on @ @ @ @ @ media platforms for any games affected by this delayed start .
Please hold on to @ @ @ @ @ is announced as MLB and the White Sox continue to evaluate global , national , @ @ @ @ @ up to the start of the season .
”

With the start of the season delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the White Sox have a “frequently asked questions” page on their website designated to provide updates on the 2020 season for fans. Questions and updates can be found here.
On March 12, Major League Baseball canceled the rest of spring training and delayed the start of the season for two weeks because of the outbreak, then extended the date to mid-May at the earliest.
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The Sox were scheduled to open the season Thursday against the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“The White Sox will continue to work with MLB to evaluate ongoing events leading up to the new start of the season and will provide official updates as they become available,” a statement reads on the page.
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Regarding how the schedule will be adjusted, the site said: “MLB is developing several contingency plans for the 2020 regular-season schedule. No games have been canceled. MLB will announce the impact on the schedule at an appropriate time, with the hope of resuming normal operations as soon as possible.”
And for fans with tickets to postponed games, the site said: “All updates will be announced on Whitesox.com and White Sox social media platforms for any games affected by this delayed start. Please hold on to your tickets until a policy is announced as MLB and the White Sox continue to evaluate global, national, state and local events leading up to the start of the season.”
Sox employees have been working remotely, but “Sox ticket representatives still remain available for fan inquiries," the site said. Those with ticket questions should email the Sox at tickets@chisox.com or contact their personal season ticket representative.
“Given the unprecedented nature and fluidity of what is taking place, we appreciate your patience as we diligently work through the many aspects and details of this continually evolving situation,” the statement on the page reads.


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Pace cuts some service amid continued ridership drop

To cope with ridership drops , the suburban bus agency has moved to non-school service on routes that see more @ @ @ @ @ , and will not run service to special events , since they are all canceled @ @ @ @

A person rides the Metra Electric District line, May 11, 2021, in Chicago. With some coronavirus pandemic restrictions lifted, some people may be returning to public transit. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Pace is cutting some bus service in response to severe drops in ridership, as workers and students stay home due to the new coronavirus.
As of Monday, Pace said its regular, fixed-route ridership was down 53% and its ADA Paratransit ridership in the city and suburbs was down 70% from normal passenger numbers, said spokeswoman Maggie Daly Skogsbakken.
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To cope with ridership drops, the suburban bus agency has moved to non-school service on routes that see more passengers during the school year, and will not run service to special events, since they are all canceled, Skogsbakken said.
Commuter and “shuttle bug” service, which runs workers to and from Metra stations, has been adjusted. The changes are detailed on the passenger notices page on Pace’s web site.
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Both Route 754, between Lewis University and downtown Chicago, and the Rosemont Circulator service are suspended. Routes 410, 411 and 412 in Niles will operate on adjusted schedules beginning on Tuesday, Skogsbakken said.
Pace is recommending that riders reconsider unnecessary travel, give other riders space on buses, wash their hands, and stay home if they are sick.
Other transit agencies also are seeing big ridership drops, with the CTA down 70% from normal weekdays and Metra down 90%. Transit agencies are looking for federal and state help with operating revenues, to make up for fare losses.
mwisniewsk@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Free toilet paper with your pizza? North suburban restaurants get creative while worrying about surv

Free toilet paper with your pizza? North suburban restaurants get creative while worrying about surviving coronavirus pandemic

“ I think we should be closed ( along with everyone ) , but we don ’ t have the @ @ @ @ @ ” Durning said .
“ ( Closing down ) has shown to be the world @ @ @ @ @ this down .
...
Sometimes , medicine doesn ’ t taste good .
I just @ @ @ @ @ kill the patient .
”

As people scrambled at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to gobble up toilet paper and other household items, John Durning was witnessing the action firsthand inside a grocery store when an idea struck him.
As the owner of Pizzeria DeVille in Libertyville, one of the many restaurants in Lake County affected by the state order that prohibits customers from dining in, Durning was split with the task of showing solidarity with his community while figuring out how to run a successful business during an unprecedented time.
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Through that line of thinking, he came up with an idea that he thought would generate business while also provide customers with some extra assistance. With toilet paper flying off store shelves as restaurants started to adapt to the state order, he decided on a new promotion to give customers a roll of toilet paper with every takeout order.
“When I saw the madness that was going on (in the grocery store), we started taking out individually rolled toilet paper from our vendors,” Durning said. “We decided, ‘Let’s give everyone a roll of toilet paper.’”
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He since has expanded on the idea amid the spread of COVID-19, offering help to those who need grocery items delivered or need a grocery shopping trip done all together.
As the coronavirus pandemic enters its third week, Durning and other restaurant owners throughout the northern suburbs, including communities that rely heavily on the food service industry, have been forced to come up with creative solutions to a situation that has required residents throughout Illinois to stay inside their homes for the foreseeable future.
Since the state order prohibiting customers from dining inside restaurants took effect March 16, some suburban restaurants also say they either have shut their doors completely, or reduced hours or cut staff as they struggle to survive. Others have said they found success with adapting to a new world order.
Michael Holleb, who owns the Claim Company of Vernon Hills, said the restaurant is limping along trying to keep its doors open especially since the business is within Hawthorn Mall, which shut down March 19 until further notice as part of the ongoing effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Carryout and delivery at the Claim Company only represents about 10% of the restaurant’s normal business, making the transition to regroup challenging, he said.
Few pedestrians were out and about March 19 along a stretch of downtown Libertyville that is home to many restaurants. A few days before, a state order that prohibited customers from dining in at restaurants took effect amid the coronavirus outbreak. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)
Holleb said the restaurant is open about four hours a day now to try and earn some revenue and keep the brand out there. Only a handful of his staff have been working within the restaurant, as well, which employs about 50 people, he said.
“We’ve come to a crashing halt,” Holleb said. “It’s devastating.”
Michael Paulsen, owner and chef of Abigail’s American Bistro in Highland Park, said the restaurant has been in survival mode. His goal has been to keep as many employees working as financially feasible and just hunker down.
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At the beginning of the state order, he said business activity started slow but since has picked up substantially. Given the nature of the coronavirus crisis, he said he has been thankful for the support of customers.
“The response of the community ordering, it was basically all my kitchen could handle,” Paulsen said. “I had a complete staff. ... Not having a playbook for this, I’m encouraged and optimistic.”
Lauretta’s Italian Bake Shop and Café in Mundelein also has seen good days during the pandemic, but the costs of the public health crisis have included drastically cutting hours and staff.
Owner Lori Jozwiak said the restaurant now has entered a different kind of busy now, adding how the restaurant has not been adversely affected financially by the state’s closing order because of customers looking to stock up.
“If we had to look at the numbers, they probably are a little bit better,” she said. “The type of food we have … can be frozen. So, our customers have been stocking their freezers with our sauces and our entrees.”
But location also plays a factor. She said the business’ other location in Highwood is encountering more challenges with keeping pace financially.
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Suburban chambers of commerce and community economic panels also have been looking to help businesses stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many local chamber organizations throughout Lake County have information on their websites and social media pages about how to support local restaurants and businesses.
The Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills (GLMV) Chamber of Commerce held a conference call earlier in the month with restaurants to brainstorm ways the organization could assist, such as helping restaurants with posting delivery information and advertising online.
Scott Adams, president of the chamber, said the assistance has led to positive upswings for some restaurants.
“(The assistance) is helping,” Adams said. “I don’t know that it’s helping all restaurants.”
Beyond the businesses, Adams said the chamber’s other concern is restaurant employees who may have to go without pay for the foreseeable future.
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To help address the issue, the chamber has been posting information on nursing homes that need food service help, so furloughed and laid-off employees at restaurants earn some extra money.
A business in downtown Libertyville promotes its delivery options during the coronavirus pandemic that has forced residents to stay inside their homes. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)
Chamber and local economic officials throughout the northern suburbs generally have mixed reactions regarding the level of optimism among restaurants and businesses during the pandemic. While some talk about the camaraderie on display between the community and their businesses, others say problems are swelling.
Ginny Glasner, president and CEO of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement the situation has slowed consumer spending, causing ramifications within local economies.
“The business community is taking a devastating hit,” Glasner said. “Consumer spending makes up nearly 70% of the United States economy, and it has come to a screeching halt. This has resulted in businesses facing large layoffs, a lack of demand, and a loss of revenue.”
With the possibility of the ongoing effects of the pandemic lasting months into the future, restaurants like Holleb’s have voiced concerns about staying open long term. Many businesses have said they’ve found themselves weighing how long it will be feasible for them to stay open both financially and for safety reasons.
Even Durning has expressed concerns with keeping his pizza place open in downtown Libertyville, saying he would close if he could afford to do so.
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“I think we should be closed (along with everyone), but we don’t have the resources to do that,” Durning said. “(Closing down) has shown to be the world’s medicine to slow this down. ... Sometimes, medicine doesn’t taste good. I just hope it doesn’t kill the patient.”
An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the owner of Pizzeria DeVille. The story has been corrected. Pioneer Press regrets the error.
jnorman@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-23--Winnetka resident injuried in apartment fire

Winnetka firefighters responded to a fire alarm call for service around 7:30 p.m. Friday evening for a report of a @ @ @ @ @ in the 800 block of Elm Street .
They were met by a resident who @ @ @ @ @ living room was on fire , ” Winnetka Fire Chief Alan Berkowsky said .

A Winnetka resident was injured in a Friday night apartment fire in the village’s downtown, authorities said.
Winnetka firefighters responded to a fire alarm call for service around 7:30 p.m. Friday evening for a report of a fire at an apartment building in the 800 block of Elm Street. They were met by a resident who stated that, “his living room was on fire,” Winnetka Fire Chief Alan Berkowsky said.
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Observing black smoke coming from an apartment window, the crew found a working fire on the third floor and quickly extinguished the blaze, Berkowsky said.
“The Firefighters were able to make a quick stop,” Berkowsky said. “Another two or three minutes and the apartment would have flashed over causing a major fire and most likely causing significant damage to neighboring apartments and businesses below.”
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The occupant of the third-floor unit was transported to Evanston Hospital where he was treated for facial injuries. Fire damage to his apartment has caused an estimated loss of $25,000, Berkowsky said.
Three other apartment doors were forced open to check for occupancy and fire damage, but the only uninhabitable unit in the building is the unit where the fire started, Berkowsky said.
The fire remains under investigation.
kcullotta@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kcullotta