NBA coach, Maywood native, to help with YMCA
An NBA coach with ties to the western suburbs has signed on to help raise money for a new YMCA in Forest Park, marking the first major announcement from the fundraising team.
Glenn “Doc” Rivers, head coach of the reigning champion Boston Celtics, will serve as honorary chairman of the West Cook YMCA’s campaign, according to a statement released by the group. Rivers was a basketball star at Proviso East High School and “spent many hours on the Oak Park YMCA basketball court” in his youth. He grew up in nearby Maywood.
“The YMCA helped mold me as a person and I believe building a new Y in Forest Park will help give others the same opportunities as it did for me,” Rivers said in a written statement.
The fundraising effort, which is still in its early phases, is expected to cover some $12 million in construction costs. The new facility would be constructed adjacent to the Altenheim property and replace an aging structure currently located in Oak Park.
Trespassing dispute delayed, again
A trespassing charge lodged by a village commissioner against a watchdog resident was not adjudicated last week, and a hearing on the matter was again rescheduled.
Commissioner Mark Hosty, the plaintiff in the case, was out of town the day both parties were to present their case on March 4. An attorney for the village successfully requested that the hearing take place April 1 instead.
Hosty’s neighbor and the defendant in the case, Steve Backman, said his attorney pressed the hearings officer not to delay the matter because a local ordinance does not allow prosecutors to make such a request. According to Backman, the ordinance was acknowledged and the municipal court promised this would be the final delay.
The case was originally scheduled for Feb. 4.
The trespassing charge was filed in early December after Backman posted photos of the commissioner’s home online. According to Backman, he was attempting to document violations of local zoning and building codes occurring at Hosty’s home, which was under renovation. Hosty and Backman are neighbors within the 7400 block of Warren. Village officials and Hosty have acknowledged that several violations did occur, however, no citations or fines were issued and the work was granted an after-the-fact approval.
Contract headed back to court
A circuit court ruling late last month will be appealed by Proviso Township High School District 209 after a judge found that a portion of former superintendent Greg Jackson’s contract cannot be nullified. In a 2005 filing, the district had asked the chancery court to void an amendment to Jackson’s employment contract that grants the former administrator a contract extension and additional compensation.
The ruling deals only with whether that portion of the contract is valid and does not award either party financial compensation.
“This was a pure legal question for the judge,” the district’s attorney, Austin Zimmer, said. “The whole case was centered around … a relatively new statute that’s never been interpreted by the court.”
Jackson was fired by the district in 2005, about nine months after the board voted to extend his contract. Michael Braun, an attorney for Jackson, said the district’s complaint is atypical in that the dismissed employee is usually the one to file suit.
“It is an unusual case given that the district decided to bring litigation against Mr. Jackson in the way that they did,” Braun said.
A notice of appeal has been filed with the 1st District Illinois Appellate Court, said Zimmer.
Landscaper wins state award
A Forest Park landscaping company has been recognized by an industry association for its design and maintenance of a commercial project in Chicago.
McAdam Landscaping received the silver award from the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association following a blind judging of landscape designs across the state. It is the company’s 10th award from the association, according to a statement released by the Desplaines Avenue business.
“If you win an award from the ILCA, you know you’ve done great work,” Scott McAdam, the company’s president, said. “This is a highly competitive industry, and we are grateful that others recognize our efforts.”
The recognition is for the company’s work at 50 S. LaSalle, the headquarters for Northern Trust Bank.
