chicagotribune--2020-01-17--CTA plans upcoming closures for three North Side Red Line stations

During new station and track construction , the CTA has to run Red and Purple Line trains on two tracks @ @ @ @ @ it can rebuild two tracks at a time , Chase said .
To do that @ @ @ @ @ switches to the tracks to allow trains to safely move over .

Passengers on the platform at the Bryn Mawr CTA "L" Red Line station on Dec. 11, 2018. The Bryn Mawr station is one of the stations set to close Jan. 24 through the following Monday for track and signal construction. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Starting next week, the CTA plans several weekend closures of three North Side Red Line stations to prepare for the massive $2.1 billion Red and Purple Line modernization project.
The agency said track and signal construction will require closing the Granville, Thorndale and Bryn Mawr stations Friday, Jan. 24, at 10 p.m., through the following Monday at 4 a.m. More service changes along the line will take place nearly all weekends through the spring, CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase said.
Advertisement
“Nearly every weekend, we’ll be doing preparatory track work ahead of starting new station and track construction,” Chase said.
Shuttle buses will provide service between the Loyola and Berwyn stations, stopping near the affected Red Line stations, the CTA said. The agency canceled a planned closure for this weekend because of high winds.
Advertisement
Chase said the CTA needs to close the stations for track work before it can begin building new stations at Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr and replacing century-old track structure.
During new station and track construction, the CTA will have to run Red and Purple Line trains on two tracks instead of four, so it can rebuild two tracks at a time, Chase said. To do that, it needs to add switches to the tracks to allow trains to safely move over.
On weekends that the CTA does not close stations, it will reduce service between Howard and Wilson so that trains will not stop between those stations in one direction, either northbound or southbound, depending on what is needed to do the work, Chase said.
These are known as “back ride” closings, because if you are going northbound to, say, Loyola and trains aren’t stopping northbound, you will have to ride up to Howard and then ride back on a southbound train to get to your stop.
Other work in 2020 will include building temporary rail stations at Argyle and Bryn Mawr.
The four stations to be rebuilt as part of the project — Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr — will close for construction in either late 2020 or early 2021. When they close, the temporary stations will immediately open, CTA officials say.
The Red and Purple Line modernization is the biggest project in the CTA’s history.
The CTA is also digging 70-foot holes in the Lakeview area to build foundations for a bypass that will run northbound Brown Line trains up and over Red and Purple Line tracks north of Belmont station. The agency said this bypass will relieve a notorious bottleneck, and provide better service up and down the line.
Advertisement
mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Residents in Hinsdale, Western Springs meet to share concerns with 5G technology

“ The safety guidelines for this technology were written in 1996 and apply to 2G , not the proposed 5G @ @ @ @ @ who is one of the founders of the Hinsdale group , told the audience during @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We know nothing about the safety of this new technology .
”

Area residents gathered at the Community House in Hinsdale to share concerns with emerging 5G technology. (Diane Dachota / Pioneer Press)
Residents from Hinsdale and Western Springs who have been concerned about the arrival of 5G technology recently gathered together to brainstorm ways to stop cellphone antennas from being built in their towns.
Some residents have said the equipment poses health concerns and could diminish their property values — issues that prompted the formation of a “Stop 5G” Hinsdale group. Western Springs residents have raised similar issues with village officials.
Advertisement
Hinsdale and Western Springs were some of the communities in the Chicago area selected for early implementation of the 5G technology following a 2018 law in Illinois that allowed providers to install equipment for 5G network capabilities in local communities.
“The safety guidelines for this technology were written in 1996 and apply to 2G, not the proposed 5G," Paige Glendinning, who is one of the founders of the Hinsdale group, told the audience during the community meeting Jan. 15. “We know nothing about the safety of this new technology.”
Advertisement
Glendinning also talked about the concerns with decreasing property values if 5G antennas are installed near homes, citing a recent survey from the National Institute of Science, Law and Public Policy that stated how 94% of respondents would pay less for a property near a cell tower or cell antenna.
The group then shared a video presentation made by Frank Clegg, former president of Microsoft Canada, sharing his own concerns with health issues posed by 5G technology.
Dr. Fariha Dipasquale, a local gynecologist and obstetrician, also explained the possible risks of 5G to humans and animals. She said studies of the type of radiation used in cellphones has shown it can create a stress response to the body, leading to diseases and behavioral and neurological changes.
“The height of these towers and the number of the planned installations will mean we will be exposed at a direct level to our bodies and our brains,” Dipasquale said.
Western Springs resident Jack Stanley said there are too many unknowns with the technology, adding how the 2018 law was backed heavily by cellphone companies.
He encouraged residents to stop the installation of the technology in both communities by writing their legislators in Springfield and letting their local officials know they want the process to be halted.
“We will be the ones paying for this with lower property values, which will cause tax increases as less money will be coming into our communities,” Stanley said.
Hinsdale Village President Thomas Cauley, who attended the meeting, said Hinsdale officials have been working with neighboring village managers to examine ways they can stop the process at the local level.
Advertisement
Cauley said Hinsdale has not received any applications for equipment installation and they’re working with a lobbyist to represent the village’s concerns. But he said the law may be difficult to change, requiring local officials to work within the existing framework.
Western Springs Village President Alice Gallagher, who also attended the meeting, said she believes residents who reach out directly to their state lawmakers can have a greater influence on changing the process.
The village also plans to keep residents informed of any new developments, she said.
“We were the first community to receive an application and we denied it because the information was incomplete," Gallagher said. “The company then withdrew the application. We will keep our website up to date with the latest information on 5G.”
Diane Dachota is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Former White Sox ace Jack McDowell says the team used a camera to steal signs in the late 1980s

“ I ’ ve never said anything about the old system we had because once we got to New Comiskey @ @ @ @ @ I didn ’ t know if there was one or not , ” McDowell said @ @ @ @ @ that we had one , but it wasn ’ t as out there as the @ @ @ @ @ they forced the pitcher who was pitching the next day to go in there and @ @ @ @ @ and stuff . ''

Former White Sox ace Jack McDowell said during a radio interview Friday that the team had a sign-stealing system involving a camera at Comiskey Park.
“We had a system at Old Comiskey Park in the late ’80s, Gatorade sign out in right-center had a light, there was a toggle switch in the manager’s office and a camera zoomed in on the catcher,” McDowell told WFNZ-AM in Charlotte, N.C.
Advertisement
“I’m gonna whistleblow this now because I’m getting tired of this crap. ... Tony La Russa is the one who put it in. He was also the head, the first team of all the people doing steroids (referring to La Russa’s time as Athletics manager). Yet he’s still in the game making half a million, you know? No one is going to go after that. It’s just, this stuff is getting old where they target certain guys and let other people off the hook.
“Like the media doesn’t know that this all happened, what was going on. Everybody knows, everybody that’s been around the game knows all this stuff. Why all of a sudden it became a big thing, I have no idea. But it’s frustrating being on the outside and watching what’s going on with the game that I played for so long.”
Advertisement
La Russa — who joined the Angels in November as senior adviser of baseball operations — managed the Sox from 1979 to ’86. McDowell pitched for the Sox from 1987 to ’94 and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1993.
ESPN reported the Angels did not respond to a request for a comment from La Russa.
“I’ve never said anything about the old system we had because once we got to New Comiskey (in 1991), I didn’t know if there was one or not,” McDowell said. “There were rumors that we had one, but it wasn’t as out there as the first one was, where they forced the pitcher who was pitching the next day to go in there and flip on the toggle switch and stuff."
McDowell, who is head coach at Queens University of Charlotte, spoke in the aftermath of a week in which three major-league managerial positions opened in the fallout of the Astros sign-stealing scandal.
The Astros fired manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow on Monday. The Red Sox and manager Alex Cora “mutually agreed to part ways” Tuesday. Cora was the bench coach for the 2017 Astros. The Mets and manager Carlos Beltran also parted Thursday. Beltran played for the ’17 Astros.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--25 people apply to be Chicago’s next top cop — most of them from outside CPD

Earlier this week , the board said 23 candidates applied for the job this time around .
But on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ board accepted two more applications it received in the mail after the 5 p.m. Monday @ @ @ @ @ were originally scheduled for delivery before the deadline , he said .

Chicago Police Board President Ghian Foreman, second from left, at a board meeting on Jan. 16, 2020, discussed the demographic breakdown of Chicago's top cop applicants: Fewer than half of them either currently work for the Police Department or once spent much of their law enforcement career there. (Jeremy Gorner / Chicago Tribune)
Fewer than half of the people vying to become Chicago’s next top cop currently work for its Police Department or once spent much of their law enforcement career there, a city official said Thursday night.
Chicago Police Board President Ghian Foreman disclosed the demographic breakdown of the 25 people who applied for the job, a pool that included mostly white and African American candidates and an overwhelming number of men.
Advertisement
Eleven of the 25 applicants either currently work for the Chicago Police Department or “spent a significant amount of their career” there, Foreman said at the board’s monthly meeting at police headquarters. The other 14 applicants work outside of Chicago.
In a statement earlier this week, Foreman indicated the board received applications from around the country to lead the nation’s second largest police force.
Advertisement
During the Thursday night meeting, Foreman said 21 of the applicants were men and four were women. He also said 13 applicants were white, 11 were African American and one was Latino.
The names of the applicants were not disclosed. But Foreman and the eight other board members were now tasked with reviewing the applications, interviewing the candidates and presenting Mayor Lori Lightfoot with three finalists for her consideration.
The names of finalists will be released publicly before Lightfoot chooses one of them as her next superintendent within a few months.
In 2016, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel bypassed the Police Board’s three finalists and had the City Council pass a special ordinance to allow him to hire Eddie Johnson as his superintendent, though he didn’t apply for the job. Lightfoot, who was Police Board president at that time, has pledged to make her selection based on the board’s finalists.
Earlier this week, the board said 23 candidates applied for the job this time around. But on Thursday night, Foreman said the board accepted two more applications it received in the mail after the 5 p.m. Monday deadline. The two applications were originally scheduled for delivery before the deadline, he said.
In December 2015, 39 candidates applied to be superintendent when the job was last open. That was after then-police Superintendent Garry McCarthy’s firing as part of the fallout of the Laquan McDonald shooting scandal.
This time, the board opened the application process Nov. 21 after Johnson announced plans to retire by the end of the year. Lightfoot announced his temporary successor would be former Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck.
But that all changed Dec. 2 when Lightfoot abruptly fired Johnson, saying he had intentionally misled her about his conduct after a late weeknight out in October when he was found asleep in his running vehicle near his South Side home. Beck flew in from LA that afternoon to run the department until Lightfoot announces a permanent successor to Johnson.
Advertisement
jgorner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Former Steinmetz College Prep student arrested after entering school a second time, prompting chase

Former Steinmetz College Prep student arrested after entering school a second time, prompting chase and lockdown, police say

A former student who entered Steinmetz College Prep carrying a plastic container with ‘ unknown contents ’ which prompted the @ @ @ @ @ showed up there again on Friday afternoon , causing police to chase and arrest him @ @ @ @ @ , police said .

A former student who entered Steinmetz College Prep carrying a plastic container with ‘unknown contents’ which prompted the school to go on lockdown showed up there again on Friday afternoon, causing police to chase and arrest him in the Belmont Central neighborhood, police said.
The situation began about 10 a.m. when a teacher recognized a former student who was walking in the hallway carrying a plastic container resembling Tupperware with some “unknown contents’’ in it, said Chicago police spokeswoman Karie James.
Advertisement
The teacher alerted a security officer, and the school, 3030 N. Mobile Ave., went on lockdown.
The man ended up leaving on his own without incident, before police arrived, and the lockdown was lifted at 11:53 a.m., James said.
Advertisement
At some point later, police were notified the same man had been on aboard a bus on Fullerton Avenue when another passenger became concerned.
“He kind of scared her,’’ said James.
Then, about 12:45 p.m. another incidnet occurred involving the same man, who may suffer from mental issues.
He returned to the school property about 12:45 p.m. and when police tried to approach him, he fled.
"There was a foot chase and then the former student was placed into custody for trespassing in the 6300 block of West Fletcher Street,'' James said in an email.
The Fletcher Street address is a short distance from the school.
No injuries were reported.
A school representative was not available immediately.
Advertisement
rsobol@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Niles hires new director to lead economic development in village

In his new role , Melaniphy , who has headed Wheeling ’ s department of economic development for the last @ @ @ @ @ responsible for growing the number of businesses in Niles , exploring redevelopment opportunities in the @ @ @ @ @ help retain businesses , and directing the village ’ s marketing and business development initiatives @ @ @ @ @ description provided by village .

John Melaniphy has been hired as the new director of economic development for the village of Niles. (Village of Niles / HANDOUT)
After a nearly fourth-month vacancy in its department of economic development, the village of Niles is getting a new director.
The village has announced that John Melaniphy,director of economic development for the village of Wheeling, will be joining Niles on Jan. 28.
Advertisement
In his new role, Melaniphy, who has headed Wheeling’s department of economic development for the last six years, will be responsible for growing the number of businesses in Niles, exploring redevelopment opportunities in the community, developing programs to help retain businesses, and directing the village’s marketing and business development initiatives, according to a job description provided by village.
Melaniphy will receive an annual salary of $140,000, said Mitchell Johnson, spokesman for the village of Niles. He replaces Ross Klicker, the village’s previous coordinator of economic development, who took a job with the village of Brookfield last October.
Advertisement
“John comes to us with a wealth of experience in the field of economic development and is well-respected throughout the region,” said Niles Village Manager Steve Vinezeano in a statement. “We look forward to his many contributions to the growth of the village.”
According to the village’s announcement of Melaniphy’s hiring, during his time with Wheeling, more than $300 million in new development occurred within the community, including the Wheeling Town Center, a “transit-oriented” development of retail, restaurants and 300 residential apartments near the Wheeling Metra station; Northgate Crossing, a luxury apartment development; and Uptown 500, another retail and residential development at Dundee Road and Northgate Parkway.
Niles, too, is exploring a mixed-use, transit-oriented development of apartments, restaurants and entertainment businesses along Touhy Avenue, east of Lehigh Avenue. Additionally, a plan for revamping Golf Mill Park in partnership with the Niles Park District was recently shared with the community, and in November, the Village Board approved the purchase of a former gas station at Milwaukee Avenue and Waukegan Road for possible redevelopment.
Prior to joining Wheeling, Melaniphy worked for Melaniphy and Associates, a family-owned company specializing in retail and restaurant consulting. He has also worked for Mid-America Development Partners and the village of Arlington Heights, according to the village of Niles.
jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Cops: Driver of pickup had medical emergency before crashing into Starbucks in McHenry, injuring 5.

Cops: Driver of pickup had medical emergency before crashing into Starbucks in McHenry, injuring 5. Employee upgraded from critical to fair condition.

About 4:40 p.m. , the man ’ s “ full-size ” Ram left the roadway east of the intersection of @ @ @ @ @ traveling west on Elm .
The vehicle continued west while off the roadway and crashed @ @ @ @ @ the Starbucks after striking a vehicle in the drive-thru .

McHenry police officers and firefighters process the scene of an incident involving a pickup truck that crashed into a Starbucks on Jan. 16, 2020, in McHenry County. Five people were injured at the scene. (Joe Shuman / For the Chicago Tribune)
The driver of a pickup truck that crashed into a McHenry Starbucks Thursday afternoon had a medical emergency that led to the crash that injured himself and four others, McHenry police said.
The 53-year-old Lakemoor man was not cited or charged after the crash at the shop at 4305 W. Elm St., police said in a news release Friday. Police did not disclose the nature of the emergency.
Advertisement
About 4:40 p.m., the man’s “full-size” Ram left the roadway east of the intersection of Elm and Oak Drive after traveling west on Elm. The vehicle continued west while off the roadway and crashed into the northeast corner of the Starbucks after striking a vehicle in the drive-thru.
Four people were taken to nearby hospitals and one person was treated at the scene. Fire and rescue personnel extricated one patient from under the vehicle, police said.
Advertisement
A 21-year-old Starbucks employee was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, but has since been upgraded to fair condition. He is now being held for observation at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where he was taken by helicopter Thursday.
A second Starbucks employee, the driver of the Ram and the driver of an SUV were taken to Northwestern Medicine Hospital McHenry for minor injuries.
McHenry officials are assessing the damage to the building.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Manager at Glenview plastic surgery clinic charged with stealing $184,000 from business

However , it took “ a long time ” — over a year and half — to find the paper @ @ @ @ @ to make an arrest , which is typical in financial crime cases , Foley said @

Julietta Guliano was charged with stealing $184,000 in cash payments from a Glenview plastic surgery center. (Glenview Police Department)
A former manager at a Glenview plastic surgery center was charged Tuesday with stealing $184,000 in cash payments from the business over a period of three years.
Julietta Guliano, 45, of the 9700 block of Harold Avenue, Schiller Park, was charged Tuesday with felony theft and forgery after being accused of stealing from the Glenview office of MetropolitanMD, a Chicago-area cosmetic and plastic surgery center.
Advertisement
The investigation began in May 2018 when an employee reported missing deposit slips. Guliano was a suspect early on in the investigation, as she had access to the deposits, Glenview police Sgt. Jim Foley said.
However, it took “a long time” — over a year and half — to find the paper trail and gather the evidence to make an arrest, which is typical in financial crime cases, Foley said.
Advertisement
“It was discovered she was a suspect almost initially,” Foley said. “But we had to prove documentation.”
It was an internal theft, so no clients’ money was stolen, Foley said.
He explained that Guliano stole the money in smaller amounts over time from 2015 to 2018, being a “long term” employee of the clinic.
Representatives of MetropolitanMD were not immediately available for comment.
Guliano appearing in bond court Friday in Skokie and was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond, according to Glenview police.
She could not be immediately reached for comment.
Guliano is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 6.
akim@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Column: David Ross is OK with being called ‘Rossy,’ ‘Skip,’ even ‘Grandpa.’ But the new Cubs manager

Column: David Ross is OK with being called ‘Rossy,’ ‘Skip,’ even ‘Grandpa.’ But the new Cubs manager wants to be known as more than ‘Theo’s guy.’

As Piniella said on that March day in 2007 : `` You never know what to expect when you come @ @ @ @ @ as positive as you can ( be ) , and rightfully so .
Then reality @ @ @ @ @ face a little bit , and you have to adjust to it accordingly .
”

Newly hired Cubs managers tend to come in two categories: realists and optimists.
A few weeks into his first spring training in 2007, Lou Piniella declared “this is no push-button operation, I can tell you that.” During his opening news conference as Cubs manager in November 2014, Joe Maddon predicted he would be “talking playoffs next year.”
Advertisement
Both were right, and despite their yin-and-yang approaches to the job, Piniella and Maddon became the two most successful Cubs managers in several decades.
So where will David Ross fit in?
Advertisement
His stated belief the 2020 Cubs can win the World Series seems to put him in the optimists club. But who knows how he’ll feel if the team that collapsed in September comes out of the gate in similar fashion in March and April.
As Piniella said on that March day in 2007: "You never know what to expect when you come in. You come in as positive as you can (be), and rightfully so. Then reality starts hitting you in the face a little bit, and you have to adjust to it accordingly.”
Reality hit the Cubs in the face in 2019, opening the door to the Ross era.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 94 Cubs manager David Ross yells at the home-plate umpire after a strike call against Jake Marisnick in the ninth inning against the Brewers on April 24, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
As Ross prepared to be introduced to fans at the Cubs Convention on Friday night, one thing appeared obvious: He was the right choice for President Theo Epstein, who is navigating the club through a tenuous time and needs a compadre in the manager’s seat.
That doesn’t mean Ross will do everything in lockstep with Epstein, and Epstein said one of Ross’s strengths is a willingness to tell his bosses they’re wrong. But when things get crazy, as they inevitably will with the Cubs, it’s comforting for Epstein to know he can count on “Rossy” to keep things in perspective for panicky fans and media wags.
Ross is off to a strong start, showing Thursday he’s ready to challenge media assumptions about his team, which won only 84 games last year and returns most of the same players, barring a Kris Bryant trade.
Instead of the usual interview session with reporters at a charity event, Ross turned it into a mini-debate.
One reporter questioned Ross’s unwavering faith in this team, mentioning the Cubs’ pitching issues.
Advertisement
“You don’t think there’s enough pitching?” Ross replied, listing off the returning starters and Tyler Chatwood. “We’ve got a lot of options. What don’t you like? What don’t you think we’ve got enough of?”
The bullpen was the obvious response.
“Yeah, there’s a lot of turnover in the bullpen,” Ross said. “I don’t think we’re going to win or lose the division out of the bullpen. We’ve got Brandon Morrow coming back, which is super important if he’s able to be an impactful guy like he’s been the past. He’s healthy ...”
The reporter noted that questions about Morrow remain because of his long-running health issues.
“Of course, but there are questions with everybody,” Ross said, laughing. “There are questions with me.”
Ross’s relationship with the media helps with a smooth transition from Maddon. He already knows the local mob and enjoys the back-and-forth, much like Maddon.
Advertisement
But he also knows he will be under a microscope in Year 1 because he has no managerial experience and because some always will consider him “Theo’s guy.”
His reputation as fun-loving “Grandpa Rossy” from the 2015-16 Cubs teams, along with his celebrity status from being a “Dancing with the Stars” contestant, puts even more pressure on Ross to prove he was the right choice to replace Maddon.
One thing Ross may need to ditch is the “Grandpa” thing, though that’s probably easier said than done.
“I don’t want to be ‘Grandpa,’ right?” Ross replied. “ ‘Rossy’ is good. ‘Skip.’ Fans can call me whatever they want. I’m sure there will be some names that I’ll like ‘Grandpa’ a lot better.”
Chicago Tribune Sports Weekdays A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
When a reporter advised Ross to dye his gray-flecked beard to look younger, Ross said that wasn’t an option.
Advertisement
“If I ‘Just For Men’ it, then it’s like you’re fake, you’re not real,” he said. “You’ve got to be real with yourself. This is who I am. I’ve got the crow’s feet from smiling too much. I told (Anthony) Rizzo I’m getting the coaching body; the boiler is starting to poke out a little bit. I realize I’m sitting at a desk too much, looking at a computer.
“But whatever they want to call me (is OK). A bunch of the guys walk by the office and say, ‘What’s up, Skip.’ It makes me smile every time. (Call me) Grandpa Rossy, Skip, David …”
Ross thought about it for a second. Forget about calling him David.
“I don’t think anybody calls me David,” he said. “If you call me David, you don’t know me.”
The Ross era is off and running.
Rest assured, attention will be paid.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Metra tells customers to make sure they pay their fare — or risk being booted off the train

Derwinski said the increased fare collection is partly an effort to gather data to present to the board , as @ @ @ @ @ in new fare-collection technology .
Derwinski said Metra is planning to replace some vending machines @ @ @ @ @ security features and also is looking at machines that take cash .

Metra put leaflets on trains Friday morning to remind customers to pay their fare or risk being booted off the train.
Leaflets placed on seats on the commuter railroad told riders that there would be “stepped-up efforts by Metra staff this year to make sure everyone is paying what they should be paying.”
Advertisement
Metra also reminded riders that if a customer does not produce a paper or mobile ticket or refuses to pay the fare on board with cash or via the Ventra app, “Metra may remove that customer from the train and police may issue citations for state and/or county offenses,” the leaflet said.
The railroad said Metra police will be complementing the efforts of conductors to validate fare collection. Metra CEO Jim Derwinski said the railroad has added more conductors to help with the collection effort. Metra also will be posting signs throughout the system about fare compliance and potential penalties.
Advertisement
Derwinski said the increased fare collection is partly an effort to gather data to present to the board, as the railroad prepares to invest in new fare-collection technology. Derwinski said Metra is planning to replace some vending machines with devices with the latest security features and also is looking at machines that take cash.
“We’re listening to our conductors and conductors on other systems,” Derwinski said.
Flyers on every seat of my train this morning. https://t.co/KvnxJSkhzH pic.twitter.com/Io6nNuHK2W — Peter Kendall (@pkendalltribune) January 17, 2020
Derwinski said Metra wants to reduce the number of cash transactions on trains that slow conductors and prevent them from verifying other fares. Metra hopes to eventually eliminate cash transactions from trains. Derwinski said Metra staff will bring new fare collection data to the Metra board in two or three months.
The CTA uses turnstiles and a “tap-on” card system to help make sure people can’t get on the train unless they pay. But Derwinski said this would be not be “feasible” at Metra, which has 242 different train stations.
Metra does not have an estimate of how much it loses on fare evasion, said spokesman Michael Gillis. Customers have complained that when trains are crowded, not all fares are collected, which is unfair to those who pay.
mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Commentary: ‘She’s in a better place.’ ‘It was God’s will.’ And other things you shouldn’t say or do

Commentary: ‘She’s in a better place.’ ‘It was God’s will.’ And other things you shouldn’t say or do when someone dies. Here’s how to console properly.

I am writing a lot of sympathy cards these days .
If you are middle-aged like me , chances are @ @ @ @ @ even if you ’ re not , you may have experienced the death of a @ @ @ @ @ and unfair death from an accident , suicide or violence .
My father ’ s @ @ @ @ @ was the first major upset to my world .
But it also revealed the truly @ @ @ @ @ consolation and primed me for an avocation of doing the same for others .
Here @ @ @ @ @ ve learned about the art of consolation .

Share something positive the bereaved might not know about their loved one. (Miodrag Ignjatovic/Getty)
I am writing a lot of sympathy cards these days. If you are middle-aged like me, chances are you are too. And even if you’re not, you may have experienced the death of a parent or perhaps an untimely and unfair death from an accident, suicide or violence. My father’s death when I was 23 was the first major upset to my world. But it also revealed the truly humane ways people can provide consolation and primed me for an avocation of doing the same for others. Here’s what I’ve learned about the art of consolation.
Just listen
Loss is universal. Chances are you, too, have lost a loved one, and you surely empathize; but for now, just listen.
Advertisement
Don’t talk more than the bereaved. People need to tell their stories. Hopefully you had the chance to do so at the time of your loss. If not, or you still need to, then talk to others who are not so raw or still reeling from their own loss. Join a bereavement group.
“We don’t allot much space to grieve in this culture,” says Leslie Wolowitz, a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist in Chicago. “Someone else’s grief may present itself then as an opportunity to share grief stories, but for someone who’s freshly experienced a loss, that may feel intrusive or competitive.”
Advertisement
Avoid trite expressions
My father’s sudden death elicited many comforting and straightforward responses. The grandmother of a friend said simply, “This is terrible!” which touched me with its directness.
However, my mother’s death four years ago at age 84 after a clash with cancer engendered some pat phrases that made me bristle:
“At least your mother’s death wasn’t tragic.” (All deaths are tragic for the bereaved.)
“At least she is not suffering anymore.” (True, but I am.)
Others shared with me some expressions that did not sit well with them:
“She’s in a better place.”
“It was God’s will.”
“But he lived a long life!”
Advertisement
“Your brother would not want you to be sad!”
And this whopper: “Welcome to the widows’ club.”
Though they may be well intended, they still feel like platitudes.
Don’t say there are no words
We’re often at a loss for words. This is understandable; few of us are wordsmiths. But we should rise to the task. Don’t say or write, “There are no words.” Find some.
And if you can’t, borrow someone else’s thoughtful and wise words or poems. Send a quote from the Bible, but not to someone who is not religious.
“If you are struggling,” says Pastor Chris Butler, who has been leading the Chicago Embassy Church in Hyde Park for over three years, “say, ‘I am struggling to find the words but want you to know I am thinking of you and holding you close in my thoughts to support you.’”
Advertisement
Cut people some slack
In the days following my father’s funeral, I accompanied my mother on many errands. She would tell each merchant we visited, “I buried my husband on Tuesday.” I remember feeling embarrassed, until, fast forward 30 years, it was I sharing my sorrow about her death with the world. I could have worn a T-shirt that read, “I just lost my mother,” to explain the pain I was sure I emitted.
In the weeks following her father’s death, my friend Libby referred to herself as a menace to society. “My old friends knew me well enough to know that I am usually an optimistic, even cheerful person, and so they could tread lightly around me, forgive me for my gloom and impatience with everyone,” she said.
Don’t diminish a pet’s death
I don’t mean to be flippant by bringing up pets, but the many unhelpful things people say hit home again two years ago when my dog died.
One friend offered to “put it in perspective for me,” with the story of a recent death of a young man. And there were others who shared their own dying dog stories, blow by blow, while I was still raw from the pain of losing our companion of almost 13 years.
Of course a human’s death is more significant than a pet’s. But the most humane thing one can do is to listen without trying to mediate.
Write or talk about what you know
Share something positive the bereaved might not know about their loved one.
Advertisement
My father’s last employer was a small company where he worked just a few months. After his death, a few co-workers paid us a condolence call while my family was sitting shiva. “Your father would crack us up with his jokes,” they said. I wondered if they were at the right house. My father had suffered from depression. It comforted me to have this fresh memory of my dad entertaining his co-workers with the dry wit that I knew he had, but hadn’t witnessed in years.
I remembered this when I was writing a note to an acquaintance, Alice. Her late husband had been a teacher at my sons’ preschool. Because of him, my sons benefitted from a music program he introduced. I told her I attributed their musical passion to him, that this was part of his legacy. She thanked me for making her feel he lived on in his students.
A template for writing a card
1. Express your condolences. Say you are sorry, saddened, devastated, shocked — whatever it is you truly feel — about the death.
2. Don’t use euphemisms for death (passed away, moving on, loss, in a better place).
3. Tell the bereaved something about the deceased that they might not know. Tell them how the person helped you or made an impact on you or made you feel. Be specific.
4. Don’t make a vague offer of help, such as, “If there’s anything I can do, let me know.” Just do something you think will help (bring food, walk the dog).
Advertisement
5. Optionally, make a gift to a charity that will honor the memory of the deceased.
A word about social media
A college friend was widowed last year and shared her grief journey on Facebook. We commented supportively on her posts. I wondered how my mother might have grieved publicly had this medium existed when she was newly widowed.
Butler advises, “Don’t take the lead on social media; follow the lead of the bereaved on social media, as well as in real life.”
There is no statute of limitations on grief
About three months after my mother died, I attended a bereavement group around Mother’s Day with others who were grieving their mothers. Participants ranged in age from 20s to 60s, and our losses were as recent as mine and as far back as a decade.
“For most people, grief doesn’t go away, it just changes,” says Joshua Magariel, national director of Patient Experience at Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care. “One of the things we used to talk a lot more about was the idea of closure, the time to let go, the time to find acceptance. There’s a whole area of expertise within the field of bereavement about continuing bonds. We might say that there is closure for bank accounts, but not for love accounts. Love and relationships are enduring.”
Judith Weinstein is a public health professional and volunteer interpreter at Marjorie Kovler Center, a program of Heartland Alliance International serving survivors of torture and trauma in Chicago.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Are you getting paid for that Instagram post? Companies tap employees to spread more ‘authentic’ mes

Are you getting paid for that Instagram post? Companies tap employees to spread more ‘authentic’ message online.

Mirrored new blue to start this Monday at O'Hare ✈♥ Follow : @ lammdogg_world for even better portraits 😎📸 # @ @ @ @ @ # unitedairlines # myunitedjourney # beingunited # 737 # b737 # ord # united # @ @ @ @ @ # avgeek # avgeeksunite

United baggage handler and in-house photographer Joe Lammerman works on the ramp at O'Hare International Airport on Jan. 15, 2020, in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
When United Airlines baggage handler Joe Lammerman started sharing behind-the-scenes photos taken during quiet moments on the job on social media, the airline didn’t tell him to put the camera down and get back to work.
Instead, it made it part of his job. For the past couple of years, Lammerman, who is based in Chicago, said he’s gone from handling bags to serving as a company photographer. He’s also part of a new group of employees United treats as an in-house team of social media influencers.
Advertisement
Most major companies already have a presence on social media. Many partner with professional influencers hired for their audience. But some are now trying to add their own employees to the mix, whether they’re trying to attract customers, recruit new hires or just boost a brand’s image.
Employees typically have a fraction of the followers a top celebrity influencer would draw. But their posts can feel more authentic than those from an official company account. That authenticity requires companies to give up some control, a potentially nerve-wracking step when a viral misstep can land a company in hot water, fast.
Advertisement
It’s still a relatively new strategy. Companies are used to relying on official marketing and communications teams to build their brand, and most employees think of social networks like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat as personal outlets and don’t regularly use them to talk about work, said Pamela Lirio, associate professor of international human resource management at the University of Montreal.
United baggage handler and in-house photographer Joe Lammerman works on the ramp at O'Hare International Airport on Jan. 15, 2020. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
But that’s a missed opportunity, she said.
“When it’s coming from an employee, it sounds more real,” Lirio said.
Macy’s, for instance, wants employees to show up in customers’ social media feeds alongside fashion, beauty and lifestyle influencers whose posts can drive trends and sales.
More than 1,500 employees are part of its Macy’s Style Crew influencer program, which encourages participants to use personal social media accounts to create content sharing favorite looks, beauty products or other Macy’s merchandise. Posts are tagged with the #macysstylecrew hashtag and can include a link to purchase items featured, but the company is relatively hands-off when it comes to what participants post, said Allison Massie, a visual merchandiser at a Macy’s in Pennsylvania and Style Crew member.
“We’re supposed to highlight our individual, unique style,” said Massie, who takes photos and videos at work with help from a boss or co-worker. One, earlier this month, showed a smiling Massie in black leather pants that she said “make me feel like I can take on anything.”
“They will give guidance if we have questions, but they leave it up to us to post about stuff that’s exciting to us,” she said.
Advertisement
Employees have shared more than 11,000 posts and 2,000 videos on social media since the program launched last year, Randi Rosenfeld, senior director of publishing and Macy’s Style Crew, said in an email. Videos and images are also shown on the Macy’s website.
Posts from Style Crew members can help customers stumble upon products without waiting for them to go to Macy’s website or the mall, Rosenfeld said. The program also helps employees connect with customers one-on-one, whether or not they work in that shopper’s local store, she said.
At Macy’s, employees don’t have to have an established following to participate. United, on the other hand, began experimenting with treating employees as influencers last year because it recognized some already had an audience.
United considered the overall number of followers employees had on social networks like Instagram and Twitter, but also looked for people whose followers tended to be United employees, passengers or people in the aviation industry, said Maggie Schmerin, United’s managing director of social and digital media. The airline also wanted people whose posts were informative and in line with the company’s brand.
Advertisement
Flight attendant Love Fajota, who often posts photos and inspirational messages from her travels has 60,500 Instagram followers; others have fewer than 2,000. The airline considers the roughly 50 employees in its influencer program part of its communications strategy, alongside more traditional tools like official company statements to the news media.
Jaspreet Singh, who works on the airline’s in-flight entertainment systems in Chicago, said posting work-related photos on Instagram came naturally to a lifelong “aviation geek.”
“Even before I started at United, my feed was nothing but airplane photos,” he said.
Earlier this week, he shared a “#TakeoffTuesday” photo of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner taking off in San Francisco. On his four-year anniversary with the company, he posted a selfie with United CEO Oscar Munoz. Other posts feature views from inside the aircraft and destinations he’s visited — along with the occasional cat photo.
Jaspreet Singh, who works on United Airlines' in-flight entertainment systems, is seen Jan. 15, 2020, aboard a jet at O'Hare International airport in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
Still, Singh never thought he was particularly influential until he saw how employees reacted to his posts from an event last fall where United executives highlighted a range of new initiatives at the airline. United invited a handful of employee influencers to attend along with traditional media outlets.
“I got dozens of messages from people on the front lines saying, ‘I didn’t know United was doing this, and it’s cool to get to see it from you,’” he said.
Advertisement
Posts from employees can also help with recruitment by giving outsiders a window into a company’s culture that feels “more authentic” than official statements from the company, Lirio said. Even those who aren’t actively looking might form an impression based on what they see while scrolling through posts.
That authenticity brings some risks. Employees who happily endorsed a company could have a change of heart, and some companies might not be happy to see photos of wild weekend parties alongside those from the office.
Employers can control what workers say on social media accounts owned by the company. But when it comes to personal accounts, they can’t keep workers from criticizing wages or working conditions, and other expectations need to be laid out in advance in policies governing social media use, said Phillip Schreiber, a partner in the Chicago office of law firm Holland & Knight.
Employers also can’t keep workers from taking their personal social media accounts and audience with them when they leave, said Stacey Simricky, an employment attorney with Faegre Baker Daniels.
Advertisement
United and Macy’s said they have social media policies that apply to all employees but otherwise take a hands-off approach with employee influencers, who use their own accounts and don’t need to have posts approved before publishing.
United hasn’t dealt with a situation where an influencer posted something it didn’t like. As long as such a post didn’t violate a companywide social media policy, an influencer wouldn’t be asked to remove it, though the airline would try to use it as a coachable moment, Schmerin said.
Violations of United’s social media policy, such as sharing proprietary information or making defamatory statements, would be handled through normal disciplinary procedures, though Schmerin declined to comment on specific actions the company would take.
Instead of exerting more control over what employees share, Schmerin said the airline handpicked people who were already sharing the kind of comments and images it wanted to highlight.
“It’s about having them be their authentic selves and finding ways to give them more access and a bigger platform,” she said.
Advertisement
Some companies are hesitant to encourage employees to talk up their work on social media without greater sway over what they say, and use services known as employee advocacy platforms that encourage workers to post preapproved content or create their own materials that others at the company can share.
United has an employee advocacy platform available to all employees in addition to the targeted influencer program.
Providing preapproved content can make employees feel more comfortable commenting on the workplace online, said Jody Leon, marketing director at employee advocacy company DSMN8. Some companies offer rewards or prizes as an incentive to take part.
“When the culture is relatively positive, it’s usually not a case where they’re unwilling to share, they’re just unsure what to share,” he said.
It’s not always clear to other social media users how much control the company has over what an employee is posting, which can leave some skeptical.
Amazon has an “Ambassadors” program for fulfillment center employees that “gives the chance for hourly employees to take time out of their day-to-day jobs to share their stories on social media,” Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman said in an email. She did not address questions about how Amazon chooses employees or how much oversight it has over what they post. The company also offers tours of some fulfillment centers and has an Instagram account that sometimes shares employees’ posts about their work.
Advertisement
One Twitter user who identifies herself as a fulfillment center ambassador shared posts showing different types of fulfillment center jobs and workplace safety measures.
But when she responded to a Tweet criticizing Amazon’s treatment of warehouse workers by saying she was buying her first house thanks to increased pay, with the hashtag “#MakingthatMoney," other commenters sounded skeptical.
“Blink twice if you’re being held hostage,” one tweeted.
There’s also a question of whether social media activity should be compensated.
Advertisement
Macy’s Style Crew members have incentives to create engaging content, but the company declined to share specifics. United does not offer compensation for influencers’ online work. Amazon did not address questions about whether it provides compensation.
Employees whose jobs are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act and are entitled to overtime pay could argue they should be compensated for after-hours social media activity, but tracking time spent can be difficult, especially if the employee has a single account for work and personal use, Simricky said.
Some employees say influencer work has benefits beyond financial compensation. Massie, at Macy’s, said she learned to edit photos and videos and create beauty tutorials. Singh said meeting people in a wide range of roles around the airline helped him better understand its operations, something he values since he wants to stay in the industry.
Where some employees see opportunities, others might feel pressure to add another task to the to-do list, especially if they aren’t already social media enthusiasts.
Companies should be wary of building expectations or pressure around employees’ online activity, but that doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from encouraging those who are interested in participating to engage, Lirio said.
“You don’t want to have people who are fantastic ambassadors not being recognized, or being discouraged,” she said.
Advertisement
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Defensive coaching staff shake-up at Illinois sees longtime Lovie Smith assistant Gill Byrd leave th

Defensive coaching staff shake-up at Illinois sees longtime Lovie Smith assistant Gill Byrd leave the program and 2 new hires for the line

“ The Byrd family loves the Smith family , ” Byrd said in a statement .
“ As Christians , @ @ @ @ @ always functioned under the principle that you finish what you started .
Because of the @ @ @ @ @ the family and because of an illness in our family , we believe our time @ @ @ @ @ .

The turnover of Illinois’ defensive coaching staff continued Friday as coach Lovie Smith announced the departure of safeties coach Gill Byrd and the hiring of defensive tackles coach Alfred Davis and defensive ends coach Jimmy Lindsey.
Byrd, a longtime assistant to Smith in the NFL and at Illinois and a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Chargers in the 1990s, became the second defensive coach to leave the staff in the last two weeks, citing a family illness as the reason. Defensive line coach Austin Clark accepted a job last week as the Dolphins outside linebackers coach.
Advertisement
With the additions of Davis and Lindsey, cornerbacks coach Keynodo Hudson will coach all defensive backs next season.
Davis spent the last two seasons at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where he was promoted to associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator. Davis played defensive tackle at Arkansas in 2008-12.
Advertisement
Lindsey, 42, was defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator the last three seasons at Western Kentucky. He also has coached at Gardner-Webb, Miami (Ohio), Tennessee-Martin, Furman and Georgia Southern.
“Jimmy Lindsey and Alfred Davis fit our staff as well as you could hope for,” Smith said in a statement. “Coach Lindsey has coached some outstanding players during his career and is a proven recruiter at each of his previous coaching stops. He has a great reputation in coaching edge rushers and comes highly recommended.
“Coach Davis is a rising star in the coaching world. The work he has already done at an early age is impressive, and we are getting a high-energy coach who also should be an outstanding recruiter.”
Byrd, 58, has been on Smith’s staff for 11 seasons, also serving as cornerbacks coach in 2014-15 with the Buccaneers and spending seven seasons on the Bears staff, most notably as assistant defensive backs and safeties coach. Smith said in a statement that Byrd “is like a brother to me.”
“The Byrd family loves the Smith family,” Byrd said in a statement. “As Christians, my wife and I have always functioned under the principle that you finish what you started. Because of the priority that God places on the family and because of an illness in our family, we believe our time is up here in Champaign-Urbana.
“I would like to thank Lovie and everyone at the University of Illinois for the great time we’ve had while in Champaign-Urbana. The future is bright for both the Byrds and the University of Illinois football program.”
Smith has said he plans to continue operating as the defensive coordinator. In addition to Hudson, Smith’s son Miles returns as linebackers coach.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Ask Amy: Homeowners go nuts over squirrels

Depending on how your neighbors respond , you can simply make it very clear that you are going to do @ @ @ @ @ or relocate this trio .
Say , `` If you are feeding them , we @ @ @ @ @ '' Then , you can take all of the steps you mention .
You should @ @ @ @ @ ( the squirrels , not the neighbors ) and relocating them ( again , the @ @ @ @ @ ) to a far-off habitat .

Dear Amy: We have just moved into a new semi-detached home and have not yet met the neighbor in the adjoining house.
We've noticed that there is a trio of plump and happy squirrels who spend most of their time on a small tree just outside of our window. Our yard and flower beds are constantly littered with hundreds of store-bought peanut shells. It is a disgusting mess.
Advertisement
Amy, there is not a single moment that I've looked out the window and not seen a squirrel on our roof, tree, or lawn, and they almost always have a peanut in their mouth. They are also digging our lawn to bits.
It seems that our wall-sharing neighbor is buying peanuts to feed the squirrels, and by the looks of it, she buys in bulk!
Advertisement
Not only is this making a mess of our lawn, but I am worried about our children picking these up (we have two toddlers).
We were also looking forward to having a large garden in the summer, and although any garden can have its fair share of pests, this is over the top.
I think the neighbor should have to clean up the atrocious mess on our lawn and stop feeding these pests, but having that be our first-ever communication doesn't make for a friendly start.
Should we make a show of if by going out with gloves and garbage bags, trying to cover the tree, and leave squirrel repellent bottles outside? Or do we knock on the door and ask them to stop?! The squirrels are living and feasting exclusively on our side of the lawn!
— Going Nuts in Niagara Falls
Dear Going Nuts: You should introduce yourselves to your neighbors. Ask them about the neighborhood, about trash and recycling pickup, etc.
In the course of your conversation, you should also ask them what they are doing about the squirrel infestation. Ask if these rodents have been scampering across their roof, gnawing on the woodwork, and chewing through their wiring (squirrels love the rubber coating on wiring, by the way).
Depending on how your neighbors respond, you can simply make it very clear that you are going to do everything you can to eradicate or relocate this trio. Say, "If you are feeding them, we hope you will stop." Then, you can take all of the steps you mention. You should also consider trapping these pals (the squirrels, not the neighbors) and relocating them (again, the squirrels, not the neighbors) to a far-off habitat.
Advertisement
Even though they are contributing to it, I don't agree that the neighbors should have to clean up the mess these squirrels leave on your lawn.
Dear Amy: I have three adult children. I raised them to thank people for gifts. Their friends, however, do not.
I have given generously to these young people, for wedding registries, baby showers, etc. A few have thanked me, verbally or in a written note, but from the rest, nothing. This includes gifts that were on a registry, which the recipient clearly indicated they wanted.
A very sweet, kind, well-educated young man told me once that he just didn't acknowledge gifts, even if he likes it. He didn't give me a reason.
My question is: Why?
Email/texting is easy, free, and instantaneous, unlike writing a note and having to pay postage and put it in a mailbox. It seems to be beneath them.
Advertisement
Any ideas?
— The Giver
Dear Giver: I agree with you that thanking people is easier than ever. Simply taking a picture of the item and sending the picture with a texted message of "Thank you!" to the giver is sufficient, in my book.
If someone declares to you that he never thanks people for anything, then I think you should interpret this as a statement that he no longer wants to receive gifts.
I'm not sure if this is a trend; I can assert that this is a perennial frustration for many.
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 Amy: I appreciate your annual column devoted to charities, but yet again you failed to suggest any charities benefitting animals! I find this lack of awareness and concern very upsetting.
Advertisement
— Disappointed AGAIN
Dear Disappointed: As stewards to our animals, we have a duty to do everything we can to protect them. Throughout the year, I advocate for the needs of our animal friends and companions.
I don't have a lack of awareness (and personally donate to my local shelter), but my "giving" column each year focuses on nonprofits that help humans.
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--2020-01-17--4 takeaways from Day 1 of the Cubs Convention, including Albert Almora Jr. keeping close tabs on the

4 takeaways from Day 1 of the Cubs Convention, including Albert Almora Jr. keeping close tabs on the girl injured from his foul ball

“ I ’ ve been blessed with a great circle around me , ” Almora said of the support from @ @ @ @ @ m not going to lie .
It weighed on me for the first couple days @ @ @ @ @ had no choice but to move forward .
I always had that in the back @ @ @ @

The 2020 Cubs Convention kicked off Friday, with fans flocking to the Sheraton Grand Chicago to catch a glimpse of their favorite players at the annual festival. Here are four takeaways from Day 1 of the three-day event.
Advertisement
1. Injured girl remains on Albert Almora Jr.'s mind.
The Cubs center fielder was aware the 2-year-old girl struck by a line drive he hit in a May game against the Astros in Houston has a permanent brain injury and could be on medication for the rest of her life, according to the family attorney.
“My prayers go out to the family,” said Almora, who was visibly shaken at the time of the incident. “It’s unfortunate. Like I said before, that never should happen on a baseball field.”
Advertisement
Major League Baseball’s mandate to extend netting at all major-league parks “had to be done,” said Almora, the father of two young sons.
“I’m picturing myself being a father and taking my kids to a normal baseball game, there’s no reason to even think about my sons being injured,” he said.
Almora said he has respected the family’s wishes for privacy.
“I’ve been blessed with a great circle around me,” Almora said of the support from teammates. “I’m not going to lie. It weighed on me for the first couple days. After that, I had no choice but to move forward. I always had that in the back of my mind.
“Every update that does come out, I am there and I’m seeing that. I’ve tried everything I can to contact the family. I respect their privacy. I get it. So I just hope there’s a long, prosperous life for her.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 74 Kris Bryant is introduced. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
2. Meet the new boss: David Ross.
Theo Epstein said he likely talked to with core players less this offseason than in past winters. But the Cubs president wasn’t still upset with the team’s third-place finish in 2019 and failure to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Epstein said he merely wants new manager David Ross to assert himself.
“I want Rossy to take control in clubhouse and be the voice,” Epstein said. “He’s trying to establish a new culture here and his expectations for 2020. He’s been proactive doing that.”
Advertisement
Shortstop Javier Baez called Ross a “leader” and said he looks forward to helping him change the culture in the clubhouse.
“Everyone was being there for the team, but at the same time for their own numbers,” Baez said. “It’s not about one player. It’s not about me.
“It’s about the whole team and the whole organization to be on the same page with the same plan.”
3. The Cubs made more low-cost signings.
The Cubs added experience at catcher, signing Josh Phegley to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.
Phegley, 31, played 106 games for the Athletics last season, hitting a career-high 12 home runs with 62 RBIs. With rosters expanded to 26 players, Phegley has a chance to make the major-league roster if the Cubs elect to carry a third catcher behind Willson Contreras and backup Victor Caratini.
The White Sox selected Phegley with the 38th pick in the 2009 draft.
Advertisement
The Cubs also signed left-handed reliever Tyler Olson to a minor-league contract. Olson, 30, pitched parts of the last five seasons with the Mariners, Yankees and Indians. His best season came in 2017, when he didn’t allow a run in 20 innings (30 appearances) with the Indians.
Chicago Tribune Sports Weekdays A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
Re-signing outfielder Nicholas Castellanos remains an ominous task, however. The Cubs say they currently don’t have financial room unless they move a sizable contract.
“He was a great player to have on the field for us,” Epstein said. “He was great to have in the clubhouse and played himself into a good market.
“I’m not sure we’ll be able to bring him back. For sure we’d like to have him back.”
Epstein had no update on the status of veteran free agent Ben Zobrist.
4. He must be in the front row.
Anthony Rizzo and his wife, Emily, attended the college football national championship game between LSU and Clemson on Monday at the Superdome in New Orleans, with pregame field passes and seats at the 20-yard-line on the LSU side.
Advertisement
Infielder David Bote, however, topped the Rizzos in terms of having a better view. Bote sat at the 50-yard line, courtesy of Clemson coach and friend Dabo Swinney.
Swinney visited the Cubs at Wrigley Field on a couple of occasions the last two seasons.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish now wonders: Was he tipping pitches for the Dodgers against the Astros in th

Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish now wonders: Was he tipping pitches for the Dodgers against the Astros in the 2017 World Series, or were they cheating?

“ Easy changes in the middle of an inning , changing them every inning in the dugout with your catcher @ @ @ @ @ definitely take more precautions and just be on top of that , I guess , @ @ @ @ @ that “ MLB ’ s just going to have to be more on top of @ @ @ @ @ got guys in our video rooms anyway and throughout the clubhouse so I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ ) just more security and more monitoring of teams .
”

Yu Darvish had a nightmare of a World Series in 2017. Pitching for the Dodgers, he allowed eight runs in two starts, lasting only 3⅓ innings in the two losses, which were instrumental in the Astros’ 4-3 series win.
Advertisement
For two years, the story was that Darvish, now with the Cubs, was tipping his pitches and the Astros took advantage. Now Darvish isn’t so sure.
Earlier this week, Major League Baseball fined the Astros $5 million and took away their first- and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021 as punishment for an electronic sign-stealing scheme. Astros replay-review staff trained a camera on the opposing catcher and relayed signs to batters through teammates in the dugout. The Astros fired manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow, both of whom were suspended one year by MLB, after the punishments were announced.
Advertisement
On Friday at the Cubs Convention, Darvish wondered about the true cause of his World Series meltdown. He signed as a free agent with the Cubs — whom he shut down in Game 3 of the NLCS that season — in February 2018.
“That’s what I want to know,” Darvish said. “A couple of Astros players told me that I was tipping pitches 100%. But then it came out they’re stealing signs. That’s why I want to know, (if) the World Series came from stealing signs or tipping pitches.”
“Game 3 was (a) maybe," Darvish added. "After that the Dodgers started checking (whether I was) tipping pitches or whatever. But they couldn’t find it, especially Game 7. But Astros players (later) told me I was tipping 100% in Game 7. So it’s like …”
Darvish trailed off. Does he still believe those players’ claims in light of recent revelations that the Astros used technology to cheat that season?
“Not sure, no.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 74 Kris Bryant is introduced. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Still, Darvish said he took lessons from that World Series experience that proved invaluable later. Darvish had a disappointing first season with the Cubs but rebounded in 2019, especially after the All-Star break when he had a 2.76 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with 118 strikeouts and seven walks in 81⅔ innings.
“If I didn’t have that World Series, I can’t pitch like last year in that second half,” he said. “That came from that thing; I was fired up. I have to take that the right way.”
However, he said, “It’s crazy but I can’t say anything about (the) Astros because, just like, I know they steal signs, but at the same time I was not good in the World Series, too. I can’t say anything.”
Advertisement
Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks sympathizes with Darvish being embroiled in a controversy not of his own making.
“I feel for him. He was in the middle of that in ’17,” Hendricks said. “You can’t go back and change that; you have to move on. I guess now that it’s come out and everyone realizes it maybe it’s a good thing for him. But it definitely has to be tough.”
Advertisement
Like Darvish, Hendricks welcomed the stiff sanctions MLB handed the Astros.
“It definitely sent the message that it’s not going to be tolerated,” Hendricks said. “Hopefully it will even the playing field back out and we won’t see that anymore in the game, just the normal sign steals from second base.”
Hendricks said he was surprised sign-stealing went beyond the “old-school way of doing it” and up to the level of using technology, adding he hadn’t heard any rumors about it.
Kyle Schwarber expressed similar sentiments, but as a hitter, he had a slightly different perspective.
If a runner is at second base, and “a pitcher or catcher wants to give you an easy way to do something like that, you want to take advantage of that.
“Even when you do that, that’s not 100% right. … It’s not a 100% guarantee you’re going to get a pitch right,” Schwarber said. However, “if you’re getting it from a camera — that people are sitting there studying (it) and telling you this is 100% right — that is, in my mind, complete B.S. and shouldn’t be allowed in this game. I’m happy that these punishments are getting dished out.”
Advertisement
The Astros aren’t the only team tainted by the scandal. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2018, their first year with former Astros bench coach Alex Cora as manager. Cora was implicated as one of the ringleaders in the Astros clubhouse, and the Red Sox fired him Tuesday.
Darvish and Brewers slugger Christian Yelich got into a Twitter spat in November after Darvish seemed to imply Yelich was looking off to steal a sign during an at bat against Darvish, to which Yelich replied, “Nobody needs help facing you.”
Hendricks said some teams are well-known for stealing signs — the conventional way — and he typically goes into those starts with extra signs he and his catcher can use as alternates.
He said it will be up to battery mates this season to take even more measures to guard against sign-stealing.
“Easy changes in the middle of an inning, changing them every inning in the dugout with your catcher, you just have to definitely take more precautions and just be on top of that, I guess,” said Hendricks, adding that “MLB’s just going to have to be more on top of it. They’ve got guys in our video rooms anyway and throughout the clubhouse so I’m sure (there will be) just more security and more monitoring of teams.”
Schwarber said he knows for “100% fact” the Cubs stick to the rules. “We play our way straight. We’re not doing anything of that sort.”
Advertisement
Team President Theo Epstein said the Cubs are “really clear about what the rules are” and talk every spring training about integrity and fair play.
Chicago Tribune Sports Weekdays A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
“I was proud that Anthony Rizzo said yesterday that he can say with 100% certainty that we play within the rules and I echo those thoughts. I know that,” he said.
Epstein said he’s not going to look back at individual games against that involved the Astros or any other team to examine whether sign-stealing was going on.
“There’s been rumors throughout the history of baseball; there’s been rumors and accusations throughout the last few years,” he said. “MLB proactively built a robust and powerful Department of Investigations that was needed in order to look into issues like this and be able to come to some conclusions, dole out some discipline to preserve the integrity of the game, so we applaud those efforts.”
For his part, Darvish sounded ready to move on, hoping to improve on last season’s resurgent performance.
He said through an interpreter, “I’m afraid that if that (slump) comes back in the first half … again, I’m going to be worried about it, but other than that (I’m) fine.”
Advertisement
Darvish said he hopes the attention being paid to sign-stealing swings the advantage back to pitchers. Other changes concern him just as much, however.
“I feel like as a pitcher the strike zone’s getting smaller, they want me to do more quickly or whatever, and then the hitter is stealing signs,” Darvish said. “It’s tough to pitch. Everybody wants to pitch more easily. But I’m not frustrated.”


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Joliet West math teacher placed on leave after prosecutors say she broke into house and committed ba

Joliet West math teacher placed on leave after prosecutors say she broke into house and committed battery

Earlier this month , a Will County grand jury returned an indictment against Ashlee Catalani , 33 , of Joliet @ @ @ @ @ 41 , in connection with the Dec. 1 incident .
The two have been indicted @ @ @ @ @ trespass to a residence and three counts of criminal damage to property .
Catalani also @ @ @ @ @ of battery while Vargas was indicted on charge of aggravated battery , court records showed @

A Joliet West High School math teacher was placed on administrative leave Wednesday following charges that she and a Crest Hill man broke into the Joliet home of another man and beat him and another woman.
Earlier this month, a Will County grand jury returned an indictment against Ashlee Catalani, 33, of Joliet, and Ponciano Vargas, 41, in connection with the Dec. 1 incident. The two have been indicted on a charge of criminal trespass to a residence and three counts of criminal damage to property. Catalani also was indicted on one count of battery while Vargas was indicted on charge of aggravated battery, court records showed.
Advertisement
A spokeswoman from Joliet Township High School District 204 on Tuesday said Catalani had been placed on paid administrative leave “as (the district) determines the appropriate steps to address the situation.” Prior to Tuesday, Catalani remained on the job and the district was was aware of the situation but believed she did not pose a “risk to student safety,” the spokeswoman said.
Catalani’s attorney, Dana Jakusz, declined comment on the charges.
Advertisement
According to Joliet police, Catalani and Vargas had been at a bar with the other man and woman. Later that same day, Catalani and Vargas gained access to the man’s home in Joliet and entered the bedroom.
Vargas then began beating one of the people as Catalani pulled the other’s hair, according to police. One person fled while the other hid in another part of the home. As Vargas and Catalani left, they damaged the walls and other portions of the home, police said.
In a petition for an order of protection against Catalani, the man claimed the back of his head and his left ear were swollen as a result of the alleged beating.
Vargas was arrested on Dec. 1. Catalani surrendered after she was indicted earlier this month in connection with the incident.
Both Vargas and Catalani will appear before a Will County judge again on Feb. 27 for the criminal charges.
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Theo Epstein and the Cubs are at a crossroads with slugger Kris Bryant, among others: ‘We’re not sur

Theo Epstein and the Cubs are at a crossroads with slugger Kris Bryant, among others: ‘We’re not sure what the outcome is going to be’

“ We expect that ( Bryant ) would be our third baseman , but we ’ ve been open and @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll talk about all our players this year , ” Epstein said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ have to be more mindful of building a successful future — post-2021 for this group @ @ @ @ @ close to that point where a lot of our best players will be in a @ @ @ @ @ ’ d get nothing in return .

A bout of the flu sent Kris Bryant to the doctor’s office Friday, preventing the slugger from addressing his uncertain status before the opening ceremony at Day 1 of the Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.
Advertisement
But team President Theo Epstein, overseeing a roster without a guaranteed free-agent signing this winter and no financial flexibility, reiterated his faith while the Cubs await an arbitrator’s decision on Bryant’s service-time grievance and potentially not signing any of his young, prized players to extensions before spring training.
“There’s significant upside with this group of players,” Epstein said before introductions. "We’re not going to whistle past the graveyard.”
Advertisement
But Epstein, who wasn’t afraid to trade All-Stars such as Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez during his time with the Red Sox, recognizes the uncertainty regardless of whether he trades Bryant or is eventually signs All-Star shortstop Javier Baez to a long-term contract before he’s eligible for free agency after 2021.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 74 Kris Bryant is introduced. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
“It’s clear we’re going to carry more risk into this year than we want to, more risk into this year than we have in the past, and it’s our job to operate our way around it,” Epstein said.
“Last year there was tremendous risk in the bullpen, and we knew we had to have our guys step up to save us.”
Rowan Wick, Kyle Ryan and Brad Wieck — who all started the 2019 season in the minors — emerged as potential staples of a bullpen that lost veterans Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek and Brandon Kintzler to free agency.
“We’re going to carry risk in the pen this year, and we must have a repeat where we find value in guys and guys improve and step up,” Epstein said.
Theo on players coping with trade rumors pic.twitter.com/NgKJ74c8eZ — Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) January 17, 2020
Epstein also acknowledged the rotation doesn’t have the depth he prefers, as well as depth questions at a couple of other positions.
“If things don’t break our way, we could have holes out there, and that’s on us,” he said.
The last two offseasons, Epstein tried to sign Bryant, Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras to long-term contracts that would buy them out of free agency and give the Cubs cost certainty. But only pitcher Kyle Hendricks signed a long-term deal (through 2024), and Epstein paused before assessing progress on negotiations this winter.
Advertisement
“I’d say we moved the ball forward, but it’s a long process,” Epstein said. “So we’re not sure what the outcome is going to be. We’ve had some productive talks but not to the point we got anything done yet.”
Epstein praised Bryant for his contributions but reiterated about listening to deals for all his players — including Bryant, the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year, 2016 NL MVP and three-time All-Star.
Baez on his future with Cubs pic.twitter.com/C8eUHmii0Y — Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) January 18, 2020
Chicago Tribune Sports Weekdays A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
“We expect that (Bryant) would be our third baseman, but we’ve been open and transparent about the fact we’ll talk about all our players this year,” Epstein said. “We have to. We have to be more mindful of building a successful future — post-2021 for this group. We’re running close to that point where a lot of our best players will be in a position to leave and we’d get nothing in return.
“Because of that, we’re in a position where we’re going to listen to everybody. We value Kris. We respect everything he’s done. We appreciate everything he’s done. We look forward to many great days ahead and we hope he’s part of it.”
Moving Bryant’s $18.6 million salary would hurt the Cubs offense but would give them financial flexibility to address areas of need, such as a leadoff hitter. The Braves, who lost slugger Josh Donaldson to the Twins in free agency, could use Bryant and have young pitching that would suit the Cubs’ long-term needs.
Baez, meanwhile, declined to comment on negotiations on an extension, saying he agreed to a $10 million contract last week.
Advertisement
“It’s up to (the Cubs),” Baez said. “When the right deal comes, we’ll be ready for it.”
Baez on Cubs’ lack of moves pic.twitter.com/qtbcUYKQZX — Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) January 18, 2020
Baez was confident in leaving negotiations to his representatives, adding he would feel no pressure if he and the Cubs can’t reach an extension before the season.
And if someone gets traded, “I think Theo and the front office know what they’re doing for this team,” Baez said.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Guerin Prep would have needed an additional $6 million to stay open

“ If you would have gone there you ’ d see something was going on because it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t have a lot of students and you could see that .
I @ @ @ @ @ private school and expensive but it looked like it was deteriorating and no one cared @ @ @ @ @ any excitement , ” Otero said .

To keep operating, Guerin Prep would have needed a multi-million dollar Hail Mary, the school’s president said a day after announcing the Catholic school would close its doors at the end of this school year.
“We would need $6 million to stay open another four years and be given the opportunity to turn things around,” said Tom Bednar, who has been president of Guerin Prep, in River Grove, for the past year and a half.
Advertisement
Bednar explained Friday that school officials made the announcement this week because applicants for next year’s freshmen class were waiting for acceptance letters — letters that he said they did not send out.
“That was our motivation for the timing of the announcement,” Bednar said. “We did not want to send out acceptance letters and then have to tell them a week or two later that we are not going to be open.”
Advertisement
In a press release Thursday, Bednar said the school’s board of directors made the difficult decision to cease operations, which he described as a “very sad and difficult decision.”
Bednar cited three major factors that led to the decision to close the school that educated students for almost 60 years: a steady decline in enrollment, increasing need for student financial aid and lower-than-expected fundraising results.
“In 2015-16, we had 400 students. This year we dropped to below 250. That’s a loss of 150 students and tuition is more than $10,000 so that’s $1.5 million at least in revenue loss,” Bednar said.
Pressed for exact numbers, Bednar said tuition at Guerin currently is $11,450 plus a few fees and mandatory fundraising that pushes it to $12,400.
Advertisement
Jim Dohoney, the parent of a junior, said he attended a school meeting Thursday evening and suggested the school do a phase-out, in which they would stop accepting freshmen next year.
“There was some discussion of that but it just didn’t seem feasible," Bednar said. "You also lose that high school experience if you only have one class or two classes that are finishing up. That’s usually a diminished experience and most people advise against doing that.”
Another parent upset by the news was Selinet Otero, whose son Michael Pagan is a freshman at Guerin.
“I’m very frustrated because it took us some time to choose this school. We had other options. My son was accepted at the Disney II magnet school but turned it down to attend Guerin. I doubt if that’s an option for next year because we said no when they offered,” Otero said.
Advertisement
Guerin Prep's Dance Team members seek donations for new dresses for some of their performances at GuerinFest in August 2018. (Jon Langham / Pioneer Press)
She added that while she was caught off guard by the announcement, in hindsight she could see signs of trouble.
“If you would have gone there you’d see something was going on because it’s a pretty big school but it didn’t have a lot of students and you could see that. I understand it’s a private school and expensive but it looked like it was deteriorating and no one cared. There wasn’t any excitement,” Otero said.
Guerin Prep was known as Mother Theodore Guerin for most of its existence, and was an all-girls Catholic high school until 2004, when the neighboring Catholic all-boys Holy Cross High School closed. Guerin leaders decided to make the school co-ed, and changed its name to Guerin College Prep in 2005. It is not run by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Combining the schools led some, like 1989 graduate Karen Tarczynski, who grew up in Chicago’s Galewood neighborhood, to believe that the school was in the black.
“I thought they were doing a lot better, especially once they transformed to Guerin Prep and took the boys on,” Tarczynski said.
Since 1961, when the school was founded by the Sisters of Providence, an order of nuns, more than 20,000 young women and men from Chicago’s Northwest side and the surrounding suburbs graduated from Guerin, Bednar said.
Advertisement
After the closing, the school’s land will be returned to the Archdiocese of Chicago, which gave the land to the Sisters of Providence with the condition that it be used to educate students, Bednar said.
As for what will happen to the land after the school year, Sue Thomas, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Chicago, said, “There are no plans for land use right now.”
Several front row seniors were the first to get their diplomas May 24, 2017, at Guerin College Prep. (Jon Langham / Pioneer Press)
The Chicago Tribune previously reported that developers are planning to build townhouses and condos on a portion of the former Holy Cross High School’s land.
Bednar said the school had been losing students for several years, which affected its budget in several ways — loss of money from tuition and loss of donations because of donors’ fears.
“Most of the time when people are giving to a school they are looking at enrollment trends. If it’s not going up, they are are less inclined to support a school with a downward trend,” Bednar said.
Before heading Guerin, Bednar was president of St. Francis High School in Wheaton for nine years. A Kansas City native, he has lived in the Chicago area since 2003.
Advertisement
As for launching a fund-raising campaign to save the school, he said a large campaign was considered a year ago but sputtered early and was shut down shortly after beginning.
“For a major campaign, you always begin with a silent phase to see if you can get roughly 40 percent of your goal through key donors before going public. We made an effort to reach out to a good number of people and we weren’t getting the response that we needed to turn things around,” Bednar said.
When that didn’t work, the school tried to boost enrollment by creating programs like a fine arts academy and a computer science academy, to no avail. In another effort to stay alive, the school also cut costs, Bednar said.
“Our budget this year was $4 million. We reduced costs by $500,000 over last year and last year we reduced it by $250,000 from the previous year.”
Another problem was what Bednar called the “growing gap of affordability,” the fact that about 75 percent of students required financial aid — and that the school was unable to raise enough money to cover that.
“We required $1.6 million in financial aid but we only raised $900,000, so there’s that gap that created stress on the school’s budget,” Bednar said.
Advertisement
Now, with the announcement that the school will close for good, students who are not graduating this year will have to find a new school next year. To assist them, transition teams will be available, the press release said.
The school’s staff, who were notified Tuesday during a 2 p.m. faculty meeting, were “sad and disappointed,” Bednar said. He added that they will be provided assistance to help in their job searches.
He offered assurance that the current students will continue the year as normal.
“We want to finish strong this year. We are continuing to prepare students for college. They are still being challenged in the classroom to do well in their writing and critical thinking, and developing their math and science abilities,” Bednar said.
As for the 20,000 alums of the school, Bednar said he is planning an all-class reunion later in the spring at the school. He did not yet know the date.


chicagotribune--2020-01-17--Tiny weddings — less stress, less money, but still Instagram-worthy

“ We have been through a year of planning and trying to make everyone happy .
We just didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ this time , ” Grove said .
“ A tiny wedding was perfect for us @ @ @ @ @ important to us in a wedding is that moment in the ceremony where you celebrate @ @ @ @ @ .
All the bells and whistles just add stress and takes the focus off us @ @ @ @ @ celebrating .
We get the setting we want , with no stress , low cost @ @ @ @ @ perfect thing for us .
”

Tiny weddings (aka microweddings) are a growing trend for couples who want to have their special day with less worry and spend less money. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Big SUVs, McMansions and the term “bigger is better,” are all things that used to connote living your best life. Now, consumers are shifting to the opposite end of that spectrum, including those who want to tie the knot.
Tiny weddings (aka microweddings) are a growing trend for couples who want to have their special day with less worry and spend less money (think $2,000 to $3,000) at a time when annual reports like those from The Knot state that the national average cost of a wedding is $33,931. The smaller ideal also comes at a time when families are picking up less of the tab for the big day and student-loan debt is infringing on wedding dreams and goals. The tiny wedding limits the numbers of attendees. The average wedding in the U.S. has 126 guests, according to the WeddingWire 2019 Newlywed Report .
Advertisement
Zingerman’s Cornman Farms in Michigan offers couples the chance to get married on a tiny scale -- a beautifully curated experience created each season for couples who desire the simplicity and affordability of a courthouse wedding. It's a trend that wedding planners and couples are getting behind more and more. ( Lola Grace Photography)
Advertisement
Sonali Lamba, co-founder of Brideside, a five-year-old wedding retail business for brides and bridal parties based in Chicago, thinks that couples choosing to simplify the wedding process with tiny weddings is a trend that will keep growing. Having just opened a new location in Lincoln Park, she believes brides in Chicago and around the country are looking for personalization, and it’s really hard to deliver a personalized experience with 200 people at a ceremony.
“I think what’s so fascinating about this tiny wedding trend is that yes, it’s about the budget, but it’s also about prioritizing intimacy and personalization and I think that speaks to me more about what women are looking for, and less about saving money,” Lamba said. “Brides and grooms are not necessarily looking to deliver less of an experience for their guests, they’re just looking to deliver it to fewer people and still prioritize their lifestyle.”
Bristol Echeverria, owner and lead planner of Chicago-based Sustainable Soirees, will be adding small ceremonies to her wedding options this summer. Her company caters to couples who want to have an experience that is intentional and that has little impact on the environment. Tiny weddings for her firm means up to 30 people.
“If you have less people, you’re inherently just going to have a cheaper wedding, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring,” she said. “If you have the money to do it, you can allocate it to providing some great entertainment or just having some really awesome food that doesn’t have to be the traditional surf and turf dinners. There’s so many high concept things to do; you can still provide this really cool experience for the guests that you invite.”
Sarah Toulouse attests that about 40% to 50% of events at her River West venue Creativo Loft are microweddings, which are limited to 30 people. She and her husband, wedding photographers turned venue operators, say that what used to be a day where the parents of the couple were running the show at banquet halls and a place of worship has turned into a day where religion is not the central focus.
“They’re having their own say; they’re doing what they want to do,” she said. “There has been a shift. I won’t say there hasn’t been ... more people are doing them smaller because they want to be more frugal or they want to have it nice, just a smaller size.”
Zingerman's Cornman Farms in Michigan offers couples the chance to get married on a tiny scale. Couples can book all-inclusive wedding packages that range from $1,750 to $2,150 (depending on choice of wedding day). ( Lola Grace Photography)
Zingerman’s Cornman Farms in Dexter, Michigan, just started offering tiny-wedding packages this fall. Couples can book all-inclusive wedding packages that range from $1,750 to $2,150 (depending on choice of wedding day). Touted “as simple as the courthouse, but a big step up in style,” the packages include a 1½ hour rental of a designed venue space, a wedding coordinator, a ceremony for up to 10 guests (including the couple) and an officiant, a photographer, a bouquet and boutonniere, a wine toast, a tiny wedding cake, a farm animal visit and an individualized wedding keepsake.
Cassie Schroeder and Jason Grove of Bristol, Indiana, will have their nuptials at Zingerman’s on Feb. 1. The couple met at their workplace a couple of years ago. This being the second marriage for both, the pair have already had a big wedding their first time around and wanted less stress this time.
Advertisement
“We have been through a year of planning and trying to make everyone happy. We just didn’t want to do that this time,” Grove said. “A tiny wedding was perfect for us because what’s most important to us in a wedding is that moment in the ceremony where you celebrate each other’s love. All the bells and whistles just add stress and takes the focus off us and what we’re celebrating. We get the setting we want, with no stress, low cost — it was just the perfect thing for us.”
Grove said the final cost for their wedding is less than $3,000.
“We just want it to be simple and no stress,” he added. “There’s so much stress in everyday life. We wanted this to be something that’s fun and enjoyable.”
“A microwedding is essentially designed for couples who want the simplicity and the affordability of a courthouse wedding, but want something that is beautiful and Instagram-worthy,” said Jamie Gray, marketing and communications manager at Zingerman’s.
drockett@chicagotribune.com