Journal & Topics Media Group

Theater Operator Says He Was Threatened; Letter States He Received Bullets


OFF THE RECORD column   Jan. 25-26, 2023

Thoughts & squawks about people, places and things in and around the northwest suburbs…

 

Des Plaines Theatre

Just to clarify, in his press release of Jan. 19 canceling the Feb. 8 forum sponsored by Awake Illinois that some local residents referred to an organization that spews hate and is anti LGBTQ, Des Plaines Theatre operator Ron Onesti wrote that people had mailed bullets to him presumably because he had booked the event.

In an interview with the Journal & Topics later in the day Onesti said that he had received threats from people that he would be mailed bullets not that he had received any. We checked with Des Plaines City Manager Mike Bartholomew and the Des Plaines Police Department whether anyone had filed a complaint about receiving bullets or of a threat about bullets in connection with the theater. They said no complaints have been made…

 

The Mount Prospect Police Department will be hosting a Community Meeting tonight  (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. at Euclid Elementary School. Presentations will be given from the Investigations Unit, Gang Unit, and patrol officers who patrol Beat 3170. There will be time reserved for questions from attendees, as well. The police department has heard of concerns from the neighborhood and wants to partner with the community to ensure safety for everyone. Concerns is an understatement. Beefed up police patrols of the Boxwood Drive area east of Randhurst have been ordered following at least two shootings in the area…

 

A big issue all residents of Des Plaines should be concerned about is whether a new city council elected on April 4 will negatively affect the board’s strategy of purchasing buildings in the downtown area for redevelopment purposes. The program calls for the city to buy property, restore it and then lease space to restaurants and other businesses. Examples of this strategy is the 2018 purchase and subsequent restoration of the Des Plaines Theatre, the soon to be purchased three-story former Leela/Masonic Temple building, and possible buyout of the former Huntington Bank building at Lee and Ellinwood streets. Three or four new members on the city council could derail these plans.

We know for sure that Des Plaines city officials are not only focusing on these three properties but are also working behind the scenes to acquire buildings and land along Miner Street between Pearson and Lee streets. The purpose is for redevelopment…

 

The Mount Prospect Park District is gearing up for major improvements at its Friendship Park Conservatory on Algonquin Road in Des Plaines. Thanks to a $400,000 matching funds grant, work will include refurbished pedestrian pathways, a 250-person event pad, and new fitness stations.

Along the walking path new landscaping and a shelter, and resurfacing of the existing tennis courts. Completion of the project is expected to occur this fall. I spent a lot of time at Friendship in the 1980s and ‘90s coaching my kids’ baseball teams and getting to know parents, grandparents and the children.

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