Landmark 012021

RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside $1.00

Vol. 36, No. 3

January 20, 2021

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Power shift

Governor rolls back COVID mitigations throughout state PAGE 6

West ‘burbs new nexus of power in state

Swinging bridge getting a makeover this spring PAGE 8

PAGES 12-13

Komarek renovation looks to be on fast track School district hopes to seek construction bids in March

By BOB UPHUES Editor

After a wait of more than two years, construction to comprehensively make over the campus of Komarek School in North Riverside is just a few months away.

On Jan. 11, the Development Committee of the North Riverside Village Board appeared enthusiastic about the project, which would have the village See KOMAREK on page 17

more than 650 trees to recycle, Brookfield Zoo’s reindeer herd were treated to Christmas trees, which SEASON’S With they rubbed their antlers on and tossed around their habitat. The reindeer and other animals also received LEAVINGS tasty nutritious treats, including bones, meat or vegetables hidden among the trees’ branches.

JIM SCHULZ/CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Brookfield Ave. bridge replacement coming this spring

By BOB UPHUES

Six-month project will build new span from the river bed up

Editor

Brookfield Avenue will be closed to traffic between Arden and Forest avenues for six

months beginning in April to accommodate the long-awaited replacement of the bridge over Salt Creek. The project has been in the works since 2014.

On Jan. 11, the Brookfield Village Board

voted unanimously to clear a final hurdle by entering into an agreement with the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad for a temporary easement allowing work crews access to a narrow strip of railroad land south of

Brookfield Avenue during construction.

Village Engineer Derek Treichel said bids for work would be opened March 5 by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The See BRIDGE on page 16

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

The Landmark, January 20, 2021

Can new COVID relief bill save local theater, music venues?

From mall movie house to zoos to live performance spaces, new funding could be ‘life saver’

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

By MICHELLE DYBAL Arts Editor

When business is down 90 to 100 percent, help can’t come soon enough. This is how Classic Cinemas CEO Chris Johnson describes the news of federal grant money being allocated to arts venues through the Small Business Administration (SBA) after the latest COVID Relief Bill passed Dec. 27.

Classic Cinemas’ Lake Theater, 1022 Lake St. in Oak Park, has been shuttered since mid-March 2020. The other 14 theaters in the family-owned portfolio, including the North Riverside Luxury 6 at North Riverside Park FILE Mall, have been closed, too, except for two weeks during the summer.

SITTING TIGHT: Classic Cinemas CEO Chris Johnson says a new grant opportunity “We’ve had some hardships,” Johnson said. through the latest federal COVID-relief legislation could help save his movie theaters, Classic Cinemas is losing 100 percent of its which have been largely shuttered since last March. revenue during the pandemic.

The National Independent Venues Associa“It could take many weeks, even months for business, and not ownership, will allow him tion (NIVA) advocated for legislation in the the funding to flow” from SVO grants, accord- to qualify. latest relief bill through a Save Our Stages ing to NIVA, on its website.

“My hope is that the eligibility is dynamic campaign. Through the Save Our Stages 16th Street Theater, a performance venue enough that I can share information providAct, included in the Economic Aid to Hardin Berwyn, has expressed interest in pursu- ed by prior ownership and prove continuity Hit Small Businesses, $15 billion will be dising such a grant. The theater at 6420 16th St. in order to get over the hurdle regarding this tributed through the Shuttered credits support from “individu- recent change in ownership,” Duncan said.

Venue Operators (SVO) Grant to als, foundations, government “I’ll likely engage an attorney to help navitheatrical and performing arts orgrants including money from the gate these waters.” ganization operators; museums, CARES Act and a Business InterAlthough Duncan has found creative busizoos and aquariums; and movie ruption Grant” to their survival ness solutions that are COVID-19 safe alternatheaters. during this time, according to tives, such as neighborhood truck concerts, Those “who suffered a 90 perartistic director and founder Ann things have not been easy for the business. cent or greater revenue loss Filmer.

“Given the recent change of ownership and between April 2020 through De“16th Street will apply for all rather new business entities I established for cember 2020 due to the COVID-19 grants and aid for which we are the project, access to grants and PPP loans pandemic” get to apply first. Howeligible,” she said. “With our stag- have been difficult for Fitzgeralds,” he said. ever, applications are not open es being shuttered, we brought in “We’ve been fortunate to do some actual busiyet, while the SBA focuses on new only $15,000 in single ticket sales ness across the summertime which has kept Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) instead of $54,000 last year. Our us breaking even and employing people. Howfunds made accessible in the new subscription campaign brings ever, having suspended on-premises operarelief package. in $60,000 per year, but in 2020 tions back in early November due to the COClassic Cinemas, along with a we only sold $24,000 in subscrip- VID numbers, we’re having a tough winter.” many local businesses, was a retions.”

Johnson, who calls the SVO grant a “lifecipient of PPP funds last spring.

Live music venues may also saver,” said Classic Cinemas has hopes to WILL DUNCAN Brookfield Zoo, which would apFitzgeralds’ owner benefit from SVO grants. reopen the chain’s locations by the spring if pear to be another potential benFor Fitzgeralds nightclub, 6615 the state allows and provided there will be a eficiary of a Shuttered Venue Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn, the steady supply of new films.

Operators Grant – it has closed timing of ownership may pose a “Studios are in L.A. and they are the hardits doors for the months of question. While the nightclub it- est hit [with COVID-19] right now,” Johnson January and February and was closed for more than three months in 2020 – self has been in operation for nearly 41 years, said.

Johnson also imagined the day when Lake received a PPP loan last year of between $5 current owner Will Duncan took the reins in early March 2020.

Theater is open, now that a major street conmillion and $10 million.

For SVO grants, the revenue used to cal- struction project is complete, and the street It’s unclear whether the Chicago Zoological Society, which operates Brookfield Zoo, will culate loss compares 2020 to 2019 numbers. filled with people again enjoying all that pursue an SVO grant.

Duncan is hoping that the continuity of the downtown Oak Park has to offer.

“Having suspended on-premises operations back in early November due to the COVID numbers, we’re having a tough winter.”

Editor Bob Uphues Sports Editor James Kay Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Javier Govea, Mark Moroney Debbie Becker Sales and Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

Growing Community Media BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL buphues@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.

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

BIG WEEK January 20-27

Cruise down the Nile

Riverside Public Library invites you to join Barbara Sugden and Ron Vargason as they lead you on cruise down the Nile during “Travelogue Egypt: In the Footsteps of the Pharaohs,” a Zoom presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

Be transported from your couch to Alexandria and Cairo, marvel at the majestic Great Pyramids of Giza and the wonders of Egypt through pictures taken in 2020.

To obtain Zoom access info, visit the library’s online calendar at riversidelibrary.org/calendar.html.

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The Chicago Zoological Society continues its winter virtual lecture series on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. when Randy Wells, Ph.D., director of the society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, discusses the world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population.

Wells, one of the program’s founders, will share major findings from the past 50 years, including the biology, behavior, ecology, social structure, life history, health and human impacts on Sarasota Bay’s year-round community of resident dolphins.

Online reservations are required and can be made at CZS.org/Lecture Series.

Join veteran sports broadcaster Evan Weiner on Zoom for “The History of the Super Bowl” courtesy of Brookfield Public Library on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.

Weiner will take you on a journey from the birth of the Super Bowl to the present day, including the introduction and evolution of halftime entertainment and even how the big game got its name.

Register to attend by calling 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or at brookfield.evanced.info/signup.

North Riverside Public Library invites you to learn about the “red flags” of COVID-19 fraud during “Protection Against COVID-19 Investment Scams” on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m.

Learn to recognize examples of COVID-19 fraud and other common investment scams and the steps you can take to protect yourself. The program is presented on Zoom by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

RSVP to bodenl@northriversidelibrary. org or visit northriversidelibrary.org/ events for access info.

Nazareth Academy resumes its Parent Speaker Series on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. with the Zoom presentation “Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship.” Liz Repking will talk to parents about social media and teens. Register at nazarethacademy.com under the Student/Parent tab.

Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “Softening Space” featuring constructions, installations and paintings by Camille Silverman in the Freeark Gallery through Feb and “Invisible Visible,” a collaboration between artist Colleen Plumb and writer Katherine Kassouf Cummings in the FlexSpace Gallery through Feb. 22. The gallery is open by

The secret life of dolphins

The story of the Super Bowl

Learn to spot COVID-19 fraud schemes

And more

Courtesy of Chicago Zoological Society

appointment. Visit riversideartscenter.com for more information.

Chicago Zoological Society’s animal care staff presents “Bringing to Zoo to You” Facebook Live chats each weekday at 11 a.m. through February.

If you can’t tune in at 11 a.m., you can watch the videos later on Brookfield Zoo’s Facebook page or YouTube channel.

North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., offers a number of virtual programs through Facebook Live, conference calls and the teleconferencing app Zoom. Programs include Game Night Wednesdays on Jan. 20 and 27 at 7 p.m. via Facebook Live on North Riverside Public ■

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LTHS student art on virtual display Lyons Township High School students created hundreds of art pieces throughout the first semester. Despite the pandemic, remote learning and cancelled art exhibits, student-artists flourished.

Now the entire community can enjoy their artwork virtually through an online exhibit at lths. net/artwork.

The virtual exhibit features pieces of art in various mediums and from all levels, including drawings, paintings, photographs, jewelry, textiles, video and sculpture.

Library’s Facebook page.

There’s also Writer’s Group Online Meeting via Zoom on Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. Library Bingo on Zoom on Jan. 23 at 11 a.m.; DIY Décor Tuesdays on Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. via Facebook Live and YouTube; and Crafterdark: Winter Canvas Painting via Zoom on Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

RSVP to bodenl@northriversidelibrary.org or visit northriversidelibrary.org/events for adult Zoom meeting access info.

Brookfield Public Library offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth activities will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page at facebook.

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com/BrookfieldPublicLibrary. For adults, there’s Chair Yoga via Zoom on Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. and Friday Reads on Facebook Live every Friday at 2 p.m. Hear librarians read aloud sections of new and exciting titles.

Get inspiration to create a fun, beautiful brunch experience during Brunching at Home via Facebook Live on Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. Visit brookfield.evanced.info/ signup to register for Zoom programs.

Riverside Public Library invites you to join the Melting Pot Recipe Club on Zoom on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. This month’s meeting focuses on comfort food.

To obtain Zoom access info, visit the library’s online calendar at riversidelibrary.org/calendar.html.

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Brookfield police arrest woman suspected of forgery

A 21-year-old Chicago woman wanted for allegedly trying to cash a fraudulent check in Brookfield last July has been charged with one count of felony forgery after Chicago police who stopped her on Jan. 11 for a traffic violation turned her over to local detectives, because there was a warrant for her arrest.

According to police Latisha A. Sabbs presented a check from Walmart for $759.63, along with a state ID, to an employee at the Brookfield Currency Exchange, 9450 Ogden Ave. on the evening of July 14, 2020.

The employee immediately was suspicious of the check, according to the police report, due to a similar fraudulent check being cashed at the business three days earlier.

The employee told the woman, later identified as Sabbs, he was calling police and she left the business.

A few days later, Walmart officials confirmed the check was fraudulent and that Sabbs had formerly worked at Walmart, though she was no longer employed with the company at that time.

Efforts in the next month to locate Sabbs were unsuccessful, said police, who obtained a warrant for her arrest in September. On Jan. 11 at 1 a.m., Chicago police notified Brookfield police that they had taken Sabbs into custody on the warrant during a traffic stop.

Woman hit by car charged with battery A 19-year-old Cicero woman struck by a vehicle as she stepped off the curb outside Entrance 3 on the west side of North Riverside Park Mall wound up being charged with battery after she allegedly responded by punching and pepper-spraying the driver.

According to the police, a Nissan driving northbound along the inner ring road struck the Cicero woman on her left side, causing her to fall to the ground. The driver, who said she did not see the woman enter the crosswalk, reportedly got out of the car to check on the woman.

At that time, according to the police report, the “very irate” woman who’d been struck by the car punched the driver in the face three times before taking a can of pepper spray from her pocket and spraying it in the driver’s face.

Police issued the driver of the Nissan a ticket for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. They charged the Cicero woman with one count of battery.

Burglary to vehicle ■ The service manager of Fuller’s Car Wash Equipment, 9124 47th St. in Brook-

field, called police on the morning of Jan. 5 to report that overnight someone had broken the rear passenger side window of a service van parked in a fenced lot and stole several items.

Among the things taken were an oxygen tank; an acetylene tank, torch and hose; a welding machine and welding rod holder; and other power tools.

■ North Riverside police responded to the 8900 block of 24th Street on Jan. 12 at about 3:40 p.m. after a resident called to report that sometime after 8 p.m. on Jan. 11 someone had entered his unlocked vehicle, which was parked on the street, and ransacked the glove box and center console. The victim reported that between $20 and $30 in cash was missing from the center console.

Gunshots reported Brookfield police responded to the 4600 block of Eberly Avenue on Jan. 12 around 10:25 p.m. after two different people called to report hearing gun shots in the area.

While police canvassed the area, which turned up no evidence of gunfire, two officers reported hearing what sounded like several more gun shots that appeared to be coming from the industrial area of LaGrange, west of Eberly Avenue and north of 47th Street.

The officers notified LaGrange police of their observations.

Rental car stolen A black 2006 Jeep Commander, a rental vehicle left running and unattended in front of Advanced Automotive Care, 9018 Ogden Ave. in Brookfield, was stolen from the lot at about 10:50 a.m. on Jan. 6, according to police.

An employee called police after observing a white BMW back into the parking lot and then seeing the Jeep leave the lot with the BMW following behind. The employee attempted to follow the vehicles as they drove away westbound on Ogden Avenue, but lost sight of them.

Surveillance cameras in the area showed the vehicles head southbound on Eberly Avenue, approaching 47th Street.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Jan. 5-17, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

COVID-19 mitigations rolled back, but dining ban still on

Some regions move all the way back to Phase 4 guidelines

By GRACE BARBIC Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Nine of 11 regions in the state’s COVID-19 mitigation plan have seen mitigations lifted in the past week, with two moving all the way back to Phase 4 restrictions.

However, Region 10, which includes all of suburban Cook County, and Region 11, which comprises the city of Chicago, were among those places where bans on indoor dining and drinking remain in place.

The announcement came as hospitalizations and positivity rates continued to decline and the state launched a contracting effort to increase hospital staffing, adjusting the available bed metrics that determine mitigation levels.

Based on adjustments for hospital staffing, Region 3, which covers west-central Illinois counties including Sangamon and Logan, and Region 5, which covers southern Illinois, moved to Phase 4 mitigations.

Under Phase 4, gaming and casinos, hotels, indoor fitness classes, offices and cultural institutions are able to reopen without tier restrictions.

Test positivity rates must remain below 6.5 percent for three consecutive days, staffed hospital and ICU beds must reach 20 percent

or higher for three consecutive days and there must be a sustained decline in COVID-19 patients in the hospital for 7 out of 10 days.

Region 1, which covers counties including Carroll and DeKalb in northern Illinois, Region 2, which covers north-central Illinois counties including McLean, Peoria and Rock Island, and Region 6, which covers east-central Illinois counties including Champaign and Macon have moved to Tier 1. These regions can now open indoor dining with limited capacity and restrictions in place.

Once a region moves into Tier 1 mitigations, indoor dining is allowed at a limited 25 percent capacity, indoor tables cannot exceed four people, reservations are required and establishments must be closed between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Although indoor bar service is allowed under Tier 1, it remains suspended unless food is being served at the establishment.

The requirements to move to Tier 1 include a test positivity rate below 8 percent for three consecutive days, with the same criteria for hospitalizations and bed availability as the previous tiers.

Region 8 in the west suburbs, Region 9 in the north suburbs, Region 10 in suburban Cook County and Region 11, which covers the city of Chicago, are all in Tier 2, meaning there is still no indoor dining allowed.

In order to move from Tier 3 to Tier 2, regions must see a test positivity rate below 12 percent

for three consecutive days, with the same criteria for hospitalizations and bed availability as previously stated.

Region 4, which covers metro east Illinois, and Region 7, which covers south suburban Illinois, remain under Tier 3 mitigations. No indoor dining is allowed under Tier 3.

Prior to Monday, eight of the state’s 11 mitigation regions remained under Tier 3 restrictions.

“We are pleased to see most of our regions move out of Tier 3 mitigations with this change, and it is critical that we maintain this progress,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a news release. “With new variants of COVID-19 spreading, it is more important than ever to follow public health guidance that keeps people safe.”

Positivity rate decreasing The statewide seven-day rolling case positivity rate was 5.9 percent Monday, and has been steadily decreasing for over a week. The rolling positivity rate was 7.6 percent exactly one week ago.

IDPH reported 3,385 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in the state Monday, including 50 additional deaths. In total, the state reported 1,072,214 COVID-19 cases, including 18,258 deaths across the state’s 102 counties since the pandemic began.

As of Sunday night, 3,345 COVID-19 patients

were reported in the hospital and 705 patients reported in intensive care unit beds. There were 392 COVID-19 patients on ventilators. All numbers were steadily decreasing.

Vaccine update Pritzker also announced Friday the entire state will move into Phase 1B of vaccine distribution starting Jan. 25, although some counties have already entered this phase.

Most of the state is only distributing the vaccine under Phase 1A, which includes health care workers and long-term care facility residents.

Employees and residents at both local longterm care facilities – Cantata Adult Life Services in Brookfield and Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care in North Riverside – have been administered the first doses of the vaccine. Cantata residents and employees vaccinated on Jan. 2 will receive second doses later this week.

As of Sunday night, a total of 1,085,750 doses of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were delivered to the state of Illinois.

About 781,150 doses were delivered to providers in Illinois, including Chicago, while the remaining 304,600 doses have been allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership program for long-term care facilities.

Currently the state is reporting a total of 495,563 vaccines administered, including 66,679 for long-term care facilities.

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

REAL ESTATE INCOME TAX Q&A PART II Q: Is the mortgage in rest and real property tax I pay on a second residence I deductible?

A: Yes and maybe.

Mortgage interest paid on a second residence is deductible as long as you don’t rent out the residence during the tax year, and the mortgage satisfies the same requirements for deductible interest as . n a primary residence. If you do rent out the residence, you must use it for more than 14 days or more than 10% of the number of days you rent it o t, whichever is longer, for the mortgage interest to be deductible.

If the home was acquired on or before December 15, 2017, then the total amount you (or your spouse if married filing a joint return) can treat as home acquisition debt on your main and second home is $1,000,000; or $500,000 if married filing separately. If the home was acquired after December 15, 2017, the home acquisition debt limit is $750,000; or $375,000 if married filing separately.

State and local real property taxes are generally deductible.

Deductible real property taxes include any state or local taxes based on the value of the real property and levied for the general public welfare.

Deductible real property taxes don’t include taxes charged for local benefits and improvements that directly increase the value of the real property, such as assessments for sidewalks, water mains, sewer lines, parking lots, and similar improvements.

The total deduction allowed for all state and local taxes, including real property taxes, is limited to $10,000; or $5,000 if married filing separately.

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

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Voting, ‘decoupling’ bills fail in lame duck session

Pritzker expects business tax change will be revisited in 102nd General Assembly

By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — The 101st Illinois General Assembly took historic action by passing legislation to end cash bail prior to electing a Black House speaker for the first time in the 102nd General Assembly.

But lawmakers ran out of time on several consequential measures — including bills that would have expanded vote-by-mail, allowed lawmakers to conduct business remotely during the pandemic and eliminated newly expanded income tax deductions for business owners.

Another bill relating to the state’s rollout of legalization of adult-use marijuana also failed to pass, as did a measure that was part of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ health care agenda.

House Democrats fell 10 votes short of passing a bill, endorsed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, that would have eliminated certain tax deductions for Illinois business owners that were created under the federal CARES Act. Pritzker has argued this change by the legislature is needed to prevent revenues from shrinking by more than $500 million during the current fiscal year, thus enlarging the state’s $3.9 billion budget deficit.

Specifically, the bill would end the CARES Act amendments that expanded income deductions business owners can claim as net operating losses, carryback losses or excess business losses.

In a Jan. 8 news release, Pritzker encouraged the General Assembly to “decouple” Illinois’ tax law from the federal tax amendments under the CARES Act, an action that would have kept the state tax code consistent with previous years.

Pritzker claimed those changes would have

preserved $500 million in state tax revenue from non-corporate taxpayers and owners of pass-through entities, such as limited liability companies and partnerships.

During House floor debate in the early hours of Jan. 13, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle described the bill as preserving up to $1 billion in state revenue.

Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-Riverside), the bill’s sponsor, said the proposed changes would impact about 440,000 taxpayers statewide.

Zalewski tried to appeal to his caucus, but 10 House Democrats voted present while another eight did not vote on the bill, including former House Speaker Michael Madigan, of Chicago, and the newly elected Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, of Hillside.

At least a dozen Republicans condemned the proposal as a last minute “tax hike” on small business owners already crushed by the pandemic.

Zalewski characterized the proposal as an effort to prevent loss of revenue, rather than an effort to raise new revenue.

House Republicans were also critical that the Pritzker administration and the Illinois Department of Revenue did not notify taxpayers or the legislature sooner of the state’s plans to decouple from the federal changes that were made in March.

During a news conference on Friday, Pritzker said he expects the legislature will bring the proposal back in the 102nd General Assembly.

“Although it didn’t happen in the short lame duck session, I have a commitment from the leaders that it will be brought up in the regular session,” Pritzker said on Friday in response to a question about the failed decoupling bill. “I’m anticipating that it will get brought up soon in the new session of the General Assembly.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUEROOMSTREAM.COM

MAKING HIS CASE: Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) speaks on the House floor at the Bank of Springfield Center on Jan. 13 debating a bill that would have eliminated tax deductions for Illinois business owners, created under the federal CARES Act.

Remote voting, more The remote voting bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, would have permitted the House and Senate to convene remotely and cast votes during a public health emergency where “in-person participation poses a significant risk to the health and safety,” of lawmakers, their staff or the public.

It would have required both chambers to create rules for remote participation in session and committees, and it would have applied to the boards of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability and Legislative Audit Commission.

The Senate changed its rules during the brief May session to allow for remote hearings but the House failed to pass similar changes. Two lawmakers voted remotely in the lame duck session.

Both chambers released tentative calendars last week showing they are scheduled to meet in-person several days each month through May. Since the pandemic hit Illinois in March of 2020, members of the House met briefly the following May and earlier this month at the Bank of Springfield Center, while the Senate continued at the Capitol for those

Olmsted Society Stewards of the land and Olmsted’s Plan

RBlandmark.com

brief sessions.

Multiple people who attended last week’s lame duck session – including the chief of staff to the House speaker’s office – have tested positive for COVID-19. The governor said last week he would not prioritize lawmakers in the next phase of vaccination.

The vote-by-mail bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 40-18, would have made permanent some changes that were implemented in response to the pandemic for the 2020 general election.

This would have included the use of dropbox sites to collect ballots without postage and curbside voting during early voting or on Election Day. It also would have required the State Board of Elections to provide guidance, rather than rules, for securing collection sites. Neither bill was taken up for a vote by the full House last week.

Meanwhile, House Bill 122, which would have added another round of 75 marijuana dispensary licenses among other actions, passed the Senate but did not receive a vote in the House as well.

Senate Bill 558, which was a wide-ranging bill consisting of several health care reforms backed by the Black Caucus, passed the House but did not receive a vote in the Senate.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Sincere thanks to outgoing President Cathy Maloney who led us through good times and a pandemic, and continues on as a member of the Board of Directors.

Looking forward to continuing our mission in 2021, despite all obstacles.

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

Swinging Bridge in for new paint job, repairs Typically good for 25-30 years, coating is failing after 10

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The H. Wallace Caldwell Memorial Bridge – better known by area residents as the Swinging Bridge – will get a little TLC in a few months in the form of a new paint job and minor repairs.

The work is expected to take the 210-foor suspension bridge connecting Riverside and unincorporated Riverside Lawn offline for a time, said Riverside Township Supervisor Vera Wilt, who said the bridge’s closure to pedestrians and bicyclists “shouldn’t be too terribly long.”

On Jan. 12, the township board voted unanimously to hire Hoffman Estates-based API Architects to manage the project. The township worked with API Architects on a project to repair the elevator in the township hall last year.

The firm’s fee of $7,600 to manage the bridge project was far below that proposed by the engineering firm Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, which inspected and provided the township with a report last July assessing the bridge’s condition and recommending improvements.

API Architects soon will seek bids for the work, which Wilt said the township hoped to complete in late spring, when the weather allows.

The township initially hired Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates to assess the bridge’s condition after heavy rains last May brought the level of the Des Plaines River close to the bottom of the bridge deck.

During that inspection, the firm noted that the structure of the bridge was in “good to satisfactory condition,” although there were minor repairs needed to the bridge towers’ masonry bases, hand railings and metal mesh panels.

The inspection also revealed, to the township board’s dismay, that the coating applied to the bridge in 2011 was in a state of “widespread failure.”

At that time, said Wilt, the township board had chosen a low bidder for the work – the township paid a total of about $25,000 – but the job left something to be desired.

“The last time it was painted, the paint simply didn’t hold,” Wilt said.

The July 2020 inspection report noted that coatings, if they’re applied properly should hold up for 25 to 30 years. The inspection revealed layers of older coatings beneath the 2011 paint job, indicating correct procedure had not been followed.

“The bridge likely did not have proper surface preparation for the last coating project,” the report concluded.

Wilt said the township board didn’t have a clear estimate at this time of what the 2021 work will end up costing. The township’s 202021 operating budget appropriated $41,000 for the project.

Because the township’s fiscal year ends March 31, most of the expense will be carried over into the new fiscal year. Wilt said the current budget estimate might be a bit optimistic.

“When we set the current budget, we had not yet had the engineering report done, and we based our budget on the last price paid,” Wilt said. “After reviewing the bids from 2010, and my engineering report discussions with WJE and API, I expect we will need to budget considerably more than we originally did in the 2021-22 budget.”

The Swinging Bridge was built in 1940 and named in memory of a late Cook County commissioner. It was rebuilt and rededicated in 2002.

Township hires new legal counsel Riverside Township trustees on Jan. 12 also voted unanimously to hire the law firm of Odelson, Sterk, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath Ltd. as its legal counsel, after seeking qualifications and receiving proposals from eight firms last year.

BOB UPHUES/Editor

SHABBY: Riverside Township paid more than $20,000 about a decade ago to have the Swinging Bridge repainted, but it is already showing significant signs of deterioration.

The township intends to hire a firm to do the job again this spring with an eye toward having the new coating last 25 to 30 years.

The township board interviewed representatives from two firms, Odelson Sterk and Robbins Schwartz, at a committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 5.

The township for the past several years had been represented by Matuszewich and Kelly LLP, but Wilt said the township was dissatisfied with the firm as the board navigated the 2020 elevator repair project, prompting the search for new counsel.

Odelson Sterk is well-known to Wilt, because that firm also represents the North Riverside Village Board, where Wilt previously served as a trustee. Attorney Michael Hayes, who is the firm’s principal counsel for the village, is also part of the team assigned to Riverside Township.

The firm will be paid on an hourly basis.

The township budgets about $20,000 annually for legal services.

Brookfield to give state debt recovery program another go After approval in 2012, village apparently never followed through

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Nine years ago, Brookfield trustees sought to recover revenue from unpaid fines through the Illinois comptroller’s then-new Local Debt Recovery Program.

Debts to the village owed by scofflaws

who blew off collection notices for property maintenance fines, final water bill payments, parking tickets and the like would be tallied up and the fines would be deducted from the scofflaws’ income tax refund checks.

Brookfield expected to collect tens of thousands of dollars annually through the Illinois comptroller’s program. While trustees voted

unanimously to approve an intergovernmental agreement back in March 2012, however, there doesn’t seem to have been any follow though.

When Village Manager Timothy Wiberg tasked his assistant, George Issakoo, last year with exploring the comptroller’s program as part of a strategy to realize as much revenue

as possible, they were surprised to find out the village already had an agreement on file with the comptroller.

“I’m not sure what the reason was that they didn’t pursue this in 2012,” said Issakoo, who was hired as assistant village manager in See DEBT on page 13

The Landmark, January 20, 2021

Brookfield planner headed to Oregon after taking new gig Village hopes to have replacement on board by end of February

Vukelich has worked on a number of special projects during her tenure as planner, including the impending construction of a new Salt Creek canoe launch behind village hall, planned improvements to the Congress Park Metra station area and platform and the first phase of planning

By BOB UPHUES for the extension of the Des Plaines River Editor Trail.

“I was busy the entire time I was here Brookfield is looking for a new village and got an opportunity to work on so planner after Elyse Vukelich, who has many exciting things,” Vukelich said. “I held that post for the past two years, ended can’t say enough good things about the her run with the village last week.

Vukelich, 29, is headed to Bend, Oregon, staff and board here. There’s a really good market for village planners in where she has been hired as Chicago, and I’m sure they’ll that city’s assistant planner. get a lot of good applicants.”

She begins her new job Feb. 16 Mike Schwarz, the village’s in Oregon’s sixth-largest city, community development direca tourist haven at the eastern tor who oversees the planning edge of the Cascade Mountains. department, said he will lead “I’ve wanted to live out west the search for Vukelich’s refor a while,” said Vukelich, who placement. The plan, he said, is said she fell in love with Bend to post the job for two to three during a camping trip there weeks and then immediately last summer. “I saw that they begin interviewing candidates. were looking for a planner, so I Schwarz said he hoped a new applied.” planner could be place by Although Vukelich has the end of February. In the been in Brookfield a relameantime, he will take on tively short time, she has many of Vukelich’s duties, worked on a variety of but he said if Vukelich had projects, from implementto pick a time to leave, this ing the village’s Zoning would be it.

Modernization efforts to “A lot of it is going to fall overhauling the sign code, to me, but the silver lining nailing down zoning for ELYSE VUKELICH is that this is a slower time adult-use cannabis busiFormer Brookfield village planner of year for building permit nesses and shepherding the activity,” Schwarz said. “It’ll plan for a new Brookfield start to ramp up in March, Public Library through the April and May.” planning process.

Schwarz agreed that ChiShe has been responsible for building permit reviews, responding cago is a good place to find ambitious junior to day-to-day zoning inquiries, reviewing planners, many of whom, like Vukelich, are planned developments and has worked graduates of the Master of Urban Planning closely with the Brookfield Planning and program at the University of Illinois at Zoning Commission on a number of new Chicago.

Although Schwarz has worked with development projects.

“Working with the Planning and Zon- Vukelich for only the past five months, ing Commission has been one of the best he said he was impressed with Vukelich’s parts of this job,” Vukelich said. “It’s an work, including her willingness to take the intelligent, thoughtful, dynamic group lead on projects and work independently.

“We’re super happy for her but sad for of people. I’m really going to miss seeing us,” said Schwarz. them on a monthly basis.”

“Working with the Planning and Zoning Commission has been one of the best parts of this job.”

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11

North Riverside to overhaul business sign regulations Old code to be repealed and replaced; hope to phase out undesirable examples

By BOB UPHUES Editor

North Riverside’s village planner has asked elected officials to support a plan that would repeal the village’s sign code in its entirety and replace it with one that not only stiffens regulations but also puts a little teeth in to enforcement.

Robert Kallien, who has been systematically overhauling the North Riverside Zoning Code as part of a comprehensive planning process, led village trustees through his proposed changes to the sign code at a Jan. 11 meeting of the village board’s Development Committee.

Village Administrator Sue Scarpiniti called the sign code rewrite a “beautification” effort.

“This is part of a major beautification initiative and elevates the standard, so people can tell North Riverside is set apart from some of our neighbors,” Scarpiniti told trustees.

Based on the reaction to his proposed changes, the village board is expected to vote the new code into law at its Feb. 8 meeting.

“We’re trying to modernize the code and make it consistent with the goals of the village,” Kallien told trustees.

According to Kallien, the existing sign code is 30 years old and has not been altered significantly during that time despite changes in technology and in the village itself.

“As a result, you’ll see a lot of signs that

may not be consistent with what North Riverside wants moving forward,” said Kallien, who pointed to an “over-abundance” of signage in the area of North Riverside Park Mall, a proliferation of pole signs along Cermak Road and electronic reader board signs.

The new regulations would allow the village to address signs it no longer wants to encourage, including a requirement for noncompliant signs to be removed and replaced as redevelopment takes place.

“Each zoning district has special characteristics, so regulations need to apply to each district,” Kallien said.

The new code would also allow the village to get business owners to take down signs that were installed as temporary solutions but which have become permanent features.

In addition, it seeks to limit the amount of window area that can be covered with signs, particularly video gambling venues, where signage can cover entire window areas.

Currently, the code allows 50 percent window coverage for signage. The new code would limit it to 30 percent.

Enforcement for removing temporary signs and banners would be tied to the annual business license renewal process, Kallien said.

“That way we can catalogue and take corrective steps during the annual inspection process,” he said.

Permanent signage would be grandfathered under the new rules, but if a property underwent redevelopment, the owners would have to bring signs into compliance.

For example, pole signs might need to be removed in favor of a lower monument sign.

It’s an opportunity to see positive changes as new tenants come in or if there’s redevelopment,” Kallien said.

The new code also prohibits some kinds of signage outright, such as “attention getting devices” such as flags and inflatable figures that flap in the wind, neon signs,

Do you want to keep your public officials accountable?

BOB UPHUES/Editor

OVERLOAD: By revising the village’s sign code, North Riverside officials hope they can dial back the profusion of signage, especially temporary signs, which can make some stretches of town unsightly. advertising signs including billboards and moving or animated signs.

The code for the first time also defines electronic reader board signs and includes language about how they will be regulated.

The village has allowed a number of such signs in the past.

The new code will state that such signs may be allowed, but states that the village must issue a permit for such a sign and that all such signs need to meet a list of criteria. Generally, however, reader board sigs are prohibited, according to the draft code.

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

Welch voted House speaker, ending Madigan’s reign Former Proviso High Schools board president is body’s first Black leader

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

When Emanuel “Chris” Welch was a student at Proviso West High School in the late 1980s, his classmates liked and were impressed by him. He was known as a good athlete, a smooth talker, and was class president all four years.

Classmates expected him to go far.

“He was very friendly, but he was driven,” said high school friend and classmate Harlin Neal, who first got to know Welch at Roosevelt Junior High School in Bellwood and was a fellow member of the Proviso West Class of 1989.

“In fact, he was voted Most Likely to Succeed in our class, but obviously none of us imagined that he would be replacing Mike Madigan as the Illinois Speaker of the House.”

On Jan. 13, Welch, 49, did just that, succeeding Madigan who had been speaker for 36 of the last 38 years and was the longest serving leader of a legislative chamber in the nation.

Welch, who represents the 7th House District, which includes Forest Park, River Forest, Maywood, Bellwood, Hillside and Westchester, is the first Black Speaker of the House in Illinois history.

“It sends a message,” said state Rep. LaShawn Ford (D8th) who held the Bible for Welch when he was sworn in at the Bank of Springfield Center on Wednesday. “Chris Welch being the first Black speaker of the House from Illinois is a strong message for the nation. I mean it’s unbelievable.”

Ford, a Chicago resident, represents North Riverside and part of Brookfield’s north end.

State Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-23rd), a Riverside resident whose district includes a good chunk of Brookfield, agreed that selecting Welch as speaker was transformational.

“It really was a global moment for a either Black or woman speaker,” Zalewski said. “It just was. I was in the room for four days and I know what was being expressed, and there needed to be a clean break.”

Welch was selected as speaker after Madigan couldn’t get the required votes after 19 members of the House Democratic Caucus refused to support him. Welch, a Madigan loyalist, parlayed support from the Black Caucus and then received the endorsement of the Latinx Caucus to emerge victorious after multiple ballots.

Madigan withdrew from the race after getting only 51 votes on Jan. 10 in the first ballot of voting among Democratic House members who met behind closed doors.

Zalewski, who had committed to vote for Madigan in the first round, declined to say how he voted in subsequent rounds.

“We sort of committed to internal discussions being internal,” Zalewski said. “I will say I voted for Speaker Welch on the final ballot, and then I voted for him publicly on the House floor.”

Ford said Welch is the right person for the job and the times.

“He’s definitely by far the greatest choice,” Ford said.

“Chris Welch, one, loves politics, he loves Illinois, he loves the government, and he understands it.

“The time changed and Madigan’s time had come and gone.”

The House Black Caucus had backed Madigan until he suspended his campaign. Then Welch and the Black Caucus made their move.

“We picked the speaker of the House,” Ford said. “People really didn’t understand what was happening in the caucus, but we knew what was happening.”

JUSTIN L. FOWLER/STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

MR. SPEAKER: Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) takes the Oath of Office -- with Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) holding the Bible -- to become the House speaker for the 102nd General Assembly for the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday at the Bank of Springfield Center.

Welch said in a televised interview that he didn’t seek the job.

“I didn’t sign up to be speaker,” Welch said. “I didn’t seek this job out. It kind of found me.”

Welch was first elected to the House in 2012, when he edged out Rory Hoskins, who is now the first Black mayor of Forest Park, by just 34 votes in the primary. Despite being one-time opponents, Hoskins and Welch now have a good relationship.

“I was very happy to hear the news that the House has chosen our state representative, Chris Welch, to be the new speaker for the 102nd General Assembly,” Hoskins said.

“Despite the fact that we once competed for the same position, he’d always been great for the village. … He’s certainly been helpful to the village since I’ve become mayor, so we’re just jumping and doing cartwheels over here for Chris Welch.”

In 2006, the ambitious Welch, then the president of the Proviso High School District 209 Board of Education, had tried to unseat then state Rep. Karen Yarbrough in the Democratic primary. Yarbrough, who is now Cook County clerk, beat Welch badly, winning 73 percent of the vote.

“He realized that at that time that he had to make peace and allow for those who came before him to be who they were and take a step back and wait his turn,” Ford said.

Yesterday, Yarbrough issued a statement congratulating Welch.

But not everyone is praising Welch.

Michael Manzo, a Republican who is a village trustee in Oak Brook and who briefly served with -- and clashed with

-- Welch on the District 209 school board, said selecting Welch as speaker will not change Illinois politics.

“This isn’t a change, this is just Michael Madigan working through Chris Welch to control the state,” said Manzo.

“So, for anybody who thinks there was a change made they’re very naïve to Illinois politics.”

Welch served on the District 209 school board for 11 years, until 2012, most of that time as president. During that time, Welch was often a subject of controversy. He was accused of patronage hiring and was blamed for staff turnover and was party to lawsuits.

For a time, a state financial oversight board was appointed to oversee the school district’s finances.

But House members were not dissuaded by those issues or a 2002 Hillside police report from 2002 in which a former girlfriend accused Welch of assaulting her. Ultimately the woman declined to press charges.

In a televised interview after becoming speaker, Welch said he had matured since then and noted that he has a strong record on women’s issues. House Democrats were apparently unfazed by these issues although one Democrat, Kelly Cassidy, voted present because of the domestic violence allegations.

“There’s always going to be a controversy. You’re going to make some people happy, you’re going to make some people sad and that’s human nature,” Ford said. “Differences are always going to be [there] but what we know is there has been no criminal charges against him and, therefore, we would expect there would be controversy with him as the speaker, and that’s just the way it is.”

The Landmark, January 20, 2021

13

Power shifts from city stronghold to west suburbs With last week’s speaker vote, state’s legislators are local

By BOB SKOLNIK

sibility.

“I don’t think it should be overstated, but I think it’s worth appreciating that for the In the past year, the locus of power in the first time for as long as I can remember, Illinois General Assembly has moved from there’s not a legislative leader from the city the city of Chicago to the near west suburbs. of Chicago. All four leaders are, in fact, from One year ago state Sen. Don Harmon (D- the suburbs.”

With House Minority Leader Jim Durkin Oak Park) was elected Senate president, replacing Chicagoan John Cullerton who (R-82nd) living in Western Springs, three of the four legislative leaders in the resigned. Last week, State Rep. General Assembly hail from the Chris Welch (D-Hillside) was Cook County western suburbs. selected to be speaker of the Il“The western suburbs are parlinois House of Representatives, ticularly diverse,” Harmon said. replacing longtime speaker “The experience that we gleaned Mike Madigan, who hails from working in our districts reprethe Southwest Side of Chicago. senting diverse interests transOur area is also home to a coulates into representing diverse ple other powerful Springfield caucuses.” politicians. State Sen. Kimberly The change is leadership also Lightford (D- Maywood) is the has been generational. Harmon Senate majority leader and State is 54 and Welch is 49. Madigan Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D- Cicero) is 78 and Cullerton was 71 when is the co-chair of the joint HouseHarmon assumed the role as Senate Latinx Caucus.

Senate president.

Both Lightford and Hernandez “I think that the four legislarepresent portions of the Landtive leaders and the governor mark’s coverage area. LightDON HARMON are all either members of Genford’s district includes all of Illinois Senate president eration X or at the oldest the tail North Riverside and generous end of the Baby Boom.” Harmon part of Brookfield’s north end. said. “It is a significant change.

Hernandez’s district includes The leaders in their 70s have a block-wide stretch of Riverside north of the BNSF tracks, the Hollywood passed the torch to a group of us in our early neighborhood, and chunk of Brookfield 50s.”

Harmon said it was especially important from the downtown to Shields Avenue and that Welch is first Black speaker of the Ilas far west as Madison Avenue.

“It’s an interesting gradual evolution,” linois House.

“It’s enormously significant for our polisaid Harmon. “The suburbs have had a growing power base within the General As- tics and our legislative agenda,” Harmon sembly. More and more of our members are said. “And I look forward to working with from the suburbs and have a suburban sen- Speaker Welch.”

Contributing Reporter

“It is a significant change. The leaders in their 70s have passed the torch to a group of us in our early 50s.”

DEBT

‘Good practice’ from page 8 2019. “Something must’ve fallen off at some point.”

Brookfield Finance Director Doug Cooper, who was around back in 2012, said he didn’t remember his office being tasked, as it was recently, with helping the village get on board.

“I’m not sure how this managed to fall through the cracks,” Cooper said. “It should have come through the finance department.”

Because the village’s agreement with the comptroller was so out of date, the village terminated it and on Jan. 11 trustees again voted to join the Local Debt Recovery Program with the expectation that it will be in place during this spring’s income tax season.

According to Cooper, the village is aiming to collect through the program some $52,000 in

outstanding property maintenance violation fines and another $125,000 in water fees that are more than 120 days delinquent, including final water bills left unpaid when former residents left the village.

In addition, there are thousands in unpaid parking tickets that qualify for collection through the state program, and the village can seek to collect fines going back as far as seven years.

While the amount of revenue available to the village through the comptroller may be less in future years after collecting very old balances this year, Issakoo said using the program makes sense.

“We think it’s a good practice to be part of this program,” Issakoo said. “We need to make sure we have the revenue we need, and the Local Debt Recovery Program is a known quantity.”

The state provides a way for people to protest fines being sought through the comptroller’s program and funds the effort by charging a fee to those whose tax return checks are be-

Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, who nearly derailed Welch’s legislative career before it even started -- losing to Welch by just 34 votes in the 2012 Democratic primary -- has long since patched up any differences.

“The state obviously has fiscal challenges, but I am looking forward to working with Speaker Welch on behalf of the village of Forest Park and I’m glad that the new House speaker is someone who knows our village really well and someone who I have a personal relationship with,” Hoskins said.

State Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) also noted that Welch is from a nearby district.

“It’s strong day for our region, because we are going to have a west suburban speaker,” Zalewski said. “I think that he is going to do a really nice job of bridging the gap between the old and the new, and I’m excited to work under his tenure.”

Welch, who graduated from Proviso West High School, Northwestern and the John Marshall Law School, made his name in the rough and tumble world of Proviso politics.

He was elected to Proviso Township High School District 209 school board in 2001 and became president of the school board in 2003. Welch remained as president of the school board until April of 2013, a few months after he became a member of the General Assembly.

During his eight years in the General Assembly, Welch rose to chair the House’s powerful executive committee and the higher education committee. He sponsored legislation to require Illinois corporations to disclose the race and gender of their board members in attempt to promote greater diversity on corporate boards.

This past fall he also chaired a special in-

ing docked.

The village uses a third-party collection agency to get people to pay their fines and late fees, but the company also takes a healthy cut of the proceeds—about 30 percent, according to Cooper.

The comptroller’s program can be a powerful way to collect hard-to-recover debts. North Riverside in the past three years has collected nearly $3.7 million through the program, much of it unpaid red-light camera violation fines.

In 2020, however, the comptroller discontinued the practice of collecting red-light camera fines, forcing the village to hire a private collection agency. Still, for fiscal year 2020-21, the North Riverside expects to collect an estimated $500,000 through the program.

Riverside, meanwhile, joined the comptroller’s program in mid-2019 as a way to collect unpaid parking tickets. After realizing just about $3,500 that first year, according to Finance Director Karin Johns, Riverside collected about $60,200 in 2020 through the program.

vestigatory committee that was supposed to look into former Madigan’s involvement with Commonwealth Edison, which has been the subject of a wide-ranging federal investigation that has resulted in the indictment of one of Madigan’s closest confidants.

Republicans accused Welch of shutting down the committee after hearing only one witness, while Welch accused the Republicans of merely playing politics.

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

THE LANDMARK VIEW

New nexus of power

T

he near west suburbs are turning into the power vortex of Illinois government. The selection last week of state Rep. Chris Welch to be speaker of the Illinois House, replacing, at long last, Mike Madigan, fuels the local influence.

Hillside’s Welch represents portions of nearby River Forest and Forest Park in the 7th District.

Oak Park’s Don Harmon was elected state Senate president last year. It was the culmination of a steady and determined climb through senate leadership. And it mirrors the rise of Harmon’s mentor the great Phil Rock, the Austin/Oak Park native, who long held that role. Harmon’s 39th District included portions of Oak Park and Austin.

State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, who represents North Riverside and a sizable part of Brookfield, is from Maywood. Her 4th District also includes parts of Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park.

She was the longtime leader of the Black Caucus in the Senate and has focused to great effect on education reform. After competing unsuccessfully with Harmon for the Senate’s top job, she became Senate Majority Leader.

Another legislator representing portions of Riverside and Brookfield, Elizabeth Hernandez (D-24th) is co-chair of the House Latinx Caucus, which was instrumental in providing Welch with the critical votes he needed to reach the magic number of 60 in his quest for the speaker’s chair.

And, of course, there’s Riverside resident Michael Zalewski, the state representative for the 23rd District, which includes his hometown and Brookfield. Zalewski has become an influential legislator in Springfield as chairman of the House Revenue and Finance Committee and for his sponsorship of legalized sports gambling in Illinois.

In Welch’s earlier political career as the longtime elected head of the Proviso Township High School District 209 Board of Education, we were intensely and correctly critical of him. Welch ran failed schools and often with self-interest.

He is, though, an able politician and has been a better state rep than we anticipated. A reformer? Doubtful.

Nonetheless, with the needs of local governments so drastic due to COVID-19, it can only be of help that we have the ear of so many, so powerful leaders of state government.

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

How will history remember this time?

T

he New Year is something we should have looked forward to with hope and anticipation of better things to come, but on Jan. 6, we faced our country being attacked, not by foreign entities, but by or own people living here.

As one who has taught American history and prepared elementary school students for the Constitution test, I wonder how the history books will describe this attack on our own land.

We know how they wrote about the Civil War, revisiting it again and again and stating it to be a travesty of man against man.

Today, in 2021 we are seeing a revolution, an insurrection, a civil war that is anything but civil.

We haven’t progressed much if the only way we can make our point or try to achieve individual goals is by armed and violent conflict.

Remember learning “We the people of these United States ...” and what the Constitution stood for? Remember why it was necessary for this young country to set up a set of rules to live by? It was the intent that the architects of the Constitution to provide a

means for people to govern themselves by.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to reread the Constitution and relearn what it says. Let’s bring back civics, a course I had in seventh and eighth grade. I didn’t realize how much I learned from it until I watched the news of past couple of weeks.

This column is not intended to chastise anyone, but to express my feelings as I believe everyone has the right to do. What I do feel is the distaste for the methods of expression chosen by some and wonder how they can be in violation of what we were taught in our school years. Words can hurt and often do, but what I viewed as intentional harm to people and the capital on Jan. 6 does not merit any defense.

On Jan. 20, there will be a new administration in the White House, maybe your choice or not, but one we must all learn to live with. Let us respect the government offices and those who are in them, whether you like them or not.

Try to be part of the solution and not the problem.

There are already enough problems. Let us all try to be safe; that is what I want for you and me.

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

A letter to Riverside-Brookfield High School students This past week, you became witness to the shocking events at our nation’s Capitol. While it is hard to find appropriate words, remaining silent is no option.

We got here because our society has cancer, the stage that is metastasizing and now threatening the very foundation of our democracy. The necessary treatment must be deliberate and precise so as not to do more harm. As we attempt to personally do our part, know you are walking a tight-rope. Practice your next step today. Try to remain steady.

Unlike Covid-19, the current political crisis is entirely man-made, which makes it an even greater threat than the devastating coronavirus pandemic. There will be no vaccine for the human tendency to be “othering” people in the misguided belief that putting someone down is a good approach to increasing one’s self-worth. Don’t fall into that trap.

Remember that however frustrated or angry you may be, hating anyone or anything is like swallowing a poison pill and expecting the subject of your ire to be hurt.

By hating, you are only poisoning yourself.

No human being is as bad as the worst thing he or she has ever done. Lawbreakers must, and will face con-

sequences, yet all forms of peaceful protest are an expression of injury, hurt, or injustice of some kind. We ignore those cries for help at our common peril.

Maybe we have such a hard time understanding each other because we don’t know how to listen. Maybe in addition to reading, writing, math and science, should we also teach listening?

Crises are the ultimate teachers. Listen to them.

Learn from them. Watch how people react to them. Observe who is trying to extinguish the fire and who is fanning the flames.

When you get overwhelmed, give yourself permission to step away, to take care of you first. And when the anxiety subsides – as it always does – keep watching, learning, and asking questions. For one thing we know for sure, remaining silent is not a good option.

Thomas Jacobs Riverside

Thomas Jacobs is a Riverside resident and member of the RBHS District 208 Board of Education. He read this letter in his capacity as a private citizen at the Jan. 12 meeting of the D208 school board.

The Landmark, January 20, 2021

15

OBITUARIES

Bonnie L. Baker, 67

Devoted member of St. Paul Lutheran Church Bonnie L. Baker (nee Grossman), 67, a longtime resident of Brookfield, died Jan. 9, 2021 at Landmark of Des Plaines Rehabilitation Center.

Ms. Baker was born March 4, 1953 in Chicago and graduated from Lyons Township High School in LaGrange in 1970. She worked at Continental Bank in Chicago, First National Bank in LaGrange and MorBONNIE BAKER ton Credit Union in Cicero.

She was very active in service during her time on the PTL of St. Paul’s Church School and was a devoted member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she and late husband, Larry, volunteered whenever they could.

Ms. Baker enjoyed spending time with her son, Ryan, and close longtime friends and neighbors. To say that she was a people person would be an understatement. Her life revolved around the people she built deep connections with over the years. Bonnie embodied her three core values in life: kindness, selflessness and service.

Her later years were rough, but she kept a sense of humor and beautiful smile all the way through.

Ms. Baker is survived by her son, Ryan L. Baker and Zoe Berk; her granddaughters, Harmony Lisowski and Angelique Baker; cousins, the Johnson Family, Jan (Ron) Miller, the Cekal Family, Dan (Cheryl) Koeritz and her godmother, Arlene Schwandt.

She was preceded in death by her late husband, Lawrence Baker, whom she married on Oct. 10, 1982 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Brookfield; her brother Wayne F. Grossman and her parents Clarence Grossman, Edward Lorenz, Violet Lorenz (nee Koeritz).

Visitation is Friday, Jan. 22 from 9:30 a.m.

until the time of a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, 3847 Prairie Ave., Brookfield. Interment is at Bethania Cemetery, Justice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family for a headstone to honor Bonnie would be appreciated. Online condolences may be offered at JohnsonNosek.com.

John P. Geraghty, 83 Electrical engineer John P. “Jack” Geraghty, 83, of LaGrange Park, died Jan. 14, 2021. Mr. Geraghty was a retired electrical engineer.

He was the husband of 59 years to Mary Kay Geraghty (nee O’Malley); the father of Kathleen (Greg) Mason, Therese “Terri” (Peter) Thursby and Mary Kate (Matthew) Sableski; the grandfather JOHN P. GERAGHTY of Brigid Mason, Jack Thursby, Kay Thursby, Joe Thursby, Kevin Thursby, Anne Sableski, Patrick Sableski, Nora Sableski, Colleen Sableski and the late Margaret Mason; the brother of Peggy (the late Richard) Hintz and Mary (John) Blasko; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 19 at St. Louise de Marillac Church, LaGrange Park. Interment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside. A recording of the Mass is available for viewing at memorialslive.com/ geraghty.

Memorials are appreciated as Masses to be said at Holy Guardian Angels Parish, St. Louise de Marillac Church.

Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o John Geraghty family.

Steven H. Bross, 61 IT specialist Steven H. Bross, 61, of Brookfield, died Jan. 10, 2021.

Mr. Bross was born in Chicago on Feb. 14, 1959 and worked as an IT specialist at Ecolab.

He was the husband of Teresa Bross (nee Fernandez); the father of Nicolas (Catherine) Bross; the grandSTEVEN BROSS father of Natalie Bross; the son of Joann Frelly and the late Henry Bross; the brother of David Bross; and a fond uncle, great-uncle and cousin to many.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 16 at St. Barbara Church in Brookfield, followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice.

Memorial donations are appreciated to Hinsdale Hospital Foundation, Attn: Diane Morgan, 120 N. Oak St., Hinsdale, 60521.

Please note: Amita Hinsdale Cancer Institute in your check memo) Online condolences may be offered at JohnsonNosek.com.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Marilyn S. Kratochvil, 87 Retired bank manager

MARILYN KRATOCHVIL

Marilyn S. Kratochvil, 87, of North Riverside and formerly of Berwyn, died Jan. 16, 2021 at LaGrange Hospital.

Ms. Kratochvil was born Oct. 12, 1933 in Oak Park and was manager at MidAmerica Federal Bank

See what all the buzz is about.

prior to retirement. She enjoyed volleyball, cards and travel.

She was the daughter of the late Frank and the late Mae (nee Hajny) Kratochvil; the sister of Frank (Gloria) Kratochvil; the aunt of Carol (Thierry) Bernard, Karen (Dan) Claffy; and the great-aunt of Alex and Chloe Bernard and Cole Claffy.

Services and interment are private at Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park.

Memorial donations are appreciated to American Diabetes Association (diabetes. org) or Bright Focus Foundation (brightfocus.org).

Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, North Riverside, handled arrangements.

Online condolences may be offered at KuratkoNosek.com.

Rolando Zavaleta, 63 Owned Danny’s Pizza Rolando Zavaleta, 63, of Brookfield, died Dec. 21, 2020 at his Brookfield home.

Mr. Zavaleta was born Oct. 14, 1957 in Mexico and was the owner of Danny’s Pizza in Brookfield.

He was the husband of Petra Teresa Hernandez Zavaleta and the father of Rolando Jesus Zavaleta, Mike Angel ROLANDO ZAVALETA Zavaleta and Estephanie Zavaleta.

Funeral services and interment will be held in Santa Ines Ahuatempan, Puebla, Mexico.

Online condolences may be offered at JohnsonNosek.com.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

To run an obituary Please contact Bob Uphues by e-mail: buphues@rblandmark.com, Please include a photo if possible.

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

BRIDGE

River overlook from page 1 roughly $2.9 million project is being funded through a combination of federal and local dollars. A federal grant will cover $2.32 million of the cost. The village’s share of the cost is estimated at $580,000.

Work should begin in mid-April, said Treichel, with completion expected sometime in November.

When complete, the bridge should be a major upgrade from the existing span, whose only pedestrian area is a 5-foot wide sidewalk on the north side, unprotected from traffic. The sidewalk is not wide enough for more than two people to pass one another comfortably, and even then it’s a tight squeeze.

The new bridge will have a 10-foot-wide pedestrian walkway on its north side, with a semicircular bump-out – 5 feet deep and 30 feet long -- extending over the river, creating a small plaza.

In addition, a parapet wall will separate the pedestrian area from westbound traffic, and the bridge will also be equipped with decorative pole lighting and bollards.

Since the bridge replacement will be done at one time and not in phases, construction will disrupt traffic on Brookfield

FILE

CHANGE ON THE WAY: The Brookfield Avenue bridge over Salt Creek, which last received a major overhaul in 1986, will be replaced from the river bed up this year, resulting in a wider, more pedestrian-friendly structure.

Avenue during the length of the project.

Vehicles will be rerouted around the work area via Arden, Washington and Prairie avenues.

Part of the work will also involve re-

aligning a water main that runs north of Brookfield Avenue, making storm water outfall improvements and relocating bundles of fiber-optic cable that run across the river at road level along the south side of

the bridge. Those cables will be relocated underground, Treichel said.

Brookfield engaged the Ciorba Group in 2014 to start planning and designing the new bridge from the riverbed up. At that time, the cost for replacing the bridge was estimated at about $1.5 million and construction was initially planned for 2017.

While not an imminent safety hazard, a Ciorba’s engineer told trustees that the span was in “poor” condition and that IDOT had already limited loads on it. The bridge’s concrete abutments are more than a century old, dating to the construction of the original bridge in 1916.

The bridge deck itself was completely replaced in 1986 after a section collapsed and fell into the river. It was at that time the first steel pedestrian bridge was erected south of Brookfield Avenue in order to give pedestrians a way across Salt Creek while the road bridge was out of commission.

By 2017, the estimated cost of replacing the bridge jumped by about $1 million after engineers concluded that the deteriorating concrete superstructure supporting the bridge needed to be replaced.

According to Treichel, new abutments will be realigned so that they are parallel to the flow of the river. Realigning the piers will reduce scouring, and the flow of the river will be improved by the complete removal of the existing central support pier, which is placed at an angle, impedes flow and is a choke point for debris.

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

17

KOMAREK

Public hearing next from page 1 vacate a portion of 13th Avenue in order to completely close the interior of the campus to vehicular traffic. Right now the street is closed to traffic only during school hours.

While the village board’s reaction last week did not carry any official weight, it did give school officials an indication that the plan is unlikely to receive significant pushback from village government.

School officials and architects from Arcon Associates Inc. have met with Village Planner Robert Kallien and are poised to submit a formal planned unit development application within the next couple of weeks.

The next step will be convening a public hearing before the North Riverside Planning and Zoning Commission, where school officials will make their formal pitch and field any questions or concerns from neighboring residents and others who might want to provide input on the plan.

The Planning and Zoning Commission will then make its recommendation to the village board, which will have the final say on whether the school district gets the go-ahead to move ahead with construction.

“They expressed an interest in getting [the plan approval] done before the election,” said Kallien, referring to the April 6 Consolidated Election, in which voters will choose a mayor and three trustees.

“The biggest thing with COVID is it’s difficult to hold a public hearing, so we’ll have to figure out a way to make that work,” Kallien said.

Under normal circumstances the biggest hurdle to a plan such as that being presented by the school district would be the vacation of the street. However, after trustees appeared amenable to that on Jan. 11, it appears that might not be such a sticking point after all.

“If the board is comfortable with that, the rest of the issues should be easily resolved,” Kallien said.

PROVIDED

BIG PLANS: Komarek School officials plan to consolidate all classrooms west of 13th Avenue by building a large addition onto the existing wing (shown above). Part of the east building will be demolished to create a parking lot, and a student drop-off/pickup lane is planned near the new main entrance along the north side of 24th Street (left). The school district hopes to break ground by the end of May. Those other issues involve zoning allowances for floor area ratio, building setbacks, parking and green space. Part of the plan includes creating a pickup/ drop-off lane in the public parkway along the north side of 24th Street, near what will become the new main entrance to the school, west of 13th Avenue.

Komarek Superintendent Todd Fitzgerald told the Landmark that if all goes smoothly, the school district plans to put the project out to bid in March and to break ground on the first phase of the work in late May or early June.

The school district is funding the project through a $22 million bond issue, approved by voters in March 2020. Fitzgerald said the school district, with the support of state Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-8th), is also applying for a $1.5 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Komarek School Co-Principal Caitlin DiLallo, said Fitzgerald is coordinating the creation of a school grant committee to seek

other funding sources for certain aspects of the project, like landscaping and furnishings.

Built in phases The construction is expected to take two full years to complete and will be done in phases to limit disruption to instruction as much as possible, Fitzgerald said. The completely overhauled campus will be ready for its first full school year in the fall of 2023.

The project will involve building a two-story addition, with a full basement level, to the existing building west of 13th Avenue and completely renovating the existing building to include all new mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems.

Meanwhile, about half of the building east of 13th Avenue will be demolished to create room for an onsite 64-space parking lot at the east end of the campus. The existing gymnasium will remain as will the superintendent’s offices.

The base bid package calls for a small addition to be built

to house an elevator, giving the buildings elevator access on both sides of 13th Avenue.

Alternate options include constructing a new gymnasium addition to the east building and installing playground amenities to the vacated area of 13th Avenue, such as rubberized play surfaces.

All of that, however, will depend on how competitive bids are.

“The goal of the project is to make sure the infrastructure of the buildings are getting the attention they need,” Fitzgerald said. “As we’re looking at the budget, that’s the number-one priority. Once we check those boxes that will help us determine what 13th Avenue looks like.”

The first phase of construction will be the construction of the west building addition, said Fitzgerald. Once that is completed, Phase 2 will have students and teachers from the old west building moving into the new wing in order to completely renovate the old building.

Once the new, fully integrated west building is complete, Phase

3 will include all classrooms being relocated to their new homes west of 13th Avenue, allowing demolition and renovations to begin on the east building.

All elective classes – STEM, music, art and industrial arts – will be housed in the lower level of the west building. Pre-K and kindergarten will be located near one another on the first floor of the west building, where other elementary grades will be located.

Middle school classrooms will primarily be on the second floor of the west building, according to Fitzgerald.

“There’s going to be ample space to house all teachers and students [in the west building],” Fitzgerald said. “The key to providing what students need is a lot of collaboration and strong communication.

“Teachers have been involved in conversations with architects about all of our spaces, and they’ve been helpful in providing suggestions and feedback to optimize learning spaces for students.”

18

The Landmark, January 20, 2021 New local ads this week

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.RBLandmark.com/Classified/

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.

Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion.

The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@RBLANDMARK.COM HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST HEPHZIBAH CHILDREN’S ASSOCIATION PART TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE Hephzibah Children’s Association is a renowned social service agency in Oak Park, IL that has been helping children thrive and families flourish through innovative community-based programs.

VILLAGE PLANNER POSITION The Village of Brookfield is recruiting for the position of Village Planner within the Community and Economic Development Department. Qualified candidates must have 2-5 years direct experience in the planning field, with a Masters degree in Urban Planning preferred and other professional requirements. The position entails a variety of planning and project management activities. Full description and instructions on how to apply available at: https://brookfieldil.gov/careers/

The Day Care Program is accepting applications for February – June, 2021 school year. We seek individuals to provide care and supervision of 5-11-year-old children. Positions are Monday through Friday from 12:15 – 6:00 pm.

Responsibilities include assisting with and monitoring e-learning, supervising arts and crafts, activities, sports, group games, and indoor and outdoor play, lunch and snack, and homework help.

The program begins in February and will be in Oak Park, IL serving 5-11-year-old (K-5th grade) children.

The program will follow the safety guidelines of the IDPH regarding face masks, social distancing and cleaning & disinfecting.

Requirements include: • Minimum of 6 semester hours in education, recreation, social work, or related college courses • Experience working with children If you are interested please contact: Amy O’Rourke, Director of Day Care by email at: aorrouke@hephzibahhome.org include letter of interest and resume.

Hephzibah Children’s Association is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. We value, advocate for and support diversity throughout our organization. We embrace a respectful, multicultural, environment for employees and the clients we serve.

WATER OPERATOR The Brookfield North Riverside Water Commission is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Water Operator. This candidate will need to be competent in operational oversight and management of the systems and equipment used in a Class C Water Facility. Work involves the use of Microsoft Office products, general maintenance, housekeeping and mechanical knowledge of equipment used in a water plant. Must be able to lift at least 90 lbs. Must be able to work all shifts and at times during emergencies. Valid Illinois Driver License required. Applications are available at Brookfield North Riverside Water Commission, 8636 Brookfield Ave, Brookfield IL 60513 Applications and resume must be returned or emailed to Jobs@bnrwc.com no later than February 8th, 2021.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Bicycle Racks Project Sealed bids will be received by the Village of Riverside for the installation of in ground and surface mounted bicycle racks in various locations throughout the central business district (“Bicycle Racks Project”). Sealed bids will be received on or before, but not after, 10:00 a.m. on February 3, 2021 at the Offices of the Village of Riverside, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. Bids received after that time will not be considered.

All Bids shall be addressed and delivered to the address above on or before the time set forth above.

Sealed envelopes or packages containing the Bid Forms shall be transmitted to the attention of the “Village of Riverside” and shall be marked or endorsed with the title of the Bid (“Sealed Bid For Bicycle Racks Project”) and the Bidder’s full legal name.

The bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the Offices of the Village of Riverside, 2nd Floor Auditorium, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546 at 10:00 a.m. on February 3, 2021. Bids shall be submitted in the form and manner contained in the Bidding Requirements.

The Bid Specifications and Project Manual for Bicycle Racks Project will be available for viewing on QuestCDN.com beginning January 7, 2021. Contractors may obtain copies of the Bidding Documents from CHRISTOPHER B BURKE ENGINEERING LTD, 9575 W HIGGINS RD, SUITE 600, ROSEMONT, IL 60018.

Each bid must be accompanied by a bid bond or a cashier’s check in the amount of 10% of the total bid, made payable to The Village of Riverside, as a guarantee that the successful bidder will promptly execute a satisfactory contract. Upon failure to do so, the bidder shall forfeit the amount deposited as liquidated damages and no mistakes or errors on the part of the bidder shall excuse the bidder or entitle the bidder to a return of the aforementioned amount.

No bid will be considered unless the bidder shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Village that the bidder has the necessary facilities, abilities, experience, equipment, financial and physical resources available to fulfill the conditions of the Contract and execute the work, should the Contract be awarded such bidder.

Bidders will examine the plans and specifications and also the location in which said work is to be done and judge for themselves all the circumstances and surrounding conditions affecting the cost and nature of the work, and all bids will be presumed to be based on such examination, familiarity and judgment.

The successful bidder shall enter into a formal contract based on the conditions and requirements in the Bidding Requirements and the Bidding Requirements will be incorporated into the Contract.

The successful bidder will be required to comply with the provisions of all State of Illinois and federal laws concerning public works projects as well as the State of Illinois Human Rights Act and the regulations of the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

The Village reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and to waive any technicalities and irregularities in the bidding and to hold the bid proposals for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of opening set forth above.

Questions about the bid documents must be submitted, in writing, to Rebekah Carney 224.315.0186 or rcarney@cbbel.com.

By order of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois.

Dated this 20th day of January, 2021.

Sonya Abt, Community Development Director

Published in RB Landmark 1/20/2021

Wednesday Classified 3 Great Papers, 6 Communities To Place Your Ad, Call: 708/613-3333

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PB

The Landmark, January 20, 2021

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION

The Landmark, January 20, 2021

RBLANDMARK.COM

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 21-01 HEARING DATE: February 4, 2021 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: The Plan Commission will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video.

The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT Uverse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7 (e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an inperson public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Written testimony or comments regarding the application may be provided prior to the public hearing by email to planning@oak-park. us. The individual’s name and a reasonable part of their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. If email is not an option, written testimony or comment can be dropped off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the south entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 4, 2021. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Plan Commission and made a part of the official hearing record. Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing shall contact the Village Planner at planning@oak-park.us for instructions on attending the live Zoom meeting by 5:00 PM the day of the hearing. Interested persons

may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by emailing the cross-examination form to clerk@ oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom webconference means or by phone.

Questions regarding written testimony or comment can be directed to 708-358.5420 or email to planning@oak-park.us.

SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESSES: 203 S. Marion Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 ZONING DISTRICT: DT Downtown Zoning District; DT-3 Pleasant Sub-District LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOTS 1, 4, 5 AND 8 IN BLOCK 4 IN SCOVILLE AND NILES ADDITION TO OAK PARK, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE WEST 40 ACRES OF THE SOUTHWEST ¼ OF SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS P.I.N.: 16-07-308-008-0000, 1607-308-009-0000, 16-07-308-0100000, 16-07-308-011-0000 PROPERTY OWNER: Charles and Lynne Williams on behalf of 203 S. Marion Street Corporation, 203 S. Marion Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 PETITIONER: Focus Acquisition Company, LLC, 100 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60606 REQUEST: The Petitioner is requesting a planned development for a seven (7) story, mixed use residential development consisting of approximately 1,200 square feet of retail, 153 rental apartments, 6 maisonette residential units and 123 covered parking spaces with the following Zoning Ordinance allowances: 1) Article 8: Uses, Subsection 8.3 Use Restrictions: Table 8-1 Use Matrix allows dwelling units

above the first floor only, where six (6) residential maisonette units are proposed on the first floor, 2.) Article 10: Off-Street Parking and Loading, Subsection 10.4: Required Off Street Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Spaces: Table 10-2 requires one parking space per dwelling unit for a total of 159 spaces, where 0.77 parking spaces per dwelling unit will be provided for a total of 123 parking spaces, 3.) Article 5: Commercial Districts, Sub-section 5.3 Dimensional Standards: Figure 5-2 allows a maximum building height of 60 ft, where a 84 foot 10 inch building measured to the top of the roof is proposed, 4.) Article 5: Commercial Districts, Subsection 5.3 Dimensional Standards: Table 5-1 requires a building setback along streets to be built to a zero (0) foot lot line where a request for a ten (10) foot setback be allowed for 64 linear feet along Marion Street, 5.) Article 10: Off-Street Parking and Loading, subsection 10.3: Off Street Parking Design Standards, B. Access: requires a nine (9) foot turnaround at the end of parking stalls, where a request is to not provide them in order to provide additional parking spaces on site.

A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on the Village Website at www. oak-park.us and also on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday through Thursday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal January 20, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is00given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21005627 on January 14, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of CHAD KEAST HAIR with the business located at: 31 G HARRISON ST, OAK PARK, IL 60304.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: CHAD KEAST 1028 RANDOLPH ST 1NW OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA.

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y20005512 on December 29, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of PANDA STUDIOS with the business located at: 1913 S. MANNHEIM RD, WESTCHESTER, IL 60154. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: PATRICIA ANN REIS 10518 CANTERBURY ST, WESTCHESTER, IL 60154, USA.

Published in Wednesday Journal 1/20, 1/27, 2/3/2021

Published in RB Landmark 1/13, 1/20, 1/27/2021

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PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLIONIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of JULIAN RICHARD ANDREOTTI Case Number 2020CONC000961 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Julian Richard Andreotti to the new name of: Julian Richard Topete-Andreotti The court date will be held: On February 17, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom Video-conference. Please use the information below to access the hearing.

Notice to Prospective Village of Oak Park Federal Grants Applicants The Program Year (PY) 2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application process (and potentially the Emergency Solutions Grant [ESG] application process) begins February 8, 2021. For PY 2021, which runs from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022, there will be an estimated $225,000 available in Village Public Service CDBG funds and $40,000 in Public Facilities Improvements CDBG funds. Other PY 2021 grant funds will be set aside for Village-run activities. The Village does not know if we will receive ESG funds for PY 2021 but we are proceeding as if we will, with an estimated $140,000 in funds available.

The federal CDBG program is a source of funding that addresses local housing and community development needs. These funds are available to non-profit organizations that serve primarily low and moderate income (LMI) persons residing in Oak Park. Each proposed activity must meet the CDBG Program National Objective of primarily serving LMI persons and be eligible. ESG funds are available to non-profit organizations that serve persons who are experiencing, or are at-risk of, homelessness. Grant funds are for non-profit agencies, not individuals.

Applications for PY 2021 CDBG and ESG funds must be completed online and will be available February 8, 2021 on the Village’s website at www.oak-park.us/ PY2021Grants The Application process runs from February 8 to March 5, 2021, with the option of an early, feedback-eligible “safer” due date of February 26, 2021.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for non-English speaking persons and for people with disabilities. For more information, write to grants@oak-park.us Published in Wednesday Journal January 13, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLIONIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Dylan Stephen Weinand Case Number 2020CONC000687 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Dylan Stephen Weinand to the new name of: Dylan Stephen Weinand-Flannery

ZOOM MEETING ID:970 3250 0245 ZOOM PASSSWORD: 895226 CALL IN: 3126266799

The court date will be held: On March 17th, 2020 at 9:30 at Daley Center, 50 W Washington Street, Chicago, IL, 60602 in Courtroom # 1706.

Published in Wednesday Journal 1/20, 1/27, 2/3/2021

Published in Wednesday Journal 1/13, 1/20, 1/27/2020

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PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE SERRANO LEGAL SOLUTIONS, LLC Attorney for Petitioner P. O. Box 3581 Oak Park, IL 60303 Attorney for Petitioner STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of LAURA VALDEZ, Petitioner and LINO CHIMALPOPOCA-ABARCA, Respondent, Case No. 2021D430022 The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before February 19, 2020 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.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal 1/20, 1/27, 2/3/2021

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-3, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-3 Plaintiff, -v.CHARLES T. GRANT, JUANITA J. GRANT, THE PRAIRIE PLACE AT 6436 ROOSEVELT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 2019CH14912

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

6436 ROOSEVELT RD, 413 OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on November 5, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 9, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 6436 ROOSEVELT RD, 413, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-18-428-0431030, Property Index No. 16-18428-043-1054 The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at

the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-11626 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH14912 TJSC#: 40-2378 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2019CH14912 I3162077

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The Landmark, January 20, 2021

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4441 Wolf Rd, #401, Western Springs $699,000

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3608 Wenonah Ave, Berwyn $289,900

2034 73rd Ct, Elmwood Park $374,900

873 N Larabee St, #701, Chicago $415,000

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