St. Patrick's Day in Bolingbrook 2013: Food & Drink Specials, Parades, Taxi Info, Fun Facts

March 15, 2013, 4:03 am

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Patch Bolingbrook, IL --

**For Kids* *

*Hippo Happynings, St. Patrick's Day Indoor Party *

· *When: *Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. 
· *Where: *Promenade Bolingbrook, near Ulta
· *Details: *Crafts, games, prizes, plus a chance to win tickets to see Sesame Street Live (and a special appearance by a Sesame Street Live! character)

*St. Patrick's Day Storytime *

· *When: *Friday, 10:30 a.m. 
· *Where: *Barnes & Noble in the Promenade Bolingbrook 

*CHECK OUT SOME ST. PATRICK'S DAY FUN FACTS.*

**For Adults* *

Bolingbrook Lions St. Patrick's Dinner

· *When: *Saturday, 7 p.m. to midnight 
· *Where: *Levy Center, 251 Canterbury Ln. 
· *Details: *$20 Dinner and $20 all you can drink. Live DJ, too! 

*St. Patrick's Day at Ashbury's *

· *When: *Saturday 
· *Where: *Ashbury's at Boughton Ridge Golf Course 
· *Details: *Enjoy live music, food and drink specials. The menu includes corned beef, shepherd's pie, rueben sandwiches and more. Timothy Curran will play an acoustic set on Saturday at 8 p.m. Drink deals include all Jameson cocktails for $4.50, $3 shots of Michael Collins Irish Whiskey, bottles of Guinness for $3 and 12-oz. Miller drafts for $1.50. And yes, they're green! 

*Bar Louie *

· *When: *Saturday and Sunday 
· *Saturday (8 a.m. to 11 a.m.): *$10 Saturday keg and eggs, breakfast buffet, T-shirt, live entertainment 
· *Saturday and Sunday: *$3 green beer, $5 Irish whiskey, $6 car bombs

*Gordon Biersch *

· *When: *Sunday 
· *Details: *Gordon Biersch will offer a one-day menu of Corned Beef & Cabbage, Ruben Sandwiches, Shepard's Pie and Reuben Rolls.

*Tilted Kilt *

· *When: *Friday to Sunday 
· *Friday: *Kilt Klan Party, free appetizers from 5 to 6 p.m.; live music at 9 p.m. 
· *Saturday: *Hawks game with giveaways, 7 p.m. 
· *Sunday: *Free Irish Breakfast Buffet from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., bag pipers at 5 p.m., prize giveaways at 6 p.m., photo booth, Big 10 tournament, face painter

**Parades* *

*Naperville *

· *When: *Saturday, 10 a.m. kick-off 
· *Where: *The parade kicks off at Naperville North High School, located at 899 N. Mill Street. The parade will continue south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street and west on Water Street to the Municipal Center.

*Plainfield *

· *When: *Sunday, 1 p.m. kick-off 
· *Where: *The parade will start near Plainfield Central High School, then progresses up James Street into downtown and heads towards Hwy 59 on Lockport Street and progresses south on Illinois Street and finally heads back West on Commercial Street.

**Celebrate safely**

If you're planning to indulge in a drink or two, please do it safely — and don't drive. 

Here are some local cab companies that can get you home safe and sound:

*COMPANY: *Hero Towing**
PHONE: 815-254-0143
SERVICE AREA: Plainfield area
RATES: There's a $35 flat rate for the "last call special," which will get both you and your car home safely. 

*COMPANY: *Plainfield Taxi **
PHONE: 815-609-7533
SERVICE AREA: Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Naperville, Lisle
RATES: Meter starts at $2 and each mile is $2.40. Additional passengers are $1 each.

*COMPANY: AAA Express Limo & Taxi*
PHONE: 815-436-2500
SERVICE AREA: All Chicago suburbs
RATES: Local service rates are $2.30 per mile, with a minimum charge of $7.   

*COMPANY: Naperville DuPage Taxi*
PHONE: 630-961-3232
SERVICE AREA: The area surrounding Aurora, Batavia, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Naperville, Oswego, Plainfield, Warrenville, Winfield, Wheaton and Woodridge
RATES: Local service rates are metered and have a $7 minimum charge. There is a $1 charge for each additional passenger.   

*COMPANY: AAA Naperville Express Taxi    * 
PHONE: 630-355-9511
SERVICE AREA: Naperville and surrounding suburbs
RATES: Call for quote

*COMPANY: White Eagle Express*
PHONE: 630-355-0005
SERVICE AREA: Naperville and surrounding suburbs
RATES: Call for quote

*COMPANY: Naperville Taxi*
PHONE: 630-355-5959
SERVICE AREA: Naperville and surrounding suburbs
RATES: Local service uses a metered rate. All rides have a $5 minimum charge, regardless of distance. The meter starts at $2 for a flag pull, and there is a $1 charge per trip for each additional passenger. Beyond that, the cabs charge $2.40 per mile rate the first mile and 60 cents per minute of waiting time. Reported by Patch 9 hours ago.

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NRA chief Wayne LaPierre's solution to violent crime? More guns

March 15, 2013, 9:31 am

≫ Next: Renee Parsons: Gun Control Legislators Face Colorado Recall

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Wild applause greets LaPierre's CPAC address, in which he defended his call to put armed guards in America's schools

Wayne LaPierre, the head of the biggest gun lobby group in the US, defended his call to put armed guards in every school on Friday and declared that the answer to violent crime was to put guns in the hands of more people.

Speaking to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) just outside Washington DC, LaPierre mocked those who call him "crazy" and delivered a powerful call for the widespread use of guns for Americans to defend themselves.

"The one thing a violent rapist deserves to face is a good woman with a gun," he said, to wild applause.

LaPierre, the executive director of the National Rifle Association, was widely condemned when he advocated putting armed guards in every US school after the Newtown shootings last year. He defended the position on Friday: "I advanced nothing more than surrounding our schools with the same level of protection as our jewelry stores sand sports stadiums. The vast majority of Americans agree."

He went on: "There isn't a mom or dad anywhere who wouldn't feel safer seeing a police car in the parking lot."

LaPierre said the government should implement his plan: "Thousands of our schools remain vulnerable to the evil intents of madmen," he said.

He played a video produced by the Department of Homeland Security, which advises people to reach for whatever comes to hand when confronted by a gunman. The video showed a woman grabbing a pair of scissors. "To protect our schools, we recommend trained professionals with a gun. They recommend scissors. And they say we're crazy," he said. The speech was greeted with loud applause, cheers, and a standing ovation.

LaPierre described a proposal to introduce universal background checks for gun buyers as a "placebo" that would not work. "A check that will always be afar from universal, will never make our schools or our streets safer," he said.

"The monsters at Tuscon ,Aurora and Newtown – those names will never be in the system, and those killers really are crazy."

LaPierre said there were only two reasons for the federal government to create a list of people who owned guns – "to tax them or to take them." Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 hours ago.

Renee Parsons: Gun Control Legislators Face Colorado Recall

March 15, 2013, 9:33 am

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As the Colorado General Assembly moves to become the second state to adopt gun control legislation since the Newtown tragedy, the Basic Freedom Defense Fund has set its sights on recalling the president of the State Senate and at least two other legislators, prominent proponents in the state's pending gun control efforts.

In mid-January, the New York State Assembly moved quickly to approve the country's most stringent gun control legislation barely one month after the Newtown tragedy, including limits on assault weapons, mental health requirements and ammunition magazines. Barely one month after the Newton tragedy, New York efforts occurred so swiftly as to preclude effective opposition with Governor Andrew Cuomo signing the legislation one hour after passage.

In what may be a warning to other state legislators across the country and even members of Congress acting on similar legislation, the BFDF, a tax-exempt organization based in Durango, Colo. has begun circulating petitions against one state representative as local affiliates of BFDF has formed a committee to unseat State Senate President John Morse (D, Colorado Springs) and Senator Edie Hudak (D, Denver). Each petition drive will need 25 percent of last year's presidential vote to qualify for a recall ballot initiative.

After recent testimony before the Colorado House Judiciary Committee by Mark Kelly, former astronaut and former Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford's husband, Colorado's legislative package includes prohibiting gun ownership to individuals with domestic violence convictions, a limit on ammunition magazines to 15 rounds, requirement for gun owners to pay for background checks, an expanded background check process and required training to receive a concealed weapon permit.

Home of the Columbine attack in 1999 and the Aurora Theatre shooting last year, Anthony Garcia, who is organizing the petition effort on behalf of the BFDF, said that the gun control efforts were 'an affront to the second amendment, an affront to the Constitution."

With a Democratic majority (23-12), Kjersten Forseth, assistant to Senator Morse, confirmed that the Senate had finalized their legislative efforts on Monday evening, approving all five bills with the required fee legislation on the way to Governor Hickenlooper's (D) desk for signature. According to Forseth, the other four bills go back to the State House (with a 39-26 Democratic majority) for approval and then onto the governor. In a sign of desperation, Republicans have promised to filibuster final passage.

Senator Morse, a strong supporter of the gun control package said "I wasn't expecting things to get this divisive. I really thought that after Sandy Hook that even the NRA recognized we've got to do something." Commenting on the effort to recall him, Morse added "that's why politicians around the country don't want to stand up for this issue." Morse said he is willing to accept whatever the public decides but that he "will not back down." Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.

Universal background checks passes Colorado Senate, moves to House for final vote

March 15, 2013, 11:00 am

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Acknowledging that no laws are perfect, Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, urged lawmakers in the Senate on Friday to pass a measure that requires background checks to be conducted for all Colorado Reported by Denver Post 2 hours ago.

Charter School Controversy: K12 Disputes Reports of Grade Tampering, Yorkville 115 Hosting Forum Monday

March 15, 2013, 12:13 pm

≫ Next: Service with a smile at Aurora and N. 80th, ca. 1937

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Patch Yorkville, IL --

A report by NBC5 in Tennessee says the K12 for-profit charter school that could be coming to the Fox Valley area next year tried to delete grades of failing students in order to make results look better.

The Feb. 11 Nashville-based NBC report by Chief Investigative Reporter Phil Williams says the Tennessee Virtual Academy—the company's Nashville equivalent to the proposed Fox Valley charter—directed teachers to delete two months worth of failing grades.

The proof was an email uncovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates that indicated a VLS middle school vice principal's directive to delete failing progress reports teachers dished out in September and October.

"After ... looking at so many failing grades, we need to make some changes before the holidays," the email says.

The e-mail asks each teacher "to take out the October and September progress [reports]; delete it so that all that is showing is November progress."

*You can read the full e-mail here.*

K12 is trying to start an online charter school called Virtual Learning Solutions in Yorkville and 17 other school districts. Funding would come by transferring the per-pupil expenditure tuition from the public schools to the charter school.

Yorkville School District 115 will be holding a public hearing on Monday, March 18 at 8 p.m. at the Yorkville District Office.

Within 30 days of the public hearing the Board of Education will vote to either grant or deny the proposed charter.

Randall Greenway, K12's vice president of School Development, said Tuesday afternoon that the story was inaccurate and contained a number of false claims.

"It was quickly and completely debunked by the school and its teachers," he said. "One of the TNVA teachers, speaking on behalf of her fellow teachers at the school, responded in the media" via this article in the Knoxville News Sentinel. 

The teachers also spoke before the Tennessee legislature and "directly countered these false claims," Greenway said.

You can read a full response from TNVA administrators here.

"The individuals in the story who criticized the school had no understanding of how the school operates, nor did they first seek information from the school, its administrators or teachers, before rendering judgment based on nothing more than a single email," Greenway said.

**Related Articles**

· *NBC5:*Email Directs Teachers To Delete Bad Grades

 

**Districts Targeted for a Fox River Valley Region**

1. School District U-46
2. Indian Prairie School District 204
3. Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
4. Community Unit School District 300
5. Valley View Community Unit School District 365U
6. Naperville Community Unit School District 203
7. Oswego Community Unit School District 308
8. East Aurora School District 131
9. St. Charles Community Unit School District 303
10. Community Unit School District 200
11. West Aurora School District 129
12. Batavia Public School District 101
13. Geneva Community Unit School District 304
14. DeKalb Community Unit School District 428
15. Yorkville Community Unit School District 115
16. Kaneland Community Unit School District 302
17. Sycamore Community Unit School District 427
18. Central Community Unit School District 301

 

**What do you think of the charter school idea? Let us know in the comments section below.** Reported by Patch 1 hour ago.

Service with a smile at Aurora and N. 80th, ca. 1937

March 15, 2013, 12:22 pm

≫ Next: Find Kids Summer Camps in Urbandale and All Around Iowa

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The opening of Aurora directly through Woodland Park, poured a flood of commercial opportunities onto Aurora's long commercial strip north of Green Lake. Reported by Seattle Times 54 minutes ago.

Find Kids Summer Camps in Urbandale and All Around Iowa

March 13, 2013, 10:57 pm

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Patch Urbandale, IA --

Summer is months (and a heatwave) away, but if you hope to send the kiddos off to summer camp, now is the time to place.

The map above includes a database of more than 100 (and growing) summer camps around Iowa. With the choice and variety of summer camps available in 2013, boredom won't be an option.

Organizations from area colleges to your local parks and recreation department offer dozens of camp choices for science, nature, sports, music and more. Whether you're looking for an all-around experience or a more focused camp, this list features a few in your town and nearby.

Check the list below for some camps in Urbandale, or check out the map above for camps around Iowa. Click the red pins for more information, and use the map slider on the left to zoom in or out.

Know of a camp that's not on our list or our map? Visit this page and submit the information, and we'll add it.

*Camp Name:* Spanish is Cool
*Type of Camp:* Culture/Language
*Day or Overnight:* Day Camp
*Where is the Camp?:* Walnut Hills Elementary
*When is the Camp?:* June 4-20
*Registration Deadline:* 5/28/2013
*Cost:* $149
*Street Address:* 4240 NW 156th St
*City:* Urbandale
*Zip Code:* 50323
*Phone Number:* 515-987-2761
*Website:* www.waukee.k12.ia.us/communityeducation
*Additional Details:* Spanish is Cool (Grades K-2) “Spanish is Cool” is a fun and dynamic Spanish program, helping students learn basic Spanish communication skills. Students will be able to count numbers, identify colors and animals, as well as learn simple greetings and feelings. Students will receive and take home binders with the materials taught in each class. Instructor, Evelyn Rudich is a native Spanish speaking professional, with a language degree, and has taught Spanish for over 30 years. For students in Kindergarten-2nd grade. 9:00 am - 12:00 Noon.
*Email:* communityed@waukee.k12.ia.us
*Calculated Address:* 4240 NW 156th St, Urbandale, IA 50323 *Camp Name:* Richochet on the Ropes
*Type of Camp:* Outdoors/Leadership
*Day or Overnight:* Day Camp
*Where is the Camp?:* ISU Extension Office, Urbandale
*When is the Camp?:* July 22-26
*Registration Deadline:* 7/15/2013
*Cost:* $254
*Street Address:* 10861 Douglas Ave
*City:* Urbandale
*Zip Code:* 50322
*Phone Number:* 515-987-2761
*Website:* www.waukee.k12.ia.us/communityeducation
*Additional Details:* Ricochet on the Ropes (Grades 6-8) Middle School youth are finding their place in the world around them and are trying on many different roles. Often time, leadership opportunities come at unpredictable moments of time where the window of opportunity is barely visible to the naked eye. With preparation, youth can identify these opportunities and be ready to accept the challenges as they come. Real leadership is not about calling yourself “leader,” rather it’s about taking up the cause to change some piece of the world for the better. In other words, leadership is an extreme act motivated by a desire to create a better world – whether it’s the world of your, school, team, neighborhood, or family. The program includes a week at the Adventure Learning Center challenge course, a service project, nutrition and wellness information pertaining to leadership, a video shoot Thursday, and a Friday Celebration day. Taught by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach staff. For students entering 6th-8th grade. Students should bring a lunch each day. 8:00 am-5:00 pm. *Drop-off and pick-up location is at ISU office: 10861 Douglas Avenue, Urbandale, IA 50322 (students will walk to Adventure Learning Center at Living History Farms)
*Email:* communityed@waukee.k12.ia.us
*Calculated Address:* 10861 Douglas Ave, Urbandale, IA 50322
*Camp Name:* Becoming a Storyteller
*Type of Camp:* Reading and Writing
*Day or Overnight:* Day Camp
*Where is the Camp?:* Walnut Hills Elementary
*When is the Camp?:* June 3-7
*Registration Deadline:* 5/27/2013
*Cost:* $59
*Street Address:* 4240 NW 156th St
*City:* Urbandale
*Zip Code:* 50323
*Phone Number:* 515-987-2761
*Website:* www.waukee.k12.ia.us/communityeducation
*Additional Details:* Becoming a Storyteller (Grades 2-5) Becoming a storyteller can encourage verbal self-confidence, help develop imagination and visualization, foster reading and writing skills, and enhance listening skills. Storytelling is interactive and fun! Students will summarize and retell a story with beginning, middle, and end, describe and compare characters, use effective delivery by varying expression, pitch, and pace, learn strategies to overcome communication anxieties, use good posture, eye contact, and body language, and more! Taught by Walnut Hills Elementary Teacher Joni Gilchrist. 2nd-3rd: 1:00-2:00 pm. 4th-5th: 2:15-3:15 pm.
*Email:* communityed@waukee.k12.ia.us
*Calculated Address:* 4240 NW 156th St, Urbandale, IA 50323 *Camp Name:* Skill Builder Camp
*Type of Camp:* Sports - Soccer
*Day or Overnight:* Day Camp
*Where is the Camp?:* Urbandale Soccer Complex
*When is the Camp?:* June 24 - June 27
*Registration Deadline:* 6/24/2013
*Cost:* $60-$70
*Street Address:* Aurora Ave and Meredith Drive
*City:* Urbandale
*Zip Code:* 50322
*Phone Number:* (515)-554-0246
*Website:* www.juscsoccer.org/camps
*Additional Details:* Skill Builder Camp The Skill Builder camp is the ideal environment for players of all levels to improve through correct instruction of the fundamentals components of the game: Dribbling, Ball Control, Passing, and Ball-Striking. Children in the youngest age groups can expect to get a large number of touches on the ball, while being encouraged and entertained by members of the JUSC Coaching Staff. Older players will be motivated throughout the week by our most experienced staff members who are expert in fine-tuning technique to improve player performance. U5-U8 9:00 - 10:00am $60.00 U9-U10 8:45 - 10:00am $70.00
*Email:* camps@juscsoccer.org
*Calculated Address:*
*Camp Name:* Fall Season Prep Camp
*Type of Camp:* Sports - Soccer
*Day or Overnight:* Day Camp
*Where is the Camp?:* Urbandale Soccer Complex
*When is the Camp?:* August 5 - August 8
*Registration Deadline:* 8/5/2013
*Cost:* $75-$90
*Street Address:* Aurora Ave and Meredith Drive
*City:* Urbandale
*Zip Code:* 50322
*Phone Number:* (515)-554-0246
*Website:* www.juscsoccer.org/camps
*Additional Details:* Fall Season Prep Camp Want to get the jump on the opposition? The final offering of the Summer Camp Series offers a more comprehensive curriculum highlighting the technical, tactical, physical, and psychological themes of the upcoming season. Campers will be given a solid foundation by the JUSC staff in order to sparkle within the team dynamic. Consistent themes for younger players will be: Sharpening ball control technique, Basic decision-making with the ball, and Movement without the ball. More advanced players will focus on improving: Speed of play, Decisions in common game situations, and Ability to combine with teammates. U9-U10 6:00pm – 7:15pm $75.00 U11-U16 6:00pm – 7:30pm $90.00
*Email:* camps@juscsoccer.org Reported by Patch 3 days ago.

Virtual Charter School Controversy: Report Says K12 Teachers Asked to Delete Bad Grades

March 14, 2013, 4:59 am

≫ Next: Plainfield Food Pantry Founder Named 'Hometown Hunger Hero'

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Patch Romeoville, IL --

A report by NBC5 in Tennessee says the K12 for-profit charter school that could be coming to the Fox Valley next year tried to delete grades of failing students in order to make results look better.

The same company is aiming to start an online charter school called Virtual Learning Solutions in Valley View and Plainfield school district, along with 16 other area districts. Funding would come by transferring the per-pupil expenditure tuition from the public schools to the charter school.

The Feb. 11 Nashville-based NBC report by Chief Investigative Reporter Phil Williams says the Tennessee Virtual Academy—the company's Nashville equivalent to the proposed Fox Valley charter—directed teachers to delete two months worth of failing grades.

The proof was an email uncovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates that indicated a VLS middle school vice principal's directive to delete failing progress reports teachers dished out in September and October.

"After ... looking at so many failing grades, we need to make some changes before the holidays," the email says.

The e-mail asks each teacher "to take out the October and September progress [reports]; delete it so that all that is showing is November progress."

*You can read the full e-mail here.*

*Districts targeted for a Fox River Valley Region*

1. School District U-46
2. Indian Prairie School District 204
3. Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
4. Community Unit School District 300
5. Valley View Community Unit School District 365U
6. Naperville Community Unit School District 203
7. Oswego Community Unit School District 308
8. East Aurora School District 131
9. St. Charles Community Unit School District 303
10. Community Unit School District 200
11. West Aurora School District 129
12. Batavia Public School District 101
13. Geneva Community Unit School District 304
14. DeKalb Community Unit School District 428
15. Yorkville Community Unit School District 115
16. Kaneland Community Unit School District 302
17. Sycamore Community Unit School District 427
18. Central Community Unit School District 301

*What do you think of the charter school idea? Let us know in the comments section below.* Reported by Patch 3 days ago.

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Plainfield Food Pantry Founder Named 'Hometown Hunger Hero'

March 14, 2013, 5:09 am

≫ Next: Will County DUI Arrests: March 16

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Patch Plainfield, IL --

After more than a decade of helping feed Plainfield-area residents in need, Green Harvest Food Pantry founder Jeff Green got a taste of what it’s like to be on the receiving end when his organization won a $1,000 grant.

Now, the pantry, which provides food and everyday essentials to more than 600 people every month, is in the running for a $10,000 prize from California winemaker Beaulieu Vineyard’s Hometown Hunger Hero program.

“This is all new to us,” said Green, who founded Green Harvest in 2001.

Earlier this year, Green learned he was the first-ever recipient of the $1,000 Hometown Hunger Hero prize after a Green Harvest volunteer nominated him for the award.

The prize money purchased several tons of food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Green said. That went a long way toward helping feed the pantry’s clients.

“It takes almost four tons of food each month to feed all of our families,” he said.

From April 8 to 18, Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) will open up voting for the $10,000 award on its Facebook page.

If Green Harvest is the big winner, Mr. Big himself, Chris Noth of “Sex & the City” fame, will present the $10,000 check at the Plainfield pantry.

*'A great boost'*

Green said he was inspired to start the food pantry following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“The president called for volunteers to meet the needs of their communities,” Green said.

Green and his wife, Amy, were already running a program that provided holiday food baskets to struggling families.

“My wife just looked at me and said, ‘Maybe you should consider taking this thing full time,'” Green remembered.

Green launched the pantry out of the couple's Aurora townhome.

"We pretty much slept upstairs and used the living room and basement [for Green Harvest]," he remembered. In 2005, Green Harvest expanded into its current location at 25448 Ruff St. in Plainfield.

Today, the pantry serves 125 families per month. Clients can apply for assistance on a six-month rotating basis.

“Our goal is to try to make people responsible for themselves,” he said. “It’s to try to help people that have fallen through the cracks.”

Clients can sign up to come to the pantry during a two-hour window of time and shop for the items their family needs.

“It’s set up like a grocery store,” Green said. “They get a shopping cart and they go through the aisles and pick out what they want. We are considered a full clients’ choice [pantry].”

In addition to BV, Green said companies including Exelon, ComEd, UPS and Jewel-Osco have helped the pantry serve its clients, who live in Plainfield, Oswego, Naperville, Aurora, Yorkville, Bolingbrook and Montgomery.

“To be able to have people like BV come in and help us out, it’s a great boost,” Green said.

*Don’t forget to vote*

Plainfield-area residents can keep an eye on the BV Facebook page for their chance to help Green Harvest win the $10,000 grant.

Voting begins April 8 and ends April 18. Reported by Patch 3 days ago.

Will County DUI Arrests: March 16

March 16, 2013, 8:29 am

≫ Next: Harley Shoger, 88, Was a Farmer in the Oswego, Aurora Area his Entire Life

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Patch Bolingbrook, IL --

**Joliet**

*March 14* Galdino M. Cerezo, 25, 1106 Parkwood, Joliet, arrested by the Will County Sheriff's Office and booked into the Will County jail on March 14 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, blood alcohol content over .08 and failure to reduce speed and on a warrant for failure to appear.

*March 14 *Willie James Lee, 36, 221 5th, Joliet, arrested by the Joliet Police Department and booked into the Will County jail on March 14 on charges of felony driving under the influence of alcohol, blood alcohol content over .08, driving on a revoked/suspended license, following too closely and speeding.

**What to keep up on crime news from around the area? Like our Crime-n-Shame Facebook page**

* March 14* Anita M. Moreno, 24, 1001 Lois Place, Joliet, arrested by the Will County Sheriff's Office and booked into the Will County jail on March 14 on charges of felony driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of a controlled substance.

*March 10* Adrian Morales, 21, 311 Hunter, Joliet, arrested by the Joliet Police Department and booked into the Will County jail on March 10 on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

*March 9 *Thomas D. Jones, 26, 905 Woods, Joliet, arrested by the Joliet Police Department and booked into the Will County jail on March 9 on a charge of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol.

*March 9 *Titus N. Wilson, 36, 1861 Marboro Lane, Crest Hill, arrested by the Joliet Police Department on March 9 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and blood alcohol content over .08.

**Bolingbrook**

*March 3* Richard Herpel, 22, 2622 Burr Ridge Ct., Woodridge, was arrested at 4:12 a.m. and charged with improper turn, traffic signal violation and DUI, following a traffic stop at Green Road and Royce Road, police said. 

*March 2* Erick Gonzalez, 37, 8338 David Dr., Woodridge, was arrested at 2:19 a.m. and charged with improper lane usage, DUI and no insurance following a traffic stop at Route 53 and St. Andrews Drive, police said. 

*March 2* Courtney Bade, 24, 152 N. Pinecrest Rd., was arrested at 4:52 a.m. and charged withDUI following a traffic stop on the 700 block of Janes Avenue, police said.  

**Plainfield**

*March 12* Crystal Harvey, 32, of the 2900 block of Ruth Fitzgerald Drive, Plainfield, was arrested by Plainfield police at 12:04 a.m. at Alison and Drauden roads and charged with driving under the infuence of alcohol and improper lane use, police said.

*March 10* Laura J. Okrey, 23, of the 23000 block of West Plainsman Circle, Plainfield, was arrested by Will County Sheriff's police and booked into the county jail on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improperly passing an emergency vehicle and failure to carry or display license or permit, police said.

*March 9* Thurston J. Bogatitus, 23, of the 15000 block of Fairfield Drive, Plainfield, was arrested by Will County Sheriff's police and booked into the county jail on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.

*Romeoville*

*March 10* Steven E. Paul, 23, of the 500 block of Camden Avenue, Romeoville, was arrested by Will County Sheriff's police and booked into the county jail on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.

*March 10* Policarpio C. Crespo, 36, of the 400 block of Dalhart Avenue, Romeoville, was arrested by Romeoville police and booked into the Will County jail on charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license and operating an uninsured vehicle, police said.

*March 2* Reinhardt Van Wyk, 21, of the 3100 block of Thunderbird Court, Aurora, was arrested at 2:24 a.m. at Route 53 and Renwick Road and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, driving an uninsured car and failure to wear a seat belt, Romeoville police said.

*Feb. 23 *Katherine Perek, 24, of the 25000 block of Colonial Lane, Lombard, was arrested by Romeoville police at 11:36 p.m. at 135th Street and Sunset Pointe and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.

*Feb. 22* Daryl Villareal, 51, of the 1400 block of Regency Ridge Drive, Joliet, was arrested at 12:27 am. at Route 53 and University Parkway and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane use and driving too fast for conditions, police said.

*Channahon*

*March 5* Erin M. Murray, 21, Channahon, was arrested by Channahon police on March 5 for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol with BAC of .08 or more, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage and failure to signal when required.

**Shorewood**

*March 10* Kathleen E. Corcoran, 46, 504 Shorewood Dr., Shorewood, arrested by Shorewood Police on a Will County Warrant for DUI during a warrant detail on March 10. Corcoran posted bond and was released with court information.

*March 1 *Cesar Ramirez-Toris, 30, 1124 Gael Road, Joliet, arrested by Shorewood Police for DUI, DWLS and ticketed for illegal parking after officers observed him asleep in his vehicle in an intersection on March 1. Ramirez-Toris posted bond and was released with court information.

Police report information is provided by local police departments. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

*Check out recent DUI reports from around Will County.*

· *Will County DUI Arrests: March 9*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: March 2*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: Feb. 23*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: Feb. 16*

· *Will County DUI Arrests: Feb. 9
*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: Feb. 2*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: Jan. 26*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: Jan. 19*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: Jan 12*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: Jan. 5*
· *Will County DUI Arrests: Dec. 28*

 

 

 

 

 

  Reported by Patch 10 hours ago.

Harley Shoger, 88, Was a Farmer in the Oswego, Aurora Area his Entire Life

March 16, 2013, 5:29 am

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Patch Oswego, IL --

Harley Shoger, 88, of Oswego, Illinois and previously a resident at the Countryside Village of Yorkville retirement apartments died Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at the Countryside Care Centre in Aurora, Illinois.

He was born March 18, 1924 in Oswego, Illinois to the late Harley and Alice nee Updike Shoger. Mr Shoger was engaged in farming his entire life in Aurora, Oswego and Na-Au-Say Township, Illinois areas.

Mr. Shoger was a member of the Yorkville Baptist Church and the Kendall County Farm Bureau. 

Survivors include one sister Phylis Makholm of Stevens Point, Wisconsin and by several nieces and nephews. Mr. Shoger was preceeded in death by his parents, two sisters, Gretchen Shoger and Ruth (Norman) Zurbrigg, Lucille (Franklin) Dugan and her brothers LaVerne (Jean) Shoger, Glenn (Marian) Shoger and Virgil (Joy) Shoger and by his brother-in-law Mark Makholm. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 18, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Dunn Family Funeral Home With Crematory*,* 1801 S. Douglas Rd., Oswego, IL. Burial will take place at the Lincoln Memorial Park in Aurora, Illinois. 

Memorials may be directed to the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, % The Rauner Center, 2200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60543. For additional information: 630/554-3888.

*The obituary was provided by the Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory* Reported by Patch 13 hours ago.

Searching for that Elusive Egg Hunt Around Oswego

March 16, 2013, 5:28 am

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Patch Oswego, IL --

For kids there's nothing quite like the thrill of the egg hunt.

Fortunately there are a lot of Easter egg hunts popping up around Oswego for them to practice their egg hunting skills (because after a year they're bound to be a bit rusty).

Check out our list of egg hunts around Oswego and get ready to eat a lot of chocolate (if the kids will share!)

Click on the name of each hunt for more information.

*Flashlight Egg Hunt*

As if finding eggs wasn't hard enough, now you have to do it with a flashlight! This annual hunt by the Oswegoland Park District takes place on March 22 and costs $5.

*Lunch with the Bunny*

This Egg hunt over at Fox Bend Golf Course comes with a visit to the Easter Bunny and lunch for $12 on Tuesday, March 19. Here's to hoping there's more than carrots on the menu!

*Optimist Club Egg Hunt*

The Oswegoland Optimist Club knows how to have fun! There'll be a free egg hunt on Saturday, March 23 along with some games and a cake walk for a small fee.

*Community Easter Egg Hunt*

The folks at Resolution Church are putting on this free egg hunt on Saturday, March 30 with thousands of eggs hidden all over Washington Park. 

*Easter Egg Scramble*

A bit of a hop and a jump, the free Easter Egg Scramble is being held and hosted by Aurora Advent Christian Church. Reported by Patch 13 hours ago.

8 Projects Bringing Synthetic Biology to Your Doorstep

March 16, 2013, 5:27 am

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Filed under: Investing

Bacteria have been Public Enemy No. 1 for most of our species' time on Earth. Although Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, it wasn't successfully mass-produced until World War II. Even then, seven decades is small on a timeline spanning 200,000 years. For those of you keeping score at home, bacteria are winning in a landslide.

Enter synthetic biology. The aim is to reduce the complexity of life to its most basic parts, hijack the genetic code of microbes, insert completely new biological parts into a range of hosts, and turn the scorn of humanity into a tool for advancing civilization. We may have a long way to go before we even the score, but some novel ideas of synthetic biology could pile up some big victories for our species.

Synthetic biology has game-changing potential for every aspect of daily life and every segment of the economy. Its emergence has many believing that a transition to a bioeconomy (link opens PDF) is inevitable. While nearly the entire field lies out of the reach of individual investors for now, it's never too early to do your initial research. Here are just a few projects that will bring synthetic biology to your doorstep.




*1. **Building life*
Imagine a software platform that allowed you to specify the conditions (temperature, pH, pressure) of your chemical process, select the parts or functions you want your microbe to possess, and hit "print." It may sound too good to be true, but this isn't some fanciful idea from the plot of a sci-fi movie. This is the engineering platform that synthetic biology company Ginkgo BioWorks is developing.

In other words, the company isn't growing life. It's building it.

Ginkgo's platform is tackling biomanufacturing problems in industries from energy to health care, although no industry is out of reach when you can design cells from scratch. How does the company do it? In much the same way that standardized mechanical parts from the Industrial Revolution enabled countless technological breakthroughs, BioBricks allow Ginkgo to reliably create microbes batch after batch. The open-source registry of biological parts, which can be purchased and inserted into a microbial host, is being fully supported by the industry.

It may sound like a crazy business model, but decades from now Ginkgo's work today will probably be likened to early versions of *Microsoft* and *Intel*. They had some pretty crazy ideas for their time, too.

*2. **Novel flu vaccine production*
Did you get a flu shot this year? Chances are, the vaccine injected under your skin was developed in a chicken egg. That may weird you out, but there are some serious drawbacks to the industry-standard manufacturing process. It can be difficult to cultivate large amounts of uncontaminated chicken egg factories quickly, and the purification routine needed to attain finished product is a nightmare. Not to mention that not all flu strains -- which mutate each year -- can be easily grown with this method.

That's why Protein Sciences' progress in vaccine manufacturing is such a big deal. The company's recently approved process uses armyworm cells (hey, they're better than chicken eggs) to create a purer, higher-quality vaccine at a cheaper cost.

If Protein Sciences can successfully navigate market forces, then I wouldn't bet against seeing it disrupt the $1 billion U.S. flu vaccine market led by *Novartis * and *GlaxoSmithKline *. While the new vaccines haven't been shown to be any more effective than egg-sourced predecessors, they may be a hit with consumers who prefer natural products, are allergic to eggs, or follow a vegan lifestyle. CEO Manon Cox is even looking into potential partnerships with natural stores such as *Whole Foods*. Out of my way, *Walgreen* -- I need to get a flu shot.  

*3. **Non-traditional food sources*
There are limits to the amount of cargo that can be launched into space, but astronauts' appetites have no such limits. It should be no surprise, then, that NASA has studied the potential of algae and cyanobacteria to provide nutritional diets for spacefaring humans since the 1960s. One ounce of the cyanobacterium seaweed spirulina contains just 80 calories, 2 grams of fat, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 16 grams of protein, and 44% of the daily recommended intake of iron.  

Synthetic biology aims to improve on those numbers even further. Algae companies such as Aurora Algae, Blue Marble Biomaterials, and *Solazyme * are just some of the names targeting nutraceutical applications for their platforms. The nutritional oils these companies produce can replace pricey, unhealthy oils currently accepted as the status quo in foods. If Solazyme has its way, then a healthy diet may one day include ice cream, candy, and cookies.

Dr. J. Craig Venter, founder of Synthetic Genomics, even sees synthetic biology disrupting the world's meat production. According to Venter, "It takes 10 kilograms of grain and 15 liters of water to produce one kilogram of beef." It will be a long while before you eat meat grown in a bioreactor, but the day will surely come. Cows, you've been warned.  

*4. **Pigeon poop goes green*
If you think bacteria are annoying, try walking around a modern city without tripping over a pigeon (seriously, why don't they move?). Health officials are more concerned with the health risks posed by their droppings, which can harbor dangerous fungi and bacteria. Where does synthetic biology come into play?

Tuur van Baalen created the concept of Pigeon d'Or, which teamed up with James Chappel and the Centre for Synthetic Biology at Imperial College in London. A harmless microbe, such as those in yogurt, was designed to be fed to and temporarily change the gut flora of these annoying, city-dwelling birds. The concept proposes that the modified birds could be released into the urban wild wielding their biodegradable, environmentally friendly surfactant droppings.

Essentially, we could turn pigeons into a flying armada of sanitation workers. That could save some serious cash for cities such as New York, which have 12,750 miles of sidewalk to clean. One day you could even park under a tree or fix your car with pigeon-friendly resting places to get a free car wash. Everyone wins!  

*5. **Living Foundries DARPA Program*
The Department of Defense spends $23 billion per year on repairing systems that are required to operate in harsh, corrosive environments. The Living Foundries Program is attempting to provide a biological solution to the costly problem -- with numerous potential windfalls. One of the goals of the program is to reduce the cost and development time of industrial biotechnology platforms, which require hundreds of millions of dollars and more than seven years to bring to commercial scale.

The two largest entities on the program's payroll are The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and *Amyris* . Although currently focused on reducing losses and adding production capacity, the company has already successfully scaled production of hydrocarbon building block farnesene and malaria drug artemisinin -- the first major commercial breakthrough for synthetic biology.

The world-changing impact of DARPA's former projects, including those that spawned the Internet and GPS, has kept excitement for the project pretty high among those aware of its existence. Need mass quantities of a new vaccine next week? Has a natural disaster wiped away a region's food, fuel, or energy capacity? No problem: Synthetic biology to the rescue.   

*6. **Pathogen detectors*
We live in a world with multiple layers of security and protection: smoke detectors, security systems, antivirus programs for our computers, and the like. Did it ever occur to you that we have no comparable system in place to protect against lethal pathogens? Don't panic: Sample6 Technologies has us covered. For its first product, the startup is tapping the power of synthetic biology to create sensors for detecting harmful bacteria in the food industry in nearly real time.

What's the advantage? As Sample6 co-founder and COO Michael Koeris explains, the food system in place today is "fundamentally safe." Food processors swab products with a sponge, ship it to laboratories for testing, and cross their fingers that nothing went wrong. This process takes several days and puts producers in a precarious position. Do they ship potentially contaminated food and hope for the best or hold onto products for several days -- costing valuable shelf life -- until results come back?

Sample6 wants to take the guesswork out of the equation and eliminate costly recalls that can severely damage a brand's reputation. After conquering the food industry, the company has plans to develop similar detectors for health care, retail food chains, and water monitoring applications. Unfortunately, I have been told that a horse meat detector is not on the radar.   

*7. **Biocatalytic carbon capture*
Installing post-combustion carbon capture, or PCCC, systems in a power plant can be pretty cost-prohibitive, which puts those calling for increasingly tougher pollution and emissions regulations in a tough spot. Storing carbon dioxide underground can be even more expensive, besides the fact that it has been demonstrated at only relatively small scales.

Enzyme producers *Codexis*  and CO2 Systems teamed up with *Alcoa* and the Department of Energy to pioneer a different approach. Codexis hijacked microbial genomes to increase the carbon capture ability of natural carbonic anhydrase by 2 million-fold, which could reduce scrubber column size by 95%, chemical use by 80%, and capital expenditures for a PCCC system by $146 million.   

The technology not only reduces emissions and costs but also stores carbon in various alumina and fertilizer products -- effectively turning CO2 into a revenue stream. Despite the program's initial success, the group disbanded after determining that commercial deployment wouldn't be possible by the Department of Energy's mandatory funding date of 2014. Nonetheless, the project was hailed as one that "could fundamentally change the way the country uses and produces energy." It's not a question of if biocatalytic carbon capture is revived, but when. 

*8. **Terraforming and colonizing Mars*
Who said our newfound fascination with synthetic biology has to stay grounded on the third rock from the sun? Humans will one day make their way to the Red Planet, but bringing along enough supplies for a permanent presence would require impossible amounts of fuel and money.

By contrast, a test tube of frozen microbes could fit in an astronaut's pocket. Cells brought along for the journey could be cultured using the abundance of elements and sunshine found on Mars to produce dietary supplements, building materials, and even biopolymer resins for 3-D printing factories. Photosynthetic algae and bacteria could even be spread across the planet to pump greenhouse gases and oxygen into the Martian atmosphere and create a habitable environment, albeit over the course of decades or even centuries. Ironically, our evolution into a multiplanetary species may very well hinge on our ability to work with bacteria.

*Foolish bottom line*
Synthetic biology has enormous potential to transform the world, but it also comes with a fair share of hurdles. Several of the technologies I've mentioned raise moral and ethical questions that will need to be sorted out for widespread adoption. However, I believe the reward side of the equation heavily outweighs the risks associated with many of these disruptive technologies. The only limits are our imagination and relatively limited understanding of biology.

While I believe we're on the verge of the bioeconomy, not every industry provides a positive net return for Uncle Sam's productivity. What macro trend was Warren Buffett referring to when he said "this is the tapeworm that's eating at American competitiveness"? Find out in our free report: "What's Really Eating at America's Competitiveness." You'll also discover an idea to profit as companies work to eradicate this efficiency-sucking tapeworm. Just click here for free, immediate access.

The article 8 Projects Bringing Synthetic Biology to Your Doorstep Reported by DailyFinance 13 hours ago.

Find Movies Playing in Roswell

March 16, 2013, 9:21 am

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Patch Roswell, GA --

"The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" is just one of the movies playing at Aurora Cineplex and Studio Movie Grill in Roswell this weekend.

Come back and tell us in comments the movie you saw, what you thought about it and how many stars out of five you would give the film! Reported by Patch 9 hours ago.

Colorado theater shooter to face trial in August

March 12, 2013, 2:54 pm

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A US judge entered a plea of not guilty Tuesday on behalf of alleged Aurora theater gunman James Holmes, and set an August date for him to stand trial over the horrific massacre. The 25-year-old’s lawyers said they were not yet ready to enter a plea at Holmes’s arraignment for the killing of 12 people in the Colorado town of Aurora last July. Judge William Sylvester said lawyers for Holmes — who watched proceedings wearing [...] Reported by Raw Story 5 days ago.

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UPDATE Fox Valley Charter School Controversy: K12 Responds to NBC5 Tennessee Report of Grade Tampering

March 12, 2013, 5:09 pm

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Patch Wheaton, IL --

By Rick Nagel, Geneva Patch

A report by NBC5 in Tennessee says the K12 for-profit charter school that could be coming to the Fox Valley area next year tried to delete grades of failing students in order to make results look better.

But the company that wants to start online charter here says the report was inaccurate and contained a number of false claims.

The Feb. 11 Nashville-based NBC report by Chief Investigative Reporter Phil Williams says the Tennessee Virtual Academy—the company's Nashville equivalent to the proposed Fox Valley charter—directed teachers to delete two months worth of failing grades.

The proof was an email uncovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates that indicated a VLS middle school vice principal's directive to delete failing progress reports teachers dished out in September and October.

"After ... looking at so many failing grades, we need to make some changes before the holidays," the email says.

The e-mail asks each teacher "to take out the October and September progress [reports]; delete it so that all that is showing is November progress."

*You can read the full e-mail here.*

K12 is trying to start an online charter school, called Virtual Learning Solutions, in Geneva and 17 other school districts. Funding would come by transferring the per-pupil expenditure tuition from the public schools to the charter school. Geneva officials said Monday night that the total would be in the range of $10,000 to $12,000 per pupil.

Randall Greenway, K12's vice president of School Development, said Tuesday afternoon that the story was inaccurate and contained a number of false claims.

"It was quickly and completely debunked by the school and its teachers," he said. "One of the TNVA teachers, speaking on behalf of her fellow teachers at the school, responded in the media" via this article in the Knoxville News Sentinel. 

The teachers also spoke before the Tennessee legislature and "directly countered these false claims," Greenway said.

You can read a full response from TNVA administrators here.

"The individuals in the story who criticized the school had no understanding of how the school operates, nor did they first seek information from the school, its administrators or teachers, before rendering judgment based on nothing more than a single email," Greenway said.

Geneva was the first school district to hold a public hearing on the charter-school proposal, which took place last night (Monday, March 12, 2013), but Virtual Learning Solutions was a no-show.

The K12 administrator said in an e-mail to Geneva Patch late Monday night that the district had not notified the organization of the public hearing.

Patch has an e-mail request in for a response from School District 304 regarding the NBC report and the notification issue. 

**Related Articles**

· 2ND UPDATE: 'Virtual' Charter School Was Not Informed of Monday Night's Public Hearing
· *NBC5:* Email Directs Teachers To Delete Bad Grades

*Read the full charter-school report here.*

**Districts Targeted for a Fox River Valley Region**

1. School District U-46
2. Indian Prairie School District 204
3. Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202
4. Community Unit School District 300
5. Valley View Community Unit School District 365U
6. Naperville Community Unit School District 203
7. Oswego Community Unit School District 308
8. East Aurora School District 131
9. St. Charles Community Unit School District 303
10. Community Unit School District 200
11. West Aurora School District 129
12. Batavia Public School District 101
13. Geneva Community Unit School District 304
14. DeKalb Community Unit School District 428
15. Yorkville Community Unit School District 115
16. Kaneland Community Unit School District 302
17. Sycamore Community Unit School District 427
18. Central Community Unit School District 301

**What do you think of the charter school idea? Let us know in the comments section below.** Reported by Patch 5 days ago.

86% Tabu

March 16, 2013, 7:23 pm

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Acclaimed director Miguel Gomes returns with a sumptuous, eccentric two-part tale centered on Aurora, shown first as an impulsive, cantankerous elderly woman in present-day Lisbon. When Aurora is hospitalized, she sends her neighbor, Pilar, to pass... Reported by Rotten Tomatoes 22 hours ago.

Plymouth Obituaries - March 17, 2013

March 17, 2013, 2:51 am

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Patch Plymouth, MA --

*Cameron Groezinger Fitzpatrick*

Cameron Edward Xavier Groezinger Fitzpatrick, age 19, died unexpectedly on March 8, 2013 as a result of a peanut allergy.

He was the loving son of Robin (Botelho) and Marc Fitzpatrick of Plymouth and Robert Groezinger of Carver. Born in Plymouth, MA on January 5, 1994, Cameron was educated in the Plymouth School system.

He was a 2012 Graduate of Plymouth North High School and was currently enrolled as a freshman at Bryant University in RI. He was in the International Business Program and was in the National Honor Society.

For the full obituary and online guestbook see Cartmell Funeral Home.

*Eleanor Frances (Oliver) McRae*

Eleanor Frances (Oliver) McRae of Plymouth died March 10. She was the beloved wife of Joseph McRae. Loving mother of Clifford Smith and his wife Betsy of Holtsville, CA. and the late Chester Smith. Loving sister of Robert Burr of Brockton and Muriel Newell of Plymouth. Born in Brockton July 18, 1924 a son of the late Roy and Ethel (Phillips) Olives. She loved music and enjoyed sing and was a  participant in the activities at Plymouth Crossing. Funeral Services will be private. Cremation in vine Hills Crematory Plymouth. More info and online guestbook visit Cartmell Funeral Home.

*Sharon L. (Gustafson) Wentzell*

* *

Sharon L. (Gustafson)

Wentzell, 60, passed away at home with her family at her side after a five year battle with cancer march 14. Beloved wife of Thomas N. Wentzell of Plymouth. Loving mother of Chris A. Wentzell of Plymouth. Grandmother of Morgan, Jonah, Aurora Wentzell, and Joseph Andrewski. Sister of Linda Reed of Colorado Springs, CO, David Gustafson of Halifax, Paul Gustafson of Plymouth and the late Cheryl Gustafson and several nieces and nephews.

Sharon was born in Weymouth the daughter of Arne and Gloria (Gobeille) Gustafson. She graduated from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. Sharon worked as a Legal Assistant for the Law Firm Day Pitney LLP. She was an active member of the Second Congregational Church in Plymouth (Manomet); she enjoyed painting, bicycle riding with her husband Tom, and especially loved spending time with her grandchildren. Read the full obituary at Richard Davis Funeral Home. Reported by Patch 15 hours ago.

St. Pat's dash closes Aurora Bridge, Alaskan Viaduct

March 17, 2013, 9:54 am

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The Aurora Bridge, the Alaskan Way Viaduct and streets near Seattle Center are closed Sunday morning so thousands or runners, many in zany costumes, can participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Dash. The race, which benefits children’s charities, loops from Seattle Center up Highwa Reported by Seattle Times 8 hours ago.

Sun eruption supercharges aurora displays

March 17, 2013, 10:51 am

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A massive eruption on the sun Friday unleashed a wave of intense solar particles at Earth that may spark a geomagnetic storm and boost weekend aurora displays. The solar eruption should not pose a threat to satellites and spacecraft around Earth, but it may pass NASA's Messenger spacecraft orbiting Mercury and the infrared Spitzer Space Telescope, agency officials said. Reported by msnbc.com 7 hours ago.