June 1, 2022 Update from the Mayor
Don’t Miss the Hills Farmers Market This Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in City Hall Parking Lot
Congresswoman Marie Newman Helps Secure $640,000 Grant For City
Congresswoman Marie Newman recently contacted the city with the great news that the U.S. House approved Congresswoman Newman’s community project request to improve our aging sanitary lines. Congresswoman Newman has worked diligently for more than a year seeking support for this project that will allow the city to better line our sanitary system to keep our waterways cleaner. Congresswoman Newman recently visited our city hall to celebrate the occasion.
Pictured from left to right: Alderman Debbie Ferrero, City Clerk Dee Catizone, Mayor Mike Howley, Congresswoman Marie Newman
Alderman Brian Fonte and Alderman Henry Kman.
Congratulations to Hickory Hills’ own Max Strus for an Amazing Season with Miami Heat!
As most of you may know, the Miami Heat lost a heartbreaker to the Boston Celtics in game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. A big reason the Heat advanced that far was the extraordinary play of Max Strus throughout the season and in the playoffs. Strus proved his value even more during the series as he continued to produce despite playing with a hamstring injury. Below is some information about Max Strus and his summer youth basketball camps:
Max Strus Basketball Camps are dedicated to inspiring the youth of the Chicagoland area through learning the fundamental skills of basketball. Max grew up in Hickory Hills and attended Stagg High School, while having a successful high school career he did not receive Division 1 looks. He attended Lewis University, a Division 2 school instead. There, he was named GLVC Freshman of the year, NABC Division II All-American honors as well as being one of 25 finalists for the Bevo Francis award that recognizes the nation’s top player in small college basketball. After scoring over 1,000 points in just two seasons including a school record of 666 points his sophomore year and leading Lewis to the first Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title Max decided he needed a greater challenge and transferred to Division I, DePaul University.
Max’s hard work, resilience and dedication to his dream of continuing his basketball career led him to break many records at DePaul including: career scoring average of 18.6 points fourth in program history, second all-time with 554 three-point field goal attempts, third with 194 three-point field goals and joins Mark Aguirre as the only players in school history with at least 700 points in a season.
Relying on his drive he knew there was more for him. After declaring for the 2019 NBA draft Max went undrafted but was named to the Boston Celtics Summer League roster. After averaging 9.8 points per game and shooting 45% from three for the Celtics he signed a two-way contract with Boston. Ultimately, Max was cut shortly before the start of the regular season but was picked up by his home team, the Chicago Bulls on a 2-way contract. Max made his NBA debut against his now team the Miami Heat in November of 2019 scoring 5 points with one rebound in 5 minutes. In December of that same year Max suffered a torn ACL in a G league game with the Windy City Bulls and was sidelined for eight months. Max took his work ethic, love for the game, and mental fortitude and threw it into his rehab. Resulting in signing a training camp contract with the Miami Heat just one year after getting his first NBA minutes against them. Seamlessly the Miami Heat culture and Max’s personality were a perfect fit and he earned a two year contract with the Miami Heat after NBA Summer League 2021.
Max Strus has certainly had a unique journey to the NBA, through hard work, determination and while facing much adversity Max has earned every accolade that has come his way. In typical Max fashion his only desire has been to give back. Through the first annual Max Strus Basketball Camps he will be doing just that, giving back to the youth of the Chicagoland area through teaching them fundamental skills but also offers off-court inspiration because at the end of the day he is much more than just a basketball player. He will be giving back a percentage of the proceeds from the camps to The Andrew Weishar Foundation, Weish4Ever.
Before he passed in 2012 Andrew asked for just one thing; to “pay forward” the acts of kindness and generosity shown to their family. In early 2013, Weish4Ever was created to honor the selfless request by Andrew. Weish4Ever eases the financial burden of adolescents and young adults facing cancer. Weish4Ever also brings joy and ensures patients and families that they are not alone in their fight against cancer.
Please consider supporting Max in his effort to give back to this incredible foundation by donating here: https://www.weish4ever.org/donate
By signing your children up for any of his camps you are guaranteeing them the opportunity to learn fundamental basketball skills at the highest level but also to learn hard work, dedication and resiliency.
Savannah Bananas
Encore Performance
June 1st marks the start of Pride Month. Happy Pride Month to all of our LGBTQ+ friends, neighbors and allies!
Mayor Mike