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Lake Cook Road Project Shows Flexibility

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Overview of the planned construction on Lake Cook and Waukegan Roads.

Flexibility promises to be a hallmark of the $8.7 million Lake Cook Road construction project which began Monday in Deerfield if a decision made earlier this week by the undertaking’s partners is any indication.

Though contractor A Lamp Concrete Contractors already plans to work six day a week, 10 hours a day, pulling an all nighter is not out of the question when elements like the weather could cause a delay of several days.

Earlier: Lake Cook Road Construction Starts Today

“We knew a storm was coming Tuesday and we wanted to get ahead of it,” Deerfield Project Manager John Guccione said describing how the median between Waukegan Road and Carlisle was paved ahead of schedule. “We started to work at 3 a.m. and used fast curing concrete.”

Guccione is Deerfield’s liaison to the Lake Cook Road construction team which includes A Lamp and the Cook County Department of Transportation. Representatives of all three told this story, laid out the work schedule and other details at a meeting Thursday at Deerfield Village Hall.

The project contains four phases and is scheduled for completion by Oct. 26. “We’re going to try to make this as seamless a possible,” Holly Cichy, chief engineer of the Cook County Construction Bureau, said. “We want to be done before the holiday shopping season.”

The first phase of the work involves closing the center lanes with east and westbound traffic traveling on the outside lanes, according to Cichy. This preparatory work will last until approximately May 1.

After that, phase two will start closing all north side lanes to traffic for reconstruction with one lane in each direction along with left turn lanes on the south half of the road.

That will last until the middle or end of July when the process will be reversed with the lanes on the south side of Lake Cook Road closed for reconstruction and traffic moving to the newly built north side. The target date for completion is between Sept. 15 and 30.

Once the outside lanes on both sides of the road are complete, the middle will be finished by Oct. 26. “The contract has incentives and decentives,” Cichy said. “This is a very aggressive seven-month schedule.”

Contractor Will Work Two Shifts, Six Days a Week

A Lamp executive Jeff Moyer echoed Cichy’s resolve. “We will work two shifts to make sure we are staying on schedule,” he said. A number of Deerfield residents asked for longer work hours at previous meetings.

A similar program is planned during the overall time frame for Waukegan Road between Doral Court on the north and the Tri-State Spur on the south. The work will be done by Oct. 26 but the schedule for each phase is dependent on a variety of elements.

 Guccione, Cichy and Moyer all explained every effort would be made with signage and other communications to let people know the businesses in the area would be open. One owner was concerned about signage, wanting to make sure she complied with local ordinances.

Guccione indicated flexibility would be allowed within reason. “If you’re going to do anything exotic please run it by me,” he said.

The Village has established a website to keep everyone involved up to date, according to Guccione. Each time there is an update there will be an email sent to everyone who has signed up on the website.


Massachusetts General Surgery Resident: "People Are Really Afraid"

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Dr. Amy Fiedler

Fear is a common feeling among Boston residents this morning as officials comb through nearby Watertown, Mass., searching for the second Boston Marathon bombing suspect.

“People are really afraid,” Dr. Amy Fiedler, sister of Patch Editor Morgan Delack said.

Fiedler is a general surgery resident at Massachussets General Hospital. The facility was placed on lockdown this morning after the first bombing suspect fatally shot an MIT police officer. The officer was taken to MGH where Fiedler was working.

“He was brought into the Emergency Department, but I didn’t work on him. I was working in the Cardiac ICU at the time,” Fiedler said.

More Information: Police Hunt Second Boston Marathon Suspect, First Suspect Dead

Although sirens are common to hear near the hospital, Fiedler said she's never heard so many going off all morning. 

“We got all sorts of notifications initially that the hospital was on lockdown. Nobody could come in or leave once all the commotion started,” she said. “Everyone was asked if you don’t live in the immediate vicinity, just stay put.”

While Fiedler admits that she is afraid, she said she won’t let fear take over her life.

“I hope we catch him soon,” she said. 

Lawsuit Filed in School Bus Crash

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The law firm of Miroballi, Durkin, & Rudin, LLC (MDR Law) and the law offices of Christopher Kennedy have filed suit in Lake County Circuit Court on behalf of four minor plaintiffs injured when their school bus crashed on April 5, near the intersection of Route 173 and Kilbourne Road near Wadsworth.

The school bus crashed while transporting about 35 students to Newport Elementary School.

The bus was headed westbound on Route 173 when it struck a Jeep Wrangler at the intersection of Kilbourne Road. The school bus rolled over onto its right side.

The children on the bus were removed through emergency doors on the roof of the bus as well as the rear door.

One of the minor plaintiffs was taken to Vista Medical Center in Waukegan and later transferred to Children’s Memorial Hospital with a closed head injury, right arm fracture, and multiple lacerations.

The other three minor plaintiffs were also taken by ambulance to local hospitals and treated for injuries.

Submitted by MDR Law

When will Area Rivers Crest?

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Check out the National Weather Service website to keep track of flood alerts, forecasts and water levels for area rivers.

Heller Nature Center Hosts Earth Day Event Saturday

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Heller Nature Center

Celebrate Earth Day by joining the staff at the Heller Nature Center in at 2821 Rigde Rd. in Highland Park from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 20 to improve natural areas for wildlife and visitors alike.

Please dress for the weather and getting dirty!

Call (847) 433-6901 to register.

Visit the website to learn more about the nature center.

Heller Nature Center is a nature preserve in north western Highland Park complete with trails, a nature center with museum and several features throughout the site such as a pond, bonfire circle and bird habitat. The center offers a piece of wild Illinois that is not otherwise available in the area.

Marathon Bombing Sends Shockwaves Across Country

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On mobile? You can see a scrollable, full-screen view of the map here.

Monday's terror attack near the finish line of the Boston Marathon shocked the country and touched communities far from Massachusetts.

The Boston Marathon is a national and international event, drawing participants and spectators from far away. When the bombs went off, they reverberated among families, friends and people who joined vigils honoring the victims.

To illustrate the reach of this story, we've created this interactive map which displays every Patch site that wrote a story about local people touched by the attack. Each marker on the map is clickable and includes the name of the local person connected to the story and a link to their story.

The 400+ markers on the map are, naturally, clustered around where Patches are in 22 states. It's notable that this story penetrated all of those clusters. There were always vigils, relatives, local runners, or people who needed to talk about the attack. Patch's wide network of coverage shows how the attack that killed three and wounded over 100 intimately affected the lives of Americans across the country.

Health Dept. Offers Water Tests for Flood Victims

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Lake County Health Department

The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center is urging Lake County residents to take precautions to minimize health hazards during and after the floods.

The health department is urging people who are not part of the cleanup effort to stay clear of the flood waters to avoid contamination, especially in areas where homes are served by individual septic systems.  Septic systems are a cause for concern because they can release sewage into the floodwater when they are submerged.  

The health department is offering free water testing to residents whose wells are affected by flood waters.

Residents can pick up sterile bottles to be filled and returned for analysis, and obtain information about disinfecting wells at the Lake County Central Permit Facility, 500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, or at selected township and village offices in the county (check with yours).

The department is urging residents on private wells to have their water tested after the flood waters have receded. Here are some additional recommendations:

  • Anyone who has been exposed to the flood waters and has not had a tetanus shot within the last 10 years, or can't remember when they last had a tetanus shot, should obtain one from their health care provider.
  • Prevent children and pets from playing in or drinking contaminated flood waters left in puddles or flooded areas. This may result in illness. Be extremely careful about possible dislodged manhole covers, and the whirlpool or suction effect if water is draining.
  • Although disease outbreaks are rare after flooding, flood water can contain organisms that may cause disease. If you are in a flood area and become ill, report to your family physician. Symptoms to watch for include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle aches and fevers.
  • Wash hands and scrub fingernails thoroughly with soap and safe water after working in flooded areas. This is especially true before eating or drinking.

Do not hesitate to ask any questions if you have any doubts about the safety of any food, water or conditions around your home. Call Environmental Health Services of the Lake County Health Department at: (847) 377-8020. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm.

Submitted by the Lake County Health Department

Sheriff's Warrant Nets Stolen Guns and Drugs

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Dion Edwards, of Waukegan, is charged with possessing stolen handguns and drugs.

A Waukegan man faces a host of felony charges including possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a controlled substance after Lake County Sheriff's investigators conducted a search warrant of his residence Wednesday.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) conducted the search warrant as the result of an on-going investigation.

Dion Edwards, 34, of the 500 Block of Genesee St. in Waukegan, was in possession of two handguns (one reported stolen in Zion), 475 grams of crack cocaine, 18.3 grams of heroin, four scales and drug packaging, according to a press release. 

Edwards was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Cocaine, Class 1 Felony), Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver (Cocaine, Class X Felony), Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (heroin, class 1 felony), Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (heroin, class X felony), Possession of a Stolen Firearm (class 2 felony), Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (possession of ammunition, class 3 felony), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (class A misdemeanor) and Armed Habitual Criminal (class X felony).

Edwards also had an outstanding Lake County Sheriff’s Office warrant for contempt of court.

Edwards’ jail bond was set at $500,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 24.


Gallery: See How Flood Hit Deerfield, Highland Park

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The Middle Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River is beyond its banks just north of Deerfield Road near the Zion Lutheran Church.

When branches of the Chicago River overflowed their banks in Highland Park and Deerfield as a result of heavy rainfall Thursday, Patch was able to capture some of the scenes to share with readers.

Earlier: Update: Roads Reopening as Rain Subsides

We were also busy talking to police departments, public works personnel, schools and other government officials to get the latest news for you. As a result we were not able to take as many pictures as we wanted to share.

We have published what we took ourselves, got from readers or were shared on our Facebook Page. If you have any you want others to see, please add them to this story.

During the storm and floods we were also sending out tweets and posting news on Facebook. It is another great way to keep up with the news through Patch. If you do not follow us yet on Twitter or like us on Facebook, follow the links at the bottom of this story to connect.

For news about Deerfield and Highland Park in your mailbox every day, subscribe to the Patch newsletter. For more news and updates, like Highland Park and Deerfield Patch on Facebook.

Regional Police Report: Man Killed in School Bus Crash; Pedestrian Killed by Metra Train and More

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Inverness

Man Killed In School Bus Crash

A 50-year-old Barrington Hills Man, Steven Schmidt, was killed Thursday after the SUV he was driving collided with a District 15 school bus in Inverness.

No children were on the school bus at the time of the incident. The bus was headed east on Palatine Road at about 3:50 p.m. and collided with an SUV headed west. Both drivers were taken by ambulance to an area hospital, Palatine Rural Fire Protection District officials said.

Skokie

Masked Gunman Robs Jimmy John's

Police responded to an armed robbery at Jimmy John’s, 9402 Skokie Blvd., on April 14 around 9 p.m. According to police, a man entered the store, displayed a silver revolver and demanded cash. He would then flee the scene with about $500 in cash, the report stated.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 25 to 35-years-of-age, about a 180-pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a camouflage bandana over his face, police said.

No arrests have been made.

Des Plaines

Eyewitness Says Train Death at Metra Stop Was An Accident

Additional safety precautions are necessary at a Des Plaines railroad crossing, a Des Plaines resident said after seeing a commuter hit by a train on Tuesday morning. Tim Lally, of Des Plaines, had just arrived for a train he usually takes to Chicago a short time before 7:30 a.m. when what Lally described as an accident occurred.

Lally, a software trainer, and his neighbor stood on the sidewalk on the southwest side of the railroad tracks at Pearson and Ellinwood streets, behind activated crossing gates, as an express train to Chicago not scheduled to stop in Des Plaines approached the depot.

A man standing on the center platform had been speaking with an elderly woman before turning away from her and walking southeast onto Pearson Street, between the tracks, Lally said. As the Metra train neared the depot, it blasted its horn, and the man turned to his left a moment before the train whizzed by.

The man was struck by the corner of the leading passenger car, Lally said, was knocked ahead 30 to 60 feet before being run over.

“When the train hit you actually heard the smash, the impact,” Lally said. “Seeing somebody hit like that, it was extremely violent.”

Niles

Man Saved from Rushing Waters

Three employees of the Village of Niles public works department likely saved a man's life Thursday morning, two witnesses said Thursday.

Ron Neukirch, a leader with the Niles Police Department's VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) program and Niles Trustee-elect George Alpogianis both saw the scene unfold on Harts Road near the North Branch of the Chicago River, between Touhy and Milwaukee Avenues in Niles.

The area was closed to vehicle traffic all day Thursday due to high water.

Alpogianis said the bicyclist was coming eastbound on Harts Road in the early morning, and that the river water was high and started moving fast after 5 a.m.

Neukirch said when the man's bike entered the rushing water, he lost control, and both man and bike started to be swept downstream. At that point, the bike caught on a tree stump, Alpogianis said.

The three village employees – Pete Arvanitis, Mike Reid and Tony Dati--waded into water that was nearly waist deep to grab the bicyclist, both witnesses said, adding it was dangerous because the water could easily have swept them away.

Bruins-Sabres National Anthem Pays Tribute to Boston

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The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres used the first game in Boston that took place just two days after the tragic bombings at the Boston Marathon to bring people together. 

The scene in TD Garden before the game was incredibly moving, and included a salute to the first responders who helped the injured in Boston.

Singer Rene Rancourt started the National Anthem, and then turned it over to the crowd. The audience and the team members sang loud and proud, united in tribute to the idea of "Boston Strong."

This week's YouTube video was posted by specmotors. It captures a stirring rendition to the human spirit and the American ideal that we are strongest when we are united.

Poll Results: Readers Believe Concealed Carry Decreases Violence

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After a debate broke out among Patch readers in the wake of an armed robbery in Deerfield April 8 over whether an armed citizenry would increase or reduce crime.

A few days later Patch conducted an unscientific poll among its readers to see which route people felt was best and a majority believe concealed carry will decrease crime in the area. Of the 66 people who responded, 41 are in favor and 25 opposed.

Earlier: Will Concealed Carry Increase or Decrease Gun Violence

The poll was conducted while the United Senate was debating and defeated legislation to expand background checks before purchasing a gun, 54-46, Wednesday drawing criticism from Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park).

“I am disappointed that the Senate could not come together to support a bipartisan proposal that would reduce gun violence and protect law-abiding gun owners, but American voters are the ultimate judge of today’s result," Kirk said in a prepared statement.

The debate continued as the poll was conducted with 176 people offering comments through 10 a.m. Saturday. The tenor of the discussion reflected the outcome of the survey.

“The fact is these situations occur far too often in Illinois because people can't carry, and criminals know that,” Michael Litz wrote. “The only people Illinois anti-carry laws hurt are law-abiding citizens.”

Alice Riley took exception to Litz. “We don't need an armed society but an unarmed,” she wrote.

Sharon Shariatzadeh told of her own personal experience taking a training course in Glenview and is not sure letting people carry guns is wise unless they are well trained. She fired a gun at a target and came away with concerns.

“Unless those who carry weapons are really trained in many, many practice sessions, getting the bullet to go where you want is a pipe dream,” Shariatzadeh wrote. “Try it sometime and see how good you are.”

Amazing Photos of April's Floods in the Chicago Area

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Homewood's Ol' Faithful. Spewing down Hawthorne Rd in Governors Park.

Whether you’ve spent Friday at the mercy of an inordinately long rerouted commute or you’ve been down in the basement trepidatiously wading through murky liquid of questionable origins, you might want to see how others fared in this week's rains and floods.

Here's a gallery of some of the most remarkable flood photos across the greater Chicago region. 

And remember, in most cases, it could be worse. Unless you were caught in the now-viral Oak Park-River Forest High School sewage geyser (that's the PG name). Those folks get a free pass to be as bitter as they want.

Want Highland Park news in your inbox? Subscribe to Patch's newsletter.

Tattoo Yourself For $250

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If there's a church with these guys hanging around, sign me up! http://bit.ly/15oIslw

We love Craigslist. The online classified is easy to use, localized and discreet. Whether you're looking for collectables, furniture or a passive-aggressive gift for your in-laws, there's a good chance you could find it on Craiglist for cheap. 

In this weekly feature, we highlight some of the stranger items that appear on the website from around the North Shore. Share your Craiglist success and horror stories in the comments section below.

Police Crack Very Simple Phone Theft

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OMG PD.

Police: Well, That Was Easy...

A Mundelein man was charged with theft after stealing a smart phone from the lobby of the Palatine Police Department.

Lose Weight Fast By Running From Cops

A bottle of Skinny Girl Vodka and Hennessy were reported stolen from an Evanston store.

President Demands Pepper Spray Reform 

A woman stole two Onyx packages of hair from an Evanston store and threatened to spray an employee with pepper spray when he confronted her. 

What Basketball? I Never Balled a Basket in My Life. 

A “large fight” broke out on a basketball court in Deerfield, but witnesses refused to tell the police what happened and a victim refused to provide his name or the name of the person who struck him. No arrests were made.

Burglary is Stressful, Unwind with a Screwdriver!

A laptop computer and jewelry were reported stolen from a Des Plaines home after someone apparently entered a home by using a bench as a ladder to reach a partially open bedroom window. It appeared the unknown offender exited the house through the kitchen door, which activated an alarm and a bottle of orange juice and two bottles of liquor were found on the kitchen counter.

Burglar Escapes in Getaway Pequod

Someone stole a $100 whale gun from a Northbrook home, used for hunting whales in the ocean. 


Poll: Should There Be Background Checks at Gun Shows?

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Gun Shows Need Regulation

A measure that would have expanded background checks to gun show and sales over the Internet was defeated in the Senate this week, Fox News reported.

The proposal was considered a compromise and had been proposed by Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Pat Toomey. The amendment needed 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster and fell short by six.

The measure would have exempted personal transactions.

"The gun lobby and its allies willfully lied about the bill," President Obama said in reaction to the vote. Video of the president's comments are attached to this post.

Proponents argue that laws meant to prevent felons or people who are mentally ill from purchasing guns are undermined by sales that are not federally mandated to have a background check.

Some states, such as California, already require background checks at gun shows, the San Francisco Examiner reported.

Critics argue that such measures could infringe on Second Amendment rights while not reducing gun violence. The gunman in the Sandy Hook school shooting, for example, used guns his mother owned.

"This amendment would have criminalized certain private transfers of firearms between honest citizens, requiring lifelong friends, neighbors and some family members to get federal government permission to exercise a fundamental right or face prosecution," the NRA stated in a press release on its website.

Sunday Comic: Paying Tribute to Boston's Finest

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District 112 Receives Budget Award

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North Shore School District 112 has received the Meritorious Budget Award for excellence in budget presentation from the Association of School Business Officials International.

The information below comes from District 112.

North Shore School District 112 has received the Meritorious Budget Award for excellence in budget presentation from the Association of School Business Officials International.  This is the first time the district has received the award, which was given for its 2012-2013 budget.

The district’s Board of Education members recognized Chief Financial Officer Mohsin Dada and his department at the April 16 board meeting for earning the award for the district.

To earn the award, the district submitted its 2012-2013 budget for a rigorous review based on stringent criteria.  The district was one of just twelve districts in Illinois and 121 in the country to receive the award.  The award was designed to enable school business administrators to achieve a standard of excellence in budget presentation. The program helps school systems build a solid foundation in the skills of developing, analyzing and presenting a budget.   that can be understood by laypeople and experts alike.  To receive the award, the final budget presentation was required to be presented in such a way that it can be understood by the lay person and contain sufficient information so a detail-oriented expert can understand the budgeting process used by the district.

“We are proud of CFO Dada and his team for earning this award,” said North Shore School District 112 Board President Bruce Hyman.  “Providing accessible, transparent and understandable information about our budget and finances is a key goal for our board.  We are fortunate to have a community that values and supports education, and it is our responsibility to provide our stakeholders with resources to help them understand how their tax dollars are spent.  This award affirms that we are meeting that goal.”

The budget document can be found on the district website.   

For complete Highland Park news and updates, sign up for our free newsletter, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Schneider Tours Flood Areas, Pitches In

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Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) meets with a resident in Des Plaines Friday.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield) may have been in Washington when heavy rain brought severe floods to parts of the 10th Congressional District, but he became immersed in it before he could get home.

Schneider planned to return to his Deerfield residence Thursday night but weather delays kept him away until late Friday morning. After returning, he went to see the flood damage along the Des Plaines River in Des Plaines, Mount Prospect and Wheeling.

Earlier: When Will Area Rivers Crest?

By Saturday morning he became a volunteer, bringing friends and staff members with him to help with sandbagging efforts in Lincolnshire and Fox Lake. There was plenty of company. “I’m really impressed by the community people volunteering,” he said.

Schneider and the rest of the Illinois Congressional delegation is ready to do its part offering assistance as soon as Gov. Patrick Quinn makes a formal request. A complete assessment of damage must come first.

“We will work with county and local government to deal with the immediate emergency,” Schneider said. “They are on top of it and doing a great job. The firefighters, police and public service workers have all come together and are working long hours.”

In some communities, the first responders are working from 7 a.m. to midnight. “They’re doing it with confidence and making (the situation) as best as possible,” Schneider said.

Schneider recognizes there will be short-term efforts like keeping the water back as he did Saturday with sandbags, intermediate efforts like cleaning the residue once the water recedes and the long-range remedies where the consequences have been severe.

“They’re talking about buying some of the house in Des Plaines,” Schneider said referring to those close to the river with significant damage. “You can’t even see most of the debris now because it’s under water.”

After seeing a person rescued from a flooded home, he urged people to take precautions for their safety. “They couldn’t get out (of their home) without help from a boat or canoe,” he said of the family saved.

Caption This! Cat Pilates

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We had more than a dozen captions submitted for the photo of a dog taking over Monopoly in last week's Caption This contest.

The Patch judges awarded title of best caption to Dr. Mark Solomon for "I'm not moving until I get to be the banker!"

Both Dr. Mark Solomon and Roxi Crawford, who submitted the photo, will get a digital copy of the photo with the caption affixed. You can click on the thumbnail above to see what it looks like.

For next week, we’ve got a photo of a cat that looks like it's doing gymnastics. You can start submitting your funniest caption ideas now.

Here’s how it works:

* In the comments section below, write in your best idea for a funny caption for this photo. Comments must be in by noon Friday.

* The esteemed Patch judges will pick our favorite and announce it Monday, along with a new photo to caption.

* Both the caption writer and the reader who submitted the photo will get an emailed copy of the captioned photo.

Want to upload your own funny pet photos for future caption consideration? Please do by clicking through to this article.

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