RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Who’s coming to Brookfield Shops?
$1.00
Vol. 41, No. 2
Pages 4,5, and 6
January 14, 2026
Cycle Brookfield has a bike-load in store for 2026
Making candy and building a business Doug Taylor of Taylor’s Candy is a guest on Jack Pitts’ ‘The Making Of’
President Chris Valadez says this year will be his last at the group’s helm
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Doug Taylor, a Brookfield resident and senior employee at his family business Taylor’s Candy, was recently featured on ‘The Making Of,’ a new podcast by Jack Pitts, who grew up in the area. “I love listening to podcasts. One of my favorites and why I was interested in [starting my own] is How I Built This, which is an NPR podcast. This guy named Guy Raz interviews entrepreneurs, and I really like how they’re telling their stories. You hear the overnight success, but you don’t know, actually know, of the, ‘Hey, we almost failed,’ or, ‘I was 55 when I started this business,’” Pitts said. “I work in finance, private equity, so I deal with business owners all the time. I was like, ‘Hey, why not do a podcast where I get to tell their stories?’” See PODCAST on page 12
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
PROVIDED BY JACK PITTS
Brookfield resident Doug Taylor is featured on ‘The Making Of’ podcast, hosted by Jack Pitts.
Chris Valadez, the president of Cycle Brookfield, said the transportation advocacy and biking community group has a lot planned for 2026, but the year will be his last leading the organization. “It’s been my honor, and I get emotional, if not choked up, most of the time thinking about how this community has embraced the [Cycle Brookfield Criterium] and the idea of bikes,” he told the Landmark. “Bringing the race took a lot of trust from the residents, from the village, from the community, and leaving it in a really positive, healthy spot — I can’t think of a better way to step away.” Valadez said he plans to step down at the end of the year, with other members of the group taking his place once the calendar rolls over to 2027. In the meantime, Valadez said he has a lot planned for the group before he departs, including long and short events. Cycle Brookfield is well known for its role in See CYCLE on page 11
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlight
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Brookfield’s Chamber of Commerce enters its 72nd year
he Brookfield Chamber of Commerce is entering its 72nd year of dedication to the continued growth and revitalization of our business districts. As we enter into this new year and new chapter in our storied history, we are excited to welcome in some new members to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors which is made up of the following business owners: Brian Sharenow (President) from FMG EVENTS John Dumas (Vice President) from SHARE FOOD SHARE LOVE FOOD PANTRY Clara D’Onofrio (Treasurer) from BROOKFIELD ACADEMY OF MINI MUSICIANS Anne Clark (Administrator) Gina Sharenow from the BROOKFIELD FARMERS MARKET Annette Pardun from FILL MY JAR Teresa Swanson from SWAY DANCE BROOKFIELD Wendy Moore from DAISY’S BAKERY & TREATS Stafa Amin from SEBASTIAN’S ALE & WHISKEY HOUSE Julia Hamilton from JUST WALLPAPER CHICAGO Lizzy McKenna from MAMA BARONE’S PIZZA Kelly Thompson from THE SHOP SALON & STYLE HOUSE For any businesses or residents that are not familiar with the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, we are an organization that serves as a vital resource for businesses by
offering advocacy, networking opportunities, community development and information dissemination – all of which is designed to enhance the overall business climate and promote economic growth within the community. Our Advocacy is working towards a unified voice for businesses – both at the local and state level - lobbying on policies and regulations that impact the business environment. We Advocate for pro-business policies that promote economic growth and reduce regulatory burdens. Our Networking Opportunities are the platforms we provide for businesses to connect with each other while facilitating networking events, workshops and seminars. This helps businesses build relationships, share resources and collaborate on projects. Our Community Development can be seen through the multitude of events we develop, market, promote and produce that are designed to support local businesses that then contribute to the overall economic health of the community. Additionally we work hand in hand with the Village officials to engage in initiatives that promote local entrepreneurship and attract new businesses to the area. Our Information Dissemination is designed to keep our members informed about relevant
developments in the business landscape, including changes in laws, regulation and market trends.
staff to strengthen the connection between the business community, government and residents. This collaboration will help ensure that local businesses are better integrated into community events, communications and planning while also giving residents clearer insight into the role local businesses play in Brookfield’s quality of life.
Brookfield is home to a wide range of enterprises, from long-established family businesses to new entrepreneurs, from small storefronts to larger retailers and including professional services, We are an organization that restaurants and more. Each We invite all businesses – serves as a vital resource for whether current members plays a vital role in shaping our local economy and the businesses by offering advocacy, or not, whether they are in character of our village. Brookfield or the surrounding networking opportunities, The Chamber’s mission community development and communities, whether they for 2026 and beyond is have been in business for information dissemination. to work on taking these many years or are newcomers initiatives listed above and & whether they have always enhancing them to ensure every business in been active in the community or looking to Brookfield feels heard, supported, promoted start getting more involved – to be part of and represented. the process of making Brookfield and our To accomplish our mission, we have a twofold approach: 1) We are rolling out brand new membership program to all businesses this month which will give each business their opportunity to choose the level of participation that fits their needs & 2) We are expanding our partnership with the Village of Brookfield so to work more closely with village leadership and
Learn more at www.brookfieldchamber.net
surrounding communities as a whole THRIVE. Be on the lookout for our new membership levels which will be sent to each and every business in Brookfield as well as being available for any business on our website and JOIN! Get involved… Share your ideas… Tell us what you need… Let’s all help shape the future of the Brookfield’s community together.
The Landmark, January 14, 2026
Property tax cash finally rolls in -- unevenly
IN THIS ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
But amounts local districts have received thus far are inconsistent
Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf Staff Reporter Stella Brown
By GREGG VOSS
Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman
Contributing Reporter
Contributing Editor Donna Greene
Property tax distribution funds are now beginning to flow into the coffers of local school districts after months of delay, but the amounts are wildly divergent. Riverside District 96 interim finance director DR. MARK KUZNIEWSKI Mark Kuzniewski said his district has received the bulk of the funds owed to his district, roughly 70%. “It is a good thing,” Kuzniewski said. “It puts us in a position where we don’t have to be thinking about Tax Anticipation Warrants or anything like that. An Illinois Tax Anticipation Warrant bridges the time between tax levy and tax collection, allowing public entities like school districts to pay imminent expenses.” But down the road, at BrookfieldLa Grange Park School District 95, Supt. Ryan Evans had a very different number. “We got the 20 percent and are awaiting the trueRYAN EVANS ing up of those dollars, the delta between 20 percent and the 100 percent,” Evans said, adding his district received its initial funds on Dec. 29. “It’s a start, but remember, we were supposed to receive these funds months and months ago.” Districts 95 and 96, along with River-
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls Marketing & Advertising Associate Emma Cullnan FILE
Riverside-Brookfield High School side-Brookfield High School District 208, are part of the Proviso Township School Treasurer’s Office, which provides consolidated financial services to many area districts, in order to maximize interest earnings through pooled funds investing. A good chunk of that interest is now gone. In fact, Evans said some countywide estimates show $121.8 million in losses due to lost interest and the need for tax anticipation warrants, among other things. “The damage has been done and everything has not been resolved,” Evans said, adding that western Cook County school superintendents have been encouraged to attend the next county commissioner’s meeting Thursday morning “to start asking questions.” Evans said he wasn’t sure he would be going. Kuzniewski said he won’t be going. At District 208, Supt. Kevin Skinkis said his district has received between 40% and 50% of revenue expected from tax bills via two installments. “We are hopeful a third installment will be received this month,” he said. Why the property tax distribution funds have been inconsistent locally is a mystery. A representative from the Cook County treasurer’s office did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
But it’s still a problem for all Cook County districts, Kuzniewski said. “This is the second time in my career where tax collections were significantly late,” he said. “It puts a strain on school districts. It would benefit everyone if Cook County can issue their bills that they’re supposed to so we’re not in this spot.” The one issue across the board is that teachers and staff at local districts, along with school boards, have not expressed concern about the delay in property tax distribution. “At this time, no additional concerns have been expressed by district employees or the board regarding the remaining tax revenue,” Skinkis said. “The receipt of the two installments at the end of December helped alleviate much of the anxiety. That said, the district would certainly benefit from receiving the remaining funds as soon as possible, particularly with the March tax bills approaching.” Like Kuzniewski, Evans said he has kept his board on point with the situation as it has unfolded. “I’ve kept them abreast of the situation so they are aware of what’s going on,” he said. “We haven’t had to make TAWs as of yet, we haven’t missed payroll. Those are the things which would cause concern.”
Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner EMAIL jill@oakpark.com Operations Associate Susan Babin Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera Special Projects Manager Susan Walker Senior Advisor Dan Haley
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Eric Weinheimer Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Mary Cahillane, Steve Edwards, Judy Greffin, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson, Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson
HOW TO REACH US PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 60305 PHONE: (708) 442-6739 E-MAIL: dhaley@wjinc.com ONLINE: www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $57 within Cook County and $95 outside the county. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 60305. © 2026 Growing Community Media NFP.
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
Vegan bakery heads to Brookfield Shops Valerie Vedral aims to open the Vulgar Vegan by the end of the month By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Valerie Vedral, the owner and operator of the Vulgar Vegan bakery, said she almost didn’t join the Brookfield Shops. “I was part of the very first season of the Berwyn Shops back in 2022,” she told the Landmark. “I heard about the [Brookfield Shops], but it sounded like it was going to be a lot like Berwyn, and since I had already done that, I had reservations about wanting to do an incubator that is geared toward businesses that are just starting out.” Now, Vedral’s business is slated to open
PROVIDED BY VALERIE VEDRAL
Vedral said she plans to craft new vegan cupcake flavors that you’ll only be able to find in Brookfield.
this month at Brookfield’s own retail incubator near Progress Park. She said she was convinced to apply when she heard Brookfield would be more flexible with the rules. “Shortly after the first season started, they had decided that it would be great if the businesses wanted to be open on other days. It didn’t just have to be Friday, Saturday, Sunday. When they told me that, I was like, ‘If you would have said that from the beginning, I would have absolutely applied to be part of it.’” Vedral said she hopes the opportunity will give her a chance to see if a brick-andmortar location will be feasible for the vegan bakery, which specializes in cupcakes but also offers other baked goods. She said she expects to start by opening the shop five days per week, closing on Mondays and Tuesdays so she can pack orders placed through Market Wagon, an online farmers market platform. “After we see how that’s going to shake out, I don’t know if we’d be open seven days a week, but we will adjust as needed once we see what that demand is like,” she said. “We might also do split hours, because I know Four Star Coffee is there, and our products like cinnamon rolls, especially, and muffins go great with a cup of coffee. For us, it makes sense to be open when they’re open.” The Vulgar Vegan is the only newcomer to the Shops that will open at the ‘graduate’ level alongside Four Star and two other vendors that are remaining at the incubator through the end of 2026. Vedral said her biggest worry about joining the first cohort had to do with the curriculum related to running a business that new vendors usually go through. The Vulgar Vegan also operates a private kitchen at The Hatchery, a ghost kitchen facility
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Valerie Vedral owns and operates the Vulgar Vegan, one of the new Brookfield Shops vendors this year. on Chicago’s West Side, where Vedral said she’s already been required to take similar classes — not to mention when she opened at the Berwyn Shops. “A lot of them were like, how to get business insurance, which you had to have to open in the first place,” she said. “Some of the other things were very Business 101, and I was like, ‘I really don’t want to do this again,’ because it was redundant for me.” She said she also worried about taking a spot at the shops from another vendor who would just be starting out before she heard about the graduate level. Despite her general confidence and business know-how, Vedral said she was
worried she had bombed her pitch before the community jury that selects the members of the next cohort. “I was so nerA series of profiles of the vous. I think part entrepreneurs coming to of it, too, is that the Brookfield Shops you pitch in the village chamber, so all the judges are way up above you [at the dais], and it felt weird. All the other pitches I’ve done, I’ve been at the same level of people,” she said. “I would say this pitch was far more nerve-wracking for me, in part, because I live in Brookfield, and it was something that I really wanted to get into. Brookfield has always been in the back of my mind as a place where I would open a restaurant or cafe — it’s something I’ve always talked about over the years — so the pressure was high for me.” Now that she’s part of the program, Vedral said she’s excited to continue creating innovative vegan cupcake flavors, including unique flavors that customers will only be able to find in Brookfield. She said she’s most looking forward to being able to interact directly with customers and have a space where people can gather and relax. “I know it’s a small space, but if there is a way, I would like to figure out how to design it so that I could have a mini couch in there,” she said. “Go get your coffee from Four Star, stop at New Book Joy to pick up a book, and then come in here and get a cinnamon roll or cupcake, sit down, and relax for a while.”
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
Brookfield Shops selects custom apparel vendor Jacqui Payne runs 34Designed, selling clothing inspired by iconic Chicagoland imagery By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Jacqui Payne, the owner and operator of the 34Designed shop, said she touches nearly every piece of apparel for babies, toddlers and adults that the store sells. “All of it is small batch. I make everything out of my in-home studio,” she said. “Pretty much start-to-finish, it’s made by me.” 34Designed, which features designs hand-drawn by Payne as well as those by other artists, is one of three new vendors coming to the Brookfield Shops re-
FILE
Brookfield Shops tail incubator program near Eight Corners this year. Payne said she started the company in 2020 as a side venture to her full-time job
in higher education. “As you can imagine, working in 2020 in education was rough. I specifically oversaw housing on a college campus, so
[it was] really stressful and hard seeing my students go through not the college See SHOPS on page 7
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
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LIFE with Lisa Capone Fresh Beginnings The start of a new year is a perfect time for seniors to embrace fresh beginnings and focus on staying motivated and engaged. Here are some simple tips to help make 2026 a year of growth and joy. Set Meaningful Goals: Start with small, achievable resolutions like walking daily, reading a book each month, or trying a new recipe. Every success boosts confidence and adds purpose to your day. Explore New Interests: Learning something new can stimulate your mind and spark creativity. Try painting, knitting, playing an instrument, or even joining a class on a topic that interests you. Stay Connected: Building social connections enhances mood and supports emotional well-being. Attend community events, join clubs, or simply spend more time with friends and family. Focus on Wellness: Gentle exercises like yoga or walking paired with nutritious meals and staying hydrated can greatly improve your energy and overall health. At Cantata, we’re dedicated to supporting residents in making the most of every moment. Let’s make 2026 a year filled with opportunities to grow, connect, and thrive together! For more info, visit Cantata.org (708) 387-1030 Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Support Short-Term Rehab • Long-Term Care • Home Care
Tea and home goods vendor joins Brookfield Shops
Nelly Garcia and her family have run Down to Earth Herbal Infusions since 2022 By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Nelly Garcia said she couldn’t contain herself when she found out her company was accepted as part of the 2026 cohort for the Brookfield Shops retail incubator program. “When I got the email, I was screaming and shouting in excitement,” she told the Landmark. “You’re just overwhelmed with so much joy. You’ve worked so hard, and you’ve risked a lot in this process, this journey, and to see that somebody sees you and notices you? And it’s a community that you have a special place in your heart [for]? I don’t know if the words will do it justice.” Garcia is the owner and operator of Down to Earth Herbal Infusions, a store selling organic loose-leaf tea, herbal bath and body goods and tea-related accessories. The shop also offers a tea bar at farmers markets and other pop-up appearances, so customers can try the custom tea blends before buying them. “It’s a family-run wellness brand, and it came from a desire, mainly, to slow down and reconnect with what truly matters. It was created during a time of a personal and professional transition, a time of reflection. I always knew I wanted to start my own business, but I didn’t know what theme to go with,” she said. At the time, the food manufacturing company where she worked was undergoing acquisition. “There are so many what-ifs, right? At that time, I was like, I don’t want to be at the mercy of the what-ifs, and I want to have a little bit more say in what I do,” she said. “My morning routine was drinking my tea, journaling, doing the stuff I usually do. This always has felt very good to me, my tea ritual in the morning, and that is actually inspired by the woman in our family.”
FILE
The Brookfield Shops. The “deep respect” for nature and, specifically, loose-leaf tea that Garcia said her grandmother, great aunts and mother passed down to her is what inspired Down to Earth, she said. Garcia said she became aware of the incubator program after participating in its farmers market. “We did so well in the first year at Brookfield, and we were very well embraced by Brookfield, so we have kept returning ever since then,” she said. “Last year, we did 95 events. We participated in 10 or 11 markets, and Brookfield has been our core market that we plan our schedule around.” When it came time to pitch Down to Earth to the selection jury for the Brookfield Shops, Garcia said she felt both nervous and excited. “We had to present our business plan to the board, and it was kind of like, how do you get the message across that it’s some-
thing that you’re so passionate about and hit the key elements of the business in a small amount of time?” she said. “That was a process of figuring out the words to say to share the journey of the building of the business.” Now that Down to Earth has been accepted and is scheduled to open in June, Garcia said she’s most looking forward to joining the tight-knit community of vendors, which includes three returning groups. “When we do the farmers markets, we talk to [other vendors] a lot. What works, what doesn’t work, so there’s a lot of value that goes into these small business initiatives that I can’t say enough [about]. Just, to have that support and community around you, that is very much needed, in anything you do,” she said. “Community is so important, and we’re very excited to be able to share our products with this community.”
The Landmark, January 14, 2026
SHOPS
Custom apparel designs from page 5 experience that you would want them to go through,” she said, referencing lockdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’ve always been creative. I’ve always been drawn to something artistic, and I just needed some sort of creative outlet from that stressful time, so I started drawing.” At first, Payne said, she drew things for her nieces and nephews as well as other family members, designing logos or merchandise for their businesses. “My partner got me a heat press for Christmas that year, and it took off from there. I realized that people were liking my designs more than just my nieces and nephews, and I was getting more traction. I was really enjoying engaging with my community like that,” she said. “It started as a hobby and now has turned into a full-blown business, which is great. I really love it.” Payne said she does also custom apparel
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orders on top of selling the clothes with pre-drawn designs by her and other artists. While Payne has experience bringing 34Designed and its wares to art markets throughout Chicago and the surrounding region, she said she’s excited for the “standalone space” provided to her as a Brookfield Shops vendor. “I was in Berwyn Sprout, which is connected to the Berwyn Shops — same group that manages both of those — and part of the maker community in this suburban area. My sister started her family in Brookfield, and I grew up in the Lyons Township area as well, so it felt really natural for me to be a part of the Brookfield Shops,” she said. Aside from her sister, Payne said she has another family connection to many people in the area. “My dad was an OB-GYN in the western suburbs as well. He delivered a lot of the people who are now having children in this area, so a lot of my current customers are people that my dad delivered who are now having children of their own,” she said. “It feels like a good connection to the community. It’s like a full-circle moment here.” And yes, she said, customers have rec-
ognized her family before. “They’re like, ‘Wait, Payne. Is your dad Dr. Payne? He delivered me,’ or, ‘He delivered my kids,’ or whatever,” she said. “That happened all through high school, too.” She said she was nervous to go before the community jury, largely due to her close connection to the items she sells, but confident about the quality of her presentation. “Going up in front of people and saying, ‘Look at my art; isn’t it pretty?’ is not super natural. I’ve been in business now for five years, going on six, and I’ve definitely grown a lot, especially in my confidence of my work,” she said. “As a newer person, this would have been really, really intimidating. Knowing that I have a lot of returning customers —I have a lot of people who I’m their go-to for when they find
out their friend’s pregnant — helps me in that confidence.” Payne said she’s looking forward both to receiving the business training that newcomers to the Brookfield Shops get as well as being part of the community that comes with being a vendor. “Being part of a cohort, I think, is really unique and not something that I take lightly. I think that’s a huge benefit of this project and being a part of it,” she said. “At the same height is getting to know the community and being part of it. Meeting the customers here and meeting their families and having this physical space where I can say [to people who ask] ‘Where can we find you?’ and I’m like, ‘Progress Park in Brookfield. We’re open Friday to Sunday.’ I think that’s going to be so, so cool.”
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RB grad channels intensity into Olympic training for pentathlon
Hayden Marrs has eye on LA Olympics in 2028 By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
Less than a year after taking up the obscure Olympic sport of the modern pentathlon 19-year-old Hayden Marrs of Riverside has already become one of the top American athletes in the niche sport. Last month Marrs finished sixth in the open division, and third in the junior division, at the U.S.A. Pentathlon National Championships that were held Dec. 13-14 at Charlotte, North Carolina. Just 32 athletes competed in the men’s division and eight of whom were also in the men’s junior, under age 22, division. “Hayden Marrs is one of our top recruits,” said Kevin Montford, the executive director of USA Pentathlon in a telephone interview. “He has shown a lot progress and potential in a very short period of time. The one thing to note is that the depth of our competitions is not nearly as strong as you might see in Europe.” Marrs graduated in 2024 from Riverside Brookfield High School, where he competed in track, cross country, swimming, and water polo. A year ago he was feeling lost in the midst of a difficult first year at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. His chance to walk on the St. Thomas track and field team was taken away before he had even set foot on campus. For the first time in his life the intensely competitive Marrs was without a sport. “I was quite lost,” Marrs said in a telephone interview with the Landmark. Marrs, the son of RB District 208 school board president Deanna Zalas and former Riverside village attorney Michael Marrs, had grown up watching the Olympic Games on television with his family. “We watch the Olympics every time that they come around,” Marrs said. “I was raised on the Olympics. One of my earliest memories is watching (swimmer Michael) Phelps in 2012.” He remembers watching the modern
pentathlon, a five-discipline event that now consists of swimming, fencing, navigating a ninja obstacle course, running and shooting a laser pistol. The event was developed by the Baron Pierre de Coubertin, considered the father of the modern Olympic movement. It became an Olympic sport in 1912. It was originally designed to test the skills of a cavalry soldier but after the 2024 Paris Olympics the equestrian show riding element of the sport was eliminated in favor of a ninja obstacle course. Marrs was an accomplished runner and swimmer in high school having qualified for the State Meet in both sports at RB. He was part of the 2022 state champion RB cross country team. Marrs thought the pentathlon might be a good fit for him. He was looking for a new challenge. On a Thanksgiving break trip home during his freshman year at college Marrs stopped by RB and visited with RB swim coach Mike Laurich and mentioned his interest in the pentathlon. “Mike is an important person in my life and he knew that I was struggling, I was having a really hard time at that time and needed something to latch on to,” Marrs said. Laurich just happened to know Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas, known as Dr. G., who is a former head of sports science for USA Swimming and now also works with and recruits athletes for USA Pentathlon. Sokolovas looked at Marrs high school running and swimming times, 51 seconds in 400-meter dash and 21.80 in 50 yard and decided that Marrs had the potential to be top flight pentathlete. “Dr. G reached out to me and he offered me a trip to Colorado Springs, the Olympic Training Center, to learn to fence and shoot,” Marrs said. Early results showed promise and by February 2025 Marrs began training for the pentathlon. He hooked up with a fencing club in the Twin Cities. And he practiced fencing on his own using a pillow stuffed with tissue and held together by duct tape as a target. After a regional competition in Colorado Marrs traveled, along with a number
BOB SKOLNIK
Hayden Marrs, a 19-year-old RB grad, is fully focused on the Olympics in the lesser known pentathlon competition. of top American pentathletes to compete in the Candidian National Championships. Marrs was in third place heading into the last event, a 2,000-meter run that is broken up with stations of target shooting but started too fast and finished in 10th place. “I competed boldly,” Marrs recalled. “I expected to win Canadian Nationals but I fell short. I went into the finals in third place and I ran very boldly.” Marrs, who was also a top student at RB, was hooked and much to his parents’ dismay decided not to return to college in the fall and instead to train full time for the pentathlon. “Unfortunately for my parents it was not difficult at all,” Marrs said of his decision not to return for his sophomore year of college. “I love risk taking and I also felt like this was right. This is where my fate lies, in this sport.” At the Candidian Nationals Marrs caught the attention of Montford and USA Pentathlon coach Vaho Igorashivili
and in September they invited Marrs to Charlotte, where the top U.S. modern pentathletes train, for a two-week tryout. “I was noticed by Kevin and coach of the team that I’m on now, Vaho, and they liked what they saw,” Marrs said. “They liked the energy that I brought.” The tryout went well and Marrs was offered a spot in the training program. So Marrs has been living in Charlotte since late September and training full time with the USA Pentathlon at U.S. Performance Center on the campus of UNCCharlotte. A number of other Olympic sports teams, such as field hockey, rugby and bobsledding also train there. USA Pentathlon pays for his room and board but doesn’t currently pay him a stipend. Marrs lives with a fellow pentathlete in an apartment complex and follows an intense six days a week training program. The workouts begin at 8 a.m. with running, shooting and then practicing for the See OLYMPIC on page 9
The Landmark, January 14, 2026 OLYMPIC from page 8 ninja obstacle course and/or weightlifting. Then there is a few hour break for lunch and physiotherapy. “I get treatment done every day just to keep my body together and in one piece,” Marrs said. Afternoons typically consist of a swimming workout and fencing practice. “Evening is getting some food and get some sleep,” Marrs said. It’s a grueling routine but he loves it. “This is a childhood dream come true on so many levels, being at the U.S. Performance Center, being a professional athlete and doing it so quickly,” Marrs said. “I mean from amateur to professional in 11 months is unheard of.” Marrs said that variety of the pentathlon suits his personality. “The best thing this sport has done for me is that it’s allowed me to channel my fearless, manic energy into something healthy and productive,” Marrs said. “As a kid I was good at covering up some of these antics but I definitely engaged in dangerous behavior and reckless pursuits of things. And I think that’s something that not many people would assume because I was a good student, I was a good athlete but I used those things to cover up some very stupid behavior.” And the pentathlon has taught him life lessons. “One of the nice things that pentathlon has done for me is that it’s taught me how to capture that emotion and not suppress, or not get rid of it, but to acknowledge it’s there, accept it and wield it to my advantage,” Marrs said. “I’ve learned to trust my instincts. In life and sports it’s supposed to be difficult and it’s not something you should shy away from. Pain is necessary.” Marrs is aiming high. “I want to qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics and I want to win in a medal in Brisbane 2032,” Marrs said. Those goals will not be easy to achieve. Only 32 pentathletes, no more than two from any one country, qualify for the Olympics and the top competitors in the world typically come from Eastern Europe or Egypt. “You usually think of the U.S. as a formidable country but in the world of pentathlon we’re pretty small,” Marrs said. Marrs is so devoted to the pentathlon that he is applying to enlist in the U.S. Army and become part of its World Class Athlete Program, known as WCAP. In the program Marrs would complete
BOB SKOLNIK
Marrs finished sixth in the USA national championships in the Modern Pentathlon. basic training like any other enlisted soldier but then devote the rest of his time in the Army to training for the pentathlon. That way he could get paid as a soldier to train full time and represent the Army in competitions. “Nothing is official yet, but I meet all the requirements and have the full support that I need,” Marrs said. Is he worried about being called to fight as a soldier? “That’s very rare,” Marrs said. “Only in an extreme time of war would that happen but in an extreme time of war there are other bigger, deeper fish to fry.” He is now completely devoted to a sport that few of his friends and acquaintances have even heard of and not living the life of a college student. “I am making sacrifices but I’m very happy with the sacrifices I’ve made,” Marrs said. “I’m an extreme person; I know this about myself so I’m OK living in the black and white. I’m OK giving it all to something. I have no regrets.” And there is nothing he would rather be doing. “Other than like being in love, I guess, there is no greater feeling than competing and training for modern pentathlon for me,” Marrs said.
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
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3545 Vernon Ave 4611 Arthur Ave 4113 Eberly Ave 3337 Arden Ave 9539 Lexington Ave 8828 Burlington Ave 3533 Prairie Ave 3618 Morton Ave 3630 Maple Ave 8900 W 31st St 9120 26th Pl 4144 Elm Ave 3621 Rosemear Ave 4325 Madison Ave 4200 Elm Ave 4033 Sunnyside Ave 3713 Grand Blvd 3913 Grove Ave 3831 Grove Ave 3430 Oak Ave 4334 Dubois Ave 8811 Plainfield Rd 4325 Arthur Ave
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
MATT NIKKILA/CYCLE BROOKFIELD
Chris Valadez (center), president of Cycle Brookfield, poses in front of Brookfield residents lined up for the family fun ride at the Cycle Brookfield Criterium.
CYCLE
Promoting cycling from page 1
organizing the Criterium, an annual day of amateur and professional bicycle racing that is part of the Chicago Grit circuit, which will return for a fourth iteration in July. The race will revert to its original, Bshaped course around downtown this year after moving south across the railroad tracks last year due to ongoing construction along Grand Boulevard. “The B is back,” Valadez said. Otherwise, much about the event will stay the same, he said, with the addition of a meetand-greet expo for attendees that will highlight the professionals who travel to Brookfield to compete. “They’re the stars of the show, the pro women and men flying from all over the world, and they love to engage with their fans. We want to make sure that we’re building some fandom in Brookfield,” he said. “Go and meet them before the race. Cheer for them as they’re out. There’s some really awesome, young talent that exists out there, and I would love if a young Brookfielder were to look at some of these racers and say, ‘I think I could do that one day.’” Aside from the Criterium, Valadez said the group’s plans include continuing to work with the village on several projects, including sharing findings from the bike audit it completed last year in order to inform Brookfield’s upcoming resurfacing projects along Maple and Prairie avenues. Volunteers took a detailed look in September at those two streets, as well as Kemman Avenue, to evaluate their safety and “bikeability” with the help of a grant from the AARP. “It’s a win for not only Cycle Brookfield but
for the village of Brookfield to have an advocacy organization that is actively trying to perform and create a safer environment, not just for cyclists but for motorists and pedestrians alike,” he said. “As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we have opportunities available to us that are not available to government agencies … We’ve already committed that we’re going to be applying for more grants in 2026.” Cycle Brookfield has also been working with village staff on the Des Plaines River Trail south extension project, for which Brookfield is the lead agency. The project could see a new bike path put in along 31st Street from Prairie Avenue to First Avenue as a new connector route for the trail, which runs uninterrupted for 55 miles from the Illinois-Wisconsin border before splintering due to gaps in the region surrounding Brookfield. “Part of the reason that we started as an organization was to say, ‘Somehow, some way, we need to be able to safely access the Brookfield Zoo, the bike path that’s there on 31st Street and all the accommodations that are right there. Why isn’t anyone making this a priority?’” he said. “The village brought us in to ask our opinion and said, ‘What should we do as far as building an entire route, half a route, a portion of the route?’ We came right up and said, ‘We believe that you should, as the village of Brookfield, take the lead and really connect that part of the village to the rest of the village.” Out of everything Cycle Brookfield is working on for 2026, Valadez said he’s most excited for the smaller, more regular events, like the group’s monthly slow rides. “I’m looking forward to bringing these events back as much as possible and continuing to build a community in Brookfield that is sustainable, not just for [bicyclists] but for anyone,” he said. “What can we do to better serve? That’s really the theme that we’re trying to create for 2026. We want to serve Brookfield.”
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
PODCAST
A family business from page 1 The 65-minute episode where Pitts dives deep into Taylor’s business history is available to listen to on YouTube and streaming platforms where podcasts are available. “I’ve known [Taylor] pretty much my whole life, and what really stood out to me was the importance of hard work and adapting to market change,” Pitts said. “He talked about having good relationships and knowing your customers.” Taylor said he has worked for the business since 1990, when he founded it alongside his father. Based out of Alsip, Taylor’s Candy produces its own popcorn and peanut brittle while packaging products from other candy brands. “I’ve known Jack since he was a boy. He was my son’s friend growing up. It was interesting,” he said of the podcast. “He asked a lot of good questions. I haven’t watched [the episode] because I didn’t want to rethink any of my answers. ‘Oh, I should have mentioned this. I should have mentioned that.’” Taylor said his favorite part of working for his family’s company, where his two brothers are also members of senior management, is the flexibility. “I’ve worked for myself for so long. I like the family aspect of it and how we’re all so open to everybody. I don’t know the corporate structure, because I never really worked in that realm,” he said. “We’re more hands-on with everything. If I have to step up and do a job that I’ve already got someone else to do, but they’re not here, I’ll do it, and most of my people will do the same. You get the freedom to do more things when it’s a small business like this.” One highlight of the podcast episode that both Pitts and Taylor mentioned is when Taylor got to show off his antique
PROVIDED BY DOUG TAYLOR
CANDY HISTORY: Doug Taylor’s collection of candy memorabilia includes a Fannie May freezer he found at the old Fisher Pharmacy in Brookfield. candy memorabilia collection that he keeps in his office. “He’s petering around the idea of making a little candy museum inside his office,” Pitts said. “He truly loves candy and the memorabilia behind it.” Taylor said his favorite item “by far” is a vintage Fannie May candy freezer that he found inside Brookfield’s Fisher
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Pharmacy after it had closed and before the building became Sebastian’s Ale & Whiskey House. “I called up the for-rent number. I’m like, ‘Hey, sorry, I don’t want to rent the place, but I’m more than happy to buy that freezer off of you.’ It was still filled with Fannie May candy. He’s like, ‘I’ll sell you the freezer, but all the can-
dy inside is mine,’” he said. Taylor said he only wanted the fake display candy, which he was allowed to keep, too. He said the office also heavily features memorabilia related to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” including a vinyl record of the soundtrack from the 1971 movie. “I didn’t read the book until my daughter was born,” he admitted.
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
P O L I C E
R E P O R T S
Stolen car from Brookfield found in Chicago
Brookfield police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle on Dec. 29, but no one was arrested. Around 5:30 p.m., an officer responded to the 4500 block of Park Avenue, where the complainant and property owner said he had parked his car in the rear of the building in a private driveway on Dec. 24. When he returned on Dec. 29, the car was gone, the man told police. He said his tenants in the building told him they didn’t hear or see anything, and his car did not have GPS tracking. Police checked the block for cameras but did not find any. Police created a search for the vehicle through Flock cameras in the region and found it was last seen in Cicero on Dec. 28. On Dec. 30, the officer conducted a search for the man’s car and found it had been run several times that morning by Chicago police before being abandoned and subsequently towed and impounded. The officer called the tow yard, where employees confirmed the car was there and available for the man to collect any belongings, but due to the car having been involved in a fire and damaged, police said it could not be processed to look for further evidence of the crime.
Chicago driver ticketed for speeding Brookfield police ticketed a 24-year-old Chicago man for speeding on Jan. 1. Around 2:40 p.m., an office on patrol at the 9500 block of Ogden Avenue saw a vehicle driving at 50 mph in a 30-mph zone. The officer performed a U-turn and initiated a traffic stop near Sunnyside Avenue after catching up to the vehicle. The officer made contact with the driver, who said he did not have a valid driver’s license, though he was able to provide valid proof of insurance for the vehicle. The officer ran the man’s name through the police database and confirmed he had never been issued a driver’s license, though he did have a learner’s permit at one point. The officer cited the man for speeding and for driving without a valid license.
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These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department reports dated Dec. 29, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
LETTERS
OBITUARIES
What Trump doesn’t get
John Grabowski, 91
I made the mistake of watching the President’s 18-minute “defense of his administration” speech on the same night that I finished Ken Burn’s latest documentary The American Revolution. It made me so proud to be an American after watching the sacrifices that our Continental Army endured and the government that our Founding Fathers set up in order to keep our independence. Some important facts from that series should be memorized by our President and the voters of this nation. The founders set up citizenship as a participatory enterprise. The Preamble to our Constitution starts, “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union.” This means citizens must pay attention to issues, form opinions based on fact and be heard. Our founders would be mortified to learn that 95 million people stayed home on the last Election Day and that 77 million voted for a man who encouraged a dangerous, treasonous coup to overtake our institutions and laws.
The founders also took the separation of power into 3 branches (in order to check each other) very seriously. They would not be happy to learn that the President threatens each Republican in Congress who votes against him or that the Supreme Court is massively expanding presidential power. They would be unhappy to note that today we have a President who thinks he is above the law. George Washington refused to be a king or a dictator. He presided over the Constitutional Convention hoping that a document would be forged that held everyone in government accountable to the people. Trump’s speech proved that he knew very little about our history. It was filled with superlatives that have no basis in fact. Ken Burns ended his magnificent series with the quote, “The American Revolution is not over.” Can Trump and his supporters even appreciate what that phrase means?
Jan Goldberg Riverside
We’re all neighbors here As we reflect on 2025, the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the entire community for the extraordinary support we received throughout the year. In the face of rising need and ongoing challenges, individuals, families, businesses, faith groups, and volunteers stepped up again and again with generosity, time, and compassion. Because of this community response, we were able to continue providing food and dignity to our neighbors who needed it most.
While the challenges of food injustice will not disappear any time soon, the kindness and commitment shown in 2025 reaffirm what we already know: this is a community that takes care of one another. We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us and for the collective effort that makes our work possible. Thank you for standing with us and as we like to say at the pantry: We’re all neighbors here!
John Dumas
Chairman of the Board
What exactly gave attorney the ‘right’ to film? Let me start by saying I am not defending the actions of ICE or the Trump regime in the Chicago area. What I am defending is the right for someone to not be followed, filmed and harassed while trying to live their life. How exactly is Mr. Held’s version
of vigilante justice any different than what those MAGA morons did five years ago when they attacked the Capitol? I see no difference. The entitlement on both sides of the political divide has to end.
Christopher Froemel
Oak Park barber for 47 years John “Jack” S. Grabowski of North Riverside, 91, died on Jan. 10, 2026. Born on Feb. 9, 1934, he was a member of the Holy Name Society at Mater Christi Church and was known as “John the Barber” for 47 years in Oak Park and also for his wall packed with lapel pins in his barbershop. John was the husband of Joan (nee Kander); the father of Al (Libby), Sharon (Matt) Mostowik and Linda (Tim) Bronsteader; the grandfather of John Grabowski, Brian (Caitlin) Grabowski, Lauren (Justin) Rosenbloom, Jennifer (Steve) Gordon, Steve Bronsteader, Allison (Dariusz) Jarosz and Mike Bronsteader; the great-grandfather of Olivia, Isabella, Weston, Walker, Kacper and Jaxon; brother of the late Della (late Irv), late Ed (Pat) and the late Frank (Henrietta); and uncle of many. Visitation will be held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 3 until 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Jan. 16 at Mater Christi Church,
with interment at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer. org) are appreciated.
Pat Mortimer, 64 Operating engineer Patrick John “Pat” Mortimer, 64, of Riverside, formerly of Brookfield and Mountmellick, Ireland died on Jan. 3, 2026 in his Riverside home. Born on Sept. 11, 1961 in Ireland, he was an operating engineer for IUOE Local 399. Pat was the partner of Bas; the father of Erin (Joey) Mortimer, PJ (Morgan) Mortimer and Brendan (Monica) Mortimer; the grandfather of Owen, Rory and Sloane and many grand-dogs; the brother of Mick (Ann) Mortimer and the late Gerry Mortimer; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 1 to 6 p.m., with Words of Remembrance at 3 p.m. at Sebastian’s Ale and Whiskey House, 8900 Fairview Ave., Brookfield. Arrangements were handled by Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family at www. JohnsonNosek.com.
The Landmark, January 14, 2026
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SMALL BITES
Don’t hibernate, food folks need you in these cold dark days
T
he original Roman calendar didn’t see fit to name the period between the end of December and the start of March since there was no military or farming activity then. Roman soldiers spent this time in hiberna camps. January and February were named later, which is why the number referencing names of the last four months of the year don’t match up with their order in the calendar. Each year the Oak Park and River Forest Chamber of Commerce gives out its Spotlight Awards. There are many winners, but I want to highlight the Excellent Eats award, which went to Jerusalem Cafe at 1030 Lake St. in Oak Park. Congrats! At the old Luo’s Peking House, 113 N. Marion St., the drab brown paper that has been covering the windows has been exchanged for tantalizing images of Szechwan dishes. The restaurateurs are not the same owners as KyuRamen or Guymon BBQ (as reported here previously), but friends of those owners. Demolition has started, but as these things go, it could be a year before mouth-watering scents are wafting out of the kitchen. Down the street at Gyumon BBQ kids pricing goes by height (and I guess, therefore, size of stomach): under 40 inches are free of charge; 40-47 inches get 50% off; and 4755 inches are 30% off. There is a senior discount as well. Those over 65 get $10 off any AYCE (all you care to eat) meal. And they have extended the $10 off promotion all day Monday – Thursday. Friday night dinner is back at Spilt Milk at 811 South Blvd in Oak Park. The take and heat meals come in two sizes: one to serve 2 adult diners for $52.50, the other for 4 adults is $105. Last week’s menu was meatballs in a savory, but hint of sweet sauce; mashed potatoes; and roasted green beans. Pre-order early in the week, then pick up be-
RISÉ
OAK PARK-RIVER FOREST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Mira Social ribbon cutting on December 16
SANDERS-WEIR
BROWN COW ICE CREAM
Steamed Scoops – hot chocolate and beyond at Brown Cow tween 1-5 p.m. each Friday. On Mondays and Tuesdays during January and February Brown Cow Ice Cream in Forest Park will be closed. The new owners announced that they have some to-do list items that they are going to use the time to complete. Cold winter days might make sense for taking a break from ice cream eating, but to keep you warm the shop has debuted steamed scoops made with any flavor. Top choices are chocolate (this is where the idea came from, since their hot chocolate is made with a kiddie scoop and steamed milk),
gingerbread, peppermint, cinnamon and butter pecan. 3Fold bakery at 401 South Blvd. (at Ridgeland) in Oak Park opened their doors the last week of 2025. A wealth of pastries line the cases and ample seating invites one to meet and linger over coffee. It’s official! Mira Social, 1103 Pleasant St. in Oak Park, held a RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR ribbon cutting on Dec. 16. The doors are open Three Fold bakery favorite to help you wind down, pastries and more reconnect with friends and family over crafted cocktails (alcohol and non) and delicious bites. Golden Hour (their style of happy hour) is weekdays from 3:30-6 p.m. Eats-out – we are going to try another turn at gathering, eating and chatting about what foods make us happy. This time, we are going to Café Cubano on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. The cost is $35 per person. Alcoholic drinks separate. If you want to join in our table of eight, email me at the address below. Got news, questions or ideas for this column? Email them to us at Eats@oakparkeats.com.
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Sports
The Landmark, January 14, 2026
Bulldogs’ Ford strikes balance as bowler, athlete, student Senior two-sport athlete also among school’s citizenship award recipients
By LILY KOCOUREK
ries winner. Ford owns the Bulldogs’ highest three-game series this season with a 480 against StreamFor many student-athletes, senior year is wood, Dec. 4 (188-145-147). Ford has seen imdefined by the pressures of higher expecta- provement from junior year, particularly in her consistency and approach, tions, heavier workloads and the “I’ve improved by learning how looming reality of life after high to bowl strategically based on school. For Riverside Brookfield pin positioning and by becoming High School senior Abby Ford, more consistent with my form,” the girls bowling team offers she said. “That consistency has space to compete, connect and helped both my confidence and enjoy her final year as a studentmy scores.” athlete. They’re among the reaAs a two-sport athlete, Ford balsons she joined as a junior in the ances bowling alongside varsity Bulldogs’ first official season. and club soccer while maintain“I stayed with bowling my seABBY FORD ing strong academic performance. nior year because I had so much Managing those commitments fun last season – and I knew it would be even better this year,” she said. “I can be challenging, but she prioritizes time also convinced more of my friends to join, management and performance. That balance is especially important bewhich made the experience even more memocause soccer remains her primary focus. Ford rable.” The Bulldogs are 5-5 in Upstate Eight Con- was a starting outside defender for the varsity ference duals with one forfeit victory and 25 last spring. “Soccer is my main sport, so I put more out of a possible 50 points. Teams compete for five points each UEC dual – one point for each pressure on myself there,” she said. “Bowling of the three games and two points for the se- is different. I still want to improve and score Contributing Reporter
higher, but I don’t beat myself up because I knew coming into bowling I would use it as an outlet to spend time with friends who also love to compete.” Ford’s goals reflect both individual growth and team connection. “Individually I want to stay consistent and beat my high score from last season, which I’ve already done,” she said. “As a team, I think it’s important to bond and celebrate each other’s successes, whether that’s a strike or a new personal best.” Beyond athletics, Ford said her involvement across school activities has shaped her high school experience. This past year she was recognized with an RBHS School Citizen of the Year award, an honor given to students who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and a strong commitment to their school community. “Winning the SCOTY award meant a lot to me,” she said. “I think my involvement at RBHS through sports, academics, and being a model for incoming Bulldogs to look up to has shaped the person I’m becoming.” The recognition reflects not just Ford’s achievements, but the positive impact she’s
made through her four years. Looking ahead, she said the lessons from athletics will stay with her. “I’m not planning on playing sports at the collegiate level,” Ford said. “However, athletics have taught me balance, teamwork, and how to enjoy the process – lessons I’ll carry with me beyond high school.”
Boys bowling RBHS, Lyons Township and Nazareth compete at the Oak Lawn Regional Friday at Palos Lanes. The Bulldogs currently are 4-11 in the UEC with 23 points. Top season averTEDDY KOWALSKI ages include sophomore Teddy Kowalski (176), who achieved his first 600-plus three-game series on Jan. 6 (643), and seniors Finn Lubeck (170) and Jaden Barrett (167). Bill Stone contributed to this story.
Newcomers Martinez, Trolley score high for LTHS gymnasts By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Freshman Emily Martinez of Brookfield already has made an impact for the Lyons Township High School girls gymnastics team. Her hope is to contribute more hopefully all the way to the state meet. “As a whole team, I think we’ve been improving each meet, little by little,” Martinez said. “I’m doing pretty well. There’s obviously a lot of room for me to improve and a lot of upgrades that I’m trying to get to compete soon.” With help from Martinez and junior newcomer Katherine Trolley, the Lions have consistently scored in the low 130s and
EMILY MARTINEZ
KATHERINE TROLLEY
posted a season-high 135.625 to finish third at Andrew’s Erin Olmstead Invitational Saturday. Riverside Brookfield finished fifth with a season-high 126.55. Trolley (35.95) and Martinez (34.875) finished third and seventh in all-around as the Lions beat their previous best of 133.20
in the Nov. 26 season opener. Trolley won balance beam (9.4) and was second on uneven parallel bars (8.8) and fourth on floor exercise (9.3). Martinez was fifth on beam (8.925), sixth on floor (9.2) and seventh on vault (8.6). The Bulldogs’ Paige Phelan tied for fourth on uneven bars (8.5) and was sixth on beam (8.9) and vault (8.65) enroute to eighth in all-around (34.45). RBHS previously scored 125.90, Dec. 10. Martinez and Trolley both have club gymnastics experience at Flying High and have competed at Level 8. They’ve especially been welcome with junior all-arounder Brynn Krantz, a returning sectional qualifier, sidelined since surgery, Dec. 19, to re-
move a bone chip in her foot. Mia Kosensky recently returned from a shoulder injury, but Katherine Tucker has been out with a broken toe. “They’re both really, really good hard workers and I think all of the girls look up to them,” LTHS coach Brittany (Glowa) Milovanovic said of her varsity newcomers. Martinez intended to compete in high school after stopping club training for a couple of months. One of her recent highlights on uneven bars was adding her bail release move she had in her club routine. “I think I always wanted to do high school gymnastics,” she said. “That was the main reason I stopped doing club because I want-
S P O R T S
The Landmark, January 14, 2026
17
Vaia finds shooting touch in Bulldogs’ victory By BILL STONE
was trying to turn around and play Downers the next day without having any recovery mentally and physically,” Hutchens said. “Overall with how much adversity we had to face, our girls played well.”
3 threes) and Phillip Hilgenberg (10 points). Mercer (25 points with 5 threes), Enright (12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and Cimino and VanTholen (7 rebounds each) led the victory over Ridgewood.
RBHS boys basketball
LTHS boys basketball
After three straight victories with doubledigit threes, the Bulldogs struggled with outside shooting against Nazareth Academy, Saturday. The Bulldogs (12-5, 5-1 in UEC East) still found a way to win again 61-56 after trailing 33-27 with 3:56 left in the third quarter. “Toward the second half of the third quarter and the fourth quarter we were running better offense and that was getting us better shots,” RBHS coach Mike Reingruber said. “When the ball goes in more, it’s going to help. We’ve been very inconsistent shooting from the outside and that’s what we’ve been working on.” Cam Mercer (27 points with 3 threes, 7 rebounds), Liam Enright (13 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists), Colin Cimino (9 points, 6 rebounds), Ben Biskupic (6 points, 6 rebounds) and Noah VanTholen (7 assists, 4 steals) paced the Bulldogs (12-5, 5-1 in UEC East), who made just 5 of 27 on threes but 14 of 18 two-pointers. With RBHS holding to one-point leads, two free throws by Cimino with 27.5 seconds and Mercer with 15.1 seconds established a 59-56 advantage. After a Nazareth timeout, VanTholen stole the ball and added free throws with 2.1 seconds. Seniors Sawyer Holstine (16 points), Drew Hyland (14 points) and Jack Ariens (13 points) led the Roadrunners (6-11). The Bulldogs also defeated Streamwood 82-30 Thursday and Ridgewood 66-40 in UEC East play, Jan. 6. RBHS led Streamwood 23-2 after one quarter. Reaching double digs were Mercer (22 points with 4 threes, 6 steals), who hit 8 of 9 shots, Cimino (14 points with
The Lions (10-5, 3-1 in Silver) once again found their hot hand from the outside Saturday. Their 30-point third quarter, fueled by 7 threes, blew the game open for a 72-52 victory at Rich Township (10-7), following a season-low offensive output in Friday’s 4023 home loss to York (15-3, 5-0) in the early battle of Silver co-leaders. “It was the difference of in 24 hours how making shots can change the outcome of a game,” LTHS coach Tom Sloan said. “We played very well pretty much the entire [Rich Township] game. That [third quarter] was nice to see.” Grant Smith (24 points), Owen Carroll (18 points), Nate Woods (15 points) and Timmy Sloan (10 points) led the offense Saturday. LTHS had scored at least 65 points each game in starting the season 5-0. “Shooting is all about confidence and getting yourself in a rhythm and enjoying what you’re doing,” coach Sloan said. “I felt like we did that on Saturday. Hopefully that’ll continue to carry over.” Against York, Carroll (8 points) and Smith (6 points, 5 rebounds) each had 2 threes as LTHS made just 8 of 39 shots (4 of 27 threes). Smith’s three cut the deficit to 34-23 with 6:04 left before the Dukes scored the final six points. “A lot of the offensive possessions we had were pretty good,” coach Sloan said. “York makes it tough with some of the guys they have to challenge shots but we had opportunities.”
fellow four-year varsity player Avery Mezan also remains out with a broken bone in her hand, suffered during the Lions’ following Riverside Brookfield High School’s Addie game Dec. 26. “I was really proud that our girls were able Vaia didn’t think much on the basketball court, Jan. 6, against Ridgewood. The senior to finish the game [at York]. They were very guard simply shot and scored. Her personal- emotional for many reasons,” LTHS coach best 21 points, behind a personal-best 5 three- Meghan Hutchens said. “The message was to play for Emma but, more pointers, helped the Bulldogs preimportantly, to remember the vail 51-42. details of the game. They really Arianna Hudson (16 points), tuned in. It was cool to see, esAbby Weinert (7 rebounds, 6 aspecially with how heightened sists), Ryzewski (7 rebounds, 4 their emotions were.” steals) and Greta Lupfer (6 reLTHS (14-5, 4-3 in West Suburbounds) also contributed for RBHS ban Conference Silver Division) (6-13, 4-3 in Upstate Eight Confertrailed York 27-25 at halftime ence East Division). but scored the first seven points “I think the key to scoring a lot of the third quarter. of points is to not think and just ADDIE VAIA O’Brien was injured driving shoot the ball when I am open,” to the basket with the Lions said Vaia, who made 8 of 20 shots leading 34-31, yet they ended the quarter (5 for 14 on threes). “I’ve learned that the moments where I with the last six points for a 42-33 lead, finhesitate to shoot are the shots that end up not ishing with back-to-back fast-break layups falling. Also, one of my roles on the team is by Gwen Smith off Anna Bigenwald passes. to get down the floor quickly on fast breaks. The Dukes closed to 44-41 with 3:49 left before Against Ridgewood my teammates did a good four straight points by Kennedy Moore and a job at spotting when me or someone else were Smith free throw put the game away. Smith joined O’Brien in scoring 17 points open and getting the ball to us quickly.” RBHS lost to Streamwood 54-42, and Moore had 11. On Saturday, the Lions lost 41-32 at home to Thursday, and to Hinsdale Central 76Silver co-leader Downers Grove North (17-2, 36, Saturday. Hudson had 14 points and 6-1). nine rebounds against Streamwood. The Lions closed to 25-24 with 6:19 left on Moore’s basket and had a chance to take the lead but a steal and layup from DownThe Lions’ emotional 51-44 victory at York, ers North junior standout Campbell Thulin Friday, resulted in a most devastating loss. (career-high 29 points on 11-for-15 shooting) Senior standout and Cornell recruit Emma ignited a 9-0 run for a 34-24 lead with 3:34 left. O’Brien suffered a probable season-ending The Lions threatened at 35-31 after Smith’s injury to her left knee with 3:57 left in the basket with 1:00 remaining. Smith (16 points) third quarter. and Bigenwald (9 points) were the Lions’ O’Brien, whose injury was evaluated Mon- leading scorers. Sophomore Sydney Munson day, recently scored a career-high 35 points joined the starting lineup. “The hardest part [after O’Brien’s injury] against Prospect, Dec. 23. Senior starter and
of these people from dive or my club gym and everyone being so supportive made it super-easy.” On Dec. 19, the Lions (131.75) won their first Dryanski/Lazier Invitational, named in honor of longtime former coaches Fred Dryanski and Garen (Williams) Lazier. RBHS (122.35) was third. Lazier was the girls gymnastics head coach from 1973 until 2004. Dryanski was a
longtime girls assistant coach for Lazier and successor Kari Karubas and the boys head coach for 31 years before retiring in 2010. Dryanski died in 2012 at age 63 and Lazier died in 2014 at age 73. Milovanovic is a former LTHS gymnast and 2005 graduate. “There were a lot of [former] gymnasts that were here,” Milovanovic said. “It was really nice to see everybody. I was surprised
how many. It was kind of a mini-reunion.” Trolley (34.35) and Martinez (34.25) finished 1-2 in all-around and Trolley (8.75 on beam) and Martinez (8.8 on floor) were event champions. Martinez also was second on uneven bars (8.4) and third on vault (8.8) and beam (8.25) and Trolley was second on floor (8.65). Phelan was third in all-around (32.90) and fourth on floor (8.45) and uneven bars (8.1).
Contributing Reporter
LTHS girls basketball
ed to focus on high school. I felt like doing both at the same time was going to be a lot of work for me.” Both girls already knew many teammates from club gymnastics. Trolley also is teammates with Krantz in diving. “Joining has been a great decision. It is such a positive environment with the most welcoming people,” she said. “Joining as a junior can be tough, but knowing many
18 The Landmark, January 14, 2026 HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI • Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m.
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LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified vendors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday, 7�30 a.m. to 3�00 p.m. CST until 3�00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026 for the following: Village of Oak Park UPM COLD MIX PATCH MATERIAL Bid Number: 26�105 Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at �708� 358�5700 during the above hours. Published in Wednesday Journal January 14, 2026
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STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re the Marriage of: Daniel E. Perez, Petitioner, and Marian Java Maloloy-On Respondent, Case No. 2025D007668 The requisite affidavit for Publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, Marian Java Maloloy-On, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, Daniel E. Perez, for Dissolution of Marriage and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent file your Appearance and Response electronically to said Petition with the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on or before February 11, 2026 default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage Entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois . Published in Wednesday Journal January 14, 21, 28, 2026
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PUBLIC NOTICE Public notice is hereby given that the Board of Education of Riverside School District 96 in Riverside, Illinois will receive sealed bids for: Hauser Junior High School Window Replacement Project Copies of the Bid Documents including plans and specifications will be available starting December 15, 2025. Bidders can download electronic Drawings and Specifications from the BHFX Plan Room, www.bhfxplanroom.com. Printed sets may be ordered and paid for by the contractor. All bids offered must be accompanied by bid security in the form of certified check or bid bond made payable to the Owner in the amount of not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the aggregate of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. The successful bidder for the project is required to furnish Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the bid amount, with sureties to be approved by the Owner, and in the form required by the Bidding Documents. The successful bidder is required to pay the general prevailing wage for work under this Contract as ascertained by the Illinois Department of Labor, and shall submit certified payroll records, in compliance with the Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130) and the requirements of the Bidding Documents. A pre-bid meeting will be held on December 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM at Hauser Junior High School, 65 Woodside Road, Riverside, IL 60546 in the Hauser Cafeteria. Bidders must allow sufficient time to register at the building prior to being permitted to proceed to the meeting location. Bids will be received until 1:00 PM, January 12, 2026, at the District office at 3440 S. Harlem Ave, Riverside, IL 60546. A public bid opening will take place afterwards at 1:00 PM, January 12, 2026 at the District office at 3440 S. Harlem Ave, Riverside, IL 60546 The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all bids or any part thereof.
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The Landmark, January 14, 2026
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