A renovated home with four bedrooms and two full baths sold after 310 days on the market. The home located at 1121 Huntleigh Dr. in Naperville sold for $370,000. Located in a cul-de-sac, the home has cherry floors, granite counters and newer stainless steel appliances, according to listing information. 

The following Naperville property sales were recorded on Oct. 9 and 10, 2012.

$345,000: 2176 Riverlea Circle

$180,000: 2755 McClennan Court

$130,000: 653 Dana Court, C

$55,000: 1049 W. Ogden Ave., 213

$205,000: 1452 Aberdeen Court

$280,000: 1804 Downing Court 

$230,000: 1242 Olympus Drive

$341,000: 2727 Stockton Road

$150,000: 1152 Iroquois Ave., 8

The following Lisle property sales were recorded on Feb. 7, 2013.

$34,000: 425 Walnut Creek Lane, Unit 1408

$72,000: 5280 Oakwood Drive, Unit 5B

For more information on local real estate visit our Naperville or Lisle Real Estate Section. 

Are you a real estate agent with a distinctive home or property you’d like to see featured in one of our columns? Contact Mary Ann Lopez at maryl@patch.com.

The city of Naperville has announced that Linda LaCloche, who most recently served as the Assistant Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services and a Policy Advisor to the Mayor Michael B. Coleman for the city of Columbus, Ohio, has been named as Naperville’s new Communications Manager.

Her first day of employment is April 1.

“At a time when the City is looking to enhance communications and community outreach, Linda is absolutely the right person to lead our Communications team,” Deputy City Manager Marcie Schatz said in a press release. “Her strong background working for the City of Columbus in a variety of roles over the last 12 years, coupled with her expertise in media relations and policy development, will help strengthen the Communications Division and provide outstanding leadership on critical projects like a complete city website redesign and mass notification system rollout.”

LaCloche will oversee the recently renamed Communications Division, which will consist of two Communications Specialists, a Web Content Coordinator and a Communications Assistant. LaCloche will report to the Deputy City Manager.

“I am excited to bring a fresh perspective to communications at the city of Naperville,” LaCloche said in a press release. “I believe I can bring a wealth of experience to this outstanding community through my years of experience in relationship-building and media communications. There are so many crucial projects on the horizon, including the creation of solid communication policies, that I am honored to be able to assist with from inception to development to execution.”

Prior to serving as the Assistant Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services for the city of Columbus, LaCloche served as a Policy Advisor to Mayor Coleman and held the positions of Communications Director and Communications Specialist in the Columbus Department of Development. From 1999 to 2000 she served as Communications Director for the City of Falls Church, Virginia; prior to that time she was employed as Communications Associate for the International Research & Exchange Board in Washington, D.C. and a Community Relations Specialist for Waste Management, Inc. in Chicago. 

LaCloche is a native of Illinois and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Saint Xavier University in Chicago. She is married to Dr. Brad Nelson, a scholar and writer who earned his Doctorate in Political Science from The Ohio State University. Together they have two children, Emma, 4, and John, 2.

For more information on the city of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us.

Submitted by the city of Naperville

Tuesday, March 12

Telephone harassment

Ryan Graham, 33, was arrested at 12:53 p.m. in Naperville, police said. He was charged with harassment by telephone and transported to DuPage County Jail. 

Driving under the influence

John Matthew Kuntaras, 21, was arrested at 4:47 a.m. in the 600 block of South Washington Street, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond. 

No license

Antonio Marquez Lopez, 56, was arrested at 2:47 p.m. near Aurora Avenue and Berry Court, police said. He was charged with no driver's license. He posted bond. 

Suspended/revoked license

Jon Benjamin Grizzle, 53, was arrested at 5:06 p.m. near Route 59 and 95th Street, police said. He was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. He posted bond. 

Eavesdropping

Meliton Andrade, 44, was arrested at 10:55 p.m. in the 2500 block of Spring Street, police said. He was charged with eavesdropping and transported to Will County Jail. 

Protection order violation

Stanley David Seidler, 50, was arrested at 9:14 p.m. at the Naperville Police Department, police said. He was charged with violation of an order of protection. He posted bond. 

Possible heroin overdose

A 31-year-old male suffered a possible heroin overdose and was treated at the scene in the 1900 block of Town Drive, police said. He was then transported to Edward Hospital. 

UPDATED, 5:55 p.m.: Rep Ives has issued a further clarification in a Patch Local Voices submission.

Recent comments by 42nd District Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), made on a Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) radio show in February, that same-sex marriages are "completely disordered" and that gays are "trying to weasel their way into acceptability" have been attacked by same-sex marriage proponents, the Huffington Post and Daily Herald report.

"They're trying to redefine society," she told the station. "They're trying to weasel their way into acceptability so that they can then start to push their agenda down into the schools, because this gives them some sort of legitimacy... And we can't allow that to happen."(Listen to part of the interview above)

"It's a completely disordered relationship," she said. 

Ives also said that "to not have a mother and a father is really a disordered state for a child to grow up in and it really makes that child an object of desire rather than the result of a matrimony."

Gov. Pat Quinn has pledged to sign a bill if it passes with the necessary 60 votes in the House, which would make Illinois the 10th state to allow same-sex marriages. The bill passed in the state Senate in February.

"Poll after poll shows that the fair-minded people of Illinois support marriage equality," Anthony Martinez, executive director of The Civil Rights Agenda, told ChicagoPride.com. "Representatives on both sides of the aisle really need to think about how they want to be remembered in 20 years. Will they be on the side of fairness and equality, or on the side where Representative Ives is standing now?"

Speaking to the Herald, Ives said her remarks had been "misinterpreted" and that they were "specifically about the institution of marriage."

"Unfortunately that's the issue we have to talk about in Springfield. I didn't go down there to talk about gay marriage," she told CCI. 

Founded in 1969, the Catholic Conference of Illinois interacts with state government regarding interests of the church, according to the organization's website.

Ives was elected to serve in the 42nd District in November of 2012. She formerly served as an at-large. Wheaton City Council member.

Read more at the Huffington Post, the Daily Herald and ChicagoPride.com, or listen to the interview on the CCI website.

There are plenty of ways to keep up with Wheaton news:

• Get the news in your inbox by signing up for our free daily newsletter.
• Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take.

Here’s what most of us know about St. Patrick’s Day. It’s the day on which: a) green beer is consumed, b) the Chicago River is dyed green and c) all things Irish are celebrated.

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But there’s far more to the holiday, which we celebrate Saturday. Can you answer these questions?

1. What’s does St. Patrick’s Day commemorate?
2. Where was St. Patrick born?
3. How did St. Patrick become associated with Ireland?
4. What does the color green represent in Ireland: spring, hope or countryside?
5. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. What do the people there say he does for them?
6. What was St. Patrick’s given name?
7. If you don’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, what can someone do to you?
8. How did the three-leaf shamrock come to be associated with St. Patrick?
9. Did St. Patrick actually drive snakes from Ireland?
10. Where and when did the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in America take place?
11. How much Guinness beer will be consumed on St. Patrick’s Day worldwide?
12. What does Erin go Bragh mean?

1. The day on which St. Patrick died, which is believed to be March 17, 461 AD.

2. England. He was the son of a Roman-British army officer.

3. As a boy, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. When he escaped, he returned to Britain, studied at a French monastery and returned to Ireland, where he spent 30 years as a missionary devoted to converting pagans to Christianity.

4. Hope

5. Watches over them and decides who gets into heaven.

6. Maewyn Succat

7. Pinch you

8. He used it to explain the concept of the Trinity, with the leaves representing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

9. No. Today it’s considered to be symbolic image related to the success he had in converting people to Christianity, and the snakes representing the pagan Druids, who believed the cold-blooded creatures to be sacred.  

10. In Boston in 1737. The first parade in Ireland was in Dublin in 1931.

11. 13 million pints

12. Ireland forever

The Naperville Park District is set to break ground this summer for the Knoch Knolls Park nature center in south Naperville.

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The Park District is now completing detailed plans in preparation for the anticipated summer 2013 groundbreaking of a nature center and other park improvements at Knoch Knolls, a 224-acre park located at 336 Knoch Knolls Rd. in south Naperville.

“The Knoch Knolls Nature Center will be the Naperville Park District’s first staffed nature center,” said the Park District’s Director of Recreation Brad Wilson in a release. “We are excited to provide a place for indoor and outdoor learning that will help many kids and adults discover and enjoy our largest and most diverse natural area."

After gathering input through public open house events and through a series of meetings with a community review team, the Naperville Park District began architectural design of the Nature Center in 2012. Considering the unique geography of Knoch Knolls, which includes the confluence of the East Branch and West Branch of the DuPage River, the primary theme for the educational exhibits emerged as “Celebrating Water.”

Exhibits will include a river aquarium, an interactive wall map of the DuPage River watershed, plants and animals of the DuPage River Confluence, and others.

Serving as a center for nature education, the new facility itself will be a prime example of environmental sustainability, with sustainable features such as photovoltaic panels to provide renewable energy, a partial green roof, a visible cistern that will reuse rainwater, and a highly efficient HVAC system.

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation has awarded the Naperville Park District a $255,693 grant through its High Performance Green Building Program for energy efficient, LEED Platinum design of the Knoch Knolls Nature Center.

As part of the Nature Center development, the Naperville Park District plans additional site improvements at Knoch Knolls, including a pervious paver parking lot, an expanded disc golf course, a nature-themed playground, and multi-use trails connecting the site amenities.

Site plans, photos and additional project details are posted at www.napervilleparks.org.

Information provided by the Naperville Park District

NAPERVILLE

Located at 2843 Bluewater Circle, this home built in 1996 has 3-bedrooms and 3-baths. The home, listed at $249,900, is walking distance to Neuqua Valley High School. It is being sold as-is for a quick sale and is active, according to the listing information.

The home is spacious with a formal dining room and the kitchen and eat-in dining area overlook the living room.  

LISLE

A 3-bedroom, 2-bath home built in 1974 and located at 1015 Smith Road is listed for $249,900.

The home features a stone wall with fireplace, vaulted ceiling and a large backyard. The split-level home has three floors and includes a family room area in the lower level.

Do you have a home you'd like featured in this column? Contact Business Editor Mary Ann Lopez at maryl@patch.com.

Find out what properties recently sold in Naperville and Lisle, visit our real estate guide.

Grab your best green gear, a “Kiss Me I’m Irish” pin and head to downtown Naperville Saturday morning for the St. Paddy’s Day 5K and St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but be ready to find many streets closed and parking restrictions in preparation for the events. 

The city of Naperville is reminding residents to be prepared to find alternate routes around downtown and alternate parking options Saturday as no parking zones and road closures will be in effect. 

The St. Paddy’s Day 5K race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of West Street and Jackson Avenue. While, the parade begins at 10 a.m. at Naperville North High School, located at 899 N. Mill St. The parade will continue south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street and west on Water Street to the Naperville Municipal Center.

Streets along the race and parade route will be closed at about 7:15 a.m. until about 11:30 a.m. The race and parade route only will be a no parking, tow zone from 5 a.m. to noon and will be posted accordingly, according to the city.

Race and parade route streets are re-opened to traffic as soon as the Naperville Police Department determines it is safe. Motorists should expect delays through the morning hours in and around the race and parade area and take alternate routes or allow extra time to get to their destination. 

Residents seeking more information on the closures can find the times and locations of the parade and race street closures, parking restrictions and tow-away zones on a color-coded map on the city’s website. The map requires Adobe Acrobat reader to view. Parking is available for event participants and spectators throughout the downtown area. For more information on parking in downtown Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us/downtownparking.aspx.

The city also has a color-coded accessibility plan for the parade available at www.naperville.il.us/stpatricks.aspx. In addition, an accessible seating area has been designated on Jefferson Avenue, west of Webster Street, on the southwest corner of this intersection.

Wednesday, March 13

Criminal trespass to vehicle

Michele Lynn Demaria, 22, was arrested at 10:25 p.m. in the 600 block of Harlowe Court, police said. She was charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle. She posted bond. 

No insurance

Lincoln Jordache Granderson, 32, was arrested at 10:16 p.m. near Naper Boulevard and East 75th Street, police said. He was charged with operating a vehicle without insurance. He posted bond. 

CO2 cartridges found

Empty CO2 cartridges designed for cooking were found in the street near Bluewater Circle and Sedgwick Court, police said. The cartridges could also be used for "huffing."

Mirror damaged

A car's drivers side mirror was damaged in the 300 block of North Avenue, police said.

Stolen wallet

A wallet containing a Chase Visa debt card and social security number was reported stolen from Brunswick Zone in the 1500 block of Aurora Avenue, police said.

Cash or credit only

A cab driver picked up a customer in the 600 block of Bakewell Lane. When the customer entered the cab, the cab driver asked him how he was going to pay. The customer stated he was going to pay with a sexual favor and touched the driver on the shoulder. The customer, a while male in his early 20s wearing black pants and tan coat, excited the cab and ran north, police said. 

By Shannon Antinori

Before a company that wants to bring a virtual charter school to Naperville goes before the District 203 school board, a public hearing on the proposal will be held March 18.

K12, a for-profit charter school company, is the subject of controversy after Nashville-based NBC report published emails from one of its vice principals urging teachers to delete failing grades.

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Now, the same company is proposing to start an online charter school called Virtual Learning Solutions in Naperville's District 203 as well as other area schools.

A public hearing on the plan is set for 5 p.m. Monday, March 18, before the District 203 Board of Education meeting at the administration center, 203 W. Hillside Rd., according to District 203.

The NBC-5 report alleges that staff one of the company’s Nashville-area schools, Tennessee Virtual Academy, urged teachers to delete failing progress reports from September and October, writing, “After ... looking at so many failing grades, we need to make some changes before the holiday.” The email goes on to ask teachers to “delete it so that all that is showing is November progress."

Read: Charter School Controversy: K12 Disputes Reports of Grade Tampering

K12 also has its sights set on several other Chicago-area communities, with proposals to start virtual charter schools in districts including Valley View School District, Oswego School District 308 and Plainfield District 202.

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.

During a visit to Argonne National Laboratory on Friday, President Barack Obama said federal budgets cuts would have harmful effects on scientific research and economic development in the United States.

Obama visited Argonne, located just outside of Lemont, to tour its state-of-the-art research facilities and promote his proposed Energy Security Trust, which would set aside $2 billion over 10 years to research alternatives for oil and gasoline.

While pledging his commitment to scientific research, Obama also acknowledged the looming budget cuts facing federal facilities like Argonne as a result of the sequester.

"One of the reasons I was opposed to these cuts is because they don’t distinguish between wasteful programs and vital investments," Obama said. "They don’t trim the fat; they cut into muscle and into bone—like research and development being done right here that not only gives a great place for young researchers to come and ply their trade, but also ends up creating all kinds of spinoffs that create good jobs and good wages."

Argonne National Laboratory, managed by the University of Chicago, is one of the U.S. Department of Energy's largest hubs of scientific and engineering research. The facility is responsible for groundbeaking battery technology used in high-tech vehicles.

Argonne Communications Director Matthew Howard told reporters that the laboratory is anticipating at least 5 percent in spending cuts, which amounts to about $30 to $35 million. Officials have yet to determine the impact on jobs or research.

"We don't have specifics on how that's going to play out," Howard said. "We just don't know what the short-term effects will be from the Department of Energy, but our main concern is the freezing of new ideas and the slowing down of new projects while the rest of the world is racing ahead. There is a long-term effect that could really damage science in this country and innovation."

During his speech, Obama referenced an article in The Atlantic written by the directors of the Department of Energy's National Laboratories, including Eric Isaacs of Argonne. The article claimed the sequester cuts will force them to cancel all new programs and research initiatives for at least two years.

“This sudden halt on new starts will freeze American science in place while the rest of the world races forward, and it will knock a generation of young scientists off their stride, ultimately costing billions of dollars in missed future opportunities,"the article stated.

Obama said the cuts will harm, not help the economy by preventing the country from creating American jobs and maintaining its technological lead.

"We can’t afford to miss these opportunities while the rest of the world races forward," Obama said.

The president said he is reaching out to Republicans and Democrats to come together around a "balanced, smart, phased-in" approach to deficit reduction that includes smart spending cuts and new revenue, and that won't hurt the middle class or slow economic growth.

"If we do that, then we can move beyond governing from crisis to crisis to crisis, and we keep our focus on policies that actually create jobs and grow our economy, and move forward to face all of the other challenges we face, from fixing our broken immigration system to educating our kids to keeping them safe from gun violence," Obama said.

Obama's trip marks the first time a president has appeared at Argonne since former President George H. Bush visited in 1992, officials said.

During a visit to Argonne National Laboratory on Friday, President Barack Obama said federal budgets cuts would have harmful effects on scientific research and economic development in the United States. (Read the full story here.)

Obama visited Argonne, located just outside of Lemont, to tour its state-of-the-art research facilities and promote his proposed Energy Security Trust, which would set aside $2 billion over 10 years to research alternatives for oil and gasoline.

We reached out to Patch readers in DuPage County to see what they thought of the President's visit and the speech. Readers gave a mix of positive and negative feedback, and one in Lemont related a particularly interesting encounter with POTUS' security detail.

Here's a sampling of what readers shared with us:

Positive responses: 

“Good stuff! If they can make electric cars a little more affordable I know that I would buy one.” – Danny Gray, Downers Grove Patch Facebook

“I agree with the POTUS: Tax the super rich, and leave the valuable programs in place.” – Lynnie Ley, Darien Patch Facebook

“I think that science and research is so important. It's what made us America. Many people don't understand that.” – Kathy Raci, Elmhurst Patch Facebook

“In addition to having the second fastest computer in the world, research on alternative energies, batteries for cars and other uses, doing the research and providing the facilities to the private sector (that the private sector cannot afford to do but can take advantage of) only scratches the surface. If you know a cancer patient and wonder what is being done in research for a cure, some of that research is moving forward at Argonne. Recently, a retinal implant to help the blind see was announced (of particular interest to victims of retinitis pigmentosa) and Argonne was part of that.” – William Waldack, Lemont Patch article

“The Republicans lost my votes a few cycles ago. They are for nothing and against everything now. They want less government, but want to continue corporate welfare, providing subsidies to oil companies for example when they are making huge profits while gouging us at the pumps. Corporations are sitting on record profits, but are still cutting positions. There goes the argument that when private industry profits jobs are created.” – Cindy Davis Oleynik, Wheaton Patch Facebook.

Negative responses:

"Only politicians can equate a reduction of the increase in spending with such doom and gloom." - Nick Gornick, Elmhurst Patch Facebook

“The government should stay out of the energy sector and let Capitalism function. Solyndra is just one example of why. Especially with this POTUS who has no clue how economies function and no scientific training.” – Greg Woods, Glen Ellyn Patch Facebook

“Did he take questions from federal workers facing ridiculous furloughs due to his lack of leadership in dealing with budget reduction through a sane process instead the media circus of sequestration that his staff proposed?” – John Czerwiec, Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Patch Facebook

“He lies and none of his supporters will admit that. We don't have $2 billion dollars.” – Stephanie Webber, Lisle Patch Facebook

“Less government intervention unless they can prove that they can be effective managing the programs they currently muck up. I didn't fall for any of the political banter either.” – Jeremy Kester, Wheaton Patch Facebook

“Could've saved the money spent on an Air Force One flight and security detail... and invested the money in energy.” – Maribeth Uhlenhopp, Naperville Patch Facebook

"I think he is a complete idiot who doesn't know anything about energy." – Lori Galandak-Anthony, Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Patch Facebook

And a bonus story: 

Many people told us they saw helicopters flying overhead above Lemont and Darien, all day, but this story really caught our attention:

“My cousin and I went out to St. Patrick's Cemetery to visit our Grandfather Pollard Hanrahan on his anniversary and upon entering the cemetery we were greeted by 2 SWAT team members on 4X4's with machine guns! Needless to say the cemetery was closed.” – Nanette Paterson, Lemont Patch Facebook

What did you think of the visit and the speech? Tell us in the comments!

You only have one mother, and no matter what, you shouldn't strangle her, stuff her in the back of your car, stab her and leave her in a ditch in Crete. But that's exactly what the police say a man did a couple weeks ago.

Blake Springsteen, 22, was charged with attempted murder in connection with an alleged March 4 attack on his 46-year-old mother, Jennifer Springsteen, in their home outside Flossmoor. On Wednesday, Cook County Judge Brian Flaherty set Blake Springsteen's bond at $2 million.

That was interesting, but far from the only thing going on in court last week. In Joliet, we had the judge in the Nightmare on Hickory Street double murder case continuing to keep the court file sealed not once, but twice.

Over in Bridgeview, a Burr Ridge college student got a $250,000 bond in an aggravated driving under the influence case. Nicholas Puccinelli, 19, was allegedly drunk and high when he crashed head-on into a car driven by 64-year-old John Anagnopoulos of Orland Park. Anagnopoulos was killed.

Also in Bridgeview, the young man charged in connection with the Orland Ghost Rider case got a new lawyer. Orland Park Patch hasn't posted the story yet, but look for it next week.

Back in Joliet again, there were a couple civil suits filed. Another woman is suing Frankfort pediatrician Kishor Jain. The lawsuit—the third against the doctor this year—accuses Jain of groping the woman's breasts.

A Joliet man is suing the son of Will County board member Steve Wilhelmi and two other men. Trey Travis, 20, claims he was the victim of a hate crime perpetrated by Alex Wilhelmi and his friends Manuel Borrego and Daniel Duffy.

Find all these stories and more on our Facebook page.

DOWNERS GROVE

Dispute at the Depot

A train ticket agent at 10:38 a.m. March 6 said that two people were involved in a loud argument lasting about five minutes that involved a 54-year-old man using vulgarity. The incident occurred at the Main Street train depot on the 1000 block of Burlington Avenue in front of numerous witnesses waiting for trains. A 78-year-old woman said she politely asked the man to quiet down and refrain from cursing as he spoke to other people. The man became angry and yelled, "You mind your own damn business and go away!" This is when the argument began.

The man said he was sitting and talking to his friends when the woman yelled at him to quiet down in a disrespectful manner. He then told her to mind her own business. The ticket agent wanted the incident documented and the two parties to leave the station, which they did peacefully.

NAPERVILLE

Kinky Cab Fare

A cab driver picked up a customer on March 13 in the 600 block of Bakewell Lane. When the customer entered the cab, the cab driver asked him how he was going to pay. The customer stated he was going to pay with a sexual favor and touched the driver on the shoulder. The customer, a white male in his early 20s wearing black pants and a tan coat, exited the cab and ran north, police said.

GENEVA

100 Free Shirts, Please

An unknown person or persons took 98 T-shirts from a store on the 300 block of Commons Drive, sometime between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 23, Geneva police reports said. An employee and a store manager told police the shirts were on several shelves near the front of the store. The employees checked inventory control to determine that number of T-shirts missing. The value of the shirts is estimated at $1,700.

GLEN ELLYN

Sorry, Not Falling For That

A man on the 500 block of Greenbriar Road reported receiving a telephone call from a man claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes at 2:37 p.m. March 6. The man, who identified himself as "Bill Low" said the resident had won a new car and $1 million. The man was told to bring $2,900 worth of prepaid gift cards to a meeting location to receive the prize money and vehicle. "The complainant recognized this to be a scam and told the caller he would not meet him," according to the report.

WHEATON

Who Needs A Credit Card?

At about 4:15 a.m. March 8, a man came to a store counter on the 2000 block of South Naperville Road with a bag of chips and a 20 oz. Red Bull energy drink. The man requested two cartons of Marlboro 27's cigarettes and produced a state ID when requested by the employee. He attempted to use a credit card several times to complete the purchase, but it was repeatedly denied. The man swiped his card again, picked up the items from the counter and ran out the north door. The man then entered a car, which left the lot eastbound on East Loop Road. The cigarettes and other items were valued at $60.

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.

Are you a fan of true crime? "Like" the Crime-n-Shame page on Facebook and get clued in on mischief making and weird crime throughout the Chicago area.

Written by Rick Nagel

Tennessee state Representative Gloria Johnson will be the keynote speaker at a Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice-sponsored community forum Sunday in Geneva that seeks to address a fast-breaking effort by K12 Inc. to bring a virtual charter school to Naperville, Plainfield, St. Charles and 15 other local school districts.

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A public hearing on K12's proposal to bring a school called Virtual Learning Solutions to Naperville is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, prior to the Naperville School District 203 board of education meeting.

Read: Charter School Plan to Go Before Naperville Board

Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice calls itself nonpartisan but generally has a liberal agenda, staging recent protests at U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren's office calling for no cuts to social security and medicare and picketing in front of numberous Walmarts in support of striking workers.

Now Northern Illinois Jobs With Justice is working to spread the word about the St. Patrick's Day free public forum to all concerned parents, teachers and taxpayers—"with a special focus on inviting regional school board members and school administrators who will ultimately be compelled to make decisions about this important issue," according to a Thursday press release. 

The community forum will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at the st Congregational Church of Geneva, 321 Hamilton St. in Geneva.

K12 Inc. is attempting to establish a virtual charter school named Illinois Virtual Charter School @ Fox River Valley in 18 suburban school districts—an effort overseen by the Illinois’ State Charter School Commission.

Johnson is attending the NIJwJ-sponsored meeting to share her experience with K12 Inc. as a Tennessee lawmaker. After receiving evidence that K12 Inc. instructed their teachers to delete low test scores, Johnson has become a vocal critic of the for-profit virtual business.

A K12 spokesperson has told Patch that the allegations of grade-tampering in Tennessee have been "debunked."

According to the NIJwJ press release, K12 Inc’s CEO makes $3.9 million/year in salary. A Washington Post Local blog says K12 Inc. chief executive Ron Packard was paid $5 million compensation package in 2011.

The March 17 forum is meant "to inform the public about K12 Inc.’s dismal track record as an education provider."

NIJwJ and community residents plan to mobilize to attend the 17 remaining public hearings on K12 Inc.’s proposal.

“We have studied K12 Inc. closely, and we are taking a clear position against their application,” says NIJwJ Co-Chair Mary Shesgreen. “K12 Inc.’s proposal is a device to divert vital taxpayer funds from our schools and into the pockets of their shareholders—who include Wall Street speculators who profit from taking vitally needed public funds away from public schools—while their track record as ‘educators’ has a growing record of failure and worse.”

Naperville police said they are increasing their patrols in the days leading up to St. Patrick's Day in hopes of preventing accidents caused by drunken driving.

Thursday, March 14

Identity theft

• Stephanie Diana Stobiecki, 36, was arrested at 1:28 a.m. in the 0-99 block of South Ardmore, police said. She was charged with identity theft and transported to DuPage County Jail. 
• Garth Thomas Breen, 51, was arrested at 3:50 p.m. at the Naperville Police Department, police said. He was charged with identity theft. He posted bond.

No insurance

Julian Laron Jones, 23, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. near Cantore Road and South Route 59, police said. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful use of registration and operating an uninsured vehicle. He posted bond.

Suspended/revoked license

• Charles M. Barnes, 39, was arrested at 4:13 a.m. near Ogden Avenue and Feldott Lane, police said. He was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. He posted bond. 
• Noor Muhammad Sheikh, 19, was arrested at 10:46 p.m. near Ogden Avenue and Sout Route 59, police said. He was charged with driving on a suspended/revoked license. He posted bond.

Retail theft 

Noor Muhammad Sheikh, 19, was arrested at 8:59 p.m. in the 700 block of South Route 59, police said. He was charged with retail theft. He posted bond. 

Interfering with an officer

Brandon Romell Rice, 18, was arrested at 10:10 p.m. in the 200 block of East 5th Avenue, police said. He was charged with interfering with an officer. He posted bond. 

Theft report

A employee stole an electronic cigarette valued at $150 from a car. The cigarette was recovered and the employee apologize. 

Stolen wallet

A wallet with $1,600 inside was stolen in the 2800 block of Showplace Drive, police said.

Vodka stolen, returned

Two stolen bottles of vodka were recovered and returned in the 2800 block of 95th Street, police said.

March 12: John Matthew Kuntaras, 21, was arrested at 4:47 a.m. in the 600 block of South Washington Street, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.

March 11: Heungseo Augustine Park, 44, was arrested at 12:57 a.m. near Gartner Road and West 75th Street, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.

March 10:

• Mallory E. Gulling, 27, was arrested at 8:10 p.m. in the 900 block of Bainbridge Drive, police said. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She posted bond. 
• Fallon Michelle Grant, 23, was arrested at 3:17 a.m. near 75th Street and South Route 59, police said. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She posted bond.
• Ean Yumeiji Arai, 23, was arrested at 12:05 a.m. near Chicago Avenue and South Huffman Street, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond

March 9:

• Jennifer Marie Surrett, 39, was arrested at 11:21 p.m. near Route 59 and Montgomery Road, police said. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She posted bond.
• Victor Manuel Martinez, 23, was arrested at 3:43 a.m. near Diehl Road and North Route 59, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.
• Brandon Francesco Freidsam, 21, was arrested at 2:29 a.m. near New York Street and South Route 59, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.
• Carl Joseph Brummel, 33, was arrested at 1:56 a.m. near Route 59 and White Eagle Drive, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.

March 8:

• Karen Marie Hrack, 53, was arrested at 11:57 p.m. near 75th Street and Olympus Drive, police said. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She posted bond. 
• Rohini R. Jiminez, 33, was arrested at 5:56 p.m. in the 1400 block of Pine Tree Drive, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond.
• Christine Marie Paasch, 35, was arrested at 1:29 p.m. near Bailey Road and Signal Drive, police said. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She posted bond.

Also see a log of DUI arrests throughout the rest of DuPage County.

Are you a fan of true crime? "Like" the Crime-n-Shame page on Facebook and get clued in on mischief making and weird crime throughout the Chicago area.

Police report information is provided by the Naperville Police Department. 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.

NAPERVILLE

Goldfish Swim School Opening Summer 2013

A new swim school will soon be setting up shop in Naperville. The Goldfish Swim School, which has locations in Chicago, St. Charles and around the Midwest, has purchased a large warehouse space in Naperville.

The swim school purchased a 20,000-square-foot warehouse at 1688 Quincy Ave. The deal was brokered by Randolph J. Taylor of Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT, who represented the Goldfish Swim School in the $1,595,000 purchase, according to a news release from Coldwell Banker Commercial. 

The swim school plans to open for classes in Naperville in summer 2013, according to the news release. The location is listed on the Goldfish Swim School website.

Goldfish Swim School keeps its pools set at 90 degrees to offer an inviting swim environment for its students, according to the Goldfish Swim School website. The swim school offers classes to children of all ages and abilities. 

New Yoga Studio Opens in Naperville

Naperville resident Brooke Tetik has opened a new yoga studio. Sundari Power Yoga opened on March 8.

The studio, which offers power yoga in a heated space, is located at 2863 95^th St., Suite 159 – in the same strip mall as the Jewel on Route 59.

Sundari Power Yoga promotes the practice of yoga for both physical and mental growth, according to Tetik.  The studio is also dedicated to helping students make the connection between physical practice and inner spirit. 

A variety of classes are offered including power vinyasa flow, yoga sculpt, slow flow, and yoga body bootcamp.

Learn more about the studio and its new student specials on its website or call 630-328-3454. 

Caroline Kennedy at Pfeiffer Hall

Caroline Kennedy, in conjunction with Anderson’s Bookshop, will visit Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., on the campus of North Central College at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 4.

Kennedy will be in Naperville to promote her new children’s poetry collection, Poems to Learn by Heart.

During the special program selected District 203 student readers will participate, there will be a Q&A segment with Kennedy, along with her presentation highlighting her new book, according to a news release from Anderson’s Bookshop.  A book signing will follow Kennedy’s presentation.

Tickets are required and available, while they last, from Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., in Naperville, 630-355-2665. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Naperville Education Association’s Kid Boosters foundation.

HINSDALE

Foley Appointed President, CEO of The Hope Institute

Hinsdale’s Karen G. Foley has been appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer for The Hope Institute for Children and Families.

Her appointment was announced on March 13. Foley, a 16-year resident of Hinsdale, will assume her new role on March 18.

The Hope Institute for Children and Families is a nonprofit, which provides educational, residential and health services to children ages 5-21 with multiple challenges, including autism spectrum disorders.

“For the past 55 years, The Hope Institute has been a leading force in providing critically-needed services to some of our society’s most vulnerable individuals,” Foley said in a news release. “During that time, the record of innovation and forward-thinking fostered at Hope has changed our society’s view of those with developmental challenges and the ways in which those with differences receive services. I look forward to working with the talented and dedicated team at Hope to continue its mission to support children and their families to achieve optimum growth, independence and joy.”

Prior to her appointment, Foley served as the president of the nonprofit Chicago Scholars, an organization, which assisted talented, ambitious and underserved high school students to ensure they found success through college and beyond.

Foley has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Kirkland College (since merged with Hamilton College) in New York. She served as president on the board of Mathcounts, a national program dedicated to increasing enthusiasm for mathematics among junior high school students as well as being an elected trustee of the Hinsdale Public Library, and the president of the foundation.

DOWNERS GROVE

Rachel Maddow at Tivoli Theatre

The New York Times bestselling author and host of The Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC will be coming to Downers Grove on April 13 for an event hosted by Anderson’s Bookshop. Maddow will hold an author’s talk, followed by a question and answer period, according to Anderson’s. Tickets for the event are available with the purchase of Maddow’s book Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power from Anderson’s, according to the business. Those who attend the talk will receive an autographed copy of the book at the event.

Anderson’s Bookshop is located at 5112 Main St., Downers Grove. Or call 630-963-2665 for more information. Rachel Maddow will be at the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m. The Tivoli Theatre is located at 5021 Highland Ave. in Downers Grove.

GLEN ELLYN

‘Bird’ Sales Benefitting Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center

Downtown Glen Ellyn business String Theory Yarn Company is selling hand knit birds customers have created and using the fund to benefit local nonprofit Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center.

The birds will be available at the store beginning on March 19, where they will be sold for $10 each, while supplies last.

The Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center provides afterschool and summer programs which emphasize literacy and community involvement, according to a news release from String Theory. Annually, the program serves over 80 immigrant, refugee and American born students from 14 different countries and groups.

Last year, downtown Glen Ellyn experienced a yarn bomb, when 100 knitted birds were hanging in around town, from light posts to flower boxes and perched on branches, according to String Theory Owner Janet Avila.

“People kept stopping in String Theory to buy them, but we didn’t have any to sell,” Avila said in a news release. “So this year when the organizer of the yarn bomb approached me about selling the birds to raise money for the GECRC, I thought it was a great idea.”

The knitted birds can be found at String Theory Yarn Company, 477 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. Or learn more online.  Learn more about knitting the birds.

Have a business brief you would like to see published? Share it with Business Editor Mary Ann Lopez at maryl@patch.com.