p-C NILES HERALD- SPECTATOR $1.5() Thursday, 1)ecenibcr 29, 2016 n i1eshera1dspectatoicom GO Looking backat 2016 A glance at the stories that shaped the past year including a locali nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.Pages 4-5 BRIAN CASSELLA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE =0 Best meals 2016 50 Chicago-area chefs name the best thing they ate this yeai Page17 OPINION Blaser: Put Ill. students first kLw State educators have some big challenges in getting children to perform at grade level and preparing them for success in college and beyond. Page 14 ¿k NANCY STONE/CHICAGTO TRIBUNE In this May29 photo, Nues West principal Jason Ness. right, presents Judge Merrick Garland with a jersey sporting his name. President Barack Obama nominated Merrick to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. SupremeCourt. SPORTS LIVING Love to last you alifetime Columnist Jackie Pilossoph offers her take on ÍL : the skills needed to sustain a happy marriage. - Inside Year in review Area high school athletic directors reflect PLUSH STUDIOS/GETrY-BI on 2016, look ahead to 2017. Page36 2 BUILD YOUR PERFECT JI] CFI EN Home remodeling byAiroom Napervìlle kitchen designed and remodeled by Airoom. KITCHEN REMODELS HOME ADDITIONS CUSTOM HOMES BATHROOM REMODELS Call or visit our website for a complimentary design/pricing consultation. (847) 268-2178 AiroomHome.com AIROOM . FINANCING AS LOW AS ARCHITECTS BUILDERS . REMODELERS 2.750% (2.924% APR) SINCE 1958 .. Loans are brokered by Lamb Financial, an Ilhnoss Residential Mortgage Licensee #MB.6760662 I NMLS# 227278, located at 6825 N Lincoln Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712.Rate quoted is for 10 Year Fixed mortgage as ofAugust 24, 2016, maximum 80% loan-to-value, minimum 720 FICO score. 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DECEMBER 29T, 2016 NILES 4TH, 8247 West Golf RoadNues, IL 60714 (847) 470-0312 THRU JANUARY 2017 4 YEAR IN REVIEW o A look at 2016 in A Chicago Tribune Publication Nues, Lincolnwood and Morton Grove Supreme Court nominee, gun shop, MICHAEL TERCHA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE FILE Thursday, December 29, 2016 Lincoinwood's Purple Hotel, which used to stand at4500 W.Touhy Ave., was demolished in2013.In2016,village officials rejected a devel- Purple Hotel among most-read local stories opment project at this site. NHS BY GENEVIEVE BOOKWALTER Pioneer Press A local nominee to the United States Supreme Court, the future of the former Purple Hotel site and a controversial proposed gun shop and range in Niles were some of the best-read stories of 2016 in Niles, Lincoinwood and Morton Grove. NO GUN Niles West High School graduate RANGE nominated for U.S. NEAR OUR Supreme Court President Barack Obama in SC1OOLS March nominated Nues West High School graduate and former Lincolnwood resident Merrick Garland for the post on the United States Supreme Court left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The current federal appeals court judge graduated as valedic- tonan, served as head of the student council and boasted an array of academic honors when he finished high school in the late ERIN CHAN DING/PIONEER PRESS FILE 1960s. Protesters against a proposed gun range gather outside NiIes Village Hall. In2016,a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a local organization that Former classmates and neigh- some of the protesters are part of. The organization did not want the gun range to move into its location at6143Howard St. bors remembered Garland with pride, calling him a "role model"Case dismissed place to sell and shoot weapons. said he was swayed by the defend-still vacant as Lincolnwood offi- and "a down-to-earth, humble and The company 6143 Howardants' argument that the plaintiffscials work with developers on sweet person." against Niles gun Partners was issued a buildingdid not have proper standingto filepossible alternativesfor the They described him as brilliant permit in January to open thethe case as they did not own site. kind, popular and successful atshop, range Sportsman's Club and Firearmsproperty adjoining or adjacent to Executives from Chicago real whatever he tried. A judge in Febmaiy dismissedTraining at 6143 Howard St. the property under dispute. estate investment firm Kaufman That ongoing success might notan amended lawsuit trying to stop The suit was initially filed in Jacobs stormed out of a Lincoln- stretch to a tenure on the Supremea proposed gun shop and range October 2014 and sought to annul Controversy wood Village Board meeting in Court, though. Senate Republicans from opening in Niles. a special-use permit for the gun September,afterofficialscrin- have refused to hold a hearing for The suit was filed by gun-shop and bar other gun-relatedcontinues around cized their redevelopment propos- Garland. control advocacy group People forbusinesses from opening there. ex-Purple Hotel site al. With a Republican presidenta Safer Society, arguing the spot on That suit was dismissed and the Meanwhile village leaders say elected in November, the hearingsHoward Street was nearfive group filed an amended complaint The dusty, barren land that might never happen. schools and not an appropriate in July 2015. Thejudge in February once held the Purple Hotel is Turn to 2016, Next Page NEWS 5 Chicago Lincoinwood finance directoc Holiday parking. Town's 2017 levy in line with Publication Saved. 'D recent previous years Thursday, December 29,2016 BY NATALIE HAYES The 2016 tax levy ofprograms in its levy Other Book convenient, affordable parking allover Pioneer Press roughly $5.5 million coverscommunities that have park about $2.7 million in general districts often tax residents Chicago, so you can get everywhere, easier. Lincolnwood trustees fund revenue, over $1.7 mil- separately for those serv- approved an increasedlion in police pension con- ices.