chicagotribune--2020-03-14--Bears in free agency: A position-by-position look at the team’s biggest needs — and who is available

Biggest storylines : Even with an obvious glaring need at the position , it ’ s difficult to imagine the Bears will be willing to engage in the high-priced bidding wars that likely will ensue for players such as Hooper .
Don ’ t forget : Trey Burton still has two years remaining on the $ 32 million contract he signed in 2018 , with the Bears on the hook for $ 4 million guaranteed and up to $ 6.8 million overall in 2020 .
Still , for a sputtering offense that got next to nothing out of the tight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to remain aggressive in free agency and the draft to make certain they upgrade their talent and depth .
A patient approach in free agency might prove most prudent .
As the market settles and the second wave of free agency begins , the Bears might be able to find a reliable veteran at a bargain price .
It also will be interesting to see how the pursuit of Ebron unfolds leaguewide .
The 26-year-old tight end had a career year in 2018 with 66 catches , 750 yards and 13 touchdowns @

The NFL’s new league year is scheduled to begin Wednesday, ushering in the opening of free agency. The window for teams and players with expiring contracts to begin negotiating will start Monday. Before the frenzy intensifies, here’s our position-by-position look at the Bears’ wants and needs as they journey into free agency for the sixth time under general manager Ryan Pace.
Quarterback
Players with an expiring contract: Chase Daniel, Tyler Bray.
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Players under contract for 2020: Mitch Trubisky.
Level of need: High.
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Top-tier free agents: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, Dak Prescott, Philip Rivers, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston.
[ Of the realistic options available, the most intriguing quarterback for the Bears is ________ . Our writers answer 4 big Bears questions. ]
Other notable free agents: Blake Bortles, Blaine Gabbert, Case Keenum, Marcus Mariota, AJ McCarron, Josh McCown, Colt McCoy, Matt Moore, Nate Sudfeld.
Biggest storylines: Brady will be the most-watched free agent by far as he decides whether to return to the Patriots for a 21st season or go the route of Peyton Manning and Joe Montana, heading elsewhere in search of another title. Brady figures to be the first domino to fall on the quarterback market, then triggering remarkable movement as nearly half the league has at least some level of uncertainty at the position. The Bears are believed to be driven to acquire, at the minimum, competition for Mitch Trubisky. The team has declined to say what it will do with the fifth-year option on Trubisky’s contract for 2021, and if they’re uncertain, how committed will they be to him in 2020?
[ Column: With their instability at quarterback obvious, the Bears join the NFL’s game of musical chairs searching for Mitch Trubisky’s competition ]
Don’t be surprised if …: Ryan Pace winds up going the trade route to get a quarterback. The Bengals, who likely will draft Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick, consequently will be trying to deal Andy Dalton, who is signed for this season at $17.7 million. The Jaguars also could look to move on from former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles a year after they signed him to a four-year, $88 million contract. Matt Nagy’s coaching staff has experience with both veterans.
Extra point: Nate Sudfeld could be an interesting option for the Bears, perhaps as a No. 3 rather than an immediate challenger for Trubisky. Quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo worked with Sudfeld with the Eagles and raved about him in the past. “That kid is going to be a really, really good football player,” DeFilippo told phillyvoice.com two years ago after leaving to become the Vikings offensive coordinator. “He’s a good football player right now. But I am telling you, that kid has a chance to be a really good football player.”
Running back
Players with an expiring contract: None.
Players under contract for 2020: David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, Ryan Nall.
Level of need: Low.
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Top-tier free agents: Derrick Henry, Melvin Gordon, Kenyan Drake.
Other notable free agents: Carlos Hyde, Lamar Miller, Jordan Howard, Kareem Hunt (restricted), Chris Thompson, Frank Gore, Ty Montgomery, Javorius Allen, Spencer Ware, Theo Riddick, C.J. Prosise, Matt Breida.
[ Matt Nagy has a rejuvenated vibe, there’s a prime-time shakeup and Harrison Bryant might be worth a look: 3 storylines from the NFL combine ]
Biggest storylines: Internally at Halas Hall, the optimism continues to grow regarding a potential Year 2 leap for David Montgomery, who averaged just 3.7 yards per carry as a rookie while totaling 889 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Montgomery should benefit from the year of experience, not to mention the shake-up on the offensive coaching staff, which should help coach Matt Nagy back up his vows to rejigger and recommit to the running game. The Bears, with new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor weighing in, will also look for ways to squeeze much more out of Tarik Cohen as their joker back after Cohen’s production (669 yards from scrimmage) dipped 43% from 2018. Still, the Bears head into free agency feeling secure with their running backs.
Don’t be surprised if …: The Bears direct their free-agency focus elsewhere. In five previous offseasons under general manager Ryan Pace, the organization rarely has ventured into the running back department during its March shopping sprees. The most notable purchase came last spring when Pace guaranteed Mike Davis $3 million on a two-year, $6 million deal. For whatever reason, Davis never fit and rushed for just 25 yards on 11 carries before being released in November. Since 2015, the only other notable running backs Pace signed in free agency were Jacquizz Rodgers and Benny Cunningham, both targeted primarily for their special teams abilities.
Extra point: It’s hard to know what the market will be for Lamar Miller, who turns 29 next month and missed all of 2019 with torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee. The Bears don’t figure to be a serious suitor. But for what it’s worth, Miller rushed for 1,971 yards and added 85 catches for 672 yards during the two seasons (2014-15) he spent with Lazor as his offensive coordinator with the Dolphins.
Wide receiver
Players with an expiring contract: None.
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Players under contract for 2020: Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Cordarrelle Patterson, Riley Ridley, Javon Wims, Reggie Davis, Thomas Ives, Alex Wesley.
Level of need: Moderate.
Top-tier free agents: Robby Anderson, Amari Cooper, A.J. Green, Emmanuel Sanders.
Other notable free agents: Nelson Agholor, Geronimo Allison, Randall Cobb, Phillip Dorsett, Devin Funchess, Josh Gordon, Breshad Perriman, Paul Richardson, Demarcus Robinson, Jarius Wright.
Biggest storylines: Unless your last name is Cooper, Green or maybe Anderson, it’s a bad year to be a wide receiver coming out of contract. What is considered a generational college class at the position likely will lead many teams to wait for the draft to see what help they can add. The top free agents will get paid, but after that, teams will aim to bargain shop or simply wait to see what the draft provides. Some league evaluators are forecasting that 20 or more wide receivers could be selected in the first three rounds next month. The Cowboys are driven to keep Cooper, whom they acquired from the Raiders for a first-round draft pick in a 2018 trade. But the pending free-agent status of quarterback Dak Prescott has complicated matters for them.
[ Allen Robinson voted no on NFL’s proposed CBA — and the coronavirus might alter his offseason plans with Mitch Trubisky ]
Don’t be surprised if …: The Bears look for help at the position in the draft. In fact, it would be a mistake if the Bears, who hold eight picks, don’t look for help. Anthony Miller emerged during the second half of last season, showing off his playmaking prowess and long-term potential. But he also is recovering from shoulder surgery for the second straight offseason, and Riley Ridley struggled to prove he was ready for playing time as a rookie. The Bears are in need of more speed on offense, craving a player who can challenge the defense vertically. They should seek a bigger target than Gabriel, who was released last month.
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Extra point: Getting a contract extension done with Allen Robinson remains a top priority. He’s entering the final year of his contract and has no remaining guaranteed money in the deal. Robinson has leverage from the standpoint that the team lacks any other consistent performers at the position. Without an extension before the start of the season, the sides could be headed toward a franchise tag stare-down a year from now.
Tight end
Players with an expiring contract: J.P. Holtz (exclusive rights), Bradley Sowell.
Players under contract for 2020: Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, Ben Braunecker, Demetrius Harris, Jesper Horsted, Eric Saubert.
Level of need: High.
Top-tier free agents: Austin Hooper, Eric Ebron.
Other notable free agents: Tyler Eifert, Marcedes Lewis, Benjamin Watson, Charles Clay, Richard Rodgers, Jimmy Graham.
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Biggest storylines: Even with an obvious glaring need at the position, it’s difficult to imagine the Bears will be willing to engage in the high-priced bidding wars that likely will ensue for players such as Hooper. Don’t forget: Trey Burton still has two years remaining on the $32 million contract he signed in 2018, with the Bears on the hook for $4 million guaranteed and up to $6.8 million overall in 2020. Still, for a sputtering offense that got next to nothing out of the tight end position last season, the Bears have to remain aggressive in free agency and the draft to make certain they upgrade their talent and depth. A patient approach in free agency might prove most prudent. As the market settles and the second wave of free agency begins, the Bears might be able to find a reliable veteran at a bargain price. It also will be interesting to see how the pursuit of Ebron unfolds leaguewide. The 26-year-old tight end had a career year in 2018 with 66 catches, 750 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Don’t be surprised if …: Adam Shaheen is not on the Bears roster come September. Shaheen is set to enter the final season of his rookie deal with an uphill climb to stick around. He has been injury prone and unreliable through his first three seasons, totaling just 26 catches for 249 yards while missing 21 games. That production is hardly befitting of a player selected with the 45th pick in the 2017 draft. And the Bears made clear when last season ended that availability would be a major focus in their evaluation.
Extra point: The Bears already have dipped into free agency at tight end, scooping up Demetrius Harris in February two days after the Browns cut him. In six years with the Chiefs and Browns, Harris never had 20 catches or 250 receiving yards in a season. So set your expectations accordingly. But Bears coach Matt Nagy has plenty of familiarity with his skillset and overall fit in the offense from their four seasons together in Kansas City from 2014-17.
Offensive line
Players with an expiring contract: Ted Larsen, Cornelius Lucas, T.J. Clemmings, Rashaad Coward (exclusive rights).
Players under contract for 2020: Charles Leno, James Daniels, Cody Whitehair, Bobby Massie, Alex Bars, Corey Levin, Dino Boyd, Sam Mustipher.
Level of need: Moderate.
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Top-tier free agents: Bryan Bulaga, Anthony Castonzo, Jack Conklin, Demar Dotson, Graham Glasgow, Ronald Leary, Andrus Peat, Jason Peters, Brandon Scherff, Joe Thuney, Andrew Whitworth, Daryl Williams.
Other notable free agents: Kelvin Beachum, Austin Blythe, Ereck Flowers, Germain Ifedi, George Fant, Mike Iupati, Alex Lewis, Michael Schofield, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Greg Van Roten.
[ 7 takeaways from the NFL combine, including a vote on the new CBA, Joe Burrow’s small hands and Derek Carr’s Raiders status ]
Biggest storylines: High-level offensive linemen are always in demand, and while the draft has some well-regarded tackles, there should be no shortage of suitors for a strong group of blockers. The Bears are in need of a right guard to replace Kyle Long. Rashaad Coward started 10 games last season but didn’t develop as much as the team had hoped. The Bears have invested heavily in their line with contracts for Charles Leno, Bobby Massie and Cody Whitehair, so they will likely look for a modestly priced addition to work for new line coach Juan Castillo. Coach Matt Nagy has already stated he plans to keep Daniels at left guard and Whitehair at center. Castillo’s background suggests he likes athletic linemen.
Don’t be surprised if …: The Bears fill their need for a swing tackle by re-signing Cornelius Lucas, who started eight games last season. That matched the number of starts he had from 2014-2018 with the Lions, Rams and Saints. Lucas likely earned a decent contract with his performance.
Extra point: In an effort to build depth, the Bears could look to the draft to stabilize the tackle position, and adding one in the second round should be a consideration.
Edge rushers
Players with an expiring contract: Aaron Lynch, Isaiah Irving (restricted).
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Players under contract for 2020: Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd, James Vaughters, Devante Bond.
Level of need: Moderate.
Top-tier free agents: Jadeveon Clowney, Yannick Ngakoue, Bud Dupree, Shaq Barrett, Dante Fowler.
Other notable free agents: Kyle Van Noy, Vic Beasley, Robert Quinn, Markus Golden, Mario Addison, Kamalei Correa, Ziggy Ansah, Noah Spence, Dion Jordan, Terrell Suggs, Shaq Lawson.
[ Column: Clock is ticking for the Bears to decide if Leonard Floyd is worth $13.2 million this season ]
Biggest storylines: The Bears have until Wednesday to wiggle out of the $13.2 million they’ll owe Leonard Floyd for 2020. They can do so by cutting the veteran pass rusher or making an effort to convince him to take a drastic pay cut. Floyd had only one sack over the final 15 games last season and has only 18½ over his first four years. The Bears need much more out of their pass rush overall, and last season’s decline in sacks —down to 32 from 50 in 2018 — merits concern. Even if Floyd were to remain on the roster, playing out the final year of his rookie deal, the Bears need to add depth at outside linebacker and have to be active in seeking more game-changing contributors.
Don’t be surprised if …: Vic Beasley becomes a top target for Ryan Pace. Beasley was drafted eighth in 2015, one pick after the Bears chose Kevin White. Beasley’s best season came in 2016 when he recorded 15½ sacks, earned first-team All-Pro honors and helped the Falcons win the NFC. Beasley had only 18 sacks total in the three seasons since then. But some believe his top-level potential could be unlocked again if he lands in a new place with a coaching staff and teammates who quickly learn which buttons to push.
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Extra point: The free-agent crop of pass rushers is fairly deep and solid overall. But that could tempt the Bears to wait out the first wave of free agency to see what bargains will be left. Pace did something similar last season at safety. After teams delivered eye-opening deals to Landon Collins, Earl Thomas, Adrian Amos, Tyrann Mathieu and Lamarcus Joyner, the Bears reeled in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on a team-friendly, one-year, $3 million deal. The Bears’ approach, of course, will depend on what they decide to do with Floyd.
Defensive line
Players with an expiring contract: Roy Robertson-Harris (restricted), Nick Williams, Brent Urban.
Players under contract for 2020: Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols.
Level of need: Moderate.
Top-tier free agents: Arik Armstead, Michael Brockers, Javan Hargrave, Quinton Jefferson, Chris Jones, Gerald McCoy, David Onyemata, D.J. Reader, Jarran Reed, Ndamukong Suh, Leonard Williams.
Other notable free agents: Vernon Butler, Mike Daniels, Jordan Phillips, Michael Pierce, Dontari Poe, A’Shawn Robinson, Derek Wolfe.
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Biggest storylines: Some of the top options could be kept off the market with the franchise tag. There still would be some solid players with strong track records available and David Onyemata, while not a household name, could land a deal averaging more than $10 million per season. Like Akiem Hicks, Onyemata played college ball in Canada and began his NFL career with the Saints. On the surface, this might not appear to be a considerable need for the Bears. But depth is critical on the line and, at minimum, the team needs to have a player such as Nick Williams, who proved to be productive in a reserve role last season. Teams quickly run into trouble when they’re not well-stocked on both sides of the line.
[ Bears place a second-round tender on restricted free agent Roy Robertson-Harris ]
Don’t be surprised if …: The Bears look for another player for the rotation even after placing a second-round tender on Roy Robertson-Harris. The second-round tender isn’t cheap — it is projected to be worth about $3.4 million. That tender, though, gives the Bears the right of first refusal if Robertson-Harris were to sign an offer sheet with another team and bring in a second-round pick in return if they do not match the contract. If the Bears went with an original-round designation, they would have only the right of first refusal and would receive no compensation if they did not match the deal because Robertson-Harris was undrafted. If Robertson-Harris plays well this season, he will be a prime candidate for a multiyear deal.
Extra point: Nick Williams played well last season after Akiem Hicks was injured. Williams provided six sacks for a defense that didn’t generate a consistent pass rush. The 30-year-old journeyman could land a contract that averages close to $5 million per season.
Inside linebackers
Players with an expiring contract: Nick Kwiatkoski, Kevin Pierre-Louis.
Players under contract for 2020: Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Josh Woods.
Level of need: Low.
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Top-tier free agents: Cory Littleton, Jamie Collins, Joe Schobert, Blake Martinez.
Other notable free agents: Sean Lee, Darron Lee, Christian Kirksey, Brooks Reed, Manti Te’o, Reggie Ragland, Jon Bostic, Deone Bucannon, Hardy Nickerson Jr., De’Vondre Campbell.
[ Nick Kwiatkoski: 4 things to know about the Bears inside linebacker ]
Biggest storylines: The Bears made a strong push to re-sign Danny Trevathan, locking the veteran linebacker up this week with a three-year extension that, according to a league source, could be worth up to $24 million. Trevathan has had a strong four-year run with the Bears, one of those rare, top-tier signees who made it to the end of a lucrative free-agent deal and then earned another contract. Trevathan has been a consistently productive linebacker plus a well-respected and energetic leader who has played a significant role in the ascent of the defense. Trevathan has missed 18 games over four seasons in Chicago and wound up on injured reserve twice, including last year with a serious left elbow injury. He will turn 30 this month. But Bears GM Ryan Pace expressed his admiration for Trevathan’s fire and tone-setting energy. “He’s such a great leader,” Pace said at the scouting combine last month. “He’s such a good player. Obviously when he was hurt last year, that hurt our defense for a multitude of reasons. But he’s an important part of what we’re doing.”
Don’t be surprised if …: Kwiatkoski becomes this spring’s Adrian Amos, a midround draft pick the Bears developed who has an opportunity to cash in big elsewhere. With the Bears casting a vote of confidence in Trevathan, Kwiatkoski will hit the open market and see what’s there for him. He’s in position for a solid pay day and a bigger role after taking advantage of his starting opportunities last season when Trevathan and Roquan Smith were out. Kwiatkoski’s development over four years with the Bears was impressive.
Extra point: Kevin Pierre-Louis turned out to be exactly the depth piece the Bears wanted in the linebackers room last year, a core special teamer with the ability to step in on defense in a pinch. A reunion for 2020 would make sense for both sides.
Cornerback
Players with an expiring contract: Sherrick McManis.
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Players under contract for 2020: Kyle Fuller, Buster Skrine, Kevin Toliver, Duke Shelley, Tre Roberson, Stephen Denmark, Michael Joseph, Xavier Crawford.
Level of need: High.
Top-tier free agents: James Bradberry, Kendall Fuller, Chris Harris, Byron Jones, Logan Ryan.
Other notable free agents: Eli Apple, Bashaud Breeland, Ronald Darby, Jonathan Joseph, Bradley Roby, Aqib Talib, Trae Waynes.
[ For just the 3rd time in the Super Bowl era, the Bears own only 2 picks in the first 139 selections of the NFL draft ]
Biggest storylines: The Bears created their largest need on defense when they released veteran Prince Amukamara last month, leaving them in need of a starter without a clear candidate under contract. The challenge is finding the next Amukamara, whom they bought on a one-year, prove-it deal in 2017 free agency. Amukamara then played well enough to earn a multiyear contract. The challenge will be finding a player with tangible starting experience and a decent track record and getting him at or maybe below market value. The opportunity to start for a strong unit will be appealing for a player seeking a short-term deal with a chance to make more down the road.
Don’t be surprised if …: The Bears use a draft pick to add competition. Pace has not invested heavily in cornerbacks via the draft. And if the Bears see one they really like in Round 2, that wouldn’t be a bad idea, even with their pressing needs on offense. If you consider former Bear Deiondre Hall a safety, the last time the Bears used a pick higher than a sixth-rounder on a cornerback was in 2014, when then-GM Phil Emery selected Kyle Fuller at No. 14.
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Extra point: McManis has been a standout special teams performer for eight seasons. It’s possible he could return on a short-term deal, but he might be at the point in his career at which the Bears are hesitant to pay him much more than the veteran minimum. The good news for McManis is that the groin injury he suffered at the end of the season wasn’t too serious.
Safety
Players with an expiring contract: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Deon Bush, DeAndre Houston-Carson.
Players under contract for 2020: Eddie Jackson, Kentrell Brice.
Level of need: Moderate.
Top-tier free agents: Devin McCourty, Damarious Randall, Rodney McLeod, Karl Joseph, Vonn Bell, Anthony Harris.
Other notable free agents: Sean Davis, Tony Jefferson, Jahleel Addae, John Cyprien, Ibrahiem Campbell, Jimmie Ward, Tre Boston, Mike Adams, Kurt Coleman.
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Biggest storylines: In January the Bears guaranteed Eddie Jackson $33 million on a four-year extension that runs through the 2024 season. That deal makes Jackson the league’s highest-paid safety but, consequently, also limits the resources the Bears will use to fill out the depth chart. Ideally they will seek a partner on the back end of the defense who can complement Jackson’s greatest strengths as a ballhawk. But that search might intensify most during the draft. General manager Ryan Pace has drafted the safety position as well as any other during his time in Chicago. He landed Adrian Amos in the fifth round in 2015 and scooped Jackson up in Round 4 in 2017.
Don’t be surprised if …: The Bears find a way to re-sign Deon Bush and offer him an opportunity to compete for the second starting spot. Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano was impressed with Bush upon his arrival a year ago, and the Bears could bring the 26-year-old safety on a team-friendly, short-term contract, giving him another shot to carve out a bigger role.
Extra point: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was solid but not spectacular playing on a one-year, $3 million deal last season. At this point, though, all signs point to a departure, with Clinton-Dix in line to join his fourth team in the last three seasons.
Specialists
Players with an expiring contract: Patrick Scales.
Players under contract for 2020: Eddy Pineiro, Pat O’Donnell.
Level of need: Low.
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Top-tier free agents: Greg Zuerlein (K), Adam Vinatieri (K), Sam Martin (P).
Other notable free agents: Nick Folk (K), Dan Bailey (K), Britton Colquitt (P), Matt Bosher (P), Don Muhlbach (LS), Zak DeOssie (LS).
Biggest storyline: After the Bears spent the entire 2019 offseason immersed in a high-profile hunt for a placekicker, they appear determined to give Eddy Pineiro every opportunity to hold on to the job he won last summer. Pineiro’s first NFL season was a roller coaster. His game-winning 53-yard field goal to beat the Broncos as time expired in Week 2 was undoubtedly the high point. Pineiro, though, also suffered through a slump in which he missed four field goals in a span of seven attempts in October and November, shaking coach Matt Nagy’s faith in him. Pineiro ended the year by making his final 11 field-goal attempts. But only two of those kicks came from beyond 35 yards. The Bears might bring in competition for Pineiro. But if they go down that road, they are unlikely to spend much to do so.
Don’t be surprised if …: The Bears reach an agreement to re-sign Patrick Scales, bringing him back for his sixth season as the long snapper. Scales has signed a one-year deal with the Bears in each of the last three years.
Extra point: Pat O’Donnell signed a two-year deal worth $3.5 million last offseason and rewarded the Bears with one of his best seasons. He averaged a career-best 40.7 net yards per punt and dropped 26 of his 80 punts inside the 20.


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan on his new 3-year deal: ‘My work here is not done’

“ You know your body , ” Trevathan said .
“ You know how to take care of it now @ @ @ @ @ mindset , you know football , so you know all of those work hand in @ @ @ @ @ want to do it , you have to sacrifice .
You have to take the @ @ @ @ @ yourself , be responsible and keep your mind strong .
”

Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan said the Bears “took good care of me” when they presented him with a three-year contract extension worth up to $24 million.
His goal now — after his return to the Bears became official Friday night — is to help take care of the team.
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“I feel like we have something special here,” Trevathan said on a conference call with reporters. “My work here is not done. We still have work to do. The whole goal is to bring a Super Bowl back here. I feel like we’re so close. I didn’t want to shy away from that.”
Trevathan played for the 2015 Broncos team that won the Super Bowl, so the eight-year NFL veteran knows something about playing for a championship team. The Bears again will lean on his leadership, on and off the field, as he pairs with inside linebacker Roquan Smith for a third straight season to set the tone for the defense.
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Neither ended his 2019 season the way he wanted to. Smith missed most of December with a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery. Trevathan had 70 tackles and four quarterback hits over his first nine games, but he didn’t play in the final seven because of a left elbow injury.
Bears inside linebacker Danny Trevathan warms up for a game against the Saints on Oct. 20, 2019, at Soldier Field. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
He said he is back to full strength and cleared to play.
“Obviously I was torn I couldn’t finish with my guys, with the team, the way I planned to,” Trevathan said. “I started off strong and I was just getting started. The best is yet to come.”
The Broncos drafted Trevathan out of Kentucky in the sixth round in 2012 — “I fought my way up from the bottom,” he said — and he played there for four seasons before signing his first four-year, $24.5 million contract with the Bears.
He has 327 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, 14 quarterback hits, six sacks, three forced fumbles and three interceptions over four seasons in Chicago. He has missed 16 games because of injury, but he played in all 16 in 2018 as the Bears advanced to the playoffs.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace said last month at the NFL combine that Trevathan is “an important part of what we’re doing," and he convinced the linebacker to return rather than test the free-agent market. Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson echoed Pace’s sentiment on WMVP-AM 1000 Friday.
“He’s a guy who has not only led this team but led another team that won a Super Bowl,” Robinson said. “Danny has a lot of experience, and not only experience, but he’s still playing at an extremely high level. Last year showed how much we missed having a player like him out on the field.”
Trevathan, who turns 30 on March 24, pointed to his start last year as proof he will be able to play at a high level as he ages.
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He said he listened to former Broncos teammates Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware talk about what is needed to succeed later in their careers. Both were in their 30s when they won the Super Bowl in Denver.
“You know your body,” Trevathan said. “You know how to take care of it now. And you know your mindset, you know football, so you know all of those work hand in hand. If you really want to do it, you have to sacrifice. You have to take the time to take care of yourself, be responsible and keep your mind strong.”
As Trevathan enters his third contract, he said he wants to work toward putting his name among the great Bears linebackers. And then he again mentioned that major thing that would help his career be remembered in Chicago.
“I also want to hold that trophy up,” he said.


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--Roselle man gets 6 years in prison for tuition scam at College of DuPage that authorities say netted

Roselle man gets 6 years in prison for tuition scam at College of DuPage that authorities say netted more than $200,000

Authorities say Ramey and a woman named Mary Allen with whom he lived obtained personal information from friends and people @ @ @ @ @ to COD and to obtain financial aid .
Once the aid had been given , @ @ @ @ @ would be withdrawn , resulting in tuition refunds .
Those people who received the reimbursements @ @ @ @ @ and the woman , authorities said .

A Roselle man who allegedly bilked more than $200,000 from the College of DuPage in a fraudulent tuition reimbursement scheme has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Cedric Ramey, 43, was given the prison term Thursday in DuPage County court, where he had pleaded guilty in December to a count of theft over $100,000 from a school or place of worship. Judge Alex McGimpsey also ordered Ramey to repay $216,000 to COD.
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Authorities say Ramey and a woman named Mary Allen with whom he lived obtained personal information from friends and people they knew to create admissions to COD and to obtain financial aid. Once the aid had been given, the admissions to the college would be withdrawn, resulting in tuition refunds. Those people who received the reimbursements would split them with Ramey and the woman, authorities said.
Over the course of two years, between 2012 and 2014, the scheme netted more than $200,000, prosecutors said. Authorities began an investigation in 2013 after a woman reported to the college that she received a tuition bill from COD but had never attended classes. The probe ended in the arrest of Ramey and Allen, 40.
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Allen pleaded guilty to forgery in December and received a 90-day jail sentence. She was ordered to reimburse COD in the amount of $9,000.
Ramey and Allen were the only people charged in the scheme, authorities said.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--Evanston mayor and health director use Facebook Live to update residents on city’s response to coron

Evanston mayor and health director use Facebook Live to update residents on city’s response to coronavirus threat

The virus has been shown to hit seniors the hardest , and Ogbo and Hagerty encouraged Evanstonians to check on @ @ @ @ @ Ask if they need groceries or errands run , reach out to people and talk @ @ @ @ @ said .

Facebook Live Coronavirus Q&A Posted by City of Evanston Illinois Government on Friday, March 13, 2020
Evanston’s mayor and public health director took to Facebook Live Friday afternoon to discuss the challenges facing the city as officials deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor Steve Hagerty and Health & Human Services Department Director Ike Ogbo were asked questions submitted by viewers in real time. While fewer than 100 people watched the discussion live, more than 1,700 people had watched it by Friday evening.
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“We’re no longer in the containment phase,” said Ogbo, about the disease that has spread globally.
“There are no easy decisions,” added Hagerty.
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The men discussed the drastic steps that Evanston officials took this week to try and control the spread of COVID-19.
Hagerty’s State of the City address scheduled for Friday was canceled, as was Saturday’s Robert Crown Community Center open house. Evanston/Skokie Dist. 65 and Evanston Township High School Dist. 202 schools are closed for one month, and students will be taking classes online from home.
After the discussion was recorded, Evanston Public Library announced all branches will close until April 12. The city’s first case of coronavirus was also reported at Northwestern University.
So much of the challenge, Ogbo said, is anticipating the unknown.
“This is a new virus,” Ogbo said, adding that there’s “still a lot to learn.”
On top of that, Ogbo said, situations like the one — where large numbers of residents are isolated at home so not to pick up the virus, or give it to others — can affect people’s mental health.
“Uncertainty can cause stress and mental health issues because you don’t know there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Ogbo said. “It can be a lonely place.”
The virus has been shown to hit seniors the hardest, and Ogbo and Hagerty encouraged Evanstonians to check on their friends and neighbors. Ask if they need groceries or errands run, reach out to people and talk to loved ones, Ogbo said.
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The two men also focused on the lack of tests, and the challenge that poses in identifying residents with the illness and knowing how far it has spread.
Until more are available, testing is restricted to those who have visited countries with an outbreak, been in contact with someone who has tested positive, or shows multiple symptoms and tests negative for other diseases, like flu.
Once the laws are lifted regarding who can have the test, “we will get a better idea” of how many people have coronavirus, Ogbo said.
Ogbo also thanked the city’s Medical Reserve Corps, a group of 40-45 volunteerswho are helping the health department deal with the pandemic.
“When it comes to an emergency we require all hands on deck,” he said.
Hagerty said he hopes to see a disaster relief bill passed to help small businesses, like those in Evanston affected by Northwestern University’s decision to extend spring break by one week and ask students not to return to campus afterward.
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“We’re all worried,” Hagerty said. “We’re all gonna have to weather this and it’s not going to be pretty.”


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--Deadspin relaunches in Chicago as sports leagues shut down over coronavirus

The first new stories published by Deadspin in more than four months include an exclusive interview with the NFL ’ @ @ @ @ @ the league ’ s proposed collective bargaining agreement reduces player safety and disability benefits .
@ @ @ @ @ postings steer clear of the coronavirus , but there is one story calling the World @ @ @ @ @ petri dish for disease ” and asking why it hasn ’ t been canceled yet @

Jim Rich, then-editor in chief at The New York Daily News in Manhattan in 2015. The publisher of the irreverent sports website Deadspin tapped Rich on Jan. 23, 2020, to lead rebuilding efforts. (Sasha Maslov/The New York Times)
Deadspin, the irreverent sports website that was shut down by an exodus of New York staffers in October, quietly relaunched in Chicago Friday, just as many pro and college sports came to a dead stop over coronavirus fears.
The website had planned to begin publishing in full on Monday, but opted for a softer and smaller launch in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“We are starting a little smaller than we had hoped, but that will change soon,” Editor-in-Chief Jim Rich said in a Thursday post on the Deadspin website announcing the relaunch.
Rich, a former editor-in-chief of the Tribune Publishing-owned New York Daily News, was named to the same role at Deadspin in January and tasked with rebuilding the dormant website.
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The timing of Deadspin’s resurrection may be less than optimal, dropping into a veritable sports news void with March Madness canceled, the NBA and NHL suspending their seasons and MLB pushing back opening day at least two weeks.
The first new stories published by Deadspin in more than four months include an exclusive interview with the NFL’s Eric Reid on how the league’s proposed collective bargaining agreement reduces player safety and disability benefits. Most of Friday’s postings steer clear of the coronavirus, but there is one story calling the World Series of Poker a “petri dish for disease” and asking why it hasn’t been canceled yet.
Deadspin owner G/O Media announced in January it was moving the sports website to Chicago to relaunch under the same roof as the co-owned humor site, The Onion.
That decision followed a months-long standoff between the digital media publisher and the union representing more than 20 writers and editors who resigned in protest over the website’s direction under private equity ownership.
A key point of contention between G/O Media and The Writers Guild of America, East, was editorial independence in light of an October mandate by management that Deadspin stick to sports-only content.
The issue remained unresolved and Deadspin took its ball and left for The Onion’s offices at 730 N. Franklin St. in Chicago.
As part of the move to Chicago, new editorial staffers at Deadspin will be represented by a different local of The Writers Guild of America, East, which The Onion joined in 2018.
Boston-based private equity firm Great Hill Partners bought G/O Media, formerly Gizmodo Media Group, from Spanish-language broadcaster Univision for an undisclosed price in April.
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“I’ve always believed in the maxim, ‘show, don’t tell,’ so you won’t hear any grand pronouncements from me — our journalism will speak for itself,” Rich said in his website post. “Right now, we are building our team as we go and expect to be at full force in the coming weeks/months.”
In his post, Rich named four full-time and two freelance writers as part of the new staff. None of the new hires were among the 20 staffers that resigned from Deadspin in October, Matt Goodman, a spokesman for G/O Media, said Friday.
In classic Deadspin fashion, the headline on Rich’s inaugural offering reflects both the website’s acrimonious New York departure and its sometimes dark humor.
“Good News! Deadspin Is Publishing Again. Bad News For Those Unhappy With That? None Of Us Have The Coronavirus Yet.”
rchannick@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--Schools, park district buildings closing in Franklin Park due to coronavirus

All Park District of Franklin Park facilities , including the Community Center , Centre at North Park , and the @ @ @ @ @ 3 p.m. Friday ( March 13 ) and all activities are cancelled , according to @ @ @ @ @ communications manager .
Most facilities are scheduled to reopen on April 6 .
There is @ @ @ @ @ the re-opening of the Ice Arena .

All schools and park district facilities in Franklin Park were scheduled to close Friday March 13 as a precautionary measure during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Franklin Park at this time, according to an email from Mayor Barrett Pedersen.
Elementary and high school
Schools in Franklin Park School District 84 and Leyden Township High School District 212 had their last day of in-school learning on March 13, and all school-related activities were cancelled. Classes at Leyden will be conducted via E-Learning March 16 through March 27, followed by the scheduled spring break. Classes at all schools are scheduled to resume on April 6, though that could change.
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Both school districts are working together to coordinate food preparation and delivery service of breakfasts and lunches to students in the community who rely on meals from school, according to District 212 Superintendent Dr. Nick Polyak.
Park District of Franklin Park
All Park District of Franklin Park facilities, including the Community Center, Centre at North Park, and the Ice Arena were scheduled to close at 3 p.m. Friday (March 13) and all activities are cancelled, according to Marco Galassini, marketing and communications manager. Most facilities are scheduled to reopen on April 6. There is not a confirmed date for the re-opening of the Ice Arena.
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Village Hall will remain open on a very limited basis. Residents are encouraged to pay their bills online or use the outdoor drop box. If residents have concerns about their bills, they can call Village Hall at (847) 671-4800 for assistance. Meals on Wheels service will continue. Pedersen’s assistant, Dafne Henriquez, says the village is communicating with residents regularly through email and reverse 911 calls.
Franklin Park Library
The Franklin Park Public Library has closed.
“As everybody else, we will monitor the situation and have to adapt if things change,” said Director Marie Saeli on Friday.


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--A 'suspected’ COVID-19 case reported to Deerfield District 113 prompts officials to cancel school Fr

A 'suspected’ COVID-19 case reported to Deerfield District 113 prompts officials to cancel school Friday

`` Our next step is to sanitize both schools , the transportation building and the administration building , ” Law @ @ @ @ @ that people may need to come back into the buildings to retrieve items .
We @ @ @ @ @ safe to allow people to enter the buildings and the process for retrieving items .
@

Township High School District 113 canceled classes Friday at both of its high schools after a suspected case of the new coronavirus was reported to administrators at Deerfield High School, officials said.
In a statement to families Thursday evening, Superintendent Bruce Law stated the suspected case of COVID-19 hasn’t been confirmed by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The cancellation applies to both students and staff, he stated.
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"Our next step is to sanitize both schools, the transportation building and the administration building,” Law stated. “We understand that people may need to come back into the buildings to retrieve items. We will communicate when it is safe to allow people to enter the buildings and the process for retrieving items.”
Until further notice, only workers designated as “critical personnel” will be allowed into District 113 facilities, Law stated.
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Karen Warner, spokeswoman for District 113, said the suspected case that was reported to administrators comes from a relative of a student and/or staff member. Officials moved to shut down facilities out of an abundance of caution, she said.
The district also doesn’t know when test results related to the suspected case will be confirmed, she said.
Officials also are planning to make Monday and Tuesday a preparation day at both Deerfield and Highland Park high schools and then use e-learning days hopefully by Wednesday, Warner stated.
She also confirmed that officials anticipate students will be doing e-learning remotely until April 14, meaning school buildings will be closed until then. But she added how the situation remains fluid and could change given the circumstances.
“We would communicate to you about the status of school the week of April 6,” Law stated in his letter to families.
The district board still needs to approve an e-learning plan after the Lake County Regional Office of Education approved it this week. District board members are scheduled to approve the plan during a meeting Monday.
The decision to cancel classes Friday comes after District 113 announced it canceled all extracurricular and athletic activities until at least through the end of its spring break March 29.
The global coronavirus crisis has forced an uncountable number of closings and cancellations in the Chicago area. On Thursday, state officials announced a ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people for the next 30 days as part of an effort to try and contain the rapidly spreading coronavirus in Illinois.
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State officials also announced Thursday evening that seven new patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the outbreak to 32.
jnorman@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-14--Dad questioned after infant boy found deceased inside Lawndale home, 3 other children taken to hospi

Dad questioned after infant boy found deceased inside Lawndale home, 3 other children taken to hospital, officials said

The man said Friday around 7 a.m. his infant would not stop crying , so he “ continually struck him @ @ @ @ @ the report said .
`` As his hits got harder , the infant went unresponsive @ @

A man was arrested after his baby boy was found deceased inside a home with three other injured children who were taken to a hospital Saturday afternoon on the West Side.
The 26-year-old man walked into the 11th District police station on the city’s West Side around 1 p.m. and told desk officers that he killed his baby, who was 5-months-old, according to a police report.
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The man said Friday around 7 a.m. his infant would not stop crying, so he “continually struck him in the back,'' the report said. "As his hits got harder, the infant went unresponsive.''
Officers rushed to the home in the 500 block of South California Avenue, but Solomon Greer, 5 months old, was unresponsive and pronounced dead on the scene at 1:56 p.m. Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
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Three other children in the home — a 2-year-old girl, a 3-year-old boy and a 5-year-old boy — were taken to Stroger Hospital for “medical evaluation,” because they suffered signs of apparent malnutrition, officials said.
An autopsy will be performed Sunday on Solomon, who lived on the same block where he was found, the medical examiner’s office said.
The 26-year-old man was placed under arrest but no charges have been filed, police said.
Check back for details.
rsobol@chicagotribune.con


chicagotribune--2020-03-14--Oak Park, River Forest coronavirus response: park districts, public libraries closed, parking restri

Oak Park, River Forest coronavirus response: park districts, public libraries closed, parking restrictions eased

Customer service staff will be available at 708-725-2000 during regular service hours from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through @ @ @ @ @ 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday .
You can also email info @ pdop.org .

In response to the spread of the coronavirus, the Oak Park Public Library has closed all three of its buildings until further notice. (Steve Schering / Pioneer Press)
In response to the spread of the coronavirus, local park districts, libraries and other entities in Oak Park and River Forest have shut down or severely curtailed operations. .
Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has caused Gov. J.B. Pritzker to cancel classes at all public and private schools throughout Illinois until March 30.
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Prior to the governor’s order, Oak Park and River Forest High School, Oak Park District 97 and River Forest District 90 canceled classes. They will instead engage in e-learning activities.
The spread of the virus has also affected several other operations throughout both villages:
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Park District of Oak Park
The Park District of Oak Park cancelled all recreation programs and closed all of its facilities at 5 p.m. March 13. Public parks and dog parks, however, will remain open.
The decision is in alignment with actions being taken by Oak Park and River Forest High School, Oak Park District 97 and River Forest District 90, officials said.
Park District officials said program cancellations and facility closures are expected to remain in effect through March 30, however, staff will re-evaluate that decision on March 26 to determine the state of the virus.
Anyone who has registered for a program will be contacted by a program supervisor in the near future regarding program make-ups or refunds.
Customer service staff will be available at 708-725-2000 during regular service hours from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. You can also email info@pdop.org.
River Forest Park District
After consideration of information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding social distancing, the River Forest Park District has postponed all of its programs and closed its indoor facilities through March 29.
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All parks and open spaces will continue to be open, however, and users are encouraged to observe social distancing and preventative measure practices.
The park district offices will continue to be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, however, the registration counter will be closed.
Participants wishing to register for a program can use the park district website at www.rfparks.com, or by calling 708-366-6660.
Oak Park Village Hall
As calls for social distancing continue to grow, residents are asked to consider seeking municipal services online, which may eliminate the need to visit Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
Village hall was closed March 17 and 18 to undergo additional cleaning and sanitation. According to staff, about 2,500 people visited the building within a 72-hour period to cast early ballots in the primary election.
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Links to various village services are available at www.oak-park.us/onlineservices. Online options include parking permits and licenses, water bill payments and pet license renewals.
The latest updates on COVID-19 in the community will be posted online at www.oak-park.us/covid19.
Oak Park parking
In response to the spread of the coronavirus, the village of Oak Park is temporarily easing its parking restrictions.
According to village officials, on-street, overnight and daytime parking restrictions, except for weekly street cleaning, will not be enforced on most residential streets from 2:30 a.m. March 14 through March 31.
Restrictions are currently set to resume at 2:30 a.m. April 1.
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Officials note restrictions are not lifted in metered or pay station spaces, or paid overnight permit areas.
All other parking regulations related to traffic and public safety remain in effect.
River Forest Village Hall
Out of an abundance of caution, River Forest officials have canceled all non-critical meetings and events through March 30. This includes local boards and commissions. Officials say that date could be extended based on future information.
Beginning March 18, the village of River Forest will conduct village hall operations only online or over the phone, officials announced. Although there have been no suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff, the decision was made with safety in mind and to prevent the spread of the virus, officials said.
Essential operations and services offered through the police, fire and public works will continue.
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To speak with staff, residents are asked to call 708-366-8500.
Oak Park Public Library
The Oak Park Public Library has closed all three of its buildings until further notice, and will post updates at www.oppl.org/covid19.
The closures affect the main branch, 834 Lake St., the Dole branch, 255 Augusta St., and the Maze branch, 845 Gunderson Ave.
All three buildings, however, were prepared to serve as polling places during the March 17 primary election, even while the library is closed for regular services.
River Forest Public Library
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The River Forest Public Library announced its building and exterior book drop returns will remain closed through at least March 29.
Patrons are asked to keep their library materials at home until the library reopens. There will be no fines assessed and patrons will not be receiving overdue notices as all due dates will be extended until May 1.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @steveschering


chicagotribune--2020-03-13--Elmwood Park grappling with coronavirus concerns

All schools in Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 will be closed , and all activities cancelled after today @ @ @ @ @ performance of “ Shrek : The Musical ” will still go on as scheduled but @ @ @ @ @ , according to a newsletter from District 401 Superintendent Dr. Nicolas Wade .
From March @ @ @ @ @ classes will be conducted via E-Learning , followed by the scheduled spring break .

Elmwood Park is taking precautionary measures and making adjustments during the coronavirus pandemic.
All schools in Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 were closed, and all activities cancelled after March 13, though the Friday evening performance of “Shrek: The Musical” was scheduled to go on but be limited to 250 attendees, according to a newsletter from District 401 Superintendent Dr. Nicolas Wade. From March 16 through March 20, classes were scheduled to be conducted via E-Learning, followed by the scheduled spring break.
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Onsite classes and activities were scheduled to be cancelled through March 29, though it has not been confirmed that the schools will re-open after that date.
“We’re going to re-evaluate as we get closer and we’re going to proceed from there,” said Wade. “But we are prepared to go longer if needed.”
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John Mills Elementary, Elmwood Elementary and Elm Middle School were scheduled to still be open as polling places for primary election voting on March 17.
Parks and Recreation
All activities, programs and events sponsored by and held at the Parks & Recreation center will be cancelled until further notice, according to Village Manager Paul Volpe.
“It’s a precautionary measure,” he said. “It’s not like we encountered any incidents, it’s just a precautionary measure to ensure everybody’s safety and that we don’t potentially spread what could be dangerous.”
Elmwood Park Library
The Elmwood Park Public Library has closed. Tiffany Verzani, library director, indicated all currently checked-out materials have had their due dates changed to May 1.
The library is encouraging patrons to keep materials at home until it re-opens, and to not return items to the Library’s book drops. Any items returned during the closure will not be charged any fines.
For those who need access to the internet, the library noted on its website that its WiFi network extends to parking spaces behind, directly in front of, and across the street from the building. Patrons may park there and use the free wifi.
The library also encouraged patrons to use its digital offerings.


chicagotribune--2020-03-11--Ask Amy: Family should step in to protect sister, kids

I saw him with his family at a recent dinner party .
He said he wanted to have coffee sometime @ @ @ @ @ like to get to know me better .
I was polite and hoped nothing would @ @ @ @ @ he recently emailed me and asked to get a drink .

Dear Readers: Every year I step away from my daily column to work on other creative projects. I've gathered some topical "Best Of" columns from 10 years ago. (Some content has been lightly edited.) I'll be back in two weeks with fresh columns.
Dear Amy: My sister and her husband have been married for almost 20 years. They have a volatile relationship, and say and do hurtful things to each other.
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During a recent argument, my brother-in-law yelled obscenities at my sister and spit in her face twice because she was trying to ignore his ranting. He has also pulled her hair and pushed her.
She tries to stay calm and ignore him, which makes him angrier. She tries to keep the peace because of her two older teenagers who live at home.
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I am afraid that someone will be injured, arrested, or even killed.
I am also upset that her children have grown up witnessing this. Both kids have anger issues.
Should our family talk to my brother-in-law? He can be a fun, nice guy.
We talked to my sister about getting professional help, but this has been going on for years.
She is funny, extremely well-liked and very attractive. I believe he is jealous of her. How can we help?
— Worried Sibling
Dear Worried: Your family should advocate for your sister and the children by urging her to get help immediately and to leave this marriage safely. This situation is violent. Witnessing this has already affected the kids. Your family should do everything possible to protect them.
I read your letter to Cory Ryan, executive director of Connections for Abused Women and Their Children, in Chicago. She responds, "This is very alarming. It is a dangerous situation. It is important that this woman get help from people who will not judge her.
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"Children who grow up in violent homes suffer trauma; there is a risk that they will become violent.
"Concerned friends or family members could call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for advice on how to address this and learn of local resources. This woman needs to have a safety plan and legal advocacy."
Call the hotline at 800-799-SAFE, or visit thehotline.org.
September 2010
Dear Amy: You regularly condone and even encourage sex without the benefit of marriage.
I wonder if you have ever considered how many of society's problems can be traced back to this. Please consider for a moment what the world would be like if sex occurred only inside of marriage.
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The number of unwanted pregnancies would be decimated. Abortion would be eliminated. Few, if any, children would grow up in a single-parent home. Imagine what would happen to the welfare system! What if almost everyone grew up in stable, two-parent homes? It boggles the mind, doesn't it?
— K
Dear K: Getting married does not prevent children from growing up in single-parent homes. People have been marrying and dissolving their marriages for a long time.
Many two-parent homes are unstable, and some stable families are led by two parents who, until recently, couldn't legally marry.
Consenting adults can and will have sex regardless of what you (or I) say. It's not my business, and as long as it doesn't injure or harm anyone, involve the kids or break up another relationship or family, it shouldn't be your business, either.
March 2010
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Dear Amy: I am a 32-year-old single woman with many married friends. Recently, I went to a concert with some couples, and also a married man who didn't bring his wife.
In the back seat of a car on the way home, he tried to kiss me. I pulled away. The next day when he sent me an email saying he had a good time, I didn't respond.
I saw him with his family at a recent dinner party. He said he wanted to have coffee sometime, and that he'd like to get to know me better. I was polite and hoped nothing would come of it, but he recently emailed me and asked to get a drink.
He is a nice person. I don't want to assume he wants to have an affair. How do I respond?
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 >
— Troubled Single
Dear Troubled: You say he's a "nice person," but nice (and married) men don't try to force kisses on disinterested women in the back seats of cars, and nice men don't do end runs around their wives and kids at a dinner party.
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In those old movies I love, this guy would be called "a prize heel."
August 2010
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--2020-03-11--Leslie Marmon Silko wins $100,000 arts academy prize; Alex Kotlowitz also recognized

The academy announced Wednesday that the 72-year-old Silko is this year 's winner of the Christopher Lightfoot Walker Award for @ @ @ @ @ American literature .
A key member of the so-called “ Native American Renaissance ” that @ @ @ @ @ she is known for her poems and stories and for such novels as “ Ceremony @ @ @ @ @ the Dead.
” She said winning the Walker award encouraged her about the current state @ @ @

Author Leslie Marmon Silko has won a $100,000 lifetime achievement prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. (HANDOUT)
NEW YORK (AP) — Leslie Marmon Silko, winner of a lifetime achievement award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, sees universal reach in her writings about her Laguna Pueblo heritage.
“I'm especially proud of asserting the notion that we indigenous people are citizens of the world,” she said in a recent telephone interview. “I've tried in my fiction to reflect that we have the same underpinnings, mythologically, that the Greeks and Romans and Scandinavians have given to the culture.”
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The academy announced Wednesday that the 72-year-old Silko is this year's winner of the Christopher Lightfoot Walker Award for “significant contribution” to American literature. A key member of the so-called “Native American Renaissance” that began in the 1960s, she is known for her poems and stories and for such novels as “Ceremony” and “Almanac of the Dead.” She said winning the Walker award encouraged her about the current state of reading.
“It has seemed that literature and books and writing have gone into decline in the digital age,” she said. “I had forgotten that there are people who still love literature, serious literature.”
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The Lightfoot award is a biannual prize first given in 2018 to Thomas Pynchon.
Author Alex Kotlowitz won a $20,000 prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The academy awarded prizes to 19 writers overall, 13 of them women. Chicago author Alex Kotlowitz received the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award, a $20,000 prize recognizing the quality of a writer’s prose style. The honors include $10,000 prizes for “exceptional achievement” to Viet Thanh Nguyen, Wayne Koestenbaum, Marie Arana, Sandra Lim and four others. Author and foreign correspondent Janine di Giovanni won the $25,000 Blake-Dodd prize for nonfiction, Christine Schutt received the $20,000 Katherine Anne Porter Award for prose writing and Mary Ruefle won the $20,000 Arthur Rense Poetry Prize.
Valeria Luiselli received a $10,000 prize for “a young writer of considerable literary talent” for her novel “Lost Children Archive.” The E.M. Forster Award, a $10,000 honor for an outstanding young writer from Ireland or the United Kingdom, was given to the Belfast poet Stephen Sexton.
The academy is an honor society founded in 1898.


chicagotribune--2020-03-09--Ask Anna: A terminal disease and a wife’s best friend upend a dying man’s marriage

But you ’ re not gone yet .
What matters is now and the time you have left .
It @ @ @ @ @ to be alone , of course .
And if you want to spend the remainder @ @ @ @ @ and full of anger , then that ’ s your right .
But if any @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not enough , that wants to experience some of the love , support @ @ @ @ @ of almost four decades , then I ’ d ask you to reconsider .
Talk @ @ @ @ @ how deeply hurt you are .
Tell her your fears and regrets and worries and @ @ @ @ @ her , and listen to her vulnerabilities as well .

“Ask Anna” is a sex column. Because of the nature of the topic, some columns contain language some readers may find graphic.
Dear Anna,
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I have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and started oxygen therapy a few months ago. I know based on my dad, uncle and older brothers that I have about two years left. I am not bitter. My family owned a successful paint manufacturing business for a long time, and it came with many rewards and a few detriments.
My wife of 35+ years has been a great partner, and I have three beautiful girls who are very happy, successful and married to terrific guys. My wife has a friend of 40+ years whom she adores. He dated her before me, but they broke up because he was “a player” and she wanted to get married young and have kids, like her parents. He never married.
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She has always been close to Jim, and he is the godfather of one of my daughters. He is a friend to all of us and has been very generous with all my girls. He has told me that my wife is “the one he shouldn’t have let get away.”
We had an argument about my future, and I said that I wanted to move to a state where I can have euthanasia rights. My wife doesn’t want to move with me, and that is fine, but what really hurts is that she mentioned Jim as one of the reasons. I know that she never fooled around with Jim, but I also know now that she and Jim have discussed a future relationship after I’m gone.
I am in Washington now and have found a place to stay while I move on to my next phase in life. I am so hurt and angry with both of them that I can’t speak with either. I’ve had some very bad thoughts about the two of them. I speak to my daughters almost every day, and they understand my feelings, but they think that I should stay with my wife, who says that she wants to be with me till the end, just as she promised at our wedding. Right now, I can’t. WTF should I do besides keeping the cannabis industry afloat? I get wasted every day and then feel better for a while. — Distraught
Dear Distraught,
What an insanely hard situation to be in. You seem to be extremely pragmatic and levelheaded about your end-of-life care, which I find impressive and admirable. However, I think you’re also trying to be rational and pragmatic about your feelings, which doesn’t really work, at least not in the way we hope it will.
You’re clearly angry with your wife and her would-be suitor/your friend, and that is entirely understandable. However, I would urge you to consider not spending the rest of your time on earth steeped in anger, bitterness and numb/wasted.
You don’t say where you moved away from, or if Washington is near or far from where your wife is, but regardless of physical distance, I would urge you to make up with her. Why? For your peace of mind, first off.
Even if your estimate is correct and you have two years to live, that’s still two years of aliveness to account for. But you’re acting as if you’re already dead, or that your wife has left you for this other person when, in fact, the opposite is true. You have left her. Your wife of 35+ years. I’m sure you have your reasons. Euthanasia rights is one, as you said. And perhaps also you moved away, so that your loved ones don’t have to see you suffer. Maybe you’re trying to shield them from the pain you’re experiencing by hiding it from them.
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My father was the same way. He managed to hide not one but two bouts of lung cancer from his mother. And when he eventually died this summer, I didn’t know he was even in the hospital until it was too late to reach him. Neither I nor my brother got to say goodbye to him.
He often did this while alive. Not wanting to “worry” us, so not saying anything at all. He chose to suffer in silence. Some stubbornness, too, perhaps. I want to tell you not to be stubborn, Distraught. You seem to have accepted your own death with relative calm, and even ease, so why not also accept that the lives of those you love will continue after you’re gone? Will it matter to you that your wife finds comfort in a relationship with a dear friend after you’re dead? No. Because you’ll be dead.
But you’re not gone yet. What matters is now and the time you have left. It’s possible you want to be alone, of course. And if you want to spend the remainder of your time here wasted and full of anger, then that’s your right. But if any part of you thinks that’s not enough, that wants to experience some of the love, support and comfort from your partner of almost four decades, then I’d ask you to reconsider. Talk to her. Tell her how deeply hurt you are. Tell her your fears and regrets and worries and angers. Be vulnerable with her, and listen to her vulnerabilities as well.
I imagine you’re experiencing lots of unpleasantness over this — betrayal, rejection, jealousy, a feeling of not being chosen, disrespected, hurt, maybe even that your choices aren’t being respected, as you decided to move away from the life you built and she did not. Not to mention the grief and the physical and emotional discomforts of your illness. It’s a lot. No wonder you’re distraught, Distraught.
What will help you feel less so is not to push the feelings away or numb them with cannabis — which, as you said, is a temporary fix, at best. Feelings exist to be felt — they don’t go away because we want them to. They’re assholes that way. It’s time to confront them, first in yourself and then with your wife. Hating someone — even someone who we think deserves it — is another temporary fix that won’t actually make you feel better. It’s not satisfying in the long run and uses up your already limited energy stores.
You say you’re mad that your wife didn’t want to move with you, in part, “because of Jim.” And I get that. But also presumably she had other reasons that had nothing to do with him, like not wanting to uproot the life she built (with you), her community, her resources and friends — all things she will very much need when you are gone. Can you step into her shoes and try to view her perspective through a loving lens? If your situations were reversed, what would you want for yourself, for a life without her? How might you see it differently?
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I’m not taking sides here — I’d be wildly pissed if I were you, but I also want you to live out the rest of your life the best way you can. And you can’t do that without forgiveness. Open your heart, Distraught. Let those who want to love you, love you. My father didn’t give me a chance to be there for him, and the negative impacts of that have been far-reaching. Don’t let bitterness consume you. Let love.


chicagotribune--2020-02-05--Former Outcome Health executive Ashik Desai settles SEC fraud allegations

Desai , 26 , pleaded guilty to the criminal charges against him in December , and agreed to cooperate with @ @ @ @ @ .
His agreement with the SEC will remain in place regardless of proceedings in the @ @ @ @ @ the court documents filed Tuesday .

A former executive of Outcome Health reached a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission involving allegations he was aware of and participated in a “fraud at the core” of the Chicago company.
The SEC filed a lawsuit against Ashik Desai in November, alleging he and three other former executives committed securities fraud in raising roughly $487 million in financing. It sought the return of allegedly ill-gotten gains, plus interest and penalties.
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The settlement was filed in Chicago federal court on Tuesday. Any monetary relief and penalties will be determined later.
SEC allegations still stand against three other former Outcome Health executives named in the lawsuit, including former CEO Rishi Shah, former president Shradha Agarwal and Brad Purdy, who held various roles, including chief financial officer and chief operating officer.
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The four former executives also face criminal charges for their alleged roles in a nearly $1 billion fraud scheme at Outcome Health. Shah, Agarwal and Purdy pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Desai, 26, pleaded guilty to the criminal charges against him in December, and agreed to cooperate with the government’s investigation. His agreement with the SEC will remain in place regardless of proceedings in the criminal case, according to the court documents filed Tuesday.
Desai served as Outcome’s executive vice president of business growth and analytics.
Outcome Health was once celebrated among Chicago tech companies, but the company has faced turmoil in recent years as it dealt with the fallout of the alleged fraud scheme.
Former Outcome Health CEO Rishi Shah walks Dec. 16, 2019 outside the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after pleading not guilty. (Raquel Zaldivar / Chicago Tribune)
The company installs screens and tablets in doctor’s offices and waiting rooms that run pharmaceutical ads and educational content. It gained widespread attention in 2017 when it secured funding from big-name investors and rose to a valuation of about $5.5 billion, a number unmatched among Chicago tech companies.
“Unfortunately, the narrative Outcome spun for prospective investors was a sham," the SEC lawsuit states. "In reality, Outcome’s success was built largely on a simple and pervasive fraud: Outcome was routinely billing clients — and recognizing revenue — for ads it never ran.”
amarotti@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @AllyMarotti


chicagotribune--2020-03-14--Ask Amy: Future stepmom doesn't want to create Cinderfella

You should always strive for the long view .
A good relationship is more important than an orderly home .
@ @ @ @ @ time to adjust , and offer him opportunities to self-govern .
He may have ideas @ @ @ @ @ useful around the house .
You should ask him to choose ways to contribute , @ @ @ @ @ he flakes out , and give him credit when he does well .

Dear Readers: Every year I step away from my daily column to work on other creative projects. I've gathered some topical "Best Of" columns from 10 years ago. (Some content has been lightly edited.) I'll be back in two weeks with fresh columns.
Dear Amy: My fiance and his 12-year-old son recently moved in with me, and I want to set some household boundaries without coming across like an evil stepmom.
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My stepson-to-be is a good kid, but doesn't do the little things around the house that I would like him to do, like pushing in his chair after dinner, putting his own dishes in the dishwasher after a meal, putting the toilet seat down, taking out the garbage (his chore) unless asked, etc.
I'm pretty agreeable (although I'll admit I am used to order and like things neat), but think that if we're going to keep the house clean and presentable, we can each do our part.
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On the other hand, I can also see these requests coming across as controlling, and I want to try to avoid that.
His dad is always supportive of anything I ask and will ask his son to do these things if I ask him to. I just wanted to give it a go on my own first to establish some authority. Any suggestions?
— Stepmom-to-be
Dear Stepmom: This adolescent is doing what all kids his age do. Sometimes he'll remember to do things without prompting, and sometimes he'll forget. Sometimes he'll be agreeable and sometimes, not so much. You should not waste your real authority and interrupt the positive growth of this relationship over something as trivial as neglecting to push in a chair after eating.
Stepparents have a tricky role to play in the life of a child. The first thing you should establish is your warmth, trust, affection and friendship. This takes time. After trust is established, the authority will flow from that.
For the initial period of your cohabiting, his father should review the rules of the house with him and face the music in terms of any pushback. You should see him as the primary parent, and you as a supportive back-up.
You should always strive for the long view. A good relationship is more important than an orderly home. Give the boy plenty of time to adjust, and offer him opportunities to self-govern. He may have ideas for ways he can be useful around the house. You should ask him to choose ways to contribute, go easy on him when he flakes out, and give him credit when he does well.
August 2010
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Dear Amy: I have been in a book group of about 10 members for eight years. About a year ago, I invited a neighbor -- let's call her "Fanny Dashwood" -- to join the group without knowing her well.
This was a mistake; she is abrasive, pushy, and rude.
Whenever my two close friends (other members of the group) and I do something together, Fanny confronts us, drilling us about why she was not invited. When we have larger gatherings that are book group-based, we do invite her.
A member of the book group is planning a camping trip for a family occasion; several members are going because they have known this family for many years. When Fanny found out, she confronted the woman at the meeting, saying, "Is it a book group camping trip?" Then, Fanny invited herself and her two large dogs on the trip, to our dismay.
We don't want her in the group anymore, and she is not welcome on the trip. How should we handle this?
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 >
— Mean in Minnesota
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Dear Mean?: Because you invited Fanny into the group, you must politely hold the door for her exit. You say, "Fanny, I'm so sorry, but this is not working out. Because you are such a divisive member of the book group, I'm going to have to ask you to step aside. I'm very sorry, but this isn't a good fit."
The person hosting the camping trip should handle this uninvited guest, herself. Fanny may stomp and hiss, but she was doing this anyway. Turn the page on this episode, and start a new chapter. And remember: It's a "book group," not a "friend group."
Your "Fanny Dashwood" is a Jane Austen character come to life, so I'll leave you with a quote from Mansfield Park: "If one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better..."
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--2020-03-11--Leftover corned beef, mashed potatoes get post-St. Patrick’s Day upgrade in an easy Irish Benedict

3 .
Arrange the scones about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets .
Chill uncovered in the fridge for @ @ @ @ @ or up to 3 hours , or cover and chill for up to two days @ @ @ @ @ beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water , and brush the egg wash @ @ @ @ @ lightly sprinkle with the demerara sugar .
Bake until the scones are lightly golden-brown and @ @ @ @ @ 15 to 20 minutes .
( Every oven is different , so start checking at @ @ @ @ @ to turn the pan about halfway through baking if you know your oven heats unevenly @ @ @ @ @ the pan on a rack for at least 20 minutes before glazing .
( See @ @ @

St. Patrick’s Day is, for me, mostly an excuse to make corned beef and cabbage, served with a pile of creamy mashed potatoes, maybe some soda bread, and a great stout or porter.
What I face the following morning is a bowl of leftover mash, a chunk of meat, a couple wedges of cabbage, and not much desire to cobble that back together into a repeat meal.
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What I do have, it turns out, is the start of a terrific breakfast.
Colcannon — the traditional Irish blend of mashed potatoes and cooked vegetables often turned into a second-day mix designed to stretch leftovers — is a natural for a pan-fried patty.
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And once you have that, it is only a small series of logical steps to get to an Irish Benedict. Colcannon patties topped with quickly sauteed slices of leftover corned beef, poached eggs and a super-fast creamy Irish cheddar sauce make for a hearty and delicious breakfast or brunch.
Even if you aren’t planning a corned beef-and-cabbage dinner, you can easily pull this together. Just ask your deli counter to slice the corned beef extra thick or source some Irish bacon. (And if you decide to buy mashed potatoes from the prepared food section, no one will be the wiser.)
If you don’t have leftover cabbage, you can roast wedges in a 400-degree oven until they are soft, or swap in leftover cooked spinach, leeks, kale or Swiss chard.
Since I happen to think every morning meal should have a balance of salty and sweet, and scones are a terrific and traditional morning bake, it was an easy leap to making a version chock-full of sharp Irish cheddar and creamy Irish butter.
Apple and cheddar are a natural pairing, but fresh apple can make pastries like this a bit stodgy, and the subtle apple flavor gets lost. Dried apple brings an intensity of the fruit flavor that can stand up to the cheddar and gives nice little nuggets of chew. A glaze made with hard cider and apple butter enhances the apple flavor, with a tiny splash of Irish whiskey for a little extra punch.
Your guests might just kiss you — even if you aren’t Irish.
Colcannon patties
Prep: 10 minutes
Chill: 30 minutes
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Cook: 6 minutes per batch
Makes: 8 servings
These little patties of leftover mashed potatoes and cabbage are a perfect foil for eggs. They can also be a wonderful light lunch with a salad, or a side dish for just about any dinner. You can even make miniature ones and top with sour cream for a canape. It is a great dish to have in your back pocket for leftover mashed potatoes. If you have actually made colcannon, then just use 3 cups of that, and adjust seasonings accordingly.
2 cups cold, leftover mashed potatoes
1 cup leftover cooked cabbage, chopped fine
½ teaspoon kosher salt
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¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup flour, plus more for dredging
1 large egg, beaten
1 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons canola oil
To assemble:
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8 slices thick-sliced corned beef, browned lightly in a skillet and halved (or 8 slices Irish bacon, cooked)
8 poached eggs, cooked to your preferred doneness
Cheddar sauce, see recipe
Chopped chives
1. Mix the cold mashed potatoes with the cooked cabbage, salt and pepper until well combined. Add the raw eggs and then the flour, mixing well to combine. Every mashed potato recipe is different, so you might need a bit more flour if you think your mix is too loose; add in tablespoons until you get a mixture that can be formed into patties. Chill this mixture for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours so the flour fully hydrates and the mix firms up.
2. Divide the mixture into eight portions; form into patties, each about 3 inches across. Dredge the patties in flour; pat off the excess. If the patties feel soft, place in the fridge to firm up, about 20 minutes. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil and butter together until the butter stops foaming. Fry the patties until golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes per side. If not serving right away, hold on a baking sheet in a 200-degree oven for up to an hour.
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3. To assemble, place two patties on each plate, or put all eight on a serving platter. Top each with two half-slices of corned beef, or one slice of Irish bacon. Add a poached egg to each, and then a generous spoonful of the cheddar sauce. Garnish with chopped chives; serve immediately with any extra cheese sauce on the side.
Nutrition information per serving: 136 calories, 8 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 35 mg cholesterol, 12 g carbohydrates, 1 g sugar, 3 g protein, 301 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
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Cheddar sauce
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Makes: about 2 cups
This rich cheese sauce is much easier to make than hollandaise, but the sharp cheddar brings the same punch as lemon, so you get all the benefits of a creamy, tangy sauce with half the hassle. It can even be made ahead and reheated; you might need to add extra milk when reheating if it has thickened too much.
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons flour
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1 ½ cups whole milk
4 ounces sharp Irish cheddar, grated finely
Salt and ground white pepper to taste
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. When the butter stops foaming, sprinkle the flour over it and whisk while it cooks to remove the raw flour taste, about 1 minute. Pour in the milk and whisk to combine, then continue to cook for a couple of minutes until it thickens slightly — it should be the consistency of a crepe batter, but still fairly liquid. Stir in the grated cheese and whisk until well combined. Season to taste with salt and ground white pepper. (This is also a terrific sauce for a fast mac and cheese.)
Nutrition information per tablespoon: 38 calories, 3 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 9 mg cholesterol, 1 g carbohydrates, 1 g sugar, 1 g protein, 27 mg sodium, 0 g fiber
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Apple cheddar scones get a kiss of Irish whiskey with a drizzle of hard cider glaze. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune; Shannon Kinsella/food styling)
Apple cheddar scones with hard cider and whiskey glaze
Prep: 40 minutes
Bake: 15-20 minutes
Makes: 24 small triangular scones, or 12 large squares or wedges
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3 cups flour
½ cup granulated sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, cubed
7 ounces coarsely grated Irish sharp white cheddar
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4 ounces dried apple rings, chopped finely
1 cup heavy cream
3 eggs
1 ½ tablespoons demerara sugar
Glaze, see recipe
1. Heat your oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt to combine. Cut the butter into the dry mixture until you have a mix that looks like coarse breadcrumbs. Toss the cheddar and chopped dried apple into the mix until well combined. Beat two eggs with the cream until combined; stir into the mix, blending and kneading just until you have a cohesive dough, and there are no dry streaks of flour left. Be careful not to over mix or the scones will become tough.
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2. On a lightly floured board, with a floured rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle about 8 inches wide and 10 inches long, which should be approximately an inch thick. Using a bench scraper or knife, cut into 12 squares measuring 3-by-3 inches. If you want smaller scones, cut each square on the bias into two triangles. You can also cut these out with round cutters of any size you like — just adjust baking time accordingly. If you prefer a traditional wedge look, divide your dough in half, then pat each portion into a circle about an inch thick, and cut each into 6 wedges.
3. Arrange the scones about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Chill uncovered in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or up to 3 hours, or cover and chill for up to two days. Just before baking, beat the remaining egg with a tablespoon of water, and brush the egg wash over the scones, then lightly sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Bake until the scones are lightly golden-brown and firm to the touch, 15 to 20 minutes. (Every oven is different, so start checking at 15 minutes and be sure to turn the pan about halfway through baking if you know your oven heats unevenly.) Let cool on the pan on a rack for at least 20 minutes before glazing. (See recipe.)
4. Serve scones with clotted cream or unsweetened whipped cream, and apple butter.
Nutrition information per serving (for 24 scones): 254 calories, 13 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 60 mg cholesterol, 29 g carbohydrates, 16 g sugar, 5 g protein, 222 mg sodium, 1 g fiber
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Cider-whiskey glaze
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1 ½ tablespoons apple butter
1 ½ tablespoons hard cider (or regular apple cider if you prefer nonalcoholic)
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon Irish whiskey such as Jameson (optional)
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Pinch of apple pie spice or cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Mix all ingredients well with a whisk until you have a pourable glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled scones.


chicagotribune--2020-03-09--First Folio stages updated version of ‘Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women’

Dickerson described Jo as “ masculine .
She has a world in which she wants to be the provider and @ @ @ @ @ great artist .
She wants everything she does to be great .
And she wants @ @ @ @ @ can eat and can wear pretty dresses .
The status of the March family is @ @ @ @ @ ”

Four sisters spend some lighthearted moments playing in an attic in a new adaptation of “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” by Heather Chrisler at First Folio Theatre March 25-April 26, featuring (left to right, standing) Alys Dickerson and Eliza Stoughton and (seated) Janyce Caraballo and Jalyn Greene. (Tom McGrath)
There have been many adaptations of the novel “Little Women” on stage and screen but Heather Chrisler believes she is bringing more theatricality to the tale with her adaptation for First Folio Theatre.
“Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” runs from March 25 to April 26. Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesdays; 3 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays. Schedule varies, so check firstfolio.org.
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Because the novel is a “thinly-veiled” story of author Alcott’s own life, Chrisler said, “I spent a lot of time with the novel and a lot of time with who Louisa was and what Louisa would have written if she had the freedom to create in the 1860s the way she could have created in the 2020s.”
One unique aspect of her adaptation, Chrisler said, is that “The theatricality allows for us to have an inclusive cast. Normally ‘Little Women’ is done with an all-white cast. I believe that any actor can play these roles.”
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The adaptation reflects Chrisler’s vision of Jo. “I see a girl who definitely wants to be an artist; she wants to be a writer,” the adaptor said. “As she grows up, she doesn’t totally understand what that means until she’s been through the love and loss of this beloved family.”
Chrisler stressed that she focused on the title characters of the novel. “It’s called ‘Little Women’ for a reason,” she explained. “I think that it’s really about the four of them and growing up.”
Jo (Alys Dickerson) dreams of being a writer but she has family obligations in Heather Chrisler’s new adaptation of “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” March 25-April 26 at First Folio Theatre. (Tom McGrath)
Alys Dickerson plays Jo, the oldest sister, who is based on author Alcott.
The actor noted that this adaptation “is way more digestible for a more diverse audience. You can watch this adaptation as anyone and feel represented and feel recognized.”
Dickerson admitted that when she first got the role, she worried that she didn’t look like her image of Jo March. “I’m a larger black woman and in my head Jo looks like this tiny little white woman with no meat on her bones,” she said.
Dickerson described Jo as “masculine. She has a world in which she wants to be the provider and she wants to be this great artist. She wants everything she does to be great. And she wants to make sure her sisters can eat and can wear pretty dresses. The status of the March family is so important to her. ”
Dickerson relates to the story. “I’m one of six siblings so I totally resonate with huddling together in the cold to get warm, and getting jealous of my sisters who have the nice dress, or getting hand-me-downs,” Dickerson said.
“Heather Chrisler is a dear friend and close collaborator of mine,” said director Tara Branham. “I directed her in a lot of different things and we tend to work on a lot of new plays.” When Branham heard that Chrisler had created an adaptation of “Little Women,” one of her favorite novels, she was determined to direct it.
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Branham was drawn to this adaptation because “I believe that Heather is doing her darndest to give every single sister a fair shake.” She noted that even though Jo is the main character, “None of these sisters are choosing a traditional path for tradition’s sake. They are creating their own path.”
“What Heather’s adaptation allows for,” Braham concluded, “is for these four actors to come together and find their own paths through ‘Little Women.’”
‘Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women’
When: March 25-April 26
Where: First Folio Theatre, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 31st St., Oak Brook
Tickets: $25-$44
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Information: 630-986-8067; firstfolio.org
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.