SUMMER COMES IN LIKE A LAMB

This week marked the official beginning of summer, but the usual things that accompany the often balmy and sweaty season -- domestic violence calls and other acts of random violence, at least in some parts of the city and suburbs -- just aren't happening here in La Grange.

However, we are pleased to report that there have been no reported traffic mishaps along 47th Street since a fender-bender during the evening rush at Peck Avenue on June 15 -- which breaks the chain I first reported on a couple of weeks ago that chronicled an estimated accident every other day.

Yet we are pleased the village has decided to take immediate steps to improve safety for pedestrians walking or riding bikes across 47th west of East Avenue by starting to install curb cuts into the parkway grass where sidewalks on the north and south sides of the busy state roadway have never been properly aligned.

Maybe the reduction in reported accidents along 47th has something to do with the nice, sunny days we've been experiencing of late, but maybe people who take that stretch to or from work or home are finally getting the picture by slowing down, paying attention to the road and drivers and others in their direct and peripheral vision, staying off the cell phone, out of the glovebox
or makeup purse or eating meals at the table instead of at the wheel.

Calling all cars
With the nice weather also brings minor activity that somehow makes it into the police blotter -- raccoons and coyotes on the loose, kids smoking and skateboarding on the parking deck and the latest popular pasttimes: Dumpster diving and swimming in the downtown fountain.

The young boys skateboarding were "caught" on the third floor of the 6th Avenue side of the deck at about 7:45 p.m. June 22, and sent on their way.

Those seen climbing in and out of a Dumpster outside Seventh Avenue School, 701 S. 7th Ave., at about 5:45 p.m. June 20 were gone by the time police arrived, and those playing nighttime basketball in Sedgwick Park, 48th Street and East Avenue shortly after midnight June 21 were sent on their way. Apparently, the Park District left the lights on after hours.

Earlier that day, kids discovered swimming in the nearby fountain -- at 3:56 and 4:06 p.m. -- were given a similar slap on the hand and told to either go away or just sit there.

Meanwhile, whoever was prematurely blowing off fireworks in the 400 block of East (or was that Eberly?) Avenue at 2 a.m. June 21 were also gone on arrival. Wait ... let me clarify that: fireworks, except for certain sparklers, snakes, smoke bombs and those little cardboard champagne bottle poppers, are against the law in Illinois.

Another trio of what several 911 callers believed were just causing trouble turned out to be just lolly-gagging around with what some witnesses at first described as a crowbar in Sedgwick Park. The calls, which were made about 9:15 p.m. June 21, described three boys or young men by the park's concession stand at 47th Street and 9th Avenue and one carrying a crobar. When found and questioned, they told police they all resided in the 400 block of 9th. They said they had found a pipe and were just walking around with it. The pipe was confiscated by an officer.

Perhaps the most serious offenders, mind you, were those bunch of kids on a canopy at Sawyer Park, Lincoln and Washington avenues, who police said were spotted by a resident throwing rocks at people shortly before 8 p.m. June 21. They, too, were nowhere to be found when the fuzz pulled up.

Police, in the meantime, established a special watch at Little People's Country, a preschool at 211 W. Hillgrove Ave., where older kids apparently have been drinking in a rear playground after the school closes and leaving empty beer bottles behind. The latest incident was reported at 5:42 p.m. June 19.

Someone who apparently was really low and, apparently, low on gas for their beige-colored sports utility vehicle drove off to who-knows-where after pumping $25.01 worth of fuel from a pump at the Shell gas station, 4701 S. Willow Springs Road, at about 2:15 p.m. June 20.

THE blue barrel?
Someone else reported to police seeing an apparently mysterious blue barrel on the side of the road near 47th and East at about 11:20 p.m. June 19. The barrel, found at 707 E. 47th, was empty. Aw, shucks.

In other news ...
One accident with injuries was reported involving a red sports utility vehicle, a silver Chevy Impala and a red fire hydrant at 5:09 p.m. June 21. The crash at Brainard and Ogden avenues prompted several 911 calls and resulted in injuries to a 41-year-old La Grange man, who was transported to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Paramedics also were called to a residence at 43 N. Spring Ave., where a 1-year-old child was injured when a chair was accidentally dropped on their toe.

Firefighters were a bit busy this past weekend, either responding to fire calls in La Grange or helping out with mutual aid assistance calls in neighboring communities. La Grange was one of seven departments which responded to a reported house fire at 824 East Ave. at 3 p.m. June 22, not long before a residential fire in Brookfield shortly before 3:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. fire call, also in Brookfield, that day. At 9:15 that morning, they helped out with a truck fire in McCook and at 12:55 p.m., transported an elderly woman who fell in front of Women's Planned Health, 5201 S. Willow Springs Road, to La Grange Hospital.

Paramedics a day earlier brought Barbara Zlotorowicz, 60, of Crest Hill, to the same hospital after she suffered a broken leg at 86 Bluff Ave. shortly before midnight June 21. Earlier that day, they responded to a report of a structure fire in Brookfield shortly before 5 p.m. and a residential fire call in La Grange Park at 7:55 a.m.

On June 20, firefighters responded to an activated fire alarm in La Grange Park at 4:34 a.m., an 11:30 a.m. fire call in Brookfield, a fire call in McCook after 4 p.m. and a Western Springs structure fire call at 6:45 p.m.

A day earlier, at 3:45 a.m., they also assisted in a smell of smoke call at a house in Western Springs.

A stop sign was also reported down at Brainard and Ogden avenues shortly before 7 a.m. June 22, and one of the paintings in the La Grange Business Association's summerlong public art exhibit -- on display at 712 W. Burlington Ave. -- was apparently damaged by the wind, it was reported to police shortly after 6:30 a.m. June 20.

That's it. Come back soon.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE ...

We've been busy lately counting the number of accidents on 47th Street -- the latest hot spot in town that has been attracting a lot of attention from local residents, village officials and, we hear (Thank God!), the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Turns out IDOT is finally listening to calls by the village to reduce the speed limit on the state road and eventually turn jurisdiction of its entire La Grange length over to the village so it can be downsized to three lanes. They reportedly are taking a "hard look" at the proposals.

It's been exactly one month since Cari Cook of Countryside lost her life when a passing motorist struck and killed her as she hoisted her baby stroller onto a raised curb after safely crossing 47th at 8th Avenue -- but where the depressed curbs do not match up because of the misaligned streets and corners. To date, there have still been no criminal charges filed or traffic tickets issued.

Still, you'd think with all the headlines, a renewed police presence, a digital speed counter and the pedestrian crosswalk barricades at 9th Street -- let alone the ongoing silent memorial to the 30-year-old wife and mother of two on both sides of the corner featuring a white cross, balloons and handwritten notes -- that people driving through the area would exercise a little more caution. As we said back in high school, NOT!

I always love the police reports in which someone involved in an accident "didn't see" the other car, the other driver, the kid on the bike, etc. Or when they became "distracted" by something other than what was on the road in front of them. Mistakes happen, sure, but it appears 47th produces at least one crash, on average, every other day.

Perhaps the worst collision there took place a week ago, at 4:45 p.m. June 11, when two drivers and one passenger were transported to the hospital after a 46-year-old Summit man believes he "fell asleep at the wheel" and "did not recall "when he crossed the double yellow lines in the middle of 47th just east of 10th Avenue and crashed into Witte, causing a 5-car pileup, according to police.

Driving a '95 Toyota Corolla, Ekrem Memeshi allegedly crossed into oncoming eastbound traffic and struck an '03 Chevy Blazer being driven by Donald Witte, 47, of Chicago, which caused Witte to collide with two more cars. Memeshi then apparently spun around and struck an '08 Jeep Cherokee. That driver, Dwayne Burrell of Plainfield, was then forced into a fifth vehicle in the eastbound curb lane, an '03 Ford Explorer being driven by Jean Cervantes, 47, of Berwyn, which was in the eastbound curb lane next to him.

Memeshi, who received two traffic citations and multiple injuries for which he was treated in the trauma unit of Loyola University Medical Center, had to be extricated from his vehicle by firefighters using the "Jaws of Life" rescue tool.

The small car driven by Memeshi, according to one firefighter at the scene, had its entire front half "sheared off" and lost one of its front wheels on impact.

Not only was Memeshi injured, but so too was his elderly passenger, 81-year-old Naile Memisofska, of the same address. She was taken to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital by Pleasantview ambulance, as was the driver of the third vehicle, an '08 Honda Pilot, Arlynn Manasse, 62, of Downers Grove, by Western Springs paramedics.

Neither Witte, who told police he was in the center eastbound lane when Memeshi came into his lane, Cervantes or Burrell reported any injuries.

It happened so fast, Manasse told police she didn't know what happened


And so, back to the tally
Between June 9 (where we left off last week) and June 15, there were a total of 5 crashes on 47th: in the June 15 evening rush at Peck Avenue, in the June 12 evening rush at Bluff Avenue, the aforementioned at 10th, as well as one in the mid-afternoon of June 9 at East Avenue and another a little more than five hours earlier at La Grange Road.

So, I guess that's just one more than every other day.


Then there was the adult bicyclist police said was struck by an '06 Jeep shortly before noon June 10 at La Grange Road and Ogden Avenue, which resulted in injuries to 41-year-old Minerva Glosniak of North Riverside.

Reports indicate Christopher Mobily, 40, of Evanston, was pulling into a driveway at 125 N. La Grange Road from a northbound lane when the left front of his Jeep collided with Glosniak's Schwinn as she rode south on the sidewalk crossing directly in front of him -- causing her to be totally ejected from the bike and onto the pavement.

Police said Mobily told them his attention was distracted by a pedestrian walking north on the sidewalk at the driveway and he didn't see the bike enter the driveway area. Glosniak said she was struck as she turned in to the driveway, at which time she also screamed to alert the driver, to no avail.

Glosniak was treated for her injuries at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, and Mobily received one traffic citation.

Fire blotter
La Grange firefighters were called to the scene of a kitchen fire at 523 S. Brainard Ave. shortly after 8 a.m. June 16, only to find the homeowner had already extinguished the small blaze caused by an overheated coffee pot.

A day earlier, at 3:50 p.m. June 15, they were called to a house fire in the rear of 1111 S. Stone Ave., in which Nicor inspectors were dispatched. The fire turned out to be in a gas grill built into the back of the house. There were no injuries and no damage estimates were available.

Bad timing
Shortly before 3 p.m. June 15, a resident of the 300 block of Sunset Avenue reported that someone had stolen downspouts from their house.

In other news ...
Public Works crews were busy earlier this week cleaning up downed trees around town due to the lightning and torrential downpours, including large tree branches blocking the street in the 600 block of West Elm Avenue and a large tree branch hung up on power lines in the 500 block of South 10th.

ACCIDENTS A REMINDER TO PLAY IT SAFE

Just one week ago, shortly before 11 a.m. June 4, another potentially tragic accident involving a young child and a vehicle occurred in La Grange, but this time it was over in the 300 block of South Brainard Avenue just south of Maple Avenue and involved the seemingly innocent decision of a young girl in crossing an otherwise busy thoroughfare right at the wrong time.

Although no tickets were issued in the incident and the 6-year-old La Grange girl was treated for minor injuries and released from Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital shortly thereafter, it was just one of those things we need to remind ourselves about safety.

Even though Cari Cook of Countryside probably didn't know she'd have difficulty lifting her baby stroller onto the opposite curb at 8th Avenue after leaving the sidewalk on the north side of 47th Street the day she was struck and killed by a passing motorist, the mismatched intersection is not an official crosswalk like those painted on 47th at 9th and La Grange Road.

The same goes for last week's accident, in which the little girl ran across Brainard, in the middle of a block, to get to a babysitter on the other side. She even yielded to a school bus before shooting across and getting struck in the southbound lane by a car driven by a 71-year-old Burbank man who was not issued any traffic citations.

Police said due to the age of the victim, a statement was not obtained from her. But the driver of the 2006 Saturn Nevada said he had just turned south on Brainard off Maple when he saw a woman standing on the west parkway of Brainard waving her hands. He then saw a child run across Brainard, but he couldn't stop in time and struck her.

A 19-year-old witness from Clarendon Hills told police she was also standing on west side of Brainard when she saw the other woman motion with her hands for the girl not to cross just before she did and was struck.

Since safety along 47th has become a main priority of the village and a newly formed resident's action group, we thought we'd take a look at how many accidents along the La Grange stretch of the road were reported to police since the May 19 fatality.

One occurred during the June 8 evening rush at Madison Avenue, another during the June 5 evening rush at La Grange Road, another came just before the May 28 evening rush at East Avenue -- and yet another at 4:15 p.m. May 20 at the 9th crossing just one block away and a little more than a day from when Cook was killed. Another fender-bender occurred at 4:20 p.m. May 19, less than five hour's after Cook's crash, again at East and 47th.

And that's not counting -- Oops! -- the 18-year-old La Grange girl and her 19-year-old Western Springs passenger who spared injuries and traffic tickets when she lost control and spun sideways into a tree on South 6th Avenue near 48th Street when she hit the gas pedal instead of the brake at 1:20 a.m. May 30.
OR
Sarah E. Lastovich, an 18-year-old Romeoville girl who was taken to the Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital for treatment and issued two traffic citations after she lost control, struck a curb, hit a tree and flipped over on the parkway in the 100 block of East while driving south just before Lincoln just 90 minutes later that morning. Police said she became distracted when she tried reaching for her cell phone.

Even though accidents are common, especially in cut-through areas like 47th, where speed and a woeful lack of attention to the road and everything around us are often big factors, it's time to wake up and drive.

Don't fret. You'll get there soon enough.

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It's almost summer, and kids like to throw things at cars, like eggs. That was going on at 47th and Brainard at 11:15 p.m. June 9, but the culprits got away by the time police arrived. Earlier that day, at about 3 p.m., other kids were throwing bottles -- at people this time -- on the east side of the top deck of the parking garage, 80 S. 6th Ave. That report was delayed by 10 minutes and those brats also fled.

A 13-year-old boy and another male of an undisclosed age were caught shooting off fireworks at Lincoln and Sawyer avenues near Sawyer Park next to the La Grange Community Center. They weren't hurting anyone or trying to, but were advised it's wrong and sent on their way.

"Unauthorized swimmers" in the downtown village fountain on the west side of the parking deck on the warm evening of June 8 also were sent on their way, as were the estimated 50 kids standing in the street for no apparent reason in the 100 block of Washington Avenue just five minutes later.

Firefighters from La Grange, Brookfield, McCook, Western Springs and the Pleasantview Fire Protection District responded to a fire call at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, 5101 S. Willow Springs Road, at 8:18 p.m. June 9. They found and extinguished a fire in the dishwasher area of Building B.

Now here's the real bad news
A home in the 300 block of East Elm Avenue was entered and burglarized while the residents were inside at 3 a.m. June 9. The two male subjects, dressed in all black, forced their way inside and stole a Toshiba Integrated High-Def LCD television and were seen running away from the house. When police were told they possibly ran west from the house, officers tried to pursue the suspects on foot all the way to Elm and 7th Avenue, to no avail.

Police believe a side window found open on a house for rent in the 200 block of South 9th at 3:47 a.m. June 9 may have been related.

Attempted theft downtown
Three boys of unknown ages and wearing dark clothing entered Hot Rags, 43 S. La Grange Road sometime before 5:30 p.m. June 4 attempted to take some items before running from the store north on La Grange Road toward the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks, a store clerk told police. After she noticed the trio had left with a shirt, they returned it but still ran away. She said she would not be able to identify them if they returned to the business.

Children on skateboards rode through the newly poured cement in the first block of the Bluff Avenue reconstruction project, it was reported at 8:34 p.m. June 4. No damage was discovered and the skaters could not be located. Maybe the cops need skateboards.

PED-TRAFFIC BARRICADES A FAILURE? SOME NEIGHBORS, DRIVERS THINK SO

In the evening rush just one day before a couple hundred residents packed into the Seventh Avenue School gymnasium, the village's attempts to calm traffic -- and neighbor's nerves -- along the 47th Street corridor near the site of the May 19 car vs. pedestrian fatality seemed to have lost steam quickly.

Not only did Police Chief Michael Holub have a speed counter with white flashing light installed
on the south side of the state roadway near 8th Avenue where a motorist struck and killed 30-year-old Cari Cook of Countryside last month, but he also had 3-foot-tall black-on-yellow barricades installed to separate lanes and caution drivers of the heavily marked pedestrian crosswalk at 9th Avenue.

But, shortly before 6 p.m. June 1, two of the temporary barricades were causing traffic problems because they were knocked down by passing motorists. The responding officer righted them and placed the others on the side of the road after determining they were causing more of an obstruction at this point than a cure to slow down cars.

At the public meeting the following night, some residents even complained how ineffective and dangerous the erection of the barricades has become.

Still, despite the best of intentions, sometimes it seems motorists just don't seem to care.

The same can also be said of another thing just about everyone takes for granted, including train engineers who can't stop on a dime like some motorists think they can: the installation of railroad crossing gates separating roadway traffic and pedestrians from passing trains.

Police reported a traffic backup at Brainard and Burlington avenues just prior to the startup of the La Grange Pet Parade on the morning of May 30. Although there were no problems when police arrived, the caller said motorists were so upset and impatient that they simply went around the gates to get to the other side. Sometimes, people never make it across.

MIA, if only for a while
In the noon hour on parade day, a Lyons woman reported losing a Sony Cybershot DSC-W230 in a black case somewhere along the parade route, and a 15-year-old boy reported missing from Lyons Township High School was eventually located at La Grange Road and Burlington Avenue. A police officer also discovered a 3-year-old boy seemingly wandering around near Burlington and Waiola avenues, but found his mother nearby shortly thereafter. Just before the end of the parade, at 10:55 a.m., another 10-year-old boy was reported missing near Ashland and Burlington avenues. He made it home safely some 25 minutes later.

An hour earlier May 30, a parade-goer turned in to police a flowered Vera Bradley cloth purse they found -- also at Ashland and Burlington avenues. The purse contained a pair of sunglasses and its case and a Sony digital camera in a black case.

A day earlier, at 11:30 a.m. May 29, someone reported losing a Samsung Blackjack cell phone in a black case near Hillgrove and Brainard avenues on May 28.

Shortly before 6 p.m. June 1, two of the temporary barricades at 47th Street and 9th Avenue were "knocked down, causing obstruction" to traffic. The responding officer righted them and put the others on the side of the road because -- according to his own police report -- they were determined to be causing "more of an obstruction at this point."

Some residents at the June 2 Village Board planning meeting focusing on safety suggestions along the 47th Street corridor also complained the barricades were just not very effective for their intended purpose. Oh well.

An accident between two vehicles during the morning rush June 2 resulted in injuries to a 62-year-old woman and the issuance of two traffic violation tickets to the offending driver. The crash, about 7:40 a.m. at Catherine and Ogden avenues, sent the victim to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital for treatment. Gustavo Reyes, 28, of Chicago, was issued the two citations.

A La Grange Park man told police that while riding his bicycle near the alley at Ashland Avenue between Calendar Court and Harris Avenue at about 10:10 a.m. June 2, someone in a car hit him. He was not knocked over, but the vehicle made contact with his leg. He reported the accident to police from his home, where he also refused any medical treatment.

No injuries were reported when an automobile driver struck a tree in a parkway at 48th Street and 6th Avenue at about 1:20 a.m. May 30. Nearly 90 minutes later, an 18-year-old woman was transported to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital after she was involved in an accident in front of 146 East Ave. Police received several 911 calls about the crash.

No charges were filed against a 66-year-old Bensenville man who police said was found to be driving with a copy of his registered handicapped parking placard in his vehicle shortly before 1 p.m. June 2. The officer destroyed the placard copy and warned the driver to only use the original placard in the future.

A 41-year-old Western Springs woman refused medical treatment after paramedics were called when she went into shock from an allergic reaction to peanuts while in her vehicle near Cossitt and Tilden avenues at about 4:30 p.m. June 1.

A Midlothian mother got a brief scare when she accidentally locked her 5-month-old child inside a Ford Explorer in the 5100 block of Willow Springs Road at about 10:20 a.m. June 1. Police helped her gain entry to the vehicle less than 15 minutes later.

In other news, the owner of two commercial spaces in the 600 block of South La Grange Road requested a special watch on her property, which has experienced an ongoing vandalism
problem from 8 p.m. on many nights in the building's courtyard and in various storefronts.

Police were also requested to provide a special watch at night on property in the first block of West Hillgrove Avenue, where homeless people have been found sleeping.

Apparently a new 'sport' of late-night troublemakers involves "Dumpster-diving." According to police, a special watch is being provided around trash bins behind Trader Joes, 25 N. La Grange Road, where someone was believed to have taken food and dumped their own garbage between midnight and 3 a.m. May 31. The crimes were reported to police shortly before 4 p.m. that day.

Street gang graffiti -- written in not spray paint but crayon -- was discovered on four residential garages in the 300 block of East Franklin Avenue, after the vandalism to two of the structures was reported to police at 11 a.m. May 29.

A pair of rose bushes valued at $25 each were reported stolen from landscaping outside the west side employee entrance of La Grange Public Library, 10 W. Cossitt Ave. The bushes were discovered missing shortly before 9:30 a.m. May 29.

A 21-inch lime green boy's bicycle was stolen from a yard in the 300 block of East Cossitt Avenue on the night of May 30, it was reported to police at 10 a.m. May 31.

A 5-1/2-foot black metal shepherd's hook, a green plastic hanging basket containing a fuschia flowered plant and an antique wood and copper tube wind chime were reported stolen from a back yard in the 300 block of South Peck Avenue. The theft was believed to have occurred between 7 p.m. May 27 and about 10:30 a.m. May 29.

A small plastic baggie containing an undisclosed amount of marijuana was reported found inside the village parking garage at 80 S. 6th Ave.

In the dog house ... er, the porch?
An alert individual told police he was walking his dog near 6th and Cossitt avenues at 3:30 a.m. May 30 when he saw a suspicious subject trying to open a door handle in a condominium unit. When police arrived, the discovered a 27-year-old man who said he was locked out and unable to awake his wife. He told the officer he would sleep on the rear porch until his family gets up at 6 a.m.

A motorcycle rider who fixes his bikes late at night in the 600 block of South 7th Avenue and whom neighbors told police often "revs" his engine late disturbing the neighborhood was warned not to work so late or else he will be ticketed for disturbing the peace.

On a similar note, construction workers were hammering or buzzing away at another time neighbors don't want to bothered in the 100 block of South 6th Avenue: at 6:55 a.m. May 30. The workers were told to stop work at First Congregational Church of La Grange until 8 a.m., as per a village ordinance which sets the times of day construction work can begin and end.

People on people crime
An 8-year-old La Grange boy accused of threatening neighborhood children at the La Grange Community Center at Washington and Lincoln avenues -- allegedly saying he would come back and kill all of them -- was not arrested, after police said the boy's grandmother would handle the situation herself. The boy was allegedly throwing rocks and yelling vulgarities at the other children, which included two girls, ages 8 and 9.

Several teens hanging out at Chipotle, 1 S. La Grange Road, shortly before 7:45 p.m. May 31, were sent on their way after police said they were witnessed harassing a homeless man sitting on a bench outside the restaurant.

Two men who illegally set up a vendor area outside Starbucks, 38 S. La Grange Road, on the second night of the carnival held on Harris and Ashland avenues were told to leave or else be cited for a village ordinance violation prohibiting unauthorized sidewalk sales.

A La Grange woman reported that an estimated 40-year-old man on a bicycle and wearing a helmet followed her to her 6th Avenue home sometime around 7:15 p.m. May 29 took a picture of her and made strange comments before taking off.

At about the same time that night, a 5-foot-10 skinny man wearing a dark blue shirt, jeans and glasses was seen watching children play in the 700 block of South 7th Avenue. Police were unable to locate the subject.

And last but not least, the firsst (almost summer) scam of the season: A resident of the 600 block of Glenwood Lane reported that on May 27, three men who claimed they were collecting money for the "QSI" charity baseball team who were given a donation then promised they would return to do some yard work never showed up. The resident cancelled their check.

Although it's not a serious crime, a woman residing in the 500 block of South La Grange Road who told police May 29 she has a problem with her mailman has prompted them to contact the La Grange Postmaster so neighborhood mail carriers can be told not to block driveways when delivering mail on foot.