Samantha Steele, the Cook County Board of Review commissioner arrested last month for driving under the influence of alcohol after a car crash, won back her right to drive on a technicality after her first court appearance Friday.
A first term commissioner on the three-member panel that hears property tax appeals, Steele crashed what she said was a friend’s car in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood the night of Nov. 10. The incident made waves not only because she told responding officers at the scene
that she was an elected official and often refused to cooperate with their orders, but also made crude comments to one of her arresting officers.
Steele has not commented on the incident and virtually attended
the Board of Review’s public meeting earlier this month. She did not speak to reporters after Friday’s proceedings.
Those arrested for DUI typically have their license suspended, but Steele’s attorney, John Fotopoulos, petitioned for her driving privileges to be restored last month and won them back Friday after arguing the officer didn’t give her proper warning of the consequences of refusing a breathalyzer test.
Fotopoulos said it might be more difficult for a police officer to properly fill out DUI paperwork than Police Department paperwork in a murder case.
After hours of back and forth between Steele’s attorney and the prosecutor, as well as testimony from the arresting officer, Judge Athena James Frentzas granted Fotopuolos’ petition and set Feb. 14 as the date for Steele’s next appearance.
Steele did take a brief field sobriety test during the November incident but wasn’t breathalyzed. According to the arrest report, “her eyes were bloodshot and glassy,” she smelled like alcohol, and appeared “to be swaying” during the field sobriety test. Body camera footage from the night of the crash showed officers taking an open but corked bottle of wine out of the passenger seat footwell. She admitted at the scene that she hit two other cars.
Steele was later taken to the hospital after she said she’d hit her head during the crash. While there, according to the arrest report, she refused a breathalyzer test and repeatedly asked the police officer with her at the hospital “Is your penis that small?”
Danny Yu, the officer who arrested Steele and was questioned about his penis size, said in court Friday that at the hospital he read Steele the warning that if a first time offender refuses or fails to complete all chemical sobriety tests requested, they could see their license suspended for a year.
Yu, a seven-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, said he’d made around a dozen DUI arrests before and that he interpreted Steele’s crude comments as part of her refusal.
Prior to granting Steele her license back, the judge said Yu never specified what time Steele refused testing at the hospital.
In paperwork from the night of the arrest, Yu wrote that Steele refused chemical sobriety testing at 9:15 p.m. In testimony on Friday, Yu said that the testing he was referring to was field sobriety testing that had been done before Steele was taken to the hospital.
While one Republican member of the Cook County Board called for her resignation over how she treated officers at the scene — the crude statements received some national media attention — Democratic colleagues have declined to comment or called for “grace.”
Steele also serves on
the Lake County Indiana Property Tax Board of Appeals.
Grants for community-focused mental health initiatives are now available to qualified Naperville service providers.
Through Jan. 31, interested providers can apply for funding through Naperville Township’s 708 Mental Health Board. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants is up for grabs, with funding intended to encourage and bolster a broad spectrum of mental health programming for township residents, according to a news release.
“We are thrilled that we are able to offer the financial resources that can allow various community partners to expand their services to help the residents of Naperville Township in their mental health and wellness initiatives,” 708 Board Chairman John Waller said in the release.
Across the state, dozens of mental health boards service communities, municipalities and townships. Governed by the Illinois Mental Health Act, the boards use property tax funds to improve local behavioral health services.
In approving the creation of a 708 Board of their own, voters also allowed Naperville Township to levy up to a 0.15% annual property tax, revenue from which would serve as the board’s main source of funding. Last winter, township officials decided on an initial $800,000 levy
.
Now, the board is ready to dole out the tax money collected.
Grant funding is available for organizations serving township residents working in the area of mental health, substance abuse and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Grants are expected to be about $25,000 with maximum award being $150,000, township officials said. Grants larger than $25,000 will be paid out on a semi-annual basis.
Award decisions for first round funding will be announced in mid-March and made available by March 31, the township said.
Organizations are allowed to submit multiple applications.
As for the scope of grants, funded services may include but are not limited to: community outreach; prevention and education programs; crisis intervention; individual, group or family counseling; therapeutic interventions; trauma-focused services; medication and medication management; substance abuse treatment; and aftercare services.
To qualify for funding, organizations must have an operating history of at least one fiscal year. Groups that are precluded from applying include political organizations, endowments, hospitals and their supporting foundations, private foundations and historical societies.
Organizations affiliated with religious activities are also not eligible for funding, though secular activities provided by religious organizations may qualify for grants.
The application portal for funding — as well as additional information about grant guidelines — can be found at https://bit.ly/3DziS5C
.
“We will be entertaining grant applications for initiatives both small and large,” 708 Board member Mark Rising said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be implementing this process online, making it accessible to every interested applicant.”
Naperville Township’s nine-member 708 Board is composed of community leaders and stakeholders.
“We take the oversight of this board very seriously on behalf of our taxpayers,” Waller said. “There are specific criteria upon which we will be evaluating our grant applications. These grants, first and foremost, have to demonstrate their implementation without our Naperville Township community.”
Nearly $1.1 million in grants could help fund Naperville art programs and community events in 2025.
Under the direction of Naperville’s Special Events and Community Arts Commission, organizations and institutions across the city next year are on track to benefit from annually-allocated funding earmarked to encourage the arts, culture and new events around town.
At their Dec. 12 meeting, SECA commissioners approved a unified recommendation for 2025 grant allocations, according to Miranda Barfuss, Naperville’s community grants coordinator and deputy city clerk. A total of $1,097,762 in grant money is available for allocation next year.
Funding is made possible through dollars the city collects from its 1% tax on food and beverages.
Allocations are decided through a months-long application process. Applications this year were opened in early fall and closed in October.
This year, organizations requested $3,331,774 in funding, including $1,315,062 for special events, $1,306,181 for new initiatives, $573,132 for community arts nonprofits and $137,400 for capital projects. Ultimately, though, SECA commissioners had just under $1.1 million to dole out.
Recommended awards range from $350 in city services for the DuPage Hispanic Alliance’s Latin (SUB)Urban Art Walk to more than $100,000 for the Naperville Jaycees’ annual Last Fling.
Other organizations recommended for funding include the DuPage Children’s Museum for sustainable outdoor classrooms, Illinois Conservatory for the Arts
for music chairs and stands, and Naperville Preservation Inc. to help with the historic restoration of Beidelman Furniture
.
The city’s new public-private partnership for the arts
also submitted several funding requests, Barfuss noted. The partnership sought funding for three different projects, including one that would bring creative light displays to downtown Naperville and another that would keep a revolving mural at 222 S. Main St.
Though recommended awards were approved, commissioners will likely have to meet one more time in January to work through a few last-minute tweaks before their recommendations go to the Naperville City Council for final approval, possibly in February, Barfuss said.
More future funding?
While commissioners settle 2025 grant funding, big picture questions about the program’s long-term outlook have started to crop up.
Also at their Dec. 12 meeting, commissioners discussed the possibility of increasing available SECA funding in 2026. The conversation was spurred by 2025 applicants expressing significant funding concerns, caused by increasing city service costs, venue rental fees and overall project expenses, Barfuss said.
The city also is seeing a rise in applicants, she said. For 2025 awards, for instance, SECA received 84 applications. Last year, the number was 63.
With these qualms in mind, commissioners considered increasing funding. While receptive to the idea, their conversation earlier this month was just an initial pass at the possibility, Barfuss said. Commissioners decided to continue their discussion into next year and hold a workshop on the matter at a future meeting, likely in March.
Asked how commissioners would go about upping the pool of available funding, Barfuss said additional dollars would have to come through food and beverage tax revenue. There’s an ordinance that defines how SECA grants are determined each year so that would have to be revised by the council, she said.
“It’s the only grant fund that we have that’s like that,” she said. “That has this municipal-coded cap based on an ordinance.”
For as long as I can recall during my 54 years on this planet, holidays at our family farm have always included my mom serving eggnog during the holidays from small “milk glass” special cups with a colorful etching reading the words “eggnog.”
Her set dates back to the 1950s when the vintage glassware was produced by Hazel-Atlas Company, founded in 1902 in Washington, Pennsylvania. Originally, this company specialized in making the small, flat “milk glass” containers for products such as lotions, “cold cream,” salves and ointments.
Toasting our holiday cheers and greetings with these cups always rates a smile. The lyrics for the song “Jingle Bells” are featured on the backside of each cup.
Decades later in the 1990s, our good family friend Irene Jakubowski of Valparaiso gifted us with her similar themed Hazel-Atlas Company “milk glass” holiday set of cups and a matching small punch bowl. Her set features the etching of the words “Tom & Jerry,” the latter being another popular eggnog-based drink that is served warm (as opposed to room temp or chilled) and was dreamed up by British writer and journalist Pierce Egan around 1820.
My recent fascination for the history of eggnog was inspired by my Christmas morning reading from the 2024 “Little Blue Book” of Advent devotions and reflections provided by our priest. These handy palm-size booklets also include “black cover” editions in the spring for Lenten devotions, and both are printed and published by the Diocese of Saginaw, as based on the writings and research of the late Bishop Ken Untener who died in 2004. Today, his writings and publications are continued by editor Erin Looby Carlson with illustrations by MaryBeth O’Connor and graphic designs by Cathy Gerkin, with editorial support by Jenny Cromie.
Page 18 in this season’s booklet carries the heading “An Egg-cellent idea” and features this fun and informative passage:
“If you’ve been to the grocery store recently or have attended a holiday gathering, you’ve probably noticed the eggnog has arrived for the season. But where did this holiday staple (originally made with raw eggs) originate? It is believed to have come from a medieval British drink called ‘posset,’ which called for hot milk and spices and was curdled with ale or wine. It was used to toast to health, happiness, and wealth. Centuries later, the drink continued to evolve, and monks are credited with adding their own twist — the whipped eggs we have today. By the 17th century, the drink had become associated with Christmas in England. It also was known as ‘egg flip’ and often served with a portion of wine. In America, rum (grog) was substituted for wine. President George Washington and wife Martha often added whiskey and sherry to the rum mixture and is said to have served it to guests at their estate Mount Vernon. A best-selling brand of ‘rompope’ (the Latin American term for eggnog) was first made in the Convent of Santa Clara in Puebla, Mexico, and features a picture of the nuns on the bottle.”
It’s not only our founding father President Washington and wife Martha who sipped eggnog throughout the year and not just at Christmastime.
Eggnog is a rich and indulgent drink that has been traditionally enjoyed by upper-class society dating back to the days of British aristocracy of the late 1700s and throughout the 1800s. Because nobility and aristocrats often owned country estates with unlimited access to coveted products like eggs, cream and milk, eggnog ingredients were easily available any day of the year.
The same tastes and traditions of wealthy society families continued in the Thirteen Colonies and, later, along the East Coast in Newport, the Hamptons and other landscapes of the privileged and “old money set.”
Playwright and Yale graduate A.R. Gurney, who was born in an upper-class and very socially connected family, includes an eggnog reference in his 1988 play “Love Letters” when lead character Andrew Makepeace Ladd III writes to his college co-ed date Melissa Gardner sharing details and plans for her weekend visit to his college campus.
“Here’s the schedule, starting with lunch at Calhoun around noon,” Andrew writes.
“Then drive out to the game. Then there’s a Sea-Breeze Cocktail party at the Fence Club afterwards, and an Eggnog brunch at Saint Anthony’s the next day. I’ll reserve a room for you at the Taft or the Duncan, probably the Taft, since the Duncan is a pretty seedy joint.”
Melissa’s written reply reads: “Then make it the Duncan. I hear the Taft is loaded with parents, all milling around the lobby, keeping tabs on who goes up in the elevators. Can’t WAIT till the 16th.”
Portraits of President George Washington and first lady Martha were featured on a 1930s postcard designating the Washington Headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey. George and Martha liked their own recipe for eggnog to toast the holidays and everyday occasions. (Boston Public Library Collection/provided)
As for George and Martha, they definitely loved to entertain with assorted spirits and libations, not only at their own home Mount Vernon, but also while president and first lady before the White House we know today, when the president and first lady still lived for the first three months on Pearl Street in New York City in 1789. White House records indicate the first couple spent $321.25 on alcohol in their first few months in office, the equivalent of more than $3,585 in today’s dollars.
George was fond of ordering his Jamaican rum by “the hogshead cask,” which was close to 80 gallons. He also favored Madeira wine, ordered to be stocked up with 27 gallons at all times, and 252 gallons of the wine ordered at Christmastime for $1.60 a gallon. To be fair, written records reveal George requested the large wine order for serving his entire Army Commission for the holiday. Historian Stephen Decatur Jr., a leading expert on the Washington household, discovered the servants of the Washington household were allowed “unrestricted access to as much cider from the cellars as desired,” as batches were “milled for $5 a barrel by the Huguenot patriot Elias Boudinot from his Bergen County New Jersey farm.”
Martha’s holiday menu favorites included chowders, cured ham, roast chicken, yams, goose, bread pudding, cherry and pumpkin pies and roast beef. The specialty items Martha favored included chestnuts, capers, anchovies, crab meat, almonds, assorted Cheshire cheeses, sugar tarts and rum fruit punch or imported Canary Island wine.
Even though Martha Washington burned much of her personal correspondence with George after his death on Dec. 14, 1799, a recipe for the family eggnog dated around the time of the president’s death remained with other menus and records.
Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@powershealth.org or mail your questions: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374.
George and Martha Washington Eggnog
Makes 2 gallons
1 quart milk
1 quart cream
1 dozen eggs
1 dozen tablespoons of sugar
1 pint cognac
1 pint rye or Irish whiskey
3/4 pint Jamaica rum
1/4 pint sherry
Directions:
Separate yolks and whites of eggs.
Add sugar to beaten yolks and mix well.
Add liquor mixture drop by drop at first, slowly beating, then add milk.
Beat cream until stiff and fold into mixture.
Beat egg whites until stiff and fold slowly into mixture, tasting frequently.
Acclaimed opera singer Richard Ollarsaba returns to The Mac this New Year’s Eve for a series of concerts with New Philharmonic.
New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, presents concerts at 1:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31. The 1:30 p.m. performance is sold out.
The program will feature works ranging from classical to opera to pops, music director/conductor Kirk Muspratt said. Plus, there will be a champagne toast and a few surprises along the way, he said.
“We’re going to start with some Viennese music, then we’re going to go into some Russian music, we’re going to do some French music, we’re going to Broadway music, movie music and then we’ll do the traditional ‘Auld Lang Syne,’” he said. “That’s the plan we’ve had for the past many years. People seem to like it and the diversity of music.”
The program includes Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Furioso Polka” and “Roses from the South Waltz, op. 388,” Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s processional “Polonaise” from the lyric opera “Eugene Onegin,” Jules Massenet’s “Navarraise” from “Le Cid,” Elmer Bernstein’s “The Magnificent Seven Suite” and Johann Strauss Sr.’s “Radetzky March.”
“There are 14 pieces on the program and eight of them are pieces we’ve never played for New Year’s Eve,” Muspratt said. “I try to make sure people who are coming to our concerts aren’t hearing the same-old, same-old by any means. There’s a huge diversity. I can’t tell you the three encores because they are unbelievably secret.”
Muspratt hopes that people are moved by the program and experience a range of emotions.
“I want there to be a great variety and many levels of emotions with the audience,” he said. “Music is the spider’s web that draws us all in together.”
Opera singer Richard Ollarsaba will be the featured performer at three New Year’s Eve concerts being presented by the New Philharmonic at College of DuPage’s McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. (Quintana Artist Management)
Ollarsaba, a bass-baritone, will be featured in “Le tambour major” from Thomas Savage’s comedic opera “Le Caïd,” and John Kander’s “Maybe This Time” from the Tony Award-winning musical “Cabaret.”
Ollarsaba is a decorated vocalist who was a member of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago for three seasons and represented the U.S. in the 2019 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World international vocal competition. He also won the American Opera Society of Chicago 2015 Best Vocalist Award.
Recent credits include singing title role in “Don Giovanni” with Opera Hong Kong, Opera Grand Rapids and Opera Carolina; and the role of Figaro in “Le nozze di Figaro” with New Zealand Opera and Minnesota Opera.
He is a much-requested repeat performer, Muspratt said.
“They said, ‘You have to have him back.’ Have you heard him and have you seen his stage presence, how he comes across the footlights and gets right inside you and convinces you?” he said. “He is so prepared. He is loaded for bear when he comes on that stage.”
Ollarsaba will additionally sing a piece from “Carmen” and follow it up with “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music,” he said.
“I can promise (the audience) will have a wonderful time,” he said. “There are many people from our region who come to this concert and have a total blast. People will have a great time being together.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Muspratt said he is excited about “The Elixir of Love” planned for Jan. 25-26. The opera is sung in Italian with English subtitles.
“In this little Italian town, Nemorino is the guy who nobody pays attention to and no girls take him seriously. He’s very nice and everybody likes him but he’s like your brother,” he said.
“He’s in love with Adina, who is the most beautiful and sweet girl in the village. He can’t even hold her hand. One day a guy comes to town — he’s like the (shady) salesman from ‘The Music Man.’ And on his wagon, he has this elixir of love. If you buy this bottle from him and you drink it, no woman can resist you. It’s a comedy (and) it’s very sweet.”
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony “Butterfly Lovers Concerto” performances April 12-13 is another highlight of the coming spring, he said.
“It’s this ancient Chinese legend about these two people who are in love but are not allowed to be,” he said. “A magician comes to them and says if you turn yourselves into butterflies, you can live in the heavens forever. They give up their humanness and become butterflies.”
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
New Philharmonic New Year’s Eve Concerts
When: 1:30 (sold out), 5 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31
Where: McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn
