Will County Children’s Advocacy Center releases ‘Men Who Cook Cookbook’ during upcoming culinary competition

in

March 8

JOLIET – Want to know the secret ingredients in Joliet Police Commander Ben Billups’ “Big Ben’s Rib Rub?”

Or how much cumin and paprika Will County Chief of Staff Matt Ryan shakes into his “Cuban Pork Roast” to spice it up?

And just how does Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn season and stir the glaze in Lil Jack’s Tacos to give it the perfect zest?

All is revealed in the “Men Who Cook Cookbook: Volume 1,” which will be on sale during the Second Annual Men Who Cook culinary competition from 6-9 p.m. March 20 at the IBEW Local #176 Electrician’s Hall, 1100 NE Frontage Road in Joliet.

The cookbook, which costs $10, features recipes from nearly 30 amateur chefs who entered their dishes in last year’s inaugural Men Who Cook competition to benefit the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center.

Other recipes featured in the cookbook: Joliet Detective Pat Schumacher’s “Sausage Stuffed Jalapenos”; local attorney Marty Shanahan’s “Smokin’ Bones Rib Recipe”; Joliet Township High School Board Member Jeff Pierson’s “Spicy Sausage Rigatoni”; and Tom Grotovsky’s locally famous “Shrimp With Tequila, Lime and Garlic.”

Also included in Volume 1 is Alan Laveille’s “Scalloped Potatoes,” which took top honors in the Side Dish category during the 2009 Men Who Cook.

“The easy-to-follow recipes in this book come from local guys who know how to do more in the kitchen than scramble a few eggs or heat up a microwave dinner,” said Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, who founded the Children’s Advocacy Center 15 years ago. “They all gave generously of their time and talents to make last year’s Men Who Cook wildly successful. Many of them will enter new dishes that turn up the heat in this year’s competition.”

This year’s Men Who Cook will feature roughly 50 local guys who will offer for judging bite-size samples of the favorite dishes they serve their own families and friends. Guests who bring their appetites will taste and vote for their favorite dish in each of four categories: salad/appetizer; side dish; entrée; and dessert. WJOL’s Lynne, Mary and Natalie will emcee the event.

In addition to the competition, there will be a live auction with several great prizes including a golf package, a vintage plane ride and a catered tailgate party.

State’s Attorney Glasgow established the center in 1995 to improve the way child sexual abuse cases are investigated. The center’s trained staff performs child-sensitive interviews when there are allegations of sexual or severe physical abuse. Children’s recorded statements have been used in the successful prosecution of hundreds of sexual predators. 

The state’s attorney founded the center as a 501-c-3 non-profit organization so it would not impact Will County taxpayers. As a result, the center relies on grants, foundations and fundraisers like “Men Who Cook” to operate.

This year’s “Men Who Cook” sponsors include: Kozol Brothers, Inc., the Joliet Exchange Club, Northern Illinois Steel, Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, the Will County Police Chiefs Association, State Representative Careen Gordon, the Fraternal Order of Police Joliet Lodge 58, InsureOne Insurance Agency and Waste Management.

The cost to sample the fine cuisine at “Men Who Cook” is $35 per person, $60 per couple. To order tickets, call the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center at (815) 774-4564. Or you can visit the event page at http://www.facebook.com/menwhocook.

Second Annual “Men Who Cook” fundraiser turns up the heat on culinary competition

in

February 25

JOLIET – More than 50 local guys will prove they can take the heat inside the kitchen when they enter their best dishes in a wildly popular culinary competition to benefit the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center next month.

The Children’s Advocacy Center encourages everyone to bring their appetites to the second annual “Men Who Cook” fundraiser from 6-9 p.m., March 20 at the IBEW Local #176 Electrician’s Hall, 1100 NE Frontage Road in Joliet.

During the event, local amateur cooks will offer up for judging bite-size samples of the favorite dishes they serve their own families and friends. Guests will have a chance to taste and vote for their favorite dish in each of four categories: salad/appetizer; side dish; entrée; and dessert. WJOL’s Lynne, Mary and Natalie will emcee the event. 

The cost to sample the fine cuisine at “Men Who Cook” is $35 per person, $60 per couple.

This year, local chefs not only are trying to win the hearts and stomachs of the crowd, they will have their dishes judged by two local professional chefs. Chef Paul Buel of paulE’s Place in Mokena and Chef Paul Young of Chef Paul’s Steak and Chop House in Mokena will use their trained palates to select the “Chef’s Choice” champion in each of the categories.

The event also will feature a live auction with several prizes up for bid, including: a Joliet Jackhammers luxury suite and season ticket package; an “Elegant Dining in Your Home” dinner party by locally renowned chef Tom Grotovsky; a plane ride in a World War II-era T.M. Avenger plane donated by Tom Buck of Unit Step; and a tailgate party for 20 people at Joliet Catholic Academy’s opening game of the season donated by Tim Reilly and Babe’s Hot Dogs. 

The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center was established by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow in 1995 to improve the way child sexual abuse cases are investigated. The center’s trained staff performs child-sensitive interviews when there are allegations of sexual or severe physical abuse. Children’s recorded statements have been used in the successful prosecution of hundreds of sexual predators. 

“Each day, the Children’s Advocacy Center deals with the serious problem of child abuse,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “This year’s ‘Men Who Cook’ competition offers everyone a chance to have some fun while they support the center’s critical work on behalf of children and law enforcement.”

The state’s attorney founded the center as a 501-c-3 non-profit organization so it would not impact Will County taxpayers. As a result, the center has relied on grants, foundations and fund raisers like “Men Who Cook” to operate over the years.

This year’s “Men Who Cook” sponsors include: Kozol Brothers, Inc., the Joliet Exchange Club, Northern Illinois Steel, Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, the Will County Police Chiefs Association, State Representative Careen Gordon, the Fraternal Order of Police Joliet Lodge 58, and Waste Management.

To order tickets, or to sponsor “Men Who Cook,” call the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center at (815) 774-4564. Or you can visit the event page at http://www.facebook.com/menwhocook.

Plainfield man gets 36 years for sexually assaulting 5-year-old girl

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February 24

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a Will County judge has sentenced a Plainfield man to 36 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl.

Frederick George Lee, 45, pleaded guilty on Nov. 16 to two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. These are both Class X felonies that require minimum sentences of six years in prison with no option for probation.

Lee was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 years for each count. The sentences must be served consecutively. 

Lee sexually assaulted the victim when she spent the night at the Joliet house where he was staying in July 2007. The girl told her mother what had occurred when she returned home the following day. 

The mother immediately contacted Joliet police, who searched for Lee and found him hiding in a bean field. The victim also gave a recorded statement to a trained forensic interviewer at the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. 

When the Joliet offense occurred, Lee was supposed to be under house arrest in the state of Maryland on a pending sex offense. He fled Maryland on May 12, 2007. A warrant was issued for his arrest in that state.

“Frederick George Lee is a damnable predator who vilely assaulted a vulnerable little girl,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “He will be a very old man before he is released from his prison cell. While he’s behind bars, he will never be able to decimate the life of another innocent child.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys Steve Platek and Jessica Colon-Sayre prosecuted the Will County case.

Bolingbrook man sentenced to 60 years for brutal 2008 rape

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January 15

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced that a 35-year-old Bolingbrook man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the brutal sexual assault of a woman in 2008.

A jury found Ferlimo Morris guilty of one count each of aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault and unlawful restraint. He was sentenced on Friday by Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes.

Morris was living in the basement of the Bolingbrook house that the victim shared with her boyfriend. The victim’s boyfriend had invited Morris to live there temporarily.

On Aug. 30, 2008, while the victim’s boyfriend was spending the night away with his children from a previous relationship, Morris returned home after an evening of drinking beer and cognac. He went to the victim’s bedroom, struck her in the face and sexually assaulted her for the next four hours. Throughout the ordeal, he also continued to drink and smoke crack cocaine.

The frightened victim fled the house when Morris left her alone. She pounded on a neighbor’s door, and the neighbor called 911 from that house.

Assistant State’s Attorneys Matt Guzman and Chris Messina entered into evidence at trial a tape of the frantic 911 call made by the victim’s neighbor as well as critical DNA evidence that proved the defendant’s guilt. DNA tests showed that the victim bled on Morris’ shirt after he struck her in the face. 

“Ferlimo Morris committed an act of unspeakable brutality against a woman who should have been safe inside her own home,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “Thanks to a first-rate investigation by the Bolingbrook Police Department and excellent trial work by my two prosecutors, this vicious thug likely will spend the rest of his days in prison.”