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Welcome to the Bolingbrook Report. The BR has been operating as the local hottest news source since April 2009. Always controversial, and always on the scene, the Brook Report has over 80,000 hits and counting! The BR is an online electronic news source ran by volunteers and residents of Bolingbrook.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Updating on Devon Hodges

As Devon moves forward with his basketball career at Bradley University, his lawsuit against VVSD 365u is just launching. 

Last week a lawsuit was filed in Federal Court for "unfathomable abuse, harassment, and even torture" at the hands of Romeoville High Athletic Director and Basketball coaches James Boudoris and Jeffery Bambule. 

The failure of School District Superintendent Jim Mitchem to act to protect this child, coupled with failure to act from the school board chair Steve Quigley forced this family to seek help from the States Attorneys office, police, and a local attorney.  (You can read more under our past stories.)

Bonnie Alicea has been following this story closely and has issued us a comment. "It is a shame that coaches and people in authority would allow this to happen to one of our students on their watch.  They are suppose to protect the children, not become the people we never want our children to meet.  The stalking was extremely obsessive behavior against a minor.  The coaches were never remanded, arrested, questioned by authority, or suspended/ fired for this action and persisted with the action for almost a year!  The administration ignored the situation.  The abuse is unforgivable.  It reminds me of Penn State abuses, kept secret to protect the football club...  I hope this family wins this lawsuit and the people that either ignored the behavior or conducted the behavior are fired. 

I think about what I would do for any child in trouble...  If a car was burning with a child I did not know in the back seat, would I risk my life to save that child?  Yes I would, without a second thought.  So how do so many people turn their back on a child who is claiming abuse and stalking of a teacher?!?

The problem lies with politicians thinking they are educated and skilled in children's best interests.  They have clearly displayed a self interest for their political careers over stopping abuse, harassment, and bullying by one of their own political party members.  It is sickening and a reminder to people not to vote for school board members who are nothing but political science degree politicians.

 I hope that the lawsuit brings this to the attention of the State of IL and Regional Superintendent so that the firings can help parents feel safe to send their children to school again. Shame on the Regionals who have not acted after they saw the Superintendent and school board were INCAPABLE of acting in a child's best interest over their own.  The saddest thing is thinking how many children are suffering from abuse to further someones political agenda in Bolingbrook.  Look at the young black man a few months ago whom lost scholarships so that politically connected people, including Superintendent Mitchem's kid, could get more money.  Where does it end?  My heart weeps for the students in our school system.  They cut the funds for good teachers, pay administration high salaries, and NOBODY could protect this one child."

H.S. Hoops Star Claims Coach Stalked Him



CHICAGO (CN) - A high school basketball star claims he suffered "unfathomable abuse, harassment, and even torture" at the hands of the Romeoville High School athletic director and basketball coach, and that the coach stalked him and his family after he transferred to another school.
Devon Hodges sued Valley View Community Unit School District 365U, Romeoville High School athletic director James Boudoris, and its head basketball coach Jeffrey Bambule, in Federal Court.
Hodges says his nightmare began when he transferred from Romeoville to Bolingbrook High School in November 2009. Both schools are part of the Valley View School District, about 35 miles southwest of downtown Chicago.
Hodges claims he "played and displayed tremendous prowess in high school basketball." But he says he "endured unfathomable abuse, harassment, and even torture throughout his high school years, all over basketball and its attendant greed and idolatry which infects and infests high school officials to the hurt of the students."
The complaint does not elucidate its allegation of "torture."
Hodges says the date of his transfer "is when plaintiff's nightmare began, as RHS coaches (including Bambule and Boudoris) desiring to have plaintiff remain playing basketball for RHS, sought to compel that to happen (or else retaliate against plaintiff and his family for transferring to BHS).
"In November 2009, plaintiff began hearing from students at RHS that RHS head basketball coach Bambule was badmouthing him to other people (including students) for having transferred to BHS.
"Also in November, 2009, plaintiff' step-father was informed that defendants Bambule and Boudoris were planning to force plaintiff to return to RHS by beginning an investigation and fabricating a charge that plaintiff did not legally reside in the BHS district."
Among other things, Hodges says, "Bambule and/or Boudoris would drive past plaintiff's home to check on who lived there, and to check on whether plaintiff's home was for sale."
He claims that Bambule "who expressed intent to 'get' (retaliate against) plaintiff for 'leaving' RHS, threatened to call defendant IHSA against plaintiff."
The IHSA is the Illinois High School Association, which is not listed as a defendant in the 11-page complaint.
Hodges says the IHSA did investigate his residency, and his mother provided it with proof of residency.
He adds: "Someone from RHS made harassing prank calls to the plaintiff's family in November 2009, continuing until January 2010, and Bambule harassed plaintiff through third parties (by texting and speaking to such third parties) due to him attending and playing basketball for BHS.
"Bambule
"Plaintiff's mother filed a complaint with defendant Valley View and the Superintendent in November 2009, and defendant IHSA convinced plaintiff's mother to withdraw the complaint by urging that the district would come under scrutiny, and the basketball program would be shut down for 90 days, if she did not withdraw the complaint.
"Plaintiff's mother only agreed to withdraw the complaint on the condition that Bambule and Boudoris would promise to leave plaintiff alone, ceasing from driving or riding past his home, texting and questioning his friends, prank calling, attacking plaintiff's character, and other such acts of harassment.
"Bambule and Boudoris agreed to said conditions, and plaintiff's mother withdrew the complaint in November 2009.
"However, Bambule did not keep his end of the bargain; he continued to badmouth plaintiff, even telling other students that plaintiff is 'stupid' because he had been in special education classes and had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Not only was this information leaked, but plaintiff's family was informed that banners, posters, shirts, etc. were going to be made suggesting plaintiff was stupid, dumb, and in special education, which would be on display for the annual Romeoville and Bolingbrook Boys Rival Game. The posters, banners, and such were being made in the classroom of Bambule."
Hodges says his mom notified a school district investigator, who told her "that there was to be nothing of the sort made at all."
He claims Bambule "continued texting and speaking with friends and acquaintances of plaintiff, digging for information about him and his residency, and badmouthing him."
The complaint continues: "Bambule even stalked plaintiff and his family, showing up at a basketball tournament in Indiana in which plaintiff was a player, having no good reason to be there, and walking past plaintiff while he was in the lay up line.
"The stalking continued as an assistant coach under Bambule (Pat Porter) drove past plaintiff's home unnecessarily on one occasion." (All parentheses in quotations as in complaint.)
Hodges' mother reopened her complaint against Valley View in August 2010, and also spoke with the Will County sheriff and district attorney's office. He says he, his mother and stepfather met on Aug. 12, 2010 with Bambule, Boudoris and the Romeoville High School principal, to discuss the stalking and other incidents. But he says: "The meeting was a sham: the RHS principal refused to acknowledge plaintiff's mother's earlier complaints, and refused to believe that Bambule and Boudoris were guilty of any wrongdoing."
Finally, Hodges says, his mother transferred his guardianship to her husband's grandfather, who lived in Bolingbrook, but the school district "refused to honor this, and forced plaintiff to attend school at RHS, where as expected he was harassed routinely."
Hodges seeks damages for retaliation and constitutional violations. He is represented by Jason Craddock.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Way to look to the Future, Library Board Morons!

Submitted from a resident:

How many years will it take to pay off the library debt?  How many years will the library still be in existence?  Do the numbers add up? 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/16/can-the-american-library-_n_1096484.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl15%7Csec1_lnk3%7C113415

In the article above, you will see the following:
These days, the library's very existence is a question mark, and they face some of the steepest budget cuts in history. According to a Harris/Reader's Digest Poll from late 2010, nearly 40 percent of American mayors plan to reduce hours, shed employees or make other cutbacks in the coming months, while many county libraries have already eliminated branches entirely.

Who exactly is to blame, the communities or the libraries themselves? And what will be lost if the library fades into obsolescence?

Monday, November 14, 2011

Why did Mayor Roger Claar have a bad year in 2002?

Did he have a bad year, or did the residents?  Ask yourself this question after you read the article.

In 2002, Roger sold our Water to American Water Company.  Now he wants it back.
In 2002 he decided to use the residents tax money to build a Golf Course. It has never made a profit.
In 2002 he decided to build Americana Estates. It has never made a profit.
In 2002 he started attempting to buy the Airport (concluded in 2004). It has never made a profit.
In 2002 he decided to raise his salary from $25K to $97K. (Don't forget those perks!  This past month alone it was thousands in reimbursement to health and dental alone!)

Need we say more about 2002 and the damage of bad decisions?  What was he doing during those years to feel this superior to running up over $100 Mil in debt to the taxpayers?  Did he have a bad year or did we?

Does he realize the mistakes from this year or are we the only one's that see it?

Boggled with Vet comments

We have gotten many emails this week from Vets and Vet families wanting to know why Bolingbrook does not have a Veterans Help Center, location, or office in Bolingbrook.  We have asked this many times over the past four years with NO ANSWER from the administration, mayor or trustees.  We are unsure why we give free rent to the Chamber and organizations like H20 but do not house an office for local vets to seek help, have events in their own place, and work with the boy scouts. 

Please write to your Mayor Roger Claar at BBMAYOR@aol.com and express and interest.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Tree Lighting Event with Childrens activities

Saturday at 3pm, tree lighting starts at 6:30 prompt!  I think it is at the Promenade, but it does not say on the literature!  Have fun!

Water Company Disclosures

http://www.bolingbrook.com//info/pdf/TABLE_OF_CONTENTS.pdf

Can anyone select the links?

Happy Veteran's Day

To all those Veterans, or those with family they have lost or have served, we wish you all a happy celebration for Veteran's Day!

Thanks for fighting for our freedoms!

Polling Results are in

We have plugged in all the answers and have the results posted below.  Please take a look at the results to determine how the other residents feel about these issues.

We would like to thank the 664 households that took the time to answer all the questions and spend the time with us.  We realize that we were not going off of voting lists, but purely regular residents.  Many of them were not aware of issues and we were happy to inform them.  Many of them seemed eager to register to vote or actually vote in the next election.  We encourage all residents looking to run in the next election to take a look at these high issues and form a platform with SOLUTIONS, not just pointing out the issues.  It would appear that the residents want their voice known on these issues.

The results of some residents statements will be appearing shortly.  We will only quote the residents that asked to be quoted.  Although there were many strong feelings about the issues, we could not possibly post them all.

Thanks for all the time!
Sincerely,
The staff of the Watch Dog Group of Bolingbrook

Question 8 Polled

What is the largest issue you wish to see addressed in the next election?  What qualities are you looking for in a candidate for Mayor, Trustee, Township, Library, School Board, etc?
This question will be answered soon....  Getting it all ready for viewing!

Question 7 polled

Households 664

7.  a.  Do you feel your community is safe?
     b.  Do you feel there is enough police on the streets?
     c.  Do you feel the response time for emergencies are efficient?
     d.  Do you feel that Police make reports when called?  Do they follow up with victims and ensure they are working on their case?  Or do you feel like after the Police leave your home, nothing gets done?
     e.  Do you think the code enforcement department needs to be updated, changed, and regulated?

a.  51% said yes, 26%undecided, 23% no

b.  87% stated no
c.  98% unknown
d.  72% unknown, 15% said no, 13% said yes
e.  72% unknown, 21% said yes

Question 6 polled

Households polled 664


a.  Do you feel the schools are doing their job properly educating the children?
   b.   Do you feel that the residents pay too much for administrators and not enough on teachers and students?
    c. Do you think the pensions are problems for all government entities?
   d.   Do you think the school board listens to residents complaints and handles them effectively?
    e.  Do you think the Village board listens to residents complaints and handles them effectively?
   f.  Do you think the Township listens to complaints?  Library?
    g. Do you think all governmental entities abide by the FOIA laws and are transparent?

a. 74% stated no, 14% undecided, 12% yes

b.  98% stated yes
c.  72% stated yes
d. 78% stated no
e.  78% stated no
f.  64% stated no
g.  68% stated no

Question 5 Polled

Total Households polled 664

5.  a. How do you feel about the amount of bond debt that the Village has?
     b. Do you feel that the $300 Mil debt can be paid off without raising taxes again?
     c. Do you think taking over the water services will add more debt to the pile?
     d. Do you think you will save money with the new water service?  If so, where did you hear this from?
     e. Do you feel your property values are overpriced, therefore your taxes are high?

a. 98% claimed it is high debt, while 75% claimed that the debt year to year on the statements were confusing... We found this interesting...

b.  98% stated no
c.  98% states yes
d.  98% stated no
e.  98% stated yes

Fourth Question

Total households polled 664

4.  a. How comfortable are you with the Village and Township donating your tax money to private pet charities?
     b. Would you wish to see them pass an ordinance to stop this spending?
     c. How do you feel that pet charities get free rent at the taxpayer funded Bolingbrook community center?
     d. How do you feel that for profits, like the Chamber, get free rent at the community center?
     e. How do you feel about H20, (Mr. Claar's daughter and wife's organization) getting free rent at the community center and free events at the golf club, plus free advertising from the village?
     f. How do you feel about the library trying to donate to the pet charities with your tax money?
     g. How do you feel about the Township giving free rent to CSC (The Village Clerk's organization), plus both the Township and the Village donating money to that organization with your tax money?

a.  72% stated not comfortable, 20% undecided

b.  72% stated yes
c.  89% stated "did not like this"
d.  89% did not like this
e.  99% did not like this
f. 89% did not like this
g. 79% did not like this

Third Question Polled

Total households 664

3.  a. How comfortable are you with the best bid gets the job in Bolingbrook? 
   b.   Would you change the policy and how?
    c.  Does taking campaign donations from bidders hurt your trust in the administration?
    d.  Should the Mayor and trustees, Township, Library, and Schools announce the conflict of interest during board meetings?

a.  72% said not comfortable, 21% said undecided, 7% said comfortable

b.  Misc answers coming next week
c. 97% said yes
d. 99% said yes

Question 2

Polled 664 households

2.  a. Do you believe that the Mayor position should pay with perks in excess of $250K per year?
     b. Do you think this position should be divided among a part time Mayor, liquor commissioner, and village manager instead to avoid corruption?
    c.  Do you think the Mayor should reject any donation from failing local businesses, so that they can stay open?
    d.  Do you think that the Mayor should reject any donation that comes in during a bidding process from a company involved in the bidding?
    e.  Do you think the Village Attorney position should be open for bidding?
     f. Do you agree with paying over a million a year for the attorney?

a. 98% said no

b. 32% said yes, 36% were undecided, 20% had not thought about it to make a decision, 12% said no
c.  99% said yes
d.  79% said yes
e.  82% said yes
f. 99% said no

Results of Question 1

1.  Are you concerned about the following:
     a. Lack of profits from the golf course, airport, or Americana Estates?
     b. Do you feel that the decision to build these, without a referendum, was right?
     c. Are you looking for a candidate that has solutions to profiting these ventures without using tax payer money?

Polled total:  664 households

a. 84% are concerned about lack of profits.
b. 94% said no it should be on a referendum.  4% claimed it did not matter.  1% claimed it was fine to not be on a referendum.
c.  62% claimed "yes".  30% were undecided.  8% said no.

Comment Sections

It would appear we have had a blip in our commenting sections through our provider.  They are working to restore this feature on past blogs.
Thanks

Monday, November 7, 2011

Polling still continuing

We have had some great results this week and last weekend with our polls.  We are going to run the results next week.  We are also going to run some comments, since residents have asked SPECIFICALLY for their comment to be run.  Stay tuned as all our efforts go into this poll!