Hockey star headed to Wisconsin
Garfield Ridge resident Brooklyn Ramaglia, a star ice hockey forward with Team Illinois (the most respected Tier I, AAA hockey organization in the state), recently signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career with Concordia University (Wisconsin). She expects to wear the blue and white and play for the Falcons. She is a 2019 graduate of St. Daniel the Prophet School and will graduate in 2023 from St. Laurence High School. She learned to skate when she was just 4 years old and started playing hockey at age 6. Sharing the proud moment with her are her mom and dad, Sue and Frank; brother, Joey; and Team Illinois coach Nick Ponce, who described Brooklyn as “a strong and resilient player” who “has terrific speed, has a fantastic compete level, and is a heart and soul player that any coach would be excited to have on their team.” – Supplied photo
Local News
The mayor needs your help
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com No, not that mayor. I’m talking about Vinnie Quinn, described by some as the Mayor of 63rd Street. If ever you’ve eaten at Café 63 (and if not, for heaven’s sake, why not?), you have tasted Vinnie’s culinary creations. Vinnie…
Giddyup! Pony ride business trots along
Spread the loveGarfield Ridge teens’ venture a success By Tim Hadac While the pandemic has contributed to the demise of a number of businesses in Clearing and Garfield Ridge—like Dallas Restaurant, Lindy’s/Gertie’s and Angel Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream—one has proven pandemic-proof. Two years after they launched their head-turning, smile-generating pony ride business, Garfield Ridge…
Naz’s Amelia Garcia wins Golden Apple teaching award
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Amelia Garcia, a teacher at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, was one of 10 teachers in Illinois to receive the 2022 Golden Apple award for Excellence in Teaching last week. Garcia, who teaches 10th- and 11th-grade English, was surprised with the award at a school assembly on May 4. “This…
Pro Soccer Report: Cup runneth over — Red Stars v. Washington postponed because of exhibition tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer SeatGeek Stadium was empty the night of May 7. The NWSL game between Washington and the Chicago Red Stars that had been scheduled was postponed, and will be played at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8. The reason? It wasn’t weather related. It was a cool but dry night.…
College Report: Illini football names scholarship after former Orland top cop Tim McCarthy
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Many area residents know Tim McCarthy as the former longtime police chief of Orland Park. Those who know history know McCarthy was a U.S. Secret Service agent who took a bullet for President Ronald Reagan during John Hinckley Jr.’s assassination attempt in 1981. Not as well known is…
Senator Muñoz steps down
Spread the loveFuture son-in-law has clear path to succeed him By Tim Hadac State Senator Antonio “Tony” Muñoz (D-1st) whose district includes all or parts of Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights, Brighton Park, McKinley Park, has suddenly withdrawn from his re-election race. No reason was offered, but in a statement he said he plans to continue…
‘We have to protect ourselves’
Spread the loveWomen push back against crime By Tim Hadac Years ago, a woman taking firearms training was a rare sight, at least compared to the number of men enrolled. But with spikes in crimes like carjacking, robbery, battery and more, women are increasingly found at gun ranges and in firearms classes—so much so that…
Emily Pruim, a scholar with a bright future
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Spring is the season when, among other things, we celebrate the young people of Clearing and Garfield Ridge, their achievements and their future plans. It’s a wonderful and refreshing part of my duties to report this kind of good news.…
Newman praised by Muslim group
Spread the love U.S. Rep. Marie Newman (D-3rd) accepts a Courage Award from Oussama Jammal of the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations at the group’s annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner. She was recently praised by local Muslim leaders for objecting to “the illegal demolition of homes and annexation of Palestinian land [by Israel]; supporting legislation defending…
Neighbors
After 9 months, state data begins to detail new pretrial detention system
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Nine months after cash bail ended in Illinois, the state is taking its first steps in publishing the data that crafters of the bail reform law saw as essential to judging its effectiveness. The data shows that judges in the 75 counties served by the Illinois Supreme Court’s…
ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS: Pritzker keeps economic development at forefront in exclusive interview
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com With fiscal year 2025 slated to begin Monday, Gov. JB Pritzker continues to tout available state tax incentives and promote Illinois as a site for business development. On the season finale of “Illinois Lawmakers” this week, Pritzker pointed to a pair of developments in East Alton and Normal…
Pritzker calls SCOTUS emergency abortion ruling ‘small respite’ as state protections await his signature
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Abortion remains legal as an emergency medical procedure in Idaho, for now, after a Thursday U.S. Supreme Court ruling, while a bill that would cement those protections in Illinois law awaits Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature. The 6-3 decision saw the three liberal justices concur with the order. Three…
‘We don’t really know what we’re voting on,’ top Dem says of Pritzker’s prison plan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com LINCOLN – On the eve of a scheduled vote to advise Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on plans to close and rebuild a pair of dilapidated state prisons, hundreds filed into a junior high school gymnasium Thursday evening clad in matching green T-shirts. Printed on the shirts was a…
SCOTUS ruling could upend federal corruption cases for Madigan, allies
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday narrowed the scope of a federal bribery law prosecutors have relied on in their cases against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and several of his allies convicted of bribing him. A jury last spring found those allies – former lobbyists and…
Quantum technology companies set for big tax incentives under new law
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday gave final approval to a plan to bolster the state’s tech industry, including an incentives package – backed by $500 million in the state budget – aimed at making Illinois the nation’s leader in quantum computing. The package also expands tax…
Illinois child tax credit: who gets it, how much is it?
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com In the final hours of their spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers approved a tax credit of up to about $300 for families with young children. The credit is available to Illinoisans with children under age 12 who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC. Although…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Another Choate Mental Health Center employee indicted for abuse of resident
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Another caregiver at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna is facing charges for abusing a patient. A grand jury indicted Joseph A. Clark, 24, of Grand Chain, on a felony charge of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor charge of battery. Clark pinned a Choate resident to…
State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois State Police say an automated license plate reader program has helped the agency identify witnesses or suspects in 82 percent of highway shooting cases this year, including all eight that resulted in a death. But as the state looks to further expand its network of more than…
