Dispensary on 31st moves to Brookfield board vote
Trustees w ill vote on Feb. 9; public commenters raised
c concerns
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Village trustees in Brookfield are set to vote on Feb. 9 on a special use for a proposed cannabis dispensary at the corner of 31st Street and Park Avenue after discussing it at a Jan. 12 meeting, where they directed the village’s engineers to look into parking concerns along Park Avenue.
According to village staf f, Brookfield would receive sales tax revenue worth about 5% of total sales from Prolific Dispensary if it were approved at the site at 9046 31st St.
The petitioners projected earning $1.5 million in 2026, $3.8 million in 2027 and $4.1 million in 2028, leaving Brookfield to earn $79,600 in sales tax in 2026, $190,000 in 2027 and $209,000 in 2028, staffers said.
Village Manager Tim Wiberg told trustees he believed in the feasibility of
See DISPENSARY on page 11
Brook eld targets spring for downtown, train parking changes
ere will be more daily parking spots across the board and higher rates
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield officials say the village is looking to bring about changes this spring to parking downtown and near its three train stations. The areas around the Congress Park and downtown train stations will see an increase in the amount of daily parking spots, said Noah Rife, a management analyst, on Jan. 12. The price of parking will increase.
As discused in December, daily rates for
BEDS Plus wants to ‘help as many people as possible’
e homelessness nonpro t faces uncertainty heading into 2026
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
While providing people facing homelessness access to housing is easier said than done, Tina Rounds, CEO of LaGrangebased nonprofit BEDS Plus, described the organization’s main goal for 2026 simply.
“It’s a new landscape, but what we’re trying to do is take the resources that we have and help as many people as possible,” she told the Landmark. “As a community, we’ve got to stick together and try to make sure we’re still helping people re gardless of national problems and structural changes. If there is a person in our community who is homeless, we’re responsible for them.”
BEDS’ chief advancement officer, Terri Rivera, said in August that federal cuts to rental and food assistance programs could increase the number of people experiencing homelessness. Rounds said the nonprofit’s walk-in center in Summit, which is open noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, sees “upwards of a thousand visits a month.”
She said things could continue to get worse, as some cuts that were approved last year are set to go into effect this month, including those to the benefits people receive on Medicaid and tax credits for immigrants
“It’s all a system that’s built independent on one another. You start taking some of those Jenga blocks, and the whole tower falls, right? The whole tower has not fallen yet, but there’s a whole lot of anticipation that that is going to occur,” Rounds said. “People are wor ried. They don’t have good information. The systems that they rely on are changing, and it’s caused upset. It’s exacerbated things that were already occurring, like the elevated rent and af fordability crisis that’s well-known and documented.”
e BEDS Plus walk-in center at 7666 W. 63rd St., Summit.
BY ERIN
program, which provides funding to nonprofits and other entities fighting homelessness, “dramatically changed the [program’s] priorities” and re gressed its model to one used decades ago.
She said the program typically offers notices of funding opportunities on an annual basis, which became biennial toward the end of 2024, but the most recent notice led to lawsuits due to the re gressive constraints and being of fered “out of cycle” in December 2025.
“There were things that have been longheld, like permanent support of housing, and particular interventions and approaches to work that were racial equity-driven and that allowed people to get into housing before they had all their problems solved,” Rounds said. “All that stuf f was taken of f the table. The new approach is very much therapy-first, and maybe [you can] earn your way back into public benefits, [which would be] a short-term benefit. This is going back, literally, 30 years; we had a system like that, and then it changed to a different system, and now the new system that was proposed is going back.”
Due to the pending lawsuits, Rounds said BEDS must operate “under a certain amount of uncertainty” in re gard to for thcoming funding.
ot contracts personally with our y that go through the fall of 2026, and
tion of this two-year commitment, that we would get that same contract for 2026 into 2027, but a lot depends on this court case. That is about 25 or 30% of our overall funding profile,” she said.
Without the federal subsidies, BEDS may have to cut some housing programs entirely, Rounds said.
Despite the challenge facing down the organization, Rounds touted two big accomplishments from last year.
“We identified and secured funding for a fixed-site, motel-based shelter. We purchased a roadside motel, and then we secured all the funding, which is about $14 million, to renovate and make it a state-ofthe-art shelter. We should start construction sometime in the next 90 days. That was probably our biggest accomplishment,” she said.
“We instituted late last year this walk-in center. It was a big commitment. It wasn’t directly funded. We just created the system, and it’s made a big impact,” she added. “We want to give the lowest-barrier access to anybody who needs help and give them the time with professional staf f and do what we can to meet their needs internally or give them a solid referral and transportation to a place that can help them.”
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‘French market’ could come to Brook eld’s 8 Corners
e market could open for 6 Fridays this summer, with a focus on ‘artisan goods’
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield officials are in support ofa French market that could come to the Eight Corners area for six Fridays this summer. The proposition is expected to advance to a vote by trustees on Jan. 26 after they voiced approval — and some concerns — at their Jan. 12 committee of the whole meeting.
Libby Popovic, Brookfield’s community development director, said the pilot program for the market would run along Broadway Avenue from 4 to 7 p.m. on June 12 and 19, July 10, 17 and 24, and Aug. 7 with a focus on “foods, artisan goods, flowers and other specialty items.”
Broadway would be closed from Washing-
ton Avenue to Lincoln Avenue for several hours before and after the event, allowing pedestrians to patronize vendors and local businesses, including the Brookfield Shops at nearby Progress Park. Popovic said the market would likely r un up to the fire station at the corner ofBroadway and Lincoln but would not block the egress of firetrucks
She said the goal would be to have more than 40 vendors, who would each pay a $50 fee for a 10-foot-by-10-foot space, and around six food trucks, who would pay a $100 fee.
Some ofthe vendors would include three runners-up from the application process for the 2026 Brookfield Shops cohort, Popovic said. Other vendors could include some who already attend the far mers market, though she said having a variety ofnew vendors to town would also be a goal.
Popovic said the village would partner with Gina Sharenow, the manager ofthe far mers market, through the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce as a consultant to oversee vendor applications as well as day-
of logistics and operations
According to staf f estimates, Brookfield would bring in about $1,160 in profit per French market.
T he village would pay out about $2,200 per event, including $1,000 in consultant f ees and nearly $1,200 in staffing c osts for crossing g uards and public wo rk s employees who would set up and take down the market.
But, ifBrookfield reaches its vendor goals, it will bring in about $3,350 per market, with $2,000 coming from vendor fees and $600 from food truck fees. Charging an additional $50 to vendors to rent tents would g enerate about $1,500, Popovic said, halfof which would go to the village, with the other halfgoing to Sharenow and her employees
Popovic and Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla said Br ookfield would likely need to pay more than normal for crossing guards in order to outsource the job, as the village’s existing guards are comprised largely of retirees who may not want to work F riday evenings during
their summer of f-season.
Popovic said the pilot program had overwhelming support from business owners in the area, who told staf f they were excited to see the area activated on Friday evenings to encourage business.
In response to trustees’ concerns — about whether the Chamber should run the event entirely or ifthe market would detract from other village initiatives — Popovic said the proposed partnership with Sharenow would allow village staf f the most flexibility while ensuring Brookfield can oversee and control the event.
Ultimately, trustees expressed their support for the program.
“Overall, I’m actually very happy to see this here, questions aside of whether we’re competing with the far mers market,” Hendricks said. “The idea of a far mers market is that you bring it to your business district, and it activates [it]. It brings people there so that they see [the businesses]. When we have it in the village parking lot, we don’t necessarily get that effect on our business community.”
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Riverside opts out of property tax assessment freeze
e village has done so since 1999
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Rive rside has opted out ofa statewide progr am that would have allowe d resid ents to free ze the property tax valuation oftheir homes, affecting the village ’s levy for more than a decade
T he Property Tax A ssessment Free ze Progr am is operated by the I llinois Stat e Historic Preservation Offic e. It allows state residents who own the historic homes they live in to free ze the assessment oftheir property taxes for eigh t years wh i le they make improvements to the home over the span of two year s.
After the eighth year of the fr ee ze, the property ’s value is reassessed, and the valuation increases from the pre-free ze amount to the p ost-free ze amount over the course of four more year s.
T he progr am requires the p lanned improvements to be wo r th at least 25% of the home’s overall value, said C ommunity Development Director Anne Cyran. Fo r example, she said, in order to q ualify, a home wo r th $400,000 must have at least $100,000 wo r th ofimprovements mad e. T he property owners would pay their taxes of f the home’s original value for eight years before incrementally increasing to the property taxes for a home wo r th $500,000 over the span ofthe next four year s.
By opting out, as it has d one so each year since 1999, the village will continue to reassess property taxes each year fo r all homes in the village, even those that are gr anted a free ze by the state. Th e free ze applies only to taxing bodies that do not opt out.
“I f we do nothing, we will pa rt icipate If we adopt this ordinance, we will not pa rt icipate,” said Vi llage President
T he village earns only about 15% of the money paid toward property taxes meaning that po rt io ofthe property tax bill will c ontinue to increase annuall even for residents who successfully apply for a free ze.
In Au g ust, after giving a more in-d ep th presentation on the progr am, Cyran said the free ze is g enerally only gr anted to homes that are more than 50-years-old and that have not b een substantially altered from thei r o riginal design s.
T he i ssue was brought to the b oard’s attention over the summer due to changes to the progr am allowing the c ost of new a dditions and ga rages to c ount toward the 25%-total-value improvement c ost requirement.
According to village documents, only 13 residences in Rive rside have ever rece ived a property tax free ze; most of them entered the progr am in the m id1990s, but a free ze was gr anted most rec ently in 2020.
Doug Pollock.
DOUG POLLOCK
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Cicero woman on Jan. 7 for driving drunk. Around 11:50 p. m ., an officer on patrol on the 9100 block ofOgden Avenue witnessed a wh i te Je ep tr aveling east at 57 mph along the 30-mph street. The of ficer initiated a traffic stop at the 8800 block, and the car p ulled over on the 8600 block.
T he officer made c ontact with the driver, who they saw had watery eyes and who was chewing minty g um. T he officer asked the drive r why she took so long to p ull over; she said she was looking fo r a p lace to stop to avo id impeding traffic, but p olice noted the lack oftraffic d ue to the late hour and that the woman passed multiple s ide streets that she c ould have p ulled over onto. T he officer also notice d the woman was slurring her wo rd s, police said.
T he officer asked the woman for her drive r’s license and proofof i nsuranc e. T he woman said she would need to find her p hone to provide proofof i nsurance d ue to it being in her purs e, wh ich had f allen, but the officer noted that the woman’s p hone was mounted to her windshield. T he woman said she was c oming home from wo rk at a restaurant in Chicago and that she had c onsumed two glasses of wine around 10:30 p. m.
T he woman ag reed to take field sobriety tests, during wh ich she struggled with her b alance and did not properly follow i nstructions. S he declined to provide a breath sample for a preliminary breath test.
T he officer ar rested the woman fo r
ported her to the p olice station. After a 20-minute observation period, the woman declined again to take a c hemica l breath test. T he woman acknowledge d her rights after a M iranda warning and did not answe r police ’s questions
T he officer i ssued the woman citations for speeding around 30 mph over the speed limit and driving under the influence ofalcohol. Police set a Fe b. 10 c our t date for the woman and escorted her to the lobby, where they released her from c ustody and she said she would wait fo r a ride home
Police called to traffic altercation
Brookfield p olice on Jan. 8 responded to a c all ofa traffic dispute, but no one was ar rested
One driver called police and re ported he was being followed by another driver due to a dispute at a Starbucks drive-thr u in Lyons. He said he was driving to the police department. Upon arriving, the man spoke with an officer, to whom he said the other driver got angry with him for cutting her in the drive-thru line. The man said the woman was “yelling” and “banging on his hood” before she started to follow him from the Starbucks. The woman admitted to her behavior and said it was an overreaction. She ag reed to leave the man alone, and police continued speaking with her while the man left to ensure she would not follow him.
On Jan. 6, Brookfield police and firefighters responded to a report ofa structure fire, though there was ultimately no fire. Around 7:07 p.m., officers were infor med ofthe report. Upon arriving at the apar tment complex, police were infor med by firefighters that there was no fire coming from the building, though there was smoke that had failed to ventilate.
Officers spoke to the man whose apar tment the spoke was c oming from, wh o explained he had b een c ooking hotd og s on the stove when he walked i nto another room. He said he did not see or smell smoke until he heard a neighbor knocking on his d oor to alert him ofit. Th e man said he was not injured and that the c ookware was only minorly dama ged. Police and firefighters left the scene after c onfirming the apar tment c omplex was clear of smoke.
These items we re o btained from th e Brookfield Po lice Department re port s dated Jan. 5-12; th ey re present a portio n ofthe incidents to wh ich police re sponded. Anyone named in these re ports ha s only been charged with a crime and case s ha ve not yet b een adjudicated. We re port the ra ce ofa suspect only wh en a serious c rime has been c ommitted, the suspect is still at la rge and police ha ve provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as th ey seek the public’s h elp in making an ar re st .
Compiled by Stella Brown
PARKING
Changes by spring
from page 1
parking behind village hall will increase from the exi sting price of $1.50 to $3. Daily pa rk ing along Brookfield Avenue in front of village hall, as well as along Burlington Avenue near the C ong ress Pa rk train station, will c ost $4, up from the cu rrent price of $2.
S taf f had proposed increasing the price of those spots to j ust $3.50 in Dec ember, but the board ag reed to $4 at the suggestion of Trustee Ky le Whitehead
“I think if a c ommuter is paying a daily rate to pa rk there all day long, they would be open to paying $4 or even $5, ” he said. “$3.50 seems ve ry low for o ccupying that space all day. ”
Trustees reached c onsensus to have differing rates for residents of Brookfield c ompared to non-residents fo r monthly and q uarterly pa rk ing pe rm it s, but they ag reed to charge everyone the same for daily c ommuter spots. R ife sai d p olice officials f elt enforcing the rate dif-
ference upon daily pa rkers would be too burdensome for the de partment.
Residents will pay $45 for a monthly pa rk ing pe rm it at the downtown trai n station and $55 at the Congress Park and Hollywood station. N on-residents would pay $55 downtown and $65 at the other two stations
Fo r q uarterly pa rk ing pe rm it s, resid ents would pay $130 downtown and $160 at C ong ress Pa rk and Hollywood wh il e non-residents would pay $160 downtown and $190 at the other stations.
Due to the different rates for residents and non-residents, Rife said people looking to purchase monthly or quarterly parking permits should expect a delay of one business day once the changes ar e implemented, as village employees will need to manually approve applications and verify proof of residency for the lower rates. Daily parking spots will be available immediately upon purchase, since staf f will not need to review applications Purchases for all c ommuter pa rk in g spots will be made through Passport, wh ich Brookfield already uses for daily c ommuter pa rk ing downtown and at C ong ress Pa rk
T he b oard also OK ’d changes to where different kinds of pa rk ing spots are located near the three train stations.
At the C ong ress Pa rk station, pa rk in g along the north s ide of Burlington Avenue — from the 9200 block to the 9400 block — will become daily spots where they cu rrently exist as monthly/quarterly spots. B-pe rm it pa rk ing, wh ich is reser ve d for residents who live near by, will become daily c ommuter pa rk in g along Burlington as well as the 4000 block of Dubois Boulevard, Rife said.
He attributed the large increase fo r daily c ommuter pa rk ing in the area to the p lanned upcoming development of seve r al village-owned parcels near the C ong ress Pa rk station.
Around downtown and the Brookfield train station, monthly and q uarterly pe rm it holders will find themselves east of Kiwanis Pa rk along Brookfield Avenue, i mmediately west of the Brookfield Avenue bridg e, or west of Prairie Avenue along Burlington Avenue.
T he existing pa rk ing directly in front of village hall will be reser ve d for daily c ommuters rather than those with monthly or quar terly pe rm it s.
A stretch of parking that is now reserved for village employees and permit parking near the triangle property at Fairview Avenue and Brookfield Avenue will be re zoned as three-hour parking for people to access downtown.
Finally, near the Hollywood train station, existing “business decal” street parking next to Zubar and the Urban Mutt will become two-hour parking for visitors to businesses along that corridor of Brookfield Avenue.
‘The Illusion’ coming to Madison Street Theater
e Forest eatre Company play explores aging, regret and relationship with art
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
T he only year-round, professional theatre in Fo rest Pa rk , Oak Pa rk , Rive r Fo rest and Rive rside is p utting on “The I llusion” next month.
Forest Theatre Company is producing “The Illusion” from Feb. 5 to 22 at Madison Street Theater in Oak Park The play follows a father who seeks help from a magician to reconcile with his estranged son. The magician shows the father moments from his son’s life. But when he’s presented with visuals of the complex person his son is, the father has reservations
“People chang e, but not necessarily in the ways we sometimes wish they would or think they will. People are ve ry c omplicated machines,” said Richard Corley, Fo rest Theatre Company’s producing artistic director. The pl ay reflects “coming i nto our reality and an alternate reality that says we c an see our lives and the events of our lives — tragedie s, challenges — from a remove that c an allow us to judge and to live with them in a more holistic way. ”
Corley was drawn to directing the play for the third time in his career because of its romance and f antasy, but also its comedic and tragic elements. Forest T heatre Company’s production of “The Illusion” differs from Corley’s previous productions in that a woman plays the magician and it has a cast of older actors.
“There’s some ag e, and that’s really nice because you’ re g etting a sense of time passing and what it means to have li d a life,” Corley said. It’s reflected in
the plot of the play, too, which opens with the father lamenting driving away his son. “Anybody who has lived a life and doesn’t say they have re grets is, I think, not being honest. I think that living a life means that you look back, and you think, ‘I could have done that differently’ or ‘I should have done that dif ferently.’”
But wh at the audience takes aw ay from “The Illusion” is up to them.
“A rt is a great, powe rful thing in the wo rl d, but it only really speaks and changes you if you are open to that. Th at ’s a ke y takeaway of this pl ay. I think art is a two-way street. It ’s a c onve rsation,” Corley said.
N ear the end of the pl ay, the magician says, “The art of i llusion is the art of love, and the art of love is the heart of the wo rl d. ”
“A rt is about love,” Corley a dded. “We have to love, and open our hearts to love, in order to be changed by ar t. ”
“The Illusion” is a part of Forest Theatre
Company’s first full indoor season with Madison Street Theater — and its first coproduction with the Oak Park theater.
Corley said, though there have b een grow ing pains in the logistics of how to share expenses, reve nue and resources, Fo rest T heatre C ompany’s partnershi p with Madison Street T heater has b een a p ositive experienc e. He said it ’s b een nice to rehearse where the group will perfor m the pl ay
“It creates an experience where the pl ay comes to life in a much richer way, ” Corley said. He a dded that Lisa Green, managing director of Madison Street T heater, “cares de ep ly about the ar t that’s in that theater,” Corley said. “She b eli eves, as I do, that theater is a g ift to the c ommunity, and that we all have to wo rk ve ry hard to partner with the c ommunity to make it happen.”
Buy tick ets for “The Illusion” at h ttps:// www.forest-theatre .org/play s
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DISPENSARY
the projected revenues after speaking with staf f in Riverside, who shared that the Star Buds dispensary along Harlem Avenue is “in the ballpark” ofProlific’s projections after a similar timeframe.
“I do think we should consider the revenue impacts ofthe business,” Trustee Kyle Whitehead said. “The projection ofthe potential to generate more than $200,000 annually in sales tax revenue would make it by far, I believe, the highest sales tax generator in the community, including the zoo.”
Residents packed the meeting, with many giving public comment against the dispensary due to concerns over traffic in the nearby residential neighborhood, following a crowded Dec. 18 planning and zoning commission meeting where they expressed similar issues
Two commenters, Meagan Cullen and Leslie Everson, said they had collected more than 300 resident signatures on a petition against the approval of the dispensary.
“The neighborhood is woven into our children’s daily lives. Placing a cannabis dispensary here sends the wrong message about our priorities as a village and permanently alters the character ofa neighborhood meant to be safe and family-centered,” Everson said.
They said they had seen studies showing property values decreased after dispensaries opened nearby and led to more “nuisance-related crimes.”
“Brookfield residents should not be asked to accept these added safety risks in the very place where they raise their children,” Cullen said.
Wiberg said he had spoken with village staf f in Rive rside, Berwyn and L ombard, who shared that there have b een no c rime re ports associated with their respective dispensarie s, aside from a loud noise c omplaint in Rive rside on S tar Buds’ opening day.
Other commenters raised concerns about increased traffic in the area due to the petitioner’s projected volume of customers who would be coming and going throughout the day.
“Looking at eight minutes per person, up to six people at a time in there. If you do the math, that’s 45 people per hour, 45 cars per
& FRESHLOCAL
hour, going in and out ofthe dispensary,” said Josh Edwards, a resident nearby the site. “My concern is the roadways there, the infrastructure, the roads and it being really unsafe for people.”
Many public commenters said they had no issue with the nature ofthe dispensary itself, but they shared concerns about its proximity to Candy Cane Park and Brook Park Elementary School as well as the northerly residential neighborhood, where increased traffic is a known issue as drivers seek to avoid the difficult intersection of 31st Street and Maple Avenue.
Many ofthe trustees were sympathetic to the issue oftraffic, though they said it was not a burden for the dispensary to bear.
“It sounds like, outside ofthe dispensary and any business on [31st Street], that there is a big issue in this neighborhood that separately needs to be addressed,”
Trustee Nicole Gilhooley said.
Trustee Julie Narimatsu said she could empathize with residents, as she lives on an offshoot of Ogden Avenue.
“There’s a vape shop with very bright lights right on the corner, and Galloping Ghost. There are all sorts ofparking issues,” she said. “The nature ofhaving businesses come to Brookfield — I don’t
know that it’s necessarily always going to be a worst-case scenario, and we’ve made a community in our neighborhood despite living so close to Ogden.”
There are 12 public parking spots across the street and around 10 available for customers out back alongside six diagonally angled street parking spots directly next to the building. The board directed Hancock Engineering, Brookfield’s contracted firm, to examine those six spots and whether they could be moved across the street in response to concerns that vehicles turning north onto Park Avenue could run into cars backing out of the angled parking.
Trustee Kit Ketchmark seemed to be against the dispensary due to having several cannabis dispensaries in nearby communities like North Riverside and Riverside, though Tanya Griffin, a consultant for Prolific, said the lack ofdispensaries in Brookfield as well as near by LaGrang e, LaGrange Park, Hinsdale and Western Springs made the village a prime location.
T he village b oard ag reed to bring the i ssue of the special use to a v ote at thei r Fe b. 9 meeting, as Narimatsu will be unable to attend the b oard’s next meeting on Jan. 26.
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Steve Baer, conservative activist, former Riversider, dies at 66
Fierce opponent of Donald Trump
By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
Fo r mer Rive rside resident and conservative activist St eve Baer died on Christmas morning. Baer was 66. Baer and hi s w ife Donna live d in Rive rside from 1990 until they move d to northern Kentucky near Cincinnati in 2020.
Baer ’s w ife said that the c ause of hi s death was a private manner
Baer was neve r a fraid to challeng e the establishment and ru ffle feathers. In 1990 he r an for gove r nor mounting a long shot c onservative challenge to the late Jim Edgar. Baer lost in the Re publican primar y. He rece ived about 33 pe rc ent of the vote in losing to Edgar. He once ser ve d as the executive director of the United Re publican Fund where he wo rked to help c onservative Re publican c andidates who often challenged more moderate Re publican of ficeholder s.
Baer was intense, some might say mercurial and quixotic. He was a zealous advocate for what he thought was right and was not afraid to challenge the powerful. He was known for sending long emails to government officials and politicians. In 2013 the conservative magazine National Review published a story about Baer entitled “This Conservative Me ga-Donor is the World’s Most Successful E-mail Harasser.”
Baer was a fervid o pponent of Donald Trump telling the L andmark in 2016 that he thought Trump was an “evil man. ”
Baer said spent about $10,000 of his ow n money o pposing Trump in Re publican primaries in 2016.
In 2012 Baer supported for mer Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum for president and played an important role in Santorum nar rowly winning the Iowa Caucuses. In 2016 Baer supported for mer Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee for president.
“Steve was devoted to his faith, f amily and principles,” said for mer Rivers ide resident and Re publican activis t and c ommentator Chris Ro bling in a text message. “He and Donna could have live d anywhere. T hey chose Rive rside for i ts b eauty and c ommunity. He was a vastly devoted dad, who thought nothing of c alling a friend to say he had decide d on a road trip with his kids to a national pa rk , so ‘can your son c ome along too.’ He was a great friend over five decade s. He left a le ga cy of many thoughtful examples. I mourn his p assing and the loss it brought to the Baer f amily and hi s c ountless buddies across the country. ” Baer c aused local c ontroversy in hi s final years in Rive rside by o ccasionally renting out his large Michaux Avenue
Steve Baer
BAER continued from page
home as a short-term rental property. Th at c aused c omplaints from approximately 300 p eople and resulted in the Rive rside Vi llage Board voting to stop i ssuing licenses allowing for the shortter m rentals of residential proper ty.
Baer was a passionate opponent of abortion and a strong proponent of what he called hetero-monogamy. He was the father of 10 children, who were home schooled. His children and his wife survive him. Baer was also involved in philanthrop-
ic activitie s. He was especially focused on preventing the spread of malaria in A frica. Donna Baer said the for mer Oklahoma senator Tom Cobu rn once told hi m that St eve’s wo rk save d millions of live s in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Baer worked as real estate developer and investor and once sold reverse mor tg ages
Baer was bo rn in Lo g ansport, Indiana and grew up in C handler, A rizona. He gr aduated from Brown Unive rsity where he pl ayed football and met Donna.
Services have been held
Steve Baer in
OBITUARIES
Richard Hank, 89
Polio sur vivor
(Joan) Hank, Marie (Arch) McKellar, and Jeanne (William) Dale, along with many nieces and ne phew s. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jerry Hank, his ne phew Jim Hank, his sisterin-law Joyc e Hank, and his son-in-law, Pete Parenti
Visitation will be held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, on Jan. 23 from 4 until 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Jan. 24 at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 1530 Jackson Ave., River Forest. He will be inter red privately in St. Joseph
Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 2 p.m. till time of service, 5 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. In Simon’s memory, the family invites you to please wear the color orange to honor him.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Simon’s f amily to help with expenses. Support can be sent via Venmo to @kyon_e, via Zelle to 708-264-0106 or directly to the f amily during services
Cards and envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
T he f amily is also grateful for all the
Mary (Jay) Re zabek; the brother-in-law of Norma (Steve) Bousquet, Linda (Rich) Gahalla, and the late Nena Padilla; and the uncle of many nieces and ne phew s.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 20 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st St., Brookfield
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to: American Cancer Society, 150 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60606 or USO Illinois, P.O Box 96044, Washington D.C. 20077-7677.
Ga Hall, 79
Sports
Bulldogs ride defensive energy for victory over rival Lions
RBHS extends winning streak to seven behind Mercer’s 32 points
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
When it comes to playing basketball, Riverside Brookfield High School senior Ben Biskupic isn’t really a morning person.
“I don’t like getting up early at all,” Biskupic said. “I like going to school, getting my studies in. It kind of prepares me for the game.”
Even though Saturday’s game was slightly borderline with an earlier 5 p.m. start, Biskupic was more than ready to go — the Bulldogs were playing at rival Lyons Township. He even swished a three-pointer for the game’s first basket, and the Bulldogs’ energy never relented in their 55-40 victory in La Grange.
With Monday’s 64-55 victory over CreteMonee, RBHS (15-5, 6-1 in Upstate Eight Conference East Division) now has won seven in a row.
The Lions (11-6, 4-1 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) were coming of f a 49-16 running-clock victory at Downers Grove North Thursday.
“[Beating LTHS] means a lot, especially for me. In my four years, I hadn’t lost to them,” Biskupic said. “I always feel we go in with a little disrespect because we’re the smaller school, kind of the little brother, everything else, but when we play basketball we can beat them.”
“That was, by far, our best defensive ef fort of the year and showed what these guys are capable of when they tuned into the scouting report and they don’t take any plays of f,” Reingruber said. “It’s a great win. It’s always great. It’s a neighborhood rivalry game. We’ve had some great battles over the years and our guys believe we c win. We’ve got winners in that locker room.”
Biskupic said the Bulldogs started in a man-to-man defense and never switched.
LTHS, which has scored at least 60 points in eight games (7-1 record), had 40 points or fewer for the fourth time (1-3).
“Oh man, I love defense. This is beyond our best defensive game for sure,” Enright said. “I think that if we go against a lot of teams with that type of defense, we’re going to be trouble.”
The Lions were 17 of 57 shooting and 3 for from three-point range. They had no play in double figures but a balanced attack with Grant Smith (8 points, 6 rebounds), Timmy Sloan (8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), Nate Woods (7 points) and Tommy Sloan (5 points, 5 rebounds). Tommy Blyth and Owen Carr each had six rebounds.
RBHS led 27-19 at halftime but only 39-34 after three quarters before pulling away. The Bulldogs maintained 12-point leads on pairs of free throws by VanTholen and Mercer, his creating a 52-40 advantage with 1:50 left.
Senior guard Cameron Mercer led four Bulldogs in double figures against the Lions, scoring 21 points with 4 three-pointers, three in the second quarter, along with a team-best eight rebounds.
Biskupic (12 points with 2 threes, 6 rebounds), sophomore Noah VanTholen (10 points, 5-for-8 free throws, 4 assists) and senior Liam Enright (10 points) also were leading scorers. Senior Colin Cimino had seven rebounds.
“We always love an LT win, always. We go into the year and we have our big games, big tournaments. LT’s always on top,” Enright said.
The Bulldogs made 16 of 45 shots with 8 threes and 15 of 19 free throws, but RBHS coach Mike Reingruber emphasized the game was won primarily by defense.
That included 19 points of f turnovers and Mercer taking three charges. The nonconference game used the optional 35-second shot clock.
“We played OK, well enough to win if we shot it better,” LTHS coach Tom Sloan said.
“RB’s tough. They’re physical, defend well. They took three or four charges on our drives. We had opportunities to score and they stepped in and took them away. It boiled down to they played better, they shot it better.”
On Monday, Mercer rode a strong start for 32 points against Crete-Monee (11-10) at the MLK Shootout at Fenwick. Cimino (10 points, 7 rebounds), VanTholen (6 points) and Walker Bur ns and Enright (5 points each) also contributed.
Down 11 in the first quarter, the Bulldogs were tied 32-32 by halftime and opened the third quar ter with a 13-0 run.
“[Mercer has] had a heck of a season no matter what the half is but our goal early on was to get a couple of other guys going in the start of that second half,” Reingruber said. “Colin really kind of came out not only on the offensive end but played tremendous defense.”
Riverside-Brook eld’s Cameron Mercer (5) puts up a shot against West Chicago dur ing an Upstate Eight Conference game, Jan. 16, in Riverside.
In UEC East play Friday, the Bulldogs beat West Chicago 66-32 in front of a Pack the Place home crowd behind Mercer (12 points), Cimino and VanTholen (11 points each) and Biskupic (9 points, 6 rebounds).
Against Downers North (10-8, 2-3), the Lions flourished with Smith (12 points with 2 threes), Carroll (11 points), Timmy Sloan (9 points with 3 threes), Tommy Sloan (8 points) and Blyth (6 points).
LTHS led 26-8 at halftime and 48-11 after three quarters. The Trojans were 2-for-35 on three-point attempts.
Melvin Tate contributed to this report.
STEVE JOHNSTON
BEN BISKUPIC
RBHS boys swimmers progress with young lineup
Bulldogs’ annual invite brings out several season-best performances
By LILY KOCOUREK Contributing Reporter
Over the past two seasons, the Riverside Brookfield High School boys swimming and diving team has graduated several strong swimmers. The 68th annual RBHS Invite Saturday showcased both individual performances and strong team cohesion by the Bulldogs despite significant roster turnover. RBHS finished seventh.
The Bulldogs’ 200-yard freestyle team of seniors Jake Kocourek and Henry Manning, sophomore Ryan Meshke and freshman Cameron Cimino provided a clear example of how teamwork and strategy can elevate performance.
RBHS coach Mike Laurich echoed this focus on development while highlighting the team’s broader progress
“Once again we’re a very young team right now, with only three seniors competing,” Laurich said. “Despite that, the group is continuing to move forward and improve.”
“Our objective was to win the relay, regardless of the physical demands we had already faced,” Cimino noted. “The support and energy from our teammates helped keep us engaged and allowed us to fully commit to the race.”
The relay won the first of two heats and was seventh overall. Cimino emphasized while the team performed well, there is always room for improvement.
“There are always areas where we can improve,” he said. “Tightening our exchanges, emphasizing more speed drills at practice, and continuing to work together will be prioritized as we head into conference and sectionals.”
Junior Emerson Lacey, another of the younger swimmers, made a significant impact in the 200 individual medley. Lacey’s 1:05.80 cut 12 seconds from his previous best took second in the second of four heats. He attributed his improvement to preparation and familiarity with the home pool.
“The environment was more competitive and I prepared myself by focusing on my technique and pacing throughout the race,” Lacey said. “I made a deliberate effort to control my butterfly leg so I wouldn’t use too much energy early on, which allowed me to finish the breaststroke and freestyle quicker.”
Manning also delivered a standout perfor mance in the 50 free, winning his heat in 23.52 seconds. He felt his success came from a subtle adjustment in his sprint technique.
“I went through the race taking only one breath instead of my usual two,” Manning said. “That change helped me maintain better speed and efficiency from start to finish.”
He emphasized continued improvement as his primary goal. The state cut in 21.73.
Riverside-Brook eld’s Jake Kocourek competes in the 200 Yard Individual Medley against St. Charles East ursday, Dec. 11, in Riverside.
“My focus heading into sectionals is to keep dropping time,” he explained. “Ideally, I want to get my time into the 21-second range, I need to keep up with my practice to achieve this.”
As for the rest of the season, Laurich emphasized the team’s need for technical refinement and strategic growth.
“We need to be cleaner in our races, especially with our flip turns, and if we can
tighten up those details, it will make a noticeable difference as we get closer to conference and sectionals,” Laurich said. “At the same time my approach is about figuring out where all the pieces fit in the puzzle, placing swimmers in events that give them the best chance to succeed while helping them discover which events suit them best as the season progresses.”
Bill Stone contributed to this report.
Lions’ second-half surge earns sectional bowling berth
Bulldogs just miss rst individual berths; Nazareth’s Diaz advances
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Junior Anthony Bonilla of Brookfield couldn’t have completed the Lyons Township High School boys bowling team’s comeback any better Friday. In the 10th frame of his sixth and final game at the Oak Lawn
Regional at Palos Lanes, Bonilla concluded with three strikes
“It’s all about how we’ve just built up to get to this moment as a team,” Bonilla said.
“I knew we were kind of rough so I tried to close it out the best I could. It felt amazing.”
Bonilla put an exclamation point on the rally by the Lions (6,023 pins) to finish
fourth and earn the final team berth to the Fenton Sectional on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Wood Dale Bowl by 22 pins over fifth-place Fenton (6,001). Nazareth Academy (5,394) and Riverside Brookfield (5,296) tied for sixth and were ninth.
LTHS senior Logan Allison was an all-regional third place with a personal-best 1,370
series, 254 sixth game and 727 final threegame series. Bonilla was 12th (1,303) with a 240 fifth game, followed by junior Wyatt Knutson (1,062, 212 third game), seniors Kyle Mycek (1,046 for 5 games, 233 high game) and James Praser (1,099) and sophomore Kai Lan Strong (143 for one game). Allison beat his previous six-game best
C AMERON CIMINO
STEVE JOHNSTON
Nazareth’s Cestone, Lions’ Avants receive all-state honors
Carroll, Malachuk, Bigenwald, Chambers, Ahrens also get state recognition
By BILL STONE
determined to ele areth High School Football Coaches Association noticed.
Uni was honored as a member of the association
6A all-state football team. Cestone had a team-high 17 do runners’ 6A state semifinalists with 999 ya wo sho son,” Cestone said. “I feel like I impr
series My lineup in the second game and opened with a 227 en to a 209.2 that was 15th high est among ers with multiple games.
“It’s been nice working my way up, trying to get better. This has probably been my best year,” Allison said. “Of course, it feels amazing to help the team advance to sectionals. It doesn’t hurt that Anthony helped out a lot. Everybody helped out.”
Nazareth senior Joey Diaz (11th, 1,307, 257 sixth game) broke his six-game schoolrecord score and advanced again to sectionals as an individual by being among the 10 highest scores not among qualifying teams.
Sophomore Teddy Kowalski (30th, 1,122, 211 fourth game) and senior Finn Lubeck
on my leadership skills, battling through, leading al-
ways had a role but this year meant a lot , especially being a senior. There was a lot of leaderdy looking up to me.”
ceiving IHSFCA honorable
were Lyons Township senior tight end/linebacker Brady Rusk and Nazareth junior two-way lineman Christian Malachuk. Rusk caught 27 passes for and three TDs and had 2 tackles loss. Rusk said he found out while in class when he was HS head coach Jon Beutjer. “It completely came out of the blue,” said Rusk, who hopes to attend the University olorado but not play football. “It means be recognized with somethe coaches means a lot
(35th, 1,077, 198 first game) were the closest RBHS bowlers to the 1,155 individual sectional cut. Nazareth senior Charlie Martinez (25th, 1,153, 221 second game) was one place and three pins behind the last individual sectional qualifier.
The Lions have advanced to sectionals as a team every postseason since Gary Morrill became head coach in 2016. As a freshman, Bonilla competed at state as the team advanced for the third straight year after a top-four sectional finish.
The Lions trailed Fenton by 140 pins after the first two games, but their 3,123 for its second three-game series was secondhighest to re gional champion Oak Lawn (6,653). The LTHS bowlers began the sixth game up 38 pins on Fenton, whose final bowler scored nine in the 10th frame.
but I couldn’t have done it without [our coaches]. Their guidance and expert coaching is the reason I was the player I was.”
Boys soccer
Lyons Township senior midfielder Ryland Avants was named all-state by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Avants was among the scoring leaders for the Lions’ 3A regional champions with eight goals and five assists.
Girls ag football
Lyons Township senior defensive back/wide rece iver A nna Bigenwald was named honorable mention all-state
“They knew [the situation] and we were bowling (Fenton) head-to-head. We stuck with what we did and came through at the end,” Morrill said. “What they did today I knew they were more than capable of. I told them we needed a 6,000 to advance.”
T he Bulldogs again just missed an individual sectional qualifier in their second season of existence. In 2025, Kowalski’s team-best 1,081 missed the individual sectional cut by 75 pins.
for the second year in a row. Bigenwald stood out on b oth s ide of the b all for the Lions’ re gional champions with 18 TD s, 135 rece ptions and 11 interce ptions. Also a soccer g oalie who will pl ay at Loyola Unive rsit y, she again was honored at ceremonies hosted by the Chicago Bears.
“It was super-exciting and a huge honor,” Bigenwald said. “It was a c ool f eeling. I would n’ t say it f elt different [this year] because I still had to work really hard to get that. It meant the same.”
Girls volleyball
Lyons Township j unior outside hitter Taylor Ca rroll was named 4A secondteam all-state by the I llinois Volleyball C oaches A ssociation. Ca rroll, who has ve rbally c ommitted to Xavier Unive rsit y, had a team-high 289 kills for the Lions’ re gional championship team with 25 total blocks.
LT HS j unior setter C olleen C hamber s and j unior l ibero Julia Ahrens we re honorable mention all-state
“I started rough [Friday] and then I came back really well,” Kowalski said. “It was great having these seniors, especially having that experience to be on the varsity team even in my first year. I’ll hopefully get better and make it next year.”
Also competing for the Bulldogs were seniors Jaden Bar rett (1,065, 223 fourth g ame) and Jacob Retana (1,060, 221 second g ame) and sophomore Jacob Jones (972).
“I couldn’ t have asked for a better group. I think it was the most fun I’ve ever
had doing a sport,” said Lubeck, who improved from 1,019 at re gionals last season. “I feel like my biggest highlight was just being around people I like bowling with every day.” Diaz comfor tably beat his previous school-record series of 1,185 as a junior by opening with a 237 followed by a 245 third g ame. At last year’s sectionals, he finished 60th (1,038). Martinez was 64th (1,015).
“I felt like on fire (Friday), like I figured it out. It was just hitting perfectly where I wanted. I just felt like I was really on point today,” Diaz said. “I just want to bowl the best I could (at sectionals) and make sure I don’ t give up because last year I did give up at some point. I just want to have a better mentality.”
Also bowling for the Roadrunners were senior Vince Guidice (1,012), juniors Cashmere Coleman (972) and Ben Conkin (630 for 4 g ames) and senior Jael Gonzale z (284 for 2 g ames).
ANTHONY BONILLA
LOGAN ALLISON JOE Y DIA Z
JAKE CESTONE
RYLAND AVANT S
BRADY RUSK
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
VILLAGE OF OAK PARK
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CALENDAR NUMBER� 02�26�Z
HEARING DATE: February 11, 2026
TIME: 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING:
Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Sergiy Zamula, seeking a variance from Sections 9.3�B� �1� and 9.3�B��8)(a) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, in order to allow an interior accessory dwelling unit in a two-family structure and waive the owner-occupancy requirement, at 300 Home Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�07�317�024� 0000 �“Subject Property”), in the R�5 Two-Family Residential Zoning District.
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Published in Wednesday Journal January 21, 2026
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: Community Room / Police Department RTU #2 Replacement
The Replacement of RTU #2 and implementation of a remote HVAC automation system located at 400 Park Avenue in River Forest, Illinois.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Friday, January 16, 2026 at:
www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by February 17, 2026 at 11�00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty �30� days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in The Landmark January 21, 2026
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: M26001248 on January 15, 2026 Under the Assumed Business Name of NEXT SEASON WELLBEING with the business located at: 604 LYMAN AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: LORI JANU�CHOSSEK 604 LYMAN AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304, USA.
Published in The Landmark January 21, 28, February 4, 2026
THE
Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway, Ste. 101B
Chicago, IL 60614
STATE OF ILLINOIS� COUNTY OF COOK )ss
Bid Notice
The River Forest Park District will receive sealed bids for the Keystone Park Synthetic Turf Infield Project.
Bid Documents including Plans and Specifications, may be obtained beginning on Monday January 19, 2026 by contacting Ashley Kowalczyk of W�T Group, LLC via email at akowalczyk@wtgroup.com. Only electronic drawings �PDFS� will be provided.
Bids are due on Wednesday February 11, 2026 at 10�00 AM at River Forest Park District’s office which is located at 401 Thatcher Avenue in River Forest, IL 60305. The project includes the removal and replacement of one �1� clay infield with a new synthetic turf infield at the existing Keystone Park site located at the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Keystone Avenue in River Forest, IL. Other improvements include excavation, new storm sewer, a synthetic turf infield, concrete curbing, concrete sidewalk, fencing, and some landscape restoration.
A Certified Check, Cashier’s Check or Bid Bond payable to the River Forest Park District for not less than five �5� percent of the total bid amount will be required for each bid.
The successful bidder will be required to furnish a satisfactory Performance Bond and Labor and Material Payment Bond for the total Contract Amount. The successful bidder will also be required to execute AIA Form A101 � 2017 as the contract between the parties.
All questions should be directed to Ashley Kowalczyk at W�T Group, LLC via email at akowalczyk@wtgroup.com.
In all work performed under this Contract, the Contractor and all of its subcontractors shall comply with the current provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act of the Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 48, Sections 39s-1 et seq.
No bids will be withdrawn without the written consent of the River Forest Park District. If a Bid is withdrawn, the Bidder will not be permitted to submit another Bid for the same project. Only bids in compliance with the provisions of the Bid Documents will be considered. Bids will be considered firm for a period of ninety �90� days. The River Forest Park District reserves the right to reject any or all bids or portions of bids/portions of work and to waive any technicalities in the bidding if it should be deemed in the public interest.
Published in The Landmark January 21, 2026
Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.
In re the Marriage of� Daniel E. Perez, Petitioner, and Marian Java Maloloy-On Respondent, Case No. 2025D007668
The requisite affidavit for Publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, Marian Java Maloloy-On, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, Daniel E. Perez, for Dissolution of Marriage and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent file your Appearance and Response electronically to said Petition with the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on or before February 11, 2026 default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage Entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.
Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Published in The Landmark January 21, 21, 28, 2026
Request for Proposals
The River Forest Civic Center Authority �RFCCA� is accepting proposals for Architect Services from interested architectural firms possessing a high degree of professional skill and ability to assist in drafting plans and estimated probable costs for the renovation of the RFCCA building at 8020 Madison Street, River Forest Illinois.
RFP Documents may be obtained beginning on Friday, January 16, 2026 on the River Forest Park District website at www.rfparks. com/bids
Proposals are due on Friday, March 6, 2026 at 3�00 PM to Michael Sletten at msletten@rfparks.com or submitted at the River Forest Park District’s office, 401 Thatcher Avenue in River Forest, IL 60305. The scope of work includes: Prepare an architecture program with input from the RFCCA, Park District, and community; review project site information; prepare conceptual drawings including site plan, floor plan and evaluation of the front of the building; and prepare a probable estimated cost budget for the project. For more information. Please contact Michael Sletten at msletten@ rfparks.com
Published in The Landmark January 21, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE RIVERSIDE TOWNSHIP MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, this is to advise you that the Riverside Township Mental Health Board will hold the below listed meetings at the listed locations:
Monthly Mental Health Board Meetings
Wednesday, January 21st � 6�30 PM The Way Back Inn � 412 WESLEY AVE, OAK PARK, ILLINOIS 60302
Wednesday, February 18th � 6�30 PM Community Support Services3732 Grand Blvd., Brookfield, IL 60513
Wednesday, March 18th � 6�30p.m.
Riverside Township Hall � Room 4, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois
If you have any questions, please contact Board President, Adam Wilt, at awilt.rtmhb@gmail.com or call Adam at 708�804�4400.
Published in The Landmark January 21, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Village of Riverside is accept ing Requests for Proposal and Qualifications for Development of Municipally Owned Property are due by 4�00 p.m. �CST� on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Riverside Village Office, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546. Interested parties may obtain the Request for Proposal Specifications on the Village’s website www.riverside. il.us or by contacting Emily Stenzel, on weekdays, between 8�00 a.m. and 4�30 p.m. at 708�447� 2700. Please email a digital copy of proposal to Emily Stenzel, Special Assistant to Administration and Finance estenzel@riverside.il.us
Published by Authority of the Village of Riverside, Illinois Village Manager’s Office.
Published in The Landmark January 21, 2026
ILLINOIS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NETWORK
HEALTH/ PERSONAL/ MISCELLANEOUS
OVARIAN cancer after use of TALC products such as BABY POWDER or SHOWER TO SHOWER, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Charles Johnson 1-800-535-5727
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CALENDAR NUMBER: 03�26�Z
HEARING DATE: February 11, 2026
TIME: 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by Jennie Hull on behalf of Beyond Hunger seeking a special use permit for a warehouse and distribution facility (a food pantry) at 6209 North Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�05�102�032�0000 �“Subject Property”), in the NA North Avenue Zoning District.
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Published in Wednesday Journal January 21, 2026
NOTICE OF MECHANIC’S LIEN
Notice is hereby given under the Illinois Labor and Storage Lien Act �770 ILCS 45/1� that the undersigned holds a lien in the amount of $19,200 for unpaid charges related to storage, labor and/or materials for the watercrafte described below:
Boat Description: 1992 Fountain 38 Sport Hull Registration FGQ38614G192 White/Teal/Pink
Registered Owner: Frank Esposito 7211 Division, River Forest, IL 60305
The watercraft is currently located at: Ben Watts Marina Inc., 116 S. Route 12. Fox Lake, IL 60020
Unless full payment is made within 30 days of this notice, the vessel may be sold at public or private sale to satisfy the lien, pursuant to 770 ILCS 45/1.
Lienholder: Ben Watts Marina Inc. 116 S. Route 12, Fox Lake, IL 60020
Published in The Landmark January 21, 28, February 4, 2026
Accountability. Essential Civics
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.
The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.
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“ IS PEACE OF MIND ONE CANCER SCREENING AWAY?” NEVER WONDER.
Where you go for you cancer care is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. Now, feel confident in that decision while staying right here in the western suburbs.
As a leader in whole-person care, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth delivers comprehensive, expert cancer care close to home.
This is the perfect time of the year to schedule a mammogram, colonoscopy or lung scan at one of our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth facilities. We can get you in quickly so you can check it off your list and put your mind at ease.
To learn more or schedule a screening online, scan the QR code or go to ChicagolandCancerCare.com.
