By Dee Longfellow For The ELMHURST Independent Over the weekend, the Independent learned that 58-year-old Thomas Kokoraeleis, a convicted murderer and one-time resident of Villa Park, was released from the Illinois River Correction Center outside of Peoria on Friday, March 29. Kokoraeleis, a member of the notorious “Ripper Crew” […]
Villa Park News
College’s Recycling Extravaganza, without electronics, to be held April 13
On Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Elmhurst College will host its annual Recycling Extravaganza, a place to bring a variety of items that can be recycled, reused and kept out of landfills. NOTE: Because the City of Elmhurst now offers quarterly electronics recycling, the College event […]
Woman builds new life after series of surgeries restores vision
Annie Pawlisz, 28, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1996 when she was 5 years old. By the time she was 22, she knew the condition increased her risk for a host of health problems, including heart disease, nerve damage and blindness. Still, she wasn’t too worried in early […]
Open for the season
CHRIS FOX PHOTOS The Villa Park Historical Museum opens the 2019 season today—April 4, with three new exhibits: “Vintage Board Games,” “Vintage Toys for Boys” and “Vintage Toys for Girls.” The “Game of Villa Park,” created as a fundraiser several years ago by the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce, will […]
Princess Ball
SUBMITTED PHOTOS The Villa Park Parks and Recreation Department recently held its annual Princess Ball at the Iowa Community Center. Girls and their fathers enjoyed refreshments, music, dancing and a visit from a special princess. One photo (top, left) shows Sam Ricchetti and his daughter Mady. Another picture (top, middle) […]
‘Tobacco 21’ bill clears State Senate; Measure heads to governor’s desk
By Rebecca Anzel Capitol News Illinois A four-year effort by lawmakers and advocates to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Illinois appears nearly complete now that legislation approved by both chambers heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk. The Senate successfully passed the measure last Thursday by a […]
‘Right to garden’ bill to challenge home rule powers; Dispute between Elmhurst, homeowner makes way to Statehouse
By Grant Morgan Capitol News Illinois A three-year fight between an Elmhurst homeowner and the city’s government made its way to the Illinois Senate last week as the local government committee mulled a statewide solution to the underlying dispute. Sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tom Cullerton of Villa Park, Senate Bill […]
Centre for Performing Arts announces site location
Cultivation study underway to determine funding feasibility By Dee Longfellow For The Elmhurst Independent It feels like it’s been a long-time coming and possibly the best-kept secret in town, but the announcement finally came late Monday, March 4. The Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts (ECPA) has announced that […]
District 45 students’ art on display
CHRIS FOX PHOTOS The 2019 District 45 Fine Arts Showcase took place on Saturday, March 9, at Schafer Elementary School. The showcase featured art created during art classes by students from all eight district schools. Art teachers from each school selected the pieces for display in the showcase. One of […]
County moves to close alleged adult business in Wheaton
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin announced today that DuPage County has filed a lawsuit against Hot Shots Photography Studio, located at 0N758 Gary Avenue in Wheaton, alleging that the business has been operating as an adult business and not as a photography […]
