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The Doings Oak Brook Your source for local news and information in Oak Brook, Ill. We are a Pioneer Press newspaper, part of Chicago Tribune Media Group.

“Tommy was a master of his craft and passionate about the fire service,” Oak Brook Fire Chief Kevin Fleege said. “Tommy ...
13/02/2024

“Tommy was a master of his craft and passionate about the fire service,” Oak Brook Fire Chief Kevin Fleege said. “Tommy was always there when you needed someone, no matter what the request. Tommy was a bright light around the firehouse and his presence always brought about an infectious laughter.”

The Oak Brook Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of its own, with the passing Friday of firefighter/paramedic Tom Sinclair. Serving in that capacity for the village for nearly eight years,…

“Pursuits are inherently dangerous, and we train our officers to carefully assess the risks and benefits before initiati...
30/01/2024

“Pursuits are inherently dangerous, and we train our officers to carefully assess the risks and benefits before initiating one,” Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said.

A Chicago man, who is a convicted felon is charged with being an armed habitual criminal after leading police on high speed chase, authorities said.

“The labor agreement reached is largely attributable to improved relationships and trust rebuilding as the village and o...
30/01/2024

“The labor agreement reached is largely attributable to improved relationships and trust rebuilding as the village and our fire staff work more collaboratively to improve efficiency, response times, and outcomes,” Village Manager Greg Summers said. “While there will always be differences between the Village Board and unionized staff, this contract reflects the balance of each side’s needs, without added burden on village finances.”

A new contract between Oak Brook and the firefighters union calls for salaries for firefighter/paramedics to be adjusted by 3.5% annually throughout its term, while also maintaining the village’s management rights to appropriately staff the department.

“Belcaster leads by example, he’s one of the most hard working coaches I’ve ever seen,” Olasupo Akande, a senior on the ...
24/01/2024

“Belcaster leads by example, he’s one of the most hard working coaches I’ve ever seen,” Olasupo Akande, a senior on the Hinsdale South varsity boys basketball team, said to the school board. “He stays up late at night watching film on teams that we play weeks in advance, and allows us to stay in the gym after practice when most coaches would go home to their family.”

Hinsdale District 86 Tuesday voted against removing the head coach of Hinsdale Sough High School's varsity boys basketball team.

“With the new year, our mission to protect DuPage County businesses and patrons remains the same,” DuPage County State’s...
18/01/2024

“With the new year, our mission to protect DuPage County businesses and patrons remains the same,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. “Contrary to popular belief, retail theft is not a victimless crime and has a far-reaching effect on the entire community."

Incidents at Oak Brook businesses accounted for seven of the 21 arrests made in DuPage County during the first two weeks of 2024 for retail theft.

“More and more, students are required to complete service hours for scholastic or extracurricular obligations,” Hubbell ...
16/01/2024

“More and more, students are required to complete service hours for scholastic or extracurricular obligations,” Hubbell Hinkhouse, the library’s circulation services supervisor, said. “We created this program to provide that opportunity to our students in a friendly, educational, and professional space.”

Oak Brook Public Library’s Teen Volunteer Program has been a win-win for both the library and the participants.

“I am honored and excited to be selected as the new superintendent for District 86,” Michael Lach said. “There is tremen...
11/01/2024

“I am honored and excited to be selected as the new superintendent for District 86,” Michael Lach said. “There is tremendous capacity and opportunity here, and I have deep respect for the history and reputation of Hinsdale Township High School District 86.”

During a special meeting on Jan. 10, the board revealed Michael Lach would assume District 86′s highest administrative role beginning July 1, under a three-year contract with a starting annual salary of $255,000.

“We continue to monitor the migrant bus situation and are prepared to make any changes that may be necessary as the situ...
05/01/2024

“We continue to monitor the migrant bus situation and are prepared to make any changes that may be necessary as the situation evolves,” Oak Brook Village President Larry Herman said.

Village officials have contingency plans in place and are prepared to take any necessary and legal actions to implement permissible regulations to minimize the impact of illegal migration in Oak Brook.

“As someone who grew up in Oak Brook and raised my own family there, having Larry Herman, who has been by my side for ev...
02/01/2024

“As someone who grew up in Oak Brook and raised my own family there, having Larry Herman, who has been by my side for every major life event, officiate the wedding of my son and my daughter-in-law at the Village Hall was especially meaningful,” Andy Roth said.

Oak Brook Village President Larry Herman put on a different hat Saturday Dec. 23 when he officiated a wedding in the Village Hall boardroom.

“His office was available before he arrived, but it wasn’t painted and pictures weren’t hung until later,” Deputy Police...
26/12/2023

“His office was available before he arrived, but it wasn’t painted and pictures weren’t hung until later,” Deputy Police Chief Reid Foltyniewicz said. “We converted a storage room into his office. We thought it would be fun and functional to provide all his equipment, including his food, pictures, bed, etc. We decided this before he arrived.”

Thanks to a painting job by Butler Junior High art teacher Nina Angelillo, Bandit, Oak Brook's most famous police officer, is settled in to what certainly is the most brightly-painted office in the building.

“Voters sent a message to the village,” Village Manager Greg Summers said. “The village took that charge seriously and s...
18/12/2023

“Voters sent a message to the village,” Village Manager Greg Summers said. “The village took that charge seriously and set about redefining the business model, finding a way to continue the tradition of the Bath and Tennis Club, while also ensuring a profitable operation with no costs to the village.”

The Village of Oak Brook has signed a contract with Chic Chef Catering to handle all of the catering at the Bath and Tennis Club, which is booked often for weddings and other events.

“Given the exemplary results, we anticipate this being standard procedure for all budget years from here forward,” Villa...
12/12/2023

“Given the exemplary results, we anticipate this being standard procedure for all budget years from here forward,” Village Manager Greg Summers said. “The village’s first zero-base budgeting efforts located numerous redundancies and other unidentified and unutilized line items, reducing allocated, but unnecessary, expenditures by over $500,000.”

The goal of implementing zero-base budgeting in Oak Brook was to bring better accountability, transparency and efficiency to the process, officials said.

“We’re very excited to have received the IBHE grant,” school President Troy VanAken said in an email to Pioneer Press. “...
05/12/2023

“We’re very excited to have received the IBHE grant,” school President Troy VanAken said in an email to Pioneer Press. “It demonstrates the state’s support for not only the strength of Elmhurst University’s health sciences programs, but also the multidisciplinary approach we take to preparing our students to become excellent health care providers."

Elmhurst University has received a $7.4 million grant through the state’s Independent Colleges Capital Investment Grant Program to help fund construction of a new 45,000 square foot health sciences building.

“The allegations that Ms. Phillips followed Mr. Truitt and others into a hotel elevator as they walked away from a verba...
05/12/2023

“The allegations that Ms. Phillips followed Mr. Truitt and others into a hotel elevator as they walked away from a verbal altercation and then shot and killed Mr. Truitt as they exited the elevator in a crowded hotel during the busy holiday season are shocking and will be met with the full force of the law,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said.

A 51-year-old Naperville woman was denied pretrial release by a DuPage County judge after being charged in the Dec. 2 murder of a man in an Oakbrook Terrace hotel.

“It is heartbreaking to have adults force young children into criminal activity,” Oak Brook Deputy Chief Reid Foltyniewi...
30/11/2023

“It is heartbreaking to have adults force young children into criminal activity,” Oak Brook Deputy Chief Reid Foltyniewicz said. “It’s disgusting behavior, and we shouldn’t be OK with this.”

Angelo Almaraz, 26, of the 2300 block of South Homan Avenue, Chicago, and his domestic partner, Thalia Morales, 32, of the 4300 block of Clark Avenue, Hammond, Indiana, were charged after reportedly stealing merchandise priced at more than $950.

“We started this due to COVID because we wanted to offer the community something to do outside in the winter months that...
28/11/2023

“We started this due to COVID because we wanted to offer the community something to do outside in the winter months that was free,” Laure Kosey, the Park District’s executive director, said. “We have over 29,000 people come a year to visit and then hopefully stop to shop and eat in Oak Brook.”

Decorations along the walk in Oak Brook Park District's WInter Lights at Central Park include dancing trees, colorful rainbow arches, cascading snowflakes, twirling icicles, colored butterflies, and musical hearts.

“In DuPage County, anyone who attempts to flee from the police will soon find themselves arrested, charged, and aggressi...
15/11/2023

“In DuPage County, anyone who attempts to flee from the police will soon find themselves arrested, charged, and aggressively prosecuted,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. “The cooperative efforts displayed by multiple law enforcement agencies sends the unmistakable message that we will not tolerate any display of contempt for the rule of law that puts the motoring public and innocent pedestrians at risk, and we will take whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of our communities."

Pre-trial release denied for armed DeKalb man charged with leading police on high-speed chase in stolen vehicle, DuPage County State's Attorney's office says.

“It’s the veteran that provides the framework for the freedom we enjoy,” Commander John Scudder, post leader, Elmhurst c...
07/11/2023

“It’s the veteran that provides the framework for the freedom we enjoy,” Commander John Scudder, post leader, Elmhurst chapter, American Legion, said. “Duty, honor, country, integrity, these are important, and this is what we’ve done.”

York High School students helped 26 veterans at Roosevelt at Salk Creek in Elmhurst celebrate 80 collective years in the service with a pinning ceremony Tuesday.

“Oak Brook is a wonderfully, diverse community, and we are so excited to celebrate all the cultures that make our commun...
31/10/2023

“Oak Brook is a wonderfully, diverse community, and we are so excited to celebrate all the cultures that make our community the great place it is to live and work,” said Laure Kosey, the Park District’s executive director.

Celebration of International Cultures, which the Village of Oak Brook and the Oak Brook Park District are planning, will be held in 2024 at the park district’s new Amphitheatre at Central Park North.

Dr. Abed Rahman, a Willowbrook resident, has two kids attending Hinsdale South High School, and alongside Asma Akhras, o...
27/10/2023

Dr. Abed Rahman, a Willowbrook resident, has two kids attending Hinsdale South High School, and alongside Asma Akhras, one of two board members living in the district’s southern zone.

Willowbrook resident Dr. Abed Rahman was appointed to the Hinsdale High School District 86 Board of Education replacing, Debbie Levinthal, who resigned in September

“The Oak Brook Police Department continues to proactively combat all forms of organized retail theft, and aggressively p...
25/10/2023

“The Oak Brook Police Department continues to proactively combat all forms of organized retail theft, and aggressively pursue offenders,” Oak Brook Deputy Police Chief Mark King said

Abel Barrios-Estava 20, and Rafael Mata-Torres, 25, both of Venezuela currently staying in Chicago, appeared at DuPage County First Appearance Court Tuesday charged with one count of Burglary (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Retail Theft (Class 3 Felony)

“The costs of any missing inventory have been absorbed by the village’s Sports Core fund and then unfairly passed throug...
24/10/2023

“The costs of any missing inventory have been absorbed by the village’s Sports Core fund and then unfairly passed through to all of our facility users,” Village Manager Greg Summers said. “Significant personnel, policy, and inventory process revisions have already been implemented to stop this problem in its tracks.”

A review of the Oak Brook Golf Club Pro Shop revealed systemic issues resulting in substantial inconsistencies in the inventory count dating back at least a decade.

“We’ve struggled to hire staff,” Village Manager Greg Summers said. “The entire industry has struggled to hire staff. We...
17/10/2023

“We’ve struggled to hire staff,” Village Manager Greg Summers said. “The entire industry has struggled to hire staff. We’d like to go out to the market and identify options. In the government sector, we’re not in the food service business."

Oak Brook officials are seeking proposals from private businesses interested in taking over operation of food and beverage management for the Oak Brook Golf Club, Bath & Tennis Club and Poolside Cafe

“I’m so excited about this building, what it means for our current and future generations of students, as well as our fa...
17/10/2023

“I’m so excited about this building, what it means for our current and future generations of students, as well as our faculty and rest of the campus community,” Elmhurst University President Troy VanAken said.

Elmhurst University is building a 45,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that will be a hub for the nursing, public health, occupational therapy, etc.

“As a child, I often watched my father at work,” Andreas Roth said. “I was amazed at what my father could make out of a ...
16/10/2023

“As a child, I often watched my father at work,” Andreas Roth said. “I was amazed at what my father could make out of a stone. Of course, I wanted to do that, too.”

Anyone interested in learning how large scale agate cameos are created can watch part of the process and have their questions answered when Andreas Roth presents a demonstration from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Museum.

“Their knowledge, expertise and willingness to take the extra step have allowed them to be recognized by outside agencie...
10/10/2023

“Their knowledge, expertise and willingness to take the extra step have allowed them to be recognized by outside agencies such as the Secret Service,” Oak Brook Detective Sgt. Jason Wood said.

Scott Warren and Blake Swegler were chosen by Police Chief Brian Strockis as the Oak Brook department’s first officers to serve as Secret Service Task Force Officers.

“Cases of motorists fleeing from the police continue to endanger our streets,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Ber...
03/10/2023

“Cases of motorists fleeing from the police continue to endanger our streets,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “It is alleged that in this most recent case, Mr. Griggs drove in excess of 88 mph on a 30 mph-road, struck a fire engine and another vehicle before abandoning the stolen vehicle he was driving and fled on foot."

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean announced Tuesday that a judge granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Chicago man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car.

The Museum’s curator of exhibits, called Field and Carson the “grand palaces” of Chicago-area retailing, and noted the e...
03/10/2023

The Museum’s curator of exhibits, called Field and Carson the “grand palaces” of Chicago-area retailing, and noted the exhibit also features materials and information from such “catalog kings” as Sears, Roebuck and Co. and area retailers Weiboldt’s and Goldblatt’s.

Elmhurst History Museum’s newest exhibit will honor the heyday of such Chicago area department stores as Marshall Field & Co., Carson Pirie Scott.

“The entire negotiation process was mutually respectful,” said Patti Meyer, president of the Oak Brook Education Associa...
26/09/2023

“The entire negotiation process was mutually respectful,” said Patti Meyer, president of the Oak Brook Education Association, which represents the district’s 64 teachers. “Both sides came to the table prepared and ready to do what was best for teachers, and ultimately the students of District 53. We are proud of our new contract.”

Interest based negoiating leads Butler Elementary District 53, to a new three-year deal being ratified by teachers Aug. 31 and by the District 53 Board Sept. 11.

“Both the merchants and existing shoppers at Oakbrook Center have really embraced the Oak Brook Artisan Market and the t...
19/09/2023

“Both the merchants and existing shoppers at Oakbrook Center have really embraced the Oak Brook Artisan Market and the talented small businesses we showcase," Jonathan Smith, co-owner of Oak Brook Artisan Market, said. "And we think we bring something unique and different to Oakbrook Center, too.”

This will be the 15th Artisan Market in Oak Brook and sixth at Oakbrook Center for Jonathan and Lynna Smith, Oak Brook residents and owners and operators of Artisan Markets in Oak Brook, Naperville and Chicago.

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